Flight

Evelyn descended from the sky, controlling the flapping of her wings and put Jonathan onto the ground. They were soon standing on a pier that looked into Lake Michigan in Chicago. It wasn’t an excessive pier or a short one either. It was a nice length that was good for moonlit romantic moments. It was a little ways away from Navy Pier, which was the most popular pier in Illinois.

“Why did we fly here?”

“Because I thought you’d like the flying. You always love the flying, don’t you mess with me.”

“Yeah, but why are we on a pier? I thought we were going to the crime scene. At the UC. That's about 15 minutes away from here.”

Evelyn took Jonathan’s hands into hers. She lifted them both up to her mouth and kissed the backs of them. “I figured we could have a date instead. I've been planning this for a while now and I really wanted to take you out on a date. You know that originally I planned for this day to be the date, but which Kaner getting kidnapped and everything..."

"But we have to search for clues and help him out. I mean...what if Kaner's in big trouble...he doesn't have time."

"I realize that. We can spend a few hours to ourselves looking at the sunset though. Can't we? Besides, I already went through the crime scene with Brad and a close friend. We found nothing of importance to finding your friend. All we know is the Patrick isn’t in the US anymore, but overseas in Russia.”

“Russia? But that’s so far away! That's all the more reason to not waste time here!!”

“Not for Black Hawk it isn’t. I’ll find him, I promise I will.”

“But, I’m just wondering why Russia would want Kaner? Why would Strum kidnap Kaner and take him to Russia?”

“We’ll figure it out. Please, don’t stress out. We need to have a break instead right now. The others are fine and will handle getting information for us. Enjoy the sunset with me Jonny, please?”

Jonathan smiled. “I can’t say no to that. And it not like I can really go anywhere without you flying me there. But this better be fast.”

"It will. I promise, as soon as the sun sets, we will return to the three and head out to Russia!" Evelyn giggled and led the brunette over to a bench. They set down and stared out at the horizon. The sun was beginning to set and the mood was ripe for romance and for young lovers to come out. Evelyn leaned against her mortal crush and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

The sunlight touched the rippling water of the Harbor, which flowed out to the Atlantic Ocean. The light chilling fall breeze of the seaside blew at them and the mood was peaceful. There weren’t many people around and as the sun sank lower, there were few people and soon there were none. The sound of the water slapping the pier’s legs and the boats floating in the water was in tune to the faint noise of seagulls.

After the sun had set and the beauty and majesty of the evening settled in, Jonathan suddenly asked, “Why is it that the Blackhawks can never remember who you are or what your powers are?”

Evelyn jerked back. Her eyes were wide with shock. All around on the pier, the night lights were turning on. The sun had set completely by now. “What? Why would you ask something like that?”

“It’s just I’ve always wondered why I know who you are and I know Patrick knows who you are, but they - he - usually forget(s) about you. When Patrick was with me and kidnapped, he didn’t seem to know about the superheroes or powers. He was afraid and shocked. But you saved him from Red Wing.”

Evelyn nodded. “I’m not sure, honestly, Jonny. I wish I could tell you, but I just have no idea why. It’s a mystery to me. He doesn’t remember me though?”

“No. None of the Blackhawks do. When I bring you up to them, they just know you as a mysterious and protective girlfriend, but they don’t know Black Hawk, their protector.”

The redhead shook her head. “I’ll find out an answer for you. I promise. You deserve to know. But I hope that the truth will be easy to swallow.”

“I’m sure there’s a logical explanation!”

“You’re right, let’s forget about this and just enjoy the evening we have.”

Jonathan nodded his head. He wrapped his arm back around Evelyn, who snuggled against him once more. They sat in silence for a few more moments, before an idea hit the superhero’s mind.

“Hey Jonny, why don’t I show you some tricks I’ve been working on! They’re pretty cool. Hawkley taught ‘em to me! He said that if ever I need some cool ways to throw my opponent off, I just had to think the move up in my head and voila, it would happen.” Evelyn exclaimed, jumping off the bench and standing on the edge of the pier, facing the Blackhawk, who was cocking his head in curiousity.

“Oh really, like how? Show me.”

“Well, basically, it’s like this.” Evelyn activated her wings and floated off the pier, warming herself up by zipping back and forth in the air. Then she came to halt, hovering above the water away from the pier in the center in front of Jonathan. She closed her eyes and then opened them and did a back somersault in the air. No hollywood wires attached to her.


