Thud.
Wham.
Thud.
Wham.

Right, left, left, and right again, his fists connect with the heavy bag in a military cadence. The sweat along his arms making a slick coating, spattering with every strike against the solid surface. The pain in his fists sharpens his focus even as his mind is a galaxy away. Every other hit leaving a growing red stain against the coarse linen with the sound of a condemning gavel.

The constructed gavel strikes three times as a call for order is made. ?Silence!? the booming voice of Kilowog calls out like an air horn.

?Lantern, one more outburst like that and you will be found in contempt of this Tribunal.? the Guardian immediately to his left floats in her chair with a disapproving frown.

The Mogul can only scoff at her words, ?I have nothing but contempt for this tribunal.?

Thud.
Thud.
Wham.
Thud.

Breathing becomes harder as salt water stings his eyes. Still his fists slam into place as he expels air from his lips to get the sweat from his mouth. Each new hit makes the bag sway in place, forcing him to shift his stance, drift with its sway so not a single motion is wasted. HIs ears ring with the playback as though reliving a death march.

?You were reckless. Endangered the lives of those you are to protect.? Jordan? gaze held enough disappointment to break the Mogul? spirit.

The words only brought forward a heavy rage as Race felt his vision go white. ?You dare call me reckless, Hal? How many of us have you killed again? Remind me.?

He can?t lift his hands any more as the ghostly words blast through his mind. Reckless. Yes, he had been reckless. Blood drips from exposed knuckles as the Mogul shakes from head to toe feeling his windpipe collapse in upon itself. He couldn?t breathe, couldn't see. Air forces its way from his lungs in a primal bellow as he swings one last time at the heavy bag. He barely noticed the chain hanging it in place snap, sand flowing out across the floor like the tears he bites back want to.

?You are hereby expelled from the Lantern Corp. Your actions against Renna and Kain were borderline criminal, and against the core principles.? Again the gavel came down in judgement.

?Criminal? We are criminals. Always have been. What gives us the right to be judge, jury, and executioners of the multiverse?? He wants to scream at them, lash out, but that won?t change what comes. They made their decision before he even arrived on Oa.

Knees hit the hard cement floor of his training room with a heavy crack coming from the cartilage. Cold. The cement is cold against his skin, a welcome sensation compared to the scalding temperature of his tears as they drop. Great heaves wrack his chest as it all boils out with the slow realization he really was no longer a Green Lantern. With enemies like Renna, Kain, and so many others...he didn?t have a single defense now. Just more meat for slaughter.

He lost track of time as he lays there near comatose against the floor. His blank stare follows the lines of tile on the ceiling like a spiderweb. Across the room he hears his phone going off from text messages, missed calls, and alerts. Each is ignored. If they are important, he knows they?ll call back. Somehow he manages to make it across the room. Somehow a bottle finds its way into his hands. Somehow he drinks, swallowing the burning amber liquid. Climbing into the bottle Race is oblivious to the song coming through on the work out track as he slumps against the wall, eyes drifting closed.

We are
We are
made from broken parts.

We are
We are
broken from the start

Our hearts
our hearts
are still beating in the dark.

We are
We are
build from broken parts.

Sitting in front of the fountain a water bottle, yes with actual water in it, is rolled back and forth in his hands as he chews on his lower lip thoughtfully. If anyone says he looks cute with a pout, he would deny it vehemently. If his eyes were magnifying glasses there would be scorch marks on the ground at his feet!

"I should go talk to her..." he partially mumbles to himself, still rolling the bottle between his palms. Oblivious to the world he continues to mutter his musings. "She'd probably kick my nuts into my throat after last time..." twisting the cap off the bottle he took a slow sip before setting it down next to his foot and scrubbed fingers across his face. "Why'd Katt have to be right? That's my job..."


Something wet and sticky connects with is neck and the Mogul pauses. He really wasn?t in the mood to take shit from anyone. "I'm gonna beat a motheflubber* with another motherflubber.."

"Want the drink too?" Came a snap soon after he said that.

The voice doesn?t register as he is on his feet and twisting around. "How about my boot up your duck-faced ass?" He seethes. And light dawns on marble head... "Katt...oh...? as if that undoes what he just said blinking in partial confusion."Uhm...when did you get here??"

"Sure if you want to give it a try we will see how far that goes for you?" There was no amusement in her tone. If anything it was as ice cold was the surface of a winter frozen lake. It probably matched the stare he was given. Without another word her eyes turned away and she yanked at the top of the foam cup to get it off.

The look doesn?t bother him as much as her tone, but he hardly lets it show, meeting that look head on and without flinching. However she made the mistake of looking away. Literally not thinking it through his boot connects with that plastic container of water, setting it sailing at her and that damn smoothie...

There?Then not. She blinked at the sudden missing drink, staring at her empty hand. It was bad enough she was struggling lately thanks to Brian but now Race? And what was more? Clayton wasn't here to stop her? On her feet she was growling, the sound unnatural in the back of her throat. He wanted to start shit? Fine! She even left her sword sheathed but that wasn't saying much all things considered. She was already feeling the cold sensation crawling up her arm, demanding to be released. She was stalking her way to him, fingers flexing open...closed...open...closed.

She started this with that damn straw but he was definitely not in a mood to take shit from her, or anyone else; especially after everything over the last few weeks. Knuckles are cracked one potato, two potatoes, four as he moves away from the fountain into the more open area of the marketplace. He knew what Katt was capable of from past excursions, but watching her fight and being on the receiving end were different animals entirely.

It could be said there was something else different here. The way she came at him is near animalistic. A slow prowl just screaming she was going to kill. Once she was close enough, she leaned forward and suddenly sprung at him, a fist arched right for his face. No words, simply looking to plant her fist into his face with full force. Her fist coming in with barbed knuckles.

It goes without saying that such a wild approach was not expected, but something in the back of his mind didn?t rule it out. All the hours spent training with Issy sans Ring suddenly comes to life. With the Mogul there wasn?t a fight or flight response, just fight. Half stepping to the outside of her strike, he feels the barbs cut into his cheek, drawing blood as his own counter comes up the middle for her solar plexus. Even as the blow lands, he feels the tautness of her stomach and hears the air expel at the impact.

Her lips draw in as she released what breath was in her lungs, teeth clenched tight. It only slowed her down and she was already looking to break the space between them, thrusting her elbow into his side. At the same time her legs shift, planting one foot firmly while the other went to plant behind his at the knee to catch his footing and send him back.

Clenching his side and exhaling his breath, he feels her elbow snap against his ribs, and something under the skin snap too. He falls into a reverse somersault rolling off his left shoulder to come back up on his feet in a defensive crouch some distance away. Pure willpower kept him from touching his ribs, revealing the vulnerability.

Hands up on instinct, as he looks at her with a deep set frown, much of his anger having waned after the initial motions at this point it?s a resolve to prove himself more than anything. She said he doesn?t need the ring to survive...no better way to prove it than this moment in time.

She paced a few feet away, her eyes locked on him even as she stepped a bit further away. There was something different about those eyes, no longer the crisp green, but rather a distant murky shade of its former self. Slowly her head craned to the side as she stared, clawed fingers twitching violently at her side. Now one could see the sick visible veins of black and grays that webbed up her neck, barely kissing at the jaw line. "Mrph.." No?she didn't attack again and she had her reasons.

