2 years earlier
Are you ok? she asked, laying stomach down on the bed beside him, watching him with loving eyes as she stroked her glass of wine with her fingertips. He was laying on his back relaxed, cradling the back his head in his linked hands, staring at the ceiling in deep thought. His gaze drifted to her, and a smile spread across his face as he returned to the present, he rolled over to his side, propping his head up with his left arm to look at her better.
Im fine. He whispered in that tender tone which lovers so often speak in. Just thinking.
What about? She said as she repositioned herself into a mirror of his pose and cuddled up close, her flame red hair falling down her arm as she tilted her head to gaze into his eyes.
Yknow
. Stuff. He giggled and nudged her with his body. Us
how we got here
Well
She started with a huge smile. You dont have to think about anything anymore
She kissed him on the cheek and grinned larger. Cos were RICH! She yelled as she rolled over to her back and cycled her legs in the air rapidly with glee, spilling her wine over the bed sheets.
He watched her and laughed, sharing her happiness contently as she rolled about, he was thinking about the retirement making case he had just won, being a lawyer is a lucrative business, but its not often you win a case which can set you up for life, and your grandchildren.
The warm fire burned brightly behind them, casting an embracing orange glow over the whole hotel room, it was the perfect moment
he looked over to her, his eyes flaring with passion and love
she recognized the glare and stopped kicking her legs
her face relaxed into one of eager anticipation as he rolled over on top of her and closed his eyes, his lips resting to hers.
As they kissed deeply and passionately, her hand nestled into his hair, holding him closer into the exchange of love
scenes from the court case which had made his life were pouring through his mind
he had always spent most of his career defending unsavoury types with lots of money, usually part of a team that each character would hire to defend his or her case.
This time however was a very different situation
he had defended someone accused of essentially being a crime boss, with illegal contacts and networks all over the place
he was put on trial by a cooperative effort of over three hundred families working in conjuncture with their lawyers to get their vengeance, but he alone found the loophole to get his client free and win the case, the fee was enough to take care of his whole future.
They lay together, kissing and rolling around with laughter and love, and there came a knock at the door. They tried to stop giggling and he looked up and over to the door with her arms around his neck.
What is it?
Room service, we have a gift sent to you from the reception desk? Called the muffled voice from behind the door. He looked down at the fiery beauty in his arms and mimicked the word gift with confusion.
Uhhhh, just a minute
He pulled himself away and put on a white dressing down, he answered the door to meet a huge fake smile carrying a large gift wrapped present, with a bellboy behind her carrying a bottle of Champaign in an ice bucket. Uhh, whos it from? He inquired.
A Mr
Martin Rogers? He dropped it off at our reception and asked us to send it up with his thanks.
Martin sent this? He repeated with surprise, Martin Rogers was the name of the client he had defended, though he won and they probably both earned a fortune in fees Mr Rogers just wasnt a particularly generous man and this seemed out of character. Ok
thanks
He said.
Mary ran over from the bed, wearing a blue dressing down and collected the present with childish infatuation. She ran back and dived on the bed admiring the glittery paper as he gave the bell boy a tip and thanked them for bringing it all up.
After closing the door he stepped over to the dresser and began to pour some of the Champaign into the provided glasses.
What do you think it is?? She asked as she studied the present.
Well open it and see. He replied with a playful giggle, she began to tear the paper apart and dig her way into the gift box. He poured each glass fully and held them both in his hands as he turned to look at her and began to talk.
I hope youre not gonna let this go to your head, cos Im gonna order more when this is fin- He stopped when he saw the strange look on her face. What is it..?
What does this mean? She said innocently as she pulled from the giftbox a piece of cardboard on which was written Justice is served!
Suddenly an inexplicable feeling of sheer dread crept over them
as the whole world ground to a halt
he looked at her
regretfully
longingly
with love
and fear
she realized and dropped the cardboard from her fingertips, to reach out to him
but it was already too late
In a silent flash she disappeared
exploded before him into a red dust, and through the blast he saw clearly a school of little metal ball bearings come flying through the air towards him from the box
it was all so slow
as he stood there frozen to the spot
watching the fireball from the bomb spread out across the ceiling
and that army of shrapnel approach him
the pupils of his eyes narrowed into dots
it was too late.
Both glasses shattered in his hands beside him as the ball bearings flew into his body and face, punching holes through the whole area around him and catapulting him back through the door he had just closed, the flames of the explosions engulfed the area
and he lay motionless, bloody squirting from every inch of his body, a dark figure loomed over him
and dragged him away to the side
where the emergency exit was.
Much, much later, in hospital
the surgeons were operating on him
he had survived the blast, barely
and by what means wasnt clear
he had been impaled by the shrapnel in eight places and the rest of his body was littered with it, he was being fed a constant supply of replacement blood, it was lucky they had such an unusually large supply of his particular blood type.
