Issue #26 (June 2020)
Written by John Cheese Featuring: Zombie Master
The Enforcer
Man Bull
Flintlock
Spear
Ghost
Thundersword
Headhunter
Sunset Bain
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House of Twisted Roses, South Carolina
Skidding round the landing and up the final flight of stairs, Jasper Daniels set up his spear gun and looked down at the grounds around the House of Twisted Roses. The immaculate lawns and rose gardens had been transformed, ripped open and replaced by crooked vines ripping up sub-surface cables running up to the house. Behind the advancing vegetation three figures; a woman dressed in white and blue, a man clad in purple armour and the third figure skulking along behind like a giant lizard, headed for the house. “Heads up Ronin, we have three party crashers coming up the drive.” Daniels stated in his comm link as he levelled his launcher and fired two quick shots, the first embedding in the lizard like figures shoulder, the second crashing off an ice shield erected by the woman in white. “And they have powers.” “Let us know when they reach the threshold.” Ronin ordered as Daniels removed a tripod from his quiver and placed his rifle on the stand, before drawing his holstered dart pistols. “Got it.” Daniels replied as the spear gun, synched up to his visor began to fire, the hiss of projectiles joined by the clatter of the dart gun pistols, the increased salvo of fire forcing the woman to create a wall of ice as her teammates tucked in behind it. Taking the opportunity to reload all three of his weapons, Daniels saw the vines erupt into a haze of spores, clouding his view of the advancing intruders. Switching to infrared, he caught sight of a cold spot advancing towards the door. “Intruders are ready to knock Ronin.” Daniels announced as he leaned round and fired another salvo of shots, only for one of his targets to turn around, his wrists flashing followed by a whistling sound as a projectile landed in the tower with him. For a few seconds Daniels stopped and stared before grabbing his spear gun and firing it at the roof below him, the projectile towing a zip line behind it. Leaping onto the zip line he just about made it out of the tower before the projectile exploded filling the space with toxic smoke. “I’m relocating, will aim to get to the next…what the fucking hell!” Daniels swore as he spotted a Latino woman standing on the roof below him, dressed in a scantily clad dress made from flower petals and beetle wings. Before he could say anything else, a swarm of biting flies lifted off from the roof, some crawling on his suit looking for a way to inside, while others clustered around the carabiner blocking any further descent. “Spear respond…what’s the problem.” Ronin grunted as an explosion rocked the house. “Spear come in” She ordered, her voice garbled as the first flies crawled in through the helmet seal, biting the man inside. Groaning, Daniels let go of the ascender and crashed twelve foot to the roof below, his armour doing enough to prevent serious injury. “Okay Flower Child,” Daniels stated as he drew his dart gun sidearm and fired on the woman, only for each projectile to blossom into an orchid and drop to the floor, “why are you on our roof?” “I’m the Natural.” The woman stated as her hands and eyes glowed green and an orchid began to grow from the Spear’s weapons as the ammunition was transformed. “And I’m here to get revenge.” “Look, if I slept with you lady, I’m sorry, trust me you’re not the first killer ex-girlfriend I’ve had.” Daniels announced as he pulled the bronze trident from his quiver and slashed at the natural, only for a restraining vine to grab the weapon and drag him into a kneeling position at her feet. “My revenge is not against you but your employer.” The Natural hissed as Daniels felt something sprouting from his skin and spread up into his armour, a scream of pain coming from his lips as his helmet split to reveal carnivorous lichens and mosses growing from his flesh, one patch growing across his eye. “This torture is only a fraction of what he did to me!” Ranch Outside of Tijuana, Baja California - Nine Months Earlier Mercedes Guerra shuddered at the bottom of the pit she’d been left in for the last three months by Quinto Rojas, a cartel who made the Zetas look like the Yancey Street Gang. Still the Rojas boys hadn’t put her in the pit, rather interference from William Cross had seen to that. (As seen in Villains for Hire #1) “She still refuses to talk.” A Spanish accented voice announced from the top of the pit as Mercedes opened her mouth, the lichen growing on it had long since silenced her. That was the tip of the iceberg when it came to the weird plant growth in this pit, Mercedes had watched her right atrophy away as the vines restraining it took over the limb, up and down her legs shelf fungi grew causing her to shuffle along on all fours if she ever had to move. Then there were the insects; any human flesh left had bot flies burrowing into it, that which had become plant matter still sent pain signals when the herbivorous ones started feeding. “Leave her then, the pit breaks everyone eventually.” A