What is this "Galaxy Zento" anyway?

There has been some confusion as to just what Galaxy Zento is or is about. Wonder no more! I'm here to clear that up.

Galaxy Zento is a science fiction/fantasy universe. It boasts heroes, villains, monsters, magic, aliens, dragons, demons, crazy technologies, and a whole lot more. It has destinations and locations galore. It has over 400 original characters and 200 alien races.

And some out there wonder, "Well, that's great but what is it for?"

I have many plans for GZ and I'm going in several directions. The bottom line purpose is to entertain and gain exposure. In the age of the internet what better way to share, network and get started out anyway?

Here are the things that are going on in GZ meant for entertainment purposes:

ART: I'm doing as many illustrations I can while my hands will still do them. I have MS, arthritis, and carpal tunnel. I'm losing the dexterity in my hands. So I'm doing as much of my art as I can and I really hope it's enjoyed. Yes, it's for sale in places, but I hardly intend to shove that down anyone's throat. Besides, doesn't everyone have to get by somehow? And it costs absolutely ZERO to look and enjoy a piece of artwork.

STORIES: I have a novel completed that I'm seeking publication for. I have lots of short stories I want to put into a book. And, on this very blog, there is an ongoing story called GZ Legends that is free to read online and follow along with. I plan on doing more than one ongoing book series for GZ once I can get it off the ground.  I want to get into doing GRAPHIC NOVELS, but I need a good illustrator who can commit to the team. My hands just can't do the panel work and I know there are better comic artists out there than me.

GAMES: There are all sorts of plans for gaming systems for GZ. There is already a Role Playing Game that was self published in 13 copies. With revisions planned, I hope for much more and a cool playing system that a lot of people can enjoy. I also have plans on the table for a card game.

CONVENTIONS: I hope to bring GZ in all sorts of these forms to conventions. That's why I post GZ material in group pages that are conventions.

So, it's not about just one thing. It's not just about being a game or storyline, it's both. The GZ universe has a fully written and established history. Characters have in depth backgrounds and personalities.

I've been sharing my universe on various Facebook groups, Google and other media. I welcome guest artists and fan art ( have even had some!).  Unfortunately, some people don't think it belongs and they mark it as spam. I don't understand that because it's not like I'm pushing glow in the dark shoes or hacking accounts. It's just meant to be shared and enjoyed. If you don't like it, do me a big favor and just ignore it or hide it from your time line. You can drop me from your media (Facebook) if you're so inclined. I'm sorry for anyone who's been offended.

But, if you do enjoy the artwork and want to watch the project grow (you can say you saw it from about the beginning and that's cool right?) then add it to your circles or "like" it on FB. Bookmark or share with friends who like original content or whatever it is you like about it. If you're an artist, feel free to become a guest! I would love it!

The ongoing story will be revving up as soon as I catch up with edits up to number 25. Then, things are going to get hairy and scary for the heroes. I hope you'll follow along. For all of you already following along, THANK YOU! You're awesome people and I'm glad to have you.

That's GZ! I hope you'll be sticking around for more art, stories and updates on publishing as they come about!

What's happening with GZ Legends

King Falcon

My aim with the stories has been to put a new part up about every three days. That has worked out pretty well. A long time ago, I asked if there were any folks out there who could critique. No one really stepped forward until recently.

The main suggestion was that I need to tighten up the writing. What is this "tighten up the writing"? I've heard it before. I've sought out answers on the internet. Like many things in writing, not everyone agrees on a solid definition.

Elimination of run on sentences is a  common suggestion. Creating more active writing is another.

Looking at some of the story entries now, you might wonder how I can have a novel going out to agents. Is my novel written the same way? Well, here's the catch. I have been doing this blog without the assistance of any editor but myself. On my novel, The Chessmen, I had the help of an editor who's very good. That editor is none other than my awesome wife, Lisa. Not only is she a published author, but works in radio. She does the fun work of making sure that radio ads fit time slots and get their message across. On top of that, it's her voice in the ads, well most of them.

My problem is that I have a big ol story in my head. I can get it on paper, but miss some things. Even in the re-reading I miss them again. Lisa has been priceless in helping with those things.

I've given Lisa my offline copies of all the GZ Legends work so far. She has agreed to read them over and jot some notes on what she sees. That would be just like she did with Chessmen. I will also be mulling them over from part 1 on up. Once touched up, they will be re-shared.

I would really like to get some of you to jump in and give your thoughts on the improvements. I know I can do this. I know that I can make this work.

For all of you following along, thank you! As always, more to come!

GZ Legends 24: The Strykeforce Guard

            Commander Larratus almost bit a chunk off his cigar as he was introduced to Dr. Vampire and heard about the new threat of mystical artifacts set loose on their world.

            “Is there anything else this nutjob wants to throw at us today?” Larratus shouted, “We just got the location of Professor Zombie. We need to get to him and take him out of all this. He’s the one who probably knows who turned off the sky!”

            “Unfortunately, I can assure you; you don’t have that kind of time,” Doctor Vampire said apologetically. “These items can do anything from killing thousands to destroying your world. My team of guardians and I would be glad to help you. In fact, you will need our help.”

