Identities 1: The Aquarius Gambit

By Charles Millhouse

The world is growing stranger and more dangerous. Madmen look to wreck havoc and destruction on a global scale. Grown out of desperation or destiny humans have come forward with amazing abilities. Some use them for good, some use them for evil. Others walk a fine line between both. For the first time, seven extraordinary beings have come together to stop a psychopath from causing death on a scale unseen in history:
Defender – The Black Clad Titan,
Neo Frost – Alien/human hybrid,
The British Lion – Cursed Immortal,
Lady Powerhouse – Astonishing Street Fighter,
Slipstream – Subspace Traveler,
Ink – Chinese Priestess,
and the stranger, Bob who foretells of a catastrophe yet to come.

Beginning a new series of superhero storytelling in the tradition of the bronze age of comics!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles Millhouse
• Release date: Nov 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463099377

Charles Millhouse

Charles F. Millhouse published his first book in 1999 and he hasn't looked back. Having written seventeen books in the Science Fiction/Pulp genres. His imagination is boundless. From the 1930’s adventures of Captain Hawklin – through the gritty paranormal old west town of New Kingdom – to the heroic battles of superheroes in the IDENTITIES series, Charles breathes life into his characters, brings worlds alive and sends his readers on journey’s they won’t soon forget. Charles lives in Southeastern, Ohio with his wife and two sons. visit stormgatepress.com for more details.

Book preview

IDENTITIES 1

The Aquarius Gambit

Charles F. Millhouse

Dedication

Without

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

About the Author

DEDICATION

To Paul Roof & Lawrence Everett

For all the times we shared our super hero stories

Copyright © 2016/2018

Smashwords Edition

Stormgate Publishing/

Charles F. Millhouse

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced or transmitted in any form. This is a work of fiction. Names characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Please respect the copyright of the author. If you wish to share this book please do so by purchasing another copy

Without…

Stan (the Man) Lee

Jack (The King) Kirby

Steve Ditko

Marv Wolfman

George Perez

John Buscema

Neal Adams

Chris Claremont

John Byrne

Frank Frazetta

Bob Kane

Gil Kane

Joe Kurbet

and many others…

Our childhood would have been so different.

CHAPTER ONE

DEFENDER

THREE WEEKS AGO:

Defender’s visor reflected the sun as he roared through the city streets on his motorcycle into oncoming traffic. He raced past frightened pedestrians, shot between traumatized drivers and catapulted over stalled cars on the I-44 exchange. The black garbed titan paid no attention to the squealing tires and accidents almost caused by his reckless behavior. His only purpose was the semi-truck that barreled haphazardly though the downtown five o’clock traffic. The eighteen-wheeler filled with enough Cold War era mustard gas to kill two-thirds of River City.

Although he couldn’t see the truck he pursued, the piles of destroyed cars and wrecked city streets pointed him the way. Overhead, police helicopters scoured the sky while behind him Defender saw the bulk of the RCPD charging behind. He’d been operating in the shadows since he first appeared on the scene more than a month ago. One month – that’s all it took for Defender to become set in the public eye. Not only River City, but the world quickly found out about him. His name forged in skepticism. The biggest skeptic of them all was Defender himself. He never wanted to be a hero let alone a superhero. They didn’t exist. No one wanted a superhero. People wanted a scapegoat. Someone they praised when times became tough and someone to blame when things didn’t go their way. He should have remained in the shadows.

With the lives of thousands of people at stake Defender had no other choice. He had to save the city, even if the police thought the chaos and mayhem was his doing. Sooner or later they would realize he was on their side. Defender just hoped it wasn’t too late to stop this madness from happening.

Increasing the speed of his motorcycle, Defender shot over Breaker Back Hill that led into downtown where he found a roadblock waiting for him. The officers stood poised, weapons drawn – waiting. He kicked the front of his bike up when he hit a dip in the road. His powerful motorcycle jumped over the parked cars, soaring over the waiting policemen who didn't have time to fire a single shot.

Defender looked back to see the police scrambling to their cars to rejoin the chase; he wanted to laugh. He revved his motorcycle and raced forward, lowered his lean body to conform to his bike, streamlining his pursuit and increasing his speed even more. His powers still took him by surprise. His enhanced reflexes, every movement came to him seconds before he needed them, a living weapon – his mission to defend the oppressed to protect the innocent. He focused his thoughts. The fate of so many fell into his hands.

