Calvin would flinch at the hand moving towards her face. But let Cyclynx move her head to the side.

"I don't know what that is! Acid is bad though right? Shit, I didn't mean to hurt him that bad!" She said aloud at a much higher volume than needed. Her ears had crimson in them, though the woman could see the flesh writhing almost imperceptibly.

"Should I go back to my school group?! I'll probably get in trouble if they can't find me!"

All Calvin could hear was a painful ringing. Her head ached and she could feel warmth in her ears.

But Cylynx was talking to her. She was pretty sure? They had a helmet on that made it hard to tell.

Speaking louder than she needed to Calvin would nearly shout.

"He's getting away! I'm not sure what that stuff was but it really seemed to hurt!"

"Should we chase after him? Shake or nod your head I can't hear you!"

The girl would slam her bleeding hands over her ears as the villain let out a screech that could never have truly been human. Her teeth grinding hard enough that she thought they might crack as she struggled to block it out. Stumbling back, away from Tarrasque just to escape the sound.

Her ears were still ringing when her mind pushed past the agony to realize that the villain had made his move, hurrying away from her. She seemed a little shocked by what had happened. The smell of chemically scorched flesh hanging in the air along with the scent of the shattered tanks spilling out across the hallway.

"I.. it was supposed to be hot water. What was that?"

They always counted out the plucky young heroine. Calvin had managed to struggle to her feet, the lionfish venom oozing from her wounds as the taffy like tendrils of flesh reached across the wounds. Muscle and skin knitting together as she held her hands tight together. She had to prop herself up against the wall, shoulder digging into the false rocky texture. Blood dripped from both hands.

The sphere that grew between her palms strained and she could feel it swirling like a whirlpool held within her hands. A ghost of a sting prickled at her nerves. This one was painful. It was going to hurt. But this villain wasn't holding back. He was killing innocent animals and spraying venomous quills around like a pissed off porcupine monster. He was scum and she wasn't going to feel too bad about this.

"New rule.." She muttered to herself. "Burn."

"CY BACK!"

She shouted at the same time she spun, launching the ball like a shot put right at the square of his back. A clear liquid splashing over him that would almost immediately begin to hiss. Calvin did not know this, but as scientists the both of them might know just how devastating hydrochloric acid can be to flesh in its purest form.

The teenager dropped to her feet and nearly collapsed. Every joint in her body hurt. The man's tentacled grip had left bruises where it had squeezed. she was pretty sure her ribs were bruised. Thankfully nothing had cracked. She could feel her burns on the lower half of her face fading slowly. Her hand still felt like she'd touched a belt sander. But she closed both fists and scrambled to flank the villain.

"He grabbed something out of the sand, I don't know what it- Oh shit!!"

Calvin would move, grabbing something, then throwing herself in a direction.. but not to take cover. She turned her back and threw out her arms. Keeping as many of the spines from smashing into the tanks as she could with her short frame. A few cracked, embedded with the spines. But the majority had hit the girl and the thick cardboard stand of a cartoon octopus. The spines tearing through it almost all the way but it had helped minimize the damage a little more.

Calvin herself stumbled, then dropped to her knees and screamed out in pain. The venom of dozens of spines coursing through her. Her vision going white with blistering pain. Already she could feel her body writhing around the spines. pushing them out millimeter by agonizing millimeter.

Calvin was gritting her teeth as her smile only widened in response to the pain. Though at this point her expression looked a bit manic. Her eyes were darting around wildly underneath her blank white goggles as she tried to think of a way out of this. She needed a knife or something.

She was still in the middle of fighting off panic when she heard the door crash inwards and the familiar voice of the feline themed heroine calling out.

"Now that's..urgh.. some proper banter." She muttered to herself under her breath. Hyde likely not paying enough attention to her to hear it.

All the while her hand remained clutched, blood dripping from it faster and faster. Calvin could feel the clutched power sending small fractures through the bones in her hand. She could feel it, writhing like an angry hornet in her hand. The core of energy that wanted to explode from the confines of her grip with a fury that was only growing.

"Cy, I'm fine." The girl assured the heroine, even as she felt her limbs straining against their sockets. "He's.. Mutating! When he touches something!" She yelped as the pressure intensified. Her jaw tensing to the point where she was scared her teeth would crack. In the back of her mind she thought it might be hard to explain why she had her arms ripped off to her mother. That conversation would suck really bad.

"New rule. Cy, mimic me!" Calvin would clutch her eyes shut behind her goggles. Then open her hand as it was outstretched.

The quail egg sized ball would drop from her palm then start to rapidly expand in the air until it just touched the ground.

Light, searing light, enough to leave an intense burn on exposed skin, exploded from the ball. Filling the room like a bomb.

Cal tried to push herself up as the villain stalked towards her. Hand slipping on the wall as the blood from the cut made the palm slick. Before she could fall, disoriented and dizzy, the crushing grip of the muscled limbs wrapped around her and managed to actually lift her from the ground. She let out a pained yell as the limbs pressure compressed her limbs in close. But a second later she stubbornly forced her grin back to her face.

"Dude urk.. two words... Breath. Mint."

Cal managed to get out. A pressure building under one of her hands, pushing against the tentacle grip despite their strength. Trying to think of something to get her out of this. She could feel the vision at the corners of her eyes going fuzzy.

Calvin listened, trying to figure out what he was trying to get across with this monologue. Had he been here.. for the fish? The sand in their tanks?? Whatever, all that mattered were the seconds that passes while he wasted time talking. People were getting further away, and heroes were coming. She knew that in her heart, they were on their way.

Then she noticed he was pulling something, one of the tanks he'd cracked open at the top was draining. But she couldn't see where the water was going. In the moment that his lips parted to spray the water Cal's instincts told her to dive to the side. Instead, she chose to be an idiot. She jumped, and spiked the solid ball at the villain, sending it barreling at him with all the speed the girl could muster. Right over the jet of water that hit her square in the chest.

The impact was violent enough to send the girl off her feet. Slamming into the wall behind her, head cracking against the drywall. Her world went dizzy and she slumped. A weak groan dragged itself from her lips and she tried to keep her eyes focused. Did she get him? If the damn room would stop spinning she could tell.

The redhead groaned as she lay upside down inside the entrance area of the small aquarium. Having to work to get her feet under her and scrabble after him. It wasn't exactly a heroic chase but if she could just keep him busy long enough someone would show up who could actually stop him. By now the cops and the Protectorate had to of been called by someone out in the panicking crowds right? She had to trust in her fellow citizens if this guy was going to get taken down.

Panting, she'd pick out a few pieces of glass from her palm and try to follow the sounds of people yelling. "It will be okay, I've got this!" She told the people who were rushing past her. Most paid her little to no attention. Others just looked more scared when they realized their "heroine" was covered in scratches and small cuts.

Eventually though, she'd find where the villain had run off to and called out.

"HEY UGLY!"

