Seattle Log 1
Icehawk knocked on the front door of the Seattle Hunt house. Waiting impatiently, he toyed with a spear of ice. Icehawk sat on the front steps, elbows on knees, chin on his fists. He extruded a blade of ice and jabbed the lawn. His mind was on his sweet Pam; she had lost their child and blamed herself for the death. It wasn’t true and he didn’t blame her, he just wanted to love her. In thought and with out care he formed a sheet of ice and skated to the corner store.
John offered the young girl his arm. “Trust me Aspen, they will love you.” John smiled sweetly at her.
Aspen took a deep breath and accepted the arm. “We’ll see I guess. I’m still not sure I’m up to this.”
John escorted down the street till they came to a quaint little house freshly painted and new sod laid. The little place looked so out of place next to the dingy unkempt buildings that surrounded it. He took her up to the door and knocked
“Don’t worry they are good people.” John commented his reassuring smile never leaving the girls stare, “and you will be doing a lot of good.”
Cat answered the door with his feline face buried deep with in a schoolbook.
John smiled. “Hi cat. Can we come in?
Cat eyes did not leave his book; he recognized John’s voice and answered, “Of coarse John. What are you doing out?”
Aspen stiffened a bit, she summoned up every ounce of her courage to speak. “Hello…?”
Cat lowered his book taking in the wonderful new view of a girl not much older than himself. A deliciously mischief grin crept over his lips as he asked, “Who’s this lovely lady?”
“I just brought Aspen, here to meet Raven.” John started as he urged Aspen into the house and closed the door behind them. “She is like you guys. I figured she could be a nice addition to the family, The Seattle Hunt and all.” He led the girl to the couch in the living room trying to comfort her unease with a soft touch to her hand.
Cat nodded, “Ok, that would be great. I do prefer to have Raven give the go ahead on new members.”
John winked at Cat, “Well, got anything to drink around here?”
Aspen eyes scanned the room; her body eased a little as she sat in the soft overstuffed couch of velvet. “I’m still not totally sure this is the right decision but whatever it is I know I can do it.”
John smiled sat beside her and held her hand, she beamed a smile back. John whispered to her, “You will do fine”
Aspen with a slightly shaken voice asked “how hard can it be, really?”
Cat went into the Kitchen. His voice drifted back to the front room. “What do you want, juice, milk, pop, water?”
John shouted back, “Make mine a Pepsi”
Aspen quietly added, “Just water please.”
I walked up to the door as she saw the icy blue figure skating down the road. From beneath her cloak came her hand and rapped on the door. John sprung to his feet giving Aspen a wink and a smile and strode over to the door swing it open.
Cat had just entered back to the living room caring in two cups. He handed the lovely Aspen her glass as the spray of chips blasted into the front hall. John had a smile a mile wide as he held this five-foot nothing form clad in a cloak tightly to his body.
Icehawk asked quickly, “Talked to them yet?”
“Not yet.” I spoke as I returned the embrace. “I just got here.”
No sooner had John released me, than Cat scooped me into his arms. I finally made it with in the doorway my eyes fell upon the dark hair girl, her slender form sitting nervously on the couch.
John spoke into my ear; “I brought you a helper.”
Icehawk slide in, his eyes on Cat. You could see he was a bit upset at fur face for not answering the door earlier.
“Aspen this is the Seeker,” John introduced, “and Icehawk,” turned pointing, “and That is Cat.”
Aspen looked sort of lost, her eyes widen when I walked in and more so when Icehawk slide in.
Cat smirked, “Raven, she wishes to join us. I was hoping for your stamp of approval.”
Aspen stood up to greet them. “Hi.”
“Greetings Aspen,” warmly I spoke, “We have an emergency on our hands. Where is every one else?”
“I’m here Who else do you need?” Cat chimed
Icehawk slide back and forth, his version of pacing.
“Emergency?” Aspen was caught quite off guard, “John I thought I could meet everyone first and stuff…”
John shrugged and went to comfort the girl. “Things get hopping around here.” John warmly smiled at Aspen.
Icehawk rose his voice, “Archer!”
“Linda has been kidnapped.” I blurted out; “My beloved gave me the stuff for triangulating her cell phone.”
