Accident Prone - Becoming Human

The Storm

The sky over the city was ominously dark as the powerful and unseasonably warm wind gusted at dangerously high speeds that shook houses, trembled bridges and kept innocent people inside their homes as they sought shelter from the impending storm. Trees were being blown about with such tremendous force that branches snapped clean away, drying leaves were shredded from their twigs and powerlines began to sway dangerously in the gusting wind with the very possibility of snapping from the power poles. Rolling blackouts were beginning to plague the city as the storm encroached mercilessly over the people, humans and deviants alike, all taking shelter in their homes.

Numerous first responders positioned themselves throughout the city and on the perimeter of the city to watch the skies and report any sign of tail clouds or other dangerous storm phenomenon. It was 'all hands on deck' due to the severity of the storm, and as a result many of the first responders were maintaining constant contact with their allies via radio and texts.

Ready to help Hank and Connor had volunteered to go on storm watch alongside other first responders just outside of the city rather than stay inside the city limits. Parking the Oldsmobile just off the road near a relatively open patch of land Hank stepped outside of the car and leaned up against its side with his arms crossed over his chest and his fascinated blue eyes transfixed on the dark, menacing clouds above.

"There's just something so damn hypnotic about storms." Hank stated as he watched the dark clouds above slowly crossing over the expansive sky like spilled ink. Powerful gusts of wind swept over the area causing street signs to shudder and bend and caused digital billboards to flicker in and out of power. "If we see any sign of a funnel coming down we need to find shelter."

Connor had joined Hank outside the car and had begun running a cybernetic scan of the cloud activity overhead and provided real time updates to keep the weather predictions as accurate as possible. Putting his hand up over his eyes to shield them from the stinging wind as he stood beside Hank, the deviant gave the senior detective an update. "There is an appropriate storm shelter one point four miles South of here. We can use it if it becomes necessary."

"Good to know." Hank's eyes never left the sky. He didn't even seem phased by the stinging wind cutting into his skin as he watched the sky diligently. "I don't think the Oldsmobile could outrun a tornado anymore."

A heavy rain began soaking the area in a massive deluge of nature. While the wind gusted violently the cool rain began to pour from the dark clouds above and rumbles of thunder began to echo in the distance. Lightning flashed and lit up the darkness of the clouds with blinding brilliance. A massive tree branch snapped from the trunk of a nearby tree and crashed to the ground loudly just a few yards from the car.

Connor pulled on Hank's arm as his L.E.D. flashed from a cautious yellow to an alert red. "It's not safe to be out here. We need to get back inside the car."

"Yeah, sure." Hank almost sounded disappointed as he returned to the car and sat behind the wheel to continue to watch the storm through the windshield. Turning on the windshield wipers the two detectives stared through the glass as it become clear for only a matter of seconds before the rain obstructed their view once more. "This is the kind of weather that really humbles a person, you know?"

The comment was fairly inquisitive to the still learning deviant. "Humbles?"

"Nature is so much more powerful than anything any one person, or a group of people, could ever hope to achieve. It makes me really appreciate a beautiful spring day, you know?"

The active scanning of the storm clouds had unexpectedly put Connor on edge. "Have you ever seen a tornado before?"

"...Yeah." The older man's voice lowered as if trying to avoid upsetting someone that only he could sense. "Once. I was a kid and I was indeed humbled by it."