The cell phone of Police Chief William Ryan chirped the moment he settled down into his favorite easy chair.

"Oh my..." He sighed as he pulled the phone out, aware of the look of disapproval on his wife's face, "Something always gets in the way.  Hello, Chief Ryan speaking."

"Hi 37.  5K here."

"5000!  Nice to hear from you!" his mood lifted, "How are things going with you at the hospital?"

"Things are going to heat up here in the ER real soon now."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  Know anything about a certain Meridiana Underworld kingpin?"

"For starters, we know he's out there and a nasty, mean bastard who takes no prisoners.  I'd like to know who he is.  I'd give my bonus to get his address."

"Well, a local paper also wants that information.  They put an investigator out on the street to get their research started.  Our kingpin heard of this and snatched the guy's kid sister.  They have her held really tight at warehouse G on 1487 Bolivar Avenue."

"Hmm, the ransom note probably threatened her if he called us in, right?"  Type 37 scribbled the address in the margin of the newspaper he was holding, mentally toting up the manpower he could call in within the next hour.

"Right.  Well, Elaine's on assignment here in Meridiana and got wind of the guy's problem."

"What?  Why didn't she tell me this herself?  She isn't going to-"

"No she isn't, and yelled at me when I thought about rescuing her myself.  She went straight to Bethany's house and had her make a poster with this information on it.  I taped it outside her window myself, complete with a sustenance night light to call attention to it."

"Now why would-" he stopped, then grinned "Oh boy!"

"Yep.  I saw Cyber 356 get the message 10 minutes ago.  You know what to do."

"Indeed I do!  Thanks for the heads-up."  He thanked her.

"No problem.  Bye."

"Bye".  He hung up, then started punching in the number for the Main precinct front desk.

"What was that about, dear?" his wife, Type 138 asked.

"A kidnapping that's about to go sour." he replied,  "This is Chief Ryan. Who's this?  Velasquez?  Get two officers with shotguns down to Meridiana General in a couple of hours to guard a hospital ward.  Yes, no rush.  I got a hot tip that some tough guys working for our new underworld boss will be paying the ER a visit.  They'll probably claim they got caught in a 10 car pileup, but don't believe it.  We'll ID later.  Have a nice evening."

"Meridiana General?  Isn't that where Reba, err Cyber 5000, works?" 138's eyebrows went up.

"Yes.  She called from the ER.  It seems our wandering sister is going to attempt a rescue."

"Oh, the poor bastards." She sighed.

"Yeah." he picked up his paper, "Sent to the hospital by one Cyber, only to be met there by another."
---------
Ikikko sat on the floor in the corner of the small shed that served as an office in the warehouse.  She had her arms wrapped around her knees, shivering and glancing at the huge, threatening thug sitting in the chair next to the door.  He was drinking beer and listening to a soccer game.

She wasn't cold, but was terribly frightened.  She had been coming home from school and had been walking up the steps to her brother's apartment when two big men came out of the building, grabbed her, and carried her to a car that had brought her to a huge warehouse.

"Your brother's been hired to nose around in my business.  That isn't very healthy." their leader told her in a smooth, gentle voice that reminded her of the bad guys in the movies, "You are here to help us convince him to drop the case and retire his client.  Then we'll let you go home."

She didn't know what "retire" meant, but she knew that the bad guys in the movies who talked that way always turned out to be the ones that gave her bad dreams for nights afterwards.  They also were the ones who seemed to be happiest when going out of their way to break their promises.

The sharp pains in her tummy told her that she was very hungry too.  She glanced at the thug again, "Pardon me." she said, her tiny voice shaking, "I'm-"

"SHADDAP!" he shouted at her.  She jumped several centimeters, and he laughed at her reaction.

She tried not to cry: that would only make them more angry at her.  She pressed her face into her knees to keep him from seeing her tears.

Suddenly, the crash of falling crates roared through the warehouse, followed by the sound of men shouting and running.  The thug jumped up at the same time Ikikko did and ran to the door, "WHAT THE SHIT IS HAPPENING OUT TH-" he yelled as he opened the door.

CRACK!  He spun around on one foot like a top, and fell to the floor, his jaw violently dislocated.  Ikikko cried out, only to see a woman clad in black leather, wearing a black hat and cape slip inside.  She put a slim finger to her mouth, a huge, dark, eye winking at her from around the fall of hair covering one side of her face.  The woman quickly closed the door and pressed her body hard against the wall next to it.  Ikikko tried to shrink as small as she could into the corner, wondering what was happening.

The woman seemed to be counting silently.  She was down to "one" when Ikikko heard men running up to the door.  The woman held up two fingers.

"MAX!  WATCH THE-" a man yelled as he barged into the room, holding a gun.

