Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[Halcyon638]

Gabi wrapped Monica up in a hug and kissed her urgently before letting her go.

As she zipped over the city in the Sliver, Monica could see flashing police lights scattered all over like lights on a giant Christmas tree.

Arriving at the waterfront, a bit of relief set in as she spotted two squad cars and an ambulance already on the scene. Descending farther, though, she noticed the bodies.

Three police officers and a paramedic were lying on the ground along with what appeared to be one or two civilians. It appeared that some of the waterfront festival’s attendees had made their way to a nearby park, others were congregating on the roof of a parking garage, and still others were caught in a traffic jam caused by people attempting to flee the area. Several of the drivers honked angrily as if that would facilitate the flow of vehicles.

Monica spotted one of the transformed humans pulling itself up over the top ledge of the parking garage. The people gathered, some of whom were hiding under cars, let out cries and shouts as they registered its presence.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica maneuvered the sliver over the parking deck, then jumped out with her chain at the ready. She reminded herself the "monster" was likely every bit a victim, and if she could subdue the person without killing them she wanted to. That didn't mean she wouldn't do what had to be done, but she'd at least make the effort of wrapping them up before moving on. Hopefully one of the cops would mention her apartment building at some point so she had an excuse to go back. For now though. she started whirling the chain and moving in to draw the monster's attention.

 

[Halcyon638]

The creature temporarily seemed mesmerized by the swirling of the chain, its eyes following the metal. It made its way toward Monica hunched over, snarling and holding its clawed hands out wide.

“It’s Nighthawk,” she heard one of the men crouching behind a parked sedan exclaim. There were a few excited murmurs, but none of them drew the monster’s attention away from her.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica whirled the chain, intending to keep the thing focused on her "stay hidden" she said to everyone. When she was close enough, she let loose with the chain, using the fact that she could strike at a distance to try to wrap the legs of the altered human up and entangle it. Her priority at this point was to end this with a minimal loss of life.

 

[Halcyon638]

The chain encircled the creature, looping around its torn khakis and bringing it to its knees. It let out a guttural hiss, at first trying to rise to its feet again but getting nowhere as Monica gave the metal a sharp yank. Next, it slipped its claws beneath the metal, trying to pry loose. Again, she pulled the chain hard, and it pulled its talons out quickly as if attempting to prevents its digits from getting constricted.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica lashed out with the other end of the chain as she stepped in. she had a lot less to work with, what with it already being somewhat wrapped around the person, but she knew from experience if she could wrap the other end of that chain around its torso she might be able to knock it out and take it to the cops, then hopefully ask if there were other reports in time to make it home.

 

[Halcyon638]

The creature thrashed and kicked, trying to use its considerable strength to break loose and lunge at Monica, but she continued circling it, wrapping it tighter and tighter.

Suddenly it leapt into the air using its powerful legs, trying to dislodge itself that way and nearly succeeding until Monica gave another yank, pulling it back like a junkyard dog reaching the end of its chain. She used the opportunity to tighten it.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica used the opportunity presented to wind up and deliver a powerful blow for the person's head. She was not trying to kill it, just ensure a knockout. If she were able to get this one secured, she could then either search around for more at the festival, or hopefully get home and deal with the one there. She suppressed a bit of guilt over that, but Gabi had to be kept safe from anyone that would want to harm Monica, and that meant making hard choices.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica struck the creature with just enough force to drop it the ground. It stirred for a moment or two, then lay quietly, still breathing.

The creature seemed a little less durable than McKenney had when she’d been in this form, though nearly or just as strong. Before Monica could catch her breath, one of the men nearby said, “There was another one. Down near the post office. At least there was.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica's first priority had to be getting this person to the cops. It was good they were less durable and hopefully less dangerous, but the chain was the best way to keep them from hurting someone without hurting them. so she picked up the person and nodded to the man "thank you citizen. get in your cars and look for alerts on your phone. try not to attract attention." She made her way to street level, looking around for a cop.

 

[Halcyon638]

Just as Monica ascended to the street with the transformed person in tow, she spotted a SWAT team vehicle speeding into the pedestrian area where the other police officers and EMTs lay wounded or dead. A team of 6 officers stomped out of the van, heavy boots slapping the pavement as they swarmed to secure the space around the downed officer. Two of the members of the squad pointed their rifles at her.

“Lower your weapons,” the leader, a hardened, tall man with a square jaw and crewcut ordered them. They obeyed. A woman’s scream erupted from the post office, a large, historic-looking art deco structure. “What are we up against?” he asked Monica.

“We’ve got reports of another batch of these fuckers near the PCU apartments,” a voice came in over a radio one of the men was sporting. The apartments were not far from campus.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica laid the captured one down "i'm going to unchain this one. It's out cold. tie it up, pretty solidly. These are regular people who have been transformed into these things by some bad SWAT. I know that sounds crazy, but it's the same as that girl a few months back. Theyre like a weaker version. Let me try to take down the one in the post office, unless you have non-lethal means. If you do, I can head over to the campus apartments. I'm here for you guys, I do NOT want to be in your way. SO you tell me, what you want and where you want me."

 

[Halcyon638]

The SWAT leader nodded. “Wrap that one up,” he commanded. Several of his men sprang into action, securing the creature.

“Post office? Alright, we got it under control.”

“Unit 217, requesting backup,” a voice on a police radio stated, sounding a little unnerved.

