DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTER IN STATIC SHOCK. I WISH I DID, 'CAUSE THEN NO ONE WOULD SEE RICHIE AND VIRGIL EVER, EVER, AGAIN.

Summary: After her parents were killed in the first Big Bang, 16 year-old Lyla Moore has, figuratively, vanished off the face of the Earth… then again, to her peers at school she never existed. Then, after the second Big Bang, she inhales some of the gas as it blows in front of her and when she wakes up the next morning, she can hear the voices of animals and shape-shift (like Mystique, but can only shape-shift into animals.) Her powers eventually cause her to collapse and because she doesn't want it to happen again, she seeks out Dakota's two heroes, Static Shock and Gear, for help. Read and follow along as she trains to control her powers, helps the dynamic duo out occasionally and eventually ends up falling for Dakota's number one hero. Story is rated M for Mature content, is Virgil/StaticxOC and contains romance, comedy, adventure, horror and tragedy.

'animal voices'

'Lyla speaking to animals'

'thinking'


Time Of Dying

Chapter Two: Motionless in pain

~STORY START~

~LYLA'S P.O.V. ~

I knew that they were talking about me, even though I couldn't hear them; I just knew by the glances that I knew they were casting at me every now and then. However, I chose to ignore the looks and instead concentrating on what seemed to be voices in my head; maybe that purple gas had caused me to go insane.

Don't touch my nut!

God, I'm so hungry! When is that human going to feed me?

SQUIRREL! (1)

Okay, I'll admit it, that last one was funny, but come on! Enough was fucking enough; when would they end?

"Hey, school's going to start in half an hour; we'll finish this later." I heard Virgil say as other students walked towards the school, chattering, and I groaned softly before raising my head.

I caught Virgil watching me over Daisy's head; I ignored it. I stood up, grabbed my notebook, crammed it into my book bag and pulled out the bottle of water and aspirin. Unscrewing the cap, I popped two pills into my mouth, screwed the cap back on and then swallowed it with some water; I grimaced and then crammed both bottles back into my bag. After zipping it up, I walked towards the school steps, walked up them and entered the school without even giving Virgil and his friends a glance; why should I waste either of our precious time? I walked over to my locker and stopped; someone was being funny.

Written on my locker door was a single word in bold print:

FREAK

Growling softly, I walked over and opened it, pulled out my textbooks and crammed them into my bag just as a pair of footsteps paused behind me.

"Oh man…" It was Virgil and his friend Richie.

"Hey, you need any help?" Virgil asked and I shook my head as I slammed the door shut; just another peachy day in the mundane existence of Lyla Moore.

"No, I'm fine; I'll clean it off later." I said shortly after giving my combination lock a spin and headed for my math class, a class that I was failing horribly.

Sitting down in my seat, I sighed and massaged the bridge of my nose; I wasn't trying to be rude to Virgil, but the locker incident had pissed me off and to top it all off I still had a damned headache. Setting my hand down on the desk, I turned my head and stared out the window, watching the birds fly around Dakota High.

Hey, wait up guys! I can't fly as fast as you!

I shook my head and right about that time kids started to file in, followed by the math teacher, Miss Grissom. Around 8:30, Virgil and Richie filed in, being their usual clown selves, and the bell rang right after they walked into the classroom.

"Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Foley, please take your seats. Miss Moore, so glad that you could join us today." Miss Grissom droned out and I gave her an odd look. "You've been missing for three days; where have you been?" Any warmth in my face left; I was out for three days?

"Uh, sorry Miss Grissom; someone thought it would be funny to poison my food when I wasn't looking." I lied, staring at her, and everyone looked at me; I ignored them and kept my gaze on Miss Grissom, who pursed her lips.

"Well, don't let it happen again. I was going to send a student to your house of residence, but no one seems to know where you live at the moment; so, your work is up here on the desk." She said and I quickly stood up; walking forward, I ignored al the looks that I got and picked it up.

"Thank you." I said quietly, keeping my eyes glued to the papers, I turned around and headed back for my seat.

WATCH OUT!

I jerked my head up in time to see that someone had placed a foot in the middle of the walkway to trip me; it was the star of the football team, William Johnson. Giving him a cold glare, I stepped over his foot and sat back down; all around me I could hear the whispers. Ignoring them, I lowered my head and concentrated on my work as Miss Grissom began class. I gave up trying to do my make-up work and started taking notes as she put them on the board.

