CH11
It is now two months later:
Kate had cooked Rikki her dinner that one night. Kate was convinced that it wasn't up to Rikki's capabilities; however Rikki had said she loved it.
Kate had been over to Rikki's house for two days every week for the last two months. Just last week Kate had been putting the clothes she had brought with her into the closet and had started chuckling. Kate already had clothes in this closet and they looked clean. As if Rikki had found them and put them through the wash.
Kate was standing just outside of Rikki's front door listening to Elka going nuts on the other side. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Kate could hear Rikki's voice through the door.
Kate however had reached a conclusion and it scared her a lot. Kate was willing for Rikki to open the door before she lost her nerve. Kate had been arguing with herself for almost a month now.
Rikki had kept her promise for the last two months, she hadn't pushed Kate into anything. They had even gone back to the Greenwich's pool once more. It had allowed Kate to stare at Rikki walking around or swimming in her bikini and it was here that Kate had started arguing with herself.
Rikki opened the door and that allowed Elka to step out and whimper and whine while trying to get all over Kate. Kate however stepped in past the door and dropped her bag and kicked the door closed after being sure Elka was inside and not get hit by the door.
Kate pushed Rikki up against the wall just inside the door and took Rikki's face in her hands and kissed her. Using her tongue to ask for entrance and when granted started searching Rikki's mouth.
Kate moved her hands from Rikki's face and took Rikki's hands in hers and pinned them to the wall and continued to kiss Rikki.
Kate only broke from the kiss for a second, only long enough to take in more air before kissing Rikki again searching Rikki's mouth to memorize her taste.
Kate finally broke from the kiss again and rested her forehead against Rikki as both of them fought to regain their breath. Kate kept Rikki's hands pinned to the wall.
Finally Kate pulled her head back a little to look into Rikki's eyes. "I want you to push, just a little. Not a lot, but just a little." Kate tells her.
"O-kay." Rikki barely gets out before Kate kisses her again. Pressing into the kiss. Desperate to add more pressure into the kiss.
Kate breaks from the kiss again. "Just a little." Kate lets go of Rikki's hands and finds Rikki's arms wrapped around her body as Rikki initiates the kiss this time.
This time Rikki breaks from the kiss only to give Kate a couple of little kisses to her lips. "Just a little. … I can do that." Rikki wipes away some of her tears. "I think you know where your room is. … Have you eaten?" Kate shakes her head.
"I'll find something and meet you on the roof." Rikki offers and watches Kate take her bag up the stairs as Rikki heads for the kitchen rubbing her fingers over her lips as another tear escapes and runs down her face.
Rikki couldn't think. "Dinner, …. right dinner." Rikki opened the refrigerator and stood there staring at the contents and not seeing any of it.
Rikki's heart is pounding in her chest, her most recent hopes and dreams have just gotten a little closer to reality. "Dinner." Rikki started pulling stuff out praying she could think of something to do with it.
Thirty minutes later Rikki was headed for the roof with a plate filled with mini Panini's along with a bag that held wine, glasses, cheese and some crackers.
Rikki dropped it all on the table and turned and took Kate in her arms to ask the question that Rikki was dying to hear the answer to. "What changed? … Not that I'm complaining, because I'm not. It's just that prior to today, ..." Rikki trails off.
"The guys at work wanted to know when you were coming in with lunch again. I think you've gained some followers, or they just like free food. … However they also said something. They wanted to know why I was smiling so much lately.
And it got me to thinking, that ever since my mom was killed, my life was serious. Trying to get my dad sober after cleaning up his mess from vomiting all over. Trying to get into the police academy. Followed by trying to be a homicide detective so I could study and solve my mother's case.
I didn't smile or have fun, I just worked. Dated once in a while and went to bed with a few of them. But then you came along and turned my world around on its head.
I'm still scared Rikki, so very scared. Until you I've never kissed another woman, at least not the way we kiss. I'm supposed to be interested in men, have relationships with men. I'm not a lesbian.
But I haven't felt like I do when I'm around you since before mom died, and it's all your fault." Kate points out.
It was enough for Rikki to start to take Kate in her arms, however Kate stops her. "I'm still scared Rikki. What if it gets out that I'm involved with a woman? Being a cop is a man's world. Being a homicide detective is even more so."