He was unconscious
in the dark
but he could hear
he heard the doctors talking
describing what happened like he was some kind of miracle
they explained that by some astonishing coincidence the shrapnel had managed to miss every even remotely important area of his body
as though the scattered ball bearings were arranged in the only conceivable pattern that could not kill him.
His kidneys, lungs, heart, even his brain were all damaged but not in fatal or irreparable areas, and the rest was just minor nerve and muscle tissue, by some freak coincidence he survived against all odds
only he was comatose
for the time being. With no serious brain damage however, they predicted he would wake up soon.
But that wasnt the only voice he heard
for all the poking and prodding of his flesh being on display as a circus attraction, there was another inspection going deep inside his mind. A light which had been speaking to him quietly
so quietly he didnt even acknowledge it at first
but eventually
having nothing else to focus on, he became more aware of it.
Suddenly, the moment he started to pay attention to it, it took over
he became frozen within his own mind, and the deafening light spoke to him with a piercing whisper.
ALL YOUR MISERABLE LIFE YOU HAVE DEFENDED SCUM AND WICKED SOULS
YOU HAVE MADE PROFIT FROM THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS AND SET FREE THE MONSTERS THAT CORRUPT YOUR SOCIETY
YOU ARE EVIL, AND YOU HAVE BEEN PUNISHED.
He tried to speak, but the light burned him and overpowered his will then spoke with even more hatred
booming through his head uncontrollably.
YOUR PUNISHMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN SEWN, YOUR LIFE BELLONGS TO US, BUT WE HAVE KEPT YOU HERE
ALIVE, FOR NOW. YOU WILL NOT BE SPARED YOUR FATE
BUT YOU MAY PROLONGUE IT, AND SEEK REDEMPTION IN THE MEAN TIME.
What do
. You mean
YOU WILL ENFORCE TRUE JUSTICE FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE
YOU WILL BE AN ANGEL OF DEATH, A BRINGER OF KARMA, YOUR SOUL WILL BE DEVOTED TO DELIVERING DIVINE JUSTICE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. IF YOU DO THIS, YOU MAY BE GRANTED AN AFTERLIFE WITH YOUR MARY.
Mary
DO OUR WILL AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED YOUR HAPPINESS
BUT DEVIATE FROM YOUR PATH FOPR ONE INSTANT, AND YOU WILL DIE.
What
path
JUST WALK, AND NEVER TAKE CARE OF WHERE YOU GO, WE WILL DIRECT YOU, AND WE WILL DIRECT THE WICKED TO YOU, IT WILL BE YOUR JOB TO DESTROY THEIR WORTHLESS LIVES.
Ill be
arrested
Ill be
locked away
murder
manslaughter
JUST HAVE FAITH, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT. IN TIME, WE MAY GRANTY YOU KNOWLEDGE ON WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS, DEPENDING ON HOW WELL YOU SERVE US.
And
if I dont do what you ask?
YOU HAVE SHRAPNEL IN YOUR HEART AND BRAIN, IF WE ARE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO ARRANGE FOR IT TO LAND SAFELY WITHIN YOU, DO YOU THINK IT IS OUT OF OUR POWER TO ARRENGE FOR IT TO SLIP? IF YOU DEFY US ONCE YOU WILL DIE INSTANTL;Y, AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE AN AFTERLIFE WITH YOUR LOVE, BUT INSTEAD YOU WILL BOTH BE SENT TO HELL!
NO!!
FOLLOW OUR PATH, DO AS WE DIRECT
SERVE US AND YOU WILL BE FREE. THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY THOMAS, YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS, MAKE USE OF IT.
His eyes opened
and he found himself in a hospital bed, covered from head to toe in bandages
he fumbled to get up, but screamed in pain as he felt the tracks of ever removed piece of shrapnel deep within his body.
He fell to the floor and screamed again as the shockwave disturbed every scar
he crawled back into bed
and tried to lie as still as possible
there was nothing he could do
yet
nothing but relive that moment
that one last look he got of Mary before she was taken
And hate himself
It was because of him she died
so many hated him for finding the loophole that got Rogers off the hook for the crimes he committed
and she paid the price
he was in agony, inside and out
If it is justice they want
. It is justice they will get
his scarred face shook with rage through the bandages
his eyes burning with pain and hatred, if he truly had karma on his side
thered nothing to stand in his way
.
~This chapter... aint so good, just improvising really to flesh out the origins... I think I'm gonna get rid of the screaming voice entirely... but this will do for now, I'll get back to this bit later. Feedback, anyone?~
No feedback on this then?
