GODLING # 35: IMPULSE CONTROL

GODLING # 35:  IMPULSE CONTROL

by J. Vandersteen

– GODLING – THE ONE MAN PANTHEON:  IMPULSE CONTROL

Wade Hudson shakes his nightstick at Godling. “You really want to take me to jail? Forget it!”

Detective Darlene King says, “You’ve been committing an act of police brutality. There’s no way to deny that. I need to take you in.”

Wade spits. “You can’t take me on. Not in this armor you can’t.”

“We’ll see about that,” Godling says and attacks, his fist swinging at Wade.

Wade catches the fist on his nightstick and kicks Godling in the gut. The hero doubles over, switching to Achilles’ invulnerability from Ares’ fighting skills just a bit too late. The nightstick comes crashing down against his temple, but the invulnerability saves him from harm now.

“Damn you! Go down!” Wade yells and keeps clubbing Godling with the nightstick. While he isn’t hurt by it Godling has a hard time striking back with the hits coming again and again.

Darlene King and Officer Janson grab Wade’s arms and try to pull him away from The One Man Pantheon. Wade shakes them off, then turns to face them, gun pointing at them.

“Leave me alone, stupid cows!” he yells.

“No way! I’m taking you in!” King says and hits Wade in the face with a roundhouse kick. He takes it on the helmet, though and fires the gun.

King falls, smoke coming from her side where the gun hit her with a laserblast. “@#$ that hurts…”

“ENOUGH!” Godling says and with the speed of Hermes he ploughs into Wade, carrying him across the street into a building. It feels to Wade if he has just been hit by an F-16 fighter jet. Dizzy, he tries to get his gun up to defend himself but Godling is faster.

With the strength of Heracles Godling’s mighty fist knocks Wade through the wall he’d just cracked by being knocked into it.

“I think he’s down,” Godling says, panting.

Janson walks toward him, supporting the badly wounded Darlene King. “Detective King is hurt… Bad…”

“Don’t worry. That is nothing I won’t be able to heal,” Godling says and puts a hand on King’s side. His hand starts to glow and he uses the healing powers of Aesculapius to close and heal the wound.

“Ungh… Thanks,” King says.

“Thank you for coming to my aid,” the hero says.

“Sure. I don’t know what’s gotten into the sergeant, but it seems a good idea to lock him up so we can try to find out what happened to him,” King says.

“Think… When has he started to act this violent? Isn’t it since he started wearing that armour? Maybe you thought he started wearing it because his mental state had changed… But couldn’t it be possible it’s the armour that is in fact changing his mental state?”

“Hadn’t thought of that,” Janson admits.

“Me neither. Some detective I am,” King says.

“Let’s get this armour off him so I can have a better look at it,” Godling says.

The hero bends over Wade’s unconscious body and takes off his helmet. He looks at the inside. “Hmmm… There’s some pretty impressive circuitry inside. This is not just a piece of armour. It would be interesting to have better look at this.”

“Maybe you can do that in our crime lab?” Janson suggested.

“Sounds like a plan,” Godling says.

“Good, you concentrate on the tech, meanwhile I will interrogate Wade,” King says.

*

So they get to work… In the crime lab Godling uses microscopes and other diagnostical equipment together with the engineering skills of Hephaestus to analyse the armour. Meanwhile, in the interrogation room Darlene King grills Wade Hudson. Hours pass…

King and Godling meet each other in the crime lab five hours later.

“And? Did you find out something?” King asks Godling.

The hero holds up Wade’s helmet. “I sure did. This thing is lined with advanced circuits sending electromagnetic pulses. I think they are used to block out parts of Wade’s brain that control his moral impulses.”

“Say what? Is that possible?”

“There have been several experiments with it in the past. The way technology seems to advance these days it sounds like a possibility indeed. It would explain a lot,” Godling says.

“During the interview Wade seemed to become more logical and relaxed by the minute,” King says.

“That would be the effects of the pulses wearing off,” Godling explains.

“He told me he got the armour from some guy in Tokyo named professor Tsuraya. Apparently that scientist was also responsible for the creation of Japan’s biggest hero, the robot know as Ninjoid.”

“I actually once fought at Ninjoid’s side,” Godling says. “I can’t imagine his creator being responsible for something nasty like that.”

“Maybe it’s a malfunction or something? A glitch?” King offers.

“Something like that isn’t really anything you would engineer accidentally. A lot of thought and work had to go in it. I think I’d better have a word with Tsuraya.”

