Lightning Never Strikes Twice

The heavy crack of thunder that followed the brief flash, causes the small windows in the bank to shudder. As far as Joseph Allucard was concerned it was the perfect weather for the robbery. No one would know the oncoming power outage was his fault they'll think it was the storm. Of course frying the entire section of the power grid was difficult but Allucard was never one to dismiss a challenge. Luckily with his contacts he was able to get enough explosives that he could fry the power line without causing too much of an explosion. Of course the thunder wouldn't hurt when masking the explosion. Month's of careful preparation and a healthy advance for half of the five hundred million dollars his young impatient Spanish employer all boiled down to this. Hell he even paid off a local "witch" to ensure that the storm would occur. Not that Allucard really believed in that type of nonsense but he was never one to leave things to chance.

After all this was his future, waiting for him at home was his girlfriend and his unborn daughter. He promised her that they would leave the country and move to Italy where they could buy a small farm and live together in peace and quiet. He only needed the money to finally finish paying for the farm, than they'd be away from this weather and the troubles of London. Waiting just outside the gate of the Museum of London Allucard waited, the sky light up with a flash of lightning and Allucard hit the remote detonator and waited for the lights to go out. With a heavy thud partially masked by the thunder. Allucard was off, lifting himself over the wall he dropped to the ground on the other side. Moving in a crouch Allucard advanced towards the museum. Quickly scaling the wall with a grappling hook Allucard passed like a ghost past the objects populating the ceiling. All of a sudden a bright light began to light up the ceiling and Allucard dropped down and squeezed himself as close to one of the giant fans. Above maybe 50 feet from where he was Allucard could see the scourge of every London going criminal.

Lionheart.

Cursing himself inwardly Allucard waited as he watched the costumed hero fly by for a second time before the British Beacon passed and went on his way. As a loud sigh escapes Allucard the thief silently crept towards the skylight over the room that housed the artifact he was sent to take.

Withdrawing a few tools, Allucard removed a pane of window from the skylight big enough for him to get through. With the glass safely on the ceiling by the skylight but out of the way and hidden in case Lionheart decided to make another pass Allucard slipped on a pair of night vision goggles and stared down into the room. Two guards walked through both carrying flashlights, 'probably making their rounds,' Allucard thought to himself as he hit the timer on his stop watch. After half an hour the guard returned and went. While he waited Allucard had tied himself to the nearest object. Running the line through a portable cable reel Allucard slipped through the opening in the sky-light and lowered himself towards his prize. From above Allucard could see the artifact, the Rod of Tlaloc the Aztec god of lightning, illuminated by the battery run emergency lights. Reaching the object Allucard sprayed the area with an aerosol vegetable oil. The laser grid seemed to be down. So carefully he removed the top of the glass and reached in. Slicing any wires attached to the rod Allucard carefully lifted it from it's perch and hitting the automatic reel the cat burglar slowly began returning to the ceiling. As he climbed out of the window and replaced the glass the light's flickered on.

"Shit!" Allucard exclaimed as he ran to the edge of the roof. He wouldn't be able to get down the way he did as the bobbies would be here as soon as the guards made their next pass. As he stood near the edge of the roof Allucard reached into his bag and removed a small case. Opening the case Allucard began assembling a light weight crossbow. Fitting the grappling hook to the cross bow he took aim and fired. With a satisfied grunt Allucard tied of his end of the rope and using a flying fox Allucard zip-lined across the expanse and landed on the other side of the wall near a tree. stuffing the crossbow into the bag Allucard took of running. A flash of lightning and another crash of thunder, the thunder this time was accompanied by a much more horrifying sound. The sound of sirens.

"Shit shit shit!" Allucard repeated as he flung himself over a barricade and into a parking garage, he was almost home free he just needed to get to his car and than he was done. He'd drop the rod off and gather up his money and he, Margaret, and little Lianna would be on the next flight to Italy.

In the cover of Darkness, occasionally illuminated by bolts of lightning Joseph Allucard ran through an empty uncovered parking lot. The only car in the parking lot was Allucard's. He was almost home free.

"Just a few more feet," the thief gasped breathlessly, "Almost the-"

Allucard's voice was cut short as a bolt of white hot lightning lanced down and struck the stolen rod. Searing energy flowed through Allucard's body. Silently Allucard's body fell to the ground.