Break: An Urban Hero's Journey

by Wes Grant

  Spear replied, “You’re welcome for what?”

  Ice said, “For saving your ass a second time.” He then put his right hand up to the side of his visor and said, “Homeland, the package is ready. And bring Big Bird.”

  Spear asked, “What are you doing?”

  Ice said, “Calling the organization to come pick up what used to be Jack.”

  Spear replied, “I thought they needed him alive.” Ice said, “They can get whatever information they want from the blood in that car cannoli over there.”

  Spear replied, “What do you mean get information? I thought they were just locking them up so they couldn’t hurt anybody.” Ice said, “Don’t be so naive. They need to know how these things work so we can better protect the people.”

  Spear replied, “These things? Did you forget that I’m one of these things?” Ice said, “Now’s not the time for this, the people I work for should be getting here soon, and you don’t want to be here when they do.”

  Spear looked at Ice with a serious face, backed up slowly, and began to jog away. Before Spear went too far, Ice said, “Hey, Spear.” He turned around, then Ice said, “Watch your back. I won’t always be there to save your ass.”

  Spear replied, “Nobody asked you to.” He then turned around, ran off and out of the junkyard. A few minutes later, a double-propeller helicopter shined a light on Ice then on the crushed package. From the helicopter, a voice said, “We have a visual on the package and agent Black Ice.”

  NEXT SCENE It’s about eight in the morning and soldiers were in the helicopter leaving from the battle grounds in that junkyard. They were watching guard over the large block of crushed cars in the cargo hold area of the helicopter.

  One of the guards said to another guard, “I hear they experiment on the Breakers to find out the secret to their powers.” The other guard said, “Really?”

  The guard replied, “Yup, and when they figure it out I’ll be the first one on line to get me some government issued powers.” The other guard replied, “Aren’t you worried something might gowrong?”

  The guard said, “A little, but hey, they were successful with the Grim Squad.” The other guard said, “Yea, you got a point there.” The guard said, “Hey, you hear that?”

  The other guard said, “Hear what?” The noise got louder and louder The guard s aid, “I think it’s coming from the…” The noise went “Beep, beep, beep, beeeeeeeeep, BOOM!” The helicopter exploded in the sky over New York. Fire and debris rained down over a busy unsuspecting Manhattan. Out of the debris a ball of fire trailed by smoke fell from it. As the object fell from the sky the fire cleared off and it was just a ball of smoke.

  The city of Manhattan was busy as usual with everybody rushing to work when all of a sudden there was a big explosion in the sky. The loud sound caused massive panic. The Helicopter still somewhat intact made an emergency landing in the park. The debris landed sporadically across New York. One large ball of smoking debris landed in the middle of downtown Manhattan leaving a small crater. After a minute or two and the panic calmed down, people started to gather around the dust and smoke. As the dust and smoke began to clear, Jack stood up from his knees in the middle of a crater. He then began walking out of the crater slowly. The crowd screamed and ran from the sight of the dark granite looking Jack.

  Nearby, police arrived at the scene and made a two car blockade in front of Jack. They opened their doors, stood behind them, and raised their guns.

  The officers yelled over the loudspeaker, “Stop where you are, we’re taking you in for questioning!” Jack replied, “Now that doesn’t sound fun at all. How about this, I’ll do whatever I want until your hero Spear comes to stop me.”

  One of the officers said to his partner, “Who’s Spear?” The partner replied, “I think it’s that vigilante, fighting crime in Jersey.”

  The officer said, “But we’re in New York.”

  The partner replied, “Tell him that.” as he tilted his head towards Jack. Jack began walking towards the officers, The officer said over the speaker, “Stop where you are or we will be forced to open fire.”

  Jack taunted them and said, “Not even one step?” as he put one foot forward. The officer said, “I repeat, if you come any closer it will be seen as an act of aggression, and we will be forced to open fire. Now lay face down with your hands behind your head.

