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 2 Columbus Nightlife
Weatherby pulled on his shoes and grabbed his jacket. He walked down the stairs, came to Kevin's apartment and knocked. "Come in!" Kevin called. Weatherby opened the door and entered. "I'll be out in a minute."
Some pictures sat on the fireplace mantel. There were several people who resembled Kevin in some ways. "Must be relatives," Weatherby said softly. There was a picture of a guy that did not resemble any of the others. He looked at him closer.
"That's Rick," Kevin said.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Was."
"Was? What happened? Things not work out?" Weatherby asked.
"He was my soul mate. But he died."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up anything painful."
"No, it's okay." Kevin brushed it aside. "Are you ready to see some of the sites tonight?"
"Wouldn't it be difficult to see things at night?"
"I know some great nightspots. I'm ready when you are."
Weatherby and Kevin left the apartment and climbed into Weatherby's Suburban. "Have you run into problems like earlier today?" Weatherby asked his new friend Kevin.
"You mean those guys in the furniture store? Sometimes. I've learned to ignore things like that and keep to myself, at least when I'm outnumbered I do."
"You shouldn't have to. No one should be subjected to hate like that."
"I know. But it goes on. There's not much anyone can do who can stop hate-mongers."
"Someone should," Weatherby thought to himself.
Weatherby pulled up to the restaurant Kevin gave him directions to, Union Station. The wall along the parking lot had trains painted on it. It looked nice to Weatherby. They climbed out and went inside. High round tables were spread throughout the room with high chairs to match.
"This way," Kevin said as he walked passed the bar on the left to a table in the far back.
Weatherby had a feeling Kevin was showing him off to his friends. Weatherby didn't mind. It helped Kevin feel good.
Several guys waved to Kevin and whistled in their direction. Weatherby was not used to the attention but he took it all in stride.
"Hey, guys, what's up?" Kevin would say with a grin on his face.
"Whose that guy?" someone would shout out.
"Will you let me borrow him?" another said.
The two guys sat down at a table and a waiter came out. "Hello, gentlemen. Here are the menus. What would you like to drink this evening?"
"Pepsi," Kevin said.
"I'll have a lemonade, if you have."
"We sure do. One Pepsi and one lemonade coming up."
The waiter left the menus and went to get their drinks.
"You come here a lot?" Weatherby asked.
"Yep. All the time. It's a fun place and everyone treats you decent. I like it here."
A large screen hung in the middle of the room playing the latest music videos. Kevin would dance in his chair as the songs played. Weatherby just smiled at him.
In no time, the food came out and they ate their meal.
"Tell me about yourself, Michael. Where are you from originally?"
"An orphanage. The government placed me in a children's home when I was young. I grew up under their care. When I turned 18, I joined the Marine Corps."
"Wow! Even though you were gay you joined the military? Didn't they find out?"
"I figured it wasn't important. Being day does not handicap me in serving my country."
"Good philosophy. Too bad the government doesn't see it that way."
"There are many things this government doesn't see. There are men in power who are power-and control-mongers. Whatever they can't control, the exercise power over and oppress. It may not be those in power, but it is those who are influencing those in power. Things need to change."
Kevin was silent for a moment, nodding his head in agreement and eating some French fries. Then he asked, "Why did you leave the military?"
"I got into a fight with my battalion. They were picking on someone who was a little effeminate. They found out I was gay and I was dishonorably discharged."
"All because you are gay?"
"And because of the fight. If they were going to discharge me, I figured I would give them actual reason to do so."
"You are amazing."
"Not really." The sound of someone screaming could be heard outside. All eyes turned to the front door. A man came running in.
"What's going on?" the bartender asked.
"There's a van of people going down the street yelling at mutants. They are talking about cleansing the city of aberrant behavior."
"Are they including gays, too?"
"I don't know. I didn't want to take the chance. That's why I ran in here."
"Who are those people?"
"They call themselves the Friends of Humanity."
Everyone stared in silence as the van drove past the restaurant, bullhorn blaring out anti-mutant propaganda. No one said a word as the van moved on down the street, the bullhorn quieting.
"Does anyone know any mutants?" the bartender asked.
