“I’m going to enjoy this.” Gauss said, as he levelled his spear at Mr Universe’s head.
The last thing Mr Universe saw was the spear racing towards his head, before he blacked out.
The spear shattered into a hundred pieces, as Mr Perfect rocketed through it.
“What!?” Gauss demanded.
“Sorry to ruin your fun, but the cavalry has arrived!” Firestorm shouted, as he blasted the villain with flames. Gauss barely reacted in time, shielding the blast with a car shell.
“You insolent fools. You think you stand a chance?” Gauss cackled.
“Pretty sure we can win. Again.” Mr Perfect replied, as he looped around to float directly in front of Gauss.
“Perhaps the banter can wait for another time?” Fissure said, as he reformed on the ground below.
“Like after we’ve taken his ass down.” Pixel said, appearing on a nearby rooftop.
“I’m gonna enjoy this.” Belle finished, as she unleashed her psychic scream.
“Girl, you are little more than an annoyance.” Gauss said, as one hand rubbed his temple. “I will destroy you all.”
“You call that annoying? Try this on for size!” Pixel blasted Gauss in the face with her flare.
“Insolent girl! I will finish what I started!” Gauss warned, as he found himself seeing spots, unable to see what was going on around him.
“We’ve learned too. No metal in our costumes.” Mr Perfect said, as he pounded Gauss in the gut, winding him and sending him tumbling towards the ground.
“And concrete doesn’t contain any iron.” Fissure added, as the sidewalk began to pound Gauss, breaking bones and leaving him bloodied.
“Let’s face it Gauss. You’re old news.” Mr Perfect said, as he raised his fist to lay the final blow.
His fist was stopped in midair, as a nearby parking meter wrapped itself around his forearm.
“You had your chance boy. Now it’s my turn.” Gauss said.
Mr Perfect felt his shoulder begin to separate, as he was dragged through the air by his trapped arm, colliding with the building Pixel stood atop. Pixel barely teleported out of her teammate’s path, instead perching herself on the next rooftop, where a satellite dish dislodged itself and cracked her across the back of the head, knocking her unconscious.
“That girl complicates matters. The rest of you will fall easily.” Gauss laughed.
“Not likely!” Firestorm launched a barrage of fireballs at Gauss, as Fissure followed up with a hail of gravel.
Gauss barely even flinched, as a barrier of scrap metal formed around him, shielding him from the attacks. “Fools.”
The ground sundered below the heroes, as water pipes broke and doused Firestorm with water, before tearing free from the ground and wrapping Firestorm and Fissure up, lifting them from the ground, and squeezing tightly.
“Now… Who am I going to kill first?” The glee in Gauss’ face disappeared, as the loose change from the broken parking meter began to circle him.
“I think you should probably start what you finished with me.” Mr Universe said, struggling to his feet.
“YOU!?” Gauss demanded.
“Yeah. Me.” Mr Universe said, as he began pelting Gauss with quarters and dimes.
“This ends now.” Gauss said.
“For once I agree with you. It is over.” Mr Universe said.
“What?” Gauss asked.
“I knew you’d underestimate me. I’m putting all my abilities into hitting you, aren’t I?” Mr Universe laughed. “Wrong. This is just the distraction.”
Gauss didn’t get time to react, as Mr Perfect streaked towards him, clotheslining the villain, knocking him unconscious.
Moments later, Mr Universe blacked out again.
<><><>
Ally banged on the bathroom door. “Come on Katie! I just need to grab one head band!”
“No. Just wait, I won’t be long.” Katie’s voice was muffled.
“No! I want it now!” Ally pouted.
“Ten minutes, that’s all I ask.” Katie shouted back.
“Nope. I’m ‘porting in now.” Ally said.
“What? Ally no!” Katie said.
Ally ignored her, instead appearing just inside the bathroom. “Don’t worry, I won’t see anything. That’s why you ordered the tinted glass.” Ally said.
“It’s not that…” Katie said.
“Then what’s the problem?” Ally asked, as she checked her headband in the mirror.
“I’m not the only one in here.” Katie said.
“Huh? What are you… Oh… OH!” Ally took a moment to realise just what Katie meant. “Sorry Kev!” Ally said.
“Just get out.” Kevin said.
“You got it. Sorry.” Ally disappeared, blushing redder than her crimson socks.
She reappeared in the kitchen, where Matt and Fisher were waiting. “What happened to you?” Matt asked, seeing the look of mortification on Ally’s face.
“Uh… I ‘ported into the bathroom while Katie was in there, so I could get my headband…” Ally said.
“And what? You saw her?” Matt asked.
“In your dreams.” Ally smirked. “No… I didn’t see a thing… It just… Katie wasn’t the only one in there.”
“What? Oh. Ewww!” Matt said. “Not an image I needed. I have to use that shower sometimes you know?”
“That is particularly unsanitary.” Fisher agreed.
Mosley walked through the front door, pulling his mask off his face. “The press are seriously packed into the driveway.” He said. “Where’re Katie and Jockstrap?”
“In the shower.” Matt said.
Mosley paused for a moment, before scowling. “I hate couples.”
“Amen.” Ally said.
“So Katie calls me here for this dinner thing, and she’s not even ready when I get here?” Mosley complained.
“She’ll be down in a few minutes.” Ally said.
“Huh. I guess Kevin really is the fastest one on the team.” Matt grinned, as their leader and his best friend both walked down the stairs.
“Bite me. You’d be shocked how well the little brat kills the mood.” Kevin laughed, as he patted Ally on the head.
Mosley opened his mouth to say something, but a scowl from Katie stopped him. “So, pizza?” He asked instead.
“Works for me.” Katie said, as the rest of the team nodded in agreement.
“Can’t believe you guys leave tomorrow. It’s not fair!” Ally said.
“Sorry kiddo.” Matt said. “It’s complicated.”
“Tell me about it.” Kevin mumbled.
“How about we stop worrying about tomorrow and focus on what we’ve done.” Katie said. “This is our last dinner together in the house. We’re supposed to be having fun.”
“Ok then. Kevin can start. Tell us about the time you fought alongside Uncle Sam again.” Matt said.
“Uncle Sam?” Fisher asked.
“The original.” Kevin smiled. “It was over a year ago. Just before we met you. I was in Las Vegas for a basketball game…”