Chapter 13: The Brewing Storm (part 2)

You're really not built for sneaking around, are you?"

Steel’s only reply is a finger held to his lips as he sneaks up to the same door he saw Arlo and the woman enter. Finding it unlocked, he steps into the dark room. He quickly scans the room before walking into the next one. His eyes instantly lock onto the humanoid shape casually thrown under the dining table. His footsteps thump heavily through the room as he approaches the body, kneeling beside it and checking its pulse. "This isn't Arlo. Must've been a guard. He's dead," he whispers with barely concealed rage. *Doesn't matter if this man was a criminal or not. Criminals deserve jail, not death.*

Lena's eyes widen as she takes in the scene before her, her gaze flicking between the lifeless body and Steel's angry expression. *He's actually upset about this?* she thinks, surprised by the depth of his emotions. "Looks like Arlo's not messing around," she says quietly, her voice devoid of its usual playful tone. "We need to find him before he kills anyone else." She moves closer to Steel, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of where Arlo might have gone.

"Let's keep mov-" Steel is cut off by a panicked shout coming from another room on the first floor. "RYAN'S DEAD!" the words ring through the empty house for a moment before alarms begin blaring through the house. Instantly, all the lights turn on and footsteps can be heard as the still living guards within the building slam open doors and shout commands. Steel glances out the window and sees more guards pouring out of the connected country club and running over. "Shit! Let's move quickly, we gotta find Arlo!" he yells out as he runs into the next room, only to be met with two guards with assault rifles pointed directly at him. The smell of gunpowder fills the air as they begin unloading their clips into the metal man, who ignores the bullets pinging against his skin and continues to charge at them, swiftly knocking them both out with heavy hooks to the jaw.

*Shit, this just got real fast!* Lena's thoughts race as the alarms blast through the house, followed by the sound of gunfire. She quickly follows Steel into the next room, her super speed allowing her to dodge the hail of bullets with ease. As Steel takes down the guards, she moves past him, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of Arlo. *We need to find him fast, before this whole place is swarming with guards!*

"Stick together! One room at a time!" Steel shouts at Quicksilver. "There could be traps or supers that counter you!" he warns, chasing after her as she zips across the room in an instant.

"SUPERS ON THE FIRST FLOOR" comes a loud shout from a neighboring room as another group of guards spots Steel's metal body.

*Traps? Counters? Don't worry about me, I can handle myself!* Lena thinks, her super speed carrying her through the room in a blur. She quickly scans each room, her sharp eyes picking up any signs of traps or hidden dangers. *I'll show him what I can do.* She zips past Steel, her speed causing a gust of wind that ruffles his hair. "You worry about yourself, Steel! I've got this!" she calls out, her voice echoing through the room.

Lena enters into a long hallway where six guards have set up an ambush. "Fire!" the man in the back commands as soon as he sees Quicksilver. Each man pulls the trigger of his rifle while aimed at the platinum haired woman, expecting to paint the walls with her blood.

*Ah, perfect timing!* Lena thinks to herself as she enters the hallway and sees the six guards setting up their ambush. *They think they can take me down? Ha!* she scoffs mentally. As soon as the command to fire is given, Lena's body begins to vibrate at an incredible speed, entering her Silver Slip mode. Time slows to a crawl around her, giving her ample time to react. She watches with amusement as the bullets lazily float through the air towards her. With a swift motion, she pushes each bullet aside, her fingers barely touching them as she easily redirects them away from herself, knowing that even if Steel was in their path he'd be fine. *These guys are so slow. It's almost unfair.* She approaches the first guard, a smug grin spreading across her face. *Time to teach them a lesson.*

*This is going to be so satisfying,* Her grin widens as she lines up her shot. She takes her time, savoring the moment, as she positions her foot perfectly. With a swift, powerful motion, she punts the guard's left nut with all her might. The impact is almost palpable, and Lena can feel the satisfying pop as the testicle bursts against her foot. *That never gets old.* The guard's face contorts in slow motion, his eyes bulging as his feet are lifted off the ground from the force of the kick. Once she withdraws her foot from his half-ruined sack, the unfortunate guard appears frozen in mid-air, although a close look reveals he's slowly moving upwards from the momentum of the kick. Lena giggles to herself, enjoying the absurdity of the situation. *Look at him, just floating there, screaming in agony.* She can't help but chuckle at the sight, her laughter echoing through the slow-motion world. *This is priceless.* She takes a moment to admire her handiwork before moving on to the next guard, her super speed allowing her to effortlessly dodge the continued hail of bullets being sent her way. *Time to give the rest of these guys a lesson they won't forget.*

