I
Thursday, 11/27/2008, early afternoon…
The desert monsoon rolls through Las Vegas like a freight train on Thanksgiving day dumping two inches of rain on the city. It doesn’t bother Ash one bit. His black sweat jacket and jeans are soaked but he pays it no mind as he walks through a murky alleyway past some overfilled garbage cans that haven’t been emptied in at least a week by Republic Services. He has his hood up and it’s keeping the rain out of his face. After he leaves the alleyway and walks out onto the sidewalk next to the barred up pub that went out of business a few weeks earlier some homeless guy comes up to him and asks him for change.
“Got any change, mister?” he asks holding out an empty can that has a little bit of water pooling up in the bottom.
Ash looks down at the can and shakes his head.
“I got no money,” he says before turning and walking in the other direction.
A scene like this has become very normal for Ash. He sees it all the time in his neighborhood. Ever since the economic meltdown that has led to the Great Depression part two, the common person has less and less money. This has been very troubling for Ash. He starts thinking about it again as he walks down the street toward his pad. The rain pours down on him from above like teardrops from heaven which makes it even more depressing and melancholy than usual. Ash blames the Government and all the greedy corporate scumbags for this mess. This has made him into a very pessimistic person when it comes to the people in charge. It has also made him into a political activist and his actions when it relates to his political activities.
Ash walks to the stoplight and waits for it to change so he can cross the street. His face is still covered by the shadow created by his hood. His eyes look across the street through the drizzling rain with the ice cold look of a sociopath about to go on a killing rampage. The iris’ of his eyes are as black as a doll’s eyes. The light goes from green to red and the signal says it’s ok to walk so he complies and walks across the street. He then makes a left toward his apartment complex.
His feet stamp through the puddles of water that have pooled up on the sidewalk as he walks past some older buildings that are falling apart due to years of decay. He then heads over to a newish looking apartment building where Ash’s studio apartment is located. He reaches the gate and walks inside the complex. He opens up the lobby door and heads inside. He looks toward his mailbox but decides not to open it up. Nothing good ever comes in the mail, just a bunch of ads and some bullshit overpriced bills that he has to pay every month.
Ash removes his hood to reveal his jet black hair and pale complexion. He then heads for the elevator and pushes the button to go up. The doors open and the elevator is empty. It smells like raw sewage as Ash walks inside. He gags for a moment before pushing the button to go up. Covering his mouth as the doors close, Ash rides up and then uncovers his face as the smell dissipates. The elevator stops and the doors open allowing him to walk out. Ash walks past two apartment doors in the dimly lit hallway before reaching the door to his apartment.
Ash reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys. He goes to open the door but then notices that the door is slightly open. At this point he looks around to see if there are any signs of forced entry.
He looks to the left side of the door.
Nothing.
Then he inspects the right side of the door.
Nothing there either.
Ash then hears something rubbing against the floor inside his apartment. He stealthily moves to the right side of the door and hugs the wall. He looks around for a weapon of some kind which is smart considering that a rash of home invasions have happened in this part of the Las Vegas Valley over the past few weeks. The police have so far been unable to control it. The incidents have become more frequent despite the failed attempts by the police to find the groups behind it. It is suspected that several home invading criminal crews are on the loose at the same time. The police are also suspecting that the masked vigilante Judge may be behind the crimes as well. Ash looks around but finds nothing much to his dismay.
“Shit,” he whispers under his breath.
He then listens some more only to hear a familiar voice inside talking on a cell phone.
“Of course I don’t know where he is,” the man’s voice says. “But I’ll keep waiting. We have the gala this weekend and he still has yet to submit any works for it.”
Ash smiles and says, “Todd.”
He then opens the door and walks inside to see his best friend slash Todd talking on his cell phone. As usual Todd is wearing a business suit with a red tie and sleek Gucci shoes that cost in the thousands of dollars. Todd continues to talk into his cell phone before noticing that Ash has entered. Todd waves at him and continues to talk into his cell phone.
“Yeah, well I’ll see you later, baby,” he says into the speaker before making talking hand motions to Ash.
Ash turns and closes the door as Todd continues to speak into his cell phone.
“Yeah, I’ll see you then sweets,” he says. “Laters.”
Todd closes his cell phone and turns to Ash with a look of disbelief. Ash gives him a look right back. He’s also very intrigued to find out what is going on with his pal this time.
“What happened this time?” Ash asks as he heads over toward the kitchen counter. “Another affair with a married woman who lives across town?”
