Scarlet Sprite
Caught in the middle with you. In other words, three's a crowd.
We will drop out of an aircraft. That we borrowed. Turns out they practically fly themselves once we let ourselves in and bypass the computer protocols. It's a long cruise to the drop zone. Clarksville, Tennessee. This was once a nice place where energy rebels could live out their days as they saw fit. Now it's a bomb crater. Worse it seems to be a point of interest for everyone. Ground zero of the hot war every night. Level 37 is with us. They stare at us. We know they know we're not friendly. We know they know it'll be us that gets it going. We can tell Honey Badger is watching us out of the corner of her eye. She doesn't expect us to play nice with Level 37? If she does? Whatever on her. Siren is with us. He looks like he's with the program. A solid guy. Tonight, we get The Key from Level 37. Funny they have to let us down easy and then circle back. Thanks for the lift. We'll pay you back, with a three piece and a coke later!
A short move over some rooftops and into the hot block for tonight. We see some Ray's down on the deck cornered a local.
I tell my human "Help that person first!"
My Sprite tells me it's more important to help the innocent than the darkening crates Irea is setting up tonight. Scarlet will comply with that order! Recklessly dive off the rooftop and land onto a Raymobile. Good looking machine. We've always wanted one. Takes a second to figure out the drive system. Land her with the passenger door perfectly centered before the damsel in distress.
Warms a Sprite's heart.
We're with the Leaders of the free energy resistance. Would you have any Grey Poupon? Smiles. She gets in. Short time passes and the Raymobile is now the Clarksville freedom express! UM? Passenger eyerolls. The Sprite mobile? Thats lame. Ah.... what's in a name? You know when your main target drops literally drops onto the hood of the Panda car formerly known as the Raymobile. You know this is the best day. Nothing came so easily before. We were chased off the Rockys by a giant death chicken! We don't even know what to do?
First things first. Messing with Irea Level 37 and our short lived co-op communication system. Yes, we said short lived. In the meanwhile. Let us see what this baby can do. Straight up. We ask the local a few questions. Ask her if she okay to drive? While we work on a little communication comedy. As long as the jokes not on us. It's all good fun!
We have never, and never will, play well with others. ~Scarlet and the Sprite.
Portal portal on the wall who is the four men so tall?
Back in the NY groove?
The team went down to Tennessee without us. We had some personal business to deal with. Sure enough they report back with a pair of rogue lfer and the blood of Irea who they routed right out of the state. Wondering if it is us that's holding the cell back?
No time for happy reunions or fond farewells. We, plus Honey Badger, are told to get back to NYC and await further instructions. Love the ride hate the destination. NYC 2072 must be one of the worst places on the continent. Why we fight for and in this place escapes us. Other than love for the Leaders of the free energy resistance we would be out of here and headed to the hills tomorrow!
Honey Badger doesn't nag or pick at us for the entire ride in. A good looking passenger. Don't know why or care but we're happy for the chance to ride like the wind. To be free again! The Western NY cell of the free energy resistance puts Honey Badger up on a tower rooftop. Sets us up in a little alley around the block. We wait. While we wait we wonder what the Leaders of the free energy resistance know. Why are we waiting here?
Get the call on the coms. A fearsome foursome of giants with body armor and all the trimmings! Out of thin air. I smell the key. Level 37 making a huge move. But on what? Why here? Why now? Now is the time to find out. Kick Dragon the supercyle into gear and "Yee Haw!!" Stopping long enough for Honey Badger to drop from the roof tops onto the back of the bike. She does it like we've practiced it a few times. Back into the powerband. Damn the finesse it's full speed ahead into the first Level 37 goon we see.
Crash.
That got its attention. Honey Badger dodges off and lands with grace and style. We at least land on our feet. The bike looks like it's damaged to a state where it's not much good until it gets some repairs. These level 37 mooks are larger than we've ever seen. Since all we've ever seen was that crazy guy with the world conqurer complex last Halloween. Let's see what you got? Two out of the four aren't attacking they're going up the street. Looks like a firewinged woman? Like a angel and a devil in one? A squad of Irea's guys. What's going on here?
Whoop no time for thinking big picture big blue L37 guys have blasters. We're hit. That was NOT FUN!!
Punches are exchanged. Somehow these guys are getting the better of us plus Honey Badger. We try to gang up on one that I'm behind and expecting to be hit hard enough for me to throw into the street. And hard! Another flaccid shot from Honey Badger we have no momentum to work our Sanda with.
Still.
A text book Scissor throw. With Alien in alienware on it's back and good ole Scarlet Sprite, protector of innocents, in full mount. Ready for some ground and pound Appalachian style! FYI. Sanda does use some throws! It's not one hundred percent strikes. About 99%?
The fight goes on and on and on. Wear and tear on us and Honey Badger! Stand and trade like true street fighters. Hear some strange voices in my head telling me to duck and cover. Nah no way. We stand our ground and go down swinging. Honey Badger does some bob'n N weave'n but that isn't how we earned our black belt in Sanda. We fight for a finish. Or get finished!
Time for some Sprite Power.
My Human wants to go invisible and to hit this alien hard. A Sprite will comply with that request. She can't be seen. We size up the sizable offworlder. Love my human when she connects at full power. Even big burly man from mars take a little trip down the street!
