The Crimson Dragon Volume 5

## Back Into Gear - Issue 1

Kai is in the apartment back yard. Kai is only wearing sweatpants. He has no shoes or shirt on. Kai is swinging his staff around. Kai is sweaty, and after a few more new staff tricks Kai decides to take a break. Kai drops his staff to the ground, and wipes the sweat from his forehead. Kai grabs his water bottle on the ground, and starts drinking. Kai puts the bottle back to the ground, and sits down to meditate.

Kai(in head): It’s time to work on teleporting. When Entity did it I had to be quick to react. I think It would be a good idea to be able to teleport much faster.

Kai meditates, and soon teleports. Kai starts teleporting around, but with his eyes closed. Kai then opens his eyes to try and Teleport around. Kai manages to teleport once with his eyes open after about ten seconds.

Kai: Damn. I suck at this. I guess I should go take a shower since this isn’t working.

Kai walks inside the house.

Cal: Done swinging your stick?

Kai: Didn’t you try to attack smiley with a wooden sword. That’s a stick too.

Cal: No, pretty sure it was a sword.

Kai: I’m getting in the shower.

Cal: Don’t use all the hot water!

Kai: We’ll see.

Kai gets in the shower Once Kai gets out he gets dressed, and sits on the couch. Kai starts watching Netflix.

Kai: Hmmm, I think I’ll watch the umbrella academy. Still gotta finish that.

Kai starts watching his show. Kai finishes the season, and changes back to regular TV. Kai turns on the news, and they start talking about the stock market.

Kai: No one cares!

Kai gets up, and starts making himself food while the news is in the background. Kai finishes making a sandwich, and is about to sit down.

Reporter: Recently bodies have been found around the city of new york. When the bodies were found they were half-eaten. This villain has still not been found by the police. The police want to assure you they are working day and night to catch this killer, but until then we suggest not going out at night.

Kai: I hear a challenge. Can I catch this killer before the cops? Probably.

Kai finishes his sandwich and puts on his jeans, red sweatshirt, and mask. Then Kai leaves his house. Kai moves around on the top of buildings.

Kai: I have a feeling that this cannibal will only come out at night.

Kai checks his phone.

Kai: I’ll just check around the city for a few hours.

Soon the sky gets dark, and Kai starts really searching for this cannibal. As Kai walks running across the rooftops instead of him finding the cannibal. The cannibal found him. Behind Kai was a man in red and black. He had a black coat that went down to his knees. The coat had an outline in red. He wore black saggy pants, and had 2 red wraps around his lower legs. Then he had black shoes. His coat just had black arms, and he wore red gloves. He has chains around his arms. To cover his face he wore a red devil mask.

Kai: I have heard you have been eating people. I figured I should put a stop to that.

The chains on his arms drop, and he holds the end of the chains in his hands.

Kai: Don’t talk much?

The man starts swinging his chains around. Kai does a back handspring to dodge the chains. Then as the chains come around to hit Kai again. Kai puts out his hands to deflect the chains. The chains wrap around both of his arms.. The man screeches a high pitched ear-bleeding sound. Kai is blasted back by the soundwaves. Then the man pulls Kai back with the chains. Kai flies towards the man. Then Kai gets kicked in the stomach. Kai pulls the chains, and the man gets pulled over to Kai. Kai punches, but the man blocks it. The man stands there for a second. Then the man teleports behind Kai, and punches Kai in the back. Kai kicks behind him, but the man teleports above Kai. He then slams his fists on Kai’s head. Kai falls to the ground. Kai gets up off the ground.

Kai: Who are you?

The man teleports around on the top of the building before teleporting away. Kai looks at the ground beneath him to see the writing. The writing says “Azazel.”

Kai: I’m going to take you down Azazel.

Kai goes back home to sleep. When he wakes up he goes into the kitchen to see Cal cooking.

Kai: You don’t cook.

Cal: I do what I want.

Kai sits on the couch.

Cal: What were you even doing last night?

Kai: Y’know, chilling.

Cal: I don’t even think I want to know.

Cal makes himself a plate.

Kai: You not gonna make me a plate?

Cal: I made the food. You make your own plate.

Kai gets up and grabs food. Then Kai sits back down on the couch and turns the new on.

Cal: The news?! We have Netflix now!

Kai: You always gotta watch the news.

Reporter: Two more bodies were found by the cannibal. One of the bodies was a cop. People are starting to question whether the cops actually have this menace under control.

Cal switches the tv to Netflix.

Kai: Goddammit Cal!

Cal: It was boring.

Kai: I’m going out back to train again.

Cal: Don’t you want to watch The Umbrella Academy?

Kai: Finished it without you.

Cal: Asshole.

Kai goes outside, and mediates again.

Kai(in head): Azazel really knows how to use teleportation. I need to learn how to teleport like that more than ever. It’s time I learn how.

For hours Kai tries to teleport quickly with his eyes open. It never seems to work right. For some reason even when he was focused he couldn’t teleport. Later that day night fell again, and it was time to stop Azazel whether Kai had mastered teleportation or not. Kai scouted the whole city. He couldn’t find Azazel anywhere. Until Kai was jumping over a back alley. Kai saw Azazel rip off someone’s arm, and savagely eat the arm.

Kai: You again.

Azazel looks up to see Kai on the building. Azazel teleports to the top of the building with Kai.

Kai: It’s time you leave this city.

Azazel screeches. Kai is blasted back by the sound. Azazel teleports behind Kai, and kicks Kai into the ground. When Kai hits the ground he rolls back to his feet. Azazel teleports behind Kai and punches. Kai grabs Azazel’s arm, and slams Azazel onto the ground. Azazel jumps back to his feet. Kai tries to roundhouse kick Azazel. Azazel grabs Kai’s foot, and punches Kai in the stomach. As Kai wobbles back Azazel screeches blasting Kai to the ground. Kai pulls himself off the ground. Then Kai takes out his staff, and starts spinning his staff around. Azazel Teleported above Kai, and Kai swung his staff. Kai’s staff slammed into Azazel sending Azazel straight into the ground. While Azazel’s on the ground he grabs one of Kai’s legs, and forces Kai to fall to the ground. They both get back up. Azazel tries to teleport away, and Kai knowing that he wouldn’t be able to catch up teleported next to Azazel. Kai goes for a punch, and Azazel teleports. Kai teleports with him, and punches Azazel. Then Kai Teleports, and Azazel follows him. Azazel Then Punches Kai. They go back and forth blow for blow until they teleported above an alleyway, and both fell to the ground. Kai got up first, and As Azazel was getting up Kai knocked Azazel out. Kai then drags Azazels body to the police station without being seen, and goes back home. Once Kai gets back home he takes another shower, and turns on the news.

Reporter: The cannibal has finally been caught. Just earlier today he showed up bruised and beaten at the police stations front door. Is this some new hero that has chosen to step up when the cops can’t? Only time will tell.

Kai: Hero?! Nonsense. I just do whatever I feel like.

Kai gets in bed, and as he is about to fall asleep his phone rings. The phone says facetime.

Kai: Why is someone face timing me so late.

Kai canceled the call, but the person calls back almost immediately.

Kai: Fine!

Kai answers the call. He sees a man he has seen before tied to a chair. The man in the chair is bulky with short brown hair. Then Behind the man is a knight with a giant sword on his back.

Kai: Who is this?

The knight has a weird distorted voice.

Knight: Hello Kai. Remember this man?

As Kai’s eyes get used to the new light in the room the picture gets clearer.

Kai: Mark smith?!

Knight: That’s right. You let this man go. He has gone on to do bigger and better things. He has killed some, and helped some, but-

The knight takes out his sword, and chops Mark’s head off.

Knight: But that’s all over now.

Kai: Who are you?

Knight: No need to know so soon Kai. We’ll do this again sometime.

The facetime ends.

Kai: Why?

## The Car Tyrant - Issue 2

The cops are all around Mark Smith’s crims scene. A woman walks up to Mark Smith’s dead body. She’s wearing a brown jacket with a scarf and jeans. She takes a picture of Mark smith. A cop walks over to her.

Cop: Dammit Remi! How do you always sneak onto crime scenes!

The cop starts dragging her out.

Remi: I heard that the FBI is coming. Is that true?

Cop: We aren’t the FBI.

The FBI show up, and start taking over the crime scene.

Remi: Guess you don’t need to answer my question.

She starts taking pictures of the FBI at the scene. The cop drags her out.

Remi: Owen! I’m trying to do my job!

Owen: And I’m trying to do mine!

Owen Gets Remi to the police tape outside the building.

Remi: At least tell me who he was.

Owen: Someone the FBI knows.

Owen starts walking away.

Remi: Does that mean he is part of the government?

Owen: I’m not answering your questions!

Remi: He needs to be more helpful. This was just any old day, but now that the FBI is involved this is a story!

Remi leaves the Crime scene. Kai is laying on his bed at home.

Kai(in head): How did that knight even know about Mark Smith. That was so long ago. I almost forgot what he looks like. He clearly picked that guy for a reason. Maybe because he said that he had killed, maybe he thinks I’m a bad guy. He’ll challenge me sooner or later. I should just try to get my mind off of it.

Kai sits there for a second.

Kai: The business! I need to start making money anyway. Now I just have to think of a business idea. I have no fucking clue what to make a business about.

Kai gets up, and makes something to eat. Once Kai finishes eating he figures it out.

Kai: I need some more weed. I think the best on weed. Where the fuck is Jax?

Kai texts Jax that he is coming over, and then drives to Jax’s house. Kai knocks on the door, and Jax answers.

Jax: Whattup?

Kai: It’s time.

Kai walks inside.

Jax: Time for what?

Kai: I need some… inspiration.

Jax: Oh, I feel ya.

Jax goes into the back and grabs something. Then Jax walks back into the room. Kai and Jax both start smoking. After an hour they’re baked.

Kai: Ya’know, I just bounced to Hell for like 2 weeks.

Jax: Man, I’ve had those kinds of weeks.

Kai: And now I come back, and people are just dying all over the place.

Jax: Everyone’s dying slowly man.

Kai coughs.

Kai: Yeah… If only people could know when someone like Azazel.

Kai takes a deep breath.

Kai: I got it. I need to make something that can show how strong you are.

Jax: Yeah, but then they could see that I’m better than the rest.

Kai: I’ll figure it out.

Later that day Kai drives back home. Kai turns on the news again, and they are talking about Mark Smith’s death.

Reporter: The FBI came into to clean up over the unknown man.

Kai gets up, and goes to grab something to eat.

Kai(in head): Mark did steal from the military. That’s probably why the government came in. They had to clean up their mess.

Kai grabs a bag of pretzels.

Kai: Damn, now I got the munchies.

Kai starts eating, and Az texts him.

Az(text): I need your help. Meet me at my house in your costume, or should I say clothes?

Kai(text): Don’t diss the sweatshirt. I’ll be there in half an hour.

Kai puts on his costume, and then makes his way across rooftops to Az’s house. Kai climbs in through Az’s window, and walks down to the living room to see Az on the couch.

Az: You could have come through the front door.

Kai: You really want people to see a dressed-up man come to your house alone.

Az: Fair enough.

Kai: So, what’s going on?

Az: Its Rhea. We had a fight, and now she is with a gang. I tried to stop her, but I can’t go to that gang. They have a guy bigger then Lefty and Righty.

Kai: I’ll help, but you can’t baby Rhea, Az.

Az sighs.

Az: I know. Just need you to help me with this.

Kai: Then let’s go.

Kai and Az travel to an Automobile shop. Once they walk in all the workers stop. Rhea walks out of one of the rooms and sees Az. As soon as Rhea makes eye contact with Az she turns away.

Az: Rhea!

The workers grab wrenches and then charge Kai and Az.

Kai: What is a wrench going to do?

Five guys run at Kai. The first guy swings his wrench. Kai grabs his arm, and takes the wrench. Then Kai kicks the worker in the stomach, and the worker falls to the ground. Another worker swings a wrench at Kai’s leg. Kai steps on the wrench pushing it to the ground. While the guy is on the ground Kai kicks him in the head. A worker tries to run up from behind Kai. Kai hits him in the head with a wrench. The guy drops to the ground. Another guy throws a punch at Kai. Kai punches the guy in the stomach, and the guy falls to the ground. The last guy is running at Kai, and Kai throws a wrench at him knocking him out.

Kai: Easy.

Kai looks over to the side. Az finishes his last guy. Rhea walks over to them.

