Eyelashes fluttered as hazel grey eyes slowly opened only to be blinded by the bright whiteness that filled the space around her. Had the sun ever been this bright? She couldn’t recall such a thing as the world she knew was anything, but bright. A future that held much more than darkness and chaos. A place where she along with the other would-be heroes were forsaken by those who they had tried to save. Life was little more than just being on the run and surviving day to day.

She blinked away the tears that had come to her eyes from the blinding brightness surrounding her. The raven and crimson haired woman attempted to sit up. Quickly her movements were halted by something holding her body in place. Something was wrong. She forced herself to take a breath to keep from panicking. Hazel eyes soon spotted what held her in place, it appeared to be cuffs which were secured to the cold white table she laid upon.

Closing her eyes, she fought the panic that was wailing up inside of her. As Masuyo laid there it grew harder and harder for her to not let the natural defense of her abilities to kick in. Fading, blending into her surrounds wasn’t going to save her.

Where was this place? What had happened? Where was her partner? Why?

Opening her eyes she looked around frantically and moved what little she could. He had to be here, he just had to. If he wasn’t. The raven didn’t want to think about it. At this point she was trembling. Finally she spotted a body parallel to hers. That form, she knew it well. Just like her he too was unable to hide what he was feeling. They were trapped, helpless and powerless.

The sudden break in the silence by a voice caused her to jump. Hazel eyes soon spotted a man in a white lab coat, mask, goggles and hairnet standing by her partner. His words they made little sense to her.

When the man clenched Ryker’s jaw the woman jerked at her restraints. The attempt was useless, they would not budge. From beside her another man in a white lab coat, goggles, mask and hairnet chuckled at Masuyo’s useless struggle, before moving ahead of the other to behind the wall with a window.

All the woman could do was watch as her partner tried to escape his restraints, but it was no use. Whoever these men were they had done their homework. Masuyo met Ryker’s gaze, the fear she felt clear within those hazel grey orbs.

How were they going to get out of this? They weren’t able to use their powers and in a sense they were isolated so their normal teamwork wasn’t going to help either. Was this white lab really going to be the place they met their end after all they had been through together?

The sound of the mechanized drill over Ryker, grew louder caused her trembling to worsen. It was hard for her not to watch the silver drill as it inched its way towards his midriff. A whining sound escaped her lips.

Was this really happening? Were they really going to kill them? Going to force her to watch them take away her true love’s life before taking her life as well?

No, no, no. The words screamed in her mind as her heart raced. She couldn’t take it. It wasn’t supposed end this way. Tears wailed up within her hazel grey eyes.

Just as his hand sought hers, her hand sought his. If this was to be their fate they would face it together hand-in-hand.

They were so close. Just a bit more Masuyo! Whimpering she stretched her hand out as far as it would reach. Please! There it was, warmth, a light brushing of her fingertips against his. Soon his index finger curled around hers and hers around his. His smile along with their contact helped to ease her trembling. It didn’t matter what happened next. They were there for each other, they would face it together.

Masuyo returned his smile with one of her own. “I love you too,” she mouthed back to him. Even with the drill drawing ever closer to the man she loved, she couldn’t take her tear filled eyes away from him.

It didn’t matter what way she would end up dying. Whether if it was in the same way as him or by some other means. She would die the same moment that her Ryker did. All they would be doing would be killing an empty shell, what once had been the woman named Masuyo. There was some peace in knowing that Ryker was by her side and her by his in their last moments.

Finally unable to watch, the drill just above her partner’s chest now, she closed her eyes. Someone, anyone, please stop this nightmare!

An unfamiliar voice rang out above everything else. Before Masuyo knew what was happening there was a blinding white light and then a deafening explosion. Everything made of metal seemed to vaporize around them, turning to ashes, and alarms beginning to blare. Laying on the ground surrounded by ashes, her eyes frantically searched for Ryker.

Soon he was by her side, pulling her into his arms. She merely nodded, her cheek rubbing against his chest as she sniffled a bit. She had been so scared. Ryker took her hand and jerked her towards an opening. There was no time to waste, they had to escape now. "Agreed."

Wiping away the last of her tears she looked up at him. Why did he freeze? That was when she saw it too. That man, the one who had caused the explosion it was familiar. He looked similar to Ryker, but how was that possible? Could that really be the man of legend that Ryker had told her about?

Like her partner Masuyo too watched in awe as a woman came from nowhere, providing cover-fire for the man in the middle. The raven began to wonder if this was all just a really bizarre dream.

With guns blazing Vex made her entrance. Making her way forward she provide Sycom with the cover he needed. She gave the man a nod letting him know it was time to go and she would cover their retreat.

The man demanded that they get up as he ran towards them. Her hand still entwined with Ryker’s she was pulled to her feet when Sycom jerked her beloved from where he knelt beside her and flung him forward.

Run? Really he was telling Ryker to run? As soon as Masuyo spotted that grin and Ryker’s quick wink she knew what was coming. This man was going to regret telling the other to run. “Better listen,” she chimed in as she tightened her grip on the speed demon that was Ryker.

Vex raised in eyebrow as Ryker took all three of them in hand. They needed to go with just Sycom. Before she could even protest they were miles away on top of a mountain. The silver haired woman frowned at Ryker as Sycom lost his stomach. With a sigh she shook her head. “Are you ok?” Lightly she patted Sycom’s back, a softer look entering her pale lavender eyes now.

Once they were safe on atop a mountain Masuyo loosened her grip. Her eyes fell onto Sycom and she stifled a laugh. Yup, just as she figured. It took a while to get use to travelling at such speeds. Though it seemed that Vex had fared better which surprised her a bit.

“Yes, I remember.” Masuyo’s head tilted to the side as she let what her partner said sink in. This really was Sycom and Vex, the heroes who Ryker was descendant from. She blinked a few times. “But….” This really wasn’t making sense. Did that really matter though since they were both still alive and together? No, not at all.

With a smile she took a seat by him. “Are you okay?” Looking to him there was still worry within those hazel grey orbs of hers. They had barely escaped. They wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for those two, Sycom and Vex.

Momentarily her gaze rose to meet that of the pair. “Thank you for saving us. We are in your debt.” The raven took Ryker’s hand into hers. Even with them out of danger for the time being she needed the contact. It helped her to ease her fear and her stress that would cause her to lose control over her own powers.

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