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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BATTLE OF STREAK (PART I)

6 March 2016

Later that night

Spread-eagle, all four of my limbs were now in their familiar restraints from when I was first captured by Raptor and delivered to Manasa's lair. I was upright, arms and legs spread out in an X shape. In my state of total submissiveness, it actually felt good to be back, even though my mind was blank. It just felt so right to obey orders and put myself in position at the whim of my owners.

Then the collar was removed.

"Uhhhh..." I moaned as free will returned to me. The tendrils of submission were removed from my mind and I could think for myself once more. I shook my head, getting used to the feeling of being able to control my own thoughts again.

"Well, if it isn't my favourite pet; already hard as a rock for his mistress!" came a familiar voice. Her. My serpent goddess. My Mistress.

Indeed, I'd been tenting the fabric between my legs since we left Ethan's apartment, and my position of total helplessness before her only compounded my arousal.

"Manasa..." I said below my breath. I was about to throw out a sarcastic remark about how unhappy I was to see her, but to be honest, I didn't feel the kind of despair that I should have.

As beautiful as ever, she wore her usual outfit of what looked like velvety, crisscrossing strips of crimson fabric across her slender, scaly, bright green frame. It resembled a high-cut bikini of some sort, with a red crystal pendant having from her golden necklace. Her long crimson hair seemed to shimmer with a perfect shine.

We were alone. There were windows to my right overlooking the twinkling evening city skyline beyond. It was an elegant room, very stately. It wasn't Manasa's apartment though. From my memories, I could recall the journey here: into the sewers and travelling for some time through the dark tunnels before rising up through several flights of stairs. I had no idea where we were, despite the open windows overlooking the city. I could recognise a few buildings and the general area though. Somewhere in Shimmer district.

Smiling warmly, Manasa raised a scaly green hand up to my face, stroking my cheek. "Words cannot describe my joy at having you back, my pet," she said, looking me in the eyes, which I closed before I could give her any chance to hypnotise me. "Soon you will know your place. Soon."

"Do your worst," I said sternly, eyes still closed. "I'm not giving myself to you willingly."

She continued stroking me, one hand moving over my torso to caress my chest through the tight blue fabric of my leotard.

"It's okay," she said. "You'll be happy again soon enough. I have looked into your poor mind, pet. I have seen what you are missing. The being that gave you your power is gone. Now you are nothing more than a normal cute fox on a leotard. A shame, but I will always love you, my sweet pet."

An unpleasant reminder. Yeah, Falcon was long gone, and the only other hero alive or with their free will intact was Race, and as far as I knew, he had no idea where we were. He was out of town when we were captured. For that matter, I didn't even know where Ethan was. One of Manasa's thugs led me here and ordered me to restrain myself. I could only hope that some miracle might befall Ethan and allow him to rescue me.

"But don't worry, my pet," continued the seductive serpent. "You will not need your powers to be my best, most obedient, and most..." Finally, her hand cupped the softly throbbing mound between my legs, and I shuddered. Her grip felt so familiar. "...satisfying slave."

"You'll have to force me," I said. I tried to growl, but the ancient programming in my head from when I was enslaved to her made it difficult. I just couldn't bring myself to hate her. "Unless you put that collar back on, I'll always resist."

She smiled. Then she chuckled. "That's why I love you so much, pet. You're stronger than you think, but that is what makes having you all the more pleasant. There is so much satisfaction to be gained from reducing this..." She began to fondle me now, softly rubbing me through the strip of fabric between my bare thighs. "...this young and defiant superhero to my whimpering, adoring, submissive slave. And mark my words, pet, you will submit to me. Willingly. When this city screams my name in adoration, then you will have nothing left to live for but me. You will love me as I love you, and you will be mine forever."

I honestly started to believe her. Thinking she had no plans on hypnotising me yet, I opened my eyes as her attention down there brought forth another soft moan from me. "Uhhh... I... Er..." I stammered, at a loss for words.

"You will see. Tonight, in fact. Now that the last of Beacon City's protectors are deceased, enslaved, or absent, the time has come."

"What do you... nnnngh... mean?" I asked with a whimper. Her attention felt too good to not enjoy. I realised how much I missed her tender touch.

"I am the last of my people, pet. I was a queen among them, and we were so powerful, surrounded by hordes of adoring servants, all enslaved to our unlimited hypnotic power. We considered every other species to belong to us. I still remember their many entranced faces, and how cute they were in their little loincloths. We owned so many. But..." She closed her eyes for a moment. Actual sadness? I hadn't seen that before. "My people died out. A great cataclysm destroyed them all, but fate guaranteed my survival. I watched as my great civilisation, vast temples and swooning servants, were wiped out in that disaster millennia ago."

I wanted to say I didn't care. I wanted to spit in the face of her and her people, but as she looked me in the eyes, I found myself not wanting to. I felt an empathy I knew I wouldn't have felt otherwise. Her former programming was still so strong.

