Dollonovich entered the scrapyard quietly, the agent had grabbed a pair of night vision goggles from his car and was now wearing them. As he crept through the rows of cars and trucks he could see around the area very well, the night vision goggles were FBI issue and top of the line.

With his Glock in hand the agent moved along the rows, suddenly a gust of wind pushed past him, something bumped him but his goggles revealed nothing. Dollonovich looked to see what it could be, the agent thought maybe it was a dog or a coyote but he could see nothing. The ground around him was being disturbed by something that he could not see. Dollonovich slid his goggles up above his eyes and blinked into the darkness. Holding his pistol up he spoke.

"Come on out, show yourself!" The seasoned agent said quietly but firmly.

"Maybe some other time cop." A voice said as it moved away from the agent.

Dollonovich could hear somebody moving away from him but could see nothing.

"What the fu..." Markus said as the sounds faded.

Sliping his night vision goggles back on he continued to prowl around the scrapyard.

Jasper was still revved up... literally. The electrical mutant was far more than just a battery that carried a charge he naturally channeled electromagnetism and in this day and age his cup overflowed. Now one might imagine this made, Jasper an unlimited supply electro-ass-kicking power but to keep his electrical level under control took an amazing amount of control. It had taken him most of his life just to be able walk around without blowing out light bulbs or worse. Naturally his body released the electrical energy just as it let out waste, it was just part of Jasper's biology but when he built up too much power, he had to rid of and fast, else he suffer the back lash. Even though, his cells were uniquely electrical and he suffered little damage from be exposed to a current, he could still over charge them and Jasper didn't even like to consider what could happen. The last time he over-worked his ability, he ended up in a coma for a month! Worst case scenario he could actually start a chain reaction, that a scientist friend of his had told him may possibly decimate a few city blocks, possibly more in an electrical burst the likes of which the world had never seen. He tried not to think of it, but whenever he built up too much energy the thought always crept into his mind.

Every time, Joy Buzzer used his amazing gift to its upmost potential there were consequences. The trick was maintaining the balance long enough so that he could keep on utilizing his talents, but he was getting close to the 'red'. He didn't know whether or not the invisible villain lurked about and he wanted to maintain his current just in case, but it was becoming difficult to control the power. Already, minute tendrils of electricity licked out and drew micro-arcs to the metal objects around him, including John's mechanical appendages. He had to hold just a little longer though, just to be sure, because once he dampened himself, it would take a while before he could charge up again. In such a state he could only direct electrical bursts and generate magnetic fields if he had a powerful enough source, like a transformer at his disposal that he could channel.

"Bloody coward!" Screamed Jasper into the night.

It was an uncharacteristic outburst for Jasper. Even though John and Fyedka had only known, Jasper for a short time it was quite evident to them that there was something up with their electrical friend. His eyes were actually glowing white with the residual energy within him.

"Show yourself!" He taunted again, but Oscuro was long gone.

Little did Joy Buzzer realize at the time that his loud cries had alerted the prowling agent of their presence. Even as John poked fun at the villains obvious compromised mental state, Markus Dollonovich closed in.

Unaware that they had inadvertently crossed paths with a federal agent, Joy Buzzer began to completely power down. Had, Oscuro remained, the discharge of his abilities during combat would have assisted in maintaining his balance, allowing him to hold the charge much longer, but it was pointless to tax himself by holding his control when it was unnecessary.

Joy Buzzer powered down. He touched his cane to one of the automobiles and allowed his energy to invisibly pass through it and into the ground. With his electrical levels lowered, he much calmer and the fatigue began to show. No longer hyped up with raw power surging through his veins, Jasper could feel the wear and tear on his body.

"Aye, John. Finding this nutter will not be easy." He replied slightly wavering as he walked back over to he and the shadow-meta.

Already he could feel his electrical levels normalizing in the few steps he took toward his new friends. He always had enough of a charge in him to perform less powerful effects; mere parlor tricks in comparison to what he was capable of. Still, while dampened he could barely light up a bulb.

Markus came within sight of John and Jasper, the agent had not seen Fyedka yet for the young meta was still in the cover of darkness. Agent Dollonovich could see John outlined in the little bit of light cast into the scrap yard from a streetlamp. The meta was bigger than he imagined, Markus had read his file but it did not do the big man any justice. He had heard Jasper call out to Oscuro and he could see the Irish meta now too, Markus watched in interest as he saw the Irishman release his power into the metal hulks around him.

