Wraith

Simple Beginnings Chapter Two

Chapter Two

The Captain didn't notice Wraith arrive, but soon after she started walking at his side he glanced that way and saw her slim figure. With superbly controlled reactions, he betrayed no sign of surprise and silently continued his patrol. Briefly, he thought about passing on the Chairman's directive to her about assisting a district or patrolling many, but she seemed confident in what she was doing and he wondered if someone had already told her. After a time, they neared the heart of the Memory Lane district. Suddenly the Captain halted, holding up his gloved hand to make sure that Wraith did too.

Wraith obediently paused and, mimicking her companion, cocked her head to one side and listened. It took a moment, but then she heard the sound of breaking glass. Startled, she straightened up to see that the Captain was already moving. Running lightly over the rooftops he soon led her on a path down to the ground, and then unerringly navigated through the streets to come out of an alley opposite a seedy jeweler's shop. The window was clearly smashed and dark shapes could be seen moving about inside against the glow of the security lighting.

Without hesitating, the Captain made a flying leap and landed well inside the shop. He began laying about himself with his fists as Wraith followed. Her jump was neither as long, nor as graceful as the Captain's, but it was sufficient to get her into the shop. In the dimly lit darkness it was hard to see the features of the thieves, but Wraith thought that she saw a glint of light off a raised knife near the Captain. Then she closed with her target and, drawing on moves learned in her variety of martial arts classes, soon had him immobilized.

Looking around, Wraith saw that the other two thieves were also still and the Captain was slowly straightening up. He nodded to her and, lifting his captives, carried them out of the shop. Wraith staggered after him with her own prisoner who she dumped in the street with relief as soon as she had crunched past the safety glass. Then she saw that the Captain had carried his captives to one of the infrequent street lamps, and half lifted, half dragged her own prisoner over to him.

"Check his pockets for stolen jewelry." The Captain's voice was gruff as if he had a frog in his throat. Wraith obeyed, but found nothing. She looked back at him and he nodded. "I have restraints stashed nearby. Wait here." He barely waited for her agreement before disappearing into the darkness.

It was with relief that Wraith finally saw him return, as already one of the figures was beginning to stir. After they bound the three thieves, the Captain made his way back to the shop and wrote a short explanatory note to the owner. On his return, Wraith got a good look at him for the first time and couldn't keep from exclaiming. "You're hurt!"

The Captain looked down at his left arm as if noticing the pain for the first time, and then nodded. "The big guy had a knife. It's probably still in the shop somewhere." He unzipped a pocket that lay flat against his thigh and sat down. Pulling out a length of clean cloth, a tube of antiseptic ointment and a handful of safety pins, he held out his arm to her. "Can you bandage it? It's a bit awkward to do one-handed." Wordlessly Wraith took the proffered first-aid supplies and did her best.

When she had finished, the Captain tested his arm and smiled. "That'll do." Then he stood and picked up the end of the rope holding the prisoners together. They were all awake by now and each had made both individual and joint efforts to escape as Wraith worked on the Captain's arm. After the first few attempts had proved futile however, they had sat sullenly together and avoided the Users' eyes. Now, after a false start when none of the thieves would move and the Captain had to drag them a few feet, they eventually reached the local police station.

The Captain glanced briefly at Wraith. "I'll do the talking." Then he pushed his way inside. With no other choice, the thieves stumbled after him and Wraith brought up the rear. There was only one man in the room. He was the officer manning the duty desk and the Captain went straight to him.