"He is #21." Audrey broadcasted in a robotic tone. "Your last kill."

21 growled in frustration, their blade heating up with the fire of their annoyance. They sliced a game machine completely in half and walked up to the witness. Then 21 aimed their gun and fired, the bullet lodging into the game directly behind the witness who sat there frozen stiff in terror. 21 placed the barrel of the gun against the witness' forehead, burning a circle in his skin.

"Spared!" 21 proclaimed in a raspy wraith like whisper. Then 21 turned and ran up one of the still standing gaming machines and jumped from it to the second floor. They then disappeared until quiet pops of gunfire could be heard outside that quickly ended as soon as it started.

"This is all my fault." the heavyset man cried out. "I should have done something. I should have fought back."

Audrey ran a scan of the area one more time and when she was sure 21 was no longer an issue she casted, 'Shock." Volts of electricity ran through Jam's body.

"What are you doing?" The man's voice broke into a strange modulated sound as he watched in horror.

Jam rolled over and gasped heavily but all he could do was stare up at the ceiling his eyes unfocused.

HP: 20/200

MP: 40/85

SP: 5/300

Status:

Hypoxia

Blood Loss

Partial Paralysis>

"Jam, say Purify," Audrey requested.

"Purify." He casted in a slurred speech, and the light enveloped his body. He gasped again and sat up coughing hard; a small metal object flew from his mouth onto the ground, and he found it was a bullet. Then Jam took his mask off.

[ Skill Used: Heal Lvl 12 - Successful ]

"Lord, I thought I was actually going to die for a second there."

[ Skill Learned: Play Possum Lvl 1 }

[ Skill Type: Active ]

[ Skill Description: Body enters a death like state for 3 minutes ]

That would have been helpful a little bit ago.

Task Completed

You Have Completed the Task Gunfire

Civilians Saved: 16

Reward: Exp Gained

7000 Delrens

+8 Heroism Points

Level UP times 12

You've survived a fight with an enemy of an unknown level higher than you.

Congratulations! You've reached level 24

One power lock token Rewarded.

+12 Heroism Points Rewarded

All attributes received +2 Points per level

All Currently Known Skills gain one level per level up until maxed out at current level

Sweet. I finally have a power lock token to spare.

"What the hell is going on?" the modulated voice of the witness asked.

"What happened to your voice?" Jam inquired.

The witness pulled off his head and Jam scrambled back in a panic until his back hit a machine.

HP: 2753/3000

MP: 25/25

SP: 6250/8000>

Jam let out a sigh of relief. "A little warning next time before you rip your face off. Wait was this some kind of test? Did I fail?"

"No, just a prideful mistake. Now explain," the Inspector commanded.

"Oh, I used my shield to make a soundproof cover around my heart and I used illusion to make a replacement heart. I couldn't determine their power so I wasn't sure if 21 was using enhanced senses to determine if their victims were dead or not but the only choice was to take a chance."

"But the shield closed his arteries nearly shut and his blood wasn't pumping enough to get air to his brain. I used shock to break the shield and let his heart beat properly." Audrey angrily explained.

"How did you know that it would work?" Inspector asked.

"He didn't" Audrey exclaimed as her glowing red orb bounced off the back of Jam's head. Jam rolled on the ground in pain from the sudden head blow. "If it wasn't for his enhanced physiology he'd be dead right now."

"I didn't have to deal with this when I had Jack." Jam complained.

"I'm sure you weren't trying to get yourself killed every 2 seconds with Jack." Audrey shot back.

"You hit me again and I'm using that orb as a baseball." Jam threatened. Audrey's catalyst didn't have a face but he knew she was giving him the evil eye.

"We should probably get out of here," The Inspector interrupted.

"Right," Jam agreed.

The Inspector slung Jam's arm over his shoulder and helped get him through the door where they were met with police officers who helped them to a patrol car. After giving reports at the police station Jam was given a ride back to the Destiny Hall. Jam immediately went to his room and jumped in the shower and changed his clothes. After his shower he went to the tech lab to put up his suit where he found GearFreak working on one of his machines.

"Hey, GearFreak. Are Universa and Voodoo Priestess here?" Jam asked him.

"Check the simulation room. >tch

"Thanks."

