Joan’s fire swelled. She switched to Spark Mode. “Otis, turn the power blocking on. Now. Everyone get downstairs and hit them from both sides. We’re doing this our way.”
Mark and Perry grinned. They knew exactly what that meant: fight dirty.
Darlene adjusted her facemask in place, then met Joan’s gaze.
“Keep them near the building.” Joan shooed everyone out. “Gus, stay inside. We don’t need you as a decoy, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Joan didn’t give her the chance to refuse, hurrying to grab her own mask and gloves and jam them on as she ran down the hallway. Her heart pounded, exhilarated and anxious but focused. The rush she’d missed these past few months.
Then there was that odd muted tingle. She twirled her hand and, yep, no fire. This had better work on the Villains or else she’d truly learn what it felt like to be a norm.
She passed Perry and Kade on the main staircase. “You two come from the right with Darlene. Mark and I will take the left.”
“Rock and roll,” Mark said, giving her a fist-bump as she met up with him.
They exited into humidity and wind and an unusually overcast day. That irritating hum wasn’t there. Hopefully turned off along with Ether’s powers.
“We’re here for you, Amazing Woman!” Prowl called, then shrieked.
Joan rounded the corner in time to see her fall off the pillar. Squawk opened his mouth, but only a tiny squeak came out. Zee ran from across the street at a normal pace.
She launched herself at Prowl, tumbling on top of her. Prowl batted at her, still a tough combatant. Legs and bodies tangled around them as they tussled on the sidewalk.
“What did you do?” Prowl said, clocking Joan’s cheek.
Joan wasn’t about to give away their little secret. Prowl got yanked off her—Darlene. The Super got her in a headlock, but Prowl just laughed.
“So you do have that capability,” she choked out. “It’s a go, boys! Engage counter measures!”
She touched a ring-shaped metal patch on her suit. It beeped, and then she snarled and flipped Darlene over her shoulder. Squawk released a faint wail that grew in strength the longer it went on. The ground shook. What was going on?
Prowl hopped up and dug her nails into a concrete pillar. “Smash told us about how you prevent us from using our powers. So glad he got captured.”
“What do you mean?” Darlene demanded.
“It was all part of the plan to gain intel.”
Joan’s fire wasn’t burning, but her anger sure was. “He was in on this from the start?”
Prowl’s teeth gleamed wickedly as Darlene struggled to pull her down. “I told you we had a plan. Well,Ihad the plan. The others are just pieces of it.”
Quake said something to her that got lost in the noise.
Mark had been yelling as he grappled with Ether. “Ward has to turn it off!” came more clearly.
“Sidekicks don’t have authorization,” Otis said.
Squawk screeched again, bringing everyone to their knees. Prowl jumped on Otis.
Through the ringing in her ears, Joan made out Quake saying, “Bring us Amazing Woman or pay the price.”
So they were blocking the blocking? Unblocking? Now the plan needed to be gettingawayfrom headquarters.
Joan glanced across the street to check out potential?—
Oh,shit.
* * *
