Night
Outside Boston, Massachusetts
Under an overpass on the Mass Turnpike

Two figures huddle near a blazing metal drum to stave off the bitter cold of the New England air. The worn face of Raido X is illuminated in the floating embers. He has been wandering again for three and a half weeks in search of the man opposite him.

A blistering wind blows through the overpass and whips Raido X’s tattered and sleeveless jacket around his body. He draws closer to the flame, holding his fingerless gloved hands over it. He keeps his sunglasses on even in the dead of night. His eye twitches occasionally as his attention moves from the fire to the man in front of him.

The man looked to be around seventy years old. His blues eyes are tired and surrounded by wrinkles. His nose hooks toward the ground and gives him a bird-like appearance. What was left of his gray hair was matted to his head. He wore a large brown jacket that he hugged close to his body.

They stood in silence until the moon reached its zenith. Then the old man spoke through the cold air. His voice was high pitched, but feeble sounding. “I knew you would be here tonight, and I know why you have come looking for me.”

Raido X kept his eyes upon the old man and slowly removed his sun glasses. His brown eyes reflected the fire in the drum, and mimicked the fire within. “You know what I am going to ask,” Raido X spoke clearly and quietly.

“I do,” the old man said as another breeze whipped the fire and sent sparks circling around them. “The monsters grow stronger everyday and your own strength is failing you. You want to know how to remove those who haunt you.” Raido X listened as the old man finished speaking and nodded his head.

Then the old man knelt down beside the drum and sat down. He pulled from his pocket a small knife with a ruby embedded in its black handle. He reached to the side of the drum and with unexpected speed, snatched up a large rat that had been scurrying by. He held the rat to the ground and lifted his knife high. In two quick slashes the rat squealed and died.

The old man reached inside the rat’s stomach and pulled its entrails to the ground. He then bent over the rat and prodded the guts with his blade. The old extispiece sat intently for a moment and then spoke again.

“You will travel to the land of Queens and castles. In its grandest city you will find an alley of shadow that holds the shop of the new moon. There in the shop you will find an ancient athame of black and steel that will lift your curse from you. You will hold it and lost it to a foe you do not know. You will travel through fire and …” The voice of the old man began to trail off. Raido X ran to his side and caught him as he dropped backward. His breathing was shallow and his eyes were wide. His hands clutched his chest in pain.

“I saw this too, my own end. Do not mourn and do not get help. Leave me here as destiny told.” The old man watched the embers of the flame dance and then looked into X’s eyes. He let go of his chest and grabbed the collar of X’s jacket and pulled him closer. The final words of the old man tickled Raido X’s ears and were lost to the night wind. X let go of the old man and put his glasses back on. He turned his back to the fire and then flew into the air with the old man’s words still echoing in his head. “Beware the mind reader.”

The crowds flowed through the streets of Dock Square. Outside of Faneuil Hall walked Raido X. He strolled down the sidewalk with his hands in his coat pockets and his head glued to the ground under him. His eyes however were always moving from one person to another. Coming down the street toward him was an important looking man in a gray suit. X adjusted his stride and collided with the man at the shoulder. “Excuse me pal!” the man said as X apologized without stopping.

X walked out of the square and into an alley. He then flew upward until he reached the top of the building next to him. He sat on the edge of the roof and pulled the man’s wallet out of his coat pocket. He looked inside it and pulled out the cash. “Two twenties and a five. Wisely spent, this could feed me for a week,” X said to himself.

He then put the wallet back into his pocket and lowered himself back to the ground. He walked around the city and stopped at a small diner near McKinley Square. He ate enough to sop his hunger pangs and then left.

“There is one final task to perform before I take my leave of this city.” X reached into his pocket again and took out the man’s wallet. He looked at his driver’s license and read his address. He then placed the wallet into a makeshift envelope made from paper he folded himself. One thing X never had to worry about was leaving finger prints. Since the demon touched him, his hands have been permanently burned and scarred, removing any trace of identifiable prints. He walked to the man’s apartment complex and slipped the wallet into his mail box. And then he flew into the afternoon sky and left.

Destination: London, England

After the Titans had returned to the tower following the hectic end to what they would call the "Big Switcheroonie" Sano decided he needed to take some time off. Sano was thankful for everyone in the Titans and those guests at the BBQ for making him feel welcome, but he knew he needed to see the world. Saying goodbye to everyone, Sano headed off to the San Fransisco to catch a flight to Japan. From there he caught a connecting flight that brought him to his final destination, London.

Sano had learned all about the world while he was training at the military base, and London had always intrugued him. England was the birhtplace of Shakespeare, the location of Stonehenge and famous for its beautiful old castles. Checking into his hotel, Sano immediately went to bed seeing as he was incredibly tired after his long trip. It was not a restful sleep, however, as Sano was stirring all night because of his dreams.

Throughout the night visions of his past haunted Sano as he relived some of the tougher moments in his life. Finally awaking at 8 in the morning in a cold sweat, Sano had just come out of a dream about his last day at the military base. Figuring it was just because of the stress of the body switch, Sano shook it off and got ready to start his day. Heading out Sano visited every place he could get to in and around London starting with Leeds Castle.

Sano was going to enjoy every minute of his vacation, no matter what came his way.

Raido X felt the cold breeze of the Atlantic brush across his face. He had been flying for about 4 hours now and was feeling fatigue setting in. His eye began to twitch uncontrollably and started to hear the voice of Y and Z in the back of his mind. They’re voice were growing louder and louder until they filled his ears. He gritted his teeth in an attempt to hold them at bay as long as he could.

He grabbed at his throbbing temples and shut his eyes tight. When he opened them again he saw something below him. It was a small white dot in the blue that went on forever. He tilted forward and dipped straight at the dot. As he got closer and closer he could begin to make out the vessel. He flew as fast as he could down until he was right on top of it. He couldn’t believe the size of the vessel. The hull of the Queen Mary 2 was a sight to behold. X landed on the roof of the liner near the radar tower and looked it up and down. Everything glittered in the sun and X had to squint even behind his sunglasses.

X was exhausted and his control was waning. He needed to sleep and pull himself back together. He lay back on the roof of the ship and looked into the sky. X then put his hands under his head and fell quickly to sleep.

When he awoke again the sun had set for the evening. He decided it would be to risky to attempt to get anything to eat from the ships many restaurants so he stood up again and took one more look at the magnificent vessel. He then jumped into the air and he could feel the ocean breeze catch under his arms. He slowly rose into the air and continued his journey.

The sun was once again rising when he first spotted land ahead of him. He landed on a small beach in a remote part of Ireland. A small shower began to fall from the sky as X walked up to a dirt road ahead. He walked for a while along the road until he decided to rest in the shelter of a near by tree.

He woke to the rising sun and the curious look of a native man. The man looked down at X as he began to rise to his feet. X was covered in mud from toe to belt and he must have had an odor about him because the man covered his nose with his hand. X apologized and bowed to the man and was about to turn to leave when the man smiled and put his hand on his shoulder.

“You poor lad, you must have had a hell of a night. How about you come on down to the pub with me and I’ll get some food in your belly.” The man spoke quickly and his kindness caught X off guard.

“I appreciate your good will sure, but I wouldn’t want to impose on y…” X was cut off in mid-word by the rumble of his own stomach.

“Looks like your stomach has more sense than you do,” the man said with a wide grin. “Follow me and we’ll get you fed and cleaned up. And don’t mind me sayin, but by the looks of ya it don’t look like you got any money, so I’ll be takin care of all the charges.” The man’s smiled widened as he turned X with the hand still on his shoulder and pushed him forward. “All I ask of you is that you tell me your name son.”

X looked over his shoulder at the grinning man then back to the road. “My name is X sir.”

