Arra began to breath again. Fingers trembling she picked up the book and began to reread the passage in the book. Clearing some space on the table in the room she drew up a chair and started to compare the information from the book to the news report and the paper. Every detail matched perfectly. She frowned in uneasiness.
Arra got up and walked to the window and gazed at the cemetery. It use to give her a comforting peaceful feeling but no more. Now it only filled her with dread. Her face was masked with confusion. Drawing her hand up to her mouth she whispered once again "How?"
Arra let out a sigh of frustration. She pulled out her cell phone and speed dialed her clan mates. She couldn't reach any of them. She couldn't even reach her leaders, no parents. All she got was an annoying little voice saying the person she was calling was out of the service area.
"What do I do? What do I do? What if I'm wrong about this? I could be imaging things. No I'm sure about this. All the signs match up. I know I don't have my powers but I can't ignore this. I have to take responsibility for this. I need to discover the truth." Arra told herself. Grapping her knife she ran out the room and out of the house after she activated the security system ready to fight.
She drove the Hearse at breakneck speeds through the busy streets of Dakota. Thankfully most streets were empty considering it was nearly eleven o'clock. She parked the car three blocks from the Abandon Gas Station of Solitude and ran the rest of the way. She saw the two superhero's leaving on a late night patrol. She called out them but they didn't hear her. Running inside she grabbed Gear's tracer gun and got back inside her car and followed them. When she got close enough she shot a tracer onto Gear and parked her car. Climbing onto the rooftop she followed them as fast as humanly possible.
"What's your problem with Arra hanging around the HQ? I mean I don't get all jealous when you hang out with Daisy instead of patrolling. I'm just trying to have a good time with my girlfriend." Gear asked as he flew through the sky.
"Gear I don't have a problem with you hanging out with Arra its just that I think she needs to start acting like a human girl. She's cramping our style not to mention you've been getting lazy since you've started dating. I think she still believes she one of the undead. And for the record I'm not jealous." Static told him.
"I like spending time with Arra. She pays attention to me when I talk to her about my projects and she loves me for me. Now how about getting off my back and back to patrol. I'm just glad we have this break when we did. My parent's are on their second honeymoon in the Caribbean's, Sharon and Adam are out of town visiting Adam's mom and your Pops and his girlfriend are away on a trip in the mountains. How lucky can we get? I mean your Pops and Sharon know your secret. All we have to do is tell mine to my folks. Did you see the news report? I can't believe there was a string of murders and we weren't around to stop it." Gear stated. He had Backpack scanning for anything that could even be remotely linked to the killer.
Static nodded his head. "Yeah I couldn't believe anyone could do something like that to anyone. That girl wasn't just killed she was brutalize. I hope we can handle whoever did that. If it's a Bang Baby their going down and I mean hard."
Backpack began to beep and klaxon sounded. "Backpack got something. He's picking up non-human biorhythms ten blocks east of us. We have to go." Gear shouted. He turned in the middle of the sky. He was about to speed off when he got a glimpse of something moving on the rooftops.
"Gear come on. We got to motor!" Static yelled
Gear shrugged it off and headed off towards the disturbances. Arra watched him go. Glancing on the GPS locator on the tracer she determined where the pair of superheros were heading. "They're heading for the Meat Packing Plant. I can get there ahead of them if I take a short cut."
A fat butcher was leaving work. He walked a slow steady pace towards his home. He was whistling a merry little tune. He didn't see the shadowy figure that was stalking him from above. The creature smiled its fangs glistening. He growled in pleasure. He waited until the man was three blocks from his home before he attacked. He jumped down from five stories in the air and tackled the man forcing him to the ground.
Static and Gear arrived right then. Static flung an electric ball at the creature making him drop the man. "Run! Get out of here and call the police!" he ordered. The man nodded and took of running. The creature roared in anger and started after him before Gear lassoed him. "You're not going anywhere you monster. Lets see who you are!" With a strong yank he pulled him into the light and both teenagers gasped.
The monster was about 8ft tall and had dark purple skin. His eyes, teeth, and claws were crimson red. His fangs protruded a good two or three inches out of his mouth. He had four-inch long claws and wore animal skins with a white lab coat. Whoever or whatever this thing was it clearly wasn't human.
