The Seuss is on the loose
I had to fix a leaky leak
So under the house I did creep
With a bottle of gooey blue glue
To try to stop a drop or two
Blue glue goo now is in my hair
Blue glue goo is everywhere
On my hands there's quite a bit
Onto my skin it did stick
To dry into azure flakes
Under my nails it did cake
So, to try to fix a leaky pipe
I may be blue to rest of my life
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Elven Dance
Elven dance
Sprites and fairies dance in the night
Around a secluded forest glen
While elves and pixies sing and laugh
At the beauty of life found within
Above it all a diamond dusted sky
And moon in glory, all aglow
While timidly the bride enters the dance
With steps both dainty and slow
Faster the beat is heard from the band
Under torches that sway with the fun
While pipes cry out with glorious pride
Along with the beatings chants of the drum
The music gets bolder and faster now
As the handsome groom steps near
With sturdy step and keen eye does he
His antlered head proudly rear
Suddenly the dance in its frenzied pace
Halts suddenly, and goes strangely dim
As bride meets groom, hand and hand
Until she meekly smiles at him
Laughter erupts from the trees around
And the music squeals aloud as it plays
They dance till all leave for weary slumber
And then they bless the land once again
Around a secluded forest glen
While elves and pixies sing and laugh
At the beauty of life found within
Above it all a diamond dusted sky
And moon in glory, all aglow
While timidly the bride enters the dance
With steps both dainty and slow
Faster the beat is heard from the band
Under torches that sway with the fun
While pipes cry out with glorious pride
Along with the beatings chants of the drum
The music gets bolder and faster now
As the handsome groom steps near
With sturdy step and keen eye does he
His antlered head proudly rear
Suddenly the dance in its frenzied pace
Halts suddenly, and goes strangely dim
As bride meets groom, hand and hand
Until she meekly smiles at him
Laughter erupts from the trees around
And the music squeals aloud as it plays
They dance till all leave for weary slumber
And then they bless the land once again
Monday, September 13, 2010
Shadows of the Mind
Chaperter 1
Lady Penelope Fitzadams knew someone in the room was about to die. It wasn't a matter of doubt for that was a certainty, it was just a matter of who. She looked around the cigar smoke laden room of assembled gentry. Her boor of a husband had demanded she attend to impress his friends yet again with her talents. How she hated when he forced her to use her troublesome gifts like some sideshow freak. She meekly adjusted the pleats of her dress as she seated herself at the small table provided for her. She daintily removed her hat and gloves while her husband heckled and taunted the crowd with his endless stale jokes between gulps of flat beer with his loud and brash manner. So much for breeding, she thought. One would think from his display that he were a common street vendor hawking his wares instead of a rich and well landed lord. Then again on rare occasions he had his uses.
She gave a start as a gloved hand placed a small glass of sherry on the table before her. She looked up to see the wrinkled bearded face of Major Jarvis Sheridan. He gave her a sad little smile which seemed to tell her that he understood a bit of the indignity she was feeling. She knew well the injuries and imprisonment he and her father had endured while captured during a failed battle in India. His dedication and hidden inner strength had been quite paramount in their escape. Years later, after her father's death he had often came to visit and she held him in high regard. The fact that he had publicly protested her marriage to Lord Fitzadams had given her pause to the point that she had almost called off the ceremony. Now it was far too late, but she had been young and not as knowing in the ways of the world then. Now she employed him as her personal aide and bodyguard. A condition which irked her husband greatly, which now pleased her even more than a little if she were to admit it.
