Post by The Circle Television Network on Mar 8, 2017 19:35:02 GMT -5
Chapter XXIV: The Winds of Change
Over…
Empire City
As Anka lifted off, leaving the mysterious man who assaulted her with his staff behind, she wondered if and how the other ‘so-called’ heroes in Empire City would oppose her. Certainly, after what she had just done, she would not be endeared to any meta who crossed her path. All the same, she didn’t particularly care. She had been abandoned by a cruel and unfeeling God…and now it was time for everyone else to have a taste of what she had been forced to dine on for centuries past.
In truth, why should she care about anyone at all? The only other metas that she could honestly say that she had ties to were Spike and Gaia. Spike had been helpful to her…but she owed him nothing, in the end, he only cared for his precious Michelle...
…Gaia was a different matter…
She felt that she owed her for opening up her eyes. There was a kinship there…but after what she did, helping the police to capture her, she’d be hard pressed to explain why she did it. Gaia claimed to be fighting for a cause, the freedom of metas everywhere. Conversely, Anka had just branded metas as evil, hell spawned, demons that needed to be wiped out. Would Gaia understand why she had done it? She hoped that she would…but in the end…what did it really matter? She was gone…captured, maybe even dead for all she knew.
She could feel it hovering just below the surface, and it tasted like bile in her mouth threatening to make her vomit. It was jealousy…envy…the green-eyed monster. The rest of these people would just waft out…just like a candle being extinguished in the wind when their time came. They’d be called home to Heaven, or sent down to Hell…either way, it was an ending. For her…it never ended…and it haunted her terribly, it frightened her beyond reason…made her angry beyond words.
Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas for a handful of coins; he hung himself and died. Was her crime so great that she deserved to suffer in life for all eternity? It was torture to be set apart from everything and everyone…watching them grow old and pass on, as she lingered. Even the cruel men that murdered her family, raped and crucified her, got to grow old, withered, and died; their ashes were long scattered to the wind...and she remained. The longer she watched, the more hateful she grew.
Now things had simply come to a head for her. This was the straw that had broken the camel’s back. Why be a victim when you might at least gain some sense of satisfaction from being the victimizer for a change?
Even that notion seemed to be no more than a lie to her. If she could have accomplished her aims without bloodshed, she would have done so. Admittance into Heaven was her goal…but she’d gladly settle for a spot in Hell if God continued to deny her. This was the equivalent of a foot stomping, hair pulling, full-bore tantrum on her part. If she made enough noise, she could force His hand for better or worse…long before she passed the point of no return…
…but who would blink first? She knew the answer already…but she had to try…
There was a far better question that begged to be asked. If God ignored her, would she have the guts to carry through with her plans? Would she lead innocents to their deaths? She hoped to not find out the answer to that question. All God had to do was strike her down…give her the peace she desired above all else.
Then, what about Brandon Knight…?
God’s favorite Holy Roller. He could prove to be a fly in the ointment if she let him. Even worse she loathed the idea of explaining herself to him…having to endure his critical glares and preaching. Despite it all, she still did admire him. He was a fool for his blind faith and conviction, but he was a hero for sticking to his guns. God loved fools…so His love for Brandon must have been the greatest of all!
Even as Anka continued her lazy flight across Empire City, lost in her own thoughts…there was someone else that was completely focused…and he had the unwary ‘angel’ dead in his sights…
It was his primal yell of both fear and exhilaration that finally got her attention. She turned just as she saw the man with the staff leap from the roof of an adjacent building, flying at her like a human missile. She barely had time to twist her head away as he swung his staff at her. The staff caught her high on the backside of one of her shoulders, knocking her off course and sending her tumbling from the sky. Her body crashed onto the rooftop of an apartment complex.
The staff wielding man landed hard on the same rooftop, his momentum carrying him as he went rolling and nearly fell over the edge of the ledge at the other side. He peered over, some twenty or more floors below, “…the things I do for justice…astounding…”
He turned, kipping up to his feet, as he brandished his staff, whirling it around defensively in front of him. “Alright! Enough running…errrr…flying away! You’re wanted for murder…and I’m making a citizen’s arrest!”
He paused, “Well…technically, I am not a citizen of Empire City, so this might just be a regular arrest…”
Anka looked across the rooftop at the man as her dark spring-like locks of hair obscured her face and tumbled down her shoulders. She threw back her wings and rose slowly to her feet. “Look…hero, I haven’t killed anyone…YET!”
The man bristled at the threat. “You think you can kill the Staff-Master? I’d like to see that!” Anka smirked at the name, and the man shrugged, “Best I could come up with at the time…seemed appropriate…you know, staff and all!”
