Chapter 22: Crime Fighting

        The next evening, at Dr. Peters mansion, It was around 11:30 pm when Ritchie starts to assist Grey into the replica of Lancelot's titanium Knight's armor. In the gym, while performing bench presses at an excess of 500 pounds, with Ritchie as his spotter, Grey hears the news on the television about the continuing increase of crime near his old neighborhood in Vallejo California. He listens as a TV reporter describes in detail how a couple, a husband and wife were gunned down while they asked for directions from a group of gang members who police believe are responsible for dealing drugs in the southern part of the city of Vallejo. Upon hearing the news, Grey stops lifting weights and sits up feeling a certain level of anger, "I can't believe this Ritch....my old neighborhood is going to the dogs....Something has to be done about this!...". Then in a fit of anger, he grabs a steel weight lifting bar that was two inches in diameter and twists it over and over until it appears to look like a twisted pretzel. Ritchie was in awe as he says, "Wow!...if you can turn that steel bar into a shape of a pretzel, you can do anything. You can even fight crime if you want to....". Grey suddenly gasps in surprise about what Ritchie just said as he asks, "What did you just say?!....". Ritchie snickers as he tries lifting the heavy pretzel looking bar with one hand and says, "I said, with your super strength, you can probably fight crime and win!...". Grey was suddenly caught off guard with his mouth open as he stands up in deep thought, he then  looks out of the window towards the mansion's gardens. "It makes perfect sense.....with this super strength, I can defeat criminals and help lessen crime in my neighborhood....".

        Suddenly, there was excitement in Grey's eyes as he realizes a new calling and purpose in his life. With the hope of marrying Samantha and having a family someday gone, Grey is finally able to redirect his future life on helping the community achieve peace and order by turning himself into a crime fighter. After Ritchie finds a blank notebook and a pen, they start brainstorming on how they can initiate and implement their plan of fighting and stopping criminals. "Ritchie, the first thing we need to do is to find out whether this Knight's titanium armor is bullet proof. Sometime tomorrow, take the titanium breastplate to a metallurgist and have them assess if bullets can penetrate this armor. Secondly, we need to gather all the necessary equipment we'll need when patrolling the streets and fighting criminals like.... handcuffs or plastic restraints, so we can immobilize the criminals we catch until the police arrives. We also need one of those police radios so we can hear any crime that's in progress....". Ritchie adds, "That's right!...we can use your old truck in patrolling the neighborhood, you can lie on the truck's bed and with the truck's canopy, no one will be able to see you.....".

       Grey thinks for a moment then asks, "Is there anything else that I'll need?....". Ritchie quickly says, "Yeah!, your JK4 inhaler, make sure you bring an extra inhaler just in case the one you have runs out....Oh! and the most important thing you need to bring are extra adult diapers and extra urinary leg bags so that you don't soil yourself....". Grey looking perturbed asks, "Why the hell do I need to bring adult diapers and urinary leg bags, super heroes don't bring those things!...". Ritchie chuckles as he says, "Hey! don't forget you're paralyzed, and you're incontinent of your bowel and bladder, if you end up crapping into your armor, don't expect me to cleanup all your shit, Ok!?....". Grey sigh's in frustration asking," Ok, I see your point, but  how am I gonna carry all those stuff, I've got no pockets in my titanium armor....". Ritchie thinks for a minute  then suggests, "Carry a knapsack over your back....". Grey looking agitated stares at Ritchie, as Ritchie follows up saying, "I know it looks silly, but you can wear a cape over your back to hide the knapsack, no one will know!....". Grey sigh's a second time with a feeling of resignation, not wanting to argue with Ritchie anymore as he says, "Ok..ok...that's fine.....but remind me, later today, I have to talk to Dr. Peters about this plan. By fighting crime, there's a chance we might place Dr. Peters in harms way since we're living here, we might have to move into an apartment or something.....". Ritchie stands up placing his hands on his hips as he says, "Well, lets first see how it goes then decide later after we've done a couple of patrols....". After they've finalized their plans, Grey continued his workout up until the early hours of the morning then retreated back into his room before any of the house staff all woke up.

       (Macrostrength Industries, Main Office, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California)

          Later that morning, Dr. Marcos hurriedly reports to John Layer's office. As he enters his boss's office, he see's his boss sitting by his office leather chair with his feet propped up on his table as he asks, "What's wrong Marcos?....". Dr. Marcos panting and out of breath from running takes a few deep breaths then says, "Something terrible happened sir, It's Bionico....he killed some of our Vyonicks scientists!....". John Layer looking bored and unconcerned asks, "Ok, what happened this time?....". Dr. Marcos sits across his boss as he explains, "It was after the installation of the seven inch daggers into his bionic arms, without any warning or provocation, he just lashed out at our scientists, in a span of five seconds, he activated his daggers and was able to slash the throats of seven of our fifteen Vyonicks scientists. We were able to quickly zap him with the 50,000 volts of electric shock from the "Electro Muscular Disruption Device" that's implanted into his body and scalp which disabled him, but by that time there was so much carnage and blood splattered everywhere, no one wants to continue to work on him anymore. All of the surviving scientists are afraid and are all in a state of shock....".