Cat growled, “O God. By who? You’re kidding right?”
“No, she’s not!” exclaimed Ice. He stopped sliding.
Cat’s anger flared, “I want to know who! So I know what to write on their tomb stones.”
“Those jerks at ProSec, Cat.” Informed Ice.
John watched the two and whispered to the young girl, “They need your help, darling.”
Aspen shrugged. “Yeah, okay. I can do this.” Aspen then turned, poking John in the chest. “I have to prove you right after all.” John half hugged the girl.
“I just need someone to cover us in case they start playing mind games.” Cat added, the anger still making his fur stand on end.
Icehawk started circling the room, highly agitated.
“Aspen,” I spoke still trying to be sweet, “Guess it is test by fire for you. We can talk after wards.”
Cat asked in a hurried tone, “Do you know where?”
“Ice fill them in.” I started to pull out all the gizmo’s I had acquired; my beloved was needed elsewhere and was torn. I assured him that we could handle it and he went off to care for his emergency.
Aspen returned the hug to John. He grinned. Her eyes looked to me. “Sure. But
You won’t need to talk after you see me.”
Icehawk began, “An hour ago I received a call for this ProSec low life named Bobbie. I heard Linda screaming in the background. He wanted Pam to dance for him and I guess he’s willing to go to any length to see that is happens.”
“The only dancing he’ll see, is my feet on his face.” Cat snarled
I pulled out more gadgets and a jar of pickles.
Aspen stared at my acquisitions before realizing she should be listening and turning to face Icehawk.
John clenched his fist; he did so love us all. I could see the torn look of helplessness and the willingness to fight embedded in his eyes. “Anything I can do Ice?” John asked wanting so much to aid Linda. “Those are my girls.”
The sorrowful expression ran through Icehawk, “Linda, at my request, had cancelled Pam’s gig with Bobbie, this pissed the guy off… he threatened to hunt Linda down.”
“I have to work on the security for this place.” Cat vowed, looked around the wooden house.
I pulled out an extra radio headset and handed it to Aspen. I broadcasted, “testing” I turned to everyone, “With this equipment. I pointed at the pile I had pulled from my cloak. “We can make a call to her cell phone and pin point the location. I made a call and Bobbie should answer.”
Aspen took the headset, she eyed my cloak. “Anything you can’t pull out of that?”
I smiled, “I haven’t been able to fit the kitchen sink yet.”
Aspen smiled back, “Good thing or John would have to give up that old saying, but he’s got them to spare so it wouldn’t be so bad.”
Cat added, “If you took the bath tub out you would have room for the sink.”
I held back my laugh, “I think I left the tub in my other cloak.”
Cat became very serious, “Fun time is over. Do you have any idea where they have her?
“I figure we trace her cell phone.” I explained again, “We will find her or at least Bobbie. I am sure Cat that you and Ice can help me get him to tell us where she is.”
“The best we could do is find out what area they called from. I don’t know what range a cell have but it could be miles.” Surmised Cat.
John looked at the four of us. “Is there anything I can do?”
Aspen smiled at John. “That’s why you have me.” She patted his hand.
John smiled back with worry on his face. “Yep with you on there side, We can’t loose.”
Cat looked at the new girl, “I know this might sound weird but can you dance… Aspen, I did get that right.”
Aspen looked at Cat with a question in her eyes, “Dance? What? No, well, I went to a rave a couple times but there was so much going on at once it was a little overwhelming… That probably makes me sound stupid. It wouldn’t be that way now.”
“Little brother.” I offered, “I can dance. You have another idea?”
Cat stated shaking his head, “I know that but they know you. That’s the advantage of having someone new. They’re unknown.”
Aspen looked unease, “I could try I guess. But I’d at least like to know why.”
“I was thinking that we might get Pam to go with bobby and as soon as she’s found Linda she would send a signal back. But she needs to be protected if we try that.” Cat smiled, “you could be her dance partner.”
Icehawk informed us all, “I called the cell phone manufacturer and got the frequency for Linda’s cell. Archer set the detector for that frequency.” Icehawk looked around, “Where’s B? Anyone seen her?”
