Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2002 17:32:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Marvel Knights 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.

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 9 Ancient Knowledge

	The group returned from their night of patrol.  There wasn't much
to be done through the night.  Hardly any vampires were out and about.
Those that had been were quickly dealt with.
	"That was hardly worth going out for," Cloak replied.  "Dimoveo."
His black cloak whipped off his shoulders and disappeared.
	"Of course it was worth it," Davey said as he pulled off his mask.
"I needed to get some pent up frustration out.  That was definitely worth
it."
	"We discovered the Lanithro demons are in town.  Two enemies to
deal with," Blade said.  "The fun never stops."
	"I may be able to help with the first enemy," Whistler replied.
	"Whistler," Tandy said.  "When you are finished with Blade, can I
talk to you?"
	"Of course, Tandy."
	The Slayer and the two mutants left the room leaving Whistler alone
with Blade.
	"What's going on?" Blade asked."
	"I got the information you needed about Ahriman."
	"You know where his sister is?"
	"Yes, I do."
	"And?"
	"And the information I have for you is not good."
	Blade walked over to the window and looked out.  Silence permeated
the room and the two men looked like statues in a museum showcase.
Finally, Blade broke the silence.  He turned to the Watcher.
	"Well?"
	"Ahriman's sister, Tiamat, and he are several thousand years old.
They would be considered one of the first brood of the vampires with souls.
Around the age of twenty Ahriman and Tiamat were turned by the king and
queen of vampires Akasha and Enkil.  That is why Ahriman looks so young.
He and his sister lived happily in the court of Akasha and Enkil while the
people trembled at the reign of vampires.  Ahriman and Tiamat never
separated from one another.  Ahriman swore to protect his younger sister
for all eternity.
	"One day, however, all that promise was destroyed as they court was
attacked by humans wanting their freedom.  Ahriman and Tiamat were take
into the desert south toward the jungles.  As they journeyed through,
Ahriman broke free.  There was a short battle and a wizard caused the
ground underneath Ahriman to separate.  He fell in and the ground sealed
him up.  There he remained until a few months ago when he arose in search
of his sister."
	"What happened to his sister?"
	"She was taken to a small village in South Africa where she was
treated horribly.  Fortunately for her a small band of vampire worshipers
caught wind of her and rescued her from the angry mob before they could
destroy her.  The vampire worshipers set up a shrine for her and eventually
Tiamat fell dormant like Akasha and Enkil.  She became as stone.  The
vampire worshipers continued this for several hundred years until vampire
hunters attacked them.  The shrine caved in burying her and all traces of
the vampire religion.
	"One of the Watchers stationed in South America reported her Slayer
coming across a woman as white as clouds.  This woman had amazing strength
and power but it did not last long.  Then the woman disappeared.  The
Watcher and Slayer returned to the area and discovered the shrine.  They
contacted the Council who in turn contacted the Talamasca.  The Talamasca
had the information about Tiamat.  The information they gave was not good.
They searched the surrounding farmlands only to find several farming
families dead.  Their bodies had been drained by blood."
	"What information does the Talamasca have about Tiamat that wasn't
so good?"
	"Tiamat is schizophrenic.  She sees and hears things that aren't
there.  She also has multiple personalities, which make her even more
dangerous.  If Ahriman is as compassionate about his sister now as he was
then, and I can only assume he is, then we are dealing with a very
dangerous vampire, one we have never faced before.  If he is reunited with
his sister, the two could bring this city, this country to its knees."
	Blade turned back to the window calm and cool.  Whistler's heart
was beating quickly.  The vampires they faced were very powerful and very,
very dangerous.
	"What are their weaknesses?" Blade finally asked.
	"Sunlight is the only thing that can harm them immediately.  The
only sure fire way to completely destroy the two is destroy their bodies
utterly.  Hacking to pieces, burning to ash, those are two very real
options.  The question is how do we get close enough to do it?"
	"I'm not sure," Blade replies.  "I will have to think about it."
	"Are you going to let the others know?"  When Blade didn't answer,
Whistler continued.  "They have a right to know what they are facing.  They
have a right to be included in this plan to stop Ahriman.  They are three
very brilliant young people.  They may have good ideas, or at the very
least suggestions to build on."
	"When I feel they can handle it, I will let them know.  They are
young, too young to be forced in front of this situation.  Let me figure
something out first.  I know their strengths and weaknesses.  I will know
what they can and cannot do.
	"What do you know about Tiamat's whereabouts?"
	"She was working her way toward Ahriman's empty tomb.  She may be
able to follow him here psychically since one did not make the other.  On
the other hand, she may not since it is reported the first brood cannot
read each other's minds at all.  The information is sketchy."
	"Then we wait on Tiamat and deal with Ahriman first."
	Whistler nodded in understanding.

