The Question

"Death Denied" Part (1 of 4)

by Rob T.


THEN

A beaten and broken man is dragged into an open area, overlooking a cliff suspended over raging surf & jagged rocks. Those dragging stop before a well dressed gentleman, who has something to say.

Gentleman

Look at you. I welcome you into my home, Treat you like family… LIKE A BROTHER, AND YOU BETRAY ME! I never saw it coming, I'll admit that. You fooled me good. Now I have to go underground before she kills me for letting you get this far. But at least I get the satisfaction of vengeance.

A muzzle flash, and the piercing explosive sound ends it, and his body falls from the cliff.


NOW

Hub City, a small sub-district on the outskirts of Gotham. Specifically, a lavish skyscraper. The self-proclaimed symbol of humanitarian aid.

Q (self narrates mentally)

They thought no one would find them, hidden behind their money and grandiose reputations. They thought no one would connect the dots, and discover their crimes. No one believed an organization this charitable had hidden motives. No one would believe these saviors of the hungry, were actually an elaborate ruse for human trafficking of children. No one ever thought to ask the question. But I did.

He moves in & out of the shadows, picking off every obstacle. One by one, they fall, Until he crashes into a large room, where men armed with physical prowess & lack of conscience are stirred into a frenzy upon his appearance. The rush him. A question he asked himself long ago come to mind… "How does one fight men such as these?" The answer… without mercy. When the last of this group falls, he finds himself face to face with what can only be described as a living mountain.

Q (self narrates mentally)

He's stand completely calm, cracking his knuckles, anticipating pounding me into powder. I'm clearly out muscled here. How does one defeat a greater opponent? In this case, you exploit a hidden weakness. He's standing with all his weight on his left leg, wonder if he's nursing an old injury.

He runs straight at the clearly over confident brute. Barely avoiding a bone crushing haymaker, he dons his brass knuckles, and smashes his right knee. The brutally rained down on this opponent renders him useless, and his pummeled into unconsciousness.

He walks over to a lock room. When he opens it, children run to the back, trembling in complete fear.

Q: Don't be afraid. They cannot hurt you anymore.

Child: Can I go home?

Q: Excellent question. Of course you can.


MOMENTS LATER

Q (self narrates mentally)

I watch as the authorities take away these scum bags. The evidence I provided, and being caught red-handed, will put them and their posh accomplices away for life. I see parents united with their missing kids. Will they be okay? Can anyone survive something this traumatic? Only time will tell.


THEN

A hospital room

A bearded comatose patient begins to stir.

Nurse: Doctor! Doctor! He's waking up.

Doctor: Well damn, I never thought you'd wake up.

Bearded Man: (in a broken dry voice) Ho-How long?

Doctor: You've been here 13 years, my friend.

Bearded Man: WHA..?!

Doctor: Calm down, guy. You muscles haven't moved for a long time. It'll take time. HEY!

He panics from the bed, ripping Iv's from his arms. Pushing staff aside, as he runs from the facility.

Doctor: Call the police! (Mentally) There's no way he should have been able to do that. 10 years? Every muscle in his body should be atrophied.


NOW

KBEL. Hub City news outlet. Most of their stories are just trashy, sensationalistic drivel. But they have their moments.

Editor: Good work, Vic! I didn't think you had anything here. I mean charities & human trafficking? Damn! I thought they were one of the good ones.

Vic: I told ya, Ezra. When I smell a story, it's always something juicy.

Ezra: Well keep it up. We may actually start giving the Planet a run for the money.

Vic: Yep.

Woman: Hey, Vic! You said you wanted anything I can find on a Philip Korrigan?

Vic: Yeah?

Woman: One of my sources has spotted him Los Angeles three days ago. Chinatown, as far as they can tell. He entered a joint rumored to be a Yakuza front. They got a pic. He's with a woman.

Vic: Send me the pic. Thanks Clara.

He looks at the picture.


THEN

A penthouse suite, straight out of a rich person's wet dream.

Man: Mr. Korrigan. Mr. Szasz.

Mr. Korrigan: Thank you for seeing us, Sho. This joint venture will be lucrative for us all. My friend

here guarantees it.

Sho: I'm sure he does. My partner wanted to meet you in person before we went continued. May I

present the Lady Shiva.

A woman of incredible, japanese beauty enters room. They look into her eyes, and a chill takes hold. Then, she sees Mr. Szasz, and pauses. It's not something she does often. It isn't a good sign.

Shiva: You are harder to kill, then I would have ever imagined.

Phillip & Sho fix their guns on Mr Szazs.

Szazs: Do I know you?

Shiva: Once you knew me, as no one ever has, or ever will again. I thought you dead years ago. I'll be sure you die this time.


NOW

Vic (self narrates mentally)

There's an interesting question. Someone tried to kill me, and put me in a 13 year coma. I awoke 5 years ago, and have been kicking ever since. If it was it her? But she said, she thought me dead years ago. have I died more than once?


TO BE CONTINUED