Jamal looked down at the gun in his lap nervously, before looking up at his brother Michael.
“Don’t worry bro, you won’t even have to use that thing. Just stay in the car, and keep it running. We’ll do all the work.” Michael said, patting Jamal on the shoulder.
“That’s not what he’s worried about dawg.” Sheldon said from the backseat. “Whitey’s been telling him stories about the Shadow.”
“Damn Whitey, what the hell are you thinkin’? He’s 16, and you go scaring him with that bullshit?” Michael said, reaching around behind his seat to smack the fourth member of their gang.
“Yo, the Shadow is fo‘ real dawg!” Whitey said.
“The Shadow is some crap story that the cops came up with to scare the gangbangers. Same goes for the Pumpkin King.” Michael argued.
“Mike, I keep telling you about my cousin…” Sheldon argued.
“Yeah dawg, his cousin fo’ sho’.” Whitey agreed.
“Shut up Whitey.” Michael ordered. “Jamal, there’s no Shadow, Pumpkin King, or Boogeyman waiting for us. We know what we’re doing. We’ve done this plenty of times.”
“Well, we did it once. That liquor store last month.” Sheldon corrected.
“It’s not exactly brain surgery. We’ve got it handled. You just drive.” Michael told Jamal.
“Okay…” Jamal said, as the car pulled into the gas station, and his brother and his gang jumped out.
The three teenagers ran into the gas station with their guns out, and less than a minute later, the gas station attendant rushed out screaming, which Jamal couldn’t help but laugh at.
A few minutes passed, before Michael, Whitey and Sheldon strutted out of the gas station, Michael carrying a bag of cash.
“Damn that was too easy my ni-“ Whitey was cut off.
“Don’t finish that sentence Whitey.” Michael warned.
“Sorry dawg.” Whitey apologized.
“Kid, you should’ve come in with us, it was like taking candy from a baby.” Sheldon said.
“He split the moment we walked in, just started shouting something in Indian and ran.’ Michael said, high-fiving Sheldon.
“Uhh… Do you hear that?” Whitey asked.
The gang stopped talking and heard the dull roar of a motorcycle engine.
“It’s just a motorbike, no problem.” Michael said.
“You don’t think it could be…” Jamal trailed off.
“I told you, the Pumpkin King doesn’t exist.” Michael said.
At that moment the motorcycle came into view, rocketing past the gas station, the rider’s skull looked like it was on fire, which clearly marked him as…
“PUMPKIN KING!!!” Whitey shrieked, opening fire on the vigilante, which Sheldon and Michael both joined him in doing.
Pumpkin King turned around and rode his bike directly at the three boys outside the car, stopping just short, turning his bike 90 degrees and using it for cover from their gunfire.
“Haha, you’re hiding. Mean old Pumpkin King ain’t so tough afterall.” Michael taunted.
“No… I’m just distracting you.” Pumpkin King retorted.
The gang looked confused, before a dark shape dropped down onto the hood of the car.
The Shadow took one look at Jamal, and Jamal hit the accelerator, Shadow barely had time to jump off before Jamal sped off into the distance.
Shadow did a roll and found himself in the middle of the remaining teenagers.
“We gonna mess you up just like your boyfriend over there.” Whitey taunted.
Shadow just rolled his eyes and hit Whitey with a palm-thrust to the chest, knocking him at least three feet backwards before he collapsed, unconscious.
“So you know a little kung-fu? You think that scares us? You’re our age too. But there’s two of us, and we have guns.” Michael says, pointing his gun at the Shadow, Sheldon mimicking the action.
“You think your guns scare me? I’ve got my own. And I know they scare you a lot more than yours scare me.” The Shadow reached down and pulled his twin 9mm from their holsters. “You guys mustn’t have heard. When I get shot, I just get back up. Can you guys say the same?” Michael and Sheldon hesitated. “One more thing. There’s two of us too.” Shadow finished.
The boys turned to see Pumpkin King’s infamous flaming fists, but only for a split second, before they fell down unconscious like their gang-mate.
“You know, I think you just said more to those guys than you’ve ever said to me.” Pumpkin King commented drily.
“I don’t like to talk.” Shadow replied.
“I noticed. Come on, we’d better go catch the wheelman, before he calls someone.” Pumpkin King said, straddling his motorcycle.
“I got a good look at the kid, he’s scared straight.” Shadow said.
“Doesn’t mean he’s not going to call the cops, or Hire-A-Hero.” Pumpkin King argued.
“The cops turn a blind eye because we’re helping them out, and we took care of Hire-A-Hero’s goons last time we patrolled together.” Shadow said.
