Raven’s Personal Log 22
“Greeting, Titan,” Archer spoke as he let Titan into the teams house.
“Hey, I thought you’d be bigger,” He joked as he extended his hand.
Archer took the hand. “How have you been?” I stood besides my beloved hidden beneath my cloak.
“Bored. Mostly inactive.”
“Not for long around this place.” I interrupted.
“You?” Titan eyes me. He extended a thumb towards me, “Who’s the babe?”
Now was the time to reveal myself. So next we meet he would remember me. I lowered the hood of my cloak releasing the claps. It fell quickly to the floor. My living art showing through the skintight body suit. Titan whistled a soft sigh.
“My babe….” Archer grinned. “Raven, this is Titan. Titan, Raven of the Fireoak Forest.”
I smiled, “I believe we meet.”
Titan extended his hand, “My lady, nice to see you in better light.”
I gave him mine. Titan raised my hand to his lips.
“A pleasure.” I smiled. Titan asked, “Am I interrupting anything?” Titan eyed Archer.
“Now he gets all gallant.” Archer smirked.
“The others should be returning shortly.” I mentioned.
Titan questioned, “Others? Cat?”
“What brings you north, titan, following Icehawk?”
“Cat, Hawkins,” I answered Titan, “The guys from the park.”
Titan nodded.
Ghost Archer looked at me, “Iron golem?”
“He is still in the sands. Linda likes the company” I informed.
“Ah,” archer said in comprehension. “I’ll bet she does. Where’s William and Mystic?”
“Ice said you guys could use a hand. Maybe even two.” Titan eyes where on Archer.
“You will be most welcome, Titan.” My beloved added, “They have had a little run in with Zodiac. Yeah…they picked up Leo on a shop lifting charge.”
Titan smirked, “The old Al Capone trick, huh.”
“Actually the sneak up behind her with a brick and grab her trick.” Archer smiled to almost a chuckle.
“Just Leo?” I could almost see Titan’s brain working.
Archer continued, “No, Virgo … but she escaped and brought back help.”
“Help?” Titan shook his head. “How much help.”
“The whole bunch showed.”
“All 12?” Titan looked astonished.
“Yeah, if you count Gemini twice.” Archer added, “I tangoed with four of them … for about an hour.”
“And?” Titan seemed caught up in the tale.
“Well, Taurus wanted to talk … Hawkins didn’t and Iron Golem nearly died” Archer summed it up.
Titan stole a glance me. “Who’s iron Golem?”
“I escaped and they took Little Brother,” I corrected my self, “I mean Cat.”
“So Zodiac has cat now?” Titan asked.
“No, I found him in his room this morning.” I smiled at the thought of Simon’s sleeping face when I found him.
“Where is Leo? And the rest?” He seemed even more interested.
“She should be in Stronghold but if cat is back,” I thought of Taurus and his words about how the game was played. Cat being home did not add up.
“Are you sure it’s Cat?”
Archer smiled grimly, “Taurus had Aries slip into Stronghold to retrieve her.”
“Hey, GA have you checked Cat out?” Titan lifted an eyebrow.
“Check little brother in what way?” I was confused.
“Make sure Taurus returned the right Cat. Shapeshifters.” As he spoke I understood. My beloved continued. “Titan will gladly hold him down … And I have a feather … Where did you put it, love?”
I smiled at the thought of the feather. The search of my cloak began. First it was a jar of pickles and my new sword.
“Damn, girl … still with the pickles?” Archer chuckled. Than out came a donut. “There’s lint in that.”
“It is old to,” I laid it on the table, “I think that is from two days ago.”
Archer picked the donut between finger and thumb and tossed it into the wastebasket. Next came out the handcuffs and keys.
“I really have to get to Lauresul to have the bag of holding made for you.” He commented as he looked down at the cuffs.
“No feather yet. Want me to keep looking?”
“I thought Rogue was bad.” Archer let a chuckle slip. “No. That’s okay.”
Ghost Archer smiled, “You’ll find Atlantis next.”
I pulled out a map book. “How do you spell that?”
