The dark citadel surrounded by tall walls was being damaged by the thunderous booms of cannons. The Third Reich had made its way to that place after several tries; and it was now on the army commanded by Colonel Ritcher VonClaus to take over the place. The Wolf looked at the area where the civilians were running away, children crying for their assassinated parents and siblings. He smiled. There was nothing better than the sound of cries and agony early in the morning. VonClaus has been the most sadistic and cruel soldier at the service of Adolf Hitler. He enjoyed making all the other suffer and that had earned him the highest rank others could only dream about. Now, as leader of numerous troops, he could take the Hydra division of the Third Reich, the group that developed weaponry and technology.
“Sir… ve found ze cathedral” said a soldier as he delivered a map to the black wolf who grinned showing his sharp fangs.
“Gut! Zhen we go and take vhat ve came looking for” said VonClaus walking to the Jeep where he had been transported to that place.
The bumpy road proved to be nothing more than an amusement until they reached the cathedral where a group of monks dressed on white robes were protecting the entrance.
“You shall not pass thru the door!” warned one of the monks revealing a helmet that resembled a medieval armor.
“I don’t care vhat joo zay…Move or joo will all die” said VonClause as he walked to them aiming at the chest of the monk, a jackal, with his luger.
“You think a gun will scare us?” asked the jackal “We are the Order of the Swords… what you’re looking in here is way more dangerous than what you can even imagine.”
“Ze power to control my enemies… Zhat’s something I can imagine pretty vell” laughed the wolf with his marked German accent.
“You don’t understand…” roared the jackal but VonClaus walked ignoring him and opening the door to the cathedral.
The wolf walked thru the halls followed by his soldiers as the monks that were more like knights rushed to them.
“We said you cannot enter!” shouted the jackal but a sudden shower of bullets let all the monks in the floor, not dead yet, but mortally wounded.
“And I zaid I don’t care about vhat joo say” replied the wolf going right to the huge pine door that blocked his way to another part of the cathedral: a catacomb that was not supposed to be allowed to anyone.
VonClaus opened the door and smirked looking at the interior of the place. A huge room with columns supporting the walls and in the center there was an altar with a tied with chains doll that resembled a little girl. He approached to it and smiled.
“Who might be there?” sounded a voice coming from the doll.
“I’m a Ritcher VonClause, leader of Hydra… and joor new master…” replied the wolf.
“Foolish mortal! I answer to no one!” replied the voice, a deep guttural tone that had a tune of boredom.
“I vill use joor power… I’ll claim ze power to control and destroy my enemies!” shouted VonClaus approaching the doll and ripping it from the ties.
“You idiot…” laughed the voice “You have no idea what you’ve done…”
The doll started to shake as a dark aura emanated from it covering VonClaus and making him scream as the soldiers worried looking at the spectacle. The wolf tore the doll apart and a crystal fell to the ground. VonClaus threw the doll and smiled as his sharp claws reached the crystal and he turned at his comrades in arms, no… his inferior underlings.
“Now…” said as he looked at the terrified eyes of the soldiers “Ve zhall rule ze vhole vorld… HAIL HYDRA!”
“HAIL HYDRA!” shouted the reunited group in there as VonClaus laughed maniacally.
Eighteen of June of 1941, the world, is still at war and in this times, even we are not safe from it. Recently, the forces from US have been fighting in the European front, helping the Allies in the war against the Third Reich. The efforts have been recently demolished due to the power generated with the new weapons developed by the Nazis that seem to be more advanced than what any other country has achieved yet. The following is a footage obtained during one of the confrontations right in front of the cathedral of Vienna. Please, be aware that these are pretty crude images and discretion is recommended.
“Look at that!” shouted a black furred wusky whose face, paws and ears were dyed naturally in red just like his chest, belly and under his tail. He looked at his friend who was there next to him. The TV at the store they were looking at displayed the footage of how the Germans were shooting at the US army and making them blow in pieces.
“That’s crude…” said the other wusky, black and white instead of black and red.
“Sacret… this is why I want to be there!” shouted the black and red wusky.
“You want to die?! Heiban, look at you! You’re a weakling! Flaccid arms and legs… you use glasses… c’mon, don’t take it at bad but, you’ll be safer doing desk work filling paper than fighting in the front.”
“But I want to help… I NEED to help!” shouted Heiban looking at Sacret. His friend was already enlisted in the army “I… just need to find a way to do get in.”
“They will reject you… again” said Sacret laughing. “C’mon, we don’t want to make our special lady friends wait for us, don’t you think?”
“You went getting me another a blind date…” sighed Heiban “You know I kind of hate that.”
“C’mon, some girl might help you forget about those crazy ideas of being a hero of war” smiled Sacret “Besides, you’re Japanese… they will bully you only for that.”
“I’d fight for my country…” whined Heiban. He knew his origin was from the orient, but he was raised in America. And he loved his country “C’mon, you are a soldier already, can’t you beg for me?”
“Ok… I’ll make an effort, but tomorrow, ok? Today we have to enjoy the fair!” smiled Sacret as they walked to the downtown where a fair had recently arrived and where they were supposed to meet the girls that would make them company for the evening.
Heiban wasn’t so sure about that. He wasn’t exactly a grown up adult having nineteen years old, but he liked the idea of hanging out with his friend. That was what cheered him when they arrived and met the two vixens that were going to be their dates for the day. The wuskies walked to them and introduced themselves as the vixens did the same. Then, Sacret smiled saying they should start having fun. And said that, Heiban and the others started the enjoyment. The first thing would be the ferris wheel. Heiban always loved it and of course, he wanted to go there with all the others.
“Fine, the ferris wheel then, but let’s go in different carts ok?” smiled Sacret “I want to know better Susan.”
“Oh! you’re a little imp” laughed the silver vixen as they walked into one of the places at the ferris wheel and entered shutting the door.
“Well, I guess that leave us alone Amber…” said Heiban looking at Sacret smiling and talking to Susan.
“Is that so bad?” leaned her head the vixen grabbing Heiban’s hand and pulling him “C’mon it’s going to be fun! We can chat in the meantime like they do… who knows?”
“I do…” murmured Heiban as he was dragged into the ferris wheel and locked with Amber in the tiny room the seats offered.
“So! What you do for living?” asked Amber looking eagerly at Heiban.
“Well, I kind of finished the school already.” said Heiban looking at the vixen “Now I’m looking for a job.”
“Amazing! I work right there.” she aimed at a factory where females used to make handmade clothes “It’s not the best but it’s all I could get.”
“It’s more than what I’m able to get…” sighed Heiban “I wanted to enter the army.”
“YOU?!” asked in surprise Amber and then she burst in laughs “Don’t take it bad but you’re a spaghetti! You saw that footage of the new German weapons? They’ll vaporize you! NO! You better stay here and work in a store or something.”
“Thanks for that” grunted Heiban pretending a low blow. He was of course aware that he wasn’t exactly the most athletic… but he wanted to be enlisted and his will was bigger than the ego of those captains and generals that were already in the army.
“C’mon, you’re cute… I wouldn’t like to see a tomb with your name saying ‘Here lies Heiban Hikaru, rest in pieces’… that’d be sad” smiled Amber.
“Well, what if I want to join anyways?” smiled Heiban “If I die, then I’d do it defending my country and the ones I love!”
“That’s something that requires courage to be said” smiled Amber and she reached Heiban’s handpaw “I like that.”
“T-thanks, I guess” said Heiban confused by the reaction.
“C’mon, the ride is about to finish… what if we go to the horror house?” smiled Amber and then she mocked a bit “Then you can show me more courage, stud.”
“Very funny with those words” sarcastically laughed Heiban.
The ride reached its end and both pairs went down meeting up again. Heiban looked at Amber and she looked at Sacret who was laughing with Susan.
“So, I told Heiban we should go to the horror house” smiled Amber.
“Oh no! Amber you know I can’t stand those attractions!” shouted Susan.
“C’mon, I’ll be there to protect you… all of you!” laughed Sacret as he started to walk almost dragging the reluctant vixen to the horror house while Heiban followed them from behind.
Then, he saw it; there was a recruitment stand in the fair. He smiled and ran to it making the line. There weren’t a lot of people so he reached quickly. And then he saw an old bulldog making the enrolment. The same bulldog that had been rejecting him again and again in every try the wusky had done.