           John Layer leans back in his chair and drums his fingers on his table asking, "Suggestions?....". Dr. Marcos thinks for a minute then suggests, "Let's reassign all the surviving scientists and get a new group in to continue our "Super Assassin Initiative"....It might take another two to four months to mold Bionico and train him into total compliance. But for now, we need to go back to torturing him again over and over so he can learn to be loyal to us....". John Layer sigh's in frustration then says, "Agree'd, just make sure to keep the carnage confidential, get rid of the corpses, I want them all burned into ashes with no traces ok?. Make up a story for their families that it was some kind of a biological laboratory bacterial agent that killed them....". Dr. Marcos nods then says, "Sounds like a good plan sir....". Dr. Marcos then quickly leaves his boss office to start doing  his  damage control.

         (Castro District, San Francisco California.)

           Meanwhile, Sirha and Zhiad, now both wearing men's clothes,  has kept themselves busy by working at a fruit stand along Castro street. "I can't believe we've been here over six months Zhiad!, we should have detonated our nuclear bomb by now and we should be enjoying ourselves in heaven, not selling fruits everyday to a community of fruit cakes!...", Sirha grudgingly says while emptying a box of apples into a fruit stall, "I'm so sick and tired of waking up each day and watching grown men kiss each other along this street while women walking along  hold hands. Zhiad who was washing some newly delivered supply of pears responds, "Master, relax....Learn to be content in life, sooner or later we will find someone who knows how to assemble,  activate and detonate a North Korean made nuclear bomb, and all of your sufferings will be over...". Sirha stops his task and with a demeaning stare says, "Sufferings!...Zhiad, you can't even imagine the sufferings I'm going through each day. How would you like it when different men passing by pinches your butt everyday. It's humiliating, disgusting and annoying!...". Zhiad snickers as he says, "I think it's rather sexy Master....You should be proud that gay men here at the Castro find you irresistible....". Sirha suddenly scowls at Zhiad saying, "I don't care what you say, I hate gays and I want to blow them away into kingdom come.....". Zhiad quickly whispers into his master's ear saying, "Master, be careful how you say the word "blow" around here, it has a different connotation...".

          After another hour of emptying newly delivered boxes of fruits, Zhiad suggests that in order to relieve  their stress from work, that they go and have dinner at a karaoke gay bar and restaurant tonight and have a few drinks. "Sing Karaoke?....and drink liquor?.....I've never ever done any of those two things you're suggesting Zhiad, I don't think that's a good idea....". But after Zhiad's constant urging and persistent persuasion, Sirha hesitates but then finally agrees to try out visiting a gay karaoke bar later that night.

         In the meantime, back at Macrostrength industries main office, John Layer in his office turns on his TV as he starts listening. "Good afternoon, America....You're on USNN news and now for the top story. Just this morning,  California lawmakers had implemented a ban on all sales of nicotine laced candies which are being sold by the tobacco companies. These candies were being promoted as aids in smoking cessation. There are unconfirmed reports that the initial push to illegalize these nicotine candies came from Samantha Peters, the daughter of the brilliant well known billionaire scientist Mark Peters. Betsy Rogers who is the spokesperson for Miss Samantha Peters says that these nicotine laced candies which comes with different flavors can easily hook children on nicotine and can eventually lead them to take up cigarette smoking later in life. And now for some local news the....".

        John Layer turns off the TV as he quickly becomes furious upon hearing the news.  Feeling a sense of heightened rage, he grabs his glass ash tray and throws it to the wall as it shatters into bits and pieces. He then calls his secretary to have Dr. Marcos report to his office right away. After waiting for twenty minutes, Dr. Marcos enters John Layers office, "Have you heard the latest news on TV..", John Layer asks, " Samantha Peters had influenced all of California's politicians into banning our nicotine candies here in California. This means I'll be loosing more millions of dollars a year because of her!...All this time, I've been counting on getting children addicted to our nicotine candies in order to get them addicted for life and hopefully to get them hooked into smoking even if is illegal in this state!...". Dr. Marcos stands silently then asks, "What can I do to help you boss?....".

         John Layer paces in his office and in an angry voice shouts!, "I want revenge Marcos!....I want Samantha Peters and all his family and friends dead, you hear?!...". Dr. Marcos stammers saying, "Bu..bu..but Bionico is not ready to do a mission yet Mr. Layer, he won't be ready for at least four more months sir....". John Layer sits in his leather office chair fuming while he rocks in it as he asks, "What if we sabotage the Protector again, Isn't he doing a mission with NATO somewhere in Europe?!. Let's start by killing Captain Chase Brassman!...". Dr. Marcos nervously shakes his head in disagreement as he responds, "That's not a good idea sir, the FBI is constantly monitoring all of Macrostrength's computer systems, which means that if we try and sabotage the Protector again, this time they'll be aware of it and we'll get arrested....". John Layer felt  so stressed out that he lit up a cigarette and started blowing smoke towards Dr. Marcos face in the hope that Dr. Marcos gets lung cancer from second hand smoke someday soon. After a few more minutes of pep talk by Dr. Marcos, John Layer was finally able to calm down and remain patient in waiting for his super assassin to be properly trained to attain his dream of killing Samantha Peters, her family and friends.

