by C A Ardron
The man was huge, his skin a pasty white and his hair almost non-existent. It was so short it was more of a brownish shadow covering his head than actual hair.
Dove would normally have been disgusted by the man's grimy and torn clothes, in need of several washes probably, but she was much more concerned by the unmistakable mark left bare by his once-white, cotton vest.
As was tradition, when not being overt for any reason, the Sarpien had allowed the vivid green snake to be seen by everyone. The eyes were only glowing dimly, Dove noted. She knew she'd seen them glowing brighter than that before, perhaps the distance had something to do with it?
The tall, muscle-bound man turned away as his associate moved, entering the children's park.
Dove did grip the wooden bench now; she knew the second one. His black shirt was long-sleeved, the snake mark concealed from everyone, but Dove knew that face. It was hard and narrow, his hair the jet black of the Lowlands in the far south and his left eye was marred by the long, ugly scar which ran directly through it.
Dove gasped as the dangerous man, several knives visible about his person, strode over to the nearest child. She made herself ready. If this Sarpien, which could surely only be Mantis, drew a weapon, she would have no choice but to act, whether she was alone or not.
To her relief, it seemed Mantis didn't have murder on his mind – for once. He grasped the nearest child, a young boy of no more than twelve. The Sarpien took an uncomfortably long time studying the boy's terrified face.
‘A boy with blond hair?’ Mantis pushed the child away and turned to the enormous Sarpien a couple of feet away. ‘Has Jackal got any idea how many blond kids live in West Sector?’
The other Sarpien shrugged. ‘Those are the General's orders, Mantis. We should get on with it.’
Mantis looked over the twelve or so blond kids sceptically. ‘What do you want to do with all of them, Rhino? Stick them in a van?’
Grey Rhino, of course. Who else would it be? But they couldn't possibly be thinking..?
Rhino's face lit up with revelation. ‘Yes! That is a great idea!’
‘Rhino! That is not a great idea!’ Mantis grated through clenched teeth.
There were startled exclamations from all quarters at what the Sarpiens were discussing. Dove had to stop them. Lion had still not arrived to help; he may not even know there was trouble. She couldn't radio for help. She might as well have waved her hands in the air and shouted “I'm a Predgarian” if she did that.
Lion didn't use the Power for anything, but she'd been hoping he might've tried to use her channelling orb anyway. She was a firm believer in everyone having some sort of talent for the Power, and Lion was strong. Since telepathy was one of the most universal skills, she was sure he would've worked it out.
She was out of time, but still she hesitated. The fact that Predgarian warriors were supposed to stay anonymous to the public was the last thing on her mind right now. Hers was a supporting role within her unit, she doubted she could beat them by herself.
She needed a distraction. Her medallion rested against her skin beneath her dress, but she would need a few moments.
She tried to ignore the voice in her head asking just what she thought she was doing. Those two were Elite Sarpiens, did she actually think she was going to come out of this alive?
‘Why not, Mantis?’ Rhino looked around to see if there were any vans nearby.
‘Rhino,’ Mantis began, his tone agitated. He turned and glared at everyone coldly, irritated with their chatter.
Now might be her best chance, while there was only one of them nearby.
Dove swallowed, remembering the things she'd heard about Mantis. His aim with a thrown blade was unparalleled, his thirst for blood unending. When one faced Mantis, you faced not a Sarpien, but death itself.
Rhino let out a strangled yelp. Mantis spun on the spot, and Dove jerked her head, wondering what had happened.
A man stood in front of him. Dove beamed, filled with a relief so strong she thought she would burst. The man, though much thinner, was almost as tall as Rhino. That height alone told Dove who it was. The man's face was obscured by the bronze, half-mask of the hawk, and his light breastplate, gauntlets, boots and greaves all had that same metallic hue.
As Rhino backed a few steps, the Bronze Hawk unfurled the two great, brown-feathered wings on his back and then unsheathed the short sword at his waist.
‘Back, Rhino,’ Mantis barked through the still air. ‘I want this one.’
Rhino deferred to him, and Dove was suddenly gripped with fear all over again as the Sarpien reached down and clutched his green medallion in one hand.