“Want some company?” King says.

Godling shakes his head. “No, you look after Wade. I’ll tell you what I find out in Japan. Will be there in minutes…”

*

Janson and Monica Sawyer are standing in a room next to the interrogation room, looking through a one way window. Wade sits at a table his head in his hands.

“I don’t like seeing him locked up,” Monica tells Janson.

“I don’t think you should see it that way. We have him here under observation. We just want to see why he was acting so eratically,” Janson explains. “But I can understand it’s not easy seeing someone you love in a situation like that.”

“Yeah… It sure isn’t. And on the subject of love… How are things going between you and Quentin?”

Janson sighs. “I’m not sure… We get along really well, but sometimes his mind seems to wander off… Like he’d rather be somewhere else. Or with someone else. Monica… The way he looks at you sometimes… Or talks about you… Do you think he might be in love with you?”

Monica blushes. “No, of course not! We’re just friends. More like brother and sister max. There’s nothing romantic going on between us!”

“How can you be so sure of that? You’re a beautiful woman, Monica, you must know that yourself. I’m just a chunky Irish girl with too many freckles. I can imagine him rather being with you than with me.”

“Now you’re selling yourself short. You’re a strong, feisty and funny young woman. And I think you’re a pretty cute looking one too.”

“Thanks for the compliment, but I really think he has stronger feeling for you than you think. Again, how can you be so sure that’s not true?”

Monica holds up her hands in defence. “Whoa! I feel like I’m on the other side of the interrogation room all of a sudden.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll shut up. I have no right to grill you like that. Ignore what I said. If you’re sure his feelings towards you are only platonic you are probably right. You know him a lot better than I do.”

But the thing is, I might not be sure of that anymore, Monica thinks.

*

Tokyo, Japan. Professor Tsuraya’s lab. Godling stands inside, high-tech gadgets, monitors and computers everywhere. Thick metal tentacles that are coming from the floor are wrapped around him.

“These things are pretty tight…” Godling groans. “But the strength of Heracles can… BREAK THEM!” And with those last words he snaps the tentacles in two.

Professor Tsuraya, an old, tall man in a red jumpsuit with a bald head and a goatee, walks in, Ninjoid at his side. “Next time, please just knock. You won’t have to break my security measures in half.”

“Err… Sorry? Are you professor Tsuraya?” Godling says.

“I am. I believe you already met Ninjoid?” The professor puts a hand on Ninjoid’s shoulder.

“Yes. He was a great helping fending off an invasion from another dimension a few weeks ago.” Godling extends a hand that Ninjoid shakes.

“So what can I do for the One Man Pantheon?” Tsuraya asks.

“I want to talk about the armour you donated to Wade Hudson.”

“Ah, yes. Nice piece of technology. Just the thing for a policeman to keep the streets safe.”

Godling points an accusing finger at Tsuraya. “It messed with his mind. What was up with that?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Tsuraya says.

“Come on, when you built that thing you had to know exactly what you were doing,” Godling insists.

“I really don’t like the tone you are using,” Tsuraya says. “Ninjoid, escort this barbarian out please.”

Ninjoid steps forward. Godling balls his fist.

“I want some answers and I’m not going anywhere until I get them,” the Olympian hero says. “I don’t want to fight you, Ninjoid, but if I have to, I will.”

“Understood,” Ninjoid says and draws his laser-katana. “Let us battle then.”

NEXT ISSUE: Ninjoid versus Godling! The secret of professor Tsuraya!

            

GODLING # 34: TRAUMATIC STRESS

GODLING # 34:  TRAUMATIC STRESS

by J. Vandersteen

– GODLING – THE ONE MAN PANTHEON:  TRAUMATIC STRESS

Professor Quentin Alexander walks into the New Troy police station. The cop at the reception desk asks him, “What can we do for you?”

“I need to talk to Wade Hudson. He knows me.”

“Do you want me to give him a call?”

“Not necessary,” Janson says, just walking in. “I can take him to the sarge.”

“Hi,” Quentin greets her. “And thanks.”

“Why do you want to talk to the sarge, anyway?”

“He hit Monica.”

“What? No way! Not the sarge! He can be a bit of an ass sometimes, but hitting his girlfriend? No way!”

“Haven’t you noticed him acting a bit… strange lately?”

Janson scratches her chin. “He IS a bit testy lately. I figured it was just stress, you know. Taking on superpowered baddies every day can get to you.”

