* ssp47's Corner * Thanks to Alex "Wa", DarkDragonX, and Striker for the
reviews. Ok, Striker Blaine is the Violet Dragon and his weapon is the nun
chucks. Kay is the Dark Dragon and his weapon is a long blacked handled
spiked ball. Ok with Blaine's hair. Since he is the thunder element, he can
easily conduct electricity. So if his hair is rubbed a lot it's all static.
Kay just did that to make fun of him. Ok with it now?
Whoa! Can't believe it, chapter 12 already. I'm working ahead of myself. Oh
and next time you guys review let me know which character you like so far.
Ok?
CHAPTER 12: "Hawk"
"So how are we going to get to Floyd?" Jett asked casually. "I don't recall seeing a rental car dealership close by."
"There probably isn't one 'close by'." Erica reasoned. "The biggest city in this country is over a million miles away."
"The bar tender said it was a very popular attraction. Surely there's a way to transport tourists?" Daphne remarked leaning against a building.
"That's right. I remember seeing a bus station close to the port." Christa said remembering the information. She kicked some sand away from her foot, and then walking away a few paces. "Well what are you standing there for?" She demanded seeing that the group hadn't moved.
"We were admiring the lovely complexion of the sand on the beautifully paved black road." Jett said sarcastically. Christa rolled her eyes and she led the group back to the port. And sure enough besides the port there was an old rundown bus station. And to add to the lovely weather there was a large line of tourists standing outside fanning themselves.
"Wow this'll be fun. Anyone want some ice cream, sides me?" Jett asked wiping a hand across his forehead.
"Bring me back a strawberry cone." Christa told him. With much reluctance they stood last in line as Jett went to the ice cream cart.
"Do you think we're going in the right direction? I mean there could just be a regular unseen problem in the dam."
"Well Christa, that's the only information that has hit us so far." Daphne took a step forward when the line slowly moved a bit.
"But that could just be a coincidence."
Erica stood close to the two young women so that only they could hear what she had to say.
"We can't judge or doubt the knowledge that has been placed before us. Besides it's our Dragoon spirits that are showing us the way. There could be very well something we need to see. Have faith." Christa stared at Erica and didn't say anything more.
"I'm just a little uneasy. We haven't come across anything dangerous in awhile."
Jett entered the line and handed Christa her cone.
"Sorry it took me so long. That guy didn't understand English or the value of gold." The blonde girl licked hers a couple of times and then her eyebrows lifted from her serious expression.
"Are you sure this is strawberry?" Christa looked at Jett questioningly. The young man shrugged.
"I don't know. I couldn't read his language. But it had a picture of a strawberry on it." Christa's face went a little pale.
"Dear heaven." She murmured tossing it in the trash bin. Jett paid no attention and ate his. For a while it seemed like the line wasn't going to ever move, but it did. slowly. In about thirty minutes later they had their tickets and sat comfortably in the bus, sort of.
"Geez! It's an oven in here and what are these chair made of? Metal?" Everyone agreed as they sat down on the rock hard benches, especially Erica. It was hard to be elegant when you were perspiring so much.
"Alright, ladies and gents. Please take your seats." The bus driver announced while climbing aboard and sitting in her seat. She turned the key and the engine roared.
* I wonder how long it'll take to get there. * Jett thought staring out his window.
"Just so you know this will be a rough two hour drive. So I would make sure you all were comfortable." There were some slight groans from the heat and length of travel. Suddenly the wheels churned and the bus slowly lunged forward. And thus the long drive began.
*~*
It was nearly dusk by the time the bus arrived. Along the way there had been some misfortunes, which caused the estimated two-hour trip to be a very long four-hour drive. The bus parked in a small food mart parking lot. It sat right next door to the "Dirt Mound" which was where the attraction was.
"Is this Floyd? I thought it'd be bigger." Jett remarked hopping off the bus.
"Actually we're about four miles off from Floyd. This is the outskirts of the city." The bus driver explained.
"Ah." Jett said with a nod of the head.
"The show is going to start in five minutes. I'd be getting my seats if I was you folks."
"Alright let's go." Christa said jogging towards the gate. She stopped short from the shock of heavy rock music that played in the stadium. It was loud enough to break your eardrums if you weren't careful.
