***SW***
"Thank you sir...just keep your distance."
"OH for CRYING OUT LOUD, I KNOW!" Rex snarled, SNATCHING his licence from the police officer and storming off.
The man growled in pure frustration. Ever since his USELESS daughter arrived in New York City, he had been screened by at LEAST 10 officers a DAY! Even though she didn't have the means to blow the whistle on him for his murder on Moriah 8 years ago; she had STILL found a way to make his life MISERABLE!
As if her mere EXISTENCE wasn't enough!
"Damned useless, worthless girl." he snarled, getting into the alleyway and walking down it. "I would give ANYTHING to wrap my hands around her wretched throat."
Almost as SOON as he said that, his word suddenly...stopped. All of the color of his surroundings suddenly vanished...and time seemed to slow down drastically. Rex paused and took a few steps back.
What the heck?
He gasped when he saw shadows forming around him...all with one single eye that stared into his VERY soul within. Rex felt his chest tighten and he panted, quickly turning...and bumping into a smartly dressed man with dirty blonde hair and an eye patch over one of his eyes. His other eye glowed a brilliant shade of yellow, and he had a toothy grin on his face.
"Well Well Well! Rex Ryder we meet once again!" Cipher greeted, tipping his hat and grinning evilly. "I had a hunch you'd be rethinking my offer."
Rex took a step back and growled, waving a hand in the air. "What's it to YOU, you one eyed creep? You're insane if you think I'd just TRUST you."
Cipher responded with a laugh and jumped into the air, summoning his cane and sitting on...the air. "HAHA! I'm insane either way, tough guy!" He waved off a hand and grinned down towards the man. "But enough about me, let's talk about YOU! Let's talk about how good ol' Sophia is keeping you from doing your own business."
"Don't even MENTION my daughter's name to me!" Rex snarled, putting his hands in the air. "That worthless witch has been a THORN in my side ever since she was BORN! I'll handle her MYSELF!"
"Hmm, seems to me, she's doing the handling." Cipher leaned back and grinned cooly. "I mean, she's the CEO of Allen Corp. She has previous SUPERVILLIANS who work for her, and she herself is a bat of a time."
"Say wha-"
"I could help ya take her down ya know." Cipher looked towards his nails, dancing his fingers in the air, as a blue flame suddenly appeared in his hand. "I only ask for a small...Favor...in return?"
Rex narrowed his eyes and studied Cipher. He seemed so sure of himself.
"All I want is to tear her apart! I want her to go through the SAME pain I went through!" He looked towards Cipher and gritted his teeth. "I will literally give ANYTHING to see that worthless wretch SUFFER!"
Cipher chuckled, his one eye glowing an eerie yellow. He suddenly disappeared and reappeared right in front of Rex, offering his hand out to the man, his hand dancing in blue flames. "Then it's a deal then? I enhance Sophia's suffering, and in return you give me your loyalties as a...worker."
A worker? PAH! What did he have to lose if he was going to get PAID for this?! Rex narrowed his eyes and swiftly locked his hand with Cipher's. "Deal!"
Cipher's eye suddenly narrowed as he took ahold of Rex's hand and an evil grin came to his face...as the blue flames suddenly surrounded Rex's entire body.
The man let out a hellish scream and his clothes suddenly took new forms. His cloathing changed into a black jumpsuit with yellow trim here and there. In the center of his chest, a yellow triangle with a white eye suddenly appeared and firmly attached itself to his skin, making him cry out.
The man convulsed a few times, his screams steadily getting softer….before he looked up with blank white eyes, making Cipher chuckle...and then laugh insanely.
***HS***
Montana sat in the waiting room, clutching his head in his hands and trembling violently. One hour….ONE….FREAKING...HOUR…..had kept him away from her. Now she was hanging onto life by a thread…
JJ was nowhere! NO ONE could tell him where his SON was! Was he alive? Was his little boy...DEAD?! If he was alive, WHO HAD HIM!? Was JJ scared?! His boy was probably wondering why his DADDY hadn't SAVED him!
Montana panted, grabbing the edges of his hair. His world was ending….it was ending...he couldn't take this pressure!
