Non-standard. The beginning of this little series was originally written by Krystina, in her stories of "AU - Temptation", where Brooklyn really is corrupted by Demona, and "AU - Long Way To Morning". When she asked if anyone would like to write the third installment of this AU (Altered Universe), I took up the challenge. I hope that I have done justice to the characters, and shown how Brooklyn's corruption can affect everything. From here, the Altered Universe truly breaks from the normal Gargoyle plot line, and I hope has gone off in a direction that we will all find interesting. Also thanks for Kitainia for proofreading this! One proffreder disappeared, and the other's e-mail didn't get to me for some reason. Blessed be and enjoy the story!
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CASTLE WYVERN LIBRARY, 1994 A.D.
David Xanatos
A strange being was sitting in my library. His crimson skin sharply contrasting with his snow white hair, which fell halfway down his back between his wings. For some reason he was sitting at the top of a ladder instead of a chair. I guess he had some trouble finding one that would be comfortable with his tail. His foot long beak was almost jammed into a book, and so absorbed into it was he that he barely noticed my presence. Or maybe he had and... no, if he had he would be watching me instead of the book, instinct to fight or flee ringing in his mind. Wish I could get a picture of this, but who would I show it too? Anyone who saw it would think it was some strange picture of a demon, complete with horns.
Of all the Gargoyles I have met, Brooklyn is the most inhuman looking. Though no animal as some may think at first, his mind is one of the most tactically sound I have met, if he could get just 3 people to follow his orders I would have trouble getting him with a squad of fully armed men. If he would give them orders in the first place. Demona has quite infected him with her attitude towards humans, he could be dangerous if he takes it to the same levels that she has. I should work on him to prevent this.. "Be careful not to drool on that, some of these books are quite rare."
He jerked, and I can only say it was a credit to his skills as a warrior that he doesn't fall. "Oh? I guess as a student of Latin, I am unqualified to handle books? Don't worry, they won't even get a claw mark on them."
"Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Interesting choice. You know that particular copy was written in hand by one of Darwin's direct students?"
"So I read. Interesting theory too, know about it?"
"Quite a bit, I am after all at the top of the corporate food chain when I started out as the child of a fisherman. I didn't get there by being a weakling, or without know the flaws in that theory." Brushing off my Armani suit. Yes, quite a long way from the fisherman my father wanted me to be indeed!
"Oh? What flaws?" Yes, I got him!
"Most people who read that assume you should destroy all competition. But if you start doing that you will eventually be destroyed by someone better, and as any amateur fighter knows, there is always someone better out there."
"And how did you get around that? It would be easy for someone like you to cover up a small massacre if you wanted to after all." Brooklyn said with a sarcastic curve on his beak. Strange how that beak can have so much expression.
"Officially yes. But rumors would start, and it would be harder to get people to trust me. I am still having problems with the time I was arrested. Influence is my strength."
"Don't you mean control?"
"You mean like the Steel Clan robots? You've seen how effective that is. They are useful occasionally, but not really helpful. Have so little of their own initiative that the second they go against a real opponent they get slaughtered."
"Heheh, yeah, they were. Were shocking at first, but real pushovers once we started fighting."
"Yes. Complete control petty much negates any use they might be. Influence people and you don't need to ask for help when you need it, just let it be known. And it keeps people in line enough to prevent them from harming you deliberately."
"But wouldn't direct control be safer? An electro-shock collar for example?"
"Please. I do something like that, and the person either becomes a spineless coward, or concentrates most of his efforts on ridding himself of it. Influence still gets a person to do what I want them to do, and be a lot better at it than they normally would. And the coward can still be influenced by someone who could give him a little courage."
"So what does this have to do with me? I don't think people will exactly yell in gratification when they see me face to beak. They'll just go AIIIEEEEEEEEE."
"Yes, that is a problem. But there is one role you can play where people would accept 'deals' from someone like you, and allow you to influence them." He doesn't answer, now for the hook. "Demonology."
"What? Ah, you mean appearing to people in a fiery blast of brimstone and demanding they worship me?"
"If you want, though I would stay away from worship. Religion is powerful, but can turn on it's wielder as easily as anything else."
"Oh, I can just imagine doing something like that in Times Square. I am sure to immediately be shot with holy water, after they try guns of course."
"Yes, you would need to find people who are desperate enough to 'deal with the devil himself'. I could do that for you." He looked at me in wide-eyed amazement, and I couldn't help giving him one of my smirks.
