~ The Paragons ~ Chapters 1-10 ~ reprinted with permission
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Can generate electricity
Has heat on his side
Can create powerful tremors
The ultimate fighting machine
- Disclaimer *
These stories are a work of fiction and are not based on any person, living or dead. They are role play scenarios based on consenting characters enacting a mutually-agreed fantasy. The author absolutely does not condone unsafe or unconsenting sexual behavior, violence or harassment.
Photos used on this site are taken from the Internet as a representation of fictional characters. The use of any image should not be taken as a statement about that person's sexuality, preferences or behavior.
This site has no control over the content of other websites. External links are for adults only and are provided for your convenience and interest.
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The Paragons!
Welcome to The Paragons, a gay superhero series, written strictly for adults!
Enjoy the ongoing adventures of our heroes as they face their most dangerous foe!
Don't forget to leave an email grapple at myway dot com with your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you.
Chapter One
Jolt wiped the sweat from his chest and threw the towel in the laundry shoot. One day he’d get around to finding out who did their cleaning!
He peeled off his shorts and hit the shower. Long ago, he’d given up the lycra costumes to fight crime almost au naturale.
The benefits were immediate; so much so that rest of the Legion, and even some of their foes had taken to doing the same:
* Faster to get changed
* Cheaper than replacing wrecked costumes each week
* No restrictions of movement
* It looked hot!That last one was a joke, but behind the chuckle, it was also true. Heroes were the paragons of society and their good looks encouraged the ordinary people to model themselves on the virtues they extolled. Ergo, if you've got it, flaunt it! Besides, Jolt loved the feel of the breeze combing through his ample chest hair as he charged across town to the rescue.
Fever joined Jolt in the shower block and they shared the same stream of warm water. Without a word, Fever took the soap and began washing Jolt’s back. He was a faithful sidekick, even at times like this when he needed the soap far more than Jolt did.
The mud formed a landslide down Fever’s taut body as the water washed away the evidence of his embarrassing fall in the dirt. It had been a dirty fight anyway, with Quicksand turning the ground beneath them into sludge. But Jolt had faced that foe many times and knew what to expect, leaping forward and tasering the villain with his electric touch before the ground began to soften beneath the nearby skyscrapers. Fever however, was caught off-guard and toppled into the growing quagmire before he knew what was happening.
Ah, to be so innocent again, Jolt thought, remembering his early days fighting crime. In this business, you learned the hard way, and you never made the same mistake twice.
Jolt turned into Fever and took the soap from him, gliding it gently over his ward’s chest.
“They say a mud bath is good for the skin,” Jolt teased.
Fever backhanded him across the arm, and the soap dropped to the tiled floor. Jolt smiled as they both eyed the soap then each other. Fever sighed and slowly sunk to his knees before his mentor.
He opened his mouth but was cut short by the sudden burst of the alarm. Instantly, the duo were out of the shower, drying themselves off as they raced to the control room. The printers were already spewing out details of the crisis while the wall of monitors showed the worried face of the Chief of Police over the one-way video link. His plea for help was full of urgency and frustration.
Like a well oiled machine, the duo split. Jolt tore open the lockers to grab fresh shorts for both of them, tossing one pair to Fever, who caught it without looking up. His other hand had already sent a response to the Chief, letting them know they were on the case. On the monitors, a suburban street was now on show, with crashed cars and frightened people littering the street and nearby playground.
“It’s Bounce,” Fever read off the missive. “Up to his usual tricks. No one hurt except for a bit of whiplash, but lots of property damage.”
Jolt growled. “Bounce?! Haven’t seen him for a while. What’s he been up to? It’s not like him to be this overt. Come on… you can take this one. He’s a harmless prankster, more annoying than anything. It’ll be good practice for you.”
And with bodies still glistening from their recent shower, the fighting duo charged to the scene. On the monitor’s behind them, a large, circular shadow burst into view, slamming into the camera and killing all transmission.
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Chapter Two
“Now listen up,” Jolt instructed Fever as they turned the corner to face the havoc in the playground. Car sirens wailed, crowds huddled and broken glass lined the road where a few vehicles had collided.
“Bounce is a prankster. He’s a kid that just likes to have fun. He can be hard to catch, but if you do, turn on the heat. If he’s in his rubber state, he’ll start melting, so while you’ve got hold of him, a little warmth will be all you need to keep him under control.”
“Got it,” Fever grinned, and looked down at his palms as they began to glow red. Even at low heat, he could feel the warmth reaching his face.
“Not too hot!” Jolt warned. “You don’t want to hurt him; just subdue him.”
Fever nodded and switched off his internal thermometer.
“I’ll slip in from behind, if you distract him from the front,” Fever said. He liked being given the reigns. Jolt nodded and ran forward, leaving Fever to slip behind the crowd to come up from the rear.
A shadow passed by overhead and Fever looked up in time to see Bounce summersault high in the air, laughing gleefully. In the distance, he heard Jolt’s voice booming out an order for Bounce to cease and desist. The response was more laughter and the honk of another car alarm being set off.
