Master Warrior stands in the center of Market Street surveying the damage in the wake of the fight. 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. At first Master Warrior can’t help but feel that this is all his fault. He caused all of this! All he ever wanted to do was help innocent people and now it feels like all he has done is hurt them.
He turns to see a woman trapped in her car but before he can do anything to help her a strong wind blows over him from behind. His cape extends to blow in the breeze. Then a dust storm swirls around in front of him. What happens to the dust in the street does the opposite of what the Shadows he fought. This cloud of dust takes shape. Soon a heavily armed man stands before him a large broadsword hangs at his side. “I am coming for you little Warrior!” the man with salt and pepper hair says. “It will not be long now, only one remains!” Then the imposing man unsheathed his sword stepping toward Master Warrior.
Master Warrior reaches for his arsenal on his leg, but finds it is missing. Raising his gauntlets in defense of the large sword he blocks it as it strikes down at him. His attacker is skilled and fast as he draws back to strike a second blow. The two men battle for what seems like an eternity until the final blow is struck.
Tired from the fight with the last creature, Master Warrior feels the sharp pain of the sword as it pierced his chest and heart.
Monday, September 14, 1987
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
“Noooo!” Steve Roberts cries out waking in the comfort of his own bed. That was not a good dream if it was a premonition, Steve thinks to himself wiping the sweat from his forehead back over his hair. Throwing back the sheets and stumbling to the bathroom he takes a leak. Steve moves to the sink to stare at himself in the mirror for a moment. His hair is a mess, wet with sweat, he needs a shave and a shower to get back on track. Something was different about this dream. For the first time Steve truly feels like his life is on the line. It is a terrifying feeling to him. The thought of running a sharp blade over his face is not something he wants to do this morning. Trying to shake off this dread that has taken hold of him. Steve reaches into his shower to turn on the water.
Stripping off his thin shorts Steve climbs into a hot shower. He soaps up his body massaging his chest where he was stabbed in the dream. It felt too real to be just a dream. Grabbing the shampoo he washes his hair to finish up his shower. Toweling off Steve throws on his robe to get some breakfast.
Heading into the kitchen his roommate Paddy fixing himself eggs and bacon. “How’d the date with Carol go last night?” Paddy asks.
“Okay, I guess,” Steve replies pouring himself a glass of orange juice.
“From the look of you, that doesn’t sound too good,” Paddy says surviving his breakfast onto a plate. “Still not closure of the deal?”
“That is really none of your business,” Steve replies fixing a bowl of cereal.
“Rather touchy this morning,” Paddy says between bites. “Have you consider maybe girls aren’t your thing?” Steve sits down at the table across from his roommate ignoring his question that is obviously meant to get a rise out of him. “I mean I’ve never known a guy with as much testosterone as you to resist women so much.”
“I like women!” Steve grumbles. “I would love nothing more than to be with a woman!” “I’m just not ready yet.”
“Well keep in mind that long hot showers will eventually lose their thrill,” Paddy says making Steve paranoid. “Believe me I know from experience.”
“Thanks for the advice, Dad!” Steve says sarcastically.
“Hey, I almost forgot how great it is to be with a real live person,” Paddy says finishing his breakfast.
Steve stares at his bowl of cereal realizing what Paddy has just said as the man gets up to take his plate to the sink. “Almost?” Steve says looking to his roommate who turns with a grin. “Wait a minute, you and Paula?”
Still grinning ear to ear Paddy says, “Well you and Julie haven’t been around much so, Paula and I kept getting together for dinner alone.” “A few glasses of wine and before we knew it nature took its course.”
“That’s great Paddy,” Steve says standing up, his robe falling open as he goes to give his roomy a hung.
“Back up partner, you aren’t using that thing on me,” Paddy says joking as he turns to finish getting ready for work. “Shouldn’t you be getting dressed too?”
Steve closes his robe again to answer, “I’ve got the day off, been a lot going on lately.”
“Well don’t spend the whole day flying around looking for trouble,” Paddy says picking up his briefcase.
“Come to think of it where has Julie been lately?” Steve quizzes.
“It doesn’t take my new Detective title to figure out she’s got herself a new boyfriend she is hiding from her mother,” Paddy suggests.
After Paddy leaves Steve flops down in his chair, picking up the phone he decides to give his mother a call. She is quick to pick up the phone her new caller ID working perfectly as she answers, “Hey stranger.”
“Mom, we just talked on the phone last week,” Steve reminds.
“It seems like a century, what’s on your mind?” Dona Roberts replies.
“I had a bad dream last night, one that made me feel like my life was truly in jeopardy,” Steve explains. “But there was something out of place I’m realizing now.”
“What was it sweetheart?” the concerned mother asks.
“The guy who stabbed me spoke directly to me like he knew we were in a dream,” Steve tells his mother.
“You mean like that Nozama did in Olestra?” Dona quires. “You know if there is one loose here he would have to be very close to you to make that happen.”
“I know, but I didn’t recognize his face at all,” Steve says with concern. “I just can’t stop thinking about it.”
“Just keep in mind if it is a Nozama he changed the premonition to his benefit,” Dona reminds. “What you saw is not what will happen it is what he wants to happen, that is your strength in all of this.” “He is playing head games with you and you can’t let him win!”
Philadelphia Elite Squad
1st Precinct
Philadelphia, Pa
Paddy arrives at work to find Detective Grimes is waiting for him at their conjoined desks. Grimes slides a file into his desk drawer locking it tight. “How was your evening?” Grimes asks surprising Paddy with the question as he stows his gun in his desk. Detective Grimes is not the kind of man that involves himself with the personal lives of his co-workers.
“Fine, why do you ask?” Paddy replies curiously. Perhaps he and Grimes are finally developing some kind of rapport since they have been spending time together on a stake out. The stake out, Paddy thinks, he wishes that Master Warrior hadn’t brought an end to that stake out.
“Your roommate make it home last night?” Grimes asks oddly. “You seemed concerned about him.”
“Yeah, he’s fine,” Paddy replies. Grimes has taken a weird interest in Steve recently. Every time Paddy says something about his roomy Grimes seems to take it the wrong way. “Nothing to worry about there.” “Do we have anything new on the Ambrose Russo case?”
“Russo has been calling on some very unusual people it would seem,” Detective Grimes explains. “Men and women all over the Delaware Valley, who have a connection to Giorgio DeScalo.” “The threats are always the same he accuses the target of murdering Giorgio.” “We have yet to pin down a home address for Russo, but he is clearly no longer living at the DeScalo estate.”
“So it would appear that he is setting out on his own, then,” Paddy assumes. “Trying to stir up some trouble first.”
“Let the OCU handle it, Olpere just gave me a new case before you got here,” Grimes says reaching for a file on is desk, not the one he put in the drawer. Paddy has become very curious about that file in the drawer that Grimes appears to be adding to each morning. “There has been another impossible burglary up town.”
Detective Berger looks over the reports in the file that Grimes hands him. It is the third one this month. Together Grimes and Berger have managed to link twelve other such burglaries in the past year to this same MO, Making this the thirteenth. Whoever it is doing them has picked up their pace. “Let me guess, no way in, no way, no witnesses!” Paddy says. “And I can still smell the calling card in the air.”
“Just all the others, A potent smell of sulfur left behind in the sealed rooms,” Detective Grimes replies.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean anyway?” Paddy gripes.
“The lab finally came up with a guess about that,” Grimes says. “One of the lab-techs, Faraday I think is his name, told me that sulfur is another name for brimstone which is commonly associated in literature as representing Hell.”
