Icepick looked down at his hands. He had felt good about being a costumed hero. Helping people..saving lives...

...but there was the distinct feeling of failure. And for THIS failure...there would be a HIGH price to pay.

"Guess we're both screwups then Ozzy...I'm just one big icy puddle of screwup..."

"But it's my fault. I'm the one who forced his hand, who hunted him down with no backup..." said Painter, sounding distraught. Before he started crying, though, Painter shook his head and slapped himself in the face.

"But we don't have time to be emo. We've got one more chance to make it right. If we can get him before he performs the ritual, we might be able to stop him. We've got his goon, we can pump him for info. Let's go see if they need our help at the entrance."

With that, Painter summoned his skates, and headed back towards the museum entrance as fast as he could.

Icepick nodded, and made an ice slide and followed Painter to the entrance.

now that his is resolved, please timskip two days ahead.

Painter came tearing into the Museum, looking around to see if any of the staff were nearby. Hopefully, they could return the Pitiless quickly, and get to Excelsior's side that much faster.

>>>>>>>>>From Lecarde's Hideout>>>>>>>>>

Icepick followed Painter into the museum to give him backup, and to make sure that the return of the Pitiless went off without a hitch.

Ozzy manages to hand off the Pitiless to a very confused looking tour guide who then rushes off to give them to the curator.

Once the Pitiless are handed off, Painter rushes back outside to where Meg is waiting.

  Meg was still right where they'd left her, her expression deeply thoughtful.  She heard them coming, and wordlessly lifted them all up and headed them for where Ex and Fluid were.

-------->>  Shade's Hideout 1

Icepick joins the others as they head for the villains' hideout..

-- A Brand New Day? --

Mirage tapped send on her cell phone and put it away.  She smiled at hearing Lucas' message.  He was such a gentleman.

"Now where were we?" She asked, her smile becoming more predatory as she looked back at the hall.

Mirage was seated on the edge of a sculpture, her long legs crossed demurely at the knee and her long slitted skirt falling open to reveal long legs wearing thigh high leather boots.  In front of her were three men and one woman all dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, and lying on the floor moaning.  The silly group had thought to rob the Museum of some of the more priceless works of art.  Too bad for them that Mirage happened to have been in the area.

The fight had been acceptable.  These were just normal thieves after all, armed with hand guns and a few knives.  They hadn't stood a chance and Mirage knew it, so she had toyed with them for a little while.  Beating them all up so soon would have been very unsatisfying and Mirage was looking for a good fight.  She'd spent most of the night prowling the streets and beating up criminals in an attempt to take her mind off of her real enemy.  Someone that she thought that she'd finally gotten out of her life only to have him return.

Four?  Weren't there more than four thieves?

The club cracked across the back of Mirages head, knocking her wide brim hat off and causing her to pitch forward.  The last thief had actually managed to sneak up behind her with a club.  Mirage had barely taken a step and turned before the club slammed across her jaw.  Pain shot through her face and she disappeared in a flash of crimson smoke.

Damn. That really smarts. She thought, reappearing on a beam in the ceiling and rubbing her jaw.  Mirage could taste blood.  She'd been so distracted with thoughts of Lucas that she'd gotten sloppy and that serves her right.

"A very rude way to treat a lady, darling." her voice echoed throughout the hall.  "A lady's face is her pride after all."  Mirage let the thief stew on her words for a moment, watching the man looking about in all directions with his club at the ready.

When he finally looked up, Mirage was already flying towards him with a predatory look in her eyes and flashing crimson daggers in her hands.

>>> To Dragon and Tiger

>>>>>>>>>From The Derrton Mall>>>>>>>>>

It had taken some time to travel, but Adrika soon arrived in Weston, still wearing her traditional clothing. She came here with a sense of purpose. A gathering needed to take place....a gathering of Champions past and present, and of future defenders and heroes.

