"I don't believe this!" Salamander shouted. "You're really giving him powers! Are you out of your mind?!" The team went Erik in jail for some help against Brain, but it sounds like the situation is much worse. Brain is trying to prevent a separate personality from waking up that scares even him. Cobra offered to help, but it was a tough negotiation until Jellal made an offer that the others didn't like. At the moment, Cobra is hooked up to a machine that's going to give him powers.

"Jellal, you can't do this." Steel said.

"Trust me. I have it all planned." Jellal said.

"So, how does this work?" Cobra questioned.

"You'll be getting poison-like powers." Jellal said. "The poison isn't lethal, but it can cause a person to go numb. That should be more than suited for you. Here goes." Jellal activated his machine and it was a go. A liquid substance made it's way through some tubes and went into his arms. It was a little tough for Cobra to endure, but he did just that. He felt like his insides were getting blended and mixed, but he endured it. He kept on enduring it until the last drop of that stuff went in. When it was done, he was released and felt wobbly, but he was able to keep himself standing. Cobra tried his powers out and he soon saw a purple substance flowing out of it.

"Cool." Cobra said.

"This is all kinds of a bad idea." Ray said.

"Your friends have a point." Cobra mocked. "Was it really a wise idea to give me powers? Are you really that desperate?"

"Not desperate, but I like to think there's some form of trust." Jellal said. "Besides, do you think I would do this without some form of precaution. If I gave you these powers, I can take them away. I also have a failsafe installed."

"A failsafe?" Cobra questioned.

"If you betray us, all I have to do is flip a switch and your powers turn against you." Jellal warned. "Your insides will feel like they're burning. It wont' kill you, but it will be very unpleasant."

"You're bluffing." Cobra claimed.

"Do you want to find out?" Jellal challenged. Cobra thought he was, but the way Jellal stood his ground and had a firm look in his eyes. That had Cobra convinced he wasn't bluffing, but he still chuckled.

"You're crazy. I like it." Cobra said.

"We're not limited like the police are." Jellal said. "We'll do what we can to stop criminals. Now, you're going to work with Salamander and the others. After what happens with Brain, we'll discuss more on what to do with you."

"He's seriously going to work with us?" Legion questioned as none of the others like this.

"I guess that means we'll have to find them a mask and such." Maiden said as she tried to go with it.

"No way. I'm not wearing tights in a dorky outfit. My regular clothes will work just fine." Cobra said. "Besides, I don't need some stupid mask. A lot of people already know about me. I plan on keeping the name, so there's really no point. Even a toddler could put this together, but you guys do you."

"Watch it." Steel said as he got in his face. "Don't think this means we trust you. Just be grateful we're helping you out and giving you all this other stuff."

"Trust, huh?" Cobra said. "That's a little funny from people who wear masks around here. The Oracion Seis did have trust in each other. We knew everything about each other. How much do you all know about each other? What about you, Salamander? Did you take off the mask around here?" Cobra might be a punk, but he knows how to stir things. "You're going to need a lot of trust if you're planning to take down Zero if we fail to stop him."

"He's got a point." Steel said as he looked towards Salamander. "We all know each other's identities around here, but you haven't shown us yours, Salamander? You know each one of us. Don't you think you can drop the mask here?" Salamander wasn't sure about that.

"Don't say such things out loud for him to hear." Shadow claimed and then turned to Cobra. "Don't make it sound like your part of the team. It's just like Jellal said. We'll decide what to do with you once the mission is over."

"Whatever you say. Now let's go get him." Cobra said as he just walked through the place, but everyone had their doubts about this guy.

"Jellal, are you sure about this? How can you even trust someone like him?" Salamander questioned.

"You've dealt with villains that were much worse than him." Jellal said. "Just leave him to me if he decides to turn against us. I have contingencies in place for a situation like that." He claimed, but that still doesn't mean Salamander likes this. It just seems too risky and now a common criminal is much more powerful.

"Jellal, I was on board with this whole team thing before." Salamander claimed. "Now, I'm not sure if you really know what you're doing." It would seem that the trust in the team is starting to break apart because of it. Is Jellal really willing to risk that much?

...

Brain

Brain seemed desperate. He could tell his alter ego was coming out and he wanted to prevent that from happening. He was doing everything he could to make sure of that. At the moment, he broke into a lab and was working on something using the data he stole from the server farm.

"This has to work." Brain said as sparks were flying off some sort of headband he was making. "Once this is finished, I can prevent him from ever coming out." While he was working on his little project, Salamander and the team were able to track him down. They acted sneaky and tried to get as close as they could without alerting him.

"What's he working on?" Salamander questioned.

