Author's note: like I said there is one more prologue after this and then we will be entering the first arc of My Hero Academia. for anyone that were
wondering why I used years and dates, it's to better explain world building and tell how the Marvel Multiverse is merging with the My Hero Multiverse
through a plot driven timeline. and yes, I am giving My Hero Academia its own multiverse, so expect future chapters to involve dimensional world jumping
that will involve meeting alternate versions of the My Hero cast of characters. the reason why there are three prologues is to also better explain world building.
with that out of the way, please enjoy.
HERO: Prologue 2 - Frank Castle A.K.A the Punisher
By One Above All
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When is it justified to take a life? Before the world of pro-heroes, there was a world of vigilantism. To take the law into their own hands, these early forms of heroes would venture outrageously in the day and move deadly in the silent night. Since its early days, vigilantism was considered a crime by local law enforcement and the government. It is still considered a crime in this society where heroics has become a method of earning a profit. Though being given negative feedback by the public, these vigilantes continue to fight through with their core beliefs being their fuel. There are some who could become great heroes through their charisma and courage. There are some who merely do this as a hobby to gain fame and attention. However, there was always that certain group of vigilantes that knows how to take things too far. There are those driven by a war they could never escape from. A war that has cause them to see the world in black and white. There was no other vigilante in history that knew this better than Frank Castle who all in the criminal underworld come to fear him as the Punisher.
Before he would end up becoming the most feared vigilante who was responsible for the death of twenty percent of the North American criminal population. He was once a twelve-year-old boy named Francis Castiglione who had started to take an intense training routine created by his military enthusiast father. It all started with grandfather, Antonio Castiglione, an Italian who moved to America and served in the United States Marine Corps for four tours. The Castiglione family are known for their devotion to the United States military force and for how they utilize their quirks for military use. It was during Antonio's second tour that he met his wife Margarita. Their three sons Mario, Fredo, Rocco Castiglione, would grow up to have amazing quirks and follow in their footsteps to join the Marine Corp for four tours.
Much like their father, Mario and Rocco both met their wives during their second tour, Louisa and Esmeralda. Fredo, however, decided to stay single to have a stress-free life and not be bothered to have kids. Though Rocco and Esmeralda were a happily married couple, the two were unable to bear their own children. This meant that the only ones that could continue the family tree were Mario and Louisa Castiglione. It was then on the year 2144 that two sons were born, Francis and Michael Castiglione. Born on the same day, these twins brothers grew up from the courageous military stories that their parents, uncles, and aunt had told them. It was enough to convince the boys to take up early bootcamp at the age of ten. The only problem for them were that they were late bloomers and didn't acquire their quirks until they were ten. Once they felt their quirks activate, their parents took them to the hospital for a quirk examination. Unlike their parents or grandparents, they didn't have quirks that could enhance their senses, body, or their weapons. The twins were born with quirks that complemented the other. Michael was born with a quirk called Good Eyes, which allows him to see people who have good in their hearts. He could even see them through objects and from a distance of 92.964 meters. Francis had a quirk with the same limitation except it work opposite to his brother. He was born with a quirk called Evil Eyes, which allows him to see people who are filled with evil intentions. When it confirmed to their parents by the doctor, they were surprised by the coincidence that their twin sons had quirks and were astonished to the potential this could have to the local law enforcement, if not the hero community. However, that didn't stop the parent from continuing their sons military training. Unfortunately for them, the doctor they had been given was one who operated with one of New York's infamous crime families, the Bondigas family. This doctor was an informant and tasked to inform the boss for potential quirk that could be useful for their criminal empire or potential threats that ruin everything for them. Most definitely, they wouldn't want these boys to grow up to be heroes they would have to deal with later.
On August 14, 2155, the whole Castiglione family had decided to spend the day having a picnic in Manhattan Park. Mario and his brothers were establishing dominance over the grill and having a beer. Louisa and Esmeralda were setting up the picnic area and talking about how frustrating their jobs were. Francis and Michael were just playing catch with their football and talked their how their last day in the sixth grade went. Francis talked about how he used his quirk without the teacher's permission… again and found the bullies picking on another kid. He ran in and beaten the bullies enough until they had too many bruises. Michael talked about how he might have a chance with this one girl he was seeing in their grade. To Francis, he had adopted to his uncle Fredo's mindset about marriage and thought how it would be a waste of time trying to go after a chick. The two would go on about it until their mother called them in for lunch. As the family had their grilled burgers, Mario noticed how empty their area of the park was getting. Police cars could be seen in the distance with sirens ringing and a group of black cars had drove into the park grounds with the intention of driving near them. Mario and his brothers tried to get everyone out, but three of the black cars got in their way. As the cars finally parked, Francis's family stayed together to have any form of safety. In their heads, they were hoping that a hero or any of the police to come and help them. Unfortunately, their prayers were never answered for one of the main cars had opened to reveal an intimidating looking man in a suit stepping out. This was where everything in Francis's life was taken from him, murdered from him.
"Sorry to have interrupted your lovely picnic, but as you can see, I'm here on a certain business that holds some great importance to my boss. The business that I'm here for is in regards of your two boys over there. We heard that they have some rather unique quirks and we would very much like to make to proposition with their dear parents", the gangster looking man said the Castiglione family.
Mario did his best to reassure his family and took a step-in front of them to meet with the proclaimed Gangster, "I'm not sure who you are or what business you think you might have with my sons"
He was then cut off when the suited man decides to introduce himself.
