Chapter Text
In the active center of Manhattan, NYC, on an energetic afternoon, everything seemed to be going smoothly—except for a gang of mouse robbers executing heists at local banks using the infamous "Note" method. They were making a hasty escape from the Valiant Sisters, Rosegale and Solagal, who were hot on their tails, zooming along on their Fast Pursuit Cycles and pilfering a car from a couple of unsuspecting mice.
Suddenly, Solagal's voice chattered through the communicators.
“Storm, Gamma, the robbers are heading your way. Are you guys ready?” she asked.
Storm and Gamma were already perched on the edge of a glass-paneled rooftop, keeping a careful eye on 42nd Street. The wind playfully jerked at their superhero uniforms while the city stirred below. Cars honked, pigeons took flight, and the far-off wail of sirens mixed alongside the roar of the Valiant Sisters’ pursuit cycles.
Storm tapped his comm device, his visor zeroing in on the getaway vehicle. “Got it, Sola. We’re tracking them on the avenue. They’re coming in hot.”
Gamma leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “And they’re speeding right past us!”
Down below, the stolen compact car wove between taxis, barely colliding with a hot dog cart.
Rosegale’s voice came through, breathless yet composed. “Storm, Gamma—those robbers are closing in on you fast. They’re firing at us and the police. Civilians are in danger. We need you to take them down now!”
Solagal added, “And quickly. They’re heading towards you.”
Storm cracked his knuckles. “Then let’s give them a chilly reception.”
Gamma grinned. “Oh, I’ve been itching for this.”
The pair jumped down from the rooftops to the street below. Storm used his powers to slide down, helping Gamma get to the ground. Civilians in buildings and on the street below noticed Stormbolt, awed and fascinated by the new, unknown super wolf beside him.
The stolen compact car shot into view, threading between an MTA bus and a delivery truck. The robbers leaned out of the windows—tiny silhouettes with oversized pistols—firing wildly from the vehicle. Sparks pinged off street signs. Taxis and other vehicles came to a sudden stop, causing several bumper-to-bumper accidents.
Gamma retrieved his super gear pack and took out the electro-snare, holding it at the ready. “Storm, I'm going to use the electro-snare and time it right for the vehicle. Once it wraps around the axle, you can use your ice powers to freeze the tires and keep it from spinning out!”
Storm nodded, considering Gamma’s plan.
Rosegale’s voice came through the channel again, crisper now.
“Storm, Gamma—they’re seconds from your position. Are you ready with your plan?”
“We copy, Sola; just leave the car to us!” Storm assured. He signaled to the civilians and cars on the opposite side to stop. As they did, vehicles approaching the intersection also came to a halt. Storm formed a fist, his blue gloves emitting cold, ready for action.
As the getaway driver accelerated toward them, Gamma used his top-down GPS visor to time his throw of the electro-snare.
Stormbolt looked at him with concern. “Bud, when are you going to throw the electro-snare? They’re about to close the gap!”
But Gamma tuned out his friend and focused on his visor, which displayed a top-down screen. Once the car closed the distance, he hurled the electro-snare. It expanded midair into a sparkling light and hit the pavement, anchoring like a spike strip.
Gamma smiled. “It's deployed! Storm, get ready; your spotlight is coming up!”
Storm thrust both hands forward, preparing to blast the car.
Gamma’s visor pinged. “Direct hit in three… two… one—”
The front axle slammed into the electro snare.
SNAP‑WHIRRRRRR‑CLAMP!
The device secured around the axle like a glowing mechanical jaw. The car jerked violently, spinning, and it was Storm's cue as he swept across the asphalt in a controlled burst. A thin sheet of ice formed—not enough to send the car flying, but enough to force the tires to a stop and stick to the ground.
The car stopped instantly, and the gang inside the car was unconscious or dizzy, but one got out and started shooting in Storm's and Gamma's direction and running away.
Storm immediately stepped in front of Gamma, frost flaring across his gloves. “Gamma, stay behind me!”
Gamma ducked instinctively. “I am behind you!”
The shots pinged harmlessly off the frozen pavement—Storm’s earlier ice burst had stiffened into a slick, reinforced layer. Still, civilians screamed and took cover behind parked cars as the robber raced past them, weaving past civilians.
Behind them, Rosegale and Solagal skidded to a stop on their pursuit cycles, tires hissing upon the pavement.
Rosegale shouted, “Storm! Gamma! One’s on foot—armed!”
