The Reckoning

[Gifted]

"Crucifix was coming down the alley as I was leaving. She engaged me, we started trading fire." Joan said. "She said something to me that sounded like she knew where our base was. I don't want to take any chances. I ended up putting bullets in her head, so she's going to be busy reincarnating for a bit." Joan told him. She hated lying to her team like this, but she didn't want anyone getting compromised because they pulled punches after not being able to hurt Katrina. Conversely, she also didn't want Katrina killed. Best just to treat Crucifix like they always had as a team, and Joan would figure out how to capture her alive on her own.

[Raven]

"We should lay low for a bit. We can't challenge Crucifix, she's one of the most powerful Epics in the city," Adam said.

[Gifted]

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Joan sighed. She was relieved she wouldn't have to push too hard to get people to chill on watching Crucifix too closely. "But all the laying low in the world is moot if she knows where our base is. Hopefully if she finds it gutted she'll be convinced we've finally moved on."

[Raven]

"Yeah, that will be good. Maybe we can use this, too..."

[Gifted]

"I'm sure it'll be easier to trap other Epics once Crucifix tells everyone we're gone." Joan agreed, hoping that was all he meant.

[Raven]

"We could set a trap when we go."

[Gifted]

"That's not too bad of an idea." Joan agreed. Crucifix would just reincarnate, of course, but it could kill other Epics if she sent someone to check for her instead of coming herself.

[Raven]

"I'll see if I can work on something,"Adam said. "Rig it up."

[Gifted]

"That would be great. Thank you, Adam." Joan smiled. "I'll talk to you when I get there, okay? I'm just dropping in briefly to reload my gun and then I'm going to look for a suitable place for us to hole up." She was also thinking about grabbing the kinector, to see if she could begin making a cell for Crucifix.

[Raven]

"Alright, see you soon. Take care, Joan."

[Gifted]

"Yup, I will." Joan hung up and made her way back to base.
"Joan! What happened?!" Iris looked alarmed.
"What do you mean 'what happened', I got into a fight with Crucifix." Joan rolled her eyes, going over and reloading her gun and clearly not intending on stopping here.
"Yeah, but you sounded perfectly fine on the phone!"
"I am perfectly fine. Just a bit scratched up."
"Joan you have what's got to be a four-inch piece of glass stuck in your thigh." Iris pointed out.
Joan looked down at her leg, where her pants were beginning to soak through with blood. She recalled getting hit when she had been trapped in the narrow alleyway. "Oh yeah, forgot about that." She said unconcerned She had bigger things to worry about than her own injuries.
"Forgot about it? How do you just forget about something like that?"
"Iris, I take bullets on the regular. Yeah it hurts, but it's no big deal." Joan went to grab the kinector.

[Raven]

"You should bandage it at least," Adam said

[Gifted]

"It's fine, I'll deal with it when I get back, I have more important things to do!" Joan snapped.

[Raven]

Adam frowned. "Joan, you are bleeding. There are Epics who want your head, and if Crucifix knows where we stay, she definitely knew what we looked like."

[Gifted]

"Thank you for making my point for me. We need to get out of known territory as quick as possible so we can disappear for a bit, I don't have time to worry about a flesh wound."
"Joan we're not letting you leave here until you get that bandaged. If that glass dislodges the blood loss could kill you." Iris told her, standing between Joan and the door.
Joan grumbled, but at least stopped moving like she was about to rush out.