Omega Kid

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Kick-Ass comic or film written by Mark Miller, or any guest characters from other Kick-Ass fanfic's they are owned by their own writers and creators. However, all rights and characters for Omega Kid belong to me and are owned by me alone. So if anyone wants to ever use any characters or anything else from this story for a special chapter or fic will have to ask first...but don't worry, there's a 99% chance I'll say yes.

Chapter 27: Catch a killer

Well, I wouldn't have called it the best birthday ever...in fact on a scale of one to ten...this was a minus. It's been three days since the Ripper's attack on Quasar, and kidnapping Megan. Alex, Steph and I have been turning the city upside down looking for him, and waiting at his next supposed strike zone for him, but nothing.

Stella has been healing in the hospital after her near death encounter with the Ripper's dagger. So now as well as a bullet wound, she's got a stab mark near her stomach; she is tough I'll admit, hope I don't get anything like that. The worst I've ever dealt with was a bullet through my arm, and a cut that's still shown on my back.

And no matter how much the doctors beg her to rest; she keeps getting up and persuading me to let her join in our search. She's got it fixed in her head that it was her fault for letting the Ripper get Megan. There was nothing any of us could do; he came out of nowhere I keep telling her, but it's tearing her up inside that while she's waiting in a bed and Megan could probably be lying dead in a ditch somewhere. There haven't been any reports of a dead body, so I'm guessing that the Ripper is using Megan as bait for us.

But then again, if this is any body's fault, it really should be mine. This whole Jack the Ripper incident has had me involved right from the start; he's been after me, he knows me like I'm his twin brother, and he won't stop this until I'm dead. It feels like Batman and Joker at the moment; this guy wants me to go against my code and kill him, I've been trying to fight the urge thinking it will all work out in the end. But this isn't like the Batman movies where Batman captures Joker without the need of killing, if we're going to stop the Ripper, than I guess I'm going to have to...

''Thomas!'' Alex called out to me; I turned to him and Steph as they worked on Stella's computer to find the Ripper's next location. Stella was kind enough to ask her mum and dad if Alex, Steph and I could go to her house and finish off some 'work' she had saved on the computer. With the condition she was in, her parents didn't ask that many questions and let us. So we've been working on ends meet to find out where the Ripper's going to go next.

Alex carries on with what he was saying. ''Okay, after Quasar, the Ripper's next attack is supposedly near the Angel. And get this, around the area there has been reports of hobos and tramps found gutted in the streets. Thankfully, nothing about a 16 year old girl.''

''But why hasn't he made a big kill in the area?'' Steph asked.

I may have the answer. ''The Ripper's baiting us out; I think he may be getting to impatient for us and wants us to get the hint.''

''Well, I say we turn the hunter into the hunted!'' Alex muttered as he walked over and picked up his rucksack.

''Hold on Alex, we can't just waltz out in the open...''

''We can, that place is one of the most crowded in North London; he's not going to be able to attack us without getting noticed.''

''He's right, someone will spot him before he gets the drop on us.'' Steph agreed, but I still wasn't convinced. At Crystal's prom, he snuck in and snuck out undetected despite the hundreds of students and staff there. But now with Megan's life on the line, we were short on options.

''Okay, but we have to be careful who we turn our back on.''

''The guy's face is half burnt, I think finding him in a crowd will be easier than finding Wally.'' Alex said as he turned to walk out of the room, and got quite a shock when he saw Stella standing right at the door.

''Leaving without me?'' Stella grinned as she held her rucksack, obviously with her costume in it.

I can't let her go in her condition. ''Stella, don't even...''

''Don't even what? You want me to just wait while my girlfriend is being held by some deranged killer?''

''Stella, you're lucky you're still alive, never mind walking and ready to take on the Ripper! Megan is important to all of us, we're going to bring her back!''

''I can't just wait for you to call; I have to be there and see her with my own two eyes. And as well as Megan, I can't leave you guys. I don't know what I will do if I lost Megan, how do you think I'll feel if I lost all of you as well?'' She shouted at me, she was close to tears.

Alex then shouted back. ''The Ripper knows he's hurt you; he'll make you his next target, and no offence but with that wound you're an easy one. We don't want you to end up any worse than you already are!'' We all just stared at Alex after that little speech of his, it was a little weird coming from his mouth. ''What? I can have feelings about my teammates too!''

