Talks had been going on for over an hour. Since Ororo had returned, she and Kat had been in talks with the resistance leaders utilising their limited communication technology. The location of Dracula's burial ground had been presumably located but the humans were exceptionally weary about trusting more vampires than they needed to.
Ororo stood in the background listening whilst the leaders argued their reasons for finding another solution to liberate America. She wanted to argue her case, make them see that it was the only way but they would not listen to her. As a member of the resistance she was one of seldom few vampire operatives but as such she was awarded no place to interfere in plans that the leaders decided upon.
On the static filled screen before them sat the imposing figures of the Resistance Core. Dr Reed Richards, once the genius leader of the Fantastic Four. His intellect had been taxed in attempts to combat the vampire's through science but resources were low and many attempts had had a concentrated effect at best. To his left was Admiral Bruce Wayne who in the early days had hung up his heroics as the Caped Crusader Batman to pour his energies into structuring the resistance. And finally to his left sat Colonel Steve Rodgers who's scarred face stared out grimly on the proceedings.
"Agent Blade is M.I.A somehwere in Los Angeles and we've heard word from the Watcher's Council in London that another of their Slayers has perished. They're fast running out of young women to take up that particular mantle," said Admiral Wayne. "What are your thoughts Commander Rasputin?"
"My thoughts on the vampires are well known. We have all lost much at their hands, but I also know Agent Munroe and she believes tha-"
"We are not interested in what she believes Commander," snapped Dr Richards with frustration. "We want to know the security risks involved by possibly ressurecting the creature that used to rule over these demons!"
Kat raised her eyebrow. "Security risks? Surely that's self explanitary, sir?"
"Watch your tone Commander."
There was a moments silence before Colonel Rodgers spoke; his tone low and dark. "In light of our recent losses it is decided. The plan is to be abandoned. I will contact the Illinois Division and initiate talks to evacuate the cities and impliment our nuclear arsenal."
Ororo bowed her head as Kat saluted and the leaders ended their transmission. Turning back to face Ororo, Kat casually shrugged.
"I tried."
Ororo stared at her. "When did you try?"
Kat scowled and moved past her. Ororo turned around and called after her.
"Don't walk away from me!" Kat paused. "Don't..."
"We have our orders."
"Damn the orders! You know as well as I do it won't do a thing! A nuclear strike will drive the vampires underground. We're-" Ororo caught herself mid-sentence. "They're not stupid. All we'll achieve is to wipe out what limited shelter and resources we have drive that final nail into humanity's coffin!"
Ororo looked at her old friend. The woman she had watch grow and blossom only to have revenge taint her heart and mould her into the person standing before her. Kat avoided direct eye contact as she ran her hand through her short hair.
"What can I do? My hands are tied."
"Do it for the future," Ororo moved closer. "Do it for the fallen. Do it for Peter..."
Kat looked up with tears stinging her eyes. "Don't use him to get to me!"
"You want to avenge him don't you!?" Ororo grabbed Kat by the arm and shook her.
Kat pulled away. "Don't twist this!"
"Then help me!"
Not another word was said as Kat moved away and disappeared around a corner leaving Ororo to her own thoughts. Already she regretted pushing her friend so much but the clock was now ticking; she had to make amends - she had to set things right.
Half an hour later Ororo sat in her plain quarters staring blankly at the concrete floor as a silent musing plagued her mind. Her eyes flicked to her desk where a her personal collection of spells lay, housed in a thick leather volume. Seizing her sword from beside her she headed toward the armoury. Her sword strapped across her back she also equipped herself with two dozen throwing stars and six grenades. Next she headed out into the main complex and moved toward the roof exit only to find Kat blocking the exit.
"So you were going to leave without saying goodbye?"
"If you won't help me, please - don't hinder me!"
"I can't let you go."
Ororo started to ascened the stairs but Kat remained stationary.
"You know as well as I do that the Resistance doesn't care for my involvement. But whether they like it or not I am going to try and rectify what has gone wrong in this world!"
"You're not a one-woman army!"
Ororo looked at Kat side-long, her eyes darkening. "If you want to stop me, you'll have to fight me."
Kat drew a stake from her jacket and toyed with it. "It can be arranged."
Ororo stared in disbelief but then continued forward. Kat pushed off the wall and stood across the exit more fully but Ororo moved her to one side with her strength but Kat seized her wrist and pulled her back.
"Let go." Ororo growled.
"You're not going. We have our orders."
"I told you, either let me go or kill me."
Kat brought the stake streaking through the air and paused with the point hovering an inch above Ororo's heart. She held it there for a moment and looked deep into her friend's eyes before her stare softened and she let the stake drop where it clattered down the steps. Ororo lifted her hand and brushed Kat's cheek softly, tears threatening her own eyes.
"You've grown up so much," her voice was distant.
Kat brushed away her hand and shrugged off the brief glimpse of sentiment that flashed across her face. "I'm not a kid anymore."
Ororo took her hand back and then cleared the stairs, opening the door to the roof; letting a chill wind dry her burgeoning tears before she turned back.
"Goodbye Kitten."
Kat closed her eyes, her mind drifting back to a time when she had been younger, innocent - care free. She remembered fun times, friends and loved ones and with a sorrowful sigh a tear rolled down her cheek. She looked up toward the door but Ororo was gone. Kat grasped the silver Star of David that hung round her neck and whispered onto the wind.
