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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

HOPE OF STREAK

20 January 2015

One year and twenty-nine days earlier

Stupid. I was so stupid.

I was sitting on the cold hard concrete under a bridge over a flood control channel. The rain was pouring down like crazy, and I was struggling to keep myself warm and dry, all because I went too far from 'home'. I thought there was somewhere I could play my flute with more results, but I didn't count on the weather turning so sour. Bad timing landed me here, and I wasn't ready to go out and get drenched just to find a more comfortable dry place. I simply sat against the hard wall, knees to my chest, as I waited. But it was getting darker, and things weren't looking to get better any time soon.

"Hey!" said someone, startling me. "You don't look too good."

Turning to look up at the newcomer, I saw it was a male ocelot. He looked as badly-dressed for the weather as me, wearing mostly casual clothes without as much as a hat to protect him from the rain.

"H-Hi," I responded, a bit at a loss for what to say.

"I'm Dean," he said, "Dean Morton."

I looked up with some slight confusion at this newcomer. Here was someone to give me company, and though it went against my better judgement, I was hoping he would at least stay for a little while. He'd at least keep me from being bored. "Matt Walker," I said.

"Want some company, pal?" he asked as he sat down beside me on the cold concrete.

Oh, yes!

"Oh, yes!" I exclaimed, not realising I was holding my breath as I breathed the words out.

"So..." he began, somewhat awkwardly as he sat down on the cold concrete beside me. "What's a good kid like you doing in a dismal place like this, Matt?"

I swallowed my pride and relayed the details. "I strayed too far from where I live. Now I'm stuck under here because of the rain, all because I couldn't get to any better shelter fast enough."

"Bad timing, huh? Same here," he responded with a sigh. "Where do you live? I've called a taxi, so I could give you a ride home."

"Under an overpass," I said flatly and with a sigh of my own.

"Ah. Loud place for a house, huh?"

Realising he didn't grasp my meaning, I clarified: "I don't have a house." I didn't like to be reminded.

"Oh..." he said as the realisation set in. This was the part when he'd tell me he was sorry and then leave. No one wants the guilt of chatting with a homeless guy and then leaving without handing them anything. "You look way too young to be living on the street, kid. How old are you?"

"Nineteen."

Then he looked mortified. I assumed he thought only the elderly and the middle-aged were homeless. Then he stood up, and now he was offering me his paw.

"Then you're gonna need a place to stay for the night. How'd you like to crash at my place?"

My eyes widened and my jaw fell. I was shocked. "R-Really...?"

"Of course! Now, come on, kid, before we both drown!"

5 March 2016

One year, one month, and fourteen days later

As soon as consciousness returned to me, I immediately wanted to return to my slumber, but only because of just how warm and comfortable I felt. Was this real? Because I was certain I was lying in a bed. That was too good to be true.

Creaking open my tired eyes, the first thing I noticed was a smooth white ceiling surrounding a very modern lighting fixture built into it, illuminating the room in a warm soft gold. I became aware of the soft falling of rain, but it wasn't the loud and annoying kind I was used to. It was rain against glass, sliding down the outside of the window to my right. It felt... comforting. I was indoors.

Lying in a warm double bed, a soft blanket was neatly laid over me. I quickly realised how tired and sore my arms were when I tried to move, but I thankfully managed to succeed in removing my coverings, barely. I saw I was still in my costume, but my boots were missing. As my eyes tired adjusted to the light, I saw my blue boots neatly folded on a chair beside the bed.

Then I tried to sit up and found my entire body was sluggish and weak like I hadn't moved for days. My arms and legs felt so heavy. It took immense effort before I was finally sitting up straight. I slowly turned to the side, exposing my bare legs to the warm air as I moved them off the edge of the bed. I was surrounded by comfort in the cosy bedroom, and that helped, but my head was still swimming with questions and I was confused like you wouldn't believe. Where was I? How did I get here? Who did I have to thank or blame?

I checked, and my mind seemed to be my own. I reminded myself that I didn't want to be Manasa's slave and that I was a superhero who fought to protect his city. I was Streak, the white-furred superhero fox, clad in his iconic blue leotard. So far so good. Not enslaved.

Then a dizzy spell hit me, and I collapsed back onto the bed, having to support myself on my elbows.

"Whoa, there!" said an unfamiliar voice. "Unless you want to snap your ribs again, you may want to relax there, kid."

It was a male honey badger who had just entered the modern wood-panelled room. He wore casual clothes in the form of a dark green turtleneck sweater and simple pants. He was decently middle-aged and wore a lot of experience in his expression. I immediately got the impression he knew his stuff when it came to healing.

"Who...?" I managed to get out as he sat down beside me, helping me sit up straight.

"Ethan Sloane. You're safe now, Streak," he said. His voice was warm and welcoming, like the host at a fancy restaurant. Optimism and gentle features seemed to define his mannerisms. A legitimate look of concern, but also reassurance, dressed his face. "You've healed well, so I I thought you'd feel more comfortable with your costume back on."

"Where am I?" I asked, trying to stand, still confused. It was clear he wanted me to take it slow. "How did I...?"

