Chapter 5: The Punisher

"Punisher War Journal: Entry #1009- There is something beneath the streets of New York. That little brown monster that someone said they saw kill a reporter. Or maybe it's some gang that's using the sewers and subways as a hideout. Whatever it is, it's preying on the innocent people of New York. And it's punishment time.

"Several people have been reported missing in the past three days. The most recent was a subway train that was wrecked. Everyone on board, was gone. The Engineer, the passengers, everyone. Without even a trace. The only clue were some huge holes torn in the side, and places where the metal had been melted through.

"This is the first time that I truly don't know what I'm up against. Therefore, I'm going in armed with the biggest weapons I've got. Whoever, whatever is down there, is gonna pay. Big time."

Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher, checked his radio-set and slipped it over his head. He tucked one knife into his boot, and another into the sheath he wore on his waist. Then he took a steel machete in a black leather sheath, and slung it over his back. There, it joined the extra heavy-duty machine gun he always took with him, and two bandoleers with extra ammo. He had an automatic pistol strapped to each leg, an Uzi holstered at his waist, and he held the biggest automatic rifle he could find in his hands. Even a blind man could tell, this was not a man to be fucked with.

"Jesus Frank," his friend said when he saw him. "You don't leave anything to chance do you?"

"The Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared." Frank replied.

"You're no Boy Scout Frank." Only he could get away with such comments.

"Bite me." Frank said smiling. "Now just wait here for me unless I tell you. I don't know what's down there, so I want to be able to make a quick getaway if I need to."

"So, standard procedure then."

"Right."

The Punisher dropped into the water, the light attached to his headband illuminated his way. This was where the two sewer workers had disappeared. He could tell by the blood stains on the wall that it had been violent, but there was no trace of a struggle besides that. There were no bodies, no tracks, nothing. He looked behind him, and ahead. There was no way of knowing which way the bastards had gone. But he had to go one way. Acting on his gut, he kept going the way he was, deeper into the maze of the New York sewer system.

"I'm past the place where the two workers were attacked." Frank's voice emanated from the radio in the van.

"You see any trace of who attacked them?" his friend asked.

"No. Not yet. You still got a lock on me?"

"Clear as crystal Frank. Listen Frank, I've got a bad feeling about this one."

"You always say that. You always say `I've got a bad feeling about this one.'"

"I do not. I'm serious, you say there was no sign of a struggle other than the blood on the wall?"

"That doesn't mean anything. The workers disappeared three days ago. That's plenty of time to wipe out any clues."

"It's also enough time to clean the blood off the walls Frank. Look just be careful okay?"

"I always am."

"Famous last words." his friend muttered. For about an hour he heard nothing from his friend. Then, Frank's voice once again sounded on the radio.

"I'm being followed."

"What? For how long?"

"About ten minutes. Doesn't seem to be getting any closer, just checking me out. Hang on, I'm gonna...wait, more up ahead. They're closing. All right you fuckers. come and get...Jesus!"
There was the sound of gunfire, and an unearthly screeching, then silence. Not even any static.

"Frank?" his friend said, fighting panic. "Frank come in. Frank?"

Next: The Uncanny X-Men!