The Crimson Dragon Volume 3

## Grief - Issue 1

Kai is wearing a black suit and Az is wearing the same. They are sitting next to each other while the pastor talks at Jaik and Zuri’s funeral. They are both buried in separate caskets next to each other. The caskets are in the ground, but not covered. Friends and Family of Zuri and Jaik are sitting all around.

Pastor: These two died protecting the city. They were not only heroes, These two were family. Would anyone like to say a few words?

Az goes up to the stand.

Az: I knew Zuri and Jaik for years, and they were both nice people. Even if Jaik was a little stuck up at times he had a good heart. He always tried to help people. Zuri was a very kind-hearted person. She could read people like a book, and she used her gift to help out her friends. I am going to miss both of them.

Az sits down. Everyone grabs a flower and throws the flower on top of the caskets. Then everyone starts to hug each other and help each other get over death. Kai stands in front of the grave just looking down at it. Once Az finishes talking to someone he walks over to Kai, and puts his hand on his shoulder. Kai just stares at the grave even though Az is there. They start talking to each other quietly so no one can hear.

Kai: I’m glad that they will be remembered as heroes.

Az: They are remembered as heroes because that’s what they were. You saw all the good they did.

Kai: I also watched an undead wife kill her husband.

Az: That wasn’t Zuri.

Kai: I know, but it’s different when you watch it unfold in front of your eyes.

Az: Go home Kai. Get some rest, and I’ll meet you at bibble and Sip tomorrow.

Kai: Alright.

Az: See ya.

Kai goes home, and the next day Kai is drinking coffee at Bibble and Sip. Az grabs a coffee and sits down. Kai was lost in thought. Him and Jaik just left a bowling alley.

Kai: I’m really proud of you. You went from this guy that was jealous that I was the demon head to a guy who’s settling down. You even protect over Star City.

Jaik: I couldn’t have done it without Zuri. There were times that I just wanted to leave Star City, but I’ve made Star City. The people I love are there. Thank you, Kai. You helped me become a better person too.

Then Kai’s flashbacks change. As soon as he thinks about the good times his mind switches to their deaths.

Jaik: Zuri? Zuri, what are you doing?!

Zuri picks up a gigantic metal bar with her telekinesis. She stabbed the bar straight through Jaik.

Az: Still thinking about them?

Kai: Yeah. Everytime I think of a good memory I just switch right over to what she did to him.

Az: Hey, we’re here now. They wouldn’t want you to think like that. And besides, it was EOL.

Kai: I know what you mean. But it was still Zuri’s face.

Az and Kai spent a little time talking to each other. Before Az brought up his final point.

Az: I just wanted to tell you that I’m leaving for a little while.

Kai: Really, again?

Az: Yeah, my New York restaurant is blowing up, but my Star City restaurant is starting to not do so well. So if you ever need me you can call me, but-

Kai: I’ll be fine, Az. I don’t need to call anyone when I need help.

Az: I was hoping you would say that because I think we should disband the team.

Kai: The team has been disbanded. As soon as Jaik and Zuri died the team broke up.

Az sighs.

Az: We were a good team. I hope I can be apart of a team again one day.

Az stands up.

Az: I’ll talk to you later Kai.

Kai: Bye, Az.

Az leaves and Kai goes back home. Kai just lays in bed and chills. Then Cal walks in.

Cal: Wow, you just came home, and you’re not on the couch? I didn’t think this day would ever come.

Kai: The day has come.

Cal: Alright, well I’ll see you later.

Kai: Where are you going?

Cal: Shopping. Now stop asking questions!

Kai: You don’t need to be so protective.

Cal: It’s necessary.

Cal leaves and Kai just lays on his bed staring at the ceiling. His mind wonders to the last good memory of Zuri. Kai was holding out forty grand, and Zuri takes twenty.

Kai(Whispering): What about the other half?

Zuri(Whispering): Kai, this whole time you have been upset because you're not in our lives more. You thought you were upset because you didn’t know what was going on in our lives. You were more upset about the fact that nothing had happened in yours while others were getting married, or living their own lives. We’ll just say we got the other twenty from marriage gifts.

Zuri hugs Kai.

Kai(Whispering): How did you know?

Zuri: I’m a woman, and I know emotions. Take the next year off Kai. Bounty hunting is a good way to make money. Just don’t get yourself wrapped up in it okay?

Kai: Zuri was right. I can’t waste my life away because I can die at any second. Zuri and Jaik had a life that they didn’t regret. They both got married. If I ever die I want to die without regrets.

Kai goes on google and starts looking for jobs that he could get, but he doesn’t find anything. Kai goes outside at dusk, and gets in his car. He drives out to the forest. Kai gets out of his car, and walks deep into the forest. Eventually, he finds a small pond. Kai climbs up a tree and just looks at the pond. The sunlight reflects off the water and right onto Kai, and it looks beautiful.

Kai: I’ve hated forests ever since Detective Steel, but I’ll let this one time be an exception.

Kai takes a nap. When Kai awakes it’s the next day. Kai drives back home. When he opens the door he sees Cal talking to a woman. The woman is wearing a white shirt with blue jeans and regular blue sneakers. Her hair is long and pink. She has pale skin and dark eyes with a pink tint to them.

Cal: So your a friend of Kai’s?

Pink Haired Woman: Yeah, we’re old friends.

Kai: Luna?

Cal and Luna are sitting on the couch while Kai is sitting on a chair.

Cal: Well, it was nice meeting you Luna. I’ll let you guys have some alone time.

Cal leaves the room. Kai is just looking at Luna in shock.

Luna: Nothing to say?

Kai: How? You fell off a cliff. How did you survive?

Luna: I wasn’t the one to save myself. When I was falling a man with a rocket launcher used magic to teleport me over to him when he saw I was falling.

Kai: Um, what? You sure he didn’t drop you on you’re head?

Luna: He called himself Constantine.

Kai: Why have I heard that name before? I can’t remember where I heard it before. Wait, if you found a guy with a rocket launcher around the time the helicopter crashed. Did he shoot the rocket launcher?

Luna: Of course he did! What else would he have it for?

Kai: That motherfucker shot my helicopter down.

Luna: He’s looking for you for some reason.

Kai: I don’t know why, but I hope I don’t have to fight an RPG carrying magician.

Luna: Don’t act like I’m stupid.

They both laugh.

Kai gets up from the seat, and Luna hugs him.

Kai: It’s been a while.

Luna: It’s been too long.

They hold each other for a while. Then They both sit back down on the couch.

Kai: Are you hungry?

Luna: I haven’t had breakfast yet, so, sure.

Kai: Do you know any of the places around here, or do I get the luxury of picking?

Luna: I haven’t been to New York before. So it’s your pick.

Kai: Well then follow me.

They both leave the house and get in the car. They drive to Samba Kitchen, and the waitress sits them down.

Waitress: What would you like to drink?

Kai: Water, please.

Luna: Um, a sprite for me, please.

Waitress: I will be back with your drinks soon.

Luna: Why don’t we have a menu?

Kai: This is a buffet.

Luna: Oh, I’ve heard of these. You get to stand up and go get your food, right?

Kai: Yup, I thought it would be perfect for you since you haven’t been to New York.

They both get up and grab food. Kai sits down first. A few minutes after Kai sat down Luna sits down.

Kai: So, I have a question.

Luna: What’s the question?

Kai: How did you find me?

Luna: Well, after the guy saved me I went into the town and got a job so that I could leave. Then once I left I just started traveling around the world. I always wanted to just be able to experience the world, and I was happy. Then, I decided to come to New York because I had never been there. That’s when I saw jaik on television, and then I saw you at his funeral.

Kai: You were at his funeral?

Luna: Yeah, but I didn’t see you until you were leaving. Then I found out where you lived, and you know the story from there.

Kai: You’re telling me that if Jaik wasn’t on TV we might have never seen each other again?

Luna: I guess so.

Kai: Jaik’s even helping me out after death.

Luna: So, I told you what I have been up to. So what about you?

Kai: Well, once I got to new york I needed a job. So I became a bounty hunter to pay the bills. I made a superhero team. Now since the big TV thing I am no longer a bounty hunter, or in a team.

Luna: It sounds like you’ve just been put back to the start.

Kai: It feels like that a lot of the time.

Luna: Well, I’m here now. So, at least your starting off with something different.

Kai(sarcasm): That makes me feel so much better!

Luna: You can’t keep looking at life like its one narrow path. You have many paths. You took one path, and now that path has ended. Now you have a choice for another path.

Kai: When did you become so wise?

Luna: When you talk to a bunch of people all over the world they really like to share wisdom.

They both finish their food and go up to get some more a few more times before leaving. They were walking to Kai’s car.

Kai: You wanna go to a movie?

Luna’s face lights up.

Luna: Sure!

They both get in the car and drive off. They end up at the movie theater. They buy tickets for a movie and buy food. Then they both sit down and start watching the movie. Halfway into the movie, Luna snuggles herself into Kai’s arm. Kai gets shocked and nervous so he ends up just doing nothing. Once the movie is over they are both tired. Then they get back in the car. Luna yawns as she sits down.

Kai: Tired?

Luna: I’m just gonna take a short nap.

She reclines the seatback, and they drive off. Once they get home Luna ends up falling asleep in Kai’s bed at eight pm.

Cal: Why the hell is an adult woman sleeping in your bed at 11 pm?

Kai: Maybe she had a long day.

Cal: Whatever, I gotta go. She better not become a roommate, or else she is going to have to help pay!

Kai: Alright!

Kai sits down on the couch. In the other room, Luna is sleeping. Then A man in a black ninja suit slowly opens the window in the room and sneaks in. He silently takes out a katana. He slashes down.

## 20 Ninjas - Issue 2

Luna is sleeping. Then A man in a black ninja suit slowly opens the window in the room and sneaks in. He silently takes out a katana. He slashes down. Luna shoots out of bed and breaks through the door. The ninja follows through. As their swords slash into each other sparks fly off. The loud sound of their blades clanking into each other is all they can hear. Then Luna swipes her blade to the right. The ninja parries it, but he staggers. Luna slices the ninja’s chest giving him a huge wound. Kai runs over with his staff, and the ninja runs away, and jumps out the window he came in from.

Kai: What the hell is the league doing here Luna?!

Luna: Um-

Kai: You weren’t moving around for fun where you? You were going from place to place so that the league didn’t catch you.

Luna: I had fun when the league wasn’t there.

Kai: You didn’t think about telling me this? You just decided it would be better if I didn’t know.

Luna: I was hoping they wouldn’t find me, and you wouldn’t have to know.

Kai: I don’t care that the league is after you Luna. In the future, I would like to know the situations I’m forced into a little better!

Luna: I’m sorry.

Kai: You don’t need to apologize. It’s fine. Now, where is the closes league base?

Luna: I don’t know.

Kai becomes furious.

Kai: What?!

Luna: I told you I have never been to New York.

Kai: Yes, and in doing so you have given them a home-court advantage! They know this place better than you! Now we have no way to stop a group of assassins before they corner us! We have all the disadvantages.

Luna: I-

Kai: You know what. I’m going to plan this out. Alright-

Kai sits down and starts thinking to himself.

Kai: We are gonna have to move around a lot during the night. At night we should scout the city for their base. It’s much easier for them to strike at night if we stay in one spot, but if we are constantly on the move they will struggle to try to corner us. During the day we will have to relax and rest so that we can travel around during the night.

Luna: We won’t have to fight if we do that?

Kai: No, we won’t get killed. We have to fight either way. The question is whether we win or not.

Luna: Why are you doing this? This is my problem. I brought this problem to you. You don’t have to be a hero that saves me.

Kai turns to her

Kai: It’s to finish where I failed. I said that I would break you out, and then I watched you die. So, do you have a suit?

Luna: I’ll go put it on.

Ten minutes later Luna meets Kai on the top of their house. Luna is wearing a slim fit league of assassins ninja gear. Then she has her pink hair in a high ponytail. Kai has his regular red sweatshirt, jeans, brown leather jacket over his sweatshirts, and red eye mask.

