Ace of The Duck Pond The Good Doctor.

[Stella Gaslight]

Jace was winning.  If she could just get back up to her feet and grab her knife he wouldn't stand a chance. The only warning Jace got before the bolt hit her was a smell of burning flesh and ozone.  She convulsed unable to fight back for a moment as his electrified glove touched her unprotected hand.  The doctor ran back to the safety of Screaming Green leaving her behind. 

[MWBailey]

Two Imperial officers lay dead in the market place of the Youkai village; Meri had arrived just in time to add her bit to the execution. It was decided at a hasty meeting that the remaining elders would do what had not been done for the past three centuries; soon a fog had enshrouded the entire Island, and then the tiny eyot had disappeared from the world of humans, for the l;last time it was thought- or least until the world changed and it was once more possible to trust humans. If it had ever been so.

Meri,. it was decided, would carry the new fight back to the mystic hunters who sought to enslave the magical and supernatural beings of the world. Thus it was that she arrived at the Duckpond just when things were looking blackest for the Aces. Realizing that they would not be likely to immediately accept her as an ally, Meri decided that the best course was to attack the germans in shadow form; not exactly "cloaked," as a later generation would refer to it, but obscured enough that only a shadowy form could be distinguished as her presence. Thus it was that just as three attackers rushed out of the shadows, a fourth shadow seemed to ooze at high speed into the light, and then flash across the scene, leaving the three individuals, respectively, without a head, the second split from shoulder to groin from the ground up, as if from a rising backswing (which it was), and then slashed lethally across the torso. But then a fourth that Meri had somehow missed fired a round that buried itself in her left shoukder, and sent shockwaves of pain and disorientation throughout her body. She blinked into full visibility,

The HELL!? Al shouted and shot at the fourth figure.

[Stella Gaslight]

"The dammed Vamp is back."  Donna said with worry in her voice. "I gotta get the captain out of there."

Smiling the man pinned her down ans turned up the power. Jace screamed as everything inside her short circuited.  Her attacker was catapulted through the air as both Al and Meri were forced back by what felt like invisible hands.  It only lasted a moment before she had nothing left to give and passed out.

"What the hell are they doing to her?' Donna ran hoping Jace was still alive.

[MWBailey]

Thinking he just might be falling for one of, if not the oldest trick in the book, Al grabbed the semiconscious Meri and hauled her back to one side of the area of the attack, behind some crates. "You'd better not be playing me for a fool, lady. Damned I'll be if I want to trust you, but if you're killin' germans, then its an ally you are to us, or so it'd seem. You cross us and I swear I'll have your head and buried and salted in a crossroads with holy water before a fortnight's gone. Believe it."

"You know nothing of damnation, flying man, believe me," Meri answered, still seeing double and wondering just what was happening to her. It felt like being drugged had felt once before she was turned, when she had fallen from a camel and broken her shoulder, but drugs had never affected her before, since she was turned; it was one of the things that made life especially hellish for new fledglings.

"I swear to you that I am now, and forevermore shall be, an enemy of the Order and it's minions. And an ally of you and yours. You had better see to your captain. I shall aid you as I may... She tried to rise, but was still unable to control her muscles. "What...did they do to me..." she said in slurred tones.

"Shot you with a gun, looks like. Huh, you do bleed, don't you. I won't ask whose blood it is-"

"Ha. Go. I shall take it out. No, don't be the chivalrous warrior, you know nothing of my body. I shall join you presently. GO!"

Al grimaced, torn, but finally left and stepped out from behind the crates, pulling both khukri and Colt. "LIAM!" he yelled, "shoot that guy with thiose damned magic bullets if I don't get through!" He shouyted, and ran at the figure, firing rapidly and swinging the khukri. He had been told by the old Nepalese who'd given it to him on his deathbed that long, rainy night in the Amazon so many years ago, that a khukri dispels nightmares*, so he figured it might have some kind of resistance to the apparent bad magic that was currently flying around the room...

[Stella Gaslight]

Donna was fairly sure no ammo she had ever seen before made little puddles of flame wherever it hit and sent out waves of headache enduing fumes.  She was pined under Screaming Green and lucky to have taken cover when the first shot almost caught her hair a blaze but Jace was out of reach.  If he would just get out of the shadows Donna knew she could hit him fast and then get away from this mess.

[CPT_J_Percell]

Wilfred had just rolled into the hanger as the fight kicked off outside, turning around to see weapon powered by magic in use, he dived under the plane, pulled the hatch open and drew out the gun he had been working on. flicking a switch, he smiled as it hummed to life, he turned it on jaces attacker and fired. lightning flashed out and the attacker convulsed. He watched in amazement as the attacker, still surrounded by the sparks, stand up and turn towards him moments before the texan appeared, bent knife in hand.

