"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you." ~ Jules, Pulp Fiction mis-quoting Ezekiel 25:17.
A (mis) interpretation.
Name: Javier Fernandes Chigurh.
Alias: The Fighting JC.
Age: 50 years old.
Affiliation: Manny's Gym (former); The Thirteen Acolytes (former); The Adventure Kartel (current).
Std. armaments: "The Blind Oracle" - severed precognitive Zomb Head; "The Towel of Turin" - divine towel.
Abilities: "The Exegesis", "The Red Atonement" - divine empowerment; "The Ten Commandments", "Palm in the Face" - divine martial art; "The Eye of Providence" - divine sight; divine protection; prayer empowerment; indomitable will; purification; healing; exorcism; peak human condition; "The Revelation" - enhanced wisdom/knowledge.
2001. Javier Chigurh or JC listens intensely at the night skies and horizons as the din of the battles on land and above keeps him awake throughout the night. The Robot Islands War. He is resting within a church ruin in the town of Alaşehir, on the Island of Patmos. No one knows his where about currently. JC is recuperating after the suicidal battle, known as the Red Night, against the Zomb Horde of the Carrion City. His restless mind and thoughts wander back to the past. Curiously feels like 2000 plus years have passed.
JC was born in lower hive level of one of the toughest mega blocks, "Maradona", within the chocking, urban decay of the hive city, Pan Am City Four, United Americana. His father left when JC's mom was still pregnant with him. JC remembered his mom likes to joke to friends that JC is of virgin birth. His mom had to work in a back breaking mandatory job 24-7 as a boiler at a local warbot manufactorum to ensure there's food on the table and bills were paid on time. Like most kids his age, JC ran with a local posse after being expelled from school for beating a fellow student to near death for bullying and attacking a student of Eastasian origin. Anti-immigrant, racial sentiment is exceptionally high in the southern sectors after the Great War. Himself a victim of bullying when he was a kid and experiences from watching and confronting bullies revealed the omnipresence of evil and enemies in the world, and taught him the value of physical strength and violence. JC instinctively knows it was the character of a person that matters, not creed, culture nor skin colour difference. Frequent exposure to violence and effects of injury combined with the massive criminal activities within the residential block has also ingrained in JC a hardboiled outlook on the world. Mix martial arts becomes his passionate preoccupation, as well as developing a love for all contests involving violent, masculine struggle.
In his late teens, he was noticed by John "The Baptist" Manny, a caporegime of a mafiosi clan who has a knack of dispensing loan defaulters by drowning them in a tub filled with water. He ran an underground, vicious mixed martial art tournaments, the Vale tudo, in the under hive level of the city. He witnessed a young, skinny JC outfighting and breaking the arm and leg of a 200 pound, 7 foot gorilla of a man in several places, knocking him out cold. He could had crushed JC like a cockroach but instead was beaten to pulp by the skinny lad. Manny knew a natural when he saw one and recruited JC into his stable of fighters, giving him proper training and guidance. JC could be Manny's way out, away from the old f*** he calls "boss" whom owned all the fight clubs and gyms, taking bets and organising both legit or otherwise fight tournaments, one of the many "businesses" under his ten fat, sausage like fingers. JC would be Manny's money making machine. Then he could take over the clan. He groomed and trained JC into a top mixed martial art fighter. Eventually JC would ran out of local opponents to fight. Manny knew it's time for JC to go regional and full pro. JC defeated everyone, and became the youngest number one contender. He won the prestigious Sparta Mixed Martial Arts World Championship at the age of 20, the youngest person to do so and a title which he would hold for the next 13 years. It is a record which that remains unbroken. JC became rich and lived a lifestyle of excesses and grandeur on the upper hive level of the city. It seemed the world was his oyster. The 'bling bling' never stopped coming. More importantly, JC's mom would never have to work again, but yet she remained humble, stayed at the mega block, and continued to work at the manufactorum. She even reprimanded JC for his excesses, resulting in frequent emotional confrontations and quarrels. 'Wastin away your life like that. I know there is something more to you, within yerself, than all these. This things ain't lastin,' she said during one of their arguments. JC's mom eventually succumbed to cancer, as the block they were staying, categorised as "slum status", was located only 100 metres away from the lead wall that separates the vast, irradiated and toxic outskirt wasteland as well as combination of the non-sanitary conditions within the manufacturing plant. JC never had the opportunity to seek a final reconciliation with his beloved mother. A particularly deafening explosion breaks JC's train of thought as his eyes welled with tears in present time. His mother's death would be the catalyst in his gradual path to enlightenment and spiritually free himself.
