The Enforcers
Derek Powers calmly sat in his office while he was meeting with Commissioner Gordon. She had a few questions about the warehouse robbery.
"I'm greatly relieved that the crate has been safely returned." Powers said in relief.
"Yes, especially its contents." Barbara said as she narrowed her eyes.
"Pardon?" Powers said in confusion.
"We checked inside the crate. We found quite the stash of military grade weapons." Barbara explained. "Care to tell us what those were doing in your possession."
Powers said nothing at first, but then he started to chuckle. "Hehehe, it's simple. You see those weapons were shipped out to us by the nation of Kasnia, they are remnants of the old wars they were a part of."
"That still doesn't explain why you had them." Barbara stated.
"It's quite simple. WaynePowers has taken the liberty of confiscating those weapons, melt them down, and reshape them to better goods, and ship them back to Kasnia." Powers explained with a smile on his face. "Pots, pans, utensils, things they could use. The people have been torn apart by those wars; I'm just giving something back."
"And you're just doing this out of the goodness of your heart." Barbara said sarcastically.
Powers smirked before he spoke. "Well, there is a small fee for the shipment of those weapons."
Barbara narrowed her eyes, but she put away her notepad. "Good day Mr. Powers." She walked away and waited for the elevator to come up.
"Oh Commissioner." Powers said before she could leave. "I saw the news reports. It wasn't the police that got the crate back, was it."
Barbara didn't say anything as the elevator came up and she entered it. "Have a nice day, Mr. Powers." With that said, the elevator closed and she left.
Powers still smirked as he pressed a button on his desk. A speaker seemed to have popped out of the desk.
"I heard you had a bit of trouble last night." Powers said.
"At first I thought my guys were trying to con me. Then I saw the news."
"It is a shame; I went to great lengths to get those guns for you." Powers said. "Still baffled me that you wanted the clowns to pick them up."
"The clowns still run the majority of this city. I thought it would be ironic if they were the ones who orchestrated the theft of the weapons that destroyed them."
"Like paying for your own funeral." Powers said cruelly.
"Yes, but now we have a new problem."
"Yes, I saw the news. Quite extraordinary if you ask me." Powers said as he turned on a TV screen on the wall and showed footage of Spider-Man swinging away from the station.
"The only thing that's going to be extraordinary, is how they are going to take him down."
"You were serious about calling them. Well, they are the best of best." Powers said.
"The greatest insult to my reign, demands the greatest forms of pain. And the Enforcers are experts on pain."
/
Terry just got up and was getting ready for school. After brushing his teeth he walked into the kitchen to get a quick breakfast.
"Hey dad, I'll be taking off soon." Terry said, but he didn't get a reply. "Dad?"
Terry walked into the living room and spotted his dad sitting on the sofa watching TV. Confused, Terry watched what he was watching and was surprised by what he saw. A news man and woman were talking with a picture of Spider-Man.
"In other news, the rumors have been answered folks. The 'Spider-Man' is very real after he delivered a gang of criminals to the police station last night." The newsman said.
"Now more and more people are sharing their stories on how they either spotted Spider-Man or how he rescued them." The newswoman said as the video showed different videos of different people.
"It was sweet, he came swinging in and BOOM he kicked that guy through a window."
"A runaway car was about to crash into me, but when I closed my eyes and opened them it was stopped by a giant web."
"Three guys tried to mug me, but he came buy and punched them all in the face."
The video then showed the woman Barbara Gordon interviewed. She was holding a little girl in her arms. "I was being held at knife point...I thought I was going to die and never see my little girl again. If he's listening to this, I want him to hear this."
The mother looked at her daughter and the little girl spoke. "Thank you for saving my mommy Spider-Man."
The news man came back on. "Early this morning, Commissioner Barbara Gordon had this to say."
The screen showed Barbara on a pedestal with a microphone. "Regardless of the acts, vigilantism is still against the law, and if this Spider-Man continues to repeat these dangerous acts, I'll have no choice but to arrest him."
"If you ask me, it's about time someone sticks it to those Jokerz." Terry says as his dad turned off the TV.
"Regardless of that Terry, the law is still the law." His father, Warren said.
"Yeah, but dad, how long do we have to wait until someone starts fighting back? This guy is actually doing something, and he has my vote."
"That's not the point Terry this man could get seriously hurt if he continues this. It's best to let the police handle it." Warren said firmly.
Terry sighed, knowing that his dad was sticking to what he believed in. He then gave a hopeful smile. "Hey, we still up for burgers tonight?"
Warren's eyes widened before sighing deeply. "I'm sorry son, but I'm busy tonight."
"Yeah, just like last night, and the night before that." Terry said in slight annoyance.
"I'm sorry Terry, but the work I do at WaynePowers is very important." Warren said, trying to reason with his sun.
Terry just walked out before speaking. "I'm sure it is."