The woman karate chopped the man's forearm.  CRACK!  The man screamed and the gun flew up into the air.  He went down, tripped by the woman.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TH-" a second man came in almost immediately behind Max, also holding a gun.  He saw the woman, and tried to bring his gun to bear, but she had whirled around like a top.  CRACK!  Her fist connected with the man's jaw, and Ikikko saw it turn at an angle she had seen before only in cartoons.

The woman grabbed the second man by the shirt and flung him into the first man, who was struggling to his feet and trying to find his gun.  The force of the throw slammed both of them into the heavy wooden desk in the corner opposite of Ikikko's.   It slid into the wall, and the shed shook and slid a foot in response.  The thugs fell into a heap of tangled arms and legs that didn't move.

The woman ran over to each man and took their guns.  She kicked one gun next to the door, and had two in her hands.  She then went to the door, kicked it open, and began firing with both guns at wildly different angles.  Screams and shouts erupted from all over the warehouse, making Ikikko believe the woman was hitting everything she was aiming at.

When the guns began clicking, she threw them out the door.  There were two howls of pain from two different directions.  The woman slammed the door shut, snatched up the gun that lay on the floor, ran over to Ikikko, bent down, and put her right arm around her.

"Don't worry." she whispered gently to Ikikko, holding her tightly to herself as she crouched.

"Oh no!" Ikikko thought frantically, knowing how thin the shed walls were, "They'll shoot through the walls!"

She felt a sudden powerful surge upwards.  WHANG!  The tin roof of the shed resounded as it was knocked up and off its walls as the woman leaped upwards and hit it with the flats of her shoulder blades.  Ikikko saw the floor and the shed drop away beneath her feet.  Then she saw the cieling and floor whirl around in crazy circles as the woman began to spin and twist in mid-air.

With a light THAP, the woman landed on a girder high above the floor.  Ikikko was terribly afraid of heights, and was too scared to shriek.  She was sure the woman would fall off, and they'd smash against the concrete floor like two apples and become puddles of applesauce.

The woman ran lightly along the girder, high heels clicking on the metal, acting as if it was 40 meters wide and not 40 centimeters.  She was firing at something or someone in the distance to her left.  Ikikko heard bullets whizzing by, and pulled her eyes away from the floor just in time to see a rope holding up a cargo net full of crates snap in half, sending the crates crashing down on top of three men who were shouting and pointing guns at them.

The gun clicked.  The woman tossed it away.  Ikikko felt the woman's chest expand, as if she was inhaling deeply.

Air whistled out through the woman's teeth.  Ikikko thought that her brother could whistle better than that!

Lightbulbs began exploding around them, plunging the warehouse into darkness, along with the sound of window panes shattering all around them.  A dog began howling outside.  "She's going to fall off for sure!" Ikikko thought fearfully.

The woman leaped and twisted into a ball, Ikikko in the center.  Ikikko heard the splintering of wood and felt the shudder of the blow through the woman's body that protected her.  Then the woman unwrapped herself and landed on the asphalt outside of the warehouse.  She ran across the street, then hopped up onto the roof of another warehouse.  Ikikko felt the rush of cool night air as the woman ran as fast as the wind across the top of the warehouse.  She then felt her stomach drop as the woman crouched, then bounded upwards.

She felt the two of them slowly come to a momentary halt at the top of the jump.  "Oh!  I feel like I'm flying!" she thought as she looked out over the bright lights of the city.  Suddenly, she giggled.  The thought had suddenly occurred to her that she'd never been up this late at night before.  Or as high in the air outside of an airplane.

The wind whistled past as the woman came down on the opposite roof, absorbing the impact easily with her legs.  She ran across to the far side of the warehouse, then stopped and knelt, panting.

"Oh!" Ikikko gasped, wondering what to say after the woman put her down but held her close to herself.

"Shh!" The woman held a finger up.  She was listening.

After a long pause, the woman gave a sigh of relief, "Good, they're really confused!"  She said.

"Are you rescuing me?" Ikikko asked, wondering how she could tell that.

"Why wouldn't I rescue a little girl like you?" she replied.

The moon was going down, and the moonlight shone on the woman's face.  All Ikikko would remember of the woman after this time, and for the rest of her life, was the sweet, gentle smile and the huge, dark, kind eyes she had.  Those stood out, because it stirred a memory deep within the little girl that cried to be reborn into her world.

"Do you know how to give a good hug on the neck?"  the woman asked her.

"Yes."

"Then put your arms around mine and hug tight!  I'm going to take you to a very safe place where your brother can get you."

Sudden gratitude filled Ikikko as she flung her arms around the long, slim neck and pulled herself firmly against the warm, soft body of the woman who rescued her.

