by Wes Grant
Crank walked through the junkyard and yelled, “Come on,Little Man, don’t hide now. It was just getting to be fun.”
Spear stepped out and said, “I’m not hiding, I’m just enjoying the lovely scenery.” Crank smirked and said, “Little Man funny, it’s a shame I have to kill you. How ’bout this, I have comedian go to your funeral. Make laugh and fun time for everyone.”
Spear said, “Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t plan on dying today. Plus Friend’s is on tonight, I’m seeing me some Rachael.” Crank looked at his watch and said, “Don’t worryif we wait five more minutes, it will be technically tomorrow. Then you wont died today.”
Spear chuckled and said, “That was actually funny.” Then he ran at him top speed, Crank swung to grab him but he ducked out of the way and circled around him extremely fast.
Crank stood there with his eyes shifting from left to right and said, “Little Man fast, probably faster than Crank, but not faster than Crank’s eyes.” He swung his right hand back, hitting Spear in the face. Spear’s momentum sent him flying forward while flipping backward into the side of a broken-down tractor. Crank then walked over to Spear lying on the floor and lifted him up and suplexes him into the hood of the tractor. He then hoisted him up by the collar with one are and began to punch Spear in the face and stomach with his free hand, causing Spear to spit up blood. Every it felt like he was being hit by a car.
While Spear was getting pummeled and his vision going darker, he thought to himself,“Is this it? Am I really going to die here? Shouldn’t I be seeing my life flash before my eyes . . . Once again TV has lied to me. I gotta think of something. Wait, I got it!
When it looked like Spear was done for, blood just dripping from his face and his body gone limp, Crank stopped still holding him up. Crank said, “It’s been fun but I must finish this now.” He balled up his fist and pulled back the right arm for one last punch when he saw Spear’s left arm trembling as he tried to lift it.
Crank said, “How cute, Little Man still thinks he can beat me. OK, what are you going to do? You struggle to lift arm.” Spear slowly lifted his arm trembling while whispering to low to hear. When Crank leaned forward to hear what he was whispering Spear poked him in the eyes.
Crank screamed, “Oh god,” and threw Spear out of his hand, sending Spear through a fence falling into the Hudson River. Crank wiped his eyes, and when he opened them, he saw that he threw Spear into the Hudson. He looked at the water and said to himself, “Little Man won’t live, he could barely move that one arm. He won’t be able to swim. And besides, if I didn’t kill him, that Jersey water will. Even in Russia we’ve heard about this river. Nothing could survive in it.” Crank dusted himself off then ran out of the area.
Further down the river, an arm coming out of the water could be seen. Spear then pulled himself out of the river onto a low boat deck. He reached into his crushed backpack and said to himself, “Please be OK, please be OK, please be OK,” and pulled out his cell phone. Luckily, he made the backpack waterproof. The phone screen was cracked but it still worked. He then called Neil and told him he needed his help and to come quick to pick him up.
When Neil got there, he found Spear all bloody and leaned up against a wall in the shadows. He ran over to him and said, “Are you OK? We have to get you to a hospital.”
Spears said, “No hospital, just take me back to my house.” Neil said, “You crazy dude, you’re in bad shape. You need a doctor.”
Spear said, “I have a doctor. It’s you.”
Neilsaid, “Dude, I’m a nurse in training and a physicaltherapist. I can take a temperature and give back massages, that’s it.” Spear said, “Please, if I go to a hospital, it will look too suspicious with these bruises. They’ll probably call my mom and I don’t want to try to explain this to her. As my friend, please just take me home. My bodywill heal itself.”
Neil said, “OK, I won’t take you to the hospital, but I won’t take you to your house either. You need more than a bandaid and some icyhot. I’ll take you to my house. I have the right supplies to patch you up with.” He then carried Spear up to his car and put him in the back seat. Neil got in the car and looked in the rear view mirror then asked, “You ok back there?”
Nick mumbled out, “I’m OK, some pillows would be nice though.” Neil replied, “I’m sorry, next time I’m saving your life I’ll remember to bring the fluffy pillows with the 1,000 thread count.” Nick responded while stretching out, “Thank you, glad we’re on the same page.”
Neil shook his head and said, “I’m glad whoever broke your face didn’t break your sarcastic sense of humor.”