“Nobody calls me sir around here, call me Duffy.”

“Thank you sir.”

Waking up as the sun began to peek through the blinds in his hotel room, Sano got out of bed and began to start another day. He had been in London for two days now and had enjoyed every minute of his vacation. He had already headed out to Leeds Castle and visited Stratford von Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare. Today he was planning on heading out to see Stonehenge and maybe head through Picadilly Circus at night.

Heading out of the hotel and over to where Stonehenge was, Sano enjoyed the beautiful weather on his way. It was the first day he had been there that it hadn't rained and Sano knew he had to enjoy it while it lasted. Reaching Stonehenge Sano was disappointed that he could walk right up to the formation and check it out up close, but he enjoyed it all the same.

Wanting to have a little fun while he was there, Sano decided to practice his telekenesis on Stonehenge. Not wanting to destroy or deface such an amazing wonder, Sano merely rattled the ground and made it look like some of the stones were moving. As everyone around him shocked in amazement at what they were seeing, Sano merely grinned and headed out to begin the walk back to London.

Getting back to London late that night, Sano headed over to Picadilly Circus to get a bite to eat and check out the night. Walking around Sano came upon the most glorious thing he could have found, a 5-story Sega Arcade. Going in, Sano headed up to the top floor with everyone else and spent the next 2hours playing new and classic Sega games. Making his way back down to ground level Sano looked at a nearby clock and realized that it was 11pm and time for him to head back to his hotel.

Reaching his hotel no more than a half hour later, Sano headed straight up to his room to go to sleep. It had been another full and exciting day and Sano knew he needed some sleep before he collapsed. Falling into bed it wasn't long before Sano slipped into a deep sleep and began to snore.

Raido X hadn’t had a hot shower in over two years. Steam rose up to the ceiling and condensed on the wood. He felt the dirt and grime wash off his beaten and scarred body and it felt like a spiritual cleansing as much as a bodily one. He ran his hand over the scar on his neck and it snapped him back to reality. He quickly shut the water off and dried himself. He exited the shower and found a neatly folded pair of jeans and a t-shirt waiting for him. He threw them on and headed downstairs.

The pub that Duffy had told him about was also an Inn at the top. It was quaint and didn’t seem to get many visitors, but it was the nicest place X had been in a while. The man who ran the place was an elderly man who everyone called Pops. Pops spent most of his time behind the bar cleaning this and that, and listening to the same people tell the same stories. He was a gentle man with a quick wit however and his smiles kept the dank place seem bright. “Thought you might have drowned boy,” Pops said with a grin as X descended the stair case. “Was just about to send a party to find ya.”

X met the old mans gaze and upon reaching the bottom step bowed to him and thanked him for his hospitality. “Bah, don’t go bowin to him. He’ll get a fat head,” Duffy spoke from the front of the bar and laughed into his beer glass.

“Nothin could ever be fatter than your wife Duff,” Pops said quickly and poured X a glass of beer and set it next to Duffy. Duffy laughed heartily and shook his fists at Pops and then took another big gulp from his glass. X sat down next to Duffy and drank his beer slowly. He never drank alcohol normally because it dampened his ability to control his mind, but he owed these gentlemen a debt he couldn’t repay.

The rest of the night passed with the two men exchanging tales back and forth and laughing while X listened. They would often ask him about himself and he would make up a story about how he got lost while on a tour and was wandering for a while in the rain. They had no reason not to trust him so they did not ask specifics and X did not offer any. They asked him once about his home and his family. X just stared into his glass for a while and did not answer. Pops and Duffy got the hint and quickly changed the subject.

The time finally came for Duffy to head home and left X in the care of Pops would agreed to put him up for the night free of charge. X expressed his displeasure and asked that he do some kind of work to pay off his debt but Pops would not hear of it. He gave X the room at the top of the stair and for only the third time he could remember X slept with a bed under him.

He awoke the next morning to find his clothes cleaned and waiting for him on a chair inside his room. The sun shone through the dirty window of his room as he changed into his fresh smelling garments. He then left the room behind and walked downstairs to where Pops was already up and had breakfast waiting. X sat down at the bar and gobbled his food down hungrily. Pops laughed and said X had the biggest appetite he had ever seen.

It was then time for X to leave the inn. He walked to the door and shook Pops hand. “Thank you so much sir for the kindness you have shown me.” Pops laughed and told him that it was his pleasure.

“You take good care of yourself my boy. There are a lot of dangerous people out there who would take advantage of a goodun like you.” Pops then looked past X’s shoulder and saw Duffy coming toward them.

“Didn’t think you’d get out before sayin bye to old Duffy did ya.” X turned around and was quickly grabbed around the shoulders and hugged by the burly man. “Watch yourself now boyo. I don’t want to see you sleepin on this street again.” X recoiled softly from the sudden hug, but Duffy held on. X was eventually released and then thanked Duffy again for what he had done.

X then walked away from the Inn with the two men waving behind him. X waved back and put his sunglasses on. He then jumped into the air and flew toward England. Pops and Duffy were left with their mouths hanging open. “Did you see what I saw Duff,” Pops asked. Duffy only shook his head in agreement.

X felt the best he had in a very long while. The sun in his face seemed to be a good omen of things to come and the gentle breeze blew away his cares of yesterday. Then the words of the old man came back to him and dread flooded his mind. Trouble waited for him in London. But it was where he had to be.

He flew over Ireland and then across the Irish Sea. England came quickly into view. He kept heading east over Wales. He eventually saw a large city come into view. He had finally arrived. He touched down on the roof of the clock tower called Big Ben and looked out across the city. Somewhere was a shop that held the key to his freedom.

Tossing and turning all night again, Sano woke up the next morning in a cold sweat just as he had each night so far on his vacation. Every night he had found himself dreaming about his time at the military base, especially his final days there. He had relived in his mind the final day that he spent there over and over again much to his displeasure. Crawling out of bed, Sano went straight to the bathroom and took a shower. Standing under the water, Sano focused his mind on nothing and let the water wash his troubles away.

Feeling somewhat better after the shower, Sano went down to the hotel restaurant and got himself something for breakfast before heading out for the day. Today was the day that Sano had decided to do some shopping to get some nice souveniers. Heading out Sano went into just about every little shop he could find looking for neat and unique pieces to buy. Shortly before lunch Sano decided that he needed to stop by Herrod's, just to say he'd been there even if he didn't buy anything.

Stopping by a small local pub for lunch, Sano talked to the woman behind the bar while waiting for his food.

"I was wondering if you could recommend a shop where I could find some truly unique souveniers," Sano asked the bartender.

"Depends on what you are looking for," the bartender responded, "are you looking for something tame, or something truly unique."

"Well," Sano said hesitating slightly, "something truly unique. This may be my only trip to England and I really want to remember it."

"Alright then," the bartender said smirking, "head out of here and take a right, then take a left. The shop you are looking for is in an alley along that road. Don't worry, you'll be able to find it just fine."

Having given Sano what he ordered the bartender walked away laughing in a way that sent a shiver down his spine. Her words rang through his head the entire time he ate lunch, you'll be able to find it just fine. Not wanting to use his telepathy feeling it was intrusive, Sano finished his lunch, paid his tab and left the pub. Slowly heading down the road to where the bartender had directed him, Sano kept himself on guard feeling that something was bound to happen.

X wandered the streets of London for several hours. The morning was waning and it brought with it clouds that covered the sun. A small drizzle fell from the sky and dotted X’s glasses. He took off his glasses on the sidewalk and dried them off. He then placed them in the inside jacket of his coat. He walked a few steps and noticed graffiti written on the side of a building that said “X marks the spot,” and had an arrow pointing down an alleyway.

