Back to GatefoldIssue #10 by John Cheese
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“REVENGE FANTASIES”
Manhattan, New York
Sneed and Makro walked down towards the docks on the Hudson, both of them carrying gift bags from the Stark Expo full of last year’s tech developments. Leading the way Sneed was surprised when Makro held out a hand to stop him.
“What’s wrong?” Sneed asked, concern spread across his face.
“I need to ask you something,” Makro asked as she poked her head round the corner and pointed to a stack of crates at the base of a derelict crane. Stalking over the pair of them squatted down behind the boxes. “Before that I need to tell you something, something about where I came from.”
“Uh, okay,” Sneed answered, as a few rowdy yells sounded behind them as a few dockhands moved in to help unload a docked container ship.
“When I was little I used to live in San Francisco with my father. He ran a private aquarium that sold rare specimens to collectors and other specialists. We were happy together but my father did owe money to the Maggia, and no matter what he repaid it wasn’t enough.” Makro explained as a container was lowered onto the deck. “One night the Maggia had decided to end the game, they sent a man called Gabriel Mason to the house. My father gave him the money he owed but Mason wasn’t here for the money, he was here to make an example of him, and all it took was three shots to kill him.”
“What happened next?” Sneed asked as a pair of trucks pulled up next to the containers.
“Mason took me and the Maggia sold me as a slave to the Hand.” Makro told him as the rear of one of the trucks was thrown open and several armed men leapt out. “The Hand took the opportunity to mould me into an assassin, not that I wasn’t satisfied with that lifestyle. At least not until I catch up with Mason and repay him for what he did to my father.”
“I assume you didn’t catch up with him.” Sneed asked as something heavy stepped out of the second truck.
“Not until now.” Makro answered as she pointed to a figure dressed in power armour walking towards the container. “He calls himself the Nautilus now.” She added as Sneed looked the figure up and down before shaking his head.
“Revenge trips are never the answer. Not even…” He stopped as the Nautilus ripped the doors of the container off and an Asian woman dressed in rags stumbled out. After three steps the gunmen ran over and dragged her towards the truck. “This isn’t about revenge is it?” He asked as Makro pulled a pistol out of her gift bag.
“No, it’s not.” Makro replied as more women were dragged out of the shipping container.
# # # # #
Chicago, Illinois
The dilapidated waterfront property seemed quiet as Luke Cage and Danny Rand AKA Power Man and Iron Fist arrived in the grounds of what had once been a warehouse but was now simply a gathering place for the assorted scum that called Chicago their home. This very building had been home and workplace to the Trapster only half a year ago and had some very bad memories attached to it which was the main reason why it hadn’t been sold despite the enthusiastic ‘For Sale’ Sign posted outside.
(For details on the Heroes for Hire Team’s battle against Paste Pot Pete check out D. Golightly’s Heroes for Hire #7)
“This is where our mystery archer wanted us to come.” Luke snorted, “Well where is he, it’s not like we can ignore him shooting paramedics and cops.”
“I’d wager that he already knows we are here.” Danny replied pointing to the new security cameras on the edge of the building, their cases gleaming even under the ad-hoc camouflage of rust and dust applied to them. “So do you think it’s somebody new to the scene or one of our old foes looking for revenge?”
“I don’t remember an archer in our rouge’s gallery.” Luke answered, “Maniac Hitmen, Intangible Menaces and even that guy who was part fish but never an archer.” As he finished he walked forward to knock on the door only for Danny to stop him and point to the nearly invisible trip wire that snaked over the parking lot. “Huh almost triggered that.” he stated, “Thanks man who knows what that would have done.”
“Surely a guy with a bow and arrow doesn’t scare you?” Danny asked, “You have unbreakable skin.”
“Not scared just worried, this guy targeted cops deliberately, it shows us that he’s not scared about the consequences of his actions.” Luke announced. Up above him a window suddenly smashed open and the blue and yellow armoured figure of the Spear emerged, his weapon trained on Iron Fist.
“Well post was to slow and my internet is down.” Daniels sneered down at the pair of heroes, “You know it is hard work to get hold of people like you for a good dose of revenge.”
“Idiot with a payback fantasy.” Luke told Danny, “I should have put money on it.”