The man disappeared briefly in a bright green light. Dove's breath caught as people around them cried in terror. The Sarpien's armour was similar to Hawk's. It was the same design of light armour which allowed for quick movement. Mantis didn't have the half-mask that revealed the face below the nose, but a full helmet highlighting the bulbous eyes and awful mandibles.
The Sarpien let loose a sinister, hissing laugh as he unfolded his gossamer, green-tinted wings.
Hawk gripped his sword in one hand, his mouth a grim line. The Praying Mantis had not yet drawn a weapon.
Dove swallowed, hoping Hawk was fast enough to avoid the two green-hilted daggers strapped to the Insecta warrior's sides. The tips and curved edges of the blades were also tinted. Mantis' daggers were coated in a lethal poison – most people knew that. One little nick would have you keeling over within minutes, even with an activated medallion.
Mantis did not draw his most prized weapons, however. He opted for a couple of his smaller throwing knives. They had a straight edge, missing that dangerous, poisonous tint. These knives were meant for slowing and taking down, not for killing.
Rhino seemed quite content to watch, and had his back to Dove. She very slowly stood and backed from the bench towards the towering beeches behind her.
When she was safely concealed behind one of the wide trunks, she quickly pulled her medallion out from under her dress. grasping it in just one hand.
It sprang to life in a surge of white energy. It enveloped her completely, and she could feel her armour appearing around her. The power of the medallion coursed through her, making her stronger. The light dissipated, and Dove reappeared wearing her light but sturdy white breastplate and battle kilt. Her matching boots and gauntlets fit perfectly, and the metal mask covered her face in exactly the same way Hawk's did.
She glanced down at the silvery markings running down her arms in the ancient runic alphabet and unfurled her huge, brilliantly white feathery wings. She ran one hand through her long hair, knowing that her transformation would have turned it the same colour as her armour and wings.
She stepped out from behind the tree to help Hawk and found Lion had appeared. The big man must not have been far behind Hawk. She smiled in admiration for him once more. His armour looked heavy, every bit of him covered by shining gold metal. His helmet left no weak point and was worked into the shape of a lion's head.
He had drawn his great broadsword and was forcing the even more giant Rhino away from the innocent people in the park, who were for the most part running for their lives now help had arrived.
Dove lifted off the ground with her immense wings. Lion would not need her help, but Hawk might.
From her higher vantage point, she could see her fellow Avian again. His battle with Mantis had taken them almost to the road. She couldn't see any wounds or knives sticking out of him and was quite relieved. Hawk must've been fast enough to avoid them.
Dove gasped as Hawk veered to one side. Mantis had lunged at him with a poisoned dagger, but Hawk had been ready.
She had to split them up. Mantis was too fast, Hawk was only just avoiding all the different knife thrusts. She flew closer and raised one gauntleted hand. A blinding beam of pure energy erupted from it and blasted Mantis in the middle of his back.
Hawk had seen her start the attack and when the Sarpien s
tarted to fall forwards he stepped to one side.
Mantis recovered quickly, knives still in hand. He ignored Dove and went straight into another attack at the bronze Avian.
Hawk leapt backwards, his wings working furiously. Mantis turned to follow his movement, but Hawk was now above him and spun in mid-air, hitting him between the shoulders with a perfectly aimed Sheer-Kick.
Dove smiled. To pull off an Avian technique of such precision while in combat with an Elite Sarpien was something even a Dakkonin warrior would be impressed by.
Mantis growled deep in his throat, backing away. ‘Rhino,’ he roared and then ran towards the road.
Rhino looked around after punching Lion in the face with his heavy gauntlet. The captain recovered within seconds and once more brought his gleaming, golden sword to bear.
Rhino now ran up the grass verge to join his fellow Sarpien. Hawk flapped his wings as the two Sarpiens began to flee.
‘Hawk! Let them go!’ Lion called.
Hawk hesitated. ‘But Lion, they –’
‘You're the only one with the speed to catch them,’ Lion shook his head as he sheathed his giant sword on his back. ‘Mantis would like nothing better than to take you out on his terms.’
