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
This chapter was co-authored by Leo, author of "Tales of a Superhero Band" found in the Celebrity section of the Nifty Story Archive. dylan@celticwarrior.com
Thank you and enjoy.
Chapter 10 Strange Music
Weatherby drove toward Sebring. He did not want to completely leave Columbus behind. He had work yet to do, particularly with the Friends of Humanity and their local leaders. He dared not leave the city to the machinations of the corrupt bigots running the F.O.H.
"Who was behind the developing of the Friends of Humanity," Weatherby thought. "I'd like to get my hands on him."
Weatherby pulled the Suburban into an all-night convenient store to grab something to drink. He entered and saw a young man, probably around 21 or so, buying a case of pop. The ruggedness of the young man attracted Weatherby. Weatherby grabbed his bottle of water and walked toward the counter.
"Hi Jerry," the cashier said to the young man.
"Hi Alan. How are you?" Jerry handed the cashier some money.
"I'm okay. Work keeps me pretty busy. With the warm nights, everyone is coming in to buy something to drink."
"That's good. It keeps you from getting too sleepy standing in here at night."
"Yes, it does."
"Talk to you later." Jerry took his case of pop and left.
Weatherby watched Jerry as he climbed in his Ford Focus, started up the engine and drove away. Weatherby realized to his dismay the extent of his work.
Moments ago, Weatherby came to the conclusion he would not be able to get to know anyone for reason of them getting injured by association. But it was at this moment that he realized he would not be allowed to love anyone, nor would he be able to allow anyone to love him in return. He would never know the joys of a relationship. That saddened Weatherby. He decided within himself that his mission would be of utmost importance. He had no one in his life, no thing in his life with the exception of his mission to punish those who unjustly inflict pain on others. Right now the face of the enemy was the Friends of Humanity. And he would make them pay for all the pain they had caused.
Weatherby purchased his bottle of water and left. He drove out of the parking lot and up to the light. The Ford Focus Jerry left in pulled up beside him and Jerry rolled down his window.
"Hi," Jerry said.
Weatherby, knowing he was attracted this large man, could not allow this man to get close. "Hi."
"I noticed you in the store."
"Noticed me?"
"Noticed you watching me." Jerry grinned at Weatherby, enchanting him even further. "I saw your reflection in the window behind the cashier. You were watching me."
Weatherby could not lie, although he was afraid of the consequences of being honest with Jerry. "Yes, I was."
The light turned green.
"Follow me," Jerry offered.
Weatherby longed to follow him. Jerry turned to the left and headed down the street. Seeing no cars behind Jerry, Weatherby cut the lanes and followed.
Within moments, Jerry pulled in to an apartment building complex with Weatherby pulling in beside him.
"Come on up," Jerry offered. "Let's talk."
"Listen. I don't want to hurt your feelings or anything, but I can't do this."
"Do what? We're getting to know each other. You think I'm attractive and I think you are attractive. It's not like we are going to have sex or anything." Jerry took a few steps toward the door and turned back. "Unless you want to. I wouldn't say no."
Weatherby looked at Jerry. "I...it's not you. I just can't do this. I'm sorry." Weatherby turned back and, after climbing into his Suburban, drove away.
"God, I can't believe I entertained the thought of getting to know him. He could easily become a target for the F.O.H. Why was I stupid? What was I thinking?"
Weatherby floored the accelerator and zoomed down the road. He had to harden his heart to love. As much as he believed in love and was happy for anyone who found love, especially a gay couple, he knew he could not do it. Not that he was incapable of love. He shouldn't allow himself to love.
To keep his mind from wandering to what he deemed "unnecessary" distraction, Weatherby plotted his next move. "I think tomorrow I will visit the Friends of Humanity in the mall. It should prove most enlightening. One problem will be getting past security with weapons. I think I can smuggle a small gun or two inside. I think that is what I'll do."
Ty pulled in to the hospital Emergency Room parking lot and climbed out. He went around and helped Kevin out of the car.
"I think I can make it," Kevin replied.
"No. I'm going to help you. Think of it as a small gesture in correcting Punisher's mistake."
"His name is Michael Weatherby."
"Whatever," Ty replied. "Jerk-face will work just as good for me."
"You have to remember, whatever he may have done wrong, he's still human and can make mistakes."
