The Mark of the Ebony Blade

by
Nathan C. Weber

     She had been staking out the old warehouse in the industrial district just outside of town for the past two weeks. For days she had tailed each person that had left the warehouse. She had witnessed several rendezvous dealing in the sale of illegal weapons. Slowly, with precision and careful attention to detail, she had formulated a plan of attack. Now, it was time for the trap to be sprung.

    Lisa Harrigan shook her head in disbelief. She marveled at the ease with which Kismet had kept tabs on the whole gun running operation, which had been plaguing the minds of Monument City's vice department for the past two months. Now, with her squad strategically placed according to Kismet's instructions, they were ready to draw a close upon that nefarious business. The two women were hidden from the view of the other officers behind a small storage shack. Lisa finished checking in with her officers on her radio.

    "Well, everything's set on this end," said Lisa.

    Kismet nodded and pulled on the blue mask that covered her entire face.

    "Good luck," said Lisa.

    Kismet gave Lisa a thumbs up signal and dashed off toward the warehouse.

    "All units, stay sharp," called Lisa into her radio.

* * *

    The scene in the warehouse was one of pure chaos. Crates were haphazardly strewn about, sawdust littered the floor, and the four men who had been hired to move the crates were standing against one of the cement posts that was part of the building's structure. Jackson Piller was scowling at them with a deadly look. He was a tall, lanky man with a gaunt face and sandy colored hair. He was dressed in a white, cotton turtleneck shirt, black slacks and reflective sunglasses. His outfit was further accessorized with a cream colored ascot which hung limp down the left side of his chest. Piller paced a bit before turning back toward the hired workers.

    "So, you think that your jobs are so important that you need to be paid more," said Piller. The men stood in their places not saying a word. The tension in the air was high, but they weren't going to back down, not now. Piller was in no mood for stubborn hired help. Normally, a few well placed bullets would solve a situation like this, but they were already late. Information was given to them stating that the police were getting too close to their location. They had to move quickly.

    "Alright, you worthless punks," growled Piller. "I've got no time to argue. You'll each get a hundred dollar raise. Fair 'nuff?"

    Each worker cracked a smile and began to pick up the crates, packing them into a moving van.

    Damned muscle-brained money grubbers, thought Piller to himself. If I didn't need 'em, I'd shoot the lot of 'em.

    Piller continued to oversee the work; however, he failed to notice the blue clad woman overseeing them all.

* * *

     Kismet had lowered herself through the building's skylight and crawled along the steel beams. She noticed that activity was at a standstill within the warehouse. Four burly looking men dressed up as furniture movers were standing together and facing another man wearing black slacks, a white turtleneck, and a cream colored ascot.

    No honor among thieves, quipped Kismet to herself.

    Soon, the men began hauling several of the crates that were lying about into a large moving van.

    Well, well. Seems we made our move just in time. These birds are about to fly the coop.

    Kismet located a sturdy pile of crates and lowered herself onto them. Then, she circumvented the criminals until she reached the van. She drew her katana and slashed both front tires. After resheathing her weapon, she reached under the front of the vehicle and, with incredible strength, snapped the front axle in half. Kismet's next move required patience until all of the crates were loaded. She'd have to time this right.

    "Okay," said one of the movers, "that's the last of them. You guys get in the back."

    Kismet crawled under the truck until she reached the rear. She saw three of the men step into the back of the van and the fourth closed the doors behind them. As the last mover and the man with the ascot walked to the front of the van, Kismet quickly reached up and bent the door clasp in such a way the no one could get in unless he had a blow torch.

    "What the hell happened to the tires!?"

    "Damn it! If we don't get these weapons to the boss, he's gonna s**t bricks."

    "That's nothin' compared to what he'll do to us. Get the others out of the truck. We'll have to get another one."

    The mover walked to the back of the truck to open the rear doors. Kismet quietly snuck up behind him and, with a rapid chop of the hand to the back of his neck, she knocked him unconscious.

    "Hey, what the hell's takin' you so long?"

    As the man with the ascot rounded the corner of the van, he came face to face with a flying kick. In an instant, he was lying inert next to his accomplice. Banging from inside the van revealed that the men inside had realized something was wrong.

    Sorry, guys. You've just been declared bankrupt.

* * *

    "Nuts," said Alex with distaste. "I thought we had Kismet on something when we spotted her coming out of the warehouse. Now, it turns out she was mopping up in here."

    Lisa gave Alex Hunter a sidelong glance.

    "Maybe we'll have better luck next time," she said.

    Lisa couldn't tell any of them that this whole set up was Kismet's plan. She took care of locating the crooks who had eluded them for so long, and she disabled them so that the police could make an easy clean up without any casualties.

    Besides, thought Lisa, if anyone found out that this cop was working with a vigilante, not only would I receive a dishonorable discharge, I'd probably be thrown in jail.

    "I don't get it," said Alex. "How'd she find these guys, anyway? You think she knew when we were going to make this raid?"

    Lisa wrinkled her brow. "I don't think so. Probably just coincidence. I mean, that's like asking how she does those damn near impossible things she does."

    "You mean things like bending gun barrels, outracing police cruisers, and practically disappearing whenever she's cornered," said Alex with a wry smirk.

    "Yeah," sighed Lisa, relieved that she was able to misdirect Officer Hunter. "Stuff like that."

    "Well, I suppose she'll slip up some day," said Alex. "And when she does, who knows, maybe you'll be the cop to catch her. You'd be famous."

    "Perhaps," said Lisa, "but I sincerely doubt it. In the meantime, let's get our surprise package back to the precinct."

* * *

    Trisha Fate sat in her favorite spot, the large sofa chair in the center of her living room. This evening's work was completed satisfactorily. There was, however, one slight hitch. During the time she waited to ensnare the gun runners, she had discovered that the operation was being masterminded by another person. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to find out who that person was or where he was located. Trisha's thoughts were interrupted by a rhythmic rapping at her door. She stood up to answer it. The door swung open to the beaming smile of Lt. Kevin Brown.

    "Hey, Sweetheart. Lisa told me that this evening's little shindig went off with flying colors."

    Trisha returned the smile and gestured for Kevin to enter. As he crossed the threshold he greeted her with a kiss.

    "Lisa told me to tell you that she really appreciated all you did for her."

    Trisha nodded her acknowledgment.

    "Oh yeah, one more thing." Kevin reached into the inside pocket of his blazer and pulled out two tickets. "The mayor's having a banquet in honor of Monument City's finest, and I need a date. Think you can recommend someone?"

    Trisha pretended to give the question considerable thought, then came up with an answer by shrugging her shoulders. Kevin pretended to be hurt.

    "Hey, you mean you wouldn't give up an exciting night of crime fighting and go to posh banquet complete with boring speeches alongside possibly the force's most debonair looking homicide detective?"

    Trisha accepted Kevin's invitation by smiling warmly and taking one of the tickets out of his hand.

    "Thanks, Babe. It's a black tie affair so wear something stunning. Sorry I have to pop in and pop out, but they've got me doing paper work on my last murder case, and I'm going to be up all night."

    Trisha gave him a pathetic look of sympathy. She entwined her arms around his neck and gave him a long, passionate kiss.

    "Mmmm," said Kevin. "That should keep me going for a while."

    Trisha followed through with another kiss before she was reluctantly forced to let Kevin go.