"I spent the next few centuries growing stronger, increasing my mastery of magic. I became the first great sorceress, but it would not be enough to bring my people back or rule this world. So I searched for a way, and I found a convergence in what would one day become Beacon City. A convergence of physical and arcane energies. It was over the centuries after that I devoted myself to acquiring resources: minions, technology, weapons, and wealth. All of this served my grand design: to use that convergence of energy to create a doorway to the past. My people shall then be resurrected, saved before they are wiped out in volcanic fire. We shall swarm into the present and the minds of every being shall belong to us once again."

"No..." I said, but not with as much energy as I should've used. I was lost in the pleasure of her skilful stimulation between my legs.

Her own chest heaving with excitement and joy at the mere thought. "Yes!" Then her eyes lit up, consuming my vision in those beautiful swirls of brilliant colour, and I was in her power once more as she rubbed faster. "You and the other lesser beings shall be our slaves, just as you were born to be. Oh, it shall be paradise!"

"Stop...! Not... Uhhhh..." I moaned as my mind became one with her will.

All the fear I would have felt at her words was gone. In fact, hearing Mistress tell me her plans, I was filled with joy. I felt warm, comfortable, content, and peaceful. I could only stare into her eyes adoringly as she went on.

"Only a few hours now. You will be able to see the ignition of my portal from here. But I want your free will intact so that you may see my victory as you are, and you will know that all your hope was for nought as my army pours through the portal, claiming the minds and bodies of everyone in this city, and then the world!"

Eyes reflecting the spirals in hers, I let out ever louder whimpers of pleasure. During her monologue, I had begun to paint the inside of my costume with my dribbling juices, and I was soon to climax.

"Yes, slave." She licked my snout with a long forked tongue. "Show mistress how much she means to you."

I moaned loudly as my body shuddered in her grip, eyes still locked with hers. My mind was firmly in her power. Finally engulfed in a hypnotic orgasm, I gyrated my hips in her hands as she coaxed my warm cream into my costume. She smiled with every jerk of my pelvis. A torrent of pleasure erupted up my spine as I wet myself, all the while she stared me in my eyes. I felt the moistness spreading throughout the lower regions of my leotard with my impotent release.

Then she unshackled me from her power and I was left panting, head hanging in exhaustion as my free will returned to me. I was certain that the pleasure she brought me was greater than normal while under her power. It was beyond imagining, in fact. The part of me that wanted to give myself to her only became stronger as I longed to have that pleasure back. I needed it more than anything at that moment, and it took all of my willpower to keep from begging for more.

"You loved that, didn't you?" she teased, taking my panting jaw in her hand and lifting my face to meet hers once again. "More?"

"No... I don't..."

Then those eyes burned brightly with swirling colours once again, and I was too late to close mine. Not that I wanted to. Once again, my mind belonged to her, and I shuddered in submission as she squeezed my soaked bulge. The rest of the world disappeared, and the only thing that existed was the will of my Mistress.

"My, my! You are still so productive for me! Cum."

Another massive orgasm wrecked my body. My Mistress giggled as my costume dripped profusely with overflowing heaps of sticky seed, forcing its way out the leg holes of my leotard. My arms and legs shook and pulled at my restraints violently, but the metal contraptions persisted in holding my mortal, vulnerable body in place. I could only roar in pleasure once again as my Mistress had her way with me, and her hand between my quivering legs was drenched with the fluids that seeped through the blue fabric.

"Stop... Please..." I pleaded as she released me from her power once again, panting, heaving and struggling to stay awake. "No... No more..."

It was too much to take in. Every time she took control, my mind was overwhelmed with emotions of obedience and love for her, but as soon as she released her control, I felt as though I had woken up from a long nap. It was disorienting and dizzying, and I became confused. Who was I? Was I Matt Walker, or was I the pet of my Mistress? Submission and freedom seemed to both become concepts without meaning. It all began to feel like a dream. I couldn't tell if my thoughts were my own or not.

"Poor, sweet pet," she said, smiling, still staring me in the eyes, but I couldn't muster the will to close them. My mind torn between total obedience and defiance. Then her spiralling eyes stole my mind again. "Do you remember how I did this to you when we first met? The memory must still fill you with arousal. Cum."

My third orgasm was torture in pleasure. My body shook again as I moaned loudly into the air. No, screaming. I wanted to climax forever, to cum eternally in her power for her satisfaction. That's what her smile of joy made me feel. Physically, I felt like I was about to die from sheer ecstasy.

But I passed out.

"Why do you resist, Matthew?" asked someone. It sounded like Xenrai. I was sure of it. "You want this. You know you do."

I was free. My arms and legs could move again, but I was surrounded by blackness. I was confused, wondering how I got here.

Then I turned to see who was speaking. It wasn't Xenrai. What I saw only confused me further.

"Stop fighting yourself," said... me. Unmistakeable. Same face, same proportions, same blue eyes, same white fur. "It's what you were born for."

He wasn't dressed like me though. He wore nothing but a skimpy, high-cut blue bikini. It was shiny, studded with little diamonds around the thin waistband, and fully tenting with his aroused member, dripping with moisture through the silky fabric. He was lying back on a pile of cushions, illuminated by an unseen light source from above. He looked so comfortable, stretched out in blissful contentment, despite his vulnerable and suggestive position.