Todd looks over and nods his head.
“Yes, yes that’s what’s going on,” he says as Ash opens up the refrigerator. “See what happened is I took this bitch out to lunch and then took her to my place.”
He stops talking after saying that and leaves an awkward pause. Ash closes the refrigerator after pulling out a Red Bull. Ash walks into the living room and sees Todd just standing there pondering something.
“Todd?” Ash asks as Todd finally snaps out of it and turns to Ash.
“What?” Todd asks as he looks strangely at Ash.
“What happened with the woman?” Ash asks before taking a swig of Red Bull from the can he pulled out of the fridge.
“Oh, the bitch,” Todd replies, calling her by a derogatory term almost like it‘s commonplace for him to do so. “Well after I slept with her, then she wants me to stay over even though her husband will be home later that day.”
“So what did you do then?” Ash asks as he drinks some more of his Red Bull.
“Well I told her I would pick her up at five,” Todd responds but decides to get onto another subject matter entirely. “But enough about that. What the fuck is this thing?”
Todd points to a giant octopus-like sculpture in the middle of the living room behind them that has about twenty tentacles sticking out of it. Ash takes a quick look at it before turning back to Todd.
“It’s the representation of the darkness in all our hearts,” he says and then motions to some sculptures and paintings in the back of the room next to the wall. “Besides, I have more stuff back there for the gala.”
Todd turns and looks toward the back of the room. He notices what Ash is talking about. He nods his head and smiles.
“Very good,” he replies. “I’ll have the gallery send their people over and bring it to the gallery for the gala.”
Just then Todd’s cell phone starts to ring and his ring tone blares throughout the apartment. His ring tone is “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. Ash rolls his eyes. He knows Todd likes to Rick Roll unsuspecting people but having the song as his ring tone is a bit much. Todd opens up his phone and starts to talk.
“Hello,” he says into the phone before talking to the person on the other line. Ash pays no attention to it and instead stares at the giant sculpture he made. Deep down he knows it doesn’t represent the darkness in everyone but the darkness hiding inside his very own soul.
* * *
Night
Wednesday, 12/15/2008, 6:55 pm just before closing time...
Inside the First Federal Bank, five masked robbers have held up the bank and have the patrons and security guards tied up on the floor. Two of the robbers bring the cash bags out of the vault. They hand their big blue duffel bags off to two other robbers who put them over their shoulders. The robbers then look at the robbers who just handed them the bags. They look at each other strangely.
“Why are you looking at us like that?” the first robber asks.
The second set of robbers then pull out handguns and shoot the first two robbers in the chest! The two robbers who were shot fall over into a heap on the floor. Blood starts to pool on the floor after this happens.
“Sorry about that,” the first robber says as he looks down at the two dead robbers that they just shot. “Just business.”
The fifth robber, who has two big bags at his feet, looks over at them and quickly points his rifle in their direction. The two robbers do the same to him as they point their handguns in his direction as a retaliation of what he just did. All three have a standoff as the hostages look on in shock.
“Put the rifle down and we’ll let you live,” the first robber says to the fifth robber who still is pointing an assault rifle at him.
Just then what appears to be a sixth robber comes walking in behind them laughing as the three robbers continue to point guns and rifles at one another. The three robbers turn their attention away from each other and toward this new robber who has just walked in. However the three robbers do now know this man at all. He is wearing a black mask that covers most of his face. He is wearing an all black costume with a J spray painted on the chest and black boots and gloves. He also has on a black sweat jacket with the word Judge written in red on it. His boots are covered with what appears to be a mix of dirt, blood, and water. His black pants have some dirt stains on them. The robbers have no idea what to think of this man. No one in this town is stupid enough to interrupt a robbery, especially one where the robbers are armed with guns.
“WHO ARE YOU?!” the first robber asks in an annoyed and angry tone.
The costumed man in black smiles as he looks around the bank’s lobby before answering.
“My name is of no consequence,” he replies slyly. “However, my actions will be consequential in deciding one thing.”
The first robber looks at him strangely. His brow furls as he tilts his head toward the man, still perplexed by what is going on.
“What is that one thing?” the robber asks.
The costumed man smiles and starts pacing a little bit. He notices the hostages on the ground next to the walls on both sides of him before stopping and turning back to the robber.
“Whether you live or die for your crimes,” the costumed man says as he reaches for something.
The robbers think about that for a second before realizing that the costumed man is really the vigilante anti-hero known as Judge. All three of the robbers know that Judge is known to execute or ‘judge’ the criminals that he apprehends.