*Time to get creative,* Lena decides, her eyes scanning the room for potential projectiles. Her gaze lands on a delicate vase sitting on a nearby table. *Perfect.* She picks it up, admiring its intricate design for a brief moment before turning her attention to the next guard. *Which one should I aim for?* she wonders, her eyes flicking between his legs, judging the size of his testicles by the bulge in his pants. *The left one looks bigger. That one it is.* She bends over to gently push the guard's legs apart then, with a swift motion, she smashes the vase into the guard's left nut, watching with satisfaction as it shatters against his crotch. The guard's face contorts in agony as he's lifted into the air, joining the first guard in a slow-motion hover. Lena's eyes continue to scan the room, her gaze falling on a small statue of a nude woman. *How fitting.* She picks it up, feeling the weight of it in her hand. *This one's going to hurt.* She approaches the next guard, her eyes once again judging the size of his testicles. *The right one looks like it's carrying a little extra baggage. That one's getting smashed.* With a swift swing, she brings the statue up between his legs onto the guard's right nut, watching with a smirk as it connects with a sickening crunch. The guard's scream is silent in the slow-motion world as he's sent flying into the air, joining the growing collection of airborne guards. *Let's get one more with whatever's lying around,* Lena thinks, her eyes searching for another projectile. Her gaze lands on a lamp sitting on a nearby table. *This should do the trick.* She picks it up, testing its weight in her hand. *Which one to aim for this time?* she wonders, her eyes once again judging the size of the guard's testicles. *The left one looks like it's sagging a bit more. That one's getting the lamp treatment.* With a swift swing, she smashes the lamp into the guard's left berry. The guard's face contorts in silent agony as he's lifted into the air, joining the other four guards in their slow-motion hover. Lena takes a moment to admire her handiwork, chuckling to herself at the absurdity of the scene.

*Just two more to go,* Lena thinks, feeling slightly disappointed the fun is coming to an end, her eyes scanning the room. She watches as the last two guards continue to fire at her, their bullets lazily floating through the air. *Pathetic.* With ease, she dodges the bullets, her super speed allowing her to move effortlessly around them. *Time to take care of these two.* She approaches the next guard, a sly grin spreading across her face. *This one's getting a special treat.* She drops into a split, her flexibility allowing her to easily position herself between his legs. With a swift uppercut, she connects with the guard's crotch, her fist flattening his testicles against his body. *Oof, that's gotta hurt.* The guard's face contorts in silent agony as he's sent flying into the air, joining the others. Lena's eyes narrow slightly as she realizes neither of his nuts popped. *Damn, I was hoping for a double pop.* She takes a few steps back, her eyes fixed on the guard's airborne form. *Guess I'll just have to try again.* She gets a running start, her super speed propelling her forward. With a powerful punt, she connects with the guard's airborne balls, feeling them burst against her foot. *Ah, that's better.* The guard's body jerks in mid-air as his nuts explode, sending him flying even higher into the air. *Much more satisfying.* Lena turns her attention to the final guard, who's still firing off bullets with his finger pulled against the trigger of his gun, his brain unable to process the high-speed events taking place in front of him. *And then there was one.* She approaches him, a wicked glint in her eye. *What to do with this one…* she thinks, her mind racing with possibilities. *Ah, I know just the thing.* She grins mischievously, her plan already forming.