Of all things Intangable man is acting like a boss. Refreshing change from his usual going to hurt biker chick bad! We tell him to shut his hole we don't do anything for you Rays. Hm? It's worse than we thought now. He brought his pet. The ugly lizard that could....murder us. And a new player? Why is pet lizard murdering those Irea guys? If pet lizard went berzerk and started eating Ray's wouldn't Intangable man would try to stop...IT! Could Intangable man be telling us the truth that hs isn't a Ray? If so, even if it's true, we're not doing what he demands.
Not now not ever. ~Scarlet and the Sprite.
Of Sewer Sprites and Sirens.
The pick up happened. We were drove out to grab my costume still where we left it. Hate that we lost Dragon, the supercycle! But the worst was yet to come. Brief was short and bitter. Leaders of the free energy resistance will dissolve the cell if we don't get some spent energy canisters from the sewer. Lfer will waste no more time on the failure of the Western NY cell's field operators. Honey Badger looks incredulous about it. Uh oh. Warning sign. Did she take some juice while we was away? First thing that happens is she can't remember things. Chemicals! As far as what Lfer said. The new guy with us is proof enough for us.
The new guy's name is Siren. He has blue skin. A funny way of walking due to he has a tail. He tries to talk to us. We're not feeling chatty. We're all damn business this time. If Lfer wants some spent Key frag energy canisters. We'll get some.
Into the city sewer. It doesn't get worse than this! It's obvious the only thing holding this together is love of Lfer and wanting to show the new guy a good time. It takes no time before Honey Badger isn't listening to anything we say. Fine. We'll take the containment box.
Some sewer creatures jump us. Siren and Honey Badger step up.
I'll tell off these little buggers! HM? Looks like one of them heard me? One less my human has to fight. The other humans she has allied with feel she hasn't done enough for them. As a Robin Hood type outlaw, I think my human is #1 with a bullet!
Always fun to see my Sprite tell things off. We're getting the spirit of this gig. Now time to get on the run. Oh man it's Intangible man already. Color we shocked. We present ourselves and force him to respond. Same old dross! He wants to hurt us. Poor little guy must have some childhood trauma? Or he just likes hurting scarlet biker chicks? Easily sorted. My Sprite turns us invisible, and we stay still. He moves over to fight with Siren. Predictable.
Than Honey Badger and us? Have to battle over the containment box. Seconds ago she wanted nothing to do with it. She must have got shot up with more of that insane juice she takes. Whatever on her! The box is going with us! Into the sewer we go a solid landing on a pile of detritus. Use the box to scoop out a spent key frag cannister. Looking back should have just grabbed it now the box is filled with sewage. Than it happened.
Stabbed in the back. Feel the steel. Slice right into me under the ribs. Leaving my lungs intact. Knew she would kill us like this someday. But in the sewer. Low even for Honey Badger! But wait. Not only am still alive but we pivot and see Honey Badger holding another canister and a …..creature. The creature from the city sewer cut me wide open. What happens next is a blur to our memory. We take off the way we came in with a box full of sewer and two canisters. Even cut we're moving faster than anything. Can't recall anyone with kicks like this.
My human thinks this is fast? She has no idea. A Sprite moves fast. Humans are like biped paper weights. Usually take a nap while she travels. Wake to ask are we there yet? Whatever cut us back there. Looks like a Kobald? Deserves some payback.
We run out of the sewer and to a rendezvous. Turn over the turdy containment box to Perry who looks disgusted. He starts to ask about my cuts. Before he finishes his sentence, we're gone. Racing back down to the sewer. On the way down Honey Badger and Siren are heading up. Practically ran over them we move so fast now.
Better work on the brakes! -Scarlet and The Sprite.
Epolgue.
The Western NY cell of the free energy resistance confirms that this was a test to see if the technology we were able hack from IREA works to find The Key energy fragments. They seem happy it can. Will begin work to duplicate the suite. As for Siren Honey Badger and Scarlet Sprite. It's a long day of disinfecting wounds and sterilizing cuts. Not to mention cleaning of general hygiene.
Honey Badger wants to go out clubbing in the city. Siren agrees to go out with her. We just left that sewer no way am... are we going back tonight. Use working on a new bike as an excuse but to no avail.
We tell them about a roadhouse down the road toward Buffalo. Still makes the classic Buffalo wings. Honey Badger turns up her nose. Tell her they have a smoker for beef and cow. And a dance floor. Plus, Hank 5 is in town doing a show. Love Hank 5. She agrees to go how could any Afrikaans gal turn down beef or cow?
Taking the old tractor down the road. We've been fixing it up in our spare time. Reminds me of Appalachia. The honking from all the other drivers reminds me Honey Badger could be a swimwear model in another lifetime. Parking the tractor out in the field behind the roadhouse we hit it like a tornado. The first round of lagers come. It's like a pbr. I throw it back with a smile and a “AH?” Looks and some whoas. Heads are turned. That was when we say “I grew up on a dirt road!”
We closed that roadhouse down. And red-necked a parking lot full of locals after. Told we are always welcome there and the drinks would be free!
Legends of the Lfer! -Scarlet and The Sprite.