It all began in his dreams after several bouts of the usual partying, boozing and pleasures with the ladies. JC dreamt about an encounter with an old shepherd tending a herd of sheep on a hilly area with vast green grasses all around. These dreams would end in nightmares, of a giant serpent coiling around JC, slowly choking and crushing his body. He would try to break free but the serpent's grip was an unbreakable vise squeezing around his torsos, leaving him breathless. He would wake up covered in cold sweat. Day after day, he tried to forget the dreams and nightmares. Thinking he's going "Insane in the Membrane", JC consulted psychiatrists about the issue but without any breakthrough. He also began to, un-consciously, underwent bizarre behavioural and personality changes. When he got his tattoos, he had "God Life" inked on his chest with a cross instead of "Thug Life" with an AK 47 as he initially wanted. He also tattooed "Zomb" on his fingers instead of "Bomb" and he punched the light out of the famous tattooist, Avi James, for the blunder. Later he had "Mary, the Mother of God" tattooed on his back instead of "J.B. Mary, Da Queen of Soul" a female artist he once admired. Avi got a black eye because of this but he got compensated well. Over the course of his life, JC would steadily acquired numerous religious Christian themed tattoos all over his body. He began to consciously grown tired of his current lifestyle and career - the endless partying, decadency, spilling bloods and cracking bones in the barb wired, iron cages. He began to self-teach himself on various subjects on banned books on religions illegally obtained through his contacts. He later studied philosophy, science, social study, and later expanded to occultism, mysticism, and arcane texts, going through it methodically and meticulously. By choice, JC starts to celibate and adopts a vegan diet. He decided to give away all his wealth and luxurious possession to various charities and those in dire need. JC embraced asceticism, by total abstinence from worldly pleasures, with the aim of pursuing spiritual goals, involving restraint with respect to actions of the body, speech and mind. JC sees this not as a rejection of enjoyment of life, or because the practises themselves are virtuous, but as an aid in the pursue of physical and metaphysical health. Nevertheless, JC would still cuss and curse, and would not hesitate to resort to violence to make sure the message is understood and clear.
At the age of 34, JC made an important decision. He asked Manny to hold a press conference, announcing to the shocking world that he is retiring, abandoning his unified MMA championship titles. This incurred Manny's wrath, the man whom controlled his career and life, and had by then ascended to become the boss of the mafiosi clan. He ordered some of his homeboys to teach JC a lesson. JC was shot six times on the chest at a drive by, but miraculously survived and non of the bullets hit any of his vital organs. He confronted Manny after demolishing an army of his guards armed with weapons singlehandedly, saying he will remember Manny's gratitude, but he had now paid his due, owing Manny no more. His former Agent Provocateur lingerie model trophy wife, Madeline, left him for someone else. JC, now stripped himself to nothing except for the knowledge gained, then exited the life he once lived. The dream and nightmare began to stop. As for Manny, JC heard several years later that he and his clan were involved in the distribution of a new drug, triggering a block war with a rival clan, and the Judges finally enforced and executed all of them on the spot for trafficking of illegal substances, but primarily for being out of line. JC then fell out of the public consciousness and no more news were heard about him.
Time passed and JC, by then almost unrecognizable - beard, moustache, haggard and looking older than 50, but still lean and packing a mean punch and kick which could break bones and rupture internal organs, for he has then trained himself to peak human physical condition - was travelling from city to city along the Amazonis Planitia on Mars, making his way to Olympus Mons with a group made up of eclectic individuals, calling themselves the Thirteen Acolytes, consisting JC himself, of brothers Pedro and Andre, both former MOD pirates; sister-brother team, Johanna and Jimmy, both former mercenaries; Phillipe, an ex-gigolo; Bart, a former smuggler; Matthaus, a former tithe collector; Tom, a disillusioned former Ecclesiarchy preacher; Jamie and Simone, both former Arbites of Mars. They preached to those who listened, about the decadency and corruption of the religious ideals by the Ecclesiarchy. For a brief period, they were successful. Even a Cult of the Thirteen Acolytes was formed and spread among the Martians citizens. Declared heretics, they became highly wanted by the Ecclesiarchy of Mars and fought many battles against the Arbites and the Retinues. In one of the ensuing fight and violent rioting, JC is the only survivor. The deceased twelve other Acolytes were martyred later by the others. JC successfully evaded the Arbites and Retinues, smuggled himself on board a merchant ship en route to the politically neutral United Space Colony Federation. From there he arrived back onto Terra.
