Sam watched as Sara started to do something to her belt, “A utility belt?” Sam asked almost laughing, “What’s next a cat mobile?” Looking to see what she was doing Sam leaned up against the wall and let out a deep breath looking around the house, ‘a bulldozer might be dangerous’ thought Sam as he was sure their were more fun things that would go boom like the couch. A bulldozer might go boom as well. “Hurry up Sara, got a bad feeling about this place.” Said Sam as he shivered a little.

‘Bad feeling’ thought Sam as he thought back about the guns the bomb and the windows, then a thought occurred to him, ‘why cover all the exits?’ some one was going way overboard to kill Luke or Sara. Looking over to Luke Sam asked, “Who else has access to this house? And do you normally always have metal sheets covering all the exits?” continuing to look around curiously Sam then asked, “What is this place anyways?” finally realizing that this wasn’t a typical house.

Luke was feeling ancy too... maybe it was because of his near death experience or maybe it was his subconscious trying to warn him of something that he hadn't seen or heard yet. But whatever the reason, Luke was in complete agreement when Sam suggested that Sara hurry up.

“Who else has access to this house? And do you normally always have metal sheets covering all the exits? What is this place anyways?”

Luke almost had to laugh... here he and Sam were both trying to hurry Sara along and yet Sam was just now deciding to ask questions about the house.

"This is a test house. 'Jacobs & Jacobs Security' uses it as a place to set up the latest security devices we have in order to test them." Luke explaind with his arms crossed over his chest as he waited for Sara to finish, "We've never had metal sheets or weapon installed because as ar as I know, we've never tried to find supplies for those kinds of equipment. And basically anyone that works for 'Jacobs & Jacobs' would have easy access to the house as well as anyone that wanted to break in while the alarm system was being updated over the course of a couple of days."

Turning his head towards Sara he watched her with his sonar as low power as possible so that it wouldn't disturb her. "Almost done Sara?" Luke knew he was being impatient but he really just wanted to get out of the house. Maybe things would look a little better in the sunlight.

********************************************************

2:00...

1:59...

1:58...

Sara had tape with her, meant for holding her magnets in place if she thought they would slip. She also had that talcum powder she used to check the back door. A lot of Sara’s things were found objects turned into tools. Not the best but when one didn’t have things one had to get creative.

“A utility belt?”

“Sort of.”

“What’s next a cat mobile?”

“Oh har har har.” Sara made it over to where the guns had been mounted and sprinkled the white dust on the metal flat side. She used the soft fur on the back of her hand to brush the dust aside. While the two men had their talk about what the house was for. She didn’t have time to efficiently check if she was picking up any prints though. Because the two of them started pestering her.

“Hurry up Sara, got a bad feeling about this place.”

"Almost done Sara?"

“Patients if a virtue.” She sang out as she chose to hurry herself up as well. Probably a better idea to not stick around. She held the tap out, stuck it to the sides where she had just laid the powder, then pulled it away, and folded a clean piece of tape over the powder she had picked up. Preserving any impressions she might of picked up. Though she didn’t look. “Ok, CS you think you can make an exit.”

Looking to Luke Sam frowned, “Doesn't really help much then, a homeless guy could have set this all up as a sick joke…” not sure what a homeless guy would want to set this up Sam had no idea but he wanted to prove a point and the point was without anyone actually showing to kill them in person of finger prints they wouldn’t know for sure.

Nodding to Sara’s comment Sam said, “Bout time!” aiming his hand Sam shot an ice beam at the wall freezing it over within seconds. He next walked closer to it and punched the frozen wall making the bits of wall shatter into ruble that gathered at the floor.

Once outside Sam took a deep breath and asked, “any luck detective?” his head turned to Sara and her magic utility belt.

Finally, after who knew how long Sara finished up her dusting and then asked Sam to open up an exit for them. A few seconds later the ice man had frozen a wall and then busted through it allowed them to walk out into the still chilly night air.

********************************************************

0:43...

0:42...

0:41...

