Wednesday, February 17, 1988
Trial One-Greed
The Kensington Section
Philadelphia, Pa
Hershel is following behind his target at a rather large distance, much farther back than any normal surveillance would be performed. The weather in Philadelphia this time of year is much different than Miami, requiring him to add a knee length leather coat to his attire with his hair tucked up under a knit hat. The high collar of the jacket shields his face from sight as a cold wind blows over him. When the sound of fire engine syrines begin to sound the Nozama spots his target ducking into an alley a block ahead. He reaches into the pocket of his leather coat to retrieve a small seven sided object, no larger than a walnut made of shiny brass.
Hershel no longer watches the sidewalk for his target to emerge but rather the sky. It takes only a few minutes for him to spot Master Warrior flying up into the sky over the buildings from the alley. Taking aim Hershel throws the seven sided object into the air at the hero as he flies in pursuit of the fire trucks. The projectile hits Master Warrior in the small space of exposed skin between his belt and the bottom of his flight vest. The hero takes no notice of the well aimed projectile as it vanishes on contact with his body.
Not far away an explosion in a row home just before dawn has drawn three fire stations to the fire it has ignited. The fire burns hot in the coldness of the February morning as it warms air in the streets around it. Two fire departments have struggled for an hour to douse the flames and rescue the sleeping residents by the time the third arrives.
Fireman Vic George stands at the top of the ladder as he has done at many fires during his career. He knows the chemical smell of a meth lab gone bad as it burns. He also knows that this is one fire that will not easily be extinguished.
Vic spots something in the sky drawing closer. The object is too small to be a news-copter so he hopes it is the one person that might really be able to help save lives. When the form comes close enough he is pleased to see that he is right, it is Master Warrior.
“Vic, how are you doing?” Master Warrior calls out as he circles the fireman that he has met previously. “What can I do to help?”
“There are still people trapped on the upper floors of some of the houses,” Vic shouts through his protective mask. “Can you get them out?”
“On it!” Master Warrior calls back to the fireman as he breaks off to turn his trajectory back to the row of burning homes. He flips in mid-air to crash feet first through a second story window. Landing inside the inferno he calls out, “Hello, can anyone hear me?” At first he hears nothing, but then there is a cry from above. He breaks through a wall into an enclosed staircase. This old row home has been converted into apartments, one on each of the three floors. The flames had not yet reached the third floor but the smoke moved heavily into the stairway now that he has given it access. Master Warrior begins to run up the stairs taking three at a time. He can barely see through the heavy smoke as he calls out again, “Hello, keep shouting so I can find you!” The smoke would have overcome any average man at this point because his amazon lungs are made of stronger stuff.
“Help us!” “Help us please!” he hears the call from ahead of him. It is coming from the door at the far end of the apartment, where the fire has not yet spread but soon will. Breaking in the door he finds a woman and three young children huddled in an old claw-foot bathtub.
“It’s going to be alright,” Master Warrior tells them. “I’m going to get you out of here.” “Are you the only ones here?”
“No!” the woman shouts. “My boyfriend just left before the explosion.”
“Then I will look for him next,” Master Warrior creates a sledgehammer from his arsenal to smash out the small window frame and then the wall to create a large opening. He looks down out over the side of the row home and then back at the sledgehammer in his hand. “I can’t carry all of you but I can lower you down.” His arsenal then reforms itself into a thick mountain climbing rope. “I need for you to all hold onto the tub and stay close together,” he instructs as he approaches them. He loops the rope around the tub two times tying it into a harness to cradle the old iron bathtub.
“What are you going to do?” the frightened mother asks as Master Warrior moves to break away the plumbing pipes that connect the tub to the floor.
“I’m going to get you out of here, now hold on!” Master Warrior slides his hands under the side of the iron tub filled with precious cargo to lift it from the floor. He carries it with ease to the hole he has ripped in the wall. The children are crying as he sets the heavy tub down at the opening in the wall. There is a look of shock in the mother’s eyes as he continues his instructions. “I’m going to give this thing a shove, but there will be a little jerk at first.” “I will be holding the rope to lower you to the ground.” “Hold onto the rope if you must but let go when the tub touches the ground.”
“Come on kids, hold onto the sides of the tub or the rope,” the mother tells the children as she pulls together some courage. Master Warrior does as he explained and the cast iron tub slides out the hole in the wall. He holds the tub by the end so only two of the claw feet still remain on the floor.
“This is where the jerk happens,” he warns as he gives the final shove to get the tub out of the house. The tub filled with the family drops only a few inches as Master Warrior takes its weight at the end of the rope. Down below he can see EMTs gathering in amazement as he begins to lower the four people in the cast iron bathtub down. It takes only a few minutes for the feet of the tub to touch the ground. Master Warrior calls out, “Let go of the rope!” The rope free of small hands it instantly releases the tub to retract back up forming the sledge hammer again.
Leaving the bathroom Master Warrior can see that the smoke has filled the third floor of the row home as the flames have moved up the stairwell. Finding the center of the apartment Master Warrior swings his sledgehammer down onto the floor boards breaking through them. He peels back the wooden planks to then use his feet to break through the ceiling of the apartment below on the second floor.
As he suspected the fire burns mostly on the connecting side of the row-house where the stairs are located. Master Warrior jumps down through the hole in the floor he has created. After a quick search of the second floor apartment where he finds no one, he repeats the process of ripping open the floor to jump down to the first floor. Again he finds no one leaving only the basement to explore.
Ripping a hole to the basement, Master Warrior finds something nothing short of amazing. There are tables stacked full of cash. At first glance there must be over five million dollars. He hears a man’s voice from behind him, “Help me get this money out of here, man and I will split it with you!”
He turns to see a very inked up man stuffing money from a table into trash bags. There are already several bags piled at the bottom of the stairs out to the back yard. The thought of all this free money might be very tempting to someone else but to Master Warrior it is only bad news. “You must be insane!” “This whole place is about to come down on top of us,” he replies gesturing to the burning rafters over them. “We need to go, leave the money!”
“No!” the man shouts pulling a gun from under his jacket. “If you won’t help then you are of no use to me!” The stranger fires the gun at Master Warrior who stops the bullets with his gauntlet.
“Enough!” Master Warrior shouts as he leaps across the room over the table at the man. The tattooed man is easily disarmed as Master Warrior restrains him and drags him from the crumbling row-home’s basement. Out in the backyard Master Warrior leaps out into the street dragging the greedy man by the arm with him. Seconds later three sections of the row-homes crumble into the basement.
“You asshole!” the tattooed man exclaims. “All that money!” “You fucked me out of all that money!” “Do you know who much meth I had to sell?”
“No, but I bet these gentlemen would like to hear all about it,” Master Warrior tells the tattooed man as two policemen approach from the street. Master Warrior stands watching as the firemen bring the fire under control. Even with all of the smoke Master Warrior oddly catches the fragrance of Lavender as he leaps up into the air.
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
His morning was a wash, Steve returns home to call David to tell him that he missed his chance at the lead he was following. Just after arriving home there is a knock at the door. He anticipates that it will be Julie with some contrived problem to waste his time. Opening the door Steve is taken back by the stranger who stands in the hallway. The man is imposing making Steve feel like he towers over him even though he is only a few inches taller. “Can I help you?” Steve asks cautiously not sure what this man wants, expecting his danger sense to warn him of something.
“I hope so and I hope I can help you as well,” the large dark man replies. “I am Hershel and to my surprise you have passed the first of your trials.”
“Excuse me, what are you talking about?” Steve asks, looking the man in the eye. Something is not right about this man.
“Come now, let’s not beat about the bush, as they say,” Hershel says reaching out to touch Steve’s shoulder pushing him aside to walk into the apartment. Steve can feel the force of the man’s strength, but he does not resist it. “Your mother sent me.” “She said you are different.” Hershel looks around the apartment as if he is interested in renting it. “You live very modestly for a man who can throw a car thirty yards.”
“Who are you exactly?” Steve asks, closing the door hoping to get some privacy. “How do you know my mother?”
“You can call me Hershel,” the man replies. “I met your mother in 100 B.C.” “She was quite the wild child.”
“My mother was never a child,” Steve replies. “What is this test you are talking about?”
“Over the next several days you will be undergoing trials to prove your worthiness,” Hershel says looking Steve in the eye for the first time. “I suggest you don’t screw it up.” Hershel turns to head for the door.
“Wait where do you think you are going?” Steve says, following after the man. “You can’t come into my home and drop this bomb and leave.” Steve reaches out to grab the man’s shoulder.
“You can’t stop me,” Hershel says, grabbing Steve’s wrist to twist it, shoving him to the floor. By the time Steve recovers from the shock of the attack Hershel is long gone.
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
Steve tries to put the events of earlier out of his mind for most of the day only to return home with it still in the foreground. Was any of what that guy told him true? His strength was real, but does he really know his mother from 100 BC? At any rate Hershel coming to his home has put all of his friends at risk. There is only one way to find out who this stranger really is.
It has been a long day although the fire is long extinguished Steve can still smell it in his sinuses. A shower will not help him think as he flops down on his bed, but a call to his mother might. Steve figures his mother is still at work this time of day. He dials the phone wondering why she hasn’t called him first. “Dona Roberts, research and authentication department,” she answers the phone.
“Mom, sorry to bother you at work, it’s me,” Steve says sitting up to pull off his shirt. “I was just wondering if you know a guy calling himself Hershel?”