     (Castro District, San Francisco, California.)

      Later that night, it was around 08:00 PM when Sirha and Zhiad arrives at a crowded karaoke gay bar and restaurant. Upon entering, they were quickly escorted to their seats and had their orders taken by a waiter. "I don't know about this Zhiad...", Sirha says, "I just don't like being around gay people. In Russia and Afghanistan, there are no gay people, that's why these countries are so progressive...". Zhiad smiles and mockingly says, "Oh!, I'm sure they're around...". Sirha appallingly stares at his minion as Zhiad quickly says, "Oh!, what I mean't to say was that I'll buy the first round...". Zhiad quickly calls the waiter and orders a strawberry margarita while Sirha refusing to drink any alcoholic drink orders a diet soda.

       After a few minutes of waiting, their meals was served to them as they start to eat while they listen to customers take turns singing karaoke on the stage. "Why are all these gay men singing all these "wimpy" love songs...", Sirha says, "It's so depressing, I feel like I'm at a funeral...". Zhiad cutting some meat on his plate says, "Oh! Master, that's how gay men are, they're very emotional beings....". Sirha feeling disgusted sigh's then grunts as he say's, "Ahhh!, I might be an Arab terrorist but I'm very well versed with American music. If I was the one singing up there on stage, I'd sing those really manly, "macho" songs like the Village People's song, "YMCA", "Macho Man" or their other song "In The Navy" that has a military bearing to it. Zhiad hearing Sirha's comment almost chokes on the meat he was chewing as he quickly takes a drink of water.

      After they were done with dinner, Sirha was ready to leave but Zhiad was not. After a brief argument, Sirha finally decides to stay because of his fear of going home alone, this is due to his heightened sense of homophobia and his fear of being raped by gay men riding the bus with him on his way home to their apartment in the Castro district. "Relax Master, let's enjoy this night, we've been working hard all week...", Zhiad says as he pushes his strawberry margarita drink closer to Sirha, "Here, have a sip, one drink ain't gonna kill you?!....". Sirha stares at the frosty reddish pinkish alcoholic drink then finally gets the urge to taste it. He grabs the straw and sips a little bit of Zhiad's drink. "Wow!, this drink tastes really fruity...It's delicious...", Sirha says, "I don't even taste any alcohol in it....I'm gonna have one!...". Sirha quickly twists and turns around in his seat as he calls the waiter and orders a glass of strawberry margarita.

       After an hour had passed, Sirha had already drank seven glasses of different types of margaritas (mango, raspberry,strawberry, banana, pineapple, guava and watermelon) . "This feels great Zhiad, I feel like I'm on a merry go round....", Sirha says, "My world is spinning!...". Getting drunk for the first time in his life Sirha looses all sense of etiquette as he starts whistling at the people singing up on stage, even yelling at some of the gay men, saying how pretty they'd look if they just would decide to get a sex change. After another glass of margarita, Sirha finally gets the courage to go up on stage to sing a song. Not ever having to sing in front of a crowd before, Sirha had Zhiad accompany him up on stage to sing with him in order to lessen his nervousness. The first song they both sang together was a duet by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross entitled, "Endless Love". But because Zhiad had a low baritone voice, Sirha had to sing Diana Ross's part. Unfortunately he was way off key which made most of the audience listening cringe. After the song had ended Sirha looks around at the crowded restaurant and seeing that nobody was paying attention to them whispers to Zhiad, "Zhiad, everyone looks bored, I think It's time to pick up the pace a bit...". Zhiad agrees and after a minute, Zhiad selects a song by ABBA entitled, "Dancing Queen", and as the music starts playing, the two terrorists starts singing passionately as they sway their hips and perform their dance moves with choreographed precision. Then, after the song had ended, the third song they started singing together was chosen by Sirha this time which was the song by the Village people entitled, "YMCA", and as the music starts to play, Sirha was totally surprised when all the gay men in the audience starts getting up from their seats and starts heading to the dance floor to dance with their partners. And even though Sirha was singing off key, the crowd loved the song so much that they did not care too much about Sirha's horrible singing, as the dance floor starts to fill up with people dancing.

