Disclaimer: This story is based upon characters created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle for Disney. Since this story is set twenty three years later, all the characters under twenty-five years of age are mine.
Bopper flew her new hovercraft high over Middleton. She was tracking the energy signature of a rather unique battlesuit. At least, that's what Drakken called it. She had no idea why he would want a twenty year-old weapon. It probably pre-dated the Centurion line, for Sid's sake.
The signal was getting stronger as she got closer to the center of Middleton. That figures, considering that it was probably being used by one of the twin terrors.
Agent Cann steered the aircraft through Middleton. The Director herself was in the seat next to him. "Approaching drop point, Director."
"Thank you, Izzy," she answered absently.
He winced, "You don't need to call me that."
The Director perked up, "Sorry, Cann." She watched the ground below. "This mission's a little close for comfort."
Kim examined the small band of metal on her right ring finger. The Briaun project was visibly different from its relatively ancient ancestor, the Centurion Armor, even in its dormant form. Technology caused the leap from bracelet to ring, as well as the expected advancements in armament. The greatest difference, the reason for the Briaun project itself, was the interface. The Centurion interface was not perfect. Kim knew that from experience.
Her brief use of that armor while it was still in the experimental stage, demonstrated the problems that come when the suit misreads thoughts and emotions. Then Wade's application of that technology resulted in a suit that had little trouble reading emotions, but resulted in a feedback loop which intensified the wearer's emotional state to insane levels if it was worn too long.
That is exactly what was happening to Anne. Kim remembered the day she had worn the suit too long. The day that the flaw was discovered. The day she nearly killed Shego.
The goal of the Briaun project was to filter out emotional input. The Briaun interface accepted only actual commands. Commands that Kim had been studying in preparation for the suit's testing. Kim had not wanted to have to test it under actual battle conditions, particularly against her own daughter. Still, some small part of her knew that this was the perfect situation to test the new interface.
"You do realize the whole agency's behind you, Director." He smiled, "Even without your actual authority."
"Thanks." She actually managed a small smirk, "But I've got to do this one myself."
Anne pushed an oak tree out of her way. "Where are you, Cherryhead?" She screamed.
Don did not relish the idea of revealing himself to Anne. He shouted off into the distance, hoping echoes would make it hard to find him. "Anne, I'm your brother and I want to help you."
Anne stopped a moment and listened. "You just want to show off!" she shouted. "Show everyone you're better than me."
Don thought about that before answering. Did Anne really think that? "Then why did I lead you away from the audience?" he shouted.
That did confuse Anne. Anne then thought she had figured out where Don was hiding like a coward. Then she heard something overhead.
Once the airship canopy was open, Kim gave the suit the first non-verbal command that really counted. Briaun: Full Armor. As expected the ring expanded relatively quickly to cover her completely. Even her face was behind a clear pane, which also provided Heads-Up Display.
Then, as she jumped out, she gave the first one that, if unsuccessful, would mean serious injury. Briaun: Activate Flight System. Jets grew out of the suit's dorsal section and fired. So far, so good.
Briaun: Vertical Landing.
As she touched down, Kim looked around the wood for any movement. Any signs of her children trying to kill each other. Kim did not like the fact that, in this case, she meant that literally.
The battlesuit made Anne easy to find, thanks to its unique signature. Don seemed to be hidden. That was hopefully by his own design. Kim set down about twenty yards from Anne. In full armor, Kim will probably not be recognizable. Kim thought that, in Anne's current state that could be an advantage. If Anne was still angry, even the slightest deep-seated hostility toward her mom would be an excuse to attack. The goal was to play stranger until Anne was brought to a state of relative calm, and then she could be her loving mother again.
Briaun: External speaker. "Anne Stoppable, I have come to help you."
"Who are you?" Anne was confused.
"I'm with Global Justice," Kim replied. "The suit you are wearing is malfunctioning."
Briaun: cease external speaker. Radio to Agent Cann. "Drop the extra clothes pack."
"Acknowledged," Replied Cann.
A backpack fell between the two women.
Briaun: external speaker, "We've brought you some of your own clothes."
Anne looked indecisive. "No, I like this one."
"Anne, that battlesuit affects the mind," Kim tried to sound caring without sounding motherly. Anne had be convinced logically, with slow arguments. Too much emotion was the actual problem. "Think about what's happened today."
Anne started holding her head. "I - I hurt Cindy and Mr. Barkin. I wanted to hurt Don." Then Anne quickly assumed a defensive stance, "Who are you and what do you want?"
Kim wasn't sure if she was getting through or not. "I'm here to help you, Anne," She said as plainly as she could. "Just remove the suit."
"You first!" Anne yelled.
"Fair enough." Kim prayed it wasn't too soon for this. Briaun: All systems off.
As the suit retracted, Anne's eyes opened wide. "Mom?"
"Please Anne, let me help you remove the suit." Kim took a single step forward.
As Bopper closed in on her target, she noticed another signature with enough similarities to be another battlesuit. Somebody was fighting fire with fire. Bopper readied her own battle systems. It should be fun to put her new hovercraft through some paces.
She came up to a particularly wooded area to find a Global Justice aircraft hovering over it. First things first. She launched a missile at it.
Cann saw the unusual craft, but wasn't sure it was hostile until the missile was launched. He launched a cluster of flares at it to intercept and destroy while he turned on the radio. "Director, incoming hostile aircraft."
He then executed an evasive maneuver, sending the craft into a vertical rise.
Mom's ring spoke, "Director, incoming hostile aircraft."
"Nards," mumbled Mom. "Anne, please."
Anne looked at her mother. Mom the perfect. Mom the standard. She so wanted to be like Mom.
Anne sank to the ground, tired. "Okay."
-
Bopper came in low, close to the treetops as the other aircraft retreated. She saw the women, one sitting, and the other standing. She engaged the tractor beam.
-
Don crawled out from under the platform. He saw something in the sky. "Look out!"
-
Kim saw Anne enveloped in energy as a beam came out of sky. Anne gasped. The suit glowed brightly for only a moment, and then it seemed to shut down. Kim realized that Bopper must have disrupted it. She wished she had thought of that.
Briaun: Full Armor. Activate Flight System.
Anne was being lifted up to the underside of the hovercraft. Briaun: Flight one hundred percent burn.
Kim began to rise from the ground.
-
Bopper saw the older woman re-engage her armor. "Want to join the party?" She turned on the sonic weapons system. "Let's crank up some music!" Bopper sent forth a highly focused, highly amplified, burst of sound. Not just any sound. The worst sound known, Disco.
The armored woman was knocked back before she was twenty feet in the air.
-
Kim was waylaid by a wash of sonic force. The sensory disruption was immense. Once the armor registered zero altitude, the flight system shut down. Between the sonic onslaught and the impact, Kim was barely conscious. Bri-.
-
"Mom!" Don ran over to the fallen armored form. "Mom, are you okay in there?"
-
Anne was so tired. As she dozed off, she thought she was floating. Then she thought she heard the Bee Gees. Then she went to sleep and dreamed of flying with doves.
-
"Headquarters, this is Cann. The Director is down. Recommend medical team. A junior agent has been abducted. I am following hostile and await further orders."
-
With this latest chapter, I'll welcome Jerry.
I told him about the site the other night.
I expect he'll spend most of his time in Justice League, though.