"No!" I exclaimed, realising who this really was, and I felt fear. But this wasn't the usual kind of fear for my life. "I'm not you! I'll never be you! I'll never submit to Manasa! Never!"

"You don't know yourself as well as you think you do, Matt..." said my other self as he cuddled a pillow, brushing it up and down his chest as he looked at me, oddly seductive, out of one eye. "You'll have to decide what you want to be: a crusader fighting an endless war..." Then he lowered the pillow down to between his spread legs, rubbing it over his tenting bikini and drawing a moan from him. He was in heaven. "Uhhh... or a slave living a life of endless pleasure and contentment, here in the chambers of our Mistress..."

"Enslavement to Manasa isn't real contentment!" I yelled, gritting my teeth. But I couldn't help the feeling that he was right. "It can't be! It's just an illusion! I'd be living life as someone I'm not!"

Then I felt something different. I looked down and my footpaws were bare. My leotard was also gone, completely naked save for the same bikini the slave was wearing. A burning arousal shot through me and my legs gave out, knees falling into cushions. I was now soaking in my own moans. All around me, the lounge began to come together, materialising more and more fully out of the darkness to reveal a dungeon of pleasure. Cushions, sofas, and other slaves of various species sat all around, stretched out and enjoying their servitude as well.

"It is time to join my harem, pet," said Manasa, her oddly comfortable hand appearing on my shoulder, rubbing and massaging. It felt so good. "You know you want to." Her other hand was reaching down and around to grasp me through my throbbing slave's bikini.

I moaned further, not resisting. Even though my Mistress was behind me and her eyes were out of my sight, I felt her power consume my mind, bathing my world in those beautiful colours.

"Yes... Mistress..." I breathed, eyes widening and my face going blank. I continued to speak in a dull monotone voice. "I... I live to serve you... I am yours forever..."

Then my other self crawled towards me, tongue hanging and cheeks red in arousal. Grinning, he put a paw to the side of my head, caressing.

"You're home now, Matt," he said, so happily, but my expression was blank, totally enveloped in Manasa's power, and I felt happy and relieved. This was where I belonged. "And there's no escape this time."

"Wake up, Matt!"

I woke up startled, still restrained, but sweating after the nightmare.

"You okay? I'm going to get you out of here, alright?"

"Ethan?" I asked in amazement, so relieved to see Steelbadger free and well, standing before my restraints. "How... Why aren't you enslaved? Where's your collar?"

"Bullets, fire, and knives aren't the only things I'm immune to!" he said with a bit of a puffed-up chest. Examining my restraints, he was still in his iconic costume: silver cape, leotard, boots, and gloves over white spandex, with a large white shield emblem adorning his strong torso. "I'm sorry, by the way. I pretended to be controlled. I realised it was our best chance of finding Manasa's lair, and maybe saving our fellow heroes. I had to do it."

"It's okay," I said, just so happy that he was here, and that we were going to escape. He could pay me back later. "As long as you're okay."

He smiled. "Oh, and Venus won't be bothering us anytime soon," he said with a grin. That lifted my spirits even more. "An unexpected whack on the head from a fist like steel knocked her right out!"

"Nice work!" I responded with the tiniest hint of a laugh of satisfaction. "What about Minerva? What did they do with her?"

"I don't know. Venus sent her away somewhere. I've just been sneaking around trying to find you."

"We'll find them all," I said, surprising myself with my newfound confidence. But this could be our chance, and even without Falcon or my powers, I was determined to see the day saved.

Beside my restraints was a console, displaying data about my physical status. Ethan had moved to examining it in hopes of releasing me.

"I... I don't know how this thing works. Maybe if..."

He tried pushing a button beside the screen, but my spirits fell again as soon as an alarm started to blare.

"Oh, darn..." said Ethan as he began to breathe harder, trying the other controls, but nothing seemed to do anything. The controls must have required some kind of security key, and without one, Ethan triggered the alarm. "I don't... Err..."

I sense of responsibility hit me. I spoke without thinking. "Ethan, go. Find the other heroes. I can't help you."

"No way!" he said firmly. "I'm not leaving you in the hands of that witch."

"She's gonna open a portal to the past. She's gonna summon an army of people like her, all with hypnotic powers."

"Hey, I'm gonna adopt you, remember?" He give up on the controls and trying to tear the metal binds off my concealed paws. "I plan on saving the city with my adopted son!"

My throat tightened then and a tear nearly got loose before I closed my eyes. "If you don't go now, we're finished," I said, more and more urgently. "And so are the other heroes. Please, Ethan."

He wasn't persuaded. "No, Matt," he said, continuing to pull, desperate to free me. "We're going home together."

Seeing him struggle, I was about to yell at him until... the alarm stopped.

"Dirtbag here," said the Doberman villain made of black slime, speaking using an intercom console near the entrance at the far end of the room. "Forgot to use my security key. Everything's fine. Security code 445492."

When he was done speaking, the villain began to approach us. Ethan got ready to fight, taking a professional martial arts stance between me and Dirtbag.

