Post by cross on Feb 2, 2015 13:41:43 GMT -5
Ultimate Catman #6
Peter Lomax is kind of a dick Part 1
Special Co-Writer: Adrini
Thomas tried to be as quiet as possible. He had packed a duffle bag of just the necessities. Creeping by William's room was easy enough since the door was shut but Kitrina slept in the dining room. He walked past her and slung the duffle bag over his shoulder. Suddenly the bag felt like it weighed one hundred pounds. Thomas turned around to see Kitrina holding onto his bag.
"Jesus Kitrina. You scared the hell out of me." Kitrina released her grasp of his bag.
"You aren't supposed to leave until tomorrow." She had a look of anger on her face. Thomas nodded to the door leading down to the garage. Kitrina followed.
Once down in the garage, Thomas set down his bag and pulled up one of the computer chairs. Kitrina copied his actions and grabbed herself a chair. "I'm not good with goodbyes. I am going to leave today and I'll be back before you know it!" His voice had gotten slightly louder since arriving to the garage.
"How long?" She glared into his eyes demanding an answer.
Thomas shuffled uncomfortably. "You know that I can't answer that. I need this training. If I don't improve I'm going to get killed out there. I know people who do this kind of thing and they know people who can train me."
Kitrina lunged out of her chair and hugged Thomas tight. "I don't want you to go. I don't like it here when you're gone." Thomas hugged the girl back and patted her on the back.
"This is going to be good for you. I wont be able to be with you forever. You are going to have to get comfortable around other people eventually. Plus, I don't think you have left this loft since we brought you here." Thomas broke his hug and pried her away from himself. "You'll be just fine. William and Irwin are going to take real good care of you. The next semester of school starts up next week and you start making friends there too."
Kitrina let the thought of school flood her head. She hadn't really thought about going to high school yet. "Just hurry up and come back." She turned around and started back towards the door when she stopped. Something had caught her eye over on the hood of the Siberian. "Aren't you taking the Catman suit?"
Thomas picked up his duffle bag again and looked at the suit and the parked vehicle. "The world has heroes of its own. Catman is a Hub City exclusive."
***
A beat up truck pulled up to the front edge of the Queen property. Large iron fences surrounded the grounds giving it a very protected feel and look. "Thanks for the ride, man. Just call the number and he will hook you up." Thomas closed the door to the truck and shook the hand of the driver. "Just ask for 'Irwin Schwab'. He's a friend." The driver nodded and drove away. Thomas walked up to the front gate and looked at the mansion. He pulled out his phone and checked the web page again. "Well, it says that this is the Queen property." He shrugged and took a deep breath before pushing the large red button on the wall next to the gate.
BZZZZZ!
He waited for a couple seconds before pushing it again.
BZZZZZ!
"Queen residence! Can I help you?" The females voice sounded commanding yet almost out of breath. Thomas looked at the speaker and suddenly got confused. He reached over and pushed the button again.
BZZZZZ!
"High I'm Thoma--" Suddenly he was cut off by the female.
"You don't have to push the button again. I can hear you fine." She was starting to sound aggravated.
Thomas leaned in close to the speaker. "Sorry. I'm Thomas Blake and I was wondering if this is the home of Roy and Jade Harper? Oh and Thomas Jr." Thomas could feel his palms starting to get moist from nervousness. He hadn't seen his son in months.
"Yes, they live here. One second please." He backed up again and waited for a split second before watching the gate open up. He made his way up the what seemed like a mile long driveway. Once he was up to the front door he reached up to ring the doorbell. Just as he was about to push the button the door flew open revealing the angriest looking woman he had ever seen.
"He-Hey Jade." Thomas gave a half hearted smile and waved at the mother of his son.
SLINK!
He instantly recognized the noise as Talon nails. A standard weapon for a Talon of the Court of Owls. "JADE!"
He was on his back with the wind knocked out of his lungs. Standing on his chest pinning him to the ground was Jade holding the Talon nails to his throat ready to slaughter him. He looked up to her chest and then to her face. He instantly remembered why he was attracted to her in the first place. "You look beautiful when you're pissed. Made it really hard to hate you during our bad times."
