Oliver Queen sat back watching the security cameras on one of his warehouses. He had heard rumors that someone was going to be breaking into them to get something, it hadn't been clear as to what, who or why, but when he realized who the young man was his heart broke in his chest.
"Why, Static… why are you doing this?" he wondered aloud as he recognized the sixteen-year-old from the many articles out and about detailing his heroic efforts to use the powers he had been given to clean up the gang-ridden streets of Dakota along with his partner and brother-at-arms Gear. The articles often cited Gear as Static's sidekick, but Oliver knew better, he knew the boys operated as equals there was no leader/follower mentality between them the way there often was in a hero-sidekick relationship.
"C'mon kid… there has to be a reason you're doing this" Oliver sighed then donned his own equipment to follow the electric hero to see what was going on and why.
He watched as Static dropped the item off and picked up an envelope filled with a small amount of cash. It wasn't nearly enough to be considered a bribe or payoff for the effort Static put into the theft. Then Oliver realized that this was worse than he feared. Static looked like he wanted to throw paper, cash and all away, like this wasn't what he wanted to find. Was this not a voluntary assignment.
"NO… I did everything you said… where is Gear!" Static bellowed in anger. "Why won't you give him back to me!"
Oliver backed off shaking his head, the kid was being blackmailed. That was the only explanation for that behavior. Someone had Gear and was only guaranteeing the blonde's safety so long as Static did what he was told. He had been tempted to confront the teenager on his behavior but after realizing the predicament that Static found himself in he decided against it. He wasn't going to jeopardize the kid or his friend by butting in openly. He would keep tabs on the situation and make sure Static was able to do what he was forced to do without other heroes butting in and putting Gear in undue danger.
He put the word out among the heroes of the Justice League that he had found that Static was not on the rogue as it would appear he was. He was being blackmailed into breaking laws and requested that they do their level best to shield him from the legal ramifications of his actions.
"Look Batman, we're talking about a kid, he might be sixteen I don't know for sure, he's in an impossible situation I know any of you that have worked with someone you care about would behave no differently if their life was on the line." Oliver roared over the line as Batman protested the idea of shielding Static who was breaking the law.
Bruce let out a long breath.
"Do we have any clues as to where they are holding Gear hostage… perhaps if we can spring Gear from his captor we can free Static before he breaks any more laws." Batman replied "I understand… I know Static is young… you're age guess is spot on… he turned sixteen a few weeks ago." Batman explained.
"You know the kid's identity don't you?" Oliver asked.
"Yes… it's only because of how dire this situation is that I reveal it to you… his name is Virgil Hawkins… he was just your average high school teenage boy trying to make it in the gang ridden streets of Dakota until he was dragged into a gang war and exposed to Quantum Vapor and turned into what he is now." Batman explained.
"Do they have any form of remote communication devices that we might be able to track?" Oliver asked.
"Yes… I already thought of that and the next time they activate I'll try to track them." Batman replied.
Virgil put his street clothes back on and found the nearest fast-food place to get a cheap burger to eat, this wasn't what he wanted to do, but he had little choice in the matter. He had done exactly what the note had said, but there was no sign of Richie being returned.
He got back to the hideout he had crafted for himself and found another note from the same hand.
"Good, you have proven you care enough about your friend to keep doing the right thing… the next assignment has you staying there…" it read then it mentioned the captor would use the enclosed wireless communication device.
"Hope he knows I'm gonna fry this thing as soon as I power up." Virgil muttered then noticed the note said it was specially shielded for his unique powers.
"Good work, Static" a crisp British accent came over the line.
"Who is this?" Virgil demanded too tired to bother with being polite.
"It doesn't matter who I am all that matters is you have done what you were asked, and Gear will remain safe and has been cared for as you would wish him to be."
"I need to talk to him… I need to hear that from him!" Virgil demanded.
There was silence on the line and Virgil feared his demand wouldn't be met.
"That isn't too much to ask…" he replied as if he had taken the few moments to think about the request.
"Static…"
"Gear… are you okay?"
"Yeah… yeah I'm fine…" Gear replied "Static don't do this…"
"Gear I have no choice… I'll get you out of there I promise… just hang in there."
"Static…"
The transmission cut off and Virgil was momentarily tempted to throw the device across the room but decided against it when he remembered that was the only way he had to hear from the person or people that held Gear hostage.