	Michael and Johnny sat in the small twenty-four hour café
enjoying a nice leisurely midnight snack.  As the meal progressed, though,
Michael noticed several men and women enter close to the same time and sit
at different places throughout the café.  'Commandoes from the Friends
of Humanity,' Michael thought.
	"...it was too much to bear," Johnny said with a smile.  "Have
you ever thought of having children?"
	Michael brought his attention to Johnny and the look on his face
bothered Johnny.
	"What's wrong?"
	"The Friends of Humanity is here," he whispered.  "Several of their
commandoes are placed throughout the café right now."
	"What do we do?"
	"Slowly, I want you to get up and go to the Suburban.  Sit behind
the wheel with the motor running.  They are after me so they won't bother
with you.  After two minutes, I'm going to pay for the food and head out.
That's when things may get violent.  No matter what, you stay in the
Suburban.  Do you understand me?"
	Johnny nodded.  Michael reached down and pulled out his keys and
handed them to Johnny.  "Go," he whispered.
	Johnny stood trying not to look conspicuous.  He walked to the door
and exited.  Things did no go according to plan, however.  Two commandoes
followed him to the door and stopped him outside.
	"Mr. Blaze," one said.  "We need to talk."
	"I really need to go," Johnny replied.
	"We have a few questions first.  Answer them and you can go to your
son.  Refuse, and you will never see your son again."
	"What the..."
	"We have your ex-wife and son Caleb in our protective custody.  We
wouldn't want them to be influenced by immoral teachings you are heading
into with your relationship with that man.
	"Now I ask you to come quietly and no one will be hurt.  Including
your son."
	"Michael!" Johnny yelled.
	"Damn," Michael whispered.  He jumped up from the table and ran to
Johnny.  Two commandoes tackled him and knocked him into the counter.
	"Don't struggle, Punisher," one said to Michael.  "It will only
make things harder."
	"Harder for you guys," Michael replied.  He grabbed one commando
around the neck and slammed his face into the counter.  Blood splattered
out of his nose.  Michael turned him around and threw him into three more
commandoes rising to their feet.
	Johnny swung his fist at the commando who threatened his son.  The
man fell backwards.  Johnny swung his other hand up and backhanded the
other commando.  She jerked backwards with the impact.
	Johnny then ran to the Suburban and climbed in.  His thoughts
weren't toward Michael, his potential new lover.  His thoughts were toward
his ex-wife and, more importantly, his son.  He started up the vehicle and
tore out of the parking lot.
	"What the hell is he doing?" Michael muttered as he saw Johnny
drive away.  An electric shock jolted through his system paralyzing ever
nerve in his body.  He shook with the voltage and collapsed.  Slowly, the
light dimmed and he fell into darkness.

