Three days later
Tuesday
West Ridge
"You two are worrying me!"
"Makes a change from you worrying us!" Marcus laughed.
"Are we going to like this?" Megan asked with trepidation.
"Possibly..." Paige said with a smirk.
"For fuck's sake, just spit it out, old man!" Mindy exploded, obviously unable to take anymore suspense.
"Paige is pregnant!" Marcus explained with a smug grin.
I watched as Mindy and Megan just seemed to freeze.
"Congratulations!" I said, ignoring the rather freaked out girls.
"Thank you, Dave!" Marcus said.
"Ewww!" Megan announced.
"What she said!" Mindy added with a grimace and a nod at Megan.
Paige and Marcus laughed.
"How long," I asked, again ignoring the two idiots.
"Four weeks," Paige said happily.
"You looking for a girl or a boy?" I asked.
I saw Marcus and Paige look uneasily towards Mindy and Megan.
"A boy!" Both said together, very quickly.
That weekend
Saturday night
Western Chicago
I was unsure why I had gone along with it, but I did owe the girl for what she had done to help us.
Anyway, here I was with Petra. I followed her into the building. Petra had warned me to stay close behind her, as we rode in. I was somewhat surprised to notice that the approach was similar to that for Safehouse F. We passed miscellaneous piles of rubbish and rubble. The building had holes in the roof and sections of wall were missing.
We then passed out of the building and followed a path that was made up of crushed rubble and provided surprisingly good grip to the tyres of our motorcycles. Despite Petra riding quite fast, I was easily able to keep up with her, on my Panigale. The path was hidden by thick evergreen trees, which would also muffle the motorcycle engines.
Finally, after a few minutes, I saw a building up ahead. It looked like a decrepit workshop from the outside. However, a roller shutter opened – presumably triggered by Petra and we rode into the darkness. My headlight illuminated a workbench, but little else. We stopped and once the roller shutter had closed behind us, overhead lighting snapped on.
Wow!
We had both stopped, side by side, on a section of floor that was made up of black ribbed steel.
In front of us was a well-equipped workbench, with the expected tools and equipment. I could not see much else, beyond a steel door that was fitted with a keypad.
..._...
Petra seemed somewhat hesitant, as she dismounted from her Honda and stood in front of me, as I dismounted my Ducati.
"Hit Girl, I… I see how you guide and protect your team, singularly how you and Kick-Ass lead Fusion. I want to be a part of that – if I could – I would very much like to join Fusion," Petra said.
That was unexpected!
Petra had to trust me, as she had led me to her 'lair'. Now she wanted to place herself under Dave's leadership and my own! What the hell, should I reply? I would love to have Petra, with her skills – but we knew nothing about her…
Petra must have sensed my indecision.
"I know you have no reason to trust me. I hoped that my actions, up until now, would show you that I am out to help and to work for good, in this City," She continued. "To show you how serious I am – I am willing to not only show you my Safehouse, but I am also willing to reveal to you, my true identity, Hit Girl."
Before I could say anything – Petra reached up and pulled off her mask. I had not known what to expect, only now, I was even more confused and to say the least, more than a bit shocked.
"My name is..."
"Hailee Richards!" I blurted out and saw a very surprised expression appear on Hailee's face.
"How did you know?" Hailee asked incredulously.
Now, I decided to take a chance; I reached up and pulled off my own mask.
"Holy fuck!" Hailee exclaimed.
"So – you never figured it out?" I asked.
"No, you – err – Mindy is very different to Hit Girl!"
"Some would disagree with you there, Hailee!" I replied, grimacing.
"Did you know it was me?" Hailee asked.
"No – you played the innocent, unassuming teenager, very well!" I replied.
"As do you; to outsiders at least!"
"So – you want to join Fusion? Well, I would need to discuss it with Kick-Ass..."
"Oh my God – it has just occurred to me – if you're Hit Girl... Then Dave must be Kick-Ass and that hormonal girl, Chloe; she must be Shadow – it just stands to reason!"
"Well, when you put it like that..." I agreed with a chuckle and then I had a thought. "You fancy a little fun, Hailee..."
"Bring it on!"
The following afternoon
Sunday
D-JAK
We all stood around the edges of the main mat.
I smirked at Dave, who just rolled his eyes and nodded for me to go ahead. Beside me stood Chloe and Josh, with Erika and Hailee opposite me.
"Just thought that we could have a little fun this afternoon!" I suggested as I walked to the centre of the mat. "Chloe - front and centre!"
"Why do you always pick on me?" Chloe moaned, but stepped forwards anyway.
"Because I can!" I replied. "Hailee!"
"Who, me?" Hailee asked, feigning ignorance.
"Yeah, you – come over and stand opposite the moody cow!" I suggested.
Hailee moved forwards slowly and I could see that she was playing along and looking apprehensive. Chloe seemed a little confused, but she did not seem threatened in any way.
"Now Hailee – watch!" I said and promptly flattened the unsuspecting Chloe. "A simple move – think you can manage that?"
