The next day, Bob gathered the groaning teens into a conference room. Saydaa groaned and rubbed her bruises.

“Ow, touchy much? Did that demon really need to beat us like that?”

Bob sighed.

“A parting gift.”

Saydaa’s eyes widened and quivered.

“Wait…parting?”

Bob nodded.

“She has deemed you fit for duty, and took her leave shortly afterwards.”

“YES!”

Saydaa lifted her fists into the air, tears streaming down her face.

“It’s over! The nightmare is finally over! We did it! We survived hell!”

The others didn’t say anything but couldn’t help but make relieved faces. Bob shook his head again.

“And with that, we’re here to give you your first job. The real one.”

Everyone suddenly looked up and focused in on Bob.

“No more mock missions. No more do-overs. This one is real, and I’m not working with the other side. The fight will be real, as well as the consequences. But I believe you’re ready now. And I’m looking forward to what you can do.”

“Resolute Statement: Elise will not fail again, Commander Bob.”

“That’s right, Bob-sama. We won’t let you down.”

“Our first victory shall be sweet indeed.”

“A true test of my power, huh?”

“What’s the target this time, boss-man?”

“This is the base of the Violet Spy. He’s an information broker, infiltrator, and blackmailer who helps up and coming villains evade the authorities. Fairly small time, but he’s decently wealthy and has a good record. Just getting big enough to get on the ILS’s radar.”

“So what, we’re taking out some villain’s base?”

“No.”

Bob pressed the remote, moving to the next slide. The team’s eyes widened.

“You’re going after the heroes coming for him.”

The Violet Spy sat in his room, letting out a sigh as he watched the scene on the monitor.

How had it come to this?

When he had set out to make his name, he had made a choice. He would not paint his name across the sky. He would not have the masses whisper of his deeds.

No, he would let others have their day in the light. He, on the other hand, would remain happily anonymous.

He took his inspiration from Rockefeller. Why rush around digging for the oil yourself, when you can be the guy people sell their oil to? Be the refiner, not the digger, let others take all the risks while you go ahead and grab the profits. Aim for the bottleneck, the service everyone needs to make their plays, and you could sit back and watch as others did all the work for you.

And it worked.

A flick of a button and he could start a war. If he wanted to know what the President of the United States ate for breakfast, he could probably find out. He could move something like billions of dollars and millions of lives with a single call. And pretty much every villain bowed their head to him first and foremost. Oh sure, they got the cash somewhere else, and he still wasn’t sure where all those minions came from, but he provided a commodity far more precious.

Information. And concealment.

And he would've gotten away with it, if it weren't for these meddling kids!

The Violet Spy watched as the Aurora Legion tore through his defenses. His loyal men sent flying with a single tap of Wonder Knight’s fist. Extremely expensive drone tanks smashed under a pink dinosaur. The latest in technology rendered inert by some superstitious fool. The deadliest projectiles harmlessly floating in the air at the command of some girl. And an Icy Falcon knock-off breaking turrets with a rain of icicles.

His mind raced as his men fell. Could he threaten the Director? No, she was sealed up tight, and had already made public her origin. Maybe Aurora Legion’s families? Possible, but it wouldn’t stop the assault in progress, and petty spite was a waste of his resources. Bribery? Yeah right, teenagers on a dang fool crusade wouldn’t be swayed by such things. He let out a sigh.

Guess it was time to run.

Just then he received a call. He blinked. Really? Now?! He sighed and hit the button. He still had some time to get out, and he had a reputation to keep. The monitor flashed and revealed the face of a dark-skinned woman hidden behind a mask.

“Hello Mr. Costiniu, you seem to be in a bit of trouble.”

His eyes widened.

“How did you…”

“You have more important things to worry about, yes?”

The Violet Spy winced as an explosion rang throughout the facility.

“And the important thing is this: I have a team about five minutes out that can intervene, give you a chance to move your operation instead of running out the door.”

He grimaced.

“A tempting offer, but even if you’re telling the truth, I imagine such a service would be quite…expensive.”

“Oh, it is very expensive. Basics of supply and demand, Mr. Costiniu. Your demand for people with special skills is at an all time high, and I happen to possess the only supply.”

The Violet Spy sighed and rubbed his chin.

Well, he was going to lose everything today either way. Besides, if this woman was telling the truth, he could always research her later…

“Very well, name your price and send your team. You’ll have your money…if your team is any good.”

“I look forward to working with you, Mr. Costiniu. We’ll be in touch afterwards.”

The Violet Spy let out a sigh and then got to work transferring his funds and saving his data. He didn’t expect much from the mystery team, but every second meant starting over with just a bit more.

Wonder Knight dusted his hands and hopped off the tank he had crushed. The other four gathered around him as they approached the central structure of the base.

“Nice work team, now let’s grab this Violet Spy and get out of here.”

“Why the rush, you have a date or something, bro?”

“And you two don’t?”

Chronolock crossed her arms.

“We don’t do date night on mission days. Mission comes first.”

“Oh, right.”

Pink Star made a dark look, eyes staring into space.

“I don’t have a date tonight either. I don’t have any dates, ever.”

Wonder Knight started to sweat.

“Right. Um. M-Maybe Icy Rose?”

“Um, I’m single too.”

“Oh, um, what about…?”

“Antonio and I are just friends.”

“Oh. Well…um…c-come on guys! Guy’s got ‘spy’ in the name so we b-better make sure he doesn’t get away!”

Wonder Knight spun around to escape the stares of his team.

And then a missile exploded in his face, sending him flying back.

“Wonder!”

Aurora Legion leapt into action, but then a massive cyclone appeared in the center of them. The teen heroes cried out and dodged to the side, ending up scattered and separated.

