[Jack, Corona, Taura, it's Hoshi. We have a situation at HQ. Come straight here, and come heavily armed.]

"Well, that's just fuckin' great." Jack glanced into the rearview mirror at Corrie and Taura in the rear compartment. They were only a few minutes away from the Argus Defense Systems building.

Corona spoke into her helmet mic. "What's going on?"

[Multiple hostiles have entered the building. We think they're after Winslow. Rocky's been wounded -– not badly, but she needs medical attention. And we have three civilians with us.]

"We're on our way." Jack said glanced into the side mirror to check for traffic before swerving into the far left lane to pass the truck in front of him. He grabbed the gear shift, shoved it down a notch, and popped the clutch, giving his hearse a burst of speed before shifting back up. He continued swerving through the traffic, gripping the steering wheel and clenching his teeth, hoping he wouldn't catch the attention of any cops on patrol.

"We're almost there," Taura said a few minutes later.

[I'm sending you tactical information.]

Windows opened in Jack's HUD, showing him video feeds from several cameras outside the Justice Foundation. A suspicious-looking SUV was parked on each side of the building. Corona drew in a quick breath.

"Last time this happened, the whole place came crashing down on me."

"I know, honey. We're not gonna let that happen again."

Another minute passed before they reached the Foundation's street. Jack parked a half-block away. He and the girls got out and sprinted the rest of the way, stopping when they caught sight of the nearest SUV.

Jack zoomed in on the driver and scanned his heat signature. Normal human, but wearing armor. He appeared to be the only one in the vehicle.

"Just one bad guy between us and our friends."

"First thing, disable his van." Corona plucked the chakram from her belt and glanced at Taura. "Slip past him and we'll box him in."

Taura darted around the corner, crouched beside a car parked nearby, and made her way past the next several cars before crossing the street and approaching the SUV.

Jack drew his gun and nodded at Corona.

She launched the chakram at the SUV's front tire and sliced it open. The bursting tire jikted the front of the vehicle and the driver’s mouth and eyes popped open. He flailed and screamed, grabbed his assault rifle, and glanced around frantically as the chakram zipped back into Corona's hand.

His eyes locked onto Jack and he aimed the rifle straight at him.

Taura appeared at the passenger-side window and covered the driver with her pistol. "Drop it!"

He looked over his shoulder, snapped the rifle around, and fired.

Taura lunged to her left and the hail of bullets drilled into the Foundation's wall. Snarling, Taura holstered her gun, clamped her hands onto the SUV's underside, and heaved.

At the same moment, the driver turned to fire at Jack.

The SUV tilted and the driver braced his hands on the door, his mouth falling open again as he found the pavement coming up toward him. Taura gave it one more push and toppled the van.

Corrie clipped the chakram back onto her belt and leaped onto the vehicle's upturned passenger side.

The door flung open and the driver sprang up and swept his rifle around, trying to locate Taura. Corona stomped on his arm and pinned the gun to the side panel.

Jack jammed his gun into the back of the man's helmet. "I'm using armor-piercing rounds. Don't piss me off."

The driver froze. Taura wrenched the rifle away from him, ejected the clip, and tossed them in opposite directions. Corona took her foot off his arm and backed away.

He pulled himself through the window – and suddenly jabbed his left hand toward Corona. She deflected the blow and Jack caught a glimpse of a knife tumbling through the air. The driver immediately followed up by launching his fist at her face, catching her on the end of her muzzle. The impact knocked her off-balance, but she spun with it and landed a roundhouse kick to the side of his head. He staggered and she whipped her tail around and swept his feet out from under him. She caught him as he fell and body-slammed him into the SUV's side, caving it in. She picked him up, flipped him over her head, and sent him rocketing into the street.

The pavement shattered under him.

Jack closed in, keeping the gun aimed at him but also keeping it out of his reach.

Taura drove her hoof into the guy's head, slamming it into the ground and knocking him out cold.

Jack grinned. "Sexy."

She blew him a kiss and looked the driver over. "Corona, do you think his armor can support the SUV's weight?"

"Let's find out." Corrie grinned, lifted the vehicle, and waited for Taura to shove his legs under it. Corrie lowered the van, pinning him beneath it, and put her hands on her hips. "Looks like it can." She giggled.

"Well, he's not going anywhere." Grinning, Jack spoke into his mic. "Hoshi, it's Jack. We're coming in."