The Crimson Dragon Volume 1

## The Beginning - Issue 1

In 2002, Kai was 5. His family was poor, and struggling for money. Kai was going to kindergarten, and his parents couldn’t buy him new clothes. So he was going to school in ragged ruined dirty clothes.

Kai: Hello.

Teacher: Why don’t you have clean clothes?

Kai shrugged.

Teacher: Just sit down!

Kai sits down in the only empty seat.

Kid: You’re disgusting! Don’t sit next to me!

Kai: I’m sorry.

At recess that day Kai had no one to talk to. He sat on the steps, and waited for recess to be over. Then a kid walks up to him.

???: What’s up?

Kai: Aren’t you gonna complain about how I look or smell?

???: I think you already know that.

Kai: What’s your name?

???: Azrael.

Kai: Well nice to meet you Azrael.

They both smile. Later on that day Kai went home to his parents. They were working in their meth lab.

Mom: Hello hun, what’re you doing?

Worker: You let your kid go to school looking like that? Where dey do dat at? You so ghetto!

Mom: Who the fuck are you ta tell me?!

Worker: Oh, so you mad now!

Dad: You two better shut the fuck up, you, get back to work, and you take Kai outta here!

The worker guy goes back to work, and Kai’s mother brings him to the car. They get in the car, and she rolls the window down. Then she starts smoking a cigarette.

Mom: So how was ya day at school?

Kai: It was okay.

Mom: You make any friends?

She starts putting on her makeup.

Kai: I made one friend I think.

Mom: That’s great hun.

She gets a call on her flip phone. Then she starts talking to someone.

Mom: Alright… yeah. I’m coming. Imma round the corner! Yeah… see ya.

Mom: Alright baby, I’m going to a party. Your gonna be sitting in the car.

Kai’s mother drives them to a packed bar. He sees his mother open the door, and throw up her hands.

Mom: I’m in dis bitch!

The door closes, and kai just sits there waiting. Eventually, his mother comes out with a guy, and she is hammered. She gets in his car, and they drive away. Kai falls asleep in the car, and then wakes up to his mother getting back in the car with a stack of cash.

Kai: Hi mommy!

Mom: Shh, hello baby.

She rubs his hair.

Mom: Mommy’s head hurts a bit so please be quiet.

Kai: Okay.

Seven years later it was the last day of school in 2009. Kai was coming home from school when he found his parents dead. His whole house was ransacked for drugs, and his parents were laying dead on the floor.

Kai: Mom?

Kai runs over to his mother, and holds her in his arms.

Kai: Mom, you're okay. We can fix this. The hospital can fix this.

His mother is lying dead in his arms bloody. Kai stays alone.

Kai: Its gonna be okay.

## Epic Rap Battles Of History - Issue 2

Kai is sitting in blood as the cops show up.

Cop: Did the kid do this?

Detective: No, these guys have bullet wounds, and there is no gun around. We have already checked the area. Plus they have been dead since about 12 and the kid was seen getting out of school at 3.

Cop: Well than poor kid. He had to see his parents like this.

Detective: I know. I am going to have to ask him questions too.

The detective walks outside, and over to the ambulance where Kai is sitting drinking water.

Detective: Hey kid.

Kai drinks a sip of water, and the detective sits next to him.

Detective: So Kai is it?

Kai drinks another sip of water.

Detective: Kai, you know my parents died when I was young too?

Kai: Really?

Detective: Yeah, and your probably worried that things might start changing and they will, but things are going to change for the better. You lived in a bad house. We are going to get you in a home. Where you can be adopted by new parents. Thats what happened to me, and because of that I decided to become a cop. So I could help out kids like you and me.

Kai: Your really cool Mr…

Detective Steel: My name’s Detective Connor Steel, but you can call me whatever you like.

Kai: Mr.Steel, will I be adopted?

Detective steel: Don’t think about that right now. We need your help to find your parents killer. Do you have any idea who it could be?

Kai: Well, there was this worker who always fought with my mom. He also worked there every day. So I don’t know why he wouldn’t be dead.

Detective Steel: That’s good information, kid. Do you know his name?

Kai: No, sorry.

Detective Steel: That’s fine. You did good kid, thank you.

Detective steel gets up, and tips his hat to Kai before walking off. Later Detective steel comes back to then drive Kai down to the church.

Detective Steel: You probably think that you’re not going to be going to regular school, but this church allows you to go to a regular school if you already were. So you will still be going to your old school. I’m not gonna lie to you. These people are really nice. You are lucky your school bus was willing to drive from Hell’s Kitchen to Harlem.

The Detective walks the kid in.

Priest: Ah, this is Kai. Hello Kai.

Priest: He will be in the best care of the nuns.

Detective Steel: I bet he will. Kai, I come here every Sunday so I will be checking on you, see ya.

Detective steel leaves.

Priest: Kai, I know you have been through a lot.

The priest tries to put his hand on Kai’s shoulder, and Kai moves his shoulder back.

Priest: You don’t have to feel weird. If you don’t want me to touch you that’s fine. Come follow me.

The priest leads him over to the seats. He tells Kai to sit down, and close his eyes. Then to put his hands together in the praying motion. Kai refuses to close his eyes, but eventually gives in.

Priest: Now tell god want you what, or even just talk to him. God is a great listener. He won’t say anything back to you, but he is listening.

Kai(in head): God, if you’re out there please bring my parents back. I have had to be poor, deal with my mother cheating, constant death threats from workers, and now my parent’s death. Please make things get better.

Kai starts crying.

Priest: It’s okay to cry. For things to get better your going to have to accept the pain.

Kai hugs the priest.

Priest: I think its time for you to go to bed. You have school in the morning.

The priest leads Kai to the bathroom where he takes a shower, and Kai goes to sleep. Kai is then woken up by a nun.

???: Kai, it’s time to wake up.

Kai: What’s your name.

???: You can call me Ms.Margaret.

Kai gets up out of bed, and Ms.Margaret lays clothes on the bed.

Ms.Margaret: Go change, and I will meet you in the main room.

Ms.Margaret leaves the room.

Kai: Clean clothes?

Kai puts on his clothes. Then he meets Ms.Margaret.

Kai: Hello.

Ms.Margaret: Great, you’re ready. Follow me, Kai.

Ms.Margaret grabs Kai’s hand, and leads him outside. They wait for the bus to come, and the bus picks him up. He gets driven to school. He then gets off the bus, and sees some kids outside before school starts.

Azrael: Alright its heads. You chose.

???: I’m going to destroy you in the first round

Azrael: Fine, but no promises.

The beat starts playing, and Kai walks over to see what’s happening.

???: Fine, alright, alright okay,
White boy, you ain’t got no skill.
If you went into the rap game you wouldn’t even make one bill.
That’s real.
You ain’t got nothing against me.
You’re held down by disadvantage while I’m free.
I don’t know nothing ‘bout you.
Your just act like your the smart blind jew.
Your only friend is the dirty kid.
It’s like he has been sprayed by a squid.
I see you bumping into walls all the time.
Focus on walking before you try to start a rhyme.
You think you're on some Tupac shit.
Why don’t you spend some time with granny and nit?
Cause you’re not going to accomplish nothing.
The crowd probably thinks I’m bluffing.
But we all know after this you be running.

Crowd: OHHHHHHH!!!!

Azrael starts to look sad.

Kai: Az, you good?

Azrael: I don’t think I can come back from that.

Kai: I thought you had practiced some rap.

Azrael: I have, but I’m not good.

Kai: Then I’ll do it.

Azrael: You haven’t even practiced, or even wrote down anything.

Kai: Well if you’re not going in I might as well.

Azrael: Fine.

Kai: I'm going.

???: Well okay then. I guess I was right Azrael is running.

Crowd: \*Laughs\*

The beat starts again.

Kai: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I haven’t even done this shit before.
And now it looks like I’m in the middle of a war.
Hey, Jax, there’s four of your guys in here you trynna cheat.
Well you should repeat your verse then because no one was listening.
During your mumbling, I was envisioning.
I knew what I was going to do when I came out here.
I don’t care about rap while you’re trying to make a career.
I can already tell you ain’t going nowhere.
You would need 30 people to help you write a good verse so let’s all say a prayer.
Since your wasting your life trying to be the real slim shady.
N\*\*ga you crazy.
You’re full of ambition and stupidity.
It’s stupendous you even made it this far.
You’ll never be a superstar.

Crowd: OHHHH!

The crowds about even.

Jax: I guess we’re going for round two, eh?

Kai: Aight!

The beat restarts

Jax: It seems like you used the ink I gave you.
I guess we have got an upcoming rapper here he’s all-new!
Nah you just a wanna be Biggie.
You more like the Notorious P.I.G., piggy!
What, you think your no longer the dirty kid because you got clean clothes and a shower.
Yeah sure, next you’re gonna be living in trump tower.
Not,
Your still the poor kid looking for food so he eats his snot.
Yeah, this superstar is going all-in.
I have support from my family. Where’s your kin?
Oh shit, I’m at it again!
You looking upset now did I ruin your fun.
I got family, good friends, and money you got none.
Life is really tough huh.
This guy has had enough.
Now give up before we start betting for stuff.
You the big old softy that got beat by the ruff.

Crowd: RIDER!

Jax: Yeah, dis n\*\*ga crazy for going against me.

The beat restarts.

Kai: How are you gonna make fun of me
I have to deal with death while you trying to figure out how to put a house in a tree
I have been through some real shit
And I can really spit
Whatta you got on me, some money
Well take a knee because to me you ain’t got nothing to worry about
You think you’re a hot rapper
Your just a used condom wrapper
Because your full of jizz that nobody wants
You know your bars suck so you have to write them in different fonts
You better protect your neck
You’re the Brooklynn zoos escaped Shrek
Because your face is so green you look like you're gonna throw up.

Jax throws up on the ground.

Kai: I win by default!

Jax keeps throwing up. Kai brings him to the nurse while everyone goes to class.

Nurse: lay down on the bed.

Jax lays down.

Nurse: thank you for bringing Jax down here. Anyways I need to go get you a pass so just chill here. The other nurse is in the medical room if you need anything.

The nurse leaves.

Kai goes over to Jax.

Kai: whatsapp?

Jax: soon to be puke.

Kai: doesn’t sound great.

Jax: Yeah, but anyway you won.

Kai: I don’t take that as a win. We are gonna do this again some day, and next time I’m actually gonna win.

Jax: I’m sorry.

Kai: sorry?

Jax: The disses were kinda uncalled for, and I’m sorry I dissed your newly deceased family. My condolences, and let them Rest In Peace.

Kai: You know what Jax. You are not as bad of a guy as I originally thought. Maybe we can chill sometime.

They fist bump.

Kai: I would dap you up, but…

Jax: Yeah, I get it.

The nurse walks back in.

Nurse: Alright here’s your pass, Kai. You can go back to class.

Kai: Thanks, nurse.

Kai goes through the rest of his day at school. Then at the end of the day when everyone is walking to their buses, Azrael meets up with Kai.

Azrael: Hey, Kai!

Kai: Whatsapp, Az?

Azrael: Thanks, you really saved my ass back there.

Kai: No problem! What are friends for?

Azrael: Thanks again man, see ya!

Kai: See ya!

They both go on separate busses, and the busses drive off. Kai eventually gets home.

Priest: Welcome home Kai.

Kai: Hello Priest.

Priest: Did you have a good day today?

Kai: Yeah, it was alright.

Priest: Alright well, don’t forget to pray.

Kai: I won’t.

The priest leaves.

Kai sits at the stands where you pray. He closes his eyes, and starts to pray.

Kai(in head): Today was a good day god. I needed a good day, thank you.

When Kai opens his eyes there is a blind kid around his age that is sitting right next to him.

???: Hey, you’re pretty new aren’t you?

Kai: Uh, yeah. I’m Kai.

???: I’m Matthew. You can call me Matt though.

Matt holds out his hand as he says his name, and Kai shakes his hand.

## Stick The Blind Sensei - Issue 3

Matt: It is Kai, right?

Kai: Yes my name is Kai. I have seen you around just chilling.

Matt: I think I have something of use to you.

Kai: What?

Matt: I’ll keep in touch.

Matt walks off. Kai goes to the main church room where the news is playing.

Reporter: The judge found Chris Carnage guilty for the murder of Mr. and Ms.adara after a long trial.

The news shows mugshots of Chris Carnage.

Kai: That’s not the worker.

Reporter: The murderer actually worked for them before he killed them. It just goes to show that you can’t trust anyone.

Kai: That’s not the worker! They got the wrong guy.

Kai runs out of the church.

Priest: Kai, slow down!

Kai runs out of the church ignoring the priest. Then Matt just smiles as he hears Kai running.

Matt: You're on the road to success, my friend. The road to success.

Kai runs all the way to the police station. Then he sees Detective Steel and runs up to him.

Kai: \*heavy breathing\* D-Detective S-Steal!

Detective Steal: Oh Kai, wassup?

Kai: You got the wrong guy. That isn’t the worker.

Detective Steal: I know.

Kai: Then why did you arrest him?

Detective Steal: I have been trying to get Chris Carnage for a while. Now that case being closed set me up for a good retirement.

Kai: I thought you were a good guy!

Detective Steal: People aren’t good. People are selfish. You’re in real life, kid. Grow up before you get left behind.

Detective Steal goes back to doing paperwork, and Kai walks back to the church.

Kai(in head): Not everyone is selfish. I am going to avenge my parents. I am going to find their killer.

Matt: Hello Kai. You look different.

Kai: You just saw me not that long ago.

Matt: You look like you have learned something. Maybe I have a new life goal.

Kai stares at Matt for a second.

Kai: Y-yeah.

Kai leaves to go to his room.

Kai: I just can’t believe that the police are so corrupt.

Kai rolls over.

Kai: damn.

1 year later it was 2010. Matt has been hanging around with this old man, and now the old man had disappeared. Until today Kai woke up to a blind man.

???: Do you know my name?

Kai: No…

???: Well good, but I think I am the one Matt told you had something you wanted.

Kai: He said that, like, a year ago!

???: The promise of dreams can take a while. So, will you be coming with me?

Kai: I have been through enough in my life to know I can’t trust you.

???: You don’t have to trust me. You only have to come with me.

Kai: I’ll give you one day.

???: You aren’t giving me anything. I don’t have to listen to anyone. Me asking was just to know whether or not I was going to have to force you to come with me.

Kai: 1 day.

???: Stop fucking complaining.

They start walking down the street. Then eventually they get to a gym. They go in, and put on boxing gloves.

Kai: How are you gonna teach me how to fight?

???: You think a blind man can’t fight?

Kai: Yes!

???: Well then let me show you how it’s done. Try and punch me.

Kai: Alright.

Kai walks over to the man, and goes in for a punch. The man grabs his arm. Then the grabbed arm behind his back, and spins Kai around. So that he can’t do anything.

Kai: How’d you?

???: For one, call me Stick. Now, how about I teach you a few tricks.

Kai just looks at Stick in amazement.

## A Beach Day - Issue 4

Kai is training with stick and Matt. It’s been a few months since Kai started training.

Stick: Alright Kai, it’s time for your greatest challenge yet, Matt. Ready? Begin!

Kai goes in for a punch, but Matt Senses it. He blocks the punch, and palms, Kai, right in the face. That didn’t do much damage though. Matt then went up to Kai, and tried to jab him in the stomach. He hit Kai, but kai grabbed his arm in the process. Kai punched Matt so hard that Matt fell on the ground.

Stick: Matt, you’re going to have to start hurting him more. Kai, you aren’t showing any skills. Use your skill to beat him not your power.

Matt sweeps his leg. Kai falls, but then rolls for a quick rebound. Matt jumps up. They both run at each other. They start trying to punch each other, but just keep blocking each others punches. Then Matt gets one good punch on Kai. After that Kai slowed down just enough for Matt to be able to keep getting punches in. Matt then gave Kai one last punch to the jaw which knocked him on the ground.

Kai: Alright, your the better pupil!

Matt: I know.

Then, later on, that day Kai saw Matt give stick something before stick left.

Kai: What did you give Stick?

Matt: Nothing, let’s just go home.

When Kai and Matt are walking they see the news on the tv. Someone is making a speech.

???: My name is Robert Queen, and I am officially opening my new business here in Manhatten. It’s been a long process to get this building stable so that I could start elsewhere, but I think this company will help you all out very much. Thank you all for listening.

They walked past the tv.

Kai: Wonder why he would help out Manhatten?

Matt: He isn’t helping Manhatten. He is starting a company here because he knows he’ll get a lot of business.

Kai: What a douche.

Matt: Yeah, I know.

The next day at the end of school.

Jax: Hey Kai, you wanna go to the beach? Cute girls will be there, eh?

Kai: Fine.

They have Jax’s older brother drive them to the beach. They set up a little area with drinks, food, towels, and umbrellas.

Jax’s older brother: Alright go have fun.

Jax’s older brother’s girlfriend stays at their area tanning. While Jax and Kai go swimming. They start passing a ball back and forth.

Jax: You got some arm.

Kai: And you got some mouth!

Jax: Fair enough.

A boy and girl come over.

???: Hey, can we join?

Jax: Sure, what’s ya names?

???: I’m Oliver and she’s Laurel.

They start passing the ball back and forth throughout all of them.

Kai: So, where you guys from because it’s clearly not here?

Laurel: We’re from starling city,

Kai: The glades? No, you can’t be from the glades.

Oliver: She is, I’m not.

Laurel: Yeah, but I'm in a nicer part of town. Not all of us can be rich.

Kai: Holy shit you're Oliver Queen!

