#2 - That's Nobody's Business But The Turks

#2 - That's Nobody's Business But The Turks

Knock Knock Knock

The rap on the door brought Booster out of his confusion. He looked up from the girl who broke into his apartment and raised an eyebrow. "Now what?"

"Don't open it."

Looking back at Layla, her face was like a statue. "Why not?"

Knock Knock Knock

"They're trying to find me."

"The people from the future?"

"No," Layla replied, her voice low. Deadly serious. "They work for them."

Knock Knock Knock

Anger was rising in Booster's gut, or maybe it was indigestion. All he knew was that he'd had enough of this day and was ready to kick everyone's ass to get it over with. Feeling the flight ring on his finger to make sure it was there, he grabbed one of his gauntlets off the loveseat and slapped it on his right arm before storming toward the door.

"Who is it?"

"Police," a muffled voice announced through the door. "Open up."

Booster peered out the peep hole but wasn't able to make anything out through the dirty glass. "Skeets?" he whispered.

"I am picking up two adult males."

"Don't open it," Layla reiterated, her eyes were locked on Booster's.

"What's this about?" Booster called through the door. Her insistence was starting to raise the contrarian in him.

"We're looking for a suspect," a deeper voice replied. "Please open up."

"A suspect?" Booster mouthed back at Layla, a smile on his lips. It was all making sense. She was some kind of criminal, obviously. She did break into his home. Now she was trying to manipulate him into sheltering her. Not today.

Booster began unlocking the multiple bolts on the door. If Layla was worried, she didn't show it. She just stood there in the middle of his "living room", her eyes never leaving him.

When the door finally opened up, it revealed two men in their mid twenties. One was a dark skinned man with a shaved head and a goatee. He was tall and well built. The other was a smaller man with unruly red hair spiked up, a pair of sunglasses on his forehead keeping it out of his face.

Both men wore dark blue suits, though only the larger man wore a tie. The redhead had his coat open and his shirt untucked. Booster could believe the larger man was a cop, but the redhead seemed a stretch.

"Identification?" Booster asked, his eyes narrowing.

The larger man started to reach a gloved hand into his jacket. Booster tensed up. The redhead's neck stretched up as he tried peering over Booster into the apartment. "There she is!"

In that instant a tense but manageable situation turned to chaos. Everything seemed to happen at once. Layla, for the first time, broke her composure and turned to run. Seeing this, the redhead pushed Booster back to try and get by. Reacting instinctively to the attack, Booster raised up his right arm and fired an energy blast at the redhead, glancing his left shoulder and sending him spinning onto the floor.

The large man reacted quickly. He grabbed Booster by the shirt and slammed a fist into his stomach, doubling Booster over. Skeets, seeing his master in danger, floated over and blasted the man in the back.

"What the hell?" the large man looked over, eyes wide at the floating droid.

Booster, trying desperately to catch his breath, saw the scorch mark on the back of the man's dark blue suit jacket. There was some kind of mesh underneath the cloth. Armor. Everything about this was wrong.

"You will vacate this premises at once!" Skeets ordered, firing another blast at the man. He dodged that one, ducking to the side like an experience boxer, and countered with a hard right punch to Skeets, sending the droid crashing into the wall.

"What the hell have you got us into, Reno?"

"Hey Rude," the redhead chuckled at he got to his feet. "Just deal with it while I get the girl!"

Booster looked over to see Reno heading for the window. He caught a quick glimpse of Layla on the fire escape, some kind of bundle in her arms, before she disappeared.

"Is your name really Rude, or was he just calling you rude?" The large man's back to him, Booster fired an energy blast right into his ass. Rude was launched into the air and crashed into the same wall as Skeets. Might not do much with the armor, but Booster needed him out of the way. Reno was already exiting through the window, so Booster flew across the room to follow.

As soon as Booster was out the window, Reno turned on the metal steps of the fire escape, whipped a foot long rod out into his hand, and jammed it into Booster's chest. Electricity surged through Booster, causing him to scream out in pain.

Reno turned to run after Layla, leaving Booster convulsing on the fire escape. It took a while for the tingling to go away. By the time he recovered, he saw Rude reach the window next to him.

"I don't care about this kid, but you guys are making me angry!" Booster shouted, blasting the large man and knocking him back into the apartment before flying up to the roof. "I hate being angry!"