********************************************************

"“Any luck detective?” Sam asked as the three made their way toward the sidewalk. Part of Luke was wondering the same thing, but another part didn't care. He was just happy to be breathing free air and out of the death trap.

Stretching his senses much like others would stretch their legs or arms, Luke reached out with his sonar, sweeping the around them for forty to fifty yards before allowing it to drop back to his normal twenty yard then.

"What in the world..." He muttered as subconscious flagged something he had just briefly seen. Extending his sonar again he saw a two cars parked about thirty yards down the street. There were four men standing outside each car and they seemed to be just watching the trio.

"Hey, you two." Luke spoke up after Sara had a chance to answer Sam's question, "We've got an audience over there."

********************************************************

0:03...

0:02...

0:01...

********************************************************
(In The Garage)
As the timer ticked down the last second it sent an electrical pulse through the wires that connected the explosives that were packed heavily in the bed of the pickup truck. Along with the C-4 that the wires connected to there were several metal cans containing gasoline soaked styrofoam as well as three or for bags of nails and screws.

BOOM!

At the moment of detonation, the explosion ignited the styrofoam, sending it flying outward along with the various shrapnel from both the vehicle as well as the nails and screws. Death was in the air and with nothing to slow the process, the house would soon burn to the ground.

(OOC: Just a note, but gasoline soaked styrofoam basically works like a poor man's napalm. It will burn for hours unless extinguished by some means.)

“any luck detective?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t check what I grabbed. Just need some proper light to get a better look.” Sara replied with a shrug. But she had the strips of tape rolled up and she was just putting them in her pocket as they exited the house. “Show off.” Sara mumbled as she kicked one of the pieces of rubble on her way out.

Even now that she had her finger prints, that still didn’t mean squat. It would just prove if Luke really was the person to put those guns up or not. There could have been men hired just like he hired Sara. Under the equipment expenses category. At least it was something.

"What in the world..."

Sara Raised an eye brow at Luke. Not sure what to make of his mumbling.

"Hey, you two. We've got an audience over there."

“You have got to be kidding me.” Sara did the hole look over her shoulder thing, that everyone always tells everyone else not to do. Yup they had an audience. And more red flags popped up in Sara’s mind because most people, when she was showing herself, and they saw her tail, didn’t walk towards her with good intentions.

Then…. BOOM!

Sara had no warning that the explosion was going to happen. It just did and it beat on her ears hard enough to make her cry out in the pain. She sort of stumbled, curling at the waist, with her hands clamping over those all too sensitive ears. Trying not to fall on one of the two men.

Debris rained down on them in various shapes and assorted charcoal colors. Bits of splintered wood, Somewhere to their right a steal plate clattered onto the cement of the road, the window frame it had been guarding displayed cracked glass in the shape of a spider web, and a tiny plastic magnet flew from the back of the house. It skittered across the grass, and scraped to a stop on the side walk a short distance from the trio. Mickey waved at them from the ground. Mocking them with a toothless grin.

“That’s not coming off my check. Is it?”

“Company?” Sam asked as his head tilted looking at the eight men that were waiting outside, “Loyal employees I hope!” said Sam as he turned to Luke hoping that was the case, if not they might figure out who had planned this fun house death trap. But with Sam’s luck it was the second case.

The ground shook as a large explosion could be heard, “What the hell?” Sam asked as he erected a small wall of ice that covered the three of them in hopes to ward off anything that would potentially harm them. Sam could feel the heat that was given off not to mention the barrage of fire that had came up against his wall of ice.

Sam blinked as he lowered the wall to see clumps of burning Styrofoam scattered about the lawn the garage and inside the house from the hole they escaped from, “Brings me back…” said Sam as he let out a small laugh, he had once used the poor mans napalm to evacuate a building that was an undercover weapons manufacturing plant. The only time he ever liked to play with fire.

