neighborhood
watch
#8
"broken windows"
previosly previosly in in neighborhood neighborhood watch watch
after after surviving surviving aa near near fatal fatal office office shooting shooting with with the the intervention intervention of of an an angel, angel, ray ray danner danner isis offered offered an an opportunity opportunity to to train train under under the the hand hand veteran veteran vigilante vigilante doctor doctor midnight. midnight. ray ray shows shows great great potential potential as as the the hero's hero's sidekick, sidekick, but but isis unaware unaware that that doc doc midnight midnight harbors harbors aa deep deep secret: secret: he he isis dying. dying. i love this jobwhich is why it kills me to quit this job-
but the truth is... this job is already killing me.
created, created, written, written, and and directed directed by by matt matt owens owens www.theneighborhoodwatch.net www.theneighborhoodwatch.net
i will beat this....
i will
beat this.
i will
beat this....
i am trying to pretend this is a hamburger.
i am trying to forget that this is vitaveggie paste, molded into a pattie shape and served with organic, uncooked vegetables and additional vitamineral extracts. i am remembering the last time i ate a real hamburger. i am trying to pretend. (it is not working.)
boss?
hey- you alright doc?
lazarus?
i waited for you more than half an hour.
boss?
suit up.
the city is gray. mean.
smokey broken sky, falling... i am dirty air clings to my lungs, choking- chest
fallen burning eyes
the fever
watering
rising up
against me....
cooking... . crippling each step i take
murder
..and we are out for exercises....
what are the 4 strategies of crimefighting?
let's move it... punk.
uh... interruption, intimidation...
falling behind huh , again... kid.
whew...huh...
...patrolthat's it right?
prevention, and...
and why do we patrol?
uh....
THROUGH PATROL WE... huh... MAINTAIN CONSTANT PRESENCE.
patrol is the key to everything we do.
CONSTANT VIGILANCE, CONSTANT AWARENESS OF THE CITY.
now we jump yeah?
right- yeah i knew it was something like-
YEE-AAAH! YEE-AAAH!
WOOOO! WOOOO!
MAN... I LOVE THIS PART....
WE ARE AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS
WE INTIMIDATE THE CRIMINALS THAT LIE IN WAIT.
uh....
... DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
...citizens in need.
YOUR FOOT SPEED HAS... IMPROVED.
YEAH WELL. I'LL WORK ON THAT.
BUT YOU STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO BREATHE.
LOSE THE ATTTITUDE.
IF YOU'RE NOT TEACHABLE, YOU'RE NO GOOD TO ME.
SORRY BOSS... I'M JUST- heyyou alright?
i mean you soundbad- maybe we should pack it in early?
my head is clear. my focus is right. perhaps if your head wasn't planted so firmly up your piehole you would see that.
i'm fine, how are you? ohgreat thanks for asking.
teach me to show concern you grumpy old-
NOWFOLLOW.
WE PATROL IN A GRID. MAJOR ROADS MAKE UP THE BORDERS. WE WORK FROM OUTSIDE IN.
PLAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE HOT SPOTS- THEY'LL REQUIRE MORE TIME.
NOWCASE IN POINTTELL ME-
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
the the freakshow! freakshow! a bunch of wannabe superpunks, obsessed with electricity and body customization. mostly harmless to the general population....
though they have a love for the juice and like to fight a bit-
-mostly with each other.
rumor on the street is they've been buying up a lot of high tech weaponry.
these guys? come on docthey're a bunch of pony boys.
looks like they're plotting something.
i read a write up about them in the paragon times.
really? been in the game a few months and already an expert, huh? these guys are justa bunch'a neo-retro punks- they just want to look cool. trouble ain't their mo.
sources tell me they're planning a highjackmilitary grade cybernetics.
whoawaitcan we do that?
we're here for a pre-emptive. you knowthe sunday magazineit's real nice. they haven't done anything yet.
"yet" being the operative word here.
every heard of the "broken windows" theory, kid?
no, but i imagine you're gonna tell me.
should i take notes?
in the late 80s, crime was out of control in new york city. things had reached the breaking point.
the cops weren't making a difference. civilians lived in constant fear.
you see- criminal behavior is typically a learned behavior.
the city leaders started doing research- looking for something- anything to turn the tide.
they referred to the results of their research as the "broken windows" theory.
the same kids breaking windows and stealing lunch money at age 10 turn into the next generation of drug dealers and gangsters.
that is- unless someone takes action from the very beginning.
the city fathers figured if they started strictly enforcing lesser infractions... .
things like broken windows and jaywalking...
they might have a shot at curtailing tomorrow's criminals before they get too far gone.
standardslaws- ruleslead to peace, harmony and righteousness.
you see kidorganized society cannot tolerate anarchy.
no right-minded person wants to make a hell out of earth.
it's the most contagious social disease their is.
but these... punks....
...or to look cool.... they destabalize our entire civilization with their actions.
bollucks.
...or because society made them what they are.
and they'd say they did it for fun....
you know what the bottom line is here kid?
in this world there's just good guys and bad guys.
and as good guys we've got to crush any and all rebellion- no matter how tiny the seed.
or the whole world goes to hell.
but doc- i mean come on- how can we punish them for something they haven't done?
disturbing the peace. trespassing.
unlawful assembly. the law has been broken. i see reason enough to act, broken windows though they may be.
dude-
ffft. you haven't the vision to see what's right before your eyes. nevermind. sit this one out.
i want to fight.
yeah, somehow i think that's why we came out in the first place.
so you could satisfy an itch.
is that what this life is about? a hunger for violence?
satisfied on the streets?
children.... justified by a mask?