A thick iron bar gate blocked the entrance to an old high school football field. Strings of red lights traveled around the gate. At the entrance ticket holders and gate guarders were all dressed as skeletons, complete with glow-in-the-dark teeth. The group paid for their tickets and entered through the gate. At first it looked like that there wasn't any seat the stands of chairs were so crowded. And right in the middle of it all was a huge dirt mound.
"Oh it's a motorcycle competition." Jett said in wonder. "I've always wanted to see one."
"Our seats are on the far east bench over there." Daphne said motioning with her hand. She carefully wedged herself between people and made he way towards the seats. Only Erica hung back by the gate. She wasn't sure why but the whole appearance of the place made her feel very uneasy and anxious.
* What is here? * She asked in her thoughts. Her violet eyes scoped around the building and aw nothing abnormal. Suddenly and very quickly her Dragoon spirit flashed a spark of light. * I see. Well I'd better keep a look out. Something isn't right. I wonder of the others feel it? No, they're not experienced enough. I'd better keep a sharp eye. *
The American Oriental carefully and cautiously walked around the benches, staring carefully at the arena for the thing that had first alerted her.
*~*
Below the excitement was another emotion of anxiety. This kind of competition was especially dangerous compared to other sports. They involved actually motorcycles and not dirt bikes, which made it all the harder to perform but more exciting to watch.
Individual men dressed themselves in thick leather cloths and added on more gear to protect themselves. Their assistants checked and operated their machines carefully making certain that they would perform in top condition.
One silent group in the back corner of the pit area stood perfectly still by their machines and said nothing to each other. They wore their helmets over their heads making it even harder to see them. They were so silent that it attracted the attention of one man who had just finished stretching and readying himself. He stared quietly at the group until one of them turned and looked at him. Red light flashed from his helmet in the shape of cat-like eyes.
The man neither flinched nor moved or said a word. He turned back to his motorcycle and kept his eyes on the keyboard above them that would signal when they were about to perform.
*~*
"Where's Erica?" Christa asked suddenly noticing that her partner wasn't to be seen.
"I don't know, I thought she was with us." Jett said, noticing too that she was gone.
"Relax you guys. She might be in the restroom." Daphne said calmly.
"Well she's going to miss a good show." Jett remarked settling back into his seat. Christa suddenly felt worried but she forced herself to sit back down in her seat and kept her eyes on the dirt mound. She hadn't worried about anyone for a long time.
*~*
Finding nothing up in the benches of people, Erica felt prompted to go below the action. She landed quietly on her feet and saw the area of the readying performers. Her eyes found the silent still group by the corner. She felt compelled to keep her stare on them. They never moved. She was about to get closer when suddenly the starting horn rang.
She knew that she had no choice but to go back up to the benches. She gripped the boards of the skeleton of the towering benches and quickly climbed to the top. Luckily where she had climbed had been the part where her friends sat.
"It's starting." She said casually sitting next to Christa. The blonde looked at her and only nodded her head. "Something's going to happen, keep your eye out." Erica whispered to her.
Christa felt the anxiety in her voice and carefully felt her sword by her side.
"No it won't happen yet." Erica said.
Suddenly the music stopped for a few minutes and the loud speaker rang in their ears.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to tonight's performance. I strongly advise anyone with quick blood pressure or young audiences to leave the arena quickly for this is not a guaranteed G performance." That was all he said and the lights went out and a blinding neo green lit up the dirt mound and the roar of motorcycles was heard from the arena.
It started out like a regular dirt bike show but it quickly got violent with the music and stunts of the men. The silent group of men Erica saw under the bleachers were riding their machines like they themselves were doing the stunts alone. Quickly everyone caught on with the competition. Certain points were awarded to each stunt.
And as the men failed each stunt, the scene was quite fatal; they either died instantly or were left with a truckload of injuries.
"This is awful. Who would do something like this?" Daphne whispered. Erica felt more anxious with each passing minute. Ten men had died already, something was going very wrong, only the group of silent figures were left without a scratch yet and a man riding his machine perfectly.
As the minutes went the competition got more fierce till it was drawn to the silent haunters and the lone man.
"That must be Hawk Glint!" The crowd was crying.
"Why haven't they tried to help those riders who are hurt?" Jett asked.
"It must be too dangerous." Christa murmured. "Only the most experienced come out alive."