"Whatever data he stole, he must be using it to build a contraption that is going to help him keep Zero away." Cobra said.

"Another way that's going to help is making sure he's locked away in jail." Salamander said. "If Shadow can get close enough, we can get him." Shadow used his powers and tried to get close enough to Brain without being seen. He got pretty close to him and tried to grab him. Shadow was just inches away before Brain turned around and smashed his fist against Shadow's head and knocked him down.

"Stopping me would be a big mistake!" Brain said. He took his weapons and fired away at everything with the heroes being forced to reveal themselves.

"Sorry, but we can't just let you roam around." Steel claimed.

"We think another way to keep this Zero from coming out is to lock you away where you can't bother anyone." Ray claimed.

"What? How do you know about Zero?" Brain questioned. That was when Cobra stepped forward and revealed himself to him. "Cobra?! This is a surprise! You actually decided to become a "hero" like they have."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself. I'm here because I hate you at the moment more than I hate these guys." Cobra said. "Besides, I'm not crazy. I don't want Zero running loose either. I get to kill two birds with one stone." He claimed with poison flowing from his hands. Cobra was ready to fight and he did. He charged right at Brain, but Brain fought back as he tried blasting him. Cobra jumped around to avoided each of his shots, but that was when Ray made his move and fired his own energy blasts at Brain. Brain rolled over the table and lifted it so he could use it like a shield.

"Like that will help." Shadow said as he became a shadow and got behind Brain again. This time, he attacked first as he smashed his fist right into Brain's face and knocked him back.

"If you know about Zero, I'm telling you that... Argh!" Brain appeared to be in pain as he held his head and could barely take it.

"Not good. That's a sign that Zero is coming out, but Brain is trying to resist." Cobra said. Sounds like they're running out of time.

"I need my device." Brain said as he looked around for it and saw it was near Shadow. "Out of my way!" He charged right at Shadow and hoped to grab his device, but Sky Maiden unleashed a blast of wind and knocked him away. "Why are you trying to stop me?! That device should help keep Zero away! You have no idea what you're doing!"

"And we're going to let you do whatever you want? I don't think so." Legion said.

"Fools!" Brain called as he took aim with his gauntlets again, but Legion countered as he shot some lightning and electrocuted Brain with his weapons being destroyed. "No!" Steel took his turn as he charged right at Brain, but Brain could still hold his own. When Steel threw a punch, Brain grabbed it and tossed him aside. He wanted his device more and ran for it.

"Stop, Brain!" Salamander said as he charged.

"I got him!" Cobra said as they attacked together. Both of them tried attacking with flame and poison, but Brain rolled underneath both of them and kicked them both back. He kept going for his device with Sky Maiden and Nova Ray shooting at him to try and stop him, but Brain avoided each attack thrown at him. Then, he dived for his device and grabbed it.

"Got it!" Brain claimed.

"Nope!" Ray said as he fired another shot and it destroyed Brain's device.

"No!" Brain shouted with him greatly upset now. "Do you not understand what you're doing?! I am simply trying to prevent Zero from awakening!"

"Guys, he does have a point." Maiden claimed. "Was that really a smart idea if that device is meant to keep him away?"

"We're suppose to trust that? Besides, we would still need to take him in." Ray claimed. "We'll just have the police lock him away and problem solve."

"Yeah..." Cobra said as he grabbed Brain by the shoulder and looked at him. "Not before this!" He took a fist full of poison and hit Brain right in the face. Once that happened, Brain felt funny and could barely keep himself standing. He dropped down to his knees and he didn't look so good with his vision becoming blurry and sweat running down his face. "What?! Don't tell me that's it?! I was hoping for more!"

"You should be careful with what you wish for." Brain said. It seemed like it was over, but then Brain acted with surprising speed as he grabbed Cobra by the neck and tried crushing him. All of them watched with horror as they saw Brain get back up, but it was like seeing a figure of pure horror rise.

"You..." Cobra tried to speak. Brain's skin actually changed color with even his eyes turning red.

"A pleasure to see you again Cobra. An even greater pleasure to do this!" He threw Cobra as hard as he could and he smashed against the wall. All of them saw the horror this was. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zero."

"Zero... Fitting name because that's what you are." Steel said and went on the attack.

"Don't charge, idiot!" Cobra called.

"No way he's that tough!" Steel claimed as he thought he could take him. He tried throwing a punch, but Zero caught it easily. He twisted it so hard that Steel nearly got his arm broken. Then, Zero kicked him incredibly hard that he was knocked out in just one hit. What they just saw was brutal.