No one answered. Eventually the restaurant went back to normal, although the topic of conversation was mutants and the Friends of Humanity. Weatherby listened to different points of view being spoken at different tables.
"Mutants are not like gay people. Some mutants look weird and have strange powers."
"But they are born that way. They cannot control it. It's not a choice for them, like it's not a choice for us."
"Mutants are dangerous. They can easily kill people. We don't kill people. We are not dangerous."
"Oh yeah? What about the Christian Coalition? They think gays and lesbians threaten family values."
Weatherby turned his attention away from the conversation. It bothered him the way people were easily dismissing the mutant protestors. He couldn't believe gay people would justify any hate group. Of course it shouldn't have been. Anyone is ready to persecute any group that is different than the one belonged to. Catholics dislike Protestants, denominations hate other denominations, the Ku Klux Klan hates black people and Jewish people, the Black Panthers hate white people. No matter what the difference, you will always find a group that hates another group. People committed horrid offenses in the name of hatred. And no one was doing a thing about it. They needed to be stopped. Their crimes needed to be punished. And Michael Weatherby was forming a plan.
"I think I'm going to call it a night," Weatherby said as he and Kevin left the restaurant. "I need to get used to being in a new place."
"If you're sure," Kevin replied.
"Yeah, I'm sure."
"Would you be able to drop me off somewhere?"
"Sure," Weatherby replied. "Where would you like to go?"
"Up the street is a club I go to often. Would you take me there?"
"Sure."
Weatherby drove his Suburban to the spot Kevin indicated. The building didn't look like much on the outside. The only indication to what it is was the sign above the door: The Axis. "You come here often?" Weatherby asked.
"Oh, yeah. It's an awesome nightclub. Lots of dancing and music and booze and men! I love it!"
"Take it easy, okay," Weatherby said, feeling rather uncomfortable with Kevin's choice of hangouts.
"I will. See you soon, okay?"
Weatherby nodded and headed back to his apartment. He went in and sat down in the dark thinking about what he had seen and heard over the last couple of days.
"People are being rude and hateful. When I was little, those running the orphanage would punish the children acting that way. No one is punishing these grown-ups that are acting so foolish. Perhaps it's time they had a punisher."
Weatherby sat in silence for a little while longer. Ideas flowed into him as if they were a river. It seemed as if he was being fed what to do and what he needed to accomplish this task.
After a few more moments of thinking, he went to his closet and found some of what he needed, his books on weaponry and how much they would cost to obtain. He smiled to himself. He had some shopping to do.
Weatherby pulled up in front of a small clothing store open late. He entered and found the person working the floor.
"Excuse me, Miss."
"Yes," said the dark-skinned woman. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for some leather pants. Do you carry them?"
"Sure do. Follow me."
Weatherby followed her to the back of the store where a bunch of leather garments hung on the wall and on racks.
"Do you need measured?" she asked.
"No, thanks. I know my size."
"If you need anything further, call me."
"Thank you."
When the woman went away, Weatherby looked through the racks until he found a pair of leather pants that would serve his purpose. IT had many pockets on it closed with zippers. "Perfect," he thought.
Then he looked at the coats and jackets they had. He found one that went to his ankles and had several pockets both in and outside. "Excellent," he replied.
After picking out a black sleeveless shirt, Weatherby took his merchandise to the counter. He paid for it all in cash and headed out looking for a sporting goods store that was still open.
Kevin danced up to the bar to the music playing. It was some obscure song turned into a dance mix so that the younger generation could tolerate it. Perhaps even enjoy it.
"What'll it be?" the bartender asked.
"Give me a Zima," Kevin replied.
The bartender smiled and handed Kevin a bottle of Zima. Kevin looked around at the dance floor and smiled at all the pretty boys on the floor. He noticed a very gorgeous one moving around on the dance floor and smiled. He acted very feminine and was not very muscular. But he was gorgeous.
Davey Navarre was a popular teen that attended the Axis regularly. He had many admirers and enjoyed the attention. He never took any of the proposals offered him seriously, except for the ones that were made by guys who wanted one-niters. At least they were honest. They only wanted him for sex. The others acted as if they were in love with him. He knew it was just lust.
