The OutCasts

By Kevin Chai

When a mysterious new threat emerges and starts to unleash supervillains after supervillains, a group of new heroes calling themselves the OutCasts are tasked with the responsibility of protecting the city. However, can a telekinetic archer, a speedster knight, a mechanical elf, and a simple, shield-bearing woman band together to save a whole city? Or are they really nothing but outcasts?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891128767

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Chapter 1: Prison Break-In

Chapter 2: Back Home

Chapter 3: A Living Lightning Storm

Chapter 4: Part of the Team

Chapter 5: The Calm

Chapter 6: A Little Accident

Chapter 7: Gas Attack

Chapter 8: Slimy

Chapter 9: Minus 1

Chapter 10: Knock-Knock

Chapter 11: The Talk

Chapter 12: Crafting Supplies

Chapter 13: Simpler Time

Chapter 14: A Heavy Metal Villain

Chapter 15: From the Past

Chapter 16: The Stunning SpeedBlade

Chapter 17: The Secret Is Out

Chapter 18: Time Crunch

Chapter 19: Silent but Very Deadly

Chapter 20: One Down

Chapter 21: Years Ago

Chapter 22: Retreat

Chapter 23: Changes of Plan

Chapter 24: The Fifth OutCast

Chapter 25: Trade-Off

Chapter 26: Invited Guests

Chapter 27: Machine Overload

Chapter 28: Hopeless

Chapter 29: Iron Fist

Chapter 30: Outside Help

Chapter 31: The Drive

Chapter 32: The Last Blast

Chapter 33: Rest and Recover

Epilogue

About the Author

cover.jpg

The OutCasts

Kevin Chai

ISBN 979-8-89112-875-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89112-876-7 (Digital)

Copyright © 2024 Kevin Chai

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Chapter 1

Prison Break-In

Prison Guard Captain

The guards and I run through the hallway as fast as we can. The siren is going off, its ringing echoing throughout. The alarm is flashing red, and one guard behind a window gives us a thumbs-up as he pushes the gate control. The massive iron gate in front of us opens, and we all squeeze through before the guard shuts it again. Everyone, get into position, I order, dropping onto a knee. Half the guards drop to their knees while the other half stand behind us. On cue, we all raise our blasters and aim down the iron sights.

All of us aiming at IronWall's outer gate, we focus every bit of our attention on it. It isn't long before there is a deafening roar in the cold night air, and the ground starts to shake.

Get ready, I scream. Fire on my mark! My finger on the trigger, ready for anything, I then see the gate come off its hinges and fly toward us. Everyone, get out of the way!

Screaming and yelling as we scatter to get out of the way of the flying gate, it barely misses us and instead hits the prison itself. Moaning as I pick myself up, I look at where the gate was. Now a smoke cloud in its place, I see a massive shadow moving in it. Fire, I yell, getting up and shooting my blaster at the shadow.

What few of us manage to get back up reach for their blasters. All of us shoot at the smoke cloud; the shadow then erupts from it, revealing himself to be the supervillain, Unstoppable.

A wanted villain, Unstoppable is a massive giant, with muscles bigger than boulders. Dressed in shining, brown armor, he roars as he crosses his arms. Now charging toward us, we are nothing more than cardboard dummies for him to run over. Running right through us, he then slams through the iron gate and into IronWall.

QuickShot

We watch for a bit as Unstoppable rams his way through the prison's hallways, only stopping when he reaches an intersection. Five different hallways going in five different directions, Unstoppable picks one and is about to go down it, but before he can, I shoot off three arrows. My arrows hit the ground in front of him and explode, stopping him.

Uhh, he mutters before looking up to see us.

Stop right there, I say, grabbing another arrow and putting it in my bow.

You know, SpeedBlade starts, pulling out his sword from his sheath, despite being from a different time, I know that people normally break out of prison, not into prison.

I'm telling you, JumpStart chuckles, spinning his pair of stun batons. It's all that charging and ramming he does. It's messing with his head.

No need to worry, Ms. Justice adds, her blue, red, and white star-covered shield shining. After the four of us knock him out, the doctors here can help him.

