The streets of Jump City, California.
Part I: The Rendezvous.
[] [] []
Carter stood on top of the roof of the speeding van. The sleeves of his orange jumpsuit flapped, and waved in the wind. Carter kept hold of the M4 in his hands, eyes down the iron sights.
Eddie swerved to the left, causing Carter to lose footing, "Gah!" he yelled, "Eddie, keep the van straight!"
"Sorry boss!" Eddie yelled. The cop cars was right on their tailgate, "It's gonna be tight!" he yelled as Eddie swerved the van to make the exit.
The roads were nearly bare.
Carter fired three rounds the bullets exploded the tire of the cop car. "Fuck yeah!" he yelled, sliding into the window of the tightly packed van.
"Hey watch it!" Collin yelled, as Carter tried to sit down.
"You're touching my boobs!" Kat yelled, as Carter tried to sit down.
Rolland and Hawk watched as Carter tried to squeeze into the seat. "Watch the hair man!" Joey yelled, as Carter finally seated himself in the back, in between Kat and Yilvoxe.
The nine sat squeezed into that van. Eddie, and Luis up front. Behind them was Rolland, Hawk, and Collin. Next was Yilvoxe, Kat, and Joey, and Carter in top.
"Which exit do I take to get to Central?" Eddie asked, "It's Sower, right?" he asked, getting ready to turn.
"Don't take Sower!" Kat yelled, "It's Park!"
"No, it's not." Rolland shook his head, "It's Sower, I used to walk Sower every day to get to school." he laughed.
"Well, then you'd know, that it's not Sower, it is in fact Park! I took park to kill a target once." Kat explained, causing Eddie to not know.
"Well, you must have been late!" Rolland yelled, "Because Sower is much quicker!" he said, staring at Kat, "Take Sower."
"Park."
"Sower!"
"Park!"
"Are we gonna do this right now?" Carter sighed, "You really wanna do this as cops and Failsafe is on our ass?" Carter yelled.
The van was quiet, "And you're both wrong!" Carter said, "It's Saxon." he said, and Eddie quickly flipped on his right blinker, taking the exit.
Boy they'd have much to discuss.
Safe house.
[] [] []
Carter's team all piled out of the van, and quickly moved inside the garage. Closing the door as they entered.
Carter walked inside, "Well," he said, "I must say I'm impressed." and he was, not many people could pull off a mission involving rescuing a , 'villain' from prison. Let alone a team made up of Heroes.
"Well, we couldn't just leave you there boss." Hawk said, removing plates of his armor. "Rolland was the one who devised it."
Carter turned to face Rolland, "This true, Rolland?" he asked him. Rolland stared at him, removing his mask, and staring at Carter.
"Yeah." Rolland laughed, "It was nothing. I mean, like Hawk said..." Rolland pointed, "We couldn't just leave you."
Carter nodded, and embraced Rolland, a man's hug, "Thank you." he said, "Because in reality...you could have left me."
"I can't quit you." Eddie chuckled. The quote caused Carter to scowl at him.
"This is strictly heterosexual." Carter said, "I was thanking the man for saving me from a life of ass fucking, and prison rape."
Rolland nodded, "Definitely did that." he laughed, "I've been to prison...nasty, nasty place." he shivered in disgust.
Kat, Collin, Hawk, Rolland, and Carter were getting ready to discuss things. Lazy Luis, that's what the team had been calling him, because all he did was sleep. Sat in the corner, playing with his Yo-yo.
Joey quickly noticed Yilvoxe watering her plants. Joey breathed in his hand, making sure he didn't have bad breathe, and then spiked the tips of his hair, "Time to game it up."
Yilvoxe poured water in her flowers, but as much as she planted and watered, they didn't seem to be growing. But she didn't know why.
"Hey..." Joey said, going to place his left hand on the counter, but slipped from the water. His hand slid forward, and his chin came crashing down on the counter.
Yilvoxe, put both hands over her mouth, "Oh my god." she laughed, "Are you okay?" she asked, helping him up.
"Yeah..." Joey said, rubbing his jaw, "I meant to do that..." he stood up quickly, and coughed to clear his throat, "So uh...what are you working on over here?" he asked looking at the flowers.
"Just some plants." Yilvoxe smiled at him. "But they're not growing..." she sighed, "I dunno what's wrong with them..."
Joey looked them over, and immediately ignited his left hand, "Well...they need sun." he said, shining his rays on the flower.
Yilvoxe, and Joey watched as the flower slowly perked up, "Look!" she gasped, "They're growing!" she smiled. "You like plants too?" she asked Joey.
Joey looked back at Yilvoxe, "Yeah...actually." he smiled. It was odd, Joey knew how to flirt, it was easy. But this time...he was genuinely talking with someone. About something they both liked. "My father...he taught me about plants." Joey explained.
