Dick had traveled miles out from Bludhaven, and stopped at a low rent
hotel off the highway. After pulling into the driveway, he
turned the Nightbird off, and set his keys in the pocket of his
jacket. Two men walked out from the hotel, both wearing
immaculate black suits, and Rayban shades. The one on the
left had long black hair tied into a ponytail, and he was Caucasian;
the other was an African American with a fro and mustache.
"What are you doing here?" asked the man on the left.
"I was hoping to stay at this fine establishment," said Dick.
"Who are you?" asked the man on the right.
"My name is Wilbur Johanson, and it's a pleasure to meet you boys."
"Sorry, Wilbur
is it?"
"Yes indeed."
"Well, Wilbur this hotel is closed to the public."
"Why's that?"
"Because it just is," said the man on the right.
Dick eyed both of them, and then got back into his car, and pulled away.
Soames lie in bed sweating profusely. He ran a hand through
his prickly, sandy brown hair, and grabbed the telephone where he
immediately dialed Deloris' numbers. After two rings she
answered.
"Deloris," he said.
"Yes, Mr. Mayor?"
"I am not feeling well. I need you to cancel my appointments."
"I will get to it right away, sir."
He hung up the phone, and lay his head back. His whole body
shivered.
Bridget walked back upstairs, and plopped down on her bed.
She didn't want to open her almond eyes because of the tears that ran
down her cheeks. A heart felt goodbye would have made her
feel a bit better about him leaving, but instead, he left her near the
city limits to walk all the way back. She was a fit girl, and
the walk wasn't hard, but it was the rudeness of the act. Not
to mention the danger of the criminals in the city. She wiped
back her short black locks, and sighed.
She didn't understand what was going on with him, and she wasn't sure
she cared anymore.
Kasumi dropped down over the security gate, which separated the Mayor's
manor from the corrupted streets of Bludhaven. She pulled
shurikens from her belt and hurled them at the patrolling guards before
pressing forward. The security cameras whirred, as they
scanned over the property.
She ducked low, and used the darkness to conceal her presence, as she
made for the doorway. Once through she tossed several pellets
on the floor, which let out a gas that put the guard dogs to sleep.
From there on in she crept quietly into where she expected Soames to
be, only to find someone else waiting; a man taller than her with a
thick build, a shaved head, and wearing leather.
"Who are you?" she asked.
The man turned around with his hand on his belt. A silver
nose ring connected to the diamond stud in his ear. On his
bicep was a sword with wings tattoo, and he sported a goatee.
"Deathwing," he said.
Kasumi started to draw a dagger from her belt, but her foe tackled her
to the ground before she could reach it. He slammed his
forehead against the bridge of her nose, and wrapped his meaty hands
around her throat. She could feel her lungs burn from the
lack of air, and in desperation, she kicked him in the back three
times. The fourth time, she bowled him over, but he managed
to get to his feet before she did. He grabbed her by the back
of her mask, and rammed her face into his knee several times until
blood seeped through the nets that covered her eyes.
"Does that hurt, baby?" he asked.
"You tell me!"
she said, grabbing his testicles with a hand claw slipped on.
He screamed in pain, and let go of her mask. She continued
squeezing until he nearly passed out from the pain, but she kept
slapping him across the face to keep him conscious.
"Talk," she said. "Where is Soames?"
He groaned in pain, and then uttered one word. "Ship."
"What ship?"
"Harbor," he said, pain lancing through his lower
extremities. "The ship's called the
Morrison."
"Good boy."
Kasumi let go, and kicked him in the temple. He
fell sideways landing on his face.
It was nightfall, and Dick put on his black body suit with its blue
bird insignia. He considered foregoing the extra
layering, but considering he didn't know what awaited him; reason
dictated otherwise. When he was ready, he checked over his
equipment twice to be sure, and then made his way toward the
hotel. He held a map in his right hand that listed a possible
entrance to the sub-level below the hotel.
But, first he had to get past the guard detail in front, and odds were
they weren't carrying pea shooters under their fine jackets, so he
pulled a knockout gas pellet from a compartment in his glove; and snuck
as close up as he could to toss it at them. By the time they
took notice of it, the quick acting gas had them face down in the dirt.
Following the map, he surveyed the area beside the east side of the
hotel. There, he found an air grate, which he pulled off, and
lowered a rope down. Making sure it was taut, he
climbed down into the sub-levels beneath the hotel. On his
left, he saw the FBI logo, and that made him all the more curious on
what he would discover up ahead.
Soames woke up with a start, a damp towel on his forehead. He
looked around the bedroom on his ship, and he breathed a sigh of
relief. Next to him sat his bodyguard, Scarlet
Jones. She took the towel from his forehead, and re-wet it
before putting it back. Her wavy red hair hung down to her
shoulders, which made her stand out among all the women he had been
with before. He placed his hand on her tanned cheek, which
accentuated her Mexican heritage
"What would I do with out you, Scarlet?"
