Joseph and the Mutant Killers

by John Martinez Hulsey

  “I spent the night at Karen’s and she kicked me out early.” Eddie Zero and Miss Vicious had been seeing each other off and on since their freshmen year at the Academy. “Besides, you and I got guard duty. Your ex called me this morning…”

  “She’s not my ex… not yet,” Cristo interrupted with a mouth full of cold cereal.

  “Whatever,” Zero replied sarcastically as he poured himself a bowl. “Anyway, we get to guard Elissa. Make sure no boogeyman comes to get her, and all that fun stuff.”

  It was Midnight. The shadow strolled into a Westside crack house, as the gunfire from a small army of stocky men in alley night camouflage tried to eat through his Hybrid chest armor. He hammered, kicked, and slammed his way through the hopheads. He picked up an injured boy from a dark corner as a long arc of blood poured from the boy’s chest.

  “Where’s your leader? Talk or die,” the shadow demanded from the pathetic youth. But he received no answer.

  He dropped the dead punk and advanced out of the crack house. But as soon as he took a step out of the door, he was thrown back in by another burst of gunfire. He stumbled over to a window, where he found three more domestic terrorists, wearing alley-night cammies and packing the latest in paramilitary pulse rifles.

  “Sure could use Jenny’s help right about now,” the Shadow spoke to himself.

  He began to slightly panic, then he realized he could hear what his three adversaries were planning.

  “I’ll flank him from the right,” one whispered to the others, “while you two take him from the left.”

  “Ambush,” the two agreed.

  The three domestic terrorists set their plan in motion. Two went around from the left, while the third went around from the right. Gripping their rifles – they attacked, spraying gunfire in each other’s directions.

  “Wait!” the lone terrorist yelled. “Cease fire!” he yelled again as he dove out of the line of fire.

  The others stopped firing, when they realized the mystery assailant had vanished.

  “Where is he?”

  “He couldn’t have gone far!”

  “Keep your eyes open!”

  Joseph, hiding nearby, emerged from the shadows. He fired three shots. One round for each remaining terrorist. Seconds later, Joseph heard three bodies hit the floor – dead.

  Another second passed and Joseph was gone… again one with the night. A Shadow…

  The Fourth Maximum-Security Penal Colony for Sentenced War Criminals was designed atop a giant meteor that orbited the newly surveyed world of Elysian. It was complete with holding cells, watchtowers, and titanium steel walls. Hulking men in navy-blue uniforms carrying battle rifles patrolled the perimeter of the complex with attack rogues.

  Michele-Marie’s cell was in the center of the complex. It was an eight-by-eight cubicle without windows. The walls and the floor of the cell were constructed of reinforced steel, fifteen inches thick, as was the portal.

  Two guards escorted Marie down a long and dark corridor. She had chains linked from her neck, wrists, and ankles. She also wore a special metallic headband that restrained her from using her telekinetic powers from controlling other’s minds and from switching over to her Michele persona. A loud clank echoed throughout the complex as a huge, electronic, chrome door swung open into an even darker corridor that led into her cell.

  Once in her cell, Marie laid on her cot. The two guards, one male and one female, both smiled at each other. One closed the cell door behind them, while the other unlocked the chains around Marie’s ankles and wrists. Marie laid there terrified, watching her guards’ every moves. Even in her fragile state, she knew something bad was going down.

  The female guard forced herself under Marie, holding her down, while the male forced himself on her. Tears streamed down Marie’s face, as the two raped her. She became so petrified, her body started to go into convulsions…

  “What’s wrong with her?” the male guard asked.

  “She’s having a seizure,” the female answered. “Just hurry up and finish so I can have my turn. Breaks almost over.”

  As her body shook, Marie’s headband restraint became free from her crown.

  Suddenly, the look in her eyes changed. She was no longer Marie… she was the evil Michele. As her seizure faded, she pushed the male off of her and, using her mutant telepathy, set his clothes ablaze. The fire grew so intense that within seconds there was nothing left of the male guard, but his charred smoking bones.

  Smoke and the smell of burnt human flesh hung heavily in the small prison cell. The female let go of the grip she had on Michele, and laid weeping on the cot… she knew she wasn’t going to leave the cell alive.

