"Could you drop me off down there," Nightingale pointed to an older subway station.

"Sure," Static grinned, unable to resist a little fun, "Hold on!" He turned sharply, leaning heavily to one side, and than flipped as they entered the wide stairwell.

"WOAH!" Nightingale almost screamed and held onto him tighter.

"Sorry," he grinned, "I couldn't resist." He didn't see the look on her face, but was still positive she was rolling her eyes. They entered the station, and he slowed. Finally, he hovered, and jumped off after her.

"Thanks," she said, looking around.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" he asked, seeing a few bodies of homeless people in the corners.

"I promised Fade that I wouldn't lead anyone to our new place. Sorry, Static, but that means you." She held out her hand, and a large, black mist appeared above it. Static nodded.

"'S okay," he brushed it off. "Just get that to Tech and--"

"Nightingale!" A new voice made them both turn. Another girl, undoubtedly in her early teens was running towards them. She had a black, baggy, cap-like hat on, a white shirt, and black pants tucked into her boots. Her long,copper-red hair trailed behind her as she approached them. "What do you think you're doing? I've been waiting for you."

"Sorry," Gail turned back to Static. "Static, this is another member of the Nightbreed, Stock, or Marci if you prefer."

"Good 't meet you," Static grinned and held out his hand. Marci looked at his hand, and lowered the sunglasses she was wearing, and looked him over warily.

"Sorry," Nightingale said softly, "I told you we don't trust above-grounders." Static nodded and lowered his hand.

"Come on, Nightingale," Marci said slowly and began back towards the direction they had come. Nightingale, however, walked over to the obviously abandoned subway tracks. "We don't have to take the long way, remember?" The black mass appeared above her hand for the third time that night.

"You guys aren't actually going down there," Static looked down at the tracks. Broken cement, glass and wood seemed like it had been scattered in clumps over the rusted rails. "If you trip, your history."

"It's okay," Nightingale smiled, "We've been through worse places than this. Besides, I need to talk to Tech as soon as possible."
"What's in the sack?" Marci asked.

"What I need to talk to Tech about," Gail grinned, and the black floating above her hands began to spread. "I'll see you later. Thank you, Static." He watched as Nightingale began to vanish in the fog, and he watched as Marci stepped toward her. He also saw the rusted metal rod before the cloud enveloped it.

"Look out!" He warned, but it was too late. Marcia stepped on it, and it rolled out from under her feet. She cried out as she fell towards the open death trap below.

"Marci!" Nightingale yelled, the dark matter she had created stopping as she ran to help her friend. Static threw out his hand and shot an electrical current that would levitate her safely back onto the platform.

"STATIC! NO!" Gail screamed. She saw Marci's eyes glow yellow and braced herself for a reaction, sending a wall of dark matter up between herself and the other two. She wasn't disappointed. A light exploded, brighter than any she could remember seeing before. She dropped to her knees, screaming in pain. When it dissipated, she took a moment to catch her breath and looked up, waiting for her eyes to readjust to the dimness of the station.

"Marci?" she asked. "Static?" She thought she saw a figure dash up the stairwell, and hurried over, only to see whoever it was reach the top at a dead run, and turn the corner before she could Identify them. Looking back around, she didn't see a sign of her two friends. "Not good," she whispered to herself, and looked down at the sack in her hands. Now she had two reasons to talk to Tech, and hopefully, he could help.

-----

"Virgil? Virgil!" The teenager heard his name calling him through the thickness that seemed to surround him. He groaned, unable to remain in the blissful, peaceful black. "What on earth did you do? Get up! Now!"

"My head," he reached a hand up, and felt he had his mask still on...but he'd never heard the voice before. This woke him up really fast. His eyes snapped open, and he looked up to see a nice-looking woman, dressed in a classic, dark blue suit jacket and skirt. Her brown hair had been tied tightly back, except for one lock that graced the left side of her face. She had to be in her late twenties.

"Where am I?" he asked, "And who are you?"

"This isn't funny," she hissed. "The judge is waiting for you. What happened?"

"I don't know," he shook his head and tried to sit up. With some struggle and a lot of effort, he managed to do so. "Where am I?" he asked.
"At your hearing," the woman growled. "I'm your Lawyer!"