28: Owner Of A Lonely Heart
by Kell Carpenter
barchettaboy@yahoo.com


Kevin Masterson shuffled into his homeroom class and sat down. He'd had a rough week of things, and he could feel it in his bones. Hanna Vaughn watched him as he slumped in his seat.

"Hey, Kev, what's the deal? You're really dragging here lately -you been burning the midnight oil or something?" She grinned, teasing him, but was worried too. He just hadn't been himself lately...

Kevin smiled ruefully. "Nah, just had a lot to do, what with Bobby and all..."

And this was true; Bobby Steele's condition had been cautiously upgraded, thanks to some increased brain wave activity and minor movement of his limbs. What he couldn't tell her was that he'd been training a LOT lately and was actually making some tenuous "patrols" around the city at night as Thunderstrike. So far there had been no action, but he didn't expect it to stay that way for long. The main thing it had done for him was make him very tired.

"Well, just try to get some sleep, Kev. You're lookin' like you're half-dead..." Hanna had been joking, but she was still worried. Kevin just hadn't been himself, and that worried her...


After school:
Kevin and Hanna were walking down the hall. She was headed to cheerleading practice (something Kevin still couldn't get used to), and he was walking her there. Once they got to the gym, Kevin said goodbye and turned to go back the way they came.

"Say, aren't you going out to meet Jarvis?" She had a puzzled look and had cocked her head to the side.

He laughed. "Nah, I'm volunteering after school today. I'm missing some elective credits and the principal said I could do some work after school to make up for them. It'll only be a couple of times a week, and I'll still be able to graduate on time."

Hanna's expression smoothed out. "Well, as long as you're doing an 'officially sanctioned activity', I guess I can let it slide..." She laughed, and opened the gym door. Before she went in, she turned back to Kevin. "Oh, I almost forgot! There's this cheerleader get-together thing coming up on Friday, and we're all allowed a guest. Wanna come with me? I always dread these things, and having someone interesting there would make it easier to deal with. Interested?"

Kevin rubbed his chin. "Well, I suppose I could go. I'll have to check my social calendar first..."

Hanna hit his arm, hard. "Jerk! I didn't have to ask you to go, y'know...!" She raised an eyebrow and tapped her foot.

"Hey, I was kidding! I'd love to go, and I really don't have anything going on. Just let me know what time and all and I'll get Jarvis to pick you up in the car."

Hanna's eyes widened. "Cool! Thanks, Kev; you're the best! Seeya tomorrow, 'kay?"

"Sure thing, Hanna. Have fun at practice..." Kevin turned and headed back toward the school office.

Hanna stood for a moment more, watching him go. "You really are the best, Kev. The best..." She sighed and went inside the gym.

*****

Kevin pondered over the exchange with Hanna. She was his best friend, and the only friend his age he'd really found since coming to the new school. This thing on Friday was an awful lot like a date, and he wasn't sure about it. He liked Hanna, so that wasn't the problem. He just wasn't sure if he liked her that much.

He sighed aloud. "What else is going to happen?" He asked to nobody in particular.

A gruff voice from nearby said: "Plenty, kid; plenty!"


Bobby Steele's status checks had increased since his brainwave and motor activity had increased*. There were doctors and nurses constantly coming to his bed, checking the monitors he was plugged into, and generally observing his condition.

*(Issue #26 - Back-Issue Kell)

Between two of these visits, Bobby began to thrash in his bed. The nurse on call ran into the room and, seeing his condition, hit the call button for help. Two more nurses and the doctor on duty were at her side in moments, observing Bobby's violent movements.

One of the nurses asked if they should administer an anti-convulsive medication, but the doctor said no.

"I want to see how long this lasts. Mr. Steele is in no apparent danger at the moment, and I'd like to observe this. If it persists, we'll go with an anti-convulsive."

Bobby's thrashing slowed, and he became still at last. He was covered in a sheen of sweat, and his movements had the bedsheets in disarray. The doctor checked the vital sign monitors, and made notes on Bobby's patient history.

One of the nurses began rearranging the bedsheets, and the other nurses and the doctor left the room. They had just gotten back to their stations when the other nurse came running up to them, frantic.

"Come quick, doctor! It's Mr. Steele - he's awake!!"


Kevin, startled at the voice behind him, jumped. "Wh-what?!?"

He saw a stocky man in a janitor's outfit. The patch over his left chest pocket said "Ralph".

"So you're the kid's gonna gimme a hand, huh?" He appraised Kevin. "Not much ta work with, but I guess you'll do..." His scowl turned into a broad grin. "I was just goofin' around with ya kid. I'm Ralph, the janitor here. You'll be helpin' me out around here after school." He extended a hand.

Kevin took his hand. "I'm going to be helping you? I don't understand..."