  “Please, don’t kill me,” the female cried. “He made me do this,” she pointed at the pile of smoking bones.

  Michele never uttered a word; she was in no mood to hear the woman’s plea. She just simply leaned over the female’s lying body, and punched a hole in her chest. Ripping out her heart and killing her instantly.

  As Michele studied the still beating heart in her hand, she thought to herself, I have to get out of here. I have to get my revenge on the Mutant Killer - Assault!

  Jenny tip-toed quietly into her bedroom.

  She slipped out of her boots and clothes. Stepping into her shower, she received a disturbing feeling as it pierced her soul, body, and mind. Something was either there, or it was coming.

  Outside the complex, the beast hovered above the ground to take a peek inside Jenny’s third floor apartment. He gazed in through the bathroom window and saw her bathing in the shower. He waited until she was finished and dressed to attack.

  He crashed through the window, gradually metamorphosing into Sam Ael. Shocked, Jenny jumped and turned to face him. He was towering, broad, and disgusting. She knew he was there to kill her.

  Jenny closed her eyes tightly, hoping her powers would send him to another dimension. But she opened them to still find the Warrior staring hungrily at her. His Dark Mutant powers were too powerful for her to spoil.

  “You are a Mutant?” he asked. “I like that in a woman. Too bad I have to kill you.”

  Jenny released a guttural cry, as she made a run for Sam Ael. But all he had to do was swing his right hand and she flew across the room, crashing through a small table.

  Down below in the streets, Cristo parked the cruiser. He, Zero, and Elissa climbed out of the vehicle.

  “If anyone can take care of you tonight… Jenny can,” Cristo told her.

  Suddenly, there was an outburst of screaming coming from Jenny’s apartment.

  “What was that?” Elissa asked worried.

  Pulling his Sonic-Gun III from its shoulder holster, Cristo spoke, “I don’t know. Come on!” He motioned for her to follow him and Zero. The three sprinted into the complex.

  As the three made it to Jenny’s apartment entrance, Zero tried the door.

  “Damn! It’s locked,” he rasped.

  “Look out,” Elissa pushed him out of the way before she executed a flawless roundhouse kick, which blew the door right off its hinges.

  Simultaneously, Cristo and Zero leaped in through the door. Their heads pivoted from side to side. They then both locked in on the Dark Warrior, and fired their weapons. Sam Ael looked on as the Sonic-Slugs penetrated his Mutant flesh. Cristo saw Jenny lying on the floor unconscious. He grew angry as he saw his friend lifeless and battered. He ran towards the Warrior emptying out his magazine. As he reached Jenny, he saw the Dark Warrior leap out the window, transforming into the beast and flying off into the moonlight.

  The moon was full. The wind howled. And the trash from the streets circled in tiny tornadoes.

  Like death on a high-powered, turbo Hover-Cycle, Joseph roared down the alleyway. All the way he opened the cycle full throttle.

  He crashed through the door of the complex. He wasn’t sure which gang owned this crack house – he only knew he was there to destroy everyone within.

  Once inside, he found a young
man standing from a weapons table and pulling a 10mm hand-cannon out of his trousers. But Joseph quickly un-holstered a high caliber weapon and with perfect precision, he aimed and fired a round into the man’s kneecap.

  The young man fell, gripping his bloody stump, and – frustrated with Joseph’s actions – swung his hand-cannon around and fired. The round ricocheted off Joseph’s hybrid chest armor.

  “No. No,” Joseph hissed as he fired a slug into the frightened and confused man’s cheekbone.

  He opened the throttle a little and the Hover-Cycle shot into next room, where he fired two rounds into another man’s chest, sending him onto his back.

  “Please. Please help me,” the young man muttered, knowing he wouldn’t live much longer.

  But Blades was determined to search and destroy scum like him. Even though he knew it wasn’t right deep down inside, he could only reply, “In your dreams,” followed by a single shot into the young man’s heart.

