by Wes Grant
Spear said, “Shouldn’t you be short -circuiting or something? It always works on TV.” Juice looked down at his wet clothes and said, “The electricityis in me, you idiot. Water has no effect on me.” Spear then said, “Dammit, that’s the last time I believe something I see on TV.” Juice had that electric gleam in his eyes. Spear said, “If I was to say sorry now, would that make a difference?... I didn’t think so.” There was a flash of light, and Spear was sent flying through a wall into the next room. Juice used his electricity to blast another hole in the wall and walked through it. Spear saw that and started laughing hysterically. Juice said, “What’s so funny, you’re getting your butt kicked.” Spear said, still laughing, “I know but, I didn’t have my camera phone out, could you go back out and bust another hole in the wall, but this time say, ‘Oohh yeeeaaah, anybody wants some juice?!’ Ha-ha.” Juice yells, “Will you shut up with the KoolAid jokes, it’s getting old quick.” Then he fired a lightning bolt at Spear; he dodged and ran between the shelving with all the pipes on it. At that moment, he ran out of adrenaline. He hid behind the isle waiting to recharge, along with trying to figure out a way to beat Juice. He saw a large circuit breaker on the way and had another idea and thought maybe he could short-circuit Juice. In his head he thought, “His body can only hold so much electricity, right? The hard part would be getting him over there.” Spear got back his energy and taunted Juice from behind the aisle. Juice started shooting electricity through the pipes, striking the wall behind them. Spear began to run because the electricity was right behind him. When he got close enough to the wall with the circuit breaker, he ran out in the open and got hit with a lightning bolt. He was sent flying towards circuit breaker and slid up against the wall. Juice said, “I’m done playing games with you, Spear, it’s time to end this.” Spear looked knocked-out and didn’t answer. Juice walked closer, but this time before he got to Spear, he threw another lightning bolt at him, just to make sure he was knocked out. When Spear didn’t move, he walked up to him, looked down, and said, “Not so tough now, told you you,learn to respectme.” Spear opened his eyes and said, “Not today.” Then he reached up and ripped the two thick cables coming out of the circuit breaker and jammed them into Juice’s leg. Juice began to shake and scream in agonizing pain. Spear yells, “Don’t feel to good right!” When Juice stopped screaming, Spear pulled the cables away. But Juice was still on his feet. Then he looked down at Spear, and his eyes were pure yellow like lightbulbs and his hair was now neon blonde. Electricity began to flow in and out of Juice’s body. Spear then said, “Oh come on. Does nothing you see on TV work at all?” He then saw Juice ball up his fist. He then said, “This is gonna hurt now, isn’t it?” A second later, Spear was sent flying through another wall with electricity sparking off him. He flew all the way down the room, slamming into an aisle of pipes, sending them toppling over. It starting a domino effect on the next aisles, sending pipes rolling everywhere. Juice calmly walked through the hole with electricity jumping off him toward the pipes. As he walked toward Spear, he said in a daze, “Knock me through a wall once, shame on you. Knock me twice, wait where am I . . . Aunt May?” Juice walked up to Spear laid out on his back on piles of pipes. He then said, “I think I should thank you.” Spear replied, “For what?” Juice said, “For making me realize my true power. Oh, and you’re right, Juice was a stupid name. It doesn’t fit me. I have a new name now.”
Spear said, “Oh yeah, what is it?” Juice said, “Call me Voltedge.” At that moment, Spear noticed all the way up the ceiling there were sprinklers. The factory had a sprinkler system; then he remembered Juice saying, “The electricity is in me, you idiot.Water has no effect on me.” Or it didn’t when the electricity was just in him, but now it was pouring out and running all over his body. Spear then said, “Yeah, that does sound a lot better. Since I helped you realize your true power and get a cool new name, how bout you let me go.” Voltedge replies, “No can do, I’m getting paid a lot of money for this.” Spear then asked, “OK, could I get a last request then?” Voltedge asked, “What is it?” Spear reached into his pocket and pulled out a crushed pack of cigarette and pulled out the only good one. He then said, “Can you light it for me, I forgot my lighter.” Voltedge lifted his finger with the electricity flowing around it and sent a small jolt to the tip of the cigarette lighting it. Spear sucked in some smoke like a cigar to get the bud down more but didn’t inhale.