            “Why don’t you just tell us what these items are and let us decide for ourselves if we need help that we don’t know from Adam?” Larratus said.

            “Because even the time it takes to introduce ourselves may be too much of a luxury, Commander.”

            “You know, let’s just do this and get it out of the way,” Sandstorm said, “Bring in your team so we can get to know each other at least a little and lets go get these things.”

            Sandstorm looked around to his team who all nodded their agreement.

            “Oh fine!” Larratus growled. “Well come on then, where are they?”

            Dr. Vampire touched the colorful latch button for his cape and a portal of light appeared in the room. As his teammates of the Strykeforce Guard came through, each was introduced.

            The first man to step through gleamed in silver armor with a black star that centered on the right side of his chest with points that reached from up across his visor to his right knee. A white falcon stood on his shoulder and he held a dazzling sword with a pair of four pointed shuriken attached at the hand guard; Lonestar, the Starknight. Starknights served the good side of the balance to far reaches across galaxies under the guidance of the entity, the Crimson King. Each knight travels with a mystical animal companion that is impervious to damage and cannot die until it’s owner does. The falcon could not only fight by his master’s side with devastating precision, but also carried the ability to heal others. The sword and armor also carried mystical properties to protect the knight on his missions and travels. The shuriken could fly straight and true and also be sent as a beacon for aide.

           Next a woman stepped through and dropped men’s jaws at the sight. None of them had ever seen an Elven woman before, slender and beautiful in colorful leather garb with light pink bloused sleeves. A silvery tiara held her fiery red hair in place as she walked. Dreamseer could enter men’s minds and do a variety of things, to include invoking dreams or nightmares.

           The man who next came through regarded the room with a scowl and slightly fluttered his huge black wings. His long black hair was tied back in a pony- tail and his sideburns went clear to his rigid jaw. His fists clenched in leather gauntlets as he strode to a far corner of the room. The Kyte wasn’t known for being particularly friendly. He was a warrior and saw little use in small talk or frivolity.

            Finally a woman in a long tan trench coat carrying a red staff stepped through and the portal closed. Lady Traveler could open portals to nearly anyplace anyone wanted to go. Electrode almost couldn’t take  his eyes off her long wavy black hair and her mist blue eyes could pierce a man right through. 

          
             With short introductions out of the way, Dr. Vampire brought out a hand held monitor.

            “This will tell us when the first artifact appears. I suggest keeping this monitor here and that we split into smaller teams. That way we can hopefully reclaim the items maybe two or three at a time. Until then, I can tell that several of you are exhausted. You should get some small amount of rest while you can. The monitor could go off at any time.”

            “I just have to point out, how do we know we can trust any of you?” Atomizer asked.

            “I can vouch for them,” Nightfall said, “Council Interpol knows the Strykeforce pretty well.”

            “And I can only assure you, my friend, that we are here to help,” Dr. Vampire answered.

            Atomizer nodded and he wanted to rest but having so many new faces made that difficult to do, especially that of the Elven lady. All the same he decided to sit back and lower the brim of his hat. In his mind, it never worked to show too much interest in a woman too soon.

            Agent Redeagle was already laying back on a table across the room with his eyes closed. He was exhausted. Redeagle didn’t have the energy reserves of people like Sandstorm and Electrode. He was glad to gain a little rest period after so much action.

            Nyhtwulf approached Blacktide, “Shall we talk away from the others for a moment?”

            “Sure,” said Blacktide and suddenly found himself on the roof with Nyhtwulf. “Okay, they might wonder about that.”

            “We made a deal,” Nyhtwulf said.

            “Yeah, we did,” Blacktide answered slowly.

            “I am ready to uphold my end of the bargain now that I can communicate again. I have a new life, new freedom.”

            “Where will you go?”

            “Actually, I would like to stay with your team and continue on this mission.”

            “Well, we could sure use your help,” Blacktide said.

            “I am glad to help. So, are you ready for me to sever our connection?”

            “Um, you know, actually, what if we were partners?”

            “Partners?”

            “Yeah, everyone on the team has a partner to work with and we could be partners. We could team up on jobs against the bad guys. And if we were partners, maybe it would be better if we didn’t lose that connection, you know?”

            “I think I do know. If this is truly what you wish, Larry Blacktide Peters, I will honor it and be your partner.”

            “Yeah, I think that would be alright,” Blacktide smiled. For the first time in his life, it looked like he had someone he didn’t have to worry about hurting.

            Inside the building, Anubis stood next to Nightfall, looking in on the Vagabond.

            “How’s it going with stinky sourpuss in there?” Anubis asked.

            “Well, he gave us the location of Professor Zombie and thinks we won’t send him back to his home planet. Too bad for him, he’s wanted for a lot of interstellar crimes.”

            “Peach of a guy,” Anubis said. “But he can’t use his powers, huh?”

            “Not with those handcuffs on. They were designed by an inventor with the FBI, Anthony James. They suppress powers of anyone they’re on.”

            “Handy,” chuckled Anubis, “get it? Handcuffs? Handy?”

            Nightfall groaned, “Oh that’s terrible.”

            They were interrupted by a beeping noise from the other room.

            “We have the location of an artifact, no; we have two!” Dr. Vampire shouted from the other room.

