by Vega Lizzie
As the small herd silently backed down off the ridge, Shannon took Terra’s hand, “I need a moment with you. A condensed version, but I really need you right now.”
Terra put her arms around Shannon, then kissed her. Shannon nodded, “Thanks. Let’s go get her.”
“By chance does your plan have a new wrinkle or two?” Terra smiled.
“It does,” Shannon smiled warmly, “it has a new ending.” She shook her head, “And, it has a new beginning.”
Getting back to the stables, Shannon and Terra peeled off their saddles and quickly watered and fed their horse. On the way back into town, Shannon was on a conference call with the family. After a slew of instructions and directives, they could hear Olivia laughing in the background, “What,” she snickered, “the heck has happened, Mom.” she asked, “you sound like a general addressing the troops.”
Shannon shared a look with Terra and grinned, “For the next couple of hours, that’s exactly what we’re doing.” Her expression turned serious, “One of ours, is in serious trouble. This isn’t training anymore and we’re gonna fight for her if we have to.”
Shannon frowned at her own instructions “Scratch that,” she corrected, “we’re gonna fight. Period.”
Chapter 40
“Are you in position?” Shannon asked as they came down the thoroughfare towards the shopping mall, “I can’t see you.”
“I’m here, “Liam answered, “I’ve got a clear view of the parts store. Two pickups out front, lights are off…hold on,” he hesitated, “Three, make that four, cowboys are just inside the store, they’re keeping a close eye on the parking lot.”
“They’re expecting us, but they can’t see you,” Shannon offered, “do I want to know how you’re doing this?”
“Yeah, probably not. I’m sorta hiding in plain sight at the moment. Wait, another truck pulled up. One guy and they all just spilled out of the store. He’s barking orders.”
“That’ll be Darien. Stay hidden. We’ll be there in about two minutes.”
After a moment of silence, Liam’s voice came back on the radio, “He’s got a girl with him, she’s not…doing very well.”
“Gotta be Chloe,” Shannon interrupted, “Is she-”
“She was slumped in the truck cab. She’s limping badly. Shannon,” he shot back. “It looks like he’s holding her from falling on the ground and...”
Just then, a bubble shaped burst of plasma lit up the night sky blocks away towards the shopping center. All heads turned to watch as the swirling gas ball was suddenly cut in half by a giant protective shield. Even from that distance, the eruption of energy cut harsh shadows across the quiet shopping center lot.
“There’s Terra and Olivia,” she sighed to Issac, “somebody’s got an itchy trigger finger.”
No sooner had she said it, the radio crackled. Olivia’s voice wasn’t quite as calm as usual. “Mom, did you see that?” she asked breathlessly over the radio, “It was huge. One of them shot first, I promise.”
“I see you answered back,” Shannon said calmly, “Are you and Terra okay?”
“Mom, seriously? Terra’s plasma burst was huge. They just sorta stared at us and ran for their trucks. Issac was right, these guys are all talk.”
“You know better, Ollie. Be careful and get your butts over here. Tess and the others will start herding them over here.”
“On our way,” Terra broke in, “They’re headed in your general direction. We’ll follow at a safe distance. Tatsumi and Toni will ping you once they get there. Maybe this ends quick?”
“I don’t get that feeling,” Shannon said, “But maybe your initial skirmish will spook them. Darien is the one to worry about.”
“Watch for either a buildup of static charges or if he brings out this club thing,” Issac added, “I’ve seen him swing it once. It’s not something you want to get hit with and he is super pissed off.”
“We’re two blocks away,” Shannon said, almost shouting into the microphone. “We’re gonna pull up about a hundred yards away. You won’t miss us.” She winked at Issac, “The siren might be a bit much, but the lights will get their attention.” She grinned suddenly, “and I need to calm down, a little.”
“Shan,” Issac whined, “I mean, we kidnap a county sheriff, and we steal his police car and I don’t get to use the siren? Buzzkill.”