“So what does that mean?” Paddy asks. “Are we hunting a someone from Hell?”
“Not likely, most likely another Zeni-human with a sick sense of humor,” Grimes responds. “Olpere wants us to go over and check out the scene just the same.”
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
After lounging on the couch for an hours Steve has gotten dressed in a pair of gym shorts and a tank top to go for a run. Jogging in the city takes much more concentration for Steve Roberts than other joggers. He must stay focused on a steady rate of speed, not to increase his heart rate. Running unchecked would surely draw attention to him. Usually the first sign that he is overdoing it is if he begins to sweat, that is a sure sign that he is running too fast. Steve leaves home thinking he will run along the river path, maybe over to Fairmount Park.
Still trying to put the dream out of his mind he thinks about what Paddy said about Carol. She is almost ten years older than him and at some point she is going to want more than just holding hands and kissing, she has made that clear by the way she has touched him. It isn’t that he doesn’t want to go all the way with her, it is just that he is still scared that he might lose control and hurt her in some way.
Feeling a drop of sweat on the back of his neck Steve realizes he has lost his concentration on the run. Stopping at a bus pickup he sits down on the bench realizing where he is for the first time. He has somehow ended up on Market Street. Not just any place but the exact spot from his dream. It is more than a little disturbing to him. His premonitions usually don’t play out this fast, just the same he looks for anything else familiar from the dream. Looking into the sky he can tell that the sun is at the wrong height to be the same time as in the dream. It was more mid afternoon that the fight took place. But there is something else happening here, he feels the slightest tingle at the back of his neck.
Across the street four men get out of a car that quickly pulls away into traffic again. They back up against the building, standing around like they don’t know why they are there. It is rather suspicious to Steve but nothing to be too alarmed about, yet. He turns his attention away from the four out of place men and back to his surroundings. Sometimes if he goes to a place he has seen in a premonition and memorizes the location it can help identify small details if he should have the same dream again. In this the possibility of a Nozama being involved makes it all the more important that he knows everything he can about the location, to pick out flaws in the dream.
Carefully memorizing every storefront and building around him, Steve compares it to what he remembers from the dream. It is hard to see the similarity with all of the destruction that was in the premonition. Bringing his attention back down to the spot across the street where the men got out of the car he sees that they are gone. But his danger sense still warns him that something is up. All he can do is go about his business as usual, he knows that looking for the danger he feels never works out.
Gazing down the street Steve sees the bus approaching and decides it is time for him to move along. Getting up from the bench he begins to jog back down the street at a slower pace than when he stopped. He doesn’t head home but further into the city to take a long loop back to Fishtown. His danger sense remains constant telling him whatever he felt back at the bench must be moving with him. There is no reason to look, most likely it will remain unseen until it is time to act. But Steve knows that looking for trouble and letting it happen are two totally different things.
Heading down toward the river Steve is sure he his being followed when he picks up his speed slightly. He only wants to get out of sight of his tail, not lose them. Arriving at Penn’s Landing he ducks off into an alleyway of trash dumpsters that he has been to in the past. Making sure he is out of sight of anyone, he touches his earlobe switching his shorts and tank top for Master Warrior’s uniform. He stands there in the alley waiting and listening for anyone to approach. Master Warrior must admit to himself they are good. He doesn’t think anyone without his enhanced hearing would even know they had been following. “Can I help you gentlemen?” Master Warrior announces as the four men from Market Street appear at the end of the alleyway. To his disappointment they have already pulled their knit hats down over their faces.
“Where did that guy go?” one of the masked men asks not sure what to make of Master Warrior even after these past months. He clearly speaks with an Italian accent making it clear to Master Warrior that they are not from around here.
“I’ve been watching you guys follow him from the sky so I helped him out of your path,” Master Warrior tells the surprised men. “Question, why are you following him?”
One of the men wears a green hat, he touched his ear as if to listen to an earphone. “So you would show up,” the man green hat says as instructed. “It’s time to see how tough this pansy is boys.” The four men step toward Master Warrior, their fists clenched.
“I hope your boss is paying you well because you are about to make a big mistake,” Master Warrior warns them. His cape unfurls behind him as the men approach, distracting him enough to let the first guy land a punch to his face. What is up with that? he thinks turning back to the man in the blue mask without so much as a bloody nose. “Like I said mistake.” Master Warrior returns the punch sending the man back against a dumpster.
The three other guys rush him all at once. Master Warrior raise his right leg to land a kick in the center man’s gut sending him back to the brick wall. His right fist to man to the left’s jaw bringing him to the ground. Landing on his right foot Master Warrior spins down kicking out his left leg to take down the third man on top of the last. The three men on the ground the leader in the green had stares Master Warrior down. “So you can fight,” the man in the green hat says as he draws a chain from under his coat.
Master Warrior grins motioning the man forward. The green masked man swings the chain over his head lashing out at his adversary. A twist of his wrist and Master Warrior loops the chain around his gauntlet to pull the man to him. Eye to eye Master Warrior can smell the garlic on the man’s breathe. “You are out of your league here,” Master Warrior tells the man. “I’ll ask again, what is this about?”
The man in the green hat releases the chain to land a punch to Master Warrior’s gut. Master Warrior steps back letting the chain fall from his wrist to the pavement. “Nice one,” he comments reaching to touch his side. “But not enough to take me down.”
The man in the green mask pulls a knife from inside his jacket thrusting it at the costumed man. Master Warrior swings his left gauntlet to block the blade, followed by a right to the green hatted man face. The attacker ducks under it to stab forward with the knife at Master Warrior’s gut. It would have worked with anyone else, but not with this target. Master Warrior moves quickly to block the knife. Grabbing the green hatted man’s arm to use his momentum against him, the attacker finds himself with his back against the wall and then to the ground face first.
The other men have reasserted themselves to come at Master Warrior again. Two of the men leap to take hold of Master Warrior’s arms. He almost laughs as he draws his arms across his chest to extend them out throwing the two men up into dumpsters that line the alley walls. Master Warrior’s problems increase as he subdues the two men to find the third holding a gun on him. “You don’t want to do that,” Master Warrior suggests.
“Yes you do, kill this bastard!” the leader in the green hat shouts from the ground his mouth and nose bleeding through the knit mask. Master Warrior uses his right gauntlet to catch the bullet the instant after it is fired from the gun, startling the men who expected him to fall. Hearing the sound of a second gun being cocked Master Warrior spins to catch a second bullet on his left gauntlet. It is his cape that shields him when a third bullet struck his back.
“Enough!” Master Warrior shouts moving into action. Grabbing his arsenal from his right thigh he commands, “Quarter-staff!” With one swing of his weapon he disarms all three men of their guns. He then lowers his staff to spin, taking their legs from under them. The man with the bloody nose and green hat jumps up to flee the alley as his men are taken down one last time. Leaving Master Warrior with one thought what was this all about? An answer that guy could probably give him.
But before he can give pursuit another voice calls to him from the fire escape overhead. “Very impressive, now I know for sure what DeScalo’s interest in you is about.” Master Warrior turns as the man dressed in a black skin tight suit nimbly jumps down to the pavement.
“Nicolas DeScalo?” Master Warrior says. “Is that who is behind this?” The black cat suit the man wears has small tabs on his head that look like ears. Master Warrior recognizes the suit instantly as the one Benue gave to him on their little adventure to find the Bernr Queen. Paddy had told him someone broke into their apartment while he was in Olestra, but he never thought to look for the suit.
“I can see in your eyes that you recognize the suit, Roberts,” the man dressed in black says. “Thank you, it’s really rather incredible once you learn how it works.”
