Perilous Beauty

[R-iZZy]

Stealth looked back to see the reaction of what he had done, noticing Tiger's surprised face. He fought the feelings and ignored them, then looked back at Rex with a chuckle. The two remained shaking hands, until Rex brought his face closer to Stealth's.

"You've made a wise choice, my friend," Rex said. "I am glad you would put family before friends. You see, I took you under my wing. I introduced you to the MAU... a point in your life which you loved so dearly."

"Then why'd you screw us over?" Stealth whispered.

"I couldn't simply watch my homeland die... you understand, don't you 'ol bean?" Rex said.

Stealth nodded his head in agreement, "So you've decided to hang with me again, for what?"

"My whole life has revolved around killing you, but where did that get me? Absolutely nowhere, Stealth." Rex said. "But I want you to prove your loyalty to me. I want you to help me in this secreted war. A war in which this world is unaware of. Our first casualties... (points to the three opposition) those wenches you were once associated with."

"Yeah, I don't know what I saw in them," Stealth said.

"Well... you won't have to see them again... just snipe them all down. Go on the roof, leave this place and hide in the shadows. I trust you Stealth. I know you can do this for me." Rex whispered in Stealth's ear after bringing his mouth to it.

Stealth nodded his head and left, "FINE... you don't need me anymore? Then screw you!" Stealth said, an attempt to throw off the girls. He then threw a punch, but knew Rex could absorb it.

"Nice touch," Rex whispered.

As Stealth hid somewhere, Rex turned to the girls, "It's just you three and me! Come on Tiger... you knew this day would come! A day where bad meets evil! How could you not predict this? It's a force so strong... so bonded." Rex laughed mockingly at Tiger, detecting her emotions through the expression on her face. "Wipe that emptiness off your face. Stealth knew who brought him into his new world. He hates it, but he likes it better than what he had before. After I did him this favor, you'd think he'd hold a grudge against me?"

Rex laughed, the laughter echoing throughout the scene. Rex held out his blade and pointed at the girls, "Surely, you will finally recognize the agony of betrayal. This is only the sting, now comes the laceration!"

[Storm Wolf]

Jade and Enya both prepared themselves for battle "Tiger...what are you doing, we need you know more than ever!" Jade had noticed Tiger hanging back, shying away from the battle.

"No....no you don't need me.....this is exactly what I had run away from all thoes years ago.........the war.......I knew it would catch up to me..." Tiger went down on her knees "I refuse to fight this battle....for if my past is to always catch up and ruin my days....then I should end it here and now, without a fight...."

Jade and Enya moved to cover Tiger "Enya talk some sense into this girl!" Jade growled "I'm trying but she not answering through our link!"

"You could have been so much more than Rex, Stealth!" Tiger screamed "You could have been so much more..." she whispered.

[R-iZZy]

As Stealth hid in the shadows, he pulled out his sniper rifle and cocked it, hearing Tiger's words. "Yeah, I could've... but I'm not!" Stealth said softly to himself.

He climbed a ladder and stood atop a tall building. He was to sit there and pick off as many of the enemies as he could. He couldn't understand where the sudden change came from. Once friends with Tiger, now enemies.

~~~~~~~~

Rex laughed, "Ladies... do not keep me waiting!"

[Storm Wolf]

Jade threw several fireballs at Rex "Tiger you get up right now, and help me fight this scum bag!" Jade growled. Enya rushed in leaping towards Rex for an attack.

Tiger remained on her knees, she knew Stealth hadn't went very far, she doubted he would leave a battle that had to do with Rex. Tiger's mind was a blank, no attacks of hers could ever stop Rex, and now even Stealth was preparing to end her life. Tiger closed her eyes "Oh why didn't I just stay at the facility...why did I have to break free and why did I ever think I could trust Stealth even in the slightst way?" She whispered to herself.

[R-iZZy]

Rex noticed Enya coming, yet the fireball was coming at the same time. Rex swung his sword like a baseball, causing the fireball to bounce off of his blade and hit Enya, as she came on the attack. Rex rapidly evaded the situation with multiple backflips, then ran over to Jade in a flash, then swung the sword to her neck, but the attack was so slow... it was easy to dodge.

