Aftermath
Chapter Six
The loud earthquake roar and blinding light covered the whole area of Dakota Docks, the rescue services and the heroes slowly got back up on their feet and their vision cleared up from the bright light that had filled the air shortly after the roar like earthquake that had knocked them off their feet.
"A-adam, can... can you hear me?" A voice crackled across the shock vox channel, making Rubberband Man and Shebang jump back up onto their feet, surprise written on their faces.
"S-static? Where are you?" Rubberband Man asked nodding at Shebang, who jumped up and across to the chiefs of police and fire.
"I-in the lake, c-come and get us... Gear's down" Static replied with a gasp of air before the signal cracked up.
"Ok Static! I'll bring a team of paramedics with me, what about him?" Rubberband Man asked.
"It's gone, I- I'll explain later" Static's voice replied sounded more strained than before.
A few minutes earlier
The huge fire shadow monster roared as it launched a large wave of fire at Gear, trying to knock the hero out of the sky.
Gear cut the power to his jet blades and fell out of the sky far enough to dodge the wave of fire before activating his blades back on once again, throwing a ice cap as he spun around.
I'm running out of tricks Gear thought to himself as he watched the ice melt even before it could get near the monster, he was quickly running out of gadgets.
The monster roared loudly making Gear shoot back away from the fused monster wondering what it was upto, "Backpack! Keep up with this!" He yelled over the noise.
A huge ball of fire exploded from the monster's hands, filling the sky with bright white light and different waves of fire.
Gear tried to dodge the flames but managed to dodge a few before screaming in pain feeling a few of the fire streaks hit him on the chest and on his bare arms.
Backpack felt something was wrong and before it could even program the jets to automatic, the robot had to increase its hold on its owner as Gear was pulled aside and the monster roared in pain and disappeared into the remaining flames.
A loud splah was heard before the robot shut down to stop water affecting its circuits if the water seeped through the case. The rescuer looked up at the fire while keeping Gear afloat.
"H-hey G, come on bro!" Static said shaking Gear's unconscious form earning a moan while Static tried to keep them above the surface of the water.
Gear groaned but remained unconscious, "Come on Rich, don't do this to me please" Static pleaded moving Gear's arm across his shoulders and reached for his shock vox.
"A-adam, can... can you hear me?" He called through the shock vox channel, hoping that the device wasn't wet yet.
Rubberband Man gave Static a hand to pull Gear out of thelake and into the arms of the paramedics before giving Static a hand too.
"Great to see you back" Adam whispered into the young hero's ear as he wrapt a blanket around Static's shoulders.
"Don't welcome me back just yet Adam, not until I know Gear is ok" Static warned the elasticated hero before walking over to the team of paramedics. "How is he?" He asked seeing the paramedics using the light of the now dying fire to see Gear's injuries.
"We're going to have to take him in to clean up these burns especially the ones on his chest" One of the paramedics said and looked at Static, "You better come in too, just for a check up" He added seeing the hero shiver slightly.
"I'm fine, just wanted to know if Gear would be ok" Static repeated himself sounding unusually cold to Rubberband Man's ears.
Shebang joined Rubberband Man and saw him frowning, "What's wrong?" She asked watching Static follow the paramedics as they took Gear back towards the ambulances that were parked up by the emergency tents.
"Just that he seems cold, not himself..." Rubberband Man replied as they followed the paramedics but at a distance, he watched Static's back wondering if the young hero had returned to the the field too early.
Shebang looked at the elasticated hero before over at the electrified hero as he climbed up into the ambulance after the paramedics loaded Gear up inside. "Maybe he's not ready yet after..." She said before running up to the ambulance with Rubberband Man following close behind.
"Static, we're going to stay here until things have calmed down" Rubberband Man said and flinched when he saw Static's eyes, instead of the normal energetic and lively brown eyes they were cold and lifeless.
"Ok Rubberband Man, I'll stay with Gear as I got to change his helmet for the cloth mask to let the paramedics work" Static said looking at the heroes before being pushed into a nearby seat by one of the paramedics.
Shebang glanced at Rubberband Man before looking back at Static and disappeared off into the crowds, muttering under her breath while the news reporters were yelling for anyone's attention.
Robert paced around the kitchen, occasionally glancing at the phone or the shock vox that laid on the table, he had Richie make him a spare one after learning their secret identities Static and Gear.
With the disappearance of the monster, the fire department assisted by the police and paramedics is at last gaining control of the fire Shelly Sandoval reported, as an ambulance behind her left.
Gear has been rushed off to hospital after a suprise rescue and appearance by our resident hero, Static who were both found in Dakota Lake She continued, her hand resting on her left ear, while behind the newsreporter was movement from the police and firefighters.
We thank all of the heroes of Dakota including the couragious efforts of the police, paramedics and firefighters for putting their lifes on the line to fight against this powerful fire Shelly said with a smile.
Back to you in the studio James She finished and the noisy crime scene switched to a more quiet and calm newsroom.
Robert sat at the table during the report and shut the TV off once it was over, he sighed and took his glasses off before hiding his face in his hands.