“So he has approached you already,” Dona replies. “I thought he would follow you around longer.”
“So you know him?” Steve sighs flopping down on his pillow. “He said you sent him.” “I get a strange vibe off on him.” “Why didn’t you warn me?”
“I wanted to watch you first, I knew he didn’t mean you any harm.” “He’s a Nozama, one of the good ones, perhaps the only one left,” Dona explains. “He is also Samso’s brother, the one who originally imprisoned him.” “He was concerned about you releasing Samso.” “I explained it was an accident.” “He still wanted to meet you.”
He is far from the only good one, Steve thinks remembering how Henry helped him escape Olestra. “This Hershel guy told me that he was going to give me seven trials,” Steve explains.
“Hershel told me he didn’t trust Mist’s imprisonment,” Dona tells her son. “He believes that when Samso escapes again he would come after you.” “I told him you could handle Samso if it happens again.” “He must want to make sure.”
The thought of a second conflict with the Dominator is something he would rather not think about. He barely survived the first. “So he is going to continue to cause trouble like that fire this morning,” Steve says with concern.
“I am sure Hershel would not intentionally start a fire to test you,” Dona assures. “Wait, did you say seven trials?”
“Yes, why does that matter?” Steve quizzes. The thought of a Nomaza on the loose in the United States scares Steve more than a little.
“There is a seven sided box created centuries ago that is called the Trials of Sins Box, that is a loose translation,” Dona recalls. “But that is safe here in the vault.” Dona goes silent for a moment realizing what has happened. “That bastard!” she grumbles over the phone.
“What is it, Mom?” Steve asks, filled with fear.
“He was in the vault when he was here!” she reveals. “The box targets the seven deadly sins and draws them to you and you to them until one defeats you or you prevail.”
“So how do I undo it?” Steve urges wanting to put an end before it gets out of hand.
“You can’t, it is part of you now until it runs its course,” his mother tells him.
After hanging up the phone Steve stares at the ceiling over his bed. He knows he should probably be more worried about these trials but from what his mother told him there is nothing he can do to stop them. He closes his eyes for a minute considering everything that has been going on in his life of late. As always his mind turns to the weekend with Diana.
He begins to drift off when he is startled awake. For a minute he thinks it must have been a dream. Steve lays on his bed in the silence when he hears another strange noise. It sounds like a grunt, or a moan, like someone in pain. Perhaps being attacked. Steve sits up in his bed to figure out the origin of the sounds.
It is clear to Steve that the sounds are coming from Paddy’s room. What if this has something to do with these trials Hershel has begun. He leaps up from his bed to sprint for the door. In the hallway it is clear to Steve that he is hearing cries of pain. Reaching for his ear he transforms into Master Warrior. Grabbing for the doorknob to Paddy’s room without another thought he is in the room.
Standing at the foot of Paddy’s bed he has a full view of something he wishes he was not seeing. Paddy looks back over his shoulder to see Master Warrior standing dumbfounded. “Would you please get out!” Paddy says without skipping a beat.
Completely embarrassed Master Warrior leaves the room. Touching his ear again he doesn’t stop walking until he is standing in the hall. He looks back at the door thinking, that is something he can not unsee.
Thursday, February 18, 1988
Trial Two-Envy
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
Steve Roberts wakes from the most wonderful dream he has had in a long time. The song, “Kiss” by Prince running through his mind. Thoughts of kissing Diana a few weeks ago replay behind his closed eyes. The strength of emotions he feels gives him a reason to get out of bed.
In the shower the warm water rinses over his body as he begins to sing the words to “Kiss” again. “You don’t have to be beautiful, To turn me on, I just need your body baby, From dusk till dawn, You don’t need experience, To turn me out, You just leave it all up to me, I’m gonna show you what it’s all about.”
He continues to sing the lyrics of the song as he steps out of the shower to dry off, “You got to not talk dirty, baby, If you wanna impress me, You can’t be too flirty, mama, I know how to undress me, I want to be your fantasy, Maybe you could be mine, You just leave it all up to me, We could have a good time.”
After getting dressed, Steve is on the sixth verse of the song when he reaches the kitchen to put together some breakfast. In the kitchen he finds his roommate, Paddy already fixing himself breakfast. “Women not girls rule my world, I said they rule my world, Act your age, mama, Not your shoe size, Maybe we could do the twirl, You don’t have to watch Dynasty, To have an attitude, You just leave it all up to me, My love will be your food,
Yeah,” Steve sings standing in the doorway.
“I never realized you had such a good singing voice,” Paddy comments to his singing roomie as Steve opens the refrigerator door.
“My Mom always wanted me to join Chorus in school but it just wasn’t my thing, ya know?” Steve replies, pulling out a gallon jug of milk and some eggs.
Paddy questions Steve, “You seem to be in a rather chipper mood this morning.” “What time did you get back in last night?”
“I took a few laps around the city, probably around midnight,” Steve says shyly moving to the hot fry pan Paddy has just finished using. “I just need to say, I’m really sorry about last night.” “I’ve been warned there is some trouble coming.” “I thought you were being attacked.”
“Turned out I was the one doing the attacking,” Paddy grins. “Don’t mention any of it to Paula though, she didn’t even know you walked in.” “I must admit that I almost forgot what a good night sleep a little screwing gives you.” Paddy reveals moving to take his food to his seat at the kitchen table.
“I’m guessing flying around the city can’t compare,” Steve says sadly. “The fresh air does lend to good dreams.”
“Dreaming about that girl from Wayne’s wedding no doubt,” Paddy guesses. “I can tell you were very excited about her when you first told me what happened.”
“I wasn’t that bad,” Steve says cracking three eggs into the pan. “You make me sound like a giddy school girl.” “It was just so great to see her again.”
“So call her you big dope!” Paddy says. “Sounds to me like she was just as excited to see you.” “What have you to lose?”
“I don’t know, she said some stuff about Master Warrior,” Steve says pushing his bread down in the toaster.
“Maybe you should go after the other woman then,” Paddy suggests.
“Miracle Maiden?” Steve chuckles. “Now there is one woman who wants no part of Master Warrior.”
“Maybe if you put yourself out there a little more you wouldn’t feel the urge to watch Paula and I,” Paddy jokes.
“I said I was sorry about that,” Steve says blushing. “How was I to know the sounds of a struggle were the two of you doing it?”
“If you’d go out and laid you would have known what it sounds like,” Paddy laughs.
Trademark Investigations
1267 Pimlico Avenue
Camden, NJ
The case Steve and David had been working on recently came to a problematic end. The client was killed in a car accident. Because of the client’s secrecy in hiring them, they didn’t get paid.
David has set up a personal security job for them to hopefully make up for the lost income. They are getting a later start heading over to Atlantic City to take a look over that new job. Steve arrives at the office to find David and his next door neighbor Julie Snyder making out at his desk.
“Excuse me,” Steve announces as he enters office. The couple are startled by his entrance. “I don’t mean to interrupt but I thought we were going over to AC today?” Steve continues through the office to the small kitchen at the back. Trying not eavesdrop as he waits for Julie to leave Steve fixes himself a cup of tea. Ever since Valentine’s Day when everyone revealed their secret relationships, Steve feels like everyone has someone but him. He can’t help but to feel left out and alone. Perhaps for the first time he wishes that he was like everyone else. Maybe Paddy is right, putting himself out there would be a good idea, even with the risks.
“Sorry about that,” David says coming into the kitchen. “Now that the cat is out of the bag so to speak, Julie has become much more into the PDAs.”
“I have no right to judge you, you’re my boss, remember,” Steve replies, returning to his desk with his hot tea.
David follows after him, “Steve don’t be like that,” he says. “We are more than just boss and employee, I’d like to think we are friends too.”
“Whatever, can we just get to work here,” Steve replies, not wanting to talk about the subject any farther.
David walks over to his desk to shuffle some papers before he looks up at Steve again. “You know you could call that girl in New York,” David suggests. “Maybe take a few days off to go see her?” “I can handle this job myself.”
“I wish everyone would just stop trying to hook me up!” Steve says bluntly. “If you don’t want me on this case just say so!” “There are plenty of other cases backed up here in the maybe pile!”
David doesn’t know how to take this very different attitude Steve has this morning so he decides to let it go. “Okay then, here is what I have.” “We have been hired by the management of one Janice Jones.” “She is an up and coming actress/singer for Europe, coming to Atlantic City for her first performances in the United States.” “We have been hired to be her personal bodyguards.”
“Seems odd that her people would choose us to guard her,” Steve suggests, picking up the file from across the desk. “I mean there are plenty of celebrity agencies that specialize in this kind of thing in New York.” “Why us?”
“Even though the money is incredible, I asked the same question,” David answers. “It would
appear that she is funding this trip completely out of her pocket.” “The big agencies wouldn’t take the job for what she was offering to pay them.” “As it turns out I have an old friend from school working at the Sands Casino where she will be performing how put in a good word about Trademark Investigations.” “So boom we got the job!”
Steve flips through the photos of Janice Pricier in the file. She is a tall, thin blonde with the deepest green eyes he has ever seen. “She’s very attractive, but I can’t say I ever heard of her.” “What kind of an act will she be doing at the Sands?”
“First of all keep the ‘She’s very attractive,’ in your pants!” David says. “When working this kind of job, try not to even look at the client directly.” “They tend to get very bitchy if you do.” “She’s putting on a singing and dancing show or something.” “She has a few videos on MTV that they only play late at night.” “She’s not big on wearing a lot of clothes in her videos.”