“I should have guessed that DeScalo couldn’t keep his promise!” Master Warrior says trying to ignore this thief’s use of his real name.
“DeScalo is as much a fool as these imported goons he gave me.” “You can call me Hellion,” the man says prowling the alley like a panther staring down Master Warrior. “I was raised in a boxing gym, took some MMA training too,” Hellion brags. “Why don’t you put away your stick and we can see how you do with me.” Hellion waits for Master Warrior to make the first move.
Master Warrior knows he can take Hellion, problem is the man thinks he knows his identity. If he takes the suit back after beating him it will confirm that suspicion. Destroying the suit would be his best option. He looks to the staff in his hand, then lowers it to his thigh saying, “Leg Band.” The arsenal reconfigures to wrap back around Master Warrior’s leg. “Okay, let’s dance,” Master Warrior says stepping forward to throw the first punch.
Hellion surges his jinx-like powers out at his opponent allowing him to dodge the fist with ease and then the next. Squatted down below Master Warrior’s waist, Hellion jabs out with a right to his gut, that sends the large man stumbling back. “Wasn’t being a cop enough of an ego boost to you?” The two men stalk each other, Master Warrior unsure of what is happening as his danger sense abandons him. “You had to go the extra mile.” Hellion leaps into the air kicking out his leg as he spins, striking Master Warrior in the face. The hit does not injure the hero but it does throw him off balance back against the back wall of the alley. Hellion lands back on all fours on the pavement like a cat. “When DeScalo first approached me I thought he was insane.” “But I thought it might give me a chance at revenge as well.” “After all you were the only cop able to catch me.”
“You really aren’t making sense to me,” Master Warrior says taking a jab at Hellion. The miss of his fist on this man makes Master Warrior think that his hand eye coordination or his equilibrium has been thrown off somehow. Keeping this guy talking might give him the few minutes he needs to adjust. Talking appears to be something this guy likes doing. “Getting in bed with the DeScalo family is never a good idea!”
“That is why I stays on top of the blankets, you might say,” Hellion grins. “I’ve been following you for months Roberts.” “I have to admit your little disappearing act from the roof of your building had me perplexed for a while.” “Then there was that weird doctor that showed up at the hospital, when that cat woman scratched you.” “At first I couldn’t remember what happened after my visit to the Hospital.” “She almost scared me off, but then my curiosity got the best of me.” “As my memory returned I realized how powerful I had become.” “Powerful enough to take you down!”
Master Warrior is concerned now that this Hellion has truly figured something out about his double identity. Hellion needs to be silenced somehow if that is true. It doesn’t surprise him that DeScalo suspects his secret but if Hellion has proof that is a defiant problem. Springing up to try a windmill kick Master Warrior quickly finds himself on the ground as Hellion dodges to jump up giving him a drop kick to his back.
Flipping off Master Warrior’s back Hellion lands a few feet away to continue his tale as it were, “I had almost put two and two together I just needed proof so I got some of DeScalo flunkies to help.” “I followed you from your apartment until you sat down on that bench.” “That was my opportunity to call for DeScalo’s men.”
Hellion’s monologue makes it clear to Master Warrior he has uncovered his secret pretty completely. Since skill has not done anything to bring this spy down, he decides to try blinding fast force. Moving at full speed Master Warrior charges the man without warning. Hellion may not move as fast but he doesn’t have to as he turns to squatted, creating a large tripping hazard. Master Warrior falls over the stooped man like a loser at a game of leap frog sending himself airborne. What the hero didn’t realize with each of his attacks Hellion had moved him closer to the entrance to the alley. Sailing out of control Master Warrior finds himself crashing down into the traffic on South Street. Landing on the hood of a red Ford Escort he hears the squeal of the tires and the collision of other cars. Sitting up from the car his body has left a deep impression in the metal of the hood.
“Oh My God!” the woman driving the car shouts as she jumps out into the street. “Are you alright, I didn’t see you.” On looking at Master Warrior, her fear suddenly changes to joy. “You’re him, you’re that Superhero!” she shouts to the other people around her in the street.
“Who gives a shit, look at my car,” the angry man who rear ends the woman shouts.
“Ma’am, I am so sorry,” Master Warrior tells the woman. “But you really need to get out of the street.” Preoccupied by the traffic disaster Master Warrior does not see Hellion as he springs from the alley behind him. Hellion does a backflip over a trash can to land feet first with his whole 180 lbs coming down squarely on the back of Master Warrior’s neck. Master Warrior’s head is smashed through the glass of the woman’s car window face first. Hellion then springs off and to the street further tying up traffic.
Master Warrior pulls himself up from the broken window of the car door. He has a few small cuts on his face but nothing more serious that shaving nicks. Unfortunately the woman whose car he has wrecked sees it differently. “Oh My God, let me call an ambulance!”
“No, really I am fine,” Master Warrior says. “Everyone just need to clear this area now!”
“I’m not clearing anything!” the angry motorist shouts getting in Master Warrior’s face. “Who is going to pay for my car?!”
Using his fingers to dab blood from his face Master Warrior tells the man, “Please calm down sir.” “I’m sure we can work out something with your expenses.” “I’m dealing with a situation right now.” Master Warrior spots Hellion squatting on the roof of a parked car not far away, laughing.
“We?” the guy shouted looking frustrated. “You’ve been flying around this city for months, I just want the phone number of the guy who has been cleaning up your messes!”
“Phone number?” Master Warrior questions looking back to the motorist. “Who’s phone number?” When he looks back to the parked car Hellion is gone. Before he can find the nimble man again he feels the pain of a kidney punch in his back that slumps him forward onto the angry motorist. The pain isn’t enough to last for long but he feels it just the same. Looking in the angry man’s eyes with his hand on his shoulder Master Warrior tells him, “Please just get out of here before you really get hurt.”
Master Warrior needs to get clear of this scene and these people as he leaps up the hood of the man’s crashed car to take flight. It is proximity to Hellion that seems to be the problem, Master Warrior discovers as he gets some distance his danger sense returns. Turning around he heads back to the scene gaining momentum to swoop down scooping up Hellion before his luck can be changed again. Climbing in height now Master Warrior holds Hellion by his chest to hold him at arm’s length in front of him. “I suggest you don’t put your whammy on me again,” Master Warrior tells the man in black. “I don’t think you could survive a fall from this height if I dropped you.” Master Warrior heads in land over the city making sure there will be no soft landing if he were to drop Hellion. “I suggest you also start talking before I set you down on William Penn’s hat!”
Hellion shows no fear as they fly high over the rooftops of center city his feet dangling. “That is the problem with guys like you, I’ve know guys like you all my life,” Hellion says. “You think you rule the world, that you are better than everyone else!”
“I don’t think that at all, I just want to help people with the special things I can do,” Master Warrior replies as they approach City Hall. “Is that what this is all about?” “Do you think I wronged you in someway because I think I’m better than you?” “If Steve Roberts arrested you it was for good reason.”
“Still trying to hide the truth, huh?” Hellion replies. “I still remember that high and mighty speech you gave me in my cell that night.” “How I was still young enough to turn my life around.” “How I was better than the crimes I was committing.” “You made me realize that I could do better so, when I escaped custody I wanted to show you how much I appreciate your talk.” “That is why I broke into your apartment.” “When I found this suit, I thought what better way to show you how I could turn my life around.”
“Where does DeScalo come into all of this?” Master Warrior asks.
