As I walked down the hall towards my apartment, I wasn’t upset. I was pissed. Only Christopher’s crazy ass would be bold enough to just walk up to the babysitter’s and pick up Kara.
Partially, I know I’m to blame. I never figured he’d find me. Even if he had approached the Director at the school, they weren’t going to let her go without notifying me since his name wasn’t on the pick up list. I hit the speed dial-number on my phone of the one person who always seems to know every damn thing but this.
Dispatch.
The phone didn’t have a chance to ring before he answered.
“Tony-,” I started.
“I know Terra.”
“Then where the hell is she?” I growled. I could feel my control slipping more and more as I let myself into my apartment.
“I don’t know,” he answered.
“I don’t want to hear that, Dispatch. You know every damn thing else! Don’t tell me you don’t know where she is!”
“I don’t know!” He snapped. “I know that Ean called for help at 10:30. I know that you took her to the babysitter at 11:10.. I know that Christopher showed up around 12:15. I was able to track them to the grid on the corner of 8th and H before he went off the scope.”
“What do you mean, went off the scope?”
“Just that. They completely disappeared.” He sighed. “It’s my own fault. I tried to call you and let you know what was happening, but I couldn’t get through to anyone’s cell. I saw Leroy’s signal popup, but since I suspended him and he wasn’t supposed to be there anyway, I refused to contact him. Derrick’s signal came up shortly afterwards, but he wouldn’t answer the other line. I couldn’t send Tellico after you because you couldn’t answer. So instead, I had him try to follow them. He followed them through the line until they disappeared. I think the whole thing with Luminous was a distraction so that I wouldn’t be able to reach you.”
I sat down and put my head in my hands. “Dispatch. I want Leroy in on this. Call a meeting of everyone and put it to vote if you want, I don’t care. I’m calling him.”
“Look Terra, there’s things about Leroy you don’t understand.”
“Then tell me, dammit! I’m sick of the games.”
I heard him sigh. “Before he became a member of the Urban 30, Leroy operated on his own, barely on this side of the law. Sure, he’d bust up drug rackets, but then he’d keep half the money. His dealings were extremely shady. When I approached him about joining the group, it was with the stipulation that he would work together, with us, as a team. No solo jaunts, and nothing borderline.”
Pacing the floor, I got more and more pissed. “I understand that. Really, I do. But what you have to take into account is that he’s always been there for us, regardless of who’s in trouble. He’s been a team member and a team player. Set up the meeting now, Dispatch. I’m on my way.” I hung up.
Before I could sit down to think, I heard a tap at my door. I hesitated for a moment, then thought about it. Christopher wasn’t going to come back tonight.
I opened the door and froze. My father stood in the doorway.
“Daddy? What are you doing here!”
“We’re going to get my granddaughter back. With or without that so-called group of yours.”
Monday, February 25, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Revived and Recharged
I watched Leroy go back down into the hole after Enigma. I was honestly surprised he went. Let's face facts here: They're not best of friends and they never will be. But, maybe, just maybe they will both start to grow up a little.
Do I really believe that? Of course not. But it was a nice thought.
At least one good thing came out of this. The fight with Luminous managed to revive me in a way I hadn't forseen. Dispatch was gonna be pissed with me, true, but he'll live. If nothing else, I realized one important thing. I'M A SUPERHERO DAMMIT!!
There's no way I'm going to hide and let someone else take care of my problems for me. Let Christopher come. I've got something for him. First of all, I've got to get Leroy reinstated.
I turned back to the other members of the group, still a little dazed from everything that had happened. As I scoped out everybody and I noticed that I didn't see Mr. E. Did he make it out?
I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. Enigma! He made it! But where was Leroy.
His face twisted up like he was seriously ready to cuss somebody out. What in the hell was wrong with him now? He opened his mouth to speak, but luckily, we were all saved by the bell, or shall I say the phone. I walked over to Raz and Tam. "I've got to rollout. You guys have everything under control here?"
"Yeah," Raz said and smirked. "I've got something for his ass if he comes around."
I smiled. I just bet she did. "Hit me on my cellphone if you need me for anything." They nodded. "Hold on." Tam touched me on the arm to hold me back. "What's the deal with Leroy? Isn't he still suspended?"
I nodded. "He is. But he's always there when we need him. Suspension can't change that. " They looked at each other and nodded. "I'll see you guys later." I walked off with a spring in my step that hadn't been there in weeks.