"Race. You know him, right?" he responded, supporting me as I put my bare footpaws on the soft carpet below. "We heard reports about Streak passed out on a cathedral balcony and he ran to bring you here. We figured you may not want a hospital. Sorry he couldn't be here. He's following up a police tip about a New Revolutionary slave smuggling operation down South."

I thought for a moment as my fuzzy brain took in the information. Then I asked "But... who are you?"

"Oh, yeah," he said, as though he had forgotten to mention it. "I don't like to brag, but I'm Steelbadger. You must have heard of me, right?"

An instant flood of recognition hit me. With the benefit of hindsight, I realised I heard his voice before. Steelbadger was Beacon City's first superhero. He appeared over twelve years ago, armed with impenetrable flesh and a fist that hit like a small cannonball.

"Since I'm a doctor, I nursed you back to health myself. At least, you're close to being back to health. You've got a way to go still."

"It was real..." I said quietly as my last memories flooded back, and I began to feel faint, putting my head in my paws. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as the traumatic experience returned to me.

"Whoa, relax, superhero," said Ethan, putting a paw on my back. "You had about five broken ribs, a broken hip and ankle, and maybe a teensy bit of internal bleeding. Trust me when I say you don't want to know how long you were out. So just take it easy, okay?"

Shame, sadness, and despair suddenly turned to panic as my situation settled in. "Please!" I said, taking him by the arm as my pulse began to race. "Please, let me stay here!"

"Hey, loosen those tights, superhero! You can stay as long as you need to," he responded. I let out a sigh of relief at that. "So, where can I take you afterwards? Got an address?"

That ruined it.

"Well... Er..."

"What's the matter? Don't worry, kid. Your identity's safe with me!"

"It's not that, it's just... I don't..." I stammered as I struggled to find the best way to put it, more for my benefit than his.

"You live with your folks? Nothing wrong with that!" he said with a jolly chuckle. "I could drop you off discretely or something. Want to call them too?"

That made me especially uncomfortable.

"I'm homeless and I don't have parents!" I blurted out, turning my paws into fists.

That gave him pause, and his confident demeanour vanished in an instant, becoming solemn. "Oh. I... I'm sorry, kid. I didn't know. I really am sorry."

At least I said what needed to be said.

"It's okay," I responded, perhaps too quickly. "I just really need--"

"Hey, you can stay for as long as you want, Streak. My house is your house."

I let out another long sigh of relief. "Thanks," I breathed.

"Come on. Take it easy now," he continued as he wrapped an arm around me, helping me stand. No easy task, as my legs felt like jelly. Thankfully, Ethan was there to prop me back up before I could collapse.

It was a long trip towards the room's exit. He had to support my weight the whole way, but it was a good exercise that got the blood flowing into my recently underused muscles. Looking down, I saw just how skinny and frail my body had become.

After exiting the bedroom, I looked upon the living room from a balcony above. Then we took a challenging trip down the nearby spiral stairwell. Afterwards, we walked over to a couch in front of his large television. Like everything else in the apartment, it was shiny and modern, but not in a boring way. Floors were lined with shiny wood panels, along with some of the walls, in addition to some sleek lights and modern paintings. It was actually pretty warm and cosy and the rain falling against the windows actually helped. All in all, it was relaxing. I felt peaceful here.

"There you go," said the kind badger as he put me down on the couch in front of the TV. Then he headed to the kitchen area nearby.

"Thanks. I'm Matt, by the way," I said, loud enough that he could hear me from there.

"Pleased to meet you, Matt!" he said happily as he worked something up. "You sure you want to be telling me who you are though?"

"I never had a secret identity from the start," I responded, trying not to sound bitter. After everything Ethan did for me, he deserved better than to hear me whine like a child, but I couldn't help it. "Doesn't matter anyway though. I don't have any powers anymore." That's when I realised that my fur was still white, and I assumed that it just stayed that way unless Falcon specifically changed it, which he didn't.

"Oh..." said Ethan, and his tone changed once again just as I heard him approaching. "I... I can't imagine what that feels like. I'm so sorry."

Then he sat down beside me and handed me a mug. The scent of warm cocoa filled my nostrils, and my spirits rose slightly. Actually, as I soaked in the warm smell, combined with my comforting surroundings, I felt amazing.

"Why don't you tell me about it?" he asked. His arms were folded, eyes turned to enjoy the rain streaming down the large windows around the room, overlooking the grey, drenched city. I knew he was listening though. He just didn't want to stare.

"Back when I lived on the street," I began, "I met this being from another dimension. He called himself 'Falcon', cuz that's what the first Streak called him. He said he chose me for my potential for good or something like that. Turns out he just chose me because he wanted a host who didn't have friends or family to worry about. No double lives to get in the way of making me a good bodyguard. Turns out I'm nothing special."

"Go on," he said. I was expecting a speech about how I was more important than I realised. I was glad that he just wanted to understand what I was going through.

"Well... that made me angry. I said some stuff. It was a bad time too. There was another like him, Xenrai, who tracked him down and threatened to kill me. But he..." I got sad then. Really sad. A combination of guilt and grief swept through me and my throat tightened. "...He traded his freedom for my life. Now he's gone and I... I..."