    "I'll give you a call later," he called back and soon disappeared at the end of the hall.

    Trisha waved absently after him even though he was already out of sight. She closed the door and returned to her chair.

    Kevin seemed to be in awfully good spirits, she mused. He's never called me "babe" before. Something big must be coming, and he's saving it as a surprise. Too bad Iris isn't around I'd ask her for a prediction.

    Trisha thought a moment. On second thought, she wouldn't tell me anything anyway.

    She read the ticket that was still in her hand. Next week. I think now would be a good time to shop for a new dress.

    She rose, grabbed her jacket and shoulder purse, and headed out the front door.

* * *

    "A complete litany of failures, gentlemen."

    Gerard de Barr paced around the circular table where three men in business suits sat and fidgeted under his scrutiny.

    "The Zabel Heist, the Park Place Gambit, and now my weapons deals. All of these have one thing in common -- Kismet. She has shown up at every one of my scams and ruined everything. We cannot afford another loss. She is destructive to our business."

    "What do you propose to do, Mr. de Barr?" piped up a mousy looking man wearing half-shell framed glasses.

    "Why get rid of her, of course," replied de Barr.

    The three men at the table glanced at one another. "How, sir?" asked a second man who sported an unshaven face and a square jaw. "The police have been trying to collar her for years."

    "Monument City's finest are good for handling ordinary situations. But this, gentlemen, is an extraordinary situation, which requires extraordinary measures." De Barr raised his voice. "Mr. Derringer."

     Into the small room strode a tall, muscular, dark-skinned man wearing a dark gray outfit with a flowing, black cape. He had broad shoulders and was solidly built. He easily made up the mass of all three men who sat at the conference table. Strapped across his back were two short swords, one crossing the other. His face was placid and expressionless like a sheet of ice and the only extraordinary feature was a well groomed goatee. Cold, steel-gray eyes broadcast a clear message: I am dangerous.

    The three at the conference table looked at one another. This was definitely someone they wouldn't want make angry at them.

    "This, gentlemen," introduced de Barr, "is Mr. Jake Derringer, a.k.a. the Ebony Blade. He is a very special kind of bounty hunter, and I have contracted him to eliminate the one thorn in our financial side - Kismet."

    The large, squared-jawed exec showed upon his face the skepticism that filled his mind. He had run into Kismet before when he was a lowly hired thug. The bounty hunter stared him down and uttered his words in a frighteningly resonant baritone.

    "Your expression tells me that you do not believe I can accomplish the task set before me."

    "You got that right, mister," growled the burly man. "I've been up against Kismet before. She ain't even human. She bends steel in her bare hands."

    "No doubt she's faster than a speeding bullet as well," said Derringer with a disdainful smirk.

    The exec stood and pointed a finger at Derringer. "You can make fun all you want, but I can guarantee that Kismet will be more than a match for you."

    The Ebony Blade reached over in a flash of speed and within seconds had the large man under de Barr's employ face down into the table with his arm pinned behind his back. The man was in obvious pain but refused to submit to it.

    "We shall see, small minded one," said Derringer tersely.

* * *

    Kevin Brown collapsed face down onto his desk. Lisa Harrigan noticed his sudden change in posture and walked over to the lieutenant.

    "I don't know, Lieutenant. It's never been conclusively proven that you can absorb information that way."

    Kevin looked up and smirked. "Very funny, Harrigan. In any case, I'm trying to put information on the paper not take it off."

    Lisa leaned over and looked at the report papers spread out on the desk. She shook her head.

    "I wish I could help," she said with a touch of sympathy.

    "Thanks, Lisa, but all I need is a good cup of coffee and a strong dose of sticktuitiveness."

    "Well," said Lisa showing one of her rare smiles, "I don't know about the latter, but I think I can arrange the former."

    "Thanks," said Kevin rising, "but I'm very particular about my coffee."

    "Suit yourself."

    Lisa exited the Pit. Kevin always wondered how she managed to maintain such a stoic face at all times, not to mention why. He figured one day he would eventually find out. In the meantime, his report was no closer to being written. After gathering his thoughts, Kevin decided that terse language was better than no language. Nearly three hours later, the lieutenant wrote out his last statement. With a sigh of relief, he stood and carried the hand written report to the typists pool. These were specially assigned officers who spent all day typing up reports filed by other officers. Kevin remembered the drudging days when he was a junior officer slaving in the pool from time to time. Fortunately, being a detective also meant that he didn't have to do that kind of drone work any more. Lisa, on the other hand, felt that it was a rather unfair arrangement, as she had to be assigned to the pool on a monthly basis.

    Just as the lieutenant was about to leave, a large man in a three-piece, gray flannel suit and horn-rimmed glasses walked into the precinct. He glanced about the room and finally focussed on Lt. Brown.

    "May I help you," asked Kevin.

    "My name is Jake Derringer," said the man proffering a hand. "I'm doing a story on the self-proclaimed heroes in Monument City. I heard that you might be able to help."

    Kevin shook the man's hand. It was a solid grip. Obviously, this guy could tear a house apart with his hands if he wanted to.

    "Well, in the first place," said Kevin, "I've never heard any of them proclaim themselves to be heroes. Secondly, what makes you think I could help you."

    "From the information I've been able to dig up, you have had the most direct contact with these beings. Especially the one called Kismet."

    "Your point being...?"

    "You may have picked up some first hand information that may be useful in my report," said Derringer.

    "Look, you can find whatever you need in the city newspaper," said Kevin.

    "True enough," acquiesced Derringer, "however, many of the accounts recorded there have, shall we say, embellished descriptions. I merely want you to sort out what is true and what is false."

    Kevin shook his head. "Look, mister, I haven't the time for this. I've got too much work to do to fool around with some reporter."

    "I never said I was a reporter," said the man grimly.

    "It doesn't matter," said Kevin. "I don't have the time. Good day."

    With that Kevin walked out of the precinct. Derringer merely looked after him and smiled.

    Yes, he is definitely hiding information.

* * *

    Trisha Fate had looked through several dress shops and still came up empty. Being a freelance computer programmer for Monument City Computers allowed her to be extravagant. However, most of the things she saw were ridiculous affairs she wouldn't be caught dead in much less at a police officers' banquet. Nonetheless, she had to find something "stunning" as Kevin had suggested.

    Suddenly, something caught her eye in a store window across the street. Trisha carefully dodged her way across through heavy traffic. There in the window was a black Lycra dress with an iridescent sheen. It was quite form fitting on the mannequin, not to mention it was moderately revealing, just what she had in mind. Trisha went inside and talked with the salesclerk. She was shown the dress of her choice and allowed to try it on. Since, the design was actually made for petite women, a few alterations had to be made to allow for Trisha's hips and bust. Even so, the price was quite agreeable.

    Of course, no new dress would be complete without the proper accessories. New black suede pumps were purchased along with a pair of black onyx earrings, a gold necklace replete with zirconia settings, black stockings with a faint floral pattern worked into the fabric, and a gold chain belt. Trisha's outfit was complete.

    Now, I'm ready for the banquet, she thought happily.

