[Nightcrawler]

I just got back from a short, but interesting road trip. What else to do then but to make it more interesting by fictionalizing it for your entertainment? I haven't written anything in awhile, in any case.

This will be one or more short blurbs, without too much of an overarcing story.

Besides, my last piece (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67844) certainly seemed popular enough. The old disclaimer still applies.

Anyhoo...

Recently I had made a road trip to Minot, North Dakota and back. I was picking up a shipment of Chinese Glock clones (made without serial numbers, specifically for the black market) to sell to some spooky guys I know that could use a crate full of non-American made pistols without serial numbers or manufacturer's proofs.

So there I was, at a lonely rest stop on US 2, a few miles east of Devil's Lake, North Dakota. It was around three in the morning; I had gotten off to a late start, and was running way behind. Poor weather had also slowed my trip and strained my nerves.

I had been driving for eleven hours when I pulled into the rest stop, and was pretty strung out from the road. I parked the rental car I was driving at the non-handicapped spot nearest to the doors of the place and got out of the car.

It was a clear spring night; the parking lot of the rest stop was deserted, as was US 2. The only sounds I heard were chirpin bugs and a few squaks from ducks on a nearby pond.

The Rest Stop was situated inbetween the east and westbound lanes of US 2, and was designed to look like an old steam-powered riverboat. The flag pole was made to look like a mast, and the red and white building had a fake smoke stack and everything. I stretched upon getting out of the car, and meandered my way into the building. There were big bay windows facing the parking lot, and the building had a very well lit, if small lobby with some bochures for the tourists and some pop machines.

I was the only one in the place. I wandered into the men's room, on the left, and took care of business. Finished with that, I found myself standing in front of the mirror, leaning on the sink. I swiped my hand under the motion sensor, and the sink began pouring cool water. I splashed some on my face and sighed heavily. I quieted quickly when I heard the lobby doors open.

I listened intently as the sounds of boots on the concrete floor echoed through the small rest stop. I figured some cowboy in his boots had stopped to use the pisser, just like me.

The footsteps stopped, and the person wearing the boots didn't come into the men's room. Whoever it was was standing in the lobby. Probably looking at the brochures or thinking about getting a pop, I hoped. I waited for a few seconds, not moving and holding my breath. Nothing but silence.

And then I heard a harmonica. Whoever was standing in the lobby was playing a sad, wailing tune on a harmonica. It echoed through the empty concrete building eerily.

I swallowed hard. Better get this over with, I thought to myself. I had a very bad feeling about the whole thing now. I patted the Colt Government Model that sat on my left hip, at about the eight o' clock position, and was thankful that I had bothered to put the paddle holster it was in back on when I got out of the car. (Obviously, you don't wear a paddle holster there when you're sitting in a car for eleven hours.)

Keeping the pistol concealed beneath my jacket, I stepped out from in front of the mirror and into the small lobby of the rest stop. There, standing in front of a carved statue of a compass or something, stood a man in black.

Seriously, the way he was dressed reminded me of Johnny Cash. Black coat, white shirt, black pants, black leather cowboy boots, brown leather belt. He had dishwater colored hair, with hints of gray, and a hard, leathery face. He looked to be in his forties, and he looked like he had had a hard life. He made me very uneasy, though.

The man in black played just his harmonica, though, apparantly paying me no mind. I stood quietly for a second, then moved to walk out of the door. He stopped playing, lowered his harmonica, and fixed his gray eyes on me.

Let me tell you, folks, if anyone every gave me the evil eye, it was this guy.

"Evening," He said, in a gravel-ey voice. He made intense eye contact, and didn't seem to blink. He just leaned back on the staute, harmonica in hand, staring at me.

"Name's Henry, son. Henry Hyde." He played the harmonica some more, and the sad, wailing tune filled the room once again.

"My name's Parker. Parker Hale," I said, honestly wondering why in the hell I wasn't bolting for the door. Mr. Hyde stopped playing his harmonica.

"Son, I didn't just fall off of the hay truck, you know. Your name's Michael Nightcrawler. Now, I'm sure your driver's license says Parker Hale, and I'm sure that's the name you gave 'em when you signed for that Rent-a-Wreck out there. But ya can't fool a pro, son." He raised the harmonica to his lips again, and played the sad tune once more. I was nervous. Very nervous. I had a very bad feeling about this.

"You like that tune, son?" Mr. Hyde asked me, lowering his harmonica and sliding it into his coat pocket. "It's a sad one, I know. I always play it when somebody dies."

Oh hell, I thought. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion. I watched him, in one smooth move, sweep back his coat and draw a nickel-plated, engraved Colt Single Action Army from a holster on his right hip. At the same instant, I was reaching to my left hip to draw my Gov't Model. I swiped off the safety as I brought the gun up.

Two shots rang out nearly simultaneously, and two fat .45 caliber slugs passed each other in flight. My bullet struck Mr. Hyde in the chest, penetrating through the sternum. It exited out his back and took a chunk out of the marble compass-sculpture behind him. His bullet struck me in the chest as well. We both fell over backwards at the same time; he ended up on the floor, propped up against the scuplture, which was now stained with blood. I was flat on my back, looking up at the flourescent lights.

