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 13 Uncovering
Davey and Harris arrived at the apartment building and rushed inside. "Blade!" Davey called out.
"In here," Blade called out.
Davey rushed in to see Blade sharpening his many silver weapons. Some of the vampires the group faced were of a different breed and silver harmed them, not wood.
"What is it?" Blade asked.
"Punisher was at the mall. He attacked the Friends of Humanity."
"He what?" Blade said giving his undivided attention to Davey now.
"The Friends of Humanity must have had a headquarters or command center in the mall. Punisher knew about it and attacked them."
"In the middle of the day he attacked them. That son of a bitch. Was anyone hurt?"
"Just Friends of Humanity commandos."
"I guess we should be thankful for that. I'm glad you and Harris weren't hurt. By the way why in the hell were you two at the mall? The supplies we need could have been picked up at any convenience store."
"I know. I was hoping you wouldn't ask that. Anyway, we got the supplies but wanted to check out what was going on at the mall."
Blade frowned at Davey.
"What can I say? We're teenagers! We love the mall!"
"Where are the supplies?" Blade asked after sighing.
"Down in the car."
"Get them. And when you come back I need you to rest up. Tonight we are going hunting."
Davey left the apartment and found Harris waiting outside in the hall. He looked at Davey with a solemn look and the two retrieved the supplies. After bringing them back up, they entered the command apartment and found Tandy, Ty, and Blade sitting around talking.
"Put the supplies away and join us," Ty said.
Davey recognized the look on their faces. Some big evil was brewing.
"Do you want me to stay in here or go into another apartment?" Harris asked.
"It's okay if you stay," Blade answered.
The supplies were quickly put away and the two went over and sat on the floor leaning up against the wall.
"What's up?" Davey asked.
"Last night there was another attack by vampires near the Axis. Ty investigated and found a vampire in the club."
"Again?" Davey asked. "When will they ever learn?"
"It seems never, although there may be more going on than we are aware of."
Harris looked a little confused.
"We have been slaying vampires at the Axis for several months. Every night we go there and there are a band of vampires preying on the clubbers," Davey filled in.
"Normally the vampires would not return to a place that we frequent every night but for some reason they keep going back. Either they are really stupid vampires or they have an open invitation to come and feed whenever they want. That's what we need to find out."
"How?" Tandy asked.
"We are going to set the vamps up. Davey and Ty are going tonight to the club to enjoy themselves."
"Wait a minute, hold up!" Ty interjected. "No offense, guys, but I'm not gay! I'm not going to dance at a club and wait for some guys to come up and grind on me!"
"Thanks for the apology beforehand," Davey replied, "as if that softened the blow."
"Look, Davey, you know I don't have a problem with you if you like guys. But I don't like guys and I'm not comfortable in that type of situation."
"You're okay going into the Axis if you are hunting vampires."
"That's different. I'm occupied with hunting the vampires, not getting hit on by a bunch of fairies."
"It's no different," Davey said indignantly.
"You can say that again."
Davey threw Ty a dirty look. "You know what I meant. You are going to be there hunting vampires in the disguise of a gay man. Don't worry. I'll protect you from the guys."
It was Ty's turn to throw Davey a dirty look.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Harris asked.
"I don't know," Blade answered. "You don't have any special powers and you don't know how to fight. It would probably be better if you stay here, out of harm's way."
Harris nodded a bit disappointed but he knew what Blade meant. He wouldn't be able to do much of anything in the way of fighting vampires. His presence would only occupy the vampire hunters from accomplishing their task.
"Tandy and I will be outside keeping a watch on the club and checking the building for any other ways in. If vampires are invited to that place there must be someone keeping the invitation open.
"Any questions?"
"When do we get underway?" Tandy asked.
"Sun down."
The group nodded and went their separate ways.
"I'm sorry that you can't come tonight," Davey said to Harris.
"It's okay. I understand why. I don't want to get hurt and I don't want to get in your way. I'll stay here and pass the time."
Punisher slept but not very well. He tossed and turned all afternoon. He had a commando outfit that he planned on using. Tonight. He was going to infiltrate the Friends of Humanity and, hopefully, get whoever was in control. That was his plan.
Just before sunset, Punisher stirred. His unpleasant dreams created restlessness within and causing him to jump with a start. Looking around, he found his surroundings unfamiliar at first. Then he recalled where he was and his senses gained composure.
"It is time," he said out loud to no one in particular. He climbed in the back of his Suburban and began taking off his black leather clothing.
