The Strike of the Union - vol. 1

The fuel filter slams into the mobster’s arm, sending the gun falling to the floor. He yelps in pain and it almost looks as if he is going to start crying as he vigorously tries to shake away the pain.

The bodyguard that stood by his boss is frozen in fear when you flip the car. The other one takes off running the same direction that the thieves went. Far across the parking garage, by the exit, you hear shouting as the men inside the van blocking the exit try to decide what they should do.

The remaining bodyguards inside their boss’s car seem less intimidated. They exit the vehicle and draw their weapons. One of them shoves the frozen in fear guard behind them so they can get to work.

Gunfire rings out as the guards shoot in your direction. Some of the rounds find their target, but you manage to stay on your feet. All around you windshields explode when stray bullets hit them. You think you smell gasoline from a shot that must have penetrated a gas tank, as well.

---

Dice Pool Limit: 5

The Union: 3 HP

Threat Ratings:
Mooks: Bodyguards: 9

Save the bodyguard's life: SUCCESS!

I gave them a chance...

The Union gives the front end of the upside down car a nonchalant push and watches it rotates on its roof like a turnstile opening a clear path to the goons standing around the mobster's car.

"and here we go..."

The Union walks up to the gunmen, grips the sway bar with both hands,

"...batter up!"

and he starts swinging for the fences

-----
Target: Mooks
Trait: Hard Hitting Brawler - 4
Defense - 1
Attack - 4

The first swing lands square in the gut of one of the bodyguards. Predictably, he folds over with a comical expression of shock and pain on his face. The other guards remain unfazed and keep firing.

Bullets tear into your clothing, but aren’t too much to worry about. As you close the gap to the next guard, the worry on his face grows. Seeing how useless the gun is, he tosses it aside and comes at your with fists raised. He lands a quick one-two before you hit him with a golf swing that lifts him into the air; up and over the mobster’s car.

The mobster is slowly backing away from you. There is terror in his eyes. "Shh-sh-shoooot him!" His bodyguards ignore him. They all realize the guns are useless.

Two of them charge from opposite directions. You swing the sway bar but they are able to evade and both slam into you at once. The force sends all of you crashing into a nearby car. One of the guards slips behind you and locks up your arms above your head. The other one starts treating your midsection like a punching bag.

---

Dice Pool Limit: 5

The Union: 3 HP

Threat Ratings:
Mooks: Bodyguards: 7

The Union lifts his right knee up and kicks straight out into the boxer's stomach, sending him flying backwards and landing on his back. Then he reaches over, like he is tying his shoes, and the second goon flips over him to land with a surprised yelp that becomes a thud as he hits the concrete floor.

The Union begins picking up the discarded pistols by the barrel and throwing them overhand like axes at anyone still standing and at the van blocking the exit.

-----
Target: Mooks
Trait: Hard Hitting Brawler - 4
Defense - 1
Attack - 4

Everywhere around you are bodyguards groaning in pain and yet they keep getting back up to receive more punishment. A few more hop out of the van and join the fight. One goes to the back and removes an unorthodox extra lock that is keeping the back doors shut. They open the doors and say, "Take out the freak in the mask." The response from whoever is inside is too quiet for you to hear. The two of them keep talking, but there is far too much going on right next to you to bother keeping track of whatever is going on in the van.

The bodyguards realize their best bet is to try and keep you tied up. Wherever they can, they attack in numbers and try to keep your arms pinned while the other wail on you. Someone chop blocks you, taking you off your feet right in front of a car. All the bodyguards converge and proceed to stomp and kick as hard and fast as they can.

The lead mobster sees an opening and rushes to the car you are in front of. He bashes in the window and shouts "Cover your ears!" Neither you or the bodyguards have time to react before he slams the car horn as hard as he can.

Your head must be inches away from the horn. The kicking stops as it sounds out for a solid 10 seconds straight. You try to plug your ears, but it is hard with the mask in the way. When it finally stops, you are left nearly deaf besides the horrible ringing sensation.

---

Dice Pool Limit: 5

The Union: 2 HP

Threat Ratings:
Mooks: Bodyguards: 6

Damn that hurts! I gotta stop screwing around and finish this fight

The Union, on the ground surrounded by mooks, steels himself to ignore the ringing in his ears and get the job done. He rolls onto his knees and starts punching everyone he can reach in the most vulnerable places that he can reach (belly, knees, and groin!) as fast as he can.

When the last mook within reach drops to the floor clutching the family jewels, the Union stands up in the middle of a ring of moaning, crying henchmen and looks slowly around the garage to see who still has any fight left in them.

-----
Target: Mooks
Trait: Hard Hitting Brawler - 4
Defense - 2
Attack - 3

No one is left. Lying at your feet are all of the beaten and broken bodyguards. The mobster is backed up against a nearby car with a terrified look on his face. "Look, buddy. We can talk this out. Work toward a compromise. Win, win!" The sound of heavy footsteps and metal scraping against concrete causes both of you to look toward the van. The individual who was in the back has finally gotten out and is making their way in your direction.