As Markus observed the 'two' metas he assumed that he would be on the losing end of a fight so the agent holstered his weapon and slid his night vision goggles from his head and placed them on the ground. Markus was about to leave his safe position and approach the two men when he began to feel ill. His cell phone vibrated at his side and Markus plucked it from his belt and recognized the number. Kurtz was trying to get a hold of him. The message said that he too was at the scrapyard, more accurately Kurtz had tracked Markus' car and was parked next to it. Kurtz wanted him to retreat back to his car and brief him on why he was here on his own.

"Dammit..." Markus mumbled and began to retrace his steps back the way he came. When agent Dollonovich had exited the scrapyard and made it back to his nondescript F.B.I. sedan he found Kurtz waiting with a woman in a very short skirt and blood red hair.

"I warned you Markus, this was an unauthorized action and you are suspended..." Kurtz said angrily.
As Markus glared at the husky man his stomach was becoming more uneasy, the seasoned agent began to sweat just standing there near Kurtz and the woman.

"What about you sir, I know who this woman is, I have seen her picture..."

"This is Kristina Valyeev, she is aiding us in this investigation in exchange for leniency in connection with her many criminal convictions. Anything else is need to know Markus, now pack it up and go home. If you pull this lone wolf shit again I'll have your passport scrubbed and deport you as a Russian illegal, are we clear?" Kurtz was sweating too, the husky man seemed unnecessarily wound up as he chewed Markus out. It was only more infuriating since Kurtz was not even F.B.I. anymore he was C.I.A. or N.S.A. or so Markus thought.

The woman smiled as Kurtz yelled and cursed, her eyes were dark in color and Markus could swear he saw them glowing in the dark alley, not in their entirety just around the edges, a thin rim of glowing red. Nausea was gripping the agent's guts, Dollonvich felt as if he was going to be sick.

"Sir do you think it is best.." Markus sputtered as the woman interrupted him.

"Have you seen the big man or the Irish criminal here tonight?" She said in a thick Russian accent.

Dollonovich felt a little light headed as she spoke to him, he answered her straight away much to his surprise.
"Mcmanus is here, as is the Irishman, however I did not see Romanov." Markus blurted out quickly.

"Spasibo, Markus you are very good at your job why don't you go home and rest now." Kristina said, still smiling at him.

Markus heard her suggestion and it seemed like the path to take, he was suddenly weary and only wished to leave the scene and go home.

"Yeah, I think I will..." Markus said weakly as he walked to his car.

"I like you Markus, perhaps we will see each other again. Dasvidania, tovarishch." Kristina said, her bright white smile a stark contrast to her dark red hair.

Markus was starting his car as he watched the woman, he would be most of the way home before he felt like himself again.

"Come Colonel, walk with me and I will introduce you to the big man and his friends." Kurtz pulled an MP5 from his trunk and clicked a magazine into it and followed the Russian woman.

The two of them walked quickly through the rows, Kristina could sense the meta's and walked to them like she could smell them. The two made no effort to conceal their approach.

When they were within a few yards of John and Jasper Kristina calmly called out to John.

"Hello John, I am here with a friend and I need your help." The woman said with no sign of fear.

John was not expecting anyone else to pop up here in the rows of rusty junk. The big man was about to make his way back through the fencing they had passed through and back to the old Cadillac when a warm sensation washed over him, followed quickly by a mild souring in his stomach. Now the mechanic had not eaten much or very well since he busted out of R.A.I.D. custody but he was not prone to 'tummy aches", in fact the mechanic could live for weeks off of junk food and beer.

"Let's blow outta here fellas before someone steals our stolen car." John said as his stomach soured.

"It's late but we could hit a diner or sumpthin' I think i need to eat..." John said.

As Kurtz and the woman approached the others would experience the mild nausea as well, perhaps in different degrees but Jasper and Fyedka would feel a bit off, a bit flush.

When Kristina called out to John the mechanic stopped walking and turned in her direction.

"Oh shit." John mumbled and motioned to JB and Fyedka to book it in the other direction.

(It might be cool if Fyedka was familiar with Kristina, at the very least he may know of her..just a thought.)

