Chapters 2-10
----------
Hum of the Angels
Chapter Two
By Tommy Boy
Introduction of a few new members. ;)
Standing before the front doors of the Main Building of the Institute, the members chosen to go to Mauritius were waiting for the bus to pull around.
Waiting are:
Tommy Boy, computer expert with equipment to find
New Jersey, doctor
Perfect Tommy, munitions expert and member of the top resident group, the Cavaliers.
Psychic, A fairly new intern who had proven abilities to be in touch with the mental thoughts of those around her. With the situation of weirdness of the people on the island, she would be able to touch on them quickly. Residency made a month before, this was her first high mission.
Ranger, driver of any car. He can hot wire, race anything on 2 or 4 wheels. First Mission
Radar, good with scanning waves and such. With the jamming that occurred with Knuckles transmission, someone with extensive training was needed. Ex. Military of Britain, Radar had been resident for two years and been on several high missions.
Tommy Boy reviewed the folder that Rawhide had given to her, the itinerary of the group. It was going to a long two days of traveling. Rawhide found them a flight by British Airways. They were flying to London to a connecting flight that would take them to the island.
She looked over her crew, some with experience and some not. She knew they all had proper training but this was new to some of them. She could only hope that they would do okay.
Looking at her go phone for the time, she wonders where the bus is. It only had to be gassed up and brought around from the autopool.
Her go phone rang to the music of Daydream Believer. She turned it on to receiving.
�??TB�??
�??Heard you are off to the tropics.�??
Thunder. �??Well by the way of London and Madagascar.�??
�??Well I�??m currently in Bonn, want me to join the team?�??
�??Take it was a affirmative from the boss?�??
�??Yup.�??
She smiled a bit. �??See you at Gatwick.�??
�??Have a safe trip across the pond. I�??ll see you in seven hours.�??
The bus came around and pulled up under the awning.
�??Okay group, load em up, we have a plane to catch.�?? Tommy Boy announced to her team.
They stowed their duffle bags under the bus and climbed in.
Getting on the bus after everyone Tommy Boy counted heads then sat down behind the bus driver. This was going to be an interesting trip.
----------
Hum of the Angels
Chapter 3
By Fiero
?Take care of my Bus!? yelled a concerned Pinky Cruthers as he waved them on.
Ranger only shook his head in a jerky ?yea, sure? fashion. He couldn?t wait to try out the new Bus, an Ayats Bravo II . After towing back their fire damaged World Watch One from the Bowling alley a few months ago, --see ?Cosmic Bowling?-- Mrs. Johnson ran some cost analysis.
The Banzai Institute calculated that repairing their antique model would have put an unwarrented strain on the budget as well as giving Billy Travers head-aches locating spare parts all over the internet.
Dr. Banzai was later persuaded by Perfect-Tommy, Pinky Cruthers and a BBI named 'Dragon, that the ?update? would also be in tune what with the new millennium and all. He finally agreed with one provision in that the new bus be prepped with the same familiar Hong Kong Cavalier paint scheme.
The Beret wearing Hong Kong Cavalier, Pinky, slowly closed the tall illuminated Institute gates as they departed.
Radar, dressed in RAF fatigues, spoke up in his British accent, ?Allow me to demonstrate some of the finer qualities of this beast.?
The man was riding shot-gun, sort of, for his seat was offset behind the stairwell. He pushed a button and blue GPS screen appeared with white decimal coordinates.
Ranger looked down as he heard a beep. ?Yo, looks cool??but whats that red dot??
?That would be us, chap.?
??right??
Upstairs, Sid Zweibel was laying back comfortably in his blue jeans and light blue silk shirt. ?Heey, I like the extra leg room this model has!? He stretched out his long legs and slid on some yellow headphones. The Doctor then proceeded onto music exercises tapping various keys on his small casio without creating any noise. It was great stress relief.
On the right, a seated young woman was staring out the tinted black windows.
She didn't have much to say to Sidney, for as she could sense his thoughts of relaxation. Strong emotions were easily felt, however, subtle nuances, inner thoughts she could only perceive while meditating or having some physical contact.
Her name was ?Psychic? and she held a cup of hot cocoa. She became aware of her ?Banzai Institute? garb. The polished gold belt buckle, black T-shirt, thick BB patch on the thin red felt jacket pocket with a Go-phone clipped. She was used to larger cell-phones. This one felt as if it were jewelry. She brushed back her short sandy hair. The young woman laid back and smiled as she felt the rumbling WW1 approach cruising speed. The adventure began. Turning the warm white coffee mug around in her hand, she glanced at the yellow circled BB symbol.
