ISSUE #11 (May 2021)
Written by John Cheese Featuring: Dare
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Courtyard Logistics, Waterloo Docks, Bludhaven…
“I’ve got eyes on the trucks.” Aliki whispered as she crouched on the crane at Waterloo docks, her gaze focused on eight armoured cars, “not to mention plenty of Blockbusters guys.” She added as two sects of men, most dressed in street clothes but some clad in bulletproof vests went over schedules and routes. “Any sign of the leadership?” William asked over the network link from Aliki’s mask to the cellar at Wild Horses. “The Electrocutioner is here.” Aliki announced as she caught sight of the armoured villain holding a large portable hard drive step into one of the trucks. “Your hunch was right; he’s got the courier drive and seems to be leading the convoy.” “Then calibrate your mask to detect EMF vibrations and you should have no problem tracking him.” William told her as the trucks begun to rumble and come to life. “Already on it.” Aliki replied as she watched the trucks leave Courtyard Logistics and began to run parallel to them. “Once Pradea Industries attacks the convoy I’ll make my move.” She added as the trucks left the docks and arrived at an intersection. As the trucks stopped, each one began to indicate, the trucks splitting into three groups, each group going in a different direction. Arriving at the intersection Aliki’s eyes narrowed as she watched the blue bar at the base of her HUD go up and down until she found the strongest signal. She was so focused on the trucks that she missed the grenade fly towards her, detonating at her feet in a massive flash of light. “What the…?” Aliki gasped as she saw a dark shape leap across the rooftop and grab her, slamming her to the floor. “Don’t make this difficult Dare.” The figure stated as Aliki tinted her lenses to remove the residual flare of the flashbang, the dark shape becoming a man dressed in black body armour and a helmet with a red visor standing over her. “I don’t want to hurt you.” He added, as Aliki backwards rolled into a crouching stance. “Then don’t.” Aliki answered as she saw the EMF reading drop dramatically as the truck containing the Electrocutioner drive off. “Now excuse me, I have a truck to catch.” She added, as she darted left and leapt onto the gantry crossing the road, before crossing onto the next building. Almost immediately the armoured figure followed. “My employer won’t like that.” The armoured figure announced as Aliki crossed the building and leapt across the gap, landing on the fire escape on the side of the structure. Climbing the ladder, she heard a whistle go over her head and detonate above her, thick adhesive splashing over her left hand. Straining to free herself, she looked over at the figure as he slotted the grenade launcher over his shoulder, and leapt across the gap after her, clinging to the side of the fire escape. “So, the Countess has a new enforcer.” Aliki groaned as she slipped her hand out of the glove and pulled herself up onto the roof. “This is my first and last job, I’m not going to take a stupid code name like the others.” The man grunted as he rolled onto the fire escape and started climbing after her. Not bothering to wait for him, Aliki moved to the next roof, leaping across to a structure with a solar panel array, hitting the energy array and skidding down it to a walkway across the street. As she got ready to move through the open roof garden attached to the walkway, Aliki heard a thud as her pursuer hit the solar panel, the glass shattering from his weight and impact. “Who is this guy William?” Aliki asked as she ran through the garden and leapt off the edge of the balcony, dropping down onto another balcony and then to the ground, just as an armoured car drove down the road past her, heading towards a road tunnel under the railway. “I don’t recognise him.” William replied as the chaser leapt off the balcony and tackled her to the ground, placing his hands around her neck to keep her pinned. Growling in anger, Aliki brought her legs up and tumbled forwards into the road, reversing their position and running after the truck. Recovering, her opponent sprung forward landing a punch in her back, knocking her back down to the floor. “Step back Dare, you don’t want any part of this.” The man growled as both parties got back to their feet. “Already part of it.” Aliki replied as she dropped into a fighting pose. “You are good at street running, you take risks like a professional and you’re definitely athletic. Blockbuster and the Countess brought you in specially to what? Take me out, hurt me?” “Distract you.” The man replied as Aliki backed up against the wall of the tunnel. “I know what happened to your sister, you want to know more, then leave the convoy alone.” He added as Aliki placed her foot against the wall of the tunnel. “No thanks.” Aliki replied as she sprung off the tunnel, slamming into her attacker, before backflipping back to where she was standing and turning to climb the