A LONG WAY DOWN 9
Ms Hobgoblin: Sorry I took so long I have a rather lazy muse and few reviews... so this chappie is for you. Because you cared to review...taa-raa for now. I'll try to be faster...sorry ;)
Chapter 9: Ashes and Flashes
Ms Medusa lashed out with a kick at the woman. She blocked it with blurring speed and spun into a hack with her riding crop. Lydia/Medusa caught it on her upper arm and twisted it aside.
Tyson pulled Kai out of the way of the oncoming troopers. Rae leapt into a flip forwards and shot over the heads of three troopers. Kenny and Grandpa ducked aside as two troopers shot down through the roof on cords.
Max ducked under a grab from behind and slammed his knee into the unfortunates groin with a grin. The woman kicked Lydia in the gut. Lydia caught the following punch and flipped her into the nearest crate. "Stay down Dagmar" she instructed coldly. "Stay—Down!"
"Silence wretched traitor!" hissed the woman flipping to her feet and pointing her riding crop. It popped open to reveal a slender blade. "You vill die! FOR ZE MASTER!" she charged.
Lydia dodged aside and slashed down. Her slim breast dagger caught the blade of the sword-crop and knocked it aside. She swiped at Dagmar but the woman trapped it between the heel and sole of her excessively tall boot.
Tyson pulled Kai out of the way of a trooper as the blue haired boy karate kicked a man into a barrel. Grandpa slammed his kendo stick into the hand of a man and then spun into the poor sap's gut with the butt of his wooden sword.
Max looked around and spotted the water valve handle. "Got an idea!" he shouted. He pulled on the handle, the rusty valve squealed, he pushed down on it and gritted his teeth. Rae grabbed the handle and put his strength behind it.
The blast of water shot from the opened pipe line. It crashed into Dagmar and several of her troops knocking them aside. Lydia struggled to her feet and opened her mouth. "Cover your ears and crouch!" she exclaimed and inhaled.
The sonic waves blasted out of her lips as the rest of the room became silent. The troops were launched across the warehouse and bounced off the walls and floor with shouts and yelps.
Tyson glanced at the heavy door. "Kai! Gimme a hand!" he called. Kai darted to his side and gripped the winch with Tyson. They pulled...the door juddered up a little. Then they saw the headlights, growing from the gap.
"CLEAR!" shouted Kai as he wrapped his arm around Tyson's waist and launched them both onto a crate. The large A-Team style white van slammed through the door and skidded to a halt. The debris of the door bounced off the van and clattered to the ground. The door pulled open and Tony appeared. He aimed the assault rifle at the Neo-Nazi soldiers and fired at their feet. "Get in!" Joey shouted from the driver's side as he leaned out the window and fired with his .45 pistol.
"Lydia! Come on!" Tony shouted. Lydia grabbed a satchel from off an old desk and darted towards the door. "Lydia! LYDIA!" Tony roared.
Dagmar rose; pulling a dagger from the strap across her front she tossed it to daintily hold the point...and flung it. It hit Lydia in the back and she crashed down. Victoria vaulted from the side panel of the van and into a series of cartwheels. For an old lady she moved pretty impressively. Grandpa rushed to her side and helped her pick up Lydia.
Everyone piled into the van. It reversed with a shriek and performed a sharp skidding turn. Joey began to swear in Italian and Victoria tended to the unconscious Lydia. "Poison tipped," she whispered. "Typical of Doctor Lieutenant Dagmar Stravok"
"Who were they?" Max asked as he settled into the row of seats facing the ones Lydia lay on. Victoria placed the dagger on the tray at her feet.
"I'll explain at the restaurant," sighed Victoria. "Right now, I need to hope Lydia lives through the venoms in her system. Dagmar is no fool, she'd not use a conventional poison on Ms Medusa."
"I never asked..." Tyson said. "Why didn't she shape shift into her---Lydia guise at school? Why use make-up and a wig?"
"Because long ago that's who she was" sighed Tony, a tear forming. "She used to look like that...like Lydia Largos."