"Static what is that?" Gear asked nervously.
"I don't know Gear. I hope it's a Bang Baby." Static replied scared.
The creature roared and swung around throwing Gear into Static and the two of them hit the buildings wall. He snapped the lasso apart and began to approach the boys. "Leave me alone!" he screamed in a voice of pure evil.
"You hit him high while I hit him low. Lets go for it!" Static ordered retrieving his flying disk and shooting electric energy at the monster. The monster drew back one large hand and clawed his disk to pieces. Static fell to the ground. He was kicked across the pavement. "Pathetic mortal. You can't harm me!"
"Leave him alone ugly. Lets see how you handle a liquid nitrogen bomb!" Gear said throwing a zap capsule at the creature's feet freezing them in place. Backpack shot stingers at him, which annoyed the creature. Gear started to skate over to help Static when the creature grabbed him and brought him close to his face. "Put me down this instant you fiend!"
The creature sniffed and lips drew back into a smirk. "Well well. It seems I've captured a vampire my most hated foes." He taunted. Gears eyes went wide in horror. How did this creature know he'd been a vampire?
He never found out. The creature let out a roar of pain as someone stuck a knife into his back forcing him to drop Gear. He managed to crawl out of the way. The assailant flipped over the creature and landed in front of him. It was Arra! She was standing in a battle stance her knife ready to defend him. "Leave my mate alone you vampanzee!"
"Another vampire? How quaint. Who is that annoying little firefly your servant?" The vampanzee if that's what he was asked her in amusement.
Arra chose not to respond verbally. Instead she spat at him and made a strange gesture with her hand. It looked like the symbol of the vampire only done sideways. What ever it meant it must have been a major insult because the vampanzee charged her. "Stay back! Don't get up I can handle this." Arra order Gear as she ran to meet the challenge.
"Arra no! It's too dangerous! You don't have any powers!" Gear said trying to desperately grab her. But she was already gone. He watched in fascination as Arra delivered a swift kick to the vampanzee stomach before punching him in the face. He tried to deliver a blow to her but she side rolled in the air and scissor kicked him. She slashed him with knife in the shoulder drawing blood. She was about to attack again when he grabbed her and began to squeeze her to death. "Arra!"
"Any last words vampire before I wipe you out?" The vampanzee asked her as her face turned blue. Suddenly he yelled as massive light source blinded him. He dropped Arra and covered his eyes. Static was getting ready to deliver another burst of light but the vampanzee had had enough. "I'll get you another time vampires." He hit flirting speeds and disappeared without a trace. Static began to breath again and ran to check on Gear who was giving medical attention to Arra. "Is she okay?"
"No she's not! We need to get her back to HQ ASAP!" Gear told him. Gear picked her up and began flying towards The Abandon Gas Station of Solitude. Static followed him closely. Whatever that thing had been it had nearly defeated them. He didn't think he could handle another round.
Half an hour later Arra began to regain conciseness. She started to get up and wished she hadn't. Her entire right side ached and she had a splitting headache. She felt that like she had been through the ringer. Gear had removed his helmet and was now attending to her bruised arm. "Hey welcome back to land of the living. How are you feeling?"
"Like I have been run over by a bus. Any major damage?" Arra asked
"Just some bruising and a gash to your forehead. You lucky that he didn't crush your ribs or bruise your lungs." Gear told her. Arra nodded her head in agreement. She had been lucky. "Thank you for tending to me."
"Okay warm fuzzies all around. I'm glad that your okay Arra, really I am but may I ask what in hell's name you thought you were doing out there? You're a normal human girl not a super powered vampire! Did you really think you could have stopped that thing? How did you even find us in the first place?" Static demanded angrily as he paced the room. He glared daggers at her.
Arra looked at him coldly. Normally she could understand Virgil position but right now she was in pain, exhausted, and just plain furious. She was not going to put up with the third degree right now especially from some kid! She stood up despite the protest from Gear and her body. "I have had it up to here with how you treat me Virgil. You've been a good friend but right now I don't want to hear it. It's been a long night and I nearly died so if you want to know the truth sit down because I'm not in the mood for it!" she snapped at him. She shocked both of the boys who instantly took seats. Taking a deep breath she turned to face the boys and continued.