Kai: Nice outfit.

Luna: Thanks, I worked really hard to make it.

Ten league members jump up to the top of the building from the street below.

Kai: And we’re surrounded. You should’ve got dressed quicker.

Luna snaps back.

Luna: I’m sorry my outfit’s hard to put on.

Kai sighs and gets in a fighting position. Kai runs up to a ninja. The ninja slices at him, and Kai grabs the blade, and crushes it in his hand. Then Kai kicks the league member in the stomach. The ninja falls backwards. Kai catches an arrow that was shot at his back, and throws the arrow to the ground to stomp on it. Three ninjas go in for slashes at Kai. Kai quickly gets low to the ground, and takes out his staff. Then Kai spins his staff above him. Kai’s staff hits all three of the ninja knocking them out. The same ninja that shot an arrow shoots another one. The arrow stabs Kai in the back. Kai rips out the arrow, and picks up one of the knocked out soldier’s bows. Kai shoots an arrow at the ninja, and it hits him in the stomach. Kai drops the bow. Luna takes out her sword, and starts clashing blades with the ninja. She is parrying five ninja’s blades all at once. Then as she parry’s all of them she pushes her sword back causing them to stagger. Then she slices all of their stomachs as they staggered backwards. They all fell down from their wounds.

Kai: Really, five at one time?

Luna: You gotta be efficient.

Kai: Show off.

Then another ninja jumps onto the top of the building. This ninja’s gear looks more high class and well made then the other ninja’s. The man takes off his mask, and it shows an asian man with black hair that is tied back.

???: Do you remember me, Tanin?

Kai: Nice to see you again, Sarab.

Sarab: Why so formal? We’re friends, remember? Since you will become Ra’s.

Kai: You guys still care about that? I thought it was pretty clear that I would rather not.

Sarab: And I thought we made it pretty clear that you didn’t have a choice.

Kai: It is my choice, when you can’t beat both of us.

Sarab puts up two fingers, and moves them back into his palm. There are twenty soldiers around the building Kai is counting Sarab.

Kai: I didn’t know how persuasive you were.

Luna whispers in Kai’s ear.

Luna(whispering): Should we run?

Kai(Whispering): If they are after you then yes. You have to run. I can take out twenty soldiers.

Luna(Whispering): twenty soldiers and Sarab!?

Kai(Whispering): Luna, i’m not trying to be that stupid hero that needs to go out of their way to put themselves in bad situations to look cool. I got this, go.

Luna jumps down from the building, and starts running away.

Sarab: Trying to be a hero?

Kai: You wish. If I was just trying to be a hero I wouldn’t win this battle.

Sarab: You can’t beat all of us.

Kai: Correction. I couldn’t beat all of you a few years ago. I have been able to get stronger over the years. Strong enough to have to hold back.

Sarab: Oh, how the seeds of cockiness blossom in the soil of ignorance.

Kai: Nice quote. Who said that?

Sarab: Get him.

The ninja’s all start running at Kai. Kai takes out his staff, and spins it around until he holds the staff at an angle where half the staff is behind his upper arm while the other half is just above the ground. Kai swings his staff, and it hits the first ninja in the face knocking him out. Then Kai jabs behind him, slamming his staff into another ninja’s stomach. A sword slashes above his head. Kai blocks it with his staff, and kicks the ninja’s leg out. Then he swings his staff again which hits the kneeling ninja in the head. Kai moves to the left getting a small cut from a blade coming from behind him. The ninja that jabbed falls forwards, and Kai jabs the ninja in the back with his staff. Three ninja’s all go in to stab Kai. Kai Kicks one sword away from him. Then he grabs the other two swords. He pulls the swords out of the ninja’s hands, and then jabs the two ninjas with the hilt of their own blades. Kai then tornado kicks the ninja that got his blade kicked in the head. As Kai lands he does a back handspring to dodges three arrows that were fired at him. Then a ninja with two daggers swipes with his left dagger, then his right, finally he spins with the blades out. Kai moved back, and dodged all the attacks. Then Kai went in for a strike. The ninja blocks it with both his daggers, and they get into a weapon lock. Then a ninja tries to stab Kai from behind. Kai kicks behind him hitting the ninja in the chest. Then Kai switches his staff's position which hits the ninja’s knee. The bone in the dagger ninja’s knee pops out, and the ninja falls over. Kai kicks the ninja in the face, knocking him out. Another ninja goes to swipe his sword at Kai. Kai Dodges, and gets the ninja in a headlock. He then switches the ninja’s position. Three arrows hit the ninja in the stomach. Two ninja go to stab kai. Kai ducks down, and holds his staff above his head. The two ninja are hit in the chest with his staff. They both fall back. Kai then holds his staff at his side. A ninja starts running at him, and Kai swings his blade so that it hits the ninja in the head. Then Kai spins around, and hits the ninja behind him. A ninja goes in for a kick, and Kai stabs his staff right through the ninja’s leg. The staff gets stuck in the ground. Kai stomps on the ninja’s head. Kai then swings around his blade, and his leg sweeps the ninja running towards him. Kai then rips his blade out of the building, and overhead strikes the ninja on the floor. Kai spins his staff which blocks the arrows being shot at him. Then he throws his staff like a boomerang at the three archers. It hits, and knocks out all of them before coming back to Kai.

Kai: You can throw a metal staff like a boomerang. Physics where art thou.

Kai turns around to look at Sarab, but Sarab is gone.

Kai: Expected.

Kai checks his phone to see what time it is.

Kai: It’s like midnight.

Then Kai looks up who said that cockiness quote from before.

Kai: Oh, it was Steve Alten.

Kai goes back inside, and goes to bed on the couch. Kai wakes up around eight am. He goes into his room to see that Luna is sleeping in his bed. Kai goes to make food, and Luna comes out of the room once the food is almost done. She looks incredibly tired. She sits down at the kitchen banquette.

Luna: I didn’t know you cook.

Kai: I do it all the time because Cal never cooks. Y’know you can eat later if you want to go back to bed.

Luna: I’ll go to bed after I eat. I didn’t eat anything all night, i’m hungry!

Kai: Jeez, alright.

Back at the league of assassins. Ra’s is sitting in his throne, and a woman ninja is bringing him a letter. She then hands him the letter. Ra’s opens it, and shoos away the servant. The servant leaves the room, and Ra’s starts reading.

Ra’s: “Dear Ra’s. Kai has proven himself able to take down around twenty soldiers with ease. We need strong reinforcements, and even some of the league's strongest warriors. From Sarab.” Yes Kai, prove to me that you're even more worthy of my place. Then, once you kill me you will finally take my place. I am inevitable.

## Revenge - Issue 3

Kai finished making food. Luna and Kai started eating.

Kai: They sent twenty soldiers after you Luna. Why do they want you back so much?

Luna: I don’t think they want me back. I think they are trying to kill me. They know we aren’t on “good terms.” So they are trying to kill me before I can give away any of their secrets, but twenty soldiers seems weird.

Kai: Can you take down twenty soldiers?

Luna: Maybe ten, but not twenty all at once.

Kai: If you haven’t even fought ten before then why-

A woman ninja walks in through the window.

???: It’s because they have only been following Luna to find Kai.

The woman takes off her mask to show a young beautiful woman with long brown hair.

Kai: Hey Talia.

Talia sits on the couch.

Talia: Luna is an idiot and led the league right to their target.

Luna: Who gives you the right to walk into this house and insult me?

Talia: Because it’s not your house. So you have no power here other than asking the actual owner to kick me out. Kai would never do that though because I helped him escape.

Luna: She helped you?!

Kai: Yeah, she shot an arrow.

Talia: Cupid's arrow.

Luna: What?!

Kai: No, an actual arrow. She stalled Ra’s, and allowed me to escape. Wait, does Ra’s trust you know?

Talia: Not as much as I would like, but we can’t all get what we want. Can we, Luna?

Luna scowls at Talia.

Kai: So, what should we do?

Talia: You're going to have to take Ra’s on directly.

Kai: But all of his soldiers will be there.

Talia: He will fight you alone if you challenge him to a duel.

Kai: Okay, how will we get there?

Talia: Put on your gear and follow me.

Cal comes in to see the ninja woman.

Cal: What the fuck have you been doing?!

Kai: She's obsessed with cosplay. Don’t mind her.

Cal: You are one freaky dude. I’m going to go into my room, and lock the door until you leave.

Cal goes into his room, and Talia tells Kai the place he needs to go.

Kai: Well okay then. Let's all get going already.

Kai and Luna meet Talia at the airport. They all get in the helicopter, and the helicopter starts rising into the the air.

Kai: How long will this trip take?

Talia: It’s going to be a few hours. You can sleep on me if you need to.

Luna: He will sit away from you.

Kai: Everybody just chill. I’ll just go to sleep on my own. Like a normal person.

Everyone chills out for the next few hours until they see an island.

Talia: We are finally here.

Talia takes out a gun, and shoots the pilot in the head. The helicopter starts spinning around and losing altitude fast.

Kai: What the fuck?!

Talia: See you on Lian Yu Kai.

Talia waits for the helicopter to get close to the water, and then she jumps out.

Kai: Luna, jump!

Luna and Kai jump out of the helicopter and into the water. The Helicopter crashes into the island making a small explosion. Kai and Luna swim to the surface of the water.

Kai: What the fuck?!

Luna: You trusted her!

Kai: We’ll argue about this once we get back to the shore!

They both swim back to shore. Kai takes off his sweatshirt and jacket so that the only thing he is wearing is his pants.

Luna: I’m not undressing.

Kai: I didn’t expect you to. Well, now we both messed up. You lead the league to me, and I trusted someone that was trying to bring us to our death. Who do you think messed up worse?

Luna: That doesn’t matter right now. We need to figure out why they lead us here, and for the record, you messed up worse.

Kai laughs.

Kai: Luna, there are a few ways this is going to go down. Ra’s is either going to challenge me one on one, or he is going to send assassins after me to bring me to him. So either Ra’s is on this island, or all of his soldiers are.

Luna: So either we are going to go through hell, or you're going to have to go through hell.

Kai: Yes, either we have to fight one thousand soldiers, or I have to fight a man that is just as powerful as all those soldiers combined.

Luna: So, what do we do?

Kai: We wait to see which one it is. I have my hypothesis, but it could be wrong. For now, I’m going to catch fish.

Kai goes out to find a stick, and vines off of bushes. He ties the vines on the stick, and then finds worms around the area. Kai finds a sharp rock with a curve for a hook, and attaches a worm to the rock. Then Kai starts fishing. Luna comes back with some rocks, but mostly logs. She makes a makeshift campfire.

Luna: Now, how do we start a fire?

Kai: Come over here.

Luna walks over to Kai, and Kai hands her the fishing rod.

Kai: If you start to feel a tug, pull the rope. Making fires a bit complicated without glasses or an easy way to do it.

Kai goes and finds softwoods, and another sharp rock. Kai widdles down a stick to make it a short straight smooth spindle. Then Kai puts the spindle on a plank of softwood. After about ten spins with the spindle Kai starts seeing smoke. Kai then blows on the smoke, and he keeps blowing on the smoak until it starts to make a big flame. Then Kai puts the burning board into the campfire that Luna made.

Kai: We have successfully done it Luna.

Kai sees that Luna has caughten twelve fish.

Luna: What have we done?

Kai: Well I was going to say we started a fire, but this is way more impressive.

Luna: All I had to do is catch the fish.

Kai: Yeah, and being the lucky bastard you are you caught twelve. I have barely caughten any fish in my life because those suckers become 400 IQ einsteins whenever I try to fish. They are like “that’s Kai’s fishing rod. Better avoid that. He’s trying to catch me. I can’t be caught, mothafucker!”

Luna: Is that what they say?

Kai: No, they think so. You can’t speak underwater.

Luna: Your being stupid.

