RANKED 1st BY VOTERS IN CHARACTER CREATION CONTEST #116!

The slap resounded solidly, and the samurai who were sure their master was not looking at them winced at the sound of it. "Fool!" yelled the daimyo. "How dare you not follow my order on the field of battle?"

The slapped samurai lowered his eyes before his daimyo, and said, "Forgive me, master, but would mercy not be preferable to killing? To forge alliance with those who were once enemies over littering the land with their corpses?"

"If I tell you to kill the enemy, you do not ask 'When!' It is when I have said it! You do not ask 'Why!' It is because I have said it!"

The samurai bowed further. "Daimyo. I merely wanted to win the battle with as little bloodshed for our men as possib--"

"That is your problem, Ombi! You want to win battles! I want to win wars!" raged the master.

The samurai finally looked up, and stood straight. "At what cost, daimyo?"

"Raarrrgghh!" the daimyo yelled as he struck the samurai again. "You dare? I will no longer tolerate your insolence! You are samurai no longer, and you are no longer welcome on my lands! From this day forth, the name of Ombi Ambi will not be spoken by anyone!"

Ombi bowed to his former master, simply saying, "As you wish, daimyo. I will leave at once." With that he went to his quarters, shed his samurai gear, put on a green and gold robe, his swords, and left the land of his daimyo.

***

Some months later, Ambi was wandering the countryside. He had taken to the life of a ronin, but rather than hire himself to another daimyo, he hired himself to those who needed help against obake, yokai, and other creatures. He had grown wise to many of their tricks, but had not had to face any of them for several days. He was growing weary of this new life.

No sooner had he thought that than a puff of smoke exploded before him, revealing a warrior in strange grey armor with a blue do and kabuto, as well as a blue mask. "Greetings, ronin," he said.

Ombi knew he was not a man- he had been dealing with such creatures for too long. He considered that it was best not to show what he knew just yet, and simply said, "Warrior. What can I help you with?"

"You defied your daimyo to save my head," said the warrior with a slight bow. "The question is how can I help you?" The mask's features did not move, but as the light played across them, the painted smile almost seemed to turn sinister.

"I need nothing," Ambi assured him, "but thank you."

"Nothing?" asked the warrior who was not a warrior. "What if I said I could grant you wishes?"

"I would say why would you waste such power on one such as I?" said the ronin, starting to walk around the warrior.

The creature moved very fast, and was once again standing in front of Ombi. "I told you: you saved my head. Allow me to repay you. Three wishes," he offered, holding up three fingers for emphasis.

"I do not want your wishes," insisted Ombi. "Let me pass."

"Alas, ronin, I cannot. Allow me to repay you, or I will be forced to stay with you until I have had the chance to do so."

Ombi Ambi sighed with frustration as he looked down into the mask of the creature pretending to be a warrior. To play their game was dangerous, but he wished to be done with this creature. He narrowed his eyes as he stared into the inscrutable mask, and then his face ligtened as he thought of his first wish. "I wish to have a long green beard that goes down to my knees--"

"Intriguing," said the creature suspiciously.

"--that turns red when I am in the presence of evil magic."

Immediately, Ombi's beard grew to the specified length, turned green, and then immediately to red. He smirked at the wish-granting "warrior." He said, "To be honest, I doubted that you really had the power to do this."

A deep growl came from behind the creature's mask. "Fine, you have uncovered my intent. But you have made your first wish. You must make the other two, or you will never be rid of me!"

Ombi stroked his new beard as he thought, and as he did so, it turned green again wherever he stroked. He pulled the full length of his beard through his hand, wondering at this marvel, and then let it drop again to his knees. Looking at the creature, he said, "I wish to keep my soul as my own."

The warrior-clad creature stood bolt upright, and said nothing for a long few seconds. Then it shook with rage, and he stomped his foot, and he raged aloud, and shook his fists in the air. "Raaaarrrrr! Very clever, mortal! My bait no longer comes with a snare! Make your third wish that we may be done with each other! And then hope that you never meet The Wishing Demon again!"

The ronin stroked his long new beard, looking at the masked warrior thoughtfully. The creature stared back with its arms crossed. At least, Ombi assumed that he stared back. The mask was at least facing in his direction. He thought for a few minutes. Then he paced. Then he sat down on a large rock, and rested his chin in his hand, that armed propped on his knee. The creature sat across from him on another rock, waiting. Ambi was silent for a long while, then sat up with a finger in the air, apparently having had an idea. Then his face fell, and then the finger as well, and he rested his cheek on his fist, and that arm once again on his knee. The creature growled in frustration, but continued to wait.

