The streets were blissfully quiet, for once.

Flickr was instantly suspicious.

She tried to tell herself that everything was fine, that it just happened to be a slow evening for crime. Maybe the average run-of-the-mill muggers and drug dealers had been scared off by Lucid's appearance yesterday. Maybe they had all migrated to Storm's end of the city. The older super could probably handle them, right?

Flickr shivered, slowing her motorbike to a stop in the shadow of an overpass. It wasn't that she was disappointed in the apparent lack of criminal activity. After almost five years of living in this city, she had come to associate the nation's capital with rough streets. It was like the extra supers assigned to the city had been an invitation for vigilantes to prove their worth. Good-guy supers were far less common than self-serving ones – people with natural superpowers often didn't want to join the government training programs. So maybe they would try to present as normal for a while, but with great power came a lot of temptation. Why should I pay for concert tickets when I can just go invisible? What if I just used my mind-reading to win big at the casino? Once someone started down that road, it became very difficult to convince them that they didn't own the world, that no one owed them anything for being born special. Self-proclaimed villains outnumbered the superheroes by far.

It always irritated Flickr when they arrested a natural super, someone who had been handed everything at birth and decided to waste their gifts on themselves. Flickr had been the exact opposite – she'd grown up powerless, poor, and filled with determination. She had decided she was going to be a superhero from the minute she could talk, and nothing – not her background, not her skin colour, not her gender – was going to stand in her way.

And she'd done it. At seventeen, she was accepted into the experimental government program, and at twenty-one she had graduated, leaving broken records in her wake. She adopted a superhero persona to keep her family out of the spotlight, but maintained contact with her mother and youngest sister. Her other sister was already following in Flickr's footsteps, two years into the same government program. Maybe someday they would be patrolling the streets together.

Not like I actually need backup, Flickr thought, surveying the darkening buildings. Her fingers absentmindedly brushed over the new communication device sewn into the side of her mask. The last rays of sun had faded out while she sat under the overpass, and everything was starting to look (literally) shadier.

Flickr checked for traffic, which was almost unnecessary, and started her bike up the road again.

* * *

The rooftop sushi restaurant was almost magical, the large windows giving Aether and Luis a panoramic view of the city at sunset. She was glad that her back was turned southward, facing away from the tallest building in the city – it would have got her thinking about Charlie on the sixth floor, Veritas taking over her interviews...

Luis was pointing at the menu, trying to get her attention. "This place has amazing calamari," he said. "You ready to order?"

"I don't know," Aether said distractedly. "I'll just... have what you're having. I'm a terrible decision-maker, sorry."

"Hey, it's fine." He leaned across the table, that annoying curl flipping across his forehead again. "You made a great choice with the face, though. Did I tell you I have a thing for brunettes?"

She couldn't hide a smile, touching the wavy brown hair she'd finally decided on. The darker complexion went well with the cream-coloured blouse Aether was wearing, and it also helped cover her blushing.

"You think?" she said stupidly, meeting his gaze.

Luis smirked, waving the menu at her. "Yep. I also think you should try the calamari. I guarantee it'll get your mind off work, if nothing else."

"Whatever you like—" Aether broke off, one hand flying to the communication device behind her ear. Luis's gaze followed, comprehending immediately.

"It's buzzing," she said nervously. "How do I respond?"

"You don't." Luis smiled reassuringly, holding out a hand for the device. "Here, give it to me. You're taking the night off, remember? Let someone else get it."

* * *

Flickr gasped for breath, the villain's hand falling from over her mouth.

"What did you do?" they demanded. "Who did you contact?"

There was a sudden ripping sound, and the communication device was thrown against the wall of the alley, landing at Flickr's feet. She tensed in the villain's grip, praying the channel was still open.

"Charlie!" she yelled, before her mouth could be covered again. "It's Lucid, I need backup—"

The villain's boot came down on the tiny white button, and Flickr cursed. All that did was earn her a vicious shove, and she was lying on the pavement, spitting out blood. Before she could roll away, the other grabbed her arm again so neither of them could teleport.

"You're on the wrong side of town, super," came Lucid's distorted voice. "Looking for trouble?"