"It's alright, kid," said Ethan as he suddenly embraced me. I wasn't sure if that helped prevent me from tearing up or not, but I sure needed it. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But you're safe now. Don't beat yourself up."

"I wanna take back the things I said." I sniffled. "I wish I could tell him I'm sorry, but... I just miss him. A lot."

"Everything's going to be okay, Matt," he said, moving the mug of hot chocolate up to my face, and I took a sip. "Listen, I know what it feels like to lose people you care about. Trust me. I've lost a lot too. Especially recently."

"You have?" I asked, turning to him after taking another sip.

"You may have heard. Superheroes have been getting taken or killed by Manasa and her goons. I know Street Guard is gone, but Typhoon, Master Fu, Minerva, Bedrock, Serenade, and even Toby Taylor are still out there somewhere. I don't know where they are, but I hope they're okay. I really miss them."

"I'm sorry," I said. Now I couldn't imagine what he was going through, suffering brothers and sisters he'd known for years vanishing. Then my ears fell as guilt swept over me.

"But back when she was around, Minerva lost her powers too. She took it hard as well."

"She did?" I asked as my ears perked up. "What happened?"

"That's a really long story. But yeah, it tore her up. Being a superheroine was everything to her. But after that, she got used to living normally again. It was hard having no powers, being normal. It was like losing an arm, but it worked out. In fact, after a few months, she wasn't just happy, she was happier than ever. She lost her powers, but she found the love of her life."

"Really?" I was absolutely invested now.

"Yep. She got her powers back eventually, but by that time, she was wondering if she wanted them back. The only reason she embraced her powers again was that she had a responsibility to save lives, and letting that power go to waste would've made her a villain in her eyes, even though we all would've supported whatever decision she made."

"I... I don't know if I could settle down like that."

"All you have to do is make the most of what you have. Things became complicated for her after she chose to become a heroine again, but she did it because it was the right thing to do. You may not know what you have until you've lost it, but sometimes you don't know what you lack until you have it. Just try to be the best person you can be, Matt. Life's funny that way."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He smiled a bit. "I don't know. I make speeches sometimes. But... every night, before I go to bed, I ask myself if I have what it takes to live life and keep fighting every single day. I think of all the troubles ahead and all the battles to be fought. Life's a long, tough journey, and I wonder if I have the strength to keep going. But then I wake up in the morning, have breakfast, and then I know I do. You fight a battle, recover, then fight the next with determination you've never had before, and you keep doing it until the day you die. It doesn't get tiring until the start and end of the day. Sleep it off and get stronger each time. You never really settle down."

I had a small chuckle to give then. "Heh. You do give speeches!"

"Did it help?" he asked with a humorously raised eyebrow.

"Maybe just a bit."

•••

"You want to talk about how you landed on the street?" he asked.

He was working on the kitchen stove, standing above a pot of boiling water. After tossing a spoonful of salt into the sufficiently boiling water, he emptied in some pasta from a packet. Then he started the timer and gave the pot a brief stir. He was making a big pasta lunch, showing me how it was done. I was nearby, leaning on the bar separating the dining table from the kitchen working surface as I watched him at work.

"Well..." I began, a bit flustered now. It was a question with no simple answer. At least not in my mind.

"I'm sorry if you don't want to talk about it," Ethan said as he turned to me, letting the pasta simmer. He put his paws on his hips as he leaned against the worktop. "I don't want to be nosey."

"It's okay. I never really had a reason to talk about it until now. I remember a night, about eleven years ago now, where I woke up from a nightmare. I don't remember what it was about, but I do remember it was someone ringing the bell that woke me up. I called out to Mum and Dad. I thought they'd be back by then, but they didn't answer. I answered the door by myself and there was a cop. He said there was an accident with my parents and they wanted me."

"That must have been terrible. I'm sorry," said Ethan, looking down. I got the impression that he knew what it felt like. Considering all the superheroes disappearing, that felt likely.

"It's okay. I need to get it off my chest. So they took me to the place. It was raining. The car was crushed under a fallen tree, and my parents were pinned inside. They couldn't get out and--"

"You can relax," he said, and I realised I was tearing up. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"No, I can do it," I responded, taking a deep breath to loosen my throat. "I didn't get to say much. They... weren't awake for long, and I was too sad to pay much attention. They just told me they loved me and..."

Then I remembered something. It wasn't long ago when my last encounter with Deception, right before Joel and Sarah died, made me remember what their last words were.

Ethan turned back to the stove, emptying the frying pan of bacon bits into the smaller pot that was to be the sauce. "Go on."

"They said they wanted me to be their superhero and live for them. I loved superheroes and had lots of superhero merch. I... I even had a Steelbadger action figure!"

He grinned a little but maintained a thoughtful expression as he closed his eyes briefly. "I'm glad I left an impression."

That perked me up a bit, but then I continued. "After that, they wanted me to go live with my uncle's family. I didn't like my uncle. I didn't want any replacements."

"You ran away?"

"How'd you know?"

