by Chad Kunego
“You don’t have to raise your hand Zarina. We’re not in school anymore.”
“Da, that may be true, but you both seem intent on acting like unruly children.”
Rick felt his mouth drop open in surprise. He noticed Kaitlyn’s had as well. Zarina continued, her soft voice growing stronger as she gained more confidence.
“Is base sending anyone to help?” she asked, looking directly at Kaitlyn.
“No, unfortunately. Surprisingly, this little podunk town doesn’t have any pay phones, and I’d rather not use a phone somewhere they might overhear my conversation.”
“What about your wrist-comp?”
“Yours got cooked during your first encounter and ours,” she said, gesturing between her and Zarina, “apparently got cooked during our last encounter.”
“Then we should go back to base, get new equipment, get help, then come back, da? Rick could get us there in a few hours.”
“Yeah, I should be able to…”
“But?”
Kaitlyn answered for him before he had a chance.
“One,” she started, ticking off her fingers, “we’d show up on radar. Or someone would spot us if we flew under the radar. Again, the opposite of keeping a low profile.”
She ticked off another finger.
“Two, this mutant might intercept us, basically putting us back into the same situation we just escaped from. Finally, I still believe our team stands the best chance of bringing this guy down, but only if we work together.”
“What about Rick flying back alone?”
“And leave you two defenseless? Not happening.”
“Then we need something else. Your plan,” Zarina said, waving her arms around in frustration, “is crazy!”
Rick noticed both women quickly glance at each other before looking back at him. Suddenly, it dawned on him.
“That’s what it is, isn’t it? You both think I’ve literally lost my mind, don’t you? This isn’t because you think the plan won’t work, it’s because you think I’m mentally unstable!”
Kaitlyn voice became softer when she replied.
“Look at it from our point of view for once, you jackass. You just got your ass handed to you. Now it sounds like you’re looking for payback. Are you even back to one hundred percent yet? You looked like a Tesla coil less than an hour ago, just from trying to heal yourself. From a scar he gave you. So I think we have every right to be concerned.”
Rick bit back what he was going to say.
They have a point. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the best option to run with.
Taking a deep breath, he held it for a couple seconds before releasing it slowly. Slowly, he felt the tension drain away.
“Listen. I appreciate your honesty, but I’m not being impulsive. I just don’t have a better idea at this point. Except for his lightning, I’ve dodged everything else he threw at me, at least when I wasn’t splitting my focus. If either of you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”
Both women stared at him blankly. From their expression, they’d expected a bigger fight. This was too important though. They needed to focus on the threat, not fight amongst themselves. Kaitlyn was the first one to respond.
“Well… Uh…”
“Uh huh, exactly.”
Rick gestured toward Zarina.
“If I remember correctly, you memorized a bunch of stuff about weather and storms and stuff. Is any of it applicable here?”
“Da. Not sure. Would require some discussion.”
“Good, let’s see we can come up with a better plan, or at least make my plan better.”
§§§§§§§§§§§§
Rick laid down, running through the different scenarios the three of them had discussed. Zarina in particular had provided several viable options for tackling the mutant. One of the most interesting bits of information was about how all ice and rain needed a nucleus to form around. If he could remove all the dust in the area, maybe he could deny his opponent the ability to generate one of his primary weapons, not counting lighting of course.
Speaking of which, Zarina had pointed out something else he wasn’t aware of. Per her research, lightning was caused by an electrical potential developing through the movement of rain and dust carrying opposite charges to different parts of the cloud. While he doubted his opponent would use lightning much except as a shock tactic, his possible plan to remove the atmospheric dust might keep that option off the table as well. Rick paused a moment, smiling about the accidental pun he’d just made.
I guess if I can still joke about the situation, it can’t be a completely lost cause.
His smile faded when he considered ways to actually hurt his opponent. Between the memories Zarina had shared and his personal experience attacking him with his combat spheres, the biggest problem was their target’s ability to go immaterial. How do you eliminate someone who can’t be physically touched? More importantly, how long can they maintain that form?
Tactically speaking, there were really only two options. One, ambush them. If he could get the drop on them, there was a viable chance he could sucker-punch him. Rolling the idea around in his head, he kept coming back to the downsides. Either accidentally killing them, or them go insubstantial. While the former possibility was bad, the latter might enrage them even more, causing more carnage and deaths. Most people didn’t take assassination attempts very well. Neither of which were good outcomes.
The other option was a frontal assault. While it was unlikely he’d be able to beat them in a straight up fight, as long as he kept the mutant busy and away from populated areas, he might be able to keep others safe. A big unknown hovered over this plan, one that might have a big impact on this solution.
Why were they so angry, so determined to kill him? Were they someone from his past? While unlikely, it wasn’t out of the question. It might even be a friend or relative of someone he’d eliminated in the past. The thought brought up a memory he’d tried to bury, the main reasons he’d not only left Skywatch, but had tried to destroy the organization when he’d quit. The faces of the family he’d accidentally killed on one of their unsanctioned missions flashed through his mind.
