My Shot (ID)

[ColArana]

Avenger merely gave an amused expression at the technicians. "Do you mistrust me? Well, I suppose your skepticism is only natural after-all." His thoughts betrayed additional side notes to Jack. Afterall, as an Avenger-class Servant I am filled with darkness, evil and the desire for vengeance. An endless misery that is palpable to the world. It is only natural they mistrust me. He mused mentally. Was his attire truly so strange? It had been quite the look in 19th century France, back when Avenger had "lived".

"Well, whether you believe me or not, you can inform the staff that I possess a backup chip, all the same, so everything will need to be in order, as soon as we retrieve the other." Avenger informed the technicians. Sure this would probably put some problems on Doctor Pendleton's shoulders. But... Well... Avenger had little like of the man. And if this drove the spy to come to them to at least try to verify the information, that was even better.

Avenger allowed Jack and the technician to have their little banter with an amused smirk at Jack's uncomfortable answer to the indication about Lydia. "Shall we check on the others then?" Avenger asked Jack. "I'm eager to meet the rest of your staff." He indicated.

[ThePopcornFairy]

Oh, sweet merciful White Sun, what have I gotten myself into working with this guy? Jack fretted internally as Avenger's thoughts carried over into his brain. Wait, what's a White Sun? Why am I even thinking of it?

"Hold on, what's this about a backup chip?" Wendell cautiously questioned, raising an eyebrow at Avenger. "Buddy, we haven't passed out the microchip specs to anyone. There are no backup chips."

This guy doesn't look like he'd make backup chips anyway, he continued in his head. He looks more like the kind of guy who would steal them. Exactly how many variables are gonna make my job harder?

Jack tucked that quip into his back pocket for a moment, keeping his eyes on Wendell as he ascended the staircase to the balcony. "It's okay, Wendell. He's with me. We're just trying to catch up on the progress that's been made while I was... you know... dead."

"Well, it's... coming." Wendell peered around Jack to briefly glance at Avenger again, then looked the intern in the face. "You sure you can trust this guy?"

"Whether or not I should, I do," Jack answered firmly. "He was bold enough to watch my back while Mr. Stone was after me. And to keep watch until I woke back up."

If only you'd stayed dead... Wasn't Stone supposed to be this master assassin?

Okay, that was an unsettling thought process. Jack audibly cleared his throat, trying to make himself look like he hadn't heard anything. "But at any rate, it looks like things have gotten better here. Now it's just a matter of getting Lydia and the chips back, huh?"

Wendell responded with a deep sigh. His expression was sad, yet Jack sensed no real sympathy from him. "Let's be realistic here, Jackaboy. Right now, there's a bollixed teenager running around haphazardly because you injected a multimillion-dollar submersible pod into him and its nigh-turbulent, microscopic pilot is telling him what to do." And you completely ruined everything in doing so. "It's gonna be hard enough getting them back here; chances are we may not even have our radio feed back in time. But then you factor in the fact that our other chip is missing and we don't even know how to begin recovering it. I'm sorry, Jack... but I just don't see how we're gonna get Lydia back before her oxygen runs out." It was only a matter of time. David had it coming.

Jack took a few steps back and shot Wendell an afronted expression. There were a lot of things he was wary or concerned about, but Wendell's confession of doubt warranted a rebuttal. "We're gonna get her back. I don't care if I have to bust down LunArc's door myself. I got Lydia into this mess, and I'm gonna get her out."

"Heh..." Wendell smirked halfheartedly, nodded to Jack, then turned and started walking away. "Wish I had your optimism. If it makes you feel better, then keep telling yourself that, kid."

Bust down LunArc's door... That's not gonna happen. With any luck, she's just gonna lead the poor bastard you suckered into this mess to LunArc and Dr. Michaels will extract the pod herself. Makes the past couple hours of my life pointless, but if it gets the job done...

In one split second, Jack saw everything he needed to know.

A red-orange light wrapped itself around Wendell's torso like a giant hand, pinning his arms to his sides and slamming him against the nearest wall. After the waves of pain and the initial shock wore off, Wendell looked up to see Jack standing in front of him again, the light pouring from his arm, his face alight with pure rage.

"GAH...! WHAT THE HELL IS...?!"

"Self-preservation instincts are great and all, but being a phoenix has its perks."

[ColArana]

Avenger merely smirked, at the accusation, as well as Jack's defense of him. Oh Master.... How unwise. Necessary-- oh yes, but very unwise. He thought to himself gleefully, as Jack stated that he trusted him. The only person we can truly trust in all this world, is ourselves. He noted mentally.