“Borrowed? Maybe next time,” she shrugged, checking the backseat of the car. The sheriff was sleeping peacefully and safely belted in. “He’ll just have an appropriate headache and wonder how he ended up this way.”
“Exchange and we bail. I hope this works,” Issac grinned hopefully as he reached for the control box on the center of the dash, “What’s this one do?” A sudden yelping of the siren caused him to flick another switch, “Oops.” Another selection yielded a red and blue strobe, “that’s better.”
Shannon reached up to turn it off, “and better to wait until we are there. I don’t want another police car to be alerted.”
Liam broke in, “Siren got their attention. Darien just handed Chloe off to a couple of his guys. He’s got a big smile on his face.”
“Let’s hope they think it’s the sheriff, but Liam,” Shannon asked carefully, “exactly how close are you?”
“Mmm, about fifty feet or so. “when you come through the parking lot, just don’t drive over the landscape shrubbery in front of the T Bell, it’s partly me.”
“A jungle suit,” Issac blurted, “nice.”
“Ghillie to be exact,” Liam corrected, his voice had become quieter, “no magic this time, just greenery and I’ve realized that I’ve sorta trapped myself here so let’s wrap this up quick.
“We’ll try. You’ll see us in a minute,” Shannon said as Issac steered close to one of the closed anchor stores, “Glad they don’t have late hours out here.”
“Mom, two more pickup trucks are coming from the other end of the mall.”
“Okay hun, thanks. Looks like they’ll all be in once place. You called it.”
“Yuss,” Olivia snarked, and Shannon easily imagined her characteristic fist pump to go with it, “Can’t wait to see what Robin and the others will do.”
Shannon cleared her throat, “Defensive flanking and mis direction…if we need it.”
“Right, um yeah, I know. Oops.”
Issac was quick to catch Olivia’s self-correction, “That sounded sketchy,” he smiled as the brought the squad car to the front edge of the building, “you have something else other than Plan A and B?”
“Maybe,” she grinned, “we haven’t had much time to talk to everyone other than that one time.”
“That one time,” Issac repeated, then glared at Shannon, his eyes wide, “Your gonna do it..oh God, so it’s all true?”
“Seems to be, for the most part. Nothing will change, Issac.” She hesitated, then reached for the switch to the lights, “and it’s always going to be your choice. I know you understand that better than anyone.” She flipped the switch and watched as the rotating strobe lights began to sweep soundlessly across the glass of the storefronts, “Let’s drive out slow. I’ll tell you where to pull up.”
“Dramatic entrance,” he grinned, “this is awesome. Not gonna lie, I want to teach these hicks a lesson in manners.”
Shannon chuckled nervously, “I used to be one of those hicks. I’m guessing that most of them will scatter if something big happens. If not, this won’t be over quick. Either way, stick to the plan.”
As the police cruiser turned the corner, Issac swung it out into the vast parking lot and headed for the out-buildings along the back of the lot. Angling over, he lined up to come straight at the parts store. As they approached, Shannon could see Darien standing with three of his buddies.
“Stop here,” Shannon said calmly, “we’ll let him ponder us for a moment.”
“You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you? You’re so calm.”
“No…I’ really not.” Shannon paused, swallowing hard,
“if anything happens to Chloe, I will never forgive myself. She’s just so…”
“Genuine,” Issac said softly, “she’s like a little sister that everyone wants to protect. Terra is struggling. I don’t see her holding back tonight.”
“Yeah, that’s got me spooked as well. She’s convinced that Chloe may be a future Traveler and she’ll stop at nothing to protect her.”
“Like you and Ollie,” Issac said softly, “like it’s Terra’s maternal instincts are kicking in.”
Shannon turned to look at Issac, but suddenly Darien stepped off the sidewalk in front of the parts store. He was dragging Chloe with him.
“So much for stage-craft,” Shannon glared across the lot, “we gotta do this, now. I’d forgotten how much bluster and ego Darien used to have in school. He burned through friends pretty quick. Big hat, no cattle.”
“A talker,” Issac snickered, “good one. Hey, pin dot of light off to our right. We have a Traveler.”
