June 1992
Chris and the gang wake up thanks to a call from Seth. He said that there had been some disturbance near the b. Though it was far enough away that the cops didn’t bother with it too much. He thought the disturbance was reted to what happened a few weeks ago.
“Chris? So, what exactly are we gonna do? Besides, get in trouble for sneaking out.” Jerry asks.
Chris huffs as they run through the alleys and back streets of Tailorton. “Sort this out. And if this ‘disturbance’ is reted, I want to be the one following them for a change. See where they’re hiding out.”
“Good idea. Then we can call the cops.” Jackson says.
“No. First, we let our dads know. Who will let Detective Moore know?” Chris corrects him. “Then we get in trouble.”
“Nah! Our dads are cool enough. I don’t think we’ll get too much in trouble.” Elle tells them.
Nobody argues with that.
They make it to the b in good time and catch Seth at the entrance. Chris can see the excess of cops and security guards around.
“Hey, Elle? How’s dance css goin’?” He asks.
“Awesome! I love it.”
“Good for you.” Seth says. “Anyway, the cops said that disturbance came from the north. Toward the old factory by the tracks. Be careful. That old factory is tetanus city. Unless you like a big tetanus shot in the butt.”
Jerry cracks up. Chris and Elle both beam a look at him. He puts a hand over his mouth.
“Seriously guys. Be careful.” Seth stressing the point.
“We will, thanks. You gonna be all right here?” Chris asks.
“Yeah, there’s so many cops and security here, only you guys could break in here.” Seth chuckles. “Now get going. Let me know how things are.”
On the way, Jerry just had to break in with something.
“Hey guys. We need a team name. We are like superheroes and all.”
Only Jerry.
“Let me guess, you already thought of one?” Jackson asks.
“Well…they’re four of us. We’re really fantastic…”
“No!!” Comes the consensus.
Jerry stops, but Chris can tell he’s thinking about another name.
The elemental team head north to investigate. The old factory wasn’t too far away, only a few minute jog. Chris made the trip quicker by the use of his handy slipstream air manipution trick. It looks like no one has used the factory for quite a few years. And as Seth had said, this pce is tetanus city. If it can rust, is has.
The team quietly sneak through the old worn chain-link fence and tread lightly to the nearest wall. The only sound heard so far was distant traffic and the crunching of debris under their feet.
“Jerry.” Chris whispers. “See if you can feel anyone doing anything.”
“What?”
“Vibrations in the ground, duh.”
“I’ll check the air.” Chris puts his hands out to help focus. He hears a faint squeaking from a few mice…or was it rats? Nothing out of the ordinary. He guesses.
“I don’t feel anything odd. You?” Jerry asks.
Chris shakes his head. “Let’s go in.”
“I feel like we’re back at that b. Except, above ground.” Jackson comments.
“Don’t remind me.” Elle says.
Chris seconds that thought.
As they investigate deeper, they discover that the factory used to make pumps. What pumps, no one knows. But the few discarded hulks would suggest something big. Maybe big boats.
When they reach the top level, something catches their eye. An office, or what used to be one. They quietly inspect and find the dust disturbed, recently. Chris turns the knob when it creaks louder than he was expecting. He freezes and raises his power to listen better. He hears something this time. From below.
“Chris?” Elle asks, whispering.
“Let’s go.”
Chris can feel Elle’s nerves twitch in her hand. He gives it a few squeezes of reassurance and the group head back to the first floor. There they see a couple of people loading something into the back of a van. Using his air powers to dampen the surrounding sound, Chris leads his group to within a few dozen feet away. Three young women busy themselves loaded several bck boxes into the back of the van. When they’re done, one of them hops in back and pulls the door shut. The other two go to the front and get in.
“Jerry. Can you create a sinkhole underneath them?” Chris asks.
“I don’t know. Underneath the asphalt maybe.” Jerry puts his hands on the concrete floor.
The van starts up and the lights come on.
“The asphalt’s too thick, it won’t work.” Jerry tells him.
