-SAINT-

 

 

Saint: Genesis

by

John Olesen

(c) 2014

Last Revision:
February 21st 2014

Contact:
johnathan.olesen@gmail.com
219-331-1832

@johnolesen on Twitter

popculturechaos.wordpress.com














Beginnings.
 

The sounds of a city crying can be heard. Car horns honking, people arguing, a car drives through the steam rising from the drain vents.
 

"This city was to be a utopia. A beacon of hope, to light a path through the darkness the rest of the world breathes into us. Darkness. Depression, death. They said this would be our haven."

 

We follow a staircase on the outside of an apartment complex. Raindrops continue to paint the streets. We see a man, his face covered by a black hood perched on the rooftop-staring over
the sprawling decay.

 

"They lied."

  

2013.

 

A screen set glows with the images of a press event.

 

 

"....and as your Premier-I will lead this New Chicago into an Era of Prosperous Growth! I will make Chicago a Haven for those who want a better life for their children, and who want to rid ourselves of the violence and poverty that our city has been known for! Thank you, and rest assured. The future begins now!"

 

The man at the podium raises his hand, as the crowd cheers loudly. The camera moves over to a young blonde woman, with a microphone in hand.

 

"That's the scene here today in Grant Park-as hundreds of Chicago citizens have arrived for the induction speech of the first Premier of New Chicago, Vito Morganti." she smiles, knowing the world is watching her every moment. "This comes just a year after Chicago-along with several large chucks of the former Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan-succeeded from the United States, branching off and forming its own sovereign nation-following the Five Year War. I am standing by with Police Sergeant Andrew Pavek, for his immediate reactions to this event. Sgt Pavek?" he asks-putting the microphone in the grizzled police  Sergeants face.

 

"Well..." he says, taking his hat off-revealing a bald head, oddly juxtaposed with his full  beard. "I joined this force over thirty years ago-and I've never been prouder in my life. There are many things the Old America did wrong, and those wrongs will not be repeated!"

 

"And what do you have to say to the rumors that the newly christened Chicago State Police Department are being outfitted with tech from Jonathan Drakes Genesis Industries-given Drake’s past?"

 

"What past is that miss?"
 

"Jonathan Drake, and his company have been long since theorized to be part of several black market arms deals. The public perception of Drake and his company is one of backroom deals, and profiteering from war. It's even believed that they provided Al Queda with the equipment and tools for 9/11. It’s even believed that Genesis was secretly the ones who instigated events that led to the Five Year War.”


"Yes, we have received substantial donations from Genesis, all signed for personally by Mr. Drake. You forget my dear, New Chicago is a democracy-not the bureaucratic cesspool that was the Old Americas. Mr. Drake was never convicted of any wrong doings. The CIA, NSA, and FBI all launched investigations into Drake, and the CSPD have
done the same thing. Premiere Morganti-during his time as the Illinois Governor investigated Genesis many times. Now if you'll excuse me miss... he adds, putting his hat back on and walking out of frame.

 

"Well folks, you heard it here first. This is Teagan Rose with the Chicago News Organization-back to you at the desk!"

 

 
 

2015

 

That's the day it all began. The day this world starting going to hell. Within weeks-the CSPD became Morganti’s personal gestapo, arresting people for something as simple as jaywalking. The
guilty were those who didn't want to be part of the program, they just wanted to be left alone. Not because they were hiding anything, but because they didn't want to lose their freedom. The innocent were those who paid in, and paid up. They caused enough pain, enough suffering-to warrant everything I do now.

 

Rain drenches a back alley, all too common of a sight. The screams of an innocent woman-just walking home with her groceries can be heard for miles-but the sounds of sirens all too silent.

 

“Give it up mama, you know you ain’t getting’ this at home.” The assailaint says to his victim-pinning her up against a wall. “Now are ya?” he says-forcing her face first into the brick, and unzipping his pants.

 

“And neither are you.” A gravely voice says, as a metal club strikes the man in the back of the shoulders. A man in a black hood grabs the assailaint and throws him into the adjacent wall. “Go. Get home.” He says-keeping his face out of direct light-before kicking the mugger in the ribs. She runs off, screaming for help as the man picks the mugger up and slams him against the wall-pulling a knife from a holster on his leg. “It’s cancer like you that floods my streets.”

 

“Just who the fuck are you supposed to be? You high or something.?”

 

“Justice…”

 

“Yeah, yeah..Whatever you on man, I know this guy Raul – who can get you straight fucked up on that Neuro bro. Finest strand in town baby.….” he utters out-before the man in the hood slams him against the wall again.

 

“Funny. He’s just who I’m looking for. You’re going to tell me where I can find him, or you’re not going to tell anybody anything-again…at least not without the aid of a voice box!” he exclaims-putting the knife closer to his throat.

 

“Man….” He says, starting to laugh a bit-“You don’t know Raul bro…you don’t find him….” He says, pulling a pocket taser from his pocket-and shocking the man in the hood-as he stumbles back. “Hey man..I know you. I knew I knew youse…” he adds-seeing the red sword on his back. “You’re that guy who knocked off Davey Boy in Lake Village,
ain’t you man? He was a friend of mime. Too bad about his kid. His lady though….damn momma….she went down soooo easy….” He adds, going to kick him in the head. The man in the hood grabs his foot, and flips him to the ground-smashing his head on the concrete, busting him wide open. He gets up and kicks the taser out of his hand-before stepping on the throat of the mugger-before dropping to a knee over his throat.

