"Nothing to Fear but FEAR STALKER "

Created and Written by: Richard Gutierrez

Art by: Vince L White and Sharone Patterson

FEAR STALKER TM and copyright Richard Gutierrez 1998, All rights reserved. No use of the characters or situations maybe used without written permission from Richard Gutierrez.

TAMPA, FLORIDA 3:15 AM FRIDAY MAY 15TH, 2195

A warehouse in the waterfront section of the "Downtown" area, where we join a hijacking already in progress. The victims, a driver and 2 of his "sidemen". They were smuggling…transporting a very delicate and dangerous piece of cyber-ware through Downtown for their boss. The cyber-ware was on it’s way from the black market isle of Australia, when a gang of self-made cyber-pirates known as THE BYTENICS ambushed the truck. They forced the occupants to get out of the truck and the massive M.A.R.C.U.S. (Man-A-droid, Robotic, Cyber-Unit, Servant) has the two sidemen by their ankles suspended upside down several feet off the hard cement warehouse floor. The driver is kneeling in front of the more metal than man M.A.R.C.U.S. as the other gang members take turns pummeling them. Part for information on the contents of the truck…but mostly for fun.

WHAM!!! POW!!!!

IRON (punching one of the sidemen in the abdomen): Ohhh! I think I heard your stomach burst with that one.

SIDEMAN 1 (hanging upside down, gasping): Aargh!!.

DRIVER: Come on guys. You’ve already got our truck how about…

WHAM!

IRON: (kicking driver in the face, busting his lip open):…I kick you in the face! Know shut up while I finish talking to my new friends here.

IRON: (Turning his attention to the two M.A.R.C.U.S. has by the ankle): Now I’m going to ask you guys just one more time…where were you taking this stuff?

SLITHER: IRON. Thesssse mammalssss don’t sssseem to be ressssponding to your people sssskillssss. Maybe I sssshould give it a try?

IRON: (angrily turning toward SLITHER) Why don’t you mind your own business? I got this! I don’t need any help from some walking crocodile!

SLITHER (cradling one of the sidemen’s head in his massive scale covered hands): A walking croc I may be, but you sssshouldn’t have all the fun. I'm getting ssso hungry and sssseeing all of this guy'sss blood jusst makesss my mouth water!

The sidemen looks at the "monster" as it stands before him with the foulest substance he's ever smelt drooling out of it’s mouth. As much as he wishes he’d pass out from the blood draining to his head he is unable to.

SIDEMAN 2: Keep that...thing ...away...from me!!!

IRON: Alright I tell ya what…you can have that one but the others are mine. Deal?

SLITHER: Oh yessss!!!

IRON: I’m going to ask you one more time…who were you bring this to?

DRIVER: You don't ...understand. He'll kill us!

IRON (cracking his knuckles): Like we won't?

CARTER (from the shadows): Gentlemen. Gentlemen. There is no need for this. I’m sure that our friend here can be made to realize the scope of his situation.

IRON, SLITHER, and M.A.R.C.U.S all turn and see the leader of their little band of pirates entering the warehouse wearing his customary stylish three piece white suit. Walking next to him, is the group resident cyber-junkie, HATCH in his customary raggedy overalls.

IRON (turning to look at CARTER entering the warehouse): CARTER. It figures you’d show up just when I was about to break them.

CARTER (walking toward the men): I’m sure you were, but let me ask him. We've been going around and around about this for several minutes know, and true to tell…this is getting boring. I'm surprised my boys haven't killed any of you already. In fact, I think it's an act of God that they haven't. But the time for pleasantries have come to a swift end.

CARTER calmly turns to one of the sidemen as his hands begins to glow with an eerie purple and black energy.

ZZZZAPP!

WHAM!!!!

The sideman is blasted with such force that he is sent crashing through the back wall of the warehouse. He is killed even before he can scream. His body lies burnt in two with steam rising from the wounds.

DRIVER: Noooo!!