Rhea: Az…

Az: Rhea, you killed someone again. When I was talking to you about it I wasn’t mad. I was disappointed.

Rhea: I know you were, but you said that I wouldn’t stop. So I decided to join somewhere I fit in better.

Az: I just said that in the moment.

The is a room with the sign “Tyrant” on it. The door opens, and a huge man walks out of it. The pale-skinned man is wearing a black shirt and jeans. He has muscles twice the size of Lefty and Righty. The man is almost 13 feet tall.

???: You think you can attack my store, and then steal one of my workers?!

Kai: From the sign, I’m guessing your name is Tyrant, and to be fair they attacked first.

Tyrant picks up a car easily, and then throws the car at Kai and Az. Kai puts his hands out to block the car. Kai stops the car, but gets pushed back from the force. Tyrant runs at Kai. Every time Tyrant’s foot hits the ground they cracks from the concrete under them. Tyrant slams his hands down on Kai. Kai teleports above Tyrant, and hits him on his head. When Tyrant’s hands hit the ground he creates a small crater. When Kai hits Tyrant his head moves a small bit, but he looks unfazed. Kai drops to the ground behind Tyrant. Then Tyrant swings his arm behind him. Kai does a backhand spring to dodge it. Then Tyrant charges Kai with an arm in front of his face to block it. Kai jumps to the side dodging it. Tyrant slams into the wall breaking through it. Tyrant climbs back into the room through the hole in the wall.

Kai: Get Rhea out of here. Go kiss and makeup. I’ll handle this.

Az goes to grab Rhea’s hand to run.

Rhea: I’m not coming with you!

Az: Rhea! He doesn’t care about you!

Rhea threw a front kick. She kicked Az down.

Az: Rhea, we’re not doing this right now.

Rhea: I won’t kill you. But this is going to feel good.

Tyrant looks angrier than before. Tyrant picks up a car in each hand. Then he throws them at Kai one after another. Kai stops the first car, but when the second car slams into the first Kai falls to the ground with the cars on top of him. Tyrant walks up to the cars. Tyrant slams his hands on the cars crushing them. Kai teleports above Tyrant again, and takes out his staff. Kai slams his staff onto Tyrants head with all his might and speed. Tyrant stumbles back, and even falls to the ground. Tyrant gets back up to his feet, and shakes his head to get back into focus.

Tyrant: I don’t usually have to use this, but… You’re a special circumstance.

Tyrant starts breathing heavy, and his veins start popping out of his body.

Tyrant: This is what I like to call MAX STRENGTH!

Tyrant starts ripping up the concrete from the ground, and throws the concrete at Kai. Kai spins his staff around breaking the concrete as it comes over to him. Tyrant charges Kai, but this time he’s faster. Kai Teleports above Tyrant. Tyrant grabs Kai’s legs, and slams Kai onto the ground. Kai coughs up blood. Then Tyrant slams his hands onto the ground. Kai rolls out of the way. Kai quickly gets to his feet. Then Kai slams his staff on Tyrant’s jaw. Tyrant stumbles back and grabs his jaw. Tyrant moves his jaw around a bit, and turns back to Kai. Tyrant starts throwing punches, but they start to become sloppy. Tyrants punches start to slow down. Then once Tyrant starts walking backward breathing heavier than before. Kai tornado kicks Tyrant in the head. Tyrant falls down.

Kai: Just for the record. You destroyed everything. Not me.

Rhea drew a sword.

Rhea: Don’t get in my way.

She swung her sword at Az. He ducked under, she threw a knee which he also dodged. She stabbed forward with her sword. Az ducked under and punched the sword out of her hand. She threw a spinning backfist at Az. She smashed her hand against the side of his head. He stumbled down. She came up and threw a combo. Az came back to his senses and they started trading blows.

Az: There’s no reason for this! You have to stop!

Rhea: I can’t

Rhea grabbed Az’s leg and flipped him on the ground. She grabbed her sword and pointed him at him.

Az: Rhea, I love you. I want you in my life. I got so upset because you were doing so well. You hadn’t killed anyone in so long.

Rhea: I tried. But it’s hard! The only time I feel anything is when I...

Rhea pinpointed her sword over to Tyrant.

Rhea: So it’s your fault I did this...Then I will get rid of you.

Az: I know it’s hard. That’s why you have me. Please. End this. We’ll start again. You won’t hurt anyone like that again. Nobody has to die.

Rhea: He made me kill him. And wanted to make me do the same to so many more.

Az: Don’t blame it on him. If you’re strong enough to take down ten men. You’re strong enough to stop killing them all. Say no.

Rhea: Will you help me?

Az stood up and embraced her, and they kissed. Later that day, Kai makes it back home and then calls Az. Az picks up the phone.

Kai: Yo, everything work out?

Az: It’s going to take some time, but I think everything will be fine. Thanks for the help today Kai.

Kai: Yeah, no problem. It was nothing. Talk to ya later.

They hang up the phone.

Kai: Damn, Tyrant was a problem.

## Get A Clue - Issue 3

Kai is on his laptop.

Kai: Alright the idea is we make an invention that could see how powerful someone is. Wait, stick told me something about power. What did he call it? Some stupid shit like power levels. No, it was the power scale. I’m pretty sure I fought someone that could also see power scales. Who was it? Vulture, beagle, Eagle eye. That’s it. Eagle eye said he could see my power level was high. So there must be a way to see it. Back when I was in A.R.G.U.S I used to use spiritual powers. I could make someone a little weaker or a little stronger. Can I see power scales if I try and use my spirit powers again?

Kai focuses for a few minutes. When he opens his eyes he looks around, but nothing changed.

Kai: I guess that was a bust. I think its time for coffee. I need some extra energy.

Kai leaves his room. Cal is sitting on the couch.

Cal: Were you just talking to yourself?

Kai: I needed to gather my thoughts.

Cal: Don’t make excuses for being crazy.

Kai: I would never.

Kai leaves the house, and walks to bibble and sips. When Kai walks in there is a woman holding up the line. She is struggling to see the menu on the wall.

Woman: Sorry I forgot my glasses. I’ll take-

Kai(in head): Jesus, hurry up.

Kai gets a coffee, and starts walking back home. Kai gets a text. The text is from an unknown number. Kai starts reading the text.

Kai(in head): “I gave you time to think about Mark Smith, but now it’s time for another body to drop. This time I’ll give you the chance to see the body, but you have to find it first. You will get three clues. One clue every hour. At the end of the third hour, a friend will die.

Kai(in head): Who? What the fuck. He didn’t even send a clue. What’s going on!

Kai goes home, and starts texting all of his friends. None of them answer.

Kai: Damn, I guess I just have to wait until I get a clue.

Kai sits around tapping his foot in his room. Eventually, he starts pacing back and forth.

Kai(in head): Who does he have? It feels like I’ve been waiting for the first clue for forever.

Kai gets a text, and he checks it immediately.

Kai: Oh it’s just Az.

Kai lets out a sigh of relief.

Kai: At least I know Az is fine.

Kai texts Az back that it was nothing. A few minutes later Kai gets a text from a new unknown number. Kai starts reading the text.

Kai(in head): “A place that’s hidden…”

Kai: There is no period or anything. Do the three clues make up a sentence. It just says a place that’s hidden. Wait, he knows me well. What places have I gone that I really had to search for?

Kai sits there thinking to himself for a while.

Kai: Why is it when I need to remember the most my mind goes blank!

Cal opens the door.

Cal: You keep eating all the food so next time you go out get what’s on this list.

Cal hands Kai a shopping list.

Kai: Alright fine.

Cal: What’s wrong with you?

Kai: Nothing, I'm fine.

Cal: If you say so.

Cal goes back to his room.

Kai: Wait, If this knight knows about events of my past. Maybe he is talking about grandfather’s secret hideout. The one under the restaurant.

Kai puts on his red sweatshirt.

Kai: I don’t know if this is right, but it’s worth a try.

Kai travels to the old restaurant, and climbs down the ladder. When Kai gets to the bottom of the ladder he sees that the basement is full of cobwebs and dust. Kai walks around through the rooms. He finds nothing. Then in grandfather’s old office, he sees a bar of some metal with a note attached. Kai reads the note.

Kai: “Wrong place, but for remembering you get this clue and an explosion.”

Kai hears ticking.

Kai: Fuck!

Kai runs back to the ladder, and Kai hears the boom of the explosion. Kai climbs up the ladder and sees the remnants of the explosion below him.

Kai: Was the bar of metal a clue? It doesn’t matter. I have to focus on the important clues.

Kai finishes climbing up the ladder. As Kai is walking home he gets another text. Kai reads the text.

Kai: “Above ground, but out of normal people’s minds.”

Kai gets mad.

Kai: Really. Above ground. That was just to piss me off, but what does this mean. What place is above ground, but out of people’s minds?!

Kai goes back home, and lays in his bed thinking.

Kai(in head): I don’t even know who the knight is going to kill. On top of that, I have no idea where this clue would be talking about. Someone’s going to die, and I can’t save them.

Kai stares at the ceiling until Kai loses track of time.

Kai: There is no place that’s out of someone’s mind!

Kai gets another text.

Kai: What?! The last text was like thirty minutes ago.

Kai checks the time, and its been an hour since the last text. Kai reads the text.

Kai: “While it’s where the crooks and villains live.” The full hints are “A place that’s hidden above ground, but out of normal people’s minds. While it’s where the crooks and villains live.”

Kai thinks for a second.

Kai: Could he be talking about a warehouse? The Chemist and Grandfather both lived in abandoned buildings. Granted The Chemist lived in an old lab. I have an hour to check all the abandoned buildings around here.

Kai runs to The Chemist’s old science lab. Kai looks around, and eventually makes his way to the area where Arachno and He fought Chemist. Kai sees a note and picks it up. Kai reads the note.

Kai: “Good try, but I said out of people's minds. People still remember science labs. So why don’t you talk to the spider about your bad luck?”

Kai turns around, and there is a giant spider crawling towards him on the ceiling. The spider pounces on Kai. Kai takes out his staff, and hits the spider back. The spider lands on the ground, and starts running back over to Kai.

Kai: I don’t have time for this!

The spider tries to bite Kai. Kai hits one of its legs out with his staff, and then stabs his staff straight through its mouth. Kai rips his staff out of the spider, and runs out the building.

Kai: He’s trying to stall me.

Kai makes his way to Grandfather’s old warehouse. Kai goes into Grandfather’s office to see a note. Kai reads the note.

Kai: “You’re running out of time.”

Kai throws the note, and kicks over Grandfather’s desk.

Kai: I don’t know any other warehouse!

Kai looks up at houses close to him. Kai finds one that vaguely remembers.

Kai: I have fifteen minutes. This is my last shot.

Kai runs to this last warehouse. When he finally gets there he sees one of the windows open. Kai then gets a facetime call. Kai answers the call. Jax is tied up in a chair, and the knight is behind him.

Knight: Only five minutes left.

Kai runs inside the building busting the door open. When he gets inside he sees Jax sitting in the chair alone. Jax’s throat was slit. Kai is in shock. Kai sees old burns on the ground. He looks down to the video.

Knight: Times up.

The knight slits Jax’s throat.

Knight: Well, time would be up. If you had a chance in the first place. We’ll be seeing each other Kai.

The face time ends. Kai just stares at Jax in shock.

Kai: Why?

## He Will Live On - Issue 4

Kai leaves the building through the window once he hears sirens. Kai quickly goes home, changes, and then gets in his car.

Kai: I need to go tell Natalie before she hears it on the news. She’s going to be devastated.

Kai texts Natalie that he is going to be there, and starts driving. Kai walks up to Natalie’s door and knocks. Natalie opens the door.

Natalie: What’s going on? What did you need to talk to me about?

Kai walks inside the house, and Natalie closes the door.

Natalie: Kai, what’s wrong?

Kai embraces Natalie, and then he just holds her.

Natalie: Not that I would ever turn down a hug from you. You have to talk to me.

Kai: Natalie… Jax was murdered.

Natalie just stops from the shock. While the cops are investigating Jax’s crime scene.

Owen: First it’s an FBI problem, and now a big star. This killer wants media attention.

Cop: He probably wants to scare the cops too. Showing that he can take someone down who stole from the military.

Owen sees a few small flashes of light.

Cop: Control your girlfriend. She’s always sneaking onto crime scenes.

Owen: She’s not my girlfriend.

Cop: Whatever you say.

Owen walks over to Remi.