I jumped up and sprang into the air, the coolness of the night air brushing against my cheeks. I changed right before I reached the Alene, the babysitter upstairs. "Oh Hi!" she said. "I didn't think I'd see you this evening."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Oh. Your husband came to pick Kara up a few hours ago. You didn't tell me he was such a cutie."
I stood there for a moment speechless. How did he find me? Where in the hell is he now?
"Is everything okay?" Alene asked frowning. "Was she not supposed to go with him? I know you mentioned you guys were separated, but you never said anything else about him...."
She looked so panicked. "No it's okay. I just wasn't expecting him to get her today." That's an understatement.
"I'll just call him once I get back in the house." I said, turning away.
"Okay. I'll talk to you later, okay?" she said closing the door.
I nodded. "Okay."
I pulled out my cell phone and started dialing. I knew he wasn't going to harm her. In his own sick and twisted way, he loved her. It was me he wanted.
Do I really believe that? Of course not. But it was a nice thought.
At least one good thing came out of this. The fight with Luminous managed to revive me in a way I hadn't forseen. Dispatch was gonna be pissed with me, true, but he'll live. If nothing else, I realized one important thing. I'M A SUPERHERO DAMMIT!!
There's no way I'm going to hide and let someone else take care of my problems for me. Let Christopher come. I've got something for him. First of all, I've got to get Leroy reinstated.
I turned back to the other members of the group, still a little dazed from everything that had happened. As I scoped out everybody and I noticed that I didn't see Mr. E. Did he make it out?
I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. Enigma! He made it! But where was Leroy.
His face twisted up like he was seriously ready to cuss somebody out. What in the hell was wrong with him now? He opened his mouth to speak, but luckily, we were all saved by the bell, or shall I say the phone. I walked over to Raz and Tam. "I've got to rollout. You guys have everything under control here?"
"Yeah," Raz said and smirked. "I've got something for his ass if he comes around."
I smiled. I just bet she did. "Hit me on my cellphone if you need me for anything." They nodded. "Hold on." Tam touched me on the arm to hold me back. "What's the deal with Leroy? Isn't he still suspended?"
I nodded. "He is. But he's always there when we need him. Suspension can't change that. " They looked at each other and nodded. "I'll see you guys later." I walked off with a spring in my step that hadn't been there in weeks.
I jumped up and sprang into the air, the coolness of the night air brushing against my cheeks. I changed right before I reached the Alene, the babysitter upstairs. "Oh Hi!" she said. "I didn't think I'd see you this evening."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Oh. Your husband came to pick Kara up a few hours ago. You didn't tell me he was such a cutie."
I stood there for a moment speechless. How did he find me? Where in the hell is he now?
"Is everything okay?" Alene asked frowning. "Was she not supposed to go with him? I know you mentioned you guys were separated, but you never said anything else about him...."
She looked so panicked. "No it's okay. I just wasn't expecting him to get her today." That's an understatement.
"I'll just call him once I get back in the house." I said, turning away.
"Okay. I'll talk to you later, okay?" she said closing the door.
I nodded. "Okay."
I pulled out my cell phone and started dialing. I knew he wasn't going to harm her. In his own sick and twisted way, he loved her. It was me he wanted.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Into the Lion's Den
As we entered the tunnel, we could hear the screams and the sounds of fighting coming from up ahead. Before I realized what I was doing, I had run ahead of the rest of the group. Kara's glasses worked like a dream. I could see everything ahead of me like I was walking around in the daylight. After what seemed like dozens of twists and turns, I thought we were almost at the center only to find we were at a dead end.
I placed my hands on the wall and shifted the dirt to the side. Once through, we had to stop for a moment to get our bearings.
"It's coming from over here!" Mr. E yelled pointing to the left. Before I could say anything, he had taken off running down the tunnel. Damn. "Guys we need to stick close together."
Tam nodded. "It's gonna be tough. We're in a damn maze. We'll never find our way outta here."
I turned to answer her and saw something trying to creep up on us from behind.
"Ow! What the hell?" Raz said before she turned and swung. The next thing I knew, Raz and Tam were doing their dynamic duo thing (I have to admit, they can fight their asses off!). We weren't doing too bad, the only problem was that there wasn't a lot of fighting room and whatever it was we were fighting kept coming right back.
