Monday, October 19, 1987
Center City
Philadelphia, PA
Master Warrior stands in the center of Market street surveying the damage in the wake of his fight with the Cyclops. Cars are crushed and overturned. A SEPTA bus lays torn in two, half of it stands on end. He tried to save as many people as he could as the monster raged, but there are still injured being helped and taken away in ambulances. There is no time for guilt as Master Warrior recognizes this scene from a dream he had months ago. He remembers that when he reached for his Arsenal it was gone. He lost it in the fight with Beachum. His eyes frantically scanned the scene to find it. Spotting the woman trapped in her car he knows it is already too late.
A strong wind blows over him from behind, signaling that events he foresaw are about to begin. As his cape extends to blow in the breeze he knows what happened next from his premonition. But this time something happens that he does not remember from his dream. His cape dissolves to dust that swirls around the street in front of him. The opposite happens to this dust than what happened to the dust from each of the Shadows he fought. Unlike the shadow dust, this dust takes shape. Soon a large muscular nude man with short cropped salt and pepper hair stands before him. He wears no armor and holds no large broadsword in his hand. “I told you I was coming for you little Warrior!” the larger man with a determined look on his face says. Master Warrior has a clear memory of how this battle ends, this man is here to kill him.
Thanks to the talk with his mother he has some idea of who this man is now. When the nude man steps toward Master Warrior, he states trying to appear confident through his bruises, “Samso, I presume.”
“So our meeting in your dream has made you seek answers,” the imposing man replies. “Since you have so embraced the title of Master Warrior, then you shall call me Dominator for the rest of your life!” “Or what is left of it.” “It is what the slaves who fought in the Coliseum called their masters!” he laughs. “Now I shall show you I am your master!” The larger man swings out with a fist towards Master Warrior’s already bruised jaw. The hero blocks the punch with his left gauntlet absorbing most of the force of the assault, only to have his own fist hit him in the left side of the head.
Shaking off the hit, Master Warrior returns with a right to Dominator’s midsection. For the first time in his life his punch is stopped cold. Punching this man is like hitting a brick wall. Not missing a beat Master Warrior moves to throw a left cross to his foe’s jaw but Dominator is faster as he grabs Master Warrior’s arm attempting to twist it behind his back. Master Warrior can feel the seer strength of his opponent. His next move is one of the first things his amazon mother taught him. Reaching over his shoulder with his right hand, Master Warrior takes hold of his foe’s neck to flip him over his head to hit the wall of a building across the street. Unfortunately in the process Dominator dislocates Master Warrior’s left shoulder before releasing his arm. It is an injury with which the hero can deal.
Master Warrior’s left arm is still dangling as Dominator charges back at him. Master Warrior leaps up landing his feet in the center of Dominator’s chest. Pushing off, the two warriors are parted, sending the nude one to the pavement. Master Warrior knows he has no time to waste as he flies forward past the fallen man to slam his left shoulder into a brick wall to relocate his shoulder.
The stabbing pain lasts for only a second about as long as the fears that he is out match. He pushes both thoughts aside. As Dominator moves to return to his feet Master Warrior leaps up to give him a windmill kick to the faces that throws his foe off balance back to the pavement.
Down but still uninjured by an assault that would leave a normal man unconscious. From the broken blacktop Dominator speaks again, “Enjoy your victory while it lasts, boy!” he grins springing up from the pavement to hit Master Warrior in the gut with his shoulder.
The wind knocked out of him, Master Warrior hears his ribs crack instantly to feel another surge of pain. Reeling with pain he finds himself pinned under the nude man. Dominator laughs, his breath hot in Master Warrior’s face, “You fool, resist all you like I will enjoy every moment of this after the year I have spent protecting you!”
“Protecting me, what are you talking about?” Master Warrior gasps, catching his breath as he brings his knee up to strike the Nozama’s exposed balls. Even the mighty Dominator has a weak spot as he rolls off Master Warrior crying out in pain for the first time. Master Warrior springs back to his feet, wiping the blood from his nose, knowing that it is the link between them that provokes the monologue. He will use it as a distraction.
Dominator grappled with his genitals for only a few minutes before pulling himself back up to his knees. “I was imprisoned by the cape that you stupidly brought back from Olestra,” Dominator responds with little reason. “From the first moment it fell from that archway to blanket you I have been leading you, protecting you.” “Who do you think saved you from that phobic bitch?”
Master Warrior’s eyes continue to search for his a.w.o.l. Arsenal but ultimately the words draw his attention. “Pearl Johnson, that was you in the shadows!” Master Warrior realizes for the first time.
“Yes, and every time you dispatched one of the shadows of your past in Olestra I took that dust,” Dominator reveals. “Every bit of that magic dust brought me closer to freedom!” “Now I intend to make you suffer, plead for your pathetic half-breed life!” Dominator returns to his feet to move on Master Warrior again. They grapple hand to hand before Dominator again gets the upper hand. This time it is to strangle Master Warrior, his large hands grabbing at Master Warrior’s throat. Master Warrior quickly finds himself with his back pinned to the wall of the PNB Bank. He can feel the warm blood running down his cheek from a cut under his quickly swelling eye.
It takes all of Master Warrior’s strength to free just one of his foe’s massive hands from his throat. It is too late when he realizes that this attack has been a trick as Dominator reaches out to tear one of the cape clasps from his flight vest.
Stepping back, Dominator releases Master Warrior tossing him to the sidewalk. He looms over Master Warrior, his attention focused on the clasp that he crushes in his palm. The small ruby in the center of the gold clasp sparks as it is destroyed, then from its destruction a large broadsword erupts. The evil Nozama King grins at his old weapon with joy thinking of all the lives it has taken.
Master Warrior recognizes the weapon instantly. He wastes no time taking action, springing up from the sidewalk on his good right arm he swings his feet to kick the weapon from his foe’s hand sending it sailing off into the distance. Dominator turns to retrieve his weapon but Master Warrior has no intention of letting him do that. Leaping forward he lands a drop kick to the Nozama’s back forcing him down. The attack barely staggers the larger man long enough to step forward to drive Samso’s face into the blacktop.
In anger Dominator bucks up to throw the hero from his back. Catching his balance on the street Master Warrior is not prepared when Dominator swings his fist much faster than he anticipated. Dominator lands a left punch to Master Warrior’s eye almost crushing its socket. Then a right to his ribs that let out more cracking sounds. Followed by another left to his jaw. The attack on Master Warrior falls him to the street again. On his knees Master Warrior grabs hold of both his side as Dominator peers down at him taking a hand full of his brown hair. “You are weak and not worthy of the title Master Warrior!”
“I had enough strength to defeat your brethren, Bones in the arena!” Master Warrior shouts spitting blood. “I think it is you who are weak, old and out of touch, just as he was!” “There is nothing for you here in this world, you should just go back to your prison!” Master Warrior’s right eye is all but swollen shut, making it hard to focus on his target. He pulls his wet hair free of Dominator’s grip to sit back to the pavement.
