Coninuted on from Tales of New York City (Part One)
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It took a lot of convincing but when the massive oaf ripped off his shirt and started glowing Carrick would have done anything to get out of there. Why would they let someone who was radioactive into the mansion? What kind of establishment was it? Was no one worried about the kids?

”Did ya try at-”

”For the last time! She’s not just sleeping on the mansion grounds somewhere! Zorro would have found her already and you already checked! I caught YOU sleeping in a tree!”

Carrick only heard a third of it due to him removing his ear piece as Mr. Freeze stated yelling again. Honestly this was why no one liked him. That and he might have kidnapped some kids at the mansion... really... was no one worried about them!?! That’s fine it almost wasn’t his problem anyways, one more year and he’d be out of there. Maybe him and Amythest could get a flat somewhere with a roof and a view? A thief could dream.

”So I just fly around and look for blondes?” Carrick asked sighing loudly circling over. ”Ya sure this isn’t something you could do without me?” there was some cursing in the distance as the icemancer vanished behind one of the buildings. He wasn’t speaking into the ear piece but was close enough the shifter could make the words out.

”Sir! How dare ya question me honor! I told ya I’d help fer a good grade and a pay raise and I meant it. Carrick O’Conner is a man of his word!” sometimes. Sam and the shirtless one didn’t need to know that. ”Oh! Another one!” Carrick said diving away from where Sam went down.

”Aye Lizzy! …..” Carrick stopped abruptly as his wings kicked open to stop the momentum. That was when he wasn’t talking to Liz, he was talking to a man with long golden locks identical to Liz. It looked better on the guy. It didn’t make him sad. ”Yer not Liz.... ****!” before flapping and talking off again. ”Wrong blonde!”

”Did ya try at-”

”For the last time! She’s not just sleeping on the mansion grounds somewhere! Zorro would have found her already and you already checked! I caught YOU sleeping in a tree!” It wasn’t even two minutes into them leaving the mansion it was the first thing he did after flapping his wings! Sam and Hercules literally watched the kid fly to the nearest tree and lay down on a branch.

It was herding cats. Hercules already went off to check a few of the spots they frequented again. Hopefully to also grab a shirt. Sam couldn’t imagine the budget he had for them if they tore that easily all the time. Sam however wasn’t going to ask because they weren’t that close yet.

Looking down he spotted someone running in the alley way from some others. Sam sighed loudly along with a string of curses as he fell down into the opening between the buildings. ”I don’t have time for this!” he said coldly as he dropped in between the one running and the man chasing them... with a knife.

“****” dropping the knife and running in the opposite direction Sam launched himself forward on a pillar of ice to get the drop on the guy. ”You must be the most-” Sam landed on him and brought him down quickly to the pavement where he pinned the man, ”Unlucky and dumb... what were you doing?” he looked back, ”mugger?” it didn’t matter. Chasing someone with a knife while they were scared out of their mind was enough reason to arrest him.

”.....doesn’t matter. You are under arrest. By the way have you seen any blondes today, frizzy hair. Usually has an animal of some kind around her?”

The city air was brisk on his bare chest, maybe he should find a shirt like the little winged one had said. No there were more pressing matters to attend to. Elizabeth was missing and Hercules was determined to find her. Even if she didn’t need help he’d hate himself for not trying to find her. She was... special, and the god lived too long to live a life with regrets so he made sure he did everything he could not to have them.

”Elizabeth!!!!” roared the god as the nearest set of cars on the street started to go off. Someone opened the nearest window to shout at the god. Mortals, always so worried about what everyone else was doing. Of course he knew what time it was, and of course he knew where he was. Elizabeth was missing and that was all he was worried about.

William was already searching any news articles and the frozen one said he’d make a call to check in for any police reports. Meaning it was up to the god to hit the pavement and... a memory flashed into his mind and he recalled what day it was... today of all days! He’d have a moment; Elizabeth was still missing but he had not missed this day or this ritual of his since he was summoned for the first time. It was important to remember those gone. Meaning he’d have to make a slight detour on his quest to find her.

A boot was flung as he walked by some cars, it missed him narrowly and the prince of power shouted once more, ”ELIZABETH!!!!!”