  Jack replied, “Sorry mate, Bulletproof Jack lays down for no one.” He began to walk forward again forcing them to open fire at him. To their surprise the bullets bounced and ricochet off him like they were throwing stones at a statue. As he walked towards them both groups of officers unloaded all their ammo on him but he pressed forward with ease. By the time he was in front of one of the police cars they were out of ammo and trying to reload. He Spartan-kicked the police car, knocking it back and taking out the two cops. The cops at the other car panic and jumped in there car. They tried to call for backup and drive away but before they could do so Jack ran up and drop kicked the side of the side of the car, sending it rolling into the side of a building. He then began to go on a rampage through the streets of Manhattan yelling for Spear to come and fight him.

  Meanwhile, Nick was at work. He had gotten there early and was building something for the store. He was in the back listening to music while building a grill. The music was interrupted by a news bulletin stating that a man that calls himself Bulletproof Jack was destroying downtown Manhattan and he wouldn’t stop until the hero named Spear comes to stop him.

  Nick grabbed his things and told his boss that he had to go because he had family around where the chaos in Manhattan was happening. He said he had to leave to make sure things were OK. The boss gave the OK and let him go. Nick took off, hopped in his car, and headed toward the Holland Tunnel. By the time he got close to the Holland tunnel the tunnel was closed off and evacuated. He through on a scully hopped down behind the police barricade went diesel and sprinted down the tunnel.

  Meanwhile the NYPD and SWAT team put up a barricade around Jack but it meant nothing to him. He ran at them while the bullets they shot deflected off him; he jumped and slammed his arms through the engine of the armored truck. One of the SWAT guys pulled out a bazooka and shot a rocket at Jack. Jack turned around and punched the rocket, causing it to explode blowing everything around him away. Jack walked out of the fire and debris unscathed by the explosion. He began walking, then ran full speed at the barricade. He broke through and ran through the cars that were left abandoned in the panic like they were shopping cars, crushing the tops of the cars as he ran over them.

  After a while, Jack was walking down the street unbothered eating a hot dog from a street vendor cart while people still trapped in the buildings watch him. Scared no one dared come out because it was too dangerous on the street. The people trapped in the buildings were watching Jack from afar nonchalantly walk down the street. They cowered in fear whenever he made a move or gesture towards them.

  Jack was taking a bite out of the hot dog and saying to himself, “These street dogs are pretty good.” A rookie news reporter and her cameraman were secretly reporting on Jack’s rampage from a distance. They hid behind one of the multiple cars abandoned on the street. She was reporting on whatever moves or actions Jack was taking hoping this might make a name for herself. As she was reporting the car she was reporting behind got pushed out the way and Jack stood over her.

  Jack said, “Well looky what we have here. It seems I have a fan club.” The reported stood up scared to death and did what every reporter would do. She put her microphone out in front of her and asked, “Jack was it. What is the purpose of all this destruction you are causing.”

  Jack replied, “Destruction? I’m just doing a littl e bit of redecorating. What you don’t like what I’ve done with the place?”

  The reporter asked, “What is the reason you came to New York City Mr. Jack.”

  Jack replied, “Bulletproof Jack and well, I was on a flight and I thought I’d just drop in to see
my old pal Spear.” The reporter said, “But Spear is just a rumor, someone people came up with to scare kids out on the street. No one’s ever seen real video of him.”

  Jack got mad and snapped at her, “You callin me a liar?” The reporter startled replied, “No, not at all, it’s just you would think that someone would catch footage of him.” Jack replied, “See, there you go, you are calling me a liar. I’ve been called a lot of things, bastard, heartless, selfish even, but liar… that’s one thing I pride myself on not being. If I say I’ll do something, I do it.”

  The reporter said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Jack replied, “To late for that sugarbum. I think this interview is done and so are you.” He lifted his arms and the reporter and camera guy started to back up from him terrified that they were about to meet their end.

  Out of nowhere two feet landed on the back of Jack’s head slamming his head face first into the pavement grinding on the ground about ten feet. The mysterious man stood on the back of Jack’s head for a couple seconds then jumped off doing a quadruple flip in the air landing a good couple of yards away. Jack did not move from the ground and the crowd of people stuck in the buildings began to cheer thinking the mysterious man had defeated Jack.