The red haired woman used John's name personably and this put Jasper somewhat at ease, at least until Mac motioned for he and shadow-boy to get outta Dodge. The Slavic woman and her larger associate wreaked of government and it seemed they shared some history with the big meta, a past that had obviously left some bad-blood between them.

Now, Jasper wasn't one to abandon a friend but he had no doubt that McManus could take care of himself and in his present state he wasn't much use. Sure, Jasper still had his strength and agility to fall back on but that wasn't going to cut it against a gun and he knew the bigger man was packing.

Jasper nodded to John just as he became aware of a sickly feeling in his stomach.

"Sure thing." Whispered Joy Buzzer with a nauseous breath.

Before the two people were within accurate shooting range, the Irishman casually moved backwards through a narrow corridor between two scrap heaps. He then quickly turned around and made his way through the maze of old vehicles and surplus parts, back around to the stolen Caddy.

In his present state, Joy Buzzer's power was restricted to lighting up a bulb, but on his worst day he could always jump start a car. As he made his way the long way around, Jasper kept an eye out just in case he was being pursued and also tried to maintain a visual of John. He wasn't sure what Fyedka was up to, but the way the kid moved, Joy Buzzer had little doubt he could beat him to the car if he wanted.

John backed away slowly from the sound of Kristina's voice, but her influence was already beginning to take hold. The mechanic's stomach was cramping a little now, he knew well this feeling for Kristina and the mechanic had met before.

John felt that there was a good chance of escaping the dangerous woman's powers of influence. John knew that the longer you remained in close contact with Kristina the quicker and the longer you would do as she wished. John moved away from the woman and the beefy older man at her side. With each step John felt a little better, Kristina had not said much, John wondered why she was not turning up the heat, few could resist her words, it was the strongest element of her mysterious powers.

A burst of gunfire popped and pinged, striking the ground behind John as he moved backwards.
"That's far enough MacManus!..." Kurtz barked as the mechanic stopped moving.

"We don't want you John, we need to find Romanov. Tell us where he is and you can go."
Kurtz said, the MP5 was still at his shoulder.

Truth be told, John was unaware of exactly where the young Russian was, somewhere in the dark rows of the junkyard, but exactly where the big man did not know.

Kristina was moving at John, the mechanic could see her now, a fact that only worked to intensify her power.

"Hello, John I am happy to see you free, I saw your escape from R.A.I.D. custody on the TV news. Is Bug here? How about the strange man with wings?"

John stared at the red haired woman, she had not actually made any demands yet and thus far the mechanic was struggling against her subtle control.

John glared at the woman, he would never entertain the idea of striking a woman but for Kristina he would make an exception.

"You are being rude John, answer my questions big man." She said in her heavy accent, sounding slightly angry.

John licked his lips and tried to set his mind to not answer but he was already doing so.
"Bug is not here..." John said reluctantly.

"I don't know what happened to Gabriel, he has been missing for weeks."

The harder John fought Kristina's influence the more ill he felt. The worst part was coming soon if the mechanic did not make a move, it was probably only a matter of minutes until she had a full 'grip' on him and he would forget that she was the enemy and her control would be complete.

"Is the Romanov boy here John?" Kristina said, coming even closer now. She was only a few yards in front of John now.

"I don't know where he is..." John grunted as he struggled to tell her a version of the truth.

Kristina looked around her, her powers drifted all around her as she sought out any metas in hiding within a few yards of she and John.

She was getting no hits as she 'felt' around for any other of John's companions, Jasper was out of range and the young mister Romanov was well hidden.

Just because she could not sense anyone does not mean that they could not see or hear her. Kristina's power was many layered and she took full advantage of this.

"Fyedka darling are you here?" The woman yelled into the dark.

"If you can hear me come out and say hello, there is no reason to be afraid."

Her words seemed to hang in the air for a few seconds, if Fyedka was within 20 or 30 feet of Kristina he would feel compelled to reveal himself. If the young man was farther away he would experience the nausea but his mind would still be his own.

John was dealing with some wicked cramps in his gut now, the big man leaned forward and looked like he might go to his knees. This move was twofold on the mechanic's part, one - the cramps were very painful, two - the big man's mech leg was charging as he knelt, building up energy.