Kai: I’m a genius. I just sent up this whole camp for us.

Luna: Yes you are.

Luna puts down the fishing rod, and then kisses Kai. Kai backs up after the kiss.

Luna: Do you not like me anymore?

Kai: No, I just want to take it slow. Luna, when we first got together we were both lonely. You were a part of the league of assassins, but weren’t a killer. I was in the league for a job that I didn’t even like or believe in. Not only that, but I had to go though torture just to get intel. So when we found each other we just clicked. I’m in a better place now. I’m not lonely anymore. I have you, Cal, and my friend Az. I hope you can respect my decision.

Kai walks away.

Luna(Whispering): But I’m still lonely.

A man in a black and orange military costume walks onto the beach from the forest. As Kai looks at him his jaw drops.

Kai: Slade!

Slade: That my name kid, but how do you know it?

Kai: Your my father.

Slade takes out one of his swords.

Slade: I don’t remember having a kid that looks nothing like me.

Kai: Adopted child asshole. You took me in to train me after Stick had to leave me. Then you were like a father to me for the next, like, five years!

Slade: I think I would remember raising someone for five years.

Kai starts to see a flashback.

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

Oliver: How?

Kai: What do you mean how?

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

Slade yelling at Kai brings Kai back to reality.

Slade: You should pay more attention when an enemy is right in front of you.

Kai: I just had to remember that you're not my Slade. Your Oliver’s Slade.

Slade: You know Oliver, Oliver Queen?

Kai: And if I do?

Slade takes out his other sword.

Luna goes to take out her sword, and Kai puts his hand out.

Kai: I need to do this alone. This battle is important to me.

Kai takes out his staff and spins it around his arm until he is in the cat stance.

Slade: I didn’t train you in the staff. Your stance is weak.

Kai: No, my stance is light.

Slade puts away his swords, and takes out his staff.

Slade: Like I said, weak!

They both run at each other. Kai swings his staff up. Slade blocks it, and goes to sweep Kai’s leg with his staff. Kai jumps back dodging the attack. Then Slade runs at Kai again. Slade goes for a jab. Kai dodged to the side, and goes for a huge swing. Slade blocks the attack, and a huge crack is let out from the staff hitting each other. Slade kicks kai in the knee. Then goes for an overhead strike. Kai blocks the strike, and sweeps Slade's leg. Slade falls to the ground, and they both jump back up. Slade swings his staff at Kai’s ribs. Kai blocks it, and while in the blocking stance Kai swings his staff up which hits Slade in the chin. Slade stumbles backwards, and Kai jabs Slade in the stomach. Slade grabs Kai’s staff while it hits him. Slade drops his staff. Then Slade pulls Kai forward, and punches Kai in the face. Kai lets go of his staff, and falls backwards. Kai hops back up after the punch.

Kai: Why do you hate oliver?!

Kai goes for a punch. Slade deflects it, and punches Kai.

Slade: He betrayed me, and the woman I love. Then he put an arrow through my eye. I want revenge.

Slade punches Kai in the gut, and kicks Kai onto the ground. Slade then takes out his sword, and holds it above Kai.

Kai: Oliver’s dead!

Slade: What?

Slade puts away his sword.

Kai: Oliver’s been dead for years.

Slade has a look of guilt and sadness on his face. Then slade just starts walking away.

Kai: We haven’t finished our fight!

Slade: You don’t want to fight me! You want to fight the man who raised you! We may look alike, but I’m not him kid!

Luna: Kai, are you okay?

Kai: I don’t know Luna.

Luna: Why don’t we go cook the food?

Kai just stares off in the distance for a minute before looking back at Luna.

Kai: Sure.

## Island Madness - Issue 4

The sky has become dark, and the moon is out. Luna and Kai are sitting around the campfire cooking their fish.

Luna: Do you think the league brought Slade here?

Kai: I don’t know Luna.

Kai just stares blankly into the fire. Eventually Luna starts yelling for him to wake up because he is burning the fish.

Kai: Sorry.

Luna: It’s fine. We have enough fish for now. Do you think we should go into the forest?

Kai: That is a horrible idea. They let Slade come over here so that we would go into the forest. They can’t corner us if we are at the beach because they can’t come from the ocean.

Luna: Well, what are we going to do then Kai?! We can’t just sit here pretending we’re adam and eve forever.

Kai: I don’t see a problem.

Luna: I want to travel around, and experience new things! I don’t want to be stuck on an island for the rest of my life!

Kai: What do you want me to do about it?

Luna: I want you to stop staring at a fire! We can’t just give up!

Kai: It hasn’t even been a day and you're already going mad.

Luna: Yeah, I’m mad at you! That Slade isn’t your father! We can try to find your dad once we get off this island, but we can’t if we stay here!

Kai sighs and then gets up.

Kai: Go to sleep.

Luna's face changes showing that she's irritated. Then Luna leaves so that she doesn’t have to look at Kai. Then a loud overpowering voice speaks to kai.

The Beast(In Kai’s Head): You cannot stay on this island.

Kai: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know already.

Kai starts eating his fish on a stick, and starts thinking to himself.

Kai: Oh, this is an easy situation.

The Beast(In Kai’s Head): What’s the plan?

Kai: Wait and see.

Luna comes back to the camp. When Luna and Kai’s eyes meet she scowls at him. Luna then sits down next to the campfire. Kai sits down a few feet away from her.

Luna: Why?

Kai: Why what?

Luna: You act like a prick, and now you're going to try and apologize. What possibly made you change in the minute that I was gone!

Kai: Everyone does it. When someone gets wrapped up in their own feelings they forget about others. Luna, when I said go to sleep I meant get some rest. I have a plan, but we need to get some sleep.

Luna: Next time why don’t you just talk to me instead of blocking me out and shutting down every idea I have.

Kai: I will.

Luna: Thank you. Now what do I sleep on?

Kai grabs his now dry shirt, and puts it under her head, and then he gives her his sweatshirt as a blanket.

Luna: Are you sure you want to use the leather jacket for your pillow?

Kai: I would use the sand if I didn’t have to clean it out of my hair later.

Luna: Alright.

They both go to sleep. Kai wakes up before Luna, and then wakes her up.

Luna: Is it already time for “your plan.”

Kai laughs.

Kai: Yeah it’s time for “my plan.”

Kai puts on his clothes, and Luna wakes herself up by splashing water on her face.

Luna: So, what's the plan?

Kai: We go into the forest.

Luna: We’re using my idea?

Kai: I thought it would be a good idea. We might need to use your sword to cut down some vines though.

Luna: That’s easy.

Kai and Luna walk through the forest for an hour. Then Luna gets snuck up on by two ninja. They grab her putting their hands over her mouth so she can’t speak. Then Luna fights until she gets the hand off her mouth for just long enough to say-

Luna: KAI!

Kai turns around to see Talia and Nyssa holding Luna down. Then Kai tries to run over to Luna, but two shurikens fly in front of him hitting a tree. Sarab walks in front of Kai’s way to get to Luna.

Kai: Does this mean we are going to have to fight?

Sarab: I think you know the answer to that.

Kai takes out his staff. Luna breaks out of Talia’s hold.

Talia: You want to fight both of us?

Nyssa: Please do. I would love a good fight.

They all take out their swords. Talia swings at Luna from the right. Luna blocks, and Nyssa stabs at her. Luna rolls back. When Luna looks up two swords are slicing from the left and right. Luna rolls in between them slicing their sides. Luna gets back to her feet, and Talia goes for an overhead strike. Luna blocks it, but is struggling to push enough force to the blade. Nyssa slices Luna across her stomach. Luna jumps back. Luna starts breathing heavy and holding her wound. Talia and Nyssa run at Luna almost in sync. Nyssa goes for a strike from the left. Then Talia goes for a strike to the right. They keep up this same pattern but they speed up until Luna can barely keep up with the speed. Then Nyssa changes her attack, and stabs Luna in her stomach. Luna falls to the ground. While that was happening Kai was battling Sarab. Sarab went for a low swing with his sword. Kai blocked it with his staff. Then Kai went for an upwards swing. Sarab moved back to dodge it. Kai takes a step forward and does an overhead strike. Sarab dodged and went for a side slash. Kai ducked at the end of the overhead swipe dodging the attack. Kai gets back up, and they are both ten feet away from each other.

Sarab: You can’t beat the league Kai.

Kai: I think that’s debatable.

Sarab sighs.

Sarab: You can debate anything, but that doesn’t mean your right.

Kai runs over to Sarab, and goes for a baseball swing. Sarab ducks under it, and goes for a slash. Kai does a low rolling block. Then Kai thrusts his staff into Sarab. Sarab falls back. Then rolls back to his feet. Sarab goes for an overhead strike, and Kai sweeps his legs out with his staff. Sarab falls back over.

Kai: You're too predictable. You never use anything but the basics.

Sarab: But you still get tripped up in the basics of strategy.

Kai: What are you talking about?

Fifty ninjas walk out from the shadows of the forests to show that they are all around them. Kai turns around to see Luna with a blade in her, and then he looks back at Sarab. Sarab picks himself back up from the ground.

Sarab: So?

Kai drops his staff, and then goes onto his knees.

Kai: I surrender.

## Death - Issue 5

A helicopter lands at the league of assassins base. Talia and Nyssa walk out first. Kai walks out in handcuffs. Then Sarab walks out behind Kai. They all walk into Ra’s throne room. Ra’s is sitting on his throne. They all line up next to each other. Sarab forces Kai to his knees. Then the rest of the group kneel.

Ra’s: Welcome back Tanin. Did you like your vacation?

Kai: I was enjoying it, but then you cut it short.

Ra’s: That’s how vacations are. You're expected to come back.

Kai: I thought my vacation specifically stated “never returning.”

Ra’s: No, you left. I think we both knew that you would be returning. The question was not if it was when.

Kai: What are you going to do now, make me Ra’s?

Ra’s: No, your going to become Ra’s willingly.

Kai: And how is that?

Ra’s: Luna is on her deathbed. We can always finish her off. Unless you're willing to make a deal?

Kai: That’s forcing.

Ra’s: No, I’m giving you a choice. Life gives you hard choices all the time. Pick the option you like better. Join us and not have Luna die, or refuse and make us torture you into it while we kill Luna.

Kai: Is there an option three?

Ra’s: I don’t give three options.

Kai: You don’t like the letter c?

Ra’s puts a blade to Kai’s throat.

Ra’s: This is a serious question. You better answer it seriously before I choose, and lives are lost.

Kai: ...I’ll become Ra’s.

Ra’s: See, we can compromise.

Ra’s starts to walk out of the room.

Ra’s: Follow me Tanin.

Kai gets up, and follows Ra’s out of the room. They start walking around the halls.

Ra’s: This will all be yours soon.

Kai: You don’t need to show off. I already don’t want this.

Ra’s: You will.

They keep walking.

Kai: Why would I?

Ra’s: Because you don’t have a choice. I am too powerful to keep alive, Tanin. You either kill me, or become me. There is no other way this will go, but we both know you won’t kill me.

They keep walking until they get to a wall. Ra’s pulls down the chandelier that is above them, and the wall slides open. They both walk inside, and the door slides closed. In the middle of the room there is a pedestal with a very thick book on top of it. Ra’s walks over and picks up the book. Ra’s hands the book to Kai, and Kai opens it to see a photo album. Every page has a picture, a name, and a description.

Kai: What is this?

Ra’s: The book of the people the League has murdered. Read it.

Kai: “Joseph Davis, a child molester. Jeffrey Dahmer, a murderer cannibal. Christopher Miller, a human trafficker. Donald Wilson, a corrupt politician and rapist.” Why are you showing me this?

Ra’s: To show you.

Kai: To show me what? A bunch of bad people.

Ra’s: People that the league has killed. Every single person the league has killed is in that book.

Kai: You wanted to show me the good you’ve done?

Ra’s: Not the good I have done, but the good you can do. I wanted to serve justice. This is my way of doing it. When you become Ra’s, you can serve justice anyway you want.