"It usually just finds me," Flickr coughed. "Or in your case, tackles me from behind. What are you doing here?"

The villain tilted their head. "I live here," they said like it was obvious. "Also, I'm not Lucid. So I don't know what your problem is, beating up random innocent civilians..."

"You grabbed me," the super pointed out. She stopped struggling long enough to look at the villain's suit – and duh, it wasn't Lucid. They were wearing dark grey, not black, neon orange stripes racing up the sides of the shiny leather outfit.

The new villain flexed their fingers, curling them into a threatening fist, and Flickr laughed suddenly. She wasn't trapped at all.

A split second later, Flickr was ten feet down the alley, the villain's hand closing on empty air. The super struck a pose, eyeing her opponent with curiosity.

"If you're not Lucid, then who are you?" she asked casually. "Should I be worried?"

The vigilante mirrored her posture. They were almost identical in height, and from this distance Flickr could tell that the dark silhouette was female.

"They call me Nova," she said. "You could say I'm your opposite - so yeah, maybe you should be worried."

Flickr blinked. Something about the way this girl talked sounded familiar, like she was younger than Flickr had originally thought. "What do you mean?"

Nova threw out her arms, and Flickr instinctively tensed for an attack. It was like what Lucid had done with the shock wave of electricity – but nothing happened. The villain's mask didn't hide her smug grin.

"That's what I mean," Nova said. "You're barely there. You just flicker out of existence whenever it suits you – and I'm the opposite. I'm so intensely there that everything around me just can't help but exist. Like, for example... a supernova."

And she was slowly drawing her hands back into herself, a faint rumbling suddenly audible. Flickr's gaze darted around the alley, searching for the cause of the steadily increasing noise, but it seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. The cracked asphalt under the super's feet was vibrating, a loud creaking and popping sound echoed from the walls of the buildings on either side, the parked car fifty feet away was sliding slowly toward them...

"Heads!" Nova's gleeful shout startled Flickr into action. She spun to see a metal sign snap loose from its concrete base, flying end over end toward her. Vaguely, Flickr registered the "no parking" symbol before closing her eyes, phasing out to let the sign pass harmlessly through her—

The impact sent her skidding across the pavement, a scream of pain echoing in her ears before she realized it came from her. She was on the ground again. Her eyes opened for only a split second, then she squeezed them shut, the image of red dots splattered on the grey concrete dancing across her eyelids.

Why couldn't she phase? Why couldn't she feel her left arm? Why couldn't she blink the red speckles from her vision?

"Didn't I give you enough warning?" Nova's voice drifted through the alley, sing-song. "Let's try again. Watch out!"

Hardly aware of her limbs, Flickr launched blindly to her feet, stumbling aside as a chunk of concrete detached itself from the side of the abandoned video store beside them. Everything around them was shaking now, and all Flickr could see was the vicious satisfaction on the villain's lips. Everything around me just can't help but exist.

Flickr was in trouble. This was worse than Lucid – obviously Nova had different career aspirations. The vigilante in grey and orange didn't seem like she was planning on retiring before Flickr was dead.

The side of the other building caved outwards with a horrible groaning noise. She was too close, she couldn't run fast enough to get out of the way. It felt like a nightmare – when you're running but can't seem to get anywhere, your pursuer right on your heels...

And Flickr realized she was sliding backwards, being sucked in toward Nova as the villain clenched her fists. For once, the super couldn't just run away from the fight, blink out of existence long enough to catch her breath. If it was up to Flickr, she wouldn't be able to save herself.

* * *

A gentle chime filled the air, the vibration from Luis's phone rattling the utensils. Aether almost spat out her water.

"It's Charlie, isn't it?" She leaned over to see, not noticing that her necklace was trailing through the red sauce. "I knew it was an emergency, I shouldn't have ignored—"

"No, it's fine." Luis snatched the phone off the table, glancing at the screen before he turned the sound off and tucked it into a pocket.

"What?"

"That wasn't Charlie," Luis insisted. "Just work stuff. I can deal with it later – right now we're busy."

Aether glanced down, noticing the red smear on her top and grabbing a napkin. "Oh. Okay."