Rikki backs off. "Go slow and don't push, … well push very hard." Rikki smiles which gets Kate to smile. "Dinner?" Rikki motions to the table.
"Mini Panini's?" Kate was ready to laugh, it was almost perfect.
After only a couple of Panini's, Kate was putting cheese on the crackers and drinking wine while staring at the city lights.
"Feeling better?" Rikki asks.
Kate turns to look at Rikki. The question got Kate to smile. "Yeah, I think I'm getting there."
"Better get some sleep; we have someplace to go in the morning, before the sun is up actually." Rikki tells Kate.
"Oh, were are we going? … I'm on call the day after tomorrow, so if you have big plans. …." Kate trailed off. She didn't want to crush what Rikki had planned; it's just that her work had weird hours.
"That won't be a problem. Just remember to wear jeans, sneakers and maybe a dark top." Rikki starts to gather up the leftover food and wine. "Oh, and it might be a good idea to bring your service weapon and police ID." Rikki adds.
"You found someone." Kate was up out of her chair in a flash. "You found him. … Who?"
"I have an idea of who it is and that's what we are going to find out together in the morning." Rikki has her hands full and heads for the stairs.
"Why morning?" Kate wanted to go now.
"Because he works most nights and comes home tired early in the morning. He will be at his weakest as he leaves his work, tired and not thinking straight or expecting us." And Rikki heads downstairs to the kitchen, with Kate hot on her heels.
"Is he the one? Did he kill my mother? …. Rikki, please!" This was close to her heart, it was her case.
"I don't actually know Kate. … I'm sorry. I do know that he is involved with bad people and bad things. He has killed in the past, but I haven't found anything or anyone who knows for sure that he killed your mother.
That's what you can ask him when we see him in the morning, when he isn't expecting us." Rikki explains.
"And you're sure?" Kate couldn't believe it. How could Rikki have done this in just one month? She had been at this for years.
"Get some sleep Kate; we have a lot of work to do in the morning." Rikki walked past Kate and kissed the side of Kate's head on the way to her room. "Stay with Kate girl, … guard."
Kate was in Rikki's sleep shirt and panties and lying in her sinfully comfortable bed. It's just that she was still awake. "She wants me to sleep. How does she expect me to sleep?"
Rikki was in the kitchen wearing every magic item she could keep on her person.
Goggles of Draconic Vision – Allows enhanced vision (think UHDTV), see in the dark, and see in clouds of dust, smoke or similar.
Amulet of Second Chances – Automatic cast Cure Critical Wounds on the wearer if the wearer is rendered unconscious due to injury.
Ear Rings of Charisma
Shawl of Wisdom – Improves willpower, common sense, perception and intuition.
Armband of Maximized Healing – All Cure Wounds spells provide maximum possible benefit.
Ring of Spell Storing, Greater.
Ring of 9 Facets – Today it was red, which meant Rikki's body was able to heal from wounds faster than normal.
Boots of the Mountain King, Greater.
Belt of Holy Might, Greater – The wearer's skin is tougher, the wearer's strength is increased a little, ability to cast word of recall.
Shirt of Ironskin – Take less damage from weapons unless they are made of Adamantine.
"What are you wearing?" Kate came into the kitchen.
"Everything I need to make today a success. … Did you get any sleep?" Rikki asks.
Kate shakes her head. "I couldn't get my mind to shut down."
"I know the feeling." Kate could see Rikki look sad, like down to the soul sad. "Here eat this." Rikki hands over what looks like an energy bar.
"What is it?" Kate took it and smelled it.
"Just eat it Kate, and then we can go." Rikki tells her. It got Kate to eat it, though it tasted nothing like what Rikki was capable of making.
"Time to go. Come on girl time to be serious." Rikki tells Elka.
Once they were all outside. "Is Elka wearing a new collar?" Kate noticed it looked different.
"It's a special occasion." Rikki smiles.
Ivory Chain of Pao – When wrapped around the wrists, neck, ankles or wrist of an alien, that creature is automatically bound. Bound creatures must obey absolutely the commands of the owner of the chain. When not wrapped around an alien the wearer of the chain is immune to the aliens attack.