X squinted at the graffiti and slowly turned and walked down the alley. The alley was incredibly dark for early afternoon and X had to walk with a hand on a wall to keep his bearings. About 10 feet down the alley a small green light could be made out on the left wall. A neon sign that read “New Moon Occult Shop” buzzed and flickered. X pulled his collar up around his neck and opened the door.

Inside a bell above the door rang as X stepped inside. The shop was warm and darkly lit. On the walls were skulls and trinkets from various parts of the world. Books lined all the bare space around the shop and were stacked up on the floor. The books ranged in subject from Celtic paganism to satanic rituals. X pulled his glasses out again and put them on. He walked to the back of the shop where a young man with more piercing than X felt like counting sat with his nose in a book of witchcraft.

The man looked up from his book gave X a look up and down. Water dripped from X’s coat and puddle up underneath his boots. “Can I help you?” the man said in a kind of ‘why are you bothering me’ kind of way. X looked down at the man kept his face like stone.

“I am looking for a certain item, an Athame.”

“Ohhhhhh, you heard about this huh?” the man said with renewed interest. “We just got it in today after it went on auction.” The man reached beneath the counter and pulled out a black case. He undid the latches on the side of it and popped it open. Lying on a custom made foam pad covered in red velvet was a beautifully crafted ceremonial knife. It measured around one foot in length with a solid black handle and a shining steel blade. X stared at it in wonder.

The man behind the counter could sense X’s fascination at the item and decided now would be a good time to entice this possible buyer a little further. “This little baby once belonged to Madame de Montespan who was Louis XVI’s mistress. It is said that she received it from the demon Asmodeus. He told her she could use it to possess and control the king, but instead when she attempted to use its power it sucked her soul out from her body and killed her.”

X looked at the knife for a moment longer and then looked up at the man. “How much,” X said even though he had no possible way of paying for it. Just as the words left his mouth he heard the bell above the shop door ring again. The man opened his mouth to reveal the starting price for such a rare item when a bullet whizzed past X’s ear and entered the man’s skull! The man’s mouth hung open with the knife still in his hand and he toppled off his stool and onto the floor! The knife struck the tile with a clang as X spun himself around.

In the doorway of the shop stood a figure covered in black armor from head to toe. Covering his face was a mask with a gas filter over his mouth and blue goggles over his eyes. He held a large assault rifle to his shoulder and aimed his laser sight at X’s forehead. The bell over the door rang again and in walked another figure in the same armor and then another and another. X stood with an unemotional look on his face. The figures kept coming in until the small shop seemed overcrowded. X stared into the goggles of at least 20 very heavily armed men.

X slowly reached his hands behind his back and touched the handles of his guns. He then jumped into the air and backward over the counter as shots began to drown out the rain outside. The counter splintered and cracked as the bullets ripped it to shreds. X sat next to the dead salesmen as blood streamed from his head and made the ground slick. X grabbed the athame from the ground next to him and put it into his inside pocket. He then drew his guns at leaped out from behind the counter.

Bullets flew in all directions.

Walking down the street Sano began to feel rain drops hitting his bald head so he put his hood and and continued walking. He never thought the good weather would last but Sano had hoped that today of all days would be rain free cause he was walking around a lot outside. Not wanting to let the rain get to him Sano continued to head down the street as the rain picked up quickly beginning to soak him. Needing to look for a place to get out of the rain Sano turned down an alley that looked deserted.

Turning the corner Sano suddenly heard gunfire coming from a shop close by. Following the noise Sano found himself in front of a dimly lit shop called the New Moon Occult Shop. Looking in Sano could see what looked like 20 or so heavily armored and armed men firing towards the back of the shop at a lone figure. As he was about to rush in Sano finally got a close look at the person they were all firing at, and it did not make him feel like helping.

"No, not him, anyone but him," Sano muttered to himself, "this better be the nice normal personality and not one of those psyhco freaks again."

Kicking the door in Sano used his telekenesis to stop all the bullets that were flying across the room and dropped them to the floor. Picking up a bookcase off to his right with his mind, Sano brought it down on top of two of the armored fighters. Jumping to the right and planting his hands on the fallen bookcase Sano compressed his body and snapped back mule kicking one of the men in the face forcing him bacwards into the group. Using his telekenesis Sano pushed the guy he just kicked forcing him back faster causing him to knock over three of his compatriots.

Looking up Sano could see Raido, whichever letter he was today, charging headfirst into some of the guys to Sano's left. Having taken his eyes off the guys he was fighting for even just a moment Sano didn't notice the right cross headed for his face until it was too late. Just as he noticed the incoming attack Sano felt it hit his face staggering him and forcing his head back to the right. As his head went over to the right Sano was immediately punched again by someone on his other side and then kneed in the back sending him fumbling foward.

Feeling people close in around him Sano used his telekenesis to push everyone around him a few inches further away. Dropping down Sano spun around kicking the legs out from underneath the closest guy to him. Sweeping his leg through and back up Sano brought his heel down on the chest of the guy he just knocked to the floor. Using his mind to help add power to his kick Sano pounded the guy in the chest cracking his armor and also cracking Sano's heel.

"Sh!t, that armor tough," Sano thought to himself, "I cracked it but it cracked me. I'm going to have to change my strategy."

Leaning back from his current position Sano vaulted himself upward with his hands and landed on the shoulders of the guy in front of him. Using his telekenesis Sano removed the guy's helmet and then slammed his fists into the guy's temples knocking him down. Spinning off the now unconcious burglar careful to not hit his foot while it was healing Sano began to create illusions in the criminals mind that there were a number of men coming in through the door to attack them.

"I hope this works," Sano thought, "and I hope X, or Y or whoever the hell that is knows how to fight."

X leaped out from behind the counter and was greeted by a flurry of semi-automatic gun fire that whizzed by him in every direction! One grazed the side of his neck, just missing his jugular vein! The wound still bled and dripped onto the floor! The caliber of these guns was high to so easily pierce X’s skin.

He kept his body above the floor and flew straight to his side firing back at the men! His bullets made contact, but only ricocheted harmlessly off the armor of these men! He fell behind a display case made of wood and glass! “Not the best place to hide under the circumstances,” X thought to himself. The armored men varied their gunfire so that half of them would reload while the other half could continue their assault!

X sat behind his cover as bullets splintered his hiding place and broke easily through the cheap wood! He then heard a loud crash from the center of the room. He moved to the side of the case and looked around the side. A handful of the armed men had been struck on the head with a bookcase and were buried under it! He then saw a bald man run in the midst of the goons and strike one of them! The man then leaped to another!

X saw the attention of the men begin to turn toward the new comer and seized his opportunity. He flew over the top of the case and lunged at the nearest thug! He jammed the butt of the gun in his right hand under the man’s chin and sent him flying into the ceiling! His head stuck into the wooden rafters and the man hung there kicking and pushing at the ceiling! Another thug then quickly turned his gun to bear on X! X let the gun in his left hand dangle from his index finger and grabbed the barrel of the man's gun. He pulled the barrel toward himself as he brought his boot into the man’s stomach! The force of the blow ripped the gun from his hand and sent the man flying through the only window facing out onto the alleyway!

X was struck from behind by the butt of a rifle and stars filled his vision! He fell forward onto the floor of the store! The man that struck him fell on top of X and put him in a full nelson! Another man then came up behind the other and reached into X’s coat pocket. He removed the knife that was in there just as X arched his back and jumped! He put the man holding him into the ceiling and fell to the ground!

He saw the man who had grabbed the knife run behind a wall of other goons and make a break for the street! X ran after him but was stopped as he struck the bald man who had leaped down from somewhere directly in his way. X bounced off the man and brought both his guns up and pointed the barrel's directly at his nose!

“What the hell are you doing here?!” X saw the man’s face for the first time and recognized him immediately. X had seen this man during his time at Titan’s Tower. It was his body that Z had inhabited. Sano was what he was called.

