It's late afternoon; not dark enough to give me much of an advantage in stealth. I can work around that, though. Maybe. I haven't decided whether I'm actually going to step in, here.

On one hand, I've had a really shitty day, and I kind of want to take it out on these guys. The ones having a shootout in a public place. I saw people running from the gunshots, people ducking for cover inside their homes (and if that wasn't some sad commentary on life in Brockton I'd eat my bat)...bullets flying meant innocent people could get hurt. After last night, I'm very much aware that a stray bullet is just as dangerous as one that's on target. So really, stopping these guys before this carries on for much longer would probably be for the best; a good deed for the day and therapeutic all at once.

The problem is that there's a bitter part of me that looks at the empty street, and the thick, brick walls of the surrounding buildings, and thinks that it's not worth the trouble. If these guys want to shoot at each other so badly, let them. And if they wind up killing each other, well…

'-these problems don't solve themselves!'

I grit my teeth, my knuckles going white as I clutch at the ledge I'm leaning over. As much as I hate to admit it...it's true. And I can't just sit here and do nothing. They may have automatic weapons, but I have superpowers, dammit. Problems may not solve themselves, but right now I'm looking at one and I've got all the tools I need to do some solving of my own. I just need the right...approach.

The E88 guys might have picked this fight; we're right on the edge of their territory, as far as I know. Maybe past it. Not sure what they expected to do...maybe they thought they'd get a jump on these guys? All I know is that four-on-six didn't make an even fight. Had they just been confident? Maybe.

But one of theirs is dead already, slumped in a pool of his own blood. And while they managed to wing one of the ABB soldiers early on, he'd just slipped away. That left it five against three, in the ABB's favor. As evidenced by the way the Empire group is trying to withdraw.

Into that alleyway across the street.

I move to the next rooftop, jog across it, and get a nice view of their backs as they continue firing wildly and backing away.

The ABB are playing it safe. Staying in cover while their enemies waste bullets. If they're any kind of smart, they'll probably wait for a bit before trying to follow these guys. Which would give me enough time to do what I need to do.

If not...well. I'm not terrible at thinking on my feet. And I need to do something, soon, or this is going to turn into even more of a mess.

I pick a good spot, gauge the timing, and appear behind them...a jolt goes up my spine, as I reorient; one of the retreating group had turned at just the right time to catch sight of me. I'm already raising my bat, ready to lunge forward and strike before he can warn his friends...he stumbles, and falls into one of his friends, drops his gun in the process. Good for me.

"What the fuck-!?"

Another jolt, and the second one has spotted me. The third, a moment later. His eyes widen, and he pushes his off-balance friend to the ground in an attempt to bring his weapon up. "Oh, shi-"

Bat meets machine-pistol with a metallic clang, and bullets chew along the ground beside me, throwing up chips of gravel and tar. It's almost deafening, in the confines of the alley, but I just grit my teeth and pull back, shove the end of the bat into his chest as hard as I can. He stumbles back, gun falling from nerveless fingers. "You really think shooting at me is a good idea?"

Two down...ish. The third has recovered, ready to pull the trigger. But I've recovered too, and before he can manage it-

-I'm behind him. Bullets hit the wall. "Because this is really not a good day to piss m-" He turns, faster than I would have expected, and lights flash in my vision as something hard slams into the side of my head, where the mask doesn't protect. I have a moment to realize I'm on the ground before hot pain cuts into my side, my chest. A boot drives my last breath out-

"-is isgk..." I drop, feel something pass over my head...I let go of my bat and grab, taking us up with a thought.

Falling. If we're at the edge of my range, we have ten seconds.

He struggles, trying to get away...I count four and take us up, again, facing the opposite direction so our momentum carries us that much further. That's...sixteen-ish. I'm not sure I'm counting right. Blood is pounding in my ears. All I can hear is wind rushing past, and the sound of my breath against my mask...and the guy, screaming. I think he's trying to get away. Bad idea, at this point, but I never attributed much intelligence to neo-nazis.

Not sure what to do about all this, yet. I take us up one more time (twelve, ten...twenty-two seconds), let go before we reach the apex of our 'flight'.

He's terrified. Dropped his gun at some point. That's good...huh. We're really high up, aren't we?

We're falling again. I reach out before we can pick up too much speed or get too far apart, grabbing hold of his shirt and dragging him along with me. He's saying something, but I can't hear it. Don't bother to listen. I glance at the ground again, then close my eyes and count it off. When I hit five seconds (and he's started screaming), I reverse us again, pull my legs in and set my knees against his stomach. Wait until that weightless feeling of 'falling' up subsides, then visualize the alley we left not too long ago and set us both down.

