Rex grimaced. “I normally don’t handle these things,” he admitted. Law enforcement was not his thing. The closest he came was in determining the source of fires and sometimes building arson cases. This was the opposite of what he was supposed to do, actually. He’d started a fire (even if just on himself) to scare someone and then tackled them to the ground and ground their face into the sidewalk.

Oh God, oh God, oh Go---DEAR GOD! Rex’s eyes bugged out and he snapped out of his introflection as he realized what Hercules was saying. “What? No, no NO!” he hissed rapidly, but far too late.

He watched from the shadows as the glowing, shiny man just walked over and started shouting. His jaw dropped open and when he received a thumbs up, he dropped his face into a hand. Was this additional penance for his misdeeds? “Dios mio, lo siento por mis pecados,” he whispered, making the sign of the cross over his chest. He wasn’t police, but even he knew this was the stupidest thing a person could do!

Rex realized he was waiting for gunshots after several moments passed without hearing a thing. He looked up. Nothing.

He released a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Okay. This was good. No cover had been blown. They could still run recon, and maybe alert the police.

A shine in the sky caught his eye and something momentarily blocked out some stars before a figure swooped out of the sky and landed on top of a shed just outside the steel mill. In the light of a streetlight, Rex could see a woman in black biker leathers and a gold-painted biker helmet standing there. Behind her, glittering golden wings shifted and moved, causing rasping metallic sounds whenever they brushed together. Two metallic-looking gold knives were grasped loosely in her hands, as if she were equally ready to throw them or slash with them.

“Brazen is busy,” she called out in a crystal-clear clarion. “You’ll deal with me. State your business here and if I like it, I’ll let you live.”

Hercules didn’t fight girls at least that was what he told himself. He didn’t like to, however if a woman was capable of handling herself in battle it did make for an interesting fight. He fought Valkyries, goddesses, Amazons and mortals that were capable of great wills. This woman as she flexed her golden wings he was reminded of his time in Egypt. The way the wings sounded however made him recount his slaying of the Stymphalian birds. Those poor birds.

”So Brazen is busy.” he stated loudly sighing clearly disappointed in the situation. ”Very well,” he focused his attention from the steel mill to the woman before him. ”I’ve come to challenge your.... master?” he wasn’t sure if he was her master. Or boss. Or whatever. Titles in this era were a touchy subject and he did his best not to insult anyone unless they deserved it. The woman before him didn’t deserve it just yet.

”Very Well!” Hercules’s body glowed and he pointed at the woman whom he was now assuming was the man’s general, ”I will challenge you before Brazen then!” he stated his voice getting louder. ”I’m told Brazen is fond of kidnapping people and forcing their loved ones into doing misdeeds! I have come to put a stop to that! For I HERCULES CAN NO LONGER STAND IDLY BY!” he finished shouting so even if Brazen wasn’t right in front of him he’d at least hear his name.

It was a direct approach and if she refused Hercules was going to just go into the steel mill himself and find Brazen.

Despite the distance and despite her helmet, Rex could just feel the woman rolling her eyes. He...he couldn’t blame her. He wanted to do the same. What was this fool thinking?!

Rex glanced again and recalled. The fool was probably thinking he was resistant to injury and incredibly strong, probably tough enough to consistantly win in one-on-one fights with other people. Rex had seen him throwing around a giant earlier, after all, and had casually deflected knives. So maybe he wasn’t a fool after all.

Mutants, Rex thought. They just made things more difficult.

“Fine, whatever,” the woman yelled out. “Let’s get this over with.” If you could possibly sound more bored, Rex had never encountered it. The woman launched herself high into the air and in the same moment, hurled her golden knives straight at Hercules.

Rex figured this was a good time to move since Hercules clearly wasn’t going to do anything but make a scene. Rex darted out of the alley and took a diagonal path across the street, hoping the woman would be too focused on Hercules to pay attention to him. Maybe he could possibly find the hostages, too.

”Very well?” Hercules scoffed she sounded more irritated being challenged by a god than anything. Hercules then started to laugh when she took to the air and hurled the golden daggers at him. The first one hit him with a pin prick enough to draw blood but as soon as Hercules felt the puncture the second one bounced off with a ‘ting’.