He knew there would be an impressive bruise where she hit him in the morning, for now it was about keeping the pace. Her abrupt pause after the wild attack held little positivity that much was sure. Slowly he begins to circle wide, just waiting the next attack, not willing to press an attack of his own just yet. As pissed off as he was, he knew some things tonight may go too far...

Raising a hand slowly to the air she hisses out darkly to him. Unsettling, otherworldly moans, hisses, and cries begin to fill the air around Race and herself, the shadows growing and coming to life. Elongated fingers suddenly spring out from the very shadows that were his, clawing and grabbing.
the shadows grab him and just as he look to her with something close to pity.

"LIke I said...a sheep for slaughter,? he says in a regretful tone as they pull him down into the other realm.

Inside Room 212 that night after the GAC meeting.

She looked him over and went to the bathroom for a wash cloth. She came back and handed it to him, "So I don't suppose there is an explanation?"

Accepting the cloth from her with a bit of a smile, he starts to wipe down his face and arms, wincing a bit at a when he lifted his left arm feeling the muscles over his ribs draw painfully tight. Who knew Katt could hit that hard? Keeps his breaths shallow with realization of how much that little hit had actually done. "I...lost the ring..."

She watched those reactions and did a scan on the thoracic region. She went digging into the first aid kit, "Lost, how?" She asked quietly. She came up with some bandages and tape.

"Court marshal by tribunal?" he grunts and starts trying to remove his shirt with a sharp gasp.

"Easy." With some practice, she helps him remove the shirt. "On what grounds?" She had no love of such tribunal's given her own past.

"Reckless endangerment. Failure to follow S.O.P. Shooting an ally on purpose...plenty was thrown at me..." he says in a defeated tone. With the shirt removed, really seems someone had been hitting the gym.

"So they didn't look at the entire picture, did they?" She asked and noticed that too. She moved to kneel down and started wrapped the ribs. "Which ally?"

"Just want they wanted. A scapegoat..." exhales slowly as she kneels and lifts his arms to let her work. "And...It was Katt..."

"Why did you shoot, Katt?" She continued wrapping his ribs up.

"She was being used as a body shield. I made her into dead weight on his arm..." he doesn?t sound pleased at his decision, but they were both alive right now.

She shook her head, "Not the best of choices, but knowing you, the alternative was far worse. You make a necessity out of practicality." She understood some of the issues. "And in Rhy'din, the rulebook goes out the window."

"Doesn?t mean my choices can?t be held against me. Someone hides behind a shield, you remove the shield. Even if it's a person you care about..." The man sounds far more cynical in that moment than perhaps ever before. But the words are laced with regret.

"Either way it was a lose-lose situation, this one was more palatable because lives were saved." She murmured as she tapped the ace wrap in place. "Certainly explains a lot. Though I wish you could have told me earlier." She said quietly enough.

He grunts at the tap before letting out a slow breath. "Told you about shooting Katt?"Slow blink a he'd lost some time in listening to her.

"About what's been bothering you." She murmured and looked at him seriously, "Race, I'm not some fragile flower that's going to be outraged when you have to make a choice that has holier-than-thou's waggling a finger in your direction."

"So used to blowing smoke, actually talking is an unused skill set,? he fidgets uncomfortably under her look."I know, I know. Not an excuse..." puts up a hand to hold her off. "I just....didn't know how to deal with it, like losing a limb..."

"Yeah. I'm one to talk. I got depressed enough to push away the people that cared until I decided moping wasn't the answer. Then again I probably rushed myself to walk." She said quietly.

Taking her hands in his, Race hangs his head low enough to make his shoulder length hair fall forward. "I...everyone deserved better from me, especially you..." Looking to the floor his eyes close tightly as he feels a creeping chill spread up his back.

She took his hands not resisting, "We stand with you, Race. I.. as well." She murmured softly. "Don't shut us out. You told me your will was what allowed you to use the ring, right?"


"That which is made by the ring, is only as strong as the resolve of the wielder..." he repeats like quoting a memorized verse."The ring chooses the bearer, and it is never wrong..."

"The ring chooses the bearer, not a Tribunal of men..." She pointed out. "You will is your strength, the ring gave it substance. She said quietly to him kneeling before him, "And it was not the ring that helped me to walk, but someone willing to shake me out of my depression."

"The Guardians made said ring..." he mutters sharply."Bit hard to argue their accumulated wisdom, but I know even they are not infallible.." He opens his eyes to look at her with a shake of his head. "I can't always be that voice, Raye. I stopped Issy from murdering Renna when she had the chance. I tried to stop Ed, and others from outright murdering Raven. Of course I also was the first to shoot at him, so that negates standings. I can't always rise above myself for that greater good mantle..."

"Race, you are human." She said quietly. "You stopped Issy from taking a step over a line that probably would have hurt her. Did you shoot Raven before or after you stopped the others?"

"He was in the clear, no one close by to stop my shot...so I took it. Hindsight, I caused that fight that led to three buildings being leveled and Katt almost dying...again...? Yeah, he's not happy about that.

She squeezed his hands. "Hindsight, Race." She murmured. "Know what you do now, would you still take that shot?"

"Would you hate me, if I said in a heartbeat?" For the time being, he focuses on breathing. Just breathing and not making his ribs hurt.

"No, I wouldn't, Race. That's the thing. You made the best decision given the situation." She murmured. "The price of commanding, so to speak."

"Good thing that I'm not a leader..." he mutters softly. "I?m sorry I didn't return any of your messages. Got swallowed by a few heavy bottles..."

She nodded at that, "It's forgiven, Race." She said quietly. "Up to you where things go from here?But I'm here if you need me."

Gently he comes forward, still holding her hands. "Doesn't change...this city needs a better class of hero...."

"And aren't there others to uphold that mantle?" She murmurs

"We're all broken in our own way, Raye. We sin, we drink, we commit crimes in the name of a greater good...anyone who operates outside of the law or takes it into their own hands is by definition a criminal. Doesn't matter the reasons. Are we the heroes this city needs? Or what it deserves?" The words he felt were more internally directed than in a general sense of discussion.

"Is there a law in this city, Race?" She murmured, "And what of the things that stalk this city. The things that slaughter innocents, which poison people. The things that the ordinary folk cannot defend?"

"If there isn't a law, why is there a Watch? Why do we have stations, a fire brigade, judges and lawyers? Pure freedom terrifies the average idiot, they need the structure of someone telling them how to act and live with others. Societal structure protects the weak willed and those in need of structure." He grimaces as this suddenly turned into a Sociological examination on Rhydin.

She squeezed his hands. "Neither of us are corporate wage slaves, either, Race." She pointed out wirily. "But the point is, none of those things protected me when those things raked the Inn with Machine gun fire."

"And being without my ring, I couldn?t protect myself from Katt..." he spouts off in exasperation.

"I think you would be hard pressed to protect against Katt even with the ring, Race." She pointed out.

"You may be right...but after tonight I have a better idea of what is required to do so..." He grips her hands before offering a kiss to each. "Doesn?t change...I have some bridges to fix, starting with you..."

