Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 18:45:16 -0700 (PDT) From: James Geckler Subject: Punisher 14 Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. It has no intentions of resembling any real persons dead or alive. This is entirely from my imagination, with a little help from already established sources. This story is based loosely on the comic book character "The Punisher" from Marvel Comics. Other characters may appear from Marvel comics as well as DC Comics. Punisher and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics. Blade and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel copyright Joss Whedon, United Paramount Network and Warner Bros. Respectively. I have written another story on nifty entitled "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". It is in the Celebrity/Boy Bands section. Batman may appear in this story once or twice, as the Punisher may appear in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". Any comments may be sent to jmsotc1@yahoo.com Thank you and enjoy. Chapter 14 Cover Blown Punisher smiled up at Lilandra, who just moments ago discovered him in the mall office of the Friends of Humanity. Punisher had stolen a commando suit off of a commando he killed. In the commando suit, he found a security card, which enabled him to enter the offices and read the files of the Friends of Humanity. He discovered the leader of the group in Columbus, Ohio, Reverend Lawrence Exeter, and where Reverend Exeter's office was located. "It seems you have me at a disadvantage," Punisher replied. "I don't have a weapon drawn to make it fair." "This is plenty fair," Lilandra said. "You would not hesitate to kill me. I on the other hand, do not want to kill you." "Why is that?" "Several reasons, really. First off, if the Friends of Humanity could convince you of the moral rightness of our work, you joining us would be a possibility. We would benefit to have you on our side." Lilandra moved over to Punisher. "Secondly, you are a very attractive and powerful man with a commanding presence. I wouldn't mind making you my second-in-command, and possibly more." She pushed Punisher in the wheeled chair away from the desk. "I haven't met a man like you in a long time." Lilandra straddled Punisher and sat in his lap. Her gun arm snaked around his neck, while her free hand moved down his chest and abs to between his legs. Feeling his rather large endowment, she smiled. "You would be perfect for me." Punisher smiled at her. Putting his arms around her in a sensuous move, he picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist. "There is just one problem with that scenario," he said to her backing her up against the wall. "What's that?" she replied with a laugh and a grin. "I don't do girls." Her face went from smiling to questioning. Before she could react, Punisher spun her around and slammed her on the desk. She screamed out in pain and then brought the gun to bear on Punisher. He grabbed her hands and forced the gun's aim away from him. "You bastard," she said. "You don't realize what you are doing." "On the contrary, I know exactly what I'm doing. You are a very beautiful woman. If I were straight, you may have tempted me. Thank God for my sexual orientation." Lilandra backhanded Punisher in the face. He jerked away and the strength of his grip on her hand was weakened. She took advantage of that and pulled her hand free. Then Lilandra kicked Punisher back against the wall, took aim and fired. At the last possible second, Punisher ducked, the bullet missing him by inches. Lilandra sat up to take aim again. Punisher spun and kicked, connecting with her gun hand. The impact of his booted foot on her bare hand caused her to release her grip. The gun flew out the doorway and skittered to a stop on the floor. Lilandra followed the gun's path and then turned back to Punisher, only to be met by a fist in the face. She rolled off the desk and crashed to the floor. Punisher ran out the door and down the hall. Lilandra struggled to her feet but managed to do so quicker than most anyone else would. She stumbled out into the hall, picked up her gun, and pursued Punisher. Dagger flipped forward and kicked the vampire in front of her in the face. The vampire clutched at its nose. With a quick jab, the stake was imbedded and the vampire was burning to ash. Two vampires came running at Dagger, one on each side. As they closed in, Dagger dropped to her knees and the vampires collided. Dagger shoved the stakes into their hearts slaying them. Two more vampires ran up and grabbed her arms. A vampire came from behind making a lip-smacking sound. She struggled to free herself but the vampires had firm grips on her. "This is going to be good," the vampire said as it tilted Dagger's head to one side. Dagger swung her head back hitting the vampire's nose, feeling it break under the impact. The vampire screamed in pain. Dagger kicked her legs out hoping the vampires holding her had solid grips. Thankfully they did. She swung upside down, wrapped her legs around the neck of the vampire with the broken nose and flipped forward, bringing the vampire over her body. She slammed it down onto the cement roof and heard the snap of its neck. She dropped to one knee causing the vampire holding the same-side arm to jerk downwards. Dagger pulled forward and the vampire completely lost its balance and fell to the roof, releasing its grip on her. She jabbed the silver stake into the vampire holding her other arm. It screamed in pain, although it did not die, as silver does not affect this particular species of vampire. The pain was enough, however, to cause it to release its grip on her. She brought the other hand down and staked the vampire on the roof. It screamed and turned to dust. Then, Dagger staked the wounded vampire, watching it turn to dust. To make sure the vampire with the broken neck wouldn't heal and come back, she staked it as well and watched it burn to ash. She smiled to herself with a job well done. Blade flipped over the charging vampire and landed on his feet. The vampire turned