Disclaimer & Notices

Copyright: I own every last character.

Violence: Yes, there certainly will be.

Sex: There will be sexual content eventually. Also this is all slash.

Summary: The violence and crime has been steadily rising in the city. The citizens don't notice, but there are three people that do realize it. Devin's happy life is greatly altered by the violence. She later dedicates to making the people see the violence by using the best weapon she has – her camera. That same night, Devin meets an usual, dark hero that protected her. The masked hero remains quiet and moves through the shadows but strikes out against the crime. But not everybody is accepting of the dark hero, and Detective Logan has sworn to capture the vigilante. They each find a way to confront and speak out against the violence in a method they believe is just, but they don't expect the violence to shape a connection between them.

Started: Nov. 20, 2007

Series 3: Putting the Puzzle Together – Story #27

Ωmega the Black ωarrior

by Red Hope

Prologue

Devin slipped her hand through her girlfriend's and continued the quiet walk towards the park. She enjoyed the peaceful weeknight and the time with her girlfriend.

"Are you sure you don't want to get away this weekend?"

Devin shrugged at the question then peered up into curious ash eyes. She gave a partial smile and replied, "I rather just stay home, Tammy." She noticed the concern tilt of her girlfriend's head so she insisted, "And I'm sure."

Tammy had a faint grin, but she nodded anyway."I just thought you'd want to get out of the city for a bit."

"I thought about it too," Devin agreed. "But I'm already feeling lazy."

"And it's only Wednesday." Tammy chuckled. She scanned about the park and watched some of the early evening joggers. She counted a few dogs with their owners. She then glanced over at Devin, and she tenderly smiled.

Devin peered up and caught her girlfriend's smile. "What?"

Tammy felt her smile grow. "You're beautiful."

Devin rolled her eyes, but Tammy squeezed her hand. "If you keep saying that so often you'll wear out the meaning."

Tammy laughed and edged closer to her girlfriend. "Then perhaps I should say you're fugly once in awhile just to keep the meaning."

Devin swatted Tammy in the side and shook her head. "You're ridiculous sometimes... always from one extreme to the other."

Tammy grinned, but she silently enjoyed her lover's soft profile. She adored the recent short cut that Devin had gotten because it wasn't too short but had a rough, shaggy style to it still. Although she'd already seen Devin easily keep it managed, but they both preferred the more loose look.

Devin seemed to feel conscious about her hair at that moment. She ran her freehand through it and mentioned, "I'm still not use to it."

"I know." Tammy tilted her head and teased, "But I like it."

Devin shot a smirk up at her partner. "So I found out for five hours in bed that night."

Tammy actually flushed at the reminder. "Sorry about that but..." She shrugged because she wasn't sure what else to say.

Devin chuckled and ran her thumb across Tammy's hand. "You didn't hear me complain." She caught Tammy's brief grin. She and Tammy went into silence though and just enjoyed their stroll. Devin was rather worn from work, but she always tried to go for these walks with Tammy once a day. It was a nice way to get outside just as much as spending time with Tammy.

The couple were soon about to mark their fifth anniversary together. Devin was being frugal lately so that she could spend it on the anniversary gift. Also she and Tammy were planning on a vacation together to get away from home, the fall weather, and work. Lately work had been stressful for both of them. Devin was a photographer for a local paper, and she occasionally dipped into writing articles. But she preferred to remain behind the camera rather than the keyboard when it came to her career. Her personal life was another matter though. Tammy, however, was a human resource manager for a poultry company that was rather prominent in its market.

They both faired rather well too. It'd only been in recent years that they'd pulled their funds together and purchased an apartment. They were every bit the married couple, who just lacked the slip of paper to legally say it. Tammy and Devin had often discussed getting married, yet neither were quite prepared to make that final step. Devin could tell though that Tammy was getting much closer to the idea though so she held her silence. Devin was patient, and long ago she realized that the marriage wouldn't add to what was in their relationship that wasn't already there. They were each happy, and they were happy together.

Devin moved closer to Tammy when they passed another couple. She then saw the end of the path that came back out onto the quiet street. She bit back a yawn, but it seemed her girlfriend noticed.

"We'll take the shortcut back," Tammy offered.

Devin shook her head. "I'm fine."

Tammy shook her head and studied those amber eyes she loved. "You're still an awful liar."

Devin softly laughed and leaned into her lover. "I can never fool you." With her right hand, she rubbed up and down Tammy's jacket covered arm. "The nights are getting chilly."

"It's almost November," Tammy reminded. She guided her partner down the quiet street then stopped at the crosswalk.