            “Well, what are they? These men don’t go into missions without at least a quick briefing!” Larratus said firmly.

            “Well, Commander, one is in Chicago and it’s called the Skull of Sphidra. It can be worn as a helmet and grants it’s wearer great psychic powers while possessing them with the spirit of Sphidra, the Spider God.”

            “And the second one?” Commander Larratus wasn’t sure if he even wanted to know.

            “One of the Scythe’s of Death himself.”

GZ Legends 13: House of the Raven

The Deformer

Across the city from their friends, at a waterfront, Sandstorm and Electrode planned their entrance to a large warehouse. It belonged to the most ruthless crime boss New York had seen since the Capone days.

 The Raven operated his crimes under a false front organization called the Foundation. Everyone knew of his evil but could never gather enough evidence to put him away. Even though many a federal agent sent to infiltrate wound up dead. Even though he did billions of dollars in white collar crimes. He could not be stopped.

The Raven started out as the leader of a motorcycle gang called the Red Devils in his younger years. His one red eye and one cloudy blue eye distinguished him and helped to drive terror into his victims. As a genius in robotics and cybernetics, he enjoyed building things that kill. Around him almost anything could be a weapon. Sandstorm once destroyed an SUV that Raven built into a killing machine to wipe out a smaller rival gang. Another time he rebuilt all the vending machines in an office building to kill witnesses that were about to testify against him in court. If anyone could orchestrate an attack on the police precincts, it would be the Raven.

 Raven also had cybernetics in his body, making him a formidable foe up close. Worse yet, he built robot duplicates of himself in order to make capture that much harder. He has an anti-aging power that makes him almost immortal and causes extra fast healing. Even so, Raven shows some age and thin features that remind people of the actor, Vincent Price. Only Sandstorm and Electrode, along with one or two other powered vigilantes in New York, ever kept the Raven in check and from taking over the city outright.

                “We need to be on our toes in here,” Sandstorm said. “There will be quite a few hired guns and likely all with cybernetic implants. I’ll change to air form and enter through a window.”

                “Why not use the ventilation system?”

                “He would expect that and he’s detected me before. He builds security devices so sophisticated they can detect our powers. You might be able to move fast enough to dodge the sensors, but be careful. Anything, and I mean anything, could try to kill you here.”

                “Hey, I have helped you against him before you know.”

                “Yeah, but you’ve never been in there. I suggest you run up on the roof and through a door up there. He might not expect a speeder from that direction. Whatever you do, don’t stop anywhere until you get to the main floor of the warehouse. I’ll meet you there.”

                Electrode knew to heed the words of his mentor well. Sandstorm saw much more action than he could ever imagine; a true veteran by any means. Electrode psyched himself for a dash while Sandstorm dissolved into air. Electrode ran for a fire escape ladder.

The Nuclear Electric Man

The speed of light is measured at about 186,000 miles per second. Sandstorm stress tested Electrode once by having him run around the world as many times as he could in one minute. He almost made it 15 times and didn’t tire out. The speed of light could only hope to go around 7 times. Sandstorm theorized that is was nuclear electric physiology that made him so fast and virtually tireless in movement. As a result he only requires sleep once a week.

Speeds that high cause the speeders to operate on a different level of perception to virtually all of physical space around them. Electrode was still learning about all that he could possibly do with such speed so still limited himself to some of the confines of physical science and reality. Seeing the world from his perspective at his speed, seemed like moving through a place frozen in time. He could detect movement at less than a hair’s width in anything.  He once attacked a punching bag and hit it over a thousand times in one second. He moved so fast, that he was away from it before it had time for it to react to his punches. It exploded into bits of stuffing. Because of that, he could never punch a human being at speed levels. Instead he attacked with air movements and sub shockwaves he could generate with his speed. His punches didn’t have to connect with objects and he still got the desired results.

  There were four guards on top of the building. He ran past each one and snapped his fingers creating a mini supersonic boom that stunned all four of them. He found a door on the rooftop and was inside instantly. A man climbed the stairs inside, though stock still from his perspective. He gave another finger snap as he passed and noted something horrifying. Pieces of the hand rails were coming apart and generating red lasers as they did. To him, they moved very slowly, so he made it to the bottom of the stairs with ease. Still, he couldn’t believe that something detected him. Forgetting the advice given, he stopped at the bottom of the stairs. The finger snaps all resolved and the man stumbled on the stairs, just before the lasers cut him to pieces.

 The stair steps all turned like a mulching machine and swallowed the parts away.  No trace remained, but horror of the sight shook Electrode to the core. The men on the building roof all fell over unconscious. His high perceptions caught a brightening of light from the hallway lamps. He realized he just triggered another trap. From the speed perspective he could see a defined orb of light coming from the bulbs in the hall. He knew he couldn’t wait around to see what they would do to him. So he ran with the orbs growing in slow motion around him. He reached for a doorknob at the end of the hall, wondering if he could escape.

                Sandstorm floated through the air into the main floor of the warehouse. He could see stacks of crates being moved around by armed men and a door was open to the dock outside. A couple of crates were open and he could see the weapons. Sandstorm has a powerful sense of all elements. You could bring him almost any object and he could tell you where on Earth its components came from. As he used his power to scan over the weapons, he discovered they were from nowhere on Earth. A handsome tanned man in a gray suit came in from a boat on the dock. If Sandstorm were in human form, seeing this man would have given him goose bumps. This man was wanted by the FBI and agencies in several countries.

