Thursday, June 30th, 2016
Glenview
It was the last day of school and everybody was just a little bit more hyper than usual.
Stephanie was still steaming because she had failed to win the award for best attendance the previous day.
"I could have hacked the school to give me the perfect attendance," she moaned. "Missed it by only three days, too!"
"Trust me – that doesn't work!" Mindy laughed.
"Talking from experience, are we?" Dave asked.
"Yeah – I got busted on the same day some white-assed pimp got his ass kicked!" Mindy laughed as she kissed her husband.
"I try to forget that day. . ." Dave winced.
"So, do I – it caused so many problems."
Mindy was jerked back to the present as Anne-Marie began to yell at her brother.
"Daniel!" Dave growled and the argument rapidly stopped as the boy handed back Anne-Marie's socks.
Even though both Anne-Marie and Stephanie were still grounded, Mindy was giving them a little extra leash each day that they behaved. She was still mad at the both of them and she was determined for them to work to the end of their sentences. However, for that day, though, the start of the summer dictated a little compassion.
Mindy was overjoyed when the three menaces were dropped off at school and she could relax.
Mindy's idea of relaxation was to go for some exercise which was also a good way to exercise the three canines.
On leaving the house, she would turn left out of the gates along Burr Oak Drive before taking a left onto Burr Oak Drive West and around to East Burr Oak Drive and onto Mickey Lane which took her down to Winnetka Avenue where she turned right to head east.
At Sunset Ridge Road, she would turn right again to head south until she reached Elmwood Avenue. There, she would turn left to head east again until she reached Brandon Road where she turned left again before running down Woodlawn Road to Wagner Road which, after a left turn, took her north.
She would pause at Cole Park to allow the dogs to have some fun and she would throw several rubber balls around and chase after the animals. After about half an hour, they would begin the run back home turning left back onto Wagner Road, heading north.
At Winnetka Road, they would turn left and head west towards home before making a left turn onto Sunset Ridge Road and then a right onto Burr Oak Drive and through the gates to the finish line. In total the run covered 3.5 miles, not including the running around at Cole Park. The dogs would dive for their water bowls and down the best part of a gallon of cooling water before they headed out into the garden to lie in the sun.
Mindy took the opportunity to go for a much-needed shower – Dave would avoid her with his nose turned up at the smell. The hot shower revitalised her aching limbs and prepared her for the rest of her day.
"You smell sweeter," Dave commented as he gave his wife a kiss on the lips.
"I thought you liked me all sweaty," Mindy pouted as she brushed her long blonde hair before putting it up into her customary pony tail.
"I do – in the sack. . ."
"Well, that will have to wait – I have an appointment at the Data Core."
"Your loss. . ." Dave teased."
Mindy paused at the door for a moment before she turned and smirked at her husband, casually unbuttoning her blouse.
I basked in his body heat.
I was naked as the day I was born and I lay on my front on top of Dave, my head nestled under his chin. His hands moved gently up and down my back – the movements sent tremors through me as his fingers traced up and down my backbone. Dave would laugh as I squirmed and I knew that he was enjoying himself – I could feel something hard on my stomach. I loved the man, almost more than life itself. The decision to reveal my true-identity to him was still the best decision of my life. While I had only been eleven at the time, somehow, I had known that I was doing the right thing.
Now, I regretted nothing as I listened to his pounding heart; the heart that loved me and cared for me. He was my soulmate and I believed myself to be his. Without Dave, I might be dead, haunting the streets of New York City or even those of Chicago. Instead, we had kept each other alive and now we lived in a gorgeous house and upstairs we had three kids who were now the centre of our lives. It still freaked me out that somehow, we had two eight-year-old trainee vigilantes and a ten-year-old cold-blooded killer as our children. I was still a little unsure about the twins and whether I was doing right by them.
"What's worrying you, honey?"
"Nothing..."
"You're scowling and either that means I am no longer any good at turning you on, or you have something on your mind . . . and by your shudders, it has to be the latter."
Damn him for being so astute!
What was bothering me?
My life . . . that was what was bothering me. We seemed to lurch from one crisis to another . . . often with something nice in between, or with some exciting booty.
