Chapter Five:

Iron

"Hey! Jo! Why the hell're you workin' so slow?" Gary's son, Vic, yelled.

"I'm tired," I answered, yawning. "I had a crazy night."

"I don't care!" I really, really, really felt like burning his face off. "Get workin'! We have deadlines to meet!"

As he walked away, I frowned. "Yessir."

Thank-you very much, Lance. You kept me up by throwing pebbles at my window. What the hell was that for?

I remembered last night, and not very fondly. After dropping me off, he came back to my place and threw pebbles at the window. It was open, so some of them landed in my room. I went to the window and it looked like he was going to say something, but I didn't give him a chance, and slammed the window shut. He continued to throw pebbles for hours, until he finally gave up and left. Unfortunately, he'd kept me awake. Now, it felt like I was ready to go on a murderous rampage.

My cell phone rang. I wiped my hands of the grease on a well-used cloth and answered it.

"Yo."

"Hey, Jo. It's Cole."

I grinned. "Well, it took you long enough to call me. What's up?"

"I, um…" I heard him sigh. "I need some help over here."

"Did you piss Lucy off?"

"No." He hesitated. "Well, Lucy's gone to the NSA to officially resign her position as an agent, so I'm kinda overwhelmed a bit. I was gonna assault a Militia base in Flood Town, but…"

"But you may need some back-up just in case," I finished for him. "Hard to believe that you feel overwhelmed."

"What can I say? I'm used to having Lucy at my back." He paused. "So… what do you think?"

"You know I wanna, but I'm working right now." I smiled. "Unless you want to call in a family emergency. It's not exactly a lie."

He sighed. "When do you get off work?"

I looked at my phone, checking the clock. "Five."

"And it's three now…" For several seconds, I didn't hear a thing. "I can wait. It doesn't look like they're going anywhere."

"Gimme a call if they're on the move," I told him. "Just wait for a bit longer, and I'll be there as fast as I can."

"Got it," Cole replied. "Have fun."

I smirked. "As much as is possible when working for a cranky guy who isn't even old."

"Who pissed in his Corn Flakes?"

"I dunno, but I hope they're laughing their asses off."

"Okay. Well, see ya, Joan."

I nodded. "You too, Cole."

I shut my phone and slid it back into my overalls. Looked like Cole was used to having a partner now, and I was definitely happy that he wouldn't be jumping head-first into Militia territory without someone.

Finally, at five, I punched-in my time card and left work after changing into my normal clothing; a black T-shirt with a white design on my sides that kinda looked like a shark's dorsal fin, only skinnier; a black wristband on my left arm; a black windbreaker with an added black hoodie; a white scarf; a white messenger bag; blue jeans, and finally, black shoes with white designs. I looked a lot like I had in Empire City.

I found a back-alley and climbed onto a building. When I reached the roof, I leaped off of it and set myself on fire. I streaked through the sky towards flood town, going as fast as I dared. I didn't want to over-do myself.

I saw Cole hanging out at the old Rebel hideout where he, Zeke, and a guy named Laroche used to plan attacks against the Militia. I banked right and gradually angled myself downwards. Cole saw me coming, and waved. I waved back, and slowed. I turned off my fire just as I reached the tip of the building and let myself fall, absorbing the fall with my knees and rolling to lose the momentum.

I stood up in front of Cole. "So, how was my entrance? Do I still got it?"

"I think you have to work on it a bit." He let me hit his arm playfully. "I have a gift for you before we head out."

Cole handed me a cylindrical thing wrapped in gift paper. I ripped it open and I think I almost jumped for joy. Almost.

"My nodachi?" I exclaimed. "I thought it was gone! I mean, it was strapped to my back when I blew up, so how…?"

"Zeke and I found it washed up on shore," Cole explained. "From what Lucy said, it wasn't far from where she and Wolfe found you. We took the liberty of tweaking it a bit."

"In what way?" I asked.

He took the nodachi out of its scabbard. "The grip is a bit longer, giving you a bit more control over the blade. And we added a new feature…" He held out his palm, inviting me to give him the blade. I reluctantly handed it over. "Check this out!"

He pulled his wrist back at a point on the handle, and the blade instantly was engulfed in fire. And it was silver fire, too.

"Woah…" I muttered as I marvelled at it.

"I didn't forget that time when you set it on fire," Cole said. "I didn't chew you out about it because I really didn't feel like it, and since I knew you'd just do it again. So, instead, Zeke and I modified it so you can do it anytime. You don't even need to fill it up with anything."

I smiled. "Thanks, Cole. I'll kick serious ass with this thing as a proper thank-you."

"That's all I can ask."

I slid the nodachi into a holder that I'd found on my messenger bag, fitting it in perfectly. "Now, about those Militia…"

He grinned. "It's time to say 'hello'."

"Their positions regularly change," Cole said, pointing to a few Militia in the warehouse from the rooftop we were spying from. "But they always change in the same pattern. If we take out a few Militia quietly and disguise ourselves, we can get the advantage and steal information on the whereabouts of their other bases."

I nodded. "Okay. But, have you ever seen a female Militia?"

Cole rubbed his chin. "Good point. Okay, how about you distract 'em, and I'll take one out and disguise myself?"

"Sounds good." I grinned. "Do I get to take some out?"

"You've got to get captured…"

I rolled my eyes. "Of course I do. But if you do the whole damsel in distress thing with me, I'm gonna kick your ass."

"Nice to see you haven't changed."