She looked up at him, "We'll get there, Race." She smiled for the first time since entering that room.

(adapted from live play, thanks Raye!)

The journey didn't take long at all as their green bubble flew through quasars and galaxies. The swirling nebula filled stars flashing by like passing through the middle of a kaleidoscope. Colors blurr and twist.Arching a turn they pass close enough to a shooting star, the blue fire of its tail stretching out like the trail of a wedding gown. Blue and indigo with licks of white. Beyond it a dozen more.Then they see it. A planet with a thousand points of green light rising up from its surface. Small figures zoom about the surface as they break the atmosphere. Thousands of beings. Some humanoid, others a mass of eyeballs and tentacles.

As they land, a female flies up to their sphere in curiosity. Her head cants to the side slightly, her fish like tail gently undulates as if keeping her hovering in place. The green of her tail bleeding up into the Lantern symbol pulsating upon her belly. Her ample torso comfortably covered in the material of the rest of her uniform.

As the sides come down, she floats closer. Her words are musical in nature as she asks. "Is that her, Hal? The one Naveen petitioned for? Race's Champion?"

What sights there were to see. This was a rare occasion and even though she was on a mission, of sorts, she did manage to take time to enjoy the scenery. So many ...different sorts of Races. It was more of a melting pot much like Rhydin was. She didn't seem to hear a word the woman said. It seemed that is. A brow ticked up and she turned attention on the curiosity that was the floating woman.

Race's Champion? Now there was a phrase she thought she would never hear. Felt ..kind of weird to hear that. She almost said something but decided to let Hal handle that...

"It is, Ur-sala." Hal says to her with a stride forward.

"Hopefully they will listen to an outsider since the dozens of Lantern's arguing against their decision don't seem to be enough. Race is one of the best of us, he deserved better than what he got." Her angelic features look quite cross.

"You're not the one he punched through a wall..." Hal grimaces and actually rubs his jaw. Though that had been long ago, just talking about it made his face hurt.

"You had that coming.." she quips with a ghost of a smile and offers a stage whisper to their guest. "Race throws a mean hook.."

"Let's go.." one of the others says tiredly. His balloon like body floating forward.


She nodded to the woman who she didn't know but knew by name due to Hal. Oh she was ready to harp on Race's behalf but something else had her attention. Folding her arms she peered over at Hal. Oh it was being begged to be questioned. "So what did you do to have Race punch you?"

"There's a moment of silence as Hal looks caught off guard but it's Ur-Sala who jumps in with a haughty tone. "He said Race shouldn't have been given the Nexus assignment. He hadn't earned it."

She pretends to pick a bit of lint from her exquisitely muscled abs. "When it was Race who beat Hal out of the job by the widest of margins."

"Don't you need to get back to your home, Ur-Sala?" Hal growls out as they move forward.

"Still sore?" she teases her fellow Lantern getting stiffled chuckles from the others.

"Just want to get this over with." Hal once again doesn't answer.

"Sounds like a case of jealousy and you got slugged for opening your mouth." And now they find that Katt is pretty much the bluntest person in the world. Worlds? Hey she has visited more than one so never know! "I had thought it was something maybe you were hitting on his woman. Guess I was off." Was she joking? It was really hard to tell. She was looking through the bubble at the scenery with an expressionless mask. "Where are we headed now?"

"The tower." The Lantern on her left answers and points to the highest structure in sight.

Hal doesn't answer her statement nor make any comment about hitting on Race's woman. He just steps off the landing to hover in the air near Ur-Sala. "Race broke code and the Guardians held him accountable for his actions. He acknowledged that, and it was Race who always said when any of us break the law in any realm we forfeit our right to be protected by those same laws."

The others stop their light chuckling and grow somber at that reminder before Ur-Sala shakes her head. "He was also right in reminded us that we're all criminals. We ride in, wrangle up this person or that for breaking a law, or harming an innocent, then drop them off on the doorstep of local authorities. No care for the aftermath it brings on. Our ways are vigilantism in many sectors. If we wanted to be peace keepers, we'd join the local authority groups and serve as ground level and internal keepers."

"We're not debating this, Ur-Sala. Katt has a meeting with the Guardians. I'd rather her not be late." Hal doesn't even look at his compatriot as the bubble floats up to the tower, circling around it.

Oh she could listen to the debate all day long. Talk about being the outsider looking in..and still understanding. After all wasn't her place in the Avengers much like that? Her lips pursed and she shook her head. She wasn't going to bring up what she had to say to either one of them. Why? Because it wasn't for them. They weren't the ones who needed to hear what she had to say. Looking down at what she was wearing she realized..you know..if you are going to go meet some big head hancos..You probably shouldn't be doing it in your jammies. Going to be hard to be taken serious in Happy Bunny with the top saying 'cute but psycho. things even out.'. This..will be interesting. Tilting her head she looked to Hal. "Will others be present besides myself and the Guardians?"

"No." Hal answers her as they come to the top and settle easily. "You will be alone with them..."

The bubble comes down and leaves them on a flat roofing. Twelve throne like chairs hover in place around the perimeter and upon each one sat a smallish figure with a large head and white hair. Their large blue eyes look upon her curiously.

Hi yes thanks for making her feel uncomfortable Hal. She frowned a little but that didn't stop her from walking on the floor of what seemed to be the meeting chamber. Roof? Twelve seats with little men. Oh my gawd was she taller then them all?! If she had this thought it didn't show on her face. In fact she simply waited until Hal guided her to where she should go, hands clasping at the small of her back. To their curiosity she offered a ghost of a smile.

Where does he take her? To the very center of the space, twelve eyes following her. Scrutinizing her.

"Be honest with them, and they will be with you." He says to her...like giving a sentenced prisoner the key to their own cell. With little else he walks off to the side, leaving her to face the Guardians alone.

Her head rocked faintly and her sharp greens tilted after Hal. That..had to be the first time anyone had ever told her that. Then again not everyone knew how she was. After a few moments of waiting, mostly for Hal to be gone, she turned her attention up. No single one was directed. "My greetings and thanks to you for allowing this meeting."

"We greet you in turn." They each say in unison.

Almost Present Day

Isuelt's arms hugged close to her torso as she watched the waves pummel the sand. The surf seemed abnormally loud to her today, but perhaps that was just because she had finally ventured outside of the quiet confines of Batten's house. It stood just behind her, far from imposing against the cliffs' skyline, yet few had ever realized the internal powerhouse that it actually was. It had served as her shelter and her cloak for far too long. And as Ed was gone into town today, she had the notion of venturing outside to get some fresh air. She was so focused on the rhythm of the ocean as the tide came in, she was nearly lulled into a hypnotic state. Still feeling not quite up to par, she nevertheless lifted her chin against the wind and was thankful that she was standing instead of laying down like a feeble invalid.

Somewhere between a sprint and a jog, his pace is even tempo across the beach sands. His head is bowed in thought as one foot lands before the other, the man's face could pass for stone masonry. So many overlapping thoughts varying from work to personal and back to wondering how Issy fares, then to Katt and straight to wondering who his real friends are. Katt, Issy, Raye, Ebon, and Janie for sure. But something nags at him. Something his grandfather always said "If something, or someone matters to you, you take the time to see them. No matter what you have to drop to do it. You make the time for what matters. No one makes it for you. Friends are only as important as the things you surround yourself with.' Like a ghost at his back, Race speeds up his pace as if trying to outrun the dead man's words.

