Chapter 26

A month would pass since.

Bad felt confident to go back out into the world once more. He also had to, they were out of peanut butter among other things.

He was wondering about the store when people stopped and whispered about him. Bad tried to keep a low profile, he didn't even bother to slick his hair back and let it hang down to give him a little more identity protection. Yet as he shopped, he knew someone was following him.

He ventured to the cereal isle when he heard. "Metal Bat!"

He turned and came face to face with Emp. His eyes were brimming on the brink of tears. "Bad… it's really you, right?" he whispered.

A smirk came over him. "Who else would it be?"

Emp suddenly wrapped his arms around him. "I was so worried!" he wept. "I didn't…. I didn't know…"

"Hey, Emp, calm down. You're making a scene here."

Emp pulled away as he noticed the people were stopping and staring at him. He calmed down and regained his thoughts after popping a piece of candy into his mouth. "We need to have a talk when you get a chance, but for now. Can I help you with your shopping?"

He snickered. "Do whatever you want man,"

He continued to shop, but Emp stayed at his side to assist him.

When he was done and paid for his groceries, he walked out, but paused and saw Neo Heroes had gathered.

Emp froze too at the sight. "Emp! You found him, great job!"

Bad froze as he turned and glared at him. Emp however was devastated. "What are you doing here? Why are you following me!" he demanded.

The Neo Heroes were the top brass of the recruits, most of them have become at least 50% cyborg and were at the beck and call of the higher ups. However, Emp doesn't appear to be on their radar.

"We were asked to monitor you, who knew you would find Metal Bat before us! So, with that being said, we're here to take Bad back!"

"Up yours," Bad snapped. "I quit!"

They only smiled. "You have to quit in person…" the leader teased. "Don't make this difficult for yourself…"

He sighed aloud as he placed his groceries on the ground. Bad started to stretch himself out, but paused. He saw him lingering behind them…

Suddenly, a good cluster of Neo Heroes went flying! They hit the walls rather hard and the ground but when everyone turned, they saw the Neo Hero hunter. "Oh nice… like fish in a barrel!" he said in a dark tone. "Glad you boys gather up instead of spreading out… makes it easier for me to knock the lot of you down!"

"GET HIM! MAKE SURE BAD DOESN'T ESCAPE!"

Bad was at the ready to fight, yet before he could, something strong dropped from the sky! He stood before him growling aloud. "Pac, get the hell out of here!" he ordered.

"Not without you,"

"I can handle this, you got sis…"

"Get on my back now!"

"I ain't going to run from a fight!"

"This is not up for discussion!" Pac suddenly grabbed Bad just as the Neo Heroes came in charging. Pac took to the skies before a strike could land, yet as Bad peered down, he shouted at Emp to run. However, Bane had other ideas. Bad cringed as he saw his former coworker get his head bashed up against the wall…

#

"WHAT THE HELL!"

Bad shouted and ripped Pac a new one by the time they returned home. "Why did you do that?!"

"I had to get you out of harm's way! If not Zenko would be pissed off."

"But Emp… why did you let that asshole hurt Emp!"

"I didn't even know Emp was going to be there!" Pac snapped back. But he sighed aloud. "Perhaps it's for the best anyways…"

Bad glared at him. "You're cool with someone hurting a fellow hero like that? Emp and I go back, same with your sister and Emp!" he protested. "Why… why did you…"

He only got silence from his brother in law. Pac appeared to be feeling like shit for what he did, but at the same time, had a fight been forced. He was in no condition to do anything. "We will make certain Emp is more protected from here on, for now Bad… let's just focus on Zenko and keeping you safe too. It's obvious now the Neo Heroes are gunning for you, why now? I don't know. But if anything, that just dispelled the notion that you are the Neo Hero hunter."

That much he could agree on.

"Well… what do we do now? I dropped all the groceries I got at the store… We got no food in the house now…"

Pac snickered. "Next time, just call my sister. She has delivery drones for such an occasion."