Operation First Noelle
Ted flipped open his communicator and listened to Rose Mage’s message with a stolid air. He nodded, forgetting that the psychic hero on the other end could not see him nod, and switched frequencies to the Alliance Vox channel.
“Attention, Alliance. I have determined the location where Noelle Frost is being held. Any available Alliance members—meet me at the Astoria gate.”
There was a flood of answers, and Ted did not have to wait long before he was met by Zepher-Storm, Vangarde, MacroLass, Saphire Celest, Reese Riley, Puck Bunny, Healing Rayne, and Vin Shadow Myst.
All of them wanted to know how they could help—except Vin, who was speaking oddly and appeared to be under some kind of trance. She dismissed herself to the worried glances of the other Alliance heroes, but they had other concerns at the moment. Puck sidled up to Healing Rayne and the two held hands.
“Ted,” Puck said softly to 76, “I don’t think I’m going to be much good here. I’ve got…Reese…” she looked at Riley who was of course sulking off to the side.
Ted looked at the two of them and said slowly, “Well, of course, Puck…if you think you need to go, then I suppose you should. I’m not going to hold you here.”
The Canadian hero nodded. Healing Rayne looked at her thoughtfully and added quietly, “I think I should leave, as well, Ted.”
Ted nodded and watched the couple leave, then looked worriedly at Riley. Reese murmured something about devotion and duty that was just quiet enough to pass notice. Ted let it slide. Now was not the time.
“All right, everyone. Noelle is being held at this location.” He beamed the coordinates to everyone’s beacons. “And…uh…Star Breaker…he’s not a traitor.”
Krystal of course nodded, although she still looked slightly upset. The others all clamored for an explanation simultaneously.
Ted held up his hands. “No time now for a full explanation. The time when he killed me…was all a ruse to get an inside man into the House of Cards. He has contacted me as to Noelle’s location. We can get close with these coordinates, but I’m going to need someone else to get us to the exact facility.” He nodded with a small smile to his love, Zepher-Storm. “Can you track her through the air currents, assuming I can get you close?”
Zepher-Storm nodded confidently. “Yes.”
Ted nodded again, looking at Zepher-Storm a moment longer than he needed to, then turned to the group again. “All of us will made as much of a distraction and disturbance as possible so that our sneakthief can get in there and actually free Noelle. Our task is to draw House security away for the cell.”
“Who’s that?” Vangarde asked, a second before realization hit him.
“That’s me.” Reese said, his voice hoarse. “If we’re done with this little pregame speech, Coach, can we get in there now? In case you’ve forgotten, there’s someone in there.”
Ted took a deep breath and reminded himself that this was not the time. “Of course. Everyone, make your way to the target at top speed. Once there, we break in, and make a lot of noise.”
The group flew (Zepher-Storm provided flying assistance to the non-flyers, such as her husband) to a nondescript building in the middle of a fog-enswirled moor on the outskirts of Astoria.
“In we go. No need for subtlety.” Ted said as he prepared to shoulder charge the door.
“Right up your alley, huh, Ted? MacroLass chided good-naturedly as the door splintered and gave way.
Inside was madness. The facility was properly Gothic but nevertheless well-built. Two robed men sat at a table in the foyer and reacted with alarm as the Alliance rescue party burst in. Ted barely had time to recognize the black “4” on each of their foreheads before twin blasts from Vangarde and Saphire Celest felled both sentries.
The rescue party made their way through the facility, blasting, punching, electrifying and otherwise confounding House security. The place was bustling with “number cards” of all description, and more than a few men dressed in jet-black cloaks. No one in the facility was any kind of match for the combined strength of the Alliance. MacroLass fairly yawned at one point during a “fight” with a number nine. Catching Ted’s eye, she shrugged as the Nine hit the floor. “Jet lag,” she said, and moved to another wing of the facility.
Vargarde shot number cards as fast as they appeared, some of whom tried to hide behind walls and balustrades. Van squinted and made a tricky shot between two pillars to fell an eight who lurked there. He pulled his fist down in triumph and grinned.
Saphire Celest was working on a small straight, having cornered a four, five, six, and seven and raining fire upon them.
Zepher-Storm was in another wing of the facility, hovering beneath a slate grey thundercloud she had summoned. Any of the guards who approached found themselves blasted by lightning that eminated from the cloud at her command. The lightning arced towards an electrical outlet, and for a moment, the lights in the facility flickered.
Ted watched all of this, engaging in battle as the opportunity arose. Things were going very well so far…but when would…?
