Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[siobhancan99]

Monica smirks "My semester is going alright. not as well as SOME people's semester" she grins and looks him over "you look good. gabi's a lucky girl." she turns back to the front, waiting on class to start "so where are you interviewing? what's the job?"

She stretched out, crossing her long legs at the ankle as she slouched a little in her seat, listening for his response.

 

[Halcyon638]

A sly grin spread across Shaun's face. "Thanks," he said when she commented on his appearance. "If I may say, you are looking lovely today. I don't know what the fuck Nolan is doing with his life." Shaking his head, he said, "Nah, I'm definitely the lucky one. Gabi's pretty amazing. I might hit you up for some tips to make sure I don't mess it up."

"It's a sales position at this company that sells security systems to other businesses," Shaun explained. "I don't know much about it beyond what 5 minutes on the ole Google gave me, but hey, fake it til you make it, right?"

His eyes briefly flitted down to her legs before he returned his gaze to his computer. The instructor began the class with an icebreaker that required everyone to move around and find someone who had a particular trait or experience ("Find someone who has lived in more than 3 states").

As class continued, Monica received a text from Ian: "Sooo sorry. The bassist got held up so he's not going to get here until like 6:00 or so so I'm guessing I will swing there around 8:00? Sorry. Really want to see you."

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica shifts uncomfortably at the mention of Nolan "look he's hot and all he's just the first boy I met on campus and I'm getting over someone... he's nice I just... I dunno it didn't gel for me. That's all. He didn't fuck up or anything he just... wasn't the one." She shrugs a little and hmmms "doing lots of ice breakers today. You live in more than three states? If not lets move around together and find someone."

At the text she gritted her teeth and looked down at her phone. She inhaled, then exhaled slowly, making herself relax. 'fucking typical Ian bullshit' she thought and texted back "fine." hoping the terse reply would convey her mood over it.

 

[Halcyon638]

"No worries," Shaun said. "Nolan's a good guy, but he's got some growing up to do." When the activity was announced, he shook his head. "Nope, Prospect City boy, born and raised. Let's do this." Shaun moved around the room, striking up conversations with people effortlessly, funneling them toward Monica after to assist her in filling out her sheet. "I'll see you," Shaun said as class ended.

As Monica left, she saw that Austin Whittier had begun following her on her various social media apps, and had already liked a number of her posts. When she made it back to the apartment, Gabi was on the phone speaking with her mother. She waved to Monica and rolled her eyes, before saying, "I am. I was studying when you called me. Yes, I will. Tomorrow. I promise."

After hitting up the dining hall with Gabi, Hadley, Nolan, and Layla, Monica still had some time to kill. Finally, she went to the spot where she'd (eventually) be meeting up with Ian. She arrived there about 10 minutes early. A couple were sitting near the steps of a nearby building making out pretty intensely. Just as her phone's clock read 7:59, she saw Ian walking over.

He was wearing jeans and a thrift store T-shirt. His once-boyish face had hardened a bit and had a thin layer of stubble on it, while his shaggy brown hair looked somewhat less disheveled than usual. "Mon," he said, holding his arms out. They embraced, and she could smell the faint odor of marijuana on his clothing. "Hey. You look...you look great."

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica hugged Ian "look at you with a haircut. You goin all corporate? Gonna get a real job?" she joked nudging him playfully. It was hard to see him like that though, because he looked so fucking much like Tom. She swallowed the lump in her throat and sat down on the bench by the statue, ignoring the couple pawing at each other. "so forming a band huh? What kind of stuff are you playing?" She tried to focus on Ian, but at the same time she was finding herself hyper aware of the people around, looking here and there and sizing up whether any of them would be a problem as the city started to get dark.

"Gabi says hi by the way, and if you don't have a place to stay tonight she said you could sleep on the couch" She hadn't been about to offer, but Ian was high and... probably had planned on sleeping in his car despite the fact that his brother was killed for his. "Did you get a hotel or anything?"