Owen: Again Remi.

Remi: This is a huge story. Now a big celebrity is killed. How am I suppose to stay away from that?

Owen starts dragging Remi out of the crime scene. He drags her out of the building, and behind the police tape.

Remi: I don’t think I deserved all that.

Owen: You know how this goes.

Remi: Fine, I’ll see you at the next crime scene.

Remi starts walking away.

Owen: I don’t think you understand!

Remi: I don’t think you do!

Cop: That girl is wild.

Remi goes back to her house. She prints a picture, and sticks it to her board. The board has a picture of the Mark Smith case on it with the new picture.

Remi: Hm…

Remi stares at the pictures.

Remi: I don’t think the cops are right. This is definitely the same killer, but…

Remi sits down in a chair, and crosses a leg over the other.

Remi: I don’t think the killer is looking for media attention. There’s no notes, no clues, nothing! If this killer really did want to get media attention he or she would do something to really stand out. Maybe this killer will, and just haven’t done anything yet. I’ll have to wait and see.

The next day Kai and Natalie fell asleep on the couch together. Kai wakes up, and gets off the couch. He taps Natalie. Natalie doesn’t open her eyes, but she responds.

Natalie: What?

Kai: I’m gonna go out and get a coffee. Do you want anything?

Natalie: I just want to lay here.

Kai: Alright, I’ll be back.

Kai leaves, and gets back in the car.

Kai(in head): Jax might have been a childhood friend, but we disconnected. While Jax and Natalie still hung out.

Kai drives to bibble and sips. The same lady who forgot her glasses is taking a while again. Kai gets a coffee, and sits in his car.

Kai(in head): I need to get my mind off of Jax for a little bit. I still don’t know what invention I should make. I just know what it needs to do. I know it needs to be about seeing power scales.

The lady who always forgets her glasses walks past Kai’s car.

Kai: That’s it! Glasses. Glasses that can see power scales. It could help out anyone. Regular people could see who is stronger than them. The military and police could even use it too.

Kai finishes his coffee.

Kai: I should go back to check on Natalie

Kai drives back to Natalie’s house. Kai knocks on the door, and then opens the door.

Kai(in head): Why is this door unlocked?

Kai: Natalie?!

Kai hears no response. Kai’s heart starts pounding.

Natalie: What?

Natalie walks down the stairs. Kai has a sigh of relief.

Kai: Nothing.

Natalie: Did you see the news?

Kai: No, what’s going on.

Natalie looks up a video on her phone, and shows it to Kai.

Reporter: The rapper Jax Diaz known more by the stage name Teflon was found murdered last night. The cops still don’t know who the killer is, but they assure they will get to the bottom of this. Even though it has only been hours since Teflon’s death people have been hashtagging “prayers for Teflon.”

Natalie turns off the video, and she starts crying.

Natalie: He just started to become popular for his music. It was his dream to tour around the USA, but that will never happen now.

Kai: But he will be able to live on forever in his music.

Natalie wipes away her tears.

Natalie: Yeah…

Kai: Natalie, you’re going to have to watch out whenever I’m gone.

Natalie: Why?

Kai: The man who killed Jax is coming after my friends.

Natalie gets a dark look at her face.

Natalie: The man who killed Jax did it to get back at you?

Kai: He gave me three clues to finding Jax. I spent the whole day looking for him freaking out, but I didn’t know the killer had Jax. I just knew he had someone. I found Jax within the time limit, but Jax had been dead before I was even given the clues.

Natalie gets furious.

Natalie: Who killed Jax?

Kai: Natalie, calm down. No one knows who killed Jax. He was wearing knight armor.

Natalie: Then he shouldn’t be too hard to find.

Natalie goes upstairs, and changes clothes while Kai just stays downstairs. Natalie comes downstairs in a more casual outfit.

Natalie: I know you don’t want me to do this so I’ll do this alone.

Natalie walks right past Kai, and Kai grabs her hand. Natalie turns around.

Kai: If you find any lead you call me. Jax has fire powers, and was taken down. I’ll be there as quick as I can no matter what I’m doing.

Natalie holds Kai’s hand a little tighter.

Natalie: Okay.

Kai lets go, and Natalie leaves the house. After Natalie leaves Kai gets in his car.

Kai(in head): While Natalie tries to get leads I’m going to keep working on my business. I would help her, but I have a feeling she wants to look for Jax’s killer alone.

Cal texts Kai., and Kai picks up his phone to see the text.

Cal(text): Wanna go bowling?

Kai(text): Sure.

Kai drives to the bowling ring. Cal and Kai start playing.

Cal: What have you been up to?

Kai: Hanging out with friends. Trying to come up with an idea for my business.

Cal: Are you still trying to come up with an idea?

Kai: I got an idea, but I don’t know how to create it.

Cal: You got to get someone to help you actually build the product. People who make an idea don’t actually create it themselves. They just come up with the idea.

Kai: I can’t pay someone to work on it.

Cal: Offer them something once you get a business going. Give them a high spot on the company. Then they’ll take the deal because it’s just to good of an offer.

Kai: That’s actually a really good idea Cal, thanks.

Cal: I know I’m great.

While this is happening Remi goes to her work building to go to a meeting. Everyone sits down at the table. The managers start asking different workers what they are working on. Remi starts tapping her foot nervously. Then they call on Remi.

Manager: Ms.Mendoza, what are you working on?

Remi: Well, I uh, have been working on the story about the new deaths. Mark Smith and Jax Diaz.

Manager: We already have stories on the new deaths. Those were big and important. We had to get those out immediately.

Remi: No, not a regular story. I have been figuring out new stuff on that case-

Manager: That is detective work. We just report the news. See me in my office after this.

The manager moves on, and asks other people about what they’re working on.

Everyone leaves, and Remi follows the manager into her office. The manager sits down in her chain.

Manager: Sit down.

Remi sits down in the chair in front of the manager.

Manager: Remi, I like you. You’ve got a lot of spunk, and you put in a lot of work. The problem is you keep trying to do the job of a detective. Not of a reporter. You report, you don’t figure out cases using evidence. Remi, if this isn’t a huge story. I’ll have to fire you.

Remi: Don’t worry. This story is big. I promise. I just need time!

Manager: All I can give you is another week or two.

Remi: That’s all I need. I won’t stop until I finish this story.

Remi leaves the manager’s office.

## Looking For A Job? - Issue 5

Kai is looking online for people he could hire. Kai sets up a few meetings at bibble and sips. Kai drives to the coffee shop, and orders a coffee. Then Kai sits down at a table. The first guy comes in. He is wearing a brown shirt, and black pants. He has pale skin, and short blond hair. Kai stands up, and they shake hands.

???: My names Liam.

Kai: How are you doing Liam?

Liam: I’m doing good. What about you.

Kai: I’m good. So, what kind of experience do you have with building technology?

Liam: I have built a computer here and there. I like to think that I’m pretty good with technology.

Kai: Any experience programming?

Liam: No, I like building computers more?

Kai: Are you a hard worker?

Liam: I’m a very hard worker.

Kai: Could you see yourself building tech for a job?

Liam: It’s my dream to be able to work on tech.

Kai: That’s all the questions I have. After I think it over. I’ll get back to you.

They both stand up, and shake hands again.

Kai: Have a good rest of your day.

Liam: You too.

Kai sits back down, and starts thinking.

Kai(in head): I will probably feel bad for not giving him the job, but he isn’t really experienced. He put together a few computers. I mean, I could have that same experience if I watched a few videos.

A woman walks in with a black sweater and jeans. Kai stands up and shakes her hand.

???: My name is Maria.

Kai: Nice to meet youu Maria.

They both sit down.

Kai: How are you doing Maria?

Maria: I’m doing well. How about you.

Kai: I’m good. So, what kind of experience do you have with building technology?

Maria: I don’t have any experience in building technology.

Kai: Any experience programming?

Maria: Yes, I have a lot of experience programming. I have made different apps, coded small robots. I love coding.

Kai: Are you a hard worker?

Maria: People have told me that I’m a really hard worker.

Kai: Could you see yourself building tech, or coding for a job?

Maria: I think coding for a job would be amazing.

Kai: That’s all the questions I have. After I think it over. I’ll get back to you.

Maria leaves.

Kai(in head): She could be part of an IT department, but I need someone who can build the glasses.

A man in a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants walks in. He has dark hair, and tan skin. Kai and this man shake hands.

???: My names Max.

Kai: Nice to meet you, Max.

They both sit down.

Kai: How are you doing Max?

Max: I’m fine, you?

Kai: I’m good. So, what kind of experience do you have with building technology?

Max: Lots. I learned how to sauter, and put together computers in school. Every since school I have had time to perfect my technology skills.

Kai: Any experience programming?

Max: Yeah, my brother and I used to practice coding on the school computers until we got laptops. Then we started really learning how to code.

Kai: Are you a hard worker?

Max: I’m a dedicated worker. I’m one of those people that just get in the zone, and doen’t think about anything else until they finish

Kai: Could you see yourself building tech, or coding for a job?

Max: It’s the only thing I’m good at, and I need a job.

Kai: I’m just going to tell you now that you got the job, but before you start working I have to say this isn’t a job for pay. I have come up with a business idea, and I need someone to help work on it with me. I can however offer you a high spot in the company once this invention is built.

Max: I want to be the head of IT, and I can’t be fired without perfect reasoning.

Kai: Alright, if you’re really that good at coding. I have a lawyer friend who can write us up a contract. I’ll get in touch when we need to start working.

Max: See ya.

Max gets up and leaves.

Kai(in head): Not very professional.

Kai gets in his car and texts Az.

Kai(text): Az, can I go over some legal stuff with you?

A few minutes later Az texts back.

Az(text): Sure, Bibble and Sips?

Kai(text): Yeah.

Kai walks back in Bibble and Sips.

Kai(in head): All this talking made me hungry.

Kai orders a jumbo cookie, and sits down. Az walks in, and orders a coffee before sitting down.

Az: What do you want to talk about?

Kai: Copyrighting an idea. I’m hoping you had to copyright your restaurant.

Az: I did, but you're going to need a patent.

Kai and Az go over how copywriting works.

Az: You need to actually have the invention made, or else there isn’t much we can do.

Kai: So I have to present the invention once I actually have created the idea.

Az: Yeah, then you can get your invention protected.

Kai: I guess I’m gonna have to go make it then.

Az: Great, but you're paying for my coffee.

Kai: Fine.

Kai pays the bill, and goes back home. The next day Kai meets up with a lawyer, and the lawyer creates a contract for him. Kai texts Max, and Kai drives to Bibble and sips. Kai grabs a coffee and then sits down at a table with Max.

Max: Whatsapp?

Kai passes Max the contract. Max reads the contract quickly, and then signs his name.

Max: It’s good.

Max hands the contract back.

Max: The contract said the idea is some type of glasses.

Kai: Glasses that can see how powerful someone is.

Max looks puzzled.

Max: That’s… a good idea?

Kai: Do you know how to put it together?

Max: We are going to need small computer chips, tools…

Max lists things off.

Max: I don’t think we have the technology to create this, or at the very least we don’t have the intellect to create it using the tech we actually have.

Kai: If I give you a prototype could you recreate it?

Max: Definitely.

Kai: That’s all I need to know.

Kai goes back home, and Max does the same. The day has turned to night. Kai sits down on the couch. Then Cal comes over.

Cal: Don’t watch the news. Go out and do something!

Kai: But I love the news!

Cal: Your Tv privileges are restricted.

Kai: I’m not a child. I pay half the rent you can’t tell me no.

Cal opens up the remote and takes out the batteries.

Cal: Just did.

Kai: I’ll just buy more batteries.

Cal: Then you will have already left.

Kai: Fine, I’ll leave the house! Jeez!

Kai walks out of the house, and into his car. As Kai puts the key into the car he starts mumbling under his breath.

Kai: Telling me what to do. I’m a grown man!

Kai looks out his window. He sees a man in a white lab coat attack.ing a woman.

Kai: Is that the Chemist? Wait, I could get him to make my gadget.

Kai takes his key out of the ignition, and then leaves his car. Kai runs over to the Chemist.

Chemist: Don’t worry. I have something for you too.

Chemist points a gauntlet at Kai, and shoots a dart into Kai’s neck.

Kai: Didn’t expect that. Poison doesn’t affect me Chemist.

Kai takes the dart out of his neck.

Chemist: It’s not poison.

Kai starts to feel drowsy, but then passes out onto the ground.

