Striking Out

By

LordJaguar

Strikira belongs to Wolfrider

Ranger Belongs to Train

LAdy Boomerang, Chesire Cat, and Rigar belong to Mojorover.

All characters belong to thier respective owners.


Late night in the City of Colmaton two friends where enjoying a cup of coffee.

“Donga it’s too bloody quiet tonight!” Strikira cursed as she waited beside her motorcycle. “I thought that this city had bloody super-villains crawl all over it, this is my third patrol with nothing to show for it except sore feet and an empty gas tank!”

“Well I don’t know about you but I like to have a few quiet days now and then,” Ranger responded as she handed the tribal wolf a cup of coffee.

Strikira sipped her coffee as she looked at the bionic bruin. “Maybe but still, I was hoping to make an big impact on Colmation, and I need some real action to do that!”

“Be careful what you wish for Strika,” Ranger commented as she finished her coffee, “This town has a habit of granting wishes like that in the worst way possible.”



Later that night.


Strikira slowly rode past a long line of warehouses in downtown Colmaton, there had been several robberies in the area by the Gym Brats Gang and the BOS had put a high priority on protecting the wharf. As the tribal wolf was riding along a loud shattering of glass caught her attention, her bike screech to a stop as she observed some fur disappearing into a warehouse. With a quick motion Strikira pulled out her communicator, and sent out a call to her patrol partner.



“This is Strikira, Ranger I have a break in at warehouse 435. Call it into base, I’ll meet you at the west entrance.”

“Roger that Strikira, be care and don’t go in until I arrive!” Ranger responded.



As the heroines were talking a loud crash and scream echoed through the night and the tribal wolfess could see a pair of figures running past a window, as one of the figures pounced on the other and the sounds of a fight began to echo through the night.



“Sorry Ranger but I’ve got a situation here! I’m going in!” Strikira yelled as she charged into the warehouse. Not hearing Ranger’s yelled order to wait for backup.

As Strikira moved through the darkened warehouse she listened intently for the struggle, she quickly moved through the corridors of stacked boxes. She searched for the figures she saw before, and as she turned one last corner she found them. One was a young looking monkey who was just finishing tying up a straddling rat and hauling the poor rodent into the air. As Strikira moved into position to attack and try to save the rat she took a closer look at the monkey. It was a female and she was dressed in a red ninja outfit.

“Well I guess Colmaton really does take all types,” Strikira thought as she moved into position. Unfortunately as she tried to get behind her adversary the wolf accidentally nudge an empty soda can with her foot. At the can’s rattle the ninja looked up alarmed and quickly bolted into the maze of stacked boxes. As the girl ran Strikira cursed under her breath and quickly raced after her, giving a apologetic nod the tied up rat she chased her quarry into the darkness.

In the dark corridors Strikira listened intently for her opponent, as she quietly stalked through the hallways she suddenly heard a creek from behind her and quickly rolled forward just causing the ninja’s nunchucks to miss her head. As Strikira came up from her roll, she faced down the ninja in front of her, and gasped in surprise.

“Good grief how old are you kid 12!” Strikira cried as she saw just how young her opponent was. “What the bloody hell are out doing out here!?”

The ninja clad in red stayed silent, although Strikira thought she could see a slight frown appear behind the ninjas mask. Strikira quickly stood back up and took a fighting stance. In the fight that followed looked more like a well thought out ballet. Each fighter trying to land a blow only for nunchuck to be blocked by tonfa, and tonfa counter strike to be blocked by nunchuck. The pair of combatants backed off and glared at each other from a distance.

Strikira glared at her opponent as she began to speak, “Bloody hell kid where you learn how to do that?”



“My Mother taught me.”

“So you do speak what are you doing here kid?”



“None of your business thief.”

“Thief bloody hell kid I think youuu,” Strikira stammered as she dodge a jump kick from the young ninja. The pair began to jostle for position again as the heard police sirens from outside, the wail suddenly distracted the young monkey and Strikira saw her chance. Charging forward she suddenly caught the red ninja by surprise ramming her into a concrete wall, using her tonfas she pinned the ninja against the wall and held the struggling monkey down.

“Now I’m gonna get me some answers kid.” Strikira declared as she held the younger girl down.

“I’ll give you an answer thief!” The ninja declared as she suddenly spit in the heroine’s face with a sick looking green mist.