“Oh not you again!” shouted the bulldog looking menacingly at Heiban “I told you last time that there was no place for you here!”
“Good afternoon Mayor Shepard” grimaced Heiban “Look, I care not what you think! I only want to be taken serious here!”
“Son… you’re a small fry! They will chew you, spit you and chew you again” replied the Mayor.
“I don’t care! Because I know I can do it! I can be a soldier!” shouted Heiban.
“There’s no way that can happen” shook his head the bulldog. And then another military came into the viewing area of Heiban. His uniform was distinctively better than the one Mayor Shepard wore and had more medals on it.
“What’s the matter here?” asked the black and golden Doberman whose military green uniform made a great contrast with his well groomed fur.
“C-C-Colonel Stanford!” shouted the Mayor standing up straight and making a salute to his superior official.
“In rest.” said the Doberman looking at Shepard and then at the slender weakling wusky that was standing next to him “And who might this small fry be?”
“My name is Heiban Hikaru SIR!” said in a very military way Heiban “I came here to enlist myself in the army SIR!”
“Hahaha!! Don’t make me laugh!” mocked the Colonel as he got close to Heiban intimidating him as he aimed his pointy nose right against his face “You look like a mere pet for the army rather than a soldier!”
“S-sir…” Heiban finally broke and lowered his face not able to look at the dog “I just want to do something for my country…”
“DON’T LOOK DOWN!” shouted Stanford and Heiban yipped looking up again “AND REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID!”
“SIR, I JUST WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR MY COUNTRY, SIR!” shouted Heiban.
“I like your attitude kid…” said the Doberman “I want to see more of it in the soldiers we enlist… fine you got yourself an opportunity but don’t waste it…”
“T-thanks sir!” bowed Heiban as Sacret and the two vixens came close to him “I won’t disappoint you SIR!”
“You start your training on Base Washington at 0300 hours tomorrow… UNDERSTOOD?!”
“YES SIR!” shouted Heiban making a military salute surprising Sacret as he reached him.
“Colonel Stanford, sir!” saluted Sacret.
“Oh! You’re one of those new recruits, right?” asked the Doberman and noticed Sacret was looking at Heiban “This is one friend of yours?”
“Yes sir!” shouted Sacret.
“Good… friends are something that keeps our sanity in the army… you’re lucky to have this one in the same base as you.”
Sacret couldn’t answer but by looking at Heiban and his wide silly smirk. The wusky had managed to get enlisted and now they were going to be in the same troop. Not that he wasn’t happy for his friend… it was just that… something worried him. But that was something to talk in private, when they returned to the department they shared.
After some burguers and soda, cotton candy and some more attractions, the vixens said it was late already and parted ways with the wuskies as they waved bye to them and walked their way to the place they called home. Sacret spent the whole time looking at his friend who was smiling.
“Heiban… are you sure of this?” asked Sacret.
“I am!” replied the red and black wusky “Believe me, everything will be fine…”
“You saw that footage…” murmured Sacret.
“I know… I want to prevent that so I need to be there… I might not be the best brawler but I sure can think on ways to attack” smiled Heiban.
“I’m worried about that…” said Sacret “You tend to be reckless sometimes…”
“I’ll be fine!” replied Heiban “Trust me, ok?”
“What about that other… issue?” asked Sacret looking at Heiban.
“You mean my aura?” asked the wusky looking at his friend.
“Yes… you have those weird… powers…” started Sacret “I know they may be good for you and might keep you safe but…”
“Aura is not a power, but life force my good friend.” smiled Heiban “Plus, I can use it, yes, but is hard to control.”
“Anyways, what would they think if you use your aura?” asked Sacret.
“That’d be dangerous” sighed Heiban.
“Please, don’t use them, ok?” begged Sacret “I don’t want them to use you as some kind of experiment.”
“I won’t end up that way unless it’s something that might help.” smiled Heiban and then he laughed “But look at me! Everyone keeps saying I’m a small fry or that I’m a spaghetti! How would they use me in that way?”
“I don’t know… I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you” finally said Sacret.
“Don’t worry… nothing will happen to me” smiled Heiban.
Finally with the end of the conversation, they arrived to their department and took their clothes off so they could sleep. Next day, a hard beginning was upon Heiban and he wanted to give a good first impression. Sacret spent most of the night thinking on how those soldiers he knew would bully the poor slender kid, but either way, maybe they’d think of him like the little brother and protect him. if that happened… then everything would be OK.
The breaking down haven’t came yet, but they were already standing in the training field wearing their training uniforms on shades of green and a military backpack on their backs. Mayor Shepard was there barking orders and calling them the worst troop he have ever seen. Colonel Stanford was there too, looking at everything and keeping an eye over Heiban who, despite his slender figure, showed confidence about himself.
After one hour of introduction for the new recruits. The troop divided into the new and the already-soldiers. Sacret looked at Heiban who was nervous, but decided to continue. He smiled and marched away with the rest of the troop following Mayor Shepard. Colonel Stanford gave a step forward and smirked showing his fangs. Next to him was a skunk wearing a suit and small glasses looking at all the recruits.
“Ok ladies, today for some special circumstances I’ll be on charge of your training. Be ready for the worst day of your lives!” shouted Colonel Stanford “Maybe if I like to torture you, I’ll be on charge permanently so make me wish to hate you like to return here!” barked again.
“SIR, YES SIR!” shouted the group at the same time.
“Ok ladies, first the obstacle course!” shouted Cololen Stanford and ordered them to run right against the complicated course where there several wheels, climbing walls, spiked cords, muddy pounds and other hard obstacles “The first finishing this will earn the right to have breakfast. The others… we’ll see about that.”
All the soldiers waited for the shot that would indicate the beginning of the training. Heiban was eager to begin and when Colonel Stanford’s gun thundered, he was pushed down by several other beefy soldiers making him fall right into the mud face first.
“Ugh!” grunted Heiban as he tried to stand up. Great big first impression ending up all covered in mud. But he wanted to show he was capable of that.
The wusky stood up and ran panting against the obstacle course jumping from wheel to wheel. He slid in the mud and passed the spiked cords making some wounds in the back of his head at the beginning. Then he ran over the road reaching the others and smiling at that. He was fast. That was something good, right?
“Out of the way scumbag!” shouted a tiger pushing Heiban right into another pool of mud covering him completely “And stay there hahaha! That’s were you belong Japanese!”
Heiban heard his words and growled. He stood up and ran passing the others panting when he arrived the first climbing wall and started to go up following the tiger that had pushed him.
“Hey! One thing you big air head!” shouted Heiban and the tiger looked down “I’m AMERICAN!”
The tiger smirked and when Heiban tried to surpass him, the feline kicked him right in the muzzle making him fall two meters to the ground slamming against it with an “oof”. Heiban laid there defeated and with the nose bleeding looking at the sky, covered in mud and with tears leaking out of his eyes. The blow was hard and his back was killing him.
“Looks like I was mistaken” said Colonel Stanford going to Heiban once all the others had passed the goal leaving Heiban alone in the road “You have no potential.”
“S-sir… please… give me another chance…” started Heiban looking at the Doberman but the military just turned around and growled.
“ONE and that’s all… don’t make me feel disappointed, understood?” growled the Colonel walking away as Heiban tried to stand up.
He managed to do it and walked all dirty to the others passing the goal. There he managed to overhear the talks the Colonel was having.
“Good day almost all of you…” said the Colonel and then he looked at the tiger “Your name soldier.”
“Thompson, SIR!” replied the tiger “Alex Thompson.”
“Congratulations on winning the ‘race’” said the Colonel “But in the future if reaching a point means that you’ll kill or hurt one of your allies… I will put a bullet between your eyes. Don’t think I didn’t saw how you kicked that small fry.”
“SIR! I only did what I thought was necessary!” shouted the tiger trying to excuse himself.
“Leaving a comrade in arms behind is never necessary unless that comrade in arms asks for it” warned Colonel Stanford. “You earned your breakfast today… all of you! you’ll have to find a breakfast, there are some places around you could go.”
“SIR YES SIR!” shouted the troop and they dispersed.
Heiban sat down right there trying not to cry for what had happened that day. Sacret was right. But he wanted to continue there… to prove he was worthy. He punched the ground and stood up taking a deep breath.
