Lodestone

" Under The Gun" by Martin Maenza


"Bring me Magnet and Steel!" bellowed the large man with the receding hairline and black ponytail. The camera operator zoomed out from the close up, hoping the signal was getting back to the studio.

A black tank top clung to the large man's well-chiseled torso. The terrified librarian that he held in a choke hold could easily attest to the power in his biceps and triceps. If his stature was not impressive enough, the armaments attached to his bandolier and the large gun he waved in his right hand would surely be enough to show he meant business. There was a reason that they called him Assault!

Assault had done his homework and set up the situation perfectly. Mid afternoon, the small branch of the Victoria Library System would only have a dozen patrons, mostly young school children there for "Story Hour". The program had gotten some print coverage in the Sunday supplement, so WVTV decided to send Rick Gates to get some footage for the 6 o'clock news community piece. All of this gave Assault a perfect hostage situation and a way to get his real targets to arrive. Then, he would have his revenge!

"You have exactly one hour! After that, I start marking time with bodies!" He glared menacingly at the children and an elderly couple who were cowering on the floor in front of him. Each prayed that someone would arrive before that hour expired, someone who could stop this mad individual.

***

In a large but modest home in Ashebury, a residential community in north Victoria, Georgia, a television played back Assault's message. "Bring me Magnet and Steel! You have exactly one hour! After that, I start marking time with bodies!" A canvas book bag with leather trim sat on the couch, next to a fashion magazine, some unopened bills and a postcard from Jamaica. A freshly opened can of Diet Coke was on the coffee table next to the remote.

A muffled thud from upstairs piqued Sebastion's curiosity. The gray cat bound up the spiral stairs two at a time and down the long hallway. He stopped right in the center of the hallway and stared up at the open panel in the ceiling. Whatever was going on in the attic, there was no way for him to get up there.

A teenage girl with long blonde hair hurriedly moved aside old lamps to get to a trunk tucked away in the corner. The lamps left behind clear spots in the thick dust on the lid. Clare Harper tried to lift the lid only to find it locked. I bet it's in here. She glanced around quickly but no key was in sight. Not a problem. She put her right index finger near the opening of the lock and concentrated on the mechanism. In a moment she heard a solid click. Then the lid opened right up.

She quickly rummaged through the garments on top. Some old dresses and such so long out of style that they were becoming trendy again. Then, pay dirt! Towards the bottom was a gray spandex body suit with red trim. The accessories were right there too: red gloves and boots, a red mask and a large metal belt. Thank God Mom's such an organized person.

She shed the peach blouse and blue jeans she was wearing and quickly set to getting into the costume. Even though the size was a perfect match, Clare found the spandex was a bit too snug in some places, for her taste. How did she ever like wearing this? she wondered as she gave her backside a once over in the old dusty mirror. Leave it to the Seventies, when all clothing was this tight. That will teach me to chuckle during "8-Track Flashback".

The mask was the last part of the costume that she put on. This time she paused a bit longer to look at herself in the mirror. She had dreamed of this moment for such a long time. Like the beginning of a new tradition. Still, she knew full well she could not take long to savor the moment. Lives are at stake and its up to me to do something about it!

Clare stepped into mid air over the attic opening and slowly lowered herself to the floor. Sebastion scampered away before the boot heels could touch down in the carpet. Clare quickly made her way down to her room where she opened the French doors to the balcony that overlooked the backyard. She took a deep breath and remembered all the lessons she had been through.

Here goes! she thought and slowly her body rose off the floor. Then, she quickly accelerated into the sky and away from the neighborhood, letting the large oak trees hide her departure. She would have to fly faster than ever before if she was to get to the library in time to help. All the way, she hoped that she would be able to pull the charade off.

***

Assault glared impatiently at the clock over the checkout desk. Four minutes!. They have four minutes left! For a second, he thought about blasting the slow moving clock but reconsidered. He had no reservation on making good on his threat. But, he was a man of his word. Blowing away the clock would mean he would then have to second guess at when he should starting killing the hostages. As a man of his word, he certainly did not want to kill the first one too soon.

