Chapter Five: Not Hardware, Gear
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"How does it feel to be a superhero Matrix?" Static asked.
The one he was referring to, Matrix was a masked Morgan who was clad in a sleeveless black catsuit. She did a back flip in mid-air to answer his questions. She grinned as a explosion of white fire passed her. Lux aka Nitrix roared to a halt, floating just a few yards ahead of her sister and Static.
"I feel like a cliché." Nitrix deadpanned, pulling at her identical catsuit that was white instead of black.
"That's how you're supposed to feel!" Matrix grinned before soaring high into the air.
They were on a routine patrol, something that the girls had become quite familiar with the past few days. As they flew around they stopped random robberies and other crimes of the like. Today was a bit of a slow day though.
"You know, I'm craving ice cream." Nitrix mused as she looked down at an ice cream stand on the sidewalk.
As she flew down to satisfy her needs, Virgil received a call on his Shock Vox. Morgan flew over to him to hear whatever it was Richie had to say.
"What's up Rich? Other than Matrix and I?" He joked.
"I need you to get to headquarters right away." Richie told them.
"Why man? What's wrong?" Virgil asked.
"Just get here." Richie said before disconnecting.
Virgil looked at Matrix who nodded before flying down to retrieve Nitrix. Together they headed to the gas station as quickly as they could. Static entered first, not seeing anyone.
"Rich? Richie?" He called out but received no answer.
"Did he ditch us? That douchebag." Nitrix commented.
They looked around the gas station for Richie. Static pointed to a cloth covering something in the corner. Nitrix walked over and pulled it off, revealing a pile of rusty tools.
"He needs to clean that up. It's hazardous to our health." Matrix said.
"Oh Richard! Where are you?" Nitrix called out.
"Right here." Richie's voice said as a lens appeared in front of her.
"Holy Jesus!" Nitrix screamed as Matrix grabbed a pipe and prepared to hit the crawling robot that had appeared.
"No! Don't hurt it!" Richie said, running in from the back room of the gas station.
"What is that?!" Matrix asked still prepared to hit the robot with the pipe.
"It's a self-learning robot, I call it Backpack," Richie explained, proud of himself.
"I want one," Matrix chimed, "Where'd you get it?"
"I didn't get it, I built it." Richie proclaimed.
"You know, you have been on an inventing spree for the past few weeks." Static mused.
"I know, it's like my brain is on fire or something. All I can do is build, invent, and build some more." Richie told him as he paced the room causing Matrix to look at him before she smiled, knowing what was going on.
He ordered Backpack to shut down and the robot did as he said. Matrix went over to stare at the robot, interested in it. Nitrix and Static walked over to where small grenade looking bombs were sitting on the tool table.
"What are these?" Static asked as he pressed the button on top of one of the bombs.
"Aaah!" The electric superhero exclaimed as he was wrapped up in silver coils.
"Those are the next generation: zap caps." Richie told him while Nitrix snickered at Static hopping around the gas station, "They're a bang baby restraining device."
"They seem to work well." Static grumbled as he struggled to free himself.
Behind them the police scanner began to beep like crazy. Richie walked over to it hear what it was saying.
"What's up with that?" Nitrix asked pointing to the scanner.
"I programmed it to go off whenever it picked up the word 'metahuman,'" Richie explained.
"There's been a breakout at county lock-up, in the metahuman wing. We need backup." A voice said on the scanner.
"Let's go," Nitrix said as Static freed himself from his bindings. With Matrix behind them, they flew through the roof.
"I don't want to miss this." Richie said as he grabbed his scooter and followed after his friends.
--
As they neared the scene of the breakout, Matrix and Nitrix looked up to see Talon holding Ebon as they escaped from the top floor of the jail. Talon flew to the ground and the three heroes watched as Shiv freed Ebon.
"Let's get out of here, the cops are everywhere." Talon told her allies.
"You're worried about the cops when we're here?" Static asked as Matrix and Nitrix landed in front of the criminal bang babies.
"Static!" Shiv exclaimed.
"You got that right, you don't start none there won't be none." Static told them.
In response Kangorr jumped on a police car and kicked it, sending it flying at Static. However before it reached him, the vehicle stopped in mid air. Static gave Matrix a nod of appreciation as she placed the car on the ground, her mind straining to keep a strong hold on it. While the mentalist was busy Ebon used the opportunity to attack her. Nitrix wouldn't allow that and pushed him back when he sent a punch towards Matrix.
"Don't touch my sister." Nitrix growled, not noticing Kangorr behind her until he had roundhouse kicked her into the nearby building.
