Here is the third part of the story :) Prepare yourself to get surprised at the very least, please, then you wouldn´t tell me I didn´t warn you ;) And for anyone who would like to review, please sign in first. Because otherwise, I have to review my own story to reply to you, and I don´t quite like it. Thank you =)
Disclaimer: I don´t own A.T.O.M., it belongs to Sip animation & Jetix.
...
It seemed to take Shark ages to get out of his room at last. He wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe they had changed their minds and were pondering how best they could explain that they no longer wanted to be under the same roof with the son of someone like Paine.
Everybody's heads turned to him at the same time. He felt himself get hotter by the second as they registered his presence.
Then Axel got up.
'Hey, why don't you have a seat?'
Shark felt a little surprised - and relieved - to find out that his voice was light and easy. He sat down. They all stood in silence for a while.
'So... we learnt about that... from your mother,' Axel began. 'And we... really wanted you to know that it doesn't mean anything for us. For me.' He added in a softer tone, guessing easily what had been bothering him.
'Shark, we have lived together with you for over a year. We have fought together, side by side.' King continued.
'Do you seriously believe that just because of this, we would shun you?'Hawk asked, raising an eyebrow.
'Whatever it is, we will face it together - like we always did. Like a team.' Axel said firmly. 'You don't have to be alone.'
That last word caught Shark's attention: alone. In the four people there, Axel was probably the one who could understand what he was going through better. Not only because he also grew up without a father.
But he had to go through all these - all alone.
He had friends - a whole bunch of them. But they knew that he had never been as comfortable as he was with them with other people while dealing with his father's loss.
He wasn't just trying to make him feel better. He was emphatizing.
Seeing that they were waiting for him to say something, Shark finally spoke.
'Dudes - it's not that... it's just... But thanks.' He said sincerely, but his tone a little dull. 'It's just hard to acknowledge.'
'Yeah, it must be. But then, that's why we're here.'
'Now, one more thing,' Axel began again, and Shark looked back at him. 'Your mother told us she doesn't want you to continue chasing P... your father down.'
'Oh. Yeah, that one. And go by Paine, will you?'
He nodded. 'Well, I personally think she is right. You should be distressed now, or, at the very least, distraught. Maybe you could take it easy for a while. You know, not rushing into anything.'
'I'm not distressed - or distraught, whatever,' the blond said, surprised. 'I don't have to take time off. I'm good to go.'
'Okay, whatever suits you. Just don't feel yourself pressurized.'
...
The next day. In front of Lee Industries.
Shark's motorcycle screeched to a stop. Shark got off, took his helmet and walked in.
...
Garrett was facing Shark in a room, a slight frown on his face.
´I don´t know Shark, I don´t like it!`
´Let me know when you have a better idea.`
´You can help the others...`
Shark raised an eyebrow.
´You forget the mother factor, dude.`
Garrett sighed, not knowing what to say.
´But as I said yesterday, I will need your help.`
´I will, but... you are just acting careless.`
The blond smiled. ´I´m the most laidback of the group, remember?`
´Being laidback is one thing, but this is...`
Garrett shook his head, unbelievable. They didn´t say anything for a moment. Then Garrett looked up back at him.
´Look - I don´t know what happened with Li, but... If this has anything to do with it...`
He stiffened.
´I don´t know what you re talking about.`
´Shark - really - don´t use her as an excuse to get yourself killed!`
Shark had lost his patience.
´Dude, don´t psyche me! You said yourself you don´t know what happened! This has nothing to do with her!`
Garrett looked a bit taken aback.
´O - kay, if you say so. You´re really getting used to it, by the way.`
´What?`
´"Don´t psyche me"? What kind of talk is that?`
Shark opened his mouth to say something, then swallowed it. He sighed. ´Garrett - you think too much. I will be fine.`
´Hope so.`
Shark half smiled at the young genius as he turned and strode out of the chamber. Garrett watched him with some kind of anxiety.
...
In the Acquatics.
The team were all in the sitting room as Shark came in.
´Hey - where have you been?` Hawk asked.
´Just doing stuff.` he responded.