Him first, though. He fucking killed me. The impact jolts me (actually, that's the Charm again, five people watching), but drives what little fight was left right out of the guy.

I would...love to stop and catch my breath, but that little delay cost me more than just energy. I try not to slump as I get to my feet; slowly, both to avoid wavering and to keep from spooking the armed ABB edging into the alley (only three; a glance shows that one of the Empire guys got away, but the remaining two definitely can see me).

Alright. I can do this. I make a note of where my bat wound up, take a deep breath, and raise my voice to make sure I'm heard. "I have to say, I don't like your odds h-" Okay, gun. I'm on the roof before the noise of it reaches me...dodging is good. Dodging before getting shot is so much better than the alternative. I should really work on that. And maybe stop talking.

Something to consider later, though. For now, bad guys.

I move to the edge of the roof overlooking the street, just make sure that those other two guys aren't hanging around somewhere. I don't see them, so...back down, just outside the alley. I breath, then step around the corner-

-back to the rooftop. Another burst of gunfire. What the hell? Did they hear me coming or something? I mean, that other guy had reacted pretty quickly when I'd moved in behind him, but they were waiting for me. What...oh.

Oni Lee. Teleporter.

Guess at least some of the ABB would expect that trick, wouldn't they? Hmm…

I move over to the alley-side of the roof, enhance my vision to get a good look at them without breaking cover. They're a little spread out, now, one moving for the fallen Empire thugs...oh, shit. Yeah, okay, can't let that happen. Alright...I need to break them up. That trick I'd pulled a minute ago is a little more intensive than I need, but I can manage a couple of back-to-back teleports without much trouble. With a little rest in between...totally doable.

The roof across the street looks like a good candidate. I pick a spot, there, then get a good look at the group below, and reach out-

-grabbing the guy as he lifts his gun to finish off the wounded E88 men-

-to shove him forward as hard as I can. His shins hit the exposed ductwork that runs across the roof, and he tumbles forward with a curse. The handgun clatters to the ground...I don't have my bat, but it doesn't take much effort to hop the duct and kick him in the head.

He's dazed, but I don't wait around to do anything else; I grab the gun, fumble with it for a moment looking for...the clip drops out, and I wind up dropping the gun trying (and failing) to catch it. Which is...fine. Doesn't matter. I scoop it up; it's got some heft to it. I can use that.

"Hang around for a little while."

That earns me a few biting words in a language I don't really recognize. Probably a curse. I sigh, and move to get another look at the alley...shit. Where'd they go? I move to look out over the street...yeah, they're running. Think fast, Taylor…

I move-

-and aim a low kick at one guy as he passes. Pain shoots up my leg and I hiss even as his leg goes out from under him just as he's trying to put his weight on it. He's down a second later, almost taking me with him...the sound of his startled cry has the other one skidding to a stop and turning back to see what's happened.

So I pull back and throw the clip at him. It hits him in the shoulder, and he jerks back, aborting the attempt to bring his weapon up. And then-

-I'm right beside him, twisting it out of his hands. It catches on something, and there's a snap...broke his finger. Okay...probably should have thought that through, because it could just as easily have gone off. Another note for future me.

He throws a punch, and I barely get out of the way in time. Swing the gun to catch him on the same shoulder I'd hit before...and then at his face. Red gushes from his nose as he tumbles back, and he clutches at it as he hits the ground. Doesn't seem like he's about to get up again…

Eyes on me, behind (thank you, Bone Charm), I turn and immediately throw the gun as hard as I can. The guy I'd tripped had been getting up again, but the flying machine pistol catches him right in the head, and he slumps again.

...I...hadn't actually expected that to work.

Well...huh. Okay then.

I take a deep breath. Realize, belatedly, that I'm trembling. In a good way, though...ha. That just happened. Six guys. Just like that. No rats for distractions...not even my bat. Just...yeah.

Any of my earlier indecision that had stuck is gone, now. I really needed that after...earlier…

Just like that, my good mood plummets. Which is just...so very unfair. Because this is my thing. I'm a hero, now, and that should be what I'm worried about. Not arguments with my dad, not Winslow...I shouldn't have to prioritizethat stuff over helping people…

But the school wouldn't give a shit even if they knew what I was doing. And dad doesn't know I'm out helping the city anyway, does he? Because I haven't told him.

For good reason. He'd worry even more if he did know. He wouldn't let me spend days and nights going around and harassing the gangs. God, he'd probably try and push me into the Wards.

