Trophy - Manitcor's Bow

In the darkness her comm vibrated slightly and her adrenalin started to pump as she activated the muted message.

He is alone.

A mischievous smirk slowly crawled across her face. Let’s do this, the Scarlet Scorpion thought to herself.

She peered around the crate and looked left then right. As she looked left again the ink stamp on the crate caught her attention: The Council. Again she grinned at the satisfaction from the task at hand. It had been a long time since she “hunted” like this and she reminisced over a long-ago memories of her days in Las Vegas.

Scarlet gently stepped over some burned metal wreckage of a Council hoverbot but had to go around the hulk of a Zenith Mek. The flickering lights above told her the generator was failing and she mused over why the Council hadn’t reclaimed lost territory. It didn’t really matter to her, Council underground bases were creepy enough with the lights on anyway.

Slowly she walked into a bunker whose door was torn from its hinges. The remains of the door itself rested against the inside wall with a huge dent in the center in the shape of a very large fist.

Scarlet’s comm vibrated again: Hurry.

Keep yer shirt on, she whispered into the gloam from the front of the bunker into a short hallway. There was a slight shift of dirt ahead and Scarlet paused her own motions. She loved her uniform boots but now was not a time for stiletto heels. More rustling and eventually a creak as if a door was opening and shut. A slide lock clicked.

No way. she thought. Now Scarlet became anxious just imagining what was about to happen. This will be worth a camera shot! She activated the digital camera in her wrist comm and tip-toed to the door.

The stalls were in various degrees of disrepair except one whose door was closed. She looked into the room slowly and didn’t see anyone else. Scarlet checked the hallway to make sure no one else was behind her but she knew the answer. Then she stood at the doorway of the room and waited with arms crossed.

Her wait was almost too long to bear much longer from the sounds and smells alone. When the Warrior open the bathroom door, he looked up from buckling his belt and stood stunned at the Scarlet Scorpion.

“Surprise.” Scarlet was cool yet menacing. Just before the Warrior could recover she took a step forward and reached for the Warrior with both hands. Easily coming short Scarlet clapped both hands as was her plan. She focused the sound into a bowling ball-sized sonic bolt that charged forward and crashed into the Warrior’s chest. Bone snapped and he was thrown back into the bathroom stall. His limp form crashing into the unflushed toilet bowl, its contents splashing over him and onto the floor.

Disgusted, Scarlet willed herself to hover above the ground before the sewage floor reached her boots. After taking a picture, she spun and picked up the item she was after resting on the sinks, then glided toward the door. She turned to face the Warrior in the stall.

“No one steals from Manticore. Hopefully you've learned your lesson.”

She blew a kiss and hovered away into the darkness.
---

Leehouse looked at the item in the case. “I don’t know how you did it, but it’s impressive.”

Scarlet was picking at some unseen dirt under a fingernail with another finger from the same hand. Nonchalantly she replied, “Well, he has a new one anyway. But after I brought this one back he decided to let me have it after the story I told him where I found it.”

Leehouse giggled as only he could then scratched the back of his head. “How did you know where to look?”

She glanced at him sideways with her good eye. “Why Lee, a girl has her secrets.”

Trophy - Council Sonic Rifle

The Scarlet Scorpion was stalking prey. Her heart was racing and beads of sweat were slowly crawling down her cheek. She took an annoyed look at the alarm lights ahead and to the right. The intruder alarms had been silenced at her command earlier but the lighting would have to be reset.

Someone had infiltrated Dawn Patrol headquarters and Scarlet was the only one on the hunt. Once the alarm went off she instinctively accessed Dogma to lockdown the base. No one was getting in or out unless Scarlet allowed it. Eventually Shan would get to the base and override the lockdown codes, but until then some fool would have to deal with Scarlet’s anger.

No one breaks into Dawn Patrol on my shift, she thought to herself.

Scarlet was creeping toward the generator room because that is where she would go if she were going to do infiltrate a base. Knock out the power internally, steal material or wreck it, then make a break for it and hope no one was around. She mused that at least the intruder had the peace of mind to obtrude when most Patrollers were away from the base. Lucky for him he will get to meet the Scarlet Scorpion face to face.

She grinned at the thought as she looked around a corner into the general meeting room. She saw an armored boot disappear behind the opposite wall across the room. Unless he was heading for a telepad … Dogma!

Scarlet found the intruder was heading for the mainframe computer. She broke into a sprint and cursed that her boots were making more noise on the metallic floors than she wanted. Leaping onto a chair and vaulting close to the ceiling she was hoping her flight would land her into the hallway bisecting the telepads and behind the invasor.

The dark armored figure appeared as she was halfway to the floor and Scarlet recognized the uniform immediately: Council. He was holding a rifle at least as large as he stood tall and scanned the room before he caught Scarlet heading straight for him. She could see his determined eyes gauging if he was going to win this round. Time seemed to slow as he raised the large-barreled rifle faster than seemed possible for it’s size. Scarlet could see him brace for impact.

