Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 15:41:11 -0800 (PST) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Trials of a Real Dark Knight 41 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. This story has taken on a life of its own. From its inception a year ago, I had only thought it would last ten chapters maximum. As you can see, it has grown tremendously. Mostly due to readers emailing me and telling me they've enjoyed it or have received help due to certain issues addressed. I've enjoyed writing this story but it would not have been written without men and women reading it and telling me they've enjoyed it. I do hope that you continue to enjoy each new chapter as our hero lives and grows. 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, one of which is this yahoo email address. Some of you know them; however, in the recent weeks I've changed my screen name. 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. Chapter 41 Facing the Dark Side Huntress, Kai-El and Justin waited in the nearby bushes for the signaled shuttle to land. It first appeared as a light in the sky not bigger than the distant stars. But in a short amount of time, it's movement was evident and it grew bigger and closer. Shortly thereafter, the shuttle landed and the doors opened. "Master Malice," a stormtrooper called out as he came down the ramp with his blaster rifle in hand. Two shadowtroopers followed behind him. "Something isn't right," the stormtrooper said and the two shadowtroopers cloaked before their eyes. "Holy shit," Justin muttered. "I didn't know they could do that." "Ssh," Kai-El replied. Using the force, she manipulated the stormtrooper to come her way. Once the trooper was close by, Kai-El pulled him in the bushes. Igniting her saber, she sliced his hands off and handed the blaster to Justin. "Do not let that shuttle leave!" she ordered. Kai-El leapt out of the bushes. The shadowtroopers ignited their sabers and a battle between the three ensued. Huntress and Justin ran past them into the shuttle. Justin blasted a few stormtroopers while Huntress ignited the double-bladed saber and dealt with a few shadowtroopers and stormtroopers. The door to the cockpit opened and Justin saw the pilot working the controls. He shot several times and the pilot fell over dead. He turned back to see Huntress decapitate a stormtrooper. "You are vicious with that thing," he replied. Then his lips curled into a grin. "I think it's hot." One side of Huntress's lips curled up. Kai-El entered the shuttle. "All is clear," Huntress replied. "Excellent." Kai-El moved past Justin and sat at the controls going over them carefully. "The ship is capable of light speed." "Will it get you home?" "Yes," the Jedi answered. "But I should take care of the Sith Lord first. I do not want Grim to go after Batman or train more Sith Lords." "Aren't their only two?" Justin asked. "Two together," Kai-El replied. "There are many who left the Jedi Order millennia ago. They went out on their own and trained others in the ways of the Dark Side. No one knows where they are. They have been hidden ever since the victory over the Emperor at Endor. They did not wish to challenge Master Skywalker. If he alone could convert a Sith Lord back to the good side and defeat the Emperor, the others were no match for him." "You can't take them all on alone, though. You are going to need help." "Probably," Kai-El replied. "Are you game enough to help me?" Huntress smiled at Kai-El. "I'm in!" Justin replied with excitement. "Let's lock up the hatches and prepare to board their ship." Kai-El took Huntress and Justin back to show them exactly what to do to lock up the ship. Then the Jedi climbed into the pilot's chair and powered up the shuttle. The ship rocked as they lifted off the ground. Justin's face shined with excitement and anticipation of being part of a world that he always thought was fictional. Huntress was as determined as always. She knew the dangers of this type of working, the dangers of violence. It wasn't anything to be excited about, she believed. It was necessary in certain cases but never something to be excited about. As the sun set, I stood from my praying feeling renewed, soul, mind, and body. I was what I used to be, the Eric from the beginning of my story. Only this time, I had everything else in my life. Everything was coming together. And I was happy, truly, deeply happy. I grabbed the Lightsaber with the bat-like handle. I turned it on to see the red blade extend. Then, I turned it off and sat it on the table. I went into the bedroom and