“Well, I want to talk to him about what happened.”

“In that case I want to come along.”

“Thanks,” Quentin says and kisses her on the cheek.

Together they walk through the station. They see Wade standing at the coffee machine. With him is Detective Darlene King, wearing leather pants and a red tank top along with a big shoulder holster, .44 Magnum inside. Wade is in uniform, but not in his new armor.

“Well, professor… To what do we owe the honor of you visiting us here?” Wade asks.

“I want to talk to you about what you did to Monica.”

“What are you talking about?” Wade asks.

“Stop the bullcrap. You hit her!” Quentin points an accusing finger.

“Whoa! What?” Darlene says. “My man Wade here? No way!”

“Why would Monica lie about it?” Quentin says.

“No idea. But I would never hit her. You’re not trying to put a wedge between us, are you? I know you have the hots for my girl, professor!”

“WHAT!?” Janson says.

Quentin puts a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t listen to him.”

“Come on, professor. Don’t lie to the girl. She’s got a right to know she’s just sloppy seconds,” Wade says.

“STOP IT!” Janson yells. “What are you trying to do?”

Wade holds up his hands. “Sorry, sorry. Seriously, where’s all this talk coming from. If I hit her, I would remember, right?”

“Yeah, of course. But maybe you’re lying,” Quentin says.

“We could hook him up to a lie detector?” King suggests. “But personally I think you’re full of crap, professor. The sarge here is a stand-up guy.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought as well,” Quentin says.

“Hook me up if that will make you feel better,” Wade says. “But why don’t we just call Monica first.”

“Okay, sounds like a plan,” Janson says.

All of them walk into Wade’s office. He dials Monica’s number and puts her on speaker-phone. Everyone gathers round his desk.

“Hi babe. Wade here. I’ve got Quentin in here and he’s spouting all kinds of nonsense.”

“W-wade,” Monica stutters.

“Yeah. He says I hit you.”

“B-but you did. Please don’t deny it… I think you might need help,” Monica says.

“What are you talking about, girl? I didn’t hit you. I never did anything to hurt you, ever.”

“I’m sorry. But you did.”

“I really don’t know a damned thing about that!”

“Calm down,” King tells him, hand on his shoulder.

Wade throws the phone against the wall. “I WON’T CALM DOWN!”

“Wade…” Janson tries.

“She’s turning me into an abuser. I can’t have that.”

King says, “I don’t know what is going on but we will get to the bottom of it. Don’t worry. There has to be some kind of explanation for this.”

“Yes. You really seem to think you’re innocent of this,” Quentin says. “Maybe you did it but just don’t remember. Can’t that be some kind of Post Traumatic Stress thing or something?”

“PST? Why? How?” Wade says, burying his head in his hands.

“That whole thing with Master Destiny maybe?” Janson offers.

Wade points at her and King. “You’re the ones who got captured and tortured, not me…”

A young cop runs into the room, excited. “We’ve got a supervillain and his thugs in a shootout with a few fellow cops. We need some SWAT help, Sarge!”

“Details,” Wade commands.

“Swan Street. They were robbing an armored car when a patrol car passed by. The thugs are carrying some kind of high-tech blasters.”

“Sounds right up my alley,” Wade says. “Let me get my gear.”

“I’m coming along,” Jansons says.

“Ditto,” King says.

Quentin says, “So I guess we’ll be getting back to this soon enough…?” He is left alone in the room as the cops sprint off. He will join them soon enough of course, as Godling.

*

Swan Street. The armored car has been upended, lying on it’s side with the backdoor open. Six thugs, dressed in green skintight outfits with helmets and yellow goggles and yellow Kevlar vests are firing at two police cars with high-tech blasters. Commanding them is Cecrops,  half-man and half-snake (seen before in # 24 & # 25).

“Shoot them!” he yells.

One of the shots blows up a police car, the blast sending the cops flying.

A police helicopter lands. Out come Janson and King, wearing Kevlar vests and carrying shotguns. Then Wade comes out, wearing his armour and holding a blaster.

“Ha! More cannon fodder!” Cecrops says. “Shoot them too!” He fires a blast from the staff he is holding. The helicopter explodes as the cops duck for cover.

“Drop that weapon, creep!” Wade yells.

“In your dreams, pig!” Cecrops answers and fires another blast. It hits Wade who is knocked back against the still intact patrol car.