Jasper had the Caddy in sight when he heard gun shots being fired and instinctively ducked down behind the frame of an old Jeep. The shots echoed through the secluded junk yard followed by dead silence until the heavily accented voice of the Russian woman started calling out to Fyedka.

'The woman was definitely off her nut if she believed that the kid would just pop out of hiding because she asked him to', thought Jasper. What the hell was she playing at and why weren't the sounds of the gunfire followed by John destroying something?

Joy Buzzer peeked over the Jeep then looked back to the stolen car. Freedom was just over ten strides away and in the other direction (out of his sight) were two unknown adversaries, possibly three, if the invisible freak was still lurking around. What to do? For the moment, Jasper sat tight. His electrical levels were normalizing, but he needed a few more minutes.

"Fyedka, no games darling come out and say hello. I bring news of your brother. It is nice to know that your family is alive and well, come to me Fyedka and we will talk."
Kristina was looking into the darkness behind John as if the young Russian meta was there, but she could not sense Fyedka and she did not want to go looking and lose her grip on John.

Kristina waited a few seconds to see if her power had reached Fyedka but as yet the young man was no where to be found.

Kurtz was quiet, he pointed the gun at John and stood still. John wondered if the seasoned soldier and government agent was acting of his own free will or had Kristina put her hooks in him. John's leg clicked as it's motors and pistons charged, the over sized mech leg was ready for a good long jump now, John shifted his feet somewhat preparing for 'lift off'.

"Do not leave big man, as I said before I need your help. You do want to help me John don't you?" Kristina flashed that bright smile again, the edges of her eyes glowed a subtle red.

Fyedka was a few yards from the car into which Jasper was about to jump when he stopped. The sound of the woman's voice seemed to penetrate him, tugging at his insides. Even as he wanted to push forward, his body seemed to be frozen in a stalemate between his mind's will and his body's. At the mention of his family, he turned like a puppet on strings and stared in the direction of the voice. The young man didn't need to see her to know who it was and in those two little statements, she had triggered all of his worst fears. His heart pounded as he fought the awful desire to step into the light, to run towards her even, like a starving rat headed straight towards a hung of cheese he knows is attached to a trap.

At the mention of his family being alive and well, Fyedka's heart burned and he involuntarily ground his teeth together. She knew damn well what had happened to his family and that Mikhail considered him anything but. A searing heat brushed Fyedka's cheek and he involuntarily shook the away the awful memories that had begun to creep back into his mind. With a pulsing wave of anger and fear, the young Russian forced his body back around and began walking with stiff strides ignoring the grinding twist that begun in his stomach. He came into Jasper's view and glanced silently up at him before moving towards the passengers seat. His eyes were swimming with desperation and nightmares that begged Jasper to not ask, just drive.

Kristina was growing impatient with these call and response games, and moreover she was very upset that her hunt in the scrapyard had not yielded the Romanov boy. The red haired woman looked into the dark beyond John one last time and decided that she would then take her frustrations out on the mechanic.

"I know he was here big man, I do not enjoy it when people do not listen. You will listen to me now John, come here to me, come close so we can talk."
Kristina was pointing at her boots as if she was calling a dog to her. John grit his teeth, his mind was screaming to stay put but his feet were moving, one in front of the other. The mechanic's mech leg let it's built up energy loose as the big man stepped forward. John sprang into the air right at the Russian woman, there was nowhere for her to go as the big man crashed into her.

John crashed into the small woman knocking her to the ground, she tumbled into the darkness with a gasp.

"None of tricks big man! You stop right there and do not move!" She yelped as she got back up, she was close enough to touch John and she put her hand on his side. John stood there, once she touched the skin of his arm he was even more powerless to fight her commands. John's will was growing weaker, and now he found that he wanted to do as she said, he wanted to be close to her, to have her touch his skin.

Kurtz came to her and John quickly after the mechanic made his jump, he was unable to fire his weapon for fear of striking Kristina. He was huffing and puffing as he came into view.

"Get this under control Mrs. Valyeev, we cannot afford to go blow to blow with MacManus!" The man barked as he swung his gun at John.

