Tribe 6

The fourth of July arrived on a Saturday. That meant it would be an even bigger celebration than usual. Even more exciting for the town of Waterfell was what came a couple of weeks after the fourth. That was when they had their rodeo. It was the time when the town made all of the money it was going to make for that year. All the surrounding towns and a couple of cities would migrate out to the fair grounds at Waterfell. There was a rodeo, some horse showings and the 4-Hers would bring their most prized farm animals to compete against each other. Along with the crowds of tourists there to enjoy the celebrations come those that seek out just such circumstances to make themselves richer. Pickpockets are the most common of the criminal sort that seem to arrive with the rodeo but there are much worse characters too. One such bunch of criminals were a gang that had come out with the sole purpose of using their numbers to intimidate a family into giving up their valuables. They would look for a family that was off away from the mainstream of people and then surround them. The father was given the choice to give up their valuables or he could fight the many gang members that would ultimately be there. Just such an instance was happening at the fourth of July celebration which arrives two weeks before the rodeo gets kicked off. A family had been forced to find parking a long distance from where the celebration was happening. While walking to the festivities they were surrounded by the gang. The father was given the choice to fork over his money or fight. That’s when Tracker and Seta happened upon the situation. They were unnoticed by the gang members, watching from behind a bunch of shrub trees. “What should we do?” Seta asked Tracker who was busy trying to hear exactly what was being said. He thought the safest way to handle the situation was if the man just gave them the money. Then Tracker and Seta could step in and see if they couldn’t save the day after the family was clear of any danger. Life seldom happens the way you hope it to turn out and that day was no different. The father tried to push his way past the gang member that had confronted him. When he did the father was thrown to the ground and two other gang members grabbed the man’s wife and daughter. The gangsters held a knife to their throats and were threatening to cut his wife and daughter. That was when a line of fire came shooting out of the darkness in two distinct lines, hitting the two gangsters who had grabbed the man’s wife and daughter. They went flying backwards catching fire as they fell away. Then the gangster who had been threatening the father felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see Seta in full scorpion form. She was tapping with her venom-dripping tail. The gangster felt a sting and then fell away, paralyzed completely. As quickly as they had come into the picture, Tracker and Seta disappeared into the nearby crowd. The father wanted to thank them but he could not find any sign of the heroes. Police who were there on loan from the state, quickly rushed to the victim’s aid. There was quite a lot of talk among the crowd at the celebration that night about some vigilante teen-agers who had saved a family from gang violence. An investigator from the state arrived to get a statement from the victim family. “Hello, here’s my card. My name is Tom Crandel. I hear you were involved in an attempted robbery tonight where the robbers were killed or paralyzed. Is that correct?” The man called Crandel said to the father of the victim family. “Yes. That would be correct. We were saved by two young people, most likely not older than sixteen. You won’t believe how they did it but I will tell you anyway. One shot fire from his hands killing the two gangsters who were holding my wife and daughter hostage. Then the one that had a gun to my head was taken out by the scorpion’s tail. It was a young woman. Maybe fourteen, fifteen years old. This is going to sound crazy but she had a scorpion’s tail. She struck the gangster and he fell over paralyzed. The next thing we know the ones that saved us were gone. I wanted to thank them. They saved my family.” Crandel didn’t know what to believe. According to this father his family was saved by two teenagers. One that shot fire from his hands and the other who had a scorpion’s tail. He thanked the family for their information. Next he made a call to Washington D.C. and passed on the information he had gathered. A voice over the phone said, “If this is true we may need the assistance of Project 810. Contact the field office and get them briefed on the mission. Then get them out to where you are at and find those four before the public gets wind of them.” ————— Chapter ————————– The sign said ‘Rodeo Days Welcomes You! Please follow marked signs for parking’. There were three big fields that had been readied for the coming traffic and two more were available if needed. It was another warm evening which would soon surrender to the darkness that night brings with it. There were concession stands about every thirty feet no matter what direction you went, each covered with its own style of flashing or attracting lights. Sweet odors surrounded them. To the south of the rodeo grounds was a small carnival complete with Tilt-A-Whirl ride and a small Ferris Wheel. There was also a mechanical bull ride set up and several ‘Win a Prize’ contests such as pop a balloon with a dart, throw the ball and knock the milk bottles down and of course the always favorite shooting gallery. The entire place smelled like freshly-made popcorn and funnel cakes with a hint of odor announcing that animals, likely larger-sized ones, were in the area. Music from the contest booths battled. You could go from one polka to a different one in just a matter of a few steps. If you didn’t like those tunes just