The Sands Hotel and Casino.
Atlantic City, NJ
It is just before noon when David and Steve arrive at the Sands Hotel. They are escorted to Ms Jones’ private suite by the hotel security. On the way through the lobby they spot several playbill posters of their new client. In the photos she is dressed in several very skimpy pink outfits. Janice Jones appears to be more of a Playboy centerfold girl than singer/actress. Upon entering the three room suite Janice Jones has eyes only for Steve.
“Oh Stevie it is so great to finally meet you, I feel like we have known each other for years,” Janice says instantly giving Steve a big hug letting her hands wander over his back and shoulders.
“Yes it is nice to meet you too, Ms Jones,” Steve replies trying to get out of the young woman’s grip as he glares at his boss. “How do you know who I am?” From the moment she spoke Steve picked up on her rather strange accent. It is like nothing he has ever heard before and being a student of languages he really can’t place it.
“Stevie that is a story for when we are alone,” Janice explains looking over at David, her manager, Kurtwood Swoyer and the hotel security officer. “I would like it if you would call me Janny like always,” the actress tells Steve who has begun to think she is more than a little strange. “You can go now, you have served your purpose,” Janice says waving her hand at the Hotel security guard. She then takes Steve’s hand to pull him into the room. “Come sit next to me while Kurtwood explains everything you need to know.”
She leads Steve to the overstuffed couch in the parlor area of the suite where she sits down tightly next to him. David follows them to sit in the matching chair next to where they sit. “Yes, of course let us begin,” Kurtwood Swoyer says, appearing as uncomfortable by his client’s reaction to Steve as the other two men. While the talent managers begin to explain Janice Jones’ itinerary for the next few days Steve feels her hand move onto his leg.
Steve looks to David who has also noticed the woman’s hand on his friend’s leg. The two men exchange non-verbal eye contact that ends with David shrugging his shoulders. Steve tries to focus on what the woman’s manager is saying all while feeling her hand move from his knee to his groin. When Steve feels her hand touch the head of his penis through his pants, she finally stands up to say, “Ms Jones, I believe that the only way this is going to work is if we keep this professional!”
“Ohhww, I told you to call me Janny,” the young woman moans. “We can keep it professional, for now, but I know that will never last.” Steve can’t believe that it was only a few hours ago that he was feeling envious of his friends and now he has this woman throwing herself at him but still he must resist. “I know we will be getting along much better very soon,” she smiles at him.
Steve tries to keep his distance from their client for the next few hours. Steve and David finally get a chance to talk privately while she gets ready for a tour of the Casino. “She’s really got the hots for you buddy,” David grins. “The old me would have jumped right on that little honey.” “How many guys can say they banged a young starlet.”
“I’m sure plenty,” Steve replies, not at all pleased with David’s joke. “I want to know how she knew my name.” “She acts as if we have known each other for years.” “I thought you said they were referred to the Agency by a friend of yours.” “Did you ever mention me to that friend?”
“Not that I remember,” David answers. “Does it really matter?” “I know what I usually say about messing around with the clients, but this is a one time thing I’m sure.” “Why not see where it goes?” “What is the worst that could happen, you get laid and never see her again?”
“Oh I know there are a lot worse things than that!” Steve replies. “There is something just not right about her.”
“That old Spidey sense of yours tingling again,” David cracks. “Maybe for once you should start thinking with the little head and no the big one.” “You are far too guarded for a guy your age.” “I’ve been wanting to say this for a while now, you really need to start having some real fun!” With that Janice returns to the room ending their conversation, leaving Steve feeling envious of the life David led when he was younger. Steve thinks back to the summer Gary and he spent with David years ago, the guy must have banged four girls a week back then.
Sands Casino floor
Atlantic City, NJ
As Steve and David walk through the Casino crowds with Janice, Steve begins to wonder why she even needs bodyguards. No one in the large Casino gaming room even appears to recognize Janice even with her poster of the playbill outside the theater she will be performing in later this evening. Clearly she has no fan base in the United States. Which is another thing that is suspicious about this woman. Every time she speaks her accent seems to be slightly different making it impossible for Steve to pin down where she is from in Europe.
Making their way out to the boardwalk Janice quickly takes Steve by his arm as David continues to walk along behind them. “What a frigid day!” Janice announces hanging on Steve’s large arm apparently for warmth.
“It is February. Ms Jones,” Steve reminds. “We are just lucky it is above freezing.”
“Janny please,” she insists again. “I’m sure that big strong body of yours would even feel the cold.” “Not even the good parts I like so much.”
Steve stops walking in his tracks and pulls his arm away from her grasp to look at her face to face. “Who is it you think I am to you?” David stands back from the couple trying not to listen as he looks over the crowd around them. “Why do you think I am your boyfriend or something?”
“Because you will be, one day in the near future,” Janice replies. “After all that is where I am from,” she whispers cuddling up to his chest. “I just wanted to sneak back here to 1988 to be your first lover is all.” “Get my hands on your body before some other slut could.”
Steve backs away from the woman he was hired to protect. “You are completely insane!” he exclaims at Janice.
“Now, now, Ms Jones, I’m sure Steve didn’t mean that,” David says, stepping closer to grab Steve by the arm and give him a look. “He meant insanely beautiful I’m sure.” “We need this job!” David whispers to Steve. “Get a grip!”
“No, Mr. Rogers, I know what he meant,” Janice replies. “I knew it would be hard to convince him when I came here.” “Perhaps you could give us some time alone, so he won’t feel so self conscious with you watching us.” Janice Jones steps closer to caress David’s cheek making his eyes flutter momentarily.
“Yes, you are right that is exactly what the two of you need,” David says as he turns to walk away down the boardwalk from them.
“What just happened?” Steve exclaims. “What did you do to him?”
“I just helped him with what he needed to do, Stevie,” Janice smiles slyly as she sits down on a bench along the boardwalk rail, a brisk breeze blowing through her hair. She crosses her legs making it clear to Steve she is wearing no underwear beneath her mini-dress. “I came back in time to see you not him.”
“You expect me to believe that you are my time traveling girlfriend from the future?” Steve rants standing in front of her as other people walk past them on the boardwalk. “If that is true then what year are you from?”
Janice smiles again seductively. “2061 of course,” she replies.
“Then I know you are lying now,” Steve shouts at her. “I will be nearly a hundred years old by then!” “Why would a young woman like you want anything to do with an old geezer like me?”
Janice giggles as she says, “Don’t be ridiculous, you are as handsome and sexy as you are right now and you still look fantastic in that blue suit of yours.” “That amazon DNA keeps you young.” Steve’s jaw drops at her words. “I told you I know everything about you.” “You also told me this was a time in your life when you were envious of your friends who had lovers.” “That is another reason I chose this time.” “I intend to rid you of that jealousy and make them the jealous ones!”
Steve is dizzied by what she says as she reaches out to take his hand. At first it all sounded insane but how else would she know these things? “So in 2061, time travel is common?” he asks.
“No not at all, but I know a guy,” Janice replies. “Zeni-humans are much more abundant in the time I come from then now.” She stands up leaning into his chest. “Now can we get started on the relationship I know you need?”
“Baby steps, maybe,” Steve tells her as she takes his arm again and they begin to stroll again down the boardwalk back to the casino.
The Sands Hotel and Casino.
The main showroom
Atlantic City, NJ
While Janice is in front of the audience Steve watches her perform from the side of the stage. He thinks over the afternoon he spent with Janice Jones. He is finding it hard to believe that he would ever have the relationship with this woman that she claims they have in the future. If he doesn’t believe her, Steve is finding it even harder to explain the things she knows about him.
“Excuse me, Mr. Roberts?” an African-American man in a three piece suit asks stepping up next to Steve. “Could I speak with you for a moment?”
“I’m sorry sir but I am working,” Steve replies. “Perhaps if you give me your number I can call you later.”
“I know your type so full of pride that you don’t have time for a black man’s problems,” the anonymous man says to Steve. “Why would I even bother with a man like you?”
“No sir, that isn’t it at all,” Steve says, turning to look the man in the eye. “I do have time for you, just not right this moment.” The man gives Steve a look of disgust as he turns away. “Sir please.”
“Fuck You!” the man shouts, flipping Steve his middle finger.
The Sands Hotel and Casino.
The VIP Suite
Atlantic City, NJ
After Janice’s performance Steve escorts her back to her suite. David waits in the hall fully expecting that he will be there for the night. Inside Steve is much less certain of what the night holds.
“Well Stevie have you had enough time to think over what I offer?” Janice begins as she opens the long leather coat she wore up to the room. Dropping the coat to the floor Janice stands in the center of the suite wearing only the smallest black bra and panties. Steve’s jaw drops as he looks at her smooth white skin.
“I…I really don’t know,” Steve stutters at the sight of the nearly naked woman.
“Perhaps just a kiss to start?” Janice suggests slithering closer to him. She reaches out to slide her hand inside the open buttons of his shirt. She runs her fingers through the hair on his chest massaging his pecs. “I’m surprised you aren’t pushing me away.” “You smell so good,” she smiles looking up into his blue eyes. Steve tentatively bends his neck forward to kiss this strange beautiful woman.