How in such a short time did Treven Kincaid, a twenty-three-year old college student, gain such incredible powers to become the black-clad titan – Defender? Treven didn’t want the glory. He hated his new found powers. He hated the reasons behind his creation and he hated the man responsible. So many deaths and so many twisted evil plots came about to forge his creation. If that was what being a superhero was all about Defender didn’t want it. He wished he would have been one of the many dead so long ago.

The thought of his creation however became overshadowed by the problem at hand. He could see the truck. The monster eighteen-wheeler screeched to a halt in the center of the Wesley Court Yard. The people in the park ran for cover as the truck thundered into the heart of square that teemed with afternoon sun worshipers and families ready to begin a long Fourth of July weekend. Defender scanned the area through his darkened visor. No sign of him. He thought.

With a quick dismount from his motorcycle and a check of the truck’s cabin, Defender glimpsed his lean, well-trimmed body in the trucks windshield. It startled him at first. He’d intentionally refrained from looking at it. The sparkle from his helmet’s visor teemed with reflective light. What’s under there? He wondered. He hadn’t tried to remove it.

A shriek of laughter filled the park. It drew Defender’s attention. He searched the parks surroundings, surveyed every part. The people scattered like rats in a fire. They ran for cover and made it difficult to find the one man responsible for such a callous act. Nothing.

The police sirens filled the air when the cruisers surrounded the park. Police vans with S.W.A.T. teams that took positions and cordoned off the area. Defender knelt down next to the truck. He could fight his way out of the park, but in the attempt spectators might be harmed. It fell on him to keep the situation under control.

Defender lowered his head and waited for the police to move in. His only hope… if the police could neutralize the mustard gas before it detonated throughout the city.

More laughter filled the park. The deep maniacal kind that sent chills up the spine. Defender heard it before. He understood what it meant. The driver of the truck was close. The police were ill prepared for someone like him. Many of the people within the sound of his hysterics would die.

Look at them. Look at them all. So many wish to play… wish to play. The laughter intensified and filled the summer wind with a chill. I never thought it would be like this. Blood begets blood. Death begets death. And it has kissed you all. Small slits in the semi-trailer slid open. The rat-a-tat-tat of weapons fire sprayed into the crowd.

The police dove for cover, the people in the park screamed and ran in panic and Defender stood helpless. He stood up, grabbed the side of the tractor trailer and flipped it to its side. The laughter stopped.

You cannot stop me Defender. You cannot understand the power I have at my command. When the dark devilish form appeared on top of the toppled truck a hush fell on the park. The dark form’s wide brim sou'wester darkened the features of his face.

Defender stepped back. He prepared to leap but froze when the dark cloaked man produced a small black device. I wouldn’t if I were you Defender. I hold in my hand the detonator that will explode this truck and release the mustered gas over the city. Prepare to meet your maker if you believe in such a fairytale!

Helpless, Defender found himself lost once again in the moments that led up to this catastrophe. Thirty days... A long journey in such a short time, from college boy to the superhero Defender – he waited to move. A move that could either save the city or destroy it at the hands of… Nefarious.

Don’t do this… what will it gain you? Defender asked, anxious. He noticed the police and the civilians. All bystanders – all dead… they just don’t know it yet. His heart tightened in his chest unsure if he had the power to save them in time.

Punishment fits the crime – punishment fits the crime. This city is filled with it, Nefarious cried. His white eyes glared with intent.

Filled with what?

Crime and punishment, Nefarious chortled. "There are no good guys and there are no bad guys. There is only hate. And I hate so much. It’s time to show the world just how much."

Defender sensed Nefarious’ intent – the position of his body, the tone of his voice he didn’t have time to think – he reacted. Willing the power deep into his strong legs, Defender leapt to the top of the toppled trailer. He snatched Nefarious’ wrist in his hand and gripped it in a tight grasp preventing him from pressing the button on the small black box.

Let me go! Nefarious protested. He fought Defender’s grip but to no avail. He lunged forward. His rigid hawk-like features didn’t show signs of distress, only a determination and defiance. He produced a large knife from under the flaps of his cape and drove deep into Defender’s chest.

Defender didn’t flinch – he didn’t feel pain. He’d been shot, stabbed and impelled in many ways over the last month. The single carbon steel thrust into his body had no effect.

Impressive, Nefarious chuckled.

I’ve no time for this – Defender felt a change in the air, an undeniable threat he detected. Of all his powers – the ability to sense the intuition of others surprised him the most. The police officers moved into position. He heard bolts pulled back on weapons, orders