  Outside, an army of police cruisers were high tailing it towards the complex. But from a nearby building, new MK recruit, Karen Vicious, had seen everything that had transpired. She had been chosen by the Mutant Kill Squad to collaborate with the GSA Police Department to snub out possible sites for an Intergalactic Mutant gun smuggling ring which was operating out of that very sight.

  She ran to the back of the complex hoping to find Joseph and help him escape before the authorities could get him into their custody.

  As she reached the back entrance, Joseph crashed through the wall with his Hover-Cycle.

  “Joseph!” Karen yelled. “Wait!”

  The Hover-Cycle stopped and Joseph turned and looked at his MK pupil. Not sure what to do, Karen took a chance by jumping on the back of the cycle.

  “Move it!” she decreed as the Hover-Cycle shot off into the fog covered night.

  The cycle drew silent when it pulled up to Cristo’s apartment complex.

  “Come on,” Karen whispered.

  Joseph followed her into the complex.

  “What are we doing here?” he asked.

  “This is where Elissa’s staying.”

  Joseph stopped, turned and observed the surroundings; the streets, the nearby buildings, the night’s sky.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Making sure we weren’t followed.”

  “By the Dark Warrior?” Vicious asked.

  Joseph turned to her and nodded, as Cristo opened his door.

  “Joseph, where’ve you been? Hey Elissa’s asleep in the other room,” Cristo smiled. “I’ll get her.”

  Joseph grabbed Cristo’s left-shoulder tightly. “Is she safe?” He released his grip.

  “Yes, but Jenny was attacked by the Dark Warrior. Johnny’s with her in the hospital… she’s okay.”

  Suddenly, the door to Cristo’s spare bedroom swung open, and Elissa strolled out. “What’s going on, Cristo…,” she saw Joseph and ran to him.

  Embracing him, she asked, “Where have you been?”

  Holding her in his arms, he sighed, “You feel so good.”

  Letting go of her, he replied, “I’ve been trying to lay low…”

  “Yeah, right,” Karen snickered. “I just watched him destroy the rest of Gato’s fallen empire. It was awesome!”

  “I’ve been doing my own thing. Trying to lure that Beast out of hiding before he could hurt you,” Joseph gazed into his beloved Elissa’s eyes. “Or any of you,” he saluted his MK pupils.

  “Don’t forget we got your back too,” Cristo smiled.

  Suddenly, Karen received a call through her MK communicator, “It’s HQ, Michele-Marie escaped from prison. But not before killing Syn.”

  “Sorry, Joseph,” Elissa sighed. “I know you wanted the honors of killing that bastard.”

  “That the least of my worries now,” said Joseph. “We need to find Assault and let him know the Mutant bitch he sent to prison has escaped.”

  “Good,” Elissa educated, “because you’re going to need all the Mutant Killer’s on this one if you want to defeat this Dark Warrior.”

  Commander Sato Hanzo liked to live extremely well, and that was exactly what his organization allowed him to do. He spent millions of his own money on completely refurbishing his star cruiser that was temporarily locked in orbit around Elysian. The exclusive firm of architects, interior designers, and techno technicians he had hired at very high prices worked for over a year to transform the cruiser into an Intergalactic Dictator’s vision of heaven.

  Sato had come a long way from the impoverished back streets of Neo-Japan. His successful journey from the ghetto of his childhood to his deity life as the leader of the Dominion Mutant Terrorist Organization had been fueled by blacklisting, infiltration, and treason. All which had given him everything he ever wanted; money, power, cruisers, women. The best of both worlds – mortal and immortal.

  He wore the best in clothing tailored by the most exotic Alien designers in the galaxy, and he flew only the best in speeders. The highest paid jewelers and restaurant owners in the galaxy fell all over themselves to please the Man – the King of the DMTO. He had a lifestyle that the elite of an entire planet could not match.

  The melodies of Beethoven’s Fifth – Symphony of Destiny, permeated the room as Sato made a few powerful moves on his spicy brunette goddess. He didn’t know her name, but only her deeply tanned body and perfectly sculpted face - for she was draped on the cover of every model magazine from Elysian to Earth. Therefore he wanted her, and when the infamous Mr. Hanzo approached any woman, she would soon be his. It was like shopping. And Sato truly enjoyed the market.

