Break: An Urban Hero's Journey

by Wes Grant

  It then dawned on Spear; if they fight him as one, he’s gotta take them out all at once. He then backflipped out of the center of them and made a run for it. He ran full force hoping they would do the same. They followed after him at top speed. They began to catch up to him all in a straight line: Kirei, Shioreta, and then Yaban. Spear ran toward the park wall and jumped to the top then jumped down across the street to a narrow alley. They followed right after. They thought they had him once they got to the alley. Spear ran toward the wall at the end of the alley then jumped at it full force. Kirei thought Spear had nowhere else to go when Spear landed on the wall sideways and jumped off full force with allhis strength back with a punch aimed right at him. Kirei didn’t have enough time to react and was hit in the gut by the hardest punch he’d ever felt. He flew back into Shioreta, and they flew into Yaban. They flew out the alley past the front of a car driving into the side of a parked car and the car slammed through the wall with it almost wrapped around them from the impact. All three were knocked out.

  The car they flew past screeched to a stop. Spear walked out the alley in front of the car, turned to the driver, and gestured to them man, “Call the cops!” He then turned back toward the park and went to tie them up.

  The next morning Nick was getting breakfast and his mom turned on the news. On it, it said how the major storm last night tore apart the park in Jersey City.

  Nick’s mom said, “Lucky thing you weren’t working last night. You might have gotten caught in that.”

  Nick replied, “Yeah, lucky,” then walked up to his room to continue his well deserved rest.

  BLACK ICE

  Chapter 8

  Reunion

  The story started off ten years ago at Nick’s old martial arts school. Nick was fourteen and was finishing up his twoweek free trial of the school. He liked the school, but wasn’t sure if he wanted to pursue doing martial arts. The class was almost over, and the instructor told the class to pair up and spar. Nick was paired up with a classmate from his high school, but they never talked much. The kid’s name was Dean; he had been doing martial arts from a very young age and already had a black belt at kids level. He had just recently gone to the adult classes to get an official black belt. Even for a little guy, he was a hyperactive, cocky, and obnoxious little kid.

  The teacher stepped back and told everybody to start sparring with light contact.

  Dean said while bouncing on his toes, “Come on Nick, make your move. Bet you can’t hit me.” Nick replied, “Oh it’s on.” He stepped forward and was hit twice by Dean’s side snap kick. He tried to get closer but was caught once again by a kick. Even as a kid, Dean’s kicks were fast as lightning. In fact he was the best in class, even more than the higher belts, plus he had trophies from competitions filling his house. Nick didn’t care how good Dean was, all that was going through his head was he needs to land one good hit on him, and that was proving to be harder than he thought, with the speed Dean was using. For every punch Nick threw, Dean caught him with three or four kicks. Nick started understanding Dean’s pattern or style and blocked one of Dean’s kicks.

  Dean said, “Huh, so you’re catching on. Let’s see if you can block this.” Dean then began a barrage of kick attacks at Nick. Nick started blocking more and more of his attacks until it came to a point where Nick was blocking all of Dean’s kicks. Dean getting a little frustrated threw one hard roundhouse kick, but Nick was waiting for it, and grabbed Dean’s leg and threw him. Dean spun three times in the air and landed on his foot and knee, ready to attack again. Before they could continue their intense sparring match the instructor jumped in between them and said, “Both of you, sit over there in meditation stance. They both knelt down next to each other and went into meditation stance.

  Nick whispered, “I almost had you.”

  Dean whispered back, “You never had me . . . but that was a nice throw.” After that day they became the best of friends. During the whole time at the school, Nick pushed and pushed himself to get up to Dean’s level. Through the years, Nick trained intensely to get his skill level up so that one day they could have a true rematch. He figured he had to do something drastic in order to get up to Dean’s level because Dean had been training in martial arts since he was a little kid. Nick had a lot of work ahead of him. After a few years at the school, Nick started training with weights on, and it shot his speed, agility, strength, and stamina through the roof. The only problem was something happened, and Dean had to leave the school.

  Shortly afterward, Dean signed up to join the army. Dean promised Nick a rematch when he got back, but only if Nick could keep a promise to him. He had Nick promise to watch after his family as if they were his own. Nick agreed and they hugged one last time before Dean went off to protect his country.

  PRESENT DAY Spear was on the rooftops of Jersey City on his night watch looking out for anything to happen. The night was cold and it seemed there was no crime happening that night. It had been a good amount of weeks since he fought the Trinity Masters. The past few nights had been uneventful and Spear was about to call it a night.

