The Last Leg.

[Stern]

Stern's light jump landed him on a tower someplace far away. Suddenly there was a loud bonging sound. He light jumped to another building and turned to face the clock tower. Big Ben.

"Well, damn," he said.

After an hour or so of walking, he stumbled upon Oxford. Stern snuck into the library to e-mail Anita and then decided he needed to find the airport.

"Time to go home."

Stern didn't quite know what the time change was from Warsaw to London, but it couldn't have been more than an hour or two backwards. Either way, it was still late at night and no one was available for directions.

The mutant hailed a cab and when the cabbie pulled to a stop, Stern asked him for directions. The Cabbie pointed and gave a distance. Stern streaked off in that direction.

When he materialized outside the airport, he could see a few planes coming and going. He wished he could have afforded a plane just for the ability to sleep in peace for a very long time.

His back and his chest still burned from Ricky's attacks, but he held the pain back as he walked in to speak to a clerk.

"Hi," Stern said trying to remain as nonchalant as possible. "I'm a student in the aeronautics program studying abroad. I have a project where I'm required to budget fuel for several aircraft making flights from here to JFK in New York. I need to find out the plane's heading to get to the airport. Unfortunately, I left my books and map in the classroom overnight. I can't get to my material and the project is due tomorrow. Can you help me out please?"

The desk clerk raised an eyebrow at the odd request, but explained the details of one such flight to JFK for Stern, including compass bearings, mileage traveled, and the amount of time it took their aircraft to make the flight.

Stern thanked the woman for her time and stepped outside to try and gain his bearings. The sun rose in the east and set in the west. The same was true for the moon passing overhead. Stern found the pale sphere hanging in the ebon sky and discerned North. He walked over to the subway station where it was quiet and better lit to look at his map and judge as best he could the distance and bearing to JFK airport.

[Dallas Walker]

Twap.

A peeble skittered over Sterns' map, followed by another, and another. Then a penny, a piece of candy covered in pocket lint. Little odds and ends, getting odder until it ended with a shower of bloodied, broken teeth.

Dallas Walker was new to the streets of England. Months had been spent in recovery (after a lovely parting gift from one of the Vipuls), only to be sent to Jericho UK to undergo more rigorous testing...someone had mentioned a Dr Heidegger, who-ever that was. An escape was made, just as successful as the one in the states...

The past few days had been the same old fun he had back home. Now he'd found a Young American much like himself - messed up, with clear hair and goggles. Either a mutant or some kind of weirdo club kid? Didn't matter to Dallas. His mind was set. This one would feed the Need.

[Stern]

Stern raised an eyebrow at the pebble. But when more and more things bounced across his map, he started to get annoyed. The teeth were the last straw.

He had is bearing. It was fixed in his mind. He let the map go.

He was hurting, tired, and anxious to be on his way. He was pissed.

Stern flared and focused the bright light into an Archimedes blast. He was going to take care of this guy quick.

[Dallas Walker]

The blast hit a brick wall.

Stern felt an arm wrap around his shoulder. A raspy voice "tsk tsk'd" him.

"Jesus son, you want to have Jericho on our asses? Relax. This won't hurt a bit..."

A hand gripped Sterns chin, turning his face towards Dallas'. He wore a huge grin, accentuating the "happy face" scars that marred his grayish skin. Red eyes stared into Sterns, and the grin quickly became a frown.

"Who do you think you are? Corey Hart? Ditch the eye wear, I'm starving."

[Stern]

Pain raced through Stern's back and chest. The man grabbed his face and turned it towards him. He was strong.

The two locked eyes and for a second Stern felt a feeling of nausea. Unlike the feeling of Ricky absorbing his light, this was different.

The man told him to ditch the eyewear. Stern wasn't sure what starving meant, but he didn't like it.

There was a flash of light and Stern was gone. A few meters away Stern materialized beside a manhole undergoing utility work. One more light jump and he was in the sewer.

He couldn't let that guy catch him, whatever the cost.

[Dallas Walker]

His shoes made a splash as he hopped down into the sewers. Somehow his friend had gotten away from him, but here in the dark, warm (and smelly) tunnels, he'd stand out like a sore thumb. All Dallas had to do was follow the light.

[Stern]

Stern was starting to feel panic set in on him as he ran through the dark sewer tunnels. Every block or so, the walls were labeled according to the London utilities map.

It was simple enough to follow, but Stern's panic was crowding his mind and making him lose focus.

He heard Dallas jump down into the sewer after him. In his fear he made himself glow brighter, but with the sociopath on his trail, he needed to hide.

