Tinga
went to pieces. I wouldn't have thought her the type. Evidently she's got
feelings for Zack like he has for Max. Reminds me of a Greek tragedy. Either
that or that "wutzhizname's Creek" show everyone watched when I was a kid.
She's
got her head in the back of the closet and she's sobbing as much as having a
tantrum.
Oddly, I feel a little jealous. But I can't be the voice of reason if I don't
stay impartial. Plus Logan hasn't had the easiest of times with Max. Of course
Logan is a stubborn idiot in major self-denial. I'm not.
"That's
the thing about strong emotions. They hurt no matter which way they go." I say
to her.
As
I reach out to try and comfort her, the room starts to shake again. I loose my
balance a little. I grab Tinga's shoulder to balance myself instead of comfort
her. Right before the light bulb goes out I see Tinga spinning around and fist
coming right at me….
Point
of View: LOGAN *******************************************
The
tremors settle down again, leaving the masses in the waiting room even more
disorganized than before. The lights flicker out. In a second the generators
come on, powering the dimmer back-up lights.
There's
another crash, and the closet door comes flying out. Tinga disappears past me,
heading out the front door into the street.
Bling
is on the floor, out cold.
And
my cel phone is ringing. The caller ID shows it's originating from my
penthouse.
I'm
not usually the type to say this, but I need a drink.
Point
of View: SKETCHY *****************************************
"Cindy
don't worry bout me, get to Logan's and find Max, I've got to hightail it home
to see if Natalie's ok!!"
"Aiigt,
I'll page you when I get to Logan's"
"Sketchy!!"
"Yo"?
"be
careful"
"Aiight"
I said ,just to be a smart a$$.
I
turned and left Original Cindy ,all I could think of was Natalie an if she was ok.
I could only think the worst had happened to her ,what a day this was turning
out to be.
As I turned down 5th ave there was a crowd gathered watching something outside
a building, I slammed on the brakes and slid the back tire round till I came to
a stop, I balanced on my bike so I could see over the crowd, there was a
breaking news story on a television set .
I couldn't hear much of what was going on but could see the pictures of a huge
blast site
that were being broadcast by those flying police shotgun targets, the damage
was massive ,I could see that it was in the south market area but still couldn't
help thinking the worst for Natalie.
The chaos in the streets was now even worse there were injured people ,crazy
injured people running around, riding my bike now became twice as dangerous .
I turned on the pace and raced down 5th ave like a madman(which I already knew)
I even had to concentrate which was hard cos I don't do it often. Half way down
5th ave
from out the corner of my I saw a dude come flying out of a ally with a big
plank of wood c0cked up in the air ready to let go, I jammed on the anchors
,turning hard to the left to get the bike to slide and ploughed straight in to
him.
The bike took out his legs forcing him to do a forward flip and land with nasty
thud, I've heard that sound before and knew instantly he wouldn't be getting up
in a hurry. I thought' stuff this I'm not giving way to anyone!!' with that
thought I was off like a flash
some people got in my way but adopted a slalom method to get them out, id just
lean out and push them out the way with my foot, crude but effective.
As I approached my building I could see that there wasn't much damage that
stopped me from thinking the worst for my baby. Jumping off my bike while I was
still moving(a trick I learned from max just in case you have to get away from something
or someone in a hurry) I landed running, entered the lobby and hit the elevator
button, I heard a voice from behind say,
"It
's not working ,the powers out"
I turned and saw the old man from the first floor, I didn't know his name but I
see him on the first floor every morning I leave to work.
"Hey,
thanks for that old timer"
He
just looked at me and nodded his head.
I turned and ran for the stairwell ,the lights that lit it were all out and it
was dark ,by the time I got to the 10th floor I felt like passing out, but managed
to get my breath back, the damage to the building wasn't as bad as I thought it
would be after seeing others on my way home. I managed to stumble down the hall
to my door and banged on the door, it opened straight away, as soon as I saw
Natalie I grabbed her and pulled her to me and gave her a kiss.
"wow,
what's up with you darlin' "
"I
thought you had been hurt or something ,Nat"
"I'm
fine ,I was worried about you, being on the streets with all the crazy things
that have been happening"
"Oh
,baby I was so scared that the worst had happened to you"
"Hey
,why do you think I moved us to this building, I wasn't going to live in a
building that wasn't quake proof, any way we hardly felt a thing and only a few
things fell."
"I
knew there was a reason why I loved you Natalie''
Nat
just smiled at me as I sat down half dead from the ride home.
"oh
s**t I left my bike down on the street" I got up and bolted back out the door.