It hurt, folks. I gasped for air, seemingly unable to breathe, and winced in pain.

But, it could've been worse. My hand fumbled for my pistol, which I had dropped. It found it, and grasped it. I sat up, and thought lovingly of the Second Chance Level II vest I was wearing under my polo shirt. It wasn't the best protection, at only level II, and it was uncomfortable to wear in the heat, but it had been worth it. I felt fortunate that I hadn't bothered to take it off from the last time I had stopped; usually I take it off in the car.

Whatever load he was using in that hogleg sure packed a whollop, though. It didn't knock me over by itself, obviously, but it sure knocked the wind out of me and caused me to lose my balance. It wasn't the first time I'd been shot through a body armor vest, though.

You, uh, don't really get used to something like that, though.

I stood up shakily, and looked down at Mr. Hyde. He seemed unable to move, but looked up at me. Blood leaked out of his mouth. Apparently the .45ACP +P jacketed soft point round I had worked up had been effective. I like it when I only have to shoot 'em once.

Moving more quickly now, and trying to get my ears to stop ringing, I picked up my one piece of expended brass, walked past the dying Mr. Hyde, and out into the parking lot.

Leaving him there to bleed out, I got in the car and drove away, heading west once more.

I still had a bad feeling, though. Guys like him usually don't work alone.

_____________________________________________________


Well, that's all for tonight, folks. I know, I know, this is FAR from my best work. but, it's late, and I did drive fourteen hours today. :D

[sm]

:D
Oh goody!

...ringing in his head, he smoked the days last cigarette remembering what he said, Turn The Page... - Bob Seger & SBB

[Dionysusigma]

Here comes Nightcrawler's second major release...

The Nightcrawler Chronicles :D

Keep 'em coming! :)

[4570Rick]

Interesting read Nightcrawler.













By the by...Do you live in that mind, or do you just visit from time to time?:D

[RED-DOG 40]

Here we go again !.....:uhoh:

..:cool:

[BluesBear]

It was a dark and and stormy night.

Suddenly a shot rang out.

A ship appeared on the horizon.

Just when you thought it was safe to drive Highway 2...



It's......



Nightcrawler II
Shipment of Death!


Now showing on a Monitor near you.
Read it if you Dare.

[Brian Williams]

rEEE-Haaaaah! here we go again....

[Gus Dddysgrl]

Just another thing for me to spend my time reading. This isn't fair now I really need to get internet at my apartment, then I can read this anytime I want.

I also get to follow this one from the beginning. WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!

We so have to start a section just for stories like this one.

[Moparmike]

Ugh. More bandwidth and time to waste being rivited for 5 mins of reading and then going through the withdrawl symptoms during the wait for the next installment.


YOu would have thought I would have learned my lesson the last time I was so cought up in your story....;) :D

[Stickjockey]

Dude, you really gotta get some of these published...:D

[OEF_VET]

Very well done, excepting a few minor grammatical errors. I look forward to the rest of the story. You undoubtedly have some talent Mike. I'm sure a year in Qatar will give you plenty of opportunities to conjure up some great stories. Who knows, maybe you can eventually publish one or two of them.

[Jayman]

When do we get the next part????

[tex_n_cal]

If he did publish it, he'd get burned for lifting a quirky gunfight gimmic from the Punisher film.:evil:

[cool45auto]

I like you NC.:D

[Nightcrawler]

I'll freely admit that I totally ripped off that scene from Punisher.

Nyah. :neener:

Though..the recent film hardly has a monopoly on oddball assassins that play musical instruments. Anyone here seen Trigun?

[fslflint]

AAGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I need the next chapter

[The_Antibubba]

Nightcrawler,

I wouldn't think of questioning your firearms knowledge, but are you certain the Rest Stops in North Dakota have running water, let alone motion-sensor sinks?


:neener:

As always, nice read.

[tex_n_cal]

by the way, if you lift another character, base her on Julie Strain:evil:

[Nightcrawler]

The steamboat-esqe Rest Stop east of Devil's Lake, ND, on US 2, is a very real place. I was there. Twice.

They did have the motion sensor sinks. I was suprised too.

[Vimes]

You sure know how to make guy waste his working time :)
I am also eagerly waiting for the next part.

[KadicDeshi]

Gotta love Trigun, heh heh.

'Specially the six-barreled sax.

Though it did give me a pretty much futile desire for a break-top revolver in a hefty cartridge.

Oh, well :rolleyes:

Barrett

[keyhole]

Great read, I wonder if we could get NC together with Lawdog?

Could be a best seller!:D

[fiVe]

A welcome surprise! Thanks, NC.

[Smoke]

I love this stuff! :D:D :D

There were big bay windows facing the parking lot, and the building had a very well lit, if small lobby with some bochures for the tourists and some pop machines.

...pop machines???:confused:

Oh you mean soda water machines....I get it now.

Smoke

:D

[mcneill]

NC, you rock.

Keep on keeping on.


Jim

[Locke]

That was an awesome story. You're a clever writer, Nightcrawler. I'm busy reading your previous story now... I'm currently on episode/chapter six. Great stuff - keep it comin'!!!!

