The police station looked like a deadly volcano, fire rising from the roof. Every inch of the building appeared to be in flames, this kind of fire was no accident. Even though Skull was across the street on top of a building, he could feel the heat radiating off the burning precinct.
"Black Skull here," he pressed two fingers to his communicator, "fire looks strong, no capes unless you need them. Archwind we will need your help on this one. Block off the fire from the first floor and work your way up. Got it?"
Once everyone had confirmed their position, they made their way into the building. With the sun just below the horizon, they had the night time advantage. Firemen lined the road, trying to quench the roaring flames pouring out of the windows. It looked like something from an action movie, the flames were so strong they were literally burning outside the windows.
As Night glided into a window with low flames, he landed at the entrance to the building. Skull heard footsteps behind him, recognizing the familiar click as standard police boots. His deduction skills helped in the field more than almost anything else.
"Hey you!" The policeman said, obviously a rookie, "no people can enter the building right-"
Skull turned his head to the side to look at the man. His cold, glowing white eyes narrowed at the officer, pulling off a glare that almost all criminals recognized in Eximius City. Instantly the rookie held up his hands, taking a few steps back.
"Woah...it's you," the rookie breathed, eyes widening, "I heard you were dead."
"I heard this building was on fire," he said, his voice modifier sharpening his words, "so I'll be on my way."
He ran into the police station, the double doors swinging open. Stray desks were on their sides across the man lounge, almost all of them burnt or burning. A couch was embedded into the wall, most likely thrown or blown into it by an explosion. Black Skull drew dual kama he brought with him. Kama were basically mini scythe's, usually around eighteen inches in length. Since he trained to use a scythe, he had no trouble using kama.
After sweeping the first floor for any survivors to find none, he sprinted up the stairs to the second floor. Night was already up there, a limp woman slung over her shoulder. She motioned her head towards an office, a silent message passing between the two vigilante. Smoke clouded his vision, the flames licking the sides of his hopefully fireproof Kevlar boots, (if Night had kept his armor the same). In the office was...Vexen, a thin line of blood trailing from his mouth. Vexen's hood was down, the fire dangerously close to his head.
"Vexen!" He attached his kama to his belt, rushing over to the hero, "what happened?"
Vexen coughed, his eyes flashing purple with every exhale. He looked to be in terrible shape, a cut over his eyebrow gleaming dangerously.
"H-He got her!" Vexen grabbed Skull by his armor collar, "your villain! The fire weakened her, she couldn't fight against his powers-" Vexen coughed heavily again, wheezing, "he just kept shooting fire at her. I-I tried to help, see where that got me? When a metal beam hits you, it hurts."
"He couldn't have gotten far," Jason's tone lightened then hardened again, "we need to go."
"What about the fire?" Vexen choked, Skull pulled Vexen's hood up for him, "aren't we going to stop it?"
"Night downloaded any digital information she could salvage, no way we can stop the building from collapsing now, the main supports are almost burnt through."
He slung Vexen's arm over his shoulder, rushing through the building. Planks of wood fell from the ceiling, showing sparks of embers everywhere they landed. The injured hero next to him was struggling to stay conscious, his steps frequent but weak. Skull sighed then picked Vexen up, feeling slightly embarrassed to carry the test subject. Archwind would probably kill him later, the girl was obviously in love with the oblivious Vexen.
He noticed Vexen press a hand to his head, then he watched purple energy glow underneath his hood. Skull put Vexen's feet back on the ground, pushing the double doors open again. Purple runes glowed at Vexen's feet, following everywhere he walked with the hero. When he walked out of the burning police station, he was met with bright lights. Two blinding spotlights shine in his eyes, his masked eyes narrowing.
"Attention!" A voice blared over a megaphone, "raise your hands and surrender your weapons! Your acts are against the laws stated in-"
The police chief was interrupted when the giant spotlights suddenly went out, sparking. He looked to his right to see Night, hidden on a rooftop. The two shuriken obviously coming from her. Skull grabbed Vexen and walked into the darkness of the shadows. After dropping Vexen off next to Night across the street, he went back to the pitch black police station. Night had murmured something about an EMP, so he figured that's why the cops couldn't seem to get a light on him.