" I found you because I shot a tracer on Gear just as you guys were leaving on patrol. I've been following you because of what I saw on the news report and read in the paper. That attack pattern was very familiar. It triggered something in my memory. I tore apart the study and the Media Room till I found what I was looking for and what I found is not good." Arra began
"What did you find might I ask?" Static asked sarcastically.
Arra glared at him. "I discovered that the murders were identical with a vampanzee attack!"
"A what? What are you talking about?" Static asked confused.
"Dude don't you remember anything? Vampanzees are wayward cousins of the vampires. But Arra your race hunted all the vampanzees down and made them extinct six hundred years ago. How could one still exist?" Gear asked her.
"I don't know how or why but I know that thing we fought was a vampanzee and you know it to Richie." Arra informed him wincing in pain.
"I doubt that creature whatever it was some extinct vampanzee. It must have been a Bang Baby or some type of monster experiment. Besides how can you be so sure?" Static demanded.
"Static face the facts! If something attacks like a vampanzee, looks like a vampanzee, and has all the powers of a vampanzee chances are it's a vampanzee! And I know for sure it wasn't some Bang Baby because it wasn't interested in you! It went after Richie and me because he thought we were vampires!" Arra snapped at him.
"Why would he think that? Its no big secret you were once one and I didn't hear him call Gear a vampire did he?"
"Actually he did. He took a big sniff of me and knew. I think he smelled the vampire in me." Gear told him sadly.
"Say what? What do you mean he smelled the vampire in you? Your human for Gods sake!" Static wailed.
"We may be human but we still smell like vampires. I was vampire for seven centuries. That scent isn't going to go away any time soon. No matter how long or short a time you're a vampire you still smell like one. I have to go. See you around noon Richie." Arra told him and she was gone.
Arra slept till nine the next day. By the time she got up the staff had arrived and business was booming. Arra helped fill out order forms, burn the bodies and collected the ashes and preparing the bodies for burial. It was one busy morning. She went upstairs to change into her date clothes. A yellow tank top, black mini skirt and stockings and ankle boots. Applying a little make up she was already when Richie arrived with electric scooter. Shouting at the staff some orders she left for her date.
They arrived at the Dakota Museum of History and Art. The art club had put together a major exhibit and Arra wanted to see it with the one she loved. She had submitted a painting of her vampire clan, a pastille of Richie and finally a bunch of origami swans. "You like them? It took me three hours to get the display just right."
"I think your art work is magnificent. You could get an art scholarship for collage. Your that good. So how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine Richie you don't have to worry. I've had more serious injuries in my life. Remember I'm a warrior. I just don't understand what Virgil's problem is with me. I just want to be able to help. I know I'm not wrong about this! That was a vampanzee!" Arra told him angrily clutching her fist.
"Whoa whoa whoa I don't doubt you. Arra, look Virgil he's just not use to the idea that I'm dating that's all. Things are changing rather quickly. I mean Sharon and his dad both know his secret and then theirs him and Daisy becoming an item it just will take a while. Without proof he's not going to believe you about this." Richie told her laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off.
"By then it could be to late! Richie you and I have to get the proof now! I wanted to call the police about this but they think I'm crazy. No we have to handle this ourselves. Can't you run a blood analyze on my knife or check out Backpacks sensor readings?" Arra demanded.
"Not today I can't. I have to many projects running. I have to monitor project JL-C constantly and then theirs my new project. Project RF/G. I think you can guess what that's about." Richie told her quietly. He grimaced in pain and Arra touched his face.
"Your powers are getting out of control again aren't they? Why don't you tell him the truth about what's going on?" Arra asked puzzled by Richie's secretive nature.
Richie pulled away from her. "He wouldn't understand. Look why don't we go look at the mystical artwork and stuff? It's supposed to be really cool. I'll make you a deal. You go with me to this exhibit and I'll let you follow us on patrol tonight then tomorrow we'll do some test to determine if what we saw was a vampanzee. Okay?"
