So much was happening, and Michael and Will probably could have used more help, but at the moment it was taking pretty much everything Quin had to stay upright as she sat there on the ground.

Michael was pulling metal from the metal man, Will was hauling himself even further over the metal man’s shoulder, and then the metal man stiffened similarly to how the knife guy had stiffened in the coffee shop.

Will dropped clear of metal man and retreated and Quin sighed in relief as Michael continued to literally tear metal man to shreds. Had that metal been attached? If it had, Quin assumed that metal man had gotten everything he deserved.

Out of the tent went metal man and the cops outside were instructed to use only zip ties to keep metal man from getting metal again. Zip ties. Hopefully they still had their zip ties. Quin looked around the tent, there was very little in the way of plastic left to be seen if there wasn’t someone sitting on it and there were a lot of wide eyes looking in their direction.

Michael looked back over, visibly shrinking as he stood.

Small world. Quin nodded, ”Incredibly small…” she said, pulling her knees up and resting her wrists on them as she tried to muster the energy to rise. ”It’s been a hell of a day.”

Looking up at Will, Quin had to shake her head and smile a bit, ”Michael, this is Will. Will, this is Michael.”

As introductions were made, a thought occurred to Quin, and she tilted her head a bit. ”Was that your truck out there?”

Will wished he'd saved some of his earlier composure when he was trying not to gawp at Ranger picking up the metal controlling mutant with a single hand. As Ranger commented, asking about Will's abilities, the smaller man just looked like a deer in the headlights for a moment before his wits caught back up with him and he shook his head, giving a non-committal shrug. "Yeah, something like." He commented offhandedly, and a little breathless from the scuffle. Panic and peril had given him tunnel vision on, well, not having his skull, or anyone else's skull get caved in -- and made him a little less worried about secrecy, his worries about that coming back in full force now, and a half minute too late.

Worries or no, Will didn't have time to think on it much as he watched with detached interest as Ranger quite literally peeled their adversary out of his metal skin, like some kind of piece of cybernetic produce, or maybe just like peeling the aluminum foil off of a burrito. Little wonder the bat to the head had only slowed him down if he could do -that- with his bare hands. 

It did though, look like the fight, as brief as it was, had taken it's toll on all three of them... Well, four of them, but Will didn't have much pity for Knightstick, even as Ranger tossed him aside like a ragdoll. Ranger was breathing heavily, Quin wasn't even on her feet, and Will himself was cradling his wounded arm in his good one. 

Officers came, seeming to take over the task of dealing with the no-longer metal wrapped mutant. Will listened in curiously. The guy controlled metal. Obvious. Someone said Ranger was super. But it was hard for Will to figure out if it was praise, a title, a nickname or something else entirely. Given the situation and the way the cops weren't treating him like some kind of vigilant however, he assumed it was probably SUPER. In all caps. 

The Action Hero started to shrink, speaking to Quin and praising her and Will both. Quin stirred a bit on the ground, replying and giving introductions, and Will tried to clear his head. So, the big guy had a name. Micheal. Right, Quin had said that when he'd first shown up. "No kidding." Will muttered in support of Quin's comment about the day.

Will took the cue from Quin as she provided names for those that had yet to be introduced. Turning his attention to Ranger, he did his best in trying to follow common courtesies in spite of the bizarre situation. "Hey, pleased t'meetcha." Will giving a nod to Micheal rather than waving or reaching out for a handshake, stuck with one arm sore and the other supporting. Even with both arms up and running, Will would have been a bit hesitant in giving the other man a handshake, after watching him peel the metal off of their assailant like the label off a beer bottle. 

Ranger nodded to Quin and smiled. A hell of a day was both incredibly apt but also felt like an understatement. The other guy chimed with his agreement. Ranger looked from one to the other. He was worried the day was still getting started.

He was worried that the day was only the beginning of something worse.

Quin made the introductions. The guy she was with was named Will. He gave Ranger a nod and extended a pleasantry. No handshake. That was fine. It wasn’t much of a handshake day, and if Mr. Taser-hand was electric, Ranger didn’t want to deal with his power blocking out or at least mitigating the effect.

