Early Years:
"One of Those Days"
Author's note: this story takes place in the Earth year 2540
Firefly walked through the swinging doors of the Sini-Star Diner and scanned
the patrons of the seedy establishment with disdain. The feeling wasn't all
for the cast of mostly regular characters, but, over the fact that she had
to deal with one of them. He was known as Bol and would give information
to anyone for a price.
Upon her arrival everyone looked to see who had come in. The denizens of
Fence were always looking over there shoulders. She was hardly worried
because they didn't see a Silverhawk, bane of every wrong-doer's existence,
only a mysterious cloaked figure. She was hidden under a brown hooded robe
that almost extended to the floor. Black leather boot and gloves covered
her tell-tale hands and feet.
Seeing her informant staked out at an otherwise empty table the disguised
'Hawk made her way to him. As she sat down Firefly could tell the snitch
wasn't sure who had approached him so she removed her hood enough for him
to get a good look at her face. He instantly recognized the oriental woman
from their previous conversation over the video phone. Knowing that
the vulture\cat looking alien was satisfied Firefly covered her face again.
Now the meeting could begin.
"Do you have the money we agreed upon." he asked pointing a clawed finger
at his customer.
Firefly removed one of the pouches from her belt and held it out to Bol.
"This is only half."
Bol's mouth formed a snarl as he snatched the pouch.
"You'll get the rest when you tell me what you know."
"The Mob has a schedule for all the gold shipments coming to Limbo for the
next month and they'll have secret weapon for hijacking them that will also
mean the end of the Silverhawks." he explained with a grin.
Firefly was surprised at how brave this being must be to obtain and share
such information, if it was real. If it was she hoped that he would have
just a little more.
"Do you have any information on the secret weapon?" she asked.
"I'm speaking to the secret weapon now."
Before another word could be said a chorus of fearful gasps reverberated
through the room. Firefly knew why when she heard the ominous voice of Mon*Star.
"You can not hide from me, Silverhawk!" he bellowed.
As Firefly turned around to face the robotic demon she removed her hood,
seeing no reason to hide now. Firefly could see her opponent's star eye glowing
intensely. She had a few precious seconds to prepare to avoid the Planet
Master's most dreaded attack, the Light*Star. When he fired the Silverhawk
side stepped the red beam. Bol ducked underneath his table before the Light*Star
could hit him. Mon*Star put all of his concentration into another powerful
beam of energy. Firefly now wished she had backup as she just managed to
avoid being hit again. In a last truly desperate act the 'Hawk pulled
out her lazer pistol and firing at Mon*Star. She got a few shots off
and they just bounced off his red armor. Her target fired again. Firefly
was hit this time. An intense burning sensation engulfed her entire body.
The burning continued until sweet oblivion came.
Ha! The fool never saw it coming.
Mon*Star inspected his prize. Seeing Firefly had cooled off enough from the
Light*Star he picked the Silverhawk up and threw her over his shoulder. The
Planet Master then called forth his pet, Skyrunner, a giant space squid.
He then mounted the creature and started off back to Brim*Star.
A woman, who was sitting at the bar had been more afraid than anyone else
when Mon*Star came on the scene. No one should ever get on the bad side of
the universe's public enemy number one. Unfortunately Soundori, the sultana
of sound, did just that. Fortunately, though, she had a wig of long black
hair and had rubbed some skin lightening creme on her dark skin, so, she
looked like a native Bedlamian and unrecognizable. Next to her was a strange
alien that resembled a bird called Zeek, the beak. He wore round shades and
a plaid tie that made him look even more ridiculous.
"As I was saying before we were interrupted... They've uncovered new artifacts
on Bedlama. You could steal something from the collection and give it to
Mon*Star." he said running a penguin wing arm over a full head of dark green
hair.
"Not a bad idea, Beak." Soundori replied before taking a sip of her Limbo
Cooler.
"Got any good suggestions?" she asked producing a few Limbo Bucks.
