Author: Here's this chapter, which coincides with 11. This is centered on Sari and Ruba, who are currently in the possession of their kidnappers "boss", which was revealed to be the Brain at the end of the previous chapter. I'mma wait to post more cause I'm currently writing chapter 14 (which will likely be finished sometime today since it's 2 AM, the 11th) and I'm working to get farther ahead. I've estimated the story will have around.. 20 chapters or so, give or take, and I'm debating about including one more energy user into the later chapters. Who would like to see another energy user and learn about them?~
I'll give you guys a choice. I can just continue with just the four (San, Silvy, Sari and Ruba) or we can add another of your choice. Who would you like to see? The female using green? The male using black? The male using gold? The male using purple? Let me know if you wanna see one and I might include them into the rest of the chapters in some way. :P Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own the energy users, nothing more. Ahahaha.
Darkness consumed her vision. No matter how much she tried it was like awareness avoided her. She tried to wiggle against whatever was holding her, but it was useless, like fighting water when you're drowning. It was difficult, slushy and hard to focus on, everything was fuzy.
She felt aches sprouting from several parts of her body from the previous days, but the one on her chest was new, recent, last night. Wait, what was today? How much time had passed? How long had she been out?
She tried to flutter her lashes to catch a glimpse of the area, but she was only capable of seeing a bright light that hurt her eyes, forcing them closed with a soft groan.
A voice, distinct and animalistic spoke up from close by. "The female stirs. It is only a matter of time before she wakes and the other as well."
Other?
She recalled last night bitterly. Two males had attacked her.. the masked one had shot her.. and that was all. Who else had been there? Had someone arrived on the scene and tried to play hero? Lovely, an innocent bystander was caught up in this because of her being stupid! That was just great.
Her sight began to clear as she opened her eyes, like wiping a mirror over and over after a hot shower to clear the mist from it.
She noticed the place she was in. High tech equipment was all around the large room, which held several people. A big gorilla, some kind of small moving machine with a liquid-contained brain on top in a half dome sphere, a tall woman in red with short hair and Red X. She struggled again and found her hands tied above her head, her restriction held fast by a long thin chain that connected to a beam above. Her feet were tied as well, yet the rest of her body was free, but that didn't matter. She had limited mobility anyway, it wasn't like she was going anywhere. Her binds were metal and as such would be hard to slip out of.
She also honed in on the other shape just across from her in the same condition she was, but he was still unconscious. Wait.. it was Sari. They had captured him too? She hissed in pain as the chains bit into her hands and she finally relaxed with a defeated sigh.
The gorilla chuckled and gestured at her. "She's awake." She in question leveled her gaze on the creature, realizing it had been the animal voice she'd heard prior. "Should I knock her out?" He cracked his hairy knuckles.
The machine-held brain glowed as his robotic voice echoed. "No, Mallah. Being awake does not matter. She cannot escape. She is ours, as is the boy."
"Where are we?" She asked lowly, her voice cased in curiosity and uncertainty. She had to get out, but.. she wouldn't leave Sari, no, he would come too. She wouldn't escape until she was certain he'd make it out as well. Until then she was forced to stay put.
"Where you are is none of your concern, my dear girl." The brain thing continued. "You belong to me."
She snickered. "That's funny. I'm pretty sure I didn't sign up for the circus." She started to laugh at her joke. "The pet monkey that talks-" She looked at Mallah, then her gaze fell on Red X. "-the creepy clown-" It landed on Rouge. "-the gymnastic wench-" She winked at the woman who glared at her. "-and the magical thing in a jar." She started to laugh even more.
"Laugh all you want, but you will soon see things differently." The glassed organ said in that weird robot voice.
She smirked. "So just who are you people?"
"That, too, is none of your concern."
"Then what the heck is my concern? You have Sari and I tied up, kidnapped no less, and you won't give me answers so you, I bet, expect me to be silent, eh?" She snapped.
The gorilla, Mallah, laughed. "That would be wise."
She scoffed, getting irritated. "If you value your lives.. you will release us."
"What can you do, girl? Your powers are useless and you cannot escape. Struggling is futile." The weird brain thing said as if it was a fact.
