(A/N) Hey guys, back with another X-Ray and Vav chapter for you all, as we come just that little bit closer to the end. We're not far off now, as our finalé will be going up on the 27th of November, just before the X-Ray and Vav animated series starts up! This chapter was written by the wonderful Jaden Silver, and I think you're all going to enjoy it as much as I did.

As I mentioned in the last chapter, we have opened applications for our next fic, In the End, You Always Kneel – an Avengers/Hunger Games fic – and we're looking for as many new writers as possible to join our little team. If you're interested either PM me or head on over to our new forum, specifically made for this new fic, also called In the End, You Always Kneel, and take a look at the application forms. As I said last time, if you've enjoyed reading about superheroes here, this is your chance to write about superheroes with us!

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Five – Victory, For Now

Dr Michael Jones / Mogar, Ryan Heywood / Iron-Ryan

& Ray Narvaez Jr / X-Ray

Written by Jaden Silver

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Dr Michael Jones / Mogar

Michael's shoulders were hunched as he shuffled out of the office. Well that was a nightmare, he thought. Objectively, he knew it could have been worse. He hadn't even been given a warning. The head of surgery had just sternly stated her disappointment in his work attendance lately. It was basically the equivalent of going to the principal's office, but without any of the usual repercussions.

He supposed that was one good thing about being stuck with Mogar. The FBI was willing to do a lot to help him appear normal now. He just wished they'd hurry up on finding a way to get rid of the monster sharing his headspace.

Michael checked the calendar on his phone. He realized happily that he wasn't due for a shift until the next day. That meant, hopefully, that he'd get to spend some time with Lindsay. He knew everything that had happened recently had taken more of a toll on her than she'd let on. She was tough, of course, and she was handling it well, but he still worried about her.

Maybe for once we can have a quiet, normal night, he thought happily. He made his way to the hospital's employee exit. We could try to go out, even. Maybe catch a movie. It'll be like things are normal again. He smiled as he thought of the plan, unlocking his car. This might actually turn out to be a good day.

Of course, his hopes were quickly dashed when he heard an explosion from somewhere further in the city. The noise hadn't even stopped ringing in his ears when his phone buzzed, signalling that he'd received a text. Michael didn't bother to check it. He knew it'd either be from officer Heyman or Burns, requesting Mogar's help once again.

"God fucking dammit!" he shouted, kicking the door of the car. His voice deepened slightly mid shout, and he noticed a moment later that he'd made a rather large dent in the side of the car.

Looks like you need me again, Mogar rumbled in his mind. Michael could feel the words trying to leave his mouth as the monster held half control over his body. He was positive that if he'd actually been able to see Mogar, there'd have been a gloating smirk on the creature's face.

"Yeah, yeah," Michael grumbled. He relocked the car as he searched for somewhere he could change without being seen. "Just let me get out of my work clothes. I really can't afford to lose any more."

Mogar huffed in annoyance, but agreed, allowing Michael just enough time to grab the emergency bag he'd stashed in his car a few days before. He'd thought it was stupid at the time, but now he was glad to not destroy yet another shirt that was acceptable at his job. Once he was ready he finally took a deep breath and allowed Mogar to take over.

As usual, Michael felt every painful moment as he grew and shifted into the bear-like monster, muscles and bones crying out in the most intense growing pains ever. It passed in an instant and then he was nothing more than a voice in the back of another creature's mind.

"Alight, let's show these bitches who's boss!" Mogar yelled, storming toward the city and whatever battle awaited there.

Ryan Heywood / Iron-Ryan

James Ryan Haywood was a busy man. Working for the betterment of mankind was a time consuming task. As such, there were many points when he didn't really acknowledge how long he'd been in his lab, or what had happened in the outside world during that time. Sure, a section of his robotic mind was constantly monitoring those things, but unless there was something that needed his direct attention he wouldn't consciously acknowledge it. There was far too much to do and far too little time to concern himself with small things.