Her dark head was bowed against the wind once more as she listened to the surf. It was too late that she heard something out of rhythm with the heavens' all perfect waves. But as she opened her eyes to inspect what had happened to the sea's monotony, she was slammed into from the side. The soft sand provided little support for her balance, even if she had been a full strength. As it was, she was nearly thrown two feet to her left as she landed with a thud on her backside.

He spits and sputters sand from his mouth with a deep groan of pain. Whatever he tripped over had been heavy! "The hell..." he finally mutters and pushes up to his hands and knees.

Ever the lady, as she pushed her hair out of her face she yelled, "Watch where the f*ck you're going, you @sshole!" Though as she pushed the final tendrils of espresso-hued hair from her eyes, there was a catch in her breath. She sat there, on the wet sand, simply staring at Race; a small smile began to form on her lips.

"F*cking hell, lady." he volleys back without looking and pops to his feet straight from a push up position, legs surging up under him in a single spring. The Mogul makes the display look effortless, but to a knowing eye...he's been murdering his body with regiment.
He brushes sand from his 'wife' beater and athletic shorts with something close to a snarl as he rounds on the woman he tripped over. "And I don't mea....." he stops mid sentence seeing Issy. The recognition is instant.

There was a near sniffle as she looked at him. It had felt like years since she'd seen him last. And frankly, even the smallest of events in the last day had seemed to monumental to her. But this? This was something that nearly made the tears well up in her dark eyes; so missed had Race been.

Numb is one way to describe the way seeing Issy stills his tongue. But the feeling can't stop the slow smile forming on his lips as he walks over to her. He still can't bring himself to speak, just extends his hand. The look in his hazel eyes is quite clear as the sentiment is mutual between them.

"Race..." his name sounded in little more than a whisper and probably was lost on the wind. But still, saying it felt good to her. She took his hand and had to supress the motion to burst into tears. As she gingerly stood up, she looked at him, still finding it difficult not to do anything but grin at him.

She is real. The touch of his hand in hers cements that much as something like electricity tingles along his palm making it hold her hand tighter. "Issy..." he says in no less of a whisper before pulling her into a bear of a hug. His arms curl around her near possessively, squeezing her to his barrel chest.

She grimaced lightly, her body still sore from inactivity. Still, she held onto him as tightly as she could, burying her face in his shoulder. The priestess would possibly never admit to it, but she did shed a tear or two in that moment.

It's perhaps a few lingering breaths before he eases up his hold upon her. Guardians above he'd missed her! The news from Katt had been disturbing but he hadn't known what to do, let alone if he should go and force his way into things. Still, seeing her here and in the flesh put a lot of it to rest. "Issy..." he says her name again.

Isuelt caught her breath and wiped her eyes against the thin belt of fabric at his shoulder before she lifted her chin to look at him. "Hi..." A cockeyed grin swept over her features before she broke into a toothy smile. Against her own better judgment, she squeezed another quick hug out of him before she leaned back and took him in. "You're sweaty." She winked at her tease.

"S'what happens when I fall over a woman." he offers right back before saying, "Hi," with a matching grin upon his face. He's still not letting go of her though, not yet anyway.

There were a million questions and thoughts running through her mind. How are you? Is everything okay? I was so worried about you. I'm so glad you're okay. But for now, she simply reached up and brushed a sweaty strand of hair (and a bit of sand) from his forehead. "It's good to see you, Race."

"Yeah" Is the best he can say to that before he's hugging her again.

Another grunt as he grabbed onto her and pressed all the air out of her lungs. She hated feeling this weak, but for the moment, it wasn't all bad. She tried to chuckle, though it came out as more of a strangled cough. "Race....I.....can't...."

He wasn't squeezing! But he does ease up as she speaks, getting the gist of it. "You know how worried I've been?" He finally brings himself to say, not quite angry, just...excessively relieved.

If her adrenaline needed a jumpstart before, mission accomplished. Her breath came in near gasps as she blinked at him; her expression was half shock, half wonder. She didn't really have the mental capability to form words just yet, so she simply returned his gaze as she awaited the ability to properly speak.

After a lingering pause he hugs her again. A normal hug with half the strength as he whispers. "Missed you."

I could tell, was on the tip of her tongue. It might have easily been a flippant answer as her sarcasm reigned supreme. She simply slowed her breathing rate down and hugged him softly back. "I...missed you, too."

He runs his hands along her back slowly to remind himself again that she's real and puts his nose just behind her ear, gently breathing in her scent. "Where've you been?" He asks without pulling back this time.

"Uhm..." Yeah, she was still fighting for her mental footing after that kiss. "Batten's." She blinked and straightened her posture, hearing herself a moment after she said it, thinking it sounded a little scandalous. "I mean...uh....I....was...I..." Stutter, stutter. She'd find the correct words eventually.

He knew that might be the case from Katt. However, he didn't think it would have taken this long for her to be cured...at least hoped anyway. Her answer doesn't upset him so much as make him nod silently and pull back a hair. "Katt told me about...." he starts but doesn't say anything more. Just a single nod as his hands settle upon her hips, sliding down from around her back.

"I was....I was sick." She lifted her eyebrows and swallowed. "He was the only one that I knew could...well, help really. It was Renna." She sighed and was still hanging on to his arms. "Is...is Katt okay?" The last she knew of Katt, well, Issy was trying to kill her.

"She's....Katt." It's the best he can offer to her question. "And, I know." is his answer to the rest with another nod.

Swallowing again, she sighed. "You know, this is the first chance I've had to be outside. I...I was just out on the beach, getting some air." As if he needed some explanation as to why she was here. "Race?" She pushed her hair behind her ear and looked at him.

He nods at each statement before licking his lips and saying. "Yeah, Iss?" His eyes lift to capture her dark espresso hues with a warmth of emotion.

"How...how are you? I mean, are you..." She looked for where his hand was, almost expecting to see a ring.

No rings are on his hand as he slowly, reluctantly, takes his hands from her waist to stand there before her. "I'm, good. Working a lot, but good."

Her hands rubbed up and down his arms lightly for a moment, in something of a reassuring gesture. "I thought that maybe...you'd have it back." She pressed her lips together and chose her words carefully. "I feel so bad that I never checked further into you, to make sure that you were okay when you were going through everything. But, Katt said that you had opened up to her, so I...I didn't want to push."

"I know that didn't sit with you. Why her and not you first." He says with a nod before taking her hands. Her rubbing them like that was starting to raise goose bumps. "I....treasure you both. You've been better friends to me than anyone else, just sorry I was such an arse to each of you. There were a lot of things I said at my trial that have made me question a lot of things. About myself...about what I do. Since then I've had to face a lot of new demons."

She sighed heavily as her brow knitted in sympathy for him. She lightly squeezed his hands as he spoke. A trial? She hadn't known about this. She felt absolutely horrible for missing it, for grasping at the chance to speak on his behalf. "And now? Are things...are things okay?"