"Oh, my apologies, I can definitely understand why you don't recognize us. You see, our organization likes to keep a low profile for our boss's sake so that he doesn't have to deal with all the dirty work. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Mogsey and I'll be representing the boss for this bargain", the gangster now known as Mogsey.
"All right, I'm Mario. So, what about my sons that seem to concern you", Mario talked to him in hoping to get his family out of this.
"Your two boys have quirk that really help our family. It should be obvious what kind of family I'm talking about. Back on the topic though, the odds of your boys having quirks like those are astonishing. One boy who could find noisy cops and goody two shoes heroes and another who could help with recruitment and scoping out the competition", Mogsey explained which only brought more worry for them.
As the two men discuss, Francis and Michael were using their quirks to see just how bad the situation was getting. Francis used Evil Eyes to count how many of these criminals there were, and Michael used Good Eyes to see if any heroes or police officers were going to do anything.
"Hey Francis, I'm not seeing anything. Everyone's on gray. Why aren't the cops doing anything? Hey Francis, why aren't you saying anything? What are your eyes telling you?", Michael pleaded for his brother to give him an answer.
Francis couldn't bring himself to answer him. With both their quirks, anyone who would be considered a civilian or someone who didn't know what morale they were had a white orb with a gray aura that represented their soul. With Good Eyes, Michael could detect anyone with a sky-blue orb with a navy-blue aura. With Evil Eyes, Francis could detect those with pink orbs with scarlet aura. Unfortunately, that's all he was seeing. Not just the gangsters, every cop that surrounded their area were detected evil through his eyes.
"Michael, the cops aren't going to help us", Francis to his brother with a fearful tone.
"But isn't there job to help us? These guys are criminals in plain sight, so why aren't they getting involved", Michael said in confusion.
Michael's eyes then tracked to a figure that was standing on the top of a six story building. He then recognized it to be the famous New York hero, Arms Akimbo. He felt relief coming to him and told his brother that a hero had arrived.
"Francis, look it's Akimbo. He'll do something about this", he said with relief that quickly cracked away when he saw his brother's fearful eyes.
"Michael, he's evil too", Francis said to brother with the truth that there was no hope for them.
"Wow, those quirks can tell ya who's a legit hero… and who isn't. Yeah people, the truth is that all these cops you see around you are all under the boss's payroll. Some of New York's heroes are also working for the boss, heroes like Arms Akimbo up there. With more and more heroes making the economy hard to work with, a lot of us hard working folk aren't making as much, hell all you should understand this being a military family and all. The world is just not giving us non-heroic folk a chance to grow. So, the boss thought it be a good idea to make the hero community of New York into a business and for the past twelve years it had work. However, each year there's always a new batch of heroes that just make our jobs harder. But, if your two boys are on our side, then things might go smoother for us. So, what do you say? Hand over those two boys and nothing bad will happen or rainwater won't be the only thing washing over this grass", Mogsey proclaimed as his men had their guns ready.
The whole Castiglione family held each other close with the adults covering the boys. As he looked to his wife, Mario and Louisa both knew there was no other way for them. Mario would be the first and the last to speak for his whole family.
"We'll take our chances", he said as he had everyone close in his arms.
Mogsey exhaled in annoyance and his men locked and loaded.
"Such a waste of a perfectly good quirk combo. Ah well, you heard them boys, light em up"
Before the bullets hit, Michael used his own body to cover Francis's front side at the last second. For Francis, he couldn't feel anything for those three whole minutes. He watched as the bullets pierced through his father, mother, uncles, aunt, and his twin brother. Even though his whole family covered him, some bullets managed to penetrate him as well. Three had gone through his left leg, two had went through his right shoulder, and one was stuck somewhere in his chest. After one solid minute, their bodies finally fell to the floor.
"Hey Mogsey, we should probably get going. Commissioner Kyle and his boys radioed to us that the department is going to send another unit to the park, but it's going to have that honest cop, Lieutenant Robert O'Hara. Arms Akimbo had also informed that other Pro-heroes will be heading where we are too", one of Mogsey's men informed him.
A tick mark appeared on the gangster's head at the thought of the damn cop who had become a lieutenant faster than any cop in the force. He wondered why they didn't just cap him off already.
"Alright boys let's get going and report back to the boss. Once he hears about us killing a family in public, we can all expect a twenty percent…", Mogsey was then cut off by an explosion at one of the park's walls.
A black and heavily weaponized van drove out of the smoke and sped towards the gathered group of criminals. It came bulldozing through a majority of Mogsey's men and use an on-board homing missile launcher to blow away most of their cars with highly explosive projectiles. As Mogsey tries to run from the scene and leave his men for dead, the powerful and deadly vehicle continues to mow all the gangsters and even some of the corrupt cops that tried to shoot at it. The ammunition from their weapons didn't seem to make a dent into its armor. The van then parked itself next to the dead Castiglione family.
Unknown to everyone in the battle, one of the bodies was twitching. Francis Castiglione had miraculously survived the bombardment of bullet that his family had been slain by. His left eye was half-open and twitching. His right was functioning properly, and the pupil had some movement. He looked to his left to see his dead brother's face facing him. He looked to his right to see the black van with a white skull poorly painted to its side. He then saw the weapon on the top of the van open fire on all the remaining black cars and police cars, causing a chain reaction of multiple explosions. After the cars were destroyed, the cannon switches to a minigun and mows down any on foot combatant that held connections to the Bondigas family.