It was fortunate, he believed, that the citizens and police of Achievement City had so readily accepted the presence of his golems. Their continued work in the city freed Iron-Ryan to continue his more important work. Of course, there were some things even the best of his golems couldn't handle. It was these times that they would call for his personal intervention.

Times like now, the cyborg realized. An important alert was sounding through his laboratory, informing him of an incident in the city. The report was disjointed, copied from what his golems could hear the police transmitting over their radios, but he was able to gather that there were many assailants and quite a lot of property damage, along with a great many civilians in jeopardy.

Iron-Ryan sighed heavily. This was disappointing, to say the least. His current experiment was somewhat time sensitive, and he doubted he could get back before it was ruined. However, there was little he could do about it now.

"Duty calls," he murmured emotionlessly, shedding his work clothes in exchange for his fighting garb, his metal torso and arms gleaming in the light, his glowing red eye shining menacing. Within mere seconds he was ready and headed out his lab's door, prepared to stop whatever menace disturbed his city.

Ray Narvaez Jr / X-Ray

Vav punched a green-hooded man, knocking him back into two of his friends. Before any of the Creepers could to recover they were taken out by one of X-Ray's optic blasts. The British hero didn't have a chance to thank his partner before being faced with a tall, gun wielding figure wearing a black mask with purple eyes. Time seemed to slow for Vav as he darted forward, ducking under the muzzle of the gun and delivering an uppercut to his opponent's face.

"What are the Endermen doing here?!" he screeched once he'd once again matched the speed of the rest of the world. "I thought they were good guys now?!"

"I guess things change," X-Ray said distractedly. "Not Friendermen anymore!" He was trying to shoot down the monstrous dragon-creature that had attacked him and Vav only a short time before, when they had tracked down the Corpirate to the docks.

The Endermen attacking them seemed to be following it, and the heroes had overheard them referring to it as the Ender Dragon with tones of unease and thin-unveiled fear. Vav was watching his back while he tried to land a hit on the reptilian monstrosity, fighting off the dozens of armed gang members that had appeared in the heart of the city. The pair had no idea where they had come from – these gangs had all been disbanded for months, if not years, after X-Ray and Vav had first appeared on the scene and began cracking down on organised crime.

X-Ray was already beginning to feel the aching burn in the back of his eyes that meant he'd been overusing the optic blast. "Stupid fucker, just hold still," he whispered, once again missing his shot as the dragon lurched to the side, spraying more purple fire onto the surrounding buildings. Achievement City had been taking some serious hits over the last few weeks – the insurance industry must be broke, at this point, although X-Ray couldn't help but wonder how many people had paid for the fiery dragon insurance.

He was just about to shout for Vav to find some way to distract the beast when a new wave of gang members came running down the street. These wore the skull masks associated with the Skeletons, who he knew had disbanded months ago, when their last safehouse had received a visit from the two heroes, landing the last of their leaders in a not-so-comfy jail cell. There were also quite a few Endermen in the mix.

"Where do they keep coming from?" Vav shouted. There was a blur of blue and red as he ran along the front line of attackers, engaging them in furious hand-to-hand close combat. The thugs didn't stand a chance, naturally.

X-Ray turned his attention away from the sky for a moment to look at the new wave of gang members. Vav was right, the Skeletons had disbanded long ago, the Endermen had supposedly reformed, and the Creepers, Blazes, Pigmen and Slimes were either locked up or had fled the city. He couldn't guess why they were back now, of all times.

He noticed, standing atop a car near the line of armed men, a man wearing a balaclava. Something about him looked… imposing, even from so far away. X-Ray didn't know why, but he was sure this man was their leader.

"Vav!" he shouted, dodging under the swinging arm of a very large Creeper. The man let out an odd, annoyed hissing sound as X-Ray threw a punch into his gut, knocking the air from his lungs. "Take out that guy on the car."

The British hero looked to where his partner indicated and began speeding forward. He was stopped, however, by an unbroken wall of bodies. There were too many men between himself and the mystery man. Even with his enhanced speed, he couldn't get to his target. Vav began trying to fight his way through the crowd, but soon found himself back where he started. Even though he was too fast and too strong for anyone to take down by themselves, there were just too many enemies. He looked back to the car again and saw that the balaclava-wearing man was gone.