* * *

    Lisa Harrigan was heading toward her desk. In her right hand she held a paper cup filled with herbal tea. She didn't care for coffee and brought her own private stash of tea. Since the cup was filled nearly to the brim, Lisa had to be very careful as she walked toward the exit, watching the cup and taking occasional glances to see where she was going. Unfortunately she didn't notice the looming shadow that suddenly appeared over her until it was too late. A tall, muscular African American man stood directly in front of her. In an instant, the entire, piping hot contents of the cup ran down Lisa's shirt front. It was then that the entire precinct heard the one sound that no living creature on Earth had ever heard Lisa Harrigan produce. Every officer in the building seemed frozen in time as every human ear was assaulted by a crystal shattering scream.

    "YOU IDIOT!!!"

    The gentleman responsible for the incident seemed to be unaffected by Lisa's tirade of expletives that soon followed.

    "I'm terribly sorry, officer," he said in a sweet, mellow voice, "but you really should watch where you're going."

    Fortunately, Lieutenant Brown was well within reach to restrain Lisa from committing an assault. With a firm grasp about her waist, Kevin literally picked Lisa up and carried her into the evidence room. It took her a good fifteen minutes to finally regain her composure.

    "Even though it would be justifiable," said Kevin indicating the stranger who had caused the incident, "homicide is still a felony."

    Lisa merely glowered at him. It was clear she was in a foul humor. Immediately, she began to undo her shirt front. Kevin took a sudden interest in the gathered pieces of evidence from various crime cases.

    "Look at this," said Lisa in an annoyed tone. "My chest is gonna be sore for a week."

    Despite his uneasy feelings, Kevin decided to take a look as instructed. Indeed, Lisa had suffered a first degree burn which started at the top of the breast bone and ran down between her breasts. Already it had developed into an unhealthy, rosy pink color. It was then that Kevin noticed the smattering of freckles that dotted across Lisa's chest. He began to wonder if she had freckles anywhere else on her person but stopped himself before his imagination could get him into any trouble.

    "I'm going to be so red, I won't be able to see my freckles," Lisa lamented.

    As an afterthought, Lisa noticed how uncomfortable Kevin looked and quickly closed her shirt front.

    "I'll be alright," she said. "I just need to gather my pride."

    Kevin took this as the dismissal it was meant to be.

    "I'll go talk to Captain Chaos out there," said Kevin, "if he's still around."

    Unfortunately, Kevin discovered, the stranger who called himself Jake Derringer had left the precinct. No doubt many of the officers had explained to him that his life was in jeopardy if he continued to hang around.

    Who the hell was that guy anyway? thought Kevin.

* * *

     Sara sat back and sulked. Trisha had never met anyone who was as moody as Sara Freeman. Upon her return from shopping she had the misfortune of being confronted by a perturbed Sara and a very frustrated Oriental lawyer. Apparently, Sara had gotten involved in some altercation at school. Kim Kido glanced at Trisha and shook her head. The meaning was obvious. No matter what they said or did, Sara would still remain as stubborn as a concrete wall. Kim tried again.

    "Look, Sara, I, of all people, understand what you're going through. But I'm not letting my looks stand in my way. You sometimes have to force people to take you seriously, but beating up that poor kid like that was uncalled for."

     Sara glanced up at Kim. The Japanese woman's skin glinted in the light of the overhead fixture. Her skin color was what always caught people's attention. It was that shiny, metallic gold luster that made her stand out everywhere she went, and despite such an odd complexion, Kim Kido was still able to become one of the most successful lawyers in Monument City. Perhaps because of it.

    Sara had a similar problem. Her skin was green. Her hair was also green. The reason for such peculiar coloration was that she was half plant. A product of some highly advanced genetic engineering. The same that produced Kim's odd skin color. It also made the three of them superhuman. They all possessed the same incredible strength and the same supernatural abilities.

    "There's always a better way to solve a problem," continued Kim.

    "He was asking for it," growled Sara.

    Kim sighed heavily.

    "That's not the point," said Kim, losing her patience. "The point is that you have a viciously unfair advantage over other people in a fight. You have to learn to treat your abilities with some measure of responsibility. You could have killed that boy. Then where would you be?"

    Sara's angry look weakened a bit. She slowly began to accept that Kim was telling the truth. She had almost killed the school's star receiver. He had taunted and teased her, and in a blind rage, she literally leveled him to the ground. Kim realized that she was beginning to break through Sara's pig-headedness.

    "Look, we've all got the same responsibilities. I know you've been stuck with being a freak. So have the rest of us. But you've got to accept who you are and what you've become and use that to your advantage without compromising others."  Kim gave her a warm smile. "Think you can handle that?"

    Sara nodded. "I'm sorry, guys. I let you down."

    "You didn't let us down," said Kim. "Let's just say you had a momentary lapse in protocol."

    She gave Sara a wink, and Sara responded with a smile. Trisha gave an inward sigh of relief. Raising a teenager was definitely more difficult than being a nighttime vigilante. In all truthfulness, Trisha didn't really spend the most time with Sara. She usually stayed with her mother Dr. Geraldine Page and plagued Trisha and Kim with frequent visits. Because of Geri's advanced age, it was usually Trisha who took care of any of the disciplinary problems that inevitably come up when teenagers are involved. Kim was the one who gave the lectures because of obvious circumstances. Yet despite all of this, there was more to their relationship than guardians and ward. They were more appropriately big sisters and little sister. Thus, they all spent time whenever they could going out together and enjoying one another's company.

    "Why don't you get washed up, and we'll all go out to eat," suggested Kim.

    Sara stood up and headed for the bathroom. Kim looked at her friend. "Well, I think we handled that rather well, don't you?" asked Kim.

    You mean you handled that rather well, thought Trisha with a smirk.

    She didn't have to sign, because Kim could read her thoughts, telepathy being one of the results of genetic engineering. It wasn't long before Sara returned to the living room, and the three sisters left the apartment to spend an enjoyable evening together.

* * *

    Jake Derringer waited in a large, black European sedan for his quarry to leave the precinct. It wasn't long before she exited the doors of the precinct and jumped into a squad car. Derringer smiled. His impromptu plan to tail Lisa Harrigan was apparently successful. As she started the engine and pulled out into the street, Derringer followed at a casual distance. Soon, Lisa had reached her apartment building. No doubt she intended to change her uniform. Derringer leaned back in the driver's seat and pulled out a small note pad. Besides Lieutenant Brown, Lisa Harrigan was another person who had several run-ins with Monument City's infamous vigilante. Perhaps she would eventually lead him to her. It was a chance worth taking. Derringer reached for the day's copy of The Monument Post and flipped to the Metro section. There on the front page was something of infinite interest to the Ebony Blade. A police banquet honoring the achievements of Lieutenant Kevin Brown. A smile crossed Derringer's lips.

    "Well, well," he said to himself. "I think I just found out how to bring Kismet to me and have an advantage over her as well."

    Jake Derringer folded the paper and tossed it into the back seat. It was no longer necessary to follow Officer Harrigan. A new and vastly more entertaining prospect had presented itself. Derringer turned the vehicle on to a side street and sped off into the evening.

* * *

    Waiting for the Police Banquet to finally come was to Trisha like sitting on a cushion of needles. The week had gone by excruciatingly slow. Even crime fighting had been only marginally distracting. Now, it was the day before the banquet and the building excitement had Trisha nearly bouncing off the walls. Already, she had cleaned her apartment from ceiling to floor, literally. This was one of those times where having a tireless metabolism could be a disadvantage. After all of the scrubbing, and polishing, and organizing was complete, Trisha was no more tired than when she started.