wall. Rolling over, the man removed his grenade launcher and fired two quick shots, the projectiles detonating into slippery foam that caused Aliki to slip, giving him time to reload before she got out of sight. Reaching the top of the bridge, Aliki ran along the edge of the railway, heading to the nearby station, her chaser shadowing her below her. “I need a way to cut off the convoy.” Aliki grunted as she reached the station and muscled through the crowd of commuters, almost knocking over a man with a scared face. “Head down to the Drawbridge and cross the river, you can head the trucks off when they cross the river.” William announced as the chasing man climbed up the steps to meet Aliki, the crowd scattering as he drew his grenade launcher and tracker, Aliki as she leapt across the rail, a flashbang grenade going wide as he opened fire. “I need to lose this guy first.” Aliki added as she leapt down the stairs on the other side. Crossing the footbridge, the pursuing hunter looked down at where he’d seen Aliki drop only to see that she was nowhere to be seen. “This is Xtreme, I’ve lost her.” The man stated as he walked down the stairs and scanned the under structure of the elevated station. “Heading back to the convoy, she’ll strike again, you made it very clear that she doesn’t easily give up.” He added as he sprinted towards the nearest building and climbed up the drainpipe to the roof. As he moved out of sight, Aliki dropped down from the ironwork under structure onto the ground. “Look for someone called Xtreme or something similar William, and look for a secondary point to cut off the convoy.” Aliki ordered as she darted to the same drainpipe as Xtreme. “This guy is almost as fast and skilled as me at crossing urban terrain but he’s also heavier and that means there are places he can’t catch me without risking a fall.” “What are you suggesting?” William asked as Aliki looked northwards towards the drawbridge. “That I beat my shadow,” Aliki replied, “on my terms.” Little Drawbridge, Bludhaven… The armoured truck stopped at the red light; its driver twitchy from the waiting he had to do at the drawbridge. Despite having a massive target on them, the guards had been lucky thus far, as far as they knew neither Dare nor Pradea had cottoned onto what they were doing. As the barge loaded with shipping containers made its way into port, the front seat passenger toggled the UV scope on his shotgun, the letters H-0221 flashing up on the lifted carriageway. “We’re making good time.” The spotter stated as the barge cleared the bridge and the road began to lower. “I’ll feel safer when we arrive on the Block’s territory.” The driver replied as he waited for the barriers to lift. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s worse out here; sure, Dare and Nightwing leave you alive, but then you have to face the Countess’s wrath, at least Pradea just kill you outright.” “Nah man, from what I’ve heard Shark’s the only one who will kill you outright.” The spotter replied as the barrier began to lift. “Apparently that Vulture freak has a lab set up where he tests new chemical weapons.” “I call bull, the Block, hell the US government wouldn’t stand for chemical weapon testing in the ‘Haven.” The driver snorted as down on the river, one of the shipping containers opened up and a double-barrelled harpoon gun was revealed. Opening fire, the massive spears slammed through the armoured car’s flanks, cable trailing after it. “All forces we are under fire!” The spotter yelled as the driver gunned the engine, only to be held in place. Behind him the security escort got out of their cars, weapons ready and aimed at the harpoon gun. As they began to open fire more containers opened up, revealing quad-rotor drones, the mechanical weapons platforms reaching a cruising altitude and opening fire, even as the harpoon gun began to winch back its captured prey. Viaduct Lane, Bludhaven… Aliki darted across one the building, before landing on one of the armoured trucks stopped at an intersection. As far as she knew it wasn’t the one that contained the courier drive, but that didn’t matter, the reaction from the guards was instant, with shots fired from the escort vehicles. Seconds later Xtreme dropped down towards her, second before he impacted with the vehicles roof Aliki was in motion leaping onto the following Ford Taurus and then up onto the hood of the big rig following her. “I’ve got her.” Xtreme announced as he levelled his launcher and fired a shot at the trucks roof, the flashbang rattling the driver. Blinking, Aliki had enough time to see the truck speed off as her attacker followed her up onto the big-rig, landing three violent blows in quick succession on her. Backing up, Aliki then leapt up onto the side of the building, Xtreme mirroring her as both of them climbed onto the roof. “Not yet.” Aliki replied as she got to the rooftop and vaulted over an air-conditioner. “But if you want me…” She stated as she got to the opposite edge of the building just as Xtreme rolled over the