[hr][hr] [center][h1][color=lightcyan]The Mavericks[/color] | [color=MistyRose]Neo-Genesis[/color][/h1] [hr][hr] [sub][i][h3]Prologue[/h3][/i][/sub] [h2]"Let's Just Pretend This Never Happened"[/h2][/center] [hr][hr] Unforutnately, Joseph would be met with no reply--only silence. Repeated attempts would show no avail, prompting Ram to speak up. [color=cyan][b]"The electricity from before, it must have burned out the radio."[/b][/color] He checked around them, noting the damage. [color=cyan][b]"But maybe that is for the best? How would we explain [i]this[/i]?"[/b][/color] The door of the bank still smoldered, though the rest of the bank was--miraculously [i]'or precisely?[/i]-- still in tact. The ambulance was in a state of visual shame, it's door strewn this way and that. Even a small spiderweb of cracks puctuated the ground. He turned to rest his eyes on the subdued unidentified girl. [color=cyan][b]"I mean, how would you even begin to--? What the [i]hell[/i] are you doing!?"[/b][/color] Ram made a start toward the small masked kid, who was now hovering over the girl, touching her forehead with...[i]something[/i]. [color=cyan][b]"Hey kid, you have to be smart enough to know--"[/b][/color] [color=orchid][b]First off"[/b][/color] Miles cut him off, finally taking the time to turn his attention to this newcomer guy. [color=orchid][b]"Don't call me [i]kid[/i], I barely let the Not-purse-snatcher over there call me that and I don't like you half as much as him."[/b][/color] Miles gave a large shrug before continuing on. [color=orchid][b]"And secondly, I can bet ya I [i]am[/i] smart enough. Smart enough to have learned her name is Maxine and she's scared more than anything. She's fine, just unconscious for now. I'm going to guide her to slumber."[/b][/color] Miles took a deep breath, working to block the night from his mind, to think of the present moment--[i]'actually being alive'[/i]--and onward. Hope. The feeling of hope, with tomorrows and seasons and years to look forward to. Hope is what he tapped into to expend more of his magic energy. The ringing in his ears, swim of his sight and sting to his eyes all increased momentarily as he brought the Vis to the forefront and finished his incantation on Maxine. Warmth, followed by light, left his hands, a gentle pulse of magenta that was absorbed into the symbols Miles had drawn on her forehead. The symbols radiated a flash of sharp light for the briefest instant before fading from her skin. Without the streetlights on, the flash seemed quite brilliant. Miles looked to the newcomer guy and the paramedic. [color=orchid][b]"There, she'll be fine now."[/b][/color] Ram contined his trek forward, his brows squashed against each other, examining the girl. [color=cyan][b]"What did you do to her?"[/b][/color] That flash of light, those marks? What had that been from this kid? [color=orchid][b]"Don't worry, I just guided her to slumbler with an incantation,"[/b][/color] Miles shrugged as though this were mundane. [color=orchid][b]"She was unconscious, which made it easier to put her in a magically induced slumber. It's restful and this way she won't wake unexpectedly,"[/b][/color] he twirled his index finger in the air, [color=orchid][b]"only at my say-so...well at least until the magic runs out in 48 hours."[/b][/color] Before Ram had a chance to question or respond there was a grunt and a strained yell behind him. Time was all that Ventus had needed to once gain drift back to a state where he could break free. The dutiful efforts of Andrew were quickly bested as Allen Ventus extricated himself swiftly. This night had taken a turn for the worse and even he could now see Ren had gone too far. [i]'I knew I shouldn't have shot up with him. Thank God I didn't.'[/i] None of the prep for this heist covered what to do in this contingency plan. [i]'Some Hype hero gang, a drugged up ops lead, and sirens approaching,'[/i] Ventus thought as took a moment to breathe. It was almost enticing for Allen to simply lie back down and accept his fate at the hands of police force. He feared the Pigs of Larissa much less than he feared [i]them[/i]. Allen also had no idea how [i]He[/i] would react to how this night went. He wasn't back up to full snuff though. His stomach grumbled with more ferocity than usual and his mouth felt like particle board. It would take his body a moment to kick back into gear. [i]'But, I've still got the container, out of everything else,'[/i] Allen thought, touching the pouch he had tucked it into. Their prime objective, and the reason this heist had been labled "By Any Means Necessary". The payout they were supposed to collect also reflected its importance... [color=springgreen][b]"So, I guess I'm about my money over everything else,"[/b][/color] Ventus muttered, making his decision. [color=springgreen][b]"Sorry folks, better luck next time if we ever--"[/b][/color] Ventus' grand exit speech was truncated by the sudden appearance of a syringe in the side of his neck. In his prime, he would have seen it coming with ease. It would have been a laughable attempt, a desperate play. But Allen Ventus, with his hindered reaction time, didn't notice Ram upon him, pressing the remainder of the syring down into the bank robbers neck. [color=cyan][b]"Yeah, better luck next time,"[/b][/color] Ram told him as the male slumped in his arms. He turned to the medic, [color=cyan][b]"So, this may be pushing it, but would you happen to have something to keep him down?"[/b][/color] [color=orchid][b]"Oh! I've got something for that too!"[/b][/color] Miles perked up, bounding over to him and producing two slips of paper. [color=orchid][b]"Forget-Me-Now slips!"[/b][/color] Miles didn't bother to explain, slapping one on the bank robbers forehead. "Lemme hold that knife," he was already taking the knife from Ram's hand before the older male could find it in him to strongly object, transfixed by the kid's process. His sureness. Ram moved to stop him when he saw the younger male make a small cut on his own hand, but was quickly shushed. The blood dropped on to the paper, followed by another flash of light leaving the paper to crumble with the wind. Ram accepted his knife back while the kid spoke to him. [color=orchid][b]"Just go and do [i]that[/i] with [i]this[/i]"[/b][/color] he gingerly handed Ram the second slip of paper, it smelled faintly of herbs and habbedashery scents. Printed on it, in what looked to be old ink, was an intricate symbol -- or [i]symbols[/i]. Ram couldn't make much sense of it. [color=orchid][b]And put it on [i]him[/i]."[/b][/color] Ram followed the kids slow pointing finger to the last villain. [color=orchid][b]"I'll be right back, you got it?"[/b][/color] Miles took off without waiting for an answer, giving himself a small chuckle. He hoped his talking down to the newcomer guy had come across enough. Proper belittling sarcasm was essential in a power play. Miles came up to Andrew, helping his new friend to his feet. [color=orchid][b]"You okay, big guy?"[/b][/color] He asked him, trying to dust off his coat a little. He'd seen the speedster land a few hits in before fully freeing himself, as Andrew had put up a fight. [color=orchid][b]"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you by yourself, I thought I could help those other guys out and I hope you're okay. But dude...you gotta teach me that running through ambulances trick!"[/b][/color] --- Miraculously--and there was no other way to describe it-- Ren was unconscious as Ram neared him. Ram looked at the would-be bankrobber, narrowing his vision to discern any deception. At close quarters this man was something more than deadly. Ram wouldn't risk it, he looked up toward the amublance. [color=cyan][b]"Hey since the radio isn't working, would you help me here?,"[/b][/color] he motioned for the medic to come over. [color=cyan][b]"I want to make sure this one doesn't pounce on me when I get near."[/b][/color] Ram waved the slip of paper for emphasis [color=cyan][b]"He [i]seems[/i] to be out though..."[/b][/color]