Work Book 2

North of Sacramento, California was the Tahoe National Forest. It was actually quite the picturesque and beautiful area. There were plenty of small lakes and rivers running through it, dotted with a few small towns and villages, but for the most part it was reserved for campgrounds and nature trails. It was near the Nevada border, and tourists from both sides of the border often used it to enjoy nature's beauty.

Unfortunately, at the moment it was also on fire.

Nearly twenty square miles of forest was burning, most likely set off by a careless camper and the dry conditions of late June. The lack of rain simply made things worse. There was a lot of debris to serve as kindling. Worse still, there were several small towns in the path of the fire, and a shift in the wind was draping Reno, Nevada, in a thick haze of smoke. If it wasn't dealt with, the fire could consume Loyalton, Sierraville, and burn out the outskirts of Reno itself.

That was on my mind as I flew above the burning region, slowing for a landing nearby one of Reno's fire trucks, with attending firefighters. The firefighters of the nearest cities were out in force, and at work, but it looked like the best they could do was keep the fire from actually sweeping into Reno. Some were conferring, looking like they were making a plan of attack.

"Jesus fuck!" A masked-up firefighter exclaimed as I approached the nearest group of six conferring firefighters. One of the group held up a fire axe, looking uncertain as to whether or not he should charge or drop it and run.

I sighed, holding up my hands for a moment. "Relax, I'm a hero. I'm Sunstorm, and I'm here to help."

There was still a hesitation, some understandable fear, then finally the one who cursed visibly shook himself. "Right, no bullshit. What can you do?"

"I'm pyrokinetic, very strong, can fly and am very unlikely to get hurt by anything that happens here. I can take the heat away from the fire, and you guys can soak the area, so it doesn't spread back."

The captain (at least I assumed so) took a moment to think about that, then he nodded slowly. "It would work, but it would also take quite a long time. The area's too dry. If we could get some rain it would make things a lot easier."

Some rain... this would be easier if I could control the weather, at least directly. I could handle some indirect control, but that was pretty iffy and unpredictable. I couldn't steer a storm with my control over heat... at least, not in any efficient way.

Helicopters went flying by, carrying the deployable water buckets. I knew they were mostly good for helping contain a fire, but not that good for actually stopping one. Especially one this large. Still... It gave me an idea.

I turned to the (probable) captain. "Where's the nearest large lake?"

He paused a moment, probably blinking behind his mask. "Lake Tahoe, just south of here."

I nodded. "Right. I'll see about making it rain somewhat." It was worth a shot, anyway. I wasn't sure I could, but I lost nothing by trying.

So I flew through the air, about twenty miles south. Lake Tahoe was large, beautiful, with crystal-clear waters and surrounded by large trees and cabins. The lake was large enough that I couldn't see the other shore. At least, not with the haze of the smoke all over the area.

Water and I weren't very good friends, at least powers-wise. Taking a bath was a soothing thing, but unless it was hotter than my body temperature it tended to sap away my heat. On top of that, my powers tended to get snuffed out by water, leaving me more vulnerable without my ability to heal rapidly. I could handle this, but there were situations I couldn't help with much.

So at the edge of the lake, I knelt and put my hands just under the surface of the water. Even with the hot day, I could feel the cooler water starting to absorb my heat. At least with the small surface area the problem was manageable. I had plenty of heat coming in from the air and the sun, at least, but I still didn't like it.

I concentrated, pulling at the water's heat, reversing the typical flow of heat that physics demanded. It took effort, a lot of effort, but the water rapidly cooled around my hands, turning into ice despite the June heat. The only problem was I was taking on more heat than I could store. So I turned myself into a heat pump. I looked up to the sky, made sure the line of sight was clear, then blasted my Heat Vision off into the great blue yonder. The beams were transparent, as I hadn't managed to figure out how to make them hotter with any efficiency yet. Still, it was working.

By the time I stopped and looked down, my hands were encased in ice, and the lake... well, it was covered by a sheet of ice that stretched off further than I could see.