"She wanted some honesty in her life" sighed Victoria. "But then along came those idiots! I've already spoken to their boss...no doubt he spilled the beans on Lydia's presence in town."
"Who?" Kai asked calmly.
"You'll recall him from the Abbey" Victoria said. "Antonio Milani? Well his father gave the orders for Lydia to be brought to him...he wanted the bit beasts...to sell to Dagmar and the Schwarzhande".
"The Black Hands?"
"I'll explain later" intoned Victoria.
"Gone" reported the soldier. Dagmar spun and slapped him across the face.
"Of course zay are gone you fool! I vill haff to find zem soon. Ze Equinox is tomorrow night and ze mazter vill not veight another 300 years!"
"We found this!" a voice grunted. The huge man had metal plates on his face and torso with a pipe from the base of his skull to the small of his back.
"Exzellent Captain Hellder" Dagmar hissed. "Call ze ozers in, vee zerch tonight!"
She looked at the driver's license. "Poor little tiger" she laughed as she examined Rae's drivers license. "You vill soon be extinct!"
Lydia sat up and winced. The others were crowded around her. She looked at her blood stained coat over a chair. "Oh! OH no! Blood is so hard to get out!"
"Hey Lid" Tony said. Lydia smiled and swung her legs out. "Uhh...don't try escape we've got too much to talk to you about...like what the HELL you think you're doing!"
"Cool it" Joey said touching Tony's shoulder. "Deep breaths..."
"Lydia...you must tell them" Victoria said.
Lydia looked at her boots for a moment and sighed. "Fine" she said her voice slightly raspier then usual. "Dagmar Stravok is a doctor and lieutenant of the Schwarzehande, a spin-off of the Nazi's supernatural investigations division. During World War Two they searched for any means and method to supernaturally augment their powers. They discovered bit beasts had power. They stole them...the more powerful European ones...but they couldn't unlock them...until they saw a small Jewish Child with one. That child escaped with the power of his bit beast, along with a small group. They discovered it was his draedle that had harnessed the powers. They believe---"
She laughed. Sultry and seductively dark...alluring in everyway. "That the bit beasts once roamed the earth and the game of beyblades was invented by a gathering of the First to ever tame them...inspired by men and women from all around the globe throwing in cultural designs and thoughts for how to harness the immense power... the Jewish people, being spiritual and proud, were perfect targets for the Nazi's to seize a large quantity of the Bitbeasts during their raids on religious sites, they knew the bit beasts would be there because the Jewish people respected them and honoured them. After all, the Middle East was once a vast trading ground before the Secret Wars fought there with bit beasts. The people of Israel got a head start...well that was in rediscovering the taming and channelling method."
"Cut to the point sister" Max exclaimed.
"Fine, the Jewish People solved a puzzle that many people could not: How to channel and tame the bit beasts to fight without repeating the Secret wars? The spinning motion created a phase gate for the creatures to emerge and that then wrenched them back in. Every country contributed to it...scriptures found in Norway speak of the first meeting of the First..." Lydia rose slowly, aware that even the slightest move might prompt an attack.
"What did the SHG do?" Kai asked. "With the bit beasts."
"When they had stolen them away they tried experimentation on them, to harness the beasts within. It failed and the Fuhrer was so angry he had a group of the scientists slaughtered and the SHG disbanded...it didn't last"
"What were the Secret Wars?" Kenny asked.
"The Celtic Druids, the Roman Mages, The Egyptian Priests, The Grecian Magi, the Norman Sorcerers, the Israeli Magi, the Nordic Soothsayers, the Gaulish Invokers, the Chinese...well magical people from across the globe" Lydia sighed. "Set about taming the bit beasts. Sadly the SHG got wind of the old methods they had, the few left alive that is. The result was their immediate and unofficial reactivation five months before the world war ended. They've been on this case ever since."
"How did you get to the Abbey?" Kai asked.
"I followed one of Voltaire's scientists there, he worked for the SHG" shrugged Lydia. She smiled. "I'm glad he did, if he hadn't I'd never have met you Kai. I think you helped draw the line between Lydia and Medusa by---standing up for me so I didn't stand alone"
Lydia stretched and yawned. "Can I have a nap now? All my files on the SHG Council are in my laptop...browse over them. They'll be dropping by I'd expect."