“He had the connections I needed so I played him to get it.” “Don’t worry, I have no intention of telling DeScalo what I learned about you Roberts, but don’t think I won’t use that information myself!” Hellion then swings his legs up around Master Warrior’s waist. “I may not be able to survive this fall, but I would bet you can!” he says taking hold of the edges of the arm opening in Master Warrior’s vest. “It is time your learned a lesson about luck!”
Suddenly Master Warrior’s danger sense flares and then it is gone again, as is his momentum in flight. “What did you do?” he shouts at Hellion as they begin to fall.
“Your bad luck is my good luck,” Hellion replies as he uses his wrestling skills to shift their position. Hellion flips Master Warrior over so that he has his back to the ground that quickly approaches. Hellion now moves to kneel on the other man’s chest riding him like a toboggan Earthward.
Master Warrior knows he may survive this fall but he has no intention of finding out. Grabbing the opposite wrists of the man on his chest, Master Warrior pulls Hellion’s hands free of his vest flipping the hitchhiker off his chest. Distance is the answers as Master Warrior uses the Hellion’s weight to swing him outward changing their course. The two men spin long ways like a severed helicopter blade across the skyline as they continue to fall on an angle across the skyline. Spinning to the east Master Warrior knows he must time this just right. Moving closer to the river he concentrated on the timing. Coming around to the city Master Warrior lets go of Hellion’s wrist sending the man sailing toward the river.
“I hope your luck holds out!” Master Warrior shouts after the man in black as he begins to sail in the opposite direction toward the city. The hero’s danger sense kicks in as he loses sight of Hellion. It is not hitting the ground that triggers his headache, but the appearance of the Eyewitness News3 copter. Normally he would try to avoid the News team, not today.
Master Warrior searches his mind for the right weapon. He will have to combine two, he isn’t sure it will work but he has to try. “Rope and hook!” he shouts as he sails below the helicopter. The hook catches the landing gear as Master Warrior slides down the rope to slow his momentum. The helicopter jerks only slightly jarring the reporters inside as Master Warrior brings himself to a stop. He swings under the helicopter as the News3 crew films him, not one of his best moments. Master Warrior wastes no time climbing up his rope to the rail under the helicopter.
Knocking on the window of the door he requests entry. The reporters gladly open the door to invite the local hero inside. The camera is shoved in his face as he enters the copter. “Master Warrior what’s happening?” the cameraman shouts at him. “Who was that you threw into the river?” “Where you trying to kill him?”
Master Warrior ignores the reporter’s questions as he backs up to the opposite side of the chopper. Bounding forward taking three steps to the open door Master Warrior takes flight out into the sky again. As he flees the helicopter he knows in the back of his mind that it is time. But first he is going to check on that Hellion, from a distance.
2116 Chestnut St
Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA
Grimes & Berger arrive at the high end condo building that is the thirteenth crime scene. It is completely identical to the other twelve burglaries they have linked to this thief. Nothing is out of place in the condo accept the missing items from a wall safe. There are no signs of forced entry or a search. The thief knew exactly what he wanted and where to find it. Also as the norm the owner of the condo was out of town when the burglary took place, coming home to find his safe emptied.
While Grimes rehashes the owner’s story with him, Paddy wanders around the condo looking for something out of place. These burglaries have all been too perfect. This Hellspawn has to make a mistake sooner or later. Looking through the office Paddy glances to the daily desk calendar. On the top page he spots something odd written on it. “The day Steve Roberts’ luck changes!” Holy shit! Detective Berger thinks. What is that about? Paddy looks around the room to check his partner’s location making sure he is alone. He reaches out to quickly tear off the top date page off the pad to stuff it in the pocket.
“Find anything in here?” Detective Grimes calls from the doorway.
“No nothing, it is just like all the others,” Detective Berger replies. Is it like all the others? Paddy thinks to himself. Where there other clues like this one that everyone just missed? He will have to revisit the other crime scene photos without his new partner’s knowledge if he wants to find out. Paddy spends the next hour looking much more carefully at this crime scene, going alone behind the CSI team looking for anything they have missed that might point to his roommate.
By the time they are heading back to the Precinct, Grimes sit in the passenger seat clearly annoyed. “What was that all about?” he asks in the car as they pull into traffic. “Don’t you trust the CSIs anymore?”
“No, not at all, it just seems like we have been missing something all along,” Paddy tells the man as he drives.
“Did you turn up anything?” Grimes asks as if he knows something he is not sharing.
Just then a call comes over the radio on the frequency used by the Elite Squad. “Berger, Grimes, We’ve got a 1-8-87 over on South St, get over there now!” Commander Olpere’s orders are not to be ignored as Paddy switches on the car lights and sirens to make a sharp left on Market St.
“A Master Warrior sighting,” Detective Grimes says almost joyfully. “Looks like this won’t be a wasted day after all.” “I can hardly wait to see what that trouble maker is up to today!” From the first day Detective Grimes joined the Elite Squad he has made his dislike for Master Warrior’s public displays clear to everyone.
Penn’s Landing
Philadelphia, PA
Master Warrior has spent nearly a half an hour flying back and forth over the Schuylkill River looking for any sign of Hellion to no avail. Even the strength of the current couldn’t have carried Hellion away this fast. He can only assume that the man’s luck did hold out and he swam ashore to escape. Master Warrior returns back up river to the city after following it to the Delaware in his search for Hellion.
Master Warrior thinks about everything Hellion said to him as they fought. He mentioned something about learning how the suit worked. As far as Steve Roberts knew it was just a suit made of alien material, it had no special workings. Could it be the power of the suit that gave Hellion his ability to change Master Warrior’s luck? The only one who might know the answer to his questions about the suit would be Benue and Master Warrior has no idea how to find that guy.
Making it back to South St. Master Warrior can see that the accident he caused has already been cleaned up. He is surprised to see that the angry driver has gone as well. Yet another mystery to him, there is someone paying to clean up his mess. The world is continuing to change he thinks. He would have never guessed that someone would step up in such a fashion.
Spotting the flashing blue and red lights out the corner of his eye, Master Warrior focuses in on the unmarked police cars arriving at Penn’s Landing. He recognizes it as the same one he rode in with Paddy for a year. Detectives Berger and Grimes got out of the car, Master Warrior flies over them giving them a nod knowing he needs to keep his distance from Paddy’s new partner. He doesn’t know what it is but there is something not right about Detective Grimes that he just can’t put his finger on.
On the ground Detective Grimes reacts to the snub. “Do you believe that guy?” “Does he really think he is that entitled that he doesn’t have to tell us anything!” Grimes shouts at Paddy as if he expects his partner to know the answer to the question.
The Philadelphia Bulletin offices
An Alameda International LTD. Newspaper
Philadelphia, PA
On January 29, 1982 Alameda International LTD. purchased the Philadelphia Bulletin at the very last minute of its impending doom, changing this timeline forever. Steve Roberts has given this a lot of thought over the past months. The press is becoming an obstacle that he has to satisfy to get them out of his hair. But he intends on doing it on his terms not in a helicopter during a fight with a Hellion. That is why he chose the Bulletin and an old friend to get the exclusive first interview.
Master Warrior walks tall and proud into the bullpen of the Bulletin newsroom. Heads turn and gasps are heard as he marches through the cubicles. Master Warrior looks at each face and name plate searching for his friend from high school Pete Stapleton. He has crossed the entire room to the far back corner where he finds Pete seated at a small desk against the wall. A few random employees follow behind Master Warrior as he reaches his destination.
“Mr. Stapleton, I would like you to interview me for your paper,” Master Warrior says.
Pete Stapleton looks up with an expression of shock on his face. He doesn’t see his old friend Steve Roberts only the colorful Master Warrior. “Ahhh,” Pete stutters. “I don’t do celebrity interviews.” “I do puppy stories,” he says holding up the copy he was working on.