(It was an artifact left by Lelu's parents)
"Ready to start running?" Rikki asks.
"We're running? Why?" Kate didn't understand.
"Well one, its good exercise. Two, if we find who we are actually after, do you really want it to be traced back to you because you took a taxi if something goes wrong?" Rikki asks.
"No, probably not. … Thank you." Kate understands the reason.
"Come on girl." And Rikki starts jogging with Elka right next to Rikki. Kate had to run a little faster at first to catch up.
Kate knew the city well so she knew where they were, just not where they were going.
Rikki moved into what looked like a abandoned building that was barely standing and worked her way slowly to the far side, stopping at what was left of an outside wall.
Kate was stepping very slowly watching carefully where she was going. "You sure this building is safe?" Kate stops next to Rikki.
"Probably not no." Rikki points out the wall to across the way.
Out there looked to be a large warehouse of some kind that had a small one story office space attached to the end of it. Parked just outside was a BMW. Kate couldn't make out what model, it was too far away.
Up the loading dock side were a number of trucks that were backed up and Kate could make out activity. They were either loading or unloading cargo.
"The guy you want is usually in that little office there. His car is parked outside. He's usually alone, but not always. His name is Dick Coonan. … Ring any bells?" Rikki looks at Kate, who only shakes her head.
"You sure now is a good time? It looks like there is a lot of activity." Kate points out.
"You leave the men in the warehouse to me, just be ready to jump Coonan when he comes flying out of his office. … And try to ignore the noise you are about to hear." Rikki tells Kate with a grin on her face that kinda un-nerves Kate. It's a look on Rikki, Kate has never seen before.
"What are you going to do?" Kate asks, a little concerned for her.
"I'm the one that's going to be making the noise. It should flush Coonan out of his office and get him running for his car. … Not to worry, I know what I'm doing." Kate places a hand on Kate.
I hope!
From Kate's point of view Rikki starts mumbling and flexing her fingers and then touches Kate.
"What was that?" Kate didn't catch a word Rikki said.
"Just a little prayer. …. Couldn't hurt." Rikki shrugs her shoulders. It was a lie of course, but Kate didn't need to know it was a spell, just yet.
Spell placed on Kate : Stone Skin - The warded person gains resistance to blows, cuts, stabs, and slashes.
"Take a good look at the area, figure out what you want to do and where you want to be." Rikki turns to Elka while Kate looks out at the building.
"You stay with Kate girl. … Guard." And Rikki casts two spells on Elka.
Magic Fang, Greater
Bull Strength
"Give me about two minutes to get into position and as soon as all hell breaks loose, you can move." Rikki tells Kate and starts to leave, only to have Kate's hand stop her.
"Please be careful." Kate's face told Rikki that she cared. Rikki simply leaned over and gave Kate a quick kiss and was up and running.
Kate waited and watched, not seeing anything. All the activity seemed to be inside the warehouse at the loading docks.
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Warning: The following contains some graphic descriptions of violence. Reader discretion is advised.
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Kate didn't see Rikki when suddenly one of the cargo trucks simply went flying up over the others and landed not far from the building Kate was hiding in.
"I think that's our cue girl." As Kate got up and made her way through the outside wall and ran for Coonan's car and waited on the opposite side of it.
Rikki decided on making a subtle unseen or at least non-threatening approach to the cargo trucks. Rikki decided on casting a spell instead of using up a Wildshape for the day.
Shapechange- Transforms you into any creature, and allows the recipient of the spell to change forms at will.
Rikki chose to start out as a rat and scurried across the pavement of the loading dock area. When Rikki reached a space under one of the trucks she cast another spell.
Summon Nature's Ally VII - This spell summons a natural creature. It appears where you designate and acts immediately. It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions.
Earth Elemental, Greater - When summoned, an earth elemental consists of whatever types of dirt, stones, precious metals, and gems it was conjured from. 32 feet tall, weighing in at 54,000 pounds.
In this case it rose up out of the ground underneath one of the cargo trucks, so it was made of dirt and rock. In this case Granite, since most of New York is sitting on bedrock.
Kate had made it to the car with Elka right next to her. "I didn't hear an explosion. How did she do that?" Kate took her mind off of it and waited for Coonan to come out.