Voltedge said to Spear, “So have any last words?” Spear blows out the smoke and with great accuracy flicked the cigarette straight up toward the sprinkler getting it caught in the sprinkler blades. He then confidently says, “Yeah, only four: never count me out.” Voltedge said, “None of your tricks will work on me, I’m too powerful now.” Spear said, “And that’s your weakness.” Voltedge replies, “I’m too powerful and that’s my weakness. I think I hit you too hard, you’re talking crazy now.” Spear replies, “Crazy as a fox.” Voltedge yells, “What’s that even mean?!” Spear says, “You don’t have to understand, you just have to wait.” Voltedge replies, “Wait for what?” At that moment the smoke alarm sounded setting off the sprinkler system. Spear rolled back and used all the strength he had left to jump up and grab hold of one of the wooden beams on the ceiling as the water poured down on Voltedge. All you could hear was Voltedge screaming, “Nooooooo,” as the electricity started to spread out from his body as he fell to the floor. You could see electricity jumping all over the room. As the electricity slowly faded away the sprinklers shut off. Smoke was coming off Voltedge’s body as he stared up at the ceiling in a daze. When his vision became clear, he saw Spear dropping from the ceiling straight toward him, saying, “Lights out” then everything went black. After Spear knocked out Voltedge he muttered to himself, “Bet that's the first time a cigarette ever saved someone's life. (Cough) Man they taste nasty.” He chuckled and limped over to the phone to call the police. He took his weapons and got out of there. He had earned himself a good rest.
CRANK
Crank Crank Transformed
Chapter 4
Powerhouse
Th is story started out on the rooftops with our hero. Spear’s on his Bluetooth headset talking to an operator of his cell phone provider. Spear tells the operator, “I just want to know why my Internet isn’t working. Imean I’m paying for it, right?” The operator said, “Sorry for the inconvenience. Please hold on while I check the problem out.” Meanwhile Spear looked down at the street below and saw four guys gathering around a car. Spear muttered to himself, “Looks like these guys ain’t out for a midnight power walk.” He jumped down to the street below in front of the men about to strip the car. He then pulled out his two rods, spinning them to show off a little and said, “Do I even have to say it, guys? You know what’s next, right?” The men have a shocked look on their faces. At that moment, the operator came back on the phone and said, “Sorry for the wait, sir, I think I found the problem.” Spear then put up one finger, telling the bad guys to wait as he walked off a little.
The four guys were confused because they didn’t see the headset under the hood and thought he’s talking to himself. Then one of the guys said, “Forget this,” then pulled out a gun and aimed it at Spear. Another guys called out, “No wait!” But it’s too late. The instant the guy shot the gun, Spear hit the bullet back at him with his rod without even looking and hit the guy in the leg. The guy went down to the ground quick. The operator asked, “Sir, what was that, are you OK?”
Spear said, “Yeah, sorry that was the TV. But anyw ays, what were you saying?” The guy that called out whispered to the others, “Don’t you know who this is? It’s Spear, and guns don’t work on him. He just hits the bullets back at you.” A different guy then said, “Well, if guns don’t work, let’s take him out the old-fashioned way.” The three that could stand went on the attack at Spear. While still talking to the operator, Spear dodged the attacks from three guys.
The operator then said, “Excuse me, sir, but could you turn down the
TV.” Spear, while still dodging, said, “OK, hold on for a sec.” He then went on the attack and took each guys out with one attack. He then asked the operator, “Is that better?” The operator said, “Thank you, that’s a lot better.”
In the corner of his eyes, Spears saw the guy on the floor with a bleeding leg aim the gun at him again. Spear looks at the guy, tilts his head, and mumbles, “Really?” The guy pulls the trigger and again Spear hit it back into the guy’s other leg. The guydropped the gun and wales in pain from the bullet wounds. The operator ask, “Sir can you please turn down the television its hard to hear you.” Spear says, “Sorry, dropped the remote.” He then toss one of his rods at the man hitting him in the head, knocking him out. “He then replies, “Ok, no more interruptions.”
