Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2003 13:11:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Marvel Knights: Apocalypse 9

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction.  It has no intentions of
resembling any real persons dead or alive.  This is entirely from my
imagination, with a little help from already established sources.  This
story is based loosely on the comic book character "The Punisher" from
Marvel Comics.  Other characters may appear from Marvel comics as well as
DC Comics.

Punisher and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics.

Blade and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel copyright Joss Whedon, United Paramount
Network and Warner Bros. Respectively.

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

This series in Marvel Knights crosses over heavily in "Tales of a Real Dark
Knight."  Look for Blade, Punisher and Ghost Rider to be featured heavily
in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight."  Any comments may be sent to
authorjames2002@yahoo.com

Thank you and enjoy.

Other stories set in this universe:
"Tales of a Superhero Band"
"Tales of the New Phoenix"

Chapter 9 Assault

	The next morning Tandy awoke early.  She went down to the lair and
into the workout room.  There she spent her first half hour stretching and
exercising.  Being a Slayer, she had all the strength and agility she
needed.  But in order to use those attributes to their fullest, she needed
to workout and perfect them.
	As she punched the punching bag, Ty came downstairs.
	"Hey," he called out to get the Slayer's attention.
	"Hey," she said with a slight edge to her voice.
	"Are you okay?" he asked.
	"Just fine."
	"You don't seem like it."
	Tandy didn't reply.  She just continued her punching on the bag.
	"Listen, I wanted to talk with you about what happened last night
with Elektra."
	"You don't have to explain."
	"I think I do."
	"Really," she replied stopping her punching and moving over to the
gymnastics equipment, "you don't have to."
	"Tandy, you seemed really upset by what happened.  I want to
apologize to you for it.  I'm not sure exactly why you were upset, unless
you were feeling jealous of her."
	Tandy threw Ty a dirty look.  "You mean because you stuck your dick
up her pussy and you think I wanted it to be me?"
	"I don't know," Ty replied getting defensive due to Tandy's
bluntness.  "You tell me."
	"Listen," Tandy said flipping and landing in front of Ty.  "My
problems are my own.  Why I reacted that way is no one's damn business but
mine.  I don't need you thinking I have a crush on you because I don't."
	"That's fine," Ty answered.  "But it doesn't explain why you were
so upset.  I think I should know."
	"Well, tough shit, pal.  My reasons are my own."
	"Fine," Ty said turning around and taking several steps away.
	"Good morning," Whistler greeted as he entered the gym.  When he
noticed the looks on his two charges faces, he stopped.  "Did something
happen?"
	"Nothing happened," Ty replied walking past him.  "I'm going to
change and practice."
	Whistler nodded then walked over to Tandy.  "What's wrong?"
	Tandy rolled her eyes and went back to work.
	"Whatever," Whistler said.  He turned and left the room to attend
to the potion he was making to stop Ambika.

	Ambika walked amongst her followers touching some on their heads,
caressing the faces of others.  Once in the middle, she turned, smiled, and
addressed her followers.
	"It seems our enemies have been rather naughty.  They don't
understand what we are trying to do.  We have to make them understand.  Go,
my sweets.  All of you.  Attack and destroy the city.  They don't want us
to be in charge.  Then no one will be in charge.  Go!"
	The vampires that were affected by sunlight went into the sewers.
Those which were not went out the door.  Soon throngs of vampires were
invading the city through sewers and on the streets.  Cars slammed on their
brakes as gargoyle-like vampires grabbed pedestrians and ate them.  Police
pulled out their guns and open fire on the vampires but to no avail.
	The soulless vampires flooded places of business to attack the
people not in direct sunlight.  Banks were invaded, the malls, movie
theaters, nothing was kept safe from the assault of the creatures.