CARTER (Turning toward the driver): Now, M.A.R.C.U.S. hold down the driver for me while I have a chat with him. My good sir, the next sentence I hear from you will start with, "I work for...". Now who do you work for?

As the driver looks at CARTER and sees his hand still glowing, his will is broken. He knows that the other sideman and himself are already dead. They were as good as dead the minute that this clan of Cyber-pirates hijacked their transport . His life flash before him…his wife, Cattie, and new born son, Thomas Jr, will never know how much he wishes he'd spent more time with them. The driver can only hope to get a little satisfaction by betraying his boss's name in hope that the pirates will kill him for sending him on this run. It may be a lame shot at revenge, but it’s all he’s got.

DRIVER: I work...for ... the Mas...

CRASH!!!

Just then the sound of breaking glass is heard from high above. Followed shortly by a rain of glass shards.

IRON (looking up): What the ?!

The gang looks up and see a figure that would give them nightmares…if they were to live long enough to fall asleep again. A being dressed in all black with a ratty blue cape and a hood. The eyes of his mask, they hope it's a mask, are blood red with a mouth that looks like a series of blood red jagged teeth. Can this thing be human? They will learn soon enough.

HATCH (running to hide behind a stack of crates away from the battle): I’m out of here!

M.A.R.C.U.S. (as FEAR STALKER lands a powerful kick to his metal chest, in a mono-toned synthesized voice): What are you?

FEAR STALKER (swiftly regaining his footing after his kick had little to no effect on the large being): I am the thing from your childhood nightmares! I am that thing that watches you from dark corners. I am FEAR STALKER. I was drawn here by this poor soul's suffering. It's time YOU knew suffering! It's time YOU knew FEAR!!

CARTER (shouting at IRON): My my aren’t you a fierce looking thing? M.A.R.C.U.S. kill him.

With that the huge robot/cyborg starts to lumber toward FEAR STALKER, still holding the 2nd sideman’s body by his ankle.

FEAR STALKER (pulling out his staff): Please try.

M.A.R.C.U.S. throws the sidemen at FEAR STALKER. FEAR STALKER ducks down and as the man flies overhead and crashes into the stack of crates that HATCH was hiding behind.

HATCH(scurrying to his feet): I didn’t sign on for this. I’ll go hide in that office over there.

FEAR STALKER leaps at M.A.R.C.U.S. with his staff and hits him in the side of the neck. The blow cases the huge being to stagger.

CARTER (seeing this shouts to IRON): Get in the transport and return to the hideout.

IRON: Why? I can take this guy.

CARTER: Move.

IRON (to self): That CARTER! Always trying to grandstand. I could have taken that creep, but now I have to turn tail and run. One of these days CARTER…one of these days.

IRON starts up the transport, with the cyber-ware, and drives it through the whole in the wall made by CARTER’s earlier blast.

CRASH!!!

M.A.R.C.U.S. (picking up a large piece of sheet metal): It will take more than that to stop me.

FEAR STALKER (leaping in the air again): Well…how about this?

FEAR STALKER hits a button on the side of his staff and four 1-foot long blades spring from its sides. He easily leaps over M.A.R.C.U.S.’s head to avoid the sheet metal and plunges one of his blades deep into the mechanical back of M.A.R.C.U.S.’s mid-section.

M.A.R.C.U.S. (turning his head around to look at FEAR STALKER): Is that supposed to hurt me?

FEAR STALKER: No…but this is.

FEAR STALKER uses all of his strength to pull up on the staff, slicing M.A.R.C.U.S. from his lower back up to his head. The extreme damage causes M.A.R.C.U.S. to spurt oil and blood all over the floor of the warehouse. He falls to his knees then flat on his face in a pool of his own fluids.

FEAR STALKER (turning toward CARTER): That was a mistake to send him against me and then send one of your other flunkies away with the transport.

CARTER (Firing a blast at FEAR STALKER): Why not? I need that cyber-ware. It'll net me a lot of cash on the black market in Australia. I'm not going to let you have it.

