In response to the latest reviews... mwa ha ha, I love writing for Alecto, he's such a diabolical piece of work, ne? And even now his complications aren't all fully revealed. I liked reading your observations and assumptions though.
A "nicer" chapter this time around, I'm building to something here.
Sandy drew a long sip from her coffee mug, listening to the monotone beeping of the tracking equipment surrounding her. None of it could help them now. Johnny had been lost.
Ace and his exhausted companions had spent a day and a night scouring the neighbourhood for him, determined to find him before any of Alecto's men did. It would have been bad enough if Alecto had taken Buttercup, but with his younger self under his wing, there was no telling what he could do. They had to protect the boy from his own genius, and Sandy was sure that Team Eumenide would prevail.
That was until Sara called off the search.
She had shaken her head at the others, saying that the damage had already been done. That if Johnny honestly believed the team had turned against him, it would save time to merely relinquish him now. If they were fighting Utonium in one form, they would have to fight him in all forms, whether they wanted to or not.
It was a sad set of events, and one that they hadn't adjusted to easily.
Sara's footsteps clicked along the tiled floor as she entered the lab. Sandy had her back to her, but could easily feel the tired and dispirited aura wash over her like warmth from a hearth.
"We have no choice, Sandy." A soft hand lighted on her shoulder.
"I know," she answered quietly. "It's just…"
She paused, gazing at the radar screen. "Seeing him as that cheeky teenager again gave me hope. That maybe we could bring him back."
She didn't see Sara's kind smile. "Johnny gave us all hope, Sandy."
Not much was said for a while. Sara kept her hand on Sandy's shoulder. She'd always been a little protective of her friend. The dear fearless fool had always given her whole self to the world- it was so easy for her to get hurt.
"He was my hero, Sara."
Her voice was broken and wavering, the tone of someone crying. Sara pulled her into a hug. Once again, she was a lost girl disillusioned.
"I know." Sara affirmed. "But sometimes heroes fail us. And we need to look in other places for strength."
Sandy looked up at her. The delicate power of comprehension was starting to glow faintly in those wide trusting eyes.
"Where's Buttercup?"
"Cried herself to sleep hours ago. This whole thing has been hardest on her. I think we should let her rest undisturbed as long as she needs to."
Under the dusky cloak of night, a tiny figure in green zoomed through the dilapidated city.
She had to find Johnny, she just had to. It wasn't fair to give up on him if he hadn't done anything wrong. He'd protected her from Alecto's clutches, so it was time for Buttercup herself to return the favour.
Team Eumenide had been so damned determined to protect the little girl, but she knew she had more power than all of them combined. Her instinct to use that power had been bugging her like a bad itch ever since she had arrived in the past. Now it was time for some action.
The only problem was: where on earth could Johnny have disappeared to?
She rounded a corner, finding herself on the main street of the city. At the road's end: Alecto's imposing fortress.
Bingo.
T. B. C.