Ghost Archer grinned
I showed our new teammate up to the rooms as archer went to look for food. Titan picked Kara’s old room. My heart saddened knowing she would never again be with us. The pain quickly left me as the star took it from me.
Cat arrived with a bag of Groceries.
“Thank god … food!” Archer exclaimed, “This place was bare!” He opened the fridge. “Look, only a bottle of mustard…how do you guys live like this?”
“I have eggs, bread and syrup. Anyone want some French toast?” Cat offered.
Archer dug through the grocery bag. Graham crackers and peanut butter were with the eggs bread and syrup.
“Damn, Cat.” Archer shook his head, “Have you ever heard of food? I am going to have to go shopping … wonder if Raven’s been to a grocery store yet?”
“LITTLE BROTHER!” My voice burst in joy as I wrapped my arms around him. His arms came back to hug me too. Archer watched with a small smile. “Little brother I need to enter you mind.” I release my hold on him as I placed a kiss on his cheek. Titan stepped behind Cat.
“How are you doing, sis. What’s up?” Cat hands did not leave my shoulders.
Within his mind I spoke, “**They want to make sure you are you and not someone else**”
Titan patted Cat on the back, “Nice to see you again, friend.”
My eyes opened as I released my link to Little Brother, “He has a hole in his mind.” He was my sweet Simon.
Blue radioed in for us to check out the Battle-axe of Taurus. Cat was more than willing to play in the lab.
“I’ll check the axe metal out.” Cat grinned
“Check yourself out too.” I requested, “make sure no funny stuff like implants.”
“It would be nice to get bad guys once and awhile to.” Cat mentioned.
“Where’d you learn about implants, love?” My beloved asked.
“I had one.” I pulled back my hair and showed him a scar on the base of my neck.
Archer frowned, “Oh?” He looked closely as he touched the scar. “How’d you end up with that?”
“Long story, beloved.”
“I need to read your logs.” He murmured.
Titan grabbed the remote and started scanning the TV as he sat on the couch. He flipped till he found a good hockey game on.
In my pocket I felt a vibration. Fishing through the many items I pulled out my cell phone. “Hi Throne.” I greeted the line.
“Evening, Seeker.” Peter replied.
“What up? We will get the reports done and how did you fair last night?”
“Helen and I met a charming satyr. He inspected us, the truck, the depot and left.”
“So why the call?” I inquired.
“Look … that’s not the problem. I have a report on my desk about three missing teens … they were all taken within the last six hours.” Throne started.
“Fax it over.” I requested. I could hear him moving and the rustle of paper. “Cat get the fax machine.” I called out covering the phone.
“From what witnesses tell us … cyborgs.” He continued on the phone. “One was the daughter of a Washington State senator.”
“Thinking ransom deal? Who are the other two?” I rambled.
“Yeah, FBI has his place bugged. A boy picked up very near here.” Throne paused, “Jerome. Jerome … no one has a last name. Seems the kid was homeless.”
I looked to the star to hold me, coldly I spoke again, “And?”
“A young girl up at the University.” Again he paused for a long time, “Raven? Its Cat’s little sister. Kitty.”
“SHIT!” I called out, “CAT they have KITTY.”
Terror sweep over cat’s face, “What!?!”
Throne continued on the phone, “We think we will have pictures from a ATM camera. We are checking with the bank now. SPD has five witnesses.”
I radioed an order, “Get your fly boy home ASAP!”
Blue calmly radioed, “You need Hawkins help?”
I radioed, “How close are you to the SPD. Get there and question the witness Cat sister is at stake here.”
I pleaded on the phone; “Throne more info please.” Titan returned with the fax. He read the paper as he walked to me.
Throne spoke, “I’ll let the SPD know someone is on their way. Okay, the first was Kitty; a man described as a ‘cyborg’ picked her up
“Come on I don’t want them to get to far, bad enough Cat’s mom was shot.”
“I would have discounted it. Until the second report came in and three bodyguards shot the one that took the senator’s daughter. The bullets bounced off. One is dead and the other two in the hospital. They took Jerome before the Senator’s girl
Blue radioed, “Do they know I’m coming, if not I don’t think I will be able to bluff the cops.”
