Icegun came screaming to a halt a good 100 yards away from where the crowd had gathered. Putting the food down, he checked the adress. This was the place that Contact had told him but there was no sign of Fox. Reporters were all over the scence, taking photos and shouting out questions. Scanning the crowd, Icegun recognized a few reporters, but they were too far away to recognize him. Icegun put his scope back down and decided to see if he could find Fox. After all he didnt want this food to get cold. El Super Mexicano had the best mexican food in town but it was always best hot.
In a futile attempt to communicate Jack was flashing sign language at a rate that would send a mute speed reader into a frenzy (he had after all spent two years working with the deaf and mute children of underprivilidged European nations). As for a more souther region Jack had learned in his ventures on earth to always wear a sturdy cup. While in this case it did happen to keep anything from becoming dangerously solid, the strong alloy was a powerful conductor, keeping him cooler then a penguin in sunglasses but no where near as comfy.
"Four years" he thought to himself. "Jokes on her he mused."
As exquisit as alcohol is on Earth, Jack learned a startlingly impressive amount of self restraint over the last thousand years, of which he showed none on a day to day basis. No drink was of little concern as long as there was still orange juice and cranberry cocktail (rumored two of Jack's favorite non alcoholoic drinks). No, what worried him most was that his enormous charity budget was going to suffer greatly to keep him out of Africa, diverting funds away from Work Options for Women in Stride and the A.L.I.E. Foundation to A.S.A.P. was going to be his first order of business the moment he could effectively communicate verbally to his accountants.
Oh yes, his sign language. How could we forget?
"The children in Africa will be so happy to finally learn in the Galactic Jack Junior Acadmy of General Education thanks to the loving support and encouragement of miss Rose." he flailed in an attempt to communicate. He slowly thought of whether or not he was in for more then he could chew this time. He had never gone after another hero and had her respond quit like that.
"Please find me a hot pack." he signed.
Frost landed besides Sly. While she could not understand sign language, she could here that one of the reporters translating for the rest. It had NOT been worth it. She had to admit that she got a microscopic piece of respect for Jack, seeing how he managed to sneak out of that one. No worries, she would get revenge later. It had been foolish to try and take it then and there, better than most, she knew that revenge was best served ice cold.
She looked at Sly. "I am expecting a big bonus for this. A VERY big bonus"
Sly had teleported back down when he saw Icegun arrive, and hailed him over with the food.
Then, when Frost landed beside him and explained just what she deserved, Sly eyed her sideways. Then he realized why Jack WASN'T speaking... absentmindedly moving his hand to his own jaw, he looked back to Frost and said,
"No Worries... I know... um... 'hazard pay' when I see it..."
Icegun always the gentleman offered the Ice maiden some of the food that he had brought. "So, what happened here? I notice there are a lot of reporters and Sly is staying away." Icegun was getting ready to start drinking his soda when he saw an individual on the rooftop leaving from his roost. Decideing they were in no danger he went back to his soda. "Crap, they didn't put any ice in mine."
Sly glanced at Icegun...
"And that's a problem for you? I'm sure either you OR Miss Frost over here could take care of that."
Sly took a bite of his meal, washed it down with his own soda, and then nudged his head over towards Jack and the crowd, which was finally beginning to dissipate.
"Frost... just what exactly happened BEFORE all this to warrant such a reaction? Did I miss something big?
And Icegun, I choose to remain anonymous from the public eye at the moment, until I know WHY they are here... one must never be so eager for publicity that one gets mixed up in bad news..."
Icegun was freezing up as Sly mentioned he could cool his own drink. "Of course my friend, I knew that, I was just making a comment. But like the fellow says, what did just happen here, also am I the only one who say the chap in the sniper posistion across the way? Maybe I should go check out his perch. One never knows if it is an enemy or freind watching them." Icegun handed Sly Fox the bags holding the rest of the food and took of at superspeed towards the rooftop he had mentioned.