~~~~

Stealth had reached the roof in the darkness, where he waited in anticipation to do the bidding that Rex had requested. He remembered these missions, these constant snipings of his targets. He remembered the way the bullet would enter a man's head or heart in a flash, without even the slightest noise to be heard. He remembered the trails of smoke that would follow the bullet, and he remembered the way men would fall down if the smoke ever touched them.

Stealth remembered those feelings so well, and it he had longed to feel it again. Stealth waited atop that roof, waiting for the right time to fire. As he watched Rex fend off his foes. He chuckled a bit, then thought of Tiger. But she upsetted him, Don't worry Tiger, this is benefitting for all of us... for mutants AND humans everywhere.

Stealth cocked the sniper rifle, ready anytime to release the bullet and hit someone, but who? Who would he choose first? Enya? Jade?
...
...
Tiger?

[Storm Wolf]

Enya rolled across the ground and stopped at Tiger's feet, her fur was smoking lightly "Tiger please....I know you may not want to battle but your in it now....remember what you've said....there is no backing down...." Tiger helped Enya up "If you say so...."

Jade ducked the blade and tried a low sweep attempting to knock Rex off his feet.

[R-iZZy]

Rex hit the ground from the sweep, but quickly sprung back to his feet after a split-second of hitting the ground. He hopped in the air, curled up his legs, then extended a leg to deliver a sharp kick to Jade's chin, causing her head to throw back. This allowed Rex to land on the ground and deliver a solid punch to her stomach, knocking the wind out of Jade's system.

"This is an elementary assignment!" Rex taunted.

~~~~~~

Stealth looked at the battle, chuckling as Rex kicked Jade and punched her in the stomach. This is elementary sh*t for Rex. Is this a joke? Stealth thought to himself. Now who do I want to hit?

Stealth looked through the scope of the sniper rifle, targetting at Jade, the target he really wanted to hit. He kept aim, but decided to drop the weapon momentarily and let Rex handle the problem.

Stealth continued to lay on his belly with a laugh.

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger kneeled down to Enya and shifted into a panther "Take care of him....give it all you've got..." Tiger turned to leave

Wait where are you going? Enya asked non verbally

I've got a plan....if I don't back down, then you guys need to back out of this battle! Tiger replied

Enya nodded and rushed in to Jades aid, springing into the air, fangs bared.

Tiger slipped to the edge of the buliding and prepared to jump to the next, she didn't expect to find Stealth....maybe he had really left the scene, but she would call for him, challenge him, and perhaps he would come in anger of her words.

[R-iZZy]

Stealth had noticed Tiger wandering around, but she couldn't detect him, he was too buried into the shadows and the darkness. He kept silent, allowing her to wander around. He got up and silently ran to the next ledge, then sprung unto it from a far distance... all in stealth.

If only you could understand, Tiger. Stealth said non-verbally. He shook his head in disappointment, then aimed the sniper rifle at her.

Why was he doing this? To prove Rex his loyalty? Of all people, it had to be through Tiger. Stealth kept his finger on the trigger, but his conscience came in to play. He couldn't pull it, not here... not now. It just wasn't the way... well, neither was Tiger's outrage released specifically on him.

Stealth had so many queries fluttering through his mind, but when Tiger yelled at him... that wasn't going to slide. He kept Tiger locked on the scope, but not to shoot her... but to get a better look of what she was doing.

~~~~~~~~~~

Rex dropped on his back and tumbled backward, evading Enya's leaping attack. Rex sprung back to his feet and held out his blade with one hand, pointing it at Enya. "Try me... I dare you!" Rex challenged! "I am getting very sick of these games... and they will end now!"

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger's tail lashed in anger, but her words were calm and confidant "Stealth for what it's worth....I'm sorry, I had no right to lash out at you in such a way...." She paused and listened to her echo "But I think if your going to kill me, you at least could fight me up close....I deserve that much." She lowered her head, her ears lay flat, saddness plauged across her face. Finally she spoke again, her voice trembled as she did so "Come Rex junior, please your father.....come and take me..." her voice held no anger, infact it held no emotion at all.


~~~~~~~~~~~

"Perhaps you will kill me..." Enya teased "But I will make it one hell ova job for you!" She paced in front of Rex a sly smile on her face.

[R-iZZy]

Stealth shook his head and continued spying on Tiger, keeping silent. He was low, he figured that out. He was base! He knew it, it was the way TCRI made him. But he didn't mind, he grew a close relationship with Tiger... but he didn't want it to end through murder, but it was what Rex wanted.

Stealth chuckled at the "Rex junior" remark, and continued looking at Tiger through his scope. This is just too much fun. Stealth thought to himself, remaining silent in the shadows.