Cat nodded, ” Ok, I can set up in one part of town and you in another. So when the call is responded to we can line in.”
Icehawk glared at Cat “That’s why I wanted Archer here …”
B flew in as James asked. Gracefully the little four-inch fairy, landed seated on his shoulder. “Thought no one know me here no more.”
Icehawk looked at B “You’ve grown…must be all the goodies you are wolfing down.”
Aspen took a deep breath. “This isn’t so weird… Not at all…” John kept a hand on her shoulder steadying her in reassurance
B stared at Aspen, “pretty girl.”
“B, Where can we find Bobbie?” Icehawk asked realizing B would have been the last to see Linda, “He took Linda.”
B nodded, “He got fuzzy’s girl. They are boring.” She kicked her little feet back and forth, “I left.”
“Yeah, he does.” Icehawk looked at her sideways trying to see her on his shoulder, “We’d like to get her back.”
“Day take her to house.” B leaned back into the nap of his neck and drew her legs on his shoulder. Her tiny wings flutter tickling his neck.
“What house, B?” James inquired of her.
“Icy man has map?” B rolled over looking down the collar of his shirt.
Icehawk slide over to the computer room, searching for a map. Cat one step ahead pulled out a folder of AAA maps.
“Aspen you will get use to her.” I looked at her and John. For a moment I saw something spark in his eye but it was gone. “She is our spy.”
Icehawk corrected, “She’s or little angel.”
“Yeah, I’ll get used to this, in about twenty years.” Aspen seemed so overwhelmed and there was nothing I could do for her. This was the hunt and things moved quickly or not at all.
Icehawk went to Cat’s side and watched as he unfolded the map. B fluttered down on the map and looked at all the fine print of street names. She paused at an intersection of two. With the tip of her toe she pointed on the paper. “Day went in tall house there. Lots of steps.” B pointed to 87th and Cludehill
Icehawk looked down at the tiny form, “B, anything you want I’ll get for you.”
“Lemon drop.” She smiled at the thought of the sweet treat.
Icehawk bent over kissing the little fairy. “You got it!”
B giggled and flew towards the light cover but darted behind me. I thought I felt movement in my hood but said nothing of it. “Good more information,” I added.
Cat stared at the map, “So it’s here 2 miles west of 405 and south of 520. Lets go.”
“Ready when you are.” Icehawk looked at Aspen and me, “Who needs a ride?”
“Grab some stuff.” I hated to have to reload my cloak with all I had pulled out.
“I guess so.” Aspen drew a deep breath, “Yeah, yeah I’m ready.” John leaned over placing a kiss on her forehead
Icehawk snagged a detector, looking around the room. “Who needs a ride?”
Raven handed Aspen a detector
“Raven?” Ice circled the room impatient.
“Always.” I replied.
“Aspen, is it?” James offered her an arm.
“Aspen you should try a lift from him.” I encouraged her to come. “We can all get in the area together this way.”
“A lift? What kind of lift?” the fear on her face was totally noticeable
“Ice, show her with me.” I requested
Icehawk scooped me in his arms, slide around the room three times in less then a second. He stopped, setting me back on her feet
“He is fast transport and no need to gas him up.” I grinned, “He just goes.”
Aspen sighed in relief. “I thought you really meant a lift. Like into the air. This I will do, looks like fun.”
“I like to use a jet for flying.” Ice offered an arm to her.
John smiled, “Be careful and bring my girls back to me, all of them.”
John winked at Aspen
Aspen gave John a squeeze. “Trust me.”
“I do.” He laid a kiss on her forehead, “Save Linda.”
“Let’s go wait foe me on the East Side of the bridge.” Cat spoke as he bound out of the house.
Icehawk whispered in my ear, “Who’s the dude?”
I whisper back, “He’s my dad.”
“Your dad?!” Icehawk looked in disbelief, “What was he, ten when you were born?”
I smiled, “My green Dad.” I moved to John and laid my lips to his cheek. He had always been there for me since the first moment we meet. I thought of Mystic and me with Josho in arm rushing to the Mansion, that no longer stood. John had saved my son
John smiles at Icehawk. “I was old before you where a twinkle in your daddy’s eye, boy.”
