Arsenal: Legend Watcher #1

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Arsenal: Legend Watcher #1
Setting the Stage

Written by Jim Crawbuck
Edited by Daniel Dyer

He dodged the blow easily enough and brought his fist up into the man’s gut. There was a gasp for air and the man went down to his knees. The red head then swung a kick that put him on the ground, unconscious.

The man called Arsenal took a second to catch his breath and then began to search the man’s pockets until he came up with a wallet. He opened it up and rifled through it. Damn it. No I.D. Not even a library card. Roy Harper threw it down in disgust. He turned and surveyed the area. I’m guessing southeastern United States. Judging by the foliage and that smell. Roy breathes in deeply. I’m guessing that’s Magnolia flowers. Those are whispering willows. I’m in Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama. Who am I kidding? I don’t know where I am. I could be anywhere in Middle America.

His cell phone was gone and he checked his belt for his personal transmitter, that too was taken. Great. They definitely knew what to take from me and where to find it. No phone. No transmitter .No sign of life. Not a single luxury. This is my last three-hour tour.

The headlights of the car that brought him here was the only light illuminating this empty field. He walked over to the car and checked the glove box. A rental. Well, that’s a start at least. He checked the trunk and back seats, but the car was clean. He grabbed the rope that they had used to tie him up and did the same to the driver of the car. Throwing the thug in the backseat, he took the wheel and pulled out of the field and back onto the road. His mind wanders back to the events that had brought him to this point.

^

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Twenty Four Hours Ago...

Roy Harper arrived at his apartment at six thirty in the morning and promptly took a shower first. His right arm was bandaged where he had gotten cut and later received ten stitches.

After stepping out of the shower and changing his dressing he then collapsed on the bed from exhaustion. He had just spent the better part of two days without sleep, tracking down some deranged killer whose power was the ability to turn his fingers into razor blades. He had been killing older women for the sheer pleasure of it. Tracking him down had been the easy part, but bringing him in had been tougher. The guy had more then enough speed and endurance, and it was a battle that seemed to last for hours.

“Always know your opponent before you go into battle,” he hears the voice of his old mentor, Slade Wilson what seemed like the instant he drifted off. “Go in blind and come out dead,” continues Slade.

The old confusion from those years is the emotion that begins this dream. Fallowed by the disgust he has for the man who calls himself Deathstroke

It was the ringing of the phone that woke him up. He looked at the clock and saw that it was almost noon. Five hours sleep, a record. He reached over and grabbed his personal cell and looked at the number. He grinned to himself as he answered.

“Yes?” he asked, stretching the word out.

“Where have you been, Roy? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for two days.”

The voice on the other end of the phone was feminine but almost husky when she spoke.

“Jade! Has it really been two whole days? You must be going through some major withdrawal.”

“Why I put up with you is beyond me, Roy,” snips Jade.

“We both know why you put up with me sweet cheeks. I’ll pick you up around seven.”

“Don’t be late, Roy,” she replied in a sexy voice and hangs up.

^

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Two hours later, just as he had finished cleaning his weapons, his other phone rang. He sighed and picked it up, already knowing what he was going to hear.

“Martin Dusty, please?” the woman’s voice asked.

“Yah, I’m alone. Can we change Martin? It sounds geeky,” he replied grumpily.

“Oh getting a wittle scwatch makes Harper a grumpy wittle agent,” needles Chloe Sullivan referring to the stitches in Roy’s arm.

“No, going in with little or no information makes me grumpy. You know, the D.E.O. needs to get some better intelligence or one of these days they are going to wind up with dead agents.”

“My agents should be obtaining information on the fly. Better intelligence isn’t the answer. It’s more intelligent agents I need”, Chloe says losing her playful tone.

There was a pregnant pause and Roy was just about to speak when Chloe replied, “We’ve got an agent missing. We sent Agent Draper down to Florida to investigate the deaths of two scientist that had both been murdered, and we haven’t heard from him in over forty eight hours now.”

“Kevin Draper?” Roy impulsively spewed. “He’s one of the toughest guys I know.”

Not only was Draper one of their best agents, but also a personal friend of Roy’s. They had worked together back in the days of the Central Bureau of Intelligence, a covert spy organization that eventually was absorbed into the DEO. If somebody had gotten the best of Draper, then he was really in trouble.

