Time to Run

"Titus.50 meters behind and closing in."

"Speed up!Ignore fuel saving for now!"Starlio commanded his A.I as the Model 3 armor responded,shooting him right out of the perimeter of his neighbourhood and towards Plex City.If he could get the masses to notice this new threat,it would definitely force him to retreat his attacks,buying himself more time to escape.

Bullets incoming.

Starlio quickly ducked sideways into the air as Titus began firing from a machine gun attached to his forearm.Several shots blasted against the back of the Model 3,knocking Starlio a little of track but not enough to hinder his flight momentum.

"Fire flares!"Starlio commands the Model 3 which obeyed him in an instant.

Titus was caught off guard by the flares,hindering his vision and the each blinding burst of a flare forced Titus to stop mid air."You little rascal!"Titus groaned when he felt himself being slammed in the chest,plunging him towards the ground.

Starlio took the opportunity to hit Titus,trying to knocking him back onto the ground only for the mercenary to recover and push Starlio away from him.

Starlio fired a missile that Titus easily dodged,drawing his blade once more and thrusting it right at Starlio,whom managed to avoid most of the sword.The edge of Titus's heated blade sliced right through the Model 3's outer ribs,breaking a hole through the armor as Starlio groaned,the heat reaching his body and hurled a punch at Titus,who blocked the blow.

"You're not very experienced are you?"Titus baited Starlio for a reply.

"Experience isn't everything you piece of shit!"Starlio argued back only for Titus to mercilessly shove his knee right into Starlio's helmet,knocking him off his flight momentum.

There's no way I'm beating him head on.

Starlio looked around him,quickly coming up with a makeshift plan.The teenager shot towards the city skylines,soaring past buildings at supersonic speeds while moving in an unpredictable pattern,sliding through the middle of buildings and going under overhead bridges,anything he could do to make Titus unable to track him.

"You think you can run?!"

Starlio turned to his side to see Titus charging right into him,knocking him out of his flight trajectory and right into the side of an office building,completely terrifying the workers within it.

"You sick shit!"Starlio kicked himself away from Titus,who was barely knocked back,lunging forward and slamming Starlio back onto the ground,striking the Model 3's plating with a series of strikes.Starlio raised his forearms up to defend himself,quickly pushing Titus back with another kick."You coward...stop running stupid kid."

"I'm running in case you hurt these people you maniac!"Starlio charged forward at full speed,blasting Titus through the side of the building and down towards the streets of Plex City,smashing into the concrete walkways of the city and absolutely terrifying the civilians nearby.Starlio quickly launched several shots at Titus,preventing him from getting up before turning around,grabbing a chunk of rubble from the ground and chucking it at Titus,who was blown further back by it.

Before Titus could recover,Starlio charged at him,ducking to the side,immediately dodging Titus' counterattacks,kicking Titus from the back.Titus tried to turn only for Starlio to fly above him in different directions,throwing Titus off as he suddenly jumped back down,launching a punch that struck Titus right in the helmet and slamming into the side of a car.

"Those moves...amateurish but very smart..."Titus analyzed,jumping sideways as Starlio tried to attack again,Titus grabbing Starlio by his shoulder and pulling the teenager right into his fist,stunning Starlio temporarily,kneeing him in the belly before grabbing Starlio by the back of his helmet and smashing him right into a wall,cracking the structure.

Starlio quickly ducked to the side as Titus tackled him,quickly drawing his sword to slash at Starlio who flew up into the air.

No civilians will be caught in the blast radius.Okay.Starlio scanned his surroundings,firing a missile at Titus.

"You lil sh-"

BOOM.The ground around him erupted into a blaze of fury,the shock wave of the missile carving a hole into the ground as Starlio quickly took the opportunity to fly off as far as he could,trying to gain a good amount of distance.

That should buy me at least a minute.

Titus's armor.He could tell from the way it's armor plates moved,the way those shapes were designed.It definitely could tank multiple missile shots.It's streamlined,probably able to travel just as fast as him.If he could get to his other two armors which he has not used in public often,he could probably use the advantage of having new tech against Titus.

From a distance,Starlio spotted an underground highway,quickly soaring towards it and hopefully,using it successfully as cover for himself.

The vehicles in front of him were all relatively below him,Starlio doing his best to not hit the ceiling of the highway while not colliding into other cars as well when he noticed a trailer truck heading directly for him:"Shit!"