About halfway through class, my bones started to feel a little… weird. Itchy, almost, as if something was occurring deep within them. They also hurt, but I ignored it; I needed this class in order to graduate in two years. When the bell finally rang, I grabbed my text books as everyone else filed out the class; I was right behind them and had just stepped out into the hall when a foot, hidden, shot out and tripped me. I stumbled forward and banged my head against the lockers, loudly and painfully, just as someone's foot crashed against my right side; I gave a gasp of pain as some blood came up.

"Hey, freak. Been a while since anyone's seen you." It was Johnson and his group. I tried to look at them, but my head wouldn't cooperate; the sensation in my bones made it feel like my bones were moving around and it hurt like hell; I couldn't move and I started to grow angry. "Come on freak, get up."

"Johnson!" A male voice rang out; while the group's attention was diverted, I managed to get my anger under control but still couldn't move much; my bones were still hurting. "Leave her alone; she didn't do anything to you, man!" It was Virgil and Johnson sneered as Frieda and Daisy ran over to me.

"Are you okay?" Daisy asked; I flinched and moved away as she placed a hand on my shoulder, earning a concerned frown from both girls.

"I'll be fine." I said as I managed to sit up and Johnson sneered down at me.

"Where are your police parents now freak? Oh, that's right, you don't have any parents; the Big Bang killed them!" He announced and every kid in the hallway stopped when they heard that; their eyes landed on me. I mean, after all, no one knew about it; it'd been kept quiet from everyone, except me; I still don't know how they died.

Anger humming through my body, I ignored it and stood up, despite the feeling of my bones grinding against each other.

"You know what, Johnson? My parents may be dead, but at least I know that mine gave a damn about me. Can't say the same about you, can we?" I asked quietly and just about everyone in the hall gasped as his face filled with rage.

"Break it up, break it up. Mr. Johnson, get to class. Miss Moore, are you okay?" It was my art teacher Mrs. Smithson and I nodded.

"I'm fine. Thanks." I said the last comment directed at Daisy and her friends before walking away, heading for history class.

~FF- LUNCH~

It was now lunch and as always I didn't eat; wasn't hungry and besides, I eat after work. I was merely leaning against a tree, doodling, when I heard someone shout my name; looking up I saw Daisy, Frieda, Richie and Virgil waving to me. Lifting an eyebrow, I hesitantly raised an arm in greeting and then went back to drawing. I was trying to ignore all the voices in my head but it wasn't working; I finally placed my pencil down, leaned my head against the tree and closed my eyes.

We need more nuts!

Come on down here, birdy; become my lunch.

Master, may we go for a walk now? Please?

Dog-breath, I swear, the next time I catch you eating my crap-

'SILENCE!'I had had enough and roared that mentally.'I'm trying to do my classwork and all this talking is driving me insane! Now will you please quiet down for a little bit?'

Everything was quiet in my head; guess I pissed the voices off or something.

Sorry, mistress. I sighed and closed my eyes; finally, everything was quiet.

"Hey, are you okay?" I jerked and snapped my eyes open; Daisy had walked over while I was yelling at the voices in my head and I looked at her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" I asked warily, and she smiled.

"Well, for starter's you're not eating and for a little bit you stopped moving." She said and I inclined my head.

"Sorry; I tend to do that. As for eating… I'm not hungry." I said and she raised an eyebrow.

"Not hungry? Girl, we haven't seen you eat in weeks." She scolded; I gave her a cool look. I shoved my notebook into my bookbag and zipped it up. I stood up and started to walk away, pausing briefly to do something.

"Yeah, well… sorry I can't perfect like you guys." I said and then walked away; I needed to talk to the janitor about borrowing some stuff to get the spray paint off my locker. After locating the janitor, I explained what happened and, reluctantly, he handed over a bottle and a rag. Walking over to my locker, I set my bag down on the ground, sprayed cleaner over the word, and began scrubbing.

I had just finished up when the bell rang, signaling that lunch was over and it was now time to get back to class. Sighing, I opened the locker back up, pulled my bag out and then closed it, rag and bottle of cleaner in hand. Walking away, I quickly located the janitor, gave him the cleaner and rag back with a thank you and hurried to science class.

~FF-END OF SCHOOL~

When the final bell rang, I sighed and packed up my bag; the weekend has just started and I was going to start it off by working at the store. After putting what work I didn't have to do in my locker, I closed it, adjusted my sweater and headed for work while most everyone else goofed off and just acted like normal teenagers. Throwing my bag over my right shoulder, I headed off down the sidewalk, ignoring the way everyone around me acted; they acted as if school was over for the summer! Well… that wouldn't be a bad thing; at least it would be warm. Shivering, I pulled my hood up over my head to get some warmth flowing and lengthened my stride so that I could get to the store and out of the cold faster.

