|
|
|
ISSUE ELEVEN
"Feng Shui -- Part Two"
Note: This story takes place several months before the Hawks' dramatic return to the DCL Universe (see DCL's JSA #2).
Gunfire echoed throughout the stone corridors of the ancient temple that was now occupied by the Red Scorpion Triad. A shower of stone and mortar, produced by near misses and ricochets, rained upon Shayera Thal and little Juju as they ran for cover. They ducked around a corner to find themselves facing a large wooden door. Shayera tugged at the handle. "Seven Hells! It's locked." She cursed again but it didn't make her feel any better about Juju's safety, or her own. "It looks like we stand and fight." Shayera readied the walking stick that she had liberated from the lab. "Jam it, I'm tired of running anyways."
Juju tried to smile, but she was too scared to do so with any sincerity. The only thing preventing the ever growing despair inside her was the hope that she would still find her missing family. She looked at Shayera for comfort.
Shayera smiled down at Juju, doing her best to calm the child. "Don't give up yet…" Her voice trailed off as she stared at the flickering lights overhead. They were a jury-rigged affair with wires running down the walls and along the hallway. "It's time I do what I know best - fight." She jammed the walking stick between the wiring and the rough masonry of the wall. With all of her strength, she pulled the stick towards her, ripping the wires loose from their brackets. The lights flickered as sparks flew from the ruptured wiring, and then there was complete darkness. "Stay here," Shayera whispered, "It's time for… as it is said on this planet… payback." She faded from Juju's sight and disappeared into the surrounding darkness.
All Juju could do was listen and wait. Her fear grew with each passing moment alone. She could hear the muffled discussions of the approaching Triad gangsters as they cursed the darkness. Suddenly a loud whack echoed throughout the corridor. The Triad mooks shouted at each other as they tried to fight against their unseen assailant. Hectic orders pierced the darkness as the gangsters tried to gain the upper hand in the battle. Their cries were drown out by the sound of wood hitting flesh. Soon all that could be heard was the low painful moans of the defeated. Juju watched a smiling Shayera appear from the shadows. She was no worse for wear, and armed with several machine pistols. "I think I found the key to this door after all." She aimed the machine pistol and fired. The door handle quickly disintegrated from under an barrage of bullets. "Inside! Quick!"
As they ran inside the lights flickered back to life to reveal… Shayera couldn't believe her eyes, "How did that get here?"
Little Brother Tsui cursed as the lights dimmed. "Haven't they fixed those damn lights yet?!" He lit a cigarette and blew the smoke at the nearby henchman. "It's good news, I hope?"
The henchman coughed at the smoke as he hastily made his report. "Hawkwoman and a small child have been spotted moving west. Li and his men are closing in on them as we speak. He has assured me that they will be captured any moment now…" The henchman didn't dare look up at Little Brother. He kept his head low, hoping that he would live through the next few minutes.
"Let me get this straight. You're reporting that you haven't got them yet, but you should have them any time soon." Little Brother's face began to turn a shade redder. "What I suggest is this…" He brought himself closer to his henchman - black smoke lingered as the tip of his cigarette burned the henchman's face. He scowled fiercely as he barked out his orders, "If Hawkwoman isn't detained within the next twenty minutes, I will personal shoot you for incompetence. Now go!"
Dr. Dewei Zhang laughed as the henchman scrambled backwards while bowing profusely at his boss. "Your men are pathetic. You were asking about the quality of my research? Your underlings are the very proof that you need me."
"I wouldn't laugh Doctor. I need your research, not you." Little Brother Tsui flashed his Tokarev pistol in the air as he took aim at Dr. Zhang. "After I shoot him, I plan to shoot you next."
"And who would be able to decipher my data? Don't threaten me, Tsui." Zhang stared down the barrel of the Russian pistol with defiance, or at least with as much defiance that he could muster while having a pistol pointed at him. "You uncle in Hong Kong is paying for my research. I suggest it is in your best interest that he gets what he paid for."
Tsui holstered his pistol and flicked his cigarette at Zhang. "You are right about one thing, Zhang. My uncle is in Hong Kong. He isn't here to protect you. This is a very old building, accidents can happen." Little Brother Tsui shouted orders at his various henchmen while he walked out of the chamber. He stopped and turn back towards Zhang. "Are you coming, Doctor? Shall we see if your research will work?"