“I need a shower” sighed the wusky and he walked away to the rooms he’ll be using during his time of training.
“You’re Heiban Hikaru, right?” asked the skunk that had been with the Colonel.
“Yes I am…” nodded Heiban whipping the dirt out of his face.
“A pleasure to meet you” smiled the skunk “I’m Heinz Shmitz, used to live in Germany but now I’m helping the allies after seeing all the horrors the Nazis are creating.”
“Good to meet you sir” smiled Heiban.
“Doctor would be more precise” smiled Heinz shaking Heiban’s handpaw “I was impressed by you today.”
“Don’t mock meplease, enough I have had…” sighed Heiban.
“No, I’m serious!” said the skunk “The way you were pushed was like to give up, yet you continued and did your best…”
“Thanks, I guess” shrugged Heiban as he headed to the showers.
“I know it’s kind of hurried but I’d love to include you in some… project Colonel Stanford and I are working on” said Heinz.
“What?!” shouted Heiban “I-I don’t think that’s a good idea… I still haven’t passed completely the obstacle course…”
“But if you help, you will and way easier than that beefy tiger” smiled the skunk dragging the attention from Heiban.
“Ok… what is this ‘project’ about?” asked the wusky.
“I’ll tell you later, ok? For now you must take a shower.” smiled Heinz “I’ll discuss this with Colonel Stanford and we’ll talk later if he agrees.”
“Fine…” nodded Heiban and entered the showers stripping and letting water soak his body and clean him completely. The others were dirty too… but he was covered in mud from the tip of his ears to his toe claws.
The wusky enjoyed the water feeling it wash away all his angers and all his preoccupations. He had the mind clearer now and he was thinking better. What Heinz had said… of course was an experiment… but as long as he knew, no one there was aware of his aura capacities… why would he ask him to do that? why join into that… and voluntarily?
Those thoughts ran frenetically around his head during the rest of the day. Heiban looked at the other soldiers. They were every single one of them much better than him physically talking, why would he be chosen to do that? Why would he be the one joining an experiment like that? Maybe it was just a joke… but then, why a scientific like Doctor Heinz would be joking with him about that? Heiban tried to stop thinking on the reasons but it wasn’t until mid afternoon that the answer came.
Heiban had been busy trying to keep up with the others in the running, the exercises and the firing practice. But he was an absolute meek for the arms, at least for the moment. Now it was time for the test that would grant one of them the dinner. Colonel Stanford was making that to pressure them. Fortunately Heiban was fast enough and endured the training keeping up with the others and after the reprimand Alex Thompson received in the early morning, the tiger had been restraining himself about bullying the little wusky, pretty much like the other soldiers.
His thoughts were dashing again and again about the words of Doctor Heinz when the alluded in his mind walked to him with Colonel Stanford by his side.
“Good afternoon Heiban” smiled Heinz looking at Heiban who smiled back.
“Good afternoon Doctor…” smiled Heiban and he saluted at the Doberman “Colonel Stanford, SIR!”
“In rest soldier” said the Colonel and looked at the wusky “Are you sure of this Heinz? Thompson showed much more potential than this one…”
“No… it HAS to be him!” replied the skunk “Thompson is good, but also he has a lot of anger in him. He’d only cause a failure. Heiban, on the hand, has the potential of a nice person. He was bullied by the others, yet he endured and continued despite the mocks of the others. He wanted to prove himself a good and worthy person.
Heiban blushed hearing that. He tried to speak or say a thanks, but the Colonel started to talk.
“Fine… but of course, it only will happen if he agrees.” said the Doberman “Heiban, this is a risky project… an experiment you might say… It will boost both your physical and mental capacities… but it also could cause your death if we fail.”
“Sir… I told you before I’d do whatever for my country” said Heiban looking at the Doberman completely confident about his decision “I’ll do it Sir. Whatever my country needs I’ll do it.”
“You’re a good soldier” said Stanford looking at Heiban “A very good soldier with those words. Though physically you cannot compare to those beefy guys out there wrestling… yet.”
“I don’t get it Sir.” Shook his head Heiban “What you mean beefy… yet?”
“I’ll explain that to you later tonight, now you have to continue training. Also, the test for your dinner is about to begin.” Smiled the skunk “I wish you luck.”
“Thanks doctor” politely said Heiban and he walked to where the others were.
“You think this is a good idea?” asked Stanford looking at the slender wusky walking to the crowd of soldiers.
“I know he’s a good person and has a good heart.” said Heinz “The serum is meant to boost the entire person… even the personality. If someone with a rude heart like Thompson were to be the subject of this experiment… what do you think it will cause?”
“I guess you have a point in there” nodded Stanford looking at Heiban. The test they were in was easy. Another obstacle course, but this time was up to be in pairs with soldiers from Mayor Shepard’s troop. What meant, Sacret and Heiban were making team.
Surprisingly to all, when Heiban worked with his friend, they won the test and earned the dinner. The slender wusky was happy about that since he had spent several dollars already in food. He needed to prove his worth and together with his friend he was doing it. Colonel Stanford and Mayor Shepard walked to them and ordered them to take all a shower and rest for what remained of the night. They did and after the dinner, that Heiban and Sacret share in the Dining hall while the others had to find a way to feed, the wuskies were together in the rooms talking about the day. Heiban was surprised to hear the hard training the other soldiers had to do with Mayor Shepard. And Sacret was angry of the way Heiban had to start his day there. Then, Heinz entered the room with a briefcase and smiling at the two soldiers.
“Doctor? What are you doing here?” asked Sacret.
“Well, haven’t Heiban told you?” asked Heinz “He accepted to join a project. I just came to explain better to him what is it about, how we’ll proceed and what will happen if we succeed.”
“What about what happens if you fail?” asked Sacret looking at Heiban. Had him told them about his aura or…
“Colonel Stanford left that pretty clear to Heiban before the dinner test.” said the skunk.
“Heiban did you said something?” asked Sacret.
“No!” shouted Heiban “Besides… I joined by own will.”
“Heiban… I’m not happy with that” said Sacret looking at his friend.
“Well, it’s a decision I took” smiled Heiban “Everything will be fine.”
“I hope you’re right” conceded Sacret standing up “I’ll leave you two alone so you can talk about this private project. I bet is top secret.”
“We’ll do it tomorrow… you can be with us if you want to ensure the safety of your friend” said Heinz.
“And…” Heiban lowered his face “If something ever happens… I’d like that the last thing I see is you… my best friend…”
Sacret gulped hearing that and blushed looking at Heiban. The other wusky was sure of what he was doing but he also knew that there was a probability that he’d die… and he wanted him to be the last thing he see…
“You’re the only family I have” said Heiban “You know that…”
“I know” said Sacret without looking back again and walking out of the room.
“Fine… now let me fill you in with the information you need to know.” smiled Heinz “First, you must know that we’re injecting you with a serum that is what will boost your abilities.”
“OK… I supposed some piercing would be included in this” chuckled Heiban.
“Now, there’s a chamber where we’ll shot a charge of radiation to make the reaction with the components of the serum.” continued Heinz.
“Isn’t that… dangerous?” asked Heiban worried.
“Absolutely… but we’re taking charge of that with one of the biggest minds of your country. I bet you know Mr. Stark.” Smiled Heinz.
“As a matter of fact, I don’t.” nervously chuckled Heiban.
“Well, he’s a genius of engineering and new technologies.” said Heinz looking at Heiban “Surely he’ll make all this work.”
“I hope so…” replied Heiban looking down. He didn’t want to admit it but the possibility to die during the experiment frightened him.
“Don’t worry… I know this will work… You know why?” asked Heinz smiling at Heiban “Because you’re a nice guy Heiban… you’re a good person and a strong willed compatriot that would do whatever to save those that are in need.”
“Thanks for saying that” smiled Heiban blushing a bit in shame.
“Back in Germany, my fellow scientists suffered a lot due to the Nazis since they were Jewish. I’m not a believer of the supremacy of a certain race… but of equanimity and equality.”
“It’s good to know that there are still people like you Doctor” smiled Heiban.
“Thanks for saying that…” thanked the skunk “Well, to continue with the information… you must know that people from other government agencies will be there since this is a national project.”