[Ranger Reid]

Liam heard the call for help but from his gun turret, he couldn't get a bead on the man firing the "magic" tracer rounds.  So he ran for the hatch.

He got there just in time to see the man lit up in lightning.    He unloaded the four standard bullets into the man's face, but they didn't stop him.   Then the first consecrated round hit him and the world went white.  The explosion rocked the plane and knocked everyone back ten feet.

Liam couldn't see anything because of the white flash.   He didn't know if the fight was over, or if the man had survived.   He dropped to one knee and called  "Donna! I can't see!"

[Stella Gaslight]

Donna had been watching but not daring to stick her head out and she was lucky there were only dazzles in front of her eyes not a full white out,  She wiggled out from Screaming Green and went to Liam very carefully never putting her head higher than her knees.  He tensed at her touch ans she whispered in his ear. "Don't worry it is me.  If you can crawl I can get you to safety."  She was unsure if there were any more attackers hidden in the shadows.


There was a moan from near Al's feet.  Jace was coming around and everything hurt.

[MWBailey]

Al was not a supernatural sort; if he had a supernatural ability, he didn't know about it, and had always kind of distrusted thatkind of thing. The "knack" he had fpor somehow knowing that something would happen right at the last second before it did he put down as a "knack";l the same went for hgis ability to track damn near anything damn near anywhere. Innate abilities that seemed impressive to othe rpeople, but which tended to not kick in until dire need did first. handy for piloting, but inconvenient for casual sportsmanship or day to day life.

In situations like this, though in rthis particulaer case in which Al couldn't even see his own feet, the tracker's uncanny ability to remember where one is in relation to where one was and return to the fpormer location almost blindfolded, served him well. He heard Jace groan. she did so from somewhere beneath him; he reached down, and felt what seemed to be a shoulder, and then a softness that he dropped like a hot potato when he realized whet it was. Yep, that'd be the boss lady, all right, the shadow person was a guy by all appearances. Al didn't think much, he just found the armpit and grabbed, and started hauling the weakly-protesting, slight-yet-still-heavy sack of squirming mumblyness that was teh Captain, back toward the crates from which a strange burbling and then a scream sounded, followed by a string of curses in Mandarin and several other Asian dialects, some of which Al was suddenly sorry he understood.
-------------
"why in blazes did you bring her here?" a throaty, hoarse female voice asked with a mixture of fear and indignation. Through the hazy, too-dark miasma that was Al's returning vision, he saw what he decided was not the best scene for his recovering leader to wake up to. Meri lay against a crate , her shortsword (where it had come from or had been carried was mystery he couldn't solve, in Al's present condition) in a puddle of blood by her side, surrounded by strange-looking fragmants of what looked like bloody silver; a messy yet already-healing chopped-and-sliced-looking hole in her shoulder, and Meri's dark bodysuit all slashed, dirtied, torn and very, very bloody.

"Sorry, Jace, but this is the only halfway safe place I can get to right now," Al said, just before he passed out and slumped to the floor.

"Airwoman, awake, your man has collapsed and I am still healing. No matter what he said, you are not safe here - Shh!" a sound from the other side of the crates made her stop speaking and freeze painfully, her hand over Jace's mouth. let us hope my bloodlust does not take over, and this amazon doesn't take it into her head to thrash around and scream, Meri thought.

[Stella Gaslight]

Ok so she was sitting next to what was most likely a hungry vampire and Jace felt like she had gone eight rounds with a particularly surly kangaroo but none of that mattered because her people were in danger.  With hands more shaky than she would like Jace pulled her pistol and aimed it in the direction Meri was looking.  The hand were the electricity had touched was burned and gripping the metal hurt.  They weren't going to win, this was her station.

[MWBailey]

Meri slowly removed her hand from Jace's mouth , and surrendering to the exigencies of need, exhaustion, and peril, reached hehind herself into a place that was somehow not a place, and withdrew her own pistol; a model of the russian Nagant revolver that had never existed in the world of the Duckpond, but which had come with her from that other universe where Texians were citizens of a world power governed from their capitol in Austin, and cold-blooded squid-like beings from the Aether had once ruled half the world from St. Petersburgh in Russia.

She cocked the hammer back, and her finger tensed on the trigger, as she glanced back at Jace and smiled enigmatically, aiming in teh same direction as the Aces' captain... 

[Ranger Reid]

Donna had led Liam behind the crates she had found near the plane.   It seemed as safe as anywhere.

Sniffing the air, he said "I don't think that weird guy is around anymore.  Things might be clear.  I don't smell him." 

