The Storm Inside The Dome

THE

STORM INSIDE THE DOME

D. JAMES BATEMAN

COPYRIGHT 2012 D. JAMES BATEMAN

SMASHWORDS EDITION

This book is dedicated to every person that was affected by Hurricane Katrina. I wish to take this opportunity to pay my respects to all those that lost their lives and to give my respect to all those that bravely fought to save the lives of many more.

For dramatic effect I may not have portrayed those involved in the rescue efforts in the best of light. Outside of this book though…in real life…I wish to thank you all for everything you did.

A WORD OR TWO FROM THE AUTHOR

Guys and Girls,

I wrote this book for one reason and one reason only…It’s time somebody brought back Old School Action. I’ve been blessed with the ability to string a sentence together, but I’m not a writer…I’m a fan. I’m a fan of 1980’s Action Movies and I want to see that Genre make a comeback. It seems that nowadays every Action Hero is either a 180 pound pretty boy with six-pack abs or a super sexy Woman. The Bad Guys are no more impressive. No offence to 180 pound pretty boys with six-pack abs or super sexy Women…But you just don’t quite do it for me when it comes to playing the Hero in an action story.

I want to bring back the days of larger than life, physically imposing He-Men, overcoming impossible odds to save the day. I want to be made angry at watching/reading big, menacing bad guys doing horrible things to good people and then cheer at the top of my lungs when the muscle-bound hero shows up to do even more horrible things to them. I want my hero to look like he genuinely could take on an entire Army of bad guys…AND WIN!

Life isn’t always good. Switch the News on and you’ll be sure to see some kind of tragedy or suffering. You’re tied to that daily rut of working all the hours to pay the bills that the Post Man keeps putting through your door. From time to time, isn’t it good to just suspend reality for an hour two and throw yourself into a World where one man can overcome any odds and save the day?

Let’s bring back Biceps and Bazookas!

D. James Bateman

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

Chapter 1. FADED GLORY

Chapter 2. ENTER THE COLLECTOR

Chapter 3. UNWANTED HELP

Chapter 4. SATANS PLAYGROUND

Chapter 5. UNBREAKABLE WILL, BREAKABLE BODY

Chapter 6. THE REUNION

Chapter 7. WHO BETTER TO DO THE DEVILS WORK THAN THE DEVIL HIMSELF?

Chapter 8. THE BEGINNING OF A COLLISION COURSE

Chapter 9. AN EXPLOSIVE START

Chapter 10. HOPE LOST

Chapter 11. OFF WITH HIS HEAD

Chapter 12. CROSSING THE BATTLE FIELD

Chapter 13. THE SHOWDOWN

Chapter 14. A HERO NEVER DIES

PROLOGUE

I’m pathetic. I’m nothing but a useless cripple. I don’t blame my wife for leaving me. Why would she stay with a broken down loser like me? The one person in the World that I can be sure still loves me, is up there being violated by those parasites. She needs me now more than ever. My daughter needs her Father and yet here I am, slumped in a fucking wheelchair beaten half to death. I used to be her hero…Now look at me. The one time she truly needs a hero and I fail. What are those animals doing to her? Is she even still alive? My baby must be terrified. All her life, I fought to protect her. That was the old me though. I’m not up to the job anymore. I’m of no use to her.

The old me could have saved her. I used to be Captain James Heath. I used to bring in mobs of fucking scum like that single handed. I used to have an entire Precinct of the best Police Officer’s in the entire City at my disposal. I could have gotten my baby back. What do I have now though? NOTHING. I need a fucking cane to walk. I couldn’t even get past a couple of street rats. I have no help in here. They all have more important things to be doing than saving my daughter’s life. She’s everything to me. All that I have left. I guess she’s just a number to them? Just another victim. Fuck them.