"Deal! Come on I heard they have this amazing wolf statue made entirely out of silver." Arra said to him all excited. They raced through the museum till they got to the right wing. They looked all around them in amazement at all the different artworks dedicated to magical and mystical creatures. In the center of the room on oak pillar was a wolf standing on a full moon howling. The statue was incredible. They read the card describing the artwork. According to the card the statue was used in ancient times to summon werewolves.
"I can't believe this. Do you see all this neat stuff? I can't believe all of this. Do you know if any of this stuff actually works or is based off real subjects?" Richie asked Arra.
"Honestly most of it's just fake but I know for a fact that some of this stuff is the real McCoy. Come on lets go get some lunch. Oh wait I left my purse over by the statue I'll be right back." Arra told him rushing over to pick up her purse. "I can't believe I almost lost this." Arra told herself standing up and bumping into someone. The person hurried past her quickly.
"You could have apologized! Hey! Huh?" Arra said watching a girl with tawny hair disappear. A strange look crossed her face. No it couldn't be her she thought. Shrugging it off she joined her boyfriend and left the museum for a wonderful lunch.
That night Arra followed the boys in secret. She was getting quite a workout. "Gear I can't keep this up all night. It's nearly midnight and we haven't seen any sign of the vampanzee. I think were wasting time." She reported over the Shock Box that she had.
"I know Arra. Static and I haven't picked up anything yet. You think we scared the creature away?" Gear questioned
"More like disrupted his feeding schedule. I don't think were going to find anything tonight. I'm going home and do some research on our murder victims. Maybe I can discover some common link between them. See you tomorrow around two okay?" Arra told him
"Bye and be careful. I don't know what I do if I lost you." Gear told her. She signaled her departure and left. Static looked him annoyed. "What? I promised her."
"Sometimes Richie I think you take this relationship with her to far. If she's ever going to find out who she truly is both on the inside and out then she can't be running around at night wielding a knife like this. She's going to get busted by the police." Static informed his partner.
"You just don't get it. Arra is going through a difficult change. She needs guidance and understanding right now. Not disdain and ego." Gear shot back at him. And with that brilliant comment he continued on the patrol.
Arra began her research the minute she got home. Crunching the numbers and cross-referencing all related material really was her strong point. Finally around three she finished. She went to bed and didn't awaken until it was nearly one. Having a quick breakfast she packed her bag with all related materials and headed into the city. "I've got to get use to working all nighters again." She arrived just in time. Richie hurried her inside.
"Virgil is helping out at the Community Center and won't be by until later. Lets get started. What did you discover about the victims. Did they have anything in common?" Richie asked her.
"Our four victims were the following, the first one was a nurse, the second a lawyer, the third a teenage girl, and lastly the fat man you saved was meat plant processor. All victims were in good health, killed about three to five blocks from home, in the same sector of town, and lastly had O+ blood. Did you manage to get a hold of the autopsies records?" Arra demanded
Richie nodded and showed them to her. Cause of death was identical in all of them. They had been completely drained of blood. Also each victim had three scratch marks on the left cheek. The statement of the fat man corresponded with the other police reports.
"I've also been watching the video Backpack shot of our mystery guest. He doesn't appear in any of the shots. I also checked with what you told me about vampanzee powers. They're identical with our attacker. Lets see that blood. I'll run an analyze on it and compare it with some samples. You use your art supplies and created a image for Backpack of the man." Richie ordered.
Two hours later they were done. Backpack scanned the picture of the vampanzee and made a 3D holographic model. The blood test results were back. The blood didn't match any of the samples on record but was very close to vampire blood. It would have been identical is some key genetic codes didn't differ. Richie and Arra looked at each. They had just confirmed the worst suspicions. Somehow the attacker was a vampanzee.
"You were right." Richie finally said. He walked over to Backpack and began to make some modifications on him. If they were going after this killer he would definitely need to add some things.
"I didn't want to be right. Richie what are we going to do? The police don't have a clue how to stop this or the power. Your inventions that would help us are still in the development stage and I can't contact my clan. Let's face facts theirs no one in the world who can stop this monster but a vampire but I'm not one anymore." Arra informed him.
