Chapter Two: A Promise In Death
Joe Sullivan reached into a drawer and pulled out his trusted milk of magnesia and a clean shot glass. He placed them on his desk before tilting his neck and rubbing the soreness out of his shoulder. Ever since he and Polly had destroyed Dr. Totenkopf's rocketship and saved the planet a month ago, he and his men had been working without rest to rebuild the Flying Legion's island base, and every muscle in his body protested the abuse. Joe poured a shot and knocked it back just as Dex burst through the door.
"Cap, we need you out here now."
"Dex," Joe said, pinching the bridge of his nose in fatigue. "What's so...?"
"It's some kinda distress signal. Old Legion from the looks of it."
The two men raced across the massive hangar, past the miles of scientific oddities Dex confiscated from Totenkopf's island, to the new radio station they'd set up in the northwest corner of the building. Dex dove into his chair and adjusted the array of knobs and dials before him. It was a looped transmission, a static-choked series of staccato beeps. Morse code. Joe's eyebrows furrowed in concern.
"Lords of the sky take flight," he said with a thoughtful look in his eye. "Dex, get me through to that signal immediately."
"Already on it, cap"
Joe patted his young friend on the back and grabbed the microphone on the table.
"This is Captain Joe Sullivan of the Flying Legion answering Legionnaire distress code Alpha zero one. Who am I speaking to?"
A familiar voice called out to him through the thick haze of interference.
"Joe, thank God! It's me, Rock! Listen—take that, bastards!—I don't have much time. Me and the Seahawks chased some pirates into a storm over the Pacific, but we were ambushed. A fleet of airships was waiting for us!"
Rock suddenly cursed, and for a moment was drowned out by the roar of machine gun fire. Joe thought he heard an explosion, and when Rock came back he sounded in bad shape.
"Red skulls and crossbones on black zeppelins, Joe...something's happening out here, but I don't think I'll be around to find out what."
"Rock, hang on!" Joe screamed before turning and running to his P40 Warhawk. A yellow pulsing light appeared on an electrically projected map of the world in front of Dex's station.
"Cap he's activated his Global Transponder Beacon, I'm transmitting the information to the Warhawk now!" he shouted above the rising din of the engine.
"Good boy, Dex! Send me whatever you can get!"
Joe's takeoff was suddenly disrupted when a black Packard screeched to a halt inches away from his propeller. Fuming in anger, he stood up out of the cockpit and waved his arms in protest.
"Hey, you can't just come barging in here like that! Who do you think you are?"
The sultry blonde stepped out of the car and smoothed her skirt with the palm of her hand. She playfully lowered her head, feigning regret
"Why Joe, how soon you forget! And after all we've been through."
Joe pushed up his flight goggles, wanting her to see how serious he was.
"No, Polly. Absolutely not! You are not coming along with me, not this time!"
She stomped around the anxious plane and stood directly below him.,
"I'm going with you mister, whether you like it or not! Rock's my cousin, and I won't let him die without a fight!"
Stay tuned for Chapter Three: A Sinister Alliance