“You didn’t even remember him.” Danny snapped back, “So you finally decided to come out from behind Crossfire’s shadow and do something for yourself. Luckily for us you decided to do something idiotic and cut yourself off from any help, and the trips to jail won’t be like last time, you are actually going to stay there.”
“Really.” Daniels announced, “I’m touched you saw my work.” Not noticing as Luke slid under the platform the Spear was standing on.
(As seen in Villains for Hire #6-8)
“We saw and it took you down to a whole new low.” Luke stated as he wrenched one of the supports out causing an avalanche of rusted plates, broken glass and one villainous assassin tumbling to the floor. At the last moment Daniels sprung off the building and extended his trident before hitting the parking lot and vaulting over Iron Fist as he went to intercept the assassin only to be smacked from behind sending him spinning into the pile of debris.
“Okay now that was embarrassing.” Luke grunted as he emerged from a pile of debris and pulled Danny to his feet. “We’re being kicked around by a guy we don’t even remember.”
“He is faster than when we last me.” Danny told him as Spear spun his trident around ready for action. “And he’s better trained as well, last time I saw that move I was fighting Shockwave which makes sense since they are teammates.”
“Enough talking, Iron Fist.” Luke snarled, “Unbreakable skin remember.” he added as he charged towards Spear, the villain springing backwards to land on the fence as Power Man broke the trip wire causing concealed alchemy mines to spring out of the concrete and detonate in a shower of thick adhesive that coated Luke and the entire parking lot before quickly hardening as another figure, this one dressed in red and white and clutching a pistol walked forward. “Chemistro.” Power Man spat, “Should have figured really. Are we having any more guest appearances from the rest of your crew or are we just facing two losers today.”
“Big talk.” Chemistro replied calmly as Iron Fist got ready to spring at the villain as he stepped onto the hardened adhesive. “We were losers once but in a few days the entire world will be ours but before we get our reward we have one last thing to do.”
“Oh yeah what’s that?” Luke asked as he ripped himself free of the layer of glue.
“We humiliate the pair of you shortly before your executions.” Chemistro hissed as he pulled out a second alchemy pistol. “And finally prove that we are better then you.” He added as he opened fire, a beam of frozen water washing over Luke’s fist and encasing it in ice before creeping up his body only stopping until it reached his neck.
“Danny I need a hand here, preferably one with an iron fist!” Luke yelled as Danny broke Spear’s trident, the blow causing the villain to put his hand up and surrender. Ripping his foe’s quiver away Danny turned away from Spear to free Luke only to feed two small pinpricks in the back of his neck. Turning around he saw two gouts of smoke leaking out of the elbows of Spear’s costume before dropping to the floor.
“We did it.” Spear gasped. “We beat them but now what do we do with them?”
“Easy, all we need is a laptop and a webcam.” Chemistro announced. “We are going to give these two a very public execution.”
# # # # #
Los Angeles, California
Lodestone watched hungrily as the couple on the other side of the row embraced and kissed each other before moving on. With a hiss she crossed the road and sniffed before licking her lips and tailed them towards the café where her two victims were now seated. Walking past Lodestone reached out and grasped the assorted cutlery with her powers before sending a fork into the man’s throat. As the woman began to scream Lodestone placed the rest of the cutlery into the man’s body, blood leaking out of the body and flowing along the table into a heap.
“What are you doing?!” The woman screamed as Lodestone lapped the metal off the table before turning to her and smiling, blood and metal leaking out of her mouth. “What are you?!”
“A goddess.” Lodestone answered as drops of metal levitated off of her lips and landed on the woman’s cheek before drilling into her skin. Lodestone waited for a few seconds before watching a metallic spider crawled out of the woman’s mouth, a trail of blood following in the construct’s wake, before snaking into Lodestone’s mouth.
“FREEZE!” A voice over a bullhorn ordered causing Lodestone to turn and smile before taking in the police car and the officers arranged behind it. That smile became a scream as her stomach squirmed causing her to drop to the floor, shards of stone armour splintering off her skin as a bloody hand emerged from her chest.
“Please somebody call a doctor!!” Lodestone screamed as the police car rolled over and slammed into a shop front, crushing the officer that had been standing behind it. All around the area metal screamed in unison with the villainess as she went into labour. “
“Don’t worry.” A German accented voice announced as a wizened old figure stepped forward, his cane clicking against the concrete. “Your doctor is here.”