Warren looked down sadly at the situation. He didn't mean to blow his son off, it's just that he's been given so much extra time at work he had no choice. He just hopes that his son will understand that someday.
/
Nick was walking through the school hallways and couldn't help but chuckle at all the number of crowds. Each group was gathered around someone playing video footage of his little scene at the station a couple days ago.
It seems that he was the talk of the school, or more specifically, Spider-Man was the talk.
"I heard that he can lift a bus."
"I heard that he has six arms."
"How do we know it's a man, it could be a woman."
Nick chuckled at their conversations, but then focused on someone else on his mind. Lately, he ran out of the materials needed to make his web fluid. Currently he has enough to last him for at least a week or two. He can't keep using the chemicals in the school, someone is bound to notice someone raiding their supplies.
Nick continued thinking and never noticed Terry and Dana walk up to him. "You look deep in thought." Terry said.
Nick never responded so Dana tried. "Hello, Earth to Nick." Dana said waving a hand in his face.
"Huh, what?" Nick said, finally noticing his friends.
"You zoned out on us man." Terry said.
"Sorry, it's just I've been thinking about some stuff." Nick said.
"Like what?" Dana asked.
"Back when my parents were alive, I would often helped them at the shop, which helped pay for some of my school supplies. So I was thinking that maybe I should go out and get a part-time job somewhere. Just to earn some extra cash." Nick answered.
Dana looked down in thought before an idea popped in her head. "Why not go into news?"
"What, like a reporter?" Nick asked.
"Hate to break it to you Dana, but you need at least a bachelor's to start a career as a reporter." Terry informed.
"Not if he starts as a freelancer." Dana counters.
"Huh?" Nick and Terry were confused by what she meant.
"I had a cousin who wanted to be a reporter, but they weren't hiring. So he made his own story and offered it to them and asked if they would at least hire him as a freelancer." Dana explained.
"Wow, that's pretty cool." Nick said impressively.
"Yeah, and the more stories you write, the more experience you get." Dana explained.
Nick looked down in thought and had to admit it does sound like a good plan. And heck, with him as a freelance reporter it could help him with his career as Spider-Man.
"Now all you need is just a story." Terry said.
Nick smiled at his friend. "I'm sure I can come up with something."
/
At the headquarters of the Dogs of War, everyone of the bikers were just minding their own business. None of them had a job to do yet, so they were just doing anything they want. A few were playing darts, others were playing pool, while some were just fine tuning their bikes. All in all, everyone seemed at peace even with the heat Spider-Man gave them.
That peace was broken when the doors opened. At first they thought it was just more of their guys coming in, but they all paused in slight fear when they saw who it was.
Entering the hideout were three men in what looked to be old fashioned clothes. One of them wore a brown trenchcoat over a green suit and also wore a cowboy hat; the second one wore a purple hat and a vermilion suit and tie and had a thin mustache; the third was big and bulky and wore a black sleeveless jacket over a yellow shirt.
These were Montana, Fancy Dan, and Ox; the Enforcers.
One biker walked up to them, albeit a bit nervously. "The boss is in the back."
He led them to the back where the leader's office was. When they entered they saw the boss was still in the shadows and pouring Whiskey in a shot glass.
"They're here, boss." The biker said.
"Leave us." He said simply.
The biker nodded and left, leaving his boss with the Enforcers. "I reckon you got a job for us?" Montana asked.
The boss didn't say anything as he just tossed them a file. Fancy Dan caught it and opened it to see pictures of Spider-Man.
"Recently a nuisance has sprung its head, and in the future can grow to be an annoyance." The leader said.
"This seems to be a bizarre contract." Ox said as he looked at the photos.
"Is that a problem?" The leader of bikers growled.
Fancy Dan smirked. "Not at all boss, it just means that it's going to be a lot more fun."
"So, what's the verdict for this here, Spider-Man?" Montana asked.
The boss drank his Whiskey before answering. "I want you to find him...then squash him."
/
Spider-Man swung around the city on his next patrol. He shot a web at one building and swung around the corner.
"Okay, if I'm going to impress the reporters at the Gotham Gazette, I'm going to need a pretty interesting story." Spider-Man said to himself.
He let go of the web line and landed on a roof. "The problem is that I have to wait for the universe to give me something to do."
"This is central, we have reports of a disturbance over by the docks." Spider-Man took out his police scanner from behind.
"Well, thank you universe." Spider-Man said.
Spider-Man put the police scanner away and launched a web line to the next building, then swung away.
After a few minutes of swinging, Spider-Man landed on the roof of a warehouse at the docks. He looked down below and saw two police cruisers, but no police.
"That's weird, shouldn't the police be all over the place?" Spider-Man asked in confusion. He spotted an open window and looked through it. "Oh no."
