Batman looked at the time just as the police were pulling into the yard where he stood with the arch-criminal known as Two Face. Harvey hadn’t told of the other spots. Batman was convinced he truthfully didn’t even know them. It was already ten minutes past eight and he knew the others were gone just as this one had gone. The police informed him that the one named Niall had run into a police station just a minute or two before eight screaming for help. He was bleeding from his ears, eyes, and nose. Then he died, just as if everything just imploded. They just happened to have a doctor there for another perp and he shut the station down. Said the kid might have been infected with Ebola but they had never seen it work so fast. God knows how many others he infected on his way in.
High above Batman watched as a helicopter hovered for a moment. He watched a hand come out of the window and an object drop. Before he could react the rock crashed into the windshield of the police cruiser next to him. He saw a plain rock with a note attached to it and gingerly untied the note from the rock. It only had four words scrawled on it…
Because it was fun…
An hour later Bruce Wayne pulled up to Selena Kyle’s modest apartment in downtown Gotham with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. Less than a mile away Clarisse burped.
The Bonds of War
Bonds of War
The first rays of the sun had just crested the rocky hills that marked the entrance of the valley we had entered the previous night. My eyes scanned every bush and pebble between our vantage point and those hills with all the scrutiny I could muster. We had climbed the loose shale about 75 feet to reach this outcropping of rocks, confident we could find a few hours of peaceful sleep there. Once satisfied our pursuers had not followed us in as of yet I allowed myself a few moments to look at my partner.
Her name was Sa’aleen. a proud Centari who was, in my opinion, far too young to have seen the tragedies that bonded us together in what seems like an eternity ago. My life was different; having been a part of violence and struggle since the day I opened my eyes. But her, she was different. Her parents were well to do, owning a successful jewel and orb shop in the capitol city of Tela Salar. She herself was a talented leatherworker with a promising future when the Grave War broke out. Her mother often spoke to her of a distant relative named Portine who had been instrumental in keeping their home safe during The Second War when the Voth invaded Quartermas. She also told her of the tragedy that befell her at the hands of Ha’aness.
The official story was that the general had died honorably in battle against Ha’aness and his undead minions and her body had burned to ash in the fires that consumed half of Tela Salar. Her mother told her the true story when she was old enough so that she would know the lineage that coursed through her veins. She told her how Ha’aness had captured Portine, tortured and mutilated her body finally killing her and resurrecting her as the first of the Gravers. She spoke proudly of how Portine overcame the hold on her and forced Ha’aness to retreat to Icelandia and then became The Dark Ranger, ruler of the Gravesent. When word came of the immanent battle between the feared Earth King Ha’aness and the forces lead by General Xeen and Portine many of the younger Centari had been drafted to serve in their army despite any social or political clout they might have.
Like my friend, I too did not come to enter the battles of my own free will. I was taken from my home and sent to a training facility, taught the arts of tracking and killing and finally sent to a place called New Astara in Icelandia to be paired with a partner and sent to battle.
I remember fondly the first time I saw Sa’aleen. She was standing quietly, her green eyes studying me intently. I could sense she was looking for something, but what? Eventually she spoke to me, her soft calming voice resounding in my ears and I knew I had found the partner I wanted. As the senior member of our team she would have the final say and I was delighted when the sergeant pointed to me and then to Sa’aleen. We set out on the road that day, the two of us, and for the next three years we were sent from unit to unit as advanced scouts, finding and exposing every Gravers encampment on the long bloody road to Ha’aness and his final destruction. I was never more proud in my life than I was on the day that Lady Portine herself commended us on the work we had done.
And just as quickly as we had found ourselves in the armies of Xeen we were now free to return to our homes. The thought of leaving Sa’aleen now at this point in our lives never passed my mind and I happily took up with her on her long road to her home. You must understand that to say I loved her was an understatement. I would fight and kill for her, and if need be I would die for her. She was the single most important person in my life. And I daresay she realized she felt the same about me. Once she understood this I believe she was truly happy with our decision to stay together.
Lost in the memories that flooded my mind as I gazed at her took me away from my duties just long enough for the band of hooded figures that had been following us to enter the valley. If not for the careless step of one of them and the snapped twig below his foot they might have gotten close enough to find our trail up the hill. Before I could turn to nudge her, Sa’aleen had worked her way to where I was already crouched behind a boulder to watch this strange group with me.
"That's them alright my friend", she said quietly as they made their way through the valley. "The same group that has been with us since we left Unam. I think it's time we found out what they want."
She slid back noiselessly and slipped her armor back on. She hurriedly gave me instructions to hold my position until she engaged them and then to circle behind the group and await her orders. Even after our discharge she still gave the orders and I still followed them without question. I watched from the boulder as she allowed herself to slide down the shale, noting that she wiped out the tracks we had made earlier in our ascent. I also watched as the hooded ones ran towards the clamor she made as she descended the hill.
"Ho girl!" said one of the men, his features still obscured by the hood of his cloak. "We have been trying to catch up to you since you departed the halls of Bashardon!"