Kristina's smile faded from her face at Kurtz's words, she had not known Kurtz very long but she was tired of being in his 'care'. Kristina did not desire to go back to the special prison facility where they had held her for the past year or so, it was much worse than a R.A.I.D. facility. They had kept her sedated in their facility, it was the only way to dull and numb her powers and she did not want to go back to that misery. Kristina had always been vulnerable to the brawn of others, she was no brawler and growing up back home she had always had her brother to protect her. Kristina shot Kurtz a quick glance and then set her eyes on John.

"Kurtz has not treated me kindly John, punish him for me..."
John turned around quickly and walked at Kurtz, the older agent was genuinely afraid as he pulled the trigger on his MP5. Bullets flew at John but the mechanic held his large mech hand in front of him defelcting many of the rounds. John was a breath away from Kurtz now, he grabbed the husky man's gun with his mech hand and bent it rendering it useless.

"MacManus, don't do this..." The man huffed as the mechanic bore down on him.

John grabbed Kurtz's arm and flung him into a stack of crushed cars. The tough older agent slammed into the wrecks and fell silently down into the darkness at the base of the old cars. John went to pound the man further but Kristina had different ideas.

"Is okay John, do not worry about him anymore, come to me John." John turned back around and walked slowly to her, she smiled as she stroked his sweaty arms. She looked at him as they walked away from Kurtz, they began to go back to Kurtz's car.

John's head was swimming, he was sweating a lot now and his stomach and head ached. The world around him was shrinking, at the center of it all stood Kristina, John blinked as he looked at her. The mechanic was taking it all in, her pretty smile, pouty lips, long red hair and her unique eyes and he liked what he saw.

"You like me don't you big man?" She said quietly.

"Yes." John stammered.

Jasper sat in the driver's seat of the Caddy and looked over at Romanov. The kid didn't look too good; he seemed sick with the same illness he had previously felt. What the hell was it and where in the hell was John? The electrical mutant wasn't sure what to do then Shadow brought everything in perspective with his simple statement, "just drive."

That was the answer. Jasper touched his index finger to the ignition and the car started, even in a weakened state he could always jump start an engine. He put the car in gear and started to drive away but as he headed down the road it became apparent that Joy Buzzer wasn't leaving, but looking for a way into the scrap yard and he found it. Round the other side of the fence he found the entrance and barreled right through the gate. There was a loud smash as the metal poles clanged off of the heavy chrome bumper, then Jasper floored it. Up ahead the headlights reflected off of John's large back. He could just make out the red headed woman behind his massive frame but the older man that had been with her was gone.

"Why in the hell is John just standing there like a statue?" Jasper asked Fyedka, wondering if he had any insights but there was hardly anytime for an answer.

Jasper was speeding toward John down the narrow lane. A few time's the wide car struck a piece of protruding metal and sparks lit up the darkness, but he didn't slow down.

"Com'on, Mack. Snap out of it." Whispered Jasper to himself.

He wasn't slowing down. Jasper could feel the sickly feeling in the pit of his stomach returning and he wasn't about to stop and fall victim to whatever the feeling was. All he knew is that John appeared to be immobilized and Joy Buzzer didn't know what to do, but hopefully a ton of American steel barreling toward him would inspire the mechanic to shake a metal leg.

John was grinning like a simp as Kristina held his arm, looking into her eyes he was giving over to her influence. In the back of his fuzzy mind John could hear the engine of the Cadillac as Jasper steered it right at the mechanic. John scooped up the Russian woman and jumped barely clearing the car as it blasted by beneath him. As big as John was he could be surprisingly quick when circumstances called for speed. His leg clicked as he and Kristina sprang straight up, the roof of the Cadillac scraped off of John's metal heel sparking as the car rocketed past.

John was still holding the woman as he landed.
"That's my car..." John mumbled as he watched the car heading away from him.

"Bring car here to me John." Kristina purred as John put her down.

Macmanus crouched again charging his leg and pounced at the speeding car. The mechanic landed short of the old car but managed to get a hold of the rear bumper with his mech hand. The wide fingers of the metal hand clamped down on the chrome rear bumper of the car, John's grip was like a vise as the Cadillac dragged the big man along the dirt road. John gripped the bumper with his other hand and got his feet underneath him and planted his big leg into the dirt road trying to slow the car Fred Flintstone style.

A shower of bright orange sparks burst into the dark as the Cadillac brushed along a row of vehicles. Jasper fought with the wheel and pulled the car back into the center of the narrow lane.

