Cobalt Comics, Mystic, Connecticut
Jacob Keller flipped the closed sign on the door of Cobalt Comics and pulled the shutter down. Between his narcolepsy and the potential for his enemies to be at his door very soon, Jacob knew he didn’t have much time to prepare. Walking to the back shelf where a number of boxed action figures were positioned, Jacob grabbed ten of them, lining them up on the counter.
“Okay Justice League, two super villains are about to come through that door, I need protection.” Jacob announced, as he touched the middle box, the figure inside dressed in red and blue with a backward ‘S’ on his chest. “They need to be stopped quickly, if needs be killed, they are too dangerous to be left alive.” He added as he went into the back room, locking the door behind him. Seconds later the boxes shuddered as the figures inside awoke and crawled out.
“You heard Watchtower’s briefing.” A figure dressed in grey and black with a long cape and eared cowl. “We have enemies incoming.”
“Your tactical assessment Batman?” A female action figure dressed in a leotard emblazoned with an eagle and stars.
“We separate the attackers so they can’t help each other.” Batman growled as he looked around the comic book store. “We aim to subdue, but if we can’t then we kill them. Superman lead Flash, Green Lantern and Deathstroke against one target, I’ll lead Black Lightning, Green Arrow and Aquaman against the other one.
Diana, I need you and Batgirl to act as a rear guard if the villains break through.”
“Do we know who we’re facing?” Flash asked as he shot round the perimeter of the store in a few seconds.
“Scum calling themselves the Enforcer and the Zombie Master.” Batman told him as the league got ready for the coming siege. “Well known for showing no mercy.”
Jacob Keller flipped the closed sign on the door of Cobalt Comics and pulled the shutter down. Between his narcolepsy and the potential for his enemies to be at his door very soon, Jacob knew he didn’t have much time to prepare. Walking to the back shelf where a number of boxed action figures were positioned, Jacob grabbed ten of them, lining them up on the counter.
“Okay Justice League, two super villains are about to come through that door, I need protection.” Jacob announced, as he touched the middle box, the figure inside dressed in red and blue with a backward ‘S’ on his chest. “They need to be stopped quickly, if needs be killed, they are too dangerous to be left alive.” He added as he went into the back room, locking the door behind him. Seconds later the boxes shuddered as the figures inside awoke and crawled out.
“You heard Watchtower’s briefing.” A figure dressed in grey and black with a long cape and eared cowl. “We have enemies incoming.”
“Your tactical assessment Batman?” A female action figure dressed in a leotard emblazoned with an eagle and stars.
“We separate the attackers so they can’t help each other.” Batman growled as he looked around the comic book store. “We aim to subdue, but if we can’t then we kill them. Superman lead Flash, Green Lantern and Deathstroke against one target, I’ll lead Black Lightning, Green Arrow and Aquaman against the other one.
Diana, I need you and Batgirl to act as a rear guard if the villains break through.”
“Do we know who we’re facing?” Flash asked as he shot round the perimeter of the store in a few seconds.
“Scum calling themselves the Enforcer and the Zombie Master.” Batman told him as the league got ready for the coming siege. “Well known for showing no mercy.”
Issue #9
(July 2020) Written By John Cheese The Enforcer
Zombie Master
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THE GIFT OF MAGIC: PART THREEMike removed the ammo clip from his pistols before socketing in hollow-point bullets spelled to dispel magic in anything they struck. Sarah had been most clear that the Dreamer AKA Jacob Keller would face justice for what he had done.