Starlio ducked to his right only to find himself slamming into a signpost,dropping onto the ground of a bustling road and with only seconds to react,Starlio fired up his thrusters,jumping towards the side of the busy underground expressway to see a sewage entrance.

"Guess this is the only way out in stealth."Starlio tells himself,jumping into the sewage system.

-2 Hours Later.

"You can't successfully capture a 15 year old kid?"Argus mocked.

"You wanna try hunting an super armored genius yourself fuckface?Starlio may be a kid,but I've seen those moves he made.I've analyzed those patterns,his choices when I fought him? He is a threat.We underestimated him."Titus was out of his armor,which stood beside him as Mason clapped his hands together,thinking.

"Tell me from your fight.What must we take more notice of?"Mason asks.

"This kid...you could tell he wasn't an experienced physical fighter but his moves were smart.It's not just a matter of martial skill his perception and cognition were off the charts.He knew exactly how to move and how to react in order to do maximum damage while avoiding any damage himself.He does not make the same mistake in combat twice."Titus tells them.

"What about his armor?Were our observations right about the Model 3?"Argus questions.

"For the most part,his weapons and armor stats were right.Nothing too special.The thing that makes Starlio special is his smarts.For one I could barely predict what he was about to do next.If this continues and once he upgrades his armor,it would spell trouble for us."Titus admits.

"You always have the option to suggest upgrades.We have the resources and manpower for you Titus.Whatever you need,we will provide.Just get the job done."Mason tells the armored hunter.

"Next time,try to keep things more secretive.Your attack today was rather public.It's not easy to get the police off cases like this,much less the media."Argus reminds Titus who growled:"He baited me to follow him into the city.He knew I wouldn't give up chasing him purely based on those few words I told him....he predicted my personality and used it to predict my hunting style.I will not treat him like a kid the next time.It is my mistake for doing so previously."

Titus looked around the room,analyzing Mason's face.

"What is this kid to you?"Titus made his conclusion.

"He is my son.But do not mistake that as a sign of weakness.I have a job to fulfill.My son has too much power on his hands and there are people that do not like that.My duty is to simply take away his armor."Mason explains.

"Your son...of course."Titus smirks,clearly mocking Mason.

"Do not interpret this as anything else.I have a job to do and-"Mason tried to say only for Titus to cut him off:"You know,I have a father who is just like you.Someone who claims that he cares,talks about big ideals and moral beliefs only to do the complete opposite.You are trash Mason Stex."

"Do your job.Your opinion on me doesn't matter."

"Can you decide on what you want Mr Stex?!Your son is a monster.At this age he has already this much skill and power in his life.I can kill him easily if you let me,end this entire sage once and for all.Don't give me all these contradicting orders.Take his armor and not kill him?So do you want to be a job first guy or a good father?"Titus reprimanded Mason.

"I'm neither.You have your orders.Get the armor without killing the boy.Do I make myself clear?"Mason's voice deepened.

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"Whatever then.If he pulls something else out of his pocket against us...it's on you."Titus growled.

-

Navarro Warehouse.

Starlio was found outside the warehouse by Dakota and was taken into the facility to treat his wounds and fix his armor shortly after.

Javier and Xavier Navarro both rushed to the warehouse to help Starlio out as the teenager explained his perspective from the events that took place earlier."So this guy...Titus?Anything of interest you can tell us?"

"Not much.Other than the fact that he's probably ex-military with the combat tactics he used against me,I got nothing.I guess we can start of there,an ex military guy called Titus."Starlio explains to the brothers while fixing up parts of the Model 3."Look,I'll contact the authorities first.But judging by the fact that no one has even contacted us yet makes me feel that the authorities have something to do with it or....they might be paid off to not interfere."

"Then we don't contact them.We'll risk having our inner circle breached."Starlio tells the adults.

"Okay...first we try and find this Titus guy.Xavier will fix your armor with you in the likely event that you will have a rematch.Have your other armors on standby just in case but our priority now is keeping the people around us safe."Javier analyzed.

"I got my mom to move to a motel with my brother already."Starlio says.

"Your school.It's public knowledge which school you go to.Titus might use that to his advantage."Xavier remembers as Starlio looked up,slightly panicking."Shit...shit...I have my principal's number.I can ask him to stop school tomorrow."Starlio quickly got to his phone,calling Mr Jackson.