“I’m not a celebrity and I want you to help me clear up a few things,” Master Warrior tells him.
“What is going on here?” the Editor of the paper says walking up behind Master Warrior.
“Master Warrior wants Stapleton to interview him,” one of the other reporters tells the Editor.
“No that won’t do,” the Editor says, “Bowden will do the interview.” The other reporter standing in the group gets a broad smile across his face at the chance of a lifetime.
Master Warrior looks at the Editor, the cuts on his face from the car window still bleeding slightly, “Then I’ll be going now.” “If you’ll excuse me,” Master Warrior says making his way back through the crowd that has formed behind him in the Newsroom.
“Wait, wait, where are you going?” the Editor says in a panic not wanting to lose the interview of the century.
“I’ve had other offers, if I can’t choose my interviewer I should go to the first one to request an interview,” Master Warrior tells the Editor who pushes his way past his employees.
“No, no,” the Editor says begrudgingly looking back at Pete’s cubicle. “Stapleton can do the interview.” “Cheryl, show this gentleman to the conference room.”
A pretty young girl blushingly says, “This way sir.” She leads Master Warrior from the crowd to a glass walled conference room down the hall. “Could I get you a cup of coffee or tea?” she asks smiling. “Perhaps a water?”
“No thank you, I am fine,” He says taking a seat in a chair at the table. Unlike everyone else Master Warrior can see his face clearly in the reflection of the glass wall. He reaches for a tissue from a nearby box on the table. Pete Stapleton enters the room as Master Warrior begins to clean up his face.
Taking a deep breath as he sits down at the table across from Master Warrior, Pete Stapleton is clearly nervous. He lays out many sheets of paper filled with quickly scribbled questions in many different handwritings. He fumbles through them looking for a place to begin this interview with the biggest thing to happen in Philadelphia since the Liberty Bell. “Do you mind if I record this?” he asks taking out a small cassette recorder.
“Go right ahead,” Master Warrior says watching his old friend fumble with the tape deck. “Just relax, Pete,” Master Warrior tells the novice interviewer. “Think of me as an old friend, not some kind of celebrity.” “What is the first question that comes to your mind?”
“Are you an alien?” Pete blurts out not looking at any of the written questions.
Master Warrior smiles with a slight chuckle. “That was right to the point,” He says holding up the tissue in his hand, “Blood looks red to me.” “I’m no alien from outer space, I was born right here on Earth just like you.” “I’m no Superman.”
“That’s what people think when they see you flying over the city,” Pete responds. “We see you as something out of a comic book or movie.”
“I can see why,” Master Warrior says throwing up his hands. “Believe me when I say that is not my intention.” “I only want to help protect the innocent from threats greater than the regular authorities can handle.”
“What are these threats?” Pete asks. “Where are they coming from?”
“Other people like me, ones with special powers,” Master Warrior tells Pete to his obvious surprise. “Zeni-humans have been here all along, in hiding.” “Some of them use their powers for their own gain at the expense of others.” “There are some who just want to be left alone and I know there are others out there who only want to help, like me.” “I’ve hoped that going public as I have will bring those good Zeni-humans out of hiding.”
“Where did they get these Zeni-human powers?” Pete asks bluntly.
“They are born that way,” Master Warrior explains. “Zeni-human powers don’t come from a radioactive spider bite or a magic lightning bolt, they come from inside human DNA.” “Sure some people don’t know they are Zeni-humans until something like that happens to trigger their powers, but the power was always there.”
“So you are saying that anyone can suddenly gain super powers,” Pete suggests.
“No, not if they don’t have the Zeni-human gene,” Master Warrior clarifies. “I inherited my powers from my mother for example.”
Pete is visibly shocked again, “So you are saying your mother has super powers too?” “Why haven’t we ever heard of her?”
“My mother is a special case, she chooses not to use her powers anymore, she would just rather live a quiet private life,” Master Warrior tells the reporter. “I’m sure there are many people like that.” “A Zeni-human could be anyone no matter how small the power.” “Someone you went to High School with or Summer Camp.” As soon as Master Warrior says the words he waits for a response from Pete as he tests his disguise.
Pete has been looking at the man’s face for over fifteen minutes when he realizes he can’t recognize him. “Who are you really?” “I can clearly see the cuts on your face, a beard and mustache, but I can’t make out the details of your features.”
“For good reason, with what I do, I still need my privacy,” Master Warrior explains.
Pete ends the line of questioning understanding that he is not going to get a real answer. “You say these Zeni-humans have been here all along, why haven’t they ever been discovered?” Pete asks pushing aside the papers the other reports have given him. “How could they stay so perfectly hidden?”
“They had help, Governments and local authorities would prefer that Zeni-humans remain hidden,” Master Warrior reveals for the first time. “I can understand why people don’t always react well to things they can’t understand.”
“So you’re telling me that our governments are conspiring against us to keep this secret?” Pete accuses.
“I wouldn’t say conspiring, I would say protecting the people from themselves,” Master Warrior suggests. “The Zeni-human gene is rare, for the masses to know about it might cause more problems than answers.” “Not to mention that people generally fear what they don’t understand.” “I’m hoping to still some of that fear by doing this interview.”
“Then why have you decided now is the time to go public?” the reporter quizzes.
“There is something bigger coming and I feel the people of this city and the world have to prepare for it,” Master Warrior reveals. “I hope to help others like me to understand the good they might be able to do.” “I also want Zeni-humans who are using their power for selfish, illegal or corrupt purposes to know I am out there.”
“That is a powerful statement,” Pete comments as he takes a few notes on a pad. “What do you mean bigger?” Pete asks inspired by the man’s words.
“I can’t be sure but I will be ready when it comes,” Master Warrior reassure him.
“Why Philly?” Pete asks. “Why not New York, LA, or Miami?”
“Mainly because this my city, my home,” Master Warrior tells the reporter.
“So you’re from here?” Pete asks him.
“Born and raised,” Master Warrior smiles.
Pete realizes he is getting off course with his questions when he glanced down on the papers on the table. “Are you independently wealthy?” Pete asks.
“That’s a question I didn’t expect,” Master Warrior says laughing. “No, I am not independently wealthy, far from it.”
“Then I need to ask, who is paying for the damage you have been causing to private property?” Pete says. “There have been at least twenty instances where people received anonymous cash for damages incurred after attacks you prevented.”
“I have no idea, I only first heard of it today from the man on the street,” Master Warrior reveals. “I would very much like to know who that person is.” “What the reasoning for that action.”
“The person in question has remained anonymous, but there have been similar reports in San Diego, New York City and most recently St. Louis of people receiving cash to pay for damages.” Pete explains.
San Diego rings a clear bell with Master Warrior, that is where Sentry lives. The other two make him wonder if there are others working under the radar in those cities. But if they are working behind the scenes how could this benefactor know about them? “I guess all I can say is thank you to the person or persons responsible for those payments.” “Personal I have the thought of personal property in my mind at all times, unfortunately I can’t say the same for a crazed Cyclops or She-Cat.”
“So were those things Zeni-humans?” Pete asks. “I believe witnesses saw you kill the Cyclops.”
“No, they were something different, something a little harder to explain,” Master Warrior answers. “The Cyclops is a mythological creature that really shouldn’t exist here on Earth.” “It came from somewhere else and striking it down was the only way to send it back.”
“So you are saying that you had no choice but to kill it,” Pete charges skillfully twisting Master Warrior’s words.
“Not exactly, it wasn’t truly alive,” Master Warrior replies. “It was a shadow of something that once lived.”