Solagal pointed. “He’s heading east! Go!”
Storm didn’t hesitate. He slammed one foot down, sending a controlled frost shockwave across the ground. The ice rippled forward like a fast‑moving tide, chasing the robber’s feet.
The robber slipped, arms flailing.
“Wha—NO NO NO—!”
—and skidded across the sidewalk like a hockey puck.
But he didn’t stop. He climbed back up, still grasping the gun, and kept running.
Storm growled under his breath. “Persistent little guy.”
Rosegale had a thought, remembered something, and took the hone-in handcuffs out of her super gear pack.
“Ça va s'arrêter, that criminal!” She said, aiming with her eyepiece and the drone that followed the robber. And she hit the button, and the handcuffs popped out of their handcuff container.
They rotated like a silver boomerang, tiny thrusters firing as they corrected their angle mid‑flight.
Storm's eyes widened. “Ohhh, using the auto‑cuffs! Nice one, Rose! Just hope they were calibrated this time!”
Rosegale shouted back, “I always calibrate my handcuffs!”
Solagal coughed. “Last week—”
“NOT NOW, SOLA!”
Two NYPD vice officers walked up to the group as other officers cuffed the other 2 robbers and put them in their squad cars. Gamma and Storm, for their part, manhandled the one who had almost escaped before the officers came up.
“Here you go, officer. Here's the 3rd robber who tried to run away!” Storm said as Gamma handed him over to the two cops.
“Thanks, Stormbolt! You, Rosegale, and Solagal are the best!” One mouse officer told them.
Then the second one looked at the wolf.
“But I don't think we've seen a super like you around here. What's your name?”
“Oh,” Gamma began, looking at the officer, "the name's GammaSeer, or Gamma for short; either is fine!”
“GammaSeer, huh?” The officer repeated, “Well, I'd be the first officer to say we don't have lots of wolf supers around here!”
Gamma chuckled, massaging the back of his neck. "Yeah."
Although he wondered why some wolf supers from Howloria didn't tend to expand their superheroing into other countries, he was slowly being exposed to it. But for now, his thoughts would be on the back burner. Until a voice chattered through their visors as the hyperjet paused above the buildings.
“Hey, guys! Mystaflare, here. We'd better get back home!”
The four knew that “Home” meant Mouseford Academy. Mysta pressed a button, and a long ladder descended from below toward them. Phones came out. Civilians took pictures.
Someone squeaked, “THE HYPERJET!”
“Well, we love to stick around and all, but we'd better head back to our hero base!” Sola told them and the civilians who wanted to see them.
Rosegale added with a sweep, “Duties call, mes amis!”
Storm gave a flashy smile. “Thanks for calling us to assist.”
Gamma, meanwhile, got his hands on the ladder. He didn't say anything but waited for his friends to grab the ladder and climb up too.
A group of mice teens rushed closer—stopping just short of the police tape.
“Stormbolt! Freeze the ground or say your signature line!"
“Rosegale! Can you sign my backpack?!”
Rosegale grinned warmly. “Another time, chérie. We must go. A super mouse's work never rests after all!”
Solagal pointed upward as she climbed up the ladder a bit, and Gamma was behind. “As Gamma said, fellas, Jet’s waiting!”
Mystaflare's voice cackled to the communicators. “HELLOOOO DOWN THERE! MOVE YOUR TAILS, TEAM!”
Storm and Rose grabbed the ladder and climbed up a bit. Solagal tapped her transmitter.
“Mysta, we’re all on the ladder!”
“FINALLY!” Mystaflare cackled. “Retracting ladder—hold onto your fur!”
WHIRRR‑CLANK‑SHUNK!
The ladder jolted upward, pulling the four heroes smoothly into the belly of the Hyperjet. Civilians below cheered as the hatch sealed shut with a metallic thoomp, cutting off the city's roar.
Inside, the lights brightened automatically, bathing the interior in a soft blue glow. Mysta pulled the throttle, and they were bound back for Whale Island.
However, someone in an apartment building, using binoculars, zoomed in on Gamma. Took pictures and set them down to make a call.
RING RING RING
“Hey, it's me... tell Mr. Quentin that a new super just entered the fray...”
Back on Whale Island, the Hyper Jet was parked in its underground base. Storm, Gamma, Sola, Mysta, and Rose de-transformed into their civilian attire.