 

[Halcyon638]

"I know, right?" Ian said, flicking some of his hair. "My plan was sort of to wait until you had a real job as a science-person and then beg you for, like, a mailroom job. So, kinda a 5-year plan." He put his hands into his jean pockets. "I'm actually trying out for this punk, post-hardcore band where I know the lead guitarist. They're pretty good. Definitely a step up from my last band. With actual songs and stuff." Monica could almost still hear her ears ringing from the one time she attended a concert by Ian's high school band and they produced an unlistenable wall of noise.

"That's really cool of her," he said regarding Gabi's offer. "I'm staying at Josh's place in Gilliam Heights," he said, referring to a friend Monica remembered vaguely and the neighborhood in which Nick had mentioned being mugged at a subway stop. When she mentioned the neighborhood's reputation, he replied, "I mean, I wouldn't mind not having to take the subway back there tonight, but I don't want to put you guys out."

"So, college life--that's exciting," he said. "You gotta tell me all about it. Walk?" The two of them began roaming the campus as the sun set.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica sighs, suspecting that he'd always intended to hit them up for a spot on the couch, but also really relieved that he wouldn't have to go back to that neighborhood. She walked around, showing him a few of the buildings. It was weird being on an urban campus. All the movies she watched about college always took place in these picturesque little college towns. Here it was just a collection of buildings that looked like office buildings, with a few more quads and green spaces than normal. A fountain here or there. Despite having dinner, she stopped at a taco truck "gotta try em all." She paid for Ian's, not even asking if he had money and assuming that he didn't. They sat on a fountain, with her leaning forward to keep from dripping guac all over herself as she hoovered down the food.

"not exactly Gabi's mom's" she shrugged "but it hits the spot. Would be good if I was loaded."

Ian agreed "You partying much?"

"I've been here like three days. I went to one party." She washed the taco down with a Jarritos and made a face "Jeez that's sweet."

She handed the rest of the soda to Ian and the two sat awkwardly for a moment.

"So you meet anyone?" He asked and she sighed in response.

"I don't know that I'm ready to meet someone. There was a guy who hit on me over the weekend but you know. I put him off. It's only been six months."

She looked down the street, towards the Freshman dorms, and towards the area where Tom had been shot. She didn't know if Ian had ever been, and she'd been avoiding it.

"what about you? seeing anyone?"

 

[Halcyon638]

"No, no," Ian said to the question. "Not since Kelsie." Monica recalled meeting Kelsie, a blue-haired, pierced-nose, musically-inclined girl at Ian's graduation party. She had not been particularly nice, so Monica figured it was no big loss. "I've just been trying to...to sort of get it together, I guess. In, like, a lot of ways. It's probably hard to tell," he said, his smile offset with what seemed to be a somewhat serious tone.

His eyes fell on the lettering outside of the residence in which Tom had lived. "Oh, wow. Didn't realize we were this close. It must be...so hard for you. I'm glad you're going here, though. Tom would have been, too. You're too smart to pass up this opportunity." Looking Monica in the eyes, Ian said, "You're going to do amazing things."

Looking ahead again, he added, "I mean, not 'drumming in a post-hardcore band' amazing, but pretty cool." Their walk took them in a loop back to the Tesla statue in front of the engineering building.

Monica told him she was going to text Gabi to make sure they wouldn't be interrupting any sexy times if they were to drop by soon. "Can you believe that our little church girl is already getting some?" she said, smiling.

Ian's expression was oddly serious.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," he said. His brown eyes were locked with hers again. "Listen, there's...there's something I have to talk to you about."

"Sure," she said.

"It's...there's been...something--something on my chest, I guess, and it's..."

Suddenly, the lights went out. "Huh," Ian said. "That was...weird." While all the lampposts nearby were out as well as the previously lit up engineering building and a nearby residence hall, there were some other campus buildings in the distance that still had power. It took a few seconds, but then Gabi's keen, alien sight adjusted to the limited light, allowing here to see clearly.

There was a sound from inside the engineering building--broken glass, followed by what sounded like a woman's scream. "Whoa, did you hear that?" Ian asked.

 

[siobhancan99]

At the mention of whatever she would end up doing being not as amazing as drummer in a post-hardcore band Mon offered a dry "clearly."

