NEW WARRIORS #77
"Ripples"
by Pat Donovan

"I guess we should move on," shrugged Rage, the tone in his voice questionable as to whether he was giving a statement or asking a question. The person behind the steel-faced Warrior was only that of a teenage boy, although the size of his body would lead many to think otherwise. The choice he just made was more important than he would like to have thought. As soon as Rage finished his response, Night Thrasher turned to leave the room.

Firestar shook her head, while Kymaera copped a slight smirk and Dagger sighed. Turbo groaned, finding Speedball sniffing at her hair. Nova remained still, while Justice looked downward. The man exiting the Crash Pad, base of operations for the New Warriors, was their founder, their leader, and emotions were certainly mixed.

"What's goin' on? Thrash, where are you goin'?" confusedly asked Elvin, rising from his seat. No response was received, as Night Thrasher exited the Crash Pad for what may very well be the last time.

"El, let him go."

"Shaddup, Speedy. Somebody explain to me what the &%$# just happened here!!"

"Dwayne wanted nothing to do with the team if the Warriors decided to move past the streets onto other things."

"So, you set me up, to where if I go along with the team, I end up making the decision for Thrash, too, Nova?"

"Whoa, there, El. No one set you up to do anything. We were all asked a question, and we all answered, truthfully and honestly. I know I did, and I would think you did, but just because Thrash doesn't agree, why should that change things?" questioned Kymaera, perking up some toward the accusations. She rose from her seat, joining Nova at his side.

"It changes everything. You set me up to where I just totally crushed someone who wasn't just a Warrior, he was like an idol or something. I wanted to follow in his steps, and become close to what he stands for, and now you just made me crush him and his role on this team. How could you?"

"Elvin, we did it for us. We did it for the Warriors. You have to understand he's lost focus on what the Warriors are now, and became too focused what they used to be. Stay, Elvin. Don't leave," spoke Turbo, trying to relate the feelings of the rest of the team.

"I... I'll stay. I don't know for how long or even if I really should, but I won't forget this."

Kymaera felt the tension in Nova, and grabbed at his hand before he could respond to Rage's words. "If we're gonna make this work, we need Rage. Let it slide," whispered the Atlantean once known as Namorita.

"We'll meet back here at eleven for a night patrol. Otherwise, I think this meeting is over," Justice concluded.

******

11:18 PM

"Rich and Vance really appreciated you stepping up back there, Mickey."

"It was nothing, really, Nita... ya mind if I call you that?"

"Not at all. It feels nice to hear that name again, actually."

The wings hinged on the feet of Kymaera flapped at a rapid pace, while the turbo-engines of Turbo's costume whirred with power. The two women Warriors streaked through the sky, passing block after block with ease.

"Kinda quiet out."

"Yeah."

******

11:54 PM

"BuuUUUuuuuUuuRp"

"Ugh"

"Excuse me," smiled Speedball, with no response. "Aw, don't be mad, Angel."

"I'm not. I'm just not really in the mood."

Two paths of energy trailed behind Firestar and her companion, one of a fiery glow and the other of kinetic balls. In any other town, most would call the police at the sight, but this neighborhood has grown accustomed to such things, along with many others.

New York City has become host to caped crusaders, diabolic villains, and cosmic disruptions on levels far beyond what most could imagine. Tonight, though, this pair of super-heroes drop the worry of mutant extermination, the threat of terrorism, or an intergalactic renegade to just talk.

"Spill it, Angel."

"Spill what?"

"Whatever's bothering you. This whole time you've been somewhere else, and you were pretty much mute in the meeting before, too. Wha's going on?"

"Maybe I just don't have anything to say to you."

"Oh."

Angelica Jones bit her lip, having felt the hurt in Speedball's voice. Her words were not meant to hurt, but were intent on stopping his line of questioning. Guilt wreaked through her insides, until she opened up. "It's my health, Robbie. I don't know if I can be a Warrior, knowing I'm endangering my body."

"Then quit until you can find something or someone that'll help ya. All the heroes are back, and even if Xavier is locked up, maybe someone like the Beast can help ya."

"It's not that simple, though. Right now, the Warriors need me and I can't just leave Vance when he needs me either."

"You worry too much about others, and not enough about yourself. I would be the last person to tell you that, if I didn't mean it. I enjoy looking at you too much, to see you go without good reason. Quit."

******

12:21 AM

Silence.

Rage was buoyed through the air, hanging below the streaking Justice, both propelled by his telekinetic abilities. The two remained silent throughout the night. The duo stopped once to question a gathering of police, only to find a drug deal gone bad.

"So you think I'm responsible for Night Thrasher leaving?"

"Not just you. Anyone who knew he would leave and couldn't tell me."

Justice sighed, and took a turn for a nearby rooftop. Slowly, he lowered himself and Rage to the top of an apartment building.

"So why do this?"

"Do what?"

"Why torture yourself and all of us by staying with the team if you pretty much hate us now? We want you, but how can we do this without some kind of understanding from you?"

"Because he walked out."

"Huh?"

"I always held myself up to Thrash and what he did and wanted to do. How could he just leave the Warriors again? The last time it was different. Last time, we were being accused of not being true to the team and for being responsible for Kymaera's capture?* But why did he leave this time ... without me?"

*[[*Night Thrasher and Rage walked out on the team once before. When you ask? Back in New Warriors #57 after Nova accused them of not being around to save Kymaera from enslavement and brainwashing and that kinda good stuff. -NWPat]]

"I don't know, Rage, but I know that the Warriors are still here and Thrash isn't. We all wouldn't wish this situation on any team, but we can still make this work. We need you and everyone, though. You still wanna be a Warrior?"

******

12: 28 AM

Nova plopped to the couch, downing a can of Pepsi and kicking up his feet. His helmet sat at his side, and his boots were kicked to the floor. Having to patrol alone meant he got the first break, and the longest break as well. A nap was on the mind of Rich Rider, until he heard the door swing open.

"I'm back."

"Joy."

A familiar teenager by the name of Carlton entered the room, dropping a suitcase to the floor and walking towards Nova. Carlton served as the 'Jarvis' to the team, while trying to secure a serious role as the super-hero Hindsight Lad. He failed on both parts and went away for a while. "Where's everybody?"

"On patrol."

"Oh. Who? Like who's around nowadays?"

"Nita, Angel, Vance, Rage, Speedy, and Turbo."

"What happened to Thrash?"

"Just missed him. Quit. I'll catch you up later. Otherwise, don't touch anything and be quiet. I'd like to enjoy a nap. Wake me in 30 if the alarm doesn't."

"Uh.. sure, Nova."

Carlton shrugged off the bad treatment to lack of sleep, and headed downstairs to check out anything new in the ways of files or technology.

******

"Gypsy Moth, you in position?"

"Ready to go. Kymaera and Turbo are in sight."

"Needle, ready to attack?"

"We're a go here, too. Speedball and Firestar are going down."

"Digger, you ready on your end?"

"Same here. Justice and Rage are stopped on a rooftop"

"Brothers Grimm, get ready, because we're about to go in," snarled Misfit, as he grabbed his fist. "The New Warriors are done for."

TO BE CONTINUED!

*****

NEXT ISSUE: As the team tries to keep itself from tearing apart, they face off against the Night Shift! Can they prevail? Will Rage stay a Warrior? What's Carlton's deal? How hard did Angel punch Speedy? Plus, lots more!