"I was just teasing!" he called after Tonya with a frown before having towards his first class.

Class had barely started for anyone when phones began going off one by one, telling of another akumatised villain causing trouble down at Luna's Lunar Lounge again.

Eddie saw it and immediately began asking the teacher to use the restroom. Once she said yes, he ran, trying to find a good hiding spot. Taking cover in a little inlet behind the stairs, he let the little Kwami out.

"Eddie, I had an idea earlier." Beek began. "We could talk to the other heroes and see if I could meet up with my old friends. It would be great. And I know you all would come up with an idea for us. If I thought Rouge-Bat would listen and agree to it, I'd like to see his Kwami too."

Eddie nodded and became Talon with the command of "Beek, Wings spread!" He was quick to begin running towards LLL as he opened the phone part of his tonfa to call the girls. He didn't expect any of them to answer right away but told them what Beek had said about seeing Ossar and having the idea for the kwami to all get together.

Bella let out a sigh filled to the brim with anxiety and fear as she stared down the teacher holding a stack of papers, most likely the test she was about to pass out to the rest of the class. Of course she studied and felt somewhat prepared, but her mind just felt that the second the stapled pieces of paper landed on her desk her mind would go blank. Fortunately, or unfortunately, before the teacher could pass anything out, all the phones in the room began blaring to life, all except for Bella's which she turned off for the sake of said test.

Quietly peeking over her seat neighbor's shoulder, Bella got all the information she needed and immediately stood, placing a hand on her stomach. It was an action she normally did and the teacher quickly understood as she simply nodded and allowed Bella to eave the classroom. Once she was a few steps away from the door to her classroom, Bella immediately began running to the school staircase, going every other step to quicken her pace. Hurrying to the roof, Bella pulled her hat off of her head, releasing Hoppi from her hiding place.
"H-Hoppi, hop to it!" She managed to blurt out, closing her eyes tightly as she transformed into Usagi, which to Bella just looked like she put on a big green rabbit hoodie over her normal clothes. Ignoring the thought, Usagi hopped into the air, going from building to building towards the LLL before placing a hand on her rabbit pin as she received a call.

"The kwamis? Meet up? I-If it's alright that Hoppi can join, then I-I don't see a problem s-so long as our i-identity is hidden... She explained before halting at the sight of citizens collapsed on the ground. She wanted to make sure that they were okay, she really did, but stopping the source was more important so she moved on.

Barristris has so far knocked out a lot of people by then, wondering where the heroes were. They were rather slow on the uptake huh? She wondered what kind of heroes don't respond quickly. Police cars were surrounding her - all guns trained on her. She tilted her head as they ordered her to put her hands up.

She yawned before shaking her bottle. "Really? Don't you guys want an ice cold drink?" She questioned with a grin before throwing her bottle at the ground and the cloud of gas spread around her - causing the police to drop on the ground.

Barristris then went back to walking down the street, spinning her spray bottle - not really showing what she can do with it yet. She procured another bottle from the bag behind her back.

---

Alex looked down on her paper which she was quickly filling up. If there was anything Alex could be good at, it was the sciences. Suddenly, phones began to blare - calling attention to their owners who were pulling their hair out to answer the test. They started to look around. Ms. Rowler gave them a glare, especially to those who were reaching down to get their own phones.

"You can't look at your phones until you're done!" She barked. Ms. Rowler wasn't the most horrible teacher they had, but she was stricter when there was a test. Alex liked her a lot though. She was pretty sure Jess felt the same even though she wasn't exactly the best in Biology.

That was when Ms. Rowler's phone vibrated as well but she pointedly ignored it.

Alex began writing down her answers once again. She was almost done with it anyway. That was when she heard Poyzz squirming inside her pocket and the telltale signs of her phone being opened. She wondered what Poyzz was doing with it, maybe he was checking the news out? She was pretty sure her phone vibrated too.

