Enhance: Chapter 25

Finishing up the last of the list the pair realized getting it home was going to be even harder than they initially thought. So, they brought two carts and pushed them together. The sun was setting as they pushed the baskets down the streets in their single file. They got numerous strange looks but they ignored them gladly.

The streets were well shoveled but the sidewalk was a bit more treacherous. Snow had been walked on until it created a path but that didn’t mean that it was a path for the carts, which struggled to keep themselves steady.

“You’re working on some new project, aren’t you?”

Feint was surprised by the sudden question but nodded. “Yeah. It’s a program for my mask that I need to run. It’ll make me better in the field with everyone else but it’s been a pain to make work.”

“I’m sure you can do it.”

She smiled and laughed. “Thanks Echo.”

As they pushed the baskets into the complex Feint got out her phone. She called Darren. After a few long rings they responded. “Yes Feint? Busy.”

“Tell Rogue to come down stairs. We need his expertise.” She and Echo laughed at this.

Darren however just shouted. “Rogue! The girls need you downstairs! He’s on his way.”

“Thank you Darren.” They hung up and she turned toward Echo. “We really need to buy you guys phones.”

“I agree.”

He appeared in the lobby his sleeves rolled up, hair tied up and his bandana around his forehead. He looked at the two of them and raised an eyebrow. “What do you want?”

“See this?” Feint indicated the food from cart to bag and such. “We need this in the house. Can you think of way to get them from point A to point B?”

Rogue simply looked at Echo. “Why do I think this is your doing?”

“No idea what you mean.”

“Right.” Walking to one cart he gripped the edge of it and then he vanished. As they watched Feint started toward the Elevator.

“Think he’ll get the last one?”

“He better. Or I’ll kick his butt.”

“Scary Echo.”

They took the elevator up to the house and met Rogue as he dropped off the final cart. Feint went to the first cart and unloaded most of the frozen food first. Echo got to work with the boxed foods and filling the pantry. Rogue watched them for a moment and then went back to cleaning, which he was off to the other rooms. Roxie appeared and tracked around Echo, though she was slowly warming up to Feint.

As they continued to work everyone began to trickle back into the house. Phase and Shade appeared from the balcony letting the cold in along with them. But Shade went straight toward the kitchen while Phase greeted his dog. Yumi was the last to show back up about an hour later with a full drawstring bag on her back. As she hopped down she glared around.

“Where the fuck is Wiz Kid?”

“That sounds like Yumi.” Darren said as they exited the tinker room.

Yumi rounded on the young genius and jabbed her finger against their chest. “What the hell kind of odyssey did you send me on?!”

“What took you so long?”

“I stopped and got ice cream with my little sister.”

“Did you at least get everything?”

“Of course, I succeeded. Who the hell do you think I am?”

“Hand it over and I’ll make it up to you.”

She shrugged it off her shoulder and then shook her head.  “No fuck off.”

Jumping over the couch she plopped down and folded her arms. Feint and Phase looked at each other before going to sit on each side of her. “Wanna talk about it?”

“No fuck it.”

“Here Yu. Eat this.” Shade came by and put a fork into her mouth. She had no idea what it was but as she chewed she blinked and then stared at him. “Holy shit that’s good. And minty. What is that?”

“Lamb. One of the many things that Echo picked up while she was shopping.” Shade said and shrugged. “Not bad meat wise. But I knew you’d like that part.”

“Wait. Why are you in the kitchen?”

“Because I can cook. Learned a bit while living on my own.”

She took the fork from him and sucked on it lightly as she stared at him. “Make more.”

“Already happening.”

“You’re the best.”

“I try.”

Darren walked back into the living room holding a pouch in their hand. Placing them on the table they opened one and then pulled out squares. Some they recognized as IEDs and another as a RADs. However there were two more that they didn’t recognize.

Yumi arched an eyebrow. “This what you’ve been working on?”

“Yep.”

“What are these things?” Rogue asked picking up an RAD.