  As the two lay on Sato’s king-sized bed, a silent intruder approached. Standing at the foot of the bed, the intruder lifted her rifle and aimed it at Sato and his friend.

  Surprised, the high roller sat up and exclaimed, “Michele? How did you get out?”

  “I escaped, you fool,” she plainly stated.

  “Well, how did you get here?”

  “I flew all the way from the prison colony. And boy are my arms tired,” she laughed. “But you know, Sato?”

  “Know what?” he asked smiling.

  Staring into his eyes, she said, “You’re an unscrupulous pig. How dare you do that to me!” She raised her rifle barrel and pressed it against his forehead.

  “Do what?” he whimpered.

  “Betray me! You were the one that sold me out to Syn. Weren’t you?”

  “No. I didn’t!” he cried.

  “Yes you did. If I hadn’t been forced to work with Syn, I never would’ve been incarcerated, and all this that you have would’ve been mine. You betrayed me and now.” She smiled evilly. “You die.”

  “No!” Sato and his lady friend cried and screamed as Michele sprayed their defenseless bodies with gunfire, turning the immaculate white bed into a pool of blood and viscera.

  “It’s great to be back. Now, to retake the DMTO. And get my revenge on Assault.

  Post Nuclear Izon – the Elysian moon.

  The scorching sun’s radiation, attacked the individual, wearing the green and black armor – the black was as dark as night and the green seemed to glow with a light all its own – as he staggered and fell atop the sand dune in exhaustion.

  Assault had been crawling through the god-forsaken wasteland for almost two days. He couldn’t stop and rest just yet if he wanted to get to Helltown. That was where he would find an old female companion, General Magnum of CIMA. Besides, if he didn’t keep moving, he would be a sure target for any DMTO aerial deployment. He met one, a day before that sprayed him with its “lethal juice” – chemical warfare. One drop on your unprotected skin, and it was five seconds of pure hellfire – before you would literally melt away. Fortunately, Assault had his armor to protect him.

  He picked himself up from the dune, and stared up at the great sun, whose ultra-violet rays were the only things that seemed to penetrate his body armor. He freed himself from the trance and was on his way again.

  WELCOME TO
HELLTOWN – POPULATION: YOU! – was how the sign read, as he staggered into the city.

  Helltown was a city that had grown through the moon’s surface and kept on growing. It was a poor region, but was considered one of the wealthiest and most populated cities after the moon was nuked by DMTO forces – three years earlier.

  The buildings were dilapidated and covered with propaganda signs and graffiti. Saloons and strip-joints seemed to be quite popular. And numerous posters advertising a hasty demise of any DMTO command littered every street corner. Assault could understand why, since that organization was the one responsible for leaving the inhabitants of the Elysian moon to die of thirst, hunger, and radiation sickness.

  Assault fought his way through the crowded and humid streets of Helltown as he heard gunfire and people screaming, laughing, and crying – coming from every direction. The city was dark and it was hell.

  At night, the tattoo parlors, the peep shows, and the broken down roadhouses soiled windows were clouded with their neon imitations of sunlight. Here was where one could find the pushers waving to the prostitutes, the poverty stricken street dwellers laughing as some stupid newcomer lost to a wager “shot-in-the-dark”, and the dope fiends huddling in their corners, as long as their supply held out.

  But beneath all that was the charred silhouettes of Izonians that were annihilated in the nuclear bombarding of the planet. Once precious lives – now nothing more than a smudge on the city. A reminder to all of what a threat the Dominion forces had become.

  Assault casually strolled towards a popular saloon called THE FLY GIRL. As he approached the entrance, an individual stopped him and ran a radiation Geiger counter over his armor.

  The counter read zero, and the individual moved from Assault’s path and said, “You’re clean…go on in.”

  Assault, removing the helmet that completely covered his head and face, entered the dark and hazy saloon – which smelt of urine, stale beer, and remarkably pungent body odor. Maybe taking his helmet off was not a good idea. Drunks were passed out, their heads laying on the bar and clenching a bottle in one hand. Some were lying on the sticky, wet floor –either passed out or dead.