“Will I have to be naked?” asked Heiban ashamed.
“No, no” laughed Heinz “No need for that, only your torso since we need the access there for the serum and the major part of the radiation.”
“Fine… I guess that’s ok” said Heiban looking at the skunk and smiling “Then by tomorrow…”
“If we succeed…” started Heinz “You’ll be a super soldier.”
“Heiban… the super soldier…” said Heiban thinking “Doesn’t sounds that good…”
“Well, you can choose something like Captain America or something like that.” shrugged Heinz.
“Weren’t we talking about equality? And I’ll be captain only for this country while our allies are fighting too?” asked Heiban.
“Right… you and me… we both come from a nation that is at war against America, right?” said Heinz.
“Yes, I’m Japanese” nodded Heiban.
“And I German… but we are working with America to stop our compatriots since we know they don’t have a real reason for this war…” said Heinz.
“I know…” looked down Heiban.
“Come on, once we’re done drinks run on me, ok?” smiled Heinz “Better yet, what about if I invite you something right now?”
“Sorry doctor I don’t drink…” smiled Heiban but the skunk had already taken a bottle of German liquor and was serving it in two small glasses.
“Just one, ok?” smiled Heinz offering one glass to Heiban “I was saving it for the end of the war, but I guess we can share it now since YOU will be the beginning of the end of this war.”
“Fine…” smiled Heiban taking the glass that the skunk had offered him “Just this one.”
Both drank the small amount of liquor and smiled to the other. Heinz stood up and claimed he was leaving, holding the bottle tightly. He walked away and said that it was a shame to leave it like that once opened so he’d go drink it with Colonel Stanford. Heiban told him to take care and not to get drunk for tomorrow and the skunk burst in laughs. Heiban looked at him leave and laid in the bed. He was the only one there for the moment. All the others were eating out of the base. He closed his eyes and dreamed on what would the next tomorrow bring upon him.
The next day, sun rose over the clouds and Heiban was ready and standing with Sacret by his side in front of the huge facility where the experiment would take place. The wuskies sighed at the look, one for what was going upon him, the other for the decision his friend had made. Both walked into the facility and were received by Heinz who was smiling at them.
“Good day my friends!” cheered the skunk “Look! This is the place where we’ll mark a point in history!”
“I hope you do instead of ending up killing my friend” said Sacret.
“Don’t worry, everything will be fine” said a Lion walking to them with lab coat and a shining smile “I’ll make sure of it.”
“And you are?” asked Sacret.
“Oh! My apologies, I tend to forget that not everyone knows me…” laughed the lion “My name is Edvard Stark. I’ll be working with Heiban and Doctor Heinz today.”
“So you are the famous Mr. Stark!” smiled Heiban extending his handpaw to the lion “A pleasure to meet you.”
“A pleasure to meet you too.” smiled Stark shaking Heiban’s paw “Now… let us proceed ok? You can go over there…” the lion pointed at a protected balcony where several other authorities were looking. Sacret sighed and hugged Heiban.
“You’re my best friend… don’t die ok?” begged Sacret looking right into the other wusky’s eyes.
“I’ll do my best” replied Heiban hugging Sacret back and then breaking the contact and walking to the place where there was a surgery table with two container plaques to the side and a crystal in the middle, right where his face should be. But the container was bigger than his actual 1.30 m.
“Why is so big?” asked Heiban looking at the container.
“Well, you don’t expect a Super Soldier of your size right?” smiled Stark “If this goes as planned you’ll grow 20 or 30 more centimeters and gain some muscular built.”
“Thanks for calling me a midget.” sulked Heiban as he walked over the table and sighed “Fine… here goes nothing…”
The wusky stripped his upper part allowing the furs in there look at his slender body, though his tummy was a bit bulged, just like a puppy. He laid in the table following the instructions of a nurse and hissed due to the cold contact. A few seconds later, Stark and Heinz were close to him saying that everything would be fine and that he’d be sounding and good.
“N-no…” shook his head Heiban “I-I don’t like it like this… I want Sacret close just in case…”
“Sacret?” asked Stark “Ah! Your friend…”
The lion looked at the balcony where Sacret was looking from the first row and after pointing him he called him to go down and close. The wusky didn’t expected a second petition. He ran down and got close to Heiban.
“You seem uncomfortable…” said Sacret.
“I’ve been worse… you know it…” smiled the red and black wusky “Sacret… I need to tell you something.”
“Don’t say a thing, ok?” replied Sacret “When it’s done you tell me, ok?”
“Fine” blushed Heiban and he nodded to Stark “I’m ready…”
“OK, we start this right now!” shouted Stark as he walked to a large machine with buttons, cranks and levers “Procedure beginning now…”
Heinz approached to Heiban with the serum he was told about and injected it right in his chest as some other syringes sprouted in the container sides, over his chest and arms.
“OK… now I’m a little scared…” replied Heiban looking at that.
“Don’t worry it will be only a little sting…” said Heinz to calm down the wusky. Of course it wasn’t just a little sting but several little stings.
The doctor and Sacret walked backwards away as Start started to press buttons and the container closed covering Heiban and lifting leaving him standing breathing nervously.
“Ok, radiation starting right now… everyone please, get ready!” shouted Stark as he pressed some more buttons and the container lit with a blue energy that was the light from the radiation that Stark was using to make the serum react.
Heiban grunted inside the container as the other syringes extended piercing him adding more serum to his body. No more than half ml. per pinch, but still was a lot. The wusky felt dizzy, his body going numb as he started to lose control of his self. Finally, with one mistake of concentration, an aura beam whipped around the room going out of the container.
“WHAT WAS THAT?!” shouted Heinz looking at the spectacle as several aura tentacles covered the container flailing about.
“I-I don’t know… radiation shouldn’t do that…” worried Stark.
“HEIBAN CONTROL YOUSELF!” shouted Sacret as the wusky tried to advance.
“NO! It’s too dangerous to get close!” shouted Heiban from inside” I-I’m fine… continue!”
“This seems way too dangerous…” shook his head Stark “What is that coming out of the container?” asked the lion looking at Sacret who seemed to know about it.
“His aura… the vital energy of any single being…” said Sacret “He controls it lightly but looks like he lost control over it…”
“He didn’t mentioned this!” roared Heinz looking at Sacret.
“Because I told him not to do it…” sighed the wusky “I told him he’d end up as an experiment…”
“I’m FINE!” shouted Heiban.
“No… I’ll turn it off!” roared Stark when the aura tentacles started to whip at the lights making the bulbs explode.
“NO! DON’T DARE TO STOP!” shouted Heiban “I’ll be fine! Everything is going to be fine!” the wusky started to focus again, his aura going under control as he felt his body changing. The serum was reacting already. He grunted again.
“Gosh! I never expected this!” worried Heinz “STAK TURN IT OFF!”
“NO!” claimed Heiban.
“Levels are in red…” murmured Stark and moved his hand to the lever to turn it off.
“Let him continue…” finally said Sacret looking at the resolution Heiban had “He can do it… I trust in him…”
Heinz looked at Stark and nodded so he continued. The levels of the machine started to lower and the lights to fail as the radiation increased and turned the inside of the container into a giant spectacle of lights with the aura of Heiban trying to be unleashed but being contained by the wusky.
“C’mon Heiban… don’t die on me brother…” said Sacret and finally the machine blew up as Stark ran away to be safe and Sacret tackled the doctor when a piece of metal rushed against his head. Both ending up in the floor panting in horror.
“Oh my god! Heiban!” shouted Sacret as he looked at the container and noticed the smoke coming out of it. it smelled like burnt fur. His face twisted in horror with the mere smell but then he noticed movement inside. And a fist marking in the container formed.
“Hey… it’s kind of tight in here!” shouted Heiban from inside.
“God! He’s alive!” Sacret rushed his way to the container and pulled a side trying to open it “Someone help me!”
Stark and Heinz ran to help him and pulled the other side of the container as the people in the balcony looked at the spectacle worried and expecting for the result. Colonel Stanford looked arms crossed from there too. the slam fry made a huge punch mark in the container and if that was an example of what he had turned into, plus that little secret he hid from them… MAYBE, they were at the verge of a new turn out for the current war.
“One more pull!” shouted Sacret and the container opened finally with the internal help of Heiban.