Avenger watched the facial dialogues between the two, as well as the verbal sparring. Jack was uncovering some unpleasant little lines in the technician's head, and Avenger's cheshire grin grew wider and wider. Jack was tightening a net. He could see it. Using little lines to prompt thoughts. Cornering the technician and he didn't even know it. So beautiful. It reminded the Servant, for a moment, of his own life-- his own brand of vengeance that he'd exacted on his enemies, and watched them die.

And then Wendell broke into his logical breakdown of Lydia's situation. Avenger could not help it, his grin spread from ear to ear and he had begun to laugh in his mind. True he was not present for Wendell's thoughts so it was not his internal dialogue Avenger laughed at, but at the idea that this situation was hopeless. Of course it is hopeless! But that is why I was summoned here! Avenger laughed in his mind-- not joyously, but wickedly. To witness the depravity required to create that hope for one's own selfish gain!

And then. Then the moment Avenger was waiting for. Jack struck, slamming the technician against the wall. Avenger's eyes glowed with malice, and his teeth were bared in a mad grin. "Ah. Is he the one Master? The one ultimately responsible for all of this?" He asked Jack. "I'm pleased to see you're using your newfound talents well. Can you dig deeper and find the final destination of your beloved?" He inquired. But besides that thought, there was another one alongside it in Avenger's mind. This man is responsible for your death. It was on his word that this entire scenario was made possible. As surely as a death warrant before a judge, he signed away your life for his own gain. If you have what you need from him, you don't need him anymore. Let your anger flow! Let revenge rule you! It is the only way to survive in this world! Prove to me, my Master that you can kill! It is the only way you'll have the strength to save Lydia! Avenger's mind had reached a fevered pitch as his eyes blazed with a violent, sorcerous light.

[ThePopcornFairy]

Several desks down, Dr. Pendleton let out an irritated growl and begrudgingly, lackadaisically stood up. "Can we go two hours in this building without breaking some-?!"

He was soundly cut off when he looked up and saw Jack pinning Wendell to a wall with a conspicuous, fiery astral hand, the unprecedented phenomenon quickly gaining a sizable crowd. The doctor's expression was utterly blank, but you could almost hear the brick hitting the floor.

"GHCKT...! Wexler!" Wendell struggled in the astral hand's grip, looking genuinely pained to some degree by the hot, semisolid light. "What're you doing?!"

"You sold us out."

Wendell stared back at Jack completely baffled, more so by the intern's tone and intense expression than his words. "What're you talking about?!"

"Don't play dumb, Scarnati, I heard everything!" Jack drew closer, maintaining his psychic grip with one hand while summoning ethereal fire with the other. "Bonding with the astral has given me access to more abilities than just resurrection. Things like mind reading. You are steaming inside that I got Lydia away in time!"

Mind reading?? Why was I not made aware the phoenix could do that?!

To be fair, I don't think the possibility of psychic development showed up on any of our data.

"Wh...?!" Wendell was clearly startled on several levels when he heard Jack's voice despite the lack of lip movement. "Did you just...?!"

"Honestly, I wasn't sure if that would work," Jack responded aloud with a casual shrug. "I take it my telepathy is two-way, then?"

"Son of a..." Wendell was silenced again when the astral hand once again slammed him head-first against the wall.

"WHY?!" Jack demanded, going back to a hundred after his brief moment at zero. "WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO US?!"

"Jack..."

A hand gently grabbed his shoulder, prompting Jack to turn and face a very calm, very stern, but very uncharacteristically paternal Dr. Pendleton. He didn't speak at first, but his dark brown eyes said so much. As did his internal thought process, of course. You're letting your emotions get the better of you. I'm angry too, but we're not going to save Lydia by screaming at each other.

Jack just started at him for a moment, breathing heavily, unsure whether to look frustrated or dismayed. Then he snuffed out the astral fire, but maintained his grip on Wendell. As Dr. Pendleton directed his attention to the captive technician, Jack looked over his shoulder at Avenger, narrowing his eyes at the spirit and once again testing out his telepathy for the sake of addressing the conflicting instructions he was receiving. I think I can find my own strength without stooping to their level.

"Wendell..." Dr. Pendleton firmly addressed his employee, though the man was not looking back at him, keeping his head hung low. "Is it true? Did you expose the Proteus Project to LunArc?"