"Getting better by kicks and jerks." He says. "I still have friends in the Corp and apparently they are becoming highly vocal about what happened. So, just waiting game." is his continued words while returning the squeeze. "Came to a conclusion though...I needed to lose my ring. I was hiding behind it, dependant on it more than myself. It was a crutch I relied on too greatly." He looks down at their held hands before saying. "And...after I lost the ring, I was afraid to lean on you all, to make you guys my crutches. I know friends aid each other, not carry. I ...was afraid about when the aid would stop."

"Race," she let her voice carry itself over the ocean's waves, "Your friends are here to support you for as long as you need us to. I would carry you, support you, whatever you needed. I would make sure that when you stood on your own again, you'd be stronger than you were before all this happened. And we do this because we love you. I love you." She nodded her head, letting him know that it was okay. It would all be okay.

"Know what the worst of it is? Every time I climbed into a bottle, I heard my grandfather's voice talking about real friendship. Like a ghost in my ear, you know?" He says and looks up at her.

Ghosts. She knew something of those. Her dark head nodded, but really that only make her a little light headed. She wavered a bit and then put a hand out to somewhat balance herself and somewhat ease herself down to a sitting position in the sand.

He helps her go down as best he can before settling beside her, watching her carefully. "Still in recovery?"

Isuelt nodded, "I hate this. I hate not being in control. For years I was in control. Of what I put into my body, how I worked it, when I wanted to injure it. And now?" She shook her head. Being vulnerable was not something she took gracefully.

Race bites his tongue at a sudden thought of things he's long wanted her to put in her body but nods sympathetically. "Well, once he gives you the all clear we can start working each other over and get you back up to speed." Bit of a Freudian slip there, but he doesn't notice it.

She noticed, but didn't say anything. She reflected on her own words and realized she'd started it. Instead, the Scathachian simply nodded and ran a hand through her hair. "He's gone to check on a few things. He said that I'd be fine to get out for a bit. He's got me hooked up to...to something..." She looked down and beneath the sweater she was wearing, she lifted it along her waistline to reveal a small, square monitor of sorts. "I don't know what the hell it is. I'm guessing green means good. Red, he comes running." There was a small flicker of light at the corner. Presently, it was green.

He nods and reaches to touch the device, his fingers brushing the abs above it slowly. "Heart monitor looks like, maybe." Even he couldn't be sure. But he had a better reason now than before not to tempt fate.

She let her sweater drop and her dark eyes lifted to his face. She thought over a few words, possibly even a few scenarios before she bit her lip and spoke. "Race? You want to take a walk with me?"

"Sure. Anywhere pacific, or just....a walk like old times?" He asks with that familiar smirk.

"How about like old times?" She smirked. "I love being here and all, but I'm dying to actually get out somewhere. I'm going stir crazy up there." A point to Asile-aux-Falaises.

"Well, you know I'll follow your anywhere." He says with a nod. "Pick a spot and my bags are packed, I'm where you're at."

The Judge smirked and leaned against him for a playful bump. "I ain't askin' ya to go to the gates of hell, doll."

"But, I could use the vacation." The Mogul retorts with a wink...and brazenly slips an arm around her shoulders. Not possessively, just a half hug.

She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, watching the water. "I'm glad you're back, Race. I'm glad I'm back."

"Not back yet.." he says with a wink. "I haven't tried to grope you yet." He says this matter-of-factly.

Chuckling, she leaned forward and stood up. She turned to offer him a hand, "You sure? I think you might have gotten a freebie earlier."

"Nah, my hand would have remembered." He shoots back while taking her hand, but gets up with his own strength more than letting her pull him.

A side glance to him as Isuelt started down the shore, toward the wooden steps that led up to the homes along the cliffs and the street access.

Falling back into their usual roles, Race makes a creepy face at her and holds up his hands as if he's some wicked creeper saying I'll grope you my pretty, and your sweet arse too. .

Despite herself, she laughed as she took the steps up to street level. Confused. Yes. Odd.

Two days ago

The Indian comes to a slow halt outside of the newly refurbished Batten Tower, he lets the engine idling for a moment as the rider looks up at the frankenstein's monster in progress. Dismounting, he sets his helmet down across the handlebars and takes off his gloves, shoving them inside the pockets of his jacket and starts walking to the main door. He taps the small earbud on his left, setting the little blue light dancing. "Belle, let Ed know I'm here, just send the info through the usual channels." The southern drawl of his secretarial VI soon returns with "Sure thang, hon. You two boys play nice, ya'hear?"

"Bless your heart." he answers and enters the building, looking for the elevator. Or security. Whichever he finds first.

Ed didn't even need to get the message - he heard the motorcycle from where he was standing, and headed around the building towards the front, just in time to see Race heading inside. He came in right behind him, pulling the door open and calling to the Mogul as he walked towards the man. "Hiya dere, mon ami. How're t'ings wit' you?"
He slows down a tick to look at Batten. "I'm still above the sod, so we'll count another day in the win column." he replies with a cheeky grin. Wearing jeans, riding boots and his jacket, the man was wearing more clothes than normal. "You?"

"Perty much de same, so far. Been takin' m'self a li'l vacation after de clusterf*ck o'de las' few mont's." He led the way to the elevators, tapping the touch panel to summon one. His eyes looked upwards a touch as he spoke to the AI now. "Di, is de good doctor in de house t'day?" There was a slight pause before the cool, professionally-toned female voice came back. "She is indeed, sir.

Dr. Ibaraki is currently taking stock and examining the new medical facilities. He nodded and stepped into the elevator as it arrived and opened, then tapped the panel for the desired floor once Race was in. "Figgered Ah should take advantage o'my local medical talent fer dis."

"She is one of the best." he nods with the ghost of a smile, stepping inside the elevator. "And how are you DIANA?"

There was a brief pause, during which the AI was most likely trying to determine what the purpose of that question was before she answered. I am currently integrating myself into the Batten Tower's systems and updating them for use with my software for optimum performance."

Ed chuckled quietly as the elevator started upwards at high speed, reaching the medical facilities floor within seconds and opening to let them out. "Dat's what ya get fer askin' an artificial intell'gence how she's doin?...a status report." Still chuckling, he stepped out of the elevator and started down the hall towards the med facilities door. And Raye.

Race watches the vial go from zero to sixty, even leaning forward to get a closer look. Yes, Race is one of those people that's fascinated by watching his own blood taken. Should see him give Plasma.

Once she has the sample, she positions a guaze next to the needle and pulled the hypo back. She deftly places the gauze on the site and murmurs, "Hold it in place." She sets the vial in a rack after shaking it gently then places a Turtles bandaid over the site. "Okay, Lay back and just breathe normally. The blood was the hard part." She took the vial into the next room and placed into into the lab chamber. "The sample is ready, DIANA."

The cool voice came back instantly from hidden speakers. "Thank you, Dr. Ibaraki. Scanning now. This will take just a few moments."

"Love it when you're so forceful.." teasing again as he does when instructed, laying down on the table with a look around. "So, if something's wrong...there gonna be a light show?"

She nodded and moved to sit next to Jocelyn. She brought up a holopanel and ran her fingers across it, "Programmed especially for you." She glanced to Edward.

"Don't I feel special..." he murmurs and just waits.