    Next, Trisha decided to work on a special project that Monument City Computers, Inc. had asked her to do. Apparently, there was a lot of time being wasted on the mainframe playing computer games. Dr. Brian Chadwick, the company's CEO, had asked Trisha to create a sentry which would randomly check the networking PC's for unauthorized computer use. Trisha had suggested that a special place should be set aside where employees could use their break time to relax. This place would contain several PC's connected as a workgroup which would not be linked to the mainframe where the employees could play their games without tying up precious memory in the main frame. Trisha was able to convince Dr. Chadwick that combining the two options would prevent him from being labeled a dictator by the working masses. Naturally he agreed since Brian Chadwick, by nature, was a mild mannered soul, an image he always strove to maintain with his employees.

    Trisha sat at her computer and booted up the special computer language that she and her extra-terrestrial friend Star Child had compiled together. The task of programming, debugging and compiling the sentry took an hour.

    Well, thought Trisha, that was useless.

    Finally Trisha decided to do something that she hadn't done in years. She decided to do a day watch over the city as Kismet. Quickly removing the uniform of her alter ego from the secret compartment in the back of her closet, Trisha suited herself and was in no time traversing the tall office and apartment buildings of downtown Monument City. Soon, she reached her favorite perch, the clock tower of the John J. Chambers Commerce Building. Kismet always felt at peace lurking from the highest point in Monument City. The Westminster chimes rang out loudly from the belfry. Unlike most large cities, the clock tower still used its original bells to ring its chimes, not the computerized recordings and amplifiers that other towers had resorted to in recent times.

    Kismet never tired of those bells. The sounds, although loud because of their close proximity, relaxed her. Just as the tension eased out of her muscles, a cry snapped her back to alertness. A quick scan of the area pinpointed the source of the scream. Immediately, Kismet leapt from the tower to a nearby office building. Steel muscles and cat-like agility were able to catapult her to the desired location in moments. Finally, Kismet found a young woman jumping and screaming. Other people were surrounding the woman trying to calm her down.

    "My baby!" she wailed in hysterics. "They stole my baby!"

    Kismet snapped her head up and searched down the street. Sure enough, two men in black sweatsuits and ski masks were running at full tilt with a baby cradled in the arms of one. Faster than the blink of an eye Kismet was after them traversing rooftop after rooftop until she was running along side them.

    I can't just attack them while they have the baby. Hopefully, they'll stop somewhere.

    After making a zig-zagging path through back alleys and empty lots, the men finally stopped at an abandoned rowhouse. They carefully slid aside the ply-wood board that covered a window and entered the building. Kismet leaped to the roof of the rowhouse from an elementary school across the street. She was able to find a ventilation shaft which led to the heating ducts in the building. Unfortunately, the ducts were too small to hold a human adult. Instead, she went straight down to the basement.

    The heater was no longer attached to the system. No doubt it had been salvaged for use elsewhere. Kismet silently crept up the steps and into the small kitchen. Listening carefully, she could hear the voices of the kidnappers.

    "That's right, ten thousand dollars at the regular drop sight."

    They must be calling in for a ransom. They sure don't waste time.

    "Caucasian female. Blond hair. Blue eyes. The perfect baby any parent would wish for."

    Kismet's blood ran cold in her veins. These men were not ransoming the baby. They were black marketers. They had kidnapped the baby in order to sell her to another couple desperate for a child of their own. The chill in Kismet's body was followed by the heat of rage. Kismet edged toward the living room and assessed the situation. The baby, interestingly enough, was sleeping soundlessly on the sofa despite her recent ordeal. The men were sitting at a dining table in the anteroom the connected the kitchen and the living room. One man was speaking into a portable cellular phone, while the other was looking back nervously at the sleeping baby.

    Without warning, Kismet launched herself at the two kidnappers. It took only moments to dispatch them as they were caught unawares. Using the electrical cords from a pair of lamps that had been left behind, Kismet bound the two men hand and foot and hung them upside-down from the chandelier which still hung in the dining room. She used the remains of an old curtain to gag their mouths so that they couldn't cry out for help when they awoke.

    Having finished with the kidnappers, Kismet went to inspect the baby. She carefully scooped her up in her arms. The baby seemed to not notice, or not care, that she had been jostled about so much. She gave a small yawn as babies often do, and Kismet sighed with satisfaction that the child was in good health.

    You're lucky I decided to come out today kiddo, she thought to the baby. I might not have been able to find you if you had been sold.

    Without a look back, she kicked the ply-wood board that covered the front entrance and began to walk back to where the child's frantic mother waited.

* * *

    Officer Lisa Harrigan and Officer Alex Hunter had arrived on the scene of the baby napping. Lisa had her hands full trying to get a coherent description of the incident from the wailing mother. Alex was working on locating any eyewitnesses who may be able to recognize the kidnappers. It quickly became apparent that the men had been well covered to prevent identification. Of all the crimes Lisa had to deal with, this had to be one of the worst types.

    Who the hell would be so low as to steal a baby from her mother, fumed Lisa to herself.

    Lisa was knocked from her thoughts by a commotion that had begun to develop down the street. A very large crowd of people were gathering along the sidewalk and spilling over into the street disrupting traffic.

    "Oh my God," muttered Alex. "Harrigan, you got to see this."

    Lisa trotted over to where Alex Hunter stood, and looked to where he had been pointing. There before her eyes was Kismet, in broad daylight, walking up the sidewalk toward them. Carefully cradled in her arms was a small bundle - a baby.

    "You believe in miracles, 'Lex?" whispered Lisa.

    "If I didn't before, I do now," replied Alex.

    Kismet approached the officers with hundreds of cheering people pressing behind her. The baby seemed to enjoy the attention and was playfully tugging on Kismet's lower lip and chin. Lisa noticed that Kismet didn't seem to mind what was going on around her. In fact, she had a strange wistful look in her eyes. Kismet walked right past Lisa and Alex and went straight to the lamenting woman.

    The mother's expression of sheer joy at the sight of her missing daughter's return filled Kismet's heart with a warm feeling. At the moment she didn't care that someone could probably attempt to identify her if he or she wanted to. The woman hugged her baby carefully but firmly. The tears now streaming down her face were tears of happiness. Finally, she looked up at Kismet.

    "Thank you," she said laughing and crying all at once. "Thank you for saving my Jennifer."

    Kismet gave a curt nod in response, and the woman kissed her on the cheek. An uproarious applause went throughout the throngs of people witnessing the return of the kidnap victim. Kismet smartly turned about and walked toward Lisa and Alex. Lisa was surprised to see a single tear meandering past Kismet's mask. Upon reaching the two officers, Kismet handed to them a slip of paper with a message stating the location of the two kidnappers.

    "I assume this is where we'll find the perpetrators?" asked Alex.

    Kismet nodded.

    "You know they were wearing masks," said Lisa. "It's going to be hard to make anything stick if the mother of the child can't positively identify them."

    Kismet smiled and produced a second slip of paper. On it was the location and time of the drop site where the baby was to be delivered. Kismet had used her augmented hearing to listen in on the other half of the kidnappers' phone conversation.

    "My God," said Alex. "We've got a chance to finally shut down the black market baby ring in Monument City."

