"Try me." said Red Spade. "I have a kid not much younger than you."
"My m-mom sold my comic book collection. Told me that I had to grow up."
Red Spade felt pity for the kid. However a thought came to Red Spade that might solve everyone’s problem.
"Hey man, this city just lost the glue that was holding it together." started Red Spade. The kid looked up at Red Spade. "We are going to need more superheroes now more than ever. The bad news is that you might have to spend some time behind bars. When you get out, don't let this define you. Instead of being the Deadly Throw, you can become the Saving Throw and star in your very own comic book later down the road."
Hope shown through the kid's bloodshot eyes and the tears stopped. "You really think so?"
"Indeed I do." said Red Spade with a smile.
Mantis Skin #9
(2015/11/09)
Manuel Ortiz Garcia had finished his gym workouts already and returned home to his apartment so he could go out later with some friends. Manuel Garcia got his street clothes on after a shower, with a t-shirt with the now defunct "MOG" music streaming service logo on it. He had them specially made since the company went out of business.
When he was a young boy, other kids would make fun of the fact his initials spelt out MOG and resented it for the longest time. However the teenage Manuel Garcia embraced the name when he discovered he was a super. Manuel Garcia can pass through solid objects at will. He had thought about becoming a hero, but with the Westgate Sentinel out there, there was no pressing need. Now with Westgate Sentinel gone, Manuel Garcia has began to weigh his options once more.
Sitting down to watch a kung-fu movie, Manuel Garcia realized that he had seen that one a hundred times and shut-off the TV. A confused Manuel Garcia looked around when he still heard some fighting noises. Then Manuel Garcia looked out from his second story window to see about 10 to 15 men beating up on just one man. Putting his Westgate Gators' ball cap on backwards and then he painted some shoe polish over his eyes as an impromptu mask, Manuel Garcia wanted to conceal his identity as much as possible.
While Leftover Hill was still bad shaken by the events of the last few days, the gangs of Hot Draconia erupted on a very weak Italian mob rule and undermanned WCPD. Manuel Garcia has finally had just about enough.
Jumping through his wall and window, Manuel Garcia started beating on the Puerto Rican gang members after landing with a roll. Despite being outnumber, none of the gang members could land a punch on Manuel Garcia. He would land a punch on one of the Puerto Rican gang-bangers, but he allowed their punches and kicks to go right through him. After a few minutes of getting their asses handed to them, one gang member called out: "Fuck this, gilipollas! Let's get out of here!"
Half of the gang members left and this allowed Mantis Skin to finally get up. Now with the two supers tag teaming the Puerto Ricans, the fight would be over in no time. It was almost like Manuel Garcia and Mantis Skin had been fighting together for ages. Mantis Skin would take the wind out of one thug and Manuel Garcia would then knock the guy out. Manuel Garcia would phase through a punch of one gang member, disorienting the man, while Mantis Skin took him down.
Both were out of breath after the last of the Puerto Ricans went down and stayed down.
"Hey… Thanks... For the asset there." said Mantis Skin slowly getting his breath back.
"Yeah," said Manuel Garcia in between getting his breath back too. "You're welcome. I only wish I had noticed you getting beat up earlier."
"No problem. I might get beat up, but they can't outright kill me. I am-"
"Mantis Skin." said Manuel Garcia. "Your name was all in the papers about your epic drug bust."
"Where did you learn to fight, my friend?" asked Mantis Skin.
"No where." answered Manuel Garcia with a smile. "Just plain old street fighting. You get in a few fights while growing up with a name like mine."
"Oh, I'm sorry." a slightly embarrassed Mantis Skin said as he held out his hand. "What is your name?"
"Manuel Ortiz Garcia." answered Manuel Garcia as he shook Mantis Skin's hand. "However you may call me, MOG!"
Trident Force #9
(2015/11/11)
Martian Rose Mechanics in-house auditorium was packed. The unveiling of the Bullet-Proof Fabric, or BPF, was very much open to the public and media. CEO Harry Hendrickson was up on stage giving the opening speech. Board of directors and company officers sat on the stage listening to the speech.
