Heavy Metal Tragedy/ Fall From Grace
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
WIP
The following takes place in a Praetorian version of Pittsburgh. Some things have not been named intentionally to avoid making places seem derogatory or racist.
I sit at the counter watching the TV as my manager, Mark, sits in back on the telephone. The man is always on the TV, some wealthy real estate developer who is making Pittsburgh "A better place".
"I look around at this city and see promise. I see a city that dosn't need to live in fear of mutants running loose in the streets. Trust me when I say that I am working hard to make this place a city where hmans can live without fear!"
The chants on the TV echo as I cringe. "A better place! A better place!"
I can't help but ask out loud "Who buys this crap?"
I don't realize Mark is right behind me.
"Some people fear what they don't understand Vicky. They see one bad thing that involves a mutant and they become scared. Jon Murdoc is one of those people and he is feeding off of that fear."
"The guy's an asshole. I mean I can't help what I am. I never asked to have these wings growing out of my back!"
He sighs, "I know Vicky, it's just hard times for alot of mutants. Alot of them stick to Oakland because of the hospitals"
I can't help but remember my mother, the hospital I took her to that turned us away. "I know, and I know that business has been going down hill since I got these. I'm really sorry, but thank you so much for keeping me."
"Heh, I lke having you around. Kinda like a heavy metal angel or somethin'."
I smile and laugh, oddly it's the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a long time. "Maybe I should leave Pittsburgh and go somewhere else, ya know?"
"Don't see you giving into that rich asshole. Thought you liked it here?"
"I do, but..."
"Listen... I got a few tickets to a show tonight, if your interested? Might get your mind off this, and hell... you may even have some fun."
"Thanks Mark. I appreciate it, but..."
He interupts me. "Alright I'll be by at eight to pick you up."
I smile and shake my head. "Ok, fine. Who's playing?"
It's close to eight as I finish getting ready for Mark to pick me up for the show. As I put on my boots I can't help but hear the news on the TV.
"Today real estate developer Jonathan Murdoc revealed plans for a mutant free community at a rally in downtown Pittsburgh."
He has a smile as he speaks to the crowd. "Right now construction is going on in the center of the city on a new building. One safe from mutants. They won't be able to teleport inside, shatter the windows, or cause anymore harm to humans inside..."
"Anymore harm! You prick!" I continued cussing the TV and didn't hear the knocking at the door.
Mark looks concerned when I open the door. "Everything ok? Who are ya yelling at?"
I am somewhat embarassed when I answer. "Oh... The TV..." My face turns a deep shade of red.
He smiles. "Ready?"
"Let me grab my coat."
I shut off the television and grab my leather biker jacket that I had tailored to fit with my wings. We head downstairs to his motorcycle and I get on the back and put my arms around him. I know that Mark kind of has a thing for me, but I try not to do anything that can be misled as anything more than friends. It's a nice evening and we arrive at the show in time to find a good spot.
"Thanks for taking me here."
"What are friends for?"
I smile a little bit and try to lean back in my chair, my the wings make it somewhat difficult. I can feel everyone looking at me. It's not the kind of look they give when they find someone attractive, or interesting. No, they look at me as a freak. Mark orders us a couple of beers and we wait for the show to begin talking about music, life, and other things. Mostly he tries to get my mind off of the people looking at me.
Limo ride is pretty quiet when I hear Rich open his mouth.
"So boss, you gonna run for mayor?"
I just smirk at the question before giving him my answer. "I own most of this city already."
Eric laughs. "HA HA, just about. What does he need to be mayor for when he's got him in his back pocket."
My cell phone rings, and I pick it up after telling them to be quiet. It's my wife Amanda, "Hey hon, everything alright?"
"Yeah, I was just calling to see if you were going to be home late. I saw the news and you were amazing."
"I'll be amazing when what I say becomes reality babe."
"Your mother would be so proud of you. She raised you well Jon Murdoc."
"Thanks... How's Jess?"
"She saw her father on TV and she was very excited. We're both proud of you Jon, so are you going out to celebrate?"
"Yeah, going to head down to Southside and get a drink or two."
"Alright, we'll see you when you get home."
I hang up the phone and put it back in my pocket. "We're getting there. Just need to clean up some of these mutant slums. Prime real estate in Oakland, but mutants..."
Eric tries to offer some words of encouragement. "Don't worry, clean up Oakland, hell everyone knows you'll do it before the mayor does."
I look out the window and see a woman with wings walking down the street. "You gotta be fucking kidding me. Rich scan that freak!"
He aims out the window and scans her before he reads from the screen. "She's registered, about a year ago. Victoria Saint, lives in Dormont, Sonic abilities... Heh, must mean she's got a big mouth."
"Any reason this mutant is walking through this part of town? This is what I'm talking about... Fucking mutants, it only takes one... Tell the driver to pull over."
Eric nods, "Sure, Hey pull over."
Mark starts talking about how he sometimes hears me singing, and I just blush.
"I mean it Vicky, you have a great singing voice. You could easily sing for your own group. I have some friends who play I can set you up for a meet if you like?"
"Well... I did want to sing at one time, before my mother died."
"Why didn't you?"
I'm hesitant to tell him, but I never talked to anyone about it. "It's kind of silly, but back in high school I wanted to sing Christian metal..."
"It's not silly, what stopped you?"
"I stopped going to church after my mother was killed... I kind of have problems with religion, and..."