She ignored his quip as she braced herself as her wings beat at the air violently. At first, Staff-Master thought that she was preparing to take to the sky again and he rushed her… but this proved to be a costly mistake. As he broke from his stable base, the winds hit him like a gale from out of the blue… tossing him back… pushing him towards the edge of the building. Even for a man of his considerable strength, he found the winds tremendous. He struggled for purchase, even as he felt himself being pushed closer and closer to the edge of the building…and the perilous fall below.
Anka balled her fists tightly as she bared her teeth. She had no desire to kill him, but she saw this for what it was…a test…a test of her conviction and force of will. She turned her eyes heavenward, even as her hair whipped and swirled around her. She yelled out, screaming over the violent winds. “IS THIS IT? YOU MEAN TO SEE IF I WILL KILL TO SPITE YOU?!!” She looked back as the man was pushed closer and closer to the edge. She sneered as she narrowed her eyes and furled her brow. “…I’ll kill him…if you make me…” Inside…she prayed that He would not let her kill him…that God would somehow intervene and stop her.
Staff-Master finally managed to plant his feet, but it only slowed his backward momentum. He turned his face away from the buffeting winds and looked behind him; he was only a foot from the edge and getting closer by the moment. He gripped his quarterstaff tightly in one hand as he held up his other to block the fierce winds. He’d only have one chance at this…and one chance only. If he was off a fraction of an inch…he would be in for a fall that only Humpty Dumpty could fully appreciate. He hoisted up his staff…holding it over his shoulder and pointing it directly into the wind. He hazarded one last glance at his target, then let his staff fly…
23rd Street and Branch Avenue
Empire City
When Stacey Jordan arrived on scene, the area had already been taped off. She ducked under the tape and stood there looking down at the brutally beaten body of the teenaged boy. His blue blood was everywhere, even staining the pavement, but its alien color made the scene less real for everyone there.
A uniformed officer scratched his head. “Damn! Cause of death…Smurf Bukkake!”
The other officers standing around the body laughed at the man’s sick joke, but one stare from Detective Jordan was enough to quiet them. She walked over to the officer and got right into his face. “YOU THINK THIS IS FUCKING FUNNY OFFICER NASH?!! THIS IS A DEAD KID LAYING HERE IN THE STREET, IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY!! Tell me…what do you find so fucking funny about that?!”
The officer tensed as he looked down at her. “Geez Detective! It’s just a dead meta! It’s not like it’s a REAL kid or something!!”
She stared at the man and held back the urge to hit him, then she turned to the other officers. “I want witnesses, I want evidence collected…no more laughing and joking about this shit! I don’t care if you like or love metas, we are the line that protect the people of this city…regardless of color…or genetic orientation!”
One of the other officers spoke up. “Ma’am, we have statements coming in already. There was a mob…20 or 30…maybe more. They beat the met…” he paused, correcting himself, “…the kid…they beat him to death right here in the street.”
Stacey’s jaw tightened. “What about the Hexx sighting? I got the call that the angel was here. Was she in on it?”
The man shrugged. “Not sure…she damn sure didn’t stop it…” He looked down at the corpse. “…that’s for sure…”
Stacey nodded as she turned and stepped back under the tape. Anka Jarius…Angel of Empire City…Hexx or whatever she called herself, was involved somehow, she could feel it. She might not have done the deed herself, but there was blood on her hands all the same! She was a killer and Stacey would personally see that she was brought down.
She opened the door to her car as she heard the dispatcher calling in a sighting of Hexx ten blocks north, being chased across the rooftops by a man with a stick. Stacey frowned as she picked up the radio. “Dispatch…repeat…did you say being chased by a man across the rooftops…with a stick?”
A moment of silence, then static filled the air. “Roger that Detective…could have been a pole…”
She shook her head as she tossed the mic back into the car and twirled her finger over her head and pointed north. “EVERYONE NOT COLLECTING EVIDENCE, PACK YOUR SHIT! LET’S GO!!”
As the pursuing officers left, the ones that remained to square away the crime scene looked at one another. The one named Nash shook his head and looked down at the dead boy. “I don’t believe in all that angel and God crap…but if it’s real and she’s out there killing off metas…fuck it…I’ll be a believer!”
The rest of the men were silent for a moment, then one of the others spoke up. “Hey Nash…what in the hell is bukkake?”