Fever reached the far side of the crowd and slipped into the open in time to see Jolt lunge at their quarry.
“Missed me!” Bounce laughed and sprung into the air, twisting around to land just a few feet in front of Fever. “And as if I didn’t see you sneaking around the back,” he admonished jokingly with a wag of his finger.
The youthfulness of Bounce took Fever by surprised. He barely looked out of his teens, with beautiful locks of blond hair riding on a body of silky smooth skin. His model looks took Fever’s breath away but that moment’s hesitation was all Bounce needed.
“Ta ta!” Bounce waved and shot high over Fever, hitting the ground at a run.
Fever took chase, losing ground against the agility of Bounce has he sprung over the high fence separating the playground from the empty school yard. By the time Fever had climbed over it the hard way, Bounce was already disappearing around the nearest building. Behind him, Jolt was also running, but too far back to matter.
Fever practically skidded around the corner of the school block, just in time to see a distant door close. Great! he thought, he’s gone inside. Too many places to hide!
He charged across the courtyard and into the building, we’re he glimpsed Bounce vanishing around the corner at the far end of the corridor. He followed through the maze, each time just glimpsing the vanishing youth before he disappeared from sight. Up stairs, down stairs, around another bend… the chase continued, until the final corner sealed the result.
Fever braced his hand against the wall for balance as he took the corner but as he came around, the dark figure of a man caught his other wrist, using Fever’s momentum to spin him 360 and slam him back into the wall.
Fever grunted, the wind knocked from him as the man pinned his hands against the wall by his ears and pressed his dark, muscular torso against Fever’s to sandwich him against the wall. Fever’s chest heaved for breath and over the stranger’s shoulder, he saw Bounce crouched low, panting hard, but grinning at Fever’s predicament.
The stranger’s eyes seemed to twirl like a vortex as he whispered “Look into my eyes” in a smooth, deep voice. Fever couldn't help but stare into them and found himself unable to look away. His mind clouded over and his body locked up. He couldn't move!
The man smiled and slowly pulled back. For amusement, he bent forward and licked Fever's exposed torso, from stomach to neck. He chuckled and stepped back beside Bounce, leaving Fever frozen in position against the wall.
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Chapter Three
On the floor below, Jolt tore through the building as fast and quietly as he could, looking for any sign of Fever and Bounce.
It was so unlike Bounce to be this upfront. The kid was harmless, so far as foes went, but his trouble-making could always lead to an unexpected accident. Fever was far too inexperienced to think ahead. He still reacted to the here and now too much, and that meant even Bounce could accidentally do him harm.
The silence of the empty school hallways was making Jolt worry. He should be hearing Bounce laugh, or the distant running of feet… or something! But instead there was silence.
The doors on this floor all seemed locked, so he hit the stairs three at a time. His years as a child soldier back home in Israel had taught him from an early age to think quick, maintain his fitness and fight hard when needed, so the stairs weren’t an issue, even after all that running.
When Jolt’s powers had surfaced during puberty, he took those lessons and fled to a better life in the west… only to learn that western cultures were just as cruel to each other. The only difference was they weren’t as overt about it. As that sad realization dawned on him, he committed himself to use his strengths to better the world, not for one nation or belief, but for everyone. World Citizens. One step at a time.
Jolt paused at the top of the stairs and listened. Nothing. He eased forward and then suddenly, a snort, like a muffled laugh, from somewhere up ahead.
Jolt rushed forward with stealth, bracing himself against the wall as he reached the corner. He craned his neck to listen. A moment later, he heard the sound again: quiet laughter. Cautiously, he peered around the corner. At first, he saw nothing in the dim light of the unlit corridor, and then his heart skipped a beat as his focus found its mark.
At the far end of the corridor, Bounce crouched, hugging the leg of a figure Jolt couldn’t immediately identify. In a trick of the light, the black skin of the stranger seemed to shimmer, as though covered in oil. The stranger stood in the center of the walkway, facing Jolt’s direction, as though expecting him.
More surprising than that, Jolt saw Fever to one side of them, pressed unmoving against the wall, arms up by his ears as though nailed to the wall.
Jolt stepped into the corridor. He faced the stranger like a scene from a gun-slinging showdown, and it was then that he recognized the man.
“Seduction!” he gasped and involuntarily reeled back a step. One of the world’s most dangerous villains was standing before him. The last he'd heard, Seduction had barely been stopped from seizing control of New Zealand’s government and turning the entire country into an orgy of slaves.
“Another one for the harem,” Seduction laughed, his powerful voice booming down the corridor. Bounce echoed the laugh, bobbing up and down in excitement.
Jolt stepped forward, fists clenching as he felt the tingle of electricity entering his fingertips. He let the power build up slowly, rising with each step. He needed to get close enough to Seduction to make physical contact. One jolt of electricity from his fingertips and Seduction would be out for the count.
He was too far back to be caught by Seduction’s hypnotic eyes, but he didn’t know how far reaching that deadly gaze would be. He kept his own eyes focussed on the villain’s chest to be safe, admiring the rippled stomach and towering torso that could make any man swoon.