Dominator is stunned by the fallen man’s threats and unprepared as Master Warrior launches forward from the ground driving his head into the other man’s unprotected nuts again. Tackling him to the blacktop he sits on Dominator’s chest pinning him down. “You are the weak one!” Master Warrior shouts as he landed punch after punch to the Nozama King’s face. “You are the weak one!” “You are the weak one!” After twenty or so punches Master Warrior’s finally begin to do some damage to Dominator’s face. Then he realizes that in the process leaving his own knuckles scraped and bloodied. It is his own blood on Dominator’s face. The pain in his ribs is beyond any that Master Warrior has felt in his life as Dominator jabs his fist into his hero’s side. Master Warrior is nearly cripples with pain as he rolls off his opponent.
Dominator reaches down to pick the bloodied man up by his face with one hand. “No!” Dominator shouts exploding with a new found anger. “You are the weak one!” “Your fist are like that of a child to me.” With a swing of Dominator’s large arm Master Warrior is sent sailing down the street to crash into one half of the upended bus. His first instinct is to lay there, let the Nozama come after him. Master Warrior’s mind races as he remembers the sword. His Arsenal is still MIA, he can’t let Dominator get it his sword first! Climbing from the wreckage he spots Dominator running down the street making a leap toward the side of a building. The large broadsword has found its mark in the brick wall. Thinking fast, Master Warrior grabs a hold of the severed half of the bus, fighting back the pain, he gives it a heave right on target.
Dominator is hit in the back taken to the ground by the weight and force behind the bus remnant. In his condition it is easier for Master Warrior to fly than run, so he takes to the air to follow the wreckage as it slides down Market street. Before he can reach the bus it erupts upward toward him. He barely dodges the oncoming metal chunk, but he can not avoid the angry nude man that launches from behind it.
The two men collide in mid-air to skid down to the street. Dominator rides on the hero’s chest like a toboggan. Master Warrior can feel the back of his legs being scraped on the rough street under his indestructible suit. As they slide to a stop Master Warrior manages to flip over in an attempt to get free. His attempt fails as Dominator grabs him from behind bringing him to his knees. Dominator laughs as he pulls Master Warrior up into a headlock, he whispers in his ear, “You are no match for me little Amazon boy.”
“No it is you who is going to lose, I foresaw it,” Master Warrior says as he tries to pry Dominator’s arm loose. “You are tiring!” “You can’t keep this up!”
Dominator reaches over his opponent’s shoulder to pluck the final clasp from Master Warrior’s chest. Having retrieved his final prize Dominator releases the battered warrior, who falls forward to the pavement. His throat and face bruised, his ribs throbbing and his nose bleeding he lays there gasping for air, trying to see out of his one good eye. Forcing himself to move Master Warrior now tumbles away flipping back to his feet. Squatting there he watches as the second cape clasp is crushed creating the armor from his dream.
“You fool I have been controlling everything since you returned to Earth,” Dominator shouts with rage! “Smilodon, Beachum they were but my pawns!” “The connection between them was formed after I took control!” “I set a trap and you fell right into it!” “Those things that attacked you in the mountains where Wood Nymphs, falling into the river you drew in Water nymphs. “Their power was hidden in your gauntlets until the time was right.” “I needed their power to escape my prison and you got it for me!”
Philadelphia Elite Squad
1st Precinct
Philadelphia, Pa
Entering the Precinct Detective Berger brushed shoulders with a tall Hispanic man dressed in an expensive business suit. The man drops the folder full of papers that he carries, the many sheets of paper scatter over the floor. Paddy bends down apologizing, “I’m very sorry sir, I’m on a rather urgent mission.”
“I understand, you would never let anything happen to your best friend that might jeopardize his future,” the man replies in a strange tone.
Paddy continues to the elevator after his strange encounter with the man in the front lobby. He was right, Paddy would never let anything happen to Steve if there was something he could do to help. Putting it out of his mind he arrives at the Elite Squad room to find only his partner, Paul Grimes in the office with his feet up on the desk watching the News on the wall mounted Television. “What are you doing here?” Paddy asks.
“Watching your buddy get his ass kicked!” Detective Grimes replies, almost sounding happy about it.
“Where is the rest of the Squad?” Paddy asks, going to his desk to find his address book. He is well aware of the battle that rages on Market Street, that is why he has come to find Steve’s parents phone number. He leaves his blue book of important connections locked in his desk for safe keeping.
“Out there with a front row seat,” Grimes replies. “I figured you’d be right out there with them.”
“I have something else to take care of here,” Paddy replies, finding the number he searches for in the small blue book. Sitting down in his desk chair he spins away from Detective Grimes to make his phone call. To his disappointment he gets an answering machine. “I know I shouldn’t have called after the last time, but I wanted to make sure you know what is happening here,” he whispers into the phone.
“Looks to me like you are going to need a new roommate soon,” Grimes whispers under his breath as he watches Dominator slam Master Warrior into the side of a panel truck with one punch.
“What was that you said?” Paddy asks as he hangs up the phone.
“Looks to me like we are going to have a new resident hero soon,” Grimes says loud enough for Paddy to hear him. “This new guy is beating the snot out of the old one.”
“You can’t possibly think that monster is a hero!” Paddy suggests glancing at the horror scene on the television.
“As much as I believe that asshole was a hero,” Grimes replies. “Look at all of the devastation that guy has brought to this city since he showed up!” “One freak after another killing innocent people just going about their lives.”
“How can you work on this squad and think that?” Paddy charges going to stand between his partner and the television. “All the things I have seen working here prove that none of these Zeni-humans are connected!” “Everyone of them has a different story and reason for becoming what they are.” “We should just feel lucky that one of them is willing to fight on our side and not for his own selfish gain!”
“Spoken like a true Zeni-lover,” Detective Grimes remarks. “Shouldn’t you be getting over there to nurse your hero back to health?” Grimes’ attitude is of no surprise to Paddy, but the fact that he is speaking all of these things out loud is very different. It makes him wonder if it is time he reported this kind of talk to Olpere.
“That is exactly what I intend to do,” Paddy fumes looking back at the Television one last time to see Master Warrior swing back over the hood of a car to kick Dominator in the face.
Market St.
Center City
Philadelphia, PA
The battle on Market Street has brought out many kinds of spectators. Most are reporters or people who just want to catch a glimpse of the local hero in action. None expected the brutality that they have witnessed over the past hour. Some have even had to leave, ill from the sight of the blood as the two mighty men fought.
But there is another at the scene who stands unmoving on the sidewalk unseen by anyone. Ted Mathews wears his Hellion suit that camouflages him perfectly into the backdrop of the buildings, hidden in plain sight. As Hellion, he has thought of himself as a force for vengeance for many months now. He dreamt of being the one to knock that high and mighty Master Warrior down a few pegs but now as he stands watch what looks like the man he had reviled fighting for his life he feels something different. Master Warrior is covered in blood from the many wounds he has received at the hands of this man calling himself Dominator. Hellion somehow feels as if he now has a better understanding of what Master Warrior has been trying to do in Philadelphia.
This other man is an animal bent only on destruction. He could possibly kill Master Warrior and where would that leave the rest of the city? But what could Hellion do to stop the brute? His power barely works on Master Warrior, it would surely do nothing to this new crazed Warrior. Between this new guy in town and DeScalo’s threats, perhaps it is time Hellion moved on to greener pastures.
