Aviator #6: "Who Knows What Evil Lurks?"

Previously...

The chilling wind whistled past Aviator as he hurtled through the air. The words and images from Bag Lady's newspaper still tumbled around his head, their shock still stinging within him. How could Kath be a villain...?

His trajectory took him straight to his apartment in Devil Heights and, as he neared, he slowed his flight. The window to his bedroom was still open and so he quickly darted inside. Even before his feet had touched down on the floor inside, he noticed that Kathleen was also in the room with an almost-full suitcase near her on the table in the corner.

"Kath, what...?" Rob began, looking from the woman to the things strewn across his bed.

Kathleen did not seem surprised, but turned in a graceful movement, shutting the suitcase as she did.

"Ah, the flying boy has returned", Kath purred, a slight smile playing on her lips. "And a little earlier than expected. A pity. I'd hoped to have been gone before you came back, to save any goodbyes".

She lifted up the case and began to make her way towards the door. Rob moved to the side to intercept her.

"Kath, I know who you are. That you're Fallen Angel. What are you doing? Where are you going?"

He was confused and a little angry, both with himself and the woman before him. Kath stopped and glanced up at Rob, her eyes blazing with harsh red light.

"So, Aviator", she said, stressing her knowledge of her companion's identity, "you've finally woken up and seen the news. Took you long enough. As to where I'm going, I would've thought it was obvious. I am leaving this place and rejoining my... other companions".

She took a step closer to the door but Rob stood his ground, blocking her. They were now no more than a foot from one another, each facing the other.

"You're Fallen Angel. You broke out of Dunwich. You're a goddamned supervillain, Kath!"

Kath tutted and waved a pale finger in the air.

"Kathleen Pendergast hasn't been around these parts for some time, my poor lovesick Robbie. Whereas my existence is eternal. Yes, I escaped from that confining dungeon you call Dunwich and away from that disgusting wretch of a man Dr Liefhouse. Just like I escaped an eternity before from Him above and his restrictive Commandments".

"But how can you be evil? Why did you do the things you've done? You were so lovely back at University. And I love you Ka..."

Kathleen's eyes blazed again as what appeared to be anger - or perhaps some other veiled emotion - boiled inside her.

"No, am I not evil. I am freedom and power. But Dr Liefhouse told me I was just Kathleen Pendergast. He said I was just some sort of mutant with meta-genetic abilities pretending to be what I was, deluding myself. He said I had psychological problems and that he could help me. But he was the deluded one. He restrained me, isolated me and tried to hurt me to get me to utter his petty lies. He was wrong. For I am one of the Fallen, using this woman's essence and form, here to free you mortals from the Almighty's unholy dictatorship".

"What are you on about?" Rob pleaded. What she was saying seemed like madness but all Rob wanted to do was hold and comfort her.

"You are controlled by the One above, Rob. You have no more freedom than an actor in one of your movies, following a preordained script. That is what you call ‘goodness’. And now Kathleen Pendergast is free from those chains. Instead, this body is mine. Being here was a pleasant distraction, my dear, but now darkness is coming and it is time for me to leave".

She took another small step closer to the doorway, now only inches from Rob, but Rob just held up his hand.

"I know that's you in there, Kath. You can't leave me. And you're wanted by the police. I won't let you leave. You need help".

He reached across to put his reassuring hand on her gentle shoulder. Just as he was about to touch her, Kathleen's eyes again glowed red as eternal fires flashed deep within them. A corona of suffocating, painful heat suddenly surrounded the woman. Rob quickly withdrew his hand.

"You are as bad as him. Get out of my way!" she sneered.

And, absently, she backhanded Rob across his surprised face.

If an express train had slammed into Rob, it would have hurt less. The slap hit Rob with so much force that he flew sidewards and smashed into the large refrigerator in the nearby kitchen area. With a groan, he tried to get up but his head was ringing and his body didn't seem to want to respond. Through blurred vision, he watched as Kathleen opened the door and began to head outside.

With what little strength he had, Rob stood up and called out weakly. "Kath...!", was all he could utter before the woman turned to face him.

"Goodbye Rob" she replied in return, her glowing eyes gazing deep into his soul.

Shapes seemed to spring up from the corners of his blurry vision - monstrous entities of darkness and fire. He tried to breathe, tried to move, but his mind felt separated from the rest of his body, which was held in some sort of stasis. His feeble heart inside the chest he could no longer feel flickered and then stopped.

For that long moment, all Rob could do was stare into those red, inhuman eyes. And as he gazed, he was sure he could see flaming wings grow behind his ex-lover's back and a fiery halo materialise above her head.

Then he blinked and she was gone.

Rob’s chilled blood began to beat again around his returned body. Crippling pain resurfaced, surging like an unstoppable tidal wave across the ocean of his fragile nervous system. Finally, the darkness that hovered around his sight's periphery took him as his eyes rolled back and he slumped to the floor unconscious.

Aviator #5: "By the Hoary Hosts...!"