”Yer not her either!” it was another man with long flowing blonde hair. Carrick was staring to wonder if there was a convention of some kind in town that was the third one in three blocks. The shifter yawned and stretched and took to the air again upset he wasn’t making any money from this. This was prime gig time.

Flying over the streets his eyes zeroed in on anything yellow that stood out as it moved or flowed in the wind. The top of head was something he tried to forget but when you spent so long trying to avoid something you sear it into you’re mind. That was what Carrick was feeling as he dived back down closer to the street dodging a semi truck as he did so. The driver honked loudly and gave Carrick the New Yorker salute which he returned in kind then stopped.

”Wait!” Carrick shouted as he turned and landed on the roof of the vehicle. It was stopped now so he had a moment. Red lights were impossibly long in the city.

”I’m not hear ta rob ya! I’m looking fer someone!” “So am I! What of it? They got apps for it!” the driver said in the thickest new yorker accent the shifter had ever heard. His hand went to his side and held it there for a moment.

”Nah mate, not like that! Someone one is missing! A girl, well more of a woman. It hasn’t been a full forty eight hours so no one really cares but figure I’d do what the cops can’t.” Carrick found his motivation. His mind already turned into a noir scene.

”She’s a blonde gal, frizzy hair. Wondering if yer secret network of truckers could keep an eye out fer her! She’s a good person, not a fan personally but I agreed ta help look fer her.” there was a long pause as the driver stared ahead. The light turned green and the truck started to move. Carrick remained on top of the vehicle and waited for a response. “She got a name kid?”

”Yeah, Lizzy!” the shifter spat out excited his plan was working, maybe this meant less of an effort was needed.

The radio died down as the trucker grabbed the CB radio mic. “Little Roy checking in, how’s everyone doing tonight? Got a missing person was hoping ya’ll could help me out! Blonde woman, goes by Lizzy. Too soon for the police to do anything told this fella I’d help out. Anyone notice any blondes in any situations tonight?”

There was a pause but the radio clicked on and other drivers started to check in. Carrick had only heard rumors of the ‘Convoy watch’ but to actually see it in action?!? Carrick climbed up the front of the truck and sat down above the diver and waited listening to the other drivers checking in. His tail flicked beside him as he rode around for a few blocks hoping someone would check in with good news.

”Officers...” it was the two police officers he had dubbed tweedle dee and tweedle dumb he and Liz had met in passing when they responded to a kidnapping. The police were rookies and tried their best but they were still green and a lot of the questions they asked seemed redundant to say the least.

“Mr. Sam!?!?” one of them asked and Sam sighed loudly still standing by next to the guy who was less than helpful. He hadn’t seen any blondes on the run lately. His normal target was brunettes. He also might have been sporting a shiner after that comment.

Standing off to the side Sam walked towards the officers knowing that the ice he used to pin the man would hold long enough for the police to cuff him. An ice hand lifted and he offered it to the police. One of the officers grabbed at it for some reason and Sam pulled back. ”Evidence bag.”

After the knife was bagged, Sam gave his statement at what he had seen and the ‘confession’ of the man who target women with a knife. It wasn’t something he was too focused on. His mind was preoccupied now that the guy was caught.

”Liz is missing. Not long enough to file a missing person but it’s not like her. I already got a few people looking for her. If you two could do the same that be great. You all already know how to reach me.” Sam said taking a few steps as one of them called out, “Does that mean you owe us one!?!? My kids got a birthday party coming up!” before he could continue with the comment Sam was already gone launched into the air by a pillar of ice followed by an ice slide.

Maybe he should check in with Cora? She should be able to find her pretty quick.... no not yet. Cora had enough on her plate at the moment. She didn’t need any more stress yet.

It was late now, sunrise was around the corner, the sky turned purple and orange as the rays of the sun reflected off the sky above. It was time. He managed to find incenses, and a bottle of wine. Still shirtless the purchase was a little more difficult than he would have liked and the amount of people staring at him was a welcome feeling.

All who stared were tasked with searching for Elizabeth. Bubbly and blonde, kind and beautiful. Some took it seriously others hurried away. It didn’t matter though. Hercules had enough faith in his ability and those he had requested for help. Mortals were full of surprises. Maybe they had already located her? He’d search them out shortly though there was a ritual he needed to perform. One he couldn’t miss.