Maybe I overdid it a bit.

Ripping my hands out of their encasement, I took a deep breath, I pushed my hands further down into the ice, getting a grip on it. Then I concentrated and pulled upward.

It was heavy. Heavier than the Albert by far. More than I could handle, at least at the moment. Okay, I really overdid it. Still, I was going to need a lot of water to snuff out the wildfire, and the fewer trips I made, the more people who were going to survive. Still, it was too much, even for me. So I took a moment to fly overhead and cut the ice in half with Heat Vision. Now there were two ice sheets floating in Lake Tahoe, still both stupidly large covering at least three square miles, but maybe they'd be manageable.

I dove back down, took a firm grip on the edge of the first ice sheet, and hauled. The ice made a terrible cracking sound as I pulled it up from the water of the lake. A mass of ice large enough to cover half a city block lifted in my arms, at about eight feet thick. It put a terrible strain on me, but as I clenched my teeth and flapped my wings, the burden slowly eased as I hardened my will. I could do this. I would do this. Every muscle trembled, my teeth were clenched, and I had to put every bit of concentration I had to make sure the damned thing wouldn't fall apart. I shifted myself to be underneath the ice sheet, to better grip it and to also see where the hell I was going.

In the heat of the air, the ice started melting almost immediately, but there was so much of it it would take quite a while for it all to melt. It made me wet and cold, and that was a problem. My heat reserves were beginning to drain. I'd have to get over the fire and start drawing from that. That would give me enough time. At least I hoped.

I hauled the ice northward, passing over the firefighting efforts. I could see the helicopters that passed by previously releasing their loads of water, then promptly flying away as they spotted the looming ice sheet coming in their direction.

Yeah, probably a good idea, there.

Finally I was over the worst of the fire. The heat from below bolstered me, though the smoke wasn't exactly pleasant. I held the ice sheet in place, feeling somewhat relieved as the water dripped and fell from my burden, both helping to douse the flames below and ease my efforts. Holding the ice was becoming easier and easier every second, even if my reserves of heat were becoming dangerously low.

Now that I didn't have to concentrate as hard, however, that freed me up enough to hold the rapidly melting mass of ice up above me with one hand. The other I directed downward, drawing the heat of the fire toward me. I couldn't get all of it, or even a large fraction of it at a time, but it did top off my reserves and made it easier for the pouring water to snuff out the flames. More importantly, keep them snuffed out.

I gave a start as my burden suddenly eased substantially, becoming only half as heavy as it was a moment before. I looked over the bottom of the ice and spotted a black-clad figure about a hundred feet away from me, both of her hands pushing up on the ice. Alexandria.

I gave her a nod, clenching my teeth as I pushed myself forward, toward the center of the ice sheet above me. Since I was pulling heat toward me, the ice near the edge where I had been was melting faster than the rest. I was careful to keep gripping the ice, one hand on it at all times. Otherwise the physics-defying whatever it was that let me do this would probably stop working. Even stopping for a moment would be pretty catastrophic.

Still, it seemed to be working. The fire below was waning, and the water dripping off the ice sheet was going in a steady downpour. The smoke from below was now being absorbed by the rain, substantially clearing the air. I put both my hands up on the ice, holding the mass above my head.

I knew when Alexandria started approaching me when the burden of the ice's weight increased again, though thankfully nowhere near as bad as it was when I first lifted it. Partially due to the fact the ice was melting every second I was up here. The other part was... I don't know, exactly. It just felt easier and easier to do more. I guess practice really did pay off.

Alexandria floated in front of me. "Can we talk?"

I grunted. "Be glad to... just should finish this first. Kinda need to concentrate right now."

She nodded, pulling away. Probably to get out from under the icy water dripping down. Icicles formed as the mass above me kept melting, and if it wasn't for the fact I was drawing heat from the fire below now and again, I'd have easily run out of heat.