She gritted her teeth to the point of almost drawing blood. Then suddenly, she pulled back still scouring.
"I don't mind having you here, every boy needs his father, but I would ask you refrain from flirting with my wife." A red haired man appeared behind Jade calming her down. He looked unfazed by the talons, even unsurprised. "In large part because I don't think she likes it."
Quickly getting some distance from her, Thomas saw Roy Harper, new VP of Queen Industries, millionaire in his own right, and the man Jade had married and chosen to raise Tommy. Thomas really wanted to hate him, but he knew he couldn't. He was the only reason this visit was happening.
"He has a father already." The Talon heir said, looking at her husband, but backed down. The insult hit Thomas right in the stomach and hurt almost as bad as Jade's attack.
"I lost my own father a couple years ago, we didn't get along and made no effort to change that. I regret it." Roy said, waving Thomas into the cavernous front hall. Jade wordlessly walked next to him, grabbing his hand. Thomas paid no attention to the couples love due to the massive entrance hall grabbing his full attention. "I always will. I want Tommy to know his father, for his own sake as well as ours. Nice to meet you Mr. Blake."
"Sure, thanks." Thomas said, feeling very out of place. After living in the garage he couldn't help but feel he was walking into a palace. Out of fatherly respect Thomas shook Roy's hand. "Where is he?"
"In the combo room, we have a toy corner set up for him." Roy said, leading him into the house. "Plus, it's where people hang out anyway so we can keep an eye on him, in case he runs into something or gets hurt. Right in here."
Thomas looked inside to see a kitchen, dining room, and living room space. More importantly he heard his son talking to someone or something, and laughing.
"Tommy had a minor intestinal issue, it's easy to treat but hard to catch. Dangerous if it goes on for too long. But it's why he was throwing up so much. His system was actually in the process of shutting down, it was good he got help when he did." Roy said, walking to the sofa. "As you can see he's fine, no lack of playmates or toys."
Thomas felt immediate relief as he saw the boy. He was sitting on a thick blanket playing with a plush Superman action figure and looking at a couple of teens who were playing games on the TV. He was surrounded by all kinds of toys. Near them a blonde woman was bouncing a baby on her lap and laughing as Tommy tried to engage the infant in conversation. He did look healthier. Roy motioned for him to talk to his son.
"Tommy, your father is here." He said and the boy looked up and beamed.
"Daddy!" Tommy ran over, Thomas knelt down just in time for the little arms to wrap around his neck as the little boy aggressively cuddled in. "My daddy, love you daddy."
There was no way that tears would be avoided. Thomas took in the little boy's smell, thankfully noticing the far healthier weight. Nothing was worth more then the small hands grabbing tightly onto his hair. A few moments later he leaned back and looked at his son.
"Hey Buddy." He said as Tommy smiled at him. "You look good."
"Imma big boy!" The toddler said, proudly. He sat up straight. "See?"
"Yeah, you look real healthy." Thomas couldn't miss that the boy wasn't skin and bones anymore, he was well cared for. "How have you been?"
The little boy excitedly dragged him over to the blanket and showed off his toys, some were plush, some made noise or music, and some he showed off taking apart and putting together. It had been a very good Christmas for him, and Thomas saw that the cat plushy he had given him had been put on a sofa cushion to 'nap'. They had to be very careful not to wake the sleepy kitty.
"Jade, have you taken Tommy to Kid World yet? He's about old enough for the younger areas." The woman on the sofa asked, grinning a little at the sight. "Be a chance to get away."
"It's a good idea." Roy said, looking at his wife. "We need to talk. That okay with you, Blake?"
"Cmon' buddy, this will be fun."
***
Kid World was packed. A Saturday evening in Star City was family evening apparently. Tommy played in a ball pit with a few other children. Thomas and the Harper's sat at a booth eating overpriced, terrible quality pizza.