Skull reappeared on top of the police station, melting out of the shadows. He pressed a button on his wrist, making his voice slightly louder, but adding a creepy echo to it. Black Skull wanted everyone to know he was back, including the oblivious coppers. The area was pitch black, save for a few flickering street lamps, and flashlights the police managed to get their hands on.
"I'm kind of disappointed," Skull said, his voice echoing through the streets, into alleyways and down roads, "you'd think my welcome home party wouldn't involve another arrest attempt, what is this, the eleventh time now?"
"Oh God," he heard a police man whisper, "it's him. I never thought I'd see the day again."
"Why did we have to provoke the most well known hero?" Another hissed, his voice heavily masking fear.
"Yes, I am back. I suggest you don't try to stop me, the commissioner has attempted many, many times. Now, you will get in the program, or get out of the way."
He heard a gunshot go off, and melted into the shadows a second before a bullet hits the metal wall behind him. Black Skull looked down to see a person hiding in the shadows, holding a gleaming gun. After Night took down the criminal from behind (after he flicked his hand), the officers shut up.
"Now," Skull crossed his arms, eyes glowing dangerously, "who saw him leave, and trust me, we know when you are lying."
  The officers on the street below murmured among themselves, some backing away in fear. His reputation didn't fail, he was surprised his amnesiac counterpart didn't hear about him.  He'd figured out that Black Skull was a bit more...public than Night.
"He went south," a good cop admitted, "a chopper spotted him heading down Second Street."
Black Skull looked to his right at the weak, hidden Vexen, and the telepath nodded. Using a disappearing truck he often used, Skull threw down a smoke bomb. Night grabbed Vexen, her obvious strength having no problem carrying the older teen.
"He's barely conscious," Night said once they had gotten a few buildings south of the police blockade, "I'll take him back, you go kill that son of a-"
"I will," Skull nodded reassuringly, "be safe."
"Never," Night turned and gave a rare smile, then in an instant she was gone.
He sprinted across a couple of buildings, running through possible plans to catch the villain. Midair between rooftops, his communicator beeped. Nearly losing his footing when he landed, Skull frustratingly answered the call.
"What?" He hissed, starting to run again.
"Well someone's mad," Brian's voice came through the earpiece, "I got a view on your supervillain. He's on the corner of Second and Park Avenue."
"You're a lifesaver, Brian." He breathed, thankful for his friend.
"Your motorcycle is on autopilot, should be intercepting you at the end of the street."
Skull nodded, stopping at the last building. He peered down at the night road, a thin layer of ice covering the sidewalk. Winter had been light this year, the city had yet to get more than an inch of snow. His sleek black cycle halted below the complex he was perched on. After he jumped down, landing on the motorcycle, he roared down the road. Left, right, right, straight...
When he finally arrived at the intercept point, his heart leaped into his throat. There was the man who ruined his life, standing on top of a three story building, just watching in amusement. Anger surged through his veins, fists clenching tightly. Black Skull grappled up to the rooftop, not even hesitating for a second.
"The vigilante finally returns," the villain hissed, his voice metallic and cold, "took you long enough."
His eyes narrowed, Jason's mouth curling into a scowl. Brian was silent over the frequency, not even audibly breathing into the microphone. "Why do you do this?"
"Why?" Incinerator growled, "why do I try to ruin you, destroy everything? You think I ever had a choice? People are evil 'just because.' No, it's always more than it seems."
"What are you talking about?" Skull said, keeping his voice even, "I don't care, where is Archwind?"
"You don't get it?" Incinerator radiated fire, literal flames rippling across his red Kevlar, "I've been under that bastard's control for 9 years! I don't know how to be good, don't you see?!"
"That's no excuse to kidnap someone."
"Of course it is you idiot-"
His archenemy doubled over, the flames growing on his arms. Skull sensed a shift in his enemy's stature. Incinerator looked up, his face gone slack, eyes glowing red. A fist connected with his chest, sending Skull backwards a good couple of feet. He pulled out his scythe, naturally in a fighting stance.
Archwind was already towering above Incinerator, two blades on either side of the villain's neck. Jason ran over to the girl, putting a hand on her shoulder. Archwind barely flinched, her gaze fixated on the hooded villain. Black Skull pulled down Incinerator's hood, not shocked as to who was underneath.
