Chapter 44: Chapter 44

"Theodore," Michael solemnly called beside him. "Why do you think The Trainer betrayed us?"

"We don't know if he's behind Doctor Roberts death yet." He replied as he faced Michael. Whose face defined nothing but worry and anxiety.

"Assume he was the one behind it, why do you think he did it?" Michael whispered enough for him to hear.

His eyes lowered as he returned his gaze to the windshield where several vehicles were positioned. Each honking as the traffic light still retained it's bright red.

"I don't know." He answered too in a worriedly fashion. "Every body has a reason for turning bad. Let's just hope your suspicions is not real." His grip on the steering tightened. In an unprecedented moment, an explosion occurred at the hotel. Theodore's eyes exclaimed as a side of the Hotel burned with bright yellow fire.

"Isn't that the hotel Collins entered?" He asked sharply before they both alighted from his car, running towards the magnificent building. Although he didn't care much about Collins, he also didn't want the Teleporter to die the same way Doctor Roberts did.

His dangerous pace halted abruptly and his jaw dropped when he saw The Trainer alongside a familiar man gingerly step out of the hotel. And into a black jeep.

"The Trainer!" Michael blared as they gasped at each other. Theodore's heart skipped a beat. Realizing Michael's hypothesis seemed to gradually become reality.

"We gotta follow him!" He screeched as he trotted back to his car. He impatiently handled it's gear before swerving his car dangerously out of it's row. His leg effortlessly marched on the accelerator till he applied brakes, so the car's tires screeched against the floor as it halted in front of Michael.

"What about Collins?!" Michael blared as he briskly alighted into the vehicle.

"We'll deal with Collins later." He answered with lack of conviction before marching on the accelerator again. They continued to trail stealthily after the Jeep.

After several minutes of long driving, the Jeep finally stopped in a quiet and dark environment. Theodore's worries only increased. Although the environment was serene but the fact that he could sense no life gave him creeps. The whole area looked like an abandoned subway. He didn't even know a place like this existed in a fine city like York.

He stalked The Trainer and his accomplice to where they climbed the stairs down to the empty subway.

"I'm telling you man, The Trainer is definitely a Judas." Michael mumbled.

"How long can you stay invisible?" He asked with his gaze retained at the darkness below.

"I can hold my breaths for fifteen minutes."

"Good. Now you have to stay invisible for the next fifteen minutes. We can't have The Trainer knowing there's two of us." He stated while Michael nodded in understanding.

"And please, activate your Tele-Talkie." He added before stealthily trailing down the stairs into the structure.

**Damn! It's dark in here.** Michael pitched through their Tele-Talkie network.

"Just follow my lead." He replied while his eyes glowed orange, activating his night vision powers.

But then lights suddenly illuminated the building causing his eyes to squint for seconds before adjusting to it's environment.

Then he noticed The Trainer alongside Timothy Chamelet poised metres away from him. With mischievous smiles donning on their faces. Although he was surprised, but he didn't show it.

"So it's true." He muttered in the iciest manner his cords could orchestrate. "You betrayed The Shining." He held their gazes carefully, trying to decipher their heinous plans.

"I was never part of The Shining." The Trainer retorted.

"Why did you do this? Why are you siding with evil?" He asked whilst trying to contain his anger welling up. "You tricked us, Do you even know how Lola would feel after knowing this?"

"Oh Lola will do just fine." The Trainer shrugged with a slight chuckle. He wanted to argue but Timothy intervened. If one didn't know him, they would certainly fall for his innocent looks.

"You see Doctor Roberts, is a very smart man. And if we weren't careful, he would have successfully stopped The Revolution." Timothy voiced.

"We had to blend in, to know all of his plans. Which is why I sent my best man. Trevor. To disguise himself as a good man, earn Doctor Roberts trust and end you all once and for all. But then, Jackie and Alexa toyed with you idiots."

"You're not going to get away with this, I promise you that!" He growled. They both let out a mocking laughter.

"Such a shame but we already did." Timothy affirmed. "Tomorrow, Utopia is going to crumble under my terror and the good news is, you won't be alive to witness it." He burst into another loud mocking laughter. Theodore's palm curled as a score of rugged looking men appeared from the dark with black clothing. Inscribed with the writing, The Revolution.

Grinning devilishly as they brushed past Timothy and The Trainer.

"Finish him off. We don't have time to waste." Timothy told The Trainer before parting into the dark.

**No matter what happens, don't deactivate your invisibility.** He said to Michael through the Tele-Talkie. Although he couldn't see him, he still sensed his presence.