"Xanatos! Don't you have your machines ready yet? We have to do this tonight or not at all!" yelled a voice from the upper doorway. The hallway light illuminated one of the most beautiful and deadly beings on this world, the Gargoyle sorceress Demona. The bright light seemed only to highlight her dark blue wings, bright red hair, and the golden jewelry I have never seen her without. I'm betting they are some sort of magical aid of hers, but I can't be sure.
"If you have all you need, we can start immediately."
"Of course! I will see you in the tower." And with that she spun into the doorway and left. Amazing how her every movement seems to echo with hatred, even when she is as calm as she can ever get.
Turning back to Brooklyn, I caught him just snapping his beak shut. Heheh, well, she is the only female available to him... "Think about what I said, will you?" And with that I went to my castle tower to further 'influence' Demona into giving me immortality....
Goliath
The stars are beautiful tonight. Strange, how that after a thousand years even the stars have changed. Not much, but enough to notice it if you look. So much has changed. It seems like only yesterday that I was talking with my rookery brother......
CASTLE WYVERN, 994 A.D.
Four beings were standing on top of one of the castle turrets. One was a white haired and white robed human wizard known only as the Magus. Another was the sable haired and lavender skinned Gargoyle clan leader named Goliath, for his great size. His mate and second in command was another of the beings, her blue skin becoming almost a midnight color on her wings, crowned with a wild thatch of fire red hair. The rookery brother of Goliath was the fourth. His skin the same blue as his rookery sister's, only his wings were the same color as the rest of him. He was one of the few gargoyles who actually wore armor, somehow he got the castle blacksmith to make him a chest piece out of some red metal. His naturally white hair contrasted the pair of horns that crowned his head.
"Useless creatures! Why are you still here? If you wait much longer you will not have to track the Vikings, they will be at our gates again!" the Magus was yelling as he stormed past Goliath, his rookery brother, and his second in command.
The Second watched him storm out of sight down the stairs out of sight and asked, "Why do we risk our lives protecting the humans castle?"
"She is right, we can survive anywhere." agreed her rookery brother.
"Because a gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air," said the elder as he came up the stairs where the Magus had gone down. Not empty words coming from him, who has spent his whole life protecting the castle, and getting the marks to prove it. Even though old, his stride was the stride that only an experienced warrior could do and not look foolish. His formerly blonde hair now pure white, his left eye discolored and half blind. Not even the stone sleep could cure all wounds, and this one still left a mark running from his cheek to above his eye ridge. His light brown skin darkened on his wings to a kind of mud brown.
"I would have you at my side old friend, I will need your tracking skills." said the gargoyle clan leader, Goliath. Turning to his rookery brother, he put his claws on his brother's shoulders, clasping them in a warrior parting.
"Stay here and guard the castle. I will see you soon." His brother nodded in agreement, though his eyes showed his displeasure. Turning to his mate, he took her carefully in his claws, lifted her face up to him and whispered lovedly to her, "And you my love, I never lose sight of."
With that Goliath and the elder leapt off the castle turret, heading off to make sure the Vikings who attacked the castle were truly heading back to where they came from, and to help them on their way. The elder's mind already thinking of the route they would have to take. Goliath looked back briefly, saw his brother brooding a little, and his second in command and mate looking after him with some worry. Goliath turned away smiling slightly, no doubt thinking that her worry was for him.....
CLOCK TOWER ABOVE THE NYPD 23RD PRECINCT BUILDING, 1994 A.D.
So much has changed since that night. All but seven of my clan killed, my own love turning out to be a traitor to us all. Corrupted by only seeing the worst of humanity, her attempt to get rid of the humans backfiring and getting our clan killed instead. Only a few of us surviving to this time and place because the Princess managed to let go of her hatred for us. Sigh Just wish she would have done it sooner. At least before the Magus, believing her dead, cast a spell that froze most of us remaining into our stone slumber for a thousand years. Or before her Captain of the Guard, one of our few friends then, got sick of the contempt she and most of the castle had for my clan. He and my Angel of the Night may not have betrayed us all then..... If wishes were horses....
But a few things still remain the same. Hatred, fear, and jealousy can still corrupt. My Fallen Angel has convinced one of the younger ones of my clan of her beliefs. A half-truth that she believes is the whole truth, leaving only five in my clan. At least they are more or less adjusting this new time and place. They have even taken names, a custom very few of us took part in before.