"Psst, Alex, we need to get out of here." Poyzz whispered, only loud enough for only her to hear. "Something's happening... at Luna's Lunar Lounge."

Alex pointedly ignored him. She just had to finish this one test. At least to pass it. So in the end, she rushed through the test praying to whatever higher power out there that she would at least keep up her grades. She didn't want it to drop because of this one test.

When she stood up, she saw Jess' pleading look but she gave her an apologetic one. She then passed her test and Ms. Rowler nodded and she walked out of the room before bolting out of the school. She called out Poyzz and transformed once she was out of sight from any prying eyes.

Furitta then looked at her left gauntlet when it began beeping - playing over the message that Talon had left for them. "A... meet up? Well, sure, as long as we don't have to be there. I greatly appreciate not being known."

School dragged by at an all-time slow for Tonya. Her head wasn’t in the game, what with her thoughts clouded by memories of yesterday’s exploits and her interaction with Eddie. It didn’t help that the entire class’s workload was being doubled, an unwelcome side effect from the upcoming exams. She groaned aloud when the teacher returned her math homework, a low letter grade jarring her from her thoughts. How was she going to explain that to her father? She couldn’t rightly make the excuse that she’d been fighting a supervillain and had been too fatigued to focus on the equations. The teacher seemed to be about to share a few stern words with Tonya over her scores when Tonya’s phone began to buzz angrily in her pocket.

“Did you not switch your phone off?” The teacher demanded, holding out her hand. “I’ll be taking that.”

Crossly Tonya reached down to take her phone from her pocket when something slithered on the base of her neck, causing her to tense up. A tiny hushed voice tickled her ear. “Miss Tabbet, a great urgency must be attended to. Your companions need you.”


“Not now Ossar.” Tonya hissed back.

“What was that Miss Tabbet?” The teacher snapped. “Don’t get snippety with me young lady.”

“Time is of the essence sweet daughter of Tabbet.” The snake kwami insisted. “Our mission resides before all else.”


“Shush!”

“What did you just say to me!?”

“Nothing ma’am.” Tonya grumbled, producing her phone and handing it over. Now the entire class was watching and listening. Tonya’s face burned and she swept back her hair trying to sweep Ossar back into her shirt but only succeeding in appearing incredibly sassy. The teacher was looking livid now, and opened her mouth to deliver a withering scolding, meanwhile Ossar crept in close to Tonya’s ears once more.

“Miss Tonya, I must insist we are punctual.”


“SHUT UP!”

“Miss Tabbet!” The teacher roared, fire and brimstone flashing in her eyes. “I have had quite enough of this attitude, you may excuse yourself from my classroom at once and wait outside the Principal’s Office. I daresay your family will be hearing about this, in full detail!”

Sour faced Tonya shoved her school books away marching from the classroom much the same way she’d entered. Angry and embarrassed and the eyes of all her classmates following her as she strode purposely from the room, her bag slung over one shoulder. Storming down the hall Tonya took the all too familiar route down to the office, giving the door a heavy mournful knock when she finally reached it.

Nobody answered.

Tonya tried again, the end result comparable. He must be off doing something else she decided, flopping down in one of the hard, uncomfortable plastic chairs lined up outside. Crossing her arms Tonya fumed for a moment over the unfairness of it all when a movement at the base of her neck reminded her of Ossar. Reaching back Tonya snatched the serpent kwami, sweeping him around to face her. He coiled in her hand, staring up at her his dark eyes large and purposeful.

“Well done in escaping the confines of the school so high. We must act at once. Swiftly utterance the words and let us make haste and bring welcome aid to our companions and this city.”


“What? No, I can’t.” Tonya dropped her hand, letting the snake levitate under his own power. “You got me in trouble and now I have to stay here, or I’ll get into even more trouble.” Tonya closed her eyes and clenched her jaw just thinking about the repercussions to come. “My dad is going to kill me. This is the third time this year, and I’ve never even heard of someone telling the teacher to shut up. They won’t believe me if I told them it was directed towards the stupid little magic snake that wouldn’t stay quiet. I’ll be in detention for years!”