"Goodbye."
To Be Continued...
Ororo stood in the background listening whilst the leaders argued their reasons for finding another solution to liberate America. She wanted to argue her case, make them see that it was the only way but they would not listen to her. As a member of the resistance she was one of seldom few vampire operatives but as such she was awarded no place to interfere in plans that the leaders decided upon.
On the static filled screen before them sat the imposing figures of the Resistance Core. Dr Reed Richards, once the genius leader of the Fantastic Four. His intellect had been taxed in attempts to combat the vampire's through science but resources were low and many attempts had had a concentrated effect at best. To his left was Admiral Bruce Wayne who in the early days had hung up his heroics as the Caped Crusader Batman to pour his energies into structuring the resistance. And finally to his left sat Colonel Steve Rodgers who's scarred face stared out grimly on the proceedings.
"Agent Blade is M.I.A somehwere in Los Angeles and we've heard word from the Watcher's Council in London that another of their Slayers has perished. They're fast running out of young women to take up that particular mantle," said Admiral Wayne. "What are your thoughts Commander Rasputin?"
"My thoughts on the vampires are well known. We have all lost much at their hands, but I also know Agent Munroe and she believes tha-"
"We are not interested in what she believes Commander," snapped Dr Richards with frustration. "We want to know the security risks involved by possibly ressurecting the creature that used to rule over these demons!"
Kat raised her eyebrow. "Security risks? Surely that's self explanitary, sir?"
"Watch your tone Commander."
There was a moments silence before Colonel Rodgers spoke; his tone low and dark. "In light of our recent losses it is decided. The plan is to be abandoned. I will contact the Illinois Division and initiate talks to evacuate the cities and impliment our nuclear arsenal."
Ororo bowed her head as Kat saluted and the leaders ended their transmission. Turning back to face Ororo, Kat casually shrugged.
"I tried."
Ororo stared at her. "When did you try?"
Kat scowled and moved past her. Ororo turned around and called after her.
"Don't walk away from me!" Kat paused. "Don't..."
"We have our orders."
"Damn the orders! You know as well as I do it won't do a thing! A nuclear strike will drive the vampires underground. We're-" Ororo caught herself mid-sentence. "They're not stupid. All we'll achieve is to wipe out what limited shelter and resources we have drive that final nail into humanity's coffin!"
Ororo looked at her old friend. The woman she had watch grow and blossom only to have revenge taint her heart and mould her into the person standing before her. Kat avoided direct eye contact as she ran her hand through her short hair.
"What can I do? My hands are tied."
"Do it for the future," Ororo moved closer. "Do it for the fallen. Do it for Peter..."
Kat looked up with tears stinging her eyes. "Don't use him to get to me!"
"You want to avenge him don't you!?" Ororo grabbed Kat by the arm and shook her.
Kat pulled away. "Don't twist this!"
"Then help me!"
Not another word was said as Kat moved away and disappeared around a corner leaving Ororo to her own thoughts. Already she regretted pushing her friend so much but the clock was now ticking; she had to make amends - she had to set things right.
Half an hour later Ororo sat in her plain quarters staring blankly at the concrete floor as a silent musing plagued her mind. Her eyes flicked to her desk where a her personal collection of spells lay, housed in a thick leather volume. Seizing her sword from beside her she headed toward the armoury. Her sword strapped across her back she also equipped herself with two dozen throwing stars and six grenades. Next she headed out into the main complex and moved toward the roof exit only to find Kat blocking the exit.
"So you were going to leave without saying goodbye?"
"If you won't help me, please - don't hinder me!"
"I can't let you go."
Ororo started to ascened the stairs but Kat remained stationary.
"You know as well as I do that the Resistance doesn't care for my involvement. But whether they like it or not I am going to try and rectify what has gone wrong in this world!"
"You're not a one-woman army!"
Ororo looked at Kat side-long, her eyes darkening. "If you want to stop me, you'll have to fight me."
Kat drew a stake from her jacket and toyed with it. "It can be arranged."
Ororo stared in disbelief but then continued forward. Kat pushed off the wall and stood across the exit more fully but Ororo moved her to one side with her strength but Kat seized her wrist and pulled her back.
"Let go." Ororo growled.
"You're not going. We have our orders."
"I told you, either let me go or kill me."
Kat brought the stake streaking through the air and paused with the point hovering an inch above Ororo's heart. She held it there for a moment and looked deep into her friend's eyes before her stare softened and she let the stake drop where it clattered down the steps. Ororo lifted her hand and brushed Kat's cheek softly, tears threatening her own eyes.
"You've grown up so much," her voice was distant.
Kat brushed away her hand and shrugged off the brief glimpse of sentiment that flashed across her face. "I'm not a kid anymore."
Ororo took her hand back and then cleared the stairs, opening the door to the roof; letting a chill wind dry her burgeoning tears before she turned back.
"Goodbye Kitten."
Kat closed her eyes, her mind drifting back to a time when she had been younger, innocent - care free. She remembered fun times, friends and loved ones and with a sorrowful sigh a tear rolled down her cheek. She looked up toward the door but Ororo was gone. Kat grasped the silver Star of David that hung round her neck and whispered onto the wind.
"Goodbye."
To Be Continued...