The cold brick face of the factory dominated the block. Dwarfing the surrounding buildings. While size helped the factory become an icon of the neighborhood, it was its exterior that cemented the title. Many of the buildings surrounding it sat empty and in disrepair. But there was still a sign of life to them. Whether that be trimmed lawns, a for sale sign, or even the occasional light flickering on or off in the early hours. Their owners hadn’t given up hope, still striving to bring these buildings back to their former glory. The factory couldn’t claim the same distinction. Its windows sat empty, watching the world pass by while slowly they crumbled away. The factory yard was becoming its own miniature dump. The building was a lost cause. No pretense given to hide that.

But tonight something was happening. Through the lonely windows he could see the occasional blurred figure moving around. That alone was more life than the factory had seen in years.

Mr. Hat arrived at the building a few minutes ago. Staring from across the street at the building’s cold walls with hard eyes. Not even blinking as he waited and watched.

Something was happening tonight. He could feel it in his bones. Ullr and Source had used a secret tunnel to exit their base. Not unheard of at this hour, but worth checking up on. As Mr. Hat arrived, he received word H-Bar and Gladius had just exited the same secret tunnel, joining those already inside. He knew the game was truly afoot now.

Given the way the team arrived, they were trying to keep this meeting a secret from Skip. That left a few questions like why keep it a secret and how this meeting impacted his plans?

The team’s history provided the obvious answer to the first question. They were planning an ambush. Who they were ambushing was also clear. It was Skip, the only member missing from this little rendezvous.

If what Mr. Hat was thinking was true, he wouldn’t be terribly surprised. Teams like theirs tended to have a lot of infighting. And if he was being honest with himself, it didn’t bother him. Sure he’d have to change part of his plans but most could carry on unaltered. The only major difference would be with Source. At first, he was collateral damage in the coming chaos. Whatever happened to him in the end, good or bad, was fine with Mr. Hat.

Things would change now. Source joining in on this ambush proved he was part of their little cabal and a valid target. Mr. Hat knew he should feel bad about the kid being corrupted, but search as he would he couldn’t find the feeling. There was only an empty space where his empathy should be.

Should he try to move forward, Mr. Hat thought? It would be dangerous, but he wanted to know for sure what they were discussing. Why hadn’t he hidden a microphone in there? The camera was great, but it had so many limitations. Such a simple and stupid mistake to be making this late in the game. A notification buzzed on his phone pulling him back to reality. A fifth person had joined the group inside. And with that he knew he had to stay back.

As Mr. Hat thought about the tinder box that was the factory, the building exploded in light and sound. They sprang the trap, as he knew they would. At this point there wasn’t anything else for him to gain. He could wait and see who came out alive, or learn the same information on the news tomorrow. After a quick deliberation he decided it was best to stay away from the fighting tonight. No sense becoming collateral damage.

Walking away from the factory flashes of light illuminated the world. The sounds of fighting matching the rhythm of his steps, until there was a sudden silence behind him. Was that it, he thought with a sigh? Was that what it was like for her? He kept walking hanging his head low as thoughts of the past swirled around.

The pulse of the combat burst anew when he reached the end of the alley. Like the grand finale of a fireworks festival, the flashes of light and crashing of Supers grew in intensity. Enveloping blocks in a suffocating roar. The winner hadn’t been decided yet, but there were mere moments left.

The sound of muffled rockets broke through the crescendo of the fight. Tickling Mr. Hat’s neck as it coaxed him to turn around. But he fought the urge. There was nothing here he wanted to be a part of. It would take far more than that to goad him into turning around.

The sound of breaking glass and a thunderous bang followed a moment later. The muffled sounds of the rockets were replaced by their roar filling the open air. Leaving the building Mr. Hat wondered. Why would someone be leaving the fight, unless they were fleeing. Would he really not turn around for this? A change that could ripple through the coming months. After a short struggle, his curiosity won out, and he turned around. In the air was Source. Flying, well more falling at this point, away from the building. Like a fox escaping a pack of hounds Mr. Hat thought.

He frowned at that. Wasn’t Source supposed to be in on the ambush? Then he spotted something strange. A shiny metal rod sticking through Source’s leg and a dagger glinting out of his chest. Attacks obviously from Ullr and Skip. Ullr was powerful enough to hurl a metal rod through a leg and Skip was the only member of the team to use knives.

