August 20, 2018
2:15:45 PM
Southern Sector, New Orleans, Louisiana
A presence . A term that can mean existing, occurring or being present in a place. In a different context, people say that it's commandeering the attention in a room with an energy so palpable, that the mass has no choice but to be drawn to it. When you see someone with a grand sense of being, it's tough to ignore, and even harder not to bask in their greatness and admire. Like for instance, how athletic, or hardworking. How they get the job done like no other. Diligent, friendly, ferociously handsome. The list, oh it was endless, and still being added to. When talking about someone like him, one couldn't help but to applaud and record his greatness. Limited edition, autographed copy. The best guy you could ever meet. He could move mountains and redirect streams, he coul-
"Earth to, no one's quick as Gaston ," Maya whistles and taps him on the shoulder. Ricky turns, wiping some excess sweat from his brow, the ever-present smile gracing his features as he looks to the girl. "Stop narrating your life like that, it's really annoying."
"Oh, you heard that?" Ricky laughs, shaking his head, drops of sweat flying from his wet strands. Maya's face folded into a grimace, stepping just out of his disgusting, sweat-drizzling range. "I mean, I can't help it. When you're as great as I am, you have to let the people know, naw mean? I'm lah yeah wit' da yeah."
"The people? I don't particularly think your own attention span is stupid enough to sit through your conceit," she threw a towel at his head, which he decided to just drape around his neck. Instead of wiping his sweaty, nasty head. "And, stop using slang like you actually know how to use it." Maya rolls her eyes as Ricky laughs, pulling the girl into a side hug. Struggling to escape from his clammy clutches, Ricky finally conceded and let her go, not wanting to collide with the column that was in the middle of the hall.
With one final tug in his direction, Maya was pulled around the column, narrowly missing her own confrontation with the marble. "Mom always said splitting the pole is bad luck. Don't want you contacting any of that bad mojo," he grinned, tossing her a classic Ricky wink. His attention was turned back in the direction he was walking, a casual, happy whistle leaving his lips.
The hall wasn't too terribly crowded, but as a different person passed the pair by, the grin on Ricky's face got wider. He lived for the attention and he aimed to please. Each person that passed by got their own unique greeting and Maya wondered if they would ever make it out of the hall before dark.
"Yo, Rick, how's that Vice Cap'n thing goin'?" A man with kempt locks calls as they pass one another by. "Find anythin' good on yer patrols?"
"Nah," Ricky answers, "If'm honest, most places are...kinda dead." There was a brief pause between his joke and the uncontrollable laughter that left the man as he passed them by. The bodily reaction that left Maya was almost comical, as she rubbed her forehead looked towards the sky as if she was praying to the gods.
"I wish you'd have learned a better sense of humor. It's been nearly a decade and a half of you using the same couple of one-liners." Maya lamented, begging with her eyes for his train of groupies not to encourage his behavior. "You know you aren't funny, right? You've never been."
"Aw, Mai-Mai, you're hurting the feelings of the Great and Powerful Ricky. Wit' tha God Body, might I add." Ricky whines, reaching over to pat Maya on the head. Once again, the girl moved out of his grasp, nose upturned in as she tried to avoid the musty smell that was radiating off of him in waves.
"And you're hurting my nose by not taking a shower. They have showers in the locker rooms for a reason, you know."
"You're just jealous." Ricky stops in the middle of the hallway, whipping around to face Maya once again, "The Rickster got the skills to pay many a bill an' the certificates to prove it."
Maya raises a hand, a hot retort on her tongue, to which Ricky is already looking smugly at her, waiting to respond when a rush of air stops them both. The two turn their gazes towards the door that had just open and shut tightly, staring at the man who just entered the hallway.
"Lt. Dąbrowski, Lt. Maya, just the pair I was looking to see." The towering man's voice is level and deep, but not intimidating despite how he stands over them.