Turning to Luke after seeing a small magnet shoot out of the house Sam blinked to it and asked, “How valuable is this house for you? Cause this sucker will burn till there is nothing left, if you want I can put the fires out, while you two can chat with our guests.” Sam waited till there was a general consensus on what needed to be done. If the house wasn’t a big deal to Luke he was more than happy to let it burn to the ground, as he would be more than willing to go greet the guests that had been so nicely waiting outside for them.

Luke was angry... actually he was beyond angry. All of his frustration, fear, and paranoia was now being channeled into a barely controlled rage that focused on the only targets currently available to him. The eight men that stood down the street, watching the trio and the burning house behind them.

“That’s not coming off my check. Is it?” Sara's voice broke through. Maybe it was just an ill timed statement and maybe she was actually trying to lighten the situation. Either way it did deserve a laugh... sort of. All that Luke could offer was a laugh that came out more like a gruff bark than anything happy sounding. "You're check's safe Miss Kitty..."

“How valuable is this house for you? Cause this sucker will burn till there is nothing left, if you want I can put the fires out, while you two can chat with our guests.” Sam said as he looked over the free burning wreckage that had once been the 'Jacobs & Jacobs' test house.

"Let it burn to the ground." Luke said grimly as he began to walk toward the eight men, not bothering to pay attention if the other two were coming with him, "As long as it doesn't damage any of the neighboring houses I couldn't care less. You two coming to meet the other party guests or gonna stay behind and roast marshmallows?"

Right at the moment Luke really didn't care what the odds were. If all eight were armed with machine guns he was still coming to take them down and then make them talk. One of them had to know who hired them and that was all he cared about. WHO THE HELL WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM?!

(OOC: And let the battle commence. )

Miss kitty? He just said miss Kitty? Sara raised an eye brow as Luke started walking back to the gang. Not even looking to see if he was going to be backed up. “Sam you might want to go check on the buildings next door. These are placed pretty close together.”

She sighed as she watched Luke continue walking to the gang. “I’ll back him up.” Eventually… Sara saw Sam off. Then checked the ground at her feet. Oh there was Mickey. She took her time picking Mickey up and dusting him off before she glanced in Luke’s direction seeing exactly how hard those guys were hitting him. The real test. Getting a butt kicking outside your own trap. Yeah. This was interesting. She watched carefully to see when Luke would actually need her help.

(OOC: Permission was given by CS to skip his turn for a round or two.)

IC:
Luke's stride was purposeful as he made his way toward the punks that had stood watching the destruction of the house. The tenuous control that he had maintained for so long was finally shattered and as the anger took a hold, he didn't see anything but the people he viewed as his targets. The blind man's fists clenched tightly into fists as his sonar swept over the men with as much power as he could muster. If any of them made the slightest move he was going to know about it.

***

Finally, the group of eight came to the decision that the approaching man was a threat. He didn't look like he wanted to play nice and so neither would they. With smooth motions they opened their coats and pulled out a variety of weapons. Three Uzis, four semi-automatic pistols, and one heavy assault rifle.

***

As soon as the men began to move, Luke's lips twisted into a tight smile and he broke into a jog toward them. With their actions they had just proven that they were the enemy and that was all he had been waiting for. There was no fear... no concern... to hesitation... the blind man's anger pushed him forward in a way he had never before experienced. These men deserved whatever he could give them and no amount of weapons were going to stop him.

***

The idiot was still coming. Even though he could clearly see the weapon that all of the men were pulling out he was still coming.

"Idiot." One of the younger of the group sneered as he lifted his semi-automatic to aim at the approaching man, but then suddenly his line of sight wasn't so clear. All around were shadows and ghostly images that seemed to rush at him, attacking from every side. With a gas of shock the younger man spun, trying to get a bead on the various targets but never quite able to get them in focus.

"Stand still!" He screamed in a combination of frustration and fear.

***

The mental change had taken place only a few strides back. Even though Luke wasn't dressed in his costume, mentally he had become Wraith. The kindness and gentleness that he showed so many people were hidden deep within and the only thing on the outside was the righteous fury and cold blooded anger of a maniac.