Somehow she was too slow. The blast from the rifle hit her like a truck ramming a wall. She screamed in pain as the sound waves seemed to pass through her and she crashed to the floor sliding to a stop at the Council’s feet.

As Scarlet started to lift herself from the floor he muttered, “Mea culpa baby.” He kicked her in the ribs hard enough to lift her off the floor. She coughed out blood and the flash of pain seemed to ignite her anger to a new level. Scarlet swept her foot and connected at the Council’s knees. He yelped and tumbled down, dropping the rifle. She jumped up and moved toward the mainframe room to defend it. When she turned he was gone.

“Chwen joo,” she cursed. Only a few steps and he escaped?! She quickly scanned the hallway. A shadow moved! She ducked and rolled toward it. Another blast passed overhead and obliterated a section of wall plate sending shards of metals dancing across the floor. When Scarlet lifted herself she was face-to-face with the soldier. An uppercut sent him flying into the next hallway where he landed on a potted plant, destroying the pot and spilling the earth. She was impressed he still held on to the rifle.

As he was recovering she charged him. Her hands grabbed the chest straps and he was pushed back to the ground. Scarlet vaulted over him still holding on to the straps and when her feet touched the ground the force of her momentum lifted him. She overhand threw the soldier down the hall into the next room. He uncontrollably landed among the metal storage boxes in the lab and Scarlet knew that landing was going to hurt.

To her surprise he shoved a metal crate to the side and lined up another shot. This time the sound blast was aimed low and Scarlet jumped over the visible sound waves as they impacted and bored into the monitor of the telepad behind her. The machine crumpled with each wave and finally exploded sending sparks, plastic and metal everywhere. The heat wave washed over Scarlet and smoke immediately crawled along the ceiling. Fans started sucking the smoke out the room and localized automatic extinguishers doused the flames.

Scarlet ran toward the lab and dodged another shot as she closed the distance. The soldier kicked a small container toward her and she parried the cylinder with her left arm as she rose her right aiming for his face. “Rrrrrrraaar!”, she yelled as her fist landed on his cheek. The soldier stumbled back and, and as Scarlet inhaled a deep breath and focused her power, he quickly recovered and fired point blank.

He bones seemed to rattle as the shock wave hit her and she was thrown against the bulkhead. She collapsed from the indention in the armored wall and looked up in time to see the soldier bring the rifle stock toward her head in a golf swing. Scarlet threw herself against the bulkhead as the swing whistled past where her head was a second before.

Using the wall behind her she propelled herself against the soldier. Left fist landed across his nose. He stumbled back again. Scarlet pressed the attack. Right fist found his chest. Another step. Left fist under the chin. Another step. Right fist against his cheek. Another step. Left fist slammed against the jaw. Another step. Right fist on the chest again. As the soldier stood stunned, she jumped up and gave a spinning kick landing a boot flat against his helmet. The chin-strap tore and the helmet went flying in one direction, the rifle spun away in the other. The soldier crumpled to his knees, blood flowing from his nose and mouth. Scarlet stepped aside as he fell forward. She placed a teleport beacon to his collar and activated it. Within a few seconds he disappeared, transported to the Zig for medical attention and processing. She would have to file this event by lunchtime tomorrow or the PPD will be breathing down her neck.

The thought of breathing forced a cough and she felt blood trickle down the side of her chin. Wiping the blood with the palm of her glove she strolled to the computer room. Her chest felt like a weight was being pressed onto it and she was wheezing. Scarlet didn’t notice any damage to the machines. Slowly she turned and achingly surveyed the base. She knew she was alone but she had to double-check.

Her hour-long circuit brought her back to the lab with the Council rifle still on the floor. Slowly Scarlet picked up the rifle and winced as she lifted it. To her surprise it was very light for it’s size. She found a chair nearby and slumped hard into it wincing again as the pan flashed across her body. Scarlet chided herself for not finding a cot to lay in. She put the rifle in her lap and closed her eye as the pain in her chest forced her to sleep.

Trophy - Nemesis Sniper Rifle

Scarlet walked out of the office building and the sun’s heat washed over her.  It was soothing and warm which, compared to the air conditioned entranceway of Exact Molds, was a relief.  She was greeted by two PPD squad cars and officers pointing their guns toward her.

She brushed her red hair out of her face as the wind cross-cut the road, her cape billowing to the side.

“Is there a problem officers?”

The PPD blues relaxed and lowered their pistols with a smile.  “Not anymore.  We were wondering what was happening in there.  Is everything under control?”  Scarlet recognized Sergeant Rizbowski’s voice and turned to see the jovial smile greet her.  He was a frequent visitor to Dawn Patrol HQ and always brought donuts along with tales of felonies committed by the craziest or stupidest crooks of Paragon City.  Chip always looked forward to Rizbowski’s visits.