”Same… Wish it was better circumstances though. Yall holdin' up okay?” Ranger said before turning to face an officer who had tapped him on the shoulder. The officer was holding a rag and pointed to Ranger’s head. Ranger took the rag, pressed it to his head then looked at it. Quite a bit of blood. Ranger pressed it back and thanked the officer before turning back.

It was then that Quin was asking about Ranger’s truck. Ranger nodded and said, ”Oh, yeah. The Fordasaurus is my Urban Assault Vehicle… She’s gonna need some work after t’day.” Ranger said looking back at the truck through the tent hole. Paint was missing, there were new dents, and a fair amount of metal was now missing from the front where Ranger had tactically bludgeoned Knightstick. 

Introductions went as introductions tended to go and Quin noted that both of the men seemed to be in worse shape than she did. Kudos to having powers to that didn’t require close contact to be efffective. Still, Quin felt like a rung out dish rag and kind of wanted to just lay back on the ground.

Michael inquired as to how they were holding up and the redhead shrugged a bit.

”Been better…” Quin said, shaking her head as Michael was handed a rag for his head. Quin knew Michael was a mutant, but she didn’t think they’d ever addressed the particulars of his mutation. Clearly it involved being ridiculously strong and growing in some way. ”I’ve got some bruised ribs and Will took a knife to the arm…apparently just another Wednesday in New York.”

It was Michael’s truck idling out in the street, and Quin had to grin when he admitted it. That was excellent news.

Heaving a sigh and climbing a bit unsteadily to her feet, quite the feat when all of your limbs feel like they weigh a couple hundred pounds, Quin nodded towards the truck.

”Good,” she said, ”Then you can give us a ride.”

Will nodded in response to Michael, both in agreement to the statement it would have been nice to meet under nicer circumstances, as well as indicating that he was holding up okay. Quin even offered up a quick inventory of the worst of both of their injuries, along with a sarcastic quip. Watching Michael hold the offered rag to his bleeding head, (seriously, how was the guy still standing?) Will checked to make sure his own bandage and treatment was holding up, and was happy to see no signs of having done anything bad enough to pull the wound open again. Good job, doc. 

"Yeah." Will confirmed Quin's statement, giving the bandaged arm a little half shrug to indicate the one that was injured. "Started out such a nice day too. Thought I'd get to slack for once." He gave a little laugh and a smirk as they all took the time to steady themselves, Michael checking the blood on the rag he'd been pressing to his head and Quin climbing to her feet. 

Michael and Quin shared some words, discussing a vehicle, and Will peeked through the hole in the tent, following Ranger's gaze to the behemoth of a truck that had certainly seen a better day, but still looked fit to drive through the gates of hell if it needed to. Will's gaze flickered between the truck and Michael once or twice. Yeah -- the "Fordasaurus' was about as fitting a ride for the Action Hero here as he could have imagined. 

Will's ears perked up, and he turned to glance back at Quin as she said that since that was Michael's truck, he could give them a ride then. And that... that sounded like the best news he'd gotten since... Honestly, that might just be the best news he'd gotten, period. Being stuck here in the middle of what was rapidly seeming like an active warzone, or trying to hoof it across the city to make his way back to his apartment (assuming -it- wasn't also under fire... or on fire...) were both incredibly unappealing ideas. Hopping into a tank and getting a lift with a guy who could dead lift a fridge with one hand? Significantly better, and he didn't bother to hide the relief that spread across his expression at the idea.

Of course, it wasn't his choice to make. And he'd only just met Michael roughly five minutes and one thorough villain butt-kicking ago, so he wasn't about to press the issue... but surely allies in combat could hitch a ride once in a while right?

Quin and Will were doing okay. Quin was well enough to make a quip. Will had taken a knife to the arm but he was clearly still in some form of fighting shape. It was a testament to how crazy things could get in NYC that the pair of them were still with it enough to joke after the day they’d had. That and how mentally resilient they were.

”Well, Thursday’s comin’. An’ so is the reckonin’ f’r the woman responsible f’r this.” Ranger said, knowing Akh was behind everything. That this was a cover for her. That there was still a greater storm building.

There was a reason Quin had asked about Ranger’s truck. Ranger was being voluntold that he could give them a ride. This seemed to perk up Will. Ranger cocked his head and smiled.

”Least I can d’ after I gave y’r hospital tent a new entrance.” Ranger saidd then waived to them, ”C’mon then, an’ mind the mess in the backseat. I didn’ have much warnin’ this was comin’.”