The driver seat door then opened and stepped out was a tall, masculine, and intimidating looking figure. He wore a black full body attire that was styled to be that of a marine corps combat utility uniform and over it was a trench coat. His head was covered by a full head black ski mask with a poorly painted skull on the area where the face is. In his hands, he carried an AK-47 with scope, grip, expandable stock, muzzle, and an ammo capacity of 54 seven sixty-nine caliber bullets per cartridge. The figure looked down at the dead family on the ground, not knowing that Francis was still alive, and said his peace.
"I'm sorry I didn't arrive sooner, but don't worry. I'll make sure no one leaves this park alive", he said in a voice that could someone chills.
The masked figure then walked to the direction where Mogsey was limping away. With his gun ready, he marches towards his target who was trying to escape. Mogsey looked back to see the mad man that killed his men and he was terrified to be the next to go. He quickly reached to his radio and contacted Arms Akimbo.
"Hey asshole, aren't you going to do anything? I'm going to die in this fucking park if you don't do your damn hero work", Mogsey said in desperation.
"I've already sent some of my sidekicks on the way, but I seriously suggest getting out of there while you still can before Lieutenant O'Hara and other pro-heroes arrive on scene. On second thought, maybe that would be a good thing for you. Better than whoever that is behind you", Arms Akimbo responded with smugness.
"You would let me die just so my paycheck gets added to yours, is that it", Mogsey guessed.
"Pretty much, I'll see you in hell, Mugs", Arms Akimbo responded with no care.
"You're an Asshole", Mogsey finished and threw away his radio.
He looks behind him and sees the figure just standing there with his gun over his shoulder. He felt that in any second he just gets shot by this stranger in black and white, until Arms Akimbo's so called sidekicks got in between him and the mad shooter. He would have felt more relief if it wasn't for the fact that the only reason these schmucks become heroes were due to the boss to have some leverage on the hero community. The truth was that most of their undercover heroes had absolutely shitty quirks. One could easily tell from their costumes. One was based on water bottles, the second guy looked a mixed of a transformer and night guard, and the third guy was literally a fucking box of tissues. He knew today would be the day he dies, and he can admit that probably deserves it. He was just surprised that it took this long.
"You mad man, how dare you gun down innocent civilians in Manhattan Park. you will now face the might of our divine trio. PAPER. RUBBER. AND PLASTIC. And together we are…", they all shouted in unison, until.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG.
The odd trio never got to finish their dramatic entrance for they were all pelted with bullets from the stranger's AK-47 which had a smoking barrel. He then walks towards Mogsey but stopped when he noticed the guy dressed up as a tissue box was still moving. He lowers his gun. BANG. and continues towards the gangster.
"Were those really the best you could afford", the stranger said to his target in a cold tone.
"In all honesty, yes. I take it you're here to kill me. Did someone sent you or is this something personal?", he asked his soon to be killer.
"Personal", the stranger answered.
"Was it that family gun down earlier"
"No, but I'll add that to the list of sins I'll kill you for"
"Well aren't you preachy. So, what now? You're just going to shoot"
BANG.
"Yes", the stranger said as he shot Mogsey and threw away the empty ammo cartridge.
Noticing that more cops and heroes were coming, he retreated to his van to avoid arrest. Before he could get the van started, he heard a voice behind him. He looked down to see a hand rising from the pile of bodies that were once the Castiglione family. He removed the body that was once Michael and saw Francis who seemed stuck in between the world of the living and dead. The stranger snapped his fingers for the boy to focus on him, but Francis's eyes remained focused on the sky.
"Help. some… someone… help. Please", Francis's voice tugged at the stranger's soul.
Something about this dying boy had remind the stranger a lot of himself. Thus, he picked up the boy and placed him in the van. The stranger then started the van and sped out of the park to avoid the police and the pro-heroes.
On August 19, 2155, a manhunt had been active for five days for the suspect responsible for the murder of twelve men, twenty police officers, and a family of seven. This of course was a fabricated story made up by the Bondigas family who paid a journalist to make it into the paper. The manhunt was initiated by the local law enforcement in response to the public concern. Lieutenant Robert O'Hara and his unit were made the lead investigators for this operation due to the loss of Lieutenant Kyle. All the bodies in the park were sent to the morgue, but forensic scientists say that one body was missing. That body being Francis who was currently on an operating table in a place that was once technically a hospital.
On the abandoned property of North Brothers Island, there stood a ruined building that once acted as a hospital for those with yellow fever. After so many years, it had been left to be overtaken by the plant life and receives visits by tourists. However, a small portion of the island had mysteriously broken off and sunk into the water. It was then decided that all access to the island would be denied from the public. And so, the island was left to rot away. Or was it? The island was secretly claimed by an unknown individual. On the outside, it may seem like an abandoned piece of property. On the inside however, it is a fort that no one would dare enter. The island itself was infested with security measures, the underground cave system that house several waterfalls that each carried an attack boat, and an armory that held more than just guns.