"I lost him," he shouted, retreating to once again stand with his partner.

"Fan-fucking-tastic," the other hero muttered. "Some guy managed to resurrect every gang in the city, and now he got away." He shot another blast in front of him, taking out a line of Endermen.

"At least the Zombies aren't here," Vav said optimistically. As if on cue three large vans screeched down the empty street to his left. Men wearing the dead-eyed masks and dull greens and browns of the 7th Street Zombies began pouring out, armed and dangerous to a man.

"You just had to say it," X-Ray groaned, while ducking under cover as the Zombies began to open fire.

"What? That wasn't my fault!" Vav insisted, throwing himself beside his partner, wincing as the car they had hidden behind shuddered beneath the incessant gunfire.

X-Ray ignored him, shooting another super-heated blast at one of the vans. The vehicle immediately flipped and tumbled away down the street. Unfortunately, it was an empty gesture, as all of the men had already exited the vehicle, but he liked to think it added to their psychological battle, at least.

X-Ray and Vav instinctively glanced at each other as their attackers drew nearer, still raining down fire on the car. They both knew it couldn't last forever. They'd have to make a move sooner or later, or both of them would be toast.

"We could use some help," X-Ray muttered after a moment. "Are the cops ever going to get here?"

Before Vav could open his mouth to answer they heard the deep thump of large feet running quickly, followed by a familiar shout.

"GET READY BITCHES, MOGAR'S HERE!" the behemoth shouted, cutting through a line of Endermen with an unconscious ease as he ran into view, bellowing in fury.

At the same time they heard the metallic thunder of a large group of iron golems charging towards them, Iron-Ryan at the front of the charge, leading his minions into battle. They pushed past the majority of the Creepers to join X-Ray, Vav, and Mogar in the centre of the conflict.

"Well, you asked for help," Vav said with a grin. While the enemies' guns were turned toward the newcomers he darted forward, knocking down all in his path. X-Ray took advantage of the distraction as well. With fewer guns pointed his way he was able to give his eyes a break and take out more enemies by hand. Between the four of them, plus a couple dozen golems, they were able to clear nearly a whole block of street within seconds.

"Alright, we've got some breathing room. Now let's try to keep them back," X-Ray shouted.

Iron-Ryan seemed to take the suggestion as an order, more willing than X-Ray would have expected to defer to the more experienced hero's judgment. He immediately pushed two destroyed cars together. With the help of some golems he managed to stack and secure them into a passable blockade.

"Wall!" the cyborg shouted once the structure was complete. He then sprinted to the other end of the block, readying a second set of cars.

Mogar, on the other hand, ignored the command and continued pushing through the sea of gang members. The monster didn't even look like he was paying attention to the men he was fighting. His eyes were fixed on the dragon-like being flying over their heads.

"Get down here and fight, you overgrown lizard!" he challenged, waving his sword in the air. A spray of purple fire landed on the behemoth a moment later, though it seemed to do him little harm. The beast merely grew even more enraged by the attack, and began trying to climb one of the surrounding buildings in order to get to the flying monster.

Vav began moving toward Mogar, fearing his friend would be hurt, but was stopped by X-Ray grabbing his arm. "We have cover now," he said. "We can handle this problem. Mogar can take care of himself."

Vav looked uncertain but nodded anyway. He immediately sped toward the first few Skeletons to get past Ryan's wall, taking them all out with a series of lightning-fast punches.

"Wall!" Ryan shouted once again, his robotic voice cutting through the sound of the battle. There were now only two sides where the gunmen could easily get to them. At the same time Mogar let loose a powerful roar from atop a nearby apartment building.

Between Vav, the golems, and Iron-Ryan, the gangs seemed to be well managed for the moment. X-Ray turned his attention back to the Ender Dragon. He shot another blast at it, aiming for the creature's eyes. At the last second it rolled through the air, sending X-Ray's attack flying harmlessly past its left flank.

