"Did Molly-" Hendrix was interrupted.
"We made sure she headed towards the compound." Bloom already knew the question Hendrix would ask.
The boy turned to Vida, who looked down at him with concern.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Hendrix shook his head. His pink hair covered his eyes.
Hendrix felt a sting on his left cheek. Vida slapped him across the face, handing him a gaiter when his mask flew off.
"We'll talk about this later." Vida sighed.
"We've got this to worry about right now." Bloom stood up, as well as the two teens. They looked up at the skeletal serpent, which reared its ugly head towards the trio.
"Your backup has finally arrived. However, it's futile." Nine shook his head. He stood at the edge of the pool of darkness that the serpent was originating from.
"Can we escape?" Bloom asked Hendrix.
"We won't make it out of the slums fast enough. He can teleport through shadows." Hendrix explained.
The woman sighed.
"Alright. Then, any tips?" Bloom asked, keeping her gaze on the Officer.
"He needs full focus to keep his ability activated. He also needs shadows to work within and he can only be in one place at a time. My soundwaves didn't hurt the snake, so we'll have to go for the source." Hendrix briefed the two on everything he learned about the Officer's abilities up until now.
Bloom nodded.
The snake seemed to assess the situation, the rattling of its bones echoing through the slums.
"I have an idea. I can keep the snake busy, but not for long. If you guys can catch up to him in that window, this can work." Vida explained.
"Alright. Got it. Hendrix, let's move in." Bloom waved to Hendrix. She nodded at Vida, who nodded back.
Hendrix turned to his best friend, "Are you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine." Vida kept her eyes on the snake, gauging its size.
Hendrix hugged Vida, catching her off guard. She began to blush. She felt like she would pass out from sensory overload.
"I promise I'll make all of this up to you. Somehow." Hendrix let go. He picked a leaf out of her hair before turning to catch up to Bloom.
"You're so stupid, Hendrix." Vida thought to herself, chuckling through her gaiter.
Vida held out her hands, took a deep breath, and focused Spirit into her palms.
"Alright. I've never done anything at this level, but I'll give it my best." Vida thought.
"Oh, so you've revealed half your face? Are you going to tell me your name next?" The Officer asked.
"I'll kill you first." Hendrix stated plainly. Bloom turned back to him, surprised at the answer.
"Aw, what a shame. I'll have to find out for myself-" Officer Nine's speech was cut off by a rumbling underneath his feet. He looked to his snake, who hadn't moved at all.
Vida's palms were now facing up, her light green Spirit radiating in a pastel glow.
The Officer noticed the girl. The snake followed Nine's eyes, focusing in on the girl as well. The monster charged at Vida, mouth agape.
Suddenly, the asphalt between Vida and the serpent began to break, crumbling upwards.
A venus flytrap broke through the ground, its size rivaling the snake's. The plant opened its jaws, immediately clamping down on the skull of the skeletal serpent with all its might.
"Vida… You're amazing." Hendrix thought as he watched the spectacle.
The flytrap's long, narrow teeth sank deeper, grinding against bone.
Bloom and Hendrix stood in awe at the sheer size of the attack before zoning back into the situation at hand.
"Hendrix!" Bloom exclaimed.
"Got it!" Hendrix's strings shot from his back, heading straight for the Officer.
"Shit!" Nine attempted to drop into his void.
The strings grasped his chest, pulling with all their might. Hendrix dug his black boots into the shallow puddle of darkness that coated the asphalt.
Bloom zoomed over to the Officer.
She placed a kick to his head. The Officer flew out of his portal, immediately succumbing to the pull of Hendrix's strings.
The snake collapsed into loose bone, falling through the pool of shadow it originated from.
"Oh thank god…" Vida collapsed to her knees.
"I guess that's all the Spirit I had." Vida reasoned. Her head began to spin. She doubled over, her head falling towards the concrete.
"Gotcha." Hendrix caught her just in time, "You did great, Vida." Hendrix smiled as he placed the passed out Vida on his back.
Bloom stood over the unconscious Officer. He laid in the middle of the street with a broken nose, leaking blood onto his lips.
"I hate scum like you." Bloom muttered under her breath.
"I'll collect your Spirit soon, rebels." The Officer whispered, opening his eyes.
Bloom sped backwards instinctively. She assumed a combative stance.
"I will be back. Mark my words." Nine sunk into his shadow, disappearing into nothingness. The shadow around him rippled like water.