Throughout the entire floor of the warehouse were cops littered everywhere. Spider-Man jumped inside and ran over to check on them. He checked their pulses and was thankful that he still felt it.
"Thank God, they're just unconscious." Spider-Man said with relief. "Who would do this?"
Spider sense started tingling as Spider-Man picked up the cop he was checking and jumped out of the way. Good thing to as a wooden crate would have hit him he hadn't dodged. Spider-Man looked and saw two men walking towards him.
"Who the heck are you guys?" Spider-Man asked.
"The names Fancy Dan. The big guy is Ox." Fancy Dan introduced before pointing behind the hero. "And that's Montana."
Spider-Man felt his spider sense tingle again, but this time he was too late. A lasso all of a sudden wrapped around him, trapping his arms, and then sent him crashing into the metal pillar of the warehouse. Spider-Man looked behind him and saw Montana with his lasso smirking at him.
"Well, Ah guess hogtieing is old news. Spidertieing is in season." Montana said.
"Seriously, who are you guys?!" Spider-Man exclaimed.
"We're the Enforcers, and we're here to kill you." Fancy Dan said before rolling up his sleeves and drawing knives in both hands.
Fancy Dan charged at Spider-Man and slashed with his knives, but he used this opportunity to maneuver his body so the rope is cut. Dan continued to slash, but Spider-Man was able to dodge each strike. The hero did a spin kick, but the hitman ducked under it. As soon as Spider-Man landed Fancy Dan moved out of the way and Ox came charging in.
Spider-Man tried jumping over the brute, but the Enforcer grabbed him by the leg and slammed him on the ground a few times. He then brought the hero into a bear hug and began squeezing. Spider-Man groaned in pain as he felt like his bones were about to crack.
"You're a lot more trouble than you're worth, you know that." Fancy Dan said.
"But we're givin' you the choice. Do ya want your demise to be quick and painless..." Montana started.
"...or slow and agonizing." Ox finished as he continued to squeeze the hero.
The hero wheezed as he was trying to catch his breath. "I'm not...gonna die...by a...hug!" See no other option, he swung his leg and managed to kick Ox in the crotch.
Ox has to let him go and held the area between his legs. Fancy Dan came charging in with his knives, but Spider-Man was still dodging each hit. He wasn't able to dodge Dan's kick to his ribs and pushed him back. Montana came in an was about to lasso him up again, but the hero managed to stand hand and propel himself right through the loop of the rope and kick Montana in the face, knocking him down.
Fancy Dan came in with his blades and one strike managed to cut the hero's arm. "Agh!"
Dan smirked as he twirled the knife in his hand. "Your tough kid, but I've honed my skills for years. You're nothing but an amateur."
"Yeah, you got skill, but I've got something you don't." Spider-Man said.
"And what's that?" Fancy Dan asked.
Spider-Man shit a web line past Fancy Dan's head and latched on to a wooden crate behind him. He then yanked the crate hard, sending it crashing right into the Enforcer, and knocking him out.
"Webs." Spider-Man joked. Not long after Ox came in from behind, picked him up, and tossed him right into the wall. "Agh...that's right...forgot about you."
"I'm going to teach you the meaning of pain!" Ox bellowed as he charged in to punch the hero.
Spider-Man flipped out of the way and launched a web line sending him up to the catwalk above them. "You know what's painful, your outfits. You guys look like walking time capsules."
Spider-Man looked to his left and saw Montana use his lassos the same way as the hero and lift himself up to the catwalk. "You know what they say, boy. You can't mess with the classics."
Montana launched his lasso at the hero again. Spider-Man tried to avoid it, but Montana maneuvered it so that it wrapped around his torso and trapping his arms. Montana pulled on the rope, sending the hero towards him and delivering a nasty right hook to the head. Spider-Man groaned in pain, but like a yo-yo Montana tried to pull him back and deliver another punch.
Spider-Man ducked before it could connect and rolled right between Montana's legs going behind him. He managed to grab onto the rope and pulled so hard he flipped Montana, sending him crashing on his back to the catwalk. For good measure Spider-Man sprayed some web on Montana, sticking him to the catwalk.
Spider-Man got back up, but had to duck when his spider sense warned him of danger. It was right as a wooden crate flew over his head and crashed into the ceiling. Spider-Man looked down and saw Ox getting ready to send another one towards him. Giving some thought, Spider-Man came up with an idea.
As soon as Ox threw the wooden crate, Spider-Man jumped off the catwalk and stuck his feet right on the crate. He shot two web lines right behind Ox and slingshot himself and the crate right back towards Ox. The mercenary widened his eyes as the crate crashed right into him, along with Spider-Man.
The hero sighed with relief as he looked around seeing all three of them were taken. "Well, glad that's over." Spider-Man heard a groan behind him and saw Fancy Dan coming to. Not wanting this to continue, Spider shot some webs at him before he could get back up. "Why don't you stick around, I've got some questions. For starters, what did a nice guy like me ever do to stand up guys like you?"