 

“You’re going to tell me where I can find his source. I’m going to wipe him off the fucking planet, and you’ll get to go about what little life you have left you scumbag….” He says, as police sirens echo in the distance. “Fuck.” He says, kicking him in the ribs once, before escaping up a fire escape on the side of the alley.

 

“CSPD….What’s going on here?” an officer says shining a spotlight in the alley way “We got a tip about a mugging?” he adds, looking at the mugger on the ground.

 

“That’s him officer. That’s the man who tried to attack me…and
than there was…where did he go?” the woman from earlier says-coming up behind the officer.

 

“Fernando? Guess you just can’t stay out of trouble” the officer quips as another cop handcuffs him and throws him in the car. “So explain this to me one more time miss.”

 

“I was walking home…and this guy mugged me, ripped my coat off and threw me against the wall. I’m pretty sure he was going to try to rape me…”

 

“His..zipper being down would align with that theory miss.”

 

“Than..out of nowhere, this guy in all black come out and threw him against the wall. Told me to run.”

 

“And that’s where you found me. Tell me, anything you can tell me about this man in black?”

 

“All leather…like a superhero.”

 

“So we got somebody trying to be Batman?”

 

“No. He had a hood. No weapons-at least what I saw.”

 

“Have you been drinking miss?” the officer asks, shining a light in her face.

 

“What? No. Why the hell would you think that?”

 

“Ma’am, no disrespect,  but color me shocked to learn that somebody
is running around my district, pretending to be Batman.” He says. “But in the interest of serving and protecting…” he says, pulling out his radio. “Get Blazek and CSI down here. There’s a couple blood smatterings on the wall where the incident took place. Need a full scan.” He says. “Can I give you a ride home miss.” He asks the woman-who is obviously disgusted at this point as she looks up-passing a glance at one of the Network Camera placed on the wall of corner of the alley.

 
Elsewhere

“Well, that’s interesting.” A female voice says, watching the whole ordeal on a computer screen, all we can see is her mouth-and she smiles as she rewinds the footage. “He’s sloppy….but raw.” She adds, clicking a few button and making a few swipes on the screen. “Time to find out who he is…”



Two days later.

 

Phones are ringing off the hook at the CSPD. People are running around, work is obviously being done to protect and serve the citizens of New Chicago.

 

“Who the hell is talking to the fucking press?” Sgt Pavek yells as he slams a news paper on the desk. “They’re going to make these druggies poor stories into some sort of hero!” he exclaims, walking into an office that reads ‘CSI – Blazek’ “Noah, please for the love of Christ tell me you have something for me!” he yells, slamming his fist on the desk of one Noah Blazek. He takes his glasses off and dusts them with his tie-before putting them back on, and looking at his phone.

 

“The press is calling him a Saint.” He says, swiping through his phone-before handing it to Sgt Pavek.

 

“Yeah? Why is that?”

 

“That woman’s story is compelling. People want something to believe in. Also, your Modern Ops team is thinking this might be the same guy who cut up that drug dealer in Lake Village a couple months back.” Noah says. “It fits the MO, he goes after bad guys. A killer of killers so to speak.”

 

“Who told you?”

 

“I’m the smartest man in this building right now-and that’s only because your Cyber Ops team is on lunch. And I trained most of the people on CyOps. So trust me Sarge, I can find things out.” He says.

 

“Yeah, well you might want to keep those things to yourself-or you’ll be in the local soup kitchen.”

 

“Andrew, you know they haven’t had soup kitchens since New Chicago was formed. There’s no need. The idea of ‘homeless’ is a thing of the past, the old ways.”

 

“Figure of speech. Just keep your smart mouth shut.”

 

“Now if I did that, you wouldn’t know whose blood was found at the scene of the crime. Would you?”

 

“Did you get the results back?”

 

“They’ve been back for a day or two. I just didn’t want to tell you. Didn’t want the information to fall into the wrong hands…”

 

“Well what did they reveal?”

 

“Zena Simmons. Home maker. No priors, husband works in manufacturing. She was bringing groceries home at the time-looks like  she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

 

“And?” Pavek asks-starting to grow frustrated.

 


“Fernado Morales. But you knew that. Low life, in and out of jail. He keeps getting out on bail.” he says, with his eyes darting around the office. “Heres the interesting thing that I noticed though… I don’t see any of the money on any of the books. Almost like he had someone to get him out for free.”

 

“What are you saying?”

 

“I’m saying, that if we do have a self styled vigilante running around town-he’s A) doing a damn good job of it, and B) Making sure
that we don’t find out who he is. All the Network Camera footage from the area is conveniently missing from that time frame.”

 

“No, about Morales having some----“

 

“You know damn well what I’m saying Andrew. You know the entire department is as bent over for Zane Mayhew and his underlings as a French maid looking for a tip-and I don’t just mean money either.” He says, growing very course with Sgt Pavek.

 

“Yeah, that’s the type of stuff that will land you in that soup kitchen!” he says, picking his papers up and walking out of the office, slamming the door. Noah smiles, sitting down at his desk as his phone beeps.

 

“YOU’RE NOT WRONG”

 

“What?” he asks himself, texting back-‘who is this?’. He sets the phone down, as his computer monitor freezes up, and goes black. Multiple blue puzzle pieces start filling up his screen. “What the hell is this?” he exclaims to himself-as words come on the screen.

 

“DO NOT PANIC. WE ARE ON THE SAME SIDE.”

 

“What the hell?” he exclaims again-trying to turn the computer off, as his phone rings. “Hello?” he says, as a female voice is heard on the other end.

 

“Mr. Blazek, I know your work well.”

“And you are?”

