"It's a lovely view isn't it"?
Helen had spent several hours since her conversation with Danny, coming to terms with what the girl had told them about the Kabal and Ashley. She had felt a certain amount of ignorance when it came to knowing what the Kabal had done to her daughter but hearing about Danny's experiences at their hands, her heat broke for her little girl. The things they must have put her through made anger course through every part of her. She had never felt this way before and she didn't like it. The look of shame on the girls face hadn't been enough to squash her anger. Helen had to close herself off from everyone to calm herself down.
Now she stood near one of the many box window seats of her home, Danny sitting quietly staring out at the courtyard. It wasn't her fault that the Kabal had targeted Ashley and Helen had to make sure she knew that.
"I used to sit in these as a girl", she continued when she got a small nod as an answer. "I'd curl up here with a blanket, waiting for my father to come home".
She sat down on the other end and leant back against the wall.
"I'm sorry about before. You couldn't have known it was my daughter they had taken. If you felt anger, it wasn't directed at you".
Danny nodded. "I know. You still have every right to be angry after what they've taken from you…. If it helps, they never took her completely. There was still a part of who she was intact".
Helen couldn't help but smile. "I know. That is one thing I am thankful; for".
They both sat in silence for a short time, Helen a little lost for words. "Listen", she began cautiously. "I know you are very wary of people in lab coats….". She was glad when Danny smiled. "But all I want to do is help you, help you grow into your abilities and give you someplace safe to do so. You do not have to stay forever and you can leave at any time you wish".
She waited patiently as Danny considered her proposal. Finally she smiled.
"I'd like that….".
In an instant, Helen watched her face change, just as it had in the alley.
"What is it"?
All she got in response was a shaking head.
"Danny, talk to me".
Helen grabbed the girls' shoulders but before they could talk more, Helens radio crackled.
"Doc, Doc, can you hear me"?
"Yes Henry, what's wrong"?
"Doc, our friend from the alley is awake and he's pissed"!
Helen jumped up and ran towards where the abnormal had been kept. "Initiate Emergency Sedation Procedures".
"I've already tried. It's having no effect"?
Helen cursed under her breath as she got to one of the many weapons stores they had stashed around her home.
"Henry, seal off the area the creature is in. get Declan and the others down there now"!
She bolted down the halls; her weapon at the ready, not realising Danny was following. When she got to the sealed off section, she could hear the roaring and crashing from the other side of the bulkhead door. Henry was waiting with Will, his fingers flashing across his tablet. Both were armed with weapons at the ready as Helen came to a stop.
"Report"!
Henry handed her his tablet. "It woke up in a massive rage and somehow managed to break out of the container we had it in. The damn thing didn't go down, even with a double shot of sedatives. We're gonna have to shoot the hell out of it"!
Helen gave him the 'don't be so overdramatic' look. "We will simply do as we did in the alley. Where are Declan and the others"?
"They're going to the other side", Will answered, checking his gun. "We figured it would be best to attack it from several sides".
Helen nodded as her radio crackled, barely audible above the creatures roaring.
"Magnus, I'm directly across from you. Kate and Big Guy are also in position. We go on your signal". "Alright Declan, get ready". She turned to Henry who was almost bouncing on the spot as he waited for her instructions. "Give us access in 4, 3, 2, 1…..".
Henry trapped his tablet and flung it onto his back as the blast doors rose and the creatures roaring increased by a thousand as all three of them entered the area simultaneously. Helen watched as the others followed suit on the opposite side.
"Watch that tail and claws people. Fire on my mark….". She had to dive out the way as the tail swung round, narrowly missing her head. "Now"!
All five weapons fired and the creature reared, its roaring echoing through the halls. They all ducked and dove out the way as the abnormal continued to spin. Helen was about to turn up the voltage of her stunner and tell the others to do the same when a hand pushed her gun down. She watched, confused as Danny ran in front of her and her team, waving her hands and yelling for them to stop. "What the bloody hell are you doing", she called, a mixture of fear and confusion in her voice.
Danny ignored her, still waving frantically for her to stop. "Please, don't shoot anymore! You're making it worse"!
All eyes were on Helen as they waited for her to tell them what to do. She looked at Danny whose eyes were pleading with her and she nodded.
"Hold your fire! Back away"!
