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.
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 authorjames2002@yahoo.com
Thank you and enjoy.
Chapter 10 Thinning Ranks
Weatherby and Johnny returned to the mansion and unloaded the supplies.
"Well?" Whistler said as he entered the kitchen.
"Well, what?"
"The boy. How did things go with him?"
"He wants to cooperate," Weatherby said.
"Thank God. I was wondering if the little shit would come 'round."
"He wants someone there to protect him, though. I think he's afraid of the leader of this religion."
"Maybe we should send Tandy," Johnny replied. "We told him about Slayers. Despite the fact she put him in the hospital it might ease his fears if she is protecting him."
"Tandy isn't available."
"What do you mean she isn't available?"
"I've figured out the problem. Her Slayer powers are maturing. That happens as Slayers grow older, their powers become more pronounced. That's how she was able to sense the vampires in the bushes the night she and Ty went out. Her mutation is being effected by her being a Slayer."
"Is it dangerous?"
"I don't think so. She should be okay. But I'm sending her to New York to train with the X-MEN."
"At least she will be close to Ty," Johnny pointed out.
The door opened and in entered Blade.
"It's about time you get home," Whistler said. "Where the fuck have you been?"
"Out."
"I know that, but where? What if we needed you last night?"
"From the looks of things, you didn't."
"Shows what you know."
"Where's Tandy?"
"She's packing her things."
"What the hell for?" Blade asked as concern formed over his face.
"There was an incident the other night."
"The burst of her power, I know that."
"And last night. She hit a human being, caused internal injuries."
"Who did she hit? Punisher is still here."
"It wasn't him."
"I'm elated." Blade's voice was full of sarcasm.
Punisher just rolled his eyes.
"It was a young boy. He is part of a gang that has been recruited by...it's going to take a long time to explain that. I'll get to it in a minute.
"As far as Tandy is concerned, I'm sending her to New York to train with Xavier. Her reaction is due to the maturing of her Slayer powers. It is also effecting her mutation. I'm figuring Xavier can teach her control."
"What about the rest of the team? Ghost Rider and I can't do it alone."
"Hello, standing right here, self-serving bastard." Anger was evident in Punisher's voice.
"Yeah, well, you can't do a whole lot with demons and vampires, now, can you? You're just human."
"You're just upset because I don't want to fuck you."
"Son of a bitch," Blade said moving toward Punisher, unfolding his arms preparing to strike.
"Would you two shut the fuck up?" Whistler yelled.
Johnny moved in between the two and grasped the gas cap, muttering under his breath the incantation just in case the two didn't yield to Whistler's request. Blade did back down though his chest heaved with anger.
"Things didn't work out between you two. So the fuck what? Things didn't work out between Tandy and Ty. Do you see those two going at it like monsters? Maybe it's the male in you that is making you so damned hostile. If so, get it under control. We don't have time and I don't have the fucking patience to deal with your macho-ass attitudes." Whistler was obviously pissed off about the way Punisher and Blade were acting. "The important thing is that we work together right now. We need to pull together if anything is going to be accomplished. We have this fucking god that is supposedly rising and will be joining with its mate. We are down a Slayer, a wizard and a...a...flaming homosexual. The last thing we need is QueerFest 2001."
Whistler took a few breaths and addressed Blade. "Now you know the quick version of what has been happening around here. Tonight, Punisher is going to watch over the boy and get as much information out of him as possible. Meanwhile, you two will patrol and dig up any information on this god and death cult that we have to deal with."
"What are you going to do?" Johnny asked.
"We need a Slayer and we need a wizard. No offense to your abilities, Johnny, but we need someone very powerful. You've only just begun practicing."
"Any ideas concerning Ty and Tandy's replacements?"
"I'm going to contact the Council and see if they have any available Slayers. Remember the Vampire War is still going on in some parts of the world. As for the wizard, I don't know yet. We'll see what we can do."
"What about the guy who freed me?" Johnny asked. "What was his name? Strange something?"
"Dr. Strange," Punisher answered. "He just might be able to help."
"How did you meet him?" Whistler asked.
Blade relayed the events in Tokyo leading up the recruitment of Dr. Strange.
"Then I will contact Shiro and see if he can put me in contact with Strange. As for you two," Whistler leveled his fingers and Punisher and Blade, "any more pissing contests and I'm hacking off both your cocks and mounting them on the wall, effectively making the two dicks dickless. Do you understand me?"
Blade walked passed him and down to the training room. Punisher headed up to his and Johnny's room with Johnny following behind.
That night, the remaining three members of the team split up into their respective groups, with Punisher heading to the hospital and Blade and Ghost Rider patrolling the streets.
When Punisher arrived at the hospital, the young boy greeted him with bright eyes, although his face seemed to be indifferent. With the horrible years he's had, or the horrible events he's witnessed, one could never tell which, Punisher didn't blame the young man.
"You made it."
