Arrow Hawk: Birth of the Hockey Avengers

They watch as Nikita stumbles closer. He appears to be running from an unknown danger.

Captain Blackhawk can see the terror etched in his face. “He's in trouble. Stay here. Hang on, be right back.”

“CB! Jonny, where--?”

Captain Blackhawk zooms off toward Nikita, who's a good mile or so away. Zvezda looks down to see Showtime and Scorpion working to tear the sandwich from Star Vision. She hits her forehead with the palm of her hand.

“I'm hungry!” Star Vision whines.

“You're always hungry!” Scorpion complains.

“I'm a hockey player!”

“Let go!”

“You let go!”

“Let go!!”

“YOU LET GO!!”

Just then a loud roar halts them. Zvezda looks back up and spots a huge army of robots heading straight toward them. They are being commanded by two distinct figures.

Zvezda recognizes them at once. “Red Wing. Canuck. Crap.” She scans the ground and skies for Captain Blackhawk, hoping he's fine. She panics, but then spots him holding tightly to Sabrebow. He gets him to the group and lets him go.

Zvezda drops to the ground and nods to Captain Blackhawk, who nods back. “I'm still getting used to not having to be the savior, you know.”

Captain Blackhawk shakes his head out. “I understand. But how are we going to defeat that army now?”

“And Red Wing and Canuck?” Zvezda adds on.

Sabrebow drops his head. “I sorry. It my fault. I, uh, bring them here. I was just shooting arrow and then boom, they appear. They chase me. I run here.”

Zvezda pats him. “It's okay, Nikita.”

Sabrebow looks around. “Where Arrow Hawk...Val?”

“Long story, right?” Captain Blackhawk remarks.

Zvezda nods and then calls out, “Jamie, Tyler, Patrick, come here.”

Star Vision sighs and wraps his sandwich up and makes it disappear from sight. Scorpion and Showtime share a look and then they walk forward with the elder man.

Scorpion gasps. “Whoa! What's with the robots? Did Zady bring an army party or what?”

“No, those robots aren't friends...” Zvezda says.

“So, they're enemies and we have to fight them?” Star Vision confirms. He reaches for his star-shaped glasses.

Zvezda winks to him. “Bingo.”

Showtime sighs. “Great. Guess I'll just go hide in a car or something.” He starts to walk off, before a hand grabs him by the arm.

“Wrong. You're a Hockey Avenger, Peeks, you're staying and fighting. It's time to show Z and everyone those stick skills I taught you.” Captain Blackhawk winks at him.

“Skills?” Zvezda questions.

“Oh yeah...talk about soft hands!” Captain Blackhawk remarks.

Showtime chuckles and blushes. “Jonny, you're always embarrassing me.”

“And you're always undervaluing your skills, now get that stick out.” (Uh...no comment...but this can be taken the wrong way.)

Showtime pulls out the stick and throws it in front of him. It transforms into his hockey stick. He grins. “You’re right! Let's do this!”

Scorpion whips two of his handguns out. “Woo, I'm in for a fight!

Zvezda nods, smiling. “You all handle this. Nikita and I are gonna go find Val.”

“You're leaving us alone?” Star Vision questions.

Zvezda nods again with a winks. “I have faith in you all. You four will be fine. Oh, one thing though, watch out for Red Wing and Canuck.”

“Red Wing?! Really? I thought—” Showtime starts, before he shudders with fear at the memory he has with his run-in with Red Wing.

Zvezda steps forward and puts her hand on Showtime’s shoulder. “Yeah, I know. Just stay safe. Please.”

Captain Blackhawk proudly raises his head up and states, “I got him. I don't think they'll wanna make me mad.”

“Right. Jonny's a fucking beast when he's furious!” Showtime boasts.

“Alright, Nikita, come on, before that army gets here.” Zvezda heads for him.

Sabrebow awkwardly glances at the group, who smile at him kindly. He still appears to feel horrible and like it is his fault that this is happening. He grabs onto the angelic heroine’s hand and they fly into the air and zoom away at top speed, heading away from the scene.