Ryan

PS - I'm saving all these on my computer for future reading and enjoyment.;)

[GigaBuist]

...pop machines???

Heh, yep, he's a Michigan boy! Where a soda is a pop and gun registration is a "safety inspection". We got all sorts of weird names for stuff! :D

Hey, at least I kept it gun related. Sorta.

[Nightcrawler]

I spent that night in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. I was worn out from my run in with Mr. Hyde, and needed to get off of the road for a night. I didn't get in until very late (or very early, I guess) and slept for a full nine hours. It wasn't until 3PM that I was back on the road again. Fortunately, it wasn't far to Minot and I hoped that nothing else would go wrong on the trip.

About an hour west of Devil's Lake, on a particularly barren stretch of US 2, I saw a car pulled over on the side of the road with it's flashers on. I wasn't in any particular hurry, and traffic was very light that day. Whomever was there might be stuck there for awhile, so I decided to pull over and see if they needed any help. I pulled rental my car to a stop behind the other one, and hit my Gov't Model in the glove box.

A moment later, the other car's driver stepped from in front of her car, and my jaw almost hit my lap. She was...well, beautiful. A tall, black haired latina, wearing a tasteful blue sundress and matching high heels.

It's like something out of a porno movie, I know. Beautiful woman stranded on the side of the road, guy pulls over to help....so yeah, I was pretty pumped.

I reached into my backpack on the passenger's seat and rooted around....my computer, some papers, pens and pencils, some loose rounds of ammunition, some old gum a...a condom? When did I put that in there? Who was I kidding? There we go! I found what I was looking for; a pack of old breath mints. Popping a mint into my mouth, and checking myself in the mirror, I put the backpack in the back seat and stepped out of the car.

Closing the door, I strode over to the beautiful woman, and went over in my head what I was going to say. 'Need some help, miss?' I was going to say, cooly taking off my sunglasses and looking her in the eye. And she was going to be all like, 'oh, thank you so much'. I smiled as I approached.

"Need some help, mi....oh, [EXPLETIVE DELETED]" Cooly taking off my sunglasses, they slipped out of my hand and landed on the ground at her feet. Realizing what I had just said, I quickly apologized to the woman. She bent down to pick up my shades for me; unfortunately, I bent down as well. Our heads collided and she was knocked back a bit, as was I.

"OH MY GOD! I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, wondering how in the hell I was going to salvage this. Smooth moves, Mike, I thought to myself.

"It's okay," she said, looking into my eyes and smiling. "My name is Maria. Thank you for stopping." Relieved, I smiled. My mind was racing; I had to say something that made me not seem like, you know, a complete loser.

"Y...you need some help?" I stammered. It was strange. Normally I'm not quite so inept with women (not quite), but she was so beautiful as to be almost intimidating. She made constant eye contact and I almost felt unnerved by it.

"Could you give me a ride to the next town? I forgot my cell phone and can't call for help."

"I....I have a phone. I could call...."

"It's okay," she interrupted. "I have family in the next town. It's where I was going. They'll call a tow truck. Could you give me a ride?"

Strange that a woman, travelling alone, was so anxious to get into a car with a total stranger, but I certainly wasn't going to argue. I agreed with a smile. Maria closed the hood of her car, locked her doors, and made her way back to my rental car. I opened the door for her, and she thanked me, smiling and once again making constant eye contact, as she sat down. I closed the door, and made my way around the front of the car, feeling glad that my apparent bout of clumsiness had passed. Then I tripped.

Laying face down on the asphalt, my hand stinging from where I had landed on it, I sighed heavily, and stood back up. I straightened my sunglasses and got back into my car.

"Are you alright?" She asked me.

"I'm fine," I said. "I'm just having one of those days." I put the car in gear and turned on the left turn signal. I looked over my shoulder, then pulled back onto US 2, accelerating to an even seventy-five miles per hour, and setting the cruise control.

"What's your name?" Maria asked me, almost staring at me.

"Parker," I replied, glancing at her occasionally. "Parker Hale. It's nice to meet you." As I drove, I found it difficult to concentrate on the road. Her perfume was nice, her dress was tastefully low-cut, and her legs were...well, I digress, but you get the point.

"I'm so glad you stopped," she said, touching my right arm.

"Were you there long?" I asked.

"Not long," she said. "I knew my white knight would come soon." Wow, I thought, she's being really flirty. Maybe this trip is paying off, I wondered.

She was being very flirty. Maybe a little too flirty? I certainly didn't mind, but it was very strange.

"I was waiting for you," she said at last. "I knew you'd stop, and I was right, wasn't I, Mr. Nightcrawler?"

Aw, [EXPLETIVE DELTED], I thought. I looked over at her, and sure enough, I was staring down the barrel of a nickel-plated Browning .380. I sighed again.

"Damn it to hell," I said out loud, whacking the steering wheel.

"Aww, what's the matter?" Maria asked, puffing up those goregous pouty lips. "Having a bad day? It's going to get worse, I promise. Turn right at the next road."

"Where does that road go?"

