(A/N: Hey doods! Sorry it's been a while coming, but for the first time I'll be publishing 2 chapters to this in one day! The next part should be up later on, look out for some plot twists in it! *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* Say no more! XD 2K reads, titis is INSANE guys! You doods are all awshum! Squeaks! 😎)

SSundee's POV

I had left the safe house with the others earlier as we had decided it was ok to return to our home in the city. I kept my head down as we walked through the winding streets. I could feel numerous gazes burning into me as I trudged after the others. I hated having to keep my head hidden when I once marched through these streets with my head held high. I sighed and looked up forlornly at my friends. Sky was laughing and talking animatedly to Deadlox; FireSpark stuck close to my side, making sure I wasn't targeted. I clenched my fists in anger. This was all Derp's doing. He wanted to make me suffer. So he was going to blackmail me, isolate me, hurt me and more. I growled. I hated him with every inch of my being. If it wasn't for him I would still be a normal person. Being there for my friends and living my life. FireSpark glanced at me sideways, making sure I was ok. I bit my lip and tried to withhold the tears threatening to prick my eyes. Sky looked behind him and grinned at me. I smiled back half-heartedly. No need to burden my only friends with my problems. It was my responsibility to keep Derp in check. Not me. Besides, I knew that getting angry wouldn't help. If anything, it might even provoke Derp. I smiled in a twisted way, ironic; to provoke the one who provoked me. FireSpark looked concerned; Deadlox looked at ease for the first time in weeks. I guess it helped being back in his domain. Sky looked happy at least. Only I was feeling negative. Depressed even. I guess I had good reason to be. We reached the house and Sky knocked on the door. It opened and Mitch's face broke into a huge grin. "Guys! You're ok!" Sky grinned back and even I raised a smile. It felt good to be home. Mitch led us inside and I felt relief at not having to hide my face anymore. "Husky! Jerome! They're ok!" There was a muted reply, and two figures ran downstairs. Jerome was first to appear, his furry face glowing with happiness. Husky followed his down and jumped the last two stairs. Mitch and Jerome led Sky and Deadlox into the kitchen.

I looked up as Husky approached me. FireSpark followed the others into the kitchen and I was left alone. Husky looked at the floor, shuffling his feet awkwardly. "So...yeah...it's been a while huh?" I smiled. "Yeah. Guess so." I felt an overwhelming feeling of sadness. "I'm so sorry. Everything that's happened is my fault." Husky looked taken aback at my sudden exclamation. "It's cool Ian. Really, we're always here for you." I nodded, my thoughts were fuzzy and my vision was blurring. "Husky, I-" My legs had become suddenly numb and Husky caught my arm as I fell. "Ian!" My head was swimming and there was a ringing in my ears. What was happening to me?! Husky looked panicky as he picked me up bridal style and ran into the kitchen. I tried to move but my limbs were no longer responding to me. Absentmindedly, I wondered if this was what it was like to die. Sky's jaw dropped when he saw me limp in Husky's trembling arms. Deadlox blanched as FireSpark ran over to us. I saw her soft amber eyes staring down at me, wide-open and frightened. "Ian? Can you hear me?" Her voice sounded muffled, as though she was speaking to me from underwater. I couldn't move an inch of my body. Panic swamped me as I felt myself losing control of my sanity. Derp's voice echoed in my head. "What have you done now Ian?" I sent back my thoughts back to him in my head. At least I could still do that. "You mean, you're not doing this?" Derp snorted. "You wouldn't be much use to me dead would you?" My vision was failing. I could see FireSpark's lips moving, but no sound was issuing from them. "I-I'm dying?" Surprisingly, I could feel Derp panicking. "Your heartbeat is slowing down." I tried to focus, but my thoughts were slipping away. Suddenly, I thought of something. A vague memory. In the alleyway. The attack. The man demanding I join the rebellion. A sharp pain in my chest. He'd injected something into me. It had released some sort of toxin into my bloodstream. They'd failed to coax Derp into joining them. I paled. This was their Plan B...

Derp's POV (Surprise Surprise!)

I was confused. SSundee was dying. Therefore, I would die with him. And that was not gonna happen. Seeing through SSundee's eyes I could see his friends gathered around him, distressed and panicky. I snorted. They were all so pathetic. Guess it was up to me then. As always. I contemplated what was happening. The rebels had injected some sort of paralysis toxin into Ian's bloodstream, therefore rendering him helpless...unless I helped him. I smiled grudgingly. They were a clever bunch. But there had to be a way to outsmart them. I focused on the problem at hand, and the solution. I needed to get SSundee to shift into me so I could heal, but he wouldn't trust me. I knew why. Not that I cared; to me this would be the perfect opportunity to tear his friends apart. I sighed grimly. "Ian. Listen to me. The only way I can get you out of this is if you shift into me." I waited for a while, hoping he was conscious enough to send his reply back. He was. "No way! I know what you're going to do! The minute you've healed you'll kill my friends." I rolled my eyes. "Don't you think I have better things to do?" There was silence, then: "Yeah right. You're a terrible liar Derp." I growled. "Just shift, or die." No reply. "You're gonna die, you know that right?" "Yes I know! I'm just thinking..." "Better hurry up. Your life source is only sustainable for as long as I am. And that's not long." Finally, he made his decision. "Ok. I'll shift. On one condition...you leave my friends alone." I groaned inwardly. "Fine." The familiar sensation of weightlessness washed over me and I closed my eyes, savouring my small victory. I had no intention of killing his friends. For now anyway. I was going after the rebels. Yes, that was probably their plan. And it was working. But I knew enough to be able to outsmart them. Hopefully. I was basing it all around one crucial fact. They underestimated me.

