Protectors- Consequence

Chapter Two: Underground

It was only two years after the defeat of The Stranger when reports about superhumans sky-rocketed. They were at such a high that Simon was forced to investigate, uncovering the effects of concentrated Aura on Earth. When Apis had briefly clashed with Zavant, they had consumed so much energy that dust from the Chrysalis and its artificial variation coated the planet, bringing forth wave after wave of superhumans, slowly growing vaster as the amount of Aura on Earth increased as a result. The amount of dust was negligible, barely strengthening people beyond normal human means. However, it was predicted to get worse over time and caused people with more bizarre abilities to turn to crime, which was now presumed to be an option,

"I got the cash,"

The robber exited the house of the Lord Mayor of Perth, carrying a large sack of money and debit cards. The new mayor was a cautious person and spent her money wisely, keeping cash in the event of bank failure. The woman who had stolen her belongings wore a red trench coat and had been known as the Red Riding Hood in the criminal underworld for a year, all it had taken her to rise to the status of a gang leader. She was a loose end from the BlackHeart cult, having been one of the very few to survive Noctum's wrath. That was why she was called Red Riding Hood, after all, because of her ferocious ability to transform into a wolf at will, granted by the deceased High Priestess,

"That was not what we came here for," a calm voice replied, soft in the night air, but clearly audible over the distant police sirens, "or did you forget our primary mission?"

"Of course I fucken didn't," Red Riding Hood swayed, the expensive liquor she had swigged while in the house turning her cheeks red, "I have it right here,"

She fumbled as the teleporter she had stolen was procured, the wrist-band dangling before her accomplice. She dropped it into his open palm before the man slipped it on, sighing with satisfaction,

"You've got it now," Red Riding Hood spat, "now fuck off before the pigs pull up,"

The getaway vehicle arrived behind her, two burly bodyguards stepping from the front seats of the Jeep,

"Can we help you?" The bigger one spoke clearly, his voice dripping with condescension, "you clearly don't know who you are talking to,"

"Of course I do," the man whispered again, smiling slightly, "I know that your name is Bryan Smith, you are six feet two inches tall, born on October 13, 2000, and your ability is to detach your fingers and reattach them at will, a power that has not yet proved useful to you, despite its versatility. Also, your net worth is around 1.3 million dollars, a decent amount, but not enough to become my target,"

"Wha-"

Overcome with anger and shock, Bryan Smith pulled the gun from his belt, flinching slightly at the hot barrel as it brushed his skin,

"I'll blow your brains out!" Bryan cried, spinning the rounds in his revolver so that the round was refreshed, "Freak!"

The man stepped forward, not an ounce of animosity in his movements, before pressing the barrel of the gun to his forehead,

"Do it, then,"

This shocked Bryan so much that he did not resist when the weapon was yanked from his hands and pressed to the side of his opponent's head,

"My name is Damien Burns," the man spoke as the hot barrel dug into his temple, "I am a Robin Hood of sorts, stealing from the rich to donate to the less fortunate, but I would never name myself after a tale, only a fact. That is why you can call me Daybreak, after my late uncle, Kaedan,"

He pulled the trigger with a flourish, but nothing happened,

"You see, Mr Smith," Damien explained, spinning the rounds again, before pulling the trigger once more, to no avail, "I could tell by the hot barrel that the gun had been fired recently, but the fact that there was no blood on you meant that you hadn't used it on someone else, meaning only one thing was really possible. You got bored waiting and decided to play a game of Russian roulette,"