Learning to Breathe

Chapter Forty-nine: Did we forget something?

I should have been thrilled. The doctors said I would walk out today. So what if my left arm is still in a sling? At least I was out of the chair. I should be happy.

But I'm not.

Instead, I'm nervous about this Chicago mission Zartan is dragging us on. Don't these people know I'll be useless if a battle starts? I may be the leader, but I'm also crippled at the moment. Why go to Illinois when I won't be of any use?

And then there's that "Kid of Rock" flying around. I looked up his stats online and I'm a bit confused. He's a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He does most of his fighting there. Got an HQ there and everything. Why the hell is he in Chicago?

Maybe it has something to do with Corona or the undergrounders Shatter's hooked up with. Apparently, the town is a superhuman hot-zone—more so than Bayville and tied with Cleveland. Maybe that's why Razor's come all that way: to visit some superhero pen-pal.

Whatever the reason, Rocker-boy is going down.

I'm also anxious to meet the Chicago Dreadnoks. From what I've heard, there are three core members and one apprentice. They even run a business front. A motorcycle garage. But their greatest talent is causing mayhem and chaos.

We ought to fit right in up there. And hey, if we don't, at least we can say we ate some authentic Chicago pizza. Maybe this trip won't be too bad?

"Are we there yet?" Bryan called from his seat. Zartan groaned in response.

"No, Chaos, we are not there just yet, now be patient!"

"How long will it be?" Mitch asked.

"Another ten minutes." The pilot answered from the cockpit. "Now will you all shut up?"

"But there's nothing to do." Regan said. "Everytime we try to get a card game going, we hit a patch of turbulence and have to start all over again!"

"She has a point." Bryan nodded.

"We'll have time for games when we land." Zartan replied. "Now can all of you please be quiet until we get to Chicago?"

"Yes Sir." The assembled sextet replied.

"Hey, aren't we missing something?" Neal whispered to his nearest teammates.

"No, it's just your imagination." Kris rolled her eyes.

"I'm with T-Bird. We left something behind." Mitch vouched for his friend.

"If you two are so worried about it, then you can ride back home and get it." Andi hissed. "Whatever it is can't be too important."

"If I may direct your attention to the window, you can see Chicago approaching us." Zartan said, putting an end to the conversation.

"Wow." Kristen breathed. "It's huge!"

"And we're all going to be able to visit the city?" Bryan asked. "Wicked."

"I just wish I could remember what we forgot." Neal commented.

"Where in blazes has everyone gone?" Vincent exclaimed as he stomped through the base. "It's a weekday for christ's sake! What could be going on around here!"

"Virus?" Zarana blinked as the English mutant passed her by. "What are you stil doing here? The others left hours ago."

"Left?" he blinked. "Where to?"

"Didn't you know?" She asked. "Shadowatch has been called to help out the Dreadnoks in Chicago. I thought Zartan told you?"

"I don't remember anything." Virus said. "Just looking through a few pictures." Of my precious water goddesses. He thought to himself.

"Oh. Well, if you plan to catch up to them, you'll have to call and ask for directions." The female Dreadnok replied. "The planes won't take just one person, so you'll have to book a public flight."

"I will find them, rest assured." Virus grumbled. "I will catch up to those jerks. No matter what."