“You can call me Cypher-and you can trust me. I want to expose Morganti, and his cronies. Trust me, and we will succeed. There is only one more piece to the puzzle we need.”

 

“Hello? Hello?” Noah says as the phone hangs up-and his computer returns to normal. “Cypher? That couldn’t have really been….” He sits back…”I thought Cypher was a guy…”

 
 

Meanwhile

 
A door opens, and a hand flips a light switch, entering a small apartment. The man throws his bag on the floor.

“God, damn it that hurt…” he says- setting some keys and a phone on the counter, before walking into the bathroom and lifting his shirt up-showing a burn mark on his ribcage. “Fucking street muggers are carrying tasters now? Christ…” he adds, splashing some water on his face-and running it through his brown hair. “I can’t give up…” he says-looking into the mirror before leaving, and walking to the kitchen, pulling a drink from the fridge-and sitting down on a leather chair-turning his tv on.

“….And in other news today, local man Fernando Morales was released to the custody of his employer, Raul Deeters of Deeters Psychiatric today-after being wrongfully accused of attempted rape.” the newscaster says, as they show a clip of Fernando leaving CSPD jail. “In a related story, another sighting of a masked assailant was reported two nights ago.”

“He came from the ground like a demon man.” Fernando says on the screen. “I was just walking home from a night shift, and he attacked me out of nowhere.” he adds.

“It is unknown at this time the validity of this story, or if its related to the masked man who allegedly is responsible for the murder of a known Neuro peddler in Lake Village earlier this month.”

“He had it coming.” The man says, turning his TV off and getting up. The TV turns itself back on-and goes immediately to a series of blue puzzle pieces. “What?”

“I CAN HELP YOU.” the screen says-before going back and the mans phone rings. He picks it up, “Hello?” he asks.

“I can help you.” the same female voice says. “Better yourself. I see your crusade, and I can help you.”

“Who are you.”

“You can call me Cypher.”

“The hacker?”

“I prefer to the term Hacktivist, Trent..”

“How do you know my name?”

“Mr. Mercer, you’re not a hard man to find out. I know how you were discharged from the CSPD a year ago.”

“What?”


2013.


I remember that day, that time. I served the United States in the Five Year War. I joined the police force in 2012, and by 2013 I had climbed the ranks. I was a good cop, just married, just had a little girl. Than-things started going south. I saw the world from the other side of the fence, I saw how corrupt the force was. I saw how this transition into New Chicago was warping peoples perceptions. The class war grew and grew-until it was hard to difference the lower class from a third world country. I tried to amend that to the best of my ability-but they didn't like that. They don't like having someone they can't control.

Than it happened.

A drug deal turned south. I was undercover, trying to get out Raul Deeters, Neuro has infected the city, it's become a plague. I was set up. I know it. I chased the guy-only to find my wife and daughter dead. I found the guy who did it, some low level thug-and he  barely escaped with his life.

I went over the line, I was removed from the force, given this place to live-put into the housing system. Now, here I am. Sgt Pavek has made damn sure I won't ever rejoin the force-but I can't help myself. I never want to see what happened to my wife, my daughter....happen again.






Present Day.

"How did you find this number?" he asks Cypher, still on the phone with her.

"Like I said Mr. Mercer, you are not a hard man to find-especially when you spend your nights beating up street thugs and would be rapists." she responds.

"How did you know that?"

"There are Network Cameras every couple of blocks Trent. You let them see your face. I deleted the footage." she adds, as he lets out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you....I..think?"

"Open your front door, there will be a black box."

"What?"

"You need more than a bondage hoodie and a knife." she says with glee. "I hacked into Genesis Industries R&D division, went on something of a shopping spree for you. Like I said, I agree with your work, and can help you." she adds, as he opens the door-seeing a black box infront of it. He quickly brings it in and shuts the door-setting the box on the table. "Open it Trent." she adds, as he opens it-revealing a black and silver military grade armored jacket, a collapsable automatic crossbow, and several other gadgets.

"What is all this?" he asks.

"The suit is fire proof and bullet resistant. Its a new nano armor Genesis have been working on developing. If both sides of the war are indestructible - they can profit from their larger scale weapons." she says. "The bow is their new auto crossbow. It loads and pulls back automatically-to save time. It also collapses so it can be hung from your belt. If you lift up the coat, you will see  a quiver of arrows, and a blade."

"Why? Why are you doing all this."

"Because Trent.....this city needs a Saint...it needs someone to bring it to peace." she adds. "I have other pieces in place...please, accept my gifts, and help me fight for New Chicago. Be the hope for the hopeless, the voice for the voiceless..." she adds, as he pauses and looks at a picture of his family.
"Where do we start?"

"The police think you're a menace. I have a group of people who we can take down with relative ease. In the box are a few other gadgets-all donated of course by Genesis."

"I see that."

"Prepare, tonight-we start taking them down-and we show Chicago that there is hope after all. We take down this underworld one piece at a time. We rebuild brick by brick."

"Sounds like a plan." he adds, hanging up and looking over the new suit. He looks over at the picture on his wall. "Never again. Nobody else." he says.

Later That Night.


 

"Trent, allow me to clear something up." Cypher says over the phone. As Saint sits perched atop a nearby rooftop, looking over an office sitting in the front of a planned neighborhood. "To me, there is no 1%, there is no 99%. The poor can be as guilty as the rich, and the rich as innocent as the poor. There is no black or white, only gray. I received a tip about a Slum Lord, running a community comprised of the less fortunate. This community- Meadow Haven- is a part of Chicago that the government and the corporations don’t want to look at. This is place where the old ways still run rampant, homes full of people living in this community-not necessarily by desire-but rather by pure unbridled necessity. They ignore the elderly, endanger the young, and pollute the minds of the people living there. They take advantange of good natured, hard working individuals-who haven’t been able to transfer into the City yet-with no other options. Tonight-that changes." She says - as Trent looks over his phone, looking at postings describing the nature of this community;


“SLUM LORD! If you are trying to make ends meet, she
will walk all over you!” 

