The Next Generation

[Lady Jenn]

"The hell is going on here?" Ariadne asked, looking around them in confusion.

[Lawshenk]

" hero corps mam were here for Gerri"

[Lady Jenn]

Katya was on her feet in an instant, raising a hand which produced a spear of light pointing at one of the soldiers throats. "I don't want to hurt him," she said as calmly as she could manage. "I want to believe you are all doing this because Carreyra persuaded you this is the right thing to do. But," she said, the spear moving to the point it was almost pricking the skin of the throat, "if you don't leave now, he dies."

[Lawshenk]

" orders are orders " he looked her in the eye "murder is murder too and we will take action. He looked at Gerri who was shaking with fear " come quietly ma'am it's the safest option for you and your girl friend "

Gerri kissed Katya " stay safe darling " before holding her hands out to be cuffed

[Lady Jenn]

"There is no such thing as a safe option with him," Katya said angrily. "A lesson my father learnt first hand."

"Katya, you are no killer," came a Russian voice seemingly out of nowhere. "Allow us to deal with this." Suddenly one of the soldiers found himself in the clutches of a man who seemed almost as if he was a shadow, while a woman, in black body armour and carrying a pistol, appeared, gun pointing directly at the team leader's head. Close on her heels was a short man whose face was entirely hidden by a ceremonial mask. "It appears we have a standoff here officer, but I am willing to make you an offer: let these ladies go and you and all your men will leave here unharmed. Mask here," she said, nodding to the masked man, "can even alter your memories so it appears to your master that you did nothing wrong. If you refuse," a smile played across her lips, "none of you will leave this room alive."

[Lawshenk]

" what body is suctioning this act of war, this gerri must mean a lot for you to risk every thing "

[Lady Jenn]

"This is no act of war," the woman said grimly. "We are here to stop you making a mistake. Katerina's father was one of us, which means her and anyone close to her is under our protection." She turned towards Katya. "I'm sorry to ask this of you Katerina, but show them. Show what happened to your mother and maybe these fools will realise the mistake they're making."

"I..." tears formed in Katya's eyes, but she waved a hand. Suddenly they were in a bedroom in another house entirely. Crouched by the bed was a blonde woman, hugging a little girl, instantly recognisable as a younger Katya, while opposite them stood three men: a soldier, his gun pointed directly at Katya, a younger Carreyra, whose face barely hid a wicked smile, and a man whose eyes were an identical colour to Katya's, a look of desperation written across his face.

"Stop," her father said. "They won't harm you, let them go and I promise I will do whatever you ask, just...please don't harm my daughter."

"You promise?" Carreyra asked, the man nodding in response. "Mikhail, I knew we could come to an arrangement." He lead Mikhail towards the door, before turning to the soldier. "Kill her." A single shot rang out, Mikhail's wife letting out a sob before collapsing to the floor, causing the young Katya screaming so loudly her older self winced visibly. With a laugh Carreyra walked Mihkhail towards the door, even as the man tried in vain to escape.

"Katerina," Mikhail said, tears streaming down his face. "I promise you, I will find you, I will..."

As the image faded and they were back in the room the only sound was of Katya, on her knees on the floor, sobbing.

"That was the last time Katerina saw her father," the woman said, putting the gun against the back of the soldier head. "If you truly believe helping that...beast is doing the right thing, is worth DYING for, I suggest we get this over quickly."

[Lawshenk]

He looked at them " your free to go in fact any thing we can do to help "

Getting stood up she hugged Katya "I want to go in it was my plan to bring that man's balls on a plate to you what better way to infiltrate him then from with in Gerri looked at the team I have the equipment to call you as and when I need you "

[Lady Jenn]

"You should have told me," Katya said, burying her head in Geri's shoulder as the Russian woman walked over.

"I am Ilyana Romanov," she said, offering Geri her hand. "Also known as Lady Nightwitch. We are superhero black-ops team so secret even your friend Yuri is unaware of our existence," she looked sadly at Katya. "Her father quit when he fell in love with an American woman...her mother. Ever since her mother's death she has been followed by one of us, to make sure she is safe. Shade is the reason we even knew to come here. If we have spoilt a plan I apologise, I promise it was not our intention."

[Lawshenk]

" Katya that is why I was meant to be left  here alone" she turned to the Russian bombshell "Ms Romanov, have no fear you not ruined any plan in fact with this team on my side I feel it could be enhanced "

[Lady Jenn]

She looked at Katya for a moment before turning back to Geri. "I think it is best to give you two space before we talk further," she said. "I believe Katerina hoped her father was still out there somewhere but..." She wiped a tear from her own face. "We will return in ten minutes, if you need us we will not have gone far." With that she headed out the door, the other two following close behind her.

[Lawshenk]

The SWAT team leaves

Gerri looked at Katya, " I am sorry you went through all that we can talk about it if you wish but I'm not sure what to say"

[Lady Jenn]

"Just...just hold me," she said. "I used to see that every night in my nightmares, I didn't want to bring that up again." Although she had stopped crying she was still shaking.

[Lawshenk]

" sorry " Gerri held her " I can't bring them back but I am here for you"

[Lady Jenn]

"That's why I want to marry you now," she said. "It feels like that way I know you'll come back."

[Lawshenk]

" unless your Russian friend is a vicar I'm not we can get married yet " she picked up the ring from earlier " but with this your ring I promise to have and hold for richer for poorer in sickness in health" she smiled" I do solemly promise " she kissed her lover " besides I'm not going in alone am I have the SWAT team on my side "

[Lady Jenn]

"What if Shade can help on both counts?" Ilyana said, looking a bit embarrassed. "Apologies for eavesdropping, but Arlo here is both allowed to perform wedding ceremonies and his power means he could follow you unseen by any security services." At that moment the shadowy man from earlier suddenly appeared from the wall on the far side of the room, bowing deeply to Geri and Katya.

[Lawshenk]

" then I say we can do this if the SWAT team have time"

[Lady Jenn]

"We can prep our transport craft," Ilyana said. "Tell us where you need to go and we'll drop you as close as we can."

"Does that mean..." Katya said, looking into her eyes, trying to read her intentions.

[Lawshenk]

The SWAT teams leader " we have an hour "

Getting looked at her " it means the others will be pissed and we will need a blessing " she smiled " sorry I mean I hardly look like a bride "

[Lady Jenn]

"You already look gorgeous," she said, kissing her. "We only have one ring though."

"I believe I can help there," Ilyana said, reappearing with a beautiful white gold ring. "Her father said if I ever met the perfect wife for her to give them this ring," she said, smiling. "If we get through this we can always make this a little more...formal."

[Lawshenk]

" I hope it fits"  Gerri smiled " ready when you are '

[Lady Jenn]

"I couldn't be more ready," Katya said, blushing intensely. "I've wanted this for so long."

[Lawshenk]

Gerri smiled " we don't have log sir " she smiled "please start the ceremony"

[Lady Jenn]

Shade managed to get through the ceremony quickly without missing a beat, finishing with "You may now kiss your wife."

"You better not get yourself killed out there," Katya said, after kissing her passionately enough Ilyana looked away, embarrassed. "We're going to do this properly when this is all done." She looked at her mum's ring, perfectly placed on Geri's finger. "I think she would have loved you."