1.03

It’s Sunday night, and I’m breaking the rules. My costume, dyed and painted, isn’t complete, lacking some armor, but it covers the essentials. Yellow lenses are the only color on the black and gray, designed to mimic a bug’s mandibles while protecting my jaw.

I’m crossing into the Docks, a stark contrast from the tourist-filled Boardwalk. This area, once a bustling import/export hub, now breeds destitution and crime. The decline fueled a surge in supervillain activity, making Brockton Bay a top-ten city for capes.

Using my powers, I gather a swarm, keeping them hidden. I spot a group of Asian gang members, their red and green colors identifying them as the Azn Bad Boys (ABB). Among them is their leader, Lung, a formidable figure with dragon tattoos and a metal mask. He’s known for his escalating power in fights, growing stronger, tougher, and even sprouting armor and blades.

Lung’s giving orders, his voice commanding. I can’t make out the words, but the gang members are armed and attentive. I decide to find a better vantage point, circling to the back of the building and climbing a fire escape.

From the rooftop, I crawl to the edge, careful not to be seen. Lung’s accent is thick, but I finally catch his words: “…the children, just shoot. Doesn’t matter your aim, just shoot. You see one lying on the ground? Shoot the little bitch twice more to be sure. We give them no chances to be clever or lucky, understand?”

A murmur of assent follows. The gang members light cigarettes, revealing guns tucked into waistbands and holsters. They’re all armed.

They’re going to kill kids?