Then Liam put his hand on Donna's shoulder and whispered  "Captain is to our right, she has the vampire with her, but doesn't seem to be worried about it.  I think the doctor is behind the dumpster.  Smells like he pissed himself.  Should we go to the captain or stay put?"

[Stella Gaslight]

"Captain."  She was glad everyone had made it out but there would have to have a damned good explanation why the vamp was here.  "Don't shoot."  Donna  ducked as the pistol swept over her. 

Jace sagged with relief.  "You are a sight for sore eyes. Anyone seen the doc? Al is pretty banged up."  She didn't mention her hand but Donna frowned at it.

[MWBailey]

Al came to again in stages. "Mom, the chicken's burning, I can smell it - and junior's diaper's wet,
i can smell that to--!" he groaned, then, and realized when and where he was. "aw, hell, I'm back here, aren't I? Who the hell peed in the corner?"

"A very human scientist" Meri said disgustedly. "Be glad you don't have my nose! i can smell the stink of his fear, plus the greasy meat that he ate last night." She looked at Donna and the others. "Oh, stop looking like that. I may be famished, but I don't eat good, valiant people. That doctor, however, had better mind his manners, and that sack of excrement with the iron cross sneaking out the back door is positively delectable!" she stirred; she looked like hell, all bloody  and ripped amnd slashed clothing, but where there were wounds before was notw apparently-unhurt white, normal-looking skin. She seemed to be thinking about going after the aforementioned intruder.

"She says she's  no longer our enemy, but an ally. I haven't had a chance to find out precisely why, though," Al said, painfully. "But She did kill those germans, and seems friendly now."

[Stella Gaslight]

"Well if she wants to eat our enemies that is all right I guess?" Jace sounded dubious of this but was at the point where it was any port in a storm.  She turned to the vamp wearly *The doc gets picked up tomorrow so until then we are all in this together.  This crew is as good as family to me and those dammed Germans have banged us up real good.  We could use the extra eyes." She was hoping this would not explode in her face but her crew needed more help than she could give.

[MWBailey]

The germans are allied to the Japanese villains who killed my Foster-Father and tried to enslave our village," Meri said. "I am their enemy, and your ally, for the rest of eternity." An absolutely hellish light of fury filled her eyes when she spoke of the Elder's demise, and fury filled her voice. "I beg your pardon. My anger is directed at them, not you or yours."

[Ranger Reid]

Liam was troubled.   So far, it had been easy to get caught up in this adventure.  But his every waking moment as a child had been spent in training to destroy beings such as meri.   The fact that she didn't seem evil didn't change how she smelled.   She was a thing of death, and he was sworn to return her to her rest.

He shook with the upheaving emotions.   She had helped his friends.  And his assignment had been specific.  "He was to focus all his energies on destroying the minions of the german war machine."   If she was against them, then she was off his radar as far as he was concerned.

As soon as he had made peace with this idea, Liam's sight returned.   What he saw wasn't pretty.  His group looked like they had lost the fight, not won.

"Donna," he whispered "I don't think we are safe anywhere they expect us to be.  We will keep running in to traps and snares.  We should go somewhere new or different, and soon."

He didn't know exactly why it was so much easier to talk to Donna than Jace, but Liam's limited experience with other normal people left him more likely to develop single friendships more deeply.   He hoped Donna would talk to the captain about his concerns.  If he had been quicker last time, they might have avoided this last fight.

[Stella Gaslight]

"We can't stay here captain.  Who knows what they have gotten up to in our hangers and I don't think any of us is up to the task of sweeping it clean."  Donna touched her own torn jumpsuit.  "Silva has space and you know she won't say a word."

Jace grimaced at the thought of being under that old busybody's roof.  "Really? I guess we could take our chances here."  She looked out at the others just as worn as she was and shook her head.  "We will have to mind our ps and qs while the old bat is around.  She is old fashioned but you can buy her silence and I bet those germans wont know that."  The doctor stuck his head around the corner and almost bolted at the sight of Meri.  "Oh no you don't.  You owe me.  I saved your skin so you atre covering one night at Mama Hayrick's boring house, the concierge fee and any room service we want and you are still coming away cheep for the nonsense we just went through.  Al do we still have that old delivery van?  I think we had better go in the back way." 

[MWBailey]

Calm yourself, Doctor-san, Meri said resignedly, though an undercurrent that sounded like anger laced with hunger(?) or anger(?) or both(?) made the doctor flinch slightly when she spoke. "You are under the protection of these people, and so you are under my protection as well, now. If you betray their trust, you betray mine. Remember that." Meri spoke as if she knew beyond any doubt something that made the doctor suspect to her mind.

