Welcome to another chapter of the story. Many of you want to see some action happening. Well, it's going to happen soon, just wait for it.

What's next on this chapter? Read and be amazed!

(edit): Ok, I realized this chapter sucked. I'll rewrite it to better givemore detailinto it over time.

Chapter 7

"Sanity is relative. If you're insane, would you say that you're actually insane? Perhaps the perspective is true. Thinking the world flat would be a crazy thought now, but a hundred plus years ago it was true. Everyone knew the world was flat because the ground is flat, to say otherwise would deem your mind flawed. A person is only as sane as the others who perceive him. If it goes against society's way of thinking, it's insane." –Mimic12455

Now, there are many things to do a situation like this. One would be to panic, letting the mind run on instincts and do the first impulse that comes to mind. Another way is to assess the situation and find the best choice of action to solve the problem. Doing nothing normally doesn't help, but doing something could cost them their lives.

Five minutes have passed since the lockdown had been activated, yet nothing has happened. Ace has been thinking of what to do and the effects of that decision would have on the team. Slam occasionally punched the shutters to try and break out, but Tech told him that those shutters were a special blend of chemicals and a metal alloy found after the meteor hit called "Astrinium". Rev had been running around the area, trying to find Nix or a way out; which ever comes first. Danger went with Tech to try and deactivate the power in order to deactivate the lockdown. Ace and Lexi were searching the base for Nix, wanting to give him a piece of their mind. Since the elevators were inoperative, everyone had to use the stairs. This might not be much of a problem if it wasn't for the fact that the tower had 200 floors.

As Tech and Danger descended down the stairs, walking almost side by side, to reach the basement, the red lights giving the feeling of being in a horror film, they talk to try and pass the time. At first Danger suggested singing, but Tech chose not to and had to hear the targeted duck sing. After shutting him up by clamping his beak with his hand, Tech asked Danger not sing in the chance Nix finding them. He agreed and they decided to just talk while they walk.

"So Duck," Tech said, getting Danger's attention. "Why exactly is… Nix.. going after you?"

Danger sighed. "Normally I'd say "None of your business!", but seeing how this became everyone's business, there isn't any real reason to not tell you guys."

They were walking a few minutes in silence.

"… well?" Tech asked.

"Well what?"

"Why is he after you?"

"Because I tried to stop him from doing something insane."

Another moment of silence passed, Tech looked perplexed.

"Which was what exactly?"

Danger stared bleakly at him as they continued walking and said, "The only time I'm going to tell you is if you and Rev kiss each other in front of the others, open mouth."

"What are you impli…" Tech just stared with wide eyes and in disbelief by what he just heard. He cringed at the thought of actually doing that.

- - - - - -

Walking down the hallways in a rather casual manner with his staff going in step with his own, Nix looked down at the screen in his hand despite the blindfold. It shows a map of the base, there is 6 blips on the screen: Two going down the stairs, one seemingly wandering, two nearby, and one rushing around at a high rate of speed. With an ever neutral face, he walks onward.

He hummed, "hmm, hmmhm, hmmm, hmhmhm, hhmmmm, hmhmhm." It's a low tune, randomly humming a few bars for the sake of amusement. He took out a peanut butter sandwich he took from the fridge a while ago took a bite out of it (Even a villain has to eat you know).

- - - -

They continued down the seemingly endless cluster of stairs. This went on for about five minutes. The silence was pecking at Danger, who was not used to hearing nothing except when he's sleeping. Tech appears to be in deep thought, his mind in its own little world.

Danger could only wonder what is going through his mind, hopefully not actually thinking about kissing Rev. He's not sexist or anything, he just wasn't used to seeing that kind of thing in public or on TV. The last thing he needed was lawsuits. He shook his head. He was loosing focus of what was happening. He needed all of his cunning and wit for this. Another few minutes passed, they passed the 78th floor.

"Jeez," Danger said, aggravated at the fact that there's so many stairs. "Whose idea was it to put so many floors? I mean come on! 200 floors?" He waved his right arm in a sweep motion as he said it. Tech looked to his right, where Danger has been walking.

"To answer your first question: it was mine. The reason for so many floors is to reinforce the base of the tower, store any unnecessary items, and where most of the wiring and devices are located. That, and to make sure anyone who uses the stairs would have a difficult time getting up to the top." He said. They turned at the corner where it said "Floor 72".

