Blood Sisters
Chapter 6

Cricket stumbled back up onto thestreet. She had run through subway tunnels all the way back to theEast Side where she'd been hiding out. There were plenty of boardedup old buildings for her to stay in. Her possessions were little morethen an old mattress, a cardboard box with some clothes in it, abattery powered radio and the oversize leather biker jacket that herfriend Jake had given her.

Jake was the only person she hadmet since coming to her senses two years ago that she trusted. He wasreally her only friend, and was like a father to her. Stumbling intoan alleyway, Cricket thought back to the time when she became aware,it was a few miles outside the city. There were broken, smoking andshattered cars, vans and trucks all around, apparently a massiveaccident. She was unharmed, of course, being tough as she was.Somehow she had gotten to the side of the road where she was layingwhen she woke up. Whatever she had been wearing had almost completelyburned away, and she was dirty with ash, but not burned. Her mouthtasted like old cigarettes, but other then that she had felt OK.

At the time, and since, Crickethad only the vaguest sense about what happened before that day. Itwas pretty unpleasant and she did not like to think about it. Mostlythere was a lot of lights, a lot of pain, and a lot of laying still,not able to move. She had flashes of faces every now and then, andquite often she woke from sleeping seeping sweat and screaming.

Among the odd things she hadlearned about herself, other then apparently being indestructible andstrong beyond belief, was that she had no belly button. She also hada strange dark red bar-code on the back of her neck that Jake saidseemed to have been laser etched. He would know, among other things,he was a tattoo artist. Jake had tried to give her a Tat to cover it,but her skin was too tough for the stylus. Or for piercings, or forbullets.

Recently, Cricket had been havingencounters with black clad commando guys like the two she had justfought in Midtown. They all had crew-cuts, or black helmets, fancygear and weapons that hurt her. Cricket felt like they were closingin, she was afraid and felt like running. But she couldn't leaveJake... the thought of that made her throat clench up and want tocry.

TheIndestructible Girl got to where she was heading. There was only oneplace for her togo. It was getting dark and she ducked into a sagging old brickbuilding that looked world weary and ready to sleep. The sign abovethe door read “Jake'sTattoo Place” andthere was one of those spinney red, white and blue barber things nextto the door.

Cricket entered tentatively, notknowing if more harpoons were going come out of nowhere at her head.The crushed and bleeding body of the agent she killed was hauntingthe back of her eyes, and she dreaded seeing Jake the same way.Suddenly death seemed to hang over everything.

Jake looked over at her when heheard the bell the door rang when it opened. He smiled kindly at thegirl, though his eyes told a deeper story of concern “Hello LittleCricket” he said. Jake was the one that had given her the name, itstuck and it became what she was known as on the street. She ran overand grabbed him in a hug, letting out racking sobs. Jake staggered,unable to breathe, he felt his ribs crack and his back threaten tobreak from the force of Cricket's grip. Jake was a big, strong guy.Covered in ink and piercings, with a long scraggly beard and hairpulled back into a man-tail under a red kerchief. He was an oldbiker, all the way down to his chained wallet and the thick blackleather boots. Jake was well into his 50's with beer for blood,breath like diesel fumes, and retreads for a belly. Despite all thatJake was relatively fit, with arms as big around as Crickets head.

“Cricket...CRICKET!”Jake gasped out. She loosed her grip, her face still on his bellysobbing out pain, fear and dead agent blood. Jake reached for hisremote and turned the TV off. He had seen the headlines: “Breakingnews, New-Hum menace attacks transit bus. One man killed, 16injured.” There was some bad video of what happened from a cellphone camera, but Jake could tell it was Cricket.

“It'sgonna be okay little one, not your fault. They attacked you. Whoknows what their after, eh? Let's not replace out.” Jake soothed herwith his rough low voice that sounded like he was chewing gravel. Heswitched off his neon “OPEN” sign, then held the girl until shehad spent herself.