Master Warrior has spent the last hour convincing himself he is wearing Dominator down but it would seem the only one getting worn down in this fight is him. He lays face down in the gutter. His face is covered in blood that he can taste in his mouth. As he crawls back to his knees, he is sure his nose is broken now. Master Warrior’s head spins with what is surely a concussion. But he refuses to give up, to die here in the street like this, he knows his mother could never live with the shame.
Behind him the man who now calls himself Dominator laughs bellowing out loud. “Do you mistake me for that fool Bones?” he calls out. “Offering yourself to me will do you no good!” Master Warrior’s mind races at the sound of the name Bones who threatened to make him his slave when they fought. “I have no intention of sparing your life to take you as a concubine!” “No matter how long I kept you in my thrall, there would always be the chance you could turn on me again.” “I prefer a much more final end to my battles!”
Still on his knees Master Warrior can hear Dominator’s heavy foot falls on the pavement as if he weighs thousands of pounds. He coughs blood now into the gutter from the back of his throat. He has to get up!
It is too late as he feels Dominator take hold of his belt to yank him upward like some rag doll left on the street. Dominator holds Master Warrior aloft with one hand, dangling him above the street like a helpless kitten. He hears the collective gasp of the people on the sidelines that still refuse to leave the scene for their own safety. Then Master Warrior feels the rush of air again as he is thrown down the street at a line of crushed cars he has hit many times by now. His impact sends the mangled white Toyota sliding back up onto the sidewalk.
“No man or Nozama has ever bested me in battle, certainly not a half-breed Amazon boy!” “The only time I have ever been imprisoned was by a Sorcerer and you are no Sorcerer!” Dominator shouts. Master Warrior lays unmoving on the hood of the car as a shard of metal dug into the unprotected part of his back. His blood flows out of the wound onto the white paint of the car.
Master Warrior is racked with pain, he can’t even guess at how many internal injuries he must have at this point. He can barely lift his head to see that his foe is gone from the street if only momentarily. It is all too clear to Master Warrior that what Dominator is saying is true. He had no hope of beating this man with force. He must use his brain, even if his head is pounding and spinning at the same time. A Sorcerer, he thinks, where could I find a Sorcerer to imprison this monster? Then it strikes him as he feebly reaches to undo his belt.
Dominator returns to grab the barely conscious Master Warrior by the ankle to drag him down off the cars to the middle of the street. “All bare witness as I slay your would-be savior, for soon you will all call me Master!” he announces to the cameras and crowd. Reaching down he grabs a handful of Master Warrior’s bloody hair to pull the man up to his knees again. He looks down at the man’s beaten body and feels nothing but pride at his conquest. He raises his mighty broadsword over his head in anticipation of yet another victory added to the blade.
Through his one good eye Master Warrior sees something that his foe must not have when he retrieved his lost sword. Something that was not in his premonition of this fight. As Dominator brings down the broadsword to strike the fatal blow to Master Warrior, the beaten hero smiles up at him, his perfect white teeth covered in blood. “Chains!” Master Warrior calls out as he brings his gauntlets together to release the concussive force stored within them from the battle.
Dominator is caught off guard as the broadsword instantly changes shape becoming a heavy, thick golden chain. The burst of force is enough to throw Dominator off balance as the Master grabs hold of his arsenal in the form of chains that have heeded his command. With a burst of speed he didn’t think he still had in him, Master Warrior leaps up to bind the Nozama King in the golden chains. Before the raging man can try to escape, Master Warrior pulls his belt from his waist. Adding it to the restraints that already bind Dominator. Master Warrior touches the belt bucket to call out, “MIST!” Instantly Dominator is gone. Master Warrior can only pray Mist knows what to do with Samso when he arrives on Magic Island.
Master Warrior stands victorious in the street as the crowd begins to cheer even if they really don’t understand what has just happened. All they know is that the villain is gone and the hero stands victorious. Then overcome by his injuries Master Warrior falls face first to the broken blacktop unconscious.
Market St.
Center City
Philadelphia, PA
There is a fifteen block guarantee on Market Street when Detective Berger arrives on the scene. He has parked on the street where the fire police have erected a barracks. He shows them his badge and they let him pass into what can only be described as a war zone. Even at this distance from the fight there is evidence of what lays ahead. Store front windows are broken by random bricks that have flown nearly a mile from where they began. He walks past a holding area set up by paramedics and volunteers to help people with injuries. He has no time to help, as much as he may feel he should. On the other side of the street he sees several bodies on the sidewalk covered with blankets. He counts nine in total as he continues on his way.
Then he approaches the first of the snapped off light posts with loss wire lying on the sidewalk where utility men try to contain the safety risks caused by the damage. In the street the pole lays bent and broken after being used as a weapon. Abandoned cars sit in the street bumper to bumper, several still running. Walking down the center of the street he begins to see fresh cracks in the blacktop that spread out wide ahead of him.
He can’t imagine what Steve must have gone through fighting these two menaces one after another. Paddy approaches another check point where police officers wear heavy body armor carrying large rifles, not your standard issue to be sure. “How much further to the active crime scene?” he asks, showing his Detective’s badge again.
“It’s all a crime scene,” the armored cop replies. “As far as active goes, we have word that it is over.”
“Over what do you mean?” Paddy asks in shock. “How did it end?”
“No word on that sir, only that both combatants are done,” the rifle toting cop answers. Now Paddy is even more concerned with what has become of his best friend as he continues up the street past smashed cars with broken windshields and body impressions of their hoods. There is even blood on the broken glass and dented mental. Then he sees the most disturbing sight of all, a SEPTA bus or at least part of it hangs from the side of a building about two blocks ahead.
There are Firemen and Policemen everywhere now, only a few reporters have found their way this far into the war zone. Paddy stands there on the broken blacktop of the street for a minute in shock at the devastation. Then he spots Mark Zadlo, another member of the Elite Squad at the hood of a totaled white car that sits in the middle of the sidewalk. “Mark!” Paddy calls out as he runs to meet the young man. He steps up next to his fellow officer to see that he is wiping blood from the hood of a white car with a towel most likely taken from the broken window of a nearby store. “What are you doing?” Paddy asks of his co-worker.
“I’m cleaning up this mess,” Mark replied calmly.
“Who’s blood is that?” Paddy asks looking on in confusion. He has noticed that Mark Zadlo has been a little off over the last few months, but this is moving beyond just forgetfulness.
“Master Warrior’s, I think,” Mark says, lifting the bloody towel up to look at it. “He was the only one I saw bleeding.” “I think even the blood on the other guy’s face was from Master Warrior’s fists.
“Who told you to do this?” Paddy asks, wondering if he is the only one on the Elite Squad that isn’t losing his mind.
“No one, I just thought….” Mark’s sentence trails off as if he has forgotten what he was about to say. Mark looks to the bloody towel again, his hands and shirt sleeves are also stained with blood.
“Just get an evidence bag and put that towel in it,” Paddy tells the clearly bewildered man. Paddy begins to feel an even deeper concern for his friend at the sight of the amount of blood left behind on this car. Master Warrior is an amazing man but could even he survive this much blood loss?
Detective Berger moves on further into the center of the devastation to see his commanding officer up ahead. “Commander Olpere!” Paddy calls out as he makes his way through the crowd of first responders to his superior.