second voice stated as a clap of thunder rolled across the sky and the heavens opened, the cold gripping Mercedes as she felt her eye itch. “Please God, please get me out of here.” Mercedes prayed as her left eyeball was pushed out by tendrils of a sundew, the fronds catching the organ before it fell, curling round it as they began to digest it. Closing her remaining eye Mercedes begged for anyone to save her. Falling asleep the mocking face of Crossfire looked down at her, taunting her as the plants, fungi and insects continued to claim her body. House of Twisted Roses, South Carolina “Do it.” Ronin ordered Man Bull as she lost contact with Spear, the massive bovine man smashing through the hardwood door into the trio of advancing interlopers, the two smaller figures scattering as the larger lizard like man rushed to intercept. Following in his wake, Ronin slashed at the man dressed in purple with her katana, only for the woman in white to block with a pair of icicle swords. “We have no quarrel with you Snapdragon, or you Man Bull.” The man in purple stated, as Man Bull tossed the lizard like figure to the side and bellowed with anger as brought his hands up in a piledriver blow. “We only want those who followed Crossfire.” “You blew up Gillette, I have a reason to dislike you.” Ronin stated calmly, as she fell onto the defensive, gauging the measure of her opponent’s swordswoman skills. “And I’m sure I have many reasons to hate your paymasters in the Conspiracy.” She added, as the reptilian fighter rolled away from Man Bull’s blow and lashed out with his tail, the whip like blow leaving a burning welt on his target’s neck. “We don’t work for the Conspiracy; we are only here to avenge what was done to us and our families.” The woman stated, as Ronin parried her blow and slashed through the ice blades with ease. “Scorecard, any suggestions for this one?” “The Black Widow beat her a long time ago, Diamondback beat her more recently.” The man in purple droned as he fired a salvo of flachettes at Ronin, the projectiles forcing her to disengage with her current foe and turned towards the armoured attacker. “She’s listed as being weak to range and over confident in her abilities, while she’s skilled in close combat she eventually makes mistakes Winter Woman.” “Interesting, but that’s an old file.” Ronin stated, as she thrust towards Score Card, her blade slicing through his gauntlet amour. I’m far better than that Russian harridan and that dead snake.” She added, before springing over Score Card and reaching for the throwing stars hidden under the arm plates of her suit. “I would disagree.” Score Card replied as Man Bull tossed the lizard like fighter up in the air before kicking him backwards across the lawn. “You are still overconfident.” He added as Winter Woman fired a few snowball-like projectiles at Ronin, the swordswoman countering with her own projectiles that sliced through the snow and embedded in Winter Woman’s shoulder causing her to scream in pain, before dramatically collapsing to the floor whimpering and crying, her hands glowing blue. “Anything you want to add to my file before I take your head?” Ronin asked as she held the katana against her hostage’s throat. “You made a mistake just like your file stated.” Winter Woman announced as she stopped crying and stood up just as an icicle formed above Ronin before dropping and stabbing into her helmet. Grunting in pain, Ronin pushed the katana against his throat, only for her blade to be magnetically repelled out of her grasp. “You made one other mistake.” Score Card replied as his head twisted 180 degrees to face her a drill like extension branching off from his shoulder armour, its laser tip lighting up as it was fired. “You went into this human,” he continued as rays of light lanced out the back of Ronin’s body causing it to drop to the floor, “and you didn’t take our offer to leave.” Frankfort, Kentucky Stepping out of the taxi that had taken from Louisville Airport, Mike Nero AKA the Enforcer walked towards the sports bar across the room. Stepping inside he surveyed the crowd of hooting men and women watching the NFL game on screen before walking up to the bar. “What’s your poison Hon’.” The bartender dressed in a black mini dress and bustier asked as she flicked her braided black hair over her shoulder. “I’m looking for a girl.” Mike stated nonchalantly as he placed his hand on the bar. “Got any ideas where I can find her?” Stiffening up, the woman’s eyes rolled black to reveal pools of black. “Answer: Outlook Good.” She stated in an Irish accent, before shaking the strange turn off. “So, you’re a brunette now Kate, its been a few years since I last saw you.” Mike stated as the woman pulled a pint and took a long drink from it. “How are you?” “Having a bad day since you turned up Enforcer.” Kate replied as she turned away from him and went to take an order. “I need your help Kate, you’re better than pulling pints for these drunks.” Mike stated as he removed his wallet. “Not to mention using your powers to rip off betting shops.” He added as Kate stopped and turned to look at him. “I don’t do that anymore!” Kate