Of Heroes and Villains

The Battle Begins

The morning after, Dean went about finding the group a means of transport. They'd already found his mark during their planning, so now it was just a matter of time.

Fixing his tux, he strolled over to the woman, a smirk on his face. "Hello there, Miss."

The redhead turned around, looking him up and down, then smiled. "Hello, yourself."

"I couldn't help but notice the look you gave me earlier," he said, leaning forward just slightly.

The woman batted her eyelashes. "You think I was giving you a look?"

"Why, I'm positively certain."

"Cocky, much?"

"Very much."

She was being dragged in by his vapor without even knowing it. They continued to banter, and Dean eventually started to gently touch her. First, it was her shoulder, then her hip. By the time he leaned in for the kiss, she was a mindless slave.

Dean had never been a fan of his vapor. It was incredibly useful, sure, but it left him feeling rotten. Using people like toys wasn't something he was comfortable with, despite his reputation. The doubt was the worst part of it. Even when he didn't use his vapor, he could never be absolutely certain the other person was willing. What if he was using it without being aware, after all? It's not like the red mist leaves his body when he uses it, so there was a chance it could always be active. Sean's worked that way, and he couldn't cancel his vapor. It was a part of him, just like Dean's was a part of him.

"A bunch of my friends and I need to use your jet," he told the rich young Miss. "Be a dear and call your pilot, Bella."

Smiling like a kid who'd been given ice-cream, the heiress pulled her phone out. "Of course, dear."

Yes, Dean definitely hated his vapor. He'd still use it if it meant keeping the ones he cares about safe.

Plan A was working so far, which meant it was time for the others to get there. Dean sent Sean the confirmation text, only catching hints of Bella's over-the-phone conversation.

"The beaches in Croatia are amazing, that's why!" she whined. "You work for me, Harold! Get over here now!" She started making kissy faces when she noticed Dean looking at her. "Do not make me call daddy!"

Some minutes of whining passed, and Bella finally managed to arrange for her private jet to take them to Split. The group met up next to it, thankful that it was large enough to carry them all.

"Here we fuckin' go," Jordan said, running inside before she could change her mind. The ZONE members were next, with Don watching their every move. Shen was carrying a briefcase full of his vapor's liquid, which they'd definitely need to fight opponents doped up on an even stronger version of it. Don himself was next, exchanging a look with Dean as he got on. The last three got on, with Dean taking the seat next to the pilot so he could control him if the need arrived.

"I hope you're all ready," Sean said, strapping on his belt. "No turning back now." He checked to see what everyone was like. Dimitri was just the slightest bit nervous, and wasn't taking his eyes off of Dean's seat at the front. Shen and Jo were the worst off, both tapping their feet anxiously. Inadu tried to calm her friend down as Don tried to calm the nerves of his, but neither was having much success. Liu had his eye closed, so he was potentially talking to Lan, which was good for them.

The pilot complained a few times during the trip, but Dean wound up convincing him not to turn the jet around. It only took them a little over an hour to reach Croatia, and they decided to approach Split from the seaside, where Dimitri would be at his strongest. As the jet started getting lower, something giant flew in front of it.

"Guys," Dean called from the front, "we've got company."

The jet was suddenly rocked hard, and started to turn. If the group hadn't been wearing seatbelts, they would've been thrown around.

"I don't remember anyone who could reach us this high up," Inadu said. "He must've recruited someone new."

The attacker latched unto the jet's tail, and was pulling it back, trying to shake them out of the sky.

"How close to the sea are we?" Dimitri asked, looking to his brother.

"I don't know!"

"Estimate!"

"Like fifty meters, maybe!?"

The iceman closed his eyes, took out a vial of Shen's vapor and downed it, then activated his own vapor. He could feel his reach extend as his power got amplified, and he managed to reach the Adriatic's surface. Freezing it, he pulled the ice upward, aiming at the jet's tail.

They managed to shake their attacked, but the jet got damaged in the process, and was violently crashing down.

"Get ready to swim!" Sean ordered, and the group braced themselves. Despite landing on the sea, the jet shook as though it were hit by an earthquake, and Don thought he was going to be sick. Water started pouring in, but Dimitri froze it with a single look.

"Get out," he said, and they all started taking their belts off, then scrambled outside. The pilot wasn't conscious, but seemed to be breathing, so they left him there. Dean himself was a little shaken up, but knew quitting wasn't an option.

As they got out and stepped unto the frozen surface, they started looking upward. Something big was flying above them, its wings covering the sun.

"Who is that?" asked Jordan.

"A Destroyer?" suggested Don. Then the figure swooped down. "Incoming!"

The plump woman tried to lift Jordan up into the sky, but passed right through her and clumsily tried to take to the air again. She wasn't fast enough, however, because a shard of ice separated itself from the sea and pierced her back, killing her. As she hit the ice, they could all see the green's of her eyes lose their shine.

Dean forced a smile. "That went well."

Sean turned toward the city, where they could see the glow of the barrier. "Let's go."

Before they could take a single step forward, the ice started shaking. Shen grabbed unto Dimitri, trying to hold himself up, but only succeeded in knocking them both over. A geyser erupted in front of the ice, with John Brody standing on top of it, wearing only swimming trunks, exposing the gills across his ribs. For once, he wasn't smirking.

Dimitri stood back up, and the two stared at each other. "I can take him."

"You sure?" asked Dean.

"Yes. Check the elemental advantage."

"Alright. We're still gonna need a bridge to the shore."

Dimitri stomped down, and a frozen pathway spread from the ice they were standing on to the beach, going past John on the right. He didn't do anything to try to destroy it.

Inadu stopped by Dimitri on her way to the icy road. "Don't forget that he has the stronger version of the drug. You might not be able to freeze his attacks directly. Play it smart."

He didn't even look at her. "I plan to."

"Also, don't die."

That time, he did look at her, surprised by the concern. "I don't plan to."

"Good, because I've got something to tell you after we're done." She then took off toward the shore, John not doing a thing to hinder her.

"The rest of you go, too," Brody said, lowering himself down a bit. "This one's between Dimitri and me."

With Sean watching their backs, the group headed out. Dean stopped to give his brother one last worried look, and was surprised to have it reciprocated.

Once the two were alone, John relaxed a little. "You probably could've kicked my ass easily if you worked together."

Dimitri pulled on the hood of his parka. "Yeah."

"Why didn't you, then?"

"Same reason you let them pass so easily; We've got something to settle."

John Brody clenched his fist. "You've got that right, traitor."