"We're going to the movies Hudson. Want to come along?", asked Broadway. Though he nearly has the same wingspan as I do, he is far less agile in the air due to his large over fondness of food. His wide girth makes him the butt of many jokes. But it is not to be underestimated, for he has more than learned how to use all that weight in combat, even if his favorite weapon is a half chewed leg of mutton.
"Thank you lads but no. Why go out in the snow to see something that will be on cable soon enough?", replied the elder now named Hudson. He has settled into "old age". Though he has had the most difficulty adjusting, for he has no fondness for this time, with all its contraptions and noise. Spends most of his time in this tower with our watchdog laying at his side, both watching "television". Though he is still a warrior, keeping that short sword he has at his side all the time. "Besides, someone has to stay here and guard our home."
"Heheh, we live above a police station, what could happen?" countered Lexington. The smallest of us all, his great speed more than makes up for whatever size he possesses. With uncommon web-like wings running between his arms and legs, instead of another set of limbs like the rest of us, he makes a hard target when he is in the air. He has had the easiest time adjusting to this place of any of us. His love of machines, which the humans have only gained in skill producing since the 10th century, has certainly helped, Lexington is constantly tinkering with the broken clock gears. When we first saw a helicopter, he was the only one to recognize it as a machine, instead of the dragon that the rest of us thought it was. But even he seems to be missing something....
"Besides, you know the old saying. A Gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle-"
"-than breathing the air!" finished Lexington and Broadway in unison, arms upraised, looking to the sky. Earning a hard look from Hudson. They go off smiling slightly. However those smiles quickly fade when Broadway says "We don't even live in a castle anymore."
I should say something, but I can't think of anything, after all that statement is only too true. What castle do we still protect?
"Hi Elisa!" yells Broadway as he leaps outside, quickly followed by Lexington as he yells "Bye Elisa" as he too leaves. I can hear Broadway asking if there is time to get something to eat before the show.
NYPD Detective Elisa Maza, our first true human friend in this century. Dressed in her normal red leather jacket, black T-shirt, blue jeans, with the addition of a scarf and gloves to protect her from the cold, she comes into the tower. Her black hair thrown over her back, contrasting her tan skin. Our first "friend" quickly turned out to be trying to control us to his own gain. Elisa has proven to be someone I would trust, and have trusted with my life. She has guarded me at her own peril against odds that, despite her formidable warrior skills, should have killed her. And has continued to do so despite the danger from our other 'friend', David Xanatos. She has suggested this tower above the place she works as a refuge. I have done my best to help and protect her in turn to the best of my ability. "Where are they off to in such a rush?"
I reply "They are fascinated by this time and place. They are amazed by all the things in this time."
"How can you stand this cold? I'm almost freezing."
"Gargoyles are immune to all but the most extreme cold."
"Which explains why you're all still in loincloths."
"Is it not time for you to go on duty?" I say as I turn back to the clock face, trying to make out the stars behind it, among the falling snow.
"Un, yeah. I guess it's time to do a little of the ol' protect and serve."
What is missing...? "Protect? And serve?"
Elisa turns back to me, as she was about to leave and says, "The police motto. It's what I live for."
"Protect whom, and serve how?" Interested now, I leap down, using my wings to slow my fall.
"The people. The honest citizens. We protect them and serve them, and do the same for each other."
"You mean the police, your clan."
"Right, my clan, who will disown me if I don't get to work."
"I'll come with you, perhaps I can learn something from this."
"Sure, just let me get something." And with that she and I leave.
CASTLE WYVERN, A REMOTE ROOM IN ONE OF THE TOWERS, 1994 A.D.
Coldstone (Othello)
"IT'S ALIVE! ALIVE!!!!...... I've always wanted to say that." These are the first words I hear, and the first clue that all is not as it should be. Where am I.... why am I not shedding my stone skin.... why can't I see?!? I try to quickly sit up, but I am only able to manage a slow rise. At least I can see now...... ah I had a sheet covering my face. Why would I have a sheet covering me? "Can it hear us?" That voice again... I am awake enough now to turn to it. I see a strange man with a small strange beard, his clothes like nothing I have seen any human wear, but rich clothing nonetheless.