''I really appreciate what you guys are trying, and I understand you don't want me to get hurt. In fact, Alex and Steph told me something similar with you when Toxin took Jenna,'' I glared at both of them, and they immediately backed off; they can never seem to keep stuff to themselves, especially when that stuff is about me. Stella walked closer to me. ''So don't you think it will be a bit hypocritical to keep me out of the way?''

''I think I can be hypocritical when you're life is on the life!''

''And so is yours, this killer is after you Thomas. You're so caught up in this mind warp about death you're forgetting about the main thing!''

''And what is the main thing!''

''To bring that bastard to justice by any means, and save Megan!''

I really don't like this; I know that there is the chance that the only way to stop him is to kill him, but what if I do in cold blood? How will everybody else see me? How will the others see me? How will I see myself? I don't know if I can live with his blood on my hands, but if I don't do something, I'll have Megan's blood on my hands. And Stella will blame herself if something bad happens, I don't want to let her think that, she's been through too much already. I take a deep breath finally coming to my conclusion ''Let's go!''

About an hour later, we made it to the Angel; this is midday on Saturday so this is probably the busiest it's going to be. But like Alex said, we might have more chance of spotting the Ripper, I just hope it's not at the expense of a life. The four of us separated to search around the area; I didn't want to leave them alone, but with Megan being held hostage, time isn't on our side. We all had our phones ready, and our costumes were in our bags just in case. ''Okay, Stella you check up the market, Alex you search around the games stores, Steph you take McMullan Road. Any trouble, or any glimpse of the Ripper, we call each other. Don't go at it alone!''

''No problem boss.'' Alex joked as he left; and the others went to their destinations as well. I have the feeling that if the Ripper does show up, it will be for me; after all, he attacks on my birthday, he knows my name, what if he knows I'm Omega Kid? No, he doesn't! He knows me as Thomas Lanks, which means I have to have met him before.

He keeps saying that we have to kill each other and it's down to us too, but why? I just can't place who this guy is, I don't know him. He must be mistaken me; but if he did, wouldn't he have found out by now if he did? It doesn't matter what connection he has to me now; Megan is in trouble, so I'm involved with this killer whether I like it or not. ''Thomas?'' I hear a voice, at first I thought it was Stella, but I turn around and see someone that I really shouldn't see at this particular time.

''Hey Rachael.''

''How are you? You okay? Is everybody okay? Have you heard anything about Megan?'' Rachael frantically asked me, I could barely understand what she was saying. ''Sorry, it's just that I haven't heard anything, I'm really scared for her.''

''We all are. But I'm sure that...the police, or even Omega Kid and the others will find her, and she'll be alright.''

''I know...but...what if they're too late? What if the Ripper gets them first? We have to do something first!''

Oh crap, getting Rachael involved was the last thing I wanted. It's bad enough with Megan being captured, what if something happens to Rachael. But I can't just say no to her without raising some kind of suspicion of what I'm doing at the moment. ''Rachael, I know Megan is going to be okay. Omega Kid will find her.''

She nodded, but couldn't hide the worry on her face. ''But what are you doing here? After what happened on your birthday...''

''Oh, just a few bruises, I'm fine. You're okay right?''

''Yeah, I was just out getting something for my mum. Thomas, before...the Ripper attacked, you said you had a part time job you were going to tell me about…''

''Oh...yeah...um...I'll tell you about it later, I'm in a rush now. So, see you later?''

''Sure, just be careful, I worry about you.'' She whispered the last bit, and then kissed me on the cheek. She headed off, as if I wasn't already worried, what if the Ripper goes after Rachael now that she's here? Is God just playing with me now?

It's been half an hour, and there hasn't been a sign or scream of any Ripper. The four of us have been calling each other to make sure we're all okay, but none of us have spotted him yet. And I can tell from Stella's voice (even over a phone line) that she was really starting to worry. The longer we go on without anything, the less chance we have of finding Megan safe and unharmed. I just keep telling her to keep looking; I know we're going to find her. I might just need something to help us with our search...live bait, and I know just where to find it...its blue and silver and in my rucksack.

The others aren't going to like this, but what they don't know won't hurt them. I rush off to the closest alleyway; but this wasn't going to be easy, the place was so busy that it's going to take me all day just to find a place to suit up. After a little bit of searching I finally found a place, I run as far into the alley as I could, and take my costume out of my bag.