Oliver: Yeah, you have probably seen my father on tv.

Kai: Your father is an asshole.

Oliver: Wait, what?

Kai: He always talks about how he is helping people so that he can put up companies in places with a high population.

Oliver: Well yeah, but that’s just business.

Kai: It might be business, but that doesn’t make you a good person because it’s business. He is still a bad guy.

Oliver: Stop talking trash about my dad!

Kai: Fine, Fine.

Laurel: Why don’t we all go chill, and eat something. We have been out here for a while.

Jax: Yeah, let’s all go chill. Why don’t you guys eat with us though? We have way more than enough food.

Laurel: Sure.

Oliver: Fine.

They all sit down under umbrellas on top of towels.

Jax: What kinda sandwich does everyone want?

Kai: peanut butter and jelly.

Jax: Here.

He passes him a sandwich.

Oliver: Peanut butter and fluff for us two.

Laurel: You know my favorite is peanut butter and jelly! I’ll take peanut butter and jelly, please.

Jax passes Oliver and laurel their sandwiches. Then gets out a sandwich for himself.

Oliver: Hmpf.

Laurel: So, how old are you guys.

Kai: 13.

Oliver: Yeah, we’re older than you guys. Laurel's 15 I’m 16.

Kai: You guys aren’t that much older. It’s only for two years. You guys will be juniors while we’re freshman. Even seniors like to hit on freshmen.

Laurel: He is right. Especially when we are in our twenties. Two years just really doesn’t matter.

Two guys come over. They both look 16.

Douchebag: Hey pretty lady. Wanna hang out with the actual cool guys?

Douchebag2: Yeah, hang out with some real men, not boys.

Laurel: I think I’m good, thanks.

They grab her arm.

Douchebag: Why don’t you just try it?

Laurel: Please don’t touché me.

Kai: Hey douchebags!

Kai takes an umbrella, and smacks the metal part on their heads.

Douchebag1 and 2: Ow, Fuck!

Douchebag: Now your gonna get it!

They both get up.

Kai: You sure?

Douchebag2 goes in for a tackle, but Kai just kicks him in the gut once he gets close. Douchebag then tries to throw punches, and Kai just keeps dodging them. Then Kai punches him in the gut so hard that douchebag falls over. The two douchebags just lay on the floor.

Jax’s older brother: Why are you fighting?!

Kai: They were attacking laurel.

Jax’s older brother: Huh, oh I get it. We should probably go anyway.

Oliver: It was nice meeting you Kai and Jax, and thanks for helping laurel.

Laurel: No I should thank you because Olly didn’t do anything, thank you.

Kai: No problem.

Jax: Come on Kai! We gotta go! Stop taking praise, and get into this damn car.

They both get into the car.

Kai: I thought Oliver Queen would be a bad guy because hid father is bad, but he’s actually pretty cool.

Jax: People don’t have to take after their father. Not everyone is bad.

Kai: hm…

They drive Kai home, and Kai goes to take a shower. When he gets back to his room he sees a note.

Kai: “Kai, I had to leave, and stop training you and Matt. Don’t think I won’t leave you without a sensei. You aren’t like Matt. You have your own style of fighting, and I wasn’t training you to that style. I was training you more in my style. Which only really fits me and Matt. I found you another sensei. He should be adopting you by the time that you read this note. That is assuming you have a life, and don’t just go right home on a Friday, stick.” I didn’t think I would ever be getting adopted.

Ms.Margaret: Would you please follow me, Kai. You have just been adopted.

Kai follows Ms.Margaret. He then sees one man standing in the church.

???: Hello kid! My name is Slade Wilson, but you can call me Slade.

## Answer My Question - Issue 5

Kai: Hello Slade. Will I still be going to my old school?

Slade: If you want to, but I suggest homeschooling. It would give us more time to do what Stick said.

Ms.Margaret: What did Stick say?

Slade: Parent-child bonding. He was talking about how much Matt and him have become like a real father and son.

Ms.Margaret: Really?!

Slade: Yeah.

Ms.Margaret: That’s amazing!

Slade: Alright come on Kai.

Kai and Slade walk out of the building. Then Kai gets in Slade’s car with him.

Kai: The only reason I didn’t lash out was because you mentioned Stick.

Slade: I’m your new sensei, kid, and I have a lot to teach you.

Kai:...

They get to Slades' huge house. Then they walk in.

Slade: It’s time to give you the tour, kid.

They start walking around.

Slades: That’s my bedroom. So you won’t be going in there. Then that’s your bedroom. That’s my secret special room, and this is the room you’ll be in the most.

They walk into the room. There are a lot of weights, and other things for working out.

Slade: It’s time for some conditioning, and some hardcore training over the next two days so I can take data.

Kai: Alright, where do I begin.

Kai runs on the treadmill until he gets tired.

Slade: Alright, that’s good. Now we are going to be testing how much you can do when you’re tired.

Slade makes him lift the heaviest weights that Kai can manage, and writes down how he did.

Slade: Alright, now that we have tested your tired statistics. I need you to go rest in your room for a while until your good again. Then we will do another test to see what the difference is.

Kai goes into his room, and lays down on the bed.

Kai(in head): this is going to be the hardest training I will ever have to do in my life, and I don’t even trust the gut training me. How do I know he’s even a good person? In my life I have learned not to trust people, people are all bad, and people can be good. What the hell am I supposed to believe?

Kai falls asleep thinking about his life. Then Kai wakes up to an extremely loud alarm clock.

Slade: It’s time to get up, kid.

Kai gets up, and follows Slade to the weight room. Slade splashes water on Kai’s face.

Kai: What the hell!?

Slade: Wake up!

Kai: I’m up!

Kai starts doing some workout routines. He starts lifting a bunch of weights. While Slade takes data. Eventually after a few hours…

Slade: That’s it, kid. Tomorrow we will start really physical training, but it’s time for dinner.

They sit down, and start eating. They are eating steak and fries.

Kai:...

Slade: Well?

Kai: Thank you for the food.

Slade: You’re welcome.

They keep eating

Kai:...

Slade: What do you like to do?

Kai: I don’t really know. I just kinda do a little of everything. I don’t particularly like any one thing.

Slade: Have you ever played chess before?

Kai: I think I have heard of it. That board game was where all the pieces basically do something different.

Slade: Yes, that’s the game. We will be playing it this evening. Anyway, you don’t have any interests?

Kai: I guess not.

Slade: Then let's find you something you like. I want you to find something you like by the end of the week.

Kai: Why?

Slade: You don’t ask the questions, kid. That’s my job.

Kai: A-alright.

After they finish dinner they start to play chess as Slade said. Slade explains what all the pieces are for.

Slade: Alright, you can go first. Remember to try your absolute hardest on the games of chess we play.

Kai: Alright.

They start playing.

Slade: So, are you setting something up?

Kai:...

Slade: You're really getting into this, huh kid? That’s fine. I’ll shut up.

They keep playing. They both see their strategies. Then even though Kai thought his plan was going perfectly.

Slade: Checkmate, kid.

Kai: what the- I thought I was winning.

Slade: We will play more tomorrow. Now go to bed! See ya in the morning, kid.

Both Kai and Slade go to bed. They wake up in the morning, and The bus picks Kai up. Kai goes to school, and meets Azrael.

Azrael: Kai, Whatsapp?

Kai: Nothing much. I’ve just been chilling.

Azrael: I see you on another new bus.

Kai: Yeah, what about it?

Azrael: Did you get adopted, or…

Kai: None of yo business.

Azrael: Fine, fine, you don’t need to tell me.

Kai: You're goddamn right I don’t!

Azrael: Jeez, well I gotta go to class anyway. I don’t need all this hostility in my life!

They both laugh as Azrael walks off. Kai goes through the rest of school bored.

Kai: What the hell am I supposed to like? I hate books, screw writing that sucks, I guess I like rap, wait a minute. If I am supposed to be focusing on my training then why would I need a hobby? I think I found my hobby.

Kai goes home at the end of the day. Slade makes him start lifting weights again.

Slade: Did you find the answer to my question?

Kai: Actually I think I did.

Slade: Well then lay it on me, kid.

Kai: My answer is training. Since if I have two goals one will get in the way of another. So I should have only one goal.

Slade: That’s wrong, kid. Looks like you're going to need another day to do this. Alright, 100 more push-ups!

Kai: Damn, alright.

Kai trains as hard as he can. Then they go to eat dinner. Today they’re having teriyaki chicken with a few sides.

Kai:...

Slade:...

Kai: What’s the answer to the question?!

Slade: I can’t answer such a big life question, kid.

Kai: Why not?

Slade: Because what are you going to do when you’re older. Your gonna say “Wow, that’s a hard question. I better go ask Slade.”

Kai: Seems good to me!

Slade: No, kid. You have ta answer my question ya self.

Kai: Do I though?

Slade: Do you?

Kai sighs.

Kai: Yes.

Slade: There you go.

Then they play chess again, and Kai loses. Kai and Slade go to bed, and then Kai wakes up again. Kai goes to school. Then in the gym They were playing dodgeball. Kai throws a ball, and it gets someone out.

Kai: I’m the champ!

Kai sees a girl whip a ball as hard as she can. The ball hits someone in the head, and knocks that person over over. Then Kai pulls some random dude aside.

Kai: Who the hell is that?

???: I think her name is Natalie Stewart. She is a really good baseball pitcher. That’s what I have heard at least.

Kai: what’s your name again?

???: My names Cal.

The guy goes back to playing.

Kai: I want to get her out.

Kai keeps playing. Natalie is the only good player on her team, and she still starts destroying Kai’s team. Then after many attempts Kai gets her out.

Kai: Yeah, you're out!

Natalie: You got lucky!

Kai just laughs at her.

No one on Natalie’s team could get her back in before they were all taken out.

Kai: Easy.

As Natalie walks back to her court.

Natalie: It was only easy because I wasn’t in.

Kai: Well than stay in the game.

Natalie gets angry.

Natalie: I’m targeting you next time!

Kai: Bring it, gym class hero!

Teacher: Alright everyone go get changed.

After Kai gets changed he grabs his bag, and the kid that told him about Natalie brings him aside.

Random classmate: Why would you do that?

Kai: It’s just gym.

Random classmate: Did you see how hard she throws the balls? She isn’t even using her full strength. Last year the gym teachers had to make her throw softer because people kept having to go to the nurse.

Kai: If I can't take a ball then there’s a problem. I’m not a wuss. I think I can handle dodge ball.

Random classmate: Your funeral.

They both leave, and Kai goes home at the end of the day. Slade starts making him train. He trains hard, harder than he has had to any other day. He almost threw up during the workout.

Kai: Why are we training so hard?

Slade: I am not training you to be at half of your strength. From now on training is going to get increasingly hard. Not much harder though. Since you almost collapsed during this workout, it will be constantly increasing in difficulty.

Kai: oh no.

Slade: Yup. Anyway it’s dinner time.

Kai: \*heavy breathing\* thank god!

They eat dinner which is ham steak and some sides.

Slade: have you answered my question yet.

Kai: I like to rap.

Slade: Wrong.

Kai: What?! It’s not focusing on training, or what I actually like? Then what the fuck is it?!

Slade: Language! You know what. We are going to work on schooling too. You need to be able to talk like a distinguished gentlemen, and you should know a few languages too. Anyway, do you want a hint on the question?

Kai: Yes!

Slade: Stop thinking of the answer as an action. It is an action, but it’s something that you would consider just part of life.

Kai: That’s a terrible hint. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!

Slade: figure it out. Now go take a shower, and then we’ll play chess.

Kai takes a show then they play chess. Kai loses the chess game as always. Then they go to bed. Kai goes to school the next day sore from training. Then his last class of the day was gym.

Natalie: You and me, Kai.

Kai: Yup, I’m at full strength just for this fight.

Natalie: What?

Kai: Nothing, nothing, I’ll just see you in the game.

Natalie: Alright, \*whispers\* weirdo.

They go get changed, and the gym teacher picks the teams. The teacher puts both Natalie and Kai on the same team.

Natalie: Mr.k please. Put me on the other team. I really don’t want to be on a team with him. Plus the teams are so unfair now.

Mr.K: Yeah, that’s the point.

Natalie: Huh?

Mr.K: There’s a new hot teacher, and if I put you two on different teams I’ll have to watch carefully to see who gets out. If you are both on the same team then there is no possible way either of you could get out. So I’ll be leaving.

Natalie: BUT YOU HAVE TO WATCH US!

Mr.K: Watch yourself!

He leaves.

Natalie: Grrr.

She kicks up the ground.

Natalie: I guess we’re on the same team!

Kai: Couldn’t you just switch teams now that he’s gone?

Natalie: No. Without him, I’m just gonna cheat. Plus I don’t feel like winning like that.

Kai: Good because I’m sore.

Natalie: And you were just gonna try and beat me in dodgeball?

Kai: I feel like your taking dodgeball as life and death.

Natalie: It basically is.

Kai: Eh, a little different.

They play dodgeball together, and obviously win every game pretty quick. After they get changed they walk to the next class together.

Natalie: I thought you were gonna be my competition, but you’re alright. See ya around, Kai.

Kai: See ya!

Kai goes home for some more hardcore training.

Kai: This is getting a little heavy.

Slade: Well then use more effort. So, did you figure out the answer to my question?

Kai: No, how the hell do you expect me to answer you’re great philosophical questions?

Slade: I don’t know kid? You could always, you know. Figure out the answers.

Kai: I hate you.

Slade: All you have to do is answer 1 question.

Kai: Yeah, and it’s probably gonna be something stupid like “make friends to solve all your problems.”

Slade: That’s the answer.

Kai: THAT’S NOT A- I hate you.

Slade: A hobby you should get into is making friends. You will never be good at everything. Which means that you will need friends to help you. Especially in the superhero world. What if you need a magic problem to be solved? You’re going to need friends, but not only that. Another part of making friends is something that was told to me by my master “the best way to defeat your enemy is to make them your friend.”

Kai: Sounds wise, but he’s probably dead so not that wise.

Slade: Hey, you respect your elders! If you really want to know. He was dead before he started training me.

Kai: Wait a minute, your logic is backwards.

Slade: Kai, do you believe in magic?

Kai: No.

Slade: Oh boy. Kai, magic exists, superpowers exist, heaven and hell exist, gods exist. How do you not believe in this kinda stuff?

Kai: I have never seen any proof.

Slade: Oh, I am going to show you some proof. Tomorrow when you come home. I will show you how to use superpowers, but only if you find me, deal?

Kai: Hell yeah that’s a deal!

## Magic! - Issue 5

By now its 2011, and Kai is 14. Kai gets home from school, and slade is nowhere to be found.

Kai: Game on Slade, game on!

Kai starts searching the house. He is looking behind everything. Checking places like the fridge. Making sure that Slade isn’t in an obvious place. After a few hours Kai starts to lose hope.

Kai: He’s nowhere. He must have hidden outside of the house. There just isn’t anything here.

Kai goes to look behind a picture, but he accidentally dropped it. Then when he went to pick it up he realized his hand could go through the painting. He grabbed a letter out of the painting. Then opened it.

Kai: “Kai, I told you magic exists. Now, how are you going to use that information to find me?”

Kai goes to Slade’s room that he was told never to go into. Then walks right through the door. It was like the painting. The room is just a storage room. He has old books, and stuff in it. Kai grabs one of the books.

Kai: The book of Osiris, Huh.

Kai puts the book back. Then starts feeling every book in the area.

Kai: Really, none of them do anything. That’s like basic secret room 101.

Kai then starts feeling the walks. He finds nothing so he then starts feeling the floor. He finds something. It feels like a little handle. He pulls it up, and it reveals some sort of secret passage with a ladder down to the bottom.

Kai: This is a lot of work.

Kai climbs down the ladder, and eventually gets to the bottom. There is a letter in the middle of the room.

Kai: “Kai, there is only one way out of this room. While there are also many traps set up. There are many weapons in this room, and there are some traps you're gonna have to fight. So, good luck.” Gaddamit!

Kai starts searching the walls, and then he dodges right before arrows hit him.

Kai: I am gonna have to be on top of my game.

He touches the ceiling, and a blow torch comes out. Kai rolls out of the way.

Kai: Slade trying time kill me!

Kai then checks the floor. He finds a notch again. He opens it, and wolves come out. Kai the kicks one of the wolves, and one almost bites his leg.

Kai: Goddamit Slade!

Kai starts running around the area looking for a weapon.

Kai: I got an idea. Come here puppy, puppy.

Wolf: Grrrrr.

The wolves circle around him, and slowly walk closer to him. Then Kai presses the arrow button, and runs. The wolves get shot, and killed by the arrows.

Kai: Thank god. Kai walks into an invisible wall.

Kai: What the fuck?

Kai feels around on the wall until he feels what seems to be a door. He opens the door, and walks down a long pathway. Then he sees a light at the end of the pathway

Kai: Ugh, what’s the next challenge?

Kai walks into the room at the end of the hallway. He sees Slade, and he’s with someone.

Slade: Kai, you finally made it.

???: That took you awhile.

Kai: Who’s this?

???: I made the damn course. You can call me Doctor Strange.

Kai: Well I am Kai Adara. Nice to meet you.

They shake hands.

Doctor strange: So, I have to test to see whether you have powers no if I am not mistaken.

Slade: Yup, that was the deal. Unless that magic was too much for you Kai.

Kai: that was just smoke and mirrors.