Finally, wanting to wait no more, The Wishing Demon groused, "It is a wish, ronin! There is nothing that you want?"

Ombi scowled. Then his face softened. Then he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, and he said, "In truth, the only thing I really wish for is a place where I can be a samurai, but death is not involved; where peace rules, but I may still serve in the army of a good master."

The Wishing Demon rocked back on his rock a bit as if to get a better look at the ronin. Then he chuckled. Then laughed. Then laughed long and loud. Then he threw his arms in the air, hands spread wide and palms to the sky as he cried, "I know of just such a place, Ombi Ambi, although I think you will eventually grow bored with your choice!" Twisting his hands outward, then sweeping them down into a thundering clap towards the ronin, he growled, "Wish... granted."

Ombi tumbled backwards off of his rock, was enveloped by a thick fog, and felt like he was falling for a long few moments. The fog parted suddenly, and he found himself standing in a field full of poppies. He heard someone shouting a warning, and turned to see very short people running towards him. He went to bow, but instead fell into the poppies, fast asleep.

Story and original characters owned by Chris Bishop, copyright 2022.

C-Rhymes and Monk on the Mic owned by Chris Bishop, copyright 2022. The picture came from Facebook.

Story and characters owned by Chris Bishop, and copyright 2021, 2022.

Back in 2002, I worked at a country club. I was the kitchen steward, which meant that I did the dishes, the floors, the trash, took in the kitchen's deliveries, kept the kitchen organized, and sometimes did a little light food prep. I was in my very early thirties at the time, but most of the bar and wait staff were ten years younger or more. One of them- a guy who goes by Bobbi Firestix on YouTube, needed to make a film for one of his college classes, and asked if he could use one of my characters.

I thought that was pretty cool, so I gave him two or three choices, and he picked Redline- a guy who runs at super speed thanks to a special suit. With minimal description from me, and the budget you'd expect for a college film, he put together something pretty danged close to what I envisioned for the character.

The film work was all Bobbi- I just get to say I created the character, and that I have a creator cameo in a movie, just like Stan Lee! Yessss! My very brief cameo as a Panotech security guard took around thirty-five takes, because I couldn't stop laughing. I love it though.

This film is a glorious low budget piece of awesomeness that I will forever cherish! I hope all of you will too!

The description from the YouTube post:

"Saving the day in the blink of an eye." In the years before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took off, I decided to make the superhero movie I had always wanted to see growing up... Project: Rundown.

A visionary scientist, Tyler Williams (Darian S. Tyler), has invented an amazing bio-suit that propels any human at an incredible velocity. Unfortunately, his position has just been handed down to Mike Powers (Bobby Mease), a hard-headed speed junkie.

Everything seems to be looking up for Powers until one night a bio-suit is mysteriously stolen. To make matters even worse, everyone thinks he did it! Now, with the odds against him, Mike must step out alone and use a Rundown prototype to stop the bad guy, rescue his girlfriend, and clear his name!!!

Based on Redline- a character created by C.L. Bishop.

Firepix is Bobbi's film imprint. I have zero clue what else he's done with it. I know he's been in a band too, called 120 Proof, and they have some videos up on his YouTube page.

Like I said above, the flim work was all Bobbi, and that includes the script. He gives me and John Etu credits for it in the film, but my input was early, and none of it was actually in the film (nor should it have been- my story was awful). I don't know how much of John's input made it into the final script. Bobbi did a great job with this, and brought the hero to life. I'm gonna love the guy forever for that. Oh, and I should note: "Redline" was my invention, but the alter ego "Mike Powers" was all Bobbi. He fleshed everything out for this.

Darian S. Tyler who played the genius inventor Tyler Williams is one of the most creative people I've ever known. We lost contact shortly before I left the club, and I've always been sorry about that. I love the villain he played. So many cool moments in there.

John Etu who played mechanic (and apparently mechanical genius) Jim Parker I only knew briefly. We got to be pretty decent friends while we were at the club, but he moved away shortly before I did, and we didn't catch up (via Facebook) until the last couple of years. He's not in much of the film, but his character wound up being the one that interested me the most, even above Redline! He's smart enough to redesign the suit and take over Panotech security, but he was working as a mechanic? What the heck?! I need to know more about that guy!

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have! Kick back and have a few laughs! Cheers.