And I see my red-haired rookery sister, "Brother? Do you remember me?" I nod and look directly at the human. Strange, I hear a whirring noise...... My sister introduces the human, "This is Xanatos, my servant." The human gives her an odd look, I am awake enough now to notice these things, especially this strangeness of my own body....
"What am I?" My voice comes out, strangely rough as I stand up next to the table I was on.
"You are cold stone brought to life." Answers my sister.
"Cold.... stone?!"
"Do you remember anything?"
"I remember.. the castle... Goliath, my rookery brother... went to find.." What...? "the Vikings. Dawn came... and then.." What... what happened then... "Oblivion."
"Goliath abandoned us to the mercy of the humans!" my sister cries out, emotion finally coming into her voice. I can only raise my head in surprise, hearing that same whirring noise again, what is that?!!, "He has been seduced by their beliefs. It is he who has turned you into this!" My sister takes me over to a mirror and gestures to it.
Within the mirror is a monster. It shows some resemblance to a gargoyle wearing some strange piecemail armor. I look closer and it is then that I realize something. That is my reflection! It is not armor that I am wearing, but something that actually IS my body, even one of my eyes is not as it should be, and the other half of my face is just a piece of metal with the horn cut off! By the dragon, I am not just flesh anymore!
All of this hits me at once, my altered self I was just getting used to. But my brother was the cause of this abomination!!?!? I attack it, but instead just break a mirror, it is not enough - I can't think straight, pure rage at this is filling me, I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!
Brooklyn
I was out on the castle wall, thinking about what Xanatos said when I heard this bloodcurdling roar and out of the tower window came what could only be Coldstone. The window was too small for him but he didn't seem to mind, he just made it twice as big when he went through it. Not even Goliath could do that without breaking his own bones! As he flew (not just gliding as I do, but actual flight!), I couldn't help but admire the raw power Xanatos and Demona put into him. I mean, he was powerful when he was just flesh, but now....! He is a near perfect example of survival of the fittest, I bet he could take Demona and Goliath single handed! A living example of survival of the fittest, assuming he survives flying off in a rage like that.....
OUTSIDE MR. JAFFE'S STORE
Dective Elisa Maza
My partner had us stop our patrol right in the middle of a bad part of Manhattan. That was unusual. "Come'n Matt, what's up?"
"Aw, nothing. I know the guy who owns this place. He's been robbed three times this month alone." And with that he got out of my Fairlane and continued. "He's a tough old bird, born and raised here. He won't let street scum drive him out. Just wish we could protect him better. Coming?"
"Go ahead I have some thinking to do."
"What? Afraid your brain will overheat if you come in out of the cold?" I just shook my head and looked away. He gave me an exaggerated eye roll with a shoulder shrug and went into the store. Heheh, who would have thought that the ex-FBI agent had a soft side? I thought they trained to be a hard hearted pain in the ass. Maybe that's the real reason he was kicked out. Still, for some reason he can still get a laugh out of any woman with his conspiracy theories. Or maybe that has more to do with his red hair, and the old-fashioned trenchcoat he always wears.
Better check on my 'air-support'. I took out the transceiver on my coat collar and put a finger to the receiver in my ear, "Goliath?" And I saw his huge form settle on a nearby rooftop. Already reaching for his own transceiver and receiver. "State of the art, I don't even have to talk loud." Not to mention that both parts are about the size of a quarter. But then a 10th century Gargoyle wouldn't know about how large these things had to be just a few years ago.
"Yes, a most amazing device. I can hear you perfectly. Why does that man keep his shop open? He could be robbed again. Why does he not leave?"
At last it sounded like he was getting out of this depression he has been in. I was getting worried. "This is a dying neighborhood Goliath. The big markets won't even come here. If he closes this store people will have no place to buy food. That is more important to him than hiding in his own little castle."
"His community... needs him?"
"To survive."
"All units code three to Times Square!" The dispatch radio suddenly squawked.
"Matt! Let's move!" And with that Matt and I rush to Times Square. Unknown to him, we have an aerial escort.
TIMES SQUARE
Officer Morgan
I was one of the first officers that arrive at Times Square, and one of the first to wish we had brought bigger weapons, police issues just bounce off the thing. I mean, we police officers are supposed to handle people, and I can deal with types ranging from the lowest street thug to the highest crime lord. Whatever was causing this disturbance wasn't anything we were trained to handle! The most we could do was keep rubber neckers from getting too close.
"Officer Morgan! What's going on?" asked Detective Maza, just as she and her partner pulled up in her Fairlane.
