Once word spread that the world's greatest mercenary was freed from prison, it didn't take long for the phone to start ringing. Ricky had wracked up some serious clients over the years, and during the time he was behind bars, they couldn't find anyone quite as good as him to deal with their problems.

He stood inside a skyscraper under construction, his sniper rifle stationed on the edge of an open window. All the workers had gone home, but the business men in the office across the street were pulling an all-nighter. The building's glass panes were blacked out, and the heat turned high to prevent contract killers from using thermal scopes.

It didn't phase him. Ricky had something none of his competitors did—A sorcerer. He cracked open a metal case containing a series of specialty ammo his boyfriend had so lovingly enchanted. Ricky retrieved a white bullet, loading it into the front of the magazine, followed by a few normal antipersonnel shots.

He fired into the building's top floor. Inside, the second the white bullet struck the ground, a cacophony of snow and ice exploded inside the office. The harsh cold canceled out the heaters, allowing him visual of his victims' heat signatures. Picking off his targets from that point was like child's play. He didn't even pay much attention as he fired without missing a shot. The silencing enchantment on his gun meant he could take his time in leaving. Not a soul heard, and the bodies wouldn't be found until morning.

As Ricky started picking up his tools, appropriately, the first snow of winter began falling outside. The cold wasn't responsible for the ache in his joints. No, that honor goes to the shadow of an angel looming in the corner.

"Knew it was only a matter of time." Ricky grumbled.

"Where is he, Ricky?" Beau questioned.

He snapped shut his sniper's case, answering, "Somewhere you'll never find him. Strange you decided to track me down here, when you're the one person that knows where I live."

"After the breakout, I was too focused on helping Jasper recover. By the time I got around to paying your apartment a visit, you'd already flown the coop." He responded, "I know you have safe houses all over this planet, but I'd rather not have to go on any wind goose chases."

"Your little cult paid for quite a few of those safe houses." Ricky remarked. "I did a lot of fucked up shit for you over the years, but never questioned it. Chris, though, that's a different story. Even I can't trust you with power like that."

Beau scoffed, "Please. You think all the relics we've hired you to steal over the years were just artifacts? The majority of them had powers just as destructive as Chris', but like you said, you never questioned it. And before you knew what Chris really was, you didn't question that job either."

"Maybe I made a mistake. There was always something about you that stunk. Now, are you gonna make me fight you, or are you going to let me walk out of here?"

"Go on and walk away, like you always do. We'll find you when the time is right." He said, "However, Ricky, if you're serious about growing a conscience, you should know the warden and some of his lackeys at 42 ran experiments on Jasper. They robbed him of a fourth of his power. Now, a fourth from anyone else wouldn't be a concern, but from him..."

Ricky glanced over his shoulder, sneering, "Why the Hell do you think I care about your goth Jim Jones?" He had decided he was done with this conversation and took a leap out the window.

Beau rushed over to spot his escape. He saw a portal open beneath Ricky as he fell, and within a matter of seconds, he was gone without a trace—Or so he assumed. Ryan had long ago placed mental barricades in his and Ricky's minds to prevent telepaths such as Beau from intruding on their thoughts. However, he hadn't put down protection inside of Chris' mind simply because he didn't want to accidentally cause him to slip into crazy mode.

A voice came over Beau's communicator, the voice of his father, "Did you find anything?"

"He left through a portal. It wasn't open long enough for me to get a location, but I did catch Chris' mental wavelength and memorized it. With an amplifier spell, I could find him easily." He answered.

Covey sighed in dismay, "Jasper will need his full strength for that, which means..."

"Yeah, I know." Beau responded, "We have to break back into 42."

—

Vinny hadn't been given the option to leave the Society's manor. Understandably so, they most likely didn't want him running off telling heroes of their location. At least he hasn't had to work for the last two weeks, but he wasn't exactly trustworthy of the company. He never thought that staying within close proximity to Friday would be his best option.

He sat in an oriental themed room, slouched in an armchair with his feet on the coffee table in front of him. She pranced around before a dressing mirror, examining a tight blush dress she'd been gifted. "What'd you think?" She asked.

Vinny shrugged, "I dunno, it fits."