When Ian looked at her, so earnestly she sighed inwardly. He was going to either tell her he was into her, or tell her Tom was cheating on her, or tell her he knew what she was. At least in her head. I mean, he might have just needed to talk about borrowing money or something. God, please let it be that.

When the lights went out and the sound of screaming began, she relaxed, telling herself there might genuinely be a god after all.

"yeah. super weird huh?" She worried her lip, then looked at the building "I'm gonna go see what I can see. You should call the cops and then wait for them here. I can uh... get into the building because I'm a student." she nods to Ian, really just wanting him to stay safe outside. She bounded up the steps, then tried the doors, hoping they weren't electronically operated.

 

[Halcyon638]

"Wait," Ian said as she rushed up the stairs, nearly falling face-first on the first step due to the darkness. "It might not be safe!" Monica realized the door was locked. "It's locked? I'll go check around the back," he said. When she yelled to him to call the police, he called back, "I am!", then sprinted around behind the building while keeping his cell phone pressed against his ear.

With any luck, he'd be stalled at whatever rear entrance there was. Alone in the dark now, she wondered if the door's lock might be forceable. There was another sound, a loud clattering, from inside the building.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica looked around for a moment "think before you just kick shit in"

The door was probably on video, though with the power out she'd be hard to make out and maybe the cameras wouldnt work. Still. She took stock, looking for a ground floor window she could smash and get in. Failing that she'd try to force the door, but she took a moment to be smart "an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure" she muttered, then tried to make her way into the building.

 

[Halcyon638]

Looking closely, Monica noticed one of the windows was cracked open a tad, not too surprising, considering most of the classrooms she'd been in today seemed to lack AC even with the late August temperatures pushing 80, though someone in Public Safety probably hadn't mean to leave a room with a state of the art computer open to the public all night

With a swift upward shove, Monica opened it widely enough to climb through. She found herself in an empty, silent classroom. She heard a woman cry out "Help!" in what seemed to be the hallway adjoining the room.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica lets her eyes adjust, which takes just a moment. In the dim almost black she can still see, thanks to her Centauri heritage. She moves to the door, opens it quietly and steps out into the hall. she can hear another cry for help and moves swiftly in the direction of the voice. Coming to a door she pauses, trying to hear a moment, her hand going down to the handle. If it opens, great, if not, she will step back and kick it in. She doesn't want to be so cautious that the woman dies due to her waiting.

 

[Halcyon638]

The door opened on a long classroom/laboratory filled with row after row of lab tables. She heard a male voice say, "Don't make this harder on yourself." As Monica opened the door, a blonde-haired woman raced toward her. Suddenly, the room lit up as a burst of electricity arced over her head. It missed her, but she fell to her knees in front of Monica. "Please help!" she shouted.

Walking leisurely down the center aisle of the room was what appeared to be a man dressed in dark clothing, wearing a motorcyle helmet concealing his face. Small tendrils of electricity seemed to emanate from his body, illuminating the path ahead of him. "Now look what you've done," he said. "Someone else is going to get hurt because of you."

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica was stunned for a minute. This was some sci-fi shit right there. For a nanosecond she was too terrified to move, till her mother's exasperated voice cut through the fog in her head "You're some sci-fi shit yourself, move your ass." Her mother's voice in her head tended to be reproachful, but as always it motivated her. Monica snatched up a stool from one of the lab tables and hurled it at the man. It wasn't too accurate but she counted on his instinct to duck, then she tried to grab the woman and roll into cover. She needed him to move in, and deny him the advantage of the ranged attack. She had to get in between the lab tables where he'd have to move around to see them.

 

[Halcyon638]

The metal stool sailed through the air. The man in the motorcyle helmet tried to duck while putting his arm up to shield himself, avoiding most of the impact from the object but also allowing Monica to pull the woman behind one of the heavy tables. "Well, well," he said, walking toward the spot where they were hunkered down. "Someone coming to your rescue again, Anna? You've just got the best luck, don't you? Don't you?" he repeated in an angrier tone. He was close enough now that Monica could see his shadow at the corner of the table behind which she crouched. "Your luck's about to change."