"Daddy, did you just see the report? Adam just called me and he wants you to go to the hospital, somethings wrong with Virgil" Sharon said holding the cell phone close to her chest.
Robert looked up, putting his glasses back on after cleaning them quickly. "Did Adam say what is wrong?" He asked as he got up from the table crossing over to his daughter.
Sharon shook her head, "No, just something about that the hospital wants to run some observation tests on him as they landed in the water" She said inwardly wondering what was worrying Adam, as he sounded distant and distracted on the phone.
"Ok Sharon, you better come with me as I'm sure Adam will want to see you and Virgil" Robert said wondering what had happened to Virgil on his first time back in the costume so soon after his traumatic experience.
"Thanks Doc but I'm fine, I've been in the lake before and nothings happened" Static spoke to the doctor, who nodded.
"Ok Static but you can understand why we are concerned, but as for your partner he's fine just a few minor burns to the chest and bath of his arms" The doctor explained writing some notes on his clipboard.
"That's good to hear Doc, is it ok that I can see him?" Static asked as he tightened his mask before jumping off the bed.
"Well you're free to go, just got to get you to sign the release papers before I can let you see Gear" The doctor said pulling a few papers free and handed them out to the hero offering his own pen.
"Thanks" Static muttered as he took the forms and pen, he read them through before signing it.
Robert Hawkins along with his daughter Sharon entered the madness of the emergency department seeing firefighters and police being treated for burns or smoke damage.
"This is terrible Daddy" Sharon said as they walked through the department, seeing everyone running around with blankets or oxygen masks and tanks.
"I know Sharon but we're here now" Robert replied calmly and looked around at the chaos of the hospital wondering where they had put the injured heroes.
"Mr Hawkins, it's nice to see you" A doctor called joining Robert, juggling a file and was handed another by a passing nurse.
"Doctor Edwards, it is but wish it was at a better time! We're looking for the heroes, do you know where they are?" Robert asked with a tight smile.
"Thought the community center was supporting them, this way I've got Gear into one of the private rooms while the boss is dealing with the press" Doctor Edwards said and led the way to the stairs, as they climbed up the sounds of the accident and emergency department faded.
"The center is there for all of the city including the heroes, how are they?" Robert asked the doctor as they entered a wing.
"Asides from minor burns and covered in soot, they're all fine. We believe Gear's costume protected him from allowing the burns from getting worse than they would have been" Doctor Edwards told one of his old friends before pushing the door open, he held it open for Robert and his daughter.
"Sharon, glad you got my message" A familiar voice said and wrapt Sharon in a tight hug.
"Adam! I'm glad that you're ok, where's Shebang?" Sharon asked returning the hug before releasing him.
"On a coffee run, have you seen Static? He was released a little while ago before visiting Gear but now..." Rubberband Man broke away wondering about the young hero.
"Ok Adam, I know where he could have gone, Sharon can you stay here when Gear wakes up?" Robert asked seeing that the doctor had wandered off.
"Ok Daddy, just take care" Sharon said putting her free hand in her jacket pocket feeling Richie's glasses in there while her other hand held Adam's.
"I will, I'll be back as soon as I can" Robert replied with a smile and left the ward back towards the stairs, his mind going over what he had told Virgil before this whole incident.
Static stared out at the night sky and the city, he no longer could see the fire at the docks but he could hear the distant sounds of chaos of the emergency department down on the ground below.
Moving to sit on the ledge of the roof Virgil took his mask off and held it in his hands in front of him, he wondered how putting on the while mask changed him into a different person. A superhero that got his powers in an accident a few years ago before gaining them back in a recent incident at the docks he had just come from.
Has it really been that long? It's just gone by so quicky He thought to himself, blinking and shaking the waves of tiredness away.
When he had looked in at Gear, seeing him sleeping peacefully with bandages covering his lower amrs and chest while Virgil's spare mask hid his secrete identity. He had quickly left the room to avoid any awkward questions from Rubberband Man and Shebang.
"Virgil" A familiar deep voice called him out of his thoughts.
"Pops.. h-how long have you been here?" Virgil asked not moving his eyes away from the mask in his hands while his feet dangled over the edge.
"Just a little while, the doctor told me that you were both lucky... what's wrong son?" Robert asked crossing over to his son slowly before resting a hand on his shoulder.
Virgil tensed up and relaxed a little under his father's touch, "I- I thought that I was too late when I saw that bright light but then throwing the cure and pulling Gear into the lake," He explained before letting out a slow breath then slowly took a few slow deep breaths of the cool night air.
Robert remained silent but his smile turned soft when he heard the same compassion and love in Virgil's voice that he heard in Sharon's when she talked about Adam.
"But I'm glad that he's safe now... but, I'm not sure that I am" Virgil continued softly before turning around to face his father.
"Dad, I have lost my powers" He announced strongly.
To be continued..
Sorry that chapter five seemed rushed, guess it was but this makes up for it ne?
I'll be in hiding now!
So Read and Review