"You weren't too fond of him when you were shot. Why the change now?" Ty pulled Kevin out of the car and puts Kevin's arm around his neck.
"You're right. I wasn't fond of him. But that was after I was shot. Beforehand, I cared about him. Not in a boyfriend kind of way. For God's sake, we just met. I cared about him as a friend. Granted he was stupid and got himself mixed up and shot at. That was a mistake. But I know he didn't mean to do it."
The doors parted and the two young men walked inside. They hobbled up to a chair and Kevin sat down. "I'll sign you in. What's your last name?"
"Simmons."
Ty nodded and walked up to registration. He wrote Kevin's name on the sheet and went back to sit in a chair next to Kevin.
An ambulance pulled up outside and a stretcher was wheeled in.
"They were bitten on the neck. Severe loss of blood. No witnesses to what attacked them," a paramedic said. "He was found downtown near the Axis."
"The Humane Department is going to be busy," a nurse said to the paramedic.
Ty looked closely at the neck wound and saw where the punctures were. "Vampire," he muttered. He turned back to Kevin and said, "Excuse me for a minute."
Ty entered the bathroom and locked the door. He closed his eyes and relaxed his body. Using several relaxing techniques, he tapped into the mystical world.
"Spirits of thought and language open a portal to whom I seek. Directus defero."
A haze enveloped Ty's head.
Tandy lay fast asleep in the corner of the main apartment. Blade sat by the window watching for anything: Punisher's return, the F.O.H., even a gang of vampires, anything that could be a threat or disturb them this night. What he did not count on was a mystical access to him.
A haze formed five feet behind Blade about 6 feet off the ground. Slowly, a face formed in the haze. "Blade," it called out.
Blade turned quick with a weapon poised to use. "What the hell are you doing, Ty? I told you never to do that unless absolutely necessary."
"It's necessary. I'm at the hospital with Kevin. A victim came in that I think was attacked by a vampire. I wanted to let you know I'm going to investigate."
"Don't engage without help, Ty. I don't want to lose you to those bastards."
"I'm not planning on losing my soul any time soon. I'll be in touch this way if I need to be."
The haze dissipated like fog.
Ty exited the bathroom and approached Kevin. "Will you be okay if I leave now?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine."
"I'll be in touch in a few days to see how you are doing." With that, Ty turned and exited the hospital and ran to his car. Climbing in, he started it up and took off down the road toward the spot the paramedics indicated; the spot the vampire hunter gang had thwarted several vampires. "I wish I knew what the hell was going on."
Punisher made his way back toward downtown Columbus. He planned on watching the F.O.H. headquarters; familiarize himself with timetables of guard changes and who comes and goes and such.
Ty pulled up a block from the Axis. He climbed out, reached in back and pulled out his cloak. He put it on top of his normal clothes and immediately they were swallowed by darkness, replaced by form-fitting, skin-tight black material. Confidently, he made his way to the nightclub.
It had been a really long ride and Dylan was glad that he got the chance to sit down, even if it was in a club blaring loud music over the speakers. Justin had suggested this place to all of them, and not surprisingly, almost no one else wanted to go. Dylan had never been in a gay club before, but it did not make a difference to him. They were all noisy and full of sweaty bodies. Melvin, Joy and Reuben had come along to keep Dylan company, more because of emotional blackmail on Dylan's part than on any interest in the place. In fact, the only one seeming to enjoy his self was Justin, who was dancing it up with some average looking guy on the dance floor.
"Y'know, maybe you should be dancing with him?" Melvin suggested over the din. Dylan shrugged. "You know it's not my thing."
"But it is Justin's, and I'm sure he'd enjoy himself more if you were dancing with him," Melvin replied. Dylan glanced over at Justin, who gave him a smile and beckoned him over to the dance floor.
"Okay," Dylan sighed, getting up. "I'll do it. But I warn you, strange things happen when I dance in a place like this."
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Melvin laughed, shoving Dylan in Justin's general direction.
Cloak walked up to the door and held up his hands. "Obvius." The doors burst open and in he walked. Everyone stopped dancing and looked his way. He noticed a small group staring at him with a look of disgust on their faces, which was rather interesting. They were obviously new to the area. Most people in the area were used to seeing him and Dagger, Marvel Boy and Blade appear. Newcomers were normally shocked by people dressed strangely. They must have seen people in costume before. All of this added up to one of two things: one, they did not like those who wore such costumes, possibly meaning they were evil themselves; or two, they did not like wizards and those who used magicks. "This should be interesting," Cloak said to himself.