Beside him, Justin and Dennis sat in respective chairs. They had to be in a private waiting room because Montana had been freaking out when he got the news that Faith had been shot and JJ was nowhere to be found. Mark had gone to contact Sophia that they had found Montana...and she had ordered them to keep an eye on him, and for good reason.
Montana was in a VERY desperate state, and they couldn't risk him being alone.
The three men looked up as the Doctor slowly came into the room and looked pointedly towards Montana, who flew upwards.
"...Doc...TELL me she's alive...Tell me the babies are alive...please…" Montana's voice was broken...he could barely breathe. His mouth felt like cotton, it was...ripping into him like claws on flesh.
The Doctor let off a slow breath and pursed his lips. "Mr. Brice...We're still into the surgery...we had to perform an emergency C-Section to try and save the three little ones."
Montana's heart nearly stopped. "...Three?...but-...but we were told we were having twins-"
"Well...technically you are having twins, Mr. Brice." The Doctor replied solemnly. "One of the little ones was hit by the bullet that tore through your wife….we lost her…"
Montana felt his body...practically shut down. His vision went tunnel, and he swore he could no longer breathe. He couldn't make a sound…
"...I'm so sorry, Mr. Brice...but your other son and daughter are being delivered as we speak. I'm told the boy's vitals are strong, but we're concerned about his sister. She's so tiny and frail…" He paused and continued. "As for the mother…"
Montana took a step up, fear written in his eyes.
"...I don't know if she's going to make the night." The Doctor continued. "She's not responding...and her pulse is very weak. We're asking everyone we can to donate blood for her-"
"I'll do it." Montana stepped up. "I'll give her as much as she needs-"
"Mr. Brice, it's more complicated than that." The Doctor put up a hand. "She's O-...she can ONLY receive O- blood, or else it can have grave consequences" He pursed his lips. "Rest assured Mr. Brice...I will do EVERYTHING I can to make sure you don't have another loss…"
Montana trembled as the Doctor exited the room...and fell to his knees as the door shut. He stared at the ground in utter horror...three….Faith had been pregnant with triplets…
...and one of them was gone forever...because he hadn't been there to protect her mother…
He clenched his teeth...and started to get up.
"No!" Justin quickly got up and blocked the door, glaring at Montana. "You're staying in here, Jackson."
"Get OUT….of my WAY…" Montana seethed. "I'm going to hunt down-"
"You're not hunting down ANYONE!" Justin replied firmly. "You are going to SIT down, SHUT up, and WAIT for Sophia to arrive."
"You need to stay here, Jackson." Dennis agreed. "Your surviving babies need their father to comfort them since their mother is...busy at the moment."
Montana shot Dennis a glare...but begrudgingly sat down and once again put his face in his hands. Hot tears leaked out of his eyes.
JJ was lost…..One of his daughters was dead...his WIFE was dying...and the two little ones were so vulnerable.
Oh God...is THIS my punishment?! Is THIS what I get for my years of wrong?! ….Take me instead...ME! Don't take Faith take ME! Don't punish Junior...punish ME….
The man trembled and choked a sob, the minutes ticking by...ever so slowly…
***SW***
JJ whimpered, tears streaming down his cheeks as the stranger in the strange suit forcefully tied him to a chair, and TIGHTLY wrapped a rope around him. The little boy wanted to scream...but he had already been hit several times…
If he screamed again...he'd just be hit again.
The toddler watched the man sneer over him, before he took the boy's chin roughly in his hand.
"The death of your mother is only the start of your Daddy's pain." He snarled, roughling letting the boy go and heading to a nearby supply closet.
After grabbing a few things from the room, the stranger came out and removed his mask, setting his supplies on the table.
Fancy Dan looked over his tools carefully. If he was going to pull this off, he would have to anticipate Montana's next move. No doubt the mother was dead already...which meant Montana only had this brat left. If he could figure out a way to entrap him…
"Wwooooowww, you've been planning this revenge for four years, and you're stuck?"
Fancy Dan paused...and quickly turned, firing his gun at...nothing.
The man paused...and his world suddenly got dark. Gritting his teeth, he looked around quickly and aimed his gun...but it would no longer shoot.
He could hear an eerie chuckle surrounding him...and he narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from.
"Show yourself!" He demanded, feeling his heart throbbing.