Psychic thought to herself, ? Wow?always read strange stories about this group, from Mercenary magazines, World newspapers, even gossip mags, next to the ?Elvis' & `Big Foot? stories?.
?Buckaroo Banzai & The Hong Kong Cavaliers?.
Wow, it?s really happening!?After several months of training, I?m finally on a mission!? Placing a finger to her lower lip, Psychic pondered, ?I hope I don?t let this group down.?
Downstairs, TommyBoy just finished grunting as she placed her duffel-bag in the upper compartment door. It felt more like a DC-9 than a Bus. All she needed was her trusty laptop, M&Ms and CD player. She slammed the lid closed and picked a seat midway from Ranger. She wanted some distance from ?guy talk? between Ranger and Radar. A few beeps and she was off researching the remote ?Mauritius island?.
Perfect-Tommy was upstairs, behind New Jersey and Psychic. There were only a few seats,(the other stock chairs were removed for the addition of instruments)and 2 small tables, but The Hong Kong Cavalier preferred the floor. PT had a few luggage bags open,a few cleaning rags, going through the Teams? ammo & weapon inventory, checking each item to be sure it was in working order. He also performed battery checks with a Fluke multimeter. Nothing as futile as having a Night vision scope malfunction when you?re in the middle of nowhere, he thought to himself.
Growing a bit more ethusiastic, Perfect-Tommy decided he may as well run checks on all of Dr. Banzais? equipment.
PT knew Buckaroo was behind his closed bunk door slowly performing martial arts sword exercises doing god knows what?.
----------
Hum of the Angels
Chapter 4
By Nicki Knight
-----------
Perfect Tommy leaned against the cart and folded his arms over his chest. "You know, I've been thinking..."
"Ah, bloody hell, not again!" Radar groaned.
"Hmph." Ranger agreed, passing a duffel bag to Tommy Boy who tossed it on the cart, nearly jolting the lazing about Cavalier from his perch.
"Don't strain anything." New Jersey warned, grabbing another bag and caring it to the plane's lift cart.
Perfect Tommy chose to ignore the interruptions... or rather save his response for later... when there'd be no witnesses. "Anyway," he continued, "if this super sonic whatever has screwed around with Knuckles' head, what's to keep it from screwing around with our heads?"
The unloading paused as the team was stopped in thought.
Perfect Tommy grinned. "And, you ask yourself, with all your doctorates and brain power and straining your poor little minds, why didn't you think about that?" He stepped forward, took his bag from Psychic, and looked at each of them in turn as they stood silently, wondering. "Don't fret yourself, folks. Gotta remember: I'm perfect." With that, caring only one bag, he headed for the plane.
The five Blue Blazes stood a moment longer before Radar broke the silence with a "Well, now, he can be quite a little bugger at times, can't he?"
"You have no idea." Buckaroo Banzai answered climbing down out of the bus. "Unfortunately, he has a point."
"Which is only going to make him even more irritating." Tommy Boy added, stepping behind the cart and starting it toward the plane.
Perfect Tommy was already settled in the best seat in their private compartment in the front of the plane when the others finally finished loading their gear and boarded. He smiled as Buckaroo walked passed only to have the doctor drop a rather heavy bag in the middle of his lap.
Buckaroo smiled, quite satisfied with the rather loud "Oomph." that had sounded from below the bag. But he attention was quickly drawn to new Jersey who was drilling the shy little Psychic on her ear pieces.
"So, they can block out thoughts. How?" he was asking, walking back ways down the aisle so he could watch her as she answered.
The girl seemed to be getting even more uncomfortable as new jersey became more and more excited over some idea he was slowly forming. But she did want to help in any way she could, so she did her best to answer what was asked. "It filters out signals that are not my own." When Jersey frowned, she tried to put it in another way. "The brain communicates with signals, right?"
Jersey nodded. "Electric pulses that carry information through the body and..."
"Sid." Buckaroo grabbed his arm as he started to back into the next compartment. He directed the two to the seats across from his so that he could keep up with the conversation.
Jersey didn't even seem to notice as he continued, turning in his seat so he could look at the girl. "And tells the body what to do."
Psychic nodded. "The brain is sorta like a radio, sending and receiving their very own, very individual signals."
"A.K.A. Brain waves." Jersey supplied.
