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"Well, my dear children, now we'll wait for Mr Captain Dad to come to your rescue, huh?” said... some new criminal whose name Henry didn't bother to remember.
He merely glared at the guy when Chapa lunged at the cell bars with a growl.
"You little—!" she started, but quickly jumped back with a squeal when she was electrocuted. Which, of course, was ironic, considering it happened to Volt.
"Ah, ah, ah!" the criminal waved his finger threateningly at Chapa. “Careful, little one. If I were you, I'd save my strength," he stood up straight and smiled, "you'll need it. At least until Captain Man shows up..." he finished and, without waiting for a response, walked away laughing.
Chapa growled under her breath as she watched the man walk away.
“You guys have no idea how much I want to roast him a little."
The rest of Danger Force groaned at Chapa's words, and Henry smiled a little. Good. Let's keep them in this state for as long as possible.
Because, unfortunately, he knew what it was like to lose your powers.
[***]
"How is everyone feeling?” he asked about thirty minutes later, because last time it had also started at that time.
Chapa hummed in response, nestled against Henry's side. He noticed that Chapa needed affection because of her lack of power. Henry, on the other hand, couldn't stand being touched right now, but how could he push her away? He couldn't. Besides, it wasn't his first time.
He had already been through it.
"It's... weird," Miles replied, stroking Mika's hair. The girl had her ears covered and was hiding in her brother's chest. Henry grimaced slightly. Everything was probably too loud for her now.
“Is this how people feel after... you know... when they come down from drugs?” Miles continued. Henry thought for a moment.
“I guess you could say that,” he replied quietly. He glanced at Bose and sighed when he saw the boy hiding his head in his knees. “Bose?”
Bose raised his head when he heard his name and blinked a few times, as if he had to remember where he was, and Henry felt that this might indeed be the case.
“What? Oh, uhh...I'm fine. I'm okay. Totally cool,” Bose said, his voice slightly trembling. He looked at Henry and then buried his head back in his knees, but Henry didn't try to call him again.
Instead, he sighed and leaned his head against the wall behind him. Even though his whole body was burning, he pulled Chapa closer.
Please, Ray. Hurry up.
[***]
Henry was no longer sure how much time had passed. The kids weren't talking, but in the meantime they had moved closer to each other and to him, so he was sure they were okay.
At least as okay as they could be, given their condition.
Chapa was still nestled against his side, and the extra warmth made him feel sick, but he kept the girl close anyway. His whole body was still burning, and even though he tried to breathe steadily, his pulse was still racing.
His vision was also starting to blur slightly. However, Henry had been through something similar before and refused to let any inconvenience cause him to lose his vigilance.
He had to keep an eye on the kids.
Chapa let out a whimper, and Henry instinctively hugged her tighter, gently shushing her.
“Shhh... you're okay. Everything's fine. I won't let anyone hurt you,” he promised them all.
And it was a promise Henry was going to keep.