Ed was watching the displays, waiting for the scan to be finished. As Diana had stated, it wasn't very long - there was a chiming sound on the holographic display, and at the same instant the screen flashed with a single word in red, block letters: MATCH.

She narrowed her eyes a bit. "DIANA, Let's do a deeper dermal scan." The word match had her stomach dropping out from under her. The implications ... Well she didn't want to think about that yet.

He cranes his head to try and see the pair.."Should I be getting a new pair of skivvies soon?"

Ed?s eyes narrowed on the holographic display. Diana didn't make mistakes, and he knew she wasn't scanning the blood alone to get that result. Still, he nodded as the display planked and the scan began again, looking towards Race. "Why, did ya ruin de ones yer wearin'?"

"No," he wiggles a little. "I'm still dry."

Race looks up and his face is just a mass of confusion. "Dafuq...."

"Got two choices Race. Continue as you were or it can be removed." Doc summarized.

"Since when does Renna give anyone the way to remove one of her virii? That doesn't sound off to you two?" He blinks and makes a face.

He understood Race's confusion, even before he spoke up. "Ya got me dere, mon ami. Den again, Renna's always been perty confusin', even for a woman." He let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Den again, if ya wanna ask anyone about dat, ya should talk t'Issy."

"This whole scenario is way off base, Race when you think oneverythingthat has been happening." She said in all seriousness.

"Why not Renna herself?" he asks, head coming to rest in his hands. "Every viral strain is an experiment, her obsession with perfection..but there's always some murderous flaw."

The cool, calm voice of DIANA cut in next. "Actually, sir, I believe I can hypothesize a reason for you, based off of an encounter that Gypsi had some weeks back. It appears that the Banshee mutation had an encounter with Renna, in which Gypsi intervened. In that altercation, Banshee stated its intention to eliminate Renna and her viral strains from existence."

"A deviation from the program. Not something she counted on." Banshee. She was cold all of a sudden at that thought.

He nodded, both to Diana and Raye. "Dat makes a bit more sense, fer sure."

"So she gave you the means to shut it down...figuring you'd do her dirty work..." there's something odd about his voice with that statement, almost mechanical.

She arched a brow recognizing the tonality. "Only if you give permission. You know I will not unless there is absolutely no choice." She affirmed.

He didn't even twitch at the sound of Race's voice, that mechanical, flat tone. He was wearing his trenchcoat, fortunately, but he really hoped he wouldn't need it - they had just gotten the med facilities rebuilt and up to SOTA status. "Looks like it, Ah'd say. O'course, t'anks to Renna - or 'Dis One', as she call 'erself now - Ah got a way t'shut down jus' 'bout all o'her viral strains. Pers'nally, Ah t'ink de Banshee t'ing could be an asset...if ya learn how t'control it."

"Jocelyn, why don't you head on home. I'll see you in the morning." The nurse was surprised but nodded, "Of course, Doctor." Raye didn't want her assistant hurt in case things went south.

"And what makes This One, lucky?" he asks in that calm voice that just belies everything he physically wants to do but is keeping himself from. Truly, his willpower is herculean.

She side glanced, and then turned to fully regard Race. And studied his tick. "This One has found the screaming ghost."

The last of the coffee slithers past his lips in an audible slurp, then Race looks into the empty mug. A blur, literally a blur as he spins, the mug held in the palm of his hand as he smashes it forward and down into the bridge of This One's nose, feeling the porcelain break and cut into his skin. His, hand actually covers the entirety of her face. Stepping and turning, he hurls her clear to the front door in a single, solitary motion. Truly an inhuman display.

"RACE!" There was a tight grip on Batten's arm, but she used it to push off as she took a few long, strong strides to the bar, only to just deftly side-step the flying Rosa that was hurled toward the door. Her attention followed Rosa out the door. A glance to Batten, then a point to Race for him as she ran out of the Inn, following This One.

Ed looked at Issy, then back at Race as he heard the coffee mug shattering, just in time to see Renna get hurled at the front door...and apparently through it. Issy didn't even need to say it - he was already on his way towards Race, waving her towards the door as he went. "All right, hoss, Ah t'ink it's time fer ya t'take a chill pill here..."

"Rosa?" Jumping down the steps and skidding to her knees, Issy landed beside This One, her hands slowly reaching for her. "Are....what...are you okay?"

Leaning up, Rosa moves to pluck a piece of mug from her cheek. She inspects it, then tossed it aside. "Of course."

Race is visibly shaking from head to toe as he watches her disappear beyond the door. "Shut up, Edward." He gives the man a single look. "I'm pretty sure I'm as calm as you're going to get me considering everything that ***** has done...and how many times I've spared her miserable existence."

: "Subject: Isuelt's concern, is not needed." She turned, and threw her gaze to the door. "Target: Aquired."

She squinted at the blood along the bridge of Rosa's nose, then looked back to the door. "What did you say to him?"

Edward Batten: He put himself between Race and the door, tilting his head as though listening for something for a moment. "Yeah, Ah get dat. But ya start gettin' outta hand, and Ah'm gonna shut ya down, man. Dis ain't de way we're gonna do dis."

"So Renna gets away with her bullshit, again? As she always has? No consequences?" He looks at Batten with pure disgust.

He glared at Race then. "Ah ne'er said dat. She's got plenty t'pay fer, Ah'm sure. But dis ain't de way t'do it, sinkin' t'her level...or de level she useta go to, openly attackin' wit'out provocation. Dat aside, Ah don' t'ink de one ya t'rew outside is de same one dat created de t'ing dat's inside ya."

Rosa replayed her exact conversation to Isuelt as if it were recorded. Even Race's words. When she finished her little imitation, she regarded Isuelt. "Does that help? If Isuelt wishes, This One can project the conversation in holo-form. Isuelt may thank Batten Industries for this. A perk from the AI DIANA." She moved towards the front door. Neon purple liquid drooling down her face from her open wound.

Clearly shocked not just by what was said, or what Batten had just informed her of, but of the ability that Rosa had to replay the conversation. "Uhm...yeah." She swallowed and looked to the door, "No...I...uh....I'll remember to thank him later." She was moving toward the porch, up the steps as she looked behind her to Rosa, wondering if what had started inside was over, or just beginning. She could hear Race and Batten from her spot on the other side of the door.

That was not something that could be dodged, and it blew him backwards towards teh door. Fortunately, the Ranger was not without his wiles. Flipping over in mid-flight, he leveled his hands at Race as he came around, the distinctive upcycling whine sounding just before he loosed a charged particle burst at him. As he fell to the ground again, he spoke out loud. "Gypsi, you're up!"

The thrumming roar of thrusters seemed to emerge from nowhere, directly overhead, dropping out of the sky and cutting off as the sleekly curved armored shape of a woman flew down to the ground level, then cutting back on as she riolled over and re-oriented herself so she was aimed at the doorway to the Inn, blasting right through it, arms out and reaching for Race to try scooping him up to carry him out through the back door.

"Ed!" She broke from her position and crossed the Inn in a flash, sliding to a halt just in front of him to turn around and face Race...or......disbelieving, there was another suit that came and nabbed Race. The Scathachian blinked and looked back to Ranger.

Even as the other armored figure comes in, the virus is creeping up around him, like vines curling around his throat and arms. Veins coming to life like ink. Thrown back by one, his hand extends in midair at the other. Even as her arms wrap around him, his hands press around either side of her head as they rip through the back door.