“Yes they know your coming.” I replied in my radio. I looked at the men. I spoke in the phone; “Throne hold.” I called out, “Titan.”
“Yo!”
I tossed the phone to him, “Talk to Throne.” Titan caught the phone, “Get the info.” I walked out the door.
Archer turned and followed me. He quickly caught up putting his arm around my waist. “What is it, love?”
I held to the star tight and looked past him to them. “Please I must not be real right now.”
The sound of Blue radioing came over my head set, “I’m not getting much information the details change only a little. I’m going to try and get the police composite drawings if I can those are based on witness descriptions rather than these bad still photos. I’m going to have to look at the crime scenes for leads”
Archer stepped back “Then I am not either, how can I help?”
I could not hold the star close as I looked into his loving eyes. “Let’s get the bad guys and Cat’s sister.” I hugged my beloved.
Titan voiced scream out the alarm, “ANOTHER CHILD WAS JUST TAKEN AT THE FOOT OF THE NEEDLE!”
“Cufaen.”
“Yes, love.”
“Check on the important things to me please. They, as you, are my real.”
The team moved quickly and headed out. Archer nodded as he reassured me, “I’ll take care of them. You be careful.”
“I have your training to help.” I smiled as I saw the others disappear, “I will slice and dice.”
“Use your mind, love … not the sword.” He advised.
I smiled as I ran like hell and teleporting to catch up with the other. My beloved honored my requested and left to check the babies.
Titan changed his radio to police band. “*police radio* suspect is headed for the waterfront. Suspect is on foot.”
Titan changed bands, “The WATERFRONT!” With the one word we all changed direction.
A helicopter is moving slowly over the city, the spotlight stabbing the ground. A blue light pierced the helicopter from the ground; it erupts into a huge ball of flame and smoke.
From my above ground view I saw figure running down the middle of the street toward the water. I was one with the air and teleported closer. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Titan handling the wreckage of the helicopter. I teleported within a few meters of a very large man/machine, over one shoulder was a young boy of about twelve, he was motionless. The cyborg was running towards the water. I opened my mind and try to take control, commanding him to hold still. The man-machine faltered but did not stop.
I radioed, “I have the one with the boy in sight.” I followed it with the names of the streets he traveled on.
Hawkins radioed, “Cyborg, I’m chasing has no one in his arms.”
I radioed, “Take him down Hawkins we need one to question.”
Titan’s momentum pushes the helicopter wreckage out over the piers before crashing to the ground on the wooden piers. Flames engulf the area. Titan pushed clear of the wreckage as it rolled off the pier into the water below.
Titan radioed, “Raven?”
I radioed, “yes.”
Titan radioed, “I got the helo in the water. Scratch one cape.”
I radioed, “I am at X & X with the Cyborg with kid. Hawk is battling his friend. Come join the fun we need one alive to get info from.”
Titan radioed, “Uh … I’m not too familiar with road names can you give me a marker? Landmark?”
Hawkins radioed, “Careful these guns like to play rough.”
I radioed, “See the flaming bird in the sky that is Hawkins, he is south of me.”
Titan radioed, “That’ll do!”
Cat radioed, “I’m almost there. Can you get in front of him or better yet get him to drop the kid and fight me?”
Titan changed to police band. He radioed, “This is Titan down at the waterfront on pier no. 14. I need assistance for four people suffering from burn wounds.”
I opened my mind and sent forth the stinging pain at his mind. The cyborg stopped, adjusting the kid on his shoulder. He raised an arm at me and fired a plasma ball at me. The blast lifted me higher into the air and dropped me a few meters away. My boots covered in the burning sensation of his blast.
Cat jumped to the Cyborg. Cat sized him up quickly; the cyborg stood about 6’8″, 400 pounds of mean looking metal. Parts of his body still appear human. He held a young boy over his shoulder. “You’ve had it now, do you want to be cut health or beaten up?” The cyborg lowered a smoking arm and growled at Cat.
Titan radioed, “Raven?”
I radioed, “Yes Titan.”
Titan radioed, “I was thinking. Why don’t we follow these guys? They may lead us somewhere.”