High Over…
Empire City
Agents Maya and Sloan were stewing in their seats aboard the Agency Helo-Transport as Daria Knight sat across from them with a broad grin on her face, flanked by a pair of personal security guards in full body armor. Unable to restrain herself, Agent Sloan sat forward, looking Daria right in the face, “Once we are done with that stupid little goose chase of yours and that red headed nutcase is locked away again, I’m going to arrange a personal meeting with the Mayor to discuss your actions.” She gave a wry smile, “Just wanted to give you fair warning.”
Daria nodded grimly, “Well…Grace…”
She corrected her, “You can address me as Agent Sloan!”
Daria bristled, but nodded after a fashion, “Fine! Agent Grace Sloan, I finance and outfit this little dog and pony show, so I suggest that when you go to complain to the Mayor that you also have your office packed up as well.” She smiled, “You see, you’re expendable and replaceable…if, gods forbid, something happened to you, I’d just write a check and a brand new Agent would be here…maybe sitting in that chair like you are, only they will be respectful, because they will know about what happened to you!”
Maya got to her feet with her fists balled up, “ARE YOU THREATENING AGENT SLOAN?!”
The two guards were on their feet quickly and Agent Sloan grabbed Maya and put her back in her seat. She glared at Daria, “Tell your goons to back off before I make them walk home!”
Daria gestured at the two and they settled back into their seats. She shook her head and chuckled, her eyes boring a hole right through the two agents. The look left little doubt that sooner or later things were going to come to head between them.
“If you wankers are done, I think I have something.” The three women turned as Gaia sat, heavily restrained with a dampening field around her to prevent the use of her full range of powers. In her hand, she held the ring.
Daria smiled, “Are we close to whatever it’s being drawn to?”
Gaia shrugged, “Hard to tell…maybe if you had this field turned off, I could…”
Maya rolled her eyes, “As if! No! You’re going nowhere!”
Gaia eyed Maya with murderous intent, then turned back to Daria, “East, tell them to keep heading East. Whatever this thing is drawn to…you’ll find it there.”
Daria smiled as she rubbed her hands together. Whatever it was, whatever power it held, it would soon be hers…
Rooftop of 33rd and Branch Avenue…
Empire City
Staff-Master’s throw was perfect and his quarterstaff cut through the gale winds like a knife as it struck Anka right in the face. “Arrgh!!” She dropped to a knee and the winds came to an abrupt stop. She squeezed her eyes tightly against the pain. She blinked, seeing the staff on the ground, she reached down for it, only to be blasted in the face again, by a flying knee this time.
“DON’T TOUCH MY STAFF!” he quipped, as he toed the ground underneath it, and kicked it up into his hands. “Incidentally, that is number 2 on the list of things I thought I’d never say to a girl!” He smiled, “You care to hear what number 1 is?”
TWACK
Anka bounced off the ground as Staff-Master brought his quarterstaff down across the back of her head, “Sorry Miss, but no head on the first date, thank you!” He paused, with a chuckle, “I am both crude and hilari…!”
Staff-Master was upended as one of Anka’s broad wings, swept him off his feet, “You talk too much!”
Anka got to her feet as Staff-Master spun off his back and into a defensive position, staff at the ready. “Baby, this relationship is doomed without communication!” He ducked another swipe from her wing, and returned the favor with a sharp upward thrust that caught Anka under her chin and lifted her off her feet and down to the ground. Staff-Master prepared to attack again, but Anka rolled away and suddenly disappeared as her wings enveloped her.
Staff-Master skidded to a stop, looking around in utter confusion, “OH MAN! HOW DID I JUST LOSE AND ENTIRE ANGEL?!” He peered into the sky; “…did God just send her to her room...?”
Obscured by the power of her wings, Anka lay still, just feet away from the man who had attacked her and seemed to be doing more than just very well against her. She brushed her hand across her nose and mouth and felt the warmth of the blood that smeared across her knuckles. “…okay then…” she said as she watched him turn around, glancing into the sky.
Using only her powerful wings, she propelled herself off the ground, casting aside the glamor of invisibility. Anka lashed out and caught Staff-Master right in the jaw with a punch that lifted him off his feet. She caught him in midair and rocketed straight into the sky, her speed incredible and Staff-Master only able to hang onto his quarterstaff as he screamed and flailed. Anka wasn’t sure if he was merely acting afraid or if he was truly frightened, but she continued her rapid accent…
On the streets below, Detective Stacey Jordan, along with several other officers pulled up to the scene, just as the winged fugitive was seen blasting off into the sky with a man in tow. The detective jumped out of her car and peered into the sky at the rapidly disappearing pair. She swore as she pounded her fist on the roof of her car. “DAMN IT!! SOMEONE GET SOMETHING IN THE AIR THAT CAN FOLLOW HER!! SHOOT HER DOWN…I DON’T CARE!!”