  The reporter yelled out, “Who… who are you?”

  The mysterious man said, “Me, I’m Spear. Now yall need to get outta here quick. Jack doesn’t go down that easy.” The reporter replied, “I’m Samantha Carter and my cameraman Jim from WPNG News.”

  Spear replied, “Well Samantha, nice to meet you. Now get outta here now!” She said, “Right away.” and with her cameraman into a building and started recording. She reported, “Someone has just attacked Bulletproof Jack, and for the moment Jack is down. The person that just attacked him is the one they call Spear. Very little is known about this Spear character, but some say he is a hero for the people. That’s still left to be debated. You are catching the first ever live footage of him in person. Wait! It seems Jack is moving.”

  Spear was standing there, and he said, “Normally, I don’t drop in on people unannounced, but I figured since we’re old pals, you’d be happy to see me.”

  Jack pushed himself up off the ground and lifted his face up looking straight at Spear. Pebble and rocks dropped from his face, and he said, “Oh, but I am happy to see you.” He lifted up one knee and stood up. He then said, “I’m a little surprised you actually came. Where’s your little friend?”

  Spear replied, “Just me, sorry, the two for one special ended last night.” Jack said, “You never stop, do you?”

  Spear asked, “Never stop what?”

  Jack replied, “With the witty comments.” He chuckled a little then said, “You’re a lot like me.” Spear replied, “Yeah, besides the fact that I’m a black superhero and you’re a psychotic Australian mercenary made out of some sort of indestructible rock . . . Yeah, I can see it.”

  Jack said, “You and I are two sides of the same coin. We both rather do things ourselves regardless of the odds. We don’t like help from others, and we would do whatever it takes to win.”

  Spear said, “You’re wrong, we’re nothing alike. I don’t do whatever it takes to win. I don’t drag innocent people into a fight to get what I want. I don’t mind getting help from friends if I need it, and most of all, when I fight, it’s not for money, it’s not for fame, it’s so that the people I care about and anybody else that just wants to enjoy life can walk the streets without fear of people like you harming them.”

  Jack replied, “Wow, you really are as self -righteous as they say.” He chuckled and said, “You think you can save the world . . . well, news flash mate, you can barely save yourself. But too bad, cause I really like ya, but you still have to die. Sorry mate.”

  Spear said, “You say your gonna be the one to take me out. Sorry but your not the firstto claim that, and you won’t be the last either.”

  Jack replied, “That’s good, that’s good. I like confidence. And your the first person I think can actually back it up. See my problem is I don’t like people much, I don’t think they’re worth my time or effort. The people I do like, it means, I see you as a worthy challenge and that means I don’t have to hold back. You thought I was tough before, like they say, ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet.’”

  Jack ran at Spear full force. Spear jumped out the way and flipped over Jack. Jack grabbed a motorcycle and began to spin in a circle building momentum and chucked it at Spear. He dodged out of the way again, and the cycle slid down the block slamming into a car. Spear reached in his backpack and pulled out his Taser knuckles.

  Jack saw them and said, “I guess you have a bag of toys of your own . . . But it’s still not gonna do ya no go.” Spear tapped them together to make them spark and said, “We’ll see about that.” He then moved super fast to the point where he almost couldn’t be seen. He reappeared in front of Jack and hit him with the Taser knuckles. A big spark shot off Jack’s face, and his head turned, and it actually looked like the hit did some damage. Spear began an onslaught of punches on Jack. Sparks were flying everywhere.

  The reporter and her cameraman were recording the fight. The reporter said, “It seems Spear at the moment is in control of the fight. As you can see, his attacks on Jack seem to be doing damage. It looks as if Spear might save the day.”

  Back at the fight, Spear was still bombarding Jack with electric-charged punches causing Jack to stumble back. Spear crouched down to the ground and came back up with a massive uppercut to Jack’s jaw, having him lift up off the ground about five feet. Spear followed up with a back kick to Jack’s chest, sending him flying into the side of an abandoned car.