Another ball blipped out of her ragged palm. Rising into her grip. Her eyes went wide for a second, then gritting her teeth she continued to pump more of her power into it. The sphere was that sort of heavy she could feel in her bones. Like it should be impossible to lift but while it was wrapped in the weird red skin, it was hers to control. Her fingers dug into the rubbery surface, letting her grip it in an underhand hold. Then pointed at him.

"Stand down or this thing is going to knock out so many teeth your villain buddies will be calling you the Gummy Bear!" ...Wow Cal, that was lame. She thought to herself.

Calvin inhaled sharply through her teeth. Steadying her breath as she broke into a practiced sprint. She wasn't the fastest girl at her old school, but she'd been able to place in the top three a couple of times. Seeing the veritable tank of animal parts starting to take off, the heroine made a beeline for him. Slender limbs carried her quick and when she leapt it was with her hands outstretched. One hand gripping onto one of the thorny devil spines while her armor took the brunt of the rest of them.

Though jumping onto a scaled pincushion wasn't exactly comfortable, Cal grit her teeth and ignored where she felt her clothes get poked through. Her other hand wrapping around the base of one of those massive wings. Gripping hard and trying to twist the joint and turn them away from whatever direction the guy wanted to go. She didn't know what he wanted, but she knew his ego would take a blow if she didn't let him have it!

"You're not exactly.. the broadest side of the barn dude. You're expecting me to miss?" She growled through gritted teeth.

Calvin pushed herself to her feet, stumbling a little bit, then hurried after the villain. Forming another ball in her hand which, upon feeling, made her quietly curse. Another roiling ball, but this one was hot, very hot. Odds were this wasn't the sort she wanted to throw at full strength. Hell she debated shoving it into the ground to detonate but she had to get this guy's attention back on her.

Running at a full sprint, the redhead would slap her hand down over her palm that held the growing ball. Her fingers squishing and pinching it until it split into five separate jawbreaker sized spheres. She scooped three into one hand and held onto the other two, whipping the trio at him from an angle she was pretty sure wouldn't hit any fleeing civilians if she were to miss.

"I'm right here big guy!" She shouted, shifting the two remaining 1/5th power spheres into each hand whipping them at him with a twirl.

These orbs, much like the first one, contained a liquid. But there wasn't the same impact behind them. Sure they hurt, but this time, when the skin burst the fluid inside glowed a cherry red. Molten rock splattering onto whatever it hit. Cooling with a supernatural quickness and leaving scattered patches of black glass on whatever they had flash scorched.

"Oh wow, someone actually got it!" The redhead crowed cheerfully, even as the massive mutated villain lashed out at her.

Calvin had been ready for him to lash out, the man hadn't seemed like the "chat it out" sort and her whole body had been pulled taught like a rubber band, waiting for the moment he attacked. Simultaneously the girl would tip the ball out of her palm, drop herself to the ground, then lashed out with her foot. Not at him, but at the ball itself. Like a rubber kickball launched off her sneaker it would go rocketing towards his center of mass.

The ball hit him in the side with the force of a bucket of cement being dropped off a roof. A solid impact, despite how it had looked squishing off her shoe, then a burst of a grey fluid splattered out as the red skin of the ball burst. The stuff was solid at first, then quickly it turned into a thick coating of slime on whatever it touched. It wasn't really sticky, more of a mess than anything. But that original impact, if Hyde hadn't had his thick carapace in place it likely would have cracked a rib. Either Calvin Ball had some serious strength behind those legs of hers or the projectile was meant to hurt like a son of a bitch.

The girl shrugged, using the action to disguise her movement of her free hand, slipping it behind her back. She had her phone tucked into her belt she just had to do what she'd practiced. She felt the little click of her phone unlocking and had to hide her relief that this was working. Just had to send the text to the right person or this was really really going to hurt.

"Dude, you're mixing insults like they're not important. What do rabbits and kids have to do with each other? It's like you're intentionally trying to mess it up to seem dumb. Or are you actually as dumb as you are ugly?" She paused, playing up that she was musing to herself.

"Nnnnooo, if you were that dumb you'd probably have forgotten how to breathe." To the girl's credit, even as the villain advanced she didn't back down. Still grinning up at him.

"So what brings you to the zoo? Pretty sure they don't have ass faced baboons if you were looking for the family meet up."

The redhead moved her arm again, this time Hyde could see through the crook in her elbow with his height. The glint of a phone, thumb tapping across it. Then it getting tucked away into her belt.

"Before you get your butt kicked, you wanna find out why they call me Calvin Ball or do you want to figure out the rules as we go?"

Sammy's first thought when she saw the man creeping into view was simply "HOLY SHIT!?" A rush of revulsion ran through her and in an instant she forced a grin to hide her disgust at the thing she was looking at. It was clearly a guy, one who was an asshole sure, but a guy nevertheless. Casually she leaned against the dented door frame and lifted her palm up.

At first it looked like there was a blister growing from her hand, but it quickly gave a little 'pop' and she was suddenly holding a bright, cherry red ball roughly the size of a softball. Cal could feel the contents of it roil, heavy and slow like some sort of boiling gelatin. She was familiar with this sort, typically there was a pretty heavy impact before it split like a water balloon. Perfect for this sort of situation. Her grin widened.

"First off, rude. You don't even have any witty banter to try other than that creep-o material? I guess that makes sense with that beating you took from your power's ugly stick. Really though, what the heck man? This place is filled with kids and their families. You couldn't have broken in any other time? You had to pick the one where your ugly mug was most likely to be seen by like every kid in the city?"

"Just because your mirror gives you nightmares it doesn't mean that others need to be subjected to.." she made a hand motion with her empty hand, indicating all of him. "...that."

If he was watching the ball, it reached a certain size (around that of a melon) and the growth became slower, incremental to the point it was hard to see if it was still expanding unless he looked away and glanced back.

Sammy wasn't really paying much attention as she slipped away from the group watching the elephants, her fingers swiping over a few pictures she'd taken on her phone. She sent one of the selfies she'd taken to her mother then pocketed it. Just looking up to see if she could find a sign or something that would lead her towards a trash can. Something blurring through the air caught her eye as she did and the girl curiously wondered what kind of bird that had been.

It looked like it had ducked down behind one of the staff buildings, and curiously she followed it, pausing as she heard a bang! No one else blinked twice, the sound was something akin to a door slamming and wasn't too out of the ordinary. But something about the sound just seemed so out of place to the teen. Slowly she would creep around the corner, slipping away from the group chaperone and moving to investigate. What she found surprised her, one of the back doors to the reptile house looked like it had been dented open?

"What the heck?"

Her fingers fiddled with her bag and she shifted from foot to foot. What was going on? Did this.. need a super hero or was this just someone having accidentally broken a door? Who would want to steal something from a reptile house anyway? It wasn't like someone was just going to walk out with a gilla monster or one of the komodos without the guards getting called. Maybe she should just...