“Refuses to fix potholes, went an entire month without
paying the garbage bill-so we didn’t have garbage pick up for a month!”

“Shut my water off with a newborn baby in the house.”
 
“Bought cocaine from the owner of this place. Not very
good stuff.”

“Her husband hits on my 11 year old daughter!”

 
"So I'm reading your reviews. It looks like 1 star would be too good. Thank god that Foursquare crap died years ago."

"I doubt the people who live there would use it to begin with."

"Just who, or what, am I dealing with?" 

 
“The one who really does everything is named Connie
DeYoung. She’s actually a niece of a mob enforcer.”


“DeYoung? Perfect. I brought her uncle in on human trafficking. Of course, it didn't stick.” he responds-still scoping the building out.

 

“Her husband, Dean Witt is a retired cop.”

 

“A cop? What was the name again?”


“Dean Witt, he was dishonorably discharged from police duties
due to gross misconduct-specifically-sleeping with the niece of a mob enforcer.”
 

“Fair enough…”
 
“The precinct has gone as far as to disavow he ever existed. He’s a ghost. As far as their kids go, Billy has had MULTIPLE arrests, all on drug related charges. Their other son has two battery arrests, and served five years in jail for armed robbery.”

“Adding it to the laundry list of reasons.”


“Connie didn’t start being a slum lord. In all the press about the
parks opening-she wanted a genuinely good place for people of low income to live in peace and prosperity. She left the family business a few years prior to opening it. Money became tight-and she turned to Daddy for help. Since than-her demeanor has slowly gone down and down. My contact in the park-who gave us this little tip-was one of her first tenants. He’s lived there for two decades-and hates the way the place has been ran.”

"Good." he says. "They’re all at a meeting-or, well, at least three of them are. I’m detecting three heat signatures inside.  I just fired an audio cell onto their window." he says-firing something from a small cylinder container-as it sticks to the window. "It should be recording their conversation. I'm going dark Cypher. Wish me luck."

"Good luck...."


Inside 

 

“We have to do something about this place Connie.” Says Dean.
 
“What do you mean?” she responds.
 
“I mean, is there any other way to squeeze money out of these poor saps?”

“We could raise the rates. We could buy that tire place right in front of us-and not fix these pot holes any.” Connie responds, as Dean leans back and chuckles. “I could start calling in all these Eviction notices, and force people to pony up the cash, or be out in the cold.”

“I hear Neuro is the thing all these kids are doing. I can talk to Raul, see if he can get us a cut in on that game.”

 

“That’s too messy Dean.”

 

“Billy also has enough drug charges against him. Funny how they can never make it stick.” He adds with a chuckle.

"Well you know it's because of MY family why that never sticks. Don't you?"

"Yeah yeah yeah, you're family." he responds-taking a drink of a bottle of beer sitting on the desk.

“Recording Finish. Upload.” Saint says, tapping a button on his device. “Time to go to work.” He says, as the recorder falls off of the window-and explodes-sounding like a small amount of fire crackers.

 “What was that?” Dean exclaims. “Sounded like some kids with  firecrackers.”

“We could fine them for it!” Connie adds, and no sooner does she say that, than the window shatters-and Saint barrels into the room-pulling a crossbow from his waist. 

“Connie DeYoung. Dean Witt.” He says impactfully-unsheathing a blade in his other hand. “Justice…has come for you.” 

“Shit, Dean-get him!” 

“Billy! Go!” Dean yells, sending his rather large son into the fray. Saint lets out an audible sigh as he fires the crossbow-and hooks him to the wall-before back handing him with the butt of the sword-knocking him unconscious. “You can’t load that before I waste you!” Dean yells, pulling a handgun out from his desk-as Saint quickly fires another shot-landing an arrow in the barrel of the gun.

 

“I’m not a huge fan of projectile weapons.” He says, collapsing the crossbow and reholstering it-before unsheathing the other blade on his back. “They jam.” He quips as Dean throws the gun down-just as Saint delivers a hard kick to the jaw-knocking him into the broken window. Saint jumps ontop of him-dropping his knee over his neck-before looking up at Connie. “Your husband isn’t a particularly a bad man Connie. He’s just, following orders right? If I move my leg ever so slightly-this broken glass will cut through his aorta like a firey blade through ice!” he adds, sheathing one of his blades-and pulling the
crossbow out. "A Genesis secret black file project. It’s an automatic crossbow that reloads after every shot. Packs enough firepower to put one through even the thickest of skulls.” He adds-pointing it directly at her son-who is slowly waking up. “You make a choice Connie. I will give you 72 hours to make this place right!” he says- “If you fail, like you’ve failed your tenants…I will end both of them!” he says just before Dean grabs a piece of broken glass and stabs him in the leg with it. Billy pulls the arrow out of his jacket-and grabs him-throwing him into the wall. Saint comes back and throws a wild haymaker-but the surprisingly fast behemoth ducks it, and Dean hits him in the gut. Billy knocks him down with a vase, and puts himin a full nelson to hold him at bay.

 

“No. I don’t think I’ll have to choose. You don’t know who my family is, do you?”


“Mob enforcers, people with enough blood on their hands to feed a colony of vampires for a lifetime.” He adds. 