As those men patiently waited like wolves about to feast on it's prey, he unknotted his tie, removed his suit jacket, unbuttoned three of his white shirt buttons, revealing a sneak peek at his built chest. He rolled his sleeves up to his elbow before taking a fierce stance as his eyes gleamed a shiny shade of orange.

They trotted towards him whilst roaring their thick voices out. He smirked and then trotted towards them with his super speed. With every quick steps they took, to his eyes, they were as slow as snails. Giving him the upper edge in knocking them down with bone wrenching blows.

He panted as he stood inches away from The Trainer. Without thinking, he lurched at him. Trying to land a powerful blow on his face but The Trainer caught his left arm. Twisting it with ease, dislocating his left knee.

**Theodore!!** Michael blared through their Tele-Talkie while he groaned as he collapsed to the cold ground. Grunting underneath his breaths as his speedy healing decreased every pain shooting from his arm and leg.

Still reveling in his pain, he lazily arose trying to land another hit. But The Trainer caught him easily yet again. In a swift moment, he smashed his back against the wall. Theodore felt air escape his lungs whilst The Trainer swiftly brought out a small knife. Stabbing him relentlessly in his stomach.

**Theodore!!** Michael cried again through the Tele-Talkie. The pain he experienced alone struck his senses numb. He soon collapsed to the ground, tears filling his eyes as his white shirt were now coated with his blood. He felt his life slowly draining out of him.

The Trainer giggled as he brought out a gun, pointing it at his head.

"Goodbye Theodore." He icily bellowed.

"Oh no you don't!" Michael growled as he deactivated his invisibility. Phasing through The Trainer's body. Theodore's lips parted as he gasped watching The Trainer and his gun collapse to the ground. Grunting in pain.

"Oh my God you're bleeding profusely." Michael screeched as he lowered towards him. "I've never tried this before but I hope it works." He hastily muttered as his hands gently pulled him up.

Theodore felt a strange surge of energy encompass his body while The Trainer staggered.

"What is happening?" Theodore coughed while Michael immediately silenced him.

**I made both of us invisible. It's part of my training Doctor Roberts taught me *" He muttered through the Tele-Talkie. **We must walk silently out of here unless you want The Trainer to notice us.**

"I know you're here Michael!" The Trainer announced as they continued to trail towards the exit. He was at least thankful that Michael's powers had evolved and saved his ass.

"How long will you hide from me!" The Trainer blared again and started shooting sporadically. Theodore sealed his eyes shut afraid of stray bullets but surprisingly, they passed through his body. Without harm. His eyes exclaimed, realizing Michael not only turned both of them invisible but also made their bodies phase.

They both ran towards the car and it only took grace for him not to faint. He was already experiencing so much pain than his body could heal.

"Hang in there, Theo!" Michael pitched worriedly before jolting the vehicle to life. The tires screeched against the floor before the car swerved and sped away.

"Hang in the--" Michael continued to say while he drove recklessly.

Theodore's vision turned hazy, his ears couldn't pick the words Michael were saying and soon, he relapsed into unconsciousness.

##############

The morning started on a tensioned note, the police and military roamed across various streets of York City. The smiles on people's faces shrunk. Hospitals had their hands tied with several injured patients, the Press ran helter skelter for latest ongoing news.

Marcus sighed as he noticed all these things. As he trailed down the busy subway alongside Kira in silence, he recalled their conversation.

************

"Who really are you?" She had asked after Theodore had left with the others.

"An agent." He had answered.

"Agent of what?"

"The Shining."

"The Shining?"

"Yes, it's a secret agency and it's sole aim is fighting crimes."

"So you guys are behind this nights attack?"

"No!" He had pitched. "Why would you think so?"

"I overhead you guys conversation and it feels like I don't even know you!"

"We are not terrorists! Or let me say we're not the bad guys." He clarified. "A terrorist organization is attacking in few days and trust me none of us are safe."

"Trust you?" She queried. "I barely even know you."

"Kira!" He raised his voice against hers as he held onto her shoulders. "You have to trust me. York City is in danger and you have to leave."

"What about you?" She had asked.

***************

"Marcus!" Her soft voice jerked him back to reality.

"What are you thinking about?"

He heaved a sigh as they patiently waited for the train to arrive. He couldn't sleep all through the night. Spending the hours calling his team members to which they failed to answer.

"Just worried that's all." He mumbled.