She gave a sigh and curled up on the couch again, dropping off to sleep. Victoria nodded at the door and led the others out. "Joey, Tony, watch her. The rest of us will review the files."
In the room Lydia's eyes flickered open, turning green with slit pupils.
"I hacked the password" Kenny said. "The council is made of 9 people"
1) DAGMAR STRAVOK – Head of Genetics
Doctor-Lieutenant. An expert in Genetic from the finest schools in the world and one of the foremost intellectuals in the field of Biochemistry as well. She is an expert in Kung-Fu, Judo and Kick-Boxing. The damn slut can also freaking pull off spinning kicks in platform spike-heels. Like that's a big deal
2) DIETRICH HELLDER – Head of Recon
Hellder underwent a deadly transformation in order to become a member of the SHG council. He signed up for Stravok's Ubermensch project. He had a pipe drilled into his neck and spine and connected to a special satchel of steroids that are refilled regularly. By activating his steroids Stravok becomes faster and stronger as well as more primal and driven by instincts. A blast of lust dust will have the stupid Neanderthal drooling over me. Then I can get him to take a long walk off a short pier.
3) CAPTAIN N. HAEDIN – Head of the Elite Commandos
A specialist in commando tactics, Haedin's brain was given cybernetic enhancements so that he'd become relentless and able to cut off pain and circulation. Haedin is a master of unarmed combats and with the ability to completely shut off pain he has become unstoppable... Personally I'll try kicking him in the nuts. Usually works and I doubt he's that able to shut off pain.
4) LORD HUFFAWK – Psychologist and Propaganda Media controller
James Huffawk is British and responsible for the murder of hundreds of Media personnel. Huffawk's family aided Lord Haw-Haw in propaganda against Britain. Huffawk has a robotic hand to replace the one cut off by yours truly in Prague in 1942. He is an expert in psychological warfare and uses his network of moles in media organizations to tear apart any stories too close to the groups story. He's not very strong but his arm has been outfitted with many gadgets. It seems all the villains have the new Sharper Image catalogue.
5) EVA VAN HACK – Mistress of Spies
Eva is a lethal espionage specialist who is from the bloodline of vampires in the Romanian Mountains. Apparently she is a descendant from Vlad the Impaler. Her skills in Espionage are unparalleled and she is capable of superhuman feats. She has an aversion to sunlight which I can use to my advantage in so many ways its hardly fun. Eva is dangerous to men as she can place them in her thrall and deliver a deadly bite with minimal fuss. She has retractable fangs and zero talent for getting a tan.
6) POULOS HERSTAFF – Head of Mythological and Historical Studies
Poulos Herstaff is a High priest of Nygrryggyf an ancient Bit Beast. The nutjob believes in the power of evil and is apparently able to manipulate flames. He believes that the world MUST become the Aryan home to survive an attack of the Angels. He also believes that his big statue in his chapel talks so I'm in no hurry to believe the war of Angels theory. His pyrokinetic ability needs a dousing though.
7) NADJA IVANOVA – Head of Assassins
Nadja Ivanova's family were liquidated. By her. At the age of 7 she demonstrated the ability to predicted future events. At 9 she began to read minds. At 13 she began to move objects with her thoughts. At 14 she liquidated her families brains with telepathy and was placed in an asylum. Her powers are unmatched in many fields and she uses them to make soulless killers. She is far from helpless without her powers and so I'll have to hit her in the head and play it by ear from there. Supposedly she gets great TV reception.
8) COMMANDER BRUTUS IGRIS – Head of Storm Troopers and Ground Forces
Brutus went through a special treatment for the Ubermensch program. His blood cells were laced with steroids of the rarest and most potent level; he can lift tanks and throw them like lawn bowls. Brutus is far from an idiot but he's not genius. In order to deal with him I'll have to find a way to match his superhuman strength. Brutus has Brute Force...but his bones break like anyone else's. And eventually that muscle WILL turn to fat.
