A Favor for a Friend

Who am I? I’ve asked myself that question many times in my life. The easy answer is I’m just a kid from Philly raised by a single Mom. I grew up in the seventies and eighties not really knowing that much about my Dad. The only thing I really knew was that I was named after him Peter August Stapleton, Jr. My Mom worked a lot trying to build a career for herself. So I spent that time with my Grandmother. I didn’t really have many friends outside of school because my Granny was very over protective.

When I was twelve I went to summer camp for the first time and that is where I truly made good friendships that would last for years. We were all tent mates for the four years we went to Camp Tandy in New Jersey. Steve, Gary, Wayne and I became best friends in those years and had so many good times. For the first time I was just one of the guys and not the boy without a father or the kid whose mother was a cop. There are still times I miss those days.

After I graduated High School and applied to college in New York my Mom finally told me the truth about my father. There had been times when I was younger that I tried to find out something about him but only found dead ends. That was because he didn’t use his birth name but one he created himself. While attending college I found him and met him. I learned that my Mother had never even told him I had been born. For a short time I even lived with him hoping to get to know him and form some kind of father-son bond. I soon realized that we were nothing alike. His appetite for women was something I soon came to loath as it appeared to be his reason for living. I understood at last why my mother kept me away from him. After college I moved home to Philly to get a job at the Bulletin.

Recently my friends from camp and I were all together again for Wayne’s wedding in New York. Wayne was the first of us to tie the knot and he wanted us all as his groomsmen. This reunion had both its highs and lows. Back when we were teens Steve and Gary had been best friends at home as well as camp. Steve told me that something had changed between Gary and him in the last years of High School and now Gary held some kind of grudge against him and he really didn’t know why. The night before the wedding Gary got really drunk and the shit hit the fan. I must admit I was shocked when Gary threw that punch that knocked Steve on his ass. Luckily Wayne and I were able to break it up before it got too out of hand.

Strange thing was that Steve reconnected with someone else from camp that night. A girl he met there turned out to be a girl from Camp Tandy too, Diana Carter. I’ve been dying to know if he has been seeing her or if he blew her off again like he did when we were kids. That might be one of the biggest reasons why when Steve called out of the blue to get together for lunch I made room in my schedule. Something only a year ago I would not have had to do seeing as my career as a reporter was going nowhere.

What caused the change in my career might be the most incredible thing to have happened to me in my life. Master Warrior! Out of all of the reporters in the city it was me he wanted to be interviewed by. ME! It was incredible! For the first time my editor took notice of what a good reporter I was. I’ve listened to the tape of my first interview several times. Each time I remember something new about what happened. My editor has been on me to learn all his secrets and I know if I am ever to be taken seriously as an investigative reporter this could be my big break. But Master Warrior comes off as such a nice guy I hate to do that to him.

When I met up with him the second time I picked the place. Penn’s Landing at the Cherry Street Pier. I stop there for breakfast some mornings so I know it’s open at eight in the morning. I told Master Warrior to meet me at six. I started by making the point of saying I wasn’t looking to learn his secrets. That is why I played it cool, never looking straight at him, keeping my head down on my papers. Looking at his face was pointless anyway. Watching his body language was what I tried to concentrate on. I must admit it was amazing to watch him fly low across the Delaware river to meet me at the Cherry Street Pier. When he landed I tried not to act like a fanboy as he shook my hand. Surprisingly he didn’t have the firm strong grip that I expected. Maybe he feared crushing my hand or something. As we sat down he seemed much more relaxed and at ease than our previous interview. Maybe it was just because we were alone without everyone the Bulletin’s office crowded around.

When I suggested recording the interview he reminded me that his voice might not record clearly like his face does not photograph clearly. The first time I listened to the tape of the interview I did in the office I noticed a difference in the tone of his voice from what I remembered when I talked to him in person. Every time I listen to that tape his voice becomes more familiar to me.

As he began to ask for my help with recent events that happened in Scranton he lifted his right ankle to lay it across his left knee. It was a very relaxed posture that made me feel more at ease as well. As I glanced at his legs as he sat there across from me I could see how tight his pants were and that he was not wearing any kind of conventional body armor as some have suggested. It was all him under that thin fabric not layers of Kevlar.

As he spoke to me he was so sincere with every word. I don’t know if as an adult I ever knew anyone to be so honest. When I asked, “Why is this so important to you?” He cleared his throat becoming almost self conscious as he began to run his fingers along the sole of his boot.

When I asked him about the assassin called the Badger he ran his hand back through his hair. The way his hair moved I think I could almost make out its length. I am sure it is brown at least.

Then when I mentioned the Elite Squad I could hear the surprise in his voice even on tape. I think that was the first time I lied to him and if he hadn’t laughed I would have felt worse about it. Even his laugh felt down to Earth to me. I almost felt like we were becoming friends which made me feel bad again because of what my Editor wanted me to do to him. Listening to the tape I can even hear the panic in my voice as I complimented him to change the subject.

When I confessed about seeing the Saber-tooth Tigers in Fairmount Park he too confessed something I hadn’t heard. I felt like it was something he really shouldn’t have told me. But it was something my editor would definitely want me to include in my story. I got the feeling I should stop the recording and erase it before I forgot. I started to lay on the flattery hoping he wouldn’t notice as I rewound the tape. I looked at him for the first time since we began the interview and he appeared uncomfortable to me. Like he had misspoke or had something else to say but was afraid to say it. That made me feel guilty too so I told him, “I don’t want to ask you anything personal, because I know how important your privacy is to you.” Thank God that wasn’t on the tape or my Editor surely would have fired me.

Changing the subject I asked him something else I didn’t think should be recorded. His ominous prediction of something worse coming had stuck with me. He sounded sincere again as he confessed to knowing it sounded scary. It was then that I finally realized he was no Superman, he was just a guy trying to do the best he could. Made me think about the other heroes out there that have popped up since he made his first appearance. This was the first time he seemed to be playing his cards close to his chest. He didn’t have much to say about the other heroes but he made me think of Steve for a minute. Just like Steve he was a shy kid at heart. I think he might have blushed when I made the comparison.

In fact I was surprised at how he wanted to talk about the whole Gary and Steve thing. It was like we were two guys hanging out talking about old times. Kinda weird actually. Maybe that is why I flipped the recorder back on to ask him some more questions I had written down. I asked him about the suit as I gazed over at him again. He was sitting there with both feet flat on the ground and his hands folded in his lap. When he told me he had a matching jacket that did fit over the vest, I looked at the golden chain-mail vest that fit tight on his ribs. I couldn’t help but to notice his nipples sticking out either side of the arm opens. I guess I mumbled under my breath without realizing it.

He must have sharp ears to catch it so I had no choice but to repeat it, “Does the vest irritate your nipples?” What an asshole, of all things to ask on tape. He looked down at his chest as if he hadn’t even noticed they were staring at me. I think I might have made him self-conscious about it. I remembered my face feeling warm as I looked down to his lap as he moved his hands to his chest. Looking at his crotch didn’t help as I hid behind my notebook as he answered my question. He could tell how weird things had become and tried to be less awkward.

Master Warrior stretched with his hands behind his head as I finally got the interview back on track. He talked about the aftermath of the attack on Market Street, he appeared more human than ever. He explained everything that happened that day, even stuff of which I had never heard rumors. It made me realize how brave he really was and how I could never betray his confidence even if it meant pissing off my Editor. I have to admit that I am curious about the secret location of the Dominator. Then he even joked about going to Europe on vacation.

I spend the rest of the interview watching his body language trying not to be too obvious about it. He moved as if he was completely in his element talking with me like we were old friends. He had drawn my attention to his chest hair earlier and now I noticed that it was brown like the hair in his pits that somehow allowed me to recognize the brown hair of his beard and head for the first time. Although the rest of his features were still unclear to me. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. I could guess that under the gold vest he had six pack abs that the vest contoured over. He had the body of any comic book superhero even if he only seemed like a regular guy to me.

We talked for a little longer until more people started to arrive on the Pier as the time for the shops to open grew closer. I decided it was best to end the interview before Master Warrior became a spectacle.

“Oh shit!” I exclaimed looking up at the time. I was to meet Steve in a half an hour at Penn’s Landing, they serve good lunches there too. I locked the tape recording back in my desk before heading out of the office.

May 25, 1988
Philadelphia Elite Squad
1st Precinct
Philadelphia, Pa

It was seven in the morning when Commander Olpere entered the Elite Squad room. Detective Berger, Officers Zadlo and Maguire sit at their desks going over paperwork. “Zadlo, in my office now!” she commands walking past his desk. The plain closed Officer immediately gets up from his chair to follow his Commander into her office at the back of the squad room.