Their lips meet. Her breath is minty fresh and her lips are soft. When she slips her tongue into her mouth he feels that familiar tingle at the base of his skull. Somehow her kiss holds him fast to her lips, he cannot resist her as he continues to kiss her passionately. Steve is overcome by a vision like none he has ever had in his life.
He sees Janice Jones entire life in a second as it races though his mind. He knows as much about her as she knows about him now, maybe more. Steve now knows who she is, what her powers are and where she truly is from.
Then as quickly as it began it ends. Steve staggers back lost in the events that have just run through his head. Steve pushes Janice away. He rubs his eyes like waking from a dream. I know the truth,” he tells her with a look of shock on his face. It is a look she returns moving to pick up her coat. He can only guess that she felt something from the kiss too. “You are not from the future.” “You were born in Fort Dodge, Iowa.” “That accent of yours is the worst fake I have ever heard.”
“You don’t know anything!” Janice Jones shouts, picking up a pillow from the couch and throwing it at Steve.
Steve swats the pillow aside as he steps closer to her causing her to back away. “You have lied to me about everything!” Steve shouts. “Was this all to get in my pants?” Steve glares at the young woman who doesn’t show the least bit of regret. He does know now thanks to whatever psychic powers she possesses is that she is a danger to him. Steve has to find a solution to this problem that she creates in his life.
“I dreamt you and I fell in love with you,” Janice speaks for the first time without the accent she had been using since they met. “I knew we would be lovers one day, but I couldn’t wait for someday.” “I wanted you now!”
Steve sees the opening. “Your dreams are not what you think they are,” Steve says. “They are not visions of the future, they are just fantasies.” “I am no immortal, whatever suit you saw me in was nothing more than a Halloween costume.”
“No it is all real!” Janice shouts at Steve. “We are destined to be lovers!”
“No, we are not,” Steve says firmly. “You need to let go of these fantasies.” “You have real talent, I saw it tonight when you were on stage.” “You need to follow your own path not chase after a dream that will not come true.” Steve turns to leave the room.
Leaving the room Steve catches another strange fragrance of Jasmine. Stepping into the hall Steve finds David asleep on a chair in the hall. He kicks the chair to wake his boss. “I’m going home, she is completely out of her mind.” Steve says. “I’m taking the rest of the weekend off.”
Friday, February 19, 1988
Trial Three-Pride
Location Unknown
I woke up on the floor with no idea how I got there. At first I didn’t recognize the draft across my body but when I did I sat up to discover I was complete nude. Not sure where I was or if I was alone I covered my privates with my hands as I called out, “Hello, is there anyone here?” There was no response as I pivoted on the soft carpet under my bare butt to look around.
I was alone in a large room with nothing in it, not even the mark of footprints or vacuum tracks in the light beige carpet. Along one side of the room there was a wall of glass window looking out into the daylight. On the opposite side of the room was one door with a keyed deadbolt lock. I could not see any spy cameras anywhere in the room. There wasn’t even as much as a pin hole in the walls for someone to be watching me.
I stood up to walk to the windows still holding my junk on my hands. Looking out I could see by the height of the sun in the sky it was probably somewhere around 10am. I didn’t recognize the city scape but I could tell I was high up, I could only see the tops of the building surrounding the one I was in. “How the hell did I get here?” I asked out loud.
I removed my hands from my privates freeing my junk. Obviously no one outside could see me nude in front of the window. As I turned back to the room it made sense that if there was someone watching me, they had already seen my body when they undressed me. I was most likely going to need my hands free to get out of here, anyway. But there was something my kidnapper didn’t know, I traveled with a change of clothing. Reaching for the diamond stud on my left earlobe I could instantly change to my Master Warrior costume and deal with the aftermath later.
To my surprise when I touched my ear, the stud was gone too, all that remained was the empty piercing. Clearly whoever had brought me here knew more than I thought about me. Turning back to the window I knew that without my flight vest it would be a long climb down the face of the building. It is not that I thought I couldn’t make the climb but doing it nude raking my body against the building was not something I was interested in doing. So that left only the door.
Walking to the door I found that it was unlocked. Stepping into the next room my bare feet touched the soft cushioned mats. In front of me a fully stocked weight room stood empty and silent. The door closes silently behind me as mysterious as everything else about this place. All of the walls in the room are covered with mirrors including the one behind me that sealed shut to hide the door. Scanning all sides of the room I could see was my own nude body walking across the room to the area where a weight bench, a barbell and heavy weight disk sat.
Unlike most men with my physic I rarely ever work out in front of mirrors admiring my own body. Nor have I ever been in a situation like this where I could see myself from all sides at once. Jokingly I began to do a flexing pose-down like I had seen in some bodybuilder shows. I watched his arms, chest and legs flex from all angles in the mirrors. I couldn’t help but to notice something else was happening to my body.
Halfway through my exhibition I realized that these mirrors would be the perfect thing to spy on him through. But I didn’t care as I finished every move I could remember from the last bodybuilder expo I watched on TV. Clearly someone wants to watch me in the gym, why not give them a good show.
I strutted over to the barbells shaking my hands as I prepared to truly show off my prowess. Starting with a dead-lift I stood over the largest barbell on the floor. I thought back to the first time I began weight training with my mother. Feet apart, bend at waist to grip bar with hands apart. Chuckling I thought, I never lifted weights in the nude while training with Mom. It has been years since I had a mirror to see the parts of my body out of reach of my eyes. From that first morning I woke up transformed when I was Fourteen, I had always been secretly proud of my body. I had spent more than a few hours after that admiring it in the mirror from every angel, but I never once bragged about it or flaunted it.
Now in this room full of mirrors I could not help but to think how fantastic I look. It is no wonder so many women are always flirting and wanting to touch me. Hoisting the 2000 lb. weight bar to my waist I grazed the bar over my body. I bet Master Warrior could fuck anyone of those women. Then hoisting again, I stood holding the bar over my head as I looked at myself from every angle in the mirrors. I had become rather excited at the thought of fucking all of the women who had been chasing me in the past year. It was then I decided to end the show. I couldn’t help but to be proud of what I saw in the mirrors all around me.
That was when I realized what was happening to me, what sin was taking me over. I moved much swifter now launching the 2000 lb. barbell at the wall. The mirrors shatter sending large shards of glass to the floor. Left behind was a hole in the wall revealing a dark abyss on the other side. Without a thought I charged forward into the darkness beyond the wall.
Suddenly Steve is jarred awake. He is not surprised as he sits up on a table fully clothed. He pulls what appears to be a motorcycle helmet from his head. What does surprise him is the man sitting in the room full of what appears to be a home made computer with him. It is the man in the three piece suit who approached him at the Hotel during Janice Jones’ performance.
“So is this how you treat everyone who is too busy to attend your problems?” Steve asks, moving to climb down from the metal table.
The man sits behind a large improvised console concealing his hands from Steve’s view. He moves quickly as Steve slides his feet over the side of the table. The thought in Steve’s head is how did this guy knock him out and get him here? As the man behind the console draws a gun from below his line of vision Steve realizes that even though this man’s attack appears to be scientific the magic of the Sins Box has weakened him.
The man aims the handgun at Steve threatening, “I don’t know how you awoke from my trap, but you will not wake from this!”
Steve knows he has to react quickly. It is clear to him that the man is unaware of anything that he experienced while captive. Almost instinctively he reaches for his left bicep. To his surprise he draws back his arsenal in the form of a boomerang. He doesn’t question the aberration, he just throws it. It has been the first time his arsenal has appeared without his change of costume. The boomerang strikes out hitting the man’s hand dislodging the gun from his grip. Before the man knows what has happened the boomerang returns to Steve’s hand and then his arm to disappear.
The smell of sage fills the air telling Steve that he has again conquered another sin. “It is over, my pride has not overcome me!” Steve states aloud stepping closer to where his capture sits holding his hand. “Who are you and what is it you think this would accomplish?” “How did you even get me here?”
“It was rather difficult but necessary,” the man replies. “My name is Dr. James Duncan.” “I have numerous degrees in Medicine, Psychology and Bio-mechanics.” “I needed a…shall we say a guinea-pig to test my machine.” “I needed someone with an exceptionally strong constitution.”
“That answers the why, not the how?” Steve demands.
“My machine has the ability to find and identify deep psychological disturbed minds.” Dr. Duncan explains. “I hope to use the machine to cure those disturbances.” “To do so the machine can also subdue the target from a distance.” “I found you with my machine because your will is so strong it shines like a beacon.” “I had hoped to get your help voluntarily.”
“But when I asked you to be patient, you took matters into your own hands,” Steve retorts. “So whatever your issues are with your machine you will have to deal with then on your own!” “Any chance of my helping you any farther is over.”
“Please, at least tell me if it works,” Dr. Duncan pleads.
“I worked, but not how you think,” Steve replies, heading for the door. “I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt this time.” “Try this again and you will be regretting it in jail!” “I promise you that!”
University Medical Center Infirmary
3400 Spruce St
Philadelphia, PA
Steve emerges from the building where Dr. Duncan has been holding him onto the street. It is dark, he can’t tell if it is early morning or night. Steve can’t begin to guess how long he has been out but somehow Duncan has gotten him back to Philadelphia and right now all he wants to do is go home for a real good night’s sleep.
It is over a seven mile walk home, by the time he gets there he will know the answer to his question of day or night. There aren’t many people on the street at this hour, he could run, be home in five minutes. Somehow he just doesn’t feel like it. Then suddenly he feels dizzy. Steve reaches out to brace himself against a building. His legs almost buckling under him he leans there for a moment struggling to focus. Whatever that mad-doctor did to him it seems to be having some after effects.