”Mortals! This is nothing compared to one of my saddest trials!” Hercules never took joy in killing monsters, or animals for that matter. He’d prefer if he didn’t have to however his charge was and has always been mortals. They needed his strength to protect them. ”If it is one or a flock! No flying creature is capable of besting me in combat!” he shouted and hurled himself into the air his tattoo’s drawing on his masters power to keep his skin from being punctured again.

Wishing he had his club Hercules flew directly towards his target after jumping taking the woman by surprise oblivious to the toxin she had coated on her ‘feathers’. His body was always slow to respond to poison and curses. Right before he could reach out her look of surprise changed as she simply flapped her wings and flew out of the way.

Hercules missing a grab felt the pull of gravity back on him as he started to fall. He wasn’t afraid of falling or landing for that matter what he was more afraid for was the mortals that were in danger due to this fight. He wanted Brazen, not a number two. ”Is your master a coward? Sending a woman to fight!” he landed with an impact hard enough to crater some concrete under him. Grabbing a broken chunk of asphalt he hurled it like a discus towards his enemy. It was small however with the force behind it she had to think quickly to dodge again.

”Is that the best you can do?” one of his knees gave way and he had to step to catch himself. His vision blurred for a moment. The giant mound of muscles then realized just like the birds her blades were poison.

Rex made it across the street and figured he was in the clear. If this flying woman was all that was sent out, it stood to reason they felt she was sufficient to guard the place, or at least raise an alarm. Then again, judging by her boredom, it was likely nobody cared. Who’d be foolish enough to invade the base of someone with a reputation like Brazen’s?

Rex smacked his forehead again as a massive thud shook the ground. Rex whipped around and saw Hercules in a little crater throwing something at the woman, who nimbly dodged it. Then he saw Hercules stumble. Even his taunts were sounding a bit off.

The firefighter stepped forward but stopped himself. The man would be okay. Clearly he could handle the physical problems. That had been one massive leap, after all. In Rex’s experience with mutants, strength and durability tended to go hand in hand, as exemplified by daggers bouncing off of Hercules’ skin.

Rex glanced over at a side door he saw in the mill. It looked weak enough. He could bust right in, probably. But that would involve leaving Hercules behind.

That’s not going to happen!

He started speaking softly. “In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.” Once again fire erupted from all around him and swirled with hunger and fury into a column of flames. He knew he couldn’t touch the woman, earthbound as he was, but he figured he could at least provide a target impossible to ignore. And hopefully if she was focusing on him, Hercules could get a lock on her position. He strolled forward in his blinding pyre and shouted to be heard over his flames, “Enough! Stand down, lady! We’re here for your boss!”

He had just a moment to duck down as another golden dagger sliced through the flickering flames where his head had been. It started off the ground and Rex decided that it was probably best to stay crouched. At the very least his flames should be ruining her night vision, since she clearly had to look at him to throw a dagger.

The demi-god blinked slowly, his arms started to feel like Jell-O a recently discovered delectable snack his master showed him. They wobbled on his body as he staggered again. He could hear laughing, no doubt at his expense. He would have laughed too. A god. Being poisoned? His own arrogance made him chuckle. Mutants and mystics could harm the gods that why he was once sent to wipe out an entire city of them even if he refused.

His tattoo’s flickered as his will to fight faded. He was tired, he could just rest. A nap sounded nice, he could rest up and return to the fight. Hercules’s eyes grew heavy along with his limbs. That was when he saw it. A pillar of fire and his ally ‘Rex of the Inferno’ stepped into play drawing the attention of his attacker. The one who poisoned him.

A smile formed and he spoke, more to himself as he shifted his powers from strength and durability to healing. ”Young master, apologies. I need your strength.”

Across the city his master felt a magical draw being siphoned from his body. ‘Big guy? Where are you?’ the younger teenager closed his eyes and focused grabbing onto the arms of his wheelchair doing his best to channel his magical power for the god he summoned. ‘You can use the club if you want! I still need your strength! You can lose!’ his tattoo’s flickered then started glow brighter as the power surged in him. ”I WON’T!” boomed the god of power answering his master.