Chemist: It’s a sleeping dart.

Kai wakes up in a cage in the Chemist's old science lab.

Kai: Y’know I just had to fight a spider in here.

Chemist: I just had to clean up a dead spider in here.

Kai: Chemist, I don’t want to fight.

Chemist: Because you're in a cage.

Kai: No, I need you to help me with an invention.

Chemist: Why would I help my prisoner?

Kai stands up in the iron cage. Then Kai bends the bars, and steps out of the cage.

Kai: Because you're going to jail if you don’t help me.

Chemist: Fine. What do you want me to do?

Kai: I need you to create glasses that can see power scales.

Chemist: Hm, that’s somewhat like my goggles. My goggles shows me what powers people have.

Chemist starts getting out technology, and starts working while he mumbles to himself. Kai just stands around awkwardly waiting for Chemist to finish. After a few minutes Kai sits down, and starts playing on his phone. After about an hour Chemist finally finishes working. Chemist puts on the glasses, and then looks at Kai.

Chemist: 38,500! It works.

Kai gets up, and the Chemist hands Kai the glasses.

Chemist: Now leave before I put you back into the cage.

Kai: Fine.

Kai puts on the glasses, and goes back to his house at night. He sees other people walking into their house, and their power scale always says around 4,000.

Kai: Max is going to have a field day with this.

## Deceit - Issue 6

Max meets Kai at bibble and sips. Kai hands Max the glasses. Max puts the glasses on, and then looks around.

Max: It really works. Everyone has a different number. Can I take this apart?

Kai: You're going to need to take it apart, and put it back together. We need blueprints.

Max: I’ll start working on it.

Max goes home, and Kai does the same. Kai sits on the computer while watching tv.

Kai(in head): I’m going to have to set up an appointment to copyright the glasses before I go to any business.

Kai hears a quick movement near his window. Kai teleports to the roof.

Kai: Luna?

Luna is standing in front of Kai.

Kai: I’m guessing you want something. If you just wanted to hang out you would have knocked.

Luna: I need help taking down a killer.

Kai: Don’t your assassins do that stuff for you? Why are you here?

Luna: My assassins are busy. I’ve been quickly getting work done on the side.

Kai: Fine then. Who are we after?

Luna shows Kai a picture of a brown skinned man with black dreads down to his shoulders.

Luna: This man goes by the name Elecain. We have seen he uses an array of electric weapons.

Kai: How do we track him down?

Luna: We have to find the electrocuted victims in buildings.

Kai: I’ll follow your lead.

Luna and Kai start jumping across buildings.

Luna: Wasn’t our last mission the league?

Kai: Yup, and now we are working on taking down a murderer.

Luna: Things have changed so much, but the mission hasn’t.

Kai and Luna stop at an old building. They walk inside. In front of them is a tied up woman with electrical burns all over her.

Kai: He tortured her before he killed her.

Luna: That’s why we need to stop him. Look around for any clues.

Kai and Luna search the place, but they don’t find anything.

Kai: There's nothing here.

Kai takes a good look at the victims face.

Kai: Wait, isn’t this the girl that got off for murderer because there wasn’t enough proof.

Luna: Yeah, so?

Kai: Why would he pick this specific victim? It would make sense if he picked her because she was bad.

Luna: A bad guy that kills other bad guys?

Kai: What if he doesn’t see himself as a bad guy?

Luna: We don’t have anything else to go off of so I guess it's worth a shot. Where would you try to find “bad guys.”

Kai: I usually get a lot of intel at bars.

Luna: I guess I’m following your lead then.

They walk to a bar. They see no one matches Elecains picture. Kai and Luna both sit down and order a drink.

Luna: Do you really think he’ll show up?

Kai: He will if he can’t easily find any targets.

Then there was just silence.

Luna: How have you been?

Kai: Not the greatest.

Luna: Why?

Kai: It seems like there are just murderers everywhere right now, and one of them is targeting my friends.

Luna: Why is this person targeting your friends?

Kai: Don’t know yet.

A man matching Elecains physique. The man sits down at the bar. He orders a drink. Kai and Luna watch him. A man and a drunk woman walk out. The woman is tripping over herself while the man doesn’t look drunk. The black man with dreads follows after the man and woman.

Luna: Let’s get him.

Kai: Let’s follow him. Then we can catch him.

Kai and Luna follow the man along the rooftops. The man follows close to the drunken woman. Soon he knocks out the drunken woman, and puts a rag to the man’s mouth.

Kai: He’s definitely Elecain.

Soon the man passes out, and Elecain starts dragging the man. Kai and Luna follow Elecain to an old building. Elecain drags the body into the building. Kai and Luna open the door, and walk in.

Elecain: Are you here to stop me?

Kai: Enough with the formalities.

Elecain: Then come at me!

Kai runs at Elecain. Elecain floats above the ground, and a chain appears in his hand. Elecain starts swinging the chain at Kai. Kai dodges most of the chain hits, and then goes for a punch to Elecain’s stomach. An electric hammer appears in Elecains other hand, and he slams Kai in the side of the head. Kai flies back. Luna slices Elecains side, and Elecain wraps the electric chain around her. Then he spins Luna around while she’s getting electricuted, and then he slams her into a wall. Kai runs at Elecain. Elecain swings his hammer. Kai stops the hammer with his hand ignoring the electricity, and punches Elecain to the ground. Elecain gets back to his feet quickly. Luna strikes Elecain with her blade. She gets a long cut down his torso. Elecain stumbles back, and drops his chain. A spear appears in his hand, and he throws it at Luna. Luna slices the spear into two. Kai kicks at Elecain, and Elecain hits Kai’s knee with the hammer. Kai’s bone sticks out of his leg, and Kai falls to the ground. Luna thrusts her sword at Elecain. Elecain puts out his hand, and the sword goes right through his hand. He then grabs the sword, and kicks Luna back. Elecain takes the sword out of his hand, and throws the sword to the other side of the room. Kai teleports next to Elecain, and goes for a punch. Elecain kicks Kai’s wounded leg, and Kai teleports away.

Elecain: You can’t stop me.

Kai teleports to Elecain. Elecain goes to hit Kai, but Kai teleports above Elecain. Then Elecain tried to move his weapon to hit Kai again, but Kai teleported to the ground with his staff out, and slammed his staff on Elecains leg. Elecain drops to the ground. Kai teleports above Elecain, and Elecain swings up. Kai teleports next to Elecains moving arm, and slams his staff against his arm. Then Kai teleports in front of Elecain, and knocks him out with a staff hit to his head. Kai falls on his ass breathing heavy. Kai pushes him bone back where he thinks it suppose to be.

Kai: Maybe that will help it heal faster.

Luna picks up her sword, and walks over to Kai. Then Luna holds her sword out to Kai.

Luna: Kill him.

Kai stares at Luna for a second.

Kai: Why would I kill him?!

Luna: He tortured people using electricity. He went around killing criminals thinking he could be the arbiter of justice..

Kai stands up, mainly on one leg.

Kai: Aren’t you doing the same thing by killing him? You just don’t want anyone else to have the same power you do!

Kai gets a call on his phone. He sees it Natalie.

Kai: I have to take this.

Kai answers the call, and walks off.

Natalie: I don’t know what’s going on, but ninjas have been traveling around the city all day. They try to hide in the shadows, but I’ve found them.

Kai: Natalie, don’t do anything reckless. Meet me back at my house immediately.

Natalie: I will.

Natalie hangs up, and Kai walks over to Luna.

Kai: I thought you said the league was too busy.

Kai takes his staff back out.

Kai: There are ninja all around the city.

Luna:...

Kai: You were just trying to get me to join you. Don’t ever ask me for anything again. You’ve just become Ra’s. A power hungry killer.

Kai runs off to get to his house as quickly as possible to meet Natalie. When Kai gets there no one is there. Kai waits for a few minutes, but Natalie doesn’t show up.

Kai(in head): I really hope she is just running late.

Kai sees a note on the TV. Kai reads the note.

Kai(in head): “Turn it on.”

Kai takes the note off the TV., and then turns it on. He sees Natalie tied to a chair with duck tape over her mouth. She’s crying, and trying to scream through the duct tape. The knight walks in from off camera, and then stands behind Natalie.

Knight: You're finally tuning in.

The knight puts his hand on Natalie’s head. Then he starts shaking her head as he is talking.

Knight: I see your little worker bee was trying to learn about me.

The knight let’s go of Natalies head.

Knight: And now it’s your fault that she dies!

The Knight takes out his giant sword, and slices off Natalies head. Then the knight picks up Natalies head, and holds it to the camera.

Knight: You could have saved her!

Kai turns off the TV.

Kai: It’s all my fault.

## Failure - Issue 7

Kai opens his eyes to see himself tied to a chair. Soon Cal, Jax, Natalie, and Az appear in front of him kneeling on the ground with their hands tied. The Knight appears, and starts walking behind them.

Knight: Everyone you love is going to die by my hand.

The knight starts chopping their heads off one by one in front of Kai.

Kai: Stop!

Kai wakes up in his bed sweating. He looks to the window, and squints his eyes to the blinding light. Kai lays back down in bed. His body feels heavy, and he has no motivation to even get up. Kai rolls over, and tries to go back to bed. Cal busts through the door.

Cal: You’ve been acting weird. We’re going to get some coffee.

Kai throws a pillow at Cal. Cal catches the pillow, and starts hitting Kai with the pillow until Kai gets up.

Kai: How am I supposed to sleep with all this ruckus?!

Cal: That’s the point. Now get ready. We’re going to Bibble and Sips.

Kai gets dressed, and they both walk to Bibble and Sips. They both get coffees, and sit down at a table.

Cal: What’s going on?

Kai: Nothing, I’m fine.

Cal: Yeah, you’re fine. That’s why you have been moping around, and won’t get up until 3.

Kai: Yeah, fine.

Cal: What happened?!

Kai sighs.

Kai: A few old friends of mine just died. I had known both of them since high school. We had lost contact for a while, but then we started talking again. Jax was the second friend I had ever made, and Natalie was my first kiss.

Cal: I’m sorry I even asked.

Kai: It’s been a hard week.

Cal: Wait, aren’t you trying to start a business?

Kai: Yeah, what about it?

Cal: Make sure you give yourself time to grief, but you still have to focus on that.

Kai sighs again.

Kai: I know.

Cal: Are you going back home?

Kai: Nah, if I go back home I’ll just end up laying around all day.

Cal pats Kai’s shoulder.

Cal: Alright, I’ll see ya later.

Kai: bye.

Cal leaves. Kai finishes his drink, and then throws the cup away. Then as Kai is leaving Bibble and Sips he calls Az. The phone starts ringing.

Kai(in head): I need to talk to Az about this.

The phone keeps ringing.

Kai(in head): C’mon Az. Pick up.

The call goes to voicemail, and Kai hangs up. Kai sighs again.

Kai(in head): Guess he’s busy, or dead. Nothing I can do about either.

Kai starts walking back to his house to get his car. Kai gets a call from Max.

Kai: Whattup?

Max(phone): I finished the blueprints of the glasses, and even made an extra pair.

Kai: Where do you want me to pick them up?

Max(phone): Just come to my house. I’ll text the address.

Max hangs up the phone, and Kai gets the address text. Kai reads the text.

Kai: Guess I gotta drive to the bronx..

Kai goes inside his house, and grabs his keys. Then he gets in his car, and drives to the south bronx. Kai goes to what he thinks the address is, and knocks on the door. He sees a camera above the door look at him. Then Max opens the door.

Max: Come in.

Max moves out of the way.

Kai: Okay.

Kai(in head): Weird.

Kai walks inside.

Max goes into a different room. Kai sees that the house is kind of sloppy. There are bags of empty chips all over the place. Max has action figures, and pop figures on shelves.

Kai(in head): Nerd.

Max comes out of the room with two pairs of glasses, and the blueprints.

Max: That should be enough to patent, and be able to show off.

Kai: Great, thanks. I’ll try to set up interviews quickly.

Kai goes back home, and puts the glasses and blueprints on his nightstand. Kai then lays down on the bed.

Kai(in head): I have to set up a time with a lawyer to try, and patent my invention. After that I’ll have to set up meetings with investors to spend money into a store to start selling.

Kai looks over to his phone that’s on the nightstand. His body feels so heavy again that he can’t lift up his arm to reach his phone. Kai falls back to sleep on his bed. Over the next few days Kai sets up time with a lawyer, and gets his invention patented. Each day he feels sluggish and distant. Soon Kai was sitting on the couch, and Cal started talking to him.