...Nothing happened….
Fancy Dan panted, looking at the dark features around him...before he turned...coming face to face with one giant eye.
The man screamed and took a few steps back, backing into a body. Quickly turning, Fancy Dan saw a well dressed man in front of him who was casually sitting on top of the table.
"Ahh Fancy Dan, we meet at last!" Cipher greeted, leaning back against nothing and grinning. "I had a hunch you'd make your move today."
"What are you?" Dan took a few steps back, and tried to shoot at the intruder...but his gun wouldn't respond. "Who the FLIP are you?!"
"Name's Cipher." The man replied, leaning back to where he was laying his back on top of the table and crossing his legs in the air as though he had no care in the world. "I went by another name at one point, but this one's just weirder."
Out of nowhere, he suddenly disappeared and reappeared right behind Fancy Dan. "Here's the thing, big shot."
Fancy Dan suddenly whipped around, gritting his teeth at the new arrival.
"I'm wanting a certian bat to join my ranks so I can finish a mission of mine…" Cipher smirked at the mixture of negative emotions rampaging through Fancy Dan's mind. He slowly advanced on the man and twirled his cane on his fingers. "But she's proving to be...stubborn." He looked thoughtful for a moment, before looking towards Fancy Dan.
"And what does ANY of this have to do with me?" Dan asked, glaring at the stranger that he...couldn't seem to cause ANY harm to. "That's your problem! I got my own people to-"
"I understand you want revenge against Montana, correct?" Cipher asked, snapping his fingers, a sudden picture of Shocker appearing in his hand.
Dan watched the picture in Cipher's hand, and he glared upwards. "I'm already GETTING my revenge on Montana. I've killed his wife! I have his SON!"
"Ha! Child's play! Besides! His little wifey is only unconscious! She's gonna make a nice recovery if she stays the way she is." Cipher waved a hand in the air as if dismissing the facts. "But you don't want him to break…" He looked towards Dan, his one eye glowing. "You want him to WRITHE in pain."
"How do you know this?" Fancy Dan asked, looking skeptical. "How do you KNOW his wife isn't DEAD now? I shot her in the BACK! She was unprepared!"
"Oh I know lots of things…" Cipher purred, a flame appearing at the tip of his finger, showing a sphere that showed many different happenings in the window of the sphere. He smirked and looked back towards Dan. "Point being, you only managed to kill one being...and a tiny spit in the ocean."
He disappeared and reappeared right above him, making Fancy Dan take a few steps back.
"What YOU want...You want Montana to die slowly...painfully! Knowing he couldn't do ANYTHING to protect the ones he loves!" Cipher's hand erupted in flames and he landed on the ground, smirking and offering the hand towards Dan. "And who better to make Shocker WRITHE in pain...then Ricochet boosted up?"
Dan looked skeptical, sizing the man in front of him...he was no good...he could DEFINITELY tell that…
"And what's the catch?" he growled, crossing his arms. "There's ALWAYS a catch."
"Are you good at getting me a puppet?" Cipher grinned. "In return for your sweet sweet revenge...you supply me a worker I can own as a puppet."
"...That's IT?"
"Tick Tock, guy." Cipher cooed. "I can always let you handle your own revenge...and let you walk right into a den of cops…"
Fancy Dan growled...before he firmly shook Cipher's hand. "Fine, you have a deal...but who exactly do you WANT me to get for you?"
"Hmmm...lessee….eenie meenie miney…" Cipher's eye suddenly glowed blue. "YOU!"
***HS***
Sophia slowly entered the hospital room, softly shutting the door. She stayed quiet...the tension in the room was already so thick she could cut it with her own whip…
Faith was laying on the bed, hooked up to IVs...blood supply...a breathing mask...she was pale...and she looked so weak...
Catching sight of Montana in a chair, Sophia took a couple of steps closer to him…
He wasn't looking at her...he wasn't even looking at Faith...he had a bundle in his arms and had his face buried in it…
"...Jackson?..." Sophia reached out for him...but retracted her hand when he slowly looked up at her...and lowered his arms.
Sophia suddenly slammed her hand over her mouth and her eyes widened upon...seeing a deceased infant bundled in the blanket Montana had been holding. She took a few steps back and placed her back against the wall, feeling hot tears welling up in her eyes.