“About time you showed up here Berger!” the graying brunette says turning to spot him. “I am shocked that the biggest brawl your hero was in and you were nowhere to be found!”
Detective Berger sighs, Master Warrior is not my hero!” He can’t help but feel frustrated at the comment after the words he had with Grimes at the Precinct. “From the looks of this scene he saved a lot of people.” “Where is he?”
“Helicopter just took him to the Hospital,” Commander Olpere replies. “He didn’t look at all good.” “I must admit Berger, I misjudged him.” Paddy is surprised to hear the words come from Commander Olpere’s mouth. “The lives he saved here today are too many to count.” These two maniacs seem to be related somehow and if he hadn’t been here to stop them so many more would be dead now.” “I only wish I had realized that before it was too late to thank him personally.”
“Too late?” Paddy questions. “What do you mean, too late?”
“Paramedics that loaded him up said, it doesn’t look good for him,” Olpere replies. “So many injuries, too much blood loss.” “Standing here watching the beating he took, it was horrific, I can’t believe he was even able to stand for as long as he did at the end.”
“Holy shit!” Paddy exclaims overcome with emotion for his friend, no best friend, Steve has been the best friend he has had in his life. “What hospital did they take him to?” Paddy asks frantically.
“Jefferson University, I think,” Olpere replies. Before Commander Olpere can finish her sentence Detective Berger is gone, running back through the war torn street to his car. He glances casually at the people on the street as he heads back to his car. He looks for his partner Detective Grimes who drove over with him. He really didn’t care where Grimes went after they parked so finding him now is not really a priority.
Paddy gets back to his car quicker, no longer sightseeing as he hurried up the street. He doesn’t even think twice as he breaks the first rule since Steve Roberts quit the force by popping the dome light on the roof without cause. Switching on the light and siren he takes off from Market street to find his way to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on the crowded streets of Philadelphia. Paddy doesn’t get very far when he finds himself in yet another traffic jam as people try to avoid the chaos on Market street. Glancing into the back of the car he notices for the first time his partner Paul Grimes, sound asleep on the seat.
High over the rooftops
Center City
Philadelphia, PA
In route to Jefferson University Hospital by airlift the Paramedic crew working furiously on perhaps the most important patient of their lives. “I’ve called ahead to the Hospital, Dr Michelson will be ready and waiting,” the pilot calls back to the team.
“Good, Dr. M has been wanting to examine this guy for months,” one of the Paramedics attending Master Warrior says as he reaches for shears. It is then that the crew find themselves in a quandary. “What is this thing made of?” the Paramedic questions as he tries to cut off Master Warrior’s flight vest. “These shears aren’t even nicking it!”
“Same here with the pants,” the female Paramedic says, trying to slice open the side of the patient’s suit. “They do stretch though,” the woman comments, pulling out the front of Master Warrior’s pants to have a peek. “How about the shirt?”
“Yeah, yeah I can get under it to put on the pads,” the man says as he slides the heart monitor pads into position on Master Warrior’s chest under the vest. “That was very unprofessional,” he comments to his partner.
“Come on, like you didn’t want to know if he had all the right equipment,” the woman replies. “Pulse is strong and fast, temperature 124.”
The Paramedic captain glares at his subordinate. “Heart is strong, BP 145 over 132,” “He is in shock!” “We need to bring this pressure down!” “Get me some Nitroglycerin!”
The female Paramedic reaches for a drawer in the side of the Med-a-vac to retrieve the requested drug, handing it to her partner. She then takes a moist towel to wipe the blood from the man’s face and swollen eye. “What is up with his face, I can see features, even the swelling, but it is like I can’t remember them when I look away.”
“Guy is a superhero, what do you expect?” the Captain replies injecting the drug into Master Warrior’s arm. “It must be some kind of weird mask thing.” “We need to roll him get a look at those gashes on his back, check for spinal injury!” Together they gently lift the big man, rolling him onto his side as to look at the injuries not protected by his strange clothing. The woman holds Master Warrior as her Captain inspects the wounds. “Wow,” the man says in amazement. “These are big at least six inches long on the biggest one, deep too I would say.” “Probably would have been at least a hundred stitches, but they seem to have sealed closed on their own.”
“Who is this man?” the woman says holding the Master Warrior’s head on her arm. “So brave and nearly indestructible.”
“Get the plasma bag and find a vein, he’s going to need blood, he would have lost a lot before these wounds closed up,” the Captain instructs, breaking his partner’s moment of admiration for the patient.
A suburban home
Ardmore, Pa
I jerked awake, sitting straight up in bed. I sat up in bed and looked around the room for a moment. I felt like I had awoken from the longest dream ever. I was confused for no good reason. How did I get here? I jumped from the bed to go to the window, opening the blinds I could see it was a beautiful fall morning. I wore only a pair of plaid flannel pajama pants that felt like home to me. I have had them for years. It was just strange that I didn’t remember going to bed the night before but maybe that was just because I had been working too hard.
I laid back down in my bed putting my hands behind my head as reality set in. It was only a dream, I told myself. I’m no Superhero, just a police Detective. Then I heard familiar slippered footsteps on the wood floor of the hallway.
Carol, my wife of ten years entered the room wearing her large oversized robe and signature bear claw slippers. “Good Morning sleepy head,” she said to me, crawling onto the bed beside me to give me a long good morning kiss. “You better get up and dress. The girls are eager to give you your gifts.” She runs her fingers through my chest hair making me think she has another birthday present for me. I leaned in kissing her again. “Now, now, save that for later,” she said taking hold of the growing rod in my pajama pants. “The girls are going to a sleepover tonight giving us the house to ourselves.”
“Carol are you sure you have to go to work today?” I teased.
“A District Attorney’s work is never done,” Carol said getting up from the bed. “Now get a move on, you are dropping the girls off a school today, remember?”
“Mommy!” a young voice called from beyond the bedroom.
“Okay Selina, I’m coming,” Carol calls back as I get out of bed again. She heads out of the room as I head for the bathroom.
Looking in the mirror at my face it seems different in some way. Then the thought came into my mind. My birthday is January 1st, this is October. I stepped over to peek out the bathroom
window. The ground was coated in a fresh blanket of snow. I looked back to the bedroom wondering if I had dreamt the first look outside. Almost instantly, the thought was gone as I returned to take a shower. The cold water of the shower over my head was like a shock of electricity to me.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
111 S 11th St
Philadelphia, PA
Suddenly, Master Warrior wakes up on a gurney as he is wheeled in the Emergency room. “Stop, stop,” he moans, trying to get up, finding he is strapped down. He is too weak to break the nylon straps that hold him to the gurney. “I need to go.” “I’ve got to get to my gifts.”
“Just settle down Master Warrior, everything is going to be fine,” a doctor says as he comes up beside the gurney to press gently on the patient’s chest to lay him back down. “I’m Dr. Michelson and I am going to take good care of you,” the doctor assured him as he slipped from consciousness again.
