Quantum Man
Episode Three
© 2000 by NM
Zyphon. Vashdon’s planetary Headquarters
“Your recon ship successfully entered the Plain approximately one hour ago. Estimated time for destination reach, five hours, my Lord.”
“Very well, Ardoron," replies an obviously pleased Vashdon. "And what is Chief Scientist, Drite’s time frame on the scan of the city?”
“His estimate, seven to ten hours, my Lord. Contemplating all of the factors involved, I estimate that you should have the information which you require by this time tomorrow, sir.”
“And there has been no apparent mechanical or software anomolies within my distribution ship?”
“None, Lord Vashdon. All that remains to be determined is the compounds proper dilution. A simple procedure once the data from the recon ship has been retrieved.”
“Very well, Ardoron," replies Vashdon with a satisfied nod. "I find your report to be quite acceptable. My congratulations on your excellent work.”
“Thank you, Lord Vashdon.” Although pleased with his Master's gratitude, Ardoron was no fool; for he realized that in service to Vashdon, his life hung by a thread. A minor mistake could be tolerated, most of the time ... a major one .....
************************
Five hours later. The sky above Neon City.
A small, fully cloked ship emerges from the rift; taking up a position some twenty miles above the illuminated giant below.
******************
The ranch of Dr. Anna Lewis
“Wake up, Zev. Daylight’s burning this Sunday morning.”
“Wha,” mumbles our barely awake hero.
“Come on, Zev, rise and shine," urges QI. "It’s ten thirty. Come on.....”
“All right.....all right, QI, I’m awake,” mumbles Zev as he slowly rolls over onto his back; gently massaging his face with both hands.
“My scans which were conducted last night whilst you slept indicate that you're bod has completely healed.”
“That’s great .. I'm glad to hear it," comes the still mumbled, subdued reply. "I thought that I would have to wait a day or so longer before I got back into action.”
“That was my original assumption as well. But my scans last night indicated otherwise.”
“So I ought to be able to get back out there. Correct," Zev asked, the last vestige of drowsiness behind him.
“Absolutely.”
“All right, I’m back,” Zev all but shouted within his mind as he bounded out of bed and into a steaming shower. After dressing in casual jeans, a tee shirt and sandals he headed toward the den.
**************************************
Twenty Miles above Neon City
Having completed its scans the smallish recon ship turns homeward; re-entering the rift with the briefest of flickers. On-board guidance systems reactivate; bathing the ship's interior in an erie, green glow; aligning the vehicle with its proper, homeworld heading. An almost silent whoosh brings the drive engines to ignition, sending the ship rocketing into the Plain.
**************************
The ranch of Dr. Lewis
“Hello, Zev. How are you feeling this morning,” Anna asks with a large smile.
“Hi'ya, Doc," a smiling Zev says. "I'm feeling just fine now," he says with a nod. "QI informed me that all of my repairs have been completed and that I'm good to go....." Zev tilts his head slightly to his right, a puzzled look upon his face. "I thought that you were leaving for the city yesterday.”
“I was," Anna replied with a nod. "Circumstances, as they often do, dictated otherwise. I’ll be leaving shortly though. So I guess you’re back in action again," Anna says with a smile.
“It looks like it. This afternoon, as a matter of fact," Zev replies with a smile of his own. "It’s gonna feel great being back in the air again -- I've really missed that. Do you think that the people within Neon City believed what you told them in your interview?”
“I don’t know, Zev," replies Anna with the slow shake of her head. "They’ve been through so much these past three years," slow, sad shake of her head. "It’ll be a while before their fear disappears ..... Unfortunately for some, it probably never will.”
“I can understand that," Zev quietly says, his somber nod mirroring his voice. "The Vole was a nightmare, plain and simple. No one within the city had ever experienced the type of terror that it manifested. Their recovery shall take some time to accomplish. And like you said, some probably shall never fully recover.”
Anna nodded in agreement. “But the very knowledge that your here, you know, once they believe your for real; should go along way in calming any jitters that they may have... An interview might be of help,” Anna added hopefully.
Zev shook his head. “Sorry Doc, no interviews.”
“It might help to reassure the people,” Anna hopefully pressed.
“Perhaps later. For now I need to be out there doing, not talking. Besides, you know how I feel about publicity upon this world.”
“I understand, and I won’t argue with you. Lunch?”
“That sounds good. Ah, Mr. Hole wanted me to watch a ballgame with him this afternoon. Could you please tell him that I won’t be able to make it? That I’ve got work to do.”
“I’ll pass that along," Anna says with a nod. "I know he’ll understand now.”
************************
Two hours later
“Be careful.”
“And you as well, Doc.” With a quiet whoosh Zev rockets Southward.
********************
The planet Zyphon.
“Ardoron. I trust that you have news for me."
“Indeed. I have retrieved the data which you have been waiting for, Lord Vashdon.”
“Excellent!" Good news I trust.”
Knowing his Lord as he did, Ardoron could only hope that what he was about to impart would be to his liking. “Yes and no, sir.” “Explain,” Vashdon says, a cold, calmness tinging his "voice."