“What did he do?” Officer Maguire asks senior Detective Berger.

“I have no idea, but when Olpere uses that tone it is not good.

Once inside the office Commander Olpere closes the door behind them. “Have a seat, Officer,” she says as she unpacks her briefcase. “I have a special assignment for you.” “One that needs to be handled with the utmost secrecy.” “Which means you are not to share any of the information I am about to give you with anyone else in the Squad or department!” “You are to report back only to me!” “Am I clear?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Zadlo replies with a rather blank look on his face.

Commander Olpere pulls several photos from her bag to place them on the desk in front of the Officer. “This man’s name is Peter Stapleton, Sr a.k.a. Cameron Pike,” she tells him. He is staying at The Ritz-Carlton 10 Avenue Of The Arts.” “I want you to have him under surveillance until further notice.” “I will expect you to report back to me every two hours without fail.” “If you do not I will assume that you have been compromised.” “You are to make no contact with him at all!” “Do not speak to him or interact with him in any way.” “Keep your distance!” “If he in any way approaches you avoid him at all costs!” “Am I clear?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Zadlo says again, feeling like he is being sent on a James Bond mission. “Is he assumed to be armed and dangerous?”

Commander Olpere takes a moment to think about her reply before answering the Officer’s question. “Dangerous yes, armed no.” “But remember if you do not report back to me every two hours I will assume you have been compromised.”

“Compromised in what way?” Zadlo asks naively.

“Let’s just hope you don’t find out,” Olpere says. “Now get moving you have to catch up with him before he leaves his hotel room!”

Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa

Cameron Pike sits on a bus stop bench across the street from the apartment building. He appears completely content with the half hour wait for the next bus as if he has no intention of riding it like the last two that have gone by the stop. Then instantly the traffic is frozen in time as a woman sits down on the bench next to him.

Shanna Chaffee does not speak or look over at the man for several minutes. He is the first to speak saying, “I was wondering how long it would take for your father to send you after me.”

“What are you doing here, Old One?” she asks calmly.

Cameron Pike chuckles to himself. “That is laughable.” “Imagine you calling me old.” The dapperly dressed man turns to her asking, “Doesn’t Mist already know why I am here?” “Has he not been watching me since the first time I became aware of the couple?”

“Why would my father have any knowledge of your activities?” Shanna charges.

“But yet, you are here now,” Cameron counters. “I seek answers, but I would bet you already know them.” “Don’t think I did not feel your presents in Diana Carter’s office.” “Your essence is unmistakable.” “Only once before have I know a being like you and she is long lost to this world.”

“My activities are none of your concern!” Shanna asserts taking a stronger tone to her voice.

“As mine are none of yours,” Cameron replies. Then he stands up from the bus stop bench to stare the woman down. “If you are the one causing this unrequited love, if you are the one preventing this couple’s destiny then we will have a problem.”

“If you think you scare me Old One, you truly underestimate my power and think too highly of yourself as always.” Shanna replies standing to face him without hesitation. “Why is this couple so important to you?” Then it strikes Shanna something that she had not considered. “You believe them to be an Eternal love that you can use to your own gain!”

“It does not surprise me that you would believe me to be a creature of personal gain,” he accuses. “I am an agent of love and no more,” Cameron insists as he returns to his seat on the bench. “My sister warned me that you were not to be trusted.”

“We shall see Old One, we shall see,” Shanna chides as she fades from sight and time resumes its natural flow.

Farther down the block Officer Zadlo sits in his unmarked patrol car watching Cameron Pike who is seated on the bus stop bench. He doesn’t even perceive the events that took place while time was frozen, all he has seen is the man seated on the bench.

He surveys the neighborhood, it is familiar to him but he is not sure why. It is not until he spots a familiar face exit the building. This is the building where Paddy and Steve live, he guesses as the latter crosses the street to head toward the bus stop where Pike sits. At first Zadlo thinks Steve is going to join Pike at the bus stop but then he keeps walking. What a strange coincidence, Zadlo thinks until he spots his target getting up to follow Steve down the street. Officer Zadlo then moves to complete the chain of surveillance following Pike at a distance just as he does Steve Roberts.

Penn’s Landing
The Cherry Street Pier
Philadelphia, Pa

It is a warm spring day nearly 80 degrees when Pete Stapleton arrives at the pier. His old friend Steve Roberts is already sitting at a table in a chair facing the water. Pete recognizes him by his broad shoulders and brown hair from behind as he approaches. “Sorry I’m late,” Pete says, walking around in front of Steve.

Steve stands up to greet his friend with a hand shake. “That’s fine,” he says. Steve is dressed in jeans and a red Philadelphia Phillies tank top with a jacket thrown over the chair next to him. “I was enjoying the view, this is a great place, so you come here often?”

Odd, Pete thinks. This is the second man he has met here whose hand shake does not match his size. “Once in a while for a quick meal,” Pete replies as they sit down across from one another at the cafe table. Steve sips on a Bartles and James wine cooler that he retrieves from the table. “I hear those things are pretty good,” Pete comments looking at the light green bottle.

“Yeah, I’m not much of a drinker but they’re good going down,” Steve smiles. “Let me get you one, or are you going back to work, Mr. Big-shot Report.”

“One couldn’t hurt,” Pete smiles. As Steve calls the waitress over, Pete watches his body language. It’s becoming something of a habit. For the most part all people move the same, it is the smaller movements that are more individualized. Pete is surprised at how flirty Steve is with the waitress. It is almost like he doesn’t realize what he is doing as he bends his arm, flexing his bicep to reach in his pocket for money. The young waitress looks over his body with hunger in her eyes.

“What?” Steve says, turning back to Pete as the waitress departs.

“It is hard to believe you are that scrawling little kid I met at camp when we were twelve,” Pete grins. “The only thing that is the same is how you are blind to women.” “That girl had a look of lust in her eyes.” “You could have gotten lucky with her on the first date I bet.”

“Whatever,” Steve says, taking another swig from the wine cooler. When he lowers the bottle he smiles. “Remember that first day we met?”

Pete laughs. “When Coach Booth wanted to break you and Gary apart?” “He teamed you and me together for the backpack race.” “There was no way you could carry me on your shoulder, I was so much bigger than you back then.” “I’m certain there is no way I could run 100 feet with you on my shoulders now.” The men chuckle at the thought. “It was pretty weird when you came back the summer we were fourteen, it was like you were a totally different kid.” “I couldn’t believe how much you had changed, grown.”

“I thought everyone forgot about that,” Steve whispers under his breath just loud enough for Pete to hear.

“What?” “What did you say?” Pete asks.

Steve gets a panicked look on his face for a second. “It’s just you never mentioned it before.” “I figured you had forgotten it.”

Pete pushes the thought out of his mind, it is ridiculous. “I guess I have a better memory than people think.” He can’t help but to look at his friend’s shoulders and biceps again. The brown hair at the edges of his tank top sleeves. But it is Steve’s clean shaved jaw that convinces him he is being silly. The waitress returns with their drinks and to take their lunch orders.

They talk some more about old times at camp as they wait for their food. Pete suddenly thinks of how familiar Master Warrior’s voice was in the recording. Thinking about it as Steve talks makes him think how similar the two men’s tones are to each other. It would explain why Master Warrior came to me to be interviewed and not someone more qualified. Why does this thought keep coming into his head? It’s just stupid!. Trying to get his mind off of the ridiculous ideas in his head Pete asks, “So have you spoken with Diana since Wayne’s wedding?” “It sure looked like the two of you were going to pick up where you left off.”

“What would you know?” “You passed out on the table,” Steve jokes.

“So that is a yes!” Pete smiles. “Did you guys hook up after or what?”

Just as Pete remembers, Steve becomes painfully shy when discussing this subject. Then Steve begins doing something Pete did not remember, he runs his fingers along the sole of his sneaker just as Master Warrior did. Pete can’t believe that he keeps having these thoughts about a guy he has known since they were twelve.

“We might have kissed a little, but it wasn’t like some heavy make out session,” Steve confesses. “At least not that time.” He grins sitting his empty bottle back to the table.

“So you two have been dating, then?” Pete inquired.

“We’ve been on a few dates when our schedules lined up, I don’t think it is anything serious,” Steve insists, running his hand back through his hair.