A snort escaped her nose and she glinted a ghost of a smile. "If I want out.. these chains are the least of my worries. I'd be more afraid of my master. He will come for me.. and when he does you will regret ever running into me." Smoothly said, as ever. God, she was taking after Slade more and more.
"Your master?" The lady questioned, a brow raising in wonder. "To vhat master do you speak of?"
Ruba leaned forward and her face darkened with a wicked edge to the youthful features. "You'll see soon enough, trust me."
Red X turned his head to the brain creature and his deep, twisted voice echoed in the large room. "Her 'master' is a villain by the name of Slade, who is also the powerful and well known mercenary.. Deathstroke the Terminator. You're going to have your hands full, Brain, if he indeed comes after her."
The Brain gave short, fake chuckles. "If he does come then we will be ready. How fitting that would be once we are finished with our task. Mallah, take care of the girl."
Mallah grinned a primate look, "With pleasure."
He advanced on her and she snarled just before his furred hand connected with her temple. She was out like a light.
Sari felt the darkness more than he realized as his senses returned to him. At first it had been a phantom lurking at the edges of a vivid dream but then it grew, claws stretching to sink into him, pulling him away from happy thoughts, wonderful memories and shoving into his harsh reality.
He had no clue where he was, but he played as if still asleep; eyes closed, breathing regular, but ears opened, senses in use as he listened.
He heard several voices, all unique, all plainly different. A French female, a slow robot, an animal and a masked man.
He also heard something else, a light breathing in front of him, someone asleep.
"That von is a pesky child." The French woman.
"Indeed. Do we have need of them both?" The animal.
"One is lonely, two's a pair. Twice the power, right?" The cocky male.
"You are correct. We can use them both. Your efforts will be compensated, Red X." The robot.
Red X.. wait, that was the male he kicked the butt off of his first day here? He smiled internally, but outwardly remained blank.
"Fine by me." Red X replied slowly, uncaring, yet humored. "What about the other two brats? Want them also, mm?"
"No. The device can be powered by one, but two will serve the task. We shall start tomorrow." The robot.
"Understood." Red X's voice trailed off.
"Mallah, fetch our guests a meal when they wake up. They have to live. Ruba, at least."
"Understood." Mallah the gorilla. That was who he was. He knew who he was in the presence of. He'd heard stories about Mallah, the Brain, Red X and Madame Rouge. Members of the Brotherhood of Evil.
What did they want with Ruba? The Brain mentioned a device and it being powered. Wait.. were they going to harvest Ruba's energy? They couldn't. Her power couldn't be harnessed by others. It dissipated and dissolved like dye in water.
A hand roughly grabbed his face, forcing his head up. "Looky here. The little boy's awake finally." He opened his eyes slowly to greet his toucher, Red X.
He smirked deviously. "Hello again, my masked friend. Does your head still hurt from my knee?" He was putting his full trickery into his words, trying to draw a reaction out with that sarcastic reminder.
Red X huffed a brief laugh. "Hardly, but you're going to be given the very.. kindness you showed me." He released his cheeks and pressed a taser-like device to his stomach, activating it.
He hissed, but didn't cry out as he clenched his teeth, eyes wide, nose flaring.
After many agonizing seconds it ended and Red X stood, putting the device away. He began to walk away, but his sharp words followed him. "Do you really, honestly think you can keep me here?"
The anti-hero stopped in his tracks, turning to face the energy user. "Oh, no, you might escape but she won't." He pointed at Ruba who sat unconscious across from him. He realized he was in the same predicament as her. "It's not like I care, we just need one."
His eyes narrowed. "One? For what?"
The x-masked man wagged a finger at him. "I don't spoil games that aren't mine. You'll find out."
He averted his head, glaring to the side with a burning irritation flashing in those aquatic orbs as Red X walked away.
God, how was he going to get them out of here? He frowned as he saw Ruba's slumped form in her bonds.
Sari closed his eyes and tried to focus on the image of the Titans, specifically Robin, concentrating hard.
"Robin.. we need help..." He whispered hopefully.
Suddenly a voice echoed in his mind.