Strikira cried out at the burning sensation, she couldn’t see and lost her grip. As she desperately backed off she felt something whip around her legs and was capitulated high into the air. As she was literally left hanging trying to clear her eyes out a mocking voice filled her ears.

“Be sure to tell the nice police officers that the Red Shadow schooled you when you’re arrested. Now I’m sorry to leave you hanging but I’ve got to fly.”

Strikira was barely able to clear her vision enough to see the now named Red Shadow escape back into the dark warehouse. With a growl she used her chi enhanced strength to kick free from the rope she had been lassoed with, and with her enhanced speed chased after the ninja.

As the pair continued their chase in the warehouse police and several bos agents began to gather outside the building. Ranger looked on with concern as a hairless feline approached her, “Hey Ranger what's rangering?”

With an answering growl the feline backed off, Mad Hat attempted to once again begin a conversation with the bionic bruin.

“Ok that wasn’t that funny but I really do need to know what's going on here Ranger.”

Ranger gave the Giggling Guardian a sideways look before answering, “Strikira spotted somefur breaking and entering and rushed in, we’re going to secure the area before we send any more furs inside.”

“Any word from our adventuress Aussie?” The Sphinx feline asked.

“No but plenty of noise,” Ranger answer and then winced as another loud crash echoed from the warehouse.

“And the cause of the bumps in the night?” Mad Hat asked.

“I would guess that it’s Strikira and whoever else is in the warehouse doing their best to raise the bureaus insurance premiums.” Ranger replied.

“When can we move in, I mean it’s not what I’m looking for in an apartment right now, but we can at least look and see if it’s furnished.” Mad Hat joked .

“Can’t you be serious fo ONCE!” Ranger growled. “We’ll go in once we get thego ahead from Dyno Donkey. I just hope the Strikira hasn’t gotten in over her head.” The pair then winced as another loud banged echoed from the warehouse. “Or that she leaves the warehouse standing.”


MEANWHILE INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE

Strikira carefully circled her opponent both of them looking for an opening, as she tried to catch her opponent off balance the aussie wolfess tried to speak to her young adversary. “You know I’m Bureau and a bunch more are just waiting outside!”

"Wait wait your not a super villain?" The young monkey asked.

“No, and let me guess you're not one either are ya mate?”

“Noooooo, I was hired by the owner of the warehouse, he’s an old family friend and has been threatened by a local gang." The young monkey stated.

"Ok mate let's try this again, I'm Strikira with the bureau and you are?" The tribal wolf said as she holstered her tonfas.

Upon seeing the wolfess stand down the young monkey also put away her nunchucks and replied "They call me Red Shadow , and do you always greet furs by attacking them when they’re trying to tie up burglars? “

“Well no, although it seems attacking new heroines in town is getting to be a habbit wth me,” Strikira muttered. “To be honest I had no way of telling who was who. Why’d you run kid? Don’t you know that there is a truce in Comaton? It’s no crime to be an unregistered in this town.”

“Let’s just say I have an idea of who that rat is working for and I don’t want to be around when she shows up. I’m just going to remove what he was after and be on my way if you don’t mind.” Red Shadow explained.

“Well when you put it that way then yes I do,” Strikira said. ”Look kid if you want to be a mask in this city then you stil have to go by the rules. We’ll both take in whatever that rat was stealing and the contact the the proper owners. Plus no offense but I want to get his side of the story.”

“As long as the pearls are safe I don’t care what happens. I’ve told that old geezer a hundred time to put them in a bank vault or something but nooooooo! “

The pair quickly walked away and back to the struggling rat who was still hanging up by his feet. As the pair approached him he quickly began to squeak out.

“Youse guys can’t do dis!! I’m being framed!!! I’m an honest citizen !! I’M …..”


“Oh zip it you jerk!!” Red Shadow shouted as she strode up to him. and scooped up a large bag that was sitting beside the upsidedown rat. “Do you know how much trouble it would have been if you HAD delivered these to your so called contact?” Do you know how dangerous ghost pearls can be in the wrong hands?”

As Strikira was letting the rat down she noticed that Red Shadow had upended the bag and was now looking at a jewelry box full of large grey silver pearls.

“Holy shite!! What are those?”