changed into my white cargo pants and black sleeveless shirt. After putting on my socks and shoes, I clipped the Lightsaber hilt on my waistband and headed out to the Casino Hotel. In a short amount of time, I walked up the steps and into the lobby. The security looked at me and started after me. I smiled and headed out into the pool area. I jumped into the water and waded to the middle of the pool. The vampire security came out and looked at me. Their faces turned into their demonic forms and they jumped into the water heading for me. I closed my eyes and held my hands just above the water. I offered up a silent prayer blessing the water. To my utter joy and amazement all the vampire started smoking and then, in a great flurry, turned to dust. "Yes," I said with excitement. "I've definitely got it back." I went to the edge of the pool and climbed out. I looked down at my white cargo pants which now were sort of see-through. "It's a good thing I have my black boxer briefs on," I muttered to no one in particular. I made my way to the elevators and pressed up. I had a husband to save. A vampire rushed into Turic's office. "Sir," he said. "There's a problem." "What?" Turic asked. "He's back." "Who? Eric McCoy? Good. Let him come. I've been waiting for this." Lance sat on the couch and silently was untying the ropes that bound him. He felt the pressure of the small blaster in his pants. None of the vampires had bothered to search him. 'Thank goodness for small favors,' he thought. The elevator door chimed the carts arrival and the doors opened. The gang of vampires stood ready to attack but the car was empty. One stepped up to the door and stuck his head in. I ignited the Lightsaber blade and swung from my perch on the roof. The blade went cleanly through the neck of the vampire and it turned to dust. I dropped down with the blade in my hand swinging it around. "Who is next?" I asked the demonic creatures. They snarled and attacked. I cut off the arm of one, the lower leg of another and they fell in pain. I managed to stab one in the heart with the blade and it went up in flames. As I swung the blade around, one of the vampires kicked me in the back of the leg. I fell to my knees and lost control of the blade. It left my hands and turned off skidding away from me. "Noble try," one vampire said to me grabbing me by the back of the head. He hoisted me up off the ground and held me in the air. He snarled and moved his teeth toward my neck. Suddenly the vampire pulled away from me eyes widened in pain. He dropped me and went up in flames. I looked around and saw several more go up in flames. At the window a dark, youthful figure stood. It was the vampire Armand. "Thanks for the help," I said. "Get going," he replied. "I can deal with these creatures." I ran over and grabbed the Lightsaber. Glancing back quickly, I saw Armand moving with lightning speed hitting the vampires and causing them to explode. He could definitely handle himself. I headed down the large wooden corridor toward the main office. When I stepped up, I kicked the door open and saw Lance on the couch looking at me. Turic sat at the chair of the desk smiling at me. "Hello, Eric," Turic replied, "nice of you to join us." I took a step in. "No, Eric!" Lance yelled. "It's a trap!" A net came down and landed on me. Two vampires came up and grabbed me. One managed to get my Lightsaber away from me. They punched at me taking easy shots at me. Then, they drug me over to Turic's desk and threw me on the large wooden furnishing. "You pathetic creature," Turic said as he approached me. "You come to fight me and fail. This is the second blonde twink you've tried to rescue. Doesn't that tell you something about your taste in men?" I just looked at him without response. "I can tell you exactly what it is. You are afraid to grow up. You look for boys for relationships. You killed me for Justin and you come after me for Lance. The question now remains, which do you love more?" "I love Lance," I replied. "Really," Turic replied. "That is interesting. See, I have a different theory about that." Turic turned and looked at Lance. "Would you like to enlighten him on the subject?" "Go to hell," Lance replied. "Been there," Turic answered. "Done that. I prefer staying here, thanks." Turic turned back to me. "My theory is that you couldn't have your one true love, meaning Justin. You settled for the next blonde twink singer you could, meaning Lance. How am I doing so far?" "You couldn't be further from the truth." "Oh really. Enlighten me." "I love him," Lance replied. "Justin doesn't love