Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 06:50:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Judgments of a Real Dark Knight 18

Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent
chapters, will have celebrities in it.  I have no knowledge of their
sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality.  This is all
from my own mind.

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss
Whedon.  Copyright 20th Century Fox.

Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics
and Warner Bros.

X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel
Comics and 20th Century Fox.

The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice.
Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.

Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe
created by George Lucas.  Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and
Lucas Books/Ballantine Books.

I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in
case, I have myself covered.

Other stories set in this universe:

"Marvel Knights"
"Tales of a Young Mutant" (no new postings in a while)
"Tales of a Superhero Band"
"Tales of the New Phoenix"

I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from
those who do not.  I would enjoy hearing from you.  Any emails you send,
please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on.  Thanks.

authorjames2002@yahoo.com

I also have several online messenger services.  If you want to chat with me
in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you
my screen name.

If anyone has artistic talent and/or design capabilities, check out the
"Real Dark Knight" Contest.

Chapter 18 Vulnerable

	Blade watched as the psychologist slash superhero walked away.
Then he took a deep breath and entered Punisher's room.  Lying on the bed
was the man he developed feelings for.  He couldn't believe he was actually
doing this, actually going to speak of his feelings.  It didn't seem right
to him, especially under these circumstances.  But the psychologist had to
be right, didn't he?
	"Hey," Blade began, not sure if the Punisher could actually hear
him.  He walked closer to Michael then he turned and went to the window.
"I just got done talking with your psychologist friend.  I use that term
loosely since you don't seem to like having friends.  Anyway, he suggested
I come in and talk to you about something.  It is something that has been
on my mind for a while, but I never wanted to pursue it.  I didn't think it
was right, especially with what we are doing here in Tokyo.  You know,
searching for your boyfriend hoping to free him of whatever is controlling
him.
	"Plus I have a problem with the fact that you kill people so
easily.  Demons and vampires I can see.  They are evil through and through,
most of them don't even have souls.  But you kill people.  Sure people do
bad things some times.  I don't deny that.  Slavery, hate crimes, charging
outrageously for healthcare, but people can be redeemed.  Humans have souls
and can be forgiven, changed, made better.  People have a shot at growing
and evolving.  If anything, that gives me hope about you.
	"I'm sure you are wondering why in the hell am I talking like this.
I'm asking myself the same thing.  Why would I want to show weakness and
vulnerability?  That isn't in my nature to do.  I'm angry and violent and
hold people at bay.  I don't talk about my emotions.  But Eric thinks it
would be in both our best interests if I said something to you.  So, here I
am.
	"I've noticed after a while that my feelings for you have changed.
I used to hate you for what you did.  Like I said before, I'm still not
crazy about it.  But something inside me has changed.  My feelings have
changed.  I'm not sure what it is exactly or where it will lead.  But I
care about you.  I don't want anything to happen to you.  And I want you to
find happiness.  I know the road you are on and it will not lead you to
happiness.  Dishing out revenge is never the answer.
	"I said my peace, I guess.  I told you I care about you.  And I
will do anything and everything within my power to save Johnny from this
spirit.  You have my support."

	Because the spell would invoke a mass amount of power, we moved to
the garage.  Northstar and Cyclops moved the vehicles to the edges so
Dr. Strange would have plenty of space.  He drew an image on the floor, one
I wasn't familiar with, and poured a circle of blue sand around him.  He
stood in the middle and looked up at the ceiling.
	"Darkest powers
	Immortal spirit
	I call to thee
	For one I supplicate
	One is bound
	One is free
	The natural order of things
	Have been disrupted
	A soul no longer controls
	A spirit incarnate
	I call upon the powers
	To free the soul
	Release!"

	The lights flickered.  I looked to Lance and Jessica.  Something
didn't feel right, but I couldn't put my finger on it.  The only thing I
could do is be ready.
	Dr. Strange continued.
	"Immortal soul
	Immortal spirit
	Hear my command and obey
	Let the one become two once again
	Let the soul command once again
	Spirit return to your place of reserve
	Release!"