Seriously, lol, is it that bad? 
~A story I am in the proccess of writing, it isn't a hero origin story par se, but it is specifically designed to *hint* at the concept of superheroism, but implemented in a slightly more down to earth style. Rather like "Unbreakable", only a little MORE colorful than that.
This is set in the 1980, and I have evn tried to incorporate that into the characters, if you notice a slightly over the top "Darkman" feel to their personalities, that is intentional. If this were a movie script, I would even have it shot using 1980's quality cameras.
Basically, the cheesey overacting and cliche'ness is intentional, just as a forewarning.
Enjoy...
The Founder~
KARMAMAN
Do you believe in fate?
Its a question were all asked at one point, not everyone has a real answer most just spew some philosophical garbage which actually makes little sense, but it makes them look deep. Hah, hell I would have probably done the same once. But does anyone really know what that question means?
New York, 1984.
It was night, the sky had that rusty red tint as the sun was smothered by the cloudy horizon it was raining, pouring
People can debate for hours about just what fate is, what it means, what impact it has on free will and choice some people look to ancient history, mythology about yin and yang, good and evil, divine creation.
Wet, clunky cars channelled across the roads, and flow through bridges, like ants scuttling in mindless rows to gather more food. But somewhere, theres one particular ant in for a surprise
What if I were to tell you a truth, one that is so hard to take in, that it defies all comprehension? Would you listen? Or would you naively shrug it off as most ants would? What if I were to say that there is a kind of fate a natural justice system, a force designed to smite the so called wicked, and protect the weak?
A lone man runs through the night, breathing heavily, a meagre sounding voice groaning between each pant, clutching something in his hand, something that doesnt belong to him
So where is it? -You might ask-, Where is this justice this divine righteousness this infallible karma, whatever you want to call it. Where does it exist in our society? One that empowers the rich and craps on the poor, one that idolizes the strong and punishes the weak a society where good things happen to bad people where is the justice?
He trips and falls, rolling over he pause momentarily to listen sirens great he pushes himself up and collects the blood splattered purse he dropped, and takes off into the nearest alleyway the sirens are going in the direction he was running, so he changes course runs towards the nearest safe place he can think of
Most dictionaries define karma as the Hindu practise of the belief in the effect of a persons actions during the successive phases of the said persons existence, regarded as the determination of ones destiny in other words what goes around comes around.
Dripping with sweat and bearing panic-gritted teeth, the man runs past his limits through the another alleyway, a long one the sirens blare louder behind him, he reaches the end of the alley and looks around desperately.
The sad truth is karma doesnt exist there is no justice no fate designed to protect the weak not anymore. It existed once though long ago, when beings far more powerful and wise than any man had control of the infinite energy in our universe. However as wise and ancient as these forces were they were not infallible, they made one critical mistake.
They allowed humans to live.
Humanity had many opportunities to be wiped out but they were allowed to evolve to grow the problem was, they grew too fast, and yet were still so young. They had not had the chance to earn the wisdom needed to run the world, by the time they already did. Over time, their energy unwittingly suffocated the old forces, choked them out of existence with disbelief and negativity.
What was once seen as a harmless and high potential race had become a scourge, the natural order of the world was thrown out of balance and to protect itself, was cut off from the rest of the universe this world now is forsaken by the powers that be the only forces that remain are those of malevolence and despair, trying to profit from human closed mindedness for their own gain.
But do not think this world is entirely without hope no for while to many of the old forces, this world is thought of and feared as hell, there are some a precious few, who still fight to make a difference who try to bring karmic justice back and restore true destiny to this forsaken race
It is no simple process though, with so few on the same side, fighting such odds as well as the blanket of hostility humans unknowingly cast over the world, making any difference becomes a near impossible task that is why at times it becomes necessary to recruit a helper
A cigarette stubbed in the dashboard, and the hand moved to turn up the volume on his car radio. Karma Chameleon was playing, a gruff cackle burst forth from the mouth that held another cigarette waiting to be lit his free hand resting casually on the wheel, as he navigated the traffic like a maniac with a death wish.
But dont worry too much, the manipulation these forces can offer is still small in the bigger picture which is why they must move strategically every single change made with calculated precision, to breed the necessary effect. There is still choice a walk in the park here or a beer there but the important events can sometimes be less random than they may seem.
For something as subtle as a lost pen, or a sleepless night, can create a chain of events, leading to a tiny and barely noticeable change in ones mentality and if youre careful enough, that tiny change can be enough to make a more important difference and that difference can save lives a difference that is hardly noticeable, a difference like getting a running man to turn left at the end of a tiresome run, instead of right
BANG!