As they get out of earshot and eyeshot, they can hear the chorus of battle cries. The battle has begun.

****

Meanwhile, back in Quick Save’s evil tower lair,

Quick Save returns to Valeri Nichushkin, who is still in the restraints and the contraption. His head is down. He looks defeated and helpless.

“Having fun yet, Russian archer?”

Val groans.

“That good, eh? Ha-ha. How'd you like a friend? Would another Russian be suitable?”

“No. No more Russian. You mean and you have no good reason for kidnap me.”

“I do. I'll get you a little friend. How about Evgeni Malkin or Vladimir Tarasenko? Or maybe you'd prefer Vladislav Namestnikov? Or...Nikita Zadorov?”

Val looks up, unable to hide the worried look on his face. He shakes his head.

“Nikita Zadorov, huh? Alright.”

“No.”

“Wait, he's an archer like you isn't he?”

“You no kidnap him.”

“Who said I was gonna kidnap him? No, no, I'll have my henchmen do it.”

Val opens his mouth to say something, but the door to the prison-like room opens. Two people walk in. One has a pair of red wings and an armored red and white outfit. A big red wing symbol is etched into the chest. The second, is a man in a green outfit like the Canuck Green Men.

“Valeri, meet Canuck and Red Wing.”

Val gulps.

Red Wing smirks and says, “Maybe you know me better as Justin Abdelkader...and him as Derek Dorsett.”

Canuck grins evilly as well. “We were "defeated" once upon a time by your little heroine, Zvezda. At the time she was known as Black Hawk though. Turns out Quick Save found us and brought us back to life.”

“Zvezda, good. You mean and I no like you. She find you again and kill you.”

Quick Save snickers. “Uh-uh, Valeri...” He turns to his two lead henchman. “How's the project going? Is it ready?”

Red Wing dips his head. “Indeed.”

“Good. Good.” Quick Save clasps his hands together.

“What Project?” Val chokes out, curiously.

“That's none of your business, Russian. Just like the experiment is none of your business. But...speaking of which, boys, can you do me a favor? Find Nikita Zadorov...or maybe he'll be known as Sabrebow instead...and capture him and bring him back here,” Quick Save orders.

“And the project?” Canuck questions.

Quick Save looks at Val and smirks darkly as he says, “Distract those heroes with it.”

Red Wing nods and dips his head once again. “Yes, sir, Quick Save.”

Val narrows his eyes at them. “No! You no get away with it! You gonna fail.”

Quick Save grabs Val’s chin. “We’ll see…there’s nothing you can do about it anyway.” He looks to Red Wing and Canuck. “Go forth boys.”

Canuck and Red Wing turn and exit the room once more. Quick Save lets go of Val's chin. He walks over to a small table and snatches up a white cloth. He rolls it up in a cylinder and then comes back to Val. Val looks at him with hard, narrowed eyes and shakes his head.

“Come on, don't make this even more difficult.” He wraps the cloth around Val's face and ties it tightly into place. Then he roughly forces the material into Val's mouth. He tightens the knot even more. “There. That so hard?”

Val glares at him. Quick Save laughs and walks back out of the room. The hero grunts in frustration and tries to get the cloth out of its place. It doesn't work. He ultimately hangs his head.

****

Meanwhile, back at the Chicago Highway scene,

Zvezda and Sabrebow finally drop down. Zvezda deactivates her look and Sabrebow tries to not make his archer look so obvious. They mix into the pedestrians walking about on the streets.

“So where Val?” Sabrebow asks.

“I don't know. Quick Save, this really fast—” Zvezda starts.

“Jonathan Quick? The goalie?” the Buffalo Sabre interjects.

“Yeah, he calls himself Quick Save and he kidnapped Val. He dragged him off somewhere. I'm just not sure where.”