“Cricket,clear that table off over there, I'll get us some pizza and somesoda-pop and we'll talk this out 'right?” Cricket nodded andsniffled. She picked up the large table covered in newspapers, tools,and empty bottles of various engine fluids. She carried it overtowards the corner, tipped it over, adding to the growing trash heap.Then brought it back, dropping it with a THUNK next to where thegreasy old office chairs were. She plopped into one then buried herface in her arms on the oil-stained table surface. Jack sighed andcame over to sit, rolling the other office chair to her. The chairprotested under the big mans weight, the sides of his gut pressingout the armrests. In contrast, he gently lay his beefy hands onCrickets small back, rubbing in a circle and giving her a reassuringpat. Cricket started to sob again into the table. Jake wrapped an armaround her protectively, quietly soothing her.

“Why won't they leave mealone?! Jake? Why? I haven't done anything.” Jake nodded, his longbeard scratching the top of her head. “I know hon, I don't knoweither. I don't have a clue how to replace out either. Those guys arefrom a different world, Cricket.” The girl sat up, leaning into thebig man, clutching at his chest. “They're really gonna come now,now that I....” her throat froze up. “He's dead right, he lookeddead.” Jake nodded “yeah hon, hes dead. But just him, everyoneelse was okay.” Cricket sniffled. They held onto each other with nowords. The only sound was the clicks of Jake's old clock as the timepassed. Occasionally the compressor of the fridge kicked in. Cricketcried quietly into Jake's big chest. Holding him tight lest she falloff the world.

A knock at the door broke thesilence, Cricket jumped, a sudden movement that with her strengthknocked Jake and his chair back six feet into the garage “ugh”.Cricket looked over at Jake, sprawled on the floor. “Sorry” shesaid meekly. “Heh, its OK 'lil bug.” Jake got up, the officechair still hanging onto his rear. Scowling he broke from it androlled it back to the table before going to answer the door. It waspizza and soda-pop. The kid had a strange look on his face, havingseen what just transpired. “Hey” Jake said loudly at the kid. Hejumped, startled. “I leaned back too far that's all, went for atumble. Haven't you seen a fat guy take a dive before?” The kidstammered “Its um... $17.75, um sir... Jake.” “Right, here's atwenty for ya. Get goin' now”. Jake waited, his eyes still lockedon the kid, enough to make him unsettled. He got going. Jake smirkedand closed the door, walked back to the table.

“Hereya go Cricket, thin crust and greasy as hell, just how you like it.And the orange pop.” Jake grabbed a beer from his grease stainedfridge and stat with her. Cricket dug into the pizza and pop. And thetwo were able to pretend everything was fine for a while. After a fewslices and most of his beer, Jake sat back with a burp. Cricketsmiled and sat back, burped louder. “Damn girlie, your getting goodat that.” She managed a grin.

It was time. Jake said “OkayBug, now too many people on the street know me, and know you and knowwe hang out, right?” So you're gonna have to lay low till we canfigure out what were gonna do, and I might too depending on howthings go.” Cricket nodded, she knew Jake would fix this, he alwaysdid. He could fix anything. Jake said “I can't just vanish like youthough, OK? You know I have other kids I am looking out for, and myshop here and stuff. But don't you worry about that.” Cricketsniffed, nodded.

“You can't just hang out inthose buildings your squatting in though, but I have a plan aboutthat.” Cricket looked curiously at the big man. “Now I know youdon't trust anyone, and I don't blame you, but your gonna have tothis time, for me, OK? Just for a while.” Cricket shiftednervously. “I got a girl, friend of mine. I want you to crash withher for a bit, while I see what I can sort out okay? Her name isTrixie, shes a pretty-girl, a dancer you know? But she's nice, she'sgood people, alright?” Cricket nodded tensely.

“I don't want you to get introuble Jake...” Cricket stammered. “Oh hell girl, I've beentrouble my whole life, don't you worry about that. You just do what Isay, okay? I'm gonna have Trix come get you here. I'll go grab yourstash and meet you there later, okay?” Cricket sat frozen. “Hey,Cricket... its gonna be okay, gotta do this.” Cricket nodded. Jakepatted her shoulder and got up to make the call.

Before long the dancer arrivedand said “hello” through her bubble-gum. She smiled at Cricket“This her Jake? Or do you have another cute blond ragamuffin underfoot?” Jake snorted “I'd watch it Trix, this girl could throwyour car into the river... from here.” Trix popped her bubble-gumand said “Ahh, New-Hum huh? Okay then.” Trixie gave Cricket aquick look, oily blonde scraggly hair, smudged dirty face, dirtyclothes, dirty boots. “The hell Jake, you ever give this girl ashower?” The big man shrugged “I don't have a shower.” Trixierolled her eyes “Jake, Jake...” she sighed. Cricket frowned,suddenly feeling awkward.