Blade pulled on his bulletproof vest, loaded his pistol clips with silver bullets, strapped on his silver and wooden stakes and then pulled on his leather overcoat. He slid his sword into its sheath on his back, reached over and pulled his sunglasses off the table and slid them in place, ready for war with the forces of darkness.
Ty entered the room with his black cloak around his shoulders, the hint of his charcoal colored jumpsuit underneath when he lifted his hands. "Are you ready?" he asked Blade.
Blade looked at him and nodded. "But you don't look very ready. You are supposed to be going undercover."
"Mutare," Ty replied and a blue cloud hazed around him. When the cloud dissipated, Ty stood there wearing a tight, revealing white shirt and tight blue jean shorts.
"You look fabulous!" Davey said as he walked in with Harris in tow.
"Shut up."
Harris handed Davey his PRIDE rings necklace and Davey put it on. "Do you want one of these, Ty? I have another one in my bag."
"No. I don't want another one. Thanks."
"Okay," Davey replied with a grin. "But it would go awesome with that outfit."
Ty just rolled his eyes. Davey was having too much fun with the situation.
"Excuse me," Tandy said to Harris. He stepped aside and Tandy walked in wearing full Dagger gear, her white mask and jumpsuit in place. She placed her wooden stake on one side of her belt and her silver stake on the other. Several bottles of holy water were strapped around her belt as well as a cross.
"Everyone ready?" Blade asked.
The team nodded.
"Then let's move out."
Davey turned to Harris. "Don't wait up for me."
Harris nodded and gave Davey a hug. He watched as the heroes went down the stairs to their vehicles. Ty and Davey climbed in the black sports car and Blade and Dagger climbed on the motorcycle. The two vehicles started up and headed off down the road.
"They are true marvel knights," Harris muttered.
Ty and Davey walked in as the NSYNC Mega Mix was playing, a sixteen-and-a-half dance mix of songs from their first two albums combined. Davey grinned at Ty and started dancing right away, making his way over to the dance floor. Ty watched Davey, rolled his eyes at Davey's enthusiasm, and walked over to the bar.
The bartender eyed Ty as he approached. "What can I get for you?"
"A club soda, please," Ty replied.
"Sure thing." The bartender smiled at Ty and got his drink.
"Thanks." Ty took a sip and turned to the dance floor.
Davey moved his body in time to the music. Several young guys came up to Davey and surrounded him dancing along with the music.
"It's been a long time, Davey," Larry, Davey's high school friend, said. "Where have you been?"
"Out and about," Davey replied with a grin. It was hard for him to act nice to Larry, especially the way Larry acted the other day toward Harris. Granted, Davey knew Larry longer than he knew Harris, but he was involved with Harris now. Even more important, he got to know Harris on the inside. On the inside, Harris was more beautiful than Larry and the rest of the gorgeous gay guys in his high school.
"It's good to see you," Larry said.
"It's good to be seen!"
Larry moved closer to Davey and kissed him full on the lips. Davey pulled away.
"What's the problem?" Larry asked.
"I don't want you to do that."
"You never had a problem with it before. Why is it different now?"
"It just is," Davey said going on dancing.
"You've got a boyfriend, don't you?" Larry grinned. "Like I said, it never stopped you before. Why now?"
"Never mind."
"Wait a second," Larry said. His face became thoughtful. "Harris has been around either. And last time I saw you two at the same time, you were upset that I was so mean to him. Are you involved with him?"
Davey didn't answer.
Larry let out a loud laugh. "You are involved with that repulsive, fat ass, aren't you?"
The other three guys who were dancing with Larry and Davey had moved away from them. Now they were watching the two "friends" converse.
"It's none of your business," Davey said.
"Sure it is. You are corrupting us with him. You are no longer in our group, Davey, if you continue to see Quasimodo."
Davey walked off the dance floor and went to a chair in the corner to sit. Tears fell from his eyes. "As Long As You Love Me" remix came on the speakers and the pace quickened on the dance floor.
Ty noticed Davey sitting by himself. He headed over to comfort his friend.
"Hey," he said sitting down next to him. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Davey said wiping his eyes.
"You are crying over nothing? That doesn't sound right. Tell me what's going on. I'm your friend, aren't I?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Was it those guys?" Ty motioned to the four that danced with Davey. "If you want, I could turn them into toads."
Davey just shook his head, not phased by Ty's attempt at humor.
"Is it Harris? Do they go to school with you and Harris?" Davey nodded his head in answer to Ty's questions. "They don't like Harris, do they?" Again, Davey nodded. "Why not?"
"They think he's ugly."
"Physically?"
Davey again nodded.
"That doesn't matter, though. Does it?"
"I used to think so. Not two days ago I was just like them. I made fun of Harris. I thought he was gross to look at."
