Part 395: A Hero Among The People
January 21st, 2009
Raven kneeled down as he checked his map. The town he had entered in was called Yreka. The stranger smiled as he finally had passed into California. He had been walking for some months but he was happy he was getting closer to Los Angeles. He wasn’t sure how he’d find Jenny but hopefully, fate would point him in the right direction. He calmly tucked the map back into his overcoat and proceeded walking down the Highway 5 through California.
Cars would pass by and few would stop. Raven didn’t blame them; who would want to pick up a man in an overcoat with bandages over his face? Raven was only concerned with finding Jenny or even Jack or Ecko for that matter. If he could find one of them, then they would lead him toward the others. He wondered what life will be like with Jenny. He hoped she would let him catch up on history. He had only learned a few things in his short time arriving back in America. Apparently gas prices were incredibly high. Movies cost more to eat at them, then to see them. Technology had come a long way, from portable TVs, something called DVDs and something called IPODs. He was certain that Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and The Platters were no longer playing; let alone alive but he was looking forward to any album or music they might have made since 1955 when he left for the Island.
Raven finally entered the outskirts of the small city. It had various large buildings, pubs and restaurants. The cars would zoom by and as Raven walked along the side walks, people would give him bad looks. He honestly didn’t care; this city was nothing more than a passing glance. He barely gets tired anymore so he planned on walking all night and by morning, he’ll be out of the city. A Latino youth drove by him and made a vulgar remark. Again, Raven ignored them.
The masked man tucked his hands in his overcoat and proceeded toward an inner alley. He figured he’ll stay between the buildings, that way he wouldn’t draw much attention. Raven tucked by a corner and when he did, he looked around. There were several homeless bums adorning the alleyways. A black man with an old shotty overcoat was throwing up in a trashcan. A baglady was collecting aluminum cans wherever she found them. Raven walked through the grouping of homeless and none of them paid him any mind. As far as they were concerned, he was one of them.
Raven turned another corner and when he did, he accidentally bumped into another bum. The old bearded man grunted in anger, then dropped his bagged whiskey. The old man then gasped as by the time the bottle reached the ground, Raven had already caught it. The masked man calmly handed him back the bottle in the paper bag. “Here you go, old timer.” He smiled under his mask.
“Holy dog crap!” the old bum laughed, “Those are some reflexes, buddy.”
“Yeah, they die hard.”
“Well, here.” The bum laughed, unscrewing the bottle, “Since you saved the Jack Daniels, you can have a swig.”
“Much appreciated.” Raven said, taking a gulp.
“Say, you hungry, buddy?” the old man asked.
“I could eat, yeah.”
“Come with me. They should be serving some food at the halfway house at Belfont street.”
Raven smiled at the prospect of his new friend. It reminded him of his friend he made in Washington state, who didn’t judge him based on his looks. He wondered what the old man’s story was; how he became homeless? Then a funny thought occurred to the Jaeger Unit. He was calling the bum “old timer” but the truth was, they were probably the same age.
After twenty minutes, they arrived at the halfway house. It looked like a typical two story family home; probably converted to be a housing resident for homeless. The old man walked in and opened the door; while Raven followed. Inside was a few homeless people, not to mention a few teenagers. One blonde teenager was massaging a kid with green spiked hair on the back. Spike was doubled over, groaning. Raven wasn’t sure what was wrong with him but his old friend was quick to tell him when he noticing what he was staring at. “Junkies.” He told him.
“Junkies?” Raven asked, confused.
“Drug users.”
“Drugs? What kind of drugs?”
“Whatever kind they can get their hands on. Crack, mostly.”
“I’ve . . .never heard of such a drug.”
“You’ve never heard of crack?” the old man cackled, “Where you been the last few years, buddy? A desert Island?”
“Tropical actually,” Raven smirked.
The old man laughed harder, thinking Raven was continuing the joke instead of telling him the truth. The two friends got in the line behind the homeless, near the big counter where the middle aged people were serving food. Raven took a plate and held it out. The brunette woman placed a slice of turkey, covered in gravy and then a helping of mashed potatoes. “The Marriot down the street is kind enough to donate their leftovers.” She smiled.
“Good to see there is still some kindness in the world.” Raven smiled.
“Sir, I am sorry but . . .why are you bandaged like that?”
“I was burned.” He said, telling the ruse.
“Oh, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” she said, putting in some more food, “Have some more potatoes.”
