In the city of lights there’s literally nothing but sounds, lights and people. People every square foot, drinking and living life as if there was no tomorrow. So, when the giant armored rhino man first appeared they thought he was a part of a show. Some sort of incredible new gimmick and they cheered when he first appeared.
Then he got his giant bazooka of a gun and blew up a car. Then the reality of the situation set in and they started running. A lot of people freaked out because this was stuff that only happened in Chicago. What was it doing all the way out here on the other side of the country.
He roared, charging down the street knocking a bus high into the air screaming in an alien language that no one understood. Raising his gun, the tip glowed an angry orange before sending a solid beam of energy straight at the bus. The beam slammed into a blue barrier of light that flashed bright like a bolt of lightning.
The bus came spinning down and everyone both within the bus and on the ground screamed. Before it crashed into the ground though it jolted a dozen feet off the ground. It was lowered slowly and set on the ground gently. They looked through the windows and saw the large man shaped being.
As the bus was set wheels down the door opened sharply startling everyone inside of it. Jack walked inside donned in his new armor and people screamed immediately but he winced and shook his head. “Please everyone remain calm! We’re going to get you out of here!”
“It’s one of those knights!”
“Those guys are real!”
“Please don’t kill us!”
“We’re not gonna kill you,” Jack said holding his hands up. “We’re here to help. Everyone who can move get away from that wall!” he pointed at the wall opposite him. They stared at him dumbly but when a grinding metal sound echoed on the other side of the bus they jolted to the side. Others along with Jack helped those who weren’t conscious or weren’t able to move on their own.
The guardian tore open the side of the bus and then backed away as Kathryn appeared in front of the bus wall. She looked at each of them and held out one of her armored hands, “Come on everyone,” she said gently. “We need to get you away from here.”
“Listen to the lady,” Jack added giving a thumbs up.
They looked at the two of them but after another explosion they jolted and ran out of the bus. Once it was entirely clear and people were getting off the main street. Jack sighed. The guardian disappeared and he threw his scarf back. “Okay that’s taken care of.”
“Right. Just got to deal with,” they both winced hearing a crack of thunder. “Think Sarah’s got this taken care of?”
“Let’s make sure,” Jack nodded quickly and then made his scythe appear. Kathryn conjured her staff and they took off, hopping clear over the bus and toward the action.
A roar echoed and Sarah flipped aside, the ground cracking open with the force. She slid backwards holding one axe tightly and stumbled away. The rhino man tossed his gun aside and charged horn first. Sarah’s eyes widened and she jumped, flipping over him as he missed her and crashed into one of the legs of the Eiffel tower. It crumbled but didn’t collapse though it was heavily tilted. She landed lightly turning her axes back and forth, “Doing that to the Eiffel tower has got to be a hate crime somewhere.”
He brought the gun back up and fired at her. Bringing her axes together their edges jumped with electrical energy. Bringing them forerward she met the edge of the laser beam and then stepped forward cutting it in half and sent the beams into the ground. Resting one axe on her shoulder shesmirked behind her helmet. “That all you got?”
He turned around staring at her and snarled, “You. Celestial Knight.”
“Oh you’ve heard about me?” she asked.
“You protect the crystal. We will defeat you and take it for the glory of Zarg the great!”
Sarah put her hands on her hips raising her eyebrow, “Are you Zarg?”
“No.”
“Right. Well not Zarg. The crystal is too dangerous to just give away to a rhino man like you. So gonna have to ask you to leave.”
“I won’t leave until the crystal is in my possession.”
“You sure I can’t convince you to leave.”
“I will run through all of you Celestial Knights for the glory of Zarg!”
“Okay so we’re doing this.”
Raising her axes, she spun them around and then clasped them together and the handles merged. Grabbing the base of the blades she pulled down the handle until she was now holding a double bladed axe. She crouched lowering the weapon. She hadn’t had much practice with this new thing but there was no better way to learn how to use it than in a fight.
Not Zarg stamped the ground and then charged right at her. Each of his steps shook the ground and once upon a time she would have been afraid of this. She would have felt like running away or at least dodging again. But now she knew she didn’t have to.
Lightning crackled along her arms and visor and she took a step forward crashing her axe into his horn. Lightning flashed, thunder cracked and she felt the impact through her body. But she was the one still standing and Not Zarg fell into the ground in a smoking heap.
Turning she rested the weapon on her shoulder and smirked, “Not so tough are ya?”
“Wow you really didn’t need our help?” Jack asked slowing down as he finally got closer.
She rolled her eyes glancing at him, “Yeah Jack I have it handled. The bus safe?”
“Yeah,” Kathryn glanced between them. “Nothing the paramedics can’t fix.”
They both looked back at the rhino man he flashed white and then he was gone. Disappeared like he’d never been there. Sarah looked at Kathryn but they both shrugged not sure what that was at all. Sarah tapped the side of her helmet and said, “Hey handsome. The situation in Vegas has been taken care of. We’re ready to come home.”
“Roger that. Seth and Owen just came back.” Marco replied. “Bringing you guys back.”
Red light covered the three of them and Jack put a hand to his face, “Damn I didn’t get a chance to catch a show. Think we’ll be welcome back with free tickets?”
Kathryn laughed, “Celestial Knights return to see the Rockettes.”
The Harlequin Library 