The Barracuda smuggled all sorts of nasty things for a living. The Brazilian native had speed powers that worked especially in water. He could swim over 90 miles per hour and boasted considerable physical strength. No one knew his limits, but four or five hundred pounds had been seen as child’s play to him. He could swim down to depths that no machine could follow, so catching him on the open water proved nigh impossible. What a great opportunity this could be. And Sandstorm knew that he could follow Barracuda to any depth because he had already explored the ocean floor in the form of water, just for kicks. 

Up on a catwalk, a door slammed and the Raven stood with a scowl on his narrow face. He gripped the metal hand rail and it twisted in his hand.

                “You may as well show yourself, I know you’re here!” he shouted and then looked to Barracuda, “We have intruders, get lost!”

                At that moment, up in the hallway, Electrode spun on his heel, realizing he couldn’t get through the door in time. He fired and arc of lightning down the hall that blew every bulb and fried every wire from one end to the other. The explosion could be heard throughout the building. Barracuda turned to run for his boat but a series of micro sonic booms laid him and every thug on that level out on their backs and faces. Electrode appeared over Barracuda's unconscious body. Sandstorm allowed himself to appear in mildly transparent form, hovering in the air.

                “You two again. Too bad my traps didn’t catch your rookie friend,” the Raven scowled.

                “You’re dealing in weapons that have killed a lot of people, Raven,” Sandstorm said.

                “Really? How sad. Remind me to send out some sympathy cards.”

                “We want to know where someone is,” Sandstorm continued.

                “At the zoo.”

                “We don’t have time for snide answers.”

                “You fool, you don’t have time for much of anything.”

                The movement of the dark silhouette of a person caught Electrode off guard and he barely evaded the new speeder in time. Shadowy fingers barely caressed his chest before Electrode pulled away, reeling in pain. A look at the location showed an instant and ugly scar across the exact surface touched. It felt like a hot poker had just brushed Electrode’s chest.

                “Are you okay?” Sandstorm asked.

                “Yeah, this guy touched me and scarred me instantly.”

                The being that touched him stood only twenty feet away. It resembled a human being only in geometric shape, otherwise it held no facial features or anything else human. Its form was as black as cast iron and didn’t reflect much light. It grabbed up an unconscious thug faced toward Electrode and put a hand over the man’s face. At the being’s touch the thugs face distorted and twisted out of shape. The thug woke up screaming with his face being manipulated like soft clay. The Thug’s heart gave out from the pain and shock, and the creature dropped him dead to the floor.  Electrode could hardly look at the horror created right before his eyes. The creature pointed a finger at Electrode, making it's message horrifyingly clear.

GZ Legends 12: Last Second Saves

Nyhtwulf's surprise

            Railroad grabbed up Blacktide and flung him through the air.

            “Man, I just love how you fall through stuff!” Railroad laughed.

            Blacktide slid to a stop after disintegrating his way through three walls. Water surrounded him on the floor and  he realized he had been thrown into a bathroom. His aura  destroyed a toilet. Blood dripped from his face and dispersed in the spreading water, giving it clouds of red. Blacktide coughed spatters of more blood.  Railroad lumbered into view and came closer.

            “So you just a crook or something else? Boss said I’m supposed to ask that of any intruders before I kill ‘em,” Railroad said as he drew closer.

            Blacktide lifted a hand and tried to concentrate to create a charged blast of disintegration energy. He never wanted to kill anyone, but this man was going to kill him. He silently cursed himself for taking off alone. The view of Railroad was starting to blur and Blacktide could have sworn the man suddenly had two shadows.

            What Blacktide couldn’t see through the haze of hurt was that this was no ordinary shadow. It moved freely and reached for the back of Railroad's head. Suddenly Railroad’s body stiffened in strange posture and Blacktide couldn’t see the long black shadow fingers reaching through Railroad’s face from behind.

            “IGG UGG IGGLSNIPPID!” Railroad uttered before falling on his face in the toilet water with a splash.

            Blacktide promptly blacked out.

*******

            Anubis landed with Nightfall on a rooftop where they could look over Times Square.

            “I wonder how we are going to find one of the supply points?” Anubis mused.

            “All we can do is look around. It would have to be a place with room to store vehicles and weapons. Sounds like a garage or storage facility; maybe a warehouse. New York is full of old buildings but they would have to be close to a precinct in order to attack so quickly, like Sandstorm said.”

            “Then let’s find another police precinct.”

            Anubis couldn’t help but enjoy the feeling of carrying Nightfall in his arms as they flew high over the city lights. If only he could get past the immediate guilt with the loss of Ella still heavy in his heart.  Nightfall stared at the side of his lupine face and admired him. He didn’t know that she liked being carried by him.

            Finding another police precinct proved easy and they dropped in on the roof of an old police building. Its archaic looks gave the impression of a castle fortress, that unfortunately didn’t save them from the attackers. Anubis scrutinized surrounding streets from their rooftop vantage. Major blast marks showed all across the face of the building and an alleyway lay across the street.