The woman wrapped her arms tightly around Ikikko, shifted position, then jumped.  Landed.  Ran, then jumped again.  And again.

Suddenly, Ikikko remembered as the memory burst to the surface of her mind!  She began to cry and hugged the woman even tighter, wanting the ride to never end.

In too few minutes, the woman slowed down and began to weave and jump short little jumps.

"Okay, we're here!" she announced, kneeling and releasing her.

Ikikko felt grass under her feet, but refused to let go.

"You're safe now." The woman murmured gently, not forcing her to let go, "You'll see your brother soon."

Each felt the other's heart, warm and beating, within their chests.

Finally, Ikikko reluctantly released her hold, but only enough to allow her to kiss the woman's right cheek lavishly, thoroughly soaking it with her tears.

The woman accepted the kisses, sighing as if something was released in her soul too.  When Ikikko finally stopped and released her, the woman put her fingers to her cheek, "Why, thank you honey!" she said, sincerity in every word.

"My mommie." Ikikko whispered.

"What?"

Ikikko reached up and put her hand against the woman's left temple, "Your eyes.  They look like my mommie's." the little fingers slid down past the cheek to her chin, " She's dead, and I've forgotten what they looked like until I saw yours."

"Ohh!" The eyes seemed to shake a little, and tears ran down the woman's cheeks too, "Never, ever forget your mama!"

"I won't now!  Thank you!"  she gave the woman one last hug, "Thank you for everything!"

"You're welcome." she replied, "Just go up to that door and knock on it.  The people inside have a little girl too, and will call your brother so he can come get you.  Goodbye!"  She stood up.

"Goodbye!  Goodbye!" Ikikko called out, waving as the woman turned and bounded out of sight, cape snapping.

Only a few seconds later, a shaft of light appeared beside her.  She turned around to see a man in the doorway, "Is that Ikikko?" the man called in a strange accent.

"Yes!" she ran to him, "Can you call my brother for me?"

"Indeed we will!  Mrs. Tr-" he turned, then stopped.

A little redheaded girl in a red cotton nightgown was coming down the staircase, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, "Hello!  I'm Bethany!  You must be Ikikko!"

"I am honored!" Ikikko remembered her manners and managed to bow properly, despite what had just happened to her and the surprise at seeing what looked like the blue end of a rainbow trapped in the girl's eyes.

Bethany solemnly returned the bow, then pointed up the steps, "I got lots of toys for Christmas.  Would you like to play with them?" she asked.

"Oh, that would be nice!" Ikikko exclaimed as she ran up the steps after Bethany.

Techno 54 walked into the foyer, "Who was that, Harold?" she asked.

"The lamb has been rescued from the wolves, madame, and has been entrusted to us for safekeeping until we notify her brother."

"Oh good!  Where is she?"  She glanced around quizically.

"She is with Miss Bethany, who is being the perfect hostess." Harold smiled,  "We would not have been embarassed in the least if it had turned out to have been the Queen of England herself."

She gave a wry smile, "I suppose for this one time I'll let it pass.  I'll call the number Elaine left with us."

Harold was about to close the door when something caught his eye.  He stepped outside and looked at the top of the building that arose beyond the ivy covered wall.

The moon was setting behind a slim, black figure wearing a hat and cape, which whipped in the breeze behind it.  The figure stood straight, and seemed to be watching and waiting.

Harold gave the soccer referee hand sign for "GOAL!".

The figure waved, then turned and jumped out of sight.

"Ahhh!  Now there be heroes among us." He murmured, feeling an emotion he hadn't felt since he turned 13.

He had just closed the door when he heard a voice behind and above him, saying, "Harold?"

He glanced up the staircase at Bethany, "Yes Miss Bethany?"

"Our guest was very badly treated, and is very hungry.  Could you please bring some fruit, cookies and milk to the playroom for her?"

"Right away, Miss Bethany."

He permitted a small smile on his face as he went to the kitchen, "I fear I shall have to tender my regrets to my friend regarding that opening in the household of His Highness, the Prince of Wales." he decided firmly, patting the vial of sustenance he kept in his inner coat pocket 'for emergencies', "Life in a palace would be positively dull compared to working here."
-----------
Techno 54 walked up to the playroom door.  She was about to open it when she heard voices.  Smiling, she put her ear to it.

"-SOOO scared!"

"You were very brave." came Bethany's voice.

"Well, I cried a little, but I couldn't let them hear me, of course!"

"Of course.  Want another cookie?  And then?"

"Umm!  Thank you!  Then that woman came in and knocked them out, POW!  Just like that!  Shot them up with their own guns!  Then she grabbed me, jumped up through the roof onto a steel beam, and ran on it out the window!  She carried me all the way here, jumping and running like in the cartoons!"