I radioed, “Titan, well you move your buns? I just got a hot foot. Because we can’t afford to lose them. At least not the one I am dealing with
Titan radioed, “I agree but we should be able to tail them.”
I radioed, “You and Hawkins disengage the other one and tail him.”
Titan radioed, “It’s gonna be hard to take out the one with the kid, at least without hurting the kid!”
I radioed, “We have to die trying if need be.”
Titan radioed, “I’m not worried about me. It’s the kid we don’t want to hurt.”
I radioed, “Follow your plan. Save Kitty and Jerome. May the flame protect you.”
Titan radioed, “And you, my dear. I’m going silent.”
I opened my mind once again. I put my entire mind into one large force to take him out. The cyborg crumpled to the ground, falling across the boy’s legs. “Cat get the Boy.” I screamed as I ran to the Cyborg. Cat moved quickly to the cyborg. He pulled it off the boy. As the Cyborg rolled off the kid, it’s eyes open and almost focused. Cat elbowed the thing in the face.
“Raven take care of the boy I’ll hand tiny here to the police.” Cat shook his head; “I have to come up with a different nick name.”
I grabbed the boy. “When he wakes we can follow him to get your sister.”
Titan radioed, “Raven, I got one!”
I radioed, “We do to and have the boy.”
Titan radioed, “Good work.”
Cat nodded, “Ok, I’ll take the boy back. You know how to follow with out being seen.” I handed the boy to Cat. I returned to be one with the air. Cat cradled the child and ran off. I kept my eyes on the star.
Titan radioed, “Raven beauty?”
I radioed softly, “Yes.”
Titan radioed, “Check the left breast. See anything?”
I radioed softly, “Chess piece.”
Titan radioed, “Red knight?”
I radioed softly, “Yes.”
Titan radioed, “Hey Raven. I’m gonna take this one somewhere secluded let him wake up and then follow him.
I tuned into my beloved and radioed, “Beloved we need Bob the trash man to pick up a red knight.”
Cufaen radioed, “What do you have, love?”
I radioed on the special band, “Two red knight. Genocide at it again. Titan has one and I have one. Where can we dump one so we can follow the other?”
Cufaen radioed, “Knight? Genocide. Very good, love, know your enemy. We don’t have a place to take them … you may have to opt for the police.”
I radioed, “Beloved, Genocide already paid for a meeting of our team. I believe to size us up. Damn, it Titan is going to let them both get away.”
Cufaen radioed, “You are alone with a cyborg?” I confirmed. “Where are you?” I gave hm the street names. “Ego blast him to keep him out, love. I am coming.”
Ghost Archer streaked out of the blue, his costume traded for one of pitch black, the only familiar weapon the katana across his back. He dropped to earth lightly, beside me and the cyborg. “You’re right, love, Genocide.” I became one to his eye.
Archer looked me over. “You look … toasted. Been playing in the Flame again?”
“He gave me a hot foot and it hurts.”
“Glad he aimed low.” Archer looked a little worried, “Are you okay?”
I felt the calm of the cold fading slowly as Star backed from me. “Yes I am fine.”
Archer squatted beside the cyborg and inspect it. He peeled back an eyelid. With a sigh he asked, “What are we going to do with you?” He flipped a few clasps and pulled a weapon free of the cyborg’s arm. Ghost Archer pulled a second weapon free than a third and fourth.
“I can try and strip his mind of information and than you can disable him.” I opened my mind digging into the things so called mind. I battled with question after question and the only clear answer was they where heading, to the Final Resolution.
Archer put a hand on my shoulder, “Breathe, love.” I shook, as I demanded more of the mind. I heard Cufaen barely over my thoughts, “Raven! Take a breather. Sit down and relax a minute.”
The over whelming feeling rushed me at his touch. I screamed a blood-curling scream at the fullness of my sound. Archer covered his ears.
“Raven?” He sat beside me on the pavement, slipping an arm around. “What’s wrong?”
“He won’t tell me.”
“What did he tell you?”
“We need to know! Final resolution. Off the coast. Rendezvous point.”
“Final resolution.” He repeated, “Is that a name? Or a place?