On the rooftop, Reno was just about to grab Layla as she tried to leap to another building. Booster quickly flew over, coming at Reno from the side, and shoulder checked him away. An old football move made much more effective with the added speed from his flight ring.

Deep down Booster wanted to continue the battle. If nothing else it was helping with his pent up aggression. However, seeing Layla wobbling on the edge of the rooftop, he turned to grab her and they flew off a couple blocks away before landing on another rooftop.

"All right, missy, what have you just gotten me into?" Booster shouted, his finger pointed right in the girl's face.

Layla's stoic nature was visibly shook between the chase and the flight, though she managed to keep her cool. "I told you I needed your help."

"I didn't ask for this!"

"I told you not to open the door."

"Well excuuuuuuse me! What was I supposed to do when the police are knocking on my door looking for a criminal who broke into my house?"

"I'm not a criminal. They aren't police."

"Ya think?" Booster threw his arms up in frustration. Hyped up on adrenaline, he began pacing the rooftop, unable to keep still. "So who were they, Ms. I Know Stuff?"

"They're called Turks. They work for the Shinra Electric Power Company."

"Hmm, where have I heard that? Shinra?" Booster rubbed his temples as he tried to think. "Skeets! Skeets? Goddammit, where's Skeets?"

"He's on his way," Layla said with complete confidence. She walked over and held up the bundle that had been in her arms this entire time. The Lion Guard blanket that was on his loveseat. "Here, you'll need this."

Confused, Booster took the blanket. As he unraveled it, his visor, belt, other gauntlet, and power suit tumbled out onto the rooftop. "When? How?"

He could see Layla fight to keep the slightest bit of a smirk off her face. "Hurry up. More are coming."

Kneeling down to collect everything, Booster started changing. As he ripped off his shirt, sending buttons scattering, he looked up at Layla's emotionless eyes. "Um...turn around, wouldya? Geez..."

Just as Booster finished snapping his belt on, he heard the familiar soft whir of Skeets flying up. He also noticed the distant sound of a helicopter.

"There you are! Where the Hell have you been?" Booster smacked the top of the droid with his fist. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

"Yes sir! A young girl named Layla Miller entered your apartment without permission and demanded your help, claiming someone from the future was trying to kill her. Then two men knocked on your door, which you answered despite Layla Miller telling you not to. The two men proceeded to-"

"Enough, Skeets! That's not what I meant!" Booster sighed as he checked over his equipment. "Where have I heard Shinra Electric Power Company before?"

"The Shinra Electric Power Company approached you last month with a sponsorship offer, which they rescinded when during the meeting you-"

"Okay! Okay! I remember now," Booster practically growled. "Okay kid, so why is a power company sending some kind of hit squad after you? Heck, why does a power company have a hit squad? This is nuts!"

The whir of helicopter blades was getting closer. Layla turned in their direction, pointing. "I'm not sure. And because they are much more than just a power company. We don't have much time."

"Give up the kid, now!" Reno shouted from behind them.

Booster turned in surprise to find Reno and Rude on the rooftop, spreading apart to try and flank them.

"Look, I can see there's some kind of misunderstanding going on!" Booster had to raise his voice over the helicopter that was almost on top of them. "I'm sure we can come to some kind of agreement."

"Give up the girl," a voice came from a speaker on the helicopter. It hovered over the side of the building. The door on the side opened to reveal two more people in dark blue suits. One, holding a radio mic, was an Asian man with long, slicked back hair. The other was a blond woman holding an assault rifle aimed directly at Booster. "We can arrange a finders fee for your trouble."

"Hmm, a finders fee," Booster mumbled to himself. Whatever this mess was, it wasn't his mess. Perhaps it was worth it to just get out of the way and go back to his life. A little richer too.

Booster looked up, keeping one eye on Reno and Rude still circling him. The Asian man on the helicopter watched, his face a mask, as he waited for Booster's response. Whoever these guys were, they were professional. This wasn't some skumbag gang or organized crime family after her. This was money. Real money.

A hand on his arm brought Booster out of his thoughts. He looked down at Layla's face, her eyes ever staring into his. Only this time there was a difference. Her eyes weren't the cold, emotionless eyes they usually were. They were the pleading eyes of a frightened girl.

"I thought you were a hero?"

