Ch10: Hey. Were getting close to the end. Shadow-Rose99, CadillacJack, always nice to hear from you two. S-R99: I think it's a little too late to add in any one else's thought without it being weird and awkward, but I keep you thoughts in mind.

I continue to own nothing

xxxxxxxxxxx

"Uh…hello." Lexi said tentatively.

"QUIET!" Nero snapped causing Lexi to cringe a little and everybody else to tense up even more. He then appeared to calm down. "Don't talk just listen. I am here to demand your surrender." He smiled confidently. The others all looked at each other as if to say 'did he just say what I think he said?' Then Ace turned back and took a more confident stance and facial expression. Giant robot or not, we got to make sure this guy don't think were just a bunch of pushovers.

"I don't think we're gona do that doc." He said with a surprised and mocking tone in his voice. Nero's smile only widened.

"I was hoping you would say that." He turned away and started doing something off camera, but he continued to talk "because now I get to offer you some…incentive." As he said this last part he wheeled something covered by a white sheet into view. He grabbed the sheet but did not pull it off. He turned back to look at them and gave a smile that made all there skin crawl. Tech had a very bad feeling right now. This man was almost making him physically ill (you might say he was looking a little…green). Then with a great flourish, Nero removed the sheet, and there sat Rev, tied to a chair with his beak taped shut. "I assume you still recognize you teammate. I relies it has been a wile since you have seen him. Almost a week now isn't it." He turned to ask the muted Rev, who only rolled his eyes. He was intensely fed-up with this man's twisted sense of humor. "And I suppose he isn't looking so good either." This was true. Rev looked awful. He had dark circles around his eyes, and he was clearly shaking…almost violently. The terrible state of his plumage only made him look even more pathetic. His cloths were ripped and dirty (he had to refuse to let the doctor wash his cloths otherwise he would have seen Rev's battered and bruised body). These things were all obvious, but to the more astute observer (like Tech who was finding it hard to even blink) you could see and hear that his breathing was erratic and ragged. "Well, I assume your feeling more agreeable now so…"

"What did you DO to him!?" Tech said through clenched teeth. He was so furious that his fists were also clenched. He was also shaking with a combination of hate and fear. Rev looked like he might not last much longer in his current state.

"I tell you what, why don't you come over to my house and I'll tell you in person. You are to follow the scapegoat, which is the robot's name by the way, to a destination. Once there you will follow it to another point in the city. After that it will lead you to me. You have five minutes to comply other wise I will be forced to offer more…sever forms of incentive." He then held up a hammer and a large hunting knife. Lexi gasped and all the men's eyes widened. "I hope to see you soon Loonatics…and so dose Rev." With that the screen disappeared and the scapegoat stomped over to the smashed windows and jumped out. It floated up a few seconds later and hovered out side, waiting for them to follow. The super heroes all looked at each other.

"What should we do?" Duck asked. Every body looked at him as if he were crazy.

"We follow him of coarse." Was Ace's simple reply.

"What! Are you serious? This is obviously a trap. We can't just…"

"It doesn't matter!" Tech stated firmly. "We have to follow it to find Rev." Tech's voice mirrored his inner feelings. It was a strange combination of anger and fear that made it high and crack slightly. The others looked at him with sympathy as he starred down at the ground. Poor Tech. Lexi thought. This must be so hard for him. After all, its obvious that he had feelings for Rev. I wish we could make him feel better…but what can we say?

"Tech's right." Ace said just as firmly. "Rev's in danger and we wont be able to help him until we find him." They all nodded and went down to the hanger to get the jetpacks. Why won't anyone listen to me…ever? Duck thought morosely. I know Rev is in trouble and I am worried about him, but that's no reason to just throw caution to wind and follow some robot to god knows where. If I were leader we'd be doing things much differently…not that that's likely. He had to be realistic. A best the team didn't respect him or his opinion, and at worst they genuinely hated him. At least that was the way he saw it.

They all got on their jetpacks and flew to where the scapegoat was still hovering. It then took off in a northward route. It flew through the air completely stiff and ridged. It gained altitude so as not to hit any buildings. The Loonatics followed closely behind, or attempted to. The robot did not make it easy for them to follow. It was going in a strait line, but was traveling at an astonishing speed. They flew on for some time in a tight formation. Tech was, actually, out front instead of Ace. He was driving his jetpack to its limits. He could feel a lump forming in his throat. He chastised himself. He knew he had to be stronger that that if he wanted to save Rev.

I'm coming Rev, and I'm going to make that man pay for hurting you.

xxxxxxxxxx

Once Nero had shut down the broadcasting device he walked over to Rev. Should only take about twenty minutes or so for them to get here. Until then, there's no harm in having a little more fun with this bird. He looked down at Rev and began to talk.