Ranger stepped out of the tent. The distant sounds of fighting could be heard echoing down the street. Knightstick had regained mobility and was straining against the police who were bodily detaining him. Ranger noted the use of the thick zip ties they had restrained him with. Good.

Making his way toward the Fordasaurus Ranger looked at the damage on the front. It was a weirdly human shaped gap in the metal. Not a dent, just a lack of metal as if it had been leached away. Before walking around the truck to the driver side, Ranger stopped and open the back door on the passenger side. A gull-wing.

Inside the back seat of the truck was ammo cans, bandoliers of non-lethal explosives—flashbangs, white phosphorus, etc.—and various weapons ranging from less than lethal to anti-materiel. Ranger had come ready to wage a one man war.

Behind him, Knighstick was continuing to resist. His goal was not to break free immediately, but to keep the police close enough to keep touching the odd metal on their person. Gun, flashlight, rivets and buttons on the clothes, wedding bands, and other assorted metal.

“So you know who’s responsible for all of this?” Quin said, locking on to Michael’s words, ” And does that mean that this is an organized movement rather than random violence?” Law school was good for something, it turned out.

If nothing else though, Michael was going to give her and Will a ride. That was definitely a good thing. It was like the universe was going to give a little back after the shit show it had dished out today.

In fact, Michael seemed ready to go right then. He also warned them to mind the mess in the back seat?

Unsure what she was walking into, Quin followed Michael, assuming that Will would come along too if he wanted a ride. The metal man was still outside, struggling against the zip ties on his wrists. They were thick, but Quin narrowed her eyes slightly at them as they walked past. They were holding up well enough but… ”They might want to put another set on him if they’ve got them handy…” she said.

Michael’s vehicle was absolutely absurd, ”Of course this is your car…what do you get, like six miles per gallon in this thing…not that I’m complaining about the ride.”

Michael opened the door and the back passenger side opened up like a car out of a time-travel movie. Good lord…and the inside.

”Again…not complaining because I’m real glad you showed up when you did…but do you always drive around like you’re expecting the apocolypse…” Quin said, literally climbing up and into the massive vehicle…an impressive feat if she did say so herself, considering the day she’d had.

As Quin and Michael went back and forth about the day, Will wasn't sure if it made him feel better or worse that this wasn't just some random or spontaneous act of violence. Something or someone was responsible for it, and probably for more something more than just making a few potholes and making things tough for people living in the city. Michael in particular seemed to have an idea about precisely who the instigator of the mess was, while Quin probed for information. Will just tried to keep up, it still felt like his head was wrapped in cotton, everything a touch less sharp than he was used to. He was far from used to actively using his powers, and running on less than a full tank wasn't something he was familiar with.

Metal seemed like he was well in hand at least. Mostly. Heavy duty looking non-metallic restraints and a few sets of hands on him. Seemed like the cops knew what they were doing? Probably? Michael seemed convinced it was the right call, and it felt like the right call to differ to the Action Hero's expertise on the proper protocols of butt-kicking. Quin did have a pretty good point on slapping the struggling mutant with more restraints though, he was still awfully feisty, even after they'd put him down. 

Ignoring the sounds of the struggle behind him, Will stepped after Michael and Quin as they made their way towards Michael's ride. Jeez. Will had thought the thing had been a behemoth from afar, but it might have been even bigger and more imposing up close than he'd suspected from afar. There was no way that a vehicle like that hadn't been built for either spite, ego or combat, or maybe some combination of the three. As Michael opened the door to the back seats, the door swinging up, rather than out, Will could see the contents sprawled across the interior of the Fordasaurus. Taking in the almost parodic level of munitions, Will realized the vehicle definitely included at least the latter of the three reasons he'd thought of, but he wasn't ruling other either of the other two. 

"Some of this stuff looks like I'd need a license just to be in the same room as it..." Will commented with a shake of his head as Quin pulled herself into the truck. It was all starting to feel like he'd gotten pulled in way, way over his head, but it was fine now. He'd just climb into the Fordasaurus, squeeze in between the .50 caliber and the flashbangs, let the Action Hero give him a lift home and then sleep for a week and forget it all ever happened. "What the heck are you expectin' to be up against with all this, anyway?"

