Star-Strong smiled and waved after the car, then let out a sigh and cracked his neck.

“Finally! Thought that day’d never end. Still got tomorrow, too. Hope it goes better than today.” he grumbled.

“Hey, Star-Strong? What’s the deal? Why don’t you like Dirge? He’s saved us for as long as I can remember.” Morph asked, and the giant paused. He considered his next words carefully. Jason was a minor, after all.

“It’s less not liking him as not liking his style. He’s very experienced and powerful, I can see that. I know what he’s going for, but the problem is he and I have different views on how to be a hero. He seems more content to let his reputation do the heavy lifting, while I prefer a more active approach. He also seems to not understand I do not wish him as an instructor. I already had kibvaghn, after all. Besides, I don’t like how he, hmm, teaches.” he growled.

“I think I get it. But, his way seems to work pretty good, we never ran into trouble. Who’s right, then?” Morph asked thoughtfully. Star-Strong put him on his shoulders.

“Nobody. You’re allowed your own views, there’s no right or wrong here. His way works, but I prefer my own.” he said. He crouched down, smiling at the wary onlookers giving them a wide berth. Probably for the best, as the wind could be inconveniencing. “Let’s go home.”

BOOM!

Star-Strong almost didn’t know what the red trail splurting through the air was at first. He felt Morph slipping on his shoulders. Then warm droplets hit his back, and the coppery, tangy smell hit his nose.

Blood.

“Wha-!” Before even the screams could begin, they were there.

“Primary target is down!” a kid dressed in a blue and purple bodysuit said into a headset.

“Heh. Theirs, maybe!” a short, thick rock monster said, punching his palm and grinning. Star-Strong saw he was surrounded, coming out of alleyways, a manhole, and dropping from the sky.

“Hammer ‘im!”

One in a dark red hood and cape held up his arm, the hand blurring into a large tube. Wait, it was a gun barrel!

FWOOM! FWOOM! FWOOM!

Bullets the size of cannonballs pelted the giant hero, forcing him backwards. The one in the navy blue bodysuit was hurled by the rock man at Star-Strong’s feet and bounced off the ground, slamming into him. The star-clad hero toppled over, and fell back. To see Jason’s lifeless body in the arms of the one in black leather, hustling to an open black van.

“NO!” he roared, instantly on his feet and charging.

“Sorry dude!” the blue and purple one said, sliding in front of him.

“Move!” Star-Strong swung without hesitation- and met no resistance!? He wobbled as his foe waved, blowing in the wind like a sheet of paper, before blurring into 3-D again. “What!”

“2-D here!” he cawed.

“Rock Solid!” the rock man said, punching him.

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“Artillery.” the gun-man said, quietly eating a protein bar.

“I’m Bounce. That’s Bladeshift over there. But don’t worry ‘bout it, cause you’re gonna die here!” the rubber man smirked, folding his arms.

“You...you…” Star-Strong’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Secure! Go! Go!” The van closed and peeled off. Star-Strong tried to leap after it, but Rock Solid sprang off Bounce, knocking the hero down again.

“Ah ah ah. We’ve got business to take care of. You’re in for a world of hurt, before you see the other side.” Bounce pulled a knife. Then that knife was enveloped in a fist as big as his head.

“You’re right. We do have business.” the giant growled.

“Let go!” Struggle as he might, Bounce couldn’t break free. No matter how he pulled or flattened, the steel grip held him tight. If he wasn’t rubber, he’d have lost his hand.

“Eat it!” Artillery opened fire again, blasting at Star-Strong’s face. Remembering Ando’s training, Rock Solid swung an earthen fist into the hero’s knee. Together, they made him buckle, releasing Bounce.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, but this sucker needs to die.” Bounce said, rubbing his wrist.

“Heavy Stab!” Bladeshift called out, and Bounce nodded. Artillery kept cover fire up while Rock Solid grabbed Bladeshift, jumped off Bounce, and slammed the villain into Star-Strong’s prone chest, his arms hard and sharp as steel swords.

“Oof!” He grunted in pain.

“How ya like...that…” Rock Solid’s grin turned to disbelief as Star-Strong sat up, glaring at them. His shirt was torn, but that seemed to be the only damage.

“I’m tougher than I look. Let’s see if you are.” Star-Strong growled, cracking his knuckles. A shiver went through the entire gang. They may have outnumbered him, but there was a lot more of him than them!

The black van came back, zooming around the corner, not even stopping while the door opened.

“Get in!” Ando ordered, and in that split second Bounce decided.

“Stay of execution! Let’s bounce!” he shouted. They practically fell into the van and took off, but Star-Strong was after them.

“You won’t get away!” he bellowed.

“Stand back, boys.” Ando said, loading a round into a grenade launcher.

“That’s gonna do jack!” 2-D cried. Ando smiled wryly.

“Watch me.” He leaned out the window and fired, not at the pursuing hero, but the ground beneath him. It exploded into black, acrid smoke, immediately choking and burning Star-Strong’s airways. It dissipated in a moment, but that was cold comfort as he collapsed, coughing and covered in the sticky residue. It wasn’t hard to identify; a tar grenade. The perfect thing to slow him down. Slow him down enough that all he could do was watch helplessly as the van drove off, with a shot Jason bleeding out inside. He hacked up a lung to get the tar out, but by the time he did they were gone.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”