       But after singing another three songs, the audience starts to "Boo" Sirha. But not wanting to give up or give in, he decides to let his audience pick the last song for him to sing. And after a minute had passed, music starts to play to Helen Reddy's 1970's classic song, "I Am Woman". Then later on, after the karaoke bar was about to close, the two terrorists leave the restaurant as Sirha drunkenly staggers towards the bus stop with Zhiad as he keeps on singing the chorus to the song  "I Am Woman" that goes "I am strong!....I am invincible!....I am woman....".

       (Dr. Peters mansion, Hillsborough, California.)

       The next evening, it was 09:00 PM when Dr. Peters visits Grey in his bedroom. With Ritchie present, Grey details his plan to fight crime in his old neighborhood in Vallejo California. Not knowing how Dr. Peters would react to their plan, Grey and Ritchie were pleasantly surprised when Dr. Peters tells them that it was a great idea but did voice some concern about Grey's safety. But after Ritchie explains that Grey's knight's armor was bulletproof and the super strength Grey had acquired when he has the titanium knight's armor on would give him super powers in battling crime, Dr. Peters finally understood and felt less worried about Grey's plan.

       After a few more details were ironed out, Grey and Ritchie decides to go out that same night to look for trouble. But before getting Grey ready, Dr. Peters does a neurological check and a quick physical exam on Grey, listening to his heart and lungs with his stethoscope, taking Grey's blood pressure and checking Grey's skin for any signs of skin breakdown which could lead to an infection. And as soon as Grey passes his physical exam, Ritchie starts assisting Grey by first changing his adult diaper and strapping a new urinary leg bag to his left lower leg. After Ritchie gets Grey into his sweat pants and thick sweater. Ritchie starts by putting on Grey's arms and hands, the titanium arm guards and gauntlets. This starts to give Grey the ability to move his arms, hands and fingers. Next thing Ritchie did was to assist Grey into a full body chain mail, which was made up of a web of interlinked small titanium iron rings that forms a wearable body protection that a knight uses which is light and flexible.

    As soon as Grey had on the titanium chain mail, he was able to levitate himself out of bed as he starts floating vertically in the air, weightless like an astronaut in space. Floating two inches off the ground, Ritchie then attaches a pair of "Greaves", or "Shin armor" on Grey's lower legs, next was the titanium footwear that covered Grey's sneakers. This was followed by a pair of upper leg armor to protect his thighs. And as Ritchie was strapping Grey into his armor, Grey would focus on the next piece of armor as it would float in the air and levitate close to Ritchie to help hasten the process. After the titanium breastplate and back plate was secured around Grey's torso, Ritchie starts to strap the "Pauldrons" to each of Grey's shoulder for protection. Next was the "Gorget", which was a titanium armor that protects the knights neck area. And while Ritchie was strapping this around Grey's neck, Grey focuses on his titanium knight's helmet as it starts to float in the air and hovers above Grey's head. Grey raises his hands up, gently grabs the helmet and guides it down over his head.

    After Grey was fully dressed in his titanium knight's armor, he excitedly starts moving his limbs around checking his range of motion. Then after taking two inhalations from his JK4 inhaler, Grey starts feeling an enhanced level of strength which also refines his motion and dexterity. With Dr. Peters watching the whole process unfold, Ritchie reminds Grey that it's time to wear the knapsack over his back as Grey unwillingly complies. Ritchie then reminds Grey that his knapsack contains three disposable adult diapers, two urinary leg bags, one JK4 inhaler, his cell phone and a bottle of water just in case he gets thirsty. And as Grey adjusts the backpack over his back, Ritchie drapes a crimson colored cape over Grey's back to hide the backpack Grey was carrying.

   Then just before Grey and Ritchie was about to leave, Grey brings up the topic of their living arrangement. He tells Dr. Peters that his new calling in fighting crime might put Dr. Peters and everyone living with him in   the mansion at risk and in danger due to possible retaliation from criminals that Grey would be facing. Dr. Peters understood this fact and tells Grey that he'll think of a way on helping him with a new living arrangement if Grey really wanted to leave the mansion.

   Two hours later, it was close to midnight when Grey and Ritchie was finally underway. While Ritchie was driving Grey's old pick up truck in the freeway, Grey was at the back of the truck lying on his back, covered and hidden by the truck's camper shell. Unable to purchase a police radio, Ritchie just decides to randomly patrol the less lighted streets of Vallejo hoping to find crime that's in progress. After an hour of slowly driving through different streets, Ritchie passes by a car that had a flat tire. As Grey sits up, he glances and see's a young woman with a young girl at the car's back seat. "Stop the truck!...", Grey yells. Ritchie quickly steps on the brakes in surprise. Grey tells Ritchie that the woman and the girl might be in need of some assistance since their car had a flat tire. Ritchie then parks the truck ten feet away from the front of the stranded car.