Sano said something back at X, but he didn’t hear it. His vision focused over Sano’s shoulder at the men evacuating the store. The last one in the doorway lifted his hand and tossed a large packet that looked like a suitcase into the middle of the room! Fire filled the store and X was blown out the back of the building through the brick wall!

His ankle completely healed, Sano saw the affects of his mental illusions wearing off as the armed men realized that whatever they were seeing wasn't a threat. Wrenching the gun out of one of his opponents hands, Sano charged at the disarmed man and hit him in the chin with the butt of the gun. Sano quickly followed that up with a slam to the stomach that sent the man staggering, then pushed him back into his buddies with his telekenesis. Leaping towards the reeling group of armed men, Sano drop kicked the two closest men knocking the whole lot of them to the ground.

Flipping off the guys he just kicked, Sano landed only to see two men run right past him and feel someone bump into him. Spinning around Sano could see that the person who had bumped into him was Raido whatever and he did not look happy. Pointing both of his guns in Sano's face, Raido let him know what he thought of his intrusion.

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

As Sano responded he could see that Raido was not paying attention to him but rather something behind him. Without a chance to react Sano got caught in the blast from the bomb that had been thrown into the store. Drilled in the back by the full force of the blast Sano rocketed through the store and out the brick wall in back, landing in the alley outside. His back badly burned, right shoulder broken and covered in bruises and cuts, Sano lay on his side allowing his body to heal.

Feeling his shoulder slowly return to normal Sano rolled over and brought himself up onto his hands and knees. "What do you mean what am I doing here?" Sano growled at Raido. "You were the one in the middle of a gun fight, what the hell are you doing here?"

Standing up slowly, Sano focused all his energy so he could heal his body as fast as possible. He didn't know why Raido was here, and more importanly which one was in control, but he wanted to be ready for anything. As he was about to head over to where Raido was Sano noticed that his desert eagle's were out of arms reach. Acting quickly Sano brought both guns to him using his telekenesis.

"Nice quality, you rarely see anyone carrying such a weapon let alone two of them," Sano said still with an angry tone in his voice. Looking over the guns Sano added, "Oh, and so I know whether or not I have to take you down, which one is in control, X Y or Z?"

Grimacing in pain as his body was still badly burned and in the process of healing itself, Sano hoped that X was in control and that he was at least a somewhat even tempered person. The last thing he wanted right now was to have to encounter either one of the demons that called Raido home.

"So much for my relaxing vacation," Sano thought to himself, "oh well, no use worrying about what I can't control."

X’s vision was filled with dancing lights after the back of his skull smashed into the brick wall of the building! His body was thrown through it and was covered in a pile of bricks and mortar! The building was blazing and smoke poured from its windows and the openings that the explosion caused.

"What do you mean what am I doing here?" Sano growled at Raido. "You were the one in the middle of a gun fight, what the hell are you doing here?"

X lifted the chunk of wall that was lying on his legs and threw it to his side. He got to his feet slightly wobbly, but quickly straightened himself. The cut on his arm from the gun shot bled down his arm. His chest and back were sore to say the least. He was one large sore all over his body. His right arm hung loosely at his side, knocked out of the socket by the explosive blast.

He grabbed at his arm just under the shoulder and rolled and pushed it back into place with a grimace of pain.

"Nice quality, you rarely see anyone carrying such a weapon let alone two of them," Sano said still with an angry tone in his voice. Looking over the guns Sano added, "Oh, and so I know whether or not I have to take you down, which one is in control, X Y or Z?"

X held his right shoulder with his left arm and sneered at Sano. “You couldn’t ‘take down’ this body with your pathetic mind tricks no matter which one was in control. But if you need proof of the owner try using your brain for something other than stealing people’s property,” X said as he pointed to his hair. The brown color of his hair was the easiest way to tell who controlled the Raido body. No hair dye could alter the hair of either personality. That’s why the body of Sano had been such a blessing for Z during the Switching of bodies; he was able to mask his identity under Sano’s bald scalp.

“And if you don’t hand over those guns right now, no amount of healing will save you from me.” X picked up a brick that rested next to his foot and crushed it into powder without trying. Visions of the man who had used his last act on earth to bestow him with those guns flashed through his mind. He had been the first person that X could remember that had shown him kindness, and they were priceless to him. He would walk through hell fire for those guns, and this telepath would not keep them from him!

X stared at Sano and then turned his head slightly. Sirens! “Damn it! Cops!” X thought to himself. “Hand those over now or we’ll both spend the rest of our lives in an English prison.”

Watching as Raido got up, Sano waited for a response to his question and thankfully he didn't have to wait long.

“You couldn’t ‘take down’ this body with your pathetic mind tricks no matter which one was in control. But if you need proof of the owner try using your brain for something other than stealing people’s property.”

As he said that Raido pointed to his head indicating that the color of his hair was the only way to tell which personality was in control.

"For your information I prefer not to steal people's property as you put it," Sano said, "I try hard not to use my telepathy which is why I asked which Raido you were."

Staring at Raido X not wanting to take his eyes of him, Sano watched as X picked up a brick and crushed it with his bare hand. Unimpressed, Sano saw the expression on Raido's face change, wherever he had gotten these guns from they were of obvious importance to him. Suddenly, Raido tilted his head to the side and Sano quickly heard why he had done so. In the distance, but rapidly getting closer Sano could hear the distinct sound of sirens, which would mean cops and plenty of questions.

“Hand those over now or we’ll both spend the rest of our lives in an English prison.”

Knowing Raido was right and that this was the worst time for them to be fighting, Sano threw the guns back to X and said, "Alright, lets get the hell outta here, it looks like there is a nice high roof back there we can head to."

Using what little energy he had left, Sano levitated himself and flew off to a high roof in the distance with Raido right along side him. Landing gingerly on the roof as he was still pretty sore, Sano looked back and saw that the police were just arriving at the store. Trying as hard as he could to conserve energy to heal his burns, Sano sat down and looked up at Raido.

"Alright look," Sano said in a now calm tone of voice, "we obviously got off on the wrong foot and cannot afford to be at odds with each other right now. So as hard as it may be lets just try and trust each other and see if we can figure out what is going on. Because I would like to know why you were at that shop, and why such heavily armored and armed men were shooting at you."

The pain coursing through his body beginning to fade, Sano looked up at Raido X and could tell by the look on his face that this was something deep and important to him. Still looking up at X, Sano waited patiently for him to respond as he went over something in his head. The woman at the pub had given him vague directions that had ended up leading him right to the store and to Raido. While he didn't think that was her intention, Sano couldn't help but shake a feeling he had that something about this whole thing was preordained.

"Alright look, we obviously got off on the wrong foot and cannot afford to be at odds with each other right now. So as hard as it may be lets just try and trust each other and see if we can figure out what is going on. Because I would like to know why you were at that shop, and why such heavily armored and armed men were shooting at you."

X looked over the side of the building. The skyline of London was dark and dreary as the rain continued to fall. “You want answers that I can’t give telepath.” X turned his head and looked at Sano as the rain beaded up on his sunglasses. He was keeping his mind as still as possible with the severe pain that ran through his back and chest. The explosion had rattled his body. He had taken worse punishment than being blown through a brick wall before, he would live.

“All I know is everything that’s happened so far I knew would happen. But now my information has run dry.” X turned his whole body around and looked toward Sano. The rain water dripped from the strands of his hair. “I was here looking for an item, a knife, that could remove my others. It was taken from me during the scuffle. As for why I was attacked I have no answers. I do know, that I was warned about you.”

