Post by cross on Sept 29, 2015 14:12:31 GMT -5
Ultimate Catman #10
Return to Form
"Where are we going?" Thomas sat in the back of the Siberian fidgeting from the cramped enclosure.
"To Ms. Franklin's." William slightly turned his head wincing in pain from the bullet wound in his shoulder. Thomas wore a look of confusion on his face at the answer. "Amina Franklin. The doctor that we 'Enlisted' to help us if we ever go hurt. You haven't been gone that long."
Thomas nodded. "Oh yeah. Amina. The doctor." Kitrina gripped tightly onto the arm of Thomas.
"We're here." Irwin announced to the packed car. "Let me find a spot to hide and we will head in. She's expecting us."
***
Thomas wiped the sweat from his head and pulled his 'Stray Cat' mask back over his face. "There, we should be safe." Thomas kicked some of the thicker ash to mix it in with the surrounding dirt.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't wait for you to get the upper hand and I let my emotions overcome me." Onyx had a worried look, nervously glancing back and forth as if waiting for somebody to spot them.
"What are you looking for?" Thomas pulled her into an embrace trying to calm her nerves.
"You don't know all of the rules yet. In the Ashram if a different class does a killing instead of the designated Hunter, they are punished." Onyx's whole body began to shake.
"It's an offence punishable by death."
***
Amina patted William on his shoulder admiring her good stitching work on his wound. "Okay Guardian. You should be all good to go. I would ask you to take it easy on the blocking bullets with your body but you all seem to be pretty bad at that." Kitrina snorted at the comment.
"Wait, wait, wait. Did you just snort?" Irwin looked back at the teenage girl with a huge grin on his face.
"Shut up! It was funny." Kitrina's face immediately darkened red as she spun around on the waiting room couch to hide her embarrassment.
SLAMM!
"I'm tired of this childish behavior! What is our plan for retaliation?" Thomas clinched his fist tightly showing his frustration.
"You okay Thomas?" Irwin sat in a ready position to teleport if the situation called for it. He had never felt nervous around Thomas until today.
Thomas rose from his seat staring out the window. he looked down on the city streets of the Hub. "We were just attacked in our home and all we have done is made jokes and patched up with band aids."
Guardian stood up and lowered his voice. "You have a plan Catman?"
"HA HA HA HA!" Thomas' sudden outburst of mocking laughter threw everyone in the room off. "Catman? Seriously? I guess I should have expected that." He continued to chuckle at the title.
William glanced at Irwin with a concerned look at the comment. "So, you have a plan?"
He spun around in place and reached out his hand towards Irwin. "Let me see your controls for the suit."
Irwin paused for a brief second. "I-I never told anyone that the suit had controls." Everyone in the room rose to their feet now as the tension began to build.
Thomas mockingly raised his hands up in surrender. "The jig is up I guess." He flashed a smile and flipped into the air dropping his heel into the top of Irwin's head sending him face first to the ground.
"THOMAS! WHAT THE F-"
THOKK!
Thomas slammed a back spinning elbow strike into the temple of William knocking him out instantly. He turned slowly and backed Amina into the corner of the room. "I don't even know who you are lady."
Amina dropped to her knees as her body went ragdoll. Blood began to flow from her throat. Kitrina looked on in horror as Thomas turned and spun a knife in his hand almost unnaturally. "Trust me when I say, this will only hurt once. But god damn is it going to hurt."
Kitrina exploded from her position in the room and slammed through the door into the hallway of the empty apartment building.
Thomas tried to catch her through the door but missed grabbing her by a hair. She bounced off of the wall and continued running for safety. "GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE OR I'LL GUT YOUR WHOLE FUCKING FAMILY!" Thomas shouted down the hall after the terrified girl.
Kitrina stopped dead in her tracks from the threat. She slowly turned just in time to see William slam into the murderous Thomas full force sending him smashing through the hallway wall into another apartment. He fell to the ground and rolled clutching his wound. "KITRINA RUN TO THE SIBERIAN!"
She did just that without looking back.
***
"So what happens now?" Thomas had everything packed up and waited for Onyx to give him direction. She continued looking through the trees into the dense forest.
"We could run." Thomas gave the suggestion hesitantly to see how she would respond.
She finally turned around to face him. "Where would we go?"
"The Hub. It's my home and it could be yours too." Thomas could feel excitement flood back into his body at the thought of going back home.
"We go then. We can make it to the city and get out of here tonight if we hurry. The growing conflict with the Monkey Fist Brotherhood should keep the Ashram busy." Onyx turned and began to walk away from the clearing.
Thomas' eyes grew wide and a mile long smile formed on his face. He was going home. "You're going to love everyone!" He rushed to catch up with the woman as she slightly picked up speed through the trees.
***
Kitrina burst through the front door of the building spotting the Siberian roaring to life with Ambush Bug and Guardian already geared up and ready to go. She stopped suddenly and fell back to the ground a few feet from the vehicle.
SMASHH!