A minute later, after ducking behind one of the electrical boxes, Sammy would emerge sans her backpack and souvenirs and with her costume on. A simple padded vest, elbow and knee pads, and a pair of goggles that she had made off a youtube tutorial that could show her expression even while she wore them. All while the multitude of her cheek freckles was hidden under a thick layer of black greasepaint. She still wished she'd taken the time to visit the Protectorate and sign up for that program she'd been told about, but now wasn't really the time. Taking a deep breath she'd approach the door and call in.

"Hey, everyone all right in here?"

Samantha was enjoying her time on the field trip, her neck draped with a plush snake and a little flag with a monkey on it. Sipping from a cup of tea held in both hands. She'd been trailing after her group all morning as they trailed from exhibit to exhibit, the parent chaperone in charge of the six students not paying the most attention. Her bag bounced against her back, and tucked at the bottom of it was her costume. Between the exhibits her mind kept wandering back to the maps of the city that she'd been studying, still trying to work out what might be her best patrol route.

The bright redhead of hair would lean over the railing to the elephant environment. Humming happily to herself. The only thing that would make this day any better would be actually knowing anyone she was here with.

"I've taken a couple of first aid classes. I wanted to know how to help people, so I took a few courses in helpful skills. The self defense course was hard to explain, but they didn't ask too many questions about it."

She listened with rapt attention, though there was a bit of confusion about the "care packages."

"Why would I leave them something in a place they shouldn't know I'm visiting? What sort of care package would you guys even put together for them? I don't think I'll get any action figures or anything made unless I'm an actual Protectorate cape right?"

The woman chuckled, but there wasn't any mirth to it. "Because I tried to turn you down over email, and the phone."

"Because the last time I tried that..." She reached under her mask and seemed to shift around under it for a moment before slapping something down onto Ruth's desk with a 'clack' sound. When she removed her hand there was a slick, glass eye.

"...One of you couldn't take no for an answer and ripped out my damn eye. So yes, I'll happily leave. Kid, good luck, don't let this organization turn you into the same kind of monster that did this to me."

And without another word, the woman would turn and storm out of the office.

"I don't know if they really need to know." She muttered as she rubbed at her cheek, seemingly startling as she realized the wipe had taken off some of the black grease paint covering up the dense smear of freckles. Her hands dig around in her pockets, eventually pulling out the little tub of black paint and rubbing it back over her cheek, trying to avoid the cut.

"How would I register?"

"I.. I don't know if they were exactly. But they don't know I have powers I'm pretty sure. I haven't told anyone, that's how your villains find out who your family and friends get hurt if you ever get captured. I've seen it happen a lot and I'm not gonna make that mistake."

The girl reached up and, using her tongue to push it from the inside, pinched out the shard of bullet that had lodged itself in her cheek. As well as a chunk of brick. Anything smaller she was sure her body would take care of somehow. She flicked away the bit of lead and sighed.

"I'm not one of those jerks who got powers and instantly thought I was better than normal people." The emphasis on "normal" stronger than it needed to be.

"I just want to help. Stop the bad guys, keep people safe. My power sort of sucks, which sucks on its own, but I think I can pull it off if I'm working hard. I made this costume all by myself, and I planned out this route which lets me cover about fifteen blocks if I really hurry. Plus I'm keeping up on my running and have been practicing parkour to make that route bigger."

Mechakoloss didn't step back, or flinch. Just crossed her arms and tilted her head to one side. The teddybear mask making it a bit less intimidating than it might have been. Eventually though, the tinker shook her head and Wreck could hear her chuckling.

"The concern is appreciated, but unnecessary. I've been a tinker for two years now, I know the drill when it comes to the ego maniacs and their fetish for pet tinkers. They love the flexibility, the unexpected nature of the plot twist. But while I'm not armed, I'm also not defenseless."

She tilted her head the other way and rubbed at her neck. Scratching underneath the massive mane of brown hair that draped down to her knees.

"I've told the Protectorate and the mafia guy downtown I'm not interested in their bickering. I'm barely interested in being a cape, but I've got to scratch that tinker itch or else I'll go nuts. As long as I don't flaunt my abilities too much, I'm basically a non-entity in a silly cartoon mask."

"I just work in large scale. I actually don't have any of my tech on me right now. I've found that unless things are getting really serious, a lot of people really will do a lot to avoid getting smacked upside the head with a heavy wrench. Brutes are another matter but I'm faster than I look."

The woman joked, though with her long legs she probably could move pretty quickly if she needed to.

"Ow ow owww." The girl continued to complain, though she let the heroine continue to try and help. "I don't know really, I had a scrape that healed in a few hours. And I cut my finger while making a salad and it sealed up pretty quick. It's really unpleasant, like my skin is made of worms where I'm hurt."

Calvin would listen to the invitation and feel her heart start to race with excitement.

"Wait you think I could be a Ward!?" Then the reality hit her and that excitement died in her chest. "You need parental permission for that sort of thing right?"

"I just need you to find these models of cars if you can. Me and the Himalaya here could work on dismantling them."

The woman would start to pat through her pockets, fishing around until she finally pulled out a piece of paper. Holding the rumpled and slightly grease stained page out towards the baseball player.

She'd reach up and tap her mask. A metallic ringing coming from her nail against the surface of the painted armor.

"Come on, you creeps are smarter than to judge based on design choices. Or at least you're smart enough to pick up on why I made this one. Or is PR another brain cell's department? Because you're just shoveling the same rhetoric anyone can read online. But I know when kids are being put into unnecessary danger. Dressing them up in bright costumes and parading them in front of drug dealers, thugs, and mobsters is absolutely unnecessary danger."

The last bit about her trigger basically being discounted earning an icy venom to her tone.

She'd let her boots hit the ground with a dull 'Clunk' and leaned forward in her chair.

"You're also making assumptions about me that aren't wise. Right now, I'm trusting you guys. I don't have anything more than a mundane chain to defend myself with right now. And I'd rather keep using it to keep up my pants. You can threaten me all you want to feel like you've got the big governmental..."

Her head tilted towards Nereid and she seemed to reconsider her words.

"Anyway. Don't act like I'm your enemy and I won't be. I'm here to turn down your invitation. That's all."

Mechakoloss was used to those sort of stares, people either dressing her down or sizing her up. It came with the territory of being an unknown. In her experience people tended to draw a singular conclusion, and she was happy to support it.

Grabbing a chair she'd drop down onto it, heavy combat boots swinging up to rest on the woman's desk. The teddy bear mask tilted at an angle to dismiss the woman speaking and instead address Nereid.

"You're too good for this place kid. They're going to use you up and turn you into something you won't like. You should get out while the getting is good."

Then turning back to the woman in front of her, the almost friendly tone she'd used with Nereid becoming icy cold.

"I fully oppose the Ward program as an institution. If you're going to use a kid as a human shield you're pretty darn low."

"Okay that is an amazing mousetrap in the making." The woman joked while she watched the staff snap back into place.

"The arms are cool as heck as well!" Mechakoloss gasped as she started to move behind the other cape to examine the arms.