"You could steal the empress." Zeek replied cryptically as he keenly eyeing
the money.
Soundori wasn't amused by the games of the green oddity.
"What are you babbling about?!"
"Tiana Anoki was the first ruler of Bedlama way, way back before they became
a democracy. Her boyfriend made a statue of the empress and gave it to her
with a marriage proposal. It's one of the new artifacts in the Cultural History
Museum."
"Alright... Mon*Star would just love a little trinket like that. It's probably
equal to all the gold in Dolar."
Soundori began to ponder just how to nab something so valuable when Zeek
ripped the Limbo Bucks out of her hand. Normally she would have chased after
him, but he had earned it this time.
********
Hardware was working on one of numerous ideas to deal with those meddlers
from Earth when a familiar shadow cast itself over his paper covered desk.
The Plun-Darrian troll turned to see Mon*Star with a Silverhawk in his arm.
"Hardware, I want you to make certain that she will work for us."
This was the opportunity Hardware, the Mob's mechanical expert had been waiting
for. Through his surprise Hardware managed to get out "Sure thing, Boss."
********
Carumba! I should be working on the revival project not on patrol. Just when
I manage to make headway I get badgered to come out and... That's a Limbo
Limo.
Skycutter stopped his mental rant and began to follow the limo on his Equalizer.
His pursuit took him on to the planet of Bedlama and into it's capital, Bedlama
City. The limo parked on the roof of the Cultural History Museum. Skycutter
used no stealth in his landing.
"Halt in the name of the Limbo Law!" he yelled out in a commanding voice
as his Equalizer came to a screeching halt.
Even before the driver turned around Skycutter knew who he'd be up against.
He'd recognize that blue hair anywhere.
"Why not just go away and let me clean up the mess I'm in." Soundori yelled
back.
"Whatever your up to I can't let you do it." Skycutter replied pulling out
his lazer pistol and taking aim.
"You don't understand and I don't have time to explain." the sultana of sound
said she climbed out of her limo.
"I said halt. I will shoot if necessary."
Soundori put her hands up in the air.
"You must understand
That the touch of your hand..." she began to sing.
Skycutter felt the hypnotic voice take hold. He fought with all he could.
"No singing either." the 'Hawk said through gritted teeth.
"... Makes my pulse react
That it's only the thrill
Of boy meeting girl
Opposites attract..."
Soundori kept singing as she walked over to her opponent. Pushing her will
harder and harder as she did. His mind was so focused on Soundori nothing
else could be done. When she reached his she put her mouth to his ear. It
was then that Skycutter completely gave in. Soundori was so close she could
sing his brains out with her destructive voice.
Soundori was sure to sing a couple more lines just to be sure her dominance
was complete. Still not taking and chances she kept her mouth to Skycutter's
ear. She reached over and tried to take the lazer pistol out of his hands.
His grip was so firm it wouldn't budge.
"You can let go of you pistol now." she ordered in an almost seductive tone.
Skycutter complied.
"Keep standing there."
He did that as well.
********
Hardware had Firefly strapped to a table and was making a scan of her internal
workings. The scan was at the half way mark and steadily inching towards
completion. Even without a complete scan he already knew what to do. This
was more for later research.
********
Commander Stargazer didn't like it from that start. One 'Hawk going alone
to Fense. Now Firefly had been gone the entire night. She had been gone too
long. Action needed to be taken. That's where his second in command, Condor,
came in.
"I told her this project already had doubters and we can afford mistakes."
Stargazer pointed out pacing his 30's detective movie-esqe office.
"Firefly's a tough girl, Gaze. She came from the Mars force."
"On Mars you had humans. Out here we don't really know what we've got. Especially
that blasted Mon*Star. No one in Limbo ever saw anything like him. I want
you to take Brightwing and go out there."
"Sure thing, Gaze."
***********
With the right tool Soundori could see the intricately placed lazer beams
around her target. This it meant there was another, possibly not so detectable,
alarm trip after them.
I'll just have to worry when I'm there.