“You’re a funny one. Too bad I don’t take too kindly who worthless punks who think they’re Batman. I’ve seen you on the news. You’re hearadled as some kind of saint to this city. That’s what they call you right? You bust up drug dealers and mob enforcers. Why? Couldn’t make the cut? Couldn’t be part of a winning team? Maybe once I find out who’s been gunning for his men, maybe Mr. Mayhew will show you pity..”

"I'm not after Zane Mayhew. Not yet at least...." he grumbles-“Cypher.
Upload File 329. Activate Protocol 3.” Saint says-still fighting back as Connie reaches for his mask. The moment she touches it-a strong electric current shocks her-sending her back a few feet. He uses this momentum to flip Billy over him-tossing him into Connie, before popping a short knife from his wrist-and throwing it at Dean-which catches him in the shoulder. He follows it up with a knee smash to the head-knocking Dean out against the wall. He looks up as he hears police sirens in the distance.

"I see you made some...additions to the suit Trent."

"Something like that." he says quickly-grabbing one of the stray arrows. 

“CSPD on their way.” Cypher says through their comm link.

“I can tell Cypher.” He snaps, “Thanks.”
 

“ETA, less than a minute.”

 

“That’s it? Did you tell them we had donuts or something?”


“…maybe…” she responds as he lets out a sigh, and grabs his blade and bow-firing an arrow into the shoulder of Connie-pinning her against the wall.

 

“Seventy two hours DeYoung. I know those cops wont hold you for more than 12. If I don’t see improvement, I’ll be here for you. Justice…is a lot of things. Patient, is not one of them. I’ll see you in three days.” He adds, holstering the bow and kicking open the front door. He see’s lights pull into the neighborhood, as he runs nearly the mailboxes-diving behind a wall and grabbing his bike, just in time for the CSPD to arrive.

 

“Connie DeYoung, and Dean Witt…This is the Chicago State Police Department. You are to come out with your arms raised and unarmed.” One of the police officers call via his megaphone, as Billy Witt is the first to crawl through the door.

 

“It was that hood, that Saint guy. He has my dad and mom pinned to the wall!” he cries with an Oscar worthy performance, as the cop walks up to him-draws his gun and enters the building. He looks over the scene as other officers come in and remove the arrow barbs pinning them against the wall, and hand them to the lead officer.

 

“Looks like he was telling the truth Sarge…” the cop says. "Although, I didn't know he used one of these." he adds.
 

“Maybe he changed up his arsenal. Or, well..got an arsenal. I’ll call it in.” he says, taking the arrow and pulling out his phone, before walking up to Detective Blazek. 

“Detectice Blazek. Would you like to tell me exactly how you got this tip?” he asks as the cop looks up from his phone.

 

“Anonymous tip called it in Sarge.” He responds.
“See what it involved?” he asks, throwing the arrow to him. “It involved someone acting outside of the law. Sound familar?" he says.

"Not at all Andy." Noah quips back. "Maybe the people are standing up for themselves?"

"It means that we have some moron running around thinking he's above the law. That lously vigilante the press have been calling a
saint-and you seem to be getting a lot of anonymous tips regarding him. First that drug dealer in Lake Village, and now this? Anything you want to tell me Detective Blazek?”

“No sir, Sgt Pavek. Just coincidence I suppose.”

 
“Coincidence? Noah…I don’t work with coincidences.” He says, snapping the arrow back from him. “I’m going to call this one in-and Blazek? Keep your hands out of this vigilante business-if you know what’s good for you.”

 
“Yes sir..” hesays, turning to his phone as Pavek turns around to call the appearance of the Saint in.

 

 

THREE DAYS LATER.

 

“I’m not reporting any change in activity at Meadow Haven Trent.” Cypher says-sitting infront of several computer screens. “Not since my days as part of NOONE have I seen THIS much buzz though.” She adds.

 

“What do you mean?” Trent says into his cellphone, sitting down on a chair in a busy coffee house. “I haven’t had a chance to read any headlines.” He adds, putting a headset into his ear, as we begins to browse on his phone.

 

“Well, Dean and Connie were both aquited within 12 hours-and released with all charges dropped. Everything was signed off by one Sargeant Andrew Pavek.” She says.

 

“Pavek…”

 

“Friend of yours?”

 

“Something like that…”

 

Then.

"You're a fucking loose cannon Mercer!" Pavek yells over his desk. "We're supposed to uphold the laws of justice here Trent. Not go running off on personal vendettas."

"He killed my wife and daughter is in the ICU Andrew. How the hell would you feel if Sarah or Chase were in harmed? How you feel if they were even in the hint of danger?" he responds with force.

"They're in danger every day. Sarah is married to the Sargeant of the CSPD. They knew that when they signed on."

"Signed on? Your son didn't sign on for anything! Are you that fucking dense?"

"They have nothing to worry about...trust me..." Pavek says, as his phone lights up with a call from Zane Mayhew, a known criminal.

"What was that?" he says-seeing the caller ID.

"Nothing."

"You're in their pocket aren't you? That's why they 'dont have to worry', isn't it?"

"Son..." Pavek says, looking solomn. "I'm going to need your badge...and your gun. I'm sorry Trent....we have to let you go-or the press will have a field day with this one...."

Now.

"I wouldn't call Pavek my friend hon..."

"Hon?"

"Well I'm kind of in a public place"

"Fair enough...."

"He's the one who kicked me off the force....for knowing too much."

“Anyways, the social feed has been on fire for the last couple of days. It seems every single resident had risen up to complain publically about the slum lords-butwere quickly silenced. A handful of them haven’t even been seen at work since than.”

