Well, here it is, sorry about the wait! The opportunity to find out who really is to blame! 
Massive thanks to Aero for all his input, as far as online writing buddies go, you are number 1... 
thanks for the nagging, moaning, [censored], whinging and whining that I wasn't writing fast enough! Thanks for all the editorial help too. 
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4...
The three heroes moved swiftly through the cave, Doulos always a little ahead of the others scouting the terrain. They moved in silence, no one wanting to draw any more attention to themselves than necessary. The tunnels were dark and damp, poorly lit and there was an unpleasant odour in the air, that was getting gradually worse. Aeronaut and Scapegoat were about to round a corner when Doulos appeared in front of them.
Do you know any blondes about 5ft 6inches tall, about 120lbs?
Aeronaut froze at the question, Doulos had just described his wife... Why do you ask? he said cautiously after a moment.
Well whoever she is, she's the bait in a trap that your council friends have set up ahead.
How many people in there with her? Asked Scapegoat.
I dont need to see the enemy to see a trap. Trust me, they know we are here, and they know we are coming, so what do you want to do. He said looking sharply at Aeronaut.
The Armoured hero paused, he had come here to get Dialous, he hadnt expected this, his wife, she must still be alive, Do you think we can save the woman? he said.
I could put a bullet through her heart and head, shed be dead before she could ever know it, thats probably all I can guarantee. doulos replied pragmatically
Aeronaut stepped back in shock, anger welling up inside of him, he fought to control the level of his voice. How dare you even suggest
Look, it's a trap, shes dead already. The council won't want her around after they get through with us, Id be doing her a favour.
But
Scapegoat interjected with a calming tone giving a warning stare at Doulos. Aeronaut, what he is trying to say is that the woman in that room only stands a chance if we work together as a team, now you have the best knowledge of this base of the three of us and so I agree with Doulos that you should come up with a plan to get the three of us in there, we can take it from there.
So what does that mean, said Aeronaut not understanding, we charge in all guns blazing?
Doulos raised his eyes and shook his head, under his face mask his mouth moved, but before he could reply Scapegoat one again spoke up, No Aeronaut, fortunately it looks like the council don't know where we are, they are expecting us but they do not seem to realise we are this close the the trap yet. The question we need to ask ourselves is do we double back, seeing as how the best way not to spring a trap is not to enter it, or do we go on, under your guidance as the man with information on the layout of this base. Its your call.
Then we go on.
Doulos nodded, Good, I was hoping youd say that, here's the plan
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Dialous was starting to get nervous waiting for the heroes to come to them, what was taking them so long?, they couldnt have turned back could they? The men waited patiently, professionals all of them, guns levelled whatever came through that door was going to have a nasty surprise.
A loud sudden buzz behind him made him spin, a soldier lay on the floor choking on vomit that poured from his mouth, then off to the left on the other side of the room the same noise, the soldiers looked around, and saw another of there comrades shaking violently with blood running from his eyes and white foam at his mouth.
Theres someone in here with a cloak on, watch yourselves, he cant stay hidden forever. Shouted the troop commander who was standing next to Dialous. As he did a shot rang out as an unknown soldier appeared from under a cloak in the doorway, the commander dropped like lead as blood from his neck fountained into the air spraying Dialous. The soldiers opened fire on the direction the shot had come from, the direction away from the door.
Gather together! called the lieutenant trying to keep calm over the noise of the gunfire, On me, on me! Suddenly the man by the door wasnt there anymore and there was an explosion from the other side of the chamber, an unidentifiable limb landed by Dialous feet. The soldiers were panicking, and Dialous wasnt far behind them. Then it hit him.
A wave of energy caught him on the back, hurling him across the room, slamming him into the wall, more gunfire sounded out, but in his disorientated state he couldnt place where it was coming from, then more whooshing noises as hard walls of blue light flew around the room, a woman stood in the middle of the room, waiting as if about to
Get DOWN! he shouted rolling for cover, something exploded from the woman, the contents of the room were thrown around like sand in the wind.
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Aeronaut heard the shout Get DOWN! and then the sound of Scapegoat releasing the nova, that was his cue he ran into the room to see it in chaos, all over the room council soldiers were slowly picking themselves off the floor, his first task was to get Scapegoat out of there to recover, then he and Doulos were to clear the room, but then he saw her.
His wife hung limply from her bonds, she looked asleep, so beautiful and so in need of help, he saw Scapegoat staggering towards him but he couldnt tear his eyes from his beloved Julie. He ran to her and began to undo the bonds, as soon as he had undone the right arm Julies eyes shot open, he wasnt looking into the crystal blue anymore, rather blood red eyes with no pupils looked straight at him and she spoke, in a voice so cold where it had once been warm. You killed me Martin. She said and her teeth glinted with dangerously sharp edges. The right arm swung catching him on the side of the head and knocking him to the floor.
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Doulos swore, What is he doing! the plan was simple but somehow Aeronaut had got it wrong. As he watched he could see the trap that they had come so close to avoiding trigger as Aeronaut hit the floor with a thud. Scapegoat floundered in the middle of the room, her legs about to give way. Doulos teleported, landing next to her and grabbing her slim waist, Come on! he shouted in her ear pulling her towards cover.