"NEVER MIND!" She shrieked. "JUST DO IT!" There wasn't a lot I could do. I had a gun to my head and my pistol was in the glove box. Even if it wasn't, there was no way I could draw a pistol and fire before she put a round through my noggin. So, when I came upon the turnoff, I did as I was told. The road I turned off on went north, and was as straight as the barrel of a gun for as far as the eye can see.

"FASTER!" She said, and I stepped on the gas, speeding away from US 2, into the middle of nowhere, at 75 miles per hour.

"Can I ask who sent you, at least?" I asked, not looking at her. She giggled to herself, but didn't answer. My mind was racing. I knew the score. Sooner or later she'd tell me to stop the car, then she was going to blow my brains out. I had to act fast. I glanced over at her one last time, and got an idea.

I floored the gas pedal, accelerating as fast as the car (a '98 Intrepid) would go. The speedometer passed 80, 85, then 90 miles per hour, and the engine roared.

"What the [EXPLETIVE DELETED] are you doing??" she asked.

"Go ahead, shoot me," I said calmly. "Killing the driver of a car you're in, while going ninety miles an hour is a great idea."

"Maybe I'll just shoot you in the leg to get you to slow down," she said flatly. Damn, she had a point. Then I got my second idea.

"You know," I said, glancing over at her one last time, "You're a very beautiful woman. We could've had something, you know? But you've got issues, darlin'. And really, you ought to be wearing your seatbelt."

I stomped on the brakes.

The car had anti-lock brakes, but the decceleration was, well, sudden, to say the least. Maria's head knocked off the side of the windshield, and she fell forward out of her seat, hitting the dash board. She dropped her gun, and I nearly lost control of the car as it skidded to a halt.

"I'm sorry about this," I said. I have issues with violence against women, even if they are psychos. I reached down and grabbed Maria's little popgun, putting it in my lap. While she was writhing on the floor, in a bit of a daze, I reached across her, opened the passenger's side door, and pushed her out. I tossed her purse out too, and it landed on top of her, spilling feminine hyiene products all over. She started cursing as I closed the door and locked it.

I guess that she had gotten her wits together as I began to drive off, because she started pounding on the side of the car, screaming at me in spanish. I turned the car around, and drove away, heading back towards US 2. A mile or so down the road I tossed her pistol out the window, and was on my way once again.

This had been a pretty rough trip after all, and I wasn't even THERE yet!

[sm]

:D

[BluesBear]

(Rocky&BullwinkleAnnouncer)[/size]]
What will happen next to our Intrepid Hero?
(Hehehehe, Intrepid, get it? Intrepid.)


Will he ever "get" the Girl or will the Girl "get" him?

Don't miss our next exciting episode...


Over the River & Out of The Woods.

OR

A Gun in the Hand, Beats Two in the Glove Box.

[trooper]

Hehe... the saga continues... :)

I never watched "Punisher" but after reading the first chapter I instantly thought "Once upon a time in... um, North Dakota"... ;)

Good writing, keep it going, NC.


Regards,

Trooper

[RED-DOG 40]

...Women....:uhoh: ....:banghead:

..:D

[sm]

:D
Okay I really like your ...well whatever the heck you call it , you are doing.

"Announcing" , "Teasers"... keep it up. I like them.

Rocky and Bullwinkle...:D Perfect Announcer and Format for this story!!
Heck I bet you remember Gary Coleman and Laugh In?

[Phantom Warrior]

HA! North Dakota AND a hot latin woman. I like this story already. Props to you, Nightcrawler.

P.S. I'd like if even more if he made a rest stop in MN, but I go to school in ND, so that's close enough.

P.P.S. Highway 2 to Michigan goes right through MN... ;)

[Nightcrawler]

Oh, I know all about US 2 in friggin' Minnesota. I know how the speed limit is 55 from just east of Bemidji all the way to Duluth, and how it slows to 40 and 30 for the dozens of little podunk town with 110 people in them and nothing along the highway except a Dairy Queen.

It's even more boring than the Wisconsin/Upper Michigan stretch of the trip! GRR! :neener:

[Indy7373]

Man, now i am hooked.

MORE MORE

[sturmruger]

I was born in that piece of crap town. Everytime I buy a gun I have to put on the form that my place of birth was Devils Lake, ND. Great story so far Night, it sounds just like ND to me.

[Ktulu]

Nice! :D

[Smoke]

but, but, but ....

Why would a gun runner with a car full of Illegal GLocks that just had to kill someone at a road side stop, put his 1911 (good choice) in the glove box to stop again on a deserted stretch of highway??!!

Car full of Glocks and he carries a 1911, I love that.

You have a talent.

Smoke

[CZ-100]

Car full of Glocks and he carries a 1911, I love that.

Cause they (Glocks) are for the spooky guys that he knows that could use a crate full of non-American made pistols without serial numbers or manufacturer's proofs.

Now the 1911,... it's for a Real shooter...
:neener:

[LeadPumper]

I floored the gas pedal, accelerating as fast as the car (a '98 Intrepid) would go. The speedometer passed 80, 85, then 90 miles per hour, and the engine roared.

I can personally attest to the fact that a 96-98 Dodge Intrepid will top out at 119 mph before the computer speed governor kicks in.

Now the 1911,... it's for a Real shooter...

