The Madness Returns: The Final Anglo-Force Story

In case you haven't noticed I've added a few new chapters to the blog over the past week or so.

"The Madness Returns" is the 21st and final story from the last incarnations of Anglo-Force, written before I gave my full intention to my vast and never actually finished Civil War project.

I normally dated my stories so I knew when I finished them, but I forgot to do that this time around, which is why all the posts have recent dates on them.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. "The Madness Returns" sees the return of Woodwose. Now completely driven by rage, the man-beast has only one thing on his mind, revenge, revenge on those who imprisoned him and those who defeated him before.

You can now read the story by clicking on the links below:

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

 

The Madness Returns - Chapter Six

    Magus hovered above the battle site for a few seconds. He began to think. He could still change history now. He could stop what was about to happen. But he knew there would be a price for his actions if he were to follow this course. After all, billions could be affected if he changed history.
    He swooped down, getting closer and closer. He now had a clear view of Woodwose, huge hands around Watt’s neck, trying to snap it like a twig. The only thing stopping Watt’s demise was his power.
    Magus now hovered behind Woodwose. He was as quiet as a mouse, making no noise as he slowly approached the powerful man-beast. He then extended his arms, and with lightning-quick reflexes clasped Woodwose’s head. There was a blinding flash as slowly Magus used his powers to pull Woodwose’s very life energy from him.
    Woodwose cried out in pain and dropped Watt to the ground. Red Sun rushed over to him and could tell that he was in a bad way.
    Magus continued to draw the energy and dispersed it around him. The wizard had tapped directly into Woodwose’s mind, and all of his thoughts, his primitive, base-like thoughts, now flowed into Magus’ mind. As he drew off the energy he knew what Woodwose was thinking, his reason for the attack. Magus felt something he hadn’t felt for centuries, rage, pure rage. Those were the only thoughts coming from Woodwose’s mind.

The Madness Returns - Chapter Five

    With his arms wrapped tightly around the neck of the man-beast T’Chuka squeezed and squeezed as hard as he could. But not even the strength of a Tiger was enough to stop Woodwose. For a few moments he flailed about wildly, not knowing how to counter T’Chuka’s attack, but he soon found a way. Using nothing more than sheer brute force he reached around, grabbed T’Chuka’s head and threw him high into the air. He then looked around at his shoulder and could see a few droplets of blood. This only served to fuel his anger.
    Ultare Amarus flew ahead, his hands smouldering, about to unleash his power on Woodwose when his attack finished before it started. The flying form of T’Chuka crashed into him sending both of them crashing to the ground, sending T’Chuka into unconsciousness and Amarus into dizziness.
    Above the battle site White Knight sat on his steed Galador. The path of destruction caused by Woodwose was easy to see, but it was hard to look upon his fallen comrades. Only Amarus was on his feet, and he was staggering around as if he’d been turning in circles for an hour. He was worse than useless.
    White Knight commanded Galador to land in a nearby clearing and then sent him away, not wanting his old friend to get hurt in the upcoming battle. White Knight then took Excalibur in his hand and marched towards Woodwose.
    Immediately his thoughts turned to their last encounter. Master swordsman that he was he could not overcome Woodwose. Not even mighty Excalibur could penetrate his skin. Woodwose just tossed him away like he was a piece of rubbish.
    But now was different. White Knight was wiser. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes this time around. Or so he thought.
    This time he ran towards Woodwose, sword held high. This time he was faced by an oncoming flying three. He only just ducked out of the way in time.
    But now he was lying on the ground. He turned over only to find Woodwose standing over him. His huge frame blocked out the sun entirely. In the darkness White Knight found it difficult to see. But he could see Woodwose raise one of his huge legs. White Knight could tell what was coming next. He was about to become the man-beast equivalent of road kill.
    But it never happened. The mighty foot stopped in mid-air. He could see Woodwose turn his head, looking behind him. He couldn’t see much else. The sun was now shining in his eyes. But he heard something. A familiar and welcome voice.
    “Hey! Fur-face! Why don’t you come and play with the big boys?”
    Woodwose turned around. He knew that voice. He knew it well. It was the one he was looking for. The one who beat him before. The one who sent him to that place. The once who made him suffer. The man.

The Madness Returns - Chapter Four

    At a speed of nearly three hundred miles per hour John Clark was having the time of his life. The man known as Jet was busy searching for the man-beast Woodwose, the win blowing past his red mask and costume. Clark had forgotten what it was like to work as part of the Anglo-Force team, and in the past few weeks he had wondered why he ever turned his back on them in the first place.
    Now he flew high over the New Forest in Hampshire. Circling around several times he soon saw his prey. The sighting was simple enough. Woodwose had left a path of destruction even the most stupid could follow.
    Jet reached down to his belt and activated his communicator.
    “Jet to White Knight. I’ve found out boy! In the New Forest!”
    “Keep an eye on him.” White Knight replied. “Do not engage him in combat. Even with your speed he’ll be too powerful for you.”
    “I’ve only ever seen one man match my speed before and he’s back at Raven Manor. Let me try to stop him Arthur!”
    “No! He’s too powerful! Just observe! We’ll be along in a few moments!”
    “Okay! Okay! Keep your sword belt on!”
    The communications channel went quiet. He then gave Galador a gentle nudge in an effort to get his steed to move faster.
    “You could have given me a little warning!” said Tiger, almost falling off as Galador picked up speed.
    “We have to get there as quickly as possible!” said White Knight. “Clarkie’s a hot head and won’t take no for an answer!”
    “You mean he’ll try to take Woodwose on?” asked Tiger.
    “You’re damn right he will!”