"Branch Commander Fleur." Both salute him, "You were looking for us?" Ricky continues, a tinge of confusion in his voice, "You know I get Early D, so we came for a little bit. Had to maintain these legs, this body, this-"
"Branch Commander, excuse this one. You know how he gets after a workout, was there a pressing matter?" Maya tilts her head, eyes gleaming. "We've turned in the report from our last mission...was there something wrong with it?"
"I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but we do have a pressing matter if you have time to listen." Commander Fleur stated, his gaze sweeping over the two. "Walk with me a moment, will you?"
Ricky nods, following after the commander who takes the lead in front of the two. He trades confused glances with Maya who keeps her gaze trained on the Commander's bald head, which glints occasionally in the fluorescent lights.
"There has been some disturbances recently," The Commander begins, clearing his throat, "Around Mid-West and this sector as well. Nothing too concrete yet, but it's been reported more than a few times, so the locals are asking we look into it."
"With all due respect, Commander," Ricky looks to Maya, then back to the commander, "We've got a higher clearance level, so...shouldn't this be something for, like, the Junior Agents training exercises? Unless it's a real threat..."
"I know it sounds very run-around and small, but it's good to have some of the senior agents check out things like this for the ease of the locals." The Commander stops in the middle of the hallway, turning to Ricky and Maya, "While I trust our Junior Agents and their instructors, I still would prefer a senior agent or someone with your particular set of skills to handle this matter."
"I do have a particularly good set of skills," Ricky agrees, "Alright, I'm your man. I'll go out an' catch this disturbance."
"Excellent! With your covert operating skills, I feel that yourself and Lt. Maya will be able to handle this mission quick and efficiently, which is what we're looking for." The Commander continues, nodding his head as he agreed with his own statement.
"Aw, you don't have to butter me up, Commander. Me 'n Maya know we the yeah with the yes." Ricky brushes off his shoulder, sniffing a little bit as he does so. Maya rolls her eyes but nods at Ricky's statement.
"Though I've got a question, Commander." Maya finally speaks up, "Our Captain... Wouldn't she be a good addition to this mission? In fact, any of our squad members?"
"Unfortunately, your Captain and another agent on your squad are dispatched to investigating another lead. As I said, I believe your skills are much more suited to the reconnaissance and potential takedown mission."
"Did you hear that, Maya? We're suited to it. This is our calling. The Hunters. Alright, Commander, you don't gotta tell me twice, but you can if you want cause I like hearing how good I am." Ricky pretends to pop his collar, "Do you have any more details?"
"I'll send them now." The Commander lifts his wrist, tapping a few things on his watch before a small whoosh is heard. Ricky's watch pings and he lifts it, quickly reading over the file.
"We'll head out at once, then." Ricky and Maya salute once more, turning to walk back the way they had come.
"Thank you. Commit greatness to your heart and excel where the blessed may depart. Be well on your mission." The Commander turns towards a door, which opens immediately, "Oh and Lt. Dąbrowski?" Ricky turns, a questioning gaze directed at the Commander for a moment, "Please take a shower, you smell like garbage."
Maya's loud laugh is the last thing the Commander hears as he enters his office.
August 20, 2018
2:45:12 PM
Salem, Arkansas
"So," Maya trots beside Ricky, "We're gonna catch that disturbance, huh?" Eyebrow raised, she peeked up at the teen, attempting to match and keep up with his strides.
"We're positive vibes only here, okay?" Ricky pulls his jacket a little closer to him, "I didn't cast that blessing spell on us for nothing."
"Well, it probably didn't even work, knowing your track record with spells." Maya rolls her eyes, looking around the vacant street. It was almost eerie how quiet the street was, and a shuddering shiver ruffled her fur. "Couldn't they have named this town something else?"
"Salem is a prominent figure in America. He's a wonderful cat and you're just mad there's no town called Maya." Ricky chides, his gaze never staying on any one area for too long. "I don't see anybody. How can a town with such a great name be so dead."
"I'm getting real sick of your bad puns." Maya groans, shaking her fur, ears standing alert as she recognized another presence nearby. "Look, there's someone, ask them." She points toward a man on a street corner, staring into the window of a corner shop.