”My wife....” Hercules was sitting on a hill in central park overlooking the dawn as she reached out with her light washing away the darkness. The god glowed, not because he was going to use his powers but because he was feeling so many emotions. His hands trembled as he dug into the ground and mound some dirt near the tree two mounds one larger and one smaller. Memories of burying his loved ones all those centuries ago.

The Son of Zeus never advertised his greatest failure, his largest regret. Not protecting his family, for harming them. ”My boy...” tears streaked down his cheeks as the smell of sandalwood and sage filled the air. A bottle of wine open he took a small drink and poured the rest into each mound of dirt.

”I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. Either of you... I will never forgive myself for what I did to you. May you find peace in Elysium.” he at least knew that’s where they went. It was promised. Otherwise, Olympus would have fallen that day.

That was then the giant broke down sobbing and singing an ancient song of mourning.

Chinatown was a flop, and so was the ‘Road Watch’. No one had any information on them. Neither did the last bar the shifter walked out of. Putting on his glasses he looked at what time it was. Well... it didn’t matter his class wouldn’t have had a teacher anyways and the next one wasn’t for a few hours.

”Carrick! Been trying to call you for two hours now!” the voice rang out as the shifter popped the ear piece back into his ear and turning it on. Stifling a yawn, ”This turn on automatically when they get put in?” wondering he tested it out listening to Sam’s voice fade in and out as it got closer. He heard every word but none of it mattered he had his answer.

Oh right! A the mission! ”Ya, was checking a local watering hole. No sign of our ‘dame’.” Carrick’s mind was still stuck in Noir mode as he continued on with his character he had developed to make the search more interesting for him.

”PAY ATTENTION!” Sam shouted in the other end as Carrick jumped a bit in reaction. ”It was right then and there the my old teacher. The man who taught me everything about being a private eye. A Dick. I knew that what he had to say next was important.” Carrick said monologuing as he took to the air trying not to chuckle too much.

”****ing Christ... China town. Did you see any sign of her? Just meet me at the warehouse district! I haven’t checked there yet and you might get a better view.” there was a gunshot in the background on the other end and the line went silent.

”It was the words I’ve been searching for all along. I knew where to go. The warehouse district surly it have our missing gal. I still think she stepped out on her man but it was none of my business. Guess I really am a softy.” Carrick continued now in the air flying and masking his accent to his best ability.

Another gunshot sounded as Sam cut the transmission so he didn’t have to hear the shifter monologuing as if he was a detective of some kind. If he wasn’t getting shot at and wasn’t currently searching for a missing persons he would have thought it pretty funny. However, that wasn’t the case. A bullet slammed into the armor on his shoulder and he rolled a bit to soften the blow. Spitting out the bullet and healing over the ice grew and spread further along his body as he ducked in cover.

“You got some nerve coming here! Even the police don’t mess with us!” said a mobster. It was someone Sam had heard about, which was the reason he was here. Something he shouldn’t be doing. Knowing full well there was an active investigation into this group Sam knew he’d be hearing about it later.

”Why do you think I’m here?” shouting back calming himself. The air turned cold and the ground and windows coated over dimming the natural lighting as frost engulfed everything. ”I told you I’m looking for someone. You have the biggest operation not affiliated with anyone.” Sam shouted as two identical copies of Sam covered in ice started to form. One leapt over him and charged. The other ran around the boxes Sam was hiding behind as a shotgun blast pelted his cover.

“He’s not alone! Get them!” one voice shouted. “Move the girls!” shouted another.

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The clones of ice darted around the room distracting the human traffickers as Sam tried to feel for the nearest bodies that weren’t holding weapons. There was some heat coming off from the nearest vehicle and someone was rushed into the back of the van before the vehicle was slammed shut.

”You’re all under arrest.” Sam shouted, the room getting colder and darker the more the frost built up on the windows and light fixtures. Gunfire illuminated the room in brief bursts, “I got one!” someone shouted as a clone dropped reaching out trying to touch one of the men. The gunman made the mistake of trying to kick the hand away. It was all the clone needed to freeze to the man’s leg holding him in place as the clone started to climb up said leg. “He’s got me!”

Looking over to the van the icemancer shot a beam of blue towards the tires trying to lock the vehicle in place. His thermal vision was revealing a few people in the back of the van. Women. His stomach turned at the thought of his friend being one of them and he jumped up from his cover now covered in a thick layer of ice.