    Before anyone could say anything further, Kismet somersaulted backwards and then leaped straight upwards to the roof of a nearby coffee shop. She disappeared without a trace. Lisa looked up at the empty roof.

    "You think we should have arrested her?"

    Alex looked back at his partner with a smirk. "And become the villains of the Monument City Police Department? No thanks."

* * *

    Kevin appeared at the door with a slightly irritated look on his face.

    "I wish you'd warn me when you plan on making these unprecedented daytime appearances."

    Trisha noticed that despite his complaint, it was going to take a lot more than her impromptu whims to dampen his excitement for tomorrow evening's event. She shrugged her shoulders at him as she led him to the living room sofa.

    "Well, in any case, the department dropped down on the black market baby ring like an anvil in a Warner Brothers cartoon. We've uncovered so much that the F.B.I. had to step in."

    Trisha smiled and gave Kevin a bear hug.

    "I knew that you'd enjoy hearing that," said Kevin laughing. "Incidentally, Lisa's so excited about the bust that she's bouncing off the walls. It's about to drive Captain O'Donnell nuts, and I think you may have made an ally out of Alex Hunter, but I wouldn't go shake his hand just yet."

    Trisha nodded, but it was clear to Kevin that her thoughts were elsewhere.

    "Penny for your thoughts," said Kevin.

    Trisha looked Kevin for what seemed like the first time since he had appeared at her door. She instinctively blushed having realized that she had been ignoring her guest.

    "I was thinking about that baby I rescued today," signed Trisha. "I suppose holding her in my arms got me thinking about what it would be like to have one of my own."

    Kevin wasn't quite sure what to make of that comment. Ever since they had first met, their relationship had grown slowly from professional to platonic to romantic. Although, Kevin suspected that Trisha had gone through those stages quicker than he had. Even though they were romantically involved to date, they had chosen not to consummate their relationship. Kevin had often wondered where their affair would lead to, but he had to admit, childrearing was quite distant from his mind.

    "You've thought about raising a family?" asked Kevin.

    Trisha nodded her head curtly, then she cocked her head to one side in an unspoken question, "Have you?"

    Kevin leaned back in the sofa and sighed.

    "Unfortunately, no. I guess as far back as I can recall, my goal has been climbing the ranks of the department."

    He paused and smiled. "Well, until recently," he added.

    Trisha decided to change the subject. "I bought a new outfit for tomorrow evening," she signed. "I think you're going to like it."

    "We'll see," said Kevin playfully. "You know I'm a difficult man to please."

    Trisha lightly punched Kevin in the shoulder.

* * *

        In his hotel room, Jake Derringer sat at the small dinette table and perused the blueprints of the Monument City Convention Center. It was a vast complex designed to accommodate organizations and affairs of all sizes. The police banquet was going to be held in the Blue Room, a swank, high-priced dining hall. Carefully, Derringer mapped out the ventilation system and the electrical wiring.

    "Perhaps I'll use the skylight," thought Derringer. "Yes, something dramatic would definitely be in order." Derringer rolled up the prints and set them aside. "In fact, it's amazing just how many skylights there are in Monument City.  One would think the city planners had premonitions of roof traversing individuals with a need for a quick entrance."

    Next he commenced to sharpening his swords. An activity that aided his thinking. A plan was definitely beginning to form.

* * *

    The night of the banquet had finally arrived. Trisha's living room was quite crowded. All of her friends and fellow heroines were patiently waiting in their finest evening wear as she prepared for the evening's events.

    "It was a good thing that you were able to get tickets for us, Kim," said Dr. Shaunyce Brooks, anthropologist/archaeologist at the Monument City Museum of Antiquities.

    "I'll say," said Emilia Hart, world renown model and not so well known actress. "Kevin deserves all the support we can give him."

    "Indeed," chimed in Dr. Azura ole Botan, head zoologist at the Monument City Zoo. "It is a long overdue accolade that the lieutenant is receiving."

    "Well, I remember a time when you would have been just as happy to see him tending parking meters," giggled R'y'sha, the mysterious alien visitor..

    Azura frowned a little. "That was in the past. The lieutenant and I have reconciled our differences since then."

    "Don't let Trisha hear you say that," said Shaunyce with an impish grin.

    Azura's frown deepened. "That is not even remotely humorous. You know what I meant."

    "Don't let her pull your chain, Azura," said Kim Kido. "Anyway, It was easy to get a hold of those tickets. That's the advantage of having friends in the judicial system."

    "You think those friends of yours can help me with a parking ticket?" asked Dr. Nicole Williams, cyberneticist at the privately owned Cybernet Corporation.

    Everyone in the room went silent.

    "It was a joke, guys," said Nicole. "Jeez, you'd think a blind person can't have a sense of humor?"

    "It's not that, Nicole," said Emilia. "You just...caught us off guard."

    The conversation was winding down to more mundane things when Trisha stepped into the living room. The form fitting dress had no straps, long sleeves and a diamond die-cut across the navel. The iridescent fabric scattered the light into a myriad of dancing rainbows.

    "Whoa," exclaimed R'y'sha. "Ladies, I think we have been officially outdone."

    Kim stood up and surveyed Trisha's outfit with a critical eye.

    "You look stunning, sis," said Kim.

    "Dressed to kill, more like," commented Shaunyce.

    "I think I've modeled in this dress before," said Emilia. "I must say it looks better on you. I don't think it's meant for women quite as...endowed as I am."

    Trisha nodded in agreement. In fact, the dress was designed for a woman with a smaller bust line than even she had. Still, it flattered her figure well. Trisha looked her friends over. They wore an interesting array of apparel. Shaunyce wore a pleated ivory dress with one strap going over the left shoulder. Emilia wore a more modest canary yellow dress suit with a short skirt. Trisha assumed that parading around in flamboyant outfits most of the time caused her to dress more conservatively in her spare time. Azura wore a beautiful West African kinte dress with matching head wrap. She complemented the outfit with jade earrings in the shape of elephants and jade bracelets. She also wore a small Maasai rainbow necklace in honor of her pastoral heritage. R'y'sha wore a simple pink "A-line" dress. With her purple hair, R'y'sha felt that it was unnecessary to dress provocatively. Nicole wore a rather masculine looking charcoal gray pants suit with a red bow tie. She enjoyed wearing the unusual just to get a rise out of people. Kim was dressed in a red halter evening gown. She never bothered to wear jewelry because her metallic gold skin usually drowned out the effect. They were all ready to go. There was only one thing missing. A knock rang out at the door. Trisha opened it to reveal a dashing young African American man in a black tuxedo.

    Shaunyce gave out a wolf whistle. "Who's the stud at the door?"

    "Sorry, my dear," said Kevin, "I am already spoken for."

    Shaunyce snapped her fingers in mock disappointment. "Shucks!"

    "Are you ladies ready to go?"

    "Just waiting on you, lieutenant," said Kim.

    "Then let's head on out. I've rented a limo for the occasion."

* * *

    The paparazzi was thick at the entrance to the Convention Center. Flash bulbs were exploding at incredible rates. Because of her secret lifestyle, Trisha was quite uncomfortable about being photographed at any time. She had no idea why there would be so many photographers at a police banquet. That is until she realized who it was the photographers were focussing on.