“They’re gadgets. Small things that give us a leg up.” Phase said as he picked up and IED and RAD. “On it’s own this just blows up. Combine them and we have remote bombs wherever we put them.”

“They’re actually modified now.” Feint pointed at the edges. The new IED had four USB slots and the RAD had four USB sticks. “Just fit them together. Also the RAD now has touch screen display. Cycling through multiple bombs is now much easier.”

Rogue nodded. “That explains the RADs. But what about these?” He picked up another square that had two sticks on either end and two ports on the other ends.

“Those are instant hacking devices. IHDs. Messing around with the name at the moment. Me and Feint came up with them. We can plug them into computers or any other electronic device.” He tapped the back of the IHDs. “You’ve been messing with these a bit now but these are meant to broadcast their signal as well. Alarms, phones, doors, even cars. We’re working on that.”

“We really do get all the best toys don’t we?” Yumi said as she stared to play with one of the RADs.

“What about these?” Phase asked pulling up another one but it only had one USB stick and three slots.

Feint smiled. “That, which I only have a few of, is an EMP. You should know what those are. I haven’t had a chance to really test them out though so I wouldn’t recommend taking any.”

“Still making our smoke bombs?” Yumi asked.

“Of course. You guys get caught so much that you need them.”

“What ever, Wiz Kid.”

Phase smiled. “Good stuff like always Feint.” She smiled at his words and then moved closer to him. Turning on the TV it cut to mayoral campaign ad for Nathan Pierce again. Frowning Yumi was about to change the channel when the news came on and a report caught her eye.

“We now bring you a live update. Still no word on the missing child. Young Nina Rivens was last seen earlier this afternoon with her father. He has stated that he was attacked and his daughter abducted earlier this evening. There have been no updates but police urge the public to say something if they see something.”

The screen shifted to a picture of Nina and she was smiling. “Considering the area and time the main suspects of this abduction would be the Vanguard gang. She is one of the latest of abductees in the area.” She continued to speak but the words were lost on them.

Yumi stared at the screen barely breathing, “No.” She quickly got to her feet and then went to the far table where their masks were stacked together.

“Yumi-“

“I’m going!” She shouted and put the mask on her face almost instantly.

Darren walked toward her and she whipped around glaring. “I’m not telling you to stop. I’m giving you this.” They handed her a pouch and nodded. “New toys. Everything I showed you just now. Be careful with them, still prototypes.”

“Give me one too.” Shade said as he pulled his mask on. She looked at him shocked for a moment. “I’m not letting you go on your own.”

Darren let out an exasperated sigh but nodded. “I’ll be back.”

While they were gone Shade stared at Yumi. He could tell that she was shaking. She wanted to be moving. She had to be moving. He squeezed her hand tightly and she glanced at him sharply but shook her head. “I just saw her. I was just there.”

Darren came back and handed a pouch over to him. He affixed it to his belt and nodded. Yumi all but sprung through the door and off the balcony. Shade was hot on her heels and they were in the city. Soon they were running across the rooftops with the street lights illuminating their path.

“Mask pull up the map. Bring up Peter’s shop. Now!”

Her mask zeroed in on the location and then gave them the route. She took a sharp turn and then ran toward it. Shade had a hard time keeping up with her.He’d seen Yumi happy, sad, pissed, and hurt. But he’d never seen the fury that was radiating off her now. He was scared at how possibly reckless she was about to be.

As they ran he started to think about it. A kidnapped girl and somehow connected to the Vanguard. It hit him almost like a truck. “Yumi hold up! I think I know where they are!” He stopped on a building and she bounded a few more ahead before she turned to look at him. “Mask, locate the docks..”

“What is it Shadeow?”

“I used to work with the Vanguard remember?” His mask turned onto a location and he pointed. Dashing forward he started running and Yumi chased after him. “One of the things that made me quit working with them was a practice they started. Human trafficking. Couldn’t be a part of that shit. Especially after I found out they were taking kids off the street. I thought they had stopped this shit but apparently not.”