Pete just glares at Steve for a minute. Why wouldn’t he just go for it? he thinks. Look at him! She wanted him when he was fifteen there is no way she would say no now! Unless he has a secret too big to share with her. Especially the way Diana spoke so negatively about Master Warrior at Wayne’s wedding. “Are you sure she feels the same?” Pete quizzes.

Steve stretches back in his chair putting his hands behind his head. “I think so, I mean deep down she is probably still afraid I’ll screw it up again, I know I am.”

Pete takes a deep breath, he is just going to do it! “Steve, I have a personal question to ask you,” he begins. “I’m not sure how to ask this, so bear with me.” “Are you…..”

Before Pete can finish his question Steve interjects, “Yes, okay, I’m still a virgin!” “I’ll never be the lady’s man that Gary is, banging half of Cincinnati in college.” “Go ahead make your jokes, I’ve heard them all.”

“No, no, that is not what I was going to ask at all,” Pete announces as he turns a bright red.

“Well what a surprise running into you here, Peter,” Cameron Pike says as he stands at the edge of the table. Pete Stapleton’s face goes blank as he stares up at the older gentleman from his seat. Steve glances at the dapperly dressed man to his left with interest.

“What are you doing here?” Pete asks in a less than enthusiastic tone.

“I was in town on business and I heard this was a good place to get lunch,” Cameron replies. “Who is your friend?”

Pete looks to Steve with regret in his eyes to say, “Steve Roberts, this is my father.”

“Oh wow, so nice to meet you Mr. Stapleton,” Steve says standing to shake the man’s hand. “Please have a seat.” Steve directs the man to an empty chair next to him. The moment Cameron takes Steve’s hand to shake he can feel the raw power oozing off of the man.

“No, really, Father said he was in town on business,” Pete speaks up. “Surely he doesn’t have time to have lunch with us.” “And his name is Pike not Stapleton, Pike is much more interesting.”

“Please son how often is it I get to meet a friend of yours, I can make time,” Cameron says taking a seat between the two young men.

“It’s funny, in all the years I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention your father,” Steve says to Pete. “For that matter I’ve only ever heard you make passing references to your mother.” “I was kinda under the impression you were raised by your grandmother.”

“In a lot of ways I was,” Pete confirms. “Mom worked a lot and I didn’t meet my father until after High School.”

Cameron Pike sits smiling oddly at Steve making him feel a little uncomfortable. “I didn’t even know I had a son until he knocked on my door.” “His mother and I were only married a few years and when we split up she did not care to mention that she was pregnant.”

“Oh,” Steve says, getting a glimmer of Pete’s sudden change in attitude. The waitress brings Steve and Pete their lunch and asks if she can get Cameron anything. He turns on the charm sending her from the table giggling to get him a Lite beer. “You sure do have a way with the ladies Mr. Pike,” Steve comments.

“It just comes naturally,” Cameron says as he smiles at a woman sitting with a man at another table.

“A little too naturally,” Pete comments.

“So tell me how long have you too been seeing each other?” Cameron asks. Steve is confused by the question to which Pete quickly responds.

“Steve has a girlfriend,” Pete says, giving his father a look that could kill.

“Oh?” Cameron smiles at a still confused Steve.

“It really isn’t like that,” Steve responds shyly.

“Why not?” Cameron asks as the waitress hurriedly returns with his beer. “A big strapping young man like you surely has no problem finding love.” “Unless there is a reason you don’t want to get laid.”

“Father!” Pete chides. “Not everyone is a man whore like you!”

Steve’s attention is distracted from the father-son squabble as he feels the tingle of his danger sense at the base of his skull that grows stronger. Staring out across the Delaware river between the two men at the table with him, Steve spots the source of the danger as it sails toward them. It is moving fast, it takes only seconds for him to focus on it to see what it is coming at them. “Shit!” Steve exclaims as he jumps up to lean across the table. Almost before the father and son know what he is doing Steve catches the live hand grenade and throws it back out into the river.

The explosion several hundred feet away from the pier sends water raining down on everyone. “What the hell was that!” Pete exclaims, turning to look back out to the river. Cameron does not take his eyes off of Steve.

“Everyone really needs to get out of here!” Steve shouts when he spots two more grenades launching from the New Jersey side of the river.

“Why would that be?” Cameron queries. “What just happened?”

No one on the pier seems at all concerned by the explosion in the water or Steve’s announcement. Some appear annoyed by the splash of water but most treat it as a one time prank. “There is no time!” “GO!” Steve shouts moving around the table, his eyes pinned on the incoming artillery.

“EVERYONE WE NEED TO LEAVE THE PIER NOW!” Steve shouts again this time to a much better response.

“I am seeing things much clearer now,” Cameron comments.

“Great because I am more confused than ever!” Pete shouts as he grabs his father by the arm. “Let Steve handle this!” “He was a cop!”

Steve catches two more grenades, one in each hand. He is trying to move as quickly as possible to dispose of them in the river but it is not quick enough as a third arrives to sail over his head. Giving the two in his hands a heave he moves at top speed to go after the other. He spins around as the first two explode to be just in time to see Cameron catch the third and follow suit with it into the river. Pete manages to drag his father to the end of the pier where the older man stops to see what happens next. “You have to go now!” Steve shouts at them. “Something bigger is coming!” Before he can say another word he is struck from behind so hard it sends him airborne, crashing down several yards away onto several unoccupied cafe tables.

Something bigger is coming, a phrase that has echoed in Pete Stapleton’s head for months. There is no longer any question in his mind. This man that he has known since childhood is MASTER WARRIOR. “I think Steve can handle this fight father, we need to go,” Pete says, taking Cameron by the arm.

“No, I want to see what is happening here,” Cameron insisted, pulling away from his son.

Splattered with food and soaked with drinks Steve pulls himself up to see what hit him. His back aches like he has been hit by a Mack truck. “I thought I’d catch you off guard, Stevie,” the masked man in a red shirt and dark blue pants standing in the center of the pier growls. Steve recognizes the man instantly as the one calling himself Supreme Warrior a few months back at the Philadelphia Art Museum. He has an addition to the costume he wore that last time they met. Slung over his left shoulder he has a khaki green military bag.

“What do you want here?” Steve shouts over the lingering scream of fleeing diners.

“You of course,” Supreme Warrior replies. “I’d hoped you would have tipped your hand by now.” “Where are all of your fancy weapons?” “How many grenades were you going to let me throw from Jersey before you put on the suit?”

Steve looks back down the pier to see Pete and his father still standing at a distance. He needs to talk this nut down without changing to Master Warrior like this guy thinks he is going to do. “Look whoever you are, I don’t know what you are talking about.” “I just did what anyone with good reflexes would do.” “Hell, even the old guy did it!”

“Ya, that was surprising I must admit,” Supreme Warrior says looking at the men at the entrance to the pier. “But he is not the one I came for, that was you.” “Your resistance to change in front of Petey makes me think he doesn’t know who you really are.” “Which means I get to focus all my anger on you!” “For now.”

“Why, what have I done to make you so angry?” Steve calls to the clearly deranged man.

“Show me the suit and I will show you why I hate you so much,” Supreme Warrior shouts.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, you need to stop this,” Steve insists.

“STOP LYING!” Supreme Warrior roars as he reaches into the bag that hangs from his left shoulder to pull out another grenade. “You’ve always liked a good bargain, so let’s make a deal.” “You show me who you really are and I won’t blow this pier to hell!” “I’ve got a whole bag of these things here, fresh from the Camden Armory!”

Steve looks around the pier again. Everyone has finally cleared the site or is hiding. Even Pete has managed to pull his father away from the scene. “If I do this will you stop?”

“Stevie, why would I lie to you, I have all the power here,” Supreme Warrior purrs, his smirk almost showing through his mask. Under his mask his eyes are fully focused on Steve Roberts as he reaches his left hand to his ear lobe. Instantly his tank-top and jeans are transformed to the garb of Master Warrior. “That’s more like it!”

Hurrying back to his unmarked car parked on the street just beyond the pier after the fourth grenade explodes in the river Officer Zadlo gets on his radio to call Commander Olpere. “Commander, we have a situation here.” “Someone is launching explosives from Camden onto Cherry Street Pier.” “As amazing as it sounds, I think Roberts is catching them.” “And so is Pike.”

Philadelphia Elite Squad
1st Precinct
Philadelphia, Pa

“I’ll get a team down there, stay on sight,” Commander Olpere instructs. “Hang back, let Roberts handle it!” “He may not be a cop anymore but clearly he has the skills.”