This changed everything. Source hadn’t fallen. He must have found out about Skip and went to the rest of the team. Trying to gain their aid in capturing their corrupted teammate.

Then during the ambush that Liam assumed was set for Skip, they surprised the young Hero. Likely choosing to fight here instead of the base to keep Source away from his tech. A smart choice when facing a techie. You never knew what they’d concocted in the secrecy of their workshop.

Pulling his mind back to the present he watched as Source crashed into the side of a building. Bricks scattering from the impact. Plummeting like hail to the street below.

From the side of the building Source veered into the alley Mr. Hat was leaving. Ping ponging against the walls as he made his way down. Each jarring crash causing Mr. Hat to wince at the obvious pain.

Finally, in a coup de grâce, Source Plowed into a dumpster. The thud resounding through the alley. The lid slamming shut on top of him.

Mr. Hat found himself running towards the dumpster. His feet dashing over the ground before his mind caught up.

Lifting the lid Mr. Hat was hit by the rancid stink of rotting trash. He nearly closed the lid at the eye watering smell, but the sight of Source nestled amongst the rubbish stopped him. The Hero’s chest was rising and falling to a slow tempo. Otherwise his body was still as a rock. Unconscious, as best Mr. Hat could tell through the layer of armor. Probably for the best given that nasty fall. Closing the lid again Mr. Hat made to leave. The kid was a goner. Nothing to gain from martyring himself here as well. When another explosion locked him in place.

The front door of the factory blew open. Ullr sending it clean off its hinges with a single punch. Mr. Hat watched in horror as the ‘Hero’ spotted him and dashed over. This was the man he wanted to defeat. A literal god on the battlefield. Being the center of his attention reminded Mr. Hat of what he was truly facing.

The man’s amazing speed brought him to the dumpster in a matter of seconds. His eyes surveying the scene. Gliding over the broken walls and debris on the ground to find a man next to a dumpster.

“Where did he go?” Ullr commanded. His tone demanding obedience.

“Who? The flying guy?” Mr. Hat asked. Hoping to show no fear in front of this man. But his hands betrayed him. The slight tremor to them racketing up in intensity as Ullr’s eyes drilled into him.

With his eyes shrinking into slits, Ullr said, “Obviously. Now... where is he?” The man’s eyes drifting to the dumpster.

He had to tell Ullr. He owed Source nothing. No reason to sacrifice himself for the kid. But something stopped him. Pleading with him to protect the kid.

With Ullr staring down at him Mr. Hat’s decision was already made. There was no way he could turn the kid in. She wouldn’t let him.

Activating his power, the world around him changed. The man in front of him became semi transparent. His insides turning into hundreds of strings wriggling around each other in a loose clump. Coming in all colors of the rainbow, the strings varied from small ones as short as a finger to multi foot behemoths wrapping in and out among themselves. It’d taken years for him to master this power. With failed attempt after failed attempt, when he started. Now he could play these strings like a musician. Manipulating them to get the desired result.

Speaking up Mr. Hat said, “Why are you asking me? You saw him crash in the alley, then lift off again. Hurry after him before he escapes.”

Ullr looked farther down the alley. His eyes darting about as if he was following something. Before turning back to the factory. The rest of his team were only now making their way outside.

“I saw him go that way!” Ullr shouted to his team before darting off. Turning around as an afterthought to say, “That was Source. Watch out for him. He just turned traitor. You got lucky he didn’t attack you. I can’t promise the same thing will happen again.”

“I was just lucky you ran over to save me,” Mr. Hat said. Using his power to pull on a small blue thread.

“You’re right. Luckily I was able to scare him away. Now stay safe while we look for him,” Ullr said before darting away from the dumpster. Off on a wild goose chase that was bound to last a good while.

As the team departed, Mr. Hat stopped using his power. Pulling away Ullr and the team’s memories of his face as he did so. No reason to throw himself out there anymore than he already did.

With the team gone, Mr. Hat opened the dumpster again. Looking down at the unconscious kid inside. He was so peaceful lying there in the trash. Unaware of his life splintering around him. That would only last until he woke up.

In a quiet voice Mr. Hat said, “You should be dead right now. And if I had my say you would be. But my wife would never let me leave you. You owe her your life.”

As the man spoke he fingered the feather in his hat. The morning sun peaking over the horizon behind him. The reds and grays of first light causing the blue feather to jump out against the darkness of the buildings.