“They're called ghost pearls, very old and very rare. “ Red Shadow said as she gathered them up in the bag. “Legends say that if you eat one it will extend your life, eat enough and you will stop ageing. So do you wanna tell us who you were taking these for?” Red Shadow suddenly leaned toward the rat. “I already have a guess but would you like to confirm just who you were lifting these for?”

“I ain’t saying nothing but I want my lawyer!! She’s Alice Bakk and you girls can kiss my ass!!” The Rat snarled as he was handcuffed by Strikira.

“Oh great her again!” Strikira moaned. “Common Red, lets go out and meet the rest of the masses. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the Bureau outside.”

“Uhhh I don’t know if thats such a good idea , now that the pearls are safe I’ll just be along.” Red Shadow said as she backed away.

“Nuh uh Red, we’ll need yer statement in order to put this rat away. Also we need to make sure that those pearls get back to whom they belong so lets get.” Strikira stated as she hauled the rat up and began to march him toward the exit.

“Well ok,” Red Shadow said as she followed the tribal wolf. “I guess it won't do any harm this time.”

Strikira turned and thought the comment odd but the pair began to exit anyway as she turned on her communicator, to signal her fellow agents outside.

OUTSIDE THE WAREHOUSE

“Ok Heroes!!” Ranger shouted “Strikria says she is coming out with a crook and a new friend! I want all eyes open!”

As the gathered police and heros watched Strikira and her companion walked out of the warehouse and handed over the rat to the police . At first it seemed that Strikira companion was going to bolt but she took her by the shoulder and began to lead her toward the other heroes gathered, as they were walking Red Shaodw suddenly stopped in her tracks and stared at the group of heroes.

“Oh hell Mad Hat?” Red Shadow yelled.

“Red Shadow?” The Giggling Guardian gasped.

The young heroine quickly looked around and her eyes settled on Strikira, befre any other heros or police could react the nnja had reached over and yanked down the tribal wolfs pants down leaving the heroinei de-pantsed in the middle of the crowd as she turned and ran.

“BLOODY HELL!!” Stikira yelled as she tired to both save her dignity and her balance, failing miserably at both as she fell over with her pants down around her ankles.

“What the hell!” Rger yelled as she ran over to help Strikira up and help her cover her dignity.

“Bloody HELL!!” Strikira yelled as she tried to recover. “What brought that on?”

The pair then turned and saw Mad HAt grabbing Red Shadow with his magic and pulling the young ninja back toward the group. The monkey kicking and swearing all the while, and soon she was face to face with the sphinx cat.

“Awww Maddy your not still mad about what happened in Biloxi are you?” Red Shadow said as she wiggled in Mad Hat’s magic grip.

“Ohhh you just had to bring up Biloxi didn’t you,” Mad Hat snarled. “What the heck are you doing here in Colmaton? Your supposed to be in New Orleans, did you get kicked out of another foster home?”

“Hmmp!! the last batch of idiots they put me with kicked me out because I wouldn’t convert to christianity. Of course my idiot social worker just accused me of being difficult!” Red Shadow grunted.

“I’d be more adapt to believe you if you hadn’t rigged her car to fall apart last time a family didn’t work out! Ahh Ranger, Strikira , I’d like you both to meet an old friend from the big easy. This is Red Shadow, teenage delinquent and constant pain in the ass for the New Orleans BOS.”

“I know,” Ranger said,” I just got a bulletin from Reveller that she was spotted heading out to the west coast. Any reason that you decided to leave New Orleans this time?”
“None of your damn business Goldilocks!”Red Shadow retorted.

“Reveller was right you do have a mouth on you.” Ranger said as she leaned in on the young heroine. “Well missy you're going right back to New Orleans, CHESHIRE!! LADY BOOMERANG!! Escort our young guest back to base until we can get proper travel arrangements made, and GIVE ME THOSE!!” Ranger ordered as she grabbed the box of pearls. “I’m just willing to bet you were stealing these instead of that rat.”

“Awwww now you’ve gone and hurt my feelings Boo-Boo,” Red shadow complained as the two heroines came up and handcuffed her. “Hey Strikira! Sorry about the show but you gotta admit that it was a handy distraction.”

“I’ll admit a tonfa upside your head kid! How the heck did you get my pants down anyway? My costume is specially made to be impossible to remove like that!” Strikira said as she tried to put her pants back up.

