"Earphone Jack, I have a special assignment for you."

"What's up, sir?"

We'd been at it for two days, mostly focusing on lower-level crooks, taking care of the standard workload a hero might be expected to have over the course of a week. It was pretty exciting being around to watch the guy work, and I was starting to get into a bit of a routine. Arataki could be a bit annoying, but her quirk was definitely convenient in a pinch.

And now Gang Orca was calling me over for a special assignment. Sweet.

"We've been contacted through the hero network and requested to participate in a stealth mission. They reached out to us, specifically, to recruit you and Tentacole thanks to your scouting skills." He gave something resembling a grin. "Hmph. It seems they're recognizing your - I mean, take this as a warning! Best stay responsible and on your feet!"

"Yes, sir." He's trying to act tough.

"We'll need Tentacole here for the full briefing. Where is he?"

"Shoji? Morning meditation, for an hour. Silence and extreme focus."

"Interesting technique. I'll have to ask for the details."

When Shoji finally joined us, he got around to explaining.

"You may recall that in a previous mission we were told about a villain going by the name 'NIGHTMARE'."

I felt a small chill. I couldn't quite explain it, but it felt like just saying that name somehow made the room a little colder.

"She's an evasive presence. Some believe she is only a rumor, a concept thought up to scare badly behaved criminals out of other villains' territories. But she's real enough, by all accounts, and planning something. We received a request for help from the hero Power Woman. "

"Ooh, ooh! Power Woman! Really? She's so cool! I've seen her on TV as a kid so many times, awesome, awesome!" Arataki interrupted. She'd snuck up on us somehow, and Orca looked a little annoyed.

"Arataki, this meeting concerns Earphone Jack and Tentacole! They were the ones requested! Therefore, it is private!"

She looked kind of hurt. "But - You mean, I can't meet Power Woman?"

"Not at the moment." He looked a little softened at how sad she looked, but tried his best to stay stiff.

"Now, please leave us to our work."

She stepped out, looking glum.

"That was a little harsh, sir. I mean, even if she wasn't requested, all due respect - we could always use backup, especially on a dangerous mission."

"Are you suggesting that myself, my army, and Power Woman and her sidekicks will not be sufficient backup? Are you in fact implying that we will require the services of a rookie to compensate for our sheer incompetence? Is that what you are implying, Earphone Jack!?"

"No, sir," I said, doing my best to remain calm despite the fact that he was practically shouting in my face now.

"Good. Then let me proceed with the mission. Power Woman has been investigating the group, and the individual, known under the villain code name NIGHTMARE -" that chill again - "for some time. All that is certainly known is that the head of the organization has an ability that seems to have a devastating impact on anyone who experiences it, leaving them often traumatized and unable to speak clearly or identify what was done. There are a number of suspects, individuals with quirks that cause similar effects, but no way to narrow down who among them this particular villain might be. In order to figure out who this individual is, and what they might be planning, we need stealth heroes. We need you two," nodding at me and Shoji, "to go infiltrate the place we have identified as their possible hideout, and retrieve all possible information about them. We'll require both of your stealth skills, and make it a priority not to get caught. We will be backing you up and staying in touch via communicators, but make sure to keep them on silent. You'll be accessing the place by way of the two air vents on the building, and infiltrating. Earphone Jack will take the narrower one, Tentacole the larger. You will both sweep the perimeter, staying hidden, and picking up on any data you can. Maintain a distance!" He shouted, even more loudly than usual. "I repeat: Do not allow yourselves to be spotted!"

He was claiming this vigilance thing was about the mission, but it was pretty clear he was worried about us. I tried not to grin too widely, and simply said "Yes, sir!" To each of his loud statements.

Still, it was hard not to be nervous about this. Our first real mission where everything depended on us? Pretty hardcore, and not something to mess up.

"How're you feeling about this?" I asked Shoji, as we waited at the meeting place for Power Woman and her allies.

"Not certain. We are no doubt taking on a truly demanding task."

With a roar, we realized that Power Woman was here at last. She descended from the sky, hands on her hips, with a smile and a reassuring grin.

"Greetings, young heroes! Have you been briefed on the mission?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Let us proceed! Earphone Jack?" She didn't quite address either one of us directly.

"That's me."

"Your entry point is over there." She pointed me in the direction where I was supposed to infiltrate the building. "You ready for this?"

"It's what my quirk was made for, miss."

"Good. Then you'd best get going. Be sure to signal us when you start getting good info."