Breaking out is hard to do!
We wake up in a small cell. Naked! Happy to be alive. Hands restrained with some sort of energy draining field. Must be inside the Ray base. It's okay we're alive. In a way they helped us achieve a goal. Now the game is afoot. It didn't take long before a beating followed. We'd do the same thing to them. Another day another beating took place. Water torture? Some starvation happened. We don't mind. Another beating just because it doesn't seem to bother us. For good measure.
We are in the hands of the Rays. Intimidation tactics? Guess they don't know what our life at the Western NY free energy rebel base is like. It's a Spartan, boot camp like existence on its best day. You don't want to know what its like when we're training! We train for this. We don't train to lose but understand these things can happen. We are the Resistance! No pleasure cruise here for sure. Daily we learn the routines, the voices, the timing. We'll get out of here. Just wait.
Then....the inevitable day came. Where they tried to interrogate us. Trying to dig the location of the free energy rebels out of us. They tried and tried. Little did they know they we're going to be talking to The Sprite.
I told those humans I didn't want to talk. Fair warning! I did mention it wasn't a good idea to push us too far.
Later we hear one is in therapy. One quit right after. The third attacked his supervisor and is restrained. Back into the cell! Left in the dark. Seemed like forever! Time alone with The Sprite. Who seemed to be enjoying all this a little too much! Some sort of memories come to the fore front. Talk of The Sprite taking over my body and going after Intangible man after he hit us with the containment unit. What's funny about it is now my Sprite gets it. Assures me we'll be punching harder and running much faster from here on out.
Interview with the reporter. Trying to get us to condemn the resistance on a recording. Admitting we are the criminals! Not sure how it worked out like this but it's our reporter. Under our breath asked her if she can help? She almost imperceptibly nods. Our big break is coming have to be ready for it.
A group of Ray's come with my costume. We're taken to a new room. From there locked in with one guard. Who opens a door to an Arena. In the arena? That they even have one is a sign of the power rot and total disregard for innocence. Oh no! Something wicked this way comes. Intangible man. Why does he carry one of those Ray cattle prods? Knew he was one of them. Now he gets to finish us off. Bastard! Bastards all!
My reporter shows up the the death match with her camera. Once we face off is when she drops it! Somehow triggers a power disruption? Or maybe it's just a trigger and the outages comes from elsewhere? Don't know or care! Boom boom out go the lights. It's our moment to move. Running toward the door to the arena. The guard is trying to get out too. Before he can close to the door we're there. Poor guy. Gets zero sympathy from us.
One good punch and the first guard is down. Oddly Intangible man is running after us. Slowly! Intangible man takes his energy rifle. Drops his cattle prod. Doesn't attack us? “Costume might look like it but its not acting like you.” He nods. A long awkward pause. Working on the Ray guard's radio. Real soon we are wreaking havoc with my mimicry, and some are being sent far away from us and Intangible man. Others are running right into a little bushwhack.
Can't help but give a hat tip to The Sprite for that! Intangible man drags the guard back into the doorway and waits. Bypassing the locked door with the guards pass key and some know how of our own and it's open. The first few obstacles overcome.
Turning invisible. Watch three guards run past the door to the arena. The last one gets a strike at full run. He's out in one. The other two turn in wonder. They don't last long against us. Scream out. But not over the intercom. We stow these three Ray's inside the door to the arena. “Come with me if you want to live.” Again, nothing but a nod. Make a run for the next door. He follows slowly. Certainly not terrifying any longer. Out of power? That's funny! Laughing out loud, turn and laugh at him. Right in his face!
At the next door the four keys we've grabbed are used to pass the door security. It's not as easy as we make it look. Real skills take long hours of training!! It takes real skills to figure out the pass code and the other security protocols. Another run to another door. While we work on bypassing the doors security Intangible man catches up. Dropping another key at the spot we hot-wired it. Two left. Comes to the time we're at a new spot and it's an intersection. Nothing to do but choose a hall! Move down to the left looks like a door and another hall to a door to the right. Something in my head tells me turn back to the other way. Always listen to my head.
My human doesn't recall this but the elevator up is back that way. Not trusting the mute following my human around either. My human has come a long way from Appalachia. Her work to help would be a shame to lose now. We must get out!
Where we find another door and begin to B and E using the third of four cards. Over the radio the confusion is wearing off and reinforcements are coming down from upstairs. Given orders from the regrouped higher ups who are holding the arena. Or holed up? Either or the door opens and there are the reinforcements in the elevator. How convenient for us. Let go of the mess we make of the door key and push Intangible man into the elevator where we say in our The Sprite voice. “We are going up. You are going down”!
Moments later the doors open up to the ground floor. Normals all around. They don't like the looks of what just came out of the lift. The Sprite screams at them “OPEN THE DOOR!” Running full speed across the main atrium. Here they try to give the illusion of power in moderation. Power by the people. Most of these day jobbers don't know what the real score is? Like that we race outside! Intangible man try's to keep up. “Sorry Sweetheart next time.” Into the city we go. If we are being followed after we twist through a maze of back streets, alleys, tunnels, buildings. They are one hell of a tracker! Boosting a ride is cake now we've done it a couple times.