Still, he needed to make the most of the time left. Time to pick the first casualty. Assault scanned those cowering before him in fear. He quickly eliminated the elderly couple. Not enough drama in that. No one cares as much about them in today's society. The cameraman was required to film the event for posterity. The librarian was a good candidate. It felt pretty good holding her close earlier. At the same time, that could prove distracting. He considered and then decided on one of the children. A smaller, easy to handle "shield" is best. Plus the police wouldn't risk hitting the child.

"You! Boy! Come here!" The brown haired child he spoke to recoiled at his booming voice. Assault gritted his teeth and growled as he lunged forward and snatched him up from the floor by his shirt front. "This is no game, boy! You listen to what I say! Got that?" The boy stopped squirming instantly.

A call came from behind him. "Let the hostages go, Assault!" A costumed woman stepped into the doorway. "I'm the one you want!"

In a lightning quick move, Assault used his free hand to pull three shurkiens from his bandolier and hurled them across the room. They veered off their deadly course at the last moment and imbedded themselves in the door frame. A smile crossed the criminal's face. "The costume and the powers are correct," he gleamed. "For a second I thought the police would try to pull a fast one." He released his grip, allowing the boy to drop to the floor. Assault slung his gun back into his hand.

"So, Magnet." His voice was now sinisterly cordial. "Where is that annoying partner of yours? If he were already dead, I would have heard about it. Even in prison we get the news." He kept his gun positioned between the hostages and his quarry.

"He's, um, out of the country." Which isn't a lie at all. "You'll just have to settle with me for now." Clare knew that if she just kept him talking, she might get everyone out of this without any harm. Myself included. "As I said, I'm here now so you can let the hostages go. You're a man of your word, right?"

Clare kept her eyes on Assault, but she was doing much more than just looking at him. A quick scan revealed that most of Assault's weapons were composed of non-metallic materials! So much for disarming him! Clare was going to have to find something else with which to take him out.

After filming Clare's entrance, Rick Gates returned his focus on the man who was calling the shots.

Assault took two steps to his right. "Ah, Magnet. That is true. I am a man of my word. But, if you were listening, I said that your arrival would only stop me from marking time' with bodies." Assault let out a brief chuckle as he took three more steps in his circling path. "Do you really think I'm going to let my insurance policies walk out the door before you are dead? What would prevent the police from bursting in here and interrupting our little reunion party?" His index finger stroked the trigger gently.

"No, Assault, this is your show." She figured the least she should do is appear to cooperate, until a plan came to her. "Just remember, it is me you are after. These people were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

She wasn't sure what Assault was up to. Why is he stalling? Could he have a trap laid? Or did he think she was lying and thought that Steel was going to be popping in at any moment? Like she would be that lucky. I could use Daddy's help right about now.

It was decision time. Should she move closer to the hostages, making it easier to protect them? Or should she keep her distance from them, keeping them out of the line of fire? This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.

***

Captain Salvatore Bonilla drummed his fat fingers impatiently on the hood of his squad car. He kept one eye focused on his officers surrounding the library. The other watched the hand held TV that was broadcasting the live WVTV feed from inside.

In his twenty five years on the force, he had seen his share of paranormal and hi-tech showdowns. After the Invasion, things had gotten a bit quieter in Victoria. He had hoped he would make it to his retirement without having to see another one. Then Assault decided to go on a revenge kick against the old friends Bonilla knew had long since retired. He felt like his squad would have their work really cut out for them if they had to take Assault down on their own.

When that young woman descended down out of the sky wearing the costume he was very familiar with, Bonilla's heart raced for just a moment. He felt like he was twenty again and could take on the world single-handedly.

Sure, he knew there was no way this girl could be the Magnet he knew. She was way too young for that. He pulled her aside and quietly told her so. Yet she did have the powers and a gleam of hope and enthusiasm in her eyes. Maybe, just maybe, she knew what she was doing.

Bonilla told her that she could give it a shot but that he and his boys were going to take charge if things got out of hand. So far, so good. Assault hadn't hurt anyone yet. Still, he knew how these things could go and something was going to have to give any moment now!

***

"Well, my dear," Assault smiled. "It has been fun catching up, but now it's time for you to say 'good-bye'." He began to level the gun barrel in her direction.