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There was blood on his hands, some spattered on what was left of the armor and behind him lay all the men keeping him from freeing the women in the vehicle. Sam touched the door freezing it then pulling the thing off it’s hinges. The door dropped to the ground as what was left of a clone helped him move the thing.

”Liz!?!?!” Sam shouted hoping his long search was over but also hoping that she wasn’t here, crammed in the back with a handful of other terrified women. Some had physical mutations the others looked human all of varying shapes and sizes. Bags covered their heads and their hands were tied behind their backs.

There was a moment when Sam wasn’t sure what to say, how could he. Looking at the victims he finally spoke in a direct and gruff voice. ”You’re safe now.” Liz wasn’t here. There was a sigh of relief. ”I’m Sam. No one is going to hurt you again.” gently removing all of the bags from their heads he could see the look of fear and terror streaked across each one of the women.

The clone climbed in as Sam exited the vehicle touching his ear helping one of the women out of the vehicle. His ice clone started removing bags and cutting ties as another clone formed and started helping the women out of the van. ”This is Sam Johnson, calling in for some support. Found some kidnapped victims at...” rambling off the address he continued, ”12 suspects in custody. I’ll need a few cars to round them up.” Sam said feeling the urge to kill the nearest trafficker.

A trembling hand on his arm was all he needed to convince him otherwise. Directing his attention to the woman, ”There wasn’t anyone else was there? A blonde woman named Liz?” she shook her head and started sobbing.

”We don’t have time for this!” Hercules roared clearly getting frustrated by waiting for Sam of the Frost. The boy he was with seemed... unperturbed by the waiting. He was laying on top of a dumpster kicking his feet into the air almost amused with himself. ”Boy... should you not be looking overhead to see if she is around?” Hercules asked after pacing the same spot over and over again. His worry clear to any who could see him.

”Unless she has been hiding here for some reason doubt she’d just appear since the last time I flew around. Five minutes ago, all that pacing yer doing is probably helping though. Keep at it.” Carrick’s tail flicked in the demi-god's direction and he had half a mind to throw the dumpster with the boy on it.

”Such impudence.” Hercules said out loud. The god was worried for Elizabeth, his second favorite mortal of the era. ”You speak to a god, Boy!” he said curtly. About to say more he was cut off when Carrick lifted his hand and waved him away.

”Not mine.” the shifter said cutting the giant off, ”I can’t make her appear, yer mad at her being missing not at me mate. Don’t care if yer a god, unless ya plan on trying ta smite me I don’t really care who ya are.” his tail flicked again and he was starting to wonder if this was worth a free grade.

They could find her without him right? Wasn’t even like he wanted to be here. It was clear the big guy was about to snap at the shifter again. Why was he so loud? ‘Flight!’ once again Carrick was starting to agree with his instincts. Carrick knew he had little chance so when the giant finally stepped towards him the shifter smiled. Hercules stepped on a man cover to a sewar drain.

”I got it!” Carrick snapped his fingers and then pointed down. ”We looked above the city! Why not below?”

The icemancer was the last to arrive and wasn’t sure what he was sliding into. The air was tense and he didn’t know if Hercules was about to happy yell or angry yell. Either way the giant looked like he was going to yell. ”I’m a genius!”

”I must admit boy, the idea is a possibility but what would she be doing down there?” Hercules asked staring down into the now uncovered manhole. ”Animal stuff? Or like I said. Maybe she’s breaking up with you? Yer a god right? Maybe she’s worried you’ll smite her?”

”Hey.” Sam chimed in starting to piece together what the idea was. The fact that Hercules towered over an open drain and Carrick kept pointing below made it all the much easier.

”I would do no such thing! Elizabeth has never done anything to incur such wrath!” ”Hey.” Sam chimed in again trying to get the two to stop bickering. All of this was making his headache worse and his need for a drink all the stronger.

”Even it meant ghosting ya? Face it mate, it could have happened.” ”You on the other hand.” Hercules started to glow a little and took another step towards the snarky Irishman. ”You, on the other hand. I have had enough of.”

Carrick tensed for a second then stood up from his sitting position his fangs bared as a low rumble started to be heard. Was... Carrick growling?

