Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[Halcyon638]

“It means the cupcakes are good. Good job, honey,” he said, patting her tiny shoulder. The girl beamed at the complement and wandered toward the AC. “Stay in here with that cup, Lisey. In the kitchen.” He turned his attention back to Monica. “That’s cool. I feel like if you get an internship as a science student, they sort of realize it doesn’t make sense to spend the time to bring on some smart kid and just have them fetch stuff.” Grinning, he added, “Don’t knock merging spreadsheets. Comes in super handy. But no, I’m not offended. I was an environmental sciences major back in the day and now I write environmental impact reports which companies and cities mostly ignore…still plenty of quality time with Excel.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"yeah I was lucky that way. It's so cool you do environmental work. I'm picking up Mat-sci as a second major. Maybe. I have all these grand visions of replacing plastic electronic components with ceramic. Maybe its viable maybe not." She knew that Centauri tech used ceramics in place of plastics on a regular basis, so theoretically it was all possible. The question was getting it to work in reality. "But you never know what later year classes are going to be like so maybe a second major is a pipe dream." She looked over at Lindsey then back to Sid "Does her mom have her often or?" Sort of trying to casually inquire as to the status there.

 

[Halcyon638]

“Yeah, it keeps me busy. I like it because most of the time it’s remote work but then we’ll have site visits occasionally where we get to get out in the field again. Kinda the best of both worlds.”

Sid’s eyes lit up at the materials science talk. “Oh, that’s awesome. I was just watching this video the other day about metamaterials and programmable matter. It’s insane. Of course…we now have people who can turn their skin to metal and lift people ten times their weight like it’s nothing…”

Elise had put her glass down on the counter and was creeping back toward the AC. Sid glanced over. “I put it down,” she said, extending her arms to the device’s fan.

“Finish your juice, Lisey.” The girl returned to pick up her cup.

“We usually switch off weeks with this hoodlum,” he said, reaching over and tousling her dark hair, “but her mom’s work has been crazy busy, so…”

“My mommy’s tall but not as tall as you.”

“Go on and finish your juice so we can let Monica get on with her evening, okay?” He gave Monica a slightly apologetic glance.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica gestured "you can take it with you. I won't miss a plastic cup." She laughed and gestured vaguely towards the door "I'm sure you need to make dinner and such." She saw them out, then waited for the sun to go down so she could go out on patrol. It was too hot for the suit, but still. It was in this kind of terrible weather that either nothing or a full scale riot was likely. Best to be prepared. Plus, it kept her mind of being alone and not having Gabi around.

 

[Halcyon638]

As the father and daughter were crossing the hall, Sid paused. “Oh. If you have any friends in town this summer that are looking for a bit of extra money for some easy work, Elise’s babysitter just moved away, so I’m still trying to find someone to watch her regularly maybe one night a week, every other week. If anyone’s interested, just let me know.”

As anticipated, it was a busy night in Prospect City. Two separate shooting incidents, one outside a club and one at a block party, concluded with her chasing down the suspects in the Sliver and corralling them. A tweaked out man was busting up his ex’s car with a hockey stick.

It was around 11:30 when Monica spotted something peculiar from her vantage point in the Sliver. On top of a building roughly 10 stories high was a largescale LED device with a scrolling message, positioned flat so that only someone passing above could see it. It read:

NIGHTHAWK NEED HELP AND HAVE AN OFFER FOR YOU.

A phone number scrolled across as well.

 

[siobhancan99]

"I can watch her now and again, and when my girlfriend is in town she will probably be all about it." Monica waved to the two and let them go.

After she saw the strange sight on patrol she hmmmed. Could be a trap. Could be something to break up the monotony of summer. She took down the number and went to Walmart, getting another phone. From that phone, she tried the number.

 

[Halcyon638]

A familiar male voice that Monica couldn’t quite place answered. “Hello. This is the Nighthawk?” The voice was accented, Eastern European in origin. “Maybe you remember me? Branko?”

A memory of the man, a sleazy-if-vaguely-charismatic strip club owner in his late 20s who had propositioned her in her Nighthawk garb while she was trying to negotiate Brian Loffler’s gambling debt, came back to her. “I would like to talk to you in person. You choose meeting place.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"so you can shoot me like you shot the Lofflers?" She sighed, but then figured the Loffler's didn't exactly hold up their end of the bargain. She named the burned out industrial building that Thalmer used to use for practice. She figured she could get there before him and there was space on the roof for the sliver if it was a trap. She'd have named founder's square, but she wasn't sure he'd meet her someplace so public.