Ra’s takes the book back from Kai, and puts it on the pedestal. Ra’s pulls down the light inside that room, and the door opens. They both leave. Ra’s leads Kai to his room.

Ra’s: You will be sleeping here. Don’t try to escape. I have people all over Luna. There would be no way you're getting to her before I’m alarmed of the situation.

Kai: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ra unlocks the handcuffs that are on Kai. Kai walks into his old room, and Ra’s shuts the door.

Kai: I haven’t been in here for a while.

Kai lays on the bed.

Kai(in head): What am I going to do?

Kai falls asleep thinking to himself. When Kai awakes he takes a shower, and then puts on the league gear that's in his dresser.

Kai(in head): Never really cared for these colors. I like red way better.

Kai hears a knock on his door.

Kai: Come in.

Ra’s walks into the room.

Ra’s: You're dressed, perfect. Follow me.

Kai and Ra walk down the long hallways until they make it outside.

Kai: What are we doing?

Ra’s: Finishing your training.

Kai: Why?

Ra’s: You trained with Stick, Slade, Me, and then you trained with Stick again. Stick and I were close friends. I will be finishing your training, but instead of Stick taking you. That will be my job. We’ll start with hand to hand combat.

Ra’s gets ready to block, and Kai runs up to him. Kai double roundhouse kicks Ra’s.

Ra’s: Ok, let’s move on.

Kai: I threw two kicks?!

Ra’s takes out two swords from his sides.

Ra’s: Take out your staff.

Ra’s starts blocking, and Kai runs over. Kai thrusts his staff into Ra’s. Ra’s side steps dodging the attack.

Ra’s: Hmm, you have shown me enough of your skills.

Ra’s makes a hand sign, and two ninjas bring out two wooden blocks. They space those blocks about six inches apart. Then they put a piece of some type of metal on top of the blocks.

Ra’s: Break this metal.

Kai goes to pick it up.

Ra’s: No, karate chop the metal in half.

Kai: Is that even possible?

Ra’s: With enough force.

Kai gets his hand ready, and then he swings his hand down like a giant axe. His hand breaks the metal into two pieces.

Ra’s: That’s what I thought.

Kai: What?

Ra’s: That was tungsten. Which means you are fighting the wrong way.

Kai: How am I fighting the wrong way?

Ra’s: Your fighting with your feet. Someone that fights with their legs doesn’t have the upper body strength to deal enough damage with their fists. You have the ability to use a wide array of different moves, but you only use kicks. Then I saw that you were sloppy with your staff. You thrusted, leaving yourself open for any attack if I dodged that attack. Your fighting is sloppy and unrefined. We have a lot of work to do Tanin.

Ra’s starts walking away. For the next two months Ra’s trained Kai. He refined Kai’s fighting in hand to hand combat and with the staff. During this time Luna heals some, and has to stand with a cane. Ra’s became even more fixated on Kai becoming the next Ra’s. He has worked so hard he knows that Kai will become Ra’s indefinitely. After the two months it is finally early 2021, and Kai is 23. Everyone is outside for the declaration of Kai becoming the new Ra’s. Kai is kneeling below Ra’s. Everyone else is lined up in rows behind Kai and Ra’s. The higher league members sit in chairs to the side of Ra’s. Luna is one of them because she can’t stand for too long.

Ra’s: After having this ring for centuries upon centuries the head of the demon must choose a new head. Since I have had no sons I had to find a male powerful enough to take my place. I found that in Tanin. I found a powerful man. A man strong enough to become the next Ra’s al ghul. Tanin, do you accept this transfer of power.

Kai looks to Luna. Then Kai looks back at Ra’s.

Kai: I do not accept. I challenge you for my freedom.

Ra’s laughs at Kai. Then Talia puts her blade to Luna’s throat.

Ra’s: No, put your sword down Talia.

Talia looks mad, but then obeys. She sits back in her chair.

Ra’s: I accept your challenge Kai.

Ra’s takes off his shirt, and throws it on the ground. His shirt drops to the ground making a crash. Ra’s shows that he is not just an old man. Ra’s looks bigger than a bodybuilder. Then Ra’s takes out his two swords. He holds one of them regularly. Then he holds his left swords upside down so that it follows along his arm.

Kai: Wow, you're really just flexin on me.

Kai takes out his staff so that it follows along behind his right arm. All of the league backs away to form a circle around them

Ra’s: Begin!

Ra’s moves faster than Kai has ever seen him move before. Ra’s goes for a slice with his right blade. Kai just manages to switch the way he’s holding his staff to block it. Ra’s uses his left blade to try and slice Kai’s stomach. Kai blocks it, and goes for a swing to Ra’s side. Ra blocks it with his right blade. Ra’s kicks kai to the stomach. Kai blocks it with his staff, and he still gets pushed back. Ra’s slides on the ground, and tries to slice Kai’s leg. Kai jumps back, and Ra’s throws his right blade. Kai blocks it, and the blade flies up into the air. Ra’s jumps up grabbing the blade upside down. Then Ra’s stabs down at Kai with both blades. Kai rolls back, and the blades stab into the dirt beneath them. Ra’s repositions his blades so both of them follow his arms. Ra’s starts slicing with each blade back and forth. Kai blocks it with his staff, but they are equal in speed. Ra’s slices up with both the blades, and Kai’s staff gets cut in half.

Kai: Your blades are powerful.

Kai switches the way he holds the two pieces to holding them like batons.

Kai: But now we both have two weapons.

They start swinging on each other. They both completely matched in power. As Kai slows down from fatigue Ra’s does not. Ra’s slowly starts getting small slices into Kai. Then Ra’s slices, and gives Kai a big cut on his side. Kai drops to one knee holding his side, and then slams his right baton on Ra’s knee. Ra’s drops to one knee too. Ra’s slices at both sides of Kai. Kai blocks it with his batons, but they get cut into pieces. Kai rolls back, and then gets to his knees. Ra stands back up, and drops his dual blades to the side of him. Ra’s runs at Kai, and Throws a jab to Kai’s stomach. Kai doidges it, and tries to elbow Ra’s Head. Ra’s uses his other hand to block it, and then Ra’s uses his left leg to kick Kai in the stomach. Kai holds Ra’s leg there, and moves his leg up so that Ra’s is off balance. Kai then uppercuts Ra’s in the jaw. Ra’s starts falling to the ground, but he flips landing on his feet. Ra’s flies back to Kai. Ra’s punches Kai in the side before Kai can react, and then uppercuts Kai back. Ra’s goes for a right hook, but Kai grabs his arm, and elbows Ra’s in the side. Ra’s stumbles backwards, and Kai does a jump front kick to Ra’s head. Ra’s gets knocked down, and Kai picks Ra’s up by the collar. Ra’s starts speaking with a bleeding mouth.

Ra’s: Kill me!

Kai has a flashback from months ago.

Kai: You wanted to show me the good you’ve done?

Ra’s: Not the good I have done, but the good you can do. I wanted to serve justice. This is my way of doing it. When you become Ra’s, you can serve justice anyway you want.

Kai snaps back into reality.

Kai: No, since I have been here I have been thinking about killing you. You don’t deserve death. You're a good man. You just have bad morals.

Ra’s: If you don’t kill me I’ll kill everyone you love! I have infinite resources! You will join me even if it takes one thousand years! I am inevitable! If you kill me you become Ra’s. If you don’t then you become Ra’s!

Luna starts running over.

Ra’s: How many lives do you want to be taken so that you can have freedom?!

Luna draws her sword, and stabs Ra’s in the back.

Luna: None.

## Smoke Talk - Issue 6

Luna drops to her knees holding her wound while her blade is still in Ra’s.

Ra’s: Take my ring.

Ra’s slowly takes his ring off his finger as blood fills up in his mouth. Ra’s puts the ring in Kai’s hand, and then passes out. Talia, Nyssa, and Sarab are all gone. The rest of the league ninjas all drop to one knee. Ra’s drops to the ground, and Kai helps Luna inside to his room. Luna starts resting on the bed as Kai sits in a chair thinking.

Luna: I had to-

Kai: Don’t even.

Luna:...

Kai: Luna, I have one rule.

Luna: And maybe if you weren’t blinded by it you would be able to think logically!

Kai: How are you any different then him! He kills for justice, and now you do too! Why even run from him then?! You clearly have the same goals!

Luna: He would have killed anyone to get to you! We can’t even put him in prison! He would just escape! He’s immortal with endless resources! What were you going to do?! Sit on top of mountains away from everybody so that you had no friends for him to kill?! What was going to happen if he was still alive?!

Kai: I was going to cut off his hand! I was going to take the ring from him without killing him! Then I was going to use the league to build a prison for him! I was going to take over the league!

Kai throws the ring at Luna, and she catches it.

Kai: You killed him. It’s your responsibility now! I’m leaving!

Kai walks out of the room, and to the top of the league’s base. A few league members follow him to the top of the base.

League member1: Ra’s, where are you going? We will escort you.

Kai: I transfer my power over to Luna until either Luna dies, or I return to this island.

League member1: Are you sure?

Kai: Yes, spread the word.

Kai gets in the helicopter, and it starts to take off.

Pilot: Where are we going?

Kai: Bring me back to New York.

The helicopter starts flying away. There was a change of clothes on the helicopter which Kai used so he wasn’t in league gear. Eventually they land at one of the New York airports. Kai gets out, and gets in his car. He drives back home, and walks inside the house tired and dismal. Cal walks out of his room, and sees Kai.

Cal: Luna and you break up?

Kai just goes into his own room without saying a word.

Cal: I’ll take that as a yes.

Kai lays on his bed, and Cal leaves the house. Kai sleeps for a few hours. Eventually his phone went off from a text, and it woke him up.

Kai: Az wants to meet at bibble and sip?

Kai texts back sure. Kai gets in his car, and drives over. When Kai gets there he gets a coffee, and then sits with Az.

Az: We haven’t talked in a long time.

Kai takes a sip of coffee.

Kai: Too long.

Az: So, I wanted to know if you would like to go to a concert with me and a few friends.

Kai: Who else is going?

Az: Rhea and a mystery person.

Kai: Mystery person?

Az: It’s a surprise.

Kai: At least tell me who’s singing at the concert.

Az: Rapping, and that's a surprise to.

Kai: I don’t like surprises. They scare me.

Az: Well then prepare to be frightened.

Az gets up from his seat.

Az: You should get a croissant too. They’re great.

Kai: Isn’t it just a regular croissant?

Az: Nope, they use a lot of butter. Way different.

Kai: Talk to ya later.

Az: See ya.

Kai leaves without getting a croissant, and then goes back home. Kai sleeps through the night, and wakes up later in the day. He gets some cereal out of the fridge. Cal comes out of his room.

Cal: Oh, I thought you were just going to be sad in your bed all day.

Kai: Where are you going?

Cal: Concert later today.

Kai: Me too.

Cal: Really, the teflon concert?

Kai: I don’t know. My friend said it would be “a surprise.”

Cal: You should probably ask him the time of the concert. So you at least know when you should be ready.

Kai: I’m an adult! I know these things!

Cal: Just saying. Anyway, I gotta go. Talk to you later.

Cal leaves the house

Kai: How is that guy always busy?

Kai texts Az, and Az tells him to meet him at six thirty at a certain location. Kai chills for the rest of the day, and then takes a shower. After the shower he puts on new clothes, and drives to where Az told him so. Az gets out of his car, and so does Kai.

Kai: So what's the surprise?

A girl gets out of the car. She is dark skin, and long braids. Her hair is black, and she has light eyes. She is wearing black short shorts, and a black teflon shirt. She runs over and hugs Kai.

???: It’s so good to see you!

Kai: It’s been a while Natalie.

Natalie: That’s it? It’s just been a while. You have nothing better to say than that?

Kai: What do you expect me to say?

Natalie: Why not “Natalie, I missed you so much!”

Kai: Sounds really lame.