The Madness Returns - Chapter Three

    Magus had lied. He had no intention of staying behind and trying to find a way of tapping into Woodwose’s mind. He knew what was going to happen, and he also knew that the events of today would have a far reaching effect not only on him but on all his friends around him.
    Standing up he left a bemused Chief Jackson alone as he strode off purposefully. I can’t let it happen he began to think to himself. I must stop him. I must stop Woodwose. If I do none of it will happen.
    Magus knew that he had the power to stop the mighty man-beast, and stop him before he caused pain and destruction. He had seen something that told him that he would be saving the lives of many in the years to come by stopping Woodwose now. He knew what he had to do.
    He then launched himself into the sky and headed into the direction his comrades had headed moments earlier. They had no chance of stopping Woodwose, he knew that. Only he could. Only an Istarian could halt him.
    But this Istarian never had the chance to. Just as he was nearing full speed something stopped him, some sort of invisible barrier. Magus crashed into it and plummeted down onto the ground, crashing into the earth, except that he wasn’t on Earth any longer.

The Madness Returns - Chapter Two

    Governor Corkindale sat in his office at Dentonville Prison, getting ready the end the long working day that had just finished. Security was now at maximum, several new inmates having arrived in the past few days. However, he was not expecting what was about to happen.
    In the main control room the alarm suddenly sounded. Jackson, the chief of security, looked at the main screen. The infra-red cameras showed something moving towards the perimeter wall, something huge. Jackson called Corkindale, but before he cold get to the control room the image was gone.
    “I tell you sir, it was there!” Jackson said. “The infra-red showed it! It was huge! Like some kind of monster!”
    “Are you sure these things aren’t on the fritz?” asked Corkindale. “Maybe that General Billiar did something to the sensors when he got Theophilus out!”
    Then, as they spoke, the ground began to shake, and once again the alarms sounded. One of the guards raced into the room.
    “Chief! You’re not going to believe this bloody thing! Something’s trying to break into the prison!”
    Jackson and Corkindale ran out of the room as the guard led them to the other side of the compound. The first thing they saw was the guards firing on something, the intruder. Corkindale couldn’t see anything at first, but then he got a clear view, a clear view of the intruder. It was someone he had not expected to see again, let alone someone who would try and break into the prison.
    “It can’t be! Woodwose!”
The man-beast had returned to the place where he was held after his defeat at the hands of James Watt. Now he was tearing up the place like it was nothing more than a piece of paper.
    Then, in the middle of his rampage, Woodwose suddenly stopped and stared at Corkindale, eye to eye. It was as if he knew the governor of this prison. It was as if Woodwose blamed Corkindale for keeping him here. Breaking off from his mindless assault he lunged towards Corkindale and soon had a hold of him. He picked him up like he was a piece of rubbish and placed a huge furred had around his neck. With one gentle bit of pressure he snapped Corkindale’s neck like a twig and then threw him to the ground with such force that the impact carried him six foot into the concrete. Then, feeling that his work was done, Woodwose leapt into the air, not even looking around as the guards continued to fire at him. Seconds later the guards could no longer see him.
    Jackson walked over to the crater that had been created in Woodwose’s attack. He looked down and could tell that Corkindale was dead. Sorrow and sadness filled him for but a moment as he knew what he had to do.
    “Someone contact the Anglo-Force mansion! Get someone out here!”

The Madness Returns - Chapter One

    The last thought, the last sentient thought, that had passed through the mind of Woodwose was why? Up until recently he had been a refugee from a distant planet, driven out of his home, off his planet by the tyrant known only as the High Wolfman. Even then, when he had made a home on Earth and found friends in humans was his safety at risk from his own kind. Colonel Chaney had come across the galaxy seeking revenge on his old enemy, driving him insane, causing pain and destruction wherever he went. Still, even after the Q had cured him of his madness all was not right. Freed by the disgraced General Billiar the madness returned after an encounter with one Armand Theophilus.
    Now his every waking thought consisted of one thing, rage. Pure, primal, animal rage. The madness had reverted Woodwose back to his animal instincts. All intelligent thoughts were gone. He lived on animal instincts alone. He had no memories of his previous life. His only memories were those of his last fight against a man who didn’t look like he would have a chance against this mighty man-beast. This man stood more than a chance against the mighty Woodwose. He matched him power for pure raw power. This man had captured Woodwose after an epic battle. Now Woodwose, free, away from the cage he had been kept in after he was captured, now had the chance for revenge, revenge against the human who had beaten him, and revenge against those who had tried to stop him before.

New Fiction Addition: Anglo-Force - Corporation

As the fallout from the Cyberdine incident continues James Watt recieves an offer from a man who wants to put his company's seedy reputation behind them. Is it a genuine offer? 

Originally written in 1995, the 20th Anglo-Force story, Corporation, is now online for the first time and can be read by clicking on the links below!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four