Saydaa stirred with a groan, a wave of heat passing through her as her body stirred back to consciousness. She was lying on a bed in a brightly lit room with white walls and a white ceiling.

“How are you feeling?”

She turned her head to find Bob sitting next to the bed. She turned her head away, looking down and gritting her teeth.

“...how do you think?”

Bob shrugged.

“He’s a jerk, but he has trained all his life for combat. No shame in losing here.”

Saydaa just clenched her fists. Bob let out a sigh, and picked up a remote.

“I have something that will cheer you up.”

A panel on the far wall slid open, and a television monitor extended out. Bob hit another button to turn it on. Saydaa’s eyes narrowed.

“The last thing I want to see is that jerk.”

Bob held up a finger.

“You’ll miss the good part.”

Saydaa just glared at him then turned back to the screen. The jerk was standing in a very familiar room. Across from his stood…killer robot girl?

“He picked a fight with her too?”

Bob shrugged.

“I told you how she responds to threats, didn’t I?”

Saydaa turned back to the screen. The buzzer sounded…

And the jerk slammed face first into a wall.

Saydaa just sat still for a moment…and then burst out laughing.

“AHAHAHAHA Oh my gosh! That was like, that was like, one of those cartoons or something! And he just…ran into the wall?! How did that even happen? AHAHAHA.”

Bob smirked.

“Because I told Elise ahead of time what he would do. She took the opportunity to lay a trap and he fell right into it.”

“AHAHAHAHA and he just planted face first into the wall? Oh that’s great…”

Bob nodded as he shut off the screen.

“So, now that you’ve seen what we’re about, I’d like to ask you again. Saydaa Abdulzaid, I have a job for you.”

Saydaa just raised an eyebrow.

“What are you talking about? I’m already your definitely not enslaved employee, aren’t I?”

“We both know that’s not how it works.”

Saydaa’s eyes widened slightly.

“I’d think a girl on the streets might have some trouble if any oral agreement she made became binding. I imagine you have to actually use your powers to sign a true bargain?”

Saydaa glanced away.

“T-That’s not how it works! You forced me to come here!”

“You came on your own.”

“Shut up! That’s not true! Why would I ever go with some shady guy like you?”

“Because you were afraid of what we could do, since we knew who you were.”

“That’s…”

“And…because you were curious. About what we might be. And what it might be like for you if you didn’t have to hide.”

Saydaa just looked away.

“You’ve seen what we’re about, what we’re building here. You’ve met the others. Now you know what we’re asking of you. So now I’m offering you two choices. And this time, I expect a true bargain.”

“…”

“First choice, we send you home and that’s the end of it. You agree never to speak of this place or anything you saw here. We’ll even throw in the case of cash for the time you spent with us. And that’s it, we go our separate ways and you’ll never hear from us again.”

“...you’d really just…let me go like that? That has to be a lie.”

Bob shrugged.

“I want people I can count on. Everyone who’s here, is here because they made a choice. Which brings us to yours.”

“...”

“Stay here. Work for me. You’ll never go hungry again. You’ll have a roof over your head. You won’t have to look over your shoulder each and every day. And this won’t be out of charity or pity. It will be a job, and you will be paid as such, so long as you do the work. And we’ll offer you something you won’t find back home.”

Saydaa raised an eyebrow.

“What’s that?”

“A chance to go all out. A chance to live without hiding who you are and what you can do. A chance to push your powers to the limits, and find out what you can really do. A chance to hone and train those powers, to learn how to truly control them. And then a chance to actually use them for a real reason, and get paid for doing so.”

Bob extended his hand.

“There’s no going back from here. You stay, because you choose to stay. Or you go back to your old life. Now, choose.”

Saydaa looked into his eyes, then down at her hands.

“I…”

Saydaa clenched her fists, and then looked up at Bob once more. Her eyes glowed as she extended her hand.

“I…I think I want to see what I can really do.”

She grabbed Bob’s hand.

“I’ll work for you…if I get the chance to use these powers. If you don’t screw me over or try to get me killed. If you pay me fairly.”

Her face curled into a sneer.

“And if you give me a chance to wipe the smug look off that jerk’s face.”

Bob shook her hand.

“Deal.”

Her eyes flashed once and Bob felt a small flicker tingling through his arm.

“The bargain is struck.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“So can I go kill the jerk now?”

“...I’d prefer him alive if possible.”

She sneered once again.

“Then what about making his life a living hell?”

Bob shrugged.

“He’s a ninja, he’s supposed to expect the unexpected. I won’t say anything if you don’t interfere with the job and no one is permanently hurt. But I also won’t say anything if he responds in kind. You’re on your own if you pick a fight. And it stays between you two, don’t involve the others.”

Saydaa just rubbed her hands together and started cackling. Bob let out a sigh and shook his head.

Ah well, not his problem anymore. Good luck Kiyosuke.

“Cikizwa.”

Cikizwa jumped as she turned around, glancing to the side.

“O-Oh hey Bob, I-I didn’t see you there. I was, uh, just looking for some more candidates for you…”

“...I thought you had some already.”

“W-Well, I thought you might appreciate some…options…”

“...how many do you have?”

“W-Well…you see…”

“How many do you have, Cikizwa?”

“...one…”

“...let me see.”

Cikizwa held out the tablet with a shaking hand. Bob took a look at it, and then held his forehead.