"So we dropped a water tower on him and he froze himself solid." Thomas finished his life update and picked up another slice of pizza.
Jade and Roy stared at him with a look of total shock and confusion. After Thomas had eaten nearly half a slice Jade broke the silence. "Cat-Man?"
"Really? Don't make fun of me. You're codename is based on a cat too and Roy's is based on Red Riding Hood." Thomas smiled as Roy started to correct him on the Red Riding Hood comparison but was cutoff by Jade.
"So you went to The Hub and stabbed a crime kingpin then took in his daughter and a few days ago fought in a city sized battle with a meta?" Jade still looked confused.
"We actually aren't sure that she is his actual daughter." Thomas glanced over and saw Tommy jump into the ball pit with a face wide smile.
"That's not the point Thomas! You have virtually no training and from the sounds of it, neither does this team you work with!" Jade tried to keep her voice down as not to attract unwanted attention.
"I think its pretty cool." Roy picked up his cup and drank some soda. Jade shot him a deathly glare. "What? He does the same thing we do. Everyone knows that The Hub could use it's own protector. Judging from your story, you're doing a pretty good job so far."
"SEE! Thomas smiled and put his hand up for a high five from Roy. This guy knows what's up! He get's it." Jade turned slightly to Roy.
"If you high five him I'll rip your arm off." Roy looked into his wife's eyes and knew not to press his luck. Thomas slowly put his arm back down and lost his smile.
"Listen, I know that as of right now I am one lucky guy to still be alive after going into this lifestyle untrained. That's the second reason why I am here. I need training." Thomas turned his full attention to Jade now. He locked eyes with her. "You know where a place exists for me to go and train. Please Jade."
"You know, in several languages the word 'train' and 'suffer' are the same." Jade grinned widely, too widely. "If you insist on doing this there's one place that might work. I can send word ahead for you, but you owe me Blake."
"Which one do you have in mind?" Roy asked, curious. Jade sighed.
"There's a camp in Columbia, called Ashram. It's not master level but it will get you started. Best place I can think of." She looked stern for a moment before Tommy ran over and asked for her to fix his socks, and Thomas saw her melt as she picked the boy up. He relaxed as his mother kissed his cheek, and fixed his footware. "But don't bring trouble home with you when you come back, I won't have Tommy hurt."
"Don't worry. I'm not starting trouble. I'm just looking for-"
THWAPP!
Thomas was cut off midsentence due to the sight in front of him. An arrow embedded in the right side of his former lovers chest. His eyes grew wide with panic. Instinct had set in, it screamed "Protect Tommy." Thomas dove over the table grabbing his son on the way over and rolling behind the seat for protection. Tommy instantly began bawling his eyes out from the sight of his mother being hurt.
"HEY TOMMY BOY!" The archer smiled and waved his free hand at Thomas when he peaked over the seats to see who shot the arrow. Thomas recognized the man as Peter Lomax. An old associate from his time in Star City. Thomas peaked over again to see Roy clutching to Jade hiding under the table.
"Just so we are clear, That arrow in your woman's chest is tipped with Belladonna. It is possible to survive it but you will have to choose, come after me or save the bitch." Peter smiled wickedly and readied another arrow.
Roy stood up holding what looked like some kind of piece of wood. He flicked his arm forward causing the piece to expand and open up revealing a long bow.
THWAPP!
THWAPP!
THWAPP!
Roy launched arrow after arrow trying to hit the assassin archer. Peter ducked behind a half wall for cover. "Shit! We have ourselves another archer in the room! Why didn't anyone tell me? I thought Tommy Boy was going to be my only challenge today." Peter stood up and fired another arrow nearly hitting Roy in the head. Thomas whipped around the booth seat and pulled the arrow out from the cushioning.
"Watch Jade and Tommy!" Thomas called back as he sprinted for Peter's position. He ran with the arrow in his grip and leaped off of another table in front of the half wall providing Peter with cover. Thomas came down looking to stab Lomax in the head but the assassin rolled back out of the way.
