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Description
Paragon City
MGA Earth
9:47pm
____________________________________________________

Adam ran.

His heart pounded and his breath came in painful rasping gasps. The sweat of exertion and fear plastered his dark hair to his scalp and stained his t-shirt and jeans. His limbs felt like lead but fear drove him on. Fear of his pursuers and of what would happen if they caught up with him.

The only ally he had was the night. He kept to the shadows of the deserted avenue. They gave him at least some chance of evading capture. Every impeccably serviced streetlamp though was a trap whose light threatened to betray him to those that followed close behind.

Succumbing to near exhaustion, Adam stumbled to a stop. Chest heaving, he collapsed onto the bench of a nearby bus-shelter. Like every other public fixture in the city it was spotlessly clean and in good repair. Two perfectly aligned posters had been attached to the inside walls of the small structure.

The first poster bore an image of the Master known as Red Lioness. The likeness of the British heroine gazed out at the observer with a look of stern discipline. Lioness' right hand was raised and the first two fingers rested against her temple, giving the impression that she was bringing her formidable telepathic powers to bear. The poster bore the slogan;

"Crime? Don't Even THINK About it!"

As Adam looked at the poster he suddenly felt impaled by the gaze of the Master's piercing brown eyes. His pulse, which had only just started to slow, sped up again.

The other poster featured three people. The man in the centre was flanked by two women. All of them wore body-hugging grey and red uniforms and identical smiles. They were saluting and the caption at the bottom of the artwork read;

"Crossbow: Protecting your community!"

Adam heard the rumble of a heavy engine coming from the end of the street.

Speak of the Devil.

A fresh surge of adrenalin flooded through him as he leapt to his feet and desperately scanned his surroundings for a means of concealment or escape.

In the distance he could see the grey hulk of the Crossbow armoured personnel carrier lumbering slowly up the street toward him. Its searchlights sliced through the shadows and the vehicle's public address system repeatedly blared out a message that became louder as the APC drew closer.

"Attention citizens! Subject to Section 12(b) of the Civil Security Act, an emergency curfew is now in effect. A fugitive from the law has been seen in this vicinity. He is considered to be extremely dangerous. For your own safety please stay indoors while security personnel search the area. Anyone found on the streets may be subject to questioning and detention. You will be notified when the danger has passed. Thank you for your co-operation."

Adam spotted the mouth of an alley about a hundred yards away on the other side of the street. It seemed to be the only chance he had. With luck, he could lose himself in the brick and concrete maze between the buildings. He took a deep breath and sprinted in the direction of the alleyway. He dared not look behind him to see how close the Crossbow vehicle was. He feared that if he did then he would lose heart and collapse right there in the middle of the street.

Hope buoyed his sinking spirits as he reached the alley with no sign of detection from behind. However, after several seconds of running down the narrow laneway he skidded to a halt and his hopes quickly turned to crushing despair. The alleyway was short and ended in a solid brick wall.

Adam looked around. He threw himself at a nearby doorway but it was locked tight and would not budge an inch. He looked upward. An iron fire-escape clung to the wall of the building on his left but it was hopelessly out of reach.

The rumble of the Crossbow APC was like the growling of some huge prehistoric beast. A beast that was almost upon him. In desperation he scrambled behind a large metal dumpster that rested against the alley wall. Adam squeezed his eyes tightly shut, drew his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around his legs. He crushed his body into a tight ball. Hoping against all reason that somehow his cover would be enough.

The rumble of the beast reached the mouth of the alley. It echoed off the concrete walls and the metal of the dumpster at Adam's back vibrated in unison. The pitch of the rumble suddenly went down a notch. Adam's heart crawled up into his mouth as he realised that the vehicle had stopped. He held his breath and directed a silent prayer pleading for salvation to every deity that had ever existed.

The piercing beam of the APC's searchlight played down the length of the alley. Terror drew Adam's face into a taut rictus. Seconds that felt like days ticked by. His head felt as if was ready to explode from the pressure of the blood that pounded in his temples. And just when Adam thought that he could take no more. That he would rather throw himself at the mercy of the Crossbow militia rather than endure one more moment of gut-wrenching fear...the light swept out of the alley and the idling engine growled into life once more.

Adam did not dare to move or breathe until the sound of the APC engine began to recede in the distance. When he finally opened his mouth he exhaled with a sound resembling a loud sob. His entire body trembled as he sucked in lungfuls of air.

He rested his head against the cool metal of the dumpster. This morning he had been a simple eighteen year old college student. Tonight he was a wanted fugitive. How had it all come to this?

Not for the first time, Adam cast his mind back over the events of the past twelve hours.

His problems had started...as many problems do...with a girl.

