UFO of the Yards by Garret Schuelke
Editor’s Note: Read the previous adventure of Gray Wolf (please don’t call him that) by clicking the link: “Trial on the Chicago River by Garret Schuelke”
UFO of the Yards by Garret Schuelke
A large portion of The Back of the yards neighborhood, located on the south side of Chicago, was walled off by a chain-linked fence. The entire perimeter was adorned with signs indicating ongoing construction, orders against trespassing by the Chicago Police Department, and notices that the area was the future site of Mysta Industries new headquarters.
Two guards met up and began conversing. On the ground, two metallic tentacles slowly slid towards them.
“…and I said, ‘Fuck this, and FUCK YOU‘ to that clerk, waiter, whatever, and we left,” one of the guards said, visibly angry.
“Damn, man,” the other guard said, “I’ve been going there for years now, and I’ve never heard of an employee treating someone like that.”
“Well, you have now. I’m never going to the Billy Goat again!”
“Hey now, there are other locations than that one that you could go to.”
The tentacles wrapped around the guards’ legs, and yanked them away from each other. Two figures each got a guard in a choke hold, and immediately snapped their necks.
“Very good, boys,” a figure said as they approached them. “I guess we won’t have to focus much on improving your stealth skills.”
One of the men threw the guard he killed to the side. “Yeah, but wouldn’t the stuff we’re here for increase our powers anyway?”
“Undoubtedly!” the figure said, stepping into the light. She was a tall, slender woman, adorned in a purple suit and a top hat, and gave off an enthusiastic, otherworldly aura. “I’ll explain everything on the way. Let’s get moving before any more guards show up.”
The woman took hold of the fence and, with minimal effort, tore a hole in it. She ushered the men through. One of them, a large, squat man, wearing a green suit with a flying saucer on it, tripped and fell, his yellow cape flapping over his head.
“You all right, Mister Crawford?” The woman asked.
“Yeah,” the man said, flipping the cape onto his back and getting up. “It’s just that I’ve…well…”
The woman smiled. “Yes, Van?”
“I’ve never seen anyone be killed before,” Van Crawford blurted out. He took a deep breath. “Sorry, my heart is racing.”
The woman laughed. “Oh, my dear, you’ll see a lot of death if you roll with us. You think you can handle it?”
Van gulped, and willed himself to stop shaking. “I will, ma’am.”
“You’ll be fine!” the woman said, putting her arm around Van’s shoulders, leading him towards the waiting group. “Let’s go, everyone!”
They walked through the hole in the fence. Behind them, one of the deceased guard’s radios came to life—the person on the other end of the line demanding that the one of them respond.
& & &
On the other side of the fence, another guard took out his phone.
“Goddammit, you guys,” the guard muttered as he began typing. “You’re supposed to answer back right away!”
A hooded figure landed on top of a nearby light pole as gently as he could. The pole still wobbled a bit. The figure held his breath, and, much to his relief, the guard did not notice.
The guard’s phone buzzed. “Finally,” he muttered. He checked his messages, and saw that it was an advertisement.
“Are you fucking kidding me?!” he said, typing rapidly. “I already opted out of this bullshit!”
The figure dropped down, and put the guard into a headlock. The guard dropped his phone and began to struggle. The figure got down on one knee, and increased the pressure. The guard stopped struggling and passed out.
“Been a long time since I’ve done that,” the figure mumbled, laying the guard on the ground. He pulled down his hood. “Now I remember why I prefer to just knock people out.”
Godan walked up to the fence and peered through, surveying the rubble. His heart began to beat faster.
“Stop it, Gareth,” he mumbled, backing up, “you can do this.”
He took some deep breaths. Jump, jump, jump, he thought, psyching himself up. His heart refused to slow down.
“SHIT!” he yelled. He ran towards the fence, and jumped. The tip of his boot hit the top as he sailed over. He fell to the ground, and landed on his face.
“Smooth,” Godan said into the ground. “Very graceful.”
The Gray Wolf slowly stood up. He wiped the dirt off his sweatshirt, sighed, and began walking down the road.
& & &
“Now, how should I do this?” the woman said, holding the guard up by the neck. The others cheered, and shouted suggestions at her. She looked around and saw Van trying to hide among the group.