Sam sighed then yelled taking control of the air around them making it colder. ”Enough!” both of them stopped and turned to the icemancer distracted from him yelling and the chill in the air. The growling stopped and Hercules stopped glowing.

”You think she’s down there? Why?”

”Well fer starters she isn’t up here?” Carrick asked like it was a dumb question. ”Sure she’d ghost someone but she wouldn’t leave her dog or that bird at the mansion unless she was coming back right?”

”Look, I ran inta some magic whammy users down there and have held book club there. Murderous clowns might be down there but hey, it’s a spot we haven’t looked yet right?” the shifter flicked his tail and looked between the pair. ”I’d rather not go into an enclosed space unless I have ta. Does me grade depend on it?”

”Yep. Big guy?” Sam and Hercules were on the same page, before Carrick could move a muscle Hercules already picked Carrick up by his arm and held him over the hole and then dropped him. Instead of fighting it the shifter just started yelling. ”Aye! Leego!” next thing he knew he was in the sewars again. It always ended up in the sewars.

”Hate ya both!” he called up as the giant was next landing in a large puddle of what he hoped was a dead rat. Sam landed next then the air got colder again. ”Sure ya can make it cold but can ya do anything about the smell?” already knowing the answer.

”Carrick take lead, you’re eyes and nose will help. Herc you’re next, and I’ll follow from there. I can feel for body temperatures.” Hercules nodded and started to glow a little. No doubt so he could see for himself.

”Sure... smell.” Carrick muttered as he started to move recognizing some of the tunnels he had fled from recently. ”Don’t want ta be back down here...”

<<Elizabeth Jane Sundance.>>

Liz cocked her head. Interesting. She didn’t know how long she’d been in the darkness, surrounded by an army of rodent sentries. She’d been spending the time immersing herself in all of their minds. Only a dozen or so were shielded from her thoughts at any given point, but that left ten times that number unguarded. She was free to dance through their minds, picking up their surface thoughts and instigating deeper memories with pointed trigger concepts. She often only had seconds per rat before it would become lost to her, but repeated that a thousand times over the span of hours?

She had a very good idea of what was going on here.

“So you finally read my ID,” she said. “It’s about time. I was starting to think we were never going to get around to the introductions portion of this kidnapping. And who might I be speaking to?”

<<I was once called Ramon.>>

Liz wasn’t hearing the words, not directly. The words just appeared in the minds of rats, like earworms. The rats she was currently focused on all started carrying the same alien pseudo-memories, all suddenly imagining or having an imagination thrust upon them by a person saying the words.

<<Delighted to make your acquaintance,>> Liz thought back to the rats. Two could play at the same game. <<Better late than never, I guess. The customer service so far has been lousy.>>

The normal thoughts of rats continued for several seconds uninterrupted, before the next response emerged. <<Apologies. I did not…know what to say.>>

Elizabeth cocked her head and smiled beautifically into the darkness. <<Oh my, you didn’t get the script? Most kidnappers start off with ‘Shut up and get in the van’ or ‘Keep quiet if you know what’s good for you’ or even the classic ‘Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?’>> she thought. <<Of course, we’re already way past that, so I guess we could skip to the part where you tell me why you abducted me and then we’ll go from there.>>

She could sense uncertainty. Not from Ramon specifically, but where it seemed he was bleeding over into the rats. Interesting. <<Ah, you’re making a joke,>> he finally messaged.

<<What gave me away?>> she telepathed brightly. <<But seriously, I’d appreciate you telling me what your intentions are. I haven’t eaten anything all day and I’m pretty sure you made me miss my lunch date. I’m starting to get a little hangry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m hangry.>>

A small undercurrent of fear rolled out from her. It wasn’t her fear, but it was a nameless terror she designed just for the rats. The wave crashed over the rats and they began chittering and moving frantically until, in one fell swoop they froze in place, even if the panic didn’t totally fade away.

<<Please don’t do that again!>> Ramon said quickly.

<<Then tell me why you kidnapped me.>>

<<I…I….I didn’t mean to, it just….happened.>>

<<....it just so happened that I get hit on the head and dragged to a sewer only God knows where on a freak accident? >>

<<No…but I….I….I just wanted to- >>

<<To kidnap me? Abduct me? Hide me away for your own twisted pleasures? Honestly, this is the worst kidnapping I’ve ever experienced.>>

<<I just wanted to talk to you!>>