him. He's with someone else." "I didn't ask you. I asked the asshole lying on my desk." Turic walked over to me and spread my legs apart. I tried to grab him through the net but he grabbed my wrists and held them on the desk. He began a slow grinding action against me and I felt his cock becoming stiff. "I think it all boils down to sex. I think you want sex from a hot, young boy, McCoy. It isn't about love for you. You can justify love by your lust. I'll bet Lance is as big as Justin. Have you gone at it like animals? Does he satisfy you with rough, hard sex like Justin can give? He was awesome that way. "Yeah, you are in it for sex. There is no love in it for you at all." Suddenly Turic's left wrist disconnected from his hand and he grasped it with his right hand letting out a scream. He turned away from me and I looked to see Lance standing with the blaster Kai-El had given him. I also noticed the two vampires who grabbed me coming for him. "Behind you!" I screamed. Lance turned and blasted both of the in the neck. The blast was powerful enough to take their heads off and they turned to dust. He turned back and aimed at Turic. "Don't even think about it." Turic screamed and reached his other hand out at Lance. Green energy started to form but Lance fired hitting Turic's open palm and exiting his wrist. His hand fell to the ground amputated from his body. The vampire let out another scream. "Nobody messes with my husband," Lance replied. The doors burst open and Armand stepped in. Turic looked at the youthful vampire and then to Lance. He snarled and turned back to me as I was pulling the net off me. He jumped on me straddling my body. Opening his mouth his fangs connected with my neck. His head jerked back away from me and he cried out in pain. Armand had used his powers to make Turic's blood heat up. Blaster beams flew through Turic as he screamed out with double-excruciating pain. He fell backwards off of me on the floor writhing in pain and agony. Lance came up to Turic and kicked him in his charred stomach. He picked up an end table and jammed a leg through Turic's heart. He screamed and turned to dust. Even a blunt wooden object does the trick. Lance leaned over me and checked my wounds. "Are you okay?" he asked me. "I should be asking you that. You've been held by a mad vampire." Lance pulled me into a sitting position and hugged me and kissed me. I gladly returned the affection to my husband. "How are your wounds?" Armand asked. Lance stepped back so Armand could see the teeth marks. Armand punctured his skin and let some of his blood drip over the puncture marks. I felt amazing warmth hit my skin and enter my body. The wounds instantly healed up. "That is awesome," Lance said. "How did you do that?" "Let me introduce you," I replied. "Lance, this is the vampire Armand. Armand, this is my husband Lance." Armand shook Lance's hand. "Pleasure to meet you." "You mean, you are THE vampire Armand?" "I am." "But how?" "I'll explain later," I replied. "We have to check on Kai-El, Huntress and Justin." "They are here?" "Yeah. Huntress's Watcher was informed about the spell to bring Turic back. That's why she came to stop him." "But who would want Turic back?" "I don't know," I replied. "But that is the least of our worries right now. I've got so much to tell you but we have to get going." I turned to Armand. "Where we are going, it might not be safe for you." "It's okay," he replied. "My work here is done." "Thanks for helping me. Tell Marius I said 'hello'." "I will." Armand went to the window and jumped out flying away. "Come on," I said taking Lance's hand and grabbing the red Lightsaber with my other hand. We ran out the office, down the corridor and entered the elevator. "The vampire is dead," the vampire-appearing mutant known as Mr. Sinister said to his master. "Too bad. I had high hopes of making him a Horseman. We will need to find someone else with mystical powers." "You may be in luck. I've found several signatures north of the state of Florida. A place called Columbus, Ohio. And several are mutants." "Excellent, Mr. Sinister. We must make plans for retrieving these candidates. I need three more Horsemen." The master mutant of Mr. Sinister turned to the blue-skinned, red-haired shapeshifting mutant know as Mystique. "I already have one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse." To Be Continued... What do you think of Lance being the one to save Eric from Turic? And now we know who wanted Turic raised...Apocalypse. And there is a Columbus, Ohio connection for Apocalypse. I'd love to hear your comments!