Again the girl nodded. "Well, my radio just happens to pick up more than one station... so to speak. My ear plugs filter out the other stations. They're programmed to allow only my unique signal through."
"Is it really that precise?" the doctor asked, impressed.
She shrugged slightly. "Sometimes when a signal is so close to my own it slips in. But we'd have to be very similar."
"Okay..." Jersey was getting even more excited. "Can they be adjusted? Like if you wanted to hear everything else but one particular signal."
"Ah." Buckaroo observed. Now he saw where his colleague was taking this.
Psychic glanced from one doctor to the other. "I suppose they could. But why?"
"They filter out the brain's electric signals, right?!" jersey didn't wait for a confirmation. "The signal that disrupted communication with Knuckles was, more than not, I'm pretty sure that it would have to be, but it isn't my specialty, so I really can't be sure, but wouldn't it have to be, I mean how else would it...."
"An electric signal." Buckaroo finished, silencing the babbling with a frown at Jersey.
Jersey lost some his excitement, but nodded his agreement. Then both men looked at Psychic for her response.
She was frowning at both of them. "I... I don't know. I never tried it. But they were designed for the brain."
"The brain isn't all that complicated." jersey explained. "It's just a big computer in a little, gushy package. brains are disrupted all the time be getting interference from other electric signals." He was getting excited again, leaning toward the girl who leaned away, doing her best to avoid being touched without insulting the doctor.
"Psychic." Buckaroo spoke up, saving the day once again. "Why don't you go discuss it with Radar and Tommy Boy. They'll probably have some ideas on the sub..." He stopped when he realized the girl was already gone.
"Should of asked how many she has and where we can get more." Jersey started to follow, but Buckaroo put his feet up in the seat between him and the aisle. "Give her a breath, Sid." he suggested, before leaning back, closing his eyes, and making it clear further interrogation will wait.
----------
Hum of the Angels
Chapter 5
By The Chronicler
==========
Knuckles banged the small notebook computer against the Dodo tree. "Stupid tech. Remind me to blow up a few things when I get the time. Like Mauritius." When she didn't get an answering wine, she looked down to find that Oddity wasn't there.
For a moment she almost panicked, but then she remembered that she had left him tied up in camp that morning... or was it yesterday morning?
Even as she shrugged, she wondered about her unusual disconcern for her beloved pet.
Dropping the expensive notebook on the ground, she threw a rope around the tree and began to climb it.
Nearly forty feet up, she found what she was looking for: a Mauritius Falcon nest. There were two small chicks, weak and sickly looking, They didn't even chirp when she touched the nest.
"Well, now babies, where's mom?" Knuckles wondered, glancing around to see if she could spot the normally over protective and dangerous bird. But there was no sign of the falcon anywhere. "Abandoned, eh, babies?" Knuckles whispered, opening up a bag hanging from her shoulder. With little care to how it landed, she dropped down to the ground her laptop, tracer, rain slicker. Having made room for precious cargo, Knuckles gently lifted the fragile nest and set it in her bag. Then started the climb down.
For the time, she was actually glad the chicks weren't strong enough to be an annoyance. That was all she needed: more noise. Admittedly the usually active bird life of the island was quiet, nearly unnoticeable. But the damn ringing in her ears was going on it's fifth day straight. And the head ache it caused was really putting her over the edge.
As soon as her feet hit the ground, a gunshot rang through the rain forest.
"What the crap?" Knuckles growled. Tucking the bag under her arm, she began to jog back to the base camp, a good three miles off.
The camp was trashed. The two tents, one a living quarters, the other a labatory with only netting for walls, were collapsed. The table was turned over, cooking implements scattered across the grass. The cooking stove had been pounded into a lump of twisted metal. The cages were all broken up and smashed. The jeep was rolled over on its top, the tires slashed.
And six men stood about the camp doing there own odd bits of vandalism. One was holding a shot gun, but the others were only armed with clubs and knifes.
"Oh, wonderful. Oddity, I left you here for a reason!" Knuckles grumbled, setting the bag down on the ground and wondering around the camp. "Crazy birds, crazy people, and now a lazy..." She stopped. Glancing about, she couldn't find her dog. "And just where is he?" she demanded glaring at the nearest intruder as she stomped toward him.
The vandals, momentarily pause, startled by her sudden returned, snapped out of it. The one with the shot gun announced "We're here to help you pack up! Get out! Leave! We don't want... hey!"
Knuckles stomped right up to the closest man and kicked him.
He had been completely unprepared for the attack. His club went flying into the air as he was thrown backwards by the force of the blow.