‘You're right, I suppose.’ He made an angry growling sound in his throat.
Dove laid a hand on his arm. ‘There will come a time, Hawk.’
Hawk nodded curtly and took to the air. Lion and Dove watched him as he flew in the direction of the Centre. Dove walked with Lion to the road but then turned to scan the park.
‘Something wrong?’ Lion asked, waiting for her.
‘Mantis and Rhino were looking for someone, Lion. A boy.’ She shook her head. ‘They didn't seem to know any specifics. They were going to take any with blond hair.’
Dove could feel that Lion was troubled with her empathy. No one could hide their feelings from her.
He began to trot down the street. ‘Let's catch up with Hawk.’
As usual, even knowing she was empathic, Lion had completely forgotten she could feel his every emotion. It made Dove smile; she preferred it that way. If Lion or any of the others worried about her picking up how they felt all the time, they would surely become more distant.
‘Perhaps Tiger and Leopard can shed some light on what's happening here,’ Lion continued.
Dove nodded. ‘I hope so.’ She continued to walk beside Lion even though she could have flown. The Predgarian Centre was not far after all and while she would never openly admit it, she liked the captain's company.
When they arrived back at the neat building stood apart from the houses lining both sides of the street, Dove and Lion found Hawk in the office. He had deactivated his armour and taken the time to grab an apple from the fruit bowl in the kitchen.
Lion and Dove touched their medallions to rid themselves of their armour, glowing incandescently in gold and white. When the lights faded they both stood in their normal clothes.
Hawk's face was unreadable, but his emotions were not under control. Dove was well practised in her gifts within the Power and could use most of them without her medallion being active.
Hawk was angry. It was an indignant, righteous anger, born from the knowledge that Sarpiens were attacking children in a park not five minutes away from the Centre.
Dove placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder ‘Are you all right, Hawk?’
‘Fine.’
‘You're not hurt?’ she pressed.
‘Of course not.’
She frowned. It was just like him to be so casual after a fight with Mantis. He wasn't Dakkonin, he had no business getting anywhere close to an Elite Sarpien, never mind one of the most deadly assassins they knew of.
Lion grabbed the radio resting on his belt. ‘Fire Tiger, this is Lion, give me your current status.’
There was a slight crackle. ‘Routine patrol, Captain,’ Tiger's light voice came across.
Tiger was far out of range of Dove's empathy, but the Feline warrior was clearly annoyed. That was usual behaviour for the Feline woman though, she didn't like being interrupted on patrol.
‘There’s a lot of Sarpiens around,’ Tiger continued. ‘They appear to be concentrating on crowded areas and where kids gather. People are getting nervous.’
‘Children again,’ Dove exclaimed. ‘What could Jackal want with them?’
Lion raised a hand to quieten her. ‘Understood.’
The captain's voice was calm, but Dove could feel his tension.
‘Keep a sharp watch. We've just had a run-in with Mantis and Rhino. Dove thinks they're looking for a certain individual, a teenage boy with blond hair. Have you heard anything from the Dakkonin?’
‘That's the oddest thing,’ Leopard's deeper, more serious voice came across the speaker.
Dove couldn't remember a time when the dangerous Feline-class woman had not sounded serious.
‘We haven't seen any, not a single one,’ Leopard continued.
The calm Lion had been maintaining on the outside evaporated, his body now visibly tensing. ‘I'll get on that, then. Be careful, if Mantis and Rhino are out then the others might be too. If you find Jackal or Cobra, do not engage under any circumstances, not until you've got back-up.’
'I'll keep you informed,' Tiger replied and the radio went dead.
Dove saw Hawk smirk at Tiger's stiff tone. The woman was proud of her Predgarian upbringing and took offence at even the slightest indication that she might need help in a fight.
Lion immediately went to his desk and sat down. He picked up his phone receiver and punched in the number for the West Sector Dakkonin base.
Dove held her breath as Lion tried to get through four times in a row.
‘Well?’ Hawk asked impatiently, throwing what was left of his apple in the bin.