“My daddy! Never had a twinkle….” Icehawk spoke dryly, “Saddle up ladies…we better beat Cat there or he’ll kill someone.”
“Had to once he had you.” John pointed out, “Now get, I want my Linda back and my Pam safe.”
“Me too, old timer. Me too!” ice sighed heavy.
“Take care of these two. I want all my girls whole.” The fear for our safety was plain to read on John’s face.
I moved into James arm and he held me near. He slipped an arm around me lifting me with ease.
Aspen moved to Icehawk’s arm, “Someday I’m going to teach him to act like the age he looks. Anyway, let’s go. Don’t want anyone getting killed. So I just…?”
Icehawk slipped an arm around Aspen and holding her tightly to his side, “Hold on…I am going to be in a hurry.”
B slipped into Ice’s vest pocket. He skated out the door. Icehawk smiled both arms full of lovely ladies. He pushed off, leaping off the porch and hitting the ground in a full stride. Icehawk accelerated as he hit the street, taking the first corner and leaning into it. He leaned forward and within seconds was passing 400 mph. Icehawk weaves his way through traffic, pedestrians…telephone poles…mailboxes… occasionally over the hood or trunk of a stopped car, landing on the other side with out slowing.
Cat watched the three of us pass him by. “Hi guys. Bye guys.”
I commented, It will be nice to have a sister again.”
Aspen looked over to me to avoid looking at all the stuff passing so quickly. “You mean me?”
“Yes.” I spoke wishing Kara had not left, “I have no real sisters. So those of the hunt, they are my family. Pam and Linda are my sisters and John is dad.”
Icehawk opened it up to 500 mph as he reached the broader streets.
Aspen shut her eyes and tense when any bridges over water are crossed. “Oh, yeah, it was like that after I left home. I know what you mean.”
Icehawk skates up onto the bridge, hanging to one side, the girders of the structure passing by in a blur. He streaked down the last street, looking for cover. Spraying the bushes he slide to a stop. Icehawk set Aspen on her feet, then Raven. “You okay, Aspen?” He inquired.
I gave ice a kiss on the cheek, “Thank you Ice.” If my beloved had never entered my life how would I have felt for these men of the green?
“Very welcome, Raven.” A small smile lifted his lips.
Aspen stumbled a bit. “Yeah… Fine. That’s just…weird.”
I radioed, “Cat where are you?”
Cat replied over the radio, “I’m on the bridge. I should be there soon.”
Icehawk looked inquisitively at the girl, ” Aspen? I know this is a bad time to ask but what do you do? I mean… What powers?”
“Oh, umm. Well when I was ‘evaluated’ it was said I was ‘in tune with my environment.’ Want me to demonstrate?”
Icehawk encouraged her, “Sure!”
Aspen took a step back and then began to move the stuff around her. A small tree lifted up and rerooted itself a few feet away. The sidewalk rolled up on itself and then unrolled. “That kind of thing. I can hit people with it too. Use it to block stuff. You know. But they said it wasn’t telekinesis, whatever that is.” As she was doing this her skin turned to look like the surroundings, part of it turned leafy, part changed to look like the sidewalk, part like the side of the closest house. She stopped, after a short time her colors faded, her skin returned to the light peach shade she started with. “Hard to explain. Easier to show.”
I nodded with approval, “I think you did a find demonstration.”
“Nice, Aspen…” Icehawk warned, “Be careful, Aspen…I hope you have some defenses.”
Cat came up us, “Do we want to use the detectors or just have B point out the house?” Cat eyed my hood.
Icehawk looked down into his pocket. “Still in there, B?”
B snapped her fingers as she was found, her head poked out of Ice’s pocket. “I like new female.” B beamed with a smile.
I smiled, I to like this girl. ” B please tell us which one it is.”
B pointed to a center town house. “Dat one.”
Icehawk looked solemnly; “If Belle is here, she will take control of me..” he lost words for a moment.
“I am with you Ice.” I tried to reassure him. “She won’t get you.”
Aspen added, “I’ll be fine. Really.”