”Ancient Egyptian sorceress.” Ranger said in reply to Quin. ”I’d say… randomly organized violence.”

Ranger had maintained contact with Rex all through the day, but neither of them had caught wind of Akh. Not that there had been much time between dealing with her army of distraction based army of villains.

When Quin got a closer look at Ranger’s ride she commented on the mileage. Without missing a beat, Ranger turned to her with a smile and proudly announced, ”Please, this gets gallons to the mile.”

What really got a reaction was the contents of the Fordasaurus. Quin asked if he always drove around ready for the apocalypse and Will mentioned needing a license to be in the same room as the materiel.

”The Fordasaurus is a mobile command station an’ squad transport. T’day… It was readied f’r war with… Whatever Akh threw at it. If I need t’ bring down the sphynx itself, I’m ready.” Ranger said.

A noise caught Ranger’s attention. The officers fighting with Knightstick were louder.

”An’ y’r fine. All the paperwork on it all is up t’ date. Jus’... uh… Don’ touch much.” Ranger went to shut the door when he heard an officer swear loudly.

Ranger turned just in time to see an officer pulling away from Knightstick with a metal spike piercing his torso. Another officer had drawn his pistol and Ranger was shouting, ”NO!” as the officer began firing.

The bullets flattened against Knightstick who was flowing it toward his hand as he launched upward at the officer. His plastic restraints falling to the ground around him.

Immediately Ranger was moving. Feet hammering against the pavement as Ranger moved, accelerating within a matter of steps to highway speeds. As Ranger moved their body changed. Shifting from its male form to its female form. Within a second Ranger was in the air, rotating and bringing a shin around to drive into Knightstick before he could stab the other officer.

The scent of burnt rubber followed the squealing of Ranger’s shoes as she skid to a stop before jumping back at Knightstick and catching his neck ina a triangle choke with her legs. Ranger landed on her back with Knightstick slapping once at Ranger’s leg before his eyes fluttered and the lights went out.

”Tranqs. Now, while he’s out.” Ranger called, the police scrambling to find one. Ranger called to Quin and Will, ”In the truck. Dart rifle, its loaded.”

Gallons to the mile huh? Quin saved her admonishments on the effect that vehicles like this tended to have on cities. Practicality was not their friend right now, and Quin was immensely grateful that she was going to be able to ride home in this beast.

Yards yadda, rolling arsenal, command station, et cetera. Quin was still stuck on the fact that all of this had apparently happened at the behest of an Ancient Egyptian sorceress. There were going to be more questions on that later…when they were driving and there was time to think.

In the meantime even Quin had to admit that it was probably a good thing that the Fordasaurus was equipped to take out a sphinx because the way things were going they’d run into one.

Almost exactly as she had the thought, Quin caught the commotion outside the car. Even through the windshield the redhead could see that the cops were having trouble with metal man. In fact, one of the cops that had helped them get to the hospital was stumbling back with a spike sticking out of his abdomen.

Michael moved then…Michael moved fast and as he moved he changed. Quin’s eyes widened slightly as a female Michael skidded to a stop in front of metal man, burnt rubber and smoke included.

”Holy shit…” Quin breathed as Michael leaped into the air and wrapped Mental man’s neck in her legs. Quin absolutely needed to learn that trick, she thought as the mutant was brought to the ground.

Michael called for tranqs and none of the cops moved. A moment later Michael called out again and Quin realized that he….she was talking to the truck.

A dart rifle? What the hell did a dart rifle look like? Quin immediately started digging around in the potentially dangerous materials to try and find the rifle in question.

It took a moment, but she found it partially slid up under the seat. Pulling the rifle free, the redhead looked over at Will with slightly wide eyes, ”I have no idea what I’m doing.” she said, before scrambling out of the truck and stumbling her way over towards the commotion, rifle bouncing awkwardly in her hands.

There was a still an uninjured cop over there and Quin thrust the rifle at the man. ”Here.” she said before jogging a few steps back.

Will almost laughed at Michael's response to Quin, that the trouble was caused by an ancient Egyptian sorceress, that absurdity of the statement nearly sucker punching him, but the lack of any sort of flippant tone in Michael's voice and the serious topic overall  kept his head on straight. The Action Hero was serious? The city was lit up in chaos because of a magic mummy maiden? If Will was still in disbelief, Michael's further explanation about what the vehicle was set up to do and was currently kitted out for. Mobile command. Moving troops. Taking down the Sphinx itself if need be. 