"Well...let's see....where to begin...The jerk over there is more of a playboy than you, though he beats you when it comes to sexual harrasment. So, after I had helped him kill some clockwork princes, he uses his powes to stun me, and then make it look like he saved me. The jerk is as false as a politicians promises, he would've been lying in a hospital right now if it wasn't for me and the sniper up there..."
The air around Frost was as ice cold as a winterday, even though it was a rather warm summerday. The "make-up" she had earlier added had changed radically, emphasizing her cold hate rather than her fragile beauty.
"Ofcourse he also added the fact that I was his fiance. Actually that was the worst part.... so, I decided to give him a little "present", which I believe he is still very much suffering from. Once I can think straight again, I will work out a more creative punishment..."
The food Icegun had given her was now cold, a fact that didn't seem to bother her at all as she started eating.
Before Sly could stop Icegun from zooming off, the speed demon was gone. Pity he hadn't briefed him that an Operative had already been dispatched to the area...
Sly was suddenly thinking Jack was not such a bad guy to have around... ANYONE who made him look good... comparatively... couldn't be all that bad!
"Well, Miss Frost, I am sorry I could not arrive sooner to prevent such a heinous act as treating you with such little respect..."
He grinned inwardly, and offered her his arm.
"However, since this was Jack's case, perhaps we need him to tell us what the next lead is. Want to make him jealous?"
Sly knew for a fact that Frost would probably freeze him simply for making ANY type of suggestive comment or action, but he couldn't resist, seeing how she handled such attention so well...
Frost sent him an icecold glare, she toyed with the thougth of freezing Fox solid, perhaps after sending an ice spike through his throat. Ofcourse she knew that she was no match for him, and chances were he would have her gift-wrapped before even being able to hit him. No, it was time to focus on Jack. Sly was constantly walking on the line, Jack had looked at it, studied it closely, and then jumped over it.
"Very funny Fox... In case you didn't notice, I am not really in the mood for jokes right now..."
As the reporters dismissed themselves one by one and the crowd slowl disapated, the three heroes spoke and ate thier mexican food. When the last reporter had hopped into his van to send in his story, Jack snuck up behind Frost and drapped both arms loosely around her neck, dangling them carelessly before her chest and neck. The others saw the large grin on his face despite lips that looked like he had spent far too much time in the cold.
"I loved it babe, they ate it all up!" his voice still a bit dry. "Listen, I hope you don't mind I told them we would do a few 'couples' photoshoots next week, pay for your time and wardrobe of course."
Galactic Jack frowned for a moment and looked around the heroes before slidding down closer to Frost, letting his lips drift closer to her ear.
"Darling, I don't want to nag you but, that little cylinder I tossed you earlier: I don't suppose you held on to it like daddy asked?" he let his voice drift twords the tone of a father. "If you lose Jack's things," he whispered before his voice grew to a level of seriousness Jack rarely used, "Jack will have to punish you."
With that, Jack smiled to the others and placed a light peck on Frost's cheek. Jack knew she was unhappy with him but it was a game he had played many times before.
When you've played the game to death, being sloppy is more of an effort to keep thing lively. Jack always seemed very lively.
Deth Aszicen was hovering over King's Row about to hit up some Outcasts for a good time, when she looked down. Gasping,'There's that despicable alley cat. The masters have granted me luck today.'
She decided that this was as good a time as any. She teleported down beside him. He had his arms over some blue woman which was typical she thought but that was not her concern. She hoped they were not friends because what she was about to do would make the enemies. She grabbed Galatic Jack and planted him bodily to the ground, mumbling a few words as she did so. He landed heavily and as he hit black tentacles surrounded his arms and legs.
'It is the only way to make it fair.' Her smoky eyes went purple and she chuckled maniacally. Using a techniue she rarely employed, she then proceeded to pummel Galactic Jack with a flurry of 100 punches that she had promised him on an earlier meeting.
'99, 100,' she counted. Knowing that although he had dodged most of them, she had landed a few choice punches in a few choice places. She stood up and releasing the hold on him, turned to continue her journey. Seeing that she was not about to be attacked by the blue lady, she leapt into the air, hovering. About to teleport, she did a doubletake, it looked as where she was sitting was icing over. Interesting. She began to mumble the incantation for the teleport and that was when she saw him, sitting noticibly close to the Ice woman. He seemed to be shivering as if his hot loins could not keep him warm. Sly Fox, the soon to be buried. She dropped down on his foot.