“Ma’am, I have skills too,” Zadlo reminds on the other end of the radio.

“Not that it will withstand explosives, I repeat, wait for backup!” “Olpere out!” Laying the radio back to her desk she looks out at the squad room where Berger, Maguire, and Bower. The team is still short two members and Bower is of little use with his no field work ethic. But there is no way she is sending Berger out there with Roberts and her ex-husband present.

Stepping to the door of her office she opens it to instruct, “Bower, Maguire get a team over to the Cherry Street Pier.”

Ed Bower is the first to respond, “I believe we have an understanding about me doing field work,” he says standing up at his desk.

“We do,” Olpere acknowledges. “You can turn in your resignation afterward, now move!”

“Commander, there is no need for that, I can lead the mission,” Detective Berger interjects.

“You could but it is Bower who is going to do it,” Commander Olpere corrected. “Now take a seat and follow orders!” Berger looks to Bower with compassion. He knows the Detective has not been right about field work since their trip to Boston. This job has affected them all in ways they did not expect when they signed up. He trusts the Commander’s judgment but sometimes he questions her motives, something he keeps to himself hoping it is for the best.

Penn’s Landing
The Cherry Street Pier
Philadelphia, Pa

Master Warrior stands silently as Supreme Warrior makes good on his deal. He tucks the grenade in his hand back into his shoulder bag. Then he does something that Master Warrior didn’t think he would. Supreme Warrior reaches under the edge of his full head mask and pulls it off. The sight of the man’s face is a complete shock to the hero. “Oh my God, Gary?”

“Yes, Gary, little Gary Rogers, who you couldn’t trust with your secret!” the now revealed Supreme Warrior shouts throwing his fabric mask to the boards of the pier. “Your best friend since we were seven!” “That all changed that last summer at camp didn’t it!” “When you made a new friend, that little PUTZ DANNY!”

“Is that what this has all been about?” Master Warrior shouts back at him. “Our last summer at Camp and someone I told you I don’t even remember even meeting?”

“STOP LYING!” Supreme Warrior roars again as he charges forward becoming airborne. He flies across the pier at top speed directly at Master Warrior.

Master Warrior stands motionless still in shock at the realization his best friend since the second grade has become his worst enemy. Before he knows what is happening he is hit in the gut, tackled to the ground.

Supreme Warrior kneels on Master Warrior’s chest shouting in the hero’s face. “STOP LYING!” “I saw you with him at the Logging camp, I saw you use your powers!” He brings his fight fist down across Master Warrior’s face. “Why didn’t you trust me?” “Why would you trust that little twerp?” Supreme Warrior brings his left fist down across Master Warrior’s face causing blood to gush from his nose.

“Gary, you need to calm down,” Master Warrior says, tasting the blood on his lips. The pressure his former friend puts on his rib-cage is significant. It reminds him of the time they wrestled in Gym class years ago. “This isn’t you, it is this power you have gained somehow.” “It has corrupted you!”

“You have no idea what I have become!” Supreme Warrior mocks. “I am what I was always meant to be!” “Haa, haaa,” he laughs looking down at his foe’s bloody nose. “This reminds me of the day in Gym class when I pinned you.” “I knew you had powers then and all I wanted to do was win!” “I felt strong that day, stronger than you!” “That might be the first time we really fought.” “Then you gave up and you let me win.” “You were a liar even then!” Supreme Warrior is distracted as he monologues about the past. “I was so proud of myself, I thought I could do anything.” “But I soon learned that my strength was only increased when I used it against you.”

Master Warrior doesn’t want to fight back but he has to get away. Bucking his hips up he manages to loop his legs around Supreme Warrior’s neck. Pulling Supreme back, Master Warrior flips up on top of his foe pinning him face down on the boards. He yanks the bag from his attacker’s shoulder to fling it into the river. “I don’t want to fight you.” “Even if you don’t believe it, you still are the best friend I’ve ever had in my life.”

“We have not been friends for years!” Supreme Warrior shouts bringing his elbow back into Master Warrior’s ribs, sending him onto the side. Supreme Warrior scrambles to his feet to kick his former friend in the face. “I began to hate you after that.” He steps forward to kick his fallen foe again in the gut that sends Master Warrior airborne and to the edge of the pier. “I felt the power inside of me but I could only use it against you.” Master Warrior rolls and flips back to his hands and knees. “I couldn’t even show you what I could do without attacking you.” “I couldn’t prove to you I was worthy of your trust.” Supreme Warrior begins to march forward across the pier toward the edge. “Those days are gone now!” “I don’t need to prove anything to you!”

Sitting back on his feet trying to catch his breath, Master Warrior realizes that all of the blows that he has taken from Gary have been much more powerful than the last time they met. If he is not going to fight he must avoid getting hit again. He draws out his arsenal, forming it into a staff. He needs to keep Gary distracted, keep him talking about himself, Gary always loved talking about himself. “That was after you almost died, after Warren pumped you full of those drugs.” “Is that what changed you?”

The two men stalk each other in a circle. Supreme Warrior grins, “That was only the beginning.” “Then there was what Dr. Crow did for me.” “I don’t know how many times I died before you and David found me.” “What is it they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” He laughs again. “In my case what does kill me makes me stronger.”

Pete Stapleton and his estranged father watch the action unfold from a safe distance at the street edge of the pier. “Is this the same Steve that you always talked about from camp?” Cameron asks, putting together the relationship between his son and the man now dressed as Master Warrior.

“Why are you asking me that now?” Pete replies. “This is not the time for your ridiculous theories!”

“You said he had a girlfriend, do you know how they met?” Cameron presses as he marvels at the two combatants.

“She is the one I told you about that he met that second to the last year we all went to camp,” Pete reminds, figuring his father had all but forgotten the stories he told him about his summers at camp. “Why does that matter so much to you now?”

“Her name was Diana Carter, wasn’t it?” Cameron says surprising his son with the fact that he remembers a name he must have only said once years ago.

Returning to the scene at the pier Officer Zadlo moves closer to get a better look at what is happening. He doesn’t know when Master Warrior got here or where Steve Roberts has gone. But he spots Cameron Pike and the other man Steve was having lunch with before all of this started. Pulling out his badge he runs over to where they stand trying not to draw the attention of the superhuman combatants. He remembers what Commander Olpere said about not making contact with Pike, but with what is happening here all bets are off. “You two,” he calls out, holding up his badge. “Where is Steve Roberts?”

The father and son look at each other, not sure how to answer the question. Then Pete takes a closer look at the cop’s badge. “Mark Zadlo, aren’t you with the Elite Squad?” Pete questions.

“What would you know about it?” Zadlo asks as he is caught off guard by the question.

“Pete Stapleton with the Bulletin, any comment on what is happening here?” Pete says, pulling his recorder from his bag to hold it in the officer’s face.

“No, no, I am not authorized too…,” Zadlo stuttered before he was cut off by the fast talking reporter.

“Then why are you here, Officer Zadlo?” Pete presses.

“I believe he was following me, son,” Cameron clarifies. “In fact I don’t think Commander Olpere would be too happy with you talking to me.”

Turning to his father, Pete Stapleton’s professionalism drops away, “So she knows you are in town too?” “This was no chance meeting was it?”

“The real question is why were you following Steve Roberts?” Zadlo inquires with Cameron Pike.

Enough talk, Liar!” Supreme Warrior shouts as he lunges forward at incredible speed. Master Warrior defends himself with his staff knocking his former friend to the boards of the pier.

“Is Dr. Crow where you got the power to attack me at the Museum?” Master Warrior asks, remembering the bio-energy he felt when he drained Supreme Warrior using the King Maker Amulet.

Supreme Warrior pauses on the boards ready to spring back at his hated foe. “No, that power was a gift from another.” “In a way, it healed me.” “It gave me what I needed to face you at last.” He studies Master Warrior for a few minutes thinking through his next move. That weapon of his was a problem before, it must go. He knows what Master Warrior is capable of and he also know he can move much faster.

At a speed faster than Master Warrior can match, Supreme Warrior springs up toward him. Grabbing hold of the arsenal staff he falls onto his back forcing his feet into Master Warrior’s gut to flip him head over heels across the pier. There is something else that happens as he touches the staff. A slight charge of static electricity travels over its surface to cause Master Warrior’s fingers to release the staff. Master Warrior sails head long into a sandwich stand at the far side of the pier. Supreme Warrior twirls the staff like a baton for a few moments before heaving it into the river after his stolen grenades.

