Revealed part 2
“You’re cornered Rade,
come out and surrender or we’re going in to get you.”
Icy Heart and
Cymbaline had been lucky in tracking Metal Core and Jade Rade in Kings
Row. Icy had a hunch that she would come back to her old home, and
it proved true. Amongst the rubble and destroyed buildings, Jade Rade
and Metal Core had moved from shadow to shadow in an attempt to find
Rade’s former home. But after the night Kings Row had known, all they
saw was destroyed and burnt down. Saddened and confused, Jade Rade
had suggested that they go to her friends base, located under an old
factory in the Gish. Running between buildings, avoiding search and
rescue patrols, had proven easy, if somewhat troublesome for the two
exiled. But given their wanted status in the city, it was better that
they stayed hidden, than running for shelter in a place that would
provide none for them.
They reached the factory at the same time that
Icy Heart and Cymbaline happened to be searching that area. Followed
a pursuit inside the abandoned building, and a fight between them,
on the one side to arrest, on the other to stay out of reach. Metal
Core had laid patches of fire in every doorway, preventing the two
women from reaching them, on three occasions. He wanted to face them,
but Jade was adamant about the fact that killing these two would only
bring down more trouble than they could handle. On one occasion, Jade
had Icy Heart choking in radioactive gas, but instead of letting Metal
Core move in for the kill, they had retreated further into the factory
where she had hoped to find the secret door that led underneath the
structure. Many a times she wondered why Bear Cat hadn’t intervened,
and sent some help to stop the fighting that was sure to attract attention
where none was needed.
“Jade, we can’t go on like this. Let me break
their little necks and let’s get out of here.” Spoke Metal Core, as
he was peeking through the doorway, beyond the fire he had laid, looking
straight into Icy heart’s cold eyes.
“No Takeo, you have to understand,
we did not make it back here to be banished once more. If you wanted
freedom, maybe you should have gone with Lil Smoke to the Rogue Isles.”
She whispered between clenched teeth, trying very hard to find a solution
to this situation. If they were arrested, it would help her in testifying
against Crey Industries and their arrangements with the city authorities,
in regards with using prisoners as guinea pigs in Firebase Zulu. But,
it would also mean becoming easily accessible to accidents while in
the custody of the city. As these thoughts crossed her mind, another
fireball exploded into the room, which, much to her annoyance, was
a dead end.
“This is your last warning Rade, surrender or be arrested
with prejudice.” Icy Heart nodded for Cymbaline to throw another fireball
in the room, hoping to smoke them out. That tanker was a tough cookie,
but she loved resistance in men, loved a good fight. Earlier, before
Jade Rade had choked her with that damned radiation output, she had
exchanged a few punches with the Japanese tank, although he didn’t
pack much of a wallop, her knuckles were bruised from landing one
on his chin. He hadn’t even expressed pain as she did so, only looked
at her with a defying smile. At that moment, she saw red and only
wanted to bring him down on his knees, subdued and beaten. That’s
when Jade Rade nailed her, while she was too angry to see anything
else.
“If we surrender, it will be only to Apocalypse, and no one
else. I want a guarantee that we will not be passed on to the city
authorities until I have spoken with the states district attorney.”
Replied Rade, who had started coughing and hacking from all the smoke
accumulating in the dead end room. Metal Core threw her a look of
disbelief, shaking his head, he whispered:
“Look Rade, I ain’t got
time to sing and dance here, as we speak, half a dozen heroes are
coming in to help us, one way or the other, you’re going back to jail.”
Replied Icy Heart who nodded for another fireball. “Soon, that room
will turn into an oven, and you won’t have a choice but to come out.”
“I got news for you lady, me and Jade won’t surrender that easily.
You want us, you come and get us. I’d rather die than go back to Firebase
Zulu.” Screamed Metal Core who was now kneeling under the smoke that
was piling up in the room. “No one will make me go back there.”
Icy
exchanged a look of confusion with Cymbaline, who whispered:
“What
is he talking about?”
