Chapter 3

It was three hours after the attack.

Metal bat took Zenko home. She has been inconsolable. Bad had joined her many in shedding tears since she was so upset and could do nothing to bring back her smile.

He watched the news, over and over again, but began to notice little things out of place in his mind. He took a deep breath and decided to make a call. Venturing back to his sister's room, he found her asleep, yet her pillow had become soaked in tears.

He made the call.

"Association, Zombieman here…"

At first he couldn't bring himself to speak, until finally. He spoke.

Silence came over the phone, perhaps Zombieman wasn't expecting him to call. "Hey…"

"Look, I am sorry how everything went down from a few years back and me leaving…"

"Think nothing of it kid, you do what you needed to do."

"Yeah, well… I got no right to ask this of you, but, I would like to ask a favor…"

#

Zenko woke that morning after the call went out.

Bad was up at sunrise making Zenko's favorite breakfast. The smell would be enough to draw her out of her room, which it did much to his luck. "Have a seat sis,"

She was confused to all of this, but she did as he asked and took a seat. He made a special plate and set it before her. She stared at the food before looking to him. "What's going on?" she asked. "Last time you made me this, you told me you were going to the Neo heroes."

She began to eat, much to his relief. But Bad sighed aloud. "You're moving out for a while."

Instantly, she froze.

"What?"

"You're going to move into the Association for a little while."

She stopped eating completely. "Big Brother…"

"Hear me out." He pleaded with her. Bad took a seat. "I was at the neo Heroes a while ago… two of our guys were different from the last monster attack. I noticed it and it ain't sitting right with me. I am going to confront them on this, however. I want my bases covered. Alley had always told me, if I ever needed anything from her or the Association, I could ask. Well… I am asking them to look after you as I look into this."

She was silent. Zenko shook her head to it all. "If it's that dangerous than quit!" she demanded. "Why the hell are you even with them? Why didn't you just leave the moment Alley made her Association! She would have welcomed you with open arms damn it!"

"Because, if something is happening, they are going to do it to other people!" he protested to her. "Z… I want to protect people, you most of all. And if I am sticking my nose into something that shouldn't be there, like hell I am going to risk you getting hurt!"

She froze to the outburst.

She toyed with her food before stating. "I already lost the love of my life… how do you expect me to cope if I ever lost you?" she asked.

Right in the feelings.

Bad felt that sting really hard in his chest, although what she said is true, he has to be sure people are safe if something is going down at the Neo Heroes. "I know… you are a lot stronger than you look. However, I would never do anything that would make me leave you so soon in life. You are the very reason why I keep going every day, and you are the very reason why I will always fight to live. I will never give up on my life if it meant I am gone from your side forever!" he stated. He then went one farther. "Zenko, if you can't get a hold of me, and they ask you to come to the Neo Heroes HQ… DON'T!" he said in a warning tone.

Zenko appeared to think things over, she gave a defeated sigh and nodded her head. "Okay big brother… do what you need to do." She said quietly.

Bad nodded. "I need you to start packing over breakfast okay? I got all of Tama's stuff too."

"How am I going to get there?"

"We're borrowing Snek's drone. It will hold everything you need and take you right there. Sis… you know I would never do anything stupid…"

She snickered to that. "Oh yEaH, I aM SuRe oF thAt…" she said sarcastically.

He smiled as she finished her meal. They spent the rest of the morning packing up. With everything done, Bad told her to call him every single day at random times. "I don't care if it's one in the morning or if it's 4 in the afternoon. Call my phone always. And if you don't get through, call the Neo Heroes and ask for an update on me. Got it?"

She nodded.

With everything packed, the drone arrived within 2 hours. She loaded everything on and got Tama into the cat carrier. She held Bad once more before getting on the drone.

He watched it take off into the sky, Bad sighed aloud as it vanished from sight. But he knows his sister will be safe.

#

For a few days, it was non-stop for the Neo Heroes.

Monster attack after monster attack. They appeared to be coming in droves ever since Garou and the family were taken out. Bad had a hard enough time keeping up and fatigue was getting to him. The last one he took out, did some damage to his arm. A deep lash cut into him, he also had slashes across his back and chest, but he was no worst for ware.

What did bother him though was the turn over rate of the Neo heroes. He had seen some go into the medical ward, but never come back out. Perhaps he needed to make a trip himself.

He got back to HQ, Destro and Erimin were in the main hallway and appeared to be waiting for him. "What's this?" he asked.

They offered a warm smile to him. "Metal Bat, you're wounded, come with us, we need to tend to your injuries…"

His back was up, but he has to play it cool. Holding his side in pain he nodded in agreement. "This would be the first time I am taken to the medical ward… Come to think of it, I've seen guys go in but haven't come out yet. Everyone okay?"

"Fine, they are fine and they will be a lot better the moment they are released." Insisted Destro.

The hallway was oddly silent, for a medical ward there should be some sounds. People moving about, the cart of medicine going about from patient to patient… but it was all oddly quiet.

Bad was taken to the end of the hall, he walked through the double doors and paused.

There were large tubes everywhere. "Hold up, what's this?" he asked.

"This is the recovery room…" Erimin said with a smile on his lips. "Here we make certain that our heroes recover to their fullest potential… after their modification of course…"

'I knew it!'

Before Bad could utter another word, he was blind-sided. He was struck by a more robotic looking version of KO and Mars Leo!

"What the hell!" he demanded. "They attacked me for no reason, you ain't going to stop them!?"

There was no look of surprise on the faces of the two 'security' men of the Neo Heroes. They merely smiled. "As long as you are a hero, and fight monsters. You will be harmed. We are taking the precautions and preventing such a thing from happening." Explained Destro.

"We will take full responsibility Metal Bat for your upgrades…" said Erimin as he turned to the two men who struck him down. "Kill him,"

Bad clenched on to his weapon. Like hell they are going to take him down that easily!

He was about ready to strike back, until he was stunned.

A powerful sound wave struck his body and rendered him unable to move. "Our interaction with Garou's kin wasn't in vein, that sound indeed drove them to madness, but there are ones that can have such a powerful effect on humans… like that one." Said Destro.

Bad's vision was fading, he tried to get up, his fighting spirit was lagging this time around, yet, as he collapsed to the ground he heard them say. "Prepare his pod. He need to make sure he's is fully operational in a few weeks…" Erimin said but then paused. "Start with removing his heart..."