It takes only a few minutes for Master Warrior to return from the debris of the sandwich stand. As he emerges the sound of sirens are in the air. “I’ve had enough Gary!” “With the cops arriving I can’t have you saying anything private.” Supreme Warrior leaps forward to swing his fist at Master Warrior. Raising his gauntlet Master Warrior blocks the powerful fist. The momentum of the punch is absorbed instantly causing Supreme Warrior to drop to the ground as his feet. Rolling and flipping back to his feet, Supreme Warrior swings again with his left fist to be blocked again by the gauntlets. “Sorry buddy,” Master Warrior says as he gives Supreme Warrior a right cross to the jaw that sends him sailing back into cafe tables on the opposite side of the pier.

Master Warrior glances to his gauntlets to see that the pattern on them has tightened more than usual. Clearly Gary is giving off more than momentum. Whatever it is that he used to recharge this time it is attracted to his gauntlets.

As the fight rages on Cameron Pike tells his son, “I’ve learned all I need to here, so I’ll be going now.”

“Seriously Father!” Pete exclaims. “How is it you manage to arrive at the most pivotal times and then just disappear?” “Did you know this secret?” “Is that why you were following Steve?” “Jesus, was I just a lucky coincidence?”

“Son, there is something much bigger at stake here today than these events?” Cameron tells his son. “Something beyond your understanding.”

“You never change do you,” Pete sighs. “Talking down to me like you have from the first day we met.”

“That is not what I have been doing,” Cameron replies. “When we first met I could tell you did not know who you truly were.” “I believe I helped you with that.” “Now I must help Master Warrior find his destiny.”

Pete’s mind races with ideas at what his father has said. “Father, Dad, you can’t tell anyone what we saw today,” Pete pleads. “Steve is my friend.”

“I know exactly who Steve is to you,” Cameron says, causing his son to grimace again. “I have no desire to expose him.” “I want only to solve the much bigger problem.”

“Excuse me Gentlemen,” Officer Zadlo says. “I don’t know what you are talking about but neither of you is going anywhere.”

Then Commander Olpere arrives on the scene behind the other Elite Squad forces. “Peter, what are you doing here?” she addressed the Reporter in an aggravated tone.

“Well it is not spending quality time with dear old Dad, that is for sure!” Pete replied angrily.

“Are you the one who was having lunch with Steve Roberts,” The Commander asks.

“I am a reporter, you know I can not divulge my sources,” Pete says standing up to the Elite Squad leader.

“Then where is Steve Roberts now, Cameron?” she says speaking directly to her ex-husband. He does not say a word as he looks to the two combatants who fight hand to hand to a draw not far away from them. “Very well then you can go Mr. Pike.”

“Serious Mother!” Pete exclaims, catching Officer Zadlo’s attention. “You’re going to just let him walk out of here without giving a real statement?”

“Peter, after all of these years I really don’t want to hear anything your father has to say,” Commander Olpere tells the reporter. “In fact it will be better for everyone involved if there is no mention of him ever being here.” Commander Olpere then looks to Mark Zadlo who stands silent taking in the whole exchange between the three people. Commander Olpere then with a stern look on her face. “Officer Zadlo, I believe that I instructed you that if you made any contact, you would be compromised.” “Consider yourself off this assignment and return to the precinct at once to wait for your reprimand.”

Not far away, Master Warrior blocks every one of Supreme Warrior’s strikes at him with his gauntlets. As the energy stored in the alien shield/weapons grows he can tell it is electrical in nature. Not at all surprising that Gary would find a way to recharge his powers with electricity seeing as he is an Electrical Engineer. As the charge in his gauntlets grows the speed that his attacker uses seems to diminish. “Where did you learn to fight like this?” he asks, trying to get his foe talking again.

“The same place you did, only I am better!” Supreme Warrior shouts. It is then that he stops punching and grabs hold of Master Warrior’s forearms. Springing up Supreme Warrior drags Master Warrior up into the sky over the pier. Several hundred feet high he sharply changes direction pushing Master Warrior down at full speed to the river below. The men collide hard with the surface of the water nearly causing a sonic boom as a wave of river water slams against the pier. They sink nearly as deep as they were high in the sky as they struggle under the weight of the water. When they reach the river bottom Supreme releases Master. Grabbing hold of an old piece of scrap metal wedged under a rock, Supreme wraps it around Master Warrior’s wrist covering his gauntlet and pinning him to the river bed.

On the Pier the Elite Squad has secured the scene. Several armed officers stand at the edge of the pier waiting for someone to emerge from the water. Then Supreme Warrior erupts from the river to hang in the sky over them. A perfect target, but the squad holds their positions. Commander Olpere steps forward with a bull horn, “Stand down!”

Supreme Warrior laughs aloud, “This does not concern you woman!”

Lowering the bull horn Olpere speaks the command, “Take him down!” The team begins to fire at Supreme Warrior that does not move from his position in the sky. The bullets bounce off of him like icy hail on concrete. “I am Supreme Warrior!” he laughs at their attempt to harm him comes to no avail. “Do not mistake me for an easy target.” Then he swoops down through the crowd. One pass over the dock and he clears all of the cops into the river. “Hope you can swim better than that other fool!”

Below the water Master Warrior frees himself from the scrap metal and then spots his arsenal catching the light not far away. He swims to retrieve it before returning to the surface. Emergence into the daylight just as Supreme Warrior takes down the police into the river. Unlike his foe he must have momentum to take flight, something he has none of as he treads water in the river. But Supreme Warrior is already airborne. Drawing out his arsenal he snaps it into the air forming it into a thick chain. The golden chain whips out through the air to ensnare Supreme Warrior’s feet and ankles. Over the past year Master Warrior has become more connected to his arsenal making it so he no longer needs to command it verbally. With a thought he commands the chain to contract pulling him up out of the river.

Supreme Warrior spies what his former friend is doing and retaliates by flipping down to grab hold of the chain. A pull on the chain is all the momentum Master Warrior needs to take flight. Zipping around Supreme to bind him in the chain. Even the bound Supreme still has the control of their flight to flee, dragging Master Warrior along behind him.

Philadelphia Elite Squad
1st Precinct
Philadelphia, Pa

Officer Zadlo returns to the Squad room alone. He is confused and more than a little angry about the events that occurred at the Cherry Street pier. He finds the squad room empty so decides to take a bathroom break. Entering the Men’s room he finds Detective Berger standing at one of the urinals taking a leak. He steps up to the wall of urinals to assume the position two stalls from the Detective.

“Paddy you have been on the force for as nearly long as Commander Olpere, correct?” he asks over the sound of his own stream beginning.

Paddy Berger shakes and stows as he turns to look at the younger Officer. “That is an odd subject for piss conversation,” he states. “But yes, Commander Olpere has about five years of service on me.” “She moved up the ladder quickly, probably because of her being a strong headed woman, no doubt.”

“Did you know she had a son?” Zadlo asks as he continues to take a well earned piss. “Whew, I’ve been holding this all day.”

“Can’t say that I did, she is a very private person,” Paddy replies as he washes his hands at the sink. “I think that is the reason she got this assignment.”

“Can we speak off the record?” Mark says shaking and stowing to turn and face the detective.

“Of course,” Paddy tells him. “What is on your mind?”

“Well, she gave me an assignment this morning instructing me to tell no one, but with the way it played out I was hoping for your experienced opinion,” Mark says walking toward the sinks. “She had me follow a man I believed to be a suspect of some kind.” “As it turns out the man, Cameron Pike was also following someone.” “The man Pike was following met that reporter Pete Stapleton that wrote that article about Master Warrior.” “It looked like they were just friends meeting for lunch.”

“Who was the other guy that was meeting with Stapleton?” Paddy asks drying his hands on paper towels.

“I wasn’t sure if I should tell you but what happened next was amazing,” Mark says. “It was your roommate Steve Roberts that Pike was following.” “I was surprised to see him at first and hoped this wouldn’t all go bad.” “Then it did.” “After Pike sat down at the table everything went to shit!” “Someone was launching hand grenades from the Jersey side of the river.” “Next thing you know there is some Zeni coming across the river to attack the men.” “That was when I high tailed it back to my car to call Commander Olpere.”

“Then it was you that made the call-in,” Paddy assumes. He can only imagine what Steve has gotten himself into this time. “This is no doubt why Olpere didn’t want me anywhere near the situation,” Paddy surmises.