Yumi didn’t say a word but she was listening. As she continued to run she kept thinking about Nina. If something had happened to her she didn’t know what she was going to do. Just thinking of it made her hands shake and her vision swim red.

They landed atop a warehouse and Shade looked around. The waters were still and there were a few boats anchored to the dock. As he scanned around he focused in on a warehouse a little way away from them. When he went to x-ray he saw several small huddled shapes on the ground with other man sized ones pacing around. Each of them had weapons. There was another bigger guy there but he didn’t think twice about him.

“Found them.”

“Let’s get going.”

“Wait.” He held his arm out and by some grace of God, Yumi listened though he felt the struggle. “There’s guys all around. I don’t want us to set them off and then cause trouble for Nina and whoever else might have been taken.”

With his mask he highlighted each of the guy pacing around the warehouse from atop containers to the ones on the edge of the dock to even those just walking around the warehouse. “We take them out first. Alright?”

“Fine.”

“Fast and quiet. Let’s go.”

Shade disappeared slowly, blending into the shadows. She couldn’t see him anymore but she knew he was nearby and she took comfort in that. She turned and then stepped forward dashing across the ground. Her mask focused and she homed in on the first. She reached out and grabbed him around the throat. In one quick drag she slammed the back of his head into the ground. She stomped on his face for good measure and kept moving.

They never got the chance to cry out or even aim their weapons. Shade watched her from the other side of the dock. Normally they were efficient when taking people down. But she was brutal. He knew they weren’t dead but they were definitely going to be in the hospital or worse after this.

It didn’t take long before they met together in front of the warehouse. The door was locked up tight and Shade placed a IED against it and one of the timers. Backing away he set off and the door blew open.

They saw now very startled men shoving things around while another was dragging a whimpering boy into a cage. Shade focused in on a man who was a little large. Everything about him was thick with flesh. His head was shaved and his skin dark. He looked back and forth between the two of them surprised but now annoyed. Shade stared at him and swore.

“Shit. Big Mac.”

“Big Mac? The fuck kind of name is that?”

“Oh shit. DJ. That’s you isn’t it?

Shade swore again but stared at the guy and smirked. “Yeah. Long time no see.”

“Who woulda thought you were causing all this trouble.”

“Hoped you guys were out of this type of gig.”

“You’d be surprised how much people would pay for one of these people. To think that you can get a prostitute for a fraction of this.”

“Where are the kids?!” Yumi shouted her patience getting thin.

He then looked at her for the first time and then gave a dark laugh. “Who the fuck’s this DJ?”

“Where are the kids you son of a bitch?”

“No manners on this one.”

“Where are the people you’ve taken Big Mac? We can work this out easily information.”

“Or better idea. You two get out of here before I have to show you some manners.”

He cracked his knuckles and Yumi shook her head. “You’re dead.” Everyone stopped what they were doing and taunted them ready to enjoy a show.

She sprinted at him closing the distance in seconds. She crouched low then uppercut him in the chin. She winced and the guy didn’t move. He just laughed then punched her in the chest. She stumbled backwards, no breath in her lungs before he punched her in the head sending her to the ground.

Shade came from behind and kicked him in the neck to distract him. Moving forward he grabbed Yumi and dragged her away. “What the hell is he?”

“He has Enhance. Really tough. He absorbs things around him and then makes himself stronger. Think like a mountain of dirt getting bigger by getting more dirt.”

“And how the hell do we stop that?”

“Well that’s the fun part.”

As they spoke Big Mac was taking off his shirt and Yumi could swear that he had gained a few pounds. And inches. He’d gotten bigger somehow. Shaking her head as she got to her feet she glared.

She ran at him again and jumped. Spinning she managed to get her legs on either side of his neck and with a hard jerk dragged him backwards. However he didn’t fall. In fact she had to let go or else he could fall and crush her.

She hit the ground and rolled backwards before jumping forward again. Shade appeared behind the guy and slid across the ground kicking the back of his knee. The blow hit but didn’t he didn’t stumble.

Swinging around he slammed his arm into Shade’s chest sending him almost flying backwards. Trying to keep his footing he coughed roughly and glared at him. “Is that all you’ve got?”

