Black Arrow #7

[Glippernip]

Black Arrow#7

Paving the Path to…

Written by Jim Crawbuck
Edited by Joel Sawyer

It is two o‘clock in the morning, alarms are blaring and a multitude of searchlights shuffle and slide around the floor and walls of Star City Penitentiary. The rain is rattling on the rooftops. The thunder is shaking the windows. Lightning snakes through the starless sky.

A prison guard slumps lifelessly on to floor. Denis Daniels just watches. The guard’s final thoughts leak into Denis’s mind. He worries for his children. He worries for his wife. He calls himself a failure just before life flees his body. Denis fights back a tear and asks himself how did he end up like this again.

“Do it now. Signal my man to trigga ze explzion,” Counterstrike orders as pull his fingers out of the guards throat.

The image of Counterstrike and Denis in his apartment’s living room flashes in his head. His little brother watching and his roommate begging for him to do this job the intensity of the situation was unique to itself. It was the last thing Denis wants to get back into. He doesn’t want his brother anywhere near this life style. But he asked himself, “What else do I know?”

[Glippernip]

* Flashback *

“How are you going to get me that kind of Cred, Count…whatever the hell your name is?” Denis asks.

“I waz told you’ve done things like diz before. You never ask such a silly queszion. Too many queszions like that can get a man killed,” explains Counterstrike.

“I have done things like this before. I’m not about to get hustled by some retro Frenchman. Give me proof of that kind of money or get lost,” demands Denis. He sees his brother watching with a starry-eyed stare. The image fills him with anger. <Damn it! Daniel this is not the way we want to live> He projects into his little brother mind but he already has read the excitement in his thoughts.

The Frenchman chuckles at the tension in the room. “So much…How you say?… Negativity it stiffens the fung-shway of this apartments ambiance. You must relax more. I’ll give you a fifth of the price now and the rest when the job is done,” he declares.

Even just that money can buy me the start I need with my brother. How can I pass this up? Denis face begins to go flush.

Counterstrike’s arms strike like a rattlesnake catching both Daniels boys by the throat. “Let’s keep these negotiazions peaceful. No invading my mind’s privacy or you’ll both pay with a cost more precious then Cred”.

“Oh man. Every one just calm down,” adds Dodo.

“Please keep your mouth shut my silly friend. You’ll are only alive because it pleazes Denis who I might need”, retorts Counterstrike.

“Fine,” escapes out of Denis mouth.

Counterstrike releases the boys.

“A third,” Denis says while rubbing his neck. “Danny, back as far away as possible”.

Danny retreats to the other side of the room.

“Ha ha. You are very bold. I will give you one fourth now. You’re washed up clown friend can have hiz finder's fee and I will not harm your brother or your fool. That is ze final offair,” Counterstrike says.

“Deal. One Question. How come you picked me?” Asks Denis.

“There’s a damping field around the penitentiary. So we cannot use radio communicazion in or out of its walls. That’s where you come in,” Counterstrike explains.

* End Flashback *

[Glippernip]

“Throw me ze keys,” screams Counterstrike through the chaos.

Mindlessly Denis tosses them to him. He’s just opened the cell with three splicers in it. He telepathically sends a signal to some paid off correctional officers in an armored truck just out side the cell wall.

“You three get away from the wall and duck,” Denis screams the men in cell.

The splicers drop down and scurry away from the wall. Denis hears the crackle of a short-range communicator just before the wall crumbles. Then he hears another explosion. Like an in-door sand storm Denis and his three targets are blasted with plaster and fine cement grinds. The cell is covered with a smoky layer of freshly created sand that’s raining down on everything. The newly created exit in the cell wall has an open truck backed into it.

“Hurry get in,” Denis screams.

^

[Glippernip]

Meanwhile at the Basement Gym in the Queen mansion LJ and Conner are wrapping up a sparring session. Connor is helping LJ unwrap his wrist tape. A much smaller brown-haired man is sitting on a stool next to them waiting for help himself. This man is also taped up and sweating. He wipes his head and takes water from a squirt bottle.

“Damn. John. You are so powerful its almost inhuman. You sure you’ve never had an enhancement?” asks the man.

“Thanks. I’m just big,” replies LJ.