Breaking into a full out run, Luke let out something that was somewhere between a snarl and yell... the feral sound seemed to echo through the crisp winter air as the eight men tried to focus on what target was actually the one they needed to shoot.

The first man to face Luke's rage was the one carrying the assault rifle. As he spun, chasing an elusive shadow he found himself eye to eye with fury personified. Luke's fists were swift and accurate, slamming his right into the man stomach before coming up with a powerful uppercut into the man's jaw as he began to fold downward. As the man fell back unconscious Luke snapped the assault rifle out of his hand, brandishing it like a club as he lept toward the next nearest target.

"Who hired you?!" The words somehow broke through the feral growls and screams as Luke slammed he stock of the weapon into the man's head, sending him crashing to the ground. "Were you after me? Was I supposed to die? Then do the job! Here I am! Do it, if you can!"

Mentally it didn't get through... the man was down, he was no longer a threat but Luke didn't care. He kept lifting the weapon and slamming it into the man's body as rolled and twisted, trying to get away from the crazy man that was assaulting him.

"Who hired you?! WHO?!"

He wouldn't have stopped... without something happening, Luke would have killed the man but right at that moment a shot rang out. He was never sure who it was, but somehow one of the men carrying a semi-automatic pistol had fired at one of the shadows that just happened to be near where Luke was standing. As the blind man fell back into the snow, he felt the fire rushing through his arm as blood began to stand the bicep of his right sleeve.

"Why?!" Luke's voice was an animalistic howl of anguish as he fought through the pain, trying to rise to his feet to continue the battle even though he had dropped his club, "WHY ME?!"

Luke’s first yell caught Sara’s attention. Unlike her, he apparently wasn’t used to the hole idea to people trying to kill him. That’s the lucky things about looking normal, or not being caught up in a company that brands a number in your back. It must be bliss until times like this.

Sara could be wrong, but she was starting to believe the story about him not being the one that set this trap up. He was an even better actor than he was a liar, Same with the man he was beating to death, or he was really going to beat a man to death.

“Luke! Stop!” Sara started marching towards the gang. Her ears pinned straight back as she got in the range of Luke’s sonar, but as always, that never blocked out all of the sound that penetrated her ears. The shot that rang out, still reached her and she jumped. Pausing for a second, before she jumped straight into a run. “LUKE!”

Sara practically flu past the blind man on the ground. The men had to be dealt with first. Then she could check on Luke. All satisfaction she was having in her won twisted way was turned around in her head, when that shot rang out and Luke hit the ground. Even if she still told herself that she didn’t like the man. She cared. So there…. “You’re an idiot you know.” Sara yelled at him when she reached the first man. He angled a gun in her face that was knocked to the side with a strike to the inside of his arm. Her other hand struck a pressure point in his neck as the first looped around the gun arm. In the same motion, Sara swept his feet out from under him, and struck the man with the hard flat part of her palm, in the area next to his chest, under his arm. This not only floored the first man, but it sent him backwards into the next. Sara heard a snap as she took the gun out of the first man’s hands. Meaning she might of broke something of his but that was trivial. Sara though as she leveled the gun she had just acquired, to the next person.

The second man had lifted his semi automatic what ever, and Sara kicked it out of his hand.

4 down, 4 to go.

“Sam!” Sara hollered as she shot two rounds straight into the next closest gang member’s shoulder. “Get over here. Get Luke!” Then the next man’s leg, just as one of the other men fired a lucky shot into her gut. Sara cried out a growl as she fell back on her tail side. She tried to swing the gun back up to try to disarm the other two but it was hard to shoot when you’re shot.

“You’re an idiot you know.” Sara's voice broke through the blind rage, penetrating Luke's mind even though he didn't feel like responding. She could think whatever she wanted as long as she stayed the hell out of his way!

After wallowing in the snow for a moment, Luke moved back to his feet, ignoring the pain in his arm. He could still move the arm so the bullet obviously hadn't hit any bone which meant that it really wasn't all that serious. 'A flesh wound', as they called it in the movies and TV.