Cricket looked at the woman, shewore loose jeans that somehow stayed on her even through they wereopen at the top around her flat tummy. She had an oversized leatherjacket similar to the one Jake gave Cricket, but it had a lot ofpatches on it. Under it was a pink halter top that clung snugly overher ample bosom. Trixie was a fair bit taller then Cricket,especially with the heels on her boots. She bent down at the girl,long curly corn-husk hair spilling over her pretty face. The womansmelled like coconuts.

Cricket had on her torn up jeans,dirty thick soled boots, a stained green t-shirt with a faded number13 on it and her own oversized leather coat. Her bright blue eyesstood out, the only part of the girl that was clean. She shied awayfrom Trixie nervously.

Trixiepursed her lips “...oh, sorry...” she sighed at herself “It'sokay honey, I was just teasing. C'mon, you'll be safe with me. We'llget you a bath and I'll wash those clothes for you. I got some HotCocoa too” Trixie held out her hand to Cricket, she had perfectpink fingernails with silver sparkles. Cricket blinked at her. Stillunsure, the girl looked over to Jake who nodded his head towards thedancer and gave Cricket a wink. The Indestructible Girl sniffed thensaid “okay, lets go.” She grabbed the rest of the pizza and thetwo of them piled into Trixie's old orange Pontiac Bonneville anddrove off. Jake closed up his shop, got his Hog out of the lockedshed in the alley and headed the opposite way.

Cricket sat quietly, feeling likea doll inside the huge car. It did smell really, really nice insidethough. And was very clean. “You want to hit the drive through andget anything, hon?” Trixie said. “We just had pizza. There's someleft.” Cricket pointed at the box. Trixie nodded “Well, we couldget an ice cream or a shake or something. “I thought you had HotCocoa” Cricket said flatly. “Well, ya”.

The Bonneville chugged East,bouncing dramatically from the smallest bumps. Cricket decided shedid not really like this car.

“Okay,so hey, Cricket right?” Trixie said. Cricket just stared at her.“Do you need anything at the store, you know like anything personalor anything? Pads?” Cricket shook her head “I don't get those.”Trixie's eyes widened “You don't get periods? At your age? How oldare you?” Cricket shrugged. Jake said I was 15, because I looked15. I really don't know how old I am. I don't remember much ofanything before... a couple years ago.” Trixie slowed the car to astop at a traffic light, and looked over at Cricket, taking a closermeasure of her. “Jake really didn't teach you anything about beinga girl did he?” Cricket shrugged again. “I know how to fixmotorcycles, I've even taken one completely apart and put it backtogether, can you do that?” Trixie smirked. “Nope”. Theystarted to drive again. They passed by a police car and Cricketquickly slouched down, gripping the seat so much her fingerspunctured the leather. Her thoughts went back to the man shekilled... his crushed body... he was no cop. But still... Crickettasted pizza grease in her throat.

Trixie saw what Cricket did toher leather seat... “Hey...” she started, but then she sawCrickets face. “Hey” she repeated softly, its gonna be OK... “Yousay that, but its not. You don't know”. Trixie nodded. “Well youdon't know its not gonna be either”. Cricket turned back to lookout the window at the nightlife of the city. Wiping away the wetstuff on her cheeks. “That man is dead, the man I threw. I hurt alot of people”. Trixie was quiet for a long moment. “I... don'tknow what to say about that Cricket. I don't think it was your fault,I mean.... anyway....” she swallowed, suddenly afraid herself ofupsetting this girl. “Anyway. Your just going to have to replace a wayto move on, to keep on living. Things happen to us that suck, we dothings that suck. Sometimes everything sucks. You just gotta keepmoving.” Cricket pulled at her hair and crunched her eyes as apain-wave hit her in the head. She took a breath. “Then whats thepoint?” Trixie frowned. She had met way to many kids like thisnowadays. “Because... you get to kiss people, you get to hug peopleand... you get to eat chocolate.” Cricket snorted. The woman andgirl rode the Bonneville silently. Trixie did eventually turn into adrive through “Were almost to my place Cricket, I know you havecold pizza, but I want french fries”. Cricket could smell them“I'll get some too, if that's okay” Trixie smiled. She knew it.“You got it, and a shake?” Cricket nodded “Yeah... chocolate,like you said”.