    Many were taking pictures of Trisha's friends, particularly Star Child, Iris, and Azura. These were the members of the Black Pack who did not disguise themselves and were easily recognizable. Obviously, they had hoped that some of Monument City's super powered citizenry would show up at the banquet. They weren't disappointed, however. Some were taking pictures of Emilia because of her super model status. Some were taking pictures of Kim Kido, the famous mutant defense lawyer. But most of them were taking pictures of Lt. Brown.

    Trisha spotted Lisa Harrigan in a satin, emerald green evening gown.   Her hair was was put up and decorated with green sequin combs.  She almost didn't recognize Lisa.  Trisha tapped Kevin's arm and pointed in Lisa's direction.   Kevin literally stopped in his tracks.

    "Wow," said Kevin, "that is definitely a new look for Lisa.  I think poor Alex is looking about as green as her dress though."

    Standing alongside Lisa was Alex Hunter in a standard tuxedo.   He kept tugging at his collar as if the offending shirt were choking him. Kevin and Trisha walked over to Lisa and Alex.

    "I hope your wife doesn't know you're picking up stray women, Hunter," teased Kevin.

    "Jeez, Lieutenant, this was all her idea to begin with," moaned Alex.  "I hate tuxedos," he added tugging at his collar.

    "Relax," Lisa said with a slight frown.  "One night's not going to kill you."  She turned to Trisha. "Wow, that's a pretty daring outfit you're wearing.  I wouldn't have the guts to wear something like that.  You look great."

    Trisha nodded her thanks to Lisa.  Then she indicated Lisa's gown and showed her approval by miming applause.

    Lisa blushed.  "This old thing?  It was given to me by my Ma.  She used to wear it during her acting days. I've had it spruced up a bit."   Lisa had told Trisha many times about her mother the Broadway actress.  She was never a lead, but as a supporter she did well.  She was almost never out of work up until her retirement.

    Inside the prestigious Blue Room, it was standing room only unless you had special tickets.  Here Trisha and her friends parted since they were seated near the center of the room.  Trisha, on the other hand was seated at the head table with the man of the hour.  It took a while for things to finally settle down.   Trisha noticed the Channel 9 news crew set up in the back of the room.  Erica Houston was herself present in a gorgeous pastel blue gown. Trisha was amazed at the attention Kevin was getting.  He was receiving an honorable service award for the large number of homicide cases he had solved.  At first Trisha had worried if her night work had damaged Kevin's credibility, but apparently there have been cases that Kevin had worked on without her, not to mention his near impeccable record before Kismet ever appeared on the scene.  Trisha wasn't upset about the other cases.  In fact, she was extremely proud of Kevin. It meant that he was a man of intelligence and drive.   He always took his work seriously.

    Soon, dinner was served.  The meal consisted of chicken cordon bleu, served on a bed of long grain and wild rice with a side of green beans.  The portions were rather large, but no one complained.

    I could probably live on this meal for a couple days, thought Trisha smiling.

    She wasn't exaggerating.  With her finely tuned metabolism, Trisha's body could more efficiently absorb and utilized the nutrients in foods.  The result being eating fewer times a day than the average person and going to the ladies room once every week.  It wasn't long before dessert was served, chocolate mousse, and the speaking began.  Several people were called up to give their accounts of working with Lt. Kevin Brown.  Lisa Harrigan was one of these.

    Suddenly, Lisa's reminiscence was interrupted by the sound of shattering glass which rained down on the banquet guests.  People screamed and ducked to get away from the shower of glass shards.  A man in a gray outfit, black boots and a black cape came rappelling down a cable and swung over to the head table.  The man landed behind Trisha, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of her seat.  Before Kevin could react to this threat, the stranger had pulled out a sword from behind him and placing it beneath Trisha's chin.

    "By all means, if you wish to see her dead, make a move," said the man.

    "You!" screamed Lisa. "Let her go! I've got a score to settle with you!"

    At first, Kevin didn't understand what Lisa was talking about, until he looked closely at the attacker.

    "You're that guy from the precinct," said Kevin.

    "Ah, now I understand why you're being honored," said the man evenly. "Had you assisted me when I asked, things would not have come to this."

    "What do you want," asked Kevin through clenched teeth.

    "Ah, a man who likes to get straight to the point.  Very well.  What I want is Kismet."

    "What?"

    "I have reason to believe that you can get in touch with her.   Until you do, I'll be 'borrowing' your companion.  Tell Kismet to meet me at the center of time."

    He resheathed his sword and effortlessly picked Trisha up by the waist.  Then he clicked a button on a device at the end of the cable and quickly began to rise toward the shattered skylight.  As he ascended, the man looked down at Lisa.

    "Sorry, my dear, but perhaps we can settle our score when my business with Kismet has been completed."

    People in the Blue Room were in disarray.  A cacophony of talking and scuffling to get out of the banquet hall filled the room.  Trisha's friends were fighting their way through the crowd toward Lt. Brown.

    "Well," whispered Lisa.  "That bozo is in for some real trouble.  He doesn't know who he's got."

    "That's not necessarily a good thing, Lisa," said Kevin in worried tones.

    "We've got to go after them," said Kim coming up to the head table.

    "You don't think Trish can handle this?" asked Lisa.

    "She won't be able to," said Azura.

    "What do you mean?" squeaked Lisa.

    "To do anything out of the ordinary would reveal her true self to her kidnapper," said Kim. "It's going to have to be our call."

    "What did he mean when he wanted Kismet to meet him at the center of time?" asked Emilia.

    "He means the clock tower on the Chambers Building," said Kevin.  "Trish always uses it as a lookout post. Apparently, this guy knows that."

    "What do we do now?" asked Lisa.

    "First," said Kevin, "we find out who this guy is.   Nobody wears a get up like that and doesn't get noticed."  Kevin looked up at the Black Pack and smiled a little.  "Sorry, ladies. I guess you already know about that sort of thing."

    The others nodded.  "We're going to need a place to meet later on," said Irene.

    "I'd offer my place, but when the photographers aren't here, they're there," said Emilia.

    "We can meet at my place," said R'y'sha

    "Fine," agreed Kevin.  "We'll all meet at Star Child's place in a couple of hours."

    Agreements were echoed all around.

* * *

    Lisa and Kevin were paging through book after book of mug shots with no success.

    "Maybe he's not local," said Lisa.  "We should try the F.B.I. and Interpol."

    "I'm not sure we have that kind of time," said Kevin.

    "Not to worry, Lieutenant.  The new computerized database system has tie-ins to both organizations."

    Lisa walked over to the recently installed computer and typed in her access code.  Kevin never liked computers.  He believed that they were merely another means to make people's brains vegetate.  Of course, he never let Trisha know how he felt.  Kevin wondered how she was faring.

* * *

    Derringer leaned against a steel diagonal strut inside the belfry of the Chambers Commerce Building.  He was carefully peeling an orange.

    "Would you like a slice?"

    Trisha said nothing.  But even were she able to speak, she would still say nothing.

    Derringer shrugged.  "Suit yourself."

    He pulled off a section and popped it into his mouth. "I'll have you know, I have no intention of harming you.  And I have no bad feelings toward the good Lieutenant.  Both of you are merely a means to an end."

