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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:43:41 GMT -5
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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:44:11 GMT -5
The Dawn & The Dead [/b] Issue #3: “The Lit Fuse” Written by: Jayson Morriseau-Lussier and Katie Rhodes Cover by: Zirronis Edited by: Brian Burchette[/center] |
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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:44:39 GMT -5
This whole relationship had fish-tailed and spun out of control in one single moment, it seemed. Standing in the hot spray of her shower she took a moment to feel. She was in tune with her body in a way few could manage and she felt every tinge and ache. Every bit of delicious soreness that reminded her of the way she'd spent the evening. The steam from the water raised wrapping around her like caressing fingers even as she reached to turn the water off.
She'd never been on the tail of someone so ruthless that was, or at least seemed to be, absolutely human. She wasn't oblivious, she knew, of serial killers, of the monstrosities that could pass as humans but she'd never been so close to that kind of action. Frankly it was alarming and had been an almost consuming, driving force behind her.
The unexpected passion had been wonderful, but was it real? As she dried herself she looked toward the closed bathroom door with a slight sigh. She wasn't even sure if the fire and desire had been a way of working out nervous tension and more or if it was a real flaming need between the two of them that could blossom into more.
"Get a grip Mari." She muttered to her reflection as she leaned forward over the bathroom sink to rub the fog from the mirror.
Wes got out of bed and went over to the window. He hadn't planned on taking it to this level and it didn't seem like his plan, but it seemed liked it might create some friction, but he wasn't worried about that until it showed itself.
He went over and put his t-shirt on and then looked over at the shower that was on and he decided to look in at Mari. He pulled on some jeans as he walked over into the bathroom and he watched her showering.
"You better be glad I'm not to self conscious. I might have thrown something." She turned slowly to face him as she wrapped a towel around her slender body. Once it was relatively secure she took another smaller one and vigorously rubbed her short hair.
Feeling his gaze intent on her she pulled the towel from her head and tilted her head a bit. "What's on your mind?" Stepping toward him, she planned to slip past and get into some clothes and order room service... starved... that's what she would describe it as.
Langley raised an eyebrow at her. "Well considering that we made love several times last night, I wouldn't think you would be shy." He paused as he looked at her.
"I was thinking that our next step would be to contact Liu for a meeting. I am sure that there are some answers that she can provide."
"Touché" She laughed a bit and moved to the dresser she had stowed her things in. "God I'm hungry. I think better on a full stomach." She smiled over her shoulder at him as she dropped the towel and stood naked a moment before tugging on a thin orange dress.
"Will you get us something to eat?" She'd had a run in with Liu before and was really mulling over the thought.
He nodded as he gave her a quick kiss as he headed downstairs and went into the shop as he saw a newspaper, which showed American diplomats having been pulled by the President. Langley had wondered about the timing, but he knew that was the least of his concerns.
When he had to move and make the decision to protect the innocent he would as well as protect Mari now.
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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:45:12 GMT -5
Percival had been one of the few that would take what he had and try and make it better, but the truth be told, he didn’t really have the regard for human life that most other people had. He hoped someday that the world would adopt his philosophy that had been perpetuated by Charles Darwin, survival of the fittest.
He was rubbing the blood off his hands as he saw Liu Chen appear from the darkness. “I can see that you’ve got your hands into everything here?” He offered. He very well knew that she could put him to death at any point, but so much was left to try and decipher. What was her true intention?
“You’ve done well.”
“Eliminating your rivals wasn’t exactly on my agenda when I came here.” He responded.
“I needed to see if you would or could carry out anything I put forth to you.” She responded as she sat down in her throne like chair. “You’re exactly who you said you were in your correspondences to me.”
“I have no reason to lie.”
“True, but then again I don’t trust Americans.” She smiled almost in a sardonic manner.
“If you plan to insult me that’s fine.” He stood up as he decided to end their association.
“No insults intended, but I do have a very important mission for you.” She smiled as she saw Percival turn his head and looked at her.
“Go on.”