“Don’t be afraid to blast me…” Icehawk eyes determined, “and use fire, it is more effective…”
“Ice.” My heart flipped at the thought of hurting him. B tucked deep into his pocket.
“Yes, Raven?”
“I can pull from her. We grab Linda and leave.”
“Yes, in and out.” Ice nodded.
I looked to the new girl, “Aspen. How about you knocking so I can slip in. I just need to see in the house. Cat you do the back door?”
Aspen nodded, “Yeah, okay. Now?”
Icehawk leaned over to Cat. “The gloves are off, buddy, I hope you realize that, no more Mr. Nice Guy.”
“Yes, in and out and I’ll make a Bobby size exit.” Cat eyes had narrowed to two slits, “I think that will do.”
Icehawk nodded, “Watch your ass.”
I became one with the air and spoke as not to frighten Aspen, “Okay, lets go Aspen. I will be beside you till the door opens. ”
Aspen walked to the door and knocked loudly. Icehawk watched closely, ready to hit first thing that pops up.
Icehawk radioed, “We are there, Aspen just knocked on the door…Raven’s going in.”
A tall brute of a man hovered in the doorframe as he eyed the slender frame of the girl. His voice rolled in the roughness of a gravel truck; “Can I help you?”
“Hi.” Aspen voice sang brightly, “I… Well, my car broke down. Can I use your phone?”
The darken eyes took one more look at the sweet thing before as he opened the door wide and grinned, “Sure babes come on in.”
Aspen glanced back outside once and then stepped inside. Icehawk growled softly as the man closed the door behind her. Icehawk slide up to the front door, moving silently.
He led her to a desk with a old rotary phone, “It over here.”
Icehawk put his back to the wall and extruded three feet of sharpened ice.
The massive form of the man stood against Aspen back as she picked up the receiver and dialed. “So, what’s your name?” He leaned over her shoulder.
Aspen trembled, “Oh, can’t remember the number of the towing people. Got a phone book?”
Icehawk peered in through the window in the door.
The man with an arm to either side of her one hand pulled out a center drawer, forcing her body hard against his. “Its right here.”
“It’s Sarah.” Aspen took the book and moved away from his hold, “You could have just told me it was there.” She flipped slowly through the book, her hands slightly shaking as she continued to try and stall.
Icehawk whispered into the radio, “Anytime, Raven..” His eyes were on Aspen and the man.
Raven radioed, “Nothing on second floor moving up.”
“Sarah, what a nice name.” The man’s rough hand stroked Sarah’s hair.
Aspen stepped away quickly. “You shouldn’t do that.”
Icehawk pulled out his phone and speed dialed Linda’s phone
The tweeting sound of a cell phone, that lay on the corner of the desk, broke the air. The man picked up a cell phone next to the normal phone. Aspen sighed in relief, walking away from the desk still flipping through the book.
Man spoke into the cell phone, “YEAH!”
Icehawk closed the connection, with a smile.
Man closed the phone, grinning at Sarah. Icehawk speed dialed the number again.
The man growled, “Wish Bobbie would have taken the thing.” He rough answered the cell phone, “YEAH!”
Icehawk turned away from the window, speaking into the phone…”Get me Bobbie”
Man followed Sarah with the phone in hand, “You a friend of Linda’s?”
“Yeah, The rich guy.”
Aspen continued to pace around the room in a circle as the brute followed her.
Raven radioed, “Dam, She is cuffed to the bed and I don’t have a key. Shit there is a guy up here. “
Icehawk closed the phone, he whispered into the radio, “Now, Cat.”
Cat had proceeded around the back of the house and had climbed the walls, searching each window of his Linda. He rushed to the third floor finding the room with Linda quickly. He peered in as he heard Ice call to action. With a thrust of his body he crashed through the window.
The Man had closed and corner Aspen once more, “Why so nervous babes.”
A sudden crash from up stairs the sound of the wood door falling to floor at the front had the man spinning, “What the Fuck!”.
Icehawk had slashed the door open with a crash. Upon the sheet of ice he formed, Icehawk slide straight for the guy, blade out.
