Aaron/Xelbrius
landed on a roof across from the scene. Chaos met their vision as, the visor
and Xelbrius’s eyes on top scanned the mall.
How
many? Any ideas? Aaron thought while closing his own eyes.
We
function as one as before of course. You know that my young padawan,
Xelbrius snarked.
Very
funny, quipped Aaron. You and your
damn Star Wars.
He opened his eyes, and now he and
Xelbrius shared the same enhanced eyesight. The built in heat signature scanner
picked up at least a fifty hostages. The supposed robbers milled about, as the
SWAT team inside talked to them, and one pointed a gun at a hostage who dared
to speak.
This
isn’t effing right. They’re corrupt. You know what this means don’t you?
Snarled Aaron while clenching his fist.
Outlaw
hero malakh who saves the day from the heavens? I love the chance, growled
Xel. Bastards are supposed to protect and
serve and, Aaron I know you just saw that.
A heat signature had dropped a smoke
pellet, and was taking down the SWAT and gun runners with great skill. He
nearly choked one of the SWAT officers. Two came to attack the fighting figure,
and he tackled them out the window.
The heat vision turned off, and
Aaron/Xel could see the figure. It’s
Shing-klu and Chin-chang’s style was their thought. Except this semi-kevlar
leather covered figure wore a smaller than usual motorcycle helmet that seemed
to form fit his head. Streaks of crimson and deep blue were on the black
clothing as a boot smashed into a SWAT helmet.
He broke the arms of two other SWAT
members coming after him, and threw a chain on one’s legs that dared to attack
from behind, and twisted his legs. A huge crack could be heard as he whipped
the chain back to his wrist.
“10-4. Why howdy that’s one hell of a
fight right there!” came Henrick’s voice screeching over the com link.
“What are you? Henrick? How, oh
never-mind. Do you know about this guy or something?” inquired Aaron holding
two fingers to his left side of his head.
“Yep, I know him. Have since he was a
teenager. He’s a good friend of Shing-Klu’s. He used to be one of my best
agents. Listen I need you two to go down there, and get him. It’s time for a
little mentor to rogue agent chat. He’s been doing this kind of stuff for
months now,” replied Henrick solemnly.
This was something new for
Aaron/Xelbrius; their friend and provider, was usually upbeat.
“Don’t worry we’re going down there
right now to stop the SWAT, gunrunners, and this newbie,” said Aaron as he made
a headlong dive.
“He’s not a newbie. As I’ve said I’ve
known him for years, Aaron. Be careful, he studied Shing-Klu and can immolate
his moves perfectly,” rasped Henrick.
Aaron/Xel landed, and stood facing
their adversaries. “This ends now!”
“Don’t get in my way! What are you
some kind of cyborg sent to kill me?” snarled the vigilante, readying his right
wrist that held his chain.
“Um no, actually I’m a type of Armored
Angel if you will,” replied Aaron/Xel a little unsure of what exactly they
were.
An
armored angel like they’re calling us? Really Xel? Spat Aaron.
Hey,
I’m working non-scripted here, my parents are fallen angels. So technically
yes, retorted Xelbrius.
“I don’t need your help. I can handle
these low-lifes just fine,” mumbled the vigilante, as he roundhouse kicked
several gun runners.
Aaron/Xel heard several clicks, and
spread their wings.
Time
for something new Aaron. Hold your right hand up now! Ordered Xelbrius.
His blade didn’t come out, but a
glowing golden and blue light that was usually used for destroying reptacons
appeared. A sphere was cast around the vigilante and the warrior as they walked
into the store. The vigilante of course followed along unwillingly.
Shots started to fire, but the light
blinded the SWAT and gunrunner teams, but not the hostages. Aaron/Xel held out
his hand to some trembling children. His visor lifted up revealing Aaron’s eyes
as a source of comfort.
“I’m your friend. I’m here to protect
you, come on kid. You know you could help being you’re the doctor’s friend and
all,” said Aaron to the vigilante.
Xelbrius’s eyes on the helmet kept the
light force up.
“All of you follow us to get out of
here!” commanded Aaron as his visor went back down. The hostages all walked
out.
News cameras were everywhere with reporters stuttering,
“Ladies and gentlemen it seems as if two recent urban legends of two different
people have been confirmed as real. The Bird Man Angel and The Radical. They
have just brought the hostages to safety, I’m getting a feed saying the SWAT
team was part of the gunrunner operation here. A deal went bad, and they’re all
blinded and some are beaten to a pulp? Thankfully none of the hostages have
been um harmed.”