For a moment, there was silence. The people surrounding the boss, the turncoat, and the phoenix barely made a sound themselves. Dr. Pendleton pursed his lips and folded his arms. Jack scowled dangerously. Wendell didn't move, his eyes still on the floor.

Eventually, a smirk crossed Wendell's face and a low chuckle escaped his lips. "Maybe I did. So what? Considering how willingly you led your own daughter into the lion's den, it was only a matter of time before your arrogance killed her."

"You...!!!" Jack's astral hand flew to Wendell's neck, tightening his grip, while her other hand reeled back and tightened into a blazing fist.

Wendell just laughed at the show of aggression. "Calm down, Wexler. It was nothing personal." His eyes directed a cold sneer at Dr. Pendleton. "Although, to be fair, I really don't like you, David."

Dr. Pendleton let a growl slip out as he leaned in closer, hand pressed against the wall, a sharp glare on his face. "I've made a lot of mistakes, Wendell Scarnati, but don't you dare mistake my misjudgment for arrogance. Lydia's situation is just as much your fault as it is mine! So if it wasn't personal, then what was it? Did Cora pay you well to spill our secrets?"

"HA! So typical, thinking it's all about money! LunArc didn't pay me sh*t for your precious microchips! I just dropped the hints myself and made sure we were nice and vulnerable when they showed up!"

"Why, then?! Why would you ruin all our hard work and put my daughter's life on the line?!"

"Well, it's simple, really..." Wendell faced forward, smiling at Jack and Dr. Pendleton, his cold blue eyes glowing with a wild and wicked malice. "This place needed to be destroyed."

[ColArana]

Avenger grinned gleefully at the display before him. Wrath was his favorite of the Seven Deadly Sins, and Jack was displaying quite a lot of it. That's it Master.... Just push a little further... He thought in excitement as Jack seemed fully ready to murder the man before him. He had been afraid he'd have to give Jack a bigger push, but it seemed that the boy took to rage with aplomb. And that pleased the Cavern King greatly.

And Jack was unlocking more of his powers as well. That telepathic communication will prove useful, I expect. Your control over your powers is growing quickly. Very good! Do you think you can pry deeper into this fool's mind and rip his secrets from him? Avenger thought at Jack. Things were going better than he could possibly have hoped.

If only that annoying Doctor Pendleton hadn't come in and spoiled the moment. Jack addressed Avenger's response and the Servant's grin faded. That's a naive view, Master. You must be prepared to kill them, because they are prepared to kill you, and everyone you care about. At the core of every human lies the will to murder. You've started to feel it in yourself. Embrace it. If you hesitate to kill, then you will fail. Compared to your woman's life, what value are theirs?" Avenger pressed.

Avenger was almost tuning out the conversation with Wendell, with Jack's fury held in check. Well. Up until Wendell opened his mouth. Avenger said nothing this time, but he gave a small smile at seeing Jack succumbing to his anger again. And then Wendell became eerily calm. "Well, well. What an entertaining development." He murmured, looking at those cold blue eyes of Wendell.

"I wonder who you truly are, technician." Avenger mused aloud at Wendell.

[ThePopcornFairy]

We'll see... Jack psychically grumbled back to Avenger, keeping his intense glare focused on Wendell. No matter what happened, he had no intention of letting this traitor go so easily, and even as he watched Wendell apparently snap, he remained furiously unfazed.

That glow in Wendell's eyes, though... that was a bit unsettling.

Even more so was Dr. Pendleton's reaction to the phenomenon. He was clearly taken aback by it, but the dominant emotion that Jack sensed from him was... recognition.

"Oh, I'm sure you're dying to know..." Wendell playfully, darkly snarled in response to Avenger's comment, staring at the spirit through the rapidly growing crowd. Just about every technician in the building was surrounding him now, watching his every move with a mixture of shock, anger, confusion and contempt.

"So..." Dr. Pendleton continued, shaking slightly by now. "...this was all about tearing this organization down?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you," Wendell growled at the doctor through a sour grin. "You're fully aware of how dangerous you are. And if that look in your eye is any indication, I'm sure you've figured out what I am. What, do you expect me to describe step-by-step what led me to this point? I think your precious little phoenix here can exposit all you want."

"You..." A new revelation entered Jack's mind through Wendell's, turning his stomach in a knot. The turncoat's smug, nonchalant grin and refusal to make eye contact only enraged him further. "You let them kill Dr. Perry!!!"