Booster's chest tightened like he'd been stabbed in the heart. He wanted to turn away, to hide from the look in her eyes. Yet he was unable to. He was caught in them like a bug in amber.

After what seemed like an eternity, she closed her eyes and turned away. Booster, sucking in a breath, looked over the Turks surrounding them and mumbled, "Goddammit."

Wrapping his arms around Layla, Booster shot straight into the air like a rocket. The helicopter pilot was on point, rolling and rising to give the blond Turk an open shot. Bullets ripped into Booster's forcefield. He had to turn his back toward the bullets to keep Layla safe.

Down on the rooftop, Reno and Rude pulled pistols out of their jackets and opened fire. Caught in a crossfire, it was becoming impossible to keep Layla safe. She screamed against his chest, a sound that seemed odd coming from the perfectly stoic girl.

"Skeets!" Booster barked, an idea forming from desperation. The droid floated up toward them. As soon as he was close enough, Booster tossed the girl at the droid. "Take her!"

Layla screamed even louder as she fell onto Skeets. The droid's usually soft whirring turned to a roar as it tried to stay aloft with the girl clinging to it for dear life. The two started floating down, Skeets having enough sense to make his way to the next building over.

Now free to act, Booster raised his fists toward Reno and Rude and fired energy blasts at the distracted Turks. Booster didn't stop to see if he connected or not, but instead swooped around toward the helicopter.

The blond woman continued firing until her magazine was empty. Booster reached the side of the helicopter, his feet coming to rest on the landing skid, and he tore the rifle from her hands as she was trying to reload, smacking her in the face with the butt of the gun.

Turning toward the other Turk, the Asian man offered a self satisfied smirk as he pulled a sawed off double barrel shotgun from behind his back. He placed it directly on Booster's chest and pulled the trigger.

The force of the blast sent Booster flying. It took him a minute to gain his senses and right himself in the air. He instinctively looked down at his chest in horror, but his forcefield had managed to absorb the blast. The usually invisible energy, however, was glowing slightly blue and revealing missing chunks around his body. He was running low on power.

Punctuating that thought, two bullets hit his forcefield on his back before a third grazed his left side. Gritting his teeth to the burning pain, Booster took evasive action and flew back toward the rooftop.

Reno continued firing, down on one knee and covered in filth from the earlier blast. Up until now the redhaired man had a casual, almost carefree look in his eyes despite the confrontation. Now his eyes only showed burning anger.

Reaching Reno was difficult. The man continued firing and Booster couldn't afford to fly at him head on. Instead he continued to evade the bullets until Reno finally ran out. The Turk didn't bother to attempt to reload. Instead he tossed the gun aside and raised his stun baton in defense.

The two men clashed in a frenzy of swinging limbs. Booster caught the wrist holding the stun baton, only to get clocked in the jaw by Reno's free fist. Before he could counter, Rude grabbed him from behind, wrapping his arms around Booster in a bear hug.

As he was being dragged back, Booster lifted his forearms and fired twin energy blasts at Reno, sending him flying to the edge of the rooftop in a heap. The readout on Booster's visor told him his energy was pretty much gone, forcing him to try and out wrestle Rude.

He tried slamming the back of his head into Rude, but the Turk lowered his head onto Booster's back and lifted him into the air, shaking him violently. Unable to break free by normal means, Booster remembered that his flight ring wasn't on the same power source as the rest of his suit and shot up into the air.

Now instead of trying to fight him, Rude was holding onto Booster for dear life. The man howled in fear as Booster spun, looped, and rolled through the air, attempting to shake him.

Having had enough, Booster finally just flew straight down into the rooftop, landing on top of Rude. The impact knocked the wind out of Booster a little, but Rude took the brunt of it, his arms letting go and falling limply to the side.

"I. Am. So. Fucking. Done!" Booster shouted into the night sky. He could hear sirens from the street below. An NYPD helicopter couldn't be far behind. He needed to get out of here and fast.

The Turks' helicopter was now hovering over the neighboring rooftop. Booster saw the blond woman still inside, nursing a bruised jaw. The man wasn't inside.

"Layla!"

Booster raced through the air. He found the man, his left hand clutching Layla by the arm, his other trying to get a shot at Skeets with his shotgun. Skeets was dancing through the air, firing his own energy blasts at the man, but was only really being a nuisance.

"Tseng!"the blond woman shouted as she saw Booster flying toward him.

