Downtown Champion City, Three nights ago, 1:15 A.M.
Johnny was waiting with his boys in a dark alley overlooking the docks. Johnny worked for the Marzetti family, a branch of Champion City's Italian mafia, as their number one enforcer, or so he liked to think. The shipment of cocaine that he and his boys were waiting for was to arrive via a boat that would come in discreetly to the docks. Something was wrong though. The boat was late, and Johnny was getting uncomfortable.
"The hell's taking them so long?" Johnny mumbled. Then, speaking louder, and more directly to one of his henchmen he said, "Hey, go get a better look, wouldja'?"
The henchmen complied silently, stepping out of the alleyway to go and get a better look at the docks. As soon as he stepped out of the alleyway, he saw the boat off in the distance, just outside the view of the others in the alleyway. It was burning.
"Yo, Johnny. You may wanna' come get a look at this. I found the boat." Johnny's lackey called back.
As Johnny saw the wreckage of the burning boat, he released a string of curses under his breath. The curses didn't stop, instead mixing with his speech as he began barking orders to his men to gather and investigate. The group of four mafiosos ran down the docks to get a better look at the burning boat. When they were all down on the docks, Johnny made the call to his superior, filling him in on the news. As he stammered apologetically into the phone, he was interrupted by an explosion back near the alley.
"The getaway car..." He whispered, unthinkingly hanging up on his boss and drawing his pistol. His cronies, looking at each other for moral support, did the same, and the whole group walked carefully back to the alleyway to investigate, guns drawn. When they got there, the car, as Johnny had feared, was on fire. a trail of gasoline lead to the wall nearby. On the wall, in flaming Latin, were written the words: Hannibal ante portas. Johnny knew what that meant.
Hannibal stood on the roof of a low building overlooking his handiwork. The H in Hannibal was crooked, but calligraphy wasn't his specialty when he was writing with a pen, let alone gasoline. Still, a wide smile cut his face as he saw the faces of the thugs. Malformed H or not, the looks on their faces told him that it had had the desired effect. Hannibal had been harassing the Marzetti family's street thugs for weeks, interrupting operation after operation. By now, he figured, they should know hi by his catchphrase. After giving the thugs a moment to let it sink in, Hannibal struck.
"The hell does that mean?" One of the newer guys asked, pointing to the flaming words on the wall.
Johnny looked around the alleyway, not even glancing at the man as he responded, "It means Hannibal is at the gates. It means we're in big trouble..." He looked the the man to emphasize his point with a glare.
Just as Johnny caught the man's eyes with his own, an ebony-shafted spear came down with excessive force into the man's neck, crumpling him to the side. Johnny's eyes went wide as the man fell gurgling, and he aimed his pistol up in the direction the spear had come from, at the roof of a short building overlooking the alley. He was too late, though. As he turned his aim up, he saw a large black shield coming down at him. He was almost sure he could see th man behind it, but he lost consciousness before he could be positive, crushed beneath the weight of Hannibal's leap.
Two down Hannibal's mental tally came on even as he rolled over the unconscious body of a downed Johnny. He somersaulted behind the burning car as Johnny's remaining three lackeys opened fire, drawing his 9mm pistol from it's holster behind his shield. after one deep breath, he came out of cover, crouched behind his shield. The men began firing again, but were interrupted as the high-powered LED flashlight on the shield powered on, momentarily throwing off their aim, giving Hannibal just enough time to pop his head out from behind the shield, and send four bullets at the men's kneecaps. The two fell, screaming, and Hannibal rushed in. He kicked the gun out of the hand of one, and smashed the other's wrist between the rim of his shield and the concrete. One final blow to each of their heads sent them spiraling into unconsciousness.
With all of his enemies downed, Hannibal strolled to Johnny, pilfering the man's phone. With it, he would be able to send the Marzetti an even more powerful message. His work completed, Hannibal left the flaming carnage behind, heading back to his secret place.
As he arrived, he instantly noticed that somebody had been in the Museum besides the night shift guard. On the trap door to his secret place was a message. A message from the Green Skull.
"Interesting." Hannibal whispered, and began to read the letter.
Champion City, A dark place overlooking the vigilante's meeting spot
Hannibal had watched the entire meeting, silent as the grave. He wanted to take the measure of his new potential allies. Eventually, they began to leave, in response to trouble. Hannibal decided to follow, intending to make grand appearance. That thought in mind, he followed the group quietly.