It looked like the things seemed to be made of some kind of mist. How in the world do you fight something like that? Then, bam! The light bulb came on.
"Tam, I need a force field over here!" I yelled. She threw out a field that managed to capture all of the creatures at one time. I reached out and touched the field, pulling the moisture out. We were all amazed to see the creatures solidify and turn into statues.
"Ok Tam, you can pull back." She pulled the field back and stood with her arms crossed.
Raz's smile stopped as she looked around. "It's a little too quiet. I think we'd better hurry."
We ran blindly down different corridors for what seemed like forever before a light appeared and we heard a mysterious voice say, “Light is everywhere…”
Leroy, Derrick, Enigma, and Router were standing on the other side of Luminous.
Just as we stepped forward to engage in the fight, a blinding pulsing light began flashing throughout the cave. Each time the light pulsed, someone disappeared until I found myself standing alone to fight.
'You've got to be kidding me.' I mutterd. When the light stopped pulsing, I stood alone with Lumnious.
"Cute glasses." he said and lunged at me. I was able to move in time, but it was a close thing.
"Who stuck a light bulb up your ass?" I growled back. We lunged at each other a couple of times, each time missing each other by inches. 'Enough of this'. I did not have all night to fight this idiot. I had to get home before the babysitter decided to charge me double.
Pissed off, I started directing rocks towards him so fast that most were starting to get past him. Then everything went black. I was still wearing the glasses, but couldn't see a thing. Cautiously, I looked over the top. Nothing changed. 'What the hell is going on?'
Two minutes later, I could see again, but Luminous was nowhere to be found.
I placed my hands on the wall and shifted the dirt to the side. Once through, we had to stop for a moment to get our bearings.
"It's coming from over here!" Mr. E yelled pointing to the left. Before I could say anything, he had taken off running down the tunnel. Damn. "Guys we need to stick close together."
Tam nodded. "It's gonna be tough. We're in a damn maze. We'll never find our way outta here."
I turned to answer her and saw something trying to creep up on us from behind.
"Ow! What the hell?" Raz said before she turned and swung. The next thing I knew, Raz and Tam were doing their dynamic duo thing (I have to admit, they can fight their asses off!). We weren't doing too bad, the only problem was that there wasn't a lot of fighting room and whatever it was we were fighting kept coming right back.
It looked like the things seemed to be made of some kind of mist. How in the world do you fight something like that? Then, bam! The light bulb came on.
"Tam, I need a force field over here!" I yelled. She threw out a field that managed to capture all of the creatures at one time. I reached out and touched the field, pulling the moisture out. We were all amazed to see the creatures solidify and turn into statues.
"Ok Tam, you can pull back." She pulled the field back and stood with her arms crossed.
Raz's smile stopped as she looked around. "It's a little too quiet. I think we'd better hurry."
We ran blindly down different corridors for what seemed like forever before a light appeared and we heard a mysterious voice say, “Light is everywhere…”
Leroy, Derrick, Enigma, and Router were standing on the other side of Luminous.
Just as we stepped forward to engage in the fight, a blinding pulsing light began flashing throughout the cave. Each time the light pulsed, someone disappeared until I found myself standing alone to fight.
'You've got to be kidding me.' I mutterd. When the light stopped pulsing, I stood alone with Lumnious.
"Cute glasses." he said and lunged at me. I was able to move in time, but it was a close thing.
"Who stuck a light bulb up your ass?" I growled back. We lunged at each other a couple of times, each time missing each other by inches. 'Enough of this'. I did not have all night to fight this idiot. I had to get home before the babysitter decided to charge me double.
Pissed off, I started directing rocks towards him so fast that most were starting to get past him. Then everything went black. I was still wearing the glasses, but couldn't see a thing. Cautiously, I looked over the top. Nothing changed. 'What the hell is going on?'
Two minutes later, I could see again, but Luminous was nowhere to be found.
A step closer..
We were all about to go in when Leroy made a suggestion.
“Wait,” he said. “Let’s split in two. There are enough of us that we can approach from two sides.”
I could see the surprise on everyone’s face when he spoke. “Look, you guys can stare or we can help Ean. I can go in the front.” He looked over at me. “Terra, maybe u can make a hole and come in on the other side.” I nodded and started to walk off.
Derrick and Router were the only two who decided to go with Leroy which kind of ticked me off.