“Tell your father your movement is near flawless. The Armor’s continue to grow in their artistry with every generation. One day your family will reinvent this art,” Connor says as he finishes up with LJ and moves on to Gwain.

Gwain is the only person outside “the Family” I have contact with. He’s my sparring partner usually when I need to spar. This time we were sparring for his sake. He is entering the Ultimate Fighter Competition. I think he has a great shot at winning it. He knows me as LJ not Black Arrow. I like that. In fact he calls me John. Connor is worried if Black Arrow becomes famous Gwain can become a potential weakness to the secret. Even know his family has a great reputation of honor through it generations. Gwain is the first one to bring their style to a public arena. Although neither Connor nor his father ever said anything out loud about it; I believe they frown upon his decision. I don’t. He’s my…well…I guess… my only… friend.

“Big. Big and quick. I’m happy you are not entering this thing. I’d never want to fight you for real”, Gwain says while facing LJ and bowing in respect.

LJ returns the courtesy. “Let’s never find out how that ends up, please”.

“You got it,” Gwain agrees. “Thanks again for the session guys. I got to run. Connor, you have the chip?”

“I do. Please send my regards to your father. I hope this helps,” Connor says as he hands Gwain a vid-chip.

“It will. Thanks again.” Gwain waves good bye and hurries out the door.

“Start cleaning up. I’ll be right back,” Connor says to LJ.

[Glippernip]

LJ mops the octagon. As he begins collecting the towels and water bottles he hears a soft female voice call out.

“Good, Connor. you’re here.”

LJ turns to find a young hooded blond woman standing behind him. She’s wearing a mask and a red cloak, her costume decorated in red and yellow. The outfit seems vaguely familiar to him.

“I’m sorry, you are mistaken. I’m not Connor,” he corrects the confused stranger.

Connor then enters the room.

“He is,” continues Little John.

Conner’s eyes grow wide. He stops in his tracks.

“Connor, what happened to your hair?” asks the young woman.

“Mia?” gasps Connor, “What’s going on?”

“Mother?” exclaims Little John.

“I don’t think I’m the one confused,” Mia says, stepping away from her son.

How does she not know me? I'm her son. I'm her son that she never got to meet. Or never wanted to. Wait. Bad thoughts. It's not about me. It's not about me. It's not...

LJ’s face sags. He swallows once and a tear runs down his cheek. He stand there staring with a sad smile and glassy eyes, speechless and confused.

“Is there something wrong?” Connor asks.

“Yeah. I don’t feel so good,” she replies as she simple fades away like a fleeting thought.

“Mia! No! Don’t leave,” Connor cries out.

LJ sits on the floor. He breaths in deeply and begins to rock himself gentle.

“LJ, it must be some sort of message,” Connor tries to reassure his protégé.

“I’m sure its nothing,” LJ replies mustering up stiffness in his movement and muffled tone. “I’d like a couple of minutes to myself please.”


^

[Glippernip]

Denis tries looking through the smoke and rumble for his employer. He hears screams of men dying and in terrible pain. He hears boom of guns firing in to the plaster made fog. His face goes flush and his eyes separate.

You fool you are going to get yourself caught get out while you can. Denis reads the thoughts of Counterstike. I will forgive this evazion of my privacy just this once. But know now De Tauntair will always be a step a head of you. If we ever meet again you best remembear.

Denis dives into the back of the truck as the splicers are closing it. The hairy splicer with a tail jumps in the drivers seat and floors it.

“I was played,”, ells Denis.

“I don’t know what’s happening here but this is going to up our rep”, says the splicer with feathered wings.

Denis sits. He puts his hands on his face and his elbows on his knees.

The grayish skinned splicer celebrates, “Sooo schway! Who are you with? Why’d you come for us?”

The feathered and gray splicer sit on either side of Denis awaiting an answer.

Denis removes his hands from his face revealing his eyes looking in oppsite directions and the almost crimson color of his cheeks. He places a hand on each of his neighbors and just says, “Shhhh”. Both splicers instantly pass out.

<Hear me driver. As long as you and your friends hear listen to me everything is going to be okay. If you choose not to listen to me I’ll pop all three of your brains like a ripe zit. Got me?>

“Who?” asks the tailed splicer driving the truck.