Mr. Nightcrawler might say "beware those sour notes..."

-LeadPumper

[mcneill]

Reminds me of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer - younger version of course.;)

Jim

[LynnMassGuy]

Very cool my man!:D

[Phantom Warrior]

I know how the speed limit is 55 from just east of Bemidji all the way to Duluth

Actually the change is just east Cass Lake. But you were only off by 15-20 miles, which is pretty good for someone from out of state. I'll let it slide... :D

[Nightcrawler]

Got drill this weekend. Next week I'll probably add a couple more episodes to this little mini-series, and I'm going to make it a point to make the director's cut of the original story.

Catch you all Sunday night!

[Nightcrawler]

Oh, yeah, I've got all your names for the director's cut, too. But, if you want one, go ahead and PM me and I'll email it off when I complete it. (.doc file, virus-scanned, in a .zip file).

Thanks for keeping my head swelled. :D

[Locke]

Hey Nightcrawler, I keep hearing you mention that you have "drill" over various weekends. Could you explain what that is? I'd be curious to know. I'll be in college next year, so who knows, maybe I'll have drill too.:confused:

Ryan

[Phantom Warrior]

Hey Nightcrawler, I keep hearing you mention that you have "drill" over various weekends. Could you explain what that is? I'd be curious to know. I'll be in college next year, so who knows, maybe I'll have drill too.

Not unless you join the National Guard. Nightcrawler is in the National Guard. You know, "One weekend a month, two weeks a year." A lot of National Guard members refer to that one weekend a month as drill. That's where he'll be this weekend.

[Locke]

Oh, oh... now it all makes sense. Thanks, Phantom Warrior.:cool:

Ryan

[keyhole]

Stay tuned fans, ,,,,,,,,,,

Same THR time

Same THR channel


:D

[Pheonix]

I was hoping you would be writing again!:D

[P95Carry]

Damn, damn and ..... treble damn! Ya can't keep a good writer down ..... oh my! :)

NC ... you're on a roll again ... and it's immense fun ... love it. I think you and Spillane must be genetically linked .... keep it up fella .... you got the audience.

<mutter> How does this guy do it ... ? Great stuff</mutter>

[kudu]

:cuss: I was surfing along and cameacross this thread. :scrutiny: Now you got me hooked and I had to go back and read your first series and am now waiting impatiently for your next chapter Nightcrawler.

Now it will take me about 6 hours to drive up there to the UP to find you and talk some sense into you about not leaving things hanging...







Great work, I appreciate the time it takes to put these stories together. thanks

[Esky]

More, MORE... and SOON!

Esky
who reads a lot more than he writes

[Samurai Penguin]

AAAAUUUUUGGGHHH!!! Dammit, I am NOT reading this! I am NOT going to get sucked into another Nightcrawler serial!! I have a LIFE, dammit! I'm going on vacation next week! I'm not going...

...to....

...Resistance is futile. I will wait patiently for the next installment. Nightcrawler is God.

:D

You rock, NC....and you too, BB--the "announcer" bits are way hysterical!

[Nightcrawler]

I'm back.

Did a firing party for a funeral yesterday (and didn't screw it up this time, like I did the last time, though that wasn't at a funeral), and it rained all weekend. I got up at 0530 and I'm running on about four hours of sleep. So, no update tonight, though probably tomorrow.

You guys are the best. :D

[Nightcrawler]

You want to go to drill during college?

Have at it! (http://www.1800goguard.com/home.html)

1-800-GO-GUARD :cool:

[Locke]

Thanks for the link, NC. Do you know if you could be called up to go to Iraq, by any chance?

Ryan

[Nightcrawler]

Do you know if you could be called up to go to Iraq, by any chance

Sure I could. Some 40% of the National Guard has been activated. However, it depends on your unit. My unit probably isn't getting deployed soon, and in any case not before I get out in a month.

Now, once you get out, you can be recalled for a conflict, but since I'll be working overseas for a defense contractor, I'm not worried about that.

It's always a possibility, though, but really, it's what they pay us for.

[Locke]

I'll be working overseas for a defense contractor

Ahem, I assume you'll still be able to write and post on the internet while over there....?:rolleyes: If not.... I don't know what will happen, but probably about half of THR will die of withdrawl...:p :eek:

Ryan

[Jac]

Whoa... COOL! Great stuff, man... really great.

MORE... I WANT MOOOOOOOORE!:D

[Red_SC]

BBBBBBBBBTTTBBTBTTTTTTTTBTBBTTTTTTT

(All right already, I'm getting the shakes!)

[itgoesboom]

Ok, come on, we have been waiting patiently.

Update soon?

I.G.B.

PS. nice work as always NC.

[Red_SC]

Anybody know where Nightcrawler lives? So we can go threaten him or something? :neener:

[trooper]

Anybody know where Nightcrawler lives? So we can go threaten him or something?

That could turn out to be a less-than-smart idea... the accounts of his "adventures" might not be so fictional after all... :)


Trooper

[Indy7373]

btt:D

[Nightcrawler]

Bring it. See what you get. :evil:

Sorry for the lack of updates. A LOT of stuff unexpectedly happened this week, Qatar stuff, and I've been too distracted to concentrate.