One of the uniformed officers approached, looking towards the East, “Detective…is that one of ours?”
Stacey turned and squinted as she peered up at the black Helo-Transport as it headed on a path right towards Hexx. She shook her head, “I don’t know who that is, but if they stop her…I’ll buy them all a steak dinner!”
Aboard the Helo-Transport, Gaia spoke as she continued to track what they were chasing, “It’s moving…very fast…up…going straight up!”
Daria ran to the front of the craft and peered out the window, seeing a rapidly ascending contrail, and at the head of it, Hexx with a man in her clutches. Daria pointed, “FOLLOW THEM!”
The pilot looked back, “Ma’am…they are really moving. I’m not sure we have the power to keep up!”
Daria kicked the back of his seat, “THEN YOU FIND IT, I DON’T CARE FROM WHERE!” She watched as the pilot pushed the craft to its limits, but still they lagged behind. He adjusted power settings, boosting the engine power. When that wasn’t enough, he started drawing power from the various systems on the craft. The lights dimmed, but the Helo-Transport blasted forward, its speed equaling and then surpassing that of their objective.
“KNIGHT! WHAT IN THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!” Agent Sloan ran to the cockpit, grabbing Daria by her shoulder.
Daria pointed, “There! We are chasing that!”
Agent Sloan looked out the window and saw the angel carrying a man holding staff, rocketing into the air. Daria shrugged off the agent’s hand and held on for dear life as their pace dramatically quickened. She grinned as they closed the distance, but her grin faulted as the transport began to vibrate. Daria and Agent Sloan turned as they heard a scream behind them.
Agent Sloan drew her weapon and ran to the back, then stopped cold as she saw a terrifying sight, the dampening restrains on Gaia were shattered and the meta terrorist was free. Her eyes turned to Maya as her body was contorted horribly on the deck, her back broken in two and her eyes staring up blankly.
BLAM
BLAM
BLAM
Agent Sloan let loose a volley of gunfire as she screamed in fury at the sight of her friend, dead at the feat of the meta terrorist. Gaia lurched back as she was struck twice, high in the shoulder, the third shot hitting her in the head and sending her tumbling to the floor. She charged at the fallen meta, intent on finishing her off, when she was hit in the back, “ARRRGGHHH!”
Agent Sloan fell on top of Gaia, bleeding heavily from her back which had been viciously scored by razor sharp claws. She turned to bring her weapon to bare on her attacker, only to have her gun kicked out of her hand by one of Daria’s guards. She crawled after it, scratching and clawing, until she was impaled by four sharp barbs, ripping right through her body. She opened her mouth to scream, but there was only the gurgle of blood. She clawed for the gun as her vision blurred…reaching, clawing, grabbing…fingers curling around…
“BLOODY PIG CUNT!”
Blood splattered the side of the transport, as a swift boot to the face, shattered her jaw and her head lolled to the side, her eyes fluttering.
The two armored guards removed their helmets, revealing themselves as Reaver and Vixxxen. The two stood over the gravely wounded Agent, tossing her gun away, and then kicking her without mercy.
The transport shuttered and the engine whined and began to lose speed. Daria screamed at the pilot, but it was no use, the transport could not keep up. She ran to the back and stared at the bloody scene before her. “Gods!” She ran to Gaia’s side and turned her over, “OH!” Blood poured from the empty socket where her right eye had been, and her chest heaved as she struggled to breath, despite the two gunshots in her chest. Daria called to Reaver and Vixxxen, “Help me with her!”
The two women rushed over to help. Vixxxen seemed repulsed by the sight, but Reaver couldn’t contain her grin, “Is she going to kick over mate? 'Er eye looks like a bloody cat’s arsehole!”
Daria, looked around frantically, “She’ll be fine, we just need the…”
The three women were forced to grab a hold of something as wind buffeted the inside of the cabin. Eyes turned to the port door as it slid open and Agent Sloan, an even bloodier mess uttered a muttered curse, holding up the golden band as she gave Daria the finger and fell through the open door.
Daria screamed, “NOOOOOOO!!”