head on over to the Ferris Wheel and see what they have playing. People of all kinds, sizes, ages and beliefs were arriving. By the time the sun had set almost all three fields were filled with cars, the rodeo was well under way, you could hear the announcer’s voice boom across the fair grounds cutting through the many different polkas playing. Almost everybody there was there to relax, have fun, maybe sneak a swig off a bottle with a brown paper bag around it. There were also people who had other agendas that attended the festivities that night. Some were just petty thieves, there to pick pockets. Others were gang members that had come out seeking revenge against the do-gooders that had killed their fellow members. They were not wearing their colors like they would have back on their turf. There was also another group that was attending the rodeo days who had no interest in the rodeo. They too, wanted to meet the teenagers that had foiled the robbery attempt back on the fourth of July. They were the team agent Crandel had assembled to locate and ultimately bring in the four wanted for interrogation which would be followed by integration into the family. There they would be assessed for capabilities and then sent on assignments. If they refused to play ball then they would be either sent to a retraining camp, or just outright killed, depending upon their value and considered possibility for retraining to take. Crandel’s team stood out like an uptight FBI agent mixed in with a bunch of ten year old girls having a tea party. He had them posted at several key points on the fairgrounds. Every person that walked past them gave them a second if not third look because they obviously were not there to see a rodeo or to go on any rides. Back at the Whitefeather home the four siblings were just getting ready to leave to walk up to see the rodeo. If you held off from going when it started you could usually slip in and see the rest of show for that night without having to pay. There was only two ways into town and one was blocked off so that the other was where they charged to get in. Therefore anybody walking in from one of the homes in the area could do so without being hassled to pay. The siblings took advantage of that fact every year and this year was no different. Tracker led the way. “You guys remember what One Antler said, that this was just the exact kind of situation that could get us busted if we used our powers. I think he’s one hundred percent right! There will be too many eyes around and even if you think you’re not being watched; you will likely be wrong. And don’t forget that being wrong will result in our lives being turned not just upside down but inside out and then twisted. Nothing is worth the government finding out what we can do.” Tonka spoke up. “Agreed. We would never be left alone again unless we lost the powers or were dead. Plus I have no illusions about them using our folks to get us to do their bidding.” “Yeah its bad enough how they did our ancestors. I have no desire to be forced to do their dirty work and that is exactly what would happen.” Seta said with a bitter edge to her voice. “Nothing makes me sicker than the thought of those people making decisions about other people’s lives.” “Old people should not be allowed to make decisions that will only effect those that will be alive after they are dead.” Daniel said. “I mean, how can we count on them to make decisions that are in their grandchildren’s best interest? History proves that most the leaders currently in office have not made decisions to benefit those just born or yet to be.” “You know what I think of when we are talking politics?” Tonka asked nobody in particular. “Food?” Seta answered. “That was easy.” Tracker said. “Everything makes him think of food.” The group laughed. Then they got silent for a ways, each thinking to themselves what they were going to do first when they arrived at the rodeo. It was Seta who broke the silence. “I start out thinking I will get a corndog and coke but it never fails as soon as I smell those funnel cakes…” “Lay off the funnel cake sis. I’m the one that has to fly you around.” Tracker said jokingly. Seta didn’t take it as kidding which caused Tracker to think to himself women could laugh about most things, but their weight wasn’t one of them. “I weigh the same now as I did the day you first took me up into the sky. I bet the same cannot be said of you.” Then Seta pointed at Tonka and said, “If anybody needs to watch how much they are cramming in their pie hole, its that guy.” Tonka looked taken aback. How did he get dragged into this? Daniel wasn’t complaining, what the heck did she have any business to drag him into it? Instead of responding with his voice, Tonka made a gesture that is universally recognized as displaying someone’s displeasure toward another. “Hey, was that really necessary?” Seta asked. “My feelings could get hurt.” She smiled and batted her eyes. “Hey just had a thought. Maybe we should send Daniel for a flyover. He can see where we would get the best seats that are still available instead of us having to walk all the way around the fairgrounds.” Tracker said. “Can you do that without being seen?” He said looking directly at Daniel. “Not a problem. I’ll just wonder off over that way by myself and pull my shirt up around my face, and take off. Even if somebody got a glimpse of me they won’t have enough time to recognize who it is inside the shirt. Give me ten and I’ll be back.” Daniel left the gravel road the four had been walking and slipped into a group of trees. A few seconds later he was rising into the air and then he took off in the direction of the announcer’s voice that was carrying across the landscape. He reached a height which was above the height of the lights that were used to illuminate the proceedings. Once he was far enough up he could fly