JC travelled across Terra on his lonely journey, taking up odd jobs to meet ends. He first realised his more than human powers during a rest from his travel to Jerusalem's Lot, United Americana. A child had been possessed by a lesser daemon of The Warp and JC instinctively performed exorcism and effortlessly casted out the entity which screamed out in terror even when JC hadn't arrived yet. Years later, he subsequently gained a reputation as a formidable monstrum venator. He eventually settled in the city of Andria, Europa. Surviving the subsequent destruction of Andria, JC later joined the Adventure Kartel. This is due to the rise of the walking deads, the Zomb Horde, reanimated humans entombed within the old city, now known as the Necropolis or the Carrion City. Their relentless attacks, feeding and stealing on the brains of the human population of New Andria made JC stayed on and stopped his nomadic lifestyle.
JC initially stayed at the Church of Divine Grace, only to realise that its members were actually perverse daemonic worshippers of the Ruinous Powers. After battling the daemon possessed individuals, banished a daemonic entity and burnt the building down, JC opted to stay at the attic converted into a room at Tommy's record shop in the cluttered District 12. Tommy wanted to ask for rent but back off after seeing the tats and scars on the old man. Tommy knew JC meant business, literally and metaphorically. All JC wanted for his room was a bed on the floor, clean blanket, clean pillow and a bolster. JC cannot sleep without a bolster. He went around the city, found some discarded but nice timbers, made himself a wooden chair and table, with a repaired table lamp, completed with a shelf of old tomes, books and ancient texts. Tommy defunct band, the Missionary Position, rehearsal room and recording studio on the second floor was converted into a training room and gym at the request of JC. JC also began to train Tommy the art of hand to hand combat but the lad just could not focus. On several training sessions, JC had broken Tommy's ribs (twice), both bones on his hands (thrice) and dislocated his jawbone (uncountable). JC eventually gave up on training Tommy after the latter kept coming with all sort of excuses to skip the trainings. JC is a master and expert on all forms of existing martial art techniques, of which he combines and refines into what are known as "The Ten Commandments" and "Palm in the Face" a nigh formidable form of assault and defence hand to hand combat skill. It is said that no one, except for a very few, could match JC in any fights.
In subsequent years, JC becomes well known to be at the forefront in all fights against the Zomb Hordes, daemonic entities and other foul creatures summon by their leader, the Zomb MD and the Heart of Darkness. JC would inked a cross onto his forearm for each successful battle. Tommy often commented how JC was a one man fighting machine against the Zombs and other supernatural creatures, regardless how numerous or powerful they may be. This is due to the divine empowerment, of which JC could gain powers from divine gods, spirits, concepts or forces. His normal human physiology is heightened to the level of a superhuman when invoking this power, and combine with his absolute mastery of all forms of existing marital art skills, JC is unstoppable in combat. One of his trademark divine empowerment abilities is called "The Exegesis", of which JC would be enveloped in bright light and blasts pure energy in all directions. Another is cleanliness manipulation, of which JC is literally immune from all forms of pestilence and diseases of Nurgleth, as well as purifying and healing those affected by the Zombs. The deadliest is the "The Red Atonement" divine empowerment. It literally turned JC blood red with berserker power. JC also performs exorcism to a great extent and very efficient and effectively so, purging those possessed by daemons from the Realms of Chaos and Warp Space. He possesses "the Eye of Providence", a supernatural ability enabling JC to see into the very soul of an individual and all the vices and virtues, lies and truth of that individual. This ability also grants JC the capability to see a hidden daemon in the Real Space. JC is known to be able to cast back greater daemons or princes from the Warp personally. Lesser daemons are known to shriek in pain simply by the presence of JC. He doesn't charge his clients for his service. Tommy often got a severe, though non physical, but verbal reprimand from him for the former's fondness to con people of New Andria through his knowledge of sorcery and summoning of daemons, which often ended up disastrously, needing JC to clean up the mess. JC however, never reveal the truth on such matters for there's virtue in the boy and knowing his background, perhaps a bit too mischievous and lack responsibility for his own good.
JC is a mortal. Regardless, there is intense speculation that he could be The One Who Sits On His Father's Right Hand of the House of YHWH. He could be severely injured, for all the divine empowerment has a toll on his health, often suffering from extreme fatigue and fainting spells if overstretching his power. JC would try not to use his more formidable abilities unless faced with overwhelming or powerful enemies. The Carrion Lord, the Zomb MD himself, considers JC to be his numero uno enemy besides Baron Seth Von Sydow.