To his credit the kwami seemed deeply grieved by this proclamation and he lowered his brightly colored head in shame. “Alas, I knew not. Please accept my most humble apologies sweet daughter of Tabbet.”

The silence between them grew long and unbroken. Tonya drooped her head, miserable, brooding over what she’d say, to the principle, her father, the teacher when she would have to inevitably apologize for her rudeness, perhaps even in front of the entire class. A single tear formed under her eyes and Tonya moved to brush them away, furious with herself to so easily be driven to tears at something to selfish and pathetic. Something brushed against her forehead and Tonya looked up, surprised to see Ossar so close, his elongated muzzle pressed against her brow in a serpents kiss. With shocking strength the tiny kwami pressed hard, raising her head until it was high and proud.

“Weep not brave one.” Ossar hushed. “Thou are young, too young to be given this responsibility but banish your fear. Your father seems a kind, wise man who will find forgiveness in his heart and never resort to violence, no matter your transgressions. We must instead remain focused upon the greater good, as even the most nobles paths are wrought with treacherous choices. I see now that you must be torn asunder by good intentions, but you have been given responsibility beyond that of all others. To forsake it is comparable to forsaking a holy vow. Suffering is inadequate to selflessness.”

“Are you saying I have to risk getting into even more trouble with my life here, to go help the other heroes?” Tonya asked almost accusingly, trying to unravel the serpent’s words.

“In the end I can only advise, the choice is yours.” Ossar assured. “I shall respect that which you choose.”


Tonya dwelt on this for a long time, running her fingers through her hair as she considered all the options available. It seemed wrong to her, to betray the trust of her father and her betters so massively and still have it be the right thing to do. And yet people could be in danger, and their lives might even now be saved if she acted. “Has everyone else gone to help?” She inquired at last.

“I cannot say for sure, other than the hero Talon who wished to communicate to everyone something of great importance.”


Grimacing Tonya glanced back at the Principal’s door, her decision made. “Alright, alright. I just have to make it back before he does. Easy. Alright, here we go, ‘ STRIPES ALIGN .’” In a blinding flash Ossar became fused within the Miraculous and the snakeish armor formed across Tonya’s body changing her identity into the daring superhero Serpentine. Unlatching one of her battle fans from her utility belt and pressing a button located on its haft Serpentine waited for the screen to appear. A moment later spectral images of the other heroes’ materialized. “Sorry if I’m a bit late.” She told them, sprinting for the nearest exit. “I’ll be there in a moment. What’s happening by the way? Because it better be really, really important.”

"From what I can see, this lady is using AOE bombs shaped like squirt bottles to knock people unconscious." Talon conveyed to the girls. He stood atop the roof across the street from the lounge, looking at the front of the building. "I was beginning to wonder if you were gonna show up, Serpentine. Did it take you a bit too escape from your job or class or whatever?"

He kept his eyes on the Batistress, trying to see if he could make this fast and just destroy her item before the girls arrived. "By the way, girls, I heard her yelling for us to hurry up. I think she had a grudge with us. Really don't want to take her on alone."

-----

"They should be here soon." Rouge-Bat said for the umpteenth time. "Patience. They'll be here. Don't let him know but I already saw the eagle boy on the roof across the street."

Upon arriving at the familiar lounge, Usagi halted atop one of the buildings which just so happened to be adjacent to the one Talon was on. As two extra voices joined their impromptu voice call, Usagi couldn't help but smile a bit. It was good to know that as superheros now, they were all still responsible for what was going on in the city.
"I could probably hit the squirt bottle away from people with my weapon, t-to give you guys some time to get rid of her?" She suggested as she was now crouching on the build she was atop of, moving the big floppy green ears out of her line of vision before pulling out a slingshot; she probably never would have know it existed if Hoppi hadn't prompted her to check...

