"You've been here helping out the children with their reading since early afternoon, not a minute late for the past few days of volunteering, we all here really do appreciate it. Now are you sure about patrolling the city and dedicating your free hours here?" The old Librarian asked after showing her gratitude. "It's been no issue for me. Actually, I've been pretty grateful that you gave me the chance to help them out. I never would have imagined myself doing this when I was a kid." Artus replied as the librarian was thinking how odd it was that his soft voice belonged to someone with his body. "Life's curveballs. Either, they hurt you terribly or cure you no doubt, huh?" The friendly librarian replied. "Life is a beautiful oddball, miss." Artus replied before he smiled under his helmet. "It's about evening now, I'm sad that you have to go but rest well, you're such good company." The old Librarian finished with a sad tone. "You're one of the only kinder and more fair well experienced people who don't look down on me in this city because they can tell that I'm young." Artus responded. "I can hear the same disappointment from you that I feel whenever I have to consistently correct my generation. You can call me old and acknowledge my age by the way. Unlike some of my peers, I take it as a compliment when someone calls me ancient." Replied the old librarian as she gave him a warm smile that compelled him to give one. "Duty calls, ma'am, but we gotta talk some more some time. Please." Artus replied, nodded then waved bye as he left out of the front door.
The Sanguine marksman patrolled the city but he received zero alerts of crime or emergencies from the other worldly by the chief. Thirty minutes slid by then before he knew it an hour soared ahead of him and boredom he was feeling was consuming. "Have you ever felt the distinctive calmness one feels when listening to the birds chirp?" Artus asked Matthew Mcquiston when he picked up his call. "Piss off. You did not seriously just phone me for this?" Matthew replied as he came out of his comfortable apartment in Seyort and sat up on the building's roof enjoying the sunset with his laptop in hand. "Have you ever felt genuine happiness towards someone because they did you a favor in one of your dreams?" Artus asked with an obviously bored tone that Matthew picked up on. "Bloody— well, how bored are you fam?" Matthew asked worriedly. "Global Disease regulation would need to get involved if the boredom I had was spreadable." Artus answered his best friend as he laid on the ground. "One off, I'll stay connected with you all night then, don't worry?" Matthew offered as he decided it was time for him to go back in and began walking back inside. "Absobloodylutely!" Artus answered and celebrated as he picked himself up. Artus suddenly found himself receiving a call from the police chief.
The Sanguine Sharpshooter entered the city's police station, immediately greeted by the chief herself and he noticed another stranger next to her with style and gold jewelry on him. "Right to the point, escort our famous guest here to Josue's research and development for containment and their help into investigating his otherworldly stalker situation and try to do it before sun down." Police chief Aida ordered him as he held a confused expression on his face. Artus was blushing under his helmet as he smelled her perfume but he put his feelings aside and gave a confirming salute with a nod as he walked away to find his assignment. Artus found him waiting outside staring at a photo of a young girl. Keto began walking in an unspecified direction Artus noticed but he followed. "Little sister, daughter, niece?" Artus asked with a soft tone. "My outstanding niece, the only form of wholesome kindness in my life… at least until her voodoo witch of a mother corrupts her the way she has been by—" Keto replied but paused and looked over at the city's officer. Artus could feel his disgust and through his tone hear his hatred for his sister. "That is— my ears are open." Artus replied as he turned his eyes toward him. "Nah man, name's Keto Khumalo. None of what I said previously is important, what I need right now is to be kept away from everyone and I'm hoping that woman back there is right about this being the city that some of the world's most brilliant scientific minds gather to solve. She promised that I'd get that if I cooperated with you guys." Keto Khumalo informed the Sanguine Sharpshooter.