“Not even close.” Yumi growled as she stood up. She ran forward and then leaped. Punching him in the jaw, the hit did nothing. He laughed and then she reared back and slammed her fist into his jaw again. He took every hit and laughed after each one while she got more and more pissed off.

With a glare she jumped and slammed the heel of her palm into his chest. Suddenly he shouted and stepped backwards holding his hand over his chest. Everyone’s eyes widened at this but most of all Yumis.

She looked down at her hands and she saw the slight glowing to her palms and knew what was going on. Whatever her power was, it was starting to kick in. And judging by his reaction she had a chance. Leaning forward she dashed in at him and slammed her palm into his chest again.

Once again, she felt the hardness of his chest but this time her palm pushed against it and he shouted in pain. He retaliated almost instantly and punched her backwards. She slid back, holding her chest and then falling to her knees for a moment.

Shade came in seconds later and jumped, swinging his leg down over his head. The blow connected but felt like kicking a boulder. Pissed off now Big Mac swung around and punched him in the chest. At least that was the plan. Shade faded into the shadows just fast enough to dodge the attack. Circling around he came forward, his hand dipping into his pocket.

As he came forward he jumped forward and kneeded him in the chest. The blow hurt but he used that for momentum to flip forward. Slamming his hand again his back he rolled down roughly and got to his feet.

“What the hell was that DJ?” Big Mac taunted.

“That was nothing. This is me testing an idea. Boom.”

Big Mac’s back exploded suddenly and he stumbled forward before going down onto his knees. His back was in one piece and also smoking but Shade nodded. It had an effect because there wasn’t any bravado coming from him.

“Looks like the new toys can pull their weight.”

“You’re dead you pieces of shit.” Standing and raising his arms he started to grow in size again and again. As he grew just the air around him felt heavier. Everything about him felt heavier and Shade took a step back as he got to about ten feet tall. He’d never seen the guy get that big before. And he was still growing.

He took a heavy step forward and slammed his fist down. It shook the ground and people screamed or shouted as Shade jumped away. He landed on a crate and stared at Big Mac who turned around and slammed his fist into the crates underneath him. Losing his ground Shade stumbled before sinking into the rubble.

Yumi jumped from a crate and shoved her hands into Big Mac’s back. However she did this to get her bearings. She climbed onto his shoulders before putting her hands on either side of his head and shoving them together.

He shouted in pain reaching up to grab her but with his new size his arms couldn’t reach easily. She could evade him all while keeping the burning going. His voice got louder the longer the pain extended until he’d had enough. With a quick intake of breath, he jumped backwards and landed on her, almost crushing her into the ground.

She screamed and Shade shouted her name. Big Mac stood, shaking himself off and then laughed. “Annoying bitch. Now you got a few options here DJ. You can run along now and I’ll let you have a head start before I hunt you down. Or you can stay and die with her.”

Shade glared, gritting his teeth together. “I’ll kill you myself.”

Reaching into his pouch he grabbed the smoke bombs. He then threw one at the ground and one at Big Mac. Both exploded together and with his power he disappeared from sight. He darted through the shadows his first priority Yumi.

“Mask, infrared.” His vision lit up like his eyes were swimming with blood and he had to understand the sentiment. However, as he looked at the ground Yumi had fallen. He couldn’t see her there. Raising his head his eyes widened as he watched her dart forward. Her hands were balled up tightly.

Yumi jumped forward from the smoke snarling and dug her feet into Big Mac’s back. She slammed her hands into a ring around his arm. He grunted but she kicked off and flipped backwards sliding back across the ground.

“BOOM!”

The explosion that followed was immense. The smoke was cleared away, the building shook, Shade was thrown into the wall. When the dust finally settled. Big Mac was on the ground shouting and crying. His hand was shaking over his shoulder and that was all. His arm was across the room shrinking to normal size.

Yumi dragged herself to her feet slowly and groaned. She stumbled for a second but kept moving forward. She stood over his whimpering form and glared. Reaching down she covered his mouth with her hand. She knew on instinct that her hand had started to glow and that the heat was increasing.