Cal: Kai, you have been like a zombie the last few days.

Kai lays down on the couch, and pulls a blanket over him.

Kai: Just doing what I have to.

Cal: I can tell, and it’s draining the life out of you.

Kai: What else am I supposed to do? I can’t just stop everything in my life.

Cal: I dunno Kai. It’s something you're going to have to figure out.

Cal leaves the house, and Kai just stares at the ceiling as he lays on the couch. A timer goes off on his phone.

Kai: Guess it’s time to go to the meeting.

Kai puts on formal clothing, and drives to a fancy restaurant. He meets with three big wealthy men. They are all wearing suits. Everyone sits down at a table.

Rich man1: Mr.Adara, have you tried the lobster here?

Kai: Can’t say I have.

William: Really? It is simply divine! Tell him Bobby!

Bobby: A nice buttered lobster just melts in your mouth. William would know, all he eats is lobster and deserts!

They all snicker.

Charles: What you really need is medium rare steak tips. The marinated steak tips cannot be beat!

William: Yes they can. By the lobster!

They all snicker again.

William: So Mr.Adara, or should I call you Kai?

Kai: Kai is fine.

William: Well Kai, you said you had a business proposition for us.

Kai: Yes, I do.

Kai takes out a pair of the glasses, and puts them on.

Kai: These glasses are able to register someone's strength in a number. That number is then put to the top left corner of the glasses.

William: Strength? Why would I care about strength?! I can buy strength. I care about money!

Kai: I believe that these glasses could sell, and make a lot of money. Imagine how many people would want to know how strong someone is. Then they could know whether they are safe or not.

Charles: That would never sell. Picture a commercial about glasses that can detect strength. Who would buy that! It sounds like a sham!

Kai: Just try them on. Every person in this room has a different power scale. What if someone hired a hitman to kill you at one of your parties? You could use these glasses to search through the attendees to find who is abnormally strong.

Bobby: I’m still not sold on this preposterous concept!

Kai: Just try them on.

William takes the glasses, and looks at bobby. He sees 2,500.

William: Mr.Adrada. Is 2,500 very powerful?

Kai: No.

William snickers to himself.

Kai: Now do you see the potential?

William: I see an invention that would never sell! You can’t just make any invention, and expect it to sell. You don’t even deserve the divine lobster. I want you out of my presence!

Kai takes the glasses back, and leaves the restaurant with his head down. Kai drives back home, and slowly walks up the stairs. Kai opens the door to his apartment. Kai sees Cal on the couch, and Kai doesn’t say anything. Cal was about to say something, but Kai’s ominous presence made him catch his tongue. Kai walks over to his room's door slouching. Kai opens the door, and slams it shut. Kai lays on the bed.

Kai: Fuck!

## Another Shot - Issue 8

Remi is looking at her board drinking a soda.. It has pictures of all the murders recently. The board has a picture of Jax, Natalie, Mark Smith, the electrocuted woman, and the eaten victims.

Remi: What’s going on this week? Three killers just emerge out of nowhere! That rapper, the beheaded woman, and that military man all died from a sword. So they are all together, but why behead the woman? Maybe so the cops have a harder time recognizing her, or maybe he wants her head as a trophy. The cops found out the girls name was Natalie Stuart. So I can’t see the killer trying to hide it from the cops. Especially since he just took down two more important people.

Remi sits down in her chair, and finishes her drink.

Remi: Owen thinks that this killer hates the police, and killed a nurse to show that they can’t get help. I think Owen’s wrong. I think this killer has a personal agenda. He wouldn’t have needed to kill Jax if he was getting the police’s attention. What do you think?

Remi’s cat hops in her lap, and lays down. Remi pets her cat, and looks back at the board.

Remi: This is a weird case.

Remi gets an email on her laptop. She rolls her chair over to her desk, and annoys the sleeping cat. Remi reads the email.

Remi: “If you really want to know more about this case go to…”

Remi looks up the address on google maps.

Remi: A house in harlem?

Remi looks back to the email.

Remi: Anonymous, but what better lead do I have? I have to go check it out.

Remi grabs a few things, and heads out of the house while it's dark. Two days before that Kai was lying in bed depressed. Friends had died, and to top it off Kai failed to even get backing for his invention. Cal walks in the room again.

Cal: This week has been real shitty.

Kai looks over at Cal, and then back to the ceiling.

Cal: I know, I know. I just tried to help you out, and then you got turned down. You have to look at why you got turned down. Did you even have a plan. You were walking around like a zombie for the past few days. Why did they even turn your idea down?

Kai: “It wouldn’t sell.”

Cal: Just because one person doesn’t believe in your idea doesn’t mean other people will. They probably just thought it would be risky to invest. Find a way to make it less risky. Anyways, I have to go. Try to get back up again today if you can. Just don’t become a zombie again. It freaked me out.

Cal leaves Kai’s room. Kai stares at the ceiling. He sees the ceiling is completely white, empty. The walls are the same blank white with nothing on the. Kai starts thinking about what Cal said. Kai gets up from bed, and grabs a freeze pop. Kai sits on the couch, and eats the pop.

Kai(in head): Cal’s right. I didn’t really have a plan. Once they started questioning my idea I didn’t have anything to make them believe in my idea. Maybe Max and I can figure out some way to make them believe.

Kai texts Max, and they both meet up at Bibble and Sips. They sit down at the table.

Max: No coffee?

Kai: Nah, we need to figure out some way to make investors feel less of a risk.

Max: hm…

They think for a minute.

Max: You could put some of your money down. If you put half of your money down on the business it might not be a lot, but they’ll see that you're willing to risk your own expense.

Kai: That’s a really good idea. I’ll try that. I’ll try and set up a meeting as soon as possible. Until then I’ll be planning out what to say.

Max: Don’t get overwhelmed if they refuse. In business you just have to keep trying. Someone will invest.

Kai: Not too inspiring. I would hope that more than someone would want to invest.

Kai goes home, and starts trying to set up appointments. He gets a call, and Kai talks. Kai was hoping to be able to set up a meeting in the next few days, but the caller wanted the meeting at brunch tomorrow. Kai accepted.

Kai: I wonder why they wanted to meet so soon? I guess I better find something to do until then. Kai turns on the TV.

Reporter: Later today will be the Teflon memorial service. Many fans, family, and friends are all arriving to show their support for the families loss.

Kai(in head): I’ve been so focused lately I didn’t even think about Jax’s funeral. I have to go.

Kai puts on a suit, and drives to Jax’s grave. Everyone is sitting in chairs. Kai sits down, and the priest starts talking.

Priest: Jax was a man loved by many. He had a family who cared for him, and believed in him all throughout his life. Then he had his wonderful fans. Encouraging him through every step in his career. His music helped people who went through the same struggles as him. He would always help his friends. He will be remembered and loved as a great man that’s in a better place.

The coffin is put into the ground, and Kai watches everyone drop flowers on the coffin before the coffin is covered with dirt. Kai watches as all the fans leave first. The family stays, and talks to each other. Soon the family leaves, and Kai is alone. Kai walks over to the grave.

Kai: This is all my fault. You didn’t have to die. If I wasn’t around you this would have never happened. I hope you find more peace wherever you are now then what you found here. You were a great friend Jax.

Kai puts a flower in front of the grave. Kai goes home, and turns on the tv.

Kai(in head): I never finished watching.

Kai turns on the news. To see Phoenix attacking another bank.

Kai: Everytime I watch the news. It seems like there is always something to do.

Kai puts on his red sweatshirt, and goes out to the bank. The Phoenix flies out of the top of the building with bags of money to see Kai standing on the roof. Phoenix lands on the roof.

Phoenix: Here to stop me.

Kai: I’ll try.

Phoenix: Your attempts to try always fail. Just like you trying to get backing for your invention. It failed. If an armored suit that can stop just about any police force won’t be backed. What makes you think that dinky little glasses will do any better.

Kai: Who told you that? Wait, how did you even get out of jail?!

Phoenix: Let’s just say. A knight in shining armor.

Kai starts running at Phoenix. Phoenix flies at Kai. Once they were about to collide Kai slid under Phoenix wings. Phoenix puts his legs on the ground to stop his momentum. Then he turns around, and moves his wings shooting metal feathers at Kai.

Kai(in head): I’m not dealing with feathers again.

Kai jumps to the side. Phoenix keeps shooting metal. Kai jumps in the air, turns his body to the side, and spins dodging the metal. All the metal comes up from the ground, and flies back to Phoenix wings. One of the feathers goes right through Kai’s abdomen, and back to Phoenix wings. Kai takes out his staff, and teleports to Phoenix. Kai swings his staff, and Phoenix blocks it with his wings. Then Phoenix tries to slam the blade of his wings down upon Kai. Kai blocks it with his staff, and they hold that position.

Phoenix: The knight wanted me to tell you a message. He’s going to kill all your friends, and then he’s going to kill you. You're going to die before you do anything important. You're just going to die as another person trying to play the hero.

Kai kicks Phoenix in the stomach. Phoenix stumbles back, and Kai does a spin kick. It cracks Phoenix’s helmet.

Phoenix: You think one kick will do anything to me? This battle will take more than that!

Kai runs at Phoenix, and guns come out of Phoenix’s shoulders. Two missiles fly at Kai. Kai jumps over the missles, and then Phoenix laughs. Phoenix starts shooting feathers at Kai, and Kai uses his staff to block them. Kai hears the missiles coming from his back. Kai teleports up high, but the missiles follow him. Kai braces for impact, and the two missiles hit him directly. Kai falls onto the roof. Part of Kai’s skin was charred. Phoenix stood above Kai and stabbed his wing into him. He held him up above the building.

Phoenix: You can’t even beat me. What are you going to do against The Knight?

Phoenix dropped Kai off the building. He landed in an alleyway on a flight of stairs. Which he promptly fell down. He laid at the bottom of the alleyway for a while. Until he started to feel again in his legs. He slowly got to his feet. Kai goes back home, and turns on the news again.

Kai(in head): Please I need a break.

Reporter: The weather tomorrow-

Kai(in head): Thank you.

## Triumph - Issue 9

Kai wakes up, and takes a shower. He puts on formal clothes, and checks what time he is supposed to be there. When he goes to check the texts he sees his texts with Natalie. Kai sighs, and checks the time. Kai drives to the brunch place. Kai walks in, and checks with the waitress about his table. The waitress leads him to a table with two men.

Lawrence: Well hello there Mr.Adara.

Kai shakes hands with the men.

Kai: Nice to meet you in person.

Lawrence: Yes, I believe it’s time to eat. My father always said eat first business later.

Carlos: If I’m correct he said, business first eat later.

Lawrence: Selective hearing Carlos. It gets the best of me.

They all get up and fill their plates. Then sit down, and start digging in.

Carlos: Lawrence, your kids are little beasties. They have no manners. They just do whatever they want. My kids are refined.

Lawrence: My kids are toddlers, and yours are teenager Carlos. There is a gap of maturity in the two. Do you have any kids Mr.Adara?

Kai: Please call me Kai, and no I don’t. I’m 24 so I don’t expect to have any kids for a while.

Carlos: Don’t. They drool over everything, and soak up all your free time.

Kai: Aren’t your kids teenagers?

Carlos: And?

They finish eating their food.

Lawrence: It seems like we have all finished our food. I would assume it must be time for business then. You said your proposition would be about some new type of glasses.

Kai takes out the pair of glasses, and puts them on.

Kai: These glasses may look normal, but they actually show me what your power scales are in a number at the top left corner.

Carlos: Now what is this, power scale?

Kai: A power scale is a number to signify how strong you are. If someone were to have super powers or even just work out more than a normal person their power scale would be higher then another who doesn’t do or have that.

Lawrence: These glasses can tell me how powerful someone is? Anyone?

Kai: Yes. A way to use it, for example, is if you hosted a party. Everyone is dancing, but you get a tip that someone at that party is trying to kill you. You could scout the party for someone who has a higher power level then everyone else, and find the hitman.

Carlos: What about weapons. Does a gun have this, so called, power scale?

Kai: No, not by itself. If someone has a gun then their power would be higher though.

Lawrence: Who are you trying to sell these glasses to?

Kai: I believe that these glasses can be sold to not only the public, but to the military too. Why don’t you try them on.

Kai hands Lawrence the glasses.