“Our data indicates that the maximum number of people within the city to carry the Nanozome approaches seven hundred and one half. Not a bad number, my Lord."
"Indeed the number is pleasing to me; but we must remember that not all shall be receptive to our agent. Only time shall reveal the numbers which our compound shall change..... And what of the half?"
"I believe that the half represents a small child, my Lord."
"Hmm. A child mutation. Perhaps it shall turn upon the very ones who raise it."
"If we are lucky, my Lord. It shall."
“Yesss. If we are lucky," muses Vashdon distractedly. "Is there anything else?”
“The recon ship’s data also indicates that the rift’s stability is intact.” Vashdon’s head snapped around to face his taller aide. “The recon ship’s passage did not destabilize the rift?”
“No, Lord Vashdon, it did not.”
“Most interesting... most interesting indeed," replied Vashdon with a nod. Is the ship containing the Sigma Nine ready for launch?”
“It is, sir.”
“Then launch immediately.”
“Yes sir.”
*******************************************
Over the forest approaching Neon City
“It feels great to be up here again, QI. For a while there I figured that it was all over.”
“Indeed. During your conflict with the Vole I too believed that it was, as you put it, all over. And to honest with you I am still attempting to analyze exactly what happened to you ... However, at the present time I am forced to admit that I have had no luck. But rest assured, I shall continue my efforts."
“Just let me know if and when you figure it out, buddy.”
“Will do. Hmm," muses Zev's ever trusty QI. "My scans are presently indicating a vehicle alongside a roadway, two miles to our East.”
“That’s pretty deep in the forest,” replies Zev, the caution within his voice apparent.
“Indeed. The lone occupant is a female. Judging from my scans of her bod, I estimate her age to be nineteen. I shall not bore you with the details of how I managed to arrive at that figure..."
"Thank goodness for small favors," replies Zev quietly.
Undaunted, QI continues his analysis. "She stands five feet five inches in height and weighs approximately ninety five pounds. At the present time she seems to be attempting, unsuccessfully I might add, to repair what is known as a flat tire.”
“Give me a targeting solution to the vehicle.”
Seconds later.
A quick glance at the ghostly map reveals all that Zev needs to know. He banks gently Eastward ..... Seconds later the Direction Line turns Orange. "Got it, QI," Zev quietly exclaims. "I can ride this line right to her, buddy........"
“I've got her, QI. You were right on the currency, buddy," ....."Ah that is not the correct phraseology, Zev. It should have been, you were right on the money." ..... "Whatever. She does have a flat but it shouldn't be a problem. I can have it fixed in no time."
With the softest of splats Zev quietly landed some ten yards behind the old jeep where a young woman was struggling mightily to get her vehicle off of the slushy ground; an effort doomed to failure; for the hardly traveled road had turned into a shallow river of mud.
“Excuse me. If you need some assistance I’d be glad to lend a hand,” Zev quietly offered.
The woman’s head snapped around; her tear streaked face wearing a startled and frightened expression; for as far as she knew, she was the only person within miles ..... and the memory of Neon's serial killer was still fresh within her mind. Wide eyed with freight, she quickly jumped to her feet, tire iron raised. Zev stopped immediately.
“Who the hell are you and where'd you come from,” she urgently demanded.
“I’m sorry," Zev quietly said, his hands raised in in a calming sort of way. "I didn’t mean to scare you, young lady.”
“Oh really," she replied, her eyes giving the costumed figure the once over. "Well for someone not wanting to scare me, you’re sure doing a good job of it, buster.”
“I really do apologize. I’d just like to give you a little help, that’s all.”
The young woman's expression softened ever so slightly. “Not until I get some answers. What kind of suit is that?" A nervous snicker escaped her lips. "You look like one of those wrestlers on TV.”
Zev smiled and shook his head. “Perhaps so, but I’m no wrestler. You can call me, Quantum Man; QM for short, if you prefer.”
With an excited gasp the young lady exclaimed, “You're the one that that Doctor was talking about on TV!” Zev silently nodded. “Did you really get rid of the guy who murdered all those people in the city?”
Once again Zev nodded. “I've been assured that he won’t bother anyone else, ever again.”
“So I can believe what I heard on TV?"
“You can believe what she said." Zev's eyes slide past the woman toward the crippled vehicle. "It looks as if you could use some help there.”
“Yeah, I can’t get the stupid jeep off the ground," she replied with an angry kick at the flat tire. "The jack just keeps sinking deeper into the mud.”
“That won’t be a problem.” With a squishing splah Zev walked slowly through the ankle deep mud toward the jeep. With seemingly no effort he easily lifted the left rear off of the ground. Thirty seconds later the flat tire banged to rest in the jeep's smallish, rear bed... Kersplut ... "That oughta do it, young lady," he said with a smile.
“That .. wasn’t heavy,” asked the astounded woman.
Zev shook his head. “Not really. Is there anything else that I can do for you?”