“I have to admit, I’m worried about Steve,” Mark confessed. “When I left to go to my car he was taking charge, trying to get people to clear the pier.” “But when I got back, he was nowhere to be found.” “Master Warrior was there but I was afraid that he might have been too late to save Steve.” “That was when Olpere and the team arrived.” “I overheard her speaking to Stapleton and Pike.” “It sounded to me like Stapleton called her Mom and Pike Dad.” “Making the whole me tailing Pike seem unofficial.”

“I do remember hearing something about Olpere being divorced but that happened before I joined the force,” Paddy shares. “She might have had a baby too.” “That would make the baby around 22 now.” “Same age as Steve.”

The Ben Franklin Bridge
Philadelphia, Pa

Supreme Warrior passes over the bridge with Master Warrior dangling several feet below him at the end of his arsenal chain. Master Warrior lashes out with the loose end of the chain to snag it on one of the lightning rods at the top of the bridge. The chain acts as an anchor that jerks Supreme Warrior back. Landing atop the tower, Master Warrior pulls the chain taunt.

Master Warrior knows that he can’t hold his foe forever, he must find a way to drain the electricity Gary has used to recharge himself. Although his arsenal appears to be metal, it does not conduct current. But the lightning rods on top of the tower do! Putting his foot down on the end of the chain moving to take hold of the on the other end that holds his friend. Jerking the chain forward, he aims for the lightning rod trying to strike a place that will cause the least injury to Gary.

Master Warrior cringes as Supreme Warrior cries out in pain as his shoulder is impaled on the shaft of the metal rod. He moves quickly now to touch his gauntlets to the steel tower. He can both see and feel the flow of electricity into the gauntlets. He looks up to see Supreme Warrior struggling to pull himself up off of the lightning rod shaft. It breaks Master Warrior’s heart to do this to his friend but he has been left with no other choice. As the electricity that fuels Supreme Warrior’s powers drains off he stops struggling to fall unconscious.

The channel 6 News chopper circles the Bridge tower as Supreme Warrior’s limp body dangles motionless on the spike. When Master Warrior feels the last of the electricity funnel into his gauntlets he recalls his arsenal to become a strap he places on his leg. He then leaps up to retrieve the unconscious Gary from the spire. Lifting the unconscious man from the tower spindle he glides back toward the Pier.

The News helicopter swoops closer to get a shot of the man that Master Warrior carries. The wound on his shoulder is large and blood gushes from the gash. Turning his back to the voyeurs he descends back to the planks of the pier where the police wait with EMTs. “This man needs some help over here!” Master Warrior calls out.

For perhaps the first time Commander Olpere approaches the hero directly. Her demeanor seems different to Master Warrior as he lays Gary to a reinforced stretcher. “Is this the assailant?” she asks. “Was all this bloodshed necessary?”

“He had charged himself using electricity, I needed to drain that off by grounding him,” Master Warrior replies. “Even without that extra power the wound appears to be already healing.” “He needs to be treated as a continuing threat.” “Most of all keep him away from any power source that he can use to recharge himself.”

“Do you feel that we are in a position to handle him?” Olpere asks, surprising Master Warrior even farther at her demeanor. The four Police officers from the S.W.A.T. team that arrived with the Elite Squad moved in with heavy chains and straps to secure Supreme Warrior to the stretcher.

“I have to believe he is not beyond help,” Master Warrior replies sadly. “I can only hope that he can find that help in custody.”

Neither of them notice as the Reporter Pete Stapleton who has been inside the police line the whole time walks up behind them to spy the face of the pier attacker. “Oh my god, Gary,” he mutters. “He did this?” Master Warrior turns to give the reporter he calls friend a sad nod.

“You know this man?” Commander Olpere inquires.

“Yeah, I went to camp with him too,” Pete answers looking to Master Warrior’s blurry face. “My friend Steve and I were just talking about him not long ago.” “Good thing Steve had to cut our lunch short before all of this happened.” “What is going to happen to Gary now?” Pete asks thinking his Mother will not tell him anything as usual.

“He will be treated in a secure Hospital Unit where he will remain in custody until we can determine if he can be safely put on trial,” Commander Olpere answers to Pete’s surprise. Then looking at the reporter she states, “Yes, you can print that.” “The Commissioner has given the okay to discuss the Elite Squad’s activities with the press.” “It would seem that he is getting a lot of pressure about the Squad’s activity recently.” Olpere glares at Master Warrior differently than she usually does. “Can you tell me what his goal was?”

“Payback,” Master Warrior answers. “He felt I betrayed him.” Looking around the pier the regret sets in for the damage he and Gary caused. “I am really sorry about all of this, I had no way of knowing he would or could do this.” “Was anyone hurt?”

“Not that we know of so far,” Commander Olpere says, making Master Warrior feel a little better. “It would seem that someone cleared everyone out before it got too bad.”

“At least there was that,” Pete says as he scribbles on his notepad. “Just to let you know I’m keeping Gary’s name out of this article.” “There is no need to drag down with what happened.”

Master Warrior smiles again under his disguise. “He called himself Supreme Warrior, you can use that name in your article.” “My apologies, I think I should go now.” “Commander Olpere, if you need my help with him, I believe Mr. Stapleton knows how to contact me.” Taking three steps away from the scene Master Warrior pushes off to fly up over the city.

“This has been a very strange day,” Commander Olpere states. “No surprise that Cameron Pike was right in the middle of it.”

 

May 26, 1988
The Philadelphia Bulletin offices
An Alameda International LTD. Newspaper
112 South Third Street
Philadelphia, PA

Steve Roberts walks into the bullpen giving no care to the fact that he has never been here. He heads straight for Pete Stapleton’s cubicle to find him typing. “Hi Pete,” he says softly. “I just wanted to stop by and thank you for understanding why I had to cut our lunch short yesterday.” “And seeing as to what has become of Gary I wanted to make sure you were okay with it.” “I wanted you to know I considered telling you but you seemed so adamant that you didn’t want to know.”

Pete grabs a pack of cigarettes from his desk drawer as he stands up to reply, “I think we need to talk about this somewhere more private.” “Follow me.” Pete leads Steve from the bullpen to the fire stairs and up to the roof. “No one comes up here this time of day,” he tells Steve as he lights a smoke. “I have to admit I was surprised and I wish it hadn’t happened but it does clear up the whole reason why Gary hated you so much.”

“And how do you feel?” Steve asks.

“If you are asking if I’m going to expose you in the paper, the answer is no,” Pete says to Steve’s relief. “My Editor has been on me since that first interview to find out who he was, that is why I didn’t want to know.” “As far as what happened to Gary goes, I don’t feel the same way about your secret.” “I’ve seen enough in my job to understand why it has to be kept.” Pete takes several puffs of his cigarette before asking, “So you were like this back then?”

“Pretty much, it happened on my fourteenth birthday,” Steve says sitting down on the edge of the building roof. “I was a scared kid with all this power that I didn’t know what to do with.” “Clearly I figured that out now.” “I want to use it to help people who can’t help themselves.” Steve hangs his head at the thought of it. “I can’t believe this has happened to Gary.” “I don’t know how to fix it.” “All the stuff I’ve learned to do, all of the things I have done and I have no idea how to fix my best friend.”

Pete crushes out his cigarette on the gravel rooftop and steps forward to put his hand on Steve’s shoulder. “You can only do what you can do.” “We both know Gary had problems, even back then.” “He could have come to you as a friend, asked you about it.” “But he didn’t.” “That isn’t your fault.”

Steve lifts his head, his eyes welling. “It sure feels like my fault.” “The more he pushed me away the more I let him do it.” “I should have pushed back, found out what was really going on in his head.” “Now I don’t know if he will ever be right again.”

“That isn’t up to you,” Pete consoles. “Hell I’m as much to blame as you are if that is the case.” Steve gives Pete a confused look. “That last summer at Camp Tandy when you were off doing whatever, Gary and I hung out more,” Pete reveals. “One night he got really drunk, something he claimed to do a lot.” “He told me some things that night I wasn’t sure if I should believe him or not.” “He also told me how bad things were at home with his Dad.” “Stuff I never imagined could have been happening to someone I knew.”

“What kind of stuff?” Steve asks. “I always thought his Dad was a scary looking guy so I kept my distance.”

Pete chuckles, “It’s funny to hear you were scared of him.” “Did Gary ever tell you who he lost his virginity to?”

“I always thought it was that red head at Camp, Tracey, until recently,” Steve says. “Whoever it was he thought it made him a big man so I didn’t question it too much.”

“He told me her name was Jillian,” Pete reveals to Steve’s surprise.

“The only Jillian I remember was his second step-mother, but that is crazy,” Steve suggests.