"Ryker felt the same. Bedrock. His family didn't want him because he was too strange. He was born with super strength, and no one could figure out why. So we raised him as our own. He was angry at first and had trouble controlling himself. If he couldn't have parents, he wouldn't have anyone. But all that changed over time. We became his family."

That made me happy. I felt like there was hope for me yet.

"I wasn't alone, though," I continued. "I met a guy called Bernie. He was homeless like me. He kept me away from drugs, crime, and stuff like that. I probably wouldn't have made it without him. Then there were Joel and Sarah, married. Joel could read minds, and they kidnapped me because they knew I desperately wanted a family. I eventually accepted them, and we lived happily for a few weeks."

"Where are they now?"

"Bernie was killed by Raptor," I said, sad again. "Joel and Sarah by Deception.

He sighed, stirring the pasta around in the boiling pot. "Those two are real scum. It sounds like you've had it rough."

"What about you?" I asked, realising I hadn't thought to ask the question earlier, and I wanted to change the subject. "How'd you become Steelbadger?"

"Well..." he began, and I suddenly felt like I had asked an insensitive question judging from how his tone changed. "It all started when my wife and daughter passed away."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I responded, and I felt like my gut was correct. It seemed we were both exchanging a stream of sympathies that day.

"It's alright. It happened over twelve years ago now. I'll never be over it, but I eventually accepted it. Anyway, to put it simply, there was a fire, they were trapped, and I couldn't save them without burning to death. After that, I quit my job as a doctor and was just about ready to end it all out of grief."

"But you didn't."

"Actually, I darn well gave it a try. I climbed to the top of a radio tower and jumped off. Imagine my surprise when I hit the ground and the only thing I killed was a few square metres of grass. I expected to be dead, but I was alive, and I didn't want to be. I thought it was a curse at first. Like I was being punished for letting my family die. And trust me, their deaths made me feel really guilty, to say the least."

"How'd you get that power?"

"I never found out. I still don't have a clue. So I just kept on living, sad and grieving, until I found another fire. I realised what I could do and I saved someone's kid. At that point, my curse became a gift, and I felt like I could save others from the same fate as my family. Without any threat to me, the only fear I could feel was for the lives of others. I was suddenly prepared to live up to the old Hippocratic Oath once again."

"Then what?" I asked, highly invested.

"Well, then I went and met up with an old friend. You know him. Toby Taylor. He used to make regular outfits for celebrities and businessmen, but I convinced him to make me a durable suit that would hold up under the duress I was now immune to. That's how I got my first costume. It's also how Toby got into designing suits for superheroes."

"Yours was the first he made?"

"Yep." The timer began to beep, and he silenced it before turning off the stove. "After that, he decided to make superhero costumes fulltime for fun. Of course, he wanted to make a little cash out of it too." He picked up the saucepan of boiling water and carried it over to the sink.

"Huh," I said. I didn't know that. It was probably public knowledge, but I guess it was never a subject for me as a kid, or later. I was always more concerned with the superheroes themselves rather than where they got their costumes. To me, Toby was always just that funny guy who made outfits for superheroes.

"As for me, I eventually met with Typhoon and Street Guard," he said as he emptied the steaming liquid and softened pasta into the colander in the sink, letting the hot water drain. "Then we founded the Beacon City Vigils. Over the years we added Master Fu, Race, Bedrock, and Minerva. We never managed to convince Serenade to join us though." Then he became sombre. "But now, except for Race, all of them are missing and probably dead, put up as trophies in Manasa's hidey-hole, wherever that is." He seemed to be taking it well.

"How are you coping? How are you here instead of out there?"

"Well, I ran out of leads," he said, carrying the colander of drained pasta over to the stove and emptying it back into the saucepan before moving to collect the sauce. "I'm always waiting for the police to give me something new to go on. I would be out on the streets, scouting for bad guys and hoping I find someone with a clue." He poured the creamy sauce into the saucepan and began to stir, mixing it in with the pasta. "But I've got a young fox to take care of, so I'm happy to stay indoors. We heroes always put others first."

Then I felt guilty. "Serenade and Bedrock traded their freedom for mine." I sighed. "And Street Guard, Joel, and Sarah traded their lives for mine. I heard the couple were gonna have a funeral. It didn't feel right to attend. If it weren't for me, those heroes and the couple would be--"

"Don't you dare, Matt," interrupted Ethan, not angrily, as he emptied the pot into a dish. "Typhoon, Race, Bedrock, Street Guard, Master Fu, and Minerva would all take a bullet for each other, and we've always done our best to shield our friends. Saving people is what we heroes do. Don't feel guilty that they did their jobs. Trust me. I know what that guilt feels like. Over the years, you realise it's just a waste of time. Be thankful, not guilty."

"I guess," I responded, looking down. He was right. They were heroes. They wouldn't want me to feel guilty. "Thanks, Ethan. I've never let it all out like this before."

The honey badger gave me a hearty smile. "Hey, we superheroes don't just save lives and fight bad guys!" Then he slipped on some oven mitts and picked up the steaming dish of creamy pasta. "Now, let's stuff our faces!"

I took one long whiff of that heavenly meal and my spirits soared.

•••

"This makes no sense!" I exclaimed.

"What, the plot?" asked Ethan.