“Yeah, Fuse, Star and LatX. Those D13 guys are nothing. Tonight half the Brat Pack are on call. We’re out of our league. We have to catch this kid.” Pumpkin King said.
“One problem with your plan.” Shadow said, pointing at the front tire on Pumpkin King’s motorcycle, which had been shredded by a bullet.
“Damn gangbangers…” Pumpkin King said, walking over to Sheldon’s unconscious form and kicking him. “Good thing we’re at a gas station.”
<><><>
“I’ve never even heard of The Breakfast Club.” Hyper Girl said.
“Are you kidding? It’s the best movie ever. We even sort of named our team after it… In a roundabout way.” Mr Universe replied.
“How does that make sense?” Hyper Girl asked.
“Don’t get him started on the Brat Pack/Breakfast Club thing, he’ll be talking for ages, and I’d rather be able to concentrate on my homework.” Belle piped up.
Mr Universe turned away from the videoscreen, which showed his long-distance, sort-of-girlfriend, Hyper Girl, who was sitting at a similar terminal in New York City.
“Concentrate? How can you concentrate if Kevin is texting you every ten minutes?” Mr Universe asked.
“First of all, we’re discussing our English homework. Second of all, codenames.” Belle argued.
“Hyper Girl doesn’t know who Kevin is, it doesn’t matter.” Mr Universe said.
“Mr Perfect, right? You two are the tabloid’s hottest super-couple atm.” Hyper Girl said.
“Did she actually just say ‘atm’?” Belle asked.
“I did notice that.” Mr Universe replied.
“Anyway, that’s not the point, you guys are talking way too much. Why don’t you just get a room or something?” Belle asked.
“That’ll have to wait, looks like we’ve got a call…” Mr Universe said, pressing the ‘answer’ button on his screen.
“Hire-A-Hero Los Angeles, Mr Universe speaking.” Mr Universe said.
“Yo, there’s two dudes attacking my bro and his posse.” The voice at the other end said.
“That sounds like a job for the police.” Mr Universe replied.
“No way. One dude is on fire, and the other guy… Just come already.” The caller gave the address of a gas station, before hanging up.
“Sounds like the Shadow and Pumpkin King… They’ve got warrants out, let’s go get them.” Belle said.
“But they’re on our side.” Mr Universe argued.
“Hire-A-Hero has a contract with the city. It’s our job to answer the calls. Those two are wanted men. Simple.” Belle said.
“But…”
“No buts, let’s go.”
<><><>
“And that should just about do it…” Pumpkin King said, dusting off his hands, as he stood up from changing his tyre.
“It’s about time.” Shadow muttered.
“I didn’t see you helping out, Bandanna-Boy.” Pumpkin King retorted.
“We’d better get out of here, if that kid did call for help, they’ll be here any minute…” Shadow said.
“It’s a little late for that…” Pumpkin King said, pointing to the sky.
The Shadow looked up to see Mr Universe and Belle floating down towards them.
“Pumpkin King and the Shadow, we just got a call about you guys.” Belle said.
“Yeah, we’ve gotta bring you in.” Mr Universe added.
“I’d like to see you try.” Pumpkin King said, raising his fists.
“Why don’t they ever come peacefully?” Mr Universe asked. “Which one do you want?”
“I think I’ll take the one that’s not on fire…” Belle replied.
“Good choice. Guess that leaves me with Match-Dude.” Mr Universe said.
“Bring it on you bony little nerd.” Pumpkin King said.
Mr Universe glided towards the burning man, who went in swinging, but found each of his punches blocked by a loose bolt or nut from the nearby gas station, Mr Universe using his famed magnetic control to defend himself against the superior fighter.
“Is that the best you can do? Maybe we can leave you out here; you’re no threat to anyone.” Mr Universe taunted.
“Why you…” Pumpkin King trailed off, as he charged forward, brushing off the floating debris to tackle the hero to the ground.
Meanwhile, Belle found herself on the run, dodging the Shadow’s blows.
“My mother always taught me not to hit a girl, but I can’t let you take me in.” The Shadow said.
“I’m glad I can help you take your mom’s advice.” Belle replied, as she began using her telekinetic abilities to block the blows, rather than dodging out of the way.
“I’m needed out here on the streets. Don’t be the one who puts me away. The criminals need something to fear. Something to keep them in line.” The Shadow said, increasing the pace of his blows.
“So that makes it ok to assault people, and shoot them?” Belle asked, frantically keeping pace with her telekinetic shields.
“I use my abilities to fight criminals. Just like you.” Shadow said, before lunging forward, confident he’d exhausted her psychic defense.
Belle closed her eyes, awaiting the blow… But the blow never came.