Spear looks at the knocked out men around the car chuckles and thinks to himself, “This is getting way too easy.” He then got out of there because the police sirens were getting closer. On the way home after Spear changed his clothes wiped his face clean, the car broke down on a bridge on the ride home. Nick shakes his head and says, “That’s it, I’m getting a bus card. I can’t spend anymore money on this car.”
Around the same time of night at Newark Airport, a plane arrived. A large man in a suit standing at a height of 6'7" stepped off the plane with a bag over his shoulder. He was greeted by a welldressed gentleman who said, “Mr. Tretiakov I presume. I hope your firstclass flight was enjoyable.” The tall man then spoke with a Russian accent, “Please call me Crank.” The well-dressed gentleman replied, “OK, Mr. Crank, come right this way.” He then walked Crank over to a limo truck in front of the airport and opened the door. The truck was filled with beautiful women. Crank then said in his Russian accent, “I think I’m going to like America.” He then left his bags outside the truck and got in. The woman surrounded him. As the door was closed, Crank said, “Who wants to play find the kielbasa?!” The well-dressed gentleman told the other men to put the bags in the back. It took two men to lift one of Crank’s bags.
The next day in the afternoon Nick was at his house working on a new little project. Von and Neil were finishing up at the gym near where Nick lived. They decided to stop by and pay him a visit. They called Nick to see if he’s home and told him to open up the gate for them to come in. They pulled into his driveway and parked their cars. Nick left the door open for them to come up to his room. When they got to his room, they smelled a hint of smoke. They saw Nick working on something and asked him what he was working on.
Nick said, “After fighting that guy Voltedge, I learned something very important.” Neil said, “What’s that?”
Nick said, “Electric punches hurt.”
Von said, “So what are you working on?”
Nick said, “Electric brass knuckles. Sorta like Taser brass knuckles.” Von then said, “Do you even know what you’re doing?” Nick said, “I’m an assembler, it’s myjob to put things together.”
Neil sai d, “Yeah, but usually there’s instructions telling you what to do. And you’re not an electrician. And what you’re doing don’t look too safe.”
Nick said, “Of course it’s safe and for your information I don't use manuals at my job I’m just that good. I just gotta figure out how to get protective casing lining the inside of the...” At that moment, Nick got shocked, and a spark landed on paper. It started to smoke but Nick put it out quick before it started a fire. He then asked them, “Hey, you guys wanna help me test these babies out?”
Neil looked at Von and began backing away to the door then said, “Yeaaaaah, you know what, I almost forgot we have to study for a test.”
Nick said, “You and Von, but you guys don’t even go to the same school.”
Neil said while running down the stairs with Von, “He’s gonna help me study.”
Nick looked out the window and saw both of them get in their cars and pull out of his driveway, almost causing a traffic accident. Nick said to himself, “Well, I’m done for today anyways . . . I wonder who’s online. I wanna get a game going.” Around the same time at the Platinum Tower in Jersey City, Crank was brought to a huge office with a lot of tall windows. At the end of the room a man sat at a desk on a elevated podium. He was sitting on a chair facing out the windows looking at New York Skyline.
The mysterious man said without turning around, “So, Mr. Crank, Itake it you like the accommodations I’ve provided for you.” Crank said, “Yes, so many different variety of women in America. It’s like how you say, box of chocolates.”
The mysterious man asked, “Did you go over the info and video footage I provided for you at your room?”
Crank said, “Yes, Little Man is pretty good, but he’s never fought professional like me.”
The mysterious man responds,“Good to hear. Any resources you need to take him down are at your beck and call.”
Crank said, “All I need to beat Little Man is right here.” Then he pointed to his biceps. The mysterious man then says, “Verygood, nice to see you have confidence. You mayleave now.” Before Crank walked out the room, the mysterious man said, “Oh, and I don’t like failure. Please show me my money was well spent bringing you here. I don’t want to regret it.”
