A figure appeared in the hole in the wall. Damsel remained still as the person leaned in, looking around. A woman, with a mostly white costume with bands of blue running vertically from armpit to waist. An emblem of a feather diagonally crossed her chest.

It didn’t look like one of the local villains. Too polished and too soft a look.

Tempted, she stepped out of the hole in the wall, glancing around to make sure the coast was clear before looking down the length of the alley to where the truck had crashed.

Whatever was happening, most of it was happening out of sight.

Not all of it. She had glimpses, enough to put a smile on her face.

This was Boston right now? One little car accident and villain was fighting villain. Before that could even wrap up, heroes were appearing on the scene. A three-way fight.

Would there be others? If she had an opportunity, yeah. She would be the fourth, picking off anyone who seemed any combination of weak, hurt, and exposed.

She would reposition first, and tend to her shoulder. Gouged enough it would need a bandage, but she could do without stitches. That was good, considering her difficulty in self-administering stitches.

She had a bounce in her step as she exited the alley, walking away from the end where the truck had crashed.

She had to talk to her new underlings.

“Damsel. Stop.”

She could feel her entire body react to the word ‘stop’. In another way, her entire body reacted to the recognition of the voice.

Edict.

Her good mood boiled away into irritation in a moment.

She turned her head, and she looked at Edict. There was another, younger cape in tow. Not Licit.

No. Fuck her, no.

Not when things were going well. Not when she was on such a good course, fully in the zone, where things were working.

“You,” Damsel said.

“This isn’t going to turn out well, Damsel.”

“You keep getting in my way,” Damsel said.

“We’re trying to keep the peace. It’s pretty clear you’re not.”

“Peace?” Damsel asked. She turned around, careful not to move from her position. “Peace? You haven’t heard these people talk. Peace? No. We’ll go after each other and we’ll go after you if you get in our way. You think throwing yourselves at this situation is going to calm things down?”

“I think you very deliberately set off that fight over the contents of that truck,” Edict said. “That isn’t calming things down.”

“I’m going to take my piece of this city, Edict. I’m going to be in charge. I’ll do business here, make it my home. I will fight you if you… I don’t even know what you do, you stalker lunatic. Will you move to Boston if I do? Just to nettle me with your power and preach at me?”