Crisis Number One – I ran away from New York and almost died, but I gained Dave, a sex life, and a home. We started to watch over our new home, the City of Chicago – shame about their pizza. I also gained my first Katana and got my Panigale back – yay!
Crisis Number Two – Dave found out that Miranda was dead (kind of) and we both found out that Chris fucking D'Amico was still alive despite having been half eaten by an incompetent goddamn shark. Then we had our first round of ninjas! We also discovered a young nutcase (sorry, young girl) who actually saved our lives... Chloe AKA Shadow joined us. Those two bastards (Dave and Marcus) produced the damn swear jar! On a lighter note, I acquired my second Katana and my Tanto – Dave got his Ko-Wakizashi. We also met Abigail and Dave acquired his Harley.
Crisis Number Three – We met Curtis! We also met Kyle – Chloe's then boyfriend – and Commander Ryan Bennett, USN. Marcus produced Sophia AKA Eisenhower, a very welcome addition to our growing team. We adopted two CPD Officers: Murphy and Fellowes. We also gained Safehouse A.
Crisis Number Four – That legless wanker tried to kill Dave; but it failed and Shadow save Kick-Ass' life. On the positive side, Marty was properly on board. Back to the negative and we suffered another round of ninjas . . . and I was injured which allowed me to meet the intrepid Dr Cathy Bennett – Chloe's long-suffering mother.
Crisis Number Five – The Archer began to target innocent people and we entered, the week of hell. I lost my Panigale to that bastard! Once that fracas was over, we brought Chloe onto the team permanently. Battle Guy gained his armour.
Crisis Number Six – Curtis again! He followed his cousin and found Safehouse A – Chloe tried to kill her cousin. A more real crisis cropped up – I was shot, twice. . . We never knew it at the time, but Joshua was there, in Chicago, and he witnessed me getting shot. Dr Bennett learned out identities and became our official medical support. I was presented with a new Ducati Panigale by CPD SWAT.
Crisis Number Seven – Chloe and I got dragged into a fucking bank heist! Chloe killed face to face, for the first time. I also became a landlord and Cathy found out it was Chloe at the bank. Commander Bennett found out about his errant daughter and Chloe and her Father healed a long-standing rift between them.
Crisis Number Eight – Ralph fucking D'Amico broke out of Riker's Island. We also discovered that a new vigilante, Hawk, was in fact somebody we knew; Kim Burgess – I almost killed her before I attacked Dave and Marty Tasered me! Not my best hour...
Crisis Number Nine – Chloe and I headed off to New York City. There we found Safehouse A had been broken into and I almost killed Joshua. At the same time, Ralph D'Amico began a scheme to have Kick-Ass and Hit Girl arrested in Chicago. Marcus was sent to Chicago to 'help'. We found out that we had a new ally in Chicago – Hank Voight. Dave met Jack Bay. A nasty week ensued with Dave and me separated. The week ultimately culminated in Ralph D'Amico shooting Chloe and almost killing Joshua. At one stage, we though Joshua dead. I also shared a bath with another female for the first time – Dave keeps bringing that up . . .
Crisis Number Ten – The Russians! They smoothly slotted themselves into the vacuum that was previously occupied by our good friend, Ralph D'Amico. I was worried about our safety – the Bratva were not known for their compassion or their pleasantness. Then things began to escalate as a cop was killed by the Bratva. Dave and I got banged up as we began to take the war to them. Then we found ourselves lured into a trap by a young boy. Then I got myself pinned by a falling beam and had to be rescued by Shadow and Jackal of all people. We also found out that Jackal was highly skilled at Grand Theft Motorcycle! After some time, spent healing, we went after that boy, who turned out to be the missing Tommy Morgan. We rescued him and returned him to his parents – a definite high point amongst many lows. I was not to know at the time how badly that attack would thrust Fusion into the limelight.
Crisis Number Eleven – It wasn't really a crisis . . . whether it was, or not, depended on your point of view. Megan came onto the scene trying to bite my arm. She was like a wild animal back then with a foul mouth to match. Dave called her 'mini-Mindy' which infuriated the hell out of me at the time. Never expected that our lives would later become intertwined in more ways than one.
