Peacekeeper/Patron Saint of Crime #1
For those 5th Column Comrades and fans of the El Paso: Mean Streets Series this mini-series is non-canon. Hope you guys enjoy.
Impurest Cheese
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Syrinx Pharmaceuticals Warehouse, Indigo City, North Carolina
The modified Ford transit van with Texas plates pulled to a halt just inside the door, the shutter descending as the men inside got to their feet, their hands going to their weapons as the doors opened. Dropping to the floor, the driver, a bald man dressed in a long trench-coat over a pair of jeans and a bare torso, his appearance in sharp contrast to the passenger who was dressed in an expensive suit.
“Melchior, so pleased to see you.” The leader of the welcoming committee, a skinny Indonesian Man dressed in cargo pants and a tank-top snorted, his AK levelled at his guests. “Did you bring it, my bosses want to see the product in action.”
“Of course.” Melchior stated, his Persian accent sounding rich, almost noble in comparison to the man he was being addressed by. “Wormwood, bring a unit for our hosts to inspect.” He told the driver, the larger man stomping round to the back of the van, a pair of Indonesian gunmen flanking him, their weapons levelled at his back. Opening the back doors Wormwood hardly flinched as a jet of coolant seeped out of the cargo bay, although his escort recoiled as the chill bit at their toes and fingers. With a grunt Wormwood removed a half a foot tall canister emblazoned with a biohazard symbol, only for one of the Indonesians to snatch the canister away only to drop it as the muscles in his hand froze.
“You may want to call your men back.” Melchior suggested, as a thick black liquid oozed out of the canister, a rancid smell filling the air as the pair of Indonesians began to cough and choke.
“No I want to see this.” The Indonesian boss stated, as the two men fell to their knees, callouses and scars forming over their skin and dark blood flowed out of their burst eyeballs. Shaking his head Wormwood closed the back of the van, went round to the camp and pulled out a disc with a gleaming red orb in the centre. With a deep sigh he threw the disc at the leak, before walking back to Melchior’s side, a wave of fire exploding outwards with a pop, the spilled chemical evaporating in a thick black haze.
“Don’t worry the heat denatures the chemicals in the Eiter, it should be quite safe to breathe the air in here.” Melchior stated, as the fire began to consume the bodies of the men who had died due to Eiter exposure.
“I was told that this chemical was meant to be a universal mutagen!” The Indonesian Boss snarled, as he levelled his weapon in line with Melchior’s skull.
“It is.” Wormwood stated calmly, as he shucked his trench-coat to reveal a torso marred with painful looking warts, scars and growths. “If a man is strong enough to survive the effects of the chemical, then strength akin to that of the Gods is their reward among other gifts considered unnatural.” He added, as he ripped the AK-47 out of the boss’s hands and ripped the barrel clean off the gun.
“I assume that is a significant enough demonstration of what the Eiter can do for your boss, now all I ask is what are you willing to pay the Merchant for this shipment. Oh and before you answer I would like you to factor in the cost of smuggling such a thing through customs to get out of El Paso and into Indigo City.”
“You’ll get your money, first I want to see another test.” The Indonesian Boss stated, as he clicked his fingers, two of his men walking in dragging a naked young woman into the room. “This is Cassiopeia Williams, a local vigilante who keeps interfering with our business. Fortunately we caught her sneaking around earlier today, I think she would make a perfect second test of the chemical’s effect on the human body.” He added as his men threw the woman to the ground. “Any last words Peacekeeper?” He sneered, as Wormwood returned to the truck and pulled out another canister, before returning to where the prisoner was being held.
“Hands up your under arrest!!” An accented voice ordered from the edge of the room, causing the criminals to glare at Peacekeeper, and then at the blonde woman dressed in urban camouflage fatigues standing in the doorway with a pair of pistols in her hands.
“Who the hell are you?” The Indonesian Boss spluttered as one of his men tried to take a shot, only for the woman to fire first, her shot hitting him in the leg and sending him collapsing to the floor.
“Oh please I have only been off the TV for a year and a half.” The woman sighed as two more of the Indonesians began to raise their weapons, only to receive the same treatment as their fallen comrade with similar results. “My name is Danika Sedova, I was the Bounty Hunter Babe, come one people!!”
“Who?” Peacekeeper asked, as the two guards flanking her began to back off from their captive.
“You’re that private contractor from El Paso!” Melchior hissed in a low cold voice. “You have your busty blonde problem, and my master has his.” He added, as he flicked his finger forward, his tiny motion causing Wormwood to spring into action, the vial of Eiter in his hands flying towards Sedova and impacting on the floor as she dived away to the left. With a roar he rushed forward, his attack slamming into the Bounty Hunter Babe, and sending her sprawling across the room.
“Don’t worry about your problem boss.” Wormwood grunted, as he grabbed Sedova by the leg and swinging her around, before releasing her, the lithe bounty hunter slamming into a stack of wooden crates with a sickening thud.
“Don’t underestimate her, she is dangerous indeed.” Melchior warned, as Sedova rallied and landed a blow into Wormwood’s chest, the impact causing a jet of blood to ooze out of the nearest warts and burn her hand.
“She’s not the only one.” Peacekeeper added, as she elbow slammed the men behind her, before grabbing one of the AKs they had dropped and spun around and slammed the weapons butt into the Indonesian Bosses face the blow sending him falling to the floor. “Call him off now or you get a bullet in your brain!” She hissed, as she aimed the rifle at Melchior’s head.
“Wormwood!!” Melchior yelled, as Wormwood stabbed his foot long blade like tongue into Sedova’s shoulder, only to receive a sharp blow to the face. “Enough!!” He yelled, causing the monstrous enforcer to throw Sedova down, before delivering a swift kick and stalked back towards the van, only for the engine to start-up and the vehicle to back out of the warehouse.
“What did you do!?!” Melchior bellowed, as he grabbed the AK and slammed Peacekeeper to the floor, his actions causing Wormwood to spin round and charge at Sedova, the woman dropping and ducking under his blow, her leg held out to send him smashing face first into the floor. “You have no idea what you and your accomplices have stolen!!” He snarled as Peacekeeper aimed a kick at his shins, the blow causing him to double over in pain as she got to her feet.
“”Why don’t you tell…” She stopped as an arrow flew through the open door and slammed into her shoulder, the force of the impact knocking her to the floor. Rushing over to her, Danika bent down and looked at the wound, before putting her guns down and removing a spray can from her belt.
“Looks like you got hit, don’t worry I got this.” Danika stated as she placed her hand on the arrow, ready to remove the projectile.
“You may have that.” A voice behind her hissed, as Wormwood grabbed her by the left arm and the scalp before twisting, the cartilage in her neck and shoulder beginning to crack and pop. “But now I have you, and that means the two of you will never leave this room alive!!”
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