Devin sighed contently, but she leaned her head against Tammy's shoulder. She idly watched the traffic flow past. She counted about six cars then last was a black motorcycle that zipped between the traffic without care.

Tammy shook her head and commented, "Why do motorcyclist encourage getting hit?" She heard Devin's low laugh, but she fought her point while they crossed the road. "They weave in and out of traffic... it's a wonder more don't get hit."

"You know those daring kind." Devin was amused, and she teased, "Sorta like you."

"Please," Tammy muttered. She waved her freehand in the air. "I'm more daring than Madonna was."

Devin laughed and shook her head. "Right." She briefly imagined her lover acting like the former singer, but it just didn't take too well. She crinkled up her nose. "I don't know... you could probably beat out Michael Jackson."

"Now you're insulting me, love." Tammy laughed with her partner, and she softly smiled. She spotted the one way street that cut around the block so she made the right.

Devin was weary, but she became slightly charged because of the fact that the street was more quiet than normal. She walked slower and murmured, "Tam... I don't think... we should go back the normal way."

Tammy shook her head and tugged on her lover's hand. "Devin, we always go this way." She pulled the smaller woman closer and swore, "I'll protect you."

Devin huffed because everybody knew her partner could be a sissy about the smallest things. She did though walk closer especially as they came under a few streetlights that were off. She scanned about the area, and chided herself for being too paranoid.

Tammy turned her head to the left and looked to the parallel sidewalk. She noticed the silhouette of somebody going in the opposite direction. She then sensed somebody coming up behind them, but she couldn't really hear them because of a car passing.

Devin did a quick check over her shoulder, but she didn't see anybody behind them. She shook her head some yet increased her speed.

Tammy didn't comment and decided it was best to do the same. Then that presence behind her returned and there was a distinct click.

"Stop walking," a man ordered.

The couple did stop, and Tammy turned around first. She protectively put Devin behind her. She stiffened at the gun barrel in front of her. She focused on the owner, who was a tall male.

"Got any money?" the gunman asked.

"No, we don't," Devin replied. She tried to step around Tammy, who only kept her protected.

The gunman looked from Tammy to Devin then back at Tammy. He was tall, lean, and rather worn looking. His voice was scratchy when he spoke. "I'm not playing a game." A note of warning was in his tone.

"We're not," Tammy carefully tried. "We're not carrying anything on us."

"Jewelry," the gunman tried. He was obviously getting annoyed.

"We don't have any either," Devin smartly answered.

The gunman slotted his eyes and had noticed something earlier. He pointed his gun at Tammy's right hand. "And that's a cubic zirconia?" He shook his head and ordered, "Let me have it."

Tammy lifted her hand and studied the family heirloom ring. She clamped down her jaw and proceeded to remove the ring.

Devin grabbed Tammy's hands and stilled her. She now stood more in the front. "Listen, we just want to go home."

The gunman shifted his gun towards Devin. "And I just want some fuckin' money." He lifted his dark eyes to Tammy. "Take it off."

"Tammy-"

"Let it go," Tammy warned her girlfriend. She yanked the ring off her finger. She loved the ring dearly, but it meant nothing compared to Devin's life. She held it up at the gunman. "It's worth a lot."

The gunman edged forward and extended his left hand. He gingerly took the diamond ring then backed up a few steps. He glanced at it once then tucked it away in his pant pocket. After a moment, he amusingly offered, "Thanks, ladies." He then took aim at them.

"No!" Devin screamed.

Tammy moved fast and shoved her girlfriend down to the ground. The gunshot followed, and she collapsed to the sidewalk from the mixture of pain and impact to her body.

"Tammy," Devin hollered, and she rushed over to her girlfriend. She knelt down and picked up Tammy's upper body into her lap. She then felt the warm blood on her hands after moving Tammy. "Oh god." She heard Tammy's low moan then there was another gun cock from above her.

The gunman had walked closer again, and he pointed the barrel directly at Devin's head. He held her fearful gaze and snidely commented, "I hate smartasses."

In the distant background there were shouts of people, especially from the nearby apartments. This didn't seem to deter the gunman. Nor did he notice the distinct sound of a passing motorcycle, which had slow down considerably.

"Please," Devin pleaded. She clung to Tammy, who was slowly bleeding to death.

The gunman smirked at what was a worthless plead to him. He tightened his index finger on the trigger and relished the woman's fear. He then decided to finish it, and he increased the pressure. Suddenly there was a sharp sound that grabbed his attention, and he looked to his left. He saw nothing, but he felt and heard it before anything.

The gun was ripped out of his hand by some invisible object, which flew through the air. The gun was soon pinned to the front of the building next to the gunman. In the faint streetlight, the metallic object shined.