Steve hears the footsteps before he sees the woman walking toward him in the glow of the street lights. As she comes closer he can see her face and for a moment he mistakes her for his mother. But when she approaches him he can see that although her hair and bone structure is similar she is clearly not his mother. “Are you alright?” she asks, taking his arm.
“Yes, I’ll be fine, I just think I need to get home,” Steve replies. “Maybe call a cab?”
“Without a cellphone, you aren’t calling a cab from here,” the familiar woman says, confusing Steve more.
“Cellphone?” he queries.
“Never mind, let’s just get you home,” the dark haired beauty says, lifting him from the wall to put his large arm over her narrow shoulders. “You must have had a rough night to end in this bad shape.”
Clearly she thinks I’m drunk, Steve thinks. “You know how it is, you get together with a bunch of friends and someone starts buying shots.” “Next thing you know you can’t find your way home.” Steve’s isn’t sure what to make of this good Samaritan but he can’t help but to feel like he knows her somehow.
“I really wish I could still say I didn’t know that feeling,” the woman replies. “My name is Catherine Breyer.” “If I remember correctly we should be able to find a cab a few blocks over.”
Trying to pull himself together Steve doesn’t even take notice of how much of his weight Catherine is carrying or how quickly they make the five block walk to a taxi hut. Catherine sits Steve down on a bench under the plexi-glass enclosure. “Taxi!” she shouts stepping out into the street holding up her arm. A yellow cab comes to a stop at the curb. Catherine turns back to Steve slumped on the bench to pick him up again. She helps him to the back seat of the cab. “Here you go, I’m sure you will be feeling much better by the time you get home.”
“I really need to thank you somehow,” Steve says as she moves to the front window of the taxi to talk to the driver.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Catherine tells him before telling the driver, “1701 Tulip St, The Fishtown section.”
“Gotcha,” the cabbie says as he pulls the cab away from the curb leaving Catherine Breyer standing on the sidewalk.
“Wait!” Steve calls out from the back seat. “How did she know my address?”
“Is it right?” the cabbie asks.
“Yeah, but who is she?” Steve replies as his head begins to settle.
“I don’t know, but I wish she knew my address,” the cabbie replies. “She was smoking hot!”
Saturday, February 20, 1988
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
Trial Four-Sloth
Patrick Berger wakes to the sound of his alarm clock as he does six days a week. Showering and dressing in a fresh pair of pleated slacks, a button down shirt and a tie he combs his hair to get ready for work. There is a difference this morning when he leaves his bedroom. Paddy finds his roommate Steve in the living room, slouched in his recliner in front of the TV wearing only his tighty-whities. “What time did you get in last night?” Paddy asks. “You look like shit!”
“I think it was more like this morning, but who cares anyway?” Steve replies without even turning his head to look at this roommate.
“Must have been some night at the shore,” Paddy comments heading for the kitchen. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for work?”
“I’m not going,” Steve says with no emotion in his voice. “I told David to handle this one himself.” “I need a mental health day.”
Paddy steps back out of the kitchen around the wall that separates the two rooms. “Mental health day?” Paddy repeats. “I never thought I’d see the day Steve Roberts skipped work!” he says. “Are you okay?” “Anything weird happened with Master Warrior?”
“Other than I am sick of helping strangers and getting nothing in return?” Steve says readjusting his balls inside his underwear. “I don’t even know why I cared, people are mostly assholes.”
“Maybe you do need the weekend off, try to get some sleep,” Paddy suggested walking over to take another look at his roommate. Stepping between Steve and the television tuned MTV, Paddy can see for the first time that Steve’s clothes are crumpled on the floor in front of his chair. The Police Detective scans Steve’s nearly nude body from head to toe. Physically there isn’t a mark on him, he looks perfectly fine. That is except for his red rimmed eyes that are completely out of character. “Did you even get any sleep last night or were you just up watching videos on MTV all night?”
“Does it even matter?” Steve asks lifting the remote control from beside his bare leg to turn up the volume of video playing on the TV.
“Look I need to get to work, so you need to figure out what is going on with yourself,” Paddy says returning to the kitchen. “I’ll try to get home early so I can help.” “For your own sake go to bed!”
“Just go and leave me the fuck alone already!” Steve replies, still showing out of character emotion. Detective Berger slips on his jacket and then his overcoat heading out the door without another word to his strangely acting friend.
Steve sits in his chair moving only to slide his hand back into his underwear occasionally. He doesn’t even change the channel on the TV as he watches one music video after another. He has nothing to drink or eat as the hours pass him by from his comfy seat. It is somewhere around noon when the Lionel Richie and Diana Ross video for the song Endless Love comes on the screen.
He smiles at the scenes from the movie he saw with Natalie Moyer back in High School. But it is not his friend from High School that he thinks about when he sees the young Brooke Shields on the screen. Nor is it the movie Endless Love that plays out in his mind when his eyes finally drift closed. It is another Brooke Shields movie that she made with Christopher Atkins, Blue Lagoon he envisions.
The Sloth sin has eaten away at his strength and powers for the past twelve hours. Even his precognition powers are not working as usual. It is as if he is tuning in on another timeline, a place where a what if? Is true. A place where events that never happened could have been the life he led.
In a place of what if Steve lived a childhood where his mother and Sylvia Carter were best friends. A time where a summer boating trip went wrong. A place where Steve and Sylvia’s daughter Diana are shipwrecked on a tropic island alone as children like in the Blue Lagoon. In his mind it doesn’t take long as they grow from seven year old kids playing in the sand to sixteen year old young adults sneaking off to make love in the forest.
The twisted reality that plays out behind Steve’s closed eyes triggers something deep down inside of him, a desire. A need to love and be loved. Something that will never happen if he spends the rest of his life in this chair.
Steve opens his eyes looking down at the tent in his undershorts. “I see you are coming back to life,” Paddy says from where he sits across the room. “Or at least you have a healthy pulse there.” “Something’s got your blood pumping again.”
If it was anyone else Steve would be grabbing for something to hide his erection. But there is nothing within reach and there is little point in covering it. The odor of toasted nutmeg reaches his nose telling Steve he has conquered Sloth. Ignoring his roommate’s commentary Steve explains what has been happening to him. How Hershel cursed him with something called the Trials of Sins Box. Steve explains that he has already defeated Greed, Envy, Pride, and Sloth.
“What time is it anyway?” Steve asks Paddy. “I’m starving!”
“For what?” Paddy jokes gesturing at Steve’s lap with the tent on it. “Nearly six.”
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
V.I.P ward
111 S 11th St
Philadelphia, PA
Unknown by the general public the V.I.P. ward is a secret government based Zeni-human medical unit. It has been kept secret from even the local Law Enforcement until Master Warrior’s fight with Beachum. After the battle an unconscious Master Warrior was brought here. Then a few hours later after the fight with the Dominator a second Master Warrior arrived followed by Detective Berger of the Elite Squad. Berger managed to get his friend released, bringing the V.I.P. ward to the attention of the Elite Squad’s Commander Olpere.
Although the existence of the V.I.P ward was revealed to the Philadelphia Police Force the arrival of the first Master Warrior was not. Dr. Charles Michaelson runs the V.I.P ward and he was given the order by his Federals government employers to keep that first Zeni-human under wraps. The first victim of the battle with Beachum on Market Street laid in a coma for two months all the while his body miraculously healed from life threatening injury. Then something totally unexpected happened as his body metamorphosed. The muscular man that appeared to be Master Warrior in every way transformed, shrinking into the five foot, two body of a young buxom redheaded woman.
It would be another month before she regained consciousness. For several days after waking the woman either could not speak or refused to talk to anyone. When she did speak she said only one word, “Lawyer.” That is the only thing she would say to anyone who came in the room. The problem was that the people in charge of the V.I.P ward have no desire to let any outside lawyer into their circle.
Commander Olpere and Dr. Michaelson suggested a compromise, bringing in a lawyer that was already working for the city of Philadelphia that knows the importance of security, A.D.A. Carol Lopez. Ms. Lopez arrived just after the Jane Doe had finished her lunch. Lopez is surprised at the appearance of the woman in the bed after the story she was given by Commander Olpere. Entering the room carrying only a pen and a notepad Ms. Lopez takes a seat several feet away from the bed on a high backed chair. “Good afternoon,” Carol greets the patient in the bed. “I understand you have been asking for a Lawyer.” “I am Carol Lopez and I have been asked to talk with you about any legal matters you feel you might have at this time.”
The young redheaded woman in the bed remains quiet as she eyes the lawyer’s three-hundred dollar suit. She reaches out to take a sip from the straw of a covered Styrofoam cup that sits on the bed table in front of her. Then she speaks the first full sentence she has murmured since waking from her coma. “You look familiar to me.”
“Do I?” Carol questions. “Then perhaps you could tell me your name and we can get started.” The patient in the bed only glares at Carol as she places her cup back on the table. “Then why don’t we start with why you think you need a lawyer?”
“You aren’t a lawyer,” the redhead says. “You’re an A.D.A.” “A.D.A. prosecute not defend.”
Carol Lopez is more than a little surprised to be recognized by this woman. One of the reasons she was chosen to come here is because she has a low public profile. “I am here as an experienced Lawyer, not a prosecutor.” “I have fifteen years of working at the law of this state.” “This is my day off and I was asked to talk with you off the record.” “To determine why you feel you need a lawyer.”
