Neo-Vatra, City Center, Flame Guard Tower.
Despite it being a protest held by mundane people, Flame Guard received an official request from the mayor and city council asking them to prepare just in case. The team wasn’t very keen on interfering in such matters, believing it to be a waste of their time, and Thunder Strike was no different.
He should have been out there dealing with bigger problems, like the mad scientist trying to turn people into lizards, or the Gear Cult, which is on track to develop new weapons that could rival higher-level Genomes. Even the Alchemist was more of a threat than a bunch of protesters.
Then there was whoever struck down Aegis. Finding the perpetrator should have been their top priority, but here they were, remaining on standby just so a bunch of corrupt politicians could feel safe.
"They’re really pissed, huh?"
The comment drew his attention to the woman sitting a short distance away, her legs crossed in a very unladylike manner. Wind played with her green hair and hood, but she seemed too bored to be bothered by it. Whatever she was looking at with those dark eyes of hers didn’t seem too amusing.
"Of course they’re pissed." Strike scoffed. "Government policies might not affect us much, but to most people, they can be a matter of life and death."
"Well, they have only themselves to blame." Said Huntress. "Expecting handouts then crying when they aren’t given anything. So pathetic."
Strike didn’t try to argue her point. The topic was far too complicated for someone as straightforward as her. Unfortunately for him, his other teammate didn’t share his reluctance.
"You don’t understand, huntress. Some people simply don’t have the option to improve their lives."
As usual, Erebus spawned out of thin air, as if he had been sitting beside them all along. Though they know it would happen, they still fail to anticipate it every time.
"And how is that anyone else’s fault?" Huntress asked, aiming one of her arrows at the shadowy figure sitting right beside her.
"Well, because human society is built on misery, obviously." Erebus motioned for her to calm down. "I mean, it’s not like we don’t have more than enough resources to give everyone better lives. We just choose to let most people struggle, because if we don’t, they’ll start looking at the system and realize that the game is rigged against them."
Huntress lowered her bow, confusion scrunching her face. Strike pressed his mouth to a line. He was going to weigh in on what his shadowy teammate said, but then they heard some familiar metallic clangs coming from behind them.
"Erebus! You’re still going on about that commie bullshit!!?" An angry voice thundered, silencing the howling winds.
The three turned to look at the armored figure walking in their direction, surprise clearly written on their faces. Her size was eye-catching on its own, but the way her attire clashed with the surroundings made it difficult to miss.
The magnificent blue armor felt like a relic from a past long dead, and so did the crimson cape fluttering behind it. The white star at the center of its breastplate begged for attention, but it was difficult to look at it when the demonic visage above it radiated rage and anger.
"On no!" Erebus held his hands to his face. "Here comes Ms. Liberty! She’s going to kill us for talking about what’s wrong with the world!"
"If there is anything wrong with the world then it’s worthless scum refusing to work for what they want!" The armored woman shouted. "If you aren’t making it in life, then you have no one else to blame but yourself!"
"There it is! The classic ’they don’t want to work’! And you followed it with the ’it’s your fault if you don’t make it’! A very powerful combo!"
Not amused by the undisguised sarcasm, the armored woman stomped toward Erebus.
"Oh, what’s next? Are you going to hit me with the ’nothing is free’? Or is it ’the world doesn’t owe you anything’?"
"Star, I didn’t think you would join us today," Strike said, trying to defuse the situation before it escalates.
Liberty Star’s fist halted mid-swing and she turned to the blond white man in blue spandex.
"Wasn’t going to." She clicked her tongue. "I just got nothing better to do."
"Just to be clear," Strike fixed her with a glare. "We aren’t allowed to use our powers on unenhanced civilians."
Rolling her eyes, the armored woman turned away and crossed hr arms.
"You don’t have to remind me every time, leader."
Her dismissive tone didn’t go well with the Thunder Strike, but he chose to ignore it, knowing she was just salty about losing the leader seat to him after Aegis was gone. He wasn’t going to hold onto it for that long, after all.
"What about our guest?" She asked. "Isn’t he going to join in on the fun?"
"You know he can’t be seen in public," Strike said. "And please take this seriously. Just because we’re dealing with a bunch of basics doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want."
"Well, not anymore," Huntress spoke before Star could argue. "One of them just started floating, and she seems to have lightning powers too." She squinted her eyes then nocked an arrow on her bow. "There is some crazy guy with enhanced strength, another one with bat wings, and... did that just turn into a tree?"
"Well, I guess it’s time to do our job, then." The instant he said those words, Erebus vanished, as if he had never been there.
"I’ll take out tree-man," Huntress said while pulling the string of her bow. "Can you handle the rest?"
Strike summoned his lightning and glanced at Star. "What’re you gonna do?"
"I’ll be there in a sec. Just leave one for me." The armored woman let out a sigh.
A massive bolt shot up from the tower and struck the cloudy sky, illuminating a path as it traveled in the city hall’s direction.