Seduction stood his ground, allowing Jolt to come to him.
It has to be a trap! Jolt thought, but as his eyes scanned the empty corridor, he could see no trip wire or sensor or other deadly contraption. Both Seduction and Bounce were showing too much skin to be hiding a weapon, and there hadn’t been enough time for the super villain to have taken control of Fever's mind yet.
Jolt edged forward. Perhaps Seduction didn’t know of his powers and was hoping to grapple Jolt down and force him to stare into those eyes.
Bounce snorted, and covered his mouth to hold back a burst of gleeful laughter.
Jolt was only a few metres away from them now. He dared to raise his eyes slightly, just in time to see a smirk slide over Seduction's lips.
“Now,” the villain said with unnerving calm.
Bounce squealed with delight. For a moment, his entire body seemed to wobble as he transformed to rubber and bounced himself across the hall to slam into the wall beside Fever.
An instant later, the high pitched bell of the fire alarm screamed through the air. The fire sprinklers burst to life, and water plummeted down on Jolt, connecting with the electricity that had been building up through his arms. His eyes widened and his mouth opened in a gargled scream as his body convulsed violently and the power surge threw him into the wall. His body stiffened and shook like an Earth tremor as the water turned his own power against him.
He slipped in the water and lost his footing, crashing to the ground where he lay in spasms until the energy subsided.
Seduction came forward and looked down on the fallen hero. His eyes ran lasciviously over Jolt’s toned, masculine chest and he 'harrumphed!' with satisfaction before lifting the unconscious figure into a fireman’s hold.
“Bring him,” Seduction ordered Bounce, nodding towards Fever. “This is where the fun begins.”
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Chapter Four
Jolt woke with a start, his entire body aching from the electric shock he’d suffered. He was tied to the four corners of a shallow tray that kept him in an inch of tepid water. He struggled against the ropes that lashed his wrists and ankles, attracting the attention of his captors with the splashing.
“Welcome back,” Bounce grinned, bounding over to Jolt’s side. “The boss is a bit busy right now, but I’m sure he’ll be with you soon.”
He pointed across the room and Jolt’s eyes followed. Fever was lashed front-first to a 6ft block of solid ice, his arms wrapped around the rectangular sculpture as though hugging it. His face was turned towards Jolt’s, distress and fear evident in his eyes.
Behind him, Seduction pressed against Fever’s back in slow rhythmic thrusts that stemmed from the villain’s naked groin. Seduction’s fingers wrapped around Fever’s torso, squeezing in between the flesh and the ice to dance amongst Fever’s chest hair.
Jolt could see Fever trying to melt the ice with his heated hands, but with so much of his body pressed into it, Fever was having a hard time generating enough heat to escape. God knows how long he’d been lashed to it, cooling his body temperature before he’d come to his senses enough to try using his power.
Seduction had entered Fever from behind, thrusting his unseen tool deep into his prey. Any moment now, he would climax inside and the viral semen would put Fever under his captor’s control.
Their breathing was heavy and the surprising gentleness of Seduction’s erotic gyrations would have turned Jolt on in better circumstances.
As if sensing this, Bounce stood over Jolt’s shoulder and began massaging the prisoner’s chest, ensuring he didn’t obstruct the view. He toyed with Jolt’s nipples and stretched down to fondle the hair that snaked up the navel.
Jolt struggled against his bonds again, looking up at the pretty boy’s face hovering above him.
“What are you doing, Bounce?” he growled. “You’re out of your league!” But even as he said it, he knew Bounce had been the first to fall under Seduction’s control.
Bounce grinned, an elastic arm stretching down to Jolt’s groin, and it was then that Jolt realized he’d been stripped naked too. His back arched as rubber-like fingers encircled his cock like a well-fitted condom. All Jolt could see now was the smooth, supple torso of his tormentor; pink nipples hard and erect, only millimeters from his lips.
He groaned softly and he arched again as the fingers began stroking in a steady rhythm that matched Seduction’s conquest. Jolt turned away from the circular pink temptations above him and looked back at his hapless assistant. Fever’s mouth was open wide in a silent gasp. Seduction’s hands had snaked up Fever’s chest to hold him unnecessarily in a full nelson.
Sweat trickled down Seduction’s back. He pressed his cheek against the back of Fever’s head, eyes closed as his thrusting became more urgent. He nibbled on Fever’s earlobe and suddenly convulsed with a gargled moan. His knees buckled slightly and his grip tightened on Fever as he exploded inside his captive. Fever gave a little cry, shuddering too before his body relaxed and he slumped against the ice.
Jolt also uttered a cry, as the dismay of his friend’s plight coalesced with the building tension in his own cock. Bounce was tugging hard now; harder and faster, his torso stretched down then length of Jolt’s so that his moist lips taunted the tip of Jolt’s dick with each downward stoke. His stomach pressed down on Jolt’s cheek, forcing the hero to face Fever’s demise.
Seduction had stepped back from Fever now and was untying his latest convert. He took Fever’s hand and led him over to Jolt’s side. Bounce moved to the opposite side of the water-logged tray, careful not to break the pulse of his handiwork below.