A piercingly loud screech echoed through the streets as the car with a shattered windscreen came to a skidding halt, sheering through a telephone pole as it swerved sideways as it stopped, the tired man flew from the bonnet and hit the floor hard, rolling over a few times and calling out with pain as his face was pressed into the floor.
He heard a tune playing in the background, turned up loud.
Karma-karma-karma-karma-karma-Chameleooon.
A sadistic chuckle echoed through the otherwise silent street, as the door of the car flew open a foot appeared beneath the door, and a man stepped out. Silhouetted by the pouring sparks of the broken telephone lines in the background, a worn, rugged face appeared.
The face was hard to see, but had very short hair, a stubble-ridden chin and a smirk beset by the flare of a half-smoked cigarette being drawn on, his hand still inside the car, he glanced inside and reached for the volume control, and cranked it up as high as it would go.
Karma-karma-karma-karma-karma-Chameleooon.
You Started the man a deep, bellowing voice, filled with confidence and power, and yet, a sense of casual humour. Have been a baaaaad boy. He continued, as he slowly stepped forward pace by pace across the wet concrete floor. He appeared to have a slight limp, but not drastic. Know how I know that? He continued, more sparks flickered from the broken lines above as he reached the man, hunched over in agony. Cos you ran into me thats why.
Wh wha Started the weak and injured man. The stranger came to a stop and looked down with a grin.
Or should that be . He sniggered.. I.. Ran into you? He kneeled down and whispered quietly. This, aint your lucky day boy.
Fu ffffuck you man! Called out the guy as he tried to roll over to his feet. The stranger just cackled again and got up, looming over him ominously.
Now heres how this is gonna work. He began, stepping away and back over to his car, taking a moment to observe and lightly tap with his foot the bloody handbag which now lay strewn across the floor with its contents disembowelled and scattered across the wet pavement. He reached his car, which he leaned against casually, lighting another cigarette before continuing. Im just gonna stand here and youre gonna attack me, then Im gonna kill ya, got that?
W-what the ffffcuk is this ssshhhit! Screamed the man with anger and confusion, holding his arm as if it were wounded. The corney music still playing in the background.
HA! He replied, as he pulled himself off the car and stood in the clearing in front of the guy, taking a pose like that of a gunfighters duel only more subtle. Like I said youre gonna go for me, and Im gonna kill ya.
The man stared on with confusion not knowing what to do. In an attempt at being defiant,. He turned and began to run away, the strange man made no attempt at chasing him the criminal stopped after a few paces and turned round again. The stranger took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled the white smoke through his grinning mouth.
The criminal walked closer still holding his left arm he walked cautiously until he reached the bag on the floor he got a good look at the strangers face. It was scarred, several X shaped scars were littered across it, and two more around his throat the face was shaped normally besides that, but it just looked strange having so many crosses over it.
Keeping one nervous eye on the deformed stranger (now leaning back against his car with his arms folded) and carefully scooped up the bag and as many of the contents as he could gather. The strangers shoulders and head bobbed with suppressed laughter at the confused and cautious behaviour.
After gathering his stolen goods, the crook turned to run away again, the stranger did little more than lift an eyebrow, still grinning mischievously. The man stopped and looked over his shoulder.
Youve seen my face He started, as he reached behind his waist. Sorry man, nothing personal but I cant let you walk He seized a gun from behind him and aimed it round at the strangers face. The man unfolded his arms, and took a single breath. The music stopped in the background and changed to the voice of the radio host introducing the next cheesy song.
This is the part where you die. He said solemnly. The criminal pulled the trigger nothing happened it had jammed. Like I said He continued as he stepped forwards into a pouncing stance. This aint youre lucky day! And with that he leapt into him, and struggled over the gun, they fought relentlessly but the scarred stranger seemed to be more of en experienced brawler and easily overpowered him with every blow.
Eventually the crook had fallen to the floor and the stranger was holding the gun in his hands..
Youre going to attack me, and youre gonna die. HE said once again, equally as confident as the first time he said it. The foolish criminal pulled out a knife from his pocket and swished it around manically. Ive met dozens like you youre all the same I dont even have to try anymore. [censored] like you dont even know what you have, how lucky you are. He was speaking now with a hateful growl. People like you, are what create the suffering in this world you spend every day ruining lives you dont even respect your own.
That thing aint working moron! Said the criminal with a laugh, looking at the gun in his hand. That thing aint working MORON! He screamed and ran toward him with his knife drawn.
Justice is served .
BANG
The criminals head exploded from the close range of the bullet, and the lifeless body fell to the floor in a heap. The stranger dropped the gun beside him and walked back over to his car he looked at it, buried in a heap of trash and splintered wood from the pole he hit, there wasnt so much as a scratch on his car. He dusted his hands and lit another cigarette.
Must be my lucky day