“But of course!”  She flashed her now famous smirk to the Sergeant, and a few of the officers laughed.

Sergeant Rizbowski pointed at her with a wide smile and said, “Hey, watch it.  I still have to maintain order and look like I’m in command.”

Before Scarlet could respond she heard a familiar thud from above her and quickly looked up in time to see the black ball shot slowly fall toward her.  Instinctively her hands covered her head and willed her defense field active.  As the round shot impacted against the barrier it exploded like a crack of thunder.  Rizbowski was knocked off his feet and the windows of the police cars shattered.  Scarlet was pushed into the sidewalk and the concrete shattered under her feet.  From the explosion a green mist started to descend around the area.

Scarlet recovered and knew instantly what happened: a Nemesis sniper tried to kill her and the poison mist was a bonus for the shooter to kill some PPD on the side.

Not today pal.

She had a few more seconds to consider her next move.  Those Nemesis sniper rifles pack a serious punch but had a notoriously (and thankfully) slow rate of fire.  Scarlet started to cough from the gas and moved toward Rizbowski to get him out of the area.  His chest was blistered with shrapnel but he was moving.

“Get out of here!  I’ll get Sarg!”  Scarlet’s command boomed toward the officers and they reacted instantly, all of them coughing as they ran.  Pedestrians also headed her words and looked for shelter or huddled next to building sides.  She grabbed Rizbowski by the arm and hauled him up. 

Poomf

Rizbowski’s body violently shook in her grasp as a ball shot burst through his chest and cratered the concrete at his feet.  Blood splashed everywhere and he went limp.  Reflexively she willed herself to fly away while carrying her friend.  The shot exploded in another growing mist of green.

Not seeing where she was going, Scarlet crashed into the building and almost dropped Rizbowski.  As the world came into focus, she floated down using the building slope as cover and gently dropped Rizbowski on the sidewalk.  A PPD officer with a rag over her mouth was moving toward Scarlet.  Both were red-eyed but for different reasons.

Poomf

A PPD car nearby seemed to implode upon itself before exploding in a shower of debris.  Scarlet intensified her sonic field to protect the female officer and the shredded engine of the car bounced off the barrier with a horrible crunch.

Scarlet looked up and saw the sniper load another round.  The anger boiled within and fueled a new fire: revenge.  She could hear Endless One reminding her about duty and responsibility.  She could also hear her own voice retort about justice and fairness.  What was good for the goose was good for the gander, right?

Scarlet shook her head – “Don’t think, act.”

Using the building she launched herself up and flew directly away from the officer dragging Rizbowski.  Her flight was so fast she created a small sonic boom above the street before abruptly stopping in mid-air facing the sniper.  He tracked Scarlet as fast as he could but the rifle was restrictively heavy. 

She was on the move before he re-aligned.  Flying at a slight arc to keep him tracking, she fired herself at the sniper, fists forward.  She focused her defense field around her but concentrated to allow her fists to be the first to hit the sniper.  A second before impact she angled her arm bracer to parry the long barrel away from her as the bayonet gleamed in the sunlight.

Impact.

From the street all one could see was a blue streak slam into the building perch.  A cloud of stone erupted and slowly showered the street below.

Inside the building, Scarlet recovered first and coughed through the dust-filled air.  Sparks erupted from an electrical cord and something metallic fell from the ceiling.  She stood and surveyed the area.  Carpet was pulled up and torn, cubicles were shattered and some office personnel were either whimpering or scrambling away from the two combatants.  No one seemed injured to Scarlet’s relief.  Then she found the sniper.

He was slowly lifting himself up with one hand while taking off his helmet with the other.  Blood ran down his face and his jaw didn’t seem to fit in place.  He spat blood but seemed determined to continue.  Scarlet jumped up and charged the sniper.  Feet first she kicked the soldier up and back down across the room.

Something caught her attention below her and she noticed the rifle at her feet.  Scarlet looked at the grunting Nemesis soldier as he slowly tried to lift himself, then down at the rifle.

“What’s good for the goose …” and she slowly knelt down to pick up the golden instrument.  Her gloved hands touched the barrel and she paused.

---

Leehouse fixed the case on the wall and took a few steps back.  He scratched his head and turned to Sergeant Darling.  “That’s a strange item to put on our walls don’t you think?”

“This is an item to help us remember our duties, Leehouse.  Sometimes, the greatest challenge in life is to do what is right, not what is just.”  Darling was stoic and checking something off on a datapad as he spoke.

“I know that, but …”, Leehouse shook his head and cut himself off.  As he turned away he saw the Scarlet Scorpion looking past him to the new decoration.  He stopped and nodded toward her.  Scarlet looked to Lee and smirked.  She turned on her heels and headed toward her office.