I can’t believe I’m still in the United States. This place is Hell. The Hurricane outside is nothing compared to what’s happening in here. Everywhere I look someone is being hurt. Someone is suffering. Who the fuck is in charge here? It’s not the Police. It’s not the Army. It’s the fucking scum that have my daughter. They rule this place. They are the Piranha fish in this giant fucking fish bowl. Who can stop them though? Not me. I’m finished. Done. I’m no good to anybody. Not my daughter, not my wife and not even myself. I wish those bastards had finished the job when they were kicking ten bells of shit out of me back there. Every last inch of my body throbs in pain. I’m broken, I’m hurt and I’m covered in blood. I can barely stay conscious. How the fuck is my Heart still beating? I don’t want it to be. Moving through this wide walkway, with the blinding white light is like I’m on my way to the afterlife anyway. I don’t give a fuck about Heaven or Hell…I just want out of this life. If I can’t help Felicity, then what’s the point? She is my life.

Wait…That man. That man in the distance. I…I know that man. How do I know him? Fuck it…Come on Heath, remember! Our paths have crossed and it’s not a happy memory. When though? Where? I need to place that man. Something is telling me that I need to work out who he is!

Chapter 1

FADED GLORY

The ringing of a telephone sounds in the living room of a middle class Mandeville Suburb of New Orleans home. The house has all the trimmings of a happy family home, but strangely, loneliness and isolation fills the rooms. The howling of the wind and the sound of the house being pelted with rain do nothing to add warmth to the setting. The ring of the telephone prompts the homes only resident, a man, to set down a glass of Single Malt Scotch Whiskey on a table and reach in front of him for a walking cane. Through a combination of that cane and seemingly all of his might, the man sighs as he stands from the chair.

I’m coming! The man hollers as he unsteadily makes his way across the room to pick up the phone.

Yeahhh? He unexcitedly answers with his course, Whiskey soaked voice.

Dad? A sweet female voice replies.

Suddenly the man’s attention has been grabbed. His heavy, dark ringed eyes open a little wider.

Felicity…baby…

Dad, I can’t speak for long…this Hurricane is bad and I’m frightened. The Mayor was on TV and said that everyone must leave New Orleans. Me and Mom are about to get a bus that is going to take us out of State, to Texas. I really want you to come with us. There is a pick up point on the Reagan Highway, can you leave now Dad?

Leave? I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying in our home. The man slurs with conviction.

Please Daddy. I don’t want anything to happen to you… The girl pleads with her Father, her voice shaking as she tries to keep herself composed.

You weren’t worried about me when you left me here a year ago. You didn’t have to go with your Mother. So why the concern now? The drunk snaps in reply.

The girls breathing becomes heavier, then shorter and finally the tears cannot be contained anymore. The phone is snatched from her and now an older, more assertive female voice makes its way down the phone.

You bastard, James! What have you said to that girl? What have you said to hurt our daughter now? The woman angrily hisses into the mouthpiece.

Beth! My wife… my loving wife! So loving you left me and took my daughter with you. But then why would you stay with a cripple like me hey? The man is interrupted before he can speak another word.

Now is not the time, James! Us leaving had nothing to do with your MS... It had everything to do with you being a vile, disgusting drunk who wouldn’t accept help. I’m not getting into this. Your daughter called you because she loves you and is worried about you. If you don’t care about yourself, fine, but what do you think it would do to Felicity if something happened to you? This storm is bad and it isn’t getting any better. Look past the bottle and put the News on to see what is going on around you. Now I’m getting our daughter out of harm’s way. The woman snaps before slamming down the telephone.

Come on bastard Hurricane, come take me! It will do them both a favour if you throw me out to Sea. The man mutters drunkenly as he makes his way back across the room, each step made possible by his walking cane.

The man slumps down into the arm chair and looks around the room. Amongst the framed photos capturing a Wedding, the growing up of a baby girl and a happy family are pieces of the man’s story. Graduating the Police Academy, awards of bravery and a Newspaper clipping celebrating the man being the youngest Officer to make the rank of Captain