  A mile away, Spear was being watched through a scope. The mysterious person dressed in black flipped a switch on the side of the sniper gun and said, “Activate Trank Mode” the gun replies, “Trank Mode activated.” It began to make a charging noise. He shot the gun and sent the tranquilizer shot flying across town straight at Spear. Right before the shot reached Spear, he sensed it and, at the last second, hit the shot away. The mysterious person looked upaway from the scope and said, “He’s as good as they say, but I’m the best.” He got up and said, “Pack Mode.” The sniper gun began to transformed and fold itself into some sort of pack. When the mysterious person stood up, they almost looked like a ninja. He then took the pack and put it on his back, jumped off the roof, and started sprinting toward Spear jumping from roof to roof. Spear took off in the direction the shot came from. You see the mysterious person running across the rooftops jumping over air vents and air systems, heading in Spear’s direction. You then see Spear running in the mysterious person’s direction jumping from building to building. From a top view over the city zooming in closer you can see as the mysterious person and Spear drew closer to each other. When Spear and the mysterious ninja got to the same roof they stopped in their tracks. The air was cold and both were silent. Spear standing in his fighting outfit, and the mysterious man dress almost like a ninja with a visor over his eyes.

  Spear yelled, “I’m gonna take a wild guess and say you’re the one that shot at me. Are you another one of Mr. Platinums hired hitmen, cause it’s getting real old, real fast?”

  The mysterious ninja didn’t say a word as he slowly reached toward his side and pulled out his sword from its sheath. Spear replied, “Oh the strong silent time huh. Ok, if that’s the way you want it.” He then pulled out his two rods and continues, “I must warn you, many have tried, all have failed, just ask his last set of flunkies.”

  The mysterious ninja drew his sword close and went into a fighting stance then took off towards Spear. At the same time Spear sprinted at the ninja full speed. They both swung their weapons at the same time, and on contact almost in slow motion, the mysterious ninja’s sword cut through Spear’s rod like a hot knife through butter.

  Spear jumped back and said, “Aw, come on, you know how much these things cost. That’s like a whole paycheck, gone!” The ninja then went on the attack again. Spear dodged the attacks more precisely than usual mainly because now he had nothing to block the blade from cutting him to pieces. The person swung the sword and Spear ducked. The person then swung the sword, and Spear jumped over it but was then kicked in the stomach by the person. Spear back flipped and landed on his feet sliding back. The ninja jumped at Spear swinging his sword down; Spear rolled and jumped out the way. The ninja then followed after him and swung the sword again and again. Spear leaned back and barely dodged the blade then swung his leg to sweep the person. The ninja then jumped straight up doing a 14
40 degree spin in place and hook-kicked Spear in the face. Spear spun to the right and caught himself; he then went on the attack at the ninja, trying his hardest to make contact. He still found himself holding back due to the fact that one major cut from that sword and he’s done. The ninja dodged all of Spear’s attacks, but somehow Spear was able to kick the sword out of his hand. The sword skidded across the rooftop to the safety border. Spear then went on full force attack and threw a barrage of attacks at the ninja, but the ninja still dodged them all and did three backflips into a somersault landing in a fighting stance.

  Spear mumbled to himself, “OK, that’s just showing off.” He then ran at the ninja and continued the attacks. He used his one good rod and tried to hit the ninja. The ninja dodged all the attacks and reached out for his weapon across the roof. Spear went to hit him, but at the last second, the sword flew right into the ninja’s hand and he cut Spear’s weapon in half. Spear leaned back and dodged the blade, but the ninja was able to cut Spear on the left hand. Spear jumped back and went into fighting stance. The ninja was ready to continue to fight but suddenly stopped.

  In the ninja’s ear, someone said, “Stop and return to base.” The ninja said, “I can finish him.”

  Spear said, “Who are you talking to. You hearing voices or something? Cause if you are the clinic is that way.” as he pointed. Th e voice continues, “Finishing him isn’t your mission, your mission was to test and assess his abilities as well as test your upgraded suit. Now return so we can run diagnosis.”

  The ninja replied, “Right away.” He then stood up straight and swung his sword around all flashy and put it back in its sheath. When he turned around to leave Spear yelled, “What, you already done? We’re just getting started. Ya got a curfew or something? I know you’re short, but you can’t be that young.”

  The ninja turned his head to the side and put up his middle finger. He then threw down a smoke bomb and disappeared. Spear said, coughing, “A ninja giving me the middle finger, that’s new.”

  When the smoke cleared, he looked to see in what direction the ninja ran, but he was long gone. Spear said, “I need a vacation. People trying to kill me keep popping up like roaches over here.” He then jumped to another roof and headed to his car, calling it a night.

  The next day, Nick was at home fixing himself some breakfast when he got a text from Von saying that his brother Dean got back from the army. Nick hadn’t seen his best friend in almost five years, so he hurried up and headed over to Von’s right away.

  When Nick got to Von’s house, he went straight to the basement because he knew Dean was going to be online playing a game because he’s just like his little brother.

  Nick got downstairs and said, “What’up, Mr. Icelle. Come on man, get off that thing and give your bro a hug.” Dean pauses the game and gets up to hug Nick. Nick continues, “You know we gotta go out and celebrate you being back. I know some ladies that missed you while you was being a great American protecting us for, Truth, Justice, and the American way.”

  Dean cringed his eyebrows and replied, “Where did you hear that from.”

  Nick replied, “I think I saw it on a flyer or something.” Dean replied, “That sounds like something you read out of a comic book. It’s more like kill the enemy and don’t die out there.” Nick replied, “Dam, that’s grim.” Dean replied, “Sorry man my bad. Well, what do you have planned? You know my parents got a welcome home party planned this weekend.”