Jolt closed his eyes tight to avoid Seduction’s gaze.
“Don’t worry,” Seduction laughed, running a finger up Jolt’s torso. “I don’t need to mesmerize you. You’re already my prisoner. But you will be my slave.”
“Never!” Jolt gasped, close to orgasm. He opened his eyes and clenched every aching muscle in a vain attempt to prevent himself from cumming.
“Then die,” Seduction said, and stepped aside. Fever stepped in; a once-trusty sidekick and friend. And with a calm and unflinching face, Fever grabbed Jolt around the throat and squeezed.
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Thanks for sharing :hug:. Waiting for the next chapters ;D
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Chapter 5
Jackhammer grunted as the fist connected with his stomach. He doubled over, exposing himself to another fist in the face. He flew back through the air, crashing onto the bonnet of an aged Toyota. He was insulted. He would have preferred a Mercedes.
Shaking his head clear, Jackhammer sprung to his feet just as Crunch flew at him, tackling him back down again. The shattered windscreen collapsed inward under the force of their body weight. Jackhammer grunted while Crunch raised himself and landed another punch to Jackhammer’s face.
Jackhammer saw stars. He wasn’t used to that. Crunch had appeared a few months ago, robbing a bank by ripping the vault door off its hinges. It was the first time Jack had met another who could match his own superior strength. Crunch, it appeared, had the same fighting power, but with the added advantage of being streetwise brawler.
Until now, Crunch had escaped any major conflict by fleeing the scene of his crimes as soon as Jackhammer arrived. One punch from Jack on their first meeting had warned Crunch that he had a nemesis and, since then, he’d managed to vanish before any real fight had ensued. They’d been playing cat-and-mouse since then, and Jackhammer had expected this time to be the same. But instead, Crunch took the offensive, taking him completely by surprise.The two muscled behemoths had all but destroyed the street, colliding with brick walls, toppling street lampsm and crushing park cars. Even the bitumen was cracked after Jackhammer had slam-dunked Crunch into the road.
That advantage had been short lived though. Now the ripped torso of Crunch was bearing down on Jackhammer, forcing him through the broken windscreen onto the front seat of the car. Lucky it was automatic! Crunch dropped down on top of him and raised another fist.
Jackhammer punched up, loving the cracking sound of his fist hitting Crunch’s chin. The motherfucker flew off him sideways, hitting the back of the seat but Jack was still underneath. He punched up again and this time kicked up as well. The power of the blows sent him spinning upwards in the limited space. He bounced off the roof of the car, fell over the top of the passenger seat, and hit the floor in the back just as the interior light switched on by its own accord.
The raised centre of the car floor cracked against Crunch’s lower back. He snarled with pain. Jackhammer leaped over the front seat and landed on top of him with a vicious knee to the stomach. Jackhammer’s fist landed in Crunch’s face before his foe reached up and incidentally grabbed his Jack's pec.
Instead of pushing Jack off, Crunch realised where his palm had landed and squeezed hard. Jackhammer cried out and Crunch reached his other hand up to squeeze Jack’s other pec.
Jackhammer grabbed at Crunch’s wrists but his full body weight was bearing down on his foe, leaving him pressed into the painful hold. He tried desperately to release the agonising clutch but couldn’t.
Then Crunch suddenly released it for him. Jackhammer fell on top of him, and Crunch quickly tangled his feet around Jack’s ankles. He lifted his legs upward and at the same time grabbed Jackhammer’s wrists and pushed his arms upwards too. Jackhammer's arms and legs splayed out in a hold that left him hanging above his nemesis like a hammock. Every finely sculpted muscle tensed and strained in a demonstration of might that did him no good. He felt like he would snap in half.
Crunch managed a smile, looking up at the man he’d spent the last few months fleeing from. The agony that wracked Jack’s face told him that it had been wasted effort. He was in control. He had nothing to fear. His own power was stronger than this hero’s. He could rule the world, and no one could stop him.
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Chapter 6
Fever’s fingers tightened over Jolt’s throat, the smooth hands like a silk noose. Jolt wheezed a final breath, and strained against the ropes that kept him splayed out in the tray of inch-deep water. If not for that, he could have used his powers to jolt each aggressor off him with a zap of electricity.
His eyes began to bulge. His mind raced. Seduction was a master villain, but he had an agenda. Why would he bring Jolt back here only to kill him off so quickly?
Out of sight, Bounce fastened the pace of his tight strokes on Jolt’s erect penis. Jolt’s mouth opened wide in a grimace that almost mimicked the open-mouthed smile of Fever as he bent over to press his lips on Jolt's.
The trapped hero's face was changing shades, and then his cock exploded, shooting its warm bleached liquid high in the air. His body convulsed in surprisingly violent spasms, and through the ringing in his ears, Jolt could hear Bounce laughing excitedly.
Fever released the strangle hold and kiss, and air tore into Jolt’s lungs, burning with the sheer speed it entered. The final orgasm pulsed through him, slamming into the rush of air, causing him to shudder and gargle as though facing the death tremors.