"I wonder if they are going to come for you. I'm not sure if I would. After all you are pretty much useless to their team." He grabbed another chair and sat on it backwards. He stared at Rev, drinking in his shocked and angry looks. It's just too easy to get to this guy. "It's fitting, don't you think, that your only 'power' is the ability to run away faster than anyone else. I don't count your GPS power because that coyote could just build a device to do that job." Nero had been constantly saying things like this all week. His verbal attacks came to be just as vicious and painful as the physical ones. They served to steadily wear away at his self-esteem and confidence. He might have been able to deal with this better if he were not isolated from his friends. The savage beatings did not help either. The worst part was that some of Nero's positions…actually made some sense (though that might also be due to his altered frame of mind). Like this one, "I still find it funny that all your friends would be able to escape from the confines your currently find your self in if they had there powers. You, however, would be if the exact same situation even if you had your powers." This was true…cruel and insensitive, but true. God I wish he would just shut up. But maybe…he's right. Maybe I am useless. He tried to keep these thoughts out of his mind, but it was getting harder and harder to do this. Well at least this whole thing is almost over. I just hope we all survive it.

xxxxxxxxx

The Loonatics and the scapegoat landed out side the warehouse after twenty-five minutes of flying.

"Well let's go." Tech said as he moved toward the door.

"Maybe we should try to find another way in or…" Despite Duck's suggestion everyone followed Tech's lead and went over to the door. "Oh sure. Don't listen to me again. Stupid Duck never knows what he is talking about. He should just be quiet and follow orders." He grumbled to himself as he jogged to catch up.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Well sounds like the rest of my guests have arrived." Rev perked up at hearing this. He was excited to see his friends despite the current circumstances. Nero saw this and his mood darkened and he took a much more somber tone. "Don't get to worked up. None of you will be around for much longer. Its time for the show to start." Then the door opened and in walked the Loonatics led by Tech, who almost ran to Rev the moment he saw him, but was held back when he saw Nero standing next to Rev (who was still tied down). "Welcome Loonatics. It's nice to see you all. Now I would like to ask you all to go stand over there on that 'x'." He pointed over to an x painted on the floor. When he saw that nobody moved he swiftly pulled a gun out of his coat and pressed it against Rev's head. "Pleas." He added with a sinister grin. They all moved over to toward the x, all except Tech. He stood his ground defiantly, though he did flinch when he saw the gun being put to Rev's head.

"You know I could easily get that away form you." He said with a harsh edge in his voice. Nero raised an eyebrow and looked at Tech with growing amusement.

"You could…but are you confident that you will be fast enough." He said this with chilling coolness as he cocked the gun. A tense moment passed. Nobody moved. Ace and the others stood there waiting for someone to make a move, not daring to move themselves. Tech stood there looking directly into Nero's eyes. He saw that he was not bluffing. He would kill Rev then and there…and probably enjoy it. Tech looked at Rev's desperate glassy green eyes and his heart almost broke. He sighed and moved over to the x. Once they were all standing on the x slam put a hand on Tech's shoulder to show support. Tech gave an appreciative smile, and then turned somber and serious again.

"All right. That's what I thought." Nero said confidently.

"So what now Nero?" Ace asked with his arms crossed. Nero only smiled and kicked the chair Rev was sitting in so it rolled over to where the others were. He practically ran-over Duck, but was caught by Ace and Tech. As Rev glided over to them Nero pulled out his his palm computer. Once they were all in the same area he pushed some buttons on the device and suddenly the room was filled with whirring and buzzing noises. Then a Large glass case with tubes coneccted to it was quickly lowered down over them, trapping them.

"Well that worked nicely. Just as I had planned it."

"Ok, now that we're all captured, what are planning?" Ace was quickly loosing his temper (which did not happen a lot).

"Well I'm going to kill you…obviosly" Nero stated this very casually.

"Would you care to…clarify?" Lexi asked. They all waited to hear the details of this clearly sinister and maniacal plan that this man had concocted. They would have to wait a few more moments as they heard the door they had entered through open and close. Every one turned to see who this new person was.

"Nero." Randal called out "Why is the scapegoat outside?" then he saw the whole picture.

"Ah good. You're right on time doctor. Now I only have to explain this once."

"Explain what?" the doctor asked as he began to feel uneasy about the situation he had just walked in on.

"Why, my plan to take over the world of coarse." He said as he crossed his arms and smiled.

xxxxxxxxx

Yes I am leaving it there. It's all about suspense you know. Review if you pleas. It would make me ever so happy.