Puling back on the sling, a white ball appeared in the little basket to hold ammo. Without waiting for a response, the rabbit girl fired, and watched as one of the squirt bottles the woman was throwing got knocked into the opposite direction and away from any citizens. To ensure that she wouldn't be found out, the blue haired girl hopped over to the next building over, crouching back down to hide her presence.

Barristris nodded slowly as Rogue Bat told her of the presence of the eagle-themed hero at the rooftop. Good. Good. While she felt absolutely no remorse with dealing with innocent lives, she'd much rather face them now than later. They were, after all, her main source of anger and resentment. She tapped her foot onto the ground as she waited for them to appear before her.

That was when one of her bottles was shot out of its trajectory. A smile appeared on her face as she prepared yet another bottle. "Well now, let's go." She then looked up at where the eagle boy was and then threw the bottle towards his position. She then disappeared into one of the cafes in the area.

---

Furrita arrived at the same by the time the villain had already disappeared. However, she didn't exactly have a visual on her companions. She was on the ground, after all. "So where exactly is the villain? I'd rather have this over sooner than later."

She was not going to miss Math period.

Not only will it tarnish her perfectly clean record, but it'd also mean she'd miss an hour of class. Jess wasn't exactly the type of person who would write down notes for her or for others, and Alex was not taking her chances.

“Essentially.” Serpentine grumbled in response to Talon. “I’ll be there eventually, just give me a minute or two.” Luckily, the suit made her a far better runner then she actually was, as without access to something like Usagi’s hopping ability, Talon’s wings, and Furitta’s wires Serpentine was very landlocked. Nevertheless she made good time and arrived a few minutes after Furitta, getting a front seat view of the aftermath and carnage caused by this new villain.

“Uh… Did you guys already beat them?” She asked, glancing around the scene with evident confusion and annoyance. Snapping her battle fans closed she reattached them to her belt, producing instead a small video camera, which she powered on. “Anyone see Rouge-Bat here by any chance?”

Talon nodded to Serpentine's reply before jumping into the air to dodge Baristtiss's first attack towards him. "Surprised you all know what AOE means." he commented before dropping to the streets. "Hit me with your best shot!" he began singing, taunting the woman. He tried keeping her attention on him and this did not notice Serpentine arriving or the camera.

-----

Rouge-Bat stood behind the tinted window, watching the scene play out in front of him. "He's trying to be a distraction. Focus on the girls! Keep your eyes up!"

Usagi pulled back on her slingshot once again, preparing for another attack, but before she could get a good aim on the target, she disappeared into one of the smaller buildings in the area. Well, so much for her plan. Luckily Talon opted to be the distraction and possibly get the woman to come back out for them. All she needed was the location and she'd be able to deflect those rancid bottles...

Upon Furitta and Serpentine's entrance, Usagi decided to fill them in however she stayed in her spot posed up in case she did come out while she was speaking.
"We loss sight of her after she fled into the buildings. Talon's trying to distract her and I'm making sure those bottles don't hurt anyone." She explained quickly before leaping over to the top of the building the Barristris fled to, her slingshot ready to fire. "We need to get her back out here before she causes more trouble!"

"We're not so old that we don't know gaming terms." The oldest hero commented. Furitta then nodded after Usagi spoke, even though she was aware that Usagi couldn't see her at all. She made her way towards Serpentine, who was only a few steps away from her to be honest. With Usagi at the rooftop of the building, she covered all the exits Barristris could escape through. They could charge in right now, but she wasn't sure just how well it might go.

If what Talon said was completely accurate, duking it out while inside where the gas would just be contained within the building might not be the greatest idea. She also assumed that Barristris wasn't affected by her own gas which became more problematic. She turned to Serpentine when she took out her video camera - ignoring Talon's distraction for now.

"You planning on getting Rogue Bat the villain on camera?" Furitta questioned in a low voice so no one would hear aside from the two of them. She then placed a hand on the back of her own neck. "I guess it's something..." She did hear about Rogue Bat being hailed as the hero when he was the cause of the villain outbreak. Well, whatever. Furitta was only focused on getting the villain defeated for now.