"I don't think so!" Clare yelled with only a slight waver in her voice.

Suddenly three card catalog drawers launched from their places, nailing Assault squarely in the back! "What? Steel? Where are you, Steel?" He swung around in anger and began shooting where he expected an assailant to be. "I knew you had to be around here somewhere, you bastard!" His bullets tore through a shelf of self-help books like a speedboat through water. Paper and bindings were flying everywhere!

Clare knew she had to keep him off guard. She sprung across the floor in a low roll, then used her magnet powers to launch herself with all of her might. Feet first, she plowed directly into the unsuspecting Assault, knocking him forward and to the floor. His gun skittered under a desk out of his reach.

Having focused on the sound of the gun for a moment, Clare did not see Assault reach backwards to grab at her legs. "Arrgh! I'll kill you with my bare hands if I have to!" She moved to the left but he was too fast for her! His grip was strong and she could feel the pain as he squeezed her ankle. She had to get him to let go!

She focused on the doorway and then twisted to the side as the shurkiens whizzed past. Propelled by her magnetic attraction, their course intercepted the lower portion of Assault's arm. "Damn you, bitch!" he screamed as he let loose on his grip. His other hand pulled at the shurkiens and blood dripped from his arm. She kicked at the fingers that held her with her free foot and managed to roll away from his grasp. She knew he would be up in a moment, angrier than before! She had to slow him down and get the hostages out of harm's way.

Clare sensed the supports holding the shelving units to the wall and concentrated her powers on them. In what seemed like an eternity, the metal rods slowly pulled away. Assault was almost to a crouching position. He had paused to reach for something on his banolier. She didn't want to think what kind of weapon he was going to use nor did she want to give him time to use it. Clare telekinetically pulled at the massive shelving unit with all she had and could feel it teeter out of balance. Assault looked up just as hundreds of pounds of books and wood toppled over him! His profanity was muffled by the pile on top of him.

Clare quickly turned to the frightened patrons and the cameraman. "Hurry, get out the front entrance now!" She knew Assault wouldn't be held for long. She helped the old woman to her feet and scurried the children off down the hallway.

Rick Gates was the last one there, still filming the now stirring criminal. "Smooth move," he smiled. "Didn't doubt you for a second, Magnet."

Clare did not want the newsman to become a liability. "You better go! The police and I will need plenty of space if Assault tries something." Gates nodded, flipped off the camera and headed for the door.

Clare turned back to see if Assault was down for the count. No such luck. Books were sliding to all sides as the largest part of the shelving unit started to shift.

A hand touched her on the shoulder, startling her. A muffled voice said, "Miss, you better step outside." She turned and saw two police officers wearing gas masks. As she stepped out into the hallway, she could hear the release of some form of gas. She held her breath and pushed open the front door!

Cheers from the children she had just rescued greeted her. Rick Gates was already filming, not about to give up his prime location inside the police barricade. Other news crews and print photographers were jockeying for position, trying to get a shot of Victoria's heroine. It was all such a rush. They were all here to see her!

Captain Bonilla made his way to Clare. "We have things under control, Magnet." He emphasized that last word. "Assault shouldn't give us any trouble." He extended his hand and she shook it. "Thank you, and good job."

"Thanks," she said, on the verge of blushing. Before any more of a crowd gathered, Clare felt she better make her exit. She lifted herself off the ground and soared up into the sky. She could still hear the cheers and shouts a few blocks away.

***

Clare was still feeling a rush as she approached her neighborhood. She felt like she was on cloud nine. In fact, she was up in the clouds so she could hide her approach. From her vantage point, she could tell when the coast was clear for her to make her descent to the house.

As she touched down on the balcony, Clare could hear the phone ringing. She quickly lunged for the hand set and caught her breath before answering it.

The voice on the other end sounded a bit distant. "Honey, it's Mom. Did you just get home from school?"

Without thinking, she said "I was at the library." She then looked down at the costume she was wearing and smiled. "Umm, had some research to do." She sat down on the bed and tugged at one of the boots.

"So, how are you guy's enjoying Jamaica?"