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Under the Hood
By Soboscribe (owner & operator of Surge Pack)
Rsobo67@verizon.net
The Longbow agents set up a perimeter to cordon off
the crisis zone that has arisen in Siren’s Call. A bus of
tourists has been high-jacked and is being held hostage by the Council.
Marksmen, Grenade, and Fire troopers surround the bus as the Vortex Cor
Leonis Adjutant that has come to be known as the Black Hood makes his
demands.
“You Longbows have fifteen minutes left to get that no good hero
Dark Cowl here before you start loosing tourist.” Yells Black
Hood as he shakes his fist at the agents.
“Man, these guys are not playing around.” Says Agent
Morestone, the lead agent on scene. “But sir, we have no way to
even locate Dark Cowl, it’s like he is completely off all
tracking and monitoring systems. Let alone get him here.” States
an agent. “Getting here was no problem defusing the situation
might take longer.” Comes from the shadows behind the Longbows.
“Wow! How long have you been here?” asks Morestone as an
athletic built man dressed in a black spandex body suit complete with
full face mask and half gloves, steps into view.
“Long enough to know that I better confront Black Hood before this turns into a homicide scene.”
“Bring me one o the hostages.” Orders
Black Hood. The Council trooper obeys and quickly drags a ten year old
boy off the bus. “You only have a few more minutes before the
streets start to run red with innocent blood,” shouts Black Hood.
The Vortex Cor Leonis towers over the boy. His over-sized muscles
ripple under his uniform as Black Hood down at the boy.
“What a shame that the coward will not be here in time to save
you boy.” “I… I’m no… not afraid of
you.” Stammers the boy, “Dark Cowl is the best.”
Black Hood grabs the boy by the arm and lifts him up until they are
face to face. “Let tell you something about your so-called hero.
He is a coward, a traitor and when I get done with him a discredited
fugitive of the law.” Sneers Black Hood.
“I think you first better defeat me before you make such
claims.” “Dark Cowl!” yells the boy as Black
Hood drop him the near seven feet to the ground.
“Okay Terrell I’m here. Now let the
people go.” “Oh no Sarge not until you’re humiliated
and left broken.” The two men square off as the rest of the
people are taken off the bus by gun point. “I’ve been
waiting for this moment for a long time traitor.” “I am no
traitor Terrell. I just lost my way for a short time.” Says Dark
Cowl as he dodges a roundhouse kick from Black Hood. Dark Cowl springs
and lands two upper-cut blows to Black Hood, one to the stomach, the
other to his jaw. The Black Hood staggers back and lands a glancing
blow to Dark Cowl’s left shoulder.
“You could never take me on one on one Terrell even before the
modifications.” Black Hood crouches and grabs a handful of
gravel. As Dark Cowl prepares to attack, Black Hood blinds the hero
with the gravel. Black Hood throws a few jabs at the Cowl and drives
him back. Dark Cowl counters the blows the best he can and escapes with
minimum damage.
“Come on Dark Cowl you can take him!” “Yeah show
these Council goons what a Paragon hero is made of.” And other
cheers come from the hostages as they witness the fight.
“Stay back! He’s mine!’ orders Black Hood to one of
troopers, as the Hood is rocked by a volley of kicks and punches from
the enhanced strength of the hero.
The Council trooper quickly lowers his gun.
“These people think you are some kind of hero. They should know
the truth about you Sarge. How you are a traitor and a failure to the
Council!”
Dark Cowl stops cold as he sees the look of shock and disbelief on the
faces of the tourists. “That’s right Sarge, why don’t
you take off that mask and show these fodder what a coward look
like.” Taunts Black Hood.
An animalistic growl escapes from Dark Cowl as he
tenses and attacks with reckless abandon. The Black Hood quickly finds
himself being pummeled by his adversary. Black Hood wraps his arm
around the neck of a woman from the bus as he stumbles to his feet.
“Tell me it’s not true Dark Cowl, tell me you weren’t with the Council.” Sobs the young boy.
“Okay Terrell, you win. Just don’t hurt the woman.” Says Dark Cowl as he pulls off his mask.