  Jack got up from the crushed car clapping his hands. He said, “Bravo, mate. You’re finally putting up a fight worthwhile. But don’t celebrate yet. The fight’s just beginning.” He then grabbed his head and turned it to crack his neck, then turned it the other way to crack it again. He then hit his fist together and said, “Round 2, my turn.” He ran at Spear and screamed.

  Spear began to throw punches, but Jack was blocking some this time. They were both swinging at each other, but Spear was landing some and dodging all of Jack’s. Jack tried to Spartan- kick Spear, but Spear moved to the side to dodge. Jack used that opportunity and grabbed his wrist, though him over his shoulder and slammed him on the ground. He then grabbed one of the Taser knuckles off Spear’s right hand and crushed it in his hand. Spear flipped up to Jack’s face from the ground and kicked off his face as hard as he could to use the momentum to throw Jack, but it backfired because Jack still had a grip on Spear’s wrist, so he was thrown along with Jack. They both flew through the sides of the stores on the street level. There was a group of people in the store so Spear gestured for them to hide. He got up from the rubble and ran to the middle of the street to lure Jack away from the innocent pedestrians. Jack got up and followed him to the middle of the street. They were yards apart, but they stood faceto-face like a standoff in an old western.

  Spear started going into the stance he did at the junkyard. Jack saw it and remembered the move that followed. He said, “Oh, that trick again. Well, come on now, go at it.”

  The reporter Sam and her cameraman crept outside to get better footage. Other people curious came outside as well. Spear started going into the stance and gave off a wave of breeze. Even a block away Sam could feel the breeze or energy Spear had given off.

  The reporter Sam began recording again. “This is Samantha reporting again, live from ground zero where the hero named Spear is facing the threat that calls himself Bulletproof Jack. Right now both parties have seemed to have stopped fighting, but it looked like they may start again at any moment.

  Spear was trying to gather his energy when he noticed flashing red light from the camera behind Jack. He realized that if he did his attack, innocent people might be hurt, so he stopped and went back to regular fighting stance.

  Jack surprised, asked, “What the hell ya doin’? Why’d you stop, that’
s the only move you got that actually does anything.” Spear didn’t say anything. Jack turned his head back and saw the light down the block and people watching the fight. He turned to Spear and said, “That’s what’s stopping you. Don’t worry about them, worry about yourself, because if you don’t come at me with everything you got, you ain’t gonna make it past the next ten minutes.”

  Spear saw the light pole and fire hydrant and had an idea. Spear ran at Jack and began attacking him again. He then lured him over to the fire hydrant. Jack swung and Spear dodged out of the way causing Jack to bust open the top of the fire hydrant. Water sprays everywhere, and they began to fight in what looked like rain. Spear tried to kick him, but Jack grabbed his leg and spun him around three times until he threw him half a block. Spear flew and slammed into an abandoned taxicab. The cab was leaking gas so Spear improvised and had another idea. Jack ran out the water and began to run toward Spear. Jack cocked back his fist ready to hit Spear. He waited until Jack got right in front of him and jumped high out of the way at the last second. He then took off his last Taser knuckles and threw it at the gas on the floor. When it hit, Jack looked at the spark ignite the gas and the fire lit up and went right under his legs to the car. When it got to the car, it exploded and caught Jack off guard, sending him flying back toward the water soaked street with the busted fire hydrant. Jack slid right to the middle of the soaked street and Spear used his super speed to began to knock down light poles one after another. He hit them so fast that they seemed to fall at the same time. When they hit the ground and exploded open, the wires made contact with the water and electrocuted Jack. He screamed, “AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The electricity ran through him for about half a minute until a fuse blew and the power went out for a few blocks. Smoke came from Jacks body making him look like a burned statue. After a few seconds he dropped to his knees then to his face.

  The reporter crept from behind the car and said, “It looks as if Spear has won, ladies and gentlemen. Spear has beaten Bulletproof Jack.” People from the inside the building and those hiding on the streets let out a huge cheer.