You. Unstoppable groans, apparently recognizing us. Stomping on the ground, he then reaches down and pulls out a giant piece of concrete, pieces of rebar sticking out.

Oh no, JumpStart says.

Oh boy, Ms. Justice comments.

Watch out, SpeedBlade screams, all of us running out of the way as Unstoppable tosses the piece of concrete. The concrete hitting the railing we were standing on breaks into two pieces, and the four of us drop down onto the ground floor.

OutCasts, I shout, pulling back the bowstring. Onward!

Not wasting another second, we all attack Unstoppable. SpeedBlade uses his super speed to dodge underneath Unstoppable's swing and attack his armored legs. Sparks fly as SpeedBlade hits his legs over and over again, forcing him back. Stomping his leg once more, Unstoppable crosses his arms and blocks SpeedBlade's swing. Screaming and uncrossing his arm, he knocks Speed back a little. Trying to hit Speed while he is stumbling, I let loose an arrow. Incoming, I say, the arrow hitting Unstoppable in his helmet. Bouncing off it, it explodes a second later and blinds Unstoppable.

SpeedBlade

A bright light blinds me, so I quickly put up my hand to shield myself. What the?

As my vision slowly returns to normal, I can see Unstoppable swinging his arms around wildly. Just as he is about to punch me, Ms. Justice yells from behind him, causing Unstoppable to stop and turn around. Head up, she says, running toward Unstoppable. As Unstoppable swings his arm, Justice drops to her knees and slides right under his swing. Immediately afterward, she jumps up and hits Unstoppable in the head with her shield.

Moaning, Justice flips over him; he places his giant hand on his head. I got this, JumpStart says, running toward Unstoppable as he stumbles around. Spinning his stun batons in his hands, JumpStart leaps into the air and slams them down onto Unstoppable. Roaring so loudly that the whole prison shakes, Unstoppable claps his hands together and squeezes JumpStart.

The attack knocks JumpStart out, and he drops his batons. Just as he is about to fall to the floor, Unstoppable instead catches him. Pulling his arm back, he then throws JumpStart as if he is a sack of potatoes.

Seeing this, I slam my sword into my sheath and run to catch JumpStart. Jumping into the air, I prepare to catch him, but Unstoppable throws him harder than I thought. Instead of catching him, JumpStart slams into me, and the two of us fly into one of the prison's hallways.

Ms. Justice

There goes half of the team, I say, watching as Unstoppable turns around to face QuickShot and me. Wasting no time, he pulls his arms to his sides and lowers his head. Now charging toward us, QuickShot and I jump out of the way, Unstoppable shooting right past. Skidding to a stop after missing us, he jumps into the air and tries to slam his hands onto me. Bringing up my shield in time, I manage to block the attack, but because of Unstoppable's strength, I am forced onto one of my knees.

Hold on, Justice, QuickShot yells, running around Unstoppable. Now right behind him, she pulls two arrows from her quiver.

Time for a combo attack. You ready?

I was ready five seconds ago before he started to crush me, I answer, Unstoppable still pushing down on my shield. Sinking down further, I have to use one hand to hold up the shield while using my other to keep me up.

QuickShot

Pulling back the bowstring, I fire two arrows at Ms. Justice's shield. The arrows hit her shield, landing in the center. They immediately start to blink, small lights on them going on and off. The arrows, an explosive and a sonic arrow, go off simultaneously, both blinding and deafening Unstoppable. The giant, turning away from Ms. Justice, yells and slams his hands onto his face.

Justice, I shout, backing away as Unstoppable blindly stomps his way toward me. Falling Stars!

Nodding her head, we then run toward each other. Running as fast as we can, I lace my fingers together and put them on my knee. Jumping into the air, Justice lands on my hands, and I toss her high into the air. Pulling her shield behind her, she then slams it down onto Unstoppable's head, the sound of Unstoppable falling over and echoing throughout the prison.

Oh yeah, Justice says, smiling and raising her arms into the air. Girls' power!

Walking up to me, she then gives me a high five.

See, I say, smiling back. I told you all that practicing we did wasn't a waste of time.