	Johnny wasted no time getting to his former home.  He pulled up to
the house and found all the lights out.  His ex's car was not in the
driveway either.  He jumped out and ran through the front door.  Everything
was gone: furniture, pictures, knickknacks, everything.
	"Caleb!" he yelled out.  "Caleb!"
	Johnny ran to Caleb's room and found it empty as the rest of the
house.  He ran out to the backyard and found it empty, too.
	"Noooooo!" he yelled throwing his hands up in the air.
"Caleeeeeeeeb!!!"
	The tears streamed down his face.  'They are gone,' he thought.
'Where could they be?'
	The sound of a van screeching around a nearby corner caught his
attention and brought him back to the moment.  "The Friends of Humanity."
	Johnny ran to the gate and jumped over the fence.  As he climbed
into the Suburban, he saw the F.O.H. van turn up the road.  He started up
the Suburban and pulled out of the driveway, turning to face the gray van
heading toward him.  Johnny stomped on the accelerator and flew past the
van down the street and out of sight.
	"Where could the Friends of Humanity have taken my son?  Where?"
Johnny thought for a moment.  "There is only one man who can help me.
Michael."
	Johnny headed back to the café.  As he pulled up and jumped out,
he found the place nearly deserted.  He went up to the counter.  "Where was
the man in leather that I ate here with earlier today?"
	"The F.O.H. took him," one waitress said.  "From what they said, he
murdered a F.O.H. administrator in the Renaissance downtown.  They were
taking him into custody."
	Johnny turned and headed back to the Suburban.  "I know where their
installation is.  But I don't have the ability to attack the place.  I
don't have the knowledge of tactics or weapons to make an effective
assault."
	An idea came to Johnny.  Instead of heading to the
F.O.H. installation, he headed to his apartment.  Once there, he dug
through his books in his bedroom, his books on spells and occult rituals.
	"Where is that book?" he said to no one in particular.  He finally
found an old leather volume and pulled it out.  "What spell to use?" he
wondered out loud.  He looked through several chapters and then headed to
the index.  Starting in the back, he looked through until the word caught
his attention.
	"Vengeance."
	Johnny Blaze flipped to the page number and found a spell that he
believed he could perform.  "Vengeance would be just right.  They took my
son.  That will get him back.  Vengeance gives strength, which I need.
Vengeance gives passion and drive, which I will need to get Michael out of
the F.O.H. installation."
	Finding all the components of the spell, Johnny formed a circle of
candles on the floor.  He relaxed his mind and closed his eyes.
	"Zarathos, spirit of vengeance, hear me.  I besiege thy power to
come forth and do my bidding."
	An eerie wind blew through the apartment and a red blazing fire
appeared before Johnny.
	"What offering do you give?" the spirit said unto him.
	Johnny opened his eyes to see a fire with eyes black as soot
looking down on him.
	"Offering?" he asked.
	"No one may call upon me without an offering.  What is your
offering?  Where is the vessel you wish me to inhabit?"
	"I...I don't know." Johnny answered.  "I guess I should have read
the spell thoroughly first," he muttered.  Then an answer came to him.
"Me.  I shall be the vessel for you to inhabit.  Possess me so I may have
the strength of vengeance to get my son back."
	"Once this is done, it cannot be undone," the spirit replied.  "Do
you wish this?"
	Johnny took a deep breath.  'If I'm going to get Michael free to
help me get my son, I'm going to need more than I have.'  "I do," Johnny
finally answered.
	The blaze seemed to mount higher and higher then flow into Johnny's
body.  Johnny felt sear pain shoot through his body and he screamed out in
pain.  It overwhelmed him so he lost consciousness.

	Michael Weatherby slowly regained consciousness.  As he looked
around he saw he was in a bland, metallic room.  Trying to get up, he found
himself strapped down onto a cold metal table.  'What are they going to do
with me?' he wondered.
	The door opened and several commandoes entered.  One, however,
looked to be the commander.  His attire was slightly the same, although he
wore a beret on his head.  He approached Weatherby and stood at Weatherby's
head to make eye contact.
	"Hello," he said with a slight smile to his face.  "You gave us a
run for our money.  Even unconscious you were difficult to work with."
	"Who the hell are you?" Weatherby asked.
	"Oh, I'm sorry.  I forgot to introduce myself.  My name is William
Stryker, general of the commandoes in the F.O.H."
	"What do you want with me?"
	"You've been a very naughty man, Mr. Weatherby.  Don't be so
surprised that we figured out your identity.  It's not like you did much to
conceal it.  Besides, your reputation precedes you.  After getting some
photographs of you infiltrating the headquarters in the mall in Columbus,
we were able to identify you.
	"I must say, the name Punisher is rather harsh.  Why did you pick
it?  Humanity isn't really bad.  We are doing nothing wrong.  We are merely
keeping ourselves safe."
	"By controlling other humans who are different than you.  What you
are doing is no different from slavery in the past, the Native Americans in
the past, and the Asian concentration camps in the 40s.  Anyone who you
might perceive as a threat is neutralized before any real threat presents
itself.  You are not a general of an army of good.  You are a general of an
army of cowards, taking orders from self-righteous cowards."
	Stryker swung his hand and backhanded Weatherby.  "I won't stand
for such insolence."
	"Then let me knock you on your ass."
	Stryker raised his hand again but did not let it fly.  "No.  We
will deal with you in a more fitting way.  Rest up.  You are going to need
your strength."
	Stryker turned and walked out of the room followed by his
commandoes.  Weatherby watched them go and concentrated on how in the world
he was going to escape.