 

“They’re covering it up.” He says.

 

“That’s what it sounds like. Paying off people who will take it, and eliminating people who won’t. Doesn’t look like anything has changed-and they’re calling it a ‘savage attack by terrorist’. Their words of course, not mine.”

 

“I see that.” Trent says, looking up as Noah Blazek walks into the coffee house. “Listen, Cy, see what else you can dig up. I have to go." he adds hanging up his phone, and walking over to Detective Blazek. "Noah?" he says, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Hmm?" he says, sipping his coffee as he turns around-nearly spitting it out. "Holy hell, Trent Mercer, how are you?" he exclaims-choking the coffee back as the two sit down.

"I'm....doing. How is everything?" he asks.

"It's good Trent, real good. Been assigned this new case and all.."

"New case?" he asks sitting back.

"I've..made some contacts...they have me chasing the trail of this 'vigilante' that's running around town.

"Vigilante?" he asks again?

"He took out some low level mob thug the other night, and a few nights ago he was involved in that fiasco involving Meadow Haven." he says, sipping his coffee. "I shouldn't really be telling you..."

"No Noah, go on. I'm all ears. I remember those days. We always need someone to vent to." he adds-drinking his coffee. "I read about the stunt at the trailer park. Interesting."

"Have they talked to you about him at all Trent?"

"Hmm? Why would they do that?"

"Well, there's the rumor that this guy also took out the guy who killed your family." he adds, as Trents face grows solomn.

Six Months Ago.

It's a small trailer on the south side of town, "Lake Village" is the name of the community. There's a house with a large bay window-acting as a large "WELCOME" sign. Inside, David Jerling is cooking up a fresh pot of meth, as a large object barrels through his window-and his door is kicked in.

"David Jerling. It's time to count up your sins!" the man yells, wearing a black leather hood and black bandanna over his face-pulling a knife from a holster on his belt-and cracking him in the head with it-before delivering a hard elbow strike to the temple-knocking him out.

A few moments later, David wakes up via smelling salts. He's chained to a chair, and the man is standing infront of him.

"Good morning old friend." he says, as David awakens and realizes he can't move. "Don't worry, I'm not  the bad guy. I'm not the villain. I'm the hero in all this. You've cheated the system-but you can't cheat fate."

"Just who the hell are you?" David asks "I'm paid up to Raul, I swear man!" he exclaims as Saint chuckles-pulling another knife out and stopping just millimeters from his face.

"David, you are charged theft, you are charged with poisoning society, you are charged with rape and murder... I am not here to be your judge or jury, only your executioner." he says, sheathing the blade again.

"Murder?"

"A week ago. You were running from the police-and you stole a car, not too soon before crashing it into the drivers side of a black Impala."

"Man. A week ago? You expect me to remember that far..." he begins as Saint backhands him.

"I expect you to remember more than that he says-inching the blade closer to his face. "The woman in the fucking drivers seat. You killed her on impact. There was a child-who is still in the ICU, she is still hooked up to machines, fighting for her life!" he says-pulling the bandanna down, and the hood back-inciting laughter from David.

"You? I knew I knew you man. Oh man, if you only knew..." he says-taking another strike to the head.

"I'm done talking dreg..." he says-picking up a firearm and pointing it to his head. "Justice...is served..." he says-pulling the trigger and pulling a bullet in the drug dealers brain, before dropping the gun and looking shocked.

Now.

"Really?" he asks. "They're trying to link him to that...wasn't it ruled a suicide?"

"Publically" Noah says drinking his drink.

"Publically?" he asks.

"That's what we told the press, drug induced suicide. Internally, we believe he was murdered by this 'Saint' guy." he adds.

"That doesn't shock me." Trent says, looking out the window. "That entire force is one big cover up." he adds.

"Are you still doing Private Eye work?" Noah asks.

"I might be..." he says. "Why?"

"I've found a connection, that I don't think my resources can find. I have a friend, but I don't want to bother them with it..."

"But you want to bother me with it?"

"No..I mean..."

"What is it Noah?" he asks.

"As I was doing my digging on the force, I've noticed alot of connections to something called Lazarus."

"The failed Crow movie staring DMX and Eminem?" Trent quips...

"What? No...you know what, never---"

"I'm joking Noah...what about Lazarus."

"They've donated money to Morganti's campaign, there's companies that have donated money to Lazarus that link back to Zane Mayhew..."

"Mayhew?" Trent says.

"And even some people on the force..." he says.

"Really." Trent asks.

"I cant seem to connect the dots. Do you think you could look at it?"

"I'll give it a shot...send me the files." he says, finishing his coffee..."I have to head out though." he adds.

"I'll send them over..." Noah says. "it was nice talking to you again Trent..."

"You too Noah." he says, heading out of the coffee shop-and reaching into his pocket for his phone. He walks around the corner and cuts into an alley before making a call. "Cypher. I need you to look up something for me. Key word. Lazarus." he says.

That Night.

"Are you people ready? Tonight we catch that self proclaimed 'Saint'!" Andrew Pavek says, as he leads a squad of SWAT team members outside the front of Meadow Haven. Inside, Dean and Connie sit in the living room waiting.

"Do you think he's going to actually come?" Billy asks, walking into the room-just as the power is cut off to the house.

"He's here." Dean says.

"What's going on in there?!" Pavek screams, as Noah Blazek pulls up to the scene. "Blazek, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I thought this was my case Sargeant...I'm here waiting and ready for you to nab this guy!" he responds with force, looking down at his phone.

"ITS TIME." the phone reads.

"Connie!" Dean yells.