Her scream was in vain as the agent’s body, and more importantly, the band hurdled towards the earth…out of sight…out of reach…
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Anka … Kenzi Grey
Staff-Master … Justin Spirit
Detective Stacey Jordan … Nina Stokes
Officer Nash … Ryan Callaghan
Agent Sloan … Amy Jo Smyth
Agent Maya … Maria Salvatore
Gaia … Kate Steele
Pilot … Liam Sully
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Guilty Pleasure
Over…
Empire City
As Anka lifted off, leaving the mysterious man who assaulted her with his staff behind, she wondered if and how the other ‘so-called’ heroes in Empire City would oppose her. Certainly, after what she had just done, she would not be endeared to any meta who crossed her path. All the same, she didn’t particularly care. She had been abandoned by a cruel and unfeeling God…and now it was time for everyone else to have a taste of what she had been forced to dine on for centuries past.
In truth, why should she care about anyone at all? The only other metas that she could honestly say that she had ties to were Spike and Gaia. Spike had been helpful to her…but she owed him nothing, in the end, he only cared for his precious Michelle...
…Gaia was a different matter…
She felt that she owed her for opening up her eyes. There was a kinship there…but after what she did, helping the police to capture her, she’d be hard pressed to explain why she did it. Gaia claimed to be fighting for a cause, the freedom of metas everywhere. Conversely, Anka had just branded metas as evil, hell spawned, demons that needed to be wiped out. Would Gaia understand why she had done it? She hoped that she would…but in the end…what did it really matter? She was gone…captured, maybe even dead for all she knew.
She could feel it hovering just below the surface, and it tasted like bile in her mouth threatening to make her vomit. It was jealousy…envy…the green-eyed monster. The rest of these people would just waft out…just like a candle being extinguished in the wind when their time came. They’d be called home to Heaven, or sent down to Hell…either way, it was an ending. For her…it never ended…and it haunted her terribly, it frightened her beyond reason…made her angry beyond words.
Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas for a handful of coins; he hung himself and died. Was her crime so great that she deserved to suffer in life for all eternity? It was torture to be set apart from everything and everyone…watching them grow old and pass on, as she lingered. Even the cruel men that murdered her family, raped and crucified her, got to grow old, withered, and died; their ashes were long scattered to the wind...and she remained. The longer she watched, the more hateful she grew.
Now things had simply come to a head for her. This was the straw that had broken the camel’s back. Why be a victim when you might at least gain some sense of satisfaction from being the victimizer for a change?
Even that notion seemed to be no more than a lie to her. If she could have accomplished her aims without bloodshed, she would have done so. Admittance into Heaven was her goal…but she’d gladly settle for a spot in Hell if God continued to deny her. This was the equivalent of a foot stomping, hair pulling, full-bore tantrum on her part. If she made enough noise, she could force His hand for better or worse…long before she passed the point of no return…
…but who would blink first? She knew the answer already…but she had to try…
There was a far better question that begged to be asked. If God ignored her, would she have the guts to carry through with her plans? Would she lead innocents to their deaths? She hoped to not find out the answer to that question. All God had to do was strike her down…give her the peace she desired above all else.
Then, what about Brandon Knight…?
God’s favorite Holy Roller. He could prove to be a fly in the ointment if she let him. Even worse she loathed the idea of explaining herself to him…having to endure his critical glares and preaching. Despite it all, she still did admire him. He was a fool for his blind faith and conviction, but he was a hero for sticking to his guns. God loved fools…so His love for Brandon must have been the greatest of all!
Even as Anka continued her lazy flight across Empire City, lost in her own thoughts…there was someone else that was completely focused…and he had the unwary ‘angel’ dead in his sights…
It was his primal yell of both fear and exhilaration that finally got her attention. She turned just as she saw the man with the staff leap from the roof of an adjacent building, flying at her like a human missile. She barely had time to twist her head away as he swung his staff at her. The staff caught her high on the backside of one of her shoulders, knocking her off course and sending her tumbling from the sky. Her body crashed onto the rooftop of an apartment complex.
The staff wielding man landed hard on the same rooftop, his momentum carrying him as he went rolling and nearly fell over the edge of the ledge at the other side. He peered over, some twenty or more floors below, “…the things I do for justice…astounding…”
He turned, kipping up to his feet, as he brandished his staff, whirling it around defensively in front of him. “Alright! Enough running…errrr…flying away! You’re wanted for murder…and I’m making a citizen’s arrest!”
He paused, “Well…technically, I am not a citizen of Empire City, so this might just be a regular arrest…”
Anka looked across the rooftop at the man as her dark spring-like locks of hair obscured her face and tumbled down her shoulders. She threw back her wings and rose slowly to her feet. “Look…hero, I haven’t killed anyone…YET!”
The man bristled at the threat. “You think you can kill the Staff-Master? I’d like to see that!” Anka smirked at the name, and the man shrugged, “Best I could come up with at the time…seemed appropriate…you know, staff and all!”
