Before you ask, here are the full names and 'con names of those you might not be able to guess (also to see what people think). Liam Hall-Long Haul, Ramone Pager-Rampage, Max Masterson-Mixmaster, Blake Gion-Bludgeon, Craig Stevens-Starscream, Mike Thomas-Megatron, Sam Waverly-Soundwave.
"Where the heck is he? He should be home by now," growled Ben Rusher, a teen with deeply tanned skin, dark red eyes and spiked sandy brown hair, black T-shirt under a sandy coloured jacket, sandy coloured skinny jeans and black converse. He dropped himself into an arm chair, the cybernetic claw on his back folding up.
"Cool it Ben. Mark should be home soon," sighed Scott Abrams, his short mud brown hair was cut like a marine, while he too had dark red eyes. On his left arm were two large blades while a small gatling gun resided on his right arm. He wore a forest-camo combat jacket and trousers with large black boots.
"We can hope. If he's flirting with someone, all I can say is the lucky fragger," Barry Cade muttered, his spiky black hair barely neater than Ben's, his dark red eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. He wore a white shirt, black jacket and trousers and grey sneakers. He sighed as his hands changed into wicked metal claws.
"You really are grouchy today Cade," Brad Pavelow said, his long dark blue hair glinting in the light. He too had dark red eyes. He was wearing a dark blue jacket with a light grey T-shirt underneath, along with blue jeans and grey trainers. His massive helicopter like blades ran down his back like a cape.
"You don't think that Aristide women found out about him and captured him, do you?" asked the youngest boy there, his messy black hair falling over his red eyes. He was wearing a light grey jacket and jeans as well as black sneakers. His name was Simon Waysworth.
"Cool it. Liam, Ramone and Max said that Aristide doesn't seem to know he exists. Blake, Craig and Mike taught us how to defend ourselves if they discover him," Damon Terex sighed, his red hair gelled back while his bright orange eyes looking at everyone in the room. He was wearing a dark red shirt, white jeans and black shoes.
"I am seriously going to rip him a new one if he keeps us waiting any fraggin longer," Ben growled just as the door opened, Mark walking in.
"Took ya long enough to get home. Who was the lucky lady?" Barry asked, red eyes glinting mischievously.
"The lady lucky enough to have me save them was Alma Wade, now shut up Cade," Mark said, silver eyes as blank as always.
"So, is the school safe enough for us to enrol? Or will you, Simon, Damon and Cade be the only one's joining?" Brad asked, his head cocked to the side.
"Safe enough for the four of us, but Ben would just pummel everyone there," Mark shrugged, ignoring the look the sandy haired teen was sending him.
"Alright, mind telling us about Miss Wade. What's she like?" Simon asked, sitting next to Damon.
"Shall we say a lot like me and leave it at that? I have homework," Mark said, heading into his room.
Alma awoke with a start to find herself on her bed. She remembered the attack, then some whispering in the wind. She knew her dad wouldn't be home, so she got up to do her homework. Looking to her dresser, she saw a note.
"Found you knocked out in the alley. Helped get you home. My cell number if you need me. Mark," was what it read, followed by his number. Shrugging it off as a big coincidence, she sat down at her desk and got to work.
After an hour, she had finished and was just heading downstairs for something to eat when she heard a smash. Looking downstairs, she saw a brick lying on the floor, glass shards around it. Racing back upstairs, she grabbed her cell and, not knowing why, called Mark's number.
"Mark here" came the monotonous answer.
"Mark, someone's trying to break into my house! I'm in my room and I don't know what to do!" Alma gasped, panic overcoming her.
"Stay in your room and hide. Ben and I'll be there as soon as possible!" Mark rushed before hanging up. Following his instructions, Alma dived under her bed, keeping her eyes on the door. Hearing footsteps, she covered her mouth to avoid whimpering in panic.