Friday huffed at him. She took two raspberry macarons off the silver tray next to him and jammed one in his mouth. "You're no fun."

He fumbled as he almost dropped it, replying, "Sorry, didn't know hostages were supposed to be chipper."

She turned her attention the door as it opened. Her face brightened to see Croc enter. He addressed her, "Like the dress?"

Friday did a small spin with a flirtatious giggle, "It's nice, but I'm afraid I just can't wear constricting clothes in my line of work."

"Hm, course, I shoulda known." He smiled, "I shoulda let my brother, Thursday, handle it. Fashion's more his thing."

Vinny glanced over the back of the chair to see him. "You have a brother named Thursday? What? You tryna collect every day of the week?"

Croc scoffed playfully at his joke. "Coincidence."

"Speaking of your brothers," Friday sat herself down on the coffee table and crossed her long, silky legs. "I believe I was promised some introductions?"

"I know what you want, Cher." He responded, "I'm taken, Covey and Thursday play for the other team, and Apollo ain't much your type. But, when Lumi gets back home, I'll make sure you get acquainted real well."

She was prepared to purr some kind of promiscuous remark, but a thud outside silenced her. The noise they'd heard was Covey's staff hitting the ground in order to open the doors. As he entered, he requested Friday and Croc take their leave. Vinny didn't change his demeanor. At this point, he figured there wasn't much he could do to change anyone's thoughts on him. They all must've thought he was a useless hero that couldn't do his job right. He'd gotten used to people seeing him as a bumbling idiot.

Covey plucked a few blueberries from the snack tray beside him. "Don't like sweets?" Vinny asked.

"I do, but crows prefer fresh fruit." It was then that Vinny realized the bird on the top of Covey's staff was real, and alive. The critter jumped onto Covey's wrist and began eating the berries from his palm. He sat down across from the prison guard. "You're a registered hero. You could have done a lot with your powers, become quite famous. So, tell me, why did you choose not to?"

"I wanted to do good, obviously, but I dunno. Something about the way heroes became more like celebrities, I didn't like it. Cops, firefighters, they all work just as hard as the capes, put their lives on the line just the same, but they don't have merch in Hot Topic. They aren't getting asked for autographs or doing press tours."

"If you could do good without having the public eye on you, would you?" Covey asked.

"Yeah, of course- Wait!" Vinny sat forward. "This isn't like, the part where you tell me some twisted shit that's going to trick me into thinking you're the good guys?"

"The concept of good and evil is something humans like to believe in, because it's simple. Simple is comforting, and easy. However, our world is anything but simple. Real life isn't so black and white. We aren't good guys, but we're not evil either. There is currently two hundred and twenty-three supernatural artifacts in this house that could easily end the world if they fall into the wrong hands. Now, I can only hope that the fact that we haven't used them will convince you we possess them purely to keep them out of those wrong hands.

"Certain people within 42 found a way to reap powers from enhanced beings. Whether or not they are doing these experiments for good or bad reasons, that's not for me to decide, but they took some of Jasper's power. I know after spending a year without him here, we cannot properly protect the manor without his strength. We intend to take back his power, and it would be a lot easier with your help.

"And if the greater good isn't enough to convince you, I'm begging you help save the love of my life. Jasper has partially lost his healing fact. He very well could be dead within a few months. I've lost one life partner once already. I can't go through that again. That's what you heroes do, right? Save lives?"

Vinny was surprised to see Covey's eyes glassy. He certainly hadn't known love in the way that Covey had, but he understood heartbreak. Was that a good enough reason to help a villain? To risk being associated with these people? The wrong person spots him working alongside them, and his career and clean record are ruined.

The number one lesson you learn in hero school is you can't save everyone, no matter how much you want to. Breaking into 42 very well could cost many innocent people their lives, just as breaking out had. Then again, if Covey is telling the truth, a few lives is a small price to pay for the entire world.

Covey raised from his seat. As he walked past Vinny, he set a hand on his shoulder. "Please, think it over. You have a good heart. I can see it in you. You'll make the right choice."

A moment later, the door shut, and he was alone. Vinny took another macaron from the side table, slouching back down in his chair. He stuffed his mouth, muttering, "Fuck me."