The boys watched around cautiously. Not far away a giant cockroach was gnawing on the side of a building.
I think that's Molly's house. Buttercup observed and used her x-ray vision to confirm the house was completely empty.
"The thing that bugs me more than the bugs are how there's not even furniture in any of these houses." Buttercup said out loud as the trio started to fan out.
"It's not just furniture that's missing!" Butch replied out loud. "We passed a bank earlier. At least it said bank on the outside but it wasn't on the inside"
"What do you mean"
"I mean when I used my x-ray vision I couldn't even see a vault in there. No counters nothing. Just empty box rooms"
Buttercup thought about it for a moment and shook her head. "Nothing makes sense in this damned world!" she said finally. "All I want to do right now is kick ass. I don't like having to skulk around like this"
Brick chuckled, "I hear ya on that one green thing!" he snickered, "I'm sick of hiding and stuff as well. Let's try you on that roach!"
Looking over the environment Brick took command, "Boomer! You round that side!" he shouted, "I'll take the other. If Green thing can't do it then we'll have to hold it captive some how"
Buttercup blinked. In her mind it took a moment to separate Brick from the image of her sister, the method of command wasn't all that different. Buttercup watched as Boomer and Brick flew into position and took up stance several metres from the insect. It had noticed the Ruffs by now and was slowly becoming aware that it didn't have anywhere to run.
Buttercup punched in its general direction and nothing happened. She tried again and again punching and kicking and getting more and more worked up.
"For god sake let me just hit the thing normally!" she screamed eventually - her voice carrying with enough force to shake the surrounding buildings.
"Performance anxiety!" Boomer chuckled and shouted the remaining words at Buttercup "Don't worry Buttercup. I get like this when I try something new to!"
Buttercup blinked at the words. "WHAT's THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" She called back and swung her fist in Boomers direction. The boy grunted and went flying into the air. Stopping a few kilometres up he dashed back down. The cockroach had seen its opportunity and was running.
"Good One!" Brick yelled out at nobody in particular - "Just get the sucker"
"Yeah, Yeah!" Boomer replied as he picked up speed. Curling into a ball Boomer rolled as he fell and tried to direct his flight path towards the roach.
I need to do this just right! he thought, If I hit at the wrong angle it's going to hurt like the dickens!
Buttercup and Brick watched on. Boomer was surrounded by a blue haze created from his flight trail. As he fell he banked around coming at the roach broadside. Boomer never touched the insect but the combination of speed and proximity picked the creature up, dragging it after the blond boy and allowing him to slam the roach into a nearby building without actually touching it.
Boomer came out of his attack with a broad grin on his face and floated in front of his companions, pleased. Buttercup and Brick just looked at each other, the boy and then back at the stunned roach.
"AWESOME" they yelled in unison and converged on the creature for a second time.
"Shall we try this again"
"Just don't hit me again!" Boomer complained.
"Yeah, Yeah. It was just a sucker punch so don't panic." Buttercup slammed her fist into her hand as she looked at the roach. "This thing has it coming"
Boomer sighed then noticed the look of weariness and tiredness on Buttercups face. He thought to his own brother and smiled.
Okay... he thought, I guess I can let that go. She's just stressed out.
Buttercup punched the air again, this time trying to concentrate on capturing the feeling she'd had when she'd hit Boomer. Again it failed.
Behind them a wall colapsed on a building and everybody looked nervousely.
"Turn around!" Brick said experimentally.
Buttercup blinked at this and complied, punching again. Another wall collapsed on the same building.
Boomer stared then looked at Buttercup. It was still relatively early in the morning and his eyes went to Buttercups shadow. "Do it again"
Brick followed Boomers eyes and caught up with his thoughts. "It's Your Shadow!" He yelled out loud as Buttercup knocked down another wall.
"Hahaha! Your so mean evil you shadow kicks ass!" he yelled out before picking up the Roach and throwing it to one side. "That's so Corny"
"How does it work?"
"It must be telekenisis!" Boomer commented, then sighed at the confused expression on both faces. Brick growled under his breath before speaking.
"Do you Really have to rub it in with all these big words!" He complained bitterly, then grabbed Boomer into a headlock and delivered a high speed noogie.
"Ah, Quit that Brick." The green Puff interjected, slapping the Ruff lightly on the shoulder and walking to stand behind him. "He cant help being smart. Trust me I get this from Blossom on a daily basis. When you pack so much into one head - stuff just starts seeping out"
Brick stopped but kept his brother in a headlock and winked at Buttercup. "dont tell me you never do this to blond girl?" He asked.
"Her names Bubbles." Buttercup snapped back, only to smile in spite of herself. "Yeah I do; but not when I want to get something out of her!"
"She's moving and smashing things with her mind!" Boomer began to explain from his prone position; "At the moment the power isn't fully developed so she needs something real to manifest," he hesitated for fear of an ongoing noogie and corrected the word, "Active, the power. So at the moment she's doing it using her shadow. In time and with practice she wont even need that"
"Cool!" Brick replied, and finally let the blond boy go. Buttercup helped him up and the three floated into the air.
"But if ya need training!" Brick insisted
"I know!" Buttercup interjected, "You've promised to help me. I'm assuming that means ther'll be sparring sessions where I'm basically just standing there punching and kicking thin air"
"Yeah, I guess so." Buttercup blinked, realising both boys had spoke in unison and eyed them. Both were too lost in their own thoughts to notice the stereo sentences.
A thought crossed Buttercups mind and she voiced it out loud. "Can we still go past my place?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah. I guess"
"Thanks." Buttercup sighed, "I want to see if the Professor left anything behind is all. He's got an underground laboratory after all"
"Point!"