Chibiyu: So…another fight scene. This should be the last one for a while. I don't really feel like writing it, so it will probably be quick.

Nick: Keep in mind with her action and fighting mean two separate things.

Chibiyu: This is true. Who is going to win?

TAC AND MIRAGED vs. JOE AND RAY! Place your bets now!

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"The message is simple: you have two days before all Hell breaks loose," Tac relayed, pulling the metal fence easily from the ground. "And two seconds to defend yourselves."

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They immediately jumped back, shouting at the kids playing on the street to go inside. The Normal obeyed instantly, the two others taking a moment before shuffling back, shoulders sagged in a dejected manner.

Miraged just laughed at this. "Why hide the children from the violence when they will experience in two days' time?"

Neither Ray nor Joe answered, both weighing their options. Fighting would get them nowhere, but it could put two Villains back in jail. Running would only instigate a chase in which others could be caught in. They had to stand and fight. It was the Heroes way.

They waited as Tac ripped apart the metal fence with one simple clench on his fist. They watched Miraged zoom backwards, cracking his knuckles.

"Time's up," Tac whispered, throwing the pointed end of the fence like a javelin, it sailing towards Joe at a speed unobtainable without the power of repelling. Joe pushed Ray down, him falling as well, hearing the crack as the beam impaled itself into the brick building behind them. Joe carefully stood up, aware that Ray wasn't next to him anymore and aware of the chase going on all around them. Scoot would zip across the park, purposefully waiting for the last second until moving. Ray was hot on his tail, unable to do anything until she got a hold of him.

"What do you want to gain with this?" Joe questioned, just wanting to get on with the search for his brother.

Tac paused for a moment, shrugging. "Payback for your insolent brother's actions."

Joe couldn't help but roll his eyes at this and his next words blurted out before he could even think to stop them. "It's not his fault you forgot he can duck under fire extinguishers."

Tac's face fell into a growl at this and he grabbed the fence, whipping the entire construction over to Joe. The Lucas' eyes widened. Just as the metal was a foot away from him, he braced himself, squaring his feet and ramming his shoulder into it. Adrenalin dulled the burn. The metal collapse to the ground, a large dent going into four of the beams.

"That the best you got?" Joe taunted, shaking out his arm as he smirked that the Villain. "Nick was right: magnetism sucks."

"Does it really?" Tac whispered. Joe's eyes widened as he watched the corners of the Villain's mouth raise sinisterly, the gleam in his eye causing Joe to take a step back. Joe's mistake.

The ground rumbled, the only warning the Hero received, before he was blasted off of his feet. Pain coursed through his right side, him hissing out as he slid across the pavement. A trail of blood marked his path. The water dousing him from the burst pipes that Tac caused to break through the street did nothing to extinguish the fire, only add.

"Joe?" Ray called, abandoning her chase for a moment to watch her friend peel himself off the street, his whole right side a bloodied torn mess. But he sent her a wave, glaring at the Villain whom he now considered a threat. The girl froze when she felt Scott's nimble fingers close around her neck.

"Mistake?" he breathed in her ear, laughing at his prey's shock.

But it was Ray's turn to smirk. She twisted; her foot slamming down on Miraged's and fingers jamming into his eyes. The attacked screamed, backing down and running off, his speed impaired by the possible broken bone in his foot. This was what she wanted. Now she could get him.

Tac shrieked as Joe's fist came down on his shoulder. He whimpered, backing off as he held his arm, a growl on his face but tears of pain lining his eyes. Joe shook off his face, trying not to shiver from the feeling of his knuckle popping out the idiots shoulder. He turned for a moment, watching Ray kick the knife from her rival's hand. The metal hit the ground with a sick snick, bouncing twice before it was kicked away, lost in the rough bush of the park. Joe scowled, looking back at Tac and hating how they carried weapons to better their chances. Greedy and narcissist; that was what Villains were. Heroes stuck to their guts and their fists, relying on the human element to win instead of luck and mechanical means. It was less danger for those around – one less maniac shooting a gun or stabbing the air.

"I bet little Nicky will love to hear the story about his brother gettin' killed," Tac whispered, his voice rough. His fingers were twitching after he popped the joint back in place, a look of discomfort contorting his normally constipated face. "Then again, I don't even know if he's already dead. Would you like to know, Joe? Would you like to die to see if he is in Hell?"

"Shut up already!" Joe yelled, charging and closing the five foot distance rapidly. His fist met Tac's stomach, sending the Villain staggering back with an 'umph.' The Villain couldn't regain his breath when his back met Joe's elbow and his chest met the sidewalk. And through the pain, the man smirked, clenching his fists. The sound of Joe's screaming met his ears.

Ray turned her head, arms around Scott's neck, watching her friend with nothing but horror. She watched pipes break through the street, targeted on Joe. She watched him knock away the first two, but missed the one behind him.

Tac stood up, giving a bloodied grin of a fool, walking backwards with outstretched arms. "Inspiration does wonders, does it not?" Scott busted out of Ray's grip, disappearing into the streets, the wind clinging to him. Ray ran, hair flying behind her, towards her down friend. She dropped to her knees, screaming for help, for anyone to help.

But there was no one there to hear her.

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Sandy Lucas paced the aisle, looking left and right, meeting the eyes of anyone who dared to lift their head.

"So you are saying," she nearly hissed out, struggling to maintain a decent level of calm, "That you will not look for my son because of what he wears?"

"Mrs. Lucas," one said, standing in a full suit, looking like he was ready to cower under the glare of the mother. "You must understand," he tried, his upper lip twitching in nerves, "Nicholas is not our concern right now – he is, by all definition, a Villain. It is not our concern to find him first, but to find the means that can stop him."

"Stop him?" Sand Lucas whispered, it becoming very apparent where her Normal son got the eye, "From what, may I ask?" There was no denying the boiling rage under her falsely cool tone. "As you have heard, my son has only been permitted to carry it, not use it. And this insinuates that he is a Villain?" Her tone turned shrill as she stepped forward, finger pointed at the man's chest. "My son, a Villain?"

The man did not back down, though the shake of his knees betrayed him. "It is the darkest object of any age – it caused the Dark Ages and we must prevent it from happening again. Anyone who touches that evil is considered evil. Besides," he boldly went on, drawing his jacket closer and buttoning it, "How long do you think Nicholas will last when it decides to use him?"

"Longer than any of you bastards." She would have said more, if not for the unconscious scream plowing through her well concealed mind. "While you fools debate on the status of my son," she spoke quickly, already heading towards the door of the replacement council hall, "My other son needs help. Unlike you, he is doing something useful."

Sandy Lucas left the room, waiting for the doors to swing closed before breaking off into a dead run.

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Chibiyu: Mom pwn! Haha. Until Next Update!

Written 2/5/12