“Beats me and I don’t’ care.” Said Icy Heart
to the blaster.
“Icy, I’m calling on your humanity, agree to our terms
or we will die here, today and now. Takeo speaks the truth, we are
never going back there again, and we can’t risk being under city custody.
Arrest us in the name of Apocalypse, and bring us in. I beg of you.”
Jade and Takeo looked at one another, a year almost they had been
exiled into Firebase Zulu, it had honed their sense of survival and
sharpened their battle reflexes beyond most super powered being known
in Paragon. They had fought and lived in the most adverse environment
known to man, and made it back to earth. Out there, you did what you
had to, to live and see another day, no compromises and no quarters
given.
“No deal bitch, you’re under arrest, come out with your hands
up and surrender yourselves.” The sound of wood cracking apart into
the room where the two exiled were, drowned Icy Heart’s voice.
Jade
had been weakening the flooring in their room for the last few minutes,
using radiation. She didn’t know what was underneath, but it was about
to break down. Grabbing Takeo’s forearm, they braced themselves for
the fall. The two of them fell straight down and landed without ceremony,
fifteen feet below amongst the debris. Coughing and breathing in fresh,
if a bit staled air, they stumbled away into a darkened corridor.
Coming from the top floor, they could hear Icy Heart’s roar of anger
at their escape. Helping each other, they ran for the darkness, while
the structure up top was now starting to be engulfed in flames. Outside,
city emergency units were making their way through the rubble of what
is now Kings Row, to try and extinguish the fire. Paragon city fire
chiefs were handing out pressurized water packs to anyone that could
help. Icy Heart and Cymbaline ran to the gaping hole in the room,
and jumped down to continue the pursuit, under the abandoned factory.
As Icy landed, she had just enough time to flatten herself to the
ground, as a huge rectangle shape flew towards her. It passed just
above her head, but she heard Cymbaline’s wind being knocked out of
her. Looking behind, all she saw were the blaster’s legs sticking
out from under an old couch that had caught her mid air as she was
jumping down. The couch and Cymbaline ended up into the far wall,
knocking the blaster out cold. Icy made sure she was still alive before
turning about to face a huge dark shape, standing in the much darker
corridor. In front of her, coming through the hole, landed X-ecutioner.
Putting himself between the women and the dark shape, he spoke:
“Cease
and desist or suffer the consequences.”
A moment of silence went by,
the two huge figures standing in front of each other. Then, the dark
shape walked forward, to come and stand into the light shaft the hole
in the floor had created. Behind him followed Jade Rade and Metal
Core.
“You again?” Spoke Bear Cat quietly as he looked directly into
X-ecutioner’s eyes. “You know you have a restraining order, right?”
“Enough games, stand aside Bear Cat.” Replied X after a few seconds
of silence. “You are harbouring known criminals wanted by the city,
found guilty of actions for which they have been sentenced. They are
escapees from the Ziggurat and in accordance with the laws enforced
in Paragon, I am authorized to use any means necessary to arrest them,
and no restraining order in the world can prevent me from doing so.”
“In other words, shut up.” Added Icy Heart who leaned to the side
to be seen from behind X-ecutioner. Bear Cat stood there, like a rock,
debating within what would happen next if a fight broke out.
“These
people are my guests and my friends, they came to me looking for shelter
and respite, and I will honour their request. Stand down heroes and
be welcomed as friends or be met as enemies.” Bear Cat stood unmoving,
blocking X-ecutioner’s path, being a wall between him and the exiled.
“Blah, blah, blah, can’t you men just get on with it?” Spoke Icy Heart,
who was now holding a very tight, very solid ice projectile in her
hand, ready to throw it at Jade Rade’s forehead.
Bear Cat and X-executioner
both looked at Icy Heart, a bit taken aback by her bold statement.
Behind her, Cymbaline was showing signs of coming about, moaning something
about a bus hitting her, and them not supposed to exist in Paragon.