He lay their panting, bulging eyes slowly returning to their sockets. His mighty chest heaved and Bounce stepped back in sight, clapping his hands and grinning ear to ear.
“That was awesome!” he chuckled. “You almost shot me in the eye!” The mention of it sent him into peels of laughter. And then Seduction came back into view; his shadow falling over Jolt like the Grim Reaper himself.
“You did well,” Seduction said to Bounce, without taking his gaze from Jolt. “You will have your reward.” He leaned closer, speaking now to Jolt. “As for you, my friend, I can see the confusion in your eyes. Something so pleasurable, yet filled with fear?” He toyed with Jolt’s nipple, still sensitive to the touch. “That’s the life I promise you. Tell me you don’t want it.”
“Go to Hell,” Jolt snapped.
Seduction laughed. “Only with you by my side,” he said. He clicked his fingers and Jolt felt his ankles get untied. Seduction moved to the end of the tray and climbed in, lifting Jolt’s legs to make room for him to kneel inside the shallow enclosure.
Jolt immediately thrust up, locking his legs around Seduction’s head.
“That’s it!” Seduction crooned, pressing his broad chest into the back of Jolt’s legs. “Clear the way and let me inside you!” He slapped Jolt’s butt cheeks, making no attempt to remove himself from the leg lock. Nor did he seem bothered by it, even as Jolt tried twisting at the hips to force Seduction away.
“You have the power of electricity,” Seduction grinned, keeping his ground. “Any other power is mine.”
His long fingers clasped Jolt’s arse and spread the cheeks wide. Jolt could feel Seduction’s throbbing penis dancing against him. He clenched, but Seduction had already entered him with two fingers that tickled his anus in search of the prostate.
Jolt’s legs dropped from around Seduction’s neck. He bent his knees and lifted his hips, but the move just made it easier for Seduction to dig deeper. Jolt gave a little cry as Seduction’s fingers found his g-spot, brushing over the soft walnut in a slow downward stroke. He found himself tense up, then the muscles relaxed with a slight shiver that left goose bumps all over.
Seduction’s free hand hooked under Jolt’s leg and raised it. He removed his probing fingers and lifted Jolt’s other leg; his throbbing, magical manhood finding its way into Jolt’s hole with a life of it’s own. Seduction’s back straightened; the powerful, chocolate chest pressing between Jolt’s dangling legs. His biceps flexed under the weight of holding them up.
Jolt lay there, mouth open, filling his lungs with deep, gasping breaths. He didn’t struggle. He couldn’t. Not now that Seduction’s penetrating pupils had morphed into a swirling vortex of darkness that sucked any fight from him.
The battle had been lost. Even now, before Seduction’s semen had entered his body and taken hold of him, Jolt was already under his power; another pawn in Seduction’s growing army of victory.
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Chapter 7
Quake adjusted the towel around his waist and plonked himself on a chair in the control room to play back any recent activity on the monitors. He shook his head with a smile as he watched Bounce freak a few pedestrians, then switched off the recording.
He spun around in the chair with a childish ‘whee!’ before sighing at the empty room. There was no one home. He was bored. Not just now, but with everything. His last mission had been to stop a dangerously fast police pursuit before anyone got seriously hurt. The police chopper had dropped him in front of the getaway vehicle, where he'd opened the ground with a quick tremor. It took all of five seconds. The speeding car raced by, all four tires blowing out as they hit the crack in the road. It skidded to a halt and the police were waiting to nab the bad guys.
Bad guys? Ha! What’s the world coming to? He thought. Whatever happened to the good old days of crazed villains with super powers of their own? They seemed so far and few between that there weren’t enough to go around any more.
Bored, bored, bored! Perhaps he should have stayed in Egypt. At least he could pass the time shaking the ground lose for archaeologists!
He absentmindedly fondled his chest hair as he sauntered over to the laundry shoot and peered in. “You okay down there? Did they feed you today?” he shouted into the blackness. The only response was the echo of his own voice.
He grinned and sighed, leaning back against the wall. An angelic figure appeared in the doorway. Quake jumped.
“Bounce!” he exclaimed, looking around for anyone with him. “How did you find this place?”
Bounce smiled and stepped into the room.
“You here alone?” Bounce asked, ignoring the question put to him.
“Are you?”
Bounce nodded. “I’ve come to kidnap you,” he grinned.
“Is that so?” Quake smiled and pushed Bounce back against the wall, pinning him by the wrists. “I think you have some explaining to do.”
“Oh, I have more to do that that,” Bounce chuckled, breathing in the freshly bathed scent of Quake’s flesh. His arms suddenly turned to rubber and slid through the grip, wrapping around Quake’s forearms like a pair of snakes. He remembered Seduction’s words: “You have a gift. Think outside the playground and learn to use it.”
“What the..?!” Quake frowned, taking a few steps back as he tried to pull his arms free.
“I’m not a kid any more,” Quake grinned. “I’ve been taught by the best.” A flick of his shoulders sent a Mexican Wave shooting down his rubbery arms. As it snapped across Quake's arms, Quake lost his footing, dropping to his knees. A look of surprise covered his face.
