Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 16:04:19 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Marvel Knights 3 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. I have written another story on nifty entitled "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". It is in the Celebrity/Boy Bands section. Batman may appear in this story once or twice, as the Punisher may appear in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". Any comments may be sent to authorjames2002@yahoo.com Thank you and enjoy. Chapter 3 Restoration Harris awoke the next morning with a stiff neck. 'Sleeping in chairs just doesn't cut it,' he thought. He got up and went to the bathroom relieving his self. After washing his hands he came out and looked upon Davey who was resting comfortably. He smiled and went out of the room. No one stirred on the rest of the floor so Harris went outside to get some fresh air. Since it was early, he went for a small walk around the block. He came to a convenience store and looked at the newspaper headlines. The Friends of Humanity in Columbus were under fire from several organizations and were ordered to halt all anti-mutant activity. Becoming excited, Harris grabbed a newspaper and read the article: The Friends of Humanity have been banned from acting on any anti- mutant sentiment pending the investigation of their chief commander Lilandra Smith. Smith was found outside the Bryce Building after having apparently been thrown from the window. The Reverend Exeter, who was purported to have been working late at the Bryce Building has mysteriously disappeared. Police believe he is responsible for the commander's death and is now running from the law. After preliminary investigations into the tragic accident, the Prosecuting Attorney's office has asked the Ohio Supreme Court to halt all F.O.H. activities to determine the extent to which the Friends of Humanity terrorized Ohio citizens unconstitutionally. After examining certain records, detectives believe the acts of the F.O.H. have violated Constitutional Rights of citizens. The Prosecuting Attorney regrets any harm done to the citizens, including high school students who were forced from their school last week to attend correction therapy for their purported genetic defect. Students were taken from the F.O.H. rehabilitation facility yesterday and returned to their families. Apologies were made and the students are allowed to return to their schools whenever they are ready. Psychologists have been made available to assess the students mental health and counsel the victims if the students need it. Harris smiled. 'We can return to school.' However his joy was short-lived as reality sank in. 'What if Davey wants to hang out with his friends? What if he doesn't want to be with me any more because of peer pressure from his friends?' Harris thought about the possibilities going through his mind. 'I shouldn't worry about that. If Davey really likes me, then it won't matter what his friends say or think.' With that knowledge in his mind, Harris bought the newspaper and went back to the apartment, excited about the news of the Friends of Humanity's operations ending. Whistler got up and cleaned up for the day. He put on some clean clothes he had in his car. He went to the window and looked out at the city. 'Such a strange city,' he thought. 'So much diversity in a small town. Many are very open and accepting of it. All it took was a few people in positions of power and the people turned against their own. How long will it go on?' Harris walked into the main room and saw Whistler standing at the window. "Good morning," he greeted happily. "Good morning. What are you doing up so early?" "Went for a walk. Got a newspaper. Good stuff on the front." Harris handed Whistler the newspaper and smiled really big. Whistler read the article and smiled. "It looks as if the efforts of your friends have paid off for this city. Hopefully they will come through again." "What do you mean? The Friends of Humanity have been beaten. Everything has been made right." "But there is a new threat. WE encountered him last night. An ancient vampire by the name of Ahriman is looking for his sister and is willing to do whatever he can to find her." Harris's face flushed with the news. He had limited contact with vampires and had no idea what an ancient vampire would look like as well as what a vampire that old could do. "No need to worry the boy," Blade said as he entered the room. "I didn't think I was. I apologize if I did," Whistler said. "It's okay," Harris responded. "I should go check on Davey." He stood up and left the room leaving Blade and Whistler alone. "Your efforts have come to fruition," Whistler replied. He handed the paper to Blade. "Looks like you and your group are all heroes." Blade read the article. "That is good news. That's very rare in the newspapers these days. Everyone will be glad to get back to school. Maybe Harris can go back with his family. People deserve that." "What about you, Blade? Where is your family?" "This is my family. And that's all you need to know." Whistler nodded knowing it would be some time before these people would accept him into the fold. Right now, however, his objective wasn't to be friends but to train his charge, Tandy the Vampire Slayer. Harris walked in the room to see Davey up and about. He stood in his pajama bottoms looking out the window. "Good morning," Harris said. "Good morning." "I've got some good news. The Friends of Humanity is now under investigation from the efforts of your friend the Punisher. Everyone can go back to school now." "That's great!" Davey replied. "I've wanted to go back." Harris nodded affirmatively even though deep inside part of him feared going back. He knew what the other kids would say and do. They would pick up where they left off with the insults. "Are you okay?" Davey asked. "You look like you are going to a new school and don't know anyone there." "No, I'm fine," Harris answered. "I think they said school starts Monday." "You should contact your mom and dad and see what they are thinking and feeling." "Maybe I will." The next few days were tumultuous for the teenagers. Harris had contacted his family and they took him back with open arms apologizing to him for how they acted. Once the Friends of Humanity were uncovered for the evil group they were, many of the supporters left. Tandy and Ty made preparations as well on staying in the apartment. After setting up certain floors for their very own living space, they recovered their things from the warehouse and made the apartment a bit more like home. Davey had no idea what his mom would say or how she would react. It had been several days since he'd talked to her. He didn't know about the Friends of Humanity's influence on her. She loved