Chasing Lady Midnight - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Me and Everyone’s Shadow

Fortunately my initial analysis of the situation seems to have been a bit premature. Because instead of attacking me, which I had assumed was the object of this endeavor, Tracker begins laying into Protostar for not leading me into his planned ambush (I knew it!). Of course it could be an act to put me off my guard, but I don’t think so. I know Tracker, he is a brilliant tactician, but he doesn’t handle variables very well. The variable in this case being me not doing what he thought I should do.
Superhero men with their super egos, I will never figure them out.
Now at his criticism and I mean really harsh criticism, Protostar actually has tears welling up into her eyes. She really is a sensitive little thing and her feelings get hurt easily. Come on, she’s only eighteen and just graduated into an actual superhero team, even if it is the junior squad. I know she wanted to do well and would do exactly as she was told. I almost feel bad that I couldn’t help her out by letting her lead me into an ambush. Because when she’s not trying to Star Blast me into oblivion I’m rather fond of her. Which is what makes me so furious because I know exactly what Tracker is doing.
His plan didn’t work so now he’s shifting the blame onto her. Because he and everyone else knows that the media is somewhere close by filming the whole thing and airing it as a special report. So we can’t have the premier battle mastermind of The Mighty Superhero Security Squad looking fallible now can we?
I could relate the whole diatribe, but in spite of the politically correct language he uses he basically calls her a dumb blond incapable of following simple orders. Now my hair is currently black, but for most of my life I have been exclusively a blond. A dark blond but blond nonetheless. I’ve heard all of the blond jokes, they are not funny, and my sister is not dumb! So now Mr. Super Obnoxious has got my blood pressure up not only for being responsible for me being chased all over town for no reason, reaming my little sister for all of the world to see for something that was not her fault, but also for being prejudice against blonds!
Oh I am definitely going do something to this guy. I don’t know what yet, but I hope it hurts. Not the most Christian attitude, I admit, but hey I only want to hurt him a little. Okay a lot, but I’ll settle for a little.
To their credit both Ballistic Attack and Metallica Max immediately stand up for their teammate. Good boys. In fact, they are all so intent on each other that I’m beginning to wonder if they remember I’m here. Now would be a good time to escape, but again the shadows aren’t close enough to…wait a minute.
As I notice Ballistics’ huge shadow I get a glimmer of an idea of how I may be able to make my first offensive move of the day. I look at the shadow and bend my fingers in a beckoning motion. The shadow moves towards me, but Ballistic hasn’t.
That’s when the idea solidifies, and it’s a good one. Must be from God, I’m not this smart.
Looking at Tracker I verify he still barking recriminations and even more orders. You would think the guy would take a breath somewhere. Anyway, trying not to draw to attention to myself, I look off in the distance until I see what I am looking for. A very tall building with a flat roof. That should work, if I can reach that far, or rather if Ballistics’ shadow can reach that far.
I look back to the shadow and give a gesture of my hand towards Tracker. It immediately responds, and fortunately no one notices as it begins to slide over the street towards my target. Once there I give an upward circular motion with my hand, and the shadow follows my movement off the ground and loops Tracker around the waist lifting him into the air. Before anyone can react, I point my arm towards the building and the shadow carries him to the roof and at my release motion it drops him.
Okay, it’s more of a slam than a drop, but that’s what he gets for picking on my baby sister and insulting our hair color. Even if it’s not my hair color just at the present time.
I figure it’s a good 20 minute run from there, even with Tracker’s speed and endurance, and assuming the roof access isn’t locked. Oh wouldn’t that be too bad?
As I release my control, the shadow retreats back to its original position in front of Ballistic Attack. The Protection Platoon look stunned, and I can’t say as I blame them. I’m a little shocked myself that worked.
Max shouts, “Protostar go get Tracker! Ballistic get her shields down.”
You know that’s not a bad plan. Who knew Max had it in him? Too bad I can’t let him get away with it.
Ballistic Attack immediately rushes forward and begins to pound on my shields with his huge fists. Fortunately they hold, but I can it feel it and know if I give him enough time he will distract me enough to weaken them. The trick is not to give it to him.
As Protostar starts to take off towards Tracker I decide to use both her own shadow and Max’s to stop her. First I catch her with her own shadow around the ankle, then using Max’s shadow I open a metal manhole cover a little father back on the street. I then quickly pull her in, and bring down the cover. To keep her there I pull forward a large semi-truck, abandoned by one of the many sensible civilians, so that the front wheels rests on top of the cover. I hear Protostar’s blast hit it, but the Peterbuilt will not be moved. So when the blast comes back on her Protostar gives a loud, “Ow!”
Ooh, at that close a range that must have stung. Not that I’m not worried, I’ve seen her hit herself plenty of times during practice sessions before her aim improved. It doesn’t cause any major damage, as she absorbs the energy, but that doesn’t mean it feels good when it hits. I can attest to that.
Now I know I made all of that sound easy, but when a behemoth is pounding on your shields, you’re trying to control two shadows at the same time, and not hurt your sister (Mom and Dad would not be happy) nothing about that maneuver was easy.
But easy doesn’t matter, what matters is that it is now two against one and not four against one.
Booyah.
At Protostar’s yell Ballistic Attack stops pounding on my shields, thank goodness, and looks to Metallica Max obviously not knowing what to do. Hey, the guy’s got brains but he’s not leadership material. Max, who is proving to be more than competent in that department, is obviously trying to come up with a plan, any plan.
Hey, I feel for the guy, seeing that I was in the exact same position just a few minutes ago. To give Max his due he doesn’t give up and shouts, “Get Protostar out then we’ll regroup and …
“You have done quite enough!” a voice shouts from the side.
Everybody, me included, look in the direction of the voice, and we all astonished by what we see.

 

Mystery writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Mystery Series. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories with just a bit of whopper in them. She has a degree in Theatre Arts which greatly influenced her writing style. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. She loves to crochet and is a big fan of the old Scooby Doo cartoons.

Current E-Books
THE REBOOT FILES:  The Mystery of Hurtleberry House, The Island of Living Trees, The Harbinger of Retribution, and The Wrong Ghost.

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