          As Grey gets out of the truck, he slowly walks as normal as he can and not do any levitaion which might scare the car's passengers. Then as Grey approaches the car, the woman on the driver's seat starts to look horrified and nervous at the sight of a walking knight. Not wanting to scare them even more, Grey pushes up his helmet's visor to show his face. The woman quickly locks all of the car's doors with one press of a button at her driver's side as her six year old daughter clutches her brown teddy bear tightly. Grey standing near the driver's side, smiles and kneels on one knee, "Hi!, I don't mean to scare you...I was at a costume party tonight, that's why I'm dressed like this.....Looks like you have a flat tire, I'm just here to offer some assistance if you need it.

        The woman hesitates but then decides to slide her driver's side window one inch lower as she say's, "We've been here for an hour now, waiting for a police car to pass by. My cell phone's battery is dead and I don't have a jack to change my flat tire....". Grey nods then glances at the front flat tire as he continues smiling then  say's, "Tell you what, let me help you change your tire, you don't even have to leave your car. Do you have a spare tire in the back of your car?....". The woman nods anxiously as she pulls a lever that unlocks the car's back trunk. Grey stands up then asks the young woman to turn her hazard lights on. After Grey gets the spare tire from the trunk, he brings the spare tire beside the car's front left flat tire as he once again kneels on one knee.

        Grey calls out saying, "Ok miss, I'm now gonna tilt your car towards the right side, don't be scared....". The young woman hearing this looks puzzled as she asks, "Tilt the car with what?...You don't have a jack...". Grey ignores her question and with his right hand under the car's side, Grey gently lifts and tilts the car to elevate the car's wheels on the left side. Then with his left hand he starts twisting the flat tire's tight lug nuts counterclockwise to loosen the tire. After all the lug nuts were off, he quickly takes out the flat tire and replaces it with the spare tire. The young woman in the car was still in wonder how Grey is able to lift a car to it's side without a jack. After Grey had finished replacing the tire and had fastened the lug nuts back tightly, he gently lowers the left side of the car back down and stores the flat tire at the car's trunk, walking back towards the driver's side, Grey nods and says, "Ok, miss....I'm all done and you're all set....Drive home safely....". The young woman quickly starts her car's engine as she continues to stare at Grey with amazement. Grey stands back and smiles as he waves at the woman's young daughter who smiles back and waves her teddy bear at Grey.

       But before the young mother could drive away, a black sedan with five gang members suddenly cuts in front of the woman's car, blocking them from leaving. Quickly sensing trouble, Grey slides his helmet's visor back down as he peers through it's slit then quickly get's in front of the woman's car. One of the gang members extends his arm out of the car as he points a revolver at Grey. "Well look what we have here boys....We've got ourselves a caped crusader....". Another gang member blurts out saying, "It's either that or it's the Round Table pizza delivery man!....", as they all chuckle inside the car. Grey quickly glances behind him telling the young woman in her car to keep her car's engine running then faces the five gang members who were still making jokes about Grey's attire. "What do you guys want?...", Grey asks.

      The thug pointing a gun at Grey says, "We want your money, all your possessions and your lives!....", as they all chuckle loudly. Ten feet away from the thugs and without any warning, Grey suddenly levitates off the ground and lands in front of the thug pointing the gun at him. Everyone in the car was shocked at the levitation as the thug with the gun opens fire at Grey. Grey instinctively flinches from the sound and the bright sparks of bullets hitting his helmet and breastplate which ricochet's away. The whole gang in the car were all stunned at the knight's invincible armor. Grey then bends forward and grabs hold of the bottom side of the car as he lifts the side of the car then flips it over. The five thugs inside the car were all shouting in fear as they struggle to get out from their overturned car. Grey then with both hands pushes the car away in order for the young woman to drive away.

      After pushing the overturned car six feet away, Grey looks behind and tells the young mother that she could drive away. The young mother holding her car's steering wheel tightly was in shock, unable to believe what she was witnessing. Grey then starts waving his hand telling her to drive away before the thugs are able to crawl out of their overturned car. Coming back to her senses, the young mother quickly steps on her car's accelerator as her car speeds away from danger.

    Glancing towards his truck, Grey then quickly gestures at Ritchie to stay in the truck for safety. And as each of the thugs crawls out from their car, Grey waits for them as he stands erect with his feet wide apart and his fists clenched as he readies himself for a confrontation. And just when another thug pulls out his gun and points it at Grey, the thug was astonished to see Grey float up in the air and land inches in front of him. Grey grabs the gun and with his right hand breaks off the gun's nozzle and with his left hand crushes the gun into bits and pieces.

   Without warning one of the thugs attacks him from behind kicking him on his lower back which makes  Grey fall forward to the ground. Three of the five thugs quickly jumps on Grey's back as they tried wrestling him down looking for a weakness in his armor, but all were surprised when Grey starts levitating once more from a horizontal to a vertical position. Grey quickly grabs the thug who was doing a choke hold on him and hurtles the guy thirty feet away as the thug lands on the opposite sidewalk squirming in pain. With two more thugs locking their arms tightly at Grey's chest and waist in a bear hug. Grey grabs one of the thugs by his shirt then flings him twenty feet up in the air as he lands on his back, twisting in excruciating pain.