As the fire below went out, I shifted the remaining ice sheet around, helping to wet down the area. Hopefully it would prevent another flare-up. In the hot June sun, the ice was melting rapidly, and soon chunks of it started falling. Whenever one did, I turned my head and blasted it with Heat Vision, resulting in splashes of water hitting the forest below rather than chunks of ice.

Being cold and wet is a lot better than getting brained, after all, and I couldn't see if anyone was below me. I was glad I'd figured out Heat Vision, however imperfectly, as I didn't need to use a hand to direct it. Rather helpful right now.

I slowly lowered myself to just above the forest canopy, breathing with relief as the ice above me turned transparent and the sun shone through it. The added warmth was small, but helpful, and it told me the ice was nearly gone. I still did what I could to absorb the heat from above me, though, so the section I was holding onto would be the last part to melt away.

When it was down to a section of ice about as large as a parking lot, I just went over the nearest clearing and let it crumble. I huffed in relief, letting my arms drop to my sides. They felt a bit rubbery with the effort, but still, I was glad for it. It meant my training, pushing my limits, was paying off.

I made my way back south, reaching the firefighters. Masks and helmets were off, and the men were cheering. The cheers faded somewhat as I landed, but broad smiles did greet me at least.

"That was a hell of a thing." The Captain said. Now with his features exposed, I could see he was black, with graying hair and severe features. "I'd never seen a cape do anything like that before. Never thought a cape would help like that, either."

I gave him a smile. "Glad to help out a bit. Is everyone all right? I know this is a hazardous line of work."

He shook his head. "We're good here. There's other teams out there, but most of us are pretty experienced. Staying out of the danger zone and moving in. With the worst of the fire out, we should be able to wet down the area, keep it from reigniting. Even with what you grabbed, there's going to be a lot more area that hasn't been wetted down."

I nodded. "Right. I'll do another sweep, but I think you guys can take it from here, at least this section." I lifted my way off the ground once more, doing just that to look over the burned area. Also, looking for Alexandria.

The experienced Protectorate member was hovering right over the middle of the once-blazing wildfire, seeming to look over the situation with a critical eye. Smoke and steam was still boiling upward, and Alexandria was keeping a good distance from the rising remnants of the fire. She was taking care to stay upwind, I noticed. Probably didn't appreciate the smoke.

As I approached her, she turned and gave me a nod. "Excellent work here. Though we'd appreciate it if you gave us a bit of warning before you pull something like this. The ice you pulled out looked like a massive moon on radar."

I winced. "Sorry. Had to come up with a plan quickly, and this one worked. I'm guessing you want to talk about more than putting out fires. Fly and talk?" I started circling around over the area, looking for whatever dry spots I could find. I'd have to put out what embers remained, otherwise the area might flare up again. Hopefully not right away, though. It wasn't difficult going around, pulling up the heat, and the act was soothing my sore muscles and refilling my reserves.

"Mmm." Alexandria hummed in thought as she floated beside me, watching me work. "I wanted to ask you about returning to the Protectorate."

I shook my head. "I'll have to decline."

She tilted her head. "If this is about the Butcher incident..."

I sighed. "The whole problem with the Butcher just brought the problems to light, Alexandria. Being under oversight is great in theory. But when two people get sentenced to an inescapable prison filled with the worst of the worst over what might happen, that was just a wake-up call. Other options weren't even considered, at least before it would have been a moot point anyway. Under the Protectorate, I and everyone I work with are at the mercy of the directors and the politicians. Who don't always have the people's best interests in mind."

Alexandria nodded slowly. "I can see where you're coming from. However, the situation's changed from then. The PRT no longer goes through the office of the Attorney-General, and now reports directly to the President. By extension the Protectorate now has a more free hand to work. We do good work in keeping the peace."

I gestured to the burned forest below. "And would any teams be dispatched to handle this?"

Alexandria frowned, only visible due to her helmet showing her lips. "Firefighting takes training and there are usually more mundane resources to deal with such. We help where we can, but our priority is in dealing with the problems that ordinary people can't. Villains, usually."