The two jog over, standing in front of the man who doesn't seem to see them at first. Ricky stares at the man, waiting for him to say something and when the man doesn't, he looks him over. Nearly ash gray with ratty clothes, he looks as if he's been in five barfights back to back and lost each one.
"Hey, 'scuse us?" Ricky waves a hand in front of the man, "Y'alright?" The man's distant eyes seem to refocus and turn to Ricky. He blinks once, then twice.
"Y-You can see m-me-e?" The man's hoarse voice sounds disbelieving.
"Yeah, cause you're standing there?" Ricky tilts his head as if he had asked the oddest question, "I have some questions for you if you don't mind."
"See? Me? But...how? Nobody can see me..." The man's voice shrinks the more he speaks until he's quietly mumbling to himself.
"Well, if I'm Nobody…" Ricky mutters to himself, shaking his head and casting a glance at his partner. "I think you picked the wrong person to start with. This guy doesn't even know he's dead."
"Nah, 'e knows. He been dead bout...sum' like three months now." A lanky man comes from around the corner, slinging an arm around the man, "Maurice jus' be forgettin' sometimes. Ya got questions 'r somethin'?"
"Yeah, we're looking for..." Ricky pauses, thinking for a moment. The file barely had any information on what this thing actually looked like, so how would he even describe it? "...something."
The two men stare at Ricky and he stares back, a wobbly smile sliding onto his face. Maya groans, "Is there, like, a spirit causing trouble around here? Something out of the ordinary?"
"Hm...not that I know of." The other man says, looking to Maurice, "You heard anything, buddy?"
"...I'm...dead...? How? Andy? How...?" Maurice looks down at his hands, everything about him saying disbelief was the only thing he knew.
"Ya got yer ass whupped an' then dumped. Anyway, you could go see Mama Lou on French Street. She mighta seen somethin'."
"Thanks for the help," Ricky saluted, before turning to walk in the direction of French Street. He paused for a moment, looking back at the deceased man who looked like he was going through an existential crisis. Or would it be a did-xistential crisis? Maya nipped at his ankles, hurrying him along before he could say anything else. However, he did quickly leave himself a mental note to inform their captain about Maurice. Maybe she would be able to help him out, she was good at putting the dead at ease.
Finding their way to French Street, Mama Lou wasn't as much help as the other two thought she would be. There wasn't much that she could offer that the file sent to his watch didn't go over. Whatever this thing was, it was really giving them all the runaround. Not many of the beings around the area seemed particularly worried, but there was something in his gut telling him to run. Ricky Dąbrowski didn't run; it wasn't in his character, and just the thought made him uncomfortable.
Maybe it was the stagnant air or the fact that the more they walked around, the number of souls they saw started to lessen. It was like that moment animals prepare themselves for a great storm and head in the opposite direction of it. As for Ricky and Maya, it almost felt like they were walking headfirst into the storm. Paranoia, was that what he was feeling? Either way, he was pretty tired of the loop-de-loop that he was getting, but the teen couldn't exactly call it a successful mission if he didn't come back with something .
"The only thing we've found is a ghost rat, a rusty penny, and my impatience for our lack of discovery. Did I miss anything?" Maya yawns, shaking out her tiredness from head to toe.
"No, I don't think you did." Ricky sighed, leaning up against the old statue in the park. "Maybe it's moved on from this town? I mean, there's not really anything I would want to disturb here. Maurice is already disturbed enough."
"He need some milk." Maya gives her own take on the man, walking closer to Ricky and curling her tail around his leg. She looks up at him, her eyes blinking slowly. "The Commander really got you. Checking out this nowhere lead." She snickered, coyly tilting her head from side to side.
"He complimented our skills. I couldn't not do it, you know that." Ricky sighs, pulling out his outdated phone. "I guess we'll just call for a portal and go home... I don't want to, bu-"
"Idiot!" Maya flicks her tail at Ricky's leg. She jumps up onto the ledge surrounding the statue and paws at his wrist, "Your SpiriWatch!"