"Hello?"Mr Jackson,Principal of his school answered.

"Mr Jackson,it's Starlio.I have important news-"

"No phone calls to the principal directly.You have an issue you go to-"

"The school might be under attack again.I need you to close school for tomorrow,I was attacked after school this afternoon and I believe the same attacker will be targeting students because he knows I attend North Star.Please Mr Jackson you have to-"

"Enough alright young man?It's after hours already.Stop these prank calls."

"It's not!-"

Dakota and the Navarro Brothers heard everything on speaker as Starlio set his phone down,throwing a screwdriver across the room in a burst of rage."He's so....freaking useless.What....how the fuck did he end up being a principal?!"

"Hey hey watch your language."Dakota reminds him nicely.

"Try again.Let me speak this time."Javier offers.

Starlio passed his mentor the phone as they attempted to reach Mr Jackson once again.Seconds turned to over minutes as the group gave up,acknowledging that Mr Jackson was never going to pick the call up again."Well we all know who the best principal is now."Dakota sarcastically mocked.

"Forget him...I'll contact my friends,get them to skip school tomorrow."Starlio quickly concluded,trying to call Roy on his phone when the device's screen turned pitch black,it's battery life completely used up."Shit...."Starlio moved towards a charging port when the warehouse's security called:"A young lady is here to find Mr Stex?Says it's his classmate Shannon Ray."

"Let her in."Xavier tells the guards.

-

Starlio greeted Shannon at the front of the warehouse as the blondie went up to him,grabbing him by the shoulders and quickly noticing the scar around his neck.

"I saw the attack on the news."Shannon started.

"I know,I was about to call you but my phone died."Starlio explains as Shannon let go of him:"So that's why you didn't pick up.I thought you died or something man."

"Oh my phone just died like ten minutes ago."

"Uh...you didn't see the messages and missed calls over the past few hours I presume."

"Yea."

"Roy's supposed to be reaching here soon too by the way."Shannon taps his arm as Starlio nods:"We'll let him in once he's here,let's go in first."It only took minutes to explain to Shannon the events that took place and quickly,she understood what to do.

"So,no school."Shannon confirms.

"No school yea."Starlio agreed when Shannon scratched her hair:"I...Look you know Mr Jackson.School reputation above everything else.There's a learning journey to New York tomorrow don't you remember?"Shannon paused for a moment as the two teenagers shared a similar expression."Yup you didn't pay attention."

"Sorry..."Starlio softly apologized.

"Sorry I'm late."Roy entered the lab as well to see Starlio,sitting next to Shannon,facing Dakota and the Navarro Brothers."Whoa...how serious is it?I saw the other guy's armor on the news.He seems pretty strong too."

"His armor is around the same level as mine in terms of protection and speed.I counted a machine gun and missiles from his shoulders and wrists but...the problem is not with those,he has this sword,an extremely heated blade that cut through my armor plating like butter."Starlio tells Roy.

"Then keep a long range.Surely you can build something to counter him right?"Roy suggests.

"That's one problem but never mind me at the moment,he might attack school tomorrow.We've contacted Mr Jackson who of course in his genius mindset decided to ignore our warnings and decided to go ahead with all school activities."Dakota informs the newly arrived teen.

"I'll upgrade the Model 3 with extra plating at the moment.But that won't guarantee victory.I'll use the Model 5 as back up while you guys tell the rest of the class what is going to happen.Tell them to be vigilant and in case anything happens,please convince the others to follow you and run away.It's not worth it attending school if it means risking your life."Starlio tells Shannon and Roy.

"You guys need to be careful.I'll contact some friends I know,see if we can find out what's really going on behind Titus."Javier offered.

"Anything we can do to help now?"Shannon tapped on Starlio,who shook his head:"Everything we say and plan for at the moment is just a possibility.We don't know if Titus will even attack school tomorrow and just in case I'm wrong...I guess you two just continue school as usual.I'll do everything I can to drive him away."Starlio tells his friends.

"Dude,no way.You are not putting yourself in trouble for us.We fight together."Roy firmly tells him.

"This isn't some dumb movie.No way anyone of you survives in a direct confrontation with Titus.We can't fight together.Since the armors are built to suit me,I am the only one who can fight him head on and have a chance of winning.So the best thing to do now is for you two to just continue life without me,go back to school.I'll handle Titus."

