The Bank Heist - Incident S:2/2

A sickening snap rang out across the alleyway, a cry of pain muffled to come out only as desperate gurgles. A pair of black tendrils were coiled around the victim's arms, pinning the man up against the dilapidated brick wall. "L-listen... I a-already tolds ya what ya w-wanted..." He rasped, clawing at the limbs holding him to no avail. "We got the shipment in and sold one to this shark guy!" The tendrils retreated, dropping the criminal to the ground who would then quickly scamper off. A masked figure of tall stature stood stock still, tentacles coiling back into his body. "Yes... you've done well." He muttered to nobody in particular. "And desperation is the sweetest of motivators."
-
"Calling all units, there's a robbery in progress. Two suspects, both presumed male. Presumed to bear mutation Quirks. Be advised-"

The hazy reception of the police radio was cut off, Sekaitsu staying silent as he turned to the key to the nondescript black van. "Vile objects, bought with blood money." He mourned, tracing a hand over the wheel. "My parents, I'm sorry for using your stained bills." A dark look crossed his face underneath the mask, body language flipping in an instant. "They will PAY for this. Not with money, but with their blood and tears... so that they may finally now peace."

His breathing became erratic, even as Nightmare began to drive with perfect precision. The tinted windows drew some eyes, but none could see the masked maniac beneath. "They probably don't have a getaway plan." He said aloud, murmuring the words. "The shark one is not smart enough to have a contigency. He will flee, but to where?" A map was set next to the Villain of the local area, a gloved finger tracing the outline of the small branch bank at a red light.

"He would never..." Seiktasu said amusedly, finger stopping on a small alleyway. "That'd be too obvious... though I guess it fits." Being on the other side of the block, the area had not yet been cut off by law enforcement... but it would be soon. Nightmare tapped his fingers idly on the wheel, craning his neck to look out the side. The window was rolled down, in preparation for the fleeing Villain.

Oshiro Rin loved the feeling of the earth beneath her feet as she pounded along the roads in her lightweight hero gear. Every impact sent a small shiver of power through her body, building that immense potential within herself. Running every day kept her fit and healthy, and the process allowed her to build a mid-level charge all by itself. The fun part about being a hero was that, while looking for crimes to solve, she could get exercise in and nobody would think that Rin was just bunking off from work. 'Clearly, she's just looking for crimes,' the Hardstar thought, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. Gaming the system erry'day. 

The digital alarm on her phone pinged; a crime within her immediate vicinity. No cops on the scene yet. About a five minute run away. Instantly, her demeanor shifted to what Hardstar was known for; an iron will and determination, with a small, confident smile playing on her lips. She shifted gears and sprinted in the opposite direction, heart racing. Despite everything that she knew was wrong with heroic society, she loved this part of the job.

---

As the crime scene swam up into her vision, her eyes coolly assessed the street. She spotted the hammerhead villain dart into an alleyway with two big burlap sacks of 'hard-earned' dough; a costumed hero, one she didn't recognise, swooped in after him. The cops, knowing better than to get in between a licensed hero and his quarry, were holding back, surrounding the entrance to the alleyway; Rin imagined they would also be converging on the other side of the alley, making sure that the bank robber couldn't escape.

"Good, good," Rin said to herself, jogging towards the alleyway. She motioned to the cops.

"Oh, Hardstar! Did ya recognise that other guy?" One of the police officers shouted out, referring to Turbine.

She shook her head. "Presumably a new license in town, eh?" 

And then the Hardstar entered the alleyway.

---

It took her eyes, beneath her increasingly iconic crimson five-point star-shades, a moment to adjust to the relative darkness of that tight backstreet passage. The new hero had pursued the... sharkman?... into the alleyway, dropping down in front of him. Oshiro Rin, the Hardstar, would take up the rear. 

"It's not exactly looking like a good day to rob a bank, is it?" The Hardstar called out, her voice imbued with steel and grit.

Things were going well. Indeed, as the Shark Guy drew nearer Seikatsu almost cracked a thin smile beneath his mask. But he didn't. Everything was in place for this to be a smooth first recruitment to his 'Alliance', going after the 'low hanging fruit' so to say. A desperate con was probably not the smartest or tastiest of his proverbial fruits... but raw power and bulk were what he needed to supplement his more technical style of dealing with situations. Ha, but then... then came the stipulations. Doing any simple task was never easy for an agent of change a lesson he had learned long ago.

It was by accident that Nightmare happened to look up, spotting a figure mid-flight. He frowned, thinking it to be a bird at first - but the closer it got, he soon saw it to actually be some idiot in brightly colored spandex. "Heroes." He muttered darkly, watching as they landed near the alleyway in which his yet-to-be associate would come from. "Not unexpected, but unwelcomed." Seikatsu sighed. He had not brought along a weapon unless one wished to split hairs and count his Quirk as one. An extended bout with even the newest of caped crusaders would likely end in the complete encirclement by regular police.

His grip tightened dangerously on the wheel of the van, the man resisting the urge to hurt something. No. No no, anger was not the right response here. As badly as he wanted to simply stomp those who stood in his way, it'd be a poor move. Undoing his seatbelt (what, he wasn't a savage) Nightmare calmly opened the door, stepping out of the vehicle and unto the street. Most of the populace had cleared out, spooked by the arrival of the police - and with no visible Hero on Villain action going down, none of the fanboys were around either.