“Van, my dear, come hither!” she yelled. “It’s time to prove your worth.”
Van, shaking, stood there and shook his head. The group began to boo. Some of them pushed him, or punched him in the arm.
The woman smiled, shook her head, and leapt upwards. The guard screamed and wailed about as they soared. As they stopped ascending, the woman lifted the guard over her head, and threw him towards the ground. The group backed away, and the guard smashed into the pavement, his body making a sickening cracking sound as blood sprayed everywhere.
“You see, boys,” the woman said as she landed. She waited until the group stopped applauding. “If you need to do it quickly, then do it quickly—otherwise, try to have fun with your kills.”
The group cheered again. The woman walked up to Van and put her arm around his shoulders again. “You’re really not doing yourself any favors by holding back,” she said, leading him down the road.
“What?” Van replied, trying not to freak out. “It’s not that!”
“Really? Because if these boys could see what you can really do, they sure as hell wouldn’t be pushing you around.”
“Yeah, but I…” Van coughed.
“Come on, out with it!”
“If I have to kill people, do I have to be as brutal as you guys?”
The woman snorted, and laughed. “As I just said, if you have to do it quickly, then do it quickly. Otherwise, do what you find to be fun—even if we all think it’s super boring.”
Van nodded. She patted him on the back as they continued down the road.
& & &
Godan finished choking out another guard. He sighed as he laid him down. He surveyed the rubble around him. His heart, which had previously gone back to beating normally, began to speed up again.
“Stop it,” he muttered. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He remembered the rage he felt as he tore through the Rudukus’, the super powered gang that took his friends.
He remembered stalking the lone survivor of his rampage, and not feeling a thing as the gangbanger shot at him.
He remembered hearing loud explosions, being lifted off the floor, then darkness.
“DAMMIT!” he yelled, punching the nearby building. The force of the punch sent the rubble flying, causing the already-collapsed building to crumble even more.
Godan opened his eyes. He recognized the street he was on.
“Get a grip, Gare.” he said as he continued down the street. “You’ve been through WAY worse.”
& & &
“VERY slowly, boys,” the woman commanded as she watched the gangbanger’s remove the rubble with their tentacles.
“Didn’t you say that one of your ‘patients’ blasted a hole out of the entrance?” one of them asked.
“I did.”
The other gangbanger grunted as he lifted the rubble. “Then why are we here, at this house, moving shit?”
She sighed. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, shouldn’t we be at the house with the hole in the ground?”
The woman shook her head and sighed loudly enough for them to hear. The others behind her laughed.
“WHAT?!” the gangbanger yelled, smashing the rubble into the ground. “What’s so fucking funny?!”
“You’re in a war zone, stupid,” the woman walked between the two gangbanger’s. “Do you honestly think that a severely damaged building wouldn’t crumble afterwards?”
The gangbanger looked away awkwardly.
“Also,” the woman bent down, grabbed the last large chunk of rubble, and swiftly lifted it over her head, revealing a hole leading into a basement, “don’t question me again.” She shot him a glare. “Got it?”
The gangbanger nodded. “Got it, boss. Sorry.”
The woman threw the rubble behind her. Everyone scurried out of the way before it smashed into the ground. She turned around, and smiled again.
“Okay boys, spread out and stand guard, like the others before you did. I’ll call for you when I need help moving the bigger items.” She snapped her fingers. “Van, you’re with me.”
The gangbanger’s talked amongst themselves as they began to spread out. Van looked back nervously as he walked towards the entrance. The woman let him go down first. She adjusted her top hat, and followed him down the stairs.
& & &
Damn, she didn’t even have to use tentacles, Godan thought as he peaked around the corner of the rubble.
“Looking for something, chump?” a voice said in his ear.
Godan automatically elbowed the gangbanger that had snuck up behind him in the chest. He staggered back, and screamed as he shot a tentacle at the Gray Wolf.
That’s what I get for not paying attention to my nose, Godan thought, dodging the tentacle as it shot past him and broke through the rubble. He ran up to the gangbanger, grabbed him by the back of the head, and threw him at the rubble, shattering it further.