“Thank you, “ he replied, as he accepted some lemonade from a black man in the serving line.
Raven joined his friend at a nearby table with other homeless. The old man began to slop up the gravy with his biscuit and began to eat the turkey. Raven enjoyed the potatoes, not remembering when he had any. As he sipped on his lemonade, the homeless black woman in front of him was staring at him. “Why you all mummy-like?” she asked.
“Sweet Jesus, Gloria,” the old man barked, “The poor boy was burned!”
“It’s all right, my friend,” Raven patted his arm, “I’m used to it.”
“Just asking,” the woman mumbled.
“So, where you from, buddy?” the old man asked.
“Washington.” Raven answered, best he could.
“Nice trees up there. What are you doing in this town?”
“Oh, I am just passing through. I am on my way to see . . .my little sister. She is going to give me a place to live.”
“Oh, that’s nice. Ain’t nothing like family.” Gloria smiled, as she ate her turkey.
Raven smiled as he sipped on his lemonade. “Yes, “ he agreed, “Nothing like.”
The group then gasped as a young girl burst into the house. She was crying and holding onto her arm; with minor amounts of blood coming out. The other teenagers near her ran toward her and helped her. The brunette who was serving food ran to see what she could do to help. “Lisa, what happened?” the middle aged woman demanded.
“Juno . . . he . . .he’s got Becky!” she cried, “He’s got a knife . . .he wants . . .OH, MY GOD, HE’S GONNA KILL HER!!!”
The old man then stood up and by the time, he was about to ask them what was going on; Raven was already out the door. The brunette was amazed at the speed he had as she was going to the door. Raven jumped down the stairs and turned on his super hearing. He could hear the cries of a girl up the street. He was already running toward the alley way by the time the other bums walked out to see what he was doing.
In the alley way, next to an abandoned plaza where the walls were mostly made of plate glass; Becky crawled for her life. The large man approaching her was Juno; a black man who controlled the flow of narcotics in the majority of the town. Becky was a former dealer for him but like many dealers; she began to sample the product. After she watched her boyfriend die from substance abuse, she saw the light and got clean. However, Juno wasn’t so keen on letting her be clean. “Where you think you are crawling to, girl?” Juno laughed.
“Ain’t . . .ain’t . .gonna deal no more.” She whispered, as she coughed up blood.
“OH, you gonna deal, Becky. You think your life belongs to you but it don’t. It belongs to me.”
“Get . .get away from me.” She said, backing up to a dumpster.
“You think that slut Lisa is gonna get help?” he laughed, “ There ain’t no cops brave enough to be in this neighborhood. Now, how much more am I gonna have to rough you up-“
Juno was interrupted by Becky slamming her show into his mouth. He grunted as he stumbled back, coughing up blood. Becky used the moment to get up and run past him. By the time she did, she stopped at the ominous figure in front of her. He stood there, staring at the large black man behind her. “Becky, get behind me.” He ordered.
The teenager didn’t hesitate. She needed a protector and right now, it could have been the Easter Bunny for all she cared. Anybody to keep Juno away from her. The large drug dealer held the blood dripping from his mask as he stared at the new player. “Who the hell are you, man?” he asked.
“Me? I’m Raven,” the Jaeger Unit replied, “Why don’t you make it easier for everybody, Juno and leave Becky alone?”
“You her pimp or something?” he said, brandishing his blade.
“Pimp? Hmm. You know . . .I’ve been out of circulation for a while but I remember that word. I am sure it’s still an insult.”
“Oh, let me tell you something, Mummy,” he said, swinging his blade around, “I am going to do more than insult ya.”
Juno then ran screaming toward Raven and all the masked man could do was smirk. Becky then ran toward the street, thinking her new savior would follow but he simply stood his ground. The large man then finally arrived and attempted to stab Raven in the neck. The masked man then shoved the other man with his palm like a normal man would push a back. However, Juno went flying through one of the nearby plate glass windows of the empty plaza.
The black man writhed in pain, as the destruction of the glass window caused his head to open up. Raven stepped into the destroyed window and across the glass as he walked up to Juno. He then grabbed the drug dealer and picked him up. “What’s it going to be, Juno?” Raven asked him, “ You gonna leave Becky alone or not?”
Juno replied by spitting blood in the Jaeger Unit’s eye. “SCREW YOU!!!” Juno screamed.
“WRONG ANSWER!!!” Raven replied as he threw him out another plate glass window.