She ignored his quip as she braced herself as her wings beat at the air violently. At first, Staff-Master thought that she was preparing to take to the sky again and he rushed her… but this proved to be a costly mistake. As he broke from his stable base, the winds hit him like a gale from out of the blue… tossing him back… pushing him towards the edge of the building. Even for a man of his considerable strength, he found the winds tremendous. He struggled for purchase, even as he felt himself being pushed closer and closer to the edge of the building…and the perilous fall below.
Anka balled her fists tightly as she bared her teeth. She had no desire to kill him, but she saw this for what it was…a test…a test of her conviction and force of will. She turned her eyes heavenward, even as her hair whipped and swirled around her. She yelled out, screaming over the violent winds. “IS THIS IT? YOU MEAN TO SEE IF I WILL KILL TO SPITE YOU?!!” She looked back as the man was pushed closer and closer to the edge. She sneered as she narrowed her eyes and furled her brow. “…I’ll kill him…if you make me…” Inside…she prayed that He would not let her kill him…that God would somehow intervene and stop her.
Staff-Master finally managed to plant his feet, but it only slowed his backward momentum. He turned his face away from the buffeting winds and looked behind him; he was only a foot from the edge and getting closer by the moment. He gripped his quarterstaff tightly in one hand as he held up his other to block the fierce winds. He’d only have one chance at this…and one chance only. If he was off a fraction of an inch…he would be in for a fall that only Humpty Dumpty could fully appreciate. He hoisted up his staff…holding it over his shoulder and pointing it directly into the wind. He hazarded one last glance at his target, then let his staff fly…
23rd Street and Branch Avenue
Empire City
When Stacey Jordan arrived on scene, the area had already been taped off. She ducked under the tape and stood there looking down at the brutally beaten body of the teenaged boy. His blue blood was everywhere, even staining the pavement, but its alien color made the scene less real for everyone there.
A uniformed officer scratched his head. “Damn! Cause of death…Smurf Bukkake!”
The other officers standing around the body laughed at the man’s sick joke, but one stare from Detective Jordan was enough to quiet them. She walked over to the officer and got right into his face. “YOU THINK THIS IS FUCKING FUNNY OFFICER NASH?!! THIS IS A DEAD KID LAYING HERE IN THE STREET, IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY!! Tell me…what do you find so fucking funny about that?!”
The officer tensed as he looked down at her. “Geez Detective! It’s just a dead meta! It’s not like it’s a REAL kid or something!!”
She stared at the man and held back the urge to hit him, then she turned to the other officers. “I want witnesses, I want evidence collected…no more laughing and joking about this shit! I don’t care if you like or love metas, we are the line that protect the people of this city…regardless of color…or genetic orientation!”
One of the other officers spoke up. “Ma’am, we have statements coming in already. There was a mob…20 or 30…maybe more. They beat the met…” he paused, correcting himself, “…the kid…they beat him to death right here in the street.”
Stacey’s jaw tightened. “What about the Hexx sighting? I got the call that the angel was here. Was she in on it?”
The man shrugged. “Not sure…she damn sure didn’t stop it…” He looked down at the corpse. “…that’s for sure…”
Stacey nodded as she turned and stepped back under the tape. Anka Jarius…Angel of Empire City…Hexx or whatever she called herself, was involved somehow, she could feel it. She might not have done the deed herself, but there was blood on her hands all the same! She was a killer and Stacey would personally see that she was brought down.
She opened the door to her car as she heard the dispatcher calling in a sighting of Hexx ten blocks north, being chased across the rooftops by a man with a stick. Stacey frowned as she picked up the radio. “Dispatch…repeat…did you say being chased by a man across the rooftops…with a stick?”
A moment of silence, then static filled the air. “Roger that Detective…could have been a pole…”
She shook her head as she tossed the mic back into the car and twirled her finger over her head and pointed north. “EVERYONE NOT COLLECTING EVIDENCE, PACK YOUR SHIT! LET’S GO!!”
As the pursuing officers left, the ones that remained to square away the crime scene looked at one another. The one named Nash shook his head and looked down at the dead boy. “I don’t believe in all that angel and God crap…but if it’s real and she’s out there killing off metas…fuck it…I’ll be a believer!”
The rest of the men were silent for a moment, then one of the others spoke up. “Hey Nash…what in the hell is bukkake?”