Walking the long way back home from his first day as an official librarian, albeit a trainee assistant librarian, Rob was puzzled. Not by his new job, which he'd finally obtained after rescheduling his interview with Dr Armitage at the Lovecraft Library. And not by the state of Alyson Rosenberg's health, because she had bounced back quite admirably. No, his puzzlement was due to an email he'd received just before he'd left.

It had been from a friend of his, Ryan Marston, who still worked at Knight City Pharmaceuticals - the place where Rob used to work. He'd asked Ryan to run an analysis of the liquid he'd found at the warehouse, back when he'd encountered Feuerkraft. Doing it in his spare time, it had taken his old work colleague a few days to get around to it, but finally he'd emailed him the results. They had been somewhat intriguing.

At first pass the compound appeared to be a derivative of methamphetamine but there was an additional component that Ryan couldn't recognise. Rob did though; it was very similar to the chemical he'd been working on just before he'd been sacked from his old job. It was the chemical that had been due to be shipped to something called KRAKEN. It was also the chemical that had somehow given him superpowers.

The weird thing was that Ryan had run the analysis three times and each time that experimental chemical appeared to change composition. Ryan thought it was unstable or perhaps a glitch in the analysis software. Whereas to Rob it appeared like the formula was mutating.

Whatever it was, it puzzled Rob to distraction. So much so that, as he walked by an alleyway, he almost collided with someone.

Rob looked up to apologise and continue on his way. But then he realised that he recognised the rather scruffy person in front of him. It was the bag lady he'd saved from the collapsing building right at the start of his adventures.

"Oh, erm, sorry..." he began, but the old woman stopped him by waving a wrinkled hand in front of his face.

"Y' don't have t'be sorry, 'Aviator'. Was meant to be. I need t'ave a chat wit' ya", she said, moving into the shadows of the alleyway and beckoning Rob to follow her with a gnarly finger.

"Aviator? I don't know who you mean..." he began, stepping into the alley after the woman.

"I knows who y'are, 'Aviator'. I wuz there, remember? Ya saved me. I woz a bit… fuzzy at the time but it were you. It's important ya listen to wot I 'ave to say. Ya 'ave to help stop 'em!" she implored.

It seemed to Rob there was no point in arguing; she was adamant he was Aviator. So instead he took a moment to study this old woman who seemed to know him. His gaze gained him little in the dim light though. She wore a long, scruffy, patchwork coat that covered most of her short body. On her head, a stained headscarf covered her long silver-white hair and shaded her weathered features which, as Rob watched, appeared to flow and subtly alter. Intrigued, Rob walked a little further into the gloomy depths of the alley.

"Stop who?" he asked, trying to keep his voice low.

"Doesn't matter who”, the strange woman replied. “Call 'em the Black Sun. Yeah, it's as good as any. Y'see it's 'bout that book that was stolen. The one by Baum. That an' other thingies".

"The one from the library?" Rob asked incredulously. "What about it? And what other things?"

“Shuush!” The old woman held a finger to her lips whilst raising her other withered hand. This she moved above her head in a complicated gesture and then quietly incanted some unusual, complicated words. Suddenly, the noise from beyond the entrance of the alleyway cut off whilst the shadows surrounding them appeared to thicken. 

“That’s betta”, the woman spoke into the strange silence that now loomed around them. She gazed towards Rob with a withering look in her cloudy eyes.

"Ya don't follow the news much, does ya? That's not the only things' been stolen recently. There were that wardrobe shipped o’er from England and some gateway to the stars in Egypt, t’ name but two. They're pathways to the other places. The book itself were 'bout twisters to other planes and Baum's theories concernin' 'em".

"I'm sorry but who are you?" Rod asked, after a moment of puzzlement.

"Ya can call me Bag Lady. On account that I 'ave a bag, see? And I'm gifted. Able to see wha' others can't and lift veils t’other places. And it's comin', ya hear. Darkness. But before then, they need t'understand".

"I'm sorry but I don't know who 'they' are and I don't understand," pleaded Rob, taking a step back, wondering what this old woman was going on about. She was obviously somewhat crazy or perhaps still drunk (though Rob could not smell alcohol on her breath this time). However, as Rob moved backwards he felt resistance behind him.

"The Black Sun. Kraken. They're studying t’ hieroglyphics on cave walls in Rhudjistan and in pyramid tombs in Egypt. They've a plan t’ merge all the worlds, force ‘em into one. And in the chaos, they'll bring forth t'eternal Reich an’ rule over us all".

At the mention of Kraken, Rob's interest rose. He leaned closer.

"Kraken! You mentioned Kraken" he exclaimed. Perhaps this woman wasn't truly mad after all. "They, or he, were receiving some chemicals from..."

"I know. That'd be the Elixir", Bag Lady interrupted. "T' strengthen 'n' stabilise their legions during the crisis. It holds great power, y'see? 'Course ya do, it's in ya veins. That’s why they haveta be stopped. And you’ve gotta help stop 'em, Aviator".

