A Scripta

Jerry and Ellie walked arm in arm along Spanky's Boardwalk. They stopped to hug in the alcove of a storefront and were just about to fall into a kiss.

"I want that."

They both turned and saw an Oriental man in a low coolie hat and robes. Three other men flanked him.

Jerry assessed them and knew he couldn't take them. "Tsoo," he said with contempt.

"Give me that," the robed man demanded. "Your purse, please."

"No!" Ellie cried, holding it close to her chest.

"We will have to take it."

A man in red robes and a hood shoved Jerry aside while another in grey grabbed Ellie and yanked her bodily out of the alcove. The man in the coolie hat stepped aside. One with long hair tied back and tattoos everywhere went at her.

"Help!" she screamed.

A blue streak appeared out of nowhere, and in a flash, the Tsoo coolie-man was gone. The red-dressed one looked around curiously for a moment before the blue streek appeared and he, too, was gone.

This left two men, the long-haired one who generated energy at his fists, now ignoring Ellie and a bald one in gray who drew daggers and crouched at the ready. Then a man slowly dropped out of the sky and hovered before the two men.

He wore normal clothes, a blue t-shirt, blue jeans and boots. The two victims blinked at him.

"Hello," he said brightly, and smiled at the two men. The one in gray stood up straight, and the blue-clad man turned, grabbed him by the front of the shirt, and flew up. The two victims watched as he flew over the beach, over the water, and turned into a speck.

"You die!" roared the long-haired man and punched at Ellie. She screamed and ducked as the punch hit the wall and put a huge hole in it. The man readied himself for another when he was tackled from the side by the blue streak and kept barrelling forward until he hit a beach wall.

Ellie turned from it, burying her head into Jerry's chet. The man in blue came back, but now in brown with huge pointy pads on his shoulders. "I'm sorry you had to see that," he said quietly. "Are you two all right?"

They both nodded, Ellie staring at the man in a combination of awe and horror. "Thank you," Jerry said. "We have no money--"

The man looked at him curiously. "Money? What do I need that from you for?" He smiled. "I'm supposed to say something like, 'Saving your life is thanks enough' but actually..." He spread his hands.

Ellie smiled warmly at him, and Jerry felt a pang of jealousy. The man nodded to them, and floated in the air for a moment. "Can I do anything else to help you?"

"What's your name?" Ellie asked, almost breathlessly.

"Masonry," he said quietly. He looked down at her. "Your bag's broken."

She looked at her purse - the Tsoo had torn off the strap and some stuff spilled out onto the Boardwalk. She blushed and said, "I'll just get a new one."

"I'll pay for it. It's the least I can do. If that's all right with your...boyfriend?"

"Fiance," Jerry snapped.

Masonry looked from one to the other. "Well, okay then, I guess I'd better be going. Be safe, now."

As he flew away, he heard the argument start. It only added to his depression.

Fly around in the Isles, Nate. You won't have to save someone and get yelled at for it.

Shut up, Jack.