Her maid Sarah handed her the small worn velvet purse that contained the articles of her current embarrassment. The crowded room seem to pause for a second and catch its collective breath as she opened it and removed the tattered deck of cards. While she quietly straightened them into a rough order Sarah dimmed the flickering gas lights about the room and opened a window to 'invite' the knowing friendlier spirits of the night. As chairs were scrapped closer into circle around the tattered and faded colorful carpet, the sturdy Major stood vigil behind her demanding that the ruffians leave her enough room to breath. Several offered rebuke for his rough speech but with a glance of his glowing, brass rimmed eye they settled down deciding not to take offense. Although his injuries over the years had been numerous, His Majesties surgeons had done their best for him. Later aide from private doctors and inventors with the gratefully assistance of her father's wealth and influence had refined them further. The fact that they both lived full and useful lives, that is until her father's untimely death, with only the occasional twinge of pain and rare needful repair attested to the quality of the masterful handiwork done upon them.
Sarah lit a small bronze brazier in the corner of the room and speckled it with a tiny pouch of fragrant herbage that lent a smoke across the assemblage which curled and twisted with the breeze provided by the open window. Sarah, being an old hand to these gatherings knew what was expected from the crowd, danced and swayed and mumbled fanciful chants mixed with bits of singing, sometimes slow and low sometimes high and childlike. The crowd, as usual, seemed suitably impressed. The musical accent of her island home mixed with her dark skin seemed almost unsettling at these times. One could almost hear the drums and chanting in the background, especially if you were really straining your imagination. The bits of bright cloth and beads mixed in with the embroidery on her clothing didn't hurt one bit either. She gave Lady Penelope a wink with a flash of a gleaming smile and asked with a small hand gesture if she was ready yet.
Penelope close her eyes and let out a slow breath as she attempted to clear her mind as Sarah's singing changed to a slower song, almost a lullaby in a different language. A few of the veteran's nodded quietly to each other knowing what was going to happen next. Penelope reached out with her mind seeking, searching for an image or pattern in the swirling chaotic fog that she alone sensed around her. The crowd were almost holding their breaths in anticipation so no distractions there. The outside noise from the street was hidden by Sarah's singing, a melody that she was quite familiar with and could use to help calm herself since they had long ago worked out which songs soothed her the best. She let her mind wander as her hands shuffled and laid the faded and tattered cards into random patterns on the table without notice. They were only props anyway. Oh word had gotten out that they were found in a dark and battered chest in a cobwebbed and sealed alcove of her great grandmothers attic. Long forgotten and hidden away by cunning plan of that wise and mysterious ancestor, and also reportedly cursed or damned for the power they gave the user. A power only usable by one of that ancient bloodline, and the user must also be female the story also told. Mystery and shadow, it seemed, painted quite the picture. A picture that her husband tried to sell again and again for the price of a business transaction here, a real estate deal there, a hidden alliance elsewhere.
The truth was that she had purchased them long ago as a child during an outing with her mother at a curio shop. Sarah had spotted them first, drawn to their bright colors and intricate illustrations and shown them to Penelope. She had hesitantly asked her mother, fearing a scolding, and was a bit surprised by the thoughtful look on her mother's face before she had given her approval for the purchase.
Later that night she had been called to the study where mother and father had sat reading after dinner. When the servants had departed and the doors closed she was told by worried faces that they knew of her 'talent'.
Lady Penelope Fitzadams knew someone in the room was about to die. It wasn't a matter of doubt for that was a certainty, it was just a matter of who. She looked around the cigar smoke laden room of assembled gentry. Her boor of a husband had demanded she attend to impress his friends yet again with her talents. How she hated when he forced her to use her troublesome gifts like some sideshow freak. She meekly adjusted the pleats of her dress as she seated herself at the small table provided for her. She daintily removed her hat and gloves while her husband heckled and taunted the crowd with his endless stale jokes between gulps of flat beer with his loud and brash manner. So much for breeding, she thought. One would think from his display that he were a common street vendor hawking his wares instead of a rich and well landed lord. Then again on rare occasions he had his uses.
