Joseph and the Mutant Killers

by John Martinez Hulsey

  Assault made his way to the bar, where he was stopped, again. This time by a not-so-bad looking, yet intoxicated young harlot.

  “Hi, big boy. Looking for a good time?” she asked, staggering closer to him and grabbing a hold of his shoulder.

  “Maybe,” Assault replied as she positioned her face close to his. Pushing her lips against his, she kissed him.

  Assault pushed her away and placed her on a small bar stool.

  “I’ll give you a freebie, since you’re black, sugar. Don’t see too many of your kind around here,” she laughed.

  Assault was definitely black – he was the last surviving member of the great African Boo-Yaa tribe – but he just smiled and leaned up against the bar to absorb the hellish scenery. The harlot, on the other hand, keeled over and passed out from all the “poison” in her blood stream.

  “Anything I can get you son?” asked an elder gentleman behind the bar.

  “You have water?” he yelled over the barroom clamor.

  The bartender nodded and repeated, “One water coming up!” as he poured a container of a muddy, stagnant liquid into a small shot glass.

  Handing Assault the glass, the bartender asked, “You up for some entertainment, stranger?”

  Looking across the room at the available Jezebels, Assault paused when his eyes spotted a popular young woman. She was surrounded by several men and women, human and Mutant, whistling and howling, and stuffing Izon money down her lace panties, as she danced on top of a small barroom table. He began to think how interesting she might be, as her body seductively swayed from side to side – first her round hips and thighs followed by her well-developed upper half – her movements would have gotten any species under her trance. But he wasn’t here for pleasure. He was here to take care of business.

  “No,” he answered the old man’s question. “I’m looking for General Magnum of CIMA. Do you have any idea where I can find her?”

  “You’re Assault? I should have known. Don’t get too many of your color around here,” the bartender explained. “Talisa’s in the back room.”

  Minutes later, in the saloon’s back room, among the dust, shadows, liquor crates, and cockroaches, Assault found a beautiful, gold skinned, dark-haired woman. She was cleaning her rifle and taking stock of her weapons, preparing for a fight.

  “Talisa?” he asked amazed.

  “It’s me, Victor,” she answered.

  They embraced, happy to see each other. Gripping the sides of her muscular abdomen, Assault lifted her off her feet as she wrapped her long legs around his waist.

  “It’s good to see you,” she whispered into his ear.

  Placing her back onto her feet, Assault looked at her and said, “It’s so good to see you too.” There was a short pause as they looked each other over, then Assault spoke again, “I would’ve been here sooner… but my speeder broke down in Rainbow City… so I had to walk. The wastelands are a bitch. Why’d you ask me here?”

  “Well, to be honest, I missed you. Second, we’re moving into Elysian and need your help.”

  “CIMA needs my help?” he asked. “Or you need me?”

  She answered only with a reserved smile.

  In Greek Mythology, Elysian was a place where heroes and virtuous people resided after death. It was a place of perfect happiness – a paradise. However, in actuality, it was hideous – destroyed by meteors and ancient alien battles. This was why many Earthlings were aghast – why should taxpayers, who faced home-planet troubles like poverty, homelessness, pollution, and threats from radical Mutant gangs, spend billions of dollars and risk lives to terraform the dying planet.

  However, without the people’s blessings, the atmosphere project had begun, and was finally complete. Now Elysian was now livable for all mankind.

  Within the ATFIP Air Base hangar and aboard the MKS fighter; Cristo, Zero, Karen, and Tina strapped themselves into their duty-ranked posts and prepared for a long flight, while Joseph and Elissa strapped each other into a pair of passenger seats. Cristo was gunner and missile man. Zero was the navigator and copilot. Karen was second unit and medic. Tina was pilot and commanding officer.

  “Do you remember how to navigate?” Cristo laughed.

  Turning towards him, Zero smirked, “Maybe.”

  The hangar door slid down into the ground, opening so the fighter could maneuver through with ease. But as they began to depart from the complex, an army of unmarked land cruisers intercepted them. Men quickly stepped from the vehicles gripping pulse rifles. Suddenly the hangar became a disco of gunfire. Their shells harmlessly bounced off the fighters’ chassis.