Just as he disappeared, red and blue lights filled the darkness from around the corner of the street. Sirens broke through the silent night as Bloom's eyes widened.
"We're leaving!" Bloom exclaimed. In milliseconds, Hendrix and Vida were on Bloom's back, being carried across yards in seconds.
The city flew by in a blur of lights.
"I've never seen Bloom's Mode like this, let alone know she could go this fast. Is this even her fastest?" Hendrix thought. Whole blocks went by in the blink of an eye. Vida's dreadlocks flowed in the roaring wind behind Hendrix. Before he knew it, they were on the outskirts of the city, heading towards the compound.
The three of them got to the compound doors.
Hendrix tried to get over the whiplash of the trip. He still held Vida on his back, so he jogged inside to put her down somewhere.
The door opened to reveal Molly. She was on the radio.
"Brother, Hendrix got here too. Just come home already!" Molly exclaimed through the radio.
"You alright, Molly." Hendrix asked.
"I… I'm… I'm so glad you're alright." Molly's face filled with tears.
"It's alright now." Hendrix nodded in a rush. He jogged upstairs, running down the hallway towards the bedrooms.
Bloom collapsed onto a chair on the side of the lobby, her hands slightly trembling.
"Where is Alex?" Bloom asked Molly.
"Oh, uh, They're on their way back. Don't worry." Molly turned to her.
Bloom let out a deep sigh.
Hendrix opened the door to Vida's room, realizing he had never entered it.
"So many plants already." Hendrix thought. He smirked at the array of potted plants that lined the window sill.
The boy gently placed Vida down on her bed. He sat down on the floor next to it out of exhaustion.
Hendrix looked at the sleeping girl. Moonlight cut across her face just enough for him to see her clearly.
Vida's hand moved, brushing against a loose leaf on her blanket. Hendrix didn't seem to notice.
"She's so peaceful. I hope that one day you'll be able to live your whole life in a peace like this." Hendrix muttered, taking a deep breath as he stared.
He heard the van pull up into the driveway through the window.
"I'll see you later, Vida. Sweet dreams." Hendrix whispered as he walked out of the room.
Once the door closed behind Hendrix, Vida opened her eyes. She let out all of the flustered frustration she had been trying to hide while Hendrix was in the room, kicking her feet into the mattress as she sighed into her pillow.
Hendrix walked down the hallway, descending the stairs just in time to see Jason and the others walk through the door.
"Sorry about everything. It won't happen again." Hendrix looked down while he scratched his head.
"Hendrix!" His friends cheered. Chase, Amora, Akilah, Kai, and Taro piled onto him. They all stumbled over, falling into a mess.
The group chuckled.
"Don't ever do anything stupid like that again." Akilah wagged her finger.
"Yeah, what the hell was that about?!" Chase asked.
"Just talk to someone next time. Anyone." Amora muttered.
"I would've given you a beating if I found you first. You're lucky, dude." Taro chuckled.
They all laughed at Taro's exclamation.
"Hendrix, can I talk to you for a second?" Jason asked. The laughter was cut short by his question.
"Oh, yeah. Sure." Hendrix squeezed out of the pile of teens, standing up and following Jason into the kitchen.
Jason turned around, taking a deep breath out.
"I'm sorry about all of that. I promise it won't happen again-" Hendrix was interrupted.
"You're really skilled, Hendrix. And you have a big heart, I can tell. I'll give you another chance. You can go on missions with your friends, if you still want to." Jason said.
Hendrix let out a slight smile. He didn't even think it was a possibility that missions were still in the plans for him.
"Thanks, Jason. I promise-" Hendrix felt the back of his head hit the wall.
Jason grabbed Hendrix's neck with his hand, tightening his grip. Hendrix choked, letting out small attempts at breathing.
"But if you EVER do something stupid like that again, especially when my sister is with you, I won't hesitate to leave you out on those streets." Jason let go of Hendrix's neck.
The pink-haired boy caught his breath. His instinct was anger, but he caught himself. He understood where Jason was coming from, he did put his little sister in the sights of an Officer, after all.
"Right." Hendrix muttered.
Jason noticed Hendrix's restraint. He ran his fingers through his hair before speaking.
"I don't mean you any harm, kid. I only want the best for all of us. I hope you know that." Jason dragged his hand down his face. He questioned the force of his own discipline.
Hendrix nodded, "Yeah. I do."
His mind wandered. He couldn't be entirely focused on the conversation in front of him because of how excited he was to get into his missions.