The man is easily 7 feet tall and 350 pounds. His skin looks almost bleached white. He has numerous jailhouse tattoos scattered across his uncovered torso. He raises a long chain he has thus far been dragging and starts to swing it over his head like a lasso. You see a sharp hook attached to the end of it.

The mobster starts laughing. "You are so screwed now, buddy. Tear him to pieces, Balor!" The monster of man takes a few more steps toward you before his arm suddenly snaps forward. The chain cracks through the air and wraps around you several times. Balor yanks on the chain and you are dragged across the concrete in his direction.


Dice Pool Limit: 5

The Union: 2 HP

Threat Ratings:
Boss: Balor: 3 HP

The Union lets Balor drag him along the ground until the giant stops pulling and stands over him, blocking out the industrial florescent lighting.

He lifts his arms up and away from his body, like he's doing the chicken dance at a wedding reception, and the chain links bend and snap. Balor growls and stomps down on the Union's blue and white mask but is surprised when the Union catches the foot inches from his nose and twists, dropping Balor to the ground next to him. As soon as Balor hits the ground the Union starts kicking and elbowing the tattooed albino giant laying next to him.

-----
Target: Balor (Boss)
Trait: Hard Hitting Brawler - 4
Defense - 2
Attack - 3

Balor shows a brief look of shock when the Union breaks free of his chains. It washes away a second later and he is back on the attack. When the Union counters this as well, Balor isn’t sure what to do. For a moment, he accepts the onslaught. You get the impression that he isn’t used to going toe to toe with a worthy foe. Your steel like fists make it clear pretty quickly that Balor is in trouble.

He brings up his arms like a boxer trying protect his head and upper torso. His legs kick about for a minute and you hear what sounds like a knife being removed from a sheath. You turn your head just in time to see the blade hidden in his boot coming at your thigh.

"Yeah! Stab that--" the mobster tells. You swing down one first like a club and the blade shatters into a million pieces. Both the mobster and Balor are speechless. Balor holds up his hands in surrender.

"Oh come on! You useless piece of--" the monster starts stomping your way. Balor uses the distraction to kick you in the ankle, expecting it to snap. When he only comes away with a sore foot, the pale giant knows he really messed up.

---

Dice Pool Limit: 5

The Union: 2 HP

Threat Ratings:
Boss: Balor: 0 HP

The Union stands in clothing torn by bullets and asphalt, listens to the faded but still ringing sound in his ears, and slowly shakes his head at the ghostly giant.

"Sit down quietly while I have a few words with your boss and then we'll have a talk of our own - or I can keep punching you; it's your call."

The Union turns his head to look at the mobster stomping towards them; the petty boss who ordered all this mayhem. In stark contrast to the world weary fatigue he just showed Balor, the Union suddenly sprints to scoop up the overdressed thug by the lapels. Holding the mobster a foot off the ground, the Union turns so that he can keep an eye on Balor in the background.

"You were about to confirm that your organization is withdrawing completely from the Deep, isn't that right?"

-----
Target: Balor (Boss)
Trait: Kicking Ass for the Working Class - 5
Defense - 0
Attack - 5

Balor remains stone faced as he thinks over what you said. Just before you turn toward the mobster, you see the almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgement from Balor and you know that he won’t be anymore trouble.

"Whooooooaaaaa! Just who do you think you are!" the mobster tries shouting at you before realizing it is no use and he has to listen to what you have to say. "Things aren’t that simple, ok." He suddenly sounds even more weak and pathetic. Like a child forced to explain that the basement is flooded because they thought they could make it into a pool. "I ain’t even from here, ok. I work out of Detroit. I was told to bring a crew down here and pick up that briefcase and bring it back home. But that’s all I know. I swear it."

You take a glance back at Balor. He shakes his head no to indicate that the mobster knows more. When you turn back the mobster is all smiles and seems to have regrown his spine. "What I do know is that that briefcase is real, real important to my boss. You send me home empty handed and things are going to be far from over. He’ll send more guys down here next time and they will tear your precious little neighborhood apart piece by piece until they get what they are after.

"Now I’m willing to let this whole misunderstanding go. I’ll be the bigger man and not hold anything against you. But I need that briefcase, El Supa Lucha."

---

The Union: 2 HP

Threat Ratings:
Boss: Balor: -1 HP DEFEATED

The Union effortlessly carries the mobster aloft as he searches for the sway bar that he dropped during the fight. After picking up the bar he drops the mobster face down on the hood of a car and pulls his hands behind his back. The Union bends the steel bar around each wrist, securing the mobster's hands behind his back in custom shackles.

He fashions a gag by stuffing the mobster's pocket square in his mouth and wrapping his necktie around his head to hold it in his mouth.

"I hear you that the briefcase is real important to your boss and sending you home empty handed won't solve anything. So why would I send you home at all?"

He carries the mobster to the van and places him in the cargo area. After removing the mobster's wallet, any expensive jewelry, and other valuables he says

"I'm going to give you a few minutes here in the van to quietly consider your situation. Really think it through. You're scared of your boss because you know what they are capable of doing. But you don't know me at all and you haven't really thought about what I might be capable of... so your boss is a problem for another day, and if you're not useful to me then you might not need to worry about your boss at all."