Sari, how are you in my head?
It was Robin's voice. He honed in on the Titan leader, directing his words. "Robin, I'm not sure, but now's not the time to think of an explanation." He whispered beneath his breath.
Where are you? You said you were going to find Ruba. What happened?
"Madame Rouge happened. Her and Red X had her knocked out. I tried to take them down, but I was no match. I'm at some kind of underground facility." He deduced from the lack of windows and the damp smell to the air. "There's others here. Mallah and the Brain, possibly more."
Stay put. We're going to track your communicator-
"Not possible." Sari sighed slightly, disappointed. "It's likely been taken from me and disposed of.. or being used to monitor you. Besides I'm not going anywhere any time soon. Ruba and I are chained, pretty securely."
We'll find you two. Don't worry. I have a plan.
"Alright."
Somehow the 'connection' was lost when he stopped thinking about it.
Holy crap. Sari could perform telepathy, but it was strangely different. Instead of thinking it he just had to concentrate on the person and say it aloud. He stared at the air before him blankly, realizing just how much potential they all had. Just what else could they do?
He really wanted to know. What could Ruba do? She teleported. That was a start.
Footsteps gained his attention as he peered up. Two forms were walking closer from the surrounding shadows, probably from another room he couldn't see, and entered the light.. to reveal the gorilla and the masked villain.
Red X stood by Ruba's unconscious body while Mallah stepped over with a tray of food in his hands. "Your dinner." He set the tray in the boy's lap, then reached up and unclipped the chain connected to his bound hands so he could eat on his own.
Mallah moved away to observe the boy while X folded his arms at his chest, masked head facing him to indicate he was watching as well.
It was a method used by kidnappers. Linger close to the others to keep them in line. If he tried anything they'd hurt Ruba.
He ate in silence, having some difficulty but managing. On the tray was two stacked sandwiches, glass of water, a buttered roll, an apple and an orange. He wasn't fond of most of those items but he ate them anyway. The more energy he had the better- no pun intended.
He didn't show resistance, just behaved himself. An idea came to him as the tray was taken and his hands linked to the chain above his head.
The pair left and he was alone with Ruba, who was beginning to stir. "Ruba.." He whispered, focusing on her.
Sari..?
"Wake up so we can talk."
Trying to.. ugh, that brute hits hard. My head's all foggy.
"Ruba, listen to me. You have to get out of here, teleport like you did before."
Teleport?
"What you did at the tower."
I can teleport?
"Let me guess, you visualized the city and just appeared there?"
Hey, yeah. How'd I do that?
"You have teleportation apparently."
So wait.. how are we talking?
Her eyes flickered open and cloudy greens met fierce blue.
"I can perform telepathy the same way. Visualize a person and talk to them."
"That's interesting." She said out loud so he severed the connection, smiling as she groaned. "So you want me to teleport, eh? Why should I leave you here alone with those people?" She whispered to him, shifting around.
"You can get help. I have an idea where we are. You can tell Robin and the gang will come put these villains down."
"Just who are they anyway?" She started to chuckle softly. "You missed all the fun the first time I woke up. I gave them nicknames."
"There's four, obviously." He started to count them off. "Mallah the gorilla-"
"The talking pet monkey."
"-Madame Rouge-"
"The gymnastic wench."
"-The Brain-"
"The magical thing in a jar."
"-and Red X." He was trying to hold back his laughter, his lips twitching.
"Ohh, the creepy clown. He's quite lovable, that one. I recall you putting him in his place our first day here."
The two started laughing, but in snickers to avoid drawing anyone into the room.
"Alright. I'll go get help. Will you be alright alone?" She held a worried expression on her face.
He nodded solemnly. "Of course. I'm not alone. I've got your circus with me." He smirked and she smiled. She then had a look of concentration on her face before red energy circled her body and she was gone just like that, the chains clanking to the floor and the overhead one swinging in the air.
He was alone, but he didn't mind. He inhaled, pictured that dim-witted Red X and said in a soft voice, "Hey, bucket head. I need to pee." The sound of footsteps advanced toward the room and he kept that smirk on his face.
Oh, this was going to be fun.