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.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
This series in Marvel Knights crosses over heavily in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight." Look for Blade, Punisher and Ghost Rider to be featured heavily in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight." Any comments may be sent to authorjames2002@yahoo.com
Thank you and enjoy.
Other stories set in this universe: "Tales of a Superhero Band" "Tales of the New Phoenix"
Chapter 7 In Pursuit of Happiness
"In the meantime, I think I've found a drug that will affect the vampire, rending her helpless," Whistler said as he picked up his book and went back to reading.
"That's promising," Tandy replied. "What is it?"
"Well, that's the problem. There are components that we have to put together to create it." Whistler grabbed a piece of paper and started writing the list.
"Great!" Davey replied. "We get to go shopping again!"
"Correction, Harris will get on the computer and locate the ingredients we need in town. Ty and Elektra will get the stuff and you and Tandy will patrol. Speaking of Harris, where is he?"
"He didn't come here?" Davey asked.
"No. That's why I asked, dipshit."
"He's probably still upset about what happened earlier," Tandy replied. "Davey told him to get away while we fought the vampires. Harris seemed really upset about it."
"These vampires are tough. There's no place or room for error when fighting them, or any other vampire or demon. Harris needs to realize that."
"I think he feels useless," Ty said. "I mean, think about it. Most of us have abilities to fight demons. Tandy is a Slayer and a mutant. I'm a mutant and a wizard. Davey's a mutant. Blade is part vampire. And Punisher, well, he just knows how to kick ass and inflict pain. Then there is you, Whistler. Granted you don't have super powers, you have knowledge to fight these creatures, plus experience. Harris doesn't have anything like that."
"But he does have talent," Davey said. "He can use the computers and get information. I don't know anyone as well-versed in using those machines as he is."
"Maybe we need to let him know how much we appreciate what he does for us."
The room quieted down at Tandy's words.
Harris finally arrived at the mansion after a long walk. He needed the time to cool down from what happened earlier. He felt so useless sometimes. And today when Davey "ordered" him to leave, he felt less than being part of the group, like a lackey. That really hurt him.
As he walked into the mansion, Harris was greeted by very warm, welcoming smiles. He looked around at his friends concerned.
"What?" he asked. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Not at all!" Tandy said getting up and giving him a hug. "I'm just happy to see you."
Harris lightly hugged her back. "Uh, okay?"
When she released her grip, to Harris's surprise Ty came up and hugged him as well. Harris's eyes widened in shock.
"Good to see you, Harris."
Ty released his embrace and walked out of the room. Harris watched him go then turned back to the room.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Nothing," Davey said standing up and walking over to Harris. He gave his boyfriend a quick peck on the cheek. "We are just grateful to have you on our side. You are a great asset to the team."
Davey pecked Harris on the cheek again and left the room. Harris watched him go then turned around. "What the HELL is going on, Whistler?"
Whistler put the book back he was looking through and grabbed a piece of paper off the desk. "Your team members think you feel like you aren't part of the group. So they are going to great lengths to make you feel appreciated."
"Oh," Harris replied.
"Of course, if you ask me, you don't need to be coddled. You are an integral part of the group. Without you, how would we be able to search the computers, let alone have the system up and running like we do? Sure, they can put stakes in vampires, but how would they know where to go or what to do without your expertise in making the equipment work? You don't need to be pitied. You need to be honored."
Harris was amazed at Whistler's words of encouragement.
"Before you get so proud of yourself you get an erection, I need your ass downstairs on the computers. We need to find these ingredients."
"Uh, okay," Harris said as Whistler walked passed him.
Coming out of his little daze, he turned and followed Whistler down to the underground base of operations. "What do you need?"
Whistler handed him a piece of paper. "I need you to find these items in Columbus."
The door opened and out came Cloak, Dagger, and Davey.
"Where is my costume?" Davey asked.
"What do you mean?" Whistler replied. "It should be in the locker."
"It isn't."
"Look next to it," Harris replied.
All eyes went to him.
"Just trust me."
Davey went back into the locker room. Five minutes later, he came out in a brand new suit. It was black with green patches where his muscles were. And a black "MB" was on the left side of his chest on the chest pad. For a mask, he had silver glasses with blue lenses.
