Valeria's gaze moved across the assembled group. Her own calculations were precise and sharp, Kamala's enthusiasm was boundless, Doreen's optimism practically radiated, and Barbara's tactical mind was already planning. They were a solid core.
The new additions were the variables.
Harley Quinn bounced on the spot, grinning wildly, while Poison Ivy stood beside her with a calm, assessing look. They were… well, they were themselves. The chaotic former villain and the dry eco-warrior. Valeria's mind ran the probabilities of them derailing the plan versus their unique value.
The smallest variable was the last to arrive.
May Parker swung down from a nearby tree, landing lightly. Her Spider-Girl costume was a scaled-down version of her father's classic red and blue, and the tiny yellow Joltik clung to her shoulder, sparking faintly. She looked up at the group with wide, earnest eyes.
The visual contrast was striking. A kid, barely ten, standing next to Harley Quinn with a giant mallet.
"This is our team," Barbara said, gesturing to May. "May Parker. Spider-Girl."
Harley leaned forward, her eyes lighting up.
"Oh wow! You're Spider-Man's kid! The webslinger!"
Ivy placed a hand on Harley's shoulder, a subtle gesture of restraint, but her expression softened.
"We've had… run-ins with your father," Ivy said, her tone calm and measured.
Harley nodded, but her grin didn't fade. "Yeah, but he's a good guy! Real funny!"
Ivy sighed, but the sigh wasn't annoyed. It was resigned, almost fond.
"It's true," Ivy conceded. "He's never been one of the worst."
They looked at May, who stood there with a quiet, serious confidence. The kind of confidence that wasn't loud, but was solid.
Harley's usual chaotic energy seemed to dial down a notch. She couldn't muster any animosity toward someone so small and so earnest.
"You're adorable," Harley declared, ruffling May's hair gently. "And you got a little sparky buddy! That's just perfect!"
Ivy watched, a faint smile touching her lips. Even her usual cynicism couldn't find a foothold here.
The kid was just too genuine.
The group had just gathered at the mountain trailhead, ready to move. Valeria was double-checking her gauntlet's readings when a voice, crackling with dramatic hurt, echoed across the clearing.
"Valeria! How could you?!"
Franklin Richards came running toward them, his cosmic backpack bouncing and a faint shimmer of 'emotional glitter' trailing behind him. He skidded to a stop in front of his sister, hands on his hips.
"You're going on a mission to stop a legendary Pokémon and an evil organization, and you just… forgot to invite me? Your own brother?"
Valeria looked up from her screen, her expression perfectly neutral.
"I simply forgot. The probability of needing your specific power set for initial reconnaissance was calculated at less than twelve percent."
Franklin threw his hands up in the air, his exasperation so loud it was almost a physical force.
"You have a higher IQ than Dad! How do you 'simply forget' a whole person? Especially one who can reshape local spacetime on a whim!"
Valeria offered another small, indifferent shrug, as if the answer was self-evident.
"Higher cognitive load. It happens."
Seeing the utter lack of remorse on his sister's face, Franklin's dramatic shoulders slumped. He let out a long, theatrical sigh that seemed to last for ages.
"Fine. I'm here now. I guess I'm joining you."
He shuffled over to stand beside Kamala and Doreen, accepting his fate with the weary air of a cosmic powerhouse who was, once again, an afterthought.
The combined group entered Aurawood Preserve and were immediately met by Officer Jenny and her Growlithe at the main trailhead.
"The rangers are doing their best to keep poachers out of the mountain," Officer Jenny explained, her tone calm and professional. "But the area is simply too large to patrol every inch effectively."
Valeria gave a single, understanding nod. It was a logistical reality, not a failure. The group's determination to proceed was a separate variable in the equation.
As they moved deeper into the woods, Batgirl turned to the two who had the most recent data.
"Doreen, Kamala. Where exactly did you encounter Zapdos?"
"It was in this huge, abandoned power plant up in the mountains!" Kamala said, her words tumbling out fast. "The whole place was humming with energy, and then it just… descended. Lightning everywhere!"
Doreen nodded vigorously, her tail twitching. "It drew power right from the plant's core! The air tasted like ozone and panic."
Valeria processed this, her mind connecting the data points with swift, logical precision. A creature of immense electrical power, found at the heart of a dormant but potent energy source.
"If it's drawn to and possibly feeding on electricity," Valeria hypothesized, looking at Batgirl, "are there any other abandoned power plants or significant electrical sources within this mountain range?"
Batgirl didn't waste a second. A faint blue glow illuminated the inside of her cowl as her heads-up display activated.
"Pulling up the topographic survey and old utility maps now," she said. Her fingers moved in the air, manipulating the holographic interface only she could see.
The others gathered around as Batgirl projected a simplified wireframe map of the mountain onto a flat rock. Together, their eyes traced the glowing lines, searching for telltale signs.
"There," Batgirl said, highlighting three distinct points that pulsed with a soft yellow light. "Three potential locations. All are old, decommissioned facilities with residual power signatures."
"We'll cover the most ground if we split into three teams, one for each location."
Poison Ivy's voice was a calm, pragmatic counterpoint to the surrounding energy. She folded her arms, her mind already organizing the chaotic variables into an efficient grid.
Valeria's brow creased, her strategic nature bristling at the proposal.
"Splitting our forces is a significant risk if HYDRA operatives are already positioned around the mountain. We'd be vulnerable to a coordinated ambush."
Harley Quinn waved a dismissive hand, a bright grin on her face.
"Oh, c'mon! If any of those goons show up, we just take 'em down! Splitting up is way faster, and faster means more fun! Let's do it!"
Valeria looked from Harley's cheerful insistence to Ivy's logical expression. She weighed the variables: the speed advantage was undeniable, and their team was uniquely… resilient.
The risk was high, but so was the potential reward.
"Alright," Valeria conceded, a note of finality in her tone. "We split up. But everyone stays on comms."
The teams formed quickly. Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Batgirl moved together, a blend of botanical power, chaotic energy, and tactical precision.
Franklin and Valeria paired up, a sibling unit of cosmic potential and brilliant calculation.
Kamala, Doreen, and May Parker made the final group, a trio of optimistic, agile heroes ready for anything.
With a final shared nod, the three teams moved out, each heading toward a different point on the looming mountain.
***
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Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.