“OVER THERE!” he heard someone shout to his right. Godan looked over and saw two gangbanger’s draw their guns. He leapt over the rubble as they started shooting.
I’m too distracted, Godan thought as he landed in the open. The others began running towards him from all sides—some unleashing their tentacles, some drawing guns, and some doing both.
“Finally, something I can focus on,” Godan said. He flexed his claws, and leapt towards the nearest enemy.
& & &
“Aside from the entrance,” the woman rubbed her hand against the wall, “the lab’s in surprisingly good shape. It’s too bad we can’t set up shop here.”
“Why can’t we?” Van asked, standing in the middle of the room, nervously looking at the empty, open pods.
The woman shook her head. “Since you’re so new to this—and obviously nervous—I won’t get mad at you like I did that idiot up there.” She opened up a storage room and entered.
“Th-thanks,” Van replied, trying to relax as he followed her inside.
“This location is way too volatile,” she yelled above the sounds of her moving and shuffling through items, “with recent events, and the Mysta Industries building going up and all.”
Van nodded. “Right—you’re absolutely right!”
Am I really the only one here with common sense, the woman thought. She tore off the top of a box. Shots rang from outside. Van screamed.
“WHAT?!” She yelled, turning around. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Van replied, getting up. His arm visibly shook as he pointed up towards the entrance. “I think they’re shooting at someone.”
“I thought we killed all the guards around here,” the woman stood still, listening to the shots. “They better not be goofing off.” She walked towards the entrance. “Wait here.”
She heard screams as she ascended the staircase. Okay, it sounds like it’s something serious, she thought. She stopped, and carefully stuck her head out of the entrance.
The woman saw her men—who were frantically shooting their guns and swinging their tentacles about—getting put down. Some fell where they stood, others went flying every which way. She could barely make out a shadow of the person taking them down.
“My word,” the she activated her night vision, “who is that?”
Her night vision revealed Godan zipping around, slashing at some gangbanger’s, kicking others away, dodging bullets, and ignoring the shots that hit him. The woman automatically scanned Godan’s face. Information on him immediately began flooding her mind.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” the woman tapped the side of her head, stopping the information from coming in. “It’s the ‘Gray Wolf’ ! Didn’t think we would run into him so quickly.” She turned around. “VAN!”
“What’s going on, ma’am?” Van asked. “Are we all right?”
“We’re doing better than all right,” the woman grinned. “Be a dear, and go get the thing that’s in the box I left open in the closet. Then come outside.”
“WHAT?!” Van yelled. “It sounds like a fight’s going on up there! I can’t—”
“DO AS I SAY, YOU FUCKING COWARD!” the woman yelled back, glaring.
Van shielded himself with his hands. “Okay, okay, I’ll do it!” he said, running to the closet.
The woman sighed. “I might just kill him after all,” she mumbled, heading outside.
& & &
Godan grabbed the last gangbanger standing by the arms, and held them up. He grinned as the gangbanger screamed, unloading his pistol into the sky. The Gray Wolf headbutted him, knocking him out.
“Ah, shit,” Godan said as he let him fall to the ground. “I should have kept one of them conscious.”
“And why would you ever want to do that?” a voice asked.
Godan whipped around, claws ready to strike. Before him stood the leader of the gang, her hands on her hips, smiling.
What an outfit, Godan thought, looking at the leaders purple suit and top hat. He braced himself. “I have some questions that need answering, that’s why.”
The woman tipped her hat up. “I just might be able to help you out then.” She looked around. “It looks like I don’t have much of a choice, after all.”
“You don’t.” Godan remembered how easily she lifted up the rubble to reveal the basement entrance. “And you would be…”
The woman took off her hat, revealing her short, neatly groomed black hair. “Paris—the new leader of these fine men that you so easily took out.”
Godan stood up straight. “You run the Rudkus’ now?”
“The gang formally known as the Rudkus’.” Paris nodded. “We’re officially the Melton’s now!”
Godan stared at her.
“Nice name, isn’t it?” Paris asked.
That’s a fucking stupid name, Godan thought. “Whatever makes you happy,” he said, walking towards her, digging into his pocket. “In regards to my question…”
“Yes, mister Gray Wolf?”