The black man collided onto the ground, holding the blood from his ripped open forehead. Raven stepped over and walked on the glass, then grabbed him by the collar; hoisting him up. “Wait a minute!” Juno demanded, “We can work this out!”
“STILL WRONG ANSWER!!!” Raven then threw him through another plate glass window.
The black man grunted as his face was severely cut up. Raven then picked him up and held it aloft. “What’s it going to be, Juno?” he asked.
“Okay, okay, man,” he coughed up blood,” Just . . .don’t hurt me anymore.”
“Good man, “Raven said, escorting him back into the alley where Becky stared in shock, “Now, you are a drug supplier and Becky was your drug dealer, is that not correct?”
“Yes!” he replied, trying to stop the bleeding on his head.
“Well, now . . .like any good employer, she deserves severance pay.” Raven hissed.
“Severance . . .OH, NO, way, man!”
Juno was then hoisted off the ground as Raven held him aloft by the back of his shirt. The black man stared down at the menacing Jaeger Unit. To add a good mixture of fear, Raven calmly flashed his eye blue, making Juno squeal like a pig. “Your wallet . . NOW.” The cyborg ordered.
Juno quickly pulled out his wallet from his pants and gave it to Raven. The moment he set him down, he took off running to the opposite end of the alley and disappeared over the wooden fence blockage. Raven took the money out of the wallet and dropped it toward the ground. He proceeded to count out the money and by the time he walked up to Becky, she was still staring at him in shock. “Hmm. Just shy of 3 thousand dollars,” he whispered, “I never knew drug dealers were in such demand.”
Raven counted off a thousand and gave it to Becky. “If you don’t mind, I am going to take the other 2 thousand over to the halfway house and divide it up with the homeless.” He told her.
“Uh . . sure.” She said.
“I don’t think Juno will be bothering you again,” he smiled, patting her on the arm, “Continue the stay off the drugs and improve your life, okay?”
Raven walked past her as he began to walk back down the street to the halfway house. The young teenager felt her jaw locking up from the gapping mouth staring she was doing. She finally coughed and was able to speak. “Who are you???” she demanded.
Raven paused and looked back her. Even through his bandages, she could tell he was smiling. “Just a traveler,” he smiled, as he continued on.
Raven kneeled down as he checked his map. The town he had entered in was called Yreka. The stranger smiled as he finally had passed into California. He had been walking for some months but he was happy he was getting closer to Los Angeles. He wasn’t sure how he’d find Jenny but hopefully, fate would point him in the right direction. He calmly tucked the map back into his overcoat and proceeded walking down the Highway 5 through California.
Cars would pass by and few would stop. Raven didn’t blame them; who would want to pick up a man in an overcoat with bandages over his face? Raven was only concerned with finding Jenny or even Jack or Ecko for that matter. If he could find one of them, then they would lead him toward the others. He wondered what life will be like with Jenny. He hoped she would let him catch up on history. He had only learned a few things in his short time arriving back in America. Apparently gas prices were incredibly high. Movies cost more to eat at them, then to see them. Technology had come a long way, from portable TVs, something called DVDs and something called IPODs. He was certain that Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and The Platters were no longer playing; let alone alive but he was looking forward to any album or music they might have made since 1955 when he left for the Island.
Raven finally entered the outskirts of the small city. It had various large buildings, pubs and restaurants. The cars would zoom by and as Raven walked along the side walks, people would give him bad looks. He honestly didn’t care; this city was nothing more than a passing glance. He barely gets tired anymore so he planned on walking all night and by morning, he’ll be out of the city. A Latino youth drove by him and made a vulgar remark. Again, Raven ignored them.
The masked man tucked his hands in his overcoat and proceeded toward an inner alley. He figured he’ll stay between the buildings, that way he wouldn’t draw much attention. Raven tucked by a corner and when he did, he looked around. There were several homeless bums adorning the alleyways. A black man with an old shotty overcoat was throwing up in a trashcan. A baglady was collecting aluminum cans wherever she found them. Raven walked through the grouping of homeless and none of them paid him any mind. As far as they were concerned, he was one of them.
Raven turned another corner and when he did, he accidentally bumped into another bum. The old bearded man grunted in anger, then dropped his bagged whiskey. The old man then gasped as by the time the bottle reached the ground, Raven had already caught it. The masked man calmly handed him back the bottle in the paper bag. “Here you go, old timer.” He smiled under his mask.