Ignoring her first victim, Knuckles stomped toward the next, who stood, stunned at what they thought was going to just a helpless, lone girl and her dog. "I SAID WHERE IS MY DOG?!" she demanded. She ducked under a swinging fist, kicked him in the shin, spun about and slammed her elbow in his back, sending the hapless man stumbling face down in the dirt.
"Stop that now!" the shot gun toting man ordered, firing his weapon in the air.
Knuckles paused long enough to shove a finger in his direction. "Do you have any idea how many endangered species of birds there are here abouts? Next time you shoot that thing off, save yourself a world of agony and make shove it up your nose first!" Then she stomped right up to the third man.
By now, they had figured out she wasn't at all helpless. Thus, he raised his knife, ready to defend himself from her sudden and violent temper.
"Oh, yea, like that was smart." Knuckles advised, reaching back and pulling her Starr revolver from its back holster and pressed it right against the man's jaw. "Now, who the hell is going to tell me where my dog is?" She held up her free hand. "Oh, and I just love what you've done to my camp... NOT!"
"We tried to be nice." the speaker growled. "Now we get serious." he took aim with his weapon, but never had the chance to use it as his remaining two men had come up behind the enraged girl, each taking a swipe at the back of her head with their clubs.
==========
Dr Buckaroo Banzai Stepped back to Tommy Boy's seat. After exchanging nods with him, Ranger relinquished his seat and wandered off to tease Perfect Tommy who had groan strangely moody the further along they were.
Silently wishing him luck, Buckaroo dropped down in the seat beside TB. "Any conclusion had on Psychic's ear plugs?" he asked softly, keeping the conversation between the two of them.
Tommy Boy tapped away on her lap top. "Good premise. Still playing with the details. We have a couple of BBIs meeting up with Thunder to pass off enough for our team and a few extra. Hopefully we can have them redesigned for our needs before we get to Mauritius. The big problem will be Psychic. Not sure how to filter out all the other stations she picks up AND the sonic signal."
Buckaroo nodded. "I want you to keep an extra eye on Perfect Tommy and Knuckles when they get together." he told her. "They're gonna get into a lot of trouble and probably drag the rest of you along for the ride."
Tommy Boy glanced up at him. "You going somewhere?"
"Maybe. Home called. Apparently the President is getting the jitters over some strange happenings with a few satellites." Buckaroo explained. "I might have to head home. So, you are team leader on this in case I have to pull out." He looked at her dead on. "I want you to bring our people home." He smiled slightly. "Oddity too if he hasn't picked up any fleas." He stood up to return to his seat.
Tommy Boy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Well, what do I do if Knuckles has fleas?"
----------
Hum of an angel
by Paula c
part 6
They all settled in for some sleep on the flight. Going across the Atlantic Ocean during the night hours. They were due to touch down at Heathrow at nine then they next flight at noon.
That worried Tommy Boy. Perfect Tommy go chasing flight attendant skirts. She had to make sure they all ate and got their equipment through customs in that short time. If Buckaroo left, getting the paperwork done would be a nightmare.
Tommy Boy woke up before the attendants started moving about the cabin. She wanted to talk to PT before things got out of hand. Looking back she saw that he was alone sleeping spread out between two seats.
Slipping out of her seat she went back and shook Perfect Tommy. Slowly he opened his eyes and closed them again. �??Go away.�??
�??Perfect Tommy, I need to talk to you. Please.�??
Reluctantly he made room for her to sit down.
�??I want to talk to you before you start showing off again.�??
�??I don�??t show off.�??
�??Yes you do.�?? she told him. �??I need your help. We have two more days of traveling to do. I need you to think on why we are doing this. Knuckles needs us.�??
�??I know that.�??
�??Buckaroo is most likely going to be called back to the States. I�??m going to be in charge of this mission. That means I need you, I need the cunning Perfect Tommy. Not the wise ass kid that mocks everyone. You know I can�??t handle that.�??
Perfect Tommy knew when he could joke and not to. Buckaroo knew how to reign him in. Tommy Boy took being in charge seriously and expected that some of those around her. Like now.
�??We don�??t know what is going on on the island. What we know is Knuckles is not acting herself. We need to get there and get things under control ASAP. Think you can do that for me partner?�??
Tommy Boy was asking for a truce.
�??And if I play good boy for you?�??
�??I�??ll leave you alone about your sexual tendencies for a week.�??
Perfect Tommy shook his head. �??Not good enough.�??
