Chapter 5: The Calm

Lightning Storm:

“Get out of our way,” I yell, shooting off more bolts of lightning. “Move it! Make way! We're coming through!”

My bolts destroy everything in our way. The blockade the police officers put up is reduced to nothing but a flaming wreckage.

“Open fire,” the captain orders. “Everyone, open fire now.”

The captain and his officers all line up. While half stand and the other half drop to their knees, they all start shooting at us. Unstoppable grabs a nearby burning car and places it in front of us. The burning car acted as a shield.

“Careful,” I yell, watching as some of the blaster fires get a little too close to hitting the containment cell. “The boss won’t be too happy if that thing is hit.”

Unstoppable grunts at me before he slams the containment cell onto the street. With the containment cell safety behind the car, Unstoppable then charges toward the officers. With the blaster fires deflecting off of Unstoppable’s armor, he reaches them in no time and starts knocking them out.

Kicking and knocking the captain to the ground, Unstoppable picks up a car and raises it over himself. Slamming it down onto the captain, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

QuickShot:

“Nooo,” I scream, shooting out my hand. My hand glowing red, I feel a surge of energy traveling between my hand and my head. I watch as, before my eyes, a red bubble appears around the captain.

Unstoppable slamming the car into the bubble, it bends and crunches.

“Help him,” I say, feeling all my energy disappears as I maintain the bubble. My arms feel like they weigh a ton, and my legs are shaking. “Go. I can't keep this up!”

Ms. Justice throws her shield and knocks Unstoppable back. Unstoppable recovers fast and is prepared to fight but Justice and JumpStart hold him back. Meanwhile, I let the bubble dispense. The second it’s gone, SpeedBlade runs to pick up the captain.

He runs to the end of the block and drops the captain off before running back to help Ms. Justice and JumpStart. I try to help them too, but I can’t. I feel too tired.

Ms. Justice:

As Unstoppable swings his arm, I backflip out of the way and land on my feet. Unstoppable takes a step toward me but stops when SpeedBlade runs in between us and hits him with his sword.

Sparks fly as SpeedBlade hits Unstoppable and forces him back. As SpeedBlade faces Unstoppable head-on, JumpStart sneaks up from behind and hits Unstoppable with his stun batons. Unstoppable screams as electricity runs throughout him.

About to throw my shield at Unstoppable, I stop when I see QuickShot. She’s on her knee and using her bow as a sort of clutch.

“Keep him back,” I say, running to her side.

“What,” JumpStart yells, jumping back as Unstoppable swings at him.

Running to QuickShot’s side, I throw her arm over myself and start to carry her.

“Are you okay?”

I ask as I carry QuickShot away from the fight.

“I’m fine,” QuickShot replies in between breaths. “Had to, had to use my power. Drained all my strength.”

“Shoot,” I say, looking at QuickShot. Her face is already pale, almost looking like a ghost. “Hold on. Let me see where I can drop you.”

I scan the area, but there isn’t much cover left. Really, the only things left are smoking cars and half-destroyed barricades.

“Watch out,” JumpStart yells. Turning my head, I see a familiar bolt of lightning almost hit SpeedBlade. Barely jumping out of the way in time, we all watch as the bolt hit the street and blows it up.

“I'll handle these wannabe heroes,” Lightning Storm says, stepping out from behind a destroyed car. I can't be sure but when Lightning Storm steps out, I think I see what looks like a giant metal tube next to him. “Unstoppable, you take care of this thing.”

Unstoppable grunts before leaving JumpStart and SpeedBlade and running over to Lightning Storm. He picks up the metal tube before running off. Lightning Storm, however, cracks his knuckles as he steps forward.

“For the record,” Storm starts, laughing and pointing at us. “I have unfinished business with every single one of you.”

Raising both his arms, lights start to gather in them. Before long, lightning bolts start to shoot out, hitting everything.