	Jerry, the young man who met the Punisher in the gas station,
walked down the corridor of the mall.  One of the vampires was feeding off
someone and he went into action.
	"Hey!" he called out.  When the vampire didn't respond, he ran over
to it, not knowing it was a demon he would be facing off with.  He grabbed
the vampire by the shoulder and pulled on it to get it away from the young
girl.
	The vampire stopped feeding and turned to Jerry.  Jerry's eyes
widened at the bumpy forehead and yellow eyes.  The vampire swung his hand
and backhanded Jerry knocking him into the nearby display window.  Jerry
pulled himself up from the broken glass and mannequins.  He wiped his mouth
and wiped the blood from his nose.
	"I don't know what in the hell I'm dealing with," he stated, "but
this has got to stop."
	Jerry reached down and grabbed an arm off one of the mannequins and
headed after the vampire.  He swung the arm like a baseball bat and hit the
vampire in the head.  The vampire turned around only slightly dazed from
the attack.  Jerry swung again and the vampire caught it.  Using its
vampire strength, it swung the arm and lifted Jerry off the ground.  Jerry
flew through the air to the other side of the corridor and smashed through
the glass of another store.  He lay there bloodied and in pain.  His
attempt was noble, but futile considering the strength of vampires.
	Kevin, the young man who befriended the Punisher when Michael first
moved into the same building, saw what happened and ran over to him.
	"Are you okay?" Kevin asked as he knelt down beside Jerry.
	"I'm in an extraordinary amount of pain."
	"I can imagine.  That was freaking insane.  How in the world can
that guy be so strong?"
	"He didn't look right.  His face was messed up."
	Kevin looked over at the throngs of similar looking beings
attacking and wreaking havoc throughout the mall.  "It looks like the world
is coming to an end.  Come on; let's get you some medical help."
	Kevin helped Jerry to his feet and the two snuck passed the fleeing
people.

	"Wonderful," Ambika said as she saw through the eyes of her
followers the destruction going on.  "Soon I will join you."

	Harris went downstairs after his morning shower and saw the
breaking news on TV.  The anchorman of one of the local networks spoke
seriously of something happening all over town.
	"...mall patrons fleeing from the mob causing the massive
devastation.  Officials are urging citizens to remain in their homes to
keep safe.  The chief of police is on hand in city hall to address the
situation."
	The image shifted to the Columbus chief of police standing in front
of the seal of the state.  Several microphones were shoved in his face as
he addressed the surrounding people and the viewers of the broadcasts.
	"We are asking everyone to find shelter and lock themselves in.  We
aren't sure exactly what we are dealing with at the moment, but as soon as
we know, everyone will be informed."
	"Sir," an out of sight newsperson asked, "what about the rumors
that bullets are not harming these people?"
	"I cannot comment on that now."
	"What about the dragons that are attacking people on the streets?"
another asked.  "Where did they come from?"
	"Again, I cannot comment on that now."
	Suddenly a loud crash caused the camera to shake.  It panned over
to view two winged vampires attacking nearby persons and police officers
and feeding.
	"Oh God!" someone screamed.
	The speakers on the television filled with screaming as the camera
turned and shook, the scenery moving by quickly.  The cameraman fled with
the rest of the people from the attacking demons.
	Harris's eyes widened in disbelief.  Those were the same type of
creatures that attacked the school.  'I wonder if Davey knows about this,'
he thought.  He went to the phone only to discover his mom using it.
	"Mom, I need to call Davey!"
	"Hold on, Harris," she said.  "I'm trying to get a hold of your
father.  The phone lines seem to be down at his office."
	Harris sighed and ran upstairs to his room.  He unplugged his
computer's modem and plugged in the phone.  After dialing Davey's number
the phone rang twice then was cut off.
	"Harris, did you do something?" Harris's mother called out.
	"No, mom.  The phone lines are dead!"
	Harris heard the doorbell ring and headed downstairs.  His mom
opened the door to see a stranger standing there looking frantic.
	"Can you please help me?" she said in a desperate voice.
	"What can I do for you?" Harris's mom asked.
	"I need to get inside.  Something is going on out here."
	"Sure, come in," Harris's mom invited.
	The young woman entered.  "Thank you so much."
	As his mother closed the door, Harris noticed a blanket lying on
the porch with a small amount of smoke emanating from it.  Harris looked at
the woman who stood next to the mirror.
	'No reflection,' Harris noted to himself.
	He turned and grabbed the crucifix hanging on the wall and turned
to the stranger.  He held it up and the woman backed off.
	"Harris!" his mother said.  "What on earth are you doing?"
	The stranger's face changed to that of a vampire.  Harris held the
crucifix up slowly backing the demon into the kitchen.  The vampire swung
her hand and caught Harris's wrist causing him to drop the cross.  Then the
vampire punched Harris in the chest and he flew backwards into his mom.
They slid into a small stand in the hallway smashing the wooden shelf to
pieces.  The vampire snarled and moved closer to feed.
	"Ouch," his mom said pulling out a pointed piece of wood.  "That
poked me."
	Harris noticed it and grabbed it from her.  He held it up to the
vampire ready to strike and it jumped backwards.  The young boy climbed to
his feet and moved toward it.  The vampire backed off slightly realizing
the boy wouldn't have the strength to slay it.
	"You can't beat me, boy," the vampire said.  "You are a weak,
fattened meal ready for me to feed."
	"Weak my ass," Harris said swinging his leg up and kicking the
vampire between the legs.
	Even though the creature was demonic, the body it possessed still
had nerve endings.  It clutched itself in pain.  Harris then shoved the
stake into the vampire's chest and snap-kicked it.  His foot connected with
the stake and pushed it further into the vampire.  The impact also pushed
the demon further into the kitchen and it fell backwards onto the floor
landing in a ray of sunlight coming through the window.  The vampire
screamed as it burst into flame and turned into dust.
	Harris's mom looked at her son with new respect.  He turned,
reached down and helped her up.
	"Harris," she said, "what was that?"
	"That was a vampire, mom."
	"A what?"  She couldn't believe her ears.
	"It was a vampire.  There's a lot I need to tell you, but I don't
have time at the moment.  Listen very carefully."
	After Harris explained as quickly as he could all that he had
witnessed, shared with her about Davey and the Marvel Knights, he told her
he had to find Davey to make sure he and the others knew.
	"Whatever you do, mom, don't let anyone in.  Keep the doors
locked."
	Harris's mom nodded.
	"I love you," her son replied.  He leaned down, kissed her on the
cheek, and ran out the door in search of his boyfriend.