My cameo :)

Bobbi's cartoon rendering of my cameo- it goes by really quick in the introductory credits. :)

That grey line going through the character at the bottom is the YouTube play bar. I blacked out the rest of it, but didn't want to futz with trying to eradicate it across the figure. Maybe another time. :)

The group scrambled to jump into the tunnel hole behind the little man. Odongo picked Tommy up, and aimed him forward. "Keep digging, Mister Knox!"

"That puts us on guard duty," said Sara. She and the others faced the tunnel's entrance, backing up towards Tommy and Odongo as the tunnel got longer.

A few werewolves poured into the hole, but they were met with flames and silver bullets. Tommy's power worked quickly, but it took a couple of hours. The tunnel mouth was starting to fill with werewolves. "We're going to have to go to street level!" he shouted, and Odongo lifted him towards the tunnel's roof accordingly. They tunneled up and into the street, and clambered out quickly. Tommy knocked on the tunnel wall, and it collapsed all the way back into the stable, burying several wolves.

Kevin looked to the east, and said, "Sun's coming up soon! The wolves are going to start turning back soon. They'll be looking to get out of town."

"Well, let's help them out with that," said Heironymous.

"What do you mean?" asked Sara.

Heironymous smiled. "Dragon's gotta eat," he said, and then he transformed into a huge, golden dragon. He roared, standing on his hind legs. He brought a massive front claw down on one werewolf, then clamped his jaws down on another. Tossing his head upwards, he let the wolf go into the air, opened his massive maw, chomped on the wolf a few times, swallowed, and roared.

Some of the wolves yipped and yelped, and bolted to leave town. Others were being routed by a grizzly and the Frenchman whose name they hadn't gotten yet. There were a few small pockets of zombies left, but the townsfolk were beginning to come back out into the streets, and they were picking the undead creatures off as they went. Transforming back to human, Heironymous sighed. "I don't know about anyone else, but I'm about ready to abandon Abandon Hope."

"Yes," said Sara, "I'd like that as well."

"I imagine we an get the stages moving again by noon," said Tommy.

"Well, let's make it noon tomorrow," said Heironymous. "We've got rooms, and I'm ready to use them. I'm bushed."

"I'm glad you were here to help," said Tommy.

"Yeah," said Heironymous. "Thanks again for getting us here."

They laughed lightly, and headed for the High Hope.

The End- Return to Voting Thread

*******

Sara said, "I'm not climbing into that tunnel. I'm going out to the street."

"Me too," said Kevin.

"Suit yourself," Tommy shrugged. The others climbed into the hole behind him.

Sara and Kevin turned towards the door, and it suddenly splintered as werewolves broke through.

They turned and jumped into the tunnel!

*******

Heironymous let loose a breath of hot flame at the zombies coming from the other end of the porch. They ignited, and disintegrated into ash. Looking across the street, The Glory Hole was lit up inside with blue flame. They were going to have to rebuild when this was over.

Looking down the street, Heironymous saw the man who had shot the horse in the bar standing on top of the bank. He grunted. "Maybe not the idiot I took him for," he said to no one in particular. Then to Tommy, he said, "We can't stay here. We need to move."

They made their way a few hundred yards down the street to the livery stable. Between Heironymous' and Tommy's flames, and the guns of Kevin, Odongo, and Sara, they were making a good dent in the horde. They made their way inside the stable, and found zombies eating the horses that were trapped inside. They made short work of them, and dropped the bars across the doors to barricade themselves in.

"Where is Stone Feather?" asked Odongo.

"He went his own way," said Kevin. "He does that."

The group was silent, and hoped that their friend would be okay.

They holed up there for hours, trying to wait out the zombies like anyone else in town left alive at this point. "Where did these damned things come from?" asked Heironymous.

"They were coming out of the north," said Sara.

"The New Mexico territory," Kevin spat. "That danged land is enchanted!"

"The New Mexico territory isn't all that's north of here," said Tommy.

Odongo looked at him. "You mean--?"

"--They were pouring out of my tunnel. That leads to the mine."

"Why would zombies be coming out of the mine?" asked Heironymous.

Tommy shook his head, remaining quiet for a few moments before answering. "This town is named Abandon Hope for a reason, Heironymous."

"I am not understanding," said Sara.

"It's from Dante, Miss La Kali," said Odongo. "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

Sara looked at him blankly.

Heironymous sighed. "It was the sign above the gate to hell."

Sara looked surprised. "Is that why there was an angel here?"