“Sarge!” Janson screams and runs to him.

King takes cover behind the patrol car and fires the shotgun several times. The villains are pretty well covered by the armoured care though.

“I’m okay,” Wade tells Janson. “This armour can take a hit.”

Godling lands on the scene.

“Not that costumed do-gooder!” Cecrops says.

“Cecrops… We still have a score to settle,” Godling says, shaking his fist.

“Consider it settled,” Cecrops says and blasts Godling in the chest with his staff.

Godling is knocked against the ground, smoke coming from his chest. Slowly he gets up again. “Is your memory that bad? It’s no use to shoot someone who can channel the invulnerability of Achilles!”

“Kill him! Kill him!” Cecrops orders his thugs who all fire their guns at the One Man Pantheon.

Shrugging off the blasts Godling slowly walks toward the villains. King, Janson, and Wade follow him, guns ready, shielded by the hero’s invulnerable body.

When they get close enough to the thugs the cops attack. Janson knocks down a thug with the butt of her shotgun, King takes out one of them with a flurry of martials arts kicks. Wade smashes a thug in the face with his glowing nightstick, shattering the criminal’s goggles and helmets.

Cecrops tries to hit Godling with his staff. Godling catches the staff with one hand and punches Cecrops in the face with another. Cecrops swings his snake tail at Godling, knocking him off his feet. When the hero is on the ground Cecrops fires his staff in his face, but he is unhurt thanks to the invulnerability of Achilles once again.

“Damn you!” Cecrops says and points his staff at Janson. He fires.

“NO!” Godling screams and uses the speed of Hermes to push Janson down, the blast barely missing her, but hitting him in the shoulder. He falls down, a hole in his shoulder.

“Crap,” he says.

“Holy… God… Your shoulder…” Janson says, kneeling down next to the hero.

“Yeah… Hurts like Hades…”

“Ha! Your stupid heroic attitude will cost you your life, fool!” Cecrops says and aims his staff at Godling again. Godling is in so much pain he has trouble channeling the invulnerability of Achilles, or the speed of Hermes…

“Drop it, creep!” King says and knocks the staff out of the villain’s hand with her shotgun’s butt. She follows up with a roundhouse kick. Cecrops answers with a blow from his tail, knocking King against the armored car.

“Help her!” Janson yells at Wade. Wade is busy kicking the crap out of a thug that is already down, however.

Wade looks up. “I’m still busy punishing this creep!”

“That supervillain will kill Darlene if we don’t help her!” Janson says. “And Godling is hurt too bad to help.”

“All right, I will deal with him first,” Wade says and aims his blaster at Cecrops.

Cecrops sees the blaster being aimed at him and punches a few buttons on his wristband. A purple shield of light appears from it, catching the blast. Then he fires a blast from his staff. The blast hits Wade, but his armor is tough enough to stop the blast from hurting him.

“I’m taking you down, piece of garbage!” Wade says and fires his blaster again, which is deflected by the villain’s shield again, though.

“Don’t you see? You can’t hurt me? But I can hurt YOU!” Cecrops fires the staff in rapid succession, slowly burning through Wade’s armor who falls down on his knees.

Cecrops raises his staff. “HA! I stand victorious!”

“No you don’t,” Godling says from behind Cecrops.

The villain turns around. “Huh?”

Godling hits him with the strength of Heracles, knocking him straight through the nearby patrol car.

“The sergeant bought me just enough time to concentrate enough to heal my shoulder channeling the power of Aesculapius, allowing me to kick your behind,” the hero says, walking toward the villain.

“NO! You will not defeat me!” Cecrops says.

Godling cracks his knuckles. “Wanna bet?”

“I must retreat,” Cecrops decided and pushes a button on his wristband. Suddenly he’s gone.

“Damn his teleportation tricks,” Godling says.

“Damn him indeed! I’ve got something to settle with him,” Wade says.

“That will have to wait,” Janson tells him. “I saw you kicking those thugs while they were down. I saw the fury that you unleashed on them with your nightstick. That was police brutality, plain and simple. We have to arrest you.”

Wade shakes his nightstick. “You can’t arrest me, weak little bitch!”

“She can with a little help,” Godling says, punching his open left hand with his right fist.

  

NEXT ISSUE: Wade versus Godling!

