David Robbins - Seattle Run

Blade stared over the gunman’s right shoulder at a column of armed men and women coming from the underbrush. “Who are they?”

Hickok glanced back. “They are some of the ones we came here to rescue. Remember them? That’s Captain Dale in the lead, and there are seventy more behind him. The rest are camped two miles from here.”

“You found Manta?” Blade asked in amazement.

“Yep.”

“What happened?” Blade queried.

Hickok ran his right index finger across his throat.

Blade stared at the column. “Do you mean to tell me you took care of Manta and rescued the people he was holding all by yourself?”

“All by my lonesome,” Hickok said. “I don’t see why you guys even came along.”

Gar and Fab were approaching.

“Who are the two book ends?” Hickok inquired.

“I’ll introduce them in a bit,” Blade stated. “Why don’t we get Captain Dale over here and make the introductions all at once. Then we can compare notes on what happened and make plans for the future.”

“Sounds okay by me,” Hickok commented. “Just so you don’t get long-winded on us. I’ve breathed enough hot air on this trip already.”

Hours later, after the introductions had been made, after the Sharks and the survivors of Mania’s Humarium had gathered around a fire and agreed to consolidate all of their forces and to return Seattle to exclusively human control, Blade nudged Hickok and led the gunman away from the discussion.

“Hickok! Blade! Hold up a second!”

Captain Dale ran up to the Warriors, grinning from ear to ear. He stared at the gunman. “I want to thank you again for what you did. We’re free today because of you.”

“Glad I could help,” Hickok said.

Dale looked at Blade. “I understand you will be returning to California soon?”

“Yes,” Blade verified.

“Would you do me a favor?” Dale asked.

“What is it?”

“Inform Governor Melnick we’ll be staying in Seattle until everything here is organized and we’re sure we’ve heard the last of the Brethren. The crew and I feel we owe it to ourselves and the people here,” Dale stated.

“You understand, don’t you?”

“We understand,” Blade assured the officer.

Dale smiled and returned to the meeting.

Hickok gazed at Blade. “What’s up, Big Guy? Why do you want to talk to me alone?”

“I have something important to ask you,” Blade disclosed.

“Shoot.”

Blade placed his hands on his hips. “Well, as you know, I’m going to spend a lot of time in California in the months ahead—”

“You plannin’ to do any surfin’?” Hickok interrupted.

“And I need someone I can trust to take charge of the Warriors while I’m gone,” Blade went on. “Someone who can lead the Warriors in a time of crisis. Someone who always gets the job done, no matter what the odds.”

“I read about surfin’ once,” Hickok said. “You take this ironing board, see, and you…” He paused, staring at Blade. “Someone to take charge while you’re playin’ on the beach? Who’d you have in mind?”

Blade grinned. “You, dummy.”

“Me? You mean it?”

“Would I joke about something as important as this?”

Blade rejoined.

“I appreciate the honor,” Hickok remarked. “I truly do. And I won’t let you down. I promise. I’ll handle everything the same as I always do.”

Blade smiled. “That’s what worries me.”