Godan stopped at being reffered by the name he used when he was robbing the Rudkus’, and other gangbangers. “How do you know that name?”
Paris smirked. “Who doesn’t know that name?”
Godan growled. “Don’t call me that, got it?” He took a picture out of his pocket and held it up to her face. “Do you know these two guys?”
Paris, unknowingly to Godan, began scanning the picture. “I’ve never seen them before,” she hummed, “are they Rudkus’?”
Godan glared. “No, they were kidnapped BY the Rudukes’—the gang you just said you took over.”
“Really, now?” Paris’ scans ended, giving her all the information she needed. She grinned, put her hand on Godan’s arm, and pushed it down. “I guess it is my responsibility then if my gang just happens to kidnap some random guys, right?
“HARUKI AND TUCKER!” Godan yelled, holding up the photo of his friends back up in her face. “WHERE ARE THEY?!”
“No clue,” Paris shook her head. “So sorry, Gray Wolf.”
Godan growled loudly. “Listen, I realize you’re apparently new to this,” he put the photo back in his pocket, “but don’t fuck with me, got it?!”
Paris burst out laughing. “You’re so funny when you try to act tough!”
“Bitch,” Godan grabbed Paris by her collar. “I don’t have to act—your lackeys, that are currently eating my shit, are more than enough proof that I can easily fuck you up!”
“Oh, don’t get overconfident!” Paris grabbed Godan by the wrists. “Beating those weaklings doesn’t mean a thing.” She pushed the Gray Wolf away. “And before you gloat, Upton wasn’t that tough either.”
Godan gave her a confused look. “Who?”
Paris returned the look. “The former leader of the Rudukus’—the one you threw under the police helicopter?” She straightened her collar. “Come on, Gray Wolf, it’s only been a couple of days since it happened.”
Godan remembered the battle, and the news reports he read and watched afterwards, some of which named Upton, who was found mangled and charred after Godan defeated him.
“Oh yeah, that guy,” Godan replied. “Didn’t know his name until now.”
“It’s whatever,” Paris shrugged, “he’s worm food now anyway.”
She suddenly appeared beside Godan, her fist raised. The Gray Wolf raised his arm, blocking his head.
“YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE NEW BOSS!” Paris yelled, striking him.
Godan skid across the ground. He used his other arm to flip himself into the air and onto his feet. “All right, I’ll do just that.” he said.
He saw Paris coming at him. He deflected her next punch, and began to fight back.
& & &
“I got it,” Van said, breathing heavily as he brought the gun to the staircase. “I GOT IT!”
He did not get a response. He stopped and listened, but did not hear anything but the howling wind. “Miss Paris?”
Van willed himself to walk up the stairs. He walked into the open, looked around, and dropped the weapon.
He watched, wide-eyed, as Paris fought Godan. They were trading blows so fast that they were almost a blur to him.
“God,” Van whimpered, “who the hell is that?!”
Paris caught Godan’s fists. “You are good, Gray Wolf,” she said. “I can see why my master had files on you.”
“DON’T CALL ME THAT!” Godan yelled. He then realized what she said. “Just who is your ‘master’?”
Paris looked perplexed. “That’s a good question.” She hummed as she thought it over. “I guess my systems are more damaged than I thought.”
“Lady,” Godan pushed forward, “you’re not making any goddamn sense—”
Over her shoulder, Godan saw a short, chubby man in a shoddy costume watching them. “Hey, is that guy with you?”
“Is it a large, awkward man wearing green spandex?”
Godan nodded. “Hard to miss that.”
“Then he is,” Paris let go of Godan and turned her head. “VAN! GIVE ME THAT—”
Godan took the chance to slash Paris across the chest. He felt his momentum slow down. Is she wearing armor, Godan thought as his claws dug through her body.
Paris let out a mechanized screech. Godan brought his other claw up as she turned her head around, slashing her in the face. Her top hat went flying. He saw that her skin stuck to his nails.
“No blood?” Godan said, rubbing his fingers together. The skin felt like fabric.
“MISS PARIS!” Van screamed.
