Maximum Carnage Issue 20: Addiction by Justin Anderson
Friday, April 26th, 2002. 8:34 PM Jack was wishing he'd stayed in Vegas. Television, for the most part, sucked. And they had no mission to speak of today. A perfect "day off". Jack hated the inactivity. Cletus entered the front door. He had just finished his final inspection of the Harley Davidson that sat outside. He'd learned to ride during the retirement, but never had the cash to get a bike. Now that he was covert government material, he could get one with no cost to him. He was starting to like the arrangement. As he reached the top of the stairs, he could hear Jack rummaging in his room. "Jack, what the hell is triazomine?" Jack stopped digging through the mess on the floor, but didn't turn his head yet. 'Shit!', he thought. "...vitamins. Why?" Cletus had been suspicious. The mystery pill Jack had given him, and he was sure he felt strange afterwards. "Forget it. I looked it up," Cletus said. "I feel like it, that's why! If you took 'em, give 'em back!" "I tossed them," he replied. "I know you're not sick. If the serum caused any side effects, I'd be feeling them too, and-" "SHUT UP!" Jack screamed. Cletus straightened up as his friend sat on the floor, looking the other way. He almost jumped as he heard a familiar clicking noise. And he didn't know what to think when Jack turned, aiming agun straight at him. "Shit!" He managed to jump out of the way before being hit. Reaching the stairs, he slipped and fell. Pulling himself up from the bottom floor, he shot towards the door. And the thing would have to open inward. Running outside, he jumped on the Harley. Starting it up, he sped down the road. 8:59 PM "...yes, General. Right. Triazomine. I looked it up... Yes, that's what it does. Okay... right." Cletus closed the cell phone. He could have stopped some time ago and used it, but he was too concerned with the mess Jack had become- a drug-crazed maniac who would do anything for a fix. Even kill his only friend. One of those types he'd adored as Carnage. Now it just made him sick. He heard the second bike approach as he stuffed the phone back in the pouch on his own cycle. For once today, things were starting to look up. It was Captain America. "Cletus! I was in the area, and I figured I would stop in for a quick visit... something's wrong," he said. "...yeah. Jack's lost it. He was popping some pills. I took the bottle and pitched 'em. Then he went psycho." "Where is he?" Captain America asked. "Back at the house... it'll take us about twenty minutes to get there," he answered. "We'll try to make it fifteen." 9:16 PM Cletus snuck around the side of the house. Jack had no doubt heard the bikes pull up. But he hadn't shot at them yet. Cletus eyed the damage inside. The lights were off, making a full survey impossible. But he could see Jack. Barely, since he was huddled in a corner, his black coat over him. He could hear the mumblings. "...can't.....must save country....from demons....yeah, THINGS THAT DON'T EXIST.....must be stopped...." "I don't know how long he's been taking those pills," Cletus explained. "But the fact I took them, combined with the work we do, I don't think he'll listen to me." Captain America replied, "Then let me talk to him." "He's probably armed." Cap made his way to the front window. "Jack?" The form inside stirred, but didn't get up. "Jack, it's Captain America... can we talk?" Jack stood. He stepped out from the shadows. "Oh, Captain America... the figurehead," Jack reponded. "Jack, you don't need to do this!" Cap barely had enough time to raise his shield. If he hadn't seen Jack pull his shotgun, he would have caught the full blast. "Well, CAPTAIN America, I have news for you. You're useless. You exist as a public icon. You serve no other purpose. You don't protect this country... I DO!" Cap jumped out of the way as several more bursts were fired. He ran back to Cletus. "He won't listen.....either he's suffering terrible withdrawal... or..." "Listen, he's just pissed off right now. Let him cool down. I have someone on the way." 10:45 PM Cletus and Cap stood beside the General's limo as it stopped. Cap gave a salute as General Peterson stepped out. "Please, stop that," General Peterson said. "Now, where is Jack?" "In the house. He won't listen to me, and he shot at Cap," Cletus answered. "Right... only one thing I can do right now." Cletus was worried. Would the General try to take Jack out? Or worse? He watched as the man neared the window. "Jack... it's General Peterson. I have something for you!" Jack stepped forward as the General reached inside his jacket. Jack expected a pistol. Instead, he saw a calming sight. Two small pill bottles. "Jack... it's Triazomine. All you could ever want!" he said. He tossed one of the bottles through the window. Jack caught it. Opening the bottle and examining the pills, he poured several down his throat and swallowed them. Sitting on the couch, he dropped his shotgun, let out a chuckle, and passed out. Cletus couldn't believe it. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" "Listen Cletus.....he's an effective soldier. Intelligent and quick. I know there's no excuse to support his habit, but he'll have to work out his problems on his own. You're his friend, not his father. Please.... let him handle it himself. He'll do it someday. Meanwhile, if those drugs keep him in a state to make this country a better place, he will take them. It will be his choice... not yours. Meanwhile, he probably won't remember any of this when he wakes up. I'll have my men inventory what was destroyed and bring replacements. I'd suggest you don't bring it up!" he said. General Peterson walked off to give instructions to the agents who had come along. He nodded to Captain America as he passed by. "...nice guy. Your boss?" Cap asked. "Unfortunately." Cap saluted and walked off. Cletus straightened himself as the General passed by once again. He had a mean look on his face as he moved past, whispering, "I'll deal with you later..." The General moved faster, around the corner of the house. He couldn't believe it. But his anger quickly subsided when he saw General Peterson, talking with the same agents he was with seconds ago. The General noticed Cletus staring blankly at him. "Can I help you?" he asked. "... never mind." Notes: Basically set in the Marvel Universe, I will be using a lot of my own continuity for this series, and generally focus on the main characters. Appearances by Marvel's universe will be special occurrences. Crossovers with characters/titles from other companies will be treated as "single universe", not as "2 universes crossing temporarily". I will also try to ignore major Marvel comic story arcs. Cletus Kasady, Carnage, and other Marvel characters are copyright Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Other characters are either my creation(copyright myself), or copyright their specific owners if non-Marvel licensed characters. Characters used without permission/not for profit. These are strictly fan stories. Permission to reprint extends to placing this text, unaltered, elsewhere online. It may not be altered, and especially NOT TO BE SOLD, unless Marvel wishes to license this series from me.