A/N: Hey guys! I'm really excited that so many of you are looking forward to and enjoying this story! I actually had some awesome comments that spurred me into finishing this chapter. I hope you guys like it. Actually looking at this now, I'm not sure how long this story will go, from the looks of it now it might be pretty short compared to my usual lengths, but then again I could always have more than one bad guy and make the super duo into a trio. Might be fun (and hopefully not too mary-sue-ish)! I guess it depends on how long this Actually goes. We'll just have to wait and see!
Until then, let me know what you guys think of the idea of having more bad guys after Ember!
Chapter 4
Freeman Community Center - 6:00pm Monday
It took longer than Virgil wanted for his dad to finally let him leave. He ducked into an alley just across the street and quickly changed into his Static uniform. "Come in Gear. Where you two at?"
Gear's voice crackled over the speaker, "We're with Dr. Todd. He's checking D out now." Static double-timed it to the hospital.
He flew straight to the meta-human wing of the hospital. The security guards were used to him and Gear bringing in new bang babies; they hardly reacted as he flew by. Gear was standing outside the main examination room. The door was open and Danny and Dr. Todd were inside.
"Learn anything?" He asked when he landed.
Gear shrugged. "Nothing I didn't already know." They stepped away from the door to not cause any disturbance. "His DNA is mostly stable but when he goes intangible all the molecules in his body temporarily un-bond. It stabilizes, but who knows what could go wrong with that."
"Did he give any more info on who he is?"
"No. Less in fact. He hasn't said a word to the Doc." Gear glanced back at the room. "I've never seen anyone so afraid of being found out as a bang baby."
"He's probably got his reasons. We don't know his situation." Still… it was problematic. They couldn't be there for him all the time. "So what was the emergency?"
"He got another power." Gear was still watching the room nervously, "He can sense when another bang baby is nearby."
"Woah wait! So you mean that he knows I'm here even though I haven't gone in yet?"
Gear shook his head. "No. I doubt he can tell one bang baby apart from another. At least it didn't seem that way when he let purposely Talon go. Besides, there are a few others here for testing today."
"Hold up! What do you mean he let Talon go?!" Static's face fell as Gear explained what had happened. "He's not thinking of joining them is he?"
Gear shrugged. "In a way he was protecting himself by testing a theory. I made sure he knows how serious that was. I don't think he'll do it again." They were usually able to keep new bang babies from ending up in one gang or another, but the gas messed with everyone's heads. Even Virgil had more of a temper than he used to. "Either way it's obvious he's more scared of his family than anything else. We'll have to be careful that Ebon doesn't get a hold of that info."
Danny sighed walking out the door, "The doctor said-" he paused when he saw Static's serious expression. "Oh uhh… So… I guess you told him then?"
Static crossed his arms. "You guessed right. Man, why would you do that? You must have seen her on the news. You should know how dangerous it is for her and the others of the Metabreed to be loose."
Danny scratched the back of his head, a nervous tick or something. "Yeah… if anyone knows that it's me…"
"Then why?"
He threw his arms back. "I don't know okay! I just did it without thinking." His eyes glowed such a bright green, Gear and Static nearly dove to the side thinking lasers would spring from them.
"Yo man, calm down."
"Why should I! You two already talked me into coming here and now you're getting mad over nothing! You're not the bosses of me! You're not even Police! Just a couple of Vigilanties!" His own shout reached his ears, but all Danny heard was his father's angry voice. A judgmental tone that had so often been turned against poor people, people of other races, and even against young people, like Danny himself. He looked away from the heroes. "I'm sorry…"
Gear waved him off, "No worries. We've heard it before." Static said nothing, watching Danny warily. Gear patted Danny on the shoulder and turned him toward the exit, "Well since that's all done, how about we get you out of here." Danny smiled gratefully and the three left.
Again Danny flew with Static on his disk. This time, Static noticed that it was significantly easier to fly both of them, as if Danny hardly had any weight to him. Whether it was intentional or not, Virgil didn't care to ask.
What were they supposed to do now? This kid still wouldn't go home. He refused to as long as his hair was still white. Maybe they could try some hair dye? But would that work on a Bang Baby transformation? What other choice did they have? They couldn't let Danny keep living on the street.
"Static?"
