Previously on the Night-Hawk . . .
. . . “Little harsh don’t you think?” The Wanderer said from the doorway
Penny turned to see The Wanderer leaning against the doorway casually.
“Brett’s not thinking with his head” Penny replied
“That’s no reason to bite it off he’s doing his best Pen.”
“That’s not good enough anymore,” Penny replied, “We dropped our guard today and I nearly lost someone. This Rorgia is not going to rest up he’s going to keep moving forward with his plan and if we don’t find a solution . . .”
“I?” The Wanderer asked curiously, “I lose people?”
Penny stopped and looked around anxiously.
“I meant ‘we’”
“No you didn’t,” The Wanderer replied,” you meant ‘I’”
He noticed the fear and confusion in Penny’s eyes and knew straight away what was going on.
“You’re still having the nightmares aren’t you?”
Penny looked up at The Wanderer in anger.
“So?”
“that’s your mind is telling you that there is something you haven’t dealt with.”
The Wanderer walked up and put his hands supportively on her shoulders.
“The Battle of Trinity was a horrible tragedy. You can’t keep holding back on the emotions surrounding it,” he said softly, “You need help Penny.”
Penny brushed The Wanderer hands off her shoulder.
“What I need is people to do their jobs!” she replied, “or I’m going to have to find myself a new team.”
Penny turned sharply and walked out of the car park. The Wanderer watched this extremely worried. He’s worked in a war zone before and had seen what Penny was going through.
It was going to get a lot worse before it got any better.
~ Psychologists Office, Los Angeles California ~
Dr. Celina Wright entered her practice promptly like she always did. she was dressed in a casual, but still professional, manner and she brushed back her black hair as she consulted her notes. Her practice was one of the most well known in los Angeles with many burnt out celebrities amongst her patients but today was different. Today she was taking on a special case and, unlike a lot of her other patients; she was doing it free of charge. The woman in question was brought to her by a very old friend who saved her life a few years ago. she was a special case because she was the survivor of a war nobody knew took place and was continuing to fight on the front lines to this day.
Celina walked up to her receptionist and looked at her seriously.
“If anybody calls tell them I am unavailable until tomorrow,” she said seriously, “I’m not to be disturbed unless it’s an emergency.”
“Yes doctor.” The receptionist replied
Celina nodded and headed into her office locking the door behind her. inside the red headed woman paced backwards and forwards, arms wrapped tightly around her midsection. Celina smiled at walked up to her.
“Penny Whitfield?” Celina asked, “my name is Celina.”
Penny looked at Celina seriously without replying. Celina nodded and walked over to her chair and sat down. she pulled out her note book and looked calmly up at the anxious slayer.
“Do you want to take a seat?” she asked
“I’m fine standing.” Penny snapped back
Celina shrugged.
“It’s your session.”
“This wasn’t my idea,” Penny retorted, “I’ve got better things to do then just sit and talk.”
Celina interlaced her fingers on her lap and tilted her head curiously.
“The Wanderer seems to think otherwise.”
“Yeah, well, The Wanderer’s an idiot.”
“Penny, just sit down for a couple of minutes.”
Penny stopped pacing and looked at the psychologist. After a moment or two of scrutinizing she walked around and sat on the chair. She folded her arms and glared at Celina.
“Before we get started I want to make something clear,” Celina explained, “I know that vampires and demons exist, I know you’re a slayer and you go by the name of Nighthawk, and The Wanderer has filled me in on The battle of Trinity so there’s no reason to keep any secrets.”
Penny looked around the room in frustration. Celina sensed the intense tension coming off the young woman. Celina leaned back and readied her pen.
“Why don’t we start from the beginning,” She prompted,” When did you start feeling t this anger?”
Penny looked at Celina closely. She tried to figure out what her ulterior motive was but she hasn’t been thinking straight the last few days. By this stage she was so desperate to tell someone Penny didn’t care what would happen next. She sighed deeply and leaned heavily against the large chair.
“It started a few days after I saw Megan get hurt . . . “
~ City street, Phoenix Arizona – two weeks ago ~
I was just doing what I do, you know, patrolling the city for anything weird only something was different. I just felt rely mad at everybody and the weird thing is I don’t know why. After I saw Megan get hurt by that demon I just . . . I don’t know. All I remember is everything didn’t fell right . . .
The Wanderer walked calmly down the street. His pace was unhurried as he crossed the streets and lanes that made up the cityscape. Behind him, a few paces back, were Benny. The lizard like demon had been on his trail ever since he left the bar. Rorgia had asked him specifically to tail him to find out why this old man was asking so many questions. The Wanderer stopped at an intersection and looked back. Benny ducked into a doorway to make sure he wasn’t seen. A few moments later he heard footsteps heading away from him and moved quickly from his hiding spot. As he moved out he stopped suddenly when he saw Nighthawk standing in his path. Benny took a couple of nervous steps back.
