Disclaimer: I own only my plots, places, items and characters (etc) that I create, nothing else.
* Italics means thoughts.
Chapter 12; Aftermath
"Hey guys!" A peppy girl's voice entered the command central. "How'd it-oh." Amyna stopped when she saw Oliver sitting cross-legged, staring blankly ahead. He looked like a monk that had just dropped dead during meditation. Six was simply cleaning his katana. Holiday was checking on a knocked out Bobo and Knight was watching over everything. There was no conversation.
"No one...died, did they?" Rex asked hesitantly, surveying the room.
Holiday looked over and smiled at the three entering teens. "No. Six is just...being Six. White is upset with how easily the intruder got in. And Oliver is, well...I'm not really sure."
Amyna walked over to his hazel-eyed friend. "What's up? You okay, Ollie?" Amyna used Oliver's old nickname from when they first met. Ironically, Amyna hated the nickname Onier gave her yet she still called Oliver Ollie.
Oliver shook his head. "He's back."
The two words had an effect. Amyna froze in place and Onier's normally placid, contemplative look became one akin to shock. "You mean-"
Oliver just nodded, knowing full well that his friend realized who it was.
"But he's dead. The accident at-"
"Apparently not! He's alive and he's after something. He's back, guys." Oliver glowered in anger. Some nearby rubble levitated as if it sensed the anger in the air.
"Ummm, hermano?" Rex asked nervously. "You're powers."
"Sorry," The rubble lost its nanite granted flying abilities. It dropped with a loud *thunk* and cracked the floor. "I kind of lose control when I'm extremely emotional."
"So why are you so upset? The guy left and everybody's still in one piece. And what do you mean he's back? Do you know him?" Holiday inquired.
"I'm upset because of who the intruder was. And I know him but not on a real personal level." Oliver growled. "Let's just leave it at the dude is not a good guy."
"What do you mean?" Six inquired.
Oliver's faced changed to one of disdain, like he had something bitter in his mouth. "He's a mercenary. A heartless, merciless, greedy mercenary. Well, assassin would be closer to the truth, and slightly crazed. To him morals just hold him back. He's a freakin' grim reaper for hire."
Six shifted uncomfortably. Oliver addressed him. "No offense to you. I know you used to be a mercenary. Just not like he was."
"Why do know this?" Knight asked.
"He's tried to kill or capture me on multiple occasions." Oliver answered. "And he thought he had succeeded. Amyna and Onier were with me one of the last times he tried to get me."
"Who is 'he'? We can't just keep calling him 'him' or 'he'." Six asked. "It's ridiculous."
"Nightwrath. That's his code-name at least." Oliver made another fireball, popping it out once more before relighting it. "And it suits him. He sticks to the shadows and I swear he's nocturnal. Hence the Night part and the wrath is pretty fitting also. Relentless and powerful."
"Why was he trying to kill you? You said he's a mercenary." Holiday inquired softly.
"Mercenary, assassin and a bounty hunter. So, I assume someone paid him to kill or capture me." Oliver answered. 'Actually I know so, assuming it's still the same contract from last time.' He thought.
"Why-" White Knight started to ask but Oliver cut him off.
"No more questions. Please." Oliver said, a tone of stress and desperation entering his voice. "I'm done for now. I'm too tired and worn out to be of any use to anybody, and certainly not enough to explain. Is there an extra room that I can crash in?"
Holiday nodded, sympathetically to the teen. "It's down the hall to the left. There's a group of two rooms that I cleared out for you three earlier, one for you and Onier and one for Amyna. I sleep in the lab, Six in his jump jet, Rex and Bobo share an RV and White Knight is in his nanite free room if you need something."
Said Knight shook his helmeted head. "You are not leaving just yet. I've still got questions and you have the answers, which you're going to give me. Right now, not after you 'crash'."
Oliver sighed, tired of all the questions. "How 'bout this? Counter offer, Onier, Amyna and I get some sleep now then tomorrow the three of us go through a normal day here at your establishment. Training, karaoke, whatever and then at the end I'll tell my story, then my friends can tell theirs if they feel up to it. Amyna, Onier, you cool with this?" The former nodded happily and the latter shrugged non-commitingly. "At least, enough to answer your questions."
"No." The nanite free man said sternly. "You'll answer my questions now."
Oliver sighed. He was tired and this was not helping. "Really? If you try to force me, we'll just leave and go join Providence. They might appreciate some help."
Oliver knew it was a complete bluff. They probably wouldn't leave and definitely not to go to Providence. If they left, where exactly would they go too? Providence was definitely out of the question and their old 'base' was probably just scrap metal now. But White didn't know that. Hopefully Oliver's offer and threat would persuade Knight.
"Fine." Knight conceded. "But tomorrow you spill."
Author's Note: As always thanks for reading and extra special thanks to my two amazing Betas! (And I'm sorry for such late updates, I've been busy.) And I've got a special announcement today. I have started an X men collaboration, known as Project X! It's going to be a story chronicling the entirety of the X men and all the other mutants tales, told by multiple author's and different characters point of views. I hope that I see you all there! (To join, simply go to the forum under the name 'Project X') Until next time.