High Over…
Empire City
Agents Maya and Sloan were stewing in their seats aboard the Agency Helo-Transport as Daria Knight sat across from them with a broad grin on her face, flanked by a pair of personal security guards in full body armor. Unable to restrain herself, Agent Sloan sat forward, looking Daria right in the face, “Once we are done with that stupid little goose chase of yours and that red headed nutcase is locked away again, I’m going to arrange a personal meeting with the Mayor to discuss your actions.” She gave a wry smile, “Just wanted to give you fair warning.”
Daria nodded grimly, “Well…Grace…”
She corrected her, “You can address me as Agent Sloan!”
Daria bristled, but nodded after a fashion, “Fine! Agent Grace Sloan, I finance and outfit this little dog and pony show, so I suggest that when you go to complain to the Mayor that you also have your office packed up as well.” She smiled, “You see, you’re expendable and replaceable…if, gods forbid, something happened to you, I’d just write a check and a brand new Agent would be here…maybe sitting in that chair like you are, only they will be respectful, because they will know about what happened to you!”
Maya got to her feet with her fists balled up, “ARE YOU THREATENING AGENT SLOAN?!”
The two guards were on their feet quickly and Agent Sloan grabbed Maya and put her back in her seat. She glared at Daria, “Tell your goons to back off before I make them walk home!”
Daria gestured at the two and they settled back into their seats. She shook her head and chuckled, her eyes boring a hole right through the two agents. The look left little doubt that sooner or later things were going to come to head between them.
“If you wankers are done, I think I have something.” The three women turned as Gaia sat, heavily restrained with a dampening field around her to prevent the use of her full range of powers. In her hand, she held the ring.
Daria smiled, “Are we close to whatever it’s being drawn to?”
Gaia shrugged, “Hard to tell…maybe if you had this field turned off, I could…”
Maya rolled her eyes, “As if! No! You’re going nowhere!”
Gaia eyed Maya with murderous intent, then turned back to Daria, “East, tell them to keep heading East. Whatever this thing is drawn to…you’ll find it there.”
Daria smiled as she rubbed her hands together. Whatever it was, whatever power it held, it would soon be hers…
Rooftop of 33rd and Branch Avenue…
Empire City
Staff-Master’s throw was perfect and his quarterstaff cut through the gale winds like a knife as it struck Anka right in the face. “Arrgh!!” She dropped to a knee and the winds came to an abrupt stop. She squeezed her eyes tightly against the pain. She blinked, seeing the staff on the ground, she reached down for it, only to be blasted in the face again, by a flying knee this time.
“DON’T TOUCH MY STAFF!” he quipped, as he toed the ground underneath it, and kicked it up into his hands. “Incidentally, that is number 2 on the list of things I thought I’d never say to a girl!” He smiled, “You care to hear what number 1 is?”
TWACK
Anka bounced off the ground as Staff-Master brought his quarterstaff down across the back of her head, “Sorry Miss, but no head on the first date, thank you!” He paused, with a chuckle, “I am both crude and hilari…!”
Staff-Master was upended as one of Anka’s broad wings, swept him off his feet, “You talk too much!”
Anka got to her feet as Staff-Master spun off his back and into a defensive position, staff at the ready. “Baby, this relationship is doomed without communication!” He ducked another swipe from her wing, and returned the favor with a sharp upward thrust that caught Anka under her chin and lifted her off her feet and down to the ground. Staff-Master prepared to attack again, but Anka rolled away and suddenly disappeared as her wings enveloped her.
Staff-Master skidded to a stop, looking around in utter confusion, “OH MAN! HOW DID I JUST LOSE AND ENTIRE ANGEL?!” He peered into the sky; “…did God just send her to her room...?”
Obscured by the power of her wings, Anka lay still, just feet away from the man who had attacked her and seemed to be doing more than just very well against her. She brushed her hand across her nose and mouth and felt the warmth of the blood that smeared across her knuckles. “…okay then…” she said as she watched him turn around, glancing into the sky.
Using only her powerful wings, she propelled herself off the ground, casting aside the glamor of invisibility. Anka lashed out and caught Staff-Master right in the jaw with a punch that lifted him off his feet. She caught him in midair and rocketed straight into the sky, her speed incredible and Staff-Master only able to hang onto his quarterstaff as he screamed and flailed. Anka wasn’t sure if he was merely acting afraid or if he was truly frightened, but she continued her rapid accent…
On the streets below, Detective Stacey Jordan, along with several other officers pulled up to the scene, just as the winged fugitive was seen blasting off into the sky with a man in tow. The detective jumped out of her car and peered into the sky at the rapidly disappearing pair. She swore as she pounded her fist on the roof of her car. “DAMN IT!! SOMEONE GET SOMETHING IN THE AIR THAT CAN FOLLOW HER!! SHOOT HER DOWN…I DON’T CARE!!”