	Ty entered the room where Whistler and Blade were.  He noticed the
somber expressions on their faces.  "What's up, guys?" he asked.
	Whistler looked at Ty then back at Blade.  He wasn't going to get
in the middle of this.  Blade was their unofficial leader.  It was not
Whistler's place to override what Blade wished even though he felt the
others should know.
	"There is something going on," Ty said.  "I know these things.
Blade, tell me what is going on."
	"I don't want you to worry about it," Blade quickly answered.
	"Knowing there is something to worry about doesn't make me not
worry.  Tell me.  If I'm going to worry about something, I should know what
is going on.  My energy would better be used to think about a problem than
to sit and worry about what the problem is."
	"Ahriman is very powerful.  And his sister may be headed this way,"
Blade finally answered.  "The only way to stop him is sunlight and chopping
up the psycho.  I've experienced his powers first hand and they weren't at
full force.  There is no way for us to get close to him."
	Tandy walked in hearing what was going on.  When Blade noticed he
shook his head negatively.
	"Damn it," he whispered.
	"What?" Tandy replied.
	"I didn't want you to know what was going on.  Not until I figured
out some kind of plan."
	"What is going on, Blade?" Tandy asked stepping closer.  "Why don't
you let us in any more on what is going on?  Why do you keep things from
us?  You never used to.  Granted you never told us everything before, but
now you seem overly protective of us hearing anything."
	"There are innocent people involved now.  Punisher's friend Kevin
was shot because of him.  Davey is involved with someone who has absolutely
no powers or abilities to help us.  And Davey got shot not too long ago.
He could have died.  Any of them, any of you could die.  I shouldn't put
you in that position.  You are too young."
	"We are also different from the rest of the world," Ty said.
"Davey and I are mutants.  Tandy is a Vampire Slayer.  We are already
different from most people.  We are tough and have special powers.  It's
our job to fight these evil creatures."
	"But you deserve normal lives," Blade responded, a little tension
in his voice.  "You are young and deserve to have normal childhoods."
	"We're not children," Tandy said.  "Well, maybe Davey and I are
teenagers, but Ty is an adult.  We are old enough to make these decisions
for ourselves.  We've already experienced enough in our lives that this
isn't a big deal.  It's every day for us.
	"I agree that we don't tell Davey yet.  Not until after tomorrow
night."
	"What's going on tomorrow night?"
	"The talent show.  And we all better be there."

	Johnny regained consciousness and saw the sun rising.  He felt
dizzy and groggy.  The candles were all blown out and knocked over.  Johnny
sighed.  "The spell must not have worked."
	Johnny stood and walked to the bathroom to empty his bladder.  As
he passed the mirror, he noticed the most shocking thing he could have
seen.  His face, no, his head was replaced by that of a skull on fire.
"Oh...my...gosh!" Johnny exclaimed.  He was also visibly taller and
wearing leather gear.  A heavy chain draped along his shoulder wrapping
around his waist.  Large metal spikes rested on top his shoulders as well.
	"What is going on?" he asked as he gazed at himself in the mirror.
	'You are no longer Johnny Blaze, at least in this form.  I now
possess your body.'
	"Who are you?"
	'Zarathos, the spirit you invoked, the spirit of vengeance.  You
and I are now one.'
	"For how long?"
	'Eternity.  You are endowed with my power and strength.  You will
be my vessel to exact vengeance.  Together, in this form, we are Ghost
Rider.'
	"Great," Johnny thought.  "Will I ever be able to look like I used
to?"
	'Yes.  When there is no need for Ghost Rider, you will be Johnny.
Your life is not completely interrupted.  Just shared for my objectives.'
	"Great," Johnny replied.  His heart beat much faster than normal.
"Are there any plans for us right now?"
	'Soon our thoughts will become one,' the spirit answered.  'We will
become one.'
	"Okay.  Then the first thing we do is get Michael free from the
Friends of Humanity.  I'm going to need your help with this.  That is why I
called on you."
	No answer came from the entity.  "I guess we're one now."
	Johnny relieved himself, washed his hands, then exited the bathroom
heading for the bedroom.  He had to come up with a plan to get Weatherby
free.  And he was going to free him tonight.

To Be Continued...

Now some of you know who Johnny Blaze was supposed to be: Ghost Rider!
Both he and the Punisher are characters after vengeance of sorts.  I
thought it would be good to get the two paired off.  I wasn't planning for
them to be intimate.  We will have to see how their relationship develops.

Note 1: General Stryker is supposed to appear in X-Men 2 coming out in May,
2003 and he will be leading a group like unto the Friends of Humanity.

Note 2: The movie Ghost Rider is rumored to begin production (i.e. filming)
with Nicolas Cage in the title role.