Time passes. The thrill of the chase passes. Rest. Rest before we make the last bit of travel to the safe house. Now time to think! Think! Think long and hard. How could they trace me? I'll need normal clothes for awhile. I'll ditch my costume. Pick it up later? or make a spare. Once back at the safe house we'll have some time before a pick up is scheduled. One final stop the safe house. Turning down the street. Finally, the safe house! It looks normal enough. Only one way to find out. Walk over to the market and in.
One last look back over my shoulder for Ray's. -Scarlet and the Sprite
Epilogue:
We're told by the resistance they are bringing in a new operative to move into our cell. His try out is ongoing. Told they have already moved the day-to-day operations out of the Lake Ontario base. (at least for now.) Until they gauge any blow-back from the failed park op. Which is the new hires first op. We're told to sit and wait. They will come and pick us up soon. Time to sit and think. Think and work out some kinks from sitting in that cell!
Unanswered questions. Was my reporter helping me? The Ray's? Both sides? In it for the kicks? We're the Ray's using Intangable man to attempt to gain our trust? To tarnish him as a Ray? Just to track me. Even I had no idea how fast The Sprite was going to make me move now. Having his impersonator tag along and track me right to the safe house and follow the pick up back to Western N.Y. Free energy resistance's HQ. At least we don't have long to wait before we know!
Sleepless night. Standing in front of the mirror. Staring at the only person that we can completely trust for a very long time? -Scarlet and the Sprite
2072 porch pirates meet the Karens.
Finally, it's something we can put our heart into. We're going to ground zero and after key fragments. All we hear is IREA!! BASE!! THE KEY!! I'm ready to go like never before. The magic stuff. Geno. All bush league. Great practice to get up to speed. This is the A team's mission. We're ready! Quiet like a church mouse we sit and listen to the mission brief.
The ride into the city sucks. Lfer takes us there in the truck. Hate sitting in the truck when we could ride. But we have cargo. A containment box. Something to hold the key energy fragments with. Crap. Shame we didn't have time to build a small trailer for Dragon, the supercycle. Who once again has been stripped down and souped up. It'll turn on a dime now. And we've had some time to practice riding too.
At the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument Park we see the first key sub fragment particles of energy. Ride over and stop. Honey Badger secures it into the containment box. Repeat. Oh no! Intangible man is racing toward a third key sub fragment particles of energy. "Hold on Honey Badger" we scream over the roar of the motor, and we race to the spot beating Intangible man. We secure the third key sub fragment particles of energy. Honey Badger even taunts him for his trouble. We second that!
With that the fight is on.
Can tell her heart isn't in this already. As she hops back onto my bike. She chops up anything and everything when it comes to Rollie and her boyfriend Woody. But even if she doesn't get this is for “The key”! We do! Honestly with our track record we can't blame her. But the stakes now are worth a fight. The Key is a hill I'm willing to die on! Time for some encouragement. “WE CAN WIN!” WE'RE GONNA WIN!” We scream. Whatever she thinks. Wither she likes it or not. The bike stops here. We're taking his box home as the trophy we've needed on our mantle.
Stood in awe as Honey Badger's claws did very little to Intangible man. Our strikes seem to do little. Perhaps he has some sort of absorbing padding. Maybe hitting him a few more times we can get past that. To the meat inside the shell? We knew then we had to fight to the finish. At least it seemed like we were landing and getting something through the suit. Must have been as he grabs the box and trys to fly off. With a great leap we're able to jump up and grab the box.
My human needs a boost up. All to happy to give her some altitude. She grabs the box. We add our pull to it. She wraps herself around it like a snake on prey. Our box human. It belongs to us!
Begin to tell him all about how this box belongs to Free Energy not you Rays. He says, “I'm not a Ray I'm Level 37.” We disregard it. Until we have more than his word, he is a Ray.
Then everything went black! -Scarlet and the Sprite
Two hundred sheets to the wind.
We like getting out of Western NY free energy hq. Driving into the city to see if we can help. Much preferred to being couped up all night. Back in the city. As Scarlet Sprite, protector of innocents. Camera gets triggered over at the safe house. Fortunately, for free energy rebels we're nearby. Kicked into high gear Dragon the supercycle responds with an especially vicious burst into his powerband. The unmuffled exhaust is music to my ears. Weaving through traffic at over one hundred miles an hour life is good. Really good. Nice to have my bike back and he seems to be better with the rebuild? Too many extra parts before. Stripped down! Built up! Leaner and meaner. We arrive to the safe house.
Rode through one ghost and parked behind some Ray's. Part of me wanted to do something but first things first. Check into our safe house. Climbing up to the roof. Have a short conversation with a giddy reporter. We part on good terms? After dropping off the roof. Grabbed a display. Stripped it down to the pole. Using it as a weapon to roll through more ghosts. Then I see him. Intangible man is here. At this point, not surprised? Guy is everywhere free energy goes.
Sensing this is the best chance we've had to pull our own weight and power up inside the Western NY free energy rebels hq. Or at least since we attacked Battery? I turn put the hammer down and roll straight at Intangible man. "We'll see what you're made of this time" I scream. Doubtful it was heard over the supercharged motor on Dragon the supercycle? but it felt good. Intangible man just gets out of the way. Looking back, I wonder if every success there has been in any combat was due to a Sprite power? Bam I run into a wall of force inside the portal. Which is a story for another time. Another story no one will believe until they see it?