"This is awesome!" he exclaimed. "How did you do this?"
"After I first found out you were Marvel Boy, I started working on it. I thought your suit, as sexy as it was, was a bit too goofy. It didn't say 'hero' to me. It just said 'surfer dude' and you are more than that."
"Thanks, man," Marvel Boy said walking up to Harris and hugging him.
"The pads also double for pouches where you can keep your weapons."
"Awesome."
Marvel Boy looked through and found some of his pouches already supplied.
Harris sat down at the computer console and began searching for the items on Whistler's list. Shortly thereafter, he found them all.
"There are two stores within Columbus that carries them all, Fly-by-Night and Salem West. They are both on North High Street. Salem West is closer to downtown. I think you remember Fly-by-Night from before."
"Yeah. We remember," Whistler said. "Ty, when Elektra shows up..."
"You called?" Elektra said as she entered the room wearing her red outfit.
"Perfect timing. What I need you and Cloak to do is go to these stores and get these ingredients. It's like a valium cocktail for the undead. Once you get them, get back here. We need to get the mixture ready when you face off against Ambika tonight."
"We're what?" Dagger said stepping closer. "What?"
"Facing off against Ambika. Unless you have a problem taking orders from your Watcher."
"I did well enough without a Watcher before, Whistler. I don't need to take orders from one now."
"Don't get your panties in a bunch. We're working together to get this undead bitch in the ground."
"The quicker it's done, D," Elektra said, "the quicker I'll be out of your hair."
"Then get going!" Dagger said.
Elektra smiled. She went over to Cloak's car where he was climbing in the driver's side. Elektra climbed in the passenger's side and the car drove off into the night.
Dagger turned to Marvel Boy. "Ready to go?"
"Sure am!"
"I'll drive you two," Whistler said.
"Relax!" Dagger replied. "I'm almost sixteen. I know how to drive!"
"Fine, then. Get going."
Dagger and Marvel Boy climbed onto one of the motorcycles and took off out of the lair.
"I'll gather the materials we need in order to make the potion. Keep them on the monitor."
"Will do," Harris said.
Once Whistler was gone, he turned the communication links on. Then he surfed the Internet. He stumbled across an announcement from the Axis. A competition was coming to Columbus and they were looking specifically for out gay men to form a boy band.
"No, shit!" Harris exclaimed.
"Did you say something?" Whistler called in from the other room.
"No, nothing," Harris replied. He printed out the sheet. 'Maybe Davey and I can enter together! Wouldn't that be cool?'
Cloak pulled the car up to the front of "Fly-by-Night" and they climbed out.
"It looks like it will be closing soon," the mutant said.
"Then let's get what we came for."
The two entered. The lady running the store came in from the back room. "Can I help you?" she asked. Then she noticed their strange garb.
"It's okay," Cloak said. "We are here to shop."
"That's a nice cloak," the shopkeeper commented. "What can I do for you?"
"We need these ingredients."
Cloak handed her the list. The shopkeeper read over it.
"I've got all this stuff. Let me get it for you." The shopkeeper opened and old cabinet against the wall and pulled out several vials and bags. "The rest of this is in the back. I'll just be a moment."
The shopkeeper disappeared down the small hallway.
"Did you see the way she looked at you?" Elektra stated.
"What do you mean?"
"I think she thinks you're cute."
"Wouldn't be the first time someone thought I was hot in this," Cloak replied suavely.
"Don't get so full of yourself. I'll bet someone could take you down a peg or two."
"Very true as well."
The shopkeeper came back and handed them everything. "I labeled all the supplies as well, so it is easier to distinguish. Some of the items on your list look very much alike."
The shopkeeper rang up the total, Cloak paid, and the two left.
As they climbed in the car, Elektra said, "I don't blame her, though. You do look good in that cloak."
"Thanks," Cloak replied.
"I've seen the way your eyes widen when you first see me in this costume," Elektra stated as she closed the door.
"Why wouldn't they? You fill it out very well."
"Tell me, have you ever fucked a girl before?"
"What?" Cloak said laughing.
