Authors Note: 2 chapters left :( I can't believe our time together in this ff is coming to an end so soon! We've finally reached the "Climax" of this Virgil/Hotstreak story. I hope I make up for the short chapter 9, and I hope this lives up to everyone's expectations. I'll warn you now chapters 11, 12 wont be super long, but it wouldn't be complete without them. Idk exactly what my next FF project is going to be, but when I know I'll post it onto my profile to give you all the heads up! I hope you decide to stick with me for other FF's I just can't get enough of you! ;) Well enough of that hears chapter 10! p.s Yes this is also my version of one of the shows, and yes I know its not accurate its on purpose. (oh! btw honeybiscuit93 if you thought chapter 9 was my worse cliffhanger you ain't seen nothing yet sweety lol)

I hated everything. I was using all my strength just to keep my disk in the air. Over the last week my powers had weakened dramatically. At first I thought it was because I was so depressed. After Hotstreak walked away I felt like he had ripped my heart out, and took it with him. I felt so empty, so cold without him. From that day on my powers reflected it. It was a slow process, but it was unmistakeable. Ritch was the first one to realize it, but it wasn't long before everyone knew that Static had lost his edge.

At first the bang babies of the city began to revolt. Crimes, and chaos skyrocketed the first day. Ritch, and I were swamped. We thought we would never be able to get everything under control. Just when we thought our town would crumble into bang baby anarchy something amazing happened. That night after we had put Carmandillo and his boy Chompers behind bars the chaos stopped. All the other bang babies were no where to be found, and the city was quiet.

The next day Ritch called me. He was so hysteric I couldn't understand a word he was saying at first. I was able to get him to calm down enough for him to say one thing "I'm with Ferret in the hospital" I was there in minutes, but I what I saw wasn't anywhere near what I expected. Ferret was normal, and he wasn't the only bang baby there who was. It was there that Ritch confided in me that he was finding it increasingly difficult to mind link with backpack. The whole bang baby community was falling apart at the seams.

I knew it was a good thing. All the wild bang babies had done since the big bang first happened was cause so cause trouble, and there were only a couple of people who could stop them. As much as I tried to look at it in a good light all I could feel was anger. Why did we all have to loose our powers? Yes a lot of us caused trouble, but what about the ones who didn't? I wasn't thinking about me at the time I was thinking about Hotstreak.

He loved being a bang baby. He was fire, he was passion, he was heat, he was wild, he was unpredictable, and he was uncontrollable. He was a hell raiser, but if it wasn't for the bang he, and I would have never developed the bond we shared. I would have never found my courage, and he would still see me as the weak comic book geek. I could only imagine how upset he was. Not only did he have the hurt I caused him, but now he was loosing or had already lost his powers. I had to find him, and I had to find him soon.

Ritch came with me at first, but he lost so much connection with backpack that he fell from the sky not long after we took off. He tried to give me something to go on before he lost all connection with backpack all together, but all he got was bits, and pieces about something in the ship yard. I reassured him that I would be fine, and made sure he was safely on a bus back to the hospital before I took off again. I headed for the ship yard. It was the only lead I had.

At first I didn't see anything unusual, but when I saw one of Alva's boats something told me to check it out. My powers kept giving out as I came in for a landing. I hoped it was worth it because I knew once I was on the ground I wasn't going to be able to generate enough juice to get me air born again.

I snuck around the ship quiet as a mouse. I noticed one of the doors that lead into the hull had been pried wide open. It seemed like a simple vandal until I got closer. There was an obvious indentation into the metal door where whatever was used had melted the metal around it. Only one thing came to my mind, Hotstreak, and if he had to use a tool to open the door his powers were as diminished as mine.

I ran into the boat as fast as my legs would carry me. I tried to stay as quiet as I could, but just the thought of seeing Hotstreak again made me too excited to care. When I turned down one of the corridors I saw another door pried wide open. I slowed to a stop when multiple familiar voices came to my ears. I couldn't make out what they were saying exactly, but they were unmistakeable. The first one I heard was definitely Ebon. I moved right up beside the door, and listened.

"Lets get one thing straight. Everyone who takes a whiff is gonna be mine you got that? If you don't wanna fallow then you're shit out of luck"

My breath caught in my throat when I heard Hotstreak. "Look hear Ebon if it wasn't for me you'd be shit out of luck. I'm not gonna fallow some dumb ass shadow man, and I ain't leaving hear without being able to burn dumb asses like you!"