Rob squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his head. This all seemed somewhat surreal to him.

"Stop them? How?"

"They'll be afta the cross-time configurator next. It’s sorta like a pocket watch. It's... somewhere else right now. But I'll find it, don’tya worry. It’ll jus’ take me a day or two an’ then I’ll be back in touch. First tho’ ya 'ave to deal wit something closer ta home".

The old woman could see that Rob looked confused. She tutted, shook her head, and sighed.

"Like I said, ya don't follows the news much, d'ya? Here..."

The old woman plunged her thin arm into the large, patchwork bag that hung from her shoulder. Scrabbling around she eventually pulled out an old and creased copy of the Herald and threw it at Rob's feet. He looked down and stared at it.

On the front page were three photographs, side by side. The first was what appeared to be a picture of Kathleen Pendergast, his current roommate and lover, whilst next to this was an image of a man and another woman Rob didn't recognise. In the dim light of the alley the man’s features and neck looked oddly-shaped whilst the other woman looked, well, crazy. Turning back to the photograph of Kath, Rob noticed that it didn't do her justice at all. In fact, it made her look very unwell and almost ghostly.

Above the photographs were thick, black words claiming "CRIMINALS ESCAPE DUNWICH". Below this Rob could read the sub-heading that read "Fallen Angel, The Human Snake and Dizz-E Elude Police".

Bending down, Rob hesitantly picked up the paper and read the first few sentences of the article. His hands began to shake by the time he’d finished the second paragraph and realisation began to hit him.

"Dear God, no!" he whispered to himself.

TO BE CONTINUED

Aviator #4: "Superstitious, Cowardly Lot"

"I'm here for the interview. For the librarian position", Rob answered the young but slightly dowdy looking woman who stood behind the desk. Other younger people milled around them, heading this way and that, and one or two glanced at Rob in his cheap suit and tie. Rob shuffled his feet a little and tried to smile in a polite but studious way.

"Oh yes. You must be Robert Tomlin, right?" The woman smiled back, her eyes a sparkling green behind functional glasses, Rob noticed.

"I'm Alyson Rosenberg. I'm also one of the librarians here. Well, I suppose you guessed that. And I guess you're not technically a librarian here yet either. But you know what I mean".

The small, brown-haired, squirrely woman called Alyson giggled nervously for a moment and then removed her reading glasses.

"Eh, I haven't been here long myself" she said in explanation and, after briefly looking around, continued. "I can't seem to see Dr. Armitage at the moment - he's the head librarian here  - so if you'll just wait a moment I'll go and find him. He's probably in the stacks somewhere, erm, stacking books".

She started to giggle a little again, stopped herself, and feeling a little embarrassed walked around from behind the desk before heading towards the deeper parts of the Lovecraft Library. Rob began to say something along the lines that it was alright, he could wait a while (it wasn't as if he had anything else on), but he sort of just mumbled his thanks whilst he was left standing there musing about his recent change of fortune.

Ever since discovering he could fly, things seemed to be turning around for Rob. Well, sure, he'd tackled that armoured guy Feuerkraft and gotten a fair number of bruises plus a broken rib for his interference. And he had tried to stop some sort of intelligent ape called General Ursus from letting his fellow hominids out of the Knight City Zoo just the other day but that hadn't quite gone to plan.

On the other hand though, Kath had come back and had now been staying with him for the last couple of days. She tended to stay in all day and then they'd go out at night - to bars and clubs generally - before returning in the early hours to the bed they shared.  And now he had his first job interview - at the library of Miskatonic University.

It wasn't a job as a chemical engineer or a lab assistant or something similar but right now Rob was glad of anything that paid a bit of money. And, at least, this beat selling greasy slabs of meat at MacDonalds. Back as a student, he'd spent many hours here in the library so he knew his way around the place. Plus he was intelligent, a graduate from the university and he liked books so he had a good feeling about this job opportunity.

That good feeling vanished as Rob looked around, wondering where Alyson the giggly librarian had got to, and saw a guy dressed in a blue and white spandex costume barge in through the front entrance.

"Where is it, eh?" the man called out. "Where's the book!?"

One of the other librarians, an older man called Mr Giles that Rob recognized from his time here, approached the brightly-dressed man.

"Excuse me sir", he said in his courtly English accent, "but please keep your voice down. This is a library".

"Yeah, I know that. What d'you take me for, stoopid?" The costumed man stopped for a moment, raised his right hand and then snapped his fingers together like a cool beatnik from the sixties. Instantly, the temperature inside the library dropped. Ice crystals suddenly formed around Mr Giles and quickly grew until, less than a second later, the man was completely encased in a gleaming, transparent block of solid ice.

Someone nearby screamed.

"Shush", the supervillain admonished. "Keep quiet like the man said". Laughing he sauntered over towards the main desk.