"Why?!" I asked, completely shocked, but not sure whether to be relieved or terrified. To my side, Steelbadger was also pretty amazed. However, I was willing to bet he just wanted to tear us to pieces himself and didn't want anyone else getting in the way.

"You kidding?" he said as he neared the console with his security key. "If Manasa takes over the world, then what's the fun in ruining the lives of mindless slaves? She wins and I'm out of a hobby."

Despicable.

"Why?" I asked.

"How dumb are you, fox?" he responded unkindly, giving me a nasty look.

Dirtbag wasn't heading for me. He stepped around Ethan, towards the console. Ethan wasn't letting his guard down, ready for a fight at a moment's notice.

"No. Why do you do what you do?" I continued. "Why be so... cruel?"

Then there was a long silence while the villain inserted his security key, entered a code, and pulled a lever. My restraints opened and I fell, but Ethan caught me before I could hit my knees on the hard marble floor.

"Huh," he finally said as he turned to leave. "No one's ever asked me that. You really wanna know?"

"Yeah."

He started towards the room's exit. "I'm a loser. Always have been. Always will be," he began as he stopped by the doorway. "But that's not my problem. Sometimes, you just lose so, so hard, and so often, that there's nothing in the world that can make you think 'Oh, it's not about winning!' No, this makes you wanna punch those people in the face. I've always been that kinda loser, always at the very back, arriving at the finish line when everyone else has already gone home. When everyone around you revels in victory and the fun of the game, it fills you with something you don't even feel for the worst of the worst."

Ethan was helping me stand up straight. I tested my arms and legs, getting used to having control back. I was well recovered from Manasa's orgasmic torture, but I still felt the lingering effects of the powerful ordeal in my somewhat weak knees. Not to mention, my costume was still drenched in my seed, but Ethan didn't pay that detail any attention, thankfully, and we continued listening to Dirtbag. Something in what he said clicked with me, though I hated to admit it.

"Some guy once said 'It's not enough that I should succeed. Others must fail.' I disagree. To me, as long as they fail, that's all that matters. To ruin everyone's fun, that's all the winning I could ever ask for. I don't care about coming first anymore. No, all I care about is making sure they'll never see the finish line either. I'm willing to bet you've felt that urge before. If you can't win, then no one can. If you can't get even the taste of victory, then make them suffer for your loss. Yeah, I'm a bad sport. A cheater. I admit it. But I admit it while walking away with your entrails."

Surely I didn't agree? I did know, however, that my painfully common losses, defeats, and regular butt-kickings at the hands of malicious villains, including Dirtbag, had filled me with a great deal of anger. Then again, Mum and Dad always did tell me I had a temper.

"That's why," he continued. "Because I know there's no greater satisfaction than being a petty spoilsport who only cares about bringing the rest of the world down around him. Screw the finish line. Screw the rules. Screw the game. Screw the winners. They say life is a competition. I'm just flipping the table. I think a part of you understands that."

"No! I'm not a murderer like you!" I snapped. "I never will be!"

"Life knocked you on your ass and society couldn't be bothered to help you up. Now here you are, fighting for that very same society, even though it never did anything for you. Even when life keeps knocking you down, you still think these people are worth fighting for. You're well on your way to becoming just like me, kid."

I scowled further. That was wrong. There were people out there who helped me. They deserved better.

"No matter how much I fail, or how badly, I'll live and die doing my best, not my worst!" I declared. "There are people out there who did me good! There will always be people like that!"

He scoffed. "Morality doesn't matter. Do what you like. I like flipping the table. Doing my worst is how I give my best. Now get your ass out of here. I've made sure the fire escapes are unguarded."

Dirtbag left. There was nothing more we really needed to say.

I told myself I'd never agree. Not with the last part, at least. Society may not have helped, but there were people who were always there for me. Bernie, Cathy, Mr. Morton, Street Guard, and the other superheroes were people I'd never forget. They gave me a paw when no one else would. I'd fight for them and everyone like them.

"Manasa's portal!" I suddenly said to myself out loud, remembering. Then I turned to Ethan. "She said it would only be a few hours. How long have we been here?"

"A few hours," said Ethan, concerned.

"She said..." I turned to the windows, rubbing my wrists after their long constriction. "She said I'd be able to see it from here."

I approached the glass borders between us and the city. In the distance, at the docks, was a high warehouse. The tall windows on the top floor were glowing red.

"We have to stop her!" I almost yelled, turning back to Ethan, barely containing my sudden panic.

"Whoa, relax!" said Ethan, putting a paw on my shoulder. "Neither of us can stop her. We have to see if the other heroes are here. If we can save them, the Beacon City Vigils can be united again, and we can take her on together!"

I liked the sound of that, even though I couldn't be of much help without Falcon. But I could lend a helping paw to get the Vigils back together.

"Let's go," I said, filled with determination now.

With my legs fully functional again, we turned and ran out the room, straight into a hallway. It was large, lined with pillars, but not too monolithic. I guessed we must have been in some luxury apartment or museum. I couldn't tell from looking out the windows earlier.

As we started down the hallway, that's when we saw them. Those three ninja wolves, clad in their usual coloured bikini trunks.

