Michael Brooks

**Michael** **Brooks** is a supporting character of the **Into the Dark** *series*, formerly an inmate of Riker's Island who was freed by Dante Bishop and became a member of the revolutionary movement, he becomes a direct subordinate to Dante, acting as a bodyguard to him and the leader of the Revolutionary Guard Units. Growing up in Harlem Michael's neighborhood was subject to constant gang conflict, without a father involved in his life and a mother struggling to provide he became involved as a member and functioned as a collector due to his strength. Eventually his criminal lifestyle would catch up to him landing him in prison until being freed.

## Physical Appearance

He is a towering, as he stands at visibly taller than Dante Bishop whom is already tall, he is a physically intimidating African American with a bald head, a developed muscular build.

When introduced Michael appears to be dressed in a tan pants and short sleeved shirt, which is standard for inmates on Rikers Island at the time of the outbreak although he typically is shown in a white tank top instead of wearing his tan short sleeved shirt and basic shoes.

After joining the Revolutionary Army as Dante's bodyguard and enforcer, he wears a black tank top with a green paramilitary vest, a 7.62mm ammunition belt and baggy khaki jeans and black combat boots. He also wears his boxer championship belt and is often seen with his general purpose machinegun holstered to his back. He also uses brass knuckles.

## Personality

Michael at first appeared reclusive, anti-social and depressed in part due to his incarceration. He was constantly ignored by the other prisoners and guards with no attempts to socialize with him. He also showed reluctance to break free when Dante Bishop frees him, but after some encouragement he rushes from his enclosure and enjoys himself for the first time. He is often silent, powerful and undoubtedly one of Dante's most valuable allies.

Like Dante Bishop, Michael also shows a following of black nationalism expressing a desire for unification among black people and after spending more time studying he appears more militant understanding of revolutionary socialism. Michael is known to be loyal to be The Black Messiah, addressing him respectfully and acting as due to him releasing Michael from prison and being the rumored savior who would liberate black people from the white supremacy of the United States.

Michael is then shown to have a terrifying bad temper, which along with his lack of self-control is what lead him to be locked in isolation in the first place. However, he is also shown to be fearlessly brave, selfless making the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of Dante, the one who liberated him.

## Biography

### Background

Michael grew up in Harlem, New York City. His neighborhood at the time was subject to gang conflict between the Bloods and the Crips. Without a father involved in his life and a mother struggling to provide for him he turned to the Bloods gang becoming a member and functioned as a collector due to his physical strength.

During his middle school years he was often in violent brawls with other youths, in an attempt to find a better use for his physique he took up boxing and made it to the championships during after his second year. During his high school time he was voted the MVP and made it to State Championships.

Eventually he met Malik Hussein a member of the Nation of Islam an African American Muslim organization whom he would become close friends with. Due to his affiliation he tried to conceal as much as he could about it from Malik while also avoiding as much trouble as possible.

### The Events of the **Into the Dark** *series*

#### Early Outbreak

At some point after the outbreak he began surviving alongside other Malik and other members of the N.O.I. Eventually they encountered the Military Police and were arrested for affiliation with a 'crime organization'.

#### Imprisonment

Michael was imprisoned on Rikers Island which was taken over by the United States Military in the post-apocalypse. Michael described it as "hell on earth" with Michael himself having suffered a broken jaw at two different times, a broken nose, a dislocated shoulder, his face was repeatedly cut by Crips. During this time he met Hermione Rias a former E.M.T. who was forced to act as the medical professional that treated the prisoners, the two formed a romantic relationship overtime being a source of emotional comfort for Michael.

Michael said inmates washed their own clothes with soap and a metal bucket, causing rust stains on the clothes. To avoid becoming a target of the inmates, he slept on top of his belongings, including his bucket. Being of a bigger physique with greater physical strength than most he became the defender of the African- American Muslims from prison violence.

In late July, a Crips gang member spat in Michael's face. Later in the day, Michael punched the gang leader in the back of the head and knocked him out was set upon by four gang members, the leader included. After the brawl with the Crips.

Michael spent most of his remaining time in solitary, during this time he became a practicing Muslim like Malik. He began reading the Quran and reaffirmed his desire to live and his compassion for his friends.

#### Liberation

Michael was later freed by Dante Bishop along with the other prisoners when he personally opened their cell doors during the early stages of the raid on Rikers Island and immediately admired him for liberating him along with the other prisoners. At first he went off on his own as he walked in the opposite direction of the escapees (most likely to find the Prison Warden) but he later met up with the rebels and freed prisoners as they were causing mass chaos in the city. He and the other rebels then set their sights on the bridge as their next target before escaping to true freedom.