“Ah ..... ah I ..... I don’t think so. Thanks a lot for your help .. QM. Oh, my name’s, Marcy Wilcox.”
“No problem, Marcy. I’ll wait and make sure that you’re safely on your way before I leave.”
With a practiced vault the young woman landed lightly behind the wheel, cranked it up and roared off down the road. She tuned to wave goodbye just in time to see Zev rise from the ground, wave, and then disappear over the forest. Marcy Wilcox gunned the jeep down the road toward the city. She had quite a story to tell her friends in the dorm tonight.
******************
The planet Zyphon. Vashdon’s headquarters
With a thunderous roar the three stage rocket lifted from its launch pad; its on board guidance systems awaiting the final stage ignition before they would become active. At precisely two minutes into the flight, the first stage tumbled planetward. A minute and a half later, all that remained was the small, third stage powering the payload upwards ... The internal navigation systems winked to life feeding smallish course corrections to the engines -- sending the payload rocketing toward that galaxy's Plain rift.
With a final push the precious cargo slides smoothly into the rift .. Kapop ... The smallests of explosions sends the falling/tumbling third and final stage headed back through the rift toward the now small orb of Zyphon many miles below. Once again the internal guidance system aligns the smallish capsule to its proper heading ... Drive engines ignite. Tenths of a second later, the ship has flashed from sight. The delivery of the Sigma Nine is now assured.
**********************
Over the forest heading for Neon City
A freshening wind off of the not too distant Atlantic Ocean buffets the maroon clad figure as he streaks toward Neon City -- barely audible voices drawing his attention. “Enhance hearing, QI.”
“Enhancement complete, Zev. There are two frantic voices which should now be clearly audible to you."
"John! Somebody help .. Please!”
“Mommie! Please help meeee!”
Dipping his right shoulder Zev rockets Westward, toward Big Lake; the panic filled voices of both Mother and child growing more desperate with each passing second. Massive, tree top branches pop and swish as Zev clears the final, ridge assisted treeline some short miles from the lake's Eastern side. “Return hearing to normal, QI,” Zev commands, his eyes sweeping the distant lake.
“Hearing now at normal levels, my host.”
A screaming child of perhaps four years of age sat within a smallish raft which had somehow gotten away from the shore. Under the stiffening caress of ocean driven breezes, it had been rapidly pushed several hundred yards from shore into the deepest of the lake's waters. The child's frantic mother, apparently unable to swim and with no access to any type of water craft could do nothing but call and reach hysterically after the rapidly moving raft.
Primarily used as Neon Cities' water supply, the clear blue waters of the lake were also used extensively for fishing and for pleasure boaters, which, as luck would have it, were no where near the raft. Perhaps luck had been smiling upon them both this day; for the Mother had chosen an isolated cove for their picnic; a nice place to rest before the work week once more began.
"At the present time the child is in no imminent danger, Zev."
"I understand, QI ..... That is if he doesn't panic and fall overboard, or continue upon his present course and end up in the path of some boater who doesn't see him .."
"Point taken. A speedy recovery of the small, but vocal human is therefore advisable."
"You're learning, QI." Zev accelerated, following the contours of the forest canopy below. "He he he," snickers Zev to himself. "It's always nice to stick it QI when possible."
"You forgot, Zevo. I'm up here too and I'll not soon forget that attitude ..."
"Uh oh ..." quietly moans the would be hero. Seconds later Zev flashes from the cover of the forest tree tops out over the clear blue of the lake.
Catching the slightest of movements out of the corner of her right eye, the frantic woman forces her eyes skyward, away from her child ... Eyes wide and slack-jawed, she glares at the scene unfolding above her. If she could belive what she was seeing, a man in a dark reddish suit was streaking through the air ... "Is this the guy who I heard about in that interview on TV," she quietly wonders. But whether the same man or not, this guy was fast ... really fast; for within seconds he appeared to be hovering directly above her son's raft. And the way that he was able to stop in mid-air .. incredible! She shook her head slightly, trying to shake the disbelief from her mind. The man descended slowly, feet first, toward her son’s raft.
*************************
Seconds earlier
“I have a small test for you, my host. I wish to see how you control your momentum, Zev. I would like you to kick out of flight and stop directly over the raft.”
“You got it, buddy,” replies QI's host confidently ... but his speed was such that the smallish target seemed to be racing at him at an incredible velocity ... It was going to be close ...
“NOW,” QI's host screamed within his mind. Violently throwing his arms backwards and his body into a vertical position Zev struggled to stop his rocketing momentum. A quick look downward told our young hero that he had passed his target by two, maybe three yards ..... not good, at least as far as his QI was concerned. "How’d I do, QI,” he hopefully asked.
“I'm afraid .. just passable, Zev," replied the obviously disappointed QI. "You overshot the raft’s center by ninety inches. As I said, just passable.”
“I'm sorry, QI," replied QI's obviously dejected host
“Do not worry about it, my host. Two Earth hours practicing high speed stops and I am certain that you shall have this deficiency corrected. Now let us retrieve the young human and return him to the female upon the shore.”