“My hunch was right.” Sarah announced as she removed a baseball bat from the chest in the back of the pick-up truck. “Jacob Keller owns Cobalt Comics, but his father Kern owns the property. Turns out he didn’t need all that much convincing to give us permission to enter the building, even less for Lana to convince her son to go along with committal. Honestly I think they’ve been thinking about it for a while.” She added as fished out an envelope from within her blouse. “If he wasn’t a psychotic killer, I’d feel bad for him. The key I assume?” Mike asked as he walked past Sarah and removed a brass amulet on a chain with an eye shaped ruby in the centre. “I have my own but let’s try yours first.” He suggested as he looped the chain round his wrist. Rolling her eyes, Sarah opened the envelope and removed a key, twisting it in the lock of the door. “And we’re in.” Sarah replied as she pulled the door open. “Well as far as the shutters I guess.” “Well time for the Eye of Munshin, Korean God of Doorways, to get us through the rest of the way.” Mike sighed as he pointed the amulet at the shutter, the red gem dilating before firing a beam of red energy at the door, burning an access hole in the steel. “Wait Munshin is a guardian deity, protecting homes from evil.” Sarah stated as she looked at the hole burnt into the shutter. “He protects against evil.” Mike replied as he ducked through the door into the comic book store. “When evil is inside, he seals it in but opens a door to allow a hero inside to deal with...” Before he could finish his spiel, he was knocked backwards with enough force that the shutters caved outwards. There levitating in the doorway was an action figure dressed in a red and blue costume with a cape. “Effigy control neat.” Sarah stated with a smile as she swung the bat at the Superman action figure, her weapon shattering on the figure. “Miss you are in a heap of trouble.” Superman stated as he grabbed Sarah by the neck and threw her into the store. “Make way for the Enforcer!” Mike snarled as he swung the amulet at the Superman action figure, the jewel striking the toy and knocking it to the ground, red steam streaking off the plastic as it de-animated. “Effigy control is not neat!” He called as he entered the store just as Sarah got to her feet only to be tackled by the figure of Aquaman, his tiny plastic trident stabbing into her thorax. “Still cool.” Sarah replied as she grabbed Aquaman by the head and threw him into a wall, his body sliding down into a bowl full of moss balls. As she finished with the Atlantean, Sarah’s body convulsed and steamed as Black Lightning fired forked blasts of electricity at her. “Less cool.” She added as Mike opened fire at the Green Lantern, a wall of green bricks blocking the projectiles. “You fool. water revitalises me!” Aquaman called as he began to pull himself out of the bowl. “I’m getting sexier, stronger and faster!” He yelled as Sarah swung the remains of the bat at Black Lightning, knocking the action figure into the same wall, his body sparking as he dropped into the bowl, shocking Aquaman even as he shorted out. “Blackout.” Black Lightning moaned as a salvo of green missiles impacted on Mike, knocking him into a stand of adult comics. “Black…out.” “Three down.” Mike groaned as Deathstroke leapt at him sword ready to slash at him. Quick on the draw Mike shot three bullets at the action figure, the rounds obliterating the villainous assassin. “Doesn’t make a difference, these guys are literal puppets.” He added as a green hard light sledge hammer swung at him hard enough to wind him. “This guy sucks.” “We suck, you are super villains breaking into a comic book store.” The Flash stated as he streaked past Mike landing a blow on the living man’s ankle. “That’s as lame as it comes.” He added as Sarah swept the Green Arrow off a stand of comics knocking him to the floor and crushing him underfoot. Heading to the till, Sarah grabbed a load of stationary and threw it at the Green Lantern, the majority bouncing off his shield save for a yellow paperclip striking the action figure on the forehead. Narrowing his eyes, Mike grabbed the paperclip off the floor, just as the Flash jumped on him and started pummelling him. “Enough with this.” Mike groaned as he grabbed the Flash action figure and ripped its legs off before throwing it to the floor. “You monsters will pay for this.” The gravelly tones of Batman growled as he threw a pair of plastic batarangs at Sarah, the projectiles going over her head and stabbing into a cardboard cut-out of a monster clown. Swinging the remains of her bat, Sarah smacked the Batman action figure as it dived towards her straight out through the open door and onto the street. “Almost done here.” Mike growled as he garrotted the Green Lantern action figure with the paper clip. “Next stop the Dreamer.” He added, as Sarah reached for the door, only for a golden lasso to lash out striking her above the eye to form a stinging welt. “By Hera I will not let you pass!” The Wonder Woman action figure hissed, as Sarah went to grab her only to be uppercut in the jaw. Staggering back, she saw Mike aim his gun at the action figure before opening fire, discharging what was left of the round at the heroine, her bracelets flashing as she deflected all but the last bullet, the projectile slashing through her stomach, causing her to collapse to her knees and de-animate. Looking at the slain Justice League, the Batgirl figure held her hands up in surrender as she Sarah got to her feet. “Please enough, we serve him because we have no choice.” The Batgirl figure gulped. “He makes us do stuff, wrong stuff…” “Ugh boys and their action figures.” Sarah groaned