Something changes in his eyes before the frequencies erupt from his hands. Moving from Super to subharmonic, rather than concussive....disruptive. His fingers clenching arbout the black and silver helmet as he whispers with a choked voice... "I'm sorry..."

The frequency did its work - as soon as it erupted from the man's hands the armor suddenly shut down, the thrusters cutting off even as she was trying to arc upwards to carry Banshee out of the area. Rather than going up, she fell limp, momentum carrying her through the air to crash into the alleyway wall. Sandwiched between her and the wall, an impression is left. His head connects with the cold, unforgiving brick. Lights out. His body doesn't' even finish falling before the virus forms arms and legs. Power dynamo's couple. Chest plate forms. And then the head. A faint shutter and click of light as the figure known as Banshee comes to stand. "Evasive maneuvers..." Silently, the figure actually leaves the alley on foot, taking to the air once out of sight and around the corner.

Her pace, which was quickened to say the least, came to a crashing stop...almost right into Ranger as she saw Banshee create itself from Race. "Oh...my....God...." Issy whispered.

With Issy beside him, the Mogul makes his way back to Batten's lab. Does he feel any better about all that's transpired since the last visit? Fuck no. However there are things to do and things to deal with. Even if he'd rather hide in his office with a bottle of Black Label. Or run. He knows running would do jack and shit, but he'd be able to get his mind into a right place, move from the emotional to the analytical where it needed to be.

As though the Banshee knew what was coming, he feels a jittery sort of anxiety in his bones. The closer they get to Batten Tower. Each step setting him on edge with lines of gooseflesh forming on his arms like an army moving into ready formation. He casts Issy an uneasy smile but continues to put one foot in front of the other. His left hand clenches tightly, the crescent of each fingernail biting into his palms for grounding.

Something gave him a bad feeling about what was coming, like a ball of ice taking up residence in the pit of stomach. This wasn't a sensation the faux fool is used to. He casts a few more looks to the Judge as they enter through the security checks of Batten Tower. He hoped Ed was ready to roll.

One Week Later

...If we... go anywhere from here... It will have to be something you want?

The words play through his mind on repeat as Race parks G.E.I.S.T. across the street from Rhydin Credit Union. One of only a handful of banks locally sourced in the realm. A three story affair of merged brick and marble, much of the interior looked to be ripped out of the Victoria era on earth. With minor differences. A lot of copper piping could be seen contouring to walls where it carried steam and minimal modern amenities.

Mumbling to himself, his hands moved of their own mind to get his identification and a transfer slip ready. As always, Race looked no different than others going about their business, more or less. One of the clerks was helping a woman in red. Literally. Red hair, skin, and clothing. He?d seen her in here before, knew her to be a dragon under a glamour to conduct her business here more easily. Further down, a zombie picked his ear up off the floor and shuffled a few steps forward in his line.

As with anything in Rhydin, it came as impossible to consider yourself unique or dream of having a fantastic life when everything around you was fantastic and beyond belief. Waiting on his turn, Race glances around at those going about their business when he sees a woman and her son, the child no more than ten.

?Mom! Can we go to the WonderPlex today? I wanna go on the Red Dragon! It?s so awesome.? The kid tugs at his mom?s sleeve, pleading.

?If we get our other errands taken care of first. Remember, do what you have to, then do what you want to.? She smiles and ruffles his hair with a laugh.

Race smiles at the interaction as he?s called up next. Documents in place he just steps up to the teller when a group rushes in through the main door. A flash of blue light erupts in her peripheral, in the next moment he feels red splatter against his cheek. The Lady in red falls to the unforgiving floor sans her head.

"Hands in the air, don't move, don't talk, and maybe you all walk out alive!" He hears a voice boom above the panic.

Shit just got real.

Within seconds of the guard?s body hitting the floor sirens in four corners of the bank go off. A mechanical voice overhead blares. ?Renna Attack Defenses Activated. Patrons please remain calm. Blast shields are for your protection in the event of a Marketplace bombing or other sentient disaster.?

?Seriously? That bitch chooses now to attack?? Cyberman?s shoulders slump.

?No you idiot! You killed the guard! Probably had a heart monitor!? the leader shuffles over and starts searching the felled guard, finding a black wristband and a flatline signal. In the corner of the device is a flashing red light. ?Fuck! Time to go boys! Get a move on!?

The bank-robbers scramble as blast shields slowly lower following their automated protocols, the Cyberman blasts the turnstile to bits rather than go over it. Race watches the last of them clear the door before he finally pushes himself to stand up. Nearby he hears a gentle sobbing. A turn and he sees the little boy from before, kneeling beside his mother. The marble stonework beneath her wet with drying blood. The child holds his hands to her stomach, trying to keep pressure.

?The bad men are gone..Abram,? the woman murmurs to her son.

Race recognizes the set of her jaw and that tone. He knows she?ll comfort the child to her last.

?Don?t die mama, help?ll come. We get you to Riverview?? Abram whispers, tears falling down his cheeks

The Mogul admires the determination on the kid's face as he kneels next to the pair for closer look. At this close, he can smell the acids of her stomach injury. She may survive...if helped in time.

?Remember your prayers, will you pray with me?? She coughs, choking on her own blood.

From the corner of his eye, Race can see the blast door almost half shut..when he hears something that breaks his heart.

?I don?t wanna pray to somethin? that?d let this happen to you?? Abram?s voice burns with a despair that shocks even Race.

Removing his jacket, Race wads it up and puts it against the woman?s wound, helping the child know what pressure he should hold to. A few other adults come by to help move her. Another look at the blast doors, time is ticking.

?Kid?? he looks at the boy, placing a hand on Abram's shoulder. Baleful blue eyes look up at him with too much emotion for eyes so young. ?I?ll show you one God exists??

?Which one?!? he hears Abram call after him.

?The angry one,? he murmurs, sliding into home under the blast door and popping up to a standing position. His head snaps left and right to get a visual, seeing one of the bank-robbers holding onto the back of a utility truck.

?Geist!? he yells, taking off at a sprint after the truck. His legs pump wildly, but still losing ground on the increasing speed of the getaway truck. Behind him he hears the angry rev of Geist's V8 HEMI closing in on him. A wide corner brings him into the oncoming lane.

?Get in, Race,? comes Geists mechanical voice as the suped up GTO drifts through the turn- driver side open. All three hundred and sixty-six horses scoop him into the seat.

As per usual, it was a fairly routine day of training for the ladies & gents of the 27th Division Special Operations Unit of the Rhy?Din Watch. A bit of ?PT?, some close quarters combat training, followed by a tactical extraction exercise. For the regular rank and file, it was also business as usual in the form of a few minor incidents, some foot patrolling and that occasional stop at one of the local bakeries for a donut, an maybe some coffee. So what if it?s clich? that ^&%$ is good, yo!

In any event, it was what Bri would have dubbed a ?Low Crime Day?, the day being whatever the day happened to be. Which was a far better thing than ?Cluster ^&%$ Friday?, that?s for damn sure.

And then, ^&%$ got real.

