S.I.C.K.L.E. : Dark Messiah

Posted on Wed Mar 2nd, 2022 @ 6:19am by Watch Leader Frederick Hollywood

Mission: The Factions
Location: Murmansk, Russia
Timeline: Present

He sat on the park bench looking out to sea. It was so cold even he could feel it. He could see his breath coming out in clouds. Suddenly from behind the bench we saw a face peek at him. Next to him was a bag that was letting out steam. Lorde had brought a dozen fried tuna rice balls. He looked down nonchalantly and opened the bag. He picked up one of the steaming fish cakes and took a bite. “Do you want one? They are very tasty I assure you. I had them delivered from Tokyo.”

The little girl's eyes widened. Sure she was frightened of the man. After all, by the tone of this voice there was no way he was from Murmansk, but she was so hungry and the food looked so warm and inviting.

Lorde had seen her earlier. Just before he sat down. He had a feeling either she might try and pick his pocket or see if he would give her some money. He watched her eat the rice ball like it was her last meal on Earth. He sighed, thinking how that was what he really wanted to be doing with his power. Helping people like her. “Do you believe in Angels?”

The little dirty blonde girl nodded as she swallowed the last bit of her fishball and looked at the lost traveler. When he held out another riceball she snatched it away quickly but kept her attention on him. “I have heard about the lights here, but you know when angels come to Earth you can sometimes see a streak of light like a falling star. So if you see one tonight be sure to make a wish because it might just come true.”

The girl looked out to the ocean and back. The strange man sitting next to her was gone, but the steaming bag filled with treats was still there.

-----

Lorde slammed his hands into his office desk cracking the glass like surface.

“Why are you so angry Lorde? You have dealt with evil men before.” Aryel was worried. She rarely saw her companion get so angry.

He could feel the heat in his face, his voice trying to crack. “This has happened before. The last time millions and millions of people paid the price because no one would step in. Before it ended, Aryel, close to a billion people were put to death and that was just in two countries.” He sighed and walked over to his Angel of light and looked her in the eye. “I was raised to believe that if given a chance to stop something like this I would at almost any cost.”

Aryel touched the side of Lorde's face and smiled. Although he couldn’t feel her hand in the normal way. Aryel knew he could feel the warmth of her light. She knew there was nothing she could say to stop him. She simply wondered what had happened to him in the past that made him so filled with rage.

For a moment he let himself believe it was the real Aryel letting him go do what needed to be done for the greater good.

-----

With the completion of The S.I.C.K.L.E. subcarrier station, the newest in the line of prisons for the super powered, was online and ready to receive its first residents. Admiral Pylaivohon was quite proud of what his people had achieved today. In his mind this project would be remembered by his people and the people of the world for many years to come. His name would be remembered as part of that.

Suddenly warning lights began to flash and alarms began to sound. The radar and sonar operations officer’s eyes widened. “Sir we have incoming!” His hands worked in a fury trying to lock down the target information.

The Admiral was not terribly worried. This was supposed to be one of the most fortified locations in the world. “What is it Captain?”

“Unclear just yet sure but it is traveling incredibly fast and accelerating. My best guess is that it has dropped down from orbit under power.” Finally the young captain was able to bring a very blurry image up on the big view screen at the front of the bridge.

What they saw on the screen would have been impossible just a few years before. An American styled fighter was streaking at them with boosters of some sort and worse yet was clearly armed. “Prepare the anti aircraft defenses.” Still the Admiral remained quite calm. He had worked with the design of this submarine. It could withstand a pounding even from a battleship or direct strike from a tactical nuke.

“Sir! Sir! The enemy has just released twelve fast moving missiles!” The Captain could see they had started moving much faster than the aircraft above. They would collide with the submarine in seconds.

Admiral Pylaivohon was becoming annoyed by his men’s fear. This was no way for soldiers to react in the face of battle. “Calm yourself Captain. Release the countermeasures.”

The captain did as he was ordered. This only made the operator's demeanor worse. “Sir the missiles broke apart into forty eight smaller missiles and they are now moving to avoid our countermeasures almost like drones.”

The countermeasure devices managed to knock down eight of the streaking missiles. The captain couldn’t help himself, “Brace for impact!”

After a loud boom the entire bridge went dark. The sounds of twisting metal and more explosions could be heard from all around. Suddenly all the monitors in the room turned back on at once. Admiral Pylaivohon was lying right next to the sonar officer dead. Then a strange message came up on all the screens and a loud deep voice said, “I will watch over you.”

Then suddenly the door to the bridge opened. There was a large black and red armored figure in the doorway. The captain wouldn’t be killed like a dog. He drew his MP443 Grach and fired several rounds into the devil before him. When he realized he was only ricocheting the bullets around the bridge he stopped firing. He thought of shooting himself but that was the coward's way out. “They will kill you for this!”

Lorde laughed. His voice through the armor sounded a bit like Darth Vador. “Maybe but it won't be today and it won't be by the likes of men like you.” Lorde's hand came up and there was a red glow before the officer was no more. Lorde always liked having someone to tell the tale. Unfortunately for the young captain he already had someone in mind.

-----

When the little girl saw the strange light streak down from the sky she did as the strange smiling man had told her and made a wish. Just as she did a beautiful voice spoke to her. “Did you make a wish like he said?” When the little girl looked over she saw an angel for the very first time. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. Her outfit looked like it must cost a fortune.

When the little girl's jaw dropped and her food fell out, Byte Mi just smiled and asked. “So do you want to come live with me in the most beautiful city in Florida?” Before the girl could get the nerve to answer, the blonde bombshell added, “If you are tired of those we always have the best ice cream.” Byte Mi kneeled down and looked the little girl right in the eye and held out her hand.

This was Byte Mi’s favorite job. Sure helping save the world was great and all, but saving the innocent always made her feel like a real superwoman.

When the little girl finally took her hand, Byte Mi opened the portal back to base. On their way through the woman of steel couldn’t help but ask, “Have you been to Disney? You're gonna love it.”

The little girl thought to herself that she might be going to heaven, but what a fabulous way to go.

Just as they disappeared through the portal a mushroom cloud began to rise in the distance. Shortly after that a tidal wave cut through the town killing thousands.