Honor Among Thieves ((Closed))

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Sorry, I'd have opened it up but I wrote it up complete and I'd hate to have to re-write it.

If this has any resemblance to a movie, television show, play etc. it's completely coicidental. (I've had people comment that Blazing Embers reminds them of Elijah Frost from the comic Planetary - again purely done on accident. He actually came from a convesation with the comic writer Geoff Johns (the perks of living in Las Vegas *grin*) and the character in the Flash comics, a rogue named Heatwave. I altered the character a lot but you'll notice similarities.)

Below, before I Begin the story are links to many sites which will clue you in to the characters. The two main ones that is, VoltaicSentienl and Blazing Embers. They aren't really to long of a read, but if you aren't familiar with them, then they are worth the read. They aren't needed to understand the story however, as the story stands on it's own.


Links for VoltaicSentinel:

ORIGIN: VoltaicSentinel

LOYH App - Includes his mother's characterization and their interaction

Rhys and his mother RP

The Academy app for VoltaicSentinel - The Mentorship breaks

Links for Blazing Embers:

The Parole of Blazing Embers

Blazing Embers - Journal of a Man

The Watchmen App - Includes RP at the bottom

Anyways, if you have questions feel free to ask. Again I apologize for the length I cut and snipped as much as I could. Now onto the introduction and the story...

Note: Each of these characters belong to either myself of a friend (Blind Mirage - who does not role play but wanted help in designing a biography. The character has since been deleted) I’ve been given permission to use these characters and This story will lead into several open RPs (back to back)

The Cast of Characters

Amy Wilcox also known as Blind Mirage - is a blind hero who can create Illusions with her mind after experimental surgery in an attempt to repair her eyesight failed. The surgery however did leave her with the ability to distinguish shapes and colors, and with the aide of special glasses she can also see the infrared spectrum. Once engaged to a young man named Kevin Taylor, after his death by the hands of Vivian James, she has been diving head first into her work as a hero ever since. She knows the people who murdered her fiancée and while the police would rather they be captured, she would rather see them pay for it with their lives and suffer for it the way she did. ((Illusion/Radiation Controller)) (Name(s) referred to: Amy)

Rhys Stevens also known to the public as VoltaicSentinel - is a teenager learning to be a hero. His abilities manifested a year ago while eating lunch at his Preparatory School when he sent an electric shockwave through the Cafeteria. He managed to accidentally protect several of the students with electro-magnetic force fields. After being detained for two months at Steel Canyon Medical Center by his mother’s request, she arranged for him to live with his father, where an ex-con turned hero/snitch named Blazing Embers began to mentor the boy. A year after all this began his father arranged for Rhys to begin schooling as a weekly boarder at the Legion of Heroes. After an incident in a local deli it showed Rhys was not grasping control of his abilities and he was transferred to another school, The Academy at which time his mentoring with Blazing Embers came to a close. This was Blazing Embers’ wish as the only thing he had left to teach Rhys was how to become a criminal, something he refused to do. He is very close to his brother and sister and is desperately trying to see them again but his mother is keeping them apart. His parents while divorced have been spending a lot of time together recently, which leaves Rhys suspicious. ((Force Field/Electric Defender)) (Name(s) referred to: Rhys, boy, kid, Volt)

Jonathon James Huff, today known as Blazing Embers - has a long distinguished criminal career (and alias list). Until twelve years ago he eluded the police with lackeys who would claim responsibility for many of Jon’s crimes. When he assisted in an event known as the Paragon Fires that left many buildings within Paragon raging in fire (many civilians and heroes affected by it hold him responsible not only for the fires but for those who perished in it) he was sentenced to fifteen years in the Brickstown Ziggurat Maximum Security Lockdown, Mutant Division. An arrangement was recently reached where he would work as a Police Informant (Snitch by his terms) as long as he used his old contacts to help the heroes of the city. He’s required to wear an ankle binder that prevents him from using some of his abilities until he gains the right to unlock others. This binder also tracks his movement. Overall he was granted early parole by three years shy of his original sentence. Until recently he was VoltaicSentinel’s mentor and teacher and he is still researching links to the boy’s family behind his back. ((Fire/Fire Blaster)) (Name(s) referred to: Blazing, Jonathan James Huff, Jon, JJ, Blaze)

Scott Dunlap also known as Glacial-Inferno - has worked as a hero and police officer for the King’s Row police department for many years. His most notable arrest was that of Blazing Embers twelve years ago. He is not sure what his past holds but he searches for it with the help of his once nemesis and now partner Blazing Embers with the aide of the other friends that surround him. He is secretly in love with Amy Wilcox but when they met circumstances did not allow the relationship to blossom as he was busy bringing her the body of her fiancée back to her. He has never perused it further but between Blazing and Voltaic, she’s all he ever talks about after she leaves his presence. (Name(s) referred to: Glac (Glash), Glacial, Scott)


Vivian James, the more ruthless female Capo leader of one of the Family groups in Independence Port. She is ruthless and cunning and the last time Blazing and Glacial dealt with her they returned with Kevin Taylor’s body, and almost found themselves extinguished as well. They hope never to deal with this woman again, but she is trying to grab onto more territory and control within the Family. She is thirsty for power and will lie, cheat, steal and stab anyone in the back to get it. (Name(s) referred to: Vivian, Viv)

Dean Rutledge – Bean counter for Vivian who has aspirations for more. He can’t stand Vivian; he doesn’t believe women have a place in The Family, especially as one of their leaders. (Name(s) referred to: Dean, Rutledge)

Civilians:

Thugs:

Tom –Vivian’s consul on how to deal with the common folk as she calls them. He’s simply a common street thug with no special abilities beyond his street smarts. (Name(s) referred to: Thug, Tom)

Nick – Vivian’s assistant, a basic street thug who isn’t as good as he think he is. He’s had an easy job and has gotten soft in his ways. He is rather a weakling and Vivian simply keeps him around because he is extremely loyal. (Name(s) referred to: Thug, Nick)

Neutral: (Maybe they are good, maybe they are bad, they might flip on us in the middle of the story, I can’t tell you yet *grin*)

Artie (Arturo) Benoit - was a nurse in the Steel Canyon medical facility when Rhys Stevens was admitted to the hospital and transferred to a detention room so he could be monitored. He was the boy’s life line for six and a half weeks and kept him from going stir crazy by playing word games, passing board games through a bin between the wall and even sneaking in candy and sodas for him. Artie’s own son died during the Rikti invasion and Rhys hopes one day to repay the favor. (Name(s) referred to: Artie)

Arthur Stevens - is Rhys’ father and his story unfolds a lot in this story. After the divorce to Rhys’ mother when Rhys was seven little is known about his life or whereabouts. He didn’t resurface until his son gained his abilities and his mother requested that his father take care of him so it didn’t upset her social career. It was Arthur Stevens who asked Blazing Embers to mentor his son, Rhys. He enrolled his son into a school for young heroes but it became apparent that Rhys required more assistance in controlling his abilities. He asked Blazing Embers’ assistance in this and quickly transferred his son to The Academy, a school for mutants. He’s been recently keeping illicit relationships with his ex-wife and the reason behind it is unknown, as he doesn’t love her. He simply has goals for his son to be the greatest hero that ever lived, while his son just wants to be himself. (Name(s) referred to: Art, Arthur, to Rhys – Dad)

Good Guys:

Ciara – Rhys’ youngest sibling. She is twelve and was heartbroken when their mother split Rhys from his brother and sister. She sends him trinkets in the mail but she has a secret as well; one that might save or destroy her older brother in the future. (Name(s) referred to: Ciara, Cikki (pronounced KeeKee)

Steven Selman – Police Lieutenant, and Parole Officer to Blazing Embers. Became a parole officer to Blazing Embers when he proposed the idea of allowing this villain turned hero to leave the Ziggurat on early parole to aide other heroes and the police force with his crime world knowledge. He is a Lieutenant first and since it was his idea to parole Blazing Embers, Jon Huff became Steven’s responsibility. This is the one person Blazing reports to since the Chief believes Jon Huff will return to his old ways eventually. (Name(s) referred to: Lieutenant Selman, Steven, Steven)

Slight Backstory:

This back-story was never written and probably never will be as I’m writing a lot of other stories now (if it’s warranted and others ask for it I’ll write it eventually just don’t expect it really quickly). A character you’ll hear referenced as Kevin Taylor was a police officer that was sent in undercover to investigate Vivian James’ operation. When he went missing Blazing Embers and Glacial-Inferno went in to rescue him but Kevin was shot by the Family (On Vivian James orders) during their escape and bled to death so they returned his body to his fiancée Blind Mirage (Amy Wilcox). The rest fit into the picture just because I made them fit *grin* - writers privilege. You’ll notice that between the heroes they refer to each other as their real names. This is because they have worked together for a while, and I’ve noticed that even in comic books, when heroes are around other heroes and/or in front of civilians they often refer to each other by their real names (depends on if they have a secret identity, only one here with one is Rhys and his is blown fast here but it’s kind of been blown for a while now - purposely). I thought it appropriate to do the same. The only two that do not go by their real names very often are Blazing and Glacial. It’s kind of a partner thing. And as far as Rhys/Volt and Mirage/Amy are concerned, they don't call them by their names either out of respect.

Part I - Prequel

The madness of The King’s Row Police Station was enough to drive anyone crazy after a while, if you weren’t used to it. Rhys Stevens, known to the public simply as VoltaicSentinel, was not. He wasn’t fond of this place either and tried not to make himself a permanent staple in it, but Blazing Embers often requested his assistance, and who was he to let the man down.

Rhys walked into the front hall with it’s ancient oak desk protruding from the ground as people stood around it demanding all of their complaints be heard first. As he passed he reached over the desk and grabbed one of the sergeant’s doughnuts and smiled briefly then continued past the second group of people lined up against the wall or seated on benches waiting to post bail and pickup the various riff-raff that sat in the county jail below them.

He pushed his way past a group of officers gathered around the water fountain as they discussed the days briefing, and made his way into the back offices. About fifty desks lined the room, and another twenty-five filled the center. Someone had to be taking a late shift that would free a desk up for his use and finding his winner he started weaving towards it. As the other adults bustled about they bumped and pushed around Rhys until he finally made his way to one of the empty desks. He didn’t know whom it belonged to but he could tell they had a family. The pictures on their desk proved it. Dropping his backpack next to the chair he eyed the room to see if Amy was here yet. Not seeing her, he grabbed the nearest officer he recognized, “Hey, where’s Lieutenant Selman?”

The officer pointed to a man behind Rhys and he was surprised he’d miss him, but Steven hadn’t missed Rhys. He was walked right up behind him bringing his hands down on the boy’s shoulders a little harder than he expected, pushing him into his chair a bit more. Rhys could hear the chair squeak as it moved slightly, “There he is, about time you got here!”

Rhys smirked, “I had class this morning.”

“You about ready?” he asked.

Rhys nodded, “Yes sir.”

“Alright, sit tight and collect your thoughts, not a day to let your mind wander. Now where’s Mirage?” Steven asked heading off in another direction, leaving Rhys to wait and think about the day ahead. He had been excused from classes for the next few days at the The Academy and told he could make up the work. He pushed out the thoughts of his classes and his homework, Lt. Selman was correct; today was not the day to let his mind wander. Amy, also known as Blind Mirage to the public, had requested his help on this assignment. It seemed odd to him that she would request him seeing that they didn’t get along. He thought perhaps Blazing had made her do it, but Blazing doesn’t make anyone do anything, he just asks. But when Blazing asks you to do something, you generally do it. Just out of respect. Either that or you already owe him a favor. Rhys believed just about everyone around town owed Blazing a favor, at least by the way he talks. Or maybe he just always said that for Rhys’ sake. Regardless, Rhys did appreciate and enjoyed every opportunity to get more fieldwork.

Rhys continued to swivel back and forth in his seat, letting it make small high pitched squeaks; staring at the floor realizing he was doing a poor job of clearing his head, when a female officer hollered from across the crowded station, "Hey kid!"

The noise of the room and his own thoughts didn’t allow him to register the woman’s voice, but when she hollered again he jumped to his feet and looked around. "You have an phone call. I’m patching it through the radio. But you better hurry because you're late."

He quirked an eyebrow and ran over to radio she was twirling in her hand like a baton. "But Mirage is not even here-" Rhys started but stopped when the female officer pointed across the room into another office where sure enough, there Amy sat. How he missed her he wasn't sure.

"Hello?" he spoke into the radio, still startled and rather surprised that he had missed her altogether.

"Rhys?" his dad answered him back.

"Dad? Look I don't have time right now, whatchya need?" he sighed impatiently. He continued to remind himself he needed to focus more. Today was not the day to be lapse or have error in judgments just because he was still down about Blazing’s decision to end their mentorship. It was sudden and he hadn’t expected it, but Blazing had told him to find someone else and he wasn’t sure how he was supposed to do that.

His Dad’s voice returned him from his thoughts again, "I um, just wanted to tell you to be careful, wherever it is you're going and all, and tell whoever is with you to um, well be careful too." His dad's voice sounded odd but Rhys took it for concern.

"I'm not going far Dad, Amy and I are just going into Independence Port, I'll be back the day after tomorrow. I'll see you then okay?" He realized until now he hadn't told his dad anything about this mission they were about to go on. It dawned on him that he probably shouldn't have said anything now. At least not yet. But what harm could it do. His dad had done a lot for him and he'd never do anything to harm him.

Rhys exchanged quick farewells with his father before joining Amy in the other room for their debriefing. They'd head out soon and he was anxious to get underway

As he ran into the office he caught Amy looking in his direction. He didn’t have to see behind her glasses to know what she was thinking.

“What?” he scoffed.

“You’re late,” she noted.

“No, you’re early,” he smirked.

“Hey, quit it you two,” Steven remarked. He knew they quarreled often but it was more banter than actual fighting. He once remarked that they acted like a brother and sister than teammates. He never mentioned it again as he had forgotten that Rhys hadn’t seen his brother and sister in over a year and the comment made him extremely angry with him at the time.

“Now, we need you two to interview the store owners in Independence Port. Find out if they are making protection payments to anyone else besides Vivian James.”

Rhys’ eyes widened. They were silent for a moment before Rhys raised a finger, “Excuse me, the same Vivian James that killed Amy’s fiancée and almost succeeded in her attempt to kill Blazing and Glacial?”

Steven nodded, “One and the same.”

“Are you nuts?” Rhys asked a bit perturbed Lieutenant Selman would think about sending only two people in there, instead of an army.

“Scared?” Amy smiled.

“I’d like to think I have some sanity, this is just nuts. It’s operation suicide!” Rhys paused for a moment and eyed Amy and Steven for a moment.

“Wait a minute,” things clicked into place. He realized what they were really looking for, not just store owners, but something larger. “You think someone is trying to take over her territory, don’t you?” he asked.