"Well, of course we're all waiting for the BPF and we will get to that in due course." said CEO Harry Hendrickson turning a bit more serious from his jovial tone. "However I want to speak about the events that just occurred in our great city. While I have become friends with Mayor Joseph Sperrazza since he came into office, I must say with a heavy heart that he has clearly let this city down."
Mayor Joseph 'Smokeless Joe' Sperrazza shifted in his seat. He was sitting in the front row facing the presentation with District Attorney Franklin Godwin and Assistant District Attorney Anda Lee, as well as other city officers.
"Mayor Sperrazza relied too heavily on Westgate Sentinel." continued Harry Hendrickson. "While this saved this city on taxes, it has severely stunted the growth of the WCPD. It is 80% the size of a police force of a major United States city of this size. Westgate City also has some of the lowest taxes on the rich and, frankly, I should know (that got a few chuckles from the crowd)! The good people of Leftover Hills are tired of being ruled over by an unelected and an unaccountable superhero. I hear them, which is why, effective tomorrow, I am resigning to run for mayor with ADA Anda Lee running with me for District Attorney."
The crowd started talking amongst themselves as the press photo-journalists wildly took pictures. Both Sperrazza and Godwin shot an ugly look at Anda Lee, who was beaming a smile at Harry Hendrickson.
"Now in my letter of resignation to the board of directors, I have made my wishes known that I hope they act quickly and appoint Johnny Kobayashi as the new CEO." Harry Hendrickson went on after the crowd settled a bit. "Not only is he the future, but his family made Martian Rose Mechanics the corporation it is today. With that introduction, the inventor of BPF and the future new Martian Rose Mechanics CEO, Johnny Kobayashi!"
After the applause died down, the Martian Rose Mechanics logo appeared on the screens of the auditorium. The letters "BPF" appeared shortly over the logo.
"I could talk about the Bulletproof Fabric," started Johnny Kobayashi and threw his speech off the podium. "However I just found a flaw in the armor and I can't in good conscious release it. Instead I want to talk about this..."
The crowd muttered as Johnny Kobayashi picked up the remote for the auditorium and pushed a button. The screens dropped the logo and switched over to an image of Westgate Sentinel and Neo-Pharaoh Zoltron shaking hands. Some people gasped and one or two people screamed. Most were stunned into silence. Johnny Kobayashi pushed another button and the podium began to dropped.
"That's not all." said Johnny Kobayashi lowing his voice. "Westgate Sentinel has been right under Martian Rose Mechanics nose the entire time."
The podium had now disappeared under the stage. Shortly the empty shell of Westgate Sentinel's armor began to rise up. More people gasped and scream. Some fainted or ran. Those not transfixed on the Westgate Sentinel's armor coming up from the stage noticed a strange group of people standing in the back: Red Spade, Blue Star, Sooper Zoom, Saving Throw, Green Silk, and MOG.
Johnny Kobayashi turned to a very pissed off looking Harry Hendrickson. "Care to explain this to us, Westgate Sentinel?"
Chief Hiawatha #10
(2015/11/26)
Ranger Jones came out of the cave and looked at Chief Hiawatha, who had just finished giving a statement. It was early morning on Thanksgiving Day. Edward Lightfeather and the black guy he was with, were both taken away. The white guy who fired the gun had gotten away. The gun had been taken into custody to get fingerprinted. Park service rangers were walking this way and that co
llecting anything else they could.
"Oh yeah, mining!" said Ranger Jones, still wearing his civilian clothes, shaking his head in disgust at no one in particular. "I have seen tree and animal poaching in my many years here in the Ironwood, but never mining! Unbelievable!"
"Do you not need explosives to mine iron?" asked Chief Hiawatha.