Virgil looked back and the boy clinging to him on the hover disk. His green eyes crinkled at the corners, nervous, afraid even. Probably because Virgil hadn't said a word to him since they left the hospital. He looked over at Gear who had an equally worried expression. He forced a smile, "What's wrong? You two look like somebody died. Lighten up."
"You're not mad at me?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't upset. Talon is one of the few who could get help. The doc and others could help her, and she has a family to go to. But she keeps going back to Ebon."
"Sorry…"
Static sighed and looked forward, they were coming up on a BuySmart store, "What's done is done. Let's land here guys, I got an idea."
XXX
"And who exactly are you? Another popstar wannabe?" Ebon's alreadly slit-like eyes narrowed on the girl standing confidently next to Talon. She said she was here to recruit him and the rest of his crew, but that's not how things worked around here. HE was in charge. He'd dealt with princesses with powers before and always came out on top. This time would be no different.
It'd taken a long while to find a new crib after their last attempt at getting Static. The old building wasn't much, and really, Ebon couldn't care less about it, but he couldn't just let this girl come in here acting all high-and-mighty, and he definitely couldn't let her walk out unless she joined up with his crew.
The girl crossed her arms and shrugged, "I prefer Rock Star; name's Ember."
Ebon smirked although no one could see it on his dark shadowy skin. "Embers fizzle out fast, and you think you can come in here and take my crew?"
"Well, yeah."
Ebon's smirk vanished. Hadn't she seen him on the news reports? What about all his street cred? She wasn't afraid at all. "I don't think so princess." He turned his back on her, "Shiv, get rid of her." Shiv had complained earlier he was getting bored; maybe this would shut him up for a while.
Shiv jumped up, a twisted excitement on his face. "With pleasure," He transformed his hands into his favorite energy blades and ran at Ember. Ember didn't move or even blink as Shiv sliced right through her with no resistance. His smile went slack in confusion.
She looked down at him from the corner of her eye. "Oh Sorry bro, did you want to try that again?"
Shiv's face contorted in rage and embarrassment and he sliced at her again, with no more resistance than before.
"She can pass through solid walls!" Talon yelled. She had jumped aside the moment Ebon had given the order, knowing Shiv wouldn't be able to do jack against Ember. She thought about helping with her sonicScreech but hesitated since Ember could easily turn it back on her. She looked at Ebon, "Ebon! She's too much for Shiv." She might even be too much for Ebon.
Ember yawned as Shiv continued stupidly slicing away at different spots on her body. "This is getting old," she said. She reached to the guitar on her back and flipped it around. She slid her hand fondly up the strings making no sound. "Yo, Talon baby, you still on my side?"
Talon froze as Ebon's eyes narrowed on her. No matter what she did she was on the losing side. Better to let them duke it out and stick with the winner.
"TALON!" Ebon roared at her, but Talon quickly jumped up onto the exposed rafters of the old building.
"Sorry Ebon, I'll just hang back and see who wins." If Ebon actually won though… she might be in more trouble than if she had sided with him and he lost.
Unlike Ebon, that answer suited Ember just fine. She plucked the first string on her guitar. Kangor yelled in pain just ouside the hall. Talon watched from above knowing this was just a trick, but the screams were agonizing, as if Kangor were being eaten alive. Even Ebon's eyes grew wider with each passing second, until he turned to yell at Shiv.
"Go!"
"Right!" Shiv ran for the door, the screaming stopped. Terrified, Shiv left to see what remained of Kangor.
Ember waited until Shiv had left the room then looked and smiled up at Talon, "Talon baby, Do yourself a favor and cover your ears for this one." Talon didn't hesitate to do as she was told.
"Don't tell my crew what to do!" Ebon roared. His shadow extended and his form grew larger, more threatening. He wanted to kill her now, but even he was worried about what had befallen Kangor, and if Shiv couldn't find him, they'd have to beat the answers out of this girl. His shoulders shook with rage.
"Ooooooo-" Ember sung a mid-level note. C sharp. Ebon froze watching her. She plucked another string of her guitar, and a new note was added to her voice, this one slightly higher, she did this again and again till a whole harmony echoed in the buildings crumbling old walls. Talon kept her hands over her ears but the sound was getting through and she was starting to feel dizzy.
