The Masked Citizens

By R.W Homan

New Amazon is filled with all sorts of interesting people, but no one is as interesting as Brock Broody and his super intelligent friend, Andy Wilkins. By day and by night, the duo don their costume alter egos as The Butterfly and The Great Tarantula, Masked Citizens of New Amazon.
Normally, the duo conduct super community service; feeding the homeless, encouraging healthy food for kids and leading Bible Studies. They aren't comic book superheroes and most people just treat them as interesting citizens.
When a super villain appears in New Amazon, threatening to burn down the entire city unless the heroes face him, its up to the unnaturally strong Brock Broody and his socially awkward but dangerously smart friend, Andy Wilkins, to thwart the exploding wrath of The Fire Ant.
Fun for the whole family, The Masked Citizens attempt to show everyone that crime fighting doesn't need an actual fight, but with forgiveness and prayer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9780359093700

Book preview

The Masked Citizens

The Masked Citizens

Written By: R.W. Homan

Illustrations By: Charlie Homan

5/23/2016

Lead by example and others will follow

This series is dedicated to:

God, who is the Author of Life,

The family who supported me,

My Brainstorming Partner, Charlie,

And to all the classic super-heroes of the past...

This one is for all of you.

Prologue-

The definition of the word fury is an intense, disordered, and often destructive rage. A word fitting for what was brewing within the stranger’s mind. Loathing is too strong of a word and way too passive. Anger was only a mild version of the powerful emotion that stirred within the light brown eyes of the driver hidden in the red smart car. Of course, frustration was not close enough to describe what the person felt.

No, fury was the right word and the right motivation for the plans he had set forth. In the past, frustration, or anger, or loathing were only uncontrollable emotions that bounced around his skull from time to time. It would have to take action to force the plans into motion and fury would be that action. It would be his drive, his power, if you will.

The Greeks had stories of avenging spirits that would plague the world of man and their name was The Furies. That was something to inspire him; a thought that would create a smirk on his face. Yes, he was no longer a young man with rage or frustration, he was now an avenging spirit from the dead, plaguing man with his powerful emotion.

He gripped the steering wheel of his brand new red smart car, something fitting for him; the perfect car for tight spaces. The knuckles turned white and a glimmer, yes a glimmer, in his eyes which hadn’t been seen since he was a youth. He was coming alive once more and that word, fury, was the motivation. A simple four letter word could describe what he had become.

This avenging spirit was going to destroy, nay, eradicate those narrow minded duo from the face of this world. Fury was his emotion and fire was going to be his weapon. There was a goal to all of this and it was not for the sake of destruction. His goal was simple but profound, yet he dare not think of that goal now; it has little to do with the beginning of the war … The war built out of fury and fire.

Now, he had to find it, the Meggido, the hunting ground, ground zero, the place where the battle will start. What a fitting place; a home to where the enemy would retire. The building where the enemy hopes and dreams, yes that would be the perfect starting point … By why stop there? The enemy has a home town; they have a followers, believers in their cause. This enemy, the same who created the fury within him, has brain washed believers that need to awaken to the truth. So, why just burn down the home of the enemy’s hopes and dreams, why not the entire city from which they were birthed? Why not the home town?

Yes, he decided and let out a shrill cackle, the entire city of New Amazon would face the diabolical, twisted, heated Fury of The….

Chapter 1 - The Devil Fire!

Flames shot up like fingers, wrapping around the roof of the Municipal Library. The New Amazon Fire-Department shot powerful rays of water at the monster flames, but all the devilish fire did was lash out at the fire-men with mean, hot whips. The lights of the bright red fire-truck invited on-lookers, who were suppressed by the officers of the N.A.P.D.

Mothers and fathers pushed against the officers in an attempt to run into the beast blaze that had kidnapped their children!

BILLY! Cried a woman reaching out to the burning building in hopes that her son would run out to her.

My son is in there! A man yelled at the officer restraining him.

That officer was Jim Perkins and his eyes were just as red as his heat beaten face. Those same eyes looked into the frightened ones of the man.

I understand, sir, Perkins said in a cracked voice, everyone's kid is in there. Please let the F.D do their job.

The fire is not going out! What if he is dead?! I can't live without my son! The father roared through his teeth while tears filled his eyes.

Sir ... Jordan, going in there isn't going to help Billy. Perkins glanced to the library behind him. I know you are scared, I am too. My son is in there with Billy. Jimmy is in there and I am out here with you. His voice cracked as emotions filled his throat. The red, blood shot eyes turned to Jordan once more, this time with a hint of hopelessness.

Jordan looked at Jim Perkins with shame and gave him a hug. When they pulled away from each other, Jordan patted Perkins' left shoulder.

I'm sorry, Jim ... I just don't know what to do.

Pray, brother ... Pray. Jim said as he stared at the burning building behind him.

A loud siren filled the smoke filled air. This siren came from a large green van pulling into the scene. It's bug-like headlights let out a bright green light. The metal frame was lined in a rainbow of colored stripes. This van stopped in front of the burning building. That was when Jim Perkins turned around, as did the rest of the crowd to see this bug-van.

Even in a mixture of emotion and on-the-job-responsibilities, Perkins smiled at the sight of the green van known to the citizens of New Amazon as The Caterpillar.

