Terminal

Many weeks have passed since Exalibar and Chloe showed up on Max's doorstep. If not for the kind heart of this man the two would have no doubt been recaptured in the near future. That being the best case scenario. Their new life however has not been without complications. The biggest one being the injuries Exalibar unintentionally inflicted on the hero Valery. In the attack he broke 7 of her ribs, her spine was broken in 3 places, her right lung being punctured by the broken ribs and she suffered a major concussion due to the blunt force trauma she experienced. This left her in a critical state were she was left comatose for a month. It was due to the hard tedious work of the doctors that she was able to recover. Well for the most part. The head injury ruined her sense of coordination and balance and her spinal injury left her wheelchair bound for greater portions of the day. This meant not only was she prohibited from using her speed but her days as a hero where effectively over. As a mature adult she took this news and accepted it. The world however did not. When they were told that one of the most powerful heroes was now decommissioned chaos insured. The crime rate of all major cities skyrocketed. Lawlessness seemed to now reign supreme because to add insult to injury Ronin also quit opting to now take care of his wife. This not only created a power vacuum in the world but one that villains quickly rose to fill. Which brings us to present day.

Aisha had called Exalibar on his phone. Whatever it was she wanted it sounded urgent. So wasting no time he rushed over to her room. Flinging her door open his expression changed to one of not being impressed. At all. She was just chilling on her bed on her laptop!

Exalibar: For the last time don't make it sound like an emergency whenever you call me!

Aisha: I know I know but it makes you get over here quicker. Also this is an actual emergency. Well for you at least.

Exalibar: Ok what's up?

Aisha: A couple of things actually. For starters your powers. Remember how you said you can replicate up to 3 powers at any given moment but only do 1 because you get a headache?

Exalibar: Yeah after the dodgeball match.

Aisha: So I was running some tests on some blood samples of yours comparing samples from when you fought Chloe and from when I removed the chip that was in your spine.

Exalibar: And?

Aisha: Well I took the samples to Maxford labs and they said that the sample before the fight and the results weren't pretty. Before your blood showed to have 2 powers constantly running. One of regeneration and the other being pain suppression. The one of after showed none at all. Exalibar your regen is gone.

Exalibar: Wait so you are telling me my regeneration is gone?

Aisha: Unless you can find someone else with it and mimic it yes forever.

Exalibar: That's... unexpected. What about the pain suppression?

Aisha: That's the weird part. The pain suppression ability is still there, but it seems to be fluctuating. It's not as stable as it used to be.

Exalibar: So, I've lost my regeneration ability, and the pain suppression is not as reliable. How did this happen?

Aisha: That's the second part of the emergency. When I removed the chip from your spine, I noticed some unusual interference patterns in your neural connections. It's like something was actively disrupting your powers.

Exalibar: Disrupting my powers? But why?

Aisha: As far as I can tell to stop you from growing stronger.

Exalibar: Oh... well if you find something else tell me.

Aisha: So this isn't bothering you at all?

Exalibar: As long as i still got the rule of 3 I'm okay. (turns to leave)

Aisha: (concerned) Exalibar its okay to to be afraid you know.

Exalibar: (closing door) I know.

Later that night Exalibar woke up to a noise in his room. He glanced around and noticed his window was open and the wind was blowing into the room. Getting out of bed to close the window he suddenly felt a change in the air current in the room. He quickly turned around and grabbed the figure that was behind him. Pinning it down he had half a mind to break its hand.

Figure: (struggling) Dude let go.

Exalibar: (whispering) Aisha?

Aisha: Yes now let me go!

Exalibar: (still whispering) Shhhhh turn it down you don't want to wake up your brother.

Exalibar let her go and helped her get up. She dusted herself out of instinct even though the room was as clean as could get.

Exalibar: (sitting on bed) What is it that was so important that you tried to sneak into my room at 11pm?

Aisha: I need your help.

Exalibar: Sure what you need?

Aisha: Well.... its a small issue.

Exalibar: Being????

Aisha: I want to stop a bank robbery but I can't do it on my own.

Exalibar: Right now?

Aisha: Yes.

Exalibar: Can't it wait?

Aisha: (looking urgent) Exalibar, I wouldn't ask if it wasn't serious. They're planning to hit the bank tonight, and we don't have the luxury of time.

Exalibar: Fine lets go. But lets make it quick. 

Aisha: Before we go (waves hand in air and a black outfit manifest out of thin air) Wear this. We don't want to draw their attention.

Exalibar: Fair point but they weren't going to see me anyway.

Aisha: What makes you so sure huh??

Exalibar: I'm confident in my speed.

Aisha: I'm not taking any chances.

Grabbing Exalibar's bedsheets she changed them into a black jumpsuit. Exalibar a bit reluctant to wear this at first eventually yielded after persistence from her. After making sure that no-one was awake they snuck down to the garage where most of the cars were kept. Aisha pointed out that they should take the black Lexus as it is the only conspicuous thing in the entire garage. Agreeing Exalibar hopped into the passenger's seat of the car and they drove to the bank. On the way there Aisha decided to lay some ground rules about how they were going to operate. For starters all force was to be non lethal. Secondly they were only to attack if attacked. Exalibar wasted no time in explaining to her how both those rules are stupid. Firstly he emphasized on how she said that they are armed robbers. They will fire and fire to kill. In addition they might or might not have powers so that runs another risk. Furthermore we don't know the extent and scope of their abilities so its best to take them out then and there without giving them a chance to attack first. She then presented a counter argument that killing is wrong and it would be depriving them of a second chance at a better life. To which he asked her if she was willing to put her life on the line for what she believed was right, she agreed and she stopped the car behind the back exit of the bank. They both got out of the car and Exalibar took a quick lap around the premises making sure the thieves had no backup that might try to attack them as they tried to stop the others. Finding no one he went back to Aisha and picking her up ran straight into the bank. Inside the scene was straight out of a movie. 3 police officers had their guns pointed at a man who was holding a hostage tightly in his arms. 2 officers were down, 5 dead and 12 injured. The man wasn't alone. There were 5 more. 2 in the safe looting the money the other three standing in strategic positions of attack making sure nobody ever so much as moved. one of them had blood splashed along the gauntlets on his hands. He was responsible for the 5 deaths. Setting Aisha down Exalibar quickly scoped out his surroundings and opponents. The one with gauntlets seemed to be the most dangerous. The one holding the hostage was armed with a simple handgun. Quick stuff. The ones besides 'Gauntlets' had nothing. This led Exalibar to believe they had abilities. But which ones. Questions for later he thought to himself. Right now the priority is to get the hostage out of 'handguns' grasp. So he spoke.

Exalibar: Ladies and gentlemen remain calm for I..... 

Aisha: We..

Exalibar We have come to save you.

Exalibar: (turning to a very confused 'handgun' at who these people were and how they got in) Let the girl go bro.

Handgun wasted no time in reacting but instead of letting her go he threw her to the gun drawing his gun and firing at Exalibar. Just as Exalibar thought. He moved Aisha out of the way to make sure if he fired twice the other would hit her by accident. Handgun turned suddenly to fire the second shot at Exalibar who rushed towards him grabbing his arm and pulled him towards himself hitting Handgun with a clean clothesline. Handgun was knocked out instantly. 

Exalibar: Alright, who is next.......