  “Who are these guys?” Zero asked.

  Glancing out the window, Joseph answered, “I’m guessing Gato’s men. What’s left of them.”

  “Looks like all of them,” Zero laughed.

  “How’d they get on the base? Where’s security?” Cristo asked.

  “Looks like we’re it,” Tina replied.

  “Tina! Radar shows something coming in fast!” Vicious exclaimed as she surveyed the radar monitor.

  “What is it?”

  “A shuttle. Sensors indicate that the craft is heavily armed,” Vicious spoke, giving an update on the dangers of the sky.

  “This Gato is relentless. And ballsy. Who attacks an air base?” Elissa asked.

  “Stand by for evasive actions! Cristo, arm the cannon and missile pods.”

  “Cannons and pods armed!” he howled as he pushed a button that electronically loaded the heavy ammo.

  “Incoming missiles!” Vicious excitably cried out.

  “I see them,” Zero hissed. He jerked the control lever to the right, maneuvering the fighter from the enemy’s missiles path.

  “All this jerking around isn’t helping me get in a smooth shot,” Cristo complained.

  “I’m going in from their blind spot,” Tina said roughly.

  “You will have a three second lull in the evasive maneuvers to sight in on their main engines,” Zero fed the info to Cristo.

  “Counting down to that lull. Five – Four – Three – Two – ONE!” Cristo fired a heavy discharge of artillery.

  Looking at the video screen mounted at her post, Karen saw the side of the shuttle erupt into flames. “Direct hit!” she shouted with excitement. “Take that you sons of bitches!”

  “How are the cruisers on the ground holding up?” Cristo asked.

  “Stable… looks like security’s finally arrived and apprehended them,” Vicious answered. “They gave up after we shot down their air support.”

  “Well, then let’s get out of here,” Tina suggested.

  “Where to, Joseph?” Zero asked as he ignited the thrusters.

  “Set a course for the wormhole. I want to get to Elysian ASAP.”

  On the Far Horizon of Elysian, Michele’s star-cruiser gracefully aerial waltzed through the powerful rays of radiation shunned by the Imminent System’s sun – Phoebeus.

  An ATFIP stealth fighter, which was escorting a research vessel to the planet, drifted alongside to inquire the cruiser’s motives.

  “You are flying into a restricted area. Please disperse from this airspace at once.” A photon beam glared over the horizon. And the star cruiser was the only one of the two air vehicles to remain in the black sky. The beam vaporized the fighter into space vapors.

  The research vessel fired their weapons at the cruiser. Alarms went off and sounded throughout the shuttle as the DMTO cruiser attacked with superior force.

  Small portals on the belly of the cruiser shot open. DMTO storm troopers, wearing lightweight, radiation space suits with breathing apparatuses, and heaving hand held laser guided RPGs and battle rifles, attacked the small vessel with extreme force.

  “Tina, I’m receiving a signal over the computer,” Vicious confirmed, as the fighter exited the wormhole and shot into the Imminent System. "An SOS from a research shuttle. They’re being bombarded by terrorist fire.”

  “Okay. Zero, set a course for that signa
l. Karen, keep an eye on the radar. There’s no telling what they might have out here.”

  Minutes later, as the fighter cleared Phoebeus, they saw the cruiser. Only space debris was where the research vessel was seconds before.

  “Battle stations!” Tina ordered. “Arm the multiple racks in the dorsal and frontal bays. Set proximity fuses. Lock on target seekers. I want to hit that cruiser with everything we got. I want it bracketed with firing solutions.”

  “The target computer has a firing solution for a four missile dolley, Tina!” Cristo replied.

  “Then fire when ready!”

  “I’m ready now!” He released a heavy barrage of missiles, as the DMTO cruiser fired on the ATFIP fighter.

  “Incoming scuds!” Vicious yelled anxiously.

  Suddenly the fighter rocked from side-to-side as the missiles came into contact with it.

  “Half the power banks are out!” Zero barked.

  “We’re losing pressure in the computer compartments. If the trajectory memory goes down…,” Cristo was interrupted by another hail of gunfire.