“I thought so too,” Pete replies. “He told me it was his Christmas present from his Dad, to make him a man.” “Next morning he didn’t seem to remember us talking about that stuff so I figured he was just drunk and making things up.” “Then there was that night before Wayne’s wedding, when we took Gary back to the hotel he confessed some other shit to me.” “His father had found out that he and Jillian were still screwing in secret and that is why Jillian was dead.”

“That can’t be right,” Steve says. “Why wouldn’t he say something, go to the police?”

“He was afraid of his father, I guess,” Pete suggests. “In fact he also implied that his father had abused him too.”

“Now that isn’t possible, I don’t remember Gary ever having bruises or looking beat up,” Steve says not wanting to believe he was so blind to what was going on.

“Looking back now he also implied what I learned yesterday.” “The way he was dancing around it, it didn’t make sense to me,” Pete confesses. “I chalked it up to ramblings of a drunk again.” “Maybe I didn’t want to know if what he was telling me was true or not.” “That was until my last interview with Master Warrior.” “The attention the first interview drew made me realize how much I was hiding myself.”

“Hiding yourself?” Steve repeats.

“It made me think about how I had just been doing a job and not reaching for the gold ring,” Pete confesses. “So I decided to do what I intended to do when I became a reporter.” “I did the leg work.” “I found Gary’s first step-mother, Rebecca.” “She was living in Texas.” “I was calling her for about a week before she finally agreed to talk to me.” “She told me that Joseph Rogers was a real bastard.” “That not long after they were married he descended into alcoholism that led to regular beatings and sexual abuse.” “She stayed for as long as she could for the sake of Gary, who was just a baby.” “It was after Joseph beat her to the point of hospitalization that she fled, never looking back.” “Her biggest regret was leaving Gary behind with that monster as she called Joseph.” “But there was nothing she could do, he had full custody.”

“Oh my god, someone has to do something about Joseph Rogers,” Steve exclaims standing up from the ledge.

“I think someone already did,” Pete explains. “I checked up on him after my talk with Rebecca.” “He has been in a coma since early February, not long before Supreme Warrior appeared at the Art Museum.” “He was beaten to within an inch of his life.” “Police have no suspects.”

“So you think Gary did it.” Steve concludes.

“After seeing what he did to you yesterday can there be any doubt?” Pete states.

Steve sits back down on the raised ledge to think for a minute. “I really need to talk to Gary to find out if all of this is true,” he says. “I just don’t know if Olpere will go for it.” “She seems to be treating Master Warrior better but I want to talk to him as myself.”

Pete grins, “I think I might be able to work something out for you.” “I kinda have an in with Commander Olpere.” “Why don’t you give me a call this afternoon.”

“On a different note, I did some research on your father last night,” Steve says. “Is he going to be a problem for me?” “After all, what he did with catching that grenade was rather amazing.”

“No, he is just weird!” Pete retorts. “I had wondered for years who my father was and once I found out I wished I hadn’t.” “Cameron Pike is something of a free spirit, he really doesn’t live by the same rules as the rest of us.” “I swore him to secrecy about what we saw at the pier.” “I know I can not depend on him for much, but I do know I can trust him to keep a secret.” “Secrets are one thing that my family is really good at keeping.”

“I hope you are right,” Steve says, moving to shake Pete’s hand. “I’ll let you get back to work, I have a meeting with Police Commissioner Aspen in a couple of hours.” “And before you ask, I have no idea what it is about.” “So I should be home by three if it is okay for me to call then.”

“That would be fine, Good Luck,” Pete says, shaking his friend’s hand giving it a good hard squeeze. “You should work on that handshake too.” “It is a real tell.”

Commissioner Aspen’s office
Philadelphia Police Headquarter
One Franklin Square
Philadelphia, Pa

Commissioner Aspen is just finishing a phone call as Steve Roberts enters his office. Steve is dressed in a shirt and tie, something he has not worn in a while. He slides his finger inside the collar to adjust the loose button on the neck again. He has always had a hard time finding shirts that fit his neck and of late it has gotten harder.

“Mr. Roberts I am so glad you could make it on such short notice,” Commissioner Aspen says walking around his desk to shake the young man’s hand.

“I have to admit I was surprised to hear from your office now that I am no longer on the force,” Steve replies as he gives the Head of the Philadelphia Police Department’s hand a shake. “I hope it is not about one of my screw-ups from back then coming to haunt me.”

“No it is nothing like that,” The Commissioner chuckles. “Please have a seat.” The Commissioner leads Steve over to a leather couch and chair that were not in the office the last time he was here back when he was a cop. Aspen takes a seat in the chair while Steve takes a place on the couch. “It is a rather personal matter that I would rather not involve anyone on the force with.” Steve is intrigued by the statement. “I know your record from your time on the force and it is a good one.” “I also know you have been making quite a name for yourself as a Private Detective.”

“Thank you, sir,” Steve says. “There are a lot of P.I. in the city.” “Why call me, I’m licensed in New Jersey.”

“That is exactly why I called you,” Aspen explains. “I believe you are familiar with Camp Tandy in Lawrence Township?”

“As a matter of fact I am,” Steve replies. “I went there as a kid.”

“I know, my son, Jeremy goes there too every summer,” The Commissioner reveals. “I don’t know if you remember him, he was 7 years younger than you back then.” “He remembered you those first two summers he went there.”

“Jeremy, Jeremy, wait, was he a small kid with dark curly hair?” Steve asks. Aspen nods his head, handing Steve an old photo of his son. “I remember him, he was a great little swimmer.” “I had almost forgotten about him.” “There was an overturned canoe in the lake and he wanted to help with the rescue.” “I told him no, of course, but he was always eager to help.” “How is he doing?”

“Well the thing is my wife is concerned by the way he acts after returning home from camp,” Commissioner Aspen explains. “He is angry and solemn, and doesn’t want to spend time with us.”

“It’s called being a teenager,” Steve jokes. “I had a few years like that myself.”

“I’ve tried to tell my wife that too, but she is concerned that he is being bullied at Camp,” Aspen explains. “When I tried to talk to him about it he shut me out.” “Yet he insists he wants to go back to camp this year.” “If you are interested in helping me find out what is going on with him, I have arranged for you to have a job as a Camp Counselor.” “I will pay all of your fees and expenses and you can keep the salary from the camp as well.”

“That is quite an offer sir, but do you really want me to spy on your son?” Steve says.

“It would put my wife at ease and you know what they say, Happy wife, Happy Life,” Aspen responds. “I know you are a busy young man, that is why I was hoping the money would be an extra incentive.”

“I don’t know how I could ever turn down a job to parents looking to protect their child,” Steve says, standing up to shake the Commissioner’s hand again. “I can have David send you over the contracts.” “Commissioner, there is one more thing I have to ask, why did you call me directly and not the Agency in New Jersey,” Steve asks before leaving.

“You see my wife was talking to her cousin about her fears and he recommended you,” Commissioner Aspen explains. The Commissioner then takes a business card from his shirt pocket. “He even gave her your card.”

“Do you mind if I ask who this cousin of your wife is?” Steve asks curiously.

“I guess he wouldn’t mind me saying, after all he is something of a celebrity, Cameron Pike,” Aspen reveals. The name rings in Steve’s ears. What is going on with this Cameron Pike guy? First he learns that he is Pete Stapleton’s father and now he is lining up jobs for him?

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
V.I.P. Ward
111 S 11th St
Philadelphia, Pa

Steve has been in this secret ward before, but as Master Warrior. That visit was not something that went well for him. He might not have made it out without Paddy’s help. He can only hope that this visit is not a repeat of that one. Showing his special pass issued by Commander Olpere to the guard at the entrance into the ward Steve continues inside. The special unit is rather small in comparison to others in the hospital. The most noticeable difference is the presence of heightened security offices in the hall.

Steve approaches the nurse’s station to say, “Excuse me, I have an appointment to meet with Gary Rogers who is being held here.”

“Yes, we were told you would be coming,” the nurse says. “I will call Dr. Michaelson.” The mention of the doctor who specializes in Zeni-human patients gives Steve pause. He has met Dr. Michaelson twice before, once as Master Warrior and once as Steve Roberts. He hopes this second visit with a Zeni-human villain will not raise anymore suspicion on the doctor’s mind. The nurse makes the call simply saying, “He is here.” Then looking back at Steve, “Dr Michaelson will be right with you.”

“That really isn’t necessary, you could have just directed me to his room,” Steve suggests.