"Fantastic joint work. I might need to try that out. Though I'm not sure I can interface the extra limbs into the cognural network without..." She'd trail off into some muttering.

The woman was silent for a moment and makes a hand gesture, the machine mimicking her movements. A careful bit of manipulation later and Starving Artist was sat in the palm of the machine with the thumb of the massive hand over her lap like the bar of a roller coaster.

"I don't really get what you mean. Are you asking if I'm a tinker?"

"Because I'm not huffing whatever it is you are."

The girl would shift from foot to foot, debating whether or not she should duck away. But Cylynx was a heroine she wasn't going to do anything bad, she was just over rea- "ow ow ow!!"

Calvin would start to squirm and try and pull her head back from the wipe. Grimacing at the sting, and the new blood that dribbled from the wound as the scabs were disturbed. That hurt like hell! One hand would go up to try and cover her injured cheek.

"It's Calvin Ball, and I'm.. I'm fine! I don't know if you need to use whatever that is, it stings. My body being weird might be reacting to it bad or something."

"You don't look like much of a tinker, but you don't mind recycling." The woman joked as she moved in and started to dig through the metal, scooping out a few bits of more shining silver.

"Your touch can make the metal sort of soft right? Can I manipulate it while you touch it?"

"Not many hobbies I'm able to keep up with in this line of work, or in my previous one. My big beast over here requires a healthy dose of attention. All this metal doesn't move itself unless I'm making sure all the parts are functioning at one hundred percent."

She'd sound genuinely proud of the machine as she gave it a pat, and if Homerun was especially observant she might see it leaning into them!

"I was just getting started in here, if you'd like to help maybe I could write out a list of vehicles that might have the materials I need? If you want to help with the scavenger hunt that involves finding the right models."

"I could help you work those into some punk spikes, or some studs if you want to go for a sleek look. I used to have leather gloves with flat studs over the knuckles. That was before I ever got into any of this though."

She'd indicate her masked face.

"And yeah, whatever metal you're willing to spare. Makes my life easier."

"Huh? No. God no. This is cool as heck, I just wanted to see what you were doing with the scrap metal."

The woman's tone was conversational, easy. She didn't stop leaning, just raising a hand to show she meant no harm.

In doing so Wreck could see a pair of patches on the shoulder of her leather jacket. The first being a trans flag with "protect trans kids" written on it, the second being a grey patch with four numbers on it "1312."

"No thanks. I don't want your mysterious green fluid. And my machine isn't a sculpture. It's an efficient combat suit that is capable of tossing you bodily out of this yard. Which I'd much rather not do. Also!" She added in an annoyed tone. "I'm not irritable or angry! I'm frustrated that some little gremlin is trying to rob me after I spent two grand to salvage whatever I'd like for an hour. You're burning my time."

"Now, drop it." The hand would give a little shake, swaying the tinker back and forth to try and make her drop it.

"What you have isn't a muffler, you were also going after a compressor I think. It looked like what you were reaching for when we snagged you. Now if you could drop that before we have to shake you I'd appreciate it."

The machine would let out an angry sounding synthetic growl. Behind her mask Mechakoloss was a little shocked

(Bear, what was that?)

[I am attempting intimidation. Is it working?]

The flying cape might realize they had an audience when the chain-link of the fence they were cutting into rattled, if the equipment didn't tell them first. A tall person in a teddy-bear styled mask with a massive mane of hair just looking up at her with an unreadable expression.

"Hey, HEY!" Mechakoloss called out again, clearly being ignored.

"Can you believe this girl?" She asked her machine before sending a mental command. The Himalaya would shift and draw to its full height of fifteen feet, and take a step towards its pilot. The woman, in one syncronized step would climb onto the outstretched hand and be lifted up into the cockpit for her to take a seat.

Reaching out, a massive metal hand would pinch around the scavenger's ankle and lift them as if they were made of tissue paper. The woman in the bear mask sitting with her shoulders hunched angrily.

"Put that down, I paid for it already."

Today had been going pretty well, having found that "Bob's" was only rated so poorly due to the man's unfriendly nature and not the quality of parts he had on offer. The swearing was fine, and the surly attitude was fixed by a generous application of cash. So Mechakoloss was free to search the yard at her leisure while Bob and his employees were off to lunch.

She'd been digging through an old engine block when she heard the Himalaya, which was supposed to be at rest, come to life and shift to look at the pile of parts she'd already collected.

[Pilot. There is someone pilfering our materials.] Mechakoloss heard the monotone voice in her head and was on her feet, gripping the wrench she'd been using in her off hand. Making her way around the pile she'd call out.

"Hey! Get down from there!"

Calvin would stare with wide eyed excitement as the hero effortlessly sprang forward and dragged the cursing purse thief to the ground. The man pinned under the suit, his weapon going skittering across the pavement.

The wonder was a bit blunted though as she realized that the heroine was actually shorter than she was. But still, an actual Protectorate cape!

"I'm fine, I'm fine, ish just a nick. I've had worsh."

She insisted as Cylynx got closer. Her fingers trying to cover the gash. Already the blood flow was slowing. Like the wound was clotting already.

The girl's jogging would slow down to a brisk walk, then a pause. Turning slowly to try not to miss a thing.

"Hmmm... If what I think is happening, is happening, it better not be."

She mumbled to herself, a marble sized orb appearing in her hand. Her expressive goggles squinting and looking around one more time before she started to walk backwards in the direction she was going.

The kid cape's goggles would go wide, expressive white panes that mimicked and exaggerated her expression. She wasn't sure where the other heroine had come from, but the landing! It was perfect!! Calvin still hadn't managed to get it down, always wobbling or having to shake her hand when she landed too hard on it. She almost missed what the other was saying, taking the kit in her hands without really comprehending she was doing it.

Her words slurred a little due to the pain of speaking but she just smiled through it.

"Holy shit you're a real hero! Let me get thish guy. I promish, I've been practicing!"

Inside the alleyway the purse snatcher groaned with annoyance, able to hear them talking about him. Looking around, he'd take a running leap and grabbed onto the bottom of a retracted fire escape. Starting to pull himself up onto it.

The young heroine was moving through the darker alleyways and streets, a confident grin on her face despite her settings. She was on the hunt for evil doers, her last one hadn't gone so well but this one was going to be different. She was going to impress the other heroes in the city and show them exactly what she could do. Other than get shot at.

But the only downside was that there seemed to actually be no evil to fight tonight. No nefarious deeds in sight. Not even a jaywalker, it was really quiet! Even still, Calvin Ball kept up her easy jog and took a moment to glance down each side street to make sure that she wasn't missing a lurking menace somewhere in the shadow.

This wasn't going as Sammy had panned. It was a simple thing, happened all the time in comics and shows. A guy steals a woman's purse. She'd chased after him, called out a few quips, and when he'd ducked into an alleyway she'd grinned. He was cornered! Then when she'd turned to chase and get the purse back she'd heard the crack of the gun and a sharp pain in her cheek.

