"...well," Matt said. "That was new."

"What happened?!" Helena screeched. "Why did the platform drop us?"

Matt rubbed his chin. "Hmmm. I guess I can't just freely burn a particular elemental power all the time. I just guess I'll have to be careful from now on. Just be glad your makeshift clothes stayed in place."

By the time Ileyna sat the two of them on the ground and released her own powers, R.D. had run over.

"What the hell just happened?" he demanded, looking at the three of them.

"Don't ask," Matt said. "Where's my car?"

"It's alive, but I'm gonna need help working with the metals to fix its frame," R.D. said, aiming a thumb over his shoulder at the parking lot.

"Hold on, baby! I'm COMIN'!" Matt shouted toward the Firebird, running over to it.

"...is he always like that?" Helena asked.

"Pretty much," R.D. said, walking in the direction Matt went. "You learn to get used to it."

In front of his banged-up car, Matt fell to his knees and lifted his fists. "NOOOOOO!"

"It doesn't look THAT bad," Helena said.

"What did Mr. Building DO to you? Tell me where it hurts."

"Oh, quit the theatrics already," R.D. said, seizing Lumiya's power and channeling earth energy through the car. "Hurry up and help me smooth this out. I want to get out of here before the cops come back and find us."

And with that, R.D. began weaving threads of earth energy through the car's frame, trying to realign the metals into something undamaged.

With some combined effort, all of the dents were worked out of the Firebird.

"Right!" Matt said. "Now we're ready to get out of here." He turned toward Helena. "Helena, where's my jacket?"

"...back on the roof."

"SON OF A-"

***

"Right!" Matt said, now wearing the jacket he had to recollect. "Now we're ready to get out of here."

"Yes, let's," R.D. said, opening the door to the Firebird's front passenger side as Ileyna was getting in the back. "I can hear the sirens."

Sure enough, the shrill sounds, thought faint, could be heard in the air, now that the crushed remains of the skyscraper had settled down.

"Buckle in, honey," Matt remarked as he hit the driver's seat and turned the monster on with a rolling rumble of the engine. "It's gonna be a crazy ride."

Helena shut the back seat door and buckled her seat belt. "But what about-"

With a screech, the Firebird took down the road, highly intent on avoiding identification by anyone.

"All right, battle plan," Matt said. "We're gonna pick up Mr. Hiroshi and Hugo and roll home, is that a great plan or what?"

"Have you already forgotten that I kinda blew up the top floor of the mansion?" R.D. said with a sideways look towards Matt. "Did you also forget that the robots did a good number on the lower floors in the meantime? Mr. Hiroshi and Helena don't have a home to go to right now."

Suddenly, his hand struck his forehead. "And then we have to consider the damage Howard and Kane did to that hotel room," he muttered, suddenly remembering. "Man, this is not good."

"Dad can afford to pay the repairs, though," Helena said. "He's one of the richest real estate salesmen in the state."

"See?" Matt said. "Problem solved. And I assume you've got another place you can rent for a while."

"Yeah, Dad can rent us a condo or something."

"Let's hope its out of the way, then," R.D. said, looking out one of the side-view mirrors. He turned to Matt. "We have a lot to discuss when we get back."

As expected, they spotted a few police cars clustered in the parking lot. Matt killed the engine and brought the Firebird up to a partly hidden wall. They could spot the front entrance, but there was no sign of Hugo or Mr. Hiroshi.

"Wonderful," Matt muttered. "How're we going to get in there?"

"Well, if all else fails, we could use Chaos Control," R.D. said, "But that might not be wise. Ileyna isn't used to the warp and I dunno if Helena is or not. Their disorientation might alert the cops to our presence."

"Well, why don't you head in there by yourself?" Matt asked. "I'll drive around the block and wait for you, just bring the others back to this point and we'll be good."

Edited by The Helldragon on November 6, 2008 at 20:00:55.

R.D. nodded and stepped out of the car, closing the door softly. Walking down the street, he pulled out one of the four Chaos Emeralds and tossed it up and down in his hand for a brief moment.