“And two more to the left,” Shannon added, “That will make Terra happy if Dimitri is here. She’s trying really hard to get him to feel welcome. Turn and angle the car to the left so my door is toward them. Maybe a simple exchange and we’re done.”
A pick-up truck came from around the side of the parts store and two men got out. They began talking excitedly to Darien.
“Smile is gone,” Liam broke in, “he’s pissed and starting to yell. He’s still got one hand on Chloe, but she looks like a ragdoll. Keep your eyes open. What?” he said suddenly, “did you see that?”
As the two men had approached Darien, one pointed over his shoulder and pointed at where they had encountered Terra and Olivia. While not able to hear them, Shannon saw Darien’s movements quickly become agitated and he slapped one of his men in the face and shoved the other.
“We can’t wait,” Shannon said and opened her car door, “roll down the back window after I get out. Tell Terra and Ollie to hurry up but hang back. Emphasize defense.”
“Got it,” Issac answered. As Shannon closed the door, he turned off the flashing lights and rolled the rear passenger window down. Reaching into the back seat, she took something out and kept it behind her back. Shannon began to walk toward the building and stopped about a hundred feet away. She put her hand on her hip and glared at them, then took the sheriff’s hat out and held it up for them to see.
“Let’s just do a little exchange and be done with this. I’m not in the mood, Darien.”
He didn’t hesitate to respond. “You stupid bitch,” he shouted, “you have no idea what you’ve just put in motion.”
Shannon jerked her thumb toward the squad car, “Your Dad’s takin' a power nap. Give me Chloe. We’ll leave town and you can go back to playing cops and robbers. Won’t take long.” She’d hoped for a simple conversation. Darien answered by shoving the young man he had just struck, towards Shannon, “Go get her,” he snapped, “show her you mean business.”
Shannon shook her head, “I don’t want to fight, Darien. Just you and me…we do the exchange.”
There was a quiet exchange of conversation between the other men as two of them took a step forward. A third moved to the right and created a gap between them. He’d inadvertently walked right toward Liam and one of the Travelers.
“Please don’t,” Shannon asked, “We’d prefer not to hurt anyone.” She waved her hand slowly in front to create a shimmering series of protective panels, then calmly turned her hand to make them disappear, “On the other hand, we will defend ourselves without hesitation.”
Shannon heard a car pull around the building as Terra raced across the lot. Parking just behind Issac, both she and Olivia got out and walked quickly to stand with Shannon. Without turning to look, Shannon smiled as she heard the soft hum of Terra’s plasma as it started to glow around her feet. A sudden rhythmic crackle caught her ear and she looked to see her daughter twirling her sword casually over her wrist, “Yes,” she repeated, “without hesitation. Let’s just be smart and end this now before someone gets hurt.”
To her surprise, Darien produced a small static orb and fired it at the feet of the young man he’d pushed toward Shannon, “Miller,” he hissed, “get it done. I have shit to do.” The orb struck just at his feet and sprayed a cluster of asphalt at his legs. “Cody, you too.” Another of the young men was ordered to advance on the three witches. Like the first one chosen, he was also more than hesitant, and Darien became incensed as the two took the most hesitant of steps toward Shannon and Olivia.
Moving his hands back, a large static globe grew from Darien’s hands and he hurled it directly toward Miller. Only thirty feet apart, the crackling orb flew at him and Shannon instantly reacted.
Throwing a shield panel toward the young man, she hoped to intersect with the static orb before it struck him. Thinking she was attacking, the rest of the men scattered leaving only one holding onto Chloe. Miller screamed as the orb crashed into him, but Shannon’s shielding seemed to draw off some of Darien’s power. He fell face first to the blacktop as the remaining shield panels curved around him and held in place to protect him.
“You can’t even lead your own men. Stop this,” Shannon cried out and took a step, only to be met with a volley of orbs from two of Darien’s subordinates. Olivia darted ahead of Terra and fired a weak stream of plasma from the end of her sword. Two large red orbs shot out to the side like an errant firework and trailed harmlessly along the side of the building, missing all of them. Her effort only provoked laughter from Darien’s group. For a moment, it was eerily quiet.