"Bashardon is now known as Gravesgate", replied the wary huntress, "and the home of the Rangers. It is a city of the dead. The city you speak of is long gone as you will be unless you tell me what business you have with me."
No less than seven of the hooded figures stood before her now and the one who had hailed her now laughed at what she had said. He slowly pulled his hood back revealing his Vothian race. Beneath his robes she could see the edge of his war axe releasing a flash of the morning sun that was rapidly climbing over the hills to the east. Her own fingers moved slowly over the hilts of her own axes that hung by her side.
"Now now little one" the Voth laughed. "We have not threatened you. Our people are allies now thanks to Ha’aness. My name is Gorrnas and we have come to offer you salvation. Besides, there are seven of us and I see your friend is not with you. Has he gone off on his own or is he lurking somewhere in the hills waiting to fly to your aid?"
"His business is his own gentlemen" came the reply, "and I can assure you I am very much able to care for myself. Now what is this salvation you offer?"
Once again I could hear them laughing and my blood boiled at this blatant disrespect directed towards my friend. I inched closer; silent as the grave I would send them to if she gave the command. They had all removed their hoods and moved themselves in a semi-circle in front of Sa’aleen. My ears could hear all they said as well as the clanging of weaponry beneath their robes.
"The salvation is this little one" the leader said in a gruff voice. "We are from a group known as The Dusk Cult. We bring a message from our master that all life on Jezrine will be wiped out save for our group. Join us and save yourself. One as talented as you would be invaluable in our search for pockets of resistance. We hope you can bring your friend along as well."
I watched Sa’aleen' face as they spoke. I knew she felt what I felt, and her heart sank as mine did. After witnessing so much death and destruc
tion, the promise of uninterrupted peace had just been snatched away from us. No sooner does one threat die than another comes to take its place.
"I have no desire other than to return to my home gentlemen" she said sadly. "My entire life has been nothing but blood and death for the last three years and I wish it over with now and as I already told you, my companion goes his own way. Now then, If you will kindly step out of my way I will be going."
"You don't seem to understand girl" came the quick reply of Gorrnas. "You are either with us or a liability we will not leave to haunt us on some future day."
The Voth quickly dropped their robes and lifted their weapons. Some of them seemed to enjoy the fact that Sa’aleen had turned them down. I watched her face intently while at the same time looking over the group and planning my initial attack. I saw the tears welling up in her eyes and my heart beat at a furious pace waiting for her slight nod that told me the time had come once again. A nod she sadly sent to start the end of this confrontation.
From behind their group I sprang from my cover, silently crossing forty yards of ground before leaping with a deafening roar. My claws slashed at the two men on either side of Gorrnas, effectively cutting their jugular veins before I landed on the lead Voth's back. As I sunk my six inch canines into his neck nearly decapitating him I watched as Sa’aleen hurled her right hand axe into one of the surprised attacker’s chest and shifted her bow to her now free hand. Just like that their number dropped from seven to three and the element of surprise had still not fully passed. The remaining three men turned their attention towards my continued roaring as I had intended and I backed up from them, my huge clawed paws swatting at the air in front of them. Behind them my beloved was notching the first of three arrows that soon found their way into their hearts.
“Death has found us once again my brave Requiem” she said as she wiped the blood from her axe. “And as in countless times before, your roar filled me with the courage to do what I must for us to survive. Aye, and survive we have done and survive we will continue to do. Not just survive Requiem, but we shall thrive as well. It seems we are bonded with death now, perhaps a lingering curse of Ha’aness. Then so be it! We shall thrive! The best scout of the Centari paired with the best war tiger can have no other outcome.”
My eyes gazed into hers as she spoke, each determined word renewing the hope I had for our future together. A low, guttural growl slipped from my throat. Others might have found the sound to be alarming but my Sa’aleen understood me. She knew I was merely voicing my approval and urging her on towards the end of our travels. On to another day of this life of wanton killing and destruction. On to another day in my true love’s company.
The Macy Beast
The Macy Beast
Chapter 1: Closing Time
“OK Tom, there goes the last one. Let’s bring down the gate and settle in for another boring night.”
The two security guards set the final gate in place and set the alarm. Jordan Cross, the elder of the two, set his watch and walked slowly along the shops of the Essex Mall. He and his partner Tom Holloway walked this same path every night for the past four years with little more than a stray dog once to test their mettle. The little beast had snuck in sometime during the day and managed to set off multiple alarms within minutes after closing.
After checking the three dozen shops on the first level the pair headed towards the second level. Within a half hour the first check would be done and they would be in their office getting the first pot of coffee going. Coffee was a required tool when working the graveyard shift, especially when it was as boring a job as mall security. They paused for a good look at the new diorama that Macy’s set up for the new line of perfume, “Beauty”.
The store decided to use the product’s name and fabricate a beauty and the beast theme and they had a female mannequin in animal furs being carried off by a gorilla while two cavemen complete with clubs try to stop it.