A suburban home
Ardmore, Pa
I put on my day off jeans and a T-shirt to head down to breakfast. I was eager to see my gifts. As I entered the kitchen, I could see my two girls at the breakfast table. No two fraternal twins have ever been more different than my girls. Selina has dark hair and skin, she is the level headed determined one like her mother. Brenda has my father’s lighter hair and skin that reminds me how much I love him. It is Brenda who is the adventurous one, always full of joy and curiosity. “HURRAY, Daddy’s here!” Brenda shouts when she looks up to see me standing at the doorway admiring them. “Hurry Daddy, open your present!”
In the center of the table a large well wrapped gift sits waiting for me. “I see mommy has been busy wrapping,” I commented looking over at my meticulous wife.
“Oh no that was all Selina,” Carol replied from the stove. “She wanted it perfect so you would never guess what it was inside.”
“Come on Daddy, just open it!” Brenda urged.
“Don’t you think we should wait until after we eat?” I suggested taking my seat at the table with a smile.
“No Daddy, open it now!” Brenda insisted.
“What do you think of Selina?” I asked my other daughter who had her nose buried in a book. She lifted her head to give me an uncharacteristic smile, “I think you should open it now too.”
“Wow, my daughters are agreeing on something, this is a special day,” I announced. Standing up, I pulled the large gift over in front of me. It was heavy but not as heavy as I thought a box this size should be. “It’s a bowling ball!” I exclaimed, making the girls giggle and my wife smile as she brought plates of eggs and bacon to the table. “A golf cart?”
“Daddy, just open it!” Brenda growled in a deep throaty tone that reminded me of my father even more.
I peeled back the paper to find a paper towel box underneath. “Wow, paper towels!” Selina giggled at her trick of wrapping my present in this clearly oversized box.
“Keep going Daddy,” Selina instructed me. I peeled open the tape on the box to pull back the flaps.
Looking down into the box I could have sworn I saw a shimmer of gold at first. But when I blinked to clear my eyes it was clearly only a reflective strip and the word POLICE. I reached down into the deep box to retrieve what was inside. Lifting it up I discovered it was a bulletproof vest.
“The girls insisted I buy it for you,” Carol told me, putting her arm around my shoulders. “That is so you always come home to us.”
“I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, “I don’t know what to say,” I stammered. “There is no place I would rather be than here with my beautiful girls.” They both jumped down from their chairs to come hug me in a way that only a Dad can understand.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
111 S 11th St
Philadelphia, Pa
Detective Patrick Berger arrives at the Hospital’s Emergency entrance, parking his car in a handicap spot leaving the dome light on the roof flashing. He looks to the back seat where his partner Paul Grimes still sleeps. A few blocks back Grimes stirred for a bit, Berger thought he might be waking up, but then he went right back to a death-like sleep.
At this point in time Paddy really doesn’t care, he has a more pressing matter to handle, namely Master Warrior. Hurrying into the Emergency room he flashes his badge to everyone in his path. No one seems to know anything about Master Warrior even being brought into the hospital, yet the helicopter sits clearly on the pad outside next to the parking lot. “I demand to see the person in charge here!” Paddy shouts holding his badge over his head. He draws everyone’s attention in the ward until one of the nurses scrabbles for a phone to make a call.
It takes only a few minutes until a Hospital Administrator has arrived to talk with Paddy. “Look I know he is here. I have orders from my Commander to take charge of the situation,” Paddy lies to the man. “Your people can take me to him or I can have a wagon down here to arrest all of you!”
“Officer, you can’t do that, our Emergency room is getting new patients every minute,” the Administrator argues.
“That is Detective Berger and Jefferson is not the only Hospital in the city with an Emergency room,” Paddy strongly replies.
“Life will be lost transporting patients to other hospitals,” the man said with a look of horror on his face.
“And who will be to blame for that?” Paddy quizzes. “I’m the one here doing his job, are you?”
It is then that a doctor dressed in a white coat with a badge that reads “Head of Medicine” steps over to Paddy to say, “Detective Berger, if you would come with me, the patient you seek is in the V.I.P ward.”
A suburban home
Ardmore, Ca
“I’ve got an idea, why don’t you girls stay home from school today and we can go to the Zoo,” I suggest letting them out of our hug.
“Can we Mom?” Brenda asked.
“What about your golf date with Paul?” Carol reminds me.
“Golf date, how am I going to golf in the snow?” I asked.
Carol laughed at me as if I told her a joke. “Snow?” she giggled. “We haven’t seen snow since we moved here to California.” I looked out the patio door to see a bright and sunny warm day outside. “Besides you’re already dressed for golf, now get the kids to school.” Carol left the room to get ready for work. I realized she was right, I was dressed in a striped polo shirt and white shorts.
“Okay you heard Mom, let’s get a move on so I can get you to school in time to meet Paul at the golf course,” I told my girls with disappointed looks on their faces.
It was odd but as I loaded the girls onto the car they seemed older than they were at breakfast, somehow. I chalked it up to kids just growing up too fast. As I drove along the river highway it was a bright and sunny spring day, a perfect day for golf. How could I ever miss the east coast, there really isn’t much difference other than the weather.
We arrived at Ardmore Jr. High and the girl gathered up their stuff from the car. It seemed like only yesterday that we were sending them off to their first day of school with only a bagged lunch. Had to admit Selina was always one to carry all of her books with her. I would joke with her that she must be carrying a hundred pounds of books all day, but she just took it in stride. She was so much like her mother wanting to always be prepared for anything. No wait, that was my mother, wasn’t it?
Brenda had her hands full with a school project that I had helped her build in our garage. She kicked the door shut, leaving a big dent in the side. As the car rocked I looked to see what had happened. “Brenda!” I shouted at her. “Was that necessary?” “I could have gotten the door for you!”
“Sorry Daddy I just didn’t want to be late,” my blonde bombshell replied. She was always breaking something, not knowing her own strength. “At least I didn’t tear the door off.” Well there is that I thought to myself as she hurried off into the school. It was getting late so I would swing by the body shop on the way home.
Arriving at the golf club Paul Grimes was already waiting for me at the juice bar. “Rough morning?” he asked.
“The usual,” I replied, “Raising two girls has been the most challenging thing of my life.”
“That’s good to hear,” Paul replied. I must have given a look because he justified his comment. “I mean it is good that you are staying focused on raising your girls, so few parents do nowadays.” “How’s that beautiful wife of yours?”
“Carol is great, never a complaint,” I replied, thinking of how far we had come together, Carol and I.
“You’ve got the perfect wife and perfect children, a perfect life all around,” Paul said smiling as if pleased. “Who could ask for more?
“It is hard to believe that only a few years ago I didn’t think it would be possible for me to have any of that,” I said as I took my swing on the driving range sending the ball over the trees three hundred yards away and out of sight. “Oops,” I said, looking at Paul who did not look at all pleased.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
111 S 11th St
Philadelphia, Pa
The “Head of Medicine” takes Paddy to a ward on the top floor of the Hospital that appears to be very high security with armed guards dressed in military style uniforms at the first entry. He can see that outside there is a second Helicopter on a landing pad. Inside it isn’t set up much different than the Emergency room except for the security measures. There are several examination rooms but only one with the sounds of activity. Detective Berger bursts through the door into the room to find several people standing around the gurney where Master Warrior lays badly beaten and unconscious. A doctor stands at the left side of the table about to jab a needle into his friend’s right arm.