“Sounds like death. Name. I have never been good at questions curse the forest.”
“Ask him, name of what?”
I stood up and tried again my mind grew tired. I repeated and repeated till finally his mind gave me my answer. “Project 941 Akula Sevastople.” I repeated it out loud.
Cufaen laid a hand on my arm. “I know what it is, love.”
“Where?”
“Raven, it is a submarine. It will be moving. Didn’t you say that a few months ago a ferry was torpedoed? Genocide had another sub. Tsar crushed it. The Sevestople sank last year off the North Cape. I’ll bet Genocide stole it.”
We talked and touched. Star fled his touches; I became real in his arms and was home. The plan was etched in the armor of the cyborg. Archer knelt beside the cyborg and etches a note into the armor. “I am Ghost Archer, I am a mutant. I will give myself to you in exchange for the three children you have taken. Contact me on 457.7 MHz.”
My beloved slipped an arm around my waist and lifted into the air, heading for the house. “Let’s see what these little toys do.” He carried the four weapons in the other arm and the mutant detector. His eyes looked down at me; his smile warmed my soul. “Don’t worry so much. Titan is here and magic. You have magic. Hawkins is alien. Cat is magic. Unless Demon is working with Genocide, I’m covered…”
The night slipped by and I returned to rest with the children as Cufaen and Cat played in the Hunt House lab with the new toys. I returned just after the sun rose and I greeted in my silence. The star watched.
I strolled in the front door of the Hunt House, my hood pulled up and cloak tightly around me. Archer smiled and popped to his feet, meeting me at the door and taking my cloak. My Dragon art glowed through the sheer body suit. I loved the way my beloved’s eyes danced across my form. He was still dressed all in black from the night.
Cat emerged from the kitchen, “Okay, so how did you get to the idea that they would go after you?”
“She wanted to give herself to them for the kids.” Cufean voiced, “Only she isn’t a mutant.”
“Are the kids?” Cat asked.
“Hmm…Genocide….kidnapping…ya think?” Archer smiled in jest.
Blue wandered down the stairs and joined in, “Can their detectors be messed with?”
“Ok, how do we track you when they get you?” Cat asked. “Otherwise they might end up with all 4 of you.”
I picked up my cloak, a set of handcuffs fell out. I bent over picking them up. I thought of the night I removed them from Icehawk. So many battles.
Ghost Archer pointed over at the desk, a pile of electronics was heaped there. He cocked his head “Handcuffs, love? What ARE you planning”
Cat looked at me eyeing with the cuffs in hand. “Should we leave?”
“Something I took off of Icehawk.” I smiled at Cat.
Archer raised his eyebrow. “Icehawk? Found a girl already?”
I slipped them back into my cloak. “He has now. He is traveling with Pam.”
A look of surprised swept over him. “The tiger girl?”
“Yes,” I smiled, “But the cuffs came into play the night I slept in his hotel.”
“Slept in his hotel.” He let that sink in.
“Yes.” I admitted not having anything to hide.
Cat ran for cover. “Raven, I thought I told you about the green’s selfishness.” He watched Archer to see if he was going to blow.
Archer smiled as he shook his head. “Remind me to kill him later.”
Plans where formed. I feared for my love and looked to the star. I need to think only of the battle. We where to meet at Olympic Park with the enemy. The Olympic State Park is across the Sound from the warehouse. The time came to leave and my love slipped his harm around me. I felt the star fleeing but I drew them back to me. He took cat in his other arm and lifted to the air with Hawkins following.
The Sound was almost pitch black, with an occasional light from a small craft. Ahead the Olympic Peninsula was lined with lights along the shore… With in moments we approached the Western shore of the Sound.
Archer climbed as the Olympic range loomed before us.
Hawkins asked, “Anyone got rope?”
“I do in my cloak.” I answered.
“Damn, woman!” Archer grinned, “No wonder you weigh a ton!”
“To go with your cuffs?” asked Cat.
I chuckled at Cat, “Yes.”
Cat smarted off, “GA, you must have fun.”
Ghost Archer grinned, the starlight just illuminating his teeth, “The cuffs are new, Cat. Might have to try them… on her.”