"Nitrix!" Static yelled as Talon swooped in behind him and knocked him into an alleyway. Matrix could only watch as she tended to them both as the bang babies made their escape. As Ebon rushed past her, he hit her shoulder and vision flashed through her mind.
Hey, I know you…
"Richie!" She gasped.
Richie was hidden in an alleyway when Ebon suddenly appeared in front of him. He gasped and backed away, fearing for his life.
"Hey, I know you. You're always hanging around with Static." Ebon growled.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Richie sputtered.
"I bet you know who he is. You're coming with me." Ebon snarled as he wrapped himself around Richie, intending to kidnap him.
As Richie yelled for help, Ebon was hit with a mixture of electricity and fire.
"Let him go Ebon." Static said as he floated overhead, glaring down at Ebon. Matrix and Nitrix stood below, ready to attack.
"No, he's coming with me." Ebon told him.
"No, he's not so I suggest you drop the boy and leave before I take you apart piece by piece shadow." Matrix threatened.
Ebon let Richie go and retreated into a sewer, "Another time heroes, guaranteed."
Richie gasped as he fell to his knees; Matrix was immediately at his side. She checked him all over for any injuries and when she found none she sighed in relief. On impulse she pulled him into a tight hug to which he returned. In the background, Static crossed his arms and smirked while Nitrix merely grinned.
"Are you okay?" Matrix asked.
"I'm fine, a little shook up but I'm fine."
"Oh thank God." Matrix breathed before she turned to Static and her sister, "Let's get out of here."
--
A few days passed and Morgan found herself worrying over Richie. He had been exhibiting new talents and though she knew what was happening to him, she still couldn't help but fuss over him when he slumped down at their lunch table.
"So Lux and I may have figured out what's wrong with you." Virgil told his friend.
"What did you figure out? That my brain is going into meltdown mode and soon it'll waste away and I'll become a lifeless corpse?" Richie muttered.
"Uh…no, this really has got you down doesn't it?" Virgil frowned.
"What do you think?" Richie snapped.
"Anyway! Virgil and I have reached a conclusion that you, Richie Foley, are a bang baby." Lux interjected.
"Wha…? How? I was nowhere near the Big Bang." Richie pointed out.
"But you were near me and I reeked of the stuff." Virgil added.
"So you were just a late bloomer." Lux finished.
"This sucks, it really does." Richie pouted.
"How does it suck? I thought it was your dream to be a superhero?" Morgan inquired.
"Yea, with a really awesome power, but no I just get stuck with a mind in overdrive." Richie sighed.
And with that he got up from the table and stalked off. Morgan got up and went after him while Lux and Virgil stayed behind.
"He sure is taking this hard." Virgil grimaced.
"He'll get over it." Lux deadpanned.
Virgil looked at her but she wasn't paying attention to him. Instead she was looking behind him, her eyes flaring. Turning Virgil came face to face with Ebon who began to wrap himself around the electric teen.
"Virgil!" Lux exclaimed before looking at Ebon, "What are you doing?!"
"Static's coming with me," Was her response as Ebon pulled Virgil into his dark pool and disappeared.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, this cannot be happening! Lux looked around frantically, praying there were no witnesses. Surprisingly there weren't and with breakneck speed she took off to find Morgan and Richie. She finally found them sitting under a tree and panting she hurried up to them and began to tell them what had just occurred.
"Virgil…kidnapped…Ebon." She gasped.
"Virgil kidnapped Ebon? When?" Morgan asked, not catching on.
"No! He was kidnapped by Ebon you idiot!" Lux clarified.
"Ah, wait what?!" Morgan's eyes widened as the realization hit her.
Lux grabbed her and began to lead her off campus.
"We've got to find him, now." Lux ordered.
"Why now? He can take care of himself." Richie interrupted.
"He could, if Ebon didn't know he was Static!" Lux hissed.
Seconds later they were sneaking off of campus. Once they reached the gas station, the girls began to suit up while Richie grabbed his Shock Vox.
"V? Can you hear me?" He spoke into it, the girls listening nearby.
"I can hear you. I can't believe Ebon figured it out." Virgil's voice said through the device.
"It's all my fault V, he was going to kidnap me to get to you and I guess he pieced it together." Richie sighed.
"It's okay, anyways, I can't power up. I've got this feeling that I'm being watched. Are the girls with you?" Virgil lamented.
"Yea, they're here and ready to come save you." Richie told him.
"Good, anyways, I'm being held in a detention center. I think it's the old juvie hall."
"Gotcha, we'll be there soon." Richie said as he grabbed Backpack, a helmet, some zap caps, and a pair of rollerblades.