Within a secured lair, Francis Castiglione was resting on an operating table with a heart monitor next to him. His eyelids twitched a few times until finally opening to reveal his blue eyes. He slowly sat up and was met by bright lights and moist air. He could taste the sea salt in the air he was breathing and the lamps above him weren't helping his eyes. He got off the table and removed what was attached to his arm. Doing so had caused the heart monitor to go into a long beep. The sound was almost hypnotic as it caused memories of what happened at Manhattan to flash in his mind. He fell to his knees out of the pain in his head. He had lost everything. There was nothing he could do to change that.
"Hurts, doesn't it kid", Francis was brought out of his shock when he heard that familiar voice from the shadows.
"Trust me when I say that I felt that pain before. To lose people you love to some punk who thinks he has more power than you. Those kinds of people are the ones that always get a bullet to the head. I know, because I'm the one who shot them", the masked stranger from the park stepped out of the dark to reveal himself.
Francis finally decided to stand up to meet the person and asked one simple question.
"Who are you", the stranger looked at the boy and gave him his answer.
"I'm the Pulverizer, but you can call me Frank Casket", he said as he takes off his mask to reveal the face of a tired veteran who had no other place to call home.
"I'm Francis", spoke the depressed boy.
From there, they talked to one another about how they both started out. Francis told him about his family and Frank told him about his. It's safe to assume they both went through hell. Francis was a child who lost his family and Frank was a husband who lost his wife and unborn baby. This meeting of these two tragic souls would kindle a bond that held strong as Frank offer Francis to be taught under him as his ward in his war against crime. Of course, Francis accepted, and he would be taught a thousand ways to kill criminals and villains. He was surprised to have learned that Frank was once a SHIELD agent serving under Director Dum Dum Dugan. Frank himself was surprised to hear about Francis's quirk, eyes that allow its owner to detect evil intent in people. With a quirk like that, villainy could be eliminated at the source. Frank's own quirk left Francis speechless. Frank's quirk was called Blade Immunity, allowing the user to never be killed by anything that is considered a sharp edge.
For the next three years, Francis was taught in twenty-four fighting styles, training with every form of close quarters combat with bladed or blunt weapons and had achieve complete accuracy with every form of firearm. Frank had turned Francis into the deadliest teenager in North America. Dawning his own black attire with the white skull, Francis had killed over four hundred criminals before reaching the age of sixteen. During their time working together in their small-scale genocide of the villain population of the United States, Frank and Francis had been infamously known by the criminal underworld as the Pulverizer and Pain.
They had even made international news.
"Punisher and Pain leave British alleyway in a bloody mess with piles of dead drug dealers"
"Amateur Russian villains left within a burning furnace overnight"
"Halloween pedophiles turned into chopped limbs with pumpkins during Jersey October Festival"
"July the fourth was cancelled due to a warehouse filled with illegal Chinese fireworks combusted along with a group of villains with unstable fire-based quirks"
They were unstoppable in their war against crime, not even heroes dare to come near them. The only ones that seem to continue at brave yet unsuccessful attempts to apprehending the duo was Lieutenant Robert O'Hara and his police unit. The public themselves see the duo with mixed reactions. One side believes that these vigilantes are what New York needs, while the other side see the two as menaces to society. In under three years, they had become a part of New York's history as the start of a new age everlasting age of vigilantism.
Unfortunately, all things come to an end eventually.
On May 6, 2159, the day had come for the Bondigas family empire to die and have their names forgotten. Bursting through the gates to the Bondigas's last stronghold, the battle van played the part as distraction by eliminating any criminals and crooked cop that was protecting the boss of the family, Big Al Bondigas. As that was happening, Pulverizer and Francis made their way to the warehouse. From there, they dealt with any who were left of the crime family until there two left, Big Al and Arms Akimbo. Pulverizer would be the one to kill Big Al and Francis would be the one to kill Arms Akimbo.
Arms Akimbo's quirk was rather difficult to handle. His quirk was called Stretch Armstrong, giving him muscular and stretchy arms. Francis had thought to use his available firearms, but the bullets would get bounced off by Akimbo's arms. He was then left with the two bowie knives in his belt. Francis runs at him with his knife, but he takes a few punches and was sent to the wall. He keeps at this as many times as he could until he gets his opening. Arms Akimbo just laughs at Francis and continues to mock him with insults to his dead family, but his laughing stopped when he started to feel his arms numbing. He took a closer look at the knives and there was another color mixed with his red blood. A purple substance that was most likely poison. Francis didn't care about the pain he was in. all he wanted was to kill his target for betraying the title of hero and for allowing his family to die. Once Arms Akimbo lost all feeling in his arms, Francis threw both knives at each of the false hero's kneecaps. Once he was on his back to the floor, Francis got on top of him and pulled out two objects from his pocket. They were his parent's dog tags. He then wrapped it around his hand and balled it into a fist. He proceeded to punch Akimbo's face repeatedly. He kept punching with no reason to stop for all he saw was red, but once he did stop punching, there was absolutely nothing left of Akimbo's head.
Realizing that he took too long with Akimbo, Francis quickly took off to reunite with Frank and see if he was alright. As he busted through the door to Big Al's office, he saw his mentor and his target on the floor, both were a bloody mess. Big Al's body was missing its head due to Frank's shotgun. Frank was on the floor with three gunshot wounds to his chest caused by the revolver in Big Al's hand. Seems like his Blade Immunity didn't him in his last gun fight. Francis knelt to his mentor and for the first time in three years he had started to shed tears. But before the first tear fell, he heard his voice.
