Avenger Assembled

"You tell ME!" said the black-clad tentacled titan, her arms whipping out to rip the frame of her window right out of the wall, pulling it inside so that no one would be hurt by falling debris or broken glass down below. "They shot at _my_ window! Whoever they are, they're down in that red Ford." Suckered tentacles clinging to the hole in the window, Fusion turned and looked at Lady Winter. "We're going to need to move fast and hit them hard if they're carrying any more military-style ordinance. I can only do about thirty-five if I'm not high enough to glide on my mantel. How fast do you fly?"

She's dazed all right

We'll cut the numbers short, and say Joan spent an HP to acquire Interpose and pull LW out of the way.

Joan frowned when she heard the knock at her window, and tensed when she saw the blue figure outside. Isn't that...Lady Winter, the cryokinetic? It took her a minute to place the other heroine, who she didn't know at all. Hoping she was about to be confronted on a negative article rather than about her secret identity, Joan got up from her seat and carefully made her way to her window. The Ledger building was old enough that the windows actually did open, and she cracked her window open to peer over at Lady Winter. "Can I help you?" she asked, a little suspiciously. Joan was a tall woman, big enough to lean out of the window as she talked. Looking down, she caught sight of the pickup truck stopped in the middle of the street, and the long metal tube in the back pointed straight upward. "I...GET DOWN!" Suddenly, gigantic tentacles erupted from the sides of the tall woman Lady Winter was talking to as Joan grabbed her and yanked her out of the way as a TOW missile's shell went flying past both of them, arcing into the sky to explode harmlessly away from the skyscrapers all around. Black was erupting all over Joan's body as her costume burst into view, covering her body as her tentacles whipped through the air. "What the devil!?!"

Joan's Notice check is 26, so she sees...well, you'll see

The place to be.

Joan Collier sat at her desk, scratching away at her latest article on superheroic fashions. Her conversation with Erin White had gotten her thinking about the way that superheroines dressed, or rather were encouraged to dress by the pressure of gender roles and the way women's bodies interacted with society's demands on superheroines. She'd talked to Fletch Beaumont in advance, and he'd advised her to cut out the criticisms of particular heroines who might well take offense to the message. At least there's a lot of good to say, she thought to herself as she wrote, Those kids at Young Freedom don't dress like strippers, and whatshername on the Interceptors is well-dressed. It's just a few bad apples... Outside, Lady Winter rode in on a column of ice, a note in her hand. It had come by mail to the ice-wielding heroine's seaside home, one of the first pieces of personal correspondence she'd gotten there. And what could be more mysterious, or more tempting, than this? There was a handrawn map on the back of the note, specifying exactly what window she was supposed to be at when the hour of noon came.

"It's helpful to remember that they're doing the Creator's work too, even if they don't know it," said Heyzel gently. "Those who pass to Olympus or Valhalla have made their choices, and are beyond our concern. Our concern is with the here and now, and building a kingdom of men and women on Earth worthy of what lies after. If you're interested in volunteer work," he said, changing subjects smoothly, "I can arrange something for you through my church, and I know Stesha knows many people. There really is something remarkably satisfying about the simple act of Creation, especially what she does, when it's in the name of making the place a sweeter one for all who live here."

Heyzel cut the cake and served, gladly making sure that everyone had enough. "People skills are what the job is all about. Whether you're handling them roughly or gently," he added. "Even if there's a battle you can't join, helping the innocent escape to safety is as valuable as cleaving any robot from beyond the stars in twain" He was quiet for a few moments, eating, before he said, "If you're interested in support from the League, let us know. They won't admit anyone on the say-so of one member," he added, "not even mine. I tried to encourage them to admit Bombshell, the former thief, but they would have none of me," he added. "It can be a challenge sometimes to deal with people who don't understand where your powers come from. Have you worked with anyone inspired by the pagan pantheons?"

"Our abilities are different," Heyzel clarified, "but our powers spring from the same Heavenly well. It's the difference between..." He hmmed for a moment. "Between a powerful amplifier and a skilled musician. Both do valuable work for their field, they simply do it in very different ways. And truthfully, both are far better together, if they ever hope to reach the people that need them." He didn't offer which was which; he was familiar enough with human social graces to know that the wrong choice would be insulting. "Fighting is something we all hope to avoid. I've seen enough violence, both in the hereafter and here, to know that it's not a true solution, not to the underlying problems of the world. And I would like some coffee, please," he said politely. "I'll have the Baileys as well, if you've enough."