Godan snapped back to reality, wounded his fist back, and, with a loud cry, punched Paris in the stomach.
The recoil from the punch revealed Paris’ torn face—half person, half machine.
“SHIT!” Godan yelled, backing away.
Paris took the chance to leap back, landing next to Van.
“DAMN YOU, GRAY WOLF!” Paris shouted as sparks flew from her face and chest.
“IT’S ‘GODAN’, YOU FUCKING ROBOT!” Godan yelled back, flipping her off.
Paris clenched her fists. “DON’T CALL ME ‘ROBOT’, YOU FUCKING MUTT!”
Some of the Melton’s who were still in the basement stuck their heads out of the entrance. “Boss, you want us to—”
“GET BACK TO WORK!” Paris yelled. The heads disappeared.
“Miss Paris, are you all right?” Van asked.
A particularly large spark went off near her eye. “Do I look like I’m all right to you, you worthless little prick?!” Paris asked, holding her hand out. “Just hand me the gun al—”
Paris suddenly calmed down. She straightened herself up, and smiled.
What’s she up to, Godan thought. “Didn’t think you could smile with your head blowing up!” he yelled. The Gray Wolf noticed the Melton’s he had previously taken out waking up. “Shit!”
“SLIGHT CHANGE OF PLANS, BOYS!” Paris yelled, her hands back on her hips.
The Melton’s listened intently, some breathing heavily, others barely able to get on their feet. Godan got into a battle stance.
“EVERYBODY, GET DOWN IN THE LAB AND FINISH CLEANING IT OUT, JUST AS WE PLANNED, AS FAST AS YOU CAN!”
The Melton’s nodded, and ran towards the lab.
Godan growled. “As if I’m gonna let you trash go!”
“We’re not done yet, mutt,” Paris patted Vans’ back. “If you want to stop us, you’ll have to go through our latest recruit.”
“WHAT?!” Van screeched, backing away from Paris. “NO! I CAN’T FIGHT!”
“Godan…” Paris pointed at Van. “Meet the…” The android pretended to take a deep breath, “HUMAN FLYING SAUCER!”
All was silent between the three combatants. The only sounds that could be heard were the Melton’s tearing up the underground lab.
“Um,” Godan broke the silence, “okay, robot, are we still fighting, or what?”
Paris laughed. “The Human Flying Saucer, like you, is also a superhuman. I’m sure you two will have a lot of fun getting to know each other.”
“Please, no, Miss Paris,” Van said. “I can’t do this!”
“Sure you can!” Paris gripped his shoulder hard. “Just transform, and you’ll be fine.”
Van shook his head. “I’m too scared!”
“Then pick up the gun,” Paris’ voice became more aggressive, “and blast him!”
Van gulped. “But I can barely hold it.”
“You’ll manage.” Paris bent down, picked up a large, oddly shaped gun, and shoved it into Van’s arms. She then picked up Van by the back of his collar. “Have fun!”
Paris threw Van towards Godan. The would-be Melton screamed as he held onto the gun tightly. The Gray Wolf stepped to the side, allowing Van to skid past him.
“I WAS CONSIDERING ASKING YOU TO JOIN US, MUTT,” Paris yelled, “BUT THAT’S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO WORK OUT, SO YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO DIE NOW!” The android turned around and began walking towards the lab. “SO LONG!”
Van, shaking, looked up. Godan glared at him, fists clenched.
“Oh, no,” Van whimpered. “God, no..”
“You gonna get in my way, fat man?” Godan asked, looking over Van’s tight, tattered green suit.
Van calmed down, and returned Godan’s glare.
“Didn’t think so,” Godan said, walking away.
“You…you…” Van muttered, turning the gun upwards, aiming it at the Gray Wolf. “You sonofabitch!”
“I’ll get you to talk,” Godan mumbled to himself as he cracked his knuckles, “even if I have to tear every limb off your body!”
A large laser blast hit the Gray Wolf directly in the back. He screamed as he fell to the ground. The pain made him roll around erratically.
“GOT YOU!” Van screamed, getting to his feet. “I got you, you bastard!”
Godan stopped rolling around. He touched the area on his back where he was shot, cringing. He looked back at Van and glared.