Doctor Strange takes off his cape, and it latches onto Kai. Then Doctor Strange puts fire in one hand, and ice in the other. Then he shoots both of those elements at Kai. Both of them disappear before they hit Kai, but then the ground below Kai has become ice. So Kai trips, and falls. Kai then sees that the ice is gone, and he is in a ring of fire. The fire starts getting closer, and closer to him. Then once Kai closes his eyes because the fire is so close it feels like all the heat in the room vanished. Kai opens his eyes to see that he is in space. A meteor stars flying in to hit the planet he is on. Fire starts spreading throughout the whole area. Kai closes his eyes as the fire was about to it him. Then he opens his eyes again, and sees a fiery place that looks like hell. A black hole shows up, and sucks him in. He opens his eyes to the real world where he sees Doctor Strange and Slade.

Kai: \*Heavy Breathing\* What… was that?

Doctor Strange: Magic.

Kai: Magic is real, like really real?

Slade: Obviously. Why are you in such denial about magic?

Kai: I- I don’t know.

Slade: I think that was enough for one day. It's getting late anyway. Come on Kai. We’ll do the superpower thing tomorrow. See ya Doctor Strange.

Doctor strange portals out of the room. While slade brings Kai upstairs.

Kai: Yeah I guess I better go to bed.

Slade: Yeah, you got school tomorrow.

Kai: Night!

Kai goes to bed, and wakes up. He goes to school, and meets up with his friends at lunch. He is sitting with Azrael, Jax, and Natalie.

Kai: Guys and ladie, do you believe in magic?

Natalie: Absolutely, magic has to exist. You guys can’t tell me you haven’t seen one weird thing in your lives.

Azrael: I wish that magic existed. Then I wouldn’t be fucking blind!

Natalie: That's because you don’t know how to use magic. Magic just doesn’t solve everyone's problems just because it exists!

Jax: Eh, I just don’t really care. I clearly don’t have magic so…

Natalie: You guys suck!

Azrael: You're just a girl hoping that magic exists so that her fanfiction can come true!

Natalie: Your such an ass!

Both Natalie and Azrael get up, and Natalie is about to punch him.

Kai: Alright, the discussion wasn’t supposed to make a girl hit a blind guy. Sit down you two.

Natalie sits down, but turns her head away from Azrael.

Kai: Well, magic is real, and I just learned that yesterday. So…

Azrael: Then show us a spell.

Kai: Tomorrow I will show you something to prove what I said.

Azrael: Your just trying to stall. You better have it tomorrow!

Kai: I will, I will, jeez. You're so pushy!

Kai goes through the rest of the day kinda mopy, and Natalie realizes this. She then pulls him aside in the hallway when everyone is walking to the bus. Then pins him against the wall.

Kai: I thought the guy was supposed to do this. I guess I’ll let it slide because you are definitely stronger than me.

Natalie: Why have you been so depressed all day?

Kai: I have done no such thing.

Natalie: Don’t try and play me. What’s going on?

Kai: Nothing, really…

He grabs her wrists.

Kai: Stop worrying about me!

He drops her arms, and walks off. As he walks off he turns around.

Kai: Really, stop. I’m not worth worrying about. I can handle my own life.

Natalie: Guys are so dumb. I never even said he couldn’t handle his life.

Kai goes home, and goes back down into Slade’s secret bunker. He opens the door, and goes through the hallway. Where Doctor Strange is meditating.

Doctor Strange: Meditate with me, Kai.

Kai: Alright.

Kai sits down, and starts meditating. He breathes in, and breathes out. After a while he falls into almost a sleep like state. It feels like he is dreaming, but he isn’t dreaming. He feels stronger, and stronger. Once he opens his eyes he realizes he has a white aura.

Doctor strange: You just learned how to use your powers. Well one of them. I used lets just say one of “my powers” to see in the future. You just used your ability to make yourself stronger.

Kai: Do I have any magic?

Doctor Strange: No… Why do you want magic?

Kai: Never mind.

Doctor Strange: Alright the. Now what you have to do is focus energy in your hand, and make a slash in the air sending out a blast of energy.

Kai: Okay

Kai sits there for a while focusing on his hand. His energy just wasn’t focusing on one point. He tried harder and harder. Eventually the energy started slowly flowing from the rest of his body into his hand. Then he makes his hand straight so he is not making a fist. Then he makes a slash in the air, and the energy from his hand make a blast that slams into the wall. Doctor Strange her to dodge the blast because it came right for him.

Doctor Strange: Don’t aim at me!

Kai: Oh, sorry. I didn’t really think about it

Doctor Strange: Yeah, I could tell you weren’t thinking. Anyway those are probably your most important powers. You have one more power that you control, and another power that works on its own. I think you should be able to figure them out. I don’t want to take away all the surprises.

Kai: Can I ask you one more favor?

Doctor Strange: Sure. What do you want?

Kai: Can you show my friends magic? I told them it was real, and they didn’t believe me.

Doctor Strange: Just show them your powers!

Kai: That’s really not magic though.

Doctor Strange: Kids have no respect for magic. But sure, I’ll show your friends magic. What time?

Kai: 3 o’clock outside of school.

Doctor Strange: See ya then!

Doctor Strange makes a portal, and leaves. Then Kai trains for the rest of the day before going to sleep. He wakes up, and goes to school the next day. Azrael just believed he was stalling again. Then at the end of the day they were standing outside of school.

Kai: He should be here any minute.

Azrael is tapping his foot. Then Doctor Strange comes out of a portal.

Doctor Strange: You lot needed to see some magic. Then here you go!

Doctor Strange splits the world in half. Then all the kids fall into the center of the earth. They fall into the lava with their eyes closed. Then they swim to the top of the lava. They then realized they were in an ocean. Where there was a volcano. The volcano was erupting, and a price of rock flew off, and hit them. Then when they opened their eyes again they were back at home.

Doctor Strange: That’s magic. I’m leaving now!

Doctor Strange portals out as he always does. Everyone is shaking in fear because they technically we're just in 2 different scenarios where they would die.

Natalie: Is that really how we are going to die?

Kai: No, he was just showing off by making all these really intricate places. The reason why you die each time is because of you didn’t close your eyes during every scene change it wouldn’t look as real.

Jax: How do you know all this stuff?

Kai: He explained to me what the spell does before he used it on you guys, but after he used it on me.

Natalie: I hate magic!

## Taking Down Detective Steel - Issue 7

Kai and Slade are training in hand to hand combat.

Slade: Now that we have just about worked your body to its absolute max. We can now really start with martial arts.

Kai: We have already started martial arts though.

Slade: Yes, but now martial arts and working out will be flipped. So now we will be doing more martial arts. A lot more.

Slade grabs two batons like sticks, and passes them to Kai. He grabs two for himself.

Slade: This is a really great way of training. We use the sticks as weapons. You have to try to not get hit, and to hit me back. All the while I attack you.

Kai: That doesn’t sound like fun at all!

Slade: The meaning of this isn’t fun. This is training.

Kai: Fine.

Slade starts swinging the batons at Kai, and Kai blocks a few before slade hits his leg with the stick.

Kai: Ah, Fuck that hurts a lot more than I thought it would!

Slade: It’s wood!

Kai and slade keep going. They keep hitting the sticks together. Then after a little while of Kai getting used to it Slade got bored, and kicked him down. Kai fell right to the ground.

Kai: I thought we were only using sticks!

Slade: You gotta be prepared for anything, and you shouldn’t be questioning me. I have been having to go pretty easy on you.

Kai: That’s because we just started.

Slade: I’m not going to baby you. You got a feeling for it. Now I’m going to try my hardest, and you better do something against it. Unless you want to have a lot of bruises after training every day.

Kai: Alright, you can go all out whenever you want. I am ready for it.

Slade rushes him, and starts swinging his batons like crazy. Kai can barely even follow him with his eyes never mind trying to react to what Slades doing. Slade then jabs Kai in the stomach with a baton. It knocks all the wind out of him, and slade flips him. Kai lands on his back.

Kai: Ow!

Slade: You should have dodged.

Kai: Ow!

Slade: I guess training can be over for the day. We will pick this up tomorrow.

Kai: I think that’s a good plan.

The next day Kai was trying to avoid training so he was hanging out with his friends.

Kai: What’re you guys doing?

Azrael: Did you guys here about a rogue cop?

Natalie: Why would we care about some old loser?

Kai: Wait, who is it?

Azrael: Some Detective named Connor Steel. He killed six people while out drunk.

Natalie: Wow, that story became way more interesting!

Jax: That’s exactly what I was thinking!

Kai(In Head): After my last run in with Steel I knew he wasn’t a great guy, but to kill six people because you were drunk...

Kai snaps back into consciousness because Natalie was saying his name.

Natalie: Kai!

Kai: Huh, what?!

Natalie: We decided on a restaurant to go to, and you just stopped walking out of nowhere. What's wrong with you?

Kai: Uh nothing, just daydreaming. Where is everyone else?

Natalie: I told them we’d meet them there. I just gave the excuse that I needed to buy something so we had extra time. Now, how the hell am I gonna ask you a question, and then you respond with a question?!

Kai: Everything's fine.

Kai starts walking, and Natalie walks a little fast to catch up. Then they start walking at the same pace.

Natalie: Yeah, everything was fine until Azrael mentioned a cop. Then you decided to go to la la land.

Kai: Why do you ask so many damn questions?!

Natalie: That wasn’t even a question, and who the fuck do you think your talking to?!

Kai: I’m sorry.

Natalie: Yeah, you should be. Now answer my damn question for once!

Kai: I know detective Steel!

Natalie: How?

Kai: He was the detective on the case of my parents murder, and he got the wrong guy. I went to tell him that he got the wrong guy, and he told me that the person he got was another bad guy. He didn’t care about catching the right criminal. He just wanted to get another case closed before retirement.

Natalie: I’m sorry, but he got what he deserved. He was a rogue cop, and got fired for it in the end.

Kai: Yeah, he did, didn’t he, and right before retirement.

They both laugh.

Natalie: See, isn’t it better to answer questions then dodge them until you can run away?

Kai: I didn’t know you held so much rage?

Natalie: Yeah, right.

They meet up with Azrael and Jax. They all sit in a booth at Big Belly Burger. Jax and Azrael sit together. While Natalie and Kai sit together. They all order burgers, and eventually the waitress came out, and gave them their food. The waitress then talks to a girl named Carly who loves the place. She says the strange man is coming to eat again.. The waitress kicks her out.

Natalie: What, is that kid this place lookout?

Kai: I don’t know, but that girl is weird.

Everyone is eating their food except Natalie.

Kai: Why aren’t you eating?

Natalie is staring confused at the burger.

Natalie: The burger is huge! How do you expect me to eat that?!

They start laughing at her.

Kai: What, are you too little to eat a burger?

Natalie: Yes!

```
Azrael: See, to eat a burger of such great magnitude. You must “snake it.”

```

They all start laughing. Then Azrael drops his jaw as much as he can before shoving more than a fourth of the huge burger in his mouth. He takes the bite, and can barely chew. Then he nodded proudly at his accomplishment. They all just keep laughing.

Azrael: That's how you eat a burger!

Azrael says that he is still shaking his head.

Kai: Natalie, I don’t think your at Azrael's level, yet.

Natalie: Obviously!

Azrael: With hard work, and dedication you can accomplish any task!

Jax: Oh yeah, and how much hard work did you do to be able to do that.

Azrael: Nah, that was my first time. Some people are born legends, me, while others are born peasants, you.

They all just laugh at Azrael. While Natalie bites off smaller bites than a normal person would. While they make fun of her for being tiny, but being stronger than any regular person could ever be. Then a guy walks in. He walks right past the booth that Kai and his friends are in. Then he sits in the booth in the back corner of the restaurant.

Kai: Holy shit, that's Detective Steel.

Jax: I thought killing six people meant you go to jail.

Azrael: There wasn’t enough proof for him to go to jail, but there was enough proof to get him fired. Wait, how do you know him, Kai?

Kai: Lets just say he’s an old friend.

Another shady man walks in, and sits down on the other side of Detective Steels booth. Kai can’t hear them talking.

Azrael: Holy shit.

Kai: What?

Azrael: I can hear what they are saying.

Natalie: Well!

Azrael: SH! They are saying only talking about normal stuff.

Jax: That's such a let down!

Kai: You know what. I am gonna go pay the bill, and try to listen in. You guys don’t want anything else right?

Natalie: I haven’t even finished my burger!

Kai: We all know you're gonna take your burger home.

She shakes her head in agreement, and everyone else says that they’re full. Kai goes up to the storefront to pay. They give him the check, and he takes out money.

Detective Steel: If I get my job back because I never actually killed those guys then they will have to give me even more benefits for my retirement.

???: You really fucked yourself over killing those guys.

Detective Steel: Everyone wants to talk about how I did it! The other people were drunk too!

???: Yeah, but they were arguing with you so you took out your gun, and shot them. When they were trying to run away because you drew your gun.

Detective Steel: I will admit it wasn’t the smartest decision in my life, and if I could do it over again I would. So will you get someone else blamed for the murder?

???: Yeah, but it’ll cost you.

Detective Steel: How much?

???: fifty grand.

Detective Steel: Wow, that's way less than I was expecting.

???: It's an easy job. I cost more for jobs where I have to kill.

Detective Steel passes him half the check. Then the shady dude leaves. Kai finishes paying the check, and turns around. Kai and Detective Steel bump into each other.

Kai: Oh, sorry!

Detective Steel: Watch where you're going!

As he walks off he mutters “useless kid”, and then leaves the restaurant. Kai sits back down with his friends.

Kai: Guys-

Jax: Did you pay the bill?

Kai: Why is that what you want to hear about?

Jax: I don’t want to pay for it!

Kai: Yes, I paid the bill, but I also heard Detective Steel’s conversation.

Azrael: And…

Kai: He is going to frame someone else for his murder.

Natalie: I’m sorry Kai. I wish we could do more.

Jax: Wow, people can just get out of things that easily?

Azrael: How is he even getting out of this? Why are you guys in the dumps? He might not even actually be able to do it.

Kai: He just paid fifty thousand dollars to have it done for him.

Azrael: Man, he is going to get out of murder.

Kai: You know what. We should stop him.

They all look at Kai like he is retarded.

Kai: You guys act like this is really that far fetched. I have been put under a ton of training. Natalie is strong enough to probably punch through metal.

Natalie: Almost. It takes two punches.

Kai: People can’t normally punch through metal in two hits Natalie. Jax, your not really abnormal, but you have a lot of connections. Plus since you are a regular person you can fight. Now, Azrael your useful for two reasons. First you can be used as an excuse to why we are where we are. We can say that your blind, and people will look the other way to whatever we are doing. Then you have the fact that you have powers.

Natalie/Jax: Wait what?

Azrael: People were gonna have to know sometime. Since I don’t have sight all my other senses are better. I can see all of you technically, but not well at all. If someone punched I would be able to dodge it. If two people punched I would be done for.

Kai: Yeah, you're kinda a loose cannon, but anything is better than nothing. So, are you guys in?

Azrael: Normally I would say no, but you just so happen to make an offer I couldn’t refuse. So I’m in.

Natalie: In your words “Natalie is strong enough probably to punch through metal.” So it looks like you're going to need me.

Jax: What if he has a gun?

Kai: Then we will get a gun before we go.

Jax: And who is gonna sell us a gun?

Kai: I’ll figure something out.

Jax: If you get a gun. Then I’m in.

Kai: I’ll have it by tomorrow!

Kai leaves, and then tries to think of some way to get a gun.

Kai: Why do I always make these dumb promises. First it was with magic, and now it's with a gun!

Stick: Did I hear someone say gun?

Kai: Why, can you sell me one?

Stick: What are you gonna do with it?

Stick looks in Kai’s eyes.

Stick: It’s free.

Kai: Really, why would you give me a free gun? There must be something to this deal. What are you not telling me?

Stick: Oh, all I want from you is training later on in life. I will come to you when it’s time for your training, but I will warn you that this decision has more weight than you think.

Kai: ...Fine.

Stick: That's my boy.

Stick hands him the gun. Kai starts to walk off. Then once it sets in that he can’t even fathom what he has just promised Stick. Kai turns around and Stick is gone.

Kai: Shit!

Kai goes to sleep, and wakes up the next day. Now it's Saturday, and Slade wakes up Kai for training.

Kai: Uh, I actually have something to do. So, no training today.

Slade: Are you still scared because I beat your ass. I didn’t even beat you that bad.

Kai: No, I just have something to do.

Slade: Alright fine, but this is your last day off, and we will be picking up the training tomorrow even harder than normal. We gotta make up for that lost time somehow.

Kai: Alright, I guess that's fine.

Slade leaves, and Kai gets dressed before leaving. All the kids meet back up at Big Belly Burger.

Jax: Did you get it?

Kai: Get What?

Natalie: Don’t be stupid \*whispers\*(the gun)

Kai: Oh yeah, I got it.

Azrael: I could have just told you he had it.

Jax: Shut up, and be blind!

Azrael: Why don’t you shut up and be retarded. It feels like my brain becomes mush whenever I’m around you.

Jax: That’s because your brains always mush.

Azrael: No it’s because your breath is like toxic fumes that melt brains whenever you talk.

Jax: I use mouthwash!

Azrael: Clearly not enough!

Kai: Really guys?

Azrael and Jax turn to Kai ready to start listening.

Kai: Alright, we are going to have to spread out, and find him. Does anyone have a phone?

Natalie: I got a phone!

Jax: Me too!

Kai: That means we are going in groups of two then. I say Natalie and Azrael. Then Jax and me.

Natalie: What, you don’t have a phone! Why can’t I go with you?

Kai: Azrael is strong, but he is not as strong as me or you. I would put you with Jax because you are the strongest, but he is the only one group that would have phones. It just seems like the best option.