and ran back at Blade. Blade spun around at the last minute and staked the vampire. He spent no time watching it turn to ash as several more vampires came at him carrying aluminum baseball bats and lead pipes. He smiled, reached back and drew his sword. The vampires swung their weapons attempting to hit his head or chest or legs. He blocked them easily. With smooth movements, he would chop off a leg or an arm, causing the vampires immense pain. When they attacked faster, Blade pulled out the holstered stake shooter and used that to block their attacks. One vampire brought its weapon down toward his head. Blade used the sword and the gun, placed them in an "X" position and blocked the attack. He then kicked the vampire in the stomach and it flew across the small parking area and hit the car with a thump, denting it. He swung his sword around without looking yet still knowing a vampire was there. The sword cut the vampire's head clean off and it screamed as it turned to dust. He thrust the sword in another vampire's chest and it burnt up. Blade noticed a vampire trying to run away. He shot a silver stake into its back and it burned to ash. Ty and Davey sat at the table drinking club soda. Davey was still down about the way his friends treated him after they found out he was seeing someone less than perfect physically. "It looks like tonight was a wasted night," Ty said. "Yeah," Davey muttered. "With one exception." "What's that?" "You found out those guys whom you thought were your friends really aren't. If they are going to diss you just because your boyfriend isn't the kind of person they want you to date, then they were never your friends to begin with." "Yeah," Davey said. The sound of glass shattering caught their attention, as well as the attention of all the clubbers. Everyone ran off the dance floor as a vampire came crashing down to the floor. A wooden stake came down and hit the creature in the chest. Everyone watched, amazed, as it turned to dust before their eyes. "I guess tonight wasn't such a waste," Ty replied. He stood up and ran to the dance floor, looking up at Dagger. "Do you need help?" "That would be fantastic!" she yelled down as a vampire tackled her. Ty held his hands together, palms up, in front of his chest. "Mutare," he said and was surrounded by a black cloud. When it dissipated, he was in full Cloak attire. "Ascendere", he said and he floated up through the skylight. Davey ran out the front door of club not wanting the others to know that he was also Marvel Boy. Smiling he said, "I always wanted to try this." He spun around and created a large flash of energy. When the light disappeared, he was wearing his Marvel Boy costume. "Linda Carter, eat your heart out." Marvel Boy turned and ran around the building toward the back. The wizard climbed the stairs to the concrete trapdoor and said, "Moveo", commanding the Dumpster to move. "That's funny," he said as he listened and didn't hear the familiar sound of the wheels squeaking. "Aperio", he said to the heavy concrete trapdoor and it opened up. Hearing the sounds of fighting, he ascended the stairs to find Blade fighting off the vampires he summoned. "Impossible," he declared. Blade turned and made eye contact with him. "Are you responsible for this?" Blade asked. "That is none of your business," the wizard stated. "Ignis globus". A ball of fire formed in his hand and he threw it at Blade. "Irrigo", Cloak said from the roof and a ball of water hit the fireball causing it to turn to steam. "What?" the wizard said turning and looking at the roof. He turned back to Blade, held out his hand and said, "Abjicio" while jerking his hand to the side. Blade lifted off the ground and was thrown in that direction. The wizard ran to the car and climbed in. "Ignition," he said and the car started up. With a screech of tires, the car drove off. Marvel Boy came around the corner and saw Blade land against the wall. "Blade," he exclaimed running over to him. He knelt down to see if Blade was okay. Blade shook it off. "Come on," he said. We've got a wizard to catch." Cloak descended from the roof while Dagger jumped and landed on the Dumpster safely. The four ran around the building toward their vehicles, Blade and Marvel Boy on the motorcycle and Cloak and Dagger in the car. The vehicles' engines turned over and tore off down the road in pursuit of the wizard's automobile. Punisher ran out of Lazarus department store and headed straight to his Suburban. As he climbed in, Lilandra came out of the department store and open fire on the Punisher. He started up the van and drove out of the parking lot leaving Lilandra behind, but not for too long as she ran toward the Bryce building, knowing the Punisher's intentions. Punisher did not have far to drive to get to the Bryce building. His target for punishment was Reverend Exeter, and Punisher planned to mete out that punishment tonight. He would not have had a problem running to the building as it was only a few blocks away, but his weapons and equipment were in his Suburban and Punisher wanted them on hand when he met the commandos guarding the good man of the cloth. The black Suburban turned the corner and drove toward the Bryce building. He stopped just outside the door, climbed in back and stripped off his commando outfit. As soon as he was down to his black leather pants and black sleeveless shirt, he pulled on his shoulder holster, loaded the pistol and holstered it. Strapping on several knives and his belt containing several differing clips for several different guns, he climbed out of the Suburban. The last thing he pulled on was his leather jacket. "Time to go to work," he said to no one in particular. Taking a deep breath, he marched toward the front doors. Once there, he brought his foot hard against the lock, snapping it into pieces. The glass in the doors shattered as well. Security guards at the front desk pulled their pistols out to defend their post, only to be shot down by the Punisher's fully automatic Uzi. He had no time to waste on these secondary pawns. His target was near and he would not