”HA HA! WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!!!!” he felt the power surge through him eliminating the traces of the poison. Apparently enough to drop the demigod once it entered the blood stream but now that he had even more power.... Hercules flexed and looked over to the pillar of fire shooting upwards. It wasn’t tall enough to engulf the flying golden woman but it was enough to distract her. If he had actually collapsed he would have been an easy target.

”Club to me!” Hercules raised his hand up feeling the power of magic leave him as he called to his weapon of choice a large club that he had been using since he was a boy. No other mortal or god could wield it with such efficiency as him. Centuries of practice told him when to jump and with his target distracted by the fires from the depths of Rex the Inferno’s soul she was an easy target.

Now in the air he watched as the woman shot a volley of golden feathers at the fire becoming obscured by the flames. ”You will regret that!” the woman turned shocked Hercules was still moving let alone within reach of her. How could he make it this high again? She made sure her feathers were laced with enough poison to knock out an elephant she had been storing it for weeks to increase the potency.

She flapped her wings evading Hercules’s grasp only to realize he wasn't’ trying to catch her. She turned and one of her wings caught the brunt edge of something large, she felt her bones in her wings shatter on impact. She was now in shock from the pain and her eyes went dark.

Gravity took over from there and the two of them along with his massive club fell to the earth. Hercules being the hero he was managed to grab the woman and shield her from the fall. His runes glowed on his chest as he cratered into the ground back first. His arms holding the winged warrior close so she would get any more damage to her.

Hidden by his flames, Rex scuttled from side to side so the column would continue being a moving target. It also meant he wasn’t likely to scorch the ground if he didn’t stay in one spot too long, which was still something he instinctively tried to avoid. Fire damage was not cool, even if he was the one doing it.

Another salvo of metal feathers sliced through the flames and missed him by about a foot or so. The angle was different on these though - it appeared the woman had changed altitudes before throwing them. That wasn’t good. If she got high enough and close enough, it wouldn’t matter that Rex was crouched - the blades would still slice into him and he certainly didn’t have any kind of a first aid kit on him.

He heard Hercules’ booming voice and Rex immediately moved in the opposite direction, at the very least hoping to split the woman’s attention. It worked. A fan of feathers lanced again through the fire at a height that would’ve disemboweled him if he were standing. Which meant she was aiming lower and lower. Rex wasn’t sure he’d avoid another strike.

But then it didn’t seem to matter.

Rex felt the impact in his bones as the two figures crashed to the earth. His own sight unmarred by the fire and the light, he stared slack-jawed as the man with the glowing tattoos and the woman with the glistening golden wings. The woman wasn’t moving.

The fire winked out and Rex froze. Was she dead? He forced himself to move. He ran over to the two, automatically assuming Hercules was once again unharmed. “How is she? Is she alive?” he reached out toward her in attempts to start checking her vitals.

The Prince of Power laughed in response releasing the woman who attacked him and rolling her off of him taking care not to roll her on her broken wing. ”No Rex of the Inferno. She is only in shock, I saw the pain in her eyes when my club shattered the bones in her wing.” he said truthfully. Pushing himself up and brushing off his shoulders he looked to his ally. ”I value mortals lives too much to take one so casually. Though I have done so in the past and no doubt will do it in the future there are usually other ways to subdue them than killing.” he continued.

Looking to Rex he walked over and leaned over so he was eye-level with the man, ”Are you injured? That was quite a display of power. I was touched you’d run into danger to help me. It’s a blessing I’m in an era with so many heroes!” he offered his hand again this time looking to clasp arms like he used to during his argonaut days. When he was just glad he had someone watching his back.

”I’m glad you could distract her long enough for me to heal and expel the poison from my body! Without seeing your pillar I might have taken a nap! HA ha ha!” he finished chuckling.

After a moment Hercules looked to the woman who let out a pained groan when her injured wing tried to move then he looked back to the steel mill. The smokestacks above them now producing a small glow no doubt they were producing the steel now. ”Now! Time for Brazen!” he punched his fist together and his runes and sigils glowed all of them shifting and altering on his skin. ”We shall end this tonight! Free those under his control and then celebrate!”

Rex narrowed his eyes as Hercules laughed at his question, but soon resumed an impassive expression as he took in the explanation and checked the woman over. He said he didn’t kill people, but freely admitted to placing a woman in shock after breaking bones? That was so…callous!