FEAR STALKER (dodging the blast): I don't want your cyber-ware. I was referring to the fact that you sent your minion away when YOU should have been to one to flee!

SLITHER tries to sneak up behind FEAR STALKER while he is engaged with CARTER

SLITHER (to self): That’ssss it. Keep the mammal bussssy

SLITHER (Grabbing FEAR STALKER from behind in a bear hug): Got ya!!

FEAR STALKER (Struggling to break free): Yes…it does…seem that…you do

CARTER fires a blast of energy at the captive FEAR STALKER when he suddenly bends over and the blast hits SLITHER in the top of his head, setting it on fire.

SLITHER (Writhing in pain and letting go of FEAR STALKER): Aarrgghh!!! Put it out!!!!

FEAR STALKER (turning toward SLITHER): How about I put you out!?!

FEAR STALKER takes his staff and uses it has a pole to vault himself in SLITHER's direction. He hits SLITHER in the back and causes him to fall on top of M.A.R.C.U.S.’s body. The flames hit the fluid on the ground and a raging fire starts to consume the warehouse.

CARTER (starting to fire wildly at FEAR STALKER): Stand still!!! I'll kill you!! What kind of demon are you?!

FEAR STALKER (easily dodging the blast): I'm the kind of demon that even HELL would disown.

In the confusion the driver tries to slip away but gets hit leg by a stray blast

DRIVER (getting hit by a stray blast): Argh!

FEAR STALKER leaps and dodges several of CARTER's blast. He punches CARTER in the head leaving CARTER with the feeling that it’s lucky his head is still attached.

POW!!!

CARTER flies across the warehouse and crashes into a stack of crates.

CARTER (to self): What is wrong with me? I'm always calm and cool. The mere site of that...THING and I get all flustered and...full of fear. My hands were shaky. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end. I felt helpless! I've got to pull myself together if I'm going to survive this.

FEAR STALKER (from across the warehouse): I'm waiting for you.

CARTER (getting up and charging FEAR STALKER): Alright you bastard, take this!!

CARTER runs at FEAR STALKER blasting at him. FEAR STALKER calmly pulls out his bladed staff and casually blocks the blast.

BING. BING. BING.

FEAR STALKER: Is that the best you can do? Here's the Worst I can do!

FEAR STALKER swings his staff and slices CARTER in half at the waist. As CARTER's lifeless body falls to the floor, FEAR STALKER turns and walks over to the driver. The sheer ferocity of FEAR STALKER's attack causes the driver to stutter and shake. Part of him wishes the pirates had killed him.

FEAR STALKER (placing one of his blades at the driver's throat): I'm sorry that I interrupted this little party, but I think you have some information I need. The transport that you where driving, whose is it? Speak up.

The driver looks deep into “eyes” of FEAR STALKER's mask and his body is swept up in a raging ocean of fear. Every pore on his body tingles, as FEAR STALKER's voice seems to violently penetrate his soul. There is no comprehending this feeling.

DRIVER (hysterical): THE MASK! THE MASK! DAMN IT! THE MASK ! KILL ME NOW!! KILLME!

FEAR STALKER (pulling his blade back): Just as I thought The Mask. Well if you work for him then you must die too. Do not despair, he will be joining you soon enough.

As FEAR STALKER readies his staff to come slashing down on the driver...

BLAM!! BLAM!!

COP: Drop it psycho!!

The cop fires two warning shots at FEAR STALKER.

FEAR STALKER (standing in front of the driver): Ah the local law enforcement. Tell me officer, is LT. CYCLE around? I was just think how much I needed to kick his…

LT. CYCLE (stepping from behind the officer): I’m right here, you freak!