The dimensional portal holds someone calling himself Maru. Talks a big game about how the earth will be his and whatnot. A brief convo between us and Intangible man later. When a new guy emerges from the ground! What is it with these guys and moving through dirt and walls and such? Some things you never get used too. Maru and the new guy disappear into the portal. I'm getting off the deck ready to throw with Intangible man for bragging rights at free energy. When he moves into the ground. "Not this time sweetheart", he says.
At least for tonight free energy holds the high ground. - Scarlet and the Sprite.
Epilogue.
Returning to HQ and being debriefed it's determined this was one of LFER's first confirmed contacts with level 37! A shadowy organization reportedly in control of the key. Which is a term for the ability to move back and forth to the Hollow. Preparation will begin to prevent any of us from being vanished and to recover the key for our use. Another thing to worry about!
Later an invitation was sent to a certain reporter. After a visit was paid to a clandestine meeting. Where an agreement was made that some information could be shared between our two parties. Hopefully, this contact will be useful to find this level 37. and for PR purposes for keeping the Western NY cell of the LFER from being villainized by the Ray's. The press' spin puts the blame of the ghost's night out onto level 37.
Uh Oh it's magic!
Once upon a time in 2072. Somewhere between Buffalo and Rochester. The Western New York cell of free energy rebels have their building. This is where our story begins.
It was a dark and stormy night. Two haggard and soaking silhouettes pull into the garage on a high compression motorcycle. No words are spoken as they enter into the main building. Honey Badger goes to her room. Scarlet Sprite walks across the living space. Through the kitchen and stops. Just in front of the door to her quarters.
It's a ticking sound she's heard. Thunder claps on the distance over Lake Ontario. A tree's limb slaps in the wind across the window. Can a howl be heard outside? "Must be the wind?" But no? The clicking carries on.
We enter our quarters. Hear the clicking in the safe. After opening the safe. Which is home to the items we grabbed from the magic bookstore in the Front Range. Chased off by the giant death chicken! To this day no one believes that story. See a blue pen tapping on the cover of one of the books. The vial with the blue liquid is gone? Moved the book and pen to the desk. Open it and dust! It's dusty AF. Wait... wait one second. A cloud of magic dust. We breath it all in. The pen writes in a webbed font.
Mother Goethel's Fine Cuisine.
Fast forward to Tower records? Get that pun?
Weird sneezing and strange unexplained things are happening. Like that we find a CD. Haven't been around since 2033. With a group of Halloween like characters. Named Mother Goethel's Fine Cuisine. Pay for it with cash. Mention in my inside voice to the employee "free energy." Straight over to the Love Shack bar and grill. We take a seat in the back where it's the least lit. Open the CD. Just like that a blue pen appears and gives birth to a black pen. A server asks me if I'd like a drink. "Only if I can place it on credits?" She nods. "Sprite with a lemon and lime." She walks off. We pull out the book and open it to a 'spreads' format. Both pens begin to scribble. When we look up we see things are different. My Sprite sees things much differently.
I see dwarves and goblins drinking together? Mass hysteria? What did I wake up too? This place needs to do something about the rat problem. An old woman walks over to us. Something about her? She is asking about the book. My human eats a cookie. Asks to see it. "Not right now" I say. She didn't like that. Tells us we owe her for the cookie. Does that make Mother Goethel the cookie monster? Give her the black pen she is happy. My human takes another cookie. The dream turns back into the present-day nightmare.
Back to the Love Shack. The books stop glowing right after a young woman appears sitting next to us. Better than the out of cake is the out of a book trick? Li'l Ouija. She looks straight outta a magic book? The blue pen is gone as well. A dialog takes place with the three of us. We decide to leave and move back to Free Energy HQ.
Meanwhile back at the farm.
We roll up. There is a large hole in the wall where Honey Badger's room should be. We pull up. Mostly expecting the worst. Intangible man would just pass through the wall. The regs? Doc Rollie getting some payback. We climb the wall and hold down our arms for Li'l Ouija. She climbs up our body and in through the new window in Honey Badger's room. Honey Badger is in bed. Check her and she is faintly breathing. Start to administer first aid. Li'l Ouija says, "It's dark magic that has done this." Sends a chill up my spine. She tells me Honey Badger will recover.
Can't wait to see what's coming out of my safe tomorrow night! - Scarlet and the Sprite.
Friday opening bell.
New York City circa 2072. Friday morning.
No sleep to Brooklyn.
After the longest night of our life. I wanted to work on the ditched Dragon. But no. Honey Badger is still all over me for my laundry list of fails last night. Literally badgering me for why I didn't smash the regs the first chance I had. Trying to explain anything to her is like talking to a oncoming truck. Best to get out of the way. About the time it was coming to a throwdown in walked the Commandant. Oh man, I thought I had it bad! She lays into him for being disloyal to the energy rebels. Screaming about trust! Irea is the enemy. No compromise! Not once. I can respect all that! Am glad she never got wind I made a deal with Assault and Battery in the Metro stairs. Lastly, I had no idea he was some sort of inflitrator. He will do what I tell him from now on. Or it's Honey Badger and him in a room. While I go for a ride.