hissed. “Do you?” Mike asked as Kate once again stiffened up, her eyes rolling back. “Answer: Yes.” Kate replied through gritted teeth as she walked back towards Mike. “Stop asking questions!” She snarled as Mike slid five-hundred dollars to her. “Can’t do that Kate, I need you 8-Ball, I have one question I need an answer to.” Mike told her as he watched her count the notes, checking the watermark on all five of the century notes. “Then ask.” Kate sighed as she placed the dollars in her bustier. “I need you to come to Charleston, I want an accurate reading, it’s imperative that you get it right.” Mike announced as he looked at Kate, her brown eyes tinting black as she hung her head. “Okay there’s one thing I need to do before I leave.” Kate announced as she removed a pool-cue and a ballistic mask with a massive black 8 stencilled on it, from under the bar. Slipping the former over her face, she swung the cue at the man working the register. “NOBODY MOVE!” She yelled as Mike shucked his coat and pulled his own mask. “THIS IS A ROBBERY!” Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina “So, let me get this clear.” Gillette stated as she and Crossfire phased through the wall into the maternity ward. “You treated us like shit, you lied to use, lied to us about that lie and now you’re saying that your ghost is stuck here.” “Pretty much.” Crossfire stated as he leaned against a wall and looked at her up and down. “Being here is an interesting opportunity, one we should both be taking advantage of.” “Advantage how?” Gillette asked as she tried to pick up a clipboard at the end of one of the beds only for her hand to pass through the bed, the action causing the baby in the crib to scream, almost as if it had seemingly sensed the supernatural presence in the room. “I am a bodiless spirit who can’t touch anything, being chased by a wraith and I’m currently talking to the most manipulative bastard to have every exist!” “Hmm, you don’t see it yet do you.” Cross mused as he unholstered a pistol just as a hail of nails came flying through the door, scything towards the pair of villains sending Crossfire leaping out the way, even as one of the projectiles jammed into Gillette’s arm. “Wha…what!” Gillette gulped as Crossfire fired a shot back, the bullet phasing through the door and disappearing into the void. “Lord Quietus has a master, an evil ghost called the Hooded Haunt, one who has likely learnt of my presence here.” Cross stated as a knife wielding man dressed in a blue robe leapt out of the wall behind him and slashed at his neck, only for the blow to go wide. “These minions are some of his foot soldiers.” He added, as the knifeman drove the blades down only for a salvo of gunfire to blast the knives out of his hand. “That’s Shiv!” Gillette stated as Cross grabbed Shiv by the throat and slammed him down to the floor. “He’s a member of the Conspiracy,” She gasped as Cross fired an executing headshot into Shiv, his spirit screaming as it eddied and drained into the floor like water passing down the drain, “and that lady is Boltface.” She added as a woman dressed in shorts and a tank top walked through the door, three bolts piercing the left side of her skull, her hand on a makeshift nail gun. “If they can see you, it means they can kill you.” Cross informed Gillette as Boltface opened fire with her nail gun, the projectiles spinning round indiscriminately as Gillette dived to the floor and grabbed Shiv’s knives, throwing one of the blades at Boltface, the blade jamming into her sternum. Cursing in Creole, Boltface removed the blade and threw it to the floor, just as a third figure appeared, this time leaping out of the floor, its form sparking and spitting. “El…Electro.” Gillette gulped as the numb feeling in her back caused her to collapse, her legs spasming as the muscles shut down. “Not Electro.” Crossfire stated as the man in purple scale armour drew an arrow from the quiver on his back, knocked it and fired. Returning fire, Crossfire’s electronic eye went wide as the arrow shifted left to go around the bullet, before going back onto its original course. Catching the arrow, Cross threw it back, only for it to boomerang round and embed in the wall above him. “You made a mistake becoming that archer.” He announced in a cold voice as he charged the figure tackling him to the floor. “Not Electro?” Gillette gulped as she saw Crossfire tackle Electro to the floor, spiders of electricity crawling over his body and arching to hers. Tearing her eyes away, she saw Boltface standing over her, weapon trained on her forehead. “The Conspiracy shares information.” Bolt Face wheezed, just as Crossfire jammed a blade into Hawkeye’s throat, only for the archer to push him off, a pair of arrows clenched in his hands. “Especially about how you can barely make a stand against us, pun intended.” She added before pulling the trigger. “Bet you get a kick out of it!” Gillette snarled as she kicked upwards, the numbness fading in an instant, the blow knocking her aim off, the bolt stabbing into Hawkeye/Electro’s skull the illusion fading into steam. “An illusion, it was an illusion.” Gillette gulped as she