Lioness chanced a hasty glance at the surfer as the latter went into his room. Then she got up and followed him.
´Shark, can I...`
Shark stopped just for a moment at the door, his back to her.
´Li, I´m sorry, later.`
Without another word, he closed the door behind him. Lioness looked hurt.
´What´s the deal with you guys?` demanded Axel.
Lioness looked at the ground.
´It´s nothing.`
She looked back up at the closed door, her eyes a bit teary.
´Nothing at all.`
...
A small, dark and shadowy place which looked like it was underground.
A tall, black and red haired girl walked in, one hand on her hip, and kind of a bored expression on her face.
´I am bored.`
She sighed and closed her eyes.
´This place is no fun at all.`
´Quit complaining, Samantha.`
Paine walked out from the shadows, with a big gun on his back, and a very nasty expression on his face. ´We´re going out of here in a moment.`
Magnus smirked.
´I thought you would have a plan.`
...
In the Acquatics.
An alarm beeped on King's computer. The four quickly gathered in front of it.
´Paine! I didn´t think he would show himself this quickly.` King exclaimed.
´Naturally,` muttered Axel, hatred could be clearly heard in his voice. ´He does what he loves to do. Team, gear it up!`
They were on their way to their rooms when Shark´s door finally opened. They stopped dead on their tracks.
´Shark...` said Lioness in a low voice.
The surfer had kind of an indifferent expression on his face as he rubbed his neck. ´It's okay. I heard it.`
Axel looked a bit uncomfortable as he spoke. ´Look - Shark - if you don t want to come, we ll understand...`
´Dude, you don´t have to act like I´m sick or something. It´s okay. You guys go ahead. I´ll catch up with you later.`
They said nothing more as they went to their rooms to get prepared.
...
A few minutes later. In a street a few blocks up from a government building.
The team - except for Shark - was in the Slamma, with Axel as the driver. Suddenly, the car began to spin as he started losing control.
´Huh - what´s happening?` exclaimed Hawk, panicking.
At last, they came to a stop by hitting an electric post. Axel hissed in furiosity as he got out of the car. ´Magnus! She must be preventing the cops from coming here!`
They began to run towards the building.
´Or both them - and us!` said Lioness.
King looked at Axel. ´Do you think Shark will show up?`
Axel looked at him for a brief second, but his face fell a little when he turned to face the front again...
...
In the government building.
The guards and a couple of the workers were lying face down, out cold. Paine stood on top of yet another.
´Now, we can settle this peacefully... But why bother?`
His smirk even widened as he lowered his gun to the terrified man´s face...
Lioness came flying at him, sending a high kick to his chest. Paine staggered backward, hissing, as Lioness took her place between her teammates.
´Not so fast, Paine.` hissed Axel.
They stood glaring at each other...
...
The back streets.
Shark stopped his motorcycle and looked at the building, his expression hard to read...
...
The magnetic field was still too strong for Axel to use his jo - lan. Paine kicked him and he flew into the wall. Lioness stood up in front of him.
´See how you like this!`
They began fighting...
By that time, Hawk and King were checking on the people. Some of them seemed to be hurt badly. King hastily glanced up at Hawk, who was checking on another guy.
´Hawk - call the hospital - this looks serious!`
Hawk nodded curtly and got out his cell phone.
Lioness had managed to knock Paine´s gun out of his hand, but a powerful kick sent her, too, flying to the wall, right next to Axel.
She looked up at Paine, who was rubbing his wrist. Her eyes widened as Paine reached for the gun again.
But someone else grabbed it before he can.
Lioness looked a bit surprised, but relieved as well. She smiled. ´Shark!`
Shark straightened up, gun in hand, eyes closed, not saying anything.
What happened next, however, was not what they had expected.
´Don´t move an inch.`
All of them; Axel, who was coming to, Lioness, who looked shocked and hurt despite herself, King, who was still treating to the injured guy, and Hawk, who still hadn´t ended up his call; gaped at Shark.
´Hello? Excuse me? Where is your location? Hello?`
Shark just looked back at them steadily, his ocean blue eyes hard and glaring as he held the gun not to the man who ruined their life, but to his own friends...