Now Rob recognised the man from news reports. He was a one of Knight City's lesser supervillains; a man named Howard Lyon who called himself Coldsnap. A mercenary by trade, the man sold his talents to whoever would pay, as long as the job wasn't too difficult nor too dangerous. The police considered him a coward but still a threat to civilians due to his ability to freeze people and objects just by clicking his fingers together.

"Right, so who can tell me where the book is, eh? How 'bout you, missy?"

Coldsnap had stopped near the desk where Rob stood and was now pointing those threatening fingers towards Alyson, who had just returned. She quivered a little as the man questioned her but did not back away or faint.

"I... I don't know. If y...you mean the Necronomicon it... isn't here", she answered bravely, her voice stuttering but strong, although she didn't look directly at Coldsnap.

"Not that, you bitch! The one by Baum or whatever his name is. The one on display that's been in all the papers".

"Oh, that. Th...that's over there," Alyson blurted, pointing to an area at the side of the building. A number of rare and unusual books were on display there, some on loan from other libraries whilst others were part of this library's collection. One of those items taking pride of place in the centre of the display was Lyman Frank Baum's own handwritten manuscript which supposedly contained his notes and story ideas concerning his many Oz books.

As Coldsnap turned away and walked towards the display, Rob decided he had to do something. He was still wearing his suit and tie but in his pocket Rob kept his Aviator goggles from the leather flying helmet. Earlier he'd put them in his pocket as a sort of good luck charm but now it appeared he'd actually need to use them. Donning the goggles, Rob rose a few inches into the air (the strange sense of vertigo washed over him still - though not as strong as it used to be) and then shot towards the supercriminal.

"What the f...?!?" Coldsnap cried as Aviator slammed into him, driving him smashing into the display. Shaking his head as he sat on the floor around the bits of broken glass cabinets, Coldsnap looked up. There above him floated a man in a dark suit with goggles over his eyes.

"Who the hell are you?" the villain cried, shuffling his legs and bottom, trying to crawl away.

"The name's Aviator" Rob called out. "I'm here to stop you villain".

"Yeah? Well buddy, you need to chill" Coldsnap replied, and bringing his hand up he snapped his fingers.

The air around Aviator  suddenly became colder - a lot colder. His breath caught in his throat as the sudden chill shocked his lungs. His arms and legs began to stiffen as he felt his skin start to freeze. Aviator began to rise up away from Coldsnap but it was too late - a thick layer of ice formed around his body, trapping him and holding him immobile.

"Thought you could take me, fly boy?" Coldsnap sneered. Still backing away, his hand brushed against a thick, old book and he looked down.

"Hey, whatya know! Just what I was looking for..."

But then gravity decided enough was enough and Aviator fell to the ground.

As he hit the marble floor, the smothering block of ice smashed into hundreds of sharp, glittering pieces that slid across the library. In the middle knelt Aviator, startled, shocked, somewhat chilly and a little short of breath but otherwise unharmed. He took a deep lungful of sweet air, shook some warmth into his body, and stood up.

Meanwhile, Coldsnap had grabbed the book and was backing away towards the exit.

"Damned lucky bastard" he cursed. "But I'll put you on ice again soon enough".

Again he clicked his fingers together but this time Aviator was ready for him. Lifting up into the air, he dodged to the left. Particles of ice formed in the air where he'd been just a split second before and, with nothing to latch onto, they fell tinkling to the ground. Coldsnap snappeded his fingers together again and this time Aviator dodged right missing the icy blast once more.

"Stay still ya flying freak!" shouted the villain as Aviator floated forwards towards him.

"Well, I can't say I approve of your frosty reception", the hero replied, preparing to launch himself at Coldsnap.

The cold-hearted criminal sneered and was about to try to freeze the hero again when another idea struck him. Instead, he turned to face Ms Rosenberg who was approaching from the left, and grinned. Snapping his fingers together, he turned and ran for the exit.

Aviator followed the villain's gaze and watched in horror as a white sheen of ice started to surround the startled librarian. Leaving Coldsnap for now, he flew over to Alyson, who was now covered from foot to neck in a block of bone-chilling ice.

"H..h...help m...m...me!" the small woman stammered. The lips on her pale, unblemished face were beginning to turn blue and her sparkling eyes were wide in terror.

For a moment, Aviator was at a loss regarding how to get her out. Then he remembered that as well as being able to fly, the chemicals that had somehow empowered him a few months ago had also increased his strength to superhuman levels. He drew back his fist and looked Alyson directly in her frightened eyes.

"Hold on. And keep still" he uttered, before bringing his fist forward to smash into the ice. There was a crack but nothing more. Aviator's now bloodied fist felt incredibly cold and numb but he tried again. And then again.

On the third mighty punch, there was a much louder crack and the block of ice shattered. Alyson came tumbling out of the crumbling remains and fell into Aviator's arms. olding her close, he quickly wrapped his suit jacket about her shoulders before someone nearby rushed up with a warm blanket.