Crisis Number Twelve – Very soon after I had accepted Dave's proposal of marriage, Shadow went missing. Turned out to be a pair of nutcase Brits trying to find their way home. We helped them, Ralph D'Amico lost his arm, and we got Shadow back. I also lost my cool with Chloe and as a result, I gave her the boot – out of Fusion! Then Dave got me and Chloe back together again – ultimately a good thing in hindsight. Other than Dave, Chloe was the one other person who understood me and I could not imagine life without her – as I would have been dead.
Crisis Number Thirteen – Right on the back of Crisis Number Twelve, Curtis' parents were killed and he became an orphan. That trip to Washington D.C. had been the worst of my life and I so felt for the little guy. There also formed a dubious duo: Megan and Curtis – those two together were a damn nightmare!
Crisis Number Fourteen – The Russian Mafia struck back – the Bratva had escalated its tactics in a major way and yet again, I was hurt, along with Shadow and Jackal in an explosion.
Crisis Number Fifteen – The New year brought us the Sisters of Trinity. A trio of fucking nutcases who seemed to enjoy causing shit. Then I was shot again and I was rescued by the young Megan Wilson with the help of her Mom, Paige. My identity was also revealed to them both; there was no alternative if I was to live. Turned out to be the best decision ever. Then Dave got a shocker when one of the Nightingales was revealed to be none other than Night Bitch from New York, Dave's ex-squeeze.
Crisis Number Sixteen – Safehouse A was destroyed – at my own hand. On the plus side, we got to move into Safehouse F – note to all: it is not, will not, and won't ever be called, a Hit-Cave!
Crisis Number Seventeen – Jack Bay was attacked and almost killed along with Joshua. However, Natalie Bay was killed. I went on a killing spree to discover who was behind the attack. I also allied ourselves with the Bratva – part of that keeping your enemies closer shit. Then we got a name: Richard Montfort and Kick-Ass had his Harley destroyed by a rocket while he was on it – big drama! We found ourselves assaulting a warehouse in Milwaukee of all places and we gained another name: William Tait and we learnt that he had a yacht which we assaulted from my pride and joy, the Vigilante. Montfort was aboard and he died. We then found ourselves back in Milwaukee assaulting a penthouse and killing Tait.
Crisis Number Eighteen – Hit Girl hit Britain. A little worm tried to blackmail Fusion into being his own personal assassins on behalf of HMG. Needless to say, I was not happy but we prevailed after causing a little mayhem around the UK, and the little worm was dismissed – but not by me.
Crisis Number Nineteen – Megan killed for the first time and there were some coordinated attacks against civilians which took a lot of putting down. Shadow was also hurt during one such attack. Todd died passing us some intelligence and we met somebody new; Petra. Worse came to pass when during a waterborne attack from the Vigilante, Wildcat came face to face with Ralph D'Amico and then we almost all got blown up by a bomb the bastard had placed.
Crisis Number Twenty – During an assault on what we believed to be Ralph D'Amico's lair, Shadow went missing. We assaulted again with SWAT and the Russians. We arrived just in time to prevent Shadow from losing her right arm. Eisenhower got to chomp on the bastard's balls before I chopped off his head and Shadow blew the fucker's head apart with Jackal's pistol.
Crisis Number Twenty-One – The Bratva went through a revolution and a hard-liner took control. The Cold War was back on in Chicago and we had a few run-ins with them.
Crisis Number Twenty-Two – I almost killed Tommy and myself when I drove my SUV into a river
Crisis Number Twenty-Three – The new CPD Superintendent went on an anti-vigilante mission and Megan disobeyed orders and she was stabbed three times during the pursuit of a mass-murderer plaguing Chicago. Had to rescue Petra who had become an unwitting victim of the CPD's anti-vigilante drive. Megan decided to act out and had to be hauled home in cuffs. We then departed on a pleasant cruise to recover during which we came into contact with pirates – killed 'em all and sank their boat – and then got involved with people smugglers – rescued a bunch of people.
