Bitemarks 4.3

Bitemarks 4.3

Skarletta couldn't help but smile as she flew across the sea in the stolen news helicopter. She hadn't expected it to be so easy. She was beginning to like this 'internet'. The way it made all the skills and information of mankind open to her. Oh sure the chopper was clunky in comparison to the smooth controls of her spaceship. But it would get her where she wished to go and that was all that mattered. Soon she would be north enough to land the chopper, plant the device and then... She hadn't really given much thought to what then. Other than guarding the device and studying the Dherroine she was free to do whatever she wished.

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Ed's chopper also was making its way northwards and whether by luck or simply the difference in speed between the two it wasn't long until they sighted the news copter. It was the pilot who brought it to Ed's attention. Out of place, slightly erratic flight pattern. Ed was sure it was her but still had the pilot radio in to check. Once they knew for sure the chopper had been stolen Ed was convinced.
"We need to take her down." he told the pilot.
"This ain't no military craft son." the pilot replied. "No guns on this thing."
Ed thought. All he had with him was the micro syringe, his pistol and... the stun device.
"Can you get within fifteen feet of her?" asked Ed.
"Fifteen feet. This isn't a fucking car you know. Can't just pull up alongside. The blades." He pointed upward.
"What about if you get above her?" Ed asked.
There was a lengthy pause.
"If she were to hit us with those blades..."
"You know what she is, right? You have clearance?"
"Yeah... Shit boy... if you get us killed..."
The pilot pulled the chopper up. He was faster, more manoeuvrable and more skilled than Skarletta and so far she'd still given no indication of noticing them behind her. Slowly he drew nearer and nearer. Ed wound his left arm into the belt of the seat and gripped the device tightly in his right hand. He slid the chopper door open and peered out at Skarletta's helicopter below them. He indicated with his hand for the pilot to drop down a little more. Ed's heart was pounding as the spinning disc of Skarletta's rotors loomed closer. It was hard to judge distance looking down from the chopper like this but when it felt right Ed fired the device. The electrical bolt hit the rotors and Ed watched as blue lightning cracked down from them, seemingly encompassing the little chopper. There was a horrible whining sound and the chopper spun wildly. Even if the bolt had interrupted the controls for a moment it could be enough, thought Ed, pulling himself back inside as the pilot raised their own chopper up higher.
"Crazy sonofabitch." said the pilot as he swung the chopper to one side so they could see what had happened. Skarletta's chopper was spinning wildly now as it lost altitude.
"It's just sea down there." said Ed, realising he had no idea whether or not Skarletta would survive.
"Look!" said the pilot.
Ed looked. As the chopper spun the door on it opened and he could see Skarletta looking out at them. Neither of them expected what happened next. Seemingly defying the laws of gravity Skarletta leapt from the stricken craft but not to plunge into the icy waters far below. No, she jumped straight up. Panicked, the pilot tried to manoeuvre but there was no time. With a thud Skarletta struck their windscreen and clung on tight. She stared through the glass at them, eyes open wide as she recognized Ed.
"You!" she mouthed, or rather shouted, her voice drowned out by the sound of the chopper and the thick glass between them.
"SHIT!" cried the pilot, "Do something!"
Ed could only think of one thing to do. He swapped the device into his left hand, slid the chopper door open once more and gripped the frame tightly with his right. He pushed with his feet, temporarily leaving the craft entirely and swinging, pivoting around the door frame and coming face to face with Skarletta. In the second before he started to swing back he pointed the device at her face and pulled the trigger. The bolt struck the vampire and Ed swung back. His feet fought for purchase on the chopper floor and his grip on the doorframe loosened. For a second Ed thought he was about to fall, then he felt the pilot's hand grabbing the back of his shirt. Suspended temporarily, half in, half out of the chopper, Ed watched as Skarletta fell. The device had made her lose her grip on the chopper and now she was plummeting down...