"I can't see shit!" she responds before busting out the flashlights. "Billy, you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fi----" he says, before being grabbed and thrown through a window-sending him crashing into a black Blazer parked in the driveway.

"Move in!" Pavek yells, as the SWAT team moves in on the house-checking on an unconscious Billy Witt.

"Where are you?" Dean yells-as the lights flicker back on.

"Here." he says, delivering a hard knee to the face-sending him back into the chair. He pulls out the crossbow-firing a pair of shots into the arms of Dean-pinning him to the chair. "It's not you I'm after." he says-turning to Connie as the lights stablize. "Its you." he says-pointing the bow in her face.

"Crossbow. Shotgun. I don't know how stupid you think you are-but where I'm from, superior fire----" Saint grabs the gun and jams the butt of the weapon into her face, smashing her teeth.

"Superior firepower? Is meaningless..." he says-kicking her in the head and placing the bow at her forehead. "I gave you a chance for redemption. I gave you a chance for salvation, and you turned it down. Justice isn't blind Ms De Young....." he begins to say, as a loud scream can be heard from outside.

"What the hell?" Sgt Pavek ask-as Billy grabs one of the SWAT officers and throws him through the car window.

"Oh no...it's started..." Connie says through broken teeth-as Saint looks out the window, at a rage fueled Billy Witt-his eyes glowing red with rage.

"Everybody back up!" Pavek yells-as Saint sighs in the building, and turns back to Connie. "What the hell is going on?" he growls.

"Haha..oh if you only knew....you're busying yourself with small fish, when the sharks are still roaming the waters." she says cackling-as Saint knocks her out with the butt of his crossbow.

"You can't stop it. Once it starts, it can't stop. He'll kill you all!" Dean screams through his cries of pain-as Saint looks out the window at Billy Witt, throwing officers around like rag dolls. Saint taps his mask, and calls into Cypher.

"Cypher. Any update on whats going on out there."

"It looks like some sort of fit of rage."

"That's not rage."

"Get a blood sample."

"A what?"

"A blood sample, it has to be some sort of chemical reaction."

"Son of a bitch...." he says, climbing out the window and onto the roof of the buiding. "How the hell am I supposed to do that?" he asks.

"Let me get my contact, he may help."

"Contact?" he says, as he looks over and see's Blazek answering a phone call-before grabbing a pair of tasers from two injured SWAT officers. "You're shitting me." he says-firing a grapple across the road as Blazek fires the pair of tasers, shocking Witt.

"Bust him open, I'll get a sample."

"Blazek is your contact?" he asks, getting no answer as he slides down the line and kicks Billy in the head-knocking him head first into the concrete. "Everybody get back!" Saint screams, as the officers stand back.

"It's him! Get him boys!" Pavek yells.

"Are you crazy?" Blazek says, knocking Pavek's gun out of his hand. "He's trying to save your fucking lives! Fall back!" he adds as Witt stands up, and looks around-charging at Saint.

"Oh fuck..." he says as he manages to roll out of the way-firing a pair of arrows into the back of his knee. "Got it.." he says-delivering a running knee to the head-before firing another arrow into his knee. The bow clicks empty as he holsters it. "I don't have time to reload. I hope that's enough.." he says, pulling the arrows out of his skin-and covering them in in his quiver. The SWAT team are able to restrain him-as he falls to the ground and stops breathing. Saint uses this distraction to escape as Blazek looks on, before checking his phone.

"HE HAS THE SAMPLE. I THINK ITS TIME FOR YOU TWO TO MEET."




Meanwhile....

Footage of what has just transpired is on a monitor in a large conference room. We see a man, clean shaven, crew cut in a black suit sitting at the head of the table-replaying the footage on a large screen above the table.

"I see the project has gone well..."

The man turns around, to see Zane Mayhew walk into the room. Zane is the Underworlds, second in command. His hair slicked back-and his suit looks like it came right off the designers table.

"Mr. Mayhew." he says, standing up.

"Mr. Drake. No need for the pleasntries. Are the other subjects going as well?"

"Well, Mr. Witt was a last minute subject. They came to us a couple nights ago-asking for something to help them with that.....hero."

"Is that what the papers are calling him now?"

"Their words, not mine..." Drake says, replaying the footage. "When Subject 7 went into rage, it only lasted so long. IAt first I thought the electric shock is what caused the damage, but no....We've tested other subjects, and under similar levels of adrenaline-they all reacted the same. Their hearts shut down after a few minutes, almost as if they exploded inside their bodies." he says..."However, there is one subject, Subject 6 who woke up after his heart gave out." he adds.

"Woke up?" Mayhew repeats. "Explain." he says, as Drake shows some other footage on the screen.

"Subject 6 was pronounced dead due to heart failure-caused by over exposure to an advanced strain of Neuro. After several hours-he awoke. His vitals still declare him dead, he has no physical heart according to all our scans. He's awake, he's moving....and he's fearless....he doesn't feel pain. Almost, inhuman."

"My friends....this is what Lazarus was founded for..." a voice says, as Vito Morganti walks into the room-his white suit and blue shirt practically blinding in the artificial light-as he is handing everyone a glass of champagne. "Mr. Drake, consider Genesis Industries the official weapons manufacture for me, both personally and professionally." he says, toasting the two. "We still have alot of work to do....although their is the issue of your missing tech Mr. Drake."

"Missing tech?" Zane asks, between sips of champagne.

"Well..." Drake says, tapping a few buttons. "It's not exactly missing...I know who took it.....and I know exactly what she's doing with it."

"She?" Vito asks, as another door opens.