The gunman was stunned, but he looked in the direction from which the object had come from. He spotted a tall and dark figure quickly coming at him. He felt a flash of fear come over him, and he back stepped once. He then glanced at his gun that was still embedded into the wall by something. He jumped for it.

The dark stranger approached the side of a parked car. He proceeded to jump over the hood.

The gunman grabbed the handle of some odd weapon that had locked his gun to the wall. He yanked and jerked on it, but he could not free his gun from the long forks of the weapon. He then realized his predator was now upon him so he hastily backed away.

Devin looked up from Tammy's pale features. She became wide-eye at the tall man that stood in front of her. His back was to her, but he seemed to be completely dressed in black from what Devin could see.

The gunman backed away as the dark stranger advanced on him. "I wasn't going to kill them." He received no response, and the man kept coming for him. He suddenly turned and made a run for it.

The stranger stopped, but he reached to his waist. He then started spinning something in the air that made a high pitched whistle. He threw it towards the gunman.

The gunman only had a few more steps before something strong wrapped around his neck. He fell to his knees and gasped for air because of the tight cord that wound around his throat. He choked but suddenly a hard, round ball smashed him in the face, and he fell unconscious.

Devin touched her girlfriend's cheek and again tried to rouse her. She hadn't gotten any response earlier, and she feared the worse. She had hot tears on her cheeks, but she ignored it. Devin clearly stiffened though when her dark savior loomed over her.

The man knelt down in front of the fallen couple. The notion that he was only in black was clearly wrong because his face was well hidden by a metallic mask.

The mask itself shined in the available but dim light. It was shaped like a face with a bend for the nose, long eye sockets, and the bottom was open to show the man's defined chin and mouth. The mask also had seemingly three horns that made a 'w' shape over the face. It was rather rare, and an unusual symbol reflected at the top of the forehead.

Devin tried to get past her shock about what'd happened so far tonight. She noticed that the masked stranger was trying to help Tammy. She ripped away her stare from the man and solemnly gazed down at Tammy.

"I don't... she needs to get to a hospital," Devin stated. Her upset emotions were clear.

The stranger said nothing and continued to gingerly inspect the stomach wound. He shook his head and reached to his hip. He produced a cloth, which he folded a few times and pressed it hard against Tammy's side.

Tammy release a distant moan, but otherwise she didn't stir.

"Come on, Tammy," Devin murmured. She blinked past her tears then peered up at the stranger for some type of help. She was going to ask something, but she faltered at hearing the mixed sirens.

The mask stranger lifted his head at hearing it. He quickly grabbed Devin's hand and placed it overtop of the moist press on Tammy's stomach.

Devin figured out his hands were covered by thin gloves, but she could feel his warmth. She then realized he was about to stand, so she grabbed his wrist with her freehand. "Wait. Who are you?" She didn't think she'd get a response, and she wasn't ready for the blue eyes behind the mask to lock on her. She felt burned somehow and relinquished her hold.

He remained still and seemed to debate the question. But then his sultry voice filled the void between them. "Omega." There was nothing else, and he instantly stood up. He rushed to the wall, grabbed the strange weapon's handle, and easily freed it. He caught the falling gun, which he set on the ground then raced towards the street.

Devin held the moist cloth over her lover's stomach. But she couldn't believe her eyes when the dark man jumped over the top of the car, landed in the street, and ran to a running motorcycle. She could make out the sirens that were closing in plus the blue and red lights were strobing down the street.

The dark savior, who called himself Omega, was seated on his sport motorcycle. He kick the stand free then pulled back on the throttle just before the police cars were upon him. He went so fast down the street that the police were convinced they never saw him.

Devin wasn't sure what to make of any of it. She just felt relieved and far more hopeful when an ambulance stopped behind the police cars. She stared down at Tammy, leaned over, and kissed her lover on the forehead. "You're going to make it, Tam." She soon was swarmed by police and EMT's that proceeded to help her and Tammy.

Devin hastily explained to the police what'd happened, but she planned to get into the ambulance with her partner. Two officers promised that they'd come to the hospital to take her formal statement. Devin readily agreed then she climbed into the ambulance. Just before the EMT closed the rear doors, she thought she saw a motorcycle zip past the the end of the street. But Devin was never sure, and she focused on her trip to the hospital and getting Tammy there. She took a seat beside Tammy and held her girlfriend's cool hand. She closed her eyes, bowed her head, and let the tears go freely. The ache she already felt could not measure up to the anger and pain that would consume her if Tammy didn't survive tonight.

To be continued.