"Shit shit shit," he whispered under his breath as he climbed, "shit shit--"

The explosion behind and beneath him came with a terrific boom and a knot of livid fire--hot air blasted up underneath Hawk's wings, and then subsided just as quickly. In the absence of its lift he dropped, slowly, onto the roof of the nearest black truck. He searched the heavy black smoke now pouring his way, but was interrupted by a "Hey!" from below.

He looked to see Teige trotting around to the backside of the truck, headlamp eyes blazing in the evening. "Come down here before someone takes a shot at you," he suggested.

Hawk threw himself down off the truck, suddenly furious. "What the fuck are you doin'?" he hissed, as the bull went up in green fire and replaced himself with Teige's familiar form, complete with goat head, ram horns, and thick, curly red mane. "Did'ja see what just about happened? Stop fuckin' playing hero!"

"No," Teige answered flatly, and patted the back door of the truck. "Now help me get this truck open."

They'd only just stepped up to lift the heavy door when a second boom came--though this one was much louder and deeper, the sound of the air separating to accommodate something very large that had suddenly filled space. Hawk and Teige peered around the truck to see a massive white serpent, bathing the street in an electric glow, coiled between two of the tanks. The serpent had wrapped itself around the third tank, which was now upended at 80 degrees and pointing into the air. Lightning played over the serpent's body, arcing between it and the tanks.

"Oh," Teige said obnoxiously as he and Hawk lifted the truck door--it went, heavily, slowly, "I'm playing hero, am I."

Hawk shot him a glare.