Collateral damage was the military term for it, but Rick categorized it as murder, a major fuck-up on his part that he’d regretted every day since. That memory helped push him to join Kaitlyn’s team in the first place.
I can’t dwell on the past right now if I want to protect everyone in the present.
He pushed the memory away, bringing his thoughts back to the current situation. Another benefit of a frontal assault would be the possible intel he’d gather, something they were sorely lacking. All it would take is pissing them off enough that something slipped. Pissing people off just happened to be his other superpower. He smiled again at his attempt to make fun of himself.
Same situation for every other mission I’ve ever gone on. A bunch of unknowns against someone that could kill me. Nothing ever changes in war.
Changing his focus, he thought about the information Inanna had somehow taught him. If they worked, it might just end up being a stalemate. The big trick would be drawing them out to an unpopulated area. The last thing he wanted was more innocent people dying because of him.
He paused, contemplating a third option he’d kept from his teammates. What if he just let this guy kill him? While not a particularly attractive option, it did bear some consideration. Having been a professional soldier for most of his life, it wasn’t that far-fetched. There had been plenty of missions he’d gone on, both before and after his powers fully manifested, that could have been considered a suicide mission. Even knowing it, he’d still volunteered for them. Sometimes the belief of the greater good outweighed self preservation.
That left another big question, would this mutant stand down if that happened? If Rick died, there wouldn’t be anyone left who could stand toe-to-toe with this person, but assuming he did stop, a lot of lives could be saved just by sacrificing himself.
If it’s the only way to stop this guy, could I actually do it? Could I just give up and let myself be killed, just so others might live?
“Rick…? What are you thinking?”
Rick jumped slightly at the soft voice right next to him. He’d been so deep in thought, he hadn’t noticed Zarina approaching in the dark.
“I’m trying to figure out the right thing to do,” he said, sitting up, “Do I try to kill him, or do I try talking first, possibly risking more lives?”
“Da, not easy choice to make, even for someone trained as warrior.”
Rick spun on his bed, patting the space for Zarina to sit.
“No, it isn’t. Especially since we don’t know what’s driving them. I don’t know about you, but I’m not even sure he’s in full command of his faculties.”
He sensed Zarina’s nod.
“I think I might have actually met this person other day…”
Rick snapped to attention, his nerves suddenly on edge.
“What do you mean, exactly?”
He felt her tense slightly, but she continued speaking softly.
“The other day, when I went for walk in town. I ran into someone that talked like him.”
“Why’d you wait ‘til now? Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“I was not sure at time,” she said hesitantly, “but I have spent past few hours comparing memories of both times. I am still not completely sure, but is very likely same person.”
“Okay… does this info change our plans then?”
“Nyet… but might give insight on how to talk to him.”
“How so?”
“Well, person I ran into is just young, confused man,” she said, trailing off.
A cold lump began forming in the pit of his stomach.
“How young, exactly?”
“I was not able to get good look, but I believe he is teenager. Possibly with multiple personalities.”
“Wonderful… Anything else?”
“Da, got impression that other personality is fighting him. Like other personality searched for you specifically. Primary personality wants to kill you because of it.”
“That definitely changes the plan then. If a part of this kid is trying to keep the other part from hurting people, then I need to see if we can talk to the other personality, maybe get them to surrender before anyone else gets hurt.”
Rick felt the tension drain out of the young psionisist. In sudden understanding, he realized his opponent was probably around the same age as Zarina, if not younger. It might also explain why he didn’t attack her during the fight.
She thought I was just going to kill him outright, rather than attempting to talk first. There must be more that she’s not telling me, but it doesn’t matter at this point. Killing him is now officially at the bottom of the list.
He gently grabbed her hand, causing her to flinch.
“Zarina, if it’s at all possible, we’ll try to save him. You have my word on it.”
Chapter 21
“Now what?”
Rick glanced around again, trying to determine his next step. He’d hoped something from where they fought could help him. Drifting higher, he surveyed more of the area before tapping his comm button.
“Honestly, I’m hoping a clue or something will jump out at me, something to lead me to this guy.”
“Let me guess… Your plan failed.”
He crossed his arms, slowly turning in the air. She knew this could take a while, so why did she insist on needling him about it?
“Like I said before, if you’ve got a better idea, I’m open to suggestions.”
He heard a sigh across the connection.
“I know, I know. Sorry. Still not thrilled with this plan.”
“Neither am I, but I still think it’s the best one under the circumstances.”
“Doesn’t mean I need to be happy about it.”
“Well, like I’ve already said—”
“Stop repeating yourself, it’s annoying.”
Rick smiled slightly.
That’s what you get for getting testy with me. I have more years of experience being ornery than you do.
“Seriously though, what else can we try?”