"Look I don't have any intention on joining up with you guys again Ebon I just miss being able to sniff out my little techno worm. He's a wiz at getting himself into trouble, and I wanna be able to know if he needs me I can find him. That and he's got the most delectable aroma around him that this normal nose just can't do justice to" Ferret? He must have snuck out while Ritch, and I were out. Did he know about this the whole time?

"Yeah come on Shadzy loosen up a little. Its not like there gonna ruin our fun!" I should have known Shiv would be there.

"Enough! No one gets a whiff if they don't agree to join me you got it? No acceptations!"

I heard Hotstreak growl. "You're just as powerless as we are now Ebon. You never could take me before the bang, and you know it! Just give me some of the gas, and I wont have to pound you're skull in!"

How did they get hold of some of the bang baby gas? It didn't matter I couldn't let them use it. I had to get it away from them. I slowly peeked around the door, and took in the whole situation. There were more people there then I had though. Not only did I see Hotstreak, Ferret, Shiv, and a normal looking guy with a container that I could only guess was Ebon. There was also Hyde, Boom, Kangor, Slip Stream, Puff next to someone I could only guess was Onyx, Carmandillo, Chompers, and a hand full of others. There was absolutely no way I could let Ebon go through with this.

I wracked my brain as I looked from face to face. Suddenly it hit me. I held up my hand, and concentrated on the metal container in Ebon's hand. I used what little electricity I could still muster to bring the container to me. All the arguing stopped, and all eyes fell on me. For a moment my eyes locked with Hotstreak's, and everything else seemed to disappear. He was shocked, and I knew he didn't want me anywhere near this. I could almost hear him scream at me "Why didn't you fucking stay away?" even though his lips never moved.

Ebon's voice brought me out of my daze. I didn't hear what he said, but all the ex bang babies were now coming towards me. I turned, and ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I wasn't stupid they may not have there powers anymore, but they were all still gang bangers. In my rush I hadn't noticed that I had took a wrong turn. I was lost, and I could hear there heavy footsteps right behind me.

As I rounded another corner I saw a huge door was standing wide open. It seemed similar to the doors that lead outside so I went into it without hesitation. I was greeted by four walls, and no way out. I turned quickly, but my path was already blocked by Ebon, Hotstreak, Shiv, and Kangor. I held my ground even though I knew I didn't stand a chance. Even if Hotstreak did try to save me not even he could take on all the people on the ship even with my help.

Ebon started to advance on me, but Hotstreak shoved him to the side. He walked up to me with a hard look on his face. "What do you think you're doing Sparky? You got a death wish or something?" He grabbed the container from my hands. He did remember who was under the mask didn't he? Had he really gone from loving me to hating so quickly? Did I really screw up that bad? "Nothings gonna stop us from getting our powers back you got that?"

He moved closer to me, grabbed my shirt, and pulled me until our faces were only an inch apart. He whispered so only I could hear. "Stay hear. I don't want you getting hurt Virg" Without another word he pushed me away roughly making me fall to the ground. He secretly put the canister to his nose, and took in a deep breath. He closed his eyes as a large euphoric smirk crossed his face. When he opened them again they were a solid red, but only for a moment.

He walked to the doorway as Ebon moved closer to me. "He's right Static. We ain't gonna take any chances with you this time. Hotstreak lock the door behind me" There was no answer. Ebon looked to the doorway. Shiv, and Kangor were looking around, but Hotstreak was gone. Ebon growled, and ran out of the room. The only thing I heard was "Lock it behind me!" before Shiv, and Kangor shut the large metal door.

I quickly ran to the door, but it was locked up tight by the time I got to it. I banged on the door as loud as I could, but I knew it was no use. I tried to get enough electricity going to unlock the door, but the only thing I managed to do was make my fingers tingle. I sighed heavily, and leaned against the door thinking as hard as I could. I had to get out. Hotstreak was a pyrokinetic again, but what if he still needed me?

I was in that room for what seemed like ages before I finally decided to try something dangerous. I could feel the electricity running through the walls. I knew I could try to absorb it, but I knew I couldn't handle nearly as much of it as before if much at all. I knew I had to try.