*This one's going to be fun*. A wicked grin spreads across her beautiful face. She approaches the final guard, who's still firing off bullets with a confused expression. *He has no idea what's happening.* She reaches out, her hand closing around the barrel of his gun. With a swift motion, she points the gun at his crotch, her eyes fixed on his bulging pants. *This is going to hurt.* She watches with a mixture of amusement and a hint of evil glee as the slow-motion bullet fires from the gun, heading straight for the guard's groin. *This is going to be messy.* The bullet connects with a sickening squelch, tearing through fabric and flesh to pierce both of the guard's testicles. The guard's face contorts in silent agony as his body jerks from the impact, his eyes wide with shock. Lena feels a twinge of guilt mixed with her amusement, but she can't help herself. *I know this is wrong, but it's just too funny.* She can't suppress a giggle at the absurdity of the situation, her laughter echoing through the slow-motion world. *I'm a supervillain, after all. I'm supposed to be a little evil.*

*One last kick for good measure,* Lena casually decides, her eyes fixed on the guard's ruined crotch. She delivers a swift kick, connecting with his mangled sack. The guard's body jerks once more before he's sent flying into the air, joining the other five guards. Lena takes a moment to appreciate the sight before her, her eyes scanning the room filled with the airborne guards. *This is just too perfect.* Their faces contorted in silent agony, their bodies traveling through the air at a snail's pace. *I'm going to remember this for a long time. But not nearly as long as they'll remember it,* She can't help but laugh at the absurdity of the scene, her amusement echoing through the slow-motion world. With a final glance at her handiwork, Lena ends her Silver Slip, returning to normal time. The room erupts into chaos as the guards' silent screams become high-pitched wails of agony as they finally fall to the floor in an instant and cradle their ruined manhoods while sobbing. *Ah, music to my ears,* she thinks, chuckling to herself. "Aww y'alls balls never even had a chance," she taunts, her voice dripping with false pity and amusement. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more nuts to nail." With a wink, she dashes off, leaving the boys to their misery. *Time to find Arlo and put an end to this.*

\*\*\*

"Of course, Arlo. Whatever you say." 

Waiting for Rhea at the bottom of the hidden stairs is a research lab. Documents are scattered all over the room, piling high on desks and overflowing from cabinets. A high-tech computer sits on a desk in the leftmost corner of the room. An empty mug sits beside the keyboard, looking like it was used earlier in the day. The right side of the room contains lab equipment like beakers and microscopes. A plastic bag filled with pills sits beside the microscope. Each pill has a red S written on it.

*Oh my god, we did it. We actually did it.* Rhea's eyes widen as she takes in the sight before her. *This is it. This is the stash.* She rushes over to the plastic bag, her heart racing with excitement. *So many pills. We'll be set for life.* She reaches out, her fingers trembling as she picks up the bag. *I did it. I actually did it.* She turns to Arlo, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. "We got it, Arlo! We got the pills!" she exclaims, her voice barely above a whisper. *We're going to be rich. I'll be able to take care of Grandma.* The thought sends a surge of joy through her. *And I'll be able to finish school.* She looks up at Arlo, her eyes shining with excitement. *All thanks to him. He believed in me when no one else did.* She feels a rush of gratitude towards him, her heart swelling with affection. *I owe him everything.*

Arlo grins as he walks down the stairs behind her, hearing her shout of excitement. "Good work Rhea. Give me those," he commands as he snatches the bag from her hands and places them into a bag he brought with him. "Let's get out of here," he adds, sparing a quick glance around the room but ignoring everything besides the pills. *These documents might be worth something, but there's too many to know what to grab,* he analyzes, making a move to head back up the stairs.

The moment Arlo steps onto the first stair leading upwards, Rhea hears a loud shout through her earpiece connected to the guard's communications. "FOUND A DEAD BODY, RING THE ALARM!"

Instantly, the room glows red as alarms blare throughout the entire room. "THE LAB IS OPEN, WE FOUND THE INTRUDERS!" Rhea hears at the same time as the unmistakable sound of heavy boot steps thump their way towards the top of the stairs.

*Oh no, oh no, oh no.* Rhea's heart drops as she hears the shout through her earpiece. *We've been found. They know we're here.* Panic floods her system, her mind racing with fear. *What do we do? What do we do?* She spins around, her eyes darting wildly around the room, searching for an escape route. *There has to be a way out. There has to be.* But her eyes fall on the stairs, the sound of footsteps growing louder with each passing second. *They're coming. They're going to catch us.* She looks at Arlo, her eyes wide with fear. "Arlo, what do we do? They're coming!" she cries out, her voice trembling with panic. *He'll know what to do. He always knows what to do.* She looks at him, her eyes pleading for a solution. *Please, Arlo. Please save us.*

Arlo's eyes widen and he dives off the stairs and into the room, barely dodging the bullets that begin flying down the stairs. He doesn't respond to Rhea and instead grabs a potted cactus from his bag and throws it at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes flash green as the cactus rapidly expands to block off the stairs. Bullets slam against the cactus, but it holds firm. He then takes out another plant, this one looking like a small tree. He sets it in the middle of the room and backs up, motioning for Rhea to stand beside him. His eyes glow green for a moment as he channels his powers, causing the tree to instantly expand upwards and outwards, until it's branches are pressing against the ceiling and the trunk is large enough to hold onto.

