Clouds had formed overhead and thunder echoed through the streets of Fairview. It seemed like it went from a drizzle to a downpour in a matter of seconds. Even as the sky lightened as the sun came up, the unabating rain beat down on Fairview intensely.

"This is bad, really bad" Blossom thought. For so large a creature, whatever it was, it was strong, and it was fast. Blossom found herself immediately on the back foot as she tried to dodge the blows from the monster she was facing. The rain was making it harder and harder for her to keep her footing, and what was worse, whatever that thing was, it was learning. Blossom jumped back and sideways again and again as Krewe struck and struck again, each time missing her by inches. This enraged Krewe all the more and it redoubled its efforts, each attack getting closer and closer. Blossom slipped suddenly on the water gushing over the street and Krewe struck her in the chest, sending her through two police vehicles and into the side of a building. Blossom caught her breath. It was strong too. She'd taken worse before, but not in her almost- powerless state. She doubled over and coughed. When she wiped her mouth, she noticed red spots on her hand. She clenched her fist and smiled. She had missed this feeling, the adrenaline, the excitement, the danger. There was something else this time, something new. As Blossom leapt forward with her fist clenched, she realized it. Her hand was shaking. She was afraid. It could kill her and it knew it. It was waiting for her. Blossom tensed her legs and jumped almost flying out into the street, and struck its head. It stumbled backwards. Blossom sensed the opening, this time slamming her fist into where its stomach would be. Air shot from its mouth as it staggered backwards and lost its footing, landing on its back with a thud that shook the street.

"Get back!" Blossom was about to attack again when she heard the yell from Boomer, who came in from above and landed on the beast with both feet. Hard. The rain itself seemed to stand still as the shockwave scarred a crater in the street, sending every car still standing rolling over, and every window in the area shattering, the broken glass blending with the rain to create an almost eerie scene. Blossom relaxed, as Boomer landed beside her.

"Don't let your guard down, red. He's not done". Boomer kept his eyes trained on the crater with Krewe at the bottom of it.

"Don't call me Red, asshole". Blossom couldn't help but smirk as she said it.

"Cold as ever, maybe I'll call you ice queen instead", Boomer retorted, "Everyone's off the street. Your friend was pretty shaken."

"Thanks".

"Don't thank me yet". Boomer walked backwards and raised his fists as the ground shook again. With a roar, Krewe clawed its way out of the crater and onto the street. Raindrops sent up little trails of steam upon falling on the beast. Blossom hoped it was her imagination, but was it getting bigger? Blossom breathed in deeply. She could feel every drop as it hit her. Her hands were shaking again, and she beamed as she and Boomer faced down the beast again. God, how she had missed this!

"Is it ready?" Utonium's face was set, and a vein was clearly throbbing in his right temple. He watched as Mojo separated a vial of dark liquid into six syringe guns.

"Short answer's no. You know as well as I do" Mojo was curt, brusque as always.

"Bring it anyway. How many do we have?"

"Six shots, one for each."

"Worst case?"

"Worst case it accelerates the process and they die faster than they are already"

"Bring them anyway". The two walked outside to Utonium's car to find Malone waiting with a large case.

"The president's been briefed, but with the Kajain situation the way it is, we're on our own for now." Malone hefted the case and placed it on the trunk of his car, causing the vehicle to sag slightly, "Visited the government's vault, I think this dangerous little toy is one of yours" he said, addressing Mojo, "Where are the others?"

"They left already", Mojo said, as he dug into the case and lifted out what looked like a futuristic bazooka, hefted it over his shoulder and caressed it lovingly, "They can still get anywhere a lot faster than any of us".

"I don't doubt that, but there's backup, just in case"

"You should know, this is long range, I designed this to, um…well

"Wipe out a few city blocks?" Utonium said with a sardonic smile. Mojo didn't say anything. Utonium placed the box with the syringe gun under his arm, "Don't get used to this, agent. He's rarely ever this quiet. Hopefully he won't have to use that. Let's get going".

The rain had stopped and the sun was showing through the clouds. Police had closed down as many city blocks as possible, but it was difficult to estimate possible damage in a situation like this one. Santos had retreated to what she considered a safe distance, halfway across town, and was relying on the FPD helicopter relaying second hand information.

OK, bad might have been an understatement, Blossom thought. It seemed like it was enlarging its body as its fury grew. Yet even as its body grew, the beast itself seemed to be just as fast as it was before.. Blossom ran toward the beast from an angle and launched herself at it from its blind spot. It caught her punch. They struggled, with Blossom's strength holding up. Back in the day she'd have overpowered Krewe in a heartbeat. With a roar, the beast raised its other hand and struck down at Blossom's head. Blossom blocked it, but with Krewe holding her other arm, she couldn't dodge the next blow. Or the next one. Or the one after that. Blow after blow rained down on her, knocking her down to one knee. Rage, rage, she thought. Raising her shoulder, she grabbed its arm, turned, and jumped. As big as this thing was, she knew karate. As they both rose into the air, Blossom flipped Krewe over her shoulder. With a roar of her own, she threw the beast head-first into the street with a thud that likely registered as an earthquake. Jumping back, Blossom went over to Boomer, who was shakily getting to his feet,

"You alright blondie?" Blossom laughed, a little more derisively than was needed

"He sucker punched me, alright?!"

"Then hit him bac…ouch". The arm Blossom stretched out to help Boomer suddenly burned in agonizing pain. Her wrist suddenly went numb, and her fingers barely moved. This was new. "My arm's broken". Blossom said it, something she never thought she'd say in her life.

"Maybe you should take a beat, red". Boomer was slightly out of breath

"Can't do it. He's still not done". Blossom knew it even before she heard the roar. It was even louder this time, more of a howl than a roar, but just as loud, just as furious. It came even faster this time. Boomer tried to get in front of Blossom as it approached, but right before it bore down on them, streaks of Red and Green arced through the sky and landed on the back of its neck, sending it crashing down into the street. As Blossom and Boomer sighed their relief, Brick and Buttercup appeared next to them.

"Can't let you have all the fun, Miss Perfect".