Meanwhile On the upper floor I watched as the great feline crashed through the window next to the bed Linda lay chained and unconscious. His voice shook as he hissed, “Linda, did anyone hurt you?” At the foot of the bad stood one of the fools that had taken her. Cat’s eyes where to slits and his face was that of the Lion about to pounce, “Are you going to lay on the floor and beg for your life or am I going to beat you to a bloody pulp?”
In instant reaction the fool charged Cat. It was obvious the man wanted to push Cat out the way he came in but instead…. Cat moved to the side causing the man to side step, nearly falling out the window.
With the hands a blur, little brother rabbit punched the man, much like watching cat working out on the punching bag he used every day and replaced weekly. Cat spun with the full force of his being, kicked the guy. The man flew across the room like a rag doll falling to the opposing wall, clenching at his ribs where the kick had landed.
Downstairs:
Ice slide up to the man, “You picked a bad day to get up, jerk…” The Ice blast came forth from Icehawk. It covered the man from toe to neck as the forced pushed him to the ground. “Good boy. Stay.”
Aspen dropped the phone book on the guy as she moved past towards the stairs.
Icehawk dropped to one knee beside the guy and took his face in one hand “You awake?” He shook him a little, “Hey!”
The man moaned.
“Tell your buddy Bobbie.” Icehawk frozen syllables hung in the air, “If he touches another woman connected to Hunt…we will take him out. I’ll freeze his blood for him…like this!”
The cold of the arctic north ran through the man’s veins as his blood burned from the cold. The man spasm on the floor. Icehawk than encased the guy in a sheet of ice.
Aspen reached the second floor and she saw a guy running at full tilt to the staircase. She raised her hands. The floor wobbled and the wall twisted down, the building moved around him melting into to the structure around them.
Aspen grinned.
Icehawk radioed, “Raven, you get her? Ready for a lift?”
I radioed, “I am still looking for the key I had.” I tore into all my pockets and in my cloak to find the handcuff key I owned.”
“Key?!” Icehawk grinned and raced up the steps. He rushed by Aspen “excuse me…”
Aspen darted to the side.
I radioed, “I think archer still has it.”
The furry paws snapped the bed releasing Linda , leaving her with a new set of bracelets on her wrists.
Cat wrapped the nearly nude girl in the blanket and pulled back his tears.
Icehawk charged up on his ice slide, spraying ice on Cat. “What’s new, pussycat?”
The feline’s voice shook, “I think there are going to be a few people they wished weren’t born.”
Icehawk worked on the cuffs with a pick and pops them open
Aspen radioed, “What do I do with this guy? Just keep an eye on him?. Never mind. He’s not going anywhere for awhile. Be right up.”
“Let’s split..” suggest Icehawk.
Cat looked down at his Linda, he pulled her tightly to him. “I’ll let him out of the entangle.”
“Ice you get Linda and Aspen” I stated, “Cat….” Cat had handed Linda over to Ice and with a determined look of vengeance in his eyes, he headed for the stairs. “Cat!” I screamed after him and started to follow mumbling, ” You all have permission to enter the warehouse.
“I can’t take Linda,” Ice called after me, “Raven, not with Aspen too.” He shrugged his shoulder and suggested, “Unless Aspen can hold onto my back. Aspen, can you do the piggy back thing?”
Aspen smiled nervously, “Why not? Already been a heck of a day.”
Icehawk slide by, “Later, Boss lady…”
“I am not the BOSS…” I protested
“Whatever you say, boss lady!”
“Cat, warehouse.” I ordered.”
“I’ll catch up top you guys. I have some thing to do first.” He glared at the guy in the entangle. “How are you doing? Want out?”
“Cat,” I feared for both my little brother and the man he wanted to kill, “Warehouse! CAT!”
“What!?!” he hissed.
“Go to the warehouse.”
“I just want to do one thing?” Cat spun into a kick, striking the guy with all his might.
I grabbed him, “Enough! Lets go.”
Cat’s tears broke, “Fine, let’s go.”
Ice hawk raced through the streets at break neck speed. Conversationally he spoke with a smile on his face, “You know. It’s usually about this time. I make a pass at you but that was the old Icehawk.” He laughed as he raced up to the gates of the warehouse.
Aspen commented, “You’ve got your hands full anyway.”