CRANK: Gunship #1CRANK: Gunship #2CRANK: Gunship #3
CRANK: Gunship #4CRANK: Gunship #5CRANK: Gunship #6
CRANK: Gunship #7CRANK: Gunship #8.
“This morning our guest is Tiger Ryan of the Panopt…sorry, what?” Remus Philman paused listening to a voice in his ear. “I’m sorry, Ty-ghair-ree-an! Tigarayan. Sorry. WOW! Please, give her a big Remus Live! round of applause!”
Tigarayan rolled her eyes as she entered the set and took Remus’ hand. “You got my name right before the show.”
“It’s the lights, the lights!” he chuckled as he directed her to the tall seats. “Welcome to the show.”
“Thank you.”
“So how is the big metal jerk?” Remus winked. “I kid, I kid. Gunship if you’re watching, thank you. You’re amazing. Now, if you have any questions send them in via the tweeter @Remusliveznn. So tell us about you?”
“You want my origin story?” Tigarayan smiled.
“What do you think folks?” Remus appealed to the audience.
**
Captain Scorpian looked at the police officers who’d drawn guns on him and shook his head. “I’m helping you?”
“I said DROP THEM and put your hands above your head, you evil sack of crap!” yelled the NYPD officer.
Scorpian dumped the two bank robbers on the floor and took off into the air, shots ringing out harmlessly behind him. Maybe it was time for a costume change since this was becoming intolerable. He liked his costume, but here in this dimension it represented something else.
**
“What are you doing?” Stunning Girl asked as she watched Shadowave studying the media wall.
“I’m trying to see if any of these recent things are somehow connected,” he said. “Sometime within the last two months Doctor Falcon escapes prison, something that would’ve gone completely unnoticed for possibly years if the robot he built hadn’t slipped over. Then Schlagen the Slayer breaks out of the very same prison. Rat el Snake robs an art gallery, something that really isn’t his thing followed by this new girl Razor Wasp stealing a lens from the planetarium.”
“Terror Truck, Salamander,” Stunning Girl pointed up at the board. “You think it’s all connected?”
“Doctor Falcon is that kind of evil genius who could be playing a complex game with multiple players.”
Stunning Girl shrugged. “Could also be a bad week. They happen, especially in this line of work. So where do we start looking for Falcy?”
**
Peregrine Sakar aka Doctor Falcon wandered through the San Diego mall. It did amuse but also slightly annoyed him that he could brazenly walk through a crowded place and nobody give him a second glance. But the world was becoming more insular, selfish. The cell phone revolution had people glued to their hands, what passed for television was essentially pornography with a better sound track and those idolised by the masses were often liars, vapid morons or opinionated blowhards.
“Why they fight so hard to protect you,” muttered Falcon as he admired a walking stick.
“Twenty for you my friend,” bellowed the Iranian shopkeeper in a loud but pleasant manner. “You, you look familiar.”
Falcon smiled and nodded. “I think you’ll find that I’m Ken Bingsley.”
“Gandhi?”
Falcon pressed a finger to his lips. “I am researching a role.”
“Welcome! Please, please, look. May I get picture?” The shopkeeper produced his phone eagerly.
“But of course,” Falcon replied. “I believe that this is my first selfie, is that the word?”
The shopkeeper nodded, more politely as he wasn’t really listening, grabbed the most dangerous man on the planet round the shoulders and pressed their heads together. “Say cheese!”
**
“This is kinda pointless,” Blue Bobcat said through his headset as he flew himself, Shadowave and Stunning Girl in the Panopticon jet whilst Gunship kept pace outside. “We may as well put up flyers or hoping that Dr Falcon checks in on Freshbook.”
“Do you have any better ideas Stephen?” Gunship replied.
Bobcat flipped some switches on the cockpit and the wing missiles armed. Stunning Girl looked on in disbelief as Shadowave sidled up next to him.
“Did you just take the safeties off the sidewinders?” Shadowave pointing to the lit up weapon system.
“I’ve warned him about using my real name while I’m in costume,” Bobcat replied. “Seems the only way to get that through his thick head is…”
“Shooting him with a missile. I think not,” Shadowave flicked off the system. “You need to control your temper.”
“Always side with him,” muttered Bobcat as he unclipped his seatbelt and walked off leaving Shadowave to take over the flying.
**
The Blue Bobcat panted as he crouched low and looking at his tired team mates. For the last week they’d fought and lost to Doctor Falcon who’d somehow imbued his already ridiculously powerful battlesuit with a gem of demonic power. In the space of a week most of the world had formally and willing surrendered to him, those that hadn’t had been decimated. Several allies had been killed, hundreds more civilians. “Unicorn-Man, can you cast like an invisibility thing or…”
“My sprite pouch is nearly empty,” Unicorn-Man brought up a small leafy bag that had more in common with a deflated balloon than a sack of magical sand. “This might camouflage someone for about a minute, maybe less.”
“Okay, Fryce we need something big and distracting,”
“I also don’t have much left.” she asked shaking her hands to get feeling back in them. “Molten ice ball?”
“So long as it doesn’t melt Gunship’s hands,” Bobcat said. “You with me big guy?”
Gunship’s head lolled about obviously concussed. “Tell me the plan!”
“You just concentrate on throwing a giant ball of fire ice into Falcon’s face, I got the rest.” Bobcat lifted up Malletina’s sledgehammer. Some sort of mystical energy leaked from the side where Falcon had nearly cleaved the enchanted weapon in two. The weapon survived, it's Danish owner had not.
“And what if this doesn’t work?” asked Fryce.
“Well you can kiss 1997 goodbye!”
**
“So you’re a lesbian,” joked Corben O’Briar as he sat behind his desk. “So’s half of San Francisco.”
The audience laughed and clapped at the late night hosts pun, Tigarayan smiled and shook her head. “Don’t believe everything you read on Tweeter. I’m actually bisexual.”
“So’s half of San Francisco!” he repeated for similar effect. He swiped his reddish bouffant fringe back. “That’s great. Best of both worlds. Are you dating?”
“Are you hitting on me, Corben?”
“Oh no, no, I’m asking for a friend.” He looked over at Randy Richten; the shows announcer who appropriately went all shy.
Tigarayan blew him a kiss. “No, but I do have my eye on someone.”
Corben leant forward over his desk. “Yes?”
“She…” Tigarayan waited for the whoops and wolf whistles to subside. “Well, I’m still looking at the moment. But if she’s watching, let’s pencil in some…time.”
To be continued same time, if not sooner, next week.....see you there!
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