Robert sat on the couch watching the news anxiously. He noticed She-Bang and Rubber Band Man had picked up the slack with Static and Gear unaccounted for. Sean Foley had no reason to question where his son was, they had planned for Richie to stay at the Hawkin's house for the entire weekend so he had until Sunday night before the Foleys would start asking questions as to where their son was. He could only pray that Virgil was able to rescue Richie and return before Sunday night so he could return home and not draw more suspicion on the identities of Static and, by extension, Gear.
"Daddy… any word from Virgil?" Sharon asked sitting with him.
"No… if he contacted me I'd let you know." He sighed pulling his daughter into his arms. "I know you're scared, Sharon, I am too but we have to trust Virgil… he has a good head on his shoulders, he'll find a way out of this mess one way or another."
Richard's heart broke as Sharon began to sob, she might have her disagreements with her brother, but she still loved him dearly and this hurt her as much as it did him.
'Please contact me son… I need to know you're okay.' Robert thought and said the same prayer again, that his boys be brought home to him safely.
That was when it dawned on Robert that he hadn't really prayed that much especially given that, if anyone asked, he would have told them he was Christian until he was blue in the face.
Gear sighed as he sat in the corner of the room, he was shocked when a slot opened in the door and a tray of food slid in for him. He was, at first, hesitant to eat it, then the captor's words rang in his mind that he was of more value alive than dead. He had to have faith that Virgil would be able to rescue him, so he sat down and began to eat. The food wasn't bad, actually it was pretty decent, not his mother's cooking by any means but it was palatable enough. He cleaned his plate and put the tray back through the slot and it was taken away. Then someone came back, he could hear the same accented voice speaking to someone, then he heard Virgil on the other end and realized this person must have figured out how to use the shock vox and used it to contact Virgil.
"I need to talk to him… I need to hear that from him!" Gear heard Static say. He was sure that demand was going to be the end of it, then a hand put a radio device through the slot. It wasn't the Shock Vox, but it worked similarly.
"Speak to him, but don't you dare touch the device… try anything foolish and you will regret it."
"Okay…" Gear agreed then the device activated.
"Static…"
Gear confirmed that he was okay, better treated than he had expected to be given the situation at hand. He then tried to tell Virgil not to continue like this, but he didn't listen, not that Richie expected him to, but it was worth the try anyway.
The transmission was cut.
"Good job, Gear… and the attempt at self-sacrifice is admirable but pointless… you know Static isn't going to give up… he looks at you like his brother." The voice replied.
Richie stood dumbstruck for a moment then he realized the man was right, he and Virgil were like brothers and Virgil wasn't going to let him go without a fight no matter what he said.
Meanwhile Robert was standing outside of the community center when he heard the crackle of electricity, for a split second he believed his prayers had been answered and his son was home, but then he saw the sky changing and his heart sank. He then noticed a young woman about Sharon's age or a bit younger land in front of him.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Stormfront." She replied, "My siblings and I found out about the crisis here."
"I'd hardly call it a crisis." Robert sighed as a guy about the same age as the girl and a smaller girl landed with her.
"The best and brightest heroes of this city have vanished I'd call it a crisis." The male replied "I'm Chi and this is Mockingbird…"
"Welcome to Dakota… forgive me if I'm a little dubious of your ability to handle the kind of meta this city has to offer."
"No problem… but we got our powers in the bang too… 'cept baby sister here… our little witch." The guy said with a grin, "we know more than you think."
The youngest of the three aimed that patented youngest sibling glare at the back of the young man's head and Robert couldn't help thinking of the many times Virgil shot that same glare at Sharon. If he hadn't been so worried about Virgil he might have found the glare entertaining.
"Don't worry about it… we're not exactly well known around here…" Stormfront said "We've be in Jump City."
"Yeah I'm actually on hiatus from the Teen Titans to come help and they're taking time off of training to join the Justice Leage in the next expansion." Mockingbird said.
It was about 11 am when the phone at the community center began to ring. He grabbed in on the second ring.
"Pops… pops it's Virgil…"
"Virgil… son, where are you?" he asked.
"I can't tell you, pops… just… don't worry, I'm okay… I… I'll be home soon, I promise."
"Be careful, son, I love you."
"I love you too, pops…" Virgil's voice hitched as he spoke "Please tell Sharon I love her, too."
"I will, son… I'll let her know."
"Bye, pops…"
"Bye, Virgil"
The line went dead, and Robert felt the tears fall again. It hurt to say goodbye to his son knowing what his son was going through and there was nothing he could do to help him. Nothing he could do to stop the stress or pain Virgil was going through.
To Be Continued…