Quickly, Quake sent a tremor back up his own arms as he rose to his feet, but the rubbery skin absorbed the shock. Bounce stretched his body up and out in a terrifying blanket of rubber that loomed over the Mediterranean champion. His sudden height lifted Quake’s arms into the air, leaving him dangling on his toes.
Quake tried for another tremor, harder this time, cracking open the floor of the control room and sending furniture jumping into the air. But still Bounce held on, wobbling with the impact but otherwise unaffected. He stepped forward to engulf Quake with his body. Quake kicked out, but the rubbery wall just absorbed that too.
Disbelief filled Quake’s mind. None of them had ever though of Bounce as anything more than a thrill-seeking prankster.
What the Hell is going on?! he thought.
Bounce’s chest smothered Quake's face now, cutting off his oxygen supply as the cocoon sealed around him. Quake thrashed about, and they rebounded from the wall, but in his leathery state, Bounce’s was immune from the beating.
The duo fell to the floor, rolling around in the dust and fallen plaster until suddenly there was stillness. A moment later, Bounce retracted his skin, returning it to its normal state. He was lying on top of Quake. He lay there for a moment, enjoying the course fur of the unconscious man scratching against him. Then he sat up and looked down at Quake, stroking the finely trimmed beard.
Seduction had been right. All those years of playing around; never once realising his potential! One week ago, the fear of facing Quake would have sent Bounce fleeing in terror. And now here he was, the new champion, feeling stronger and prouder than ever, sitting on top of his prize.
Under Seduction’s rule, they would be unstoppable, and he, Bounce, would be leading the charge.
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It was easy work holding Jackhammer in the air above him, and Crunch enjoyed the view of the muscled Asian’s straining body has it hung like a hammock in his hold.“You’re flying now, Astro Boy!” he laughed, making reference to Jack’s heritage.
Jackhammner’s body trembled with the strain, and sweat began dripping from his face. With a painful twist of the hips, he swung his butt up towards the roof of the car, releasing himself from the back-breaking arch he was hanging in. The move toppled him over and he landed with a thud on the back seat.
Crunch reacted immediately, sitting up and ramming an elbow in Jackhammer’s stomach. Jack doubled over, winded and felt a muscled arm wrap around his neck from behind. The choke hold tightened and Crunch locked Jackhammer into a half-nelson.
Jackhammer gagged, his face going red as his free hand clawed fruitlessly against Crunch’s choke. He couldn’t breathe and the back seat of the car left little room for maneuvering. He brought his knees up to his chest and kicked out, as hard as he could against the seat.
The force of the kick slammed him back against Crunch and the crack of metal snapping echoed in the chamber as the driver’s seat snapped from its mooring. It tilted over the dashboard and the duo shot over the seat’s backing and through the broken windscreen, catapulting off the car and onto the road. The impact separated them and Jackhammer staggered to his feet, rubbing his throat.
Crunch rose to his feet confidently, smiling.
“Had enough?” he asked, clenching and unclenching his fists menacingly.
“The party’s just starting,” Jackhammer grinned. Somehow, he felt alive, despite almost being taken down a moment ago. It felt good to finally face a real challenge.
They lunged at each other and as their hands grasped each other’s shoulders, Crunch twisted around, spinning on the spot to slip in behind Jackhammer. He hauled his opponent into a full nelson but Jackhammer dropped to the ground, slipping out of the hold and somersaulting backwards between Crunch’s legs. He ended in a standing position, pulling Crunch into a full nelson instead.
Crunch roared, massive biceps powering down, but Jackhammer pulled back hard, lifting Crunch’s feet off the ground. The full nelson was one of Jackhammer’s favourite holds: two bodies pressed tightly together, oiled by sweat; groin on arse; muscles straining; and when you’re stretching your opponent so tightly, it’s hard for them to breath. What wasn’t to like about all that?
“You think you’re up for some Asian Persuasion?” Jackhammer puffed, lifting Crunch’s feet off the ground again.
Crunch growled like a wounded animal and kicked back with his feet, connecting with Jackhammer’s shins. Crunch bent at the hips, flipping Jackhammer over his shoulders. Jackhammer landed on his feet in front of Crunch but as he looked up, a fist connected with his cheek. He spin around from the blow, crashing head first into a brick wall.
Crunch grabbed Jackhammer by the hair and slammed him head first into the wall again. Bricks crumbled against the force and Jackhammer staggered. His eyes were glazed over as he fell back against the wall, reaching up to pull Crunch’s hand from his head. His torso was left exposed and Crunch landed a fist in Jackhammer’s stomach.
Jackhammer fell to his knees gagging. Crunch moved in behind him, standing over his back now. Bone-crushing thighs squeezed around Jackhammer’s ribcage and Crunch dropped backwards to the ground, hauling Jackhammer face up over him. Jackhammer cried out. The leg lock squeezed against his ribs as two arms hooked under his own and pulled him into a full nelson.