Natalie: You're really lame.

Az: No bickering! We’re going in my car because you have to pay for parking.

They all get in, and Kai is forced to get in the back.

Kai: Why is no one sitting with you?

Az: Rhea will be. I just have to go pick her up, but first!

Az brings out a remote control.

Az: I bought a toy for my car so I don’t have to listen to you two remenist about the good ol’ days.

Az pushes a button, and black sound proof glass slide up to block the driver from his passengers.

Kai: He’s not a limo driver! What is this?!

Natalie: Maybe he’s a secret chauffeur?

Kai: Doubt it. So, what have you been up to? You went to college, but you never said what you wanted to do.

Natalie: That’s because I went to college not knowing what I wanted to do. By the end of college I had grown up enough to finally choose my profession.

Kai: Stop building the tension! What’s your job?

Natalie: I’m a nurse. I help people.

Kai: Well that was anticlimactic.

Natalie: Asshole. Then what's your job if mine is so boring?

Kai: Well, I didn’t need to go to college. I joined the military, and got to go on missions like taking down super powered people and ninjas.

Natalie: I think you're exaggerating.

Kai: How could you not believe me! Have I ever lied to you?

Natalie: Yeah.

Kai: Nonsense!

They both laugh.

Natalie: We both have gone through a lot, but I wanted to ask you something.

Az rolls down the glass. Rhea is sitting in the passenger seat.

Kai: When did Rhea get here?

Az: You two were too busy doing shady shit in the back to see her get in the car. Anyway, we’re here.

Kai: At the concert?

Az: Where else?

They all get out.

Kai: Just making sure.

They all walk into the concert building. There is a giant crowd where everyone is waiting in a dark room where the lights are dimmed. Then a platform slowly rises from below. A light skinned man with short dark hair, and a five o clock shadow is looking down at the ground with a mic in his hand. Red lights shoot across the stage, and the man starts rapping.

Kai: Is that Jax?!

Natalie: Yeah, that’s why it was a surprise!

Jax: When I’m sitting your feeling every word I say

```
    While haters try to bring me down because they need to get laid
    They can’t stop us because we bumping
    Can’t stop us, they know we bumping
    Try to bring me down but they know i’m bumping

```

The concert rages on as the crowd roars in excitement. After the concert ends everyone starts going home. Natalie drags Kai backstage, and they see Jax.

Jax: You guys came!

Natalie: Of course we did! Why wouldn’t we?

Jax: Well, I haven’t talked to Kai in years. So…

Kai: I still would have come if I knew it was your concert. That awesome that you finally got signed! I knew you could do it!

Jax: Kai, since we haven’t seen each other in so long you should come with me and Az.

Kai: What are you guys doing?

Jax: Partying.

Natalie: Can I come?

Jax: Nope, dudes only!

Natalie: Well then! Kai you should go. Az is going to drop me and Rhea off so we can chill together too. Then he’ll meet up with you.

Kai: I guess I’ll go then.

Kai and Jax get in a car together. The driver brings them to Jax’s place, and they both go inside. Jax sits on the couch, and Kai sits on a chair.

Kai: I’m surprised we didn’t go to a club.

Jax: Nah, too many people will be there trying to get signatures and pictures.

Kai: I get it.

Jax takes out a blunt and lighter. He starts smoking.

Jax: Oh, sorry. Want to smoke?

Kai: Sure.

Jax passes Kai the blunt. Kai starts smoking. Then Kai coughs after he takes in a deep breath.

Jax: Have you not smoked before?

Kai: No. Why would I have smoked?

Jax: Man, it’s what you do!

About thirty minutes of smoking later Az gets there, and joins in the party. Another hour after they are all high and just spewing nonsense.

Jax: I just realized something.

Kai: What?

Jax: You can’t move backwards on the stairs.

Kai: Your right. Y’know, I still need a job.

Jax: You don’t have a job?

Kai: Nah, I’ve just been living life.

Jax: That’s what we should be doing man.

Kai: Yeah.

Jax: You should make your own business!

Kai: Nah.

Jax: Yeah, you should. Come up with a good idea, and boom. Business.

Kai: I don’t know how to run a business.

Jax: Man, it's easy. I’ll even throw some money down.

Kai: Heh, nah man.

They both look at Az passed out.

Kai: Is he dead?

Jax pokes Az.

Az: Don’t touch me! I’m sleeping.

Kai and Jax just shrug.

## The Purple Coat - Issue 7

Kai is sleeping on Jax’s couch. Az pokes Kai, and wakes him up.

Kai: What time is it?

Az: It’s like ten, get up. I’ll drive you back to your car.

Kai: Alright.

They both get into the car.

Az: You're going to start a business?

Kai: We were high, and you were asleep!

Az: Yeah, but when you're high you have the best of ideas.

Kai: Or the worst.

Az: Nah, only the best.

Eventually Az pulls up next to Kai’s car.

Az: You should at least think about starting a business. I made a restaurant, and it blew up. Now I have multiple restaurants, and I can do whatever I want. I think if you made a business it could be really successful.

Kai: I might.

Az: Alright then, see ya man.

Kai: Yeah, see ya.

Kai gets out and into his own car. Kai drives home. Once he gets inside he notices Cal isn’t there. Kai takes a shower, and starts making food. Once Kai finishes making the food he starts eating.

Beast(In Kai’s Head): Go to oscorp in your hero gear.

Kai(in head): Can’t you see i'm busy eating!

Kai gets no response.

Kai: Dickhead.

Kai goes and puts on his gear. Then Kai teleports to the roof, and starts running to oscorp.

Kai(in head): I forgot I don’t have my fucking staff! Damnit Ra’s!

Kai gets to Oscorp, and then he sees a news chopper fly past him, and it starts flying above Oscorp.

Kai: I guess I gotta get to the top.

Kai sits down, and meditates. Soon he teleports to the top of the building. Kai sees a man in a long black coat with multiple purple zippers. Then he has a purple cloth wrapped around his waist like a belt. The edges of his coat are also all purple. Then the man is wearing a white mask with giant black eye holes. He also has purple cloth over his shoulders like a scarf. The man has his back turned to Kai.

Purple Man: Have you come to stop me?

Kai: Depends on what you're doing.

The Man turns around.

Purple Man: Are you asking me what I am doing?

Kai: Only if you’ll tell me.

Purple Man: Beat me first.

Kai runs up to the man. Kai goes in for a jab. The man drops to the ground, and sweeps Kai’s leg. Kai started falling to the ground. The man used his other leg to kick Kai upwards. Then the man jumps above Kai, and kicks him into the ground. After this barrage of attacks Kai jumps back up.

Kai: Of course you know martial arts! Why wouldn’t you?!

The man runs at Kai. The man tries to roundhouse kick Kai. Kai ducks under it, and elbows the man in his stomach. Then Kai roundhouse kicked the man in his head. The man stumbles backward, but regains balance. Kai runs at him. The man does the same. The man in purple takes out a knife, and slashes Kai’s side. Kai falls to the ground.

Kai: You son of a bitch! Why would you bring a knife to a fist fight?!

Purple Man: To win.

Kai: Who are you?

Purple Man: You don’t need to know-

The man starts holding his head. Then he drops to his knees. All of a sudden he stops holding his head, and he stands up.

Purple Man: Thats a good question, but I can’t just tell you! You gotta work for it! You gotta show me that you want it! You feel me?

Kai: I feel the stab you gave me.

Purple Man: Yeah, you get it. Your hint is… Drum roll please.

Kai does nothing.

Purple Man: I’m not hearing drums! That’s fine. We’ll work on it. The hint is Stanton Street!

Kai: Anymore clues?

Purple Man: Don’t be greedy! Give to the needy. Welp, I better leave before the cops come.

The man walks to the side of the building. Then he takes a step off and falls. Soon Kai sees him rise above the building, and then fly away.

Kai: What the fuck just happened?!

Kai ends up going back home, and looking up stanton street. Cal walks by, and sees what Kai is looking at.

Cal: Oh no! Are you going to move?!

Kai: No, I am seeing a friend there.

Cal: Good, cause you have to tell me six months prior to moving, or I’m bringing you to court.

Kai: Cal, have I ever told you that you're a great friend?

Cal: I know I’m the greatest friend you could have. You don’t need to tell me.

Kai shakes his head, and Cal goes to leave.

Kai: You love to leave the house.

Cal: Don’t be mad that I have a life and you don’t

Kai: Fair point.

Cal: Yeah, that's right.

Cal leaves, and Kai keeps looking up stuff about Stanton Street.

Kai: There isn’t anything here!

Beast(In Kai’s Head): Then why don’t you look deeper.

Kai(In Head): Y’know, you have been an asshole lately. You never talk to me. Then you speak one sentence to me before ditching me again.

Kai gets no response.

Kai: Fuck this! I’m not doing nothing for you. The only thing you have ever done for me is save me when I was dealing with a problem you created. I’m not helping you with anything.

Kai checks his phone. He sees he got a text from Natalie.

Natalie(text): Hey Kai, this is Natalie. I got your number from Az. Now text me back so we can hang out.

Kai(text): As forceful as ever I see.

Natalie(text): I’ll take that as a yes.

Kai(text): When and where?

Natalie gives him some address, and tells him to meet her at 7pm.

Kai: Well, That gives me a lot of time to check out stanton street.

Kai puts his superhero suit back on, and goes to stanton street.

Kai: People walk up and down this street all the time. I doubt the man is a killer. I didn’t see any murders on this street by a black a purple coated man anyway. It also helps that all the murderers on this street were sent to prison or killed already.

Kai sees a drug deal going down. Then Kai hops down. The dealer goes to run.

Kai: I want information.

The dealer trades a bag to a man for a stack of cash. The man runs away, but the dealer stays.

Dealer: What info?

Kai: The man in the purple and black coat.

Dealer: Changes personalities?

Kai: That’s him.

Dealer: What for.

Kai: I owe him money. I need to find him before his hitman finds me.

Dealer: I didn’t know he was trading big money deals.

Kai: Guess he only did it with me then.

Dealer: He goes by Multiplex. You ain’t gonna find him from a simple search. He likes to stay off the grid.

Kai: Is that all you know?

Dealer: That’s all I’m at liberty to say to a broke man.

Kai: I’m not broke. I was broke.

Kai hands him a hundred dollars.

Dealer: You must owe quite the large debt.

Kai: Yeah, that's why I need to find him.

Dealer: I’m not saying no more!

Kai: You got stacks or something?

Dealer: You don’t have my trust and respect like multiplex has, and I ain’t no snitch to friends.

Kai: Fair enough.

Kai walks away. Kai goes home, and changes into nice clothes before driving to the address Natalie gave him. He pulls up to a house, and gets out of the car. He knocks on the door, and Natalie answers it.

Natalie: Kai, come in.

Kai walks in and sits on the couch.

Natalie: How did you know we were going to sit down?

Kai: Because that's what we always do. Whenever I go to Az or Jax’s house we sit down on the couch.

Natalie: I’m sorry the couch is too basic for you.

Kai: Nah, I love the couch. Me and the couch are best friends.

Natalie sits down too.

Natalie: Now your in love with the couch. Bipolar much?

Kai: I don’t know. I don’t use therapists.

Natalie: Why not?

Kai: They just stare at you, and want you to tell them all your secrets. They never even tell me their secrets. It’s a one sided relationship.

Natalie: That was extra.

Kai: It was right.

Natalie: Let's move on from therapy. Jax told me you were unemployed.

Kai: What, I said that while we were smoking! I want him reprimanded for this!

Natalie: And you guys came up with the idea that you could become a ceo.

Kai: I’m not doing it.

Natalie sighs in frustration.

Natalie: And that’s why I wanted to talk to you.

Kai: Natalie, I don’t even have an idea for the business. The idea would fail before it even started.

Natalie: Then think of an idea. All you need is one idea that no one else is doing.

Kai: Stop being inspirational! I don’t appreciate it.