“Are they teaching you anything these schools you’ve attended?” Amy chuckled. Rhys glared at her. He might be young and he might be green but she didn’t have to be nasty about it.

“Hey!” Rhys protested.

“Is it too late to pick someone else?” Amy chided.

“No, your stuck with me,” Rhys volleyed back, “And I’m going to walk you into a wall too.”

“Like to see you try static boy,” Amy retorted.

“Give me those glasses-” Rhys started but didn’t get a chance to continue.

“HEY!” Steven hollered at them both. “Cut it out. I need you to work together on this. Not bicker like schoolchildren.”

“Who’s the marm?” Amy muttered under her breath so that Steven couldn’t hear her, but achieving her desired goal as Rhys began to snicker.

“Something funny?” Steven asked him slightly annoyed that the boy might not be taking this as seriously as he would have liked him too. But then again, Rhys rarely took anything seriously, a quality he thought Blazing liked in him and drove Lt. Selman crazy all the same.

Shaking his head and attempting to hide the smile he answered, “No sir, sorry.”

“Okay then. Mirage, Volt, you’re posing as brother and sister-“

Rhys started to laugh, “No one’s going to believe she’s my sister!” He turned to look at Amy who was more than ten years his senior as he continued to snicker, “You’re too old! My Aunt maybe, but not my sister!”

He realized what he said and half wished he could take it back as Amy flashed him a look under her glasses but her face said it all. Rhys however had grown up with a brother and a sister, and she didn’t scare him one bit. He lifted his eyebrows at her and grinning, “What?” After a short pause he shrugged, “Well it’s true.”

Amy quickly turned her head back at Lt. Selman and continued the glare she had been giving Rhys, “Give me another partner Steve.”

“Too late Amy, you picked him, you got him. The kid’s with you for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.” Steven smiled.

Rhys smiled and at her and Amy shook her head as she stood to leave, “You’re such a little sh*t.”

“No, I’m an honest sh*t,” he pointed out as he followed behind her.

Part II – Caught Behind Enemy Lines

The wind came in off the harbor rather swiftly; dancing through the streets and the people as it whipped and wound it’s way around the port’s sparse buildings. Amy Wilcox surveyed the area ahead of her. There were dozens of people walking the streets of Independence Port and she was having slight difficultly narrowing down the one she wanted to speak to. Amy, blind since she was ten, saw the world differently than others. Shapes and aura’s is the way she saw the world. A unique perspective, one Rhys really didn’t want to get to know himself and he always tried to help out without looking like it. Amy wasn’t on the active roster now for some time. Not since the death of her fiancée. And though she didn’t need Rhys’ help with all the bodies lingering around the street, all the boy did was speed up the process. Or their demise, she wasn’t sure which one sometimes.

“Isn’t she one of them over there?” Rhys muttered to Amy as he looked towards the woman entering her shop.

Amy turned towards the direction he was pointing and sure enough there she was. She nodded, “Yes,” and began moving swiftly towards the shop. They needed to speak with storeowners in the area and this was their fourth stop of the morning. They had been met with mixed results but no one had told them what they were looking for.

Before entering she turned to Rhys pointing a finger at him. “No more smartness!” she ordered at him.

“Okay, okay, jeez you’re worse than my mother and Blazing combined,” He agreed. They were both dressed in civilian clothes, which Rhys enjoyed. He might have electricity coursing through his body but after a while his suit really drove him nuts. The only thing Amy couldn’t hide was her glasses. She required them to see.

“Just remember who we’re supposed to be, we’re not heroes, Rhys,” she added.

“Right, right, you’re my Aunt,” he nodded but caught the look on her face.

“Your sister,” she scowled at him.

“Yeah, right” he snickered while rolling his eyes, weighing in his point for the fifth time that day.

He was correct in the matter. Rhys towered over Amy’s small stature and they looked nothing alike. Even Rhys’ own sister and brother shared in his bright red hair, green eyes and pale skin, while Amy’s olive skin and black hair did not make them look anything like siblings. Despite the fact that they bickered like them, they were farther from being tagged as siblings to anyone they would run into. Amy was hardheaded and thick skinned and even though Glacial-Inferno had told Rhys to give her time, he just always seemed to annoy her.
On the other hand, Amy felt that Rhys was too young to be involved in any of these missions and while it wasn’t always up to her he had proven himself to be of the school of Blazing Embers, which meant that he usually checked his emotions at the door no matter who was involved. Even though he could be a smart aleck, he wasn’t one to get an ego about himself like some of the other heroes she had worked with before but then again she hadn’t worked with Rhys long so she hoped she wasn’t pre-judging him too quickly. Teenagers can change in a heartbeat and so she remained leery of him.

The two entered the store and noticed a few patrons but nothing odd about it. There were trinkets on a display in the front arranged rather nicely and the rest of the store was rather dark filled with books and a few fake pieces of artwork to fill bare spots on the wall. A display in a glass case off to the left of the front desk caught Rhys’ eye as it had many interesting shiny objects in there he had never seen before. He continued to follow behind Mirage as she reached the front desk and smiled at the woman behind it. The wall behind the desk was covered with more falsities but that’s not what they were here for. The woman behind the counter was of far more interest.

Amy pretended to look into the counter’s glass case at the jewelry there while Rhys continued staring at the tall glass case to his left. Amy noticed Rhys’ attention had wandered and was aware of the best way to get his attention subtly. She knew he couldn’t feel much in his own body, case and point when she stomped on his foot a month ago and he didn’t flinch. Deciding to resort to a better tactic this time, she reached over and grabbed a pinch of his skin, squeezing as hard as she could.

Feeling the odd sensation on his arm, Rhys turned to look in the case Amy was looking into. He leaned towards her ear and whispered, "Earrings," and then turned back to eye the case that caught his eye earlier.
Amy faked a smile towards the storeowner. “Nice earrings,” Amy complimented.

“Why thank you,” the shop owner smiled, “They are hand made. Those in fact just came in from a woman who makes most of these in Skyway City in fact.” She continued rather proudly.

“Listen do you mind if I ask you something?” Amy tilted her head curiously at the woman. Rhys turned back away from the glass case he was looking at, glancing in Amy’s direction. He suddenly remembered something Blazing had told him once, keep an eye on your surroundings. He looked around the store but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

The woman followed Rhys’ glance by looking at the other patrons in the store then continued dusting off the counter as she spoke, “Look lady, make a deal they’re just earrings some of us try to get what we can get around here. Not all businesses-“

Amy cut her off as she innocently shook her head, “No I’m sorry. I’m just curious. Do you have to share a portion of what you make with just Vivian?”

Rhys whispered to Amy so that only she could hear, “Yeah lets be subtle about this one, huh.”

Amy shooed him off as the woman replied, “Look you want to buy something fine, you don’t?” She glanced at both Amy and Rhys before continuing, “Then leave.” They sighed as they turned to leave. Before they reached the door several men entered and blocked their exit.

“Oh boy the welcoming community,” Rhys exclaimed with a sarcastic grin.

“Leaving so soon?” A burly unshaven man on the left asked them.
Rhys lifted his brows and pondered for a moment. He lifted a finger into the air, “Actually, yes we thought we might, we’re late for tea. If you’ll excuse us-“

“I got a better idea,” a tall rather rugged looking man looked down at them cutting their escape off. He was huge and Rhys and Amy looked at each other before the man finished his sentence, “How about you two come with us. Vivian James has some questions for you.”

Rhys glanced at his watch, “So look are you guys are going to make me late for supper? I’m afraid you will so tell Vivian James another time maybe.”

“Look if you two wouldn’t mind.” The lead man demanded rather than suggested as they circled around behind them. Amy and Rhys exchanged looks again.

Rhys looked the man over and knew if physical force came to blows they were easily outclassed. Rhys didn’t have his suit and with all these civilians he was risking too much, especially with his recent difficulties of controlling his powers lately. He did notice they weren’t carrying any weapons and decided to take a risk that he could talk his way out of this.

He continued his ploy with a hint of sarcasm and ignorance hopeful it would work. He sighed shaking his head., “Actually, we do mind, we are meeting someone for tea-“

“NOW!” he screamed into Rhys’ ear causing him to jump as he had no idea the man behind him was standing that close, nor did he realize he was going to try and break his ear drums.

Amy shook her head and turned to Rhys, “You are such an idiot.”

“It was worth a shot, I didn’t see you trying anything,” he whispered back through clenched teeth.

“Boy, c’mere!” one of the other men growled as he grabbed Rhys just below the neck and shoved him out the door. Another took Amy by the arm and forcefully walked her out too. They led them away and they both wondered what was going on. Vivian never requests to see anyone unless she really wants answers. And they weren’t aware they had any answers to give.

Part III – Debriefing without Decompression

Jonathon James Huff, known as Blazing Embers, and Scott Dunlap, known as Glacial-Inferno, had just returned from another mission that had turned up more evidence the police could use to hopefully put Tommy One Eye behind bars for good. Something Blazing was looking forward to. They were tired but there was a grim look on Steve’s face as he paced the room.

“Normally we wouldn’t be sending you back out like this without some kind of decompression time.” Steve explained.

“Decompression? How about a Debriefing?” Blazing asked hoping that they’d have a little more information to go on this time that just basic sketchy details.

Steve nodded, “I’m sure you both remember you last encounter with Vivian James?”

They both sat up. Jon was listening quietly while he let Glacial talk their ears off. Scott was better at handling this ‘police’ business. Blazing preferred to handle his contacts. It all balanced itself out.
Glacial nodded eyeing Steve with a hint of suspicion, “Yeah. Dodging live ammunition. We barely made it out of there alive. And Kevin bled to death.”

“Believe me, it still weighs on all of us,” Steven sighed.

Blazing tilted his head at Steven, he smelled what he had in mind he just wasn’t sure what for, “If you’re going to send us into Vivian country, you better sure have a hell of a reason, because I bet you Vivian sure has a couple of bullets left and they’ve got our names on them.”

Steven frowned he tried to keep things as discreet as possible hoping he could keep names out of this but he wasn’t sure how he was going to do it. “A few days ago we sent a two member team into Independence Port to investigate rumors that Vivian was on her way out.”

Blazing looked at him with a coy grin, “Couldn’t happen to a nicer person.”

Scott couldn’t help but chuckle, after all Jon had a way with words and he liked that about him.

“We lost contact with them twenty-four hours ago,” Steven turned his back to the both, he wasn’t sure he wanted to see their reactions as he continued this conversation.

“Are you afraid Vivian has her claws into them?” Blazing asked quietly.

“No, worse,” Steve admitted.

“Maybe my keen appreciation of the obvious here, but a question comes to mind,” Blazing rubbed his temples wondering why Steve was beating around the bush about this and not just telling them straight out what was going on.

“Yes. Like why you would send us in. The two guys who are known all over Vivian’s territory,” Scott added.

Blazing casually placed a cigarette in his mouth and within moments the end began to glow red. He removed it exhaling the smoke into the room and nods remarking to no one in particular, “The two guys Vivian would most likely gut with a Church key.”

Steve turned his head slightly but still wasn’t looking at them, but nodded slightly, “Look, you both know the people we sent in.”

“Who,” Blazing stood quickly his face hardening and his eyes narrowing, “Who the hell did you send in Steve.” He put the cigarette aside, he was about to get the information he really wanted but the look on Steve’s face throughout this was starting to worry Jon. Scott became concerned as well, Blazing was not one to worry easily. There weren’t many heroes they worked closely with but Steve wouldn’t have called them in on this or asked either of them to return to Vivian’s area unless certain people in particular were involved. As for Scott, everyone could guess who was involved there.

Steve was quiet at first but Glacial spoke almost immediately, “Not Amy.”

“Kevin was her fiancée, she felt she had a personal score to settle with Vivian.” Steven tried his hardest to explain his actions.

“She took the kid with her too. Didn’t she,” Blazing clenched his fists and let them rest evenly on Steve’s table. Scott was surprised, he knew that Blazing liked the kid, but had no idea he’d get this upset over him. He wondered if Blazing knew something else and hadn’t said anything yet so he made a mental note to ask him about it later.

Steve nodded as Blazing leaned over the desk slowly glaring at Steve. His voice was low and almost menacing, and one could understand why so many years ago people were actually afraid of him. Speaking slowly as to control his temper the best he could he pushed his fists into the desk slightly, “You had no right sending either of them into a situation with that level of danger. They’re just kids dammit.”

Steve nodded in agreement and pleaded with them both, “Just please, bring them home.” He quickly turned and walked out leaving the two men to their own thoughts.

Part IV – Guest’s Honor

Rhys and Amy were seated in individual chairs. The small room was very cramped and it made Rhys very nervous. He didn’t like small spaces. If fact he downright hated them. Add a tight fix on top of it and Rhys found himself in a situation he was not happy to be in. There was a desk across from them with an office chair behind it, which is where Vivian was seated in. She had file cabinets along the wall behind her but to what purpose they served beyond decoration was past even her staff’s comprehension. Bookshelves lined one of the walls with fake books. A bunch of fake certificates also were around the room. Rhys got the impression that she liked to pretend to not only appear smart from the books and certificates but also busy. It gave the appearance that she actually went to school to obtain the licenses and certificates. Had spent the time reading the books on the shelves. He figured the filing cabinet was where she might pretend to file fake documents. He bet the desk was pretty empty as well. There was one case along the back wall, which actually had something in it. A gun rack and gun case and plenty of bullets and firepower as well. ‘Typical’ Rhys figured. Rhys smiled at the irony of what he saw around him, ‘The gun cabinet behind me is completely stocked with guns and ammo for a small army, but straight ahead on the wall, the bow, arrow and that sword are fake and blunt as a spoon.’

“Well nobody said anythin’ about guest’s,” Vivian smiled as she stood, slipping around her desk. Her hand slid down one thugs face then repeated it with each thug she walked by. Rhys wasn’t sure if she was trying to be sensual or not, his guess, not. “Otherwise I’da rolled out the red carpet. Only you don’t wanna to know why it’s red.” Her smile was half crazed and wicked as her eyes bounced from Rhys to Amy.

"Caught 'em snoopin’ around town, askin’ a lot ‘a questions. Vivian this, Vivian that," the thug to the right of Rhys smiled as he tilted his head at Vivian James. The guy felt like he had some kind of secret but it wasn't as if they were being all that sneaky as they went about their business. They just tried to act like tourists.

Amy tried to cover their story quickly, "We're new to the area Vivian, and your reputation obviously precedes you. We're just curious. That's all."