"Hurry," Was the last thing Virgil said before they disconnected.
"Um…what do you think you're doing?" Lux asked.
"I'm coming too, I want to help." Richie replied.
"You're a civilian, this is too dangerous and besides it's your fault he got kidnapped in the first place." Lux told him, "Ebon got the idea that Virgil was Static because you're always around when Static's around."
"Then why didn't he assume the same about you two?" Richie questioned.
"Because we've just showed up on the radar, there's no way to connect us with anyone, yet." Lux explained.
"I'm still coming." Richie stated as he began to walk towards the exit but Lux stopped him.
"No, and that's final." She shook her head.
Morgan, knowing that this is what Richie was supposed to do walked over to Lux and placed a hand on her clothed back. They looked at each other for awhile, silently communicating before Lux moved out of Richie's way.
"Alright, you're bang baby. So show us what you got? Lead the way."
Richie smiled at her before they walked out of the gas station. Outside, Richie gave the girls Shock Voxes before they flew into the air. Putting on his skates he activated Backpack and began to float in the air, the rockets in his skates were activated. Clumsily he flew up to where the girls were stifling laughter.
"What are those?" Nitrix asked.
"My jetblades, they are my latest creation." Richie grinned proudly.
Nitrix rolled her eyes, "Whatever nerd wonder, now show us to this juvie hall."
Richie nodded as he put on his helmet and flew off in the direction of the detention center, Matrix and Nitrix right behind him.
--
As they neared the detention center Nitrix spotted Talon sitting atop a building. Beside her, Matrix was stabling Richie as he got used to his jetblades. When they all caught sight of the bird metahuman, Matrix lost her concentration and sent Richie slamming into Talon, knocking her out.
"Ah! I'm so sorry Richie!" Matrix gasped while Nitrix snicked.
"Come on, now we can take them by surprise." The white haired pyro said as she landed on the ground below.
Matrix and Richie followed suit and they all walked into the detention center together. Upon entering they encountered Kangorr who looked at them in surprise before attacking. Ensuring that their cover wasn't blown Matrix stopped him in mid air and Richie used a zap cap to restrain him. Then he was dropped to the floor and Nitrix happily knocked him out.
"You two go find Virgil; I'll take care of Ebon." Richie told the girls before he went off towards the room Kangorr had come from.
The girls nodded before running off in the direction of the cells. As Richie looked for Ebon, Shiv walked out and spotted him.
"Hey!" He exclaimed and his arms turned to blades.
"Ah, crap." Richie frowned as he dodged the blades, pulled out a zap cap, and restrained Shiv.
Then he walked over to the doorway and looked inside. Just as Virgil had suspected, he was being watched. Using Backpack, Riche directed the robot over to the TVs, silently praying that Ebon wouldn't see the machine. When Backpack had plugged itself into the TVs, Richie did a small victory dance before turning to see if the girls had freed Static.
"Richie!" Matrix exclaimed as she, Nitrix, and Static approached him.
"We took care of most of the job V, but we left Ebon just for you." Richie smirked.
Static smiled as he entered the room to face off with Ebon.
"You didn't do too badly for a nerd wonder." Nitrix commented.
"That's Mr. Nerd Wonder to you." Richie proclaimed.
"I'm so proud of you Richie! So do you plan to officially join the team?" Matrix asked.
"I do, but I'll need a name." Richie smiled sheepishly at her.
"Indeed you do." Static said as he walked out with Ebon, "And thanks to you, my identity is still safe."
"Hey we helped!" Matrix pouted.
"Come on; let's get these guys back to jail." Nitrix sighed pulling her sister with her as she went to grab Kangorr.
--
"So how do I look?" Richie asked as he admired himself and his new suit in the mirror.
"You look like a superhero." Morgan smiled.
"And you're acting like Sharon; get from in front of that mirror." Virgil joked.
"Now you just need a name." Lux added.
"I've been thinking, it could be something like Hardware or Steel." Richie mused.
"No, I like Nerd Wonder." Lux suggested.
Richie glared at her but smiled when Morgan walked up to him and gazed at him, she knew the perfect name for him.
"It has to be something in relation to your power. You build a lot of inventions, and you've got a lot of…gear." She said not taking her eyes from his.
Richie smiled as he realized what she meant, "Gear, it's perfect."
"I knew you'd like it." Morgan smiled.
And once again Lux and Virgil looked at each, just knowing.
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YAY! Richie is Gear now! And from now on, most of the chapters will be selected Static Shock episodes with the girls' plot mixed in. Now go review and tell me what you think!
Later!