"No, the way they talk."

We were sitting on the couch together, watching television. We'd been watching this TV show all day since lunch, and we were now on the eighth episode. The coffee table between us was burdened with a half-eaten Chinese takeout since we didn't want to interrupt the show to make a meal. Between words, I was busy chomping through a rolled-up pancake containing a combination of the delicious foods before us. I was now wearing a grey T-shirt over my leotard to feel a little less exposed as the day passed. The rain had stopped, and the sun had long since gone down, making it a pleasant evening.

"Where are all the 'ums' and 'ers'?" I continued with my commentary. "They're speaking perfectly, but in real life, people mess up their words a lot."

"Well, it's fiction. If people spoke normally, it might take them too long to get their point across. Writing it all out in advance by a writer allows conversations to flow faster and clearer. But now I'm going to notice that from now."

"And this place they keep going to, why don't we ever see the entrance? They just show up in this room."

"Well, it's a set. Filming them going through the front door would probably need more location shooting. It's a budget thing."

"It's boring seeing the same place over and over. Also, who has the time to travel around the city as often as these guys do? That must be exhausting!"

He chuckled a bit. "Don't overthink it. It's just entertainment. But... you're right. It is kind of boring seeing the same place all the time. Like the cast and crew were just too lazy to drive to the park. Plus, have you noticed the first episode of a show is usually the best in terms of spectacle and writing?"

"I do now!" I said with realisation. "It's like they spend the entire budget on the first episode. Everyone has so much more character. But it gets so boring after that."

Ethan laughed. Then he started to look thoughtful. "By the way, I've been thinking," he started, scratching the back of his neck, and I knew he was embarrassed about something. "I guess that... you know... since you need a home and it gets kind of lonely here without the other heroes, I could always... adopt you?" He turned to face me.

A wave of emotion suddenly washed over me.

He continued. "I mean, it would work for both of us, since I could always use some company and you need a place to li--"

He was cut short as my paws connected behind him, locking him in a strong embrace as tears welled up in my eyes, burying my muzzle in his turtleneck. I held him tightly against the expansive couch.

"Th-Thanks, Ethan..." I said, trying and failing to keep my voice from breaking.

"Hey, hey, no problem, Matt!" reassured Ethan, wrapping his own arms around me. "But I'm going to show you how to get a job!"

I couldn't stifle a small laugh there.

"Heh! That's better, right?" he chuckled, looking at me as he broke off the hug. "No more long faces, huh?"

Suddenly he moved a paw down to slide under my shirt and begin to tickle my belly through the blue fabric of my costume underneath. My laughs grew significantly in intensity as he tickled me furiously. I cried out with perhaps the most laughter I'd ever had in years. They weren't just ticklish laughs, but laughs of joy, including the little tears that came along with them.

Mercifully, he stopped after a whole ten seconds, removing his paw from under my shirt to let me breathe.

"You know," he started, "you can't stay in that costume forever. If you go back to the guest bedroom, you should find plenty of clothes in the wardrobe that can fit you. Why not you go find something more casual while I clear up this mess on the table, huh?"

"Sure!" I said as I recovered with some lingering giggles. It must have been years and years since I was last tickled. I forgot what it felt like.

Bursting with renewed energy, I ran to the staircase and up to the next floor, overlooking the living room, where Ethan gave me a playful "what are you waiting for?" look. I rushed into the guest bedroom. When I entered, I started to pull up my shirt, but I stopped for a moment before I could finish. I ran to the chair beside the bed and slipped my shiny blue boots onto my bare footpaws. Then I went to look at myself in the standing mirror in the corner.

I got this costume over a year ago now; my first superhero costume. Yes, I had replaced it a few times due to damage, but it was still basically the same one to me. It was simple and oddly revealing, but it grew on me so much from the day I first put it on. It was when I saw myself in the mirror in Toby's penthouse, wearing this thing, that I realised everything had changed, and I was a new fox. I had worn it constantly, and the only reason I didn't stink was that Falcon's aura vibrated dirt particles and bacteria off my body.

I had gotten so used to wearing it; over a year of bare arms and legs and the soft blue fabric against my fur. I wore literally nothing else that whole time except for a few 'useful' additions that Manasa gave me for my 'assignments' when I was enslaved to her. Now the leotard didn't cling to my shrunken body as well before, but it all still felt so natural to me, and wearing anything else was going to feel strangely restrictive. This simple spandex leotard and tight blue boots had become a part of me, and I wondered if I was ready to separate myself from them. I just looked at myself, breathing in and out in a long sigh as I admired myself in my familiar outfit. Was this goodbye to an old friend? Was I ready to go back to wearing pants after so long? Was this the last remnant of Streak to be disposed of?

I dropped the shirt back over the leotard as soon as I heard the sound of crashing glass.

Exiting the guest bedroom, I arrived at the balcony overlooking the living room yet again. I was about to call out to Ethan until I recoiled at what I saw, retreating to hide behind the bedroom door. It was Venus, known supervillain and twin sister and nemesis to superheroine Minerva, who was by her side, one of Raptor's control collars around her neck. They had both just entered in through the large shattered windows, levitating via their telekinetic powers.