“Oh, crap,” Van muttered, his adrenaline dissipating.
Godan got up and marched towards Van, growling.
Van squeaked, and fired off another shot. Godan easily dodged it, ran up to Van, and kicked the gun out of his hands.
“I’M SO SORRY!” Van screamed, putting his hands up.
“Your face is about to resemble my back, fat man!” Godan said, lifting Van up by his suit and wounding back his fist.
Van grabbed onto Godan’s arm and squeezed. “DON’T CALL ME ‘FAT MAN’, MUTT!”
Godan was taken aback, then got angry. “DON’T CALL ME ‘MUTT’ THEN, FAT MAN!”
They went back-and-forth, calling each other the respective names they hated. Some of Van’s spittle flew onto Godan’s face. Disgusted, the Gray Wolf threw him to the ground.
“All right, asshole,” Godan put up his fists, “lets go!”
Van’s adrenaline again dissipated. “Uh..how about we just call a truce?”
Godan looked confused. “What?”
Van bit his lip. “I’m really not that good at fighting.”
“Oh, give me a fucking break,” Godan lowered his fists. “What’s wrong with you? Are you really a superhuman?”
Van nodded.
“So, what’re your powers then?”
Van shook his head. “I don’t wanna get into that.”
Godan groaned. “Dude, why did that robot even bother recruiting you?” he asked, rolling his eyes.
“I—I was one of the prisoners in that lab,” Van pointed towards the entrance, where the Melton’s were steadily bringing out boxes and various equipment. “I don’t remember much, but they made me drink stuff that tasted like…”
He’s one of the escapees, Godan thought, remembering the news reports and grainy surveillance videos online of alleged superhumans running out of a building during his battle with the Rudkus’.
“I lost everything!” Van shouted, catching Godan’s attention. He was crying. “I lost my hobby shop, my family thought I abandoned them—”
“Hey, hey, calm down,” Godan said.
Van wiped his tears away. “They called the cops when I showed them what they did to me!” He snorted, and swallowed. “Miss Paris then found me, and promised to help.”
“Yeah, I can tell that she’s really helping you,” Godan muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Godan cracked his neck. “I came here tonight to try to find some clues to what happened to my friends—I didn’t expect to come across something this heavy. I really don’t know what to say.”
“You see now why I had to join them?” Van asked. “I had no other choice!”
Godan’s anger rose. “You didn’t have to join up with the gang who fucking kidnapped you AND my friends!”
Van tried to say something. He stopped himself, and looked down.
“So fucking stupid,” Godan said, turning around.
Van looked back up and saw Godan walking towards the lab. He gulped, ran up to the Gray Wolf, and grabbed him by the arm.
“Let go,” Godan sneered.
“Listen to me!” Van tightened his grip. “They’re all I got! We can…”
“BULLSHIT!” Godan tore his arm away, and backhanded Van, sending him to the ground. “YOU HAVE CHOICES—YOU’RE JUST TOO STUPID TO EXPLORE THEM!”
Van coughed as he wiped the blood from his face.
“You get in my way,” Godan began walking away, “and I’ll put you down for good, Fat Man.”
Van punched the ground. “Don’t ever…” he snorted hard, “CALL ME THAT AGAIN!”
A blast of air projected from his body, sending nearby derbies flying everywhere. Godan got hit by the blast, making him nearly lose his footing.
“What?!” Godan said, turning around, instinctively getting into a battle stance.
Van floated in the air while in a crouching position. He flung his head back, and screamed. His body suddenly flattened, and began to expand into the shape of a saucer.
“Wait a minute,” Godan said, narrowing his eyes, “is he—”
Van’s head morphed into a dome, his hair flattening, eyes widening, and his mouth disappearing.
“…turning into a UFO?” The Gray Wolf was flabbergasted. “Huh.”
Before Godan hovered a green flying saucer, with a cartoonishly human head, which was giving him a death glare like he had never seen before.
“Paris was on point with your name, that’s for sure.”
The Human Flying Saucer’s eyes turned green. He emitted a robotic growl, and fired two energy beams from them.
& & &
Paris put two boxes onto her shoulders and headed up the stairs. At the opening, she saw some of the Melton’s just standing still, boxes and equipment still in hand.
