The Raid of Hopewell: Part 2

Cooper’s adrenaline had spiked. He knew he had to get to the Aetherwing.

He looked up at what was left of the domed ceiling as he pocketed the data rod the police captain had given him. The dome was gone, shards of it scattered everywhere. The broken, skeletal remains of the top of the tower were visible, metal angling off chaotically with green clouds in the background getting more vibrant by the minute.

Cooper then turned his attention to what lay ahead of him. Large chunks of wall had fallen to the tower floor. A layer of dust and smoke filled the air. What was once clean and organized was now dirty and chaotic. .

The hall Nigama had pointed to earlier that led to his airship was fortunately clear of debris. He stepped carefully, not wanting to risk falling and hurting himself on more shrapnel. He entered the tunnel and followed its length quickly. The lights in the hall blinked red in rhythm with the thunderous klaxon.

He stepped into the next tower as the hall opened up. People were milling about in chaos. He saw no damage in this tower. It likely hadn’t been hit with Influence weaponry yet. Luck appeared to be with him as his path to the Aetherwing’s dock was clear.

Cooper kept moving, doing his best to avoid the broad sea of people rushing around in confusion. Some were in a panic shouting questions to anyone who would listen, hoping to get some semblance of an idea as to whether they were safe or not.

Amidst the chaos, as he continued toward his destination, a familiar distant female voice touched his ears. “Coop!”.

Cooper stopped and quickly glanced around the bustling tower searching for the source.

“Coop!” came the same feminine voice. It caught his attention and he found the source. The woman had electric blue eyes, and shoulder length honey blonde hair that was put up into a ponytail. She wore black knee-high boots over a pair of tan pants that hugged her legs. A brown leather coat covered her torso. The top was slightly unzipped revealing her typical white cotton work shirt underneath.

“Miranda!” he exclaimed loudly in recognition as he quickly moved to her through the seething throng.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “ I was just heading back to the Aetherwing after being released from questioning. Then the explosion happened and now the base is on high alert.”

Cooper shook his head. “We don’t have much time. The Influence has arrived.”

Before he could say anything more, Miranda stopped and looked straight through the top of the dome above them and gasped. Sure enough, emerald skies were continuing to push the azure blue away.

“We have to get the Aetherwing out of here!” he insisted urgently.

She looked back at Cooper, her eyes fiercely focused. “Let’s go then,” she breathed as she started to run toward another corridor. Cooper was right on her heels when another explosion sounded from somewhere else in the airport. Before they could get to the corridor that would lead them to the tower where the Aetherwing was docked, a door opened up from a room up ahead.

A stream of mercenaries poured into the tower, blocking the path to the next tower over.

“Attention! Everyone down, get on the ground now!” A couple of the men were firing guns into the air to make a point. Instead of bullets, streaks of green light darted from the temporium-powered weapons toward the ceiling.

Jack Cooper and Miranda Cross stopped in their tracks after seeing everyone else drop down low. It was still semi-chaotic, so there was still a chance the pair could sneak around. They slowly made their way behind some chairs and observed the soldiers.

The mercenaries were all dressed with metallic armor that encased their torsos snugly. All wore black pants with armor padding in critical areas. Devices were strapped all over their bodies, and even some adorned their forest green helmets.

However, one particular man stood out, most likely the leader of the bunch. His helmet encompassed his whole face, much like a gas mask. And on the man’s back was what Cooper could only perceive as some kind of cape. He also held onto a long sword as his weapon, its blade shimmering different hues of green as it moved. He seemed the most relaxed out of them all, comfortable with how things were going.

The man with the sword turned to one of his comrades and issued some order.

Almost as soon as he did so, Miranda smacked Cooper’s arm and gestured to him.

“He’s part of the Emerald Legion!” she whispered intensely to him. Sure enough, Cooper also saw the vibrant green diamond imprinted on the man’s cape.

The leader turned to face the cowering crowd. “People of Hopewell! Today dawns a new day! The Influence is here to set you free. We do not mean any harm, of course, but there are some new rules to abide by. First, let’s get everyone organized, shall we?” His mask was designed to make his voice much deeper than it naturally would be. It was standard procedure. Cooper had seen two others of the Emerald Legion with similar masks. Their identities were meant to be kept secret. Very few would ever know their full identity and fewer still would live long after finding out.

Cooper and Miranda stayed put, hoping to keep their place hidden. The people were frightened and listened to the orders of the mercenaries as they all were neatly corralled in the center of the domed tower they stood in. The red klaxon still sounded and some other smaller booms and bangs were fairly constant now as other places in the airport were also being taken over.

"Now," began the darkly masked voice of the leader. "We ask that you stay put while we finish the transition of Hopewell’s allegiance. Once it is complete, we will then be seeking out those who would like full integration into the Influence."

Cooper suddenly heard footsteps nearby. He had been so focused on the leader that he hadn't noticed the roaming mercenaries searching for anyone hiding.