LT. CYCLE has been on the DPAF (Downtown Police Action Force) for several years quickly raising to the rank of lieutenant and being place in charge of bringing order to the disorder that is commonplace in Downtown. His main obsession, lately, has been the capture of the dark vigilante, FEAR STALKER. They have tangled a couple of times over the past 2-3 weeks...always with FEAR STALKER getting the best of him and escaping. LT. CYCLE has learned that FEAR STALKER is much more than a man. He possesses several abilities, such as heightened strength and agility, along with his ability to induce fear into his opponents. These abilities can only be classified as being unnatural, but LT. CYCLE can also be classified as having unnatural abilities himself.

LT. CYCLE (powering up his eyes): Ready?

FEAR STALKER (Twirling his staff, still standing in front of the disabled driver): Ready.

LT. CYCLE fires a blast of energy at FEAR STALKER. FEAR STALKER is able to easily jump out of the way, but the blast hits the driver in the head, killing him.

FEAR STALKER (Leaping onto a stack of crates): Killing a bystander…there went your gold watch, Charlie. Care to try again.

He fires another blast at FEAR STALKER, once again FEAR STALKER leaps out of harms way. The blast smashes the stack of wooden crates into toothpicks.

FEAR STALKER uses one of the blades on his staff to snag an overhead pipe, swinging toward a nearby window to escape.

LT. CYCLE (firing a blast at him): Not so fast, freak! You won't get away this time!

LT. CYCLE's blast misses FEAR STALKER but shatters the window in front of him giving FEAR STALKER a quick escape route.

FEAR STALKER (Turning to LT. CYCLE): You know, you’re very lucky I already got what I came for, because one day soon we will have our final meeting.

FEAR STALKER jumps through the window and escapes.

WHAM!!

LT. CYCLE (smashing a nearby crate): Damn it!

FEAR STALKER (leaping from rooftop to rooftop away from the warehouse, to self): That is what I call a successful night. I not only got some needed information but also got to further piss LT. CYCLE off. If my existence wasn't totally screwed up, I'd almost be happy.

As FEAR STALKER continues to on his journey over derelict rooftops and decrepit building he continues to think of his existence and how he came to be

FEAR STALKER: The Mask. I've been trying to find out who this guy is, and what possible connection he could have to that rat bastard father of mine, for about 3 weeks now. He has proven to be involved in everything from the age old vices, like prostitution, smuggling, and gambling, to the neo-vices like cyber enhancements and criminal ferrying. LT. CYCLE and the others in the DPAF either can’t get him or are on the take because they have done nothing to stop him. All I know is that the Mask is the undisputed King of all of Uptown and Downtown. I believe there is a saying, If you’ve bought it, he’s made a buck from it". He's a faceless enigma that no one knows exists but everyone KNOWS exist.

FEAR STALKER stops on a old high-rise apartment building and looks down into an adjacent alley. He sees fellow denizens of the Downtown area squatting against trash bins trying to keep warm. They’re either part human and old rusty cybernetic implants or horribly deformed mutations caused by the high levels of radiation given off by the anti-gravity generators that keep Uptown floating over the Downtown area.

FEAR STALKER: He has caused life in Downtown to be even more Hellish than it used to be, and it was HELL before! This area, whose whole reality is located 500 ft below the massive Uptown disc, is an area that is in darkness for more than 12 hours a day, do to the unreliable lights that line the underbelly of the disc, is the place where the less fortunate call home. I've lived here for all 18 of my years. Always looking up and seeing the dark dirty bottom of the floating city that is "Uptown.

FEAR STALKER looks up and can almost see the tall spires and buildings that reach into the very heavens them self. The gold and platinum edifices reflect the bright fluorescent lights for miles around. The site brings a bad taste to his mouth. Why should THEY have so much when WE are stuck digging in their garbage for a crumb? As FEAR STALKER continues his journey over the rooftops, his anger starts to swell.