# # # # #
‘Headlocked’ Pub, Soho, New York City
Gillette walked into the dingy little hole in the wall, and surveyed the few grubby patrons and ticked in disgust. With a snort she walked up to the bar, and rubbed her forehead as a dull pain radiated through her skull. Ever since she quit her job she had been having pains in her head, and hopefully the man who owned this place would have some answers. Catching sight of the bartender, her eyes widened in surprise, he was defiantly not the man she had known, his good looks were all but gone, replaced with mottled grey skin.
“Hey Murray, how’s it been?” Gillette asked, as she rested her arms on the bar.
“Gillian, well it has been a long time.” Murray replied with a he, before snapping his fingers. “Everyone else out.” He ordered, his words stirring his patrons, who shuffled zombie like out of the bar. Turning his attention back to Gillette, he slid a shot glass of vodka down the bar to her. “So what brings you to my little corner of the world?”
“I have a day off.” Gillette answered, as she downed the shot before wincing in pain. “That and a pain in my head.”
“Thought it might be that.” Murray sighed, as he put his hand on her forehead. “I could sense the little sucker riding shotgun in your cranium from three blocks away.”
“What sucker…?” Gillette asked, as she rubbed her head in a vain attempt to figure out what Murray was talking about.
“It’s some kind of a nanite chip, one that shuts down the brains higher functions, one of a wider network of seven.” Murray replied, as he removed his hand. “It’s got some kind of etching…interesting.”
“What does it say?” Gillette asked, as Murray poured another shot of vodka.
“You’re not going to like it.” Murray stated. “Tell me how much do you know about Cross Technological Enterprises?” He asked, only for Gillette to reply by crushing the glass in her hand, minute pieces of glass shattering in her hand. “I’ll take that as yes.” He sighed, as Gillette’s eyes burnt red, the whole bar shaking under the psionic stress she was under.
“I’m going to kill him.” Gillette hissed as the rafters shook. “I’m going to cut his head off and mount it on my wall!”
TO BE CONTINUED...
Sneed and Makro walked down towards the docks on the Hudson, both of them carrying gift bags from the Stark Expo full of last year’s tech developments. Leading the way Sneed was surprised when Makro held out a hand to stop him.
“What’s wrong?” Sneed asked, concern spread across his face.
“I need to ask you something,” Makro asked as she poked her head round the corner and pointed to a stack of crates at the base of a derelict crane. Stalking over the pair of them squatted down behind the boxes. “Before that I need to tell you something, something about where I came from.”
“Uh, okay,” Sneed answered, as a few rowdy yells sounded behind them as a few dockhands moved in to help unload a docked container ship.
“When I was little I used to live in San Francisco with my father. He ran a private aquarium that sold rare specimens to collectors and other specialists. We were happy together but my father did owe money to the Maggia, and no matter what he repaid it wasn’t enough.” Makro explained as a container was lowered onto the deck. “One night the Maggia had decided to end the game, they sent a man called Gabriel Mason to the house. My father gave him the money he owed but Mason wasn’t here for the money, he was here to make an example of him, and all it took was three shots to kill him.”
“What happened next?” Sneed asked as a pair of trucks pulled up next to the containers.
“Mason took me and the Maggia sold me as a slave to the Hand.” Makro told him as the rear of one of the trucks was thrown open and several armed men leapt out. “The Hand took the opportunity to mould me into an assassin, not that I wasn’t satisfied with that lifestyle. At least not until I catch up with Mason and repay him for what he did to my father.”
“I assume you didn’t catch up with him.” Sneed asked as something heavy stepped out of the second truck.
“Not until now.” Makro answered as she pointed to a figure dressed in power armour walking towards the container. “He calls himself the Nautilus now.” She added as Sneed looked the figure up and down before shaking his head.
“Revenge trips are never the answer. Not even…” He stopped as the Nautilus ripped the doors of the container off and an Asian woman dressed in rags stumbled out. After three steps the gunmen ran over and dragged her towards the truck. “This isn’t about revenge is it?” He asked as Makro pulled a pistol out of her gift bag.