"Yeah, what abou-oh...! Oh, Maya, you're smart. Too smart. Of course, you're smart. You're my Divine."
"Don't flatter me, Ricky wit' tha God Bod and Idiot Brain. Just use the damn thing." Maya rolls her eyes, though her tail swishes back and forth.
Ricky drops his phone into his pocket, devoting his attention towards the watch as he goes through the different applications before landing on a particular one. Maya and Ricky watch the screen for a moment, which is blank aside from the gray areas and small lines detailing a simple map version of the area they are in. Swiping around reveals that as they had already seen, there weren't many spirits in the area.
"...There's nothing around. Nothing special anyway." Ricky pushes off of the ledge, stretching. "I guess it's really time to go home."
Maya hops down from the ledge, following after Ricky who is looking for the park's exit. The pair takes only a few steps before a loud blaring from Ricky's watch stops the two in their tracks. Maya's fur bristles at the sound while Ricky repeatedly taps at his watch, which isn't responding. "Turn that off!" Maya yelps, pressing her paws against her ears.
"I'm trying, but nothing's happenin'! D'ya think it's broken?" Ricky shakes his wrist as if the motion would help shut off the watch, "It's blinkin' like crazy... maybe I should've updated it."
"That would've been ni-" Maya cuts herself off with a predatory growl, her tails spreading and bristling once more. Ricky stops fidgeting with his watch to look down at Maya, whose eyes are darting around the area.
The yelp Maya emits is something Ricky can feel in his whole being, more than hear. He feels the way she hits the tree and how it snaps in half from the force more than he can see it. Even more than that, the insanely chilly, blood-curdling scream that permeates the area directly afterward is something he can feel ringing in his ears as he tries to steady himself to run towards Maya.
"Maya!" Ricky calls, skidding across the grass towards the remnants of the tree where Maya lays. "Get up, luv, we gotta move." Maya weakly groans, when Ricky pushes away part of the tree, grabbing her and running opposite the monster.
He chances a glance backward, eyes widening and his pace picking up upon seeing how close the creature had gotten to the pair. Garbed in black with a broken white mask, the creatures wailing continues.
Ricky trips, rolling and skidding until he's backed against a tree and the creature is gaining. "Fuck, okay, Maya, can you do this?"
"Doesn't...matter." Maya grunts out, "Just call...it."
Ricky doesn't waste time with a response, instead, he quickly presses his hand against the air, the palm glowing with a bright green orange-colored energy. An odd seal appears in front of him and within it, Ricky draws a quick symbol. " Mark the target, draw the bow, with you as my guide, my target always hits true. Maya, lend me your strength!"
The creature approaches, screaming once more, but the blinding light now coming from Ricky stops it momentarily. Within seconds, the light has dissipated. Ricky stands where he once was backed up against the tree, with Maya by his side. "Alright, let's get this done." Ricky draws his bow, eyes on the creature.
Target locked on, Ricky shoots his arrow, but the creature is quicker than before. Bypassing the arrow altogether, the creature makes its way into Ricky's personal space, swiping at him with inky claws. Ricky swings his bow around to deflect, though he still takes the brunt of the hit, which sends him careening into the gate. From the force, Ricky and the gate fall over into the street. Maya materializes right next to him, pawing at his face. "This is a nice start, right? We're having fun, don't you think?"
"I am a near-immortal being with no definite age in your puny human years on how long I've existed and yet you, somehow, are taking many years off of my lifespan with your bad quips and haphazard, reckless approach to this."
"But you're having fun, right ?" Ricky reiterates, sitting up.
"Ricky !" Maya yelps just as the creature once again makes a swipe at Ricky, only deflected by the fact that his back is against the ground and his quickness with the bow. Bringing his legs up under him, Ricky is able to force his legs and the bow upwards into a thrust, which sends the beast hurtling a few yards away.
He quickly jumps up, drawing his bow once again. "Okay, big n' bad, take two."