"I've figured out a fix for LionHead's situation. >tchtch

"Well, as long as he can speak for himself, any idea is as good as another."

"Sure"

Jeez, can barely see his head over that giant chip on his shoulder

Jam didn't bother to continue the conversation and grabbed an elevator up to the simulation room. He looked at the second tablet hanging in its holster and saw Voodoo Priestess hovering above the ground meditating with Universa hovered nearby. The pair were on a beautiful grassy hill.

Jam knocked on the door. When the room was being used, the door couldn't be opened without turning the simulation off. Universa tapped Voodoo Priestess on the shoulder and spoke something to her. Voodoo Priestess spun her fingers through the air, a yellow electricity forming a circle in the air and then a yellow portal made of buzzing electricity formed in front of the door. Jam stepped through the portal and was transported into the room.

"Hello Jam." Universa greeted him.

"Hey Universa. I could have just walked through the door," Jam commented.

"And interrupt this beautiful landscape?" Universa injected putting her feet on the ground and moving to greet Jam.

"It is quite beautiful. Reminds me of a movie I saw when I was younger."

"I do not believe these hills are alive though." Universa spoke.

"Weird, you know about Earth movies?"

"I know about a lot of things. though I feel this is hardly the time to explain."

"Yeah, why am I sensing two different mana signatures from you?" Voodoo Priestess inquired.

"Oh right," Jam exclaimed before reaching into his jacket and producing his bo staff. "It's a magical item. I was wondering if you have any more materials like this?"

Voodoo Prietess scanned over the item with amazement, her white pupils glowing brighter than usual. "Where did you get this?"

"It's associated with my powers. It was made for me."

"Are you channeling your mana into it?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Do you have to be holding it to use it?" Universa clarified.

"Oh, no." Jam tossed the staff lightly into the air and casted extend. The bo staff extended and then landed back into Jam's hand.

"I've never seen anything like it."

Jam's brow furrowed. "What about your crystal ball?"

"It is quite different," Universa answered. "The ball, like her staff, is a mana catalyst. It can be filled with mana but has to be used almost immediately."

"Mana doesn't like to be stored for later. Enchanting items is an incredibly hard thing to do. My staff is used to funnel my stronger magic to help concentrate it, so its uses are more open, but it took years of work on it to get it right." Voodoo Priestess explained.

"Most mana catalysts, like the ball, have to be made for a specific use. Also, the mana catalyst do not have their own mana signatures, but rather use the same signature as their users."

"Your staff has its own signature. It has its own mana pathways. It doesn't rely on your mana at all. Most nonliving beings don't have mana pathways. May I hold it?" Voodoo Priestess asked in reverie.

"Sure," Jam shrugged. However, as soon as he let go of it in her hand, one end gained enormous weight and it flipped out of her hands. Jam smacked his forehead, "Sorry it's soulbound. It will only let me. . " Before he could finish the sentiment Universa picked up the staff easily. "Hmm. That's unexpected."

Universa held the ends of the staff while Voodoo Priestess inspected it. "The mana, it's so calm. Tranquil. It's almost enviable how perfectly balanced the mana is, but it feels like it can be open to so much more improvement as well."

"Indeed," Universa agreed. "It is a shame you shall not be keeping it. I imagine it could become an incredible tool with the right amount of refinement."

"Yeah. You know, Thorn has a set of magical hammer axes that seem similar. I wonder if they're the same kind."

"They could be, I've never met Thorn in person but I would love the chance to study her magical weapons."

Voodoo Priestess reverently ran her hand along the staff one more time before Universa handed the staff back to Jam. Vooodoo Priestess went back to meditating and Jam and Universa stood together. It really was a peaceful hillside. Jam could smell the clean grass, and feel the gentle breeze against his neck.

"No it does not." Universa proclaimed breaking the comfortable silence.

"I'm sorry?"

"I apologize. I thought you asked if it ever gets boring staying with her as she meditates."

Jam nodded, "I guess I was thinking it. It must get kind of dull."

"I do not perceive time the same way as others. Sometimes, hours or even days can pass in seconds, while other times a moment can last years."

"I usually see you two together, do you ever do things without each other."

"We do go our separate ways to do things, it is rough. She is my blind spot."