"Oooh! Looks like we got ourselves a meal, boys!" said the wolf in the red trunks. I called him 'Red'.

They were standing at the far end of the hallway, itching for a fight as they cracked their knuckles. Expert combatants and well-built through their exposed fur, I knew they'd be a challenge for Ethan. I remembered how well they fought when we last met, fighting with a synergy I never thought possible.

"The Predators," said Ethan, preparing for battle and assuming a fighting stance as they did the same. "Hang back, Matt. I promise I'll keep you safe. Just keep clear of them, okay? And stay behind me."

Obeying his wisdom, I took a step back. The adrenaline was racing, and so was my heart. I was about to see Steelbadger at work.

"Well, well!" continued Red, 'Green' and 'Yellow' standing beside him. "We've always wanted a go at dominating Steelbadger. Shouldn't be hard."

"Everyone knows your invincibility doesn't give you super strength!" said Green. "All we need to do is restrain you!"

"Give it your best shot," said Ethan. His voice was different, speaking with a gruff determination, more serious and focused than ever before. "I'll gladly take responsibility for any injuries incurred."

Red chuckled. Then he looked over Ethan's shoulder at me. "You're next, fox! When we're done with Steelbadger, we're gonna have a load of fun with that cute ass of yours!"

Then the three wolves prepared themselves, each kneeling on the ground like they were preparing to run an Olympic sprint. Tense seconds of silence passed as the Predators faced down Beacon City's number one superhero. I was sweating, filled with nervousness.

Then, in the time it took me to blink, the wolves were charging across the room at Steelbadger with ferocious speed.

It was amazing to see Steelbadger fight. He had clearly taken it upon himself to train during his long years as a superhero, and he demonstrated a keen ability to exercise his chosen combat style. It was beautiful seeing him in action. But the three wolves knew they couldn't hurt him. They dodged and avoided every one of his attacks, knowing a single hit could cause significant injury. They tried going for a restraining victory.

Another few punches, but the wolves dodged still, probably trying to tire him out. They were way too fast, and their coordination was unnaturally perfect. Seeing them fight from a mortal perspective, I couldn't believe I had ever stood toe-to-toe with them back when I had my powers.

Then Yellow broke off, heading straight for me. It took barely two seconds before he reached me, preparing a punch for my head. I knew I couldn't run, so my instincts took hold and I raised my arms to block, but it was a feint. He pulled his fist back, ducked, and threw it for my stomach instead.

Were I still with Falcon, I definitely would've been able to avoid the strike, but instead, he hit his target without any resistance. He was almost faster than I could see, and I was astonished by how quickly our odds plummeted back down as the air left my lungs. I sunk to my knees, cradling the point of impact.

"Heh!" chuckled my attacker before moving back. "What's the matter? Gonna cry, Streak?"

"Get away from him!" yelled Ethan, running at Yellow.

Red ducked in his path, and the shining superhero tripped over the wolf, downed for precious moments as he tried to stand. Red and Green were upon him, grabbing for his vital areas. Ethan was avoiding their attempts to restrain him, but the flawless strategy of his opponents kept him distracted while Yellow had me all to himself.

When I composed myself and got some oxygen back, I stood and growled in frustrated anger. I threw two punches, aiming the first for Yellow's head before quickly throwing another fist for his kidney.

He barely even tried to block my strikes. He didn't need to. Seeing him so effortlessly deflect my pathetic attacks with a few waves of his arms made me realise the difference Falcon made. Without him, I was helpless.

I threw another fist for his head, hoping that Steelbadger could help me out if I could just distract Yellow for long enough, and so I gave it my all.

Blocked again.

"Superhero ain't so super anymore, huh?" Yellow taunted further, bobbing up and down on his nimble footpaws. "You scared? Maybe we should put you in a diaper in case you pee yourself, huh?"

I wasn't taking that. I tried a kick, only to pathetically fall over with a quick wave of the wolf's paw.

As soon as I hit the marble floor, belly first, he was on top of me, grabbing my arms and holding them behind my back. I tried to escape the firm hold, but I wasn't nearly strong or skilled enough to get him off.

"Matt!" yelled Ethan, and that was all the distraction the other two wolves needed.

Then he was down on his knees, both arms held behind his back too, struggling in their grip. Invulnerability couldn't save him here.

Yellow, easily keeping my arms restrained with a knee and one paw, moved another paw back to press a finger into the blue fabric of the V-cut back of my costume and push it into my rear, quickly pressing against my prostate and eliciting a gasp from me. Just the usual for these guys. They always needed to put the cherry on top of the humiliation cake.

"Yeah! Superhero likes cummin', huh?" he taunted happily as he began to thrust his finger in and out, and my body reacted as you'd expect. It was embarrassing just how familiar I was with the feeling of a villain's manipulations.

"Ugh!" I winced, trying to push the wolf off me, but to no avail. "H-Help!" I yelled, panicking.

Ethan looked at me, arms firmly restrained by the two professional combatants. There was a look on his face that said: "I'm sorry."