Rhys knew she had blown it. Her own dislike for Vivian and her nervousness were kicking in. She had never been the talker of the group, that was Blazing’s job and he was good at it too. Especially when dealing with cronies like these. As her voice wavered when she spoke Rhys knew they were sunk. Rhys took his time surveying the room and those within it. He wasn't about to make a move in here. There were too many of them and he didn't have enough power stored up to keep his defenses going for both Amy and himself and based on her wavering voice, he wasn't sure she was up to a fight in here either. Lot's of people knew where they were and if needed they would come looking for them. The only question was how long before they noticed they were missing. He needed at least another day or less to get the energy needed to get them out of here but if they needed it he was prepared to do it. He would rather wait for better backup however. Blazing taught him that much. He also knew that without his suit, he wasn’t sure he could hold whatever charge he had and wasn’t sure how long he could hold it either. Now wasn’t a good time to test it.

Vivian crooked an eye at the both of them and sneered, "Well you musta heard that I like bullsh*t. ‘Cause your usin’ that 'ol shovel like you do it for a livin’."

'Yup, we're dead,' Rhys thought. 'We are so dead. Blazing is gonna kill me for getting my butt killed too.'

Rhys thought quickly and spoke up himself, "Hey, we're just passing through. If we ran aground any local customs you have our apologies."

'Did that work? Tell me that worked' Rhys begged to himself. He wasn't in the mood to get shot tonight.

Vivian nodded, her irritation however did not fade, "Well I will have a lot more than that before I'm through. Now look you two, Amy right? And that makes you Rhys." Vivian’s eyes twinkled as she smiled She had given away a secret she had been dying to tell.

Amy and Rhys sat up a little taller. ‘How does she know my name?’ Rhys panicked inside his head. His mother had warned him about keeping his identity a secret and now it wasn’t a secret anymore. Someone knew. Vivian’s smile grew as she saw Rhys’ eyes widen and shift around the room. It was just the reaction she was looking for and he played right into it. Amy noticed his reaction as well and jabbed an elbow into Rhys’ side very hard to preoccupy him with another thought besides the one Vivian had given him. He shot her a glare, which she could feel burn right through her but she continued to look straight at Vivian instead of returning his piercing glance.

“Now my boys were scannin’ the airways and what do they come across? Damn if it wasn’t a team from the P. C. P. D.! Now, anuther minute and they mighta found out why,” Vivian was very careful to pronounce each letter of the acronym slowly and precisely.

Rhys’ ears went red. He knew immediately he might be responsible. He wasn’t sure if they picked up the phone call between him and his father. He had given them every bit of relevant information just like a stupid child. He wanted to just hide. Soon as Amy and Blazing found out he would be in a lot of trouble; he knew it. It wasn’t like his father knew it might get them caught like this. He was just concerned, his father was always concerned. Rhys glanced down looking rather disappointed in himself, he realized after speaking with his father he might have made a mistake and now he was sure he had. He just hoped it wasn’t a huge one that would get anyone seriously hurt

Vivian smiled slyly, “But it did let us know you were comin’.”

Vivian James was the first female Capo within The Family and she was extremely ruthless. Nevertheless, from the looks of things, their mission seemed to have been compromised from the start, something Amy didn’t like. Rhys continued to sit there quietly wondering if he should say something to her later about the phone call that had been patched over the police radio or not.

"Look Amy and Rhys," her eyes widened as if she wanted to make sure they understood she was in charge.
Rhys lifted his head and narrowed his eyes slightly but remembered they were outnumbered and relaxed his face to try and make her feel more in charge.

“Now, Ah’m gonna make this easy,” she bobbed her head between her shoulders, “save me some time and you some embarrassment. Now, Ah’m gonna tell you ‘zactly what I know, and then yer gonna tell me what I don’t.”

Amy and Rhys tossed confused glances to each other then turned them upwards towards Vivian. They were slightly concerned what she had up her sleeve. Vivian liked power and information, and they possessed neither. As to what they had to offer her was far beyond their imagination, except their lives, of course Vivian would gladly take those as well.

Amy twisted her face as her anger began to burst through, “You have no idea who I am do you.”

“I used yer name didn’t I?” Vivian lifted her brows with an air of superiority.

Rhys winced ‘Not now’ he repeated over and over in his head. He could hear a waver of sadness with a twist of wanted revenge in Amy’s voice. He knew this was not the time to be doing this so he did what he could to try and shut her up.

“Amy,” he whispered from the side of his mouth.

Amy stood and Rhys’ eyes widened.

“Amy not now,” he spoke louder trying to grab her arm and yank her back down onto the chair.

“Why the hell not?” she shot back at him. Turning to Vivian she approached her. A smug smile wiped across Vivian’s face as she looked down at the small petite figure of a blind hero. Vivian’s eyes were wild with excitement as they stood toe to toe. Glaring behind her infrared glasses, Amy hollered, “A few months back, you and your people killed a man named Kevin!”

Vivian sneered as head weaved back and forth at Amy. She took a step back and shrugged as she rolled her eyes, “Kevin? I dunno that’s not ringin’ any bells honey.”

Annoyed at Vivian’s dismissive attitude, Amy’s voice grew louder, “Kevin was a good man, he was a decent man!”

Rhys shook his head keeping his eye on Vivian.

Vivian thought for a moment then nodded. Tilting her head she played and toyed with Amy’s emotions. Lifting a finger Vivian cocked a half-smile. “Oh wait! Now it’s comin’ back to me! Kevin! Oh, well Ah’m sorry girl,” she paused her smile wiping off her face immediately offering Amy false condolences. Lifting her brows she cackled, “But that man just would not cooperate!”

Amy hollered back at her, “He didn’t deserve to die!”

Vivian blinked at Amy’s outburst. Her face dropped as she gasps, “Oh. That is just…so…touchin’.” She turned to her guard, “Aren’t you moved Tom? ‘Cause Ah’m just about to emote.” Turning back to Rhys and Amy she gasped a slight sigh, “Oops! False alarm.” Her voice turned harsh again as her eyes glared down at Amy, “Must have been somethin’ in mah eye!”

Suddenly there’s a knock at the door and everyone in the room except Vivian turned to see a young man enter. About five foot six inches and is about medium weight, he is wearing a slight beard as if he hadn’t shaved in days. His hair was in need of a trim, but his clothes were neatly pressed, he just appears to need a nap. Overworked and perhaps under paid he smiles nonetheless as he enters the room.

“Excuse me Viv?” the man raises his brows. Rhys noticed how sure of himself and calm as well, especially for someone who is interrupting a dangerous woman as she plays with her favorite toys.

‘What now?’ he asked himself silently. ‘Can we not just get to the part where she shoots us? I’d like to get that part over with,’ his mind raced. Based on Vivian’s reputation, Rhys was sure he and Amy didn’t have much longer in this world. Especially since they didn’t possess the information she desired.

Vivian rolled her eyes and waved the man off as she walks around her desk to sit down, “Whatever it is Rutledge, yer timin’ sucks. Come back later.”

Dean Rutledge smiles smugly and shrugs, “Actually, later doesn’t work for my schedule.”

Before reaching her seat, Vivian pauses. Raising her brows, she looked directly at Rutledge rather annoyed that he’d dare speak to her that way. Narrowing her eyes she dismisses it and continues to seat herself, “Now since when did I give a high flying f**k about your schedule?”

Rutledge’s grin widens as he eyes several of the men holding guns then looks back to Vivian sighing, “I dunno. Now might be a good time.”

Vivian waves her hand in the air at them to the men surrounding her, the same ones Rutledge eyed moments before, “Boys? Would you puhlease get this bean counter outta here? And throw in an etiquette lesson or two while yer at it?”

Vivian doesn’t realize it at first, but Rhys and Amy notice that not a person in the room has moved from their spot. After a second it’s clear Vivian’s noticed as well as her head scans the room, stopping at the smug smile on Rutledge’s face. She lifts a brow as she stands and makes her way to the front of her desk. She twirls around and vehemently cries out to everyone in the room, “Is there somethin’ wrong with the O’coustics in here?!?”

Rutledge jerks his head to the left and the men surrounding Vivian drew their weapons on her. Rhys sighs, ‘Great, great, great. Now I’m gonna die in a gang fight because these guys are too stupid to be on the same side!’

Vivian contemptuously studies the men who have now flipped on her, “You’ve gotta be sh*ttin’ me.”

Rutledge says nothing and simply stands by the doorway, grinning assuredly at her. Vivian knows she can make one more move and twirls around to reach for the gun she has lying on her desk.

Her men are faster and she freezes as she hears eight guns pull a bullet from their magazines. Rutledge quips, “I wouldn’t do that.”

Rutledge reaches for the gun she is just inches from and takes it away.

Vivian shakes her head and chuckles. “Ya’ know what? Ooooo. I heard folks talkin’ about someone makin’ a move,” she eyes Rutledge as he walks around her, “but I never thought it to be you.”

Rutledge simply can’t stop smiling. “Yeah? Life’s full of surprises.”

Vivian isn’t done. She can still turn the tide. Looking at the men around her she might be able to talk them back to her side again. Win them over. “Look, I dunno what this clown told y'all but if you think turnin’ on me is gonna git ya anythin’-“

"Shut the hell up!" he yells into her ear. Vivian looks startled and standing back he smiles, "Wow, that feels good."

Vivian pauses for a minute then tries again, "Yer last chance,” she watches as Rutledge waltzes to her chair and takes a seat. "Shoot this mother now!” she orders at them but they still don’t budge.

Twirling her chair slightly he takes a letter opener off her desk and tosses it from one hand to the other as his head rolls from shoulder to shoulder eyeing her, "It's game over Viv. I'm in, you're out. Changing of the guard. Does that work for you?"

Vivian leaned on the desk glaring at him, "You work for me a**hole!"

Rutledge shook his head, "I don't work for you anymore sweetheart. None of us do. You pushed a little to hard for a little to long."

Vivian pushed herself off the desk and pointed around the room, "You actually expect me ta’ believe that mah peeps are gonna take this lyin’ down?"

Rutledge puts the letter opener down and takes an apple off the desk as he shakes his head. "Nah it's called profit sharing. Everyone get's a little taste. You'd be amazed how much loyalty that breeds.” He takes a bite of the apple and smiles as he eats. These are her things but now, they belong to him.

Vivian nods, "So, whatcha gonna do braveheart, kill me?"

Rhys notices that Rutledge is acting extremely calm, which seems unusual to him. In fact he’s enjoying this a little too much and watches as Rutledge shakes his head.

"Nope. This'll be a bloodless coupe. We're gonna do things a little differently now that I'm in charge. Besides the last thing I wanna to do is create a martyr. So here's the deal, you, Tom, Nick, and anyone else, brain dead enough to stick with you, all have twenty four hours to get as far away from here as you can."

One of the men holding a gun points to Rhys and Amy, "What about them?"

Rutledge tilted his head to glance around Vivian. He eyes them both and shrugs, "Take em to a holding cell on the first floor. I'll be with them later."

Rhys and Amy are both grabbed by the arm and lugged off to another part of the building.

In the meantime they hear Rutledge address Vivian one last time as they exit the room.

"As far as Independence port is concerned Viv…doll, you're nothing but a bad dream. Get her out of my sight."

Part V – Friend of Foe?


King’s Row Police Station is always busy. Now with a minor missing and the adult who requested his assistance, it’s swamped. Lieutenant Selman had just seen Blazing and Glacial leave this morning, he made sure they left soon as possible, he wanted Rhys and Amy found quickly. He had not told Rhys’ father anything yet and was hoping he did not have to make that call. He also had not contacted the boy’s school either which he knew he should have done this morning, seeing as Rhys was already missing two extra days of classes.

Lieutenant Steven Selman was sitting at his desk looking at the phone number for Rhys’ school and debating whether he should contact them now or wait until tomorrow. He was sure they have noticed he had been missing from classes two days longer than he was supposed to already but his school wasn’t a normal school either. The Academy was one of the few places left for him after every other school refused to accept him as a student after his ‘shocking’ cafeteria fireworks display about a year ago. But Lieutenant Selman hadn’t expected this mission to become so complicated either. He now had two teams out there, one a rescue team the other, hopefully still alive if they were in Vivian’s clutches. He didn’t want to involve anyone else in this, and he worried that those at Rhys’ school would demand involvement if they discovered a schoolmate was in trouble. Steve didn’t need more people missing on this, especially if it would involve kids. Vivian James was a very dangerous woman and he didn’t want to risk others on this mission at all. How he was going to explain Rhys’ disappearance without raising their suspicions or alarm, he had no idea. Not to mention the kid’s father.

Lieutenant Selman swallowed another two aspirin as he rubbed his forehead. He knew he was running out of time before one of them came asking. He was pulled away from his thoughts when another officer entered his office and dropped a large and heavy pad of printout paper on his desk.

“What the hell is this?” Steven asked annoyed.

“There’s been a security breach, every indication is how Vivian found out about Mirage and the kid,” the officer explained as he sat down in a chair facing Steve’s desk.

Steve’s face paled as his jaw dropped slightly. Gathering his composure he nodded as he started looking through the printouts, “What kind of breach are we talking about?”

The officer stood up and started to show Steve the sections he’d highlighted and circled, “Right before they left there was a transmission, between here and a phone booth in Independence Port.”

Steven shook his head in disbelief, “Are you sure about that?!?”

The officer nodded, “Yes. For security purposes, there’s a digital footprint to all our transmissions. It was a little old so a few of those footprints had started to degrade, but an embedded system caught it.”

Steve closed his eyes for a minute and nodded, “Track it. Find out who made that phone call in Independence port, and who they talked to here.”

The officer paused for a moment, “We already know who they talked to here.”

“And?”

“The boy got a phone call-“ the officer started to explain but Steven cut him short with a wave of his hand.

Lieutenant Selman glanced at the officer, “The boy has a name.”

The officer gave Steven a half-smile and shrugged nonchalantly, “Yeah I know. His call was patched into one of the radios out there. The officer who took the call said he was talking to his father.”

Steven wasn’t quite following along but had inkling, “You take this to mean what?”

The officer looked down for a moment. Everyone at the station loved Arthur Stevens and most enjoyed Rhys’ company as well, even when he was being less than heroic. But they chalked it up to being a kid and lived with it. Most everyone there new Arthur Stevens very well, so knowing Rhys came with the territory.

“I think the kid’s father set him up.”

Steven shook his head, “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? He made the call from a phone booth, Lieutenant. He lives in Kings Row. Why make a call from a phone booth in Independence where it’d be easier for Vivian James to track the call than from his own home?”

Steven thought for a minute. He knew that Arthur had been traveling back and forth between Founder’s Falls and King’s Row to visit with Rhys’ mother and siblings; he also knew he had been doing this behind his son’s back. Rhys had never been told where his mother relocated to but the officer across from him had a point; Arthur never called Rhys when he was out patrolling. He was too proud of his son to bother him. Yes he worried about him, but unlike the kid’s mother, Arthur had embraced the kid’s mutation and even given him a home when his mother threw him out. Why he’d choose now to call, and from Independence Port was an odd turn of events. Shaking his head, “We don’t know for sure that’s how Vivian James found out. We need more proof.”

“How?”

