Turn 83 (Pt. 2): Crime In Progress: Armed Robbery (I)

--- Maya ---

Deciding that she needed to clear her head a bit if she wanted to figure out a plan for how to deal with Elizabeth’s daughter, she gathered her things together and took her bike out for a quick patrol around the warehouse district.

It was on her way to this location that she was reminded of her least favorite part of being a hero, namely all the eyes that were on her as she drove through town. (At least there aren’t too many people on the streets this late…)

(I don’t see the problem. People love Masks, ergo they love us!) Her inner Passion tried to encourage her.

(That or it could be the blatant traffic laws we’re violating.) Her inner reason pointed out. (I’m pretty sure if we weren’t a Mask we’d have gotten a ticket by now.)

(Ooh, that’s another angle!) Her inner Madness agreed, before letting out a dark chuckle. (They fear us and our power. Revel in it, chica!)

“That seems like a bad idea when we’re going the hero route.” She admitted.

(So do the numerous traffic violations.)

(You two aren’t reveling in it… Am I the only one who knows how to go mad with power these days?!) Her inner megalomaniac questioned.

(I believe we’re plenty mad even without power.) The other voice in her head dryly answered.

(But the power makes it more fun!)

“That it do-” Her agreement was cut off as she heard the sound of gunshots in the air.

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“W-where’d that come from?!” She half panicked, righting her bike from where it had begun to wobble when she jumped.

(Forward and left at the intersection, eyes up for which side of the street.) Her inner reason broke down for her.

“R-right!” She nodded, speeding up as she followed those instructions.

Turning the corner, her eyes darted around looking for the source of the disturbance. (Where is it? Where is it?)

(Wait, that car there!) Her inner logic stopped her, her eyes locking onto an empty car, sitting in front of a store. (That one is still on.)

(In this neighborhood? That’s just asking to have your car stolen.) Her inner Madness noted.

“Or it’s waiting to make a quick getaway.” She realized with a frown before pulling up next to the car.

From within the store she could vaguely hear a lot of cursing and yelling as she made her way to the side of the door, unable to get a proper look inside the store from her bike. Peering through the windows covered in way too many posters she was able to make out two people with guns. One aimed at the cashier that was quickly loading money into a bag and the other looking far more distressed, hands at their head as they stood over a-

Her heart stopped for a moment, before turning around to lean against the window in the hopes of calming herself down. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

(Oh, shit that was a… was that a…? Oh fuck!) Her inner emotions panicked.

(Now is not the time to panic!) Her inner reason reminded her. (There are people in danger, we need to stay rational!)

(Rational? We’re in danger! We need to run!)

(No we do not. We’ve fought Creeps and other Deviant threats we can handle this!)

(But those Creeps didn’t have guns and the fight pit has safety limits!)

As the voices in her head bickered over whether or not panicking was a good idea, she made herself to push past her growing anxiety and once more peer through the window where she spotted a second whimpering civilian trying to get at the… downed one, only to be forced back by the distressed shooter.

She grit her teeth and inhaled before exhaling. “Okay, you want to be a hero? This, this is how you be a hero.”

(Correct.) Her inner logic agreed. (That said, we can’t just rush in because people are in danger. We need a plan, and we need one fast.)

“Right, a plan. I can come up with a plan.” She nodded, steeling herself for what she was about to do.