"Very impressive, Ethan," said Venus, her voice painfully smug. I was already hidden behind the door when I heard her speak. "So this is where you moved after I turned on my dear sister. I didn't think you were up here living so large! I'm so jelly!"

Both of them were mouse-cat hybrids, tails and faces of cats and ears of mice. Venus's costume was a high-cut white leotard with a belly window, elbow-length white gloves, thigh-high white boots, and a white headband. Every element had a matte texture with techy details and aquamarine accents. Minerva wore an identical suit, but with mauve accents instead. They didn't need masks. It was well known that the grey-furred 'Venus' named Ashley and beige-furred 'Minerva' named Morgan were the daughters of Thomas Tome, who created their suits to help them control their telekinetic powers as a result of the lab accident they were caught in. To this day, no one knows why Venus turned on her sister.

"Minerva, what are you doing?!" Ethan demanded to know from his former ally, and I peered around from behind the door to see what was happening. Looking over the railing, I saw Ethan was frozen in place, with Minerva's outstretched paw raised at him. No doubt she was using the telekinetic restraints that the two sisters were both proficient in.

"I am being a good girl," said Minerva, voice monotone and cold. "Good girls do as big sister says."

"What've you done to her?!" screamed Ethan at Venus, angry and horrified.

"Ah, yes! My darling sister was too dangerous for Manasa to enslave while conscious," said Venus, caressing the side of her sister's cheek while Minerva kept Ethan suspended. "But thanks to Raptor's control collars, she's been safely deprived of her pesky free will and is now what she was always born to be: my slave." Now her paw trailed down to rub between her sister's bare legs, caressing her sensitive areas through the fabric of her scant uniform. "A satisfying end to our long feud, isn't it? Now she knows which one of us is the better. Isn't that right, my good girl?"

"Yes, sister," responded Minerva, blankly. "You are superior to me in every way. I am so honoured to be your submissive little slave."

"And...?" asked Venus, still stroking her sister's cheek.

"And your obedient slut, Mistress."

"Good girl. I'll be sure to give you a whole hour of constant orgasms for your excellent work tonight when we get home."

"Thank you, Mistress," responded the enslaved heroine. "I like to cum."

Though I couldn't see him, I knew Ethan was grinding his teeth. I would be too.

"Hehe! Oh, yeah, I also took the liberty of showing my sister her place by putting some miniature vibrators in the front and back of her costume. Just to remind her who she belongs to! Oooh, you should hear how she moans. You're a horny little kitten, aren't you, plaything?" she teased, tickling under his sister's chin.

"Yes, Mistress. I love it when my superior sister dominates me."

"Isn't she cute? She's just a brainless, obedient slut now!"

"I will save her! I promise you that!" said Ethan with anger and determination I hadn't heard from him so far. "You hear me, Morgan? I'll save you!"

"My dear Ethan, you can't even save yourself," Venus said as she put her paws on her hips, approaching him. "Soon you'll be a drooling slave too, begging me to let you cum, unless you think someone's going to save you...? How unfortunate that Race is away on business.

"How... How do you know about that?" he asked, filled with concern.

"Oh, Steelbadger, there are many things I know. Including many things that you don't. Sister, be a good girl and go exploring. If anyone else is here, bring them to me."

"Yes, Mistress," said Minerva as she abandoned the telekinetic restraints she held on Ethan while Venus took over that task, and the enslaved superheroine started to move. I was in trouble now.

I retreated deeper into the guest bedroom as quietly as I could, trying not to panic. I knew Minerva would find me soon enough, so I needed a place to hide, for now. I headed straight for the nearby wardrobe. Maybe Ethan had a secret superhero communicator somewhere that I could use to contact Race.

I entered the wardrobe, but before closing the doors, I saw a small hatchway built into the back of the fairly small space. I needed to hurry though, and I was concealed in darkness save for the gaps between the slits as I closed the doors on myself. It was barely a few seconds later that I saw Minerva enter the bedroom, her face blank and devoid of emotion from what I could tell through the narrow gaps. She wasn't walking, but floating a few inches off the ground.

Ducking down slowly, I hoped she wouldn't check in here. As quietly as I could, I turned and positioning myself in front of the small hatch before gently pushing at it in the darkness, feeling around with my paws. It budged, soon revealing a passageway beyond, dimly lit by the light emerging from a vent in the floor up ahead. I assumed Ethan had this tunnel built precisely in case of emergencies like this, and I thanked him in my head as I slowly crawled in. It had a carpeted floor too, so I wasn't making much noise.

As I neared the event, I discovered it overlooked the hall outside the apartment door. Three elevators were visible on a nearby wall. I slowly removed the grate and leapt down, doing my best to land quietly. Without my powers, it wasn't the most nimble of landings, and I had to stifle a loud grunt of effort. Turning to face the apartment door, my heart sank as I realised it was wide open, and someone almost certainly could've heard me.

"I can collar you at any time, Ethan," I heard Minerva saying through the doorway. Maybe she was too busy talking to hear me? "I wanna hear you admit that it's over. It's inevitable. Say you're ours now."