For a moment she could taste the warm blood. That was.. not great. It hurt like a bitch but she wasn't collapsing. Maybe it had just grazed her? Pressing her back into the wall she checked her mouth with her tongue. Teeth, check, lips, all there, cheek... There was something embedded in it. A bit of shattered bullet? It might have hit the building near her and splintered. Though she wasn't exactly sure. Either way the dickhead had shot at her! What the hell!?

So it was that the kid cape, fourteen, fifteen? Was spotted by Cylynx. Poking at her cheek with ginger taps of her fingertips, blood oozing out of a deep gash. Her costume looked home made, sports pads and home sewn cut resistant fabric. Impressive for an newbie, but not really up to the task of stopping bullets.

[END THREAD]

[END THREAD]

"Darn, figured me out then?" Mechakoloss said, though her voice was tinged with humor.

[Dropping the Himalaya]

"Eh, I could always claim I was just going after a villain. Stealing their resources or whatever bullcrap I have to say to make them look the other way."

There was a crackling sound, like the air was filled with electricity. The space above the shop distorting. Then with a sudden rush of movement, something fell from the sky with intense speed. Impacting the ground hard enough that a few car alarms up the street went off. The woman herself not even swaying as the earth itself shook.

Then, as the dust settled, the machine that had impacted the earth would rise. Standing about fifteen feet tall with a mixture of ursine and humanoid properties, the Himalaya rose to its full height.

"I'll be back in a bit. Hold onto this until I get back alright?"

Mechakoloss would fish a simple black disk with the growling mechanical bear embossed on it and tossed it to the shorter woman.

"It will start to flash a red color when I'm getting ready to drop back in. Try to be outside."

"That I can do. It's mostly going to be automotive steel, but I can work it pretty dense."

She'd look around, indicating an open spot near the open bay.

"Mind if I call in my ride real quick, will be quicker than me walking back to my shop. I'm asking because it's a little loud."

The woman would pause for a moment, then nod. Her shoulders perking up now that she knew the matter wasn't going to be pushed.

"Hmm, I could probably machine you some custom weights. Do you have a preference for how heavy you'd like them to be? I've got plenty of refined stuff back at the shop to work with. Might take me... ehh, an hour?"

"That's the thing. No one wins."

"Even the people at the top, the ones with the most "points." they don't have an endgame. People just live their lives every day. Laughing, crying, screaming, and everything in between. Winning is a pipe dream that too many people hunt for."

"But you know... enough philosophy. I think we're getting sidetracked from why I'm here. Was hoping to snag some useful materials."

She knew it was an abrupt change. But she didn't want this woman to think that she was agreeing with her. Even if she was.

Again the stranger in the bear mask would shrug and nod.

"I agree. Though I'm not in any hurry to make enemies out of either group. I've lost plenty to squabbling. So I keep my area protected. I keep myself safe. Keeping to myself means I know exactly what resources I have, and what I can afford to dedicate my energy towards."

"While there are certainly downsides to going lone wolf, or.. bear I guess in my case, the upside is that no one looks at me as a threat. And I much prefer it that way."

"If you're dealing with him, I'd rather he be your responsibility than mine. I've already had to deal with law enforcement way too much for my liking."

One of the patches on her jacket being a "1312" patch (ACAB), it wasn't all that surprising that this woman wouldn't want to deal with the police any more than the bare minimum. Instead she just listened and nodded.

"Noble, in a way. Wanting to help those people. Shame that the structures that exist make that difficult as heck. Villanizing addicts, protecting toxic systems, letting the corrupt hold onto power. It's a lot to take on. If villainy didn't include a lot of innocent people getting stepped on and lunatics vying for power it would be pretty appealing to go at it like you seem to."

"Not. That I'm really condoning any of this." The stranger shrugged.

The woman in the bear mask took a few seconds to reply, Bear having to repeat what she'd said back to her. Focusing on two conversations at once was difficult enough when one didn't superimpose itself over the other in her mind.

"Certain expectations come from joining a "villain" group I guess? I wouldn't really know."

"You sure he doesn't have more drugs in there?" She asked cautiously.

It wasn't a great outcome, but it wasn't outwardly the worst. The tight grip on the leather sleeves loosened a bit. Mechakoloss didn't interject again, it seemed like the woman in the melted mask had settled on a plan. There wasn't much she, a stranger, could do to change her mind.

[Should I deploy the Himalaya, Pilot?]

(Not yet. Just... let's be careful here. He made the mistake of working for someone violent and doing something idiotic. Even if he's sick he should be able to realize danger when he walks head first into it.)

[How is your mental state upon seeing the illicit substance? Should I call your sponsor?]

(No, it's fine. Heroin wasn't one of mine. Just keep the Himalaya prepped.)

[Affirmative, Pilot.]

All the while, the woman in the bear mask had been conversing inwardly. Standing silent, not exactly following what was going on outside of her personal bubble.

"For the drugs or the presumed beating?"

The woman would ask cautiously. Crossing her arms and taking a few steps back from the shack after looking inside. Her grip on her upper arms tight despite her casual stance.

"How about this, you deck him in the face. I call an ambulance, then I give you a hundred bucks once he's been loaded in and we can keep talking cash. Sound good?"

"I'm well aware, though your assumption about me being a tinker could change some things."

She shrugged, walking alongside the stranger. Keeping her eyes peeled for useful salvage.

"Besides, I've danced the neutral line for a while. Kept to myself back home. Turned down the Protectorate and the Court here. Neither of which impressed me much. Though... if you get the chance to eat at La Corte Regale, absolutely take up on the offer. They shelled out three hundred bucks for a steak."

Hearing the woman call out for "Gerald" Mechakoloss couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Rubbing at the back of her neck as she explained.

"No need to be too harsh with him. Unless you've got someone watching that back fence near where the street light is burned out there's not much he could have done. I came ready to deal with barbed wire."

The taller woman would hold open her other palm, showing a glove with metal plates sewn into the fabric.

"Pierce resistant material. They're pretty good, can get them online for cheap."

"Darn, makes me wish I'd gotten here sooner if that sort of thing was just laying around. Aside from value it's just fun to take them apart."

But the woman in the bear mask would just shrug and watch as the other stood. Surprised by the fact that she was at least four inches shorter than herself. Pipsqueak, really?

[Calculations complete.]

(Good, keep focused on us. If there's any issues drop in the yard.)

[Affirmative Pilot.]

Another bout of silence, then Mechakoloss would push herself upright and stick her hands in her pockets.

"I don't wear a hat. I'm more of an observer than anything. Collecting metal for my work, then moving on to do my own thing."

"Listen, if you're who you say you are I'm confident I don't have to worry that much. I come in peace, just wanted to find some salvage in any of the abandoned equipment or vehicles that had been left here. I've got some funds if I need to pay, which would be a pain. Most everything here seems a little rust eaten."