Leaving her to the administrations of others, Aviator zipped out of the library after Coldsnap but by now the cold-hearted criminal had vanished - taking Baum's notebook with him. The aerial avenger flew upwards to get a better view of the surrounding area and university quadrangles but the villain was nowhere to be seen. Cursing himself, Aviator flew back into the library to check up on Alyson.

He was glad to see that the little librarian appeared to be getting some of her colour back. He approached her and asked if she was okay. Alyson nodded, shivering. Although still somewhat shocked, Rob could tell by the look on her face that she recognised him behind the goggles and, of course, knew who he was.

Before he could say anything another woman, this one in a crisp-looking business suit with what looked like a small voice recorder in her hand, strode forwards and stopped directly in front of him. She had a stern look on her business-like face.

"Lucy Harvey of the Herald", she stated abruptly. "So, 'masked' avenger, can you tell me who you are? Are you another of those Agents of C.O.M.P.A.S.S? What did Coldsnap want in this quiet university library?"

Her questions were snapped off so quickly, Aviator was somewhat taken aback. His mouth opened and closed a couple of times as he tried to engage his brain to answer. Thankfully, Alyson answered for him.

"He's c...called Aviator and he j...just tried to stop that villain from taking a valuable b...book that was on loan to us," she said, her eyes cutting into the reporter in front of her. "And he just saved my life!"

"Well, one could argue that if he hadn't intervened Coldsnap would not have attacked you...", Ms Harvey started before Alyson interrupted.

"He was trying to stop a w...wanted criminal. Not poking his nose into other people's business like some...", the librarian tutted and turned away to look at Aviator.

Aviator said a quiet 'thank you' and smiled at Alyson before turning back towards the reporter. "No comment Miss Harvey other than to say that no, I am not one of those Agents. And given the current situation I think it's best that I go and leave things to the proper authorities".

Then he turned towards Alyson.

"Tell your boss that I'll be back in touch later. I hope he'll understand," he explained as he began to levitate upwards. Then, with a smile and a wave, he was off out of the main doors.

Behind him Lucy's eyes narrowed, her reporter's nose twitching, as she watched Aviator fly away. "I'll get your story", she muttered to herself whilst people around her started to tidy up the mess.

(Another short piece of fiction set in the Acrobatic Flea's Knight City Chronicles Universe)

Aviator #3: "In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night..."

Returning to the open window of his apartment after tackling Feuerkraft, Rob stumbled into the bathroom to see to his wounds. His side ached enormously and vicious pain shot down his torso whenever he turned but, after a careful examination, he appeared otherwise intact.

After showering, dressing his wounds and then fixing himself up with a quick sandwich and a beer, he sat down on his couch and turned on the TV. He watched the end of an episode of American Hero - the latest reality/talent show - before the nightly news bulletin. There was a piece about kids going missing across Knight City and then Rob smiled as coverage of the police raid on the warehouse was shown, recorded just a short while ago. Feuerkraft was being hauled out, his wrists fixed in thick restraints and bundled into the back of a large armoured police van.

The news then flicked to something about a breakout at Dunwich Asylum, when there was a knock at the door to his apartment. Putting down the remains of his beer, Rob sauntered over to answer it.

"Yeah, who is it?" he asked lazily, opening the door a fraction.

"Rob? Hi it's, erm, me. I tried to call earlier so I don't know whether you got my message...?" A woman's voice called furtively from the corridor beyond his door. The attractive- though somewhat gothy and dishevelled-looking - owner of the voice kept looking around and behind her anxiously and, for a moment, Rob didn't recognise her.

"Who...?" he wondered aloud until he looked up into her eyes. Briefly, they glimmered a deep flaming red before turning to a sparkling emerald green. How could he forget those eyes?

"Kath? Is that you?" he breathed, his eyes opening wide.

He looked her over again, realising now that she appeared scared and distracted. He closed his open mouth and blinked a few times.

"My god, it is you!" he exclaimed.

The woman outside the door winced slightly and nodded. "Yes, of course it's me. Can I come in Rob?"

"Sure, sure" he quickly replied and, closing the door slightly, he removed the security chain and let the woman inside.

"Thanks, Rob", Kath, said, a little relief breaking across her features as she stepped through the open doorway. She quickly scanned the living area beyond before turning back to Rob.

"Sorry to just drop in on you like this it's just, well, I had nowhere else to go".

"Hey, that's okay", Rob replied, closing the door. "It's good to see you again. Really good. I mean, I haven't seen you since... well, for about 7 years now. How are you?"

She smiled and shrugged but didn't answer. Instead she looked across at the almost empty bottle of beer and asked, "Is there anything to drink in this place?"

"Sure", Rob replied, trying to smooth down his hair. "Do you want a coffee, water, a coke, a...".

"I was thinking of a beer". She pointed towards Rob's bottle and turned to look at him, winking. Smiling, she lowered herself onto the couch, tucked her legs underneath her, and gazed towards the TV.

"Hmmm... okay, yeah".