No, this is better-

Sirens. Guess I won't have to call this one in. I glance around, then step-

-up onto the roof where I'd left the other ABB guy. He's just getting to his feet, doesn't have time to react before I grab him and take him down to the street with his buddies. A shove sends him to his knees again, and I step back before he can react.

"Listen up. You're going to stay here. And when the police show up, you're going to tell them about the guys in the alley over there. Got it?"

He glares up at me. "Fuck you."

I glare right back. "If you'd rather try to run, I could just break your legs now and save the trouble of having to chase you down later." It's a pretty blatant bluff, but he seems to buy it. Or, at least, he's not willing to risk it outright. He just shifts, and sits. Glances over as the guy with the busted nose tries to get to his feet and starts stumbling away.

Which is...yeah.

I wrangle him in, just in time for a squad-car to roll up. Police. Just in the nick of time. I don't bother trying to engage, just raise my voice as I head to the alley. "There's some more for you over here, when you're done with them!"

They're trying to limp away too. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Annoyed? Maybe. It'd be funny if it weren't for the fact that they were shooting at people earlier...I pick up my bat, teleport in front of them, and point back toward the street. They glare, but with some obvious reluctance turn themselves around and start walking the other way.

Wonderful.

I follow them all the way out and over to where the cops are cuffing the ABB guys. "There were a few more, but they ran while I was taking care of these guys."

One of them pulls a face, shaking his head as he hauls one man to his feet. "I'll call it in."

Great. I turn away, and start walking-

"Fucking capes…"

...I grit my teeth, and glance over my shoulder. See the second cop scowling as he folds an Empire goon's arms back. I wonder how well he would have handled these guys. If he'd actually bothered to show up before they got away.

"Useless jackass."

He jerks, glares up at me. "What-"

I'm half a block away already, and moving into the narrow alley that the injured ABB guy had gone down.

Blowing off a little more steam before I go home again is probably a good idea. Maybe if I'm lucky...I crouch low, touch a wet spot on the asphalt. Rub the red between my fingers, before cringing and wiping it off on my sweatshirt.

If I'm lucky, he'll lead me to more of his friends.

xxxxxxxxxx

I'm not so sure anymore whether it was good luck, but...well. The trail had led me to the gangbanger, and the gangbanger had definitely led to more ABB.

I sit on the roof of the tenement building, trying, for the third time, to get an accurate headcount. They're spread out and keep moving around, but there's got to be...fifteen or sixteen in my range of vision, which I don't think covers the lower floors. That's...that can't be all of them. The building is too big. So does that mean there are more downstairs?

Does it matter? I can't go up against a group that big. I may have picked up a habit of making...questionable decisions, lately, but I'm not an idiot. Even if they're not all armed (which I doubt is the case), numbers will overwhelm me as easily as anything else.

Can I just call it in? Let the police (or the Protectorate?) take care of things? I mean, they've got the manpower, and they get paid for this stuff…

I think back to the cop from earlier. To dad's stories. I think about the fact that there are so many of these guys, just hanging around in one place...and I'm the first one to find something? To bother tailing someone here?

…no. No, it's not a good idea. It's dangerous.

But then again...just going out in costume is dangerous. Hell, walking out your front door is dangerous in this city. So the concern isn't the danger. It's...how much danger are you willing to face to do what you need to do?

Problems don't solve themselves. Dad was talking about the bullying, but this...the gangs are the same, aren't they? It's all just the same shit, on a bigger scale. Which is...

Huh. Is this what an 'epiphany' feels like?

I guess so...that doesn't mean that trying to clear out an ABB safe-house is a good idea, of course. I'm alright fighting one or two guys at a time, but being willing to face that kind of danger doesn't magically grant me the ability to face it successfully. Which leaves me...thinking in circles. Dammit. Alright...stay and do something, or leave and call it in? Risk the pain of what could be a couple more 'deaths'...or go home and deal with that mess?

...I know what I'd prefer, and it makes me think I might have some issues. But...I can talk to Victoria about that. Later.

For now...I move to sit in the center of the roof, close my eyes, and focus on control.

Awareness. I wince as I realize just how many bugs there are in the surrounding block. Just how many mice and rats have made their homes in the walls. Useful, for me, but I really didn't need to know that...I start organizing, working out placement, and surroundings (as well as I can, anyway). By the time my control slips away, the first time, I've confirmed that there are eighteen people here...and room for a lot more. Places that I'm pretty surewere occupied until very recently.