The redhead is still unmoved to reveal anything at the woman’s words. She looks to a camera mounted in the corner of the ceiling over Ms Lopez’s head. “Get them to turn that off and we can talk off the record,” she says pointing at the camera. Carol stands up laying her note pad and pen on the windowsill. She takes the blanket off the back of the chair she was sitting on. Slipping off her heels she climbs up onto the seat of the chair to tie the blanket around the camera.
The redhead grins, “I see what he liked about you.”
“Who are you talking about?” Carol asks, stepping down to slip her shoes back on. She watches as the patient again reaches for her water. This time her hand misses the cup and it falls to the floor. Carol steps closer to the bed to retrieve the fallen foam cup. A little too close as the patient reaches out to grab her silken dark hair.
The redhead pulls the A.D.A.’s hair yanking her to the side of the bed. “Your boyfriend Steve Roberts of course,” she giggles. Carol struggles to get free of the woman’s grip. “Oh my, you dumped him!” “That was stupid, you really had no idea of what a great catch he was did you?”
Sunday, February 21, 1988
Grillo’s Pizza
1313 N Lee St
Philadelphia, PA
Trials Five-Lust
Paddy and Steve sit at a table sharing a Pizza talking over recent events. “So who is feeling any sins coming on this morning?” Paddy asks.
“No, all in all it was a quiet night,” Steve replies, taking a big bite of his slice. Taking a fourth slice of Pizza from the tray, Funny, even after that big dinner we had last night I’m still hungrier than ever this morning.” “I guess fighting off deadly sins is really taking a lot out of me.” “Or maybe it was that workout we just finished at the gym.”
“Yeah, it’s been a while since we got a chance to do that,” Paddy comments taking a swig of his Gatorade. “It felt like old times.” “I needed it too, Paula says I’m getting paunchy.”
“Look at you all henpecked,” Steve jokes back at his friend. Steve remembers how on one of Paddy’s more drunk nights he revealed how ashamed he imagined his late wife Michelle would have been at how he let himself go after her death. Making light of his insecurity is the best encouragement he can give his friend.
“You should be so lucky,” Paddy says as he picks some of the meat toppings off the remaining pizza that Steve has just about demolished. “She has no idea how fat I was before you whipped me into shape.” “So have you talked to David, are you going back to work tomorrow?”
“I’m going to give him a call and tell him I won’t be in for a while, at least until I’ve conquered all of the seven.” “David just isn’t acting the same since he came home from Cleveland,” Steve confessed. “I still of wish I knew what went on with Gary.” “I never got a chance to talk to him about it and now with this Trial of the sins bullshit, I don’t know when I will.”
Then the two roommates get a real surprise when Carol Lopez approaches the table. She is dressed in a velour running suit and sneakers looking more casual than either of them have ever seen her. Carol sits down at the table with them as if nothing was wrong between Steve and her. Steve is instantly mesmerized by her green eyes and dark brown hair as ever. Then she does the unthinkable by helping herself to a slice of their pizza.
“I have to admit I’m surprised to see you Carol,” Steve comments looking at Paddy shrugging his shoulders trying not to focus on how great Carol looks in that tight running suit.
“Oh Steve stop with the jokes, you always told me how you guys have pizza here on Sundays,” Carol replies, taking a sip of Steve’s drink.
“But you always refused to come because you said Pizza was the food of the devil,” Steve replies.
Carol smiles as she wipes the sauce from her lips. “That was the old me, I’ve come to realize that I was too quick to judge you.” “I’ve had plenty of sex with plenty of men.” “I’ve done some soul searching and examined my life, it is time I had a much deeper relationship with a man before jumping his bones.”
Both of the men sitting at the table are in shock at Carol Lopez’s words. Paddy often joked with Steve that Carol was much too classy for him. He has never known this A.D.A. to speak like this to anyone. But he gets the feeling it is time for him to leave this couple alone. “Well Carol it was great seeing you again, but I have to get going,” Paddy says standing up. Steve has a deer in the headlights look in his eyes as Paddy smiles at him with a raised eyebrow. “I think I’m going to swing by the office for a few hours.”
“I thought he would never leave,” Carol says as she runs her hand up the hair on Steve’s forearm sending a chill up his spine. She leans over to give him a kiss on the lips. Her lips are warm and moist sweet with the taste of pizza. He is quickly lost in the kiss not feeling the least bit embarrassed by the public display. He has no desire to resist her touch as he kisses her back. “Why don’t we go back to your place?” she whispers to him as she slides her hand up his leg to cup his junk through his sweatpants.
“Oh yes,” Steve moans wishing she would reach inside his pants right here. Taking her hand he jumps up from the table to lead her from the restaurant.
Philadelphia Elite Squad
1st Precinct
Philadelphia, Pa
It is a Sunday morning and Paddy arrives at the Squad room to find it empty. It isn’t surprising to him. Even though they are on call 24-7, Sunday is their usual day off. He really doesn’t have any work to clear up. He just figured it was best if he didn’t go home right now with the issues Steve is having with Carol. He could go to the gym to continue his work out but instead he sits down behind his desk to go over some of the papers left in his basket from last night.
Paddy is going over the paperwork that really doesn’t amount to much for about an hour when Commander Olpere arrives. “Berger, Good you’re here!” “Get dressed we have a case!”
Paddy looks up to see his Commander in all her glory not even a hair out of place on a Sunday morning. To his shock another person follows her into the Squad room, it is Carol Lopez! She is dressed in her standard overpriced business suit which does surprise him because of what he saw her wearing a little over an hour ago at the pizza place. Thing that truly catches his eye is the bruise and cut in her usually pristine face. “Commander, what is going on?” Paddy asks following the two women into the Commander’s office.
“We’ve got a Zeni at large,” Commander Olpere replies, reaching for the phone on her desk. “I need the whole team here pronto!” Olpere’s attention then turns to the phone as she begins to make calls to the other members of the Elite Squad.
“Carol, are you alright?” he asks, turning to the A.D.A. who looks very displeased about this situation.
“The bitch hit me,” Carol says angrily. “Then tied me up in her bed!”
More than a little concerned Paddy jumps to the wrong conclusion, “You have to understand, Steve has been going through something lately.”
“Steve?” Carol repeats. “I haven’t seen him in months.”
“Maybe you need to start at the beginning,” Paddy says, not at all sure what she is talking about.
“That will be explained when the others get here and you are dressed for work!” Commander Olpere interjects.
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
Steve and Carol Lopez number two arrive at his apartment kissing passionately at the door. Slipping inside the apartment, Steve has a raging hard-on in his sweatpants. The second the door closes, Carol pushes Steve back against the wall as she drops to her knees on the floor. Yanking down his sweatpants and underwear at once. Steve doesn’t say a word as he looks down to see Carol go to work. It is the first time this has happened to Steve and it is fantastic! Then she stands up to lead him to the living room by his throbbing member.
Pushing him down in one of the recliners in front of the TV she purrs, “I’m going to fuck your virgin brains out! Double Dee does her famed striped tease dance as she peels off her sweatshirt to reveal the perfect boobs that Steve has dreamt of several times in the past. All thoughts of any other woman leave his mind as Carol Lopez dances in front of him, peeling away her clothing.
She turns away from him sliding her panties down over her hips. As she bends forward the seasoned stripper sits down on his lap. “Ohh yeah,” Steve moans, not sure what is happening. She wiggles on his lap for a few seconds before standing again.
She turns to face him as she climbs up onto the arms of the chair to straddle him. “Now it is time for the main event!” she grins taking hold of him to guide him into place. “When I had this thing I played with it for almost an hour, but I am going to enjoy this much more!”
Something clicks in Steve’s mind as he feels her slide back down onto his lap. “What?” “What did you say?” he asks through the fog of lust that has overtaken his mind.
“Just relax Big-boy and let Mama do all the work,” she says as she bounces up and down.
“Oh shit that is good.” He mumbles as he tries to think but his mind is overwhelmed by his body. Steve doesn’t even hear the sound of the door opening or the footsteps entering the room.
“Dismount the man!” Paddy instructs holding his gun on Double Dee from behind the chair. She grins at Paddy as she sits on Steve’s lap. “Lady don’t make me say it again!”
“Paddy?” Steve says coming to his senses.
“Steve, she’s not Carol,” Paddy says moving around the chair to get a full view of the situation. “She’s a Zeni that escaped that hospital ward they took you to a few months back.”
“No, this is Carol, get out!” Steve says grabbing the young woman to pull her to his chest.
“No she isn’t!” Paddy insists. “It must be one of the sins binding you.” “I know it’s hard but you need to resist”
Steve looks into the woman’s eyes that sits on his lap. For the first time he realizes it is Lust that has overtaken his reason. Suddenly he sees something in her eyes he didn’t see before. Abruptly standing up he dumps her to the floor. “Holy Shit!” he exclaims. “You’re right.” Steve scrambles to pull up his sweatpants. Steve catches the smell of chocolate in the air as the woman on the floor does something else.
Double Dee’s body begins to expand, growing larger. “All I wanted was to have a little fun,” she growls as her voice deepens. “Just imagine how powerful our baby will be.”
Reaching for his ear, triggering the transformation Master Warrior now stands over the woman quickly becoming a man, no doubt him. The lightest touch of his gauntlets together and the last of Miracle Maiden’s bio-energy is released from them to strike Double Dee rendering her unconscious.