“This is the best idea they could come up with?” asked Tom, not really expecting an answer. “My kid could have done better.”
“Your kid?” replied Jordan incredulously. “Your kid has competition from rocks when it comes to thinking. The boy is an idiot and you know it!”
Tom was about to answer when he thought about it and knew Jordan was right. When it came to brains, Ralphie absolutely was in the shallow end of the gene pool.
Outside a storm was approaching the structure, thunder and lightning announcing its arrival to the men inside. As if on cue Tom’s phone rang and Ralphie announced he was downstairs with his father’s lunch.
“Now I know where he gets it from” said Jordan as Tom sheepishly went to let the boy in.
Moments later the father and son team returned to the office. Ralphie ran towards the bathroom, knocking a stack of papers from the desk as he passed. Tom bent to pick them up avoiding the disapproving look on Jordan’s face as much as possible.
Chapter 2: Lightning Strikes Twice
The old saying goes, lightning never strikes the same place twice. But, the fact is that it has been known to do so on rare occasions and when that happens, something deadly follows. But what place could be more secure than a mall locked down for the night?
“Hi Mr. Cross” said Ralphie as he exited the bathroom, a swatch of toilet paper stuck to his shoe. “Hey Dad, look at this canister I found outside.”
“What the…” exclaimed Tom as he looked at the small tube. “Jesus Jord, look at this.”
Jordan let out a low whistle as he turned the tube in his hand. The lid was missing and right there on the side was the symbol for radiation and a clear warning that radioactive material was inside.
“Where was this Ralphie?” asked Jordan in a slow, clear voice. “Outside where?”
“Outside by Macy’s dumpsters.” replied the teenager. “There were some mannequins out there with no clothes on so I went to look and tripped over a whole bunch of these.”
Just as the two men opened the door a particularly savage lightning strike flashed, blinding the men and shattering the glass panel roof. A second later another bolt of the fierce energy blasted through the hole…following the same strike previously…and rocketed along the landing railing before leaping across and shattering the big window of Macy’s. The smoking diorama scattered across the floor just as the three men got their sight back.
“Sweet Jesus!” yelled Jordan. “”Grab a fire extinguisher Tom!”
Moments later the trio stood looking at the damage. Rain poured in through the broken ceiling and shards of glass littered the floor like confetti on New Year’s Eve. Jordan gave explicit orders as usual, sending Tom to make the necessary phone calls while he went to check the rest of the building. Ralphie was to stay put and not touch anything, hopefully not too confusing for the young man.
“No problem with that” he thought as he reattached the earphones to his lobes and cranked up his IPod. “Everyone else in the room can see it, everyone else but you…”
Chapter 3: Missing
“OK Ralphie, where are the mannequins?” asked Tom as he returned to the scene to see his son trying desperately to dance without falling.
“Everyone else in the room can see it, everyone else but you…” shrieked the teenager in a shrill voice.
His father’s firm grip snapped the boy off his imaginary stage and back to reality. Once again Tom asked where the mannequins were and Ralphie turned to look at the scene. The broken glass was still there, the smoldering scenery was still there and the gorilla was still there but the woman and cavemen were gone. Ralphie turned back to his father with a puzzled look and shrugged his shoulders.
Before Tom could say anything Jordan reached the top of the stairs.
“Rest of the place seems fine.” he said as he sat on a bench. “Where are the mannequins?”
“That’s what I was trying to find out.” answered Tom. “I was asking Ral…”
The blaring sound of an alarm went off and jolted the two guard??
?s attention to the direction it came from. Almost in unison they both yelled for Ralphie to go wait in the office before they left, running towards the reverberating claxon. Ralphie turned the volume back up and headed for the office.
“Everyone else in the room can see it, everyone else but you…”
One floor below all hell was breaking loose. Jordan and Tom were transfixed by what they saw; a beautiful girl dressed in animal skins and two brutish looking cavemen beside her. The trio stared at the guards with the same incredulous look until one lifted his spear, eyes wide and fixed. Jordan lifted his revolver and yelled for the brute to drop it. As he prepared to fire a rumbling crash came from behind him and a split-second later he was on the floor staring at the small pool of blood collecting under Tom’s ripped throat.
He looked up and saw a gorilla…a freaking gorilla… grab the spear away from the caveman and break it across the man’s chest. He managed to lift his arm and fire off a shot, missing the gorilla and hitting the other caveman, dropping him neatly into his own pool of blood. Behind her dead protector the girl sprinted towards the stairwell with Jordan close on her heels. The screams of the second caveman told them they didn’t have much time and Jordan grabbed the girl’s arm directing her towards the office.
“GO THAT WAY!” he screamed. “IT’S ONLY ONE DIRECTION! RUN FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!”
He thought they would be safe in the office. It had just been remodeled and there was a huge security lock in place. He just had to make it to the office a few yards away and they would be safe. His hand reached out and turned the knob just as the huge, hairy hand grabbed his shoulder. As the beast spun him around he pushed the girl inside and screamed for Ralphie to lock it.