For example, I just found out that a big check I've been waiting on, a check that will allow me to purchase things I need for the desert and have the cash on hand that I need, isn't going to be mailed out until July 15th. I'm supposed to leave on June 30th.

Fun stuff like that. :banghead:

So, I'll get on it when I get on it. Sorry guys. :(

[Indy7373]

Man, I was hoping you had the most recent installation.

*German Accent* If you know vat is goot for you, you vill write a new story soon. Ve have vays of making you write*German accent off*

Its not nice to make grown men beg.:D

[BluesBear]

Coming Soon to a Monitor near YOU!

Part THREE in the exciting, nailbiting, thrilling serial...

HULLABALOO On US 2

Starring Mr Night Crawler
and featuring the most Bodacious Bevy of Beautiful Babes since the Bond Girls.




A High Road Serial
©2004 NC Productions

[Dionysusigma]

So, I'll get on it when I get on it. Sorry guys. :(
Well then... guess it's our duty to *ahem* bump keep you reminded of your... ah... "obligation" to those whom have acquired a new... addiction to your work.







:D

[Moparmike]

http://www.omelete.com.br/imagens/cinema/artigos/star_wars/vader.jpg

I find your lack of updates disturbing...

[Ktulu]

LOL! :D

[Nightcrawler]

The rest of the trip to Minot went off without incident. I was relieved to find that yes, I could make a two hour drive without anyone trying to kill me. I had begun to worry for awhile there.

I checked in to the Minot Super 8, made a couple phone calls (both business and personal) and racked out for awhile. Two attempts on my life in two days fatigued me somehow, and I took a good long nap.

I had woken up and was watching Death Wish 4 on the televisor when I heard a knock on the door. Now, I hadn't been expecting company, so I grabbed my Gov't Model from the nightstand and went to answer the door. I was hoping like hell it was just somebody at the wrong room or something; a gunfight in a crowded motel in the middle of town couldn't end well for me.

Holding the pistol behind my back in my left hand, I approached the door and looked through the peep hole.

Smiling, I stuffed the pistol into the waistband of my jeans (behind my back) and opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I thought I'd suprise you," Mary said.

"I'm here on business. You shouldn't have come."

"Can I come in or do I have to stand in the hall while you try to tell me where I can and can't go?" I laughed, and moved away from the door.

"You always answer the door with a gun in your hand?" she asked, looking at my .45.

"Yeah, there's a funny story behind that. Hey, you hungry?"

"Yeah. Where do you wanna go?"

"How 'bout we go to that truck stop on the highway? They have good food there." Mary agreed, and to the truck stop we went. They were open 24 hours, which was good, as it was almost midnight when we walked in. We sat in a booth and I talked about my trip.

I had known Mary for a long time. I hadn't wanted her to know about the illicit business I was is, originally. I mean, at first, it started off so easily. I could've made a lot more money than I did, I guess, but I was a lot more choosy in my clientel than most people in my trade. (Believe it or not, a lot of black market gun runners are pretty unscrupulous. I swear, you can't trust anybody!) But, one thing led to another. I made friends and I made money. It came to be that the bulk of my sales were to private citizens, military, and police. I became sort of an unofficial Title II dealer. My friends at the FBI kept my enemies at the BATF off of my back, so long as I behaved myself.

I quickly found out how dangerous my new trade was. The first attempt on my life came from a group of wannabe gang-bangers that were ticked that I wouldn't sell to them. When all was said and done, three of them were dead, I had a .380 bullet in my shoulder, and I had learned the importance of a quick draw.

I confessed everything to Mary after that. I mean, there are some people in life you just don't hide things from. I promised her I'd get out of the business before it got me killed, and I intended to. She reminded me of this after I told her about my run in with Henry Hyde.

"How many times are you going to have to go through this?" she asked me. "You can't stop pissing people off, can you? First it was that gang. Then it was the KKK. Then the Russian mafia. Then that Mexican cartel. Then that Chinese triad. Who did you piss off this time?"

"I have no idea!" I said, in my own defense. "Things have been quiet since winter. I don't know what it is this time."

"I can't believe you actually shot a man at a rest stop."

"He shot me too! I was just smart enough to wear armor."

"I know...but doesn't it bother you?"

"You damn right it bothers me. You know that's the fifteenth time I've been shot? But what can I do? He was a professional hitman. So was the woman."

"Why didn't you shoot her?"

"Didn't have to. Really, really didn't want to, either."

"That's sexist."

"Yep."

"But won't she come after you?"

"Maybe, maybe not. She's lost the advantage of suprise, though. I'm more worried about the assassin that I don't recognize."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well, right now, I'm going to eat this big omlet. Then, I'm going to get a good night's sleep. Tomrrow, I'm going to meet my guy and see about that crate of unmarked Glock clones that some high speed, low drag friends of mine are interested in. Then, in a couple days, I'm going to drive home." She rolled her eyes at my very literal answer.

"Oh whatever. You're going to get yourself killed, you know."

"So far so good," I said, grinning, and shoveling hashed browns into my mouth.

"WHATEVER!"

"Look. I've had plenty of guys come after me, and I've buried 'em all. I'll get through this."