"I thought the big guy would'a reacted sooner, what's got in ta 'im?" Joy Buzzer said to Shadow as he glanced back over his shoulder just in time to see the big man flying through the air at them.

"Christ!" Shouted Jasper his voice going up a few octaves as he struggled to main control of the car's tail from John's heavy drag.

"What the HELL is he DOING?" He asked Fyedka, then throwing his head round over his shoulder screamed, "John! What the hell is with you?! Just climb in the bloody car already! You're slowin' us down!"

It was then that Jasper began to figure out what was going on. The sickly feeling in the pit of his stomach, the headache, it was all connected to that Russian woman. He'd heard of meta-humans who could control minds but he never met any. Didn't mean they didn't exist though and Jasper believed that red-headed witch was one of them.

"Jeezuz!" Exclaimed Joy Buzzer at his revelation, he then looked over at Fyedka, "I dun believe, Mack's himself. We either gotta shake him free o' the car or of that witch's control!"

The end of the road was coming up fast. If they turned left, they'd head deeper into the scrap yard, right looked like it would take them into an impassible pit of junk.

"Hang on!" Warned Jasper.

The road ended at the scrap yard's office, which was an old aluminum trailer attached to a dilapidated wooden structure. Jasper headed right for it.

As John's mech leg dug into the ground like an anchor, Jasper floored it. The big engine roared and they managed to maintain enough speed to smash through the wooden shack and out onto the street. They caught air, and without a seat belt, Joy Buzzer could feel his body rise and fall hard as the big car skidded along the pavement, shrouded by a mass of splintered lumber.

Jasper just kept on going. In his side mirror he could see a rooster tail of sparks being kicked up by John's leg as he held onto the back of the car with an in-human death grip. He didn't know what the hell they were going to do with him, but Jasper figured that the further they were away from the witch, the better off they'd be if it came down to a fight with the big man.

Fyedka turned and looked at the big man desperately holding on. The sparks flying from his legs were like a waving banner to the strength of the man's grip. Fyedka's eyes widened for a moment in marvel of John's strength before he turned to address Jasper's questions.

"It's that lady!" he told him, exclaiming desperately, "just drive! He doesn't look like he's going to fall off! Eventually, her effects will wear off but we gotta keep him away from 'er!" When Jasper glanced over at him, Fyedka averted his eyes, looking away into the side-view mirror at the man dragging behind them. He knew the questions were going to come eventually, but just then, he was praying the Irishman would keep them to himself. He was going to have to answer them eventually, to let his new friends know what they were up against hanging around him and protecting him . . . but not now . . . The young Russian meta was drained both physically and mentally-- the woman's very presence was enough to finish off his energy. Still, his heart pounded as he turned and watched out the back window to see if the woman or any of her lackeys were catching up to them. In this state, he was vulnerable and that was what he really couldn't stand. He'd used up everything and now couldn't so much as bend a shadow if he tried.

"Shit." Whispered Joy Buzzer under his breath as Shadow's weakened condition became all the more apparent. What the hell was he going to do with, John if this range thing didn't work, promise him a free overhaul for his mech's? His power was low and the kid was drained, basically they were screwed if the big guy didn't snap out of it.

Jasper just kept on driving, speeding down a residential street in the early hours of the morning. The time that cops were on the look out for trouble makers and sure enough they caught the attention of one on a routine patrol of the neighborhood.

"Dispatch, this is car 11, north bound on Mueller." Reported the officer in the passenger seat, "You're not going to believe this one. We've got a 505 in progress and possibly a 480. Late model caddy, convertible. We have a suspect armed with... some kind of mechanical arm and leg. Can't verify but he might be trying to stop the car. Suspect may be a meta, I repeat, we may have an unlicensed meta attempting to hijack a vehicle."

"#$%^!" Shouted Jasper when he saw the flashing red's and blue's in the rear view mirror. No doubt the cops were already reporting the incident and Jasper knew that it was only a matter of time before R.A.I.D. caught wind of them. With the big guy slowing them down though this chase was going to be over long before the boys in black even showed up.

"DAMN IT, MACK! SNAP OUT OF IT!" Yelled Joy Buzzer as he skidded round a corner and pulled onto a double lane thoroughfare.