Prodigy

The Attack

Kate stepped from the building. The day had been a success, but she knew disaster was on the way. She felt the turf give under her feet as her shoes hit the mud. The nearest weapon is five degrees to your left. Spin, grab the weapon, then activate those defensive shields that your police have. A strong male voice said in her head.

Kate nodded and spun. As she turned, she released the skirts of her gown. This design had been added on a whim in case she needed quick movement. Her hand touched the butt of a projectile weapon, and she pulled it from its holster.

As her hand touched the hilt of the weapon, the shields of the security team activated, just before a barrage of energy and projectiles crashed into them. She ignored the fire from the ground. She was strengthening the shields, they would not break. She turned with the g*n in hand. Elevation twenty degrees and five seconds; fire two rounds, reinforce the second. The voice suggested. She oriented herself and fired, then somersaulted. Seventy-five degrees, shift left eight seconds. Fire three rounds; bolster the second and third. A different voice advised.

She didn’t hesitate three quarters of the way through her flip, she fired. She felt the first rounds hit the target. The first round was stopped by shields. That was unusual. Only secret police and special forces used these shields. They were still in the testing stage. She landed on her feet and pivoted. Ground fire was coming from across the street.

“I need another weapon, please.” She said,

One of her father’s men stepped forward, handing her a second weapon. His automatic weapon was still held at a ready as he sprayed cover fire. “I’m not sure that your father would approve.”

“That is my concern. Form on me.” She ordered.

She could feel the enemy. The two craft, each with two passengers, crash landed and were swarmed by security personnel. Eight other gunmen were positioned in nearby buildings and spraying the open area with fire. Stone was behind an impromptu barrier and had found an automatic weapon somewhere and was providing covering fire.

With a g*n in either hand, she marched forward. She didn’t want to kill, these people deserved to rot in a cell. She fired her first shot, through the wall of the closest building and into the shoulder of the gunman… a woman. Her other g*n fired, the bullet finding a knee. A wedge formed around her, made of security personnel and even the street gangs. For a moment, they had a common agenda.

She fired eight shots in all and each found a target. Each shot was non-lethal and as the fire from the buildings died down, each attacker was arrested.

A soft hand landed on her shoulder and Kate turned. She was facing Danika. The woman had a small smile on her face. “You kept your word.” Was all she said as she passed Kate the skirt she had slung over her arms.

Kate spun the pistols and pointed the butts towards the woman.

Danika shook her head. “You earned those.” She looked at a man at her side. “Take the weapons and find her a holster. While she dresses.

“Thank you.” Kate said as she wrapped the skirt around her and it reattached to the fabric of the bodice. As she finished attaching the fabric she was handed a double holster and Danika helped her equip it.

Danika placed a hand on her back and started leading her from the scene as a roar of adulation washed over her. When the cheers died, Kate asked the question that bothered her the most. “How is father doing?”

Danika led her a few steps before answering. “There is a lot he doesn’t understand, but he wanted to deploy every soldier under his command. I convinced him to trust him…My faith was not misplaced.

They reached a security flier and the doors rotated and Kate slid in. It was more comfortable than she expected. While it wasn’t as luxurious as her father’s fliers, it equaled Kathy’s. Danika slid in and the doors closed.

As the craft floated into the air, Danika spoke. “How long have you known about your father and me?”

Kate looked at her. “Among my many abilities is the ability to hear surface thoughts. I knew about you from the beginning. Some things just can’t be hidden.” Kate paused for a moment. “ I know you have questions and they deserve answers, but my father has been waiting longer. Please wait till I can explain things to both of you.”

Danika nodded. “You deserve that much. I will warn you, despite your heroics, you will still need to answer for the Privacy Clause."