I grinned. "Let's go!"

Cole flanked their position. I found a gigantic pipe to walk on, balancing myself. When I saw Cole wave, I nodded, hoping he saw.

I stood up. "HEY! MILITIA!"

It's so friggin' weird to see all of these heads turn in your direction, but they did it, and I couldn't help but chuckle a teeny bit.

"I HEARD THAT THE REDNECK LIBRARY BURNT DOWN! BOTH BOOKS WERE LOST, AND ONE WAS ALMOST COLOURED IN! TOO BAD, GUYS!"

"Get the deviant!" one roared.

I stuck my tongue out and jumped off the pipe, running at them. They fired their guns, but I remembered one of the powers I'd used in Empire City; a fire shield, similar to Cole's electric shield. I held up my hand and a silver stream of flame erupted from it, stopping the bullets and melting them before they reached me.

Once I reached one of the Militia, I switched my shield of my left hand and drew my nodachi, slicing his chest. I quickly moved to another Militia man, who tried to hit me with the butt of his gun. I blocked some bullets and just barely moved out of the way of the gun, and quickly stabbed him with my blade. One more Militia, and I'll pretend to get hurt! I kicked the Militia body from my nodachi and brought it around, slicing one last Militia guy in the gut. I brought down my shield, grinning like a maniac, and mentally beat myself.

A super-gigantic Militia guy with muscles on his muscles was packin' a machine gun. And, being that it was my luck, it was aimed at me.

"Oh, shit," I muttered.

The obviously-compensating-for-something Militia guy fired. I felt my flesh tear and my blood run like a river as I was tossed from my feet by the sheer force of the bullets. When I finally hit the ground, my blood was streaked everywhere. I coughed some up, ignoring the bitter taste.

W-Why aren't I healing? I thought frantically. Did I lose some of my powers too?

"Deviant's been terminated," the machine-gun Militia stated.

"Naw, she's still breathin'," another said, grabbing one of my arms.

"Get 'er tied up and put 'er with the rest o' them hostages," the first instructed. "We want 'er alive, boys."

They roughly dragged me into the warehouse, throwing me to the floor in front of the horrified and scared hostages. I coughed up more blood, my breathing becoming raspy and my eyes becoming cloudy. The Militia turned my body over so I rested on my back and poured ice-cold water on my face, my eyes involuntarily shooting open from the shock.

"That'll keep 'er up!" one of the Militia said, his buddies laughing.

I tried to sit up, but only got as far as resting on my elbows. I brought an arm to my stomach, feeling the warm blood in-between my fingers, which were growing ever colder.

"A-Are you all right?" a woman asked, her tone worried.

"I've… had worse!" I assured her. "Actually… no. This is… probably the… worst I've had."

"Can you get over here?" she asked.

I looked at her. She had really dark black hair, with very nice blue eyes that seemed depthless. Easily in her forties.

"I… can try!" I used my elbows to drag my body over to her, my body aching all the way.

She, like the rest of the hostages, weren't tied up. But their fear made them stay. I mean, it's an army of rednecks with guns. Who wouldn't? I mean, people without superpowers, of course.

"H-How many times did you get shot?" she asked, unzipping my jacket and pulling my shirt up a bit (not too high).

"I didn't count," I admitted. "It was… a machine gun. Who… would?"

Her brow furrowed. "It's a miracle you're alive—even talking! These wounds're deep, and are going to require some surgery to get out."

"I was… afraid of that." I cringed as my gut started throbbing. "Ugh…"

Note to self: never get shot again. Quicksilver is no longer your only weakness!

"Don't worry… about me!" I told her doing my best to smile. "Cole's… coming!"

"No one here has lost that hope," she replied, smiling.

I nodded. "In three… two… one…"

Right one queue, there was screaming and shooting not far from us. Cole probably hadn't seen me get shot, or else he would've jumped right into the attack. I coughed a bit more as some of the hostages got up and started their escape.

The woman put one of my arms around her shoulders and picked me up.

"W-What're you—?"

"I've got to get you out of here," she said, interrupting me. "I'll treat you for your wounds, since I'm a doctor."

"But—!"

"One more word, and I'll tape your mouth shut," she warned.

My mouth automatically snapped shut. I actually wouldn't be surprised it she were somebody's mother… And I would respect her child for living through the fear I felt only a taste of at that moment.

Eventually, we reached a suburban area out of Flood Town. She told me that we were almost to her clinic when Cole landed in front of us. He was breathing hard, his eyes worried.

"Joan!" he gasped. "Oh God, Jo! What the hell happened?"

"J-Just… a flesh wound!" I replied. "Only a scratch… I swear!"

He came over to me and bent low, checking my gut. "This needs to get checked out!"

"I was just taking her!" the woman explained. "I'm a doctor. I was taking her to my clinic."

"Thank-you," Cole said. "I'll carry her. Lead the way!"

The woman handed me over to Cole, who scooped me into his arms and followed the woman hurriedly. I coughed up some more blood, and felt my eyes start to close.

"Hey… Cole?" I said.

"Yeah, Joan?"

"I-I'm kinda cold…"

"Listen to me, Joan!" he said, his tone quickly switching to concerned. "Don't you dare say that! I want you to keep those eyes wide open, and stay alive! I'm not going to lose you a second time!" He pulled me closer to him in an effort to keep my body warm. "I won't let anyone else die!"

I chuckled. "Cole, you… big softie. Lucy's… gotcha whipped!"

"Shut up."