“I need to speak with him anyways. I can slip him some bad information on Blazing’s team. Blazing and Glacial are good at getting out of a real tight fix. If Vivian James finds out about them based on the information we give Arthur, then your theory holds up. Otherwise, forget it.”

“Any surveillance?”

Steve nodded his head, “Yes. In fact, tell you what, get me a warrant to bug his apartment. Judge Trodol should give us one easily. If Art’s stupid he’ll make a call from there.”

“He already showed he made the phone call from a phone booth before-”

Steve nodded, “I know, but I’m betting that he did that because he knew about the digital tracers in our system. Calling from his apartment to another person, like Vivian, he won’t think anyone’s tracking the call now.”

“Alright, I’ll go get the paperwork started on that then,” the officer remarked as he stood up and headed out the door.

Steven glanced at the aspirin bottle and grabbed two more.

“Longest week of my life,” he muttered as he pushed the number to Rhys’ school off to the side.

Part VI – Sleeping with the Enemy

Blazing Embers and Glacial-Inferno entered Perez Park through Galaxy City. The area wasn’t much of a threat to them, most of those who were a threat would stay far enough away from them that they wouldn’t have to concern themselves with it. As they approached a set of coordinates given to them by Lieutenant Selman, Blazing slowed his pace.
“Somewhere, around here is the last place where Rhys and Amy last transmitted from.“

Glacial shook his head, “This is a big waste of time. We’re not going to find anything way out here. If they are still alive, Vivian has them.”

Blazing shrugged as he continued walking among the maze of Perez Park, “Yes, I know, but Steve said to check here first,” lifting his leg onto a log to reveal the ankle binder Blazing wore he looked up at Glacial, “and you know that he’s aware of every move I make. Besides, this leads to a back road into Independence Port through Steel Canyon.”
Glacial sighed, “Guess we go in as civilians from here.”

After removing their gear, and Blazing changed his boots, packing up the special ones he had that gave him a good burst of speed, they continued through the forest on foot. They were making good time but Blazing knew they could make better time if they could just use their abilities.

Blazing walked behind Glacial; it’s the way he did things. He trusted Glacial sure, but it was more of a nervous habit from his old days, make sure the people with you are in front in case they decide to turn on you. You can always see it coming if they are in front. These days it was more of a protective move, he could see the danger ahead easier, despite his age, and he always made sure those ahead of him didn’t wander too far ahead.

Glacial’s thoughts kept returning to Amy as he muttered, “Man, somebody up there has got it in for my a**.“

Blazing crooked a brow, “What you mean at the station?”

Glacial smirked and shook his head as he pointed to the sky without looking back at Blazing. “No. I mean somebody up there.”

Behind him Blazing stopped for a moment confused as to why Glacial was so perturbed. Still, Glacial’s comments were odd, even for him. It wasn’t a time to be worrying about his own love life, but instead trying to get the kid’s to safety. He had heard rumors that the family was interested in both himself and Rhys for some reason. Blazing could understand the family’s interest in him, but Rhys? That baffled him. He also knew that Tommy One Eye wasn’t behind bars either and that the kid’s could simply be the bait for an even larger trap. Until they knew more, they had no idea who was really pulling the strings in Independence Port.

Blazing looked up to the sky for a moment the continued walking, “Listen, I don’t know much about psychology stuff, but it just looks like your nibblin’ at the edges of paranoia.”

Glacial chuckled, “The first woman who’s ever really felt special to me, no sooner do I meet her, I get sucker punched by fate. Sorry Scott you get to go right back to being alone.”

Blazing stopped suddenly, “Hey, Your not exactly alone, I’m standing right here.”

Scott turned around and smirked, “Yeah like I said, somebody has got it in for my a**.”

Both men started to chuckle but quickly stopped as they heard several people approaching them. One had a very distinct voice that Blazing and Glacial knew well.
Vivian had been stomping through the woods for at least half an hour now accompanied by two men. She was speaking very loudly as if there was someone around besides themselves to hear her, but she didn’t appear to be talking to anyone in particular, except maybe the trees.
“…right now I bet the cockroaches wouldn’t even show up. I mean if he thinks he can just shove me outta the way, then that man is in for a very rude awakenin’. I say we lay low, give him a couple days to drop his guard, then we come back with some big hunkin’ guns and people and beat him ugly! I mean the way Ah’m looking at it, this guy is committin’ suicide by proxy, and who we are we to disappoint him.”

One man turned to Vivian and stopped walking and shook his head, “I don’t think so Viv.”

Vivian turned to him with a look of disbelief, “What are you talkin’ about, why the hell not?”

He raised the gun that once belonged to her. Rutledge had given it to him earlier as he confidently explained the situation, “’Cause we have different orders.”

Vivian put her hand on her hip and flipped her hair as she pushed the gun away from her with one finger, “Look Tom that is not even remotely funny.”

Tom pointed the gun back towards her and shrugged, “Do I look like I’m laughin’?”

Vivian lurched her head backwards on her neck as she raised her brows. She got the message now, loud and clear, “You mean to tell me Rutledge bought you out? Is that it?”

Tom nodded, “Lets just say I had to make a difficult choice.”

Vivian turned to a scrawny, gutless fellow behind her, “Yer not goin’ to let him get away with this, are you Nick?”

Nick grimaced sheepishly his voice was weak as he tried to look apologetic, “I’m sorry Viv.”

Vivian was upset now, perhaps even mad. She scowled and hollered, “You scrawny [censored] cowards. All of ya, And Rutledge!” Pausing for a moment she looked at the two men by her to see if they had changed their minds yet. Seeing that they hadn’t she sneered, “The scalawag didn’t even have the guts to do it himself.”


Glacial and Blazing had moved closer to make sure that the voice they had heard rattling off in the woods was indeed the person they had previously thought. Blazing shook his head as Tom raised the gun to Vivian threatening to kill her. Scott started to stand but Blazing tugged him back down,

“Don’t. Let ‘em shoot her. I’d actually like to watch myself. Got some popcorn in your bag there?”

Glacial half chuckled, “Jon, I know how you feel about her. The feeling is mutual, but don’t forget that if she’s out here, she might know where Amy and Rhys are.”

Blazing sat for a moment pressing lips together, “Dammit. I hate it when you’re right.”

Just beyond them they heard Tom remark, “Yeah well this way no one will never know what really happened.”

Scott stood up and walked closer a bit making his and Blazing’s presence known, “One problem with that, we will.”

It was apparent that they had taken them by surprise. But when Tom turned his gun towards Blazing and Glacial, Blazing made the first move his instincts told him too. He couldn’t light the man on fire, not with Vivian standing so close. He grabbed the gun and twisted it in another direction. He began to heat it however the handle was made of rubber and this method was proving to be too slow for what Blazing wanted to accomplish. It was clear that the other thug Nick didn’t know what to do; he turned tail and started running through the woods fast as his scrawny legs could carry them. Tom was still trying to force the gun towards Blazing and Blazing was trying to force the barrel away and towards the sky.

“Get the other guy!” Blazing hollered best he could through clenched teeth.

Glacial was busy securing Vivian who had tried to make a get-a-away when Blazing noticed the Nick running off.
Turning his head to see the second thug making his way through the forest already, Glacial shook his head. Blazing had super speed boots in his pack; Glacial just had the inherent ability to jump great distances, an ability that doesn’t work that well in a heavily wooded forest. How he had this ability he didn’t know, but that was the story of his life.

“Dammit Blaze your faster,” Glacial grumbled as he took off through the forest fast as his legs could carry his bulky body. At least Glacial was short, that helped to add to his speed but it wasn’t going to be enough. As the two zigged and zagged through the forest of Perez Park, Glacial could see Nick start to pull away with each turn. Glacial didn’t want to get too far from Blazing so he let Nick go and turned back to make his way back as fast as he could.

Blazing let go of the gun with one hand and punched the thug square in the chest. As the gun dropped Blazing left it. He was surprised to find Tom had recovered so quickly. Tom had spun around and was suddenly behind Blazing. Tom hooked Blaze’s neck and began to choke him. Slightly taken off guard for a minute Blazing gave the man an A for effort as he situated himself and flipped Vivian’s ex-thug over his head. Soon as Tom had hit the dirt Blazing walked past him and towards Vivian. Blazing thought it was over but he would quickly discover he was wrong. As Tom landed on his back he quickly flipped himself upright again. Blazing was being careless with Tom, he didn’t think he was much of a threat and he was probably right. But Tom twirled around to see Blazing heading towards Vivian. He moved in to kick him in the back and Blazing stepped to the side, “Stupid kid, the forest ground gives away your position.”

Turning around to face his attacker again Blazing smirked. His smirk was replaced by anger when he was quickly punched twice, once in the gut and another in the jaw. Now he was just angry. Pure and simple. He reached over to a fallen tree trunk that was rotting next to him and cracked off a log. He quickly swung his makeshift bat at the Tom’s head then dropped the log and clapped the dirt from his hands. His attacker was out cold and he knew it. Turning around to face Vivian he noticed that Glacial had returned, “What the hell took you so long slow poke?”


Glacial shrugged, "I stopped for coffee. I had to get a receipt." Glacial paused as he noticed Blazing’s attacker on the ground. He wasn’t out cold any longer, like Blazing had thought. Instead he had found the gun that had been dropped and was now pointing it at Blazing’s backside.

“Blaze!” was all Glacial had time to holler out before Blazing instinctively and nonchalantly tossed a hot blast of fire behind him, lighting the man up instantly. Taking out a cigarette, the end began to glow red almost immediately. He smirked at Glacial, "That was fun, next time, skip the receipt.”

Glacial ran over to stomp out what portion of the fire was burning the ground as he shook his head, “Jesus Blaze, you didn’t have to light him up.”

Blazing raised a brows at Glacial which he caught and chose to ignore. It was Blaze’s subtle hint to him to shut up but Glacial felt he had made a valid point.

Vivian turned towards Glacial and began to demand answers, “Well where’s Nick? You let that little runt traitor git away?”

Glacial looked at her in disbelief, “Well you ought to be grateful, we just saved your life.”

Blazing turned towards Vivian and nodded, “Yeah and that was for the second time as well.”

Vivian thought for a moment and nodded as her face lit up in recollection, “Oh yeah yeah yeah, that’s right. The store in Independence down by Bricks six months ago.”

Blazing returned the cigarette he was working on between his lips as he turned to his partner, "Yeah. Glacial, we seem to be picking up a bad habit.”

Glacial cracked a small smile but lowered his head to hide it, pretending to fiddle with the gun he had taken of the body Blazing was wrestling with earlier, “It would seem so.”

Glacial knew how this part worked. It’s where the line of being a police officer and hero ended and he let Blazing’s take over with his unique talents of his former life in the underworld of crime. When you combine all three, it can make for an effective team, learning to balance them all out and knowing when to put aside which parts of yourself, that’s the tricky part. Knowing where the lines crossed and sometimes don’t exist, they were still figuring all that out.

Vivian glanced behind her and put on an animated smile, “Hey look I appreciate whatch ya just done and all, but how about we leave it at that, no questions asked?”

Glacial quickly grabbed Vivian’s arm as she attempted to slink away. He hadn’t had the chance earlier to secure her properly and during the struggle she had easily slipped out of the poor job Glacial had done before he took off after her other goon. Something they would definitely have to remedy.

Blazing chuckled as he removed the almost finished cigarette and clasped it between his fingers. He was amused that she was so thankful that they risked their lives over her. What a crock. He thumped the end of the butt with his thumb then gestured to Vivian, “You really think we put our lives on the line to save your sorry [censored]?”

Vivian’s face fell, if they were going to be such [censored] about it, then fine, pay them and go. “Okay. Look, I got a whole load of stuff I can give you,” she offered.

Blazing’s cool composure remained as he cast an unimpressive glance towards Glacial. In his older days he’d have taken a bribe in a heartbeat, now he couldn’t or wouldn’t for that matter, it would violate his parole. Blazing flashed Vivian a raised brow, “It better be better than the load of stuff you’re giving me right now.”

Vivian rolled her eyes at them, “Fine then, whatchy’all want?”

Now they were getting somewhere, with an unemotional demeanor Blazing finished the remainder of his cigarette savoring the end before tossing it aside. He purposely exhaled the smoke in Vivian’s direction as he inquired, “We got a couple of friends. They were passing through Independence port. We lost contact with them.”

Vivian waved the smoke away from her face coughing, “You know second hand smoke kills!”

Blazing grinned, “I’m counting on it. Our friends.”

Vivian shot him a glaring glance and shrugged, “I dunno, a lot of folks come through Independence.” Her eyes wandered around the forest that gave Blazing everything he needed. He could always tell a liar, especially a bad one.

Blazing eyed Glacial gesturing with his head at the gun in Scott’s hand and inviting him to join in the entertainment of the afternoon, “Is there another bullet in that clip Glac?”

Glacial checked the clip the reloaded it, “Oh yeah, right here. Enough to blow out all her headlights.”

Blazing and Glacial had never handled a gun in their lives as heroes. Glacial might have in his younger days as a police officer but he didn’t live in Paragon City then and he couldn’t recall those times. Blazing knew he’d miss if he attempted to shoot that gun, but Glacial, no one knew what kind of marksmanship he had. Hopefully they wouldn’t find out this evening.

Vivian narrowed her eyes at Blazing, “You wouldn’t.”
Blazing tilted his head unperturbed by her words, "Isn’t that what you said to the last guy?” Blazing turned to face Vivian with one finger raised and an apathethic srmile, “Now, you get us to our friends, and you can go back to that cesspool you call home and your little operation and start struttin’ your stuff,”

Vivian’s mouth open but not much was said, “But mah people-“ was all she had the chance to say before Blazing continued.

Blazing meticulously placed a finger in front of her mouth long enough to quiet what she was sating. He then confidently shrugged her off with his last statement, “Look, do whatever you want, I--don’t--care.”

Glacial wanted to see Amy and Rhys home safely too but to put Vivian James back in business raised a moral question in him. This is when Glacial wasn’t sure where the lines ended or crossed. But he was sure Blazing would tell him. Unsure as to how far Blazing was going to take this he started to ask, “Blazing…”

Blazing held up a hand to Glacial, which let him know that everything was fine and he had no intention of actually shooting Vivian or let her return to her former employment. But if the bluff worked they would get the information they needed. Glacial shrugged and let Blazing continue with his questioning techniques.

Vivian smirked and weaved her head around, “And what if I say no?”

Glacial clicked the hammer back on the pistol hoping it would add to their bluff.

Blazing shrugged, “What if I say we found two bodies out here in Perez instead of just one.”

Part VII – Double Trouble

Arthur was surprised that Lieutenant Selman had asked him to come down to the station this afternoon. Little did he realize that the moment he left his apartment, a team went in to begin tapping the phones and placing concealed ‘bugs’. The surveillance team hadn’t come up with anything except for Arthur traveling through Independence on his way to Talos and then Founder’s Falls and back again. He did this twice a week and then Rhys’ mother, Ophelia, made the same trip in reverse.