   With the last thug clinging on him, Grey swings his fist hitting the guy on his jaw and knocking him unconscious. With the two thugs seeing their comrades severely injured, they both attack Grey at the same time to try and take him down. Seeing another ambush coming, and without any martial arts training, Grey just starts throwing punches wildly. And after a few seconds, none of his attackers were left standing.

   Their night ends as Ritchie and Grey restrains all five gang members hands and feet using plastic restraints. Then after Ritchie finds a dozen bags of cocaine inside their overturned car. Ritchie makes an anonymous phone call to the police department using one of the thug's cell phone, reporting what had just happened and telling the police about the illegal drugs they found. Ten minutes after Grey and Ritchie had left the scene, the police finally arrives and arrests the five gang members.

    The next day, at around noon, while Ritchie was spoon feeding Grey as he lay in his bed in his paralyzed state, Dr. Peters pays Grey a visit to get a report on how their night went. Both men were really excited as they take turns detailing to Dr. Peters the events that transpired from the time Grey in his titanium knight's suit  helped a stranded mother and daughter to how he was able to defeat a group of gang members who were causing trouble. And as Ritchie was flipping channels on the television, the noon news comes on. "Good afternoon America, you're on USNN news, and now for our top local story. Last night, at the city of Vallejo, we've learned that a gang of drug dealers were subdued and bound by a mysterious individual wearing a knight's armor. The spokesperson for the Vallejo Police department says that they found five bags of cocaine in their overturned car. We were also able to interview a woman who came to the police department early this morning to provide eye witness accounts of the events that unfolded last night. Not wanting to be on camera, she told us that the mysterious man wearing the knight's armor assisted, and helped change her car's flat tire. She also states that she witnessed the knight battle and defeat the five criminal suspects who were all trying to assault them. But what was fascinating about her story was when she told us that the knight had the ability to levitate and also had super strength, she claims that the mysterious knight was able to overturn the gang's car by himself and was tossing the five gang members around as if they were play dolls...".

       Dr. Peters quickly turns off the TV as he stares at Grey and Ritchie then says, "You know, I'm really proud of the both of you for wanting to do this, but if you're planning to continue this crusade of fighting crime, I need to equip you guys of ways to keep you safe at all times. Grey and Ritchie glances at each other looking puzzled at what Dr. Peters was getting at. "I know you're both eager to continue fighting crime again, but don't go out tonight, we need this night to plan carefully. I'm taking this day off so I can guide you on this new endeavor of yours in crime fighting....".

       Dr. Peters takes a deep breath as he starts detailing his plans saying, "To start, I've rented you both a fully furnished apartment in San Francisco. It is located at 200 Alabama street, it's an area that's mostly filled with business establishments and factories. So at night, there's hardly anyone out on the street. Your apartment has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, I'm also planning to create a secret hideout for you guys, like a "Batcave" where no one can find you. I've decided to have the remains of my wife moved to a different grave sight and have her mausoleum converted to a secret hideout with a bedroom, a bathroom and an office space with state of the art computer systems, security alarms, monitors and cameras. I'll buy you guys a hearse which will always be parked outside the mausoleum, this will serve as your "Bat mobile", to keep things inconspicuous when you come in and out of the cemetery. So when you're staying at your San Francisco apartment, you'll use your old truck. But when you're at your secret hideout in the cemetery, you'll have to use the hearse.

      And finally, I'll be meeting today with the city's chief engineer who will give us the layout of 900 miles of all of Northern California's combined sewer system. This will serve as your escape route when you're in trouble. You'll be given an electronic homing device, and if you need to escape, just open a manhole cover, go down to the sewer system under the city street and turn on the electronic homing device. This should lead you back to the Holy Cross cemetery in the city of Colma California where your secret hideout is located at.

      Grey and Ritchie glances at each other looking impressed as Grey asks, "I'm not sure, I can pay for all these stuff you're offering us....". Dr. Peters smiles and touches Grey's shoulder as he says, "Just consider this as financial assistance for all your efforts in making our community safer.

       (Vallejo Police Station, Vallejo California)

      While rookie cop Alan Francis was typing a neighborhood disturbance report in his computer. Sergeant Holt approaches him saying, "Let's go Francis, we need to pay a visit to that woman who reported about that mysterious knight who beat up on those five gang members last night....". Officer Francis quickly stands up as he starts logging off from his computer then asks, "What's the problem?....I thought that everything's been ironed out with that case?....". Sgt Holt adjusting the holster around his waist says, "Not quite Francis, didn't you know that the woman had a positive I.D. on the knight, she said that the knight lifted up his visor as he was offering to help change her flat tire......We're bringing a sketch artist with us. I want to get an idea of what this guy looks like. This guy needs to be stopped before he does something crazy.....".