"I can try…" Hailee answered in her usual, timid fashion as Chloe got back to her feet and threw me a nasty glare.
I looked across at Dave and saw him shake his head and chuckle. Hailee took a good hold of Chloe's Gi, before looking at me, directly.
"Go ahead, Hailee – it's not like you can hurt her!" I suggested with a nod.
Chloe's face mirrored the thought, at least until she was halfway to the mat. Chloe struck the mat very hard and Hailee jumped back as if shocked. Chloe, too, looked more than a little shocked at her current situation. She slowly got up and glared at Hailee. She then looked at Dave who just shrugged without giving the game away.
"Hailee – could you do that again?" I asked, grinning.
"I can try," Hailee replied – again sounding timid.
"Like hell she can!" Chloe retorted. I was certain that Chloe smelt a rat.
"Try fighting back, Chloe. You're much better than Hailee!" I suggested.
Chloe and Hailee faced off against each other. It was similar to before but I could see that Hailee had adjusted her stance and was now ready for a real fight. Chloe smirked and went in for what she saw as an easy 'kill', only to find herself flying through the air and down onto the mat.
Chloe jumped up, looking mad. Then just seconds later she was back, face down on the mat. Then Chloe started to drive in hard and Hailee fought back easily, much to the surprise of Erika and Josh!
"Josh – help Chloe!" I ordered.
"Josh saves the day – as usual!" He quipped as he joined the fight.
His entry into the fight did not last long, as Hailee was perfectly capable of fighting them both.
Bang!
Josh hit the mat had, closely followed by Chloe who landed on top of him.
"Bloody hell, Chloe – you weigh a fucking tonne!" Josh blurted out.
Josh then yelled out in pain as Chloe thumped him.
"I do not weigh a fucking tonne, cunt!"
Chloe turned to me.
"Mindy – I smell a fucking rat!" She growled, somewhat menacingly.
"That would probably be me!" I admitted.
Chloe scowled and then looked at Hailee.
"So – is she some new fighter that you've been training in secret?" Chloe demanded.
"I've not taught her a thing," I replied honestly.
Hailee smirked. "Tell 'em – Hit Girl!"
..._...
Everybody gasped at what Hailee had just said and they all turned to me.
"What do you want me to tell them – Petra?" I replied with an enormous grin.
Several jaws dropped and nobody said a word.
"I thought you said these guys were intelligent!" Hailee quipped.
"They were!"
"You mean that Hailee and Petra are one and the fucking same?" Chloe demanded, looked mad.
"The same as Mindy and Hit Girl, Chloe and Shadow, Josh and Jackal!" I replied. "Need I go on?"
"No!" Chloe groaned.
Two days later
Tuesday
Northwestern Chicago
It was the first day of September and I intended to have a peaceful week, only fate seemed to have other ideas.
It was very dark and it was just myself, and Wildcat, enjoying a night out together. I was being responsible for a change and riding carefully so that Wildcat could learn something while we were out. I would comment on what I was doing, as I did it, when I approached junctions and made turns. Wildcat would ask questions, I would show her why I made certain movements, and in some cases what would happen if I did something different.
We were having a lot of fun. Which in hindsight might have been a distraction. I should not have even been in that neighbourhood and my biggest mistake had been turning right. I slammed on the brakes as I found the road blocked.
"Oh, fuck!"
"This is not good!" Wildcat muttered and I felt her gripping my waist tighter.
I spun my rear tyre, pulled the motorcycle around, and accelerated out of the street. We were now being pursued, not only by bullets but also by three SUVs and a pair of motorcycles.
"Fusion, we're in shit!" I called over the radio as I accelerated past ninety.
We were heading east on West Roosevelt Road. I had not received an answer to my radio call, which worried me, as I knew that both Dave and Marty were at Safehouse F.
Safehouse F
Marty and I were chatting away, just as we always had.
The conversation was bordering on the obscene and the disgusting, however there were no kids about, or females, so there was nobody to upset!
Then the speaker on the wall jumped to life.
"Fu – re – t!"
"What the fuck?" Marty asked.
"Was that Mindy?"
"Sounded like it, pal!"
Marty started tapping away and then frowned.
"I can't connect to either of their radios; I have no GPS, no diagnostics!" Marty said unhappily.
"Where were they last?"
"Somewhere along West Roosevelt Road."
"You think they're in trouble?" I asked.
"It's Mindy and Megan!" Marty replied.
"Fuck!"
West Roosevelt Road
I anchored on at South Clark Street, taking a right.
"Fucking hell!" Wildcat growled. "Why hasn't anybody replied?"
"How the fuck am I meant to know!" I growled. We still had short range; I could communicate with Wildcat, but nothing long range enough to get to the Safehouse. We were on our own!
The SUVs and motorcycles were still there, not far behind. I had no idea who the fuck they were, but there were far too many to stop and make a stand. Maybe if backup was on its way, but right now, I had no idea if anybody had even heard my radio call!