~~~

Rex sneered at Enya, then chuckled after a dramatic pause. "Is this supposed to be heeded? Or is this just logs for the fire building in me? If that is the cause, it's working!"

Rex thrusted the sword toward Enya...

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger trembled with impatience, Stealth had not appeared to her as planned "Coward..." she spat. Tiger knew Stealth was out there, somewhere, watching and the fact that he wouldn't reveal himself to her teased her patience and temper "I'm tired of trying to win you....have your dark, miserable life...it's what you want anyways....eh?" She turned to leave.

~~~~
Enya dodged the best she could but the blade sheered her fur "You shouldn't play with sharp objects..." She said hesitantly

[R-iZZy]

Stealth chuckled, as he watched Tiger walk away. What's the matter, giving up already Tiger? Stealth asked in his head. He liked playing the role of a bad guy again. He couldn't stand being the protagonist. Being Tiger's friend was fun, but he preferred playing by his own rules, and Rex was the man that brought him into that world.

~~~~~~~~~~

Rex shook his head slowly. "No... I shouldn't play... but you shouldn't play with fire either. You'll eventually get burned!"

Rex horizontally swung his sword toward Enya's neck.

[Storm Wolf]

Jade managed to plant a good kick to one of Rex's shoulders, trowing him off just enough to miss Enya by mere inches.

Tiger slid onto the scene "Perhaps it's time for a full retreat?" She called to both Jade and Enya. Jade seemed to have no problem with the suggestion and made a dash for the next building, but Enya was curious "Whats this....retreat? What are you planing?" She asked "Nothing..." Tiger replied "Simply that those who run today, live to fight another day!" She sprung foreward in Jade's direction.

[R-iZZy]

Rex clutched his shoulder, pointing his blade down to the ground. "Ah, you can't escape me!"

Rex zoomed past his opposition and stood in front of them with a blade held out at them. "No no no... you dug your grave... you might as well bury yourselves as well!"

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger growled and latched on to Rex's leg putting all her driving force behing her jaws.

[R-iZZy]

Rex yelled in agony, the drove the handle of the sword into her chin, knocking her off. Her strength was not strong enough to withstand the velocity in his swing. He looked at the blood drenching from his leg, then laughed.

"You crazy kitty, you will pay dearly for that!" Rex yelled. Then forcefully threw a dagger into her thigh. "Bull's eye!"

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger staggered and fell on her side "you B*stard!" she growled. Tiger peered at the dagger seeing the blood well up around it "Well isn't that just peachy?!"

Jade did an awkward spin kick attempting to catch Rex in his chest with the attack.

[R-iZZy]

Rex was hit from the kick... becoming less and less defending. Rex flew back a couple of feet and landed on his feet.

"Stealth... shoot!" Rex yelled.

Stealth targeted his scope and took the shot, the weapon discharging.

"Ah... what are you doing Stealth?" Rex yelled. The bullet hit him in the back. Rex dropped to the ground.

"Did you think I was THAT naive?" Stealth yelled from the shadows.

Rex quickly got up and zoomed to the edge of the rooftop, then hopped off. Rex was out of sight, no longer seen.

"DAMN" Stealth's voice could be heard from the shadows. He got away. Stealth told himself.

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger had been to inveloped in the pain of the dagger to realize what had gone down and she let out a panther's howl as Jade pulled free the dagger from her muscle "Aww...D*mn...." Tiger managed to pick herself up "Jade take me home....I want nothing more to do with this night..."

"But what about Steal..." Enya began "Forget him! he knows where to find me if he wants to attempt an explaining..." Tiger limped to the edge of the building, leaving a crimson trail "I'd like to get this wound properly treated so my muscles don't get infected....who knows what that nast SOB might have tipped his weapons with...."Tiger's voice was stern as if she was commanding her troops on the battlefield once more "Now lets move!"

Jade and Eny obeyed without question and came to her aid.