"Welcome to Wilshire Hills, a bustling shopping paradise and tourist district in the capital city. It is current eleven-oh-eight, sunny, 24 degrees. We are arriving a little ahead of schedule. Please remain seated while we roll to the landing zone."
An ad blimp sailed through the skyscraper-laden cityscape. Radio traffic in the cabin chattered away with current weather information. Seated at the wheel, a black ponytailed man with short-trimmed sideburns in a pinstriped silver suit. Behind him, using the handheld microphone, a young-looking blonde man in a short sleeve ragged green shirt and tan cut-off shorts almost shouted into the microphone with an excited grin on his face.
"Thank you for choosing Hanzai-Sha Airships. Please remain seated and have a nice day."
The pilot's eyes scanned the HUD projected on the front windshield: air direction, engine stability, fuel, velocity, distance. His right eye twitched.
"Mr Kata, change of plans. Landing in the parking lot."
"Call me Hira, Mr Z." the blonde youth turned the microphone over in his hand. Then he brought it back towards his mouth.
"Alright, folks. Please buckle up; we're making an unexpected park in the tarmac terminal. Do not be alarmed, but be prepared for a bump."
Returning the handheld microphone to the slot on the wall, Hira Kata looked out the windshield and then turned for the door. Turning the doorknob, he opened the door, closing it behind him. It locked. Click.
"What's the reason for change of landing? We're going to need two people to carry that EMP Cannon, plus we'll have to deal with the guards while carrying that upstairs."
A taller, young man - also blonde - in a open black jacket, red sleeveless shirt, black jeans, and a gold necklace put his hand on Hira's shoulder."The kids stopped arguing when I told them to shut up, but they haven't stopped shoving each other. If we leave them with the cannon - assuming they don't drop it - that leaves me to carry and clear, Deadshot to secure the top, and you and Z in the control room. We're early and the guards are-"
Hira didn't waver. "Don't sweat it, Jimmy. We've got this. Don't forget about ground team."
The blimp had clearly been modified to have a larger "basket" - one with the open-air passenger area and pilot cabin. Harnessed into seats, a short brown-haired kid in orange shorts and basketball jersey glowered across at a scarred young man. Beside the scarred young man, a scruffy short-haired man listened to music via earbuds while checking the pistol's magazine. For the fourth time so far.
In the center of the basket, a heavy looking metal box with two handles sat, a briefcase taped to it.
The speaker in the corner crackled. "We are rapidly descending. Strap in."
Hira wasted no time, taking the seat next to the kid and strapping in. Jimmy followed suit, strapping in beside the bearded gunslinger, coldly watching the pistol.
"We'll start the rush and ground team will join in. Kidd, Ketsu - cannon to the basement."
"Aw. Why do I always have to-"
"Get stuck with him." The kid's complaint was cut off by the scarred youth's tired growl. "Because it's frickin' heavy and the basement won't be as guarded, so we can go full ham."
Hira smiled nervously. Then the blimp landed. Hard.
---
The first to react was the bearded man,unstrapping himself and casually opening the basket's exit door. Already, the parking lot was attracting attention - one couple openly gaped and a lot attendant was sprinting in the direction. They'd landed on top of a sports car, knocking another car forward and blocking off an entire section. The lobby wasn't too far off.
Behind him, the rest of the team assembled, in various states of wave change. Jimmy hadn't bothered to change at all. Kidd was decked out in the orange-padded, whiteish jumpsuit of his wave form, orange headband keeping his hair back. Massive sword strapped to his back, which he was sliding into his hands. Hira appeared dazed.
Ketsu - the scarred young man - crossed his wrists in front of him. Black and red plated armor - apparently connected by leather strips - formed around his chest, two long swords appearing on each side of his belt.
Trueshot ducked back into the basket, out of sight of the gawkers, activating his wave form. Light-gray material covered his body, then dark gray combat armor covered his chest, shoulders, thighs, and in sections , his legs and arms. Two pistols strapped at his side, dual short barrel shotguns on his back, a rifle in a shoulder sling strapped to his back. Along his belt, pouches containing various ammo rubbed against the suit's material.
Hira stepped into the parking lot, a little wobbly on his feet. Tapping the hunter-vg holstered at his side, his wave form activated. A gray, v like headband formed, with a yellow diamond in the middle. He slid his green goggles up, covering his eyes. Green armor, disconnected at joints, square in design formed above a black jumpsuit, bits of it peeking through the gaps in the armor. A yellow diamond formed in the center of his chest piece. He smiled. Then two identical Hiras stepped out from behind him, one with a gun-arm, and the other with a sword-arm.
"Heads up!"
Hira ducked, the other two Hiras following suit. A large sheet of metal flew above them, crashing into a parked utility van and setting off the alarm. "Holy exit strategy batman!"
From behind the flying projectile emerged Kidd and Ketsu, lugging the heavy metal box with one hand each. Trueshot exited through the hole next, and then Jimmy, who ripped the suitcase off the metal box as he passed.
Jimmy leaned towards the duo, his eyes narrowed. "Could you be more careful?"
"Yeah. Kidd." Ketsu rolled his eyes at his box-lugging partner.
"Next time, sure. But wasn't that awesome? Like a movie! Just bam!"
Hira started forward, shooting a remark over his shoulder. "Would have been better if I had seen it."
The lot attendant was on the pudgy side, sweating, still a-barreling down the lot. They ignored him and started for the lobby. Jimmy scanned the parking lot as they went, still in human form. No sign of ground team. Hira marched forward, the rest of the team behind him: Kidd, Ketsu, Jimmy, and Trueshot.
Nobody noticed the two thwip-thwips of two shots entering the attendant's head. And nobody heard the shots that dropped the gawkers. They just dropped from sight. Trueshot holstered his pistols as the lobby doors slid open.
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Topic: WIP short story (Read 1668 times)