"Well, 'kill' is a strong word."

"You made Dr. Michaels PROMISE that Lydia would be dead by the end of this!"

"And at this rate, she may as well be. Either she asphyxiates in that pod or Cora has her way with her." Wendell once again cast a glowing smile at Dr. Pendleton. "Either way, your daughter belongs to us now. Just. Like. Your. Wife."

Bit by bit, word by word, the tension in the room grew until it finally snapped in two. As that final word drove in the nail that pierced through Dr. Pendleton's defenses, his stoic anger gave way to an intense, burning ire the likes of which no one in Mexus had seen on the man before. His teeth gritted in an almost painful-looking scowl. His dark brown eyes darkened into bottomless pools of hatred. His knuckles popped as they tightened and reeled back into a fist. The overwhelming sense of fury and vengeance was so powerful that it practically consumed the empathetic Jack, blinding him with those same feelings. With an unrelenting desire to eliminate this pest.

"YOU FILTHY, BOTTOM-FEEDING, LOWLIFE SON OF A-!!!"

SLAM

FWOOM

Wendell kicked his foot back against the wall. A wave of pure darkness erupted from his form, dimming the room to a near pitch-black state, knocking down everyone in its path. Dr. Pendleton slammed into the railing and crumpled to the floor on top of another technician with a hefty grunt. Jack's astral fire scattered, the explosion pushing him over the edge and into the miniaturization chamber, where he promptly, loudly smashed his head against the cooker shield before tumbling to the ground bleeding and bruised.

When Jack looked up, he found himself staring into a pair of cold, glowing, solid blue eyes, mounted upon an enormous shadow that only vaguely resembled Wendell, further adorned with curved horns, elongated claws, and a fanged sneer in his direction.

"I said it was nothing personal, and I meant that," the shadow hissed to the phoenix. "But for you, Jack? I may be willing to make an exception."

Any sense of reservation suddenly vanished from the intern. Screaming at the top of his lungs, Jack shot to his feet and hurled a ball of astral fire at the shadow. In response, it retreated into the darkness, and in turn, the shroud covering the room collapsed in on itself. A burst of white light filled the room as the darkness faded and the fire struck the wall, then finally the lab returned to normal.

And just like that, Wendell was gone.

[ColArana]

Avenger watched onwards as Jack and Doctor Pendleton interrogated Wendell. Something was about to happen. Avenger could feel it. Though his posture was relaxed, his entire body seemed tensed-- ready to kick into action. The very air was charged with tension now, and Avenger knew from experience that was going to erupt sooner rather than later.

"Are you going to hold your tongue? Not to worry, I'm quite experienced in getting people to talk." Avenger replied to Wendell with a smirk. "But it seems there will be a line." He jested, referring to Jack and Doctor Pendleton, of course.

And then the revelation. Seeing Doctor Pendleton fly into such a rage, brightened Avenger's black heart, but it seemed that Wendell was hiding something up his sleeve as well. Avenger braced, holding his hand with one hand, while the other extended before him like a shield. A black and blue flame burned out of his palm, expanding like a barrier, as the wave of darkness crashed against it, causing the flames to leap and flicker against the blast. Still. They held. And the shadow had made a second mistake. The reason that Avenger had not yet given Jack his True Name. When one knew the True Name of a Heroic Spirit, they often could intuit their abilities and weaknesses.

The almost pitch black state of the room did not bother Avenger. He had long since learned to see in the lightless halls of Chateau D'lf, and had no problem with visibility even in the complete absence of light. He could see where Wendell was standing. "Permission to engage the enemy, Master?" He asked, but Jack responded by flinging his own flames at the shadow. Wendell then vanished without a trace. Avenger looked around the room at the devastation for a moment. His sensitive ears were raised for the notion of any sound that might betray Wendell's whereabouts or return. As he listened though, Avenger walked over to Doctor Pendleton, and checked the man and the technician he'd landed on for injuries. "Are you alive Doctor? It will do my Master no good for you to die here and now." If need be, Avenger did possess one particular skill that could help the Doctor if he were near death, but he'd rather not expend his energy on him. Still. That one moment of true wrath and rage had earned Avenger's amusement and brief abatement of his disdain of doctor Pendleton.

"Did you manage to glean his purpose in those moments, Master?" Avenger asked. "Or perhaps learn where he is headed. Or... should I ask... Where we are headed next?" He asked-- if Doctor Pendleton was conscious, moving to help the man and the technician to their feet, demonstrating surprising strength, able to easily support both of their weight with one hand each.

