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| Issue #6 July 2010 |
“Gotcha” Written By Brent Lambert |
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Bullet Biker was saving the best surprise for last. He almost laughed at the simplicity of it as he crawled through the air vent. Dr. Black had really given him everything he needed to ensure that his mission was going to be a success. Zarro was still trying to wrap his brain around how Dr. Black had gotten his hands on so much info.
“Not for me to worry about,” Biker said as he slipped out of the air vent and landed in the maze of lasers guarding his prize. “I didn’t perform at the circus for nothing.”
The gunship holding American Eagle and Billy Crane pulled in close to the complex where Crane’s men were fighting off Bullet Biker. Crane hated the damage he was about to cause, but it had to be done if he was going to protect his merchandise. How such a great night degraded into this still pissed Billy off. He was planning on having a nice bottle of wine and a long night of lovemaking. Whoever this clown was had a lot to answer for. Stealing from him was one thing, but interfering with his sex life was crossing the line.
Getting as close to the building as he could, the pilot looked back to Billy and nodded. Billy returned the expression and patted Jason on the back to get his attention. Pointing to a window, Billy said, “See that window? It’s the room next to the one with the laser.”
“So you want me to crash through the window all action movie like?”
“Yea, but we can’t expect you to make it look cool.”
American Eagle sucked his teeth. “Please. You wish you could get a piece of my super hero coolness.”
“Mr. Fantastic has more cool than you,” Billy said as he slipped on a titanium microweave vest. It weighed a ton, but he knew that it was damn good protection.
“What are you doing?”
“You don’t think you were leaving me do you?”
“Look man, Christos is not kicking my—
“My building. My lead. So I’m coming.”
Jason saw the stone cold expression and knew that it was going to be pointless to fight him on this. “Okay man, but you better hold on tight. I’m not getting blamed if you get flattened.”
“Aww that’s sweet. You want to hug.”
“I can think of twenty other things I rather be doing,” American Eagle said as Billy jumped on his back, wrapping his arms and legs around him.
“Pretty sure that Xbox is on there.”
“Yea it’s fifteen.”
“Never fails.”
“Separating a man from his videogame console is a crime against America,” Jason joked as he leapt out of the plane and zipped like a bullet towards the wide window he was targeting. Turning his head to the side, he said, “Tuck your head. This might be rough for you.”
Billy did as he was ordered and seconds later they crashed through window. A well-maneuvered flip allowed American Eagle to land on his feet and absorb the impact. Glass rained down on the two of them and Jason said, “Stay on my back. Don’t need you getting glass through your foot.”
Looking down at his dress shoes, Billy nodded. “Just lead the way. I’ll stay put.”
Glass cracked and crunched underneath Jason’s shoes as he moved to the door. When he was close enough the door slid open and Billy hopped off of his back. They both heard the roar of a motorcycle and looked down the end of the hall to see Crane’s men fighting off the attacker.
American Eagle balled his fists. “Stay here.”
“Like hell I am!”
“I can’t fight this guy and be worried about you. Stay here!”
“Fine, but you better kick his ass!”
“Count on it,” American Eagle said as he ran off from Billy and to whoever was trying to rob him.
Carne’s men were firing shots at the man on the bike, but they were all bouncing off of his green forcefield. The biker was running over the men like they were orange traffic cones in his way. With every man that he hit American Eagle became more and more angry. It was like watching a bully knock over all the school kids in the yard. He was going to give him a lesson in humility to remember.
Jason loaded a bolt into his crossbow and fired it in the direction of the biker. Having taken notice of American Eagle, the biker came to a complete stop and stared arrogantly at the launched bolt. He was sure that his shield would protect him. The bolt struck the shield and it lit up green, but it began to blink rapidly like a fly running into a bug zapper. That was when another bolt struck the front tire and blew it out.
Blowing on his crossbow like a flamboyant cowboy from The Old West, Jason said, “They’re not just vibranium anymore baby.”