X looked beyond Sano at the smoke still billowing from the shop. The sirens could be heard from three blocks away and for some reason they were getting closer. X could see the red lights of the vehicles moving down the street to where they stood. “I think they’re looking for us. It’s not safe to stay in one spot until we can find out what is going on.”

X turned around and ran to the other side of the building and jumped off it. They needed time to figure out their next move and the cops weren’t going to give them much of it.

Sano stood atop the building listening to Raido explain everything he knew as the rain continued to fall on his bald head. Grimacing every now and then as his body continued to heal the burns and bruises all over his body Sano heard something he never expected.

“I was here looking for an item, a knife, that could remove my others. It was taken from me during the scuffle. As for why I was attacked I have no answers. I do know, that I was warned about you.”

Looking at Raido X for a moment Sano was at a loss for words, how had he been warned about Sano when they never knew each other.

"I don't know why you would have been warned about me," Sano said looking at Raido as the rain fell clouding his eyes, "if what you say is true, and you were purchasing the knife than I am no threat to you. Though it appears you are not the only one interested in obtaining it."

Still looking into Raido's eyes, Sano could see him look away and he did the same noticing the police cars getting ever closer.

“I think they’re looking for us. It’s not safe to stay in one spot until we can find out what is going on.”

Agreeing with Raido, Sano followed him off the roof and further away from the sirens.

"Follow me," Sano said catching up to Raido, "I have a hotel room rented in downtown London, we can lay low there until things die down. In the meantime I would like to know everything that you know and were told, for if I am going to help you I would like to know what I am getting into."

Flying over London and back to his hotel room, Sano watched Raido carefully seeing how he handled himself. Sano still wasn't sure if he could trust him or not, but so far X hadn't given him any reason not to trust him. But still, Sano was going to keep a close eye on Raido just in case, for he still did not know a lot about him other than his dangerous alternate personalities.

Landing back at the hotel where Sano was staying and heading back into his room the two young men sat down to rest their wounds.

"If you would like to clean up and dry your clothes off you may," Sano said looking at Raido and motioning to the bathroom, "as for me I need to relax and conserve energy to help heal my wounds."

Sitting atop his bed, Sano gingerly crossed his legs and began to focus all his energy into letting his body heal itself. Given what Raido had already said about the knife, Sano figured whoever stole it from him might not have the best of intentions for using it. Either way, Sano knew that after the incident in the store he was going to be in this for the long haul. And if that knife did what Raido said helping him get it would benefit more people than just him.

"If you would like to clean up and dry your clothes off you may, as for me I need to relax and conserve energy to help heal my wounds."

X watched as Sano sat on his bed and focused himself to heal his wounds. “That must come in handy,” X thought as he felt the bruises on his back and chest throb. The cut on his neck had bled down his neck and soaked his shirt collar.

He walked over to the window of Sano’s room and grabbed a chair. He threw his jacket over the back of it and sat. He put his hands under his chin and lost himself in thought. What did those men want with the knife? Who were they? What connection did they have with the mind reader? Why was he warned about him? He had all these questions and no answers.

X spun his chair around and turned his head from the city. “You’ll have to excuse the interruption, but I need to know why you are here and if you know anything about those men tonight. And your name would be helpful as well, since you already seem to know mine.”

As Sano closed his eyes to concentrate on healing he could Raido X throw his jacket over a chair and sit down. Not wanting to interrupt Raido's though, Sano closed his eyes and focused on his wounds and his body's healing process. As he sat there he suddenly heard Raido's voice.

“You’ll have to excuse the interruption, but I need to know why you are here and if you know anything about those men tonight. And your name would be helpful as well, since you already seem to know mine.”

Opening his eyes Sano looked over at Raido as he sat in the chair looking like he was deep in thought.

"My name was lost years ago," the young telepath said completely forgetting he hadn't introduced himself amid all the chaos, "but everyone calls me Sano."

Looking out the window for a minute and then back to Raido, Sano added, "As for those men that attacked you today I know as much about them as you do I'm afraid. Although there was something oddly familiar about the suits, a sort of deja vu you might say but I'm not sure."

Sano cringed slightly as he heard himself utter those final words. Those suits were familiar to him but he didn't want to think of where they had come from. For the place he had seen something like them was a place he had fought hard to forget about. Yet he couldn't help but remember the dreams he had been having ever since he came to London.

"As for why I am here," Sano continued, "I am on vacation as odd as that may seem. After the beating I administered to my body I needed some time off and I had learned a lot about London when I was younger and had always wanted to visit."

As he spoke those words a shiver shot up Sano's spine, he had learned about London from his former commander, Colonel Lang.

"It can't be," Sano thought his mind suddenly racing, "he died as did everyone else when the base was destroyed he must have."

Looking back up at Raido after having convinced himself of Lang's death Sano spoke again saying, "I have one question for you if you don't mind my asking. Who warned you of me and what did they say to you?"

X stayed in his chair watching with unblinking eyes as Sano’s wounds vanished from his exterior while he spoke.

"I have one question for you if you don't mind my asking. Who warned you of me and what did they say to you?"

X turned his gaze back toward the city outside the barrier of glass. London was still bright even after the veil of night had settled upon it. From the hotel room of Sano X could see the clock tower called Big Ben and other buildings he did not know the names of but had seen in pictures. When he was human he had probably received a small amount of education, but that was many forgotten years ago. He was no longer human; he didn’t know what he was. All he knew now was that things like him shouldn’t exist in this world.

X saw his reflection in the glass before him and he turned his eyes from it. He cast his gaze toward the street below. “An old man outside of Boston looked into the entrails of a dead rat and told me that my fate resided in this city. Before he died he warned me that I would find myself confronted by a telepath. He told me to be weary of him, though he did not have time to say why or how my journey here will end.”

X could see Sano’s reflection in the glass as he sat on the bed listening. He had expected him to hold whatever disbelief or disgust at what he said to himself, he didn’t disappoint. X’s methods of information gathering were unconventional, but they got results. His knowledge of the occult came from years of unknowing tutelage from Z. Z’s arrogance made him easy to gather information from during Y’s time in control. Through the beatings and torture of Z, X learned how to speak, steal, command, and to fight. To this day however, he has never bested Z in single combat.

“It looks like our fates are intertwined for now, so I suggest we make the best of a difficult situation. I will be keeping an eye on you, however.” Just then a vision flashed before X’s eyes. Men, gunfire, smoke, they were coming! X jumped up from his chair with force enough to throw it into the back wall! He looked down at the street and saw sirens and flashing lights surrounding the hotel. “The police are here! They must have tracked us some how! We have to go, now!” There was a bang at the door at the door and a thick accent demanding entrance!

X looked at the window and then at Sano. He could see that he understood. Sano went to the window just as the door burst open with a kick! Officers filled the room while X drew his guns from behind his back! X jumped over the head of Sano. He stood as a wall between the policemen and him as they unloaded their clips! The bullets struck X’s body like raindrops making a puddle of spent metal at his feet! “Time to leave!”

Sitting and waiting for Raido's response, Sano's body continued to heal itself slowly closing up all his wounds on the outside. Watching Raido closely Sano saw him look out the window up at the sky and then down to the street below before he finally spoke.

“An old man outside of Boston looked into the entrails of a dead rat and told me that my fate resided in this city. Before he died he warned me that I would find myself confronted by a telepath. He told me to be weary of him, though he did not have time to say why or how my journey here will end.”

Not taking his eyes off of Raido, Sano digested what he had just heard his new 'traveling companion' say.

"His methods are unique," Sano said, "and apparently effective. If only he had been able to learn more of what was to come."

Staying quiet Sano watched as Raido continued to look out the window and down at what was happening on the street below.

“It looks like our fates are intertwined for now, so I suggest we make the best of a difficult situation. I will be keeping an eye on you, however.”

"I agree," Sano responded, "and I will be keeping watch on you as well, but not with my eyes alone."