Thomas stood up from the roof of the car and whipped the knife at the stumbling girl.
SCHLOK!
The knife pierced the pavement and stood in place only a few inches from where Kitrina sat. "Hey there! I told you that this was going to hurt." The crazed Thomas back flipped off of the roof of the Siberian and slammed his heels into the drivers side window. The glass held but the whole vehicle shook from the impact.
"Damn! That's some good armor there boys! I don't have that where I'm from." Guardian opened the Siberian and got out wielding a baton in his hand.
"Obviously, you aren't from these parts. Where are you from and who are you?" Guardian dodged left as Thomas spun a quick backhand strike where his head once was. He bounced on his heels ready to strike again.
"William, you cant even begin to comprehend where I come from but just know that I am Thomas Blake." Guardian tilted his head trying to figure out what he was talking about.
BAMF!
Ambush Bug appeared over Thomas' head and collapsed on the man, dropping him to the ground. He immediately began jamming his elbow into his spine. "You aren't our Thomas and that's all I need to know." He grabbed ahold of the pinned doppelganger and teleported again.
BAMF!
BAMF!
Thomas fell onto the hood of the Siberian as if he was thrown down off of the roof of the building. Ambush Bug landed a little softer on the ground next to him. "Whoever you are, it's over."
Irwin reached for the man but stopped suddenly. Thomas grabbed his hand and pulled him face first into the side of the Siberian's hood. Irwin's nose exploded with blood from the impact and he fell to the ground in pain. "You couldn't fight worth a shit where I come from either, not much has changed."
William stopped in his tracks. "What did you just say?" Thomas sat up and rolled off of the vehicle and ran in the opposite direction off the group.
"See you around!" He darted towards an alleyway and disappeared.
"Lets go after him!" Kitrina helped Irwin up from the cement and tried to stop his nose from bleeding anymore into his mask.
"We need to regroup. I don't even know what that was yet." Guardian helped Irwin and Kitrina into the car.
"I agree wid Will-yum" Irwin leaned his head back on the seat.
Kitrina slid in behind Irwin and closed the door. "Where is he going though?"
***
Cableman, Mad Dog, Black Spider, and Armand Krol sat in the large office of the Mayor. Armand sipped on a glass of whiskey mulling over the info the V.A.T.F. had brought him.
"No Catman whatsoever?" Armand sipped from the glass again in his curious state.
Cableman leaned forward in his chair. "No, No Catman. We are certain that we found their headquarters though. We wrecked the place up and he still didn't show his face."
"Yeah, I got a good look in their apartment and no one was up there." Black Spider chimed in.
Mad Dog spun around to face Black Spider. "Was that before of after they shot you through the FUCKING roof with their car?"
"HEY! At least I didn't almost kill the team by firing at anything that breathed." Black Spider jumped to his feet and met Mad Dog in the middle of the office as Cableman and Krol watched.
"Ladies. I think I can help you all out with your 'Hero' problem." Thomas stepped through the door of the office. His suit resembled a dog with its black cowl with dog like ears. "The name is Doberman and I'm interested in joining the V.A.T.F."
Mad Dog stepped back from Black Spider. "Hey Dogman! We already have a dog themed person on the team."
Doberman stepped forward and smashed a bone shaped club into the mask of Mad Dog. He then spun and hooked Black Spider by his neck and wrenched him to the tiled floor pinning him. "What do your team captains think?"
Cableman and Armand Krol looked over the impressive takedown. Armand reached out his hand for an agreement shake. "Welcome to the V.A.T.F."
***
William turned off all of the lights on the Siberian as it pulled onto the suburban city street that Irwin called home. The engine quieted as the team coasted down the street as it tried not to be noticed by nosey neighbors. Irwin whipped his hand out and screamed. "STOP THE CAR!"
His breathing picked up pace and the vehicle slammed to a stop. "What?" William turned his head in confusion towards the panicked Ambush Bug.
"Someone just ran through the backyard of my house. Something doesn't feel right here." As the words left Irwin's mouth his home exploded taking half of each neighbors house on both sides of the fiery remains of his home.
BABOOOOOM!!!!
The Siberian rocked from the impact of the explosion. The three sat in the car frozen in shock as pieces of Irwin's house fell from the sky. ""Oh my God." Kitrina whispered from the back seat.
William squinted his eyes to see four shadows in front of what used to be the garage. Silhouetted in front of the fire stood the V.A.T.F. Cableman, Black Spider, Mad Dog, and Doberman stood in a line watching the Siberian hum on the street. "Kitrina, No matter what you stay in the Siberian. Okay?"
Kitrina started looked wide eyed at the four men waiting for a fight. "What about you two?"
William unbuckled his seat belt and began to put the Guardian suit on. "If this gets bad I need you to go to Star City. Our Thomas has friends there."
Kitrina nodded her head in understanding but couldn't speak. Irwin put his Ambush Bug mask back on and got out of the Siberian just as Guardian did.
