The Spectrum Force by Heather Ray (good inspirational books .TXT) 📖

"God, Tracy!" the young camera man groaned, diving into a snowbank to dodge the bullet that whizzed near his head, "You're gonna get us killed!"

The reporter pulled her hat on tighter, hastily digging in the snow for her fallen microphone. "And what do you suggest, Kyle? That we go sit in our homes, and wait out the biggest story of the century? Our planet is being invaded

! This is one battle that must

be covered by the media."

Kyle mumbled something unintelligible while he dusted off the snow from his hand held camcorder. After taking a quick peek over the snowbank that served as their cover, he activated the recording.

"This is Tracy Preston, reporting from one of the several fronts that have developed around the city. Ever since the National Guard rolled their tanks onto the streets of Langstrum Alps, what was once a dangerous situation has now become an all-out war. A flurry of bullets continues to spray into the strange invading army, since the Guard fears any more potent weapons could do damage to the city, and thereby harm innocent civilians trapped in their homes. While the Guard is being cautious, it is clear that their opponents have no such concerns. These strange beings, armor covering the majority of their features, have responded to the firepower of the Guard with their own weaponry. Pulses of seemingly laser energy continue to sweep through the blizzard, pulverizing the Guard. Unfortunately, their hailstorm of bullets doesn't appear to have as significant an effect on their enemy."

As Tracy narrated the events, Kyle boldly aimed his camera over the snowbank, recording the firestorm nearby. Without warning, however, a fresh flurry of misguided bullets sliced in their direction.

Kyle released a yelp of surprise as one bullet embedded itself into his shoulder, causing him to drop his camera and collapse to the ground in shock.

"Kyle!" Tracy screamed, tossing the microphone and lifting her partner's head from the snow. Kyle gasped urgently, his warm breath releasing steam into the freezing air.

"I'm... okay," Kyle assured her, allowing her to lift him to a sitting position, "It just grazed me."

"No, it's in

you, Kyle," Tracy stated, hurriedly zipping up Kyle's heavy jacket to keep him warm, "We've got to get you inside, so I can take a better look at this."

"It's too dangerous," Kyle said, watching as Tracy hurriedly packed the camera and equipment into her backpack, "We'll blow our cover completely if we start parading around. This is a warzone!"

"We'll be fine," she assured him, wrapping his arm over her shoulder and pulling him along, "There're apartment buildings right behind us."

After a few steps, Tracy felt a powerful chill suddenly freeze her in her tracks. Instinct alerting her to the sound of footsteps behind her, she quickly whirled around.

She couldn't contain a scream from escaping her as one of the strange armored warriors folded his arms, grinning at her coldly. Tracy swallowed hard when she noticed the creature standing before her had fangs.

"W... what are you?" she asked, slowly backing away from the creature. Her grip inadvertently tightened around Kyle's waist.

"I could tell you," the creature said in a husky voice, "but I prefer my prey to be in the dark."

Tracy and Kyle stumbled backwards, falling into the snow as the creature closed in. They were completely frozen with fear, watching as bright red orbs began to glow from behind his visor. He pulled off his gloves, revealing charcoal gray fingers that began to glow with a faint black energy.

Just as his ashen hands reached out, the creature grunted in surprise and pain, and collapsed onto the stunned humans.

Tracy and Kyle both shrieked in panic, hurriedly pushing the body from them. Tracy's green eyes widened as she noted the smoking patch on his back, and the hole in his armor from which the smoke poured.

"I'm sorry about that," said a voice, "I could have hit him at a better angle."

Tracy and Kyle followed the sound of the voice, and looked above them. Hovering just a few feet away was a figure cloaked in black, white, and gold, with pearl wings extended several feet from his body, pushing against the air to keep him aloft. Dark brown hair hung around his face, the harsh winds flailing it around roughly.

The two reporters were utterly speechless as the stranger dropped to the snow, and offered his hands to them. Stunned but cooperative, they allowed him to lift them to their feet.