  Nick said, “You know I’m coming to that, but we’re just gonna go out and visit a few people.”

  Dean asks, “OK… is Kylie still around?”

  Nick replies, “Sorry man you didn’t hear, she got married and had like 7 kids.”

  Dean looking depressed said, “Oh” Nick smiling nudged him and replied, “I’m just messing with you man. Yea she still around and I hear she single to. You a war vet now man. That gives you an instant in.”

  Dean smiling now says, “Ok Nick, just let me finish up my game and we can head out.”

  Von goes over to Nick and whispers, “Aren’t you gonna tell Dean about yourabilities?” Nick replies, “Yeah, I’ll tell him. I just need to find the right time. You know your bro, he’ll probably be pissed that he’ll never be able to beat me in a fair fight.” Snickering, he continued, “I’m kidding, but for real, don’t tell him. I wanna tell him and tell Neil not to either.”

  The rest of that week Nick and Dean hung out like the old times. They went to the movies, visited mutual old friends they both hadn’t seen in a while, and played some games. They enjoyed themselves at Dean’s welcome home party for a while, and after everyone left, they went outside and reminisced on the roof. They lay back with their hands behind their heads looking up at the sky.

  Nick said, “Hey, Dean, do you remember how we became friends?” Dean said, “How could I forget? I was kicking your butt.” Nick said, “OK, you weren’t kicking my butt, it was a tie.” Dean said, “Only because the instructor stopped it.”

  Nick said, “OK, if you want to get technical, then I was kicking your butt, ’cause I got the last hit before he stopped us.” Dean said, “A throw doesn’t count as a hit.”

  Nick said, “It does if you didn’t expect it.”

  Dean said, “Yeah, but I landed on my feet.”

  Nick said, “That’s because you were born flipping out of your mom’s womb.”

  Dean stood up and said,“If you think that was good back then, wait till you see what I can do now.”

  Nick said, “Yeah, show me what new tricks you learned in the army.” Dean ran to the edge of the roof and did a somersault off the roof, landed, then went straight into backflips in the yard and finished it off with 1440 degrees spinning hook kick. Nick remembered seeing that move just recently.

  Nick walked to the edge of the roof, hopped down, and said, “Yeah, that’s hot. You definitely got better.”

  Dean said excitedly, “I know right! The most I ever got to back in the days was a 720 spinning hook kick.”

  Nick replied, “Yea, I didn’t even know that was humanly possible without a bounce board or something.” Dean replied, “Yea, just one of the perks of signing up for the army. Your jealous right, you could barely do a 480 hook kick when I left. ”

  Nick replied, “Yea, I’ve gotten a little better since then. Hey Dean, speaking ofarmy, when did you get back?” Then he walked slowly toward Dean.

  Dean said, “A couple of days before you came over, we have to check off at the nearest base before we come home.” Nick then asked, “I thought you were supposed to do 4 years only.” Dean repl ied, “You know me, I’m the best anywhere I go so they offered me a bonus package if I stayed on for one more year.”

  Nick replied, “Oh that’s cool… so anything interesting that last year.”

  Dean replied, “I can’t talk about it. You know, government stuff.”

  Nick replied, “Yea, my bad. Have you been to Jersey City lately?”

  Dean stopped smiling and said, “I don’t know, Maybe. What’s with the million questions?”

  Nick replied, “No reason, I thought I saw someone that looked like you about your height. He was wearing all black.” Dean replied, “Black what?” He then noticed a wound on Nick’s left hand.

  Nick replied, “I don’t know, you know I don’t pay attention to what guys wear. You know what, nevermind.”

  Dean replied, “Well, it couldn’t have been me. I was at the base Tuesday.”

  Nick suspiciously responded, “I never said, when I saw that person.” Dean nervously replied, “I just said that day out of the few I was here before you came. No real reason. By the way, around what time did you say you thought you saw me. Was it night time?”

  Nick replied, “Not sure, maybe.” Dean replied, “Well be safe, I’ve heard Jersey City’s been crazy lately. I’d watch out for that vigilante, Spear. I hear he’s dangerous.”

  Nick responded, “Some would say he’s a hero.”

  Dean replied, “Only real he
roes are the police, firemen, and military.” Nick responded, “I agree they’re all heroes, but what about when they’re not around. I think it’s great there’s people out there that wanna do good.”

  Dean replied, “The only good they do is cause damage. T hey aren’t train to be proficient. There is always too much collateral damage when these so called heroes do their thing.”

  Nick said, “OK, enough about this super hero business. You remember that abandoned factory building we used to play laser tag in?”

  Dean said, “Yeah.”

  Nick said, “We’ll have to go back there and check it out sometime. I hear it’s supposed to be nice tomorrow night.” Dean said, “Well, I’m kinda busy tomorrow night. You know army stuff.”

  Nick said, “Oh, OK. Don’t worry about it, I got a couple of errands to run tomorrow night myself.” Nick and Dean shook each other’s hand and patted each other on the back. Nick walked off toward his car and waved bye to as he got in the car. Dean eerily standing on the roof waves back at him just watching.