	Davey had already heard what was going on and had headed out to
find a way to the mansion.  He ran down the street heading north along High
street when a vampire reached out from a store and grabbed him.  Davey
swung his arm around wrapping the vampire's arms in his.  Then he lifted up
and snapped the demon's elbows.  He reached over with his right hand and
grabbed the vampire by his shirt.  Turning, he pulled the vampire out and
tossed it into the middle of the street where it burst into flame.
	The people running didn't even notice a person burst into flame and
turn to dust.  They were too busy running for their lives.  Davey saw
another vampire feeding off a person near a car.  He ran over to the
vampire and grabbed it by the head.  After snapping its neck, he jerked the
head clean off the shoulders.  The head turned to dust in his hand as the
body fell to the ground and decayed rapidly.  He checked the victim and
found the young girl had been killed.
	"Oh no," he whispered.
	A set of car keys fell from her hand and he reached down to pick
them up.  There was a keyless entry control on the key ring.  He pressed
the "unlock" button and the car he was standing in front of unlocked.
	"I've got transportation," he replied.  He climbed into the
driver's side of the black Ford Escort ZX2 and turned the ignition.  The
radio exploded with the sounds of NSYNC's Celebrity.  He put the car in
gear and pulled out.  Turning in the intersection, he headed toward
Harris's house.  He had to make sure his boyfriend was safe and then take
him and his mom to Whistler's where they could regroup and create a plan.

	Harris headed down the street seemingly against a current.  The
people fled the other way trying to avoid the dragon-like vampires.  He was
surprised when a black car pulled up next to him and the window came down.
	"Harris!" Davey called from the driver's seat.  "Get it!"
	Harris got in and kissed his boyfriend.
	"Are you okay?" Davey asked.
	"Aside from slaying a vampire and having to explain everything to
mom, I've never been better.  How are you?"
	"Freaked," Davey replied.  "Let's get your mom and get to
Whistler."
	Harris nodded and the car took off toward his home.

	A half hour later, the Escort pulled up in front of the mansion.
	"I can't believe all this!" Harris's mom exclaimed as she climbed
out of the backseat.
	"I know it's unreal," Davey said.  "But it is true."
	The three entered the mansion to find the upper levels empty.
Davey led the way downstairs to the lower levels.  Whistler was working on
the elixir when he noticed Davey.
	"Hello, Davey.  What brings you here so...who the fuck is this?"
	"This is Harris's mom," Davey announced.
	"Why in the hell did you bring her here?"
	"In case you didn't know," Harris replied, "all hell has broken
loose."
	"What are you talking about?"
	Harris walked over to the computer and accessed one of the
television satellite broadcasts.  "Look what's going on," he said.
	Tandy and Ty walked in from the gymnasium and saw Harris, Davey and
Harris's mother.
	"Hey, what's up?" Tandy said.  Her words drowned out in her throat
though when she saw the images of downtown Columbus unfolding on the
monitors.
	"It's been going on for the last hour or so," Harris said.
"Vampires have invaded every business downtown.  The casualties are going
to be high on this one."
	"The war has begun," Whistler said.

To Be Continued...

Indeed, the war has begun.  This chapter has been intense, and the Knights
haven't even begun their counterattack.  What do you think of this chapter?
I'd love to hear from you!

Also, this storyline is coming to a close.  Should I continue with Marvel
Knights or just let it end with the vampire war?  I want to know what you
readers want.  I have some ideas, but if no one really wants or cares for
this story to continue, I will end it.