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica risked ducking out, keeping low she tried to wrap herself around his legs and bring him down to the floor. There wasn't much she could do if his lightning could be used in close quarters, but it was the best chance she had. Maybe he was some kind of thunder god like Thor in the movies or something, and would be strong too but well... she had to risk it. launching herself, she tried to use her strength to wrestle him down "Run god dammit" she snarled at the woman, hoping to get her clear so she could fight or escape herself.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica leapt out to try to take the helmeted man down, in the process glimpsing what looked like a series of cables and electrodes strapped into the headgear, attached to a small backpack-like object on his back. He managed to backstep quickly, though, avoiding her attack. She had placed herself in between him and the woman, who now raced out of the room, but unfortunately, Monica had also placed herself right in his path.

Though she was somewhat worried about concealing her identity, the light given off by the strange electrical currents that seemed to surround him didn't illuminate the room much. "I didn't want to get anyone else involved," he said as he backstepped, putting about ten feet between them. "I want you to know that." He raised his right hand and a bolt of electricity shot toward her, low this time, in low with about her upper thighs or pelvis. She jumped over it, vaulting onto one of the lab tables in the process.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica leaps over the bolt, glad she narrowly avoided it. He seemed maybe not 100 percent bad, but the statement might be bullshit. still, there was a risk to be taken here where she might be able to end this without hurting him and get more information. "Well then banter at me supervillain"

After the quip, she launched herself forward, not trying to hit him, but instead trying to rip the cables free, hoping to disable what seemed to be a weapon instead of a naturally occurring ability. If she could do that, she might get to talk to him a moment before the cops came. For all she knew, the woman he was attacking was the real problem. Still, she seemed helpless and he didn't so... she could always pound him later.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica managed to almost get her hands on the cables, but at the last minute, the dark-clothed man kicked a metal stool toward her, causing her to stumble slightly and miss the opportunity to disarm him. He backpedaled again. "Now I'm really running out of patience with you," the man said, the frustration in his voice mounting. "Have you ever seen the internal organs of someone who dies of electrocution? It's not pretty, I'll tell you that."

He let out a cry and shot another blast Monica's way. She ducked under it this time, and his attack had given her another opening.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica dodges and curses, then springs again. No fancy attempts this time she just concentrates on taking him out. She launches a powerful punch, sending her fist streaking towards his gut, hoping to take the wind out of him at least and send him to the floor where she can start kicking him. She hopes the woman has started running, but she cant spare the attention to see.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica's punch connected with a loud crack, landing squarely in the middle of the man's chest, sending him stumbling backwards. Had there not been a lab table there, she imagined he would have hit the ground, but somehow managed to stay on his feet and ready another bolt. "I'm going to cook you alive for that!" Clutching his wounded chest with his left hand, he fired off another bolt.

Somehow, he seemed to anticipate the direction she would dive toward, and she could feel the electricity course through her. A sharp wave of pain passed through her, particularly the left shoulder and side of her body, which had taken the initial impact. Still, within a second, she was back in her fighting pose. "How the fuck are you alive?!?" he shouted.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica felt her muscles tense almost to the point she felt like they were tearing off the bone. At the same time she could smell burning clothes, but she didn't have time for that. She had to keep up the aggressive attack. the only way she'd survive whatever weird shit this was was by breaking the man responsible, since she couldn't break the machine. she launched a kick for his leg, wanting to take him down like she had the man in the park. She didn't answer him, in part because she was in pain and didn't want it to show in her voice, or have it break from the fear she felt.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica let fly a devastating kick. The helmeted man cried out and fell hard to the ground, in the process, unleashing a stray blast of electricity at the ceiling of the classroom. He was crumpled against the side of a lab table, dazed. His opaque visor tilted toward her. His fingertips began to spark as he attempted to summon another bolt, a last-gasp attempt, it seemed, to seriously harm her.

Monica knew she had to act fast.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica moved, more on instinct than anything else. The headgear seemed to be the nexus for everything, in addition to having his head in it. She reached down, gripping the helmet she tried ripping it off, and if she broke his neck in the act then fuck him. She hurt, and she could potentially be hurt worse and she wasn't taking any chances. She probably couldn't knock him out with the helmet on, so she had to basically destroy the apparatus.