The Earth Elemental was so large that he took out one of the walls between the loading docks to enter the building and start attacking the occupants. Problem was he was also just a little too tall, so everywhere he went he did damage to the roof structure.
Rikki at this time decided to change forms to that of a Huge Air Elemental.
Air Elemental - This cloud-like creature has dark hollows reminiscent of eyes and a mouth, and a howling wind whips it into ominous shapes. Can transform into a whirlwind that is 5 feet wide at the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet tall.
Rikki in this form picks up the cargo truck she is under and launches it towards the one and only entrance by car into this facility. Then picks up another cargo truck and throws it in the same location, and then she enters the building, right behind the Earth Elemental.
The Earth Elemental once inside reaches out with his huge and long arms and grabs one of the men and throws him down onto the concrete of the building and then lifts his foot and stomps down on his body.
54,000 pounds of weight with a little kinetic energy leaves him a splat of red on the ground as his body literally explodes sending blood and body parts everywhere.
Some of the men have decided to run the opposite direction while others have pulled out their weapons or picked them up off of the table and start firing at what to them, is a rock monster. Right out of one of those Saturday morning animated cartoons.
Rikki has already spotted the ones on the run and races past the Earth Elemental and all of the other men, blowing some of them up against a wall in her haste to reach the ones that are fleeing.
The Earth Elemental however trudges on. An arm reaches out and slams one man through an interior wall, hitting a desk inside breaking his back and the desk.
Another has a hand slam down on his head, forcing his many now broken bones down onto the concrete floor, breaking the concrete slab and sending blood and body parts in all directions.
The men furthest from the Earth Elemental are continuing to fire their weapons as they watch the bullets ricochet off of his granite body that at most takes a chip out of his form.
Ejecting their empty clip and slapping in new ones, most of them are backing up slowly while looking for a place to run to. They don't appear to be doing any damage to it and its attacks are resulting in a mess of internal body parts splattered all over.
Rikki meanwhile has reached the furthest person and enlarges her base whirlwind form to take up as much space as she can and moved into their space. Like what a tornado would do, these men all get sucked up into the vortex and are swirling around and around, until Rikki let's go of them, one by one.
Each one is launched though an exterior wall where most of the men suffer broken bones over several areas of their bodies and fall unconscious and may soon die from their injuries.
Coonan meanwhile has heard all the noise and gunfire inside the warehouse and enters the warehouse through his interior door. "What the FUCK is that thing?" As Coonan looks up at 32 feet of dirt and rocks that has legs and arms and something of a head.
While watching in shock, Coonan watches the Earth Elemental slam its fist down on one of his men, crushing him.
Beyond the Rock Monster is a large tornado that has some of his men and probably several of his DVD's filled with heroin inside swirling round and round, having already damaged some of the interior walls around it.
It was about now that a part of the roof structure couldn't remain up and crashed to the floor between himself and the Rock Monster.
Coonan was also watching as the bullets from the guns of his men just seemed to bounce off.
Coonan runs back inside his office and grabs his briefcase and starts stuffing it will all the papers he can out of his desk. Then pulls out his weapon, checks the magazine and makes sure there is one round already in the chamber, and then stuffs it into his pants behind his back. His prized possession is already in its sheath strapped to his belt. Another, though smaller knife is in its sheath strapped to his right calf under his pant leg. Then Coonan slips a spare clip into his back pocket.
Grabbing his briefcase Coonan runs for the door leading outside so he can get to his car and get the hell out of here.
As soon as Kate started hearing gunfire, Kate rose up from her crouch behind Coonan's car and tried to see what was going on. Mostly all she saw was roof structure flying out into the air and land in the parking lot. There were even cargo trucks out in the parking lot far from the building, lying on their sides.
Her angle didn't allow for her to see the area where the cargo trucks were parked up against the loading docks.
"Rikki!?" As Kate's heart starts to beat faster, and the worry and dread over what is happening to her inside starts to take hold. Since it sounded like a war was taking place inside.
Kate was starting to consider going inside to help her. She couldn't possibly be able to survive whatever was going on in there, when the door leading into the office burst open and Coonan came running out, headed right for her.