Ralph laughed. "You volunteered ta help out after school ta earn some credits, right kid? Well, they stuck you with me. C'mon, I'll show you a side a' this school you never knew existed..."

*****

An hour later, Kevin was sweating and almost as tired as he was after one of Captain America's workouts. "Wow, I never knew being a janitor was such hard work, Ralph!"

"Hey, don't I know it, kid! Lemme let you in on a little secret: I ain't a janitor by profession." His expression changed slightly from its usual good nature.

Kevin wiped his brow and narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Ralph pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his own face. He turned a wastebasket over and sat on it. "Here, pull up a can and I'll tell ya all about it..."

Kevin followed suit, and listened intently.

"Y'see Kev, my name's Ralph Angelo. Junior, that is. Sound familiar to you?" Kevin nodded. The name of the school was Angelo Memorial High School. "My dad was Ralph Angelo Senior. He was a big businessman and made a lotta money. Only problem was that he spent so much time makin' all that money that he was never around for my mom, my brother Ron an' me. Ron hated Dad for never bein' around, an' he made sure Dad knew he was alive by gettin' into every kinda trouble he could. Ron stole stuff, he got inta fights at school; he was yer basic Noo Yawk hood."

Ralph shook his head. "I tried ta talk sense ta Ron, but he hated Dad so much that he wouldn't listen ta nobody. One night, the phone rings in the middle o' the night. Dad was, of course, outta town, so it was just me an' Mom there. Seems Ron had gotten himself in over his head with some wiseguys and was workin' for 'em ta pay off his debts. Only this time, his 'work' was ta kill someone. Ron got caught with the smokin' gun like in some cheap detective story and the police were callin' ta let us know."

Ralph leaned back and ran his hand through his hair. "Dad was furious. Nah, furious ain't the word for it - he was disgusted. He told Ron that he could forget about bein' bailed out, that he was on his own this time. Ron was pleadin' with Dad, me an' Mom was pleadin' with him too. Dad said he'd had enough a' Ron's breakin' the law, and he was on his own."

"So Ron goes to prison. Me an' Mom went ta see him every chance we could, and we was really worried about him. Seemed like every time we saw him he was more and more afraid ta be there. We filed petitions with the Board of Corrections and all that, tryin' ta have him moved or somethin', but it didn't work. Turns out Ron had talked, tryin' ta cut a deal ta save his hide. His wiseguy bosses didn't like that, an' every day he was tryin' ta stay alive..."

He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. "Then we got the other call: Ron finally ran outta ways ta stay alive. The goon that killed him got extra time added ta his sentence, but nothin' more. Mom was heartbroken, an' I wasn't much better. Dad, well, Dad had this look to him. It was like he was always mad or hurt about Ron's dyin'. He never cried, that I know about. He just attacked his work even harder than he had before."

"Then one day Dad comes home and he's madder'n ever. He's talkin' about the goodfellas that killed Ron an' how he's gonna make 'em pay. Turns out Dad had started drinkin' pretty bad when Ron died, I'd just never known it. I tried ta stop him, get him ta go sleep off the booze, but he was crazy. He just stormed outta the house and peeled outta the driveway like a maniac. Then we got the other call. This time it was about Dad. Police said he'd been in an accident, that we needed to come."

Ralph was quiet for a moment, and his words were thick with emotion when he spoke next. "Dad had been drivin' himself since Ron died 'cause he felt like it was his fault. He'd been huntin' down the sleaze that Ron had gotten mixed up with and was gonna make 'em pay. Well, he found 'em all right - he found 'em and he blazed in after 'em with all his hurt and anger and got himself killed in the bargain. He took out the penny-ante hood that had Ron killed, but he was dead too."

Tears streamed down his face. "Mom was pretty much broken after that. She just sorta crawled into a room in her mind and closed the door. I hadda put her inta a home because I couldn't take care a' her. Dad had left us with more'n enough money ta cover her care, but that wasn't enough for me. I gave the city the money for this school, and made 'em name it after Dad and Ron..."

He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. "I got money, but it don't mean anything ta me. I work for a livin', repairin' appliances and workin' with my hands. I use my spare time here keepin' the school clean. I don't get a lotta help, so I was real happy when you volunteered. You're a good kid, Kev. You're the kinda' kid I wanted this school built for..." He shook his head. "Listen ta me. I'm goin' on like some nutso an' I kept ya way too long. I'll put the time down as work, though. Go on, Kev. You got other things ta do, I'm sure."

Kevin stood up. "Well, I do have to go, but I wonder if you'd like to come to visit me sometime? I live at Avengers Mansion right now, and..."

"Avengers Mansion?!? Yer kiddin' right?" Ralph's eyes were huge. "I'd-I'd be honored ta come visit ya there. Man, Thor's one a' my heroes from way back. Does he ever come an' kick back there? I've always wanted ta meet 'im..."