Dark Cowl reveals his face that is riddled with pits
and scars. “Happy Terrell, now let her go!” “First
tell them the story, tell them traitor how our unit was trapped behind
the Rikti Lines and we were left for dead!” shouts Black Hood.
“Yeah, we were abandoned, injured and looking death in the face
in the form of an alien army. That’s when the Council saved
us.” Says Dark Cowl as he stares at the faces of the hostages.
“Sure, the Council saves us and promised us greatness in return
for our obedience.” Dark Cowl steps closer to Black Hood.
“But that’s before the treatments, the brainwashing, that
disfigured us and turned us into freaks. You call me a traitor and a
failure Terrell. It’s you who has failed his country and these
people!” “You, you’re the failure Sarge, and a
traitor. You turned your back on the only ones who cared. You betrayed
the Council and for that you’ll pay.”
Dark Cowl takes a step closer and looks up to the
masked face of his old comrade. Black Hood tenses his arm and tightens
around the woman’s neck, watching Dark Cowl for any sudden
movements. In his peripheral vision Dark Cowl catches movement on both
sides of him. The hero hangs his head in defeat as the Hood slowly
relaxes his grip on his hostage as he feels victory is only moments
away.
Suddenly Dark Cowl throws his mask into the face of
Black Hood. In one fluid motion Dark Cowl lands a nerve punch to the
arm holding the woman. The hero grabs the woman out of the Hood’s
numbed arm and plants a snap kick into the knee of Black Hood, breaking
it. As he spins the woman behind him, Dark Cowl grabs Black Hood by the
throat and throws him into the path of flame that erupts from the gun
of the Council trooper. Black Hood screams in pain as he is engulfed in
flames.
Total pandemonium ensues as the Longbow agents
launch into action. Within seconds, which seems like ages to the
hostages, the Council members are subdued and are being teleported into
custody. “Well that should wrap this up.” Says Dark Cowl to
Morestone. “This guy should provide your agency with a lot of
intel on the Council’s operations in this area.” States
Dark Cowl as he turns the now unconscious and de-hooded Dark Hood over.
“Uhg, the Council sure do a number on their own. No wonder they
were those hoods.” Exclaims a Longbow agent as she takes in the
horrifically scarred features of Dark Hood. There goes up a cheer of
gratitude from the tourists as Dark Cowl turns to leave.
“Where do you think you’re going Cowl? We have a lot of
questions unanswered about your dealings with the Council.”
States a tanker Longbow agent as he blocks off Cowl’s exit.
“Leave him alone! He’s no crook, he saved our lives!”
yells the boy. “I work for Pinckey Law, I’ll gladly
represent you in any case the Longbow wish to bring against you for
free.” Says the woman Dark Cowl saved from Black Hood as she
presses a business card into is hand and kisses his cheek.
“Black Hood hinted that you two were regular army, I believe you
called him Terrell.” “That’s right, Cprl. Thomas
Terrell of the 81st infantry.”
Morestone barks and order at some agents the respond by heading to the command post.
“Well what are we going to do with him?”
asks the tanker agent as he prepares to slap the trans-cuffs on the
hero. The two agents return to Morestone with a print out in hand.
“Hold up agent Brickhouse, this report states that a unit of the
81st is still M.I.A. and presumed dead. As far as I know the only
survivor of that unit is Cprl. Thomas Terrell now known as the Vortex
Cor Leonis Adjutant, the Black Hood of the criminal organization, the
Council. Would you say that is accurate Sergeant Jason Norsand?”
a surprised look crosses Dark Cowl’s face as the agent uses his
real name.
“And as far as I can see he is the only survivor. Let him go
Brickhouse.” “But sir, he belonged to the Council, he is a
fugitive of the law.” Protests agent Brickhouse. “All I see
before me Brickhouse, is one of Paragon’s finest heroes who has
not turned his back on this city as well as this country, even if that
country turned its back on him. Show this hero the respect he deserves
agents.” Says agent Morestone as he hands Dark Cowl his mask.
Another cheer erupts, this time from the tourist and agents for the
hero Dark Cowl.
The End
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