Now this is a comfort, Maza is the best shot on the force! "You got me, but whatever it is, it's angry!"
Maza and her partner ran past us officers right up to the front line, just when the thing started lifting a nearby car over its head, and I don't mean just the back bumper or anything like that, but the entire car. Maza and her partner, Bluestone I believe, started shooting. But like the rest of us their bullets just bounced off it, not even Maza's legendary marksmanship was effective, and they probably would have been killed if things had not just gotten weirder. All I saw was a large purple, no lavender, thing come out of the sky and tackle the other thing, throwing off the first thing's aim so that it missed Bluestone and Maza.
The two things wrestled with each other for a few moments until the first thing simply overpowered the second and threw it into an already tipped over bus. Thinking that Maza could use a better view of her target, I ordered everyone to turn their flood lamps upon the first thing. Hopefully she would be able to see something that was vulnerable on it. Unfortunately it also gave us our first good look at it as well.
The thing looked like someone threw some monster parts into a trash compactor. I mean, for the most part it looked like some sort of high tech robot (at least the light shined off those parts like metal), except for one hand and a couple parts of a leg, a non-human hand and leg. And the rest of it followed the same non-human design the the "flesh" parts did, at least I have never heard of any human with wings and a tail, not to mention four-fingered claws and feet. As it lowered its arms and tried to look past the glare of our floodlights, I noticed its face followed the rest ot its body. High-tech robotic like features mixed with non-human like flesh.
Then, as if we haven't had enough surprises tonight, it looked at the other thing, which I now notice was much like the first one save it was all flesh and had different coloring, and spoke. "Rookery brother? You betrayed us!" Pointed an arm at the other one, some sort of weapon popped out of it, and shot at the other thing. I could recognize from the sound that it was one of those new non-projectile weapons. Good lord, who would put one of those things on that thing? Needless to say, we all ducked behind our cars for safety, though that weapon could blow them up in a few shots. Fortunately that didn't happen, as the one shooting was too preoccupied with the lavender thing to aim at us. In fact it seemed very angry, yelling something about betrayal of its clan.
But no matter how powerful or skilled the lavender thing is, the half-robot thing was just as skilled, more powerful, and had that gun as well. Despite the lavender one doing very good job dodging about, the half-robot thing was able to knock part of a building upon it. Before the lavender one could get up, the half-robot one picked it up and raised it above it's head yelling, "Now you will pay for destroying me and my clan!" And as if two of those things weren't enough, a large blue thing rams full tilt into the half-robot, knocking it down, and giving lavender some time to recover.
"Stay down ugly, and I mean it!" yelled Blue, in an almost text-book 'authoritative tone' that they teach at the academy. The half-robot didn't comply, and gave the big blue thing a roundhouse kick in the stomach, sending it crashing back. A small green one that I didn't notice before took the opportunity to try and yank off the half-robot's chest armor. But with surprising quickness Half-robot threw it into Blue, yelling "More traitors!" Lavender, recovered by now, attacked Half-robot, but was thrown with the other two, though Lavender was able to flip in mid-air and land on its feet. "You will all pay!" continued Half-robot.
"Oh man, I can't believe this is happening!" exclaimed Bluestone. The conspiracy theorist of the NYPD unable to believe what is before his own eyes? It would be funny if this wasn't really happening. Well we will find out in the morning if it was real or not, there's the WVRN newsvan pulling up. Maybe the 'power of the press' will help! It would be good change from what they usually do. At least Maza seems to be trying to get some help, she is speaking into a small radio she has on her coat collar. Meanwhile there has been a lull in the fight, and we can hear the things clearly as they yell to each other.
"Why are you attacking us?" yells Lavender.
"You betrayed the clan, destroyed it!" At least Half-robot has quit firing.
"We were all betrayed!"
"Too true." spoke a voice from above, heard by all of us while seeming to be spoken softly, that type of commanding voice takes lots of practice. Our own police captain still resorts to yelling to be heard above the normal office chatter. I hear the whine of jet engines as the speaker and two others drop from above and landed on a building near the other things. The three newcomers appeared to be some more of those things, God, how many of these things are there!?! And these seemed to be better armed, the speaker itself was dark-blue and entirely flesh, toting what I believe is a high-powered laser rifle. The other two however seemed to be entirely robotic, differing only in their color, one gray, the other red with some sort of chest device on it.