Sky's POV

We all froze as SSundee's heart stopped beating. For 10 seconds all that could be heard was our shallow breaths and the persistent ticking of the clocks. 10 ticks. There were silent tears running down FireSpark's face. Husky was in shock as he gently placed Ian's limp body on the floor. Five minutes ago he'd been talking to Ian. Now he was dead. Suddenly, Deadlox jumped back in shock. Jerome and Mitch watched him wide-eyed. "I-I thought I heard something." He explained. I frowned and placed my hand on SSundee's chest, searching for a heartbeat. I gasped. It was weak, but there was something. FireSpark blinked, then gasped too. "Guys, the only way SSundee could come back from that is if he shifted." Before we had time to react Ian's eyelids snapped open and once more I stared into the crooked eyes of his demented alter ego. Derp frowned slightly, taking into account his new surroundings and seeing new faces. Then he smiled slightly. "I don't know if this might bother you or not, but the rebels did this." My jaw dropped. "Wait, what?" He sat up and stretched. Mitch seemed relatively calm, while Jerome and Husky were obviously freaking out. I didn't blame them. I still remembered the first time Mitch and I saw Derp. I still had nightmares about that. Derp tilted his head to one side and grinned. "You know, I meant to ask you: I'm going after these rebels. D'you wanna come?" I blinked.

This was ludicrous. Less than a minute ago we'd thought Ian was dead. Now his insane alter ego was sitting on the floor asking us if we'd like to go after some rebels. It was crazy. It made no sense. Ty stepped forward. "Are the rebels the ones who cornered Ian in the alley and paralysed him just now?" Derp nodded. Ty seemed deep in thought. Mitch shrugged, grinning. "Ok, why not?" We all stared at him. FireSpark spoke up first. "Are you insane?" Derp grinned, assuming the question was for him. "Why yes I am!" I rolled my eyes. "Not you idiot." Mitch smiled. "Ian's my friend. Whoever did this to him had this coming to them the minute they injected the toxin into his bloodstream." I sighed. "Well, someone's gotta look after the Canadian." Jerome held up his paws, obviously confused. "Hold up! This guy just randomly shows up and you guys are gonna go with him to kill these 'rebels?!'" Mitch snorted. "Well it sounds stupid when you say it like that!" Jerome frowned. "That's cus it is stupid." Derp got to his feet. "Not as stupid as you." Jerome scowled. "I don't like you." Derp shrugged. "A lot of people don't. I'm used to it by now." FireSpark sighed. "Well, I don't like what they did to Ian; it can't happen again. I'll go." I smiled at her. "I'll go too." Husky bit his lip. "I don't know. I'm really confused guys." Jerome laughed. "Join the club." Husky stepped away from Derp, who was now glaring at him. "I think I'll pass. This is too much for me to take in." I pouted. "But fieeeeeesh!" He scowled at me. "Don't. You. Dare. Adam." I knew he was serious when he used my real name. I sighed. "Ok. Are you coming Jerome." "No way Sky. One, this guy scares me. And two, I don't even know what the heck you're on about!" Mitch frowned. "Hey biggums, if you come with us, I can explain everything to you." Jerome shook his head reluctantly. "I'll stay with Husky. This is too much for me as well." I nodded. Ty had reminded silent all this time, until now. He straightened up and looked at me sadly. "I'll stay here with Husky and Jerome. I need to explain things to them." I nodded reluctantly. Ty was my best friend. I was gonna miss him.

"Ok." FireSpark glared at Derp. "Now give us Ian back." Derp's crooked eyes remained devoid of emotion. They were empty, cold. I stepped in front of him and waved my hand in front of his face. Nothing. I frowned. "What?" Suddenly, he jerked backwards and his eyes widened. I stepped back as he doubled over in pain, like SSundee does when he shifts. FireSpark exchanged anxious glances with Mitch. Jerome and Husky remained frozen in fear. Then he straightened up and I sighed in relief as Ian stared back at me fearfully. "Did he hurt anyone?" I shook my head and SSundee smiled gratefully at me. "Good." Then he glanced at Jerome and Husky, who were staring at him. Ian looked at the ground and mumbled something that sounded like, 'It's a long story.' Jerome shook his head. "No, no, I can't do this." He ran out of the room and Mitch's jaw dropped. Husky frowned. Ty walked calmly out of the room after Jerome. "Um, I'll make sure he's ok." Husky said, then left too, leaving me, Mitch, FireSpark and SSundee standing in the middle of the kitchen. Mitch looked at Ian. "Derp asked us if we wanted to help him track down the rebels who did this to you." Ian scowled. "I wish he'd stop saying stuff like that." FireSpark sighed. "We could still go after them. They deserve it after what they did to you." Ian blinked at her. "What?" I frowned. "We don't want anymore trouble than we've already caused." SSundee's blue eyes glazed over for a few moments, then they cleared and he nodded reluctantly. "Derp explained it to me. It might be best to eliminate anymore future threats they could pose to us." Mitch grinned and clicked his knuckles together. "Yay! Time to go beat up the bad guys!" I grinned back at him. FireSpark smiled at SSundee, who smiled back. I could see doubt in his eyes, but that could be for anything. I felt a stab of sympathy for Ian. He never did a bad thing in his life, but it was him who ended up on the receiving end of so many bad things. Like being a psycho killer I guess. I didn't trust Derp, no one did. But we all wanted less trouble for SSundee, and that meant going with it. I laughed at the cruel irony of it. Trust the one who makes SSundee's life hell to make it better. SSundee caught my eye and I jolted at the sudden madness I glimpsed burning within. I suddenly had a disturbing thought. Was Ian insane before any of this started? I instantly dismissed it out of guilt. The last thing we needed was to doubt ourselves. But I still had so many unanswered questions about SSundee. I guess they will have to remain that way until this is all over. If it ever is...