Kevin laughed. "He doesn't 'kick back' a lot, but he and I are pretty tight. He knew my dad and has kept his eye on me since Dad died."

Ralph sobered. "I guess we got stuff like that in common, huh? Yeah, I'll come see ya Kev. Now go on an' scoot. I bet someone's wonderin' where you are."

"Okay, Ralph. Take care - I'll see you tomorrow." Kevin waved goodbye and headed for the front of the school.


Jarvis greeted him. "You're a bit late, Kevin. No trouble I presume?"

Kevin smiled sadly. "Nah, no trouble Jarvis. I just made another friend."

Jarvis detected the sadness in his smile. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just got reminded about how tough life is sometimes, that's all."

"Well, perhaps some time training with Captain America might take your mind off things..." Jarvis arched an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side.

Kevin nodded. "Yeah, it might. Thanks Jarvis. Can I walk home today? I think the air might do me some good."

Jarvis was concerned. "Of course you may walk home, Kevin. However, I'd feel better if you took this with you." He handed him the enchanted walking stick Odin had given him. "Just in case?"

Kevin's face eased. "Okay Jarvis. Thanks, I appreciate you watching out for me." He took the stick and started walking. "See you back at the Mansion."

*****

Behind the school, someone watched as Kevin walked away from Jarvis. He waited for Kevin to cut into an alley and make the transformation to Thunderstrike, but Kevin just kept walking. Puzzled, he kept his eye on Kevin. He'd have to observe him some more before confronting him. He carefully slipped out of his hiding place and followed Kevin.

*****

Stella Reese was watching Kevin's watcher, frowning as he followed Kevin. She stepped off the roof of the school, floating silently in the direction Kevin was heading. "This is not good. I'd better keep an eye on things..."

*****

Kevin had a strange feeling, like someone was watching him. He stopped at a newsstand, and carefully looked in the direction from which he had come. Nobody appeared to be following him. He didn't want to risk it, though. He bought a video game magazine and headed into an alley. After checking to make sure the coast was clear, he struck the stick on the ground and transformed into Thunderstrike. He leapt into the air, heading toward the Mansion.

His follower heard the sound of the transformation and ran to the mouth of the alley. "Gone already! I'll have to do better; I'm just not used to this..."

Stella Reese watched as Kevin (in his Thunderstrike guise) flew toward home. Her features softened. "Good boy Kevin, you need to stay healthy. I'll need you strong for what's in store..."

NEXT ISSUE:
WHAT'S GOING ON? WHO'S WATCHING KEVIN? WHAT DOES STELLA REESE HAVE PLANNED FOR HIM? WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW THAT BOBBY'S AWAKE? LEARN MORE AS KEVIN FACES A NEW TEST OF STRENGTH - HIS DATE WITH HANNA! BE HERE NEXT TIME FOR "CLOSER TO THE HEART"

Thundering Words
Hello again from the world of Kevin Masterson! Hope everyone is alive, well and reading! On to the letters:

Dear Kell,
After much debating with myself I finally broke down and decided to give your Thunderstrike series a shot. Eric Masterson is my favorite hero of all time, so you must understand that whenever I see the word Thunderstrike my first reaction is skepticism. After a less-than-great Kevin Masterson in A-Next, I was fearful on your take of the character.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The characterization seems to be dead on for the most part and I'm anxious to see where you're going with this. I do however have 2 minor complaints (nitpicking actually, but it IS a Thunderstrike series, so I will pick the last nit and split the last hair!):

1. The clerk from the costume store wasn't a man. It was a young woman who wanted to get it on with T-Strike every time he walked in the door (she's the one who suggested the earring in the first place).

2.When did Stellaris learn to talk properly (I figured it was her from the purple speech, and got my confirmation in #3)? One of the great things about her was her funky speech pattern and her complete misunderstanding of her culture. I hope you have an explanation for this, because it is the only sore point in an otherwise excellent series.

Well, I'm anxiously awaiting #28. Keep up the good work!

Alvaro "BigCheese" Ibáñez

Alvaro, I'm delighted to hear that you enjoy what I'm doing! Coming from Thunderstrike's self-proclaimed biggest fan, hearing I've captured the "feel" of the book is high praise indeed!!

On to your "nitpicking":

1. You caught me red-handed, Alvaro! I was going on memory on that one, since I can't lay my hands on my back-issues at this point. Thanks for keeping me straight here - I've already "fixed" it!

2. I'm going to take a lesson from Kurt Busiek here, Alvaro: "Wait and see..." All will be revealed at the appropriate time!

Thanks for taking the time to write, "Big Cheese"!

Well, let me know what you thought of this issue and the introduction of fan fiction legend Ralph Angelo Jr. to the pages of Thunderstrike and write me!

Kell