OVER THE SILVER SKY TO THE WORLD OF NEVER : Part 337 - Where's The One You Got?

I'm going to take a break from slandering celebrities, squirrels, gingers and promoting the Good Old Days. It's about time I started blatantly virtue signaling by coming out in support of a much maligned minority. One that no one else has bothered about. So I'll be the first to bring their tragic plight to the notice of society. All the genders have been done now and all the various colors and religions. No one has spoken up for this minority before, despite their enormous contribution to society. I'm on about PSYCHOPATHS of course. No one seems to care about their rights to live as they please. To not be discriminated against. It's only thanks to psychopaths we've got the genre of slasher movies. Nobody mentions their services to humanity in thinning out the hordes of backpackers. If left unchecked they could breed uncontrollably you know. The yearly cull psychopaths take care of, ensures we aren't buried knee deep in the bastards. Think of all those movies we wouldn't have if not for their unpaid work. The Shining, Silence of the Lambs, all those Saw movies, and let's not forget Mary Poppins. It's about time we freed them from the constraints of our discriminatory society. Gave them carteblanche to do as they please. Isn't that what freedom and equal rights is all about. Accepting people for who they are without judgement. There. I've shown my softer side to the world. Caring about a small group of people, who maligned and stigmatized on a daily basis. I've got a warm feeling inside after that. Knowing I've done something good.

(The copyright to this image is the property of Vanity Fair.)

"Are we sure they can actually see that we're different?" Jake asked as they were plastering each other with the dirt and crap in the alley. "It could be that only we can see the colors and shining effect."
Scarlet continued, slapping some almost black mud onto his face. With a bit more pressure than was actually required.
"Mmmmm. Let me think." She mused. "For the sake of argument let's just say, it would seem to be the safest course to take." Pausing for dramatic effect. "Oh and have you seen the way people have looked at us before they ran away?"
"That's a really small sample. They might have been dazzled by your beauty."
"Why don't we go and ask the next person who passes?" She retorted sarcastically.
"What I mean is we could be preparing for something that isn't going to happen. They might not be sending people after us."
The two of them began inspecting the coverage. Filling in any spots they'd missed. The light was fading, which gave them a much better idea of how good their camouflage was.
"Well I'm betting they're on their way now. You know they are to. What is this about really?"
He looked both ways before speaking.
"Have you ever thought, that maybe, we're the bad guys?"
"No. I think of us as being chaotic good slash neutral. Bad people do good things and good people do bad things. We do bad things to bad people. I'm sure you've asked something like this before."
"Quite possibly. I ask a lot of people. I'm doing an unofficial poll. At some point I should maybe do a focus group. See if we're headed in the right direction."
"Well it'll have to wait. It's gone 7:00."
"How do you know?"
"Everybody's fucked off. Must be past curfew. Sometimes I wonder where your brain heads off to."
"I'll be alright once the action starts."
Satisfied they had covered everything, it was time for them to take up position.
"Don't get over enthusiastic Jake. It's okay to kill them, but don't overkill them. See if you can keep one of them alive and I'll do my best as well. Any intel we can get will be handy. One final thing before you do." She kissed him on the cheek. "Three little words."
Her face screwed up, and she spat a few times.
"Bet you wish you hadn't kissed me while I'm covered in crap now. " They chuckled. "Right back at ya. No prisoners."
She shoved him playfully.
"Yes prisoners." She corrected him unnecessarily. "No retreat, no surrender."

They each took up the position they'd selected. Relying on shadows more than anything. There were a few shallow abutments on either side. None of them more than a few centimeters deep. They'd do, because they had to. Time dragged on. Seconds taking minutes to pass. The light faded to the point where the street lamps came on. There weren't many of them considering the scant illumination. Their little preparatory routine out of the way their entire attention was on the streets at either end. Waiting was always the worst part. Then, as they were about to lose the will to live, the excitement arrived. Screeching tires and revving engines. The entire block went dark as the power was cut off. Two high sided trucks slid to a halt in the roads. Powerful searchlights lit up the passage way.

