Post by Ves on Dec 23, 2006 8:26:21 GMT
(( Not had much time to do anything creative lately, or anything at all really, however, I managed to grab a few spare minutes to knock this together. It’s actually set just after Alita joined the FA a few days ago. Hopefully someone will enjoy it, if not, *shrugs* screw you guys, I enjoyed writing it 
))
Alita pulled her coat tightly about her to hold off the biting wind as she made her way through the dark streets of Kings Row. The eerie glow of the War Walls, combined with the pale light of the full moon, reflected upon the windows of the grimy apartments to cast strange shadows all around her; shadows that she had to focus on carefully in the gloom to ascertain their intentions. Was the darkness of the alley concealing those who would wish her harm, or others who would require her aid? The loud music of the club still thudded in her ears, making it hard to pick out any tell tale sounds.
Whenever she found herself with a spare moment to think, Alita began to mentally kick herself “Marcus was only being nice, you didn’t have to go and freak him out. Now what’s he going to think of you.” as she recalled her reaction to his hand on her shoulder. “Was there really any need to panic? My god he only touched you, seems someone’s getting soft.”
Suddenly there was a crash behind her, and muttering quietly Alita dived into a quick roll for cover, her bow in hand and a thin jet black arrow notched ready for action as she searched for the source of the disturbance. It was only when a trio of stray cat’s darted from behind a group of trash cans that she relaxed and turned to continue the lonely walk home. She froze in terror, there at the end of the alley, stood a lone hooded figure, waiting for her to notice him.
He stood openly in the street making no attempt to hide himself, though shadows seemed drawn to him, making it hard to pick out any details apart from that warped grin upon his face.
Panic reached for her mind, screaming for her to turn and run with all her might to escape whatever fate this stranger had in store for her, but she managed to hold her nerve long enough to level her bow at the figure and notch not one but four of the shafts from which she took her title, Shadow Shaft, the undetectable twilight missile that would strike fear into the scum of the city. The brave heroine that now stood facing a single person with trembling hands and an unsteady voice as she called “Who are you? What do you want?”
The figure thingyed his head slightly to one side, as if assessing her, and then began to slowly but surely advance.
“I said what do you want? Come any closer and I’ll fire, consider yourself warned mister.” spoken this time with a clearer more assertive voice, not an easy task since the events in Poland but she did her best.
“Well now, are you going to just stand there and yell at me, or do you have the nerve to try your luck with those little sticks of yours missy?” came the mocking reply as the figure came closer still “It’s make your mind up girl, fight or flight, I do hope you choose well”
As those final words reached her ears Alita realised she had no real choice in the matter, and the sharp twang of the bow-string signalled the deadly tools of her trade had been sent on their way. Moments later a swift series of thuds told her she’d hit her mark with all four shafts, and a quiet laugh told her it might be time to try the flight option. Then the figure spoke again
“Ya know, I actually expected you to bolt, not that I would have blamed you, a lone young lady like yourself out late at night, bound to shake the nerves a little I guess.” then as he briefly looked over the arrows protruding from his upper thighs and shoulder he added “And it seems I should commend you on your archery skills, most impressive, each shaft a non-lethal yet disabling hit, or it would be if it hadn’t been me you’d shot at.”
Alita quickly closed her mouth, she’d been watching the man since the shafts hit, he didn’t even seem hurt, had shown no signs of the injuries causing him trouble, and was actually praising her ability. However, he’d still not declared if he was friend or foe, so more drastic measures were called for. As she tapped a button upon her belt, setting off the small explosives within the tip of her fired shafts. Brief flashes illuminated the scene, showing her that the target had been taken care of, and with that she made her way over to tag him with one of the Zig teleport pads she’d been given by the Freedom Corps. Liaison officer to use on criminals when she arrests them.
She screamed when she bent to stick the pad to the fallen thugs head and his hand shot out quicker than she could see, taking a firm hold of her wrist and cursing rather harshly “Fuck sake woman, do you have any idea how hard it is to find a decent pair of pants in this city? And this top, had it custom made, cost a bloody fortune, and all for some over zealous rookie to blast the shit out of them, nice going, the guys at Icon are going to love you for this.”
Quite taken aback by this outburst, Alita just watched in awe as the figure nimbly flipped himself to his feet, and a hasty inspection revealed to her that although she’d managed to blow four rather large and impressive holes in the man’s clothing, there wasn’t a scratch on him. What puzzled her more were the pools of blood on the ground where he’d been laid.
Shaking her head in disbelief she turned her attention to the man again and once more asked “So who the hell are you, and what do you want with me?”
Again the figure just chuckled quietly, though this time he gave her an answer, of sorts “You can call me a friend of Meph’s if you like, or better yet, how about a friend of yours?” Suddenly he was dressed in the same red and black scheme as Alita, with a familiar symbol in the centre of his chest, “Come, there’s some things I want to know, and that’s where you come in. Any more questions or do I have to do the unthinkable and give an order missy?”