Star Breaker, clad in a black and red suit, came around a corner and stood in the spacious hall in the center of the facility.
“So, Ted? Did you miss me?” he said with a smirk.
Ted smiled behind his helmet. Derek was doing a great job…he made a note to ask him if he had ever done any acting.
“Next time you kill me, Derek…do a better job.”
And the two closed on each other, grasping one another by the neck in a mock struggle.
“Reese is on his way. Shouldn’t be long now.” Ted whispered to him.
Derek winked and added in a loud voice, “I shall do a better job…right NOW!” He released Ted’s neck and punched him in the jaw…which Ted had outthrust slightly.
Ted shook his head, feigning injury. “If that’s the best you can do, Derek…” He grasped Derek’s body in a fireman’s carry and threw him headlong into a gaggle of high numbered cards coming up from the rear. Three were knocked flat by Derek’s flight, and a fourth was knocked out by Derek’s outstretched foot.
Derek rose and turned instantly on the remaining cards. They stared at him, incredulously, while he flattened them with a pair of punches.
Ted was about to join in when his com chirped on his team channel. Ted flipped his belt switch and answered, “Yes?”
Reese almost disinterested voice mumbled, “I’ve got her. She’s out.”
Ted nodded and spoke to the rest of his team. “Operation First Noelle is a success. Begin your withdrawal.”
“Better to take care of the rest of them, dear.” Zepher-Storm said, her voice only slightly distorted by her electrical powers.
“Yeah, Six..let’s clean house.” Van added.
Ted was only half-listening. He was also tuned to the PCPD band where he was hearing reports of House reinforcements coming. PCPD would try to turn them back, but Ted did not relish the thought of having to protect his team against the full might of the House of Cards.
“I really think we should leave,” he said.
“Uh, Seventy-Six? I think they’re all taken care of.” Saphire Celest said quietly. Ted saw his team regrouping where he was.
“Yep. All done, Ted.” MacroLass said matter-of-factly.
Ted nodded and the team hustled out the door, including Derek. Ted took one last look around the now still facility, and pulled a small cardboard rectangle out of an inner pocket. He flicked it into the facility and did not watch it fall.
Later, the House of Cards would find an Alliance trading card with 76’s smiling image on the face. On the reverse, they would find, in thick black marker, “We’ll take this trick—76.”
“Attention, Alliance. I have determined the location where Noelle Frost is being held. Any available Alliance members—meet me at the Astoria gate.”
There was a flood of answers, and Ted did not have to wait long before he was met by Zepher-Storm, Vangarde, MacroLass, Saphire Celest, Reese Riley, Puck Bunny, Healing Rayne, and Vin Shadow Myst.
All of them wanted to know how they could help—except Vin, who was speaking oddly and appeared to be under some kind of trance. She dismissed herself to the worried glances of the other Alliance heroes, but they had other concerns at the moment. Puck sidled up to Healing Rayne and the two held hands.
“Ted,” Puck said softly to 76, “I don’t think I’m going to be much good here. I’ve got…Reese…” she looked at Riley who was of course sulking off to the side.
Ted looked at the two of them and said slowly, “Well, of course, Puck…if you think you need to go, then I suppose you should. I’m not going to hold you here.”
The Canadian hero nodded. Healing Rayne looked at her thoughtfully and added quietly, “I think I should leave, as well, Ted.”
Ted nodded and watched the couple leave, then looked worriedly at Riley. Reese murmured something about devotion and duty that was just quiet enough to pass notice. Ted let it slide. Now was not the time.
“All right, everyone. Noelle is being held at this location.” He beamed the coordinates to everyone’s beacons. “And…uh…Star Breaker…he’s not a traitor.”
Krystal of course nodded, although she still looked slightly upset. The others all clamored for an explanation simultaneously.
Ted held up his hands. “No time now for a full explanation. The time when he killed me…was all a ruse to get an inside man into the House of Cards. He has contacted me as to Noelle’s location. We can get close with these coordinates, but I’m going to need someone else to get us to the exact facility.” He nodded with a small smile to his love, Zepher-Storm. “Can you track her through the air currents, assuming I can get you close?”
Zepher-Storm nodded confidently. “Yes.”
Ted nodded again, looking at Zepher-Storm a moment longer than he needed to, then turned to the group again. “All of us will made as much of a distraction and disturbance as possible so that our sneakthief can get in there and actually free Noelle. Our task is to draw House security away for the cell.”