She gave a start as a gloved hand placed a small glass of sherry on the table before her. She looked up to see the wrinkled bearded face of Major Jarvis Sheridan. He gave her a sad little smile which seemed to tell her that he understood a bit of the indignity she was feeling. She knew well the injuries and imprisonment he and her father had endured while captured during a failed battle in India. His dedication and hidden inner strength had been quite paramount in their escape. Years later, after her father's death he had often came to visit and she held him in high regard. The fact that he had publicly protested her marriage to Lord Fitzadams had given her pause to the point that she had almost called off the ceremony. Now it was far too late, but she had been young and not as knowing in the ways of the world then. Now she employed him as her personal aide and bodyguard. A condition which irked her husband greatly, which now pleased her even more than a little if she were to admit it.
Her maid Sarah handed her the small worn velvet purse that contained the articles of her current embarrassment. The crowded room seem to pause for a second and catch its collective breath as she opened it and removed the tattered deck of cards. While she quietly straightened them into a rough order Sarah dimmed the flickering gas lights about the room and opened a window to 'invite' the knowing friendlier spirits of the night. As chairs were scrapped closer into circle around the tattered and faded colorful carpet, the sturdy Major stood vigil behind her demanding that the ruffians leave her enough room to breath. Several offered rebuke for his rough speech but with a glance of his glowing, brass rimmed eye they settled down deciding not to take offense. Although his injuries over the years had been numerous, His Majesties surgeons had done their best for him. Later aide from private doctors and inventors with the gratefully assistance of her father's wealth and influence had refined them further. The fact that they both lived full and useful lives, that is until her father's untimely death, with only the occasional twinge of pain and rare needful repair attested to the quality of the masterful handiwork done upon them.
Sarah lit a small bronze brazier in the corner of the room and speckled it with a tiny pouch of fragrant herbage that lent a smoke across the assemblage which curled and twisted with the breeze provided by the open window. Sarah, being an old hand to these gatherings knew what was expected from the crowd, danced and swayed and mumbled fanciful chants mixed with bits of singing, sometimes slow and low sometimes high and childlike. The crowd, as usual, seemed suitably impressed. The musical accent of her island home mixed with her dark skin seemed almost unsettling at these times. One could almost hear the drums and chanting in the background, especially if you were really straining your imagination. The bits of bright cloth and beads mixed in with the embroidery on her clothing didn't hurt one bit either. She gave Lady Penelope a wink with a flash of a gleaming smile and asked with a small hand gesture if she was ready yet.
Penelope close her eyes and let out a slow breath as she attempted to clear her mind as Sarah's singing changed to a slower song, almost a lullaby in a different language. A few of the veteran's nodded quietly to each other knowing what was going to happen next. Penelope reached out with her mind seeking, searching for an image or pattern in the swirling chaotic fog that she alone sensed around her. The crowd were almost holding their breaths in anticipation so no distractions there. The outside noise from the street was hidden by Sarah's singing, a melody that she was quite familiar with and could use to help calm herself since they had long ago worked out which songs soothed her the best. She let her mind wander as her hands shuffled and laid the faded and tattered cards into random patterns on the table without notice. They were only props anyway. Oh word had gotten out that they were found in a dark and battered chest in a cobwebbed and sealed alcove of her great grandmothers attic. Long forgotten and hidden away by cunning plan of that wise and mysterious ancestor, and also reportedly cursed or damned for the power they gave the user. A power only usable by one of that ancient bloodline, and the user must also be female the story also told. Mystery and shadow, it seemed, painted quite the picture. A picture that her husband tried to sell again and again for the price of a business transaction here, a real estate deal there, a hidden alliance elsewhere.
The truth was that she had purchased them long ago as a child during an outing with her mother at a curio shop. Sarah had spotted them first, drawn to their bright colors and intricate illustrations and shown them to Penelope. She had hesitantly asked her mother, fearing a scolding, and was a bit surprised by the thoughtful look on her mother's face before she had given her approval for the purchase.
Later that night she had been called to the study where mother and father had sat reading after dinner. When the servants had departed and the doors closed she was told by worried faces that they knew of her 'talent'.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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...?"
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...?"
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