“Like a ghost?” Pete says suspiciously.
“More like a Zombie,” Master Warrior jokes to Pete’s shock. “Trust me, it was nothing like taking a human life.” There is no need for Master Warrior to mention that he was the one to originally kill that Cyclops or that it followed him here from Olestra. “The fact that it turned to dust should be enough to prove that fact.”
“How strong are you?” Pete reads from one of the sheets his coworkers gave him.
“I’ve yet to gauge the upper limits of my strength, but I can tell you I’m strong enough to lift a minivan over my head,” Master Warrior tells Pete to see the surprise on his face again. It was kind of funny, it reminds him of the look on his face when Gary told him what we caught Brad doing at Camp.
“What else can you do besides fly and fight?” Pete inquires.
“Anything everyone else can do only at a higher level,” Master Warrior said trying to sound modest. “Did that sound like bragging, because that wasn’t my intent.”
“No, no I understand completely,” Pete says trying to put the hero at ease. Pete smile looking down at one of the notes, before crumbling it to tossing it aside.
“What was that one?” Master Warrior asks curiously.
Pete smiles at Master Warrior for the first time in the interview appearing to finally relax. “It asked have you ever used your X-ray vision to see girls naked?” “It reminded me of a friend, Gary Rogers, he always said if he had X-ray vision that is what he would do.”
Master Warrior laughs remember that Gary did always say that he was such a pervert back then. “Again, I am not Superman, no X-ray vision, I’m not living Gary’s fourteen year old fantasy.” Shit! That was a slip, I hope Pete didn’t catch it. He just feels so comfortable talking with Pete, it was just like old times.
It would seem that the reporter is too involved in reading through the notes to realize what Master Warrior has just said. “This one isn’t much better, Are you single?” “I can guess who wrote that,” Pete says looking to the group of fellow employees gathered on the other side of the glass wall.
Master Warrior thinks the question for a few moments before answering, “I think I will have to decline that one, claiming privacy.”
Pete suddenly gets an odd look in his eye, this time not from one of the written questions. “You are a man, right?” Pete finally asks. “I mean this being a Zeni-human….You’ve got you know….. a penis and testicles right?”
Master Warrior smirks to himself remembering how uncomfortable Pete always was talking about sex when they were teenagers. It appears he has gotten no more relaxed, like Steve has over the years. “I can firmly answer that question, My anatomy is the same as yours.” “Only bigger,” he jokes.
“Are you sure about that X-ray vision thing?” Pete asks with a raised eyebrow. That sounds like something Gary Rogers would have said, Pete thinks. The thought is ridiculous. Gary is nothing like this guy sitting in the chair across the table from him. Besides Gary left Pennsylvania years ago.
“I only mean bigger in comparison to our body types,” Master Warrior finally says. “I am in proportion, nothing is grossly larger on me.” “But as far as the single thing goes I need some mystery don’t I?”
The thought of this being Gary Rogers in his head, Pete finally asks, “Why me, why do you want me to do this interview?” “All I’ve ever written have been stories on lost puppies and broken traffic lights.”
“Frankly, it is because I trust you,” Master Warrior says. “I’ve been following your work for a while.” “You might be the only honest reporter in the city.” “I trust that you will write a truthful and fair story.”
“Thank you,” Pete says feeling rather proud of the compliment. There is no way Master Warrior is Gary Rogers, if it is one thing Gary never did it was give compliments.
“I guess there is really only one thing left to discuss,” Pete tells Master Warrior. “What was going on today on South Street?”
“I’m not completely sure, all I know for sure is that the man in black calls himself Hellion had a bone to pick with me,” Master Warrior explains. “He claimed that he wanted to change my luck to teach me a lesson.” “Show me that I wasn’t as wonderful as I think I am.”
“And did he?” Pete asks.
“I think what he taught me is that I need to be more on guard for people I have pissed off, from now on,” Master Warrior summarizes. “Apparently luck is a real thing as well that can be manipulated.”
“Is there anything else that you would like to get out to the public?” Pete asks closing the interview.
“It think I just want people to know that I am just as human as they are but I am only one man,” Master Warrior explains. “I can’t be everywhere at once, so just continue to live your life as you have been,” “Don’t get the idea that I can save everyone from every bad thing that might happen in life.” Master Warrior stands up from the table to reach out his hand, “Thank you, Mr. Stapleton, I hope my trust has not been misplaced.”
Looking to Master Warrior’s hand Pete Stapleton is still more than a little nervous as he goes to shake it. He is relieved to feel that Master Warrior’s handshake is not an overpowering crushing grip like he has felt in his business. But a soft gentle grip that relieves his anxiety about the man. “Thank you, I will try to do my best.” “I certainly don’t want to piss YOU off!”
“I know you won’t have a good day,” Master Warrior says turning to leave, pushing his way through the crowd outside the conference room. Some of the people reach out pens and tablets toward him. “Sorry, I’m no celebrity, I don’t do autographs,” he says politely. “If you ever see on it is a fake to be sure!”
Steve Roberts & Patrick Berger’s apartment
1701 Tulip St
The Fishtown section
Philadelphia, Pa
After making his way to the rooftop of the Bulletin building Master Warrior flies home toward Fishtown. Dropping down to the street out of sight a mile or so from his apartment, he switches back to his red gym shorts and white tank top to jog the rest of the way home. He feels more than a little paranoid because of the effect he now know Hellion has on his danger sense. As he jogs he can see in a store window that the cuts on his face have completely healed in the couple of hours or so since he has gotten them.
Returning home, running up the stairs Steve is surprised to find the girl, Fiona Jones, that was possessed by Smilodon sitting on the floor outside his apartment door. Does everyone know his secret? he thinks to himself as he approaches her. There is no way Steve Roberts should know anything about this girl so he plays to that fact. “Hello young lady, can I help you?” Steve says politely with authority in his voice.
She looks up at him wide eyed and innocent. “Are you the Private Detective that is searching for Xander Beachum?” she asks.
“I’m sorry I can’t answer you question about a possible client, that is what private means in Private Detective,” Steve replies thinking there is no way she should know anything about Beachum either. “What brings you here?” he asks looking to the VCR tape in her hand.
“I’m not sure, I just feel like you should have this,” Fiona says reaching out the tape at him. “I think it is a blackmail video that my parents paid Beachum to get.” “It was filmed at a cabin they own up state, I wrote address on the box.”
Steve takes the tape from the teenaged girl. It is a rather high end brand of VHS, not the kind people buy at Kmart to record “Cheers”. “Did you watch it?” he asks.
“Yes, some of it, it got too gross so I had to turn it off,” Fiona tells him blushing as she looks to the carpeted floor.
“Why don’t you come inside and we can talk about this,” Steve suggests. “You can explain why you brought the tape to me.”
“NO, I have to go, it is a long bus ride home,” Fiona insists walking away.
“How is it you know where I live,” he calls to her down the hall.
“I don’t know, I just do,” Fiona calls back. “Please I gave you what you need to find him now just leave me alone!” The girl stepped into the stairwell closing the door behind her. Steve knows it wouldn’t be right to chase after the teen, either as himself or Master Warrior.
He takes out his keys from the pocket inside his shorts to open the door. Walking over to their entertainment center, he slides the tape into the VCR. Obviously Fiona didn’t rewind the tape when she turned it off. What he sees next is shocking. Steve reaches for the phone to call David. “David, you need to see something, I just got a lead in the Beachum case,” he tells his boss when he answered the phone.
“Where are you?” David asks.
“I’m at my place, why,” Steve replies.
