Author's Note: Just as a reminder: 'South Cottage Grove' is the larger of the two apartment blocks that Mindy owns. This is also the location for Safehouse B and Safehouse C.
Three days later
Wednesday
I followed on from Josh's idea and went to look at some potential sites for a dojang.
The perfect place became available just off of the Dan Ryan Expressway, in the Lower West Side of Chicago. It was previously used for martial arts training and had both the space and height required. I might even consider turning part of it into a safehouse due to its perfect position, so near to the centre of the City!
I made an offer and we now have wait to see what happens. The building would come with quite a bit of existing equipment, which would be useful. Next I would need to find some staff - people who knew how to run a public facing business!
Two days later
Early evening
Friday
It was that one night of the year when all the weird costumes came out!
It would also mean that there could be trouble; there usually was. The whole team were on alert and out on patrol. Hawk and Battle Guy were staked out in Lucille, with Eisenhower, near to Marty's apartment, so that they could keep an eye on the neighbourhood. Hit Girl, Kick-Ass, Shadow and Jackal, were to be a roving patrol. Hal was manning the Control Room at Safehouse A, along with Medic and would be in contact with Fellowes and Murphy.
We were all going to go out on two wheels this evening, which would be great fun. I warned Jackal and Shadow that there would be lots of kids all over the streets and they would be more interested in candy than traffic and it would look kinda bad if we squished any kids!
The first stop of the evening would be to a little friend.
South Cottage Grove
It really sucked when you were young and you had to go out trick-or-treating alone!
Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of other kids out, but most of them were bigger than me and it was a little bit scary as I didn't know anybody yet; having only just moved into the area!
Just then, I heard a loud noise and me and all the other kids turned to see what the noise was. Four motorcycles came up the street and one stopped beside me. The motorcycle was purple and was ridden by the most vicious vigilante out there, except she removed her helmet and smiled down at me.
"Hi Megan! How you doing?" Hit Girl asked.
I was a little overwhelmed at seeing Hit Girl again and in public.
"I'm fine, thanks, er, HG!"
"Hi champ!" A weird voice called.
I turned to see Jackal.
"Hi Jack!" I called back.
"This is Shadow and Kick-Ass!" Hit Girl growled.
"Hello!" I replied and the two vigilantes nodded back. Kick-Ass was huge and so was his motorcycle, which just made him more than a little intimidating! Shadow looked very cool, too!
Then Hit Girl grabbed me, lifted me up and sat me on the purple motorcycle, in front of her and we rode forwards a few feet. That was totally awesome! Other kids were now starting to crowd around the four vigilantes.
Kick-Ass then reached into one of his rear carriers and started handing out candy to all the kids. Two passing Chicago PD cops just stood and watched, but did not interfere. Shadow spoke to Kick-Ass and then climbed off her motorcycle, leaned it onto it's stand and walked over to the two Officers, who started to look a little nervous.
"Candy, guys?" Shadow growled and held out her hand; both Officers accepted! I couldn't believe that Shadow had the nerve to offer candy to two cops!
After another few minutes, Hit Girl placed me back on the sidewalk, before she smiled down at me and then replaced her helmet before moving off down the street, followed by the other vigilantes.
Several of the kids came over and started asking me questions about Hit Girl and what my name was. I was suddenly very popular and everybody wanted to be my friend!
I enjoyed that!
A simple little thing, for a fan!
"Very nicely executed Hit Girl!" Kick-Ass said, approvingly.
"Yeah! Not so sure about Little Miss Brazen! Giving candy to cops, I ask you!" Jackal commented.
"Quit moaning; I was just having a little fun!" Shadow retorted.
"How you guys doing, in Lucille?" I asked.
There was quite a significant pause, before a response was received.
"We're fine!" Battle Guy replied and sounded a little out of breath.
"Testing the suspension are you?" Kick-Ass asked.
"Keep your mind out of the gutter, Kick-Ass!" Hawk replied.
Maybe we need to get Eisenhower a blindfold!" Quipped Medic.