?This is Race. Reporting an attempted armed robbery of Rhy?Din Credit Union. Two civies dead, one guard and one patron. One woman critically injured, send medical. Blast doors down. Suspects fled in gray utility van, in pursuit in black GTO. My identification Plate, Delta Indiana Lima Lima Indiana Gulf Alpha Foxtrot. Unable to make out suspects at this time.?

There was no mistaking the transmission, whatsoever. The Dispatch Officer, ran a quick check of the ID Plate, confirming it was in fact Race, and furthermore the Credit Union had also called in the Robbery. The response had been immediate, in the form of a Tactical Dispatch, which began with a loud beep tone and the following.

?Attention all Units, we have a 329?confirmed 329---Rhy?Din Credit Union, three down victims, one guard and two others, EMS 1 & 2 have been started reference medical. We have subjects fleeing in a utility van, being pursued by a black in color GTO ID Plate of Delta India Lima Lima Golf Alpha Foxtrot, complainant by the name of Race. Unknown direction of travel, unknown subject numbers or descriptions at this time.?

Race would hear the transmission loud and clear, as would any other units in the area. Along with another long beep tone, followed by another transmission.

?Attention all Units, this is a Tactical Response?Tactical Response Unit 1 & 2, dispatching ?Rip and Run? reference the 329 at Rhy?Din Credit Union, EMS Unit 1 is arrival with Mike Papa 454 & 456, blast doors are down and extraction is underway courtesy of Public Works arrival. ALL UNITS, ALL UNITS QSY to TAC 1, ALL UNITS QSY Frequency to TAC 1!?

?You heard ?em bitches mount up! Change your radios to TAC 1, and let?s go! ?Rip an Run?, Team 1 head to the QTH and lock it down! I need ?Unis? (Youneez) to stage a perimeter, gimme half a block in all directions, NO one IN or OUT! I want whatever intel we can get, vids, accounts, whatever just get it! Team 2, grab some wheels an divi up, I need us in the streets to stop these ^&%$#$^ cold! As soon as we get that direction of travel, lock em in! Let?s go!?

In an instant, the 27th was mobilized and enroute. Since Team 1 had already been suited up due to the exercises, they were already out the door and well on their way. Team 2 had suited up quickly, and was easily out the gate on less than 45 seconds in a trio of modified jeeps, since many of them were present somewhere in the station.

Kerri keyed up, ?Alright, Units on TAC 1 name it!?

?Dispatch TAC present!?

?TAC 2, we?re less than 5 out!?

?Mike Papa 454 & 456 arrival and staging perimeter!?

?Mike Papa 424 & 421 arrival, staging east and west block!?

?EMS 1 arrival, with Papa Whisky working the doors!?

?EMS 2 arrival, staging triage stations and standing by!?

Kerri replied, ?Alright kids, by the books, dig??

?Mike Papa Actual! I?m enroute, have Dispatch tap the cams around the area, see if we can get a feed and location, give Race the air, he calls it till we get there!?

Kerri kerblinked! ?Bri!? Okay, Race call the ball, we got you dawg!?

Still connected tothe 27th frequency he listened intently for their response when it came in the form of. Okay, Race call the ball, we got you dawg!

Race this is Brian, tell us where to go.

?Copy that. Eastbound on Tansinia towards East Marketplace brige before Red Dragon Way. Block the far end if you can, they don?t make it past the bridge. Clear a path if able. Soon as I can, flippin the fuckers over.? Microphone back on its hook, hoping no one got hurt by these cowboys. Ahead of the utility van he sees people scrambling out of the street, barely avoiding getting mowed down in the process

That?s when it occurred to him, without thinking Race took up the C.B. again, ?Brian, if you?re listening. There?s a little boy at RCU named Abram. His mother is the critically injured. Remind him to have faith.? His delivery of the words are deathly calm, chilling even. before the radio silence resumes.

Swerving another corner, he sees the brick framework of the bridge looming ahead maybe four, five hundred yards. His armored hand reaches up and back...sliding the seatbelt across hsi torso and securing it with an ominously loud click. On the dash console, he lifts a switch cover, illuminating the knobs into a ready state.

GEIST begins to count down. ?Collision in two minutes and forty-five seconds...in three hundred and ninety four, yards.?

?Collision in four-hundred and five yards??

?Three-hundred and?.?

Race tunes out the count down, fingertips hovering over the EMP release switch with a steadying breath. ?Yippee kaiyay??

Fast approaching...he can finally read the bank-robbers license plate.

Race, I hope you got all that, we've got it locked down, waiting on you!

Best not disappoint then? he thinks to himself, chasing the getaway van onto the bridge. ?Nowhere to go?? In the straight away made by the bridge, Geist?s engines easily clear the ground between it and the other vehicle. The GTO?s front fender collides with jarring force, pushing under the van?s bumper, paint chips and flies everywhere. Practically pushing the would-be criminals right into Brian?s waiting road block.

?Now, sir..? Geists? voice comes through the speakers.

Without needing the prompt, Race pushes the blue switch to send out the short-wave electromagnetic pulse. With it centered on Geist, the AI?s systems are protected from the outward roll that?s generated. In seconds he hears the van?s engine going nuts as it shuts down completely. ?Get off my car??

His hand flips the second switch, hitting the underbelly of the van it lifts the rear bumper just enough for Race to hit the brakes. The van flies up onto its front tires from sheer momentum. The strips shred through them in a deafening hiss of air making its escape. Several feet behind, Race brought his GTO to a screeching sideways halt. Silence reigns for several moments after the van is brought to a complete stop.

?All yours Brian. I got the rear covered?? he keys the microphone and waits. This could still end badly. Like Sandworms from another dimension bad.

?No hostages that I know of Brian, but they are armed. One beast-man hybrid with cybernetics and a gun-graft arm, that one?s your shooter from the bank. The dwarf has a tech advanced axe, he?s the ring-leader. Four others just along for the fun...? He was about to hang up the key when he added. ?If you want, I got a magnet in the trunk...can polarize one of the sides of the van..?

This was Brian?s show now. From his spot behind the GTO?s wheel, Race can only imagine what the men, women? inside the van are plotting as to how they?ll get out of this. When abruptly the side door opens. And four people get out, hands held behind their head. The dwarf and hybrid missing from the equation.

Shit? Race doesn?t even realize he still had the radio keyed in as the expletive left his lips. They?ve been had.

Race is out of the car and rushing towards the van as the four thugs drop to their knees...what had he missed? The bottom falling out of his stomach at the idea of Abram's mother not being avenged...

Hearing Race and Kerri Brian was already moving in, ?Shields up let's go, phalanx semi circle now! Long Guns you have the go, they move you take them out?as non lethal as possible, we take any fire-- light that thing up. Boat Team, talk to me!?

?Alpha here Cap, copy that!?

?Bravo copies, Cap!?

?Alpha back, I got Race and Kerri, two others with them, Kerri drawn on the subjects. No go for the missing two, I can't see em.?

?Boat Team, moving in Captain and standing by!?

Brian keyed up once more, ?Alright, keep those shields up and let's close that gap. Flashes to the ready, and watch the edges of the bridge. Watch crossfire too, all units!?

Guns drawn the shields up, they made their move towards the van with the world seemingly watching. ?Race, talk to me tell me what you have!?