“Ninja secret.” Red Shadow said as she was lead away.

“Mad Hat, just who the bloody hell is that girl?” Strikira asked as she finally got her clothes back in order

“It’s a long long story Strikira, I’ll just be glad to get her back to base and out of the city.” Mad Hat answered.

As Lady Boomerang and Cheshire Cat began to lead the young girl away the monkey turned to them and said, "Wanna hear an old ninja proverb?"



Lady Boomerang smirked and answered "Eye what is it, Handcuffs are a ninjas best friend?" Gesturing to the pair Red Shadow had on.


Red Shadow smiled and answered "No, A ninja in hand gets you two in the bush."



Cheshire Cat frowned as she looked at the young girl "That make no sense HEY!"

The pair was stunned as Red Shadow dropped onto her hand and lashed out with her legs catching both supers in between their own. With her captors now doubled over in pain, the ninja girl quickly undid her handcuffs and turned and ran into the night leaving her would be captors rolling around on the ground in pain. Seeing what was happening Strikira quickly ran over and pursued the young girl, but with a quick movement Red shadow threw down a black sphere and disappeared in a puff of black smoke leaving all her pursuers coughing in the smoke. The pursuing heroes turn around and began to help Lady Boomerang and Cheshire they began to wonder,,where did The Red Shadow go?

As the heroes regrouped Strikira suddenly took another look at the bag of ghost pearls, “Hey Ranger, does this bag look a little light to you?”

“No, it’s just the same size as when I took it from Red Shadow. Why do you ask?” Range replied.

“Well it just looked a little fuller last time I saw it, you don’t suppose that Red Shadow took a few do you?” Strikira asked

“No I don’t believe it,” Mad Hat said, “She’s always been a pain in the ass but she’s never been a thief.”

“We’ll just have to wait and ask the owner when we find him to do an inventory Gatling Goat said that she was pulling information on this warehouse and would text it to me soon.” As Ranger was speaking her BOS communicator began to ring, As she answered it er face quickly took a even more serious tone.

“I understand, yes Gatling, a warrant is on the way? Ok we’ll keep an eye on the warehouse until it arrives. Well we can forget about asking the owner about those pearls. This warehouse is owned by one of Rigar’s shell companies, te police have suspected it of holding stolen merchandise for a long time now. We’re to make sure nobody removes anything while the search warrant is coming.” Ranger said looking even more grim.

Strikira suddenly sttod up a little straighter as she looked at Ranger, “So wait does that mean what I think it might mean?”



“Yes, Red Shadow just stole from Rigar, if we don’t find that girl soon she ‘s as good as dead.” Ranger stated.


Later that evening in a teahouse on the other side of Colmaton, Red Shadow quietly crept up to the store and slipped inside, she quickly went to the seocnd story and walked into a bedroom. As she looked on an elderly dragoness turned and smiled at the young ninja.

“Did you get the pearls my daughter?” Seiryū Qinglong asked as she offered a cup of tea to her daughter.

“Not all of them just a handful, but the BOS has the rest so Rigar isn’t going to have his slimy hands on them.” Mochizuki Chiyome said as she quickly stripped off her costume and got into more casual clothes. “When will we be leaving Colmaton mother? “

“We will not be leaving, in the morning you will report to the local Bureau headquarters and you will stay there in order to make sure you are safe. Rigar will now have a very serious score to settle with you my daughter and we need t make sure you are as protected a possible.” The Elderly dragoness replied.

“But..But mother you said we could be together now…,” Mochizuki almost tearfully said. “you said that there would be no more running. Please mother I don’t want to go!!”
“I know my Shadow,” Seiryu sadly said. “But that was before Rigar had the ghost pearls stolen from our clan. We owed it to our brothers and sisters in Japan to make sure he, or those who hired him discovered the secrets of the pearls. Now do not cry my Shadow, we can be closer in this city than before , and at least you are now free to practice your ninja arts on the criminals in this city.”



“But mother…”

“Sush my shadow, we will have tonight to be mother and daughter, and I promise soon we will have more.”

With that Seiryu pulled her daughter in close for a hug, and gave her a cup of tea, witch the girl gladly drank. They could have tonight at least.

TO BE CONTINUED!!