Sparrowhawk: One Lucky Dog

From PRIMUS Database
Jump to: navigation, search


Bannerspar11.png
Sparonelucky.png


Sparrowpaneseeker.jpg


"I'm sorry, what?" Alex Harper, the heroine Sparrowhawk, asked over the open communicator built into her mask. Her fist, meanwhile, flew outwards, punching an armored mercenary as he gasped loudly. Using his momentum, she nimbly swung his entire body around, causing him to smash into another enemy poised to attack.

It wasn't the distraction of the call or even the timing. Sure, Sparrowhawk was tending to business when a priority message was received. She was excellent at multi-tasking, even when 'business' meant she was actually engaged in combat with the villain known as Steel Gorgon and his band of merry mercenaries. While waiting on a response, she flipped upwards, her foot connecting squarely with another man's chin and he fell flat on his back. She thought the person with whom she was speaking with answered but it was overshadowed by the roar of gunfire two more mercenaries sprayed at her. She leaped about from point to point, deftly avoiding the rounds as the ground exploded with a hail of bullets. Her arms went out and to the side as two shimmering, bio-electric batons were summoned. With her legs carrying her like a cheetah in motion, nearly faster than the eye could take in, Sparrowhawk twisted about, the batons soundly striking both men. An azure charge of electrical energy crackled and discharged from her weapons, forcing both would-be murderers into convulsions. They joined the other twelve men who were in the heroine's path that now littered the floor unconscious.

"You'll have to excuse me," Sparrowhawk noted to the person on the other end of the line. "It's a bit hard to hear. I was being shot at. One moment, please."

The best was saved for last. Steel Gorgon himself. The seven foot nine inch reptilian humanoid behemoth stood in front of the illegal shipment of goods that Sparrowhawk was here to retrieve. His mouth pulled back into a smile, revealing row upon row of sharp white teeth which contrasted against the slimy green scales upon his body. His muscles tensed visibly as he prepared for a fight, claws upon his hands twitching back and forth in anticipation.

Sparrowhawk merely rolled her eyes, her batons fading out as she walked calmly to the hulking menace. "I don't have time for this, you know. I'm trying to take a call."

Before Steel Gorgon could even make one step towards Sparrowhawk, her reflexes had already kicked in. Unlocking both Black Valkyrie pistols from her belt in one smooth motion, she shot round after round directly into his kneecaps. Steel Gorgon howled as the bullets penetrated his thick hide. For blocks his blood-curdling cries of anguish could be heard as he fell onto the floor, pitifully sobbing while attempting to grasp his legs in vain. She turned her back to him as he continued to wallow in his pain. She holstered the guns and took a few steps away.

"Shh! I'm on the phone!" Sparrowhawk said, briefly turning her head to shush him with a finger to her mouth, annoyed.

"Miss... Sparrowhawk? Is everything okay over there?" the person over the comm, sounding like an older woman, asked with a bit of trepidation in her voice.

"Oh, I'm fine now. Just ignore the wailing in the background. What can I do for you?" Sparrowhawk replied, putting one hand over the ear not receiving the broadcast.

"Well, we were going through our records. This is about Mr. Craig Carson, Thundrax. He has you listed as a contact in case of emergency or in the event of something happening to him," the woman replied meekly.

"Thundrax. Yes," Sparrowhawk replied. Thundrax had served as a Protector during the team's first year and a half, she reminded herself as to why she might be a contact. And as far as an emergency... well, Thundrax was considered by the world 'dead' right now. Or as dead as the revolving door people in their line of work seemed to have uncannily. So yes, that did cover the emergency part well.

"Could we meet today at 7:30? At Mr. Carson's home? There is something we have for you," the woman replied, her voice straining. This woman was playing coy and trying to hide something, Sparrow thought by the tone of her voice.

"Hm. Of course," Sparrow answered. "I'll be there."

True to her word, Sparrowhawk arrived exactly on time. It had only been a few weeks before that she had been here before to discuss some important matters with Thundrax and the thought of his 'last words' clung to her as she approached the door to his penthouse. Pressing the doorbell, an older, well dressed woman greeted her. It was no one she had met before through Craig which she found interesting. Though as soon as they exchanged their hellos, Sparrowhawk realized this was the person she had spoken with earlier.

"I'm so glad you could come!" the woman said, the lines on her face crinkling as she smiled to her. "I'm Edina Smith, it's wonderful to meet you! I've read so much about you in the news. You look prettier in person, you know. So happy you could carry out Mr. Carson's wishes..."

"About that," Sparrowhawk noted, her eyes going to and fro as the two of them walked into the luxuriously decorated home to check on anything amiss as was her custom. "You never did say what exactly Craig had for me."

They reached the entrance of the living room as the woman called out. "Hobo? HOBO... come on out, honey!" A large German Shepherd excitedly ran out from a room at the back hall. It was male and had a golden-brown coat and a black face with a ring of black around its neck. He sat before them, his tail hitting the floor like a drum as it wagged up and down. Full, lively canine eyes met Sparrowhawk's currently less-than-amused gaze.

"It's a dog," Sparrowhawk said, not missing a beat.

"Yes, yes," the Ms. Smith answered. "He was rescued just last week by Mr. Carson from the SPCA shelter in Windsor..."

"And I was his emergency contact," Sparrowhawk replied, her arms crossing in front of her chest while she looked at the dog like an alien life form. This 'Hobo' was way, way too chipper.

"Yeeeeeeees," Ms Smith stated, drawing the word out for a good fifteen seconds. She went over to the dog and let him sniff her hand. He licked it greedily like he was hopeful maybe a treat was stashed in it.

"So. The dog is... mine?"

"Unless, you see, you don't want him," Ms Smith said, her hand now covered in dog slobber. "In that case he will have to go back to the shelter, I'm afraid. There are so, so many dogs that need a loving home. I suppose if you don't want to carry out Mr. Carson's wishes that is fine. Maybe... somehow... Hobo can perhaps find someone else to love him. It's so hard to say, though. With the crowded conditions at shelters and the fact he isn't a puppy, he may never..."

"Oh my God," Sparrowhawk said, putting her gloved hand up in almost partial disgust at the woman's words. It was like she had super powers. Maybe Sparrowhawk met her match finally: Ms Smith, the evil villainess known as GUILT COMPLEX. "Listen, I'll take him. I'll take him and I'll love him. He'll be a welcome sight at the Barlowe, I'm sure."

"Excellent!" Ms Smith replied, her voice shrill momentarily from the answer. "There's just a few pieces of paperwork to fill out. I'll go get them, they are right in the kitchen. Don't go anywhere!!!"

The older woman left the room, humming a soft tune as she did so. Sparrowhawk approached the dog and let it smell her hand. It licked her softly a few times and she then bent down on her knee. This wasn't the turn of events she was expecting, but this is what she got. The dog leaned in, his wet tongue rolling over her goggles and face.

"So. Hobo, hm?" Sparrow said to the dog as he continued to accost her with a facial tongue bath. The dog was... well, maybe he wasn't all that bad. That name, though? She rolled her eyes. "Ugh, Craig. Let's shoot for something else... maybe something Thundrax might even find more fitting. Let's call you... Thunder."




SHicon2.png