I couldn't help but laugh. "And that's precisely why I'm not going to rejoin, Alexandria. Because I can help where other people can't. Being outside the government means I'm able to deal with what I consider a priority, rather than what someone a few levels removed considers a problem. There's inefficiencies, sure, but I'd rather be able to make my own decisions as to who needs help than allow that to be decided by someone with an agenda that may be very different from mine. Stopping a villain is important. More important is the helping hand, regardless of the issue."

Alexandria folded her arms. "The Protectorate is law enforcement, first and foremost. Aiding in civilian matters is a priority, of course, but that's best done by stopping villains. We deal with things that people without powers can't. There's resources to deal with other issues. Even ones like this."

I gestured at the burned ground below us, calling upon yet another lingering column of heat and absorbing it. "In that, I disagree. People need help, regardless of whether they're being threatened by someone with powers or a gun, or an out of control wildfire. If I see something happening, I'm going to be there."

Alexandria's voice was harsh. "Including breaching international borders? There are factions which are quite upset about you going into Australia to handle Gavel. Both Australian and American. Crossing international borders without permission is something most governments are going to take issue with."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Should I just ignore someone in need? Gavel needed to be stopped. I took a look at his file after apprehending him. He was escalating, and sooner or later he was going to do something that would have ended tragically."

"I'm not saying you did something wrong. I agree with your actions, just not with the method." Alexandria replied. "If you're going to be running around the world, a lot of potential problems can be smoothed over if you're part of the Protectorate. You'll have the resources of the United States government behind you. As it is you're vulnerable to legal challenges."

I shook my head. "At the cost of figurative shackles. I'm here to help, Alexandria. It just has to be on my terms."

Her lips tightened. "You're not powerful enough to simply dictate terms."

I smiled in return. "I do believe you've got larger problems than little old me. You can either let me do what I want to do, which is to help. Or push me, thus very likely put us on a collision course. You might win that clash. You probably would. But would it be worth it considering the damage that fight could do? Especially over something so small? I'm on your side, Alexandria. I just won't be taking orders from you, or those who give orders to you."

She let out a small, bitter chuckle. "I don't want a fight between us. Just that there are people out there who don't want a loose cannon running around without restraints. It's one of the reasons the Protectorate exists. It's to uphold the principles of democracy, to show that parahumans can be productive. If there was no Protectorate, either North America would be as bad off as Africa, or it would be a police state, where everyone with powers would be executed on sight. Thinkers, both powered and mundane, have shown this."

I shook my head. "I know there's a better way. I've seen it. Been part of it." I tapped the symbol on my chest. "I know this means nothing to you right now. I'm going to show you that better way." I floated away from her, my work here done for the moment. "I just hope enough people are wiling to learn."

Her voice sounded amused. "You think you can change the world on your own?"

I gave her a grin. "Nope. My little corner of it, though? Absolutely. And maybe, just maybe, I can be in the right place at the right time. For something big, or something small. That's the point. Help's always appreciated, though. You can either help, or you can let me do my work."

Without waiting for a reply, I launched myself skyward, breaking the sound barrier in less than a second. I hit space three seconds later. It really made it easy to cross the country in seconds, rather than hours.

Alexandria was right about one thing. Even I would need help to make a larger impact than I could do on my own. Thankfully, there was already a plan to deal with that.

Lucy set the bar back down on the mounting, helped guided by my hand. She was drenched in sweat, which gave her a very attractive sheen. The smell, on the other hand, was a bit less pleasant.

I hadn't known Lucy had a home gym, the last time I was here. Then again I had other things on my mind at the time. Her apartment certainly looked more lived in than on my previous visit.

She let out a huff of breath, getting off the bench and took a moment to stretch. She frowned as she looked at the bar, which was weighted down with nearly a thousand pounds in weights. "Right. Something's fucky."

"How so?" I asked. "You're getting stronger, can do more reps. That's the point of training, isn't it?"