“The American President has decided to pull his diplomats, but he has decided not to curtail his trip…” She took out a short broad sword and stood up. “The Americans are quite content in broadcasting their intentions for democracy around the world.”
He was growing annoyed. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I want you to kill him.” It wasn’t a request, because he had proved himself to her, but the truth of the matter was that she controlled the underworld and you did as she said or face her wrath.
“Kill him?” Percival’s attention had been completely alerted now. “You do know that killing a President isn’t exactly that easy.”
“It will demonstrate to the world that our people cannot be controlled.” She nodded.
“And have the United States declare war on you.” He added.
“Not if he’s killed by someone who is of their own country.” She smiled with a hint of insanity that he coveted himself.
“I never considered myself to be a Lee Harvey Oswald.” He paused as he looked at her. “But why would you want to kill him?”
“American policies for the last twenty years have placed a strangle hold on business that I do. The Americans need to be taught a lesson, and I cannot think of a better way to do it than to kill their leader?”
The fuse had been lit, or so it seemed because immortality was there awaiting them, and he sat back in the chair as he watched Chen. He soon realized that all the plans that they had conspired on this point would lead them head on into a new dawn with the blood of the dead dripping from his fingers. He just listened as the plan was hatched… so much the better.
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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:45:49 GMT -5
Mari's phone rang as Wes and she were just sharing a meal. Wes raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. "You don't really stop working, do you?"
She gave him a slight frown but softened it with an apologetic smile. "I can't. In my business you stop you lose your job." She reached into her purse for her phone and flipped it open. "Hello?"
It was the voice of her fellow Justice Leaguer, Batman. "I forwarded the evidence you asked for to your account, but I couldn't find the missing piece."
She raised a brow a bit, as if he could see the annoyed look on her face. "Any advice or opinion? Oh and thank you."
"Opinion is that he's dangerous and unpredictable. I can be there in Hong Kong at anytime… if you're in over your head." His opinions were listened to by many of the younger members of the Justice League, but he almost became a preaching father to her with his tone.
She fought the urge to bristle and snap off an annoyed retort. She didn't need someone telling her what to do, advice was great thought. Forcing a relaxed note into her voice she mentally nodded. "I think we can handle it on this end. Thank you for your help and if you don't hear from me in forty eight hours you can consider that a request for help."
"Dually noted. Goodbye, Vixen." Then after she responded Batman quickly hung-up.
Langley raised an eyebrow at the exchange on her end. "I guess you got either bad news or...?" He really didn't know all about her other lives just yet.
She closed her phone and sat it beside her on the table before taking another bite. Chewing her food she offered a slight smile. When the food was gone from her mouth she shrugged a bit. "Just an investigator friend of mine I asked to look into our little killer friend. He offered to come here to help us out." Was it wrong not to tell him? After everything they had shared and still she hadn't revealed that she wasn't just a lone hero but a member of the league.
Wes had no idea about those things, because he had decided to remain ignorant for a reason. He wasn't really sure how to or what to respond with so he merely nodded. "I have an idea, if this guy knows we're on his tail, maybe we should let him play into our hands instead of us chasing him?"
She frowned a bit toying with a piece of fruit at the end of her fork. "I'm afraid I'm not sure what you mean by that. Why would he play into our hands? Unfortunately we haven't been able to get a good step ahead of him at all."
"Well I do know that there are some connections that we can use to get close to him, without him knowing, but the part I am worried about is Chen's involvement now."
"Explain, please." She leaned back a bit watching him. "I can understand being concerned about Chen but as ruthless as she is I can't imagine her involved in outright murder."
He showed her the newspaper for the morning that was in English. "Prominent business leader found dead with knife stuck in throat. Police are baffled." He read the headlines aloud.
"So you think Chen's involved in this then?" She took the paper and looked over it slowly skimming the article.
"That man was one of the few that opposed Liu Chen when she had tried to run for city administration some time ago, but as you might recall she had a run-in with the Justice League, but she had helped them bring part of the League of Assassins in." He sat back as he watched her reaction.
"Chen is a piece of work that's for sure. I'm still not convinced she's in league with a serial killer like Percival. What would she get out of it? It makes no sense." She lifted her glass and took a drink of cold water.