Stern made a focus on dimming his light and managed to retract it to a more normal intensity. He still couldn't bring himself to try to douse it much further.

He broke off in a full run. The sewers were too complex for him to make a big benefit out of light jumping. He'd have to hoof it.

[Dallas Walker]

"Hee."

He saw the light flare, then dim. Heard the sound of foot-steps and splashing as the kid took off in a run. Dallas kept up a steady pace - not running, but walking fast enough to keep the little firefly in sight. A quick look at the map had him turning down a corridor, one that u-turned back into the main tunnels...

[Stern]

The tunnel curved and opened into a larger space, but one no less dark. There were no lights to be had, not even for utility work. If he could find some way to make it light up throughout the labyrinthine system, he could be assuaged of his fears.

Unfortunately, that would not be so. Stern's fear of the dark swelled inside him. He kept a tight leash on his light.

"If I don't get past this, I will die. Then what?"

He considered Anita and the promise he made her. He had to go home to see her. He promised. Neutron had to die. He had to get him for what he did at ESU.

Stern swallowed and thought about his light. He needed it to shrink.

The glowing mutant had to put a bit of distance between him and his pursuer first.

Stern kept running. How to shrink it?

He needed an analog. Some way of thinking of his powers to help him get a handle on controlling his powers.

[Dallas Walker]

"Then you'll be dead, and I'll be full. Sounds good to me."

Stern was knocked off his feet by a body coming out of the darkness. A heavy fist connected with his jaw and his goggles were ripped from his face. His eyes met with Dallas', the same sick feeling returned, more intense this time. Sterns light began to fade slightly.

[Stern]

Stern shut his eyes, grabbed his goggles from the attacker, and kicked him in the stomach with both feet.

When the man drew his life force out, Stern noticed that his light dimmed.

Despite the panic and anxiety of having your life literally sucked out of him, it reminded Stern of a kerosene lamp. When the fuel is diminished, the light goes down. Usually this was accomplished by a small knob on the side of the lamp that a person turned.

Stern thought of himself that way, turning down his light until it was non existent. In a moment the whole sewer was dark.

When Stern opened his eyes again, he could see everything. There was only the faintest light from where the moonlight and the streetlamps of the city trickled down through gratings. His vision was perfect.

Stern kicked Dallas again and took off running. He had only to stay focused on his task. He also affixed Anita and Neutron in his mind. Two goals to reach. He was going to beat his achluophobia at least one time.

[Dallas Walker]

There was a grunt and a low growl as Dallas got to his feet. As uncivilized as it was, he took off after the glo-worm. The dark didn't bother or frighten him, and he hummed softly to himself as he stalked his prey.

[Stern]

Stern could see the coordinate markings on the walls. If it was like usual, Row A would go west to east on the northern end and Column 1 would run north to south along the western end. He needed to head towards that western column.

Stern ran along the wall until the coordinates changed. After a minute or two, D7 turned into C7. He needed to go left.

Stern angled left and made his best attempt to jump over the sewer water to a walkway on the other side meant for the utility workers. He grabbed the guard rail, but his foot slipped and splashed into the water.

Stern cursed his bad luck and jumped the rail. He had a straight shot for several blocks. Providing the sewer system followed a true grid, he could exchange tunnels back and forth to throw off Dallas and still continue West.

[Dallas Walker]

He heard the splish splash and knew he was on the right trail. Kid was heading west - the sewers were marked, so it was easy enough to follow along.

[Stern]

Stern ran for several blocks until finally he was winded. London was huge, and each sector stretched several hundred feet.

He had been running full tilt for a bit, but at last adrenaline was running low and his muscles were starting to argue with him.

Stern slowed to catch his breath. He needed to think. He needed to outwit Dallas if he was going to get away.

Above him was a large pipe. He jumped up and grabbed it. Then he pulled himself on top of it and waited. Perhaps Dallas would keep going under the impression that Stern would keep moving forward. Then he could change his course a little and put some real distance between him and the strange man.

[Dallas Walker]

"Oh deary dear me."

Dallas stopped, a few feet after the pipe. He placed his hands on his hips in an exaggerated posture of disappointment.

"It seems I've lost my prey. Darn it! I guess he must've gotten ahead of me!"

He made an "Aw shucks!" motion with his arm then disappeared into the darkness.

[Stern]

Stern waited a moment for the footsteps to get far away. He dropped down as quietly as he could and veered to his left, back south. He ran off, counting 5 turn offs to the right and then veering back west along his new path.