“Just stay there I’ll be over in a few minutes,” David replies to Steve’s surprise. Steve turns off the tape and rewinds it to the beginning. “I’m a….in the neighborhood.”
In the neighborhood? Steve wonders, how can he answer the phone at the office and be in the neighborhood? Looking to the clock Steve sees that it is nearly three in the afternoon. It has been a busy day and he is starved! Going to the kitchen he fixes himself some very late lunch of two Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. Before he can sit down to eat his sandwiches and chips there is a knock at the door. Drinking from the milk jug he walks to the door. Opening it he finds David on the other side. Gulping down his mouth full of milk he looks to the clock on the wall. “Damn, its only been ten minutes how did you get here from Jersey this fast?”
“Little thing called call forwarding,” David says stepping by Steve into the apartment. “What’s your lead on the Beachum case?” Steve puts the milk jug back in the fridge and directs David to the living room as he grabs his sandwich.
“A teenage girl showed up here with a VHS tape telling me it was a blackmail tape that her parents paid Beachum for,” Steve explains as he grabs the remote from the end table to start the video again.
David doesn’t believe his eyes, he half though it would be a snuff film or something. What they see on the screen shouldn’t surprise him knowing what they learned about Beachum’s lifestyle. “Is that the right angle?” the woman in the video asks. “We want to get all of it on tape.”
“It will be good to start, we can move it if we need to as we go,” a man in the video replies as he steps into the scene.
“I think these are the girl’s parents,” Steve comments as they continue to watch the screen. Then a second man, younger than the other two enters the scene. David looks to Steve as he recognizes Xander Beachum in the scene. Steve simply nods his head gesturing back to the scene.
“Wow, this is extreme!” David comments as he watches the recording.
“You think this is extreme,” Steve comments hitting a FF button on the remote. “Check this out.” The video speeds up to jump ahead.
It is like a train wreck as the two men can’t seem to look away. “This is no blackmail tape,” David says. “They paid Beachum for his participation, not the tape itself.”
“I thought the same thing,” Steve replies as he hears the door to the apartment open.
“Holy shit what are you guys watching?” Paddy announces entering the room. “I can’t believe you guys are spending your day off sitting around here watching Porn!” “Hey, wait a minute, isn’t that the missing Doctors suspect?”
“Sure is, seems he was quite an actor too!” Steve says.
“That is not acting,” David says. “That is straight up screwing!”
“Whatever it is that is enough,” Paddy says interjects stepping past them to turn off the TV. “Where did you get this video?”
“Fiona Jones, believe it or not,” Steve tells his roomy. “She was waiting at the door for me when I got home.”
“How is that possible?” Paddy asks.
“I’m not sure, but she didn’t seem to know who I was, all she knew was that I was investigating Xander Beachum,” Steve explains. “I really can’t believe the odds of her knowing Beachum though.”
“What are you two talking about?” David asked confused by their conversation.
Paddy ignores the Private Detective’s question, “Where was this filmed?” he asks, pointing to the tape player.
“Eagles Mere, PA, it’s in Sullivan County, I was there a few times when I was a kid,” Steve says showing him the writing on the video box.
Paddy snatches the box out of Steve’s hand then turns to eject the tape from the VCR. “I am taking this as evidence in the police investigation of Xander Beachum,” Paddy announces as he slides the tape back into the case. Looking directly at Steve Paddy adds, “I’ll be calling the State Police to look into this cabin as well, so don’t bother going there!” The two Private eyes aren’t at all surprised with the by the book cop’s attitude. “At any rate, you and I need to talk about something else that happened today,” Paddy says looking to Steve.
“Fine with me, I have a date anyway,” David says getting up from Paddy’s recliner in front of the TV. “Steve we’ll take this up tomorrow at the office,” he says as he heads for the door.
“First thing,” Steve replies. Once David Rogers has left Steve turns back to his former partner to asks, “What’s on your mind, as if I didn’t already know.”
“I asked you to say out of trouble today,” Paddy replies flopping down in his vacated recliner.
“Not to defend it but trouble found me,” Steve replies walking back to the kitchen to retrieve his second sandwich and a glass of milk. “He came after me, said his name was Hellion, even smelled of sulfur like some kind of demon.”
“That might explain this then,” Paddy says lifting up in the chair to dig in his pant’s pocket to pull out the crumpled desk calendar page. “Found this at the scene of the thirteenth impossible burglary I’ve been telling you about.” “Everyone of them has had the smell of sulfur left behind in the closed rooms.”
Steve takes the small sheet of paper from Paddy to read aloud, “The day Steve Roberts’ luck changes!” “I guess the thing that really surprises me is that you stole evidence from a crime scene.”
“Just tell me what you think it means?” Paddy insists.
“It would seem that this Hellion guy was leaving a clue that he knew who I really am, possibly that you are my roommate too.” Steve suggests finishing up his sandwich. “He’s probably been leaving them all along.” “Building up until today.” “Have you been to all of the other crime scene?”
“Yes, but there weren’t any clues there like this one,” Paddy replies.
“Was your partner there too?” Steve asks sitting down in his chair. “I wonder if he is beyond stealing evidence?”
“Grimes would do that, you have to get off this suspicion of him,” Paddy replies still giving his new partner the benefit of the doubt. “We need to focus on this Hellion character.” “Now we just have to find out who he is,” Paddy says getting up from his chair.
“I already know, he is the guy who stole the alien suit from me,” Steve reveals. “I know his name too.” “Theodore Matthew O’Connell, I arrested him when we were still on a beat together.”
“You mean that mouthy punk you gave the pep-talk to,” Paddy comments.
“I guess my talk worked in reverse on him,” Steve confesses. “I just felt like I had a connection with him.” “Like I had to do something to show him how to make his life better before it was too late.”
“We all have our hopeless causes in the beginning of the job,” Paddy suggests. “Could it have been because he was a Zeni-human?”
“I don’t think so,” Steve replies. “We really didn’t talk about things like that back then.” “He said he had his power then, but it just didn’t work on me.” “It clearly does now, he must have gotten an upgrade.” “He can bring some serious back mojo now!” “It’s funny I haven’t given him a thought since.” “If I was writing a book of my time as a cop I wouldn’t have even mentioned him in it.”
“Well I better get out of here, I need to get back to the precinct with this info,” Paddy says holding up the VCR tape. “Not to mention call the troopers to get to that cabin before dark.”
Steve glances out of the window to the parking lot as Paddy leaves. He sees that David’s car is gone but catches a glimpse of Julie walking toward her car. She is dressed to the nines like she too has a date tonight. I guess Paddy was right she does have a secret boyfriend. The thought enters his mind for a second before he pushes it out. David and Julie how ridiculous!
High over I-476
Kingston Township
The normally close to three hour, one hundred and sixty mile drive is cut by a third as Master Warrior flies over the highway. This is the longest flight Master Warrior has ever attempted. He races with all of the speed he can muster as he straightens the curves in the winding interstate below. He remembers the way to Eagles Mere from childhood, but still needs to fly low enough to read the route signs.
Flight is still such a strange thing to be doing for Steve Roberts. Most days in the city he takes it for granted but this trip is different. The length of the trip has given him the opportunity to think about the freedom he has now in his life. A freedom he never imagined he would have only a few years ago. Coming up on the Kingston Township Master Warrior verse north, heading into the mountains. Eagles Mere is a small mountain town with a little over a hundred residents. In the thirties, forties and fifties it was a resort town but now with the legendary Crestmont Inn gone it has lost its tourist attraction stasis.
