ON THE ROOF – BLACK MONKEY vs THREE STRANGERS
Black Monkey closed his eyes.
His senses opened. The wind. Heartbeats. The smell of sweat. The squeak of metal gauntlets.
He dodged the first blow. Steven's fist passed within a centimeter of his face.
He pivoted. Baka's blade grazed his shoulder.
He jumped. Masajo's knee struck empty air.
BAM. BAM. BAM.
His fists answered. Steven stepped back, surprised by the power. Baka nearly lost his balance.
Masajo, usually so confident, felt a flicker of doubt.
Even with my sensory alteration… I'm not sure I can take him down. His senses are too sharp.
Steven turned to him.
"Masajo, try anyway."
Masajo closed his eyes. He activated his power.
"Sensory Alteration."
Black Monkey wavered. The world around him went black. No wind. No sound. No smells.
He was alone in the void.
Baka attacked. His blade split the air.
Black Monkey couldn't see. But his senses, even altered, screamed the truth.
There.
He dodged. The blade passed within a hair's breadth.
Steven charged. Black Monkey pivoted, struck. BAM.
Baka attacked again. Dodge. SWISH.
Steven again. BAM.
Black Monkey kept his eyes closed. He saw nothing. But he felt everything.
A jumping kick. He avoided it. A hook. He parried. A thrust. He dodged.
He was a leaf in the storm. Untouchable.
Masajo raised his hand.
"Stop. This is pointless."
He stepped back. Steven and Baka did the same.
Black Monkey opened his eyes.
Steven wiped his forehead.
"I know what we need to do."
He pointed to the street below.
"Our group is called The Metal Fist. Our master told us we had to help you. We didn't come alone."
He pointed to a minivan parked further away.
"Our friend Moon is in there. We'll create a diversion. You, escape."
"We can't waste time. Other heroes might arrive."
Steven threw a smoke bomb.
Smoke enveloped the roof.
Masajo took the opportunity to climb down.
Black Monkey felt his senses scream that something was wrong. He tried to move, but Baka stepped in front of him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Black Monkey pushed him.
"Move, blondie."
He tried to pass. Steven blocked him.
Baka attacked with his sword.
---
IN THE MINIVAN – HIGHWAY
Moon was at the wheel. A black girl, braided hair, ultra-stylish look. Sunglasses, even at night. A backwards cap.
She had rap music playing. It was thumping hard.
Masajo sat beside her.
"Speed up."
Moon looked at him.
"Hey, relax, man. We'll lose them."
She pressed the accelerator.
The engine roared.
"Aren't you a little tense?"
Masajo didn't answer.
"You always like this, or is it just me?"
"…Speed up."
"Okay, okay."
The whole ride, she talked. About her day. About her group. About her ex. About the weather. About clouds. About trees. About rocks on the side of the road.
Masajo closed his eyes.
Why does she talk so much?
His phone vibrated. Moon answered.
"Hello?"
Steven's voice, out of breath.
"Moon. We lost. He's coming."
Moon raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, 'we lost'?"
"The monkey. Black Monkey. He got us."
Moon's eyes widened.
"What? But there were three of you!"
"He's too strong. Run. He's right behind you."
Moon looked in the rearview mirror.
Masajo did too.
BAM.
Black Monkey landed right on the van's roof.
The metal caved in from the impact.
Moon screamed.
"HOLY SHIT, HE'S ON THE ROOF!"
She swerved. The van zigzagged. Black Monkey held on, clinging to the roof like a leech.
Masajo grabbed the handle.
"Keep driving. I'll handle him."
---
HIGHWAY – BLACK MONKEY
His phone vibrated. The Association.
"Black Monkey. I'm on the highway leading to the forest of… you have my location. Send reinforcements."
He put the phone away.
He stood up on the van's roof, then jumped behind the vehicle.
He planted his feet on the ground.
"Stop."
His force was such that he lifted the back of the van. The rear wheels left the ground.
Moon screamed inside.
Black Monkey was about to let go when a figure stepped in.
A man. Simple. White sweatshirt pulled up to his mouth. Blue hair. Yellow beret.
He looked at Black Monkey with icy nonchalance.
The young man lowered his zipper. A mist escaped his mouth.
I need to buy time. So the kids can get away.
Mist enveloped Black Monkey. He could see nothing. Just white.
When it dissipated, the man had disappeared.
The van too.
Black Monkey stood alone on the highway.
---
IN THE FOREST
Such, the blue-haired boy, leaned against a tree.
He dialed a number.
"Hello, Sharky. It's Such. I created a diversion. It's done. I'm waiting for you to come get the key."
Sharky's voice answered.
"Good. I'm on my way."
---
THE METAL FIST'S HIDEOUT – SHANTY HOUSE
The van parked in front of a tin-roofed house. Children played in the mud. Women washed laundry in basins.
Moon cut the engine.
"We're here."
Masajo got out, looked around.
Here? This is their HQ?
Moon led him toward a campfire.
A little boy came out of the house. His name was Tag. He was maybe ten years old. An oversized t-shirt, holey sneakers.
"I deleted all the surveillance footage," he said proudly.
Moon ruffled his hair.
"Good job, kid."
Steven and Baka arrived shortly after. Baka was carried by Steven. They were covered in bruises, cuts, dirt.
Baka laughed.
"That monkey… he got us."
Steven smiled, tired.
"He's too strong."
They sat around the fire.
The wood crackled. The flame lit their faces.
Masajo looked at the others. They laughed. They teased each other. They supported each other.
For the first time, he felt… not alone.
What is this feeling?
---
SHARKY'S ARRIVAL
A black car stopped near the house.
Sharky got out. Mafia jacket. Black coat. Leather gloves. He had the presence of a godfather, with his spiky hedgehog hair.
Behind him, Such, discreet, followed.
Sharky approached the fire.
"Congratulations, Metal Fist. You are now more than just a branch of the Gambling Agency."
He smiled.
"You are part of the family."
He extended his hand.
"Give me the key."
Masajo handed it over.
Sharky put it in his pocket.
"Thank you. Report to the agency's new HQ tomorrow."
He turned on his heel.
"Sharky," Masajo called.
Sharky turned.
"Yes?"
Masajo hesitated.
"…Nothing."
Sharky smiled. He got into the car with Such.
Masajo watched them leave.
---
MIDAS'S MANSION – OFFICE
Midas sat on a pile of bills.
Yes, a pile. Stacks of cash stacked like a chair. He smoked a cigar, watching the news.
The screen showed a reporter in front of a modern building.
"An underground hero group, unofficial vigilantes, has opened its doors. Sponsored by the NG Group, their headquarters is located in the district devastated by the demon Nokoaka – the same district bought by the NG Group."
The image showed Midas, cutting a ribbon, smiling at the cameras.
"The group's chairman, who calls himself Midas, has made his first public appearance. The agency is called the GAMBLING AGENCY."
"It seems to be recruiting only people with ineffective and unconventional powers."
"Will the Association fight against this new agency, or make allies of them? To be seen in the coming days."
"Now let's move on to sports…"
Midas turned off the television.
He extinguished his cigar.
Finally.
The office door opened.
Sharky entered. He tossed him the key.
Midas caught it mid-air.
"Finally."
He twirled it between his fingers.
"Our plan can finally be launched."
He turned to Sharky. A nostalgic smile.
"Do you remember our beginnings? Like it was yesterday."
Sharky nodded.
"We've come a long way."
Midas looked at the key, then at the window, then at the sky.
"Yes."
Silence.
"We've come a long way."
---
TO BE CONTINUED…