Back on the road with fast foodthings somehow seemed better. Cricket asked “Is Jake yourboyfriend?” Trixie laughed. “Um... well, sort of... um... well,no not really”. Cricket snorted. “Liar”. Trixie looked at thekid askance “Lets just say he has been slow to catch on”. “Ah”Cricket said. “Maybe you should learn to fix a motorcycle, then”.Trixie sighed.

By the time they got to Trix'sapartment, Cricket was exhausted. The dancer helped Cricket getcleaned up, then let her sleep in her bed. Trixie then sat up to waitfor Jake on her couch, eating the cold pizza and watching the soapsshe recorded on her DVR, falling asleep halfway through DOOL.

Thesharp ring of Trixie's phone woke her up, it was morning, and the sunhad been up for a while. Trix had slept late. She cursed and ran toher bedroom, where the phone, and Cricket, happened to be. There aretimes you hear the phone ring, and you just know something is wrong.Trix felt her heart in her throat, she knew something was wrong, andshe knew that Jake was not here. Cricket had woke up as well, and asif she had the same instinct, answered the phone... “Jake, are youOK?!” Cricket said shakily. The big man grumbled on the other endof the line “Hey Bug, let me talk to Trix, alright?” Cricketpaled and gripped the phone tight enough that the plastic cracked.“Whats wrong Jake, where are you?” Cricket started to panic.“Everything is fine, just let me talk to Trixie.” Cricket did notbelieve him for a second. She could hear strange noises in thebackground, men talking, a radio... then she knew, Jake was at thepolice station! Cricket dropped the phone, threw on her pants,grabbed her jacket and ran out the door, Trixie called for her tostop and tried to hold onto her, but Cricket was far too strong andfast. Trixie went over to the phone to let Jake know. “Damn.It.” Jake growled in frustration. “Get after her, try your bestTrix. If she gets here nothing good will come of it”.

***

Jenny Goldstar was at the policestation that day, as she had been a few times before. Allison andMarty wanted Jenny to be familiar with police procedure, and get toknow the police in the cities that she was likely to replace herselfworking in. Jenny liked these outings. She got to talk to lots ofpeople on the phone and meet the cops and detectives who were onlytoo happy to accommodate the affable young hero-to-be. Jenny got topretend to drink bad coffee and eat stale donuts and watch policeinterviews through the one-way glass. It was great.

TheGolden Girl was watching an interview that had been going on for awhile now. There were two detectives in the room, and a spooky guythat could have been a central casting extra for TheMatrix. He wore a blacksuit, sunglasses, and had perfectly groomed black hair. Spooky guywas just standing there while the two detectives kept working theman. “Mr... Harris?” “Its Jake.” “Hmm.. Mr. Harris, you'vebeen keeping out of trouble for quite a while now, that will work inyour favor but we need you to cooperate...” “Fuck off.” “Mr.Harris, you assaulted six police officers...” “No, they assaultedme. I was just looking for... rather I was just looking around, andthe Fed there had your boys come for me.” “You were trespassing.”“That's bullshit and you know it.” “Two of our officers are inthe hospital...”

Miraclesmirked. So, the biker had beat up six officers as they arrested himtrespassing at some condemned building. The big guy had just fewbruises to show for it, and he sent two of them to the hospital.Tough dude. Jenny wondered if he was a low powered New Human, he wasold enough to be an alpha. “What's a step up from resistingarrest?” Jenny asked the tall thin man in a brown suit beside her.“Assaulting an officer” he answered with a voice like cardboard.“Ah” Jenny said, Iwonder if the morgue knows this stiff is walking around up here.She sighed, this had been more fun before brown-suit guy came around.Everyone started like workinginsteadof paying attention to her. The Shiny One. Apparently he was thePolice Captain or something. Jenny shrugged. “Hey, whats yourname?” “Captain Phillips.” He had not even looked at her. Jennyfrowned. Mannequins have more personality then this guy. She made aface at him... still nothing. He didn't even see it.