     The next day, Grey and Ritchie was able to move to their new apartment in San Francisco. Ritchie was also able to obtain a used police radio that they started using in order to hear any crime that's happening in progress. Grey and Ritchie had also decided to do their night patrols every other night in order to give them time to decompress and strategize after each mission they do in fighting crime. Three to four times a week they started patrolling the dark streets of Vallejo and always ended up confronting gangs in the midst of committing different crimes such as robbery, assault, burglary, attempted rape, theft, drug dealing, smuggling boxes of cigarettes and other illegal drugs into the city, and even attempted murder. And as the days turns  into weeks, the public starts to hear more about the tale of the mysterious caped knight who has been  roaming the city  streets of Vallejo at night, fighting crime.

       (Black Lake Ranch, Vallejo California - Home of Mob Boss Richard Sambrolini)

      One month later, mob boss Richard Sambrolini, his uncle, Dr. Luigi Courtess and the mob's operational manager, Dice Claw were all glued to the TV as they watched and listened to the news. "Good morning America, you're watching USNN news, and now for our top story. It's been a month since we started reporting to you about a mysterious man dressed as a knight who has been fighting crime in the city of Vallejo. Since this caped crusader started his campaign of fighting crime one month ago, the police says that the crime rate in the city of Vallejo had decreased by about 25%. Of the 40 known criminal gangs in Vallejo, the police claims that there are now only 29 organized gangs left that are believed to be under the control of the notorious mob boss Richard Sambrolini. The Vallejo police says that they've obtained a preliminary sketch of this person in a knight's armor, which we'll be showing you right now....(pause-sketch showing on TV). The police is asking for help from anyone who recognizes the picture on your TV screen to please call the Vallejo police....".

      Dr. Luigi turns off the television as he turns towards his nephew Richard. Seeing Richard start to sniff cocaine again from a small bottle, Dr. Luigi decides to speak with Dice Claw instead. "This could lead to trouble if this continues...", says Dr. Luigi," Tell the police officers working for us that I want this guy dead as soon as possible. Supply all our gangs with side arms, I don't want this vigilante knight to continue affecting our daily operations.....Got it?...". Dice Claw nods as he quickly leaves the mansion in order to implement Dr. Luigi's new orders.

      (Grey and Ritchie's new apartment in San Francisco, California)

      A week had passed since Grey and Ritchie had gone out on night patrols to fight crime. Settling into their new apartment, Ritchie was very busy arranging all their personal belongings, rearranging furnitures around  and setting up appointments for home visits from nurses, physical therapists, social workers, psychologists and other medical professionals that helps Grey deal with his health and well being. Later that day, news from Dr. Peters that work on converting the mausoleum into their secret hideout was underway and should be finished within four week excited Grey and Ritchie, and in the week that followed, Grey and Ritchie starts taking the time to familiarize themselves with the city's underground sewer systems which will be of great importance in Grey's future ability to escape from trouble. With the electronic homing device that Dr. Peters had given each of them, they were able to go down through any manhole in the city and find their way back to the nearest manhole which was closest to  their apartment in San Francisco or near the Holy Cross cemetery in the city of Colma California, where their hideout was located at. Once they finally became familiar with traveling through the city's underground sewer systems, Grey then finally decides that it was time to resume their crime fighting operation.

        The next morning, Ritchie was surprised when Sergeant Nick Holt of the Vallejo Police department decides to visit them. After Ritchie opens the door, Sgt Holt who was dressed in civilian clothes asks Ritchie if he could speak with Grey in private. Knowing that Grey would bitterly object, Ritchie tells Sgt Holt that Grey gave him strict orders that he did not want to speak with anyone from the police department unless they had a warrant. Sgt. Holt then reiterates that he believes that Grey is innocent of drunk driving the night he got into a car accident and was paralyzed. Sgt Holt also tells Ritchie that he thinks that Grey was framed, but in order to prove that Grey was never drunk during his car accident, Sgt Holt still needed to ask Grey some very important questions.

       Ritchie was not persuaded by Sgt Holt's reasoning and respectfully asked the sergeant to leave them alone, but before Sgt Holt leaves, he hands Ritchie a xerox copy of a police sketch of the mysterious knight's face. Sgt Holt says that the woman who saw Grey's face the night she was assisted by the mysterious knight who changed her flat tire did confirm Grey's identity.  Sergeant Holt says that he downloaded an image of Grey from the photos of himself he has from the music and novel covers Grey was selling online. "I showed the young woman a photo of your friend, and she said that the knight who rescued her and her daughter from the five thugs is Grey. She even said that she was 100% sure....". Ritchie starting to feel nervous quickly lies and denies that his paralyzed friend was the mysterious knight that had been fighting crime in the city of Vallejo.