“But it was necessary,” Dr. Michaelson says, arriving promptly from an office behind the nurses’ station. “I was eager to see the man again who has made a habit of visiting Zeni-humans in the hospital.”

“I assure you Doctor this is just a coincidence is all,” Steve tells him trying to appear unconcerned by Michaelson’s presence. “Gary and I grew up together, I really need to talk to him about what has happened to him.”

“Well Mr. Roberts he is right this way,” Dr. Michaelson directs him down the corridor. “First your cousin and now your friend?” “One of my colleagues has a theory about people like you.”

“People like me?” Steve questions almost wishing he hadn’t.

“Yes, Dr. Chaffee has a theory that just like some people are just drawn to trouble, some are drawn to Zeni-humans,” Dr. Michaelson suggests. “She believes that Zeni-humans have always existed and people like you helped keep the hidden for society.” “Like Renfield did for Dracula in literature.”

“So you think I am a mesmerized slave?” Steve asks as they come to stop at a guarded room with no number on the door.

“Not at, I just think you are fascinated by such people just like Commander Olpere,” the doctor replies. “After all it is she who got you this V.I.P. visit.” Michaelson opens the door to the room to lead Steve inside. “In the past day the wound on his shoulder has completely healed, as you can see.” “We have managed to keep him unconscious with the same dosage of medications used on a normal person.” “It is very odd.”

“How so?” Steve questions approaching the side of the bed.

“Someone with the ability to heal that rapidly should also be able to shrug off the meds just as quickly,” Michaelson explains. “Commander Olpere also questioned him under the influence of Sodium Pentathlon.”

“How do you know he is not faking?” Steve inquires. Steve lifts the sheet off his apparently unconscious friend. The doctor is right the wound from being impaled on the lightning rod is completely healed, not even leaving a scar. He must retain some kind of Zeni-human abilities even without the supercharge. Steve also takes notice that Gary is strapped down to the bed that is sturdier built than any he has ever seen in a hospital. “How am I supposed to talk to him if he is in a coma?”

“I can wake him up enough to speak, but only with full security in the room,” Dr. Michaelson says as a nurse enters the room with a tray of prepared needles. “You didn’t have anything too private to discuss with him, did you?” Steve hides his disappointment at the fact that there will be a room full of witnesses to his questioning of Gary. Dr. Michaelson opens the door to invite the two guards outside in. Returning to the bedside Dr. Michaelson turns off the infusion pump machine that keeps a steady flow of medication in the IV. Then he returns to the tray to lift up the first needle. “If you would like I can give him a dose of Sodium Pentathlon as well.”

“That will not be necessary,” Steve tells the doctor as he moves to inject the first syringe into Gary’s IV line. Dr. Michaelson steps back away from the bed stretching out the long tubing as he rolls the infusion pump with him. The unconscious man in the bed slowly wakes from his medically induced coma. When his eyes open wide Steve asks, “Gary, can you hear me?” “Do you know who I am?”

“Oh, I know who you are, asshole,” Gary replies groggily. “Does that scare you?”

“Gary, how did this happen to you?” Steve asks, trying not to look at the reactions of the doctor and security guards.

Gary unsteadily lifts his head to take attendance of the room. Then he looks down to his restrained arm where the IV. has been inserted. “Arm doesn’t burn the same this time.” “No truth serum this time, doc?” He says looking at Michaelson. Then turning his attention back to Steve he comments, “I guess knowing they gave me that before scares you too.” The two former friends stare at each other for a few seconds. “If you want answers then you should know, the woman never asked the right questions.” “All she cared about was keeping me locked up.” “As for how this happened to me, it happened to me because of you!”

“That isn’t true and you know it,” Steve replies in frustration. “I never did anything to cause what happened to you.” “This is the last thing I would have ever wanted for you.”

“You just keep lying, just like Dr. Crow said you would,” Gary snarrels, dropping his head back on the pillow. “It eats you up inside to know you aren’t better than me!” Gary says angrily at the ceiling. “What I have makes me your equal!” The conversation is taking a turn that Steve would prefer these other men in the room did not hear.

“So is that what this is all about you proving you are better than me?” Steve asks. “Or is it about what your father did to you?”

“Fuck You!” Gary shouts attempting to sit up. “You don’t know anything!” “You never gave a shit about me!” “I will make you pay for all of it!”

“What will it take to reach that goal?” Steve asks. “I could have helped back then if you had just told me.”

Gary tries to sit up again, as far as he can still restrained by the thick strap across his chest. He locks eyes with Steve to say. “I want to rip those ridiculous big balls of yours off and shove them down your lying throat!”

“I’ve heard enough Dr. Michaelson,” Steve says, turning to the doctor who stands with his hand on the infusion pump switch. The doctor presses the button and the medication begins to feed into the IV. Gary quickly falls back in the bed unconscious again. “He mentioned a Dr. Crow,” Dr. Michaelson says, rolling the machine back next to the bed. “Do you know who Dr. Crow is?”

“As far as I am concerned Dr. Crow is nothing more than a local Urban Legend where Gary was living in Ohio,” Steve answers. “Gary went missing a while back.” “When his cousin, David and I went to find him there was someone pretending to be Dr. Crow at a local bar.” “Whoever he really was, I believe that he did this to Gary.” “turned him into a fury of anger.”

“Sounds to me like your friendship was not as pleasant as you thought,” the doctor suggests.

“We grew apart in High School, just normal growing up stuff,” Steve explains.

Dr. Michaelson checks over his patient briefly. “If there is one thing I have learned in my years of studying Zeni-humans, it is that people do not become Zeni-humans.” “They are born with the Zeni-gene or not.” “It can not be gained, only triggered if it is dormant.”

“If that is true then one thing he said that has stuck with me is that what kills him makes him stronger,” Steve tells the doctor knowing full well that Supreme Warrior said that to Master Warrior. “So I suggest that whatever you do with him keep him alive.” “By my count he has died three times already.”

Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa

Steve arrives home around dinner time with a Whopper and fries from Burger King. Paddy has been home long enough to fix himself some food. “Hey,” Steve says, grabbing a glass of milk from the frig. He makes his way to the table to take his food out of the bag without saying anything else.

“So I hear you had some action at the pier today,” Paddy says, plating his dinner and bringing it to the table to sit with Steve. “Got some surprising news about that friend of yours, huh.”

“To say the least,” Steve says with a mouth full of Whopper. “I’ve been thinking how much it is going to change everything.”

“Stapleton turning out to be Olpere’s son is going to change everything?” Paddy asks, causing Steve to choke on his fries.

“What?” Steve says, clearing his throat. “Pete is Olpere’s son.”

“That is what Zadlo said,” Paddy explains. “What were you talking about?”

Steve washes down his food with a big gulp of milk. “My best friend, Gary, is Supreme Warrior and he wants to rip my balls off.”

“Oh shit,” Paddy replies. “That guy you fought at the museum?”

“The same,” Steve says. “He knows my secret, known it for years and hates me because of it.” “I went to see him at the hospital, he told me he wasn’t going to tell anyone, but the fact that he knows and is angry is the problem.” “It puts everyone at risk, you, Pete, even Diana.” “He knows I still have feelings for Diana.” “What am I going to do?” “How can I still keep seeing here?” “Put her at risk?” Steve looks at Paddy with the saddest eyes he has ever seen. “What about you?” “How can I still live here?”

“If Olpere has him in custody, you have nothing to worry about,” Paddy assures.

Steve sits back in his chair pushing his food away. “Not now, but I know Gary will not give up.” “He will find a way to get his powers back, a way to escape.” “He will come after all of you!”

“If he has known for years why hasn’t he already?” Paddy suggests.

“It is different now that I know he knows,” Steve sighs. “If he can’t attack me directly, going after one of you would be even better now that I know who he is.”

“Glad I’ve got this then,” Paddy says, taking the strangest gun he has ever seen from the holster under his arm to lay it on the table.

“What the hell is that?” Steve exclaims.

“Newest issue, A Zeni-taiser,” Paddy grins. “It is supposed to be able to take down an elephant.” “Want to give it a try?”

 

 

Diana Carter,Commander Tabitha Olpere,Steve Roberts Jr,Cameron Pike,Pete Stapleton,Supreme Warrior,Gary Rogers,Commissioner Mathew Aspen, Camp Tandy,Jeremy Aspen,Officer Mark Zadlo,Officer Craig Maguire,Detective Edward Bower,Helen Aspen,Dr. Crow,Dr. Charlie Michaelson,Zeni-human,Zeni-taiser