Davey noticed a young guy standing at the bar looking at him with a grin on his face, a bottle of Zima in his hand. The guy was kind of cute. "Perhaps I should put on the old Davey charm."
To Kevin's surprise, the guy was dancing his way, looking right at him.
"Hey. My name's Davey," the guy introduced.
"I'm Kevin. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Davey stopped dancing and leaned against the bar. "I noticed you looking my way."
The song changed to a slow one: Celine Dion's "Falling Into You".
"Yeah," Kevin replied. "You are nice to look at."
"Thanks," Davey replied. "I get that a lot."
"I'm sure you do." Kevin could have slapped himself. Be nice, he thought. "I hope you didn't get offended by that. What I meant is, you probably have lots of guys following you around acting like they love you, like they know you."
"Yes, I do."
"I'm not like them," Kevin answered.
"Really?" Davey had his doubts.
"Yeah. I'm not looking for anyone. If something happens, that's cool. But I'm not here to find somebody."
This intrigued Davey. "Why not?"
"I was involved with someone for a few years. He was perfect for me. But he died."
"Oh no. Sorry to hear that."
"It's okay. I'm doing okay with it."
"How long as it been?" Davey asked genuinely curious.
"About a year. I've been out with friends but not one-on-one dating. I don't know when I'll be ready for that."
Davey nodded in agreement.
The door opened and a group of five men entered. The looks on their faces were sinister, that was obvious even in the dance lighting. "Excuse me," Davey said as he walked away from Kevin.
"He's probably looking for guys like that," Kevin thought. "He might get along with Michael."
The five men moved to the dance floor and grabbed five of the pretty boys to dance with. The pretty boys tried to resist at first but they saw the look on the guys' faces and gave over.
The song ended and they tried to walk away but the sinister men grabbed them.
"You are not going anywhere," one said. "You belong to us now."
"You don't own us," a pretty boy said.
The faces of the five men changed revealing a large brow, yellow eyes and fangs. The boys began screaming. One of the vampires bit a boy on the neck and began to feed.
"It's really a shame," a voice said right after the music was cut off.
The vampires turned around and saw four people standing in the doorway. One man was dark-skinned and wore black leather, black sunglasses and hefted an arsenal of weaponry. The second man was dark-skinned as well and covered completely in a black cloak. You could hardly see his face. The pale girl wore a tight white suit. The fourth person was a light-skinned teenage boy wearing skin-tight green and black Speedos with a mask fixed over his eyes.
The dark-skinned man in leather continued to speak. "With an overbite like that, one would think you would go to the dentist to get it fixed."
A vampire ran up and grabbed the girl. An aura of light pulsed out from her and the vampire burst into flame, then to turned to dust. "I guess the pesky sunlight is too much for the vampires," the girl said.
A second vampire went for a victim. The man in leather shot an arrow into the vampire's heart and turned him to dust.
"Blade," the vampires said.
"Don't forget the rest of us," the teen boy said. "Cloak." The man in the dark cloak smiled. "Dagger." The girl smiled and waved while hefty a wooden cross. "And me. Marvel Boy."
"Marvel Boy?" a vampire said with a mocking grin.
"I was going to call myself Mmmmarvelous boy," Marvel Boy replied flipping his hand in the air, "but marvelous was just too long. So I shortened it to Marvel Boy."
"What can you do that's so marvelous?" a vampire asked.
"Wouldn't YOU like to know!" Marvel Boy answered with a big smile.
"Enough talk," Blade said.
"Quite right," a vampire replied. He lunged at Marvel Boy. Marvel Boy, with his quick reflexes, dodged the vampire and jammed a stake into his back, piercing his heart from behind.
"Three down. Two to go," Blade said. "And they are mine."
Blade stepped up to the two vampires. One swung his fist at Blade while the other swung his leg. Blade caught the leg of the vampire and ducked the punch from the other. He swung his hand outward and backhanded the vampire that tried to punch him. His arm arched around and his elbow came down on the knee of the leg he was holding. Bones could be heard snapping. The vampire cried out in pain.
