Not a Prayer

Commander Glen Rawlins ducked behind his squad car as another burst of gunfire erupted from the bank door way and bullets hammered themselves into the bodywork. Things just weren't going according to plan today. Three banks hit simultaneously was too slim a chance to be anything other than coordinated. A massive traffic congestion due to an overturned semi trailer was keeping away his SWAT team's response. That could have been planned as well, he mused. And a hospital fire on the west side of town had pulled away some of the HEROS support he could have counted on, and had spread the police manpower far too thin. The implications shook him to his core, a major crime spree with no warning had just been dropped into his lap.

He shouted commands into his radio, and the sporadic gunfire of his men tapered off. There were still citizens in the bank, and the situation had changed into a hostage crisis. He ordered Lieutenant Wells to get his men up on the adjoining rooftops and for Sargent Simmons to cordon off the area and get any unneeded personnel out of the way. Status update on the SWAT team wasn't very promising, they were unsuccessfully attempting to navigate the hampered traffic. He gave orders for them to grab gear, abandon the SWAT vehicle, and commandeer a private vehicle outside the roadblock on his responsibility. He'd catch hell from City Hall but it was one of those days and it seemed the lesser of two evils at the moment.

Just as another burst of gunfire from the bank had his men keeping their heads down his radio emitted a pop, and a click and then the the dulcet voice he had hoped to hear. "Commander, this is Vertex, I've entered into your radio frequency and am accessing the bank security system as I speak. HEROS support at this time will be unavailable, as there has been a drastic up scale of violence at the other banks and I had to send in our remaining backup. Be warned, this group may possess heavy weapons as well." Glen gave a curse under his breath and ordered his men to get ready for fallback procedures. He was sure Vertex had broadcast to all of his men's radios as she normally did so they already knew the score.

" WARNING", came Vertex's virtual shout "Heartbreaker and RedWolf are down due to heavy machine gun fire, conditions unknown, HyperHawk and WarWasp have been engaged with surface to air missiles. Commander, you are in no way to attempt to enter the building at this time. I have confirmed by bank security cameras that this group has heavy weapon teams in place as well. Hostages as still alive although I note two guards wounded, a third appears to be dead or unconscious" the radio gave a click as she diverted her attention elsewhere. He glanced over at Corporal Smith "Lady seemed a bit shaken,but I suppose its no wonder. Those were her teammates in trouble after all. It just goes to show that even with those special 'abilites' at their command the Heros were still human as the rest of us." He gave it a second of thought "Well mostly." Smith nodded and risked a peek over the hood of the car and ducked down as shots were fired in their direction.

His SWAT team reported in, they were on foot and making their way through the congestion. No help there for awhile. Wells and his men were nearly on the rooftops, at least we can get a different view on things. When SWAT got here they'd get snipers up there and perhaps could pin down the rocket launchers if they had them. Heavy machine guns though is going to be problem without some HEROS that could wade into it without getting a scratch. Hell, if Countdown were here he would probably beg to get to do it but that guy was a bit nuts to begin with. His radio gave a pop.

"Commander, situations are under control at the other banks. HyperHawk and WarWasp are in route to your location. Hawk will get there first in about 15 minutes but warns he has no weapon payload left, repeat HyperHawk is coming in fast but empty. He says his suit should be able to handle the gunfire till WarWasp makes it there. WARNING, the groups at the other banks also had explosive devices with their hostages. I am currently beginning jamming protocalls on their detonation device frequency but they will still be able to manual detonate."

A cold chill ran down Rawlin's spine, these guys were no light weights, especially if HyperHawk hand managed to use up his full weapons payload, that guy was a walking, talking, flying high tech arsenal. But bombs along with the hostages as he sat helpless, it was like one of his worse nightmares gone wild. His SWAT team was at least still 20 minutes away Hyperhawk was closer but unarmed. WarWasp was a melee specialist and her weapons were built in, but when it came to flying she was no speed demon like the Hawk, no telling when she'd make it here.