Point
of View: MAX *****************************************
The
aftershock didn't last very long nor was it very powerful. But it's enough to
make me wonder about the explosion. If it was strong enough to set off
aftershock effects like a earthquake, there must have been more to it than
unstable gummies. Someone helped it.
Zack's
resting comfortably, thanks to my blood coursing through his veins. He'll be
alright.
But
I'm worried about Logan. I can't leave him . . . but I have to. The worst part
is, if I walk, Lydecker will know where he is. But Logan wouldn't leave Eyes
Only.
When
I get back to the waiting room, Logan's staring at his phone, Bling's out cold,
being attended to by a nurse, and Tinga is gone.
"What
the hell happened?"
Point
of View: KENDRA *****************************************
I
walk into a room and see Logan and Max talking. Max asks where I've been.
"I wound up in the hospital last night. I got caught in one of those drug
riots. I don't really remember much. Something or somebody fell on me. I was
just released. The hospital is so over, run they really need the help so, I 've
got my self a job for the moment. Is everyone ok since the explosion?"
"My
friend got hurt" Logan tells me. "Were both fine".
"I
hope your friend is ok" I tell him. "Have to get back to work. If
there is anything I can do to help let me know."
I
headed back to the desk, more people coming every minuet. I hope I'll be able
to find out what happened to the rest of my friends. At least Logan and Max are
ok.
Point
of View: TREAD *****************************************
What
the hell? I'm in town 15 minutes and the explosions are already starting?
That's my Job! Between the shaking ground and me the Sector Police didn't stand
a chance
"Poor
bastids… did I make oppression a bad job to have AGAIN today? Awwwww…."
I
kick a helmet with head still in it off into a dark corner, as I head over to
the humvee I flipped up on its side. I wish I could have flipped it the other
way. The hard drive that the cameras record to is now too high for me to reach
easily. I give the vehicle a push kick back upright. I hate doing that, I like
to leave a lot of chaos and destruction at the scene… makes them think twice
about messing with me next time, but I'm feeling lazy. I tear off the hood.
It's locked but a couple of pad locks aren't going to stop some who can bend steel
in his gloved hands. The lock doesn't give, but the steel around it does. I rip
out the ruggedized hard drive casing and the last of my last credible witnesses
is in my Harley's saddlebag. A hover drone starts heading my way, but I've
still got my Pocket Computer broadcasting "error" protocols that cause them to
run back to base for diagnostics. Glad I own a few companies that make parts
for those thing.
I
actually feel a pang or remorse. Not because I wasted a few crooked cops, but
because I'm going to get a lecture about it from Max and Logan. Logan's
probably going to blame me for explosion too. GRRRRrrrrr… I don't get him… He
works for years to try and nail Steckler. I crucify him off the Space Needle in
a week and I'M a bad guy. Doesn't he realize the court system is a joke? It
hasn't worked as far back as OJ. Now it's going to work?
We're both after the same thing sort of… He's trying to save the world, the
good part of it. I'm trying to destroy the world, but only the bad part. Ah
well, he's young and never had live off Raman because he was born into the ever
so upper crusty Cale family.
I
get back on my Harley when this guy in long black coat walks out in front of my
Bike and holds up a single hand at me without looking at me.
"My
name is Angel."
I
look at him for minute. I've just massacred 8 Sector Police, flipped a humvee,
twice, and all this during a ground-shaking explosion. This guy comes out and
poses in front me? Maybe I should take his seriously, he's either a major bad
[backspace] or he's completely insane!
"Uhmm,
Ok. I hope that's going well for you." I answer.
He
turns and puts his hand in his pockets striking another pose looking at the
ground.
"I'm
not going to let you get away with this."
He
looks up at me without moving his head. It's all very dramatic.
"And… you're going to stop me how?" I ask.
"I'm
a vampire." He says with a straight face.
I
look around to make sure I'm not on "Americas Funniest Genetically Engineered
Killing Machine Bloopers and Practical Jokes."
"Uhmm..
Don't vampires kill people?"
"Not
me, I have a soul."
HooooKay!!!
I just start laughing. Obviously this guy is total nut job without even the
slightest grip on reality! I start to move my bike to go around him chuckling
my head off.
"I
said I'm not letting you get away with this!" He says more forcefully. I HAVE
to mess with him.
"Dude…
It's daylight. Why are you bursting into flames?"
"The
Powers that be have sent me here to protect Max."
Max?!?!
This loony knows Max? No this is getting really weird, and serious.
"How
do you know Max?"
"She's
my sister… but I'm going to ask her out, cause I'm genetically engineered but
I'm 400 years old but I'm in the future cause I like Max."
He
stands there babbling endlessly as I realize he's just a Manticorny victim.