"A hero's defeat is never inevitable, Venus," Ethan responded, sternly. "I promise you, I'm going to save Minerva, and you're going to a maximum security box."

She chuckled. "No, my dear Steelbadger! Morgan's my kinky little slave forever now, and soon, Manasa may reward me with you too! I'm looking forward to hearing your breathy repentance for disobedience as you cum in your costume!"

I heard two boots tapping the ground then, and I immediately assumed that Minerva had levitated down to the first floor after searching the other rooms. I also assumed she heard me. Powerless, I needed something to defend myself with, and a way to take her out fast. The moment she saw me would be the moment she would beat me. If I was gonna save Ethan, I'd need to even the odds. We couldn't beat the telekinetic sisters alone.

I snatched a vase sitting atop a pedestal in a corner and hid behind the open door, raising the fragile pottery as I prepared to clobber her in the head. It pained me to have to do it, but if I could just stun her for a few seconds, maybe I could remove the control collar. Venus couldn't take all three of us. I held my breath.

The unthinkable happened. Minerva flew into the room with her powers, dashing ahead of my reach before I could blink. She instantly spun around, surveying the whole space outside the apartment in a mere one second before she saw me, raised her paw, and took hold of my body with her power.

The vase fell, and so did my hopes. Clearly being mind controlled didn't impact her intelligence.

"There you are, Streak!" said Venus as Minerva re-entered the apartment with me in tow, floating helplessly in the air as I struggled and flailed, desperate to latch on to something. "Everyone's been wondering where you've been!"

Minerva went to stand beside her sister and took over the responsibility of restraining Ethan as well. Venus merely paced slowly, gloating over her victory.

Thinking quickly, I lifted my shirt off and threw it at Minerva's face. The moment her vision became obscured, the two of us were freed and I fell out of the air. Ethan ran straight for Venus while I dashed for Minerva, hoping that maybe I could knock her out.

Unfortunately, I was immediately disappointed by my lack of enhanced speed as Venus took over her enslaved sister's job, freezing both of us before we could reach our targets and forcing us into a kneeling position on the ground. Except now Venus kept our limbs locked in place. Without the shirt, I was left purely costume-clad.

"Ahhh, nice try, Streaky!" cheered the playful villain as Minerva removed the shirt from her face, once again taking the job of restraining Ethan and I.

From here, I got a better look at Minerva. I could see the crotch of her leotard was totally soaked, lending credence to Venus's claim that she enjoyed making her enslaved sister climax. Indeed, it was a good way to humiliate a former nemesis, especially if that nemesis is a sibling. Much to my fear, I also saw that Venus had a few of Raptor's control collars hanging from the side of her waist. She came prepared.

Then Venus approached, swaying her hips slightly as she walked. When she was close enough, she knelt to meet me at eye level and reached a paw down.

"Looks like it's my turn to bring you back to your Mistress," she said, running both her paws up and down along my inner thighs. "She really wants you back, and I can see why. So virile. So... sexy in this costume." Then her paws moved to the blue fabric between my legs, cupping the smooth mound in both her paws and gently moving her grip up and down, massaging me through the fabric and instantly sending tingles of pleasure up my spine. I kept quiet, refusing to give her the satisfaction of hearing me whimper in response. "I'd definitely love to keep you for myself, but... ah, well."

"Leave him alone!" yelled Ethan, rage on his face, but Venus ignored them.

"Your slave uniform is one of the best," she teased further, looking me up and down. "Simple and revealing, just as a slave's attire should be, and like a good slave, you know to keep these legs bare and your sensitive treasures vulnerable for your superiors. You really do have the mind of an obedient, slutty, sexy servant."

This time though, I wasn't as easily aroused as I would've been when Falcon was enhancing my senses. But I said nothing.

She noticed but smiled at me anyway, smugly. "I think it's time you learned your place, cutie!" Then she retrieved one of the collars from where it was holstered on her waist.

I wasn't ready for this. Just when I learned that my life could be repaired, I wasn't willing to be given back over to Manasa. Not now. Not after everything I had endured.

"No! Stop! Please!" I pleaded, tears starting to well up in my eyes. Defiance turned to fear and panic. The concept of losing my free will became so much scarier than ever before. "Not again! Please! Please! No!"

"Stop!" pleaded Ethan. "Just take me! But leave him!"

She was listening to our pleas, and she loved it. As the collar approached my neck, she only grinned with joy as she swam in my tearful begging.

"No!" I continued. "Don't! Not agai--"

Then the abominable collar snapped shut around my throat. My tearful pleading immediately subsided and my racing heart calmed. My expression went blank as every thought in my head fell away, sternly awaiting commands. Of course, I instantly hardened in my leotard as well. I guess I really did like being controlled.

"There. All better now..." said Mistress, softly as she stroked my cheek. Then she stood, lifting me into a standing position. Slightly hunched over, my arms hung limply. Then she looked down at the blue tent between my legs, reaching a paw to softly tickle me down there. "Hehe! Such a good boy! You're already hard!"

Ethan hung his head in defeat as Mistress continued to knead my spandex-clad member. Now my heart rate was flying up again as she pulled me close, resting my head against shoulder as her paw continued to fondle me through my costume.