"It would have been difficult for you to keep your name from me, Gabriel," said Heyzel wryly, "as I am ambassador of the one who gave you your powers." He'd hoped his putative ally would be a little more open with his friend, but he supposed Carson was only human. Perhaps I spoke too greatly about the value of disbelief. "Let me provide for you, Stesha, as you are providing for us." He made a gesture in the air, and a swirl of Heavenly light over her coffee table became a round white cake, covered in frosting. "Angel food cake," he said, a faint smile at the pun. Heyzel was still learning some of the details of Earthly humor.

"Fleur de Joie, this is my friend Gabriel." He opted to let Fleur decide if she was going to give her name to this man: Stesha usually did, but that was her business, not his. The secrecy of superheroing was one thing he understood all too well. Sometimes, in a sinful world, justice needed to wear a mask. "He is empowered by the intervention of the Archangel Gavriel, though he is a mortal man himself. I've invited him to meet with you, because you are a true friend to justice and righteousness in this city...and with your many friends, a worthwhile friend to have." He folded in his wings, standing comfortably in Stesha's apartment.

In a flare of Heavenly light, they disappeared. Carson was conscious of an ethereal warmth all around him and a vague hint of an impossibly beautiful choir, before they reappeared on the rooftop of an apartment building across the river. Carson was new to the city, but he judged they were somewhere near Midtown. "She prefers to be called Fleur de Joie when working in her professional capacity," said the angel as he led the way to the stairs. "She is on the Freedom League with me, along with many others of good character. You will find her a good contact, and worthy friend." When they reached Fleur's door, Heyzel knocked.

"To doubt is to be worthy," the angel replied. "A surety of conviction is one that ignores an unsure world and an unsure heart. Blind faith is no greater than blind hate." He smiled, and laid his hand on the man's shoulder. "You are striving for the best in the world, and that is proof enough of your worth. You are not alone, Thomas. Come with me," he suggested suddenly, "and I shall introduce you to a true friend. Even those only indirectly empowered by Heaven are our friends in this city, and they have much to teach us. You've carried an angel's burden for so long. Let an angel carry you."

"That's cool," Mark said to Dimitri. Without losing anything of his bubbly personality, he added, "Are you a psychokinetic like that guy on the Indian super-team, the Maharajah, or do you warp space like Mr. Dark Star? That's one of our faculty members," he added in a murmur, shooting a glance around to make sure no one was paying attention. "He can take people to like other galaxies and stuff. Some of my friends went on field trips with him and fought space pirates!" he added jovially. "I've been to space a couple of times, but mostly just to the Moon. It's pretty cool there, you can see the whole Earth! And once to Rigel IX." To Tasha, he went on, "Well, it sounds like you're in the right place," he said seriously, his voice dropping a little. "We have a lot of kids with psychic powers at our school and they get some really good education. My friend Alex," he added, "she studies with the Scarab, and she says she's really gotten a lot of good stuff out of working with her. Used to be a him, by the way, but not anymore! My dad was a friend of the old Scarab's," he murmured. "But he died way before I was born. Not my dad; the Scarab, duh. He died back in the 70s." Going back to the question of his powers, he said, "Well, uh, we usually don't go talking about being empowered in public, but this is usually a safe place for that kind of thing. Remember, anywhere else, there's nothing super-special about our school. It's just a really exclusive, really nice prep school." He grinned sheepishly and added, "When people ask how someone like me got into Claremont, I usually just tell them it's because my dad knew...knows the headmaster. And he does," he said with a sad little grin, "so that part's all true. As for my powers, they're, uh-" Their waitress came by and patted Mark gently on the shoulder, the lovely blonde asking him "How are you doing today, Mark? Are these friends of yours from your 'special' school?" "Yeah!" Mark exclaimed. "They're new students. This is Dimitri, and that's Tasha. This is April, she's my usual waitress here." "It's nice to meet friends of Mark," said April, still smiling really big, like a kindergarten teacher with a special needs child. "He's always so peppy and full of life, and he makes everyone here smile with his stories. I'm glad they treat him nicely at that 'school.' " When Mark was busy filling his soda cup at the dispenser nearby, April looked after him and murmured for Dimitri and Tasha's benefit. "My little brother is on haloperidol, so I understand. It's too bad they can't help him more, though. So what can I get you guys?"

"Hmm." Freedom Angel thought about his last meeting with Gavriel, the deep frustration of pleading with the Herald and Regent, his hopes and prayers for a position on Earth and how they'd finally been rewarded. "Some men have said that angels cannot show their true faces on Earth; that the frail mortal flesh would melt away before the glory of the divine. This is a lie, a wicked lie, spread by the Adversary. Men's minds are stronger than they know. That was indeed Gavriel to whom you spoke. You are a lucky man. He usually sends we lesser breeds in his place." Ignoring for a moment' the man's shock at his own revelation, he said, "Are you worthy of that favor, Carson?"