"What... what..." Kyle whispered, blinking repeatedly.

"Listen, you two," the man said, "you're in a seriously dangerous area. You must get inside immediately. Hopefully, the Denebians won't expand their invasion to intrude on people's homes. At this point, they're trying to get the streets under their control."

"So that's

what they're called," Tracy said, casually pulling off her backpack, "And who are you?"

The warrior seemed surprised by the question. "I'm... uh..."

"You're one of the Spectrum Force, aren't you?" Kyle inquired, "I recognize the uniform. The wings are a bit different, though."

"Well, I'm not quite an Enforcer," he answered, "I'm more of an ally, trying to patrol the streets during this invasion."

"So where is the Force now?" Tracy asked, quickly toying with something in her bag, "I haven't seen a single one of them during this entire invasion."

"They're handling another phase of the invasion. A monster, in fact," he answered, beating his wings once again. The force of the wings pushed him into the air immediately. "Listen, I've gotta help the Guard. Those bullets won't do anything against Denebian shielding. Just get yourselves inside, okay?"

"You got it," Kyle said, waving. Tracy smiled, and watched him turn to leave. Quicker than a reflex, she pulled out the camcorder, and recorded the winged hero's departure.

"That took you long enough," Kyle sighed, "You only got his back!"

"Well, it would have been rude and ungrateful to shove a camera into his face while he was trying to save us," Tracy pointed out, zooming in on the fight scene. She watched in amazement as the hero retracted his wings, and then spread them, creating a wide beam of white energy that plowed into the alien forces like a tidal wave. "This is terrific footage. But I have to get closer..."

"You do

have a death wish, don't you?" Kyle moaned, "Tracy, this Denebian creep that attacked us is only stunned. He'll be waking up soon."

Tracy bit her lip, lowering her camera. With a sigh, she turned it off, and once again picked up her bookbag. "Let's get inside," she decided, "Besides, we have enough info to give a major report once this is all over, including shots of this new winged Enforcer."

"When this is all over?" Kyle huffed, "Let's hope

this doesn't all end with the Denebians carting us through the streets like animals."

"Ye of little faith," Tracy sighed, "That guy said the Force was taking care of it. When have they failed us?"

"When have they had to deal with a full-fledged invasion?" Kyle pointed out.

"They can handle it," Tracy said pointedly, "They can handle anything."

The Red, Yellow, and Green Enforcers continued flying along the Hamilton River, searching for some sign of abnormality. Other than the fact that the entire city of Langstrum Alps was covered in several feet of crisp white snow. That, and the fact that the Sun was blocked by a strange black cloud, that prevented all heat and light from reaching the Earth.

"We're almost out of LA!" Matt called, slowing to a halt, "I think we should go back."

"You're right," sighed Tamara, also slowing down, "Keith, let's catch up with Rachel and the others. Keith?"

But Keith Maloy, the second-in-command of the Spectrum Force, didn't hear his girlfriend's calls. Behind his blue visor, his ocean blue eyes were closed tightly in concentration. He was receiving a telepathic transmission.

"Tammy, Matt," Keith said, his eyes opening, "Craig, Rachel, and Jocelyn are in trouble. They've encountered the monster."

"Then let's move!" Matt said, immediately vanishing in a streak of green light.

"Wait!" Keith shouted, "You'll use up all your reserved power!"

But the Green Enforcer was out of earshot, streaking down the length of the Hamilton River in the form of a beam of light.

"C'mon," Keith said to Tamara, "we'd better follow. But don't

turn into a beam of light. It's the most energy-consuming ability we have! Let's just hope the others can wait."

The water was inky black, and ice cold. The reason why was simple- there was no sun to warm the water, or illuminate the mysterious world beneath the surface. Jocelyn was silently grateful for the Spectrum Shield that protected her body like a second skin. It clung to her form, and moved with her, allowing the skilled diver to maneuver through the water with relative ease. It's warm energy protected