Dr. Dewei Zhang quietly cursed Tsui's name as he hobbled to catch up. It wasn't enough that he had a mental midget like Tsui bossing him around, but the fact that Hawkwoman has stolen his only good walking stick really annoyed him. Zhang loudly cursed Hawkwoman, and her immediate parentage, as he nursed his bad leg. 'I'll show everyone what I can do - the test subjects have exceeded all expectations since I modified my serum with the final data that I gleamed from that infernal alien woman. Soon this island will belong to me and it will be I that will dictate the final outcome, not Tsui.'
Shayera was enthralled by the ancient tapestry, spun from gold and black yarn, that hung before her. Its delicate threads depicted an image of a powerful man standing over the fallen bodies of his enemies, while a large stylized hawk covered the background behind him. 'How did an ancient Thanagar relic like the Shroud of Kalmoran, first High Mor of Thanagar*, ever get on Earth?' Shayera's eyes slowly drifted from the tapestry to what stood next to it. She couldn't believe it.
[ * A 'High Mor' is the traditional title given to a ruler of Thanagar. Kalmoran is a Thanagarian folk hero who was born when Thanagar was just a Polaran slave world. He lived much of his life as a slave, but one day he killed his keeper and ran away. When he returned it was at the head of an army, three thousand strong. His warriors stormed the Polaran garrison, took their ships, and struck the Polaran slave worlds, planet by planet. He razed the entire Polaran home world. He had no interest in ruling the Polarans, but they knew that he'd do what he could to keep them safe. So he came back and built a beautiful city. When he was very old, he came back to the islands, laid back in his queen's arms, looked at all he had built...and died. He was the first High Mor of Thanagar.]
"Seven Hells!" Next to the tapestry were three mannequins, each wearing a set of Thanagarian wings. The first two seemed to be of an ancient, archaic style and she doubted if they were truly Thanagarian at all, but the final one was more to her own liking - a solid pair of 'Wingman' wings. She inspected them a bit closer. Her fingers gently slid down the cool metal of the wing. If she didn't know better she would think that these were a pair of her old wings. Yes, a set of wings she owned when she first came to earth.
Shayera strapped the wings on and snapped the Wingman buckle shut. She had forgotten how much she loved the feeling of them, until now. It felt good to have a set strapped to her back again. It had been too long since she wore her last set of wings. She scanned the mannequin for the missing piece - yes, she saw it - a golden hawk-shaped helmet. She placed the helmet over her head and it felt not only good, but right.
Hawkwoman scanned her surroundings with renewed vigour. The walls were smooth grey stone with a trim of obsidian metal. Many mosaics, paintings, and sculptures of Thanagarian origin hung on the walls. The whole room was a treasure trove of mixed-matched Thanagarian artifacts. Shayera could recognize the odd painting or sculpture from the Old Empire Period of their history displayed next to pieces of modern Thanagarian construction. She wondered why someone would go to great desire to collect such relics. The whole room felt like a shrine. 'What stake did they have in all this?' she wondered.
While Shayera was engrossed by her reunion with her history, Juju wandered about on her own. She had lost her doll while they were running for their lives and now she was looking for a pretty substitute to replace it. The child walked past a hanging sheet of shimmering sound and turned a corner to find a hideous shape in front of her. She did what came naturally - she screamed.
Hawkwoman reacted instantly. She rushed to the source of the scream to find Juju cowling back from a misshapen local villager who was clearly deceased. He hung from the ceiling by wires and it looked like someone turned his body into silly putty and twisted him all out of shape. He had arms reaching out from his head and spine. His mouth, frozen in an eternal scream of agony, generated from somewhere near his waist. An outstretched palm held a lifeless single eye.
She recognized the horrific scene before her. Someone had used Kortan, a shape-changing drug as used by Byth Rok, on this poor villager. They then went to the trouble of preserving it for prosperity. She turned to the terrified youngster and said, "Don't worry, Juju. It's dead. I think it's time we got out of here."
The click of a gun was enough for Hawkwoman to react instinctively. She threw up one of her new found wings and shielded them from a hail of gunfire. They had wasted too much time here and the Triad goons had finally caught up with them. Pulling the whimpering child with her towards the wall, she wondered if her hunch was right. With the power of the wing's ninth metal harness, she propelled herself and Juju from the wall and away from the gunfire.