He nods, "Yeah, I remember."
I cover my face with my hands. "I still feel bad about stealing your motorcycle."
"Don't, no harm done. I would have let you take it anyway."
We each finish our third bottle of beer and I need to make my way back to the ladies room before the show starts. I excuse myself and didn't realize how crowded it became since we arrived. I struggle getting through the crowd apologizing on my way for whoever I hit with my wings. I just get odd looks from everyone and hear some anti mutant remarks.
"Think Murdoc would do something in this part of town."
"Fucking mutants..."
"Watch out, mutant /slut/ coming through."
It hurts, but I try not to let it get to me. I make it to the bathroom and start to cry. "This is a mistake, what did I come here for?"
A woman walks out of the one stall and just gives me a look of disgust as she walks out the door. I yell at her as she does. "Yeah, I'm disgusting! Atleast I wash my damn hands!"
When I come out of the bathroom I see Mark there waiting for me. I wipe my eyes quick, but he notices.
"Are you alright?" he ask.
I try my best to force a smile. "Yeah, just alot of cigarette smoke in this place."
What he does next takes me by suprise. He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me in for a kiss. I push him off of me. "Mark, we are just friends."
He smirks. "Right, I see how you ome to work."
"Oh? How do I come to work?"
"You mean you dress like a slut all the time?"
The night wasn't going very well, and the trip to the bathroom already pissed me off. When he calls me a slut it's almost a reflex when my knee goes into his groin. When he gasp and calls me a bitch it's almost another reflex action when I slug him in the nose.
"Asshole..."
I grab my hand in pain when the bouncer comes over and grabs me to escort me out of the club.
"Alright mutey, not going to have your kind causing problems in here."
He tosses me out of the club and I fall to the side walk. I hear the door close and get back up on my feet. I start looking around trying to figure which direction is home and begin walking. My hand hurts and is covered in blood. I'm not sure if it's his or mine. It was dark out so flying would be a bad idea in the city. I was also still pissed about what had happened.
"Stupid dick head... I'm probably out of a job now..."
I just kept talking to myself trying to vent my anger. I didn't even realize what part of town I was in, let alone the limo that pulled up beside me and stopped.
The door opened up and two guys with sunglasses got out wearing black suits and ties.
"Great, assholes at the bar and now the Men in Black show up..."
I hear a third voice as another man got out of the limo wearing a much more expensive looking suit with a van dyke. He looks somewhat familiar, but it's still a little to dark to tell.
"Funny..." The third man says. "What is a mutant doing this part of town?"
One of the men in sunglasses speaks. "Did I call it or what? Bitch has a big mouth."
I start to get a little nervous and angry at being called a bitch again. "Look! I'm just trying to get home. If you want me to walk around this neighborhood then I will. I don't want anymore trouble."
I recognize the third man as he steps closer. It's Jonathan Murdoc. "Anymore trouble?" He raises his eyebrows as he looks at me.
I start becoming less pissed off and more nervous. "I... I mean I lost my ride home... I didn't mean I caused any..."
"Of course not. Not someone with wings like that. How could a sweet angel possibly cause any trouble?" Murdoc ask.
The other goon answers. "By dressing like a slut! Mutant trash!"
Murdoc grins at me as I try and think about what to do. Should I fly away? Run? Scream? No, I'm to terrified to do anything. I stand there frozen as the men surround me and Murdoc begins to talk.
"You see, here's the problem... First, I own some of these building here. Which means your bringing my property values down as we speak." I can feel his eyes as he stares at me. "Second, you walk through here, and then othe mutants start coming around here. Next thing you know you people are taking our jobs, our hard earned money, mutants selling drugs... I can't let that happen. People around here worked to hard for that."
The goon speaks again. "Yeah, like a fuckin' virus!"
Murdoc smiles at me, but I don't find any comfort. "Do you really think I'm going to let some mutant whore ruin that for these people?"
I answer trying to say whatever to get them to leave me alone. "Look, I really just want to go home. I don't care if I have to swim across the river, I'm sorry I didn't realize where I was."
Murdoc turns looks at the men as they make their way behind me. "Ignorance is no excuse. Especially when it comes from the lips of a mutant."
I watch as he pulls out a thin black cigarette case. He takes one out and puts it between his lips as one of the goons eagerly lights it. He nods to him and takes a drag before leaning in to exhale in my face. "Maybe we need to make an example of you. Let you actually do something useful, and send mutants a message."
I can hear the two goons chuckling behind me. He takes out his phone and makes a call, turning his back to me. I stand there still frozen and unable to hear the phone conversation. I only catch the end when he turns to face me and says a car will be here in five minutes.
He looks to the two men, "I think I have a solution to our Oakland problem."
The men grin, "What do you want us to do?"
"Don't kill her, just do enough to make those fucks in Oakland get out of my city."
He gets back in the limo and leaves the two men behind. I can see another car move down the street towards us. I hope it's someone that can help, but know it's probably the car that bastard called for.
My eyes tear up. I'm terrified "Please, just let me go home. I won't tell anyone I was here or say anything about you guys... I promise!"
"Yeah right lady. Day I trust a mutant is the day I suck my own dick."
The other man laughs. "You do that already."
"Fuck you." He points at me, "Let's do this... Knock her out in case she gets brave on us."
I try to turn and put up my arms, but I'm not fast enough. As I fall to the sidewalk I begin to black out.
