To LaBOBuren: You got that right. Ahh...oh well. I guess they're just lookin out for our best, right:) I'm glad you understand though. If you have any other questions, we'll just have to work em out over the site like we've been doing.
To joyfulcry: As always, thankx much for the review.
To Victoria Wolf: It's okay...you can look now:)
To Lobo-Chan: Yeah, poor Hotstreak! Dude, I'm actually feeling for him and I'M writing the story!;)
To Jill: Thankx so much! I really appreciate (sp?) it. I hope you like the new chap too.
To dpowellyoyo: Yeah...right. Thankx for the review...I think;)
HEY GUYS! 'Sup? Yeah, I know...long time since last update. So sorry 'bout that. Trust me, if it wasn't for school, I'd be writing nearly 24/7. Too bad life has it's way of messing that up though, huh? Aww...I can't believe it! There's only a couple chapters left! I don't want it to end! Haa...okay, okay, I'll shut up now and let you get to reading. (Oh, and just as a fun mental thought, Hotstreak plushies to everyone who reviews this chap!;) Later.
Enjoy:)
Stifling back a cry of pain from the most recent blow to his face, Hotstreak closed his eyes against the pain and tried to regain what little composer he had left. He could feel a light flow of blood begin to trickle down his nose as Ebon pulled his fist away from his face. The pain from the blow was nothing he hadn't felt before, but for a reason unknown even to Hotstreak himself, even the slightest pain felt unbearable that night. Rio... Hotstreak's mind rushed with thoughts of worry and regret for his sister as he watched Shiv and Talon quite literally drag her out of the room.
"You shouldn't be worrying about her Hotstreak." Ebon said upon noticing Hotstreak's attention on Rioko.
"Who said I'm worried?" Hotstreak replied quickly; trying to put on the best 'normal' front he could.
"It's written all over your face hot head. You know, I used to think you were a really complicated kind of guy..."
"And?" Hotstreak rolled out.
"Now I know better. You're just a shallow, weak kid." Ebon said with small maniacal laugh.
"Yeah, I might be. But then again, so are you." Hotstreak growled through a crooked smile.
Ebon eyes narrowed at his comment and nodded his head as to act as a silent order to the men holding Hotstreak.
Hotstreak hissed quietly as the two impressively-sized men tightened their grips on his arms. "Ha...you know I'm right then." despite the pain shooting up his arms from the guard's vice-like grip, Hotstreak's wit was still quite intact.
"You should watch your mouth kid." Ebon snarled before backhanding him with an impressive strength that almost robbed Hotstreak of all his consciousness.
Behind an old separating machine, Static crouched low and watched as Ebon tortured his enemy-turned-alley. I can't believe I'm about to risk my life for him. Oh well…might as well get it over with. As of yet, Static wasn't quite sure how he was going to save Hotstreak from the fate that seemed fixed, but he knew he had to try nonetheless. I bet if I can knock out those two guards in one shot, taking out Ebon should be easy. Now... Static contemplated as to how he would go about his intervention. How am I gonna knock out them without hitting Hotstreak in the process? he thought deeply for a moment before he allowed a small smile to cross his lips. Ohh...that's how. After deciding his method of attack, Static ran unseen behind another machine where he would have a better view for attack.
"So, what'd ya think Hotstreak? How should I kill you?" Hotstreak was growing quite sick of Ebon's unmerciful taunts, but then again, he had grown so dazed by Ebon's fierce blows, he only really heard a couple of them. "Huh? What'd ya think?" Ebon repeated again just before landing a swift and powerful kick into Hotstreak's stomach.
Hotstreak gasped as the kick knocked all the breath out of him before snarling quietly. "Just end it already Ebon."
"Aww..." Ebon began, "Is that a plea?"
Static knew he couldn't wait any longer. It was either now, or never. Here we go... he said to himself before powering up his flying disk and soaring into sight just feet behind from Ebon. "What? You have a party and forget to invite me?"
Ebon's mood turned sour and his eyes narrowed the very moment he heard the ever familiar voice of Static. "What are you doin' here!"
"Ahh...well you see, when you kidnapped Angel, you forget to take into consideration that not only is she Hotstreak's sister, she's also my partner. And anyone who messes with her, is gonna have to deal with me personally."
"Oh really?" Ebon's eyes widened with relief as he spoke. "That's very honorable of you Static, but I'm afraid you're too late."