"You told them these lies. I lived for my clan!!" In that same commanding voice at first, but ending in a yell. This lavender one is definitely a leader.
"And they died for you! Smashed to dust by the humans you trusted," retorts the dark-blue one. Oh boy, that doesn't sound good. "We have created our own clans now, Goliath. You have yours and I have mine." OoooK. Lavender has a name....
"And how long will your 'clan' survive when you have lost the Gargoyle way?" At that point we got interrupted by another blur coming down out of the sky, this one crimson red with a streak of white hair. That was all I was able to see before it went right past me, grabbed Elisa, and landed on top of an overturned bus, using Maza as a shield it held its claws to her neck.
"Oh, long enough Goliath, especially with ones like Coldstone here. Hey Maza! How did you survive that poison? That was a specifically made brew with no antidote! Hey Lex! Stop trying to sneak up on Demona or we will see if Elisa can survive having her head torn off." By now all these events were sending me into shock, and I was only noting facts, and that only because of my police training. I was as slow as every other officer there, and only actually raised my gun after the red thing was on top of the bus. By then none of us could fire or we would risk killing our own. Note: Red seems to be as well armed as Dark-blue, he has two Uzi's hanging from his shoulders in a quick-draw harness. Important note: these things know Elisa personally, and she didn't report that some of them were trying to kill her. Urgent note: Dark-blue, Demona, is getting POed.
"Detective! What does it take to kill you! Isn't it enough that you have poisoned my own mate against me, you have to rub it in by stubbornly staying alive!!???!" And even from here, I could practically hear something snap, then everything happens at once. As numbed as I already was, I could only observe facts as they happened, though I seemed to be too slow to do anything.
As Demona lowered her rifle, Goliath leapt up and used his own body as a shield for Elisa. The laser may have gone right through him anyway if half-robot, note: Coldstone, didn't do the same thing almost at the same time. Funny, almost forgot him there. Red saw what dark-blue was doing and quickly tried to jump away from Elisa. The laser hit Coldstone right in his chest armor, Goliath's face fell in horror, Elisa managed to land a mule-kick right into red's sensitive area (trivial note: red is a he), and red-robot made a too late grab for Demona's rifle. We officers finally managed to send a spray of bullets up to Demona, but only hit the red-robot who is now shielding her, and seems to be as bulletproof as Coldstone.
Red quickly rolled behind the bus, out of our line of fire, leaving Maza to roll the other way, and back towards us. The three on the roof-top dropped down to join the ones on the ground, Grey-robot landing next to Red to help him, and firing at us forcing us to take cover behind our cars. Red-robot kept a bead on big-blue and little-green, keeping them from interfering. And as Goliath was helping Coldstone to his feet, Demona confronted them both, and I, being one of the closest to the action, heard what they say to each other.
Demona just glared at Coldstone and simply demanded, "Why!?!!"
Coldstone just looked back, gaping chest wound and all, and answered, "You would have killed our own younger brother, one of the few survivors from the massacre!"
"I would have killed that annoying human."
"By the Dragon! Are you so blind by your need for Vengeance that you would risk destroying others just to see some more human blood!? You would bring me back like this!?!?"
"Appearance means nothing, we are the true Gargoyles! They have been corrupted by the humans. GOLIATH WOULD HAVE WILLINGLY DIED FOR HIS PRECIOUS HUMAN!!!" And her face twisted into something I have seen too much on this job. Her expression was exactly like this woman who was abused by her husband, the same expression she wore right before she put six bullets into him and his mistress. The only difference was that her eyes actually were glowing. Coldstone's own half-expression showed the storm of emotions he was going through, as he looked between Goliath and Demona. "Destroy them Coldstone, destroy them and we will survive!" Demona demanded.
Goliath's and Coldstone's gazes locked, and Goliath simply said, "There has been enough death, there are so few of us left, my brother." And of all things, Goliath kept Coldstone's arm draped over his back while he kept his gaze locked with Coldstone's. While Red and Grey-robot came over to rejoin Demona, Red walking even funnier than the rest of the things, note: Gargoyles.
"What am I protecting if I do, my sister? How is killing Goliath helping the 'true' Gargoyles?"
"Hey, he's going to get a lot more painful death at the hands of the humans, and the longer he is alive, the more he will help them against us. Sad, but that's reality brother." countered Red.