"Grab onto the tree and hold tight!" he yells out, as he hugs the trunk tightly. As soon as Rhea complies, his eyes glow green again and the tree shoots upwards with immense force, tearing a hole into the ceiling and sending Rhea and Arlo upwards through the house. The canopy of the tree protects them from the majority of the debris falling, but both criminals get pounded with dust and a few chunks of concrete.

"THEY'RE ON THE TREE!" a guard shouts, but it's too late. They're moving upwards too fast to fire at. The tree grows upwards and upwards, until it bursts through the roof and continues even further upwards until Rhea and Arlo are exposed to the cool night air, illuminated by the light of the full moon.

*What's happening? What's he doing?* Rhea's mind reels as Arlo grabs her and pulls her into the room, bullets flying past them. *This can't be happening. We can't get caught.* She stumbles, her legs trembling beneath her, but Arlo's grip keeps her upright. *He's going to save us. He always saves us.* She watches in awe as he summons the cactus, blocking off the stairs. *How does he do that?* She doesn't have time to wonder, as he's already grabbing another plant, this one a small tree. *What's he going to do with that?* She watches, mesmerized, as the tree grows and expands, its branches reaching for the ceiling. *This is incredible. This is impossible.* But before she can fully process what's happening, Arlo is yelling at her to grab onto the tree. *What? Why?* But she doesn't hesitate, wrapping her arms tightly around the trunk. *I trust him. I trust him completely.* As the tree shoots upwards, Rhea feels her stomach drop, her heart racing with fear and exhilaration. *This is insane. This is amazing.* She clings tightly to the tree, her eyes squeezed shut as they burst through the ceiling, debris raining down around them. *We're going to die. We're going to die.* But they keep rising, the wind whipping through her hair, the cool night air a shock after the stuffy basement. *We did it. We actually did it.* She opens her eyes, staring up at the moon, feeling a sense of freedom wash over her. *We're free. We're safe.* She looks at Arlo, her eyes shining with gratitude. *He saved us. Again.* She feels a rush of love and admiration for him, her heart swelling with emotion. *I'll never be able to repay him. I'll never be able to thank him enough.*

"We're not out of this yet Rhea! Grab this branch!" he orders, his voice full of confidence and excitement. He lives for this thrill. He grabs onto a thicker branch, waits for Rhea to mimic him, then uses his powers to rapidly grow the branch so that it begins carrying them across the night sky, over the guards rushing towards the house, and towards the gate they snuck through.

*We're not safe yet?* Rhea's heart skips a beat as Arlo's words cut through her euphoria. *Of course we're not safe yet. We have to get out of here.* She nods, her mind snapping back into focus. *Right, we need to get out of here.* She grabs onto the branch, her hands trembling slightly as she looks at Arlo. *He knows what he's doing. He'll get us out of here.* She watches, her eyes wide with amazement, as the branch begins to grow, carrying them across the night sky. *This is insane. This is incredible.* She clings tightly to the branch, the wind whipping through her hair, her heart pounding with excitement and fear. *We're flying. We're actually flying.* She looks at Arlo, her eyes shining with awe. *He's incredible. He's a genius.* She feels a rush of admiration and gratitude towards him, her heart swelling with emotion. *I'll never be able to repay him. I'll never be able to thank him enough.* She looks down, watching the ground rush by beneath them, her stomach dropping with the thrill of it all. *We're going to make it. We're going to get away.* She feels a sense of hope and relief wash over her. *We're going to be okay.*

"What the fuck?" "Look at that tree!" "There must be a super there," and similar comments ring out from the guards rushing towards the house as they stare in awe at the enormous tree that suddenly shot up through the center of the house. "ON THE BRANCH! SHOOT THEM!" the order rings out above the mutters of admiration. The guards within earshot move their gaze away from the trunk of the tree and towards one of the branches, spotting the two figures trying to escape. Gunshots ring out as they begin firing at the rapidly moving criminals. Other branches grow from the tree to block them from the bullets, but the guards don't stop firing.