"Told you so," Dylan whispered to Melvin, who was at his side. "And a wizard, no less."
"What do you want?" Melvin asked the stranger, barely containing his contempt.
Cloak looked at the person who asked the question. He held his hand out, palms up and said, "Light show the hidden. Ostendo."
A small light formed on his palm. It grew to the size of a softball and flew out of his hand, encircling the crowd. It landed on several people and nothing happened. When it landed on a large man, he cried out in pain. Everyone turned and saw his brow larger and bumpy, with yellow eyes and fangs.
"There you are," Cloak said.
"A wizard and a vampire," Joy said to Reuben, pointing to Dylan and Melvin. "Which one do you think they'll attack first?"
"I bet they attack the wizard," Reuben said. "Twenty bucks."
"Easy money," Joy laughed. "They'll go for the vampire."
The vampire looked at the group of friends standing together and back at Cloak. He lunged at Cloak. Cloak grabbed the vampire's wrists, buried his foot in the vampire's stomach, and rolled back. Using the vampire's momentum, Cloak flipped the vampire out the door. Cloak then flipped up to his feet and ran out the door.
"Occludo," Cloak said and the doors closed behind him, leaving him and the vampire outside.
"Okay, we go outside and get the vampire," Dylan said to his friends. "The wizard was obviously looking for him, and that is rarely a good thing."
"He could be fighting the vampire," Joy said, trying to keep a level head.
"Not likely," Melvin quickly dismissed the absurd notion. "The last time I saw a wizard, he was trying to control vampires and other various undead creatures. And they were scared of him too, and tried to fight him every chance they got."
"That would certainly fit what just happened," Dylan concluded. "Come, we go get the vampire. If he's controlled by the wizard, he'll be a worse force than normal."
The door burst open and out came the new arrivals in town.
"Get back inside," Cloak ordered.
"Make me, wizard," Dylan said, practically spitting the last word. Cloak ignored the remark.
"You don't know what you are dealing with. It's too dangerous for you here."
Dylan closed his eyes and clapped his hands together as though praying. A second later, he flung his arms out, fingers apart and slightly curved, and his elbows bent. A sharp blast of wind blasted the vampire across the street. Joy 'caught' it with her powers, and threw it back at Cloak's feet.
"Child's play," Dylan said.
"Damn," Cloak replied in shock. "What are you? Wizards or mutants?"
"Neither," Melvin said. "Though I would compare myself to mutants sooner than to filth. We are kindred, and our kind precedes even the slayers."
Cloak looked upon the group in surprise. He had heard of kindred and believed them to be extinct. Apparently the information he obtained off the Internet was erroneous. "That guy is getting an email from me," he replied to know one in particular
The vampire recovered from the attack and ran across the street. He jumped up two floors to the bottom of the fire escape and ascended the ladder.
"I'd love to stay and chat but I have work to do." Cloak ran off across the street and stopped at the building. Looking up, he said, "Escendo," and floated up into the air.
"He's getting away," Melvin growled.
"Who? The wizard or the vampire?" Reuben asked.
"Both, duh," Melvin said, lightening up. Dylan crouched low, getting ready to jump. Reuben did the same while Joy lifted Melvin and herself slowly off the ground to get to the roof.
Cloak arrived on the roof and landed safely. Looking around, he found the direction the vampire went.
"Stop," Dylan said from behind him. "Your 'job' ends here."
"You don't know what my job is."
"I know enough not to trust you."
"I don't know where in the hell you get your information. I am not bad. I hunt and slay vampires with a Slayer at my side."
"Then we help you fight the vampire," Melvin said. "But don't make us think we like you any better because of that."
To Be Continued...
What do you think of the crossover between "Punisher" and "Tales of a Superhero Band"? Leo and I would like to hear from you. Both of our emails are at the top. Email us with questions and comments.
I would like to apologize for the slowness of posting. As you know, I have been writing another story for this archive. I have also had papers due for school, which is over now for a few weeks. Plus, in a few chapters this will crossover over with my "Real Dark Knight" series and I had to build this up to that point as well as catch up to the point in "Real Dark Knight" that I planned for the crossover to happen. I hope you understand and I thank you for your continued support.
More to come!