"So how long will it take to get to the basement?" He asked.

"Well-"

"Give a straight answer…" Danger deadpanned. He knew every time someone asks Tech a question, he would say the equation or theory out loud.

"… 30 minutes." He said, rather annoyed that he had been interrupted. Danger's eyebrow twitched in agitation.

'30 minutes?' he thought. They would be dead and buried six feet under by then.

"Wow, thirty minutes. We should be there and back WAY before everyone gets mauled." Danger said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Ok then smartass, what would you suggest?" Tech asked irritatingly.

"Hmm…" He hummed. 'There's got to be a faster way down… wait a minute.' He just thought of something he should have done in the first place.

"Why can't I just Quack us there?" Danger asked. Tech stopped in his tracks, blinking a few times. He thought about what Danger just said in a second.

"… you know, I should feel pretty stupid right about now."

"Yes you should, but do it later." Danger put a hand on Tech's shoulder. "Get ready, here we go!"

With a flash of light, Tech and Danger were gone. Teleporting to the lower levels at a higher rate of speed. It should take them no more then a few minutes to get to the basement.

- - - -

The halls were murky and devoid of any type of reverberation. The air has gone cold and still, wisping along Lexi and Ace as they travel down the hallway and into the depths of the base in search for the elusive madman. It's apparent that they were having no luck. Lexi is using her super hearing to listen to the beeps of the radar Nix is using, problem is that there is no way of knowing the direction. It's basically a game of hot and cold, the louder it gets the closer the target. With little else to warn them, they are keeping their wits about them.

"Got anything Lexi?" Ace asked without looking at the other.

Lexi shook her head and said, "Nothing yet." As they continued down the hall, Ace can't help but feel as if he was being watched. They were passing by a door when Lexi's ears picked up something. She stopped and turned her head toward the door.

"Ace, I'm picking something up from there." She said as she pointed at the door.

"Good job, Lex." He said. They entered the door as it opened with an audible 'swoosh'. It was the Gym room. Other then the training room, the gym is where they would lift weights, run on treadmills, or any other activity that requires physical ability. The lighting gave the place an unwelcoming appearance that seemed to come from a nightmare. It's quite unsettling to be in now. The only thing that kept them going is the fact there was a madman and he had to be stopped. As they walk into the gym, the door behind them shut itself like it would normally do.

"Ace," Lexi said, getting the awareness from the yellow rabbit. Her ears were producing little purple rings around them.

He looks over to Lexi and asked, "What is it Lex?"

"I'm picking up a chain of Pings… and they're close. I'm guessing that Nix is here."

"And you guessed right."

They both shot with their respective powers at the source of the voice. The smoke cleared, revealing the charred remains of… the radar Nix was carrying.

- - - - - -

At the bottom of the Tower, Danger and Tech finally made it to the basement. Danger sat down on the ground for a moment to rest, having used a large amount of energy to teleport Tech and himself down 70 plus floors. He had to teleport every two floors. Sure, he could just teleport straight to the bottom. Of course there was a slight chance of him miss-judging the distance and they both could have ended up IN the floor instead of on it. If that happens… lets just say that there would be a big mess to clean.

As Tech shook the feeling of having transported from on place to another at a quantum level, he suddenly had this feeling of bother spike through his system. Danger noticed this and asked "What's wrong? Looks like you saw one of your inventions explode."

Tech blinked and began scratching his head as he gathered the words to explain what he just felt. "Well.. I just have this weird feeling that Ace and Lexi just blew up my radar system."

Danger rolled his eyes and said, "You really need to get out more."

Tech smirked. "Really, this coming from a duck who practically worships a woman who does the weather?" Danger glares at Tech for a few moments.

"… Shut up." Was the little black duck's response. Tech chuckled.

"Humor aside, it's best we get moving and find the circuit breaker as soon as possible."

"Right!" Danger said with vigor. He stood straight up… then wobbled a bit and sat back down. "… Just give me a minute…"

Tech sighed, shaking his head at Danger's lack of stamina as he goes off to find the circuit breaker.

- - - - -

"What the.." Ace replied in confusion.

