Chapter II: The New Player

At Middleton warehouse district, all was quiet. The perfect setting for a secret meeting. A meeting that could only end in mischief. It was in warehouse 5 where evil had plotted against common man. And their evil was directed at one singular person; Dr. James T. Possible.

"So? When are we going to persuade Possible to shut his trap?" one of the men asked as he leaned on one of the crates while toying with his switchblade. For the moment, there were five occupants of the warehouse and Slim was always impatient with their jobs.

"We're waiting go the boss's go," said another who was playing solitaire. But the other three, who were playing craps were getting impatient as well.

"Maybe we could have some fun with his wife and daughter before we lean on him," Slim said with a sneer, unaware that his comment would be a mistake.

"Good evening, Gentlemen," a calm voice filled with authority came from the darkness of the warehouse. "And I use the term loosely." The men immediately stood in readiness, drawing knives and guns.

"Who's there?" Slim asked, nervously looking around for the intruder.

"Typical," the voice said as the men heard footsteps echoing through the warehouse. "Couldn't you have chosen a better location for you meetings?"

"Screw you," one of the men said but he couldn't see beyond the shadows.

"Unfortunately, I'm not into men," the voice mocked.

"What do you want?" Slim asked, toying with his knife nervously.

"So, onto business," the voice said. And with that final word, the owner of the voice emerged from the shadow. The men froze as they saw the man. Wearing a dark green overcoat and dark green fedora hat, the man looked at them as if they were mere irritants than threats. When he saw his face, they found that he was wearing a green mask with a symbol of a hornet on its forehead. "Please, put down your weapons." when they didn't comply, he sighed. "Very well, the hard way it is."

Suddenly, from out of the darkness, a lone figure clad in black attacked the five men, disarming them quickly since, in the attacker's eyes, they were inept and confused. The easiest foes.

The men were on the ground before they could do anything. The man in green looked at the men with amusement. "Really, and you guys call yourselves muscle." the person clad in black stood beside the man in green, looking at the men as if they would attack them with something dirty. Slim looked the the person who attacked them and his eyes widened. The person who had attacked them was wearing a black driver's outfit complete with a driver's hat and the person was wearing a black mask. Much to Slim's surprise, the person was obviously female. Her uniform clung to her curves and would be a distraction on its own.

"Who are you?" Slim asked. The man in green looked down on Slim and smiled. This was not a smile of amusement, it was a predatory smile that chilled him to the core.

"Tell your boss that this is my town," he said. "They should do their business elsewhere, before I get mad. And when I get mad, she would be the least of your problems," the man pointed at the woman with his thumb. The man turned around, walking back into the darkness.

"Oh, if you have the time," he said in an afterthought. "Tell the other scumbags that this town belongs to the Green Hornet."

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Dr. James T. Possible was on his way towards his car, relieved that the day was over. He couldn't help but notice the knowing looks his superiors were giving him. It was like they knew something was going to happen, to him.

He knew he should trust Ronald but he couldn't help but doubt if the carefree boy he knew could possibly help him in such a dire situation.

Taking a deep breath, Dr. Possible walked in the middle of the parking lot. Since it was way past quitting time, most of the people must have gone home.

Suddenly, he heard a buzzing sound. It almost sounded like a bee, only it more liked hummed than buzzed. This was it, he thought. If they had something sinister planned, they wouldn't get him without a fight. Turning around, he saw what looked like a Chrysler Imperial 2006 model. But from its movement, he knew that it was customized. Its green headlights shone in the darkness of the street. The car stopped beside him and the rear door opened. Dr. Possible couldn't see who was inside for the interior was covered in darkness.

"Enter if you value your family," a voice from within the car said. It was a command that will not tolerate it being ignored. Dr. Possible sighed and entered the car. So much for not getting him without a fight.

The interior of the car was dark. He could only see the outlines of his captor. Taking a deep breath, Dr. Possible faced the man in the shadows. "Yes Doctor?" the man asked like he was anticipating his objection. Gathering all the courage he had left, Dr. Possible glared at the man.

"Listen," he said. "I'm tired of these games. If you're going to kill me, kill me. But leave my family out of this!" With that, he was spent. The man in the dark nodded to the driver and the car slowly pulled out of the parking lot.

"You mistake me, Doc," the man said in an amused tone. "I'm not here to kill you. Quite the contrary, I'm here to offer my services." Dr. Possible looked at the man incredulously. What was this man's game?

"Services how?" Dr. Possible asked warily. He didn't trust this man but what choice did he have?

"Oh, you know. Protection," the man said casually. He had said it so casually that it didn't take a genius what he meant. Fortunately, Dr. Possible was a genius so the ramifations were clear. The man runs a protection racket. Dr. Possible didn't want anything to do with a criminal.

"Thanks but no thanks," Dr. Possible said, crossing his arms. "I know your type. You'd bleed me dry and if i didn't pay, you'd turn me in for the reward." the man chuckled as he leaned on the back of his seat.

"I have my reasons to helping you and bleeding you dry, as you said, is not one of them," Dr. Possible was confused. If this man was not here to extort him, why was he helping? "Quite simple, Dr. Possible. This is now my town and no one, and I mean no one, can muscle in."

"What's got that got to do with me?" Dr. Possible asked warily.

"You see, Doctor. You and I have the same, as the term goes, enemies. Logic concludes that you and I are friends," the man said but Dr. Possible frowned. He still couldn't trust the man.

"Give me one good reason why I should trust you," Dr. Possible demanded but the man simply opened his palm.

"Your car keys, if you please," Dr. Possible gave him his car keys after a moment of hesitation. "Nice. Remote control starter. This comes in handy," with that, he pressed the button and there was a loud explosion that came from the Center's Parking lot. "Very Handy," the man said, noticing that the Doctor paled at the implication of what had happened.

"Well, Doctor?" the man waited. Dr. Possible's gaze never left the blazing light that came from what used to be his car. Then, in a panic, he looked at the stranger.

"My family!" he shouted.

"It's okay Doc, we went there before we came for you. Needless to say, no ones going to bother you and yours tonight," the man assured him but still, Dr. Possible could not be convinced. With a sigh he turned to the driver. "Step on it." the car sped and not soon after, they were in front of the Possible Home. Immediately, Dr. Possible exited the car and ran towards the door, pounding it, begging for anyone to answer. It was to his relief that Mrs. Possible answered.

"What is it honey?" Mrs. Possible asked worriedly. Dr. Possible merely smiled and gave his wife a passionate kiss, which she, though confused, welcomed.

"It's nice to be home," Dr. Possible said as he looked behind and nodded to the waiting car. The occupant of the car smiled in understanding and urged the driver onward. "Yes, it nice to be safely home." Turning to his wife, he smiled. "What's for dinner?"

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"Aw, Man. That was a close one," the man in the black car sighed as he slumped on the seat. "Another minute and I'll be without a father-in-law."

"But you are not yet married," the driver teased as she looked at her friend through the mirror.

"A small fact that I have to rectify," he grinned as he looked outside. "Besides, Tara tells me that she's applying for investigative reporter. I'm both dreading and anxious the meeting."

"Where to now?" his friend asked.

"Home," he sighed. "I've got a big day ahead of me."

(end of 2)