Arthur had been ushered into Steven’s office and asked to wait. A few moments later, Steven bustled in with a stack of papers in one hand and a hot cup of coffee in the other. He unloaded his hands then politely offered his hand to Arthur. Art took it graciously and smiled.

“Coffee Art?” Steven asked.

Arthur shook his head, “No thanks I appreciate it. Um, What was the reason you called me down here though? I’m kind of surprised that you asked for me instead of Rhys.”

Steven folded his hands after taking a drink from his coffee and gave Arthur his complete undivided attention, “Your son is the reason I called you down here. I didn’t think it was fair to do this over the phone.”

The somber tone and in Stevens voice and on his face made Arthur think the worse and he began to pale.

“Your son was on a team that went missing about 30 hours ago.” Steven began relaying a few details about what happened but left most of it out. It was important that they make sure Arthur didn’t have the entire story so that the false information they plant is believable.

“Is he okay? Have they made demands? What are you guys doing to get him back?” Arthur rattled off more and more questions before Steven was able to talk over him and get Arthur to calm down a bit.

“Arthur, Arthur, Arthur, calm down. We have three more teams that went in,” Steve lied, “Blazing and Glacial have the second team that is the decoy. The first team is going to run in there and rescue Rhys and his partner Blind Mirage.”
Arthur nodded but it sounded like a strange plan to him.

Someone from the office outside gave Lieutenant Selman a thumbs up through the doorway and Steven led Arthur out of his office and suggests he return home to let himself relax until they hear more. He would keep Arthur updated on their progress and make sure his son call soon as he is back.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Upon arriving at his apartment Arthur dialed his ex-wife’s, Rhys’ mothers, number. When she picked up he began relaying the information Lieutenant Selman had given him.

Ophelia Rothchild-Stevens was quiet for a few moments before she added, “They weren’t supposed to take him Art. I thought this was supposed to work out. They take Mirage and Rhys was supposed to rescue her dammit.”

“It will my love, have faith, you know what to do. Blazing will get him out; I don’t think he’ll like playing on a second fiddle decoy team. I’m betting he’ll go in there to get him. It’s his nature.”

“Alright, I’ll see you tonight then right?” Ophelia asked.

“Of course you will. Ciara and Colin will be there right?” he asked.

“Yes just like you wanted, though I don’t know what good it will do.”

“Just trust me,” he smiled.

Once they hung up Arthur packed a few things and then headed out for his trip to Founder’s Falls.

Ophelia Rothchild-Stevens dialed Dean Rutledge and relayed the information her ex-husband he told her. He thanked her and they quickly hung up. Without Ophelia’s line being tapped, Steven Selman was unaware that his false information just made it’s way straight to the top so fast, and that it was Rhys’ own family who delivered it behind his back.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

When Steven heard the tape he held his face in his hands. He never thought that Arthur would have set a hero up like that, much less his own son. Even though it appears to have backfired on Arthur as well, he was still guilty of it. He took the tape and placed it in his top desk drawer and locked it.

“Now what?” the officer who brought the tape to him asked.

“When Rhys returns, tell him I need to see him. And make sure he contacts no one, except his school to let them know he’s okay,” Steve sighed.

“You’re actually going to tell him?”

“Yes,” Steve thought for a moment and added, “And I want Blazing to be here when he hears this too. Oh, and Glacial,” Steve made a mental note to obtain some rubber padding to lay on the ground just in case. Recalling he had not yet told Rhys’ school he was missing he dismissed the officer and started looking for The Academy’s number.

Finding it, he dialed the number and waited for an answer. When the other side picked up he took a deep breath and spoke.

“Yes, this is Lieutenant Steven Selman with the P.C.P.D. King’s Row Department and I need to speak with someone in charge there about a missing student.”

Part VIII – Hero’s and their Responsibilities

Rhys and Amy were sitting in separate chairs again. At least they weren’t holed up in a cell anymore. Rhys hated being in that tiny holding cell he and Amy were sharing. He never liked small spaces but the holding cell they had them in was more like a closet with a re-enforced door. There was a small window but what good that did besides giving air was beyond them. No bed, no chairs, just a floor. And a cold one at that. No real lighting besides what the window provided so they just sat there in their closest and tried not to freeze. But it was good to be out in the open. Rhys was becoming increasingly nervous in their cramped quarters, which had begun to drive Amy bonkers. She was thankful for the peace and quiet as well. Rhys hadn’t shut up once since they had been in their holding cell and she welcomed his quiet demeanor now that they were in a more open space. Well, as open as you would call a larger room with nothing but two chairs in it. At least this room had a light.

When the door opened a large man entered causing Rhys to almost fell out of his chair. It was a man he knew from his past, Artie Benoit. Artie had been Rhys’ lifeline when Rhys’ powers manifested and his mother left him in the hospital’s mutant detention room for two months. But Rhys never thought Artie would end up here.

“Artie?” he blinked again trying desperately to see if it was just a figment of his imagination. Perhaps the close quarters had affected him more than he thought, he was tired but was he just nuts now? Maybe he was starting to lose it after being in that room for so long.

Artie was surprised to hear his name and turned to Rhys, also shocked to see him there.

Whispering to him as he stood nearby he asked, “What the hell are you doing here kid? This guy is dangerous.”

‘Nope, not nuts,’ Rhys noted. He quickly nodded, “Yeah I know this is what I do these days, why are you here? What happened at the hospital?”

Artie shrugged, “Your mother got me fired for letting you see your brother and sister. I wasn’t supposed to let them in your room remember?”

Rhys jaw dropped, he had begged for that chance and Artie let him have it, but it cost him his job. Most likely because despite his mother’s protests, Rhys had made his mother leave the room as well and when she doesn’t get her way she takes it out on the people around her. He felt an enormous amount of guilt wash over him as his own selfishness at wanting to see his brother and sister and say goodbye to them had cost someone their job and landed them here. He frowned and hung his head, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Artie shrugged, “Don’t worry about it, I’d have done it again, it’s not your fault.”

Rhys smiled slightly; Artie always had a way of cheering him up in the strangest ways. It was then that Rutledge entered and noticed them conversing, “What’s this a family reunion?”

“No,” Rhys lied his eyes shifted to the right.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, If you’re going to lie, learn how to do it kid,” Rutledge commented as he walked over towards Artie.

“What’s the story here Artie?”

Artie looked at Rhys and remained quiet. When Rutledge asked again, Artie remained still and quiet.

“All right then, new approach, either you tell me the story,” Rutledge pointed at Rhys and nodded to the other thugs in the room, “or the kid is dead.” With that they all raised their guns level to Rhys’ head. ‘Great, death by firing squad,’ Rhys thought but he noticed something. None of them had cocked their guns, so these were either stupid thugs, or…Rhys curled the corner of his lip into a half smile, ‘A bluff.’

Artie’s eyes widened and he nodded quickly telling Rutledge what he wanted to know.

“Shut up Artie,” Rhys hollered out but Artie wasn’t listening and the pop on the head from Rutledge gave Rhys something else to concentrate on for a few minutes. ‘What’d he tag me with, Ow!’ Rhys rubbed the back of his head as he winced. Artie continued telling Rutledge how he and Rhys knew one another.

“Well isn’t that just…touching,” Rutledge remarked, sarcasm dripping off every word.

“He wouldn’t have shot me Artie, he needs us,” Rhys glared at Rutledge.

“We got a smart one here. Your right, I wouldn’t have shot you, not yet anyways, but it was a good bluff,” Rutledge grinned.

Artie glanced at Rhys and shrugged, “Couldn’t risk it,” he whispered.

Rhys offered him a small smile letting him know it was fine. Rhys just hoped when this was over he could help find Artie another job.

“What is it you think you’ll get from us?” Amy asked. She had been sitting quietly as she tends to do in a situation like this when her emotions aren’t running high. She had been surveying the room as she listened to everything and hadn’t come up with any helpful escape plan so instead she decided to play along until she could get a better plan. Rhys was not going to be of any help in escaping. This guy was smart, the floors were all rock similar to their holding cell, only this room unlike their holding cell, didn’t seem to be lined with rubber. It was almost as if, ‘he was expecting Rhys to be here’ she realized. She turned to Rhys and eyed him curiously, ‘Why would he be planning to capture him? I must be the wild card in this,’ she noted.

Rutledge placed his hands on Amy’s chair arms and leaned in until he was almost nose-to-nose with her. “See, here’s the deal, I want you to tell me about the people who sent you here. I want you to specifically to tell me about,” he paused, and then switched his hands over to Rhys’ chair arms, “Blazing Embers.”

He could tell by the look on Rhys’ face that he struck a nerve, “Yes you’re his little student am I correct young Mr. Rhys?”

Rhys glared at him, “No.”

Rutledge cocked his head to one side, “Your right, you’re not his student,” Rutledge stood up and paced for a moment, “But you used to be.”

“So?”

“So, I’ll tell you what, you tell me what you know and I’ll be a little nicer. Sound fair?”

Rhys glanced away, he couldn’t figure out what Rutledge’s interest in Blazing was, but despite his disappointment in Blazing breaking their student/mentorship he wasn’t going to give him any gratification by telling him any word about Blazing.

Rutledge eyed them both and after a few minutes he sighed rather disappointed. He turned to Amy with a look of disappointment, “You know, I really was hoping I wouldn’t have to break either of you, it’s so labor intensive.” She glared at him behind her glasses but remained quiet. Rhys could not understand how he was so calm. He was calming down a bit now that they were out of their cramped quarters, but they never knew what Rutledge was going to do next. Rutledge turned to Rhys and smiled, “Now boy, you can either tell me what I want, or your buddy Artie can eat bullets for dinner.”

Rhys shook his head, Rutledge had just made this promise but in reverse. Still a little worked up and rattled after being closed up in the small cell they had been kept in, Rhys tapped his foot stared at the floor grinning, “You’re bluffing.”

Rutledge took one of the thug’s smaller pistols and cocked it, “Not this time. I might need you kid, but your friend is expendable.”

Rhys face fell as he looked up at Rutledge in disbelief when he heard click of the hammer. He turned to Amy who sat there quietly.

“I-I don’t know what you….what it is your..your are looking for. I don’t-don’t know what you want me t-to say,” Rhys stammered. He disliked being put in this position. As a hero, he made the decision on whether or not he was responsible for someone else’s life but right now he was not being given the choice. He didn’t ask or want to be responsible for Artie’s life, and whatever he could tell them about Blazing was public knowledge anyways so what was the big secret?

Amy glanced at Rhys and shook her head but he wasn’t paying attention.

“Does he still wear his wedding ring?” Rutledge asked.

“Rhys don’t,” Amy told him but Rhys couldn’t hear her, she just sounded like the teacher in those Charlie Brown movies to him. He’d never been in a situation like this and had no idea what to do. They don’t teach you this in any school and this must be what Blazing always told him was stuff you ‘picked up along the way’.

Rhys thought quickly. He looked at Artie then to Rutledge.

“Time’s ticking boy,” Rutledge smug smile danced across his face.

‘This is not fair!’ Rhys screamed at himself. He didn’t know what to do. He knew he shouldn’t say a word but this was someone he owed his sanity to. Artie looked out for him and also gave him something no one else would have, a chance to see his brother and sister one last time. He owed him a lot.

“Five seconds kid, five, four,” Rutledge began to count.
Rhys glanced at Amy who was shaking her head at him, that was an obvious answer there. She played everything by the book.

“Three,” Rutledge continued counting.

‘Would he shut up!’ Rhys begged as he hurriedly tried to figure out what to do. He turned towards Artie would wouldn’t even look at him or offer him any help in what to decide. He knew if he said anything it might come back to bite him later, but he wasn’t sure what he was saying. It was all public knowledge. Blazing criminal record was on file for everyone to see. So how would he be betraying anyone? Or was there something larger at work here that he didn’t understand?

“Two,” Rutledge continued with his countdown.

“Rhys…” Artie whispered which was all he had to hear.

“On-“ Rutledge finished but Rhys cut him off.

“Yes he still wears it,” Rhys blurted out, “so what? He’s a jerk sometimes too, big deal.”

Amy jabbed him in the side the best she could but it was hard. Rhys winced but ignored her, he had other priorities right now and she was definitely not one of them.

Rutledge smiled as he lowered his gun allowing Rhys to breathe a sigh of relief.

“You are such a moron,” Amy whispered shaking her head.

Rhys glared at her annoyed that she felt she had the right to judge when she had done nothing to help.

“You are completely useless,” he shot back.

“Good boy, you’re friend here gets to live,” and with that Rutledge leveled his weapon on Artie again, “for another few moments.”

“You promised!” Rhys hollered as he struggled against the rubber insulated bonds that tied his hands in front of him. As the shot rang out and Artie dropped to Amy and Rhys’ feet.
Rhys had tried to shield Artie but he found himself unable to control it or even use his abilities. Puzzled he glanced around the room and noticed the rock floor for the first time. He turned towards Rutledge and glared.

Rutledge shrugged, “I lied.”

“You son of a-“ Rhys started but was cut off by Rutledge.

“Careful what you say kid, I’m the one holding both of your fates in my hands.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------


Some light was filtering into the holding cell through the tiny window but neither Rhys nor Amy had said more than five words since the afternoon. Amy had been leaving Rhys to his thoughts and Rhys was still trying to figure out if he hadn’t panicked, could he have saved his friend. He was sure it would have worked despite being grounded to the rock floor, Amy had felt he was being delusional and decided to leave him be for the time being. It seemed everytime she said something, they ended up fighting. Amy noticed that Rhys hadn’t touched what food they had brought them and that he hadn’t moved or barely blinked for that matter from where he sat when they were returned to the cell. Amy had been a hero long enough to know what was on Rhys’ mind and did her best to explain how twisted Rutledge’s mind was.

“It didn’t matter what you said Rhys, Rutledge would have killed that man whether you told him anything or not.”

Rhys shrugged, “I at least tried.”

“No you told him exactly what he wanted. Rutledge said he was expendable, but you still gave him everything he wanted to hear.” Amy half-scolded him.

The tone of her voice was irritating Rhys. He shot Amy a hard look, “Amy, Shut up.”

He didn’t think he told Rutledge anything, ‘So what if Blazing still wears his wedding ring. That doesn’t mean anything, there’s nothing special about a wedding ring.’ He thought as his mind continued to race as it mingled with seeds of doubt, guilt and confusion.

Amy tilted her head; she had never been spoken to that way, at least not by anyone besides Blazing. She wasn’t about to take it either. “Look you choose this line of work, it doesn’t choose you Rhys. It doesn’t let you stay a child forever and right now would be a really good time for you to grow the hell up. The world isn’t always a place where it coddles their young and protects them, this can be a harsh world for some of us and there’s no place in it for a silly naive rich kid playing dress up pretending to be a hero!”