“Ah . . . hey there.” He said nervously
The look of fury in this woman’s eyes made him nervous. He turned to leave but was grabbed by the throat, lifted off the ground and slammed violently against the wall.
“Tell me what Rorgia’s planning!” Nighthawk demanded
“Who?”
“Don’t play me demon I know you’re working for the chamber!” Nighthawk retorted,” What is he planning!”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
Without losing her stare Nighthawk drew her sword and extended the blade menacingly. Benny looked from the blade to Nighthawk fearfully.
“I swear I don’t know nothing!” he yelled
The sound of Benny yelling caught the attention of The Wanderer. He turned to see Nighthawk holding Benny against the wall. Shaking his head lightly he rushed back.
“Nighthawk!” he yelled
Nighthawk raised her sword forcing The Wanderer to stop suddenly inches before the blade pierced his chest.
“Back off Wanderer!” Nighthawk yelled
The Wanderer looked at the champion in concern. Her demeanor had been slowly going down hill ever since Megan got hurt.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked
“Getting information what does it look like?” she snapped
“It looks like your manhandling a demon.”
Nighthawk dropped Benny onto the ground and refocused her anger onto The Wanderer.
“Least I wasn’t the one being followed for two miles.”
“I knew I was being followed Nighthawk I was planning on leading him to jakes bar where I was going to get the information we needed out of him more subtly.”
Nighthawk folded her arms.
“In case you haven’t noticed we’re at war. There’s no time to cradle the enemy.”
The Wanderer looked past Nighthawk and shrugged.
“It’s to late now anyway he gone.”
Nighthawk turned sharply. Sure enough Benny had vanished she snarled angrily and turned back to The Wanderer.
“You planed this didn’t you?” she snapped
“I planed nothing Pen you’re the one who let him go.”
Nighthawk gripped her sword harder while she stared icily at the old man. The Wanderer sighed at looked at her in concern.
“I’m worried about you Pen.”
“I don’t need your pity Wanderer.” Nighthawk replied
Nighthawk turned and walked off down the street. The Wanderer frowned unhappily. He could feel Penny’s pain from where he was standing and there was nothing he could do until she admitted it to herself.
I didn’t stick around after that conversation. All I was thinking about was finding Benny and getting him to talk. While this was happening The Wanderer caught up with Brett at the hospital to check on Megan’s condition . . .
Megan shot Brett and amused annoyed look.
“I’m not gonna arm wrestle you Brett.” She smirked
“Oh come on it’s be fun,” Brett replied, “I’ll use my bad hand.”
“Isn’t there any other patients you could challenge?”
Brett pretended to thing about it.
“Well there was the nurse at the nurse’s station but she beat me three to nil.”
There was a light knock at the door. Megan looked up and smiled as The Wanderer walked in.
“Hey wanderer.” She said brightly
“How you doing kid?” The Wanderer asked as he sat down next to Megan’s bed
“Fine the doctor said I can go home in an hour or so.”
Megan looked past The Wanderer and into the hallway curiously.
“Where’s Penny?” she asked
The Wanderer and Brett gave each other a look.
“She . . . Tied up at the moment.”
“She’s not coming.” Brett interjected
Brett ignored the look The Wanderer was giving him and kept his focus on Megan. Megan looked at both Brett and The Wanderer curiously.
“What do you mean? Why’s she not coming?”
“The chamber is a higher priority then her friends.”
“That isn’t the reason Brett.” The Wanderer continued
Brett shot The Wanderer an angry look.
“Oh yeah? Then what do you call what happened outside?”
The Wanderer sighed.
“All I’m saying it’s that it’s a lot more complex then that.”
“Didn’t seem to complex for her to ditch us.”
“I’m sure she could be here is she could Brett.”
What the others didn’t know is that I was there. I was right out the front of the hospital just a few feet from the door. I wanted to go in so badly and see how Megan was doing but every time I go close I felt . . . I don’t know . . . like I was scared or something. There was something in side that kept pulling me away from that door no matter how much I tried to go in . . .
Penny stood out the front of the hospital. She fidgeted hands and bit her bottom lip as she stared at the front door to the hospital. Her breathing was quick and edgy as she tried to motivate herself to go inside. After a few more moment she dropped her head and turned away sadly. As she walked away hope flew down and landed on her shoulder. She chirped at her champion.
“I’m fine Hope,” Penny replied, “Don’t need to worry about me.”
Hope chirped again.
“I’ve got a lot of things to I’ll visit Megan later.”
Hope continued to chirp. Penny looked over to Hope.
“Well if she’s getting discharged I’ll see back at the mansion.”
Hopes tone changed. After a couple of minutes penny stopped and glared at her.
“You know what,” Penny snapped, “I’m not in the mood to be lectured by a bird okay? Why don’t you go back to your real champion?”
