by I'm Not Mister Mxypltk
The newly arrived team members had to explain very quickly where they had been the past few weeks, because escaping from the Mandelovian police in a van did not give them too much time to talk.
The introductions were made very quickly as well. Shirley recognized most of the group, because she had seen their act in the circus, but this was the first time they met her. Mick Harrison and Naecken also introduced the rest to Sam Dawson, who was happy to meet more metahumans and was friendly to everyone.
The key to escaping from the constant chase was getting through the Mandelovian border. Once they left Mandelovian territory, the law couldn't touch them, and the tired police officers could finally go home after hours of chasing the little van full of metahumans.
When they approached the roads near the border, several black cars joined the police cars behind them. Inside the cars were several men dressed in black suits who seemed more eager to catch the fugitives than the policemen were. Proof of that were the enormous weapons they used to try to stop the van.
"EVERYBODY TAKE COVER! To the floor!" yelled Tobias Christopher in the driver's seat as the bullets broke the windows in the back, flew over everyone's heads and broke the windshield.
"What about you?!" said Mick, in the passenger's seat, keeping his head as low as possible. "Your head is like a open target up there!"
"I'll just vibrate my head when I hear a bullet coming this way," Tobias said without taking his eyes from the way.
"Oh," Mick replied.
"So..." Tobias said, lowering his voice, "...you and that Shirley chick... is that serious?"
Mick's eyes were widened in terror and shock, and he gave Tobias a look as if to question whether this was the right time for small talk, but Tobias seemed unfazed by the bullets. Mick replied,"Yeah, I think so..." He dodged a bullet. "I really like her, you know, but, uh..."
"What?" said Tobias, vibrating his head to avoid a bullet.
"Well... the problem is... she thinks I'm an hero and stuff... and she doesn't know that... M-X-Y and I aren't the same person."
"Hey, if she really likes you, she won't care about that."
"You think?"
"Yeah, man. Don't you let go of her," Tobias said, sounding kind of emotional. "Don't you let go of her."
"Yeah, you're right. I guess I should tell her, but not right n--" Mick said, interrupted by the awful sound of a bullet under the van. "SHIT! That didn't sound good, man! What if that hit the motor?"
"Yeah, the van is in pretty bad shape. But we're so close to the border!" Tobias said.
"May I suggest something, Christopher?" Marv Velo said.
"Sure, go ahead!" Tobias said to Velo.
"Can you try making the van and everyone in it vibrate like your head is?" Velo asked.
"Sure, I can try... Oh, I see where you're going with this," Tobias said as he started vibrating.
Everything around Tobias started vibrating, too, and soon the whole van was intangible.
"HhUuRrRrYy UuPp TtOoBbIiAaSs," Danny Hearn yelled, vibrating like the rest. "TtHhIiSs HhUuRrTtSs LiKke HhEeLlLl"
"YyEeAaHh, MmAaNn," Mick said.
"I'm going as fast as I can!" Tobias answered.