Wonder Knight groaned and lifted his head, then rolled back as a blade collided with his former position.

“I must admit, I have heard tales of your might, and I’ve been most eager to test it for myself! Come, Wonder Knight! Have at thee!”

A large man with flowing golden hair and a massive greatsword stood in front of him. Wonder Knight frowned and held up his fists. The two leapt at each other. The man swung his blade, Wonder Knight ducking under it and moving into range.

“Gah!”

He groaned as a foot landed on his stomach. The man grinned at him.

“The obvious play! You’ll have to do better than that to beat me.”

Wonder Knight grimaced and rubbed his stomach.

This guy was strong.

“Wonder!”

Icy Rose lifted her hands and an icy gale roared forth, counteracting the cyclone and dispersing it. Now with a clear view of Wonder Knight and his assailant, she raised her hands and sent a barrage of ice spikes surging towards the man…

“Statement: Target acquired. Engaging.”

Machine guns sang out and the ice spikes burst in the air. A humanoid robot landed in front of Icy Rose, machine gun arm at the ready.

“Get out of the way!”

Icy Rose lifted her arms, creating a wave of spikes much larger than before. The machine calmly took aim and opened fire, a second gun rising from its other arm and a third from its shoulder. The spikes shattered mid-flight.

Icy Rose grimaced and called on her power. She sent forth another icy gale, trying to freeze the machine. The machine’s gun turned back into a hand and it lifted both hands, a purple sphere surrounding it and blocking the cold winds. The machine then slammed both hands together as its arms glowed orange. Icy Rose’s eyes widened and she leapt to the side, a beam of light piercing her former position.

She looked back up and the machine was gone. She looked around and found the machine behind her, left fist pointed at her with a panel open on its wrist. Two dart-tipped wires shot into her.

Icy Rose screamed as electricity surged through her.

Chronolock shook her head as she got up off the ground, just in time to see Icy Rose fall.

“Rose!”

She began to run over to Rose’s position when a red-haired girl landed in front of her, upper half of her face hidden by a mask. She made a sadistic grin.

“Going somewhere?”

“Out of the way.”

Chronolock continued running towards the girl. The girl lifted her hands, pieces of debris rising into the air. She thrust her hands forward and the debris flew towards Chronolock. Chronolock frowned and ducked out of the way. She tried to press on but the girl lobbed more and more debris at her. She clicked her tongue and leapt back, dodging a broken tank.

And then a rock filled her vision. Her eyes widened and she lifted her hands.

The rock didn’t stop.

Chronolock’s eyes widened as the rock approached her face.

And passed straight through her.

“Made you look!”

And another rock knocked into her from behind.

Chronolock spun around. More debris approached her. She dodged one, tried to stop another. That one began vibrating in the air, but then a rock approached her side. She jumped out of the way but the rock vanished, and the rock she originally stopped changed directions and smacked her in the stomach.

Chronolock snarled but a rock caught her forehead, knocking her to the ground.

She shook her head as the girl stood over her, cackling madly. And split into seven different identical images, all surrounding her and laughing.

On the other side of the courtyard, Voidspeaker rose into the air, eyes glowing purple. He lifted his hands, black spheres growing in each.

And then a glowing blue net caught him and brought him to the ground.

“Void!”

A girl in a ninja hakama appeared, a strange gun in hand. Pink Star lifted her hands and a pink triceratops shook the ground, rushing towards the girl. The kunoichi jumped over the dinosaur, landing on its back. She took out a machine pistol and unleashed a barrage into the beast’s neck. The triceratops roared and fell to the ground, vanishing into pink sparks.

Meanwhile Pink Star pulled the net off of Voidspeaker and helped him to his feet. The two walked forward, facing down the ninja girl.

“Ninjas. Freaking ninjas now. With guns! That’s like, not fair, bro! Ninjas are supposed to use knifes and swords and stuff!”

“I think that’s just in anime, Void.”

“Shut it, Pink! I know you watch too!”

“Fight now, talk later.”

“Right.”

The kunoichi shrugged.

“Swords are his thing.”

A second ninja appeared behind the pair, stun blade in hand. A black slash cut across them and the two cried out as electricity surged through their bodies.

Wonder Knight was breathing heavily. The man put away his sword and grinned, motioning for Wonder Knight to come forward. The two ran towards one another and crossed fists, striking each others chins. They both flew back, sliding across the ground. Wonder Knight groaned but stood back up.

The man stood up as well, rubbing his chin.

“Ah, that was a good blow! You are mighty indeed!”

He picked up his sword.

“But it seems we’ve taken too long! And now we are the last!”

Wonder Knight’s eyes widened and he glanced around.

The whole team was down and he was surrounded. A shadow blocked the sun and he turned up. His assailant was in the air, blade pulled back.

“Tis not wise to look away in a fight!”

The last thing Wonder Knight saw was the flat of a blade filling his vision.

Wonder Knight groaned as he came to. His forehead still stung, his head pounding. He slowly sat up and rubbed his forehead. As he did so he glanced around. The other members of Aurora Legion lay around him, also starting to groan and stir. The sound of a jet filled the air and he looked up.

A grav-jet was lifting off the ground. A red-head girl stood in the exit ramp, arms crossed.

“AHAHAHAHA!!! Not so tough after all, huh? See you later, Aurora Losers!”

Wonder Knight groaned as the jet flew away.

“Everyone ok, team?”

“Yeah.”

“...fine.”

“We’re ok.”

“Ugh, I’m not. That stung, bro! What the heck was that?”

Wonder Knight sighed, rubbing his head one more time.

“Looks like we have some kind of nemesis now.”