“Not sure. Based off how badly he injured me, there’s a real possibility he’s not around anymore. For all we know, he might have assumed he killed me. It wouldn’t be that far from the truth, if I’m being honest.”
“Do you want to head back then, maybe regroup and put our heads together?”
“Maybe… I’m going to look around a bit more before I make a decision. Oh, on a side note, I found what’s left of the car he hit us with. Not sure how, but he used our own car. What’s left of it is sitting at the bottom of a crater.”
“Seriously…? Son of a bitch. I hope they don’t dock my pay for this…”
Rick remained quiet, scanning the area while waiting for her to finish.
“Okay. Just keep us in the loop. HellKat out.”
“Newton out.”
Rick slammed his fist into his other hand.
This is stupid. Even with all my powers, I have no idea how to find this guy.
Sinking slowly toward the ground, he felt the anger slowly building as he approached. Touching down, the earth began vibrating. Dust and gravel started bouncing into the air, slowly drifting around him in a lazy orbit. Staring around the area in frustration, the energy swirling around him slowly increased, mirroring his mood. A dust devil sprung up from all the dust and debris swirling around him, quickly stretching upward into the sky. Realizing what was happening, he took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds in an effort to center himself, before slowly releasing it with his built up tension.
Anger isn’t going to help me figure this out. Come on, you’re a smart guy, what haven’t you tried? Inanna just downloaded a bunch of new abilities into your thick skull. Do any of them help here?
Rick considered different things he could try. With nothing springing to mind, he decided to see if changing to his indigo aura would help. Shifting, images of the previous fight started flashing though his mind. It was like the entire encounter kept playing through his mind on a loop, moving backward and forward. Each cycle gathered speed, pausing at different random spots before moving on again.
Becoming overwhelmed, he prepared to shift back. Suddenly, the memory stopped at the point where the first chunks of ice hit him. His senses shifted, altering his perception of the environment. A kaleidoscope of images rapidly tumbled through his mind before pausing again. This time, Rick made out what appeared to be tethers attached to the fields surrounding the chunks of ice.
Without understanding how, his field of vision shifted again, like he was drifting outside of his body. The new perspective allowed him to examine everything from a position different from what he experienced during the fight.
His mental replay shifted again, jarring him with the suddenness of it. Pausing, it allowed him to observe some of the projectiles he’d dodged impacting the ground, the tethers trailing off into the distance. After a few more jumps in his memory, he understood the insights his altered aura uncovered had finally run its course. Deep in thought, he shifted back. A bone deep weariness overtook him for a moment, leaving him slightly lightheaded before he recovered. It wasn’t quite as bad as his previous experiences, but it was still noticeable.
I’ll need to keep that in mind. Shifting my aura is definitely more draining than my normal color. I wonder if I can build up some stamina with practice?
Filing the question away for another time, he lifted off the ground, flying over to where the chunks of ice had impacted. Shifting his senses, he cycled through the different impressions before spotting what he was looking for.
Studying it more closely, he could faintly make out the remnants of the tethers used to direct the projectiles. Studying them, he got the impression they were slowly fading, but they were still visible enough for him to track. Preparing to launc
h himself into the air, he remembered he’d dropped his staff and combat spheres while trying to escape with his teammates.
Well, since I’m here, I should probably look for them.
Drifting up, he replayed his memories, trying to determine where they might have ended up. After several minutes of searching, he only found two of the six orbs he’d started with. The remaining four, along with his staff, were nowhere to be found.
Once this is over, I’ll need to come back and find them. I almost feel naked without ‘em.
Shrugging his shoulders, he lifted off again, mentally directing the orbs into the tube on his back. Adjusting his senses, he picked up the tenuous strings stretching off into the distance. Tapping his mic, he keyed up the radio.
“Newton to HellKat.”
“HellKat here. Are you heading back?”
“Negative, I picked up the possible trail of our target, heading out now. I’m sync’ing my GPS, so you should be able track my location. Hopefully it still works enough for that function.”
“Understood, good hunting. HellKat out.”
“Newton out.”
Pulling in energy, the surrounding air cracked as he launched himself forward, a contrail to forming behind him.
Ready or not, here I come!
§§§§§§§§§§§§
Rick slowed down, examining the tethers again. He’d been following it for a while now, floating along at what felt like a snail’s pace. He’d tried going faster, but whenever he went past a certain speed, his awareness instinctively switched gears, tracking moving objects instead of the energy trail he wanted to follow. Then he’d have to backtrack slightly in order to pick up where he’d lost it.
This sucks. I can fly at hypersonic speeds, but I feel like I’m moving about as fast as an Olympic sprinter. At this pace, I’ll be able to find him sometime next month…
Rick felt his speed start creeping up again. A moment later, the trail faded from sight.
Damn it! More time lost. If this takes much longer, I’m going to have to head back and get some food. Otherwise, I’m going to start getting weak.