"Starlio,you're taking all this on your own shoulders.How can we go to school without thinking about our friend who is fighting for his life out there?"Shannon stopped the prodigy.

Starlio paused for a minute,thinking about his choices.

"I'm sorry but yes.This doesn't have to involve you guys.I brought this upon myself."Starlio tells them when Shannon stepped forward,glaring him dead in the eye:"You got into all these because I got myself kidnapped back then.I am responsible too."

"Shannon.Maybe he's right.We can't do much at the moment but continue with our lives and warn our classmates."Roy tells her.

Shannon hesitated for a moment before finally nodding her head in agreement."Please...don't you dare get hurt again."Shannon points her finger at him,pouting.Starlio's heart squeezed for a moment:"I won't.You two too,please keep everyone safe for me and most importantly,yourselves too."

"Go rest kids.We'll help Starlio."Javier tells the two teenagers,who nods in compliance,heading out of the facility."Come on kid,we have an armor to upgrade."Xavier brings Starlio to the worktable and began tinkering away.

Dawn hit.

Starlio only managed to get himself 3 hours of sleep before waking up in the lab.The Model 3 was fresh now and the Navarro Brothers,leaving the facility late at night to find some friends that could probably help them find out whose behind Titus.

"Shit..."Starlio stretched quickly,brushing his teeth before settling his breakfast with a simple cup of white coffee and an egg wrap.

[6:50AM]

School was about to start and he needed to make sure that he could create a big enough distraction.

"Model 3 suit up.Model 5,prepare for activation.Stay on standby."Starlio commands.The Model 3 listened to him,flying out of the lab's armor display stand and right onto the teenager,wrapping it's metallic pieces around Starlio and locking into place within seconds.

Starlio took off into the air from the Navarro owned facility,heading straight back to the bustling streets of Plex City where he knew for sure he was going to be noticed.

With the amount of attention on me flying around the city,it should technically draw any attackers away from school.Starlio counted in his heart nervously the new installations he rushed into his armor over the night.New heated blades of his own that could pop out of his wrists,an invention he had since years ago and now,improving it better than ever.

On top of that,a gas spray that could create a smokescreen behind him,giving him cover anytime he needed.Only two new gadgets since the last fight,but hopefully it could still bring him some kind of advantage compared to the last time.

"Look!Is that the North Star kid?!"Starlio heard people from the streets saying,looking up at him in awe.

Okay...people are noticing me.

[3 Hours of Flight Time]That should be more than enough.

With such a public stunt,Starlio expected himself to be attacked anytime but even in defeat,at least he can accomplish two things.Steering the people after him away from his loved ones and getting their acts publicly seen by everyone.

Just when Starlio felt confident about his plan working,his HUD received a call from Roy.

"Hello?!Star?!It's not working...alright?I've gotten some of us out of the school already but I see men right opposite the main street from the school entrance.I think they want you here and are refusing to go to you."Roy quickly informs him.

"What?!"Starlio felt a burning rage within him.

"Yea those ass hats are here.I'm trying to get as many students as we can away but the teachers aren't believing us."Roy explains."Hold on,I'm coming to get them away."

"Dude no it's a trap!"

"I know."

Starlio changed directions,setting his eyes towards his school and burst toward it using the Model 3's top speed and within minutes,Starlio found himself reaching the streets near his school and true enough,multiple suited up men standing in front of the streets of the school,confronting the security guard of North Star Academy.

"HEY!"Starlio roared.

The men turned to him,quickly calling a phone when Starlio landed in front of him,snatching the phone and snapping it into pieces with just a tight squeeze."Enough...you guys have been harassing me NON STOP!"Starlio roared at the suited man,who growled at him:"Shut the hell up kid...you know how much trouble you are causing us?!"

"What kind?Huh?!I don't even know you-"

"That's the problem Starlio.You don't know a lot of things but you think you do."

Starlio turned to see Titus,standing just a few feet away from them.Students and civilians alike began to freak out,keeping their distance from the two armored beings,afraid of the destruction that the two might potentially cause to the surrounding area.

"What do I not know?"Starlio charged up his blasters,ready to shoot at any moment.

"Come with me nicely."Titus offered.

"Try to be more convincing."The prodigy bit back.

"Your father hired me.Starlio Stex."

Next Chapter- Fragile Strength