"That was MY auntie!"

54 swallowed hard at the tone of pride in her little girl's voice.

"REALLY?"

"Yes!  But it's a secret, so don't tell anybody, promise?"

"Promise!"

54 paused a few seconds, then rapped on the door.

Bethany opened the door.  Serena clucked her tounge in mock disapproval at the toys strewn all over the floor, "You'll have to clean up tomorrow morning, young lady!" she told Bethany.

"I'll help clean up!" Ikikko offered.

"You can't right now," Serena shook her head, "because-"

Ikikko leaped to her feet and rushed out the door, followed by Bethany, "DON'T RUN DOWN THE-" Serena started, then sighed when she heard the thunder of little feet pounding down the staircase too quickly.

She came down the stairs just in time to see Ikikko jump from the fifth step from the bottom into her brother's arms.

"IKIKKO!" he shouted.

"MIAO!" she shouted in reply.

They both whirled around in a little dance before he set his sister down, "Thank you, Mrs. Trodden, for taking care of her!" he said to her as she reached the bottom.

"Bethany here took care of Ikikko all by herself." Serena indicated her daughter.

He turned to Bethany and bowed, "I thank you!" he said.

She bowed back, "I was honored." she replied.

"Now where did THAT come from?" Serena wondered.

Elaine and Lucas were part of the group that had just arrived.  Lucas spoke up, "I'm Lucas Amato, reporter for The Independent  I'd like to phone my editor from here to arrange for a safe house for Mr. Yashimoto and his sister.  His phone may be bugged."

"Of course.  There is one on the table in the hallway."  Serena pointed.  She turned to Yashimoto, "I would like to arrange for Dr. Reba Pearce to talk with Ikikko about her experience, and make sure there are no ill after effects."

Yashimoto was momentarily speechless, "Is that possible?" he asked, finding his voice.

"I insist on it."

"I would like that very much!" he said, bowing, "Thank you!  I would now like to meet the ones who rescued Ikikko and thank them myself."

"We would too." Serena said sincerely, "We were fortunate to even get this message to her.  We hope to give you that opportunity very soon."

Yashimoto's eyebrow went up at the mention of "her", but he didn't say anything about that.  Instead, his face now took on a hard look, "I would also like to meet the men who took her!"

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about them!" Elaine said lightly, "Remember all those sirens we heard before coming over here?"

"Yes."

"I'm sure they are being taken care of to your satisfaction at this very moment."
-----------
"I'm not sure if they have insurance to cover the tests that you've already administered, Reba!" Dr. Ramirez protested.

"Come on, Emilio!" Dr. Pearce replied, looking at the preliminary lab reports, "15 car pile-up my eye!    With bullets through prostate glands, wrists, and knee caps?  Two with broken jaws but no damage to their upper teeth?  And what about all those splinters we pulled out of those three we put into full body casts?  Goodness knows where they've been!  We OUGHT to know what's going on in every cubic centimeter of their bodies!"

"Those barium enemas you ordered for all of them cost a bundle!" Dr. Ramirez exclaimed, "If they can't pay for it, it'll go on your account!"

"I am doing what is best for my patients, as well as for the public health and safety!" she replied.

They walked up to the doors of a second floor ward.  Two of Meridiana's finest stood guard on either side of the double doors, shotguns slung over their shoulders.

"Besides," Dr. Pearce handed the chart to him and reached into the pocket of her hospital coat, "This next exam I'm going to give them ought not to cost a thing."

Dr. Ramirez shook his head and walked away.

Cyber 5000 kicked the doors open and walked in, "OKAY GUYS!" she shouted as she pulled on her custom-made latex gloves, letting the latex sleeves snap loudly against her forearms, "Prostate cancer exams for everyone!  The guys who got hit in their winkies are first!"

"AHHH SHIIIIIIT!"

"MALPRACTICE!  MALPRACTICE!  GET ME A LAWYER, SOMEBODY!  ANYBODY!"

"MMMERRMMMMM FFFFT  HHHTTFFMMMM!"

"MOMIEEEEEE!"

"NURSE!  WHERE'S THE DAMN K-Y JELLY?"

The doors swung shut.

There was a long pause, "Hey Francisco!" one policeman hissed to the other.

"What Juan?" the other hissed back.

"Aren't they supposed to have long fingers to do that right?"

"Yeah." Francisco agreed after a few moments more of thought, "But her arms are kinda small.  If she kinda shoves hard-"

A long, loud scream emanated from within the ward they were guarding.

"Damn," Juan breathed, "I'm beginning to love this job!"

"Yeah," Francisco grinned, "Me too!"
 

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Chapter 10
Chapter 12