In fluid motion, Blade grabbed a wooden stake, rammed it into the vampire he backhanded and brought it back, plunging it into the chest of the vampire whose leg he broke. The two turned to dust. The crowd looked on at the band of vampire hunters. Without a word, the group turned and exited. Marvel Boy took a moment to look at the young man he had been talking to earlier as Davey. He smiled slightly and went out the bar with the others.
Blade climbed onto his motorcycle. Cloak and Dagger climbed into their sports car.
"Where do I ride?" Marvel Boy asked.
"Come on," Blade motioned.
Marvel Boy ran over and climbed onto Blade's bike and grabbed Blade tightly on the waist.
"Don't get too horny, Boy," Blade said.
"I never get TOO horny," Marvel Boy replied with a grin.
Blade smiled ever so slightly and the two vehicles took off down High Street.
Weatherby pulled up in front of his apartment building and climbed out. He took the boxes containing his purchases and headed up to his apartment. Some of the smaller purchases he would have to wait a few days. With him having a clean record and being in the military, there shouldn't be too much of a problem in obtaining them.
Weatherby sat down in his apartment and opened his purchases. He pulled out the rifles and shotguns, checked to be sure they were working properly and then loaded them. He put them in the cabinet he had purchased earlier and locked it. It wasn't likely he would have anyone in here but you never knew who would pop in once in a while.
His mind wandered to Kevin and Weatherby considered going back to the club to check on him. Kevin seemed like a nice guy to Weatherby and he didn't want to lose Kevin's friendship. The only way to retain friendship is to hang around someone. Weatherby pulled on his coat and headed out.
When he arrived at the Axis, Weatherby paid the cover charge and entered. He looked at the flashing lights and the bodies moving, bumping and grinding together, and sighed. He was not used to having fun the way these young men and women were. He was more used to enjoying pushing his body to the limits of physical exertion for enjoyment.
Several of the dancers looked his way and gave him small smiles. He knew what they wanted. But he wasn't offering. He found Kevin dancing in the outskirts of the dance floor and Weatherby approached him.
"Michael!" Kevin said. "Glad you decided to come back!"
"I thought I should enjoy myself a little. And you are the only friend I have here. Why not have fun with my friend?"
"Good advice."
Someone near the door propped it open so fresh air could enter the club. The music and dancing continued until the sound of screeching tires could be heard entering the parking lot. Everyone turned as a group of men climbed out and entered the bar.
"Turn off the music!" the lead man exclaimed. The music was quickly cut off and the man looked from face to face. "I have an announcement to make. My name is Stone. James Stone. I'm head of the task force for the Friends of Humanity. Do you know what the Friends of Humanity are?"
No one answered.
"Listen up, faggots. We are against groups who feel themselves superior. In particular, we are against mutants. The F.O.H. has set up a task force in your lovely city to bring order. We are here to hunt down and exterminate the aberrant mutants. We require your cooperation. Any resistance to us and we will assume you are a mutant or a mutant-lover. That will not be tolerated. Mutant-lovers will be treated as if they themselves are mutants. They will be punished. Any questions?"
Again, no one said a word.
"Continue with your dancing, or whatever it is you homos do here."
The group turned and left. Clubbers looked from one to another searching for what they should be doing. The music slowly came back on and everyone started dancing.
Kevin looked at Weatherby. "That doesn't sound too good, does it?"
"Sounds like another hate group to me."
"It's a good thing I don't know any mutants."
"Why is that? Would you turn them in?"
"I honestly don't know what I would do. I would hope I would make the right decision and not turn them in. But when it comes to a matter of life or death..."
"I understand."
Weatherby sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. He sat and watched the pretty boys dance and make merry. But his mind was not on them. His mind was on the Friends of Humanity.
To Be Continued...
How do you like the story as it is evolving? Please email me and let me know. Questions or comments? Email me. I'd love to hear from you.
As you can tell, I am taking writer's liberty with these characters. I will try to keep their powers close to what they are in the comics, but they will be slightly different, or have a different reason behind them. A good example of this is Marvel Boy. He will not be an alien but a mutant. Cloak will be a mutant, but also a wizard. Dagger is a vampire slayer, as well as a mutant. Blade will not be changed.