It was even worse for Ebon who the attack was aimed directly at. But was it even an attack? The tone was soothing; almost made Talon want to take a nap. Instead, she pressed her hands harder on her ears until all she could hear was a ringing pressure on them. The tiredness she'd felt a moment before vanished.
Looking down, Ebon was holding his head. "What- what … is this…" He took two shaky steps forward. His form had shifted back to normal, and the shadow which he had been growing across the floor, intending to swallow up Ember, had receded. His head spun and he could hardly think.
Then don't think. Let me do the thinking for you.
Ember's glowing blue eyes filled his mind.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!
You mean My head, tough guy. I think it's time you took a nap.
Ebon had reached his limit and they both knew it. His hands lowered from his head and Ember ended her singing. Ebon remained standing but didn't move.
Ember smiled and walked right up to him waving a hand in his face. "Well that was fun."
"What'd you do to him?" Talon landed beside Ember looking at Ebon's blank, empty eyes.
"Hypnosis. Watch." She flicked a finger across Ebon's face, teasingly, almost like a lover might. At just that moment, Shiv reentered the room.
"I can't find Kangor anywhere!" He froze seeing them so close. "What happened?"
Ember stepped forward and placed her hands on her hips. "Your boss is following me now. I think you should do the same." Shiv blinked at her, clearly shocked and confused. Ebon wouldn't follow anyone. Ember's eyes narrowed. "What'll it be?"
"What'd you do to Kangor, and Ebon?" Shiv sounded more curious than nervous.
Ember shrugged, "That bigfoot was never here. If you were smart you'd remember that he's still in lock up since last week. Saw the news report myself."
"Oh yeah…"
"As Shadow here, I think I'll use him as bait for some bigger fish. Or maybe an electric eel."
Shiv chuckled, he always loved a good pun, "Going after Static huh? Well at least it sounds fun."
Ember strummed a chord on her guitar, sounding just like a normal amplified guitar, and struck a pose with her hand up in the air. "Alright! Let's get this concert started!"
XXX
"Are you sure this will work?" Danny asked for the fifth time, and for the fifth time Static responded with,
"No, but it's worth a shot right?" The three teens sat in a public bathroom with the door magnetized shut while the black dye soaked into Danny's hair, waiting until they could wash it out. "At least this way you have a chance of getting to go home."
Danny leaned in to the mirror looking from his dye soaked hair to his green eyes, "I guess so… but the eyes are still green."
"Try not to look directly at anyone," Gear shrugged.
Danny sighed. "That shouldn't be too hard. No one but Sam actually looks at me."
Both heroes raised an eyebrow, "So who's Sam?" This was the first moment that Danny had mentioned his home or anyone related to him. They kept their identities secret for a reason, but that didn't stop them from silently wondering if Danny also had a reason, and what it might be.
"She's my mom's assistant." Danny checked his phone for the time then began washing out his hair. The pink gloves that came with the dying kit were now an ugly brown color.
Static and Gear watched him for a moment hoping he might say more. Static tried prodding a bit when he didn't, "Why does your mom need an assistant."
Danny's face scrunched up, realizing his mistake. "Uhh… no reason…" He kept his head under the sink until no more dye could be seen flowing in the water off his head. Static passed him the towel they'd snagged from a clothes line. Hopefully it wouldn't get any dye on it so they could return it, without buying a replacement.
They surveyed the results of the cheap dye job. It wasn't a perfect black like Danny's hair used to be, but it definitely wasn't silver anymore. It was more like a dark grey now, with a few streaks of silver here and there. "It makes me look old." Danny commented.
Gear laughed, "Well better than having your Dad see it's white, isn't it?"
Danny nodded, "That's for sure." He smiled back at the teen heroes. "Thank you, for helping me."
"No prob," Static offered Danny a fistbump which he gladly returned. "If you ever need us again, we usually patrol by the library every evening. You can wait for us on the roof." Danny nodded gratefully
"Well not that we've got that sorted out just in time," Gear pat both of them on the shoulders. He was smiling but also looked serious. "The Metabreed are crashing a concert hall down town." Static nodded.
"Great! Well there goes my curfew again," Static grumbled, "You head home D. We'll catch ya later."
Danny watched them leave the bathroom before he picked up his clothing and stepped into a stall to change. Hopefully, with the small control he had over his powers, hopefully they'd never have to see him again.