“What are you idiots standing around for?!” she yelled, exiting the lab. “There’s more—”
She saw what her gangbanger’s were staring at: Van, who had transformed into his spaceship form, was blasting at Godan with green energy beams.
Paris grinned. “About time his backbone finally grew.”
The Melton’s trucks began pulling up, horns blaring.
“All right, boys, show’s over!” Paris yelled, putting her boxes in the back of the first truck. “Let’s finish up and get out of here while Van takes out the trash!”
The other Melton’s nodded and began loading the loot.
& & &
“THIS IS MY FAMILY NOW!” The Human Flying Saucer yelled as he continued firing at Godan. “I’LL PROVE MYSELF TO THEM!”
“You may feel that way,” Godan yelled back, landing on top of some rubble, “but they sure as hell don’t feel the same way towards you!” The Gray Wolf prepared himself. “If they did, they wouldn’t have put you up against me!”
The Human Flying Saucer blasted the rubble. Just as the energy blast was about to connect, Godan leapt towards him, claws at the ready.
“EAT SHIT!” Godan yelled, slashing at him. His claws scraped against The Human Flying Saucer’s green exterior, producing sparks.
“YOUR WEAK LITTLE NAILS CAN’T TEAR THROUGH MY METALLIC BODY!” The Human Flying Saucer yelled, shooting another energy blast.
Godan crossed his arms and took the blast head on, slamming him into the ground.
“I AM A MELTON!” The Human Flying Saucer increased the intensity of the beam. “I’LL ROAST YOU!”
He continued the energy blast for a few more seconds, then ceased. The Human Flying Saucer began to calm down as he watched the smoke dissipate. When it all finally disappeared, it revealed Godan, his arms scorched, looking up at him.
“Is that all you can do, fat man?” Godan asked, grinning.
The Human Flying Saucer flew down. Godan jumped out of the way just as it smashed into the ground.
I can’t tear into him, Godan thought as he landed, so what can hurt him?
The Human Flying Saucer recovered, and hovered above the ground, charging up another energy blast. The Gray Wolf then noticed a bloody scrape on his dome-shaped head.
“FOUND IT!” Godan yelled, grinning. The Human Flying Saucer fired an array of energy blasts. The Gray Wolf jumped to the side, and sped down the street as The Human Flying Saucer gave chase.
& & &
Paris put one final load in the truck, and stepped aside so the other Melton’s could finish the job. Where did they go, she thought, crossing her arms as she scanned the area. Godan and The Human Flying Saucer came back into view.
“He’s doing better than I thought,” Paris said as she watched Van nearly hit the Gray Wolf. “His aim needs some improvement, though.”
“We’re done packing,” one of the Melton’s yelled.
“Excellent!” Paris put her finger up to her temple. “Sweep the lab one more time, just to make sure.”
The Melton’s hurried down the stairs. The ringing in Paris’ head went on a few times until someone finally answered.
“Hi, I would like to report explosions,” the android said. “Yes, I’m pretty sure something is going off here in the Back of the Yards, officer.”
& & &
An energy blast flew past Godan and hit a downed house. The Gray Wolf jumped out of the way of the debris. The Human Flying Saucer shot another energy blast, which clipped him on the shoulder.
“FUCK!” Godan screamed as pain shot through his arm. He landed, and immediately leapt behind yet another pile of never-ending debris the area had to offer.
The Human Flying Saucer, having lost sight of Godan, began firing at random spots.
Healing factor is working as it should, Godan thought as he felt his wound close, but he’s putting more power into those blasts. He could have blown my head off!
Godan felt his foot hit something. He looked down and saw two pistols left over from one of the Melton’s he defeated earlier.
& & &
Paris got in one of the trucks. “time to move out!” she yelled, pointing forward.
“What about Van?” the Melton driving the truck asked.
“Let him finish the job,” Paris got in, and put on her seat belt. “He knows where to find us.”
“You think he can do it?” the Melton asked as he began driving down the road.
Paris grinned. “Oh, I have the utmost confidence in him.”
