Ash Blackheart: The Blackheart

Flight

I awoke to a paw batting my face. Slowly I sat up groaning as my back popped as I changed positions.

"Owwww, what happened?" I asked shaking my head and looking around. I had been lying among a pile of glass shards on the stairs of Dr. Ian's house. At the foot of the stairs about twenty soldiers lay gruesomely contorted on the ground. Amidst the green uniforms, was the recognizable white lab coat of Dr. Ian, though it was heavily stained with blood. 

"You killed them, and scared everyone one away for a little while." Miko said softly sitting beside me, and curling his tail around his feet. I put my head in my hands, trying to hide my tears.

"Why did he have to die? If he'd only stayed, I could have saved him." I sobbed, wiping my eyes. Miko lowered his head.

"We didn't have time. He knew what he was doing." He sighed, and I shivered as the cold wind blew through the still open door.

"What about their leader?"

"Alexander Gram? He escaped with two of his men." Miko growled, walking carefully down the stairs and over to Dr. Ian's body. I stood, feeling the anger growing inside me again, but this time I could control it.

"I'm gonna kill him to. He's the one who killed Dr. Ian. Etat, find this Gram guy and track him." I commanded, walking down, and crouching beside Miko. 

"We'll both make him pay." Miko said, placing a paw on his former masters limp arm. "But we need to go. People know you're here, and more will come, with stronger weapons. You need to find a place to train and understand your power." He began walking towards the door. I followed. 

"Come on Etat, we're leaving." I sighed, grabbing an extra coat and followed Miko out into the cold. The house looked even worse from the outside. I turned to scan the town. It looked desolate as the wind tore down the main road, bringing an avalanche of snow with it. I picked up Miko, and shoved him in my parka.

"Mmmeeeirow!" He yelled, wriggling. "Let me out!"

"I don't want you to freeze." I retorted, holding him tighter, before turning to Etat. "Can you fly us somewhere a bit warmer?" I asked, putting up a hand to block the wind. 

"Looks like your doing fine." Etat said, nodding at my hand. I looked up. Black mist was swirling away from my hand and was beginning to form a dome around us, blocking out the wind and snow.

"I don't know how, but I don't want our lives to depend on this power while I'm still learning how to control it." I growled. "Now, get us somewhere warmer, and hopefully off the grid." I think Tony should have put less human in him. I thought as he sighed.

"How does the desert sound?"

"That has got to be a joke. Take us to Madagascar or somewhere like that." Miko growled from inside my coat.

"Very well." I let down the shield, and climbed into the robot's arms, and he took off.

"Miko do you know how to work the stones?" I asked as he poked his head out the top of my coat. He shook his head.

"Everyone will use them differently. Just depends on what the power allows you to do." He explained. I nodded and watched the journey. Once we were out of the mountains, Etat was able to go much faster without worrying about shaking us up. I watched the landscape blur together beneath us as he sped up. "I have to admit I don't like heights." Miko said, hiding his head back in my jacket. I didn't want to tease him on this. I wasn't fond of them either, but I wasn't afraid. But it was getting really warm and I could feel myself sweating in my winter clothes.

"Etat, how much farther?" I asked, feeling like a kid on a long car trip.

"Just a couple hours. We have to pass over Wakanda, which may be difficult."

"Why? Aren't they just a third world country?" I asked, confused.

"No. They are probably the most technologically advanced society in the world. Vibranium comes from Wakanda, it's the strongest metal on earth. That's what your cuffs are made of." I pulled up the sleeves of my coat and looked at the metal bands that covered my cuts.

"What all can vibranium do?" I asked, poking at the cuffs.

"Depends on what you want to do." Miko grumbled, peeking out of my coat. I nodded.

"Etat, lets just land here and take a quick break." I said quickly, noticing how sick he looked. We landed in a grassy plane, with nothing else in sight. 

"Ok, turn around kid." Miko said, hopping out of my jacket. I turned quickly, wondering what he wanted. I understood quick enough as the 'hulgh' and spat was heard behind me as Miko puked.

"Um, Miko? Are you alright?" I asked, as I took off my coats and outer layers.

"Motion sick." He wheezed, coming around to face me. I knelt and rubbed his head. 

"I'm sorry, maybe we should just walk it out, find a place to stay the night." I offered, looking around the barren wasteland. The cat made a face. 

"Sure." He growled, and began walking towards the midday sun, tail raised. After a while he looked up at me. "You understand you're a fugitive now, right Ashley?" He asked quietly. I glanced back at Etat who looked like a walking wardrobe from carrying all my winter gear that I'd dropped.

"It's true, the search for you still continues." He added calmly. I sighed and sat down, leaning against a large boulder. 

"Was the power worth the price? I would have given in, if it meant he didn't have to die." I asked, panting and staring up at the savanna sun far above us. Miko sat in my shade. 

"Dr. Ian saw something in you, kid. He always wanted to help the world, and he found a way, in you. I just have to help you get there." He said, making a nest in the grass.

"Why? It would be safer for you if you left." 

"I have to finish what he started."