“What the hell was that?” Paddy exclaims in shock as he lowers his weapon.
“A gift from a frenemy, I guess,” Master Warrior responds, watching the person on the floor change back to the stripper he met in a bar.
“Whatever, you better change back,” Paddy says, taking his handcuffs from the back of his belt. “The rest of the squad is outside waiting for my signal.” Paddy takes his radio from inside his jacket to call the others. “All clear, the subject is subdued.”
“Let’s just get this over with, I just really want to take a long shower!” Steve responds as he changes back, a wet spot in the front of his sweatpants.
Monday, February 22, 1988
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA
Trial Six-Gluttony
It was only ten minutes ago that Steve woke up after a very detailed dream, perhaps the most clear one he has ever had in his life. He looked over at the clock at the side of his bed. Then he jumped from beneath the blankets to stand wearing only his underwear. Not a minute to waste as he reaches for his ear to trigger the change to Master Warrior. Without a second thought he jumped out his bedroom window to the ground where he can run to take flight.
Now, he arrives at the back of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in a court yard away from the main entrance. It is still early morning, before dawn and not even many employees have arrived for work. But he knows one man will be exiting the Museum here. A man who has stolen a large opal stone that he will use to wreak havoc on the city. He can’t be sure of the origin of this stone set in a large amulet on a gold chain, but he knows when it is exposed to the sunlight it will give the man great power. Power that if Master Warrior doesn’t stop him from acquiring there is no telling who much trouble this man will cause.
In his dream Master Warrior arrived too late to prevent the events that followed but now he is early he need only find the door that the man will escape through. His only regret is that he didn’t get here earlier to save the two guards the man murdered inside. Then Master Warrior spots the door almost hidden in the corner of the yellow brick wall. He sprints across the courtyard to the door that he forces open. Instantly an alarm sounds, that would be a bad thing if he didn’t want the help of the authorities. Inside a red light on the wall flashes as the alarm wails in his ears.
This is the place, he thinks, the corridor where the man in the dark blue jumpsuit escapes capture. Before Master Warrior can even make it to the end of the corridor there is a guard who turns the corner with a gun drawn. “Hold it right there!” the guard orders pointing his weapon at Master Warrior.
“Look, I’m not the man you want, he will be coming down that corridor behind you any minute,” Master Warrior tells the man holding the gun on him. “I’m here to help, you need to get out of my way or you could get hurt!” The hero’s warning comes too late as the man in blue from his dream turns the corner grabbing the guard by the back of his neck. Suddenly the guard finds himself lifted from the floor kicking his feet. “Just let him go, there is no need to hurt anyone else!” Master Warrior insists.
The man in the blue jumpsuit’s face is obscured by a blue ski mask just as in Master Warrior’s dream, only his eye showing through it. In his other hand the masked man holds an old wooden box that contained the stolen amulet. “Actually I would much rather hurt you than this asshole,” the thief replies while slamming the man’s face in his grip into the wall.
Master Warrior could see that the guard’s nose was broken and bleeding but he was still conscious. “Run! get out of here!” Master Warrior shouted to the guard as the man in blue left him behind to charge Master Warrior. “Look just give me the box and come quietly,” Master Warrior said trying to reason with his would-be opponent.
“You are such an idiot!” the man in blue growls. “The only reason I want this thing is to be better than you!” “To be the Supreme Warrior.”
“If you use that thing it will do more than just that, more than you can control,” Master Warrior warns as the man gets close enough to take a swing at him. Overconfident Master Warrior fully believes that this man is no match for him. When Master Warrior raises his arm to block the punch he feels the man’s full strength that knocks his left shoulder to the block wall. He is pinned there as the attack continues with two punches to his rib cage. It is enough to anger Master Warrior into retaliating with a right cross to his attacker’s jaw.
The man calling himself Supreme Warrior is slammed back against the opposite wall gripping his jaw. “Nice one dickhead, is that all you’ve got?” he chides.
As the man charges back at him, Master Warrior takes his arsenal from his leg shaping it into a quarter-staff. Reaching out with the length of the staff he slaps the box from his hand. Then swinging the other end of the pole back at his foe’s neck, he forces the man against the wall pinning him there. “Submit, for your own good!” Master Warrior pleads, as he compresses the man’s windpipe.
“Now I know you are joking!” Supreme Warrior responds with a crazed look in his eyes. Grabbing hold of the staff with one hand he swings the rod dislodging Master Warrior’s grip on it. Master Warrior sails down the narrow hallway to the floor. “You’ve always thought yourself so much better than anyone else!” Supreme Warrior shouts as he takes the staff with both hands. “I believe it is called a superiority complex!” Raising the solid rod over his head Supreme Warrior walks to stand over the man on the floor. “That is why you hid what you could do, because you knew how much better you were than everyone else!” “That ends now!”
“I have no idea what you are talking about Buddy,” Master Warrior responds, drawing the man closer.
“Don’t ever call me Buddy again!” Supreme Warrior shouts as he brings the long staff down on its owner.
Master Warrior braces for the impact reaching up to catch the staff in his hand. “Shackles on his wrist!” Master Warrior shouts and the staff instantly transforms into golden bands chaining Supreme Warrior wrists together. Springing back to his feet he moves to further subdue his foe while he is still off guard.
Supreme Warrior reacts much faster than Master Warrior anticipated as he leap frogs forward over him down the corridor. Supreme Warrior does a handspring to grab for the ancient box on the floor, landing on his feet. Continuing on running for the door out to the courtyard. Supreme Warrior hits the door with his shoulder breaking it open to allow the light of the rising sun to flood the corridor.
Taking only a few steps Master Warrior’s feet leave the floor as he takes flight in the narrow passage. Using his flight vest indoors has never worked out well for him because he needs to stop this man before he opens the box in the early morning daylight. Master Warrior emerges from the Museum tomb to witness his foe opening the box. “Shit!” he shouts as he turns up his speed across the lawn.
The second the sunlight touches the surface of the dark opal amulet it ignites like a dark star, black at its core surrounded by a white aura. Dropping the box Supreme Warrior grabs for the amulet before it falls to the ground.
Master Warrior is only feet away from his target when the opal explodes with force. Struck by the wave of destruction Master Warrior is sent back a hundred yards digging a trench into the courtyard. Sitting up in the dirt Master Warrior watches as Supreme Warrior holds the amulet in his bound hands. From behind his mask his eyes glow and Master Warrior’s arsenal melts away from his wrists, dripping to the ground. His hands free Supreme Warrior lifts the thick chain over his head to lay it around his shoulders.
It is then that the courtyard is overtaken by both museum guards and police that arrive from around the north side of the building. The sight of the man with the stolen amulet made it was inevitable that shots would begin to be fired. The floating Supreme Warrior is completely enveloped in the white aura of the power-stone now making him impervious to the bullets. The guards and policemen draw his full attention as he floats closer to them moving them back to the edge of the courtyard.
Recovering from the attack on the ground Master Warrior watches as his dream plays out before him in the tight space of the courtyard. But in his dream this took place on the front steps of the museum. There is still time to fix this! Before he can get to his feet Supreme Warrior lets out another wave of white energy from the stone sending all of the officers into the air and back to the ground. It is the distraction Master Warrior needs to attack.
Gliding low over the ground he scoops up his arsenal to reform it into a staff again. Then at top speed he arches up striking his foe from behind with the staff while slipping the end of the pole under the chain that holds the amulet. Pulling up and away into the sky Master Warrior slides the chain over Supreme Warrior’s head. The Amulet slides down the staff to Master Warrior’s hand as he turns back to land on the grass. Getting a good look at the Amulet for the first time, he recognizes it. When he was in Junior High School his class took a field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He remembers the Power-stone Amulet and what the tour guide told the class about it. Long long ago it was called a King Maker, it granted a strong willed would-be ruler unstoppable power. But it always abandoned its master in the end. “I’ve got the Power-stone Amulet now, your reign is at an end, you should surrender!” Master Warrior shouts. To his surprise Supreme Warrior still glows with the white energy of the stone.
“I no longer need that trinket, the power is mine!” Supreme Warrior laughs as he fires a bolt of energy at Master Warrior.
Raising his gauntlet to absorb the white energy, Master Warrior is caught off guard when he can not. The force of the blast sends him hurling back into the side of the museum building where his body leaves an imprint in the yellow bricks. Barely conscious he slides to the ground. In the attack Master Warrior has lost his grip on the power-stone and its whereabouts escape him.
“Still breathing tough guy?” Supreme Warrior asks as he floats closer to where Master Warrior lay on the ground. “Why am I not surprised?” “I knew it would take a lot to teach you a lesson.”
His head spinning as he tastes the blood in his mouth, Master Warrior pushes himself up on the rubble that has fallen loose from the building to shakily stand. Spitting out the blood in his mouth he calls out, “Why are you doing this?” “You talk as if we know each other!” Trying to distract his opponent Master Warrior scans the surroundings for the lost power-stone.
“You stupidity never ceases to amaze me!” Supreme Warrior says peeking from behind his mask. “You have no idea how long I have waited for this day to come!” Reaching out his arm the mystery man fires another bolt of pure white energy at Master Warrior.