"But yeah, not dumb, nor is it really important who I am."

She looked around the room. It seemed that this woman was alone, though that meant very little in the moment. She could feel the heavy wrench she was carrying tucked into her belt behind her press against her back. Hopefully she wouldn't need it.

[Should I begin calculations Pilot?]

(Might be for the best.)

"I am curious about your workout there, do you know what that engine block came out of? I'd estimate it's about two and a half hundred pounds. Chains maybe another twenty. How many reps did you even get in?"

The woman in the black leather jacket would never consider herself a "pipsqueak." Often finding that her own broad shouldered frame intimidated most people, though compared to this woman she felt almost dainty. It was an odd feeling to be sure, but she had to focus.

(What the heck did she just say?)

[You here to fight or join up, pipsqueak?] Bear repeated to her helpfully. Giving the tinker a second to catch up on the conversation other than the singular word she'd caught by herself.

Stepping forward, Mechakoloss would shake her head and put her hands in her pockets. Doing her best to seem utterly unbothered as she leaned her shoulder against the door frame. The teddy bear mask she wore impassive as the black tinted lenses reflected the light in the room.

"Not here to fight, just looking for useful materials. Didn't think that this shop would be occupied honestly. From everything I'd heard it had been abandoned since the last owner skipped town."

Engine oil, dirt, a faint hint of rust. It was the exact sort of place that Mechakoloss loved to scavenge parts from. She needed the metal after all. Always more metal. Reaching up, she'd heft herself over the fence. Metal plated gloves pushing down the barbed wire enough for her to hop over and jump down. Grinning beneath her mask as she avoided getting her clothes all caught up in it. The lot was emptier than she'd expected, but then again, the place had apparently been out of business for a while. What was left here was abandoned. Scrap free for the humble salvage hunter.

What she hadn't been expecting was to hear the sound of metal moving, Chains clattering and an almost rhythmic sound of metal impacting metal. Curiosity overwhelmed caution, had she stumbled across another tinker at work? Her heavy boots crunched through the gravel as she approached the bay, her mask peeking around the corner, the massive mane of hair following it. What she saw.. well she certainly wasn't expecting it. The sight of the athletic (to put it mildly) woman lifting nearly four hundred pounds of metal with her bare hands left her a bit stunned. If it wasn't for the mask she'd have assumed the woman was some sort of record breaking body builder, but its inclusion signified her as a parahuman. She was still staring when her co-pilot spoke up in her head.

[Pilot, you have been spotted.]

"I can't make any promises." She replied, scanning the card before tucking it away in her jacket pocket.

Food finished, she'd grab the lower half of her mask and slot it into place. The magnets connecting with a solid 'Click' when she let go.

"Well, this has been lovely, but I've got places to be. Thanks for the meal."

"Oh, her, yeah she is definitely a master. Not sure what the limits are but I was able to capture her and get her into police custody with little fuss. Though she did have a racoon absolutely ruin my last jacket."

Mechakoloss grabbed a bit of bread and used it to clean up her plate, then popped it in her mouth.

"She's just a kid though. Needs some professional help. I think she could come around though."

Mechakoloss was somewhat surprised when she was told that she was already expected. Wanting to have thrown at least someone off their guard by being here so early. But the Protectorate was what it was. The massive bloated bureaucracy probably had plenty of ramrod spine pencil pushers waiting in the wings for just such an occasion.

So she took it in stride. Hefting her coat a little closer over her shoulders and making sure to give the receptionist a nod. Just because she didn't respect their profession she didn't have to be rude to the person doing the job. Riding up the elevator, she'd follow whatever instruction or escort would take her to the meeting room and knocked on the door the email had indicated. Opening it without waiting for a response.

"Not your place then huh? Interesting." Mecha reached up under her mask and rubbed at the right side of her face. The motion not revealing much more than the bottom portion of her nose.

"I think I'm certainly going to have to come back just for the food."

"Speaking of neutral areas, are there any more in town? Or individuals I should keep an eye out for that are concerning and or helpful?"

"I'm sure the property damage that you have to subtly pay for is quite a pain."

The woman joked. Not commenting on how some loose debris were a fraction of her issue.

"By the way, once I'm out of here you've got to compliment the chef. This is probably the second best stake I've had in my life. Not quite the best, nothing beats home cooked, but very close."

"In the end, I'm strong enough to maintain my stance. You could see me as a sort of referee. When either side starts going too far and start really hurting people, that's when I'm bound to step in. You call it a game, and that's what it should be. Nothing more. But sometimes people take things too far and heroes and villains blur together into monsters."

"I do enjoy hurting monsters. Especially bastards that hurt kids."

The woman had a vicious grin as she took a bite of her steak.

"But yeah, no intentions of causing chaos. Hell, if I can avoid using my power I'll do so as much as possible. Things get messy when I do."

"The issue is I can't ever take you up on that. If I do I'm branded, and I'm very interested in remaining a neutral party."

The woman would point with her fork and give it a small spin.

"I've done the dance, both sides agree that it's just a little favor here or there. Nothing ever needs to be repaid. But if you take a favor from the other side then you're betraying them. Then it becomes a tug of war with your life as the rope. Not interested in that happening again. Already lost plenty last time."

"So unfortunately, so as not to be branded as "one of yours" I'm going to have to decline the offer. Even if it's genuine and quite generous."

"I'm not the biggest fan of being open about who I am or what I can do. Draws unwanted attention." She muttered, centering her plate. The woman seemed to be about to say something else when she paused.

[Pilot, you did not get the salmon.]

(I was grabbing whatever was most expensive on the menu.)

[But you are wearing the bear mask, you should-]

(You're the one who decided to name itself Bear, not me. I'm going to enjoy my steak. Besides, a grizzly wouldn't turn this down if they found one in the wild.)

To Sovereign it would seem as if the woman's train of thought had derailed and it took her a moment to restart. Scooping up her fork and knife, then digging into her food.

"I'm pretty self reliant, funds, materials, housing. I don't think there's anything I need that's worth getting caught up in the middle of something illegal."

"Well, those are some pretty generic answers. Glad to know you're just recruiting folks right off the street without interviewing them or vetting their powers. That I create a "mech" is pretty vague. And I wouldn't be the first cape to have lied about their powers online to throw off the scent of people who might get too curious."

The bulky woman spun her glass with her fingers, letting it wobble but not tipping it over.

"I'll make this one pretty simple, it's basically the same answer I gave the Protectorate. I'm not interested. In your game, in your rules. I'm going to do my own thing, keep people safe where I can and keep my community free of any dangerous elements. Luckily for you and your lackeys, I'm not interested in operating in the Downtown area unless I have to. Too much mess."

"You come after me I will respond, painfully. If you are polite, I'll be polite. Basically, don't poke the bear and you won't have to worry about being mauled."

"I suppose that leaves me open to ask, what do you think I want? What do you think I'm going to do or am capable of?"

She asked as she sipped the water. Trusting the truce and this man's ego to keep things from going south.