Pieces of Thanagarian history crashed around them. They ducked and wove through the tumbling debris as they made their way toward the far doorway. She used suppressive fire to keep the goons off their backs for a little time longer. Shayera pushed Juju through the door as she turned to face the approaching gunmen when her gaze saw the most beautiful site in the rubble (next to her wings of course). A sleek piece of metal was protruding from the remains of canvas and plaster. She gripped one end and pulled a battered Thanagarian Hellbore Rifle from the wreckage. It was lucky for her that the owner of this collection had good taste.
"Okay, who wants to travel to the Seven Hells first?" Fire belched from her rifle as the mooks took cover. A few weren't so lucky as their torsos burst into fiery pieces. "You're not facing just Shayera Thal anymore, meat. Now you're facing Hawkwoman!"
"What? She is armed with what?!" shouted Little Brother Tsui on his cell phone as he ran down the corridor. The roar of explosions on the other end was the only answer he could get. He didn't like this. 'It sounds like she found my little museum. That wasn't suppose to happen. This was suppose to be a simple snatch and grab job. The Doctor got his research data and I got my prize for my little museum.'
The nearby wall exploded as flames and searing heat surged forth. Little Brother stood still, with a cigarette hanging on his lower lip, as he watched Hawkwoman step out through the gapping hole. She aimed the Thanagarian rifle at him. He glared at her helmeted visage to the point he could see his own reflection looking back at him.
Little Brother did the only sensible thing he could think of - he raised a Tokarev pistol at Hawkwoman. He noticed a frightened Juju hiding just behind her. He altered his aim so he was pointing at the child now. "So now we make a swap, the kid's life for mine."
"What makes you think I won't just shoot you down right now?" Hawkwoman took aim and slowly began to caress the rifle's trigger.
"Who do you think stole that weapon and the rest of the priceless artefacts in the first place? The power pack on that weapon was nearly empty when I got it. Now after your pyrokinetic display, I would wager that you don't have enough juice to light a match. Care to find out?"
"I'm sure I have enough power left to flash you before you get a chance to even blink, let alone pull your trigger."
"It looks like we have what the Americans call, a Mexican stand-off. Tell you what. If you surrender, I'll let the kid go. She means nothing to me. It's you that I want."
"So what? So you can add me to your little collection of Thanagarian treasure? I don't think so. I won't be anyone's caged bird." Hawkwoman pulled the trigger as she manoeuvred her wings to shield Juju. Her Hellbore Rifle spat a shower of sparks as the power pack finally lost its charge.
Little Brother Tsui returned fire as he shot a full clip at Hawkwoman and the child. The bullets ricocheted off her wings. Tsui winced in pain as a stray bullet bounced back and clipped him in the arm. He ignored the wound as he attempted to draw his second pistol. He didn't get the chance. Using her rifle as a club, Hawkwoman quickly bashed him along the side of the head. Blood sprayed the wall as he fell to the floor.
Hawkwoman checked to make sure Juju was alright. "I don't know about you, Juju, but I think I've had enough of the hospitality that is offered around here. Reminds me too much of where I grew up as a kid." Hawkwoman scooped her up and took flight through a nearby window.
Dr. Dewei Zhang tapped his security code into the safe's keypad. The safe opened with a hiss as clouds of dry ice vapours began to drift out. "How ironic that Hawkwoman was the one to provide the data that I needed to perfect my serum… the very serum that will be her downfall."
"I'll take that." A pain wracked voice startled the doctor from his dreams of power. Zhang turned to see a battered, yet living, Tsui stumble into his laboratory. His henchmen tried to help him walk but Tsui won't hear of it. He waved them away. "I'll either stand on my own two feet, or I won't stand at all." He lumbered towards the doctor. "I'll take that serum, doctor. It will give me the edge I'm looking for."
"You are in no condition to take it. It might kill you." Zhang placed the vial back into the safe and moved to close the door. He stopped as he hears the multiple sounds of pistols being cocked.
"Let me rephrase myself, Doctor. If I do not get that serum, then you'll die now." Tsui wiped the blood from his eyes, as he barked orders to his henchmen. "If the Doctor closes that safe, shoot him. Now Doctor, do we have an understanding?"