He kept his pace as fast as he could, but not so fast that he continued to fatigue himself. Providing the guy didn't catch back onto his trail, Stern would be able to pay more attention to his surroundings and start looking for a way out.

[Dallas Walker]

WHACK!






Stern fell back into the water as a pipe came swinging from the left side of him.

"Lovely how all these tunnels intertwine, isn't it?"

Dallas jumped down beside him, the pipe connecting with Sterns right shoulder. In the dark, it was easy to swing and miss, but Dallas' face lit up as he heard the crack of flesh and bone being crushed. He brought the pipe up, above his head, a sick grin splitting his face as a laugh started in his throat.

"If you won't die the easy way, I'll just have to do it the hard way!"

[Stern]

Stern used his left hand and held the goggles over his eyes.

Dallas' eyes were sure to be adjusted to the pitch black.

Stern flared.

[Dallas Walker]

He let out an agonizing shriek as the kid flared up as bright as the sun. It caused him to stumble back, slipping on the wet concert, landing with a loud smack as his head smacked against it.

[Stern]

Stern hauled himself up and light jumped as far as he could see.

He kept the goggles on his eyes until he could put out his light. Then he started looking around. C2. Not bad.

Now he just needed to find a way out. His right arm hung uselessly. He was tired of breaking bones. He'd also have to light jump out of the sewer. He wouldn't be climbing any ladders.

[Dallas Walker]

The world spun as he got to his feet...stumbling around, he quickly found the pipe. Now to find the kid.

Dragging the pipe along the wall, he continued to hum to himself, this time saying the words. Emphasizing each phrase with a smack of the pipe against another, letting it echo through the entire sewer.

"One for sorrow," CLANG!
two for joy," CLANG!
three for a girl," CLANG!
four for a boy," CLANG!
five for silver," CLANG!
six for gold," CLANG!
seven for a secret never to be told," CLANG!
"eight for a wish," CLANG!
"nine for a kiss," CLANG!
"ten for a time of joyous bliss." CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

" Come out, come out where-ever you are."

[Stern]

Stern held his arm as still as he could. Any small twitch caused him pain. At least he wasn't seeing stars for it. Not yet, anyway.

Stern needed to focus. He could hear the clanging even from that far off. He couldn't make out what the guy was saying, but his voice was a faint mumble in between the staccato ringing.

He looked up. Nothing. Somewhere along these sewer ways there had to be a drain or a manhole or something.

[Dallas Walker]

The clanging got louder, the voice angrier, a shout above the metal hitting metal sound. Getting closer.

"Come on Buttercup!!! You can't hide forever!!"

[Stern]

Stern broke into a full run, jarring his arm and causing ripples of pain extending into his chest.

The pain was nauseating and there was no sign of an exit in sight. He needed to find the light. Any light.

He scanned the area and noticed that across the way it was brighter than usual, but only by a fraction.

Unfortunately, when he thought about it, it was several meters back the way he came. He overshot the opening when he light jumped.

With his head finally swimming from the pain, Stern couldn't focus on the light jump. He also didn't want to risk running into that madman again. He'd have to run and hope he made it.

He broke into a fast, long stride and prayed that he could keep his arm still enough that he pain wouldn't knock him out before he got there.

[Dallas Walker]

The noise got louder and louder still, only a few meters away. It stopped as Dallas stepped into the little patch of light, twirling the pipe like you would a baton. He grinned at the boy who was rushing right for him...

[Stern]

Stern could see it. Through the storm drain he found the source of the light. From his angle he could make out the base of the lamppost lighting the city street.

Stern let go of his arm and improvised his goggles onto his face. Once they were set he held his arm again. Stern's ambient light returned and suddenly he melted away into a sphere of light. Then he was gone.

When he materialized under the lamppost he could hear screaming curses through the grating. Stern grinned and winced because of the pain in his shoulder.

It had been a long night. The sun was starting to peek over the horizon casting his shadow in the direction he wanted to go.

Stern began forming the ideas in his head as he arranged his next jump. Thousands of miles overseas. JFK airport. He'd been there once before. He formed the image in his mind.

Once he got to JFK it was just a matter of time before he could visit Anita and drop out of the sky. JFK, Anita, then he would find the guy who ruined everything. Neutron. The mutant radical who had made his life hell and caused so much more pain to people who didn't deserve it.

JFK, Anita. JFK, Anita.

As he repeated that phrase in his head he started to form a mental picture of Anita. She was sitting at the table at the Bacon Barn. Waving to him out of her car. Standing on a balcony in his dream.

JFK. Anita. He glowed brilliantly and disappeared from the continent of Europe.

Michael Stern was going home.