Goliath and Coldstone kept their eyes locked, Goliath still kept Coldstone's arm draped over his shoulders, and whispered something even I could barely hear. "Gargoyles protect." And kept looking Coldstone right in the eye.
"YOU ARE BEING CORRUPTED AS WELL!!!!" Demona suddenly yelled, as she yanked something off her belt and threw it at Goliath. Fortunately Maza came out of nowhere and grabbed the thing in midair. Unfortunately, it wasn't a grenade, but some sort of high-powered electro-shock thingie. Maza's hand suddenly clutched the device in an unbreakable grip. Goliath was quick and was already grabbing the thing as well, but Coldstone was quicker and was able to get it out of Maza's grip, it was then that it let out its real power. It was at first only giving off enough voltage to prevent Maza from letting go, but as soon as Coldstone pried it from her fingers he screamed and I actually saw arcs of electricity dance over his entire body from wing to tail tip. Goliath tried to pry the device from Coldstone's fingers in turn, but got quite a jolt himself before it finally ran out of power, leaving both Goliath and Coldstone to join Elisa semiconscious on the ground.
While everyone there was distracted, I was finally able to draw a good bead on Demona. "Call off your robots and get down on the ground!" Demona quickly turned around, and instead of being sensible, her face just became more distorted by anger.
"I don't think so!" And with those parting words, the red-robot grabbed Demona and lifted both into the air, while the gray one gave Red the the same treatment. The other two Gargoyles, both Big-blue and Little-green, tried to rush Red-robot as soon as his gun was aimed away from them, but they are no match for Red- or Gray-robot's jets. The officers, freed from Grey-robot's cover fire, tried to fill the fleeing Gargoyles with lead, but the robots both proved to be as bulletproof as Coldstone, and they shielded Demona and Red. Big-blue, roaring in frustration, rushed to Coldstone, Goliath, and Maza. Some of the rookies aimed at the two Gargoyles still standing.
"Hold your fire!" I yell in my best 'command' voice. Don't use it often, but when I do... I rushed out towards the two fallen Gargoyles and Maza, and I was checking her pulse when Big-blue asked, "Is she going to be all right?!" And he stepped toward me.
"Hold it th-there monster!" yelled one of the rookies as he and some of his partners pointed shaking guns at the gargoyles. Big blue's eyes actually lit up, and he dropped into a defensive stance.
"Put it down, rookies! If you haven't noticed, they just saved the life of one of our own, and now they need help."
"Bu-but sir!" The head rookie looked at me incorrigibly. Some of the rookies pointed their guns down, but didn't put them away.
I placed myself right in the remaining rookie's line of fire. "These creatures just got seriously injured rescuing one of our own, and that one has just done the same for them, also getting seriously injured. Now they all need medical attention, not to get into another firefight!" The remaining rookies lowered their guns, except for the one who first spoke. Amazement and fear ran over his face. "Go help keep the crowd and reporters back, son." I said to him. "And while you're at it, call an ambulance!" The rookie looked at me for a few more seconds, and finally broke eye contact. "And that same for the rest of you, get going!" The remaining ones reluctantly nodded and went off to do crowd control.
I turned back to the Gargoyles, and saw Big-blue trying to revive Elisa, while Little-green was trying to repair Coldstone's wiring. I started checking Elisa's vitals for myself, when I heard her whisper, "Thanks Morgan, you saved my friends' lives."
"Don't thank me yet Detective, you are going to have to explain all this to the Captain, and I don't think your usual excuses are going to work." Even semiconscious, worry crossed Elisa's face. I looked across her and right into the face of Big-blue.
"She is going to be all right, right?" Even with web-ears, baldness, and a few small brow-ridges, that inhuman face can show so much emotion. Right now it is showing worry and concern.
"I think so, just in shock. What about your friend, Goliath?"
"Ah, just little shell-shocked, he'll be back on his feet in a few minutes." And he turned to tend to him, he called back, "Take care of her!"
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Heh, I don't know the full story behind this, but I have been a cop too long not to recognize another to whom protecting means as much as it does to me. I have a feeling things are going to get very interesting from here.....
Well, what do you think? This is my first fanfiction, so if I don't get much e-mail, I probably won't write another. Please tell me what you think of it, and if you didn't think well of it, please keep your criticism constructive. Blessed be!
I can be e-mailed at
Revised 1-26-99
Better Revised 3-27-99
Formatted for 11-16-04