Natalie: Az told me that your last job made you leave all the time. I just want you to be able to be happy.

Kai: Happy, the fuck. Why are you being so sentimental? This isn’t like you.

Natalie: How would you know Kai?! It's been around six years!

Kai:...

Natalie: At least come up with an idea before you give up.

Natalie gets up, and walks away.

Kai: I pissed her off. I’ll give her some time to cool down.

Kai leaves to go home.

## The Bears - Issue 8

A week later, Kai is laying down on the couch thinking to himself.

Kai(in head): I can’t think of a fucking buisness idea. I’m not a businessman.

Kai is swinging a butterfly knife in his hand.

Kai(in head): This butterfly knife is awesome, but it’s making me miss my staff.

Kai has a flashback from months ago. He sees Slade with a look of guilt and sadness on his face. Then slade just starts walking away. Kai comes back to reality.

Kai(in head): I didn’t think seeing Slade again would be so strange. Imma just go to the gym.

Kai goes to the gym struggling to get Slade out of his head. Kai maxes out all the machines he uses, and eventually gets bored with lifting so he goes to the punching bag. Kai starts with very light punches. Then Kai gets more flashbacks. Kai remembers back to when he was thirteen.

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

Kai: Alright.

They start playing.

Slade: So, are you setting something up?

Kai:...

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

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

Slade: Checkmate, kid.

Kai: what the- I thought I was winning.

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

Then Kai remembers a year later. When he was scared after killing detective Steel.

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

Kai: How did you know?

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

Kai starts crying as Slade holds him.

Then Kai remembers going back to Slade's house after an A.R.G.U.S mission.

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

Older Woman: No I do not.

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

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

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

Older Woman: Okay then, have a good day.

Kai: You too.

She shuts the door, and Kai walks back to his car. Kai snaps back to reality, and he punched straight through the punching bag.

Kai(in head): I need to find Slade.

Kai goes back to his house. He gets a backpack, and fills it. He puts his suit, butterfly knife, snacks, and water in the bag.

Kai(in head): That looks like all we have here that I would need.

Cal walks out of his room, and grabs something out of the fridge.

Cal: Where are you going?

Kai: I don’t know.

Cal: Well then when are you coming back?

Kai: Drawing a blank.

Cal: Just make sure you have money for me when you get back.

Kai: I won’t be gone that long. Maybe a week or two.

Cal: Alright. See ya.

Kai leaves the house, and gets in his car. He drives over to the argus base. When he walks a door opens, and Amanda Waller walks through the door.

Waller: Why are you here?

Kai: I need to know where the Slade that raised me is.

Waller: Why?

Kai: Why not?

Waller: Why would A.R.G.U.S help you?

Kai: Because I’ll never ask anything again.

Waller: We’re done here.

Kai:Wait! What if this Slade goes rogue. He could take down your whole operation. Especially since he knows about it.

Waller: We’ll tell you where he is, but you have to kill him. Deal?

Kai:... Deal.

They shake hands. Kai follows Waller. They end up in the computer lab. Waller turns to one of her computer scientists.

Waller: Put up Slades location.

A huge screen lights up showing a mountain. The top of the mountain is highlighted in green.

Waller: We have been trying to take Slade down for a while now. There is an animal we have never seen before. We believe its a mutation between a polar bear and wolf.

Kai: That doesn’t sound that bad.

Waller: It wouldn’t be if it wasn’t twice as big as a regular polar bear, and had claws that shot out like projectiles. Whenever we try to use a helicopter to fly up there it shoots us down.

Kai: Does this mean you can’t fly me up there?

Waller: We can fly you half the way up. You'll have to climb from there. You can grab gear from the same place as always.

Kai: Alright.

Kai walks out of the room and down the hallway. He opens the door into the supply room. He grabs two ice axes, and hooks them onto the sides of his bag. Then Kai grabs an oxygen mask, and changes into his hero clothes.

Kai: I think that's all I need.

Kai walks to the old mission room. He waits there until Waller shows up.

Waller: No jacket?

Kai: I had water constantly dumped on me for a year and a half. Temperature doesn’t affect me anymore. Plus I have a sweatshirt on. I’ll be fine.

Waller: You know what to do. The helicopter is ready for you on the roof as always.

Kai: Alright.

Waller: This will be your last mission.

Kai: Yeah, I know. Feels good to finally close up loose ends.

Waller: Yes it does Mr.Adara.

Kai leaves the room, and walks up the stairs to the roof. He walks over to the chopper, and then hops into it.

Pilot: Are you ready to go to Jengish Chokusu.

Kai sits down.

Kai: I guess.

Pilot: Good enough for me.

The helicopter takes off. After hours of flying Kai finally sees the mountain. Once they get close to the mountain the pilot steps away from the cockpit. He has an oxygen mask on, and a parachute. The helicopter is still moving closer towards the mountain.

Kai(in head): And he’s bailing.

Kai goes as fast as possible to grab the guy. The guy opens the door, and jumps out before Kai could get him.

The helicopter starts spinning out of control.

Kai(in head): Guess I have to jump to.

Kai puts on his oxygen mask, and takes out his ice axes.

Kai: Have to time this perfectly.

The helicopter gets very close to the mountain. Kai jumps out, and his axes hit the rock of the mountain. His axes slide down the rock before his right axe grips onto the mountain. His left axe drops down into the abyss of fog. Kai grabs onto the mountain with his left hand while watching his axe drop.

Kai: Worked like a charm. If you forget that I lost an axe.

The helicopter slams into the mountain above him creating an explosion. Kai puts his left arm above his head to protect him from debris. A few small pieces hit him, but the majority of pieces missed him.

Kai: Parkour and fireworks. My favorite.

Kai starts climbing up the mountain. As his axe cracks through each piece of rock the wind whips his face. Some rocks he grabs onto break, and he has to grab onto something else with his left hand. Eventually, after hours, he found his way to the top part of the mountain. The top half is flatter and walkable, but still rises in height. Kai pulls himself up to this level, and then lays on the cold snow breathing heavily.

Kai: That was a lot of work, but now I have finally reached the top! Should be easy from here.

Kai puts on his hood, and pulls the two strings on his sweatshirt to tighten the hood up a bit.

Kai: Now I can run.

Kai starts running across the snow. Soon he hears a loud roar, and a blizzard kicks up on the mountain. Kai takes his ice axe back out. Large black needles fire through the blizzard at Kai. Kai does a back handspring to dodge it. Then a huge white and blue beast comes out of the fog, and slams into Kai. Kai falls back, and soon the beast is out of sight again.

Kai: This must be the bear.

The huge bear wolf hybrid stands on its back legs to strike fear. The twenty foot tall beast looks like it weighs a few tons. Its coat is white with a blue X pattern across its body. It has a scar across one of its eyes. The beast roars again. Kai goes for an axe swing straight to its stomach. His axe hits the polar bear without actually cutting it. The bear slams its front paws on Kai. Kai gets his hand under the bear's paw. Kai lifts the bear's paw up, and forces the bear back. The bear hides back in the snow, and Kai gets back to his feet. The blizzard calms down, and the bear seems to be gone.

Kai: Fuck man. I don’t know if I can take that bear down.

Kai starts walking through the snow again, and eventually he finds a polar bear laying in the snow. It has an X across its body just like that last bear, but this bear is much smaller. Kai walks over to the bear, and sees that the bear is decapitated.

Kai(in head): Is this a female? Are there more of these things?

Kai keeps walking, and sees a cave.

Kai(in head): I need to be careful. I don’t know if the other bear is here, or if there are more bears.

Kai sneaks over to the cave. He slowly walks through the cold dark cave until he sees the huge bear laying down. There are bear cubs snuggled up against the big bear. Then Kai smiles.

Kai(in head): I understand. These bears only have a father. Just like I did. I guess that’s the reason this bear was so aggressive. Now it’s time to meet the man who did this.

Kai leaves the cave, and walks further up the mountain. Once he reaches the top of the mountain he sees another cave. He walks inside, and after a short walk he sees an orange light. Slade is sitting in front of a fire.

Slade: Hey kid.

## The Old Man Without Time - Issue 9

Kai sits down next to the campfire. Slade is wearing his black and orange suit. His mask is next to him on the ground. He has a long grey beard, and has a calm look on his face. He is poking the fire with his sword.

Slade: It’s been a while kid.

Kai: It's been about six years, hasn’t it?

Slade: I’ve been counting the days. I’m guessing you have a few questions?

Kai: Why are there two Slades.

Slade sighs.

Slade: I’m not the original Slade. Slade worked for an australian organization, and they intended on making more Slades as a way to have an army of unbeatable soldiers. B.L.A.D.E, another organization, found out about this. They tried many times and failed. After years of tests they created me. I was exactly what they were looking for, but that’s when B.L.A.D.E struck. They killed everyone that worked there, and burned the building to the ground. They recruited me as their soldier, and I worked with them for years. Then on one mission they believed I died. They assumed this, and never tried looking. Once I learned that I was expendable I got angry. I had worked for them for years without pay or question. I became a hitman, and killed only high paying contracts to make money. I made millions. Then I met a man named Stick. During one of these contracts. He was amazed at my skills, and tried recruiting me to his team. I denied because I was getting old. See, while the real deathstroke has regenerative abilities. My abilities are flawed. I can heal from wounds, but not from age. As I got older I wanted to settle down. I bought a house, and I lived a normal life. Slade called me years later, and asked me to take care of a young kid. At first I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to take care of some child I don’t know. If I wanted to do that I would have adopted a kid long ago, but I had never really thought about it. Then I realized I could pass down my skills onto this child as if they were my son. I learned that in a way I would live beyond my death. So I agreed to take you in. You know the rest from there.

Kai: Then why did you leave, and why does nobody know that you exist?

Slade: You were gone for a year kid. The real Slade showed back up in america a few months after you left. His face has been shown to the authorities. I had to leave, and I knew you were on the right path so I left letting A.R.G.U.S clean up after me. They believed I went rogue, and I thought that you would have kept doing good with A.R.G.U.S.

Kai: Why wouldn’t you have told A.R.G.U.S before leaving?

Slade: A.R.G.U.S wouldn’t have let me leave. They would have tried to make me take down Slade, or I would have been labeled rogue anyway.

Kai: After all this time you didn’t even want to reach out to me?

Slade: You're my son. Of course I wanted to reach out to you. I just couldn’t bring myself to leave this mountain. When you sit in silence for so many years you think back on your life, and there are some things I regret kid. I regret not living. Even after wasting most of my life at B.L.A.D.E I still worked to get millions for years. Only then did I get to relax and enjoy life. I knew you would be mad about my disappearance so I hoped that you just believed I was dead.

Kai gets tears in his eyes, and Slade stays not making eye contact. He just stares at the fire poking at it with his sword.

Kai: That’s selfish! I never thought you would be dead! You were always stronger than me! There was no one who could have taken you down! I thought you abandoned me! I found out there was another you! I thought you left because you were done with your mission!

Slade: You are my mission. My mission is to live forever. My mission as a father.

Kai: Maybe you should have told me that before you left!

The room stays in silence. All they can hear is Slade picking at the fire as the fire cracks. Kai wasn’t paying attention to the fire, but now that he looks at it the fire is weak, and barely staying lit.

Slade: Why don’t we take a walk kid?

Slade gets up leaving his sword. He grabs his ballistic staff, and uses it as a cane to walk around. Slade slowly started walking out of the cave. Kai follows behind him as they keep walking. Soon Slade and Kai make it to the dead female polar bear. Slade drops to his knees, and starts praying. Kai can barely hear him.

Slade(whispering): God please, take care of this poor woman in heaven. She didn’t deserve the fate that she got. She had babies that could have grown up with her. So all I ask is to please take care of her.

Slade stands back up.

Kai: You pray about a polar bear you killed.

Slade: I pray everyday. She was sick. She left the cave and collapsed. The father couldn’t bring her back to the cave, and she was suffering. I gave her mercy, and the polar bear understood that.