"I thought I train you to never cry, but I guess death machines like us have to show some humanity sometimes", Frank spoke with blood dripping from his mouth.
"I can still get you out of here and get you help. Our war still isn't over. I can't finish it without you", Francis said in a pleading tone.
"There's no time kid. I lost too much blood already and plus some has to stay to make sure the bomb goes off", Frank said as held the detonator to the bomb that was by Big Al's body.
"But why? He's dead right", Francis asked in confusion.
"Look at him, kid. His head is slowly growing back. It turns out all this time the bastard had a Quirk that gives him regeneration during nighttime. Maybe if we had hit him during the day, we would have truly done him in", he said as he coughs out some blood.
"Let me tell you a small story Francis. This world was meant to be unfair, because that's the only way any of us can learn. The truth was that Big Al and I were once the closest of friends, up until we fell for the same girl. I was just some farm boy and Big Al was a rich kid, so to see her chose me had caused something in him to snap. He became egotistical to the point that he starts his own crime family. While I was still in SHIELD, he had built the Bondigas family just to prove he could get everything and whatever he didn't get he would just make sure that no one else will. The day I finally came home and decided to start a family with my wife, he decided he needed to make a statement to the criminal underworld. So, if he couldn't have her, then I shouldn't"
Francis stayed quiet as he processed all that, but there was one thing he needed to know.
"What was her name?"
Frank laughed a little and maintaining the blood coming out of his mouth.
"Polly, her name was Polly"
They both share a small laugh. Frank then places a hand on his shoulder and his bloody eyes met with Francis's tearful eyes.
"In war, there will always be casualties. I'm just one of them and you are the last of our unit. But this war, I just keep thinking about how I brought a kid who I found at death's door into a war that's not even his. You don't have to be another fighter, but it's up to you. People like us aren't what the world needs, but we exist either way. There is one thing for sure I want you to do and that's to live to be whatever you want"
Frank then puts his white skull mask in Francis's hands.
"But if I made a bad call and made you believe that fighting would be the only thing you will ever be good at. Then I want you to inherit this symbol, Memento Mori, and show any son of a bitches that think they can take anything from anybody that you're not just there to give them Pain. you are there to give them their Punishment. You are the Punisher"
In the distance, police sirens could be heard.
"Go kid. Now", these would be the last words that Francis would ever hear from Frank as he fled the warehouse with mask on his head.
Frank then looked to Big Al's body which had its head halfway grown back. Unable to talk and only able to see through one eye. That one eye looked at the explosive on his lap.
"You see that bomb, Al. It's my special mix of Napalm and C3. An explosion more corrosive than acid. Made it especially for guys with very stubborn healing factors"
The two longtime enemies stared at each other as Frank tightens his grip on the detonator.
"See ya on the other side"
BOOM.
Lieutenant Robert O'Hara and his unit had just arrived at the warehouse but made it just in time for the explosion. Robert ordered every cop to turn the whole area into a crime scene. At the corner of his eye, he spotted a silhouette standing in front of the moon. Francis stood at the top of the nearest building staring back at Robert O'Hara. Before the officer could reach for his radio, Francis detonated an explosive within the battle van, ruining any piece of evidence on him. It was on that night that Francis Castiglione became the Punisher.
Three years had passed.
On January 8, 2162, a nineteen-year-old Punisher had successfully killed a nuclear terrorist named Yasir. This now dead villain was well known in the middle east for having a quirk that allowed his pores to secrete a mucus like substance that carried nuclear radiation. The punisher who took a major risk at contaminating himself through that much radiation was able to snap Yasir's neck with his bare hands. Falling into a coma from the radiation, Punisher was then taken into hospital care and then transferred to a cell in the local police station for interrogation. While he was in hospital, several protest groups rallied at the entrance with the purpose of supporting the release of the Punisher and chanting that the Punisher is the true hero of the incident since the pro-heroes didn't arrive. As the protest group ranted for the release of the Punisher, the hospital itself was going to be given a surprise visit some very important people. Arriving to the location via Quinjet, Colonel Margaret Carter and another individual entered through the emergency helicopter landing pad. The two of them, as well as six heavily armed SHIELD operatives, walked the hospital's fifth floor until they made their way to the room that held Francis Castiglione. Before they entered, director Carter gave orders to her men.
"Nori and mark, you two watch this door, Don go back to the Quinjet and tell the pilot to keep full satellite surveillance of this hospital, and the rest of you go and patrol the perimeter. I don't want some pathetic villain busting in here just to get payback on the Punisher", she ordered them.
The agents nodded with confirmation and went to perform their tasks as director Carter and her guest entered the room. There they see the Punisher still in his coma from all the radiation. His bed was covered in a secured vacuum isolation, that the radiation doesn't spread. Even the doctors were wearing hazmat suits and they noticed her entering.
"Sorry miss, but you shouldn't be here", one of the doctors told her.
Carter whips out her badge and states, "I'm Director Carter of SHIELD and I say I'm allowed in here. Now tell me, is he fully recovered aside from the radiation"
"Well, his bones are no longer broken, blood levels have been stabilized, and even with the radiation all of his hair is still intact. The only concern there would be the possibility that the radiation could cause cancer and organ failure", the doctor answered.
"All I needed to hear. Now I'm going to have to ask you all to leave for the Punisher is now SHIELD's priority", Carter ordered.
"But he's still in recovery", the doctor protested.