She kept her hand on him and pressed down as she let it build. She glared through the mask and felt him screaming through her hand. She ground her teeth together, ignoring it as she placed her other hand over his face.  She kept pressing as his body stilled and she felt liquid slosh beneath her hands.

Shivering at the sensation she flinched when Shade touched her shoulder. She looked at him and though all she saw was a mask she understood. Letting go she didn’t even look at what she had done. She just heard him slump to the side with a dull thud. She shut her eyes for a moment and breathed.

“Let’s find Nina.”

Shade nodded as he looked at what was left of the goons in the factory. They were all gone or trying to hide. Still a bit shaken she walked toward one of the cages and broke it open. The woman inside shrieked and hid to the other side of the cage. “Where are the other people taken?”

She couldn’t form words. She was too busy shaking. “She can’t tell us anything. We have an easy way to do it this.”

His mask flipped to X-ray and he looked around them in a slow sweep. As he looked around, most of crates were empty for the most part. But there was a room in the back that he hadn’t noticed before. “This way.”

He started walking, quickly and ignored everyone around him. When he got the room he glanced around and made sure people were clear of the room. “Get back!” Stepping forward he kicked the door open and it almost flew off its hinges.

Yumi walked in and looked around quickly. Meanwhile Shade started ushering people out. “Get somewhere safe. I’ve called 911 and the police are on their way! Just get outside!”

Yumi was working her way through the people trying to find the one she wanted. She almost gave up hope, feeling her heart crushing when she stepped around a corner. And there she was. Huddled into the corner to try and hide from the men who’d taken her. She raised her head only to see Yumi’s masked face and whimpered covering her face.

“Hey hey. Nina it’s me.” Pulling off her mask slowly she showed her haggard face and kneeled down. “It’s Big Sis.”

Nina raised her head and after only a moment of seeing her face she jumped into her waiting arms. Yumi held her tightly and ran her fingers gently through her hair. Yumi took a deep sigh of relief. She felt Nina crying and she didn’t blame her. She even felt some of her own tears. Shade watched her from a distance and nodded as he focused back on helping the others.

Yumi knocked on the door hard. She stared at the address of the shop that she’d almost committed to memory at this point. “Nina, I need you to promise me something. No telling dad about me alright? Our secret”

Nina looked at her confused but nodded. Yumi leaned forward kissed her forehead softly. “Thanks Little Sis. And remember. I’m always gonna be around whenever you need me. I promise. I won’t let anything bad happen to you again.”

Kneeling, she put her down so that she was standing. She heard someone rushing to the door. Backing away she waved to Nina one last time before turning and running.  She got onto the rooftops and was across the street and a block down when Peter opened the door, saw his daughter and didn’t let her go.

Yumi watched as Shade came beside her. “She’s safe now.”

“Yeah she is. Thanks to you.”

“What if I hadn’t seen that news report DJ? What if we hadn’t found them? What if we hadn’t beaten that gu-”

Shade placed a finger against her lips and looked at her. “A bunch of what ifs. So lets focus on the facts Yu. We did see the news report. We did find her. We did beat Big Mac, though that was mostly you. And now a lot of people are safe including Nina.”

Yumi was still a bit shaky but she nodded. “The Vanguard went too far. I’m taking them down. I don’t care what it takes.”

“I agree with you Yu. And I’m sure everyone else will too. We’ll do it together.”  He pulled out his phone and checked it then whistled. “Speaking of the others. They might be missing us.”

Yumi grabbed his hand for a moment and shook her head. “Hold on DJ.” He turned to look at her. “Can we just sit here for a while?”

She gripped his arm and he squeezed her hand lightly. “Yeah. Sure thing Yu.” He pulled her toward the edge of the rooftop and then sat down slowly. She sat down beside him resting her head against his shoulder. Slowly Shade wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close to him. Yumi took a shuddering breath and felt herself relax. She didn’t question it. She just enjoyed the moment.