"WARNING," Vertex announced again, " the group at your location have become aware of the failed attempts at the other banks they have activated their detonator. I have intercepted the signal and managed to encrypt a counter rotating jammer but its a matter of moments till they figure it out and go manual. Hyperhawk's ETA now 10 minutes." "Damn", thought Rawlins, "it just gets better and better" "Commander," Wells cut into the radio channel. "In position, and Sir, we have movement on the bank roof. Someone wearing black is entering the roof hatch. Appears female and looks to be armed with some type of firearms, type unknown"

"Commander, I've just lost the top landing security camera, it would appear that our guest in indeed armed. I have no reported HEROS in the area but one know individual outside of our control structure does match that description. I've alerted local hospitals and they have additional ambulances on the way. There goes the stairwell cameras as well" Vertex's voice sounded grim. Automatic gunfire could be heard from within the building. Rawling could also barely hear the the thin high pitched shriek that usually signaled HyperHawk approaching. "Damn that boy is really pushing it" he mumbled as windows began to tremble from the velocity of Hawk's approach.

An upper story window on the bank shattered and a line of smoke stabbed at the sky in anger. Well's men poured weapons fire into the window and were rewarded with a scream. An explosion in midair jolted them all off their feet and set off several car alarms and several windows in close by buildings cracked and shattered and blew out. "WARING, HyperHawk down, condition unknown." the radio sadly replied and went silent. "Good lord," Corporal Smith gasped, "they got the Hawk." Rawlings glanced at the boy, who looked to be in shock and on the verge of tears and shaking his head in dismay. "Damn" he thought to himself, "They keep getting younger and younger each year."

Inside the sound of heavy machine gun fire on full auto began. Several windows on the third floor erupted as slugs went astray from ricochets. "That's at least .50 caliber" Sargent Simmons said as he snuck next to the Commander. "I sent a squad to find HyperHawk or what's left of him" he reported unknowing of the Corporals grief. Second later the 50 cal was silenced and a body was either thrown or feel from the one of the windows.It appeared to be on fire and landed with a sickening thud.

"Vertex, who is the known HERO that fits your profile?" the Commander asked into his radio. The reply came, "One know person fits the profile after confirmation of additional non visual data acquired from inside the bank." Wait, what data?" Rawlings interjected. The radio click and Rawlings heard a soft quieted voice "Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen" it was ended by the sharp stutter of an assault weapon firing. Vertex came back on the radio with a click. "The person in the building appears to be HERO labeled Sister Mary Mayhem. WarWasp ETA 5 minutes."

Rawlings looked over to Simmons who shook his head with a blank look. They both looked over at the Corporal. "She's a pissed off Nun with a gun fetish", he said sullenly "She's got a thing about kids in danger." The second floor windows all blew out at once with a fireball explosion that was deafening. "Danger from who?" Simmons shouted with his ears ringing. Shattered glass fell around them as thick smoke began to pour out the mangled doorway of the bank. Figures could be see to move within it.

"WARING, Hold Your Fire" Vertex broadcast across the radios channels as several woman and children stumbled out of the smoke. Sporadic gunfire could still be heard from within as several officers nervously lowered their guns. Suddenly WarWasp landed in the doorway, her wings buzzingly fluttered to clear the smoke around her before folding along her back and the glowing blades emerged along her limbs and she entered the doorway. Commander Rawlings gave the command and he and his men moved forward to collect the confused and scared hostages as screams and gunfire continued within.Several men and women ran from the building as officers closed upon the building ambulance sirens could be heard approaching.

A sharp five round burst of gunfire erupted close by and Rawling flinched as the bullets could be heard to strike something hard and ricochet as WarWasp's electronically enhanced voice bounced off the walls "Leave off you silly Bitch, its over." She came backing out of the door and powered down her blades. As she turned to step aside Rawlings noted were the bullets had struck her chest and abdomen.

From the smoke a taller woman clad in a black leather bodysuit emerged holding a smoking assault weapon in one hand and leading a small child by the hand with the other. Belts holding ammo, grenades and various other weapons criss crossed her shapely body and were totally of place with the rosary, white nun's habit and veil. High tech light amplification sunglasses and smudged dust adorned her gorgeous face. "A supermodel superhero nun with an assault rifle and an attitude", Rawlins mused while something about her nagged at him.

"Sister Mary.. Mayhem?" the Commander asked with just a hint of confusion. She glanced at him and looked down at the small female child and gave her a radiant smile and passed her to a waiting officer. Frowning at WarWasp she turned back to the Commander and slipped off her sunglasses revealing bright sapphire eyes. "Yes Glen?" her quiet voice asked. as Rawlins caught a shuddering breath as his heart gave a lurch, "Susan...?"