Distraction Extraction

Sometime before my encounter with Master Lao, the "New Champions" took me to their base. It was a refurbished version of the late super-team that they replaced. However, I had little time to get acquainted with their hospitality when they found out about a massacre in a small American town, no doubt Dr. Destroyer's work. Unfortunately, Destroyer's media monopoly allowed him to claim that it was the work of two of the heroes on the time. The story is quite preposterous, only the gullible and the coerced could believe it, but it weighed heavily on the team. It certainly made those accused rather paranoid of Destroyer's surveillance on future missions, but I fear that being victims of such operations is an inevitable in a war such as that we are fighting. I have learned to conceal my emotions. It was needed in the culture of law enforcement in China, showing sorrow among strangers is a sign of weakness- and it was how I survived there. I do feel sorrow at the deaths of those innocent Americans, and I will pray for their souls that they are cared for by their ancestors and find nirvana. I know that it is the duty of heroes like us to balance the great evil that has overtaken the world and to bring balance to the spiritual order.
 
Nevertheless, the team got a message that a rebel cell in a small Arizona town was under siege by Destroyer's soldiers. They vowed to extract the rebels from their hopeless situation, given the disparity between their forcers and Destroyer's. Even though I am not a member of the team, I offered my assistance as Destroyer is my enemy as much as theirs. We discussed plans and decided to split the team between those who were best at extracting the rebels and those would provide a distraction for Destroyer's soldiers. Thankfully, their advance party was small enough for us to handle in this "distraction extraction."
 
Once again, Ghost and Sandcrab showed off impressive power and felled many foes. I was embarrassed at my relative weakness compared to them, but it seemed like I was able to hold my own against the Black Talons and Destroyer agents. The Dragon and the masters of the temple gave me great power, but clearly I have more to learn. The Dragon's Power Flows to Me ritual has been invaluable, as it made my attacks more accurate and my improved my ability to avoid attacks. Unfortunately one of the agents got off a lucky strike with a taser gauntlet when they managed to surround me. Perhaps I was too overconfident and thought I could handle 4 agents at the same time, and I must assess my mistakes. I will not present an opening next time.
 
Thankfully, one of the heroes named Runeforce took care of the remaining agents and Ghost carried me to safety. The mission was a success, but I am not sure if I am a valued ally of these Americans or that my presence makes a difference. I am glad that my helmet and mask are large enough to conceal my internal shame. I must remember when Master Nightwind taught me his Flying Kick, from the school of Kung Fu. This will enable me to strike multiple opponents like Ghost did in the fight- as well as be better able to move and attack, but it is far more sophisticated than the fighting arts that she's picked up. He also taught me how to "sweep the leg," another classic Kung Fu maneuver. This will be useful when I am in a team environment, as knocking a foe to the ground makes them vulnerable to subsequent attacks before they can regain their footing. I will also hone my chi further and practice all the moves from the four schools I learned so that I can hit harder. I will also change my tactics next fight.