During one of the combats against the Zomb Hordes, JC succeeded in obtaining the ghastly, decapitated head of the Blind Oracle, a unique Zomb with a specific ability - precognitive divinity. Sworn an oath of loyalty to JC, the Blind Oracle would advise JC on near future events (an hour to be precise), enabling JC to prepare for pre-emptive assaults against the walking dead next movement and action. The Blind Oracle also acts as a form of motion sensor, gurgling hideously if a fellow Zomb is nearby or hidden in the sewers, their favourite place to launch an assault. JC speculates that the Blind Oracle Zomb has the ability due to overwhelming saturation of the corpse gas, causing it to go into trance and slight degree of clairvoyance. According to the Blind Oracle, the Heart of Darkness, the corrupted A.I. of the Rothchild Corporation's Alpha Q class orbital weapons research and development station, The Apsinthos which destroyed Old Andria, is now a literal, living fusion of the Warp and Real Space, in constant mutation, a living, twisting mass of bio-mechanical horror, of which its tentacle-like circuitry has transformed the entombed former city into its own nightmarish imagery. The Heart requires constant human brains to fuel its existence, and even addicted to the endorphin. JC nurtures the Blind Oracle into forgoing the craving for human flesh and brain, instead replacing its constant hunger with lamb chops and sheep brain instead. JC keeps the Blind Oracle in a specially made box anointed with arcane rites to seal its contagion from harming others. JC slaps on a large warning sign stating "Bio-Toxin" on it and keep it in a secret place not even Tommy would search for it (actually its beneath Tommy's bed). Baron Sydow, knowing JC's background and suspected "real self", is keeping a close eye on him, whom he considers a "loose cannon" and highly unpredictable, for he is worried that one day, JC would eventually upset the fine balance of the truce between the monster hunters and the children of the night, an event which would result in unprecedented bloodshed and war, which had occurred during the Dark Days.
During one of the Zomb Horde attack, JC single handedly defeated 50 of them within 10 minutes. Covered in black, foul, putrid blood of the walking dead, JC quickly asked for soaps and towel to hose himself clean for "Cleanliness is Godliness". When Tommy took the towel to dispose off, he saw what seemed to be an image imprint of JC's face on it, which looked remarkable similar to the Shroud of Turin of which the Baron lusted for. A bright idea sparked in Tommy's mind. He sent a vid pict of the towel to the Baron. The latter was naturally excited and paid a considerable sum for it to Tommy, but upon receiving the towel, Baron Shadow flew into a fit. As it turned out, within an hour of receiving it, the image had changed into a smiley face instead. The Baron sent a squad of ANKOU EX Shadow Security to see Tommy, demanding not only full refund, but also to pay compensation for making a fool out of the him. All JC could say was greed, one of the seven sins, was 'never good. Greed muddles. Greed clouds the mind. Hope this would be a good lesson to you.' Tommy was saved from all the troubles upon Lil Shadow's intervention on behalf of him. JC takes back the towel and has since use it to bitch-slap his supernatural enemies with it.
JC looks out from the window. News of him being absent from the Adventure Kartel has spread around New Andria. The temporary truce between the Zomb MD and the Baron, in a united front to fight the bots from Robot Islands is about to come to an end. He puts on a combat pant and boots, and proceed towards New Andria once more.
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This is the second wave of the Fighting JC character, which was first released back in...could not remember. Back then, the character was depicted as wearing a boxer robe (?) and matching pants, with a pair of sneakers. Four variants were released on Bambaland - the original, the white, blondie Exegesis, the dark "shadow" Mauro (with accompanying Zomb) and the Tracky JC. Later a so-called Palm in the Face surprise, limited drop version was released with revised red robe, red sneakers and accessory called the Towel of Turin (but without the severed Oracle Zomb head) of which I got separately through eBay. This version, the Dark Fighting JC with tagline "Shit Got Real", comes with a revised headsculpt and additional tattoos. There is a chase variant called Pale as F*** JC. The "band aid", first debut in KA Mumb, is used to replaced the previous molded ones. I am tempted to "open it up" to see if the collection of tattoo crosses on the forearms seen in the first version is still there but nah. Like a Cantonese saying, I don't want to "light up a lantern in the toilet". It comes with zero accessories, no more boxer robe, trainers, pants, replaced with combat pants and boots, and bags, pouches. 3A love bags and pouches on their figures. Generally there is a divided opinion on this but I love 'em. The additional tattoos are very much welcomed, though I have trouble understanding one or two of them. But the one which takes the cake is the revised headsculpt. That is sure one heck of a killer stare, really heightened the character of the character greatly. Side by side comparison makes the first release headsculpt looks so...sedated. There would be many more to versions, releases to come for this character I believe, but right now, this is the real shit. Since I do not want to write any more "mis-interpretation" on this character, I decided to just copy and paste it from the my write-up from the first blog, and add abit of additional "fluff". Guess that will do for now.