Still a little shocked, Rob walked over to the kitchen area and opened the fridge. Kathleen Pendergast was back in his apartment. Well, a different apartment now, but still - it was her. He never thought he'd see her again but here she was, looking as gorgeous and wonderful as she did back when they were both at university.

He'd been in his final year when he'd met Kath, a freshman just starting her time at Miskatonic University. She had been so full of energy and vitality on that day, laughing and smiling, that Rob had immediately become smitten with her. And she was beautiful, in a sort of gothic way, with her black hair and dark clothes and make-up. Somehow, he'd managed to overcome his usual reticence in asking out a girl and soon they'd been an item. It was, Rob reflected, one of the brightest times of his life.

They'd been together around 18 months when Kath suddenly changed. She'd sort of disappeared for a few days, probably out travelling or doing some sort of charity work, but when she returned she was different - quiet, sullen, pale. Soon after they'd had an argument and, well, that had been the last he'd seen of her. By that time, he was working at Knight City Pharmaceuticals and when he got back one night he'd found that she'd packed up her things and left.

That had been one of the blackest nights in his life.

Grabbing a cool bottle of beer, Rob closed the fridge and turned to look at his ex-girlfriend sat on the couch. She hardly looked any different than she had that day she had left him. Why was she back? What had she been doing? Did he really care?

Rob walked back into the living area and handed Kath the bottle, noticing that she'd switched off the TV. Kath smiled her thanks and then took a long gulp.

"That's better" she sighed, her eyes momentarily closing in pleasure. She patted the seat of the couch next to her.

Rob sat down, picked up his own bottle and took a sip.

"I'll glad you're back Kath but, erm, what brings you back to Knight City?" He asked the question cautiously, unsure of where to start the conversion and not wanting to upset the woman beside him nor give her any reason to leave.

"Oh, I've actually been back for a while now. But the last place I was in... wasn't right. So wrong". She shuddered and hung her head at this, her dark hair falling over her face. To Rob, she seemed scared.

"And now, me and some friends of mine are out and about", she continued after a moment. "I don't really know anyone else in this city, so I came here. I hope you don't mind, Rob?"

She tilted her head up to look at Rob, her eyes almost hidden by her hair. The red gleam was back in her eyes. Strangely it reminded Rob a little of Feuerkraft's fiery blasts.

"No, of course I don't mind", he stammered. "You said something about some friends?"

"Oh, they're off doing their own things. They won't disturb us". She took another mouthful of beer, her tongue gently licking the lip of the bottle as she finished, and sighed in delight.

"Rob, can I ask a favour? I need somewhere to stay, somewhere... quiet. Can I stay here for a few nights? Please?"

Rob almost choked on the last of his beer but managed to recover. Kath was back and she wanted to stay. With him. Here. Together.

He smiled and nodded eagerly.

Aviator #0: Background

History

Robert Tomlin had not had an easy life. When he was younger, he hadn't seen much of his father, who worked for a secretive branch of the military and therefore was often away for long periods. His mother, who ruled their home with an iron hand, had to look after Rob and his younger sister Julie whilst also holding down various part-time jobs. Still, they managed - at least until Rob's father was pronounced "missing in action" when Rob was 10 years old.

His mother didn't take the loss of her husband well and Rob was often left to look after things at home. In spite of this, he managed to do well at high school, pass his exams and get a place at Miskatonic University where he studied chemical engineering.

Eventually, Rob got a job at Knight City Pharmaceuticals as a lab assistant. The pay was reasonable and everything seemed to be going alright for once. That was until around 4 months ago.

Whilst working on some experimental chemicals for his new boss, Dr Stein, Rob happened to stumble across some information implying that the chemicals were not actually being sent to the expected manufacturing company across town. Instead, they had been diverted to something - or somebody - called "KRAKEN". Unfortunately, Rob was caught in his little act of espionage, and whilst trying to quickly get away and cover up his snooping he stumbled into the new batch of the chemicals, spilling them all over himself.

The next day, Rob Tomlin was fired from his job under incompetence charges. After a month or so, any money he'd managed to save began to run out. In order to keep himself afloat, he sold his apartment in Arkdale and moved into a smaller place in Devil Heights, one of the rougher parts of the city. Still, even then, the money wasn't going to last long. With no references and no one wanting to offer him a job, Rob became depressed, feeling that there was no point in going on. So, he decided to end it all by jumping off the top of his apartment building.

However, that's when Rob's life changed. Because Rob found he couldn't fall.

Instead, from that point on, Rob began to fly...

Powers

The strange chemicals that soaked into Rob's skin somehow reacted with his DNA to give Rob the superhuman power of flight. He can soar into the air travelling at speeds of Mach 1 or more if he pushed himself. He can also hover in place, almost instantly accelerate, and is incredibly manoeuvrable whilst flying.

In addition, the chemical reaction has made Rob much stronger and more resilient. He can lift over one ton without too much trouble and has incredible willpower. This helps him survive at high altitudes and resist the potentially damaging effects of high-speed travel.