'Sly Fox- san, it is good to see you.'
Placing a hand on his shoulder, nails digging in, she offered her hand to the woman.
'I am Deth Aszicen. May I know your name?' She glanced at Sly Fox, meeting his eyes with a coldness the ice woman may even have a hard time reproducing.
Waiting for an answer, she released the hold on Fox's should and it seemed an impression in his outfit was there, almost like claw marks. The site did smoke a bit. She reached down and seeing his food in front of him, picked it up and putting a napkin in her lap as she sat down, begain to eat with her free hand, the other still out waiting to be taken, the rice, avoiding what she hoped was some type of beef. She waited patiently on a response, occasionally glancing at Sly Fox, cold warnings in her eyes.
Frost took the hand. "You can call me Frost... and by the looks of it, I think we'll be on fairly good terms" She glanced at Jack "Which reminds me...."
Frost let go of Deth's hand and turned to Jack. "You, my 'dear friend', are out WAY above your head. I will not tolerate this behavior from anyone, and particularly not from a jerk with a brain the size of a pea. You are no match for me, no matter what powers you have, no matter what friends you have payed to get. As for this..." She took out the cylinder. A thin layer of ice grew around it, the air around her grew even colder than before. A little smile grew on her face as she crushed the cylinder in the palm of her hand.
"Let me put it this way: Other parts you hold more dearly might end up the same way. Ohh, and about that threatening thing....I have a VERY good lawyer"
Today was slowly turning into a poor one for Jack. A random beating from the sky and the object he had been working to retrieve the whole time being destroyed, both had pushed him in the direction of a poor mood.
With a small trail of blood dripping from the edge of his mouth, Jack picked himself up. He brushed his shoulders off and gave his tail's golden hair a quick look before he gave a forced smile to Frost and the others.
"Well with that I suppose I have my work cut out for me. Thing was the only one like it we found in that mess." Jack knelt down and poked at the shattered remains of the cylinder as he pulled his cell phone from his pockets. "Karen, I'm afraid I dropped the package on the way back... no not on purpose... I think it's pretty broken now... no, more like several pieces...I'll take care of it... no this one is on me... no I get by just fine... pirate's treasure... yes that's what I said, pirate's treasure... Karen, I'll take care of it... ok, go ahead and ask... I'm serious, pirate's treasure... alright Karen, keep your panties on, I'll have another by morning." Jack hung up with the loud clack of his mobile phone closing.
Jack took a better look at his company before shaking his head. "Why are you here anyways Sly? I doubt you just happened on the scene and decided to stick around." He questioned, "Up to no good are you?" Jack's gaze fell upon Icegun at whos presence Jack's head quirked to the side in confusion. "Have we met?"
With that Jack became, yet again, a bright yellow blur of motion as he disappeared in search of more clockwork.
"I should have learned by now that the only partners you can trust are the ones you conjure yourself." he muttered, finally showing his irritation now that he was drifting away from the others.
Sly felt bad for the extremely put upon Jack...
....
... wait...
No he didn't!
If he was going to cross the line with THESE type of women, he deserved whatever he would get!
As Sly chuckled and turned back to the rest, the laughter died in his throat when he saw how Deth was looking at him.
"What?" He said, transforming his face into a sweet disarming smile.
"Deth, this is The Heart of Frost, and this is Mr. Icegun. Both good friends.
Now... I know you two girls can't STAND Jack... but well... maybe we should at least try and go help him find whatever he's looking for? I mean, how about we make him PROMISE to obey himself. I know he's a cad who has no respect at ALL for women, but I'm sure he's not... ... why are you two looking at me like that?"
"Sly....I would rather go home with a random guy on the street than work with the flashing fool who just got away. And no, that was NOT an offer." A hint of a smile could be seen on Frosts face.