"I don't think so." Static stood tall on his circular disk and charged up two impressively sized balls of purple electricity around his clenched fists. Hotstreak smiled sinisterly upon feeling the guards lessen their grips on his arms. They were afraid, and Hotstreak was going to take advantage of it. "Hotstreak! Move!" Static yelled just before sending the electric spheres directly for each of the guards.
Hotstreak quickly twisted his arms out of the two stunned guards hold and hurried out of the way of Static's attack. The blasts ripped through the air like torpedos in water before hitting their targets both dead-on. The two once-powerful metahuman's shrieked in unison as the blasts electrified their bodies while sending them plowing into (and through) the wall behind. Ebon had never seen such power and anger surging through Static's eyes. He knew this would not be a fight easily won, but he was not about to back down quietly. "Hotstreak, go get Rioko. I'll take care of him." Whether he wanted them to or not, Ebon's eyes widened after hearing angrily Static growl out his last sentence.
Hotstreak nodded quickly to Static and smiled again as he wiped a hand to his nose; removing the blood from it. "Hey sparky!" he paused; waiting for Static and Ebon to turn their attention to him. "Give him an extra somethin' for me will ya?" Static did not answer, but the look of sudden fear he saw in Ebon was good enough answer for him.
Elsewhere in the factory, Shiv and Talon continued to drag an unconscious Rioko to a half-broken door leading outside. "...come on Talon. You don't wanna have any fun with me?" Shiv's voice was high pitched and grating to Talon as she helped him pull their hostage along through the door.
"No Shiv, I'm just gonna go back inside with Ebon. You can do what you want with her without my help." Talon's reply was somewhat uneasy, but still quite pointed as she dropped the weight she was carrying of Rioko and quickly walked back inside the factory; leaving Shiv alone with his prisoner.
She didn't know why, but as she slowly walked through the half-lit hallway, Talon felt as if someone was coming…someone not on her side. Yet, she could plainly see that there was no one there. The dingy hallway was abandoned to everything but a small light, a few crates, and herself. "La calma que precede a la tormenta..." The calm before the storm, she mumbled to herself in her native tongue. Just then, Talon swore she felt a rush of heat fly past her. There was still nothing there, but she knew something, or someone, was coming her way. Not wanting to find out what it was, she took the first opportunity she could find to hide within the safety of a deeply shadowed nook behind a crate.
Not twenty feet down the hall, an enraged Hotstreak ran cautiously to where he thought his fallen sister might have been taken. Hearing his echoing footfalls through the hall, Talon sucked in a deep breath in hopes whoever was coming wouldn't see her. Within seconds, Talon watched silently as Hotstreak passed. "Whew..." she made a fatal mistake by allowing a deep sigh of relief escape her lips. Despite her efforts to cover up her error by clamping her hands over her mouth, it was already too late.
The pyrokinetic's heightened senses quickly alerted him of the sound; however slight it may have been. "Talon!" he growled angrily; fire burning stronger in his eyes then it ever had before.
Talon felt herself begin to tremble as Hotstreak's fierce gaze met her own. "P-please...don't hu-urt me..." she manage to force out between shivering chills of fright.
"Where is she!" Hotstreak growled again. This time more fiercely then the last (if that was possible).
Talon tried to speak but the sound of her own heart beating faster and faster in her ears deafened her mind of all logical thought. That way. she said silently as she lifted her shaking arm to point down the hall.
Immediately, Hotstreak picked up his previous run and jerked his furious gaze off Talon and back to the hall in front of him.
Though her body wanted her to stay exactly where she was, Talon's mind overran with sudden worry for her leader and friend. Her legs were still trembling with fear from her recent encounter with Hotstreak, but despite that, she managed to push them into a fast run. After running no more then a few feet, Talon found herself letting out a cry of pain as a ball of fire hit her squarely in the back. Passing out before even reaching the floor, she was spared seeing the cruel expression of sheer rage creasing every line of Hotstreak's face just down the hall.
"Rio..." Hotstreak's moment of victory over Talon was short-lived when his mind pulled back to the thought of his injured sister. "I'm coming." he muttered as he ran as fast as his legs would take him. Just moments later, Hotstreak found himself face to face with a now closed door. Here goes...
"So, looks like we get to finish our fun after all, don't we?" Shiv snickered manically as he jerked one of Rie's wings and forced her semi-conscious body to its feet. "Got any last words?" he asked jeeringly while he again morphed his hand into a sharp dagger-like blade and held it close to Rie's neck.
Rioko's strength was all but replenished as she struggled to bring her sight up to meet Shiv's. "Go to hell, Shiv." she growled with all the strength she could muster.
"Haha...will do, sweetheart. But not before I drag you down with me."