Some one must have let 330417291599 watch the Reruns!
"Move
it or I'll stake you… 'Angel'". I say with so much sarcasm that it alone should
have killed him.
"Try
it." He says then he jumps in the air about a foot and lands pretty much where
he jumped from. Then he runs at me like with his arms out pretending he's
flying through the air.
I
tearing up with laughter as he jump kicks with both feet and actually knocks me
off my Harley. I'm a little annoyed but how mad can a get at a looser like this?
Then
he tips my Harley over. I jump to me feet and chop a piece of the wooden guard
gate off with my hand. I crack it half. So I have a nice Mr. Pointy of my own.
I leap over my fallen bike and grab 'Angel' by the throat! I lift him into the
air, and drive my yellow and black wooden stake through his heart.
Then
I toss his dying [Backspace] aside, set up my bike and get on. He's still
fumbling with his stake not quite realizing he's dying.
I
look at him and say…
"Poof,
you just turned to dust."
He
slumps to the ground dead. I zoom off away from the carnage in a lousy mood.
Angel.
Haven't seen that in decades. Used to like that show. I watched it until FOX
put on the show that was at the same time…
I
screech to a sudden stop.
"No
Way!!!!!!!"
Point
of View: NORMAL *****************************************
I
caught up to the dog as it tried to duck underneath a nearby dumpster.
"You bad doggie!" I said to the pooch as I started to turn back
towards Jam Pony.
"Where's
my money?" said a female voice behind me. I turned to look and saw the
owner of the dog talking to a figure hidden by the shadows.
"Here.
How was the subject?" asked a male voice as he extended a envelope to the
woman.
"He's
fine and doesn't seem to remember what has happened. I made an arrangement to
meet with the subject at a later time." said the woman with confidence as
she opened the envelope and started counting.
"Is
she talking about me?" I wondered.
"Make
sure the subject remains in the dark about our little project. I have business
else where in the city so don't contact me unless it's necessary. You have the
number." reminded the figure pointing at the woman for emphasis.
"Sure.
I'll do that. Have you seen my dog by the way?" asked the woman looking
around and tucking the envelope into the folds of her clothing.
"No.
Take care of your charge or you know the consequences." said the figure threateningly.
The woman stepped back in fear as the figure turned and left.
"What
was going on? am I the subject they are talking about?" I thought. I
wrestled with the idea of following but I still had work to do and couldn't
leave one of those morons in charge too long or they would likely burn it to
the ground.
I
headed back to Jam Pony still trying to sort out what was happening.
|
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– |
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|
Point of View: LOGAN ***************************************** "What
the hell happened?" Max asks me. Before I get a chance to answer, Kendra
pops up. Tells us she's working at the hospital, then disappears again.
Strange girl, but this could be helpful. We're going to need assistance,
getting Zack out of here. First, we need to scrape Bling off the floor. "Max,
Tinga seems to have punched out Bling and run out. Can you..." "Sure."
Max, aware of the number of witnesses, subtly uses her strength to get Bling
sitting upright. He comes to, shaking his head. "What
just happened?" I ask. "Give
me a minute to figure it out," he says, blinking and rubbing the bruise
developing on his face. I
let him collect himself, turning back to Max. "Max, you think Kendra
could help us get Zack out of here?" Max
thinks for a second. "Not a bad idea, but I don't know if I want to get
her involved. Lydecker knows I'm here, and he's been in your apartment. If he
knows about Zack, that could put Kendra at risk." I
look down at my phone again. It's stopped ringing, but my home phone number
is still displayed. "Speaking
of that, Max, someone just called me. From my penthouse." Max's
face turns pale. "Logan, we're going to have to get out of here. All of
us. I don't know how long Lydecker was there in the penthouse, who he saw or
what he heard. You, me, Bling, Zack, Tinga...and I can't possibly remember
everything we said." I
think for a minute. "The only place I can think of for the moment is the
cabin. We can't just disappear entirely, until we understand what's going on
here. That's close enough to stay in touch." Max
looks like she's about to protest. She probably wants to head for Canada, but
if this drug spreads no place will be safe. I speak before she can. "Max,
let's just get that far and then we'll figure out what to do. Even getting
there is going to be hard enough. Somehow I'm going to need to get back into
the penthouse and grab some equipment, delete some files. We might need
another car, and we'll need to get Zack out with whatever medical supplies he
needs." Max
nods. She always feels better when she has a mission. "I'm not letting
you go back to the penthouse without me. We don't know who's there. Getting
Zack out is the easiest part, but we'll have to do it soon. He's going to
recover too quickly and the doctors will notice." She
turns to Bling. "And what about Tinga?" |