“Hold it right there Doc,” Detective Berger announces trying to play it cool even though he wants to reach for his gun. “That will not be necessary.”
“I’m only going to draw some blood for typing,” Dr Michelson says, moving the needle closer to Master Warrior. “Who is this man?”
“Detective Patrick Berger of the Philly PD,” he says holding up his badge. “You are hereby ordered to stop all treatment on this man,” Paddy commands. “I need to take him into custody for the destruction of both private and public property!”
Dr. Michelson turns to Paddy and points the needle intended for Master Warrior at him. “That is ridiculous, this man needs emergency medical attention!” “He is not going anywhere!”
Paddy looks around the room, “What is this place?” he asks. “I could have this whole place shut down for suspicion of illegal medical practices.” “Is this floor even on the Hospital books?” Now the cop has the doctor’s full attention. “Hand this man over to me now or face the music!” The “Head of Medicine” standing behind Paddy at the door nods his head at Dr. Michelson.
“Okay everyone clear the room,” Dr. Michelson instructs his team. Michelson lays the needle back down on the tray cart as his people leave. “If this man dies because of your legal threats, I will hold you personally responsible.” the doctor threatens. Making Paddy think, you’re not the only one. Paddy approaches the table where his friend lays. He can’t help but to gasp slightly at the extent of Master Warrior’s injuries. His face is just a mess even through that weird thing he does to hide his features. “The sedatives don’t last very long on him,” Dr. Michelson explains. “He should be coming out of it soon.”
Paddy takes hold of Master Warrior’s sweaty and bloody arm trying to lift him as he comes around. “Come on buddy, time to get up,” Paddy says as he struggles with the man’s weight. Commander Olpere has a lot of questions for you.”
The sound of the Commander’s name stirs something in Master Warrior’s mind bringing him around enough to get some mobility. “There is a wheelchair in the next room,” Dr. Michelson offers.
“We will not be needing that,” Paddy replies as he gets the larger man to his feet. Paddy is more than a little concerned that he might be making a mistake, Steve appears far more beat up than he expected. “If you want you can stay,” Paddy whispers in Master Warrior’s ear as they stumble toward the door.
“No, I have to get out of here,” Master Warrior mumbled softly. “I think there is someone in my head.”
“What are you talking about?” Paddy asks as they push through the doors by the armed guards. Master Warrior doesn’t reply. It is almost like he is doing everything he can to concentrate on staying awake. “The elevator is right over here,” Paddy tells Master Warrior leading him to the left.
Master Warrior lifts his head to look to the right where he sees the helipad. “No, this way.” he whispers, pulling to the glass doors that lead out onto the roof.
“Are you sure?” Paddy asks. “You can barely stand, how can you fly?”
“Flying takes no physical strength,” Master Warrior whispers as Paddy leads him outside onto the roof. “Just run with me for a few steps then let go.” Paddy knows he has to trust his friend even now when it looks like he shouldn’t. Master Warrior stretches out his arms pushing Paddy to an arms length. “Ready?” he asks, to Paddy’s nervous nod. The two men run across the roof, the cop carrying most of his friend’s weight as they go. Then the weight is gone and Master Warrior’s feet leave the rooftop.
Letting go like teaching a child to ride a bike for the first time without training wheels. Paddy steps back to watch Master Warrior take flight. The injured man is wobbly as he begins to fly between the tall buildings of Center City and then he regains his balance to glide out of sight. Paddy is sure from the direction Master Warrior is taking he is heading home. That is where he will meet up with him again.
Hurrying out of the Hospital back to his car still parked outside the Emergency room with the dome light flashing. He looks to the back seat to see that Grimes is gone and he still doesn’t care as he backs up to turn around. Looking back into the Hospital he sees the two armed guards and Dr. Michelson headed his way. They must have called the Precinct, he needs to go now too.
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
As the sun sets, Master Warrior touches down on the roof of his apartment building. He takes only a few steps before he stumbles falling to the roof gravel, unconscious again. The cold autumn air blows over him, not even stirring him this time. In his weakened physical state it has only been his mind that has been strong enough to keep his body going and now he has over exerted his mind in the course of the flight across the city. As he falls into a deep slumber, another moves into his mind to take over.
A suburban home
Ardmore, Ca
I looked around the room at the luncheon after my daughters’ graduation from High School. The room was full of people we had all known for years. It is perhaps the proudest day of my life as I watch my sweet girls giggle with their friends. They will both be headed off to college in the fall and I will miss them tremendously. I look over the photos framed on the mantle of our family room. Each of them showing a scene from our lives together. The first is of the day our beautiful girls were born. Carol is in her hospital bed holding one on each arm as I lean in to kiss her on the cheek. Then there is one from the first day of school, girl scouts, a day we spent at Great Adventure. I looked over each of the family photos and for the first time I noticed something odd. I look the same, never ageing a day, whereas Carol has gone from a woman in her twenties to her forties over the space of time in the photos.
“Well quite an exciting day,” Paul says coming up behind me. “It is a beautiful family you’ve created.
“Have I?” I asked him. “You seem so focused on my family, jealous much?” Paul simply grinned as he looked over the photos on the mantle. I could see it in his eyes, the slight flitch. He was seeing the same thing I was, like he was outside of what was happening. “You see it too don’t you, the flaws in this dreamscape.”
“Dreamscape, what are you talking about?” Paul asked as he turned to me.
“Dreams are never perfect, they shift and change, but your subconscious ignores those slight changes to keep you asleep,” I explained. “But now the longer this dream world continues the more blatant errors are becoming.” “Like you, you haven’t aged either.” “Why is that?”
Paul’s face changes to give me an angry look. “It is you who is doing it, I don’t know how but it is you!” he growls at me. “I have created a perfect world for you here, one where there is no Master Warrior!” “A world where you are just a plain average everyday family man.” “Yet you still resist it as you have from the start!” “No matter how deeply I draw you in, your subconscious still fights to slip these small clues in, clues I do not understand.”
He is right as I think back over it all. It was my flight vest I saw for a second in that birthday gift. The comment Brenda made about ripping off the car door, I did that as a teen. Now the fact that Carol has aged, which would only mean that I never gave her the gift of immortality.
Suddenly something came over me, it was like I was waking up but only in the sense of taking control of my own dreamscape. My clothing was instantly transformed to that of Master Warrior. Still standing in the center of the family room I had created with Carol there were gasps from our guests. Carol pushed through the people that crowded around me. “Steve what the hell are you doing?” she shouted at me in anger. “You are causing a scene, take that off right now!”
“I’m sorry Carol, but this is who I am,” I replied to her even now knowing that she wasn’t real. “It is my fear that you would never accept me like this that made it so easy for me to seal off half of who I am.” “That is over now.” I scanned the room as the guest began to fade, Paul was gone. I watched the look of disappointment on Carol’s face as she faded away into the ether of my dreamscape. The same look was on Selina’s face, only Brenda smiled at me giving me the thumbs up as she vanished. As the walls of the house faded away I was left in an empty void, but I was not alone.
I could see Paul Grimes now as his manifestation in my dreamscape fled away from me. “Not so fast I said, seizing control of this world within my subconscious. Instantly there was a new backdrop of the Arena in Olestra. I populated the Arena with everyone and things I had met there causing Paul’s escape to come to an end. Unlike my visit of Olestra I was the one in control over everything. I had Paul rounded up by Centaurs, it seemed appropriate to me that he met them first.