Nick responded, “Woooww, that hurt. And you’re my best friend?”
Neid replied, “Ahh shut up, you can take it.” He then started the car.
Before they drove off, Spear said, “Can we stop off and get something to eat? I’m starving.”
Neil looked back and said,“Dude, seriously?”
Nick said, “Yeah, it’ll help me heal quicker. There’s a place close to here.” Neil said, “OK, I’ll get you food,” and drove to the fast -food spot drive-through. The voice in the speaker asked what they wanted.
Neil asked Nick what he wanted. Nick replied, “Number 1.”
The voice asked, “Anything else?” And Neil asked Nick if there was anything else he wanted.
Nick replied and said, “Yeah, a number 2.”
Same thing was said, and Nick replied numbers 3, 4, and 6 with milk shake. When Neil pulled up to the window, the girl at the window said, “That will be $34.50.” She saw Nick lying in the backseat and asked, “Is he OK?”
Neil said, “Yeah, he just had too much to drink. Here’s the money.” He took the food and drove off. He looked back at Nick and said, “You owe me so much for this.”
Nick replied, “Just put in on my tab.”
On the ride home Nick tells Neil what had happened that night. A WEEK OR SO LATER...
Nick stayed in Neil’s basement while he took care of him. Nick told his job he got jumped and was recuperating so they wouldn’t wonder where he was.
Neil walked into the basement as saw Nick curling a 50 lbs dumbbell and said to Nick, “It’s amazing how fast you’re healing. You should be good to go home in a day or so.”
Nick said, “That’s good because the whole time I was healing, I was trying to think of a way to beat that guy.”
Neil said, “You’re not going to fight that guy again, are you? Are you stupid?! He almost killed you last time.” Nick said, “That’s because I wasn’t prepared. This time I’ve got a plan. That’s why I have to get home now so I can work on my secret weapon.”
Neil said, “Don’t do it man. You’re gonna get yourself killed. You don’t need to do this anymore. You got who shot Von. You cleaned up the city, you did what you could and survived.”
Nick said, “It’s not about the guys that shot Von anymore. It’s about giving my life a purpose. Von’s brother is out there risking his life to protect this country with no powers. I have this power, the least I could do is protect this city.”
Neil said, “If you’re not gonna listen to your so called best friends, then I’m out”
Nick asked, “What do you mean out?” Neil shook his head and replied, “Like I said, I’m out… I can’t stand here and watch you get yourself killed. I’m not gonna help you get killed.”
Nick looked at him and said, “Well, it’s a good thing I got a bus card, isn’t it?” and walked toward the door, turned back, and said, “I thought at least one of my best friends would have faith I could win.” He then walked out the door and closed it behind him.
Later that night he went to Jersey City and spotted a couple street thugs. He jumped down and grabbed both of them up and put them against the wall. They said, “Spear? But you’re supposed to be dead.”
Spear sa id, “Naw, I was just on vacation. Spread the word that if Crack wants to finish the job he started, meet me on Friday at the spot he should’ve finished it at
.”
Later that night Crank was in his suite with three beautiful women when a knock came at his door. He said, “OK, girls, looks like the whip cream has arrived.” When he opened the door, there was a well-dressed gentleman at the door. The girls were giggling and talking amongst themselves when they heard Crank scream, “HE’S WHAT?! I’ll finish job all right. Cocky Little Man call me out! He should have stayed in hole he was hiding in and disappear.”
The rest of that week Nick worked on his secret weapons. He worked round the clock to get everything right. He also worked out, making sure his body was in tip-top shape for the fight of his life. Literally!
Before Nick left to catch the bus over to Jersey City, he looked outside and saw Neil in his driveway. He looked at Neil and said, “So you’ve come to talk me out of this. I’m sorry I have to do this.”
Neilsaid, “No, I came to give you a ride and I expect to be giving you a ride home.” Nick said, “Thanks,” They punched fist and got in the car. Nothing more was said on the ride. When they got to the parking lot near the meetup spot they bump fist.
Neil said, “Kick his butt.”
Nick replied, “You know I will.” Then got out and headed towards the spot.