They turn to each other for a moment and the first robber nods his head. The three robber then turn their guns in the direction of Judge but by the time they do, he’s gone! The three look around for a moment before turning to each other with bewildered looks just as Judge comes out of nowhere and knocks the robber with the rifle down with an elbow to the back of the neck. The robber hits his head on the table next to the start of the line that leads to the bank counter. He seems to be unconscious after the hard hit to the head.
The other two robbers with the handguns then turn their guns on Judge. However Judge smashes the gun out of the second robber’s hand before punching him in the face with a right cross which sends him down to the floor. The first robber shots at Judge but Judge rolls out of the way to the side before ending up in a crouched position. The first robber tries to shot him again but Judge charges at him and grabs his hand that is holding the gun to prevent him from firing the weapon again. Judge then head butts him right on the forehead before knocking him down with a hard knee strike to the midsection.
Judge then pulls out some PlastiCuffs and ties up the three robbers one at a time, kicking their weapons away. After finishing doing this, he looks over at the two bags lying next to the robbers. He then notices two more bags of money lying near the entrance doors.
Judge knows that he has to have money to fund his little crime fighting projects so he goes over and grabs the two money bags, holding one in each arm. He then walks them to the door and walks outside in the rain where his vehicle is parked just outside the entrance next to the getaway vehicle the robbers were planning on using. However Judge already executed the driver after giving him ‘judgment for his crime.’ His car is a black Toyota Supra that has been modified for street racing purposes. He opens up the passenger side back door throws in the two bags before closing the door.
He then walks back inside the bank before walking over to one of the handguns. He picks it up off the floor. Judge stands back up and stares at the gun. The hostages look on as he walks over to give his verdicts of life or death to the three robbers.
Judge sees the hostages tied on the floor whimpering and sobbing with both fear and fright from what is going on. He ignores their pleas for help and instead keeps his attention focused on the robbers. He stops in front of them as he points the gun at first up in the air before pointing it at the first robber‘s head.
“Time for your judging,” Judge says as he cocks the gun in preparation of firing it at least once at the defendants during their sentencing.
The three robbers all look scared for the first time now. Their brows are dripping with sweat. All three look like they’ve just seen their lives flash before their eyes in an instance. Judge looks them over before smiling a hideous smile that would scare even the bravest of children in a haunted house.
“The verdict is in for all of you and I sentence you,” he starts off saying. “As being guilty.”
He then shoots all three of them in the head one at a time in rapid succession to the shock of the hostages. Judge walks over and grabs the remaining two bags of loot before heading toward the exit. The hostages are both saddened and disgusted by his actions toward the criminals.
“Why did you do that?” one of the women whimpers out as he walks by.
Judge doesn’t even take one look in her direction. Instead he continues walking past but takes the time to answer her, in his opinion, a stupid question.
“Because they needed to be judged for their crimes,” he snarls out as he continues walking toward the door.
Another female hostage glares at him in an irate fashion the way a wife would a cheating husband.
“YOU’RE NO HERO!” she exclaims out.
Judge just keeps walking as he replies, “No I’m not. I never was.”
He then heads out the entrance of the bank with the bags and opens up the back passenger side door again. He tosses one bag in at a time and closes the door as the rain continues to pour down. Judge goes around to the driver’s side front door and gets into the car.
Judge can hear the police sirens in the distance so he turns on the ignition on his car. He quickly revs it up and speeds off as fast as he can before the police can get there. Just as he turns around the corner and out of the sight two police cars arrive at the seen. Thus Judge escapes yet again from the police.
* * *
Night II
Five minutes later on the other side of town…
After leaving from a restaurant, an old couple who appears to be in their eighties is walking toward their car as the rain continues to pour on the desert valley this night. As they walk they hear footsteps in the puddles behind them. They stop and then turn around to see a man in a Rick Astley mask standing behind them holding a stereo. The man is well dressed in a silver colored suit. He walks over and begins talking to them.
“Sorry to barge in on you two,” he says with a snicker. “But could you help me? MY car won’t start. Do you have any jumper cables?”
The old man shakes his head and replies, “No we don’t, young man. Sorry we couldn’t help you out.”
“That’s ok,” the man in the Rick Astley mask replies. “But you’re wrong. You can help me. You see, I don’t need my car jump started. What I need is…”
The man pauses for the longest time before he reaches down and touches the play button on the stereo. The song “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley begins to play.