"I knew those ventriloquism lessons would pay off." Standing near a set of barbells, Nix had been smirking at the actions from the two Loonatics. They got into fighting positions, making Nix shake his head in aversion. "Revenge is a dish best served cold, but needs seasoning for it to have any taste. So least you can do is fight back." He sank into a fighting stance.

"Oh, you won't have to worry about that." Lexi said as she shot at him with a brain blast. He rolled forward to avoid the attack and dashed at the two with soaring momentum. They jumped out of the way just as Nix swung his staff horizontally, missing by a few inches. He jumps after Ace, who took out his sword and blocked an aerial downward strike.

The two began exchanging swings at each other, fast and furious. Lexi isn't able to get a clear shot with the two moving around so quickly, forcing to stand in the sidelines and watch. Ace's eyes were glowing their yellowish glow, indicating he's using his enhanced agility. He did a sweep kick, but Nix somersaulted backwards to avoid the attack and thrust his staff at him. Narrowly dodging the thrust, he jumped at Nix and brought his sword down for an overhead slash… only to be blocked by the staff. Try as he might, he has not landed a hit, either being blocked or parried. He even tried using his eye beams in-between swings, but Nix just steps out of the way just before it hits. They lock their weapons together, trying to get the upper hand on the other.

"How da heck did you do that with that bandana over your eyes?" Ace asked, straining against the duck's staff.

"I don't need to see in order to beat you. Oh. In case your wondering, my staff is made from wood genetically enhanced to be as strong as steel. So your sword can't cut it." He replied, appearing calm. They breakaway, leaping a few feet back from their last positions.

Lexi took this moment of opportunity and shot a brain blast at Nix, aiming for his head. He simply leans back and let the blast pass by. He straightens his poster again and then slowly turned his head toward Lexi. A frown forming on his face as faint dark wisps began emitting from his body.

"Rather rude of you, with past comes payment." Just as Nix said that, Ace dashed forward and swung his sword. Nix, who only moved one of his arms, blocked the attack. Using his free hand, he rears back and punch Ace with a strong hook to the side of the skull. The sound of flesh hitting flesh rung in the air as Ace flew diagonally, right into a pile of weights.

"ACE!" She screams. Before she knew it, Nix appears in front of her. Her reaction is kicking him upside the head with a roundhouse kick… or rather that is what she tried to do. Nix simply blocked with his right arm which is engulfed in murky purple wisps. Suddenly, he grabs her leg with his right hand in a vise grip as he pulls it back while simultaneously shooting his left fist forward. The blow connected and Lexi blacks out. Nix grabs her before she falls, lifting her on his shoulder while the purple wisps disappear.

"Get… your mitts… off Lexi…"

He turns his head over to Ace, who groggily got up but having trouble keeping balance. His expression is that of serious anger, a killing intent radiating from his now glowing yellow eyes.

Nix grinned his sinister grin and spoke, "Time to put the icing on the cake, Ace. I want those last moments to be having all the lasting effects like the wave of Armageddon. Find me, and let the ties break. I want to see the real you. Tell my brother to join you. I want to see you two drown in the cesspool of darkness…"

The lights flickered out for a few moments. When they came back on, Nix was gone... and so was Lexi. Ace eyes widen with distress, no longer glowing. He frantically scanned the area, searching for any sign. He, however, found none. He ran out the door, hoping to find them outside the gym.

"Lexi? NIX! Where are you!" Looking down the halls, there was nothing but air. He fell on his hands and knees, both exhausted and filled with anguish. Thoughts were going through his head. He should have acted quicker. He should have done something. Why couldn't he save Lexi when he had the chance?

He sat up to a kneeling position, his head bent down in despair and his arms dangling down in front of him. After what seemed like an eternity, he rears his head back and yelled.

"LEXI!"

Just then, a gust of wind along with a red blur passes by. A few seconds later, it comes back. The red blur is none other then Rev. He finds Ace on the floor, his face full of gloom.

"Ace,-what-happened. I-was-running-through-a-few-floors-under-and-heard-someone-scream-so-I-went-to-check-it-out-and-found-you-here. Where's- Lexi? I-thought-she-was-with-you." Rev blabs. Ace looks up, a blend of sorrow and anger could be seen in his eyes.

"He took her…" Ace said in a grave tone. "Nix took Lexi and I don't know where they are."

That's it for this chapter, tune in next time to find out what happens next.