Hesitantly they obeyed and they all watched as Danny approached the creatures head. They could all see she was talking to it and Helen had to concentrate to hear her above the abnormal.
"You don't have to be afraid. Calm down. Please stop".
The creature didn't seem to be taking any notice of the small young woman in front of it.
"Danny, what are you doing? It can't understand….". Another roar cut her off as Danny fell backwards to avoid its claws. Helen moved to help her to her feet. "Are you mad"?
Danny shook her head. "It's….aware of us….it's….afraid….in pain".
"What do you mean? How….".
They all had to cover their ears as it let out an earth shattering roar. Helen saw Danny grimace as she jumped back up, trying to take the abnormals attention away from the others. Her face was a portrait of intense concentration as she stared at the creature. After what seemed like an age, its attention slowly focused on Danny, its intense roaring slowly quieting. None of them dared to move as they watched the girl and the creature. Helen took a chance to slowly approach Danny when she noticed the girls face had become pained.
"Talk to me".
The creature turned on her.
"NO! STOP! IT'S OK"!
It only took a moment for the abnormal to turn its attention back to the girl.
A tear rolled down her cheek as she carefully turned to Helen.
"It's confused. Something is causing its pain….".
All of them watched in awe as the creature lowered its head and twisted its legs underneath it. Almost instantly, Helen spotted the claw marks at the back of its head. They were fresh and quite deep and Helen knew they had not been there before. She signalled for them all to stand by and they all stood back, their weapons still at the ready. When Danny finally spoke, her voice was hoarse and pained.
"I need a knife".
Helen would have protested had the creature not chosen that moment to let out a pained moan as it rolled the front of its body onto the side, the fresh wounds close to the ground.
"Declan….".
Helen made sure to keep her voice low like Danny's had been.
"Your knife"!
Declan stared for a moment before unsheathing his knife from its holster, walking slowly to put it into Danny's outstretched hand. The creature roared and shifted, making them all jump but to everyone's surprise, Danny moved closer. Helen realised what the girls plan was, she herself moving to stand near her as more tears streamed down the girls face.
"I need help", she gasped, trying to fight through the pain.
Her entire body had started to shake as she approached the abnormal.
"I….can see….what's causing its pain. We need to get it out".
Helen nodded silently as she took the knife and got within reach of the creature. By this time it had rolled onto its side, the tail still slashing furiously. Helen studied the creatures wounds and realised it had been trying to get at.
Silver glinted under the blood and skin, a small light shining through to the surface.
"The Kabal", Danny whispered as she slowly put her hands onto its head.
It shifted at her touch yet surprisingly remained lying down.
"You need to cut it out", she continued and Helen nodded, slowly beginning to cut at the skin.
The abnormals roar was deafening as it felt more pain from her knife. Another flashing light appeared through the blood and Helen had to stop cutting.
"This thing is probably attached to what is the base of the creatures' skull", she whispered. "It is wired in so that any tampering could kill it".
She watched as Danny nodded, her pale face pouring with sweat.
"You have to get it out".
"I'll try".
She moved in again to continue but the creature roared and began to move. Declan's and Wills yells made the creature panic, its tail and claws lashing out furiously. As it moved Helen tripped backwards and fell, the knife remaining imbedded in its flesh. Danny's cry of panic echoed and Helen watched in slow motion as she flung herself at the abnormal, both hands reaching for the knife. The roar deafened everyone again but Helen couldn't take her eyes off Danny. With an almost amazing amount of strength, the girl pulled at the knife and as the creature began to stand, she reached into the wound and yanked as she too fell backwards, hitting the floor with a sickening thud.
Helen ran to her side with Declan following closely. The abnormal stood quickly but its rage and frenzied thrashing had ceased. All of them watched apprehensively as it shook itself, an almost stunned look on its face. Helen and Declan helped Danny stand, holding her steady between them. To everyone's surprise, the creature began to dance around the room, shaking every part of its body in glee. Helen saw Danny smile through her tears as she held up her hands, the knife in one and a hand sized device in the other.
"Its pain is gone", she whispered watching.
Helen smiled too as the creature finished dancing, glanced at them and headed back to the holding container it had woken up in without further hassle.
Before she could comment on Will and Henrys stunned faces, she felt Danny go limp, the knife and device clanging to the floor.
Let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from everyone;)