"It was nice having you here," said Joan. "Come back anytime!" She watched as Erin drove away, then rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "If I don't see you first, that is," she added sotto voice. She had a mystery on her hands in the person of her friend the superpowered Seattle girl, and she was going to do all she could to solve it. Not because I don't like you, Erin, but because I do. She could do it subtly, too, and make sure Wander never knew she'd been there at all. It wouldn't be secret if it wasn't important. And if my friend has a problem...well, I owe it to her to help. When she told Charlie about it that night in bed, he wasn't at all thrilled by the idea. But he didn't have a reporter's nose for the truth. Or an octopus' long reach.

"It was nice having you here," said Joan. "Come back anytime!" She watched as Erin drove away, then rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "If I don't see you first, that is," she added sotto voice. She had a mystery on her hands in the person of her friend the superpowered Seattle girl, and she was going to do all she could to solve it. Not because I don't like you, Erin, but because I do. She could do it subtly, too, and make sure Wander never knew she'd been there at all. It wouldn't be secret if it wasn't important. And if my friend has a problem...well, I owe it to her to help. When she told Charlie about it that night in bed, he wasn't at all thrilled by the idea. But he didn't have a reporter's nose for the truth. Or an octopus' long reach.

"The worst I've ever had," agreed Joan, looking down at her arms. "To be honest, if I'd been alone, I'd probably have run as fast as I could back onto shore after the first big couple of hits. But there were civilians on that beach, and children, and people in peril in the water. They had to know they weren't alone. I'm just glad I wasn't alone either." She smiled, then got up to walk Erin to the door. "I like your truck, by the way. Isn't that last year's model? You're doing pretty well for a high school kid." She smiled still, not wanting to make the girl uncomfortable. "We haven't bought a car since coming back to the States, so we do all our commuting via bus."

Joan had grace enough to feel bad, and skill enough to pull back when the girl's discomfort became obvious. "Well, we can talk about that another time. I don't want you to feel weird showing an old lady off to your friends." She was a little too cynical, though, to think she wouldn't be covering up the secret if there wasn't some meat on this story. She smiled and said, "Listen, Erin, dinner or not, I still owe you a favor. It's not every day I meet someone from the West Coast and they save my arms in the process. Anytime you need anything, just give me a call and I'll see what I can do."

"I could do that," said Joan thoughtfully. She was already planning ahead. Find Erin's friends, secure an interview using their common Olympic past, and find out a little more about the mysterious girl who was her savior. "Claremont has such a good reputation, and they were so helpful when I contacted them through channels." She hmmed. "Maybe I could return this visit at your place sometime in the future, and you could show me around?" Yes, and introduce me to your friends, she thought, so I can get just a little closer to the mystery. Her tentacles were twitching.

"Wow! That was amazing!" Mark exulted, his enthusiasm entirely unfeigned as he clasped his two new buddies around the shoulders. "That was great, Dimitri! You've got cool powers. Hey, let's go this way," he said, acting as a bon vivant tour guide as he steered everyone towards the cafe. It was a generic sort of collegy place, one where Mark was evidently well-known enough that the staff greeted him by name. "We come here a lot," he said, "some of my friends and I. This one time there was a girl who...well, that's a different story. You should order the burgers."

"I can't exactly put on my sweatsuit and go for a run these days," said Joan, a wry smile on her face. "Like I said, these things don't go away, and believe me, you can tell they're there. Getting in-costume is about the only way I have to work out when I'm outside these doors." She studied Erin, balancing her maternal instincts with a reporter's hunger for knowledge. "I still follow Olympic sports fairly regularly, are your classmates anyone I'd know?" she asked. "I was about a foot too tall and fifty pounds too heavy for gymnastics, of course."

APPROVED

"It was quite an experience," said Joan. "He was a hero too, and seemed like a good man, though a little too opinionated for my tastes," she added. When Erin didn't elaborate about her home dimension, Joan chose not to pry too closely. It took quite a personal effort. "One of my old teammates was Hachiman, the Japanese god of war, so occasionally we'd pay a visit to the court of Ameratsu. That was always an adventure, even if I usually had to hang around the back with the weaker heroes. Not because I'm a woman," she added, "but I was on the junior team there. It sounds like you kids are having higher-powered adventures than we did." She sighed, just a little. "Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I'd had my accident when I was younger and been a teenage hero. When I was your age, I spent most of my time on the track. I actually made it to the Olympics in Sydney." She sighed, shaking her head, and added, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't monopolize the conversation. Did your parents come with you from your home dimension, then?"