"What do you mean?"

"As I said before, I can see almost everything, past, present and future. However, when it comes to Allison, I can only see her with my own eyes in the present. My divine sight can not find her. I have seen many funerals and see many more to come, and I have no idea if she may be in one of those caskets. She probably will not die, but she may. If she were to die when I was not around to attempt to save her, I do not think I could cope with that."

"Wow, that's heavy. I know you really care about her."

"I love her with all that I am. I would traverse worlds and defy Gods for her."

"I'm sorry you have to deal with that."

"Thank you, I am sure you know how it feels. The one person you love most being the only person you can not see."

"Yeah." Jam agreed solemnly.

Another banging knock on the door of the simulation room. Universa looked to Jam with a troubled smile.

"This one is for you." She said and touched a finger to his forehead. Instantly he was transported out of the room and behind LionHead.

"Meeting Room." LionHead commanded, a black box attached to a collar around his throat broadcasting his words in a surprisingly natural voice.

Jam walked to the elevator and was met by the Inspector who was also summoned to the meeting room. The three rode the elevator in silence and walked up to the Heroes of Destiny meeting room. When they entered the room Jam had been expecting the rest of the HoD to be there but MIght Guy, standing facing the window, was the only person in the room. He didn't turn to face them when they entered.

"You can leave." Might Guy announced and LionHead complied. "Sit." He ordered. Jam begrudingly took his seat at the end of the table and The Inspector took his seat. "Would you mind explaining exactly what happened Inspector?"

The Inspector sighed and began. "The West Empire PD recently flipped Karl Muldoon to get him to testify against his boss Austin Amerilla, head of the Amerilla crime family. He was placed under witness protection and I took his place just in case they attempted to make a move on him. We decided to hold up in the New Empire Casino, one of the locations we seized from Amerilla. It was the most easily defensible and it had an office with an extremely strong door. Anyone without major physical strength would need explosives to take out this door."

Might Guy sat in his seat his sunglasses covered eyes boring into The Inspector.

The Inspector's gloved hand came and presumably scratched the back of his invisible head. "We figured that if Amerilla did send anyone after Muldoon, it would be some low level grunts he could sacrifice. Even if he sent someone with powers, the weaponry they were working with could have held them off until back up could arrive. We hadn't expected them to strike when the HoD were preoccupied with the VoH." He paused for a pregnant moment his hands clutching each other on the table. "We also didn't expect them to send 21. We were overpowered quickly and I knew that if I didn't act the role of Muldoon, 21 would have left to find him and we weren't sure how they found us in the first place so we couldn't risk it. I hid in the office but they dispatched the officers quickly. That's when lion scout Wilson tried to intercept them."

"And what exactly were you doing on the scene Wilson?" Might Guy interrogated coldly. "According to LIonHead, you were ordered to return to the Hall, so how did that result in you interrupting a hit?"

Jam chuckled awkward. "Well, yes I was ordered to come back here. When I was taking a break on a roof I heard gunshots. Nothing went out over the Desticoms so I concluded that no one else knew what was going on. Seeing as the HoD were busy and none of the other hero groups were close enough to respond, I decided to investigate."

"In other words, you disobeyed orders and took it upon yourself to investigate." Might Guy interrupted.

"Yes." Jam responded concisely.

"You could have reported the gunshots over the Desticoms and let Juniper send out the message."

"I could have."

"But you chose to stick your nose in where you shouldn't have."

"Yep. I decided that I was done sitting on the sidelines. I was brought to this world against my will and I have not complained once; all I wanted was the chance to go out and do what I was brought here to do. I get it, you don't like me, and I don't particular like you either. I'm also not going anywhere, so I don't get what it's going to take for you to stop fighting against what I was brought here to do and just let me go."

"I agree with you on one thing. You're not going anywhere. After your actions today, you've been removed as LionHead's scout."

"What? You can't do this, he saved my life and you're taking away his rank?" The Inspector complained.

"Already done. Congratulations, you've gone back to being remanded to the hall of destiny until further notice."

All the expression left Jam's face as he stared at Might Guy, with a distant and unsettling intensity. "Are you sure you want to keep making an enemy out of me?" He asked chillingly, his hands clenching into fists.

