Kitty on a Cloud
Shitpancake was perfectly curled up on a blanket. It looked like he was curled up on a cloud
…Time for this week’s story…
Gargoyleman: Cold Case
Miles of skyscrapers spanning the eastern seaboard did nothing to halt a vicious blizzard sweeping through Newmoon City. Amidst the bitter cold, the Gargoyle’s Spotlight shone in the clouds, calling Gargoyleman to one particular skyscraper. Within it, citizens trapped in offices huddled together for warmth. Those who could create fire burned whatever paper and wood that was available to them as they awaited rescue.
A shadow stretched over the icy interior of the building. Through the ice walls, the helpless citizens watched Gargoyleman, the city’s greatest hero, creep through the frozen lobby. Wearing his bulkier winter suit, he checked on the trapped citizens then took a moment to listen to the television before moving on. All the broadcasts were playing the same news. The Justice Guild had been attacked by Morpho and lost many great heroes. Additionally, they had set free many villains. This breaking news to the world was several weeks old to Gargoyleman, even though he was still parsing the magnitude of the events that followed.
Gargoyleman hurried to the stairs and jettisoned himself to the top floor of the building. The way the building was frozen, only one of Newmoon City’s villains could be the culprit. That meant the villain was headed for the executive suites. Once there, Gargoyleman burst through thick double doors into an executive conference room. Inside, he found who he was looking for.
“Zero Cool…” Gargoyleman beheld a bald man with blue eyes and light blue skin. A cold mist emanated from his body like dry ice. He was holding the dead body of an executive, mangled in pain and fear, frozen in his final moments. Nearby were two other well-dressed corpses, frozen to the bone. On the other side of the room was a huddle of terrified executives and other employees.
“Here to defend the wicked in the name of Justice again, Gargoyleman?” Zero Cool tossed the body aside and aimed his arm at Gargoyleman. From it, he fired a cloud of frosty air that Gargoyleman deftly avoided. A burst of six-pointed ninja stars fired from Gargoyleman’s arms, but missed their mark. Familiar with Gargoyleman’s tactics, Zero Cool was quick to move before being hit.
“One crime doesn’t right another,” Gargoyleman’s gravelly voice rumbled through the frozen conference room.
“Let’s agree to disagree.” Zero Cool fired back with more gusts of ice.
Gargoyleman threw out an electric net, but Zero Cool ducked behind the conference table to avoid it. Their fighting was putting the hostages in danger, so Gargoyleman closed the gap. He dove at Zero Cool, who fired an ice blast back at him. Gargoyleman’s arm guard turned red-hot, shielding him from the attack while he jabbed a taser into Zero Cool’s gut.
Collapsing to the ground, Zero Cool clenched his stomach. He grabbed Gargoyleman’s boot to freeze it, but three Ninja stars in the shoulder put a stop to that.
“Get out! Take the stairs,” Gargoyleman commanded the hostages. They hurried away in panic. A moment later, they were alone. “Give up, now. Don’t make this worse than it has to be.”
“Wasn’t the plan,” Zero Cool said.
“Did Morpho and his gang set you free?” Gargoyleman asked.
“No. They offered, but I declined. I wasn’t the only one. There were some like me who turned them down, and others who intentionally weren’t set free,” Zero Cool shared candidly and without prompting.
“Then, how are you here?”
“I was set free a week or two later.”
“By whom?”
“By the Justice Guild, of course.” Zero Cool laughed. “I don’t know what you did to piss off all the heroes, but the only requirement of being set free was to go after you.”
“And you agreed?”
“I said I don’t take orders, but doing what I do means you’ll show up eventually. I don’t have a problem with you, you just keep getting in my way. That was enough.”
“So you were given a second chance and resorted to your old prerogative?” Gargoyleman pulled Zero Cool’s hands behind his back and handcuffed him. Surprisingly, he was not resisting at all. In fact, it was an easy fight compared to their previous encounter.
“Geneti Corps killed my wife because she was going to expose them. Unlike the people who set me free, I’ve got my ideals. You understand. I know you do.”
Gargoyleman narrowed his eyes at Zero Cool, who smiled slyly back at him. Gone was the rage that once stormed in Zero Cool’s eyes. Even the temperament in his voice had been iced, but his intensity and intellect were brimming.
“Something is different about you. Tell me what you’re up to, or suffer the consequences of whatever happens if you don’t.” Gargoyleman leaned in threateningly, but Zero Cool simply smiled and shook his head.
“I feel like I’m finally seeing the world for what it is.”
“You’re going back into your old cell,” Gargoyleman said.
“I’d rather be in my old cell than the one I was in previously. Could I be so bold, Gargoyleman, my old nemesis, so as to make a request?”
“What’s that?”
“Some of us cast as villains are simply victims of a game being played. You know what I mean. I know now that it is beneath you, but it is not beneath your brethren. My conscience would be at ease knowing that none of my choices were manipulated by those individuals. Do you understand?” Zero Cool stared at Gargoyleman, who rose to his feet. He took a deep breath and nodded.
“I do.” Gargoyleman grabbed Zero Cool and helped him to his feet.
“Thank you. Be sure to watch your back out there. I wasn’t the only one they set free. They’re coming for you.”
“Who?”
Zero Cool turned to Gargoyleman and the casual intensity in his eyes became overt. He leaned in and spoke slowly so Gargoyleman would understand how deeply he meant what he said, and so for the first time sent shivers up Gargoyleman’s spine.
“Everyone.”
Next Time
Sidekick: Space Wardens