Rhys turned his head up towards her. He couldn’t believe his ears. Blazing had taught him differently. “Wrong,” he seethed as he stood up to tower over her. He narrowed his eyes towards her as he looked down into her glasses, “This is a line of work you do choose, but only if it chooses you first. Blazing taught me that and I’ve learned it first hand. I don’t know what your problem is Amy but what do you want me to say? That we’re going to be hunky dory and okie dokie? Fine, here ya go,” Rhys faked a smile and danced sarcastically around Amy, “We’re all Hunkey Dory and we’ll be Okie Dokie Amy!” He shot her a thumbs up before Rhys dropped his pretend and sat himself in one of the corners of their holding cells. “Now, shut the hell up and leave me alone.”

Amy blinked and stood in her spot for a moment before seating herself along the opposite wall. After Rhys’ display she started to wonder if the small quarters was affecting him more than she originally thought, she knew of his extreme dislike for confined spaces. Even though he denied having clausterphobia, Amy was beginning to believe his current habits and displays placed him along those lines. They were extremely confined in this poor excuse for a broom closet. He had been acting a little strange since their arrival and it did appear that these close quarters did have him quite rattled and nervous which was a far cry from his normal self. She had seen Rhys goof off before and she had seen him in tight situations with Blazing, but she had never seen him act like this, particularly in the style that he just performed. Before Rhys was talking himself in circles to keep himself occupied, but now it appeared he simply wanted to be left alone. She was becoming confused by his mood swings and she quite honestly didn’t know what to make of him at this point. She felt the best option was to find a way to get them moved to a larger holding cell or better yet, out altogether. If Artie was still alive, getting them moved would have been easy, even the escape would have been easier, now it would prove to be more difficult.

Part IX – Relaxation soothes the soul

Rhys awoke with a start as the door to their holding cell swung open letting the light of the hallway fill what the window was lacking. Rhys noticed that Amy was already awake, or perhaps she had been awake the whole time? She looked tired and he wondered if she had even slept since they had been there. Rhys hadn’t slept much either. The events from earlier kept replaying in his dreams, which kept waking him up.

Rutledge’s voice boomed into the cell before he even arrived, “Greetings my friends! What a glorious day out there. Crisp Cold, just the way I like it. Just a day where you can curl up with a good book, sip brandy,” Rutledge glanced at Rhys and he could read the tired circles under his eyes which made him smile even more, “Ever had brandy kid? No, course not, your too young. Shame on you. Thinking about having brandy at your age,” Rhys quirked a brow as Rutledge turned to glance in Amy’s direction but he found her stoic as can be, the boy would be much more fun and easier. His glance quickly shifted back to Rhys again. “It’s even a good day to torture a prisoner or two,” he suggested with a sly smile on his face.

Rhys glared at Rutledge, he had played him a fool once but he wouldn’t catch him twice.

“You’re as sick as Vivian,” Rhys sneered.

Rutledge chuckled, “Boy, I’m not even in the same league as Viv. But I appreciate the attempt at flattery.”

Amy stood up and presented Rutledge with a proposal she had developed since their last meeting with Rutledge, “Why don’t you let him go. You don’t need the both of us.”

“Amy, no,” Rhys started but Rutledge cut him off.

Rutledge smirked, “Big words from a little girl. Actually, you do have a point. I want to know more about Blazing Embers. So, why don’t you tell me, everything you know about your friend. And I’ll let one of you go. I’ll even let you choose which one. Sound fair?”

Rutledge was amused at his little game and took the moments they hesitated to exchange glances between them both.

Rhys stood up and leaned towards Rutledge, he was tired of this man’s toying and he was ready to go home. He had been ready to go home nearly two days and his patience was long gone. He narrowed his eyes and seethed, “Go to hell.”

He was taken aback when Rutledge shouted back, “YOU go to hell.” Rutledge smiled as Rhys stumbled backwards slightly but he kept his footing. He hadn’t expected Rutledge to reply in such a way; at least he hadn’t expected to be yelled at.

Rutledge waved to Amy and left the cell, he could tell he wasn’t going to get anywhere yet. Rutledge was good at telling when people were close to their breaking points and he could see in Rhys’ actions, lack of sleep and his mannerisms he wasn’t far from his breaking point. The girl Amy was another story. She was either good at hiding these signals, or she had been through similar events and was unbreakable. Rutledge decided the boy would be his key to getting what he wanted and concentrated his efforts there. He felt if he gave the kid another day in the cell however, he would crack for sure. He wondered if he had a smaller space to place them in but couldn’t come up with one and left them there with orders to report to them if Rhys cracked.

As Rutledge left Rhys ran after him to take a swing, only to have his hand meet the door. Between the electricity numbing his body from within, and his own sheer anger and frustration he didn’t notice the stabbing shot of pain travel up his arm. Instead he gave the door a swift kick before resting his forehead against it.

Amy smirked as she offered him some advice, “Let it go.”

Taking a moment to calm down he suddenly noticed the stabbing pain in his arm and winced, “Ow.”

“Smarts doesn’t it,” Amy remarked, “Next time aim better.”

Rhys jabbed a thumb towards the closed door, “I was aiming at him.”

She chuckled, “Yeah but he beat you to the door. The pain will go away in a minute, just relax and try to calm down.”

Rhys spun around to her and raised a brow, “Easy for you to say.”

“Look I know this tiny space is driving you nuts, I can tell by the way you’re acting. I’m betting Rutledge can too. You’re not helping that way. You have to calm down,” she explained.

Rhys looked at her curious as to why she suddenly was offering to help. He paced a small portion of the cell and shrugged, “How?”

Amy smirked, “First off all sit down, stop moving and relax. Think about something else. If you shut your eyes you won’t see this room and you can also hear when someone is coming.”

Rhys stopped pacing and whipped his head around at her glaring as he sarcastically mumbled back what she said.

“You can either do it or not, I don’t care Rhys. But Rutledge is counting on your to crack and if you don’t calm down you will,” Amy commented.

Rhys sighed, he knew she was right however he most likely would never admit it to her. This place was driving him up nuts, and he was to a point where he was ready to scale the walls in here.

“You’re not doing it Rhys,” she commented. Amy might be blind but she could see figures and hear them as well. She could tell Rhys was still standing and hadn’t budged.

Rhys nodded and moved to a corner closer to her. “Sorry. I was…thinking,” he explained.

“As to how I know how to do this stuff?” Amy asked.

Rhys nodded, “Yeah, actually I was.” 'What is she psychic too?’ he asked himself.

Amy turned towards him and casually explained what life was like when she had her surgeries as a teenager at Crey Industries. While they were attempting to fix her eyesight, she often sat in a room with nothing to do. “I learned fast how to just relax when there’s nothing to do but be bored silly. Same concept works here. You just have to learn the relaxing part and you’ll be fine.”

Rhys sighed as he slid to the ground and closed his eyes and tried to grab onto another thought, but he found it very hard to relax. She was right, learning that part was difficult, after that he would have it made. He was tired, cold and very frustrated and angry. He wondered where Blazing was and what was taking him so long. He started to wonder if anyone had started looking for them yet. If they hadn’t, he wasn’t sure he could stand another few days in this cell. He realized his thoughts had wandered again and tried to make them stop but he couldn’t help it. He opened his eyes and looked at Amy.

“Amy?”

“Shhhh.”

Rhys thought perhaps someone was approaching but heard nothing and glanced back at Amy again.

“Amy.”

“Rhys dammit you can’t relax if you’re jabbering.”

“Do you think anyone knows we’re missing?”

Amy opened her eyes and turned to him. She thought for a moment and nodded, “Blazing has to know by now, and you know how many contacts he has around the city.”

Rhys nodded, “Oh.” ‘I hadn’t thought about that,’ he nodded absentmindedly. He closed his eyes again but he just couldn’t get thoughts out of his head, when one would disappear, five more would come floating into his mind. He grumbled something incoherent as he opened his eyes again.

Amy shook her head. “No patience Rhys. You’ve only been sitting there for two minutes.” She turned to face him and smiled slightly, “What did you think? It would just come to you like your powers do?”

Rhys nodded, “Kinda.”

Amy chuckled as she closed her eyes again. Rhys tilted his head to her and continued his earlier inquiry, “Um, Amy.”

“Hush.”

“Amy.”

“What?” she asked annoyed.

“How long are we supposed to just sit around here and wait for Blazing to show up?”

Amy looked at him, “He’s always late, give him time.”

Rhys sighed and leaned back again but gave up on trying to relax. He stopped thinking how he could get them both out of here and started thinking of ways they could get themselves out of there. He was worried that Blazing would be too late in his arrival and Rhys was well beyond his tolerance of this room. He wanted space and he was becoming desperate for it.

Part X – A Hard Bargain


Vivian watched curiously as Blazing finished burying her previous employee Tom after he had been singed and burned to death after threatening Blazing’s life. He didn’t want to leave the evidence and he had always been taught that no matter what a person did with their life, they deserved to have a burial, proper or not.

When he finished Vivian scoffed at him, “That’s a waste of perfectly good dirt.”

Blazing smirked as he sat down to rest, “You know. Some people might say now might be a good time for an attitude adjustment.”

Vivian sneered, “Ya know? I was gonna mention that myself. But I thought you might get offended.”

Blazing took a drink from the canteen then turned to Vivian. He hadn’t gotten any new information from her and they had to be moving on into Steel Canyon soon.

“What are the chances of the kids I was telling you about still being alive?”

Vivian raised her brows, “You believe in miracles?”

Blazing shrugged, “I believe that most people act out of self interest.”

Vivian nodded, “There ya go. If Rutledge thinks he can get something from your friends, then odds are, they’re still alive.”

Blazing stood quickly as snapping twigs echoed in the forest. He hollered out to a figure he was positive had been approaching, “Stop.”

The thug Nick that had run away moved out from behind a tree, shaking slightly, “Don’t….I’m here in the spirit of cooperation. I swear.”

Vivian snorted, “Well good. Be a gentleman and get down on your knees beg for forgiveness while this man cook yer brains!”

Blazing narrowed his eyes curiously at Nick and asked, “Why did you come back?”

Nick raised his hands to show he was unarmed and sincere, “I’ve come with an offer.”

Blazing lifted his head slightly, “What kind of offer?”

Vivian eyed him in disbelief, “You cant be seriously be listening to this weasel?!?”

“It’s from Rutledge. Real simple. He’s willing to make a trade. You give him Vivian he’ll give you your friends, a kid and a woman. That’s it, ball’s in your court.”

Vivian looked visible angry as she taunted out, “Are you sure it ain’t no where else?”

Nick pointed back in the direction he arrived from, “I’m uh, I’m gonna go now.”

Blazing quick thought for a moment then hollered after Nick, “Hang on,” Blazing wasn’t sure what he should do but he was banking that this would get them closer to the kids, and if nothing else a backup plan. “Tell Rutledge,” he paused again rethinking his answer but decided not to change his mind, “he’s got a deal.”

Nick nodded and took off running through the forest to deliver Blazing’s message to Rutledge.

Vivian seethes with disgust, “Do you have any idea what he is gonna do to me?”

Blazing squats down on one leg and pulls out the handcuffs Glacial loaned him. He smirks at Vivian as he unties her from the tree and remarks, “Frankly my dear, well you know the rest.”

He quickly handcuffs one hand, “What are you doing? Hey, fine,” but she gets the leg up and handcuffs Blazing with the other side, “and one for you.”

Blazing glares at her, “What the hell did you do that for? See, now that, that,” he lifted his handcuffed arm, ”that makes me mad.”

Vivian snaps back, “Oh, and what am I? A portrait of serenity?”

Blazing begins to search his pockets for the spare key. His face suddenly drops when he notices it’s not turning up anywhere. “Sh*t.”

Vivian looks at him innocently, “Problem?”

Blazing grimaces when he realizes every pocket reveals that he does not posses the spare key, “Oh hell, Glac has the spare key,” He quickly looks at her when it dawns on him she conned him, “You knew that didn’t you?”

Vivian bats her eyes at him and innocently proclaims, “Moi?”

Part XI - Difference of Opinion


Blazing and Vivian continued to traipse through the Perez Park’s forest on the way to Steel Canyon. Their timing slowed due to the immense structure of winding paths and detours, Blazing was quickly getting very annoyed as Vivian continued to drag her feet along the way. They walk side by side but Vivian keeps falling behind like one condemned.

“You know what Rutledge is going to do to me?”

“I know what your doing, you’re trying to make me feel guilty. Well screw that it’s not gonna work. You killed innocent people all the time, whenever it was convenient for you,” he exclaimed as they walked.

Vivian rolled her eyes at him, “Yeah you’re a role model of virtue here.”

Blazing’s temper was rising as she played coy. He knew he had limited amount of time before Glacial was going to enter that warehouse without him and he was worried if he didn’t help out he would be condemning not only the kids, but Glacial too. He wanted Vivian there as a fall back to get everyone out safely.

“Yeah well, you know what this is? It’s poetic justice. What goes around comes around. I paid my dues now you’re paying them too,” She was still dragging her feet and Blazing wanted to pick up the pace. His earlier composure was quickly faltering as he tried to pick up the pace. He spun around and hollered, “Look, get your a** in gear. If I have to carry A hundred and fifty pounds of dead weight I will!”

Vivian coughed as she motioned to her figure and remarked in disbelief, “One hundred and fifty pounds? Excuse me?”

He shook his head as he continued moving through the Park, “You should have thought about the consequences before you shot Kevin in cold blood. And sent those guys to try and gun down Glacial and me.”

Vivian raised her brows and interjected sharply, “What do you want from me? You want me to apologize? You want me to get all weepy? Start bowing and scrappin-”

Blazing nodded exasperated, “A little remorse would be a start.”

Vivian felt the handcuffs tug on her wrist as Blazing pulled on her to move faster, “Ow!” She pulled back in retaliation forcing Blazing to stop. She walked up to him and glared. It was time for her to explain a thing or two, especially to an ex-con turned snitch that wasn’t worth a penny in her book.

“You let me tell you something my pasty friend. If I had to do it all over again, I would. In a New York Second. That’s right, I would kill a hundred Matthews, A thousand Kevin’s. If it meant protecting my people.”

Blazing scoffed, “People, you guys don’t have people. You think you do but guess what, you don’t. You’re just street thugs. Now here’s what I find ironic to your diatribe, those “people” you think you have? Don’t belong to you anymore do they.”

Vivian threw her hands in the air, “Why, cause some sh*t for brains waves a gun?”

Blazing shook his head as he tugged on the handcuffs to keep moving, “You know I think I liked it better when you were quieter.

Vivian continued hollering behind him, “Status hogging, self serving pr*ck…”

Blazing snapped back to her, “Tell you what, I’ll meet you half way. I’ll plug my ears all you gotta do is shut your mouth.”

Vivian sneered, “How about I ram my foot so far up your a** your kidneys give me a shoe shine.”

