Chapter 27

Three weeks later.

"We got to go! NOW!" called Garou.

It was just on the news. A massive monster attack in five cities going on all at once! "Suiryu, Alley, Snek, take City G! Melee and I will go to cities J and K. Pac and Metal Bat are already on scene in city U. Max and Flash are at City S. Everyone else, divide and conquer!" announced Garou.

The twins went divided up. Draven went to City S, Goliath went to City U. Snek however couldn't ignore a feeling in his gut. "Wait… Angela and Drax went out today… they were going to City G!" he announce.

"Let's go!" called Alley.

She was quick to get them to the city. It was a massive level dragon threat and it already took out a city block! However there was already a hero on the scene. Amai Mask! He was just knocked back and was still on his feet. "You're a large bastard aren't you?" he said.

"AMAI!" called Alley.

He turned. "There are people behind it, they cannot get out, I will draw its attention. Snek, lend me a hand if you will. Suiryu, help Alley if you please!"

"Got it!" called Suiryu.

"Amai, throw me!" Snek announced.

Sweet Mask obliged, he grabbed Snek by the arm and began to spin, around and around, faster and faster until he was launched right at the monster! Snek was quick to slither up its body and coil around its throat! He was just large enough to do it, but knew it was risky too. The monster still had its arms free, but that can be changed. With his fists balled up, Snek used every ounce of strength he had and attempted to crack its shoulder blade! One strike and he felt the bone bend and heard a slight break, but it wasn't enough!

"SNEK!"

He froze. Turning to the streets he saw Drax and Angela, they were trapped behind this monster and the buildings were collapsing all around them! "Angela! DRAX!"

"Let go!" Amai called. "Save them, I will take it from here!"

He nodded. Snek uncoil and was about to jump when the monster grabbed him mid air! It laughed and toyed with Snek in its grasp until Snek used his fangs to bite him and Suiryu came from behind to struck it upside the head. He was thrown into the building, yet tried to shake it off. The monster on the other hand teetered, but Drax and Angela were still in trouble. Suiryu took to the ground, trying to hold up one of the falling buildings to bide the people time to escape. Alley used her esper powers to delay the fall of the structure. Drax and Angela weren't the only ones trapped.

The world spun. Snek knew he was knocked silly, but couldn't stop. He picked himself up again and rushed towards them. He has to help them, the buildings were starting to crumble down around them! Despite his vision cutting in and out, he got within distance, if he can dash he would coil around them before anything happened, but his vision was cutting out. He shook his head attempting to clear it, but he saw the debris starting to fall. He lunged, he felt a body pushed into him, he just coiled around them as the building came crashing down…

#

"Is he okay?"

"I don't know, that was six tons of concrete that fell on him."

"What of…"

"Shh, not now."

"My head…" moaned Snek. Slowly his eyes opened. He found himself in a hospital of all places. "Where… what happened?" he asked.

"You were buried under six tons of crap." Said Garou. "Damn, the doctors can't figure out how you survived that."

He tried to remember. His head ached. "Was… anyone hurt?... Angela… Drax!"

The room grew silent, too silent for his liking. "Snek…" Melee began to say. She reached down and took hold of his hand. "You got to Drax in time, Angela…"

His heart froze. "No… no I got to both of them… I have to have gotten to both of them!"

"Angela pushed Drax to you, you weren't going to make it in time for either one of them." Said Amai.

Snek froze. He was here too? "Mask…"

"You were knocked down by the monster, your eyes were glazed over and yet you went on. Trying to reach them. I did as well when the monster itself cut me off . Angela pushed her son to you before the building fell."

He shook his head. "No… no, it can't be!" he picked himself up, despite the pain he was in he took in the room. Angela was in a bed, Drax, was up and at his mother's side. He was crying for some time, Snek pulled himself over to her. She was still alive… but the doctors were stating she might not make it through the night. Her face bloodied, her arms immobilized, broken from the attack. He could feel it through his scales, she was in great pain, and yet somehow survived. "Angela…" he whispered.

Her eyes opened weakly. "Snek…"

He couldn't hold back his tears. "I'm so sorry… I should have been there, I should have moved faster!"

"You saved him." She said and with what strength she possessed, she clenched on to Drax's hand. "You saved our son."

He froze. Drax did too. "Mom…"

"Drax… I wanted to tell you for so long." Slowly she reached for Snek's hand, she brought them together. "Drax, meet your father. You're real father." She whispered.

Snek couldn't believe it. "That's why…" he said, realizing that all those years ago, why she asked if he would have a family after his promotion… it was her way of saying he was going to be a dad. "Why did you tell me?"

She smiled. "I knew, how much being a hero meant to you. It was your dream, and I knew too, I couldn't be with a man who risks his life day in and day out. I couldn't expose a child to that. I thought I did what was best for both of us."

"No, you did what was best for me!" he protested. "Angela… please, be strong. Be strong for Drax, and for me!" he begged.

"I'll try, but I don't know if I can. Promise me… if anything happens… Take care of our son."

He wept, but nodded. She grew tired and passed out, Drax on the other hand stared at him. "This whole time?" he whispered. "You were my dad?"

Snek nodded. "I should have seen the resemblance." But then, Snek felt a pit form in his stomach. "I have so much to make up for, I promise you. I will do everything I can to make up for lost time. A mere apology will not cut it, I'm your father… I'm… you're father…" he said.

Drax cleared away the tears, he came out from around the bed and embraced him. "You won't leave again, promise?"

Snek embraced him tightly. "Promise."