The opposing forces of Crunch’s legs and arms threatened to rip Jackhammer in half. It was a torture rack like Jackhammer had never experienced. He was stretched to breaking point and still Crunch was taking it further. There was no air left in Jackhammer’s lungs. His ribs were being crushed. And the daylight that danced on his tormented body was fast fading to black.
-
Chapter 9
Losing was beyond Jackhammer's comprehension. Yet here he was, staring up at the sun but the light was fast fading to darkness. On the ground underneath him, Crunch held him in both in a full nelson and a crushing leg lock around his ribcage, stretching him out in both directions in a tight torture rack.Jackhammer’s lungs burned from lack of oxygen. His head was already hazy from the being thrown head first against the wall several times. He could barely think. He banged his head back, making contact with Crunch’s torso just below the sternum but it had no effect.
Above his head, Jackhammer wiggled his fingers and hands until he made contact with Crunch’s chin. Damn! he thought. I can’t reach his face!
The fight had gone on for hours it seemed. No mortal man could have lasted this long without the fast healng powers that he – and Crunch – possessed.
In a way, it had been like a boys own adventure for him, but Jackhammer didn’t want it to end like this. It was a rush finally having a worthy opponent, but letting him win would be a disaster. Who else could stop him if Jackhammer lost the battle?
His feet tried finding their footing on the ground but he was too weak to kick up. Then his fingers above made contact with Crush’s bottom lip. He pinched hard and pulled down on the lip. Crush yelped and let go of the nelson.
With the leg lock still around him, but loosened, Jackhammer twisted around and landed a punch squarely in Crush’s face. Crush swung up, pulling Jackhammer into him and locking on a bear hug. Jackhammer cried out as the air was squeezed from him one again. The leg lock tightened once more, holding him against Crush, who now lived up to his name.
Jackhammer reached up and locked a hand over Crush’s mouth and nose, cutting off his oxygen, while his other hand grasped Crush’s hair and began pounding the man’s head against the pavement. Crush was forced to let go. They rolled apart and staggered to their knees. Jackhammer braced and swung his legs up, kicking Crush in the face.
As Crush hit the ground, Jackhammer pounced onto his back and laid a few fast blows to the base of the neck. He crossed Crush’s arms under the neck and pulled back, neutralising the villain in a Japanese strangle hold. Crush choked as his own biceps choked him, his back arching up dangerously close to breaking point.
Jackhammer could feel his own strength returning. He held tight, confident that Crush could not escape. He looked around. He needed to find cabling that would be thick and strong enough to bind Crush until he could move him to The Hold.
As if on cue, a black van screeched to a holt and his colleagues jumped out, carrying a lasso of industrial cables. He called out to them and the raced over, throwing the cable over Jackhammer’s head.
“What the…?!” he said as Jolt and Quake pulled the lasso tight, pinning his arms to his side. They hauled Jackhammer off Crush and pulled him to his feet, just as Seduction stepped out of the van, flanked by Fever and Bounce.
“Oh my God!” Jackhammer gasped. “It can’t be!”. He’d read the file on Seduction. Who hadn’t?! But he’s here? In this city? No way!
At his feet, Crush moaned and climbed to all fours. Seduction crouched down in front of Crush and looked him in the eyes. A moment later, he stood and turned his attention to Jackhammer.
“Take him to the van,” Seduction ordered over his shoulder. Fever and Bounce sprang to action.
“No no no no no no no no!” Jackhammer moaned, keeping his gaze low. He thrashed against the cabling as his wranglers kept their distance.
Seduction stepped up to Jackhammer and gently took hold of his chin. He lifted Jack’s head.
“Open your eyes,” Seduction crooned. “It won’t hurt.” He pressed his lips softly against Jackhammers, wooing him to obey. Jack squeezed his eyes shut tighter and slammed his head forward.
The head butt sent Seduction staggering backwards, and onto his arse. Jackhammer spun in a circle, pulling his wranglers off their feet. They staggered away, releasing the cable, which immediately unsprung itself, falling at Jackhammer’s feet.
There were five of them, all with powers of the own. Six if you counted Crush, sitting mesmerised in the van. There was only one of him. Jackhammer knew it would be hopeless to take them all on. He dove between his former colleagues and legged it. He was the last one standing. Headquarters would no longer be safe, and they’d be looking for him on the streets. There was CCTV everywhere. He had no where to go, except in hiding.
With a last glance over his shoulder, Jackhammer fled as fast as he could.
-
Chapter 10
Jackhammer burst into headquarters ready for war. Caution abandoned, his aim was to enter full speed, taking everyone by surprise. If he was to be overpowered, he would go down fighting, taking as many of them down as possible.
He didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t what he found. His entire team had been taken by the infamous Seduction. He was the last man standing. God only knew how many other Leagues out there had also succumbed to Seduction’s control. How had he not heard of it?
In the control room, he’d expected a battalion of resistance; an astronomical fight to the finish. What he got, was a war zone already abandoned.
Headquarters had fallen, both metaphorically and physically. The concrete floor was ruptured with deep, jagged crevices ripping haphazardly across the length of the room and up into the walls. Overturned furniture lay broken or dishevelled. A thick layer of dust covered everything. There was no doubt that the final stand had taken place here for at least one of his comrades.
