Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 17:14:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Trials of a Real Dark Knight 3 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. This story has taken on a life of its own. From its inception a year ago, I had only thought it would last ten chapters maximum. As you can see, it has grown tremendously. Mostly due to readers emailing me and telling me they've enjoyed it or have received help due to certain issues addressed. I've enjoyed writing this story but it would not have been written without men and women reading it and telling me they've enjoyed it. I do hope that you continue to enjoy each new chapter as our hero lives and grows. I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Please note, my email address has changed. At the end of July, my previous email address will no longer be active. Thanks. authorjames2002@yahoo.com I also have several online messenger services. If you want to chat with me in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you my screen name. Chapter 3 Crime and Punisher I looked upon the man in leather hefting weaponry with surprise and concern. He called himself the Punisher. He obviously didn't have a problem using weaponry. It appeared as if all the weaponry he had was lethal. The question I had was if he was on my side. Only questions could figure that out. "The Punisher," I repeated. "Whom do you punish?" He took a deep breath and sighed. "I always get that question. I punish those who escape punishment. I do what humanity and society refuse to do." I nodded. Great. I'm dealing with a lunatic. But I didn't want to say that out loud to the man carrying an arsenal. "Why are you here?" I asked. "The Friends of Humanity." "Ah, our friends down below. What's their story?" "They are a militant hate group of mutants supported by several government officials, several organized religions, and many private backers. I've been dealing with a group in Columbus, Ohio and one of their leaders fled here. Hence, that's why I've come. "Their goal is to 'cure' mutants, though I think that is impossible. They have collars that suppress the mutant gene and tasers to stun their prey. They are out in full force in Columbus. A few days ago some friends of mine helped me stop them from taking students from their high school. They are now safe in New York at a mutant school." "Professor Xavier's school." "I see you've heard of him." "I know him." The Punisher looked on me questioningly. "I'm a mutant, too. I think these guys are after me." "I can remedy that." The Punisher cocked is gun, readying it to fire. He moved toward the edge. "Whoa! Hold on a second!" I said stopping him. "What are you doing?" "I'm going to prevent these people from terrorizing anyone ever again. I'm going to stop them the only way they can be stopped." "Have you ever heard of reasoning and educating someone?" "It doesn't work. Not on the F.O.H. They don't want to reason or learn. All they want is their will to be done. They want control and will do whatever they can to get it. I can't allow them to have that power. They need someone to keep them in check. That's me." "There are alternatives to killing them." "Like what?" The Punisher looked at me. "Humiliation." The end of his mouth curled up in a smile. I made my way around the back of the motel and came up to one side. I looked up and saw the Punisher on the roof looking at me waiting for me to make my move. I hoped my plan would work. It was going to take a lot of power on my part. But since the explosions, I came out stronger and able to do much more with less strain at times. It was rather exciting for me. The only drawback was if I wasn't emotionally stirred, it took major effort to produce the necessary effects. I was glad tonight was an emotionally charged night. I reached my hands out to two of the vans. Instantly I felt the molecules around the vehicles as well as the molecules that make up the van bow to my whims. Easily I lifted them up. "What the hell?" one of the occupants said. They opened the doors and fell out. "What's going on?" "It has to be the mutant! He's in his room and he knows we're here! Open fire!" They took aim on the room and began firing. Their information was incorrect. It wasn't even my room. Some innocents were being fired upon. I couldn't let them injure someone who was innocent. I moved the vans in-between the F.O.H commandos and the room. The Punisher took aim and started firing upon the F.O.H. commandos. Several of them were hit and fell to the ground. That distracted them even more as they fired upon the Punisher and not the room. Deciding to make use of the distraction I took off toward the room behind the vans so the commandos wouldn't see me. I forced open the door and looked in. The blankets were pulled off the bed. Whoever was in here was in bed and the gunfire woke them up. Good thing they moved quickly. The bed was riddled with bullets as well as the walls. "Is anyone in here?" I called out. "Is anyone hurt?" Slowly a young boy lifted his head from the side of the bed. I was shocked to see someone so young in a motel room. He didn't look like he was much older than 19 or 20. Then a redheaded female lifted her head up from the side of the bed. She looked about the same age. I knew exactly what they were doing. The boy's face looked shocked as he saw me, a man dressed like a bat standing in the motel room. His face turned beat red with embarrassment. There was no time for modesty, however. I had to act to save their lives. "Are you injured?" I asked as I moved around the bed to see if they were. Just as I expected, they were both naked. The guy's dick was still inside the