            “That looks like a nice dark approach. Not much light means the vans they drove wouldn’t be noticed until way too late,” suggested Anubis.

            “I think you’re right. Shall we fly low over it and see what we find?” Nightfall answered.

            “Yeah, lets.”

            “Just remember, when we find them, they’re already dead people.”

            “Don’t worry about me. I got that loud and clear from the last one. Get it? Loud and clear?”

            “No,” Nightfall shook her head.

            “Because he didn’t say anything, oh well.”

            “Keep trying, Mr. Comedian, keep trying.”

            Anubis kept them above the roof tops only slightly so they could see down into the alley. The block was a long one and the alley opened up to a building with three garage doors. They landed in front of those doors to an old auto shop. The windows showed no light and nothing moved. Even so, Anubis snarled,

            “Someone’s in there. I can feel them.”

            The energy firing came right through the metal garage door and both heroes ducked out of the way just in time.

            “Hey! You didn’t give me a chance to knock!” Anubis’s hands glowed fiercely and he blew the big door in with a double handed energy bolt that could have come from a cannon. Anubis spun his lance in his hand and Nightfall drew her ion pistol. Two of the leather clad killers came stumbling outside with their weapons. Nightfall shot one in roughly the forehead area. Her pistol left a score mark on the helmet, but nothing else.

            “Oh great, their helmets are fortified.”

            “Yeah? How’s this?”  Anubis threw his lance like a giant propeller that hit one in the head and bounced to the other. Both helmets shattered and she took the new opportunity to shoot them both. They fell and lay still. Anubis’s lance flew back to his hand.

            “The more I use this thing the more I love it!” Anubis said of his weapon.

Anubis's surprise

            “Don’t get cocky, we aren’t done yet,” Nightfall said as she moved forward.

            A rifle shot hit her and threw her to the ground and she didn’t move. Anubis rushed over to her. The memory of Ella flooded back and he remembered watching the life fade from her eyes. As he lifted Nightfall, there was no response and the shot was directly in the chest. Shadows in the garage moved, and more weapons glowed. Anubis took no notice as only raw emotion drowned him.

 “NOOOOOOO!” He howled in rage and glowed a bright and powerful white light.

 The new attackers were aiming at him but he suddenly vanished from sight as did Nightfall. The ground shook and the asphalt in the alleyway cracked and rose in chunks. Power poles sparked angrily and fell over, car alarms went off and lightning flashed across the black sky. The attackers approached the opening section of ground, aiming their weapons at it. The mound of broken ground exploded and threw them all backwards. A giant Egyptian sarcophagus shot up from the cracks and showered the area with earth and asphalt. It stood at least fifty feet high and it too cracked and began to crumble. Bright white light emitted from the breaking sections of the sarcophagus. And explosion of pieces revealed a giant form of Anubis who glared down on the attackers coming from the garage. Holding a scepter and lance, it crossed the two and a bright ball of light formed around them. It threw its arms out to either side and launched the light into the garage building. The explosion engulfed the building in a bright strobe that blinded out all else. The force of the blast shook nearby buildings and turned over cars parked on the other side of the garage. As it cleared, the giant form was gone and Anubis rested on one knee next to Nightfall, panting from the effort. Nightfall sat up and felt her chest. Her wound was gone.

            “Wow, Anubis, what was that?” she looked around at all the damage from ground to buildings, “Wow, really, what was that?”

“I don’t know. I saw you go down and something just snapped. I don’t know what I did, but ya know what? I like it. Seems like I have a special attack or something.”

            “Maybe you should give that a name.” Nightfall half joked, still a bit shaken by the destruction of it.

            “Yeah, something that fits me for who I am now. I think I’ll call it, Guardian of the Dead.”

            “In any case, this is the second time you’ve healed me. And look at what you did to them and the garage.”

            The building stood, a hollowed out shell, charred in its remains. Eight bodies lay within and none of them moved again.

            “Yeah, I did quite a number on them. Do you think Zombie will notice?”

            “I think it’s a good bet that half the city noticed.” Nightfall couldn’t help the awe she felt at his power, power even he didn’t understand.

            “Good, let’s go find another,” Anubis nodded.

GZ Legends 1-10 The World Goes Dark

Destiny

This is to give you links to my ongoing story (in short sections) of GZ Legends. This doesn't include a link to number 11 but you can find that as the post right before this in the blog history down right side of the screen.

I hope you're enjoying the story so far!

I appreciate all your great support and please remember that people with special conditions can do things, often things you wouldn't believe. Children with autism (aspergers) can grow up to lead successful lives so never give up hope. Hope is what fuels you to be the best parent you can today.

Now here's the storyline so far, enjoy! The balance of good and evil is in jeopardy!


1: The Temple in the Sand

2: Vengeance and Grief

3: Lights Out!

4: War and Powers

5: The Terror of the Dark

6: Into the Fire

7: Recruiting the Storm

8: And now the PAC

9: The White House

10: A Hero sent by Death


And finally, you can see the early Showcase Short story links HERE.

GZ Legends 11: Greetings Humans!

Greetings Humans!