"Your right of course. We may not have the power, but you do have the knowledge and experience. Maybe you can still help." Richie told her.
"Help us how? Richie what did I say about having girlfriends at HQ?" Virgil said entering the room. He looked at their grim faces and added "Okay who died?"
"No one at least not yet. Virgil we have proof that the creature you battled Thursday night was indeed a vampanzee. Here take a look. DNA doesn't lie." Arra told him handing him a copy of results.
Virgil read them and frowned. "I'm still not ready to believe this theory of yours. I still think it's a Bang Baby."
"V look at this! It's not a Bang Baby! We don't know how but some one is a killing people and that person is a vampanzee!" Richie yelled at him.
"That isn't possible Richie and you know it! Think about this logically. Arra and the other vampires wiped out the vampanzees six hundred years ago. Now correct me if I'm wrong but the only way to create a vampanzee is to blood someone with their blood and their isn't any vampanzee blood around." Virgil stated arms folded.
"That's true. But if someone got a hold of vampire blood and mutated it they could become a vampanzee." Arra told him crossly.
"Well that's also impossible. Because there's no more vampire blood is there?" Virgil told the two. They each looked away from him shamefully. "There isn't any blood left is there? There is? My God where?"
"Yes there are two sources of vampire blood left. When we got discharged from the hospital they gave us back the fragments Bloodstone. It still contains the vampire blood of every vampire ever to exist." Arra told him sadly.
"Also I have blood samples right here from when I was trying to find a cure for them. I rigged the soda machine to act as a freezer for them. I've been running test on the blood trying to learn more about it. That's what project VB stands for, vampire blood." Richie admitted.
Virgil threw his hands up in frustration. He couldn't believe this. His entire world was crashing down. "I don't believe this. How could you two not tell me this?"
"Simple you never asked." Arra replied.
"Alright forget that. I'm assuming that sense both places have security neither have been breached. So there must be a third source of vampire blood. That isn't our biggest concern right now. Right now we have to stop a killer. Since you know the enemy Arra your coming along. You can ride with me." Virgil told her.
"Good then we best get ready. The sun will be down soon and then the vampanzee will be free to move about. You didn't find him last night because we messed with his feeding schedule so you can bet he's out for revenge." Arra told them as she cleaned up her knife. She was ready to fight.
Night fell quickly and our hero's went out determined to find the vampanzee and capture him before he killed anyone else. They even devised a plan of attack. They would surrounded the creature with the light cage and weaken him before bringing him in to the police.
"So have you two supernatural experts determined were this vampanzee will strike next?" Static yelled as they flew over the city. He was zooming all over the place at break neck speeds. Arra clutched tightly to his jacket. She looked a little sick.
"You think you could slow down a bit? The human body designed for these types of speeds." Arra yelled into his ears.
"Sorry Arra, but I really want to catch this guy before someone else gets hurt. So any ideas where he might be lurking?" Static questioned her.
"All the attack took place within near the park in a twenty block radius. There's a lot of cover there. That's his hunting ground. He didn't eat last night so he'll be out tonight and ready to kill." Arra informed him the wind whipping her hair all over the place.
Backpack's senses lit up and he started blinking. "Backpack has something on radar. Something is moving fast and causing mass destruction ten blocks east of the park." Gear informed the others all ready heading to the disturbance.
When they got on the scene the vampanzee had already upturned two cars and destroyed all the street lamps. He was in the process of tearing apart a fire hydrant when the trio arrived. "Hey ugly don't you know that it's against the law to trash public property. I'm going to have to report you." Static said sending out a static cling. Arra jumped off the flying disk and kicked him square in the chest.
"You're going down once and for all vampanzee. This battle ends tonight!" Arra yelled pulling her knife out.
"On the contrary my dear vampriss. The war has only begun. Take this!" The vampanzee raised a claw hand and sent the static electricity at her sending her crashing into a dumpster. "Ew."
"Hey vampanzee don't you have a sense of honor. I mean attacking a defenseless girl." Gear taunted throwing some ultra violate fluid zap caps at him. They missed their target.