Jax: I didn’t know my only use was my phone.

Kai: Yes it is Jax.

Natalie: I guess if you have thought it through.

Kai: Alright, lets go guys!

They started to scan the city for any questionable activities that were going on. The kids were trying to uncover the location of Detective Steel, but for hours were unable to assess his location. Detective Steel was nowhere to be found, but as this was untrue they were finally after hours able to locate his presence.

Jax: Is that him?

Detective Steel was standing at a stop light waiting. Jax and Kai then ran up to the stop light to then wait there with detective steel.

Detective Steel: Haven’t I seen you kids before?

Kai looks at him a sec. Pretending he doesn’t remember who Detective Steel is.

Kai: I don’t thi-

Jax: Oh wait, you were in the diner!

Detective Steel: Oh, that’s what I know you kids from. Well stop bothering me. You puny little ingrates piss me off.

Kai: Hey!

Detective Steel: You come up to me being loud and obnoxious. Where are your parents?

Kai: We are both 14. We can walk around the town without our parents.

Detective Steel: What are your nam-

The light turns on signaling the cars to stop, and the people to then be able to walk on the crosswalk.

Kai: Well, we gotta go. It was nice meeting you.

Jax and Kai walk away. They walk out of Detective Steels sight as Steel just gets onto the crosswalk.

Detective Steel: Damn kids.

Back with Kai and Jax they are climbing a fire escape.

Jax: I ain’t climbing up there!

Kai: Why not?

Jax: Once we see Detective Steel we are just going to have to climb down. There is no real point in climbing the fire escape.

Kai: Just come on, and stop complaining!

They climb up the fire escape.

Jax: We have climbed up the stairs, now what?

Kai: Look.

They see Detective Steel walking down the street.

Kai: Let's follow him!

Kai jumps across the building tops.

Jax: I don’t think that’s the most efficient way of traveling!

Kai: Yeah it is.

Jax: Too many risks. I think I’ll just climb down.

Kai: Steel will see you, and he has already seen us once.

Jax: I fear heights more than I fear bullets.

Kai: Come on, it’s not like your jumping 50 yards. Your jumping 10 feet at most. Even if you do fail. I could catch you. There is nothing to worry about.

Jax: Fine, I have been moved by your speech. I will jump, and then I will fall. Just to prove you wrong.

Kai: Well than you better hope that I’m right.

Jax: That’s not very reassuring.

Kai: You said you were going to jump, now jump!

Jax walks back. Then runs forwards, and leaps. He just barely makes the jump, and starts to stumble backwards. Kai grabs his wrist, and pulls him forwards so that he falls onto the roof, not off it.

Jax: Hey, I did it.

Kai: Yeah, I know. You just really like making things difficult.

They start running across the rooftops, and eventually the sky turns to dusk, and Detective Steel goes inside an old abandoned warehouse.

Kai: What’s with bad guys and abandoned warehouses?

Jax: There pretty secretive, and he is clearly doing an illegal trade. What, do you want him to do an illegal trade in an open shady alleyway?

Kai: Fair point. you got me there. I’m gonna go inside. You stay back, and call Azrael and Natalie. Wait for them here so you three can all come in to back me up at the same time.

Jax: Alright, but are you gonna be fine?

Kai: Probably.

Kai jumps down from the rooftop. Then runs over to the warehouse. He creeps inside through one of the windows. Then hides behind old storage crates. He can hear and see Detective Steel having a conversation with a shady figure.

Detective Steel: And here. You can have the other half of your payment now.

???: It was a pleasure doing business with you.

Detective Steel: It’s always a pleasure.

The shady guy leaves, and Kai throws a rock at Detective Steel.

Kai: Hello Steel.

Detective Steel: I knew you were following, but I’m not sure why. What did I do to you? I have done a lot to many people. Sometimes your brain just needs a little refresher.

Kai goes in for a punch, and Detective Steel grabs Kai's fist to push him back.

Detective Steel: Still waiting for that refresher, and I must have done something really bad to you. Since you clearly have had combat training, and you don’t even remember the basics.

Kai(in head): Don’t throw a punch. Your hands are your best defense. Stay focused Kai!

Kai kicks Detective Steel in the back of the leg, and Detective Steel falls to one knee. Kai tried to kick Steel in his face, but Steel grabs his leg to throw him across the room.

The shady man walks back into the warehouse.

???: I thought I heard some commotion here when I left.

Kai(in head): Damn, I didn’t wait long enough for him to be far enough away.

Detective Steel: How much do you want for taking him out?

???: That’s gonna be free. We'll call this your good customer bonus.

Detective Steel runs out the backdoor of the warehouse.

???: Let’s have a good ol one on one.

Natalie: I think the odds should be skewed a bit.

Natalie, Azrael, and Jax all come into the warehouse through the door.

Jax: Kai, go get Detective Steel. We’ll take care of this chump.

Kai: Alright.

Kai runs out the backdoor too. Natalie goes in for a punch, the shady guy dodges it. Though Natalie puts a hole in the floor of the warehouse.

???: Strength.

Azrael goes over, and tries to punch the shady man. Azrael misses most of his punches, but hits his last punch.

???: Skill, but what is that kid over there?

Natalie: Jax we need your help! We can't hit him!

Jax: I’m just a regular guy.

???: Then you'll be my first kill.

The man takes out a knife, and almost stabs him, but then Jax gains an aura of fire, and it’s too hot for the man to get close.

???: Power.

Natalie: Who even are you?!

???: I suppose it’s not too late to reveal myself. I am the Soul Slicer.

Jax: Wow, that’s a dumb name! Wait a second. Why am I on fire?!

Azrael: Calm down! This must be a hidden power! Now you're actually useful.

Jax: Better than dolphin echolocation!

Natalie went for a punch at Soul Slicer’s head.

Soul Slicer: Wow, you could’ve killed me! You really want blood on your hands at this age?

Soul Slicer took out a short-bladed sword. He did a flip towards Azarael and swung his sword rapidly. Azrael used his powers to dodge the swings but his rapid swings were too much for him. He cut Azrael on the shoulder. Natalie came from behind and punched Soul Slicer into a wall. He hit the wall hard but recovered fast. He threw his sword at Natalie. She brought up her arm to block. She was sent hurdling back into a bunch of boxes from the impact.

Jax: It’s up to me!

Jax tried firing a fire blast at Soul Slicer. He used his sword to protect himself from the blast.

Soul Slicer: Wow! You people are jokes! Peasants to me! I’ll enjoy taking your lives!

Natalie, in a fit of rage took her glove off and threw it at Soul Slicer. It hit him in the head like an actual fist. He fell violently to the ground. Jax tried to burn him alive. But Soul Slicer used his powers to go 5 seconds back in time just to dodge the giant fist.

Soul Slicer: Haha! You are all powerless!

Natalie: What do we do now…?

Azrael: We fight.

Soul Slicer went over to Jax to land the killing blow but Soul Slicer’s arm was cut clean off! He turned his head and saw none other than Stick. He tucked away his sword.

Stick: Send a message to Sam. We’re coming.

Stick kicked Soul Slicer onto the ground and stabbed him through the throat.

Stick: Get outta here! I can’t clean up everyone’s messes!

Natalie, Jax and Azrael got up and ran out of the place.

Back with Kai. He’s running down Detective Steel. Steel then stops, and turns around to see Kai holding a gun.

Detective Steel: Now, are you going to tell me why you hate me so much?

Kai: You have really hurt that many people that you can’t figure it out?

Detective Steel: I already told you that. Answer the question.

Kai: I was the boy that you found in his parents blood.

Detective Steel: Oh, your Kai Adara.

Kai: You lied to me saying that you would avenge my parents. Then you blamed someone else for their murder for your own personal gain.

Detective Steel: Do you want to know why I didn’t try to find their killer.

Kai: Why?

Detective Steel: For one, I did want to get that other guy, but also for another reason.

Kai: Go on.

Detective steel: I killed your parents, but I only had time to dispose of one body.

Kai: Why couldn’t you dispose of all of them?!

Detective Steel: I didn’t have enough room in my car for more than one. So I thought it would be best to get rid of their worker. I was right, and no one ever even thought to blame me. So I also had to cover my own tracks.

Kai starts crying.

Detective Steel: Now give me the gun. I know you won’t shoot me. You're just a kid. Just a regular kid trying to bite off more than he can chew. Just a regular person trying to make it through this world.

Detective Steel creeps closer and closer to Kai as he keeps talking.

Detective Steel: You're just a kid that wants his parents back, and how could I blame you? This world has unforgivingly taken away something from you it shouldn’t have.

Kai: Stay back!

Detective Steel: Give me the gun!

Detective steel tackles Kai trying to take the gun from him. Then a shot rings across the city.

The gun goes off with a loud bang, and blood starts to spread over Kai. Kai has to muster up the courage to pry the dead body off of him. As he is crying he pushes Detective Steel’s body off of him. Azrael then shows up a few minutes later.

Azrael: Shit, what did you do? You know what. This is fine. It doesn’t seem like anyone heard the gunshot so we have time. We will dispose of the body.

Kai: Just me and you.

Azrael: What about the rest of the group? You're not only going with me to kill me too right?

Kai: I have known you the longest. I trust you the most.

Azrael: Alright then, let’s dispose of a body. I think I know the perfect place to hide this.

Azrael gives Kai a head start before telling everyone to go home because Kai has been through a lot. They didn’t immediately agree to leave, but when they saw Kai wasn’t right outside they agreed. Azrael eventually met up with Kai at what seems like an entrance to the woods.

Kai: Why do the trees go into a shape that forms a… door frame?

Azrael: A huge open door. Come on, we are going to have to go pretty far in.

They walk through a few miles of jungle. Eventually they hit a lake.

Kai: Is this what you brought your backpack for?

Azrael: Kinda, but not to cross the river.

Kai: Well yeah, there is already a canoe over there. Why is there a canoe over there?

Azrael: Me and my father would come out here when I was little. It doesn’t seem like a lot now that I’m older, but when I was little this few mile walk seemed like we will in our own world. The beautiful scenery, and so much wilderness was just cool you know. It was different to not have so many buildings around us. Then we finished the walk by canoeing in this small pond.

Kai: I’m sorry.

Azrael: For?

Kai: Ruining a sacred place for you. This is a place you could always come back to, and think happy memories. While it will now be a place where you think of murder, and I’m sorry for that.

Azrael: You don’t have to apologize. We don’t go on the walk anymore, and I barely even come up here. Plus, even if these are bad memories to you. This place will always be a symbol of our friendship. We will help each other through anything, even murder.

Kai: I’m guessing your gonna make me canoe over there myself.

Azrael: Hell yeah, there’s leaches in there. I got you this far figure it out by yourself.

Kai: That’s fair.

Azrael takes out his cinder block, a rope, and trash bag out of his bag. They put Detective Steel in the bag, and tie the cinderblock to the bag. They then put him in the canoe, and Kai joins him. Kai starts paddling down the pond. Then once he gets into the middle of the pond he pushes the body over the side with the brick first. He then paddles back to shore. He gets out of the boat, and just stares at the water.

Azrael: It’s time to go home Kai. It’s time to go home.

When they are almost to Kai’s house.

Azrael: Because I helped you, you're going to owe me a favor.

Kai: What is this favor?

Azrael: You can’t kill anyone else. You have to try your hardest. Don’t kill anyone, please.

Kai: I wasn’t planning on it. It's not like I'm a psychopath. Consider your favor done.

Azrael: Alright, it's getting way too late. I have to get back now.

Kai: See ya Azrael.

Azrael: See ya.

Kai: And Az.

Azrael: Yeah.

Kai: Thanks again.

Azrael: Anytime.

Azrael leaves, and Kai walks inside his home to see Slade sitting in a chair on his phone. Waiting for Kai to come home. Kai walks inside, and him and Slade just stare at each other. Slade looks him dead in the eyes, and stands up. Slade walks over and hugs him.

Slade: I was hoping you wouldn’t have to kill so young.

Kai: How did you know?

Slade: You have the eyes my son. The eyes of someone who has killed. They aren’t eyes someone wants, but they are the eyes of the strong. Strong recognize strong Kai. Strong recognize strong.

Kai starts crying as Slade holds him. Then a week later Kai shows up to the church he used to live in.

Priest: Kai, Is that you? Well you sure have grown. Why are you here, child?

Kai: It's been a hard week, and I had nowhere else to go so… I’m just gonna leave.

Priest: You pray till your heart's content. This is a safe place. Remember god is always listening,. You do not need to come to church to talk to him, child. In case you ever have another hard week while you're away.

Kai: Thank your priest.

The priest leaves, and Kai sits down.

Kai(in head): God, if you're even listening. I have had to go through so much in my life. Why put me through this? Is it going to get better? Whats the point of going through life if its torture? I don’t even know if Azrael will set me up? Even though I have been betrayed before I still trust him. I believe that you should trust people until they give you a reason not to, but is that the right way of thinking? I have so many questions, and you can’t answer any of them! This is stupid I should have never came here!

Ms.Margaret: Kai!

Kai: Hm, what?

Ms.Margaret: You look like you were having a problem. Are you okay?

Kai: No, I'm not. I have been through so much, and for what? God doesn’t give me any answers so what's the point in talking to him about it?

Ms.Margaret: God isn’t here to give us answers. He is here so we don’t feel alone. He can help you to answer, but you have to figure it out yourself. Telling you what to do isn’t his job.

Kai: If he doesn’t want to give me answers so bad then why does he make my life so bad? If he didn’t then I wouldn’t have so many questions.

Ms.Margaret: God doesn’t put you on the easy path. Life isn’t supposed to be easy, Kai. God doesn’t pick the life that's the easiest. He picks the life where you will come out better at the end, but he believes in you to help him help you get there. If you make every decision that you think is right. Then you are doing all he asked of you.

She puts his hand on Kai’s shoulder.

Ms.Margaret: He asks very little, and gives you so much. You can at least follow one request, right?

Kai nods.

Ms.Margaret: Then you will be on a journey Kai. Whether you think it's the journey for you or not. Accept your journey, or hate it. Only one can give you happiness. Choose your path wisely Kai. Choose the right path for you, and everyone around you.

Ms.Margaret walks away.

## A.R.G.U.S - Issue 8

Four years later it's 2015. Kai went through romance, and chilled with his friends. The four friends grew a deeper bond, but all of them went away for their own reasons. Natalie and Azrael went to college. While Jax got a small apartment in Manhattan trying to get signed to a record label. Kai had finished high school a year ago, but has just been working a regular old job at gamestop. Then one day Slade was done with Kai not trying to live his life.

Slade: Kai!

Kai: Yeah?

Slade: You have had an entire year to choose what you want to do. I have money. You could dabble in different colleges until you figure it out.

Kai: I don’t have a lot of academic smarts so what would I do?

Slade: I don’t know. Work as a soldier for the army.

Kai: That's actually kind of perfect. What part of the army?

Slade: You're not going to be part of any army. You're going to be part of a more secret operation.

Kai: Why?

Slade: They pay better, and you get more out of doing it. The jobs will be more dangerous though. Are you up for the job?

Kai: Yeah.

Slade: Well then, I know what organization you're gonna join.

The next day Slade handed Kai a job application which was well detailed.

Kai: Alright, “what is your combat skill level graded from 1 - 10. 1 being two punches and a kick whil 10 means you could never lose.” I would give myself a nice hefty dose of an 8. Scratch that! Let's do 8.5, yeah. “What would you grade your plan making skills 1 - 10.” I was taught by the great Slade Wilson. I don’t know if he is a big name, but whatever. So I give myself a 10. I would say 10.5, but thats over doing it.

Kai had to answer a few more questions. He had to answer how else he graded stuff like, gun usage, obedience, moral code, etc. Then he had to write an essay about the people he has trained under, and what they have taught him. Kai gave it to Slade, and Slade gave it to the corporation. In a few weeks they sent a letter. Slade walked in with the letter to read it to Kai.

Kai: What's the letter say?

Slade: \*Clears throat\* “After reading your application we have become interested in what you can do. We want to have you come to \*blah blah\* to show that you weren’t lying on your application. Sincerely A.R.G.U.S.

Kai: Oh, cool.

Slade: That's it. Your first reaction is “Oh.”

Kai: I don’t have a very expressive personality.

Slade: I can tell.

Kai: So when are we going?

Slade: A.R.G.U.S doesn’t waste any time. So probably tomorrow.

Kai: That’s… soon.

Slade: Scared?

Kai: No, I just didn’t expect it to be tomorrow. I show some emotion, and then get flagged. See this is why I don’t have an expressive personality.

Slade: Now you're trying to blame things on me. Don’t blame me for being defective!

Kai: I’m going to the gym.

Slade: Maybe you should.

Kai leaves then goes to the gym. When he goes to the gym he has to max out all the machines he does. He works out for a little bit before going home to take a shower. When he gets out of the shower Kai and Slade have dinner then go to bed. When Kai wakes up he is stormed by a bunch of soldiers that put a cloth over his mouth. Kai then falls right to sleep. When Kai wakes up he is in a completely dark room with a badge on. The badge says his name, and stats about him. Then a hologram pops up before him of a woman in a suit.

???: My name is Amanda Waller. You are in an advanced virtual reality training program. You must go all out to survive in this program. The stats on your card will depend on what your scores are during the virtual reality. Your stats will determine whether you're hired or not. Now, you may begin.

Big blue pixelated words pop up above Kai.

Announcer: Stage 1 starts in 3… 2… 1… begin!