The Caterpillar shifted to the left as they heavy passenger stepped out.

Standing at six feet and five inches, with a solid frame made of muscle, The Great Tarantula adjusted the straps that ran over his broad shoulders and under his massive arms. These straps held the odd looking oxygen tank to his back. At the top of the tank, hoses ran into the back of his full face mask. Under the brown leather of the mask, the hoses ran to the nose and mouth covering. Over his eyes were the thick, square goggles with the yellow tinted lenses. His usual brown jacket was buttoned up under the tank straps. Running under the jacket to the tops of his brown boots was the light khaki pants.

From the driver's side hopped out the five foot, six inches and incredibly skinny Butterfly, wearing his full-body light blue jump suit with green boots and gloves. His light blue helmet ran down to his chin and covered his entire face with exception of his mouth, which held a stern frown. On the sides of his mask helmet, where his ears were, discs bulged out and from the center of these discs were thick wired antenna that ran just above his head. Over his eyes, like his partner, a large pair of green reflective goggles hugged his head by a thick blue strap. Around his skinny waist was the large yellow utility belt with the Butterfly logo painted onto the square buckle.

Without losing a moment, the two ran to the back of the van. Butterfly opened the double doors and the two pulled out two pairs of cover-all that ran from neck to ankles. Thick and made of special flame retardant material, Butterfly's was black with a yellow torso. He slipped on a pair of thick yellow gloves that ran up to his elbows. He zipped up his cover-all and put on another utility belt, because the original one rested under his yellow and black suit. This new belt was smaller and held many small cylinder canisters that had  red buttons on the tops. He snapped the buckle together, which also had the yellow Butterfly logo on it.

Do you think those are ready to use? The Great Tarantula asked with his raspy, high pitched, muffled voice. He zipped up his light brown flame-retardant suit.

I haven't tested them in the field, but I have confidence in the Butterfly Tech, Great T. Butterfly answered with his gruff voice covered with a heavy lisp.

The Great Tarantula slipped on his own pair of yellow gloves. Oh, I have confidence. Like the Tarantula Jumping Boots you gave me, which nearly broke my legs. He held up a yellow tank that was attached to a shoulder harness. From the top of the tank, a thick black hose ran down to an open funnel-end sprayer.

Butterfly slipped his arms into the shoulder straps and latched them together using the circle buckle between  them. Then he hooked the sprayer to the right side of his belt. He also grabbed a small mouth mask similar to a gas mask.

As Butterfly attached his tank, The Great Tarantula put on a thick leather belt. On the belt was a series of canisters about a foot long and a foot wide; each the color yellow. These tanks ran from the side hip of his left to the side hip of his right. The black hose connected these six tanks and then ended into a large wand handle that had two buttons, green and red, in the center. At the end of this wand was a large open end, like a funnel turned backwards.

Butterfly checked both his and The Great Tarantula's equipment before shutting The Caterpillar's doors. Quickly, the two walked over to Chief Wilson, who was yelling into his hand-held walkie.

You need to turn on full flow! We aren't getting enough water to put this thing out! The black man with bulging eyes said with pearly white teeth. He stopped to look at the duo heading his way. Butterfly and Great Tarantula! Good to see you; Commissioner Lewis said you boys were coming down!

What can we do to help, Chief?! Butterfly asked as he placed his hands on his hips.

Any help will do! I've got six adults and ten kids hunkered down in the basement and this hellish fire won't go out! Like the devil himself started this thing!

The Great Tarantula looked at the fire; the flames flickered off the yellow reflective goggles over his eyes. Jesus, protect them please. He prayed through his mask.

Butterfly nodded to Chief Wilson. As Masked Citizens, we are asking permission from the lead officer, Fire Chief Wilson, to help in anyway possible! Upon giving permission, Chief Wilson is not liable for the safety of The Masked Citizens and will not be prosecuted if any danger befalls them!

Wilson nodded; he had heard this verbal contract from the tiny hero before. You got it! Wilson said.

Butterfly nodded. Keep your men focused on the fire, Great T and I will get those kids!

Wilson nodded in agreement, even though he was slightly hesitant with the idea of The Masked Citizens going into a burning inferno. He pulled up his hand-held walkie to his mouth. Give that fire all you got, guys! Butterfly and The Great Tarantula are on scene!

The duo took off towards the door. On the way, Butterfly slipped the gas mask's strap over his helmet and adjusted the little mouth tank to cover his entire mouth, protecting his entire face. Butterfly then removed a canister from his belt, the type with the red button on the top.

The Great Tarantula charged and slammed his shoulder into the burning door! The door came down into pieces of charred debris!

Looking at a small hallway of fire, Butterfly quickly pressed the red button on the device and threw it into the hallway. Once the silver cylinder hit the floor, it exploded! From that small explosion, thick green foam splattered the entire hallway! Quickly, the foam was expanding and crawled on the walls like super evolved tree moss! This green foam was not only covering the walls and floor of the library hallway, but is was extinguishing the fire!

The Great Tarantula was the first to run into the hallway. I stand corrected; faith restored in The Butterfly Tech!

Yeah, sorry about those boots, I didn't calculate your weight too well!

The mighty man