"Now, let's get you all moistened up for Manasa!" she said, releasing her embrace.

Using her powers, she levitated me back into the air and spread my legs. Bending me over backwards, my head was almost hanging upside down as she stood between my knees and placed both paws on the throbbing blue mound between the white fur of my legs. She began to rub, slowly at first, but each stroke was a wave of bliss. Somehow my inability to move only heightened my arousal as I released droplets of pre-cum into my costume. My tongue hung from my mouth as I panted, throwing my head back.

"Such a good boy!" she said, grinning as she played with me. She began waving a finger on her other paw in a "come hither" motion, and I instantly felt my prostate being massaged within me by her abilities. "Moan for me, slave..."

Indeed, I moaned a great deal, panting furiously as she rubbed harder, pre-cum flowing freely into my leotard as she humiliated me in front of Ethan. The orgasm she wanted from me was only moments away already.

"Cum in your slave uniform already!" she yelled, but happily.

"No! That's a hero's costume!" yelled Ethan, seething. "Don't make him ruin it! You've humiliated him enough!"

"Uhh! Uhhhh!" I moaned as my mind and body began to comply with her order, totally ignoring Ethan's demands to Mistress. Head thrown back, my legs quivered as the orgasm shook me. My hips were gyrating as Mistress' expert manipulations coaxed my fluids into my leotard, and the blue fabric in her grip darkened as I unloaded, painting the fabric with my cream. Intense pleasure consumed my body as I continued to moan in ecstasy, an orgasm only Mistress could induce with her powers stimulating me both inside and outside.

"My, you are productive!" she said joyously as she rubbed the drenched fabric between my legs, drawing further whimpers from me. "It's a shame that I can't keep you for myself. Isn't that right?"

"Yes, Mistress..." I said flatly, but still panting.

Then she levitated me down, standing me up before her and embracing me in a hug. My leotard was still dripping with the occasional light hump from a few extra spurts of my warm seed.

"There's a good slave. There's a good boy." Then she let me go, leaving me standing idly as she turned to Ethan. "Well, if nothing else, at least Manasa's probably gonna give you to me as a reward," she said to him, licking her lips. Then she handed me a familiar object: another mind control collar. "Slave, put this on Steelbadger here, will you? I think it's time he joined you in blissful submission and obedience, isn't it?" she said, stroking my jaw.

"Yes, Mistress," I said, taking the collar unquestioningly.

She directed me towards Ethan, playfully stroking my backside beneath my tail as she walked me towards the legendary hero.

"No, Streak! Stop! Don't let it control you! Please!" he begged, struggling in vain in Minerva's telekinetic grip. "Please! You can do it! Come on, Matt! Stop! No! Don--"

Then he was cut off too as I clipped the collar onto his neck. The energy and emotion drained from his now-blank face as he calmed down, muscles completely relaxed.

"There now. Isn't that better?" my new Mistress enquired, gesturing for me to move out of the way so she could take hold of Ethan's muzzle in her paw.

"Yes, Mistress," he responded, cold and monotone. "Please forgive my disobedience."

"Where's your 'costume', slave?" she asked the now-submissive honey badger.

"Under my clothes, Mistress."

"Hehe! Excellent! Take your clothes off then. Let me see your slave uniform!" she ordered, eagerly and happily.

Ethan complied, tearing off his casual outfit to reveal his costume. Showing off his muscled body beneath, he was clad in white spandex underneath a high-cut, sleeveless, silver leotard with a large white shield logo on the chest. His flowing silver cape revealed itself as his shirt came free, extending down to the ground. Fittingly, the combination of white and silver made him look like he was made of stainless steel. His silver boots and gloves must have been stored somewhere else.

"Mmmm! So hot!" praised Mistress, circling the enslaved superhero as she trailed a finger across the silver leotard around his torso, slowly going lower until she moved his cape aside to softly brush his behind through the smooth fabric. Then she stopped behind him, reaching both paws around to his front to grope his package through the silver fabric between his legs, eliciting a soft moan from him as Mistress' head peeped out from behind his toned bicep, looking up at his pleasured expression. "Oh, all the things I can do with you in this..."

"Y-Yes, Mistress..." he stammered, breathing harder as she played with him through his costume.

I merely stood by and watched, disinterested and absent-minded, leotard still soaked after my climax.

"You know, it's a shame that Deception's in prison. The two of you have such a long history, and he really wanted to be the one to enslave you. Oh, yes, I'm sure he would have loved to have you as his slave, but I'm happy to take the honour myself." Then she stopped her molestations. "Come to think of it, I think I'd rather savour you for when I take you back to HQ. Then we can have some real fun!" She walked away from Ethan with a quick stroke of his chin with a finger. "Plus, I think we've kept Manasa waiting enough, don't you think, slaves?"

"Yes, Mistress," I said.

"Yes, Mistress," Ethan said.

"Yes, Mistress," Minerva said.

My new owner raised her paw, and all three of her obedient slaves lifted into the air by her power, though Minerva flew by herself.

"Then let's go home."

Together, we flew out into the glistening evening skyline, heading for Manasa.

Heading for my fate.

To be continued...