kicked Bolt Face in the knee, causing her to drop to the floor. As she impacted with the floor, the place where Shiv was slain eddied and flowed, as the assassin climbed out of the floor, his weapons returned and his body restored. “Fall back and follow me.” Crossfire ordered as Lord Quietus and a man dressed in a top hat and tails walked through the wall towards them. Fleeing through the opposite wall, Gillette and Cross headed for the lift, the doors pinging just as their four foes followed them. Not even waiting for the doors to open, the two villains phased through the metal, just as a number of patients and doctors climbed out. “Where now, out through the shaft, we can’t stay in this kill box.” Gillette asked as shiv’s blade sliced through the door, almost cutting them. Grabbing his former employee, Cross boosted her up through the top of the lift. Leaping through the doors, Shiv slashed at him, but cross was ready side-stepping the blow and placing his hand on the shoulder of a student nurse, his spirit fading into her body. “What? HOW?!.” Shiv asked as the nurse turned and grabbed him before throwing him down through the floor of the lift. Placing a finger to her lips she pressed the button for the top floor, before Crossfire stepped out of her body, using the last little bit of physical momentum to climb up to the lift. “What was Shiv yelling about?” Gillette asked, as they reached the top of the lift shaft, their bodies phasing out onto the roof of the hospital. “He just wasn’t expecting the move I just pulled off.” Cross stated as the pair of them walked across the roof. “Let’s drop back in, we can’t risk moving to far from your body just in case.” He added as he offered Gillette a hand. “Trust me, you don’t want to do this solo the first time.” He stated as Gillette offered her his hand before the two of them dropped through the roof. House of Twisted Roses, South Carolina Man-Bull bellowed, driven into a rage as he saw Ronin go down. Lowering his head up charged at Score Card, only for ice to form under his feet and send him crashing onto the drive. In an instant his foes were on him, ice blades digging into his flanks, laser drills working on his shoulders and the unnamed assailant’s lizard like jaws clamped round his legs. “Not here!” Man Bull bellowed as he kicked the lizard man in the face knocking him off. “Not them!” He snorted as he got to his knees swatting Winter Woman through a window, glass shattering from the impact. “NOT EVER!” He roared as he lunged forward, goring Score Card and head smashing him into the ground, his armour shattering to reveal a human head attached to a robotic serpentine body. “Man Bull is all brute force and rage, Iguanid you have venom, files show he can’t protect from toxins like that.” Score Card informed, as Man Bull grabbed his body only for a massive electrical shock to radiate through his body. Shaking off the discharge, Man Bull brought the robotic tail of Score Card up and shattered it over his knee, the light in his foe’s eyes going out. “Should have spent less time coaching and tried being in the game more!” Man Bull roared as the Iguanid stabbed its claws into Man Bull’s shoulders. Bucking and twisting, Man Bull could feel his strength sapping away, but he’d be dammed if he went down before finishing what he had started. Slamming back first into the ground, Man Bull felt Iguanid drop off just as an icy blade stabbed into his gut. “Wrong move lady!” He growled as he ripped the blade out and slashed out with it, his foe meeting the blow with her own weapon, only for both swords to shatter. “I’ll lick up your blood!” Iguanid hissed as he wrapped his tail round Man Bull’s throat, crushing his trachea. Taking the advantage Winter Woman advanced stabbing more blades into Man Bull’s arms and legs, cutting the muscles with her cold weaponry. And behind her, Score Card’s body juddered before getting to its feet, the laser drills burning into Man Bull’s chest, his roars getting even more angrier and desperate. “You are all dead!” Man Bull wheezed as he swung round, the Iguanid’s body slamming into both Score Card and Winter Woman. “You all…are…dead.” He wheezed as he advanced on the three, head down ready to gore them. Towering over them Man Bull got ready to deliver the killing blow, only for the ground to crack under him and a vine to drag him down through the driveway, the soil forming over him as he was buried. “Thanks for the save Natural.” Winter Woman coughed as she got to her feet as the Natural dropped to the ground, the fungified body of Spear landing next to her. “House secure, lets clean this up ready for the others.” Score Card stated as his body grabbed his spine and head and reattached them. “Start breaking the Spear, we need him to talk.” “And Ronin.” Winter Woman asked as Igunaid picked up both Ronin and Spear’s body and placed them on his shoulders. “Take her upstairs.” A new figure dressed in blue armour stated as he walked up the driveway. “Put her in the bathtub and make it look like suicide. We’ll break them all mentally before we finish them off, they’ve taken so much, it’s time we took something back.” |