Sent to Earth on a great mission, Nyhtwulf appeared atop a high skyscraper in downtown New York City. He gazed in awe and wonder at the sight below.  An ocean of lights glittered and blinked all around. Cars and trucks were starting to be cleared from accidents, creating rivers of moving light everywhere he looked.  A hustle and bustle of sounds filled his sensitive ears so much that he had to take pause to get accustomed to it all. He could feel the emotions of masses of people in combinations of fear, worry and awe. It would take him a while to get used to filtering out so many minds. It was when he found the emotions of hope that they truly caught his attention. These hopes were for other humans, humans with extraordinary abilities. As he listened, he was amazed to discover that mention of some such powers rivaled his own.

“I wonder if I can find any of these humans? Maybe they could be of help,” Nyhtwulf thought, “What wonders there are here!”

He snapped out of his thoughts at the thrumming sound of a police helicopter flying low over the city. Helicopters were about the only machines of flight that could be used with the darkness and they dared not fly too high. Nyhtwulf marveled at the flying machine and noted their uniforms. If these were people of authority, maybe they could give him some information?

Nyhtwulf flew through the darkness, nearly invisible, towards the helicopter. Nyhtwulf had a supernatural ability in language. Just from sensing the thoughts of humans he could speak their language. Along with that, an ability of Nyhtwulf’s species is to be intangible, so able to move through solid structures. It didn’t take long for Nyhtwulf to realize his first approach may not have been such a good idea. From in the cockpit of the helicopter, Nyhtwulf’s head and shoulders rose through the control panel and he attempted to say “Greetings!”

To Nyhtwulf’s surprised ears and those of the shocked officers, all they heard was, “GLARGARGLE!”

The two police officers screamed and the helicopter swerved away, leaving a confused Nyhtwulf hovering in the air. The tail blade of the helicopter shattered against a nearby building and the machine spun out of control. Nyhtwulf saw the helicopter spiraling towards the street below with multitudes of humans. Despite his confusion and the fact that this was not what he intended, Nyhtwulf dove after the helicopter. Becoming solid, he grabbed onto the tail of the machine and steadied its flight. People screamed and scattered as Nyhtwulf guided the helicopter to the ground. The pilots hurried to turn off the engines as soon as they were on the ground and Nyhtwulf rushed to see if they were okay. Before Nyhtwulf could ask anything, one of the officers jumped out with a gun drawn and started shooting. The bullets went through Nyhtwulf harmlessly, but he could see that there would be no talking to this human. Nyhtwulf flew back up into the darkness where he couldn’t be seen.

“What just happened?” he thought, “Perhaps I scared them too much. I should try someone in another location. And I hope I can talk this time; that was very strange indeed.”

What they saw

Nyhtwulf flew over the buildings in search of someone else he might approach. A few blocks away he found another police officer and a group of people. This time he flew down gently and tried his best not to startle them.

“Excuse me, humans,” Nyhtwulf tried to say, but all they all heard was, “ECHELBLARGLAAAAR!”

All of the people screamed and ran frantically in all directions. That was when Nyhtwulf felt something terrible from their minds. Not only could he not speak to them, but they were seeing him in a far more nightmarish visage. They saw Nyhtwulf leaping to attack them with ferocity, an illusion.

“A spell as has been cast on me!” Nyhtwulf realized as he flew back to the rooftops, “I mustn’t let anyone see me until I can figure out what to do about this!”

 *******

Despite the reasons he locked himself away, it felt good to have his motorcycle under him once again. Larry Peters carried the name of Blacktide because of a wave of disintegration energy he could emit. His powers manifested at an early age without warning in Manitoba, Canada. He could still feel it like yesterday. The sun shone through the white gazebo where they ate breakfast and kept them all warm. Father snapped the morning newspaper and mused over an article while mother put some syrup on her son’s pancakes. He smiled up at mother and she ran her fingers through his hair. He cut a bite away with his fork and felt a turn in his stomach. Like any child, suddenly feeling ill, he looked to his mother for help.

            “What’s wrong dear?” She had been so good to him, as nurturing as any mother could be.

            “Mommy?” It was the last word he said to her before it went off. The explosion filled the area with smoke and made him feel almost deaf. Disintegration works more with the sound of imploding air followed by silence than an outward crack or bang. He fell to the ground startled and frightened beyond his 9 years.

            When they found him, they first saw the random pieces of gazebo all around. Tears streamed down the little boy’s face where he sat next to the disembodied head of his mother. Parts of them lay about in random order since his disintegration field worked in such a sporatic way. There was no blood because his energies cauterized all openings left behind.

The first firefighter followed his instincts to grab the boy and take him to safety, at the cost of both his hands. Larry now carried a short range field of disintegrative energy around his body so long as he was conscious. No one could get close and the rescue crews made frantic phone calls. It wasn’t long into his suffering, sitting in that mess, that a man from a government program came.  He looked into the sad, frightened eyes of that little boy,

            “I’m so sorry, son,” and he pulled the pin on what looked like a type of grenade canister. A fog filled the area and Larry fell unconscious while the man held a gasmask on himself.  Larry awoke in a laboratory with a parahuman study program. They counseled him on his loss and studied his powers. Even with all the understanding they gave him, even knowing it wasn’t his fault, he still sometimes wished that grenade were lethal.