Hang on, was it a sphinx, or the Sphinx? Guess that would depend on if it was the statue or if the mythological creatures were real... But if ancient sorceresses were...

Will's head perked up as Michael yelled in protest to something that was going on. There were the sound of gunshots, swearing, sounds of pain and struggling. Hard to tell when each one occurred exactly, chronologically, but it was all roughly at the same time. And it all meant things hadn't been quite as handled as they'd guessed. 

Before he'd even had time to process the commotion there was a blur of movement that was Michael, moving at impossible speeds and changing as they did. Will could barely follow the violent gymnastic routine as Metal went down to the ground, losing the privilege of oxygen, courtesy of a pair of legs wrapped about his neck as Michael(?) took the mutant down and out. 

Michael yelled for tranqs, the cops moved, looking for the appropriate equipment, seemingly not having the less lethal equipment on hand like the more classic sidearms that had only gotten them in more trouble. Michael then clarified that they meant the one in the truck and Will realized that he should probably not just gawk at the show, starting to move at about the same time Quin was digging about for the gun. 

Will was hesitant to rummage too aggressively, too many things looking like that'd go 'pop' in one uncomfortable way or anything if he were to knock them to the floor of the truck, or worse yet, knock them out the open door of the Fordasaurus. Luckily, Quin found what they were looking for, and it was happily loaded, if what Action Hero(ine?) yelled was true. Quin told Will she had no idea what she was doing, and he could only bark back a nervous. "Same," in response before she was already out of the truck, thrusting the weapon into the hands of an officer between the truck and the scuffle. 

Armed with the weapon, the cop strode a few steps closer to the fallen metal manipulator and raised the rifle, steadying himself before taking a single shot but leaving the rifle raised, the officer's eyes flitting over to Michael's as if to ask if the fellow on the ground might need a few more chemical encouragements to stay calm or not.

Will himself had managed to pry himself out from the mess in the backseat and came up to stand beside Quin as, hopefully, the matter of Mr. Metal was being put to rest. 

Ranger let the choke slacken just enough to let blood flow back into Knightstick’s brain. While Ranger was not above killing someone if the need arose, there was still a chance to apprehend Knightstick instead of sending on that forever nap.

A few moments later Ranger was saved from having to make sure Knightstick didn’t wake up by an officer showing up with Ranger’s dart rifle. The officer aimed and took a shot. The dart found its mark and after a few seconds Ranger ripped it out and tossed it away. She had let it take its time to inject its sleepy goodness, but did not want to leave the metal of it touching the mutant in case he woke up before his drug induced sleep.

Waving the officer off, Ranger slid back from Knightstick. The officer lowered the rifle but kept staring at Ranger. The officer had just seen Ranger change as she ran from her truck over to unload a metric load of gymnastic hate on Knightstick.

”Get him tied back up… maybe saran wrap him. Put him under the tree for the the feds when they sweep through. They’ll love the present.” Ranger said as she stood up and walked over to take her dart rifle back. She worked the action and slid another dart from the stock into the chamber and locked it closed.

”Great, now I need t’ change.” Ranger said to herself as she almost stepped out of her shoe.

Ranger walked over to where Quin and Will were standing. Away from the truck but not directly in the action. She watched as an officer dropped his duty belt and all its metallic toys before grabbing zip ties to address Knightstick.

”I guess I need t’ call that in on the way outta here. Don’t want him breakin’ free again ‘cause a beat cop got too close with a flashlight.” Ranger said, half to himself, half to Quin and Will. ”After I change.” She added before looking to the pair she was about to play Uber for. ”Good job with the dart gun.” She said fully addressing the pair.

The cop did what cops do and took the weapon from Quin, marched right up to metal man where he was taking his thigh induced nap, and fired a dart into the bad guy.

Well good. That guy was an asshole.

At some point, Will had come up beside her and Quin heaved a sigh as she looked over at him, ”Do you think today is done with us yet?” she asked as Michael approached again. ”I’m going home, taking a six hour shower, drinking a cup of tea, and sleeping for a week.”