Crisis Number Twenty-Four – During an attack on a drug dealer, we came across an assassin by the name of Mathilda. She had then appeared to declare war on the Sicilian Mafia of all people, and then the city descended into chaos. After a night of continuous action everything went eerily quiet. The city began chomping at the Mayor who seemed incompetent to put it mildly. Oh, yes – Chloe and Megan were at each other's throats, again.
Crisis Number Twenty-Five – Let's not go into the fiasco in New York!
Crisis Number Twenty-Six – Marcus was shot! We tracked down the killer in another city – Gotham. We used some very unorthodox measures, including sending Chloe and Erika into a lesbian bar. I also went a little off the rails again after a car crash. However, the man who shot Marcus paid with his life – piece by piece. . . Curtis was shot and Megan was injured but she also learnt a valuable lesson about her mortality. More came back to Chicago than actually left. We had gained two young children, Daniel and Anne-Marie, after promising their father that we would look after them should anything happen to him. He was killed but we rescued the children and as a result, our lives changed forever.
Crisis Number Twenty-Seven – An Amber Alert had been called – fourteen kids had gone missing along with their teacher and the driver. We discovered them in a warren of tunnels close to the original Safehouse K and Lauren Edwards came onto the scene as one of the victims. Before killing the kidnappers, we extracted some information desired by GCHQ and we tracked down a RIB of cunts. We interrogated them for the name of a ship. As a result, that ship was stopped by a combined RN/USN effort and many people were saved.
Crisis Number Twenty-Eight – After training Batman and Catwoman, plus the most wonderful wedding ever, we engaged in a massive firefight at a trainyard. Hailee was badly hurt and I had to lecture her about following orders. Sophia became pregnant and we fucked around with the Superintendent.
Crisis Number Twenty-Nine – Our lives took another turn. A young nine-year-old girl called Stephanie Walker came onto the scene. Miranda Swedlow also returned which was a surprise for all. After a big operation, we turned the tables on that bastard Superintendent and the Mayor saw him for what he really was – a corrupt bastard in uniform. Jack Bay became the Superintendent and Marcus became a Captain.
Crisis Number Thirty – Paige was shot during a failed kidnapping. Wildcat went slightly nuts on a night out with interesting results and Shadow fell off a roof. We also took down some giant bastard causing havoc in central Chicago. Megan needed to be taught a lesson before she pushed things too far. Then we were ambushed by the Sicilian Mafia. We had a firefight in an old theatre where we learnt that the D'Amico family was still haunting us.
Crisis Number Thirty-One – Where do I start? After adopting Stephanie, we went on a post-Christmas cruise around the Caribbean. Everything went well until Anne-Marie was taken. We tracked down the kidnappers and assaulted a chunk of Sovereign British Territory to recover her. Got my new yacht banged up into the bargain but at least our family was back together again.
Crisis Number Thirty-Two – Urban Predator. We learnt about a sick CIA plan to use young kids as assassins based on yours truly. Then the CIA attacked us at Safehouse K – and I blew it up! The CIA teams died too.
Crisis Number Thirty-Three – We discovered that Stephanie had a nemesis who was out there to kill her. Her name was Foxtail and she was believed to be a Phase 3 Predator, fully trained and deadly. On the positive side, Lauren joined the team as Nightmare – a very apt name for her! It wasn't really a crisis but through no fault of our own, we managed to lose a chunk of our All-American home to the British in a superbly executed secession (had to look that word up) of Stephanie's new bedroom which became Sovereign British Territory in the form of The British Sector. Solved the Nemesis problem by turning Foxtail and Stephanie gained a friend; Saoirse Doherty.
Crisis Number Thirty-Four – A New York vigilante came to cause trouble in Chicago and we had a run in with NCIS. Managed to protect the vigilante known as Raven from herself and hand over a criminal to NCIS.
Crisis Number Thirty-Five – Mixed in with Crisis Number Thirty-Four, the goddamn CIA attempted to frame Stephanie for gun-running. The Stephanie and Saoirse fell for a CIA ruse and almost got themselves killed.