"At least we managed to slightly piss him off...that's a good start"
The Operative rolled away from his position and sighed from behind his full face mask, the breather giving it a metalic echo. A full term in the marines and a stint as a NYPD SWAT sniper and this is how he'd choosen to spend his time... covering up for some tight wearing civie? At least the pay was good, he mused as he was replacing his rifle into its case.
His ears suddenly perked up behind his helmet at the sound of metal footsteps approaching at faster then human speed. Quickly the Operative crouched and unslung his smaller, less prized, multiweapon around to cover whatever was approaching.
"Son of a..." Jack suddenly let out as a straggling cog caused Jack to trip, tumble and skid accross the pavement. The force of the impact had finished off wha tlooked like an already beaten up minion of the Clockwork King. Jack walked over to have a poke at the thing, his plans stopped abrupt as he saw the side of the building crawling with no fewer then 6 other little machines.
"Wonder what they're up to." Jack had a habit of asking himself questions, so far he hadn't ever heard a reply. He picked up his cell phone from his pockets and dialed into FSS. "Yes I have a small group here at the southwest corner of Lincoln and Oswald... no, nothing I can't handle but it's odd see... really... well maybe you should page him... ok I'll check it out."
Galactic Jack walked to the side of the building and jumped to grab hold of the fire escape, pulling it to the ground. A second later, he was at the top of the building just in time to see a Knight get thrown past him by the impressive force of a FSS operative's slug.
"Hold on, chap. Not so eager like." Jack said as he made an instantaneous sprint to the operative's side. By the look of things it seemed he must have been taken by suprise. As slow mists of light and shadow encompassed the two making them virtually invisible, the other Clockwork began to spill over the sides of the building to the roof.
Some were carrying junk and parts, the others bagn to tear pieces of the roof apart: antennas, air conditioners and satalite dishes. A large pile was formed at the center of the roof top from which the Clockwork began to bend and weld pieces of metal to form the structural form of a Prince. Among the parts piled high Jack became excited to see yet another cylinder.
"See eh? Know your enemy." Jack snapped his fingers, encompassing the operative in a thin field of kinetic force. "Name's Jack, Galactic Jack. Yours?"
Light and shadow began to coalesce behind them, the figure of something almost human pulsed and grew in size. Quickly it caught the attention of the clockwork.
Icegun skidded to a stop at the level just below the roof on the fire escape. Not knowing what he was walking into, Icegun slipped into stealth mode. It would take a little more time to search but the added defense was always a bonus. Peeking over the edge of the roof, he surveyed the situation. Not seeing anyone, he started the slow careful approach to the sniper spot. He decided to keep his cold aura around him just to slow down anyone just in case.
The Operative was so focused on Icegun's approach that he hadn't heard the clockwork minion until was almost on top of him. Crouch with his back and against a rooftop heating unit the minion was as surprised to see him as the operative was to find the minion staring down at him. Reflexivly he thumbed the fire mode switch and let loose with a solid tungsten slug before the minion could recover from his surprise.
The Clockwork Knight was thrown back through the air several feet, bounced once and then tumbled off the roofside landing in a broken heap on the street below. More of the grinding clockwork sounds could be heard from the edge of the building; The Operative rechambered another round and prepared for the assualt.
His preparations were cut short by Jack's timely arrival. He remained silent through Jack's initial comment, allowing him to cloak them both with his powers... He was a customer after all and Operatives were expected to remain professional at all times.
"Name," the operative questioned quietly, his voice echoing behind the breather. "Operative Sullivan, First Strike Security. Your contractual fire support."
"I'm briefed on the Clocks as well as anyone, but I fail to see the advantage in letting them build further reinforcements," he remained quiet, not wanting to draw the little machines attention just yet. His tone was professional and to the point. "Awaiting your orders though," he paused briefly then quickly added, "Sir."
Deth listened to the conversation between Frost and Fox knowing that she was well equipped to deal with his sly ways.
She had recently decided that she needed to add funds to continue to fuel her quest against the Evils of the world. She liked all of the people that she had dealt with from First Strike Security and as she had an interesting relationship with Sly Fox, it might behoove her to seek employment with them.
