Robert is most certainly in need of hugs in the aftermath of Episode 6.
He'd spend hours at Chase's bedside with Zarmina in his arms. Telling his daughter stories of a man she may not be able to remember.
Visi is suspended as part of the investigation into the warehouse raid. Barring her own actions, a lot of people got hurt or worse by the villain in-fighting.
The Z-Team think Invisigal has been given too many second chances.
Despite his own anger, Flambae still defends Visi's choice. She rightfully suspected that Shroud would have intercepted the Astral Pulse. Even if her actions were reckless, Flambae feels that himself has been forgiven for worse.
Robert can only tell the team to "Wait and see." - Once her suspension is up, they can decide for good if she is owed another shot.
Robert is too numb to be angry at Visi's confession.
That she worked for Shroud to pay off a debt. That she was the one that planted the bomb that shot him out of the sky. That she'd become disgusted with herself and joined the Phoenix Program as a form of penance. And that her self-hate returned tenfold when she learned that Robert's unborn daughter was nearly a casuality.
Robert can only mumble; "At least you were trying to make up for it."
Visi senses that the hero's heart is too heavy to give her concrete judgement. So she leaves.
Shroud doesn't get the drop on Robert in a bar.
Rather he looms over his baby's crib.
Shroud presents Robert with an ultimatum; hand over the Pulse, or Robbie's gun takes out another Robertson.
Robert swears through angry tears that he never got the pulse. Shroud asks if he'd bet on it.
The room's temperature rises to a sweltering heat.
Flambae is on the balcony - staring at Shroud with a silent, fatal promise.
The mastermind leaves without a fuss.
Robert doesn't dare let Zarmina leave his side - or rather chest, as she's secured in her sling.
Royd assists him dispatching scattered heroes across a city in chaos. Blazer even leaves to assist in the field - leaving Galen the defacto commander until her return.
Robert feels a sinking dread in his gut as he looks at the Z-Team's status. He's missing some heroes.
Prism, Punch Up and Golem were able to respond almost immediately. The popstar was even in the process of putting on her costume when Robert logged in.
Visi came back despite the Team's feelings towards her, citing that they'll need all the help they can handle.
Malevola was a little late to the party, as the havoc in the street just seemed like another day in Hell.
Coupe managed to track down Sonar - the Red Ring had caged him like a wild animal, and tried to drown him in the sea. The manbat was back and fighting the second he was freed.
Phenomaman evidently hadn't considered the seriousness of the kidnapping situation until Waterboy broke them both free from their restraints. He stops the speeding train as easily as if it were a toy.
Shroud had learned to fear the firestarter from their encounter at Robert's apartment. So he had him strapped to the core of the refinery. If the heat rises even just a little too much, the core would explode and take countless lives with it.
Robert overhears a Red Ring lieutenant mocking him over the comms: "Maybe the brat is fireproof too."
Robert tells Visi to personally kick that guy's ass for him. She complies as Golem and Waterboy free Flambae from his chains.
Once back at SDN, the firehero ignores his medical check up to make sure Robert and the baby are okay. Robert laughs with sheer relief, as Chad's warm arms wrap around him. Zarmina whines and glares up at him for the gall to wake her up. Onlookers will later joke that the baby's annoyed glare matches the fire hero as if it were genetic.
The Red Ring are relentless, but they're running scared.
The tide seems to have shifted in the heroes' favor.
Robert had left Zarmina in cot by Chase's side - Beef standing guard as if he was a big bad Rottweiler. The basement medical ward was built like a bomb shelter - one of the safest rooms in the building sans the panic room. Robert thought it would be the safest place for his little family.
Chase had awoken to only see an empty cot and a panicking Beef at his side. He accepted Blazer's amulet without hesistation.
On the ruined rooftop, Shroud holds Zarmina in one arm as if he'd done it a thousand times. The exchange is simple: the Pulse for Her.
(Some of the Red Ring mumble with uncertainty at the sight, lowering their guard.)
Robert accepts the trade without question... adding in the unlabled Proto Pulse as a bonus.
Shroud's need to be right is his downfall.
Visi and Flambae's protectiveness is Robert's salvation.
The moment the Red Ring began to fall to the Proto Pulse's imperfect design - the firehero flew to lift Robert and Zarmina into his arms.
A gunshot rings out. A bullet tears through an invisible shoulder and lodges itself into the meat of Flambae's bicep, posed to shield Robert and the baby, before melting away into nothing.
The Z-Team chant that Invisigal is "Not a Bitch!" as she's wheeled out by paramedics, Blazer Mandy holding her hand all the while.
The same paramedics fuss over Flambae's untreated injuries - the proud hero protesting whole time.
Flambae: "The bullet melted! See? Totally okay!"
Robert makes sure to see him off.
But not before being half-jokingly asked for a kiss to make it better. Robert quickly pulls Chad into a feverish, relieved embrace.
The Z-Team whistle and holler as Robert and Chad hold their middle fingers up to them.
Zarmina makes an annoyed grunt. Her eyes have already begun turning from baby blue to a bright amber-gold. Her eyes will soon match her second father perfectly.
Chase bawks at the sight of his little brother kissing the ex-villain.
Chase, holding Beef: "Seriously, Robert!? The flaming asshole!?"
Robert: "I like men who are good with kids, and would take a bullet for me."
The Z-Team immediately demand to know if the two had hooked up before. Both give a non-answer.
Zarmina sneezes a plume of blue fire in response.