“I have to say, stopping a group of robbers in a densely settled urban city of over 8 million people—that's a new experience,” Venir remarked.
“Trust me, Wolf-boy, there are plenty more cities like New York City across the US and around the globe. Different languages, cultures, people, and more!” Craig chuckled.
Mysta added, “And in each one, we have our own super mice fans in many countries!”
Pamela, Cheng, and Tanya, who were busy cleaning the smaller Mouseford Quick Response jet, paused mid-cleaning to listen.
Pamela perked up. “You guys were in my hometown, Manhattan, in NYC!”
“Yup, we were sent to stop a group of robbers who hit eight banks over the course of two weeks during their hit-and-run spree. Can you guess how much they stole before the police needed our help?” Paulina said.
“Given that modern bank robberies have made traditional heists nearly obsolete—thanks to digital security, surveillance, and automated vault systems—I’d guess around $4,120,” Cheng replied.
Paulina snapped her digits. “You’re right, Cheng! You got it!”
Pamela laughed and nudged him. “Cheng always has the brains!”
Cheng pushed up his glasses, his cheeks tinting pink. “I just… read a lot and look at the news from different angles to be informed.”
Tanya smirked. “You read everything, Cheng.”
Craig stretched his arms. “Honestly, it felt more like a tumultuous car chase than a robbery. Those guys were driving like they were tearing up the busy, congested roads.”
Colette nodded. “Oui, and they were firing at us, the police, and injuring civilians.”
Violet looked at the Hyper Jet and then back at her friends. “At least the Hyper Jet got its pictures taken when I was flying it above the skyline. Manhattan loves a good show, especially when we supers come to stop crime!”
Venir chuckled. “I can agree with that, Vi! I still can't believe how many people were filming. I didn’t think you all had such a wide reach or could draw in crowds like that. It makes my fans back in Howloria seem like small peanuts with a bit of spare change.”
Pamela shook her head. “Oh, trust me from experience before being here in Mouseford. New Yorkers like me can be unperturbed by the smallest things. But when a giant jet hovers over 42nd Street, they're instantly hooked—line and sinker—into such beauty!”
Tanya crossed her arms. “So, Venir… how does it feel? Your first Super Mice mission. First big crowd. First time trending on Mousebook.”
“Well, I mean, stopping robbers is nothing special, but it feels pretty good to know that people want to come up to you after you stop them from causing more harm. But also—” He paused.
“Wait—what? What was that last part?”
“I meant this!” Tanya showed him a video on her mousephone from Mousebook, featuring him and Stormbolt, especially the end when the crowd wanted pictures with them.
The clip ended with the crowd swarming closer, trying to take pictures as the four climbed the hyperjet's drop ladder before being pulled up into it.
Venir couldn't believe his eyes as he watched the video. But Tanya wasn’t done.
“Oh, that's not all,” she said, scrolling. “You’ll be even more surprised by the reactions, reposts, and comments if you look!”
She pointed out the comments for Venir to see:
**Mousebook Feed:**
“WHO IS THE NEW WOLF SUPER???”
“THE HYPERJET CAME FOR THEM OMGGGG."
“Someone get that wolf a super fan page."
“I was there, and I think his name—I overheard him say—was GammaSeer."
Venir was surprised, and his ears flicked a bit.
Pamela chimed in, “You’re already at 12,000 likes! I’m noticing it on my phone.”
Cheng added, “Correction—12,842.”
Tanya refreshed the page. “Make that 13,100, and it's still climbing.”
Venir covered his face with both paws. “Oh great fangs of Howloria…”
Craig gave Venir a friendly pat on the back. “Welcome to the world stage as a super wolf, Venir!”
Violet called out to the group, “Hey, everyone, Dolores wants to have a debrief with Venir in five minutes! She’s probably already seen the video, so no need to worry about it!”
Venir let out a strangled sound, a fusion of surprise and embarrassment.
Craig grinned. “You’ll be fine.”
Paulina joined in with a smile. “You’ll be debriefed on your actions today, and everything will be great! But I should get going—I promised Professor Kraken I’d help him explore the marine life and fauna along the coast of the island.”
Pamela’s ears perked up. “Oh shoot, I forgot I also agreed to tag along!”
“Well then, you two better shake your tails!” Coco remarked.
Paulina grabbed the two gear bags she had set aside earlier. “We’re on it, we’re on it!”
Pamela waved goodbye to the rest as she jogged after Paulina. “Good luck, everyone!”