NaNo2013: Speedster's Secret: Part 30

“Well you see, that wasn’t our only base. We have more. They’re just waiting on orders from me. Grabbing all of you at once was too big, too obvious. Taking you lot one at a time, now, that’s the route to take.” He gloated, “And you just made yourself the first victim.”

“You do realise, if I disappear, my friends will hunt you down and several of them aren’t like me. I don’t kill, they’ll shred you.” Speedster pointed out, “I’m the rule keeper, the voice of reason. You take me out, you’re opening yourself and many others to a world of hurt.”

“I don’t really care about anyone else.” He smirked at her, “And who would you prefer we grabbed. The soldier? The martial artist? The film student?” Speedster growled slightly, “How about the Gamer or the new freak?”

“Don’t you dare touch them.” Speedster could feel the power rising again at the thought of her friends in danger, but even as she tried to clamp down on it she knew that she wouldn’t be able to control it for too long without Luna around to help her keep her temper.

“We don’t need to.” The man informed her, “You’re here. We can start with you and believe me, we have so many experiments to run you’ll do just fine for months.”

“You honestly think you’ll be able to hold me for months?” Speedster asked, amused even as she fought with the growing power. “You couldn’t do it for three minutes, yet alone months.”

“It’s really simple.” The man shrugged it off, “All we have to do is stop you running and you’re caught. You’re not that special after all.” He chuckled. “Now,” He looked at the man behind her, “Take Miss Speedster to the jet. We’ll be going up to the Scotland base and it will be easier for all concerned if she doesn’t have to follow the plane.”

“Come on.” The gun nudged her, causing her to move towards the plane. As she started climbing the steps, she faked a stumble, tripping up the stairs and causing the barrel to lose its position. She swept out the gunman’s legs before darting away, getting halfway across the hanger before he opened fire, getting off six shots.

Only one hit, piercing her left side. She let out a pained cry and tripped, rolling as she hit the floor. Her hand going to her side as she continued rolling, managing to get to her feet, pain coursing through her, and keep going.

“You idiot! Are you trying to kill her!” The new leader demanded as the gunman started shooting again, missing with every shot. “Shit!” He yelped as Speedster started her tornado trick, managing to sweep up every human in the hanger in the blue, glowing whirlpool of energy, before flinging them in every direction.

The new leader groaned as he opened his eyes only to realise that he was collapsed at the bottom of a wall, being glowered at by Speedster, who had a gold aura that kept turning itself off and on, her eyes flickering between green and red too.

“Wha...what’s happening to you?” He asked, staring.

“Run.” She suggested, her voice harsh not just from the pain, but from something deeper. “Now.”

He took her advice, darting out of the hanger and into the waiting arms of the police, who, alerted by Rowena and her men who had tracked Speedster’s phone signal to the airstrip, were waiting for them.

“Sa...Save me!” The man begged, pointing towards the hanger, trembling in fear.

When the police entered, Speedster left, hanging around just long enough to ensure they arrested the rest of the men before shooting off to check on her friends. With the man in charge in custody she felt it was finally safe to go and make sure they were okay.

Her phone went off, alerting her to a text message as she darted through Newcastle, taking the long way round and burning off some of the energy that had been trying to take her over. It let her know where her friends had been sent to be checked over. Noting that it was a normal hospital, not some hidden lab in the middle of nowhere, she headed there, instead of for the ruined base.

The moment she stepped through the door, the nurses were on her, noting the blood and dealing with the bullet wound. Then it was off to the secure room where the others were waiting to be looked over.

“Speeds!” Tails looked relieved, grinning at her. “Another war wound?” She chuckled, gesturing at her side.

“My first one in this world.” Speedster corrected, pausing when a very tired but worried looking Luna stepped forward, moving towards her cautiously.

“You...” Luna raised her hand as if to slap her, hesitated for a moment and then lowered it, “Juliet... you...” Luna trailed off, as it not sure what to say.

“It’s over.” Speedster promised, “They won’t hurt us anymore. That’s their entire leadership dealt with.”

“You’re sure?” Mako demanded sharply, worried about possible attacks while they were here.

“He said as much himself.” Speedster nodded, glad to be able to reassure her friends of that little fact.

“Good.” Mako relaxed as much as she ever could in hospitals considering her phobia of the places. “I could do with a good rest.”

“As could the rest of us.” Luna agreed, dragging Speedster over to a chair by her and Tails. “We really need this break.”

“You’ll get one.” All of them jumped as Rowena stepped into the room, looking around and counting heads for a moment before smiling slightly, “Ah good, I see you’re all here.”

“Why I oughta...” Gold got to his feet, only to sit back down again at a snap from Speedster.

“No, it’s fine, Speedster.” Rowena shook her head, “It was us who had the leak that led to today’s events. It’s only right that he be mad at me.”

“What happens now?” Luna asked her, “To the men? Are they just going to go to jail?”

“We’ve arrested them.” Rowena informed the group, “And they will be tried and locked away for a very long time. You won’t have to worry about them again. In fact that’s not your job anymore. Your consultancy job regarding this group ended the moment the police arrested them.”

“So we were bait.” Luna got it first.

“Less bait, more an incentive.” Rowena corrected, “Bait suggests that you lot were helpless and quite frankly between the lot of you, there’s not much you can’t do, so I don’t believe it fits.”

“What about the other groups out there?” Speedster asked, “The other ones he talked about? Are we just going to be an ‘incentive’ to draw them in too?”

“Yes, and no.” Rowena frowned slightly, “Once you’re all healed up, we’ll have a proper meeting and settle everything. For now just be reassured by the fact we have men watching the hospital. You won’t get into trouble here.”

“So what, that’s it?” Mako demanded, “Good job, now get better and go home?”

“Pretty much.” Rowena nodded, “Until the next time something insane...” She trailed off as outside the windows darkness seemed to swarm across the skies and spirits appeared out of nowhere, walking the Earth and frightening the civilians outside out of their minds.

Rowena looked out of the window, turned to the group, smiled slightly and, with far too much enthusiasm chuckled as she headed for the door, “Looks like you lot have another job to deal with.” She paused and looked over at Luna, “And this one might be more your speed than hers.” She gestured to Speedster. “Good luck.”

With that she exited the room, leaving the group behind to work out the best plan of action.

“So...” Luna sighed as everyone turned to her, “Who wants to bet my brother has something to do with this?”