….no….
For a good five minutes...all was silent...the only noise in the room coming from the heart monitor that was connected to Faith.
Sophia had tears running down her cheeks...her heart was being ripped apart…
...no...Oh...Oh Faith...no….
"...Thank you for comin' Sophie…" Montana finally managed to say, his voice broken. "...I-...I…"
"...Jackson...I'm so sorry…" Sophia breathed, her voice cracking under the weight of the situation. She let off a small sob and tried to regain her composure...but how does...how does one stay composed...FOR THIS?!
She shut her eyes, letting more tears run down her cheeks...before forcefully clearing her throat and putting her hands to her chest. "...Where's….Where's the other one?"
"...there were three…"
Jackson looked back towards his baby girl, holding her to himself and ever so gently brushing her little cheek with the back of his hand. "...Hope and Raymond are with the doctors…"
Sophia looked shocked for a moment...before she glanced towards the door.
Triplets….Faith had been pregnant with triplets...that explained why she had to always cancel get togethers...always tired...always wanting to sleep…
...but now one of the little ones was gone….and Faith didn't even know it…
Sophia took in a shaky breath and looked back towards Montana, trying to be strong. "...Did the Doctor say anything about Faith's condition?"
"...Said she wasn't supposed to make it through the night…" Montana looked from his daughter towards his wife and reached for her hand, softly caressing her skin. He gritted his teeth. "...she's still here…" He was silent for a moment, before he slowly stood and cradled the heavy bundle in his arms. Turning towards Sophia, he frowned.
"...Sophia...I need a favor from you…"
"...I'll do my best." She replied, looking serious.
"...I need you to take care of Fay and the little ones…" Montana's eyes grew dark. "I need to get out there and find Junior…"
Sophia was silent...before she straightened up and frowned. "...I forbid it."
Montana's eyes suddenly narrowed dangerously. "Sophie...there is NO ONE...I respect more...than Faith, and you….but I ain't gonna have you getting in my way of-"
"Revenge?" Sophia finished, narrowing her own eyes dangerously. "What EXACTLY do you hope to accomplish?"
"To avenge my daughter!" Montana shot back, gritting his teeth. "To get my son BACK! To KILL whoever did this to Faith!"
"And what happens if YOU get killed?!" Sophia took a step up, pointing at him accusingly. "What happens if YOU get shot and killed?! What happens if your actions kill JJ?! What THEN!?"
Montana gritted his teeth, looking down at the still infant in his arms. In a perfect world, she would only be sleeping...ready to wake and see her daddy...ready to face life…
"What do I tell Faith," Sophia continued, pointing towards the unconscious woman in the hospital bed, "When her husband is reported DECEASED?! Along with her DAUGHTER, Maybe even JJ if you do this?! What then?! She will have to deal with THREE deaths AND trying to raise two babies as a single mother!" She took a step up and gritted her teeth. "What THEN?! What will she TELL her children, who don't understand why their DADDY didn't want to watch them grow? WHAT DO I TELL HER?!"
Montana trembled….and tears ran down his cheeks, his teeth still gritted in anger.
"...I can't just sit here-"
"That's EXACTLY what you're going to do, Montana!" Sophia pointed towards the chair. "You are going to SIT. DOWN. SHUT. UP. And take CARE of your FAMILY!" She panted and stood up straight.
For a moment...all was quiet...before she put her hand on her chest.
"...and I swear to you, Montana...on my Vincent honor….The Flying Fox WILL bring your son back to you, ALIVE and ready to meet his younger siblings…"
Montana was silent, his teeth still gritted...before he slowly sat back down and let off a shaky breath. He breathed out and gently hugged the bundle back to his chest, a quiet sob escaping him.
Sophia watched him for a moment...before she looked towards Faith, who was unresponsive through the entire conversation.
I will find JJ, Faith...I will bring him back to you...I promise…
Turning, she started to leave the room.
"...Sophia…"
The woman paused her walk and glanced over her shoulder towards Montana, who was looking towards her. The look on his face said nothing...and everything all at the same time.
She watched him for a moment, before nodding at him, and exiting the room.