Moving toward a different man than the ones that Sara was currently targeting, Luke slammed a fist into the somewhat paunchy man's stomach before bringing his injured arm around to hit the side of the guys neck. Unfortunately the extra fat protected the man somewhat from the blow and he brought his semi-automatic up like a club, slamming it into the blind man's injured arm.

"Aaaaaaah!" Luke yelled as he dropped to one knee, pain lancing through his body unexpectedly, "That was stupid!" He growled through gritted teeth as the man brought his pistol around to aim at the center of his head. Reaching out with his good hand, Luke wrenched the man's wrist firmly, twisting the weapon around suddenly and shoving it back into the man's gut. "Go ahead! Pull the trigger! PULL THE TRIGGER!" He roared as he brought his injured arm back up, punching the guy firmly in his face.

As yet another man fell to the ground the sound of gunshots rang out. One of them hit Sara while several other kicked up piles of snow near where Luke was standing.

“Sam! Get over here. Get Luke!” Sara yelled as Luke dove away from the shots, looking desperately for some kind of cover even as his wound continued to stain the snow around him a brilliant red.

"I'm fine!" Luke gritted out as loudly as he could while he continued to ignore the pain and the fact that he was already beginning to weaken, "Help Sara!"

Looking at the flames dancing in the windows and small flames that were made from the various flying pieces of flaming Styrofoam flickering in an out of existence in the thin layer of snow already on the ground. ‘Well with all the snow around got some of my work cut out for me…’ thought Sam as he raised his hands to the area where the homemade napalm went off, sure it was scattered now but the easiest way to take care of things like this was always going for the source, at least going from past experiences with napalm which only happened once before; which just added to the reasons why he hated France, the sights however where something to remember.

Once his hands and eyes were fixed on the location he wanted to hit he lowered the temperature and formed a bubble of ice around the flames of burning chaos. ‘Snuff it out’ thought Sam as the first of the flames burned up the oxygen inside the bubbles the ones that didn’t burn up right away slowly ate threw the ice to the point that they drowned in ice and water forcing the flames out.

It didn’t take as long as Sam thought but thanks to the snow that was already around he didn’t have to do much to take care of the smaller bits which was fine by him for the cries of help from his friends came soon after. One from Sara the other from Luke, the weird thing was they were both yelling to help the other one, it didn’t matter though he was going to help both. Running as fast as he could towards Sara and Luke and the gunman Sam frowned getting serious. Lowering the air around him he began activating what he called his snow globe or his winter wonderland.

Sam smiled, as the range was more than enough to put everyone in it. Getting closer in this state wasn’t a problem as the time around him began to slow down due to the air molecules getting colder and colder around himself and the others. The thugs slowed greatly there movements were now sluggish which was just what he wanted. Looking over to Luke Sam frowned a little more, ‘the bleeding should slow at least…’ thought Sam as he got closer to the thugs hitting one then the other in the side of the neck, even with the time lapse in his wonderland they would have felt it and would have gone down the second his wonderland was dropped.

The only down side to this was the time limit, Sam had gotten stronger but not strong enough yet for using it over a long period of time. One thing that Sam was determined to work on.

Sara shook her head as she saw Luke get up and keep getting in her way. Grumbling, Sara let the gun drop to her side, as she shot forward. Luke had one guy and Sara darted for the next guy nearest Luke. Sara put herself between the two, and slammed the butt of the gun, she’d picked up, across the next man’s temple.

It was about then that the oddest sensation hit Sara. Things tend to move in slow motion when you’re in the middle of action, but this was slow motion that was outside of her head. She could actually see her hair fan out around her as she tried to spin back around to see Sam. Like she was in water or something.

This was odd.

Luke wasn't moving... right now he was still behind cover but even when he tried to move it seemed like he was trying to move through mud. His brain was still moving at the normal rate but his body... his body wasn't keeping up.

"What in the..." He mentally cursed as he tried to get back to his feet and back into the fight, "Why can't I move?"

The bleeding had slowed along with the rest of his movements but Luke still knew he was week... he kenw it, but he refused to admit it.