Don't Date Your Nemesis... and other helpful hints for the modern Supergirl

Hint 17. Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

A gunshot echoes around the upper regions of the mansion as I appear. It's a disconcerting fanfare for any arrival and Shark strides purposefully past whilst I hover, confused.

"She likes to get a few shots in if she's on edge," he says.

The last time I came here they were both itching with excitement, dancing around eagerly. That mood has changed. Now there's something electric coiling through the dead air of the mansion. It's not entirely unwilling but rather a wary resolution, an expectation of violence to come.

"You don't have to be a part of this, Maya," Shark says, crouching down to go through a box at the corner of the room.

"Yes I do," I say, grabbing my mask from where it rests, dangling over the arm of a dining chair, and securing it to my face. "I'm Whisper now."

Shark stands, contemplating for a second.

"Alright then, Whisper," he says, nodding to the rest of the clothes. "Get ready."

Five minutes later I rejoin him in full regalia, pulling studded gloves onto my hands. They've got fingers this time - we don't want to be leaving prints. Shark straightens as I join his side. He's back in his dystopian apocalypse outfit, right down to the scrap of red around his throat, and I can't help but bite my lip as I take him in. He grins, widening his stance.

"You look ready to take on the world," he says.

"As do you."

Shark's grin grows as I finish my sentence, nodding towards the door. "Not as much as her though," he says.

I turn, taking in The Lady in all her glory. If I had thought her intimidating the last time, it's nothing compared to how she is now. There are three different types of knives on her right thigh alone.

"Where's the sword?" I ask.

She just shrugs, gesturing to the pistols on her hips. I really do think she has a pair of grenades hanging off her belt but I studiously look away so the policeman in me doesn't have to say anything.

"I'm travelling light," she says, "might need to do a lot of running."

I swallow nervously at her words. Things are about to get real serious real quick and I'm just standing here making quips about swords.

There's no way around it. We were locked in discussion for hours and hours; Shark's a real stickler for perfection and if there was a less risky way to manage it, he would have found it. We need to add proof to his previous words. We need to demonstrate the true capability of the Sapient+ operatives that slink along, hidden, in the endless ranks of law enforcement. He wants to scare the people onto his side but we can't do that with our own abilities lest we risk pushing public opinion against his cause.

So, tonight, we're making mayhem.

There's a small part of me that's excited. After a lifetime of upholding laws, the concept of letting go is appealing.

Until Shark hands me the gun.

"What's this for?"

He furrows his brow.

"You know how to use it, right?"

"Of course."

"Then it's for self defence." He pauses a second. "Maya, do you even know the range of abilities we could be confronted with tonight?"

Not really. I know what I can do but apart from the generic subset of typical superpowers and Shark and Lady's unique abilities, I don't have a definitive list. I don't even know what Gloria can do and she sits two desks over from me.