"How's the sushi?" he asked.

She smiled. "Better than I thought it would be, actually. Flickr's been trying to get me to go out with her for a while, but I'm awful at trying new things. The other day on patrol she said—"

"Hey." Luis was grinning across the table at her, brown eyes dark with amusement. "Do you mind if we don't talk about work? I think you need a mental break more than a physical one."

"You're right." Aether let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I haven't had a night off in... a while."

Luis waved a hand. "It's fine. Try the white sauce, it's kind of salty. Here."

Aether reached for the dish he passed, nearly dropping it when Luis's phone buzzed again in his pocket.

* * *

"Flickr."

Her ears were ringing, her shoulder on fire, and every muscle in her body screamed for her not to move. She let out a hoarse moan.

"Flickr, we need to move."

It was Veritas's voice. Flickr forced her eyes open, realizing he was propping her up against the one standing wall in the debris-filled alley.

"No— Nova," she managed, eyes darting around wildly.

The other super's gaze was steady. He gripped her shoulders, pressing her back into the rough brick. "She's down. For now. You need to get out of here, you're injured."

Flickr nodded jerkily. She couldn't relax. Everything was pressing in around her, like a thousand voices were screaming for help, her own thoughts assaulting her mind and refusing to be silenced. "Okay," she said, nodding again. "If it's okay, then—"

"You were right," Veritas said abruptly. He released her, letting her sway to her feet, and stared further down the alley as though looking for something.

"Right about what?"

His voice was low. "Lucid."

"Lucid is here?" It was like a shot of ice water to Flickr's veins. She pushed off the wall, stumbling over cracked pieces of concrete. "Where? What's she doing?"

"At the moment, probably sulking."

She turned to look at Veritas.

He was grinning, the mirth in his deep blue eyes out of place in the dusty alley. Flickr had known that he was one of the supers who had decided to forgo a secret identity, but it had never struck her until now just how much guts it must take to walk barefaced into a crime scene. Her own mask was like its own suit of armour, giving her the strength she needed to step into the light, say things she couldn't as the ordinary Lydia Sinclair.

And yet the other super was standing there defenceless. Sure, he had impenetrable skin, but there was something ridiculously noble about the concrete dust coating Veritas's dark eyelashes, the naked emotion on his face. He had come with one purpose, and he wasn't going to hide it.

Flickr's hand flew self-consciously to the edge of her mask, feeling the torn fabric where her communication device had been stolen. She knew she wore the mask to protect her identity, her mother and sisters, but for a fleeting moment she wondered if it was the coward's move. What was she best at, anyway – running away from a fight?

She followed his gaze into the darkness at the other end of the alley, not sure what she was supposed to be looking for.

Veritas glanced up, shaking more dust out of his hair. "Anyway, I don't think Lucid knew that other vigilante was going to be here. What did you call her – Nova?"

Flickr managed a nod, and he swept on.

"So Lucid was pissed. She took off when I knocked out Nova, but I know she isn't far off because she was muttering something about having to come back and pick up the idiot newbies." He rolled his eyes. "Even villains have teamwork issues, I guess?"

"She's reporting to Vortex."

Veritas looked at her, surprised. The words had just fallen from her mouth, but Flickr knew immediately that she had to be right.

"Think about it," she insisted. "We've known for a long time that Vortex is at the centre of a network, getting everyone else to do her supervillain bidding, but I don't think we've ever been closer than we are right now. Nova's new, Vortex wouldn't let her stray too far. And this corner of the city? It's always been far too quiet."

"I wouldn't know. I'm from Toronto."

Veritas was smirking as he tugged at her arm, and Flickr realized she'd been limping down the alley like a hound on the scent.

"Just wait a sec," he said. "If Vortex is here, we're going to need more than one and a half conscious supers to take her down."

"We don't have to take her down right this second." Flickr chose to ignore his other comment. "I just want to check it out—"

He held her in place. "What, you think she's going to let us walk right out again? If we're going in, we need to go all in. Supervillains never do anything half-heartedly. It's like the cardinal rule."

The new voice came from directly behind them. "Actually, that's rule number two."