It’s about 11:00 p.m., and Crank was waiting in the tractor truck junk yard. Out of nowhere Spear landed on top of a truck. Spear said, “Hey, Powerho use, sorry to keep you waiting. You would not believe the traffic getting here. You haven’t been waiting long have you?”
Crank replied, “I don’t know how Little Man survived, but Crank going to make him wish he was dead.” Spear said, “There you go with tha t third-person thing again, now you’re putting me in third person. Or is that fourth? Anyways, this time you’re going down, and don’t hold back, I don’t want this fight to drag out. I’ll come at you with everything I’ve got. You come at me with everythingyou’ve got. That sounds fair?”
Crank said, “That sounds good to me. I get tired of playing games, and I never get the chance to really let loose, so your terms are acceptable.”
Spear said, “Nice to hear it.” He then reached into his backpack and pulled out the two now finished metal knuckles. He put them on and said, “Let’s get started.”
Crank said, “How cute, you admire Crank so much after he beat you, you get same knuckles as him. But shiny metal knuckles won’t help you beat Crank.”
Spear grins and says, “We’ll see,” and ran at Crank top speed. At the same time, Crank ran at him top speed. Spear dodged Crank’s first swing and got the first hit right in the middle of his face stunning Crank a little. Crank swung again and missed him. Spear backflipped away to a distance.
Frustrated Crank said, “Little Man keep jumping around. You think metal knuckle will help you beat Crank. Well, it’s still not enough.”
Crank ran over to Spear at top speed. Spear tried to flip over him, but Crank grabbed his leg slammed him down onto his back onto the roof of a truck, caving the roof around his body. Then with one arm, he was thrown across the junkyard into the side of another tractor. Crank turned around and went charging after Spear, but right as he got up to him, Spear uppercut him in the jaw followed up by a back-kicked sending him flying into the side of a tractor.
Spear smirked then said, “You ain’t taking me out that easy this time.”
Crank stepped out of the hole in the tractor and said, “Time for Crank to stop playing and get serious with little man.” Spear chuckled and replied, “What, you weren’t already. Nice to see you’ve joined the party. But I think you just making excuses for getting you butt kicked.”
Crank asked, “Where was this fight first time we met?” Spearreplied, “Last time you caught me off guard. This time I’m ready.”
Crank cracked his knuckles with a grin and responded, “This is going to be fun.” They both got into they’re fighting stance in a stare down like an old western. They both ran straight at each other and went all out, taking punches from both sides. Spear punched Crank with a right hook followed by a spinning hook kick. Crank hit him with a punch to the gut followed by a double-fisted hammer to the back. He tried to follow with a stomp to the back, but Spear rolled out of the way and swept his legs causing him to fall on his back. Spear then followed up with a front flip into a hard punch toward Crank’s head. Crank rolled out of the way and caught Spear’s head in a leg lock. He tried to choke Spear but was interrupted by a Taser to the jewels. Crank let go and rolled away.
Crank holding his crotch said, “No fair, hitting in jewels.” Spear said, “Fair is one thing, but never put a man’s head near your junk and not expect to get hit in them. Unless you’re in the village, then that’s all on you.”
Spear waited for Crank to get up. He then said, “Come on, stop being a baby. I only tapped them.”
Crank replied, “Let Crank tap you and see how fast you get up.” Spear said, “Hey, I didn’t put your head between my legs. You ready now?”
Crank said, “Yes,” and they went at it again. They each exchanged blow after blow. Spear attacked then dodged by Crank. Crank grabbed Spear and suplexes him into the ground. He then grabbed Spear by the legs and began to spin him around in a circle. When he let go, he sent Spear flying toward Route 440.
From the car Neil see Spear flying in the sky towards highway and mumbles to himself, “That can’t be good.”
NEXT SCENE People were on the bus minding their business when Spear flew through the side of the bus’s window and landed into a chair. The bus came to a screeching halt, causing a small traffic jam. Spear got up, went to the front of the bus, said sorry to the bus driver, and went down the steps to get out. Before he got out, he turned around and showed the bus driver his bus card. He then got off and said, “Thanks for the ride” as he ran back toward the junkyard.
When he got back in front of Crank he said, “How come you didn’t come to see if I was OK?”
Crank said, “Why waste energy when I know you’re coming back anyways.”