"Sounds like you've lived a tragic life beyond belief to reach this point but I'm guessing it has nothing to do with you being a repentant criminal scumbag." Artus replied with a guess. "It's actually a part of it. I should have life back in the states for everything that I've done or stood by watching in the states with my— I was born and raised by crime. You're also right, like the baddie stated earlier, something that's difficult to understand is why then I'll happily go do my time and pay for what I've done." Keto set straight and confessed. Artus was having a hard time finding a response for what he was just told, for the first time in his life he found himself lost for words in a conversation. "I knew your name sounded way, way, way too familiar to me, my memory barely ever has my back. You're one of the top trap artists hitting the American top 100, aren't you?!" Artus found a change of topic for their conversation. Keto khumalo's facial expression changed as soon as he said four words, he had wished others didn't know about his career, that less people recognized him. "My career, huh, another reason for me to get locked up." Keto replied but Artus couldn't read if he was joking or was being serious. "I enjoyed one of your songs, city boy stuck with something different." Artus assured him as he began doing the dance the rap artist performed in the video. "I don't even write my own songs, I want to write for the pop genre. Performing has its fun side but it becomes boring real quick." Keto responded with a tone filled with his frustration. "Why can't I help you through this, you get through whatever the deal with the city you made, then keep clean and put in the hard work to build your name back up?" Artus suggested to Keto with a tone of optimism. Keto was slightly annoyed by his naïveté until a light bulb lit up inside his head. "AUGH!" Artus heard out of Keto as he saw what was in him as he was on the ground. Artus looked up where he suspected the Arrow came from and saw a masked figure sprinting out of sight on a roof in the hobby district they found themselves walking through. "Swear tuh god?!" Said another Artus didn't see across and down the road from him as he walked to the edge to leap to the street. A very strange arrow Artus assumed the mysterious figure he saw sprinting fired had penetrated Keto's serratus anterior. Artus immediately checked the arrow, the degree of his wound, then dragged him into the city's leisure center that happened to be down the street from them. Artus checked Keto's pulse from his wrist as he laid him on his lap. "Gotta flag and commandeer a vehicle to get you to a hospital, man." Artus said with low volume as he got up and surveyed the outside for any clue of Keto's mysterious attacker. Eyesight rivaling an eagle's didn't pick up on any clue allowing him a sense of relief while he held Keto in his arms and stopped a truck by leaping recklessly in front of it as he moved with urgency to give the citizen an explanation as he opened their door and moved Keto in comfortably in the passenger. The rapper and pop singer groaned as the arrow was stuck deeply inside, Artus guesstimated that for an average Joe as Keto were, he needed E.R immediately and would need weeks of recovery. "We're on our way to the nearest hospital, LeClaire medical. Dude, I've got you, please give me your all to remain calm. I understand." Artus gave him a comforting smile. Keto looked away and down at the arrow wondering why he wasn't dead.
Artus sat spinning one of his revolvers as he sat in the E.R waiting area for the news regarding Keto's condition. "The great news, it didn't impact any sort of bone. We were successful in his surgery and we've removed the arrowhead and shaft, patched him up, to put it all very simply of course. He needs weeks to recover, we don't recommend he's checked out of the hospital just yet." Said the head doctor in the hospital's emergency room. "That's— absolutely amazing. Doctors like you deserve more Appreciation." Artus replied as he let out a sigh of relief as he contained himself. "Thank Gosh that I don't have your job with all these dumb crazies. Bow and arrows in the modern age?!" The head doctor finished before walking away chuckling to himself. Sometime later, Artus decided after his quick nap that he would check on Keto after being informed that he was allowed entry into the room they returned him to. He walked to Keto's post-surgery room, a nurse gave her eyes to him romantically, he looked before he gave her an uncertain expression and continued walking. He sat down on the couch at the end of his hospital bed with his helmet unequipped, thinking to himself about words from Keto from earlier. "And so who are you, sir?!" Artus heard a woman from outside of Keto's post-surgery hospital room. He walked up to the window and saw a peculiar fairly tall man with blonde hair and a cowboy aesthetic eyeing the nurse before he turned his attention towards Artus peeking through the window.
He began taking steps towards the room with multiple men that Artus noticed looked like his twins before he slowly realized that they were him. The nurse ran and hid in a nearby room as she shook uncontrollably after she witnessed the cloning. Each cowboy had a different expression on his face as they approached, but the main cowboy in the center of these five had an ego that slightly irritated Artus before he reeled himself back into a state of calm and focused on figuring out the cowboys. From Lyle's notebook, he noticed each cowboy had a revolver in his hand. They didn't look special. Artus took note of each of the Cowboys' demeanors as they displayed expressions that gave a hint of different emotions and attitudes. He decided on the weakest links to the strongest links before he opened the door and stood his ground in front of it. Artus looked past the cowboys and witnessed a strange appearance and behavior. Artus asked himself about it. "Move aside, big man, this merciful gunman is willing to agree to a fair duel if you want beef but that angry fella next to me is about to have this hospital hear a thud." Said the Cowboy in blue as he held the rim of his beloved hat. Artus glared at him as he stood with his arms folded before he summoned a revolver himself