She opened her eyes to find the Shadow hanging upside down in front of her, his cape draped over his head in an almost comical fashion. She turned and saw the Pumpkin King pinned to a wall by his own motorcycle, legs kicking as he sat two feet in the air.
“I got tired of holding back.” Mr Universe said with a grin, before moving The Shadow to a position next to the Pumpkin King, using his powers to carry the masked vigilante by his belt buckles, zippers and weapons.
“Ok guys, first of all… Pumpkin King? Did someone watch The Nightmare Before Christmas too many times as a kid?” Mr Universe asked.
“My head’s on fire, like a jack-o-lantern. Jack-o-lanterns look like skulls. It makes sense.” Pumpkin King said.
“And people tell me our team name is out there…” Mr Universe muttered.
“Who asked you?” Pumpkin King spat.
“Ok, let’s just take them in.” Belle said.
“Wait.” Shadow said. “I already told you. We’re needed out here.”
“You think you two are the only ones who can fight criminals?” Belle asked.
“I think we’re the only ones who can fight criminals the way they need to be fought.” Shadow replied.
“And how’s that?” Belle asked.
“The criminal element isn’t all that intelligent, but they know one thing. The police in this city are lazy. They live in fear of the criminals they’re supposed to be stopping. That’s how crime has taken over. The police have reason to be scared. Most of the time, the bad guys have them outnumbered and outgunned. The police are no deterrent to crime. Not anymore. That’s where we come in. I can fight them. I have no fear of the criminals. I am fear. The criminals don’t understand me. They’re not sure I exist. They are foolish, to fear that which they don’t see, that which they don’t understand. That’s why they called me the Shadow. To give a name to that fear. To weaken my power over them. But it hasn’t worked. I’ve been operating in this city every night for a year, and the rate of assaults, murders, rapes and armed robberies are at the lowest they’ve been since 2000. Because of me. Because the criminals fear that which goes bump in the night, and cannot be killed. And they fear the man with the flaming skull and the burning fists on the roaring motorcycle, like a personification of death itself. That’s why you need to let us go. We do what you and the police can’t. We fight the criminals on the streets, the way they fight. We give the citizens hope.” The Shadow explained.
“Ok, that’s officially the most I’ve ever heard you say.” Pumpkin King said.
“Those are pretty words. But do you mean them? How do you know you’re right?” Belle protested.
“Wait Belle. He’s right.” Mr Universe said.
“We already had this argument…” Belle warned.
“No, have you read Quoth the Blackbird…?” Mr Universe asked.
“The Blackbird’s autobiography? No, I’ve had too much other stuff to do. How is this relevant?” Belle began to grow impatient.
“Look at the similarities here… Black kid, raised in the suburbs of LA, goes out at night dressed in a black costume, mask and cape, and fights the low-level crooks. Hangs out with a flaming dude. Granted, Napalm is a lot more impressive than this loser…” Mr Universe said.
“I’ll kill you!” Pumpkin King shouted.
“The Blackbird went on to become the greatest hero this city has ever known. He founded the West Coast Boomers. But he had the same philosophy. In his book, he said that in order to have power over the criminals of this city, they have to fear you. You need to be active all the time, which is why the rest of us haven’t deterred them at all. We’re always busy with the super-criminals. We need these guys on the street, even if we don’t agree with their methods. I’m letting them go.” Mr Universe said, as he began lowering the two outlaws.
“You do realize one of them just threatened to kill you, right?” Belle asked, cynically.
“I’ll do it too! No-one compares me to Napalm!” Pumpkin King raged.
“I’ll take care of him…” The Shadow said.
“You’ll take care of me? What are you, my babysitter?”
“He’s got some anger issues.” Mr Universe observed.
“Hmmm.” Belle agreed, before using her powers to touch Pumpkin King’s mind. A brief touch was all she needed to see what she was looking for. “Interesting… He’s not going to touch you, Mr Universe. We’re going to fly away, and leave you two to your business, but if you ever step out of line, I swear to God, I’ll be the one to turn you in. Understand?”
Pumpkin King stared at Belle, before nodding his head in agreement.
“Hopefully next time we meet, it’ll be under better circumstances.” The Shadow said, as he was turned right-way-up.
“Maybe fighting an actual bad guy.” Mr Universe commented drily.
“Here’s hoping.” Belle said. “Anyway, we’d better head back to headquarters, there’s probably been a breakout at Alcatraz or something…”
“Yeah, she’s right. We’ll catch you guys later.” Mr Universe said, before lifting himself and his partner into the air and out of sight.
“Do you think they suspect you?” The Shadow asked.
“She knows. He doesn’t have a clue. But she won’t tell.” Pumpkin King said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Katie can keep a secret.”
<><><>
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