Static used his powers and tossed a dumpster on top of him. "That should hold you. What in the world?" His jaw dropped as the vampanzee chewed his way through the metal.
"Any more tricks you want to try?" the vampanzee asked. Not letting Static responded he supers sped at him. Static barely had time to get up a magnetic shield before he jumped on. "You can't keep this up forever mortal. I can hear the police sirens from a mile away and they won't get here in time to save your pathetic life." Static kept it up as long as he could but the strain became too much. The shield went down and he passed out.
Someone delivered a swift kick to his side. Before he could defend himself some one was using judo on him. It was all a flurry of swift kicks and punches. He ended up on his butt when someone tripped him up. "Not so tough are you?" Arra taunted him. Her knife slashed him right across the left cheek leaving a deep cut.
"Your going to wish you hadn't found me. I'm far more powerful than you will ever be." The vampanzee growled punching her across the face. Before she could recover he threw her straight into a wall. Arra crumbled to the ground. She tried to get up but couldn't move.
The vampanzee approached her slowly. He was going in for the kill. Suddenly the light cage trapped him and Gear turned it on full blast. "That should hold him. No way he's breaking out of that!" Gear said happily turning away from the trapped creature. He started to skate over to Arra to help her out. "Hold on Arra I'm coming."
"Gear look out!" she screamed a warning. It came to late. The vampanzee had stepped on one of the controls destroying the light cage. He jumped on top of Gear and tried to breath knock out gas on him but his mask was in the way. Frustrated he bashed his head into the ground and jumped towards Arra who was still trying to get up. Static was just regaining conciseness. No one could save her
"Prepare to die!" The vampanzee said licking his fangs. He bent over her ready to deliver the killing bite. Arra closed her eyes and waited for her end. It never came.
"NO!" Gear screamed. With a miracles burst of speed and agility he managed to slide between the vampanzee legs and halted in front of Arra. He spun around and faced their foe a look of absolute protection on his face. He put out his hands, palms outstretched. "Firewall!" suddenly a computerized firewall separated the two heroes' from the monster. Static and Arra looked at Gear in shock. What was going on?
"How are you doing that?" Arra asked stunned.
"I have no idea!" Gear replied.
"Whatever you're doing don't stop! See if you can do something else!" Arra ordered getting to her feet. Gear nodded and said "Data stream." The firewall instantly changed to a data stream forcing the monster back.
"Go check on Static while I keep our buddy busy. Go now!" Gear ordered her. She nodded racing over to Static. "You okay there?"
"I'm fine. What's going on with Gear?" Static asked woozy still.
"I'm not sure I think his powers have evolved. Come on we have to get out of here." Arra told him as she started to drag him away. Gear stopped using his powers seeing as how the vampanzee was curled up in a ball on the street. "Wait for me! Help!"
The vampanzee had grabbed him by his ankle and was holding him upside down. Turning him right side up he tore off Backpack and flung him at Static and Arra. Static use his powers to catch him as well as Gear's helmet which came next. Gear squirmed but couldn't break free. He was knocked out this time.
"Richie! Leave him alone!" Arra screamed. She desperately wanted to run to him and help but she had to protect Static. She watched helplessly as the vampanzee used a claw and cut a strand of her mate's hair off. He tossed it to her.
"You can keep this as reminder of what I can do. I'm through playing around. I want the Bloodstone and you are going to deliver it to me or your mate will die." The vampanzee informed her.
"I can't do that!" Arra wept. Tears streamed down her face. They didn't move her foe.
"I am not interested in your petty excuses. You will give me what I want. I give you my word that I won't kill your mate here until next Saturday at midnight when the full moon is at its peak. If you bring me what I want I'll spare him. Fail me and he dies." The vampanzee growled. And with that he started running till he hit flirting speeds disappearing and taking Gear with him.
"Richie. He took my best friend." Static groaned. He suddenly found himself on the street as Arra dropped him. She stumbled over to the lock of hair and picked it up. Her face was unreadable. "Don't worry Arra. We'll get him back."
Arra turned to face him then let out a cry of anguish that filled the night air. In the distance a wolf's howl joined her. She collapsed to the ground. She had lost her mate once again.