Parts of the street and buildings’ walls are hit, exploding into dust. Dozens and dozens of bolts fly past or toward us. With QuickShot on me, I can’t move fast. I see one bolt heading right for the two of us.

SpeedBlade:

Running past the bolts of lightning, I see Storm within the distance. As I run closer to him, I move to my right to dodge a bolt. However, as I watch the bolt, I see it going for Ms. Justice and QuickShot.

“There’s no way they can get out of the way in time,” I see, looking between them and Lightning. “I’m close enough where I can jump and hit Storm, but if I do, then they will get hurt. I won’t let that happen.”

I turn around and run past the bolt. Just before it can hit them, I jump and block the attack with my sword.

Ms. Justice:

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Just as a bolt is about to hit QuickShot and me, SpeedBlade runs out and blocks the attack. I keep on watching as SpeedBlade falls to the ground, shaking.

“SpeedBlade,” QuickShot says, pushing off of me and limping to SpeedBlade. “SpeedBlade. Are you okay?”

Flipping SpeedBlade over, he moans as he holds his sword against his chest.

“I’m fine,” he says, “My sword, it saves me.”

We let out a sigh, only to be interrupted by JumpStart.

“So glad SpeedBlade is okay,” he yells, “But in case any of you remember, there’s a bad guy here we can’t even touch!”

A bolt of lightning hits the ground beside JumpStart and explodes, sending dust into JumpStart.

JumpStart falling over now, SpeedBlade pushes himself up.

“I think I can get close enough,” he says, “But I will need your help. Both of you.”

“You don’t even have to ask,” I say. “After all, we’re a team.”

Lightning Storm:

“Another one down,” I say, pumping my fist. “Just two more to go.”

Turning to look at the two girls, I’m surprised to see the knight steps back up.

“Oh, you want more? Fine by me.”

I aim at the knight and prepare to shoot.

“Let's see how that metal armor does any a bolt of pure lightning,” I shout, shooting out a bolt. The bolt heads for the knight but he uses his speed to jump out of the way and run toward me. I raise my arms and prepare to unleash another bolt, but before I can, something hits me from the side. I scream as green slime covers me.

“Not again!"

I try to wipe it off but the slime gets all over. It stops me from using my power. Without my power, the knight had a clear shot at me.

SpeedBlade:

I scream as I hit Storm with the handle of my sword, knocking him to the ground. I look at Storm and wait for him to get back up but he doesn’t.

“He’s out,” I say, looking at QuickShot and Justice. QuickShot, who is laying against a wall waves at me. Ms. Justice who is standing to my left also waves at me.

“Smart thinking,” she says, walking up to me.

“No need to praise me,” I say, “I’m just glad my plan worked.”

“I’m glad my aim with a bow is getting better,” Justice says, smiling and holding up QuickShot’s bow. “Thought, I’m surprised you know about the slime arrow. I thought you were unconscious when she used them against Lightning.”

“What are you talking about?"

“I’m talking about how you said to use the slime arrows to stop Lightning from shooting,” Ms. Justice answers. “Wasn’t that the plan?”

“No. I just asked if you could shoot something at him so I could charge him.”

“Wait, was I just a distraction?”

“Yes, but only because I was confident I could move fast enough to stop Storm before he could shoot you. I was watching out for you.”

Ms. Justice slowly nods her head.

“Okay,” she says, “Not exactly what we meant, but it still works. Come on, let’s grab the other and get out of here.”

“But wait,” I say, stopping to look around. “Where is Unstoppable?”

Silent:

I watch from above as Unstoppable kneels in front of me. Besides him in the containment cell.

“Lightning Storm was defeated,” I ask. Unstoppable nods his head.

“Hmm. Too bad. Nevertheless, I got who I needed."

Turning back to the hundreds of monitors in front of me, I push a button on my remote control and watch as the monitors turn on, showing me pictures of the OutCasts.

"QuickShot," I start, "Ms. Justice. JumpStart. SpeedBlade. Watch out, because it won't be long now, and once I have what I need, I'll be the one standing."