"Damn!" he shouted in frustration. "How does this thing always know where I'm going to hit?" Suddenly Iron-Ryan appeared at his side, having moved so silently it startled the young hero.

The cyborg stared at the flying creature for a long moment, a look of dim recognition in his eyes. He shook the feeling off with a grunt and spoke. "It appears to be following a pattern with its dodges," he observed with an impassive voice. The cyborg continued to study the dragon's flight patterns for a moment before pointing at its right shoulder. "Fire there when I tell you to," he instructed.

X-Ray glanced uncertainly at the newer hero, but nodded. He still trusted the old workmate who was buried under all that machinery. He knew Ryan wouldn't let him down.

Once Iron-Ryan gave the signal, X-Ray fired the most powerful optic blast he had left in him, knowing that it was the end of his powers for the day. His eyes had moved beyond an ache and into a truly painful burn. He knew he couldn't do any more with them or else risk serious damage.

The blast flew straight toward the dragon's shoulder, right where X-Ray'd aimed. As expected, the Ender Dragon dove to the side to avoid the blast. Ray almost shouted in frustration before he saw the beast's new path. It was flying straight toward the roof where Mogar was standing. He could tell from the frantic flap of its wings that it wouldn't be able to stop in time.

With a triumphant yell of "FUCK YEAH!" Mogar ran sword first at the dragon. A powerful swing of the blade cut into the muscle under its wing, and it cried out in an awful screech. Vav and X-Ray covered their ears to block the sound, and even Mogar winced. Only Iron-Ryan seemed unaffected.

The Ender Dragon hopped along the roof briefly, struggling to get back in the air. It finally managed to regain some altitude and began limp-flying away from Mogar, delivering a swat of its tail to the monster in parting. The enraged behemoth tried to pursue across the rooftops, but the dragon quickly gained speed and escaped, with Mogar letting out a frustrated roar as it disappeared from view.

With their leader gone, the Endermen seemed to lose most of their fight, and they were each soon taken out by either Vav or the golems. The police arrived a few minutes later, and with their help the heroes were able to round up most of the gang members, while a few fled in light of their obvious defeat.

Once all the attackers were gone and the world seemed to have calmed down again, Vav practically fell down on the curb. He didn't care about the small purple fires still burning around the street or the bits of rubble that had been knocked from buildings. All he wanted was to be able to rest. He sat and lay back with a hand over his eyes. "Please tell me it's all over," he said, sounding as exhausted as he looked.

"It would appear so," Iron-Ryan answered. "All adversaries have either fled or been apprehended. The crisis is over."

X-Ray smiled despite the remnants of pain in his eyes. "Thank Christ," he said, sitting next to his partner. He rubbed at the skin around his goggles, wanting desperately to see to his eyes but refusing to risk removing his mask. He couldn't risk anyone recognizing him. "Not too bad for our first four-way team up, though," he said proudly.

"'Not bad'?" Mogar scoffed, propping his sword up on his shoulder. "We kicked their fucking asses!"

"We did perform rather efficiently," Iron-Ryan agreed.

"Yeah, we were top!" Vav said with a grin, sitting back up. The hero had an extraordinary recovery time, and looked ready to go back to work again. X-Ray wished he could bounce back that quickly.

"Yeah, yeah, you all did real good," Agent Burns said sarcastically, having come to stand next to the heroes without them noticing, Agent Heyman at his side. "Except for letting the only two people who mattered get away, you were great."

"He's right," Joel said, though he looked unhappy to admit it. "Everyone we caught today is basically worthless if we lost their leaders. The Community just proved they can raise an army whenever they want, and we still have no idea who they are."

Each word the two agents spoke was like a heavy weight of reality dropping on the heroes.

"This wasn't a victory," Agent Burns continued. "At best it was a place holder." He left without another word, his partner following slowly behind.

X-Ray sighed. They were right, of course. He realized it the moment they spoke. For all the good they did stopping this last attack, they were still no closer to the root of the problem.

He was beginning to doubt if they'd ever get there.