"I'm not even centralized in Denver, though I can get here quick enough if I need to."

She'd order whatever was most expensive on the menu, not the pickiest eater in the world. Figuring that there wasn't much of a shot she'd be able to eat in a place this nice again any time soon. Then while they watched the young man exit with the orders taken she'd pour herself some water.

"Any questions I have can wait for now."

"You've got your pitch, might as well try to wow me."

That refinement seemed to be rubbing Mechakoloss the wrong way, going by her frown that just seemed to grow the longer he talked. Though as he spoke the woman would silently reach out to her partner.

(What's on file for this Sovereign guy?)

[Gravity manipulator. Suspected head of The Court. A local criminal organization that operates in the Denver area.]

(Of course, I get called in once by the feds and now the local mafia wants a word.)

Clearing her throat she'd lean forward in her seat and tap the table.

"Mind if I order first before we get too deep into whatever questions you've got lined up?"

"Oh that's obnoxious." Mechakoloss muttered to herself as she got a look at the man decked out in gold. The appearance of someone who wanted to be taken seriously on account of their wealth with absolutely no substance or personality behind it. At least she could drive up his tab without any guilt.

Dropping down into one of the cushioned seats, the leather clad cape reached up and detached the bear like muzzle of her mask. Showing that it was attached with strong magnets that allowed her to reveal her jaw. The chain wrapped around her waist clinked ominously as she lounged.

"So, you've got me here, what do you need big guy?"

She was surprised by the class of the venue, normally when one pictured a villainous organization's neutral grounds it was more back alley than this. But she wasn't going to complain about a free lunch. Simply shaking her head at the offer of a mask.

"Bottom part is magnetic, I'm good to go."

"If you could have some water brought to the table I'd appreciate it."

She read the note once, twice, then a third time, before crumpling it up in her hand and pocketing the paper. There hadn't even been an actual CD in the case. What a pain. First the Protectorate had hounded her until she'd taken up their ask for a meeting and now this?

(How far am I from the location mentioned on the note?)

[If we catch the bus departing in three minutes we will arrive by the half hour, Pilot.]

"There go my plans for getting lunch." Mechakoloss grumbled and began to walk towards the bus stop. Her boots heavy against the pavement.

Mechakoloss didn't bother going around the back of the building. If the place was being watched she didn't care about hiding. Nothing she did was subtle so why bother trying? No, after stepping off the bus and walking down along the street she'd find herself pushing through the front door of La Corte Regale. Her bulky frame difficult to miss.

Mechakoloss would give him a nod then start walking away once more. Feeling a little bit better thanks to the kindness of a stranger. Perhaps the Midwest was a bit more friendly than the west coast. It certainly hadn't felt that way so far, but things might be looking up.

[Pilot. You should check the case for any traps.]

(Traps?)

[If the case was to be gifted to any cape, it may contain a tracking device of some kind.]

(That is... good thinking Bear. Let's just..)

The woman would flip the case out of her pocket, about a block away, and cracked it open to examine the contents.

"Eh, first rule to caping. Don't carry credit cards or anything like that on you." "I've only got a few bucks in cash, so I'll pass on shopping."

She'd shrug and tuck the CD case into her pocket. Not having any reason to open it here.

"I appreciate the gift kid. Keep your nose clean alright?"

[Pilot, someone is offering you a CD.]

The woman seemed to startle out of a bit of a haze and he head snapped in the direction of the young man speaking to her. Her mask regarding him with little to no visible emotion. A moment later she'd just hold out her hand for the case and flip it over to look over the song list.

"I doubt that you're selling what I'm into.."

The tall woman exited the PRT headquarters with a bit of speed. Bureaucrats like that had always set her skin crawling. Leaving her jamming her hands in the pockets of her black leather jacket and leaning into her pace. Like her whole body wanted nothing more than to physically get away from that building.

Around her the crowd moved to step out of her way. The mask and the mane of hair enough to make people second guess the stranger. Which left the sidewalk mostly empty when she did pass by the young man hauking CDs to the passersby. Barely sparing him a glance as her heavy boots carried her forward.

Amongst the suits and uniforms a splash of dark leather and shaggy brown hair would appear within the view of window. A figure that a few people backed away from as she made her way to the front desk with a determined pace. Her chain belt making a jingling sound as she entered reception.

[Pilot, your vitals indicate you are afraid. Are you sure you wish to proceed with this plan?]

The voice of her co-pilot spoke into her mind and she replied in kind as she checked into her meeting.

(Better then what happened back home. Just observe, and if I miss anything then please speak up.)

[Affirmative, Pilot.]

Outwardly, the receptionist might find the tall, broad shouldered woman imposing. Nodding or letting out a grunt of agreement while questions were asked. Soon she was instructed to wait, an escort to the woman's office would bring her up at the scheduled time.

"Neat trick. I wonder if I can get the Himalaya to fold a hood into a swan. Might be something I can gift to the scrap yard and let them sell."

She'd turn and motion the machine over, heavy stomps shook the earth as it got closer and she motioned for it to kneel down again. Looking into one of the sensors she'd start to make a hand gesture. As if folding something in a certain way. Then indicated a nearby vehicle with a flat hood. Moving over it would pluck the hood off with the sound of ripping metal and the massive claws would start to fold it into the shape of a "paper" frog.

"Surprised I still remembered how to do that. Used to make them in high school by the dozens."

"There's a mystique to the mask though. The fact that you don't know if you're getting to me makes me grin. Or perhaps it doesn't. Hard to tell. Besides, I'm just giving the conversation room to breathe."

The shaggy haired woman chuckled and tossed her cup into the trash bin beside the bench. Then seemingly deciding she'd rather relax she'd drop down onto said bench and put her arms up on the back. Head tilting back to look up at the sky, seemingly unconcerned with looking away from the two strangers.

"Investigate is a strong word for it. I was curious, that's all. I'm not exactly a person of authority or whatever. I just like to know what the other folks wearing masks are up to when I spot them. Consider it... Extreme people watching. As some of those people don't like to be watched and will gouge out your eyes at the slightest provocation."

There were a few more moments of silence before the woman suddenly chuckled and shook her head.

"No, I don't think I'll be doing any bear puns. I have enough of those in my work."

"Now uh, I play for my own team I suppose? I'm not looking to cause any trouble, I'm fine on funds and no one in my family needs avenging. But.. You know, teams and regulations on the hero side of things aren't really something I'm interested in. Mostly I just try to stay out of the way and focus on my work. Plenty to do after all."

There was a moment of hesitation, then the woman in the bear mask would nod and motion for the machine to stand down. Carefully it would crouch, tucking its "hands" near its ankles. There was a moment of quiet before the stranger spoke. Mechakoloss, a near non entity herself was surprised to find someone with even a bit of local fame bothering to show up at a place like this.

"That's the Himalaya. My design, just collecting some scrap and spare parts for when or if I need to repair it."