“That’s it?” one of them yelled as Olivia stood there shaking her head, looking down at the ground.
“Sure, enough was pretty,” another drawled out before bursting into laughter, “Ya ought to head home. It’s way past your bedtime.” Some of their earlier bravado had apparently returned.
Olivia continued to look down at the pavement and slowly brought her arm out the side, fingers slowly extending. As she raised her head, she was smiling. The two seemingly stray orbs came whistling from the back of the building and she directed them under one of the pickup trucks. Closing her fist, the detonation of the orbs blew all four tires in a thundering pop.
“Yeah,” she grinned, taking an aggressive step forward, throwing a shimmering array of red orbs high into the air, “…pretty.”
One of the young men ran, disappearing around the corner. Another took a step back trying to decide the best course of action was to raise his hands. The remaining three looked at Darien and came out swinging. More orbs and static charges began to fly as they attacked.
Terra stepped in to deflect the orbs and fired a low plasma stream that cut off one of the attackers, her extended burst cut him off from the group. Tatsumi and Antonia stepped out of the shadows and dragged him away from the fight.
Running across the front of the store, Cody veered out into the parking lot, trying to flank Shannon. Approaching her from the left, she only smiled as he came running along the landscaped berm. Hidden in the shrubbery, Liam simply stood up and stuck out his arm. A terrified scream was quickly cut off as Liam clotheslined him, then a quick thump of an energy pulse kept him down.
As volleys of plasma and electric charges were exchanged between Shannon and Darien. Terra and Olivia worked to drive a wedge between the main group causing another of the attackers to flee, only to be caught and held fast by Antonia’s brightly scaled boa constrictor. Tatsumi soon caught another one and for a moment, it was stand-off.
Shannon took as step toward Miller as his body suddenly began to seize and jerk wildly on the ground, “Robin,” she called out, “he’s in trouble.”
There was a flash of light and Robin stepped out of the shadows. beginning to strip a backpack off her shoulders, “You called it. He seizing, I’ve got this.” Shannon directed, “He took a strong electric charge. See what you can do.”
Robin didn’t hesitate, “I got him.” She knelt at his side and began feeling for a pulse along his neck. In second
s, she grabbed his shirt and shredded it over is chest. Taking a portable defibrillator from the bag, she quickly covered the shock paddles with lubricant then set one over his heart, then one to the asphalt to ground him. “Clear,” she shouted as the revved up and fired. The boy arched his back and sank back to the ground as a series of electrical pulses ran down his legs and spidered out across the asphalt.
Robin looked at Shannon with a nod to Darien’s group, “I’ve got a pulse,” she shouted slightly louder than seemed necessary, “you may continue.”
Darien drew back to the front door of the storefront, dragging Chloe’s limp body with him. As Terra moved to intercept them, he drew out a club and threw a throbbing rail of electric current. It caught the front corner of the closest pickup truck and its front headlight was severed from the front quarter panel of the truck. Terra rolled to the side just as Dimitri’s defensive shielding flared brightly in front of her, blocking the lethal attack.
“Wyatt,” Darien yelled, “get back here and fight.”
One of the attackers had eased away from the central battle, his hands down and moving as not to provoke an attack. He was watching in horror as the one-sided fight unfolded in front of him. Shannon had quickly divided their crew in half. He watched across the parking lot as Miller sat up slowly with Robin continued to help him recover. As hard as his friends were fighting, they were getting nowhere.
Just as Darien raised the club in front of him for the second time, the young man turned and ran. Olivia fired three orbs after him to encourage his departure. After a glancing blow off his shoulder, he pitched headlong into another landscaped garden and stayed there.
In the noise and harsh glare caused by the electricity and protection shielding, Darien grabbed for Chloe, jerking her towards the plate glass storefront. With a quick turn, he shoved her surprised guard directly into the line of fire. He vanished into the building with Chloe.