�??What do you want then?�??
�??Think Rawhide will let me have a date with you?�??
Though they were not officially hands off partners, Tommy Boy tended to be the monogamous partner of the pairing.
�??Okay, you be good, and I�??ll go on a date.�??
Perfect Tommy smiled and leaned forward and kissed her. �??You won�??t regret it.�?? he smiled.
�??I better not.�??
** ** ** **
Heathrow airport.
Trunks, luggage and bags checked by customs and readied for the next flight. Perfect Tommy kept true to his word, stood by Tommy Boy while she did the necessary paperwork of the group.
Buckaroo was met by resident from the London office and was asked to stay on London for a day to talk to the Prince about a medical reason.
Thirty minutes before the flight to leave, Thunder comes to the group adding his own odds and ends to the manifest including ten pairs of scientifically enhanced ear plugs. �??Per your order.�?? he told them.
They bordered the British Airways flight that would have them going south. More hours in the air, they would be soon facing their own personalities with the long flight along with what situation was developing on the island.
Tommy Boy could only hope they were not to late to solve the situation and problem.
----------
Hum of the Angels
Chapter 7
BBI_fiero
==========
The flight to Mauritius Island was smooth and uneventful. Tommyboy abruptly awoke. The intern was surprised she had gotten some sleep dispite bidding Doctor Banzai farewell in London. The concoction Perfect Tommy poured in her glass hours ago was the last thing she remembered. Rubbing her eyes, she noticed PT was sleeping across the isle seat directly from hers. Turning sleightly red, she nervously began checking her hair and attire.
Thunder had flown co-pilot on the charter flight. He was impressed the elder Mauritius pilot touched down perfectly upon reaching the Island. Watching the man with a pipe in his mouth, Thunder thought to himself, "feels like the 1970's flying with this guy." Noticing BBI was anxious to join his friends, the Mauritius resident assured the younger man he could perform the Post flight check without his assistance.
After a few minutes, the group called `Team Banzai' assembled, bags in hand.
Perfect-Tommy finally was the first to step out of the airplane. He used the ladder to climb down from the propeller type aircraft of the Mauritius shuttle plane. He grimaced. Turning to New Jersey, he complained. " Wow, check out the humidity!?whew!?.This isn't good."
Dr.Zweibel unbuttoning his top shirt lapel, asked," So?"
"What do you mean so?!! Man, my hair is at stake!"
Jersey ignoring the comment, looked around. He noticed, other than them selves, there wasn't anyone around to greet them.
PT elbowed the young Doctor in his side. "I suppose it's `self service' around these parts? "
Jersey commented,"?Or perhaps there's a soccer game we're not privy to."
The BBIs and HKCs commenced loading duffel bags and equipment into the awaiting vehicles. There were two old style jeeps sitting on the dusty runway.
They indicated many years of use, as to the seats were torn and various dents populated the frame.
Ranger unfazed, hopped into one immediately. "Hey, cool, these remind me of my days spent at my Grampas' ranch?Check out the big ol' stick shifts!"
Psychic stood alone behind the group, giving the island a slow pan.
Jersey noticing the young girl alone, decided to walk up to her. "Are you -
She answered before the doctor finished his sentence. "Huh?, Oh,yeah, I'm fine. Just acquainting myself with the territory?" Pyschic noticed Zweibel was fumbling with his shirt pocket looking for earplugs. "So far, I don't sense that sonic disturbance The institute picked up earlier from Knuckles' last broadcast."
"Well, that's good!?.Seeing we haven't devised a plan-B yet." answered Sidney. He relaxed and stopped searching.
The girl gazed back at the horizon. "It's so nice and peaceful here?.Isn't it?" She was smiling. "I could fall in love with this place!"
Sidney looking out over the same horizon, put a hand to his chin; the sea breeze blowing strands of his black hair. "Yes?A bit too peaceful..I don't see much life around here, even the lack of birds seems odd."
"?It is?" agreed Psychic. They looked at each other and then they both hopped into the back of their respective ground vehicles, trying to sit comfortable amidst the excess baggage.
The team quickly loaded their gear and PT, riding shotgun with Tommyboy, said, "Well?Lets rock-n-roll!"
Ranger noticed Tommyboy having trouble starting her brown jeep. He called out from his grey one. "These `40s models have a button on the floor board. The ignition will never start unless your foots' on it."
"?Right?I knew that." replied TB a bit irritated. She caught herself becoming angst, then quickly calmed down and stepped on the metal floorboard switch.