The lone rider was five points above the silent riders who were growing tired of his ability to defeat them. One by one the ganged up on him and cut him off as he jumped to perform a winning stunt. His motorcycle fell to the dirt and the man with it. The man slowly got up and saw the riders circling around him.
One of the roared a blood curtling scream that shook fear into the hearts of the crowd. People started screaming and fled from the bleachers. Erica immediately stood up and lifted her Dragoon spirit in the air.
"Erica what are you doing?!" Christa demanded.
"I have to be sure." The oriental replied. A light beam flew from her spirit and onto the man. That was the sign. Those riders riding around him were demons. Erica quickly put away her spirit and lifted her bow and arrow to one of the rider's machine.
Just as the first one was about to trample him to the ground the arrow cut through the wheels and the motorcycle flew with the demon into the wall and crashed into flames. The man stared at where the arrow had come from. The monsters in disguise leapt from their machines and ripped the leather from their bodies. Bodies of real monsters with spiked backs and long jaws.
The man stood back as one roared at him and lifted himself into the air and allowed himself to fall freely onto of the human. The man dodged the attack but the six other demons ganged up on him and attacked.
"Blade Scream!" Daphne cried crossing her arms over her face. The blades on her arm armor shined and flew from their sheath as she brought her arms to her sides. The blades cut through the beasts and stalled them from their attack.
Not in Dragoon form Christa leapt onto the dirt mounded and charged towards a demon and sliced it in half with her sword. The demon screamed and the other creatures turned around to see the opposing human. One formed wings on its back and flew into the air and started performing a spell but was killed by another one of Erica's silver arrows.
The man stood by the corner and watched the human beings take on the monsters. Almost entranced his eyes followed Christa's additions as she slew the last opposing beast. The dead carcasses disappeared and left piles of gold.
Daphne turned to Jett as they stood on the benches. Daphne untransformed herself and Jett sighed.
"They were too easy. Drat."
"Why do you say that?" Daphne asked with a smile. "We don't want hard foes with every battle."
"But I wasn't needed this time." Jett said with a disappointed face.
"You'll have your chance young grasshopper." Daphne said with a wink.
*~*
As soon as the battle was over Christa put away her sword and turned to the guy against the bared fence.
"Are you alright?" She asked him casually.
"I am fine." He replied smoothly.
"What's your name?"
"Hawk. Plain and simple."
"I like simple." He smiled slightly and added.
"I don't blame you."
CHAPTER 12: "Hawk"
"So how are we going to get to Floyd?" Jett asked casually. "I don't recall seeing a rental car dealership close by."
"There probably isn't one 'close by'." Erica reasoned. "The biggest city in this country is over a million miles away."
"The bar tender said it was a very popular attraction. Surely there's a way to transport tourists?" Daphne remarked leaning against a building.
"That's right. I remember seeing a bus station close to the port." Christa said remembering the information. She kicked some sand away from her foot, and then walking away a few paces. "Well what are you standing there for?" She demanded seeing that the group hadn't moved.
"We were admiring the lovely complexion of the sand on the beautifully paved black road." Jett said sarcastically. Christa rolled her eyes and she led the group back to the port. And sure enough besides the port there was an old rundown bus station. And to add to the lovely weather there was a large line of tourists standing outside fanning themselves.
"Wow this'll be fun. Anyone want some ice cream, sides me?" Jett asked wiping a hand across his forehead.
"Bring me back a strawberry cone." Christa told him. With much reluctance they stood last in line as Jett went to the ice cream cart.
"Do you think we're going in the right direction? I mean there could just be a regular unseen problem in the dam."
"Well Christa, that's the only information that has hit us so far." Daphne took a step forward when the line slowly moved a bit.
"But that could just be a coincidence."
Erica stood close to the two young women so that only they could hear what she had to say.
"We can't judge or doubt the knowledge that has been placed before us. Besides it's our Dragoon spirits that are showing us the way. There could be very well something we need to see. Have faith." Christa stared at Erica and didn't say anything more.
"I'm just a little uneasy. We haven't come across anything dangerous in awhile."
Jett entered the line and handed Christa her cone.
"Sorry it took me so long. That guy didn't understand English or the value of gold." The blonde girl licked hers a couple of times and then her eyebrows lifted from her serious expression.