"Yes....She...." a female voice says....as she walks into the room-wearing a black and blue leather cyberpunk outfit.

"Mr. Morganti.....Mr. Mayhew-meet our friend....Cypher."



The Next Day.

Trent awakens in his bed, his sides bandaged-and the sounds of knocking can be heard from his front door.

"Who the fuck..."

"Trent open up! It's Noah!"

"Noah...but its..." he looks at his clock, it read 3:14 PM. "Fair enough…” he mutters getting out of bed-and throwing a shirt on to cover his wounds. “I’m coming..” he says-opening the door. “Can I help you?”

“I got a lead…my contact, they sent me some information!” he says, opening up his computer.

“On..what?”

“Lazarus.”

“Oh.” Trent responds, pulling up a chair after shutting the door behind him. He grabs his phone off the counter, seeing a message from Cypher reading ‘TRUST HIM’. He pockets the phone and takes a seat at his table, looking over the information.

“They appear to be a shadow society, power brokers, politicians, crime bosses. All the trails point to two central figures: Vito Morganti and Jonathan Drake.”

“Money and power…aren’t those the roots of all evil.”

“I dont think New Chicago is everything it meant to be. Everything in here is manufactured by a company either owned by Drake, or a third man-Zane Mayhew.” Noah adds.

“Mayhew? The crime boss?”

“Yes, he runs several legitimate businesses, especially in the….pharmacutical market. None of his…extra curricular activities have ever been pinned on him. His associates never name him.”

“Pharmacutical? Maybe that’s where they’re getting the Neuro from?”

“Maybe…” he says, as his phone beeps. “Oh god..wow..they got it!”

“Got what?”

“Well last night, the Saint managed to get a couple arrows into that kid when he went berserk. I believe my contact is working with him too-as they just got a lab sample back of his blood.”

“What did they find?”

“Trace amounts of a neurotoxin-that has the same core chemicals as Neuro…plus a few extra stimulants, one mainly triggered by Adrenaline.”

“He’d probably get that from Mayhew, wouldn’t he?” Trent says, standing up and looking at his phone.

‘TONIGHT. ROOFTOP ON KANE & MILLER.’

“Most likely, as Mayhew’s ChemCorp deals a lot with body altering drugs.” Noah responds, looking at his own phone, and seeing the same message. “I have to go….I just got an important message!” he says, closing the computer. “We’ll talk more later…” he says as he bolts out the door, slamming it shut behind him. Trent smiles as he grabs his phone and makes a call.

“Cypher. If you want me to help, this secrecy needs to end.”

“Don’t worry Trent….it will…”


That Night.

The cold February air slices through the Chicago night, police sirens can be heard in the distance. A street sign reading "KANE" and "MILLER" is nearly knocked over in the wind. Four or five stories up, Noah Blazek looks over the skyline, imbibing a cigarette.

"They told us this would be a safe haven, a Utopia." a voice rings behind him-as he promptly turns around and retrieves his gun-as Saint appears from the shadows. "Put the gun away Detective...our mutual friend invited me here too." he says, walking slowly toward him.

"Our mutual friend?" Noah says, holstering his gun. "So you're the associate that Cypher has on the 'outside'?"

"You must be the one she has on the inside than..." Saint responds as a screen next to them turns on with a blue glow.

"You're both right." Cypher says, as a static filled image fills the screen. "At last, everyone is in one place." she adds.

"Why us?"

"Detective  Blazek. You are quite honestly the last good cop in the city. The only one Mayhew and Morganti haven't bought out yet. That makes you a dangerous threat."

"And me?"

"Saint. You started this war on your own-seeking vengeance.  You work outside of the law, outside of the system. I have given you the tools to enhance your war." she says.


"What are we do to?" Blazek says. "Assuming we want to go along with any of this..I mean after all-we're talking to a fucking computer screen with no face."

"For now, my identity must remain anonymous."

"Because you're a hacker-who doesn't want to go to prison?"

"Because I am a freedom fighter, looking to restore New Chicago to its original luster and promise!" she snaps back. "You cant just treat the symptons of a cancer, you have to eradicate the source."

"And whats the source of the cancer in New Chicago?" Saint asks impactfully-growing impatient.

"...There is a group comprised of people in power. Vito Morganti-your elected Premier, Zane Mayhew-his right hand man, and Jonathan Drake-the CEO of Genesis Industries-not to much a dozen smaller companies between he and Mayhew."

"Lazarus." Blazek says.

"Yes...I also believe that Sargeant Pavek is part of the pact as well..." she responds.

"That would explain alot..." Saint quips..."What about the kid from last night?"

"The child from last night Saint. He had undergone a procedure at the hands of ChemCorp.."

"Which is Mayhew's main source of revenue...at least legal revenue." Saint adds.

"I don't know exactly what Lazarus is doing, but they're amassing weapons, they're amassing chemical and biological threats-and the means to hide it."

"it all falls down the ladder Noah." Saint says. "Morganti is put in power with funds from Lazarus-so they have someone to cover up their work. Meanwhile, Drake produces the weapons that litter our streets, and Mayehw produces the toxins that keep them in check."

"Neuro." Blazek says. "That's how he's getting any chemical agent into the masses."

"Yes. Billy Witt was a known low level dealer of Neuro, as well as a user."

"Based on what happened to him, they could rip New Chicago apart, brick by brick."

"We have to end Lazarus...destroy their supply and cut them down!" Saint adds...

"That's why I've reached out to you.....to form a pact, to take down Lazrus..." Cypher says, as Saint and Noah look at each other

"When do we start?" Blazek asks, shaking Saint's hand......



to be continued. the lazarus pact