Zev began his slow descent toward the "young human," a sly smile crossing his face. “You know, buddy, you’re usually correcting me ... but now its my turn now. You probably need to call “the young human” as you put it, the little boy. And the female is most likely his Mother. Your phraseology was kinda of cold, buddy.”
“I understand what is going on here, Zev. You are endevoring to making a point about this because I merely pointed out that you overshot the raft by ninety inches.”
“Maybe so, maybe no. But I’ll most likely mention this again. He he he.”
“I can only assume that you shall," replied QI in a droll sort of way. "Most likely more than once... Very well, Zev. Thirty minutes of high speed stops,” relents Zev's QI.
“That's acceptable, buddy.” Zev could see the child’s streaming tears as he dropped toward the raft. “You’re kind of far from shore aren’t you, little guy?”
The little tear streaked face turned upwards to face the voice from above. “Who ... who are you?” He was scared all right .. Zev could hear it in his small voice.
“Oh, I’m just a friend. Someone who would like to help you... If it’s OK with you, that is.”
“Mommie said,” sniff, sob, “I shouldn’t talk to strangers.”
“From what I know of this world, that’s most likely a good thing to do.” Zev was now floating in a sitting position, his legs tucked and crossed in a comfortable position, just above the water in front of the young boy. “What’s your name, young fella?”
“John Muscleman,” came the small, freightened reply.
“Well John, I agree with what your Mommie told you about trusting strangers. You have to be very careful these days, but there are exceptions to every rule. And I believe that we have one of those times here.”
“What’s a ‘ception?”
Zev smiled broadly. “This time it means it’s OK to break your Mommie’s rule, but just this once. Understand?”
The little answered with a quick bob of his head. “Uh ha, I unstand.”
“I’m glad, John. Now, what say you let me get you back to your Mommie?”
Again John’s little head bobbed as both short arms reached for Zev. “Ok,” he quietly said.
“That’s great, John. I’ll have you back to your Mommie before long.” Zev reached out, gently grabbing the young boy beneath each shoulder; lifting him out of the raft to his chest. Two small arms quickly found Zev's neck .. firmly encircling it.
“Scared, John?”
The little head bobbed up and down ever so slightly. “Yesss. You’re not gonna drop me are you?”
“Not in a million years, John. You just try and relax now and I’ll have you back with your Mommie in just a minute.” As Zev slowly accelerated toward the distant shore he stole a glance at his tiny passenger. “This isn’t too bad is it, John?” Once again the smallish head rose from his chest. “No, not too scary .. kind of fun. You think Mommie will be mad at me?”
“That I don’t know, John. But I do know that she is going to be awfully happy to see you again.”
Zev landed gingerly just in front of the child’s mother. “I believe this little fella belongs to you, Ma’am,” he said with a smile as he gently handed John Muscleman to his Mother ... both hugging as if they hadn’t seen each other for years.
Freeing one arm the woman wiped away her tears. “Thank you sooo much," she said with a relieved shake of her head. "I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help. I didn’t take my eyes off John for more than thirty seconds. When I turned around, he had already floated away from the shore. I’m sooo happy to have him back safely. Thank you again.” She slowly shook her head. “I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to him.”
“You’re most welcome, Ms. Muscleman. I’m just glad that I was close by.”
“So am I. What’s your name?”
“You can call me, Quantum Man.”
"Quantum Man?" The woman's eyes grew a bit wider. “I saw that interview on TV, but I wasn't sure if your were real or some sort of a hoax.”
“No, Ma’am. I’m real all right. Oh, and John, my friends call me QM for short.”
The little face brightened with a big smile. “Now if you’ll both please excuse me, I’ve got to be going. Have a nice day.” Zev lifted silently into the air. He glanced downward as he heard John’s small voice. “Goodbye, QM.”
Zev waved. “Se ya, John.” Seconds later the maroon streak had disappeared over the forest.
“I thought that you handled that quite nicely, Zev.”
“Thanks, QI. I guess that our practice starts now?”
“Correct. Do you see the tall tree standing one hundred and fifty point six yards up ahead”
“I do.”
“Good. I wish you to accelerate to high speed and stop over the top of that tree. Your target diameter is a one foot circle encompasing the center of the tree.”
“Sooo, I’ve got six inches on either side of the tree. Correct?”
“Correct, hot shot. Let us see what you've got. ”
****************
Thirty minutes later
“So. How’d I do, QI?”
“You hit our target area ninety percent of the time. Although I was hoping for a slightly higher percentage .. say ninety five percent, ninety percent is passable.”
Zev smiled in a smirking kind of way as he floated just above the tree top. “Yeah, ninety percent isn’t too bad, QI. I don’t think that I missed my other stops by much, did I?”
“No, you were quite close on the rest," grouses QI. "The lone exception being the practice run in which you were forced to dodge the air fowl. Even with that distraction, I feel that you should have come a bit closer than you managed.”
“I didn’t want to injure it, buddy.”