"Tracy," Lucy spoke patiently. "I've got enough weight on the bench-press to bring it up to nine hundred pounds. Champion weightlifters are just a bit below that. Male weightlifters, at that. Now before I lost my powers I could do this, but I'm having it easier now. I thought it was remnants from before I lost them, but... yeah, something's fucky."

Now that she was mentioning it, I took a long admiring look over my girlfriend's form. "Well, you're looking a bit more like an Amazon. I'm not complaining about that, mind you. I like it. But what's the problem?"

"It's not a problem exactly." Lucy said, a frown on her lips. "Just that this isn't normal. I'm putting on muscle and... uh..."

I lifted an eyebrow, trying to not let my amusement show. "And?"

Lucy grimaced. "I needed new bras. The old ones were getting tight."

I burst out in laughter.

"It's not funny. I needed new shirts, too." Lucy grumbled, to my ongoing mirth. "Also another thing. If I wanted to be girly, I had to put on foundation, makeup, mascara. Nowadays I get out of bed, take a shower, comb my hair and I'm fine. If I did put on makeup I'd end up looking like a supermodel."

I kept chuckling, taking a minute to calm myself down. Finally I managed to reply. "That's pretty typical, isn't it? Only needing makeup to pretty up for a formal event, or to accentuate things." At Lucy's dubious look, I suddenly felt like I was on very thin ice. "I didn't have to use it when I was a teenager. Especially not after getting these." I tapped my left horn.

"Yeah but you're..." Lucy spoke, then she trailed off as she tilted her head. "Wait. You never had to use makeup even as a teenager? What about pimples? Blackheads? No scars from bad skin?"

I looked at Lucy blankly. "Scars I get, but those happen from things happening to you. Pimples and blackheads you only get if you're working at Big Belly Burger and your face gets too close to the fryers."

"Sonofabitch." Lucy growled. "This is not fair." She plunked herself down on the bench, letting out another huff. "This is... it's just another thing. Another fucking thing. I'm..." She trailed off, her voice sounding tired, broken.

I sat next to her, draping my arm around her shoulder. "Hey... I'm here Lucy. I won't get it if you don't say it."

She was silent for a moment, then let out a long, slow sigh. "I'm tired of shit just happening to me. Especially not without knowing why."

I nodded at that. "I get it. Being helpless before greater forces. That's just how it is for most people. Some of us get lucky and can do more than most. Still stuff we can't do, though. Can't be everywhere, can't do everything." I gently tilted Lucy's chin up, then gave it a kiss. "Whatever's happening to you, I'm here for you. Going to guess it probably has something to do with all the other crap that's happened. Maybe that thing with Hades?"

Lucy's eye went distant, then she shut it with a groan. "Right. The ambrosia. Ideal self. Shit, I should have thought of that."

I crooked my lip. "In fairness, you were worried about brain damage at the time."

"Shaddup with your stupid logic." Lucy retorted.

We looked at each other for a moment, then both of us started snickering.

I wiped my eye, then gave her a smile. "Feel better?"

"A bit." Lucy admitted. "If that's what's caused this, how far is it gonna go?"

I shook my head. "That I don't know. Doubt it's going to be too bad, though. The gifts of the Olympians can be... complicated, but they're not usually monkey's paws. Especially not considering what we gave them. Curses, on the other hand... those are way less predictable."

Lucy nodded, then her lips quirked up into a teasing smile. "Let me know if my hair suddenly turns into a bunch of snakes."

I shuddered. "Don't joke about that. I've actually faced gorgons. Not fun."

She blinked, tilting her head. "Right. Craziness from back home. Right. Well... thanks, Tracy. I'm going to need a shower."

I nodded in agreement. "I wasn't going to say anything, but yeah, probably a good idea."

She got up off the bench and strode out of the room. I took the opportunity to admire her figure as she was leaving. Now that I was aware of it, I could see what she meant. She was filling out in the ways someone back home tended to, when they exercised. Was that so unusual here?