So that's a question. For later, though...right now, I need to focus. A deep, calming breath, and I exert my control again. This time, I focus on the building itself. Rooms, doors, stairwells...where are the people, where can I go where they won't be…

Okay. I'll do this floor-by-floor. Start at the top; three guys. Two are settled in front of a TV, the third is roaming. My control slips, and I let it go this time, wait a few moments to fully recover before enhancing my vision to ensure I won't lose track of the guy. Another few moments-

-and I appear in an empty apartment. No lights on that I can see. No door, either. A bunch of mattresses laid out wherever there's room, and no small amount of garbage. The guy I'm after is just down the hall and headed this way.

I glance around, spot an empty can; soda or beer, I can't tell. Doesn't matter, now. I just need something to draw his attention...I move to press myself against the wall beside the door. Watch him, as he draws closer...I toss the can, so that it bounces off a mattress and skitters across the floor. Not as noisy as it could have been, it's enough for him to hear. And it gets him curious.

He flicks the lights on as he edges inside, one hand at the small of his back. He glances at me, sweeps the rest of the room...does a double-take just in time to catch the handle of my bat across his face. It puts him off balance, gives me free reign to get in behind him and drop the bat down to press against his throat. A pull, and I've got him...he struggles, of course. Tries to drive me back against the wall. I just teleport us so that my back hits a mattress instead.

He's not much taller than me, but he's heavy. Still, I hold on, adjusting when my grip starts to fail, so that I've got my arms curled up around the bat. I manage to thwart his attempts to roll us over, ignore the fumbling at my arms, at the bat, at my face. And I keep pulling until his panicked wheezing stops. Until he goes completely limp. Then I hold for a little longer.

Finally, I let go, shove him off of me and get back to my feet...out like a light. It took a lot longer than I thought it would, but I guess that makes sense. I bend down to roll him over, pull the gun out of his waistband and, with a little work, remove the clip. That goes underneath another mattress.

Only...seventeen more to go.

...better get to it, then.

I mean, I guess at this point I've committed, haven't I?

"Yeah..." I wait for my vision to return to normal, refresh it, and turn the lights off as I slip out of the room.

The other two on this floor haven't really moved. I'm not quite as sure what to do about them...can I lure one of them out? Maybe...I lean against the wall beside the door, and consider it long enough that my vision runs down again.

I glance back down the hall, and think...eye the flickering, fluorescent lights overhead. Turn to lean, carefully, into the open doorway. Just enough to get a look into the apartment. Not particularly bright, beyond that TV, but there's some overhead lighting...I lean in a little further, since they seem pretty engrossed in whatever's on. Where's the switch…? Over near what used to be a kitchenette, it looks like. One more glance at them, and I crouch low-

-and edge forward to press against the cabinets beneath the counter, just opposite them. I listen, and as soon as I've recovered, enhance my vision to assure myself that they haven't moved. Which they haven't. Good.

I hold my bat close to keep from bumping into anything, and work my way along until all I need to do is reach around the corner for the switch.

Deep breath.

The light goes out.

They notice, of course. There's some grumbling, and a rapid-fire discussion in another language. One of them stands up and moves toward the switch. And as he does, I reach up-

-grab the guy sitting on the couch-

-and drag him down onto the floor in the mattress room. He doesn't have a chance to call out before I'm on him, bat pressing down on his neck. By the time he can think to do more than claw uselessly at my mask, he's starting to flag. Again, I wait until after he's stopped moving.

The guy from before shifts, and lets out a groan. I almost jump out of my skin. That's...aren't people supposed to stay knocked out? I stalk over and, after making sure that he is, in fact, waking up...well. I hit him in the head.

And I hit the other guy, while I'm at it. Then I hear a voice and curse myself for getting distracted...vision is a go. The third guy is heading down the hall...shit. Toward the stairs. I don't waste time, just appear in front of him and swing my bat. He goes down too. Not quite out, but not about to go running off. So...that's three. Easy. I mean, it could have gone really badly…but it didn't.

So, now what? I've got fifteen more guys to deal with, and if I can't keep these guys unconscious reliably...well. I'll just have to find a way to keep them from calling for help. Or going to find it. So...restraints.

I should...probably invest in some of those.

For now, though….well, this guy has a belt. And, as I 'drag' him back to the room with the others, I notice that they do, too.

It takes some doing, but I manage to get them all disarmed, sat up, and belted together in a way that I'm reasonably sure won't let them get out easily. Given that they're all either groggy or unconscious...I guess I'll call that done.

Now for the rest…

I'm...I'm going to be here all night, aren't I?

"Right…" I close my eyes for a moment, sigh, and shake myself out. Pat the nearest thug on the head. "You boys just wait here…"

Onward and...downward, I guess.