Seeing Steelbadger, Beacon City's greatest hero and inspiration, on his knees beneath two cruel villains, filled me with the deepest sense of fear and despair. I considered the possibility that we would fail. All of us would be enslaved to Manasa and her army. Everything I ever did had led me here: to defeat. This was the end.

Then a massive burst of blinding blue light filled the room, causing everyone to gasp and shield their eyes. But not me. I could see through the light, and I could see the pair of glowing blue wings filling my vision.

"It breaks my heart to see you like this, my young friend," said the last voice I was expecting, but one I couldn't be happier to hear. "But fear no more."

"Falcon?!" I asked out loud, utterly amazed and relieved. "How...?"

"Not now. Fight first," said Falcon, and those wings enveloped me in their warm energy.

Then it hit me like a falling piano. The light disappeared, and a massive burst of familiar power, all too familiar, filled my body. I felt my muscles tense up like a ton of additional mass was shoved into them. My senses overwhelmed me as they enhanced every single detail of my environment to the point that I could nearly hear the beating hearts of Ethan and the wolves, and my eyesight became sharper than ever before. My body burned with the energy I missed so dearly. It felt good.

"RAAAGH!" I roared as I effortlessly pulled my arms free, throwing Yellow off my back with intense force. My senses told me his body hit one of the pillars behind me. He wouldn't be getting up from that anytime soon.

I was on my footpaws in an instant, glad that all the power Falcon had generated during my year of superhero work hadn't gone anywhere. Enveloped in a powerful new drive, brow narrowed in determination, I was now ready for a real fight.

Turning my attention to Steelbadger's captors, I charged before suddenly ducking, leaping into the air, bouncing off of a pillar, and split both my legs between the two wolves as I flew at them. Still blinded by the light, they couldn't see my attack coming. I cleanly knocked them both out with a boot to each head at the same time. I landed flawlessly as the two wolves fell aside.

Perfect.

"Was that what I think it was?" asked Ethan, a look of amazement on the honey badger's face as he swiftly stood up, freed from the downed wolves.

"You bet!" I said, grinning with confidence as I raised a tight fist in the air in triumph. "Falcon's back!"

Now we could do it. Now we could take on Manasa and free our fellow superheroes. But first, my head was overflowing with questions.

"It's a long story, my friend," said Falcon, knowing what I was thinking. "Judging from your memories, Manasa is our priority now."

"Falcon, I'm... I'm sorry. I said some stuff," I thought, sadly. "I was just... I was afraid and--"

"Shush," Falcon gently responded. "I know. I'm sorry as well. I should have told you the truth long ago. You deserved better than to be used like that. And you were right, I was just a coward. I hope one day you can forgive me."

"Falcon, I already have!" I thought, wanting to cry. I was so happy just to have him back. Then I turned back to Ethan and said out loud, "And now Streak's back too!"

He became as happy and confident as me. That approving smile told me as much. "Then let's go save our fellow superheroes!"

"Let's," I responded as we continued towards the next room, leaving the Predators to their forced nap. "Manasa's gonna learn the value of freedom today."

But the next room was far more unsettling.

It was another long hallway, but in place of elegant pillars, there were transparent vats of some kind of clear liquid; tanks containing the superheroes of Beacon City. They were all too familiar.

In the first of the three tubes on the left, all floating peacefully asleep in some kind of liquid, was Bedrock. He was the massively muscular Highland bull that saved me from Dirtbag, only to get captured himself. As he was when I last saw him, he was clad in only a skimpy, high-cut red posing brief, a red headband, and some bandages around his forearms. According to the console at the foot of his tank, he was very much alive, as evidenced by the beating heart monitor.

The second on the left was Minerva, also floating peacefully asleep in liquid. A mouse-cat hybrid, she was clad in her high-cut white leotard, thigh-high boots, and long gloves embedded with little mauve accents matching her eyes. Like her diabolical sister, it was a suit made for her by her father.

The third tube was empty. I was expecting to see Serenade. I remembered she gave herself up to Tamer in exchange for my freedom, even though she clearly didn't like me. But I also remembered what I was told about Tamer, and how she preferred breaking her victims personally rather than using mind control. That only made me more afraid for Serenade's safety.

Each of them was wearing one of Raptor's control collars. Manasa must have ordered that all the enslaved superheroes be imprisoned here while she carried out her plan, apparently not trusting the collars to maintain control of them while she achieved her victory. Smart.

Then there were the tubes on the right side of the hall. In the first was Typhoon, the Nilgiri Tahr wearing his shining golden spandex beneath a shoulder-covering velvety crimson cape, trunks, boots, and gloves.

After that was Master Fu, the blue Qilin with fiery red hair, wearing only a skimpy loincloth.

He was followed by Street Guard, the German shepherd clad in her tight sports top, eye mask, long gloves, thigh-high boots, and skimpy high-cut bikini. Every piece was jungle green with black edges. After her death

Finally, at the far end of the hallway, there was my predecessor, the first Streak. A white-furred wolf, he was clad in a virtually identical leotard to mine. Same with the boots. I remembered seeing him the first time Raptor captured me and brought me here. The young wolf hero looked so peaceful floating there. Like me, I assumed his actual fur was a different colour before he met Falcon.

