Last Stop (open)

Jump City being as large as it was, it came as no surprise that it had an inter-city railway network. There wasn't just one train station, there were several, spread out across the metropolis. The Downtown station was the first stop on the route for trains approaching from the south. From there it would loop across the city and return over the Bay Bridge, heading north.

The platform was quiet; almost dismal in atmosphere. Men and women fresh from a Saturday shop huddled around the pylons and display boards. As the train came into sight, they all stepped forward as one. Except Husher who remained seated on a bench, sipping at an cup of appalling coffee.

"Oi. What about this 'un? Someone make a decision quick. I'm freezing my bleedin' hands off." Nearby were three of his classmates. They had planned a little school trip for themselves. Normally Husher didn't get involved in this sort of direct confrontation, his work was usually sidelines stuff; when all eyes were turned. But there was safety in numbers and he felt confident they could pull today off.

Their first big (or decent sized) heist. Their tutors would be so proud.

Asami would be sat eating sushi in one of the Yo!Sushi mini restaurants "dosh it have enuf monway on it do yoush think?" she asked with a mouthful of rice and fish. She would look to the train through the window, ready to dash out the door when the word was said.

Wesley leaned on the shoulder of his semi invisible team-mate. "I say high stakes. And for high stakes, we go for high speed." He said pointing up at a  of nearby train traffic. "We got a bullet train showing up in 5 minutes from Crater Cove. Plenty on passengers on board to rob completely blind. But there's probably near squat in the way of larger cargo." He said. He'd been dragged along for this heist, but he really didn't mind. He was just happy to be out of the classroom and back in "the field" so to speak.

Nima yawned laying on a bench beside Husher while looking through her available cards for the day. "Land, land, land... OMG YESH!!! Vampire Nighthawk. We're in business now." She stood up and stretched, grinning. The girl listened to the others talk about which train to heist, not like she actually cared. All that really mattered to her was that these fools would be introduced to the glory that is Magic in the way only she could show them. "So, next train, huh? Are we gonna try and do this sneakily, or do we want to make a name for ourselves right here and now?" She had a feeling this would be the team's makeup for now, considering the rest of the recruits that had come with them seemed like plain old idiots. These guys may not have understood the perfection of her game, but at least they weren't incompetent buffoons. She might be able to play nice with them... Maybe.

Husher was wearing his trademark overcoat, but on his head, far from usual, was a baseball cap whose brim shaded his currently skeletal face. The hollow eyes turned to Nima as she asked her question, "There'll be plenty a time for flare once we get on board." The train in front of them beeped a warning before its automatic doors closed and it started to pull off, "I don't think there's any need to hurt no one neither. Not if they all comply. Eh?" He didn't know their positions on killing yet, but Husher knew there were many in the school who were mass murderers. That Harpy kid for one.

Eventually the bullet train pulled into sight. Unlike the squealing wheels of the previous clunker, this one glided into the station silently. It looked sleek and powerful, and many chairs had those tickets in the back which denoted that they were reserved. Husher stood, pulling his cap lower and sticking his boney hands into his pockets.

Before he marched forward he addressed the others, "Oi. Did we agree which of us is gonna take care of the drivers?" That was grunt work. All the fun would be had cabin-side accosting passengers and evaluating loot. In fact, the people who took the loot could probably swipe a few choice pieces for themselves before it was all divvied up, "Bagsy not it!" They never said this was a professional operation.

"Shaking down the passengers requires fine motor skills. My powers are probably better for hitting things." Wesley said. "I'll take care of the drivers. Shouldn't take me too long. Just knock a couple heads together." He said as the bullet train pulled into the station. He then turned to face Husher. "So what's the plan bone-man? How're we getting on the train?" He said jerking a thumb back towards Nima. She had raised an interesting point. They could try and take the train here and now, or wait till they were under way.

Doing it now would tear away all subterfuge, and open them up for attack, but they'd get the train here and now. But they'd have to do that anyways if their attempts to sneak on the train failed. And if they did manage to sneak on the train, it would take any "hero" much longer to catch up to them.