"The President is supposed at the end of the week, but I doubt she's got interest in that, but..." He put his hand to his lip as he considered. "What if she planned on trying to kill the President? What would be a way to do it without putting the light on her or her organization?"
“That seems to be the easy way out though.” Wes looked over at his suit as he looked back at her.
“Are you thinking we should go out?” She responded to his inarticulate body language.
“Well, of course.” He smiled at her and stood up as he went in and got dressed and came back out in his guise as The Cat. “I am going to go ahead of you, meet me at Chen’s in about an hour.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” She had pulled on her own suit by the time he appeared in front of her.
He shook his head. “We’re going to need to find him before the President arrives.” She merely made a statement.
“That’s the plan.” The Cat winked at her as he made his way to the balcony as his wings that were built into his suit and he flew off into the skyline of the buildings.
“So damn stubborn,” She sighed as she concentrated on the talisman and coveted the spirit of the hawk and flew off into the skyline herself.
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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:46:28 GMT -5
The Cat was perched outside of the complex as he watched the guards in the commons area. Something told him that he needed to be on guard, but truth be told, he wasn't sure exactly, but what he was about to witness took him completely by shock. Exp
Vixen reached the opposite side of the complex where she was approaching from the ground to head up toward The Cat. Dropping out of the sky she landed in a crouch concentrating on the totem. The spirit of the lioness filled her and she crouched lowly moving stealthily, like a great jungle cat on the prowl.
He held a pistol out as the guards held a man that had raped his own daughter or that's what his neighbor said. Liu Chen was one of the few that would take in account everything and then render justice. The western system did not work in her mind and it was up to the people that worked for her to change the system.
Vixen was making her way through guards one at a time in silence. Part of her mind was focused on her task and yet part was on Wes and what he was doing. Shouldn't he be in her sight already? That was the bad thing of working with a partner, always worrying for someone else's safety.
"May you be blessed by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." The man shrieked out in horror as Percival raised the pistol to the man's head and blew his head open with a gaping wound. The man fell dead behind Chen's guard.
Chen approached Percival with a smile as she clapped. "You've done well. You've taken on the roles that I have wanted for you, and you've also made it clear that those that oppose me will die for their insolence."
He looked at her. "I am tired of being an executioner."
"The President will be in Hong Kong tomorrow and here are the plans to the Hotel that he is staying in." She unfolded a map and ground floor plans of the prestigious hotel.
"What about the Secret Service?"
Liu smiled as she unfurled a sword by her side. "Strike quickly." She swung at small plant that was seeded near by them and she cut it into ribbons with one swift stroke. "And there can be no interference from our goals."
Vixen was not yet close enough to hear their words but she heard the scream and the gunshot. A chill went down her spine. Ruthless... that was the only good description she could think of. She continued toward the sound thinking, like Wes, that this had to end tonight.
The Cat took his staff and embedded into the ground and then he swung on the side and landed into the courtyard and took up a defense of the other people in the courtyard.
Liu took up a defense around the two people that were still shaking in fear. He leapt up and landed a boot into the face Percival who was unprepared for the attack.
As she approached the courtyard she heard the fighting and sighed softly. Focusing inwardly she let the lioness' hunting instinct take control and she leapt with a roar at the man nearest her. Claws piercing his shoulders as the wait of the animal took him to the ground.
Percival regain his feet as he took out his knife. "So there are the two shadows I've had since Gotham."
Liu Chen took up her sword and swung at Vixen's head. "So good to see you again, darling, you don't look any different."
The Cat leapt up into the air and landed behind Percival and swung at his head.
Vixen ignored Percival a fierce growl bubbling in her throat as she rose to face Chen. The sword whizzed through air as Vixen rolled smoothly into a back flip kicking at Chen's sword arm. "I can't say the same for you. You're looking a lot older." She sniped.
Percival wasn't equipped with fantastic abilities and though he tried to dodge he caught the heel of her boot against the side of his head as he turned. By this time it was a glancing blow and he stumbled, reaching to touch the wound gingerly. "You won't get rid of me so easily." He spat lunging toward the Cat with his knife.