THWAPP!
The arrow pierced through Thomas' bicep pinning him to the half wall.
THWAPP!
Another did the same to his other bicep. Lomax smiled and knelt down in front of Thomas. "Man, you have gotten good since running away to the Hub."
"AAARAAGH!" Thomas screamed in pain as Lomax flicked the arrow in his right arm.
"You left us here to fend for ourselves. We were ready to hit it big with the heist and you bailed." Lomax gritted his teeth in pure rage as he starred directly into Thomas' eyes.
"Our crew was wiped the fuck out because of you! I had the holy fuck beat out of me because of you! MY FAMILY WAS KILLED BECAUSE OF YOU!" Thomas knew that leaving his old life and Star City behind would cause trouble. "We couldn't get the money that we promised and we paid for it. Now I find out that you come back to town and are seeing your family. Payback bitch!"
Lomax stood up and sheathed his bow over his shoulder. "Good luck with your baby mama." He kicked the doors open and ran into the fading light.
Thomas looked at both arms pinned to the wall and tried to move. The pain was excruciating. His head dropped to his chest and he passed out.
***
The sheets were soft and clean as Thomas woke up. His mind was foggy, drugged. He wasn't alone.
"You're coming through, good. You were under for a good hour." He heard a man's voice say. "It's time we talked."
There was a man in the room, one he knew though he couldn't place how just then and it was driving him crazy. Evidently this frustration was obvious.
"Queen, Oliver Queen. Jade's brother-in-law, Tommy's godfather, and the man you are going to explain a few things to." It took a moment to make the connection, but Thomas cursed. "You've torn my family apart, Mr. Blake. Jade's in a bad way, Tommy is still freaking out, and you've upset my wife. All bad things."
"Yeah, sorry about that. He's from 'Haven." Thomas said. Mr. Queen nodded.
"Ah yes, 'Haven. That would do it." The man sighed. "We heard the rant over the comm, I feel for him. But I'm not okay with the bastard going after my family, no matter what happened to his. I'm going to track him down." Thomas started to get up out of the bed.
"You ain't doing shit without me. That's the mother of my child. I'm just as invested in this as you are." Thomas felt Mr. Queen's hand press down on his shoulder.
"Mr. Blake, I want you to know that one of the best doctors in Star City just stitched up an arrow hole in each one of your biceps, they then re-set the broken bones in your hand and put a new cast on it, and finally they re-wrapped up the three broken ribs you had. Before I forget, you also have a very minor case of Pneumonia. You came here already half dead. I realize that Peter Lomax is aiming to torture you and yours but I'm part of that family." Queen took his hand off of his shoulder and started for the exit.
"During the Invasion of Metropolis The Great Machine never laid down despite whatever injuries he had. I'm still pretty new to the cape life but if I'm going to get better at it, I need to push past the pain." Thomas got to his feet and instantly hunched over in pain.
"Good thing you're getting some training after this." Roy Harper had walked into the room and watched as Thomas tried to stand tall.
"You and him going at this one alone?" Roy turned his attention to Oliver.
Oliver sighed and looked over his shoulder at the hot mess that was Thomas. "Yeah, I guess so."
Roy smiled. "We tracked Lomax through the city traffic cameras. We know where he is."
"Let's go get some good ole fashioned revenge." Thomas put a black t-shirt on covering his bandages.
The three men exited the room and made their way to the garage. Roy looked back at Thomas. "We got Jade into a stable condition by the way. She will make it through the poison."
"Good." Thomas looked down in shame thinking about Jade being shot.
***
An older looking Monte Carlo parked a block away from the bar that Lomax had been tracked to. Oliver Queen stepped out into the chilled night air. Thomas stepped out of the car and grabbed at his ribs trying to ease the pain of moving. "Man, riding in that piece makes me miss the Siberian."
Oliver looked across the car at Thomas. "Siberian?"
"That's what we call my vehicle that I use." Thomas smiled oblivious to how stupid the name sounded.