"I'm sorry, Chad," said Falcon as I moved to look at him. "I'm so sorry. You would still be alive and well if it weren't for me."

Poor Falcon. But I didn't know what to say, so I decided to learn more.

"What was his name?" I asked in my head.

"Chad. Chadwick Vale. He was a fool, but he was my fool. He had such a good heart. I miss him so. His personality, his sense of humour, and even his stubbornness. I miss everything he was. Everything about him was warm and good."

I grew sad then. "I never asked you this, but... what happened?"

"We were lured into a trap by Deception and Dirtbag. The slimy villain suffocated him to death after a ruthless beating. He deserved better than that. I left his body as I felt the life drain from him, and I still suffer the guilt."

"It's in the past, Falcon. It doesn't matter."

"But it's still my fault. He died because of me. I cannot forgi--"

"No," said Ethan, interrupting our shared thoughts. I was so entranced by the sight of the floating wolf that I didn't notice Ethan had fallen to his knees before Typhoon, Master Fu, and Street Guard. "They're gone..."

I turned and looked between the vats of liquid containing the three fallen heroes. I realised the consoles by their vats displayed zero vital signs. Like Street Guard, Master Fu and Typhoon were dead. It was the same on Streak's console.

"I'm sorry, Ethan," I said.

"Thanks, Matt," he responded, looking up at his deceased comrades. Tears were streaming from his eyes, but without a single whimper. "We'd all have given our lives for each other. They were true heroes. I'll never forget you, my friends."

I saw his chest heaving, and I knew he was trying to avoid sobbing. He knew these superheroes for years, and now here they were, murdered by cruel supervillains without even having a chance to say goodbye. I was torn between sadness for their deaths and anger for the ones responsible, as well as sympathy for Ethan due to his loss.

"Matt, I have an idea!" said Falcon, suddenly, and filled with a new optimistic urgency.

"What?!" I asked out loud.

"I sense that these machines have kept Chad in a state of suspended animation since shortly after his death, preventing decomposition, and possibly even brain death."

"What are you saying?"

"When Bloodfin fished you out of Beacon Bay, I was able to restart your heart long enough for you to regurgitate the water in your lungs, even though you were effectively dead. This was because suffocation and drowning cause minimal lasting damage in the first few minutes of death. For the most part, it simply steals your oxygen from you."

"Wait, you mean..."

"I repaired the minimal damage done to your body from suffocation. Your predecessor has been preserved since the day those villains ambushed us. I can revive him the way I revived you!"

"How?!" I yelled, filled with an incredible new optimism.

"Due to our former connection, I can share my power between you and him. I can then try to jumpstart his heart."

I could sense Falcon was excited. No, he was bursting with eager determination and hope.

We could save the first Streak.

"Ethan!" I called over to him. "Ethan, we may be able to save Streak!"

"What?! How?!" he asked, standing rapidly and turning to face us, startled.

"I need your help. We need to drain the liquid and get him out of there," I said, relaying what Falcon was telling me at the same time. "Falcon says he can share his power with him and repair the damage since he was killed by suffocation. I need you to catch him."

"Let's do it!" said Ethan, a sense of urgency coming over him too.

I knew that fiddling with the console would trigger the alarm, so I'd need to come up with a different plan. Jumping into the air, I threw my most powerful kick at the glass tank. As I fell back down, the strange clear liquid burst out of the vat as the glass shattered. Ethan withstood the small tsunami before it briefly flooded the floor of the hall. Chad's body slid out the open container, landing in Ethan's arms, just as planned. Thankfully, no alarm sounded.

"Do it, Falcon!" I said out loud while Ethan gently placed the fallen superhero on the floor, resting the wolf's head on his thigh.

"Lay your paw upon him, Matt!" commanded Falcon.

I complied, putting my open paw on the chest of Chad's costume. Then I waited.

"Matt, we may need to hurry," said Ethan after nearly thirty seconds. "Someone may have heard that crash."

"Just a little longer," said Falcon, and I could feel his power coursing through Chad. This had the effect of halving my own power.

"Just a little longer," I repeated out loud.

Nearly a minute.

"MMNNGH!" groaned Chad, chest extending out as his body seized before throwing up a gallon of liquid. I thought for a moment he was having a seizure before he suddenly gasped, breathing loudly as he sucked air into his lungs. Then he began to whimper, agonizingly.

"His heart's beating, but I don't know if his mind is still intact," said Falcon.

"He's in pain!" I thought.

"Yes, but that is normal. His lungs have been full of this suspension liquid for over a year. It will pass."

"F-Falcon?" was the first word that came from Chad's mouth next, eyes still closed. "Is... that... you?"

"He can hear you, Falcon!" I thought, happily.

"I'm here, Chad," said our shared mental companion. "I'm here. You're going to be okay."

"Nnngh..." he winced, trying to stand.

"Easy there, superhero," said Ethan, using the same warm and comforting voice he used on me when I first awoke in his apartment. "You sure you can walk?"