"Are you sure this is strawberry?" Christa looked at Jett questioningly. The young man shrugged.
"I don't know. I couldn't read his language. But it had a picture of a strawberry on it." Christa's face went a little pale.
"Dear heaven." She murmured tossing it in the trash bin. Jett paid no attention and ate his. For a while it seemed like the line wasn't going to ever move, but it did. slowly. In about thirty minutes later they had their tickets and sat comfortably in the bus, sort of.
"Geez! It's an oven in here and what are these chair made of? Metal?" Everyone agreed as they sat down on the rock hard benches, especially Erica. It was hard to be elegant when you were perspiring so much.
"Alright, ladies and gents. Please take your seats." The bus driver announced while climbing aboard and sitting in her seat. She turned the key and the engine roared.
* I wonder how long it'll take to get there. * Jett thought staring out his window.
"Just so you know this will be a rough two hour drive. So I would make sure you all were comfortable." There were some slight groans from the heat and length of travel. Suddenly the wheels churned and the bus slowly lunged forward. And thus the long drive began.
*~*
It was nearly dusk by the time the bus arrived. Along the way there had been some misfortunes, which caused the estimated two-hour trip to be a very long four-hour drive. The bus parked in a small food mart parking lot. It sat right next door to the "Dirt Mound" which was where the attraction was.
"Is this Floyd? I thought it'd be bigger." Jett remarked hopping off the bus.
"Actually we're about four miles off from Floyd. This is the outskirts of the city." The bus driver explained.
"Ah." Jett said with a nod of the head.
"The show is going to start in five minutes. I'd be getting my seats if I was you folks."
"Alright let's go." Christa said jogging towards the gate. She stopped short from the shock of heavy rock music that played in the stadium. It was loud enough to break your eardrums if you weren't careful.
A thick iron bar gate blocked the entrance to an old high school football field. Strings of red lights traveled around the gate. At the entrance ticket holders and gate guarders were all dressed as skeletons, complete with glow-in-the-dark teeth. The group paid for their tickets and entered through the gate. At first it looked like that there wasn't any seat the stands of chairs were so crowded. And right in the middle of it all was a huge dirt mound.
"Oh it's a motorcycle competition." Jett said in wonder. "I've always wanted to see one."
"Our seats are on the far east bench over there." Daphne said motioning with her hand. She carefully wedged herself between people and made he way towards the seats. Only Erica hung back by the gate. She wasn't sure why but the whole appearance of the place made her feel very uneasy and anxious.
* What is here? * She asked in her thoughts. Her violet eyes scoped around the building and aw nothing abnormal. Suddenly and very quickly her Dragoon spirit flashed a spark of light. * I see. Well I'd better keep a look out. Something isn't right. I wonder of the others feel it? No, they're not experienced enough. I'd better keep a sharp eye. *
The American Oriental carefully and cautiously walked around the benches, staring carefully at the arena for the thing that had first alerted her.
*~*
Below the excitement was another emotion of anxiety. This kind of competition was especially dangerous compared to other sports. They involved actually motorcycles and not dirt bikes, which made it all the harder to perform but more exciting to watch.
Individual men dressed themselves in thick leather cloths and added on more gear to protect themselves. Their assistants checked and operated their machines carefully making certain that they would perform in top condition.
One silent group in the back corner of the pit area stood perfectly still by their machines and said nothing to each other. They wore their helmets over their heads making it even harder to see them. They were so silent that it attracted the attention of one man who had just finished stretching and readying himself. He stared quietly at the group until one of them turned and looked at him. Red light flashed from his helmet in the shape of cat-like eyes.
The man neither flinched nor moved or said a word. He turned back to his motorcycle and kept his eyes on the keyboard above them that would signal when they were about to perform.
*~*
"Where's Erica?" Christa asked suddenly noticing that her partner wasn't to be seen.
"I don't know, I thought she was with us." Jett said, noticing too that she was gone.
"Relax you guys. She might be in the restroom." Daphne said calmly.
"Well she's going to miss a good show." Jett remarked settling back into his seat. Christa suddenly felt worried but she forced herself to sit back down in her seat and kept her eyes on the dirt mound. She hadn't worried about anyone for a long time.