I stopped a short distance away. I looked around to find most of the group had followed me. “Everybody stand back for a minute and let me get my bearings.” Everybody took a step back except for Mr. E. So be it.
I took a deep breath and burst outwards into millions of tiny pieces as I merged with the Earth. I traveled along the top of the tunnel until I could determine where it was going. I burst out short while later, showering dirt everywhere.
“Oops. Sorry.” Raz and Tam looked a little pissed to be covered in dirt, but I did ask them to step back didn’t I? I walked over a few steps and held out my hands. Earth started showering into the air. This time I made sure I directed it away from everybody. I wanted the fight to happen in the hole, not up here.
In a matter of minutes, a deep hole formed that connected with the tunnel from the other side. I put my shades on and turned around. “That’s it. Let’s go.”
Raz and Tam hit buttons on their matching helmets. Everybody else followed suit. I took a quick head count and noticed that somebody was missing. Where was Enigma? I hadn’t seen him arrive. It wasn’t like him to miss a fight.
“Wait,” he said. “Let’s split in two. There are enough of us that we can approach from two sides.”
I could see the surprise on everyone’s face when he spoke. “Look, you guys can stare or we can help Ean. I can go in the front.” He looked over at me. “Terra, maybe u can make a hole and come in on the other side.” I nodded and started to walk off.
Derrick and Router were the only two who decided to go with Leroy which kind of ticked me off.
I stopped a short distance away. I looked around to find most of the group had followed me. “Everybody stand back for a minute and let me get my bearings.” Everybody took a step back except for Mr. E. So be it.
I took a deep breath and burst outwards into millions of tiny pieces as I merged with the Earth. I traveled along the top of the tunnel until I could determine where it was going. I burst out short while later, showering dirt everywhere.
“Oops. Sorry.” Raz and Tam looked a little pissed to be covered in dirt, but I did ask them to step back didn’t I? I walked over a few steps and held out my hands. Earth started showering into the air. This time I made sure I directed it away from everybody. I wanted the fight to happen in the hole, not up here.
In a matter of minutes, a deep hole formed that connected with the tunnel from the other side. I put my shades on and turned around. “That’s it. Let’s go.”
Raz and Tam hit buttons on their matching helmets. Everybody else followed suit. I took a quick head count and noticed that somebody was missing. Where was Enigma? I hadn’t seen him arrive. It wasn’t like him to miss a fight.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The Fight is on....
I landed at the coordinates that Ean gave me, but there was no sign of him. I looked around and saw a suspicious looking whole in the ground. As I stepped closer, a bright, blinding light flashed out of it, nearly blinding me. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that's where he went.
I stepped forward, pulling out one of one of Kara's latest inventions. Lately, she was starting to create all kinds of little gadgets. I woke up this morning to find a pair of ordinary looking sunshades sitting on my nightstand. When I put them on, I noticed that in the sunshine, everything looked completely black. But in the dark, everything seemed to glow.
I was glad that my child had somehow anticipated my needs.
I put the glasses on and walked towards the whole. I was about to step over the edge when someone landed behind me. He was huge. Really huge. And familiar.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Mr. E." he said in a deep rumbling voice.
I raised an eyebrow. "Mr. E?" I took the glasses off and stepped towards him. He looked just like the last idol that Leroy showed me. Just like..."Edward?"
He nodded. I smiled. "Well, 'Mr. E' are you ready?"
He nodded again. "Just what I like...a man of few words."
I turned around as I heard a whistling noise come through the air. Well, well. What do we have here? Looks like my old buddy Sonus is moonlighting.
I turned to him and smiled as a few of the other members of the Urban 30 showed up. "I missed you, buddy."
Leroy gave me that cocky smile and walked forward. As the others came up, I slipped my glasses back on. "Everybody make sure to protect your eyes. He's not called Luminous for nothing." I faced the whole again and took deep breath.
"All right everybody. Let's do this."
I stepped forward, pulling out one of one of Kara's latest inventions. Lately, she was starting to create all kinds of little gadgets. I woke up this morning to find a pair of ordinary looking sunshades sitting on my nightstand. When I put them on, I noticed that in the sunshine, everything looked completely black. But in the dark, everything seemed to glow.
I was glad that my child had somehow anticipated my needs.
I put the glasses on and walked towards the whole. I was about to step over the edge when someone landed behind me. He was huge. Really huge. And familiar.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Mr. E." he said in a deep rumbling voice.