He didn't recognize the boy, it obviously wasn't Brian, and that basically was the only other normal teenager he knew. The villain looked to be in his late teens, early twenties. His red-brown hair was short, basically army style. Incinerator had a long scar running across his temple, crossing over his left eye and down his cheek.
"Tell me," Skull said, "what is your name?"
"I...can't say..." Incinerator's face contorted, "she's trying to take over...again...can't focus..."
He noticed Archwind press her twin katanas against the villain's throat tighter - he spotted a small trail of blood. Skull raised his fist, ready to knock the villain out...when he heard a gunshot. A bright flash of light momentarily blinded him, sending Jason into a panic.
"Brian?" He called into his communicator, "what's going on?"
"Oh my God...I don't know! The lenses in your mask shorted out too. I only saw Incinerator jumping off the roof...then I don't know where the bullet came from."
When his vision finally cleared, he noticed a body crumpled against the concrete. There was Archwind, clutching her chest, red pooling. He fell to his knees, quickly applying pressure to the wound.
"Stay with me Aura," he told the teen, pressing a button to alert Night, "listen, you have go keep your eyes on me, do not black out. Got it?"
Arch nodded, weakly lifting a hand up, tugging off her full mask. Her short hair barely feel out of her mask, Archwind's face was contorted into a grimace. She wasn't screaming in pain, the girl had clearly suffered through a lot of wounds. He pressed his other hand to her neck, feeling for a pulse. It was fast...but fading. Aura's eyes squinted, coughing heavily, her lungs clearly punctured. She needed a hospital, and fast.
He dialed 911, the only plan coming to mind. Skull didn't worry about her 'secret identity' being revealed, she had no records besides the one he created for her school. Her fingerprint would have no match in their database, DNA would have no match, Johansen had done a good job covering her tracks. The dying girl in his arms looked up at him, sadness clouding her eyes. Tears streamed down her face, turning into snow as they feel off her chin.
"Tell Vexen..." she breathed, speaking for the first time.
"Save your breath," he said, trying not to get emotional, "your guns wound must have opened your vocal chords-"
"I'm d-dying, Skull," she said, "I have a right to talk. Tell him...I love him...please, I'm so sorry...I let him...down..."
Archwind coughed again, blood coming out of her mouth. It made him want to puke, but he forced that urge down. She shuddered, pain obviously racking her body. His gray gloves were stained red from trying to stop the bleeding.
"It's not fair," he muttered to himself, "it's not goddamn fair! How on earth did that bullet pierce your armor?"
"It hit me...from behind," she said, her eyes flickering weakly, "went through cape...down neck...through lungs..."
"It should have hit that bastard, not you!"
"Life is like a train," she recited his quite from yesterday, "t-time to board it."
He felt her pulse fading, beating slower every second. She looked up at him, eyes dimming, "can...I know your identity...? Might as well...learn it now..."
Skull smiled sadly, tears forming beneath his mask. He turned off his voice modifier, the tension around his neck fading.
"I'll tell him," he said, his voice coming out normally, "you're one of the strongest people I've met, it's been an honor knowing you for the short time we've had."
"Jason...Parker," she said, "knew it...you acted...like...a jerk..."
"I know."
"Until we meet again," Archwind softly smiled, then fell slack.
He felt her pulse stop, and it sickened him, a scream was lodged in his throat, trying to burst out. A thump echoed from behind him, but he didn't even turn.
"Skull." It was Night, "is she...?"
"Gone," he breathed, "you missed it."
"Oh...no..." Night's voice cracked, "how are we going to tell Vexen...?"
"I'll do it," he closed his eyes, "I made a promise."
"Who did this?" Night growled.
"I don't know," Skull opened his eyes angrily, "but they will pay."
A beeping noise interrupted their conversation, but it was not from either of them. Planted on the roof was a timer, most likely a bomb, ticking down. 12...11...10...
"We have to go," Night grabbed his arm.
"What about Archw-"
"We're not losing you too!" Night shouted, snapping him out of his daze, "now GO!"
They dove off the building, the blast occurring only seconds after. Fire erupted from the roof, exploding outwards in white, orange, and red. The explosion sent shockwaves rippling across town, walking pedestrians looking up in shock. Maybe if they had been up there, they would've seen a shadowy figure snatch Archwind up and disappear into the night.