When you watch disasters movies, there will always be a scene showing scores of helpless civilians running around like headless chickens. Directors and writers need to show people in need of saving by the brave heroes, but there is some truth to these scenes. There are always idiots who do not listen to instructions, people who panicked and forgot all the drills and instructions they were given, or worst of all, people who thinks they know better.
However, even the most mindless of people had enough self-preservation instinct to clear the streets during a Nexus Accord event.
So, the roads were clear as the police cruiser raced towards the Gap. Usually, Sweet Fist would not be caught dead in a police vehicle, but Gaps were emergencies, and he just had to suck it up. He looked up at the growing Gap in the air and saw the steady stream of monsters coming out of it. Most of them were dropping to the ground, but there were a few birdlike monsters flying off into the distance.
“What is the standard operating procedure for Gaps in Velocity City?” Sweet Fist asked before being threw to the side as Night Leopard snapped the speeding cruiser to take a sharp turn. Sweet Fist had to admit that the heroine knows how to drive.
“SOP state that all available and able heroes are to converge on the nearest gap while a command centre will be set up in Velocity Tower, or the next appropriate location if the tower is under attack.”
Leopard sounds like she was reading from a manual, and that was a good thing. Having a manual was always a good thing when there’s an emergency.
“Well, get command on the line and ask them what they are doing?” Sweet Fist grumbled. “Where are our fliers? There are flying monsters out there.”
Leopard pressed a button on the dashboard and spoke. “Control, this is Night Leopard, currently on route to the area of impact along with Sweet Fist and Six-shot Samurai. Please note there are flying hostiles in the air. Request immediate air support.”
“Night Leopard, this is Lady Numbers at Control. Please confirm that you are on route with Sweet Fist and Six-shot Samurai?”
When he decided to set up shop in Velocity City, H.A.V.E gave him a list of the prominent heroes in the city. Sweet Fist mentally ran through the names before remembering Lady Numbers was a member of Velocity Tower, the most powerful superhero group in the city. The report said that she had some sort of power involving numbers and odds.
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“Yes, that is correct.” Night Leopard answered as she put the pedal to the metal and Sweet Fist wondered if he should call up his bark armour in case they crash. Ignoring Sweet Fist’s discomfort, or maybe taking joy from it, Night Leopard continued speaking to Lady Numbers.
“Now, where is the air support? Where is the Champion? We need people in the air now!”
“Night Leopard, please note that another Gap had been reported just outside Velocity City. Thundersky is already on site. Available fliers and speedsters are being dispatched to the second gap to support him. Control is now in the process of coordinating response to both Gaps.”
“Damm it,” Night Leopard cursed. “We are on the way to the Gap over Northern Barrows; do you want us to turn to the second gap.”
“Negative. There is a fifty-eight-percentage chance your group will be of more assistance over Northern Barrows. Please maintain your current trajectory to the district.”
“By the Gap, do you guys seriously speak like this nowadays?”
Night Leopard glared at the laughing Six-shot Samurai sitting in the backseat, but Sweet Fist couldn’t help but chuckled. He agreed.
“Hey, do not lump me in with these idiots. I am what they called ‘old-school’ nowadays.”
“Well, if old-school means you don’t talk like an idiot, consider me one as well.”
Not knowing the laughter directed at her, Lady Numbers continued. “Night Leopard, please proceed to this location between Barrow Rise and North Street. Monsters are currently dropping from the Gap onto the North Barrows. Corral them in the district. Do not let them spread out beyond North Barrows.”
A map appeared on the dashboard of the police cruiser and the heroine was less than happy with the order. “Control, we are giving up the district?”
“Our priority for the moment is containment. Control have reports of monsters spreading out from the Gap outside the city. We believe that Gap appeared first, and other Gaps may appear later. Quantum Maker is already working on a way to prevent that and close the existing Gaps. Your orders are to help set up a perimeter around North Barrow and prevent the monsters from spreading. Do you understand?”
Lady Numbers did not sound as if she was annoyed by Night Leopard’s obvious displeasure. Sweet Fist was impressed. The percentage heroine sounds like a professional.
“Affirmative.”
Night Leopard cut off the connection after the simple confirmation, visibly fuming at the order. Sweet Fist could understand her frustration. He hated the order too, and he was not the only one.
“We’re not going to follow that order, are we?” Sweet Fist and Night Leopard both looked at the rear-view mirror. Six-shot Samurai was still dressed as she was at Jennifer’s Place, but in a nod to tradition, she had wrapped her lower face with a long scarf. She was unrepentant. “What? Don’t tell me you two are happy about surrendering the district just because another gap appeared ‘outside’ the city?”
“Let’s get to the location and see how bad things are first. Then, we decide.” Sweet Fist said. Night Leopard kept quiet, which Sweet Fist guessed meant there was still hope for her to be a real hero.
“Monster spotted.” Leopard said as she hit the brakes. The police cruiser stopped, and the three of them immediately got out. There was a monster just down the street looking curiously at an abandoned car. Sweet Fist sharply inhaled when he saw its appearance.