He closes the van door and walks around to sit on a car near Balor (but just beyond arms reach).

"So, how did you end up in this line of work anyway?"

The entire time you are tying him up, the mobster is struggling. He keeps screaming out muffled unintelligible words right until you plop him down in the back of the van. His eyes widen at your threat and you can tell that it has done the trick. You’ve left him with plenty to think about by the time the door of the van latches shut.

Balor seems unsure if he should talk. He thinks over it for a good while before speaking in a voice that sounds hoarse from infrequent use. "Blackmail. My Pa died owning a lot of money to the wrong people. It was this or let them... put my sister to work." He keeps his head down and it is clear he is not happy with this arrangement. "I don’t want to fight you. Even if I wanted to, I don’t know if I could beat you. But if word gets out that I gave him up," he motions to the van where the mobster is, "it is not going to be good for me and my sister."

"Rock and a hard place... Are you naturally big and strong or did something happen?"

Balor looks up at you for a moment. He is a hard individual to read but you get a general sense of disappointment before he looks away again. "Good genes and hard work, I guess. Never been much for lounging around. Every job I’ve ever had puts the muscles to work and they seem to keep building up bigger and bigger." He shrugs his shoulders. Balor starts to turn his head in your direction again but freezes. You turn around and follow his gaze to the van.

The back door is open and the mobster is on his feet with a terrified look on his face. It is pretty understandable considering the man that currently holds a knife to his throat.

You recognize the skull motif costume of Coffinstrike. He stands motionless, watching you and Balor. The knife is dripping an unknown liquid. No doubt he has coated it in some type of poison and made a show of it so you can see it even from a distance.

"The briefcase. Where is it?" The question is addressed to no one and everyone. Coffinstrike inches the knife close to the mobster’s throat. He tries to scream through the gag and gets a knee to the kidney for his troubles.

He keeps his eyes on Coffinstrike and softly says

"You could find your sister and get outta town, go far away, maybe the other coast. Then look for honest work that pays cash, stay outta the system and under the radar. Get a fresh start."

Then the Union shrugs his shoulders and points with his left hand to the briefcase on the parking garage floor, right where the mobster's bodyguard dropped it just a few days minutes ago. At the same time he uses his right hand to slowly slide the mobster's jewelry and valuables toward Balor.

Balor collects the loot but doesn’t leave immediately. He speaks softly and asks, "You sure? I could stay and help you with..." He looks to Coffinstrike and gulps.

Coffinstrike lays the sharp blade right up against the skin of the mobster. He doesn’t draw blood but one wrong move and it is all over for this man. "I planned on taking it from them when they left the meeting. Imagine my surprise when you started a real ruckus. I heard everything, kid. I know the briefcase is empty. I have a feeling you might know something about that."

The mobster struggles and Coffinstrike has to pull the blade away a bit to avoid accidentally ending the man’s life. He pulls him closer with his other arm and shushes the man back into silence. "I will rephrase my original question. Where are the contents of the briefcase?"

In a calm, steady voice devoid of both anger or fear, the Union asks the professional assassin with the poisoned blade

"Do you like doughnuts?

If this is the parking garage that I think it is, then there is a bakery two blocks from here that sells more doughnuts than any other shop in the Deep. This early in the morning, they've just started making doughnuts for early commuters so we could pick up a few fresh, warm glazed and some coffee. Find a rooftop somewhere and chat.

We can talk either way, but I'd rather do it privately with a warm doughnut and a cool breeze.

Junior there just tried to kill me, repeatedly, so what do you say? Let's leave the organized crime intern in the van and then you and I can walk outta here and figure this out?"

Coffinstrike nods in agreement. He tosses the mobster back into the van with ease and slides his knife back into an unseen sheath on his back. "You’re buying." He dashes behind the van, causing his cape to swirl. Before you can really register it, he is gone.

Balor is still standing behind you. He lets out a huge sigh of relief and thanks you for your mercy before he takes off running in the opposite direction of Coffinstirke. You lock up the van and head off to buy breakfast.

It feels like you have eyes on you during the entire brief walk to the bakery, but you are never able to spot where Coffinstrike is hiding.

The tired looking clerk doesn't even bat an eye when you walk in wearing a luchador mask and work uniform that is riddled with bullet holes. They quickly get together your order and hand you a receipt. You notice that you received 10% off for a ‘Superhero Discount.’ You’re about to toss the receipt in the trash when something else catches your eye.

Written on the bottom of the receipt in small handwriting is an address, followed by a small drawing of a coffin. You turn and look at the clerk. They give you a wave and wish you a good day. Nothing seems amiss with them. Perhaps there is more to Coffinstrike’s powers than the public is aware of?

When you arrive on the rooftop of the address from the receipt, Coffinstrike is waiting. He’s seated against an air conditioning unit with his gloves off and mask tilted up so he can enjoy the breakfast you’ve brought him.

"I like the way you do business, Mr..." Coffinstrike pauses and allows you to introduce yourself while he bites into a jelly filled donut. "I wish more capes were as calm and level headed as you."