Chapter Four: Two Deals
Seven days had passed since The Wulf House arrived in Metropolis to snuff out the elementals and their accomplices. The colourful city was now split up into 5 Districts: The East End, Neon Northpoint, Westvalley, South County and Downtown.
Willard Wulf has taken over Northpoint.
Manic and Cassia decided to split up and watch over 2 districts each, while helping other civilians evade the hired mercenaries and their main benefactor, Mayor Tinsel. Starr woke up lying on a very comfortable beige couch in a medium sized living room. It was currently 3 am and the only light on was in the kitchen. She looked over and saw Manic sitting alone at a table, chilli dog in one hand and a White Ox beer in the other.
"Where am I?" Starr asked.
"My friend Thompson's house. He and his girlfriend Mickie took you and a few others back here but they had to leave." Manic replied. "...So, you said you saw me on TV and you want my help?"
Starr sat up. "I told you that?"
"You told me a few things in-between naps throughout the week. Thought I'd ask you why you came down here and you told me your name is Starr, then something about your evil step mom and telekinesis, which by the way, is pretty cool."
Before she could answer, Manic signalled for her to get down. A blinding ultraviolet light shined through the front window and 3 armoured convoys drove by. They got back up once they were sure the convoys were gone.
"Who are these guys?" Starr asked.
"Wulf House. They're here because of you and me. Because we can do shit no one else can. The men in charge are scared so they called in these jackbooted thugs to clean us outta town, or wipe us out. Pretty great, right." Manic said before finishing his chilli dog.
"What? No, that's not great at all!"
"I'm joking, It sucks. I can't go to the clubs or the liquor store without getting shot at now. Normally I'd enjoy a challenge like this but these guys aren't here to play. They already killed a few acquaintances from the underground and my old man is hiding out in the sewers, for fuck sakes!.. so, Starr, I gotta say; you chose one hell of a time to come down here."
"I came to find you! You're the only one whose been able to use your powers freely, and you know how to survive on your own."
Manic sat on a chair next to the couch she was perched on. "That all went to hell. It's because of this Gem that all this is happening. And as for surviving? Shit, I'm a thief! I was raised to steal for a living. You don't want advice from me, I'm a screw up.. sorry you wasted your time coming here.."
Starr looked at him for a moment. "I didn't come all the way out here just for the one guy who can help to tell me 'I'm a screw up, go away' No! You say you're a bad guy, but I know who the real ones are. Manic, I NEED your help! I don't have a fucking thing left, apart from this-" Purple energy illuminated from her hand. "I don't know what I'm doing or how to use my powers properly, you do! Show me how to use them so I can survive on my own! Please!"
The Green Hedgehog finished his beer then spoke. "Okay. I'll show you some stuff, but after that - you're on your own. Deal?"
Starr smiled and shook his hand. "Deal."
"Great. I'm going to finish off my 6 pack so I'll be in here. Get some sleep before we leave, it's gonna be a rough one."
Starr nodded and laid down while Manic opened Thompson's fridge and grabbed a fresh can. He put his headphones in and listened to "Fragile Bird" by City and Colour.
Meanwhile, Cassia roamed the streets during the rainy night. She pulled out her phone to text Manic in between jumping across rooftops, careful not to be spotted.
How's downtown looking?
-M
Cassia quickly typed a response.
Looks just like your sex life: nothing going on, mate.
-C
[Manic is typing]
I hope you're having fun busting my chops, Cass. Let me know if something big happens, I'm sick of babysitting the new kids on the block.
-M
I'll do my best to get you a date with Willard Wulf, he seems like your type.
-C
[Manic is typing]
Great, then I'll set you up with my friend Amy, she definitely swings both ways. We could go on a double date after all this is over.
-M
I wish you would introduce me to your friends, they seem nicer and less homicidal than you, Manny.
-C
They are, and I'll TTYL because I'm drinking and you've upset me so, thanks.
-M
Cassia chuckled at this and put her phone away. She stood on the edge of the rooftop and looked over her city, now covered in white and yellow WULF HOUSE posters. She chose to protect the Downtown and South County districts, and to her it was still early enough to cause some trouble.
Meanwhile at a dark facility not far away, a small group of Wulf House soldiers hurried inside and waited for orders. Among the group was a young, scraggly-haired recruit named Falke Wulf. He was the shortest and thinnest of them so he was constantly picked on by the others. Word went around that he didn't want to be a part of this occupation in any way.