At the eighth toss, the Chaos Emerald was glowing, and in a bright flash, he disappeared.

===

Sound erupted in the small hotel room, and green light flared for a brief moment in one corner as the results of Chaos Control manifested. Soon, as the light was clearing, R.D. could be seen stowing the gemstone away in his satchel. He looked up at the no-doubt surprised occupants.

"Yo."

These occupants included two armed police officers.

"What the-" One of them fumbled for his gun and aimed it straight at R.D.. "Hold it!"

Realizing he must've gotten into the wrong room, and seeing the one cop go for his weapon, R.D. reacted accordingly. Spinning on one foot, R.D. lashed out with his foot, kicking the weapon out of his hand as it came up.

Ever since meeting Jordan, R.D. had decided to not allow people to aim guns at him.

As his foot lowered, his hands raised, creating two spheres crackling with electricity. Not giving them any more time to react, he shot the electric blasts at them, sending a painful but non-lethal shock through them. They passed out from the shock almost immediately, and fell to the ground.

"Looks like I went into the wrong room," he muttered, lowering his arms. "Now, where the hell are they?"

Edited by RisingDragon on November 6, 2008 at 18:24:58.

"Hey!" Hugo walked out of the bathroom, with a reluctant Mr. Hiroshi in tow. "How'd it go? Did you get Helena back?"

"What did you do to those officers?" Mr. Hiroshi shouted, which wouldn't help them in this situation.

"Zapped'em unconscious," R.D. said flatly. "Now zip it before you get more of them on us."

Looking into the hallway for a brief moment to make sure no one heard them. "We gotta get out of here. We managed to save Helena," he explained, "And you won't ever have to worry about Geese Howard again, Mr. Hiroshi. More on that later. Try not to throw up when we're done."

Taking the Chaos Emerald back out, R.D. spun it in the air before catching it.

"Chaos Control!"

Light flared, and the three of them found themselves on the corner where Matt had dropped him off at.

Mr. Hiroshi struggled to catch what was left of his lunch, and finally managed not to stain the grass as the Firebird soon rolled back around. Helena threw open the door and caught her father in a tight embrace.

"Helena! My God, are you all right?" He returned the favor, drawing her closer to him. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Dad," she said.

"What's this?" Mr. Hiroshi asked, gently pushing Helena away to get a better view at the strange leafy garments she wore. "What happened to your clothes?"

"Explain later," Matt remarked from the driver's seat. "Let's ride!"

Not wasting any time, R.D. picked Hugo up and got into the front passenger seat, placing the robot on the console between him and Matt. "Go! The cops're gonna be pissed when they see the room!"

"And once they find out that R.D. knocked two of them out," Hugo remarked.

Matt gave R.D. a quick, unapproving glance before hitting the gas and peeling on out of there. "Mr. Hiroshi, do you have a place where you two can sit at for a while until you clear things up?"

"Sure," Mr. Hiroshi said. "But it's too far out, we can't possibly make it tonight."

"They'll be too distracted by the tower ruins to really bother us if we get far enough," R.D. said, looking out the window. "Just give Matt the directions."

"R.D., I am tired from handling Geese with style," Matt said. "We're finding another hotel so we can actually get some sleep. You want first watch, Hugo?"

"Sure," the Mettaur said. "I just hope someone tries to mess with me so I have an excuse to blow a hole in his head."

"You sure concern me at times, little buddy."

"Don't call me that."

"Alright, fine," R.D. said, moving his gaze forward. "Make sure its out of the way, though. Geese raised some... concerns in that fight."

They found a small hotel that stood next to a bank. Didn't look all that great but it was there and they could touch it, so at least they knew where they stood. Mr. Hiroshi paid for the two-room deal and they decided to split up who slept where like last time.

Matt tossed his jacket over a chair and plopped down on the bed, which sagged uncomfortably. "God, I'm beat."

"If I get interrupted one more time," R.D. growled as he made his way over to his bed, leaving the threat to hang in the air. As he sat down, he began digging through his satchel, looking for something to eat.