ASBO-Boy - A Vue to Kill: Part 1

“Vue’s made his move.” Beacon announced to the assembled Elementals, “He’s been spotted near the Dyfatty fly-over by observation cameras. Obviously, the wasteland beneath it is still out of bounds and it’s all closed off, but Vue’s abilities have overcome every defence. We need need to capture him before he escapes again. Any questions?”

Nia looked at the other two. There were no questions. Within minutes they were airborne in the Elemental helicopter. Below them Swansea was going to sleep but the fly-over still looked busy and glowed like a bright chalk line leading out of the city. Below it, the crater that once was Dyfatty spread out like a black hole. The mountains of rubble and debris piled up around the foundations of the old blocks of flats that once stood there. Nia looked down at the Geiger counter nestled in the console. The clicking was clearly audible in their earphones.

“We have to be out in twenty minutes because of the radiation. Keep in pod contact at all times.” Beacon commanded over the intercom. The helicopter swept down over the rubble and dropped to a comfortable distance for them to jump out. “The pilot will sweep the lights and follow our progress. If you see anything, speak up. Vue is to be considered extremely dangerous. He’s one of the original Elementals after all. We’ll be following Search Pattern Delta. Move out!”

The place was covered in ash and dirt. All life seemed to have been cooked out of the place. There was no wind and the lights from the helicopter made the place look like a graveyard. Nia gathered her cloak around her and began to search the ruins. A chill sensation ran down her spine as she came across a playground and the stumps of trees. An iron railing jutted out of the ground at irregular angles. Dimly she wondered what on earth could have happened to this ghastly place.

“Nothing down near the flats – what about your end Siren?” Beacon’s cold voice sounded over the pod link in her ear.

“Nothing to report. Just a dead playground.”

As she stepped over the remains of a bed of flowers her mind began to wander. It hadn’t even been a week since the helicopter crash and the incident with the ASBO. Since then her time at Elemental Tower had become worse. The others kept their distance while she went out of her way to avoid them. Beacon was aloof and pretended not to notice, Elixir made no comment, and of the three, did the best job of trying to coax her back into socialising. But Swelter’s reaction was almost encouraging. He’d started to lose control of his abilities again, despite her natural influence. She watched as more and more he stayed in his room and declined to take part in exercises. It was almost satisfying to watch him squirm with guilt every time they crossed paths.

“Found anything?” Swelter muttered to her on what she assumed was a private link.

“No.” She replied, scanning the ground. In the distance she could see his silhouette on the top of a mound of detritus. Every so often the light from the helicopter swept over him as he climbed.

“Siren,” he muttered again, the effort it was taking him to speak was clear. “I just wanted to say sorry. I know you don’t want to hear it – I know that what I did sickens you. But you have to understand that I was doing my job. It wasn’t personal. I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

He was silent again as Nia raged inside. This wasn’t the time for a rant. Neither was it the time for a half-arsed apology, she thought.

“I just needed to say it, you know? I hope you can forgive me for what I did.” He continued solemnly.

“It’s not me you need to be asking.” She couldn’t resist replying fiercely. He was silent for a moment. She envisioned him stewing in his own guilt, it was a satisfying image. “And another thing - ”

“Wait!” She frowned, all she could hear over the pod was static, which was odd, because it was meant to be a clear line. The helicopter’s light continued to sweep past them, but there was something wrong. She could feel it.

“Boo!” A figure materialised in front of her; a man, tall and severe in an all-black skin-suit. He wasted no time in knocking her to the floor. She cried over the pod, “I’ve found him, he’s here!”

“Sorry love, that isn’t going to work. I’ve already sorted out your friends.” He replied, strolling towards her. Behind him there came a burst of light and Swelter appeared, bellowing at the top of his voice, his body engulfed in a rippling of heat haze. In a flash Vue was standing the other side of Nia with his arms folded.

“Clumsy and stupid. I’m shocked. Back in my day we’d have been the very image of efficiency.” Vue tutted.

There was an explosion from near by and the sound of gushing water. “My – it seems they’ve escaped. Is one of you a Catalyst?” Vue wondered.

“Too right I’m a catalyst,” Nia ground between her teeth, “Now!” She cried to Swelter as she concentrated fully.

“Excellent.” Vue said, “Now you definitely wont stop me.”

“Want a bet?” Came a familiar voice. Nia looked around for the source and didn’t have to look far. Standing behind Vue was Mike – surrounded by a group of Hounds.