be stopped. Punisher knelt down and grabbed the security card and ring of keys off the security guard. He wanted to be prepared just in case he had more security barriers to contend with. He approached the elevators and climbed in, pressing number thirty-five; the floor Exeter's office was on. As the doors closed, his heart began beating a bit faster. "It felt good to be doing good in a wicked world," Punisher thought. The wizard's car flew south on High Avenue until it reached the Bryce Building where his employer would be found this time of night. The car screeched to a halt and the wizard climbed out and ran across the street, passed the parked black Suburban, and up the stairs where he found the doors broken. "This is lovely," he thought. The wizard heard the sound of a motorcycle and sports car heading his way. He turned and saw the lights coming. Deciding it would be prudent to head to higher ground, he ran inside toward the stairs. Exeter smiled to himself. His work in Columbus was flourishing. He had nothing to fear or worry about. He was happy. The majority of people supported his "ethnic cleansing" of the city of the evil mutants. A plan had been put into motion to rid the city of the immoral homosexuals. He was definitely on cloud nine. Closing up his brief case, which carried his most secret documents, Exeter exited his office and headed for the elevator. He was somewhat surprised when he heard the ding of the elevator car arrival when he hadn't pushed the button as of yet. "Must be the cleaning staff," he thought. The stairwell door opened and the wizard ran out toward him. "Trouble, Reverend Exeter." "What are you doing here?! You are not to be seen with me! Why are you here?" "I told you. We have trouble. Blade and his band discovered there was more going on at the Axis than what appeared to be randomness. They have been following me." "And you led them right here. That was so stupid." "Not as stupid as you, Reverend," a dark voice said from behind. Exeter turned around to find his self staring down the barrel of a gun. On the other end of the gun was the Punisher. "Oh my God," he whispered. "You better day your prayers, Exeter. You are about to meet your God." "[Hot]," the wizard said. Punisher's gun became instantly hot, unbearably hot, too hot to hold. He dropped the gun clutching at his burned skin. Exeter took advantage of the Punisher's pain and ran down the hall. The wizard chuckled at what he did to the Punisher. Punisher swung his burnt hand out and backhanded the wizard, knocking him to the floor. He then turned, pulled out another gun and ran down the hall in pursuit of Exeter. The black sports car and black motorcycle used by the city's heroes pulled up to the Bryce Building and the heroes gathered on the sidewalk. "Isn't that Punisher's Suburban?" Marvel Boy asked. "Sure is," Dagger replied. "Then he's here now. I wonder why?" "Maybe he's after the wizard," Cloak suggested. "I doubt it," Blade answered, "unless the wizard is somehow involved with the Friends of Humanity." "We should go in after the wizard." "Shouldn't someone stay out here in case the wizard sneaks out?" Dagger asked. Blade turned to Marvel Boy. "You stay here. Dagger and I will take the stairs and elevator. Cloak, you float up on the outside. We don't want him escaping either way." The three nodded to Blade. "Let's go," he said. He and Dagger ran in the front door. "Ascendere," Cloak said and he floated up the side of the skyscraper. Marvel Boy stood outside keeping his on the building, checking for any movement on the inside or outside that could be the wizard, or any other enemy for that matter. Lilandra peaked her head around the corner and saw three of the four vampire hunters enter the building. The boy was left outside, probably to stand guard. She decided in her self that she would have to take him out one way or another to get inside. She wished she had some of her equipment with her. It would be better to take him into custody and try to cure him of his mutant ability. But with as much trouble as he has caused, killing him wasn't an issue for her either. Pulling out her gun, Lilandra ran quickly and quietly down the block toward Marvel Boy and the Bryce Building. She hid behind the black sports car and watched Marvel Boy for a few moments. Then she took aim with her gun. "Sorry, kid," she whispered and fired. The bullet hit Marvel Boy in the back and down he went. Not wasting time, Lilandra ran past the fallen boy and into the building, heading straight for an office behind the receptionist's desk. The wizard pulled himself up off the floor and looked for the direction the Punisher went. The elevator rang out with the arrival of another elevator car. "Who could that be?" he wondered. The doors parted and out came Dagger. She looked around the corridor and saw the wizard standing and smiling at her. A ball of green energy floated just above his hand. "Hello. Long time no see," he replied before he hurled the energy at her. Dagger dove into a nearby office door as the energy ball whizzed past. The wizard came to the doorway to throw another one but was met by several of Dagger's energy daggers. He jumped out of the way as they flew through the door opening. The wizard formed another energy ball and threw it at the door, hoping it would do some kind of damager to her, directly or indirectly. "God, I hope that got her." Dagger watched as part of the doorframe exploded with the impact of the energy bolt. "Perfect," she thought. "I've found the wizard but he's pinned me down so I can't go after him. The window behind her exploded and she turned with several daggers readied. However, she caused them to disappear as Cloak climbed in through the window. "What's up?" he asked. "The wizard is out in the hallway. He trapped me in here. And now you are trapped in here, too. What do we do?" "Let me think," Cloak thought. To Be Continued... Marvel Boy shot! Cloak and Dagger trapped! Blade is somewhere in the building and the Punisher is hunting down Reverend Exeter! What more could happen?! Find out in the next chapter!