(Twisted Fates) The Phantom

Chapter 11: The Ravenger

Luke, now as The Phantom, prowled through the dimly lit streets of Baltimore, his senses heightened. The weight of newfound family secrets pressed heavily on him, intensifying the urgency to confront the Ravenger.

As he navigated the city's shadows, Luke's mind echoed with conflicting thoughts, a turbulent mix of rage, confusion, and the persistent pursuit of justice.

"Come out Rodriguez! I don't have all night!"

Luke saw claw marks all along the building- inside were strung up bodies.

"Fuck- you are one sick bastard!"

A violent menacing laugh came from nowhere, it echoed in the room.

"Lucky me! My very next target is here! Nexus is going to love hearing that you are off the streets!"

The Ravenger jumps in front of Luke and lunges at him, laughing while doing so.

Luke narrowly dodges this and looked at him, backing up, his focus intensified, his senses honed as he faced the maniacal Ravenger.

"You think Nexus can save you? He won't even see your end coming!" Luke retorted.

"Don't need him too!" The Ravenger's metal claws sparked as he dragged them across the ground. "Oh man! This is going to be fun!"

The Ravenger lunged again and scratched Luke. Then again and again, Luke couldn't keep up with his agility and speed.

Feeling the pressure of the fight, Luke delved into his inner reserves, attempting to tap into a latent power. As the Ravenger lunged once more, Luke focused his energy, a surge building within him.

He pointed his two hands at the Ravenger an aura of black and purple energy came from them, once he came at him, he punched the Ravenger, knocking the him back into a steel pipe.

"Woah!" Luke said, clinching his fist. "Had enough Rodriguez?"

The Ravenger stands back up, his mask missing. "Oh I'm just getting started!!"

The Ravenger charged at Luke and began slashing at him once again. Luke moved with agile precision, dodging the Ravenger's razor-sharp claws and countering with swift kicks and punches.

Despite Luke's own agility and combat skills, the Ravenger managed to land several hits. The metal claws left superficial wounds on Luke.

"You fool! I will shred you away until you are nothing but flake!"

Luke knocks Ravenger back, away from him, he's hurt, this was a fast opponent, and a smart one at that.

The Ravenger jumped to the top of a catwalk, he looked at Luke with a smile.

"Goodbye Phantom!"

Feeling the pressure of the fight, Luke delved into his inner reserves once again, attempting to tap into a latent power. As the Ravenger came down like lightning, Luke focused his energy, a surge building within... a controlled burst of black and purple energy that shot from his hands, striking the Ravenger and sending him into a propane tank, which erupted into a fiery explosion upon impact.

The Ravenger emerged from the explosion crawling towards Luke, battered and charred. His once menacing demeanor was now reduced to a broken and smoldering figure.

"Phantom... you son of a bitch!"

The metal claws that defined his fearsome presence were warped and partially melted.

"Porter, why do this? I didn't want it to come to this, I didn't mean for this to happen." Luke looked down at Ravenger.

"Nexus... he's the one who's going to bring order to this damned city." The Ravenger said as he laid there, trying to move.

The relentless laughter that echoed through the battle had now faded, replaced by ragged breaths of pain.

"Just give me this, who is he? Who is Nexus?" Luke asked, getting down lower.

"I don't know... no one does."

Porter rolled over on his back.

"What about Zachary Leo? Is he working with Nexus?"

Porter coughed and looked at the ceiling, feeling the burning in his skin.

"He's his arms dealer... that's all. It doesn't matter, you won't be able to take down either..."

Luke just shook his head.

"Phantom... why are you worried about me, and not the other menace."

"Other menace?" Luke asked.

"You haven't heard about the attacks? Well, I guess it's not too close to this side of Baltimore."

Porter just smiled.

"I hope he burns you alive..."

Soon after those words, he closes his eyes, beat, burnt and exhausted.

Luke called the police.

"This is the Phantom, I have the Ravenger for you at Jameson Street on 3rd, 2nd building to the left..."

Luke hung up and ran out of the area, making his way back to the roof.

"A new menace- how am I suppose to deal with all of this?"

Luke fished his phone back out from his pocket, dialing Brian's number as he gazed at the aftermath of the explosion and the incapacitated Ravenger.

"Brian, it's Luke. The Ravenger is down, but I need guidance on where to go from here. Giovanni Gambetti dropped a bombshell on me tonight, and I'm not sure what to make of it."

Brian's voice came through the phone, a mix of concern and curiosity.

"What happened?"

"Giovanni Gambetti is my brother- well, half brother really, we've got the same dad."

"No way! So that's why he was interested in you for! Both sons of Robert Miller."

"No, both sons of Antonio Gambetti, the Legendary Mafia Don."

Brian took a moment to absorb this unexpected twist.

"Well, that's a hell of a revelation. What's Gambetti's play here? Why reveal it now?"

"I don't know, but he said he wants me to come work for him. Wants to offer me a better life. I turned him down, don't trust him."

Brian's voice was steady. "Smart move. Trust your instincts, Luke. Now, the Ravenger. Is he taken care of?"

"Yeah, I took him down. Explosives were involved, though. He's not getting up anytime soon."

"Good work. Head back here, and we'll figure out the next steps. We've got a lot to unravel, my friend. Oh! And Q said he has a little something for you. I told him you weren't going to fight anyone tonight without that new suit so look presentable, not like you've got deep slashes all over your body. I didn't think you'd go after him so early-"

"Brian I've had one hell of a day, this is my coping mechanism. And Bold of you to assume I'm hurt so badly." Luke said sarcastically.

"Ha! ha! Just get your ass down here. Oh wait- I guess you don't have Q's address, I just sent it to you over text. We'll be waiting."