Dr. Zhang nodded his head in agreement. "I'll administer the serum to you, but I can't take responsibility for what will happen, considering your current physical state." Zhang reached into his safe and pulled out a vial. He inserted it into a hypodermic needle and prepared it for use. "If I do this, you'll let me live?"
Tsui raised his arm for the injection. "If anything goes wrong, my men will kill you on the spot. If it works, you'll be on the first boat to Hong Kong to present the drug to my uncle. Shall we begin, Doctor?"
Zhang paused as he stopped his hands from shaking. For this to work, he would have to do it right. He injected the strange alien serum into Tsui's arm. "The results should be pretty much instantaneous…" He watched in horror the sight before him. Little Brother Tsui began to scream, his flesh rippling as the drug worked its way through his body. Zhang realized that Tsui's henchmen were aiming their machine pistols at him. "No! Don't shoot. That is a normal reaction. It will pass…"
The battered body of Little Brother Tsui was completely healed. He also stood a foot taller than his original height. His voice echoed with the very energy that coursed through his veins. "This is fantastic! I can feel the serum surging within me."
Zhang ignored the guns pointed at him as he raced to Tsui's side. "You have become much more than a mere human. Your DNA has been fused with a hybrid of alien DNA fragments and my special formula. You are stronger and faster than you were before and, if you concentrate, your body will respond to your very thoughts."
The henchmen lowered their pistols in awe as they watched Tsui grow a set of black leathery wings from his back. Tsui shouted in triumph. "Yes! You have done well, Doctor. I'm almost sorry for doubting you. As for our bargain, Little Brother Tsui keeps his word." New ideas formed in his head. With the power that he now possessed, it was time that the Red Scorpion Triad to gain a new boss. 'Big Brother Tsui', he liked the sound of that. "After I defeat Hawkwoman, we'll go to Hong Kong and leave this backward little island to rot. Two of my men will remain here with you to make sure that no harm comes to you, while the rest will join me as I confront Hawkwoman."
Zhang watched the transformed Tsui and his Red Scorpion henchmen exit the laboratory. He had to take care of the remaining guards since he had little time. Zhang began to cough as he clutched his chest. The two remaining henchmen moved closer as they attempted to figure out what was happening. "My heart… must take my pills…" Zhang's shaking hand reached into his coat and pulled out two grey pills. He popped them into his mouth and fell to the floor. "Help…"
The two mooks bent over to help Zhang to his feet, but they were suddenly choking on a grey powder that Zhang blew from his hand that "held" the pills that he supposedly swallowed. He had faked taking them and had crushed them instead. The powder caused the mooks to hack and cough as they clutched their own chests in great pain. Zhang quickly got to his feet and stepped back from the dying guards. "Goodbye gentlemen. I'm sure you will meet up with your boss in whatever hell you end up in." Dr. Zhang decided it was time he made his getaway.
Hawkwoman soared gracefully over the treetops. Her reactions showed no evidence of being rusty or slow. She wove in and out of updrafts and downdrafts with ease. While Hawkwoman may love to fly, it was obvious that her passenger didn't. Juju had her hands clasped tightly on Shayera's arm for fear of falling.
"Relax. You won't fall. You're safe now. We'll go looking for your parents. You said the camp was this…" Shayera's sentenced was finished not with words, but with a yell of pain instead. She had barely turned in time. If she was a few seconds slower, the energy burst would have hit her directly in the chest instead of just grazing her. A quick glance over her good shoulder revealed that she is being chased by a winged Tsui? Shayera couldn't believe her eyes. 'Flying was bad enough, but he was also armed with a Wingman blaster.' The air sizzled and shimmered near her. 'He's getting close with that thing. I better get Juju to safety so I can take care of that meat properly.'
Hawkwoman soared straight up into the air, higher and higher, until she was but a speck. Little Brother Tsui just smiled. He loved the chase. "Fly, little bird. Soon you will be mine." Tsui shot upwards like a bullet. He seared through the sky on an intercepting arc. He watched them get closer and closer until suddenly Hawkwoman tilted to the left and dropped straight down leaving a wake trail in the clouds behind her. Tsui vectored off and moved in to intercept her. As fast as they soared up into the sky, they descended until they were swooping through the temple's vine covered towers. Hawkwoman turned sharply and disappeared around a tower. Tsui pursued to find… nothing. They were gone.
