Internet 24

Aly's eyes bounce around the alley, counting and sizing up each person surrounding her. No one seems to stand out, as her mind is flooded by the possible scenarios. The most immediate threats are the people behind them. They are the biggest people here, and are within arm's reach.

Don looks at his sister and can tell what she is doing. It's obvious that either the man will grow impatient and make a move, or Aly will take the first step. Either way, this will turn into a bloody brawl in the alley in less than seconds.

Don pulls out his phone from his pocket and starts to go through it. The leader glares at his crew and snaps.

LEADER

Did no one grab their phones?

The two gang members behind Don and Aly, look at either up to the sky or down to the ground to avoids their leader's glare.

LEADER

Grab it now.

One of the men behind reaches over Don's shoulder to grab the phone. Don doesn't move, or even acknowledge what he is trying to do. Aly grabs the man's wrist before he can reach the phone.

The man lets out a scream, as he can hear his bones crack under Aly's grasp. Her stare raises the hairs on the mans body. It is as if he is staring into an alligator's eyes, ready to snap down its jaws.

ALY

Don't touch him.

This doesn't have to get violent.

Let's calm down and talk.

Like a trapped animal, the man attacks her out of fear. Aly gives him a quick jab to the stomach, sending saliva gushing out of his mouth. The other guard goes to swing at Aly's face, but she side steps out of the way and lands two consecutive jabs to the face on the man. People stare as the man falls backwards to the concrete, out cold.

LEADER

You shouldn't have done that.

The leader takes a step, making sure he is out of arms reach from Aly.

BERRY

Boss, wait, she has—

But before he can finish, two people charge toward Don and Aly. The man sprinting to Aly slips on brass knuckles, and then swings at her. He makes contact. Everyone's eyes widen when Aly catches the fist with her bare hand. Aly's expression isn't of pain, but instead annoyance.

CHARGING WOMAN

Let go of him!

A woman yells as she charges toward Aly with a knife.

Aly grabs the blade of the knife with her bare hands, this time something is different. Both of Aly's hands have changed in appearance. They both resemble sunlight beaming through a beautiful collection of colorful gems. A loud snap is heard as Aly breaks the knife with a flick of her wrist.

BERRY

Mechstitics, she has mechstitics.

Berry's words were rendered moot by her actions.

ALY

Grade A engineering here, too.

LEADER

Don't stand there. Get them!

Aren't we prepared for stuff like this?

Tim, upfront.

Each member pulls out either a bronze knuckle, knife, or even a pistol they had hidden on them. A man rises from the crowed with a mechanical hand. He stands heads above the others, and his muscles bulge out of his two-sizes-too-small shirt. Aly stares, wondering how she didn't notice him earlier.

Don taps his watch while checking the time. The blue face gives off a faint glow.

DON

We better hurry if we want

to catch up with Mr. Olive

Aly gets into position. Her fists are up with one leading forward, chin tucked in, knees bent as she tilts her body. They run at her with bronze knuckles and knives. She steps in between their strikes with ease.

Her moves are swift as if the people attacking her are stationary. She pushes with her back foot, twists her hip, and lands a right cross on a man's face. The crack of his bones echoes in everyone's ears as a pair of teeth flies out, along with a spray of blood. The first of the flurry of punches she lays on the attackers.

Their knives snap in half, bronze knuckles crumple like paper, and jaws shatter like fine porceline thrown on the floor. One of the gangster's knives slides off her metal skin, leaving no mark.

DON

Sloppy. Maybe you should hit the gym again.

If I didn't do a good job on your arms,

you would be sliced up right now.

ALY

Sloppy? Watch your mouth.

Aly sends the head of one who tried to cut her arm bouncing on the concrete as he falls. Three attackers with guns pulled out try to find a decent shot, but their barrels zip around, afraid to hit one of their own.

LEADER

If you have a shot, take it.

The leader watches eagerly for them to fire, then hears an electrical buzz going off three times. He turns to see the three with guns shaking on the floor as electricity bursts through their body. Don stands there holding a handgun. It has a blocky shape and is bright blue, looking more like a prop for a costume than a weapon.

LEADER

Did no one check to see if he

was strapped? Really, no one

Tim, the large man with the mechstitic hand, swings at Aly. She moves out of the way with his hand cracking the brick wall near her.

ALY

You think I've never fought

anyone your size, boy.

Aly ducks the second swing from the man and let's loose a three-hit combo on him, one on his stomach, one a rib, and the last a powerful uppercut to his chin, sending him flying back. Tim recovers and is ready to put his full force into his next punch, but Aly's fist digs into his stomach. He drops to his knees before his face slams on the concrete below.

Don is rushed at, but he picks the attackers off one by one. Electricity dances in their bodies with every pull of the trigger. A woman sneaks up to Don's side and knocks the gun out of his hand with plywood from the dumpster.

It slides across the alley. The leader picks up the gun, with Berry behind him for cover.

LEADER

Game over.

The leader slams on the trigger, but nothing happens. He rapidly presses the trigger, still nothing.

DON

Won't work.

Don lifts his left hand. The watch on his wrist glows blue. The gun starts to rattle in the leader's hand. An invisible force pulls on the gun until he loses his grip. The gun flies to Don, who has his hand wide open. Once he gets a grip of his new weapon, he unloads a flurry of shots at the people surrounding him.

Aly has a man by the shirt collar with a hand raised to knock him out. Before she can, Don shoots him. Aly turns to Don with a disappointed look. She launches the unconscious man toward the leader. He is hit and knocked to the ground, with Berry jumping out the way. The glow of Aly's arms shines on Berry's face as she steps up to him.

Aly pulls back her middle finger and flicks him on the forehead, knocking him out. The leader pushes the unconscious man off himself and starts to rise. When he looks up, he is greeted with cold metal pressed onto his forehead.

DON

What's your name, man?

LEADER

P-P-Pierre...

DON

Night, Pierre.

Don pulls the trigger and electrifies his body. Aly walks over, dusting herself off with her glass-like hands.

ALY

You didn't kill them, right?

DON

What? Do you think I murdered

these people? You think I'm some cold-hearted

monster or some crap like that. They will be out

for about an hour, but still alive.

ALY

I didn't think you murdered them,

but I'm just double-checking.

Aly goes through the pockets of the leader. She pulls out his wallet and phone. She tosses Don the phone, and he barely catches it. The gun in his hand folds itself to form a small rectangle, and he places it in the holster hidden inside his pants.

Aly grabs the man's driver's license and gives it a glance. One of her arms changes from the beautiful glass-like form to a dark grey metal. The light shines from her palm, and she waves it over the license.

ALY

Scanning it now.

How's his phone looking?

DON

Pretty good. Dude really put

his password as six zeros.

ALY

People are dumb sometimes.

Translucent spiders made of light crawl on the backs and chests of all the unconscious people. The insects make their way into the pockets and phones of everyone in the ally.

DON

We should have all the info we need in a minute. We should keep tabs on everyone here. You said they were a gang trying to push into the area around the mall, right?

Aly looks through the wallet and finds some cash in there.

ALY

Sweet, sixty bucks. We should treat ourselves.

DON

We're stealing now?

Aly smiles as she waves the wad of cash at him.

DON

Whatever, I'm about done here.

Let's go soon before anyone shows up.

We need to finish tailing Mr. Olive and

write up the report for his wife.

ALY

I'm feeling Wendy's right now.

DON

I would kill for some Wendy's right now.

Don places the phone on the unconscious Pierre's chest.