"This isn't like.. a territory thing is it? Because I can leave faster than I got here if I have to. No problem at all."

Scrapyards were a treasure trove for tinkers. Metal, machinery, materials. All it took was some digging and after a few hours a determined cape could have enough platinum to work with. Of course automotive steel wasn't anything to sneeze at, though the process of separating it from the paint and rust was a painstaking pain in the ass process. It was this bounty of resources that had drawn in Mechakoloss to the the Rust Brother's Salvage Yard.

She had settled into a fresher area of the yard and, after assuring the employees that there was no danger. She would summon in the Himalaya. The massive machine dropping down with a thunderous crash out of seemingly nowhere. The woman in the bear faced mask would set to work, approaching a mountain of cars with the massive machine shadowing her. Selecting one and letting the machine effectively brute force disassemble the vehicle with its hands. Plucking out various bits and pieces and setting them aside before moving the picked clean car over to a designated pile that the owner had said she could leave the scraps.

In a way it was similar to watching a massive beast picking through a pile of pre-killed prey. Plucking out the bits that it wanted and discarding the rest.

The trip wasn't much longer before Mechakoloss crossed paths with the officers that she had called. Filling them in about the dangers of the spheres and what the young woman was capable of with them. That it was best to keep her cuffed if at all possible. Then made sure that they had her secure inside the van before she gave the girl one last parting comment.

"Im not too hard to find. If you want to talk again I've given a number to one of the officers. And I'll give it to you now." She took a moment to rattle off the number then, with a nod stepped back.

"Stay out of trouble, okay?"

Mechakoloss leaned back on her heels and shrugged. She had the body suit on under the leather jacket and jeans she wore. Not a huge fan of showing off her figure in the best of times. Though she wasn't above watching someone flaunt what they had. Chuckling along with Masstress' laugh and shaking her head. The wild mane of hair swaying back and forth.

[Pilot, what is that woman talking about?] Mechakoloss heard in her head, her chuckling stopping quick.

"Dont mind her, it's not important and I'll explain it when you're older."

[I do not age Pilot, you know this. Are you being affected by some sort of ability? Your heart rate is slightly elevated.]

"I'm fine big guy, relax. Nothing out of the ordinary."

To the other two Mechakoloss just seemed to be relaxing, her head shifting to follow the conversation. One hand casually in her pocket while she finished her drink.

"Im not anyone important really. The name is Mechakoloss, or Mecha if you don't want to rattle the whole thing off every time."

She'd stick her hands in her jacket pockets, her tone somewhat confused as she glanced between the two of them.

"Did I interrupt you two on some sort of very specific blind date? I mean, it would explain why you looked so nervous. Not really sure why else anyone would just list off their measurements to someone they just met."

"So much for listening in." Mechakoloss muttered to herself as she stood up a bit straighter. Her giant mane of hair shifting to properly reveal her mask. Slowly she would continue to approach, slipping her straw under her mask once more to sip from her drink.

"Evening, don't worry I'm unarmed... Well except for my belt but if I take that off my pants are probably going to fall."

She rattled the heavy chain belt around her waist. Seemingly trying to make a... joke?

"Im sorry to hear that. But she deserves a chance to live her life without you throwing her in prison. I will do my best to keep you both out of too much trouble. But I'm just some random lady wandering the woods with a giant robot. But maybe that's enough."

"And if you can't escape?"

She asked simply. Her tone serious.

Mechakoloss would frown beneath her mask, the arm that held Julia shifting to lift her and hold her straight out. With a surprising ease, the tinker would climb up and begin to walk down the machine's forearm. Silently she would crouch near its wrist and give her an appraising look through the dark lenses of her mask.

"You really don't want to do that. Or well... I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to, but you shouldn't. You don't want to prove them right about masters. You don't want to be locked away knowing that he stole away your entire life by being a useless piece of shit and just dying."

"Killing him isn't worth ruining your life."

"If you wanted to be more convincing you could have tried to make a specific hand gesture or something instead of just snapping your fingers."

Mechakoloss sounded frustrated, but seemed more focused on stopping her hand from bleeding then arguing with a child.

"The river is back the way we came. Besides, I'm sure you'd rather let him rot inside one of those spheres with the chance of maybe one day coming back to extend your revenge against the bastard than to actually let him go."

With this being her property, Mechakoloss was nearly certain that the worst thing in that direction was probably just some juniper bushes.

"Better idea..." Mechakoloss muttered as she grabbed the bag of orbs that were still in the cockpit and made sure it was zipped up before stuffing it into the same compartment as the tangled raccoon.* "I'll go pick him up when you've been taken into custody."

Would flick silver and crimson blood off her fist and grimace as she looked to the kid. "This isn't even him is it?"

Adrenaline pumping through her body and her heart racing from the pain and surprise of the sudden escalation, Mechakoloss would ball up her bleeding fist and smash it into the man's temple while her good hand kept the wallet in his mouth. Brain damage wasn't the best course of action but she had to knock him out before he managed something she wasn't expecting. She punched him, again and again, as he struggled in the Himalaya's grip. "Stop it! Just stop!"

"Frick, frick frick!!!" Mechakoloss strained as she felt the skin on her hand split and the pressure build. As the man tried to bite through her hand Mecha's other was reaching around, scrabbling at her pockets and trying to find something she desperately hoped wasn't in her coat. Thankfully she was able to pull out a leather wallet and began to try and pry the man's mouth open with both of her hands. Once she had it open enough she'd forcefully shove the wallet into his mouth, hoping it was bulky enough to keep him from swallowing his tongue.

"Shit! B.E.A.R! Grab him!" The machine's other hand would lunge forward, trying to pin the man down and restrain him. Mechakoloss simultaneously leaping forward to shove her hand in his mouth. She waited for the bite to come and tensed her hand into as much of a fist as she could. Fighting to make sure he couldn't swallow his tongue or try and bite it out while the metal digits pinned his arms.

"You don't have much faith in the system do you?" The woman asked as she settled herself sideways in her seat. Getting a better look at the girl and frowning.

"I imagine if your dad is locked up in one of these orbs and you keep having his ass beat he couldn't have been all that great to you. Which... sadly isn't a story I'm unfamiliar with. Most of the time the best way to fix the situation is to get the child out of that environment. But the important part is moving them to a safer one."

"I'm sure once you realize that no one is out to get you. And you stop attacking and kidnapping people... Then you'll be fine. Heck, I'll come and visit. Make sure that there's no twisted mad science going on and whatnot."

"Now who is this?" Mechakoloss muttered to herself as she saw the new figure approaching. B.E.A.R not offering anything that could be useful in the moment. Unsure of what to expect, she'd put her free hand in her pocket and stand up. Slowly approaching the other two capes with a casual pace. Trying to let their attention on one another occupy them while she got close enough to listen in.

"She was going to do the right thing, which gives me faith in your recovery. People aren't property, and it's quite illegal to kidnap them in general... So I'm feeling pretty confident I'm making the right call here."