*Shit, shit, shit.* Rhea's heart races as she hears the guards shouting below. *They see us. They're going to shoot us.* She clings tightly to the branch, her knuckles white with fear. *We can't get hit. We can't get caught.* She looks at Arlo, her eyes wide with panic. *He'll protect us. He'll keep us safe.* But even as she thinks it, she hears the sound of gunfire, bullets whizzing past her head. *Oh god, oh god, oh god.* She ducks her head, trying to make herself as small as possible, her heart pounding in her chest. *This is it. This is the end.* But then she sees Arlo's eyes glow green, and new branches sprout from the tree, blocking the bullets. *He's saving us again. He's always saving us.* She feels a rush of gratitude towards him, her heart swelling with emotion. *I'll never be able to repay him. I'll never be able to thank him enough.* She looks up at him, her eyes shining with admiration. *He's incredible. He's a genius.* She clings tighter to the branch, her heart still racing with fear, but also with a sense of awe and wonder. *We're going to make it. We're going to get away.* She looks down, watching the ground rush by beneath them, her stomach dropping with the thrill of it all. *We're going to be okay.*

Just as the thought crosses her mind, a bullet pierces her left arm.

*No, no, no, no, no!* Rhea's scream is torn from her throat as she feels the bullet painfully tear through flesh and muscle. *It hurts, it hurts, it hurts.* She clings to the branch, trying to hold on, but her grip falters, her fingers slipping as pain washes over her. *I'm falling. I'm falling.* She feels a rush of fear, her heart pounding in her chest. *Arlo, help me!* She reaches out, her hand grasping for him, but he's too far away. *I'm going to die. I'm going to die.* She closes her eyes, bracing for impact, but then feels a jolt as she bounces off a branch. *What's happening?* She opens her eyes, disoriented, as she hits the ground hard. *Ow, ow, ow.* She gasps in pain, her right ankle throbbing. *Something's broken. Something's wrong.* She looks up, her vision blurry with tears, and sees Arlo hovering above her. *Arlo, help me,* she whispers, her voice trembling with pain and fear. *Please, please, please.* She reaches out, her hand shaking, her heart pounding in her chest. *Don't leave me. Don't leave me.*

Arlo glances down at the girl for a moment, feeling disappointed that he'd lose such a good asset. The girl had proven to be quite resourceful. Yet in the end, she was just another girl. He could replace her easily enough. "Sorry Rhea, you were fun while you lasted," he murmurs with a cruel smile, before he resumes the growth of his branch and hardens the branches being used as cover. However, his pace is slower now that he has already exhausted so much of his power and because he's controlling so many branches enhanced with hardening to prevent bullets from sending him to his doom as well.

*No, no, no, no, no!* Rhea's heart drops as she sees Arlo's expression. *He's leaving me. He's actually leaving me.* She feels a wave of despair wash over her, her vision blurring with tears. *I trusted him. I loved him.* She reaches out, her hand shaking, her heart pounding in her chest. *Don't go. Please don't go.* But Arlo just smiles, a cruel smile, and turns away. *He doesn't care about me. He never cared about me.* The realization hits her like a punch to the gut. *I was just a tool to him. A means to an end.* She feels a surge of anger, mixed with the pain and despair. *I hate him. I hate him so much.* She watches, her eyes burning with tears, as Arlo disappears into the night sky. *I'll never forgive him. Never.* She looks down at her arm, her vision blurry with tears. *I'm bleeding. I'm going to bleed out.* Panic sets in, her heart racing with fear. *I have to get out of here. I have to find help.* She tries to stand, but her ankle screams in agony. *I can't walk. I can't move.* She looks around, desperate, but she's alone. *I'm alone. I'm all alone.* She feels a sob rise in her throat, but she swallows it back. *I won't cry. I won't give him the satisfaction.* She grits her teeth, her jaw clenched with determination. *I'll survive. I'll make it through this.* She begins to crawl, her movements slow and painful, but she keeps moving. *I'll show him. I'll show him I'm stronger than he thought.*