"I find them fascinating." Yilvoxe said, staring at her plants, "They need care, just like a person needs care. You neglect them, and they die."
Joey nodded, "They can really speak to you." he mused. "I'm Joey...he introduced." now, don't get this wrong. All the teammates knew each other...but Joey was introducing Yilvoxe to himself...not to the hero.
"Yilvoxe." she chuckled, "Care to help me with my other plants?" the young white haired girl asked him.
"I'd love to."
Carter, who no longer was wearing a shirt, stood in front of the older teammates, taking of plans, "Okay, so what do we know?" Carter asked. He was pulling on the bullet stuck in his shoulder with a pair of pliers.
"We know a lot." Hawk said, "We know that Dr. Williams wants to get in contact with Luis, or Spectacular." he explained, "She's found some way to cure you, and to kill you."
Eddie sharpened his throwing knives, "Yeah, but we still don't know where she is..." he explained, "We can know all the plans, but if we don't know where the plans will take place, were shooting ourselves in the foot."
Collin, and Kat both nodded, they were so much alike, but the biggest rivals. "You know, I think we should set up a meeting with Dr. Williams." Kat said, "Luis, and her, then Carter, you take her out."
"What like the Swanson job?" Carter asked, "Gah!" he yelled in pain as he pulled the bullet out of his shoulder, the skin closing up.
"Yeah, exactly like the Swanson job." Kat snapped her fingers. Kat and Carter shared a very, very, very deep connection when it came to work. He had trained her well.
"That wouldn't work." Collin said, her hand under her chin. She wasn't trying to be a downer. But Kat always took it that way.
"Oh here we go again, Ms. Pessimistic!" Kat weaved her hands in the air, "Seriously if I had a bullet for every idea you shot down, I could kill a whole army."
Collin rolled her eyes, "I doubt your that good a shot." Collin insulted.
"Care to find out, doubting Thomas?" Kat asked, stepping up to Collin.
Rolland, who was right in the middle of them looked at their faces, "You know, whoa...look at the time, I'm gonna go take a shower..." he said, quickly leaving to the bathroom.
Carter sat down, and grabbed a cigarette from the table. Hawk stretched his hand out to him, and Carter handed him one.
"Look, everybody dismissed." Carter waved his hands, "Kat, Collin, you two stay away from each other." he ordered.
Kat growled at Collin, who snorted. The two went their separate ways, Kat walking over to her room. And Collin over to where Eddie was.
"What do you think?" Carter asked Hawk. Hawk blew a ring of smoke from his mouth, and shook his head.
"I dunno." he said, "Were fucked either way." he said. Hawk stood silent, before scooting close to Carter, and sitting in front of him, "Listen..." he said, his voice low, "Now, I know you're gonna hate this idea..." he said, "But were out of rope." he chuckled, "So just hear me out..."
Carter leaned forward, taking a drag from his cigarette, he let the smoke leave his mouth, as he listened, "Tell me..."
Eddie chucked a throwing knife at the target, it landed dead center. "Bullseye!" he chuckled, clapping to himself.
"That was a really good shot." Collin said, standing off to the side.
"It's all in the wrists." Eddie chuckled.
"Think you could teach me?" Collin asked, moving forward. She noticed Eddie swallow hard. "Easy Ed, I'm not gonna hurt you."
"I'm not afraid of being hurt by women." Eddie said, scooting away slightly, "I'm afraid of they'll be hurt if they're around me." Eddie explained.
Collin looked at him with hurt eyes, "I can take care of myself..." Collin said. "Believe me...you're not the only one with demons."
"I'm well aware of that." Eddie said, "Have you talked with Carter?" he chuckled, a more dark and sympathetic chuckle.
"I've done more then just...talk with Carter..." Collin said, blushing slightly. She wasn't embarrassed of it. But she wasn't proud of it either.
"I heard about that..." Eddie chuckled, as he removed his knife from the target, "You...did something for Carter so he wouldn't kill you."
Collin pulled her hair playfully, "Yes!" she groaned, covering her eyes, "But I'm not a slut. I swear!" she waved her hands.
"Oh no I believe you." Eddie said, walking back to where he was standing to throw his knives again, "But I'm the last person who would be seeking a relationship."
Collin stood there in silence, "Maybe, I'm just looking for a friend." Collin said. Her thumbs twiddling in front of her.
Eddie's aim was thrown off, as his knife missed the target by a good seven inches. He had never been asked by a girl, to be, 'friends.' he had never been approached by a girl. Whenever he came in contact with a girl, they seemed to die.
"I don't know what to talk about." Collin said, "So...if you're still scared. You know about women...well I understand." she shrugged.
Eddie cleared his throat, it was now or never, "Why don't you start with you?" he asked, closing his eyes as he spoke.