“Chris. Oxy-torch. Let’s hit the tires.” Jackson smirks.
Duh! Why didn’t he think of that? “Make it a small one. Don’t wanna blow up the van.”
Chris and Jackson do their trick. The same one used to break Seth out of jail before they met the Director. The back passenger side tire melts and pops as the van starts out. When the van stops, they do the other back tire. The van stops, the women get out and check out the damage. Chris listens in.
“What happened?”
One of them squats down to get a closer look at the tire with a fshlight. “It’s melted?” Sounding confused.
“So is this one.”
The three women gather and ready themselves for a fight. Chris hears a knife or a…dagger, being unsheathed.
“All right, kids. You wanna test your powers. Come on out.” The first one announces. “We won’t hurt you.”
“Yeah, right.” Jerry mumbles.
The first woman points in each direction and the two with her run away in each direction. They were going to fnk them.
“Guys. Looks like we might have to fight. Get ready.”
The headlights of a car not too far off in the distance turn on just then. Chris watches the vehicle arrive a few moments ter, screeching to a halt. Two more young women get out. Yep, this was gonna be a battle.
Chris and the others get back-to-back, ready for an assault from all sides. And there were a lot of shadows in here for them to fnk. He tells the rest to watch out.
“Chris?”
Chris could feel Elle’s trepidation. He didn’t bme her. The st big fight was against Tetra. But these women are a unique case. These are assassins. And they know what they’re up against. “Guys? Let’s ease our way outside. Me and Jackson can fight, but you guys don‘t have anything to fight with in here.” Mentioning Elle and Jerry.
“Good idea.” Jackson says.
They back up, remaining back-to-back. But as they get closer to the door. Two the assassin’s quickly block their path charge. Elle and Jerry were their immediate targets. Chris and Jackson, though, have their own problems. The others decide to join the assault. Chris raises a wall of air to try and halt their attack. They stop and retreat. Covering their faces from the churned up debris.
Jackson quickly turns and unches a fire bst at the two attacking from the entrance.
“They’re not attacking very hard.” Jerry says.
The foursome quickly run outside. Chris bsts the two that were blocking the entrance, sending them back even more. They yelp as they skid hard across the rough asphalt into the van with the melted tires.
“I hear a stream. Come on.” Elle says breaking into a full run.
The boys follow, Chris taking to the air and flying backwards in order to keep an eye on their attackers. A moment ter, he sees them follow suit. One of them gets in the drive-able van and pulls out. Chris drops and turns to the others.
“Get to the stream. I’ll be right there!”
“What!?” Elle yells.
“Just go!” Chris yells back to her.
Chris turns back to the oncoming van. He was curious. He thrusts his hands forward, sending his power out as hard as he could. The van hits the torrent of air with a wrenching sound. Tires squealing. As cause and effect take effect, Chris slides back as the driver puts petal to metal.
“Chris!” Elle yells out. But he keeps up the attack.
The other women stop in their tracks. Awestruck. A smile forms on Chris’ face. He knew he’d gotten stronger since his fight with Tetra, but never this. He impressed himself. Some of them retreat out of sight.
The headlights shatter as the grill buckles. A loud pop sounds and Chris hears, at least what sounds like the radiator exploding. A few more odd sounds of wrenching and the van slides backward. The back end turns and within a few moments, the van quickly slides back into the other. Chris quickly stops his power and takes a few breaths. Then colpses to all fours.
“Chris!” Elle is immediately by his side. “Chris, you all right!?”
Chris opens his eyes, his breath coming heavy. “I could…use a nap.” He chuckles a bit.
“Come on. We better go before they recover.” Jackson suggests.
Jackson and Elle help Chris up. He tried to make it easy on them by walking, but he was too tired. But a spsh of water wakes him up.
“Better?” Elle asks.
Chris sputters once. “Yeah, thanks. I’ll make it now.”
He hears the assassins chatter with each other. Time to go. Chris and the others run back to the b.