Hawkins ignored the jokes, “It occurred to me if we use a boat I might be able to help its speed by pulling
Archer climbed higher, cresting the mountains at about 8000 feet. Once over he started down the western slope. Than slowed to a hover, scanning the forest below. In the distance we saw the beacon.
We set down a mile from the red flashing. I open my mind and saw the eleven waiting minds.
“I’ll go in first. You all spread out and be quiet.” Archer commanded.
He turned on the detector.”
I was one with the air and spoke. “I will follow your steps. They can spread out.”
Ghost Archer turned to my voice. “Raven, if anything goes wrong, go south. Raven…you get your ass out of here… You have to think about Lothere and Aldarian. If things fall apart…go very bad.”
“You know my heart.” I touched his hand knowing I would not leave his side, “I will follow till the end of time.”
“Be careful.” his voice revealed concern. He looked to Valoki, “You, guard her! Or I’ll make a pair of boots out of you.” He turned to Little brother, “Get Kitty out of here as fast as you can. Get her to the Warehouse.”
The star danced in me as I spaced myself, “Let us play.” I echoed from my lips as I started to move down the trail next to Archer.
Cat slipped off into the woods. I watched in my mind’s eye, him slip close to another the two light where as one for a moment and only one stayed move on. No call to arms came so I knew little brother has silenced the active mind.
Archer sighed softly and continued down the trail. We came across our enemy. The three children stood in the center of a clearing. Men all around. Than I saw her and froze as my mind raced into the past.
“Good evening, Ghost Archer.” Spoke the red Queen. “I have heard you were an honorable man.”
“I am afraid I haven’t had the pleasure … you are?” asked my beloved.
She grinned in an evil manner, “You may call me the Red Queen … later, perhaps, you can call me “Mistress” After I do a lobotomy on you.” From her right and a blade appeared.
My mind screamed, I couldn’t let Sorcha touch him. He was real this time. I opened my mind and threw the hurt of ages towards her. She winced for a moment. I realized where I was. I had made an error once again. In my radio I screamed, “NOW PEPS!” I could not hold the vision of the past at bay.
“Who’s your invisible little friend?” The Red Queen asked as she lashed out, a blade forming on her right hand as it traveled through the air.
My mind slipped back to the healing room of Sky city, “Yeah right, Sorcha! You got to be better than that.” I felt the blade sink deep into my flesh, just below her breasts. I mouthed, “You touch my husband and your dead.” I felt my mind slip between all the places I ever was. In Cravenhaw’s arm’s as he pressed his lips to mine the first night I was there, Delcay’s strong but gentle arms as she cradled me next to the river bed, Caesir as he hauled me from the pit of dead and carried me back to camp. Sorcha’s eyes staring into mine reassuring me, “It is the only way to rid you of the pain. Now once again Kill him.” Blackness took hold but Star watched.
******
I am the Star. For her record I do here by speak. She fell to the ground her body useless to us. The life forced drained in a pool.
Archer hissed through the radio “Get the kids out of her! Now! Hawk, grab two…even if you hurt them. Cat! get the other!”
Cat radioed, “Hawkins, Get Jerome I’ll get the two girls.”
Archer narrowed his eyes and the katana appeared. In a glint of light it was to his hand and he crouched over Raven. Hawkins swooped down from the sky and picked a child in each talon. Cat pressed his super leap and moved in to sweep the girl into his arm. The Red Queen smiled sweetly and activated her Mutant Drainer catching Archer in it.
Ghost Archer laughed, “You’re kidding, right?” Six agents noisily stomped out of the trees, each leveling plasma rifle at the little group. “CAT!” he screamed.
The Red Queen said, “You are out numbered, Archer, surrender and I’ll let your little playmate live.” The Six agents brought their guns to aim on the Raven shell. Her mind was safe with in us.
Valoki the lesser dragon flew in and with his poisons sting ran it across one of the agents’ face. We could sense he would leave his shell quickly. Cat with girl in arms and not looking back ran as fullest of speed making him look like a yellow steak of fur. It was really an amusing sight to view. Valoki hissed as he picked out his next victim.