"I did," Punisher replied pulling up a chair. "I'm here to protect you. That was part of the deal. The question is, are you going to hold up your end of the deal?"
"And what was that?"
"That you tell me everything you know about this cult."
"Where do you want me to start?"
"How about who contacted you from the cult? How did you join?"
"It was a few weeks ago when things got a little crazy around the city. I mean, no one believed in vampires until things went nuts. Then, me and a few others were met by this guy, who turned out to be a vampire, and he asked us if we wanted all the crazy shit explained. We agreed and he told us to meet him at the same place the next night.
"When we showed up, he showed up with some of his fanged buddies. He only said 'Follow me' and we did. He took us to a warehouse up in Worthington where we met with the leader. The leader said that we would be the forerunners of a great movement and, in the end, we would be made into gods. I don't know how that will happen, or would have happened since you took me out of the loop."
"Who was the leader?"
"I don't know. We never saw his face."
"You're sure it was a male?"
"I guess, I don't know. We never learned his name, never saw his face."
"Usually you can tell by the voice," Punisher replied.
"Yeah, but it was a weird voice. It sounded, I don't know, kind of eerie like something from a horror flick. And you know them movies tend to have outrageous voices for their demon villains."
"I wanted to ask you why you were chasing after that kid."
"You mean the queer boy? I don't know. The vampire guys took us out to help hunt him down."
"Do you have a problem with queers?"
"Yeah, they are always hitting on us straight guys. They act so woman-like, too. Who wants to see a freaking guy act like a woman? From what I've heard, they are only good for sucking cock if you don't have anyone else to do it."
"Is that what they say?"
"Sure do."
"Have you experienced that?"
"Nah, haven't really had to worry about it. I got a girlfriend who will spread her legs for me any time I want."
"Do you know any gay people personally?"
"Hell, no! I don't want to run the risk of them falling in love with me."
Punisher nodded. "Do you know you're being watched by a gay person?"
"What? You mean some fag is stalking me?"
"No. I mean some 'fag' is protecting you."
The young man's eyes widened in shock and embarrassment. "Oh, shit, man, I didn't mean anything by it."
"Really? Could have fooled me."
"Ah, shit. I didn't...don't let them kill me, man."
"I don't intend to. As much as you would deserve dying at the hands of your gang, we need you alive."
"Alive? Who needs me alive? A band of homos who want to make me their bitch?"
"No. A band of fighters who are after the leader of the cult you joined."
"Do you have any special powers or anything? I mean, you got big muscles, but these cats are strong as hell."
"I have guns," Punisher replied. "And attitude." After a moment, he added, "And I can suck a mean cock, as us queers are known by."
The boy became really embarrassed and turned away from Punisher to look out the window.
Davey and Harris entered their room and crashed on their beds. Harris's mom had left a note to call her if they were in before 10:00 pm. It was well after 11:00 so Harris didn't bother.
"That was really rough today," Davey said. "There were a bunch of people that were rejected. I wonder how we'll fair tomorrow. Most of the crappy singers are already gone. Maybe the next ones to go will be..." Davey stopped speaking his thought.
"Will be who?" Harris asked.
"Never mind." Davey had thought about what Ryan said to him in Columbus. 'There are some who have the talent and there are some who have the look. But you have both.' In Davey's mind, that might mean Harris would be knocked out of the running, and his mind was going there, even though he didn't want to. This was Harris's dream. It would be unfair if Davey were to go on while Harris would be knocked out.
"What were you thinking about?"
"I don't know. Maybe they will start knocking out the youngest ones. You know, the ones who still have to complete school. They won't want to worry about getting all the guys educated."
"Maybe," Harris replied. After a moment, he asked, "What did you think of Ryan and Caleb talking about what they do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Them having sex but only being friends. And the fact that they have sex with other guys at the same time. What do you think about that?"
"I don't know. It sounds kind of erotic. I've fantasized about it some, but not a whole lot. What about you?"
Harris was bothered by what Davey said. It wasn't the fact that Davey fantasized about having sex with two guys. Harris had the same fantasies. But Harris also knew that Davey would be much quicker to have it happen than he would. And Harris was uncomfortable about being naked with other guys. It came from growing up modest as well as being overweight. He could deal with the modesty part. Being overweight, however, was a different thing. Society constantly plugs away at thin being attractive, often leaving those who are overweight with lower self-esteem. And those who are thin feel as if they are not good enough unless they mirror the models in the advertisements.
"I don't know," Harris added. "There are times I think about it. But I don't know if it would be something I could experience. In some ways, it doesn't sound right. Sex just for sex sakes? What's that all about?"
"Ryan told me it is about hormones, really, that we are naturally inclined to be that way. He thinks we should be able to do what we want and who we want no matter what anyone says."
"Even boyfriends?" Harris asked.
"I guess."
To Be Continued...
What do you think so far? Comments are always welcome! In fact, they are encouraged!