H.E.R.O. Shorts - Gatecrasher: H.E.R.O., #7

By Kevin Rau

After losing his left arm in a fight he barely survives against three mutants, Gatecrasher decides to take a vacation from being a superhero in Metrocity. He heads to the Rocky Mountains to train the first known dogs with superpowers.
He is called to aid another superhero who has disappeared while she was attempting to find a missing television production crew in the forest. There, he meets a bounty hunter named Sparks, and a cannibalistic mutant on the prowl....
The H.E.R.O. Shorts line of short stories "plug in" to the H.E.R.O. universe of novels. Officially, H.E.R.O. Shorts - Gatecrasher occurs after H.E.R.O. - Paragon, but the story stands on its own, and can serve as a low-cost introduction to the world of H.E.R.O.

Check out the entire H.E.R.O. series!
H.E.R.O. – Metamorphosis (1) This full book is FREE on most outlets!
H.E.R.O. - New Markets (2)
H.E.R.O. - Rise and Fall (3)
H.E.R.O. - Dark Research (4)
H.E.R.O. - Horde (5)
H.E.R.O. - Paragon (6)
H.E.R.O. - Illustrated Guide
H.E.R.O. Shorts – Gatecrasher (7)
H.E.R.O. Shorts – Silverlash (8)
H.E.R.O. - Gene Front (9)
H.E.R.O. - Incursion (10)
H.E.R.O. - Dolldrum (11)
H.E.R.O. - Malice (12) (approximate release date of April 2013)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin Rau
• Release date: Feb 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301931972

Kevin Rau

Born in 1970, I've been interested in fantasy and science fiction since perhaps the age of 10. I believe my love of medieval knights came about when my father built a wooden shield and sword for me to use in elementary school for some event. Through my school years I read hundreds (or thousands? - it's hard to recall at this point) of fantasy and science fiction novels. Comic books and super heroes came a bit later, although I recall seeing the Christopher Reeve Superman movies at a very young age (and loving them). Since my later teens I believe I've watched nearly every major fantasy, science fiction, and super-hero movie that has come out. I still love reading fantasy and science fiction, although I wish there were more novels based on superheroes. This is something that drove me to create my own supers universe and heroes in written form. I love supers, but I've always wanted more character depth than a comic book can provide. (Not to mention the immense length of time it takes for a comic series to do a story is just plain too long to me.) Writing is a hobby for me, I'm a full-time computer programmer and systems administrator for a small company. Fortunately the skills I've learned allow me to work with 3D programs to render the characters (and covers) for my books. My hope is to put out a novel or two a year, time allowing. At this point I'd like to grow the H.E.R.O. Universe with more novels, as well as start a fantasy series at some point.

Book preview

H.E.R.O. Shorts –

Gatecrasher

Kevin Gerald Rau

SMASHWORDS EDITION

H.E.R.O. Shorts – Gatecrasher

Copyright © 2012 Kevin Gerald Rau

Editors

Kimi Johnson

Dan Henry

All characters are original and fictional. Any likeness to real people is purely incidental. Cover created by Kevin Rau.

The H.E.R.O. series includes:

H.E.R.O. – Metamorphosis (1)

H.E.R.O. - New Markets (2)

H.E.R.O. - Rise and Fall (3)

H.E.R.O. - Dark Research (4)

H.E.R.O. - Horde (5)

H.E.R.O. - Paragon (6)

H.E.R.O. - Illustrated Guide

H.E.R.O. Shorts – Gatecrasher (7)

H.E.R.O. Shorts – Silverlash (8)

H.E.R.O. - Gene Front (9)

H.E.R.O. - Incursion (10)

H.E.R.O. - Dolldrum (11)

H.E.R.O. – Malice (12) (approx. release date of April 2013)

Wondering what the characters look like in detail? http://www.kevinrau.com has images of many of the heroes, as does the Facebook page listed below.

Please like H.E.R.O. Superhero Novels on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/herobooks

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Chapter 1 – Old Friends

Gatecrasher’s Viewpoint

I felt the stinger stab into my chest. The mutant, a former researcher from Fargene, backed up a few steps on his many legs as he pulled the end of his tail out. What once was a man had become a horrible cross between a centipede, a scorpion, and the upper body of a man with four arms.

My vision was already dim, an odd sensation of fire burned through my chest, and the second mutant jumped on my back. This one looked almost human, but had scythe-like fingers and a massive mouth with fangs throughout.

The claws raked down my back, causing pain unlike any I’d felt in years. Damn mutants and their claws, how can a brick be immune to a steel blade but not one of their claws? Then, it bit me on my left shoulder. I was certain the inch-long fangs went all the way in, on both sides.

I gritted my teeth, partially in pain, but also in determination. The other heroes need to know what they’ll be facing. I stomped onto the thing’s foot behind me, spun and smashed my elbow into his head. I continued the spin and rammed the mutant’s head through the wall next to me.

The many-legged mutant stabbed me again, this time in the lower back. More poison … not good.

I said, "System – send current event video to Lon McCain, priority urgent! At least they’ll know what happened."

The heads-up display, or HUD, on my helmet's faceplate took the voice command and showed the connection to the server as it uploaded the video.

I turned and grabbed at the centipede man, caught one of his hands with my right and crushed it. The feeling of his hand collapsing under mine gave me a small feeling of joy as my vision blackened. I dimly felt the creature stab me again, but I was already losing all senses….

I sat up quickly, grabbing at my chest with my remaining arm. The room was dark and quiet. I was in bed. The covers lay around my waist as the dream of the fight faded.

I was certain that if my body could sweat, I’d have been drenched. My golden retriever, Hunter, lifted his head from the sheets off to my left and looked at me. I took a deep breath, leaned across with my right arm and scratched his head gently.

I said, Everything’s fine, boy.

I heard a horrible scratching of claws and thumping as my massive bulldog, Moose, came running down the hall. He took the corner of the doorway too fast and crashed into the frame of the door. The wood cracked under his weight and massive strength. He ran around to my side of the bed and stared up at me.

I smiled and shook my head. All right, boys, I’ll let you out. Can’t sleep now, anyway.

I slid out of bed and walked down the hall, the two dogs trailed me excitedly. I opened the back utility door and let the pair out into the huge back yard.

The night was quiet, but for the insects. Like human supers, neither dog had to relieve themselves any