Crank said, “If you know my name from Russia, you know my reputation. You have nothing to worry about.” He turned around and walked out the room.
Later that night , Spear was in Jersey City doing his nightly runs from roof to roof and got that strange feeling again. He thought to himself it had to be another one of those people with abilities. He sensed the feeling getting stronger as he ran across the roofs in that direction. Spear leaped to the next roof when someone jumped up from between the buildings and attempted to tackle Spear out of the air. Spear barely dodged the attack doing a front-flip out of the way landing on the roof ahead. The person landed on the roof across from him. They looked at each other in silence then for a moment.
Spear looked at the guy on the other roof and thought to himself, This guy is massive. I wonder what abilities this guy has.
The man then spoke with a Russian accent, “Little Man looks a lot bigger on TV.” Spear said, “Hey, haven’t you heard the saying it’s not the size that counts but how you use it. And who are you anyways. What did I do to you?!”
The man said, “They call me Crank. And I will Breakyou.” Spear replies, “Break me, you don’t even know me. And sorry to tell you, many have tried, but none have succeeded.” Crank said, “That’s because Americans are weak. They can’t compare to the power of Mother Russia.”
Spear asked, “So, Powerhouse, how do you plan to Break me? He said in a mocking Russian accent. Crank said, “First, I will—” But before he could finish his first sentence, Spear jumped across the roof and punched him in the face, sending him flying off the roof landing on top of a car dealership’s roof. Spear followed after him and jumped onto the rooftop.
Spear looked at the man Crank lying on his back and said, “What were you saying about Breaking me.” He said mocking once again.
Crank sat up and dusted himself off. He says, “Little Man a lot stronger than he looks.”
Spear replies, “Thanks, I workout alot and have a healthy diet.” Crank then stands up and says, “But you’re still too weak compared to the godly strength possessed by Crank.”
Spear said, “OK, who talks about themselves in third person. Next thing you knowyou’ll be saying Crank smashed.” Crank said, “Very funny, Little Man, but was that punch all the strength you have?” Spear said, “Naw, I was holding back a little. Didn’t wanna kill you by mistake, but your a big boy, you look like you can take it. If youreally want me to go all out, I’m ready to serve it out.”
Crank smirked and said, “As they say, give me your best shot.” Spear clenched his fist ran full speed over to Crank. He begins to throw a barrage of punches at him, punching him everywhere. Every punch swungsentCrank’s head whippingtotheleft and right. He took punches to the head and and body slowly stepping back with every rapid set of punches.
After a minute or two, Spear stopped punching and Crank fell to one knee.
Spear backed up breathing heavily. He then said, “Was that good enough, Mr. Crank? Didn’t want to give you a beating like that but, you literally asked for you.”
Crank snapped his nose back in place and wipes the blood from his lip. He looks at Spear and says, “Thank you for not disappointing. I hate showing my true power to weaklings.”
Spear said, “What do you mean true power?” At that moment Crank made a snap noise and went big almost doubling in size. Spears said, “Hold on, that’s not fair, how do you have my abilities?” Crank r eplied, “Your abilities? Please, Little Man, I’ve had this power for years.” He then clanked the brass knuckles he had on each hand together and said, “It’s Crank’s turn to have fun.”
Spear said, “Whoa, that was not part of the deal. I didn’t sign up to get punched back. Especially with brass knuckles.” He thought to himself, “OK, I’m screwed, I’m really screwed, But it OK, he’s huge, he can’t be as fast as me.” At that moment Crank appeared right in front of Spear. He tried to react but it felt like he was going in slow motion as he watched Crank’s fist coming from below hitting him in the gut sending him flying over Route 440 into a small tractor truck junkyard.
Crank then jumped off the roof over to the divider then jumped from there to the truck junkyard. Spear used that time to power down and hide recharge his strength, but it felt like that one punch might have broke or fractured a rib. He hid and tried to think of a strategy to beat this guy. He thought to himself, “OK, I’ll give him that, he’s fast, but he caught me off guard. If I go top speed, there’s no way he can follow my moves, and sometimes it’s not all about power. I got this. I’ll just tire him out by moving too fast for him to hit me.”