	Thumping surrounded us.  Suddenly the doors burst open and in
poured an army of vampires.
	I looked over to Lance.  "Don't get bit."
	"I won't," he said.
	I pulled out a wooden stake and a silver stake and readied for the
battle.
	Several vampires charged at Dr. Strange, but when they hit the
symbol, the demons were thrown backwards.  A barrier of sorts surrounded
the wizard.
	"That makes our job easier," Jessica replied.
	The Slayer swung her leg out and connected with a vampire.  She
rolled over its back and kicked another.  She staked the first one kicked
and swung her foot up connecting with the second one's face.  Its head
jerked back giving her the opening she needed to stake it.
	Lance ducked as a vampire swung at him.  He jabbed the stake into
the vampire's back but it didn't go in far enough to pierce the creature's
heart.  It swung its arms around attempting to hit Lance, but Lance was
ready.  He jumped backwards just out of arms reach.  The vampire lunged at
him, but he dove and rolled away.  The vampire ran into the wall.  Rolling
to his feet, Lance turned and jumped, feet first, at the vampire.  His foot
hit the stake and forced it the rest of the way in.  In a second, he was
picking his stake up from the dust on the floor.  Needless to say I was
proud of him.
	Shiro tossed several plasma balls at nearby vampires and they burst
into flame.  Some turned to dust, others burned like paper.  'I could
easily destroy them all,' Shiro stated, 'but it would kill all in this
room.  The others are not protected as I am from the heat.'
	Two vampires came at me from each side.  One came running at me
from directly ahead.  They would all converge on my position at roughly the
same time.  I decided to use that to my advantage.  As the vampires on
either side of me came within distance, I shoved the stakes into their
chests.  I only had seconds to act before they would turn to dust.  Using
them as leverage, I swung my legs up and connected with the face of the
vampire in front of me.  I spun completely around as the vampires turned to
dust.  Then I staked the third vampire before he could recover from my
kick.
	I turned to check on Justin and watched as a vampire turned to dust
in front of him.  It was good to know he and Lance had taken to the
training Jessica and I were giving them.
	Suddenly, the entrance to the lair lit up.  All the remaining
vampires stopped and turned, as did the rest of us.  The walls seemed to
dance with the light of fire and the source moved down the ramp and into
view: Ghost Rider, or Death as he referred to himself.  We became uneasy.
His strength was well-known already after the pummeling he had given me.
	Death turned to Dr. Strange and leapt at the wizard.  He impacted
with the barrier and bounced off landing in a nearby wall.  He recovered
quickly and continued his assault on the energy barrier.  Fists pounded
into the dome but to no avail.  Dr. Strange continued his spell appearing
completely oblivious to what was going on around him.
	Two vampires punched me and threw me against the wall.  As they
stood before me baring their teeth, preparing to feed, a silver blade tore
through their necks and stopped short of cutting into mine.  The demons
turned to dust and I looked to my left to see Blade standing in the
doorway.
	"Thanks," I muttered.
	"Don't mention it," he replied.
	He stepped past me and joined the fray.  The doorway did not remain
empty, though.  Punisher stood in the doorway in full garb, though he
looked weak.  He readied his guns and took aim at several vampires.  Then
he fired at their necks.  The bullets fired in such rapid succession that
they blew off the neck and, effectively, decapitated the demons.
	Out of the corner of his eye, Punisher noticed Ghost Rider and I
observed him as he moved toward the possessed being.

	'Johnny,' Punisher thought as he walked toward his lover.
	At first Death didn't pay any attention.  Then he noticed Punisher
and, for a moment, a look of recognition moved across the skull's face.
Death then turned back and started hammering on the shield.
	"Johnny," Punisher said as he neared.  "Stop!"
	Death turned.  "Johnny doesn't live here anymore.  There is only
Death."
	"Bullshit!  I saw the look in your eye!  Johnny is in there and
he's fighting like hell to get out!  That's his body and you have no right
to be in there!"
	"On the contrary, he invited me in.  He wanted me to take control
so that he could rescue you, remember?"
	"But you weren't supposed to take control like this.  What
happened?"
	"I was liberated by a very powerful warlock.  He enabled me to
manifest completely.  Hence, here I am."
	"But you aren't supposed to have control.  You aren't meant to be
in this world at all.  And he's going to send your ass back to where you
came from."
	Death backhanded Punisher and he flew across the garage landing
with a thump.  Death then looked at his hand and at what happened.
	"Michael," Johnny's voice came from with the skull mouth.
	Death's head jerked to the side and the flames flared up.  "You
won't take control, human.  You have no power to stop me."
	"But I do," Dr. Strange said looking at Death.  He held his hands
toward Death, palms facing the being, and said, "Release!"
	Orange energy blasted forth from Dr. Strange's hands and hit Death.
	"No!" Death cried out as the energy cascaded over him like a tidal
wave.
	We all watched as the energy flowed over him, the skull head
changing from Johnny's head back.  The flames turned into his red hair back
to the flames.  Everything about him would revert to the human state, to
normal, human size, then grow again and be Ghost Rider, a.k.a. Death.
	"You cannot take back this body!" Death exclaimed.
	"Bullshit!" Johnny said.
	All watched as the two beings struggled within one body to take
control.
	The Punisher, Michael, stood up and walked over to the cascading
energy and his lover.  He knelt down and grabbed his hand watching as the
faces changed back and forth rapidly.
	"I won't lose you," Punisher whispered, though it seemed to resound
throughout the room.  "I won't let him take you."
	Blade heard those words and were thankful for the sunglasses he
always wore, along with the shadows surrounding him.  For him, he knew this
was what was right.  Michael and Johnny deserved to be together.
	"Michael?" Johnny said to Punisher.  "Is that really you?"
	"Yes," Michael said.
	"You...never gave up on me?"
	"Never."
	Johnny smiled and reached up his other hand to caress Michael's
cheek.  Michael looked down at his lover's face which smiled back at him.
Suddenly, his face changed to Ghost Rider's and he punched the Punisher.
Michael flew up toward the ceiling and arced, falling back down to the
floor.
	Death stood up and looked around.  He turned back to Dr. Strange
who continued to flow the energy cascade toward him.
	"I will not stop fighting back."
	"Then I have no choice but to unleash my full power upon you,
spirit."
	Dr. Strange's eyes turned black.  The white shocks of his hair
turned black as well and an unfelt wind rustled it.  His hands glowed with
the mystical energy that would put down the spirit possessing Johnny Blaze.
He aimed his hands at the man/monster and the energy shot out.
	Death jumped to the side at the last possible second.  The energy
hit the wall and seemed to roll off like a spray of water.  Death ran up
the ramp heading out into the city.