The biker pointed his arm at American Eagle and the gun turrets wrapped around his wrist opened fire. Six red lasers tore through the air aiming to strike Jason in the chest. Ducking out of the way, the lasers cut straight down the hallway. Keeping low to the ground, American Eagle charged forward. He had only moved a few feet before the biker re-directed his lasers and struck Jason. The blasts threw him up against the nearest wall and began searing his flesh. He cried out, but began to walk forward despite the pain. Images of him running his fists across the man’s head were enough to make him push past the pain. Over the sizzling heat of the lasers, Jason heard a gunshot and the leasers ceased. A singed Jason looked back to see Billy with a still smoking gun. Despite his pain, he managed to crack a smile at his friend.
“Nice shootin. See you been practicing.”
“Couldn’t just let him turn you into Church’s Chicken,” Billy said as he walked with Jason to stand over the fallen biker. He saw the burn marks across his friend’s body and couldn’t help but to be grossed out by them. They were black, bubbly, and crisp like hot tar had dried up on his body. He tried not to be too bothered by it because he knew Jason would heal and not look like a laser had touched him.
American Eagle folded his arms across his chest and looked down at the crumpled biker. “He doesn’t look so tough to me.”
“After he almost battered you up and put you on a plate with a biscuit?”
“Flukes happen. All part of the business.”
Bending down and reaching out a hand to touch the biker’s helmet, Billy said, “Time to find out who was trying to steal my goods.”
Before his hand could touch him, the biker began to sizzle and crack like a snowy television. Billy pulled his hand back and the biker was gone. Looking up at Eagle he tried to hide his confusion. “Teleportation?”
Jason shook his head grimly. “A fake probably. Hard light hologram if I had to guess.”
Billy looked up at the entrance to the room guarding his laser and jumped to his feet. “We need to get in there!”
Mojave Desert
“I was beginning to think that you were going to fail,” Dr. Black said from the window of his limo.
Walking across the road was Bullet Biker carrying a large black case in both of his hands. The cargo it contained was easily going to buy him a new bike and allow him to take a long vacation. He hoped The Bahamas were nice this time of year. Hawaii had a nice ring to it too. There was a silly grin hidden under his helmet as he walked up to Dr. Black’s limo.
“You gave me all I needed to pull a fast one. Holograms, teleportation, building plans. How could I not get the goods?” Zarro asked as he slid the laser to Dr. Black through the window. Stepping back from the limo after handing over the laser, he said, “I just have one question. How did you get all of that information on Crane’s facility?”
“It’s all a matter of persuasion Mr. Zarro. Your money will be in your account tomorrow. There is one last teleportation jump in the device. Feel free to go to a location of your choosing,” Dr. Black said as his window rolled up. Zarro was of no use to him anymore now that the laser was in his possession, so there was no need to continue being even slightly courteous to him. The lapdog had returned to the master with the bone.
Dirt kicked up from under the limo’s wheels as it sped off into the night. Bullet Biker watched it carefully, thinking that something might happen. He needed his money and if something happened to Dr. Black then all of his work was for nothing. He almost wanted to escort him home personally to make sure no harm came to him. Maybe it was just greedy paranoia on Dillon’s part, but he didn’t feel like Dr. Black was safe.
“You’re just letting nerves get to you,” Zarro said as he tried to ignore his nagging feeling. Dr. Black seemed like a more than capable man and if someone really was after him then he was probably able to handle it. He had managed to get out of a fight with American Eagle tonight and didn’t really feel like throwing himself into a potential fight with another costumed clown. His money would be in his account tomorrow and he would be sipping on alcoholic beverages in the Bahamas.
Minneapolis, MN
The Patriarch stood up from the hotel bed and paced around the room. He never thought that he would be from the reaches of Hell, but here he was. Someone had actually felt he was worth bringing back, but just as a tool. That infuriated the ancient man to no end because he was more than any man’s pawn. Still, at least he was back in the land of the living and he would be able to exact his vengeance at some point.
“So your enemies? Who are they? They must be substantial if you went through all the trouble of resurrecting me to fight them. Unless you’re just completely lacking in friends.”