At first it appears that the hero is diving into the white light but at the last minute he dodges under it and the floating man for something else. He has spotted the amulet in the brown winter grass of the courtyard nearly a football feet away. It still glows slightly with the power it gave Supreme Warrior. Master Warrior barely makes it to the mystic artifact when he falls to the ground. If he doesn’t have the power to defeat this new threat then perhaps he can fight fire with fire. Picking up the amulet, he places it around his neck as he turns to the still rising sun. Holding out the power-stone just as Supreme Warrior did it is again bathed in the sunlight. Master Warrior instantly feels the surge of pure power through his body. It is nothing like he has ever felt before. He feared it as an evil power source but he doesn’t feel at all changed by it.
“What have you done!” Supreme Warrior shouts as he flies across the courtyard at Master Warrior. “The power of the Amulet was meant to give me my greatest victory over you!” Approaching Master Warrior at an excessive rate across the courtyard Supreme Warrior fires another bolt of energy.
This time Master Warrior raises his hand to catch the blast in his palm. “It would seem that there is more than enough power in the Amulet to go around,” Master Warrior smiles as he feels the increased energy flow into his body, it is almost invigorating. Supreme Warrior then collides with Master Warrior carrying him high up into the sky.
The two men struggle in mid-air as Supreme Warrior turns their direction downward. As they plummet Earthward the white aura around them merges into one. Master Warrior looks into the man’s eyes, there is something familiar there. “I know you, don’t I?” the words escape from Master Warrior’s lips as his foe’s hands squeeze tightly around his throat.
“You asshole!” Supreme Warrior shouts as they make impact in the frozen fountain at the front of the museum. Unfortunately for Supreme Warrior the white aura that surrounds them cushions them both as they crash down. The result is only crack the ice on the frozen pool.
Continuing to wrestle the two men roll over the side of the raised pool. Master Warrior lands on top of his mysterious foe, pinning him to the pavement. “I must admit I really don’t care who you are,” Master Warrior grins feeling the power that envelops them. “I’m more interested in this incredible power you’ve discovered.” “It makes me feel so free.” “I want more,” he whispers under his breath as he takes hold of the man’s hands to pin his arms straight out to the pavement.
“You Mother Fucker!” Supreme Warrior shouts in his face from under his mask. “This is just like you to take everything from me!” The Amulet dangling in his face Supreme Warrior can feel the Power-stone’s energy draining from him. The white energy returns to the Amulet and then into Master Warrior’s body that quivers with the increased power.
“Yes, it is incredible!” Master Warrior laughs. “It’s better than an orgasm!” “Better than anything I have ever felt! He turns to look around him as a crowd begins to gather around the two men on the pavement.
Supreme Warrior stops struggling underneath him as he gasps for air. “You’re taking too much.” Once the energy of the Power-stone Amulet has drained completely from the man pinned beneath him Master Warrior feels something else come from Supreme Warrior. Something familiar, it is like the bio-energy Miracle Maiden used on him. Yet different somehow, polluted. “Kill me then, that is what you have always wanted!” Supreme Warrior shouts as he passes out.
Master Warrior suddenly realizes what is happening to him, causing his gluttony. He falls back off of the man’s chest. Crab crawling back away from the unconscious Supreme Warrior. The white aura around him pulses causing the crowd to back away from him as he stands up. Pulling the Amulet from his neck he snaps the thick chain. He must destroy this thing, no one should have such power! Focusing all of the power he now controls back into the Power-stone. Master Warrior can feel the Power-stone Amulet grow hot in his hands as the white aura around him drains back into it.
When all of the aura around him is gone and he can barely hold the Amulet in his hands he turns and swings his arm to launch it into the sky. The crowd watches as the Amulet soar high into the winter morning sky. Then high over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway it explodes like a fourth of July firework.
The smell of Coffee signals to Master Warrior that he has again conquered one of the sins. Now it is time to see just who this Supreme Warrior is under his mask. Stepping around back to the fountain Master Warrior finds that the man on the pavement is gone, leaving behind only a dark spot left on the ground where he laid. He bends down to touch the mark that appears to be soot.
“Master Warrior, Master Warrior!” a reporter shouts rushing up behind him. “Can you comment on what happened here today?”
Standing up he turns to recognize the report as his old friend Pete Stapleton. “NOT NOW PETE!” Master Warrior says in an aggressive tone. “I need to find this guy!” Taking a few steps away from the report Master Warrior leaps into the air taking flight to scan the area from above.
Lemon Hill Mansion
Lemon Hill Dr
Philadelphia, PA
Trials Seven-Anger
Making a large loop over the area Master Warrior spots someone out of place on the historical estate of Lemon Hill. A man walks around the English style gardens even though the grounds are closed to the public at this time of year. Drawing closer he can see that it is not the man he seeks but one just as high on his list. It is that bastard Hershel who started this trial thing. Just the sight of the man makes the anger rise up in Master Warrior’s gut.
Changing his trajectory and increasing his speed, Master Warrior takes aim at the man who has made the past week of his life a living hell of out of control emotion. Crossing the distance of nearly a mile at 85 miles an hour Master Warrior turns his shoulder out to collide with the man on the ground. The crack of the two solidly built men impacting causes the birds to flee from the surrounding trees.
The men roll and tumble for several yards before they come to a stop to grapple on the frost covered grass of the garden. Master Warrior is fueled by his anger forgetting almost everything his mother taught him about fighting this close up to an opponent. Hershel easily overcomes the sloppiness of the younger man’s attack, launching him off several feet into the air and back to the ground. “I must admit I expected more from you,” Hershel says, springing back up to his feet while Master Warrior still rights himself.
“You expected more?” Master Warrior shouts, his face red with frustration. “Do you have any idea the hell you have made my life for the past week?” “This Trial of Sins has caused all manner of problems in my life!” “I have done things that I would have never considered doing!” “And it is all your fault!” Master Warrior takes his arsenal from his leg shaping it into a large two headed battle ax. “If I can not put an end to it, at least I can put an end to you!” Master Warrior charges at the large man with every intention of striking him down with his weapon.
Hershel has a much different idea as he lands a windmill kick to the large blade taking Master Warrior down to the ground with it. He stands over Master Warrior looking down at the rage in his eyes. “Did you really think you could kill me with that?” “I didn’t get to be over 3200 years old without a few fights to the death.”
“Do you believe that I have not killed in self-defense?” Master Warrior roars. “After all I won my title in Olestra!” “I’ve killed bigger beasts than you!” “I put Bones in his place as well!”
“I have no question that you have faced life and death choices in Olestra,” Hershel announces. “This is not Olestra, it is Earth!” “Come on get up, use that ax to take off my head, if you can.” “Let your anger guide you!” “Come on little amazon-boy!” Hershel shouts.
“You son of a bitch ass fucker!” Master Warrior screams as he lunges forward at Hershel swinging his ax over his head.
Hershel stoops as he spins around, pulling a four foot long metal rod from under his leather coat. Hitting Master Warrior across the knees to trip him. Master Warrior tucks and rolls to avoid landing on his own weapon. He turns to be struck in the side of the head by Hershel’s weapon.
Blood flows from Master Warrior’s mouth as springs back up at Hershel. “That’s it, let your anger consume you!” “Feel what it is like to be a true warrior!” “To never know happiness, never know love without loss!” “Know how it feels to be angry all the time, to have no home, no friends, no family!”
Hershel’s words burrow into Master Warrior’s mind, into his soul as anger rages inside of him like he has never felt before in his life. He looks at the Nozama who he knows must be as old as his mother. What does this man have to gain by torturing him this way? Master Warrior lowers his ax to his thigh and it transforms returning to a strap on his leg. “That is not who I am!” “I feel this anger in every part of my soul, but it is not who I am.” “I have family, I have friends, I want to know love without loss.” Standing unmoving for a moment painlessly a seven sided brass box pops from Master Warrior’s side to fall to the grass. Looking down at the strange object he has carried with him unknowingly for days, Master Warrior then smells of the fragrance of cherry blossoms on this cold February day.
Hershel steps forward, looking Master Warrior in the eyes as the anger clears from his soul. “It would appear that your mother was right, you are different,” Hershel tells him. “You are only the second person I know to successfully complete the Seven Trials of Sin.” He then bends down to pick up the seven sided box and place it in his pocket. “Fifteen hundred years ago when I defeated my anger I was given a reward.” “It was the answer to my most troubling problem, a true means to imprison my brother Samso.” “It was you that freed him from that prison and now it is you who must put him back.”
“How am I supposed to do that, besides he is safely imprisoned on Magic Island,” Master Warrior replies.
“Samso’s imprisonment on Magic Island is only temporary,” Hershel explains. “He will escape again.” “I know now that Optima’s prison was flawed.” “You must use the reward owed you from Trials to seek out another god, one who will make a much more permanent prison for him.” “Optima was the only god that still existed in Olestra, but there are others in hiding here on Earth.” “You must find one of them.”
“How do you expect me to find a god in 1988 America?” Master Warrior queries.
“You need only meditate and they will find you,” Hershel replies soberly.
Steve Roberts Jr.,David Rogers,Double Dee,Philadelphia Pa,Detective Patrick Berger,Nicholas DeScalo,Aphrodite,Hershel,Paula Snyder,Julie Snyder,Carol Lopez,Supreme Warrior,Commander Olpere,Dr Charles Michaelson,Thomas Jefferson University Hospital,V.I.P. Ward,Philadelphia Elite Squad,Trademark Investigations,Pete Stapleton,Optima,Olestra,Zeni-humans