Flames erupted around them and then something hit him hurling him to the floor Scapegoat fell with him, he rolled to stand up but as he reached his knees the butt of a rifle hit him firmly in the side of the head, then darkness covered him.
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Aeronaut pulled himself to his feet, his dead wife was pulling her left arm from the bindings that held her. You are not my Julie. He said, almost to himself I am sorry. He fired a blast from his arms that hit her powerfully in the head, there was the sound of cracking as the force of the blast splintered bones in her body as the remain restraints gave her no where else to go. She bounced back and slumped dangling by the one arm that remained tied.
He stood up and looked around Doulos and Scapegoat were in trouble because he didn't stick to the plan, a circle of Council troops were making gradually closing in on them. As he watched, Doulos rolled to his knees and one of the soldiers planted the butt of his rifle the heroes forehead knocking him to the floor. Another soldier paced his boot on Scapegoats back. Across the room he saw Dialous emerge looking shaken, and start towards the group. Angry at himself for allowing the plan to go this far wrong, Martin thought furiously for a way to help them, there was no way he could possibly take all the soldiers out before they hurt his two new found friends and Dialous would certainly get away from him before he could be sure they were safe... then it struck him, Scapegoats nova! his suit couldn't focus that much energy at one time he knew, but if he removed the surge protection he had installed and disabled the power regulator in his right arm there is nothing stopping me from having my own energy burst.. Martin quickly disabled the protection and the regulator realising that allowing the pilot of the suit to do this without at least taking some of the suit off was one heck of a design flaw... Ah well maybe in the next life he will know better, chances are this will kill him but his friends were in trouble and he had better fix his mistake. Martin wished he had told them earlier when Doulos described his wife almost perfectly what they might be walking into, but he just couldn't face up to the possibility of his wife turned into one of those, those things... anger at himself, anger at Dialous roared like a torrent through his body as he leapt into the group surrounding Doulos and Scapegoat, "Get DOWN!" Aeronaut managed to shout seconds before the energy ripped through the suit, pouring outwards toward the Soldiers and shards of armour tearing through their poorly protected bodies, Dialous was pushed back against the wall by the growing explosive blast. The 'nova' was gone in an instant and Aeronaut fell to the floor with a thud, the suit ruined and Martin silent.
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Martin awoke with a start. Every nerve fiber in his body screamed in agony and he could barely move, why were his arms so heavy? then he remembered the fight, the explosion, everything and hescrambled to remove the chunks of lifeless metal that was once his beautiful suit.
He got to his feet, and then found Scapegoat and Doulos on the floor, and slowly pulled them back the way they had came. He may have destroyed his suit but he would be damned if he let two heroes die because he had blown the plan, especially these two, they came here with Martin for no reason other than he needed help and he will be sure to repay that kindness.
Martin looked around for Dialous and saw him on the floor and against the wall, shards of his armour sticking out from his chest and legs. Good, Martin thought, the suit did the job for me.
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A weeks later Martin Johnson stood in the equipment lab at the Precision Rangers base, just because his suit was gone it didnt mean he couldnt continue the hero thing. He still had the blueprints he took from the council and Scapegoat had introduced him to the commanders of a new group of heroes that were looking to recruit people with Martin's technical expertise and so the Aeronaut suit Mark II was borne, Martins own money coupled with the Precision Rangers facilities have allowed for marked improvements to the fundamental design of the armour, no longer will the suit tear apart if it goes 'nova' again, instead the systems will shut down a microsecond before the explosion and power back up after a period of thirty seconds or so... and Martin has been able to channel energy to his fists to allow for some quite spectacular physical attacks. Yes, things will be quite different the next time the Aeronaut is surrounded by Warwolves in Striga Isle...
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Dialous woke up, purple spots danced in front of his eyes. He sat on a chair, covered in what he hoped was water and with a bright light shining straight into his eyes, his arms were bound tight. A voice spoke.
Welcome to the Zig Doctor, Maestro asked us to ensure that your stay here was both long and unpleasant, and we will do so.
"Huh?"
The light dimmed as a medical cart was brought into the room and Dialous screamed.
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And that is how it was. Said Scapegoat leaning back.
Doulos and Aeronaut shrugged at each other, Rock Eagle rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Well it sounds like it was Aeros fault after all.
Aeronaut smiled, It might have been that time, but there was this other time just a month later
Aero, theres really no need to tell that story
Said Doulos holding up his hands a look of panic crossing his face.
No D, said Scape leaning forward and pulling at his cheek with a grin, Fair is fair.
But that really
Doulos stammered.
I think Aero should tell the story. said Rock Eagle smiling broadly, its just a story after all isnt D?
Doulos blushed, Do I have to sit here to hear it told again though?
I think so D, after all, it would be fair. Scapegoat said smiling. Go on Aero, you tell it!
NO! shouted Doulos, He always makes it so much worse than it really was!
Aeronaut leant forward rubbing his hands together with a smug grin across his face. We were in Creys Folly and Doulos decided that he was going to
As the story went on Rock Eagles laughter turned to shock as he looked at his good friend in disbelief. Doulos blushed, Scapegoat smiled, and Aeronaut relished telling the tale.
I hope swat does get it cause this is really nice stuff.