Crisis Number Thirty-Six – Fusion was packing to go to Europe. We were going to take down Urban Predator once and for all. Turned out it wasn't just a crisis – it was a mega-crisis and the scars dug deep for many of us. Hailee suffered badly after she was taken and tortured. Stephanie suffered the death of a controlling part of her life – Aurora. We almost lost Abby after the CIA changed tactics. We caused a little bit of trouble in Germany, Italy, France, the UK – to name a few countries. . . I got to unleash my pride and joy – Ocean Vigilante. We met a French vigilante and we teamed up to take down the final Urban Predator site where we freed the final set of kids. That final set of kids included three very special girls who became part of our sister organisation in the UK, Vengeance. One was also reunited with her sister. Both Anne-Marie and Danny killed for the first time, too.
Crisis Number Thirty-Seven – This was wrapped up in the previous 'crisis'. Fusion was hacked, only it was a proxy-hack (according to Marty). The CIA had attempted to put the blame on five young kids but with the help of Battle Guy and Hal, the five kids put the hack down. We decided to keep the kids on retainer and they became Synthesis.
Crisis Number Thirty-Eight – We had only been back in the US a matter of days when the city began to explode – literally. I also learnt that there were some new vigilantes in town, plus some pinky-purple thing called Sunset Phoenix and also another possible super-criminal known as FEAR.
Crisis Number Thirty-Nine – Just a mini problem when Chloe's best friends discovered her deep dark Shadow secret! After a short sharp shock to explain what might happen if either of the two girls spoke out, they were sent on their way.
Crisis Number Forty – The Silos; major battle. Did some base jumping and kicked FEAR's ass! Went on another cruise and got involved with some drug-dealers. Marcus now thinks it is impossible for me to go anywhere and stay out of trouble.
Crisis Number Forty-One – Anne-Marie lost her access card. Big drama, but recovered the card and nobody hurt.
Crisis Number Forty-Two – Big race across Chicago and a fight with Sunset Phoenix and FEAR. Wildcat almost killed when her Ducati was destroyed.
Crisis Number Forty-Three – Fucking tattoos!
Crisis Number Forty-Four – An echo from our time in Europe: Tempest and Discord. Had to send a team to extract them from a rather nasty situation. . .
Crisis Number Forty-Five – Lauren and Lizzie's father came on the scene and started causing shit. Psyche and Nightmare sorted him out with a little help from their friends.
..._...
"Wow!" Dave commented. "What a fucked-up world!"
"Fucking tell me about it – don't we deserve a moment's peace?" I demanded.
"We must have been really bad in a previous life."
"Not funny. . ."
"Just look on the bright side – our lives our never dull!"
Mindy chuckled and the chuckle quickly changed to laughter as she considered Dave's comment.
Early that afternoon
Latitude: 41°49'35.79"N Longitude: 87°42'4.10"W
The facility was a part of Safehouse E, but they did not need to know that.
As far as they were concerned, the bunker was a secret and only they knew of its whereabouts. Elizabeth 'Libby' Dade had received a cryptic phone call from Battle Guy, the day before. On that afternoon, the high school turfed out the kids for the summer at noon and another call was received. A simple location was provided and the five teenagers wandered into the Brighton Park area of Chicago. Once they had arrived at a very non-descript and all but invisible brick structure with a single door at the top of six concrete steps, Libby had placed her hand on an eight-inch by nine-inch black pad which was affixed to the brickwork. Access was via handprint biometrics and the door clicked open a second later. They were met by Hit Girl.
"Welcome."
Hit Girl guided the five teens down a passageway that was narrow and only allowed movement in single-file. Once they reached the far end of the eighteen-foot-long passageway a door automatically released.
"No hand scanner?" Jesse Dade asked.
"Facial recognition in the passageway," Hit Girl explained.
"If we fail the facial recognition?" Jesse persisted.
"You die."
"O – kay. . ."
..._...
Through the door was a small room with a wall-mounted screen and another eight-inch by nine-inch black pad which was mounted at a forty-five-degree angle towards them just below the screen. There was also a small tray mounted beneath the screen with a slot beside it.
"One at a time, please," Hit Girl advised.
Libby went first, placing her hand on the pad. Words began to appear on the screen:
ELIZABETH DADE . . .