"It feels good to hear bones pop and break." Zero claimed as he had a look around. "People in brightly colored tights? I don't know if I should feel nostalgic or should just laugh. I guess I'll have to see what you can really do."

"How's this!" Legion tried firing a blast of lightning, but Zero just stepped to the side and avoided it much to their surprise. Zero charged right at Legion and chopped him right in the neck and smashed his head against the wall.

"Thunder Legion!" Sky Maiden called. She tried to help him as she flew in the air and fired blasts of wind, but Zero avoided all of her attacks. Then, he jumped on the wall and climbed his way up until he reached her and a bicycle kick that knocked her right out of the air. The way Zero fought was unreal. His movements were almost inhuman. Shadow tried to help as he slipped through as a shadow and tried to grab him, but Zero kicked him right in the gut. Then, he brought his leg right down and smashed him against the ground. Zero was trying to do more harm, but Cobra helped out. He grabbed his arms and held them from behind with his poison to try and make his arms numb.

"Hurry! Fire the shot!" Cobra called. Ray was tempted to fire, but he wasn't sure if Cobra would really help. Then, Zero broke free and kicked Cobra back. Then, Zero went at Ray and smashed his fist against his face and knocked him down.

"That's enough!" Salamander called as he had a flaming fist ready to attack, but Zero caught him and threw him against the wall rather hard. As Salamander tried to pull himself together, Zero smashed into the wall next to Salamander and pulled out a cable that had electricity on the end. He tried to jam it into Salamander, but Salamander tried to hold it back and saw Zero's face. There was no motive for him to do this other than sheer delight. The only word to describe this man was completely insane. Salamander did his best to hold him back, but Zero was unbelievable strong and the electricity was getting closer and closer to Salamander's face. It looked like it was real trouble for him until Cobra helped out again and hit Zero right in the face and knocked him away. "Thanks." He said as he was amazed Cobra helped him out like that.

"That's about all I got." Cobra said as he dropped to his knees.

"Not bad, but I'm not going anywhere now that I'm free again." Zero said as he got back up. "There's much for me to do...and destroy." That was all he said before he took off through the door like a living tank where nothing could stop him.

"Stop!" Salamander called. He wanted to go after him, but the groaning he could hear from the others got him to stay. They needed some medical help and they'll have to let that psycho go for the moment.

...

The Airship

All of them managed to get back to the ship and tried to get some medical treatment. Zero hit them all really hard and were sore, but at least they are alive. Jellal didn't like seeing this, but he's just glad they could all come back.

"That Zero really is a beast." Ray complained.

"He was like...inhuman." Maiden complained.

"I can't believe a person could move the way he did without any powers." Shadow said.

"I told you." Cobra claimed. "Zero is not someone you want to mess with. You can see why I'm worried if he decides to go after my buddies." They didn't take Cobra's word for how dangerous Zero can be, and now they all paid the price for it. "Well, I guess I should go back to jail since I got nothing more you guys want. Just make sure you put me somewhere that freak won't be able to find."

"You're not going anywhere, Cobra." Jellal said. "The safest place for you...would be right here." Jellal offered with another surprise. "You could become part of the team. If you really want to help your friends, this could be the best way do that. Aren't you tired of living this criminal life?"

"Maybe... Why do you want me?" Cobra questioned.

"For a few good reasons." Jellal said. "It's a chance to redeem yourself, you know this enemy and could provide useful information, and you have insight to the criminal mind. You hold knowledge that could be most helpful to us. I also believe you could be more than what you are." The offer did sound good to Cobra. His whole life people saw him as just as a criminal, but someone here is seeing that he could be more.

"I would argue with you about this, but I hurt too much." Steel complain.

"Jellal, are you sure about this?" Legion said.

"I'm the one who gave Cobra his powers, so I'm more than willing to take responsibility for it." Jellal admitted as he truly was.

"Guys, Jellal might be right." Salamander said. He looked back at how the fight went and realized something. "We didn't trust each other and that's why Zero beat us around. We didn't coordinate our attacks effectively because of that. I thought Cobra couldn't be trusted, but he did just took a big risk and helped me out. I never thought he actually would help me the way he did, but he did. From now on, we need absolute trust in each other. I just Jellal...and it's time you trusted me." He reached for his mask and actually removed it. "My real name is Natsu Dragneel, but some of you know me." He actually revealed himself with Black Steel and Thunder Legion unable to believe it.

"Dragneel?! You were Salamander the whole time?!" Steel claimed.

"No... No way... That's... No, no, no, no... Then again... No, it's impossible!" Legion shouted.

"From now on, we trust each other." Natsu said. With a team trusting each other with everything, they will fight. With Cobra actually joining the team, this could make things interesting.