Slade starts walking down the mountain with Kai. They go into the big polar bears cave.

Kai: Won’t he attack us?

Slade: No, this polar bear and I have known each other for years, kid. We have grown a relationship.

The polar bear opens its eyes to see it’s Slade and Kai. Slade lays down next to the two cubs petting them. Kai goes to pet them, and the father growls. Kai decides to just stand there, and the polar bear goes back to sleep.

Slade: I killed the mother a year ago, and I have gone to see these babies everyday since. I have named this one Kai, and the other Slade jr.

Kai: You named a bear after me?

Slade: It gave me peace taking care of their babies.

Kai: What do they eat?

Slade: They don’t. They’re mutated. One day A helicopter just dropped them off here, and they have been here ever since. There stuck here just like me.

Slade sighs.

Slade: I guess it’s time to go back to the cave.

They walk back to the cave, and sit down in the exact same spots as before.

Slade: I’m so tired.

The fire has only a few sparks left.

Slade: I hope you can forgive me Kai.

Kai starts crying.

Kai: Slade, when my father died you were the only one there. I barely even remember my parents. You trained me how to fight. You even got me the A.R.G.U.S job. I just wanted to see you. I wanted you to explain why you left.

Slade: I love you Kai.

Kai: I love you too Slade.

Slade: Here.

Slade holds up his staff, and Kai takes the staff from Slade.

Kai: Your staff? Thank you-

Kai looks back to see Slade laying on the floor. His eyes are shut, and the fire is out. Kai puts down the staff, and stands up. Kai uses his hand to dig out the snow and dirt. Kai carries Slade's body, and then puts him in the hole. Then Kai puts slades swords in an X pattern over him, and then in the middle of the X he puts down Slades mask. Kai pushes the snow and dirt over Slade. Kai then finds the biggest rock he can, and then puts small rocks around that big rock. The father bear walks in, and snuggles his head against the rock before leaving.

Kai: God, he made mistakes in his life, but he has also done good. He deserves to go to heaven, and be able to find his peace in the afterlife. Take care of him.

Kai puts his mask on the grave.

Kai: He was loved.

Kai goes to sleep, and wakes up the next day. He changes his clothes into normal clothes again. Then he goes to see the bear one last time, and goes to the edge of the mountain. Kai starts climbing down, and after hours and hours he finally makes it to the bottom. Kai starts walking off to try to find a town. It takes him a while of walking before he finds a small town. The town has a few people, but mainly looks kind of dead. Then Kai sees the people looking at him like they're scared, but confused at the same time.

Kai: Ok, where the fuck am I?

## Piecing It Together - Issue 10

Kai has been running around for a few days, and finally found a huge city. He sneaks onto the airport runway, and steals a helicopter that people just got out of. After flying a helicopter once or twice at A.R.G.U.S it was a bit difficult, but Kai made it to the closest A.R.G.U.S base. They had landed there to restock on fuel when they were flying over to the mountain. Kai lands on the roof, and guards come running up the stairs. The guards start shooting him, and Kai starts spinning his staff. The Bullets bounce off the staff. The guards run out of ammo, and go to put reload. Kai runs over and slams his staff into them. The swing knocked them all out. Then Kai runs down the stairs, and through the halls. Whenever a guard shows up he dodges the bullets, and slams his staff into them. Eventually he gets to the computer lab.

Kai: Connect me to Waller!

Worker: We might not be able to get into contact with her.

Kai: I bet you will if you make it urgent, and I think losing workers is pretty urgent.

Soon Waller appears on the giant screen.

Waller: I see you’re alive.

Kai: Bring a helicopter to pick me up and bring me back home, or I will take one of these helicopters, and destroy every A.R.G.U.S base until I make my way home.

Waller: Fine. There is a pilot there. I will give him orders to fly you home.

Kai: Oh, and Waller.

Waller: What?

Kai: That’s two helicopter crashes I survived. If I have to survive a third one I’m coming for your head. Take your chances.

Waller looks angry.

Kai: Shut it off.

The screen goes black, and Kai walks up to the roof of the building. There is a helicopter with a pilot in it. He gets in the helicopter.

Kai: Are you taking me back to New York?

Pilot: Yes.

Kai: A pilot jumped out at the last second before. I’m not letting that happen again. Take off your parachute.

Pilot: What if the plane goes down?

Kai: Don’t let it.

The pilot hands Kai his parachute, and the helicopter takes off. They fly back to new york after many hours. Kai gets off the helicopter, and walks through the building. Waller meets him right before he goes out the final door.

Waller: You realize you have made an enemy of A.R.G.U.S. A powerful military force.

Kai: I have made worse enemies. You couldn’t bring me down if you wanted to. You’ve even tried.

Kai leaves the building, and goes out to his car. He drives off, and eventually makes it back home. Cal is sitting on the couch.

Kai: What the hell? That’s my spot!

Cal: Oh, I didn’t think you’d be back so soon.

Kai: Admit it. You missed me.

Cal: I didn’t miss anything.

Kai: I gotta go shopping.

Cal: For what?

Kai: This ain’t no damn interrogation.

Cal: Fair enough. Oh, that masked man attacked a few more businesses while you were gone.

Kai: Wow, that guy is really determined.

Cal: He has been all over the news. Nobody knows why he’s doing it. The only thing the cops can figure out is that he keeps attacking chemical businesses for some reason. It’s really weird.

Kai: We’ll have to talk more about it later.

Kai leaves and goes shopping. Kai buys a red mask from the store along with some food before going home. When Kai gets back home he uses his phone to look up more about multiplex. After hours of searching he finally found a story. Kai finds a story about a legal battle.

Kai(in head): “A father went to sue a big chemical company for giving his son a chemical that was said to save his life, but it killed him. The corporation one the legal battle because the dad had signed that they could use it on his son for a few thousand. That was fifteen years ago. The father had two kids, and lived on Stanton Street. The father's name was James Torto.” Let’s see if he still lives at the same address.

Kai travels to the address the document said. He ends up at an apartment complex. He walks to apartment forteen, and knocks on the door. A fat white man without a shirt and a cigarette in his mouth opens the door.

???: What? Are you some kind of superhero? The gay guy is in a apartment 10.

He goes to close the door, and Kais stops the door from closing.

Kai: Are you James Torto?

???: Yeah, what’s it to ya?

Kai: I have a few questions for you.

James: Are you some type of undercover pig?

Kai: Nope, and your not the one I’m looking for.

James: Who?

Kai: I need to know about your son.

James: Hundred bucks.

Kai: Okay then.

Kai hands the man a hundred dollars.

James: His name is Kevin Torto. He needs to be an asylum. He would be freaking out one moment, and then calm and collected. He should be twenty years old now.

Kai: Another question.

James: Make it quick.

Kai: Did he love his brother?

James: Ya couldn’t break the two apart.

He goes to close the door, and Kai stops him.

Kai: Last question. What was the chemical company you sued.

James: Labelle Chemical.

Kai: Thank you.

The man closes the door in Kai’s face. Then Kai starts walking away.

Kai: I think I have basically pieced together what's going on here.

Kai looks up on his phone the only companies Multiplex hasn’t taken down. There are only two left and Labelle is one of them.

Kai(in head): He must be saving the best for last. That means that he must be going to Byron Chemicals.

Kai leaves the building, and starts running to the company. Once he can see the building a man in a blue and black high tech suit runs over, and blocks his way to Bryon Chemicals.

???: You have a high power level.

The man takes out an axe.

Kai: Who the hell are you?

???: I go by Eagle Eye, and I’m guessing you're going to Bryon Chemicals?

Kai: You would be correct.

Eagle Eye sighs.

Eagle: I thought as much.

He runs over to Kai, and goes for a slash with his axe. Kai quickly takes out his ballistic staff, and blocks the axe. Eagle Eye goes in for a punch, but Kai slams the bottom of his staff into the man's arm. As the man's arm drops the other arm comes down with the axe in hand. Kai swings the top part of his staff over to the axe, and blocks it. Then Kai takes one arm off the staff, and elbows Eagle Eye in the stomach. Eagle Eye stumbled backwards, and Kai roundhouse kicks his head. Eagle Eye put his Axe up, and blocked the kick. Eagle Eye went for a slice at Kai’s stomach, and Kai swung his staff, and hit the middle of Eagle Eye’s arm. He dropped the axe, and fell to the ground. Then as he fell to the ground he rolled, and went for a stomach punch. Kai doesn’t even try to dodge it, and the punch hits him with no effect. Then Kai punches Eagle Eye in the face, sending him back. Eagle Eye brings himself back to his feet.

Eagle: I guess I can’t win this.

Kai: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know I’m not here to attack Bryon Chemicals, right?

Eagle: Then why are you here?

Kai: To stop the guy that's going to attack Byron Chemicals.

A news chopper flies over their heads going in Byron Chemicals direction.

Kai/Eagle: Shit.

They both run over to the Byron Chemicals Building.

Eagle: I’ll never make it up there in time.

Kai: You're not strong enough to take him on anyway.

Eagle: Your going alone?

Kai: Should be fine. I have a feeling we aren’t going to fight.

Kai closes his eyes, and when he opens them he is on the top of Byron Chemicals.

Multiplex: And I thought you had given up.

Kai: All I needed was a little motivation. Oh, and I found your motivation, Kevin.

Multiplex: And what is that?

Kai: Your brother.

Multiplex: You would be correct. You should give yourself a pat on the back. That must have been hard to figure out.

Kai: Well, now that I have the majority of the story. Why don’t you give me the rest of the breakdown.

Multiplex: Fine. My brother and I were very close since we were all we had. Our mother left, and our father became abusive. We had to rely on each other.

He pulls up one of his sleeves to show cigarette burns from his father.

Multiplex: Then my brother was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors said it couldn’t be cured. Then when Lebelle chemicals came around, and said that they would give my father a few thousand dollars to test a chemical on his son he jumped at the chance to get free money. Then when my brother died, and my father realized he could have gotten more money off of the test he sued.

Multiplex looks like he is getting a headache again. Then he changes his posture.

Multiplex: It’s you again. Did ya figure out who I am? Bet ya didn’t!

Kai: Yeah, your names Kevin-

Multiplex: I’m not kevin! My name is joe.

Kai(in head): Just like I thought. Its dissociative identity disorder. He has a multiple personalities. Air go the name Multiplex.

Multiplex: I knew you would fail. Everyone always guesses the other personality!

Kai: You know you have DID.

Multiplex: Of course I do. Once our father said that we kept changing personalities we started writing notes to each other, but that’s enough for now. I don’t want to talk to someone who failed my challenge.

Kai: Joe, I will stop you before you take down Lebelle.

Multiplex: No you won’t!

He flies away.

Kai: I won’t let him take down another company.

## Adversaries - Issue 11

Kai is sitting on the couch at home.

Kai(in head): Eagle Eyes power was pretty cool. I wonder if I could create something like that.

The door opens, and Cal walks in the house.

Cal: You're so damn lazy.

Kai: I’m straight chillin. You don’t even know.

Cal: Yeah, whatever.

Cal grabs an apple, and goes into his room.

Kai(in head): I should probably go hang out with a friend, or at least do something normal.

Kai texts Natalie.

Kai(text): Wanna hang out?

After like ten minutes Natalie texts back.

Natalie(Text): Sure, where and when?

Kai(Text): Bibble and Sip in about an hour.

Natalie: Alright.

Kai goes to Bibble and Sip, and meets Natalie there. They both order food, and sit down at a table.

Natalie: So, what have you been doing?

Kai: Well, I saw Slade for the first time in years.

Natalie: You haven’t seen Slade in years?

Kai: No, he left when I started my job six years ago. It was really good to see him.

Natalie: I’m really happy for you, but while we are on the topic of jobs I want to apologize.

Kai: For what?

Natalie: Trying to force you to start a business. Az told me that your last job took years out of your life, and you weren’t happy with it. So I decided to do what he said, and talk you into starting your own business. Especially since you might have to work your old job again, and we wouldn’t really be able to see each other.