“I must agree, that is a valid consideration given these were but practice runs ... But have you checked beneath your feet?” Zev glanced downward, the top of the tree directly beneath him. “Of course you realize, that if your chips chose this moment for failure, the top of that tree could really be a pain in the ass.”
“What," exclaimed Zev.
“Just a small bit of this planet's levity, Zev. As you can see, I am not averse to a bit of levity from time to time. My chips do indeed have a lighter side to them. Earth humor does have its points, does it not? Uck, uck. Now, I would suggest that you continue your journey to Neon City.”
“Whatever you say, buddy. Neon City, here we come.” With a quick dip of his shoulder Zev flashes Southward toward the city.
*****************************
The estate of Herman Valenski
“I believe that we’ve given that f^@#$r plenty of opportunities. How about you, Angela?”
“Same here, Herman," replies Valenski's Number One with a confident nod. "I think last Tuesday was the fourth time that turkey turned you’re demand for money down. I'd say his time has run out.”
“I agree. It’s time da mayor learned a painful lesson. Got everything ready?”
“Absolutely. Waudsworth and Friendly have everything ready to go. All that we need is your say so.”
“Ya got it, Angela. Howz about this coming Thursday afternoon during rush hour?”
“I’ll set it up, Herman,” replied Angela with a cold, confident smile.
***************************
Neon City
“Hmm," muses our airborne hero. "Sunday .. most likely a slow day within the city, QI."
“Perhaps, perhaps not. Upon this world, those with evil intent seldom take a rest.”
“I hear that, buddy. It’s just that from up here everything down there seems so peaceful,” replies Zev .. his eyes sweeping the concrete metropolis beneath him.
“So it may appear, Zev. But once you’re down there, things can get a bit more hectic and decidedly dangerous at times ..... I believe that I have something.”
Slowing to a stop by one of the cities countless buildings the motionless figure uses his hand to steady himself against the monster. “What’s going on," he asked .. his eyes sweeping Westward over the seemingly limitless city.
“Your target location is Warf City.”
With the holographic projection (HP) before him, Zev rotated Eastward ... the direction line quickly burning a bright orange path across the HP. WHOOSHHH!! Short minutes later Neon Cities’ poor neighbor rushes into view.
Neon and Warf Cities were complete opposites. If there had been train tracks between the two, Warf City would most definately have been on the wrong side of em.
Neon City was known for its huge amount of neon lighting at night, its massive size and incredibly tall buildings. On the other hand, Warf City, situated on Neon Bay, was a small, rundown town which had definately seen better days. Nowadays it consisted mainly of warehouses, many of them in great need of repair, various small businesses of questionable integrity, rundown hotels and boarding houses in which the bugs were rumored to be resistant to Raid; shot houses, and “Pleasure Palaces.” It was a town that time seemed to have passed by; for years ago it used to be a busy port of call serving its big brother’s needs. When a new port facility had opened years ago just up the coast the smallish town's shipping traffic had all but dried up. Nowadays only the occasional small steamer made use of Warf Cities’ docks.
How then, you may ask, does a place like this manage to stay in operation? Payoffs, grease the right wheels. And just where does it come up with that kind of money, you may ask again. Rumor has it, and mind you, these are just rumors; but rumor has it that many of Neon Cities’ upper crust, sterling citizens all, made use, on a more or less regular basis, of Warf Cities’ “Pleasure Palaces.” These establishments provided a veritable smorgasbord of services to satisfy the ol bod. D&S, S&M, drugs, it was all there. Just tell em what you want and you got it. Oh yeah, last but not least; you could still have just plain ol sex for money if you want it. Run down as it was, ol Warf City made out quite nicely, thank you.
The smallish town next to the bay was definitely not the kind of place to end up with car trouble. Unfortunately that’s exactly what had happened to the Medfords this Sunday. The family took a wrong turn or two and ended up with four flats..... at the same time.
“I want both of you to stay in the car while I take a look around and see what happened.” John Medford could do nothing but shake his head; for the ground about the car was littered with some sort of small metal spikes that appeared the way ones fingers do when interlaced and held rigid. All of his tires had at least five of the things embedded within them. How they had managed to avoid a wreck was beyond him.
A small trickle of sweat coursed its way down the side of his face; for he didn’t like what he had seen. A coincidence ... something left on the ground from time past ..... no way... All of those things didn’t just happen to have found their way onto the street by themselves. Nervously glancing first right and then left, he saw nothing save a silent, deserted street bounded by buildings with cracked and boarded windows, burglar bars hanging at odd angles, rotten, twisted planking for sidewalks and a couple of rusting, seen better days autos. No sir. Not a good situation at all. Another trickle of sweat made its way down his back.
As he saw it he had two options; neither very appealing. He could leave his wife and little girl, alone in the car, while he tried to find some help; or .. he could take them both with him. He chose the latter of the two options.
Shortly after their nervous hike had begun, John Medford regretted his decision; for like fog shrouded specters, five large, armed men, four with baseball bats and one with a pistol seemingly appeared out of nowhere. A quick, terrified glance around told John Medford the awful truth ... the five thugs had evidently done this before; for they had sprung their trap with practiced efficiency.