***SW***
Veronica looked over the streets, narrowing her eyes and studying the path she was supposed to destroy. Cipher should have been here by-
"YELLOW THERE!"
Veronica nearly jumped when Cipher suddenly appeared in front of her. Standing up fully, she put her hands on her hips. "So! I take it we still haven't located the chiroptera?"
"Of course not!" Cipher landed on the edge of the building and grinned. "As long as we mess with the bat herself, then we're right on track!" He snapped his fingers, making Rex and Dan appear out of thin air.
Both of them were limply hanging in the air, their eyes devoid of all life or emotion.
"Ooooh, you got the father too." Veronica rubbed her hands. "Though...I feel we can make this even MORE painful…"
Cipher grinned. "Oh?...and what would you propose?"
The man watched his henchmaniac slowly morph into a new figure...and he grinned evilly.
"Oh yes...now THAT will DEFINITELY cause some SERIOUS harm….HAHAHAHAHA!"
Otto walked from Allen Corp, checking his notes. Adrian walked beside him, pursing his lips and looking thoughtful.
"What all did you hear about the shooting yesterday?" Adrian asked, looking towards Otto. "I heard a toddler was kidnapped."
"...Yes…." Otto looked up from his notes solemnly. For a moment he winced, before he looked towards Adrian. "Are you aware...that it was Mrs. Brice that had been shot?"
Adrian looked spooked. "Mrs. Brice?...as in...FAITH? Faith Harrell?"
"Indeed." Otto looked back towards his notes and frowned. "She had been shot in the back, and her dear son was kidnapped...I haven't seen Montana or Sophia all day…"
"Oh my good Lord…." Adrian looked forward, a stunned look on his face. "That's- that's horrible...Is she going to make it?" He looked back towards Otto, genuine concern on his face. "Ms. Harr-...Mrs. Brice is such a kind woman...She's the last one who deserves such an act on her…"
"I agree." Otto looked towards Adrian, grimacing. "But...I don't know any other details...and I didn't see Sophia at work today...no doubt the Flying Fox is currently trying to sort things out…"
"That wouldn't surprise me." Adrian crossed his arms. "Flying Fox is very admint on keeping those close to her safe…even you…"
"Indeed…" Otto stopped walking. For a moment, he reflected on what he had seen yesterday...Sophia had started to soften to him...before she had been called out...and allowed him to watch her go into action.
"...How is your pursuit, Otto?" Adrian finally asked. "Do you...still plan on winning back her heart."
"...Her heart is already mine…" Otto looked towards his dearest friend, placing a hand on his chest. "...She-...She refuses to be pursued by other men...she's-...she's sworn her heart to me….and has kept it all of these heartbreaking years, Adrain."
Adrian looked stunned...before he took a step up. "Then go to her! Seize the opportunity Otto! What's holding you back?"
"Adrian…" Otto looked towards his friend seriously. "I may have her heart...but I don't have Sophia's trust." He looked down lightly. "I broke her, Adrian...she's terrified of me...though she'll never admit it. If I have her heart...but not her trust...it's all for naught." He was silent...before he smiled confidently. "But I plan on being as stubborn as she is...I'm not giving up on her...I love her, Adrian…"
"Heh…" Adrian smiled at Otto. "Do you know how strong you look right now, Otto?"
"I certainly feel strong, Adria-"
BOOOOOMMM!
Both Otto and Adrian suddenly covered their heads as a building EXPLODED, sending debris and glass EVERYWHERE. Both of the men were thrown back as the wind SLAMMED against them, sending them to the cold, unforgiving pavement.
"Unnh….Adrian!" Otto coughed from the dust and looked around. "Adrian! Are you alright?! Where are you!?"
"Otto!"
The scientist panted and forced himself to stand, trying to navigate through the dust. Trying to wipe his glasses, he managed to see a shadow in the dust.
"Adrian! Adrian I'm her- GAH!"
Otto tripped and fell on his stomach, wincing as he scraped his arm against the pavement, allowing a small trickle of blood to escape his arm and stain his winter coat. Grimacing, the scientist managed to sit up and look towards the shadow. For a moment, he squinted his eyes as it got closer…
...and a look of pure HORROR came to his face….
...as he came face to face….With Dr. Octopus?!