----

Barristris was humming to herself, hearing the taunts of the eagle boy outside. Even without Rogue Bat's suggestion, she didn't seem like she would budge. She had a perfect set of hostages right here - all cowering in fear. Conscious, but terrified. She's like to see how the girls would deal with this once they burst inside. She then peeked out of the door for a sliver of a moment - to let them know that she was still inside.

And she was waiting.

She was taunting them to charge inside.

Ensuring everything on the camera was set Serpentine glanced up at Furitta, winking under the mask and cowl. “Essentially, except not just him. Us as well.” She motioned towards the unconscious forms scattered across the street. “These folks aren’t gonna be very talkative, just like the ones before. Which won’t do anyone any good. People need to know what he’s up to, and that we’re here to stop him. I was hoping to get a few good shots of everyone fighting Rouge-Bat, and whoever this new villain is. Then I could leak it to the press. It’d be plastered on every newspaper and TV from here to Paris. We’d be famous!”

Serpentine was absolutely thrilled by the prospect, she just hoped the secret fame was worth it in light of the eternal grounding she was about to receive from her father. She felt a tinge of guilt, her father really trusted her and this would shatter that bond magnificently. She didn’t really want to think about that, and pushed it aside, the greater good was at stake. Fidgeting with the wrist strap on the recorder she turned to address their small quartet of heroes. “We need to get Rouge-Bat on scene first, preferably sooner rather than later. Maybe we should just rush this villain, I’m sure all four of us will be more than a match. And if it seems like we’re about to win Rouge-Bat will be sure to come try and help even the fight.”

The snake themed hero slunk across the open ground separating them from the villain’s concealed position, trying to catch a glimpse of her through the windows. Her armored boot clinked against an abandoned can sending it rolling gently down the street. Despite Talon’s song and mocking voice the street seemed all but abandoned, and the silence was deafening. A cold dread wormed its way into her subconscious, staining her confidence with suspicions and imaginings of traps and malicious deeds. Shrugging off her feelings of misgivings Serpentine gave the others a thumbs up. “I don’t see her. C’mon, let’s all go in on the count of three…”

Talon rushed to stop the snake-themed heroine. "They want us to rush in. It's better to draw them out. She's out of targets in there. If we taunt her long enough, she's bound to come out in a rage. People don't think clearly when enraged." He hoped his plan would work. "Plus, I already messed that place up once. I'd rather not..." he stopped as a thought popped into his head. "Forget what I was saying. Let's rush in and break everything. Not only will that enrage her more but she'll be trapped with no way out. Rouge-Bat too if he's in there." he began. "But then there's the gas. If we get paralyzed, she'll take or miraculouses. We have to come up with a strategy." he looked up to wave the other girls down before finally noticing the camera. "What's with that?" he asked curiously. Once Usagi and Furitta were closer, he points towards the door. "Be ready to knock her bottles away."

-----

"God damn that boy. He seems to be calling a team meeting. Hit them while they're all together." Rouge-Bat was getting angry. The only thing that would make this better is him joining the fight. But it was too early. Let the girl think she's good until she's almost defeated. Then jump in and save her. "Aim well."

Usagi frowned slightly as she was getting mixed messages from all of them. While it would be better to stay where she was and shoot down the target once they tried to make their escape, she was now being called down to rush their target and lure Rogue-Bat out. Unsure of what to do herself and seeing that they were all probably older than her anyways, the rabbit-themed hero hurried off the building and stood next to Furitta, tilting her head faintly.

Once they were all together, Talon directed instructions specifically to both her and Furitta, telling them both to be ready and knock away the inevitable bottles to come. Seeing how trusted she was, Usagi couldn't hold back the smile on her face as she nodded eagerly.
"I can stay near the door in case something goes wrong. I'll... I'll do my best." She said with another determined nodded before taking her place beside the door with now hushed breaths. Her job was to support them, and she hadn't planned on failing them.