The darkness changes into a room with completely white designs with black lines almost as if everything was drawn, but drawn in realistic. He sees stuff like cups on a table. Once kai analyzes the situation more he realizes that he is in an office building. Kai picks up a mug, and starts to walk around. Then a man with a gun starts to run in. The man puts up his gun. This man is no regular man. He is a white silhouette of a man, and is wearing a black bulletproof vest. He holds up his gun, and Kai puts his hands above his head.

Kai: Well I didn’t expect this.

???: Turn around.

Kai: Fine, just don’t search me.

Kai turns around

???: Well that's suspicious. I’m gonna have to search you now

He pats down Kai.

???: Turn back around so you're facing me.

Kai turns around, and the guy starts to pat him down. Once the guy starts checking Kai’s pant pockets Kai knees him right in the face.

Kai: That was simple, and look at that.

Kai picks up the man's gun.

Kai: I’m the one with the gun.

Two more guys come out of what seems to be nowhere. They tried to surround Kai by going around someone's cubicle, but since they didn’t get around the cubicle at the same time Kai shot the first one, waited, and shot the second guy.

Kai: These guys have terribly done plans. They can’t complete any of their ideas right.

Then all the sudden Kai is in an elevator surrounded by guys with machetes, and all he has is a gun.

Kai: And that's how you go from a good situation to a bad one.

Announcer: Stage 2!

???: AHHHH!

They all charge kai. Kai shoots one in the head. Than bends over so one misses his attack, and trips over Kai. Kai shoots the silhouette that fell, and takes his machete. Kai gets back on his feet, and then kai slices another guy's neck. Lastly, he uses the guy he just killed as a shield. The other guy slices at the human shield, and Kai shoots him.

Kai: Well than.

Kai than changes to being in a gym.

Announcer: Stage 3!

The same hologram appears in front of kai again.

Walker: This time you will be testing out all the equipment in this gym so that we can get your stats.

Kai: Can I max out the machines or…

Waller: You might want to check the max of the machine before you set it to max. These machines go much higher than the ones you're used to.

The hologram disappears.

Kai: Well this got really boring really fast.

There isn’t a lot of equipment in this particular gym. There is only a bench press, a treadmill, and a punching bag. Kai works out on all the equipment as hard as he can. He got tired out really fast, and then words appeared above him again.

Announcer: Stage 4. Get out of the gym.

Kai: Shit!

Kai runs over to the bench press, and then grabs one of the weights. A guy runs in with a gun, and Kai throws the weight at him. The man falls down, and Kai runs over to pick up his gun. Then he gets shot at by someone else. Kai quickly grabbed the fallen man's gun, and hid behind something so the bullets didn’t hit him.

???: Stop hiding!

Kai(in head): If sticks training still works than he would be about-

Kai only puts the gun above his cover, and then shoots the guy dead on without even having to look.

Kai: Dead, alright how many bullets I got? This is a… Glock 19.

A guy starts to sneak up on Kai.

Kai: Alright so that means with the minus one that I have 16 bullets.

The guy jumps around the corner, and Kai is gone. The guy turns around to see Kai holding him at gunpoint.

Kai: 15.

Kai shoots the gun, and the bullet goes right between the silhouettes eyes.

Kai: Why do I feel like they are only making me fight one guy for a reason.

???: Get him.

A group of guys start running at him. Some of them have guns while others have knives.

Kai: I’m gonna need more bullets.

Kai shoots one guy in the head, and then grabs another guy in a chokehold. Kai quickly switches the guy into human shield. Then the guy gets shot in the stomach. Kai drops him, and shoots the guy that shot his shield.

Kai: 13.

A random guy starts slicing at Kai, and just barely grazes Kai’s stomach.

Kai: You son of a bitch!

Kai hits him over the head with his gun, and then shoots the guy once he falls on the floor.

Kai: You deserve that!

Kai than moves his head back barely in time to not get shot in the head, and sticks his arm out as far as he can before shooting the guy that shot at him.

Kai: 11, right?

Then an armored guy comes out. He is wearing armor on his body Kai never saw before.

Kai: Is this a mini boss?

Kai shoots him, and then it doesn’t do anything so Kai shoots him again. The guy just proceeds to come closer and closer to Kai. Than Kai shoots him again.

Kai: 8.

Kai shoots the guy again.

Kai: 7.

Kai shoots him again.

Kai: 6.

Kai shoots him again.

Kai: 5. I don’t think this is working

Kai runs at the guy full speed, and then jumps to do a flip over him. Then Kai shoots him in the back.

Kai: Hey, remember me?

???: GRRRRR!

Kai then sees he still has the mug from earlier that he put in his backpack. Kai then throws the mug at the guy, and starts running at him.

Kai: Oh hey, look it’s an idea.

Kai slides on the ground, and picks up one of the mugs broken shards. He stabs the man with it, and the man starts bleeding. The shards size made it not have a large effect though. Kai quickly sweeps the man's leg so he falls, and Kai hops up to jump back.

Kai(in head): if it has an effect on sharp objects than that means he is only wearing bullet proof armor. I got another idea! Wow the ideas are just flying outta my head today.

The guy starts running at Kai.

Kai: closer.

The guy keeps running at Kai.

Kai: That’s about close enough.

Kai shoots the man 4 times straight in the head. Then runs at him, and takes off the mans mask. The guy than slams Kai onto the ground.

???: Your outta bullets!?

Kai puts his gun to the guys head.

Kai: Maybe you should count again.

Kai shoots the guy in his head for the death blow.

Kai: One left in the chamber.

Than the whole area turns back to darkness, and a door opens a good distance away from Kai. Kai walks through the door to see Slade, Waller, and some random dude working at the computer.

Computer guy: Let me update your card.

The computer guy takes Kai’s card, and changes most of the stats.

Computer guy: alrigh, your stats say you have a strength of 2,500 a defense of 5,000 a speed of- Just check the card. All of your stats can go up or down depending on how you live your life, but since your working with us your stats will probably increase.

Kai: So, Waller, did I pass your test?

Waller:... You start tomorrow. You will be living here so pack your bags.

Amanda Waller leaves right after that.

Kai and Slade then go home. Kai starts packing, and Slade helps him out here and there. Than Kai finds a rubber chicken.

Kai: A rubber chicken? When did I ever own a rubber chicken?

Slade: I donno. I never owned a rubber chicken either.

Kai finds his old magic book that Slade tried to use to help teach him.

Kai: Remember when I was senile about magic?

Slade: Yeah, you really just couldn’t believe it existed.

Kai: Good times…

The next day Kai has all his stuff loaded in his car.

Kai: Slade, thank you for all you have done for me. You were like a father to me when I didn’t have anyone like that in my life.

Slade: Jeez kid you can always come visit.

Kai: They’re going to send me on military expeditions that are long and could end with my death. I think it’s the perfect time to tell you this.

Kai Hugs Slade. Than gets in his car, and drives away.

Slade: Even if you don’t die it’s gonna be the last time you ever see me. My job is done faking being your father.

Kai turns back to his house.

Slade: I’ll be seeing you.

## Saving Oliver - Issue 9

Kai: Alright, what’s my first mission?

Waller: You're going to find a criminal in japan.

Kai: Who?

Waller: That will be disclosed later.

Waller leads Kai to an armory.

Waller: Gear up. You have two hours before you will be leaving.

Kai: Well then, I’m going to grab some armor and a gun.

Kai grabs bullet proof armor to put under other armor. Then he grabs a knife and glock 17.

Kai: Might as well use this since I just used it in training.

Kai grabs some ammo, and then leaves. He sees Waller talking to one of her associates.

Kai: Is it time yet?

Waller looks at Kai and smirks. An hour or two later kai ends up being thrown into his first mission. Which is just full of shooting guns. After shooting guns on missions for a whole year Kai finally goes on a mission to find an old friend. In 2016 Kai was 19.

Kai: Alright Waller. What's the next mission?

Waller: You will be finding one of A.R.G.U.S’ other associates.

Kai: Who?

Waller: You will be finding a man by the name of Oliver Queen. We believe that he is having trouble with his task at hand, and A.R.G.U.S can’t afford failure from him. So you must help him complete his task.

Kai: What’s his task?

Waller: He will inform you on that when you meet him.

Kai: What does he look like so that I don’t shoot him?

Waller: He is a 6’1” male. He has some muscle mass and dirty blond hair. Is that information good enough for you to deduce who he is?

Kai: We’ll see.

Waller: You have been here long enough to know where your helicopter awaits.

Kai: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Kai takes an elevator to the top of the building where his helicopter is waiting on the helipad. Kai climbs into the helicopter, and shortly they rise into the air to start flying off. After a few hours they are over an island.

Pilot: This is an island called Lian Yu. It’s mandoran for purgatory. Oh yeah, here.

Kai takes a device from the pilot’s hand.

Pilot: It’s a communicator. Use it when you have finished your mission.

Kai: Thanks.

Kai puts on a parachute.

Kai: Ugh, here we go again.

Kai jumps out of the helicopter. He can feel the air slamming against his body. He can see the mass of land coming closer and closer to him, but he is not nervous nor does he waver.

Kai: 700ft above sea level should be good enough. Even though it is a little low. Who really cares?

After a little while Kai lands in a grassy field.

Kai: Alright, now it's time to find the target.

Kai starts searching the area while staying hidden. Then he finds two guys with guns walking around.

Dirty Soldier 1: Reiter said that the soldier should have dropped around here.

Dirty Soldier 2: All you got to remember is kill on sight

Kai creeps out of the bushes, and throws his knife at Soldier 2’s head. The knife's handle hits soldier 2’s head knocking him out. Than Kai runs up to Soldier 1, and

Kai: I’m gonna need to borrow these clothes. Is that okay with you guys?

Kai obviously gets no response, and starts to drag the bodies away.

Kai: I didn’t hear a no!

A few minutes later kai walks out from some bushes with one of the soldier's clothes.

Kai(in head): They probably won’t believe that I'm one of their soldiers, but that one moment of hesitation will be their end. Now where the fuck is their base? I think they were trying to go this way, maybe.

As Kai is walking he finds a blond haired man.

Blond Male: Are you a soldier, mate?

Kai: Yeah, why?

Blond Male: Yeah, I thought as much. Guess I’m gonna kill ya..

Kai: Who are you working with?

Blond: No one really. I Kinda owed Oliver a favor though. So I was gonna go back to help him, but I guess I’m gonna have to take you down first

Kai: Wait, I’m an A.R.G.U.S soldier sent here to help Oliver complete his mission.

Blond Male: Oh, well I guess I don’t have to go help him then. Back to skiving.

The guy takes a deep inhale of his cigarette, and starts walking off.

Blond Male: Well I guess I’ll see you later than, mate.

Kai: Wait, what's your name?

Blond Male: Constantine, John Constantine, and yours?

Kai: Kai Adara.

Constantine: Well, it was nice to meet you chap.

Constantine walks off.

Constantine(in head): His aura is compatible with a treasure that's on this island. If he comes into contact with that treasure I'm going to have to find and kill him. He did seem kind of dodgy. I’ll have to keep my eyes on him.

Kai finds what seems to be a base after a while of searching. There are a bunch of huts set up to make a camp, but the camp is deserted. Kai goes around checking all of the huts to see what's inside. It looks pretty empty, but then he finds a latch on the floor. He turns the wheel, and when the latch opens there is a rusted down ladder.

Kai: If I slip someones getting sued.

Kai says as he starts to climb down the ladder. Eventually he reaches a tunnel system that has different rooms.

Kai: Oh my jesus! Where the hell is Oliver queen?!

Kai starts walking through the tunnels. Eventually he sees a jail cell, and two guards.

Kai: Alright, how should I take these guys down?

Kai throws a stone to the opposite side of the room from him. The guards look down a hallway.

Guard1: get my back!

Guard2: Yup

They stand back to back so Kai can’t sneak up on them. Kai throws his signature knife, and it hits the guy facing his direction in the head. The blow from the handle knocked Guard2 out. Guard2 falls on Guard1. Kai sneaks up to them while Guard1 is trying to get up, and Kai hits Guard1 over the head with his gun. Then Kai looks at the cells, and there are two people. One man with dirty blond hair, and a woman with dark hair.

Male: Did Waller send you?

Kai: What's your name?

Male: Oliver queen.

Kai: Then I guess I’m here for you!

Kai finds a rock, and breaks open the lock

Both Oliver Queen and the female walk out. The Female is leading them through the tunnels.

Kai: Woah, woah, woah! I’m here for Oliver not you.

Oliver: Please, she has helped me. Take her with us.

Kai: Since I’m such a nice guy I will allow it, but no more people!

They start walking off.

Oliver: I feel like I have seen you before.

Kai: You have.

Oliver: What’s your name?

Kai: Kai.

Oliver: Wait, did I meet you at the beach like 6 years ago.

Kai: Hmm, yeah it has been 6 years. Wow, you have a good memory. We met like once. How did you know?

Oliver: You were kind of a dick. I guess I remember people that stood out.

Kai: Hey, we were cool.

Oliver: Yeah, but that's pretty weird that it would be you saving me.

Kai: Coincidences are coincidences.

Oliver: Or fate-

Kai: Fate doesn’t exist!

Oliver: What’s your problem with fate?

Kai: It’s a dumb idea. I will say no more.

Female: Shouldn’t we be focusing on stopping Reiter, and not catching up?

Kai: What;s your name?

Female: Taiana.

Kai: Alright Taiana, who is Reiter?

Oliver: He is a guy with magic that we are here to stop.

Kai: He has magic?!

Oliver: Yeah.

Kai: Damn, we are going to need a plan. How far away is he?

Taiana: Close, be careful when we are going into each room.

They sneak up to a room, and see Reiter inside blocking the exit.

Reiter: You can come out of hiding you three!

Taiana and Oliver walk out.

Reiter: Where’s?

Kai shoots Reiter in the leg. The bullet goes through his leg.

Reiter: That was a sad attempt at getting the upper hand. It might work on someone normal, but not me. Not a god!

Kai comes out.

Kai: I had to try something, and what? You think you're a god!?

Reiter: I don’t think. I am a god. Well, I will be. Once I kill everyone on the island that is.

Kai: What do you mean?

Oliver: The more he kills the stronger he becomes.

Reiter: That's correct, and I will be happy to allow you to become part of my power!

Kai: What’s that artifact?

Reiter: Don’t worry yourself with it!

Kai: Then you don’t need it!

Kai shoots Reiter in the arm, and Reiter drops the artifact. Taiana grabs the artifact, and they all run out the door.

Reiter: Damn you!

Reiter puts his arm out, and a blast pushes them forward

Reiter(in head): Damn that was all I could do!

They all run outside, and run a ways away from the tunnel.

Oliver: Taiana, are you okay?

Taiana is shaking, and the aura of the artifact is being absorbed by her body. It stops, and she looks as if she holds herself differently.

Taiana: This power!

Kai: Taiana, I didn’t know you for long, but I don’t think you would want to do this.

Oliver: Taiana, You wanted to help people, remember? Don’t start letting the power control you.

Taiana blasts them both into trees. Kai’s device to report back to waller breaks. Then Reiter stabs Taiana in the back. She starts bleeding, and falls to the floor. The artifact falls at Reiter's feet.

Reiter: I’ll be taking th-

Taiana blasts him back.

A helicopter flies over them.

Oliver: Yes, they have escaped.

Taiana: I need more power!

Taiana puts out her hand, and blows up the helicopter. The deaths strengthen her. Then both Taianna and Reiter start brawling. They are punching each other, and using their powers. Reiter tries to blast Taiana back. She parries and punches Reiter hard on the face and he goes flying. Reiter hits a tree, and slides down it.

Taiana: Now I will kill you for all you have done!

She uses her powers to pick up a big branch, and she makes that branch fly into Reiter killing him while sticking him to the tree. Taiana then snaps back to reality, and looks around at what she has done.

Taiana: Oh no, no, no!

Taiana puts her hands on her head in distress.

Taiana: It's trying to take over me again! One of you has to kill me, or else i'm going to kill again, please.

Kai: I feel like you're jumping to conclusions. No one needs to die.

Taiana: Please. AHHHHHHH! I’m trying to fight it.

Her voice starts to change, and her eyes start glowing. Oliver grabs his knife, and quickly slits her throat.

Taiana: Thank you…

She whispers as she falls to the ground.

Kai: I’m sorry Oliver.

Oliver: You didn’t have to make a joke about it when she first asked us to do it.

Kai: I still believe there was another way.

Oliver: Sometimes there isn’t.

Kai looks down in shame.

Oliver: Come on. It’s time to report back to Waller.

Kai grabs his communicator.

Kai: Shit, it’s broken.

Oliver: Are you telling me we can’t contact Waller?

Kai: Do you have one?

Oliver: It broke a while ago!

Kai: Well then maybe they should make a new model because these things seem to have a few flaws!

Oliver: Ugh, I know a place where we can stay.

Oliver leads him to a base where there are a few tools.

Oliver: We can chill here. Can you fix the device?

Kai starts looking at the device.

Kai: I think I can, but I don’t know if we have the parts for it. It’s also going to take a few days. Your communicator might help.

Oliver hands Kai his communicator.

Oliver: Start working on it. I will get the food, and try to find a place where we can get electronics.

Kai: Alright, sounds like a plan.

About a day later Oliver comes back from scouting.

Kai: Good timing, I need electronics!

Oliver: Well, I found a place that might have those parts.

Kai: Alright, Let’s go!

Oliver leads kai over to a base that looks even more run down than Reiter’s.

Oliver: This was the base of another terrible person.

