[center][h1][i][color=lightgoldenrodyellow]Phan[/color][color=magenta]tom[/color][/i][/h1]Mentions: [@KiwiTime][@Jumbus][@Scarifar][@Rabidporcupine][@Danvers][/center]

Skylar felt boosted by the fact that she had forced Ava to retreat, however her feeling of triumph evaporated upon the mutant's words. Both Skylar and Phantom wanted to believe that he wasn't, but the evidence forced a high probability that Ava was telling the truth. With several Heroes already, it [i]could[/i] be a lie, including Starbright who was on an equal Power Potential tier than her, however Skylar also knew she was a [i]target[/i], and that perhaps more Heroes than just Forge were coming to attempt to subdue her. It didn't look to be a good situation, unless she dispatched these three quick enough to make an escape.

[color=magenta][i]Fall back.[/i][/color]
[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]No, not yet.[/i][/color]
[color=magenta][i]If what she said is true-[/i][/color]
[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]Find me a target.[/i][/color]

There was a slight delay in Phantom's answer, long enough for Ava to kick back off of her wall. The move was obvious enough to dodge, though Starbright's beam blasting at her nicked her enough to hurt.

[color=magenta][i]Target Exchange.[/i][/color]

Skylar obliged. The reasoning was simple: She had already managed to connect a blow with Ava, and they were at close range already. Plus, it helped cover her from Starbright; a close range duel would mean he would have as much chance as hitting Ava as he did hitting Skylar. The armoured woman leapt forward again, thrusting her staff like a spear and then proceeding to follow up with more strikes in an attempt to get another hit on Ava. She was confident that she would, given enough time, land enough hits to weaken Ava to the point where the girl wouldn't even be able to defend herself or dodge. Phantom watched her back, making sure the other two weren't committing themselves to some kind of sneaky action that would present a threat. They had grown used to watching eachother's backs, and for good reason; they didn't fail eachother.

[color=magenta][i]H.E.R.O reinforcements incoming. Disengagement advised.[/i][/color]
[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]I'll be fine.[/i][/color]
[color=magenta][i]Disengage, Skylar.[/i][/color]
[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]A hit or two more.[/i][/color]

Skylar twists the middle of the staff, which separates into two halves. She continues her barrage of attacks at a faster rate against Ava, determined to beat the girl down, or at least exhaust her. She didn't want to leave having accomplished nothing but a few measly hits. She watched the two other Heroes arriving through the vision that Phantom granted her, trying to work out when exactly would be the best moment to bail out, and noting the familiar faces she saw. However, another threat then presented itself.

[color=magenta][i]Break imminent. Disengage immediately.[/i][/color]
[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]I can feel it. I'm submitting, take over quickly, do everything you can to keep us on the controls, and get us out.[/i][/color]
[color=magenta][i]Acknowledged.[/i][/color]

The fighting style of the Heroes' foe was quickly noticeable. Instead of the zeal and rapid strikes before, their opponent became calculating. One of his arms shot up in fist as if going for a punch, before a grapple hook fired, impacting the wall behind Ava. Phantom leapt forward, the pull of the grapple resulting in him flying [i]just[/i] past Ava, trying to catch Ava with both of the staff's ends on the way past. It was then that it went wrong.

Instead of landing gracefully as he had calculated and was projected to do, Phantom's control was suddenly grabbed and pulled away. He would have strangled Skylar if he could, and if it meant he wouldn't be strangling himself in the process. They couldn't predict when mental breaks happened, but Phantom [i]had[/i] advised her to disengage sooner. A mental break in front of Heroes was not good at all for them. Phantom wrestled to shorten the length of the break as Skylar fell to the ground, screaming in agony.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"They don't stop, they never stop!"[/color] The young woman screams. Her hands move up, practically ripping the helmet off of her head to reveal her pale face. She kicks off the ground, just to fall to the ground once more. "Leave me the fuck alone! Get out of my head! Let me die or let me go!" Skylar screams. She grabs at her helmet again, forcefully shoving it onto her head, before launching herself at Ava, the closest target, her staff swinging. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Why won't you help me! Why are you letting them kill me!?"[/color]

The screaming suddenly stopped. A set of ports open up around Skylar's body, and there is a sudden explosion of white smoke, a cloud large enough to conceal Skylar's actual position, and probably catch Ava inside some of it. Phantom, having managed to reassert control, bolts into the nearest alleyway to get away from the Heroes. They weren't staying any longer.