Furitta looked at Serpentine with an unsure look. Was she doing this out of actual want to be popular or to catch Rogue Bat in the act of doing something villainous? It seems rather shallow if she meant to only get them into the press. Surely, at some point, the people would do that themselves. But, whatever, Furitta wasn't going to stop her from doing what she wanted. What was important was that they defeat the villain and as long as Serpentine could do her part, then they were all cool.

"I agree that we shouldn't rush in. Gas and close spaces don't exactly mix." She reasoned out to Serpentine, attempting to dissuade her from suddenly bursting in. She then nodded at Talon when he told her and Usagi to provide support and shoot off those bottles to avoid getting gassed. She waited near the entrance, but away from the real action.

Barristris looked at Rogue Bat and then nodded. Right, might as well get this over with. She kicked open the door and five bottles soon began to fly over towards the group - aiming to at least get the gas close enough for them to inhale.

But she made sure to roll two bottles towards them.

Barristris herself did not exit the building - having not been baited by the heroes outside.

“One… Two… Ah c’mon guys, we can’t just stand out here arguing about what to do all day. I haven’t got time to kill.” Serpentine argued, encouraged by Talon’s more ambitious tactics, but still held back by Furitta’s cautioning. She stood, uncertainly in the middle of the road, the first in line for the barrage of gas bottles hurtled from the window. They arced like a wave of silent meteors taking Serpentine completely by surprise. The foremost purple bottle clanging against her head and releasing a purple haze that clogged her mouth and nostrils. Stumbling back she coughed and gagged, trying to hold her breath and cover her stinging eyes as she became enshrouded in the toxic mist. She succeeded partially, having only breathed in a minute fraction of the gas released around her. Stumbling around blind, her lungs near bursting she ran clear of the cloud, smashing her way into the café door to escape the repulsive torment. Rolling upon the floor she rubbed desperately at her eyes, all sense of reason and direction lost. She felt woozy and disoriented and nauseated all at the same time, unable to shake the vertigo enacted from the fumes she inhaled.

Gagging she struggled to stand, her eyes still squeezed tightly shut, unable to see and unaware of the practical wall of knockout gas that separated her from the rest of her team, or Barristris who stood only a few meters away. Groping about blindly until she found a table to support herself on Serpentine sniffled, wiping away the snot that had collected on her face. “Stay out of the gas!” She screamed, hoping the others possessed the good sense to jump away when the first bottle struck her. She hadn’t heard their voices for a while, and felt a stab of panic at the thought that they might’ve been knocked unconscious, leaving her alone. “Talon, Usagi, Furrita? Are you guys there?”

Talon jumped back, reaching to pull both of the closer girls with him away from the gas. He didn't notice Serpentine going into the building backwards. After making sure the two he could see were fine, he began looking for Serpentine. He heard her voice from the other side of the gas and face-palmed. "Split up and surround the villain." he said to the other girls. "We have to make sure she doesn't get away." He then began flying over the gas, landing just outside the door before carefully entering and looking around. He kept on alert, watching for both Serpentine and the Baristriss. He hoped his friend wasn't unconscious or immobilized. He found Serpentine and made sure she was alive before standing in front of her and putting up a wall around the corner they were in. "I got you. You're safe. She can't bomb you again."

It happened so quickly, Usagi had very little time to react as she was quickly pulled away from the dangerous gas by Talon. Still covering her nose, which involuntarily scrunched up from the scents around her, she simply nodded at the order she as given before looking at Furitta, who Talon also managed to get out of harms way.
"I think one of us should find a different entrance and try to distract her while the other cracks open some windows so that if Talon and Serpentine have to fight in there the gas won't be too strong." She suggested before lowering her head. "Y-You're definitely a better fighter than me, so maybe you could be the distraction and I could check the perimeter and crack open some of the windows when she isn't looking." She questioned, staring up at the other with hopeful eyes.