GODLING # 33: POLICE BRUTALITY

GODLING # 33:  POLICE BRUTALITY

by J. Vandersteen

– GODLING – THE ONE MAN PANTHEON:  POLICE BRUTALITY

A wall of the First New Troy Bank shatters, surprising the people in the building. In steps a man in a red and yellow spandex outfit. He’s wearing red flight goggles and his fists seem to be gloved in bulky armor with rockets mounted on top.

            “Here’s…. ROCKETFIST!” the man in spandex says. “Out of the way while I get to the vault.”

            A security guard pulls a .38 and fires it. Rocketfist activates a rocket on one of his fists, they seem to work as some kind of rocket thruster, greatly enhancing its speed. He seems to catch the bullet in mid-flight. He opens his hand and shows the bullet lying inside it.

            “You have to come up with something better than firing guns at me to stop me,” Rocketfist says. With a superfast punch he knocks the security guard out.

            “Good. I AM something better,” a voice says.

            Rocketfist turns around and sees the voice belongs to Sgt. Wade Hudson, clad in his new futuristic armor as created by Ninjoid-creator and supergenius Professor Tsuraya, glowing nightstick in his hand.

            “Good thing I happened to pass by on my patrol,” Hudson says. “Surrender.”

            “So the cops are upping their hardware now too? No matter, my rocketsfists will take you out anyway.”

            Rocketfist hit Hudson, right in the helmet, the impact sends Hudson flying through the bank, clienst running away to prevent from being hit by his flying body.

            Groaning, Hudson sits against the wall, trying to get his wits back together. His helmet is dented.

            “I told you so…” Rocketfist says, shaking his fists at the cop.

            Hudson draws a gun from a shoulderholster and fires a bolt from it. Rocketfist punches at it, destroying his glove in the process.

            Rocketfist gives his destroyed glove a quizzical look. “Huh? That wasn’t a regular bullet?”

            “You got that right. I’m packing a whole different calibre these days,” Hudson says and stands up. He points the gun at Rocketfist again. “You are under arrest.”

            “Forget it!” Rocketfist says. “I still have some rocketpower in store for you.”

            Using the thrusters he flies towards Hudson with rocketspeed. Hudson fires but misses, although barely. The villain’s rocketpowered fist connects with Hudson again, knocking him over.

            “You destroyed one of my gloves! You will pay for that!” Rocketfist says and hammers down with one rocketpowered thrust after another.

            Then his fist is caught by a powerful hand. The hand of Godling.

            “Good thing I was just stopping by to get a cheque cashed,” Godling says. “Stop hitting the policeman.”

            “Good, I will just hit you!” Rocketfist says and powers up the thrusters to such a degree his fist is freed from Godling’s grip.

            CRACK!!! A rocketpunch knocks Godling back a few steps. If he hadn’t used his Achilles invulnerability just in time his jaw would have been broken. Rocketfist steps forward, trying to plant another fist in Godling’s face.

            Godling ducks with superspeed, the swing resulting in a miss. Godling tackles Rocketfist and pins him on the ground. Rocketfist manages to hit Godling in the ribs, but Godling is back in invulnerable mode again, so he isn’t hurt by the hits.

            Using some wrestling moves, taught to him by Ares, Godling puts the villain in  an armlock. Rocketfist struggles, but is unable to free himself.

            “Leave him to me,” Wade says. “I owe him some hurting.”

            “No need for that. He’s not going anywhere. I just need to take his gloves off and then you can take him to jail,” Godling says.

            “Take those gloves off then,” Wade says.

            Godling peels off the gloves from Rocketfist’s hands.

            “Thanks, I’ll take it from here,” Wade says and pulls Rocketfist up. He twists his arms behind his back and slaps the cuffs on him. Wade prods the villain in the back with his glowing nightstick.  “Now walk!”

             Godling worries, He seems a bit more aggressive than I know him. Odd… Is the stress of the job finally getting to him? Or is that new armor of his upping his macho feelings even more? Good thing professor Alexander is one of the least macho person in the world. Fat chance of me becoming like that.

            Wade hits Rocketfist in the back of the head with the nightstick. “And this is for hitting me, perp!”

            The villain falls on his knees. Godling rushes in.

            “Sarge, take it easy. You got him already. Please, be a pro.”

            “Don’t interfere with police business, Godling. I’m tired of your meddlesome ways. I’m wearing the badge here and with this outfit I’ve got all I need to police this city without you.”

            “I just want to do good, help out. What you’re displaying here is police brutality. I won’t accept that kind of behavior. It is wrong.”