Rob himself is an talented chemistry and biology student and an accomplished engineer. He's bright and agile, though unfortunately is a little plain looking and can be slightly introverted.

Aviator's Character Sheet

Aviator #2: "Flame On!"

(Another short piece of fiction set in the Acrobatic Flea's Knight City Chronicles Universe)

~~~

Jack Hollis

"That's all I know, Rob", Detective Jack Hollis' gravely voice replied over the line. Barely a moment later, the voice continued, in a slightly more questioning tone. "Why're you so interested in this?"

For a moment Rob stumbled, trying to think of a decent answer. He didn't really have one so went for what came first into his head.

"Well, ya know, I was there and saw the place burn down. And you know I'm interested about chemicals and things like that. I mean, if it hadn't been for those agents that... Well, I mean, I just..."

"Look, Rob, I know you ain't been busy lately what with your job situation and everything but I don't think you want to get involved with those sorts of chemicals. As for those COMPASS agent guys, they didn't do so great a job on that collapsed building. Thank the Lord Law Industries is clearing the check for the rebuild".

"Yeah, I guess", Rob Tomlin replied. "Anyway, thanks for the info, Jack. Much appreciated".

"Hey, no sweat. I'm still keeping an eye out for anything going in forensics or elsewhere around here. I'll let you know if anything turns up. And you still on for that drink on Friday with me and Greg?"

"Sure, Jack. Wouldn't miss it for anything. Thanks. See you Friday", Rob replied, smiling, and put the phone down.

Jack Hollis was a detective in the Knight City police department and also one of Rob's few friends he still knew from high school. Every few weeks they would go out for a beer and Jack and Greg Manson would try to cheer him up whilst Rob moaned about his life and the world in general. Standing there next to his old phone, Rob felt a little guilty about using his friend like that.

And about not telling him he had superpowers.

Aviator

Still, now he knew that the fire in that apartment building he'd seen the other day had been started due to some sort of meth lab in the basement. It seemed that the police and fire department thought the lab to be a little unusual; partly this was due to its large size and partly due to the antiquated tech recovered from the site. According to Jack, after a bit of detective work, the latest rumour at police headquarters was that a warehouse in the Selebourne district might have been linked to this lab in some way. Details were sketchy but, once the police had gathered a little more evidence, they were going to to hit it later that day. Or so Jack thought.

Rob knew that someone else was going to investigate it first though - Aviator.

The ex-chemical engineer stepped over to his wardrobe and pulled out a bullet-proof vest he'd acquired from Jack some years ago, the brown leather flying jacket he'd worn the other day, and some sturdy black boots. Lastly, from a drawer inside the wardrobe, he pulled out one of those old World War II leather flying hats - complete with goggles - that he'd discovered just yesterday in an old junk store. The helmet was a bit worn but otherwise intact and, although it looked a bit dorky, it was a lot more comfortable than the ski-mask he'd worn saving that bag lady. The goggles and hat would help to protect his identity and stop his eyes from streaming as he flew through the cool afternoon air. Also, thought Rob, it seemed appropriate given his new alias.

Suited up, Rob stepped towards the window of his rundown apartment, opened it and stepped onto the window ledge. Just then, his old phone began to ring. He looked over his shoulder at the phone, considered answering it, but then shrugged and let the machine take the call. Instead, he pushed himself up and leapt outside.

*beep* "Oh, erm, Hi Rob. I hoped to catch you in as I don't know where else to go. Don't know whether you remember me, but it's Kath - Kathleen Pendergast..."

Soaring way from the apartment, Aviator, Knight City's newest hero, flew high over the seedy streets of Devil Heights. The warehouse near the docks was over the other side of the district, but at the speed he could travel in the air, it would only take a few minutes to get there. And it wasn't like he had to worry about rush hour traffic!

Alighting on a window ledge high up on one side of the gloomy-looking warehouse, Aviator peered through the filthy window. Inside was almost empty, although there were a couple of crates towards the far end of the building. He could make out a few uniformed men carrying some similar-looking crates to an exit at the back of the warehouse. Near the middle of the empty area, what looked to be a very large man was shouting orders at those in uniform. Aviator couldn't hear what the man was shouting - and it didn't sound English either - but it was obvious the large man was in a rush to be finished.

As he watched all the men begin to file out of the back of the warehouse, Aviator noticed that the light streaming in from the other windows glinted brightly off the large man. He appeared to be wearing some sort of metallic armour!

Realising that these villains were going to escape before the police arrived, Aviator tried pushing open the nearby window in order to confront them. Not quite used to his newfound strength, the shoddy brickwork around the frame crumbled and the window fell to the ground below - with Aviator flying in behind it.

"Was! Was geschieht...!" the armoured man yelled, turning. Aviator now recognised the language the man used - German.