Spear said, “You got me there, so are you ready to finish this up?”
Crank said, “Yes, very much, I have some beautiful ladies waiting for me at mysuite.”
Spear said, “Listen to Casanova over here, I didn’t know you was pimpin’ it.”
Crank said, “Yes, I am very much as you say pimping it. Now let’s finish this.” Once again they went on the attack. They exchanged more blows when Spear catches Crank with a good hit knocking hib back into a truck. He’s stunned a little from the hit but smells gasoline behind him with some on his clothes. When he take a couple sniffs he realized the dangerous situation they were in. He looks and sees Spear flying at him with the sparks coming from the Taser knuckles.
Crank screamed, “NO ,WAIT!” Next came an explosion, and both Spear and Crank were sent flying over to the commercial hardware store next to the junkyard. They burst through the walls into the lumber department. The overnight staff ran from they dangerous area in panic, while some watched from a distance.
Both Spear and Crank were badly bruised lying on the ground. They both climbed to their feet, but it looked like Spear was hurting more.
Crank dust himself off and said, “Ready to die, Little Man.” Spear was bruised but not beaten. He realised he couldn’t keep going blow for blow with Crank. He remembered back in martial arts school when they were being taught judo moves, ways to use your enemy’s force against them.
Crank ran at Spear top speed, but Spear stepped to the side, grabbed his wrist, put his foot in front of he, and slammed his head into the wall so hard some of it broke off. Crank drops to a knee after hitting the wall. He gets up and shakes it off. He gets angry and goes after Spear again but this time Spear waits for the right time and slides in front of Crank, takes hold of his arm using his speed and weight against him and throws Crank over his shoulder hard into the ground. Crank grew more angry and sloppy with his attacks. Again and again Crank went after Spear, but over and over Spear turned it around on him. Spear did this ten more times before he saw ho
w tired Crank was getting.
Spear then said to Crank, “I’m sorry I lied to you.” Crank said, panting, “What do you mean?”
Spear replies, “I said I wasn’t going to hold back, but I lied. I
didn’t want to use my full speed because of what you did last time. I figured it would do me more damage than good. That’s why I needed to tire you out so you couldn’t react as quickly.”
Spear then lifted up his pant legs and took off the ankle weights. Then he took off the ankle weights off his wrist.
He then said, “That feels a lot better.”
Crank said, “Very clever, but even with more speed, Little Man cannot take down Crank.” Spear said, “Maybe, not on its own, but my speed combined with these”—he clanked the Taser knuckles together—“should do the job.”
Spear backs up to an aisle and it almost seemed like he vanished. He moved back and forth between the aisles and around Crank looking like a blur. He then struck Crank, and there was a big spark. Crank stumbled back. The blur got faster, and Crank was hit from behind. Once again there’s a spark, and he stumbled forward. He got hit again and again until he was unable to counter the attacks. Spear used the aisles to increase his speed my jumping off them. It got to the point where all you see was a blur around Crank and shocks sparking all over his body. He tries to cover his head but it does no good because, the attacks are hitting him all over.
Crank fell to his knees, and everything slowed down. It seemed like it was happening in slow motions when Spear ran up to Crank and jumped over him and grabbed his shoulders, rolled behind him, and kicked Crank into the air. Still in slow motion, Spear jumped up past Crank and landed on the ceiling plants his feet then jumped straight at Crank with his feet. He lands his feet in Cranks gut and kicks off sending his rocketing towards the ground but at the same time propelling him back to the ceiling. Crank’s eyes and mouth opened in slow motions from the kick. Crank crashing into the ground with such impact he leaves a small crater and bounces with his eyes closed. Spear then once again landed on the ceiling crouching upside down and jumped from the ceiling with all his strength at Crank. Spear pulled back his fist and gripped the taser knuckles charging them up. Right before he hits Crank it seems like everything slows down. Still writhing from the pain of bouncing off the ground, Crank’s eyes slowly opening just in time to see Spear’s fist coming straight at his head. Spear hits him with all the strength he had left creating a huge crater, kicking up debris sending dust and breeze flying through the aisles. The hit shook the entire right wing of the store causing product to fall off the shelves. When the dust clears Spear is kneeling on Crank’s chest with his fist still on his forehead.