‘We're no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you’
The masked man presses the stop button on the stereo. The song stops playing as the old couple are still shell shocked over what is going on. He then finishes his sentence from before by saying, “Your money.” After this he pulls out a gun and points it at them as he sets down his radio with his other hand. The old couple look a bit frightened.
“What are you saying, sonny?” the old woman asks.
“Your money,” the masked man replies. “All of it.”
“What’s going on?” the old man asks. “Are you robbing us?”
The masked man nods his head and replies, “Yes, now gimme all your money.”
After hearing this the old woman reaches into her purse and hands him her wallet. The old man pulls his wallet out of his pocket and hands it to the man. He stuffs both of the wallets into his pants pocket before picking up his stereo. He starts to walk off but then turns and gives a thank you motion to the old couple.
“Thank you for your cooperation,” he says. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you. Please call me anytime. The name is Rick Roll. And you just got Rick Rolled!”
He cackles evilly but skipping off through the rain and out of sight as the old couple watches in the distance still frozen with fear.
* * *
Journal Entry, dated 12/16/2008:
I hope the people understand that my actions are not for me, but for them. I’m doing this for the greater good. Criminals and other slime have infested this town like a swarm of locusts. The police lost control so I had to take action. My fiancé Jessica was killed by a robber who tried to take her purse. I had lost all hope. Then Dark Knight came out about a month after her death and I had a revelation. One man can make a difference. So I did my research and found a comic book called Judge Dredd who was the law and order. I took the name Judge and here we are three months later and I’m a pariah to the public. The city, the police, and the media have dubbed me to be a public nuisance or menace. However they like the fact that I am taking on these criminals. They can’t have it both ways. Now I must start taking on more known and dangerous criminals. It’ll be the only way to show these people that I am on the side of good and not the ‘menace’ the media has made me out to be. I only hope they see the reasoning behind my actions. However hope is something that is in short supply in these dark times…
Judge
* * *
The next morning…
Fairly early in the morning (for him anything earlier than ten is early), Todd arrives at Ash’s apartment and comes right in using his key. He closes the door behind him, locking it before looking around for his pal Ash. He takes a long sip of his Starbucks Frappucino as he scans the apartment for his friend. However there is only silence but he then starts to hear the morning news cast on the television that’s been left on all night. Todd strolls over and takes a look at what the news is saying. He’s intrigued by the first news story that he sees which is about the masked vigilante known as Judge who has been wreaking havoc all over town. He watches intently as the news coverage of the story continues.
“The vigilante criminal Judge was at it again last night,” the anchor says as the news starts playing footage of the crime scene at the bank. “This time three bank robbers were the target of his judging. As known to authorities, Judge captures or battles criminals and then ‘judges’ them with his own brand of violent justice. This time he executed all three of them at point blank range as shocked onlookers could do nothing. After doing so, he took the money the robbers had just taken out of the vault and took it for himself. This fact has not pleased authorities.”
“The wave of crime in this city has reached all time highs. With the Amnesia Killer still on the loose and various other serial criminals and gangs wreaking havoc, the Las Vegas valley is on the verge of a full scale meltdown the likes of which has never been seen before.”
Todd finishes drinking his Starbucks Frappucino and notices that Ash is just laying limp on the couch like a dead fish on a cutting table about ready to be filed.
“Looks like you had a busy night,” he comments. “You have a hot date or something?”
“No,” Ash replies as he yawns loudly and stretches his arms out. “Just stayed up late.”
“Oh,” Todd responds, looking a bit suspicious. “What were you doing?”
“Just staying up late watching television,” Ash says as he rubs his eyes.
“Oh really?” Todd asks, intrigued by this.
Todd yawns before Ash can answer, which causes Ash to give him a strange look.
“What were you up doing all last night?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh nothing,” Todd replies with a devious grin. “Just the usual extramarital sexual affairs. I was busy last night with my bitches.”
Todd notices the news showing security camera footage of the criminal known as Rick Roll talking to an old couple before Rick Rolling them and taking their money.
“Really busy.”
Todd then turns to Ash with a sly smile on his face.
“I almost had too much fun last night and forgot about the time.”
Todd and Ash continue to watch the news, for some reason each of them is watching rather intently with a sense of paranoia as if they are hiding something about what they were doing the night before. Ash . Todd’s phone starts going off and Rick Astley starts playing. Todd quickly opens up his phone and closes it back without answering it to not attract any attention from Ash. They both look at each other suspiciously before turning back to the television to finish watching the news.