Kai: They're just in prototype right now so you can only see just their total power level at the top. We will be making everything neater, and adding more to it later.

Lawrence looks at Kai and then at Carlos.

Lawrence: Your number is significantly higher than Carlos’.

Kai: I work out a lot. I don’t have a gun if that’s what you're asking.

Lawrence hands the glasses to Carlos. Carlos looks around before handing them back to Kai.

Kai: Before you state your final opinions I truly believe in this idea. That belief has me willing to put down 300,000 to this invention which is most of my net worth. I believe that this idea will take off.

Lawrence: Would you please give Carlos and I a few minutes to think this over.

Kai: Of course. I have to go to the bathroom anyway.

When Kai comes back Lawrence and Carlos seem like they have finished talking. Kai sits down.

Lawrence: We have agreed that we’ll invest for 10 percent of the company each, and we sell to the military first. If we can get the military to buy. Then we put that in the ads, and people will buy like crazy. Once the military buys thousands of these glasses other shareholders will invest. Start making new ideas. More things that connect to the glasses that the public would buy, and that the military would buy. Soon you’ll have a giant corporation.

Kai: You’ll see it done. How do I make a meeting with the military.

Carlos: I have friends. The sooner they meet with you the more they want your invention. If they do want thousands of these glasses they’ll want them soon. They will probably buy a share of your company. They will help make the construction buildings for your inventions, but it will take time.

Kai: I’m willing to wait.

Lawrence: Then I believe this meeting has concluded. We will start working on getting the company running.

Kai shakes Lawrence and Carlos’ hands. Then Kai calls up Max, and meets him at Bibble and Sips. Kai gets a coffee and then sits down.

Max: Did you get the investment?

Kai: Yup, two guys have invested in our company. Lawrence and Carlos.

Max: What did they ask for in return though?

Kai: They both took 10 percent ownership of the company, and they want us to sell to the military before we sell to the public.

Max: That's not bad. Just make sure you always own 51 percent of the company.

Kai: I know. I’m not stupid. We need to start working on other ideas. Ideas that people can buy while we are working on updating the glasses.

Max: Shouldn’t we have a better place to do this?

Kai: I’ll rent a little office so that we can have better discussions, and if we ever get more people to help work on ideas.

Max: I’ll see you in the office.

Kai: Yeah, see ya.

Kai drives home, and finishes his coffee on the drive. When he gets back home Cal just finished making a sandwich.

Kai: Cal, I got the investments!

Cal looks surprised.

Cal: You did what?

Kai: I got the investments! I thought it might take more meetings, but they really believe in my idea.

Cal: Yeah, uh… That’s great Kai. I gotta go.

Kai: But aren’t you eating?

Cal takes his sandwich on his way out.

Cal: Time stops for no one.

Kai(in head): Weird.

Walks to his room. He sees Cal’s macbook closed in his room. Then Kai lays on his bed. Kai gets a notification on his phone.

Kai: That’s it. If we made the glasses able to connect to the phone, and show you other things that the phone can. If we made phones after everyone bought the glasses they would want phones for the ecosystem, and so that they can use their glasses to the best potential. People will be almost forced to buy our phones so that their glasses can be the best. I’ll need to tell Max about this idea once I rent an office.

Kai goes online and sets up a payment to a building for one of their offices. Then Kai realizes its starting to get dark. Kai checks his notification that he got, and it says an address.

Kai: No, not again…

Kai puts on his sweatshirt, and then heads to the address. Kai arrives at a science lab. He sees people with their throats slashed on the ground.

Kai(in head): The knight…

Kai walks around. There are only a few dead scientists spread throughout the lab. Then Kai hears someone walking around. They aren’t behind him yet, but they’re close. Kai takes out his staff, and puts it out towards them.

Remi: Wait!

They both start whispering.

Kai: Shhh, who are you? Why are you here?

Remi: I’m a reporter. I get information from the news. I got an anonymous tip about this place.

Kai: What’s your name?

Remi: Remi Mendoza.

Kai takes out his phone and looks her up. She is listed as a reporter with a picture of her.

Remi: Are you done figuring out if I’m lying?

Kai: I guess. Why would you just come to an anonymous tip when killers show up in this city every day.

Remi: It was the best lead I had, okay?

Kai: I can’t waste time interrogating you.

Kai walks away.

Remi: What’s so important?

Kai: If I got an address here. That means someone is either dead, or about to be.

Remi: It was personal.

Kai: What?

Remi: Nothing, go find the victim.

Kai: I’m doing that. Now stop talking to yourself so I don’t have to listen to it.

Kai sees a locked door. He smashes the lock with his hands, and the door opens. Kai sees Az trying to yell through duct tape. He is tied to a chair with an IV in his arm. Kai runs over, and takes out the IV. Az grunts in pain from Kai taking out the IV.

Kai: Sorry, i'm not a doctor Az.

Kai rips off the duct tape.

Kai: How long have you been here?

Az: Not too long. Maybe an hour.

Kai: We’ll talk about this once we get some place that isn’t filled with dead scientists.

Az: Probably the best idea you’ve ever had.

Kai: I thought so.

## We'll Need 300,000 - Issue 10

Kai, Remi, and Az are all sitting down on Az’s couch.

Az: Why did you let this random girl follow you?

Remi: I wasn’t following him, and I’m not random! My name is Remi-

Az: Don’t care. Kai, what’s going on?

Remi looks annoyed.

Kai: Both of you want to know what's going on, right? A knight is targeting all of my friends for an unknown reason. He took out Mark Smith first, and I don’t know why. I had gone after Mark Smith on a mission from the government once, but he meant nothing to me. Next he led me on a goose chase to find Jax. By the end of the goose chase I learned that Jax had been dead before I started looking for him. Then I told Natalie what had happened. She started investigating Jax’s death. Trying to find out who the knight is. She found out that the league was in town, and then was murdered shortly after. After Natalie's death I tried to contact you Az, but you wouldn’t pick up. I called and texted for a few days.

Az looks furious.

Az: Once Jax was killed you didn’t want to tell me, and then you lead Natalie to her death by letting her look for this knight! This whole situation is stupid! All of us are being targeted because of you! Now I have to watch out because not only is your enemy coming after me, but you won’t be there to help when he does! Get out of my house!

Kai: Az!

Az: This is my house! Get the fuck out.

Kai walks out of the house with Remi. Kai and Remi drive to Bibble and Sips, and they both sit down.

Remi: I was right about this case.

Kai: What?

Remi: The cops think that this killer is targeting them. They have no idea that this “knight” is going after you. Now all the murders make sense.

Kai: You're not thinking about using what I told you for the case, are you?

Remi: I’m a reporter. That’s what we do.

Kai: This case is personal. Any other case is fine. Talk about Azazel, Phoenix, Tyrant, or Chemist. Any of those other villains that I stopped. This one is off limits.

Remi: I don’t want to be mean, but my job is kind of riding on this story. Your name won’t be in it. We could even come up with a superhero name. Like the, uh, red warrior or something.

Kai: That’s a terrible name.

Remi: That doesn’t have to be the actual name. You could pick anything.

Kai: I know you're just trying to do your job, but please. Let this case just get sweeped under the rug.

Kai leaves, and Remi goes to the science lab again. The cops are there. Remi walks up to Owen.

Owen: I expected you to be taking pictures. I usually have to force you off the scene.

Remi: I already got them.

Owen: How?

Remi: Anonymous tip. So, what do you think this case is?

Owen: It seems like this killer keeps attacking people around the cops. He attacked the military, then Teflon for media attention, after a nurse, and now scientists. The only thing next would be a cop.

Remi: You think he’s trying to scare the cops.

Owen: Yeah, he probably had killers like the cannibal and Phoenix attack to scare us too. It wouldn’t make sense for there to be so many killers at once, but the question is who is taking all these guys down.

Remi: Maybe it’s a cop.

Owen: Yeah right.

Owen starts whispering.

Owen: We don’t go after criminals anymore. We just say we do because the people would freak out. People like the cannibal have super powers. We can’t do anything about them. I’m not dying for no reason.

Remi: What? why do we even have you then. All you do is show up to crime scenes?

Owen: To make the people feel safe Remi. Would you want me to die?

Remi: No, but how can you live with yourself knowing your job is a lie.

Owen: You better not tell anyone, or you’ll be put in jail for spreading disinformation. I don’t want to throw you in jail Remi. I like you.

Owen tries to put his hand on Remi’s arm, and she moves her arm back.

Remi: Don’t touch me!

Remi leaves the crime scene.

Cop: Problems with the girl. I know that feel.

Owen: Shut up Josh.

Owen walks away.

Josh: I’m just making conversation here!

Kai meets up with Max at the new office. They both sit down at a table.

Kai: Max, have you come up with anything?

Max: No, but I have been upgrading the glasses. Now you can actually see the categories of someone's power. Not only the total power. The categories are attack, defense, speed, power, intelligence, and skill. Then I walked around town and figured out the power levels of a regular human. In the top right the glasses say whether someone is human or inhuman.

Kai: Max, this is amazing. We thought regular totals were useful, but this is something completely different. Now that I know we can do a lot with these glasses I think my idea will definitely work.

Max: What’s your idea?

Kai: We won’t exactly start working on the idea yet, but we could start making other technology like phones and computers once people really start buying glasses. Then we make it so the glasses can only connect with our phones and computers so that people will want to buy them. Once the glasses are paired with a phone they can do more than just see power levels. They could do more normal life things. Show the time, you could use them to call people, and so on.

Max: What should I start working on then? I feel like right now this is as far as we can go in power levels before we need multiple people with powers to test on.

Kai: Then I want you to start working on ideas that the military would see as useful. Then start creating the ideas, but don’t actually implement them into the glasses. So that we can resell the glasses to the military every so often with new features. I’ll keep coming up with ideas for when the glasses go out to the public. Is that all we have to go over?

Max: Yeah.

Max gets up, and leaves.

Kai: See ya.

Max: Bye.

Kai(in head): Maybe he’s busy.

Kai gets a call from Lawrence. Kai picks up the phone.

Kai: Hello.

Lawrence: Hello Kai, how do you do?

Kai: I’m well Lawrence. How are you?

Lawrence: Well, I have recently come into some news that might pique your interest.

Kai: What's the news?

Lawrence: Carlos got into contact with the military. He explained your new invention to one of the generals. Now they want to have a meeting with you? Do you have any place appropriate to meet a wealthy man?

Kai: I have this office to meet people?

Lawrence: Is the office in your house?

Kai: No.

Lawrence: Then that simply won’t do. To meet someone like a general you must meet them in a welcoming and friendly manner. Not in the way of business. We’ll use my house. I’ll even serve wine.

Kai: When?

Lawrence: Carlos waited to tell me. So the meeting will be tomorrow. They are in town from that ex military man’s death.

Kai: That was a while ago. I thought they would have left already.

Lawrence: The military does many activities off grid Kai. Just don’t ask them about it during the meeting.

Kai: What time?

Lawrence: The meeting is at eight. The ideal wine time.

Kai: I’ll be there at eight tomorrow.

The next day Kai goes to get a coffee at Bibble and Sips, and he sees Remi there.

Kai: I haven’t seen you come in here.

Remi: You brought me here yesterday, and I never tried anything. So I wanted to check out their menu, but that reminds me. We never traded phone numbers.

Kai: You just want more info on the case.

Remi: That’s not true. I also want to be able to reach you when you let me make the case go public.

Kai: Not going to happen.

Remi: You never know.

They trade phone numbers.

Remi: See you around Kai.

Remi takes her coffee, and leaves.

Kai(in head): I don’t trust her.

Kai goes back to his house, and hangs out until 7:00. Then Kai takes a shower, and puts on formal clothing. Kai drives to Lawrence’s address. Kai shows up at a mansion. He walks up, and knocks on the door. A woman comes to the door.

???: You must be Kai. I’m lawrence’s wife.

They shake hands.

???: He’s in the living room.

Kai walks in, and the woman closes the door. Kai walks to the living room. Kai sees the General and Lawrence on the couch drinking wine.

Lawrence: Kai, sit down! Drink some wine!

Kai grabs a glass, and sits down next to lawrence.

General: I would love to catch up Lawrence, but my time is limited. What is this new invention Carlos was talking about.

Kai takes out the glasses.

Kai: These are glasses that can tell you how strong someone is.

General: Just by looking at them?

Kai: Yes, and then it takes their power, and transfers it into a number. That number is then shown at the top of the glasses. We are working on a pair that shows numbers for each category. Like strength and such. Then says at the top right whether someone’s power level is too high that it’s not human.