Crap. He we go again. Intel reports Rollie is missing? Geno is hidden in the Metro. We are going back there. This time we are going to find Rollie, recover the Geno, and smash the regs beneath our heels. Driving back in the tow truck we Jacked and Jilled last night I park it where I found it with a packet (days wages?) and a letter signed by the energy rebels. From there it's the long walk of shame (for me) back to the Metro. Damn do I miss Dragon the supercycle I use my outside voice. Nods from the other two.
Another day at the metro.
Determined to add a W to all my L's. I take charge of the reconnaissance. We go our separate ways looking for the security cameras computer terminals. Beep our way into the closest offices. I find the security guard. Push her out of the way. I see a glipse of that blue suit on the monitor. Coming out of a wall! That's twice I've caught a glimpse of him down here! She is helpful enough as to point out where she thinks he is. Over coms I direct Honey Badger and Commendant to give chase. I give the security officer a chance to help us by pushing the panic button. Tell her I'm with the energy rebels following dangerous crimminals and we're here to help people like you. Suprisingly, she get's onto an intercom and tells the waiting passengers to exit the building and than she egress as well. So far, way to good. I look around for anything on what happened last night but the computer terminal locks me out. Nothing useful in the paperwork on the desks. My work is done here. On my way out I flip the main to the lights off. The better to see you with blue suit!
Boom boom out go the lights.
We do the stealth thing and wait. Wait and wait. It's a great vantage and ambush spot inside the stairwell. But it's just not going to happen. My human won't sit and wait. Fine the hunt is on. A Sprite shouldn't hold a grudge against a human. But personally, it would be nice to see her get some payback for last night. She got the worst of it every step of the way. Redemption not revenge is todays agenda.
Moving past the site of last nights fights. Hurts to think we had Battery right where we wanted him and couldn't finish the job. Commandant the double agent man and the queen of claws have their hands full. With a giant dirt monster. We don't even slow down. Yelling at Commandant I'm heading down the tracks searching for the blue suit carry on. He responds with something. How do we ever trust him? Where do we even start with her? Claws are sharper than her wits. He and Honey Badger can work that out. We're a volunteer in this. In it to help people! Not fight with monsters in a metro. Meh. Who are we kidding? If we don't win our next fight it's time to suit up with alot more than this bodystocking mask and cape!
Can't protect the innocents when we're pushing up daisys. - Scarlet and the Sprite.
Smells like teen spirit. Correction. Smells like being shocked.
AKA Best laid plans of scarlets and sprites...
New York City circa 2072. Nighttime. Feels like a Thursday?
Stalking Battery. Seems like its all we do now. Rollie is a ghost. We've learned a few things. This night hasn't been a piece de resistance by the energy rebels. Been staring at his back long enough. Now is the time to strike! Lined up nicely. We make our move! Getting good momentum. Leap. Battery moves just a little more than we calculated. Instead of landing a debilitating knee to his liver with a follow up forearm to his mandible bone. It's an ugly looking thing! Like a mosh pit. Enough that we know he felt it. Not enough to set him up for the follow up strikes. A righteous victory was in our grasp! Left standing there to watch in absolute horror. Battery turns. Nothing we can do but watch him turn on the juice. From his hand to his whole body. It feels like the Energizer bunny meets one of those outdoor bug zappers! It kept going and going and going.
My human is unable to dish out as much harm as that human gave her in return. Only my Sprite power kept her from suffering worse. Far worse. This is something that can't happen again. Human bodies are far to fragile and temporary to be put through that much damage and pain. Electrocution is NOT a individual feeling. Every nerve ending in my human's body screams in pain! Overloading the brain synapsis. Leading to a state of paralysis where now my human is unable to move.
Honey Badger to the rescue? Or does Battery have better things to do? Just conscious enough to know the shocks have stopped. Honey Badger is helping us up off the ground. She's screaming something at Battery as he heads in the other direction. A promise of another day. Another place. Than as if it wasn't bad enough to get more watts put through our behind than a generator in hurricane season. Honey Badger wants to take prisoners. We just keep on walking and say, "we have to get the bike out of the water. C'Mon." Takes her a minute, but sure as Battery blasted both of us into hair loss. She figured out I'm her ride home. It is a long, long walk back to the energy rebel base.
Jimmy some locks for some cord, rope, wire, chains, coat hangers, all rolled into one and with one deep breath into the drink we go. Tie a knot to die for. A tug or two? And, Honey Badger pulls our weight. Again. Oh the never ending L of this night never ends! Honey Badger gets tasked with bike guarding duty. While we Jack, and Jill, a truck. A bit of ignition position clinician. A certain metal screwdriver to complete a circuit and we have lift truck. We feel bad about borrowing someone's lively hood. As expected no one stepped up to try to borrow our bike with certain claw marks as a parting gift.
The thought of doing something to help people has been battery'd right out of us. Honey Badger is still in our ear telling us how great she did. It's kinda blah blah blah blah blah blah... blahblahblah... blah. Until she gets to the part about the girl. We realize its everyone for themselves out here. Or at least every gang. Gangs of New York. The rebel base may as well been a moon base for us tonight. Driving a tow truck wouldn't be that bad in another circumstance? But this is too much. The radio is set to some sad old country station playing sad old country songs. Reminded me of Appalachia.
