The Permutation

Apex (Part 1) Jordan

"FlyBoy to the rescue!" Jordan heard a delighted yell shout from somewhere in the maelstrom of the dirt.

The wind gave Derek's gave a powerful quality like he was one with the elements. Tony's entourage pulled out their guns. Jordan suspected firepower was how they dealt with every threat.

At that moment, Derek swooped out of the chaos and knocked the gun from the muscled thug's hands and into the maelstrom, before disappearing once more.

Jordan needed to act fast. She shouted for Christopher to grab Diana and go. The words penetrated his fugue state and he sprang into motion. With Derek in the air and the others gone, Jordan would be able to use The Surge. If she could shunt it into her feet, it would be fine. She still didn't have full control, but she had to try.

Derek didn't realize how serious the threat was. He thought this was his first opportunity to be one of the good guys in his comic books. It didn't register that he and Jordan's lives were on the line. Special abilities didn't make them bulletproof.

I think.

The Surge responded to Jordan's call with an eagerness like it had been waiting for Jordan's command. It was almost as if the force was just as outraged at the man that had pretended to be family.

The familiar purple glow crackled in Jordan's feet. Jordan remembered learning about the fourth state of matter in science class. Plasma. They used it in neon lights, and that's what her feet reminded of her in that moment.

Jordan took a step forward and found herself face to groin with the redhead. She used the momentum from The Surge to punch him in said groin. He doubled over in pain. Jordan took that opportunity to take the gun from his hand, and sprint back into the dust. She threw the firearm as far as she could manage.

We don't need anymore guns in the mix.

Jordan turned on her heels to launch another strike, but something gave her pause. She didn't hear anything other than the howling of the wind. Of Tony and Ulrich, there was no sign. Derek touched to the ground next to Jordan. He was holding the gun he'd taken from the muscled thug.

"Did you see me throw that car?!"

Jordan hugged her friend tight, his hair smelled like cigarette smoke, she'd never noticed that before.

"I told you to leave! They could've killed you!" Jordan replied.

"But we got 'em!" Derek said, fist pumping his hand in the air.

"Not quite," Jordan said, motioning to red head that was picking himself up off the ground, "And there were three others."

Tony, Ulrich and the muscled guy had all disappeared into the storm, but Jordan had a feeling she knew where they had went.

"We'll catch those ones too. No one can outrun us, and then the cops will come and take them away!"

"Derek, don't you understand? They have guns. We're not bulletproof, if we make one wrong move, superpowers won't matter with these guys. We'll die just like anyone else if we get hit."

"Then let's not get hit," he said, "Now let's go get 'em."

He scratched his head for a moment and gave Jordan an Aww Shucks grin, "Do you know which way they went?"

"I think they're in that building. Tony is trying to take away our advantage, but that's okay. We can just leave now and call for help. Our work here is done."

"But what about that little girl they were holding hostage?"

"I told them to run away. She should be long gone by now."