"Youse folks look like youse could use a little help." Evil smile. "Don’t it look dat way to you, Arnie,” questions the man with the pistol .. obviously the leader of the group.
“Sure does, Paulie. I tink these here good folks could really use our help,” replies the man with tree trunk-like arms as he gently pats his bat against his large, powerful left hand. “We got it right, folks? You need some help with your ride over dare,” he asks with a nod toward the still car.
John Medford swallowed hard, the sweat literally pouring down his face. He and his family were definitely in trouble. How much trouble; only time would tell. He raised his hands slightly, palms facing the one called Paulie. “Look, we don’t want any trouble. Our tires are flat. We just want to get someone to help us with our car.”
“Yeah," replied Paulie with a slow, tilted look toward the car. "Looks like all four of dem tires are flat. Kinda bad luck for youse,” he said; his less than sincere smile missing several teeth. The other four men joined in with a nice laugh at the families “bad luck.” The circle closed a bit tighter.
As a stiff breeze from the nearby bay whipped the stringy hair of the men in the heavily tatooed group, not one under six five, they eyed the family at the center of their circle. A friendless smile from the single, bald member of the group, quickly revealed that the teeth of their owner hadn't seen the business end of a toothbrush for some time. But their powerful arms and legs, oh yes, their arms and legs testified to the fact that they had indeed put in their time in the weight room. And judging from their faces, a few had had unfortunate run ins with a dropped weight or two.
“We’d be glad to help with dat car of yours mister. How much ya got in dat fat wallet of yours,” demanded Arnie.
“Li .. listen," stammered Medford. "I don’t have much. Maybe .. maybe two hundred.”
“What!?” One man all but screamed with a jab of his bat toward the immobile vehicle. “You drive a fancy ride like dat and you say all you’re carrying is two hundred. That’s bull shit man! You got more,” he spit through clenched, yellow teeth.
Huge beads of sweat dotted John Medford's furowed brow, stinging his eyes as they rolled downward. “Look, I don’t have anymore money," he said, his voice shaking with fear. "But I do have a couple of credit cards that you can have if you’ll just leave us alone,” he quickly added.
“Oh, so we can have da credit cards if we just leave youse alone. Howz about we take dat money, doze cards of yours, dat car, and mess you all up real good? How’s dat sound to ya," Paulie asked through a vicious smile. As the men slowly closed in on the huddled family some patted their bats roughly in their empty hands while others dragged them noisily across the cracked concrete.
John Medford encircled his family with his arms ... "I'm sorry I ....."
“I don’t think so,” cracked an angry voice from above.
The five men stopped dead in their tracks, giving each other a what the f&^% stare. Snapping their heads skyward they stared, slack-jawed at the maroon clad figure which hung some fifteen to twenty feet above them.
***********
“Four men are holding what are called baseball bats. The fifth holds a 9mm pistol. Their weapons pose no threat to your safety, therefore your shields shall not be needed.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
***********
“Who the hell is dat, Smittie?”
“Why ya askin me, Paulie. I ain’t never seen da f$#@*r before.”
“Hey mister, where’d you come from,” Paulie asks with a jab of his pistol Zev's way.
“You figure it out, jerk,” replied Zev with an answering, angry jab of his finger.
Having succeeded in stopping the five, Zev knew that he had to move while the element of surprise was in his favor.
Whoosh!
Before any of the startled thugs could react, Zev landed besides the encircled family; handed the little girl to her father, grabbed both, surprised parents about their waists and rocketed into the air. Seconds later the three, stunned people had been safely deposited upon the roof of a near-by building. “Stay out of sight. I’ll be back shortly.” Before the three, dumbfounded people could say a word, Zev was gone.
*****
The five, speechless men watched as Zev launched himself from the roof toward street level. Landing softly on the badly cracked pavement the youngman glared angrily at the thug called Paulie. “I believe you tough guys and I have some unfinished business.”
“Dis ..... wasn’t any of your business man. Who ..... da hell are you, anyway?” Zev could tell that the original shock at what had just occured was quickly wearing off; the courage of their pack mentality once again reasserting itself.
“They seem to draw strength from one another.”
“It seems like it, QI. But I have a feeling that if they were by themselves they wouldn’t feel nearly as brave.”
The five, increasingly angry men spread out in a short line in front of Zev. “Dis is our turf, buddy. I don’t care what you can do. We’re gonna lay some serious hurt on that bod of yours.”
“I believe the correct response to that would be; take your best shot ace,” replies Zev with an angry/determined smile.
“I think I will, buddy,” snapped Paulie as his 9mm flashed into view.
Kablau, kablau, kablau.
Three, smashed and misshapen rounds fall harmlessly from Zev's chest to the pavement.
“They didn’t do nutin to em, Paulie,” angrily proclaims "baldy." A moment of deathly calm settled over the street as the five men stared at each other, then at Zev, and then back at each other. “Get em!!” They all yelled.