“Mr. Harris, we are onlyinterested in the girl, considering your value to your community,your business, we are prepared...” “What girl? I help a lot ofkids.” “Mr. Harris... she killed a Federal Agent.” “Yeah,that's a shame.” “It is, that man had a family, two kids of hisown.” Jake winced. “That's right... she killed a father of two.”“Well, maybe this dude shouldn't have sent a regular guy against akid that can bench press a city bus, you scared a 15 year old girlwho can barely control what she can do... what did you think wasgonna happen?” The spooky man spoke for the first time “She canlift far heavier then a bus, Mr. Harris, and you're right, she isdangerous. With your help we can bring her in, no one else needs toget hurt, including... her.” Jake folded his big arms across hischest “Yeah, right. I'm not sending her back to be your lab monkey,so you can forget it.”

It was almost noon and Jennytried to get at least a smile from Phillips “Hey, do they stop theinquisition for lunch?” she smiled brightly and blinked. Nothing.Jenny sighed, crossed her arms and just stood quietly. His sombermood prompted the young hero to start paying more attention to theinterview. She found herself wondering why the guy in the suit, sixpolice officers and two detectives just happened to be at anabandoned building ready to jump on the first trespasser that camearound... the girl they want must have lived there... so why didn'tthey just let this guy go and follow him, and just keep back somepeople to keep watch on the building...

Shewas about to raise that very point when she started to hear theyelling. Jenny looked over her shoulder to see cops reaching fortheir weapons and rushing towards the stairs. “Oo!” Jennyexclaimed. Excited, The Golden Girl teleported out into the mainoffice from the interview room observation area and heard more noisecoming through the floor. There were dull groans, and thuds from menbeing knocked around. Then came gunshots. The hum of Jenny'sforce-field intensified and it glowed bright, her heart startedpumping. She finally might get to do something realfora change after all the training she's had to endure.

The Captain and the detectivescame running out from the interview rooms, shouting at each other.The spooky guy ordered the detectives to stay with the biker. Hepulled out a strange looking cell phone from his vest pocket.

That is when the girl camesmashing through the floor, jumping through it from the floor below.By chance, it was exactly where spooky guy was, and he fell back andhit his head. The girl was young, about the same age as Jenny. Shehad on street clothes and was covered in the dust and debris fromsmashing through the walls and the floor. The Captain and detectivesdrew their guns, but before they could shoot the dusty girl hurled adesk at them, and they ended up in a pile against the wall. That waswhen she noticed Jenny.

There was a pause while the twogirls squared off, both sensing that the other was a threat. Cricketspoke first “Out of my way Goldie!” Jenny smirked, “Um... no”and it was on. The cops had stopped shooting since their bullets wereproving useless and they were just endangering themselves withricochets. They started helping the officers trapped under thewreckage Cricket had left in her wake. A few were shouting into theirradios for the M-SWAT team.

“Youhave heard of doors, right?” Jenny asked sarcastically over the humof her golden shield. Cricket charged her, leaping effortlessly overthe desks in the room. Jenny was too fast and well trained for that.She simply teleported behind Cricket and kicked her, holding backsome and not sparking her force-field, in case Cricket was not astough as she seemed. The girl did not even seem to notice Jenny'sstrike.

Cricket stopped and spun around,in a rage, her strength and momentum pushing her fist. TheIndestructible Girl's wild punch collided with Jenny's force-field,knocking her across the room, through the reinforced concrete walland out into the street. The Golden Girl fell on top of the remainsof the wall which had piled up on the sidewalk and street. Jenny satup in the midst of a cloud of dust which caused sparks like firefliesall around her. She winced as a sharp pain burned in her side“Yeowuch!” she exclaimed, clutching at it. Jenny had never feltpain like that before... “daaamn” she said, shaking it off. “Okaythen!” From her seated position, She looked up at the hole in thewall and teleported right to that spot, appearing on her feet.

