Flight of the Archangel

Disclaimer: "That's impossible! Cartman doesn't know a rainforest from a Pop-Tart!" – Stan Marsh, South Park

Chapter 6: Rescue

The skies over New York

Jay Guthrie, the mystically-resurrected mutant known as Archangel, flew over the City That Never Sleeps. His metallic wings flapped every so often to help keep him aloft. Flying alongside the redhead was a black velociraptor-like demon with black hair, yellow eyes, and flapping black leathery bat-like wings. He was Dracor, Jay's 'guide' of sorts.

"Why did Selene send you, anyway?" Jay frowned.

"To make sure you get the wand, kid." Dracor chuckled.

"She could contact me from the Hellfire Club building." Jay narrowed his eyes. "Why doesn't she just keep doing that?"

"She is a busy woman, Archangel." Dracor told him. "She's bound to the building, so she's managed to make herself a life outside of her sorceress gig." Jay shrugged.

"I guess." The redheaded mutant let the remark go. "She can trust me to get the wand, Dracor. A Guthrie always keeps his promises."

"…She don't know you that well, farmer-boy." Dracor chuckled.

"Wait…" Jay blinked. "How'd you know I grew up on a farm? My old accent vanished. I got a new voice with my new body."

"Selene told me about you." The black demon explained. "She's packing a crystal ball, remember?" Jay rolled his eyes.

"Riiiiiiight." The redhaired red-metal-winged mutant rolled his eyes. Why do I get the feeling this overgrown iguana is going to cause me some serious trouble?

A street in New York City

A beautiful young-looking woman, seemingly in her mid-to-late twenties, walked down a street, carrying a bag full of various items. She appeared to be of Indian heritage, with long curly black hair, and brown eyes. She was dressed in blue jeans, a pink t-shirt, and a brown leather jacket. She turned into an alley. Halfway down, the woman stopped. She sensed something.

"Hello there, girly…" A man dressed all in black with a black ski mask smirked as he snuck up behind the Indian woman, followed by two cronies, dressed like the first one, only one had a purple mask, the other had blue.

"Who are you?" The woman frowned. "And what do you want?"

"We want your money, girly…" Purple Ski Mask snickered. The Indian woman scowled.

"Pal, I sensed you coming. I'm prepared for you." The Indian woman told the black ski-masked man.

"Well, whaddaya know? She's a mind-readin' mutie." Black Ski Mask smirked. The woman laughed. Unbeknownst to her, Jay was high up in the sky, and he had overheard.

"I can see a woman in trouble down there." Jay told Dracor.

"She is only a mortal, Jay." The dinosaur-like demon grunted. "She is none of your concern."

"She may be none of your concern, but I'm not like you." Jay growled. "I actually do care about human life!" He swooped down.

"Jay-! Blast!" Dracor cursed.

"No, I do not sense minds. I sense emotions." The woman laughed, not realizing that the red-haired Archangel was flying down towards her. "And as for me being a mutant, well…I'm not." She smirked. "I'm something quite different."

"She's playin'!" Blue Ski Mask growled. "Let's just rush her and get her money!" The three men proceeded to do so. The woman smirked. She chanted a couple odd words, her free hand crackling with pink sparks. She waved her hand, and the three thugs found themselves hitting an invisible wall.

"What the-!" Blue Ski Mask touched the wall.

"It's some kind of barrier, man! Like the Invisible Woman or somethin'!" Purple Ski Mask analyzed, poking at the wall.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Black Ski Mask groaned, smacking Purple Ski Mask upside the head. "I think we can figure that one out ourselves!" Unbeknownst to the woman, a fourth man, holding a crowbar, was sneaking up behind her, wearing a yellow ski mask. He raised his crowbar.

"Heh heh heh…" He snickered. The woman turned around and gasped. As the yellow ski-masked man was about to whack her with the crowbar, a whistle was heard. "Agh!" The man felt pain in his shoulder blade, dropping the crowbar. He turned around and saw a red boot flying toward his face.

POW!

The boot kicked him in the mouth, knocking him flat.

"What?" The woman blinked. She squeaked when she saw Jay, his eyes glowing red. "Eep!" She squeaked, nearly dropping her bag. "Who-who are you?"

"Johnny!" Black Ski Mask exclaimed.

"What is that thing?" Purple Ski Mask screamed.

"It's a mutie!" Blue Ski Mask exclaimed.

"And you're all going to be dead." Jay snarled, pulling out a couple metal feathers from his wings.

"No!" The woman exclaimed. "Let me!" She chanted some words. The masked men fell to the ground, asleep.

"What was that?" Jay blinked.

"A sleep spell." She explained. "Now all we have to do is call the cops."

"You some kind of magician?" Jay blinked. The woman grinned.

"Well, when you have a name like Topaz, you can either go into magic, or show-business." The woman chuckled.

"Topaz, huh?" Jay frowned. "Parents hippies or something?"

"If I knew them, I could tell you." Topaz shrugged.

"…It's not safe out here. You should head home." Jay told her.

"I know." Topaz nodded. "I was just getting some supplies for my bar. Ever been to the Voodoo Lounge?"

"…Do I look like the type who frequents bars?" Jay frowned, holding out his arms. "I'm surprised that you aren't freaking out about how I look."

"I've seen worse." Topaz shrugged. "Believe me, I've seen worse." She waved. "Come on. You look like you could use a drink."

"I could, now that you think about it." Jay smirked. "Last time I tried to get myself a drink, I was forced to hurt some people. Bad." He noticed the whimpering yellow ski masked man trying to get the metal feather out of his shoulder, whimpering in pain.

"Agh…help me…" He whimpered. Jay scowled.

"Shaddap." Jay grunted, kicking the man in the gut. "Just be glad I didn't put the feather in your throat." Dracor watched this from a rooftop.

"Oh, blast it!" He growled. "Looks like it may take Jay longer to get that wand than I thought."

Next: A New Friend Jay gets to know Topaz.