 

[Halcyon638]

“No, no. Listen to me. I didn’t have anything to do with Lofflers’ death. That was…we talk about it when I see you, okay?” It was hard to be too certain going off only the club owner’s voice, but he sounded truthful. “I will meet you there and explain. It is part of deal. Okay?”

Monica piloted the Sliver over. There were no other vehicles in the vicinity.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica landed on the roof and made her way to the edge, keeping an eye out. If he showed up alone, she had the plan to call down to him. If he showed up with 15 people, she was going to high tail it to the sliver. Nothing to do now but wait. She wondered if this wasn't something to do with "The Imperial" but only time would tell.

 

[Halcyon638]

A minute later, a large, imposing man in his 50s with closely trimmed white hair stepped out, wearing a light sweatshirt despite the heat. It was clear he was scouting the area. He didn’t seem to spot Monica.

Branko stepped out of the passenger seat of the car. His mid-length dark hair now snaked down to his shoulder. He also scanned the area, missing Monica.

 

[siobhancan99]

Feeling secure enough, she stepped out a bit into the light. "You've got my attention, Branko. Let's see if you can hold it." She crossed her arms, not forgetting the fact he'd tried to stick his dick in her. She shifted her weight, posture not quite aggressive but not really warm and welcoming either. "So what is this proposal you've got for me?"

 

[Halcyon638]

The club owner jumped a little, then a sly smile crept onto his face, though it may have been an attempt to compensate for his initial nerves. He nodded to the white-haired man. “Wait out here.” Turning to Monica, he said, “Let’s walk.”

The criminal made his way toward the ruined building, slipping his hands inside his jeans. “You know the nicest places,” he remarked as they entered and moved out of earshot out his companion.

“First, I must clear up wrong idea you have. I didn’t kill Brian Loffler and his sister.” He seemed genuine as far as she could tell from his body language and tone. “It is true if this Brian did not pay his debt, then…well, then, I would have to probably…do something to protect my reputation. And my business. But I did not have him killed. This was the Imperial. His sister, too. I would never, ever, fuck up family not involved.”

He shrugged. “Maybe you believe me, or maybe not. I hope so, but I can’t control. But now I come to you for help. You are the Hero. You are good. Protector of the innocent.”

His expression grew dark. “My sister. Mina. She has…disappeared. She’s been taken. By him. The Imperial. Or someone working for him.” He pulled out his phone and showed Monica a picture of a striking, full-lipped, raven-haired woman perhaps a few years older than Monica. “This is her.”

He sighed. “I can’t go to cops with this. He has too many eyes and ears on the cops. There is no one I can trust to get the job done. Except you. The Hero of Prospect City.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"Dad's second wife?" she looked over the picture, as the woman seemed a good bit younger than the club owner. "She's pretty. Now, a few things.I'm sure you're going to tell me she has nothing to do with your business, that she runs a shelter for orphans, kittens, and orphaned kittens and that she's as pure as the driven snow. You can skip that part, because I know you're going to say it and for now I'm going to believe you. If i find out, however, that she's some sort of human trafficker or drug maven or something, we're going to have issues. So, if you want to be upfront about that now is the time."

"Aside from that, why do you think someone involved with The Imperial has her? did you get a note? what clues do you have? where should I start? I'm the City's greatest puncher for justice, but I'm not batman. I am not the world's greatest detective. I'm not even the world's most mediocre detective. I do have access to law enforcement though, unlike you. So give me what you can, and I'll see what I can do."

 

[Halcyon638]

“She is no criminal,” Branko declared, sounding slightly defensive. “I have contact. He say that someone saw her leaving Pandemonium with two men. They were dragging her. Forcing her. Nick Christou’s men.”

He looked down as a rat skittered across the floor. “Ugh, fuck. I hate rats. Nick Christou,” Branko repeated, as if saying the name again would get him back on track. “Big time asshole. Owner of Pandemonium. Everyone know he is Imperial’s little pet because all the Greeks were fucking burnt to the ground except for that prick. He must be of use to this Imperial.”

He let out a sneeze. “But here is thing. I can’t just send my guys.” Lowering his voice, he said, “First, I don’t know if I can trust all of them. Secondly, the minute the Imperial knows I am going after my sister, he will end her. I have, uh…information on him.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica nodded. It made sense if the bar owner had information that there'd be a hostage. It was all very roman. Or Centauri, really. She wasn't sure she wasn't going to find one of her people at the end of this particular road. "Oh do you now?" She shrugged "You know, anything you can tell me is going to help. I might need that information to leverage. The thing is, I'm not sure I can ask where your sister is without them connecting that I'm looking on your behalf. I guess I could say some concerned citizens saw her being dragged out. Yeah, I'll start with that angle."