"You'd be dead," she said, "and I would still be working security
detail for the former mayor."
"But, don't you just love the changes?"
"Yes," she said, leaning down to kiss him.
He pecked her on the lips before giving a firm embrace and a slap on
the ass. They were disturbed, however, by the Aryan looking
Trigger Twins.
"What do you two fucks
want?"
"Is that anyone to talk to us, Soames?" asked Tad Trigger.
"I think he forgot his place," said Tod Trigger.
"I forgot nothing," said Soames, "I'm the Mayor."
"The Mayor, who answers to our boss," said Tad Trigger.
Tod Trigger walked toward Soames, and Scarlet. He grabbed her
by the wrist, and pulled her away from Soames, but he found himself
hunched over in pain with her boot in his stomach.
"Don't touch
me!"
"You shouldn't have done that lady," said Tad Trigger.
Scarlet brought the back of her foot down on Tod's head, and spun
around to confront Tad.
"Bring it on!"
Soames reached under his mattress, as Scarlet fought with Tad
Trigger. He pulled out a .44 Magnum, and cocked back the
hammer as he aimed it at Tad Trigger.
"Oh Tad," said Soames, "smile for me!"
Tad looked at Soames, only to take a slug right between the
eyes. Tod screamed upon seeing his brother fall to the floor.
"Who’s next?" asked Soames, as he looked down at Tod.
Kasumi sat still as the medic tended to her twice broken
nose. Sensei walked up to her, and planted himself right next
to her. The mat proved to be harsh comfort when placed on the
hard concrete, but neither Sensei nor student showed their discomfort.
"How goes your mission?" he asked.
"I know where Soames is," she said.
"Why did you not go there immediately?"
"Because," she said, "I want to be at my best when I make him
suffer."
"You should have killed him by now," he said, "but, I will
grant you this reprieve.
"Besides, it matters not when he dies."
"Thank you, Sensei."
"You are welcome, my daughter."
Sensei walked away, and Kasumi lowered her head.
Nightwing had tried several different corridors, but all of them ended
up the same; dead-ends. It took him a while to find a path that lead to
a room where he found James Jesse in prison clothes, and eating
dinner. James looked the same with a mop of dirty blonde
hair, and wild blue eyes. Before he could proceed to speak
with the former Rogue, Agent Blane walked into the room. So,
he placed a transmitter on the wall, and listened in to their
conversation.
"How are you doing, James?"
"Fine, yeah," he said, "just fine."
"Good, I am hoping we can begin the second phase soon."
Blane snapped his fingers, and an agent walked in to remove the tray of
food.
"I will have a shower prepared for you, and your clothes," said Blane,
"I hope you won't disappoint me."
James watched Blane leave, and drew his legs in, and rocked back and
forth on his cot.
Nightwing watched him, waiting to figure out his next move.
Scarlet wiped the blood from her lips, and kicked the corpse of Tad
Trigger. She then walked over to Soames and sat beside
him. He wrapped his arm around her, and set down his gun.
"I think it's time we settled this dispute with Agent Blane," he said,
"call Red Claw."
"What do we need with your ex-wife?" she asked, "I can do any job you
require."
"Like you love, I know Aleta won't fuck with me," said Soames, "now get
her on the GODDAMN phone!"
"All right," said Scarlet, as she got up off the bed. "Jerk."
The medic looked at the black and blue swelling that distorted Kasumi's
delicate Asian features. He swept back her long bangs, and
put the face guard on, to which she expressed some
discomfort. When he was finished, she snapped her fingers,
and an apprentice brought in her clothes. He possessed homely
features, and eyes filled with malice. As she reached out for
her clothes, the boy made a sudden movement, and the medic stared in
shock as Kasumi caught the boy's wrist, and in his hand was a knife
that was inches from her heart. With a simple twist she broke
his wrist.
"Try to kill me again," said Kasumi, "and I will kill
you!"
The boy nodded as she applied pressure to his broken wrist.
"Now, get out of here," said Kasumi, "and don't bother me again."
Once the boy left, she put on her uniform with only the medic
around. He captured a brief peek at her backside before she
pulled her pants up, and she turned around with a smile on her face.
"Like the show?"
When the guards started to escort James Jesse from his cell, Nightwing
made his move, and threw two stun darts into their necks leaving only
himself and James awake.
"Come on, James," said Nightwing. "I'm going to take you out of here."
"Why?" asked James, "I -- kinda like it here."
"Trust me, this isn't a good place to be," said Nightwing, "and you are
not where you belong."
"Yo-you're trying to put me back there!" he said, stumbling
back. "I'm not going back there!"
"Back where?" asked Nightwing.
Before James could answer, Nightwing was struck from behind, causing
him to collapse to the ground. James stared at Nightwing's assailant
with fear in his eyes.
To
be Continued... Next Issue:Dick
Grayson: Fugitive! NEVERMORE:
When
a man is on the run with everything to lose, and his back turned to his
friends; he deserves no comfort.