Shifting his position slightly Sano saw Raido suddenly stand up so quickly and violently that the chair he had been sitting in flew back against the wall. Before Sano could ask what was wrong Raido let him know.

“The police are here! They must have tracked us some how! We have to go, now!”

Standing up with a start Sano could hear the sirens that were stopping in front of the hotel and the sudden banging at the door. Looking over to Raido, Sano could see in his eyes that it was time to go and he agreed whole heartedly. As Sano reached the window and started to open it he heard the door get kicked open and spun around only to have Raido jump over him. Acting as a shield Raido blocked the bullets that filled the room allowing Sano to open the window and climb out.

“Time to leave!”

"Way ahead of you," Sano replied motioning to the window, "after you, I'll keep them off us for a little bit."

Watching as Raido headed out through the window, Sano spun around and noticed the police slowly converging on the window. They looked hesitant and Sano couldn't blame them, they had just witnessed Raido getting shot and not taking any damage before flying away. Lifting the bed up off the floor, Sano threw it at the police slamming them into the ground and knocking them unconcious.

Looking to the door Sano could heard footsteps and voices coming down the hall towards the room. Slamming the door shut Sano picked up the bed and placed it standing up in front of the door. Floating out of the window Sano saw where Raido had headed off to and quickly caught up to him.

"Looks like we're going to have to be more careful," Sano said, "we may want to start by walking, we're not exactly inconspicuous when we fly around like this. And I may just know a place where we can go to hide out for a little bit."

Floating over to a dark deserted alley Sano slowly descended and landed on the ground with Raido landing a few seconds later. Walking to the entrance to the alley, Sano looked out to make sure that there was no one around. Quickly scanning the area telepathically Sano found that no one had noticed them and walked out of the alley. Pulling up his hood and putting his hands into the pocket of his sweatshirt, Sano looked down at the ground and began heading back towards the pub where he had eaten earlier.

X dropped down into the alley next to Sano. He put his hands into his jacket pocket and walked outside into the busy street. The light rain beaded up on X’s sunglasses as he followed Sano. They were in a very bad situation. The law enforcement of London was after them, there was a mysterious syndicate that was in possession of a very dangerous artifact, and they were on the run. They were surrounded by enemies, and this wasn’t just his paranoia this time.

X looked around him at all the shadowed faces under their umbrellas. He could feel all their eyes upon them. They walked by a coffee shop and he saw a person reading the London Times. He nudged Sano in the elbow and nodded his head in the direction of the paper. The headline read “Store goes up in flames, two meta-humans suspected,” under the headline was a police composite sketch of Sano and Raido.

“Someone must have seen us after being forced out of the building, or the people who actually shot up the place told them about us. If it’s the later we are up against a very smart opponent.” X flipped up his collar and pushed his glasses further up his nose. “After we get to where we’re going, it would be best if we went back to the scene of the crime to look for anything that might lead us to our quarry.”

X also needed to find somewhere to get some rest. He could feel his others banging on his consciousness. He needed rest, or he wouldn’t be able to keep them caged any longer. Lately it was getting worse. He needed to rest more often than he had before. His mind was weakening, or they were getting stronger. Maybe it was side-effects of what happened to his body at the Titan’s tower. He didn’t know and didn’t care. He only knew that he had to do something before it was too late.

Walking through London, the rain lightly falling on his hood, Sano continued to walk along with his face pointed down. As they walked past a coffee shop Sano could feel X elbow him and looking over Sano could see why. Someone was sitting in the shop reading the London Times which featured not only an article about the incident at the store but their likenesses as well.

“Someone must have seen us after being forced out of the building, or the people who actually shot up the place told them about us. If it’s the later we are up against a very smart opponent.”

"I hate to make the situation any worse than it is but I have a feeling its the latter," Sano said quietly looking around at the people around him as he did, "whoever went after that knife wanted it bad enough to kill for it."

As they continued to walk through London Sano could feel himself becoming somewhat fatigued. He was healed on the outside but he still had some internal injuries and was running low on energy.

“After we get to where we’re going, it would be best if we went back to the scene of the crime to look for anything that might lead us to our quarry.”

"I agree," Sano said, "but first I suggest we get something to eat and get some rest as neither one of us is in great shape right now."

Contuining down past countless shops and restaurants the two watched as the number of people around them thinned and the area got more and more dark. Reaching a seemingly abandoned area, Sano nodded his head to the right and headed down a small alley. A short walk down and they had reached their destination, the small pub at which Sano had stopped earlier.

Walking into the pub Sano did something he normally wouldn't have and pulled down his hood fully revealing his face. Sano could tell by the reaction on Raido's face that he was shocked that he had done that. As they came into the light the bartender walked over from a table in the back.

"Well look who came back," the bartender said smiling, "I guess you'll be wanting a place to stay for the night."

"Normally I would be shocked by a statement like that," Sano said smirking, "but with the day I've had it doesn't surprise me. And yes, my compatriot and I would like a quiet place to stay for the night and a hot meal if you don't mind."

"Not at all," the bartender replied, "I have some cots all ready upstairs and I'll be right back with two burgers, just make yourselves at home."

Sitting down at the bar, Sano took off his sunglasses, wiped them off on his t-shirt and put them back on. Watching as Raido sat at the bar rather cautiously, Sano figured he should explain.

"You have your methods of gathering information and I have mine," Sano said looking over at Raido, "it just so happens that the bartender here tipped me off that there was a great little shop nearby, and that happens to be the same shop we helped tear up. Don't ask me why, but I have the feeling that we can trust her and besides, we both could use the meal and the rest after the day we've had."

Just as he finished speaking, the bartender came back and left two burgers, two plates of fries and two sodas for them before heading back to the table she was at when they came in. Not waiting for any pleasantries Sano dug in and started to inhale the burger and fries. He hadn't eaten in awhile and he needed his strength to replenish what was lost from trying to heal all his wounds.

"You have your methods of gathering information and I have mine," Sano said looking over at Raido, "it just so happens that the bartender here tipped me off that there was a great little shop nearby, and that happens to be the same shop we helped tear up. Don't ask me why, but I have the feeling that we can trust her and besides, we both could use the meal and the rest after the day we've had."

X watched the bartender return with plates for each of them. He squinted behind his sunglasses while Sano filled his face. X slowly reached behind his back and felt the cold handle of his desert eagle. He raised it out of his belt with the smoothness of a trained killer. He rested it sideways on his thigh with the barrel aimed at the bartender, now bussing another table. His finger was nervously pulling on the trigger.

X kept his eyes facing forward as he spoke. “You trust to easily Sano. Read her mind now to make sure her intentions are true, or I will kill her where she stands.”

X was a naturally paranoid person. Sometimes kindness would come to him and he would accept it without thinking, like on Ireland. But not now, too much had happened to allow him to fully trust anyone, especially a woman who seemed to know more than she should. He had killed before and he wouldn’t lose sleep from doing it again.

“You trust to easily Sano. Read her mind now to make sure her intentions are true, or I will kill her where she stands.”

Glancing over at Raido, Sano could see that he was deadly serious and had his gun resting on his leg out of sight of everyone else in the bar.

"You trust an old man who read the entrails of a dead rat but not a woman who gives you a free meal," Sano replied quietly, "but if it will make you happy I will read the minds of everyone in the bar. But do me a favor and put your gun away, if you fire that thing off someone outside of the bar is bound to hear. If anyone has to be killed I will do it, discretely."

Putting a fry in his mouth Sano began to read the minds of everyone in the bar, and to his surprise Raido was more right than he knew. Everyone in the joint had some connection to the group of men who had attacked them earlier, whether they fought with them or were snitches. Getting to the bartender Sano again saw that Raido's paranoia had been founded and the beds they had been promised were booby trapped.