The vehicles sputted and smoked as they came to life.
Ranger yelled out, "Yep! Just the the `ol days! Ha ha!!"
Radar holding onto the roll bar, shook his head while holding onto his British field hat from the wind. Similar to a cowboy hat only with 1 side curled up. "Beastly things."
Ranger looked over. "Whaaa..? Not good enough for ya? I suppose you expected a pair of? Land Rovers?"
Radar, looking straight ahead through his round tinted goggles, answered. "Yes. That would have been an intelligent choice!?even the green Jag Charles rode off in with Buckaroo would've been light years ahead of this stone age American motorcar."
Ranger, ignoring the last remark, asked his friend, "So?Give me some directions?.Navigator!"
"Right?" Radar pulled out a map from his front jacket pocket. Once he had it unfolded and secure from the breeze, he spoke up. "O.K. - We head down the trail?mmm..'bout 4 kilometers- that's a little over 2 miles for you yanks. Than we'll be turning left?.From there it's straight ahead, another 5 miles?I'll let you know whence we reach point 2?Gets bloody wooded from there."
Tommyboy was following behind a few car lengths.
Perfect-Tommy was fiddling with a nail file. "D@mn! When was the last time these shock absorbers were replaced?"
TB replied, "I guess 1955??wouldn't you say?"
PT didn't appreciate the joke and tried to steady himself.
In the rear with the baggage, New Jersey was looking upwards, a bit overwhelmed by the vehicles' rumbling but excitedly trying to shoot pictures with a digital camera.
In back of Radars' jeep, Psychic was adjusting her BB cap. She was looking into a small vinyl container, which was the size of a sunglass case. She took inventory of the electronic ear pieces.
Various colors depicted different frequencies. The orange one on the right, indicating the experimental model Professor Hikita and her devised. A pair of jewellers screwdrivers beneath were secured with velcro. They provided means for changing potentiometer values in case she needed to perform field experiments.
Satisfied they survived the trip, she nodded and tucked them away.
The overhead clouds illuminated with grey and purple as early evening approached. It wouldn't be long now before they reached their camping spot in the hills, away from city limits.
----------
Hum of the Angels
Chapter 8
By Nicki Knight
----------
Something wet licked at her face. Knuckles swatted at it and received a nip for her trouble. Daring her splitting headache, the little bounty hunter slowly raised her head only to come eye to eye with a lop sided, blue eyed, panting grin of her dog, Oddity.
"Now, you show up?" she mumbled, wincing as her own voice seemed to pound on the inside of her skull.
Again the dog leaned in to lick her face.
"Oh, go away." Knuckles groaned, pushing him away. placing her hands under herself, she debated whether or not she really wanted to move. Not that she had much of a choice. There was stuff she had to do... some... sort... of... stuff... Taking a deep breath, gathering both strength and courage, she pushed herself up until she was on her knees.
Instantly, her head began to swim, her stomach retch. If she had had anything in her stomach, she was sure it wouldn't of been there when she was done. For the longest time, she thought it would never end, but, in real time, it subsided within moments, leaving her breathless and hurting.
Arms wrapped around her middle, she thought desperately for a reason. As if in answer, her head pounded even more. She reached up and gingerly touched the back of her head. Her hair was matted with sticky blood. her fingers couldn't seem to work through the mat and pain to reach the wound itself, but it didn't matter. At least some of her body's reactions made sense now; she must have a concussion. And then she remembered the reason for her concussion. The freakin' idiots had destroyed her camp! Her cages, her tent, her jeep... They had called her! And now they were smacking her around, screwin' up HER equipment, HER work, HER...
With a groan, she put a hand to her head. "Really have to stop thinkin'." she mumbled to herself. Glancing around in the quickly fading light at the destruction that had been her base camp, she checked to see if her attackers (did they qualify as HER attackers? She did hit them first. Though they had pretty much thrashed her camp before then.) were still about.
Her eyes landed on the mission and stopped. She could just barely see it. But she could hear the fountain.
"Water." she breathed. "Aspirin. Water. Then kill those sons of a ..."
Oddity wined, confused at her angry tone.
Knuckles glanced sharply at the animal. "Oddity, find my gun belt." she ordered, referring to a gun harness which held two 1866 Starr Army Revolvers, straps full of .44 caliber cartilages, and an 8" Bowie knife.
Obediently, the Austrian Shepard ran off toward the collapsed tent, sniffing about it. searching for the target object.