Oliver shook his head and slipped on his Green Arrow suit. "At least it's not the Catmobile."
"HA HA! Right?" Thomas held up his hand for a high five across the car. Green Arrow turned and walked back to the trunk of the vehicle ignoring Thomas completely.
"What is with you people?" Thomas said under a hushed breath. He walked to the trunk of the car. Green Arrow had pulled a green tinted Longbow out and inspected it.
"What kind of weapons would you like?" Green Arrow looked at Thomas noticing his face of amazement.
"Um, Do you have batons. That's what I use when I'm in Catman mode." Thomas was still focused on the slick looking Longbow.
"Do you mean Escrima Sticks?" Oliver crooked up his eyebrow at the name.
"Yeah, I guess. I just call them batons." The emerald archer reached in and handed two Escrima Sticks to Thomas. They felt light yet sturdy. They didn't have the stun baton feature that he was used to but they felt better balanced.
"So what's the plan archer man?" Thomas smiled at the rhyme and twirled the sticks in his hands getting warmed up.
"Just follow my lead. We take out anyone inside that poses a threat to our safety. Once Lomax is found. Take him down. No killing." Oliver looked at Thomas and waited for any questions.
Thomas sat there with a blank expression. "Shit! Sorry. I'm used to having my team in my ear through these things."
The vibration tingled in his pocket. Thomas pulled out a small plastic communicator. "On this mission you get our team." The voice of Roy Harper rang in his ear.
"I did you a favor and had Roy jump in on the comms for this one. It seemed like the wiser idea." Oliver said as he walked to the back door.
"Who normally does?" Thomas asked playing with the sticks. They were actually really nice.
"Di, but she's upset with you and I prefer to not have her scream at me as well." The man winced for a moment at the thought. "Do not engage unless you have to, and when you do knock out, don't kill. Keep it simple. We're here to get him into custody, not to be action heroes."
"That's how you win." Roy said over the line. "Play fast, smart and informed. Keep it clean."
Thomas hated how dry they made it sound but he wasn't in any position to complain. Oliver pulled out a key card that opened the scanner on the door and went inside, the long bow at the ready with a arrow already nocked.
"You're on the ground floor, The basement is to the left and the second floor to the right." Roy filled in, Green Arrow nodded. Moving quietly he went up to the left door and opened it slightly, listening. Then he pulled back and went for the stairs up instead.
"Just a few local notables." He said as they walked to the stair well, pointing up.
No need to take on the local muscle if we don't have to, Thomas got the idea. Oliver was about to begin walking up when he instead threw a few of the nearby papers onto the stairs.
Arrows flew down, missing the papers but also the men.
"GA, repelling fire. CM, once you're covered go up and restrain him. GA will be right behind." Roy said briskly. "And he might have more of that stuff, don't get hit."
Green Arrow leapt into the stairs and fired a volley of arrows up the flights, at least one seemed to hit and they heard running away to the center rooms.
Oliver raced up the stairs, clearly in better shape than Thomas who was very much finding out what 'pushing through the pain' really was. Thomas reached the top of the stairs to see the green clad archer ducking behind a metal door as he dodged arrows every few seconds. Downstairs the guards were aware of the intruders and racing to the top floor.
"Crazy archer or hired help?" Green Arrow asked. "Pick now."
Thomas stalled for a split second longer than Oliver was comfortable with. "Damn it Blake! Go after Lomax. I'm going after these guys." Green Arrow slipped past Thomas and booted the first of the bar thugs square in the chest knocking him down the staircase into his buddies. The Emerald Archer nocked an arrow and aimed at the first thug to get to his feet. Catman's eyes grew large from the sight.
THWAPP!
The arrow slammed into the forehead of the thug and dropped him into unconsciousness. "What the hell was that? I thought you said no killing!" Thomas' confusion was growing.