A mist covered the area as the container opened completely and Heiban stood out panting and looking at the floor. He stood up again and looked at his now bulkier hands… he wasn’t slender anymore. He could feel it. his muscles had grown and his body too… Sacret didn’t looked so tall now.
“How do I look” asked Heiban looking at Sacret who blushed looking at his friend.
“Y-you look… good.” Said Sacret “Wow! Yo-you really look great Heiban… you’re not as tall as me but…”
“I’m happy knowing that I’m bigger now” laughed Heiban as the people in the balcony approached to them and congratulated the doctor and the scientific shaking handpaws with them and giving them light claps in the back.
Some said that was an amazing procedure and that they should develop more soldiers like Heiban. But Heinz said it was hard to select the indicated person since it boosted everything, and besides the whole device had exploded in the process. Just in that moment, while Edvard Stark walked to the destroyed machine with Doctor Heinz to check if something could be saved and showed the damage to the presents there, a roar could be heard as someone took the briefcase with the last syringe with serum and readied a gun.
“HAIL HYDRA!” shouted with German accent wolf and aimed at Doctor Heinz shooting a luger and making a bullseye right in the doctor’s chest as he fell to the floor and the wolf ran away before anyone could be able to react and fire the guns.
“DOCTOR!” shouted Heiban rushing to the dying skunk as he panted heavily with Stark holding his hand.
“Don’t make efforts doctor…” said Stark.
“Is useless… right in the lung” hissed the skunk “Heiban… he took the case with the remaining Serum… get him…”
The skunk breathed his last breath and died as Heiban looked at that and growled running out not mattering he was half naked. He started a pursuit for the German wolf thru the streets and when he noticed it, he started to shoot causing uproar in the people as he aimed at the newly born super soldier.
“Stop and face justice!” shouted Heiban “Come back here you Nazi scumbag!”
But the yells didn’t worked as the wolf continued the race trying to reach the pier with Heiban almost stepping on his tail. The wusky had become faster but wasn’t enough since the German was even more. He hurried his rush and managed to reach him just as he made it to the pier and a submarine surfaced from the water.
“Hell no!” roared Heiban and with another rush he tried to tackle the wolf, but he other canine started to fire at him.
Heiban took cover behind some trash cans and saw the wolf smirk as he was making his way out. The wusky growled and grabbed one of the trash can covers and tossed it right against the other canine making him fall and toss the briefcase that opened making the serum container to burst into pieces as it landed to the ground.
“Yes!” cheered Heiban as he ran to the German and mounted on top of him “Who sent you?!”
“You lose…” grinned the German biting hard.
“What?! Oh no, No, NO!” shouted Heiban looking how from the wolf’s muzzle sprouted foam and he convulsed before dying.
“HEIBAN!” shouted Sacret running to his friend as he stood up.
“He ate one of those pills…” grunted the red and black wusky.
“It’s ok soldier…” said Colonel Stanford smiling “You did good to be your first mission.”
“Thanks Sir!” said Heiban and then he looked at the corpse of the wolf “He shouted Hail Hydra…”
“Isn’t Hydra the division of technology in the Nazi ranks?” asked Sacret.
“Yes… that’s right” nodded Colonel Stanford and then he looked at the corpse too “This man wanted to stole the serum now that it’s been proved to work… and to prevent us to use it again he killed Doctor Heinz…”
“He was a good man…” said Heiban looking down in anger.
“Now we have to hurry before this whole issue blows in our face…” said Stanford and then he looked at Heiban “Certainly there will be people in the government that would love to use you to sell war bonus and stuffs… I’m not up to that…”
“Sir! I want to train with this new… uhmm… power?” asked Heiban.
“Speaking of powers… what was that back there? All those tentacles of energy whipping around?” asked the Colonel.
“Uhmm… my… aura Sir…” sighed Heiban “I’m sorry I didn’t told you before… I control it, it’s the vital energy of any living being…”
Heiban extended his handpaw and summoning some aura dragged a trash can near. Basically I can only use it as an extension of my body. Not as a power.”
“Anyways, is good to know you can use that because it may prove to come in handy.” admitted Stanford “Come on Heiban… your training will begin right away. As for you Sacret, Your troop will be going in pursuit of these bastards… AM I UNDERSTOOD?!”
“YES SIR!” both wuskies said making a military salute.
The days after the incident, Heiban worked hard and long to get used to his new abilities. With the training he had become used to strength, the speed and he now was able to use his own aura to perform stunts he couldn’t before. Heiban had improved a lot and Colonel Stanford was happy with that. And that day he had a very important thing to show him.
“Heiban!” called the Colonel and the wusky jogged to the superior rank.
“YES SIR!” saluted Heiban standing straight before the Colonel.
“Come, we need to talk… there’s something Edvard wanted to show you” said the Doberman walking to a tent where Edvard Stark was working in some clothing and armor.
“W-what is this sir?” asked Heiban “Well, you expressed your desire to be called Captain Fur, right?”
“Well, yes indeed but…” babbled Heiban.
“Then you’d need a suit or uniform AND something to defend yourself!” completed Edvard “Here! Look at this…” the lion showed him a Kevlar body suit with colors red, blue, white and with a paw in the center. Some red gloves and boots made of the same protective material and a mask to match it with a paw in the forehead. “This will be your uniform… I’m sorry for my imprudence but I took this from your room.”
The lion handed a piece of paper to the wusky with a sketch of said uniform and a shield. Heiban blushed ashamed for that. He looked at Edvard and smiled.
“Thanks Edvard…” bowed Heiban.
“Oh! It’s nothing but mere curiosity what dragged me to make this for you as you wished.” laughed the lion as he moved to a set of straps with cases for bullets and weapons and a knife over the right side “Here’s your utility vest… It’s not as protective as others since your whole uniform is made out of Kevlar, but you will have several places to store arms, ammo and in the back there’s a hook for the next part of your ‘hero’ suit.”
“Hero?” asked Heiban “I thought I was just a super soldier.”
“Well, for many people you’ll be their hero… our fellow citizens for an instance will consider you a national hero if you succeed.” admitted Colonel Stanford “Besides, you are Captain Fur! You need to be protected for what you’re going to do.”
“I know…” nodded Heiban with resolution.
“Well, that brings us to our next and final piece of your suit.” said Edvard walking to the next part of the tent where various shields were over the table “I couldn’t decide what to make it of… stainless steel, several kind of alloys… seriously was hard to determinate the right material… but then I realized what it should be made of.”
“And that is?” asked Heiban looking at Stark.
“Vibranium” smiled triumphant the lion as he took a red and blue shield with a star with ears in the center “Light, strong, easy to carry and deflects anything you toss at it”
“Seriously?” asked Heiban.
“Well there’s just one way to find it out” said Colonel Stanford drawing his gun and aiming at Heiban without giving him time to say no. The Doberman fired and Heiban raised the shield making the bullets either be crushed or deflected to the ground.
“Wow… it really works” gulped Heiban still scared of the previous experience.
“Good to know that.” nodded Colonel Stanford “Now suit on, your first mission starts tonight.”
“What? So soon?!” smiled Heiban making crack his knuckles “I’m ready Sir!”
The mission Heiban had received was clear. The squad where Sacret was serving, had been captured by the forces of Hydra, the ones that killed Doctor Heinz. Of course, the main motivation for the wusky was to save his dear friend. He needed to know that he was alive. And for that reason, he was with other group of soldiers heading to Hydra HQ. Hidden in a forest like an old church… that was only the entrance, the laboratory, according to intel, was underground. Colonel Stanford made clear that the mission was clandestine, what meant… they would have no reinforcements.
“Ready for this?” asked Heiban at the other soldiers who were gripping their guns tightly.
With a nod, Captain Fur started to run crouched between the trees until he reached the gate, followed by his men. A quick gaze showed the heavy armed Germans that guarded the entrance. Heiban looked back and saw the faces of the other soldiers. They were scared, but decided to go in there, even if that cost their lives. That kind of resolution remembered him his past self. The slender weakling he was. Heiban smiled and nodded at his men. With a burst of noise, they went out of hiding and shot at the Germans taking them down easily with the surprise factor. Heiban ran to the gate and opened it making hand signs to the others to go in.
“Sir! There’s a map in here!” shouted one of the soldiers entering the vigilance cubicle.