Hope flew off Penny’s shoulder and landed on a near by fence. Penny noted Hopes angry tone. Penny folded her arms and looked around
“If I’m your real champion why is he still around huh?”
Hope started to chirp again but penny motioned to stop.
“You know what I don’t care. I’m tired and I’m going home.”
Penny turned and left.
Celina leaned thoughtfully on the arm rest of her chair. She looked at Penny seriously as the slayer rubbed her hands awkwardly as she spoke.
“So you just snapped at everyone?” Celina asked softly
Penny nodded.
“I couldn’t control it,” Penny said sadly, “it just kept coming out.”
“Do you have any idea where it came from?”
Penny looked up at her.
“Are you supposed to tell me that?”
“I have my ideas I just wanted to know if you knew the source.”
Penny dropped her head and rubbed her hands harder.
“I-I don’t think . . . I.”
“Okay,” Celina interjected, “We’ll do this at your pace. Let’s continue with what happened.”
~ WNHK Studios, Phoenix Arizona – the next day ~
I thought a good night’s sleep would make me feel better but it didn’t. I kept having the same dream over and over which kept waking me up. By the time I got to work I felt worse then I did the day before. Brett didn’t help though I can’t fully blame him . . .
Brett worked at his terminal in the server room of the studios. Usually he was calm and relaxed at work but the last few days have made him a little tense. Penny walked in and threw a pile of paper on Brett’s lap.
“Manager told me to give this to you.” Penny replied
“And I good morning to you as well.” Brett replied sharply
Penny ignored him. she was looking over her diary to double check Jarrod’s appointment while Brett stared at her. he had had enough of her attitude.
“So are you being a bitch today or have you moved on from that?”
Penny dropped down the diary and glared at him. Brett wasn’t buying into it.
“What the hell is that suppose to mean?” she yelled
“What? the truth?” Brett replied sarcastically, “It means what it means Pen.”
“Oh like you’re Mr. Perfect.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way I just have a low opinion of people who use me.”
Penny shot Brett a look but the hacker was still not convinced.
“Oh don’t give me that look you know exactly what I mean,” Brett yelled, “That little dance routine at the club I know what that was about?”
Penny rolled her eyes.
“And what was it about?”
“You making yourself feel better by leading me on.”
“That is a load of . . .”
“is it?” Brett replied
Penny didn’t say anything she uneasily in front of Brett who had folded his arms and tilted his head curiously.
“That’s what I thought.” he continued as he gathered up the paper.
He pushed past her and headed for the door. Penny swung around.
“Hey you’re the one forced me to go! remember?” she yelled
Brett stopped at the door and turned back to her.
“Yeah I know and, from what I remember, you never said no.”
Penny began to fume.
“If you don’t like me so much why are you still around?” she asked coldly.
“I’m not,” Brett replied equally as coldly, “My stuff is gone by this afternoon. I’m out.”
With that Brett turned and walked out of the room. Penny threw down the diary in frustration and leaned heavily against the table trying to hold back the tsunami of emotions welling up inside of her. just then Jarrod walked into the room. he had a look of urgency on his face
“There you are Pen,” he said in a hurried tone, “do you have the number for that guy I asked for?”
“In a minute.” Penny replied in a forced calm
“I really need it now.”
“Just give me a moment . . .”
“look Penny I hired you to do this job if you can’t”
Penny stood up sharply she swung around and slammed her fist through the wall at full force. She breathed heavily as she gave a look of hellfire to Jarrod
“I SAID IN A MINUTE!!” she blasted
Jarrod took a couple of steps back.
“Alright take the time you need.” He said fearfully before quickly exiting the room
Things were quickly getting out of hand but as much as I tried I couldn’t stop myself. What I needed was time to absorb what was happening the thing was things were about to get much worse . . .
~ The Chamber, undisclosed location ~
“So you lost him?” Rorgia asked
Benny looked up at the tall crimson demon in fear.
“Not so much lost more running form my life,” Benny tried to explain, “That Nighthawk you were so worried about showed up and nearly killed me.”
Rorgia growled in anger.
“Yeah that’s how I felt,” Benny continued, “You know what the weird thing was? That old guy, he kept calling her Penny.”
Rorgia’s angry look quickly shifted to curiosity.
“Penny?”
“Yeah he stopped her from hurting me, kept saying that he was worried about her.”
Rorgia thought about this. he dismissed Benny and went over to one of his assistants.
“Tell me,” he said, “Didn’t we get a report of members of the Council of Watchers arriving in Phoenix?”
“Yes sir it happened a few weeks ago,” the assistant replied
“Where were they heading to?”
The assistant consulted his notes.
“We believe their first stop was WNHK studios.”
A broad smiled crossed his face.
“Gather the forces,” he said smugly, “We attack Nighthawk this afternoon and this time she’s not going to expect it.”
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