As Aviator flew down, he could see that the man was wearing a large armoured suit made of what looked like polished brass. Other than his eyes, all of the rest of his body was encased in the battlesuit. On his back were a couple of large canisters and, from these, long flexible coils snaked down to his golden gauntlets. The air seemed to shimmer in front of the armoured man.

Feuerkraft

What the hell is a German in a battlesuit doing in Knight City? Aviator thought to himself. Obviously nothing legal. And I wonder what are in those crates?

"Stop where you are, Tin Man, and tell me what you're doing here!" Aviator called out, as he floated about five feet above the ground and towards one end of the warehouse.

"Zis does not involve you, Amerikan. Und my name ist Feuerkraft!" the armoured man replied with a obvious German accent. He then turned to one of his uniformed man near the back door and barked out some orders. "Geht hinaus und nehmen die Waren! Schnell! Reise zurück zum."

Once finished with the orders, the man known as Feuerkraft turned back, his gleaming fists raised towards Aviator.

"I told you to leave, Amerikan! Othervise you vill feel ze heat of Feuerkraft!"

"The name's Aviator and I asked you to tell me what you were doing first," answered the flying hero. "So why don't you... Yow!!"

A blast of flame suddenly erupted from the villain's gauntlets and blazed across the space between him and Aviator. Aviator dodged to one side in mid-air and the jet of flaming liquid narrowly missed him and instead slammed into the wall behind him, turning the brickwork to molten slag. The guy had in-built flamethrowers!

"Scheisse!" the armoured man spat. "Stay still Flieger". He stepped forward, pistons hissing, and again raised the fists on his battlesuit. Another jet of scorching fire leapt out.

Aviator wasn't going to comply in the least and so kept zipping left and right, up and down, dodging the scorching blasts in the air. His aerial acrobatics brought him close to one of the remaining crates, which he picked up with little trouble. Flying over Feuerkraft, Aviator called out, "Catch this, Clanky" and dropped the box on top of the German.

"Was...!?"

The crate crashed onto Feuerkraft, spilling out packaging and bottles of liquid ,which smashed onto the floor. The armoured man cursed in rage and stepped forward, ready to blast at the annoying hero again. But as his armoured foot came down, it slipped on some of the spilled liquid and the man had to take a moment to stabilise himself. Aviator saw his chance.

With blinding speed, the flying hero rose into the air and then arced around and down, gathering speed as he went. Arms stretched out in front of him, his blurred form flew straight at Feuerkraft. The villain had no time to retaliate as Aviator smashed into the armoured man, lifting him slightly and then slamming him into the brick wall behind him.

There was a sharp crack and the eyes of the man within the suit opened wide.

"Nein!! Du dummer Dummkopf! You vill pay for zat!"

And with a mighty sweep, Feuerkraft backhanded Aviator with one of his metallic gauntlets sending the hero flying back to smack into the opposite wall.

Aviator groaned and shook his head. One of his ribs was cracked, he had a few cuts and bruises and he was seeing stars but, on the bright side, he wasn't dead. The crafty criminal was strong and a blow like that could have done serious damage. Perhaps his own power of flight had helped to slow him?

Wincing as he struggled to stand up, Aviator looked across at Feuerkraft and noticed that a hissing gas was escaping from one of the canisters on the armoured man's back. As he took a tentative step forward, the villain raised his powerful fists to launch another jet of fire.

"No! Don't...!" called out Aviator, but it was too late!

A spark of flame started from Feuerkraft's fist but then, unexpectedly, raced along the chemical soaked armour and coils and towards the back of the villain. Instead of blasting Aviator, there was a whoosh from behind Feuerkraft, and the man was suddenly encompassed in a bright sheath of blistering fire.

"Nein. Die hitze...! Arghhh!!" screamed the man, stumbling around in obvious pain.

Without waiting another moment to think or consider his actions, Aviator shot forward. Swooping down at the flaming villain, he grabbed the man around the shoulders, lifted him and then flew directly upwards. Smashing through the roof of the warehouse, he gritted his teeth and continued his vertical ascent whilst holding Feuerkraft, taking him higher and higher and higher. As the thinning air rushed by, the flames around the villain's armour flickered and, eventually, went out. The lack of oxygen had extinguishing the fire and, Aviator noticed, also rendered the supervillain unconscious.

Returning back down to the ground, the aerial avenger carefully dropped Feuerkraft in the middle of the warehouse. Ripping the brass-lined cables and coils from the battlesuit, he used them to tie up the comatose criminal before zipping off out of the back door. However, it looked like the villain's flunkies had got away; there was no sign of any uniformed men nor the equipment they had been hastily removing.

Re-entering the warehouse, Aviator walked over to the remains of the crate he'd dropped on Feuerkraft earlier and bent down, picking up a single bottle of liquid that was still intact. He began to peer at the colourless liquid inside when the scream of sirens pierced the early evening air. The local police department were on their way to bust up whatever had been going on in the warehouse. Although he had probably messed up any evidence from the crime scene, Aviator considered the capture of the villainous ringleader to be a reasonable trade.

Leaving Feuerkraft to the authorities, he pocketed the bottle and lifted off into the cool evening air.