Description
Paragon City
MGA Earth
9:47pm
____________________________________________________

Adam ran.

His heart pounded and his breath came in painful rasping gasps. The sweat of exertion and fear plastered his dark hair to his scalp and stained his t-shirt and jeans. His limbs felt like lead but fear drove him on. Fear of his pursuers and of what would happen if they caught up with him.

The only ally he had was the night. He kept to the shadows of the deserted avenue. They gave him at least some chance of evading capture. Every impeccably serviced streetlamp though was a trap whose light threatened to betray him to those that followed close behind.

Succumbing to near exhaustion, Adam stumbled to a stop. Chest heaving, he collapsed onto the bench of a nearby bus-shelter. Like every other public fixture in the city it was spotlessly clean and in good repair. Two perfectly aligned posters had been attached to the inside walls of the small structure.

The first poster bore an image of the Master known as Red Lioness. The likeness of the British heroine gazed out at the observer with a look of stern discipline. Lioness' right hand was raised and the first two fingers rested against her temple, giving the impression that she was bringing her formidable telepathic powers to bear. The poster bore the slogan;

"Crime? Don't Even THINK About it!"

As Adam looked at the poster he suddenly felt impaled by the gaze of the Master's piercing brown eyes. His pulse, which had only just started to slow, sped up again.

The other poster featured three people. The man in the centre was flanked by two women. All of them wore body-hugging grey and red uniforms and identical smiles. They were saluting and the caption at the bottom of the artwork read;

"Crossbow: Protecting your community!"

Adam heard the rumble of a heavy engine coming from the end of the street.

Speak of the Devil.

A fresh surge of adrenalin flooded through him as he leapt to his feet and desperately scanned his surroundings for a means of concealment or escape.

In the distance he could see the grey hulk of the Crossbow armoured personnel carrier lumbering slowly up the street toward him. Its searchlights sliced through the shadows and the vehicle's public address system repeatedly blared out a message that became louder as the APC drew closer.

"Attention citizens! Subject to Section 12(b) of the Civil Security Act, an emergency curfew is now in effect. A fugitive from the law has been seen in this vicinity. He is considered to be extremely dangerous. For your own safety please stay indoors while security personnel search the area. Anyone found on the streets may be subject to questioning and detention. You will be notified when the danger has passed. Thank you for your co-operation."

Adam spotted the mouth of an alley about a hundred yards away on the other side of the street. It seemed to be the only chance he had. With luck, he could lose himself in the brick and concrete maze between the buildings. He took a deep breath and sprinted in the direction of the alleyway. He dared not look behind him to see how close the Crossbow vehicle was. He feared that if he did then he would lose heart and collapse right there in the middle of the street.

Hope buoyed his sinking spirits as he reached the alley with no sign of detection from behind. However, after several seconds of running down the narrow laneway he skidded to a halt and his hopes quickly turned to crushing despair. The alleyway was short and ended in a solid brick wall.

Adam looked around. He threw himself at a nearby doorway but it was locked tight and would not budge an inch. He looked upward. An iron fire-escape clung to the wall of the building on his left but it was hopelessly out of reach.

The rumble of the Crossbow APC was like the growling of some huge prehistoric beast. A beast that was almost upon him. In desperation he scrambled behind a large metal dumpster that rested against the alley wall. Adam squeezed his eyes tightly shut, drew his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around his legs. He crushed his body into a tight ball. Hoping against all reason that somehow his cover would be enough.

The rumble of the beast reached the mouth of the alley. It echoed off the concrete walls and the metal of the dumpster at Adam's back vibrated in unison. The pitch of the rumble suddenly went down a notch. Adam's heart crawled up into his mouth as he realised that the vehicle had stopped. He held his breath and directed a silent prayer pleading for salvation to every deity that had ever existed.

The piercing beam of the APC's searchlight played down the length of the alley. Terror drew Adam's face into a taut rictus. Seconds that felt like days ticked by. His head felt as if was ready to explode from the pressure of the blood that pounded in his temples. And just when Adam thought that he could take no more. That he would rather throw himself at the mercy of the Crossbow militia rather than endure one more moment of gut-wrenching fear...the light swept out of the alley and the idling engine growled into life once more.

Adam did not dare to move or breathe until the sound of the APC engine began to recede in the distance. When he finally opened his mouth he exhaled with a sound resembling a loud sob. His entire body trembled as he sucked in lungfuls of air.

He rested his head against the cool metal of the dumpster. This morning he had been a simple eighteen year old college student. Tonight he was a wanted fugitive. How had it all come to this?

Not for the first time, Adam cast his mind back over the events of the past twelve hours.

His problems had started...as many problems do...with a girl.