"And he will recover, just in a medical room within a shield facility. Now leave", Carter shot back.
The medical staff left the room, leaving Carter and her guest within the room.
"You know it doesn't hurt to say please sometimes, they were just doing their jobs", the guest quipped.
"We're on the clock here, so we don't have the time to enjoy those luxuries. Tell me Forge, are you sure that this will help Francis Castiglione?", Carter asked the one named Forge.
"The SHIELD scientists and researchers gave everything to me. The statistics, the data, and the probabilities. As well as the latest in Radiation based tach, all I did was make the damn thing. But don't worry, I'm sure it'll work for our walking deathtrap over her", Forge said back with nonchalant present in his tone.
"I'm serious, Forge. Francis Castiglione is one of us. Another reincarnate from our original multiverse. Think of the secrets he might hold", carter told him.
"Whatever they are, Carter, are definitely not child friendly. This is Frank Castle, the Punisher. He's a very well-known ex-marine who spent the rest of his life killing criminals and villains. I'm not surprised that he still doing it in this new earth of ours", Forge said with some nervousness about the man that going to join their inner circle.
"That's exactly why we need to get him out of here and bring him back to SHIELD. He doesn't know that "that" is truly who he is. We must give him back his memories", Carter assured him.
"Are you even hearing yourself? You're willing to a man the memory of his wife and two kids being killed in a mob shooting. What if he doesn't want to remember? I mean he already went through the death of his parents and brother, why not had more dead bodies of loved one into his head", Forged said with the return of his nonchalant tone.
"Still, I'm not just going to leave him here. He'll be perfect for SHIELD's Thunderbolt initiative. I'm sure he'll do great with the other two. Speaking of which, have we got confirmation on their agreement", Carter evaluated.
"Percy Scandia a.k.a Black Knight, a well-known vigilante from London. It is said that he migrated to Michigan when Hydra agents disguised as Pro heroes had staged a manhunt for his vigilante bounty. It says here that he is responsible for the death of several alleged criminals and villains across the European continent. Some bodies were never found, but few had been discovered parts of their brain missing with traces of chemicals and metallic fragments that don't belong in the periodic table and almost seem alien. Also found in the crime scenes are sticky notes that read "I didn't do it" all of which had Percy's fingerprints. It's also important to note that he was born around the same year as Francis, but mysteriously disappeared with his father without a trace at the age of three. He had return to society when he made his debut as the Black Knight. Unsurprising, our boy Jimmy contacted Percy to place him under arrest and take him to the helicarrier. What is surprising is that Percy gave himself up without a fight", Forge informed her.
"So, he's now in helicarrier, that's good. What about Charles Barton?", Carter asked.
"Oh yes, The archery vigilante from Waverly, Iowa. He was also born around the same year as Francis and Percy. The infamous Trick Shot. You will be happy to know that Wyatt Wingfoot and his sisters were able to apprehend Charles Barton and taken his unconscious form up to the helicarrier as well as profiled a few contacts of his, just in case if they too were reincarnates like us", he said as he got the device to turn on.
"Excellent. Now, let's get Frank all better, so we can drag him back with us"
To this, Forge held out a cylindrical device with a handle and trigger and pointed it at Francis. Pulling the trigger, the device drained all the radiation from Francis's body, fully healing him from all cancer cell and internal organ failure.
"And just like that, our boy Franky is clean from all radiation and is healthy as a singing bird. So, how are we going to get him out of here?", Forge asked Carter who only looked at him with an expressionless face.
…
Three hours later
…
"Hurry up Forge. We don't have all day", Carter said loud to Forge as she was waiting for him inside the Quinjet.
"HEY, you're not the one pushing five hundred dollars' worth of medical equipment with an unconscious nineteen-year-old villain killer on top of it", Forge shot back at her as he struggled to push Francis along with the medical bed onto the Quinjet.
…
Three more hours later
…
Francis was on the verge of waking up, but a part of him wanted to stay asleep. Until, he heard a voice.
"Wake up man"
Francis resisted the words.
"Wake up dude, come on"
Francis continued to resist the voice but gave in when he felt a bucket hitting his face.
"Finally, you're awake. Me and helmet head here had been waiting for you. Now get ready for…", the stranger was cut off when Francis punched him in the face and had him in a choke hold.
"Who the hell are you and where am I? You better answer my fucking question, or I'll snap your damn neck", Francis ordered with the intent to kill this stranger.
"Relax friend, you don't need to kill him, even if he's being annoying. Not every form of evil needs the sweet release of death just yet. For without life, how will we truly define ourselves", another stranger said to Francis from a laid-back position on their bed.
"How about instead of preaching, how about you tell this nut job to let go of me", the stranger still in Francis's chokehold struggled to say.
Francis then let him go and looked at both two men he was trapped with.
"Who the hell are you guys and where am I?"
"You're on the Helicarrier, my friend"
"Wait, the SHIELD aerial mobile base"
"The very same and for who we are", the stranger on the bed said as he rose up from his bed.
"I'm Percy Scandia, but others may know me as Black Knight. The guy on the floor is…"
"Yeah, hi jackass. The name is Charles Barton, but the world knows me as Trick Shot, the greatest archer to ever live"
"And who might you be, my new intimidating friend"
Francis looked at both and decided to tell them the name that he always went by to the NYPD.