“...one…”

“Bob?”

“I just want one functioning adult for this team. Was that too much to ask, Cikizwa?”

“I-I mean, l-look at him! He’s pretty adultish, right?”

“He ran away from home to commit petty theft, chase skirts, and start bar fights.”

“B-But he looks like an adult?”

“...”

“He um…doesn’t have as many issues as the others? I think? He, um, seems more positive?”

“...”

“D-Drinking and fighting are more adult problems?”

“...”

“W-What do you want from me, Bob?! All the adults in this industry either work for the ILS or are waiting for their EL loan package! You know how hard it is to find unaffiliated supers that don’t come with agendas or strings attached?! Just show me someone else who could find a full squad that meets your requirements, huh!”

Bob just let out a deep sigh as he held his head.

…maybe he could make a trade with Londyn?

Nighttime in Vienna, a rare empty street. A tall man whistled as he walked through the streets. He was the biggest and fairest of men that human eyes had ever seen. Long, golden locks that fluttered in the night breeze. Simple shirt barely containing his rippling muscles.

And a mighty two-handed sword, held in one hand and resting upon his shoulder.

He approached an ATM, glancing down the streets to check for any bystanders. Then he gripped his sword with both hands and pulled it back.

“Have at thee!”

With one swing of his mighty sword, the ATM exploded into pieces, Euro’s flying in the air. The man smiled as he began to collect the bills.

“It seems I shall feast tonight!”

“It seems a bit overkill if you ask me.”

The man spun around, pointing his blade forward. A man in a coat and sunglasses stood behind him, holding a silver briefcase.

“Hold your tongue, knave, lest I silence it for you.”

“You’re a long way from home, Arvid Hellquist.”

“Drinking age is lower here, and who are you?”

“My name’s Bob, and I’m here to offer you a job.”

Arvid stared at him for a second before chuckling.

“Be on your way then, do you think I require a job?”

“If you want more than spare change.”

“What need have I for change? My vault is before me, and I brought my key right here!”

Arvid tapped his sword onto his shoulder.

“How about a fight, then?”

Arvid narrowed his eyes.

“Be gone, do-gooder. I’ve heard the League pitch many a time and I’ve no stomach to hear it again.”

“I’m not from the ILS.”

Arvid raised an eyebrow.

“Truly? But there’s another problem. Tis a fair fight that interests me, and I doubt you’d provide it.”

“Not with me, and not a full fight. Just an arm-wrestling match. We win, you give the job a try.”

“And if I win?”

Bob held up the briefcase and opened it up. Arvid whistled as he saw the contents.

“How’s that for a feast?”

Arvid chuckled and shrugged.

“It leaves a poor taste in the mouth to rob one so easily, but the taste of victory shall wash it away! Very well, you shall have your match! Send me your champion, that I may commence with the feasting!”

Bob smirked and pressed a button on his wrist. A moment later the wind picked up around the streets, blowing Euros into the air. Arvid looked up, his eyes widening at the grav-jet flying overhead. The backdoor opened and someone leapt from it, landing onto the street with a metallic clang.

“Status Report: Elise ready to engage.”

“Oh ho? So tis a machine I face? Very well, let me show you the strength of a man and his line!”

A few minutes later and the two teens were seated at a table, Bob watching from the side. The two locked hands…

“Ready?”

“Let us commence the match!”

“Acknowledgement: All systems operational, ready to engage.”

“Go.”

Two hands locked in the air, not moving an inch either way. Arvid’s muscles bulged, their veins becoming visible. His mighty fist completely covered Elise’s small, silver colored hand.

But she didn’t budge.

“Hahaha! So you are more than your appearance might suggest, little one! It seems I’ll have to treat you seriously!”

“Observation: Force application beyond upper bounds of adult human male. Reassessing necessary countermeasures. Boosting power.”

Elise’s core grew brighter. Arvid let out a grunt, his hand starting to move back. His eyes widened a bit, then he grinned and laughed.

“A worthy foe indeed!”

And then he sneered.

“Then I shall stop holding back! Let me show you the power of my line!”

Arvid’s sword glowed slightly on his back. His arms bulged some more as he pushed. The table began to crack under the elbows of the pair.

And Elise’s hand started to move back.

“Warning: Target parameters beyond expectation. Current conditions: unsustainable. Defeat imminent.”

Bob nodded.

“Show him what you can do, Elise.”

Elise’s core and hand glowed purple.

“Acknowledgement: Order received. Removing restrictions, adapting strategy. Mass Manipulator Array initiated.”

And Arvid’s arm suddenly swung to the side.

Along with his body, smashing the table and throwing up a cloud of dust.

Bob stepped forward, swinging his hand to clear some of the dust. Arvid lay on the wreckage of the table, groaning.

“Ugh…what happened?”

“You lost.”

“Hardly! Tis not a loss if one’s opponent uses a cheap trick!”

“Then what was that about the power of your line?”

“T-That’s…”

Bob held out his hand.

“Tell you what, come with me and maybe you’ll win the rematch.”

Arvid just stared at him for a moment before grinning.

“Ohoho, you seek to provoke me? Very well, I shall play your games for now! But you had better keep me entertained if you wish to keep me around!”

The two clasped hands and Bob pulled the man to his feet, grunting slightly from the heavy weight. He rubbed his back as he waved for the grav-jet to land.

The biggest of men…was so annoying.