"About your friends?" She asked as their eyes bonded. "Don't worry they'll be fine."

He rolled his eyes. Knowing the type of team members he had, he knew they would certainly be in one trouble or the other. Lola is out, somewhere in the city. Collins, Theodore and Michael are busy hunting for The Trainer. Ariel is missing and above all, Doctor Roberts and Rita who could control them were dead.

Things were certainly falling apart.

The train arrived and it's doors opened while people strolled in and out.

"Kira." He called as he held her back. "York City isn't safe." He muttered with his eyes expressing just as much worry with his tone.

"We've gone over this, Marcus. I can't leave. My life, my work they are all here."

He sighed, loathing the fact she had to be this stubborn.

"I have to go now. Don't wanna be late for work." She patted his arm gently before sauntering into the train. As he turned away, he bumped into somebody.

"Oh I'm sorry." He mumbled as he tried to pick the man's bag which fell to the ground. He frowned noticing a beeper sound emanate from the bag which was slightly opened. He didn't know why but he had a strange feeling it was a bomb. He looked up to the man and his eyes exclaimed.

"You!" He raised his voice in disbelief as Jackie frowned at him. A member of The Revolution and the mutant who almost killed him during the mission.

He tried to scoop the bag but Jackie swiftly overtook him at the same time, giving him a powerful metallic blow. One that almost wrenched Marcus cheek. His eyes tumbled for minutes before he fiercely chased after him.

This time he knew with all certainty, that bag contained a bomb. Perhaps Jackie wanted to blow off the Subway station. As he neared him, he quickly forced the bag off him. Tearing it open so  it's contents revealed into the limelight. And just as he had thought, it was a bomb.

"You bastard!" He swore, drawing the attention of people. Jackie grinned before holding a remote mid air.

His eyes widened as a wave of fear smashed his entirety.

"Don't do it!" He begged but Jackie's grinned deepened into a devilish smirk. He clicked on the button and the next thing that befell Marcus was darkness and pain.

############

The faint smell of blood, the oozing of smokes and cries of agony gradually jolted Marcus to life. His hazy vision gradually turned lucid and the rest of his senses recovered too. Hot tears trickled down his face as he staggered, wobbling amongst lifeless people and some that were severely injured. Struggling for their life that was fading.

He failed Mr. Williams, failed Doctor Roberts and yet again, he failed these people. He hopelessly trailed towards the lifeless train. Screaming her name.

"Kira!!" Tears continued to stream across his cheeks. "Kira!!" He yelled on top of his lungs and when he heard nothing, his knees dropped to the damaged concrete grounds.

His ears picked the mocking giggle of Jackie metres away. Marcus palm curled into a fist as his eyes turned red glaring at the Steelman. Veins popped on his forehead and his breaths came out fierce. His body started to increase in it's size, peeling off his tattered suit revealing a dazzling black bionic suit. With a Castle Chess piece insignia imprinted on it's chest plate.

"You bastard!!!" Her roared as his 6'6 stature stormed towards Jackie. Who in turn hardened his body into steel. But Marcus didn't care, steel or not, he was going to kill this man.

They both launched at each other, delivering powerful blows and kicks at each other.  The thought of Kira and Doctor Roberts deaths alone fueled his strength. It got to a point where Jackie's steel punches had no effect on his body. He fought ferociously against Jackie till the mutant was stopped by a wall behind his back.

"You killed Kira!" He roared and immediately started punching Jackie repeatedly in his steel stomach. He didn't care that his knuckles were bleeding, he just kept on bashing Jackie's stomach.

"You killed her! You bastard!!" He yelled before delivering another bone wrenching blow.

This time, Marcus knuckle didn't hurt. Instead, his fist sunk into Jackie's belly. Blood oozed out of his mouth and nose. Only then did he realize, Jackie's steel powers were gone. The mutant's breaths came out heavy and short, his eyes were lazy and his face expressed only one thing. Pain.

Marcus gritted his teeth and without thinking, punched his face directly causing Jackie's head to smash against the wall. He watched in anger and pain as Jackie's eyes rolled to the back of his head, blood streamed out of his ears and head before he collapsed to the ground. Lifeless.

Tears began to soak Marcus eyes again staring at the dead status of Jackie. He had thought Jackie's death would ease his pain but it only worsened it.

How was he any different from The Revolution? He asked himself as he stared at his blood coated palms.

He was supposed to be protecting lives but he took a life with his own hands.

"Arrgghh!!!" He screamed his lungs out as he fell to his knees. Crying profusely.