At the bridge, Michael was ordered by Dante to lead the freedom fighters in an attack as the vanguard. His group narrowly avoided an armored military helicopter after them, at the cost of two of his men. Once Dante gave his army the order to attack a large battle ensued. During the battle, Michael is shown holding his own against several military officers attempting to subdue him and later joins his new comrades in the celebration of the battle after the surviving armed forces retreat.

He is then forced to take cover as the armored military helicopter with (with the Warden on board) appeared and starting gunning down many of the rebels. But this threat is resolved when Dante fires an anti-tank rocket launcher at the chopper taking it down and causing it to fall into the nearby river.

The Warden who'd survived but been wounded by the attack and the crashing helicopter begged Dante for help as he reached out his hand for help while dangling over the bridge. Dante, angered over the demise of his men refused to help him and left the newly freed prisoner, Michael, to do whatever he pleased with him.

Recognizing Michael from Rikers Island, was fearful as the vengeful prisoner began to approach the man. In defiance of the former prisoner, the Warden insulted him referring to him as a "monkey". Angered Michael pulled him up to safety only to viciously beat him to death with his brass knuckles smashing his skull into bits.

With his vengeance now complete, Michael left the area with Dante, Annie, Malik, Hermione and the other resistance fighters who made their way into the nearby woods with the freed prisoners.

#### Resistance Leader

Ten weeks after being freed from prison, Michael has risen to prominence in the Revolutionary Army which has taken over a small camp residing near the mountains as its headquarters holding one hundred strong. Michael becomes the Leader of the Revolutionary Guard Units serving as well as the personal bodyguard of Dante. He has also continued his close friendship with Malik Hussein and intimate relationship with Hermione Rias.

Dante later tasks Michael serving as his personal bodyguard and battle partner. The two made their way into the sewers scouting the planned route ahead and successfully killed of all the infected with relative ease despite encountering quiet a few abnormals.

#### Death

Michael is first seen entering the military occupied Safe Zone alongside Annie as they quickly begin to constructs a plan to free those that are locked up, encouraging the civilian population to fight back against the authorities and disable the military's efforts of counter attacking a rebellion. They agree to divide their task into three teams, Michael leads the most of the former prisoners to the holding cells to release them, Annie leads the ex-soldiers to the barracks and armory to kill as many military officers as possible and take their weaponry while Malik leads the another group to rally the civilians into fighting.

As the rebels put their plan into action, The prisoners are all taken to a room and the commanding officer tells the guards to execute them all. However, the prisoners resist which results in one guard getting killed, another critically wounded and half of the prisoners escaping. Malik enters a chapel and immediately makes contact with a grieving mother who is eager to help, meanwhile the prisoners cause chaos throughout the zone as the guards prepare to open fire on anyone in the surrounding area, luckily Michael creates a diversion for the guards so the prisoners can escape. The CO, however, catches on and makes an announcement to the prisoners that there will be an execution today and if they all leave that the families and loved ones of the prisoners would be killed in their place.

Annie and Malik beg for Michael to abandon the mission and escape with the lives they've managed to save but he tells her he can't let the more people die. Annie says then they'll fight together but Michael instead gives her a hug before sedating her and telling Malik to make sure she returned to headquarters safely.

Michael then goes and surrenders himself to the soldiers. He is brought to his knees as the CO himself points his gun at his head. The CO asks him if he has any last words to which Michael remarks "You will lose", before the military commander shoots him the head, killing him instantly.

## Skills and Abilities

Michael was known as the strongest member of the Revolutionary Army with his strength and power being so great that none of the other inmates or prison guards bothered him, lest Michael would no doubt attack them. After being liberated by Dante he became a valuable ally to the Rebellion, Michael became the leader of the revolutionary guard as well as the personal bodyguard of Dante Bishop, he also displayed frightening strength as a capable fighter during the Rebellion, he and along with the liberated inmates burst through a police barricade and defeated countless police officers.

Buck was shown to have high stamina and great endurance as shown when he survived multiple point-blank gunshots from police officers. Over the ten weeks after being freed by the initial Rebellion, Michael become very proficient in the use of firearms being able to handle heavy machine guns, and even using a rocket launcher. He is also seen loading various 9mm magazines and having at least one semi-automatic handgun on hand.

## Weapons Used

M240L - Michael uses this general purpose machine gun as his main weapon during the rebellion due to his large physique being able to handle its recoil, he often provides suppressing fire while other members of the Revolutionary Army flank the enemy.

* 7.62×51mm NATO - Michael's machinegun fires 7.62mm rounds which he often carries along as an ammo belt.

AT-4 - Michael uses this anti-armor rocket launcher as his secondary weapon using it to destroy armored barriers as well as trucks, Humvees and group targets.

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Brass Knuckles - Michael is shown to be a brutal fighter in close combat using his physical strength as well as his brass knuckles to easily defeat a number of police officers in close combat. In more than one case his brute strength was enough to cause an officer's face to cave in. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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