The public assurance campaign released to lukewarm feedback from the locals and triggered a scavenger hunt by the Grade 3s and 4s to find their personal posters dotted around the city. Emerald Eclipse grinned cockily with folded arms beside a vending machine, inside a bus shelter and three times in a row along an alleyway that was a regular path of her patrols. Glam got a spot by a convenience store to beam from and a side street that stank of pee.

They posed in front of the posters for photos to send to their families and friends. They’d never had personal promo before, and their parents were thrilled.

“When you visit, your grandma wants you to show her how to make this her background on her phone.” Her mum added, hushed, “She doesn’t like your father and I telling her what to do...”

“Will do,” Elsie replied, cradling her own phone in her shoulder as she trooped around the mini market for dorm supplies. She didn’t know when she would next be home… especially with all that was going on in the world of heroes and villains. It was probably for the best if she didn’t show any ties to non-powered peoples. God forbid she put her parents on Blackout’s radar. Elsie shuddered, shaking the basket on her arm.

“And bring that nice Tam girl with you,” her mum continued. “We like her.”

Elsie read over the ingredients of a shiny new shampoo scent. “Yeah, me too.” Her parents had insinuated a few times that she and Tam could be lovers, that it was okay if they were. Little did they know, and it wasn’t Elsie’s place to tell them, that Tam liked her ladies as femme as she was and equally full glam. Like birds that used sparkly trinkets to lure in mates.

“I think I’ll have the one with you two together on my tablet…” There was a shuffling sound as her mum seemed to go in search of said device, calling out for her husband to assist.

On a billboard that faced oncoming trains to the city centre, Emerald Eclipse centred the group shot of the new generation of rookie heroes patrolling the streets for a safer society – at least, that was what the tag line boasted. Tam was two people away from her in the picture, easy enough to crop down for her mum to display on the tablet she solely used for online shopping.

“Okay, I have to go…” Elsie listened out for whether or not her mum was still carrying around her phone while she made demands of her father. After thirty seconds without a response, she hung up without any guilt. If she wanted to keep chatting, she could always call her back…

Laden with two carrier bags of stuff she mostly didn’t actually need, Elsie was cut off on her way back through the training centre by none other than her mentor leaping into the space ahead of her.

“You,” Jules announced. It spooked her. “I have incredible news.”

Elsie blinked, halted. “About?” The campaign? The mob? Blackout?

“You have been invited, by name, on a mission.”

“A mission?” she repeated on a wheeze.

His smile almost required a wince to look directly at it. “Hero Commission mission.”

Elsie’s mouth fell open and her plastic bags almost fell to the floor. “No way!”

“Your reputation is preceding you into some important circles,” Jules said arrogantly. The reputation of his mentees also served to bolster his own. “Come to my office as soon as you’ve dropped that off and I’ll give you the details.”

“Yes, sir!”

∞

“Tonight?” Elsie squeaked.

Jules grinned. His face had been stuck like that since he’d broken the news. “Don’t panic about the lack of prep time, you’ve trained for this.”

The issue was not which night, but that it was a night. That was Blackout’s territory – the dark. Elsie swallowed. “Right.”

“You’re extra hands in this squad.” He spread loose papers out along the table, showing a strong selection of heroes. “So just take your orders and don’t get in anyone’s way and you can’t go wrong.” His eagerness was not reassuring. “This could be a huge bust – a real boost for morale both in the Hero Commission and the public. The Venin case has been stone cold for so long but we know he’s out there and he might even still have his captives alive.” Jules stared into her eyes for a moment, his excitement replaced with an intensity that was no longer positive. “Those are our guys, heroes, that could be brought home.”

Elsie pursed her lips and nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

Jules clapped her shoulder. “Get prepared and I’ll portal you in when it’s time.”

“An escort?” She raised a brow. “Thanks!”

“Just cause this is your first big mission,” he grumbled through a smile he couldn’t fight off, “can’t have you showing up late and embarrassing me.”

“And turning up holding my mentor’s hand won’t embarrass me?”

Jules rolled his eyes and gestured for her to be on her way. Elsie obeyed. The less time she spent messing around here, the more time she had to relay everything to Tam!