             It was in that lab that they discovered he couldn’t affect gasses or liquids. They also discovered that he could cause any non-living object to implode. At mental command, he could also release that hold and a devastating explosion would occur. This discovery only served to make Larry fear his powers that much more. When he was seventeen, they were making him practice his implosion power and there was an accident that killed two laboratory workers. Larry ran away through a hole in the wall and never turned back.  In his wanderings, sought by the law, he ran across a street gang and started hanging out with them in underground places. They had him use his powers for some small time breaking and entering, but that didn‘t last. With lives on his shoulders, he got himself a motorcycle and took to the road.

            Now he searched the streets of New York for cold blooded killers and wondered how long it would last? How long before another life is lost or someone is seriously injured? He rode into the Bronx and sought out some of the harder districts. In his experience, wicked dealings always start underground. He saw a black van with heavily tinted windows pull into a warehouse where a large door pulled down behind it. He parked his bike across the street, attracting the attention of a couple local thugs. He knew the looks in their eyes as they approached and picked up an empty beer bottle.

            “Yo, homie, what you gonna do with that?” one of them laughed.

            He held the bottle in his palm at eye level for them to see. With a slight pop, like the cough of a silencer on a pistol, it dissolved into smoke. A few dusty sprinkles of glass fell to the ground.

            “No one touches my bike. No one touches me.”

            The two of them walked away murmuring that this one was crazy anyway. Blacktide knew that they wouldn’t stick around for anything tougher or more dangerous than them. Blacktide walked calmly across the street and into the shadows between buildings.  He pressed up against the brick near a window and peeked in. The warehouse had several large crates inside and a large black man lifted one into the back of the van with less effort than a sack of groceries. Blacktide wasn’t worried about how big the man was, he had dealt with people much bigger. Blacktide moved his way down the dark wall to a doorway. Finding it locked, he made a fist and punched through the area where the bolt would go into the wall. He disintegrated a fist shaped hole clear through and door floated open.  Once inside, he immediately found himself behind a few of the large crates. Stacked two high, they provided complete cover for him. Blacktide used the position to find out what was in the crates. A slight brush of his fingers created a large enough hole in the crate that Blacktide could move packing material around. The crate was filled with the same strange rifles he had seen pictures of.

“Paydirt,” Blacktide whispered to himself.

Railroad, muscle for hire

Blacktide snuck around the crates and between them, watching for any sign of the suited attackers. None of them seemed to be around. The big brute wasn’t next to the van anymore and it sat with the back doors still open. Cautiously Blacktide approached the van and noted an office to his right. Maybe the big guy went in there? He stalked up to the door and peered around the corner as quiet as could be. Empty. Just an empty chair at a paper cluttered desk. Something struck his lower back and propelled him through the office door. His power annihilated the entire doorway and the windows through the other side. Half of a metal support beam also got erased and he left pock marks across the concrete floor. His back arched in pain as he writhed there.

            “Wow, that’s a serious power you got there,” the brute said as he stepped through the path of wreckage. “You must wipe out anything you touch huh? Far out. Good thing I got these special gloves and boots that protect me from stuff like that.”

            To accent that point, the brute of a man kicked Blacktide and launched him through another wall. Passing through walls and boxes didn’t hurt, but Blacktide felt a rib snap with the force of the kick. As Blacktide’s body came to rest on the concrete again, the brute came stomping after him.

            “You in the wrong place, whoever you are. Now Railroad is gonna mess you up good!”

Catch up with the story here:  GZ 1-10
Jump to: GZ 12

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GZ Legends 10: A hero sent by Death

Nyhtwulf

Apart from the events on Earth, we find ourselves taken to another place. It is in this place that another important person of our story appears.

On another plane of existence there is a legend known across many galaxies. The ancient knowledge tells of the river Styx and the ferryman known as Charon. Charon delivers souls to the underworld for their final destination and judgment. Only the most unfavorable or those on a special quest end up on a ride in Charon’s boat. Most of the special quests are souls serious about seeking redemption enough to chance the murky river and its unforgiving appetite. No other way to the Isle of Skulls, to see Death himself can be found. However, even that is not without a challenge, for Charon is a wicked creature, made of greed. The Goddess, Karma allows every soul who dares a piece of gold for the greedy Charon. Charon always stops his boat halfway across and demands payment for the journey by holding out his clawed skeletal hand. If anyone dares pay him before his service is complete, Charon will laugh and knock them into the hungry water, never to be seen again. No one should ever pay Charon until they step out of the boat on the shore of the Isle. Should anyone decide not to pay Charon and take three steps away from him, the magic of the river will swallow them on the spot.

Charon, the Ferryman

Once upon an eon, a Twylie Demon called Nyhtwulf  made that same journey. He sought redemption for failures to his own race. Despite his great black wings that could carry werewolf-like form, he could not fly across the river. The magic of the Styx would never allow it. He had to take the same challenge as all who traveled that way. The Twylie are Demons of shadow and should they pass through any living being, they can short circuit life-force itself. They can track any living being they have met across the stars by brain wave signals and even scramble the energy of the brain. In solid form they can fight with sharp fang and claw and strength of superhuman proportions. Nyhtwulf faced execution by his race for crimes considered most heinous. That was how he found himself on the dock waiting for Charon. 