“No, it’s not.” Makro replied as more women were dragged out of the shipping container.
# # # # #
Chicago, Illinois
The dilapidated waterfront property seemed quiet as Luke Cage and Danny Rand AKA Power Man and Iron Fist arrived in the grounds of what had once been a warehouse but was now simply a gathering place for the assorted scum that called Chicago their home. This very building had been home and workplace to the Trapster only half a year ago and had some very bad memories attached to it which was the main reason why it hadn’t been sold despite the enthusiastic ‘For Sale’ Sign posted outside.
(For details on the Heroes for Hire Team’s battle against Paste Pot Pete check out D. Golightly’s Heroes for Hire #7)
“This is where our mystery archer wanted us to come.” Luke snorted, “Well where is he, it’s not like we can ignore him shooting paramedics and cops.”
“I’d wager that he already knows we are here.” Danny replied pointing to the new security cameras on the edge of the building, their cases gleaming even under the ad-hoc camouflage of rust and dust applied to them. “So do you think it’s somebody new to the scene or one of our old foes looking for revenge?”
“I don’t remember an archer in our rouge’s gallery.” Luke answered, “Maniac Hitmen, Intangible Menaces and even that guy who was part fish but never an archer.” As he finished he walked forward to knock on the door only for Danny to stop him and point to the nearly invisible trip wire that snaked over the parking lot. “Huh almost triggered that.” he stated, “Thanks man who knows what that would have done.”
“Surely a guy with a bow and arrow doesn’t scare you?” Danny asked, “You have unbreakable skin.”
“Not scared just worried, this guy targeted cops deliberately, it shows us that he’s not scared about the consequences of his actions.” Luke announced. Up above him a window suddenly smashed open and the blue and yellow armoured figure of the Spear emerged, his weapon trained on Iron Fist.
“Well post was to slow and my internet is down.” Daniels sneered down at the pair of heroes, “You know it is hard work to get hold of people like you for a good dose of revenge.”
“Idiot with a payback fantasy.” Luke told Danny, “I should have put money on it.”
“You didn’t even remember him.” Danny snapped back, “So you finally decided to come out from behind Crossfire’s shadow and do something for yourself. Luckily for us you decided to do something idiotic and cut yourself off from any help, and the trips to jail won’t be like last time, you are actually going to stay there.”
“Really.” Daniels announced, “I’m touched you saw my work.” Not noticing as Luke slid under the platform the Spear was standing on.
(As seen in Villains for Hire #6-8)
“We saw and it took you down to a whole new low.” Luke stated as he wrenched one of the supports out causing an avalanche of rusted plates, broken glass and one villainous assassin tumbling to the floor. At the last moment Daniels sprung off the building and extended his trident before hitting the parking lot and vaulting over Iron Fist as he went to intercept the assassin only to be smacked from behind sending him spinning into the pile of debris.
“Okay now that was embarrassing.” Luke grunted as he emerged from a pile of debris and pulled Danny to his feet. “We’re being kicked around by a guy we don’t even remember.”
“He is faster than when we last me.” Danny told him as Spear spun his trident around ready for action. “And he’s better trained as well, last time I saw that move I was fighting Shockwave which makes sense since they are teammates.”
“Enough talking, Iron Fist.” Luke snarled, “Unbreakable skin remember.” he added as he charged towards Spear, the villain springing backwards to land on the fence as Power Man broke the trip wire causing concealed alchemy mines to spring out of the concrete and detonate in a shower of thick adhesive that coated Luke and the entire parking lot before quickly hardening as another figure, this one dressed in red and white and clutching a pistol walked forward. “Chemistro.” Power Man spat, “Should have figured really. Are we having any more guest appearances from the rest of your crew or are we just facing two losers today.”
“Big talk.” Chemistro replied calmly as Iron Fist got ready to spring at the villain as he stepped onto the hardened adhesive. “We were losers once but in a few days the entire world will be ours but before we get our reward we have one last thing to do.”
“Oh yeah what’s that?” Luke asked as he ripped himself free of the layer of glue.
“We humiliate the pair of you shortly before your executions.” Chemistro hissed as he pulled out a second alchemy pistol. “And finally prove that we are better then you.” He added as he opened fire, a beam of frozen water washing over Luke’s fist and encasing it in ice before creeping up his body only stopping until it reached his neck.