            “You’re a vigilante. That’s wrong!” Sarge points the nightstick at Godling accusatory.

            “I just saved your hide, Sarge. Won’t hurt to be a bit nicer to me.”

            “This city doesn’t need you. I don’t need you. I’d have taken out this guy by myself eventually.”

            “Just don’t pull a stunt like that again with a prisoner. You don’t want to make an enemy out of me.”

            “Sarge! Need some help?” Janson walked in, flanked by a SWAT team.

            “Yeah, you can take this bastard into custody. Let’s get out of here.”

            Godling wonders, Janson…  I like seeing her. But is it love that I feel? I’m not sure anymore. I’m not sure I feel enough for her. It’s definitely not the same I feel for Monica. Am I just not cheating on her, dating her without having the right feelings? Did that future Godling just make me believe I had feelings for her?

            “Hi Godling,” Janson greets the hero. “Nice to see you as always.”

            “Ditto, officer.”

            “Well, let’s get this guy in the car and off to jail. See you around,” Janson says and pushes Rocketfist to the door, flanked by Wade.

            Wade turns around before they walk out of the bank and says to Godling, “Watch your step, hero…”

            “Same to you,” Godling says.

*

That was pretty intense, Godling thinks as he enters his apartment a little later. I still have some papers to grade though, so I’d better shake that off and get to work.

            He sits down behind his desk, changing into professor Quentin Alexander, paper in front of him, pen in hand. Still, his mind wanders off again. He can’t stop wondering why Wade behaved like he did. He was never Godling’s biggest fan and a pretty hardhitting guy, but he never threatened Godling and was never guilty of police brutality. And then the whole business with Janson…

*

Monica Sawyer is in her apartment. Just like Quentin Alexander she’s grading papers. The door swings open, Wade Hudson steps in, still wearing his armor.

            “Hi,” Monica says. “How are you? You look a bit irritated.”

            “You bet I look irritated. That idiot bodybuilder Godling was meddling with my business again.”

            “Meddling?”

            “I was apprehending a superpowered bank robber and he interfered.”

            “Isn’t that a good thing? Helping you guys out against the superheavies?”

            “WHAT?! NO! He’s a vigilante. He has no jurisdiction pulling the stunts he does at all. That reckless behavior of his is going to cost lives.”

            “I’m sorry Wade, but as far as I know he’s only saved a lot lives.”

            Wade grabs Monica by her arms, shaking her. “Are you on his side? What, you have the hots for him?”

            “No! I just think he’s a hero. All of New Troy thinks he is. Why do you think differently? And please, let me go. You’re hurting me.”

            “Are you sleeping with him behind my back? Bitch!” Wade slaps her in the face. She falls down.

            Crying, she says, “You really hurt me. What’s wrong with you?”

            “Shut up. It seems I’m not wanted here. I thought you were loyal to me. Guess I was wrong.” With those words Hudson leaves, slamming the door hard enough for a vase to fall from a table.

            Sobbing Monica reaches for her phone.

*

            In professor Quentin Alexander the phone rings. He picks up.

            “Monica? What’s the matter? Why are you crying? What? I’ll be right over.”

            Not even bothering to change his appearance Quentin zooms off with the speed of Hermes.

            Monica opens the door for him and Quentin steps inside. He can see Monica has been crying from the mascara all over her face.

            “Huh? You got here quick,” she says.

            “Err… Yeah. I was lucky to walk into a cab just as I walked out the door,” Quentin explains. “Tell me what happened.”

            “Wade is acting stranger and stranger. He’s never been the most mellow guy… That macho side might be part of the fact I was attracted to him in the first place, but now… His animosity against Godling is getting bigger by the day. Today he hit me when we couldn’t agree about our views on Godling.”

            That makes Quentin think… So in part I’m to blame for this? Great, like there’s not enough matters to deal with.

            Quentin gently touches Monica’s face. There’s a bruise there. “Are you okay? That’s a nasty bruise.” Using the healing powers of Aesculapius would reveal his secret identity, so he can only offer, “Let me get some ice on that for you.”

            Monica puts a hand on Quentin’s. “Thank you, Quentin. You’re always there for me. I appreciate it.”

            Man, I still love her, Quentin thinks. It really isn’t fair that I’m trying to be with Janson.

            Monica sits on her couch. Quentin nurses her bruise with a bag of ice.

            “Maybe you should leave him,” he says. “Guys who put stunts like this rarely just stop.”