FEAR STALKER: Uptown, heh, the place where the "high-rollers" live. Perched high above, looking down at everything and everyone. I wonder if the builders back in '35 knew that their structure would cause an even more visible rift between classes. It was built to help ease overcrowding in more metropolitan areas. Tampa was the test site picked for it location next to a huge body of water that could be used to power the 500 plus Anti-Gravity generators needed to hold up the Uptown disc. It's worked here so well that the idiots decided to build 3 more. Charlotte, Dallas, and Phoenix. There were plans for more until the disaster in Dallas in '85. Half of the 500 Anti-gravity generators lost power and caused the city to tip, crashing down killing over 5 million people. The government shut down the project and began redesigning the generators. They copied similar technology that is in use in the prison on the moon.

FEAR STALKER continues to swing through Downtown and lands on a decaying building.

FEAR STALKER (to self): This area is more than a place, it's a living entity all its own. It has feeling, moods, and diseases just like a living creature would. I've made it my mission to cut the disease from its source and to stalk the fear that is a tangible entity all its own.

FEAR STALKER swings down and enters an old building at the corners of Zack and Florida. In the 20th Century this building was a YMCA. A place where people would go and lift weights, play basketball, or just spend time with friends. Now, all that remains is a building that has been certified inhospitable. Yet, this is the perfect place for FEAR STALKER to call "home". He slowly enters the building heading for the “kitchen” area that is full of surprisingly clean and functional appliances, including a large metal refrigerator. As he opens the door to the refrigerator, he sees a reflected shape behind him. He quickly spins toward the shape with staff drawn ready to attack.

EVE: Javy?

FEAR STALKER spins but before he can strike with his staff, he sees who made the reflection. Her name is Eve Harding. She is 21 and has grown up in Downtown were she’s been mistreated and abused all her life because of her blindness. FEAR STALKER recently rescued her from a gang intent on raping her. She has lived with FEAR STALKER since then to show her gratitude. He reluctantly agreed to take her in. FEAR STALKER has always been a loner ever since his mom died 6 years ago. He's lived on his wits and natural determination. He only agreed to have her stay because Eve reminds him so much of his mom.

Eve: Javier...it is you right?

FEAR STALKER (turning back toward the open fridge taking out a small flask full of a little blue liquid): Yes, Eve, it is. What are you doing up at this time of night? You should be sleeping.

Eve: Well I decided to get up and have a drink. You’re not drinking that stuff again, are you?

FEAR STALKER : That’s none of your business, woman!

EVE: Yes it is! That stuff will kill you! Now give it to me!

Eve attempts to grab the flask from FEAR STALKER but he is easily able to keep it away from her.

FEAR STALKER (putting the flask to his lips): Don’t make me…

FEAR STALKER’s sentence is interrupted by a blast that destroys the flask in his hands. FEAR STALKER turns in the direction of the blast and sees his mentor, RYAN, standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

RYAN: Boy, I’ve told you one hundred times…never…NEVER touch that stuff again!.

FEAR STALKER: Listen, old man, you don’t own…

RYAN: Wrong…I DO own you! Ever since I found you alone after your mother was killed, I’ve owned you...body, mind, and soul! It was I who trained you in how to use your abilities and weapons. It was I who showed you the various techniques that I learned as a mercenary to survive. It’s I that you will follow and do as I say! Understand?

FEAR STALKER: That's where you are mistaken. No one owns fear...but me!

RYAN: Boy, don't try that macho talk with me. You forget who you're talking to. You might be able to talk like that to some puck on the street, but it won't work on me. Hell, I even taught you how to talk tough!

FEAR STALKER stands quietly for a moment then his rage erupts as he turns back to the fridge and picks it up over his head and slams it down on the hard floor.

WHAM!!!!!!

FEAR STALKER (storming out of the room): You’re lucky that wasn’t your head, old man!

Eve stands off to the side as Ryan slowly turns to see FEAR STALKER disappear in the darkness of the building.

RYAN: I hate to be so hard on the boy, but…

EVE: If you ask me you aren’t hard enough. He keeps trying to sneak that concoction of his passed us. Doesn’t he know it’ll kill him?