Was it strange that in the middle of all of this Michael had apparently turned into a woman? Yeah, a little. Was it close to the strangest thing Quin had seen today? Nope, so Quin didn’t say a damn word.

Michael continued to talk as they all made their way back to the truck and Quin nodded. Everyone possible needed to know that metal man could do things with metal.

Good job with the dart gun? ”I just handed it to a cop.” she said. ”I didn’t have a clue what to do.” she said candidly.

A moment passed as they made it to the truck, ”Can you show me how to do that leg thing?”

Will left out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding as the Action Heroine yanked the dart from Metal and started wrapping things up as she instructed to... wrap him up. Huh. Apt. Watching with interest now, rather than concern, he was happy to see Metal starting to get re-restrained, this time seemingly with a bit more care taken to avoid providing him with any new ammunition. 

With all that settled and seemingly under control, Will was able to turn and answer Quin as she spoke up, asking a rhetorical question that had been rattling around in the back of his head since roughly the time he had to break a glass over Knives's head, as well as voicing the idea of just taking the rest of the week off to sleep. Great minds thought alike it seemed. "No kidding on the shower. Gonna be picking gravel outta my back for a week I bet. Maybe a stroll through a car wash would do it?" Will played along with Quin's exaggerations, feeling much the same way, trying to add more humor to the thoroughly bizarre situation. 

Mummy Magicians. Body shifting Action Hero(ine), complete with tank and accessories. Mr. Metal. The whole city seeming to be under siege... And, if what Michael had said was correct, this was all just... Part? of what was going on? Will wondered if it was magic, or money or threats or what that got so many villains and thugs riled up and pointed all in the same general direction, but... it wasn't good, no matter which way it was sliced.

"Honestly, I just stayed outta the way." Will admitted with a little shrug. There hadn't been any need for more than one set of hands on the gun, and Michael moved -way- faster than he could have kept up with. Moral support? Backup? Sure, he'd say he was one of those then. 

As they made their way back to the truck, Will casting a nervous glance over his shoulder to make sure he didn't see or hear any metal clanking about near Knightstick, he heard Quin commenting on Michael's martial/gymnastic prowess, asking to be shown how to do the 'leg thing'. Once Will was satisfied that Metal was either out cold enough to not be snatching metal, or that the cops were being careful enough, he turned his attention back to the other two. Will was trying to take cues from Quin on how to react to Michael's shift. Quin knew Michael. Quin didn't seemed phased by the sudden, drastic, change and so... It must just be normal? For a certain application of the word, at least. 

"So, who gets called in to deal with a guy like that? S'not like you can just stick him in a cell, right?" Will asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

”I hope it’s done with yall. It ain’t done with me.” Ranger knew she would be dealing with the day until it was done. Villains managed and Akh located. ”I get t’ sleep when I’m dead I think.”

Quin and Will both expressed how they didn’t really do anything. Ranger looked at Quin and said, ”Y’ could’ve YOLOed an’ missed an’ shot me in the ass. It was too soon f’r me t’ resist it an’ I ain’t immune t’ night-night juice. Y’ knew y’r limit. Better than most men in that situation.”

As they made it t’ the truck Quin asked if Ranger could show her the flying triangle choke. Ranger nodded and said, ”Sure. Ain’t as hard as it looks but twice as fun. I’ll show y’ an’ y’ can practice on Lee… Assumin’ that sparrin’ session worked f’r y’’.”

Will then asked who would be called to deal with Knightstick.

”SUPER. The Feds that manage all things preternatural. They’ve agents trained t’ mitigate powers an’ have a few different containment options dependin’ on powers”

Leaving Quin and Will to hop up in the truck, Ranger went around back and opened the shell and bed before she climbed up and in. A short time later she was experly climbing into the driver’s seat wearing better fitting clothes and pulling her hair back with a hair tie. She had traded the blood, burns, and tears for athletic wear. Shorts, tank, and a sports bra. Along with properly fitting shoes and no show socks. She was a millennial afterall.

Where a truck would normally have an infotainment system, the Fordasaurus had a hell of a radio suite. Ranger took hold of one of the radios and called in, ”This is Ranger. I have a suspect gift-wrapped at Mount Sinai Morningside. No metal.” There was a confirmation over the radio then Ranger set the hand piece back on a rack.