The Passenger

The darkness of Grue's power emanated off him, coating his back and helmet, wisps of shadow and smoke turned into clawed silhouettes of hands grasping at their master's leathers. Ray shook off the feeling of dread and turned his eyes from the side mirror back to the road, his focus poured back on balancing speed and safe handling of the vehicle.

Shadow Stalker reloaded her crossbow and popped the dark winged creature, Grue hurled forth, with a lethal bolt. It exploded into black flames Grue himself drove through, the black fire didn't phase the rider or the darkness shrouded bike. The truck ran over something and Sophia and her captives jostled in the truck bed. None stirred but Grue poured on the speed and loosed another dark flier. The creature dove into the truck and Shadow Stalker used her crossbow to swat it out of the truck but the flier exploded its body fluids ignited her weapon and she chucked it at Grue who swerved to dodge.

Ray saw the straightaway, the street cleared up that led to the turn towards the energy bridge that connected the mainland to the repurposed oil rig that was The ENE Protectorate Headquarters. After the attack by Leviathan much of it was ripped up by the Endbringer's assault. Instead of being out in the ocean far from Brockton Bay, it now sat nearer the shore, torn whole from the platform that now resembled a skeletal hand reaching up from the ocean depths. Ray poured on the speed, his studies of the PRT and Protectorate had informed him that the hard light energy bridge was now at a downward slope into the vehicle bay of the facility.

Grue backed off as the truck built up speed and Shadow Stalker drew her smaller pistol style crossbow from the carabiner dangling on her hip. She reloaded it with a razor sharp bolt and watched their pursuer on his silent bike build up speed of his own. Grue's bike gave a sudden burst of speed and his bike smashed into the rear of the truck and he launched forward clinging to the cargo door.

Sophia loosed her bolt into Grue's demonic visage and the bolt struck true in its reinforced visor, but the villain kept crawling forth over the cargo door. She pulled the last lethal bolt from the hidden quiver under the back of her cloak and reloaded.

Grue finished pulling himself up onto the cargo bed and carefully rolled over the unconscious bodies of his crew. Another bolt was fired and even I'm close range it glanced off his new costume.

"Fuck!" Shadow Stalker swore and threw a wild punch towards Grue.

Grue stepped back and dodged the swing. He tore his helmet off and grasped the bolt as a handle. Shadow Stalker made a quick snap kick to Grue's stomach but he swung the helmet down, Sophia's foot made a harsh crack as the armored boot was blocked. A small trickle of blood mixed with sweat ran down Grue's face as he raised his helmet back up like a shield.

Ray winced as he could hear blows blocked and traded in the back of the truck. He tapped his ear piece again.

"Grue is onboard the truck, I repeat Grue is onboard the truck. Shadow Stalker is fighting him. For the love of all that is holy, have someone meet us at the bridge, he's got Batty Boom trapped in his darkness and I'm pretty sure he's copying her powers."

There was no answer for a few too many heartbeats, as Ray took a hard turn putting them directly on the path towards the HQ he got a response, "This is Miss Militia, Dust Devil. I am ordering you to slow down, the bridge's technology is reliable but the traction and wear of your vehicle's tires are in question."

"I'm speeding on account Shadow needs help! Soph- she's stuck back there with an entire gang of fucking villains."

"I understand but bringing Grue into the Headquarters with power copying capabilities changes things. I'll meet you at the beginning of the bridge. Slow down or I have been ordered to open fire with live and lethal ammunition."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck - fine, just help her!"

"She'll have it, be safe, Du-"

An armored fist smashed through the small window dividing the cargo area from the truck cab and darkness spilled forth filling the cab area. Cold filled his chest and dropped like a stone into the pit of his stomach, not again, not like this. Sophia was in trouble and he stuck her in a small space trapped with people she actively hated or tried to kill her.

He took that cold feeling and instead of panicking, he used it to center his thoughts. The darkness was blocking his line of sight, filling the cab like a smoky liquid. Even without his speed Ray calming rolled the window down and reduced the speed of the truck by removing his foot from the accelerator and easing weight onto the brakes. Ray pulled his mask off and stuck his head out the window, barely clearing the darkness.

The darkness was suspiciously good at blinding one's sense of sight as the truck was still barreling down the street. Roughly a football field away stood a woman in military fatigues and a very patriotic bandana and sash combo, aiming what first person shooters taught him was probably a .50 cal sniper rifle with explosive rounds. Ray did not think even a smoke grenade and a riot shield could save his ass from Miss Militia.

Both front tires exploded in less than a second, the full weight of the truck rode hard on the tire rims. He saw Miss Militia 's massive rifle turn into a green crackle of energy and swap forms into an RPG. The sound of the tires grinding on the pavement faded to nothing as he settled back into the darkness of the truck cab to maintain control as the rocket propelled grenade plowed into the engine block.

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