RYAN: Unfortunately…I think he does.

As the two continue their conversation, RYAN’s son, DENNIS quietly walks over to the thrown down fridge and picks it up and places it back in it’s spot.

DENNIS: Daddy…is everything ok?

RYAN: Everything is fine son. Just go back to bed and dad’ll be in soon.

Ryan looks on as the “boy-giant” slowly heads off to bed. Every time he sees the massive 7 foot 500 plus pound Dennis, he is filled with both awe and sorrow. Dennis is a huge man yet his mind is as weak as his body is strong, and even though he’s FEAR STALKER's age, his mind is like that of a 3-4 year old.

A few moments later on the lower level of the building, a quiet FEAR STALKER has made his way to his sleeping quarters. It is a sparsely decorated room with one ratty twin-size bed with a cast iron headboard. The only thing on the walls, besides dirt and grime, is a color picture bathed in a single white light in the corner. FEAR STALKER walks over in the darkness to his bed, takes off his cape and cowl, and sits on the edge of the bed draped in shadows. He tentatively places his hand on the old picture that is of a young boy, no more that 5 or 6 standing with a beautiful young woman. They are both laughing and smiling, even though destroyed buildings and twisted metal surround them. The emotions overwhelm him, and FEAR STALKER bows his head and begins to cry.

Meanwhile high above the downtrodden filth that is Downtown in the glitzy splendor that is Uptown. A figure stands calm and collected looking out over his vast empire. His is known simply as the Mask. His "word" can be the FIRST, the ONLY, or the LAST thing you hear. He is the undisputed "Vice Lord" of, not only Tampa, but also the entire southeast. Right now he is silently waiting for word on an important shipment of his.

The silence of his office is broken by the opening of the huge golden door of his office.

THE MASK (in a slow, even voice): Status, Keith?

Keith, The Mask's Major Domo, walks into the room and stands in front of his desk.

KEITH (placing a DVD disc on Mask's desk): There was a problem with the shipment. That group of pirates called The Bytenics hijacked the transport on it's way to the docks. They seemed to run into some "interference" from someone calling himself "FEAR STALKER". I've got the whole episode on this disc.

THE MASK: Play it for me.

Keith takes the disc and places it in the media player. The two men watch as the transport is hijacked and the pirates torture the driver. They look intently as FEAR STALKER crashes in from above. They see the one called IRON being ordered into the transport and drive away. The battle between FEAR STALKER and the pirates and then the DPAF is laid out before them.

The Mask sits quietly for a few moments. Keith has seen this many times. He knows that this man is thinking, and usually when he thinks, people die.

THE MASK: I want you to see what you can dig up about this "FEAR STALKER". I have a call to make.

(dialing videophone) Hello, Warden Rook?

WARDEN ROOK (from phone): Yes.

THE MASK: Remember that time, what was it 3 no 5 months ago, I was able to supply you with certain supplies that helped you out when you fond yourself in a bind with those two lovely probation officers?

WARDEN ROOK (gulping): Yes, I do. What do you need me to do?

THE MASK: Release Warfare.

WARDEN ROOK (gulping harder): Did you...say...Warfare? Please tell me you didn't say...

THE MASK: Please don't tell me that YOU are saying no. I'd hate to have to break him out myself and have him make a pit stop at YOUR quarters.

WARDEN ROOK: He's a psycho!! He's killed at least 30 guards since he's been here! You can't possibly be serious.

THE MASK: I'm always serious. Make it happen. Tonight.

WARDEN ROOK: Yes sir.

The warden disconnects the link and sits in his office, located on the surface of the moon, and begins to cry. He knows that with Warfare loose no one is safe.

Who is Warfare, and what does the Mask want him to do? What's going to happen to the transport of cyber-ware? What new secret will FEAR STALKER uncover about the connections between his mother, his father, and the Mask? Find out in 4 weeks, as FEAR STALKER takes on LT. CYCLE and the DPAF, WARFARE, and IRON.

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