...maybe i... this isn't right....
reds
the hit right on time. ahhh. forget it dude. hot lead rockets through my veins, filling me with power.
my mouth taste like liquid chrome. breath of fire. tongue like dry leather.
i transform- the beast reborn again, the disease of my body forgotten....
get out of your head....
here is your
father father pain! pain!
...and into the fight.
mind if i play through?
come to your senses finally?
i drop two
yellows .
so it seems.
brain sharpens. i see clearly now through the fog of war....
senses mutatetransforming
all becomes as light- my mind is a focused laser- all seeing, all consuming....
yar done made the worse mistake'a yars life!
sorry boy. i don't speak redneck.
but i hear tell a good beating is universal.
map the battlefield in your mind. note the position of your enemies, obstructions, useful objects.
use your senses to constantly update this map in your mind.
are we back in class again?
think firstthen move.
we are always in class.
silly me. i thought this was just a free-for-all .
in battle boy, there can be no such thing.
now- fall back to me-
comin' comin'.
quickly reevaluate the battlefield. remembercontrolled movements. on it.
got it.
roll with the punches.
noted.
and don't forget to breathe. whew!
you ever get tired of telling me what to do?
fall down.
c'mon big boy-
that's one more down boss.
don't worry cheese....
i hain't forgotten bought ya.
the blues spark like lightning,
steeling my resolve. the pain in my chest dulls into a low numb. needles in my fingertips....
i sense the kid behind mepulling further away..... he's coming into his own....
...at last...
feel a little dizzy? nauseated?
don't you turn your back on me young man....
maybe you should lie down. yo docthat's one more-
i hit another red quickly- for the final pushbusy now kid.
my heart stutters a beat. brain freezes, too much this time. too much.
kentucky fried fascist, coming up-
gonna fry you like chicken hero!
oooo...it's spicy!
you made a mistake leatherman....
aaaaargh!!! aaaaargh!!! we freaks ain't goin' out like that!
never did a mask before man.
guess there's a first time for everything.
uhhhh.....
lazarus.... you never showed. i was all alone.
last thing i see before it all goes black ...
the kid has found his rhythm....
he's learned my moves in half the time....
and already he uses them twice as well....
he will honor my mask and my name.
the parting words well up in my throat....
the last gasp of an old man... the sum of my life....
it will be fitting to die here- on the field... in the arms of my successor....
the final offering....
what you're talking about.
yar stay backa mar-
what is thatesperanto?
dude-
i have no idea...
hey docyou see that man?
not bad for the young rook, riiiight?
doc?
agony. i can't fight this anymore.
pain. body failing.
misery.
mind cracked and broken.
finished. my enemies surround me.
barbed by memories....
they want my life.
completed. and tonight....
surrendered. tonight i am willing to give it to them.
murder. yeah. let's do this.
no.
cecilia.
not yet. gimmie that scalp!!
you missed sucka-
diiiiieeeeee!!! diiiiieeeeee!!!
i made a mistake once. i wasn't strong enough to fight him on my own. but you never came.
i let down someone i loved.
all that moment i kept thinkingpraying that you would come around the corner just in time to save the day....
i was supposed to be somewhere....
hooo...
and i was late.
...and i lost her. forever.
and i swore a promise to never be late again.
ugnh!
so i will not stop.
i will fight until the last breath comes.
i will not surrender.
my life is a shield. i am a protector.
my life is an offering. a penance.
it is all i have to give.
my last shot just barely puts him down. but not today.
maybe you will get me one day. not today.
if not for my...
inspirations... i'd have been gone long ago.
cil?
boss?
we out?
you good?
i am getting too old for this.
it is the memory that keeps me in this game.
it is the memory which spurs me on. i will beat this. i will beat this.
the circle must not be broken. where are you, girl?
it's my duty to her- to the memory of all that have been lost.
heeeey boss- not bad tonight, right?
i should tell him the truth- i know it.
we really showed those punks what was up, yeah?
but i can't- not yet- not until he is fully prepared.
the burden of this secret weighs down my heart.
i'm...
whoa- docwhat's with the bum trip man?
do you see this kid?
tell him.
this fist is merely flesh. it is temporary.
...i'm growing old, ray.
you worried about that sparkplug getting a few shots in? c'mon docdon't talk like that man- look at you-
you got plenty of mileage left in-
it will waste away and rotlike all flesh.
can't you just listen to me without arguing for once, boy?!
this flesh is temporary. but that mask- and the meaning of it- that can be something eternal in this world.
can you accept this responsibility?
you must take this work of ours seriously. you must learn everything you can from me in the time we have. one day- you will wear my mask and carry my name.
yeah.
well- i mean-
then start acting like it.
stop trifling...stop arguing... stop resisting me....
surrender. and become the man you are meant to be.
i'll find you, babe.
i swear it. i'll find you.
...thus concludes today's lesson. do your meditation. hit the showers. go to bed.
he is impetuous.
tomorrow is another day- with lessons of its' own.
but one day- he will be a good soldier.
brash and arrogant. i only pray that day comes sooner, rather than later.
strong willed and selfish. before i am finally out of time....
i swear it cili'll find you.
i'm afraid it's too late for that, young man.
none can return from where she has been taken.
you- who are you?
you took my wife? tell me where she is right now or so help me-
my name is
doctor doctor midight midight but- i can give you the tools to become the man you are meant to be. and i can help you to take revenge on those who have stolen your beloved. and it was not i that took your beloved, lazarus boilermaker.
this is your invitation- i will only make it once-
she is...lost to you.
do you accept?
next issue hey hero- here's a newsflash for ya:
get lost. i don't want your help.
neighborhood neighborhood watch watch #9 #9
" savior-haters"
soon.