“The decision you ask me to make is one that should not be made lightly.” Haze started.

“Don’t believe him, Haze! He’s a criminal, he means no good.” Starbright told.

Haze turned to her cousin, “Everything has been black and white to you. You’ve never had to live in the grey. You’ve never had to wonder about people’s motivations and you’ve never had to live with the fact that people fear and hate you for what you are.”

Starbright looked taken back, “You’re wrong. People shunned me too.

Haze actually laughed at that. “Oh please, the fact that you could fly and shoot pretty things from your fingers was something to be admired. The fact that I could throw a train from one town to another with my mind alone, by the time that I was 15, tended to scare people.”

“But Haze, you’re a good person. You don’t want bad things happening to good people.” Starbright pleaded.

Haze looked downward, pretending to look at her shoes but was actually looking at the top of her belt. “You’re right there, Starbright. But since when has anyone tried to protect me?” Haze winked at the belt subtly.

Starbright opened her mouth to answer but Haze cut her off. “I’ve come to your rescue a handful of times, yet you’ve never even offered to cover my back.”

“But you don’t go out trying to defend the innocent,” Starbright said trying to justify herself.

Haze saw that Oni thought he had a deal in the making. Things were going as she planned. Haze took Starbright’s chin between her fingers. “You need to grow up, Starbright.” Haze said, then she used the opportunity to talk to Starbright’s mind directly. If I side with Oni I know you can leave without a problem. I know that I may also get the chance to free Vandal and I need to, she messed with my head more than I’d like to admit. I need to get help to remove the damage she’s done. There’s only two means that might work, Flame could help or Vandal herself. I’ll lose that opportunity if I side with you.

Tears were building in Starbright’s eyes. “Don’t betray us,” she pleaded outwardly. If you do this, you better get Vandal out. I will come after you if you turn.

Haze smiled at her cousin. “There was never any real betrayal, I’m neutral, remember?” I have someone to keep me on the straight and narrow. Haze voiced to Starbright directly. Her hand touched her belt and she hoped that Chromium would know that she wasn’t really taking any sides. She was merely doing what worked in her favour.

Oni tilted his head to the side again.

"Okay then. Miss Haze, my clients are allowedto board wherever they wish, so I will allow you to see Starbright home safe and sound."

As Oni spoke, he felt a slight prickle in the back of his head. Strange.

((It's not what you think it is!))

"Whats going on Flame?" Oni asked.
"I dont know."Flame replied."How long has it been?"
"About twenty minuets. Why?"
"Nevermind."

Flame left, cloak on the lowest setting, so he resembled somthing from Predator. Some of the people walking almost bumped into him, and felt a small breeze of displaced air as he passed. Some felt a slight tap on their leg from his tail. They paid no thought to this however, and the walk passed without incident.

Haze stood leaning against the wooden window frame. The paint was flecking off it, but Haze didn’t care. She was watching for Flame. She knew that Chromium wasn’t impressed. He sat in his chair smoking his pipe and she had a feeling that he was trying to stare a hole in her back.

“I thought it was one of the safest places to do this.” Haze said to him, assuming what he was thinking.

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Chromium replied.

Haze turned to look at him for a moment. “I’ll make it up to you later. I’m sure we can find you a more comfortable place to live.”

At that moment Haze felt Flame draw near. She stepped back from the window. “He’s coming,” she informed Chromium.

It was only a minute later that Flame landed at the window where Haze had been standing only moments before. “Here I am,” he said.

“We noticed,” Chromium stated sounding rather territorial.

Haze ignored him. “Sit down on the floor,” she said indicating to a clean patch on the wooden floor.

Flame did as she asked and she sat down opposite him, both with their legs folded. Haze moved as close to Flame as she could, their knees touched as she faced him directly. “Take my hands,” she instructed out loud more for Chromium’s sake.

Haze then closed her eyes and reached out to Flame. Okay, I need a favour.

I’m listening. He replied.

Vandal planted fake images into my mind. I want to get rid of them. Can you help me bind them together and eject them? Haze queried.

I can try. Flame answered.

Have you done this before? Haze asked fairly certain for an answer in the negative.

I’ve penetrated others minds before and taken parts of their memories. Generally I’ve wanted to damage to them. I don’t want to damage you. Flame confessed and squeezed her hands slightly.

I trust you. Haze said putting her faith in him.

Thank you. He said simply then Haze felt him intrude into her mind. It was a peculiar sensation. It was like someone reaching into a pile of dishevelled paper and rummaging around. Haze flinched slightly as he tried to probe into her secured areas.

The blocked areas are fine. I’ve protected them from further attack. Haze told.

Sorry, got a bit eager. Flame said in response then moved back to the more recent memories that Haze had opened to him.

She felt as though someone were tugging strings in her mind. He was doing as she had asked he was pulling the fake memories together. Haze didn’t realise it but she accidentally strayed into Flame’s mind. She immediately recoiled feeling embarrassed by her intrusion. Sorry about that.

Sorry about what? Flame asked.

I crossed the boundary into your mind, I didn’t mean to. Haze said feeling more embarrassed at her admission.

I know what you did, I was wondering why you were sorry? Didn’t you like what you saw? Flame said and Haze didn’t miss the touch of danger in his tone.

It’s not that. It’s just that I did it without your invitation. Haze told.