“Who’s that?” Vangarde asked, a second before realization hit him.
“That’s me.” Reese said, his voice hoarse. “If we’re done with this little pregame speech, Coach, can we get in there now? In case you’ve forgotten, there’s someone in there.”
Ted took a deep breath and reminded himself that this was not the time. “Of course. Everyone, make your way to the target at top speed. Once there, we break in, and make a lot of noise.”
The group flew (Zepher-Storm provided flying assistance to the non-flyers, such as her husband) to a nondescript building in the middle of a fog-enswirled moor on the outskirts of Astoria.
“In we go. No need for subtlety.” Ted said as he prepared to shoulder charge the door.
“Right up your alley, huh, Ted? MacroLass chided good-naturedly as the door splintered and gave way.
Inside was madness. The facility was properly Gothic but nevertheless well-built. Two robed men sat at a table in the foyer and reacted with alarm as the Alliance rescue party burst in. Ted barely had time to recognize the black “4” on each of their foreheads before twin blasts from Vangarde and Saphire Celest felled both sentries.
The rescue party made their way through the facility, blasting, punching, electrifying and otherwise confounding House security. The place was bustling with “number cards” of all description, and more than a few men dressed in jet-black cloaks. No one in the facility was any kind of match for the combined strength of the Alliance. MacroLass fairly yawned at one point during a “fight” with a number nine. Catching Ted’s eye, she shrugged as the Nine hit the floor. “Jet lag,” she said, and moved to another wing of the facility.
Vargarde shot number cards as fast as they appeared, some of whom tried to hide behind walls and balustrades. Van squinted and made a tricky shot between two pillars to fell an eight who lurked there. He pulled his fist down in triumph and grinned.
Saphire Celest was working on a small straight, having cornered a four, five, six, and seven and raining fire upon them.
Zepher-Storm was in another wing of the facility, hovering beneath a slate grey thundercloud she had summoned. Any of the guards who approached found themselves blasted by lightning that eminated from the cloud at her command. The lightning arced towards an electrical outlet, and for a moment, the lights in the facility flickered.
Ted watched all of this, engaging in battle as the opportunity arose. Things were going very well so far…but when would…?
Star Breaker, clad in a black and red suit, came around a corner and stood in the spacious hall in the center of the facility.
“So, Ted? Did you miss me?” he said with a smirk.
Ted smiled behind his helmet. Derek was doing a great job…he made a note to ask him if he had ever done any acting.
“Next time you kill me, Derek…do a better job.”
And the two closed on each other, grasping one another by the neck in a mock struggle.
“Reese is on his way. Shouldn’t be long now.” Ted whispered to him.
Derek winked and added in a loud voice, “I shall do a better job…right NOW!” He released Ted’s neck and punched him in the jaw…which Ted had outthrust slightly.
Ted shook his head, feigning injury. “If that’s the best you can do, Derek…” He grasped Derek’s body in a fireman’s carry and threw him headlong into a gaggle of high numbered cards coming up from the rear. Three were knocked flat by Derek’s flight, and a fourth was knocked out by Derek’s outstretched foot.
Derek rose and turned instantly on the remaining cards. They stared at him, incredulously, while he flattened them with a pair of punches.
Ted was about to join in when his com chirped on his team channel. Ted flipped his belt switch and answered, “Yes?”
Reese almost disinterested voice mumbled, “I’ve got her. She’s out.”
Ted nodded and spoke to the rest of his team. “Operation First Noelle is a success. Begin your withdrawal.”
“Better to take care of the rest of them, dear.” Zepher-Storm said, her voice only slightly distorted by her electrical powers.
“Yeah, Six..let’s clean house.” Van added.
Ted was only half-listening. He was also tuned to the PCPD band where he was hearing reports of House reinforcements coming. PCPD would try to turn them back, but Ted did not relish the thought of having to protect his team against the full might of the House of Cards.
“I really think we should leave,” he said.
“Uh, Seventy-Six? I think they’re all taken care of.” Saphire Celest said quietly. Ted saw his team regrouping where he was.
“Yep. All done, Ted.” MacroLass said matter-of-factly.
Ted nodded and the team hustled out the door, including Derek. Ted took one last look around the now still facility, and pulled a small cardboard rectangle out of an inner pocket. He flicked it into the facility and did not watch it fall.
Later, the House of Cards would find an Alliance trading card with 76’s smiling image on the face. On the reverse, they would find, in thick black marker, “We’ll take this trick—76.”
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