Who the fuck were these kids. Zero was struggling to process everything, Ryan had saved him dragging him inside, then Gathered weapons and defences the Gatling guns were technically legal but few would install them to protect a workshop. Seeing Kate acting just as calm as Ryan and getting ready to fight had surprised him just as much. All on top of the betrayal and invasion meant Zero had to wrangle his thoughts and focus.

Both him and Ryan were on the right side of the room Ryan by the door and Zero behind some heavy machinery about midway into the room, Kate had overwatch from the mezzanine window. Zero could probably have escaped by now there was definitely another exit and none of the Supers outside could catch him once he was clear but he couldn’t bring himself to leave the kids.

The quiet only lasted a few seconds before the guy in power armour stepped around the corner on the same side as Ryan firing four mini missiles at the battling guns. This guy was known to Zero, simply called TheSoldier he was recorded as a category 4 brawler well trained ex military he was known to be ruthless and slightly unstable. This was not going to end well.

The Gatling guns opened up at the new target but the bullets crumpled up against an invisible barrier, Shift covering his ally. The two guns were taken out by the missiles, their short fight over, time for the real work to start.

Soldier confident in his shield called the success from his suits speakers as he brought a plasma rifle up and looked for targets. Zero opened fire as the thugs came rushing into view deciding not to waste ammunition against the telekinetic shield. But keeping an eye on the Soldier and ready to dodge.

There were steady thumps coming from above as Kate opened up from the window their combined fire power slowing the low levelled gangsters and sending most ducking against the crumpled door and bots while a few bruisers foolishly chose to tank the incoming fire so they could shoot back. They didn’t last long. As some reached their cover the bots went ballistic, arms swinging, spinning and grabbing at the thugs unlikely to do serious harm but definitely an effective distraction.

Soldier stepped fully into the room bringing his rifle to target Zero, the next step brought him in front of Ryan. Zero prepared to dodge but instead watched as Ryan drew a knife and slammed it into The neck joint of Soldiers armour. Shift had obviously only covered his allies front and though the armour could shrug off most projectile weapons fire, hardened steel with Ryans weight and strength behind it punched straight through the thinner plate. Soldier slumped, his armour not allowing him to fall. Ryan then joined his firepower to theirs, cutting down a few more thugs in the crossfire.

Shift decided to enter the room then projecting a dome of force he covered the remaining thugs, who Zero suspected were the strongest. This included Caesar who had found some good armour and a heavy plasma rifle. Another was obviously a firebrand focusing on the bots, heating them until the wiring melted and actuators deformed.

Caesar fired his plasma rifle up at Kate. The remaining goons split five attacking Ryan at close range whilst three charged for Zero helping Shift who sent his own attack at Zero. He blurred away trying to avoid running into telekinetic walls whilst using precise bursts from his rifle to keep the thugs away, stopping would be death.

As he moved he caught sight of a massive hole belching fire where Kate's window had been. Rage gave him more speed bouncing off equipment and walls, his rifle nearly on fully automatic, finally bringing down a goon and making Shift grit his teeth as he tried to catch Zero with his power and maintain his personal shield.

By the door there seemed to be a melee going on. Zero was briefly distracted as he spotted Ryan dancing amongst the thugs, a pistol in one hand knife in the other he was weaving between strikes faster than any Normal Zero had ever seen.