General: We want these to go into development immediately. We need all our scouts to have these glasses. If scouts could survey an area on how many superhumans are in each group then we could win any war. You will need to start mass developing these immediately?

Lawrence: I can’t do that without assurance that this is a useful investment.

General: We will want 300,000 of them as soon as possible.

Lawrence: My associate and I need to talk.

General: You may take a minute.

Lawrence leads Kai into another room.

Lawrence: How much does it cost to make a pair of the glasses?

Kai: Maybe like a hundred.

Lawrence: Then each pair of glasses should sell for 450.

Kai: That much?!

Lawrence: This is business. We need to make money. With that we’ll make a…

Lawrence takes out a calculator.

Lawrence: That is a 105,000,000 dollar return. That’s on the first sale. After that it will go out to the public.

Lawrence fixes his stature to look more calm, and then walks back into the living room with Kai. They both sit down.

Lawrence: It will be 450 for each pair.

General: Done. Do we have to give you the money before or after the purchase.

Lawrence: You know me general. I know you won’t decide to cancel at the last minute. You can pay once you get the glasses. This investment won’t hurt my wallet.

General: Then I’ll be seeing you gentlemen.

The general shakes hands with Lawrence and Kai before he leaves.

Kai: How much money do you have?

Lawrence: I’m a multi billionaire. I own shares in over a hundred different companies, but don’t think that means I don’t care if one business doesn’t work out. If I kept investing in useless businesses even I would go broke. I’ll start the construction of the electronics warehouse. Remember. Before you get your share. I get paid back all my money. Then we split the shares.

Kai: Yes, and once the company can pay everything itself all the shares go as normally.

Lawrence: Glad you understand.

## Blood Is Spilt - Issue 11

Remi gets a call from her manager that they need to meet in her office. Remi arrives at her manager's office, and sits down.

Manager: Remi, do you have the story done yet?

Remi: It’s almost done. I promise.

Manager: You’re running out of time. I can’t just keep letting you get paid to do the wrong job.

Remi: I have learned a lot in this case. Once I’m done, and it goes public it’s going to be big.

Remi(in head): I hope.

Manager: A few more days.

Remi: Thank you. You won’t regret it.

Kai wakes up, and his body is heavy again. He barely pulls himself out of bed. It takes him ten minutes just to get up. Kai walks into the kitchen. Cal is eating.

Cal: You just got what you wanted, your company just made bank. Why are you upset?

Kai sits down.

Kai: Because the company was getting my mind off all my friends dying. Then the only friend I saved hates me.

Cal: Maybe this company is a turning point. Meaning your life is going to get better.

Kai: Don’t give me hope.

Cal finishes his food.

Cal: I gotta go.

Kai: Where are you always off to?

Cal: Making money.

Cal leaves the house. Kai meets Max at the office.

Max: What do you need?

Kai: The military already agreed to buy.

Max: How many?

Kai: 300,000 glasses.

Max: I can’t make that much!
Kai: Lawrence is setting up an electronic manufacturing building for the glasses. They are going to need to have the blueprints for those new glasses designs you created.

Max: I still will become the head of IT correct?

Kai: Of course. Just because my business has had some success doesn’t mean I instantly turn into a bad guy. I keep my promises.

Max hands over the blueprints.

Kai: Thanks. Have you come up with any ideas on how to make the glasses more useful to the military?

Max: I haven’t, and you never told me what you decided to name the company when you went to court.

Kai: I was like a zombie during that time. I just made the company Adara Incorporated.

Max: Oh, thought it would be like Adara Industries or you would come up with some other name for your company.

Kai: Doesn’t need to be anything special. Plus we can give our products a special name like pro glasses or some nonsense. I’ll be going then.

Max: Bye.

Kai goes back home and turns the news on. The reporter starts talking about the weather.

Kai: A peaceful day.

Reporter: Multiple bodies were found dead. The cops say they were murdered so gruesomely that the crime scene was a nightmare.

Kai: Or not. Now I need to find out where this criminal is.

Kai puts his sweatshirt on, and heads out of the house. Kai looks up where the crime scene is, and travels to it. A family was murdered in their house. Kai walked inside the house through a window. He started looking around, but it seemed as though the cops had cleaned everything up.

Kai: Damn, nothing. Azazel was traveling around at night, but I don’t know anything about this killer.

Kai calls up Remi.

Kai: Yo, do you have a picture of the gruesome crime scene.

Remi: Why, do you wanna play hero?

Kai: Something like that.

Remi: I’ll text you a picture of the crime scene in a minute.

Kai: Thanks, bye.

Remi: Bye.

Kai hangs up, and a few minutes later he gets a picture from different angles in the house. The house looked like a pool of blood. The bodies were missing limbs.

Kai: This is awful. Did Remi actually have to get these pictures?

Kai starts texting Remi.

Kai(text): Did you have to go to the house?

Remi(text): Yeah… I’m still shaken up about it.

Kai(text): Don’t worry. That feeling will pass.

Remi(text): I hope it passes soon.

Kai stops texting Remi, and thinks for a second.

Kai(in head): Now that I know something about the killer I can start asking around.

Kai goes back to his favorite bar, Rudy’s bar and grill. Then he sits down and gets a drink. The bartender pours Kai a drink. Kai starts drinking, and the bartender starts cleaning dishes. Kai puts a hundred dollars on the table.

Kai: The gruesome killer.

The bartender keeps washing dishes. Kai drops another hundred.

Bartender: Make it four, and I’ll tell you everything I know.

Kai puts two hundred more on the table, and the bartender puts it in his pocket.

Bartender: This killer is a woman. Pale skin long tied back white hair. Calls herself the blood surgeon. That’s all I know about her.

Kai finishes his drink, and leaves. Once Kai gets inside his car he starts thinking.

Kai(in head): A woman like that can’t just go into public. She would stand out. For her not to be found she would have to sneak around. Especially since no cops have died in a gruesome way.

Kai checks google if there are any new updates on the blood surgeon case. He sees that they found another family dead. This time the family was poor instead of middle class.

Kai(in head): What is she trying to do? It’s not personal if she is killing specifically families from different classes, but still families. Maybe she’s a psycho path that likes to learn, or even test on people. She will probably attack a rich family next. I’ll assume she will attack at night.

Kai drives back home, and then puts on his sweater. Kai runs across rooftops to the nearest rich district. Then Kai finds a rooftop to watch over the district. Kai starts playing on his phone until it gets dark. Kai can hear the patter of footsteps. Kai jumps down from the building. He sees the white haired woman in front of him.

Blood Surgeon: How did you know?

Kai: That you were going to be here? You seem to just be attacking families in different classes.

Blood Surgeon: I was curious! Okay? You look like a great specimen to test on!

Blood surgeon puts up her hand. Blood runs from her arm into her hand, and the blood forms a scythe.

Kai: Never seen that before.

The woman runs at Kai. She swings her scythe. Kai ducks under it. Then kicks blood surgeon in the stomach. She stumbles back. Kai spin kicks, and Kai stops mid kick. Then she slices Kai on the chest deep. Kai’s blood starts spilling out. As Kai’s blood hits the ground it starts flowing over to Blood surgeon. The blood goes up her body, and into her scythe. Blood surgeon runs at Kai. Kai takes out his staff. The scythe and staff clash. Blood surgeon moves her scythe behind her like she is going to swing. Some blood drops off of the scythe and hits the ground. Then The blood turns into a copy of blood surgeon. This copy makes its own smaller scythe, and then they both attack Kai. Kai starts blocking both of their attacks, but its overwhelming. Kai slips up, and blood surgeon slices Kai down his back. Then Kai teleports behind blood surgeon, and kicks her in the back. She falls forward into a roll. Kai teleports above her, and slams his staff into her head. Blood surgeon falls out of the roll, knocked out.

Kai: That was way easier than expected.

Kai brings blood surgeon’s body to the front of the police building. Then he gets an anonymous text. The text shows an address. Kai drops blood surgeon’s body once he sees the text.

Kai(in head): No, not again.

Kai starts running to the location on the text. Kai calls Az. Az picks up the phone.

Kai: Az, I need your-

Az: I don’t want to hear it Kai. I’m worried about making sure that I stay safe from an armored killer.

Kai: This isn’t about me!

Az: It’s always about you! Bye.

Az hangs up, and Kai puts away his phone.

Kai: Fine, I don’t need him!

Kai makes his way to the address. He finds a warehouse. He breaks the lock of the door and walks in. Kai sees nothing but empty space. Kai finds stairs, and runs up to them to see the knight. Luna is tied in a chair behind the knight with an IV in her. When the knight speaks he still has the weird distorted voice.

Knight: We finally meet face to face.

Kai: You never do the same act twice. Why do you have an IV in Luna?

Knight: It didn’t work last time so I decided to reuse an old trick. Don’t worry. I won’t need to reuse it again.

Kai: I’m not letting Luna die. Too many have died to your hands.

Knight: Correction. Too many have died to your hands Kai. None of this would have needed to happen if you weren’t their friend.

Kai: And I have to live with that, but I’ll make damn sure they’re avenged!

The knight laughs as Kai runs at him. The knight swings his giant sword down. Kai dodges out of the way, and the blade hits the ground. Kai takes out his staff, and swings at the knight. The knight grabs Kai’s staff, and throws it along with Kai. Kai lands on the ground, and runs at the knight again. The knight takes his blade out of the ground. Kai starts swinging his staff at the knight. The giant blade blocks most of the attacks. Kai goes for a strong hit against the knight's leg, but his staff bounces off the armor. The knight kicks Kai away while Kai is low to the ground. Kai rolls back after the kick, and lands on his feet. He then jumps up, and punches the knight in the head. The knight stumbled back a bit, but his armor was untouched. Kai holds his hand.

Kai: Fuck!

Knight: Did you hurt your hand?

Kai: I can punch through brick. Even Phoenix’s armor, but yours breaks my hand!

Knight: That's the power of someone stronger than you!

The Knight swings his giant blade at Kai. Kai jumps above the blade. The Knight drops his blade, and grabs Kai by both of his legs, and then smashes Kai onto the ground. Kai coughs up blood, and lays on the ground for a minute. The knight grabs his sword. While Kai was laying on the ground the knight looked at Luna’s IV.

Knight: You only got so much time left before you lose another.

Kai teleports to Luna’s IV, and tries to take it out.

Knight: Predictable.

Before Kai gets the chance to take Luna’s IV out the knight grabs Kai by the back of his sweater, and throws Kai into a wall. Kai hits the wall, and slides down it. Then Kai gets back up off the ground.

Kai: I won’t let anyone else die because of me!

Kai runs at the knight. The knight blocks with his blade, and pushes Kai back. Kai falls to the ground, and the knight steps out of Kai’s sight so that Kai can see Luna.

Knight: No reason to fight anymore. She’s already dead.

Kai sees the liquid bag is empty, and runs over to Luna.

Kai: Luna, I’m so sorry.

Kai turns back.

Kai: Your going to get it you fucking bastard!

Kai sees the knight has disappeared.

Kai: Coward!

Kai sees Luna’s hand. There is no ring on it.

Kai: No, does he run the league of assassins?

Kai calls the police anonymously so that they will find Luna. Then Kai runs home as quick as possible. When Kai opens the doors no one is there. He looks to the living room and sees a security camera.

Kai: When did that get there?

## Two Sides Of A Coin - Issue 12

Kai walks up to the security camera.

Kai: Has this been there the whole time. Did Cal put a security camera in our house? Why?

Kai looks at the camera, and then looks into Cal’s room.

Kai: The only one who is allowed to put a camera in this room is Cal or me. If he didn’t tell me about this, what else is he not telling me about?

Kai goes into Cal’s room, and sees no camera. Kai checks his room, and sees there is a camera in there.

Kai: There is no way Cal didn’t notice these cameras.

Kai calls up Max.

Kai: Can you get into a locked macbook?

Max: Easily.

Kai: Come to my house. I need your help.

Max hangs up the call. Fifteen minutes later Max knocks on the door, and Kai opens the door up.

Max: Where's the laptop?

Kai: Follow me.

Kai leads Max into Cal’s room. Max gets into the computer in less than a minute.

Max: What do you need?

Kai: Check for security camera footage.

Max takes a few seconds.

Max: I found footage dating back a few weeks.