Asami would hurry out the sushi restaurant and hop onto the train, looking just like a regular Japanese school girl, complete with her school bag. Sitting down in one of the open seats and taking out some pieces of paper, making ninja throwing stars and such, didn't seem threatening but...pointy corners could be painful.

Nima listened as the two boys talked about plans and rolled her eyes with a sigh, facepalming. "Note to self, next time, plan ahead." She smirked and watched as Asumi flawlessly snuck in with a large group of passengers. "Looks like the girl knows what's up. Sneaking on it is~" The girl took out a deck of cards and was looking through themas she entered the train with another group of passengers. The man checking tickets saw she was engrossed in something and decided not to bother her. Once inside, she took a seat and sent a group text to everyone's cellphones, assuming they all have one. -We should probably synchronize our attacks. Let's say... 30 minutes from this text? Might as well enjoy some of the scenery since we're here." The girl yawned and leaned back, looking out the window.

While the girls split up, Husher kept alongside Wesley. He'd transformed his face back into flesh and blood so as to not cause any undue alarm from an accidental glance. When they boarded to a separate carriage from the others he checked his vibrating phone. He frowned with apprehension.

"Thirty minutes?! Gosh knows where we'll be thirty minutes into a train journey. 'Ere, I don't fancy walkin' all that way back, do you?" Of course as Husher said that he remembered that his team-mate probably had a dinosaur suited for long distance travel. A cabbysaur or something. Regardless, he texted Nima back as the doors closed behind them. He said he was getting it over and done with immediately. No point wasting time. Time, they told him, was money.

The carriage lurched into motion. If Wesley was still near him he'd gesture to the front of the train, "Go take control. I'll give ya a minute then I'm startin'." He walked to a free block of seats and dipped inside. He checked the contents of his pockets and found what weapons he was looking for. Husher always came armed. Sometimes he had a gun, but he usually sold those at the slightest provocation. Guns sold well. So he made do without one for the time being.

Not waiting on any more communication from his fellows, Husher would make the clothing, skin, and interior of his body vanish. All that remained was a skeleton in its overcoat. He stood up and chucked a cap down the aisle, grabbing the attention of many. They gawked, "Bloody 'ell folks. Don't stare. This is a robbery! Giz us your goods and ya won't get 'urt."

Man, they needed to get better communication gear. Maybe they could bug some of those nerds in the tech labs to whip them up something good. But that could wait. They had a mission to perform.

As Husher spoke those words announcing their heist to that particular carriage, Wesley had made his way up to the staff only section of the train. It was one carriage and then the main front car where the drivers would be located. He had been keeping track, and knew this was it. He opened the door to the room and casually strolled in. A couple staff members gave him odd looks.

"Uhm. Excuse me young man, you aren't supposed to be back here. Employees only." A man said approaching him.


"I beg to differ. I'm right where I belong." Wesley shot back as his body began transforming. His musculature increased and his skin scaled over. His eyes narrowed and teeth sharpened as his tyrannosaurus form came in. With a single stroke, he knocked the man back, bowling over two other staff members. "In charge." The remaining 5 screamed as the reptilian menace leapt on them. Soon silence overtook the carriage. 

By this point, the door to the drivers carriage opened and a man in a cap poked his head in. "What on earth is-" He didn't even finish as a slashing push left the co-engineer sprawling to the floor. The main engineer swiveled in his chair.

"Martin! Wha- Oh my god." He sputtered as Wesley towered over him. He blinked his eyes a couple times. Humorously enough, those rumors about T-rex's not being able to see whats directly in front of them is a total myth. Wesley could see this guy just fine. He belted out a roar that would give that dinosaur from Jurassic park a run for it's money. He didn't even need to lay a claw on the driver, who proceeded to pass out right on the spot. Wesley shifted back to his human form and took a seat. Ah, it felt good to be in control. Wesley tapped the intercom button and spoke through the entire train.

"Attention passengers. I would like to inform you that this rail-line has undergone a change of ownership. I welcome all you ladies and gents to Rail-Hive. Attendants will be coming by shortly to relieve you of any bothersome valuables you might have on you. Thank's for riding." Wesley announced to the train before spinning in his chair.

