Black Arrow #2

[Glippernip]

Black Arrow #2

My Own Worst Enemy

Written by Jim Crawbuck
Edited by Joel Sawyer



Black Arrow set his silent jets to propel from hover. He glides over to his would be adversary. He slowly descends from the sky. His helmet and full facemask point to his target. The tint in the visor makes it impossible to see inside the helmet. His light armor is all black with a hump attached to his back acting like a quiver. A thick coal gray belt sporting a large ‘B’ separates his upper from his lower body. He holds a large gray, metallic bow. When he lands, he still towers over his adversary. Looking down at the challenger, Black Arrow demands in deep echoing voice, “Let the girl go.”

“Monsieur Black Arrow, you are very large,” observes the man with the accent. “And so intimidating in your dark armor. I think next time I dress more dramatic, too”.

Black Arrow just continues staring down at him. I’ve never had to come out of the shadows. Three years of this and a few shots were always the answer. I’ve complicated things.

“I’m here strictly on bizness. If I do not have to kill ze girl. I will nawt. I’m no animal. I’m here to kill the mayor. I assume you are here to save him. I will ask you to sheath your weapon. I, in return will, remove my hiddon knife. We will fight like gentlemen, no?”

The man, still holding the sedated officer tightly to his person, reaches in his boot and throws a knife on the floor.

I’ve been training for this my whole life. My Brother, Conner Hawk at one time in his life was the best hand to hand fighter. Now he is my mentor. My mother, Dinah Queen, at one time was the best. She also helps in my training. My sister in some circles has been called the best of our time, and I’m much larger then this man. The odds definitely appear to be in my favor.

His bow collapses into itself transforming into a 1’ metal bar. He places onto his quiver where it magnetically clings on. He shifts into a fighting stance and his voice echoes out of his helmet again.

“Who are you?”

“Zey call me.. . Well Zey call me lots of not nice things. You may call me Counter Punch. I like it. It is much nicer then ze public’s names for me,” Counter Punch says, introducing himself.

Trust your self. Let your instincts take over. Conner would say; clear your mind. Focus on your goal. Let your senses inhale your surroundings. Mom would say; take this twip out before he knows you’ve hit him.

Black Arrow fires a quick and powerful strait left. Counter Punch awkwardly steps backward to avoid it.

“You move very fast, your arm extends like a cobra,” Counter Punch compliments.

Black Arrow unleashes three strait punches fast and hard forcing Counter Punch to step back for each one, narrowly avoiding them. When Counter punch tries to speak, Black Arrow hastily and gracefully follows with a roundhouse.

“You are so big yet so fast,” retorts Counter Punch then clumsily ducks under the roundhouse, “ Not to mention graceful. You are very good. You’ve done dis before?”

His balance is inadequate. He is not abnormally fast. His footing is poor. How is he doing this? Conner can’t even avoid me this much.

[Glippernip]

Black Arrow throws another combination of kicks and punches that his talkative opponent evades. He finishes his set with a punch that Counter Punch is already prepared to block as he fires off a kick to Black Arrow's chin. The steel toe of Counter Punch’s boot crashes into the bottom of Black Arrows chin guard. Black Arrow hears it crack as his right hook connects with Counter Punch’s tucked left arm shielding his ribs. “oopha” is the noise the air makes coming out of Counter Punches mouth. The force of the hook knocked him off his feet. He hits the ground hard.

Black Arrows interior visor scrolls a warning across his eyes. Warning: Amplifier Damaged. Canary Cry Deactivated.

“I block zat and you still knock me down. Zat hurt. You are very powerful,” insists Counter Punch as he rolls to avoid a series of stomps.

I don’t get it. I’m much better then him. I’m much better then this. Focus. Center yourself.

Black Arrow, feeling that his stomps are not working, tries to drop a knee onto Counter Punch. Counter Punch was already kicking his steel toed boot to where Black Arrows chin was going to be. The collision roars with a CRACK! Black Arrow staggers backward. Warnings illuminate his visor.

Warning: Telescopic lens disabled

Warning: Night vision and infra-red disabled

Warning: Standard vision down to 70%

We've got to strengthen this chin guard

“You zee I will not kill you,” declares Counter Punch as he reveals retractable blades in the toe of his boot. “You are far to good. One day some one will want you dead and will pay lots of money for it. Zen, and only Zen, I kill you. I invest in Star City’s hero, no?”

I’m not the person for this. I’m not ready. My first shot at the big time and I’m blowing it. I don’t understand. How this guys is doing it? My Head is ringing. Focus on your training. Control your emotions don’t let them control you.

Black Arrow tries grabbing Counter Punch.

Counter Punch counters with an uppercut that Black Arrow accidentally leans into. The impact jolts the large armored man, forcing to step back to regain his footing.