    Trisha looked off.  Her mind was awash with possible moves to make.  Unfortunately, anything she would do would mean revealing her identity to her kidnapper.  Over the years, Trisha had accumulated a few items which were hidden within the belfry.  Even making an attempt to retrieve these weapons would point out her close affiliation with Kismet if not also reveal her identity.  For now, she would have to bide her time.  And there was the Black Pack.

* * *

    "Got it!" cried Lisa.  "That's the lousy bastard, all right."

    Kevin peered over Lisa's shoulder at the computer screen.  Sure enough, there was the visage of the man who had taken Trisha Fate hostage.  "Derringer, huh?  A merc for hire.  Which means somebody hired him to take down Kismet; otherwise, he wouldn't give squat about what she does one way or another."

    "Who do you think hired him?" asked Lisa.

    "We can't worry about that, now," said Kevin straightening up.  "Hit the lockers, kiddo.  You can't go running around dressed like that."

    Lisa looked down at herself and suddenly remembered that she was wearing a satin evening gown.  "Right, I'll make a quick print out and then get changed."

    "After that, we meet the others," concluded Lt. Brown.

* * *

    "The trick is going to be getting Trish away from the maniac without tipping him off," said Aura petulantly.

    "We don't want to do anything that will tell Derringer that he's had Kismet in his possession all this time," said Lisa.   "We need a diversion."

    Iris, Azura, Hellspawn, Star Child, Obsidian, and Aura sat or stood at various points around the perimeter of R'y'sha's basement laboratory.  Lisa paced the center of the room and Lt. Brown sat on the steps.

    "I may have an idea," said Star Child tentatively, "but it's risky."

    Kevin looked up at Star Child expectantly.

    "I could go as Kismet."

    Lisa stopped in mid-pace.  "Can you do that?"

    "I'm not sure it's such a good idea," said Kevin.

    "It's easily possible for me to alter my physical appearance," said Star Child, "and as for mimicking Kismet's speed and strength, my powers can duplicate that.  Plus, with me impersonating Kismet, Derringer will no longer suspect Trisha."

    Kevin sighed.  "Are you sure you can pull this off?"

    Star Child smiled.  "Well, unlike Kismet, I can render myself indestructible with a skin tight force field.  The rest of it will basically require me to think on my feet."

    The mention of the force field had a positive affect on Kevin's disposition.  If Star Child was protected from harm, it would mean a couple of things.  First, it would mean decreased risk to Star Child's life when she confronted Derringer.  Second, it would mean the Kismet would get a reputation for being indestructible.  Something that could be used as a deterrent against future attacks like this one.

    Kevin nodded.  "Alright, I think that would be best.   How do you intend to pull this off?"

    The members of the Black Pack looked at one another.   "Actually," started Aura, "we were hoping you could think of something."

    "Me?" said Kevin somewhat taken aback.

    "We don't exactly have a chain of command here, Lieutenant," continued Aura.  "We're all pretty much on equal footing.   Besides,  you have a stake in this too."

    Kevin looked at each person considered to be Trisha's closest friends.  They were presenting him with an opportunity.  In a sense, it was their own personal way of honoring him.  Something that meant more to Kevin that anything the city could give him.

    "Alright," he said decisively.  Kevin stood up and joined Lisa at the center of the lab.  "Star Child will distract Derringer by becoming Kismet's doppelganger.  But, I think Iris and Hellspawn should flank her so that he doesn't get suspicious."

    Emilia and Shaunyce nodded in acknowledgement of the plan.

    "Azura and Obsidian will see to getting Trisha out of harm's way.  Understood?"

    Everyone nodded.

    "There is one more thing," spoke out Azura.

    Kevin paused and focussed on Azura.

    "I believe two of Monument City's finest should also be in attendance, wouldn't you agree?"

    Kevin blinked.  Then, slowly a smile spread across his face, and he nodded an assent.  Lisa rubbed her hands as if anticipating something deliciously exciting.

    "Let's do it!" called out Lt. Kevin Brown.

* * *

    Trisha had a difficult time remaining calm.  It was not a usual experience being at the mercy of someone.  Or at least pretending to be so.  Her muscles ached to react, to lash out.  Trisha took a deep breath and closed her eyes.   Upon opening them, she received an unexpected jolt as the Ebony Blade was studying her closely.

    "Nervous?" he asked with a disarming smile.  Trisha had to admit he wasn't without his charm.  "You needn't be afraid.  At least, not so long as Kismet keeps her appointment."

    Derringer walked with an air of confidence.  Something that made Trisha seethe in the back of her mind.  Not only had he threatened her, but he was waltzing around unchallenged in her territory.  Trisha arms longed to snap the cords which bound her wrists behind her.  She envisioned her fist disrupting that arrogant calm with one well placed punch.  But, she could do none of these things.   She had confidence in her friends.  They would think of something.

    "Derringer!"

    Trisha's ears pricked up.  That sounded like Star Child.   What on Earth is she doing?

    "Ah," said Derringer smiling.  "At last my prey makes her appearance."

    Derringer threw open the maintenance door on the clock face and quickly stepped back.  Into the belfry stepped...Kismet?  Trisha blinked, shook her head and blinked a few times more.  There standing before the Ebony Blade was a woman who looked exactly like Trisha.  The new Kismet folded her arms akimbo across her chest.

    "How dare you threaten an innocent in my city," said Kismet.  "If you wished to get my attention you needed only to ask."

    Trisha grimaced.  What corny dialogue.  Belatedly, Trisha wondered if she would say things like that if she could talk.  Hopefully not.

    "My hostage is merely insurance that I would be dealing with you and not your friends in the MCPD," said Derringer.

    "Well, you have my undivided attention," said Kismet.   "What is it you want?"

    Trisha's instinct for strategy kicked into high gear.  This new Kismet was in danger and she didn't realize it.

    "I want to see your battered and broken corpse on display for every criminal in Monument City to witness."

    Kismet tilted her head.  "Picturesque.  I'm afraid I can't accommodate you."

    "Ah, but you will," rejoined Derringer smiling.   "You see, hidden somewhere on my guest is a small package of C4."

    Trisha and Kismet looked at one another.  Trisha didn't recall having anything placed upon her person other than the cords that bound her wrists and ankles.  Either Derringer was lying, a definite unlikelihood, or the C4 was embedded within the cords.  It would have to be those on her wrists since she could see the cords on her ankles, and they looked normal.

    Now, Trisha was worried.  She could do the most amazing things thanks to her genetically engineered body.  She could lift a city bus without breathing hard.  She could see several kilometers distance with ease.  She could even hold her breath for several days, and her body would recycle the air in her lungs.   But one thing she wasn't was indestructible.  As far as guns, knives and explosives were concerned, she was no different than anybody else.  Kismet, on the other hand, didn't seem overly concerned, which worried Trisha even more.

    "Is that so?" said Kismet.  "Hardly fair play, I should think."

    Derringer sneered.  "I need all the advantages I can get.   I understand that you are a master sword fighter.  Let's see how good you really are."

    With that Derringer unsheathed both his swords.  They didn't gleam in the false lighting that spilled through the clock face.  The blades were covered in weapon black.  Kismet drew her katana and fighting dagger.   Immediately, the two lunged at one another, blades flashing.  Trisha made a mental note that she almost never used the dagger to parry.  Trisha saw that Kismet was backing up towards the maintenance door on the clock's face.  She was leading Derringer outside.  Hopefully, Derringer wouldn't notice that Kismet was giving ground intentionally.  It took only a few more steps before both were outside the belfry.  Trisha wondered how well Star Child could use the katana and dagger.