A much huskier recruit pushed his way through the group and grasped little Falke by the uniform aggressively. He slammed him against the wall and held him up with one arm so he could deliver 4 painful body shots with the other.
"You don't wanna do your part, Is that right?!"
Falke gasped for air. "I didn't say that!"
The bigger recruit put him down and backed up a few feet, while Falke groans in pain. "What DID you say, then?"
"I said I don't want to be a Cleaner! You know we're not here to do good, we're here to make somebody rich! I want nothing to do with this whole thing!" Falke shouted back.
"Well, what do you want?" Tully asked.
"I just wanna go home!"
The bully kicked Falke in the ribs and threw a few more punches to the face while everyone around laughed at the downed Wulf. "Speak your mind now!"
"How would you feel if a group took over your home town, roughed up your family and forced you to play ball?"
"I'd kill the sons of bitches, but that wouldn't ever happen to us because we're the top of the line!" Tully responded.
"What the hell do you think Willards' doing to this town?!"
"What's the matter with you, all of a sudden you give a shit 'bout them? See, that's your problem, Falke; you care too much. You shouldn't have joined if you felt that way from the start:"
Falke's eyes widened. "I DIDN'T VOLUNTEER FOR THIS, YOU GUYS MADE ME COME ALONG!"
Tully delivered one last powerful punch that knocked the younger Wulf out. He swiped his coat from the floor and took Falke's gear bag. "Leave him here. He can tell Willard what happened, himself."
The group walked out of the facility and jumped into their armoured trucks. Ten minutes went by before Falke opened his eyes and got back to his feet. His bag was gone and so were his weapons, but he never felt comfortable carrying those so it didn't bother him. Whether or not he'd been discharged, he was leaving. He washed the blood off his face, ripped the Wulf House RECRUIT tag off his jacket and headed out the door. He left his street clothes back at the main HQ so he'd have to wear his uniform until he could get a new set. Other soldiers walked past him and didn't look twice, obviously word hadn't gone out yet about his meeting with Tully, or what he said.
The scraggly recruit waved at a patrol guard and walked through a security checkpoint without incident. He left the post and rain hit him like tap water from a faucet, but it didn't bother him as he exited the territory.
"Watch yourself out there!" A fellow Recruit shouted to him. "I heard they ran into one of those freaks earlier. Be safe, bro."
Falke said nothing, only raised his arm in response and continued on his way. The moon was out and he was lost in a foreign city so he pulled up a GPS app on his phone, now following it's directions closely. While looking at his phone screen, he took off his Wulf House uniform jacket and tossed it into a dumpster. He attempted to cut through an alleyway when his left arm was grabbed and he was flipped onto the ground by someone much stronger than himself.
Cassia stood over him, energy pulsing through her metallic arm as she aimed it at his face.
"Who are you?!" She demanded.
The young Wulf stared at her for a moment, amazed by both her abilities and her figure. "Hi- uh, I'm Falke W-"
"Wulf. You're one of them!"
He put his hands up to defend himself. "No, No, No! I'm not! I mean, technically speaking I am, but please believe me, I'm not one of them!"
"I don't have time for your shit, punk! Give me your weapons!"
Falke let Cassia check him for any weapons, knowing he didn't have any on him. She looked up and spotted an armoured truck coming by so she picked him up and hid in the alleyway.
"Tell your men to stand down if they stop." Cassia ordered.
"Okay, But I'm not sure if they'll listen to me. I'm just a recruit, ma'am. I'm in no position to give orders."
"Just do it!"
The truck indeed stopped beside Falke, so he took a deep breath and met his superiors at the passenger side window. "Hey there, fellas."
"Recruit, where's your god damn jacket?"
"I uh, lost it in a foot chase about 10 minutes ago. Outfit leader Tullen lost his shit on me and we kinda- had a scuffle."
"That ain't what I heard."
Falke's heart began racing, while Cassia prepared herself to attack if this escalated.
"I heard Tully beat the shit out of you and you just took it."
"Oh. Yeah, well- he's the leading officer so..."
"Fuck that man, I wouldn't let no one kick my ass. You gotta stand up to this prick, kid."
"I will roger that, sir."
"Eh, where'd you say you lost your jacket?"
Falke thought quickly. "5 klicks west of HQ. It caught fire so I ditched it during the pursuit."
"Damn, they torched you AND Tully beat your ass, man that sucks. Well, we'll get ya a new one in the morning, recruit. Dismissed."
"Thank you, sir."
