The
crackled sound of radio static interrupts my sleep and causes me to slam my
hand on my snooze button. Through one open eye, I see it’s not my alarm clock
going off. It’s my police scanner.
"...all
units, report to the Bank of the Nation off Michigan Avenue. Shots have been
fired. Eye witness accounts say it’s the Engineer."
"Shit."
I whip my sheets off and roll out of bed, slapping my face to wake up.
"Remember,
the Engineer will be armed and is extremely dangerous, do not engage..."
I
scramble to pack my suit, I don’t need to listen to the rest, I remember. It
was at the Natural History Museum, the Engineer tried stealing the tomb to a
14th century warlord. He booby trapped the place with motion sensor-activated
automatic rifles. The memory of the dumbstruck look on his face when he saw
bullets bouncing off my suit makes me smile. That and remembering the cracking
sound of his ribs when my gauntlet connected with his chest. His frail body
flew back several feet and landed ass-first into a garbage can. The memory
brings back the fuzzy sensation all the way down to my toes.
The
Engineer escaped six months later. Prison guards reported hearing him rant
about “that butch bitch who needed armor to compensate for her inferior
strength.” The word “butch” makes me laugh because it’s so different from my
actual appearance. I wear makeup in public, I go to the salon to straighten my
long black hair, and I have a closet full of tube top dresses that I adore
because of the way they hug my tiny frame. That’s why I love being Riot,
because I can beat up a dangerous criminal like the Engineer and I can be
feminine the day after. It’s a shame I can’t reveal that to him but he can hold
onto his “butch fantasy” all he wants.
The
Bank of the Nation covers half of a block in downtown Detroit. I know a few
spots that are safe to park my van two blocks away behind an abandoned factory.
I slip into the back of the van and change into the Riot suit. Once I put my
helmet on I leap out of the van. My steel boots slam into the ground and I
slowly make my way towards the bank, each step feels like a sledgehammer
slamming into the pavement. The air is humid, I’m already sweating in my suit
but it’s a price I’m willing to pay to feel nothing.
I
take a shortcut through the alley and step onto the sidewalk. The sound of my
steps draws attention from the crowd grouped behind the barricade. They hold
their phones up for pictures. I wave before I see an officer in uniform run up
to me.
"We
were wondering if you'd show up. Riot-er Ms. Riot-Mrs?” He looks young. The
lack of facial hair gives him a babyface, a cute babyface with freckles. His
body on the other hand reminds me of a football player with his wide shoulders
and tight forearms. My boots me so much he has to look up to maintain eye contact.
I try not to smile too much.
"Riot
is fine. Any hostages?" I ask in a graveled tone of voice by straining my
throat.
Officer
Babyface shakes his head, "They all came out with their hands on their
heads. Said that the Engineer killed two guards. We think he’s in the vault.
The captain told us all to stand by but I guess you don’t have to worry about
any danger.” He stops to scratch his head as he examines my suit. “I sure
wouldn’t want to be him. What is it made of?”
His
eyes are level with my chest and I clear my throat, “Why don’t you let the
others know I’m coming?”
“Right.
Sorry!” He touches the radio resting on his shoulder, "Dispatch, Riot has
arrived. I'm sending her over."
I
wait for confirmation before continuing towards the bank. A parade of squad
cars surrounds the massive twenty story building. A detective runs up to me as
I approach the steps. He stops when I hold my hand up. The armored fist is the
size of his head. "I already know the situation. Just sit tight, I need to
teach him a harder lesson this time."
"Be
careful, we don't know what booby traps he's set up. We heard shots fired
before the hostages ran out."
I
can’t resist being corny in that moment. I slowly turn my head to reveal a
smirk. “Bullets aren’t my problem.”
Approaching
the glass doors, I pull my arm back before driving my right fist through them.
Shards explode and scatter across the tile floor. I step inside and the glass
crushes under my boots. My head turns slowly from left to right as I take in
the sight of a deserted lobby.
"Okay
Engineer. I have better shit to do than play around. Why don't you save us all
some time and surrender?"
My
hands clench tighter once I hear a speaker system come on. "I've been
waiting for you again Riot." his monotone voice is so deep it makes the
speakers give off feedback. "You're right. Let's get down to business, I'm
waiting by the vault on the other side of the bank."
"Smart
man. I’d advise you to have your hands up by the time I get there. I'd hate to
have to smash your toys after you worked so hard on them.
I
hear the speaker cut off and roll my eyes, he’s so damn serious. I walk past
the teller desk and through the metal detectors. My upbeat mood is soured when I pass through
a doorway and see two security guards lying face down on the ground. I clench
my jaw, slowing the pace of my walk as I round the corner and see a massive
round steel door slightly open. A sliver of fluorescent light spills out.
My
left forearm shields my face as I approach the door, using my right to grab the
handle and pull it wide open. My pulse rises as I step into the vault shouting,
"Hands up Engineer!"
The
interior of the 500 square foot roomis lined with metal lockboxes. Standing in
the center of it all, a White bald male in his 50s. The red in his beard has
started to turn gray. He wears brown khakis and a green plaid button up. Thick
bifocal glasses magnify the hate in his dark brown eyes.
"Ms.
Riot." His graveled tone is devoid of any warmth in his greeting.
"How’ve you been?"
"I
guess I didn't hit you hard enough last time." I see a black remote in his
hand. His thumb rests on a red button. "Drop the device and you get to
keep your teeth."
His
body shakes and I see a vein on his forehead. He holds both hands in the air as
if to comply, then his thumb pushes the button. "Oops."
I
hear a rumble from outside, followed by a humming sound encompassing the entire
vault. My eyes shift to the floor, then the ceiling. I hear metal tapping and I
hold my hands up to protect my face. It’s not gunfire, it’s the rattling of
coins bouncing inside their metal lock boxes. I can’t move my legs, but I
notice my feet sliding toward the wall. “Shit.”
I
try to lower my arms, but they won’t budge. My breathing gets heavier as I
square my hips, trying to put weight into my heels. My triceps and shoulders
burn as I try resisting the force pulling me away.
"What's
the matter Riot? Is my magnet too much for you?" the Engineer stands next
to me with his hands held behind his back.
My
head dips ever so slightly, and then I curse when my helmet rips off my head,
the red tint replaced with the natural colors of the room. I hear the thud of
my helmet sticking to the wall. My pony tail falls loose.
"Mmm,
you're a pretty one." The Engineer leans closer. His smile reveals a row
of yellow teeth. "What's your name?"
"Fuck
you!" I swing my right arm at him, only to lose balance as my right
gauntlet rips off my fingers. Before I can save it, the other gauntlet sails
towards the wall. With my weapons gone, I stare at my trembling arms. Unlike
the bulging shape of my gauntlets, they lack any muscle tone, looking like
rubber pencils in comparison.
I’m
snapped out of my trance when a high pitched squeal echoes in the vault. I look
down and see the bolts around my chestplate shaking loose. A lump in my throat
forms as I try not to wince in front of my enemy. I look back and reach for the
doorway. I’m able to grab onto the edge with both hands. Turning my body is a
mistake as my feet lift off the ground. I scream, looking down to see metal
bolts shoot across the room. The chest and back piece split apart and collide
into the wall,
I
feel a breeze against my midriff and I kick my legs. "Stop it!" I
shout in my natural voice, too panicked to hold onto my bravado. The tank top I
wear might as well be a bra with how small it is.
"Sorry, the remote is fried.
Forgot the magnet was going to ruin the hardware." The Engineer dangles
the remote before dropping it. "I hope you wore something under
there."
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