Oliver walks away, and a girl walks out of one of the huts. She has long dark hair, and a sword. She looks younger, more around Kai’s age..

Kai: How old are you?

Young girl: Seventeen.

Kai: Well then why are you out here alone? Don’t you have a family?

Young girl: I have a sister.

Kai: Is she with you?

Young girl: No.

Kai: Well you look like you can take care of yourself so…

She charges him extremely fast, taking out her katana.

Young girl: Eliminate!

Kai is just barely able to take out his knife to block her attack.

Kai: Wait, why are you trying to kill me?

Young girl: You aren’t going to try to kill me?

Kai: No, why would I try to kill you?!

Young girl: You seemed untrustworthy..

Kai: You don’t trust anyone do you?

She shakes her head.

Kai: Hey, do you want to leave this island?

She nods her head.

Kai: I think A.R.G.U.S might have a place for you.

Oliver: Hey Kai! Who is this?

Kai: I don’t know.

Oliver: You didn’t ask this girl her name?

Kai: Um, no.

Oliver: Let me guess. You were like “OH I’LL HELP YOU!”

Kai: Close enough.

Oliver: You're too trustworthy. She even has a sword.

Kai: Yeah, she tried to kill me with it.

Oliver: Goddammit Kai!

Oliver turns to the girl.

Oliver: Whoever you are, whatever Kai promised you is not going to happen. We have our own troubles, and I bet you do too. Good luck on staying alive.

Oliver signals Kai to follow him, and Oliver goes to walk into a hut.

Kai: He’s just grumpy. Give him some time, but for now if you want to help us you could look around for electronics.

Kai walks into the hut Oliver is in. There are a few computers, and a workstation with extra left over parts.

Kai: Yeah, this stuff looks like it could be useful.

Oliver: Then get to work. I have a promise to keep, and I need to leave this island to do that.

Kai sits down, and puts the device on the table. He starts working on the device again.

Kai: Alright, jeez.

Oliver: Word of advice. Stop trying to make friends. She has already tried to kill you once. There is nothing stopping her from trying again. That goes for everyone. Even if they haven’t tried to kill you. If you don’t know who they are then they can’t be trusted in this line of work.

Kai: I’m not scared of her trying to kill me. I’m scared of her trying to kill you.

Oliver: What?

Kai: I learned something a while ago that has changed my perspective on life. That’s all I feel is needed to be said.

Oliver(in head): What the hell happened to him?

Oliver: Well I’m gonna go out to look for food.

Kai: Alright!

A few hours later it is starting to get dark, and Kai is drawing.

Kai: Damnit, this place doesn’t have the piece!

Kai turns to what seems like nothing.

Kai: I’m really gonna need to know your name because it is getting increasingly hard to call you.

The young girl came out from the shadows.

Young girl: How did you know I was there?

Kai: That's neither here nor there!

Kai holds up a picture of the part he needs for her.

Young girl: So that's why you were drawing.

Kai: Have you seen this part?

Young girl: That's a battery right?

Kai: Yup, there are no fucking batteries on this entire island if you didn’t know.

Young girl: I think I saw a battery somewhere.

She just walks away.

Kai: I guess that means follow.

Kai grabs the device, and follows her. Eventually she stops. Oliver walks over to them carrying a dead animal.

Oliver: I’m-

The young girl turns around, and slices the communicator in half.

Kai: Goddammit I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you!

Oliver: Yeah right!

Kai punches the girl in the stomach, and was ready to go in for a kick but didn’t.

Kai: Tell me your name.

Young girl: Akame.

Kai: Okay Akame, why did you do it?

Young girl: I hate-

Kai bonks her on the head.

Kai: Don’t lie to me.

Akame: I didn’t want you to leave!

Kai: Why, I said I’d take you with me?

Akame: I can’t trust you, and I thought if I proved i was trustworthy before you left than you might actually take me.

Kai: Yeah, I know.

Oliver: How do you know?

Kai: Two reasons. First I am a genius. I expected you to pull something like this because you're lonely and desperate. I know that might sound harsh, but it's the truth. Loneliness is a struggle. Then because I needed to know whether I was right. I went to hit you, and you didn’t dodge or fight back. You're faster than I am. You could have stopped my attack. Akame, whether you come with us or not doesn’t really affect me. If you do, great! If you don’t, you don’t. I am always fine with helping someone out, and I would be more than happy if you could not destroy the device anymore so you can leave with us.

Akame nods her head.

Kai: Great!

Oliver: How can you be so calm about this?!

Kai pulls out another communicator.

Kai: I got another one.

Oliver: Oh yeah. I forgot I gave you mine.

Kai: Yeah, we all good man.

Oliver: Alright, time to go back to the base. It's getting late.

Kai: Can Akame come?

Oliver takes a really deep breath.

Oliver: Fine.

Akame smiles, and they start walking back.

## Departure - Issue 10

Oliver and Akame are sleeping while Kai is up. Kai is just humming, and looking at his knife.

Kai(in head): Hopefully we will find the power supply tomorrow, and be able to get outta here.

Akame starts rustling around before waking up.

Akame: Why are you up?

Kai: Keeping watch?

Akame: From?

Kai: Everything?

Akame: Me?

Kai: That's one of them?

Akame: I thought you trusted me?

Kai: I do.

Akame: Then why watch me?

Kai: For Oliver's protection.

Akame: That’s not trust.

Kai: Yes it-

Akame: You don’t trust me. You just don’t fear me.

Kai:...

Akame: It’s okay-

Kai: No, it really isn’t.

Akame: You have the right idea. You shouldn’t trust anyone.

Kai: How are you supposed to live your life if you don’t trust anyone? You can’t truly even spend time with another person. That's kind of miserable.

Akame: You survive.

Kai: But you aren’t living.

Kai throws his knife to the other side of the room.

Kai: Akame.

Akame: Yeah?

Kai: You keep watch.

Akame smiles, and Kai goes to sleep. Kai starts dreaming, and it feels like the whole world shifts. Kai is now waking up, and Oliver is slaughtered. Akame is standing over his dead body covered in blood.

Akame: I didn’t do it. You believe me, right?

Kai wakes up to see Akame by his side. She has a hand on his head.

Kai: Why?

Akame: You were having a nightmare.

Kai looks to Oliver. Oliver shrugs and shakes his head.

Kai: ALright, that's enough of that.

Kai gets up.

Oliver: We should probably go find that part.

Kai: Alright, hopefully we find one though.

All three of them go around the base trying to find a battery. After a few hours of search Kai finds a red stone. The stone is a deep blood red. The rock is so red that it isn’t transparent, but light shines right through the rock.

Kai(in head): Wait, is this rock a magical item? If it is maybe it could give the communicator a charge. It could also be a regular fucking rock, and useless, but theres always hope.

A few hours later everyone meets up at the center of the base.

Kai: You guys find anything?

Akame shakes her head.

Oliver: NOPE!

Kai: Alright, I found a longshot.

Oliver: We’re pretty desperate so…

Kai: I found this.

Kai holds out the red stone.

Oliver: That is a fucking rock.

Kai: Look a little harder.

Oliver: It’s still a rock. A red rock, but a rock nonetheless.

Akame: A magic rock?

Kai: Exactly what I was thinking. If this rock is magic then it might be able to give the communicator enough energy to send out the signal. Probably won’t work, but we can try.

Oliver: Alright, lets try.

Kai goes into the hut to work on the communicator. Oliver and Akame train outside. It took Kai about an hour to put in the power supply. He decided it would be better to just do it alone instead of worrying everyone else about it. After Kai sent the message it took a few hours before Akame and Oliver started asking questions.

Oliver: Are you done yet?

Kai: Yeah.

Oliver: Well then send the message-

A few helicopters fly over their heads.

Kai: I already did!

Oliver: I’ll go get the artifact Reiter had.

Kai nods his head. Then Kai takes the stone out of the communicator before they all meet up where the helicopter lands. Waller comes out with a few guards.

Waller: I see you have completed your mission. Took a little longer than expected.

Kai: Both of our communicators broke.

Waller: We will work on a new design for them. Anyway, who is this woman?

Kai: This is Akame. I’m pretty sure she is stronger than me, and she is up for joining A.R.G.U.S.

Waller: Hmm, well we will test her out in our training. So, if Akame is going back to A.R.G.U.S where are you two going?

Oliver: I have to go to Russia. I have a promise to keep.

Kai: I’m gonna go see Slade before my next mission.

Oliver: Slade?

Kai: Yeah, Slade Wilson. The guy who adopted me, and raised me. He even got me this job a year ago.

Oliver: How?

Kai: What do you mean how?

Oliver: I put an arrow through Slade two years ago.

Kai: That's impossible. He was training me two years ago.

Waller: That's something you should find out yourself Kai. You should take a little time off because your next mission is going to take a few years.

Kai: Alright, I'm going to see Slade.

Akame walks up to Kai.

Akame: Thank you.

Kai: You don’t need to-

She hugs Kai.

Kai: We’ll see each other soon. Don’t even worry about it!

Akame: No, we won’t.

She lets go, and waves to Kai and Oliver. She gets on one of the helicopters and it flys off. Kai walks over to Oliver.

Kai: It was good seeing you man.

Oliver: Yeah, I want you to know that I’ll be in star city in hopefully a year, and you're always welcome to swing by.

Kai: You never know. I might have to.

Kai and Oliver shake hands. Then Oliver gets on a helicopter, and it flies off. Somewhere on the island Constantine sees the A.R.G.U.S ships take off.

Constantine: I see that Kai has found the artifact.

Constantine drops his cigarette, and stomps on it.

Constantine: I’ll be seeing you, ya cock-up.

Finally Kai gets on a helicopter that flies him off to the argus base closest to his home. He ends up driving back home to see his house looking a little different. He knocks on the door, and a woman opens the door.

Kai: Excuse me ma’am. Do you happen to know Slade Wilson?

Older Woman: No I do not.

Kai: Then do you know anything about the owner of this house before you.

Older Woman: No one else has lived in this house except me. Are you okay sir?

Kai: Yeah, it’s nothing. Must be the wrong house.

Older Woman: Okay then, have a good day.

Kai: You too.

She shuts the door, and Kai walks back to his car.

Kai(in head): I guess there is something weird going on there, but Slade is a problem for another day. Only another part of my past that I have to figure out. Like when I had to figure out my parents' killer. Oh, and whatever happened to stick? I wonder if I will ever even see him again.

Kai drives back to the A.R.G.U.S base.

Waller: Your back already?

Kai: I have nowhere else to go.

Waller: Are you trying to tell me you're ready for your next mission.

Kai: Well, what's the mission?

Waller: You're going to have to infiltrate the league of assassins.

A few days later, Kai is walking on a path up a mountain.

Kai: Goddammit they have one billion helicopters, and they can’t use one to fly me to the top of a mountain.

Kai looks at his communicator, and thinks back to Waller explaining how this one is different.

Waller: This communicator is different then the other devices you have used. There will be a guy waiting for you. He is about 3 minutes away. So expect him to be there around the four minutes mark. He will leave if you don’t make it there by five minutes because of how dangerous the League is.

Kai brings his mind back to reality, and keeps climbing the mountain. Eventually, he makes it to the top of the mountain where he sees a building.

Kai: I’m finally here-

Three ninjas jump out of the surroundings.

Kai: Ninjas!

They all have swords, and ninja1 slices at Kai. Kai ducks under the blade, and sweeps ninja1’s leg. Ninja1 falls, dropping his katana, and Kai grabs it. Then ninja2 thrusts his sword forward, and Kai dodges it. Ninja3 slashes at Kai, and Kai parries it with his sword. Ninja3 loses his balance from being parried, and Kai slices across his torso. Then kai hits ninja3 in the head with the handle of his blade.

Kai: Don’t worry. It's just a flesh wound. He’s not dead.

Ninja1 gets up, and moves his fists into a fighting position.

Kai: This is still two on one. It's not fair for you guys at all.

Kai throws his sword at ninja2. Which distracts ninja1.. Ninja1 runs at Kai, and they start having a fist brawl. Ninja1 goes for a kick, and Kai blocks it with his leg.. Then ninja1 quickly tries to throw a right hook. Kai uses his right hand to deflect the punch, and punches ninja1 in the face with his left hand. Kai then kicks ninja1 in the knee. Which pops ninja1’s bone out of his leg as he drops to one knee. Kai knocks him out with one last punch to the face. All of a sudden a sword comes out of nowhere. Kai rolls out of the way. Ninja2 was behind him.

Kai: That was a cheap shot, and you know it!

Ninja2 goes for an overhead strike to Kai with his sword. Kai catches the sword on the side with his palm Then Kai kicks ninja2 in the stomach. Ninja2 was pushed backward. He slashed at Kai. But he sidestepped and chopped the ninja on both sides of the wrist. He releases his sword. Kai then kicks ninja2 in the back of the knee and bonks him on the head with the ninja’s sword hilt. knocking him out.

Kai: Well that was a little harder than I expected.

A man with a sword in each hand comes out.

Old Man: I see you are able to defeat my guards.

Kai: They were surprisingly weak.

Old Man: They were my three weakest soldiers. I would have been fine with you killing them. Every other assassin is in a whole other league compared to them.

Kai: I’m guessing you want to fight!

Old Man: You don’t have a choice.

The man runs at Kai, and starts slashing at him with his blades. Kai can barely manage to block the hits. Some of this old man's slashes are giving kai cuts, but Kai is able to defend well enough that they are just minor injuries. Then the man pushes Kai back. Kai stumbles a bit, and the old man kicks his knee which breaks his leg. Kai’s bone is popping out of his leg.

Kai: Ahh!

Kai falls onto the ground. The old man stomps on his other leg’s knee, and breaks that leg too.

Old Man: That’s for breaking my warriors legs. I didn’t even have to try to beat you.

The old man stabs kai with his blades. He stabs one of the blades into Kai’s stomach The blades are just left in Kai as the old man walks back inside, and tells his guards to clean up his front yard.

## The League - Issue 11

When they go outside they see the blades have fallen out of Kai, and Kai has started to heal from the wounds. They went back, and told the old man. Later that day Kai woke up in a nice room.

Kai: The hell is this!?

Kai gets up.

Kai: What has happened today?

Kai struggles to remember.

Kai: Ah, I was trying to get into the league of assassins. I killed 3 guards, and an old man killed me. That old man was kind of a G.

Then the old man came into the room.

Kai: Don’t you knock?!

Old man: You survived my blade. So I will train you.

Kai: Is that my choice?

Old man: No, I am Ra’s al ghul. The head of the demon. The leader of the league of assassins. Now-

He signals the guards to come into the room. They grab Kai by the arms and drag him out of the room, and through the hallways until they get outside. Once they are outside they drag him into what seems to be a garage. They go inside, and there are chains set up. They lock Kai in the chains.

Kai: I can see your into kinky shit, but that's not for me!

Ra’s: Water.

The guards dumb a large bucket of water on his head.

Kai: Ah, that’s cold, that's cold! Cold and Wet? I told you I’m not into that kinky-

Ra’s: Water.

The guardsw dump another large bucket of water on Kai’s head. Then Ra’s gets close to Kai, and Kai’s face with one hand.

Ra’s: I’m going to break you, and then you're going to become the next Ra’s. You're not going to know if you have been here a month or a year. You’re going to wish you didn’t train with me, and once our training is complete you will leave. Most men would take years and years to finish this training. You better hope that you're better than them.

Ra’s lets go of Kai, and starts walking out.

Ra’s: This will be your room. You will sleep here, and eat here.

Ra’s leaves, and leaves 4 guards with Kai. There is a guard on the left and right of Kai. Then there are two guards on the entrance because the entrance is the only way in or out of the room. Then the guards inside the garage dump another water bucket on Kai’s head.

Kai(in head): \*heavy breathing\* Fuck!

Through the next year and a half Kai trained with Ra’s everyday. He was woken up by water at sunrise. Then he was brought outside to be trained by Ra’s. Ra’s made him fight for the rest of the day. Then once it became exactly 12 at night. Kai would be brought back inside the garage. Kai finished his training at the age of 20 in 2017. Kai was in the dark of the garage cold and wet. Then the door opened, and a surprising light came from outside. This light was being blocked by a shadow.

Ra’s: You have completed your training. You're probably not as good as me, but you’ll need experience for that. So you can finally leave this hell hole.

Kai: Thank you master.

Ra’s nods to the guards. They unlock the chains, and Kai drops to the ground. They pick him up off the ground, and drag him through the backyard. Then they drag him through hallways until they get to a certain room.

Ra’s: This is your room. There are clothes on your bed, and this room has an en-suite bathroom. You can take a shower there. You smell disgusting. You should probably shave too. Before you do that there will be a person coming in to cut your hair in a few minutes.

They throw Kai into his room, and close the door behind him. Kai picks himself up off the floor. There is a chair set up for him to get his haircut. He sits in the chair and waits. Eventually a woman comes in with some tools. She sets her tools up on the bed.

Assassin Woman: You smell disgusting.

Kai:...

Assassin Woman: What, are you mute?

Kai: … No.

Assassin Woman: Then why didn’t you respond?

Kai: Why did I need to respond to someone stating a fact.

Assassin Woman: Did you just diss yourself? Why are you talking like that? No one talks like that!

Kai: Talk like what?

She starts cutting his hair.

Assassin Woman: Is this what happens to someone after they go through Ra’s’ training?

Kai: I don’t know.

Assassin Woman:… My name is Luna.

Kai: My name is Kai.

Luna: Yeah, I know. Everyone in the league knows your name.

Kai: Because Ra’s wants me to be his successor?

Luna: Ugh, yeah. That’s a pretty big deal.