She made her way through the museum, briefly glancing at the place where The Pitiless was once displayed. Such a powerful artifact out in the open caused some great concern. But that was not her reason for being here.

No, that reason would make itself known, all in due time.

Soon, Adrika could sense something on the edge of her awareness. Something EVIL.

But she knew that she had to be discreet.

Soon, she ducked out into an alley, and a green light surrounded the woman. A second or two later she re-emerged, now wearing a jade-colored mid riff top (bikini-ish) with a high collar and bikini bottom, a ninja-type mask, and jade knee length boots.

Soon, she made her way back out onto the street, making her way towards the evil that she sensed.

>>>>>>>>To Lair of the Shadow>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It was currently business hours and a group of children from a local private school, rich high school kids. They were currently on the floor praying or peeing themselves as men patrolled around with masks and automatic weapons.

Harold had managed to avoid the sight of the kidnappers unlike the other security guards. But how was he going to stop them and save these kids? He didn't even have a gun. He needed some kind of Bulletproofing. He looked around the medieval war room he was hiding in and spotted suit of armor. That might work.... MOving as quietly as he could he donned the suit of armor listening to the cries of the children.

The thing felt lighter than it should have. Much lighter like it was a second skin or something. But Harry didn't have time to worry about it he had to do something and fast. WHo knew how long till the Legacy showed up? And the hostages looked like they were getting impatient with the kids. Waiting until one was isolated on their own HE stepped forward out of his hiding place.

THe man heard the clang of the armor and turned opening with machine gun fire. Several children started screaming.

Harold threw up both arms in reflex expecting to be at lest knocked on his ass. To his suprise that didn't happen instead his left arm formed a ghostly blue shield which the bullets harmlessly pinged off. "The hell?"

Kate appeared outside the Museum in a haze of purple smoke, wearing her customary trench coat and combat-suit and grimacing something fierce. Cryptic, eh? she thought to herself. Good. Let Lucas stew for a bit. Not only was she annoyed, she didn't quite know how to take becoming a mother almost overnight, to a daughter from the future, no matter how impossible it seemed.

Leaning against a nearby building across from the museum, Kate waited for Lucas and Helena to arrive, quietly mulling things over in her head. She had a daughter? And with her now-boyfriend, no less? Of course Kate wanted to get serious with Aaron, but she hadn't mentioned anything, and neither had Aaron.

Kate didn't want to think about it. She'd have words with Lucas and Helena, though she'd most likely never live it down, once they got to that 'but it's funny though' stage.

As the thug stared dumbfounded Harold punched him straight in the chest sending him flying.

Two thugs go to investigate the noise the rest take their safeties off their weapons. "Look out boys looks like we might have a hero or two here. Remember the plan keep your weapons hot and remember the paras bleed just like everybody else." Said one large man in the center.

>>> From Dragon and Tiger

Lucas and Mirage appeared next to Katy in a puff of Mirages trademark crimson smoke.  It was surprisingly easy to home in on Katy's thoughts and use that as a homing beacon.

"Hello, Lady Psyche."  Mirage said with a smile.  She had changed into her working clothes and was now ready for a little action.  "What's going on?"

>>>>>>>>From The Dragon And The Tiger>>>>>>>>

Dragon Fist appeared alongside Mirage in the crimson signature that was the Femme Fatale's unique transportation method. He waited for Lady Psyche's response to Mirage's question, looking around the museum briefly.

"Best I can tell, there's a robbery going on. Bunch of kids being held hostage, scared out of their minds, and the thugs think there's someone in there with them," Psyche said, not moving from her spot against the building. Crossing her arms, she gave Lucas a look that clearly meant 'we're going to talk later.'

"How do you want to handle this? Fire and brimstone? Puppies and Rainbows? Make the thugs turn on each other?" Psyche asked, examining her nails as she did so.

THe heroes hear the sound of gunfire and screaming coming from the building. Whatever was happening had already started.