Irongrail Archie: The Story of Craig

{This chapter is dedicated to two people. The first is Archie, my Grandpa, thank you for all the life lessons you taught me and for telling me the second's story. The second is my Uncle Craig, who died in infancy, never to know me or the three siblings that followed him. May this chapter do you both justice.}

As Rothschild's grin turned sour, he let out a loud roar. He was now not only facing a redneck with a dragon's breath twelve gauge, but now standing on the corner of Morris-Blacktop and Hank's Farm Restaurant, was Irongrail Archie. The briefcases that Dr. Sue's wife had given them were actually new prototype armor suits. It was based on one he'd designed with Dr. Sue. From the steel, "tri-billed" hat/helmet replica of the one his wife had made all those years ago, all the way down to replicating his blue polo shirt with accompanying khaki slacks. The entire armor suit was designed to be in his style. 

Archie lunged at Rothschild with assisting jump-jets and fired off a sideswiping punch that launched Rothschild across the field of grain that Archie helped plant. 

"There was a time in this country when men, women, children and more become free, become more than what you and your twisted family made them cast to be!" An uppercut sent the tyrant staggering backwards. "AND NO I DON'T MEAN "WHEN AMERICA WAS GREAT", I MEAN THE DAY MY GRANDSON PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE!"

"You and your family's policies in regard to medicine... cost my wife and I our first born son... HIS NAME WAS CRAIG! HIS BLOOD IS UPON YOUR HANDS, ROTHSCHILD!" Archie's punch landed square on Rothschild's jaw with enough force to send him spiraling through the air like a football. 

"HE DIED IN INFANCY! ALL BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WANTED TO GET RICH! MY WIFE HAD TO WAIT SIXTY SOME YEARS TO FINALLY BE REUNITED WITH HIM! AND NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE MY GRANDSON! YOU ARE NOT GOD!"

Rothschild tried to dodge, but it was no use. There was no wrath like the wrath of a grieving husband and father, who'd lost his wife and firstborn son. Archie's eyes pierced Rothschild's tainted soul, striking fear into his heart. This look, a look of betrayal and anger from a man you couldn't tell was hurting or even had an angry bone in his body. Rothschild looked at a man as if he'd been God tearing off the wings of an angel who had at one time trusted him. Archie was a force of avenging might as he mopped the fields with Rothschild. No amount of abilities could overcome the sheer power of an anger held in for over half a century. As all of Greater Ottawa came to watch, Rothschild panicked, trying to find a way out of this bind. 

"Your grandson is nothing like you and not even of your son's loins. Why do all of this?"

The Irongrail Archie armor's eyes went ablaze, glowing brighter than the sun as he brought down his fist upon Rothschild's head. "He may be adopted.... BUT HE'S BEEN THE BEST PART OF OUR LIVES! PAT AND I WATCHED HIM GROW INTO SOMETHING YOU'LL NEVER BE!"

Archie tossed Rothschild into the air and leapt up above him. Rothschild watched as Irongrail Archie fired his fist into him, holding nothing back, allowing that rage to course through his veins and channel all of it into his fist. As Archie's fist made contact with Rothschild's sternum, it was as if a falling meteor slammed into this evil incarnation of Icarus and than burn him like the sun did, this meteor planted into in the Earth below.

"MY GRANDSON IS A HERO!" finished Archie, as his hit used Rothschild to turn a field of wheat and soy into a massive crater. The ground erupted almost volcanically as Rothschild made contact with the ground, whole chunks of soil launched airborne from the power of Archie's punch.

Irongrail Archie hovered above the hole for a moment, ensuring his opponent had no will left to fight him before descending towards the ground.

Rothschild laid there, every bone inside him ached and stung. "How is this possible?" He thought to himself. These seemingly boring insects kept surprising him with their strength of willpower, avenger spirit.... "No... this isn't over yet. Five, release her." 

By this time, the forces of Greater Ottawa that had been on Canadian repulsion duty had returned. Even the ones from Michigan had returned to hear Archie's battle over WCMY's broadcasting.

However, Rothschild wasn't a complete idiot. He'd timed everything perfectly. The Ghost had arrived and in a whirling move, launched his sister into the dirt beside Rothschild's crater. Just as Archie's feet touched the road and he was blindsided by someone who threw him off balance and sent him flying.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sue and her wife had arrived, as they handed Scott a new briefcase to replace the crushed one. However, the intermission was brief as Archie slammed into the ground behind them. As all those who knew the Ghost personally looked over, their eyes widened in horror as Rothschild laughed. He stared into Scott's soul before speaking.

"So "Major" Scott. What are your thoughts on the vast improvements I've made to your wife and daughter?" He grinned something demonic as the Ghost landed next to his father. 

"Leave all three of them to me. You and the rest of the Ottawans have the Five he brought with him."

"Son, no. We do this together."

"Dad, it's foolish to have our best chance of winning spent on mending familial wounds. Allow me this chance."

Scott sighed and nodded. "Do your best, son."

As the Ottawans geared up to take down the Five, the Ghost locked his gauntlets on tightly and activated the Combination X injectors. 

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Asked Lemuel, "After all, two of them are your family."

"Not to mention that bastard Rothschild." Added John. 

"Your concern is unwarranted. Besides, between those two, there is a score to settle that I refuse to lose to them on. As for Rothschild, let's show this asshole what it means to fight with an unbreakable will."

As the Ottawans readied for their fight, the five evaded them, and rushed to aid Rothschild for an eight on one fight. However, the Ghost refused to back down, eager to show his father what he could do and make his grandparents proud. 

"I swear to you Rothschild, I will win! EVEN IF I MUST DO SO ON MY DYING BREATH! There have been too many good people forgotten by the annals of history, forgotten by time..." Stated the Ghost clenching his fist. He stood before the Tyrant, his own Mother and Sister and declared his intentions.

"ON THE SOUL OF MY UNCLE CRAIG, I WILL ENSURE YOURS IS ONE NAME HISTORY ENJOYS FORGETTING! RIGHT ALONG WITH YOUR NEW WORLD ORDER! YOU HEAR ME, EVELYN ROTHSCHILD!"