"I'm Frank Castle, The Punisher"
"So, you're the guy who leaves piles of dead villains in New York. I must admit your methods are gruesome. Effective, but way too gory for my taste", Trick Shot gave his critique to Frank.
"Oh really, what the hell are a bow and arrows going to do a villain with a gigantification quirk?", Frank gave his critique on Trick Shot.
"Oh, and what the hell are bullets going to do? You're at the same league with us if guns and knives are your answer for everything", Trick Shot argued back.
"Now calm down you two. Let's not forget why we are brought here today. Miss Director Carter has a job offer for us"; Black Knight reminded them to cool down the situation.
"Well sorry to disappoint her, but I already have a job and that's keeping the streets clean"
"You do realize you're saying no to SHIELD, right? To someone like Director Carter, vigilantes like us don't have that choice. It's either yes or life in prison"
"I do believe we should hear her out. Who knows? Maybe having SHIELD as an employer would make it easier to have an income. I've been low on money ever since I fled from London"
"Hey yeah, I've read on that. A hero team put a vigilante bounty on you"
"Yes, it has been difficult for me since my fellow countrymen had forced me to flee my home. I was fortunate that SHIELD had found me, for as you can see"
Black Knight lifts his shirt to reveal the bandages that held fresh bloodstains. This wasn't unnoticed by Frank.
"These bandages are new. So, SHIELD picked you up when you fled, how long ago did you migrated from Europe to America"
"Six hours ago, but I've been the States for two days. After all, the three of us had been taken to Helicarrier on the same day. So of course, I accepted their invitation in exchange for proper medical help"
Before they could question him any further, the doors to the section that held their holding cell opened to reveal Director Carter with Forge, Wyatt Wingfoot, and Jimmy Woo.
"Hello three of the world's most infamous vigilantes, I hope the room conditions are to your liking", Carter said to three locked up young men.
"It's not much the living arrangement, more of the company", Barton said with some honesty.
"Well I'm sorry to hear that, but as we all know all forms of vigilantism have to be restricted with the utmost precaution and awareness of quirk regulation laws are to be taken seriously", Carter elaborated.
"Not that we're against the law, guys like us see them as just things that get in the way of us going what others couldn't do", Frank gave his best judgement to the quirk regulation laws.
"If you're talking about the pro-heroes in the world, then I believe heroes like All Might would absolutely disagree with you"
"Oh please, that show off, I'm any of us could beat him if we try", Barton gave his remark on the number one hero.
"Nonetheless, I brought the three of you together for an important project of ours that would completely help SHIELD in our efforts in ending the European civil war epidemic"
The three vigilantes looked at one another.
"You sure it's a good idea to enlist three vigilantes who use lethal force on their enemies to become the solution to the pain and suffering of millions of European lives", Barton questioned Carter's idea.
"Not to mention it's none of our business, except for Black Knight here. Why not just get other European vigilantes?", Frank also questioned.
"Because Black Knight didn't side with either the pro-regulation government or the anti-regulation rebellion. Percy Scandia was the only vigilante of the European continent that was available and thus we needed to recruit vigilantes of other countries"
Black Knight could understand why SHIELD would be doing this, but he and the other two didn't like what their possible job offer was. Frank decided to step up said what needed to be said.
"Are you planning to turn the three of us into a black ops team? If so, then to kill who? Because if you're telling us to point our weapons to either the government or rebellion, then you're dead wrong Carter. We aren't going to be some suicide squad", Frank said angrily to the Director of SHIELD.
There was silence. Percy and Barton stayed where they were in the cell. Forge, Wyatt, and Jimmy were getting nervous, but kept their postures. Frank and Carter stared at each other for what could be felt as an eternity, until she spoke.
"With the recent events happening on our world, the United Nations had become desperate and left Europe's civil war problem to SHIELD. Events such as the new hero ranking establishments in the Asian countries that has cause more economic and political uproars thus causing more resources and wealth being put into that as a dependency. Or how about, the recent incident that occurred in Africa back in 2159 where a massive meteorite hit south Africa. The locals of those countries are still trying to rebuild what they lost and still trying to isolate contaminated areas that held a type of virus that has killed hundreds of African that were near the site where the meteorite had impacted. As well as the random occurrences of blackouts that occur in several low populated cities across the world from random surges of energy fluctuations. So due tell me Castle, why shouldn't I turn you into a black ops team to settle such pitiful exchanges of ideals", Carter challenge Frank. and as he was about say something back at her, Frank was cut off when she raised a hand to halt him and spoke.
"With all these international problems being a major struggle to work with, the United Nations had given SHIELD full access to international resources and political involvement. It is because of this desperation that SHIELD can almost do anything they want and that's why as Director I propose the Thunderbolt initiative to the United States government. Once it was given green light, we immediately looked toward the vigilante community to enlist some capable warriors for this solution of ours… Of course, that the cover story we decided to tell the world"
Hearing this, the three vigilantes were confused on what was now happening, until Carter explain further.
"You see, gentlemen, the world is about to change soon and not the United States government or any of the United Nations are prepared for it. To better explain to full scope of what we at Shield are preparing the world for, Mister Barton would you stand in front of me", Carter asked the archer as she opened the cell door.
"You sure you want to open the cell, Director Carter. I mean you and your friend are looking at three wanted men. Who to say we won't try to escape?", Barton questioned her.