Asami would smile as she heard her team mate on the speaker, she would then stand up at the end of the carriage "ladies and gentlemen, as my friend said, please hand over all your valuable trinkets, I don't wish to hurt you but I will if I have to" she said, raising up the newspapers and books out of people's hands as they would flap around in circles, much to the startled screams of the passengers "you should also note that I can control the paper cups that your boiling coffees and teas are in" she informed them before opening her school bag and walking down the isle, letting people drop their expensive things in "arigatou gozaimasu".

Nima looked up as she heard that one kid on the speaker. The guy that can turn into dinosaurs or whatever. What was his name? Eh, didn't matter right now. The girl sighed and stood up in her own carriage, smirking as she summoned her Nighthawk. The creature appeared and bowed to her. "Mi'lady." She grinned and gave him a sack, looking around at the shocked and confused people.

The girl straightened her glasses and stood at the back of the carriage. "As you've heard, you're the first passengers on the wonderful new train line, Rail-Hive! With that being said, of course we're going to have to charge a little extra to make sure you all arrive to your destinations... safely. That means, hand over all your valuables to my good sir here! And that means any Magic cards you have too!" Of course she had to mention that. There was no way that she was going to pass up on any cool cards that might be hiding out with someone who doesn't deserve them.

She watched as her Nighthawk went around collecting items and texted on her phone. -Easy peasy. We'll be back in time for dinner!- She took a selfie of herself and sent it along with the message.

If they'd been hesitant to cooperate before the announcement had sure loosened a few purse strings. Osseus prowled the corridor and accosted each passenger in turn. Many thought their bit was done when they handed over their notes. But the skeleton would often quiz them further on their phones, watches, jewellery, and similar trinkets. A practiced hand appraised the items he received and he either slipped them into a pocket or threw them back into the peoples' faces. He had no room to carry rubbish today.

A trio of youngsters, not so easily cowed as the rest, sat gabbing to each other as he worked. Chatter meant confidence. And you did not want your targets being confident. Husher moved quickly down the train and leaned over the back of one head-rest, "Having a bit of a chin-wag, are we? You, fatso, move to that side of the train. Headphones; move to the opposite." If he separated them they would be less inclined to act.

He'd left it too late, "Or what?" They stood up as one. Passengers either side of them glared at Husher, also considering taking a stand against him. He wasn't some Rambo. An entire carriage full of people was beyond his ability to handle. Yet if he escaped to the other sections, his cohorts would laugh at him.

"You understand I'm a skeleton, right?"

"So?"

"Most people aren't skeletons."

"We're not afraid of you. You have a f***ing pansy accent!"

"Ouch."

One of the youths stood against a chair to gain height. He addressed the crowd, "You don't have to give this d*** your money! There are more of us! We can-"

"DUDE! WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU?!"

The speaker looked down and saw that the blood vessels and muscle tissue of his body were laid bare. He screamed in shock as more and more of him disappeared. Husher elbowed his way between his shocked compatriots and jabbed the disappearing man with an invisible stun baton. The fresh new skeleton spasmed suddenly and lay down in the isle, inert. No one laid their hands on Osseus. They were too frightened.

"Like I said. Fatso - sit back there." Fatso did as he was told. Husher sighed with relief to himself, and thrust the third kid back into his seat. He then bent over the boy he'd given invisibility, and restored him to his proper body form, "I'll spare this plonker's life this time. But if anyone tries that again - I'll turn ya into dust. We savvy?"

Meta had been resting after a tough workout when he heard the alarm, indicating that there was a crime in progress. Meta looked into it before heading out, reading that it was a heist in a train. He then dashed into action, rushing off to the T-Jet, strapping himself in before it rides off.

A short amount of time later, Meta dropped out of the T-jet onto the top of the train, sliding down by a rope to avoid a loud impact. He would then make his way to the front of the train before crashing in through a window, landing behind the kid who had hijacked the drivers compartment. He went into a fighting pose, facing the boy I'm here to put a stop to this.