“So I’m sending you down there to find him. We had a contact down there, a Professor D’Angelo who was supposed to meet Draper at the airport, but he never arrived. We’re letting the Prof know that you will be on your way and should be there by three o’ clock E.S.T.”

“Hey, hold on a minute! I just got off of three cases in a row. I need a little down time. Why not send Cavli or somebody and I’ll join them first thing in the morning.”

“By down time?” she replied in a cold voice, “Cancel the date Harper.”

“What? I’m shocked. Is that what you really think? You know you’re my one and only, Chloe.”

“It’s not cute or funny Agent Harper. I came to you because of your history with Kevin. Sorry to interrupt your social life. You don’t want it?” Chloe barks with a clearly defined edge to her voice.

Insert foot in mouth. You went too far again, Royster. Button it. I will not antagonize higher rank agents. I will not antagonize higher rank agents. “Alright,” he sighed. “Have the jet ready to go and I’ll be there in an hour. Got some loose ends to tie up.”

He heard the click of the line go dead without a response and hung up his phone. He had to call Jade back but decided to wait until right before he left. Instead he went to his bedroom nightstand and reached behind it, clicking a hidden button.

The large mirror that hung along the far wall opened up and an abundant display of weapons hung in front of him. He smiled contently as he realized that his personal collection was coming along nicely. He took down a well-oiled crossbow and several bolts and stuck them in his bag. He also removed a pair of wristbands; the left held half a dozen gas pellets and the right contained small concussion grenades and both had stun-line guns built in them. He examined his other stock and even though he had several lethal weapons, he chose to keep them where they were. It was a line he hadn’t crossed yet, and one he was determined not to. Finally his eyes came to rest on his compound bow and both his sharp and blunted arrows. This would always be his first weapon of choice and his favorite. It gleamed a shiny burgundy as he took it down and dismantled it, putting it in its case and closing it.

He then turned to his costume that was lying at the end of the bed and he quickly changed into it, before putting his street cloths on over the outfit. It made him look a little bulkier, but really he didn’t have a problem with that either.

Walking over to the phone he picked it up and dialed Jade’s number. It took several rings before she answered, and the tone of her voice announced that she already knew what was coming.

“What now, Mr. Harper?”

“Hey, babe, I got some bad news. They’re sending me out on another photo assignment. I may be gone for a couple of days. I know its cruel but you’ll have to wait a few more days. I’m going to have to take a rain check.”

There was silence on the other line for several seconds and then her reply, “Then when you come back, it better be worth my wait.”

He chuckled, “Ha, I guess you forgot who you were talking to. You know I’m always worth the wait. When I get back whatever you want, you got it. See ya.”

He hung up the phone, grabbed his bags, and headed out the door.

^

[Spider-Man Beyond]

He arrived at the airport and was about to enter when he noticed two men approaching him. They both wore very nice three-piece suits and dark sunglasses. He stopped and braced himself, looking out of the corners of his eyes to see how many pedestrians were around just in case.

“Mr. Harper, there’s been a change of plans. Code alpha, Charlie, bravo, seven, one, one.”

Roy’s jaw hit the ground. DEO headquarters had been infiltrated. It was one of the first codes that they were made to memorize. He quickly responded with the counter message and the two men nodded and escorted them to their car.

When he got into the back seat and the doors automatically locked, the warning lights went off. What?! Stupid, Roy. Get out this is a trap. Before he could respond a metal guard came down and blocked him off from the two men in the front seat. He felt the car take off and he quickly grabbed his phone, only to find that the signal was being blocked.

Is this how they got Draper. He began to pound on the door with his feet, but to no avail. Good move voluntarily throwing your weapons in the trunk. Just like being a rookie all over again. I almost hear Slade laugh from here. All he could do at this point was go along for the ride.

After about an hour he felt the car leave the highway and by the crunching of the tires, he knew he was on a dirt road. This was getting worse by the minute. Visions of the Soprano’s and The Godfather went through his head. He brushed them aside as he felt the car coming to a stop, and both front doors opening and closing. He quickly crouched on the seat and waited for one of the doors to open.

When it did he sprang like a lion and pushed the door open hard, knocking the driver back. He dove out of the car and somersaulted onto the gravel road. He felt something metal whiz by his ear and heard a hard thud as a small dart hit the rear tire behind him. Why aren’t they trying to kill me? No time to brainstorm now. Let’s just scratch that to a good thing.