Knuckles forced herself to her feet. With the new highth came a new wave of nauseam. Somehow she managed to keep her feet, holding arms out to keep her balance. After a minute, she stumbled in the general direction of the mission. Somewhere along the way, she scooped up her bag and tucked it under her arm. A moment later, Oddity fell into step behind her.
"It's just us, Oddity. The babes, you, and me." Knuckles mumbled as she struggled forward, each step harder. "Damn institute hung up on me. They ain't comin'. Not like I need them or anything. No, sirree. We'll fight them all off. We will. The babes, you, and me. Damn all to hell anyone else. Kill the whole damn suix nation if they come a knockin'." She continued to mumble until they disappeared into the ancient, abandoned mission.
----------
Hum of the Angels
Chapter 9
By The Chronicler
==========
"How long are we going to stay here?" New Jersey asked, as he opened his portable medical lab to check and make sure everything was still in tact.
Tommy Boy was looking over Radar's shoulder while he adjusted a miniature satellite dish. "We'll stay in this spot until we've found Knuckles and her base camp.... and the condition of both."
"And we should be up." Radar announced.
Tommy Boy stepped over to the lap top sitting on a portable table beside the satellite dish. With a few key strokes, an active area map came up on the screen. "Good." She nodded to the computer. "If there is power going to the PFL (portable field lab), we should be able to get a location beacon."
"What if it's been damaged?" Jersey asked.
"Every little itty bitty locator chip way down deep in every individual box in the system would have to be completely obliterated." Tommy Boy answered. "As long as they have a power source they will transmit."
"What about the interference?"
Radar shook his head. "The beacon is a much lower frequency than even the go-phones' locators. It shouldn't be a problem." He took over the computer from Tommy Boy, leaving her to look after her team.
Tommy Boy stepped away and glanced around the newly formed camp.
There were four tents: girls' room, boys' room, computer lab, and Jersey's medical lab. Both labs were sitting side by side, had clear walls, and were supplied with electric lights, power from solar panels, and a thick, protective mat floor. The sleeping tents were more rugged, canvas tents with a canvas floor. They sat several yards from the labs on opposite sides of a fire pit, folding table, and chairs (one of which Perfect Tommy was already occupying as he directed Ranger and Psychic to put what where). Thunder was scouting about the camp.
"We've got it." Radar called, attracting the attention of everyone in camp. "Six of the nine beacons are working."
Jersey frowned. "What happened to the other three?"
"That would be a very good question." Tommy Boy looked up at the dark night sky. "Okay, folks. Get some sleep. We're on the move by dawn."
==========
It was nearly 10am when they finally arrived at Knuckles' base camp. And it was not a pretty site.
"What the hell hit this place?" Perfect Tommy wanted to know. He had already drawn his pistol, as did most of the others, and stepped around the destroyed camp, taking in every detail.
"Knuckles?" Jersey called for his friend, hoping she was still in condition to respond.
"A little quieter, please, Doctor." Thunder mumbled. "I'd appreciate it if we did the sneaking up, and not the..."
A dog's bark stopped him.
Tommy Boy turned to look at the abandon mission. "Was that Oddity?"
"Only one way to find out." Thunder started for the mission.
"Perfect Tommy, see what you can salvage from the camp. Keep everyone alert and close." Tommy Boy ordered, then she took off after
Psychic glanced around. "Something wrong." she whispered.
Jersey looked at her. "What?" he asked, knowing she was talking about something beyond the trashed camp.
Psychic closed her eyes and leaned her head back as if she was listening for something.
Tommy Boy rubbed her temple. She had to remember to ask Sid for some aspirin.
"You okay?" Thunder asked as they climbed over the burned down doors of the mission.
"Yea." TB mumbled. she looked around the courtyard. "Rawhide would of loved to see this."
Thunder smiled. "Yea, remind the old man of his own era."
Tommy Boy threw him a glare, but a cry from behind her cut off any reply.
"Tommy Boy!" Psychic was yelling as she ran toward them. "Look out!" Something suddenly slammed Thunder back, falling over the debris of the door, and back out of the mission.
Tommy Boy spun about to see where her friend had fallen to. The back of her legs were hit. With a cry, she fell forward, down onto her knees. Someone stepped behind her, grabbed a handful of her hair, and yanked her head back. Tommy Boy froze dead still when she felt a very cold, very sharp blade pressed against her throat.
"Knuckles! Don't!" Perfect Tommy yelled, running a step behind Psychic, but still too far away to help.