Lion looked at them worriedly. ‘No one's picking up.’
‘Leopard said they hadn't seen any Dakkonin,’ Dove reminded him, mirroring his concern.
Hawk crossed his arms, looking more serious than he ever had. ‘If there's none in town and none at their base, just where exactly are they?’
‘Lion,’ Dove gasped. ‘If there are two Elites out there, maybe more, maybe even Jackal, and no Dakkonin...’
Lion nodded, his mouth a grim line. ‘We have to get out there.’
‘We're Predgarians,’ Hawk reminded them. ‘Last time I checked this wasn't in the job description.’
Lion stood and walked from behind his desk. ‘You'd prefer to leave West Sector to the Sarpiens?’
‘Not a chance,’ Hawk grinned. ‘Well, my day just got a whole lot more interesting.’
‘Too interesting for me,’ Dove told him, playing along. She could feel his fear, but knew Hawk liked to cover it by making jokes and acting cocky. She turned to Lion. ‘What about Wolf?’
‘Wolf's in Central Sector. He wouldn't get back here in time.’
‘Still, don't you think you should let him know? He might be able to bring help if he asks the area commander.’ She ignored Lion's scowl when she mentioned his least favourite person and smiled up at him.
‘All right,’ he sighed. ‘You two get in the air. I'll join Tiger and Leopard on their patrol. I'll ring the temple and see if I can't get some reinforcements, who knows, maybe someone will know what's happened to the Dakkonin.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
The morning looked too nice for such horrible events.
Dove tried to keep up with Hawk's faster pace in the air. She didn't have her friend's sharp, bird-of-prey eyesight but did her best to pick out any trouble below between the packed housing.
West Sector was oddly quiet, and Dove couldn't help but wonder if they'd missed their chance to stop whatever the Sarpiens were up to. It wasn't like there were a lot of Sarpiens around, as far as she could tell. She gestured to Hawk when he glanced over in her direction and landed on the flat roof of a shop.
Hawk joined her with a flurry of wings. ‘What's up?’
‘Don't you think
this is a little odd?’ she looked about her, not quite believing how quiet it was. ‘We know the Red Jackal has a lot of Sarpiens. There's always a few about, even if they're trying to be incognito.’
Hawk looked down at the empty street below. ‘Yeah, It's quiet, all right. Feels like everyone's waiting for something.’
Dove nodded thoughtfully. Hawk was right, whatever was happening had affected the civilians too. There was an awful feeling in the air. Whatever it was, it was so tangible that everyone could sense it.
Hawk ruffled his wings nervously. ‘I hope Wolf makes it back soon, I'm startin' to think we're gonna need him.’
‘Yes,’ Dove agreed and took flight as an old lady left her house. She looked very frail and was dressed in an old-fashioned blue dress, her white hair arranged neatly in short curls.
‘Oh, hello,’ the lady said in a wobbly voice when Dove landed and walked over to her.
The old woman shambled across her front lawn, the borders decorated by brightly coloured, flowering plants. She stepped up the path and leaned on her small front gate. ‘Oh, don't you look lovely.’
Dove smiled. Quite often civilians avoided her, finding her glistening armour and huge wings intimidating. ‘Is all well with you today, ma'am?’ She folded her wings onto her back.
The lady looked up and down the street. ‘I'm not sure, you know. My grandsons always come for lunch at this time. I wonder where they are?’
Dove went cold. ‘What do your grandsons look like?’
‘Oh, they're only little.’ She let out a squawking laugh. ‘They don't like me to tell people that though. Twelve and thirteen, they are.’
‘Blond?’ Hawk asked casually.
Dove glanced behind her. He'd followed her onto the street and was stood in the middle of the road.
‘Yes.’ The old lady beamed at them both. ‘Have you seen them?’
‘We may have,’ Dove kept her voice calm, she didn't want to alarm the woman. ‘If we see them, we'll tell them you're waiting.’
‘Oh, you're so very nice.’
Dove nodded and turned away, gesturing for Hawk to follow her up the street and out of the old lady's earshot. ‘Hawk?’ she whispered.