He desperately wanted to know what had happened. He wanted to see how his friends had fallen, partly from curiosity, but more from a need to know his enemy. But he knew time was not on his side. If Seduction had taken down the League, then all their secrets would be revealed. The Omega protocol had to be enacted. It may already have been too late.
Jackhammer crossed to the control panel and began punching in the Omega Code. It was a short alpha-numeric code that could be entered quickly with one hand in an emergency. There was no alarm or melodramatic countdown; just a quiet, anti-climatic beep to let him know the code had been accepted.
He backed away from the panel and fought back the tremor of sadness that threatened to engulf him. Already the computer was quietly erasing its memory. Decades of history were vanishing. Databases of super villains and criminals, politicians, business operations, passwords, operatus memorandi, weaknesses, and every other complex association from across the globe were disappearing as he stared numbly at flickering displays.
Somewhere, in another part of the world, a more dramatic alarm had begun sounding. The secret Central, whose location and personnel were unknown to everyone, was being notified of the disaster. The entire region would be declared an exclusion zone until the scope of the catastrophe could be ascertained. That meant Jackhammer was on his own. By protecting the League’s secrets, he had cut himself off from his colleagues around the world. It would only be a matter of minutes before international wires would be running hot to declare this entire region a no-go.
A bead of sweat slithered down Jackhammer’s chest and, as he wiped it away with his palm, he realised just how damp he was. He was sweating profusely from the realisation of what he’d just done. Never, in the history of the League, had the Omega Protocol been engaged. In fact, worldwide, he could only ever recall one time that a League had enacted it, long, long ago.
He needed clothes and food to take on the road. He slipped into the change rooms, regretting that he didn’t have time for a shower. He opened his locker and jumped back in surprise. A figured crouched inside, leaping out with a terrified scream.
Jackhammer braced himself to attack, but the assailant threw himself back against the row of lockers whimpering.
“Don’t hurt me!” he cried, in a light Irish lilt. He covered his face with his arms and cowered into a foetal position.
“Who are you?!” Jackhammer demanded.
“I’m no one!” the man squeaked. “Please don’t hurt me. I won’t say anything. I promise!”
Jackhammer relaxed and looked upon the redhead with a mixture of sympathy and disgust. What a wuss!“Tell me what happened here,” Jackhammer insisted.
The figure peeked out at him like a mouse through a mouse hole, then tentatively rose to his feet, using the lockers for support. He was dressed in nothing more than damp checker shorts and a pair of thongs on his feet. The bearded face was relatively handsome and the light coat of fur on his chest was appealing, although the stranger was nowhere near man enough to meet Jackhammer’s preference.
“I-I don’t know w-what happened,” the man stammered pleadingly. “He was on a rampage, so I tried to hide, but he followed me inside. Then this man tried to fight him and everything started to cave in so I hid.” He broke into a whimper, his whole body trembling. His eyes filled with tears. “What the fuck is going on?!” he cried. “What is this place? Who were they?!!!”
“Take it easy,” Jackhammer said in a soothing voice. “Whatever happened is over now. You’re safe. But you have to leave now. They may be back.”
“I was at the beach, for fuck’s sake!” the man exclaimed. “I was on my way home. What the fuck happened?!”
“Listen to me,” Jackhammer said, forcing himself to be patient. “If you leave now, you can go home and everything will be fine. You have nothing to be worried about.”
“Bullshit!” the man snapped. “I know you. I’ve seen you on the TV. You’re one of them supermen, aren’t you?!”
“My name is Jackhammer,” he replied diplomatically. “What’s your’s?”
“O’Shay. Braeden O’Shay.”
“Well, O’Shay, you need to leave now…”
“No fuckin’ way! I’m sticking with you!” O’Shay stepped forward, suddenly filled with determination. “I’ve seen what’s out there. I won’t let you leave me behind. Those freaks are unstoppable and you’re my best chance of staying alive!”
Jackhammer sighed, perhaps more dramatically than he would have hoped for. “Listen, you’re safe as long as you go home and say nothing.”
“No one’s safe,” O’Shay insisted. “Those freaks are going to take over everything. I’m staying with you. And before you argue, I’m Irish, so I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer!”
Jackhammer groaned inwardly. Right now it was more important to get out of here than to deal with some frightened geek. He could dump the dude later.
“Fine,” Jack said, reaching into his locker again to extract a jacket for himself and his scantily clad companion. “Put this on. It’s going to be cold night.”
“You’ll take me with you?” O’Shay asked.
“For now,” came the reply.
O’Shay took the jacket as Jackhammer led him out through the destroyed control room and back into the sunlight.
The normality of the world outside seemed decidedly deceptive. Jackhammer knew that there was only one course of action left for him to do. Well, two, actually. The first was to rid himself of O’Shay. Then came the reality that there was no League in the world that would come to his aid right now. He was alone in an impossible battle against his entire brethren. Against everything he believed in, Jackhammer knew he was going to have to find The Brotherhood.