''You're Omega Kid?'' Oh double crap! I turn around to see the person that's just caught me off guard, but there's no one back there. But then I look up to the stairway on the side of the building, and standing on it was a familiar face...or more like a familiar mask.

''Hellrider?''

''This has to be some joke; a squinty little dick like you couldn't possibly be the real Omega Kid!''

''Well, I would say why don't you test me, but I don't have the time. The Ripper may be here!''

''Ah that voice, it is you, you're making me look bad.'' He grunted and then started spinning his red bow staff.

''Oh come on, you can't seriously...''

''Relax kid; I'm still on your side. Until the Ripper is dead of course, so you think he's here?''

''I'm hoping, my friends and me are looking...''

''Your teammates? No wonder you're taking so long.''

''Well you don't seem to have found him!''

''Cause I'm not really in a hurry; it may not look like it, but I do have a life to attend to.''

''And so do I! My friend's life! The Ripper has taken one of my friends, and I'm not going to waste anymore time by arguing with you, I've got to lure him out and...''

''That won't work.'' He interrupted before I can get my costume out of my rucksack.

''What?''

''If you change now and go out in the open, you're going to attract all those people's attention, and the Ripper will have to work his way too you.''

''He's done it before with me, as in me me.''

''What? So the Ripper knows who you really are? You have really got to do better with the secret identity.''

I have to agree with him on that one. My phone than started ringing; I fumbled it out of my pocket and saw that it was Stella calling again, this is too much for her, this is one of the reasons I didn't want her to come along, she's going to break herself trying find to Megan. ''Stella, you found anything?''

''Once again, Stella sends her regards!'' The Ripper...no, not again.

''Where is she?''

''You'll have to be more specific, as you can remember I now have two lovely ladies with me.''

''I swear to God, if anything happens to either of them...''

''You'll kill me?''

I didn't answer back, this is what he wants, and he just wants some tool to use to make me kill him when he fights me. The line then cuts off, I quickly call Alex and Steph. ''Guys...''

''We know, he just called us; we should head over and find them. If he still has Stella, he can't go too far!''

''Okay, but don't fight unless both of you are there. I'm on my way!'' I cut off; guess the costume bait plan won't do now. I turn back, I hate to have to do this, but I'm going to have to ask for Hellrider's help...it's just now I can't, because he isn't there anymore. I sprint out of the alleyway, and try to make my way past the people that are out shopping and going about their business. It looked like I might have even bumped into Rachael again, but I can't stop to check. My phone starts ringing again; it was now saying that Alex is the caller. Oh God please don't let it be the Ripper, I'm almost there. I answer expecting the worst...

''Thomas, they're gone!''

''What?''

''I'm at the market, but there's no sign of Stella or the Ripper. And everyone here is going about as if nothing's happened. Stella must have been taking in a corner somewhere where no one was looking, but still how can the Ripper move a body around with no one...''

''Wait, just you? Where's Steph?''

''He just called me, he's on his way, he should be bumping into you if you're close.''

And speak of the devil, Steph than rings me. ''Steph, how close are you?''

''I'd say he's on the brink!'' I stop dead in my tracks once I hear that cold voice, he's now got Stephen? How can he be doing this so quick, and with such stealth?

It must be on speaker, because Alex was involved in the conversation as well. ''Listen you, if you do anything to Stephen...''

''Like this!'' The Ripper replies, and then I can hear screaming on the line, Stephen screaming. A little beep appears on the phone; Alex and the Ripper have cut off. No, no, no, no, this can't be happening. I've got to find Alex. I rush past the pedestrians and the oncoming traffic, just managing to avoid the cars.

I finally arrive at the market; but there was no sign of any kind of struggle, and nothing seemed out of place. Something than caught my eye on the street corner, there were so many people that I had to walk closer to see what it was. When I did see it, I don't think I could believe it, I don't want to believe it...it was Hellrider's bow staff, bent and with a speck of blood on it.

RING! RING! My phone went off again; I couldn't move, I don't want to move, but I have to know. I see the caller; it was coming from Alex's mobile. For a moment I couldn't move, I just stood there and stared at the phone as people started taking notice of the bloody bow staff next to me. I move away from the crowd; when no one was around I click the accept button and slowly raise the phone to my ear. ''Alex?''