[ThePopcornFairy]

Jack let out a low groan as he picked himself up, leaning against the chamber, gingerly rubbing his head, astral flames dancing along his forehead as the wound he had sustained healed. As the pain rapidly ebbed, he looked up at the balcony in concern and dismay, understandably shaken by his encounter with the monster posing as one of their own.

"I'm fine..." Dr. Pendleton grunted as he too hoisted himself back onto his feet, his hand massaging his shoulder. The other technicians were starting to clamber around him, checking on their boss, fretting about the madness that had just occurred. The doctor didn't react or respond to any of them. He simply stared at the floor with a hard, uneasy grimace.

There was so much on his mind, so much on everyone's minds, that Jack was having a hard time taking it all in. Among the cacophony, though, a mental image did stand out. One that elicited the phoenix's genuine empathy.

Once his head had finished healing, Jack ascended the staircase back onto the balcony, where he was first greeted by Avenger. The spirit's question earned a sigh. "It was hazy. I was kind of distracted myself. The main thing I detected was an intense feeling of hatred, disgust... and a bit of fear, actually. But..." He took another deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "All I know for sure is that he's going home. Wherever 'home' is. Excuse me..."

He cautiously started making his way through the crowd and over to Dr. Pendleton, staring worriedly at the doctor. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah..." Dr. Pendleton mumbled, easily guessing that Jack wasn't just referring to his physical state. "I'm alright."

"What... What was that thing?"

"That..." The doctor looked up, scowling simultaneously at where his former employee once stood and into the middle distance. "...was a Brocken Spectre."

While just about everyone else started questioning Dr. Pendleton's wording and knowledge on the matter, Jack simply took a moment to immerse himself in Dr. Pendleton's memories. He saw that same pitch black monster, clear as day... but with different eyes. He saw many of them at once. He heard Dr. Perry's voice describing them as living shadows, created when a soul and spirit were consumed by darkness. He saw Megan Pendleton face-down on the sidewalk...

"That's why you agreed to the Phoenix Project."

Jack's voice cut through the din of the crowd like a knife through butter. Dr. Pendleton turned back around to stare at the intern, finding a warm, wholly sympathetic expression full of unmistakable realization.

"That's why you started this project..." Jack continued softly, his amber eyes aglow. "You knew he was right."

Dr. Pendleton didn't need to speak. He didn't even need to think it. His face said it all.

And then, just like that, the doctor's despondency gave way to seriousness. "What's the status on the chamber?"

"We're nearing completion, sir," a nearby technician responded. "Miniaturization chamber should be operational within the hour. All programs should be reinstalled soon thereafter."

"Perfect. Once that's finished, I want all efforts to go towards reestablishing satellite and radio contact. I want eyes and ears on this entire island by dawn!"

The other technicians quickly started to scatter, grunting out confirmations and murmuring among themselves as they returned to their positions, eager more than ever to see the lab up and running again and this project finally laid to rest.

Soon it was just the doctor, the intern, and the spirit standing in the middle of the balcony. Dr. Pendleton slowly turned to Jack, his deep brown eyes full of determination and intense dedication. "Jack... given your newfound abilities and partner... I don't believe it would be out of line for me to ask you to go out there... and find my daughter."

[ColArana]

Avenger gave Doctor Pendleton a look when he declared he was fine. It was a knowing look. Avenger could feel the Doctor's anger and wrath as well. "...Yes, yes I think you finally are." He replied, as he turned towards Jack.

"Understandable. You are quite new to this after-all. Still Master. There must be a steep learning curve if we are going to accomplish your mission and rescue your damsel in distress." He noted, his face not grinning but set in a firm line. "If you wish to take your revenge out on that one, I am bound to assist you, but that is not our objective." Avenger followed after Jack as he spoke with Doctor Pendleton. And listened to the explanation of what Wendell had become. "I'm unfamiliar with the concept, which I assure you is quite rare. What is a Brocken Spectre, Doctor?" Avenger asked, not one to merely give a quizzical look stand for the question.

It seemed Jack was getting through to the Doctor, but there was no time for sympathies and understanding beyond what they'd accomplished, and the Doctor seemed to recognize it as well. The Doctor was finally formally asking the two of them to track down Lydia. Avenger smirked very slightly. "That was our goal from the start." He stated. "All we need to know is where to go. It's unfortunate that our lead in this facility fled, but there are worse scenarios that could have occurred. I understand the culprits here are old rivals of yours Doctor Pendleton do you have a lead for us to follow? Time is rather short after-all."