I put one hand over the spot where I felt the most electricity, and began to siphon a small amount into me. I took as much as I could bear before trying to unlock the door, but it wasn't enough. I took a deep breath, and began to take more. At first it was just uncomfortable, but as I had to take more it became painful. I was in a horrible amount of pain yet it still wasn't enough. I took in more to the point where it was unbearable. I had to bite my lip with all my strength to keep from crying out. Finally I heard the door unlock, and it swung open a crack.

I fell to my knees. My whole body was shaking. The hand that was on the wall was burned badly, but I knew I couldn't worry about it then. I stood up, and ran off through the boat. I fallowed the sound of what seemed to be a fight. I could hear both Ebon, and Hotstreak's cries. There was a sudden crash, and within moments the boat was filling up with an all too familiar purple gas.

I fell to my knees coughing as the gas consumed me. I crawled around aimlessly as I felt my strength returning to me. Within moments I had found my way out onto the deck somehow. I stumbled through the door gasping desperately for air. I could literally feel the electricity coursing through my vanes in a way I had never felt before. Sparks were jumping wildly over my body. I felt so alive!

I wasn't able to bask in the feeling for long. The boat suddenly thrashed violently as something horrible broke through the deck floor. It was a huge two headed shadow monster covered with roaring flames. My heart fell. Even without gears super intelligence around I knew what this meant. Ebon and Hotstreak had sucked up so much of the gas they fused together into some horrible mutant creature.

I barely had time to get onto my disk, and get out of the way when it first struck. It was all I could do to dodge its flaming limbs as they attempted to grab me. It came too close for comfort multiple times, but one caught me by surprise. A tentacle of darkness wrapped around me and pulled me close to the beast before me. I struggled, but there was nothing I could do. I was at its mercy.

I felt tears well up in my eyes as I watched the flames dance across the creatures body. My Hotstreak was in there somewhere. "Hotstreak!" I cried desperately. "Please! I know you're in there somewhere! Fight it! Fight him! Don't you recognize me anymore?" A few tears fell down my cheeks. "You're stronger then this Hotstreak! Please!"

At first it seemed there wasn't any hope, but then one of the solid white eyes of one of the heads turned a solid shade of familiar green. The creatures body froze, and the tentacle wrapped around me loosened if only a little, but it was enough.

I quickly got out of its grasp, and was back on my disk. Both of the heads had solid white eyes again, and I was back to dodging the flaming appendages. Suddenly the creature laughed evilly, and one of Ebon's vortex's appeared on its chest. It was like a black hole that tried to suck in everything around it. I tried to fight it, but the force was too powerful.

I grabbed onto the mast of the ship, and held on for dear life. I looked around desperate for an idea. That's when I saw one of the large cylinders the ship had been carrying. I saw the bio hazard sign on it, but it was my only chance.

Using my newly regained powers I threw the large cylinder at the creature. I knew what I had to do, and I knew I had to do it before the container was completely absorbed, but I hesitated. I knew my Hotstreak was still in there somewhere, but he couldn't do much of anything to control the monster he had become. I sent a strong bolt of lighting at the container as tears streamed down my face. I was able to fly a safe enough distance away before the explosion.

I watched in horror as the blown apart ship slowly sank beneath the water. Ebon-Streak was no where to be seen. My body was completely numb as I stood there and watched, but my numbness soon gave way to deep despair, as a loud anguished cry bellowed from within me. I began to fly all over the waters calling Hotstreak's name desperately. He had to be okay. He just had to be!

I looked over every inch that night. I didn't stop. I didn't rest. I flew non stop, searching. That night turned into morning, and still I found nothing. I searched without rest crying out for Hotstreak between sobs. That morning turned into the next night, and still I didn't find anything. There was no trace, no sign of him anywhere. Finally I just floated there over the water in the last spot I had saw the creature. I was numb again, and even as the sun rose once again it did nothing to warm me.

I slowly made my way to the hospital where I knew Ritch would still be. I went into his room. I saw Ferret sitting by his bedside. He was a bang baby again. The moment Ritch saw me he quickly ran over to me. I saw his lips move, but I didn't hear anything. Tears started streaming down my cheeks as I threw my arms around him, and burred my head into his shoulder. The only thing I could get out between sobs were. "He's gone"