A Star is Born (part 3)
Filed under Fiction on February 8, 2007
Tagged: City of Heroes, Hellions, Jumpstar
Han’s tongue felt like lead, his mouth like it was full of wool.
“. . . bones crushed in both legs and severe nerve damage.”
“What about . . .”
Han tried to open his eyes, but managed only to flutter his eyelids.
“. . . only prototypes. It’s too risky.”
“That was not a request. This is my son.”
Han recognized his father’s voice and tried to call to him. All that came out was a soft moan.
“He’s awake.”
“Prep the O.R.” Footsteps approached and Han felt pressure on his arm. “Rest a little longer, a deur. You will be well soon. I promise.”
Han stepped out of the elevator and started across the parking garage, the clicks and whirs still embarrassingly loud to his ears. His father promised his brain would soon ignore the sounds, relegating them to background noise. Han found that hard to believe. At least he could walk again, he reminded himself.Hushed voices drifted up to Han as he rounded a concrete pylon. He spied a Hellion slipping a slimjim into a car door while his two buddies cheered him on. Right next to his bike. Han swore to himself under his breath.
“Hurry it up, before some cape shows.”
“Hey,” Han shouted as he approached. The three Hellions turned to face him.
“Get outta here. This ain’ t none of your business.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Han said, dropping into a ready stance. The two standing Hellions charged him while the third stood and pulled a gun. Han snapped a kick at the head of the Hellion on his right. His foot connected with the smack of metal on bone and Han felt the thug’s jaw break. The Hellion’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground.
“Gives new meaning to ‘insert foot into mouth’, eh?” Han grinned in spite of himself.
“Eat lead, wise guy.”
Han threw himself into a backflip as the third Hellion pulled the trigger . . . and landed a full body length away! The Hellion fired again and Han jumped forward this time. His hair brushed the garage ceiling at the crest of the arc and he planted both feet square in the Hellion’s chest as he came down, slamming the thug against the car hard enough to dent the frame. Han pushed off and did another backflip to land in front of the last Hellion.
“Oops.”
The thug stared at his fallen companions then at Han.
“If you liked that, you’ll get a kick out of this,” Han said and delivered a roundhouse kick. He followed with a spinning back pivot kick and an inner crescent kick. The Hellion never had a chance.
Han walked over to his bike and straddled it. He retrieved his cell phone and made a call to the Paragon Police Department, reporting the Hellions. Then he pulled on his helmet and revved his bike to life.
“I could get used to this.” He smiled and sped off.