Heironymous arched an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Kevin's head snapped around to Tommy. "You had a gate to hell below my saloon?!"

"The mine wasn't always a gate to hell," said Tommy. "To me, it was just home. I--"

He was interrupted by a long howl, followed by growls and snarls from the east end of town.

"Great. This just keeps getting better," Heironymous said with no humor.

"Werewolves," Sara sighed.

"They're going to smell the zombies, and the horses, and probably us," said Heironymous, "and those doors aren't going to hold them. "We've got to move."

"Give it a couple minutes," said Tommy.

Heironymous just looked at him- the question was plain on his face.

"Let the werewolves cut down some of the zombies."

Heironymous raised his eyebrows. "Hm. Can't hurt."

They listened to the werewolves growling, and snarling, and snapping, and occasionally yelping, as they fought the zombie horde. As the moaning of the horded died down substantially, the alpha wolf called for his pack to find the mayor. A minute later, they heard someone sprinting past the stable, and a French accent said, "Ze mayor! Sacre bleu!"

Heironymous shook his head. "Alright, time to move." He took two steps towards the door when they heard snarling directly outside. Then the doors started to shake violently. "That's not going to hold!" he shouted. "Is there a back way out of here?"

"No, but I have something better," said Tommy as he dropped to the ground. Putting his hands on the earth, a tunnel formed immediately.

"You can make tunnels?!" said Heironymous.

"It's a gift," he heard from inside the hole. Then Tommy's head popped up, and he said, "Are you coming or not?"

Go into the tunnel, or try to get into the street?

*******

Tommy sat up with a start when the shotgun blast went off. "Mister Knox!" shouted Odongo. The room was filling with zombies that were pouring out of the tunnel. Odongo fired again, knocking a few of them down with the blast.

"Aim for their heads, Odongo!" cried Tommy as a zombie fell on him. It attempted to bite him, but Tommy's entire body lit up with blue flame, the zombie ignited, burned, and fell away from him. Tommy began throwing fireballs, and between his and Odongo's efforts, they cleared the room back to the tunnel entrance.

More zombies tried to come in, but Tommy threw up a wall of blue flame that held them at bay long enough for he and his friend to reach the stairs. They ran up, and looked back. Zombies were just reaching the bottom. Tommy knocked on the railing, and the whole staircase fell into the basement.

They burst into the saloon, and it was a roaring chaos of moaning zombies and screaming people. Kevin was behind the bar, alternating between shotgun blasts and throwing knives with surprising effectiveness, each one finding a zombie's head.

"Kevin!" called Tommy. "Time to be going!" Kevin nodded, and started making his way from behind the bar to the door.

Tommy walked straight for the saloon's door, touching zombie legs as he passed, causing them to burst into blue flame. Odongo fired off a couple of more blasts with his shotgun, then threw it aside. He grabbed a half dozen pistols from dead patrons, stuffing some into his belt, and using two to shoot zombies. His shots all hitting them in their heads now, they dropped right and left.

As they reached the doors, a bright white flash of energy blasted through the doors of the High Hope from the inside. Tommy looked up, and saw a bear on the roof. "Odongo! Over there! Let's go!" He fired blue flames in both directions, cutting a wide path through the zombies.

Odongo picked Tommy up under one arm, and bounded across the street, firing shots at zombies as he went, Kevin close behind. There were hundreds of them. Reaching the High Hope, he sat Tommy down on the porch, and stepped up. Backing up against the wall, he and Kevin continued firing at zombies. The undead creatures began coming up either end of the porch. Tommy knocked on one of the support columns, and on one end, the porch roof collapsed on the zombies.

Just then, Heironymous, Sara, and Stone Feather came running out of the High Hope.

Continue

*******

Heironymous heard White Feather's message, but it was not heard by anyone else. The message delivered, she disappeared in a blinding flash. As the room returned to normal light, Heironymous said, "We have to head out. Let's go!"

"Wait!" called Stone Feather. "White Feather hasn't spoken for fifteen years. What did she tell you? Where did she go?"

Heironymous looked at the man, but answered, "I can't say. We need to go."

Stone Feather looked a bit distressed about it, but nodded.

They headed for the door, and as they reached it, part of the porch roof came down with a crash. Looking in that direction, they saw Tommy standing in front of the rubble which was piled on top of a group of zombies. Odongo Odango and another man had a pistol in each hand, and were firing at zombies.

Continue

*******

The message was for Heironymous' ears only, and no one else heard it.

See what's been going on with Tommy and Odongo.

*******