The three tankers, Jade Rade and Icy Heart all looked back at Cymbaline
with a puzzled look on their faces. Metal Core scratched his head
and said:
“This is a bit confusing, are we fighting or not?”
“Look
guys, what would be the point, really? Jade Rade and Metal Core are
wanted, even if they get away today, they will be caught eventually.
And you, Bear Cat, by aiding them, will become wanted as well. The
best thing for all of you to do, is to surrender yourselves and face
the music.” Said X with a reasonable tone in his voice.
“I am not
surrendering to anyone until me and Metal Core are guaranteed an interview
with the states district attorney.” Said Jade Rade who was now taking
a fighting stance, a green glow suddenly surrounding her.
“Have it
your way sister.” Replied Icy heart as she launched her ice ball directly
at her face.
The projectile hit hard and true, snapping Jade’s head
backwards in the process, soon after she fell limp to the floor. Metal
Core growled and jumped directly for Icy Heart, whose eyes went wide,
as the fire tanker glided over Bear Cat and X-ecutioner’s tall figures,
to tackle her down on the floor. He punched the ice blaster square
on the jaw, three times, blood and loose teeth flew from her mouth
left and right. The ground shook as Bear Cat and X began to pound
on each other, landing blows with incredible strength, they were having
a titan’s fight. Cymbaline, still a bit confused, saw that Icy Heart
was in trouble and fired all her fiery attacks at Metal Core. The
Rularuu skins he was wearing began to burn in certain places and the
smell of charred skin filled the space where the fight took place.
Icy Heart, dazed and disoriented, had troubled breathing under the
huge shape of Metal Core. Feeling panic begin to wash over her, she
froze one of her hands solid and tried to grab Metal Core’s throat.
At the same time, Metal Core ignited his body with flames, and Icy
Heart screamed in pain and agony as it burned her. She froze herself
and the surrounding area, which luckily, sent Metal Core sliding and
falling to the ground next to her.
“Enough!” Screamed Bear Cat as
he punched X-ecutioner in the stomach, sending the wind out of his
lung. “That is enough! Stand down Metal Core, and you guys too.” He
said as he took a step back and bent down to look at Jade Rade’s forehead,
which showed a protruding purple bruise that was bleeding. “X-ecutioner,
as an officer of Apocalypse, I am asking you to accept our surrender
to, and only to, Apocalypse.”
X, who was getting up slowly from his
bent down position, still amazed at the massive punch he had just
received, shook his head in agreement.
“Stand down, all of you. I
accept the terms of surrender.”
“Oh puh-lease X, you know as well
as I do that as soon as the city hears of this, we will have to turn
them over. Why pretend we can help them, when we can’t?” Spoke Icy
Heart in a hushed and painful voice, she was showing signs of second
and third degree burns all over her chest area. Some of Metal Core
flames, and also some of Cymbaline’s attacks, had burnt through her
suit, and cooked her skin to a blackened state.
“Shaddup Icy, you
don’t know the half of it. Bear Cat here, knows something that all
Apocalypse should hear, and if all it takes to hear it, is to agree
to hide some criminals into our cells until they can talk to the states
district attorney, then so be it.” Replied flatly X-ecutioner at the
ice blaster. “Just tell me something Bear Cat, what you said to me
in the lobby, is it on the up and up?”
“Yes.”
“And will you help us
rescue him?”
“Yes.”
“Who are we talking about here?” Asked Cymbaline
who was helping Icy peel off gently, some shredded parts of her suit
that had melted with her skin.
“Consider yourselves under arrest then.”
Said X-ecutioner as he waved a hand for Bear Cat to lead them out
of the underground facility.
“I swear X, there better be a mention
of boob jobs being covered in our insurance, ‘cause these puppies
are done for…” Spoke Icy Heart as Cymbaline helped her walk. Metal
Core gathered Jade Rade in his arms and started following Bear Cat,
and whispered in Jade’s ear:
“I hope you know what you’re doing Jade.”