Little Brother hovered as he scanned the jungle and towers for any sign of movement. "You cannot hide, Hawkwoman! Make no mistake. I will find you! When I do, I'll make sure you'll never run away again." Suddenly Tsui felt a sharp pain pierce his chest. As soon as it appeared, it was done. Tsui quickly forgot about it when he heard the whistling of the wind from behind him. He turned in time to witness Hawkwoman, who was diving from above, slam into him. The body blow knocked Tsui flying into the treetops, causing him to lose his Thanagarian blaster.
Hawkwoman hovered in the air staring at the struggling Tsui who threw branches everywhere as he attempted to stand up. She had dropped Juju off at one of the towers previously, knowing that she had to face him alone. "Come butcher. As you can see, it's just you and me now. It's time we finish this."
"You shall pay for this woman!" Tsui looked up at the hovering Hawkwoman. He soared into the air but suddenly clutched his chest as a wave of pain surged through his body. His face stretched in agony as spit dribbled from his mouth. His whole body surged with a strange vibration that was visible as ripples flowing through his skin. Suddenly, as if his body was made from a liquid, it flowed into a monstrous and contorted shape. Tsui's face looked like a Dali clock with his torso a crude 'J' shape. His arms were uneven and his right leg grew an extra set of small arms. His face screamed in agony as it raised from where his belly was.
"What is happening to meeeeeeeeeee!!!!!" He screamed. Little Brother Tsui was always known as a horror but now he looked the part.
"By the Seven Hells." Hawkwoman watched in horror at the mutating Tsui. She had to do something. She scanned the area until she saw the discarded wingman blaster. She dove for it instantly.
Tsui's body was a mangled mess of flesh and limbs. He screamed a name, "ZHANGGGG!!!!!" as his mouth closed over and another one formed on his hand. A squirming mouth from his palm of his right hand struggled with speaking. "Wh-at h-ave y-ou d-one to me, Zh-ang?!!!"
Hawkwoman flew past the mutating Tsui and turned in mid flight so she was moving away with her front facing towards him. She threw her wings forward to stabilize her trajectory, as she fired the blaster. Tsui gave a final scream of pure agony and then fell silently into the trees. The silence echoed through the jungle. A heaviness in the air had lifted and a freshness was in the wind. Hawkwoman knew she should go looking for Zhang. He was the true danger behind this whole affair, but she had to get back to Juju. "Poor kid. She must be terrified by all this. It's time to round up a few loose ends." Hawkwoman flew into the air towards Juju's hidden location.
INTERLUDE:
A small boat bobbed with the ocean waves. Dr Dewei Zhang had stolen the boat in his escape from the island. He knew that he had made some powerful enemies with the Red Scorpion Triad by injecting Tsui with one of the prototype serums instead of the finished result, but he didn't care. As powerful as the Red Scorpion Triad was, he knew of another group that were more powerful and equally more connected to fund his research. He had sent the arranged signal and he was at the right co-ordinates but he could see nothing but ocean. The thrashing waves were starting to make him feel ill and he began to wonder if he would be lost at sea.
Then suddenly a strange brown and orange patterned submarine emerged from the water. The hull of the sub appeared to be painted with almost a snake-like pattern. A hatch opened and two men in equally strange reptilian uniforms step out. With a stiff arm salute, they acknowledged Dr Zhang's presence. "Hail Lord Kobra! "
"Don't just stand there. Help me aboard." Dr Zhang cursed as he tried to lift the container that held his shape-shifting serum. "Your lord and master will want my research." Kobra's followers helped the doctor and his serum aboard the submarine. "Careful with that, you fools, that's the perfected serum you're holding."
"Isssss it?" hissed a sinister voice from the inside of the submarine. "Then I sssee no need for your further involvement." Lord Kobra stepped out of the depths of the sub and raised his staff towards Dr Zhang. A bolt of energy burst from the staff's tip and seared a hole in Zhang's chest. His limp body fell into the ocean below. His face was frozen with shock and fear at the final realization that his luck had worn out. Lord Kobra ordered his men back inside with the serum. He promised them that soon the prophecy would be fulfilled. The Kobra submarine sank slowly under the waves.