))Alita pulled her coat tightly about her to hold off the biting wind as she made her way through the dark streets of Kings Row. The eerie glow of the War Walls, combined with the pale light of the full moon, reflected upon the windows of the grimy apartments to cast strange shadows all around her; shadows that she had to focus on carefully in the gloom to ascertain their intentions. Was the darkness of the alley concealing those who would wish her harm, or others who would require her aid? The loud music of the club still thudded in her ears, making it hard to pick out any tell tale sounds.
Whenever she found herself with a spare moment to think, Alita began to mentally kick herself “Marcus was only being nice, you didn’t have to go and freak him out. Now what’s he going to think of you.” as she recalled her reaction to his hand on her shoulder. “Was there really any need to panic? My god he only touched you, seems someone’s getting soft.”
Suddenly there was a crash behind her, and muttering quietly Alita dived into a quick roll for cover, her bow in hand and a thin jet black arrow notched ready for action as she searched for the source of the disturbance. It was only when a trio of stray cat’s darted from behind a group of trash cans that she relaxed and turned to continue the lonely walk home. She froze in terror, there at the end of the alley, stood a lone hooded figure, waiting for her to notice him.
He stood openly in the street making no attempt to hide himself, though shadows seemed drawn to him, making it hard to pick out any details apart from that warped grin upon his face.
Panic reached for her mind, screaming for her to turn and run with all her might to escape whatever fate this stranger had in store for her, but she managed to hold her nerve long enough to level her bow at the figure and notch not one but four of the shafts from which she took her title, Shadow Shaft, the undetectable twilight missile that would strike fear into the scum of the city. The brave heroine that now stood facing a single person with trembling hands and an unsteady voice as she called “Who are you? What do you want?”
The figure thingyed his head slightly to one side, as if assessing her, and then began to slowly but surely advance.
“I said what do you want? Come any closer and I’ll fire, consider yourself warned mister.” spoken this time with a clearer more assertive voice, not an easy task since the events in Poland but she did her best.
“Well now, are you going to just stand there and yell at me, or do you have the nerve to try your luck with those little sticks of yours missy?” came the mocking reply as the figure came closer still “It’s make your mind up girl, fight or flight, I do hope you choose well”
As those final words reached her ears Alita realised she had no real choice in the matter, and the sharp twang of the bow-string signalled the deadly tools of her trade had been sent on their way. Moments later a swift series of thuds told her she’d hit her mark with all four shafts, and a quiet laugh told her it might be time to try the flight option. Then the figure spoke again
“Ya know, I actually expected you to bolt, not that I would have blamed you, a lone young lady like yourself out late at night, bound to shake the nerves a little I guess.” then as he briefly looked over the arrows protruding from his upper thighs and shoulder he added “And it seems I should commend you on your archery skills, most impressive, each shaft a non-lethal yet disabling hit, or it would be if it hadn’t been me you’d shot at.”
Alita quickly closed her mouth, she’d been watching the man since the shafts hit, he didn’t even seem hurt, had shown no signs of the injuries causing him trouble, and was actually praising her ability. However, he’d still not declared if he was friend or foe, so more drastic measures were called for. As she tapped a button upon her belt, setting off the small explosives within the tip of her fired shafts. Brief flashes illuminated the scene, showing her that the target had been taken care of, and with that she made her way over to tag him with one of the Zig teleport pads she’d been given by the Freedom Corps. Liaison officer to use on criminals when she arrests them.
She screamed when she bent to stick the pad to the fallen thugs head and his hand shot out quicker than she could see, taking a firm hold of her wrist and cursing rather harshly “Fuck sake woman, do you have any idea how hard it is to find a decent pair of pants in this city? And this top, had it custom made, cost a bloody fortune, and all for some over zealous rookie to blast the shit out of them, nice going, the guys at Icon are going to love you for this.”
Quite taken aback by this outburst, Alita just watched in awe as the figure nimbly flipped himself to his feet, and a hasty inspection revealed to her that although she’d managed to blow four rather large and impressive holes in the man’s clothing, there wasn’t a scratch on him. What puzzled her more were the pools of blood on the ground where he’d been laid.
Shaking her head in disbelief she turned her attention to the man again and once more asked “So who the hell are you, and what do you want with me?”
Again the figure just chuckled quietly, though this time he gave her an answer, of sorts “You can call me a friend of Meph’s if you like, or better yet, how about a friend of yours?” Suddenly he was dressed in the same red and black scheme as Alita, with a familiar symbol in the centre of his chest, “Come, there’s some things I want to know, and that’s where you come in. Any more questions or do I have to do the unthinkable and give an order missy?”