Ghost Archer let the blade drop, touching the earth. “You will let them go?” He spoke as a defeated man.
The Red Queen said “Yes…you have my word”
His hand slide the blade back over his back. “Can I give her a kiss good bye?” He looked down at Raven, his face clouded with fear for her
The Red Queen nodded, “I see no reason for it, but you may, hers will be the last lips you touch.” Ghost Archer knelt slowly beside Raven and started to lift her. The Red Queen spoke quickly, “Leave her on the ground”
Ghost Archer reluctantly laid her down again, bending low to kiss her, his smile hidden as he touched her lips. The form tingled as both him and Raven became out of step with the solid form of Earth. I watched on, there was no passion to make us flee him.
“Kill her!” commanded the Red Queen. The five remaining agents open fire, filling the air with the ozone of plasma, all of it passing through the two of them.
Ghost Archer looked up at the Red Queen, “Talk to Sarge some time, you might learn something….” He now lifted the shell in his arms and stood. The grass beneath him burning, “You know I am going to destroy you now” We allowed Raven to feel the anguish of her wound and she moaned.
The Red Queen scowled, “You cannot protect every mutant, Archer, and we know of your “wife” now….” The Red Queen fired her suppression power…
Ghost Archer gritted his teeth and ignored the tiny amount of his power that is dampened. “I know of “Final Resolution” And you know what happened to the “Resolution” I have a piece of it in my trophy room and how goes things on the Russian front…isn’t one of your Minuteman factories missing?”
“YOU?!” She gave Archer a savage look. Ghost Archer slowly smiled. The Red Queen spoke, “Take your woman and go!”
Ghost Archer turned away and leaped into the air, heading north, away from Cat and Hawk. Valoki got the idea and splits too.
Ghost Archer radioed, “Everyone clear?”
Cat radioed, “Clear.”
Hawkins radioed, “Yep.”
Ghost Archer radioed “I am going to fly drag, you guys hurry your asses off…I have to stop someplace and bind up Raven.” He sat down in a small clearing. Carefully he laid her form to the cold hard surface of the earth. He pulled out a pressure bandage opened it and pressed it to Raven’s wound, tying it around her waist. A second pressure bandage was soon around her.
Her mind was moving in the past as she moaned in a deep pain, “Caesir, Will I die?”
Ghost Archer leaned close and whispers “Easily, love…you’re safe”
He gently stroked her cheek, pushing a thick strand of hair behind her ear. He pulled off the cloak and bag from around her shoulder.
As he open the cloak he eyed the many items secured to the inside of her cloak and the many pockets that had been carefully sewn in to carry more. His hands quickly started to untie things.
“Baby what the hell do you need all this stuff for?” he asked as a log book fell from her pocket. He lifted and ran his hand over the cover and slipped it back into her cloak. As he moved through her things he found the Link Cube. He looked carefully at the surface and placed it in his quiver. The replacement locket of gold he also took. More items did he strip from her and put into his own clothing till the cloak was empty.
He lighted the bag and hid all that he removed.
“Damn, baby.” He commented as he place the much lighter bag on his shoulder and lifted her to his arm standing. To the air he went in the state between solid and he circled the tree tops. The life force was steady in her and we held most the pain. But as it is to be her mind woke in his arms, filling the shell and we where once again moved to the corner of her mind unable to see.
******
“Raven?” I heard my beloved calling to me in my dreams. I could smell his aroma filling my senses. His warm arms holding me. The strong beat of the drumming of his heart played heavenly in my ears.
I opened my eyes and looked up, “I must be dreaming.”
My beloved grinned, “You scared the hell out of me.”
“I couldn’t lose you again.”
“You won’t.” he swore, “not ever and not to Genocide. Love, I have been fighting them for years … I know them.”
I moved closer into his body. “I seem to dance with death every where I go.” I closed my eyes and focused on his heart. “Hope I don’t get a scar. Sorcha had a time fixing them.”
“I am sorry we have to stay out here like this … but I want to watch for Genocide following Cat and Hawk.”
“Do what is needed.” I smiled, “I am home.”