Chapter 8: "A Battle Won, A Friend Lost"

What Cassidy saw next was something she would never forget. Tech's body lay there, motionless. She slowly knelt beside him. Deep cuts and scratches covered him, but, to Cassidy's horror, his regeneration powers did not come into affect. "Tech?" She whispered, stroking his forehead. "Can you hear me?" No reply came. Cassidy began shaking. "No... Tech, please... wake up."

.PINK TRIANGLE.

"Rev, can you locate Tech and Cassidy?" Ace asked.

"Yep! They're this way!" Rev disappeared. He reappeared a few seconds later. "Hehehe.. sorry."

Lexi's eyes widened. "Uh... Rev? How many people did you pick up on your GPS?"

"Including us? Eleven. Why?"

"Because, including us, I can only hear ten different heartbeats."

The Loonatics stared at each other with the same question in their eyes. "Well, let's hurry!" Ace shouted.

The Loonatics stopped, dead in their tracks, at the sight of Cassidy, cradling a seemingly lifeless Tech in her arms, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Rev was the first one by her side. "Oh my gosh! Cassidy? What happened?"

"Easy, Rev, give her some air." Ace said somewhat-calmly.

"My brother..." Cassidy hiccuped inbetween sobs, "he...he killed Tech."

Andrew laughed evily. "Serves you right."

Cassidy closed her eyes, trying to control the pure rage she felt building inside of her. She slowly stood up, fists clenched. "You will pay for what you have done, brother!" She growled, fists and eyes glowing light blue.

"Is that a threat?" Andrew retorted, obviously enjoying messing with his younger sister.

"Why do I have the feeling that he's gonna regret saying that?" Duck asked to no one in particular.

The other Loonatics just stared in shocked silence. They had never seen Cassidy like this. She usually kept her emotions to herself, and had never once gotten angry, not even at Duck.

Rev was just about to rush up to Cassidy's side when Ace grabbed his arm. "It's Cassidy's fight, we have to let her finish it alone."

Rev opened his mouth to speak, but when Ace gave him a stern look, he closed it again.

Andrew charged at Cassidy, knocking her down. Cassidy pushed her feet off the floor and flipped him off. After a few minutes of battling, Andrew had kicked her right in the stomach, sending her into a wall. Then, he pined her tightly against it. "Look on the bright side, sis. Now you'll be able to be with your precious Tech forever."

The fire in Cassidy's eyes faded. She had lost all hope. The pain from the battle and the pain of not being able to breathe were nothing compared to the pain she felt in her heart. All in a split second, she had her world turned upside down, and lost someone she loved. Nothing seemed to matter to her anymore.

Suddenly, Andrew was tackled by a blur of yellow-and-black. Cassidy couldn't see who it was, as her vision had become blurry. She fell weakly to her knees. Next thing she knew, Rev was standing beside her, looking worried. "Go help the others.." Cassidy insisted. "I'll be fine."

Rev nodded and zipped off, a plan in his head. He zoomed by Andrew as fast as he could, knocking him over. Seeing himself outnumbered, Andrew wrapped his cloak around him and dissappeared. The Loonatics just stared, not believing what they were seeing. Ace was the first to snap out of it. "Duck, get Cassidy's father and sister and Prince Edward out."

Duck silently obeyed. All of them were quiet, still taking in the recent events. "Cassidy..." Cassidy head shot up when she heard Tech's voice. She rushed to his side, the others not too far behind her.

Tech looked up at them. He half-smiled at them, too weak to do much else. "You guys have been the greatest friends I could ever ask for. Thanks." His gaze turned to Ace. "Ace, it's been an honor working with you."

Ace, trying to control his tears, just simply said. "Like I said to Cassidy, the honor's mine."

Tech glanced at Rev. "Rev, thanks for everything. Take care of Cassidy for me... please?"

"Of course, Tech." That's all that Rev could muster to say.

Using the last bit of strength he had, Tech lifted his hand up and touched Cassidy's cheek. "Cassidy?"

Cassidy gently clutched his hand, tears streaking down her face. "Yes, Tech?"

Tech did not like seeing Cassidy cry. "Hush, Cass. Don't worry, I'll be okay... I... I love you.." Tech's hand dropped and his eyes closed. He gave one last sigh, then moved no more.

Cassidy gasped sharply. "No...please, no."

"TECH! No!no!no!no!no!no! Please don't leave us!" Rev begged.

Ace knelt beside Rev and set his hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Rev, but... I... I don't think Tech can hear you anymore."

Cassidy burst out in tears. She sank down and buried her face against Tech's chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Rev and Maria softly stroked her back, trying to comfort her. Cassidy stopped crying long enough to whisper into Tech's ear. "I love you, too/"

Ace slowly stood up. He hugged Lexi tightly as she quietly cried. Duck and Slam just looked at the floor. King John and Prince Edward simply stood in shocked silence.

Ace finally broke the silence. "Well, I... I guess we should get him home"

(END CHAPTER)
Sheesh, I'm crying. And I wrote this!