I guess. Justice laughs. But still. Did we have to get up so early in the morning to practice?

Oh please. When I was training to be a pilot, I used to get up at four in the morning every day.

That sounds horrible.

I reply with a shrug of my shoulders.

Come on, I say. We should get out of here before any guards see us.

Nodding her head, Justice runs after me as we reach the hallway where JumpStart and SpeedBlade disappear. SpeedBlade, running out with his sword in hand, stops when he sees us. Where is Unstoppable? he asks, looking around, his head snapping left and right.

He's down, Justice replies. And we're out of here.

Wait up, JumpStart yells, also running out from the hallway. Unlike you, I don't have super speed.

The four of us altogether now, we quickly leave IronWall Prison.

SpeedBlade

As I follow the others out of the prison, I stop and look back at Unstoppable. He lies defeated on the ground. Clutching the handle of my sword, I look down and shake my head. I can't believe I couldn't do anything.

Chapter 2

Back Home

QuickShot

I step down on a hidden panel in the ground and push a hidden button on the sewer wall. The sewer wall beside me slowly moves at first but quickly splits apart a few seconds later. With the wall fully open, we quickly walk in. Once in, I pull the lever, and the door shuts behind us.

In the dark for only a few seconds, I flip the switch and watch as hundreds of little lightbulbs, all strung up along the wall, light up, revealing both the hideout and our home: the OutPost.

Home sweet home, JumpStart yells, smiling and turning around while spreading out his arms. Stopping, he then runs over to his room and jumps into his hammock. Letting out a sigh as he swings in his hammock, he closes his eyes and places his hands behind his head. No one please wake me until dinnertime.

Slight problem with that, Ms. Justice replies, heading over to her room, which is right next to JumpStart's. According to the calendar, it's your turn to cook dinner. For the record, I'm in the mood for some meatball sandwiches. Anyone else?

Yes, please, I say all the way from my room. I too would really enjoy some meatball sandwiches.

Hearing JumpStart moan, I stop before entering my room to look at JumpStart as he drags himself out of his hammock and to our small kitchen.

Hey, SpeedBlade, JumpStart shouts. Are you in the mood for some meatball sandwiches too? Or would you prefer something simpler? I don't know, like a bowl of, uh, what is that again? Cereal? Would you prefer a bowl of cereal over some sandwiches? Please say yes.

I'm not hungry, SpeedBlade replies, walking over to his room, which is next to Ms. Justice's. As he enters his room, we can hear him throw down his sword, the sound of metal hitting the stone wall echoing throughout the OutPost. Hearing this, we immediately know something is wrong. SpeedBlade would never throw his sword like that. Not unless something is bothering him. Justice, JumpStart, and I all eye each other.

I'm cooking dinner, JumpStart says, signaling with his eyes. One of you two needs to talk with him.

Entering our small makeshift kitchen, JumpStart grabs the apron and puts it on. Turning around, he starts to fiddle with the oven.

Hey, JumpStart asks, looking back at us. How does this thing work again?

Oh, come on, I say with my eyes. Why me? Why not you?

Because you are our fearless leader, Justice shouts with her eyes. And because I'm busy.

Busy, I repeat. With what?

With making sure JumpStart doesn't burn down our kitchen. Best of luck.

As Justice leaves her room, she runs over to JumpStart just as he turns on the oven and starts a fire. However, as JumpStart begins too close to the fire, his apron catches on fire. Justice doesn't waste a second. She tackles both JumpStart and his flaming apron to the floor.

Aw man, I say as I put down my bow and walk over to SpeedBlade's room. Why me? I'm a soldier, not a therapist. And it's not like I volunteered to be the leader of the OutCast. You guys chose me.

I stop before entering SpeedBlade's room. Taking in a deep breath, I enter. As I do, I see SpeedBlade pacing. He's walking or running back and forth very fast. SpeedBlade's room is small. Then again, all our rooms are small. They're also mostly filled with stuff we found in the garbage. Despite that, we still enjoy living in the OutPost.

Hello, QuickShot, SpeedBlade says as he speeds past me, the wind from his pacing messing up my long blond hair. Is there anything I can help you with?

No, there isn't,