[Stella Gaslight]

Girard was torn between fear and anger.  He had been utterly humiliated by this motley crew and wished he could set the order's full force on them for that but they were his ticket to living like a king in America.  "Of course fraulein I will hold to my honour."  He gave the captain a little bow and smiled.  Oh she was an ace all right. His ace in the hole.  The order was allays willing to forgive if you brought them something better and Jace would be right up their ally.

"All right then Aces lets go relax for a bit and then clean house in the morning."  She tried to get up and lead them only to half fall on Al.  Her legs were still protesting being used as currency converters.

[CPT_J_Percell]

Wilfred walked in grinning, the big weapon balanced on his shoulder looked like a big brass version of a browning aircraft gun, "everyone ok in here?" He walked over to jace and immediately knew the signs especially after seeing the state her hand was in. "Sorry Jace, but you ain't going anywhere. Someone get her to a cot because she not in a fit state to be going anywhere."
Wilfred walked up to Jace and with Al's help dragged her across the hanger and placed he in the temporary cot place in a corner. He produced a bottle of whisky from his pocket, took a swig, gave it to al who took a swig then passed it around.

[Ranger Reid]

Liam watched everyone settling in to the hanger.  He still wanted to leave, but knew he had to stay.  Rather than share the alcohol, he picked up his tool pouch and walked to the door.  "I want to sit outside and listen for trouble." he said.

Liam turned the latch hoping that Donna would come so he could talk to her about Jace's powers.  He needed to know if the captain knew she was a mentalist and was pretending or if she was actually ignorant of her gifts.

[Stella Gaslight]

"I am not just a sack of potatoes boys.  I am just fine." Jace protested and tried to force her way upright but her arms cramped and make her shake like a leaf.  She groaned a bit in pain and tried not to show it. 

"Mind if I join you?"  Donna asked Liam holding a metal case that opened in to a small coffee maker.  "I figure we have plenty to talk about."

[MWBailey]

Al sat down on an upended tin 5-gallon bucket that had once held transmission oil, and chided Jace, though somewhat gently. "lay down, willya, I'm a li'l too banged up to keep pickin' you up offa th' floor right now, Boss Lady." He took out his flask of barely-drinkable hooch; he got the stuff at a cut rate from an old Air Corps buddy who worked at the motor pool of the station's cab company. He mainly used it when the Duck was having carburetor trouble, but sometimes a shot was just what the doctor ordered, so to speak. He took a swig, then handed it to Jace. "Careful, that stuff bites back."

Meri looked Wilfred up and down; the fellow looked normal, but there was an air about him - literally; she could smell the same smells on him that she had smelt upon herself after her fall through that long hole in time all those decades before - and there was the fact of his knowledge of the trade of the Hunter. The other one, the one they called "Liam," he seemed to know of such as well, but there was the holy-water-and-incense-smoke smell of the hunter about him, whereas Wilfred seemed to lack that quality.

"You intrigue me; I can smell the Between on you... Wilfred, is it? Don't start so, I don't consider you prey, but if you bolt, instinct is hard to control." She smiled at her own joke; the tips of her fangs poking out actually looked cute in away, but might be a bit disturbing to some, she realized, especially in one as caked with blood as she was- so she quickly dropped her upper lip down over them. Hells, she wanted a bath! Even a dip in the oily harbor water around the Duckpond would be better than this filthy feeling. "Bygones? And is there a spigot or rain barrel someplace where I can wash off this filth?"

[Ranger Reid]

Liam and Donna walked in silence once complete circuit around the hanger.  It might have seemed he was stuck in thought, but in reality the young man was smelling and listening.   He was also reaching out with his other sense.  It was something he had only recently realized he could do, and he was still not adept at it, but since he could sense machinery working or broken, he had realized he could often tell when there were mechanisms hidden nearby.   

He hoped that he could tell if there were bombs or firearms nearby, and feel if they were moving, as if on living bodies.   It wasn't an exact read, but he had been doing pretty well avoiding ambushes his trainers had set using this ability.   In fact, it was the very moment that he developed this sense that they had determined he was ready to face the real world.



After their lap about the building, Liam finally spoke.    Donna may have expected some stammering puppy love, instead she heard   "Tell me, are you aware, and does the captain know that she is a mentalist?"

Donna looked confused, and Liam didn't know if that was a no to his question, or if she even knew what he meant, so he continued.

"She talks of luck, but she has actual mental powers.   I watched her deflect bullets, and push outwards.   That is one of the known abilities of the mind.   My people would call her a mentalist.   It is a rare power, but one that is known."

Liam waited to see how his new friend reacted.