*~*
Finding nothing up in the benches of people, Erica felt prompted to go below the action. She landed quietly on her feet and saw the area of the readying performers. Her eyes found the silent still group by the corner. She felt compelled to keep her stare on them. They never moved. She was about to get closer when suddenly the starting horn rang.
She knew that she had no choice but to go back up to the benches. She gripped the boards of the skeleton of the towering benches and quickly climbed to the top. Luckily where she had climbed had been the part where her friends sat.
"It's starting." She said casually sitting next to Christa. The blonde looked at her and only nodded her head. "Something's going to happen, keep your eye out." Erica whispered to her.
Christa felt the anxiety in her voice and carefully felt her sword by her side.
"No it won't happen yet." Erica said.
Suddenly the music stopped for a few minutes and the loud speaker rang in their ears.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to tonight's performance. I strongly advise anyone with quick blood pressure or young audiences to leave the arena quickly for this is not a guaranteed G performance." That was all he said and the lights went out and a blinding neo green lit up the dirt mound and the roar of motorcycles was heard from the arena.
It started out like a regular dirt bike show but it quickly got violent with the music and stunts of the men. The silent group of men Erica saw under the bleachers were riding their machines like they themselves were doing the stunts alone. Quickly everyone caught on with the competition. Certain points were awarded to each stunt.
And as the men failed each stunt, the scene was quite fatal; they either died instantly or were left with a truckload of injuries.
"This is awful. Who would do something like this?" Daphne whispered. Erica felt more anxious with each passing minute. Ten men had died already, something was going very wrong, only the group of silent figures were left without a scratch yet and a man riding his machine perfectly.
As the minutes went the competition got more fierce till it was drawn to the silent haunters and the lone man.
"That must be Hawk Glint!" The crowd was crying.
"Why haven't they tried to help those riders who are hurt?" Jett asked.
"It must be too dangerous." Christa murmured. "Only the most experienced come out alive."
The lone rider was five points above the silent riders who were growing tired of his ability to defeat them. One by one the ganged up on him and cut him off as he jumped to perform a winning stunt. His motorcycle fell to the dirt and the man with it. The man slowly got up and saw the riders circling around him.
One of the roared a blood curtling scream that shook fear into the hearts of the crowd. People started screaming and fled from the bleachers. Erica immediately stood up and lifted her Dragoon spirit in the air.
"Erica what are you doing?!" Christa demanded.
"I have to be sure." The oriental replied. A light beam flew from her spirit and onto the man. That was the sign. Those riders riding around him were demons. Erica quickly put away her spirit and lifted her bow and arrow to one of the rider's machine.
Just as the first one was about to trample him to the ground the arrow cut through the wheels and the motorcycle flew with the demon into the wall and crashed into flames. The man stared at where the arrow had come from. The monsters in disguise leapt from their machines and ripped the leather from their bodies. Bodies of real monsters with spiked backs and long jaws.
The man stood back as one roared at him and lifted himself into the air and allowed himself to fall freely onto of the human. The man dodged the attack but the six other demons ganged up on him and attacked.
"Blade Scream!" Daphne cried crossing her arms over her face. The blades on her arm armor shined and flew from their sheath as she brought her arms to her sides. The blades cut through the beasts and stalled them from their attack.
Not in Dragoon form Christa leapt onto the dirt mounded and charged towards a demon and sliced it in half with her sword. The demon screamed and the other creatures turned around to see the opposing human. One formed wings on its back and flew into the air and started performing a spell but was killed by another one of Erica's silver arrows.
The man stood by the corner and watched the human beings take on the monsters. Almost entranced his eyes followed Christa's additions as she slew the last opposing beast. The dead carcasses disappeared and left piles of gold.
Daphne turned to Jett as they stood on the benches. Daphne untransformed herself and Jett sighed.
"They were too easy. Drat."
"Why do you say that?" Daphne asked with a smile. "We don't want hard foes with every battle."
"But I wasn't needed this time." Jett said with a disappointed face.
"You'll have your chance young grasshopper." Daphne said with a wink.
*~*
As soon as the battle was over Christa put away her sword and turned to the guy against the bared fence.
"Are you alright?" She asked him casually.
"I am fine." He replied smoothly.
"What's your name?"
"Hawk. Plain and simple."
"I like simple." He smiled slightly and added.
"I don't blame you."