Part XII – Fishing for Bait

When Arthur Stevens arrived in his ex-wife’s new home in Founders Falls he made it a point to give her a inviting kiss but nothing magical. She thought it was special and that was fine, let her think whatever she wanted to it didn’t matter to Art.

“Now where are the rugrats?” he asked as he bent down and started hunting the house looking for them.

“Oh Art, um Ciara is here, somewhere, but Colin decided he had to go to a friends house he said.” Ophelia sighed. She knew what she was going to hear next.

“Ow!” Art howled as his sudden position change from halfling to grown adult caused him to nick the bar’s overhang as he was standing. He poped up over the bar holding the back of his head and his eyes furrowed, “Why did he go to a friends house?”

“He said he had promised and that he wanted to, so he went.,” she shrugged her arms as Ciara entered the room to get the plates needed for setting the table.

“No honey, just three settings, Colin is at a friends house tonight,” she presented Ciara her obligatory but phony radiant smile as she scuttled Ciara out of the kitchen so she could continue setting the table.

After dinner Ciara sat down to watch some television, which provided a perfect opportunity for Arthur. He turned to Ophelia and made sure everything he said could be overheard by his daughter.

“You called Rutledge?” he eyed Ciara.

“Yes,” she kissed his cheek but it wasn’t time for that yet and pushed her away lifting his brows to her.

“Not yet, follow me lead dammit,” he whispered.

She gave an apologetic gesture and continued to speak rather loudly so Ciara could hear them, “he said Rhys was fine but that if you didn’t pay up he would call Pyromaniac’s gang to come get him.”

Art’s smug smile spread across his face as he eyed Ciara. She had suddenly turned down the television and was not to be seen sitting on the couch anymore. The bait was set and all they had to do was continue feeding her information.

“How much does he want?”

“He didn’t tell me, he said you knew,” she explained.

“Rotten liar, I can’t pay him that much, they’re all squeezing me to the bone,” he remarked.

“Well you have to do something Art. He said they’d get the Freaks, Circle, The Skull Gang, Nictus, Nemesis, everyone if you didn’t pay up. They’ll really hurt him Art. He’s your son,” she feigned concern.

“I know, I know this wasn’t supposed to happen like this. They were supposed to make him a stand out hero. And now it’s all backfiring,” he caught Ciara’s foot poking out from around the corner and smiled.

“Art, we have to do something, where do they have them again?” Ophelia asked.

“The officer said he was being held in a warehouse in Independence Port. He said Blazing Embers and Glacial-Inferno were trying to rescue them. I just hope they get there in time,” he remarked.

He noticed Ciara’s foot was gone and saw her running up the stairs.

“Are you-“ Ophelia started to speak but was surprised when Arthur covered her mouth. He placed a finger to his lips and motioned to the condo’s staircase smiling.

“Did it work?” Ophelia asked.

Arthur nodded and gave Ophelia a kiss on the cheek as he whispered, “Like a dream, you were perfect.”

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Ciara sat in her room and waited for everyone to go to bed. She packed her school backpack and snuck out the front door. She had seen a picture of Blazing Embers and Glacial-Inferno before so she hoped to just wander around Independence Port until she found them. She made her way from Founder’s Falls and into Talos. She then used her mother’s train pass to sneak onto the train and into Independence Port where she began her search.

Part XIII – Meeting of the Minds

Night had fallen on Steel Canyon. Blazing and Vivian had crossed the gate in the late evening and settled in a park near the gate for the night. Blazing had gathered some tinder and a little wood and the two had settled down from their quarreling. It had moved more into nit picking.

Vivian continued to move some of the sticks for the fire around, “Look, if you make a teepee like this…”

Blazing chuckled, “Hey I know how to build a damn fire.”

Vivian smirked, “Really. You don’t strike me much of the outdoors type.”

Blazing shrugged, “What outdoors? That’s just basic techniques of arson.”

Vivian nodded to the bag Blazing. Glacial had taken his with him leaving them with provisions for one.

“I hope you got something decent to eat in that bag of yours over there.”

Blazing chortled, “What you’re assuming I’m going to share with you if I did?”

Vivian exclaimed, “Even the condemned get a last meal.”

Blazing smirked, “Oh, well I don’t stand on ceremony much.”

They were quiet for a minute when Vivian finally addressed something she was nervous to bring up until now. She just couldn’t hold it anymore. “I got a problem.”

Blazing eyed her curiously, “Just one? See I could make a long list-.”

Vivian curled her lip then blurted out, “I have to pee.”

Blazing chuckled, “What do you want me to do about it?”

Vivian’s eyes widened as she pleaded, “At least look the other way.”

Blazing rolled his eyes as he turned his head, “Try not to put the fire out.”

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After they had eaten and were preparing to rest, Vivian noticed something about the situation she was in, “Last time I camped out in the woods, I was running for my life.”

Blazing was watching the fire with great interest, “What did you do?”

Vivian glanced at him with a smug look, “What makes you so sure I did something?”

Blazing continued to watch the flames within the fire, something that always had captivated him his entire life. He shrugged as he lit a cigarette in a similar fashion as before, without striking a match, while listening to her, “I just got the feeling if you were running, someone was chasing you.”

Vivian smirked, “Shot a man in the face.”

Blazing chuckled as he exhaled the smoke and thumped the butt with his thumb, “He was mad about that?”

Vivian shrugged, “No, he was dead. His men came after me.”

Blazing turned from the fire to glance at Vivian, “Why’d you do it?”

Vivian narrowed her eyes, “Why do you care?”

Blazing shrugged and lifted his handcuffed hand, “Lets just say I’m a captive audience.”

Vivian paused for a moment as Blazing’s attention returned to the fire as he continued to slowly work on his cigarette. She waved the smoke away causing Blazing to chuckle. She shrugged and continued her story, “He made me crawl into the sewers and steal something for him. He said he’d kill me when I wouldn’t do it again. Stupid @#%$ left his gun on the table.”

Blazing snorted, “Hard for me to imagine anyone making you do anything you don’t want to.”

Vivian shrugged, “Yeah, I was thirteen at the time. I fit better than a grown man in those sewers. You know I’ve been slashed by a broken bottle, I’ve been shot in the leg, but to have someone enter your mind….that’s the only scar I can’t hide from.”

Blazing nodded slightly preoccupied by the dancing of the fire before them, “Hm.”

Vivian turned to look at Blazing. She noticed the way he watched the fire, she couldn’t see the one eye he had remaining, but rather the patch he wore over his missing eye. She could still see in his features the way he enjoyed the fire dance, he seemed rather peaceful with it considering how close to the fire he was, most people would be afraid.

She tilted her head at him and remarked, “It’s always been easy for you. Hasn’t it?”

Blazing turned from the fire and looked at her in disbelief, “Are you kidding? I grew up in the same world we all learn to survive. Some just adapt better than others.”

Vivian shook her head and smiled slightly, “I don’t mean survival. I mean making choices and judgments. Sometimes about people, sometimes about what’s down the road. Who’s right, who’s wrong. Who’s the good guy, who’s the bad guy it’s always been cut and dry huh.”

Blazing shrugged, “Pretty much.”

Vivian lifted her head up with a quick and swift motion, “That’s just it cowboy, it shows. Didn’t the Ziggurat teach you anything?”

Blazing eyed the fire as he thought careful. He inhaled deeply taking a long drag from his cigarette as he eyed the fire and thought carefully. Exhaling he answered, “It taught me that life is…precious.”

Vivian smiled smugly, “That’s funny, it taught me that life is cheap.”

Blazing dipped his head in understanding as his thumped the butt of his cigarette, “That explains a lot.”

“Sure does. You think we’re a lot different? You and me?”

Blazing turned to Vivian rather surprised by her comment, “You don’t?”

Vivian shook her head, “Hell no. I mean think about it. You’re ready to sacrifice my life for your friends. Me killing Kevin that was the same thing. You strutting around up there on your mountain, clucking your tongue at all us chumps down here below. Who the hell are you to judge.”

Gazing into the fire Blazing finished and then tossed the cigarette away into the flames and enjoyed watching it burn as he explained, “Glac told me something once, if you can’t tell the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong, what’s the point?”

Vivian smirked, “The point Jonathon James Huff, is that it’s all in the eye of the beholder.”

Part XIV – A little whisper


Glacial had been watching the warehouse that held Amy and Rhys within it for several hours now. He had been watching it so intently he didn’t notice a smaller figure approaching him.

“You’re Glacial-Inferno right?” a small voice from behind him asks.

Glacial tilted his head and turned around to see no one there. Curious he called out, “Hello?”

Ciara giggled and raised her hand, “Down here silly.”

Glacial looked down to see a young girl with red hair and freckles, she couldn’t have been more than thirteen he guessed. Why she was approaching him now he couldn’t figure out, but what she was doing here concerned him. This was a dangerous area, definitely not a place for little girls.

“Are you Glacial-Inferno or not?” she asked again.

“No. My name is Willy. Free Willy,” he answered sarcastically. He thought perhaps if she were a fan and he could divert her away from him, she would leave.

Ciara tilted her head and smirked. There was something about that smirk that looked familiar to Glacial but he couldn’t but his finger on it.

Ciara looked him over, “Yellow hair, blue skin, hero…nope, my brother says you’re Glacial-Inferno. “

Glacial shook his head dismissing her, “I don’t even know who you are, or your brother. Now leave before you get hurt. Go home.”

Ciara giggled, “Uh-huh! Bet you do too know him.”

Glacial decided to play along, perhaps she would leave if he played her little guessing game. He sighed as he continued to watch the warehouse, “Alright who is your brother?”

Ciara climbed up on the crates and standing on one she leaned into Glacial’s ear and whispered, “Rhys Stevens.”

Glacial turned towards Ciara and it then dawned on him where he recognized that smirk. He had never met Rhys’ siblings and he never realized how alike they looked, it made him wonder what Rhys’ brother looked like but he figured he looked a lot like Rhys. Glacial pulled back still surprised, “You’re..I mean…what the hell are you doing here?”

Ciara smiled innocently, “I came here to help him.”

Glacial glanced at the building and chuckled as he shook his head, “Hon, you can’t help your brother right now. Going home is the best way you can help him.”

Ciara’s innocent smile faded and her face winkled with worry, “But if I don’t help him, he’ll be in trouble.”

It dawned on Glacial that she was speaking of things to come, not what was currently happening and he quickly became interested. He furrowed his brows and asked, “What kind of trouble?”

Ciara had a second agenda as well and raised a finger, “You have to promise me something first. A year ago he left to live with our dad, and we haven’t been allowed to see him since. I want you to take us to him.”

“What?”

Ciara pleaded with him, “”Promise me you’ll take us to see him. We wont stay long I promise!”

Glacial nodded, “Okay.” She had information and was willing to give it. Letting them see Rhys was something Rhys would certainly agree to in a second. He had been trying to find a way to see them already and now the opportunity was presenting itself.

Ciara leaned in and whispered, “Our father has been visiting our house to see our mother. He says he’s trying to make Rhys into the greatest hero there ever was so he can be rich. He told her he paid the family, and the Council and some others I don’t know their names to leave him alone.
But they want more money. If they don’t get more, they’ll be coming after our father and Rhys.”

Glacial quirked an eyebrow, “Freakshow?”

Ciara nodded.

“Hellions?”

Ciara nodded again.

“The Skulls?”

Ciara thought for a moment and nodded, “Yes, all of them!”
Glacial eyed the building across the street. Things just got a lot more complicated. Looking back at Ciara he asked, “How many more of them?”

Ciara bobbed her head, “A lot more.”

“This is starting to make more sense now,” he muttered.

Ciara looked around and noticed the sun was still coming up. She had to get home quickly before anyone noticed she was missing. She jumped down off the crate and started off. She stopped, twirled around and hollered back at Glacial, “Don’t forget, you promised!”

Part XV – Sacrificial Lambs

Blazing and Vivian awoke early to cross into Independence Port. They made their way swiftly and silently towards the warehouse that used to belong to Vivian James.

Finally Vivian asked, “You really gonna do it?”

Blazing shrugged with indifference, “My mission is to these kids. I don’t have a lot of choice.”

Vivian had noticed something as they traveled, he was calm in the beginning but as time passed he had become more anxious. “It’s more than that though. I can see it in your eyes.”

Blazing snorted, “No sorry to disappoint you. I’m married. Or was.”

Vivian shook her head, “Not the girl. The other guy likes her, I could tell that it was all over his face. It’s the kid. You’re, protecting him from something.”

Blazing shot her a hard look then turned away, “Nope.”

“Yeah you are, I just don’t think you realize it yet,” she smiled.

Blazing glanced around as the continued towards the warehouse, “Maybe, I hear things sometimes about certain people.”

Vivian furrowed her brows, “I don’t understand.”

Blazing stopped for a moment and turned towards Vivian, “Just got a bad feeling about his father. And all your little chit chatting isn’t changing anything, I still have to get them out.”

Vivian smiled, “You mean Art Stevens?”

Blazing nodded getting more confirmation on his suspicions.

Vivian lifted a brow as she put a hand on her hip and her head weaved and bobbed from side to side, “What makes you think Rutledge will keep his word?”

Blazing let a sly smile spread across his lips, “Honor among thieves.”

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Glacial had been thinking about what Ciara, Rhys’ younger sister had told him earlier as he saw Blazing come into sight, marching Vivian in tow.

He approached them quickly and in a lowered voice he addressed Blazing, “We gotta talk,” but he notices their handcuff situation and looks at them curiously, “What’s up with the handcuffs?”

Blazing smirks, “Right look it’s a long story, have you got the spare keys?”

Glacial eyes Blazing with a blank look, “What key?”

Blazing’s eye widens, “Aw, c’mon. That’s not funny,” he waits through a long pause before asking again, “Glacial-“

Scott chuckles as he pulls out the spare key, “I’m just messing with you. Here you go. She give you any attitude?”

Blazing chortles, “Just a little. A prisoner exchange shouldn’t take long.”

Glacial frowned, “Listen, I was thinking about that. We turn her over to Rutledge, we’re no better than he is.”

Blazing throws his hands up in disbelief, “What? Are you kidding? There’s kids in there! One of them is sixteen!”

Glacial sighs and nods as he explains his reasoning, “Both heroes. We’ll find another way Blaze. They both know what they’re doing.”

“Yeah I know. But you know Rhys is green. He has got to be going crazy in that small space,” Blazing added.

Glacial glanced at the warehouse and remarked, “I know, I know. But Amy also wont make a move to endanger his life either, neither will he. They aren’t stupid.“

Blazing leaned towards Glacial and smirked, “I’ll bet odds on the kid loosing his temper with Mirage first.”

Glacial chuckled, “Not a fair bet. He always loses his temper with her.”

Vivian was watching them with great interest, “Does this mean I’m free now?”

Glacial unlocked Vivian’s handcuffs, “Yes it does cause I am letting you go.”