Oh, I see. I think it’s only fair that you can go into my mind when I’m so deeply in yours. Flame said in a much gentler tone.

At that moment Haze felt the strings in her mind draw tight. The fake memories were grouped together. I think I have them all. Just check I haven’t grabbed any I shouldn’t have.

Haze did as Flame instructed and searched through the memories. The pain was almost overbearing and then it eased to her surprise. As she finished sorting she realised that Flame’s grasp on her hands was extremely tight. She reached out to him and discovered that he’d been siphoning her pain. The ones you got can all go. She told.

Flame’s grip on her hands lessened somewhat. Okay, I’ll eject them for you. Is there anyone you’d like them to go to?

I don’t think so. I don’t hate anyone that much. Haze replied.

Very well then. Flame said and Haze felt the pulling in her mind once more, then there was a brief moment of pain as the memories were extracted. Haze gasped out loud then sighed as relief followed the pain.

Haze opened her eyes and was surprised to see that at some point she had rested her forehead against Flame’s. “Thanks,” she said in a whisper.

"No problem." Flame said.
  He didnt tell Haze he had kept the memories. They may be usefull later. He did not like lying to her, she had been extremely helpfull, and he belived he could easily call her a freind. That was very rare for Flame.
  He looked at Chromium, and noded. "I will go." he said, moving to the ledge. He turned, held his arms to his side, and leaned back, like a SCUBA diver going off of a boat.

Flame walked back into Oni's base.
"What did she want?"
"Why do you care? Oh, I think you might want to know that there are two heros up there. That kung-fu guy and a torch."

Void wincd at the derogatory nickname, but put up with it.  He slipped back into the dimly lit bar, and morphed is arm of shadow into a slender blade, and exuded tendrils of darkness from his back and stomach.  He then slipped stealthily up behind the one named Jack, and began to wrap his tentalces around his limbs.  He began to squeeze the tentacles, and attempted to crush the life out of the man.  He was bored after his years in prison....

Sunburn immediatley noticed the tentacles wrapping around Jack, and almost instantly, burst into flames (of course backing away from Jack when doing it to make sure he didn't also catch on fire, and he didn't put his feet on fire so hewouldn't damage the floor).  Then he noticed Oni.  He was jumping right at him!  Performing a side roll, Sunburn dodged the flying fists and punched the flying demon right in the side and away from the battle, and quickly tried to figure out a way to get the shadow off of Jack.  He then realized the shadow was starting to waver, though he didn't know why..... maybe there was something that had to do with the light his fire gave off.

Chromium watched the exchange between Flame and Haze. He sat in his chair, smoking his pipe and he had his black cloak on. All that could be seen were his eyes of pure white light in the darkness of the Bell Tower room. Flame flew off and Haze watched him until he disappeared. There were several minutes of pure silence as Chromium sat and smoked his pipe while Haze stood, leaning against the wall and looking out one of the open Bell Tower doors.

Chromium decided he needed a rest from his super form and he stood and put some pants on while still in his metallic form. He relaxed his body and withdrew the metal, changing from a man of metal to one of flesh. The pain was, as usual, unbearable. After the metal was nealry gone and his skin could be seen once more his eyes faded and his pupils and retina could be seen once more. His hair grew back in place. Haze watched in disbelief.

"What now?" Haze asked.

"Now," Tanis said to her "now we wait."

(Wait for Oni's meeting that is.)

He struck once more at Jack, who had been dropped by Oni in the streets outside.  Void's two razor tipped tendrils lashing out, narrowly missing Jack.  Void fired a blast of darkness that also barely missed the man.  He was moving fast, his knife darting everywhere, like an annoying wasp that wouldn't stop stinging.  Void snarled, and lashed out with every one of his tentacles towards him, changing their tips into various bladed weapons, trying to strike at that bothersome hero.  Three tendrils nearly succeeded, and lost their tips to his knife.  He hissed, and shadowstepped into the poolof darkness that lay behind Jack.  He was very glad for the various shadows that played about the bases of the multitude of structures that dotted the streets.  He popped up behind Jack, and literally wrapped himself around him, imprisoning his arms and legs, and he began to constrict his form.

Flame heard somthing upstairs. Probably just some bikers beating the crap out of each other. He assumed Oni and Voidhunter could handle it.

Haze watched as Chromium transformed and found it amazing. She wondered how he did so but didn’t think that now was the time to ask. Instead she merely made comment. “It looks like it hurts when you do that.”

Chromium nodded, “It does.”

Haze decided not to push any further, it didn’t sound like he wanted to talk. She changed the subject. “You know I think Flame is only looking for a friend. I touched his mind briefly during our exchange and found a lot of sadness.”

“I think all supers have suffered some sort of pain or other.” Chromium said quietly, his eyes now closed.

“Yeah, I think you’re right there. My father used to beat my mother. When I realised what I could do I showed him the true meaning of pain. I almost killed him and that scared me more than I like to admit. My mother wasn’t thankful instead she disowned me and ran back to his side. I decided to leave home and never go back.” Haze said still stung by her mother’s behaviour. She could never understand why she forgave her father but couldn’t accept her as a daughter.

“How old were you?” Chromium asked.

“I was fifteen. Remember I mentioned throwing a train?” Haze waited for Chromium to nod, “Well my father was in it at the time.”