One of the uniformed officers approached, looking towards the East, “Detective…is that one of ours?”
Stacey turned and squinted as she peered up at the black Helo-Transport as it headed on a path right towards Hexx. She shook her head, “I don’t know who that is, but if they stop her…I’ll buy them all a steak dinner!”
Aboard the Helo-Transport, Gaia spoke as she continued to track what they were chasing, “It’s moving…very fast…up…going straight up!”
Daria ran to the front of the craft and peered out the window, seeing a rapidly ascending contrail, and at the head of it, Hexx with a man in her clutches. Daria pointed, “FOLLOW THEM!”
The pilot looked back, “Ma’am…they are really moving. I’m not sure we have the power to keep up!”
Daria kicked the back of his seat, “THEN YOU FIND IT, I DON’T CARE FROM WHERE!” She watched as the pilot pushed the craft to its limits, but still they lagged behind. He adjusted power settings, boosting the engine power. When that wasn’t enough, he started drawing power from the various systems on the craft. The lights dimmed, but the Helo-Transport blasted forward, its speed equaling and then surpassing that of their objective.
“KNIGHT! WHAT IN THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!” Agent Sloan ran to the cockpit, grabbing Daria by her shoulder.
Daria pointed, “There! We are chasing that!”
Agent Sloan looked out the window and saw the angel carrying a man holding staff, rocketing into the air. Daria shrugged off the agent’s hand and held on for dear life as their pace dramatically quickened. She grinned as they closed the distance, but her grin faulted as the transport began to vibrate. Daria and Agent Sloan turned as they heard a scream behind them.
Agent Sloan drew her weapon and ran to the back, then stopped cold as she saw a terrifying sight, the dampening restrains on Gaia were shattered and the meta terrorist was free. Her eyes turned to Maya as her body was contorted horribly on the deck, her back broken in two and her eyes staring up blankly.
BLAM
BLAM
Agent Sloan let loose a volley of gunfire as she screamed in fury at the sight of her friend, dead at the feat of the meta terrorist. Gaia lurched back as she was struck twice, high in the shoulder, the third shot hitting her in the head and sending her tumbling to the floor. She charged at the fallen meta, intent on finishing her off, when she was hit in the back, “ARRRGGHHH!”
Agent Sloan fell on top of Gaia, bleeding heavily from her back which had been viciously scored by razor sharp claws. She turned to bring her weapon to bare on her attacker, only to have her gun kicked out of her hand by one of Daria’s guards. She crawled after it, scratching and clawing, until she was impaled by four sharp barbs, ripping right through her body. She opened her mouth to scream, but there was only the gurgle of blood. She clawed for the gun as her vision blurred…reaching, clawing, grabbing…fingers curling around…
“BLOODY PIG CUNT!”
Blood splattered the side of the transport, as a swift boot to the face, shattered her jaw and her head lolled to the side, her eyes fluttering.
The two armored guards removed their helmets, revealing themselves as Reaver and Vixxxen. The two stood over the gravely wounded Agent, tossing her gun away, and then kicking her without mercy.
The transport shuttered and the engine whined and began to lose speed. Daria screamed at the pilot, but it was no use, the transport could not keep up. She ran to the back and stared at the bloody scene before her. “Gods!” She ran to Gaia’s side and turned her over, “OH!” Blood poured from the empty socket where her right eye had been, and her chest heaved as she struggled to breath, despite the two gunshots in her chest. Daria called to Reaver and Vixxxen, “Help me with her!”
The two women rushed over to help. Vixxxen seemed repulsed by the sight, but Reaver couldn’t contain her grin, “Is she going to kick over mate? 'Er eye looks like a bloody cat’s arsehole!”
Daria, looked around frantically, “She’ll be fine, we just need the…”
The three women were forced to grab a hold of something as wind buffeted the inside of the cabin. Eyes turned to the port door as it slid open and Agent Sloan, an even bloodier mess uttered a muttered curse, holding up the golden band as she gave Daria the finger and fell through the open door.
Daria screamed, “NOOOOOOO!!”
Her scream was in vain as the agent’s body, and more importantly, the band hurdled towards the earth…out of sight…out of reach…
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Anka … Kenzi Grey
Staff-Master … Justin Spirit
Detective Stacey Jordan … Nina Stokes
Officer Nash … Ryan Callaghan
Agent Sloan … Amy Jo Smyth
Agent Maya … Maria Salvatore
Gaia … Kate Steele
Pilot … Liam Sully
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Guilty Pleasure