girl, too. God, I thought, the hormones of the young. No matter what it seems they will keep going until they climax. "Are either of you hurt?" I asked. They shook their heads no. "We're...okay," the boy finally answered. "Get dressed. Both of you." "But...we...we're kind of...busy," the young man replied. "Can't you just...go...for a little while?" My eyes narrowed at him. "Your lives are in danger. You just got shot at and you want to continue with your teen fuck session?" I was angered. "Get up and get dressed! Now!" My voice scared the boy and the girl because immediately they jumped up without any thought of their nakedness. I saw the boy's endowment and could see why they both wanted to continue having sex, but sometimes sex needs to be put on hold when one's life is in danger. The two dressed quickly. As they pulled on their shoes I heard one of the commandos outside. "Let's check the room." "Where is your car?" I said looking at the couple. "It's out front." "They're coming in. We have to get out of here." "There's no back door!" the girl exclaimed. "They are going to kill us!" "Not necessarily." I looked around and saw a window in the back. I ran to it to open it. It was nailed shut. I stepped back, held up my hand and the window blasted out, along with parts of the wall. "Climb out. Now!" The guy ran to the window first and climbed out. "Chivalry is dead," I muttered. Once he was out, I helped the girl climb out. "Get to your car!" I said. The door to the room burst open and the commandos looked over the room. Needless to say it didn't take them long to find me. Bullets flew at me. I held up my hand and manipulated the air molecules, causing the bullets to hit an invisible barrier a few inches away. I couldn't stay like this forever so I jumped out the window. As I stood up, a black Suburban came around the corner. The passenger window came down and I saw the Punisher driving. "Get in," he said. I climbed in and the Suburban took off. "How did you know to come to the back?" I asked. "I saw the kids come running around the corner and climb in their car. I saw the broken out window and figured it must have been you so I came." "Thanks. I appreciate it." We drove down West Tuscarawas heading toward Massillon. "Those guys were after you," Punisher said. "How did they know you were staying at that motel? And why were they looking just for you?" "I just arrived here a few days ago. The Friends of Humanity seem to be a regular fixture in Canton's society. I'm assuming that all mutants have been dealt with in this area. "My family did not take too well to the idea of me being a mutant. They probably called the F.O.H. With so many Homo sapiens and so few Homo superiors in the area, it was easy to detect a mutant signature here." "Damn, I hate these people. They cause so much trouble. They are so ignorant." I nodded in affirmation. "Who are you looking for in particular?" "His name is Reverend Lawrence Exeter. He is a big player in the Friends of Humanity organization in Columbus. He fled when I attacked his organization head on. He came here, probably because he has a large support base in here, Akron and Cleveland. Here he's not too far from friends. Plus, with Canton not being an enormous town, he probably figures it would be easier to hide. But you can't hide from punishment." "That's true." I thought of all I had been through. The wrongs I had committed as well as the rights. Was I being punished for the bad I had done? I lost Lance and my family. Now a radical group supported by the local government was hunting me. What more did I deserve by way of punishment? The Punisher turned onto Wales Road and headed north. "Where are we going?" I asked. "A back way to Akron. I'm going to check around up there for Exeter. If he's in Akron, I've got him. If he's not, I'm between the two places he could be." I nodded to him then said, "It looks like you have a partner now." "Who? You? I don't think so. You don't like the fact I'm willing to kill to protect humanity. We can be friends or acquaintances. But I don't think partners. Besides, I've dealt with things I don't think have ever dealt with before." "Like what?" "I don't know if I should tell you. You either won't believe me or won't be able to handle the truth." "Try me." The Punisher looked at me, skepticism shown brightly in his eyes. "Look at what I'm wearing. I highly doubt there's anything you can say that would surprise me." "Okay. I've had to fight vampires before." I looked at him unwavering. "That doesn't surprise you?" "No," I answered. "Let me guess. You don't believe me." "Oh, I believe you. I've fought vampires for almost a year now. I've met two kinds of vampires, too. The demonic kind and the human kind. In fact, I've known several Vampire Slayers. It doesn't surprise me." "You know a few Vampire Slayers? I know one, myself. She's kind of ditzy but she does a good job. She's based in Columbus." "I guess they are all over the place." The Punisher nodded. The Suburban drove passed Shady Hollow Country Club and then Jackson Park. Lance and I had gone there when we were in town after Christmas a few months ago. It was nice other than the werewolf we had to deal with. Thinking of the werewolf my mind went to James. He was definitely a vampire I had to deal with. He was cruel and heartless. I had to stop him. I had to slay him. The only trouble was finding him. I had to find his patterns. The only place to start was the things he said to me. Consider his words and find a pattern, find connections. Then his mind would open up to me. To Be Continued... Punisher and Batman meet. How do you like it so far? Questions and comments can be emailed to me. I'd love to hear from you.