9:43 p.m.
"Wakey Wakey fella!"
His eyes stung when he tried to open them,� then the dizziness kicked in next.� Looking around confusedly,� he found himself seated on a sack of dirt. His body ached all over� as he managed a weak groan... he was finally awake, though bearly. The man was weak, and he can't help but feel that he might had just escaped certain death, yet somehow ...he wasn't so sure either.
Straining his eyes, he finally saw the two men who woke him - one was with a big and muscular body and the other, a slightly shorter�man, was holding a nightstick as they hovered above him.
"Heya buddy!"
"Where am I?" he asked, still in a daze.
"Why you're in..."Diesel began. Gila quickly stomped on Diesel's left foot to silence him.
"Why don't you speak up Diesel?! I don't think you are loud enough for the COPS to hear you!"
"Duh...but he saved Karst's life..."
"And we pulled him out from under the rubble...I'd say we're even. Listen pal, just who are you and what were you doing snooping around? We don't take kindly to strangers..."
"I am...." he suddenly paused. "Who am I?" He tried his best to recall what had happened, but his mind drew a blank. All he could remember was a loud noise, a blinding light and a....
"Uuuggghhh..." His head pounded with pain again the more he tried to think. He clutched his head painfully. "I don't know..."
"Oh really?" Gila scowled, unsatisfied with the answer. "Then perhaps another knock on your head will refresh that memory of yours....."
"What's going on?" A shadow appeared in the distance and walked in. Karst strutted into the warehouse,� followed closely by his purple-clad, right hand man. "Ah.. I see our 'guest' is awake.."
"The fella won't talk Boss."
"Yeah..The guy sez' he can't� remember anything, He can't even remember his own name.." Diesel started to laugh.
"Yah.. the fella's probably dumber than you are!"
"Hey! Is not!" "Is too!"
"Not!" "Too!"
"SHUT UP YOU MORONS!" Karst scolded furiously. � He grabbed Gila by the collar and shook him hard. "Your bumbling nearly had me killed back there! How DARE you leave your posts?!"
"B.B..But Mr. Karst!..There was somebody out there and we had to ...."
"ENOUGH EXCUSES! You two are lucky that I'm feeling generous today or I'd... "��He stopped and promptly dropped the midget on the floor as he straightened his suit again. Right now he had more pressing issues.�"I'll deal with you later."� Karst� turned to the stranger.
Now what are we supposed to do with you?
"Shall I give this guy a one way trip to the other side?" Steel whipped out his silver gun as he awaited for his boss' directions. � "I've got an itchy trigger finger just dying to be scratched..."
"Wait..." Karst stopped Steel as he examined his prisoner even more closely.�The fellow was a remarkable resemblance to Blake, only younger. Question is, what was he doing around the warehouse....
Karst frowned.� What was Lupin doing there as well? The more he thought about it, the more Karst was certain that this fellow was the key. The man might have saved his life, but his appearance with Lupin was too much of a coincidence.� It would be easy to just let Steel have his way with him, but now that Lupin is in the picture, things are sure to get complicated.� Perhaps this man is with Lupin, perhaps this man is Blake's kid... and perhaps... he could use that to his own advantage.
He signaled for Steel and whispered something into his ear. Steel listened carefully� and� nodded his head.� He kept his gun back into his jacket, then slowly approached Gila and Diesel.
"Old Buddy! Thank God you're alive! For a moment there we thought we almost lost ya!"
"Huh?!" Gila and Diesel watched in confusion as Steel helped the stranger to his feet.
"Don't you remember us? This is Gila and Diesel, your old buddies!"
"We are?!"
"And I am Steel, your best friend!"
"You are?!"
"WOULD YOU TWO JUST SHUT UP?!" Steel almost choked with agitation.
".. I do recall some sort of bright light, and somehow you all do look familiar...." the stranger interrupted them. He seemed to recall something, but he wasn't very sure of himself.
Steel's tone reverted back to normal as he ignored the two.
"Of course, You're just a bit disorientated� that's all. Nothing a little rest couldn't fix." Steel snapped his fingers at Gila and Diesel. " You two. Bring our friend here to the room upstairs. " He gave the two an implicit look. " And make sure he's well taken care of."
yes.. a rest is what I need..
The stranger nodded his head, grateful at the offer. � Right now, all he wanted to do was to rest. Perhaps he'll remember more once his head stops pounding.
As Gila and Diesel escorted him out,� Steel turned to look at his Boss, only to see his face spread into a wide grin. Whatever Mr Karst is planning, it could only mean fun for him. Steel let out an evil smirk. Perhaps he'll get a chance to use his weapon after all...
To Chapter 5