Collin smiled, and turned back around, "Then you get to tell me about you." she said, "Deal?" she asked, reaching out her hand.
Eddie looked at her hand, and then back at her face. His hand shook, and his heart was racing. It was like a kid walking into the garage when it was bedtime, without any source of light.
"Deal." he said, his hand clasped in hers.
"No." Carter said, standing up, "You're out of your fucking mind." Carter said, "I mean, I thought I was crazy."
"YOU ARE!" Kat yelled from her room. She casually laid on her bed, in her Pj's. She flipped through her magazine. Just wanting to be alone.
"Come on." Hawk said, "The Titans could help...you got to admit." Hawk said, "They have access to meetings with the mayor, and the mayor has access to the governor, who has access to the President, who has access to Williams."
Carter shook his head, "Hawk..." he said, "No." Carter flicked the butt of his cigarette aside, "Come back and talk to me when you have a better idea."
Hawk sighed, "Fine." he said, leaving Carter in his misery. Hawk walked over to where the rooms would be. And ran into Kat.
"Oh sorry." he said, Hawk was a gentlemen after all. "Kat?" he said, noticing she was staring at him weirdly.
"You owe me a story sir." Kat said, her arms folded across her chest, "About you and Carter, and how you guys did a mission together."
"Oh that's right!" Hawk chuckled, "Well, would you like to hear it still?" he asked Kat, who nodded.
"Step into my office." she waved, as Kat stepped into her room.
The rush of hot water was exactly what Rolland needed. It's not that he was feeling down. He was just feeling, confused. He had never been on a team before. Never had to care about anybody but himself. But now...now it was different. Rolland rinsed his hair, as he stepped out of the shower, and quickly dried himself off.
"What's in it for you?" Rolland said to himself as he stared in the mirror. He had always done things for him. Look out for number one. Look out for himself and that was it.
Rolland dressed in his casual clothes, his white t-shirt, and his black pants. Rolland grabbed a small gem from his bag. This gem had a story. It was the first thing he stole...and it would be the last thing he'd trade. It was a pure diamond. Beautiful, and rare. He cherished this diamond. Just like he cherished himself. He wasn't selfish, he was just...cautious. Getting involved with others well, that meant sacrifice. And Rolland hated sacrifice.
Luis who had been sitting in the corner, finally stood up and stretched. He thought a lot about himself. About how quickly he left the Hero way, and joined Carter, how easily he now defended the man. Was that bad? Did that make him a hypocrite? Because he started out as a good guy, but now he was using his powers for revenge? It really ate at the young man. Who was he? And who was Carter? Luis decided he needed to know more about him.
"Carter?" he yelled as Carter was fixing one of his guns.
"What's up Luis?" Carter asked, putting down his pistol, and staring at Luis, giving him his undivided attention.
"I was just wondering..." Luis scratched his neck. His eyes wandered to Carter's tattoo's, he had so many. The words on his collar bones, the aces on his right arm, the skull on his left. The cross on his fingers. The Latin words scattered everywhere. "Would it be alright if I went out?"
"Where you going?" Carter asked, scratching his nose. Carter was intimidating. But the tattoo's added a whole new spin.
"I just thought I could use some air." Luis said, "This...killing and stuff, I'm new to it you know?" Luis said.
Carter nodded, "I feel you." he said, "Yeah go on. Let's see, it's..." Carter checked his watch, "Around three. Just be back before nine." Carter said, "Don't want Failsafe or Williams getting a hold of you." Carter chuckled, scratching his head.
Luis laughed, and noticed the scars on Carter's wrists, they were deep, and barely visible. Attempted suicide?
"What happened to your-"
"Didn't you say you were going..." Carter cut him off, "Luis?" he said, abrupt. Luis nodded, and backed away.
"I'll be back before nine." Luis said.
"Call one of us if things go awry." Carter said, focusing on the broken pistol before him.
"Will do!" Luis said, walking off.
Rolland walked out, picking his ears, "Where's Super Special Sport going?" Rolland chuckled. As he looked at Carter.
"He needed some fresh air." Carter said, trying to fix his gun yet again. "He's new..." Carter started to say, "Well, I guess you're all new to this."
"To what?"
"This." Carter waved around the garage, "The hiding, the obscurity. The watching where you walk, to sleeping with one eye opened."
Rolland could hear a voice of guilt in Carter's words, "We signed up..." Rolland shrugged. "And I know this..." he patted Carter on the back, "I'm glad I did."
Hawk sat awkwardly in Kat's fluffy pink chair. Kat sat cross-legged with popcorn in her lap. "DO we have to?"
"I told you how me and Carter met!" Kat yelled, "So come on...fair is fair." Kat waved her hand at Hawk.
"Fine." Hawk sighed, "Well, it was weird." Hawk explained, "We had to assassinate the president." Hawk chuckled.