"That girl's here somewhere! Try that room!" came the yelled order, her door slammed open as a large man stepped in. She watched him move towards the bed, slowly crouching lower until, inevitably, he saw her.
"Boss, I've found her!" he shouted, drawing a gun. "Come out of there before I shoot you," he said, gun aimed at her head. As she crawled out, she heard helicopter blades spinning, thinking nothing of it, until Mark crashed through her window, daggers in hand.
"Step away from her, or burn in the Pits," Mark threatened, his normally blank stare now an angry glare. Before the guy could bring his gun round to shoot, Mark thrust his arms forward, slamming an invisible force into the man.
"I know this is sudden, but I promise I'll explain everything," Mark said, his glare softening instantly once he looked at Alma. Before she could say anything, she heard a thud in the hallway, looking to see a sandy haired teen with a massive claw on his back, swinging it at his attackers.
"It's a really long story, but you have to trust me," Mark said, his eyes now pleading with hers. When she nodded, Mark grabbed her hand and ran out of the room, the two of them barely dodging the limp bodies of Ben's assailants.
"I think that's all of them, and they certainly won't be getting up anytime soon," Ben said, joining them as they ran outside. As they ran, helicopter blades sounded as Brad flew overhead, his chopper blades keeping him airborne.
Back at the apartment shared by Mark and the others, Alma sat holding a cup of tea, looking around the room distantly.
"As you can see, we all have something different from average people. And Mark is by far the most strange, gifted with psychic abilities," came the almost monotonous voice of Sam Waverly, a man with spiked back dark blue hair and red tinted visor sunglasses covering his dark red eyes. From what could be seen, he was wearing a light grey shirt. Beside him was a little black cat with bright purple eyes.
"Is that how he knew about me in that alley?" Alma asked, her voice a low whisper.
"Yes, he picked up on your panicked thoughts due to his albeit short interaction with you. He would have probably revealed things to you then, but you were unconscious," Sam stated, his eyes almost as blank as Mark's through his glasses.
"So if you're ever in trouble, he'll come a' running. And, I won't mind helping him," Barry said, giving Alma a rather flirtatious wink before heading into his room. Alma almost laughed while Brad, the only other person in the room, rolled his eyes.
"If those men were after you, then it would be unwise for you to stay at home alone until your father returns. I'll have Ramone tell him the situation, then ask Mike and Craig to ask around about them," Sam said flatly before the monitor went blank.
"He's direct and to the point, but sometimes a fun guy. I'll ask Simon to run you home to get some stuff with Damon," Brad said, cocking his head at Alma's silence. "Hey, it'll be okay. We won't let anything happen to you," he added, seeing tears streak down the girl's face.
"Why are you being so nice to me when you hardly know me. I'm just some freaky girl who hardly sees her father," Alma sobbed, looking up quickly when Brad sat down beside her, arms around her.
"You're not freaky. You're an individual, and people can't usually stand someone who breaks the mould. And Mark actually feels like he has someone he can connect to, so don't think for a second none of us care," Brad whispered, stroking her hair gently.
"But what if people treat you badly because your friends with me? What if they try to hurt you?" Alma sobbed, her tears wetting Brad's shirt.
"Mark said he would protect you, and if anyone hurts you, I'll personally see to it they don't get up again too quick. Barry will too, and he'll see to it you aren't alone, as will I," Brad whispered, lifting her chin so she'd look him in the eye.
"Just smile. Things will get better, and you won't have to go through the bad things alone. Even in your nightmares. Mark has them too, and every time he does, he sees you. He fights for you, no matter what. And if I ever have those nightmares, I'll kick the aft of anyone who tries to touch you," Brad said, letting Alma slowly fall asleep in his arms.
"Anytime you need someone, somebody strong to lean on. Well you can count on me to hold you till your healing is done. And every time you fall apart, you can hide here in my arms, and you can count on me to hold you till the feeling is gone," Brad sang, whispering the song gently into her ear.
Song lyrics are from Count On Me by Default.