& & &
The Human Flying Saucer ceased firing when he saw the trucks speeding away. “HEY, WHERE ARE THEY GOING?!”
Godan sprung up, and began firing the pistols. The bullets bounced off The Human Flying Saucer’s round body.
“YOU CAN’T BEAT ME, MUTT!” The Human Flying Saucer said as he turned around and fired two energy blasts.
Godan emptied the pistols as he jumped out of the way. One of the bullets clipped The Human Flying Saucer on the top of his head, sending him into a frenzy.
Time to try this, Godan thought as he threw the pistols away. He ran towards the nearest rubble pile, and used it to launch himself at The Human Flying Saucer.
“SHE TOLD ME I WAS INVINCIBLE!” Van thought, remembering how Paris praised him after he showed her his transformation when they first met. He suddenly felt something land on him.
“Turn back to your normal, fat self,” Godan said, holding onto The Human Flying Saucers head with one hand, while holding the other one up, showing his claws, “or I’ll carve your face up!”
“YOU…YOU…” The Human Flying Saucer flew around more haphazardly, trying to throw the Gray Wolf off, “YOU CAN’T HURT ME!”
“Oh, so I just got lucky with that shot?!” Godan sunk his claws into Van’s head. “Let’s put it to—”
The Human Flying Saucer screamed, and flew around faster. Godan hunkered down, causing him to sink his claws deeper into Van’s face.
A cop car rolled up to the construction zone. The two officers looked around the area, then at each other.
“Yeah, unless explosions have suddenly become invisible and silent, that call was probably bullshit,” one of them said.
A large, green explosion occurred in front of them. They flinched, and covered their ears. One of them opened their eyes, and saw Godan riding The Human Flying Saucer as it flew back up into the air.
“Holy shit!” the officer muttered. He called for back up. “We got aliens surfing around here!”
Godan covered himself with his free arm as The Human Flying Saucer flew through another pile of debris. “LAST CHANCE, ASSHOLE!” he yelled, wiping his face “CHANGE BACK!”
Van did not hear him over the sound of his erratic energy blasts and screaming. Godan shook his head, sunk the tips of his claws into The Human Flying Saucer’s forehead, and raked them across it, leaving five deep gashes.
The Human Flying Saucer stopped, and hovered in place. He screeched as blood flowed down onto his face and body. Godan hopped off just as he transformed back into his normal, human form.
The Gray Wolf watched as Van fell to the ground, holding his face, withering in pain. He walked up to the defeated superhuman, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him up. “WHERE’S PARIS AT?!”
Van sobbed, as blood continued to roll down his face.
Numerous cop cars suddenly rolled up around them.
“GODDAMMIT!” Godan yelled. He punched Van in the face, knocking him out.
The cops got out, drew their guns, and yelled at Godan to put his hands up.
“HE’S YOUR PROBLEM NOW, PIGS!” Godan yelled, dropping Van to the ground. “HE’S A SUPERHUMAN, SO WATCH OUT!”
Godan jumped over the cops. He flipped them off, and sped down the road.
The Gray Wolf reached the gate he had previously jumped over to enter the construction site. He sailed over it, and continued down the neighborhood streets. Pain shot through his arms and shoulders.
“Ow,” Godan mumbled, stepping into a nearby alley. He clasped his hands together, and concentrated on his healing factor.
As his wounds healed, a bus pulled up. Godan hummed, thought ‘Why not?’, and powered down. He took off his mask, ran across the street, and got onto the bus.
Gareth went to the back, which, thankfully, was empty. He sat down, breathed deeply, and thought about the night’s events as the bus pulled away.
Music and laughter up front caught his attention. Near the middle of the bus were three friends, all laughing at something they were watching.
Gareth sighed. He took out the photo of Haruki and Tucker he had shown Paris earlier. A sad, warm feeling went through him.
“The search continues,” Gareth muttered. He put away the photo, took out his phone, and put in his ear buds. He opened Spotify and put NOFX on shuffle.
The bus pulled over, allowing more cop cars to go by. ‘THE IDIOTS ARE TAKING OVER‘ began to play. Gareth learned his head against the window, and closed his eyes.
* * * * THE END * * * *
Copyright Garret Schuelke 2024