“Magnificent, I feel resistonce every time I connect with you. Your armor has some sort of protective field. You amaze me my large friend,” cheers Counter Punch.

Black Arrow takes a deep breath. He pauses to collect himself. Brings his arms above his head and slowly bring them to his chest. Then as if he was pushing something heavy away from himself he slow extends his arms out from his chest. When the reach their peek he snaps into a hard stance. Little John fires out with a seven-move combination that finishes with a roundhouse punch. Each one of his attacks is narrowly evaded. As he spins his head around to see were the final blow will land. He notices his head is heading right for the Frenchman’s boot heel.

Sorry Mother. Sorry Brother.

[Glippernip]

A charge of electricity from the armor jolts John back into consciousness. He opens his eyes to find Detective O’Leary trying to remove his helmet. He grabs her hand.

“Easy hero. I was just seeing if you are okay,” answers the police officer.

John releases her hand and sits up.

“Which is more then you did for me," she adds. O’Leary hands John a broken arrow. “I think this belong to you. I found it in my shoulder”. She points to her arm that’s wrapped in a makeshift sling and is bleeding through the towel. “Back up is on it way. You should get going.”

John stands up a little slowly. He pauses before he takes to the air. Slowly he turns his head back to the girl.

“Yes. He got him. He killed the Mayor," she answers.

Black Arrow’s jets fire up and he launches into the air. His head is pounding. He is nauseous from dizziness. The words ‘easy, hero’ are echoing in his mind.

My sister would’ve taken him without breaking a sweat. Hero? I wish. Looking into that woman’s eyes after she handed me my arrow back was the hardest hit I ever took. I saw disappointment in her eyes and I saw pity. I think she was pitying me. I bet they never pitied Dad or Mom. There’s no chatter about pitying the Jade Canary. I shot the cop. I shot the cop. Then she woke me up and got me out of the crime scene despite me putting narcotic arrow in the arm. ‘Easy hero’ she said. I need more. This armor needs upgrading. I must bring more to the table.

[Glippernip]

Shortly after a news bulletin about the assassination of the Star City’s Mayor:

“Where is he,” says former president Oliver Queen. His voice has developed a little bit of a quiver in recent years.

“Slow down, you dinosaur. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack,” Dinah bellows at her husband from a few feet behind him.

“I’m sorry, Pretty Bird. I’m just worried,” apologizes Ollie.

“As am I, Dad," Conner greets his parents as they enter the gym. “How did you know he was at the scene?”

“Lian." Ollie pauses and crinkles his nose. “Why’d you shave your head, again?”

“It is symbolic of…” starts Conner.

“Yeah that’s right. Let’s forget I asked,” interrupts Ollie.

“He’s here,” cheers Dinah.

Black Arrow enters the gym and removes his helmet. His chin has a big gash on it that’s still bleeding. His eyes are blackened and swollen. He limps over to his worried family.

“Mom. Dad. Conner. I failed you,” says John, bowing his head in shame.

“Not really. Not me, our mother, or our brother,” retorts Ollie obviously still thinking. “The Mayor. You might have a case for failing the Mayor”.

Little John sinks his head.

“You heartless old twip, can’t you see the boy's upset and battered,” Dinah cries.

“Fooey, He’s an Arrow. Getting the recyke beaten out of you comes with the name,” argues Ollie. “Was it an old lady or a small child?”

“No,” replies LJ.

“Then get over it and walk it off,” demands Oliver.

“Grumpy old has-been,” says Dinah as she smacks her husband in the back of the head.

“What?!” asks Ollie.

Dinah climbs up on the tips of her toes, pulls him down a little, and kisses her adopted son on his forehead.

“It’s okay, my little panda. It’s happened to all of us. I swear”

Little John hugs his mother.

Dinah pushes Ollie towards the door. “Come on, you stale fart. Let’s go before you say anything stupider."

[Glippernip]

As they exit Ollie says, “It’s no big deal. It’s not like your old butt beat him up”.

“Button it.”

“Now that would be embarrassing. He don’t know embarrassing.”

“Zip it.”

“Back in my early years that first Robin beat me up, and he was like twelve”

“Oliver! Shut up!”

Conner walks over to his brother and puts his hand on his shoulder.

“Was the helmet’s recorder damaged,” he asks.

“I don’t think so,” answers LJ.

“Good. Then tomorrow we watch the fight together and see if we can find what went wrong,” Conner declares, patting his brother on the back. “For now, you rest. Close your eyes, refocus your emotions, take control and rest”.

“He wasn’t even any good, Conner,” pouts LJ.

“This discussion is for tomorrow. Right now, you rest. Clear your mind,” politely demands Conner.

Next month the saga continues…….