[ThePopcornFairy]

"I would... rather not talk about it... right now..." Dr. Pendleton grumbled, rubbing his temple, straining to block out the mental image of the shadow demon and the conflicting emotions that came with it.

Picking up on this, Jack turned to Avenger with a wary shrug and a telepathic mumble. I'll explain later.

Jack then looked into Dr. Pendleton's eyes, soaking in his boss's request to the letter. His words, his tone, his body language... everything the doctor expressed carried nothing but utmost sincerity and commitment. The reserved but still apparent show of emotion might have been baffling at first to those who knew Dr. Pendleton as a closed-off, logic-oriented businessman, but by this point, it didn't bother Jack. He was starting to care less where everyone was coming from. What mattered right now was that this man's daughter, the love of Jack's life, needed their help.

"Yes..." Jack slowly nodded to the doctor, his amber eyes alight in a look of fierce conviction. "You can count on us."

"I know." After returning Jack's nod, Dr. Pendleton looked between him and Avenger. "I don't know where Lydia and Mr. Lowe are right now. I wouldn't put it past them to try absolving this crisis themselves and finding a way to storm LunArc. If you want to try searching them yourselves, I'd recommend starting with the research facility in the north mountains; the missing chip would either be their or their main facility, and no one knows where the latter is located."

"If Lydia's taking action herself, there's bound to be some sort of trail to follow," Jack agreed, tapping his head and mulling over their options. "Might be worth it to see how far I can stretch my brain..."

"Just don't hurt yourself, kid." Dr. Pendleton took a deep breath, then in yet another gesture unbecoming of the man Jack knew, he reached up and placed a firm, warm hand on Jack's shoulder. "Thank you."

Jack could only think to offer him another nod. Part of him wanted to say that he wasn't doing this for Dr. Pendleton... but seeing the desperation in the man's eyes, feeling the devotion he truly had buried deep down, Jack had to concede that at this point, that would be a lie.

The doctor walked away, marching off to resume his work. Alone once again with the heroic spirit, Jack looked to Avenger with a somewhat nervous but mostly resolute expression. "I think we can trust these guys from here. Looks like we have more important matters to attend to. You ready?"

[ColArana]

Avenger didn't need to continue once Doctor Pendleton asked him to stop, merely walking away to his Master's side, as Jack replied to his query. It seemed he'd read the doctor's mind and already knew the answer to the question Avenger had asked.

Jack was onboard with the doctor's request-- not that Avenger had ever expected differently. The Heroic Spirit was already set to move on from here, now that the lab had exhausted its usefulness. The North Mountains then? I imagine we should be able to get there well within our time constraint, Master. Avenger stated to Jack, mentally, while the doctor thanked him for undertaking this.

"Wait and hope, doctor." He stated, before Doctor Pendleton walked away. Then looked at Jack, in answer to his question. "I look forward to seeing what you will do, Master. Only a few hours left. It makes things rather interesting doesn't it?" His face grew stern again. "Of course I am ready, and there's no time to waste. Let us proceed."

[ThePopcornFairy]

Jack pursed his lips and took a deep breath through his nose. Truth be told, he didn't know what he was going to do, but he was doing a remarkable job at hiding that uncertainty. He knew what he needed to do, and he had a fair idea of where he might end up, but it was going to take a while for him to conjure up a solid plan. Granted, he was finding himself less and less opposed to the prospect of improvising. What was the worst that could happen to him anyway? Death was practically a nonissue.

It was really starting to dawn on Jack just how many possibilities had been opened up to him. How much potential he had now.

But there would be plenty of time for that later. Right now, he had to play the hero any way he knew how.

"Well..." Jack tapped his chin in contemplation. "Before we head north, it might be worth it to check and see if any potentially related events have taken place around town. Look for any trails we can follow that Mexus hasn't picked up on yet. More importantly, maybe we can find this William Lowe and coordinate with him... and make sure Lydia's okay in there."

With his gumption returning, Jack turned and started making his way out of the lab and towards the back doors, Avenger trailing closely behind. "I have a feeling we're not gonna find much until dawn, but I'm willing to try until then. And in the meantime... might as well get a little experimental with these powers."

There was a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it, but for Lydia, Jack was more than ready to try. He was past patiently waiting for his day in the sun.