*I have to do it. I have to try.* Rhea's hand trembles as she reaches into her backpack, her heart pounding in her chest. *It's my only chance.* She pulls out a small plastic bag, her eyes fixed on the single pill inside, focusing on the red S inscribed upon it. *This could kill me. This could save me.* She hesitates, her mind racing with the possibilities. *But what choice do I have?* She looks up, hearing the guards getting closer. *I have to try.* She takes a deep breath, her heart racing, and swallows the pill. *Here goes nothing.* At first, there's nothing. And then, suddenly, everything. *Oh god, oh god, oh god.* Agony explodes through her body, every cell screaming in pain. *I'm dying. I'm actually dying.* She writhes on the ground, her screams echoing through the night air. *This is it. This is the end.* She feels her vision blurring, her consciousness slipping away. *I'm so sorry, Grandma. I'm so sorry.* Tears stream down her face as she thinks of her grandmother, of all the things she'll never get to do. *I'm so sorry.* She closes her eyes, her body convulsing with pain. *I'm going to die. I'm going to die.*

*What's happening? What's happening to me?* Rhea's screams are drowned out by the sudden crack of thunder, her body convulsing with pain as the storm erupts above her. *Is this the end? Is this how it feels to die?* She looks up, her vision blurry with tears and rain, and sees the storm clouds gathering above her. *The storm. It's so… intense.* She feels a strange sensation, like the storm is coursing through her veins. *What's happening to me?* She tries to move, but her body won't respond. *I'm paralyzed. I'm dying.* She feels a sense of acceptance wash over her. *This is it. This is the end.* But then, something strange happens. *I feel… different.* The pain begins to fade, replaced by a strange tingling sensation. *What's going on?* She looks up at the storm, feeling a connection to it that she can't explain. *I can feel it. I can feel the storm.* Suddenly, she's flooded with visions of the storm, of lightning and rain, of wind and thunder. *I understand. I understand the storm.* She feels a surge of power, of energy, and suddenly she regains control of her body. *I can move. I'm not dying.* She slowly rises to her feet, amazed at the lack of pain from the ankle that was previously shattered, her body trembling with newfound strength. *What did the pill do to me?* She looks up at the storm, feeling a sense of awe and wonder. *I'm connected to it. I'm connected to the storm.* She raises her hands, and to her amazement, lightning crackles between her fingers. *I did it. I actually did it.* She feels a rush of exhilaration, of power. *I'm not just a thief anymore. I'm something more.* She looks down at her arm, her wound already healing. *I'm a super.* She feels a sense of pride, of accomplishment. *I did it. I'm a super.*

She doesn't even spare a glance at the guards as her vision locks onto Arlo, who was now just past the gate. *I'll get him. I'll show him what happens when you betray me.* Rhea's eyes lock onto Arlo, her heart pounding with rage and hatred. *I'll take him down. I'll make him pay.* She raises her hand, feeling the power of the storm coursing through her. *I've got you now, Arlo.* But as she's about to unleash the lightning, a strange sensation washes over her. *Wait, what's happening?* The thought slips away, replaced by a strange, burning feeling in her chest. *No, I can't hurt Arlo. I love him.* The words echo in her mind, and she feels a surge of nausea. *What's going on? Why do I feel this way?* She looks down, her vision blurring with tears. *I hate him. I hate him for what he did to me.* But the words feel hollow, like they're coming from someone else. *No, I can't hurt him. I love him.* The phrase repeats in her mind, and she feels a wave of revulsion. *This isn't me. This isn't how I feel.* She doubles over, her stomach churning. *Get out of my head, Arlo. Get out of my head!* She feels something rising in her throat, and she vomits violently, a strange, leafy substance spilling from her mouth. *What is this? What did you do to me, Arlo?* She looks up, her eyes burning with anger and betrayal. *You controlled me. You manipulated me.* The realization hits her like a punch to the gut. *I thought I loved you. But it was all a lie.* She feels a surge of rage, of hatred. *You're going to pay for this, Arlo. You're going to pay.*

Note: AI assistance for the girls