They both did the only thing they could in this situation. Borne of vast experience over numerous lifetimes. Diving under the trucks as they skidded and stopped. Front and rear doors burst open as the storm troopers tumbled out. It was worth a shot. Scarlet tossed a pebble she'd landed on. Through the legs of the troopers. It only took one nervous one, and luckily for her there was one. He opened up with a short burst of automatic fire. Which was returned with interest by those at the other end. In split seconds they were diving for cover. Their officers getting them into order, after discovering their mistake. She wondered if they'd left the keys in the ignition. Rolling out into the middle of the highway, Scarlet ducked inside the vehicle. Turned the key and set off with the squeal of burning rubber. Jamming on the brakes had the desired effect. Closing the rear doors and allowing the soldiers to respond.

The tearing sound of gunfire from the other end of their alley, told her Jake was doing his bit. Six against one, and that made it seem harder than it actually was. These men were used to dealing with cowed and frightened people. Not with brawlers who had lifetimes of experience. As soon as he'd heard his partner take off he'd rolled out himself. Directly behind a man. Using the body as a shield as he snatched the assault rifle from him and started spraying. Four down, two to go. They were sprinting towards their colleagues at the opposite end of the narrow lane. Bugger. No survivors. Meaning he'd have to go after them or he'd never hear the last of it. He was fitter and faster. Catching up with the slowest one as he emerged into the still dark street. Jake picked him up, slamming the man into the wall. A boot to the jaw to make certain. Now where was she?

Not that far away, as it happened. These guys were frigging morons. As soon as they got a bit too close she sped away. Spreading them out. Once they were nicely lined up and shooting at their own armored vehicle, she switched to reverse. Slamming into two of them and taking out a third with her handbrake turn. Why were there four of them left? She gave a feral grin as she spotted Jake. His dirt layer had been compromised. A few patches glimmered through. He must have been scaring the shit out of them, because the dopes were still running away from him and straight at her. None of them looking where they were going. Not learning disabled, as it seemed. They were panicking. Incapable of rational thought and empty of all survival instincts. This was piss easy. As she patted the wheel open handed the grin on her face turned to scowl.

"Fuck. I've cracked a nail."

No more Mrs Nice Gal. She kicked her door open into the face of the front runner. A swinging kick slammed into the side of his head breaking his neck. Jake had caught his fugitive. Tackling the fleeing man to the ground. A brief tussle ensued, before he'd restrained him. The other two now saw a lone woman as their only barrier to escape. They made a beeline for her. One drawing out a meter long staff that sparked at the end.

"Don't suppose there's any chance of you lending a hand here." Scarlet yelled.
"I've taken care of mine. Got two prisoners. This one's an officer I think." His crowing stalled when the captive attempted to pull a gun from his waist. Too slow by far. Jake was far stronger. He caught the weapon before it was half drawn. Sending two shots into the belly and groin. The other two men couldn't believe their luck. Casting glances at him as they headed to their vehicle and escape. "It's alright. I think they're only flesh wounds. Oh no. Wait. He's dead. Try and keep at least one of yours alive. The one with the cattle prod will do."
The man wielding that swished it menacingly. Throwing an insult at her as he and his comrade closed. Jake winced, shaking his head. That would not go down well. Neither would the other one opening fire. Instead of running away, Scarlet was running at them. Ducking incredibly low under the swing of that shock stick. Legs flailing into a drop kick straight into the other soldiers chest as he brought his rifle to bear. He went down like a felled tree. Unconscious before his body hit the ground. As it did she'd landed, turned and set off after that officer. He'd hit a steep learning curve that came out of nowhere. One he wasn't capable of climbing. As he showed by standing his ground while reaching for a sidearm. That electric wand wasn't going to do him any good. This woman could dodge multiple swinging swords while taking a shower. The fight was brief. Over in two hits. She hit him, he hit the ground.
"Hey. I've taken care of mine and I've got two prisoners. Where's the one you got?"
"Oh shit."

The groggy soldier was slowly crawling away as Jake's boot slammed down into the base of his spine. The shriek of agony only stopping when his head had been rammed into the pavement a couple of times. Blood and teeth all over the place. If he couldn't talk, he might be able to write. Or failing that at least nod and shake his head. Taking both legs, the Wanderer dragged the body down the alley. Back to the truck the detachment had arrived in. Now he had the chance to give it the once over. Nicely armored. Turret on the roof with at least a 20 millimeter cannon mounted there. It was bigger and to his mind better than the one Scarlet had briefly commandeered. It wasn't a competition. He'd definitely won though. So he was fine with allowing Scarlet to think she had.