My thoughts were derailed as her voice echoed down the hall. "Scrub my back?"

I grinned like an idiot as I got to my feet.

----------

Regardless of the time very well spent, I had other tasks to attend to. The first being to reach out to certain independents on Batman's radar.

With the lack of the infrastructure we were used to, we were forced to wing it a bit. Normally he'd be able to dig deep, going through the internet, news sources, through social media, and blogs. While the internet did exist here, it was primitive compared to what we were used to, and so the sheer amount of easily-accessed information was a tad lacking. So we were forced to go looking for the more famous people who might be receptive for joining a new Justice League.

And so I was hovering over Springfield, Illinois. Not the largest city in the state, nor the most active, but it was where my quarry was headed. On the trail of a rather famous, or infamous, heroine.

One who popped in and out of existence below me, using speed, experience, and...

"I see you still can't quite cut the cheese!"

Sheer annoyance against her opponent.

Mouse Protector up against the huge seven foot tall man who was trying in vain to catch his quarry. A quarry that darted in, smacked the flat of her sword against a joint, then vanished to the side of the road, a silly grin in her voice as she expertly handled the lumbering Brute.

Actually come to think of it I'd been running into a bunch of those lately. Though this guy dressed in all black leathers and with biker chains was probably dying in this heat. It was easy to see why he was so enraged. Being taunted, humiliated, even as the people of the city watched from storefronts. The flash of cameras went off, catching the sight of the pair.

Still, the mountain of roided-out muscle screamed as he swung his fists fruitlessly toward Mouse Protector. "JUST FUCK OFF ALREADY!" Fists almost as large as her head made whistling sounds as he tried to hit her, failing miserably.

"That's what she said!" Mouse Protector said perkily as she stayed just out of range of his swings. She ducked, swerved, and even vanished and reappeared behind him. She slashed out with her sword, then retreated as he turned.

He tried to charge, only for his pants to fall down around his ankles, his belt slashed. Fortunately for me, and for the citizens of Springfield, he was wearing baby-blue boxers. I'm not sure I'd have appreciated it if he'd been going commando.

He let out an incoherent scream of rage. Then he lunged at Mouse Protector, leaving his jeans on the ground. Mouse Protector simply popped away just before he could get his hands on her.

"C'mon Blockhead, you can't catch this mouse. You needed a better trap." Mouse Protector spoke with a smarmy tone just after she reappeared a few feet away. "This is going to go on as long as you don't surrender, ya know. How long are you willing to run on the mousewheel?"

"It's Brick you goddamned stupid shit-eating bitch!" Blo-... uh, Brick, shouted in response. He held out his hand, and a reddish actual brick formed in it. He threw it at Mouse Protector, who just popped to another spot before the projectile could reach her.

I on the other hand, flew downward and intercepted the brick, catching it with my hand. It hadn't been on course to actually hit anybody, but things were beginning to escalate out of control.

The pair froze as I lifted my hand, shaking a finger. "Please, sir. There are children present." I gestured to the crowd at the side, where there were indeed children pointing and laughing. "Now I suggest you come quietly. Things are just going to get worse from here and I think your day's been bad enough as it is. You can't win this, anyway." To emphasize my point, I flexed my fingers, and the brick was crushed down into fine powder.

The mountain of muscle looked at me. Then to the crowd. Then to Mouse Protector. Back to me. Finally, his shoulders slumped. "Fuck."

"Language," Mouse Protector chided.

----------

After Blockhe... I mean, Brick, was in a cell with rather large chains, Mouse Protector and I were tending to a much more important bit of business.

Lunch. Specifically, lunch in a diner Mouse Protector had dragged me to after the paperwork was done. A diner that was apparently run by an Italian family who really knew what they were doing.

"This is an exquisite sandwich." I moaned.

"Right!?" Mouse Protector exclaimed. "Told ya this was the best shop around in Springfield. I come here now and again, when I'm passing through." She took a bite from her own sandwich, roast beef from the look of it.