"Gotcha!" Suddenly Miranda was roughly hoisted to her feet as another man rounded to get Cooper.

Miranda shrieked for a moment before taking a hard swing at the man’s face. A clear miss sent her to the ground and the man was able to keep her subdued with her hands behind her back.

Cooper also briefly resisted, but his efforts were brought to a painful end as he experienced the familiar agony of a red glowing taser rod.

He was dragged and dropped unceremoniously next to Miranda as he continued twitching slightly in agony.

Cooper heard the sound of the sword returning to its sheath. "And what do we have here?" The voice moved closer until soon Cooper was being lifted to his feet by a strong pair of hands. The masked figure was mere inches from his face.

"Captain Jack Cooper of the Aetherwing?" asked the man rhetorically.

Cooper managed to force a grin while the rest of his body caught up with him. "I take it my reputation precedes me? Or is it just the looks?”

“Neither,” the man said with some venom in his voice. “But I know who you are.”

If the man was telling the truth, there were only a handful of people who knew the real Jack Cooper. Despite the fact that an Emerald Legionnaire was never meant to reveal his identity, this man sure seemed to be giving him very specific hints.

Turning to Miranda, he got close to her face as well. “This one I do not know. Your name please?”

She decided it was an opportune time to spit in his face. The armored Legionnaire, on the other hand, struck her mouth with the back of his hand. “I ask a question, and this is what I get? Answer me!” He then slowly pulled his emerald sword out of its hilt at his hip. It made a hideous rasping noise as it’s razor sharp edge came free.

Suddenly, the power throughout the entire airport went out, filling the air with deafening silence as the hum of electric activity ceased.

Cooper seized the opportunity by ducking down and grabbing behind him for one of the mercenary’s taser batons. When his hands had gained purchase, he spun about and gave the mercenary a solid slap on the leg with it, sending him careening to the floor in a helpless heap. He spun about to face his other adversaries. The leader had put some distance between himself and Cooper. Miranda had apparently been on the same wavelength as two other mercs fell to the ground as well. The leader’s momentary distraction was all she needed to roll away from him and dive into the throng.

Once the fight had begun, some of the bystanders decided that their freedom was worth fighting for and chose to enter the fray.

Cooper and Miranda still had to get to the Aetherwing. With the Influence soldiers distracted now, he decided to make a break for it. The next hall would lead him to the tower where the Aetherwing was docked. He caught Miranda’s eye as he moved and she got the signal. Both of them darted into the next hall as chaos ensued behind them.

As they both ran, electric batons in hand, they heard another pair of footsteps trailing behind them in pursuit. Cooper looked back to see the masked Emerald Legionnaire a mere 15 feet behind them coming forward swiftly and with deadly purpose.

“They’re tailing us,” he said to Miranda as they both quickened the pace.

With the power temporarily out, the lifts would be useless. The stairs were their only option.

They passed people quickly, weaving in and out as they came to the stairwell.

Miranda shoved the door open ahead of him and quickly ascended. Cooper was right behind her, watching behind him for the Legionnaire.

The dim stairwell was lit by red emergency lights. “I think we lost him,” he said to Miranda as they ascended.

“Let’s hope,” was her only reply while not breaking stride.

About halfway through their upward journey, the lights suddenly blinked on and the hum of electricity resumed as the airport began powering back up. Cooper suddenly realized what that could mean. Miranda quickened her pace more, desperate for the refuge of the airship.

Once to the top, Miranda yanked the stairwell door open and stepped out with Cooper close behind.

There sat the Aetherwing, the docking tunnel extending from the tower to the underbelly of the airship. Cooper was relieved to find her in one piece. It had been his home for many years, and it was now their only means of escape.

The workers outside the airship were frantically trying to get their equipment together as the fight made itself evident on the ground below. Hopewell was being taken by the Influence. The swirl of clouds in the sky revealed undulating waves of green and blue clashing against each other in the hopes of making the sky one brilliant hue.

Cooper and Miranda ran to the docking entrance and hurried past all of the workers. Behind him, the newly powered elevator chimed as the doors opened. The Emerald Legionnaire stepped out, long sword glowing bright green as he moved forward with cat like grace.

Miranda quickly opened the electric docking tunnel doors. Cooper hopped inside as the warrior continued toward them, pushing and shoving dock works to the ground and out of the way. Miranda was quick as she punched in a lock code. Cooper waited, watching the man approach.

Miranda then turned on a dime and ran down the tunnel to their haven. Cooper paused as he watched the man realize he wasn’t going to get through the doors in time. The coded lock gave them ample time before their adversary could crack the code’s encryption. He couldn’t help but smirk, letting the man know he had been bested. Cooper would live to fight another day.

“Coop!” yelled Miranda down the tunnel.

Cooper turned and darted down the tunnel after Miranda, already working in his mind how they might yet escape the airport unscathed.