He didn’t know how he came by the piece of gold, but it glistened in his hand. The boat slid up to the dock without a sound and Nyhtwulf stepped in. Charon said nothing as he pushed away with his long pole through the river, away from the safety of the shore. Fog of a green color blocked vision in all directions. Nyhtwulf glanced over the side just in time to see a terrified face appear in the waters and then drift away. The river Styx is made of the souls of the greatest failures and evils that ever were. They drift in a state of perpetual nightmare. The boat slowed and stopped, with no landing in sight. Nyhtwulf looked to Charon, who held out his skeletal hand, fingers opening. The shadowy demon narrowed his eyes at Charon and stretched out his arm, holding the gold over the side of the boat. Charon gave an agitated hiss realizing defeat. Many a smart voyager had refused payment until getting to the other side, but no one had ever done this before. If the gold were dropped into the river, Charon would fail his job and be punished. Only the collection of gold proved he performed his duty as sentenced. The river’s magic could do nothing because Nyhtwulf remained in the boat and had not taken three steps away. Charon motioned wildly for the wolfen being to bring in his hand and the gold, but to no avail. Nyhtwulf held that piece of gold out over the side the rest of the way across. Once at the destination point, Charon clicked his bony fingers together in desperation for the glistening coin. Nyhtwulf put one foot out of the boat, turned slightly and dropped the coin to the floor of the ferry. Charon raged at the disrespect and pulled his pole from the water. He swung it for the demons head, but a peal of thunder froze him. Death appeared before them and a voice boomed across the scene.

“CHARON! YOU HAVE BEEN PAID! NEVER MAY YOU STRIKE ONE WHOM YOU HAVE DELIVERED TO ME AND BEEN PAID! GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER UNTIL YOU ARE NEEDED AGAIN! YOUR SENTENCE IS DOUBLED!”

A piercing scream faded across the river as Charon and his ferry vanished from sight. Nyhtwulf dropped to his knee and bowed his head before his new master. His quest for redemption was granted, on the condition that he serve the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as their butler.

So Nyhtwulf served in the entrance and great hall as yet another challenge to those seeking their own redemption or new life. Every soul seeking audience with Death had to be escorted and announced by Nyhtwulf, or be thrown out. On occasion some being would try to fight their way past Nyhtwulf to get to the throne room of the Four. At such a point, Nyhtwulf was charged with protection of the royal halls and had full license to deal with intruders in any way he desired. A wandering soul is still life force and Nyhtwulf’s touch dispersed them screaming into nothingness.

 Working at the great doors to the castle, often had him in view of Charon, who hated him. Charon didn’t consider the demon from the Twylie dimension worthy to serve and lusted for vengeance. If only he could somehow trick the stupid wolf into the waters of the Styx and see him in anguish forever. That would be very satisfactory to Charon. It didn’t matter that Charon was never very good at his service to the masters. No one who ever crossed him had ever received such an honor as serving inside the halls. Every time Charon saw Nyhtwulf open that door, he only loathed the lupine creature that much more.

Year after year and century after century, Charon’s rage for Nyhtwulf grew, making him a more hateful creature and worse servant than ever.

Finally after eons of servitude, Death summoned Nyhtwulf to the throne chamber. When one is summoned by such a power, there can be no hesitation. Nyhtwulf instantly materialized before the four mighty thrones, already on one knee with head bowed low.

Lord Entity Death

“Rise, loyal servant and stand before us tall,” Death’s voice echoed through the grand throne room.

Such a request surprised Nyhtwulf, but he dared not falter and stood as directed.

“You have served us well for over a millennia, so well that we offer you a mission of utmost importance. As you know, we do not interfere with the workings of the universe, we are what we are and have our duties to what must be. It is your fate that you must go out and finish your quest by this design. A son of Nature has been corrupted and aimed at the planet, Earth. You must go there and correct the situation. He is Cyclone and his purpose is to set planets on their ecological path towards bearing life. On Earth he is off his destined route and will damage the balance of the universe.”

“Then I will go and set this right, Master. When shall I begin?” Nyhtwulf couldn’t believe his fortune. This was his chance to become something better than he ever was in his previous life

.

“Immediately. Complete this task and you win your life anew.”

“It shall be done, my Masters, or I shall be destroyed in the attempt!” With a final bow, Nyhtwulf raced down the hall in joy and out the front door. He looked up to the starry skies of the realm and spread his wings. He no longer had to comply with the laws of the Styx because of his servitude. With a great push of those wings, Nyhtwulf leapt into the air and flew toward the stars to break the dimensional barrier.

Charon watched Nyhtwulf fly away through one unblinking eye. He knew of the occurences on Earth. Furthermore he knew who was behind them. He knew of Nyhtwulf’s mission before the demon wolf did. He felt a twinge of pleasure in what he had done in contacting that force beyond their realm. It was treason to the Masters to be sure, but Charon considered any penalty worth the pain to hurt Nyhtwulf even a little.

As Nyhtwulf broke from the distant dimension into that of our universe, he didn’t feel the eyes of a villain upon him. He also didn’t feel a silent spell as it was cast. Nythwulf had no idea what was about to affect his mission to Earth.

Jump to: GZ Legends 11
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