"It's a blunt arrow. Think of it as a rubber bullet. Hurts like hell but is still non-lethal." Oliver spun in place and fired another of the blunt arrows into the chest of the oncoming attacker launching him back down the stairs. Thomas regained his composure and followed after Lomax. He entered what looked like some kind of meeting/executive's office. It was rundown but had an aura of business to it. The Escrima Sticks were drawn out and ready for battle. Thomas slowly walked into the room but couldn't see Lomax anywhere. Out in the hallway he could hear the smashing and rumblings of Green Arrow wiping the floor with the bar thugs. Out of the corner of his eye Thomas spotted movement and dropped behind the large wooden desk.
THWAPP!
THWAPP!
Two arrow pierced into the back panel of the office desk a mere foot away from Catman's head. "When did you get so good with a bow Peter?" Thomas needed some kind of stalling to give the superior archer time to get into the room.
Roy came on over the comm. "GA. CM is pinned down. When you get done with the local flavor you need to provide backup!"
"I'm kind of busy in the staircase right now!" Thomas could hear the attackers going after Oliver.
Lomax paced behind some boxes aiming at the desk. Thomas could tell he was limping. "Been practicing since you murdered my family. Figured why go with the conventional gun, when I can do it just like the protectors of Star City do."
THWAPP!
Another arrow ripped through the desk. This time going all the way through. "Why don't you come out and let me show you my skill with this thing. I think I may actually be better with this than a rifle now. What with all that practice I had with your wife and kid." Thomas' rage skyrocketed with the comment. His anger was taking over his better judgment. He needed to hurt Lomax now.
"What the fuck did you just say?" Thomas stood up from behind the desk and started walking towards the archer.
THWAPP!
Thomas took the arrow right in the left shoulder and kept moving like it was nothing. Lomax's heart began to race as Thomas picked up speed. "Blake? What was that?" Roy's voice was getting panicked.
THWAPP!
Another arrow pierced into the right thigh of Thomas this time. He still didn't slow his pace. "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION! WHAT DID YOU FUCKING SAY?"
"Thomas you need to calm down! The poison is going to hit any second." Roy's words weren't going to stop him.
Lomax reached for another arrow but found none. He had used all that he had. "Out of ammo, shithead!" Catman ran full speed slamming into the exposed midsection of the empty quivered archer. The window behind the two exploded into pieces as both men fell through it. The roof on the lower section of the building was twenty feet below. It also was made of aluminum.
CRASH!
Thomas felt like his back may have been broken. Peter didn't move an inch. Pushing through the most certain internal bleeding, Catman got to his feet and grabbed the collar of Lomax's shirt. "Get up you son of a bitch! You thought falling out of a window was bad?"
THWAKK!
Catman jabbed Peter in the face with his right hand. The blood poured from his nose upon impact. "WAKE UP DAMN IT!"
THWAKK!
Thomas was getting angrier for every second that Peter didn't move. "I WILL KILL YOU RIGHT HERE IF YOU DONT WAKE UP!" The comment jolted Lomax's eyes wide open.
"GA! Get to Blake now! He has been hit and is going to kill Lomax!" Roy commanded.
"I'm trying!" Green Arrow launched another arrow taking down the last of the thugs.
"You're not all that smart are you Blake?" The archer spun away from Thomas breaking the grip on his shirt. The bow came with the spin and made contact right in the temple of Catman's head. Thomas fell off balance a few steps and staggered backwards closer to the edge of the roof. The poison had finally made its effects known.
"It's good to know that you still have friends in high places. I'm going to have fun killing them off too." Lomax smiled a crooked grin and kicked Thomas square in the gut. The already injured man fell backwards off of the roof and landed in the windshield of a car parked below. Glass and blood pooled all around his body. Peter Lomax leaned over the edge and aimed his empty bow at Thomas.
"If I had an arrow you'd be dead right now. See ya later." He looked up at the broken window to see Green Arrow aiming at him.
THWAPP!
The arrow missed his foot by about an inch. "YOU MISSED GA! I WONT!" Peter faded back and ran into the night leaving Catman bloodied and in the wreckage of the car.
"Roy, get the doctors ready. Catman is down and needs help." Oliver looked down at the bloodied Catman.