him. So maybe things would be okay. Whistler even set up an area for training which he knew Tandy would need and the others would welcome taking advantage of. He didn't mind. It was his way of letting the group know he was on their side and would fight by their side when the situation arose. . Monday morning came around and Ty and Tandy got ready to go. Tandy put on her pink dress and pumps. Ty put on his white football jersey that let his belly show and jeans. Harris and Davey had stayed with their families and promised to meet up with each other in school. Blade and Whistler watched the young people go off to school. Ty drove them in his black sports car. They waved to their charges as the car drove away. "What do you do while they are gone?" Whistler asked. "Depends on what's going on. Since we have a new vampire in town, I'm going to do some reconnaissance and find out where he's staying." "I will contact the Council and see if they have any information, too. They would be able to contact the Talamasca for assistance if necessary." "You do that," Blade said as he climbed on his motorcycle and drove off. "Pleasant fellow," Whistler muttered. Tandy climbed out of the sports car and made her way across the large sidewalk into the crowd of students. Many of Tandy's friends were happy to see her alive and well. They didn't waste too much time, though on pleasantries. They had too much gossip to catch up on. Davey felt a bit uncomfortable as he walked up the stairs toward his friends. His friends were wondering where he was. They had no idea he was involved with Harris. Would they accept Harris now that Davey was dating him? Or would they think Davey was gross for seeing someone who looked like Harris? "Hey, Davey!" Larry greeted. "Long time no see! Where in the hell have you been?" "Out and about," Davey replied. "Checking out the guys!" "Awesome!" Charlie responded. "We thought Harris might have eaten you or something!" Everyone in the group laughed and Larry smacked Davey on the butt. Davey smiled and chuckled a little even though he didn't find their comment amusing at all. Harris walked off the bus and made his way through the students looking for Davey. He became worried rather easily and it only increased when he saw Davey talking with Larry, Charlie and the others who made fun of him. 'I guess things are returning to the way they were,' Harris thought. 'I should have known it was too good to last.' "Hey, look," Charlie said. "Here comes Harris now!" Harris blocked them completely out of his mind. He wasn't going to give them the benefit of the doubt of seeing him cry. He walked right past the group and into the school. Davey watched Harris as he walked past. He knew Harris was hurt by what was going on and what was being said. 'Maybe,' Davey thought, 'I need to rethink my friendship with these guys.' "Why are you guys such bitches?" Davey asked as he walked away from them and into the school after Harris. "Harris," he called out when he saw the young man. "Harris! Wait up!" "Why should I?" Harris spat back. He went into the choir room and Davey followed. "Harris, please, let me explain," Davey said. "Explain what? That you would rather be with your friends who are better looking than I am? You don't need to explain. You're shallow, just like the rest of them." Harris turned away. He didn't want Davey to see him cry. He didn't want Davey to have the satisfaction of seeing him hurt over Davey's actions. He didn't want Davey to report back to Larry and Charlie how Harris was "gullible enough to think gorgeous Davey would have anything to do with him." "I can't believe you said that," Davey whispered. "Believe it, Davey. It's true. I know how guys like you think. The only time anyone like you would be interested in anyone like me is for a practical joke at the ugly guy's expense." "Harris, that's not..." "Just leave." Harris listened for Davey to go. "Fine. If that's what you want." Davey turned and left the choir room. Harris couldn't hold back any more. Tears flooded out of his eyes and he collapsed on the floor. He was suffering from a broken heart. Davey couldn't believe what Harris said to him. 'How could Harris believe such things?' As Davey walked up to the foyer of the school, he looked out and saw his "friends" laughing and making fun of someone else. It dawned on him exactly why Harris thought the way he did. Davey never showed any sign of caring about Harris, at least as far as Larry and Charlie and the others were concerned. But he never had the chance, either. 'The question is,' Davey thought, 'how do I tell Harris about my feelings for him?' As Davey looked around, an idea formed in his head. He smiled to himself and decided on a course of action to show Harris how he felt. Blade drove up to an old, dusty bar and parked his motorcycle outside. He entered and looked around. There were few patrons in the place: two sitting at the bar and a couple at tables. He looked over at the bar and saw the bartender looking at him. When Blade made eye contact, the bartender looked away and slowly inched to the other end of the bar. Blade walked over to the bar, sat down and waited. After waiting several minutes, Blade knew what the bartender was up to: avoiding him. Blade got up and walked to the other end of the bar, reached across the counter and grabbed the bartender by his collar. "Why are you avoiding me, Earl? You must know why I'm here and don't want to talk about it." The patrons of the bar looked over at the event transpiring. Blade ignored their looks, focusing solely on the bartender. "I need information about a vampire named Ahriman. From what I hear, he's bad news. Very powerful and he wants to turn this city into the seat of an empire. What do you know?" "Not much," Earl replied. "Please, let me go. You're right. He is a very powerful vampire. He knows what is going on right now and he will kill me if I talk." "Nonsense," a voice said. Everyone turned to see a Middle Eastern man pulling off his motorcycle gear. He was completely covered in blue and green motorcycle attire. He tucked his motorcycle helmet under his arm and approached the bar. "Earl, please, give me something to drink." Earl gulped and the sound seemed to ring throughout the bar. "When I'm finished with him, he's all yours," Blade replied. "I believe the information you seek can be found with me." Blade released Earl and walked to the interloper. "Who are you and what can you tell me about Ahriman?" "To answer your second question, I can tell you anything you want to know." "How?" "To answer your first question, I am Ahriman." To Be Continued... I'm sure I will be getting emails concerning Davey and Harris's relationship. More will develop as the story continues. And now Blade meets Ahriman. Should be pretty interesting as the next chapter unfolds.