9) CAPTAIN JORGEN BLUT – Head of Weapon and Artillery Research and Use
Jorgen Blut is part man and part machine. He is also a complete and total nut ball who gets a happy watching things explode. He is in control of the powerful machines and weaponry of the SHG. Too bad he's allergic to microwaves and EMP. Jorgen Blut is a proud twat who I will enjoy stamping out. He poses minimal threat even if his torso launches explosives. Just as well he isn't Pamela Anderson Lee...or he'd be launching nuclear warheads from his torso I suppose.
The pictures were detailed and Dagmar stood out. In her picture she was in a ridiculously tight double-breasted lab coat down to her thighs...and a pair of thigh-high black leather boots and not much else.
Even Tyson gave a little drool at the sight of her.
"Let's go talk to Lydia about this" Rei muttered.
They walked into the room...Ms Medusa dropped from the ceiling and snapped her legs out into Rei's chest. She cracked a chop into the side of Max's head and performed a spin kick that sent Tyson flailing backwards. She caught Chief by the arm and flipped him over onto a couch and extended a full-length kick into Kai's ribs. She spun and pivoted out the door.
Kai leapt to his feet and sprinted after her. But she was gone.
"Well" sighed Tyson. "We should'a seen that one coming."
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Lydia appeared from the swirl of rose petals on the roof. Her pupils dilated... the men moved around in the apartment. "If I want those numbers I have to get in there," she muttered.
She leapt and glided towards the balcony of the relatively small apartment. The man turned and opened his mouth to shout...she fist clashed with his throat and knocked him back. He gagged and gripped neck. Lydia spun and kicked him off the balcony, eight stories down into the trees below.
She slid the door open and froze.
"Guten Tag meine Freundin" a voice sneered. Lydia pivoted and grasped Dagmars arm as it stabbed out. Lydia rolled backwards, placing a foot on Dagmar's hip and tossing the woman over her and away.
"Bienvenue" cooed Lydia. She leapt into a kick, here eyes saw through the walls and desks, searching for the book she needed.
She blocked a stab and sliced across Dagmars face. The woman cursed loudly and shoved Lydia through a door with a German curse, snarled with hatred.
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"The Group all carry amulets, they give the wearers the power to teleport to a gatehouse they have build for such purposes and then from their out. It's a slow teleportation, not as fast as Lydia's. They must teleport to a gatehouse and then lock on new coordinates and teleport again. If we get those amulets we can find a gatehouse and take a chunk out of that system, give us a chance to catch Lydia before she has time to teleport away or to set a trap for her."
Victoria smoothed her dark blue dress and smiled faintly as she finished the explanation.
"How do we get the amulets?" Max asked.
"We capture or kill their soldiers"
"Kill?"
"Don't worry" Tony reassured as Joey lovingly dabbed his forehead with anti-bacterial spirits where Lydia had grazed him with a lightening fast kick just before she had ambushed the others. "They're mindless zombies, reanimated morgue bodies trapped in body suits. The Jane and John Does from across the world and the troops Dagmar has butchered so she can insert her probes that reanimate them and make them her zombie troops for the Schwarze Hande...they're no longer alive. Some have been dead for decades."
"Then we have to" Kai said. He put his arm around Tyson's shoulders and the dark haired boy laid his head on his shoulder. "We can handle this"
"You're getting into this deep" Grandpa warned.
"We can handle it" repeated Tyson for Kai. "I know we can".
Victoria's eyes turned blank white, lightening crackled across them. "Lydia... she's at Rei and Kai's apartment---fighting Dagmar...oh my"
"What?" Chief asked.
"Dagmar will blow up the building to prevent Lydia's escape" Victoria whispered as her eyes reverted to normal. "Taking everyone inside it straight to the hereafter but for her...we have to stop Dagmar..."
"Let's Go!" Max shouted and sprinted for the door. The others followed.
TBC
A/N: Review More! I'm winding down on this story, but my muse has been suffering lately...If you like it---click the small GO button beside the Submit Review option...got that? Click it---click it....