Summary: There's a new thief in town, and she has a profound affect on Goliath... Story 3 in the "Wheels and Wings" series (crossover with "Viper").
Author's Notes: Gargoyles belongs to Disney and Buena Vista. This story and every other in the "Wheels and Wings" universe come before and in place of "Hunter's Moon" and the whole Goliath Chronicles. Viper belongs to Pet Fly (the car to Dodge) and this story in that universe continues the 1994 season, disregarding the 1996-1999 continuation. The Grgola mythology and the concept of guardians belong to me. Please, don't use them without permission.
The day after tomorrow...
A time when criminals rule the streets...
The only weapon that can stop them needs a driver...
A thousand years ago, superstition and the sword ruled,
And flesh-and-blood gargoyles ruled the skies...
Now, in Manhattan they are befriended by a human cop.
Together, against a corrupt system,
They are taking back the streets...
The Egg
Evil Overlady
~ Chapter 1 ~
"Well, I just dropped off the piece with Chavez," Elisa reported, stepping onto the balcony of the clock tower as Goliath finished bandaging his own arm, putting up with a few teasing remarks from Hudson about Goliath's luck with females.
"And the reason it looked like a train car is because it was," the detective continued, oblivious. "This particular Faberg egg comes complete with a five-car train set and opens up to show a perfectly detailed map of Russia in the early 1900s." She handed Goliath the file.
"Odd." Goliath shook his head, gesturing at the included photo. "To decorate toys with such highly valued precious stones."
"Eh." Hudson dismissed. "Humans are odd. Haven't ye realized that by now, lad?"
Elisa raised an ebony eyebrow, feigning seriousness. "So what am I? Chopped liver?"
Hudson stumbled over his words. "Uh. Forgive me, lass. I didna mean..."
"Apology accepted." She turned to Goliath. "We also found something else - a computer chip hidden in a secret compartment." She pointed to another photo. "First glance says it's government. Possibly CIA or KGB."
"KGB?" Hudson wondered.
Elisa faced the older gargoyle. "Uh... Russian intelligence. Spies." She turned back to Goliath. "The previous owner was a major player in the KGB. He had it donated to the museum here in New York just before his death several years ago, right in the middle of the Cold War. Imagine what must be on it."
Goliath growled softly. "Very dangerous information."
"If it falls into the wrong hands." She regarded Hudson again. "Captain's getting in contact with our own people."
"I pray she meets with success then... Uh, where are the train and chip right now?"
"In cap's office. Why?"
"Good. Leave them there. I believe someone will be returning for them soon."
Elisa nodded knowingly.
It was good that they understood each other...
* * *
"I don't want to hear it!" the Asian woman yelled into the phone. "If Mr. Cassidy doesn't like the way I handle business here have him tell it to my face!" She slammed the phone down.
Vipra approached the desk cautiously, wings cloaked, head bowed, Faberg egg held in front of her as an offering. The gargoyle knelt to one knee.
Sachi faced her. "Ah! You've got it!" She bounced out of her chair and took it, circling the desk, disassembling it there, one train car at a time.
Unmoving, save to lower her arms, Vipra spoke softly, "You never told me there were other gargoyles..."
Sachi placed the last car on the desk. "There's one missing."
Vipra continued. "Why did you not tell me there were others?"
"Where is the missing piece?"
Vipra sighed in resignation. "I must've lost it in the struggle..."
"Lost it? How can you lose a piece of multimillion dollar Faberg egg?"
Vipra met her eyes this time. "I was distracted."
"Distract-? Never mind. Just find it." Sachi sat down.
Vipra growled softly. "How?"
"Retrace your steps, check behind the couch cushions. I don't care! Just find it."
Vipra climbed to her feet, faced her squarely. "If I go back there, I'll get caught. That is very poor thievery."
"Yes, well... Since you already botched up the entire operation, that's no concern of mine. Now, is it?"
Vipra shrugged, confused. "It's just one piece. Say the museum lost it. It's still worth more than you could make in a year."
Sachi slammed her hands down hard on the desk. "Without it it's worth less than you can make in an hour. The value of something is only as high as the buyer's willing to pay, Vipra."
"I've been stealing since I can remember, Sachi. I am no mere pickpocketer." Gargoyle eyes narrowed. "And I'm no fool." She let the words hang in the air, waiting for the human woman to buckle.
Sachi was a tough businesswoman and a good leader, even by gargoyle standards. She opened a desk drawer, took something out, placed it flat on the desk, removed her hand. "Take this. The piece has a tracking device. This will lead you to it."
"Might I ask how it got there and why you didn't take the opportunity to steal it then?"
"You wanted to impress Lane Cassidy and get an increase in your payroll. You wish to question my methods?"
Gargoyle eyes flashed red, but she bit her tongue. She who watches and listens and does not speak has more opportunity to plot. She would rise to Sachi's status if not higher. Then she could return the "favor."
* * *
The transmitter did not lead Vipra back to the museum, but she was hardly surprised. The gargoyle must've taken it, probably found a way to return it to the "proper authorities."
