City of Masks: Vigilante origins

Chapter three: Vigilantism

ALIAS profile name: Chimera Girl, original leader of the Vanguard during Judgement day & seven years following, up until she dies overseas during a classified mission.

Mutant type: has the ability to take on three different animal characteristics at a time, limited to one part of her body at a time.

Hispanic, 5'5", bulky in build, long straight dark hair, brown eyes.

She had a costume specially tailored to resemble multiple different animals, including bear/lion hood, tortoise/crocodile torso, zebra/horse leggings & gorilla/octopus sleeves.

Though not the strongest member of the Vanguard, what she lacks in raw power she made up for in versatility & utilizing her teammates strengths to their utmost potential the same way she utilised her own bestial strengths. A statue was erected in her honor in Angel's yard.

7 year career (KIA) 36 criminals arrests, 9 Evab takedowns, including Judgement day, & 40 Civilian rescues

"Holy cow!" Greg exclaimed, as I made my way to the counter.

I placed an energy drink before him & pointed to the cabinet behind him.

"One pack of my usual, Greg." Nobody I knew has had the chance to see me yet so Greg's reaction confirmed that I did indeed look just about as bad as I looked

"Is everything okay, man?" he asked, his bushy brows screwing up with worry.

"I will feel plenty better, once I can have a cigarette," I said, trying my best, however failing to sound upbeat.

He turned to one of the drawers & chose the brand I always picked, "did you get mugged or something, brother? I know what that's like, scary stuff. I swear it happens every other month."

Somedays a good chat with Greg can do loads to make my day a little brighter. Just knowing someone was keeping an eye out for you was comforting. However, today was not one of those days.

"Can I just buy my stuff, please?"

Greg nodded, "sure thing, brother... you're right to pay."

"Thanks." I scanned my card & headed towards the door.

"Hey, brother?"

It was one thing being curt with the man, it was another to ignore him outright so I decided to hear what he had to say.

"You look like you're on a warpath. Just look out for yourself, okay?"

"Thanks Greg." I smiled. He was a perceptive man. Knowing what I was going to do next made my following words feel like a lie. "Don't worry about me, I'll be safe."

One energy drink & a bus ride later I was down by the wharf at the address the number gave me.

"4/19 Allenton CL, Newport. Meet there at 6pm. Come alone."

Come alone, huh? Whoever this guy was, he wasn't doing a good job convincing me this was a good idea. In some roundabout way he came off as more honest the more sketchy he made things seem. Who knows, maybe he counted on that reverse psychology to lull me in a false sense of security.

I exhaled a plume of smoke while I dangled my legs over the sea wall, staring out at the gently rocking ships docked at the harbour. I need to come out here more often, that salty breeze is good for thinking.

Partially obscured by a building I could just barely see Riverglow Bridge from where I sat. The bridge where I almost died. Could an Abnormality really change my life for the better? It was a bit late to be getting cold feet now.