''You don't want to kill, yet you don't know how to protect lives!''

He's got them; he's got them all, and it's my fault. It was my idea to split up, I let Stella join us and get herself caught, and I didn't call off the birthday, which lead to Megan's kidnapping. No, I can't blame myself; I've been down that road before. I have to know why? ''What do you want?''

''To create the perfect personification of Good and Evil.''

''Well, you've created it!''

''Yes, one cannot be without the other. And if you truly wish to stop the evil, then you must stop the good.''

''Enough with the riddles!''

''You must let go of what is keeping you in the light; your will to save lives, as well as your value for them.''

''You're a killer, you can't talk about value in lives!''

''It's better and more fulfilling than the life I had.''

''And did I have apart in that old life?''

''You were more like the bridge way that connects my old life and my new one, and I am for your life, Omega Kid!''

He does know who I am; this guy has been my shadow, my devil on my shoulder. He's had an advantage over me from the very start, and no matter how much I've tried I just couldn't get the helping step I needed, all because I was so scared of death. Whether it was the Ripper or me; but now my friends are the ones that could be dead. ''From the start, you've known me; you've said we're connected. I want to know how, NOW!''

There was no reply; he still had the line on, and from the other side I could hear the faint sound of a police siren. Then I heard the siren again; only on my side, the car was next to road I'm on, the Ripper is making his way towards me. ''Without you, there would be no Jack the Ripper. And without me, there would be no Omega Kid!'' He finally replied back.

''What? You have nothing to do with me!''

''You still don't remember me, do you?''

''No!''

''It was a little corner shop; it sold a bit of liquor and food, but there was enough in the register for me to live off. I use a gun I found in the trash; I took the store hostage, as well as a little girl. It was going as I hoped, no one needed to die and I would walk away with the money. And then...a teenage boy walks up to me, telling me to just walk away.''

It felt like the world around me just darkened. I think I'd just lost my breath, my head was in a buzz, and all of a sudden I can picture the Ripper's face, only without the burns and I have seen him. He was the guy that I stopped in that shop, the day I found out about William's death. Now it all made sense, why he says that he created me, it was after that fight I decided to be Omega Kid, but how did he know...

''After that, I escaped, but with nothing to pay for my survival. I was on the edge of death, I would have rotted away...and then I saw you, as Omega Kid. I knew it was you, even in the papers, I could never forget those sympathetic blues eyes of yours. And when you spoke on the news, or on the Internet videos, I knew you were that boy. I found out everything I could about you Thomas Lanks, I made you into something great; I made you the God of Heroes. But what do you call the creator of God? I vowed to do the same as you, to make myself a legend, and I started by taking on the name of Britain's most legendary citizen a name that everyone will know, Jack the Ripper. Now you see why it must end in death. Because it began with birth!''

Finding this out, finding out that my archenemy was in fact the first enemy I fought without knowing, I felt angry. I still remember, I tried to help him, I gave him the chance to walk away and I wouldn't tell on him. I would have kept that promise, but je just smacked me across the head with his gun and tried to take the money. I know people like him; even Stella was similar to that, but she fought back against it, this was just pathetic.

Instead of fighting against the urge to surrender, he becomes a reincarnated killer just so he could become famous. This is the guy I beat before, before I'd even started training to become a superhero; I beat him then, I can beat him now. But after what he's done, after going through with all this just to make a name for himself, I can't even remember why I didn't want to kill him. ''Alright, you want this, you've got it. No surrender or mercy. Just you and I to the death, now show yourself!''

He didn't reply straightaway; he's probably jumping for joy inside now that he's got what he wants, but I don't really care now, I just want to get my friends back safe. ''Turn around!''

I panicked at that last bit, so I did what he said. And once I did; I felt an arm wrap around my neck, and another cover my mouth. People around starting running and screaming, but none were willing to help me. I smelt something in his hand; he was holding something to my mouth, but I don't really have time to tell what it is, just what it did...made me faint, and wait for what happens next...

To Be Concluded...

Dun, dun, dun, dun...so the Ripper's identity has finally been revealed, bet you all thought I was going to go Star Wars and have him be Thomas's father. Nope, and as you can tell from the last three words, the next chapter is in fact the conclusion to Volume 3 on Omega Kid. Will Thomas and the group all make it out alive? And if Thomas does beat the Ripper, will he kill him? The answers on the next chapter.