Back to the action...
Locked away deep in the lower depths of the temple, Shayera found Juju's family and the rest of the enslaved villagers. Tired and beaten, the villagers pleaded for their release. "Momma!" shouted Juju as she bolted from Shayera's side towards the metal cage.
"Juijuan! Juijuan!" A frightened woman grabbed the cage's bars as she shouted for her daughter.
"Get away from the lock! Juju, tell them to get back!" Hawkwoman aimed with her blaster and quickly blasted the cage open with minor effort. The overwhelming mood of the villagers changed almost instantly. The open cage renewed their hope and their will to live. The villagers surged forth into the waiting arms of freedom.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but jam it, I've had enough of these vermin." Hawkwoman raised her weapon into the air. "The head of the beast has been removed. The body is dying. Why don't we go and hurry things up a bit!"
"But… but, we do not have weapons. How can we fight?" The almost whisper-like voice originated from a small man. He stood on frail legs and had a patch over his left eye.
Hawkwoman repositioned her wings to reveal a small pile of ancient weapons. "I found some interesting rooms during my search. This Triad has many interesting vices - antique weapons seems to be one of them." Shayera picked up a slender mace. 'Seven Hells! Where are you, Katar?!' She removed her helmet and made eye contact with the villagers. "There comes a time where you must make a stand. Enough is enough. The question is, do I stand alone?"
One by one villagers stepped forward and armed themselves with the assortment of maces, flails, swords, and axes. Shayera donned her helmet as she passed her mace to a tall thin man. Hawkwoman checked the charge on Little Brother's blaster, which she had confiscated. She smiled as the charge read three-quarters full. "Just follow my lead…"
Hawkwoman and the villagers rushed into the corridor. Now disorganized Red Scorpion Triad didn't know what hit them. Within twenty minutes, the entire temple was once more under the revered control of the villagers. The gangsters were round up and placed into their own filthy cells. During the rebellion, Shayera had the luck to find the Triad's radio room. She was able to contact the local authorities to inform them of the situation. Help was on the way.
Shayera Thal looked at the mace in her hand. She had to use it when the blaster ran out of its charge. She now could see why Katar enjoyed using them. Katar… She tried to not think of him because it caused too much pain. Physical pain she could deal with, but emotional ache made her even more uncomfortable. She stood still lost in thought, and was startled when Juju tugged at her arm. She bent down so Juju could give her a hug; not just any hug, but the biggest hug the child could muster. Juju thanked her and then ran back to her family's open arms. They bowed in appreciation for all that Shayera did for them. She smiled and bowed back. She waved goodbye as they went back to their lives. Now it was time for her to return to hers. She turned back to the radio.
"This is Detective Shayera Hal of the Detroit Police Department calling any American ships! I need a lift to the States. Stranded on island. Can you help? Over." It wasn't like Shayera didn't trust the nearby Chinese government, but she wanted to make her own arrangements to get back to her job in Detroit. She knew that when she got back she had her own search to commence.
She missed him deeply. She knew Katar was out there - somewhere. She would find him.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I know some people are probably wondering just what in the heck is Feng Shui anyways? Pronounced Fung Shui in Cantonese and Feng Shway in Mandarin, it is the art of Chinese Geomancy (the idea is you can arrange an area to benefit's from that area's natural chi, thus increasing your success in life).
I used that title for two reasons. The first being Hawkwoman "re-arranges" her environment (ie the Chinese Triad) to gain success in her life (ie the return of her wings). The second is more personal. I'm a fan of a Hong Kong action role-playing game by the same name. This story was an attempt to create a similar Hong Kong over-the-top action flick but starring Shayera Thal, Hawkwoman.
The bit about Shayera Thal being a cop on the Detroit Police Force is my own little retconn. I figured that time she was AWOL in the proper DCU, she joined the police force to continue helping people the only way she knew how - by being a cop. For a time, she was just Detective Shayera Hal, instead of Hawkwoman. But now, she has reclaimed the title of Hawkwoman. Does that mean she quit the Detroit Police Force? I guess we'll have to wait for another Hawkwoman story to find out.
-- Tim Hartin
11/02/2004