            “I know, I know. It’s just… He’s never been like THIS. Something has to be bothering him or something. I’m not sure if it’s some kind of post-traumatic stress syndrome thing…”

            “He did go through a lot with the whole battle against Master Destiny…” Quentin offers.

            “Maybe, but it all seemed to start with his return from Japan, when he was suddenly wearing that armor.”

            “Do you want to press charges?” Quentin asks.

            “No, not yet. That would ruin his carreer. I’d rather know what drove him to it.”

            “He could just be a bastard and was able to keep that hidden for a long time,” Godling says. He can’t help wondering, Is that what I really think or am I saying that because I want her to leave him so I have a shot with her?

            “I just can’t accept that. I’ve always been sure I was a better judge of character than that.”

            “Maybe I should go and have a talk with him.”

            Monica smiles, looking up at Quentin like he’s a superhero. “Would you do that?”

            “Sure. You and me are best friends, right?”

            “Absolutely. I’m not sure if he’s ready to talk to you though. He’s never been a guy that likes to talk about his problems. He might get angry.”

            “Don’t worry, he won’t hurt me.” Not with the invulnerability of Achilles at my side.

            “What do you mean? You trust him enough not to?”

            “No, the glasses. He wouldn’t hurt a guy with glasses,” Quentin quickly says. Well, I hope he wouldn’t. Or else it could get messy…

           

NEXT ISSUE: Wade versus Quentin!

GODLING # 39: The Fall of Godling part 2: Powerless! by J. Vandersteen

GODLING # 39:  The Fall of Godling part  2: Powerless! by J. Vandersteen

– GODLING – THE ONE MAN PANTHEON:  The Fall of Godling part 2: Powerless!

Six dark-clad monks face Godling on the streets of New Troy, having just killed an innocent bystander. Angry, Godling attacks.

    The One Man Pantheon executes a dropkick, hitting one of the monks in the face. Another monk stabs at our hero with a black dagger. Godling manages to catch the dagger on one of his wristbands just in time and elbows him in the face.

    A third monk slashes at Godling with a flaming Tibetan Jian sword. The hero ducks, the sword barely missing his head. He hits the monk with Heracles strength, sending him flying against another monk, both crashing against a wall. That leaves four of them.

   One of the monks starts to summon an ancient spell. Above Godling’s head a dark cloud appears out of nowhere. From the cloud comes a bolt of lightning, striking the hero. He channels the invulnerability of Achilles just in time, staying unhurt, but smoke comes off his muscular body.

    “You call this lightning? THIS is lightning!” he says and hurls a bolt of lightning at the spellcaster, channelling Zeus’ powers. He hits the spellcaster, knocking him out.

    Two other monks are busy casting another spell while a bunch of police cars arrive. Wade Hudson gets out, assault rifle in hand, accompanied by a few other armed cops.

    The concrete under Godling’s feet starts to rise and take the form of two giant hands. They grip the hero, who struggles to free himself, using the strength of Heracles.

    Another monk aims his black dagger at the police. A bolt from the dagger makes one of the police cars explode. The cops barely manage to jump away so they are not hurt by the explosion or flying debris.

   “Keep out of this battle!” the monk yells at the cops.

   “You cause havoc in my city, you answer to me!” Hudson says and fires his assault rifle at the monk.

   The monk draws a circle in the air with his dagger and a blue glowing shield appears in front of him, catching the bullets fired.

   Godling breaks free from the hands of concrete, shattered pieces of it flying away. He focuses his attention on the monks, telling them, “Now to take care of you…”

*

Olympus. Hermes, Ares, Aphrodite and Apollo are gathered in front of Zeus.

   “So, it is decided. I will take away Godling’s powers,” Zeus says.

   “You can’t just do that!” Aphrodite says. “Without his powers he won’t be able to defend New Troy. Or himself.”

  Zeus waves his hand. “It is done.”

*

A monk slashes at Godling with his flaming Jian sword.

  The invulnerability of Achilles will keep me from harm, Godling thinks. To his surprise the sword leaves a bleeding chest wound.

  “My powers? I failed to channel Achilles’ invulnerability?” he says, full of surprise. The monk uses this confusion to slash again, another wound opening. This time in his side.

   Hurt, Godling falls on his knees. He tries to heal the wounds with the healing powers of Aesculapius. Nothing happens.

   “My powers! They are failing me! Why? How?” Godling cries out. “Gods, have you forsaken me?”

