Broken Stride

Drive and Power

 "Hey, it's getting pretty dark. Where are you off to now?" Moros spoke up from a short distance behind him.

"Well this Gangu kid has a sister," Cassian replied quietly, glancing around at the people around him. They really didn't seem to see the spirit at all, just like he'd said.

"So, you're going to visit her?"

"Well, yeah, I—" Cassian was cut off by the sound of an explosion.

He spun around to find a building behind him lit with an impressive blaze; a crowd of people running away.

"Run!"

"It's a villain!"

'A villain?! Here?'

"Cassian! Where—? I thought you were going home?!" Moros shouted after him as Cassian took off towards the blaze.

"If it is a villain then I have to do something!"

"A Villain would be too strong for you in your current form! And besides, you're not a Psyker—"

"That's not it! I can't allow them to hurt people. Not because I'm a Psyker—because it isn't right! If I have to be a villain to do that, then so be it!"

"Cassian. . ."

"Shut up and follow me or get lost."

"Transform then! I give you my full support!"

Cassian nodded and burst into the building, seamlessly slipping into his villain attire.

. . .

Shit. That is a lot of stairs though.

"Cassian—hostages. They're on the fourth floor."

"Got it!"

Cassian took off towards the steps, jumping them three at a time in his haste. As he neared the fourth floor he picked up the sound of voices from a room ahead. Cassian carefully slipped inside, taking note of the three people on the floor slightly above him, he ducked down behind a railing where he'd be less visible. From what he could tell, the hostages were a woman and a child strapped down near a window—the villain stood between him and them. How to get to them though?

Cassian glanced around, eventually spotting a light switch not too far from his position. He crept over to it, avoiding the nearby staircase that was littered with objects that looked like spike-covered grenades. As he hit the lights, the villain suddenly spoke up.

"Oh? Has someone come to play~?" The villain cackled sinisterly." Be my guest!"

"Gladly!"

Cassian leapt up from his hiding spot and tackled the unsuspecting villain, nailing him in the face with a solid punch.

It felt good to feel his fist hit something hard. He wouldn't have to worry about breaking this one.

"Cassian! Bomb!"

Cassian looked down at his feet to find a bomb strapped to his leg.

Shit, I'm too close!

Cassian lunged away from the two hostages as the bomb suddenly exploded, sending him flying into a wall with a sickening crack. He sat dazed for a moment, his ears ringing. The blast had done little to his physical body, but his metal leg now creaked and groaned precariously under his weight as he tried to stand.

The villain—who seemed to have completely lost interest in Cassian—turned back to the hostages as he created another small explosive in his hand.

"I expected a little more, but oh well. You'll do for my fun tonight."