“We’re stretched thinner than a French pancake,” the SWAT commander said, “and our choppers aren’t half as fast as your little spaceship. Sounds like they could use you over near the campus.”

As Monica piloted the Sliver toward the university, she received a text from Gabi.

GABI: Sid is here. Made it in before he got our warning and we’re hunkered down now. Heard some gunshots in the building. Don’t know if it was the cops??

The Sliver was now above familiar territory. Below, Monica spotted the cluster of cafes and bars that catered to the campus crowd, including Sturdy’s, the bar at which Eve and Ian were performing.

One of the creatures was chasing a trio of figures into a subway tunnel. On the fourth floor of a building, a man seemed to be contemplating leaping from a window ledge to another window ledge a little over ten feet away, glancing behind him into the building as if pursued by something and weighing his options.

 

[siobhancan99]

texted back "shit. what the fuck did you tell him about where I am? lol. fuck." Honesly she was furious Gabi moved the chair away from the door, but what was done was done. She was mostly scared for her girl and scared she'd have to let sid in on the secret of all things.

She looked over at the man, then down at the trio. the trio had to take priority, particularly as there might be more people on the subway platform but.... they might be able to dodge a little more. she pulled teh sliver up along the guy and gestured for him to try to jump onto it. at least she could lower him to the ground as she made her way to the subway.

 

[Halcyon638]

GABI: Told him you went to the Walgreens to grab me some migraine meds when everything went down. Said you’re holed up somewhere waiting for the cops to give you the green light.

The man on the ledge, who looked to be around Monica’s age, glanced over his shoulder once more, then made the short leap to the Sliver.

A moment later, one of the creatures appeared at the window, snarling and snapping like a rabid hound. It pulled itself onto the sill and crouched down as if preparing to make the leap itself.

 

[siobhancan99]

"you are the best."

Monica dropped the sliver down, rapidly enough that it might be a little jarring for the man but not so rapidly that he'd slide off. if the thing jumped onto the sliver as it was falling, she could deal with that on the ground. Almost so much the better. she could handle it, then go into the subway after the other.

 

[Halcyon638]

GABI: Go kick some ass for me, sexy

The creature leapt out. Monica heard a loud thump as it landed, jostling the ship and sending the man sliding off the top.

Somehow, the guy managed to cling to the Sliver, dangling. The creature wasn’t so lucky. Out of the corner of her eye, Monica caught it plummet to the ground below.

The creature landed on a flowerbed, hard. The fall would have hospitalized an ordinary person and it seemed injured, but managed to pull itself to its feet, looking dazed.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica brought the sliver down slowly, moving back away from the creature so the guy could slide off at a reasonable distance. she hopped out, then put herself between the affected person and the man as he ran, whirling the chain and advancing. Once it got in striking distance, she would try to entangle it.

 

[Halcyon638]

The creature let out a guttural cry as Monica tossed the chain toward it. Though slowed, it managed to lash out with one of its hands in a diagonal chop, blocking the weapon and sending its weighted head clattering onto a nearby sewer grate.

The monster moved towards Monica, continuing to hiss and bare its fangs. It closed in on her, but the effort to do so seemed to have exhausted it. By the time it gathered up the energy to prepare an attack, she saw an opening.

 

[siobhancan99]

Given the weakened nature of the things, and the fact there was 1) one in the subway and 2) one in her own damn building she really needed to take care of, she decided not to fuck around with the chain, and instead launched a hard kick for the person. She wanted to minimize damage but time was more important right now.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica’s foot flew out straight and the creature ducked under the blow, its injuries apparently not sapping it of its animalistic speed entirely. It threw itself at her with abandon now, a single claw managing to rake her stomach enough to draw some blood. Its jagged edge stung, but and in unleashing the attacks on her, the monster had given up its defensive posture.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica again attacked with some ferocity, trying to put this thing down "if you don't mind there's like 10 of you I think and I really would appreciate it if you'd just go down." She figured quipping was part of superheroism, and she needed to work on hers.

 

[Halcyon638]

With the bestial figure practically on top of her, Monica had the perfect angle for an uppercut. The blow collapsed the creature, rendering it unconscious but with just the right amount of force that it shouldn’t have to worry about broken bones or thousands of dollars in dental work.

Having worked up a sweat from the summer heat, she descended into the slightly cooler environs of the subway.

A subway car was stopped near the platform it would typically unload at. One of the creatures was working at prying open its doors, while inside, dozens of passengers rushed away from the entrance as soon as possible, some of them shoving and tripping one another. If the monster didn’t hurt them, they were likely to do so themselves.

The doors gave way.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica lashed out with the chain again. She needed the reach, and more importantly, she needed to secure the monster and keep it from hurting anyone inside. "Come fucking fight me you ugly fuck" she called out. Hopefully the train operator would take off, but she seemed to remember a lot of those cars the brakes lock if the doors are open, and so she needed to take care of this thing as soon as was humanly possible.

 

[Halcyon638]

The creature’s head tilted slightly at the soft tinkling sound of the metal chain unfurling. It moved to the side, avoiding the attack. It achieved part of her desired effect in any case, as it focused its bloodshot eyes on her.

With a strangled cry, it raced toward her and let out a vicious swipe. She did a standing leap transitioning into a somersault, landing cleanly a few feet away. On the train, the activity seemed to be slowing down, and now more of the harried bystanders were pressing their faces to the windows to get a glimpse of her.