Kai: I would never go back to doing missions. It sucked and multiple people have helped me realize that it's just not living.

Natalie: That’s good.

Kai: Hey, do you wanna go somewhere else?

Natalie: Sure, where?

Kai: Haven’t really thought that one through yet.

Natalie: Why don’t we go to the movies?

Kai: To see what?

Natalie: We’ll figure that out when we get there.

They both get into Kai’s car, and Kai starts driving. Eventually Kai pulls over at the movies, and they walk inside. After looking at the movie choice they choose an action movie. They both sit down, and start watching the movie. About half way through Kai puts his arm around Natalie, and she lays her head on him. Once the movie finishes they both get back in Kai’s car.

Kai: The movie was pretty cool.

Natalie: Lots of explosions.

Kai: Yeah, because explosions are fucking awesome!

Natalie laughs.

Natalie: Sure they are.

Kai starts driving, and soon they end up back at Bibble and Sip.

Natalie: Really, I already have to leave.

Kai: I got something to do later.

Natalie: Whatever. Text me later?

Kai: Of course.

Natalie gets out, and Kai drives back home. Once Kai gets in the house he goes right to his room, and changes into his hero clothes.

Kai(in head): It’s getting dark. I’m guessing Multiplex will be at Lebelle Chemicals soon.

Kai teleports to the top of his building, and starts running to the chemical company. Eventually Kai teleports to the top of Lebelle, and waits there. He waits there all night. Once the sun starts to rise Multiplex makes it to the top of the building.

Multiplex: Now you have your back turned to me.

Kai stands up, and turns around to see Multiplex.

Kai: Why not just destroy Labelle?

Multiplex: All these companies are the same.

Kai sighs.

Kai: I thought as much.

Kai takes out his staff.

Kai: Bring it.

Multiplex runs at Kai. Kai swings his staff. Multiplex dodges it, and goes for an elbow in Kai’s stomach. Kai dodges to the side, and slams his staff in Multiplex’s back. Multiplex rolls, and turns back to Kai. When Multiplex sees Kai they are a few feet apart. Kai goes for a baseball swing. Multiplex ducks under it, and Kai slams the staff on Multiplex’s head. Multiplex lies on the ground.

Kai: This is way easier with a staff.

A news chopper starts floating above their heads recording everything.

Multiplex gets back up.

Multiplex: Ah, Kevin must have taken down Labelle. That sly dog.

Kai: Joe?

Multiplex: You remember me? That’s so nice.

Multiplex flies up. Then starts shooting lasers out of his arms. Kai starts dodging the lazers, and Multiplex starts laughing.

Multiplex: Dance for me!

Kai gets hit by one of the lazers, and blasted back. Then as Kai is laying on the ground Multiplex starts shooting lasers at him even more rapidly. He shoots so many lasers that he can’t see Kai while doing it. Then Kai slams Multiplex down, and catches himself right before slamming into the ground. Kai starts free falling, and Multiplex starts shooting lasers again. Kai puts his arms in front of his face, and starts getting blasted. Then Kai teleports back to the ground.

Multiplex: One hit. That is all you’ll get.

Then lasers come out of Multiplex’s eyes. Kai does a back handspring to dodge him. Then Kai starts running at Multiplex while running back and forth dodging the optic blasts.

Multiplex: You think I can only use one blast at a time.

Multiplex starts shooting blasts out of his hands while still using optic blasts. Kai gets hit with Multiplex’s eye beams, and they blast him off the building. As Kai is falling down he jabs his staff into the building.

Kai(in head): Fuck. Those blasts are too damn hard to dodge.

Beast(to kai): You ran 100 kilometers in 9 minutes. All you have to do is run fast enough that his eyes can’t keep up.

Kai(in head): I don’t have super speed!

Beast(to kai): Yes you do. You just don’t use it in battle. Run.

Kai teleports to the top of the building.

Multiplex: You should have just run away. This is the last company anyway. You are really putting up a fight for one company?

Kai: Every great criminal gets caught.

Multiplex: Thanks for the compliment.

Kai puts his staff on his back. Multiplex starts shooting lasers again, and Kai starts running as fast as he possibly can. He can see that Multiplex’s optic blasts follow right behind him. Kai runs at Multiplex, and then punches Multiplex in the face. Multiplex goes flying, and slams into the ground. A portal opens up above them, and a flying man comes out. Then the portal closes. He has a grey and black muscle shirt. Then a red and black trench coat with a high collar. He wears baggy black pants, and black shoes. He has a white mask with only a left eye on the mask. He floats down to Multiplex.

???: Its been lonely without me, hasn’t it brother?

The man helps Multiplex up.

Multiplex: I knew if I did this you would show up!

The man hugs Multiplex. Then Multiplex’s depression changes. Multiplex drops to the ground with a hole in his chest, and the man is holding Multiplex’s heart in his hand.

???: See you in hell.

Kai: Are you James?

???: Don’t call me James. I go by Entity.

A portal opens behind Entity.

Entity: Are you coming.

Entity walks through the portal.

Beats(To Kai): That’s a portal to hell. Follow him.

Kai(in head): Why?

Beast(To Kai): Hells been out of order for a while now. He must have something to do with it. Follow him.

Kai(In Head): How long will this take?!

Beast(To Kai): Go.

Kai(In Head): Fuck it! Who doesn’t want to take a vacation in hell?!

Kai walks through the portal, and the portal closes behind him.

## Bonus - Issue 12

Cal is watching the news. The news shows Kai fighting multiplex.

Reporter: A new hero has stood up to fight against the masked purple villain. It looks like our hero is losing.

Kai falls off the building, and soon gets back to the roof, and takes down Multiplex. Entity shows up, and then leaves through a portal. Kai follows him.

Reporter: It looks like the new villain has left, and our hero has followed him. Is our hero trying to take down this new villain, or is he working with him?

Cal chuckles.

Cal: Well then.

Cal leaves, and goes to a sword fighting dojo. He grabs gear, and gets out on the mat. They aren’t using real swords

Coach: Cal, you don’t have to go easy on him. He’s one of our best.

Cal: Okay couch.

They start fighting. The student goes in for a slash. Cal parries, and quickly goes for a throat strike.

Cal: I win.

Coach: Alright, we’re done for the day.

Cal goes to put his stuff back in his locker, and his couch follows him.

Couch: Why do you even still come here. I can’t ever find a challenge for you. There isn’t any reason to stay here. You should try to find new opponents.

Cal: I like to keep in practice.

Couch: Well okay, but you're really destroying all the other students' confidence.

Cal: Maybe it’ll motivate them to get stronger.

Couch: I have to hope. See ya next week Cal.

The couch pats Cal on the back.

Cal: See ya.

Cal leaves, and goes to the gym, and maxes out all the machines. Then he goes to bench press, and he puts all the weights on. Then he just keeps going for hours until his arms feel like they’re dead. Once he finishes working out, it's late, so he goes to the bar. He starts drinking, and watching a sports game. Then he sees a woman looking at him from across the bar. When he was about to go to her, two big guys walk over to her.

Big guy1: What's a pretty girl like you doing all alone at this hour?

Big guy2: Why don’t you come with us, and we’ll show you why it's more fun to hang out with us?

Woman: Uh, I don’t really-

Big guy1: Come on.

Big guy2: We don’t bite.

Woman: I gotta go home.

She leaves, and the guys follow her. Cal drinks the last sip of his drink, and puts money on the table. He goes out to follow those guys. He leaves the bar, and goes around the corner to the alleyway to see that the guys have pinned the woman to a wall. Cal walks up to them. One of the big guys goes for a punch, and Cal catches the man's fist in his hand. Then Cal punches the guy in the face knocking him out with one punch. The other guy goes for a punch, and Cal ducks under it elbowing the man in his stomach. The man falls over.

Woman: Why would you help me?

Cal: I hate bad people. Especially people that ruin others' lives for no reason.

Woman: Thank you.

She leaves.

Cal: I need another drink.

Cal goes back inside, and gets a few more drinks before leaving. Then Cal starts walking around town for a little bit. Eventually Cal makes it to a bridge. Under the bridge he sees an old enemy. He sees a man with dark skin and white hair.

Cal: Smiley?

Smiley stands up, and takes out his electric whips.

Cal: I’m not here to fight.

Smiley slashes a whip at Cal, and Cal easily dodges it.

Cal: How did you get out of prison?

Cal slowly walks up to Smiley dodging all of Smiley’s attacks. Then Cal lifts Smiley up by the neck, and Smiley drops his whips.

Cal: So how did you get out of prison?

Smiley: None of your business!

Cal: Well how did you become a hobo that lives under a bridge?

Smiley spits at Cal, and Cal slams smiley against the bridge.

Cal: Learn fucking manners.

Cal slams smiley against the wall again, and drops him on the ground. Cal fixes his collar, and walks away. Soon after a dark man with a suit on walks up to smiley.

???: I have the feeling that you don’t want to keep living under this bridge, do you?

Smiley: What does it matter?

???: Follow me.

He starts walking away, and Smiley gets up to follow him.

Smiley: Who are you?

The man takes out a blunt, and lights it. Then he blows smoke to his side.

???: They call me Mr.Notorious.

Cal goes back to his house, and starts watching TV. Then he hears someone knock on the door. Cal walks over to the door, and opens it.

Az: Hey Cal, do you know where Kai is?

Cal: No sorry.

Az: Alright. I need him for something, and he hasn’t been responding.

Cal: Well he isn’t here.

Az: Alright then.

Az leaves, and Cal shuts the door. Then Cal goes back to watching TV.

Cal: Fucking people. Interrupting what I’m doing.

Cal starts watching more TV. Az goes back to his car.

Az: I needed help on figuring out what present to get Kai. It is his birthday in a couple of weeks. Eh, I got like two weeks. It’ll be fine.

Jax has just finished another concert. He is getting ready to leave.

Jax: My music is fucking great. Every concert makes me feel like I’m on top of the world!

Jax finishes getting read, and as soon as he gets to the door his manager walks up to him.

Manager: Are you sure you want to leave alone? There are some crazy fans out there.

Jax: I’ll be fine. I can hold my own in a fight.

Manager: Alright.

Jax leaves the building, and as soon as he gets a few blocks down he gets jumped by two guys with knives.

Jax: You two really don’t want to do this.

Mugger: Why not?!

Jax’s hands light on fire.

Jax: Because you don’t.

Jax blasts the two muggers with a fireball, and they run away.

Jax: Like I’m going to allow two regular old guys to stop me.

One of Kai’s old foes has also been getting ready to make a move. Grandfather is sitting in prison eating a meal in his cell. Once he finishes his meal he goes out to the yard with everyone else. He walks over to the gym equipment, and everyone else there leaves. The grandfather takes off his shirt to show that he is ripped beyond belief Then he starts doing pull ups, and bench presses all the weight he can find. Everyone just tries to stay away from him. Eventually the guards blow a whistle, and everyone goes back inside. When The Grandfather goes back into his room he does not sleep, but sits there, and waits while he stays awake. Then an explosion goes off, and a hole is left in his room.

Righty: We finally got you out boss!

Lefty: Yeah!

Grandfather: Took you long enough.

The grandfather walks out with Lefty and Righty at his side while all the alarms go off. Back at Kai’s house Cal has finally got the motivation to get up, and stop watching TV. Cal goes to the store, and buys a flower. Then Cal goes to a graveyard. He walks past many stones before he finally gets to a certain stone before stopping.

Cal: Hey dad. I miss you every day. Life has been pretty easy. I feel like everything is really going my way. I know you're watching over me everyday, and I cannot be more thankful. You were a great father, and I wish I had one last chance to tell you that before you died. I will avenge your death so that you can finally rest in peace. I will make you proud. I love you father.

Cal puts the flower at the grave. The grave says a loved father and a hero. He saved many lives as a policeman. Rest in peace Connor Steel.