When The Hawks Attacked
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, then I don't own it.
A/N: For 2021 Whumptober #20 Solitary Confinement
A cowboy stood looking out of the music studio's window. He twirled his cowboy hat around with one hand as he talked into the phone with the other, "I don't trust no one that comes offering salvation for nothing. They always want something. It's just a matter of time before they come demanding you to pay up. Even if you're willing to pay the price it usually comes at too high a cost."
The Thanagarians had come from the sky claiming they wanted to help save the earth. They had met with the world leaders and their help had been accepted. It had not set well with the cowboy. All this salvation was liable to get the whole earth killed.
"I will, you stay safe too," He hung up the phone with a sigh. Hanging his head for a moment before he straightened his shoulders once more. He was again ready to carry the load of standing between whatever threat came knocking and innocent folks. His pa and his pa before him had been lawmen. While his own path had been different, the call to protect and serve others had still been heeded.
As he exited the room he found the whole studio huddled around a TV. The Hawks had finally shown their true colors as he knew they would. They were moving to attack and enslave the entire planet in the name of saving them. Not on his watch.
Plopping his hat over his dark hair he strode purposefully out of the building. He secured his gunbelt around his waist with a dangerous glint in his eyes. Stradling his motorcycle he pulled the bandana around his neck up over his mouth and nose. Rocketing out of the parking lot; he was ready to go bird hunting.
He held his hat tight against his head as the alien spaceship blew up dust as it landed. He checked the chambers in the cylinder of his revolver to make sure he was loaded and ready to go. Cocking the hammer back as he prepared to meet the approaching threat head-on.
He aimed his guns, holding them steady as the aliens disembarked from their ship.
"I take it ya'll don't come in peace."
The Hawks stopped as a group in front of him, circling around him as they evaluated his threat level, "You are in violation of our martial law."
"Smith & Wesson don't take too kindly to martial law," He twirled his guns for show.
"Surrender or die."
"Hold up, I thought ya'll was here to save us, humans."
"We are here to save you," The one playing at being leader stepped closer, threatening the smaller human. He had multiple facial scars, branding him as a warrior. One crossed over his left eye, giving him a permanent-looking glare. His large wings only added to his menacing figure, making him look like an angel of death.
"Bullshit, pardon my French," He smelt a rat, "You ain't here to save no one."
"We are here to save you from the Gordanians."
"I think I'd rather fight the lizard guys. At least they're honest when they're trying to kill or enslave you," The cowboy drawled. He'd seen the picture of the bird folk's feuding buddies as they tried to talk up the threat of their enemy. While they definitely could be a threat to Earth, he'd rather have a straight-out fight, than all this pretending that had been going around. This space pissing contest was just covering the earth in other people's piss.
"We cannot allow that," The Hawk leader nodded to his men, giving them a signal, "We will not let you jeopardize our mission."
"Let me think on that," He paused for a moment before he started blasting away.
He twirled his empty gun back into his holster, before firing at the Hawks with the other. "Cowboys ain't so good with ultimatums or folks telling them what to do for that matter."
His revolver jammed when the first blast hit him. Without his weapon, he would never win the fight against the winged aliens. It wouldn't stop him from trying. He pulled out a few dirty tricks he'd learned as young buck brawling in bars. He almost had them too, catching them unawares like he did, using his fists. But they fought dirty too, tasing him into unconsiousness with their alien guns. Every nerve ending screamed as his body shook from the jolts of electricity coursing through his system. He saw an angel of doom standing over him as his vision blacked out.
He fought back to consciousness with a soft groan. He'd lost another hat. The damn hawks had caught him. Two of them held his limp form between them as they dragged him along. His boots drug through the dirt as he tried to orient himself to the developing situation. His limbs shook sporadically with aftershocks. He had no strength in his muscles, not even enough energy to lift his head. Whether his captors knew he was awake or not didn't really seem to matter as they deemed him to be no longer a threat. They would be right. He could barely move let alone fight. Dozens of birdmen soldiers soared overhead as a constant threat to the humans to cooperate with their new masters.
They seemed to have reached their destination. Tiny cages lined the ground.
He kicked back and caught the leader with his spur, digging the metal mercilessly into his leg. No doubt adding another scar to his collection. They tussled in the dirt, each trying to gain the upper hand. The Hawks laughed above them, taunting their comrade when he couldn't immediately best the human. They exchanged blows, but with his weakened state and the alien's superior strength, it wasn't long before the human was left in the dust, beat half to death. He struggled to just breathe as his lungs expanded against his cracked ribs. He could barely see out of his swollen eyes, but what he could see was distorted by his concussion. His body felt like a giant bruise. His bandana lay torn and useless trampled into the dirt.
"Get off my planet, it ain't big enough for the two of us," He pulled himself painfully up to his unsteady feet. He stood swaying, surrounded by Hawks, staying upright by sheer grit alone.
The leader laughed as he got back into the human's space, pushing him back with just a finger to the shoulder, "Look how easily we have conquered your world."
"Don't underestimate us, humans," He met his look straight on, refusing to fall, "We've fought and died over less."
"We have already won."
"Viva la Revolution you son of a bitch," He spat blood into his eye.
"You should keep a close eye on this one," The Hawks around him laughed at their leader's expense. It seemed the cowboy had made his very own personal enemy.
"Don't worry, I will be sure to give him special attention."
The cowboy still had some fight left in him as his new friend manhandled him into one of the little cages. His large frame struggled to find any position that was not agony on his abused body. He could not stand up or lay down in the small space. Sitting even proved challenging to situate, with his knees practically up to his ears. He fought down the sounds of pain that threatened to escape his split and bleeding lips.
The scarred Thanagarian looked down at him with a malicious smile. He jabbed at his human captive, through the bars, with his weapon. Drawing blood until the human finally cried out in pain.
"Next time I want you to beg," The Hawk was intent on making his stay a living hell. He turned to leave but turned back with a new gleam in his eye. "I will leave you until my presence is a welcome change from the hunger, thirst, pain, and isolation."
The cowboy dropped his head against the bars in defeat. What would his pa think about him now? He'd sure got himself in a mess and he didn't rightly know how to get out of it. He was hurt and in pain. He was trapped with no way out. He was at the Hawks' mercy.
The damned Hawk was right, eventually, the cage would drive him plumb loco. He knew himself well enough to know that. He had never been one to sit still and take things without a fight. It's what made him so good at what he did. He never really saw himself as a superhero. He was just a dumb cowboy who couldn't stay out of the fight when he saw someone in trouble. Now he was the one in trouble with no one there to save him. He was all alone. He looked out through the bars of his small prison with a sense of shame as he wished someone would come and save him.