as Mike reloaded his weapons and walked up to the door, his hand reaching for a grenade on his belt. “Whoa we said…” “Relax it’s a flashbang, let’s see if this disrupts the Dreamer’s sleep.” Mike reassured her as he opened the door slightly and pitched the grenade into the room. Out on the street the Batman figure got to his feet and staggered towards the store. “I am vengeance,” The action figure groaned as the Fiat Punto turned right into the road at the intersection, “I am the night,” Batman continued as the headlights fell on him, “I am Batman.” He finished seconds before the car crushed him under its tyres. Jacob Keller heard a ringing sound, one that raised him from his sleep and causing him to clutch his ears, screaming in pain as the man he’d seen on the street earlier that day walk in. a handgun raised at him. “You broke into my place!” Keller yelled as Nero placed the handgun against his head. “We were given the key.” Sarah stated as she removed a pair of origami monkeys, the paper constructs splitting into three and darting around the comic book store and cleaning up the aftermath of the battle that had taken place. “Your family were concerned. And speaking of family, we need to talk about your sister.” “She’s suffered enough, leave her out of this!” Jacob snarled as he tried to get up, only for Mike to wrestle him gently down onto the bed. “Suffered at your hand.” Mike growled as Sarah passed him a clipboard with a list of names. “Others did, all so you could make that disgusting abomination. Stop playing coy, everyone in this town knows about magic, so don’t waste my time.” “What victims?” Jacob asked. “They deserved what they got! They wasted their gifts, they could have been the next Captain America, the next Ironman, but they decided to live quiet little lives in this backwoods burg!” “Wasted? Your sister was using her powers to heal people, Paige Hanover managed to use her empath abilities to cure people of depression, Bryn Murphy was using his gift of the gab to negotiate property deals for low income families; I can go on…” Sarah announced as she advanced on Jacob, a pair of handcuffs in one hand and a syringe in the other. “Go on, I like kinky stuff, and after all the hero always gets the girl.” Jacob snickered as Mike went to deliver a knock out blow, only for his partner to shake her head. “You can’t pin any of this on me. I’ll build a new, starting with that little bitch of a necromancer, her powers will make everything run more smoothly.” “You’re not getting the chance.” Sarah stated, the cold tone of her voice causing the temperature of the room to drop as she injected Jacob and then handcuffed him, pinning his hands behind his back. “Your parents are worried about your mental health, by this time tomorrow you’ll be an inpatient at Ravencroft Asylum.” “I just need to fall asleep, when I do, your life is over.” Jacob snorted, a mocking grin on his face as he closed his eyes. “Yeah about that, the syringe contained 10ml of liquified hydra amygdala,” Mike stated as he saw Jacob open his eyes, a confused look on his face, “you see the hydra can never sleep thanks to special chemicals in its brain, right now you can’t sleep, won’t sleep for a week. Unfortunately, that will be metabolised in a week, thankfully the 5ml of oil of eternity diluted in with it will allow your body to produce it naturally for months, maybe years…” He explained as Jacob began to panic at what he was hearing. “…maybe forever.” Sarah finished as Mike walked Jacob through the immaculate store towards the repaired now open shutter and towards the beat-up Toyota Hiluk. “The dreams over Keller, welcome to your nightmare.” Cosy Kott, Mystic. Connecticut Mike Nero carried the two glasses, one filled with white wine the other with whiskey, over to the booth table where Sarah was sitting. Placing the whiskey down in-front of her, Mike took the opposite seat. Removing his wallet from his jeans pocket he placed the cheque Kern Keller had given them. “So do we cut this in half?” Sarah asked sarcastically as she took a sip from her whiskey. “I can bank it and pay you half when we get back to New York.” Mike replied as he folded the cheque back up and placed it back in his wallet. “Unless…” “Unless what?” Sarah asked. “Well I have my uncle’s account, the one owned by the Enforcer, but what if we were to place this in a joint account.” Mike suggested before taking a sip from his wine glass. “As in a joint account for the money we earn doing jobs.” “Are you suggesting a business partnership Mike?” Sarah asked, her eyes wide with surprise. “Why not, the Enforcer’s bank account is for assassinations, kidnappings and robberies and while I’m not saying that it wouldn’t be used as an emergency fund, I made a promise to you when we first decided to work together.” Mike explained as he pocketed his wallet and crossed his arms. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable regarding money.” “So yes?” Sarah asked cautiously. “Yes.” Mike replied as he watched Sarah crack a half smile. “We’d be partners, equally responsible for the running of Enforcer Magical Solutions.” “Veto.” Sarah snorted. “Not about being equal partners, but the name, it’s terrible.” “Okay, how about Nero Mystical Systems?” Mike suggested, only for Sarah to shake her head. “Okay Zombie Master, what would you call us?” “How about Hannigan and Nero Supernatural Consulting?” Sarah asked after thinking about the name for a few seconds. “I like it but swap the names round.” Mike suggested as he rose his wine glass, Sarah reciprocating with her whisky tumbler. “To Nero and Hannigan Supernatural Consulting.” He called, as the two clinked their grasses together. |