"I... I got a headache..." he said before opening his eyes, seeing me for the first time. "Is... is that me? Everything's spinning..."

I smiled and laughed, just a little. "Hey, pal. Long story short, I'm the second Streak. Pleased to meet you."

"Since... Since when?" he stammered, still soaked in the tank's fluid as he sat up straight, looking me up and down now. "And... are you using contractions, Falcon?"

"I'm afraid you've been dead for nearly a year-and-a-half, my friend," said Falcon. "I don't want you to panic, but--"

"Mum and Dad!" said Chad, almost yelling, but clearly panicking. "And Faith! Are they okay?! Where are they?!" he asked, grabbing my shoulders. He was terrified for them. "What about my subscribers?! How many left?!"

"I don't know, Chad," I responded, taking him by the arms to try and calm him down. "I didn't even know your name until Falcon told me just a few minutes ago."

"I'm sure they'll be fine, kid," reassured Ethan, placing a paw on Chad's shoulder. "But they've clearly been missing you. We're going to get you home to see them, okay? You're safe now."

"O-Okay..." stammered the young wolf as we helped him stand up, wobbly, but we supported him. "They'll... They'll think I'm dead."

"Ethan's gonna take you to them, and then you can show them you're alive and well!" I told him, trying to sound as comforting and optimistic as possible.

"Wait, what about you?" asked Ethan, turning to face me. He looked concerned.

"We can't take Manasa together while you've got him on your shoulder," I said, impressing myself for a moment for how mature I sounded. "The other heroes have clearly been enslaved, so there's no time to save them. And I gotta go stop Manasa now before it's too late."

"Good point," he responded, dismayed. He knew this was where we parted.

"Tell the police and Race where Manasa's hideout is. Get the word out to the whole city!"

Ethan became stern and focused. Serious mode. "I will. You sure you can take her yourself?"

"I have to be."

Ethan sighed. He was afraid for me, but he knew this was the best way.

Supporting Chad by the shoulders on either side of him, we then moved towards a nearby door labelled "Stairs". We pushed it open, emerging into a stairwell. Looking over the railing, we saw it was only four storeys to the bottom.

"Be careful, Ethan," I said, giving him the job of holding Chad up himself.

"I'm invulnerable. You be careful, Matt. Give 'er one for each of the old team."

I gave a little grin and a nod. I'd do my best.

"Bye, other Streak!" said Chad with a wave, his speech a bit slurred. He seemed a little out of it.

"Take good care of yourself, Chad," I responded, giving him a light pat on the back of his soaked leotard.

I waved goodbye to them both, and with that, Ethan started descending to the lower floors with Chad in tow. Above me were only three storeys leading to what I hoped would be roof access. From there, I'd make a beeline for the docks. At best speed, I dashed up the stairwell, running up about seven stairs in each leap. It took me barely ten seconds to reach the top floor.

Then I broke out into the evening air, tearing the door from its hinges without even thinking, but I didn't care. I quickly got my bearings, eyes darting around to soak in my environment. I ran to the edge and I quickly noticed that this building was familiar. Looking out at the plaza at the base of the building, surrounded by the gleaming city skyline beyond, I realised Manasa's lair was in City Hall all along. To think, all of Beacon City's villains were right under our noses the whole time.

"Manasa's influence runs deeper than we could have imagined," said Falcon.

"They probably own the police too," I responded out loud with a sigh, paws on the parapet as I now looked out in the direction of the bay. I could see the tall warehouse where Manasa was clearly initiating her ritual, windows glowing red. "What is it with bad guys and warehouses?"

"Her portal is no doubt nearly ready. We have no time to waste."

I put a boot up on the ledge, adrenaline surging and my heart racing. I couldn't deny that I was afraid. I was going to take on Manasa now, and I probably wouldn't have backup this time. So I took a deep breath and made a promise to Ethan, Typhoon, Master Fu, Street Guard, Bedrock, Serenade, Minerva, Chad, Bernie, Cathy, and Mr. Morton. I promised that I'd do good by them, and that I'd stop Manasa, whatever it took. I'd honour those that had fallen, and save those who could still be saved. After everything this city, its people, and its heroes had done for me, I owed them that much.

Now the city was in Manasa's grip. Either I would succeed in saving my city and freeing my friends, proving myself to be a worthy protector, or I would become Manasa's slave again, and we would all serve her together. I was ashamed to admit it, but the latter was somewhat promising to me as well, even though I cursed myself for it.

"I will be there for you, my friend," said Falcon. "We'll defeat her together. I know it."

"It's been an honour knowing you, Falcon," I responded, confidently. After tonight, my fate would be decided. With that came a certain comfort. "Thank you for making me a superhero."

"The honour is mine, Matthew. Thank you for giving me a better purpose."

Then I launched off the concrete roof, leaping through the air towards the first building rooftop on my journey to the docks, blazing a blue trail from Falcon's aura within me. The wind was in the fur of my arms and legs, and my destiny was ahead of me, near the docks. The windows burned with the red glow of the magic of an ancient witch, ominously signalling her approaching victory. Unless I had anything to say about it.

It was time for our final battle.

To be continued...