Soon Paul Grimes stood in front of me again, held in place by Bones how glares at him as if he were fresh meat. “Your plan was flawed from the start,” I told him. “Do you think I woke up one day and said, “I think I’ll be a Superhero.” “Look around you, do you see all of these creatures?” “These are the things I had to fight to earn the title Master Warrior!” “Becoming Master Warrior was not some whim, it was what I was born to do, it is my destiny!” “There is no way a dream could convince me to throw that away!”
“I have prevented each one of these beasts and men from coming to Earth and defeated so many more,” I told him, his bravado fading like the perfect world he created for me. “Perhaps you would like to see more of what I went through to get to where I am today?” I said reaching out my hand to his head.
I could feel his power, it was strong but my will was stronger, it had been stronger all along. All I needed to do was accept that what Paul was doing to me was a dream that had given me control of it. I wasn’t sure if it would work but I had to try. The connection he had with my subconscious was strong as I force my own mind back through it taking my recreation of Bones with us.
Our surroundings were different now, dark as I recreated the dungeon I lived in for those weeks of the Tournament. I was with Paul in a cell created in his mind now. Bones was there too in the next cell with his cellmate doing what he enjoyed most. “You’re next,” I told Paul as he watched in horror as Bones beat and raped the other man. It seemed to be an appropriate punishment for what Paul had tried to do to me. I wasn’t completely sure how this whole dreamscape thing worked but I tried to make sure it would end before Bones got to Paul. Paul Grimes would learn what it was to have someone else try to steal his life.
Wednesday, October 21, 1987
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
Steve Roberts staggers into his apartment where Paddy leaps up from his recliner. Steve is dressed in a lightweight jacket, a T-shirt and jeans. Blood seeps through his clothes from injuries he received before he was wearing them. “Holy shit, where have you been all night?” Paddy shouts running to his friend who falls back against the closed door.
“It was Grimes, he was in my dreams,” Steve gasps, still holding his side.
“What are you talking about,” Paddy asks propping his roommate up, helping him through the room.
“I need to get a hot shower, wash off some of this dried blood, see how bad it is,” Steve whispers in pain. Paddy helps Steve to his bedroom, to the bathroom door. “I’m going to need help getting these clothes off,” Steve says. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Paddy says moving him into the bathroom. “I did what I did of my own accord.” “Now let me help you with this jacket, can you stand?” Steve nods his throbbing head as Paddy starts to remove his friend’s jacket.
Steve’s pain is clear to Paddy as he suggests, “Get scissors, I can’t lift my arms, you need to cut off my shirt.” Paddy fumbles through a caddy on the back of the toilet tank. He grabs the scissors Steve uses to trim his mustache. Starting up the front of Steve’s shirt at the waist to his collar. Then he moves to the back of the shirt to do the same. Paddy slides the two pieces of the shirt down Steve’s arms.
“Jesus,” Paddy exclaims at the sight of the wounds on Steve’s back. “You got these only yesterday?” he asks. “They still look bad, but they look weeks old.” “I don’t see any signs of infection.”
“There shouldn’t be, I’m immune to most infections,” Steve says undoing his pants with one hand the other clutched to his broken ribs. Pushing his pants and underwear down over his hips he soon finds that he can not bend down to get his pants off. “Could you help?” Steve asks reluctantly.
Paddy moves to help his friend looking over his exposed body. The bruises nearly cover most of his body like an animal pattern. Bending down to kneel in front of Steve, he pushes down the man’s pants and underwear in one motion. Steve braces himself on Paddy’s shoulder as he lifts his feet out of his pants one leg at a time. The cuts and scrapes on Steve’s legs are in the same shape as the rest of his body mostly scabbed over. “I really think I should take you back to the hospital, as yourself this time.”
“No, I can’t, how would I ever explain what happened to me?” Steve insists the pain clearly shows on his face as he moves to lean against the wall. “I’ll be okay, in a few days.” “Just turn the shower on, all hot, no cold.”
“Are you sure about that? Paddy asks leaning into the tub, shower combo to turn on the water.
“Yes, it won’t burn me, just rinse off this dried blood and loosen my muscles,” Steve explains as Paddy takes his arm to help him lift his leg over the tub side. “Spending the night out in the cold has not done me any good.” Closing the clear glass door Steve asks, “Could you stay?” “Just in case.”
“Sure, buddy,” Paddy replies sitting down on the toilet.
After wetting his body down, Steve leans forward to place his palms on the wall under the shower head to let the hot water run down his back around his body. He remembers the last time he had a shower this hot. It was after he was kidnapped by Cynthia Steele. His Mom put him in the shower telling him it wouldn’t hurt but it would help heal him. She was right and he hopes it will work again.
Paddy sits watching his friend in the show amazed at his bravery. He knows it has taken a lot for Steve to ask for any help at all. The water runs down Steve’s back and around his body washing away a lot of the dried blood that made his injuries look worse. The room begins to fill with steam as Paddy can see that Steve is moving around better in the shower. “Are you better now, can I leave?”
“Could you help me get dried,” Steve asks as he turns off the water. “And get to bed.” Paddy helps Steve out of the shower and dries his head, back and legs leave the other stuff to the man to take care of himself. “Just get me to bed. I’ll be much better in the morning after some real sleep.”
“That’s right, what is this about Grimes invading your dreams?” Paddy asks as Steve climbs slowly into his bed. “Are you going to be able to sleep?”
“I managed to turn his dream control powers back on him,” Steve says as Paddy covers his nude body with the sheet and blanket. “He won’t be coming after me again in a hurry.”
“Where is he now?” Paddy asks, eager to find and question his renegade partner.
“I can’t be sure but I got a glimpse of him in the back of your car and then hiding in a storage closet at the Emergency room,” Steve says as he closes his eyes to drift off to sleep.
Thursday, October 22, 1987
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
Steve wakes up to look over at his alarm clock, it is nearly one in the afternoon. His body still aches from head to as he throws back the sheet that is spotted with his blood. Sitting up he looks over his nude body, many of the small bruises have already faded and the cuts have sealed up nicely. Although the left side of his rib cage is still a dark brown and purple. He can still feel that his left eye is swollen without even touching it. It is a little bit of a struggle to get himself out of bed and to the bathroom. He manages to sit down backwards on the toilet fearing his aim will not be what it should be. Releasing his bladder Steve watches the flow to see no blood in his urine, that is always a good sign, he thinks. Bracing his hand on the sink he pulls himself up to slip on his robe from the back of the door.
Walking out into the living room he can hear movement in the kitchen. It is Paddy. “What are you doing home?” he asks, going to the refrigerator for a glass of milk, then he decides to just drink the whole carton.
“Got suspended for my little show at the hospital,” Paddy replies, “Four days.”
“Wow, Olpere really went easy on you,” Steve says, searching the refrigerator for something to eat.
“Between what Master Warrior did to save this city and my discovering that secret Military Medical set up at the Hospital she was feeling kind of guilty even by giving me that much of a punishment.” “By the way we found Grimes right where you said he would be, he is in a coma.”