"Ok, so you were right," Sano muttered to Raido as he took a drink, "but the food isn't tainted to start eating before you begin looking suspicious. In the meantime I am going to dig deeper into the bartenders mindto hopefully find something more useful."

Upset at himself for trusting so easily and at Raido for interrupting his meal, Sano re-entered the mind of the bartender and began to dig around for information. After a bit of searching Sano found things in the bartender's mind that he wished he had not known. Coursing through her mind were thoughts of someone she called Commander Lang, he was in charge, and he was on his way to pick up Sano and Raido. Whoever this Lang was, the bartender seemed to fear him for one reason or another and unfortunately did not know more than Sano had already found.

Finishing what little food was left and draining his glass, Sano sat motionless for a minute as he took all his findings in. The bartender had mentioned Commander Lang and Sano couldn't help but think she meant Colonel Lang, the man who had trained him. He had thought that once before since he had met up with Raido but he didn't want to believe it, Lang was supposed to be dead, they were all supposed to be dead. No matter how hard he tried this time, however, Sano could not shake the fact that it could be him, that he could be alive, at the very least it would explain the dreams he had been having.

"We'll have to head somewhere Northeast of here," Sano said looking over at Raido, "for the person looking for us in on their way here coming from the Northwest. And as much as I do not want to believe it, I may know who is looking for us, but not why."

Looking back to the bartender, Sano used his telekenesis to lock the door to the bar and turn the sign from Open to Closed. Before anyone in the bar could react, Sano went to work. The bartender and the man she was sitting with were the first to go, in an instant they both snapped up like a shot and dropped to the floor, their brain stems severed. Three men sitting at a table in the back were in the process of standing up and unholstering their weapons when Sano splattered their hearts. The last man in the bar had managed to stand up and aim his gun at the back of Sano's head when his gun hand suddenly broke and he felt the knife from his belt pierce his heart.

"If I am correct, and the person I am thinking of is behind all this, then we have a very tough fight ahead of us," Sano said as the last guy he killed hit the floor, "so I suggest you eat up and collect all the usable ammo from those guys before we leave, which we should do before the hour is up."

"Oh, and thanks," Sano added hesitating, "Had you not been here I would have walked right into a trap."

X could hear bodies falling all around him.

"Oh, and thanks," Sano added hesitating, "Had you not been here I would have walked right into a trap."

X kept his face like stone as he spoke coldly. "You thank to quickly as well Sano. If you had refused my request..." X motioned his head downward where hidden inside his jacket he held his other gun, pointed at Sano's stomach. He put his gun away and took his burger in his mouth. He ate half of it with a single bite then threw it back on his plate. He reached for his drink and leaned back in his chair.

"You can leave now if you wish, but I am looking for answers. And I am very interesting to meet the puppetmaster of these marionettes."

"You thank to quickly as well Sano. If you had refused my request..."

Looking down Sano could see that Raido had kept the other gun he carried trained on Sano's stomach.

"A shot to the stomach," Sano said a bit surprised, "I would have thought you would have gone for a guaranteed kill."

Watching his new companion carefully Sano saw him eat half of his burger in one bite and proceed to seemingly relax for the first time and take a drink.

"You can leave now if you wish, but I am looking for answers. And I am very interesting to meet the puppetmaster of these marionettes."

'You're not going to get rid of me that easily," Sano said, "whoever is behind this, whether I know them or not, is not going to stop coming for you or me. And after the torrent of nightmares and visions of my past that I've been having since I got here I plan on finding out if my suspicions are true."

Scanning around the bar and looking at everyone Sano realized a deadly thought, Raido had been right, he was too quick to trust the bartender. Normally he rarely ever talked to strangers let alone accept free food and advice from them. Even walking up to Titans Tower and joining the BBQ had been hard for Sano as he was not a people person. Maybe his dreams had affected him, perhaps the thought of the person he hated most being alive had blinded him; either way this was no time for either him or Raido to be doing things solo, even with their powers.

Looking back to Raido, Sano added, "If we're going to be in this together I should probably share my suspicions about who is behind this with you. But first, lets get out of here and head somewhere safer."

"If we're going to be in this together I should probably share my suspicions about who is behind this with you. But first, let’s get out of here and head somewhere safer."

X gulped down his drink like it might be his last. He placed the cup back onto the bar and spun his chair around. “Alright Sano, we’ll play it the safe way.” X slowly rose from his chair. He placed his hands in his pockets as he walked toward the exit. He reached for the handle of the door only to have it turned and thrusted inward.

The door struck X in the arm, shattering on impact! From behind the door a large figure slowly walked. He was the size of the door frame and just as wide. He wore a black dress uniform of an armed force that X didn’t recognize. He took his hat off his head and thrust it behind his back. Another soldier that stood behind him grabbed it quickly and backed off.

“You two are the ones who killed some of my men,” the man said in a deep and commanding voice. He drove his fist forward like a cobra striking its victim! His fist collided with X’s jaw sending a shockwave out that shattered the windows of the bar! X soared through the air and smashed into the wall behind the bar. He dropped with a thud on his stomach!

“And you, we know all about your powers,” he said as he cracked his neck to the side. “Don’t even think about using your little mind tricks on me, my body can’t be affected by your telewhatever.”

Behind the bar X was rising to his knees. He rubbed his jaw as he thought “not bad.” He placed a foot under him and began to lift himself to his feet when the pain struck him. He temples erupted in a torrent of agony! He seized his head and screamed. “Not now, Not now!!!” As he screamed his voice changed from the tone of X into the deep growl of Y! X’s brown hair pulsed red and a red filled his brown eyes like water filling a cup! Y yelled and fire erupted from the Raido body vaporizing the bar and the wall behind him! Y sat on the floor for a moment while everyone around still in the bar stood not knowing for sure what just happened.

Sano knew. And things just got a lot more complicated.

“Alright Sano, we’ll play it the safe way.”

Nodding his approval Sano watched as Raido slowly got up off of his stool and headed for the door. Just as Sano was getting up off of his stool he saw Raido rocked backwards and a beast of a man shoved the door open.

“You two are the ones who killed some of my men”

A little shocked that the brute could talk Sano watched helplessly as he clocked Raido in the mouth sending him reeling backwards.

“And you, we know all about your powers, Don’t even think about using your little mind tricks on me, my body can’t be affected by your telewhatever.”

"Ok, so he's not a smart as I believed," Sano thought to himself, "but he certainly makes up for it in size. Well, without my telekenesis I'm gonna have to chop this guy down bit by bit, starting with the legs."

Just as he was about to attack Sano heard Raido yell out and looked over to see him compatriot grabbing at his temples. Knowing all too well what was happening Sano could only wait and watch as Raido Y switched places with Raido X. His voice deeping and his hair changing, Raido let out a vicious yell and burned the bar and everything around him. Jumping backwards to avoid the flames, Sano quickly pulled off his sweatshirt and tshirt as they were kissed by the fire. Stamping out the fire on his sweatshirt Sano dropped into a low stance and quickly evaluated the situation.

"Current status: FUBAR. Allies: none. Major threats: two," Sano told himself as he ran down his usual list, "Most Dangerous target: Y. Course of action: take down the genetic freak."

Running forward, Sano jumped over the down Y and dropping below the incoming fist aimed at his head he dropped kicked the brute in the left knee. Falling backwards and planting his hands on the ground beneath him Sano spun himself around and kicked the brute in the back of the knee. Feeling a blast of heat coming his way Sano spun on his hand and pushed himself up aided by his telekenesis to avoid the fireblast that hit the wall behind him.

