Calvin followed the fiddle out the window, but where it fell to the parking lot below, he hopped onto a narrow ledge and scooted to the side. He was angry about getting shocked, not suicidal.
Adrenaline and a desire to get clear caused him to almost overshoot and sail into empty space like the instrument, but he was able to regain his balance as electricity sparked and snapped out the window on his left and into the air. He made his way along the narrow path to the next hallway down, where he found the window was entirely intact. Over his shoulder, he saw his new best friend sticking his head out the window, scowling.
"Aw, crap."
Then the elderly-looking man was flying out the window, the fat end of Calvin's bat taking his place, one slim hand holding it tightly. For a moment the Electric Man seemed to cartwheel helplessly into space, until the electricity surged from his hands again. It reached back to the building, seeming to almost grasp the metal framework that ran along the exterior, then arcing back to its master. His descent slowed, then stopped, and he began to rise back to their level.
Having forgotten his own very exposed position, Calvin watched as the bat withdrew from his sight. Before the walking skeleton could follow, Cassanee leapt out to meet him. She kicked him squarely in the face, using him as a springboard to go higher, and she floated backwards enough to grab the edge of the roof with one hand. As the Electric Man again overcame gravity, Cass easily pulled herself up. He glared up at her, while the Lady in Orange looked down at him, no emotion showing.
For a few seconds, they held this stalemate. Then, with a little more power, he was launched above her, Cass darting back smoothly while he rained bolts of sheer power on her as he descended. Calvin continued down the ledge, trying to find some way to access the roof.
Cassanee felt steadier here. Only a few AC units for cover, but the open roof offered far more room to maneuver than the close quarters of the hall and offices. Not that she would say she was winning, exactly. Getting close enough to strike was tricky. She couldn't tell that he had a recharge time, and didn't plan to take another direct hit to find out. She stayed to one side or the other, so it was more difficult for him to use both hands, since using both seemed to allow for stronger attacks and a wider range.
At least he hadn't been able to stay airborne. She'd be in real trouble if he claimed the high ground, she reflected, ducing behind an AC unit. A moment later, she darted back the direction she'd come, heading for more cover. She saw his right hand rise out of the corner of her eye, but she'd didn't slow her pace until after he decided where to aim, so he led her by too much. She turned 90 degrees, heading for him as his attack crackled ineffectually wide left.
He raised his left arm in response, and she adjusted smoothly to her right. Just enough to avoid any harm beyond her cloak getting singed, but not enough to divert her. She held the bat in one hand, letting it trail behind her just above the roof. She could bring it to bear in a full swing on any number of places on his emaciated body. She saw his eyes widen, and then the right hand was there, crossed over his left bicep, palm out. She was able to glide sideways as a wall of current erupted between them. The barrier unfortunately redirected her long enough he could bring his left arm back into the fray and she had to retreat.
Cassanee felt her teeth grind in frustration. She was faster than him, but he could cover such a wide range with little movement or effort. And he was on a section of roof with no cover nearby. Drawing him into an ambush was impossible. She started to wonder if she'd been better off in the maze of halls and offices after all. This was slightly outside her range of expertise.
"Hey! Heeeeey! Old Man! You gonna do your version of Fiddler on the Roof? Oh that's right, you ca - awk!" Calvin dropped back out of sight onto the fire escape. The metal fire escape. Crap. Well he couldn't be picky. He'd been lucky to even find this rickety thing around the corner of the building. Especially since he hadn't seen a way to access from inside. Maybe they renovated the building and left it behind?
At any rate, he'd reached the roof and tried to give Cass an opening the best way he could: being a smart ass. Well he got the guy's attention, but when Cass tried to capitalize, the Electric Man flung one hand to his side. His energy arced out and wrapped around an AC unit, pulling him that way. Cass' swing only grazed his left side. To her credit, she didn't break stride, flowing smoothly in a gentle arc that tracked his movement, and kept her between him and Calvin.
Calvin popped back up into view and flung the metal platter like a Frisbee. Focused on Cass as she looked for an opening, the Electric Man didn't notice the platter ricochet off the AC unit he was being drawn towards, and it collided solidly with his jaw. The current coming from his hand abruptly cut off, the upraised arm straightened out and jerked higher on some invisible puppet string.
The tray spun off in the direction of Cass, who let it drift over her shoulder as she darted in and struck the stunned man once in the face with the end of the bat. He flew backwards before he hit the roof and rolled another few feet.
Calvin walked up, holding the tray in one hand and shaking the other. "Captain America always makes catching it look so much easier. You have any rubber coils or insulation or anything?"
Cassanee's eyes stayed on their downed opponent. "He wears gloves. Rubber coils?"
"Yes, and he takes performance enhancers. And I mean something to absorb any electricity he tries to discharge."
She shook her head. "Nothing like that."
"Me neither. Should we try getting the others and leaving while the getting is good?"
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