It was a few days before I got a chance to speak to Eret again, on hero work.

It was a fight against Black Rose and a (slightly nervous, I noticed) Spectre.

"Okay, you can fight Black Rose because I do NOT want to get mind controlled again." Eret said with a frown.

"Okay. Although, realistically speaking," I said, dodging one of the thorny vines reaching for me, "Spectre can mind control you as well. And the only way you can really break out of it is if he lets you."

"Oh. I forgot about that. Oh well!"

I side stepped another of Black Rose's attacks, frowning slightly. "This is just getting sad now Black Rose." She let out an annoyed mutter, glancing around for something, presumably a weapon.

I ran forward, clutching my sword and slicing through a vine that had started to wrap itself around my ankle. Black Rose summoned a wall of vines just as I threw a warning attack in her direction. I hadn't been intending to hit her of course- I had been much more careful about that since the incident with Lightspeed- but more to scare her into backing down.

"If you could just stay out till the police get here, that'd be great." I suggested, slicing through another vine that was coiling around my arm like a snake.

"No way." She hissed, letting the wall of vines go down. She glanced sideways at Spectre, who was locked in combat with Eret.

Spectre nodded, disappearing out of sight. Eret let out a confused noise as Black Rose disappeared too.

"I mean we should've expected that to be honest." Eret muttered. "Maybe should've brought Azalea along, or someone with powers along those lines. Maybe Royal or Crepitus to set the plants on fire. We really need to be more strategic about going into fights, you know. Especially with top priority villains like Spectre."

I nodded awkwardly, remembering how I had let Spectre go in exchange for Slimecicle's freedom.

"Oh, um, Eret, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked.

"Yeah sure, what is it, mouse?" Eret said as we started walking back to Headquarters.

"Well you see..."