The car took off down the street.
"You know, had sex? Have you lost your virginity yet?"
"That's bordering on personal business."
"I lost my virginity a year ago," Elektra said. "I was in college studying law. The guy was this blind guy named Matt. He was awesome."
"Aren't you still with him?"
"No," Elektra said. "Some things happened, I dropped out and we went our separate ways. He was a great guy."
Cloak was surprised at Elektra's openness with him. So much so that he decided to be open with her. "No," he said.
"No, what?"
"No, I haven't been with anyone yet. There was this one time I almost, but then it didn't work out."
"Really? Why not?"
"Here's the store," Cloak said pulling up in front of Salem West.
The two climbed out and entered the magic shop.
Dagger pulled the motorcycle over to the side of the road.
"I'll run and patrol," Marvel Boy said. "You stay on the bike. Any sign of trouble and you radio me."
"You bet!" Dagger said with sarcasm.
Marvel Boy didn't notice and ran off into the shadows.
"God, am I going to be taking orders from the kitchen sink next?"
"You could start taking orders from us," a voice said.
The Slayer turned and saw several vampires come around the corner.
"Oh, shit," she said.
As the vampires neared, Dagger pulled out a stake and hurled it at one. It hit the vampire in the chest and it turned to dust.
A vampire grabbed the Slayer from behind and jerked her off the motorcycle. Another vampire walked up in front of her. She pulled away from the one holding her and ran forward. She ran up the vampire in front of her, kicked it in the face and flipped over the vampire that held her from behind. As she flipped, she pulled out a silver stake and rammed it into its head. It burst into flame and turned to ash. She caught the silver stake as it fell through the vampire and rammed it into the chest of the vampire she kicked. It burst into flame and ash as well.
Moving quickly, she turned and kicked sideways catching a vampire in the face. She moved fluidly, staked it, and watched as it turned to flame and ash. Pulling her silver boomerang from its pouch, she hurled it at a vampire coming across the street. The weapon decapitated it and sliced off the arm of another. It flew behind her and she stuck out her hand. It landed in her hand perfectly.
"I'm really not sure I like where this conversation is going," Cloak said.
"What do you mean? You've never had sex and I'm giving you the opportunity to do a Slayer. We have awesome stamina. You and I could go all night."
"No, thanks," Cloak said as they approached the car.
"Come on," Elektra said seductively. "I'll bet you have a good nine incher underneath that sheet."
Cloak was no longer paying attention, though. He was looking across the street. Elektra caught on and looked, too. A small band of vampires stared at them. Then they approached.
Cloak held up his hands and two balls of flame appeared. He hurled them at the vampires. They scattered but one was hit by a fireball and burst into flame.
Elektra pulled out her Sais and flipped over the car kicking two vampires in their face. She stabbed them with her Sais and they burst into flame.
After an hour or so, Cloak and Elektra pulled into the lair around the same time Dagger and Marvel Boy did. Whistler came out when he heard the engines.
"How did things go?" he asked.
"Just fine," Cloak said. "If you count a band of vampires as being fine."
"I was attacked as well," Dagger said.
"Me, three," Marvel Boy stated. "They were out in force tonight."
"That's what happens when there is a vampire war," Whistler said. "Did you get the ingredients?"
Cloak and Elektra tossed the Watcher their bags.
"There's everything," Elektra said.
Dagger and Marvel Boy went into the locker rooms. A few minutes later, they came out in their normal attire.
"I'm tired of getting showers in there," Davey said. "I want a nice hot bubble bath."
"Me, too," Tandy replied. "We're going to use the bathrooms upstairs."
"I should get going, too," Harris replied.
"I'll take you home," Whistler said.
Everyone except Ty and Elektra left. Elektra looked over at Ty and winked at him.
"I think we need a shower," she said.
To Be Continued...
What do you think of Elektra putting the moves on Ty? If you think about it, the only sex scene that has ever appeared in Marvel Knights has been with Michael and Johnny. Would you like to see anther sex scene in here? Elektra and Ty? Harris and Davey (even though they are minors)? This storyline will be coming to a close, but there is more I have in store. What do you think of how everything is developing?