Life After Death
Spotting someone walking around upstairs in their mansion, the Steele twins enter learning that their uncle, Professor Steele, is alive and well. He looks twenty years younger than he did before his death.
Not surprised, he welcomes the boys, greeting them with a hug wrapping each arm around his nephews. He thanks them for leading and guiding his ‘Golden Eagle’ Organization and Steele Corporation in his absence.
Professor Steele organizes an event entitled "Return of the King." He invites over the dark web every person who has a SuperPower which the Department of Defense Genetically Engineered (DODGE) Initiative and the Martins have learned about.
The day before the ‘Golden Eagle’ event, Professor Steele tells his nephews that he will be resuming as head of the ‘Golden Eagle’ Organization and his corporation. This announcement frees up the brothers to pursue other matters.
Before attending the planned Professor Steele’s funeral, Oliver 'The Merc' Davis in honor of Rocky Steele's Across America Race runs in Reykjavik’s Suzuki Midnight Sun Run at 1,800 mph taking the late Professor’s special vitamins.
He easily wins in less than three minutes giving the gift certificate for 10,000 Icelandic Krona (or $80 US) to a young fan cheering wearing an Oregon Ducks t-shirt.
Nearby at the Laugardalshöll indoor sporting arena in Reykjavík, Iceland, he is invited to celebrate the lives of Rocky and Apollo Steele. The arena holds 5,500 people. This is where the legendary World Chess Championship between “Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky took place.
After landing at Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport, an Uber transports Pablo Martin and his wife Colette Evergreen and Salvador accompanies his wife, Jocelyn Thatcher. The group enters the small ballet backstage room that surprises the Martins since the parking lot was filled even after the race had concluded. The turnout seemed very weak at best.
The priest enters the room for a funeral mass wearing a purple cassock. It is a floor-length regalia with long sleeves having thirty-three buttons down the front. Purple signifies penance and reflection being a sorrowful color.
Although not religious, the Martins bow their heads saying a deep thoughtful prayer being the last SuperPower adversaries who saw the Steele siblings before their last breath. The two best friends shed a tear as their husbands loaned them a handkerchief.
Salvador tells his brother, "My friend Ben always tells me that the best reason to carry a handkerchief is to lend it to a lady."
Pablo nods in agreement.
The priest pours water upon the Steele siblings’ closed caskets praying aloud "Our Father who art in Heaven."
Two monks in black robes enter the room sitting behind the Martins. One kneels saying, “The Spartans prayed for a 'beautiful death' while the Egyptians only asked, 'Have you found joy in your life?’ and ‘Has your life brought joy to others?’”
The other monk prays, “I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil for you are with me.”
After a brief pause, he continues, “Father, into thy hands I commend the spirits of Apollo and Rocky.”
The purple clothed priest continues, “I ask that you watch over them in the next life. Be with all those here, giving each of us peace. Some of us have seen death and suffering. Give us peace, fill each of us with your spirit and springs of living waters.”
As the entire group of mourners witness the priest removes his purple Cossack robe, he addresses the Martin twins asking them: "Do either of you know my acquaintances who I met as young street hustlers, they stole my wallet and identification. Visiting Spain, many years ago, that incident forced me to extort the young couple into acquiring famous works of art for me and my associates."
Pablo and Salvador blush being puzzled saying, "No."
The priest asks, “Really?” as the DODGE men keep steadfast saying, “We don’t understand.” Their wives are confused too.
The priest says, “I will turn the tables and confess to you. I discovered your parents Diego and Carmen. From poor street thieves, I created and educated them. Giving each of them millions of dollars. Telling Diego, your father to marry your mother.”
The twins are shocked. He continues, “I financially rewarded them allowing them to move to San Francisco and change their identity from criminals to earning a prestigious seat as SFMoMA board members.”
"Are you still confused?"
Pablo says, "We realize that the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows."
Colette appears that she has seen an apparition nervously saying, "I know who you are but that’s impossible."
"Why?"
"Because you are dead. Been dead for a long time. Blown up from an exploding vehicle."
Her husband asks, "Who are you talking about?"
"This is the late Professor Steele, Your parents’ mentor. Their benefactor. A world class genius, practically a demi-God."
The rest of the group says, "No way. He’s dead and gone forever."
"No," she states, "people keep asking if he’s back and alive. Now I see that he is!"
“You are telling us that at his nephews’ funeral, he has decided to reveal to the world that he has resurrected?”
She replies, “He may never have died.”
The priest exits the parlor followed by the two monks.
The Martin couples follow them into the large arena where over five thousand Golden Eagle Organization members are gathered such as the recent Reykjavik’s Suzuki Midnight Sun Run winner, Oliver 'The Merc' Davis. Also, walking around the room dressed to kill is Astrid Christiansen from Norway.
The Professor greets JiJi Nkosi from Botswana who is wearing a ten-karat diamond ring and an Aurora Australia black opal from Lightning Ridge, Australia. He congratulates her on her exquisite jewelry and winning her recent election becoming the city’s mayor.
The Professor sees Pamela Braga kiss her girlfriend Elaine Little and walks over. Clearing his throat, he turns a rosy shade of embarrassment. He states, “It’s a party for the Steele’s second coming. There are more surprises ahead tonight. I recently became an ordained minister for my own church, the ‘Golden Eagle’ Eyrie Temple. If you two want to make your love official, just send me an email,” as he smiles.