    A creak behind Trisha caused her to jump slightly.  Aura stood behind her smiling.  "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

    Trisha sighed in relief.  Don't touch the bonds.   There's reason to believe that they are loaded with C4.

    Aura frowned a little.  Then, she bent her face down toward the cords on Trisha's wrists.  Trisha could hear her friend sniffing the cords, and a tickle of breath brushed against her skin.

    "I don't smell anything.  It's just ordinary hemp rope."

    Hemp rope?  That's not right.  They were steel cords when he put them on.

    "I suspect that Star Child pulled a switch when Derringer wasn't looking."

    I didn't even feel it.  She's good.  So, that really is Star Child.

    Aura raised an eyebrow as she snapped the ropes binding Trisha's wrists.  "You had doubts?"

    Trisha smiled.  For a moment or two, anyway.

    Trisha reached down and effortlessly snapped the rope that now bound her ankles.  Trisha examined her bonds and found that it was indeed hemp rope instead of the polymer coated steel cable that Derringer had originally bound her with.  She was continuously amazed at the abilities Star Child displayed.  It seemed she could do anything.  No wonder the Egyptians thought she was Isis four thousand years ago.

    "What's the next move?" asked Aura, breaking Trisha out of her reverie.

    Trisha thought a moment.  Let's allow Star Child the chance to conclude this situation.  Com'on.

    Trisha led Aura out of the belfry and down the clock tower stairs where she ran into Azura, Obsidian, Lisa Harrigan and Kevin Brown.  Kevin reached out and embraced Trisha while the others moved off to offer them a moment of privacy.

    "Worried?" signed Trisha when Kevin had released her.

    "Me?  Never," replied Kevin.

    "Liar," signed Trisha and she kissed him gently.   Truth be told, she was worried for her own safety as well.

    "Let us move outside," said Azura in a low voice.   "I wish to see how R'y'sha is doing."

    The others nodded and continued down the stairs into the main structure of the Chambers Commerce Building.

* * *

    Star Child found it very difficult indeed to play the role of Kismet.  Not that she couldn't walk, talk and fight like her friend, but the effort to resist the temptation to use her more extraordinary powers in the battle was hefty.  Also, she was tiring.  Unlike Trisha's selfreplenishing metabolism, R'y'sha still had that rather mortal limitation in spite of all her power and fantastic lifespan.  Derringer was beginning to notice small lapses in her swordplay.

    "You are weakening, my dear," said Derringer as he pressed his attack.  "You appear to be merely human after all despite claims to the contrary in the media."

    "That may be," puffed the ersatz Kismet, "but I will still defeat you."

    "Oh?" mocked Derringer.  "And pray tell, how do you intend to do that?"

    Kismet retreated a bit and smiled back at Derringer.   "I can do it with a little help from my friends."

    Immediately, Iris and Hellspawn appeared and flanked Derringer.  Derringer spun about and realized his inferior position.  He turned once again to Kismet.  "I warned you what would happen if you enlisted aid."  Derringer reached for a device on his belt and toggled a switch.   Nothing happened.

    "Oh," said Kismet in all innocence.   "Were you expecting something to happen?"

    Derringer cursed and pulled another device.  This he threw down at his feet.  The grenade exploded generating a thick, impenetrable smoke.  Hellspawn rushed forward into the cloud, but came out the other side empty handed.

    "Damn, how'd he do that?" groused Hellspawn.

    "Oh, I suspected that he had a way out," said Kismet.  "But I don't think he's going to try another attempt to get at Kismet anytime in the near future."

    "I certainly hope not," said Iris smiling.   "One Kismet in this world is enough, I think."

    Kismet transformed herself back into Star Child in a flash of purple light.  "You'll get no argument from me," said Star Child letting out a sigh of relief.  "I don't know how she keeps that up every night."

    Hellspawn looked down to the street and saw the others gathered on the steps of the Commerce Building.  Trisha was waving at them.   "Ladies, I believe we are being summoned."  Star Child, Hellspawn and Iris floated down to where the other Black Pack members stood with Lisa and Kevin.

    Trisha greeted Star Child with a smile and a hug.   "You were brilliant, my dear," signed Trisha.  "Wherever did you learn how to handle a sword like that?"

    "Here and there," said Star Child modestly.   "I picked up a few pointers from the Egyptians, the Hittites, the Romans, the Chinese, the Arabs..."

    "I guess one can learn a lot in four thousand years, eh?" chided Iris.  Iris had been the first to discover Star Child's near immortal lifespan.  She had discovered references to a being with shocking purple hair in Egyptian, Sumerian, Greek and Roman mythology in her capacity as curator of the Monument City Museum of Antiquities.  She eventually put two and two together and came up with Star Child.

    Star Child blushed a bit.  She was not proud of her conduct during certain periods of history when she first landed on Earth.  She was treated like a goddess and reveled in her power.  It wasn't until she fell into a crowd of people in Israel who were following one particular rabbi where she learned about life on the human level.  Star Child never told her friends she was one of the original disciples of Christ, and quite frankly was happy to have been left out of the historical record.  It would have raised too many awkward questions.

    "It's too bad that jerk made a run for it," grumbled Lisa.   "I owe him one."

    Trisha quirked a questioning eyebrow, but Lisa, uncharacteristically, blushed and declined to elaborate.  Trisha looked to Kevin, but knew there was no help there.  She respected Kevin and Lisa's relationship on the force and accepted that mutual trust between them required keeping certain things private.   Still, her curiosity was itching like crazy.

    "This calls for a celebration," said Kevin.   "I'm taking everyone out to dinner."  Everyone managed to look surprised and Lisa even gasped.

    "Can you afford that?" signed Trisha.

    "My dear, I wasn't just awarded a plaque," beamed Lt. Brown.  "They gave me a raise, too.  And I think it's high time Monument City paid some tribute to it's hard working women against crime.  That means you too, Harrigan.  If everyone doesn't mind dressing up again for the evening..."

    "We're going someplace posh," said R'y'sha.  "I can tell."

    "Everyone meet me at the Ristorante Italiano in two hours," said Kevin expansively.

    Everyone agreed excitedly.  Star Child practically applauded.   Trisha slipped an arm around Kevin's waist.  It was going to be an enjoyable evening after all.

* * *

    Jake Derringer sat in the motel room he had rented in preparation of tonight's work.  He was leaning back in a chair smoking a pipe.   Curls of pipe smoke danced about his head and his expression was one of concentration.  He had learned a lot.  Tonight was his first big defeat.   Yet, it wasn't as disappointing as he had expected.  In truth, he rather looked back appreciatively on the evening's exploits.  He had indeed learned quite a lot.   Kismet had limitations, but she also had assistance.  His opponent was intelligent and cunning to have been able to disarm the explosives he had prepared.   Derringer wondered how she had managed it.  It didn't matter.  He had truly found a worthy opponent.  His contract was effectively forgotten.  This was a matter of personal achievement, now.  He would need time to study, to prepare.   A few years perhaps.  He would forsake all other contracts until he was successful.  Derringer smiled.  It was challenges like these that made life worth while.  Derringer now knew his life's goal.  He would be forever known as the man who destroyed Kismet.  He would see to it.

END

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