ACCESS GRANTED
PLEASE TAKE ACCESS CARD
There was a dull clatter as something appeared in the tray. Elizabeth took the item. It was a dark blue access card with the name 'SYNTHESIS' in the bottom right corner and a silver eagle and stripe in the upper left portion.
"Your access card. On arrival, you will collect your card; you will need it to access everything beyond this room. To leave, you must insert your access card into that slot, just to the left of the tray. If you do not, you will not be able to leave the facility."
"If access is not granted?" Jesse asked.
"You die."
"I feel safer already . . ." Jesse muttered.
Jesse was next and he was soon holding an identical access card in his hand. The remaining members of Synthesis followed suit: Kate Bradford, Laurence Gray, and Peter Savage.
"Let's go," Hit Girl said as she swiped her own access card to pass through the next door.
Synthesis Data Core
The room was large with eight sides.
The main door into the facility, constructed of armoured steel, was at the seven o'clock position, with another, identical, door over at the five o'clock position – that door led to the server room. At the six o'clock position there was a superbly equipped kitchen with a fridge, sink, microwave, and dishwasher. The remaining five walls of the regular octagon were occupied by a computer workstation located on each wall.
Each identical computer workstation was made up of six 37-inch monitors arranged in a two-layer grid. In front of each of the workstations was a very comfortable looking, high-backed, black leather chair. Located on each desk was a cordless keyboard, cordless mouse, and a selection of other peripherals.
The entire room was air-conditioned and had subdued lighting with more focused lighting fitted at each workstation. In the middle of the octagon, there were two giant printer/copier devices and a massive A0 printer.
"What is that for?" Libby asked as she examined a metal box mounted beneath one of the workstations.
"In each of those is a loaded Glock 19 pistol and two spare magazines. Heavier weapons are available in the cabinet located beside the main access door."
"I've never . . ." Peter began.
"You will each be given training on the weapons held," Hit Girl lectured. "This entire facility is protected by active and passive security including a complete Faraday cage on all sides. No standard cell coverage is possible in here, however there is a relay for your cell phones via the main datacentre. All communications are monitored, both inbound and outbound, including your cell phones. Security is 24-7 and can be onsite very quickly – but I would not recommend testing us. . ."
Five sets of eyes wandered around the amazing facility taking in everything. Finally, the geek side of them all came to the fore.
"Can we?" Libby asked tentatively and Hit Girl laughed.
"Please do. . ."
The five kids scrambled for the workstations where they swiped their access cards and the screens came to life. There was plenty of chatter as they examined the hardware and software available to them. Hal and Battle Guy both came on via video link and they began to take the five hackers through the facility.
Hit Girl chose to go for a wander as it quickly got very technical and therefore very boring as far as she was concerned.
Later that afternoon
Outside North Park Elementary School
Megan and Curtis had been picked up by Paige, so it was just me and my three kids.
"Who wants pizza?"
It was a pointless question as three kids simultaneously exploded with joy as we walked towards the car. It was a perfect day and I felt happier than I had in a long time. Maybe things were settling down and we could all enjoy life as a family – well, as much as any vigilante family could.
'I so wish you could be here, Daddy. . .' I thought as I looked up at the sky.
"You're the greatest Mom ever!" A wildly grinning Danny said as he held my hand.
"Whatever it is you want, you ain't getting' it," I laughed.
I truly was a very happy woman and nothing could tarnish that afternoon nor diminish the joy that I felt within me . . .
K
The proverbial bubble of joy burst as my brain told me that the sound was a gunshot – a suppressed, long-range, gunshot but it was still a gunshot. I had no idea where the bullet went but before I could do anything . . .
"Mum, I feel strange . . ."
I turned to look at Stephanie; she swayed as she stood on the sidewalk. However, that was not what had caught my attention; it was the rapidly spreading crimson stain that threatened to inundate the front of her white blouse. Anne-Marie screamed at the sight – Danny went white as a sheet and his hands went to his mouth.
After a moment, Stephanie sank to her knees as blood dribbled from her mouth and ran down her chin. I grabbed hold of her when she fell forwards and I cradled her in my lap while I, myself, sank to the concrete sidewalk. I pulled out my cell . . .
"9-1-1 . . ."
"My daughter's been shot . . ."