"But?"
"But after I got to know him, after I saw what he was really like, his physical appearance became cute to me. I like looking at him."
"That's love, Davey. Love looks at the soul. That's where the connection is. From there, physical attractiveness comes in. Falling in love with someone's soul causes someone to fall in love with someone's appearance. I know that the world doesn't teach that. The package is the first impression. Most people believe what they see is what they get. Not true.
"Hundreds of years ago, people like me were considered inferior because of the color of our skin. We were judged inferior because of it. But many of us were willing to fight. And some white people were willing to fight for us. By fighting and showing people we were equal, society changed. It may not have been the actual believers in our inferiority that changed, but their children changed, their grandchildren changed. Now we have a more equal society. Granted we still have a ways to go to become truly equal, but laws have been passed and a majority of people treats us equal. The minority are those who still think we are different.
"Time will continue to change the world. Only time will get the shallowness of the world cleaned out. Time and us making an effort to not be shallow."
Davey nodded. "I know. But it still hurts. I'm glad Harris isn't here. He doesn't deserve to be treated like that."
"I know," Ty replied. He reached over and embraced his friend.
Blade and Dagger walked along the roof of the buildings across the street from the Axis. Blade kept his eyes on the building. Dagger, however, kept looking around, at the sky, at the roof, at the skyline, anywhere and everywhere but where she should have been looking.
"What are we looking for, anyway?" Dagger asked.
"Any sign that something is going on at the club. Anything suspicious, mystical marks, secret entrances, suspicious people. Anything."
"Suspicious like us?"
Blade turned and looked at her.
"What?" she asked. "What did I say?"
Blade continued his observations of the area. Silence abounded between the two for the next few moments.
"What do you think of Harris?" Dagger asked, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you like him?"
"He's okay. Why do you ask?"
"I think he and Davey kind of make a cute couple. You know, Davey is so short and petite for a guy and Harris is so big."
Blade turned and looked at her again.
"I'm just saying."
"I know exactly what you are saying. They are exact opposites and you think it's cute they are involved with each other."
"Yeah, I do." Dagger thought for a moment. "And it wouldn't hurt for you to find a nice guy or girl to couple yourself with. I mean, if you want someone totally opposite, you could always go for someone less violent and with more of a sense of humor. On the other hand, you could always date someone like you. In that case, the only person I know of would be Punisher."
Blade turned quickly and looked at her sharply.
"I'm just saying," she said.
The sound of a car driving down the road caught their attention.
"It's probably nothing," Dagger replied. "How many cars have we seen drive down the road? This is a busy avenue. Duh."
"How many pulled into the alley by the club?" Blade asked.
Dagger turned and watched as the car drove behind the Axis.
"Time to clock in," Blade replied. He jumped off the building and landed on his feet on the sidewalk, and then he ran toward the club.
Punisher, in full commando gear, drove his Suburban toward downtown Columbus. His first stop was the mall headquarters of the Friends of Humanity. His plan was to infiltrate their offices, find out where any more command centers were located in the city, and identify the leader of the group.
Punisher parked the Suburban in the open parking lot right next to the Lazarus mall entrance. He climbed out and headed for the building with confidence. The mall had closed but the borrowed pass card should have supplied him access. He walked up to the door and tried to open it. Locked. He slid the card down the card reader beside the door and the magnetic lock released. Pulling the doors open, he entered.
He wasted no time as he made his way up the stopped escalators to the proper floor. Walking quickly and assuredly down the corridor, he passed janitors who smiled and waved at him. He nodded back as went along, finally reaching the escalator down to the floor of the F.O.H. headquarters.
"I've done infiltration before in the military," Punisher thought. "This is no different." He took a deep breath and walked to the door of the office. Lightly pulling on the handle, the door proved to be locked. Punisher slid the card and the door unlocked. "Thank God they haven't deactivated this card."
He entered the office to find it closed for the night. "This must be their public face."
He walked to the file cabinet and began looking through the files. For the first ten minutes, Punisher found nothing of interest. Most were reports on suspected mutants and their mutant hunting activities. On one of the reports, the name "Exeter" was mentioned. Wondering who Exeter was, Punisher continued his snooping. He then moved to the "E" documents and looked up "Exeter". With great joy, he found the file.
Smiling to himself, Punisher went over to the desk and sat, placing the folder in front of him. With great delight, he began reading the file.
"Exeter, Reverend Lawrence. Current assignment: Director, Friends of Humanity, Columbus, Ohio. Office: Bryce building."
"Bingo," Punisher said.
The click of a gun brought him back to reality. He looked up and saw Lilandra standing in the doorway with a pistol pointed at him.
