l1ttle_billy | 405, Wednesday Afternoon

	Billy was doing some reading for class when the phone rang. "Yeah-lo." he answered.
	"Billy," the voice on the other end sounded strained, like it was an effort just to speak. "It's...it's Tommy. I need your nnnngh help."
	Billy's mouth dropped open in shock. Last he had heard, his sensei was back with Cobra. What was going on? "Storm Shadow? But...what's going on? How did you-"
	"I...broke free of the mind control. I...need someone to-eeeeeaaagh!"
	"Tommy!" Billy remembered how much the brainwashing itself had hurt. He could only imagine the agony of trying to break free of it.
	"Help me! The process isn't complete. I need someone to put me into the Arashikage Mindset before...before..."
	"Where are you?!"
	"Home Billy....come home."
	"I'm on it."
	Adam happened on by, when he heard Billy on the phone. Stopping short, he didn't want to interrupt, though he could hear what was being said.
	Billy hung up the phone and pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment. Jesus. What should he do? No, the question was what should he do first?
	Adam took note of the silence and decided to poke his head. "Hey man," he offered a small smile. "You okay?" Yeah, Adam could tell he wasn't, but it was a conversation starter.
	"I just got a call from...and old friend. My first sensei actually. He needs help."
	"Oh wow," Adam knew that was big news. "I'd ask if you were going to help, but I think I know the answer."
	"Yeah. He...I told you about the brainwashing?"
	"A bit, yeah," Adam nodded, wondering if that had anything to do with this.
	"Last I heard, he was back working with my father. He just told me he's managed to break free again, but he needs help to escape permanently."
	"Okay," Adam nodded, listening to what Billy told him. "So, what were you thinking?" He had a feeling his roommate had some semblance of an idea forming in his head and Adam wasn't about to let him go at this alone. No way. Wherever Billy went, Adam was going too.
	"I have to call my friend Snake-Eyes. He'll know how to help him. But not where to find him. Not that I'd let him go after Tommy alone anyway."
	"Need an extra hand?" Adam inquired. That translated to 'I'm coming whether you like it or not', yep.
	"It's kind of a family thing." Billy said, trying to think of a nice way to reject Adam's offer. He didn't want to put anyone in danger.
	Adam nodded, completely understanding. But still. "You know you're going to need someone to watch your back, some kind of backup." Yeah, he was kind of thinking of Fandom people for that part.
	"I will have. Snake-Eyes is almost as much of a bad ass as Storm Shadow is." But he was starting to worry. If his father caught up with them, who, and how many, might he bring.
	"Okay," Adam nodded, wondering if Billy would need more, though. "I was just thinking it would be good to have a few other people with you, people you trust. People that you knew from here," he suggested.
	There were in fact, few people he'd trust from his old life to help Storm Shadow. The man hadn't exactly made many friends. But then...Billy had. And he started to get an idea. "Hmm, maybe you're right. As a matter of fact, a few extra hands sounds like a good idea."
	"Glad I could help," Adam smiled, meaning it.
	"I'll have to make a few calls then. Do you have the student directory?"
	"Yeah, I've got it," Adam nodded, moving to grab it. "Here," he handed it over to Billy.
	"Thanks." He grinned. "If the bad guys show up they won't know what hit them."
	"Sure thing," Adam chuckled. "Oh, yeah, they definitely will be in for the shock of a lifetime."