Kai looks at the video files. Kai tells Max to open one of them. The video appears in full screen. Kai grabs a sticky note off the tv, and reads it. Then he sits down on the couch, and turns the tv on. Natalie appears on the TV.

Kai: Shut it off!

Max closes the video.

Kai: Could he have been watching these on his phone?

Max: If he has an Iphone, yes.

The computer screen goes completely black. Then blue writing appears. The text reads as “check my wardrobe.” Kai walks over to the wardrobe, and opens it. Natalies head is in a jar. Kai stumbles back and falls over.

Kai: It’s been Cal this whole time!

Kai thinks back to fighting the knight last night. The knights voice is distorted.

Knight: That's the power of someone stronger than you!

Kai snaps back to reality.

Kai: That’s why his voice was distorted!

Kai gets furious. Kai kicks Cal’s bed, and his foot goes right through it like a blade.

Kai calls up Cal on the phone.

Cal(phone): What?

Kai: Cal, I’m going to fucking kill you!

Cal hangs up the phone.

Kai yells at the phone.

Kai: COWARD!

Max looks disgusted at the dead body.

Max: What’s going on?

Kai: Nothing you need to worry about Max. Keep working on the glasses.

Kai gives Max twenty dollars.

Kai: For hacking into the macbook.

Max: Thanks.

Max leaves the house.

Kai calls up Remi. Kai has an annoyed tone.

Remi: Hello.

Kai: It’s time to meet.

Remi: About?

Kai: The case. Bibble and Sips ten minutes.

Remi: I'll be there.

Kai walks to bibble and sips. Kai gets a coffee and sits down. Remi shows up a few minutes later. Remi sits down at the table with Kai.

Remi: Do you need a minute?

Kai: Why?

Remi: You look like you want to punch everyone in this room.

Kai: Doesn’t matter.

Remi: Then what's going on with the case?

Kai: You can make the case public.

Remi lights up.

Remi: Really?!

Kai: The case isn’t done yet. There's one last thing to do.

Remi gets up from the table.

Remi: Text me the details later. I’m going to go home, and start writing.

Kai: I’ll call you later.

Remi: Can’t wait!

Remi almost runs out of Bibble and Sips. Kai walks back home, and tries to call Cal again. The phone goes to voicemail. Kai paces around for an hour. Kai lays down on the couch.

Kai: Why would Cal do this?

Kai falls asleep thinking about the situation he’s in. Remi gets to her house, and runs to her chair. She sits down, and starts writing about the knight.

Remi: People are going to know the truth about the police.

Remi hears thunder.

Remi: The news didn’t say anything about the storm.

Kai wakes up to the sound of thunder. Kai hears noises coming from Cal’s room. Kai walks over to Cal’s room, and sees a video playing on the macbook. The knight is standing there.

Knight: I know you're angry. So why don’t we settle this. Meet me on the top of the warehouse that this all started on.

The video ends, and google maps is brought up with a location.

Kai: That's the same building Jax died at.

Kai puts on his sweatshirt, and grabs his staff. He teleports to the roof of the apartment building. The raindrops feel like they are moving slow. Kai runs across the rooftops. Water splashes as he takes every step. He jumps to buildings almost sliding as he lands. The wind blows the raindrops into his face. Kai keeps his head down, but he can still feel some of the raindrops hit him. The wind slaps his face as he runs. Once the warehouse is in sight Kai jumps off of the rooftops. The sun is just barely in sight. Shadows show themselves all over the land. Kai sees someone on the top of the warehouse as he jumps down. Kai runs to the warehouse. He teleports onto the roof, and jumps at the knight. Kai takes his staff out, and overhead swings at the knight. The knight raises his sword. He blocks Kai’s staff, and pushes Kai back. Kai hits the ground, and he slides back a few feet.

Knight: You arrived.

Kai: You don’t have to use the voice changer. I know it’s you Cal.

The knight takes off his helmet to show Cal’s face.

Cal: You know because I let you know.

Kai: Why Cal? Why would you do this? What did I do to you?!

Cal: Do you not remember? Do you not know where we are?

Kai: We’re at some random warehouse! The one you killed Jax in!

Cal: And the one where you killed my father!

Kai: What are you talking about?!

Cal: Do you not remember sneaking through the window to find my father here?!

Kai: Detective Steel is your father?

Cal: My full name is Cal Steel!

Kai: Detective Steel was a crooked cop! He killed my parents!

Cal: And then you killed mine! I never had a mother! What do you think happened to me once you killed my father?! I was sent to foster homes at fourteen! I was abused for four years! I couldn’t get a job because they would beat me even harder if I didn’t do chores constantly after school! Once those four years of Hell were over I was kicked out! I was eighteen without a home, and without a dollar to my name! I had to work for everything! You ruined my life so I did the same to yours!

Kai: This whole time! We have been living together for years!

Cal: You were barely there! You left to get paid for completing bounties! As soon as you moved in with me I started planning it! Luckily you brought back everyone that helped you kill my father so that they could die along with you! Just to make you angrier I’ll tell you all about it! First I attacked the league. Killed a bunch of ninja, and made Luna follow my every order.

Cal shows off the league of assassins ring he has on his finger.

Cal: I wasn’t the one kidnapping people, it was the league, and Luna was a part of it the whole time. I killed Jax in this warehouse, and made you go on a mentally destroying egg hunt to find him. You sent Natalie right to the league, and the league brought her to me. I kept her head as a treasure.

Kai: Why did you try to motivate me then?! You wanted me to suffer from what you had done!

Cal: Because you were already so sad it wouldn’t have been as bad! I had to motivate you. Build you back up. Make you believe in yourself again so I could crush your dreams all over again. That’s why I let Az live. So that you thought your luck was finally turning around! Then I killed Luna. So that you would learn you don’t win! Don’t worry. After I kill you Az will be next.

Kai puts up his fists. Cal laughs, and puts his helmet back on. Then Cal puts his sword into the roof of the building so that he doesn’t have to hold it. Cal puts up his fists. Kai and Cal both stand there with their fists ready. The rain pouring down on them. They both run at each other. The water splashing off their feet. Kai goes for a roundhouse kick. Cal puts his arm up, and blocks it. The impact makes a loud smack, and water splashes off the collision. Kai’s leg goes to the ground. Cal goes in for a punch. Kai catches Cal’s fist in his palm, and punches Cal in the head. Cal takes the blow, and then punches Kai in the head. Kai falls to the ground from the blow. As Kai gets up he wipes the blood off of his face.

Kai: There's no reason to hold back. One of us is going to die here today.

When Kai gets up the rain stops. Kai runs at Cal. Kai punches Cal in the head over and over again. Then Cal kicks Kai back. Kai blocked the kick, but slid back. Kai takes out his staff. Cal pulls his sword from the ground. Kai swings his staff, and the staff bounces off Cal’s armor. Cal swings his sword. Kai ducks under the sword, and tries to sweep Cal’s legs out. Cal’s legs don’t budge. Cal goes for an overhead swing while Kai is on the ground. Kai teleports next to Cal. As Cal swings his sword down. Kai slams his staff on Cal’s arms. Cal’s sword drops to the ground leaving Cal’s hands. The sword makes a loud crash. Cal turns to Kai. Kai baseball swings his staff, and it hits Cal on the head. Kai cracks Cal’s armor, and Cal hits the ground. Cal’s suit of armor makes a louder crash than his sword. Cal sits on the ground for a few seconds before getting up. Cal is in a daze from the impact.

Cal: You're much faster than I am, but I have something you don’t.

Cal picks up his sword as he gets up. Kai jumps back.

Cal: Your friends fought a killer while you became one. This is the sword of that man. Well, it's a bit different. This sword is made with pure steel, but the ghost steel from that blade was put over this sword making it twice as strong as the original soul blade.

Kai: Soul blade?!

Cal: That’s what they call these blades. Whenever I kill someone their soul goes into my blade. They get trapped in my soul's limbo. They can never get out. I wanted to save these powers for this moment, and I could not be happier that it finally came.

Cal holds his blade up, and then goes invisible. Kai can hear the patter of footsteps everywhere. Then Kai feels Cal’s blade cut into his back. Kai gets a deep cut on his back. The blood starts running down Kai’s back. The raindrops washing it down. Kai jumps to the other side of the roof. Then Kai crouches down from the pain.

Kai(in head): Now one of my sides is to the air he can only attack from in front of me.

Kai hears movement behind him, and then Cal’s blade goes through his stomach from the back. Blood runs down Kai stomach, and blood starts coming out of Kai’s mouth.

Kai: How?

Kai drops to the ground. Cal appears back in front of Kai.

Cal: I can become a ghost. All I did was fly behind you, and stab you.

Kai swings his staff. Cal blocks it, and the force of Kai’s impact hits Kai. Kai falls back.

Cal: Oh, and that's the counter.

Cal takes off one of his armored gloves. Kai runs at Cal.

Cal: You shouldn’t be so close.

Cal tries to grab Kai. Cal hears a ghost tell him Kai is above him, and Cal grabs Kai by the throat. Kai’s energy starts draining into Cal. Kai and Cal stare each other dead in the eyes.

Cal: This is the way you're going to die. Starting your foe in the eye, and unable to do anything about it. A useless bloody mess.

A blast of white energy comes off of Kai, and sends Cal back. Cal hits the ground, and drags before stopping. Cal gets back up again, and starts laughing.

Cal: That was spirit energy.

Cal laughs even harder.

Cal: A soul blade knight verses a spirit powered superhero! Truly a match made in heaven. Too bad it's all going to end here.

White energy comes around Kai.

Cal: All of our power! This is it!

Cal turns invisible, and Kai closes his eyes. They both run at each other. Kai hears the raindrops bouncing off of Cal. Kai makes a mental picture of where Cal is. Then Kai stabs his staff straight through Cals stomach. Kai breaks all of the armor. Cal drops his sword.

Cal: It didn’t matter who won. Now you’ve become a true murderer. You’ve killed at least two men now. How many more will fall in your wake?

Cal drops to the ground.

Cal: And your little reporter friend. An assassin is going after her right now. She’ll be dead before you even get there.

Kai: Where?!

Cal tells Kai the address.

Cal: You’ll never make it.

Kai takes Cal’s ring. Kai goes to run. And hears Cal laughing in his own pool of blood.

Cal: Deep inside....We’re kindred spirits....You and I.

Kai looks back at Cal. And then jumps off the warehouse, and starts running. Kai starts jumping across rooftops again. The rain is still barely moving. He can see it has moved since he started the fight with Cal. Kai runs and runs until he makes it to the address. Kai breaks through the window. He sees an assassin holding a blade above Remi’s head as she sits in front of a computer. Kai punches the assassin, knocking him out. Kai falls over, and slides on the floor into a wall. Kai is breathing heavily. Remi jumps out of her chair.

Remi: What the hell is going on?!

Kai: I did say I was going to fill you in, didn’t I.

Kai explains what just happened, and Remi is in shock.

Remi: All that just happened?!

Kai: Yeah, and now that you were almost just killed. I guess we’re officially friends.

Kai and Remi just sit in silence for a moment. The next day Kai had a bottle of alcohol, and set up four shots.

Kai: One for each person who died because of me.

Before Kai drinks he hears the news talking about the knight.

Reporter: We have just come into new information last night that the murderer who killed Teflon, Mark Smith, Natalie Stewart, and just recently an unknown woman, has been found dead. One of our investigators got an anonymous tip that these murders were personal. The killer who has been identified as Cal Steel was targeting a recently appearing vigilant called The Crimson Dragon. Cal steel has been deemed the Knight because he killed people with a giant blade, and hid who he was by wearing heavy medieval armor.

Kai thinks back to when Remi asked him what she should call him on the report last night.

Remi: I need a name for you.

Kai: Call me whatever you want.

Remi: Then you might hate it.

Kai(in head): Ra’s called me the dragon, and I’m the reason everyone died. Almost like a blood dragon.

Kai: Call me the Crimson Dragon.

Remi: How did you get that name?

Kai: Blood dragon would have sounded evil.

Kai gets up from the floor.

Kai: Will I see the report on the news tomorrow?

Remi: I hope.

Kai snaps back into reality. Then Kai downs the four shots. Then Kai pours another shot.

Kai: And a toast to you in Hell Cal. Hopefully you're in Hell being tortured by demons!

Kai downs the shot, and lays down on the couch.

Reporter: The police couldn’t take down this criminal, or the cannibal. We have had to rely on this Crimson Dragon to take down these killers. How else will the cops let us down?

Kai chuckles.