Dan chuckled without a worry. "It's nothing personal kid, we just get given a name and we go and take 'em out. It's just business."
"So, who gave you my name?" Spider-Man asked seriously.
Dan sneered at the hero. "Trust me kid, I'd rather face a hundred years in prison than go back to that guy empty handed." Dan chuckled cruelly at the hero. "You made a powerful enemy, and he's going to put you in the ground."
Spider-Man narrowed his eyes at the hit man before shooting a web the guy's mouth to shut him up. "Well, if he's as much as a bundle of joy as you and your boys, I'd like to see him try." Spider-Man saw that the cops were coming to so he took his leave. As soon as he was outside, he shot a web line and swung away from the scene, leaving the Enforcers to the police.
'So, I guess I should have seen this coming. Batman had his own enemies, so I guess it looks like I should expect the same thing. The question is, who did I tick off enough for them to send professional hit men after me?'
'Oh well, at least I've got one heck of a story to write.'
/
"Police arrived on the scene and discovered the notorious mercenaries, the Enforcers, all wrapped up in webs, signaling another capture by the Spider-Man. The Enforcers refused to talk, but Commissioner Gordon has compelled enough evidence to put them away."
Powers turned off the TV as he pondered what he just heard. He was no stranger to the criminal element so he knew exactly who the Enforcers were...and their skills.
'To take on the Enforcers single-handedly...extraordinary.' Powers thought.
Powers got up from his seat and went down into the elevator. He exited the elevator and was now inside the main lab where most of his scientists were currently working. Otto stood next to a console and looked into a glass case where a baby cow was inside.
"How goes it Otto?" Powers asked.
"Well sir, we are just ready to proceed, but I really think that we should conduct further study." Otto said nervously. Working with plants is one thing, but he felt it was too soon to begin live testing.
"Where's your sense of vision Otto? You'll never move up in the world with that attitude." Powers said before narrowing his eyes at him. "Now do it."
Otto nodded nervously as he pulled the lever down. The glass case was then filled green gas and the baby cow was inhaling it. Everyone waited with baited breath for something to happen...but to everyone's disappointment, nothing happened.
No one was more disappointed than Derek Powers himself.
"What's going on?" Powers asked dangerously.
"I told you sir, it's too soon. If we just had more time-" Otto tried to speak, but Powers grabbed him by the lab coat.
"I've got a lot riding on this doctor! It's either you fix this, or you can kiss your job goodbye!" Powers exclaimed.
"I think I have an idea."
Powers turned to see who spoke up. He saw a young man, about in his mid-twenties, with sandy blonde hair, and wore a white lab coat.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Powers asked rudely.
"This is Max Dillon, I hired him as an intern." Otto answered. "He graduated top of his class in electrical engineering and has a gifted mind when it comes to chemistry."
"Oh, and what would an intern know on how to solve this?" Powers said in an unimpressed expression.
"The problem sir is that it's not that the gas isn't working, it's just not working fast enough." Max said as he showed them a data pad. "This diagram of this machine I've been working on should be able to give off an electrical charge where the gas particulates will work with an extra boost of power."
"And what exactly is needed for this machine of yours?" Powers asked as he went over the schematics of the machine.
"I need electric eels, sir." Max said happily at the fact that the big boss himself was listening to him.
Powers continued to look at the data pad for a moment before answering. "Very well, I'll get you some electric eels."
"Thank you, sir!" Max said happily as he offered his hand to Powers.
Powers didn't accept it though. "Don't get cocky. You're still just an intern, meaning that if it doesn't work, I won't hesitate to kick you to the curb." With that said Powers walked away.
Max breathed a sigh of relief, not knowing that he was holding his breath. Otto walked beside him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You should really be more careful on how you address the boss."
"I know now, that guy was terrifying." Max said before smiling and shaking Otto's hand. "But I was able to talk to him and pitch in my idea, and it's all thanks to you for giving me this opportunity."
"Yes, but remember, you're still just an intern. You still have a lot to learn." Otto cautioned.
"Trust me Doc, at the rate I'm going, I wouldn't be surprised if I make it to the top by the end of the month." Max said with confidence.
/
He everyone, here's the next chapter for my story!
So, I had a bit of a conundrum for Nick's job as he can't be a newspaper photographer because I remember in a Batman Beyond episode that nobody uses newspapers anymore. So, I thought I'd give him the job of a reporter, just not a full time one because he's still in high school.
Also, in case some of you were wondering, Nick's love interest will be revealed soon, you just have to wait a few chapters before I get to it. They say patience is a virtue.
Anyway, that is the Enforcers chapter, I hoped you like it and I hope you like the little tease I gave you in the end.
I'll see you all next time and I hope you all have a wonderful time!