       "Look, I don't know how your paralyzed friend does it?...", says Sgt Holt, "But all I know is that my investigation points to him as the mysterious knight....I've been to Vallejo General Hospital and spoke to all of Grey's nurses and doctors, and they all told me that a few days before Grey got discharged from the hospital that they frequently saw parts of a knight's armor cluttered all around Grey's hospital room....I used to be a detective you know...". Ritchie feeling a panic attack coming remained frozen and silent. Sgt. Holt then pulls out a calling card from his wallet and hands it to Ritchie saying, "Here, give this card to your supposedly paralyzed friend, and tell him that what he's doing is dangerous, not only for himself but also for the community. Tell him to be careful out there and that he can call me if he gets into any trouble, Tell him to not be scared, I'm here to help him..... Tell him that his secret is safe with me....".

      After Sgt. Holt leaves, Ritchie informs Grey of the visit from the off duty police officer as he stores Sgt. Holt's calling card inside Grey's backpack. Hearing that his secret identity might be compromised, Grey suddenly feels a surge of anxiety and worry. "This could put us in danger Ritch...", says Grey, "If ever my true identity leaks out, that I am that mysterious knight that's out fighting crime, Criminals and even the police will come after us....". Ritchie sigh's as he ponders their precarious situation. "So what are we gonna do?....Should we stop fighting crime?....Take a year off?....". Grey thinks hard, and after a minute of silence says, "I've got it!....This might be a radical plan, but it's the only way to get that Sgt. Holt off our tail....I'm gonna fake my death.....". Ritchie gasps in shock as he asks, "Are you out of your mind?!.....". Grey laying motionless in bed in his paralyzed state explains, "It's the only way to keep my secret identity safe, you've seen the police sketch....Their drawing of that mysterious knight looks exactly like me. It's only gonna be a matter of time before the police are on to us.....Plus....Faking my death will free Samantha from the guilt she carries from my car accident. I love her so much that I want what's best for her.....Faking my death will free her from feeling obligated to care for me, She can start a new life and someday, she can marry someone who can make her happy, but the most important thing is, by faking my death, It will end all suspicions and speculations that I am the mysterious knight......Then we can continue fighting crime...". Ritchie sits on a chair besides Grey's bed as he ponders Grey's preposterous idea.

      Knowing that Grey always has the final decision, Ritchie asks, "So, how are we gonna pull this off.....". Grey starts brainstorming for a few minutes then says, "First, Dr. Peters has to agree to this plan, because we'll need his help every step of the way. He'll have to sign my fake death certificate, we'll also need his help in setting up a fake funeral, It'll have to be a close casket for sure......We also need to inform Dr. Kane about my plan because I'll always need a supply of his JK4 inhaler.....for life...".

    ( Two days later, at Dr. Kane's Oaknoll research laboratory in Oakland, California)

      As weeks passes by, Dr. Kane had been busy upgrading his laboratory with state of the art research equipment as he now ventures on his plans of researching a cure for Alzheimer's disease. This was possible due to the twenty million dollars he received from Macrostrength CEO John Layer from a deal he made on agreeing to not manufacture to the public his JK4 serum. As he sits in his electric wheelchair, he tries to suppress his feelings of anger which caused the JK4 serum to dissipate in his system, making him a paraplegic once again. Looking out of his office window, he tries hard to think of pleasant thoughts. Being aware and knowing that he needs to be stoic, he struggles to keep his emotions in check for the JK4 serum to work in giving him the strength and movement to his lower extremities, in order to be able to walk once again.

       Unfortunately, about 20 minutes ago, he just ended a phone conversation with the private investigator he hired to investigate and to follow Detective Ted Cross for the last six months. The private detective's final report states that after six month's of listening and spying on Ted Cross conversations by planting a listening device inside the detective's home and phone system, the private investigator was able to obtain voice recordings of Detective Ted Cross admitting to a friend how he was able to get away with driving drunk the night he got into a car accident with Grey, how he was able to pin the blame on Grey whom he hit on the freeway, how he was able to use an accomplice to help him create a false hospital laboratory report that showed Grey's blood alcohol level to be twice the legal limit in California and how he was able to sue Grey for tens of thousands of dollars which made him richer.

       Dr. Kane now knows that Detective Cross days are numbered, specially after Grey admitted to him during a phone conversation that he had super powers and was the mysterious knight who had been fighting crime all over the city of Vallejo. Promising Grey an unlimited supply of his JK4 inhaler, Dr. Kane starts to ponder the chance of the two of them teaming up as vigilantes, both with super powers. He starts imagining the look on Grey's face when he burns Detective Ted Cross alive in his home for causing Grey's paralysis, framing him for drunk driving, sucking him dry financially and taking away his future. As Dr. Kane sits helplessly in his wheelchair, he starts to feel a sense of empowerment knowing that he and Grey both share a common destiny, which is to rid the world of drunk drivers. But first he has to be patient, he needs to let Grey experience and enjoy his super powers and the ability of beating up on criminal scums that preys on the weak and the innocent. Eventually, when the time is right, he'll expose Detective Ted Cross grave sin to Grey which will help fuel Grey's anger and hatred for Ted Cross and all drunk drivers in society. (End Of Chapter)