Kai: Hm…

Luna: Your really in your head a lot aren’t you?

Kai: What do you mean?

Luna switches to shaving Kai.

Luna: You're a thinker, not a talker.

Kai: No, that’s incorrect.

Luna looks surprised as she finishes shaving Kai.

Luna: I’m done. This was a nice chat, but you really need a shower.

Kai: Bye.

Kai leaves the room. Then undresses, and hops into the shower. He washes himself for the first time in a long time, and after a good while he finally gets out. Kai then dries himself off, and throws on the clothes Ra’s picked out for him. Kai then lays on the bed, and stares at the ceiling. A few minutes later A guard walks in.

Guard: Ra’s wants you to come to dinner sir.

Kai gets up, and follows the guard to the dining room.

Ra’s: Ah Kai, you have finally arrived!

Kai takes the seat next to Ra’s. There are four other people sitting at this table.

Ra’s: I guess you haven’t been formally introduced to any of these men and women yet. First is my oldest daughter Talia Al Ghul.

Ra’s looks at a brown haired girl that looks like she's in her twenties. She is a beautiful woman that holds herself in a dignified way showing that she belongs to the high class.

Ra’s: Than you have my younger daughter Nyssa Al Ghul.

Ra’s looks at a girl that looks very similar to Talia, but she looks younger. This girl is obviously in her teens.

Ra’s: Then this man over here is one of my trusted disciples, Sarab.

Ra’s looks at an asian man with his dark haired tied back. He looks very serious as he is looking at Ra’s.

Ra’s: Finally you have my other trusted disciple, Jaik.

Ra’s looks in the direction of a smaller angry man. He looks a little under average height, and a year or two older than Kai. He has blond hair, and he is slouching.

Kai: It’s nice to meet you all.

Kai looks down at the large feast that is set on the table.

Ra’s: Manners, you must tell them your name, and a little bit about yourself.

Kai: It’s nice to meet all of you. My name is Kai Adara, and-

Ra’s: And he will be appointed my successor.

Jaik stands up, and slams his hands on the table.

Jaik: You're going to appoint someone you have just started training over so many men that have been with you for years?!

Ra’s: He has the qualities I’m looking for in a successor. While you have slim to none.

Jaik: Then I challenge Kai to a duel.

Ra’s: Fine then. After dinner you and Kai will fight.

Jaik: To the death?

Ra’s: No.

Jaik: Cause you're scared.

Ra’s: Of you dying for no reason Jaik.

Jaik: Grrrr!

Jaik sits down, and they all eat. After they finish eating everyone heads outside for the battle. Kai and Jaik stand fifteen feet away from each other on the battlegrounds ready for Ra’s to fight. Kai has two swords, and Jaik has a bow with a quiver of arrows. Everyone else who ate dinner is watching. Ra’s and Sarab are talking to each other. Talia seems uninterested in what's going on. While Nyssa seems excited to watch the battle.

Ra’s: Ready… Fight!

Kai: Well alright.

Kai holds up his swords ready for the fight. Jaik shoots two arrows, and Kai slices through both of those arrows. Jaik then runs at Kai, and tries to hit Kai with his bow. Kai blocks with one sword, and slices the arm Jaik uses to grab an arrow.

Jaik: Son of a bitch.

Kai: You have too many disadvantages.

Jaik tries to sweep Kai’s leg, but Kai stabs jaik in his leg. Kai jumps back leaving his sword in Jaik’s leg. Jaik drops to one knee. Kai then jump front kicks Jaik in the head. Jaik barely blocks it, but the force knocks Jaik to the ground.

Kai: Like Ra’s said “No favorable qualities.” You couldn’t even get the hair color right.

Nyssa starts laughing, and that comment made Talia actually interested in the fight.

Jaik: You bitch!

Jaik gets up, and pushes himself off with one leg. He jumps into the air ready to slam on Kai with his bow. Once Jaik falls to the appropriate level Kai punches Jaik right in the stomach, and Jaik goes flying. Kai sits down on a bench, and after a few minutes Jaik gets up. Jaik limps his way over to the group.

Jaik: How did you do it?

Kai: I’m just better than you.

Jaik: I saw how you fought, and you definitely have more skill than me, but even with that the fight shouldn’t have gone that way. I was slowed and weaker. You were able to hold me bow off with one arm when I was using two, and you don’t look a hell of a lot stronger than me!

Kai: Let me explain my powers to you than Jaik.

Jaik: Yeah, explain yourself.

Kai: I have regeneration,-

Jaik: Yeah

Kai: teleportation,-

Jaik: And…

Kai: Spiritual energy manipulation.

Jaik: Don’t use big words to confuse me. What the hell is your power.

Kai: I can effect energy around me. I can make myself stronger, I could make spiritual energy into an energy attack, or I could lesson someone else's spiritual energy.

Jaik: What?

Kai: I took away your energy. Which made you slower and weaker. Your stupidity is all you.

Jaik: Grrr!

Ra’s: Tomorrow Kai will finally be taking his spot in the league.

Ra’s leaves, and his disciples follow him inside. Medical ninjas go to help out Jaik. As Jaik goes inside he flips off Kai.. Kai just stares at the stars, and sighs. After a few minutes, Luna shows up.

Luna: I saw the fight. I guess you might actually know how to talk.

Kai: It’s a possibility.

Luna: You should probably go inside

Kai: Yeah I guess, but it just feels like I haven't seen the stars in a while.

Luna: You trained till dark everyday when you trained.

Kai: You were watching me?

Luna: Well that is my job.

Kai: What?

Luna: My job is to protect you. Ra’s gave me that job when you first came here.

Kai: Well then I guess I’ll be seeing you again soon.

Luna: I guess you will.

Kai goes inside to his room. The next day he is at a ceremony with a crowd of assassins. Ra’s calls him forward, and Kai stands next to Ra’s.

Ra’s: Kai, you will now because of your alignment with the League Of Assassins you are dubbed the name Tanin for dragon. Your will burns like a dragon, and your goals will soar as high as one too. Do you accept your name?

Kai: I accept my name., master.

One month after Kai’s initiation, Kai is training with Ra’s. Kai swings his sword, and Ra’s parries it.

Ra’s: Stay focused.

Kai swings his sword. Ra’s parries it, and Kai keeps swinging his sword. Ra’s just keeps on parrying it. Then Kai kicks Ra’s’ sword out of his hand. The sword flies in the air before sticking into the ground. Kai puts his sword up to Ra’s neck.

Ra’s: Better, but you're open.

Ra’s pushes the sword away with his hand, and punches Kai straight in the face. Kai falls down, dropping his sword.

Ra’s: Tomorrow you will be going on your first mission, be ready.

Ra’s leaves the training grounds.

Kai(in head): Am I going to have to kill?

Kai rests up for the day. The next day Ra’s calls Kai down to the main room. The room is the same as the initiation room. Expect this time there is only one other assassin. Kai walks up to Ra’s.

Ra’s: You will be going on this mission with your guardian Luna. You will be taking down a man known as “The Commander.” That’s what he goes by, but his real name is Mark Smith. He started his tyranny in the military, and was their star pupil. Then he got dishonorably discharged for killing his entire group. Then he stole high end military gear, and ran off with it. He is now killing people with that military gear. Your mission is to take him down, and steal his military tech. I assume that the two of you can do it?

Luna/Kai: Yessir!

Ra’s: Your helicopter is on the roof. You may leave as soon as you're ready.

Kai grabs his gear, and then goes to the helicopter. He sees Luna waiting for him in the helicopter. Kai gets in, and the helicopter takes off.

Kai: So what's your story?

Luna: What are you talking about?

Kai: Why did you join the league?

Luna: Oh, I well…

Kai: What is it?

Luna: I didn’t exactly choose the league of assassins. I was born here.

Kai: You were born in the league?

Luna: Yeah, and because of that I haven’t really seen the world. I have gone to a lot of places, but the closest thing to sight seeing I have had is planning a murder. I really only get to see the different league bases around.

Kai: Do you not like the league?

Luna(in head): I hate it.

Luna: ...No, the league is my home. I love the league, and it's my family. I just wish I could take a break from everything.

Kai: Oh, yeah I get it. You have been in the league killing for your whole life. You wish you could also experience what normal people do.

Luna has a sad look on her face.

Luna: Yeah.

After a while the helicopter finally starts slowing down.

Pilot: We’re in houston texas. Your target is somewhere in this city, find him. Luna, you know how to contact us.

Luna nods her head. Then Kai and Luna get off the helicopter. The Helicopter takes off, and before long its out of sight.

Luna: Follow me.

Luna starts running off jumping from building to building.

Kai: Well okay then.

Kai starts running across the rooftops to follow Luna. Eventually Luna jumps through an open window, and Kai does the same. It just looks like a regular living room. There is a couch and a recliner. There is also a table that looks like it is for meetings.

Kai: Where are we?

Luna: One of the League’s bases.

Kai: So this is the hideout we use for houston?

Luna: No, this is the closest base in our location. We have many bases in houston.

Kai and Luna sit down in different spots. Kai sits in the chair. While Luna sits on the couch.

Kai: So, do we have any idea where this guy is?

Luna: Yeah, we actually do have an idea where he is.

She takes out her phone, and starts showing Kai some pictures. The pictures are of a man with short brown hair, and a huge build. He looks like he is 6’6”, 400 pounds. He has a lot of muscle, and is wearing an auto mechanic outfit.

Luna: He changed his name to Mark Smith. That wasn’t his original name.

Kai: I would hope not.

Luna: He is actually working as a mechanic.

Kai: For cars?

Luna: Yes, for cars, Kai.

Kai: Just making sure we’re on the same page. You said mechanic not auto mechanic.

Luna: Don’t be stupid. As you could see from his shirt he works at Joe's Auto Repair shop.

Kai: So now all we have to figure out is which one.

Luna: Yup, and that's a job for tomorrow.

Luna moves so that she's spread out across the couch. Then she yawns.

Luna: I’m going to bed.

She closes her eyes. Kai gets up, and puts his hand on her arm.

Kai: I’m going to see what houston is like.

Luna doesn’t open her eyes.

Luna: There is a change of clothes in the back, have fun.

Kai gets dressed then leaves through the window. As he is on the roof he looks at all the lights.

Kai: This is a huge city.

Kai walks around on the top of the buildings at night. He eventually gets into an area bustling with people. Kai walks into a bar called Grand prize bar. Kai sits down at the bar. Then a big brown haired guy walks in, and sits down next to Kai.

Kai(in head): He looks like Mark.

The guy looks at the TV playing a football game.

Kai: Looks like the Texans are winning again.

Kai(in head): I really hope that's Houston's team.

Probably Mark: Yeah, you wanna drink?

Kai: Nah, i'm too young.

Probably Mark: What are you 2o?

Kai: Sadly.

Probably Mark laughs.

Probably Mark: I remember being 20. So many things you want to do but can’t. Especially since 90% of them have to do with booze.

Kai: True. Hey, since you're clearly more experienced than I am, do you know any good auto repair shops?

Probably Mark: You're in luck. I actually work at one.

Kai: Really?

Probably Mark: Yeah, Joe's Auto Repair shop.

Kai: Alright what's the store's address?

The guy takes out a pen, and writes the address on a napkin.

Kai says as he is picking up the napkin.

Kai: You're not gonna scam me or nothing?

Probably Mark laughs.

Probably Mark: I think you're safe.

Kai: Well, I can’t drink so I best be going.

Probably Mark: So soon? The game’s not even over yet.

Kai: Ah, people will tell me what happened anyway. Anyway, have a good day… What was your name?

Probably Mark: Mark, Mark Smith.

Kai: Well, I’ll be seeing you Mark.

Kai leaves.

Kai(in head): Well that was a surprising coincidence, and it saved me time. You better watch out Mark. I’m coming for you.

Kai goes back to the league of assassins base. When he gets back he sees Luna sleeping. Kai decided that it would be better to go after Mark Smith tomorrow. Kai falls asleep on the chair. Eventually Kai is woken up by Luna tapping his forehead.

Luna(whispering): Wake up.

Kai: Fine, just stop poking me.

Luna: I could have screamed at you to wake up. How long were you out anyway?

Kai: That doesn’t matter.

Luna: Yeah, it does. I need to know whether I’m going to be able to count on you. We don’t know how strong our target is.

Kai: I wasn’t out for that long. I just hate mornings.

Luna: Good, we have to start looking around Houston for the shop our target works at.

Kai: No we don't.

Luna: Why not?

Kai: I already met him, and-

Kai takes out the napkin.

Kai: He gave me the store address.

Luna: What the hell kind of luck is that! That’s bullshit you were out looking for him last night!

Kai: Nope, I went to a bar. A little after I sat down he showed up.

Luna: Really?

Kai: Yup.

Luna: We should look up the address he gave you.

Luna goes on a computer, and looks up the address.

Luna: It looks like he wasn’t lying.

She looks at the picture of Mark Smith standing outside the store, and it matches up with the address.

Luna: Guess he was a little too trusting. Let’s go!

Luna starts walking off, and Kai realizes that she changed into civilian clothes instead of her ninja gear. She is in a regular t-shirt. She is pale with grey eyes, and beautiful long pink hair goes past her shoulder. Without all that armor Kai can see that she has a smaller figure.

Luna: What are you looking at?

Kai: I like the new change of clothes.

She blushes.

Luna: They're just regular clothes, let’s go.

They both leave the building, and start walking down the street.

Kai: How far away is this place anyway?

Luna: Just focus on walking.

Kai: Fine.

They walk for what seems like hours. Then all of a sudden Kai sees the sign for the store.

Luna: We’re here.

Kai: What should we do? We can’t just walk in there.

Luna: Yeah, we don’t have a car.

Kai: Are you gonna make us steal a car?!

Luna: Shh, and no! If we stole a car then we could get caught by the police, and our whole mission would be jeopardized. Kai, that idea is just dumb.

Kai: Sorry, jeez. The way you were talking made it seem like you were going to steal a car.

Luna: No, we are going to have to be on the lookout. We will watch from some point.

Kai and Luna are walking on the sidewalk in one direction. So that they don’t stand out. Then they come around a building with a fire escape.

Luna: perfect.

Luna runs over, and starts climbing up the fire escape.

Kai: You have way too much energy.

Luna: You don’t have enough of it!

Kai walks over, and starts climbing up the fire escape too. Kai gets to the top to see Luna sitting down on the side of the building with a clear view of the auto shop. Kai walks over and sits next to Luna.

Kai: What do we do once we see this guy?

Luna: Follow him until we can find a good place to ambush him.

Kai: Ugh, so much waiting. I’m taking a nap.

Kai lays down resting his head on Luna’s lap.

Luna: Really?

Kai: You work as a good pillow.

Luna: Get up.

Kai: I thought you said you were worried about my tiredness. This will fix the problem easily.

Luna: Fine.

Kai: You're the best.

Kai falls asleep while Luna watches the building. After hours of waiting Mark leaves the building.

Luna: Kai, wake up!

Kai: Huh, what? Were you petting my head?

Luna: No, why would you even think that?

Kai: Cause you have your hand on my head.

Luna: Just get up!

They both get up, and luna starts running across buildings.

Kai: Okay then.

Kai follows her.

Kai: Wait, why didn’t we bring weapons?!

Luna: It isn’t dark. We would be easily spotted, and someone would call the cops.

Kai: And running across buildings wouldn’t do the same thing.

Luna: You would be surprised how many people just don’t pay attention to their surroundings. If we are walking on the sidewalk with metal swords people will see us, but if we are up high they won’t even bother to look.

They keep following Mark. Eventually he crosses the street, and walks over to their side. Then Mark walks into an alleyway. He walks into the middle of the alleyway and stops.

Mark: Come out!

## Break Out - Issue 12

Kai and Luna hop down.

Mark: Kai?

Kai: Yeah, you might have given your location to an assassin to get you.

Mark: Why are you out to get me?

Kai: You kill your teammates then rob the military. You can’t just run away from things like that.

Mark: I didn’t-

Kai: I don’t want to hear excuses. I want to see you dead.

Mark: Than I guess I can’t talk my way out of this.

Mark puts out his arm to reveal a gauntlet. Then the gauntlet creates an energy shield.

Kai: You use shields? That’s pretty boring.

Mark: GRAAAHH!

Mark charges Kai, and Kai rolls out of the way before getting shield bashed. Luna runs up to Mark, and tries to kick him in his side. Mark grabs her leg, and uses it to force Luna to the ground. Luna kicked Mark in the arm with her other leg and she rolls backwards onto her feet. Kai then punches Mark in the face. Mark falls to the ground. He spits out blood, and pulls himself up off the ground.

Mark: One hit ain’t gonna do nothing.

Kai: Then I’ll just throw a few more punches.

Mark: Try it. I dare you.

Kai runs up to punch Mark, and Mark blocks it with his shield. Then Mark swings his shield at Kai. Kai ducks, and punches Mark in the stomach. Mark puts his hands together, and goes to slam his hands down on Kai. Kai rolls out of the way, and Mark slams his hands into the ground. While Mark has his hands on the ground Kai kicks Mark in the head. Mark falls over, and coughs out more blood.

Kai: I told you. Just a few more hits.

Mark: AHHH!

Luna goes in to punch Mark, but Mark grabs her arm. She did a 1 2 3 punch on Mark in the face. Then did a superman punch on Mark. He stumbled and Kai punched Mark in the stomach, and Mark didn’t even flinch. Luna chopped Mark in the neck. Mark stumbled and he got pissed so he tried to punch Kai. Kai stepped to the side avoiding the punch. Then Kai retaliated with his own punch. Luna kicked him in the back of the knee leaving him open. Kai punches Mark right in the jaw, and he falls down to the ground defeated. Kai then gets Mark into a headlock ready to break his neck. Luna is horrified by what she sees.