He came up next to the driver who was catching his balance and swung him around to face him, also hoping that he could use the guy as a shield for a couple of seconds. He threw a right cross and the guy staggered back. He threw another right and then a left and the guy went down.

As he fell, Arsenal saw the other man fire his weapon again. He dove out of the way and came up holding a large stone.

“Any port in a storm,” Roy boasts as he threw the rock relying on his DEO record-breaking accuracy. It hit its intended target and knocked the gun out of the man’s hand. Arsenal quickly jumped to the offense and was about to swing a blow at the man when he felt the sting of something sharp hitting him in the back of the neck. Instantly he felt the numbing effect as it course through his body. He took a few steps forward and then fell to the ground on his back. As he looked up he saw the man he was going after and a third man walk up and look down at him. The third man was dressed in nothing but black, a mask with a thin white circle and inside that circle another. The mask covered all facial features including his eyes.

“Ffssst. Plop. Bang,” the man in black imitating the sounds of the dart and collapse of Arsenal.

“You’re not as good as I was let to believe. The mighty Arsenal cannot even fight off a little poison in his body. Very well, sleep young one and when you wake you will already be assimilated into a much better and brighter organization.”

Roy’s lips tried to move. He desperately wanted to tell this guy to go to Hell, but the poison was taking over his body at a rapid speed and all he could do was let out a grunt. The two men laughing was the last thing that he heard before darkness claimed him.

^

[Spider-Man Beyond]

When he woke up he was groggy and his head was pounding. His arms and legs were bound behind him and he was lying in the back seat of an old fashioned sedan. It was dark out and this disoriented him even more.

How long have I been out? Okay. We changed rides. This guy doesn’t realize I’m up.

The driver in the front seat was paying no attention to him, so he quietly and slowly brought his legs up to his hands and began to untie his feet. After releasing them he inched his way into a position that would put him directly parallel to the driver. He knew he had to get out of the situation before it got any worse.

He took a deep breath and brought his legs up and over the seat and around the driver’s neck. The driver’s cry of surprise was cut short as he began to choke. The car swerved back and forth but Arsenal refused to let up. All of a sudden there was a crunch as the car hit something solid and both him and the driver were propelled forward.

With the driver being stunned, Roy quickly turned and unlocked the car door and jumped out. He was sick to his stomach from the poison but saw immediately what he was looking for, a piece of shattered glass from the driver side mirror. He bent down and grabbed it and quickly used it to cut the ropes binding his hands, and just in time.

The driver has regained himself and the door was swinging open as Arsenal came up from the ground and pushed the door back into him. He then grabbed the man and flung him out into the open field where the car had stopped with the aid of a large rock jutting out from the ground. The driver came back and swung at him. He dodged the blow easily enough and brought his fist up into the man’s gut. There was a gasp for air and the man went down to his knees. The red head then swung a kick that put him on the ground, unconscious.

^

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Arsenal looked around as he continued driving. There was nothing out there but road and fields. His mind was racing. Somebody was going to a lot of trouble to get him somewhere. It was someone who knew who he was and what he and Draper did.

Is this some enemy of the agency? But who? Slade? No he wouldn’t have others taking away his fun. He’d do it himself.

He hit the breaks hard as he finally came to a four way crossing. A sign up ahead read: Biloxi 20 miles. So he was in Mississippi, that mystery was solved. He also heard the clatter of something under his seat and reached down to feel a cassette tape and a folded paper. He pulled them up and saw that it was a map of the county he was in. He took the cassette and put it in the car’s player. After a second an unfamiliar voice came through the speakers.

“Hello Mr. Harper, or should I call you Arsenal. By now you have over powered the driver and commandeered the vehicle. The map that I have left you will show you the route that you will need to take to continue your journey. I am giving you only one hour to make it to my location or else your fellow agent will die. Good luck.”

Know your enemy.

Roy gritted his teeth and pulled out the map and took a look at it. He was on the right road, but going the wrong way. He had less then one hour to cover over ninety miles. He turned the car around and squealed the tires as he took off.

I don’t know him but he knows me. He’s calling the shots and I’m a helpless puppet. I’m feeling a little short stacked here but I always have one ace up my sleeve. I’m friggin’ Roy Harper. I am an Arsenal. Hold on Kevin. I’m coming to get you. I hope.

To be continued...