The Martin brothers and their wives enjoy the smorgasbord and champagne, being hungry and curious about which adversaries are present.
Professor Steele is handed the microphone. He begins saying, “I would like to thank everyone for joining me on this special occasion for me but sad for my departed nephews. Can everyone get a glass of sparkling white wine? I would like to offer a toast to my two amazing nephews, Rocky and Apollo. May they…”
The two monks in black robes who sat in the rear of the funeral mass service, march forward with their heads covered.
One monk grabs the microphone out of the Professor’s hand. He solemnly explains, “We refuse to let the Steele brothers rest in peace. Almighty God, like Lazarus, raise up Apollo. Stand up again, Rocky. You are not down for the count. In the battle of life, we pray that Apollo and his brother Rocky avoid the ten counts of death.”
On cue, the boxing bell rings indicating the end of the boxing round.
The two monks simultaneously remove their cowl revealing to the entire room that they are alive.
Professor Steele announces, “Oh, my. It is my late nephews Apollo and Rocky. Look! They are moving. They are alive. They are alive. They are moving, they are alive, they are alive,” as the entire audience raises giving a standing ovation, clapping, and shouting, “They are alive!”
Apollo and Rocky high five the Professor, who hugs his recently departed nephews.
Pablo Martin tells his entourage, “Unbelievable! We witnessed that they were shot at close range.”
Salvador Martin states, “Let us return home. Now that we know that the twins are alive, DODGE will update the Steele twins’ files. There is nothing keeping us here now,” as they depart to the airport.
The Steele brothers get greeted by the attendees as though they are celebrities.
Apollo shakes Oliver’s hand congratulating him for his recent marathon win asking if he wants a Race Across America rematch.
The Merc laughs and looks at Rocky saying, “Anytime. Anywhere. I take my speed vitamins. Do you?”
Next in line is Brittany Barbosa who Rocky hugs and kisses on her cheek. She likes that so she spins around having him repeat the entire hug and cheek kiss as she can travel forward and backward through time,
Apollo greets her with a friendly hug asking her to put on her calendar for this year’s FIFA World Cup Football competition.
She smiles and says, “You’re on. Order the best seats soon.”
Next, Romeo Monty and Juliet Capuletty greet the brothers with hugs and saying, “It’s a good thing you’re bad since only the good die young,” making them all laugh.
Juliet Capuletty asks, “Is Commander John Marion and Misty here?”
Rocky states, “No. Yesterday, we chatted with the couple who’s vacationing in Tahiti.”
Pamela Braga and Elaine Little approach them receiving hugs and kisses saying, “Your uncle is too much, he is funny. Professor Steele is a ‘joker.’ He asked to marry us to be a legitimate same sex couple.”
Apollo raises his eyebrows and replies, “He constantly hawks my brother and I about finding a partner too. When you are ready, on your own terms, give him a call.”
Stormy Weather hugs the brothers saying, “Clear skies ahead.”
A gorgeous lady approaches her. Stormy introduces the Steeles to her saying, “This is my best friend, Myrena Gorgona. She has been an international SuperModel gracing the covers of hundreds of iMagazines.”
Myrena smiles and states, “Correction, it is one thousand, six hundred and ninety-three to be exact with three more on their way,” having the two ladies giggle.
Rocky kisses Myrena’s hand as Apollo hugs Stormy, then they switch having Apollo passionately hugging Myrena until his jealous brother breaks them up saying, “Do we need to rent a room?”
Stormy adds, “Men always react that way with her. I am guilty of wanting her too,” as she laughs.
Myrena tells Stormy out loud, “These two look alike but there is a slight difference that I see. They are both handsome and adorable. Which one should I date?”
Stormy replies “I do not know. Each is charismatic and hot. Besides, for me they both have millions of dollars which turns me on.”
Pamela Braga and Elaine Little stop by and begin kissing Stormy who is enjoying their attention. They tell her, “Do not rain on our three-way parade,”
As other men in the room eyeball the lesbian love action, the Steele brothers cannot look away from Myrena Gorgona.
She explains that “All my sisters and my mother, Keto are SuperModels. They all have married powerful, adoring men that they have lost their heads over.”
The shape shifter Carlson Chesterfield turns himself into Elijah Moses, Jr. telling everyone to arrest the Steele brothers.
A few officers who have arrived with him apprehend them as he states, “Back to ADX Florence in Colorado, the Alcatraz of the Rockies with these defiant criminals who are enemies of DODGE.”
The Professor, trying to win an Oscar, grabs Elijah wrestling him to the ground as the siblings begin to vacate the room. As they turn around about to run towards the street, Carlson reverts to his normal form having the entire ‘Golden Eagle’ membership laugh, aware of what was about to occur.
Heading back with the Professor to the family’s mansion, Apollo says, “I call dibs on Myrena.”
Rocky retorts, “To Hell with that, I saw the way she looked at me and I claim the dating right on her.”
The Professor states, “The both of you will take turns dating and wooing her the best you can. We will let her decide which of you two she wants to be with.”
The brothers agree but argue which one will go out with her first.