  The cockpit lit up with flames. Joseph leaped over with perfect quickness and put out the tiny blaze with a small extinguisher that was attached to the wall, before the fire could do any serious damage.

  “Somebody give me a damage report,” Tina commanded, but no one answered. They were all still in shock from the last hit. “I said I want a damage report!” she yelled feverishly. She needed to find a way to get them all out of there alive.

  “Still losing pressure in the computer bay. Auxiliary power functioning. Major systems at seventy-five percent,” Vicious finally replied.

  “Good. Bleed pressure into the computer bay from our reserves. Shut down all systems except life-support, maneuvers, and weapons!” She turned to Cristo and said, “Reload all missiles pods and bring them to hub in on the cruiser. Have the main battle computer stand by for target coordinates for the main cannons. Let’s show them how this Mutant Kill Squad kicks ass!”

  Cristo fired. Every missile bombarded the DMTO cruiser. Then he began to lay off a heavy flutter of fire from his cannons. The rounds melted into the cruiser’s body, like it was constructed out of hot butter. But the cruiser still fought back.

  “Photon beams… now!” Tina ordered.

  Cristo released three photons. Each came into contact with the cruiser, setting it ablaze. The cruiser gradually nose-dived into the Elysian atmosphere.

  Everyone aboard the fighter jumped and cheered with excitement.

  “Something survived,” Joseph spoke as he glanced over at Vicious’ radar monitor.

  “He’s right,” Vicious looked up from the screen. “An escape pod has ejected from the ship, and landed on the planet. The cruiser, however, has crashed and burned.”

  Looking at Tina, Joseph motioned to land. She began to pilot the fighter into Elysian’s atmosphere. Perhaps Michele-Marie was on that pod.

  On the other side of Elysian, in hot pursuit of one Mutant Kill Squad fighter, a small airship with the Dark Warrior onboard came in low – surpassing the speed of sound. His wounds had healed from his encounter with Cristo. And was now out to kill everyone.

  “One escape pod coming up. Thirty degrees north. Fifty-two degrees west,” Vicious replied.

  “Prepare yourselves,” Tina suggested.

  The fighter descended, gently lying beside three building structures where the pod had landed, which were marked DMTO Defense. The remaining survivors had solicited refuge inside the complexes. The team exited the fighter, armed and ready for battle.

  The wind howled as the heavily armed force of MKS crashed through the DMTO defense system. They surrounded one building, where the individuals that were onboard the pod had retreated.

  Ready for battle, Joseph engaged a battle cry that signaled his troops to make their move. The fierce warriors they were, they stormed the place, stumbling over wounded terrorists. Four terrorists opened fire on the Mutant Killers, but their ammunition ricocheted harmlessly off the MK hybrid armor. Joseph and the others fired back in retaliation.

  The first terrorist fell; spinning dizzily as his mid-section dropped to his feet.

  A second terrorist found himself airborne, a gaping hole where his heart had once pumped life into him… His body slammed onto a long-table, crashing through it and onto the floor. His heart however, landed where he stood seconds before – with a quiet slap.

  The other two Mutants stopped and released one last burst of gunfire, simultaneously, as two slugs entered through their foreheads and exited, with what little brains they had, through a gaping hole in the back of their skulls.

  Outside, a huge Land Assault Vehicle arrived. General Magnum, Assault, and a small company of Counter-Intelligence on Mutant-Affairs officers leaped out. They were prepped and ready for action.

  “That’s one of our fighters,” Assault spoke, pointing at the MKS fighter.

  “What’s it doing out here?” Magnum asked.

  “Let’s find out.”

  The CIMA officers stormed in through the opposite side of the complex, encountering another team of DMTO agents. They fired automatic weapons and pulse-guns. The guns blatted, spitting smoke, fire, and electronic blasts, drilling through the terrorists. Five bodies fell in bloody heaps. There was groaning and screaming. Smoke and debris hung heavily in the air.

  Moments later, the MKS walked in, as CIMA halted all gunfire. Two warriors came face-to-face… Two brothers reunited…

  “Joseph, what are you guys doing here?

  They gripped each other’s hands and squeezed firmly. Assault released his grip as he gave in to Joseph’s superhuman strength.