It is only an eight minute ride from the Laporte State Police Barracks to Eagles Mere, less than six miles way. Master Warrior hopes he got enough of a head start on Paddy’s call to State Police. When he spots the State Trooper cars on the road below he knows he did. He slows his speed to follow over the three cruisers, figuring they know the quickest route to the cabin. Sailing over the treetops Master Warrior spots the lone cabin in the forest first to speed ahead of the police.
Touching down on the grass outside the well maintained mountain hide away as the State Police arrive on the dirt road behind him the sun hangs low in the sky behind the trees cast a tall shadow. Master Warrior is caught in the sunlight as the Trooper cars come to a stop behind him. He looks back to them as the first of the State Troopers step out of their cars. Some reach for their guns but Master Warrior can tell who the man in charge is as he does not draw his weapon.
“You must be that Master Warrior character,” the Officer says putting on his wide brimmed hat. “That Philly cop said you might show up here,” It doesn’t surprise him that Paddy knew he wouldn’t spend the night in front of the TV. “Name’s Captain Shannon,” the lead trooper replies opening the trunk of his patrol car to retrieve a shotgun.
“Did Detective Berger also tell you to let me go in first,” Master Warrior calls to the Captain checking his firearm.
“He said you might say that and that I should go in alone with you first,” the Captain replies stepping forward slinging his shotgun over his shoulder.
The two men stand at the bottom of the steps up to the porch of the cabin. “I know this must seem strange to you, me being here,” Master Warrior says.
“I was a cop in Harrisburg before moving up here, I have seen strange before,” the State Trooper Captain replies holding his shotgun in front of him. “What do you know about this guy?”
“Not much, Detective Berger thinks he murdered several doctors in Philly, perhaps ate them,” Master Warrior explains as they stepped up onto the porch.
“A cannibal?” the Captain says shocked as they take positions on either side of the door. The men look at each other as the sun casts a long shadow across the porch, Master Warrior gives a nod. “State Police, open up!” the Captain shouts banging on the door from the side. There is no verbal response.
“I can hear something inside,” Master Warrior whispers looking to the Trooper. Then there is a loud grunt followed by a crash that shakes the whole cabin. “That is our cue,” Master Warrior says stepping out in front of the door to kick it in. The old wooden planks fall to pieces inside the cabin.
The two men stepped inside the cabin both fully prepared for anything. Outside the other Troopers move in closer to the cabin with guns drawn. Captain Shannon aims his shotgun out in front of him as they investigate the cabin, “What was that noise if no one is here?” Shannon asks as they find the cabin empty.
“I would say it was this, Master Warrior states standing at a huge hole torn in the back wall of the cabin. “This is not regular killer to rip open a wall like this!”
“Same kind that could do this would you say?” Shannon asks opening the nearby refrigerator door with a huge hand print crushed into it. “This hand print is three times as big as mine,” the Captain comments placing his hand in the dent. “What kind of beast is this guy?”
“I’m afraid I might know,” Master Warrior says as the other troopers enter the cabin. “Keep your men here, I’m going after him.” Master Warrior points out the hole in the wall to the forest at the edge of the property. The trees are parted, snapped off and torn from the grown leaving a clear path. He jumps to the ground to look back at Captain Shannon, “Find out what you can from the cabin I’ll be back.”
“Here take my shotgun,” Shannon offers. Before Master Warrior can respond the State Policemen standing in the open wall, all of them get a look of shock on their faces. “Holy Shit, Look out!” the Captain shouts.
Master Warrior turns to see an up-rooted tree sailing through the air back toward the cabin its root clump heading right for him. He doesn’t think twice as he runs toward the projectile. Pulling the band from his leg the policemen watch as he raises it over his head and it takes the shape of a huge broadsword. Master Warrior falls to one knee, bracing himself as he holds the sword high over his head. The men watching from the cabin gasp in awe as the tree strikes the blade. Loud creaking and cracking sounds echo through the treetops as the massive tree is cleaved down the center. The two halves of the trees lose their momentum crashing to the ground, sliding to a stop just before hitting the cabin.
“That was freaking awesome!” one of the State Troopers shouts at the sight of the log splitting.
Master Warrior turns back to the cabin yelling, “Remember what I said, let me handle this!” Charging forward into the forest as the sun sets Master Warrior can only guess at what awaits him on this path of destruction. A few hundred feet into the woods Master Warrior stops to listen to the night. He returns to his sword to its position as a strap on his leg. The night is quiet and still. He can hear the movement of what he can guess are several deer about fifty feet to his left. Definitely not a giant. His danger sense is unusually calm, meaning that whatever is a foot is most likely magical in origin. He fears yet another shadow, but can’t bring himself to admit what kind.
Then he hears a slight zap sound and a strange tingling on his wrist. Then there is another and the same sensation on his wrist. Raising his arm to look at it, he sees a stray firefly landed on his gauntlet, instantly being dissolved like on a bug zapper. “What is this about?” Master Warrior questions out loud as he raises his other arm. More apparently suicidal fireflies glide to his gauntlets instantly being zapped. Soon his gauntlets begins to glow with the light of the many dead bugs drawing in even more of the phosphorescent insects. As the number of dead fireflies grow Master Warrior’s gauntlets begin to warm his wrists with a power he does not comprehend. The brighter his gauntlets glow the more fireflies that are attracted. Soon there is a swarm of the glowing insects around him. He tries swatting them away but it only seems to help them on their Suicide mission.
This is not why he came into this forest, he thinks. Beginning to jog on down the cleared path of destruction the swarm of fireflies continues to follow him. A usually slow moving insect these fireflies are different, keeping up with Master Warrior no matter how fast he runs. The glow from his gauntlets is now so bright that it is like a beacon that makes it harder for him to see what is ahead of him in the darkness. It is too late when he feels the ground beneath his feet slip away.
Master Warrior slides down the side of the rocky mountain unable to grab hold of anything to stop his fall. On the bright side the swarm of fireflies is left behind high above him as he tries to stop his decent or at least slow it. Flight is impossible without a firm footing to push off of to fly. He grabs for anything that sticks from the stone cliff, a limb, a root, or a ledge. His weight is too much for most of those things as he soon finds himself tumbling off a small ledge into the river.
In mid-September the river water is already nearly icy cold. Recent rains have left the river high on its rock lined shores. At first Master Warrior thinks the river has been his savior until it too seems to attack him. The fast moving rapids push him along as he struggles to get his bearings. His flailing arms collide with the large rocks that juts up from the river bottom. His right gauntlet strike down hard on a rock worn smooth by centuries of water flowing over it. For the split second that he can see it the rock is split open revealing its crystalline interior. There is a burst of light from deep inside the cleaved rock and then it is gone as Master Warrior is pushed farther down the river by the current.
As Master Warrior rides the rapids his ass hitting the rocky river bottom many times as he struggles to catch a breath of air. When his left gauntlet strikes another large river rock to cleave it the same thing happens again, but this time he realizes that the glowing in his wristbands by the fireflies is now gone. His gauntlets now soothed something else happens. The current finally slows allowing him to catch his feet on a rock long enough to pull himself from the cold water.
Master Warrior squats on the rock catching his breath for a moment. He is rather surprised to learn that his pants are waterproof. Standing up he can feel what he is sure are bruised on his butt, his arms and shoulders have scraps from the rocks. He looks to his gauntlets. “What the hell was that?” he asks out loud. Out in the open, the sun still shines enough for him to see that his gauntlets are all one color now. The florae pattern is completely gone, all of color the lighter shade of yellowish gold. There is another question in his mind as he leaps to the shore. Why is this the first time his cape did not extend to protect him?