Sirens.
Red.
Blue.
Red.
Blue.
Tires squealing.
Engines roaring.
Blood pumping.
Heart pounding a hundred miles a minute.
Cannot stop.
Go faster.
Do not slow down.
They are getting faster.
Do not let them get close.
Gotta get away.
Have to get away.
Faster.
Go faster.
Gotta go faster.
Have to go faster.
Faster.
Faster!
FASTER!
Emma woke with a start, hands quaking and thunder in her ears. The air hot and leather tacky in the backseat of her car as she reigned in her composure. Swallowing the uneasy lump in her throat, Emma glanced out the inner recesses of her Shelby Mustang. Desert, that's right, Emma was in a desert. She pulled over hours ago to rest her eyes. She climbed out; the dry desert air was a minor improvement from the muggy interior. Stretching her arms high overhead she felt the stiffness of sleep give way with soft cracks.
Handler's Corners 20 miles
The only sign of civilization she could find along the scorching highway. Sounded like a little hick town. Were her eyes more alert and her mind clear, she would have spent the night in a hotel room instead of the backseat of her car? "Terrific." With a small groan and a quick *pop* from her neck Emma made her way into the driver's seat turning the key in the ignition, rolling down her window as she got back on the road.
Sirens.
"Are you kidding me?" Emma looked in her rearview and sure enough, a highway patrol car was coming up behind her. She wasn't driving five minutes and she is being pulled over now? A groan came about as the car came to a stop. Fuming as she watched a portly officer with balding hair and cliché shades step out of the police car.
"You know why I stopped you?" Typical question, not a hard one to answer. However, Emma did not take well to authority figures and found it difficult to answer honestly. Crossing her arms atop her steering wheel, she stared at him with a cat-like smirk, which brought out her eyes, which like a cat's, were golden.
"Polite conversation?" Her sarcasm was not shared, Officer Johnson all but sneered taking out his ticket pad. Emma merely cocked her brow, her catty grin expanding. "No?" Johnson was scribbling away. "Okay then. Not in a chatty mood, I get it." There was a quick rip and a little piece of yellow paper was dangling in front of Emma's nose. "For me?" Emma took that ticket. "Aw, how sweet." She skimmed the supposed offense, Officer Johnson turned around Emma crumpled the ticket and threw it aside. "Charming fellow." Her gold eyes flickered hitting the gas. Officer Johnson was coughing in Emma's trail of dust, Emma looking amused from her rearview mirror. "Whoops." At least she was going under the limit.
The patrol car disappeared as she shifted into second gear. Add another angry cop to be dozens back home just itching to slap some cuffs on her wrists reading her rights. Let them try, all they had to do was catch her, and there was a better chance of pigs flying on jetpacks in matching monkey suits then that ever happening. Not that it would not be one heck of a thing to see though, how often do you get to see a pig in a monkey suit wearing a jetpack?
Emma found herself laughing, not minding which thought she found funnier. Twenty miles went by in minutes bringing about Handler's Corners in no time at all. It was a hick little town, just as she thought.
A little diner caught her eye, it had a bit of a retro feel to it, but all and all it did not look too bad. The embarrassing low grumble coming out of her abdomen made it look a little bit better, and with that in mind, Emma Hall pulled into the parking lot. The Shelby Mustang Super Snake got a lot of attention as it settled into park. Of course, the driver was equally observed coming out of the car.
Hands in her pockets and a Cheshire grin on her lips Emma walked in with a strut. She took a seat at the counter, looking around seeing bits of old fashioned cars, license plates and photos. "Hi there. What can I get for you?" Emma saw a young slender girl with dark hair and pale brown eyes in a pink work shirt with matching visor, tan cargos, and a small apron wrapped around her waist. The name tag on her shirt read: Grace.
"Yeah, let me have…" Emma snatched a menu off the counter, reading the assortment quickly. "A cheeseburger with fries, hold the pickles and mustard." She tucked the menu back as Grace nodded writing down on a notepad.
"Anything to drink?"
"Cream soda, if you have it."
"No problem." Grace smiled and took to the back with her order. Emma did not have to wait long, Grace was back with all that she asked, smile still in place. "Here you go." Emma took her food with hungry eagerness. "You must be new in town?" Grace's charm was so bubbly Emma could not help but come back with.
"Just got in, actually." Emma's voice muffled somewhat to the few french-fries being happily chewed. "I've been driving for a while, thought I'd check this place out." There was truth in her words, Emma had been driving for a good long while and she was moderately interested in this town. Nevertheless, some details were best left unsaid. "Think I might cool my heels here for a spell."
"Really?" The were a touch of surprise in her voice though her face stayed cheery. "In Handler's Corners? It's in the middle of nowhere." The Cheshire grin came full force as Grace went to attend to other customers.
"Precisely."
The Hub was quiet; Sage found the silence a small comfort to her troubled mind. Facing the forces of the Sark, The Vandals, and now Krytus and his red sentient force was proving to be a trial most difficult. The battle force five even with all their skills and technology they were vastly outnumbered. Their stand in the war was solid; the multiverse had yet to fall into dark hands. Nevertheless, Krytus was resilient, Kalus was ruthless, and the Sark although no longer in Zemerik's power still poses a threat.
In her solitude, Sage felt what the human's call 'chilled'. The odds were not in their favor and the battles were proving difficult even with the new use of fusion of battle vehicles. As much faith as she had in the team, even Sage had her doubts.
"Hey Sage!" Engines revving brought the blue sentient out of her thoughts. Vert and the others had returned from the battle zones. Bringing with them a moving sense of victory as they entered the Hub. "We're back." Saber, Tangler, Reverb, Chopper, and Buster Tank halted. Bearing their battle scars from their previous battle. However, their drivers could not be happier in their weary conditions, cheering and laughing at their latest achievement. This heartened Sage. These humans showed more strive and determination than any other creatures she had come across in her travels across the multiverse. She was wise to choose the best of these creatures.
A small revelation surprised Sage as she looked on her Battle Force Five. They were the best of the best in their elements; perhaps a new approach was plausible for a sounder advance in the battles ahead. Sage found an idea forming in her intellect, something unexpected, unpredictable, and conceivably unorthodox. While the group below was engrossed in their witty remarks, helpful words, and jests Sage set to work. Activating her sentient technology Sage dove hard into Earth's archives, scanning each record with speeds unmatched by any human intelligence. Deeper and deeper she dove into records, combing over and over- THERE!
Sage stopped instantaneously her glowing optics transfixed on her discovery, a most promising example from a most inconceivable point of view. Sage had found a diamond in the rough lingering deep within what would be a highly unlikely choice. Criminal records. She had the best of the best at her aid, perhaps it was time to take in the best of the worst. Her target set, Sage was prompt to make contact. Finding a series of numbers, Sage dialed quickly and waited patiently as a repetitive sound occupied the line.
Ring
Ring
Ring
Ri-
"Hello?" Sage smiled.
"Greeting, Emma Hall."
Hey folks,
Thanks for reading the first chapter in what hopes to be a tale worth reading. If I may have misinterpreted anything, you are more than welcome to let me know. Reviews are more then welcome too, so let me know what you think.
^_^ Until next time.