“Great! Go with the others and mount a defensive line…” said the wusky reading quickly and learning everything he could. The prisoner area was in the basement just as expected so Heiban smiled returning with his men. He also managed to find where the leader of the organization was. According to the map, it was a certain Ritcher VonClaus.
Captain Fur and his men broke into the facility shooting at the German soldiers while they rushed their way to the prisoners’ area. Heiban ran thru the steel doors and fought several soldiers using only kicks, punches and his shield. He had decided that the priority was Sacret. But for that, he needed to rescue the prisoners first. On his back, the noise of bullets and yells echoed as he ran downstairs to the basement taking down the guards that appeared in his path.
Finally, after leaving without air the last guard, Captain Fur opened the metallic door that lead him to where the war prisoners were. Americans, French men, Russians and even some rebel Japanese that tried to help the Allies. But there was no track of Sacret around… at least, until he noticed some soldiers of his troop.
“Richards!” shouted Heiban.
“Heiban? What are you doing here?!” shouted the other soldier.
“Came to rescue all of you… where’s Sacret?!” asked worried the wusky.
“He… tried to protect us all… they…” the wolf looked away.
“NO!” barked Heiban “No it can’t be!”
“They took him to another place in this facility… down that door” he pointed at a door that had a black skull.
“But he’s alive?!” shouted Heiban as he started to open that door smashing the lock with his shield.
“I don’t know…” shook his head Richards.
“I have to check then…” murmured the wusky as he opened the door where his compatriots were “Unlock the other cells! I’ll go check in that door. He might be still alive.”
The American soldiers started to open the cells while Captain Fur opened the door and entered a room only lightened by yellow bulbs.
“What is this?”
“H-Heiban?” asked the weak voice of Sacret.
“SACRET!” shouted the wusky looking at the far corner of that triangular room where his friend was tied hanging from the ceiling by thee wrists.
“Gosh… you look more… bulkier than last time we saw…” smiled Sacret with some blood dribbling down his muzzle.
“Shut up, you wouldn’t want those Nazis to come back, right?” asked Heiban tossing his shield while he ran to catch his friend.
Both ended up in the floor and Heiban smiled.
“Glad to have found you…” said the red wusky.
“Jou know, I hate to zpoil diz tender moment but…” the chocking of a gun sounded “I really need ze two of jou to die…”
The fur hidden in the shadows of the room shot a luger and a blinding flash covered the area. Either he missed on propose or they dodged. Both wuskies were alive. And the man standing before them, a black wolf grinned showing all his fangs.
“Zhat vas a varning” said the wolf tossing the gun and drawing another one that contained a aquamarine light inside allowing both soldiers to look at his aggressor.
“Who are you?!” shouted Heiban looking at the wolf who was grinning.
“Ze name iz Ritcher VonClaus…Leader of Hydra.” he grinned again as he gave a step forward without lowering the gun “You must be the so famed Captain Fur…”
“How’d you…” started Heiban but Sacret stood in the middle of both.
“Heiban… run, I take care of this…” ordered Sacret.
“I won’t let you behind…!” barked back Heiban while Ritcher seemed to be enjoying the show.
“I’m still higher in the ranks than you… it’s an order!” shouted Ritcher.
“I won’t obey YOU!” roared Heiban holding Sacret’s shoulder “We both leave or we both die in here!”
“I can help vith zath!” smiled Ritcher aiming at Heiban and shooting a blinding bullet of light. But Sacret stood in the way shoving Heiban and receiving the impact that blew half of his stomach.
“SACRET!” roared Heiban looking at his downed friend. He ran and held him right.
“R-run…” murmured Sacret but Heiban shook his head.
“Why you did that?!” cried Captain fur looking at his friend dying in his arms.
“T-the world… needs you… they need…Captain Fur… not… Sacret…” whispered the black and white wusky. He raised his paw and making a shaking military salute, he exhaled his last breath leaning his head over Heiban’s chest.
“NO!” cried Heiban looking at the bastard that had killed his best friend, his only family.
“Zeems like I vill have to take zhis annoying thing…” grinned even more again Ritcher as he pulled the fur of his face together with the flesh revealing his skull, a black skull with red glowing eyes.
“W-what are you?!” gasped Captain Fur looking at that.
“I am DREAD SKULL!” laughed out loud Ritcher.
“N-no… you are a monster!” shouted Heiban and rammed at him with his shield bashing Dread Skull’s head making him lose the gun.
“AGH! I vill take ze leave now…” growled Dread Skull and then he laughed again “Ve zhall meet again… Captain…”
The villain ran thru a secret door and Heiban followed him only to discover that the door was closed. He punched it making an indentation there and then he turned to look at the corpse of Sacret. He growled.
“I’m sorry… I failed you… I… we were orphans and… I…” he leaned over his dead friend and kissed his forehead “I loved you… too much…”
The noise of the battle had ceased long ago and the allies had subjugated the Germans that remained alive and haven’t run away yet. Then, a huge noise echoed and they saw a plane flying away. After that the facility started to explode by parts and finally, Captain Fur appeared in the front door holding the corpse of Sacret. The Americans couldn’t help but to grunt in pain for the lost. But the wusky seemed furious, full of anger and his body was surrounded by a blue aura that scared the others.
By the moment Colonel Stanford noticed that the troop had returned with even more soldiers, he was tempted to smile. At least, he was until he saw Heiban carrying the corpse of his friend in his arms. The wusky seemed demolished but yet, he looked at the Colonel and he smiled. He knew war means sacrifices and he had to make his own. But he saved others’ lives what meant that he succeded. Though the cost for that mission would have been Sacret’s life.
“Your report soldier” ordered Colonel Stanford.
“We discovered and retrieved several of the weapons Hydra used. Also we captured many German soldiers. The cost of this mission was… low compared to the results…” said Heiban.
“Somehow I can’t belive you…” shook his head Stanford looking at Heiban “Son, are you ok?”
“I will be” said Heiban looking at the tent where the deceased soldiers were waiting for a burial.
“If you need…” started Stanford but Heiban continued.
“We found the leader of Hydra… His name is Ritcher VonClaus but he… well…” Heiban couldn’t find the words to continue “Looks like he had been exposed to certain experiment since his head looks like a skull. No, his head is an actual skull. He calls himself Dread Skull.”
“Good news with that information!” cheered Stanford and then he looked at Captain Fur. “Captain, you’re up to rest for…” started the Colonel but Heiban interrupted him.
“Sir, I’m ready for my next mission. I’ll find Dread Skull and make him pay for what he’s doing…” said Heiban “I just need a team that can help me with that.”
“I will!” shouted a group of soldiers that he had freed from the German prison.
“Looks like you got yourself a group of fans.” smiled Stanford “Fine, rearrange your lines and get ready… we have confirmation of another three Hydra facilities and you will go to each one of them. The objective is to search and destroy.”
“Sir, YES SIR!” shouted Heiban making a military salute.
The days had passed. Captain Fur and the group that joined him had attacked several other locations of Hydra destroying facility after Facility, making them blow into pieces and gathering information of where the others were. Heiban on the other hand, looked for information location of Dread Skull. He might not want to admit it to the others. But he wanted vengeance for the dead of Sacret. Finally, on an Italian facility, they found the location of Ritcher’s HQ. It was located in a town away from the Third Reich. That piece of information caused the organization of the troops. Heiban decided to take the lead and Stanford didn’t said no to him.
“Then, are we all clear?” asked Stanford.
“Sir, YES SIR!” shouted the group of soldiers just like Captain Fur.
“Captain, I want you to go right at the main area. Dread Skull is, for what we have discovered so far, stronger than anyone of us…” sighed Stanford “You are the only one that can face him.”
“As you order, SIR!” nodded with a wide smile Heiban. That was the moment he had waited since the funeral of Sacret.
“We’ll fly over the area, you’ll descend here, here and here…” continued Stanford marking on a map the places where the soldiers will arrive “Captain, you on the other hand will have to come all the way from here” he marked a place three kilometers away, the point where the vigilance points started “to here” the new mark was the main gate.
“Understood” nodded Heiban.
“For that you’ll use… that” smiled Stanford pointing at a motorcycle that had machineguns on the sides and several other stuffs attached.