“Holy dog crap!” the old bum laughed, “Those are some reflexes, buddy.”
“Yeah, they die hard.”
“Well, here.” The bum laughed, unscrewing the bottle, “Since you saved the Jack Daniels, you can have a swig.”
“Much appreciated.” Raven said, taking a gulp.
“Say, you hungry, buddy?” the old man asked.
“I could eat, yeah.”
“Come with me. They should be serving some food at the halfway house at Belfont street.”
Raven smiled at the prospect of his new friend. It reminded him of his friend he made in Washington state, who didn’t judge him based on his looks. He wondered what the old man’s story was; how he became homeless? Then a funny thought occurred to the Jaeger Unit. He was calling the bum “old timer” but the truth was, they were probably the same age.
After twenty minutes, they arrived at the halfway house. It looked like a typical two story family home; probably converted to be a housing resident for homeless. The old man walked in and opened the door; while Raven followed. Inside was a few homeless people, not to mention a few teenagers. One blonde teenager was massaging a kid with green spiked hair on the back. Spike was doubled over, groaning. Raven wasn’t sure what was wrong with him but his old friend was quick to tell him when he noticing what he was staring at. “Junkies.” He told him.
“Junkies?” Raven asked, confused.
“Drug users.”
“Drugs? What kind of drugs?”
“Whatever kind they can get their hands on. Crack, mostly.”
“I’ve . . .never heard of such a drug.”
“You’ve never heard of crack?” the old man cackled, “Where you been the last few years, buddy? A desert Island?”
“Tropical actually,” Raven smirked.
The old man laughed harder, thinking Raven was continuing the joke instead of telling him the truth. The two friends got in the line behind the homeless, near the big counter where the middle aged people were serving food. Raven took a plate and held it out. The brunette woman placed a slice of turkey, covered in gravy and then a helping of mashed potatoes. “The Marriot down the street is kind enough to donate their leftovers.” She smiled.
“Good to see there is still some kindness in the world.” Raven smiled.
“Sir, I am sorry but . . .why are you bandaged like that?”
“I was burned.” He said, telling the ruse.
“Oh, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” she said, putting in some more food, “Have some more potatoes.”
“Thank you, “ he replied, as he accepted some lemonade from a black man in the serving line.
Raven joined his friend at a nearby table with other homeless. The old man began to slop up the gravy with his biscuit and began to eat the turkey. Raven enjoyed the potatoes, not remembering when he had any. As he sipped on his lemonade, the homeless black woman in front of him was staring at him. “Why you all mummy-like?” she asked.
“Sweet Jesus, Gloria,” the old man barked, “The poor boy was burned!”
“It’s all right, my friend,” Raven patted his arm, “I’m used to it.”
“Just asking,” the woman mumbled.
“So, where you from, buddy?” the old man asked.
“Washington.” Raven answered, best he could.
“Nice trees up there. What are you doing in this town?”
“Oh, I am just passing through. I am on my way to see . . .my little sister. She is going to give me a place to live.”
“Oh, that’s nice. Ain’t nothing like family.” Gloria smiled, as she ate her turkey.
Raven smiled as he sipped on his lemonade. “Yes, “ he agreed, “Nothing like.”
The group then gasped as a young girl burst into the house. She was crying and holding onto her arm; with minor amounts of blood coming out. The other teenagers near her ran toward her and helped her. The brunette who was serving food ran to see what she could do to help. “Lisa, what happened?” the middle aged woman demanded.
“Juno . . . he . . .he’s got Becky!” she cried, “He’s got a knife . . .he wants . . .OH, MY GOD, HE’S GONNA KILL HER!!!”
The old man then stood up and by the time, he was about to ask them what was going on; Raven was already out the door. The brunette was amazed at the speed he had as she was going to the door. Raven jumped down the stairs and turned on his super hearing. He could hear the cries of a girl up the street. He was already running toward the alley way by the time the other bums walked out to see what he was doing.
In the alley way, next to an abandoned plaza where the walls were mostly made of plate glass; Becky crawled for her life. The large man approaching her was Juno; a black man who controlled the flow of narcotics in the majority of the town. Becky was a former dealer for him but like many dealers; she began to sample the product. After she watched her boyfriend die from substance abuse, she saw the light and got clean. However, Juno wasn’t so keen on letting her be clean. “Where you think you are crawling to, girl?” Juno laughed.
“Ain’t . . .ain’t . .gonna deal no more.” She whispered, as she coughed up blood.