Allowing gravity to pull him back to the ground Sano dropped kick the brute in the side of the knee causing it to buckle somewhat. Pushing off and flipping backwards, Sano jumped over the burning bar and landed precariously on the liquor shelves behind it. Picking up two beer tabs with his mind, Sano lunged forward at the brute and brought the tabs past him and used them to poke the big guy in the eyes.

His opponent blinded temporarily Sano pushed himself forward with his telekenesis and struck the brute with both hands in the stomach. Taking advantage of the situation Sano proceeded to hit the brute in the stomach as hard and as fast as he could. Dodging the wild swings from the brute, Sano again felt a rush of heat from behind him and jumped up, planted his hands on the brute's head and pushed him forward into the flame as he pushed himself away.

"This is not going to be easy," Sano thought as he hit the ground behind the brute sweating from the heat, "but if I can keep from getting hit hard I should be able to make it out of this alive. And hopefully I can find away to walk out of here with X."

The Raido body kneeled on the floor. Hellfire swirled around it like a cyclone, licking the ceiling above it and turning it to ash. Y stood up slowly with his head hanging loosely on his neck. His blazing red hair stood on its ends and danced in the wind his own fire created!

He looked about him with a curious glare. He saw two humans fighting, their pathetic will to survive pushing them to kill one another. Y smiled and smoke hissed from between his teeth. He raised a hand and launched a jet of flame ripping through the bar! The two fighters dodged certain death and the fire burned through the wall and burst onto the street! The sweet screams of the innocent filled Y’s ears.

He launched several more fire blasts merely to watch the creatures flee. If he wished them dead, they would be dead. Death was easy, but not as entertaining as beings struggling to survive. Now, however, their time was up, Y was getting hungry.

He fired one more blast! Before his eyes one of the creatures leaped onto the head of the other and pushed him toward the flame! He fell to the side, landing just as the fire circled above him! The heat scorched his pants and made his flesh bubble!

The deep growl of Y filled the room and canceled the pained groans of the human on the floor. “Hahahahaha! You humans are always running around and making yourselves gamey and stringy, though you look tender.” Y turned his burning red eyes onto the injured super soldier. The soldier looked into the eyes of hell and yelled with terror and panic!

The soldier rolled onto his belly and crawled on his hands toward the door! His legs dragged uselessly behind him as he reached a trembling hand at Sano. The fear in his eyes paralyzed his men who stood at the doorway.

In an instant Y was upon him! He sat upon his back with the back of his head toward Sano and the soldiers. They all watched in disgust as Y bent toward the sizzling legs of the soldier and dug his teeth into the burned flesh. The soldier pounded the floor and screamed as Y ripped a chunk of muscle from his thigh! Ligaments dangled from his teeth as he chewed. Blood splattered onto the wooden floor and dripped through the floorboards.

By the fourth bite the soldier passed out from shock and lack of blood. Y stood up again as blood dripped from his smile. It had happened in an instant and everyone around was too shocked to move, but they were waking up now. Several soldiers had vomited onto the street and scurried away. They were attempting to regroup themselves.

“He’s not going anywhere now, so I think I’ll move on to the second course.” Y looked around the room like a man at a buffet table. Shots rang out from the soldiers in the doorway! Their bullets melted instantly in Y’s fire! Sirens could be heard outside, growing louder. Y always enjoyed dinner and a show.

As he landed behind the genetic super soldier Sano could feel the heat of the flames as the began to burn through the soldier. Standing up Sano could hear the deep growl of Y as the smell of burning flesh started to seep into his nose.

“Hahahahaha! You humans are always running around and making yourselves gamey and stringy, though you look tender.”

Not wanting to look back but almost forced to by the expressions on the faces of the other soldiers who had come there, Sano turned to see what was happening. Facing back into the doorway now Sano could see the super soldier attempting to get away only to be stopped when Y jumped on his back. Watching in horror Sano saw Y begin to tear at the flesh of the soldier with his teeth slowly eating his flesh. All around him Sano could hear the guards throwing up and either passing out or running away in horror.

"Ok, new evaluation," Sano thought as he never took his eyes off of Y, "the brute is down and his soldiers have fled, the only threat now is the demon."

As he said that Sano could hear sirens in the background slowly closing in on them and thought, "Alright, second problem, the cops are approaching and they're already looking for me. Of course with the psycho flamer on the rampage they may not make it that close."

Still paying close attention to Y, Sano watched as he looked around the bar hungrily and those soldiers who had been too busy puking began to fire. Showing no sign of worry, Y looked over to the doorway to find his next course as the bullets the soldiers were firing merely melted before they reached him.

“He’s not going anywhere now, so I think I’ll move on to the second course.”

Hearing those words and seeing that their bullets were doing nothing the soldiers turned and ran as the sirens came ever closer and Y moved towards the door.

"Damn it," Sano thought to himself as he braced for whatever was going to happen next, "we had enough problems without flameboy here showing up. Now how did they switch again, if I remember correctly, which I may not be, I think the one in control has to be tired for another one to take over."

Seeing a blast of flame coming straight for his head, Sano quickly ducked only to see another blast heading right at him. Vaulting himself up and backwards Sano used his telekenesis to propel himself on top of the roof of the builing next to the bar.

"Great, how do I tire out a demon who is shooting fire at me," Sano though angrily, "guess I'll just have to try running away and getting him to tail me trying to fricasee me as he goes."

Looking down at the imposing figure of Y standing in the doorway of the bar, Sano did the only thing he could think of to intice Y into chasing him.

"Hey flamer," Sano yelled down at Y, "I hope you like fast food cause the second course of your meal is not going to be as easy to come by as the first."

Dodging another blast of flame sent his way, Sano floated up off the roof with his telekenesis and began to lead Y away.

The fresh gore of the super soldier dripped from Y’s mouth as Sano flew off spouting insults. “You dare speak that way to me!” Y fired a blast of fire after the escaping Sano as he floated several feet off the floor of the bar! “I will turn this entire city to ash and feast upon your flesh!” Y screamed in his furry, fire erupted from his eyes and circled around him! The flames exploded like a volcano, bringing the bar down all around him! The bodies of those left behind were instantly incinerated under the intense heat! The entire street burst into flames from the wrath of Y!

Out of the blazing street flew a figure, coming forth like a phoenix from the flame! Y floated above the destruction he had wrought with a look of rage upon his face. He turned his head quickly from side to side until he saw Sano flying in the distance. “I’ll bring the fires of Hell upon you!” He flew after Sano leaving a trail of fire behind him!

Watching as the bar was engulfed in a massive flame and burned completely to the ground, Sano saw the figure of Y slowly rise from the fire.

“I’ll bring the fires of Hell upon you!”

"Well, I had wanted to go on an interesting vacation," Sano thought to himself as he flew away from Y, "but this is a little much."

Dodging fire blasts from Y as he tried to fly to a more open and less populated area Sano could feel the sweat dripping from his face as the flames got closer and closer.

"What's the matter flamer," Sano yelled back to Y, "can't hit a moving target."

Just as he got the words out of his mouth Sano could feel the seering pain as a blast of fire skimmed across his back and sent him careening down. Slamming into the pavement Sano could feel his left arm break and his shoulder come out of the socket as he skidded to a stop up against a building. Feeling the flesh on his back sizzle and boil from Y's attack, Sano slowly pulled himself up against the side of the building he had hit.

"I knew I should have stayed quiet," Sano mumbled to himself, "now if only I could come up with a way to tire him out without him flame broiling me."

Looking around him Sano could see a lot of garbage cans and garbage bags all strewn about. Thinking all the junk might come in handy, Sano started to scan the skies for Y and didn't have to look long. Seeing the demon approach him, Sano began picking up the garbage bags around him and started throwing them one by one at Y. Feeling his energy diminish with every thing he did Sano hoped he would be able to drain enough energy from Y and buy himself enough time to make some kind of getaway.