   “I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like you need my help this time,” Hudson says and jumps in front of Godling, kicking the monk in the stomach, then hitting him in the face with the butt of his rifle.

   Without my powers I might also not be able to maintain my Godling appearance, the hero worries. And true, as he touches his usually clean-shaven chin he feels a bristling beard. A beard his alter ego professor Quintin Alexander wears.

   A monk uses the spell again that makes a concrete hand appear again. It slaps Hudson with enough force to send him flying away, right into a parked van. Another monk uses the removal of Hudson from Godling’s side to step in and swing his sword, ready to behead the hero.

   There’s a flash of pink light that heralds Aphrodite’s appearance out of nowhere. “Come with me and live.” She grabs Godling’s hand and teleports away with him, with another flash of pink light.

   “What was that? Where did he go?” a monk asks.

   “I don’t know but we had him on his knees. The city is ours to take,” another monk says.

   “Our orders were to kill the Godling. We didn’t. We must retreat and ask for new orders,” a fellow monk says. He issues a spell and there’s a lot of smoke that surrounds the monks before they teleport away.

   A fellow cop helps Hudson on his feet.

  “What the @#% just happened here? Can everyone and his dog just appear and disappear out of nowhere these days? And what was that thing Godling was saying about his powers? Is he powerless or something? Man, I always told this city they shouldn’t rely on that showboat to keep this city safe. They should keep their money bet on me and my firepower,” Hudson says and racks the slide of his gun to emphasize that.

  “But, but… These monks were using…magic! How can we deal with something like that?” the cops asks Hudson.

  “With more firepower,” Hudson answers.

*

The apartment of Quintin Alexander. Aphrodite and Godling teleport inside. By now, Godling has fully regained his Quintin Alexander form. He is bleeding.

   “Let’s get you on your bed,” Aphrodite says and with her godlike strength has no trouble carrying Quentin to it. She gently places him on his bed.

   “What’s happening, Aphrodite?” he asks. “What happened to my powers?”

   “Zeus and the other Olympians are unhappy about the way you promote them. You are their prophet, but you seem more involved with just keeping the world safe and doing good deeds than telling people you owe all your powers to them. The reason they gave you these wonderful powers was that they hoped they would get more people to believe in them once again, allowing them to grow in strength. We are only getting weaker and weaker. Granted, more slowly since you appeared on Earth, but still we grow weaker.”

   “Being a hero is what IS more important to me. These powers are for protecting people. To me, the whole prophet thing comes second, I cannot deny that. Hitting people over the head with gospel just isn’t my thing.”

   “That’s not what you should be saying if you want your powers back.”

   “Maybe I don’t. If I can’t do this the way I think it should be done, maybe I don’t want to. What has life as Godling given me? Sure, I saved lives… But it also wrecked mine on more than one occasion. Without Godling I can finally focus on getting reacquainted with my brother, sort out my love life… Heck, I might even teach more often. You guys can keep your powers.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve always believed in you and your kind heart,” Aphrodite says and puts a hand on Quentin’s chest. “But, if this is what you want… Okay.” She offers Quentin a small vial. “Drink this, Panacea borrowed me some of her healing potion. That will take care of those wounds. That’s all I will be able to do for you now.”

   Quentin took the vial and drank. His wounds closed magically. “Thanks. For saving my bacon there and for the potion. And for all the advice and believing in me. It was an honour knowing you.”

   “As it was mine. Farewell, Quentin.” With a flash of pink light she is gone.

*

A red carpet premiere in Hollywood. A blond, Armani clad, good looking man, flanked by beautiful women gets out of a limousine. Cameras flash, microphones are directed at him.

   A reporter stands in front of a camera, saying, “We’re here at the premiere of Days of the Gods where actor/superstar Marcus Brant has just arrived. We’re eager to talk to him about his new movie and about the rumours of his relationship with Scarlett Johanson…”

  Just around the corner stand Hermes, Apollo and Ares, eyeing the arrival of the superstar. They wear trench coats that hide their ancient, godlike attire.

  “Are you sure Zeus meant this pretty boy?” Ares asks his brothers.

  “Very,” Apollo says. “He’s got everything we can ask for in our prophet.”

  “But will he be able to be a hero as well?” Hermes asks.

  “For the sake of this world I hope so…” Apollo answers.

 

NEXT ISSUE: The All-New, All-Different Godling!