Taking a last quick look she got into position and did a series of flips
and tumbles through the obstacle course of red lines.
"Good evening, your majesty." Soundori smiled looking at the likeness of
Empress Tiana crafted in precious metal and laden with very rare jewels.
There was no sign of wiring or anything else. She then produced a glasscutter
and started in. Soon she had a hole cut and the empress was ready to travel
Soundori was almost back to the vent when she saw the 'Hawk from the roof.
"Only one of you chicas are leaving here tonight."
Soundori turned around to see Skycutter. "What the... Well, sorry, the empress
and I have date on Brim*Star."
Soundori turned back around and made a break for it. She was running through
a large room of armor and swords that formally worn by ancient place guards.
Skycutter followed, stopping at one of the doors to open a secret panel
on the wall. He punch the large button inside. All doors slammed shut.
"Now you have no where to run." he said to a scowling Soundori.
"I can still fight." she countered grabbing a sword from a nearby display.
With the empress still in one hand she rushed at Skycutter swinging
the sword. He deflected her attack with his android arm. His opponent continued
to viciously thrash the metal arm. She drove him back until he hit the wall.
Soundori saw her opportunity to nail the Silverhawk. She thrust the point
of the sword through his arm, pinning it to the wall. Skycutter could do
nothing as he saw Soundori open the door and run out.
**********
"Some museum guards found me a couple minutes after that. Repairs were easy
once I got hooked up to an external power source."
Commander Stargazer was not pleased. He punched up criminal records from
his desk. "This one, right? Female, dark skin, blue hair, hot pink eyes."
"Si, sir." Skycutter replied looking at the image on wall monitor.
"Soundori, sultana of sound, she can make buildings collapse or seduced any
man alive with one note."
"It's a shame she's on the other side."
The commander glance at his fellow 'Hawk.
"She's off limits, Vargas."
"Huh?"
"Getting with someone like her would be nothing but trouble, even if she
wasn't with Mon*Star."
Before Skycutter could reply he heard the office door opening.
"It was a setup, Gaze. Firefly's been captured by Mon*Star."
********
Faint hints of feeling were returning. A pair of fingers were prying an eye
open. The vision of a face was slowly came into focus revealing all the answers
needed.
"Hardware." Firefly said faintly.
"Welcome back to the world of the livin', Silverhawk." he replied removing
his fingers.
Firefly tried to get up, but discovered that she was strapped down. Hardware
sniffed.
"Not bad for your primitive know how. You humans do okay with bio-mechs."
"Unstrap me and you can see what a fine job we did."
"Your in my workshop and were playin' by my rules. I'm gonna to let you up
and your gonna be a nice birdie, got it?" Hardware said putting a lazer pistol
to Firefly's face.
Firefly silently complied as Hardware ordered her out of his workshop and
up a ramp to another level of Brim*Star. They didn't get far when she stopped.
"Get movin'!"
Firefly spun around, kicked the lazer pistol out of Hardware's hand and caught
it in mid air. She quickly aimed it a the troll.
"Now we play by my rules. We're going to take a little ride to the Penal
Planet."
"Pain givers. My people use 'em on unruly slaves." Hardware remarked as he
push a button on a control he had in his other hand.
A burst of electricity shot through her body as she slumped to the ground
trying not to scream out.
"Had to do it the hard way, huh?" Hardware remarked as he retrieved his laser
pistol.
"Now, get up." Hardware barked as he turned off the pain givers.
Firefly slowly did as she was told.
"Turn around and walk."
The pair came into the throne room to find Mon*Star perched a top his
throne. Yesman was stationed at the controls of the transformation machine.
"She's ready, Boss. Fitted her with Plun-Darrian pain givers. Suped up o'course."
Hardware chuckled.
"Excellent." Mon*Star said as he rose from his throne.
Firefly looked up at the alien being as he descend the stairs leading to
his throne. The rumors were true... he had two forms.
Mon*Star's mouth twisted into a nasty grin.
To be continued...
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