Time to meet Stargirl

After finalizing your purchase with the company they email you a copy of Stargirls operations manual and instructions to be at an ATM that is conveniently located only a few blocks from your house the following Friday evening. You use the next couple of days finishing things up at work and schedule the next week off for vacation. Being the owner of a small but rather profitable programing company does have its perks you muse.

When Friday finally rolls around you find yourself constantly watching the clock and trying to speed up time by sheer **** of will. Luckily a new client sends over a rather odd request, it seems they had contracted another firm to create an energy management program for one of their projects, but the original contractor had been unable to complete the project to their satisfaction. Normally you hated trying to fix someone else’s mess, but the offered fee is substantial enough that it would almost cover the cost of your new companion, and a promised bonus if completed by the end of the business day. With that incentive in mind you roll up your sleeves and get to work.

The task proves to be extremely challenging and you get so engrossed in it that you completely forget about your appointment with Stargirl. About an hour before the deadline you think you have solved the problem with the previous design and submit your improved program to the client and await their reply. After another tense half hour you receive an email from the client stating that they believe that your solution is exactly what they had been looking for and as a show of good faith they would immediately transfer the agreed fee into your account with the bonus to be sent upon proof of concept.

Elated you let out a whoop and spin in your chair. Luckily the rest of the staff has gone for the night, so they don’t see the boss acting like a little kid. With a grin on your face you close down your computer and head for the parking lot.

As you step out the door you breathe in the crisp early autumn air. “You know it’s a nice enough night I and I could use the fresh air after being cooped up inside all day” you think as you begin the short walk home. “Maybe I’ll stop by Freddy’s and pick up a pint of spumoni to celebrate too”, with that thought you make a slight detour to the ATM nearby, while Freddy’s has great food the old man still has a cash only policy.

Just as you start to put in your pin number you feel the cold steal of a gun press into the back of your neck. “Alright buddy”, says a gruff voice, “Let’s do this nice and easy. I want you to take out as much cash as you can and then we’re gonna go find us the next cash station, understand?”

“Aww fuck and they just sent the funds for that job too”, you think as the machine shows your balance. “If I say yes how do I know you just won’t shoot me when I run out of cash or ATM’s?” you ask the mugger.

“You don’t but if you say no I’ll shoot you now”, he replies as you hear the hammer cock on is gun.

“How about not gonna happen for a hundred Alex” says a female voice from above the two of you, startling your aslant. You take advantage of the distraction and step to the side and grab his arm and the two of you are suddenly in a struggle for the gun. At that moment you’re blinded by a bright flash and thrown against the machine.

As your vision swims back into focus you hear a struggle taking place and see a blond girl fighting with your aslant. He manages to knock her over a bench. Just as he is leveling his gun when you stagger to your feet and throw your cellphone at him, striking his head and making him stumble. The blond girl raises a gold colored staff and a beam of light shots out and the crook spins around losing his weapon and sensing the tide has turned takes off.

“Hey get back here!” the blond yells making to chase after him until she sees you drop onto your hands and knees. “Crap, hey are you ok?” she asks coming to leaning down next to you with her hands on her knees. You look up and see a pair of blue eyes behind a cowl looking at you with concern. She brushes her main of slightly dirty blond hair and flashes you a worried smile and you see her braces glint in the street light.

“Wow totally worth it”, you say just before losing consciousness.