"Normally. But it looks like these guys were melting the ore out of the rocks. We are thinking the black guy you put the choke hold on is a super and we are detaining him as such. Both of them are now locked up at Westgate City Correctional." said Ranger Jones as an old Onondaga man dressed up in a business suit and a bolo tie came up to them. Another younger American Indian dress the same way as Old Redcorn followed the older man, except he also had sunglasses on. "Can I help you?"
"Ah yes, I am Old Redcorn." answered Old Redcorn with a smile. "Me and James Hiawatha here are friends."
"We are not friends. Not yet." answered Chief Hiawatha. The smile on Old Redcorn's face did not fade.
"I have come for Edward Lightfeather." said Old Redcorn getting to the point. "I have come to take him back to the Iroquois Confederacy."
"To stand trial?" asked Chief Hiawatha.
"Yes, yes of course." answered Old Redcorn.
"I do not think so." said Ranger Jones. "Edward Lightfeather and his friends, if we can catch the second person, have committed multiple federal crimes. Those do not include assault and attempted murder."
"Don't you two mess with me!" The smile on Old Redcorn's face disappeared. "I have the ear of Assistant Secretary Washburn himself! We go golfing every week! I can have your job if you try to fuck with me! I am the federal government!"
"Yeah, well, Parks Director Jarvis is my uncle! So there!" yelled Ranger Jones back at Old Redcorn.
Old Redcorn gave each a cold look, turned around, and then walked away.
"Is Director Jarvis really your uncle?" asked Chief Hiawatha with a smile when Old Redcorn was out of earshot.
"No, but I know for a fact Director Jarvis could give a flying fuck about that guy." said Ranger Jones. "He takes care of his people as long as we take care of the parks."
Off in the distance, Chief Hiawatha saw the Japanese guy, Johnny something, standing off about a hundred yards away and across the creek.
"Hey James, I have been meaning to tell you." said Ranger Jones. "However I waited because I was not sure it was going down until just this morning. One of our full time maintenance guys is retiring at the end of February. You interested?"
"Yeah, sure." answered Chief Hiawatha. "You want to talk about this later?"
"Sounds good to me." said Ranger Jones. "I will finish up here and meet back up with you later. Go enjoy your vacation. And Happy Thanksgiving!"
Chief Hiawatha smiled at Ranger Jones and left. Then Chief Hiawatha crossed the creek and walked up to the young Japanese man.
"Hey you! Johnny something, right?" asked Chief Hiawatha.
"Yes, Johnny Kobayashi." answered Johnny Kobayashi. "Those some interesting powers you have there… Umm..."
"You may call me, Chief Hiawatha." answered Chief Hiawatha as they shook hands. "And you have interesting powers too. Mauled by a bear and not a scratch on you."
"Yes, we can talk about my powers later." said Johnny Kobayashi with a smile. "I would like to talk to you about an alliance if you are interested."
Engelhard #10
(2015/12/12)
Once Edward Engelhard and Green Silk went through the tear, they stepped into what seemed like daylight. Yet when Green Silk looked around she could see no sun or construction site. Green Silk had a million questions, but one took priority.
"Wait, where is Priscilla?"
"She's not coming. Her realm is Life. Priscilla knew you still had unfinished business at that construction site and that was the only reason she came." said Edward Engelhard. Green Silk then noticed that Edward Engelhard was now wearing a scabbard. So many questions Green Silk had, but choose instead to just go with it for now and followed Engelhard toward the Emerald Swamp.
As they approach the edge of the swamp, they soon discovered two seven foot giants sword fighting. One had on full ancient battle armor and white wings that flexed with each strike or parry. The other had an crocodile head, was naked, and his black wings flex in pretty much the same manner.
"Sobek." said Green Silk under her breathe.
"Yep." said Engelhard. "And that is the Archangel Gabriel of the Authorities, the Innumerable Warrior Legions of Heaven. Left Hand of God."
Soon the Archangel Gabriel got the upper hand and swiped at Sobek's eyes. Sobek yelled and disappeared. Engelhard kneeled and motion Green Silk to do the same.
