Maskotta stood atop a pointed skyscraper, looking dead ahead at Hoirom's most visited mall. The streets were somewhat quiet, making for a peaceful night for a break in.
Quietly breaking in through an emergency exit, Maskotta slipped into the darkened interior of the shopping center. Following the instructions displayed on her phone, she honed in on a jewelry store.
The thief's heels clicked ever so casually while she observed the display cases. By the end of her search, she had located an emerald green Star Fragment locked away before her eyes. Maskotta called upon her power, allowing roots to slip in and undo the display case's lock. Popping the case open, she snagged the Star Fragment for Surazo.
"Well done!" An unfamiliar voice caught Maskotta off guard. The lady thief stood her ground, though, knowing she had a fight on her hand.
Back at East Coast Academy, Miya and Sofia were looking around the music room for Invisia. It had been hours since they last split up and heard from her.
"I think this is where she said she saw Briar," Sofia said.
"She would've texted us something if she was in trouble." Miya scoured the small room. Together they collectively heard a muffled noise from one of the storage closets. Cautiously, they opened it. Invisia toppled out, wrapped in vines from mouth to toe.
"Invisia!" Sofia picked up her fallen friend while Miya ripped off the vines. "What happened?!"
"Briar is working with Surazo!" Invisia yelled. "She's doing a break in tonight as Maskotta!"
"What?!" Sofia uttered.
"We have to tell Jonas!" Miya and her friends scrambled to their feet and ran to spread the news.
"Briar's doing what?!" he yelled.
"That's not good!" said Luli.
"Go!" Lily told them. "I'll call for other heroes to check around the city!"
"Right! Come on, girls!" Jonas grabbed his costume bag and ran for the exit. The Afterschoolers nodded to one another and ran after him.
Maskotta was tossed across the hall of the mall. Dozens of Hero Hunters were around to watch her get thrown about. Evak stomped over, a wicked grin on his face.
"What's the big idea?!" Maskotta groaned, her body aching. "I did what Surazo wanted!"
"You sure did!" Evak laughed. "And we've come to collect. Surazo wants you and the Star Fragment."
"I'm not going anywhere with you creeps!" Maskotta tossed her wand aside and glowed with a grassy green aura. Whips of thorny vines slid down her sleeves. She cracked the whips and spooked some of the hunters surrounding her.
"Get her!" Evak's forces rushed in with full force. Maskotta spun and twirled, whipping aside several hunters that got too close. Evak's face grew sour, not happy to see so many of his forces being defeated so easily.
"Is that all you got?!" Maskotta doubled the vines she had, throwing even more of her foes aside like ragdolls.
"I've seen enough." Evak reached out and grabbed the vine whips with his metal arms. Pulling the thief in, he grabbed her face and slammed her head onto the floor. Briar lay unconscious and defeated. "We're done here," Evak announced. "Grab the girl and let's-"
An explosion rang out from a nearby emergency exit. An upbeat rhythm could be heard echoing through the entirety of the mall.
"Good thing I was here in the neighborhood," Aux greeted. "Now how could ya'll start the party without me?"
