"Barrier!"
A pink energy wall shielded Pollock and Clever Adolescent Panda from the worst of the grenade. Shrapnel shredded wires and shattering glass. The concussion sent a nearby cart flying, scattering the few pieces of equipment on it as it did. Pollock winced and dropped the wall, needing to catch her breath.
CAP immediately launched at their attacker, who didn't seem able to react in time. To the panda's surprise, the man proved insubstantial as a shadow, and CAP crashed headfirst into the wall. The man watched the panda's faceplant, then turned towards Pollock, producing another grenade from his suit pocket. "Your hour is at hand."
From behind him, a whip cracked, knocking the grenade loose before it could be armed. The man swung his other arm in a lazy arc toward CAP's head. The panda had enough experience to be wary, and rolled out of the way.
The hand slid easily into the wall for just a moment, until its arc brought it clear again, a piece of the wall grasped between his fingers. He locked eyes with the panda and smiled. "Won't be a minute."
"Is he using time-related expressions?" Pollock grumbled as she reached into her jacket for a large gun. The man drifted into the wall and out of sight.
"Of course he is! Didn't you see the clocks all over his outfit?"
"What do grenades and intangibility have to do with time?"
"Time to call a hearse," the voice responded from behind them as he rose through the floor. He sounded calm, but his targets sensed an undercurrent of glee.
The whip lashed out again, passing through harmlessly as he brought out another grenade. Pollock fired and the canister burst open, revealing a whirling saw blade. The top of the grenade fell to the ground harmlessly.
CAP gawked. "What happened to boxing gloves and silly string?"
"I have those, but I thought more extreme measures might be required."
The man frowned momentarily. Then reached into the floor and pulled a section of piping several feet long, which he held easily at one end. "Playtime is over."
He jabbed with the impromptu staff, catching Pollock in the chest, driving her into the wall. Pollock gasped from the dual impacts, wishing she'd remembered to bring a flak jacket. The staff was already snapping to the right, where CAP absorbed the strike on two thick forearms. The panda slid an inch, no more. They tried shoving back, but the man let his feet sink slightly into the floor and he stopped.
Clever Adolescent Panda took a firm grip on the end of the staff, murmuring to themselves. Perhaps impatient, the Immaterial Man pushed again, only to see the panda bend the staff back on itself like they were planning to roll it up. Using that extra grip, CAP gave a sharp wrench.
The man pulled back, refusing to give an inch. Which is what his furry opponent wanted. CAP used the force of the pull and vaulted into the air, spinning and cracking the whip in the air overhead.
"It's your down time." The man released the staff and extended one hand, waiting for the panda to pass through him. He'd be able to grab any number of organs.
It didn't work as planned. Clever Adolescent Panda jabbed with their free paw, and it connected solidly against the Immaterial Man's. The force behind it, combined with the momentum of the leap, smashed the man to the ground, the floor bending and creaking beneath him. Too stunned to react, a moment later one the lights, its cables cut by the whip, crashed on his head.
CAP helped Pollock, clearly confused, to her feet. "Did he forget to turn intangible?"
"I altered my aura so I could still hit him. Like how I make it so insects don't recognize me as food."
"Setting aside that those two things are nothing alike, why didn't you do that earlier, then?"
"It takes more concentration than fooling insects. You have to make it sorta tangible, but not all the way tangible."
"Clear as mud."
"Your hourglass is out of sand." Their foe rose slowly.
"That was kind of weak. Really awkward phrasing."
"Don't critique his dialogue, just punch him again!" Pollock yelled as she got some distance, trying to think of a good counterattack. CAP's fist shot forward. . . and passed harmlessly through his target.
"What was that?"
"I lost my concentration, maybe because someone is yelling in my ear! I don't see you doing anything!" The panda leapt back, away from another swipe of an intangible limb.
"Whatever, let's just get out of here. We need more room to operate."
The Immaterial Man's smile returned as he sank into the floor. The two dashed towards the door, only for the floor to come crashing down, the wall and ceiling following, sealing them in. As they tried to wave away the dust - no telling what toxic materials were in the walls - they watched their opponent stroll through the debris. As he stepped clear he began tossing a grenade, the one swatted away from him earlier, casually. "You're on borrowed time."
"He's strong enough to bring down an entire wall?" Pollock was growing more irritated and concerned by the moment.
"It's not that hard. He probably swept out key supports beneath it. It's not like he punched it."
"Shut up."
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