Vipra sighed. He does not understand... He at least has a home. I have nothing but empty promises...
She missed Auntie Min and her husband Dick. They'd met in Japan in World War II, found Vipra, a wandering hatchling, her clan shattered by culprits unknown. They took her in as their own and moved to California.
Vipra remembered the first time she got entangled with a diamond back rattlesnake. They found it quite humorous the way a fierce yet still young gargoyle danced around the snake so as not to get bitten, and the reptile took off like its life depended on it.
Aunt Min coddled her while Dick still laughed to the brink of tears. "My little Vipra... Welcome to America."
"If this is America I want to go home... Vipra?"
"It's as good a name as any," Dick added. "You don't like it?"
"No. No, I like it." She beamed. "Vipra." She looked to where the snake disappeared and stuck out her tongue.
They laughed.
Vipra smiled. It was a happy memory. Her foster parents never had offspring. Then, a few years back she lost them to old age and found her way into the ranks of the Outfit, and she'd been working for them ever since, one partner to another, always treated less than human, always inquiring about others like her. Only Sachi answered. "You are the last," she'd said. Those words broke her. Now, she could see that was exactly what Sachi had intended to happen, to use her and toss her away like all the others.
A new life... A chance to start over with others of her own kind... But not yet, not while she still had a chance to get in good with the Lane Cassidy. Maybe then she could earn enough to retire early and live somewhere secluded till the end of her days.
Is that what you want, Vipra? To live your life in solitude? With no clan?
This is an opportunity! I can't just ignore it!
But this gargoyle has given you another opportunity... to learn what it means to truly be gargoyle...
Vipra sighed. After this job. After this job, then we'll see...
She found her way to an old 17th century style clock tower and the device in her hand indicated one of the upper floors.
"Here goes nothing," she muttered, landing on a ledge.
Talons gripped brick, and Vipra descended down the outside wall past office windows, people on the other side talking and drinking coffee.
Cops, the thief realized. This was a police department....
She found the window. The lights were off inside, the office empty.
In the middle of the desk the train car glistened.
"There you are..." she whispered, tucking away the tracker. "Come to Vipra..." She coaxed the window open slowly.
"Hello again," a voice said above her.
Vipra looked up. "Oh... Not you..." Teeth clenched, Vipra looked down to the busy streets below.
"Not the best place for a fight is it?" the gargoyle remarked.
Vipra bit her lip. He planned this...
"Let's talk," he continued. "Inside."
She tried to think of some snide remark but drew a blank. She opened the window and climbed in, the other gargoyle after her.
She noted her prize but made no move to retrieve it. She crossed her arms, her back to him, her wings spread despite the cramp quarters. She wasn't calm enough to lower them. "Well, you've caught me. Now, I suppose you're gonna lock me up in some human prison and throw away the key. Is that it?"
"No."
She half-turned, ridged eyebrow raised. "What then? Banish me like in the old days? That's a bucket of laughs."
"I'm impressed you know so much of gargoyle culture."
"My parents taught me." She stopped herself. "My... human parents." She lowered her eyes. "They were very close to my clan. They told me all about them." She wiped away a tear. "Damn it all. That was so long ago." She turned on him. "Nothing can change what had happened. Nothing can bring them back."
"We all have painful pasts."
"You keep saying that. What do you want, gargoyle?"
"My name is Goliath."
"And I'm Vipra. What's your point?"
He smiled.
Vipra eyed him suspiciously.
"Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise," she blurted out, then mentally kicked herself. "Look. If not you're going to arrest me then get out of the way so I can complete my job." She reached for the train.
He grabbed it first.
"Give it back."
"Why? What is a trinket worth to a gargoyle?"
"A couple mil."
He fiddled with it. "Your parents didn't teach you well enough."
A flash of red. "Leave them out of this."
"You can change, Vipra." He placed the object back on the desk. "You can leave this life behind you, start over." His eyes looked into hers. "...Heal."
"What makes you think I need healing?" she snapped.
The gargoyle merely looked at her.
She changed the subject. "Look. I don't have a choice."
"We all have choices, Vipra." He gestured to the desk, stepped away from the window. "Make the right one."
She watched him, eyed the window, the train car...
She moved to the desk. Green talons grasped gold.
She saw the sadness in his eyes, the look of failure.
She remained impassive, tucked the piece way, and made her way towards him.
He didn't say a word nor make a move to stop her, but the eyes lowered.
Talons found the window and Vipra risked another look back at her fellow gargoyle.
His back was facing her now, and he was a living statue.
Her voice came out softly, barely a whisper. "Follow me," she said, and climbed out the window.
* * *
Elisa opened the office door quietly. "Goliath?"
She entered, Matt pushing against her with his crutches.
"Keep this safe." Goliath dropped the chip into Matt's hand.
"Uh. Sure."
"Let's go," he told Elisa.
Elisa nodded, touched a finger to her ear. "Joe? We're good to go. Follow us in the Viper."
"I'm on my way. Mind if I ask how you're-? Never mind. I'm locked on to your signal so don't drop it."
She smiled. "Wasn't planning to..."