Unbeknown to the mortal and his superhero, another man was crouched in a bush, beside the pier, watching them. He had orders from his leader to capture the Blackhawk forward and bring him to him. But he had been warned about the girl...the protector.

He narrowed his eyes and waited for his moment. A little ways away, a car was parked, ready for him and the Captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. But he would have only one shot at his attack. He had to wait for the pristine moment with which to attack.

Even if it took a millenium to occur, he’d wait in the bush, watching and plotting his attack scheme.


The Blackhawk got to his feet and ran to the edge of the pier and gazed out at her. She continued to flip and turn and do tricks in the air. She did somersaults, cartwheels, one legged moves, yoga poses and other various actions. (These she could do with her wings and flight powers.) Jonathan watched in amazement. He could feel his heart flutter with excitement and he felt like he wanted to leap from the pier and join her. But he knew that he couldn’t.

“What--? How--?” He tried to formulate his thoughts into words, but he was just marveled by the awesome circus show going on. He clutched onto the edge of the right side of the railing, wrapping his arms around the pole, just in case.

“I’m just thinking about what I am doing. Like I’m going to think about standing on my head.” She flipped upside down and made like she was doing a handstand...on air! “And now, one handed!” She lifted one arm away.

“Evelyn!” Jonathan scolded. “Don’t hurt yourself!”

“Nonsense, Jonny. If I can think it up, I can do it!” She spun back upright, giggling. She had a little bit of mentifery, which was the ability to think of something and it would come true. It was taught to her by Brad Hawkley. “You want to come out here with me?”

“Uh, no, I think I’ll stay here.”

“Oh, you big chicken.”

The redhead returned to the pier. As the Blackhawk turned and started returning to the bench, she halted him, zooming back to him and seizing his arm and yanking him to face her. He collided with her lips and they shared a kiss. Evelyn’s wings flapped rapidly behind her with the emotion of love.Even though the wings weren’t attached to her, Brad Hawkley had made them so that they could match her emotions. If she was sad they slumped and if she was angry, they flapped rapidly.

“If you weren’t so pretty,” Jonathan mumbled.

“If you weren’t such as damsel in distress and cute!”

They remained there for the longest time, lips locked together in passion and romance a few feet from the edge of the pier. Evelyn/Black Hawk was hovering in the air, while Jonathan stood there. His heart was leaping inside of his chest and he closed his eyes, trusting in the heroine, holding onto him.

And then within the next heartbeats, danger struck.

“Sorry to ruin the moment!”

Evelyn was torn from Jonathan, their lips parting rudely, as someone ambushed the Blackhawk Captain from behind. The heroine shook her head in shock and narrowed her eyes on the newcomer. Her wings began to flap with sharper beats like a cat angrily flicking their tail back and forth. It wasn’t Canuck, Red Wing or any adversary she knew. It was someone new, a Penguin-look-alike. (DC Comics Penguin - the villain) He was dressed in the all black formal wear with the top hat and tuxedo and had a big “B” on his chest.

The man had a hold on Jonathan, with one hand wrapped tightly around his arms, pinning them to his sides, uselessly, and another hand clamped tightly over his mouth. He was struggling to get free and screaming for help.

“What are you doing?! Let him go!!” Evelyn screamed, raising her fists up at ready.

“Black Hawk, what a delight it is...or maybe I should just call you Evelyn O’Reilly!” The guy who resembled Penguin sneered.

“Who are you?”

“Well, this is shocking, the mighty protector of the Chicago Blackhawks doesn’t know who I am, yet I know her. Isn’t it Jonny Boy?”

Jonathan kicked at him, but missed. He jerked against the tight hold on him, but couldn’t pull free. And it wasn’t like he could bite the person’s hand, it was shielded by a thick glove. The centerman grunted with the effort.

Evelyn landed on the pier and stomped her foot in anger. Her wings now flapped in an even sharper and quicker motion behind her. “I’ll repeat it one more time, let him go.” She wanted so badly to attack him, but she was giving him a chance. If he didn't take it, so be it; she'd destroy him!

“You see I would Black Hawk, but Kaleta said not to! He wants me to kidnap him and bring him to him.” He began to round her. She held her ground firmly though.

“Kaleta?” Jonathan muffled. He jerked his head backward and managed to slip the hand finally. “Buffalo Sabre!?”

“That’s Ex-Sabre and hater of the NHL, including little Blackhawks like yourself, cutie!” the man snapped.