Knuckles pulled the knife even tighter against her captive's throat, forcing her to lean back against her.
"Easy, girl." Thunder growled, slowly climbing to his feet. He held his hands out in front of him, showing her that he was unarmed. "Just take it easy."
"Go away!" Knuckles snarled. "Leave! Get!"
Tommy Boy resisted the urge to swallow, trying to keep her throat from moving too much. She could feel the bite of the blade and knew that it would take only a fraction of a breath to rip her throat open.
"Knuckles!" Perfect Tommy yelled again, starting passed Thunder, but the older man grabbed his arm and held him back. "Knuckles, what are you doing? That's Tommy Boy! You know her. She's your friend." he argued.
"Go home, Tom!" Knuckles snapped. "Go away! You don't belong here. I don't want you here. You NEED to leave!"
Thunder kept a tight grip on the Cavalier's arm. He could feel the younger man's muscles tense, reading to do something, even if he didn't know what to do. The last thing any of them needed was to do something stupid.
"Listen to me, Knuckles." Thunder kept his voice steady and calm. "Let's think about this. You have got to know that holding a knife to a friend's throat is not something you would normally do."
"Go to hell!" she snarled. "Go to hell, go to Cleveland, go where ever you go! But LEAVE ME ALONE!" She shook her head, making Tommy Boy wince in her grip. "You can't make me do anything! I'll stop you!"
"Think about it, girl." Thunder continued. "You are one mean little street fighter. But Tommy Boy is a trained fighter. If she wanted to, she could make you do anything." He paused, wondering if he was saying the right things. "Think about it." he repeated, praying she would. "Do you really she would be just sitting there if we meant you any harm?"
Knuckles was frowning. She was trying desperately to think straight, but her head just hurt too damn much. Hoping to relieve some of the pressure, she closed her eyes.
Thunder took the opportunity to try and get closer, but, with the first scruffle of his boot in the dirt, her eyes snapped open and the knife pressed even harder against Tommy Boy's throat.
"Go away!" Knuckles repeated, her voice strained.
It was getting too serious. This had to end. Thunder glanced back to Jersey who, along with the others, had gathered silently behind him and Perfect Tommy. "Doc, suggestions?"
"Get her down and still." Jersey answered in a tense whisper.
"Don't whisper! Don't you whisper about me!" Knuckles screamed at them.
"Tommy Boy." Thunder called softly.
She looked up at him, and their eyes met in silent communication.
Thunder couldn't make a move without risking hurt to either woman, something no one wanted. It would be up to Tommy Boy to make the first move.
=========
Hum of the Angels
part 10
by Tommy Boy
Tommy Boy tried not to tense in the hold Knuckles had on her. They were both in good condition and known for the hand to hand skills. The knife to her throat made her nervous.
Knuckles didn't seem at all in control. She had rabid breathing and she was sweaty.
"Knuckles?" she asked.
"Shut up." she growled into her ear.
Oddity came up and sat before them, barking once, then twice.
"What?" Knuckles asked her dog.
Oddity scratched at the ground.
Behind Tommy Boy heard birds chirping. The only sign of bird life they had seen on the island so far.
"The birds." Tommy Boy said softly.
The chirping got to Knuckles ears, the chicks were hungry again.
Losing interest in Tommy Boy, Knuckles let her go, letting her fall to the hard ground.
Before the men could make a move forward, Tommy Boy held her hand up stopping them from moving forward. Tommy Boy's head was hurting from a splitting headache.
"Tranq her." she told the guys.
Thunder returned to the jeep to come back with a different gun and went into the mission.
Sidney went to help Tommy Boy up and get her away from the mission door.
Oddity stayed by the door, watching both what was going on in the mission and out. The Dog didn't raise a warning to his owner, he himself thinking that things were not normal.
A minute later Thunder carried Knuckles over his shoulder, fireman style. He laid her down beside the jeep.
With a few scrapes and bruises Tommy Boy stood looking down on her. She held her head.
"Okay babe?" Thunder asked.
"Head hurts." She looked to New Jersey, "What do you think Syd?"
He was taking in vitals and found some were haywire. "She has erratic breathing."
Radar was at the back of the jeep checking out his mobile equipment. Turning it on, he found one thing off that bat, the radar was going crazy.
"I think we got something else to worry about," he told the others.
Psychic stood back taking in all that was going on around them. She went back into the mission, moving cautiously, trying to find the hatchling that were still crying.
Turning she finds....
---------->