She stood and bowing ported toward the HQ. She poofed at the moment before the Clockwork hit the ground and missed any excitement. A few minutes later, she arrived in front of the FSS building right in front of the guards. Surprisingly, they did not seem too startled but they did note that she was not an operative.
'Where to I submit an application? And do I need to schedule as appointment with Contact-san?'
She adjusted her shades and stood waiting patiently.
As Deth left, Sly turned to Frost and said "She loves me, you know... eh heh... although I often wonder what that... entails..."
But any further witty remark was once again interrupted by some sort of commotion on the roof, where Icegun had headed to one of FSS's Operatives.
"Uh oh. Shall we, Frost?"
With that, Sly teleported into the middle of any action he did not want to miss.
The sound of gunfire shocked Icegun, immediatley ducking, he pulled out his assualt rifle. Listening for more sounds of gunfire, he crawled over the top of the roof. Seeing the clockworks, Icegun aimed down the scope of the rifle and started to methodically aim and shoot at the clockworks. Moving forward, firing round after round, Icegun did not see the Cannon Knight come up from his backside. Flipping his selector switch to grenade launcher, Icegun was suddenly knocked on his face from the force of the Cannon Knights blow.
"Well because, Sullivan, no matter how many of them there are one thing remains." Jack peaked over the heater they had cloaked behind and saw the cylinder he was after being insirted into the body of the slowly forming prince. "Besides, there's at least a half dozen of them, only two of us and about fourty feet to the ground."
The sound of Jack's nearly australian, but vaugely english accent seemed to maintain a level state of arrogance even when admitting to a potential defeat. Jack pointed at the glowing being of light and shadow that had formed before them, pulsing chaotically and twitching erratically the construct seemed a fitting manifestation for Jack to summon. When Jack finally spoke he was the voice of season and experience.
"Risk prevention." Jack's pointing finger came to tap on the side of his head. "Never endanger yourself when identicle results can be obtained with less probobility of loss."
Jack fished a small pocket calculater no larger then his own palm and went punching away as the automoton shambled twords the clockwork who's buzzing and whirring seemed to signal a great deal of suprise and confusion.
"Forty three to one." Jack held up the calculater. "That's the probobility that charles there does just as good a job as we do and without us getting hurt eh chum?"
Jack put the calculator back into his pocket and revealed his palm, replacing the calculator was a half empty pack of Dentyne.
"Want some?" Jack's hand motioned to Sullivan. "They say nothing's colder then Ice." Jack pointed at the package with his other hand before adding matter of factly, "It's right there you know, on the package."
It was at that moment that a Cog came flying over their heads with a flash of blue light, landing feet away from them and skidding to a stop only when it hit the gaurding edge of the roof. It fell over and picked itself up, turning to face Jack and Operative Sullivan before quirking it's head in further confusion as it tried to focus in on the nearly invisible image of the two men sitting in front of its eyes, one more casually then the other.
Jack smiled and gave the bewildered cog an invisible thumbs up. The cog, confused and perhaps a bit upset, took one last look at where the two were sitting before jumping over them and back twords the construct behind them.
Jack chuckled and pushed a piece of gum from the wrapper and placed it in his mouth.
"Nasty chompers, but not so bright."
As Sly arrived at the scene he was greeted to flashing cameras and news reporters by the dozen. He could see Jack surrounded by the eager media, but for some odd reason the charmer didn't seem to be saying much.
A lone reporter at the back of the crowd glanced over Sly's way, dismissed him, then turned back to Jack.
When the reporter did a double take and realized who she had glanced at, Sly Fox was already gone.
Hope Icegun can find me with the food, he thought, floating high above the city where he had abruptly teleported to. While he did LOVE publicity, he was never one to steal someone's thunder...
...
......
Ok, that was a bold faced lie, but as long as he could get himself to believe it at this moment, couldn't you do the same?
You could say Sly just didn't like Jack that much... but probably only because Jack was too much like himself, and Sly was not too fond of "competition."
Why he really left, however, was because he wanted to find Frost and see what he had missed. He scanned the streets below him looking for the Ice Queen....