Blazing remarked dispassionately, “Though with all the baggage you’re carrying around, I dunno if you’ll ever be free.”

Vivian blew them a kiss, “Then we are of like minds on the subject Mr. Huff,” and left quickly disappearing behind the crates.

Blazing shook his head and muttered, “I cannot believe you let her go.”

Glacial shrugged, “There’s just had to be a better way.”

Blazing sighed, “Well, sometimes you gotta roll a hard six.”

“Luckily I might just have it. The kid’s sister showed up. Said something kinda odd. We might be able to use it to our advantage.”

Blazing listened intently as Glacial explained everything Ciara had told him earlier. When he finished Blazing looked angry. “I knew something was up with the kid’s father I just couldn’t put my finger on it. But something about all that seems strange.”

“I don’t follow.”

Blazing narrowed his eyes as he looked at the warehouse, “Have you ever known that many different factions of thugs to work together and not end up fighting?”

Glacial nodded, “That’s what I mean.”

“I think someone wants us to think we have more than we can handle inside there.” Blazing glanced around.

Glacial thought for a moment, “But why?”

“What better way to kill a hero than to make another hero do it?” Blazing suggested.

“I’m still not following, speak English.”

Blazing turned to Glacial, “This whole thing seems to have backfired on Art. I had heard that the family was interested in myself and Rhys, but I didn’t know why. I knew why they wanted me, Tommy One Eye wants me dead. And I’m betting Art told them everything he knew about Rhys too, his weaknesses and strengths.”

Glacial started to understand and nodded, “You mean-“

“Yup, Rhys is the bait and I’m the prey. They want us to think he’s in so much danger we’ll go charging in without a thought.” Blazing grinned, he loved it when he could gain an advantage over his enemy.

Blazing looked the warehouse over and smiled, “They want us to go charging in, alright then lets go charging in, just lets do in from the skylight instead.”

Glacial smirked as he followed Blazing to the ladder that lead to the rooftop.

Part XVI – Every Hero has Skeletons

Blazing and Glacial slipped through the corridors and down the elevators to the second level. So far they had come in unnoticed at least they thought they had. They were unaware that a camera had caught their entrance and Rutledge was waiting to make his move. They quickly made their way to the small cell that was Rhys and Amy’s temporary quarters and Blazing picked the lock and threw open the door.

Rhys had heard someone coming and was ready, when the door flew open he swung as well but Blazing grabbed his hand and yanked him out of the room.

Stunned he stood there as Blazing reached in and held a hand out to Amy who took it and smiled, “About time you got here old fart.”

Rhys saw Glacial keeping an eye out for anyone heading their way and once he collected himself he turned back to his former mentor, “Blazing, Rutledge kept asking about you. Something about your ring, I don’t understand.”

Blazing frowned and shrugged, “Don’t worry kid when your older you’ll have skeletons in your closet too. C’mon you two lets move.”

Glacial took point with Amy right behind and Rhys following with Blazing keeping a hand on his neck as they began to head out, this was not a time for Rhys to loiter and he was going to make sure the boy kept moving. They turned a corner and found themselves in a large room filled with crates and spools of copper wiring stacked everywhere.

Blazing felt a jolt from Rhys and snapped his hand back.
Rhys felt it too, in fact he felt rather strange. Blazing moved around the group to the front and Glacial and Amy both felt a shock and moved away from Rhys too. Rhys noticed a rather large arc of electricity surging from each hand, which concerned him. Earlier he was unable to get anything to work, now he couldn’t get himself to shut down. “Umm, guys?”

Blazing hadn’t noticed anything but Glacial had, “Blaze, we need to get out of this room.”

Blazing had his eye on something, or rather someone and knew that leaving was not an option as he lifted a hand, “Now is not a good time.”

Rhys saw it too and tried his best to control the incredible spikes he was getting. It seemed to help a little but he could feel the energy within him growing exponentially.

“So, the great Blazing Embers has decided to grace us with his presence,” Rutledge’s voice echoed into the room.

Glacial was looking for an exit, he had noticed that the copper wiring was acting like a super conductor and Rhys was simply a giant battery. Mixing the two was asking for danger. If they didn’t leave this room, or at least get Rhys out, things were going to take a turn for the worse very quickly. Rhys wasn’t wearing his suit and the electricity he generated was seeping out of him and bouncing through the copper wiring which in turn was energizing him to produce more electricity to continue the cycle. At some point he would not be able to contain it and Rhys would loose containment within himself. He had done it several times before and people had been hurt, Glacial was sure now they had fallen right into Rutledge’s trap and that Blazing was correct in his thoughts. Rhys was the bait, Blazing was the prey.

“What do you want Dean,” Blazing growled.

“You JJ, dead,” Rutledge answered as the room filled with Rutledge’s thugs, everyone of them armed. They each raised their weapon pointing it at Blazing.

Blazing glared at Rutledge, he hated his old name and Rutledge knew it. Blazing turned around and surveyed each one, counting them as well. He smiled which Rhys had seen him do before when they were outnumbered.

“Still have the magic ring eh, JJ?” Rutledge asked.

Blazing shook his head, “Not now Dean.”

“You know kid, without the ring, JJ here is the weakest mutant on the planet,” Rutledge smiled,

Rhys looked puzzled, “Huh?”

“That ring, it’s a wedding ring sure, but his wife was a mystic, it enhances his mutation, why do you think he is as powerful as he is?”

Glacial cocked his head. No one knew this about Blazing’s ring, they all thought it was a wedding ring and nothing more. There’s no way Steve would let him keep it, but then again without it, how effective would Blazing be as a hero?

“You just can’t stand the fact that she chose me can you Dean?” Blazing smirked.

Blazing hit a chord and Rutledge snorted as he looked at
Rhys, “Ya know kid, your dad helped us out quite a bit, didn’t know your old man was a traitor did ya.”

Rhys looked up and shook his head with a smile, “You are such a liar.”

Blazing turned to Rhys, “Not now kid.”

It was then that Rhys had a feeling that Blazing knew something and he wasn’t telling him. His face fell as he looked at Blazing who looked away almost immediately. Rhys tilted his head and watched Blazing.

“How’s it feel kid, to know daddy set you up?” Rutledge continued to egg him on.

“Dean shut the hell up,” Blazing warned.

“What’s going on?” Rhys asked.

“I said not now,” Blazing repeated without looked at Rhys.

That wasn’t good enough however and the stress from being in the small quarters along with the idea that his own father set him up was pushing him over an edge Rhys really didn’t want to go over. “Someone tell me the d*mn truth!” he hollered.

Blazing realized they weren’t going to go anywhere until Rhys had his answer and he wasn’t going to be happy with it either. Gesturing towards Rutledge Blazing sighed, “He’s telling the truth kid.”

“And you knew?” Rhys asked Blazing.

Blazing nodded, “Sorta, I didn’t know for sure until this morning.”

Rhys looked at Blazing in disbelief. He had looked up to Blazing for a long time and now he felt betrayed by him.

Blazing glared at Rutledge, “Weak Dean, weak, stooped so low as to pick on a kid? Wow you’re slipping.”

Blazing triggered something in Rutledge that made him extremely angry and he took his own gun and fired it at Blazing, which he countered by tossing a scorching hot blast to melt the bullet before it arrived. It was Blazing’s specialty but he hadn’t noticed someone else had fired from behind him and tagged Blazing’s shoulder. Rhys saw it and narrowed his eyes in hatred. His abilities were working overtime and Rutledge was not playing fair. He had not played fair Rhys’ entire stay here and he had had enough, he was ready to go home and Rutledge was in his way of accomplishing that. He thought if he could knock him out they would be able to walk right out but part of him wanted to really hurt the man. He just didn’t understand the complications that would arise. Glacial saw Rhys toss a bolt of lightning at Rutledge which was much more powerful than normal and he knew instantly. Glacial understood the physics involved, but how it would apply to Rhys’ powers he wasn’t sure and he really didn’t want to find out either.

“Rhys don’t!” he hollered but it was too late.

Another arc of electricity shot out to each of the weapons the gunmen held startling them. They dropped their guns and ran from the room as another arc searched for another source. Most hit the copper wiring, but some began to hit everyone else in the room as well, forcing Glacial, Blazing and Amy to retreat behind Rhys and exit the room. Rutledge was unable to leave as Rhys had somehow encased him in a cage of electricity.

“Rhys stop it!” Blazing ordered.

“No,” Rhys protested hollering back at his ex-mentor. With each jolt of electricity that went out, Rhys could feel a recharge return that was twice as powerful.

“Dammit Rhys I said stop!” Blazing hollered over the static.

Rhys ignored him and the increasing electricity forced them from the room as he continued sending jolt after jolt towards Rutledge

Amy shook her head, “What the hell brought that on?”

Blazing looked at her and barked, “His father is everything to him dammit, pay attention.”

Amy tilted her head, “Just because you’re mad-“

Blazing cut her off with a wave of his hand. Glacial continued to watch Rhys and shook his head, “He has lost it.”

“You think?” Blazing quipped as he paced, “That’s why I didn’t want him to know about his father. Brainless dimwit moron Dean had to go open his mouth…”

Rhys could feel the surge of power each time he sent jolts of electricity through Rutledge but he didn’t care. This man had hurt his friends, killed a friend of his and now twisted his own father against him. He didn’t have much left, his friends but after all this would he be able to trust them as well?

Blazing leaned into the room, “Rhys you are going to kill him!”

“So what!” he hollered back.

Blazing started to run into the room but Glacial grabbed his arm to pull him back, “What do you think you are doing? You’ll be lucky if you get within ten feet of him.”

Blazing wrung his arm free and shook his head, “I’m not going to let him become a criminal.”

“Like you?” Glacial asked.

Blazing sighed, “You got a better idea?”

“Short him out,” Glacial smirked.

Amy snorted, “Yeah fine you go get the materials, meanwhile Blazing is in there going after him.”

Glacial turned and sure enough Blazing had rushed the room and within an instant he tackled Rhys grabbing his arms and removing Rutledge from the boy’s sight. The firework show ceased for a minute but Rhys was still being recharged at an enormous rate.

“I said stop!” Blazing hollered at him.

Rhys lowered his head and replied quietly, “Sorry.”

Moments later as he continued to recharge, Rhys reached his limit.

“Blazing?” he asked as he clenched his teeth, hoping he could perhaps prevent the inevitable. “Now might be a good time for you to leave.”

Blazing understood but he didn’t have time to move. Within an instant Rhys’ head snapped back as a wave of electricity was released and echoed through the room and into the building making it shake.

Blazing winced as the wave hit him with full force, he was the closest to Rhys when it went off and that’s where it was the strongest, he knew he’d never have children again but seeing he was fifty-six that wasn’t really a concern anymore but the wave racked his body with pain and he wondered if it did the same to Rhys as well.

He regained his composed as he yelled at Rhys, “Dammit kid, this is why you have to learn to control this @#%$!”

Rhys nodded his head frantically.

Blazing sighed realizing now was most likely not the best time for a lecture, “You okay kid?”

Rhys nodded again his voice was small and exhausted, “Yeah, I think so.”

Blazing smirked, “You finished?”

Rhys simply nodded once, he was too tired to speak. He was still being recharged but at such a slow rate he simply didn’t notice it yet.

Blazing released Rhys’ hands and rolled onto his back breathing a sigh of relief, “Don’t do that again, okay kid?”

Rhys smirked as he fought to keep his eyes opened, “Sorry.”

Amy and Glacial slowly made their way into the room. “Why did everything suddenly stop?” she asked.

“Genius here used everything up,” Blazing chided as Glacial helped him to his feet.

“You guys alright?” Glacial asked.

Blazing nodded, “Yeah, hurts like hell though,” he glanced around the room, “I have no idea where Dean went. Probably escaped, go figure.”

Glacial helped Rhys to his feet but found he was a little dizzy as he to tired to stand. Glacial moved him away from the copper wiring and closer to the doorway they would use to leave. He sat himself up against the wall. He turned his head and blinked, “I found him,” Rhys winced, “He doesn’t look to good either.

Amy nods, “That’s cause he’s dead.”

Rhys pales as Blazing takes a look for himself, “Amy, hush.”

“I didn’t…did I?”

Glacial nods, “Yup, you nailed him good too.”

Blazing shoots Glacial a look and he shrugs, “I mean um, well-“ he tries to stammer out of it but can’t think of anything.

“Aw man, I didn’t mean to…I mean at first I didn’t care but,” Rhys sighs. “I’m in a lot of trouble aren’t I?”

Blazing shakes his head, “I doubt it, besides he wasn’t dead before you stopped, so technically it was an accident. You just snapped is all.”

Rhys yawned his eyes had begun to droop closed as he frowned eyeing the body of Rutledge, “Then can we go home now?”

Blazing nodded as he slung up his shoulder, “Glac, you mind getting Rhys?”

Glacial picked up Rhys and carried the half asleep teenager out. They all parted ways once outside. Amy headed to the King’s Row Station, Blazing to the infirmary and Glacial had Rhys. Blazing had asked him to return Rhys to The Academy and he was sure he’d have a lot of explaining to do once he got there.

Part XVII – Homeward Bound

Glacial noticed that Rhys was dosing in and out.

“C’mon Rhys please stay awake,” he pleaded.

“I don’t want to. Sleep sounds very nice right now. C’mon five more minutes,” he snickered.

Rhys had a tendency to be rather strange when he was exhausted. It was similar to being with someone who was drunk, only Rhys tended to get goofier.

“Rhys, if I walk into your school with you passed out, I will get lynched. Work with me here,” Glacial explained.

Rhys nodded, “Alright since I don’t have to walk I’ll try and stay awake. Hey, how come Blazing always is yelling at me?”

Glacial wondered where this question came from, it seemed like it was from somewhere out in left field. “What do you mean?”

“Well he’s always yelling at me cause I can’t control my powers,” he explained sleepily his words slurring.

“Well you have to realize, when Blazing was your age, he lost control too. He didn’t have the opportunities you did. When he lost control people died. I think his record states something like twenty-five people died at his high school and another ten died in the orphanage he lived in. I think he’s concerned is all. You took a road he didn’t and I think he kinda looks up to you in that respect. But don’t let that go to you head, I think it’s more that he admires that quality you had to take that road that he didn’t.”

Glacial had reached The Academy but his long chat had put Rhys to sleep. ‘I’m going to get lynched,’ he told himself.

He entered the doors and looked around for someone to talk to. He notices a couch and laid Rhys on it giving his tired arms a rest.

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Returning from Rhys' school and a chat with the Headmaster there, Glacial walked into his office to see Blazing seated behind his desk smoking a cigarette. He raised a brow and smirked, “He’s fine you know.”

Blazing put the cigarette out in the ashtray and stood. He walked towards Glacial and shrugged, “I didn’t ask.”

He exited the office leaving Glacial to ponder his motives.