I raised an eyebrow. "Mr. E?" I took the glasses off and stepped towards him. He looked just like the last idol that Leroy showed me. Just like..."Edward?"
He nodded. I smiled. "Well, 'Mr. E' are you ready?"
He nodded again. "Just what I like...a man of few words."
I turned around as I heard a whistling noise come through the air. Well, well. What do we have here? Looks like my old buddy Sonus is moonlighting.
I turned to him and smiled as a few of the other members of the Urban 30 showed up. "I missed you, buddy."
Leroy gave me that cocky smile and walked forward. As the others came up, I slipped my glasses back on. "Everybody make sure to protect your eyes. He's not called Luminous for nothing." I faced the whole again and took deep breath.
"All right everybody. Let's do this."
Friday, February 1, 2008
A little teamwork goes a long way
Leroy finally went and did it. I knew it was just a matter of time before he blew up at Dispatch. I couldn't do anything but sit in absolute amazement as he explained to me how he got the watch changed, and how Tony confronted him in the parking lot. Damn, I wish he had talked to me before he did that. Dispatch firmly believes in making sure that no one thinks that they're more important than the whole group.
Dispatch doesn't seem to realize just how much Leroy loves being a Superhero. I can just imagine him as one of those kids who always dreamed of fighting the bad guys. All I could do was just sit and shake my head after we hung up. I was going to have to call Dispatch and pull a favor. I really hated to do it, very seldom is Dispatch in debt to anyone for anything, but I had one that I've been holding close for a while.
I got up and checked on Kara to make sure that she hadn't been in contact with her father. That was drama that I could definitely do without right now.
I picked up my cell and took and took a deep breath before I looked up Tony's number. Well, here goes nothing.
I had my hand on the button about to place the call when the phone vibrated. Why in the world was Ean calling me?
"Hello?" At first, I heard nothing but screaming and wind. "Ean? Hello?"
He finally started talking. My heart started pumping as he described what was happening to him. The clouds, a blinding bright light...
Oh Damn. "LUMINOUS!" I yelled. "I'll call Dispatch! Just hold on!"
As soon as I hung up from Ean, I dialed Tony. "Dispatch, we've got a situation."
"What's up Terra?"
"Ean just called me, he's just had a run-in with Luminous. He's going to need some serious backup." I gave him Ean's location.
"I'm putting out the call now."
"And Tony, there's something I need to talk to you about later."
He was quiet for a moment. "I don't think you should get involved in that Terra."
"You're always talking about how we should behave as a team. A team member always has the other's back."
I could just feel him grinding his teeth. "We'll talk later Terra."
"Fine."
I hung up and called upstairs for my babysitter. The minute she got there I headed for the door. It looked like I was finally going to get some exercise after all.
Dispatch doesn't seem to realize just how much Leroy loves being a Superhero. I can just imagine him as one of those kids who always dreamed of fighting the bad guys. All I could do was just sit and shake my head after we hung up. I was going to have to call Dispatch and pull a favor. I really hated to do it, very seldom is Dispatch in debt to anyone for anything, but I had one that I've been holding close for a while.
I got up and checked on Kara to make sure that she hadn't been in contact with her father. That was drama that I could definitely do without right now.
I picked up my cell and took and took a deep breath before I looked up Tony's number. Well, here goes nothing.
I had my hand on the button about to place the call when the phone vibrated. Why in the world was Ean calling me?
"Hello?" At first, I heard nothing but screaming and wind. "Ean? Hello?"
He finally started talking. My heart started pumping as he described what was happening to him. The clouds, a blinding bright light...
Oh Damn. "LUMINOUS!" I yelled. "I'll call Dispatch! Just hold on!"
As soon as I hung up from Ean, I dialed Tony. "Dispatch, we've got a situation."
"What's up Terra?"
"Ean just called me, he's just had a run-in with Luminous. He's going to need some serious backup." I gave him Ean's location.
"I'm putting out the call now."
"And Tony, there's something I need to talk to you about later."
He was quiet for a moment. "I don't think you should get involved in that Terra."
"You're always talking about how we should behave as a team. A team member always has the other's back."
I could just feel him grinding his teeth. "We'll talk later Terra."
"Fine."
I hung up and called upstairs for my babysitter. The minute she got there I headed for the door. It looked like I was finally going to get some exercise after all.
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