"Sooner or later your luck is going to run out."

[BluesBear]

What will happen next to our Dynamic Diehard?
Will he, in fact, die hard?


Will he make it just through dessert or will he get his just desserts?

Don't miss our next exciting episode...


Marry Mary Quite Contrary?

OR

Rock Around the Glock!

[Nightcrawler]

Car full of Glocks and he carries a 1911, I love that.
Now the 1911,... it's for a Real shooter...
Mr. Nightcrawler might say "beware those sour notes..."

My much-more-adventurous-than-I online alter-ego does share the same handgun preferances as I do. Though, he is a lot more skilled with his than I am with mine. :D

Most of the time, he prefers a S&W 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. (A newer one with the endurance package, that can handle warm handloads.) Other times, he'll carry a Colt NRM Gov't Model (sometimes suppressed). A CZ-97B has served as his car gun, and he's been known to pack a .357 Magnum, 3" SP101 and a MAC-10 .45 SMG on occasion. His preferred "all-around" rifle is a FAL he built himself, and he has a couple custom-made tranquilizer guns for less-lethal applications.

He also has a CZ-85B 9mm that might get some use for a future excursion to Canada. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Canada or Europe, (or most of the rest of the world, actually) 9mm is all the rage... :D

Note that my doppelganger has a much bigger gun collection than I do. It's really not fair. :uhoh: I mean, hell, I (the physical Nightcrawler) don't even OWN a Strela-2!

I try to diversify the guns in my stories, and I try to pick guns that fit the characters. The beautiful seniorita carried a nickeled Browning BDA .380; a Glock 27 would've probably been a more practical choice, but but it just doesn't FIT. Henry Hyde carried a SAA because...well, what else is a Johnny Cash-esqe guy going to carry? A Kimber? A Springfield XD?

In my previous story, the Triad guys usually carried Beretta 92s. This is because the Beretta 92 has been in nearly every Hong Kong blood opera, and it just worked for the role.

Oh, and for those seeing similarities to the film Desperado and its sequels...I just saw Desperado for the first time tonight, and haven't seen the others. Any similarities are purely coincidental, though I'll freely admit that for these stories I borrow heavily from all kinds of sources. (You get bonus points if you can guess who originally said the "I've buried 'em all" line.)

Oddly enough, the other day I caught part of an old Charles Bronson western called Once Upon a Time in the West, or something to that effect, that featured a harmonica-playing, SAA packing gunslinger. Eerie... :D

[trooper]

Oddly enough, the other day I caught part of an old Charles Bronson western called Once Upon a Time in the West, or something to that effect, that featured a harmonica-playing, SAA packing gunslinger. Eerie...

Hey, that's what I was referring to earlier... :) I really thought you copied the scene from that flick.

I never watched "Punisher" but after reading the first chapter I instantly thought "Once upon a time in... um, North Dakota"...

Good movie, indeed. You should watch all of it. It also has one of the best soundtracks ever.


Regards,

Trooper

[Ktulu]

You get bonus points if you can guess who originally said the "I've buried 'em all" line.


Krusty the Clown!

[Nightcrawler]

Yep! From the Gabbo episode of the Simpsons.

Krusty: "Ah, that dummy doesn't scare me. I've had plenty of guys come after me and I've buried 'em all. Hobos. Sea captains. Joey Bishop.
Assistant: "Don't forget the Special Olympics!"
Krusty: "Yeah...I slaughtered the Special Olympics...heheheh...."

:D

[Nightcrawler]

I've begun work on the special edition of my first story. Without any of the changes and editing I'm planning to make, it comes to just under 31,000 words and about 60 pages (with a line space between each paragraph; this won't be the case in the final version).

When it's completed, I'll email the thing in a .zip file to everyone who PMed me asking for it.

EDIT: It might NOT be a standard paragraph format with tab indentations at the beginning of each paragraph. For some reason, after I've copied and pasted everything to the document, pressing the tab key moves the whole left margin over, instead of indenting the beginning of the paragraph... :uhoh:

EDIT EDIT: I just finished editing the first six parts of the story. No major changes so far. Mostly, I'm cleaning it up. Remember that the whole thing is a rough draft, was was posted with little proof-reading. I'm fixing grammatical errors, typos, and all sorts of things you miss when you hammer something out at three o' clock in the morning. :D

[P95Carry]

You have an appreciative audience out here!!:)

[Gus Dddysgrl]

Bump

:D

Come on I want to hear more. I don't usually get addicted to things, but these stories are good and I hate not reading, seeing, hearing the ending.

I need closure!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:neener: :evil: :D :rolleyes: Just kidding. I know you're prolly busy, but just wanted to remind you.

[Nightcrawler]

Actually, I think I've taken care of everything I needed to for my Qatar job. (drove 240 miles today to do it, too), so I've got less stress on my mind.

Look for an update today or tomorrow. I've also been working on the cleaned up version of the first story. It's coming along; I'm about halfway through the first once-over, fixing typos, correcting grammar, things like that.

The second-over will probably be tweaking and editing of scenes.

[Nightcrawler]

I want to thank you all, by the way, for your kind words and encouragement. Some of you have said that I should try to publish this stuff, but I don't think so.