"Poor dog; that's cruel and unusual punishment!" Hal added.
We all had a good laugh at Battle Guy and Hawk's expense, but it was now time for some cop baiting!
"Battle Guy, you have a location for our favourite cops?" I asked.
"Sending it to you now!" Battle Guy replied.
"What the fuck is that?" I exclaimed, as a route map appeared in my visor.
"Sorry, forgot to say; I've upgraded your helmets with a heads-up-display. We can now display anything you like, just like on the NVGs... How about these Kick-Ass!"
"Cool... But not the right time for topless women, Battle Guy!" Kick-Ass responded with a laugh.
"Hey!" I exclaimed. "No porn guys!"
"What about me?" Jackal asked.
"Sorry, you're under age!" Battle Guy replied.
"I watch porn on my laptop, all the time!"
"Ewww! I'm never touching that laptop again!" Shadow commented. "Why do you need porn? You have me!"
"This conversation is starting to wander a little off topic, Shadow!" Medic advised.
"I think we need improved content filters on Jackal's laptop!" I commented. "Let's focus, people!"
..._...
I followed the route, provided by Battle Guy and we pulled up on both sides of a Chicago PD SUV.
"Trick or treat!" I growled.
"Evening Hit Girl!" Murphy said.
"Having fun?" Fellowes asked.
"We always do!" I replied.
"Candy?" Shadow offered, on the other side of the SUV.
"Have you no shame?" Jackal growled.
"That is one creepy voice!" Murphy commented.
Fellowes helped himself to candy and passed some to Murphy.
"That's four cops you've corrupted this evening, Shadow!" I said.
"What's wrong with supporting the CPD?" Shadow asked, indignantly.
"Maybe she likes men in uniform!" Kick-Ass growled.
"I need to listen in to you guys more often; I'm learning a lot about Shadow, this evening!" Medic said.
"Watch out, Medic! You might hear something that you may not like!" Shadow quipped.
"Any excitement this evening?" I asked Murphy, getting back to the patrol.
"Nothing out of the ordinary. Couple of idiots getting drunk and harassing kids and a couple of idiots trying to steal candy," Murphy replied.
"We'll leave you guys to your candy!" I said and started my Ducati. The others followed suit.
"Thanks for the Candy, Shadow!" Fellowes called over the roar of the motorcycles.
We proceeded on our patrol and headed towards the more residential parts of town, where the kids would be trick-or-treating and assholes would try to steal their candy!
Depressingly we found just those kind of assholes.
After coming around a corner and onto a residential street, we found a group of dejected looking kids sitting on the kerb.
"What's up?" I growled as I pulled up alongside the kids.
"Wow! It's Hit Girl and Kick-Ass!" One kid exclaimed.
"Three guys, they took our candy... Everything!" Another kid explained.
"There, down the end of the street..." Another kid said, pointing down the street.
I could see three people walking away carrying sacks of candy.
"Leave this to me!" Kick-Ass said and accelerated down the street.
I watched as Kick-Ass shot down the street before braking and turning in front of the three young men.
I could only hear Kick-Ass' side of the conversation, but I could see his movements.
"Stop there!" Kick-Ass ordered.
I could see the young men stop and start to back away. I revved my engine and the men turned to look in my direction, then stopped and handed over their stolen haul to Kick-Ass.
"Time to rethink your lives!" Kick-Ass suggested, then he performed a U-turn and headed back down towards us. The three men had run off.
..._...
Kick-Ass stopped and handed back the candy to the kids, who were overjoyed. Kick-Ass also added some of his own candy to the kids' haul.
"You guys are awesome!" The kids all agreed.
Safehouse A
We arrived back at the safehouse having enjoyed a good night out.
We all got to ride our motorcycles and have a lot of fun, as well as protecting Chicago! I was also very pleased that I had been able to make Megan's evening. On the other hand I was a little concerned with Chloe's brazen behaviour, but then that's just how she was!
I went to bed happy, that night.