The firefighter nodded sharply, not so much in agreement or even acknowledgement, but an ambiguous gesture. He’d sort out his feelings later. Right now there were more important things to do. The woman was indeed alive and her pulse and breathing were even. That was good. He didn't bother moving her any more - who knew what further damage could be done? As it was, he tried his best to keep blood off his hands, or whatever that golden liquid was that was coming from one of her wings.
“I am well,” Rex said, having done nothing more than break a minor sweat. He stood up and this time, as his hands were empty, he responded to Hercules’s offered hand….and his arm was clasped instead. Momentary surprise flickered across his face before he caught on and returned it with a squeeze. “It’s just my job,” he said, falling back into a familiar rhythm. If nothing else, Rex was used to people praising him for bravery. It was awkward and embarrassing every time.

He frowned. “Wait, poison?” He stared at the woman’s wings. In the absence of firelight, the streetlights revealed a very faint sheen on many of the woman’s feathers. Ah. That explained it. He looked Hercules over once more. He didn’t seem to be having problems moving anymore and Rex couldn’t see a wound on him anymore. It seemed cellular regeneration was also on the man’s list of mutation-derived abilities. “Nevermind,” he said. He’d just need to remember the poison when he called the event in to the authorities later. It would be horrible if someone else got poisoned trying to help the woman.

“Agreed,” he said simply and turned on a heel. “I located an entrance.” He strolled back to the door he’d found. He figured subtlely was worthless now and time was more of the essence. Thanks to the bellowing, everyone on the block must know they were there. Well, time to make the most of it.

Pausing a safe distance away, Rex held a hand out in the direction of the door. “After you,” he said.

”It’s just your job? So local law enforcement eh? I truly am lucky to be in such an era.” he said truthfully. Of all the times he had been summoned this was by far his favorite, so much action, so much to discover and so many worthy opponents to hone his abilities. Hercules was already planning on thanking his master again tonight with Pizza. He might make it three.

”Aye, posion.” he repeated releasing his hold on Rex of the Inferno’s arm. ”I’ve had worse before it seems hers was specialized in immobilizing her target. Luckily my body is that of a god. All I needed was a few moments to ‘catch my breath’. He said bragging and now flexing. The faint street lights reflected of his well off his oiled skin.

”HA HA! YES!” he added excited about what was to unfold but not excited by Rex of the Inferno’s response. He didn’t seem to be excited as the demi-god. His mound of muscles reacted by flexing a few times to try and inspire his attitude.

”I would have it no other way!” he said walking over to his club, the giant weapon was lifted casually as his hand was placed on it. Throwing it over his shoulder he walked to the front entrance and tried pushing with his lone hand. The door was locked. ”I’ve battled titans and gods, you think a locked door can stop me?!?” he shouted. Hercules sighed and then lifted his club and knocked once with it blowing the metal door off it’s hinges along with the metallic frame. The door bounced once then clattered to the wall.

”Doors.” he scoffed before inhaling, ”BRAZEN! SEND ALL OF THE UNDERLENINGS YOU CAN MUSTER THEY SHALL ALL FALL TO THE MIGHT OF HERCULES!” the club was thrown over his shoulder again, glad his master allowed him his mighty weapon in battle!

”When we see those imprisoned I’d like you to get them to safety Rex of the Inferno!” he requested of his ally knowing as a hero he would not leave Hercules to fight for alone.

Rex frowned. “What? No, I’m...nevermind,” he said. It wasn’t worth explaining his job, especially as this Hercules didn’t seem too focused on any particular moment and was raring to go bounding off to the next thing. What did he mean by era, though? He wasn’t talking quite right.

The firefighter shook his head. There was no point trying to figure it out. Who knew what went on in the heads of mutants? Crazy, the whole lot of them. He remembered when that one mutant had tried creating an entire church based around his healing powers. It was sacrilegious and blasphemous and just sheer insanity that anyone would associate with it. Yet it had happened.

He consoled himself with the knowledge that after this night, he’d never have to see Hercules again.