However, as soon as the slightest hint of his boot had graced the cracked concrete, a sack of stolen cash was flying his way. Seiktasu leaned to the side, allowing it to sail over his shoulder and tumble into the passengers' seat... which wasn't particularly his intent. He simply wished not to get hit by an undoubtedly heavy load. Nightmare had been about to turn back around and assist the Villain... when he attempted to flee. Smart, to a degree, but going into the sewer systems in plain sight of the Heroes was not.

A quick pull-up of a map with the police, and they'd be on his tail before long. "...Bastard." He said calmly, tilting his head. It wouldn't be long before the Hero- wait, two Heroes noticed him now. Pleading innocence was a case if he wasn't dressed head to toe in costume. "Gentlepeople," He addressed them. "A series of unfortunate events had led to this encounter, and I am thoroughly pleased to say I despise it even before you've spoken to me." There were a few options as to what could happen next.

The two most likely were as follows: both Heroes either attempt to apprehend the confirmed criminal (or him), or the Heroes split up in an attempt to capture a confirmed criminal and a suspected one. Either way, Seiktasu was rather displeased that a fight seemed to be inevitable this early into his plan. "I don't suppose I could simply hand over the money I was unwillingly handed and we could go our separate ways?"

"Hey, what's your na-" Rin started, but Turbine was gone, pursuing the street shark through into the manhole. Alright. I guess that's fine. Let the new guy take the stinky sewer.

The Hardstar chuckled, coolly assessing the costumed villain and his statement. "Kind of you to ask, but no. I don't think so. Not today." 

She smacked her right-hand fist into an open left palm, sending a shiver of kinetic energy through her whole system. Sprinting here, she'd built up a decent, moderate charge; but she probably had around four minutes before it started to dissipate. Still, Rin might not even need her Quirk; it would be unwise to underestimate her mixed-martial-arts street fighting expertise, even without amplification from her Reflect. 

She cracked her knuckles, and dropped into a combat-ready stance, hopping closer to Nightmare. "Was my pal right? Are you the driver?"

Hammer

Nightmare watched with amusement as the blue-colored Hero dove after the Shark Man into the sewer system. At least it'd make it unpleasant for the two obstacles. And that was always a good thing. The Heroes deserved to be knocked down a peg, or three. "Not today?" He replied. "Perhaps we can come back tomorrow then, and re-negotiate? I promise my word is always kept." Though, the Hero seemed to be one for action instead of words. Instantly smacking her own palm in a barbaric display of Power, they advanced. Seiktasu sighed lightly, letting Hardstar approach him for a fair distance.

Springing his trap at the proper distance between them would ensure he could make the most of his range while making it harder for them to simply slip out Scott-free. "If you mean of this vehicle, indeed I am. The license and registration are in the glove compartment if that's what you're after..." He paused, seemingly deep in thought. "Oh, but are you referring to the escape for this terrible crime? Why no, the Aqua-man's partner had already fled, last I heard..." He doubted that stop the Heroine whatsoever, so best to be prepared for an unfortunate fight.

Once Rin came within six meters of the still target, she'd suddenly find herself on the end of six inky-black tendrils shooting from the masked Villain's back, aiming not to strike but rather grip. "I don't wish to get into a fight, you see." Seiktasu would say, tilting his head. "I'm afraid that fighting isn't particularly something I do. The government didn't pay for my education on how to brutally assault people." The jab was thinly veiled, Nightmare folding his arms behind his back. "I'd rather end this peacefully, at the moment. Of course, that won't be a possibility... you think I'm involved in this crime, so you'll use your sanctioned powers to beat me into submission, no?"

Hardstar almost began to drift away from this plane of existence as Nightmare waffled on. It wasn't until the inky tendrils erupted into her vision did she manage to refocus. Alright. Now it's getting interesting. He's still talking, though. 

Hardstar jumped back diagonally, sliding towards her right as the tendrils slipped into the empty space she had been. "Listen, pal. You can't state you don't want to fight and then thwip your goo at me, alright? If you want to end this peacefully, we can walk to the cops out back and you can turn yourself in. But I can already tell you're not going to do that."

With that, Hardstar darted forwards, steely grin erupting beneath her star-shaped visor. 

Hammer

"You'd be correct." The Villain replied. "Though besides an arguable case of self-defense against a misguided Hero, I've yet to commit a crime..." Which was... true. Nightmare had never lifted finger in harm to the outside world or its' people and still has yet to. "Perhaps I simply like dressing up and you spooked me." Seiktasu quipped dryly.

Hardstar advanced once more. Perhaps a stratagem of simply attempting to ward the Hero off with his possibly superior range was viable, but in doing so he'd be relying on the unknown variable of Hammer to win his fight against the other Hero and come back to assist him. Simply a risk not worth taking.

Suddenly, the four inky tendrils shot forward - swinging wildly in an attempt to keep the Hero funneled near the mouth of the alleyway. In the same motion, Nightmare backed up, closing the few feet of distance between himself and his vehicle. The Villain would hop in the van, reaching over to the bag of stolen Yen Hammer had thrown at him before, returning the favor as he slung it straight at Hardstar, slamming the door shut and stepping on the accelerator.

If the Hero didn't act quickly enough, she'd find herself eating the dust of a fast fleeing vehicle.