Jericho walked over to the tiny fridge in the room and pulled out a box of old Chinese food. He started up the microwave before responding. “They’re called The Shaman Society. A collection of the last Native American shamans working together to preserve our culture and magical traditions.”
The Blood leader laughed. “I didn’t think your people were capable of cooperation. Perhaps if you had been the Europeans wouldn’t have overrun you.”
Patriarch figured that if he couldn’t lash out at the man that he would at least insult him. He could tell that he had succeeded in getting under his ressurector’s skin by the way he slammed the door to the microwave. The smell of the man’s food was nauseating and added insult to injury. It was enough having to be bound to this man, but even worse to have to be subjected to his habits.
Jericho walked around the room eating his Chinese food. Out of the corner of his eye he saw The Patriarch gag slightly so he ate his food all the slower. “Let’s get one thing straight. You’re bound to me so you’re gonna watch your mouth if you ever want to be free. I can make you dress up in a tutu and start prancing in the street if you keep fucking with me. We clear?”
Patriarch scowled at Jericho and wanted nothing more than to peel back the flesh from his face. Twenty thousand years and he was bound to a weasel. “We’re clear.”
Jericho nodded and ate his Chinese a little faster.
Crane Security Complex
Billy crumbled to his knees when the door was finally opened. He gripped the edges of the door and laid his head against his knuckles. “I can’t fucking believe this man.”
American Eagle scratched the back of his head unsure of what to say. But he knew he couldn’t just say nothing man. “I’m sorry Billy, but we’re going to catch the sonuvabitch. Promise.”
“When the government hears about this they are going to want my head!”
Eagle felt helpless. “Look then we don’t report it. Not yet. Give ourselves some time to track it down—
“Are you crazy? Of course I’m reporting this man,” Billy said as he got up to his feet and walked away from the room. He pointed to one of his men and said, “Sweep this entire room. Don’t leave a single bit of evidence undiscovered. And don’t screw this up!”
The man looked like he was two shades lighter, but he got right to work. When Mr. Crane was pissed off people got fired and he had too many kids to feed to find himself in that position. Only two more years and he would be able to retire. No chance was he going to mess that up. “You heard boss! Let’s get this area swept.”
Eagle saw the fire in his friend’s eyes. “Sorry man. Was just trying to help.”
“I know Jason. I have to call the NSA and let them know about this. Ugh, I can just imagine the fit they’re going to have. And then it’s off to the house to hear Christos’ mouth.”
That was when Billy felt the cellphone vibrating in his front shirt pocket. “Great that’s probably him now.”
“Might as well pick it up,” Jason shrugged.
Billy shrugged back and picked up the phone. “Hey, sorry I really can’t talk…what? How? Ok I’ll send Jason over. Calm down. I can’t come over. Something major happened. I swear I’ll be home later. Ok. Love you too.”
“That was quick. Not Christos’ usual tongue lashing,” Jason laughed.
“Aami’s been hurt. She’s at my house now. Christos really didn’t give details, but I think you better get over there. Said he already called the paramedics.”
Jason hung his head down and balled his fists up. “I swear I hate this sometimes. I leave for one second—
“Can’t blame yourself Jason. We don’t even know what happened yet. Just get over there and I’ll handle things here. Alright?”
Suddenly, the tables were turned and Billy had to be the comforting friend, but that’s how things were between the two. They were always what each other needed. Billy knew he was going to need him again whenever the consequences from this theft hit the fan. But the first priority right now was Aami.
Before he turned to walk away from Jason, he asked, “Could you check on Christos too? He sounded kind of shook up. You know how every little thing spooks him.”
Jason nodded. “Sure thing. Just hurry up and get home man.”
“I’m going to try. I can just hear the earful I’m going to get,” Billy said as he drug his feet away from Jason.
NEXT ISSUE: How does Jason react to Aami’s injuries? And what story does Christos come up with for cover? And who does the NSA send to help Crane retrieve the laser? One thing is for sure. She’s not going to like it.