A few yards after passing under a railroad bridge, I turned right up a dirt slope onto some waste ground. I was very pleased that I was currently riding on dual-purpose tyres and uprated suspension, but despite the improvements the heavy motorcycle, not to mention being one up would mean I would have my work cut out controlling the ride!
The SUVs were right behind us, but I was just beyond the reach of their headlights and I had killed my own, which was lethal!
"Stop!" Wildcat yelled.
"Huh?"
"Let me off, I can take some of them out with the P90!"
Megan was checked out on the P90, but it was still a large and heavy weapon for her, however she could shot it and reasonably well. Not having her behind me would also help with my evasion. However, this was Megan and I could not just abandon her. Nevertheless, she was a Fusion Vigilante and had already proved herself.
As we passed through an extra dark piece of the waste ground, I eased back on the throttle, careful not to touch the brakes. I felt Wildcat leap off the motorcycle and instantly accelerated drawing the SUVs and motorcycles away from Wildcat.
Heading East
"Marcus?"
"Yeah, Dave?"
"Trouble!"
"Why does this all seem so normal?" Marcus groaned.
"The two girls are missing and comms are out. As you can probably imagine, wherever they are there has to be World War Three erupting!"
"I'll make some discrete enquiries; but I have my own problems here!"
Wasteland off South Clarke Street
I aimed the FN P90 and focussed on the oncoming SUVs; I settled the sight on the front SUV and triggered the IR laser. I lased the right front tyre and squeezed the trigger twice. The SUV was travelling at speed and as the bullets hit, the tyre shredded, but the SUV only slewed until its driver regained control; it had run flats!
The SUV was now very limited in its performance, off road, but it was still in the game. I moved the laser onto the windshield and sent six rapid shots downrange. The bullets went through the windscreen, but the windscreen was not as badly damaged as I had hoped it would be. It was obviously armoured, but to a low level that could not deflect the 5.7-millimetre rounds. I re-aimed, matching the swerving vehicle and sent a stream of automatic fire into the driver's side.
The SUV seemed to lose traction and skidded before it flipped over and crashed down on its side and rolled twice. The other two SUVs stopped, with the wrecked SUV between them, and where, they deemed the shooter to be.
I had to move. I could hear Hit Girl's motorcycle over by the river. I could also hear two more motorcycle engines as they pursued Hit Girl over the rough ground. There was also sporadic gunfire. As expected the waste ground was in near total darkness, having no street lighting. I was using my NVGs, which turned the dark waste ground into a green hued wilderness. I saw the men pouring out of the intact SUVs and pulling men from the wrecked SUV.
I sent single bullets in their direction to keep their heads down and to distract them from targeting Hit Girl who had other worries right at that moment.
The other riders were good.
In the darkness, I could not make out what they were riding, but they were powerful machines nonetheless. I kept ahead of them easily, but the going was tough on the sandy ground. I had to get rid of my tail, and get back to help Wildcat.
I soon moved onto a long strip of concrete and an idea formed in my mind. I increased speed before slamming on my brakes. The first of the two motorcycles came past me, applying his own brakes hard, only I jammed the muzzle of my G36C into the spokes of his front wheel.
The motorcycle flipped into the air quite spectacularly, the rider landing on the concrete, breaking his neck. I span around, firing off several rounds from my Glock into the other motorcycle rider, who came off his motorcycle, which was sent spinning away into the darkness.
I turned and headed towards Wildcat.
"Wildcat, Status!"
"Dropping bad guys, all good!" I replied and heard Hit Girl laugh.
"Just keep safe!"
"Hey, it's me!"
I was actually enjoying myself. Every time somebody came in my direction, that person died. After the first three men, they seemed to have figured that out and stayed put close to their SUVs. I hoped that the bastards would just fucking give up and go home.
It had been a little over fifteen minutes since I had started taking pot shots at the SUVs. I was rather surprised that no Cops had arrived, but thought that they may have been busy elsewhere in the city. I was really impressed by Hit Girl; I had seen her destroy the two motorcycles and send them both spinning off into wreckage and that was cool!
I could see Hit Girl heading in a circle towards the SUVs and then I saw her being engaged by the gunmen. I started firing larger bursts from the P90 to keep their heads down as Hit Girl made her way back around, towards me.
Two minutes later, she skidded to a halt beside me.
"Get on; it's time to go!"
I leapt up and climbed aboard the Ducati, sending short bursts towards the SUVs. Hit Girl accelerated, just as I was almost dazzled as a bright light flared from the Roosevelt Road Bridge and seconds later the wrecked SUV exploded as a rocket struck it, causing the perfect distraction for our escape. Hit Girl powered back towards the ramp where we had originally entered the waste ground and turned left up South Clarke Street, increasing speed. As we made another left on West Roosevelt Road, we were joined by Kick-Ass on his own Ducati.
"You guys having fun?" He called over our short-range communications channel.
"Just us girls having a night out on the town!" I replied.
Northern Chicago
The same time
The Mafioso stared at the dead body on the sidewalk, as the handcuffs were placed on his wrists, before turning to the man who had made the killing shot.
"You are fucking dead, policeman, mark my words, you will die for this!"