It turned out he was correct. Hercules has already bounced back, in more than one way. Rex didn’t miss the comment about gods and titans, but he dismissed it as hyperbole. He was starting to suspect Hercules of being a part-time actor of some sort. It would explain his bombastic manner and over-the-top braggadocio. Although those tattoos probably prevented him from landing a lot of choice roles.

Rex followed behind at a safe distance as they made their way into the now-open mill. He didn’t reply to Hercules - hadn’t they already established their roles? Besides, it just made sense since Hercules was tough, strong, self-healing, and shining and glowing like a Christmas tree. Rex himself was not bullet or knife proof so he was going to stay out of the way.

At that moment, footsteps started echoing through the hallway. Three figures appeared, all dressed in dark, regular clothing. Two women and a man, one with a shotgun, one with a crossbow, and the third with some kind of rifle. Rex jumped into a doorway as soon as he saw them, and not a moment too soon. Unlike the winged women, these three didn’t bother with opening discourse. They started shooting.

A shotgun blasted and the rifle gave off a series of barking shots. Bullets started ricocheting and clamoring off things. The crossbow quarrel suddenly started sparkling with scarlet light and it was fired straight at Hercules.

Rex ducked down inside the doorway, swore, and made the sign of the cross.

Hercules frowned as three new figures approached, one with a crossbow and two with guns. Hercules frowned and flexed making himself appear larger than he was, hoisting the club behind him he slammed it on the ground in front of him. ”More underlings!?! Is this Brazen such a coward?” the red crossbow bolt that looked like a forth of July display pierced into his club then started to slowly penetrate it. Hercules frowned at the weapon, no doubt it could pierce him if it could pierce his weapon.

”Very well, I will show you all why I was the most feared god in my pantheon! You will remember the name Hercules!” the shotgun rung out again and his glowing form reflected most of the pellets one or two lodged themselves into his skin and remained there until his curse forced them out. Hercules threw his club at the three then charged after it his face no longer smiling but scowling at the thought of fighting armed men and women. They would pose little challenge.

The club flew towards the three with no signs of slowing down until the woman with the cross bow shot another bolt this time the bolt glowed white instead of the red seconds before, the bolt melted into his club as they seemed to pass over one another. Both projectiles continued to their perspective targets the three shooters dodged his club and Hercules had to stop his charge to duck out of the way before pushing off with his feet ignoring the burnt nerve endings on the top of his head where the bolt was the closest. It was clear that was the most dangerous weapon there.

”Club!” Hercules shouted and held up a hand as he charged the club reversing in midair before it crashed into anything. The woman with the crossbow stood up and took aim before having to abandon her shot to dodge the club only to come face to lower torso with the giant. Hercules placed a hand on the crossbow then slammed his fist shut snapping the string and the weapon.

”Brazen!” he shouted tossing the woman to the side and turning towards the man with the shotgun after he just let another shot to Hercules’s back this time more metallic beads lodged themselves into his skin this time deep enough to cause blood to flow.

Rex heard bullets and pellets echoing and bouncing off of metal surfaces, the sonic effects magnified by the close quarters. Cordite was starting to fill the air and Rex was assaulted by the sounds and the smells.

His back flat against the wall, he desperately prayed. This was so far beyond reconnaissance. This was a job for SWAT or someone, not a firefighter! But he’d been an idiot, getting caught up in Hercules’s bravado and jubilant nature that Rex had gone along. And now they were likely to die.

Peeking out from his hiding spot, Rex saw the quarrel burn through the club, but his mouth really dropped when he saw the other man plunge into the midst of the shooters and start tearing them apart. Things snapped and crunched and Rex wasn’t entirely sure if he was hearing bones, wood, or guns. But he definitely saw blood. “Madre de Dios,” he breathed, even as Hercules’s earlier words echoed in his head. This man thought himself a god? Rex’s eyes widened and horror grew in him. What new tests and trials were going to come from this night?

The third shooter, the woman with the rifle, saw her comrade thrown to the side and backpedaled quickly, still firing controlled bursts at the behemoth assaulting them. Then she turned tail and ran, leaving the man to face the brute alone. She wasn’t worried about retribution - he would’ve done the same. Brazen expected this kind of behavior - self sacrifice for the group was greatly rewarded and no sense losing everyone in one confrontation. Besides, if this man really wanted to see Brazen that badly, well, maybe it was time he get exactly what he wanted.