“Danny I need a hand here, preferably one with an iron fist!” Luke yelled as Danny broke Spear’s trident, the blow causing the villain to put his hand up and surrender. Ripping his foe’s quiver away Danny turned away from Spear to free Luke only to feed two small pinpricks in the back of his neck. Turning around he saw two gouts of smoke leaking out of the elbows of Spear’s costume before dropping to the floor.
“We did it.” Spear gasped. “We beat them but now what do we do with them?”
“Easy, all we need is a laptop and a webcam.” Chemistro announced. “We are going to give these two a very public execution.”
# # # # #
Los Angeles, California
Lodestone watched hungrily as the couple on the other side of the row embraced and kissed each other before moving on. With a hiss she crossed the road and sniffed before licking her lips and tailed them towards the café where her two victims were now seated. Walking past Lodestone reached out and grasped the assorted cutlery with her powers before sending a fork into the man’s throat. As the woman began to scream Lodestone placed the rest of the cutlery into the man’s body, blood leaking out of the body and flowing along the table into a heap.
“What are you doing?!” The woman screamed as Lodestone lapped the metal off the table before turning to her and smiling, blood and metal leaking out of her mouth. “What are you?!”
“A goddess.” Lodestone answered as drops of metal levitated off of her lips and landed on the woman’s cheek before drilling into her skin. Lodestone waited for a few seconds before watching a metallic spider crawled out of the woman’s mouth, a trail of blood following in the construct’s wake, before snaking into Lodestone’s mouth.
“FREEZE!” A voice over a bullhorn ordered causing Lodestone to turn and smile before taking in the police car and the officers arranged behind it. That smile became a scream as her stomach squirmed causing her to drop to the floor, shards of stone armour splintering off her skin as a bloody hand emerged from her chest.
“Please somebody call a doctor!!” Lodestone screamed as the police car rolled over and slammed into a shop front, crushing the officer that had been standing behind it. All around the area metal screamed in unison with the villainess as she went into labour. “
“Don’t worry.” A German accented voice announced as a wizened old figure stepped forward, his cane clicking against the concrete. “Your doctor is here.”
# # # # #
‘Headlocked’ Pub, Soho, New York City
Gillette walked into the dingy little hole in the wall, and surveyed the few grubby patrons and ticked in disgust. With a snort she walked up to the bar, and rubbed her forehead as a dull pain radiated through her skull. Ever since she quit her job she had been having pains in her head, and hopefully the man who owned this place would have some answers. Catching sight of the bartender, her eyes widened in surprise, he was defiantly not the man she had known, his good looks were all but gone, replaced with mottled grey skin.
“Hey Murray, how’s it been?” Gillette asked, as she rested her arms on the bar.
“Gillian, well it has been a long time.” Murray replied with a he, before snapping his fingers. “Everyone else out.” He ordered, his words stirring his patrons, who shuffled zombie like out of the bar. Turning his attention back to Gillette, he slid a shot glass of vodka down the bar to her. “So what brings you to my little corner of the world?”
“I have a day off.” Gillette answered, as she downed the shot before wincing in pain. “That and a pain in my head.”
“Thought it might be that.” Murray sighed, as he put his hand on her forehead. “I could sense the little sucker riding shotgun in your cranium from three blocks away.”
“What sucker…?” Gillette asked, as she rubbed her head in a vain attempt to figure out what Murray was talking about.
“It’s some kind of a nanite chip, one that shuts down the brains higher functions, one of a wider network of seven.” Murray replied, as he removed his hand. “It’s got some kind of etching…interesting.”
“What does it say?” Gillette asked, as Murray poured another shot of vodka.
“You’re not going to like it.” Murray stated. “Tell me how much do you know about Cross Technological Enterprises?” He asked, only for Gillette to reply by crushing the glass in her hand, minute pieces of glass shattering in her hand. “I’ll take that as yes.” He sighed, as Gillette’s eyes burnt red, the whole bar shaking under the psionic stress she was under.
“I’m going to kill him.” Gillette hissed as the rafters shook. “I’m going to cut his head off and mount it on my wall!”
TO BE CONTINUED...