"Oh yeah..." Kat rolled her eyes, "That is so weird. Weren't you in the military?" Kat asked Hawk. She noticed he always wore his dog tags.
"I was." Hawk said, "Secret program." Hawk said, "Child soldiers, scientific shit like that." he explained to her.
"Kind of like Carter?" Kat asked, knowing that on Carter's rosary, were his dog tags. He never went anywhere without them.
"No..." Hawk sighed, "Carter's was much worse..."
Joey poured a cup of hot water into Yilvoxe's cup, "I dunno, Joey..." Yilvoxe said, looking at the apple cider, "Are you sure it's like fruit juice?" she asked.
"Trust me..." Joey said, placing the teapot back on the counter, "It's really good. I mean, haven't you always wanted the deliciousness of fruit juice, but on cold days?"
"Yeah..." Yilvoxe said, "But I like the cold, my powers are ice." she chuckled, "It'd be kind of awkward if I didn't like the cold. That'd be like you hating the sun."
"But I do hate the sun." Joey said, completely serious. Yilvoxe looked at him with wide eyes. She hoped she didn't offend him, that's the last thing she wanted.
"Oh Joey..." Yilvoxe covered her mouth, "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to-"
"Ha!" Joey started laughing, "I got you!" he chuckled, "I don't hate the sun, I'm just messing around." he pushed her lightly.
"Oh..." Yilvoxe laughed, "Is that...a joke?" she asked, being from an outer planet, some of the things people did on earth, she was unfamiliar with.
"Well, yeah kind of." Joey chuckled, as he handed Yilvoxe her cup, "Now here." he said, "Taste it...be careful, it's hot."
Yilvoxe took the drink in her hands, and sipped it. Yilvoxe, having observed Joey's humor, proceeded to fall on the ground.
"Oh shit." Joey said, "Yilvoxe, are you okay? Can you not have hot drinks? Do they like hurt you?" Joey asked, panicked.
Yilvoxe kept her eyes closed.
"OH GOD I KILLED HER!" Joey bit his nails.
"Ha!" Yilvoxe yelled, "I was joking." she smiled at him.
Joey calmed down, "Wow...okay." he laughed, "That was a good one." he pointed to her, "You'll be as funny as me one day."
"Maybe funnier." Yilvoxe winked at him.
"Hmmm." Joey said, "I dunno about that."
Joey and Yilvoxe sat next to each other, talking about their lives. And about how they lived. They enjoyed each others company, very very much.
"Whoa. Around an entire fucking island?" Eddie asked, his eyebrow raised, as he stared at Collin. Collin nodded.
"Yep." she said, "My dad made me do everything until it was perfect." Collin explained, "I can't say I blame him."
"What do you mean?" Eddie asked, sharpening his knives. "I mean, it's not like he has to fill a quota or something. Right?"
Collin stood up, and sighed, "I dunno." she said, "I was always trained the hardest. Harder then my brothers, harder than anybody. I was always in trouble, I was never good enough." she explained.
"Well, I can relate there." Eddie said, "I mean as hard as I tried...I couldn't save my sister, or those girls at the mansion." Eddie explained.
"Well then," Collin chuckled, "I guess we both give up on things we care about." she said, looking out the window of the garage.
"Or maybe..." Eddie said, "Maybe we just need something to be strong for." Eddie smiled, "Maybe we just need to face our fears."
Collin smiled at Eddie, "Maybe you're right."
Luis flew high above the city, his mind moving at a million paces a minute. He couldn't do it, he simply couldn't stand being in the presence of a killer. Because that's what Carter was right? He was a killer. He killed people for money, he was made to kill, designed to kill, bred to kill. That could never be justified. Ever. It couldn't...could it? Luis landed on a roof top.
"Here's, what you're gonna do, you're gonna go to the police, you're gonna tell them you know where Carter is, you're gonna turn him in." Luis said to himself, and then shook his head, "No. I can't do that." he sighed.
Luis struggled, what was a Hero to do. Luis was the good guy, by all accounts he was the one that won, he was the one that always got the girl. After all that's what a hero was, right?
(A/N) Hey guys! So creative muse hit me like a ton of brinks today! And I wrote this! I hope you all like it, recently I've realized I haven't shown any character development! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME? That's a huge thing I did in Hidden Agenda, and something I have almost ignored in Against The World, well, from now on, I shall not! Anyways, I hope you enjoy this update, part one, or the two part update. Next Update should be up soon. And it's gonna...BLOW. YOUR. MIND! Or so I hope...haha. Please review! All of you everybody! Everybody review! It's healthy you know? Okay...maybe that's false, but it makes my day! :)
Cheers,
DantesClovers
PS: I seriously love you guys, gals, and fans. This story would be nowhere without the support you give it. :)
Now come on...review, please? ;)