FBI units had started converging, and
they pointed their weapons at Aaron/Xel and the Radical.
“FREEZE. BOTH OF YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!
YOU IN THE WINGED ARMOR, DISARM NOW!” shouted an agent.
Aaron/Xel just stared, and Aaron
raised a hidden eyebrow. They really
think their bullets will harm us, and that we’ll comply. You’re thinking what
I’m thinking right Xel? Grinned Aaron.
Give
them one hell of an exit that’s for sure. Still the great Angelic Bird Man
might be a good name for you and me, Xelbrius retorted in excitement.
Let’s
blind them, they thought at the same time making their minds one again.
“You might want to close your eyes for
this one. We’re taking you with us,” said Aaron/Xel to the Radical.
“Fat chance bird knight. I’ll see
Henrick of my own accord,” said the Radical.
They felt something slapped onto them
as they shot the light out, and flew. Aaron/Xel noticed the Radical get on a
motorbike out of nowhere, while slamming a full helmet on, and drove off from
the crowd. Aaron/Xel flew off after him, as the Radical’s motorcycle hit one
hundred twenty miles per hour. Rising
up, Xel had the wings fold in as Aaron’s body dived down to their new prey.
Light blasted from the armor as they
sped up. “YOU CAN DO THIS THE EASY WAY OR THE HARD WAY!” shouted Aaron/Xel.
The Radical swerved around, and
clasped something to his cycle now headed for the cybernetic warrior. “And the
cat snuffed the bird out!” mocked the Radical, as the front end of the cycle
came off and nearly hit Aaron.
He sliced through it with his wrist
blade; it had deterred him momentarily as the Radical drove off into the
sunset. Aaron/Xel landed to the side of the road so Aaron could catch his
breath.
“Damn, that guy is worse than a
Reptacon or Shadow Stalker. How the hell is that possible, Xel?” asked Aaron as
Xelbrius detracted from the suit.
They were in a desert now, and Aaron
had retracted his mouth guard and visor to recuperate.
“I don’t know. But I see you observed
his fighting methods have hints of the Guisiko brothers’ style in them. By the
way can we stop at a bar? I’d like a Sam Adams,” replied Xelbrius, as he sat on
his friend’s shoulder in the blazing sun.
Aaron raised an eyebrow, “You’re
joking right? Do you remember that time you disguised yourself as me during our
first week together, and went to a strip club? YOU TRIED TO MAKE OUT WITH THE
STRIPPERS! I DON’T KNOW WHETHER I HATE YOU SOMETIMES OR WHAT, but, damn do I have
to admit, you have changed my life for the better. We’re no longer going to be
an urban legend, Xel. I have a feeling things are going to get bigger.”
Xelbrius grinned, “Well I know what-”
“Don’t even go there. You know there
are repercussions to this. First the Stalkers, Venic and the Reptacons, now
this Radical guy? Xel, I’ve always wanted to be a hero, but only in my deepest
fantasies did I ever dream of my life being like this. We’re changing things,
and if they find out part of this Bird Man hero is the son of two fallen
angels, let alone the devil and Lilith the night demonness, I have no idea what
we’ll do then,” exasperated Aaron as he
pressed his hand to his forehead.
Silence was all Xelbrius could give;
Aaron felt sadness from the usual upbeat friend of his. “Raison de luta. That’s
what the Stalker asked us. Why would he ask us that?”
“I know raison is French for reason.
I’ll ask Henrick what it means,” answered Aaron as he closed his mouth guard
and visor back. “Henrick, Metallic Covenant, XB-0451.”
“Hear you loud and clear. What’s the
deal? Is he coming?” inquired Henrick.
“I don’t know. The Radical, this old
agent of yours, this friend is smart and skilled. He somehow had a fake front
built onto his motorcycle, and well, here’s the video footage, you can watch,”
replied Aaron as he opened his left gauntlet, and pressed a small keyboard.
“Got it thanks. So-”
“What does raison de luta mean?”
“Raison is French for reason and de
luta is Portuguese for to fight. Why?”
“It’s something the Stalker we
encountered today asked us, before he left. I find it odd,” was Aaron’s answer.
“You know underneath those suits of
theirs, I think some of these soldiers do have honor, and may not realize who
they’re working for. Does he know your identity?”
“Not sure, but he said he didn’t
record my transformation. We’ll be back soon enough.”
He turned the com link connection off,
and turned to Xelbrius who was now sitting down as he pecked into the dirt and
ate a worm.
Odd
diet. Steak then worms, thought Aaron.
