Friday 24 June 2016

Jago & Litefoot & Peggy (5)

Litefoot continued to chase the assailant through the London streets, as the pair forced their way through the crowds. Any member of the public bold or careless enough to approach the man received a burst from the sonic cannon that he wielded. Mercifully, as far as Litefoot was concerned, he seemed unable to accurately aim it behind himself.
"None can stop Ulysses, even you old man!" the man cried.
"There's a bit of life left in this cadaver yet!" retorted Litefoot. "And you have my word as a medical professional."
Ulysses swore to himself. He really should have put more distance between him and the old man by now. The weight of his weapon must be slowing him down more than expected. There was only one thing for it, he would have to stand his ground and fight. But not out in the open, someplace defendable. Scanning the buildings around him, he noticed one standing out from the assorted shopfronts. A perfect place for a last stand.

"Come along! We're gaining on them." Peggy called back to her companion. A distance behind her, Jago was out of breath.
"I'm not exactly engineered for such extraneous exertion. My skills are better suited to the oratory arts!" He responded, though hoping she wouldn't hear it.
"Mister Jago, I'd hardly call the daring rescue of your friend 'extraneous', let alone stopping a madman from harming innocents. Get a shift on!"
"Quite right Miss Carter! For George, eh?"
"Was that supposed to be a joke?"
"Look! It seems the ruffian is heading for that church. And Litefoot is in pursuit!"

Litefoot heaved open the church doors, and rushed inside. He was only moments behind Ulysses. The church was mercifully devoid of practitioners at this hour, he noted, no bystanders in harms way. Ahead of him, standing before the alter was the cove Ulysses, holding his weapon up to an unfortunate priest.
"Stay where you are, old man. Or this holy father will die."
"Easy now, old boy." urged Litefoot, his arms outstretched in a calming fashion.
"Nobody needs to get hurt. But if you came here looking for sanctuary, I'm afraid you'll find none."
"I came here for a hostage. Now I have two!" Ulysses turned his weapon on George, smiling menacingly.
"It'll do you no good. My ally is likely outside as we speak. And the authorities will have you surrounded soon enough. Give up now, before anyone is injured, and there may be some clemency for your actions."
"Hah! And where was the clemency when Howard Stark killed millions? When his weapons were turned on my people? Where were your authorities then?"

"George!" Boomed Jago, as he burst into the church. "No point in provoking a parlay  with this madman, he's long since lost to reason. Now you sir, you'll unhand that priest if you know what's good for you!"
"Or what? What will you do, you blustering oaf? You blunder in here, defenceless and expect me to just submit?"
"Well, that's not entirely accurate, you vile and vacuous villain! I can do this. Down George!" Jago grabbed his friend and pulled him down and to the left, to take cover behind the nearest pew. In his wake,  Agent Carter stepped forward, pistol extended. Three bullets exploded forward, aimed at the torso of Ulysses with military precision.

In a desperate defensive manoeuvre, Ulysses fired his outstretched weapon back at Peggy, in a concentrated burst. The bullets never reached him.
"Hah! Sonic vibrations, thank you, I had yet to test such a feature. All sound is merely vibration. Resonant vibrations can cause physical objects to oscillate rapidly with exponential amplitudes. In this case, shaking your primitive pellets apart at a molecular level!" Agent Carter flung herself behind the same pew as Jago & Litefoot.

"Well, that could have gone better." she remarked.
"It was a good diversion though Jago." said Litefoot.
"Dash it all, what are we going to do now?" asked Jago, dejectedly.
"If we put our minds to it, surely we can find some alternative strategy" urged Peggy. "After all Mister Jago, you told me that you two had some experience with this sort of thing."
"We specialize in a more supernatural strain of situation on the whole, Miss Carter. And we're a little out of our element, in more ways than one."
"Henry is correct, but we do diversify." explained Litefoot. "And I do have one idea. When in doubt, use an enemy's power against them."

Friday 3 June 2016

Jago & Litefoot & Peggy (4)

As Litefoot ran in pursuit of the villainous cove, Jago rushed to the side of the prone Peggy Carter. He shrugged off his suit jacket to use as a makeshift pillow, and crouched down to check her pulse. Peggy came too as Jago reached for her hand. She pulled her arm away from him, a momentary look of disgust evident on her face.

"Please madam, try to remain still. You've taken a rather nasty tumble." insisted Jago.
"Who are you calling madam? My name is Peggy Carter. Agent Peggy Carter. I don't take kindly to being treated like a madam, I'm a government agent, not some sleazy Vaudeville act!"
"There's nothing wrong with some vicarious Vaudeville entertainment, Ms Carter. I'll have you know that I'm a talented, top-notch theatrical impresario and a temporary TV master of ceremonies."
"Fascinating, I'm sure" said Peggy, nonplussed. "But if you'll excuse me, I have a criminal to apprehend."
"I'm sorry, but as a gentleman, I cannot let you endanger yourself like that. You've incurred an incapacitating injury, I can't in good conscience let you leave here."
"Incapacitating my foot! I've withstood far worse torture than that in my duty. Not that a 'gentleman' such as yourself would care. You just want to play hero and dote over some damsel in distress, I know your type. You dinosaurs will always linger on, I suppose."

The verbose and vocal Henry Gordon Jago was once at a loss for words, his mouth silently flapping with embarrassment. Eventually, he spoke.
"My sincerest apologies if I have offended you, Ms Carter, it was entirely unintended."
"That's the problem though. The unintentional bigotry, the unspoken assumptions of our place in society. But don't worry about it, mister. I've long since gotten used to it. I know my place, but I also know my worth."

"Again, sorry for any offense. I merely assumped you might like some assistance, while my colleague chases down that cretinous cove who did this."
"It's ok, really. I'm sure you had the best of intentions, Mr...?"
"Henry Gordon Jago, ma'am. At your service."
"Hang on, did you mention a colleague?"
"Yes, a Professor George Litefoot. A most remarkable and righteous fellow, and my prodigious partner in potential paranormal perception, shady and sinister supernatural sleuthing, and generally investigating infernal incidences."

Peggy sighed inwardly. She hated dealing with amateur types, especially the fanatical ones.
"You mean to tell me that this Litefoot of yours has gone after the man wielding Howard's sonic cannon?!"
"If that's what you can the chap who barged in here with his stupifying soundwave generating gubbins, then yes."
"Well, I must get after them then. The fool is putting himself and others at risk. You have no idea what you're dealing with, do you?"
"This is not our first criminal caper we've had to sort out, Ms Carter. I have every faith in George. But if you insist on helping, I insist I accompany you."
"Follow if you want, just don't slow me down."

Peggy picked up her fallen weapon, readjusted her hat, and dusted herself off, before rushing outside. It seemed the trail would be easy to follow, at least. A rmtrail of broken glass snaked it's way through London, heading northwards. Peggy tore off in pursuit, with Jago scrambling after her.