After what felt like an eternity, I entered the store and sighed as the warm air enveloped me.

"Moore, you're early!" I looked up to see my boss Mr. Altimer, a tall man with short blonde hair and hazel eyes, staring at me and I nodded.

"I hurried so that I could get out of the cold; it's a little chilly out there." I said and then headed for the back.

Once I was back there, I changed into my uniform, grabbed the broom and dustpan and went to work.

~FF-END OF WORK~

Around 12:30, I was finally done; work had been hell. I'd just finished sweeping when it started to storm really bad outside and people walked in, tracking mud all over the place; I had to mop every inch of the store. Then, when I was done with that, I went through and organized all the books, movies and magazines, the entire time my head pounding and my bones burning every other hour or so. Sighing as I changed into my street clothes, I hung up my uniform and checked my wallet to make sure that I had some money; it was now time to buy some food for the people at the old run-down building or, as I like to call it, the ORDB.

Heading for the Burger Fool (2), I walked in and approached the counter; the cashier looked up and when she saw me, she smiled.

"Shall I get you the usual Miss Moore?" She asked and I nodded.

"Please." I said, pulling out about 20 dollars, and set it down on the counter. She took from me and typed in my order right before she rang it up and placed the money in the draw.

I moved over to the left so that the couple of people behind me could order their food while I waited for mine. After about 20-30 minutes, my order-in about three, maybe four, bags- was carried over to the counter and I took the bags. After nodding my thanks, I walked out of the fast-food place, ignoring all the looks I got, and headed for the ORDB. While walking, I heard electricity buzzing and looked up; flying over head were a pair of people, boys around my age; one African-American, the other Caucasian.

I knew who they were, of course; I mean, who didn't know who Static Shock and his sidekick/friend Gear were?

I stopped and hid in the shadows while they flew by. When they were out of sight, I stepped out into the light and continued on my way; I'd always hid from any bang babies, ever since the Big Bang. Adjusting my grip on the bags, I set off at a brisk walk when Amy stepped into sight. Stopping a few feet in front of her, I watched as her eyes light up at the sight of food; it's been a few days since she probably ate last.

"Here; I brought the food. There's enough for everyone." I said and she took the bags with a nod.

"Okay. You know, you don't need to do this. Don't you have some cousins, an aunt and uncle somewhere in the city?" I flinched and gave Amy a dirty look; I had told her of my remaining family and that there was no way that I would ever go live with them.

I mean, think about it. What would people at school say if they found out that I was related to one of the dangerous bang babies in Dakota? That's right, people! My cousin is none other than Francis Stone, a.k.a. F-Stop, a.k.a. Hotstreak. If me being related to Hotstreak ever became public knowledge… life as I know it would never be the same. People already hated me because of my looks; the last thing I needed was to be feared because I just happened to be related to someone who went from being a bully to a bang baby.

"Amy… I can't live with them; Francis is a bang baby, as is Tammy, and besides… I don't trust Uncle Jay or Aunt Diana; I've heard things about them and I so do not want to find out if they're true or not. Anyway, I haven't seen either of my cousins and I'm comfortable with my situation right now." I said, the last part about my accommodations being a total lie, but she bought and slowly nodded. "Anyhoo, you need to get that food to the others; I'll be by in a little bit to get my stuff." I said and she gave me another nod before taking off towards the ORDB.

Sighing in relief that everybody was fed, I headed off towards a different part of the neighborhood when, out of the blue, my bones erupted into movement and it felt like I was literally on fire. Gasping, I stumbled into an abandoned apartment building that was, thankfully, devoid of life. Losing my balance, I fell to the cold floor, and began to writhe in pain a few inches away from the moonlight shining through one of the broken windows.

My vision faded, my stomach plummeted, my ears roared and my heart rate took off; it felt like my heart was going to explode right out of my chest. The entire time my bones burned and moved and I felt like I was covered in bugs; my skin was crawling. The pain was unbearable, and eventually I was unable to even crawl or make a move; the pain had finally paralyzed me.

'Am I… dying?' was the last thing I thought before finally succumbing and became lost in the black abyss of pain.


(1) If you can guess what movie this is from, then Kudos and a free cyber cookie!

(2) I'm not positive if this is the name of the burger place that Virgil works at when Rubberband Man first comes onto the scene, so if it's something else please PM me and let me know!