The truck sped off and Falke sighed in relief, while Cassia came out of her hiding spot.
"Y'know, for someone who says 'I'm not one of them', you sure sound like every other one of those assholes."
"So, what're you trying to say?"
"I don't trust boys very much, especially boys who lie and kill for a living."
"Listen, Ma'am- I'm not one of those jackboots. I'm related to Willard Wulf, yes, but I didn't choose to become a Wulf House cleaner. I just took an ass whooping for telling my superior officer I want no part of this, and if you don't believe me then fine, kill me or whatever you're going to do. If not, please step aside, I'm trying to leave town."
When Cassia said anything, Falke began to walk away from her and head west.
"If you're going AWOL, I think you should try to avoid big groups of cleaners." she suggested. "The way you're going is where the biggest group patrols. I wouldn't head there if I were you."
Falke stopped and turned around to face her." Okay, fine. I have no idea where I'm going. Would you be so kind as to point me in the direction with the least amount of jarheads?"
Cassia grinned. "Ah, that's funny. You're part of this army but yet you don't know where they're posted. News flash, rookie: there is no getting out! Your friends are EVERYWHERE! How we haven't spotted yet, I don't know but it won't be long 'til they come."
"Then make this easier and tell me how to avoid them."
"Well, you're part of the Wulf House, you can get us past the patrol checkpoints," Cassia pointed out. "Once we get through, I know a place where we can lay low and you can get outta town from there. But no funny business, or I burn you. Deal?"
"Seems like I don't have many other options so, yes Ma'am. Deal."
Falke extended his hand to shake but Cassia ignored him and started the journey.
"Wait, I need my uniform jacket first! That last commander gave me a pass but not every superior officer will tolerate that!.."
"Where is it?"
"In this dumpster."
Falke opened the lid and reached in, grabbing ahold of his white/yellow jacket and gingerly slipped it back on.
Cassia covered her nose. "Oh, wow, that thing smells like shit, pal."
"Well, It IS a dumpster so y'know..."
"Great, lets move, private piss-pants."
Falke ignored this comment and followed close behind. He gazed at Cassia's metallic arm and the touchscreen device on her gauntlet, trying to figure out what purpose it served.
"Hey, Juicy fruit, there's a checkpoint coming up. Get ready." Cassia said.
Falke adjusted his jacket and took a deep breath before advancing. Cassia looped her arm around his and looked at him.
"If they ask, we met at the bar and you're walking me home."
"Sure thing, Ma'am."
"I may have to take you hostage if things go south. Cool?"
"Uh-"
"Cool. And my names' Cassia."
"Oh. I told you my name, didn't I?"
"Probably But I most likely wasn't listening."
"It's Fal-"
"Tell me later, lets just get through this checkpoint."
The 'couple' reached the Wulf House post and approached the patrol guard standing inside the toll booth.
"Eh, you're that recruit who got his ass kicked by Tully, earlier!" The guard laughed.
"How are you, pal. I was just taking this lady home, it's been a long night." Falke said.
"Wow, you rebounded pretty fast. I think this is the first time I seen you with a girl, Falke! Nice work."
"Thanks, But it's pretty late and we'd just like to head back-"
"Ay, you know I gotta check I.D's, kid. You never know who'll try to get through these gates... can I see your papers, miss?"
Cassia stiffened up. "c-certainly."
She reached into her jacket and Falke watched in horror as the guard was blasted away with an energy beam.
"What are you doing?!"
Cassia locked him in a standing arm submission and used him as a shield. "I thought we went over this? I'm taking you hostage because they obviously weren't going to let us through."
"I really don't think this is necessary-"
"I do, so hold tight."
"Hold tight, what? Hey!"
Cassia shot at the backup guards while holding Falke and used her Medallion to race out of the area. He was helpless as the elemental dragged him along through the streets and up the sides of buildings. They escaped the Downtown checkpoint and headed into a storm drain. The cleaners drove around town frantically searching for Cassia and Falke but they were long gone by now. They reached an underground bunker she used as a safe house and came to a stop.
"Alright, Juicy fruit, we're here... hey?"
Cassia looked down, Falke had fainted due to the increase in speed and maneuvering between buildings. She picked him up, entered a rundown train and laid him on a seat.
She looked his I.D over and read it. "Falke Wulf, AWOL times 2...good to know."
Cassia put his credentials back and headed to the front of the train, opening a small cooler full of rations. A small pack of assorted candy was her snack of choice, then she sat across from her guest, curious to know more about him.