Of course, there were so many ways they could approach the situation in front of them, but seeing how dangerous that gas could be, they didn't have time to think of something relatively better.

Furitta was pulled away unceremoniously by Talon and she stumbled back. But at least they got out of the gas in time. However, it soon became evident that Serpentine was not as lucky. The first bottle did explode right in her face. She mentally cursed. It happened too quickly and the villain didn't give them any chance to actually prepare for anything. Was she being ordered around by Rogue Bat then? Could he see them and directed Barristris to how to break up their formation?

"I'll try. But I need to get through there." She pointed at the wall of gas just in front of them - blocking the entrance where Talon bravely charged in to get to Serpentine. She rubbed the back of her head. If only I can lure her out of here, but with two targets inside..."

She then snapped her fingers. "But yours is a good idea. I think I can find a way to get her full and undivided attention." She then nodded at Usagi, signalling for her to start cracking open those windows. She scanned the area before her and the gas was dispersing slower than she anticipated, but she only needed a few seconds inside.

"Festinatio!"

She sped inside, not breathing any of the gas there but it certainly was painful to the eyes. But she continued in, not even paying attention to Talon and Serpentine who was to the corner. She spotted Barristris in there, the gas not even affecting here a little bit. Barristris was caught by surprise as she had prepared a bottle to detonate near Talon.

She tackled Barristris out of the way and towards the area that didn't actually get infected by the gas yet. Furitta grabbed the bottle before it could fall and then kicked it aside so that it wouldn't explode near them and suffocate her to unconsciousness.

"Brave of you to face me alone."

Furitta shrugged. She only had a few minutes before it was time up. Please for the love of all things good, let those guys recover before she had to book it out of there. She lunged at Barristris and aimed a kick towards her side. The two went on for a while, but neither was getting the upper hand and the gas was creeping towards them.

Strong hands seized ahold of Serpentine wrenching her away from the no-man’s land in the center of the café. A lump caught in her throat, Serpentine struggled against this unknown aggressor, her feet and fists connecting indiscriminately with any chairs or tables or decorations that came within range, with few blows even striking her assailant. The gas before had sapped her strength, and despite desperate efforts the mysterious person succeeded in dragging her into the corner. The sound of forming stone and a familiar voice broke through the inhibiting darkness that surrounded Serpentine, calming her frantic heart.

“Ed-?“ No, not Eddie. The school boy she’d spoken to earlier that morning wouldn’t be here battling supervillains and forming a defensive wall to help protect her. Reaching out Serpentine felt the wing and shoulder of Talon’s suit, a mixture of relief and guilt swamping her overwhelmed senses. “I’m sorry for hitting you Talon!” She gasped, snatching her hand away and staring around into the permanent blackness that surrounded her like a veil. A shiver of fear ran down her spine. Was her condition permanent? Would it wear off in time, or when Barristris was defeated? Serpentine was truly helpless without the use of her vision, and for the first time felt a serious appreciation for something she usually took for granted.

“I can’t see. Whatever’s in that gas blinded me, and I don’t feel so good. Almost, dizzy.” The snake heroine sank back, slumping against the wall her hands pressed tight against her face. She dearly wished should could rip off the mask and pour cool water onto her throbbing eyes, or at least somehow ease the pain. She could still smell the sickly sweet scent of the gas, clogging her nostrils and disorienting her mind, and hear the blast from the can that exploded right in front of her face. Nearby the sounds of battle echoed throughout the café, indicating Furrita’s attempts at defeating the Barristris alone. “You should go help her,” Serpentine urged Talon, her face directed in the wrong way. “I’ll be fine here, just let me know of Rouge-Bat shows up.” She touched the camera attached at her hip, trying to give her comrade a brave smile to show she'd be okay. Unbeknownst to her the device had been shattered from her tumble, the screen broken into a million pieces by the full weight of her body landing on top of it.