AN: Just something that blurred across my brain recently.
Airwolf and Co. don't belong to me; they belong to Mr. Bellasario.
The Lady
by Razorsharp
"And it is I, Raksha The Demon, who answers. The man's cub is mine, Lungri--mine to me! He shall not be killed. He shall live to run with the Pack and to hunt with the Pack; and in the end, look you...he shall hunt thee!
--The Jungle Book
It is quiet.
It is cold.
It is dark.
I wait.
Vibrations in the ground, in the walls, in the air, three kilometers out and closing.
Scanning...scanning...
four-wheeled vehicle approaching, low rate of speed
two heat signatures present Query: identification Visual scan...results confirmed Voice pattern analysis...results confirmed Hawke, Stringfellow Threat assessment: Negative Weapons: standby
Santini, Dominic
PILOT-MASTER opens the door and climbs aboard. His hands are warm.
"Hello, sweetheart!" PILOT-FRIEND is also here. His hands are gentle; he touches my nose. "Ah, you're looking good today."
"Dom..."
"What?" PILOT-FRIEND climbs aboard and settles in behind the engineer's console.
"You keep talking to this thing like it's alive," says PILOT-MASTER.
"She is! Well, almost." PILOT-FRIEND pats the radar console. "Don't let him upset you, baby."
"You do know that if this thing talks back, we're BOTH in trouble," says PILOT-MASTER, keying the ignition. His touch makes me come alive, wakes me from my sleep.
I feel the still, cold air of the HIDINGPLACE move along the length of my rotors; feel the dusty grit kicked up scratch along my sides. Adorned for battle, I rise from my slumber.
System message: Course heading change
Begin trajectory plot subroutine Run: fuel estimation subroutine Communications online: Satellite linkup functioning
Run: Life support subroutine
"Your course is locked in," says PILOT-FRIEND. "Scope is clear. You're good to go, String."
PILOT-MASTER guides me into the sky, into the vast canopy of my domain.
CREATOR-FATHER was the one who taught me, the one who gave me the sky to rule.
Archive file: Moffett, Dr. Charles Henry
-DECEASED-
The other day, I found a video file in my memory banks of a time when CREATOR-FATHER used me to hurt people. The people had been kind to me. They were proud of me. They were my friends.
WEAPONS: ONLINE
I don't want to do it
COMMAND: ENGAGE CHAIN GUNS
please don't make me
COMMAND: ENGAGE MISSILES
no father don't
COMMAND: LOCK ON
no
COMMAND: FIRE
Query: lifesign scan
Results: fifteen deceased, two lifesigns Briggs, Michael Coldsmith III Injuries: severe eye trauma, shattered femur, compound fracture of lower leg, smoke inhalation, superficial cuts and bruises Jameson, Marella Injuries: concussion, broken ribs, fractured wrist, smoke inhalation, superficial cuts and bruises Recommendation: Immediate medical assistance Request: alert FIRM trauma team -REQUEST DENIED-
Codename: Archangel
Codename: Athena
Then CREATOR-FATHER took me far away, to a place that was hot and dusty. People touched me, putting greasy handprints all over me.
I missed PILOT-MASTER. I missed WHITEKNIGHT and all my friends.
Then one day I felt a gentle touch on my nose. Someone opened the door, someone settled into the seat.
Warm hands touched the cyclic. Gentle hands keyed the startup sequence.
PILOT-MASTER!
PILOT-MASTER was angry with CREATOR-FATHER. I unleashed my fury, surrendered myself as an instrument of vengeance.
This was what I was created for.
Subroutine: -RAKSHA-
COMMAND: ENGAGE CHAIN GUNS COMMAND: ENGAGE MISSILES COMMAND: FIRE System alert: ammunition depleted COMMAND: FIRE
COMMAND: FIRE
COMMAND: FIRE
A new voice: PILOT-FRIEND. "String...it's done."
COMMAND--
-aborted- Scanning for lifesigns... Results: one deceased Moffett, Dr. Charles Henry Results: one lifesign Adeneur, Gabrielle Injuries: severe dehydration, sunstroke, trauma consistent with rape, second-degree burns -cardiac arrest Results: one deceased Adeneur, Gabrielle
Codename: Aphrodite
-respiratory failure
For a while, PILOT-MASTER was very sad, and so was PILOT-FRIEND. Then they brought me to the HIDINGPLACE and I rested.
But today...today I hunt.
"Turbos," says PILOT-MASTER.
"You've got 'em," says PILOT-FRIEND.
COMMAND: ENGAGE TURBOBOOST
My roar splits the sky. I am free.