The hand returned instantly to Jonathan’s mouth again. This time he gripped tighter, pressing his cheeks in with his big fingers. It made the Blackhawk scream and twitch. Evelyn stared in horror and it only made her more furious. He wasn't taking her bait and it was time to fight.

“The name’s the Brawler...but maybe Jonny Boy knows me more as John Scott!”

At the name, the Blackhawk forward froze, halting in his struggle. His eyes went wide with fear. He looked at Evelyn knowingly. She took the hint and lifted up off the pier from her wings.

“Yes, that’s right little Hawkie, I’m John Scott and I work for Kaleta.” He pinched Jonathan’s face tighter with his hand and cackled. “I’m so sorry to rein on the parade here and ruin your little kiss, but business is business and I’m not a Blackhawk fan.” He moved his hand up, so he covered Jonathan’s nose now and the hockey player didn’t like that. He squirmed and made muffled distress noises.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes more. She really was not amused with John Scott manhandling her man. At all. “Scott you bastard! You hurt Kaner during a Sabres game!”

“That’s right. I did. Oops. Guess it was a little too dirty for the NHL, eh?”

“Dick!”

“I can see why you are drawn to him, Redhead, he’s such a hot stud. I mean that boyish handsomeness, right?”

Evelyn had had enough of the cocky talk and the bragging. Like a hockey fight might go, she was done with the dance, it was time for some action. She launched forward and knocked John Scott or The Brawler off of Jonathan. The Blackhawk centre whipped around to see Evelyn punching at the villain. He was dodging her blows and eventually threw her off of him. But she quickly recovered and snapped back into action, taking to the air. She raised her head up and let out a loud screech and then dove down at the goon.

But the Brawler was ready for her. He wound his fist up and landed a blow to Evelyn’s face, coming in contact with her nose.

“Evelyn!” Jonathan cried, concerned for his heroine.

However, she recovered, spitting to the side in fury and frustration. “RUN JONNY!!”

“I’m not going without you!”

“I’ll be fine! Just run, get to safety! Please! I promised to protect you.”

“Isn’t that sweet!” the Brawler mocked. “Such tender love you have. Sucks I have to destroy it!”

“NEVER!!”

There was an intense battle and action fight that went down on the pier. But Jonathan took off, running down the pier, heading toward the mainland. He turned to look back once he reached the end and he skidded to a halt, as he saw the Brawler clock Evelyn over the head. She fell to the wood pier and the forward’s blood run ice cold. “EVELYN!! NO!!” He knew he had to keep running, but part of him wanted to go back to check on his heroine.

He was stuck in place, unable to move and he’d also lost sight of the Brawler. Before he knew it, the familiar hand clamped over his mouth and he dragged backward. His eyes were wide with fright and he continued to scream for Black Hawk/Evelyn. The evil goon reached the car and kept one hand over his mouth still, while the other reached into the trunk and snatched up a roll of duct tape. He bit the end so he could get the adhesive ready for application.

He proceeded to wrap the tape around Jonathan’s mouth, in place of the hand. Then he taped his wrists together in front of him and wrapped it around his ankles and then around his upper arms, over his elbows. The Blackhawk wasn’t pleased, but he couldn’t go anywhere. He tried to scream for his heroine to come save him, but she didn’t show. Only pathetic noises emitted from him.

For once, she didn’t show. She didn’t come to his rescue. She had failed him. He was shoved into the backseat of the vehicle roughly and then trapped inside with the slam of the door. And then the car started and zoomed off with him helplessly bound and gagged with tape in the back.

“Oh c’mon, Toes, it’s not that bad… Hey! Before long, you’ll be reunited with your precious blond friend.”

The Brawler snickered, as he stomped on the gas more.

And with that Jonathan Toews was gone. Kidnapped. By The Brawler.

Notes

So I have Jonny bring up the fact that Kaner didn't seem to recognize powers of Black Hawk. The truth about that will come up much later on, but here is the taste of it. :)
So The Brawler = John Scott
Kaleta = Patrick Kaleta
And they are ex-NHL players...
So I'm going to attempt something different here. I added more to this chapter and changed it. I'm going to try to speed up the action here a little bit. It's pretty obvious Jonny was going to get kidnapped, so instead of the action-heavy predictableness, I just added it here. Plus I'm going to make the "date" not appear so random. :D

Next up: Where's Kaner been all this time and the Race is on!