"You can go now." Might Guy dismissed and turned his chair around to face the window again.

Jam stood so fast from his chair nearly fell over and marched from the room.

"Wilson, wait!" The Inspector shouted jogging to meet Jam at the door.

"It's Jam. Or Jamal. Not Wilson," Jam answered.

"Jamal, I'm sorry for what happened in there. Though I have to say I agree with the decision of you not going back out there as the Lion Scout," The Inspector said. Jam raised a questioning, slightly annoyed, eyebrow. "You owe 21 a life now. If they believe they didn't kill you, they will hunt you down."

"I guess that's true. I shouldn't have been there in the first place. I guess I only have myself to blame."

"Thank you though, for what you did in there."

"Don't worry about it, not like I was needed. Nobody who survived was going to die anyway; the best I did was save them a couple months of healing times. Besides, you were there, you could have handled it." The gloved hands of the Inspector wringing was the only indicator Jam had of his trepidation. "What?"

"I lied in there. I wasn't just pretending to be Muldoon. When I saw 21, there was a darkness unlike any I've ever witnessed; it was almost otherworldly. I froze with fear and things progressed so quickly. They cut through the officers like they were nothing and I ran. It's my fault they're dead."

"It's 21's fault. Don't put that on yourself."

"I don't understand how you were able to fight 21."

"Someone had to. I had the power to help so I was obligated to do so. If you have the power to do something and you don't you're partially responsible. I didn't want that on my conscience."

"Laying it on a bit thick aren't you?" Audrey deadpanned.

"Shut up." He sent her.

"Please Jamal, take this." Inspector pleaded, placing a small cube in Jam's hand.

{ Item Received: Power Nullifier (Prototype) }

{ Item Description: Remove the powers of any super in affected area for one day. }

{ Area of Effect: 3M }

{ Item Note: 10% chance of removing powers permanently including the user's }

"A power nullifier? How in the world did you get your hands on something as dangerous as this?"

"It's a prototype my company has been working on. It may very well be the only way to defeat the Lunar King."

"Why give it to me?"

"I was apprehensive about you when you first came; then I saw you fighting and I began to think you may be our best chance of taking him down"

"But why me? Might Guy is much stronger, clearly."

"You put your life on the line today for a single person you didn't know. The nullifier is a quick fire device. There are no lingering rays, so it is potentially very dangerous. If someone comes in after the nullifier is triggered, you'd be nearly defenseless. Also, this is a prototype, we tried to program it so that the effects only last a few hours but there is a high possibility that it could remove your powers permanently. What you did today may have been extremely reckless but it proved to me that you could make a difficult call. Might Guy can't make those kinds of tough calls." Inspector explained while pressing the elevator call button.

"What's to stop me from using this on the HoD and calling the Lunar King?" Jam asked incredulously.

The Inspector chuckled. "You've earned the trust of the Arcturian and the Magical Girls. None of them trust easily," He said as he got on the elevator. "And, if you do turn on us. I probably won't live long enough to regret it."

Jam tapped the call button again and got on as the elevator arrived. On a screen at the back of the elevator there was a news report about the HoD taking on the VoH.

"Who are the Villians of History anyway?" Audey asked him.

"It's a group of villains who are direct enemies of the Heroes of Destiny. It's one of the groups that popped up after I started uniting the villains. I was going to join them, I was still pretty mid level when they came about so I doubt they would have let me lead. I didn't love the name though, sounds kind of silly; it sounds like a group of time displaced evil guys ran by Hitler." Jam answered.

"I could see that. Hitler, Genghis Khan, and a really confused Albert Einstein forced to make their weapons."

Jam nodded as he watched the news report; an attractive reporter was questioning Might Guy who wore a cocky grin. Jam's annoyance and anger returned as that cocky grin mocked him.

So that asshole can smile. Just only when the cameras are on.

Jam went to his room, keyed in his code to unlock the door and entered. He slid his jacket off of his shoulders and chucked it onto his chair. Then he felt a familiar tingle at the back of his neck.

What the hell?

"J-j-jam. Jam some. . something is is is. Jam something is w-w-rong. Something is wrong-g-g" Audrey stuttered and slurred as she glitched and her orb faded away.

"Gosh you're boring me." A familiar voice said from behind him.