	"We've got to stop him!" Shiro said.
	I ran over to check on Punisher.  He just laid there unmoving.
"Are you okay?" I asked him.  "Punisher?  Michael?"
	"Leave him alone," Blade said to me as he came up behind me.
	I turned and looked at him.  "Did you talk to him?"
	"It isn't your business.  You shouldn't have gotten involved in the
first place.  You have a habit of sticking your nose where it doesn't
belong and isn't wanted.  Get your suit on.  We have a possessed man to
hunt."
	I stood up and walked away from Blade.  Maybe he was right.  Maybe
my advice was wrong.  I'm not perfect nor do I claim to be.  But still,
maybe there was something better I could have said to Blade concerning
Punisher.  Maybe the desire I have to see everyone happy gets in the way of
reality.  The truth of the matter is, Punisher is with Ghost Rider.  That
doesn't leave room for Blade, unless they wanted to get involved in a
three-way relationship.  As weird as that sounds, it isn't an
impossibility.
	I entered my room and found my suit.  As I suited up, Lance came
in.  "Are you okay?" he asked.
	"Just fine," I replied pulling on my pants.
	"What did he say to you?"
	"He said I shouldn't have gotten involved in their problems.  Maybe
he was right."
	"What do you mean?"
	"Blade has feelings for Punisher, although he's torn over the fact
Punisher doesn't hesitate to kill.  Plus, with Punisher's boyfriend
currently evil, it makes it a mess.  It's too complicated to get into right
now."
	"Are we coming with you?"
	"You mean you and Justin?  No.  I think it would be best if you
were to stay here with Northstar and Cyclops.  You four can look after
Punisher while the rest of us go after Death."
	"Granted they are mutants, they don't have much in the way of
experience in fighting vampires and demons."
	"True, but Dr. Strange can do a protection spell or something over
the lair.  We're going to need him with us as well.  There is still a
chance to save Johnny.  We have to do all we can."
	Lance nodded.
	I pulled my mask on over my head and adjusted it so I could see
okay.  Lance came up and hugged me.
	"Be careful."
	"Always," I said.  I pulled up my mask so I could kiss him.  Then
we headed to the others.
	Shiro was already in his Sunfire costume, as was Northstar and
Cyclops.
	"What's the plan?" Huntress said adjusting her mask.  Justin
followed behind her.
	"We have to get to Death," Blade said.  "We..."
	"We're going after him," I interrupted.  "But we need some of you
here to keep an eye on Punisher."
	Blade turned and looked at me.  He was noticeably pissed off at me
for interrupting him.  But I didn't care.  He didn't want me sticking my
nose where it didn't belong.  That's fine.  But this is what I was here
for.  I was here to help save Johnny and stop Apocalypse.  And that was jus
what I was going to do.
	"Cyclops, Northstar, I want you two to stay here with Lance, Justin
and Punisher.  They have the skill at fighting but you two have the power.
Plus, I want Strange to put a protective barrier around the building.  The
rest of us are going after Ghost Rider.  I'm sure I speak for everyone when
I say our mission is still to save Johnny.  Any questions?"
	No one replied.
	"Good, let's mount up."
	As we headed toward the vehicles, Blade walked up to me and
whispered.  "I don't give a fuck who you are or what you can do.  You
interrupt me again and I'm kicking your ass."
	"And I don't give a rats ass who you are," I retorted.  "This is
why I'm here.  You don't like it, you can kiss my ass."

To Be Continued...

Whoa!  Lots of static between Blade and Batman right now.  Who do you think
was in the wrong, Blade or Eric?  Do you think they will be able to save
Johnny?  More to come!