Kai: You said you didn’t kill those people..

Mark: \*coughs up blood\* I was in the group with them. The mission went south, and we lost all of the gear we were transporting because we didn’t have enough men. \*Coughs\* Our general knew if he told his superiors about what actually happened he would be \*Coughs\* fired. Since I was the only survivor he put the blame on me. I then stole this \*Coughs\* gear because I realized the military was corrupt, and didn’t deserve it.

Kai starts moving Mark's head closer to its breaking point.

Kai: Is that what really happened because I already know it's not!

Mark: I’m telling the truth! You're lying! You don’t have any proof because I didn’t do it!

Kai lets go of Mark, and then knocks him out with a punch. Kai then takes Mark’s gauntlet off of his arm. Then Kai turns around to see Luna crying.

Luna: You didn’t kill him?!

Kai: I’m not a killer.

Luna grabs Kai and just hugs him. She buries her face in his chest.

Kai: What's wrong?

Luna: Nothings wrong.

Kai: Then why are you crying?

Luna: Because your just like me.

Kai: What do you mean?

Luna: We are both part of the league, but we haven’t killed anyone.

Kai: You have never killed anyone?

Luna: No, I was able to get away on excuses. I would say that I’m saving my first kill for my mother's killer, but the only reason I got away from that is because I have been around so long. I would help out on missions, and I would let someone else kill the target. It’s been so lonely.

Kai: How? You have the entire league.

Luna looks at Kai crying.

Luna: No one trusts me. I’m an outcast in the only place I could ever call home.

She buries her face back into Kai’s chest.

Kai:...

The next day, Kai and Luna are at a restaurant. Kai is having a burger and fried. While Luna is eating a sub.

Kai: You were pretty useless in that fight against Mark.

Luna: Yeah, because I’m small. And I landed some good hits! Like that hand chop! Plus I got him down for the final hit.

Kai: Sure. But how are you useful?

Luna: I’m really good with a sword, but since my punches are weaker I prefer a sword. I’m not as good at hand to hand combat. I’ve been working on my technique

Kai: Yeah, you are pretty tiny.

Luna: Don’t make fun of me, I’m adorable.

Kai: That’s pushing it.

Luna: Hmpf.

Kai: I guess we should talk about the more important things in life. Like how Ra’s is absolutely not going to allow me to become his successor without me killing someone.

Luna: I’m guessing you have never killed anyone before.

Kai: No I have killed someone, but it was in self defense.

Luna: How, don’t you have regeneration?

Kai’s face changes to a more depressed look, and Kai looks down at the table.

Kai: I didn’t know I had regeneration until I was older. Now that I know I have it I regret killing that man even more. Now I have to live with the burden of knowing I killed someone for practically no reason.

Luna: But he was attacking you.

Kai: Luna, when you kill someone you're not only taking away their ability to live their life. Your taking away from everyone the good they could have done. Even the worst criminals could have changed. That man I killed had a family. Now what's going to happen now that he is gone.

Luna puts her hand on Kai’s.

Luna: You don’t need to explain it to me. I have tried so hard to get myself to kill someone, but those same thoughts go through my head everytime. I will never be able to go through with it. Our morals are what keep us in check Kai. They keep us good people.

Kai smiles.

Kai(In head): I will never kill. Not only because of my promise to Azrael, but because it's inhuman.

Kai: Would you want to leave the league?

Luna’s face lights up with shock and excitement.

Luna: Well, um, I kind of, Well… Yeah, I do want to leave. I have been in the league for too long. It’s never been my home. It’s just the place I lived. If I had the chance. I would want to leave.

Kai: Then I guess I could take you with me.

Luna: You're leaving the league?!

Kai: I was only here for information. I work for A.R.G.U.S, and I never expected to be anything more than one of Ra’s’ underlings. Surprisingly I became his heir.

Kai finishes his story, and Luna laughs at his bad luck. Kai and Luna then go over what to do if any problems arise, and then finish their food. The waiter puts the bill on the table.

Kai: Is it even okay that we are chilling here? and not reporting back to Ra’s. I feel like he is going to be pissed.

Luna: We finished up our mission really quick. So we should be able to spend a little more time in Houston.

Kai: Alright. Anyway, you said you had money to pay for this dinner.

Luna: I may have lied.

Kai: You lied?

Luna: I lied.

Kai: Dine and dash it is.

Kai and Luna walk unsuspiciously out of the restaurant. Once they get out of the restaurant they book it. Kai and Luna then spend the rest of the day walking around Houston, and having fun. Once it gets dark Luna calls the League and a helicopter comes in from somewhere nearby. Kai and Luna get on the helicopter, and the helicopter takes off. Luna and Kai are chilling, but after a while Luna can barely keep her eyes open. Kai puts his arm around her, and she rests her head on his shoulders.

Kai: You can go to sleep. I slept on you the other day so it's only fair.

Luna: Thanks.

Kai kisses Luna’s forehead, and she eventually falls asleep. A while later Kai and Luna get back to the League’s base. They both walk into the main room where they were given their mission.

Ra’s: Did you succeed in your mission?

Kai shows Ra’s the gauntlet.

Ra’s: Good, you got the military tech. Did you get his head?

Kai: Yeah, we killed him.

Ra’s: No, I mean his actual head. To prove that you have killed someone.

Kai: Well, no. Since you didn’t ask for his head.

Ra’s: I guess I will just have to find someone else. You seem close to Luna. Guards!

Some of the assassins come over, and grab luna.

Ra’s: You will kill Luna to show that you're worthy of being my heir. To truly show that you have passed the test.

Kai: If you didn’t ask for the head. Then that means you wanted me to become close with Luna so that it would mean all the more if I had to kill her.

Ra’s: Your catching on. Will that be a problem, Tanin?

Kai: No… sir.

Luna starts getting dragged away.

Luna: Don’t do this, please! I never did anything wrong!

Ra’s: I can’t have you close to any other girls anyways Tanin.

Kai: Why not?

Ra’s: You will be marrying my daughter, Talia, in one month, and since I already made that arrangement I have to wait a while for your first kill. I can’t ruin that honey moon mood. So Luna’s execution will be in five months. Remember to bring your best sword.

Ra’s pats Kai on the shoulder.

Kai(in head): I guess I have five months to break out then.

The next month is just training with Ra’s. It feels like it flies by quicker than any other month Kai has had to go through. Once that month is up Kai is putting on his tie in his room. He is getting ready for his wedding. Then Ra’s walks in.

Ra’s: You look amazing Tanin. I didn’t expect you would clean up so well. On this occasion I am not only delighted, but proud.

Kai: Proud of?

Ra’s: My plans finally coming into fruition. I have finally found the right heir for my throne. The right heir to become the next Ra’s. The next head of the demon. I will leave you to gather your thoughts. Weddings are a big day, and many people get cold feet.

Kai(in head): He says that like I have a choice.

Ra’s: There is a guard outside your door to escort you to the wedding when you are ready.

Ra’s leaves the room as Kai finishes his tie.

Kai(in head): I hope Talia is like Ra’s. If she tries to force me to be her husband she is going to find out I don’t give two shits about being the next Ra’s. Maybe I could just go along with it, and marry a hot girl. Then I get to have fun with her, and break out before I have to kill Luna. Nah, that just feels too wrong. I’m not shallow like that. Ugh, guess I better get going.

Kai leaves the room, and the guard escorts him to the wedding where he stands next to Ra’s. Ra’s is in his finest clothes, and holding a book. Then Everybody looks back as Talia walks out in a long white dress. Her long brown hair is pinned up in a chignon bun, and her makeup looks like it was done by a professional. She slowly walks down the aisle.

Kai(in head): She really is beautiful.

Once Talia finishes walking down the aisle she stands next to Ra’s looking at Kai.

Ra’s: I will skip all the extra lines because Talia has never been one for dragging things out. \*Clears throat\* Talia, do you take Kai to be your husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, in the presence of God I make this vow.

Talia: I do.

Ra’s: And do you Kai take Talia to be your wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, in the presence of God I make this vow.

Kai(in head): I don’t.

Kai: I do.

Ra’: Now you may kiss the bride.

Ki(in head): Ugh!

Kai puts his arms around Talia and then starts making out with her. After about 5 seconds he stops. The crowd starts clapping. Later that night Talia is sleeping in bed while Kai is standing in the middle of the room looking out the window. Eventually Talia wakes up, and sees that Kai isn’t in bed.

Talia: Are you coming to bed?

Kai: I don’t yet.

Talia: This marriage thing is weird for me too you know. I didn’t ask him to marry us. My father has always tried to marry me off to his successor. Before you came here he was always setting up for me to marry Jaik. I’m just happy I didn’t have to marry him.

Kai: Yeah, but you didn’t get the short end of the stick.

Talia: Did you really get the short end of the stick?

Kai: The hell are you talking about?

Talia: If you become Ra’s you get an army, and you can do whatever you want with it. Not only will you have your own personal army. You now have a young beautiful wife. Maybe you never asked for this, but don’t act like the benefits don’t outway the cons.

Kai: I’ll have an army of killers that only want me to do the same thing Ra’s always did. I’m married to someone I don’t even know, and if I do get to know you I might end up hating you. To become Ra’s I have to kill my friend, and I will never be able to enjoy life once I become the next Ra’s.

Talia: You don’t want to be the next Ra’s, do you?

Kai(in head): Shit, she's too easy to talk to.

Talie gets up, and walks over to Kai. Then Talia holds Kai’s face in her hands.

Talia: That’s good.

Talia looks up at Kai sincerely

Talia: The people that want Ra’s power don’t deserve it. Jaik and Sarab want his power, but they just shouldn’t have it. Most people would love to be in the position you're in, Kai. I’m glad you're the one in a million that doesn’t.

Kai and Talia end up going to sleep in the bed a few minutes later. All Kai can do is think while he is laying in bed. Kai takes out his red rock, and moves it around in his hand to help him focus.

Kai(in head): All the girls here are just lonely. Talia is surrounded by people hungry for power, and Luna is surrounded by people that don’t trust her. I feel bad for both of them. I wonder if Talia wants to leave too? I can't risk it. I just gotta focus on getting out.

The next five months went by. Either Kai was training with Ra’s, or learning the layout of the building. He would sometimes just walk around the entire League building, and use the excuse “I’ve been here for how long, and it still feels like a labyrinth!” The day that he was going to have to kill Luna drawn near. Until finally it was the night before. Kai was in bed with Talia waiting for the perfect time to leave. Talia is asleep, and Kai is just able to sneak out of bed without waking her.

Kai(whispering): Talia, I feel bad for you, but I just don’t know you. I can’t trust you either.

Kai starts running down the hallways. Whenever Kai sees guards, he hides, and waits for them to pass. With him exploring so much he has seen a lot of ways to stay out of sight. He does have to sneak attack, and knock out some of them if they were skilled enough to see him. Eventually he makes it down to Luna’s cell.

Luna: It took you long enough?

Kai: Aw, don’t be mad.

Luna: I have been in jail for months!

Kai: Shhh.

Kai unlocks the cage, and they both grab a sword off the wall.

Kai: Why do they have swords in the jail room?

Luna: In case a prisoner escapes the guards have quick access to weapons.

Kai: That would be the same for prisoners.

Luna: It helps both sides.

Luna and Kai sneak out of the jail cell area, and start to go to the room holding prisoner items. Kai grabs his communicator, and then signals the helicopter.

Kai: We have at most 5 minutes.

Luna(whispering): 5 minutes! How are we going to do that?

Kai: We’re going to run.

Kai and Luna start running down the halls. Then once they finally see the door to leave. Jaik steps into the way to block the door.

Jaik: Your not leaving.

Kai gets ready to fight.

Jaik fires a couple arrows. Both Kai and Luna slice them in half. Luna ran up and sliced low at Jaik. He jumped and kicked her in the stomach. She fell back but rolled to her feet. Kai ran up and kicked Jaik with a jump front kick. He kept his ground and hit Kai in the face with his bow. He went for a hook which Kai blocked. Luna sliced at Jailk’s leg. Which brought him to one knee. Jaik pull vaulted off his bow and kicked both of them backwards. He shot a barrage of arrows. But they could only block for so long. Kai got hit in the shoulder and Luna was unscathed. Kai kicked Jaik right in the lungs. He fell backwards. Kai surprised himself and teleported behind Jaik and kneed him in the back. Luna took this chance and cut the string of his bow. Kai punched Jaik in the face and knocked him out. They stopped for a second to catch their breath and both smiled at each other as reassurance. They ran outside where they were confronted by Ra’s and Sarab.

Ra’s: You know Kai. I really believed that you were the perfect successor. You weren’t going to try to run away or anything.

Kai: I guess I’m not perfect.

Ra’s: You will be the perfect successor after I put you back in the box for just a few more years.

Kai: That box will never break me!

Ra’s: That's because when you were in the box I didn’t try to break you. I tried to strengthen you. Next time I will break you, and your old self will be gone for good.

Luna: Let’s take him down for good this time.

Luna and Kai both tried to attack Ra’s but Sarab cut in and clashed with Luna. Kai locks blades with Ra’s. Ra’s then tries to kick Kai again. Kai dodges it, spins, and Kai tries to Slash at Ra’s’ back. Ra’s turned in time to block some of the attack, but he got a slice on his arm. Ra’s then goes for an overhead strike. Kai blocks it, and Ra’s kicks Kai right in the gut. Kai stumbles backwards before fixing his balance.. Over with Luna and Sarab. Their blades keep contacting, and each of them just parry. Everytime they parry sparks fly off the blade. After they keep swinging their blades Sarab gets tired. Luna slashed high at Sarab, and he blocked it. Then went for a sidekick. Luna side stepped this, and grabbed his leg. She brought Sarab to the ground. She stepped on his chest, and Sarab grabbed Luna’s leg. Luna went to slice it right off. She did a back handspring to make some space. Sarab got the chance to cut her slightly across the chest. He stabbed forward at Luna, but she took the chance to kick his sword down. Then she knocked him down with a superman punch.

Luna: Is it over?

Kai rolls away from Ra’s to group up with Talia.

Ra’s: He was weak. Why don’t you finish him off?

Luna: I’m not like you!

Ra’s: Then you’ll die.

Kai’s breathing heavily as he takes in the fact that he won’t be able to leave. Both him and Luna ran up on Ra’s. He blocked Luna’s shot and kicked Kai away. Ra’s overwhelmed Luna with his sword shots. He cut her on the shoulder and kicked her onto the ground. He stabbed both his swords in the ground, trapping her. He walked calmly over to Kai. Kai slashed at Ra’s but he pushed it down with the palm of his hand.

Ra’s: I definitely didn’t train you right.

Kai: I just don’t like swords!

Ra’s: Then i guess you will lose.

Kai threw out a barrage of sword slices. Ra’s dodged and weaved through every single one. He trapped Kai’s hand with his own arm and squeezed until Kai dropped his sword. Ra’s caught it and stabbed Kai through the stomach. Luna watched and was speechless. Kai was useless in the fight. Ra’s strolled back over to Luna and picked up one of his swords. Luna took his other sword leaving her with two blades now. She did a spin and slashed hard at Ra’s. He backed up and brought his sword to the ground. Luna stabbed forward at him but he dodged it. He flipped his sword up and Luna fell to the ground. Ra’s caught Luna and picked her up by the neck. He held her with one hand over the cliff that was just about 5 feet away from Kai.

Ra’s: This is your last chance, Tanin. Execute her and we’ll pretend this never happened.

Kai: Hell no!

Ra’s: Then I’ll kill her for you!

Ra’s threw Luna off the cliff, and she disappeared into the clouds of the mountains.

Kai watched in disbelief as Luna was just dragged out of his life. Ra’s was shot right in the back with an arrow. He turned to see Talia in the distance. She mouthed “go.” Kai ran away with a sword in his chest. He decided he was far enough away, and grabbed the sword and ripped it out of his chest. He laid on the mountain until he saw a helicopter fly by. Kai hopped on the helicopter. As the Helicopter slowly rises Kai sees Ra’s run up to Talia.

Pilot: Waller said it was about time she gave you your paycheck.

The pilot gives Kai a letter. Kai opens the letter.

Kai: Dear Kai, you have now worked with us for three years. Normally we give people their paychecks every year, but you decided to take this mission. So we didn’t expect you to come back. You have been through a lot, but we have another mission for you.

Kai takes out his paycheck that says 360,000 dollars, and throws the rest of the letter aside.

Kai: … Can you get in contact with Waller?

Pilot: I believe so.

Kai: Tell her I’m out.

Pilot: I don’t think she’ll just allow you to leave.

Kai: Do you have a pen?

Pilot: here.

The Pilot gives Kai a pen, and Kai writes all of his findings about the League on the back of that paper.

Kai: get in contact with Waller. Tell her this, and after you finish that. Tell her I’m out.

The pilot radio’s in A.R.G.U.S, and Kai here's him telling the story. Eventually he hears the pilot say “Kai quit.” Then Kai hears Waller's angry voice.

Kai(in head): If I stay here I have no control over my life. I want to finally do what I want to do with my life.

All of a sudden a rocket hits the helicopter.

Pilot: We are going down!

The helicopter spirals out of control until it crash lands. Kai opens his eyes to fire everywhere, and through the fire and flames he sees an old man walking up to him.

Old man: I think it's about time you upheld your side of the deal.

Kai: Stick?

Kai passes out.