The night of the living L that just kept on giving! - Scarlet and the Sprite.
Metro, mass murderers, and we?
New York City circa 2072. Nighttime. Feels like a Thursday?
Just like that The Sprite starts with the magical mystery tour. I can't see my legs or anything else. Takes a minute to learn to walk again. That crazy walking Ginsu knife set Honey Badger even passes us by. Dammit. But... On the other hand she didn't see us. No reason to clue her in on our whereabouts? For all we know she'll cut us in two. Get the pun?
Luckily, we regroup in time to catch a glimpse of what's his disappearing acts name? Who-Deany? Bad puns come it pairs it seems? We can just follow him a little longer. Maybe, he knows more than we do? Irea has to have some idea of what this Doc character's organization is doing? Better not lose sight of he is my target too! Irea are bullies who withhold energy from people who need it too live. Regardless of his background. He is part of the problem. Making him our problem. We don't like problems.
Wait wut? I'm mouthing some crazy voices and hearing it ten feet away. Smiling. Beg evil grin smiling. Okay! My Sprites been doing some homework while I was adding some weaponry to Dragon. This is the the first day of the rest of our lives. Stalking and talking by Scarlet and The Sprite.
All this is wearing us out. Need a breather. Down onto the tracks we go. If someone sees us? It's going down on the tracks! Curled up. Head down. Back against the side of the metro platform. We take a few seconds to get a second wind. Which does wonders for us. And....boom. Second times a charm! Can't see our legs. Head not dizzy. Lets see what's happening with the world of where in the world is Doc. Oh. Those two thickheaded twatlips know him as Rollie. Scarlet Sprite knows alteration now too! Really gaining intelligence at a new level now.
Great. My energy rebel teammate Honey Badger turns to attack some hairy growley guy. How to turn that into a positive? Staring at it. All its glory. Nothing more than an insane chemically fueled buzzsaw of a meat grinder. Not the music and monkey one either. Her intent is exactly how she appears. We're torn on trying to help her, or that girl? Who electric boyo incapacitated in a flash of brilliant sparks. Asking her where Rollie is under the threat of being electrocuted. He is about as intimidating as a caged bunny feeding on greens. Unfortunately, he has power. Real power! We can't underestimate. Who is the girl? Why does she deserve help? What can be done to help her? Where is Rollie? How do we get out of this entanglement and back to hunting for him? Going to have to think of something.
Sooner than later. ~ Scarlet and the Sprite!
Getting the jump on the competition!
New York City circa 2072. Nighttime. Feels like a Thursday?
Something tells me you can jump that channel. It's not that far. I could do it I think! Get those chemists. and the super serum. Roll back into the energy rebel HQ like a conquering hero. Yes I think like that. But more important. No one gets hurt. The junk is off the streets. Most importantly, innocent people can go on with one less thing to worry about.
First to shoot out the post. Use the barrier as a ramp. Fly for a second. Land safely. Then grab those eggheads or at least the package. Ride off into the sunset to have some quality time. Just enough to convince them this isn't a good idea. Look no hands as Dragon ditches into the drink! Somehow I'm able to reach out and grab something. The ledge. I hang by a handhold on the ledge. Dazed. Confused. Looking into the water. Getting my feet wet. Submerged super cycle isn't my best moment. So much for the conquering hero thinking. Time to just keep the energy rebels from giving my spot away.
Up and over the guard rail in a good looking aerial. Still... not making up for the loss of the Dragon with a simple flip today. I run up to the jeep. To take a look at it. Hopefully to find something useful to the team. Nothing! No keys. No papers. Not even a leftover coffee cup. This isn't my day. And now, someone in a red suit appears out of thin air. Glad he is on the other side. Having the jeep between us was great.
Once inside the Metro. My human seems trapped between two other humans. Could be bad? If possible, I really want to stop the production of superpowered people. Time to tell these humans something. The Sprite says, I am here to help. An alliance is offered. Only for a short time. We expect the double cross.
Alone, or at least as much as Scarlet and The Sprite can be alone. We run headlong down the stairs after the chemist his crew and who knows what else is going on. We got this. Just have to avoid any sort of time consuming fight and keep moving. Once we get the package we can try to make a getaway. That's about as good of a plan as jumping the channel. Perhaps, having an escape plan can be as important as getting the jump on the competition?
We'll find out soon enough! ~ Scarlet and the Sprite!
Geno no no no you don't.
New York City circa 2072. Nighttime. Another day of the week.
If we can make it here, we can make it anywhere. Got a little work in out in the front range last month. Just by happenstance. We're glad it happened, and we saw the first real live action.
The trip from there to NYC was filled with exciting ideas crazy complicated thoughts and horrific night terrors. Scarlet and the Sprite had maybe some of our first real things to think about. Tactics and other combat ideas were mulled over and over until there is a consensus about how to deal with getting into and winning what looks to be some of the craziest battles. Unspeakable insanity. Things only seen in the worse of nightmares we thought about.