“OH, you gonna deal, Becky. You think your life belongs to you but it don’t. It belongs to me.”
“Get . .get away from me.” She said, backing up to a dumpster.
“You think that slut Lisa is gonna get help?” he laughed, “ There ain’t no cops brave enough to be in this neighborhood. Now, how much more am I gonna have to rough you up-“
Juno was interrupted by Becky slamming her show into his mouth. He grunted as he stumbled back, coughing up blood. Becky used the moment to get up and run past him. By the time she did, she stopped at the ominous figure in front of her. He stood there, staring at the large black man behind her. “Becky, get behind me.” He ordered.
The teenager didn’t hesitate. She needed a protector and right now, it could have been the Easter Bunny for all she cared. Anybody to keep Juno away from her. The large drug dealer held the blood dripping from his mask as he stared at the new player. “Who the hell are you, man?” he asked.
“Me? I’m Raven,” the Jaeger Unit replied, “Why don’t you make it easier for everybody, Juno and leave Becky alone?”
“You her pimp or something?” he said, brandishing his blade.
“Pimp? Hmm. You know . . .I’ve been out of circulation for a while but I remember that word. I am sure it’s still an insult.”
“Oh, let me tell you something, Mummy,” he said, swinging his blade around, “I am going to do more than insult ya.”
Juno then ran screaming toward Raven and all the masked man could do was smirk. Becky then ran toward the street, thinking her new savior would follow but he simply stood his ground. The large man then finally arrived and attempted to stab Raven in the neck. The masked man then shoved the other man with his palm like a normal man would push a back. However, Juno went flying through one of the nearby plate glass windows of the empty plaza.
The black man writhed in pain, as the destruction of the glass window caused his head to open up. Raven stepped into the destroyed window and across the glass as he walked up to Juno. He then grabbed the drug dealer and picked him up. “What’s it going to be, Juno?” Raven asked him, “ You gonna leave Becky alone or not?”
Juno replied by spitting blood in the Jaeger Unit’s eye. “SCREW YOU!!!” Juno screamed.
“WRONG ANSWER!!!” Raven replied as he threw him out another plate glass window.
The black man collided onto the ground, holding the blood from his ripped open forehead. Raven stepped over and walked on the glass, then grabbed him by the collar; hoisting him up. “Wait a minute!” Juno demanded, “We can work this out!”
“STILL WRONG ANSWER!!!” Raven then threw him through another plate glass window.
The black man grunted as his face was severely cut up. Raven then picked him up and held it aloft. “What’s it going to be, Juno?” he asked.
“Okay, okay, man,” he coughed up blood,” Just . . .don’t hurt me anymore.”
“Good man, “Raven said, escorting him back into the alley where Becky stared in shock, “Now, you are a drug supplier and Becky was your drug dealer, is that not correct?”
“Yes!” he replied, trying to stop the bleeding on his head.
“Well, now . . .like any good employer, she deserves severance pay.” Raven hissed.
“Severance . . .OH, NO, way, man!”
Juno was then hoisted off the ground as Raven held him aloft by the back of his shirt. The black man stared down at the menacing Jaeger Unit. To add a good mixture of fear, Raven calmly flashed his eye blue, making Juno squeal like a pig. “Your wallet . . NOW.” The cyborg ordered.
Juno quickly pulled out his wallet from his pants and gave it to Raven. The moment he set him down, he took off running to the opposite end of the alley and disappeared over the wooden fence blockage. Raven took the money out of the wallet and dropped it toward the ground. He proceeded to count out the money and by the time he walked up to Becky, she was still staring at him in shock. “Hmm. Just shy of 3 thousand dollars,” he whispered, “I never knew drug dealers were in such demand.”
Raven counted off a thousand and gave it to Becky. “If you don’t mind, I am going to take the other 2 thousand over to the halfway house and divide it up with the homeless.” He told her.
“Uh . . sure.” She said.
“I don’t think Juno will be bothering you again,” he smiled, patting her on the arm, “Continue the stay off the drugs and improve your life, okay?”
Raven walked past her as he began to walk back down the street to the halfway house. The young teenager felt her jaw locking up from the gapping mouth staring she was doing. She finally coughed and was able to speak. “Who are you???” she demanded.
Raven paused and looked back her. Even through his bandages, she could tell he was smiling. “Just a traveler,” he smiled, as he continued on.
posted by Jason | 11:24 AM
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