<Look in your review mirror>

The driver looks to find his friends lying lifelessly on the ground with their heads resting in Denis’s lap. Denis’s distorted eyes are clearly present in the mirror and he’s waving to the driver.

“What are you?” whimpers the driver.

<Not important. All you need to know is your friend are alive because I will it. They’ll stay that way as long as you listen. I’m the boss. Say it.>

“You’re the Boss, man. You’re the Boss”, cries the driver.

< Alright. Find a place to ditch this truck.>

^

[Glippernip]

The next day at Star City penitentiary, in Warden Washburn’s office there’s absolute silence except for the sound of plastic sliding across wood. Warden Washburn slides an ash tray to Detective O’Leary while she reads yet another report. She ashes her cigarette without taking her eyes off the papers. When she finishes reading she leans back in her chair. She takes a long drag on her cigarette and let’s the smoke leak out her mouth slowly.

“Well?” questions the Warden.

She ashes again and taps her finger on the arm of the chair in secession and repeatedly.

“Some of my men don’t even remember being here last night,” adds the Warden, fishing for answers.

“I read that,” coldly replies Kristen.

“It has to be a Meta attack,” demands the Warden.

“It looks like it,” she answers.

“Come on, Detective. What are you thinking?” prods Washburn.

She takes another long drag of her cigarette. She turns her head and pushes all the smoke out.

“Right now. It looks like a highly organized, fairly high-tech organization, with help on the inside plus Meta involvement, broke three splicers out of jail. Asad was just collateral damage. He just took advantage of a good opportunity. Who ever did this has done this before. Not really the M.O. of Asad’s circle of friends,” assesses O’Leary. She takes another drag and blows the smoke in the air.

“That sounds plausible. They’re splicers. Splicers often run with Metas. Why do you looks so disgruntled?” he inquires.

“I don’t know. It could be nothing. Just something’s not sitting right with me. It’s too neat and pretty,” she says as she crushes out her cigarette.

“Kristen. I trust you and I hope you trust me. Off the record tell me what is it?” pleads the Warden.

“Bob, I’m just not happy until I have something concrete. These first glance conclusions the bureaucrats make you take are reckless. I don’t like these higher profile jobs. It forces sloppy detective work just so they can quickly sweep it under the carpet. I still have questions.” she says.

“Like what?” asks Bob.

“Like why these guys? You are going to tell me just because they are splicer and it fits. I get that. But these guys were caught robbing a convenience store. If they were involved with an organization with the kind of tech, power, and finances to pull this off, why rob a convenience store?”

“But the brass isn’t letting you look into?” Bob asks.

“Yep”

“Kristen, you know it comes with the territory”

“Yep,” she replies as the frost returns to her answers.

“I know that look and I don’t like it,” observes the Warden. “Just stick to doing your job, kid”.

“My job is to find the truth,” she retorts.

“What are you saying, Kris?”

Kristen stands and stretches. She slides the ashtray back over to Bob. “I don’t know what I’m saying,” she says as she exits his office. “My report will be delivered before lunch. Have a good one, Bob.” With that she leaves.
,
Bob falls back into his chair and smiles. “She’s just like her father”.

^

[Glippernip]

I have start looking into my past. May be if I can find out who my biological father is. I can better understand myself. Seeing the spirit of mother is really having an effect on me. The fact that I didn’t recognize her right away bothers me too. I must learn more about where I came from.

“Damn it, LJ. What the hell is wrong with you lately. You’re spacing out again,” Lian reprimands.

“Yes, LJ. You have been losing focus recently,” adds Connor.

“I’m sorry. What were you saying?” LJ asks.

Lian pulls down on her mini-skirt while huffing in frustration. “Last time I repeat myself. Twip. So stay with me”.
“Those three splicers you put a way recently got busted out of jail last night. Apparently the crooks have big time friends. Tonight is a good chance for Black Arrow to make a major statement to Star City’s organized crime. I came here excited to tell you. But now you got me wondering, Little John, are you ready?”

Little John looks to Connor. Connor confidently smiles. LJ pulls his shoulder back and sticks out his chin. His lats expand like the sides of a cobra. It’s easy to forget how big and wide LJ is when he’s slouching. When he’s in standing with proper posture he’s enormous man.

“He’s ready,” Connor says to Lian.

Lian and Connor smile.

I hope I am. LJ smiles back.

To be contininued.....