  “Michele-Marie has escaped. We followed her and the survivors of her crew to this complex, but there’s been no sign of her. She’s after you, friend,” Joseph replied.

  “She out for revenge,” Elissa added. “Don’t forget the Dark Warrior.

  “The Dark Warrior,” Magnum spoke, “we’ve heard about that monster.”

  “He’s a powerful beast,” Joseph replied. “He’s on his way here now…”

  “If he isn’t here all ready,” Tina replied.

  Without warning, the lights shut off and the staccato echo of gunfire erupted within the complex. Everyone ducked for cover and began to fire their weapons in the direction of their assailant. The gunfire stopped.

  “I want Assault,” Michele’s voice came from within the darkness. “He’s mine!”

  They fired their weapons in the direction that Michele’s voice had come. They all had one thing on their minds, destroy the Mutant bitch – she’s only one against their small army; therefore, she didn’t stand a chance. But Michele was a highly trained combatant, who had an extremely powerful force on her side. The force of the Dark Warrior.

  Amidst the fighting, Assault felt someone, or something, brush up against his back. But he turned and saw nothing, or so he thought. Suddenly, he saw a massive, hairy claw reach out from the shadows and grab a hold of his neck. As he was lifted into the air, he struggled and fought, but his strength could not over power the super-Mutant strength of the Dark Warrior.

  Assault felt his very existence slowly drift away, before he was sent, hurling through the air and into a wall on the other side of the room. Everyone’s attention was now focused on the Dark Mutant, leaving Assault as easy prey for Michele’s onslaught.

  “Assault,” Michele seductively hissed. “I’ve come for you, my lone warrior.” She began to laugh an evil cackle as she slowly aimed her weapon at Assault’s head. “You’re gonna die!”

  The green and black warrior rose to his feet and ran full speed towards his assailant. Michele screamed as she released a few rounds from her weapon. Every round ricocheted off Assault’s armor.

  He tackled the Mutant female, hurling them both through an open porthole. Stumbling outside of the complex and onto the dusty Elysian ground, Assault and Michele stood – staring eye-to-eye.

  “If it wasn’t for you, I woul
d have never been incarcerated. I never would have been pushed out of my DMTO command. And all this you see before you,” Michele waved her arm to point at the deserted, uncolonized planet, “would have been mine long ago.”

  Assault stared at his beautiful aggressor. Never in his life had he wanted so much – like he did at that very moment – to bash in a woman’s skull. But doing so would go against his character. Against everything he believed in… then again, he really didn’t care anymore.

  “You know, Michele, I don’t like you,” he sarcastically replied, before sending a huge fist into her face. Michele fell onto her back as Assault stood above her. “What do you want, Mutant?”

  “Besides you dead? I’d like a long hot bubble bath. And maybe…”

  Assault aggressively interrupted her with a swift kick to her ribs. “I didn’t ask for your Christmas list, honey.”

  Inside the complex, the dark hunter had become the hunted.

  “Stay alert!” Joseph commanded. “We don’t know what this Mutant is capable of.”

  “Yes we do,” Zero burst forth. “The Mutant almost killed you, and he put Jenny in the hospital.”

  “If anyone’s gonna die, it’s gonna be the mut…” Cristo was cut short as the Dark Warrior grabbed him and threw him face first into a nearby wall, knocking him unconscious. His face nothing more than a bloody mess.

  “That’s it, you hairy mother!” Zero growled before rushing the Mutant warrior. But the Dark Warrior was too quick for the mortal human, he swung his massive right arm in front of his body and clothes-lined the young MK, which almost ripped Zero’s head right from his jugular.

  Furious by the attack of his human foes, the Dark Warrior threw his head back, howled, and grabbed the nearest pawn – which happened to be Elissa.

  “I want Joseph Blades,” the Warrior hissed. “And I want him now! Or she dies. The choice is yours.” He pointed in Joseph’s direction with a crooked and pointed claw.

  Joseph stood before his friends and the soldiers of CIMA and rasped, “Want some… come get some.” The whole time he had complete eye contact with the frightened eyes of the woman he had always adored… the Celestial Empress.