“Shit, I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Steve says pulling a box of leftover Chinese food from the refrigerator. “I just wanted to make him understand that I wasn’t a threat to anyone who didn’t deserve it.”
“Never mind him how are you doing?” Paddy asks, turning to his room mate with real concern on his face.
“Fine,” Steve replies, stuffing his face. “Things are healing nicely.”
“Let me see, open the robe!” Paddy says in his cop voice.
Steve looks to his friend trying to smile with his bruised and swollen face. “What the hell I could use your opinion anyway,” Steve says, peeling off his robe. “It isn’t like you haven’t cut off my clothes to get me in the shower.”
Paddy looks over Steve’s body as he stands nude in the kitchen. “It is amazing how quickly you heal,” he comments. “Most of the bruises are gone but those ribs still look really bad.”
“They feel much better than yesterday,” Steve says gently touching his bruised side. He turns around asking, “How’s my back?”
“Oooh,” Paddy lets slip out. “Those punctures look better but your ass looks like one big bruise, I wouldn’t sit down for a while if I were you.”
“I know that one time I hit the sidewalk pretty hard,” Steve comments, rubbing his black and blue butt.
“By the way I called David this morning, told him you had a stomach bug,” Paddy tells his friend as he gingerly slips his robe back on. “I have to admit I guess it is a good thing you and Carol aren’t hitting the sheets, how would you explain any of this?”
“That is the least of my problems,” Steve says, finishing up the leftover Chinese to return to the refrigerator. “I still have to go make sure Samso won’t be coming back.”
“Who, that Dominatornt guy?” Paddy quizzes. “What happened to him anyway, no one seems to know.”
“He told me the only one who could imprison him was a Sorcerer so I sent him to one,” Steve explains. “Fact is he was kicking my ass and I had no other choice, I just hope Mist was prepared for him.”
“Mist?” Paddy repeats.
“It’s a long story but the only way I had to get there was with my belt,” Steve says finding some old pizza at the back of the icebox. “Without it I can’t get to where I sent Samso.”
“You mean that belt?” Paddy says pointing to the kitchen table where Master Warrior’s belt and arsenal lay.
“That is the one,” Steve replies, chomping on the cold pizza. Laying the pizza on the counter Steve touches his ear stud and his robe is replaced by his blood free Master Warrior costume. He walks to the table to put on his belt around his waist and reshape his arsenal into a strap around his arm.
“Where do you think you are going?” Paddy questions. “You can’t go out looking like that!” “It wouldn’t be good for your image.”
Master Warrior tries to smile at his roommate again as he finishes the slice of pizza. Touching his belt bucket he calls out “MIST!” and he vanishes leaving Paddy alone to wonder in amazement.
The Palace of Mist
Magic Island
Somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle
Master Warrior arrives on Magic Island to find Mist waiting for him. “It would appear you put up quite a fight,” the immortal wizard Mist comments on his appearance. “I could heal those wounds with a simple spell.”
“No, I have never been this injured before it is important that I deal with the consequences in real time,” Master Warrior answers. “Right now the important thing is Samso.”
“Yes, come with me,” Mist instructs as he leads Master Warrior to a part of the Palace he had never been before. “He arrived yesterday, as angry as ever.” “When I saw your belt and arsenal I assumed you sent him here for safe keeping.”
“Something like that,” Master Warrior replied as he scans his surroundings that have changed greatly from the usual decor of the ornate Palace. “Where are we going?”
“To the prison wing of the Palace,” Mist replies to Master Warrior’s surprise. “Oh did you believe you were the first to send someone here for imprisonment?” “Although I am a prisoner of this island in many ways I am its warden as well.” In front of them is a long corridor of marble arches along the walls. “Each of these are cell used for the safekeeping of people and things to dangerous to be left on the loose.” “It was a simple task for me to place the Nozama King in one.” “He is in a state of what you would call suspended animation, completely oblivious to the world around him.”
“So he can not escape again?” Master Warrior quizzes.
“No, this prison is much more sound than the last,” Mist says almost smiling with pride. “I did not know how Hershel imprisoned him the last time but I did find it curious how that cape you returned here from Olestra acted around me.” “I apologized. I did not take more aggressive action in examining it then.”
“Apparently he had enough influence on me to prevent you from doing that anyway,” Master Warrior says sadly.
“No need to worry about that anymore, he is imprisoned here and no one else in the world knows it.” Mist insists. “He will not be causing you any more injuries.”
Friday, October 23, 1987
The Warehouse Apartments
Carol Lopez’s Loft
9 N 9th St,
Philadelphia, PA
Steve arrives at Carol Lopez’s apartment. Dressed in a tuxedo for their date at the District Attorney’s Dinner on Criminal Violence, His face still shows some of the bruises of his fight with Dominator. All of the cuts on his face have completely healed, but his eyes and mouth are still bruised and swollen. The injuries he has received as Master Warrior have been an unexplainable problem for the past few days that he has chosen to deal with on his own. He has been calling off sick to work telling David he caught a bug to give himself time to heal. Steve has kept himself hidden hoping not to let anyone see him before he is completely healed.
But the dream of a perfect life that Grimes gave him makes Steve feel he has to follow through with Carol to make it clear to himself about the future of their relationship. Somewhere deep down inside him he can only hope that his appearance will cause Carol to give him a sign that they could become a true couple like in that make believe world. He just can’t believe that Carol has no emotions for him other than lust. He knocks on the door, his knuckles mostly healed but still bruised enough to feel.
When Carol opens the door her smile is quickly replaced by shock at his appearance. “What the hell happened to you?” Carol exclaims stepping back to invite him in.
“Small altercation at work,” Steve replied coolly.
“Small!” Carol exclaims. “It looks like someone beat the shit out of you!”
“It isn’t as bad as it looks,” Steve tells Carol, trying to calm her outrage.
“We are going to a District Attorney’s Dinner on Criminal Violence, I can’t be seen walking in there with you!” Carol argues. “Not looking like that!” “This really isn’t working out!”
“What do you mean?” Steve says pretty sure he knows the answer.
“This relationship!” “You keep a part of your life hidden, walled off from the rest of the world,” she tells him. “I am not the woman to break that wall down.” “I have no idea when we will make a date if you will be on time or even show up at all.” “It has become clear to me that whatever secrets you have, make it so you are not available for what I need from you at all!”
“That’s not true, I try my best to not disappoint you, there are just times when it is unavoidable,” Steve insists.
“Unavoidable how?” she demands in his silence. “That’s what I thought” “At least if we were having world shaking sex it would be worth the mystery.” “You never even made me feel like you were interested in having sex.”
“That isn’t fair,” Steve replies.
“What isn’t fair is that you have this idea in your head of the perfect woman, I know you don’t believe that or refuse to accept it but it is true.” “I can not compete with her everyday. I am with you.” “We are done!” “I’ll thank you for leaving now.”
Sadly Steve looks her in the eye, “I’m really sorry this didn’t work out.” “I hope you find what you are looking for in life.” Silently Steve leaves Carol’s apartment not looking back. The truly sad thing is he knows she is right. Hiding Master Warrior from her has been the hardest thing he has ever done in his life. As he heads home he worries that he might never have a real relationship with a woman.