The four, baseball bat wielding men charged wildly at Zev. “We gonna bust you up bad, sucker!”
Quickly responding to their charge Zev dropped to his knees; driving his hands, palms first, into the solar plexus of the lead two. “Whuuu.”
Both men crumple to the pavement, writhing in pain -- their once deadly weapons clattering harmlessly besides them.
With an instinct molded and drilled into him through countless hours of practice during his schooling, Zev threw his bent arms upwards. Kerak! Smash! Chunks of splinterd wood fly; smashing, bumping, and rolling harmlessly into and across the nearby pavement. With cat-like quickness Zev springs to his feet. A quick, pulled punch sends the man on his right crashing to the pavement with a howl of pain and shattered jaw. With a quick, deft step to his right, Zev delivers a brutal, bone snapping blow to the other man's left thigh.
"Arrrrrgh!!!!!!!!!"
Zev cast an, I could care less glance, at the man as he writhed on the pavement in agony.
Ignoring the pain of the four down men, Zev turned to face the lone, remaining thug.
Paulie stared wide eyed and shaking with fear at the man before him. With a panic driven scream he turned and sprinted as fast as he could down the street. For a brief second Zev weighed his options. Tensing for action ... he relaxes. "Paulie!", he shouts. "The next time that I hear of anything like this happening around here, I’m gonna come look you up. And I guarantee you, you won’t like what happens when I find you!”
Zev launches himself skyward toward the Medford's sanctuary.
“Are you all ok," he intently asks.
“Ah ..... yeah, we’re OK,” stammers John Medford as he shakes Zev’s hand. “I want to thank you for you’re help down there. Things were looking pretty grim until you came along,” he says with a slow shake of his head.
“You're most welcome," replies Zev with a nod. "I'm just glad that I was close enough to render assistance."
The older man gives Zev an, so am I nod. “Let me introduce my family. I’m John Medford. This is Sandi, my wife.” The older woman nodded. “And this is our little girl, Claire Holly.” The little girl proceeded to give Zev a cautious once over. “Hi ya," she said at last. "You can call me CH.”
Zev stooped down to the little girl's level. “I'm glad to meet you, CH. Are you and you’re family from around here?”
“No sir. We’re from Ohio. We got lost and ended up here. Mommie and Daddy were arguing about which way to go and .....” A somewhat red faced John Medford spoke up quickly. “Ok, CH. I don’t think that we have to go into everything in front of ..... ah, what's your name?”
“I’m called Quantum Man,” replies Zev with a nod.
“We owe you an awful lot, Quantum Man.”
Zev gives the small family a gentle once over and then smiles. "You're most welcome," he says with a nod; his attention quickly shifting to the families' damaged car. "It looks as if your car’s not going anywhere though. I'll tell you what, if it’s ok with you, I can give you a lift into Neon City. There are many overnight establishments .....”
“I believe they’re called motels, Zev,” QI quickly interjects ... "I stand corrected, buddy."
“There should be plenty of motels for you to stay the night. You can get the tires fixed tomorrow.”
“Ah, that would be great, thanks," replied Medford, the nervousness within his voice readily apparent. "Please don't take offense," he quickly adds, "but we’ve heard about everything that’s been going on here and would really prefer to get on out of town as soon as possible.”
“I understand," Zev replied with a slight nod. "You’re talking about the murders which have occurred here over the past three years.”
“Ye'ah. We’ve read a lot about em in the paper back home. And we really didn’t want to come through here. Unfortunately the interstate we were on didn’t give us much of a choice. I guess I kinda missed a turn," he said with a sheepish grin toward his wife. "Anyway, it sent us right through the city.”
“I understand your apprehension, Mr. Medford. You don’t have to worry though. The one which you fear has been dealt with.”
“You?”
Zev nodded slightly.
A relieved smile crossed Medford's face. “I feel much better then. How about you, Sandi?”
His wife nodded and smiled. “Same here, John.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. I’ll give you folks a lift into town in your car.” Zev picked up CH and gently handed her to her Dad. Long seconds later the old concrete cracked underneath their feet. “Hop on in and buckle up and I’ll get you into Neon City.”
“What about those guys over there,” asked Medford as he gave the four, painfilled men a quick once over.
Zev glanced over his shoulder. “I guess we should get them some help.”
“Mommy and Daddy have a cellphone," CH chimed in quickly. "We can give the police and the paramedics a call along the way," Sandi quickly added.
“Good enough. Please be sure to warn them about the metal spikes on the road. Here we go,” Zev warned as he gently lifted the car off of the ground and into the air.
“I surmise that we shall be looking for a motel with a service station close by, Zev.”
“Give me a targeting solution, QI.”
The ghostly image of a map instantly appeared in front of Zev. “I believe the one which I have highlighted would be a good choice. Lodging, repair, and access to the interstate system, all close by.”
“That looks good, buddy.” With a gentle course correction the direction line orange. Zev and his cargo were now headed toward the HP’s blue target.