 

[Halcyon638]

A wary expression appeared on Branko’s face. “I give you information in exchange for helping Mina. That is deal. Otherwise, I give you any information on have—on Mina, on Christou.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"I'm going to help your sister because she's a good person. I'm not keen on you being able to say things about the Imperial only for me to watch you be dramatically assassinated as I deliver your sister in some abandoned playground in the rain like this is an episode of Daredevil or something, so you know. I'll need you to spill while you're surely alive."

She shrugged "Now, in keeping with you remaining alive the best way for that to happen is for me to misdirect who is looking for your sister. That means if she was out with friends or something that night I need to be able to convincingly fake that they set me on this path and not you. So whatever help you can be there is good. Also text me her picture so I can show it around."

 

[Halcyon638]

The long-haired man looked skeptical for a minute. “Okay. Everybody usually wants something, you know this? Not used to someone who does thing because it’s good.”

He looked around. “I have plan in place to get this on the social media if anything happens to Mina and me, but…the Chief of Police…Bell. He comes into the club very a lot. He thinks he’s in love with one of the girls. He in love with Alicia’s tits like everyone,” Branko remarked, crudely miming her physical features. “He’s a big drinker, this Bell, and one night, he start talking about how he big with the Imperial. He say he has 13 cops on his payroll—the Imperial.” Branko pulled out a vape pen. “Says he hire most of them himself. The Chief guy did.”

The club owner took a pull. “So. There you go. The fucking Chief of Police is Imperial’s minion. And whoever he hire—they probably dirty.” A cloud of milky, spiraling smoke came out of the device. He thought for a moment. “I can send you list of her friends. There is Cass. And Vida.” After texting her the image, he added, “You can say this Cass girl. She is not even in country any more.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"Not everyone falls into the pimp-ho/John dichotomy. As for the chief, well. Send me the list. That way you won't be killed off, if movies have taught me anything." She looks down at the pictures again "Cass. Alright. I might put something on my tik tok in the next few minutes, then I'll go to the bar. If it is still open. If not, I'll hit it tomorrow night for sure. I'd prefer to get to it right away though."

After leaving the sleazy club owner behind, she did film a little something for her channel. She showed the girl's picture, asking people for any tips to send them in. She assumed they'd all be bullshit but this was theater to protect her brother and maybe keep him as an occasional source. As she had with the last few videos, she signed off in Centauri, saying "If you can understand this, let me know."

After posting, she headed over to Pandemonium to see if it was still open. It was early enough she assumed yes.

 

[Halcyon638]

The Sliver glided silently through the night sky and Monica arrived at Pandemonium. The club was situated somewhere between the crime-ridden Benjamin Park neighborhood and the suburban enclave of Coldbrook. From the exterior, it appeared to have formerly been a warehouse or factory of some kind. The parking lot was sparsely used with it being a Wednesday night, but Monica still spotted a significant number of high-end vehicles, mostly of the gaudier variety. There were a line of 8-10 people hovering near the doorway.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica set the sliver down nearby, then wandered into the parking lot. She looked over the group outside, hovering near the doorway. She wasn't sure if it was a line, or something going on. Either way, she was curious and held back a moment to observe whatever it was. if it was a line she would move up to it.

 

[Halcyon638]

As she approached, she heard raised, angered voices. “—fuck your problem is, man,” a loud, polo shirt-sporting 20 something was shouting at the bouncer, a 40-something Black man with a calm demeanor and a carefully trimmed afro.

“My problem is your girlfriend’s ID is fake as hell.” He arched an eyebrow as he spotted Monica walking toward the line. The rest of the crowd turned toward her now, and there were murmurs.

“Let’s fucking go, babe,” the bottle blonde girl on the 20-something’s arm said, pausing when she turned to see Monica approaching.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica contemplated giving the classic 1980s Robocop Clarence line 'bitches leave' to the assembled crowd, but in addition to the misogyny of it there was her image to protect. "There are less discerning bars in this neighborhood, citizen" She gestures vaguely off towards another club in the area "Maybe take your fake ID down there where nobody has to worry about it." Yeah that was her, law and order all the way. She had business with the bouncer, and it was better for her and him if there wasn't a crowd of onlookers for when she either bribed him for info or beat it out of him. Or just got let into the club. or whatever.

 

[Halcyon638]

The woman’s companion and the bouncer looked at Monica quizzically before the former stormed off. “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he moaned.

The people in line didn’t seem to be taking her presence very seriously. “Nice costume,” the bouncer said, boredom injected into each syllable, “but I’m still going to need to see your ID if you want to drink.”