"Arise, Sandra Padgett and Edward Engelhard. My Avatar is on his way to escort us further into the swamp to identify the one who unlocked your powers." said the Archangel Gabriel.
"Did you kill Sobek?" asked Green Silk.
"No," answered the Archangel Gabriel with a smile. "Just sent him back to Hell for ten years."
Suddenly, another sword started "cutting" into She'ol and the Archangel Gabriel's Avatar stepped right through. From head to toe, this man was in full Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and had only First Sergeant insignia on him. The Avatar's cross hung around his neck.
"Apologizes Archangel Gabriel, for my tardiness." The Archangel Gabriel only nodded. "Ahh, Edward! How are you doing! This must the woman whose powers were unlocked by a demon. Name's First Sergeant Ryan McCoy, but you may call me Ryan or Sergeant."
After introductions, they were off. After what seemed like a couple hours walking, they came to a clearing where three Demons were standing around. One of them appeared to be the demon Lolth. This was not the same place where Green Silk got her powers.
"That's 'Lolth' alright." said Green Silk, a creepy feeling of being violated came over her.
"Umm," The Archangel Gabriel got out a spyglass and looked at the Demons. "That's not Lolth, but it fact Lucifer. The Prince of Lies himself."
The Archangel Gabriel snapped his fingers and two Angels appeared beside him, all decked out in full ancient battle armor and ready to fight. The Archangel Gabriel nodded his head and started for the three Demons, with the other two Angels following.
"It would seem that the Archangel Gabriel is going to try to capture Lucifer for interrogation. We are to wait here." said Sergeant McCoy.
When the Archangel Gabriel and his two Angels engaged Lucifer, they were able to force the three Fallen to revert into their true forms. Green Silk looked away, mostly disgusted with herself for what had happen to her.
"Hey," said Edward Engelhard to Green Silk, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You were taken advantage of and you didn't know-"
"Oh no!" said a horrified Sergeant McCoy. Both Edward Engelhard and Green Silk turned around just in time to see Lucifer cut Archangel Gabriel's eyes, sending the archangel to Heaven.
"What happen?!" yelled Edward Engelhard. "We only turned our backs for a moment!"
"Battles can change on a dime too." said Sergeant McCoy. "Let's get out of here and I'll explain how much shit we're in!"
Hawkfox Delta #10
(2015/11/10)
"This is Hawkfox Delta high in the sky over the fire at Waterloo Avenue and Sullivan Road. Please advise." said Hawkfox Delta into his communicator after switching to the WCFD channel.
Hawkfox Delta had finished shedding all the tears he could for Amy Parker. At least for today. While there was a huge hole in his heart, he was able to say goodbye to Amy Parker and now kept her close to his heart (the pendant tucked into his uniform for safe keeping).
This is Captain Daniels of Engine 109, team leader. We currently have no injured. Over.
The Industrial Revolution made the Hot Draconia section of Westgate City what it is today. It got the name mainly because of heat coming off the factories pumping out their goods. Most of the labor force lived in Leftover Hills. However after globalization and crippling taxes, Hot Draconia has since f
allen on hard times. Thirty percent of the old factories are still abandoned. Hot Draconia has become a fire hazard and is host of the large portion of Westgate City's Fire Department.
"I read you Captain Daniels, Engine 109." answered Hawkfox Delta. "Going to circle for now. Over."
Hawkfox Delta flapped his wings in the air, but he was high enough to let the wind currents do most of the work. Hawkfox Delta listen to the radio chatter, but nothing was directed at him.
Captain Daniels to Hawkfox Delta. said the radio suddenly. Can we get a visual on possible fire leaping. Please advise.
Fire Leaping was WCFD term for fire going from one building to another. Hawkfox Delta confirmed the request and made a pass around the burning building for the visual check. The building on fire wasn't a factory, but an abandoned office building. Hawkfox Delta remembered this building, since he had transported two overdoses by homeless squatters two months ago.
Trident Force Chronicles Page 21