“I designed it just for you my dear Captain” smiled Edvard approaching to the meeting point “It’s armed with two machineguns, detachable cables to set up as traps, the center has a mini submachine gun that can be useful too. OH! And also, there’s a rocket launcher in the back that you can draw to use.
“Thanks Edvard” nodded Heiban and approached the vehicle climbing up.
“When you order Colonel” said Heiban looking at Stanford.
“We’ll leave now… GO!” barked the Doberman and Heiban nodded starting the engine and driving fast to the facility.
The drive wasn’t that bumpy thru the forest as he had expected. But the guards anticipated his arrival and were waiting with those guns, like the one Dread Skull used to kill Sacret. Captain Fur drove faster and opened the triggers shooting from the side machineguns at the soldiers who started to shoot back. The wusky dodged the bullets and managed to take down several groups of guards setting traps in case back up groups appeared. Once that set and done, Captain fur drove the motorcycle to the main gate shooting at the soldiers opening the space for his comrades in arms. He drew the rocket launcher and shot it at the gate that blew into pieces just like some German soldiers. The first step of Stanford’s plan was cleared. The soldiers had that entrance free. Now, up to step 2… looking for Dread Skull.
In the surveillance room, Dread Skull looked at Captain Fur running up and down the facility looking for him. He grinned.
“Looks like ze little mouze iz looking for ze big cat” laughed and pressed the button that started the self destruct sequence.
By then, the soldier was around the flying docks. The perfect place. He had bombs enough like to blow London in one of those and if he managed to lure Captain Fur into that one, he might get a bigger chance to defeat him. He wouldn’t do anything risky.
That decided, Dread Skull grabbed the briefcase with the crystal he gathered in the cathedral with those knights and proceeded to move away from the control room to the flying docks. Captain fur would be certainly investigating every plane looking for him. and when he arrived the area, he saw him entering the plane he had decided to lure him into. More easy couldn’t be. Dread Skull climbed down the stairs and entered the plane starting it remotely closing the door.
“What the…?!” shouted Heiban turning around when the plane started to move.
“Oh my dear Captain Fur… vho might haz thought we’d be flying together in a bomb carried plane with destination to London?”
“WHAT?!” shouted Heiban hearing that.
“Yes… and joo vill make ze greatest sacrifice exploding vith ze city” laughed Dread Skull.
“No… that won’t happen!” shouted Heiban and he rammed at Dread Skull taking him down making the briefcase to fall from his grasp.
“Joo idiot!” roared the wolf looking for the crystal.
“I won’t let you take those plans with you!” said Heiban punching at Dread Skull who dodged every blow.
“Move avay!” roared the German kicing Captain Fur’s gut making him stumble back “Zhat joo zhink are planz… iz not”
Dread Skull retrieved the briefcase while Heiban recovered and opened it showing the small aquamarine crystal. He smiled and pressed it placing it in the gun he used to kill Sacret.
“What is that?” asked Heiban.
“Zhis iz ze fount of our pover!” smiled Dread Skull “According to ancient tales and folk… zere are seven demon lords zhat can haz control over anything and anyone. Zey vere zealed into objects. I found one and used zhat pover to my advantage!”
“You believe I fairy tales?!” laughed Heiban.
“Zhen a fairy tale killed joor friend?” smirked Dread Skull placing the claw in the wound.
“YOU BASTARD!” roared Heiban summoning his aura making tentacles with it and whipping at Dread Skull.
“Ze hell?!” shouted the German noticing the power Captain Fur possessed.
“Face the power of my aura… my life force!” shouted Heiban as he tossed the Shield.
Dread Skull dodged the shield but a tentacle of aura grabbed it and bashed the wolf from behind making him fall and toss the gun that ended up beyond the cargo area they were, near the pilot cabin where the autopilot was engaged.
“I’ll take you to my superiors… ONLY when I have made you pay for what you did to Sacret!” shouted Heiban.
“Zhat fur deserves nozhing!” grinned Dread Skull as he moved in circles surrounding Heiban until Captain was with the back against the door of the cargo area and Dread Skull was near the cabin.
“You will pay for that!” shouted the wusky making one tentacle to smack on Dread Skull’s face forcing him to toss the gun again. But this time, the bullet chamber opened and the crystal rolled away as a pair of eyes appeared inside and looked at the confrontation.
Heiban closed the gap between Dread Skull and himself. The German gasped noticing the other fur was close and tried to dodge the first impact, but Heiban managed to land a kick to his stomach. The wolf didn’t let that pass and counterattacked smacking his fist against Captain Fur’s face.
Both furs clashed in a barrage of kicks and punches while Heiban also used his aura covering his fists to cause more damage to Dread Skull or to whip at him forming tentacles. The German wolf on his side, used the lowest tactics he could, trying to kick at Heiban’s groin or right into his eyes. Dread skull, tired of the balanced confrontation, drew a knife from his boot and attacked at Heiban slashing his chest and then trying the same with his throat, but the wusky dodged and whipped at him making the wolf to release the knife that flew away stabbing one of the seats in the cabin.
“Looks like ve are equals” smiled Dread Skull “Ve don’t haz to fight Captain… Ve can join forces! After all, both of us are Super furs… superior to ze ozhers!”
“I’m not superior to anyone!” barked Heiban and tackled Dread Skull making him stumble back stepping over the crystal crackling it slightly.
“Anyways… joo vill not survive zhis! Ze boombs will explode joo vant it or not!” laughed Dread Skull.
“N-no! That can’t be!” roared Captain Fur noticing the small fog going out of the crystal “Hehe… looks like you stepped on your fount of power.”
“Huh? Vhat?!” barked Dread Skull noticing what he had done “NO!”
“OHH… YES!” laughed a bored voice as the crystal broke completely and a void formed beneath Dread Skull “You foolish mortal tried to control me and used MY POWER!”
“Wh-who is that?!” asked Heiban terrified with the guttural voice.
“I AM BELPHEGOR!” shouted the voice and a huge claw emerged from the void gripping tightly the struggling wolf “This wimpy guy tried to control me… he lacks what is needed… but you…” a pair of eyes appeared in the void “you show, deep inside of you the desire of slack… you are lazy… aren’t you? You worked hard again and again, but you desire that to stop!”
“N-no! T-that’s not true!” Heiban gave a step back.
“I’d love to make you my little puppet… but by the moment I’m too weak…” smiled Belphegor showing his sharp teeth.
The shape of a sloth with dark brown fur and aquamarine eyes surrounded in a red mask of fur appeared in front of Captain Fur. His grin became wider as his body curled against the metallic walls of the plane. His paws were reptilian, covered on scales and fur in some parts and it had a long tail that moved as a whip. The beast held tight Ritcher who kept struggling and continued.
“When time comes and I grow stronger… I’ll find a minion to chase you… you’ll be my greatest trophy to command… HERO” smirked Belphegor starting to sink in the void dragging with him Ritcher who screamed.
Soon, the yells stopped and Heiban managed somehow to fit his jaw again in his head. That creature… a demon… the wusky shook his head. There were other things, more important things to attend in that very moment. He ran to the control cabin and sat in the pilot seat. Deactivated the auto-pilot and tried to fly the thing looking at the place beside him. In a brief moment, he could see Sacret sitting there, smiling at him. In his mind, his friend’s voice said “You know what you have to do”.
“I know…” sighed Heiban grabbing the radio and entering the frequency of the Americans “Sir… Captain Fur here…”
“Heiban! Glad to hear from you… we have the facility under our control now… where are you?”
“Rout to London sir… Dread Skull was trying to make a plain explode to destroy the city…”
“What?!” well, you are coming back with the plane right now, right?!” asked Stanford.
“Sir, the bombs are programmed… I wouldn’t make it on time…”
“Soldier what are you doing?!”
“I’m sorry sir… this is my decision… I can move it to the polar area… it gives me enough time…”
“Heiban… what are you planning to do?!” roared on the other side of the radio Edvard.
“Sorry Mr. Stark… guess I’ll have to forfeit the army now…”
“Heiban!” shouted Stanford.