"Because in a few seconds, you and I shall trust each other as if we were best friends. Now, stand in front of me and allow me to use my quirk on you"
"Woah, wait. First off, I don't even know your quirks. Second, I don't even know any of you people", Barton hesitated.
"My quirk is memory restoration. Nothing harmful will happen to you"
Barton took a step forward, but still not too sure about the situation.
"So what? You're just going to help me remember something"
"In a way, yes. I'm going to help you remember who you truly are", and that she had placed her hands on Barton's head and her hands had started to emanate a bright light.
Soon, Barton's eyes had started to glow the same light and he just stood there for a whole minute. Percy and Frank were being to feel cautious for what might happen if they went through the same thing. After the minute, Barton's eyes had stopped glowing and he was left speechless. He looked around him to see the cautious expression on Frank and Percy. He then looked to the other way to see the sympathetic and understanding looks of Carter, Forge, Wyatt, and Jimmy.
Charles Barton then slumped to the wall next to him, placing one hand on his knee and the other on his head. He was trying to comprehend what his current existence was and then one thought came to his mind.
"Wait, is Clint here?", Barton asked Carter with worry in his voice.
She looked to him with a saddened tone.
"I'm sorry Barney. Clint Barton didn't reincarnate into this world like the rest of us", she answered him sadly.
Barney Barton slumped further down in submission to the fact that he will never see his brother again. To Frank and Percy, the word "reincarnated" was what caught their ears.
"Okay, hold up. What do you mean by reincarnated?", Frank asked in confusion
"Reincarnated, as in living a past life? What does that have to do with what's going on?", Percy questioned as well.
Carter turned to them to explain.
"It's more along the lines of being reborn into a different world", she told them which only made them more confused.
"It's better if you guys just let her use her quirk on you, believe me, it will answer all of your questions", Barney said to them as he finally stood back up and fully accepting to what his new life has become now.
"You seemed to have gotten over it awfully quick", Frank said to Barney's sudden change of mood.
"If you think about it, what point is there to stay sad forever? When your own multiverse threw you away to some other one just to make room", Barney said, giving his full resolution to frank who only still didn't get it.
"Like he said Frank, let me use my quirk on you"
Frank still felt hesitated by the effects of her quirk messing him up, but then Percy stepped up to volunteer for his memory restoration.
"If my question is truly to be answered through you quirk, then I will let you do so", Percy accepted his fate.
As she did to Barney, she placed her hands on Percy's head and his eyes started to glow. Once he stood there for a minute, Percy was also left speechless. He started to feel sadness unlike any that had felt before, but then it switched a silent anger as now know what brought him here.
"Modred, you damn fool. Was power truly worth the destruction of a once united and peaceful land?", Percy muttered to himself for the loss of his family and homeland. Just like Barney, he too accepted that it doesn't matter now. He was reborn into this new strange multiverse and as long as he lives, Camelot shall continue to thrive. And then all eyes fell to Frank, who still hesitate about having his memory restored.
"It's your turn now Frank, this won't take long and you'll understand what exactly is going on", Carter stood near him.
"Alright fine, I better not regret this. I'm not going to be some dog to SHIELD", he said to her as her hands were placed on her head.
He felt relaxed for a bit, but then his eyes glow and he stood there for a minute. He then slapped the hands away from him and then placed his own hands on his face. He walked to the furthest part of the cell and smashed the only mirror it had. The others were about to calm him down, but Carter stopped them and wanted to see if Frank could control himself. After a few more seconds, he just stood still as the memories of his original life started to flow back to him. The death of his wife Maria and their two children Lisa and Frank Jr. the times that he had battled Daredevil and Spider-man. The intense training, he had gone through. All the otherworldly beings and creatures he had killed. And finally, the days he spent in his one-man campaign against Hydra and killed so many of their operatives, except for that bastard Zemo.
Everyone waited for his next response and received only heavy breathing. After one last exhale, Frank gave them his answer.
"I shouldn't have listened to you, because of you I now remember who I am. I now carry two dead families in my head and still fight in this war of mine. I gladly be the Punisher for this new and crazy world. With my original capabilities, the new training given to me by the old man, and this quirk of mine, I can clean up this whole world in a faster rate"
That statement got everyone on edge, the men that were there were questioning whether giving Frank Castle his memories back was a good thing. But not Carter, she wasn't about to give up on him. Percy and Barney were about restraint Frank, until they hear him speak again.
"But. as long as Hydra lives, then my war will never end, and I've lived long enough to see that as a fact. So yeah, I'll join your Thunderbolt initiative"
Frank turned to Director Carter and gave her his request.
"Now tell me Colonel Margaret Carter, Director of SHIELD, where should my guns be pointed"
Carter slowly formed a smile at those words from him. And like that, the Thunderbolts had been formed. Two years before SHIELD recruited Punisher, Trick Shot, and Black Knight, six infant boys had been born on the year 2160 in separate countries.
On March 24, 2160, an infant boy named Victor Creed was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
On April 5, 2160, an infant boy named Max Eisenhardt was born in Nuremberg, Germany.
On May 2, 2160, an infant boy named Edward Brock was born in Queens, New York.
On July 15, 2160, two infant boys named Izuku Midoriya and Mirio Togata were born in Musutafu, Japan. Meanwhile in the sovereign nation of Latveria, an infant boy named Victor Von Doom was born.
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Next Chapter: Prologue 3 - Four Lost Boys
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