over the area without fear of being spotted. It took just a couple of minutes and he had the information they needed. a few seconds after that and he came down landing right behind his three siblings so that his landing finished with him walking behind the others like he had been there all along. His dragon-fly wings folded up into his back. Then he made his way toward the front of the group to report to Tracker. “Best place to watch the rodeo is the far side from the parking lot fields. There’s a few people over there but it looks like we can find good seating there.” “I want to hit the concession stand first.” Tonka said. “Shut up Seta!” He was just beating her to the punch. She was right of course, he had gained weight since they got their powers. Daniel hadn’t said anything though, so she should just butt out. “Actually I am hungry too.” Seta said. “We can walk over together and catch up with Tracks and Daniel after we get some goodies.” “If you’re going then grab me something with chocolate in it.” Tracker said, handing Seta a couple dollars. “Think that’s enough?” “If it ain’t then I’ll get you a can of spinach.” Seta answered while taking his money. “He might better prefer a gallon of gasoline for refuel purposes.” Daniel said laughing . “Just stick to chocolate and I won’t have to warm your seat up … too much.” Tracker replied. “Can you do that?” Seta asked. When they reached the rodeo area the group split up. Tonka went with Seta to get food while Tracker and Daniel went to find the place from where they would watch the rodeo. Tonka and Seta had purchased their snacks and were on the way back to join their friends when someone bumped into Seta hard, causing her to drop some of the snacks she was carrying. Seta turned and saw that it was a female a little older than herself, that had bumped into her. Seta picked up what she had dropped and inspected it. Then she continued on to where Tracker and Daniel were waiting. When the group was back together the snacks were handed out and money was exchanged. That was when Seta noticed her wallet was not in her purse. The woman that bumped into her must have grabbed the wallet out of her purse. The bump was done so she wouldn’t feel the woman reaching into her purse. “Dang it!” Seta cursed. “I had all my savings in there. Seventy dollars! Maybe not a fortune but it was everything to me.” “Lets get it back.” Daniel said. “Hold on a minute.” Tracker cautioned. “Remember what One Antler said. This is exactly the situation that could get us busted. I’m not saying we don’t do it, but I am saying we need to discuss right now what we are going to be willing to do, and not do; to get back your money. Cause we probably won’t have the chance to talk it over later. Now suppose one of them pulls a gun. Are you willing to let possibly an entire crowd of people see you using your powers? You might as well strap a neon sign to your backside that flashes: here’s the ones you’re looking for!”‘ Tonka said, “What if we only use our powers if nobody can see us using them. Like you could warm up a handle or a safety belt without actually catching your hands on fire. I can switch over fairly easily without anybody noticing. So can Seta. Daniel and you, not so much, with the exception of being able to heat something up. In any case I think we could handle a pick-pocket or two, without having to resort to using our powers in full force.” “What Tonk said.” Seta added. “Tonk.” Daniel chimed in. “Looks like the votes are in. Okay we’ll do it Tonk’s way.” Tracker said. “Don’t let anybody see your powers but you can use them otherwise. First thing we need to do is to locate the criminals. Daniel take Seta up for a flyover. Once you’ve located them, drop Seta off to join us and we’ll mosy on over and talk with said criminals. If one of them pulls on us it will be up to Tonk to take them out. He can switch over with less notice than the rest of us. For that reason, Tonk will lead the way so if they do try to shoot at us his exoskeleton should save us.” “Should?” Tonka said, “You sure have a lot of faith in ‘should’, when its my butt that’s on the line.” Tracker laughed. “Well you should know what you’re capable of and not: that’s why we’ve been doing all that training.” “Yeah, but how many times have you seen me be shot by a gun? We never tested, so until its been done, this is all just theory. So don’t nobody blame me if they get shot doing something we should probably not be doing.” Daniel sighed. “Are we gonna go look for the creeps or not?” “Lead on brother from another mother”. Seta said patting Daniel on the shoulder. “Can’t wait to try out the better flyer.” “Hey, I heard that.” Tracker said, trying to sound hurt. “See who your best friend is if we’re ever caught out in the freezing cold.” “See you in a few.” Seta said. Then she disappeared following Daniel away from the rodeo and the crowd watching it. They went behind a small grove of trees. The announcer from the rodeo could still be heard presenting the next rider to the crowd or providing the total from the judges when it became available. The two would-be-heroes knew when a new rider was coming out of the gate by the sound the crowd made. It was a collective gasp followed with a multiple choice of possible noises from the crowd, ranging from applause all the way down to complete silence if the rider concluded the ride injured. “Lets wait for the next rider to come out of the gate. Nobody is looking around when that happens.” Daniel said. “Copy that.” Seta whispered in reply. A few minutes later they were soaring above the rodeo crowd. Seta searched for any sign of the woman that had taken her wallet. They weren’t up there two minutes when Seta saw what she was hoping to find. “Set us down, Daniel. I got some whoopin’ to do.” “Yes mam!” Daniel answered. He did just that. ——————– Chapter ————————- Next Page