She burst through some double doors and into the main production area was located, so much of the equipment having fallen in disarray or missing so many pieces, having been salvaged for parts many years past.

This was Brazen’s court.

His master was tired, he could feel the stress his powers were putting on the child's body. Hercules frowned to the one who ran away then looked down to the man who was cocking his shotgun again. Blood trickled down his torso and he felt his powers start to heal his body and deviate from his strength. The giant was still big enough to be imposing even without his strength fueling his movements. A club sized fist was brought around met the face of the shooter. The shooter staggered back and then tried to ram the butt of the gun into the demi-god.

Hercules laughed in response and caught the butt of the gun in the palm of his hand his sigils flickered slowing his healing and redirected the curse into his strength and crushed the gun in his hand and pulled it from the man who still wished to fight him. ”You’re done fighting. Go home to your loved ones. I’m only here for Brazen.” the shooter let go of the gun and thought for a moment then tried to attack Hercules with his fists.

”Very well.” he said no longer feeling bad about what he was about to do. The shooter was fighting with everything he had so Hercules would do the same. A backhand was all it took a nerfed backhand but it still had the desired effect. The brave shooter flew backwards and bounced off the ground twice before stopping. He tried to get up but collapsed.

With the doors now open Hercules decided that was his next location to search for Brazen. Hercules’s body returned to healing itself forcing several bullets from his body the pellets fell and bounced off the ground as he made his way to his club. This time he didn’t summon it. He got it the old fashioned way. He had to be smart about his use of power now. William was at home no doubt sleeping as Hercules continued to use his strength. ‘I only need a little more time. Apologies Master.’ he thought to his master.

Taking a few deep breaths Hercules forced his bravado, ”BRAZEN! I will not ask again! Come forward and challenge me!” he shouted puffing up his chest and strutting into the main area of the steel mill. His club placed on his shoulder now lighter than it was before due to the center being cored out from the last skirmish.

The shout echoed around the vast room, picking up a tinny sound from all the leftover metal. Silence fell after.

A small group of six people were gather around a trio of tables, seemingly dragged in from a break room. They were the hostages, each person important to one of the thieves that had already been busted. Siblings, lovers, parents, lifelong friends, children - it didn’t matter. There always had to be a hostage.

The hostages were normally treated pretty well. In many cases they volunteered, knowing the risks but accepting the outcome. Brazen was known in the area as tough, but as reasonable as you could expect for a crimelord. He treated his people well and was loyal to them if they were loyal to him. He didn’t allow other criminals to operate in his territory and he paid very, very well.

He’d only had to kill three hostages before, which was a pretty low rate. Most people got clued in quickly - do what Brazen wanted and you lived, and lived well. Cross him, and you and a loved one dies. Nothing personal, just business.

But a man bellowing his way into his sanctuary and clearly having defeated his sister Razorbeak and wiped the floor with two of his lieutenants? That was very, very personal to him.

“Thank you, Aquilla,” he said to the riflewoman, who’d finished her report just a moment before Hercules burst into the room. She nodded and jogged over to the hostages, where she took up position over them along with a man in fire retardant clothing and what looked like a full-fledged flamethrower.

Brazen, a generally non-assuming man, nobody you’d remember in a crowd, stood up from his chair with the groaning and creaking of metal. And not from the chair. His entire body was metal, from his head to his feet, in the exact gold-like color as his sister's wings. The ground suffered the slightest of tremors as he took a step, his left hand leaving the blowtorch he’d had set up near his chair. His metal hand glowed white hot as it maintained the heat. He smiled slowly, revealed metal teeth, and assumed a boxing stance. “Well, I’m Brazen,” he addressed the man in a metallic voice. “Come and get some.”

Rex, meanwhile, pulled himself out of his hiding spot. He sprinted over to check the fallen shooters. They were still alive. Good. Probably need significant medical attention. Possibly broken or sprained bones. But he didn’t see much blood so it's likely they’d be fine. He picked up the crushed shotgun by it’s mangled shaft. There was no way it could be fired now, but that was fine. He dragged it along with him as he slowly approached the double doors and peered out through one of the windows in it, immediately trying to scope out the room.