My own was a delightfully treated chicken and bacon combo, slathered with a delicious sauce and topped with a mixture of cheeses that just made it delightful. I hadn't known you could get a mixture this good.

"So..." Mouse Protector spoke between munches, still chewing and her words coming slurred. "What dof youth wanth with litthle lod me?"

I gave her an amused look. "Please don't talk with your mouth full. But to answer that... or rather answer what I think you just asked, I'm here to make you an offer."

She nodded rapidly, taking a moment to swallow. "Is it an offer I can't refuse?" She put on an Italian accent as she did, her lips quirked with mischief.

I tilted my head. "I'm guessing that's a reference I'm missing. But, no. You know my backstory?"

Mouse Protector nodded. "Yeah. Other world, superpowers there, you saving that plane like out of a comic book. Classic stuff. Was cool. Also you're a tad freaky, but in a weirdly good way. Kinda."

I took a moment to scratch my forehead, right underneath my right horn. "Right. I'm here to extend an offer. Back home we had the Justice League, we got together to handle things none of us could handle on our own. Even our ace, Superman, needed help at times. He couldn't be everywhere at once, after all."

"So you wanna poach me. Make a League here? Ooooh, on a recruitment drive." She nodded with a grin. "You do know I don't get along with a lot of people? Long-term team-ups I tend to scare away. I left the whole Protectorate thing when I hit eighteen. Kinda helps that I like doing my own thing, set my own priorities."

I nodded. "The idea is for things to be a bit more loose than the Protectorate. It's a collection of like-minded people, people who want to help. Not about taking orders from someone else. We'd get to prioritize what's needed, rather than what someone else thinks is important. More importantly, we can serve as mutual backup. You're pretty good on your own, but if a villain team got together they might be able to overwhelm you. Membership means you'd be able to call in help if that happened."

Mouse Protector nodded slowly at that. "That's a good point. Who's going to be running things?"

"Ourselves. Right now we haven't got much in the way of infrastructure, but we're working on it."

She pursed her lips, clearly thinking as she took another bite of her sandwich. After swallowing, she spoke. "Guessing you're putting yourself up as leader, huh?"

I shook my head. "No. I might be the strongest one around, at least right now, but decisions would be made as a whole. A council at worst, with junior teams being recruited as names come up. Not only people with powers, too. People without can still contribute, as long as they've got a good skillset to work with."

Mouse Protector tilted her head. "Sounds like it's going to be expensive. Also pretty sure you haven't got that kind of cash, even after those bounties from those... uh... jerks? Yes, jerks, in Arizona. Thanks for that, by the way."

I grimaced. "Not something I had fun doing."

"Still needed doing." Mouse Protector sagely nodded. "All this sounds like a pyramid scheme, you know?"

I blinked. Then I had to let out a laugh. "I guess it does. Still, it's about doing good. No strings, either. There's no member dues, at least." I sucked in a breath as I tried to figure out how to word things. "Right now I'm not sure about how we'd pay the bills. At the moment, however this might grow, I'm offering backup if something comes along that's too big. I'm not sure I could recreate the Justice League here, that niche is already at least somewhat filled by the Protectorate. At the least, though, having some help if the Reavers tear through town, or if the Fallen come to play, might be worthwhile."

"Right." Mouse Protector sat back on her chair, visibly thinking it over. "Okay. I'll tentatively join in. Give it a trial run. See how it goes. I reserve the right to skedaddle right into the nearest mousehole if you're pulling something."

I held out my hand, and she shook it.

"Glad to have you aboard." I said with a smile.

She gave me a cheeky grin. "I'd ask where I'd sign up for a trial run, but signing anything someone with horns gives ya is a bad idea."

I sighed helplessly.

"Also you're getting the bill." Mouse Protector finished.

I sighed again, more deeply this time. "Good thing I expected as much." I started digging through the compartments in my utility belt, looking for my cash. Thank you, Batman, for making this much possible.