Tseng reacted quickly, raising his shotgun up to try and fire at Booster. It wasn't quick enough. Booster knocked the shotgun aside and slammed his fist into Tseng's face. His power suit normally gave him a level of super strength. With his energy depleted, it was only Booster's natural strength and the momentum of his flight behind the attack. It was still more than enough to knock Tseng off his feet.

"Skeets take out that chopper!" Booster ordered as he checked on Layla. The young girl smirked slightly and nodded up at him.

There was the sound of energy blasts followed by grinding metal behind them. The helicopter soared into view as it started to attempt an emergency landing, smoke trailing from the tail rotor.

"You...have no idea...who you're dealing with," Tseng muttered. Lying on the rooftop, he lifted himself up with one hand and used the other to wipe blood from his nose and mouth.

"Shinra?" Booster laughed, putting his arm around Layla and hers around his neck. "I think I can handle a utility company."

The pair flew off into the night sky, Skeets trailing behind. He left so fast he didn't get to hear Tseng's response. "I was talking about her."



Shinra Electric Power Company Headquarters, Upstate New York

Heidegger marched down the large hallway like a boulder rolling down a mountain. Everyone in his path either moved or was crushed. The large man was furious, and he was not one to keep his feelings from being known.

Every footfall was like a crack of thunder. The large man's dark green jacket swished and clinked from the various zippers, pins, and medals he had attached to it. Others in the company, including President Shinra himself, teased him about his jacket. It didn't matter to Heidegger. He was a man proud of his accomplishments.

When he finally reached the door, his rage fully realized, the secretary didn't even say a word. She simply buzzed him in, cringing at the possibility that she might become unwittingly targeted by his anger. Heidegger didn't even acknowledge her. He simply continued on his way.

Once the double doors shut behind him, Heidegger forced himself to stop and take a deep breath. He may be one to let his anger known, but even he knew when it was necessary to reign it in.

"And what is the crisis tonight, Heidegger?" President Shinra asked. The portly man was standing behind his large desk, inside his large, opulent office, going through a stack of papers and putting some into his briefcase.

"I am...sorry for bothering you, sir," Heidegger's voice boomed as large as the man was. His dark brown beard practically shook as he spoke. "I received a report that the Turks failed to retrieve the asset. They-"

"I am about to leave for D.C. and the Senate hearing," President Shinra said. His voice wasn't nearly as deep or as loud, yet it commanded just as much respect. If not more. "I am about to defend our company and our business to the government dogs. As if I don't pay them enough already. Do you really require me to handle this for you?"

President Shinra closed his briefcase, snapping the locks shut, and looked up at Heidegger. By all appearances, Heidegger should be the one inspiring fear in such a small man. He had more than one chin. His golden-gray hair had receded halfway up his head. His large, bushy mustache spread across a red, pudgy face. Yet when he looked at Heidegger, he commanded respect.

"I apologize, sir. I simply wanted to make sure you were kept aware of-"

"Fine," President Shinra sighed, sitting down at his large leather chair. "What happened?"

Heidegger moved up to the front of the desk and snapped to attention. Habits formed from years of military service. "The Turks found the asset and moved to apprehend it. However they encountered a...super hero."

The laugh President Shinra let out was unexpected, yet jovial. The absurdity delighted him. "A super hero? She found a super hero to manipulate? Which one?"

Heidegger coughed. "Um...I believe he is called 'Booster Gold', sir."

"Booster Gold?" President Shinra thought, stroking his mustache. "Where have I heard that name?"

"The marketing department approached him a while back for a sponsorship and he..."

"Ah yes," President Shinra replied. Then realization truly dawned on him. "Wait, that miscreant? Booster Gold? He defeated the Turks?"

"They were not prepared for-"

"Send in SOLDIER," President Shinra declared, rising to his feet and grabbing his briefcase. As far as he was concerned the matter was over.

"Um, sir," Heidegger sputtered. "Do you really think it wise to-"

"I don't care. We need her back and I am not about to let some halfwit super get in the way. Send in SOLDIER, take him out, and have the Turks do clean up to keep us out of it. It'll look like just another super hero/villain battle. They happen every day."

"Yes sir," Heidegger replied. He had to mentally remind himself not to salute. "It will be taken care of immediately."

"If there's anything else," President Shinra said as he headed out the door. "Talk to my secretary."

-To Be Continued-