“Why they want me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I do nothing. I just fooling around with arrow and those two—”

“Red Wing and Canuck.”

“Them, they show up and Red Wing - I guess, the one with the red wings - he say, "Nikita Zadorov?" And I go, "Yeah. What you want?" And he go, "We've been ordered to kidnap you!" And I panic. I shoot arrows at them and run off...I hope someone find me and help me. Captain Blackhawk did!”

Zvezda is shocked. She is unsure what to say or do. “You poor, poor Russian. I'm so sorry.”

“It no you fault. I was one who shoot arrow at them and lead them to you.”

Zvezda looks to Sabrebow and smiles. “It's never your fault, Nikita.”

“So where you think Val is?”

“Right! Nichy. Um...”

She looks around their current location. Suddenly there is a loud thud and people scream. Zvezda and Sabrebow skid to a halt. In front of them, Red Wing stands, with his wings spread out behind him.

“Nikita! Run!”

They dart to the side, attempting to get lost in the fleeing crowd of Chicagoans. Red Wing lifts up into the air and flies for them.

“You can run, but you can't hide! Come on out Russian and make this easier on me!” Red Wing snarls.

“Nikita, this way!” Zvezda grabs Sabrebow's hand and pulls him another direction. They begin to zig-zag through the crowd of people.

“Eve, what if he take us to Val?”

“Not chancing it!”

They continue through the ground, with Red Wing hot on their tail, flying after them.
An idea hits the archer, with his free hand he reaches back and grabs an arrow. Then he yanks his hand free and rapidly inserts the arrow and raises his bow up, all in one move. He points it at the villain.

“Nikita!! No!” She skids to a halt and turns to him.

Sabrebow lets the arrow fly. It hits the villain in the chest. Red Wing screeches loudly. He sends three more arrows at the villain, all hitting their target. Zvezda grabs his arm and pulls him off.

Red Wing pulls the arrows off of him before they explode. Then he dives at the pair and manages to grab Sabrebow's bow.

Sabrebow skids to a halt and yanks on his bow, trying to pull it free from the villain. “Let go!”

“I got you Nikita, I'm not letting go!”

“Neither am I!” The villain kicks out and pushes Sabrebow into Zvezda, sending them both to the ground. Sabrebow manages to get his bow back and Zvezda grips onto Sabrebow's arm tighter though. “You're going to let go, because you're going to need to cover your ears, Zvezda dear.”

“What?”

Red Wing opens his mouth and emits a high-frequency sonar scream. Zvezda instinctively lets Sabrebow go and covers her ears.

The villain snatches Sabrebow and lifts off the ground with him wrapped up tightly in his arms. He finally stops. “See?” He laughs and launches into the air with Sabrebow struggling in his grasp.

Zvezda uncovers her ears and jumps to her feet. “SABREBOW! NIKITA! NO!!” She launches into the sky, after him. Red Wing flies on though. But Zvezda is hot on his tail.

“You don't give up do you?” Red Wing snaps.

“For Russians, never! Let him go or so help me, I'll blast you out of the sky!” Zvezda proclaims.

“And risk hurting Nikita?”

“Worth it! She won't hurt me,” Sabrebow exclaims.

“Really?” Red Wing sneers, smirking.

“Really!”

Red Wing zooms off with a sudden burst of speed and disappears around a building. Zvezda grunts and follows, but she has lost him. She launches upward and heads to the higher sky. Red Wing has vanished.

“Red Wing--! SABREBOW!! NIKITA! No!!” She looks around wildly and desperately and flitters about the air like a spooked mosquito. Then she drops lower in the air and hangs her head. “I've failed…”

She snaps her head up a few seconds later and smiles. “…but not for long.” She taps her watch and flies off. “I’ll find you Nikita and Val. Looks like Red Wing will lead me to you.” Her watch leads her to a tall tower building. She lands on an airport and scampers inside, ducking out of sight as she finds two robot henchmen walking towards the platform.

Notes

Next up: Rescuing Russian Archers