See, I'm my own worst critic (in most things, and writing especially). I could never bring myself to publish one of these stories. I like writing them for fun, just for you guys' entertainment. I mean, if somebody doesn't like it, or doesn't like my writing style, or if there are mistakes or errors, so what? It's just something I thought up on the fly, with no proofreading. If I were going to try to publish something, my inner perfectionist would come out. Half the reason I can never finish writing things I start is because I can never seem to get them "just right". I need more a LOT more writing practice before I ever consider getting serious with it.

I enjoy writing, though, I really do. I don't have any designs on being a professional writer, but it is something I like (and I'm told I have a knack for).

Besides, though, I could NEVER seriously publish something that stars myself as the protaganist.

The reason the stories star myself is because it's easier to write that way; I know how I think, how I talk, etc.; I don't have to make up dialogue or anything, because how my character talks in the story, is how I type, and is bascially how I actually talk. Plus, it's tounge-in-cheek; my character is cocky and a lot more skilled with firearms than I am, but he's also a venue for me to poke fun at myself. His ineptitude with women, for instance, while something of an exageration, is me poking fun at my historically bad luck in the dating world. (Honestly, I find the whole love, sex, and romance song & dance we go through to be immensely amusing...)

I don't think I could ever publish a story fictionalizing my own life, though, making me out to be some kind of action hero or something. How ego-centric would that be? :D

[NRA4LIFE]

That's OK, just keep the chapters coming, good luck in the Middle East and have a cinnamon roll for me next time you pass through L'Anse.

[P95Carry]

How ego-centric would that be? NC . hey, that could be seen as a pre requisite anyways for .... well a lot of authors. Much of this revolves round ''poetic licence'' .... the ability to ''stretch'' things beyond what you'd normally be able to do .... and thus satisfy that elusive ego fix!

Don't let THAT worry you! The bit of writing I did was, in part, a great fix for my ego! I could do things beyond my real capabilities.:p

Whatever....... whether you write for here and fun - or do go further eventually ..... as you'll have gathered by now, you have both a thirsty and enthusiastic audience here!:)

[keeperofthehills]

So im reading NC stories at 130 in the morning after a hard night at the shop. Im all pumped up from hearing about him sail a slug the the Jonny Cash wannabe. I hear a screeching noise from outside and before I know it ive got my 1201fp in hand out the door checking the peremiter.
true story!

is that a good thing? :uhoh: :D

great stories man!

[FSCJedi]

I'm with Keeper on this one. You're stuff is great. We (Keeper and I) were talking about them tonight. I've dabbled with writing some stuff like this in the past, but not as much as you apparently have. Hmm... maybe I'll try my hand at a new story... :D

Oh, by the way, Keeper mentioned that you were emailing copies of the whole compiled story if we wanted to read them. Can I get a copy sent to me? My email is: FF2Levitan@hotmail.com

Thanks, and I look forward to reading a lot more!

[Pheonix]

I am confused. Is the current story the one that is being e mailed or is it the last one?

[P95Carry]

Phoenix ....... NC is putting together the first one for emailing when he can ... after he's made odd corrections etc.

The latest stuff is not so far in other than the format you see on the forum.

[Nightcrawler]

The completed, cleaned up, edited, and improved version of my original story is now ready for anyone that wants one. It's Nightcrawler Story.doc, compessed in NC Story.zip, for a total of 88kb. The internal hyperlinks still work, the swears have been un-censored, and it's all-around better, I think. The file has been Symmantec Virus-Scanned, and came back clean, and I'm emailing it out to all who requested it. If I missed anybody, or if anybody else, by chance, wants a copy, please PM me with your email addy and I'll get it to you right away.

Thanks so much for your support, everybody. I started writing this as a joke; I had no idea anyone would actually like it, muchless convince me to turn it into a complete story.

It's also the longest story I've ever written, at just over 31,000 words.

Thanks for your support, guys! :D

[P95Carry]

Looking forward to receiving a copy NC . Thx to you for not only the original but the work you've done on the finished product file.:)

[Nightcrawler]

Little goof from the editing. I forgot to remove the word "stainless". There's no such thing as a stainless Tokarev. :o

[Red_SC]

BTT

[Jac]

There's no such thing as a stainless Tokarev
Sure there is... in your story!:p

You're a writer, man... ya gotta learn the writer tricks: Anything behind the 4th wall is limited only by your imagination.:evil:

[Gus Dddysgrl]

What happened next?????????????

Where'd NC go????????

Hmmm gotta go find more coffee to keep me up to see if something comes up.

[MobileSuitPilotX]

Good story! I'm new here, but it seems you do short stories periodically. I'll be interested in new installments. BTW, I LOVE Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, and most of the earlier Mobile Suit Gundam series (Mobile Suit Gundam, 08th MS Team, 0083 Stardust Memory...) Glad to be among fellow Otaku. ^_^ Stay safe. Justin

[Dionysusigma]

Ya know, it's high time he finishes this story. :scrutiny: :D

[mohican]

NC
any chance of coming back to this story?

[indoorsoccerfrea]

hello? NC? i thirst!