The Cat looked at them both and he saw Chen trying to separate Percival and him. Percival took out a throwing knife and threw it near Vixen's head as it embedded into the wooden support.
It was just enough time for Chen to gather herself and make her escape. The Cat took out the bola from his belt and flung it but he never saw what was coming next as Percival and grabbed him around neck and stabbed him through the back and pierced his heart.
The Cat fell over as he clutched his chest and started to cough off blood. During the melee he made his escape the way Chen had gone. The Cat reached up as blood came from his mouth. He finally had his arm fall down as his whole body went limp and he fell to the ground.
For a moment she moved to go after them but the strangled, gurgling cough stopped her. Turning her eyes landed on her friend and partners prone form. Running over she slipped in blood but didn't care as she lifted his head into her lap. "No... Damnit don't you die." Tears stung her eyes as she reached up and sent a signal from her communicator to the Justice League. "We need help here! Hurry he's dying." A choked sob fell in her throat as she tried to find and stem the bleeding. "Wes, look at me!”
Wes looked up at her face and closed his eyes and then opened them again. “I am sorry, I should have been more careful.” He coughed up more blood. “I… I..” He coughed again. “I love you.” His hand fell at on her leg as he finally died in her arms. Vixen held him for a long time as Superman finally had been able to respond to her message.
“Is he?” Superman was afraid to ask.
“Yes.” She looked up at him with her tears soaked with mascara she wore. “I am going after them.”
“I am sorry I didn’t get here fast enough.”
“He tried to take them on by himself.” She held back some of her tears. “I won’t let them forget this.” She clenched her fist. “I will make both of them pay.”
“Mari…” Superman put a hand on her shoulder that Vixen just shrugged away. “Help me get him home, please.” She sighed with a deep breath.
“Okay…” Superman took the dead warrior’s body into his arms as he lifted off of the ground and headed back to Gotham City. Vixen stood still until she saw him fly away into the night sky.
“They are going to suffer for this.” She whispered to herself.
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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:47:49 GMT -5
Chen had been able to fly away from the scene before The Cat had struck, but the problem was that she knew that Percival now was either going to go after her or carry out her plans without further instructions from her. The truth was that she wasn’t sure that there was going to be a reckoning. She appeared in the ancient royal palace that had been the home of the ancient Chinese imperial families. In the shadows she saw the figure holding a knife in his palm as he walked out and faced her. “So we now have an angry hunter in our wake.”
“She cannot stop us!” Chen seethed with anger, as she was tired of being humiliated by setbacks.
“She did stop us, she and her boyfriend!” Percival screamed at her as he looked as she looked to get one of her swords that was stored behind her throne like chair that she had replicated to emulated the Ming Dynasty.
“Take your cynicism and stow it, Mr. Percival.”
He laughed. “I came into this knowing fully what my abilities are and what my responsibilities are as well. I am not afraid of failure and I am most certainly not afraid of you.” He quickly flung a knife that seemed to fly through the air and found it’s mark as it pierced Chen’s armor and found her heart. Her face showed an excruciating pain as she set down on her knees.
“You betrayed me.” She looked at him with blood coming from her chest.
Percival came to her and spat in her face and then slit her throat. “I have kept my oath to myself to not let failure control my destiny.” Chen fell dead at his feet and he licked her blood off his reclaimed knife.
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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:48:22 GMT -5
Vixen stood on the balcony where she had consummated her relationship with Wes and now it was a reminder of what was lost. She clenched her fist as she put the duffle bag over her shoulder and opened her cell phone and dialed her agent and advised them that she would be returning to America but after she hunted down her lover’s killer and bring him to justice.
“I am going to find you.” She clenched her fist as she repeated in almost a whisper. The spirit of the falcon and she leapt into the air and flew over the city of Hong Kong with the thought of vengeance and turmoil percolating in her soul.
The morning dawn lit the sky of Hong Kong… as the new day came.
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Post by starlord on Nov 6, 2007 19:48:53 GMT -5
Continued in the Exciting Conclusion!!
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