"I didn't think you would be this stupid to come back here, Punisher."
"I was counting on your intelligence to assume I wouldn't. I guess I was wrong," Punisher replied.
"Don't get cute with me. You are in no position."
Blade and Dagger ran to the side of the Axis nightclub where they found the car parked. Blade examined the wall at a glance. "No readily identifiable entrance."
"Must be a secret way in. Either that or they went around to the back."
"Go check it out."
Dagger nodded and went to the end of the wall and turned. She was just in time to see the Dumpster move back in place. She walked up to it and looked around it. A slab of concrete was even with the pavement but four straight grooves separated it from the rest of the street. The Dumpster rested on top.
"Guess this has to go," Dagger replied. She reached up, grabbed the end of the Dumpster and pulled it off the slab with little strain. She walked back to the corner and found Blade examining the wall closer. "Blade, I found the entrance."
Blade turned and ran down to her. "Where is it?"
"Underneath the Dumpster."
Blade walked over to the moved Dumpster and out-of-place concrete slab. "Good work."
"Thanks."
"Too bad it is going to be the last thing you do," a raspy voice said.
Blade and Dagger turned and saw a small band of vampires of assorted species behind them and above them on the roof hefting serious weaponry. The one who spoke was a dark-skinned man with a very ripped body. His face was not bumpy as the half-demon half-human vampires were. He was the kind that had the vampiric disease that made its victims into vampires.
"You must be the welcoming committee," Blade replied.
"And you are Day-walker. And the young lady is a Vampire Slayer. Looks like we are going to make a name for ourselves tonight." He snarled at Blade and leapt off the building.
Blade pulled out his silver stake and rammed it into the vampire's heart as the vampire fell on him. The vampire screamed and burned up before their eyes.
"Looks like the party has started."
A vampire ran at Dagger. She ducked as his fist flew at her. Grabbing him by the back of his head, Dagger rammed it into the Dumpster. She rolled him around in front of her, pulled out a stake, and rammed it into his heart, turning him to dust.
In a quick fluid motion, Dagger jumped into the air and spread her legs to the sides, kicking two vampires. Then, bringing a leg forward, she kicked the third. She landed on her feet, then jumped again, flipping in the air and landing on top of the Dumpster.
Blade punched a vampire and then kicked a leg out. It landed and his torso rolled as his other leg went into the air kicking a vampire. He did this move several times, kicking several vampires in a row. When he stopped he pulled out his S-blade and threw it as the vampires readied themselves. The blade went along and sliced the heads off of the vampires. Some burned up as others turned to dust.
"Decapitation works on all of them," Blade said with a smirk.
Dagger looked up and saw the vampires on the roof. She smiled to her self and jumped. A bar hung just under the edge of the roof. The Vampire Slayer grabbed the bar and swung her legs out and around making her feet pointing up. She kicked a vampire, knocking it back and swung her legs around so she would land on her feet. Pulling out her stakes, a silver one in one hand, a wooden one in another, she smiled. "Who's ready to dance?"
Deep beneath the Axis nightclub, a wizard kneeled inside a pentagram reciting an ancient incantation. The spell was one to draw on creatures of darkness to inhabit the place of choice. Most wizards had used the magic to draw vampires to do their will. Some used it to trap vampires and rid the land of the dark, menacing creatures. He, however, was working with a local minister who wanted to prove the nightclub drew beings of darkness. Using this particular spell kept a steady flow of demonic activity coming to the Axis. And the victims of the demonic creatures were those already deemed evil and immoral.
The wizard finished his incantation and smiled. His work here was done for the evening. That spell would bring many to the area. "Your request has been fulfilled, Reverend Exeter. This should bring you great popularity. Time for me to make a collection for my funds."
To Be Continued...
Not only is the Reverend Exeter using the Friends of Humanity to further his goal in controlling mutants, but also he is enlisting the help of a wizard to bring creatures of darkness to kill the gay clubbers. He seems to have really big issues with people who are different than him. Blade and the gang are close to figuring out what is going on at the Axis and the information will lead them to Exeter. Punisher has figured out Exeter is behind the Friends of Humanity and he knows Exeter's office location. It is only a matter of time before either Punisher or Blade and company get to Exeter. Who will get to him first?
Also, a hint of foreshadowing in this chapter. Around Chapter 15, the story will be changing names from "The Punisher" to "Marvel Knights" since the other characters have taken on a fan base and seem to have grown in their roles in the story. Do you think that is a good thing or a bad thing? Should I shift the focus of the story back to Punisher solely or keep the other characters as major players? I'd love to hear from you.