The Shadow Hound: A Storm Hawks Story

Chapter Nine - A Father's Rage

As the Storm Hawks rested, Tal Karr and his bounty hunters infiltrated the Condor and took the sleeping Storm Hawks by surprise. They couldn't put up a fight as they had guns drawn to them. The captured and unmasked Johntyr was soon found. After that, they were taken outside. Karr soon walked up to the bound Johntyr and smiled.

Karr: So this is the famous Shadow Hound? This is the most feared bounty hunter in all of Atmos? Heh.

Johntyr: The hell do you want, Karr?

Karr: I want a lot of things. You dead is one of them. But shit, I'm starting to wonder if it's worse just to leave you here. I mean look at you! You got your ass handed to you by a bunch of kids! That reputation you built won't be shit anymore!

Johntyr remained defiant despite being surrounded by Karr's men.

Johntyr: If you're gonna kill me, just shut up and get it over with.

Karr smirked at Johntyr's words. He looked at the bound Storm Hawks. When he looked at Finn, he lets out a small chuckle.

Karr: Who's the kid?

Johntyr: No one. Your business is with me.

Karr: He sure don't look like no one to me.

Johntyr: You wanted me, you got me. These kids got nothing to do with our business.

Karr: Tell me, Shadow Hound. What whore did you fuck to get this kid?

Karr walked up to Finn, who proceeds to spit in his face. Karr responds by pulling out his pistol and smacking him in the face with it. He then aims the pistol at Finn's face.

Piper: Finn!

Aerrow: Let him go!

Karr took a moment to observe the situation. He turned his attention to Johntyr who showed a look of visible concern.

Johntyr: I'm the one you want, Karr. I'm the one you want to kill.

Karr: Oh I'll kill you, Shadow Hound. Just not yet. I want you to suffer. I want you to watch as I tear down the myth of the Shadow Hound.

Karr then walks over to his lieutenant.

Karr: I'm gonna take care of some business. Give the Shadow Hound a good beating. But don't kill him. I want him alive. But feel free to unload some....aggression. Bring him back to the hideout when you're done.

Lieutenant: What about those kids?

Karr: Kill them. Bring me their heads. I heard the Cyclonians got a big bounty on their heads.

Karr then took the majority of his gang back to the hideout while his lieutenant and a small group of thugs stayed behind.

Johntyr: I'll find you, Karr. You hear me?! I'll find you, you son of a bitch!

Karr paid Johntyr's words no mind as he left. The lieutenant then walks over to Johntyr while his thugs crowded around the Storm Hawks.

Lieutenant: I grew up hearing stories about you. You were a goddamn boogieman. I used to be scared of you. Now here you are on your knees. Looks like you're not so scary after all.

The lieutenant then begins to beat on Johntyr. Finn watched in horror as he watched his father was being beaten.

Stork: I knew we were doomed.....

Finn: Dad!

During the beating, Johntyr headbutts the lieutenant. The lieutenant staggers as one of his thugs rush over to Johntyr and restrain him. The lieutenant then walks over to Finn and grabs him.

Lieutenant: If it were up to me, you'd be dead. But Karr wants you alive. Luckily for me, Karr don't give a shit about your kid.

Johntyr: Let him go.....

The lieutenant then pulls a gun on Finn and presses the gun against his head. Suddenly, something clicked within the bounty hunter. Johntyr then lunged at the thug holding him down and snapped his neck. He then fired at the Skimmer's fuel tank. The ensuing explosion killed some of the thugs. He then shoots down the rest of the thugs in rapid fire succession.

Lieutenant: Son of a bitch!

The lieutenant soon saw an enraged Johntyr with a pistol in his hand.

Lieutenant: Back off! Come any closer and I'll blow your kid's brains out!

Johntyr said nothing as Radarr got free and began freeing the Storm Hawks. Without warning, Johntyr shoots the lieutenant in the leg. This forces him to let go of Finn as he collapsed to the ground.

Johntyr: Where's Karr?

Lieutenant: Okay okay! Karr's at the hideout at Terra Deep! Just let me go!

Johntyr discards the pistol and proceeds to brutally beat the lieutenant with his fists. In a rare display of emotion, Johntyr unleashes his fury on the lieutenant as he continues to beat the man mercilessly while the Storm Hawks watch.

Johntyr: Think you could hurt my boy, you son of a bitch?!

In that brief moment, Johntyr wasn't the Shadow Hound. He was a father unleashing his wrath on the man that threatened his son. The Storm Hawks could only watch as Johntyr beat the man to death with his bare hands. In the aftermath, Johntyr's hands were bruised and bloodied. A father's rage was on full display as he looked at the bodies that lay before him. He then made his way to the armory to retrieve his armor and weapons.

Finn: Where are you going?

Shadow Hound: I got business to settle. Business that's long overdue.

With that, the Shadow Hound boarded a Skimmer and made his way to Terra Deep to find Tal Karr and finish him off once and for all. The Storm Hawks made no attempt to go after him. In their minds, his actions as brutal as they were saved their lives. They watched as the bounty hunter left to settle his accords.