“I’m sorry sir… this is the only way we’ll avoid the destruction of a city… Sacret would have done the same…”
With that he lowered the speaker and took a deep breath. on the radio, he could hear Stanford still calling him and ordering him to return to an area where there weren’t civilians. But Heiban knew that by the number of bombs Dread Skull might had set in the plane… that would be worthless…
“Heiban listen to me…” it was Edvard “You don’t have to do it… just… leave the plane… let it crash away from civilization.”
“Sorry Edvard… I have to guide it or it might cause more damage” replied Heiban raising the speaker again.
“Heiban…” started Stanford but the doberman knew no words would alter the wusky’s decision “Good luck…”
“Thanks Sir…” smiled Heiban and turned the radio off.
From a pocket in the Kevlar vest, he took a picture of Sacret and himself and smiled. As he noticed it was time to sink the plane.
“Soon my friend… I’ll see you in the other side… Just… wait a little bit more for me”
The plain sank against the frozen waters near the pole and the water made the glass burst freezing almost immediately everything inside. Heiban felt for a brief moment the frozen water to cover him… then… he felt nothing more.
--- o ---
The noise of a radio with informing the war being won two weeks ago woke him up with a gasp. Heiban looked around panting as he tried to remember what had happened. Then, the station said it would return to the baseball game and Heiban started to listen carefully noticing that it couldn’t be possible for that game to be happening… the same words he heard when he was a kid; the same game he sneaked in with Sacret. And then, a nurse entered. A blond red vixen with military uniform.
“Oh! you’re finally awake!” smiled the vixen approaching to Heiban “You gave us a huge scare…”
“What year is this?” asked Heiban looking at the nurse.
“The year?” asked the nurse and smiled “It’s nineteen forty five” she pointed at the calendar “More exactly is September twelve.”
“No… WHAT YEAR IS THIS?!” shouted Heiban standing up startling the nurse who backed off “I saw that game when I was thirteen! Now, answer clearly… What year is this?”
“I… Captain…” started the vixen but she only let her arms drop to his side. Heiban looked at her.
She wasn’t going to say anything else. He walked to the door and opened it walking in a hallway that resembled those of a military hospital. But in the end, there was a steel door. He opened it and his world changed completely looking at the advanced things that were there, monitors with lights that beeped and displayed images in color! He shook his head and walked away looking for a way to exit that crazy’s house. And finally found the exit opening it and crashing with the outside world. Filled with noise, cars and smoke. He coughed with the smog and looked around confused and dazed.
“Sir, I recommend you to remain calmed…” said someone with a deep voice that was approaching to him.
“Wh-who?” asked Heiban looking at the black panther with a patch on the left eye, formal clothes and a leather coat that had by his side a weird beast, a wolf with red wings wearing a red vest, jeans and a cowboy leather cover. He had red gloves too.
“My name is Nick Fury. I command a security agent affiliated to the UN and the American government denominated S.H.I.E.L.D.” said the panther.
“And what would I… wait… UN?” asked Heiban confused.
“The United Nations” said the wolf with wings approaching “It replaced the League of Nations of your age.”
“My… age?” asked Heiban looking at the wolf and then at Nick.
“You’ve been sleeping for seventy years” said Nick Fury looking at the wusky. We all know of your story… you, the first great Superhero.”
“I’m not a super…” started Heiban but then he lowered his sight.
“This by my side is Agent Nidhoggson” said Nick looking at the weird wolf beside him.
“Draco Nidhoggson to be clear.” smiled the guy “I’m a wolgon, half wolf half dragon.”
“Now that sounds like a fairy tale, but after what I lived… I’m up to believe in fairy tales.” said Heiban.
“We thought that it would be nice for you to start over your life. Train a bit, have a normal life in this times of peace.” Said Nick.
“Peace?” asked Heiban looking at the panther and then at the wolgon “Having an agency like yours… I don’t think there’s peace…”
“No, there’s not a complete peace” smiled Draco approaching one step more to Heiban, he was taller, presumably older than he, but the wolgon seemed so… frail, so girlish… or at least that was thinking Heiban.
“Then?” asked the wusky.
“Right now, you’re better resting.” smiled Draco “At least, until you fully recover.”
“Did you even know who am I?” asked Heiban.
“Captain, we all know who you are” smiled the wolgon so tenderly and childishly that Heiban blushed “You might say I’m following your steps…”
“What you mean by that?” asked Heiban. If he was subjected to Dr. Heinz’s project, he didn’t changed a bit... but then again, the entire project was lost when the doctor was murdered.
“Draco is… to place it simply, one of our ‘order’ agents. He works either as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and as a free agent in several points of the world.” clarified Nick.
“You mean…” started Heiban.
“I’m a ‘superhero’ too Captain, my name is Red Nidhogg” said Draco changing his tender looking face to a very serious look that made him shiver for a bit. A wild appearance.
“Wow… now… just how many of them are?” asked Heiban.
“Tons…” said Nick “Not all are good at team work… but for those, like you that are, we introduce them to the Avengers Initiative.”
“What is that?” asked Heiban confused leaning his head.
“A group of Heroes, you were the first superhero, but I’m currently leadering the efforts to gather the others. Together with Richard of course” smiled Draco again.
“What if I refuse?” asked Heiban.
“You’re a soldier, would you refuse your duty to help the innocents?” asked Nick and Heiban noticed then that he had no choice in that decision.
“Fine…” sighed the wusky.
“But first, you have gained a well deserved vacation, Captain.” said Nick “You’ll keep training if you desire it, but I won’t put you in the action just yet.”
“What?!” barked Heiban “Why not?!”
“Because you are like a triumphant card, our secret weapon…” said Nick.
“I thought I was that secret weapon!” shouted Draco.
“When you learn to control yourself, maybe you will.” said Nick and then he looked at Heiban again “I’m not up to let you go wandering around alone… you’ll travel with Agent Nidhoggson to Mérida… it’s one of the safest spots in the world.”
“Good, and then what?” asked Heiban.
“You live with me!” smiled the wolgon “We get to know eachother better… currently we are tracking another superhero that has made his lair in there. Plus, being a calm city, we get to enjoy ourselves.”
“Right, whatever…” sighed Heiban and Draco noticed his mood.
“I know of Sacret…” said Draco making Heiban shiver “We all know. He was dear to you… more than a friend, a brother…”
“Maybe… more…” murmured Heiban.
“Look, I know I’m not Sacret.” said honestly Draco “By the moment, why don’t we agree to be friends… maybe later we could get to call each other brother?” Draco extended his handpaw to Heiban.
“I…” the wuksy looked at the wolgon and then he smiled “Fine, I’d like that”
Both heroes shook handpaws and smiled at each other. Nick informed them that there was a transport ready to carry them back to Mérida. Heiban and Draco nodded and walked the way the panther had indicated. Meanwhile, they were talking about themselves, Draco telling about his past and powers to Heiban, surprising the wusky. And Heiban telling Draco about the war, Hitler and all that. the wolgon reacted positively telling Heiban Hitler was dead already and that all those who participated in his crime received their punishments.
“They are up t be good brothers for what it seems…” smiled Nick as the blond vixen approached to him taking the wig out allowing her red hair to rest on her shoulders.
“Don’t like when you order me to act like a silly stupid girl” reproached Black Widow.
“He wouldn’t have bit the bait to come to the surface” smiled Nick showing his fangs “Besides, he needed to be received by some girl of his time.”
“I’m not a girl Fury…” said the agent “What about that note that raptor gave you?”
“We are on time, it’s in two days and we are close to the place if we use the Helicarrier.”
“You have the bow?” asked Leena.
“Yes, it’s on the jeep.” Nodded Nick.
“I bet Dave would thank you for it…” said Black Widow walking to the Jeep followed by the panther. Nick looked at both young furs and smiled. The team was taking form already. Red Nidhogg, Captain America and in two days, Folf Knight, though he wanted him to be in the shadows for a while. Not letting the others to know too much about him.
“Director?” asked Leena from the Jeep.
“I’m coming…” said Nick “By the way, how goes that issue with Stark’s grandson?”
“Sullivan and Draco will go in a pair of weeks to talk with him” said Leena.
“They really are good friends now, huh?” asked Nick going up the jeep.
“It seems that way” nodded Black Widow.
The jeep started its engine and they drove to where the Helicarrier was hidden at plain sight. The efforts were taking good signs and if they went the right path, the team should be formed in no time. But of course, maybe something might pop out and force them to join forces before that time comes.