Holy Harlem!! This place is a maze of roads and one-way streets blocked off alleys with things best left unsaid never mention unseen. My idea of Scarlet Sprite protector of innocents needs to be evaluated. As we cruise around getting some trial by fire of what it's like to be here in NYC. Somehow by accident no doubt. Pull over to puke. I mean stretch. When no sooner do I get it all out I hear screams from across the street at some dark old warehouse.
Is that a tree? That woman is just smashing the snot from that guy. A scene I've seen play out dozens of times on dozens of corners and alleys tonight. Roles reserved or not? It's the big tree makes me decide not to leave. Onto Dragon and over to the door we go. We'll go ahead and roll up on them and tell them. "You better have a good reason for ......"
Onto the after party!
Somehow, we let this Doc getaway. Not that he is faster or better just the way things are? Can't win them all? After returning to the warehouse. The tree and the woman are coming out as we skid to a stop. They seem intact physically and have some things it looks like they are taking. Won't mention that. Beating people up and taking their stuff. Not after we took those things from the burning bookstore a few weeks back. As an aside we still haven't gotten any better idea of what those books are about or what the bottle of blue liquid is.
Soon after the walking oak ask's what's my name. "I'm the Scarlet Sprite protector of innocents." Which always comes out sounding like protector of innocence with my backwoods accent. The woman with the strange dialect reports the tree is called Timber. Can't help myself but think that is the best. She says she is Honey badger. They ask for a ride. No way? Are you kidding? The tree is so big it needs a logging truck to haul it around. "Sorry you can get on, but Timber needs a truck." No way can a bike haul that much deadwood. I mean weight? They acknowledge as much and report they have a place. She says they have to change forms and then they can get transport from here. Once Honey Badger gives me the address. We drive off into the night and to a fresh start. While we can't transform, we understand having two parts to me now. Scarlet and the Sprite. ~Scarlet Sprite!
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Travelling outside of my normal patrol area. Far from normal. Smoke caught my eye. For no other reason than I can. I turned around and started to make my way toward the plume. Driving through this city. Its nice enough place. Nothing like Appalachia! Lots of buildings and places here. Wonder what is burning. Rounding another corner, the smoke is thick and looks like the fire is just up ahead. Sure enough. The building on the corner is engulfed in a flaring scorcher.
I see a giant gator across the street. It's been a long ride. Even if it is real there could be people needing my help inside the burning building. Bookstore. This is a bookstore. All the more reason to see if anyone needs my help. I pull hard on the throttle and Dragon responds. Speeding up and driving into the low-lying smoke on the ground.
I hit the smoke and before I can even think some dogs are nipping at my heels. One lands a solid bite. These aren't the Appalachian dogs. These are something way worse. What is going on here? Giant gator and some sort of rabid diseased curse ridden mutts! The dog's attacks force me to lose control of Dragon. My supercycle. Crashing into the bookstore building. I go through the storefront window and into the conflagration. Luckily, my Sprite's magic wards of Heat. I find out the hard way it's not helping me when I breath. One more thing I have to learn.
My human can't breathe! Oh no I'll clear a bit of smoke and let her get one good breath. Now hold it as long as you can.
Looking about now. Flames all around. Some books aren't burning. Something tells me I should grab some. I do. Into my bag they go. When dammit if those hell hounds don't just jump into the building after me.
My Sprite magic should stop those canine creatures from seeing us.
No way we can get around those damn dogs. To get back outside. With that we turn and quietly move to the staircase and go upstairs. Dammit one dog comes at me. I use some slick sidestepping skills to dodge out of its way and its nose gets rubbed up against the wall. Now up on the second story. Like the second verse is the same as the first. Burning bookstore!! I see a strange jar of blue liquid seems to yell out grab me, Scarlet. More artifacts such as antique holy relics? I fill each hand. When I hear the dogs heading up stairs. Can't you just heel I mutter. Next thing I'm getting a running head start and diving headlong through the window. Make a midair roll and a perfect landing into a riding position onto Dragon, the supercycle. With a kick she fires right up!
As I was stowing the artifacts from the bookstore. The motor dies. This isn't normal, I think. As I damn near soil my seat. Ignition switch is on. Keys are in. Grab the clutch lever and give her another kick. Motor fires. Sure, a beautiful cacophony of power and sound!! Throttle up! Clutch disengaged! We speed off back the way we came.
Like that out of the fire and into the frying pan. Only I wish it was that giant chicken in the middle of the road that was being Fricassee? What is going on here? The laws of nature mean nothing? Swerving turning burning up the road. Nothing like this street ever seen before. My biker chops are smoking like my tires! The giant chicken is in the rear view. Until it is next to me. It pecks and squawks like a giant chicken should but I'm The Scarlet Sprite dammit. You ain't never going to catch nothing but some tailpipe exhaust once I find fourth.
Scarlet hits fourth gear and speeds straight at a lamppost to avoid a dangerous domesticated foul on growth hormones set to Mad Max mode! I add a little help to her steering, and she has Dragon under control again and......
Bam I narrowly avoid the lamppost. Then I roost in the direction of that tunnel. No way big bird going to catch Dragon the supercycle in high gear. No way. Never. Smashing through the tunnel and that's the way the Chicken crossed the road in an eggshell. ~Scarlet Sprite!
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