Needless to say, a car held aloft by a man did attract some attention, even on a Sunday -- several people managing to get part of the flight recorded on their cells and sent to KNON.
Window curtains parted. Doors flew open as people poured out onto the motel's walkways watching a maroon clad figure set a car with what appeared to be four flat tires down within the parking lot..........
"Your room is secure for the night?"
John Medford smiled and nodded. "Yes. We have a room for the night, thanks to you."
“Good," Zev said with a smile. "I have to be going. I hope that the rest of your trip is a bit more pleasant than this afternoon.”
“I’ll second that," replied Medford with a smile.
"I really can’t thank you enough for all of your help, Quantum Man.”
“You’re most welcome, Mrs. Medford. I"ll see you later, CH.”
“Good-by, Quantum Man,” said the little girl with a vigorous wave of her little hand. Zev silently lifted skyward, waved, and then disappeared over the roof of the motel.
“I believe it’s time to head back to the ranch, Zev. Nothing spectacular, but you did manage to help several people.”
“That’s what I’m here for. Right, buddy?”
“Exactly.”
*************
Accelerating Northward, the buildings of the city blur as he flashes by overhead. “Do you think that I’ll ever be able to see Mom, Dad, and Sel again, QI,” Zev somberly asks.
“Given the distances involved, your ship being destroyed is a definite impediment to that, Zev. Obstacles can be overcome, however. I would not give up hope. As they say here, I would hang in there if I were you.”
“I guess I don’t have much of a choice, QI.”
As Zev gently touched down in back of the ranch house the tendrils of early evening were just gripping the land. After a quick change of clothing he quietly entered by the backdoor -- the lifeless sound of the house telling him that he was alone within its darkening confines; for his friend would not be back from the city for several days.
His mind drifted back to the family which he had just helped -- and to his own, countless light years away. As he slowly made his way to the kitchen to see if he could find something to eat the depression within his own mind grew deeper; for he wondered if he would ever be able to see them again.
Senior, Zev. Dinner is in the fridge. E.
Good ol Esparanza, he thought with a melancholy smile. The application of a couple of weak energy pulses heated the food nicely.
A quick walk outside after dinner yielded no one; for everyone it seemed had left the ranch for the evening.
Zev glanced toward the darkened Heavens above him -- realizing that no matter how much he did here upon this alien world he would always be alone .. a stranger. With a deep, sad breath he slowly turned and headed back toward the house. The swing on the front porch kreaked as he settled in .. Alone or not, it was a beautiful night.
“Your biometrics indicate that you are feeling a bit depressed tonight, Zev.”
“They're right on the money, QI. I am feeling really down this evening. That ship was my only way home. I'd request another one, but as we know they don't grow on trees .. as they say here."
“Perhaps; but I do believe that an inspection of the lake area would be merited this evening. My scans indicate that you are alone here so there shall be no need to change into your suit.”
The cool, night air caressed Zev's face as he slowly lifted toward the star laden heavens. In short order he stood upon the lake’s shore, close to where he had crashed upon his arrival here. “All right QI, I’m here. It’s very nice but I don’t see anything of interest.”
Zev’s vision improved quickly. “I thought a bit of enhancement to your optics might help.”
“It does but I still don’t see .....” The surface of the lake began to ripple, then seemed to boil as the small, metalic hull eased its way into view.
“A Plain Ship!" Exclaimed Zev. "Where did that come from!?” he asked, barely able to contain his excitement.
“It’s a present, Zev. I thought that I would surprise you,” replied QI in his business-like tone.
“That’s the best present that I’ve ever gotten, buddy. I can’t thank you enough.”
“You see Zev. You are not really alone, are you?”
Zev shook his head as he wiped the tears from his face. Home was possible now. “No, I'm not. Thanks to you, QI.” An elated Zev Stal watched as his new ship slowly disappeared beneath the water’s surface. He lifted easily off the ground and headed back to his home upon this world.
.........................................
The rift in the Plain just above Neon City
The smallish ship flickered and then disappeared as it engaged its stealth mode. Seconds later it emerged from the rift and locked upon Neon Cities main water supply, Big Lake. Exactly one mile above its surface, heading East to West, the ship ejected fifty, forty mil capsules -- the drive system of each capsule spreading them evenly over the lake’s surface. Immediately after splash down, each capsule began to degrade -- delivering the Sigma Nine into the cities' water supply -- the enhanced kinetics of the substance’s molecular structure causing it to spread rapidly throughout the lake. Two hours later, Neon Cities' water supply had been completely saturated with the compound. By Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest, most if not all of the people within Neon City would have the substance within their body. For most, nothing much would change. They would possibly feel a bit ill but nothing more serious than that. But for those few people who carried the Nanozome, the mutational change would begin very soon.
Having completed its assigned task, the small ship reversed its course, disappearing back into the Plain.
(I get the idea that trouble's a brewin for ol Zev and the people of Neon. And they thought that they were in the clear when the Slasher disappeared ...)
I hope that you'll tune in next time for the next exciting episode of Quantum Man.
THE END OF EPISODE #3