air conditioner, “…come and get me.” She finished as she sprang backwards off the building. Running to the edge of the building Xtreme looked around before leaping off the building to continue the pursuit. Behind him someone moved on the fire escape, and in one swift movement, Aliki tackled the armoured man mid-air, the pair crashing down towards the road below. With a thud, Xtreme landed back first on the asphalt, Aliki sprawled over his chest. “I am trying to save this city; you could help me.” Aliki hissed as Xtreme brought his arms around her, crushing her close to his chest. “I’m almost free, I won’t risk it!” Xtreme growled as Aliki thrashed to free herself, her hand reaching for the grenade launcher. Gritting her teeth, Aliki grabbed the gun and brought the weapon down hard against the side of Xtreme’s head, the sound ringing. As she went for a second blow, the sound of a horn blaring sounded as a car came rushing towards them. Kicking Aliki way, Xtreme rolled out the way as the car drove past, the driver swearing at the pair of them. Looking around, Xtreme saw Aliki sprinting down the pavement, snaking through the pedestrian foot traffic. Growling in frustration, Xtreme ran after Aliki watching as she ducked into an alleyway, the sides of the buildings studded with metal bars and slide out walkways to connect them. Reaching the alleyway, Xtreme looked around before orientating his view up to see Aliki crouched on the side of the building. “What are you waiting for?” Aliki asked as Xtreme climbed up the fire escape onto the opposite rooftop. “You ready to stop running?” Xtreme asked as he levelled his grenade launcher at her. “Are you ready to stop chasing?” Aliki asked as she leapt onto one of the metal bars, the landing causing the bar to bow slightly. “Only when the job is done!” Xtreme growled as he jumped down onto the bar, the additional weight of his armour causing the bar to snap. As both Aliki and Xtreme fell, the pair of them reached for the next metal bar. While Aliki swung herself up and towards one of the fire-escapes on the building, the ladder jolting down giving her a safe express elevator to the floor below. Xtreme was less lucky, the bar he reached out for snapped as did the two below as he fell to the concrete landing head first, the helmet and armour cracking as he landed. Running over to her fallen foe, Aliki felt for a pulse, only to get no response. “William, I think Xtreme is dead.” Aliki gulped as she tried to remove the helmet to look at the man’s face, her fingers brushing against a button on the side. “I think…I think I killed him.” “You didn’t.” William replied as Aliki failed to remove the helmet and started backing towards the entrance to the alleyway. “He had a choice not to follow, you said it yourself he was almost as good as you, he should have realised…” “No, I baited him, I lured him here.” Aliki replied as she turned away from the body, looking out at the dim light. “Once I have the courier drive, I’m going to hand myself in.” “It’s your choice.” William replied as he brought up a map on the left eye of Aliki’s HUD. “You’re going to have to be quick, Pradea have caught the Electrocutioner’s truck and are getting ready to crack it open.” He added, as Aliki darted away, her hands still shaking at the thought of what she had just done. After about a minute, Xtreme’s body twitched and he pushed himself to his feet, the visor tinting purple with a red crosshair forming over where the left-hand eye should be. Snarling and hissing, drool leaking out of the corner of the helmet as if the man inside had become feral, its head tilted at an odd angle from the broken neck. Taking a few short steps Xtreme’s body almost collapsed before pushing itself back up onto its feet, the same grunting and hissing coming from its lips. Walking out onto the street, Xtreme moved its head slightly and ran towards the opposite side of the road with an unnatural speed and then began climbing up the building. The Electrocutioner sat in the dark space, the sound of bangs and crashes emanating from outside as he subconsciously checked the courtier drive was still secure in the hard case he had strapped to his leg. He had had a close encounter with Dare the earlier day, but it appeared that Xtreme had done his job and scared the vigilante off. Taking a deep breath, he looked around in the dark at the people he was travelling with, conscious that he was out in the field without his usual weapons that would normally give him an advantage. “Here we go.” The Electrocutioner mummed as he began to see a glimmer of light from the far end of where he was sitting. Getting to his feet, he saw others doing the same, getting ready for what was about to come. “The next stop is St Eustace’s Station, Change here for the Red Line South Link and the Green Line.” A voice announced over the PA system as the train exited the tunnel. Grimacing, the Electrocutioner melted into the crowd as he made his way down to the main station as he continued his journey northwards. |