"HELLO BOYS!" Doberman waved at the duo. "SORRY ABOUT YOUR HOUSE IRWIN. HAD TO MAKE THIS DRAMATIC IF YOU FEEL ME! I ALSO MAY HAVE LOST MY HEARING BECAUSE HOLY SHIT ARE EXPLOSIONS LOUD!"
Guardian pulled out two batons and twirled them in his hands. Ambush Bug followed next to Guardian as they made their way towards the wreckage.
Mad Dog stepped forward and drew his automatic pistol from its holster. "You brought a stick to a gun fight, dumbass!" Mad Dog aimed at Guardian and squeezed the trigger.
BAMF!
BAMF!
The gun shot wildly into the air and left his grasp. Ambush Bug stood in front of him and ripped the gun from his grasp. "You brought a gun to a superpower fight, dumbass!"
He reared back and punched as hard as he could shattering Mad Dog's mask from the punch. Mad Dog yelped like a wounded dog and fell backwards to the charred pavement as his mask crumbled off of his face.
BAMF!
Guardian ran up and swung his baton missing Cableman's head by mere inches. The V.A.T.F. member ducked the swing and wrapped a cable around the ankles of Guardian. He spun hard whipping his feet out from under him sending Guardian to the ground.
BAMF!
"Surprise Motherfucker!" Ambush Bug fell on top of Black Spider and wrapped his legs around the masked mans neck tight. Black Spider tried to get away but the sudden weight shift caused him to lose balance and drop onto his left side. Irwin began slamming his closed fist into the top of his head trying to cause as much damage as possible.
WRACK!!
The bone shaped club snapped as it made contact with the back of Irwin's masked head. He fell face first over and off of the neck of Black Spider. "Batters up, bitch!" Doberman stood over Ambush Bug as he grabbed the back of his head in excruciating pain. Doberman flipped the shattered bone club in his hand and smiled at the jagged end. He grabbed the back of Ambush Bug's mask and pulled him up to his knees and placed the jagged club to his throat.
"It was good seeing you again, Irwin." Doberman whispered into his ear. He went to jam the dagger like weapon into his exposed neck but the death shot never came. Doberman turned his head as he could feel his arm caught. Onyx stood behind him with his arm wrapped around hers.
SNAPP!
Doberman howled in pain as she jerked his arm down popping it out of its socket. She pulled him up again by his injured arm causing him to wince in pain again.
THOKK!
THOKK!
THOKK!
THOKK!
Like lightning, her open handed hits struck him twice in his exposed torso, once in his injured arms shoulder, and once right in his chin. He dropped to the cement, knocked out instantly. "I'm here with 'Catman' as you call him."
Irwin's shocked facial expression looked around for his friend. He only saw William unwrapping the cable from around his ankles and Cableman making his way for the Siberian. "KITRINA!"
Onyx stopped him. "Wait."
Cableman walked towards the Siberian and raised his hand readying his cable gun. "Get out of the car Kitrina!"
His arm was caught by a force that spun him around face to face with Catman. "Get away from her."
THOKK!
Catman punched Cableman square in the jaw sending him flying head first into the side of the Siberian. Cableman dropped to the ground and looked up at Thomas. "It really is you that took her!"
Thomas stopped and looked at Cableman confused. "You are just as bad as I am. You kidnapped my daughter while trying to prevent me from selling child slaves. The only difference is I'm man enough to admit that I do horrible things."
Catman drew his twin batons. "Who are you?"
Cableman unclipped his helmet and revealed the face of Mario Falcone. "I had to find out for sure that it was you that took her and not one of my employees. I fucking knew it!"
THWIPP!
The cable shot out of his arm mounted gun and slammed into the face of Catman sending him back a few steps. He sprung to his feet and charged. "GIVE ME BACK MY DAUGHTER!"
Thomas sidestepped and jammed his knee into the gut of Falcone. He brought both fist down on his head with a haymaker. Mario dropped to the ground unconscious. "THOMAS!"
Kitrina opened the Siberian's door and ran into the opened arms of Thomas giving him the biggest hug she could muster.
***
"A Hub City local rallies for the disbandment of the Vigilante Apprehension Task Force after what he calls a 'Life Altering' mistake." Irwin stepped into the view of the news report.
"I came home from visiting a few friends and I find my home is gone and these four clowns are sitting out front. This V.A.T.F. just destroyed my life! This task force needs to be destroyed!" The local news anchor stepped back into the report.
"Mayor Armand Krol has issued a statement about the incident saying that all members of the V.A.T.F. are in custody except for one member known as 'Doberman' who is still at large."
Kitrina sat on the couch as she watched the news report. "Where would he go?"
Thomas came back from the kitchen carrying soda for the young teen. "Not sure. We still know next to nothing about this guy."
William entered the room from the garage downstairs. "The Siberian should be purring again. Most of the damage was body work anyways." He wiped his hands with an old rag. "So what's the plan now?"
Thomas sat back down on the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table. "Protect the city, nothings changed."