Jenny saw Cricket heading towardsthe lock-up door, she was shouting “Jake! JAKE! Where are you?!”Jenny got it then, she was after the biker. “Huh” she said. “Okaychamp...” Jenny teleported again right in front of Cricket, who ranright into Jenny's full force side-kick. Just as her blow landedJenny sparked her field and watched over her extended leg as Cricketfell back a few feet onto the floor, her shirt smoking “...it'scalled BAIL? Hello?”

Cricketglared back at The Golden Girl, her blue eyes like angry lasers. “I'dstay down if I were you” Jenny tried to sound as confident as shecould, but her ribs were really hurting. Cricket stood up, a cloud ofsmoke around her from her smoldering shirt. “Out. Of. MY. WAY!”Cricket yelled as she jumped at Jenny. Jenny easily stepped out ofthe way and Cricket just ended up colliding with the wall andcracking up more concrete. Jenny kicked her again, pushing all thecharge she could into her force-field. Cricket was crushed furtherinto the wall with a cloud of smoke, chunks of concrete falling ather feet. The Indestructible Girl cried out in pain, and Jenny sawthat she had burnt a hole into the girls leather jacket. She winced.“Sorry about that, that's a nice coa...” Cricket had turnedaround faster then Jenny expected and again her wild fist smashedinto Jenny's protective halo.

The force of the blow pushedJenny through an interior concrete wall behind her and she tumbledhalf-way across the main office, plowing over several desks beforecoming to a stop. Jenny's ribs screamed in protest, and she shoutedin pain. Jenny tasted something salty in her mouth and spit outblood, the liquid quickly burning off as it ran down her force-field.

Jenny's head was spinning, shehad never been injured like this, had never seen her blood like this,and felt shaky as she flashed back onto her legs. She was replaceing itdifficult to catch her breath.

Cricket had gotten to the doorwhere Jake was, and was calling out to him, the biker was telling herto just leave him and run. Cricket cried “NO!”

Jenny appeared in front ofCricket once again, standing on the table in the interview room, thebiker behind her. Cricket grabbed the table and tried to use it likea flyswatter and smash Jenny against the wall. Jenny just flashedthrough the table, which fell apart against the wall behind her.Jenny aimed a punch at Cricket's head as soon as she appeared. TheGolden Girl was fighting more cautiously now, and prepared forCricket's counterattack.

Jenny's strike hit true, andagain she sparked her force-field. Cricket fell back and brought herhands to her eyes, trying to rub the spots out from the flash. Jennywas on her in a heartbeat, punching her again and again in the headuntil Cricket found herself pounded half-way through the floor.Cricket swung wild at Jenny as her vision cleared, but Jenny blockedit, deflecting her punch away harmlessly.

Jenny kept at it, body blows andhead-shots. The room filled with the smell of ozone and smoke fromthe sparks as Jenny hit Cricket again and again. The IndestructibleGirl seemed to be weakening, finally, and her skin was turning redwith burns.

Jakecalled out in alarm, watching his Little Cricket getting pummeled.He'd had enough. The burly biker grabbed the water-cooler fromagainst the wall, and smashed it on Jenny, hoping that it might shorther force-field out or something, anything. The water that didn'timmediately vaporize on contact with Jenny's buzzing force-field justsloshed over and around it, and Jenny just ignored the superficialblow. However, the water washed off much of the dust from Cricketsface, and Jenny suddenly stopped, looking down at her in disbelief.

Jennycoughed up more blood. She asked “who... are you?” Cricket justsneered at Jenny and said “I'm Cricket, and your done!” Crickettook advantage of Jenny's hesitation, got a leg under her, and kickedup at Jenny's chest with all her strength. Jenny's force-field buzzedloudly and flared, filling the room with light as Cricket's footpushed its way through and struck Jenny's body directly. Jennyscreamed in pain from the discharge of her punctured protective shelland felt something give way in her chest. Cricket's foot wasviolently pushed back out as Jenny's force-field snapped back intoplace, but the damage was done. Jenny flew up through the roof andinto the air. Her chest was on fire, and a red stain of blood spreadon Jenny's white bodysuit. The pain overcame her, and Jenny was outcold before she hit the ground in a trash filled alley. Her goldenhalo buzzed and sparked loudly for several seconds after the impactbefore becoming dim and quieting back to its soft hum. Inside hersmall sunset world, Jenny lay very, very still.