Dauntless had a surprisingly cheerful look to his face, though he masked it well with a look of seriousness overtop. Still I could make out the crinkle near his eyes, the way they tracked from one group of downed capes to the next.

"Sorry about letting Mush and the Wonder Twins get away," I intoned in a semi lazy tone. It'd been a fun night.

"I'm more worried about the collateral," The roman themed hero intoned looking over at building that looked like it'd eaten the wrong side of a wrecking ball.

I honestly wasn't sure if that was from one of the twins or the Tank. At least the boot print semi-collapsing another one, from one of the ladies size five hundred's was pretty easy to determine.

"Didn't find any civis down, lots of damage though," I tilted my head over to where the abandoned gang members were tied up with tank tracks, "Couple of those guys have some grazes however. I think the seriously hurt were pulled out while they were fighting. The minions pretty much gave up once I showed up."

"Yeah, that's your 'Absolute Terror Field' right?" he asked with a straight face, "I heard some of the Wards talking about it."

I nearly fell over trying to keep the snort from bursting out of my face. "-I'm sorry my what?"

"You're... absolute terror field? Isn't that what they're calling it online?" He asked.

I blinked a few times. How would they even- I mean with Japan destroy-

Oh right Aleph imports. Still wondered who the hell had coined that one.

"Dunno, I haven't checked the boards in a while. Been too busy," I waved over.

He blushed a bit. Honest to any gods listening.

And like that I also realized that holy crap he was young. Early twenties, maybe even late teens. Shit in the fandom he was normally a responsible adult type of some kind, not this... kid.

And this is who Armsmaster considered a Rival?

My mind flashed to Vista, then Skitter, and quickly spread to the rest of the Undersiders, then the remaining other super powered teenagers I'd heard of in this world.

Right, couldn't hold someone's age as a real measuring stick of their capacity. Or maturity really for that matter with thinkers involved.

Still man, how old was this guy?

Whatever he was talking, "I get that."

"So!" he said switching topics quickly, "We better get these guys downtown quickly. Kaiser's on the warpath and he's not going to want to let two of his lieutenants be snapped up easily."

"Sounds good. Party wagon inbound? I don't mind helping pull guard duty, but I'm only running on half a tank if Hookwolf comes around for round two," I warned in a calculated gamble. Miss Militia had implied they'd play ball with me but I wasn't sure how far they'd let me actually go.

The hero grimaced, "Yeah that... would be bad."

He then touched at the side of his Spartan themed helmet and spoke again, "We're clear! Go ahead and send them in... might want to bring a couple towing rigs as well." He said eyeing the tank, then looking at me.

I shrugged. I suplexed the thing, even flipped it on it's side to get access to the hatch after. As far as I was concerned my part in dealing with the tank was done.

"There is going to be so much paperwork for this," he grumbled aloud. "So... I'm told you'll talk so long as we feed you?" he asked me hopefully.

I blinked.

Then I realized what that deal implied alongside the paperwork comment.

And suddenly I wasn't so sure I liked this kid anymore.