and used each bullet to blast away the gang's firearms out of their hands. The other four began rushing towards the Sanguine Sharpshooter, keeping him distracted as he tried his damndest to step and dodge each of their attacks, all were too quick and resembled blurs to the witnessing nurse. The cowboy in the center stood blown away by the Sanguine Sharpshooter's speed and precision. "Heh." The shocked Cowboy noised before he stood staring at his gang of clones pummeling the Sanguine Sharpshooter and keeping his attention occupied away from him, he picked up his revolver and was set on finishing the contract. Artus utilized his massive strength to throw one away from him, overpowered two others, he rolled and created distance between him and the clones that were rushing him with inhuman aggression before he summoned a rifle and shot up the ankles and shins of each of the powerful clones. "You're in my sights. If you take another step forward, then I promise you that you won't take another, blondie the kid!" Artus shouted as he held his rifle towards the cowboy's back as he kept the same excited expression on his face despite being the one in someone's sights this time. It made him feel excited as he thought of the Sanguine Sharpshooter as a possible rival. "Yer good. Very nice, I like that, I've been bored despite wanderin' towns, cities, countries, making bank and enemies. I've been looking for someone that won't miss me." The cowboy dialogues as he holds his hands up. "You mean with a bullet or something?! That's insane!" Artus asked with a tone filled with shock. "Name's Kayson infinite lawlessness. From a little town down in southern Dakota known for our legendary underground duels that authorities can't put a stop to for very long. Follow me up there and become a contender, we're making promises, I can make one that there's lotsa cash and green innit for ya, big gun. Lot more than whoever's payin' you for this. Plenty more glory, plenty more women, plenty more fun along with the green." Kayson attempted to tempt his fellow marksman. Artus had a look of disgust and disappointment after hearing that offer. "Plenty more prison and criminal friends for you soon once I cuff you." Artus replied as he summoned a much smaller gun and kept him held before using his main hand to grab his cuffs comfortably on his hip. "Oooh, she stole my wife with her charms, made her decide to give up her life on our farm, and that petty woman lived her life to see mine in ruin." Kayson used his favorite country song to distract the Sanguine Sharpshooter from his clone behind him stealthily making its way to the cloned revolver. The clone of the cowboy began to mercilessly fire upon Artus as he didn't notice it still constructed behind him. The regular ammo the cloned revolver used couldn't penetrate the Sanguine Sharpshooter's high quality body armor, Artus turned around with a rifle summoned and mercilessly returned fire, forcing it to vanish after a few bullets. Artus turned back around for Kayson but only saw one of the hospital's window the way downwards broken through and it seemed like to him the original and the clones all had vanished on him together, zero sign aside from a scared and confused witness Artus saw poking her head out, regarding Kayson's presence. Artus sat down on his back to rest releasing a bigger sigh of relief. "Consciousless constructs." Artus reminded himself as he closed his eyes. Artus got himself back on his feet and looked through the hospital room's square window and saw a strange figure lovingly hugging Keto while he was in his deep sleep. Artus bursted into the room unarmed but ready to confront the figure. "I wonder if Lyle would have been better for this assignment?" When it vanished like a phantom before he could confront it.
"Matty, I've heard his music but I'm gonna need more about this guy before I can feel confident about protecting him. How deep can ya dig? Can you find anything about maybe a ghosty old lady?" Artus requested information from his friend. Matthew Mcquiston didn't give him any answer but immediately went to work finding what he could. "Keto Khumalo, African-American music artist, he's known for his family owning the top production company based in California, which his decently aged gapped older sister inherited ownership of after their parents mysteriously were found deceased near a local police department. He told fascinating stories in previous personal interviews in the states and one in Africa about encounters with his deceased Grandmother and figures resembling less friendly men." Matthew informed Artus over their communications. "Wild, wild life." Artus responded as he was taken aback. Few hours passed between the two Gen-Oaths as they continued the conversation throughout until Artus noticed Keto began waking up from his post-surgery rest. "Feelin' alright, pal?" Artus asked with his friendliest tone as he stood on his bedside looking down. "Yeah. Yeah." Keto replied as the famous star looked away. "The doc has said it's going to be a few days of recovery for you. We should share some personal facts about ourselves back and forth to spend that time. Would that be alright?" Artus proposed and asked before he gave Keto a warm smile that caught the rapper's attention. "Sure. Sure." Keto responded slowly and looked towards Artus even slower. Silence comes between the two as Keto collects his thoughts and Artus stands patiently. "I'm a chronic stonelapsis sufferer." Keto informed Artus. "I've always wanted to be a gaming consultant." Artus informed Keto. "I truly love hippos, beasts that embody strength, nobody bullies them in the wild." Keto informed Artus, the Sanguine sharpshooter continued analyzing as he stared at him. "I treasure the sacred relationships between parents, children and siblings more than most." Artus admitted. "The world is cruel. I was really born to cruel parents, younger than an even more cruel sister but a wonderful Grandmother." Keto admitted with a downtrodden tone. "Family can be found between strangers. Now get up so I can escort you to the laboratory that your friend works at here and finish this chapter so you can return to your life and create the music that you want." Artus encouraged as he gave him a thumbs up. Keto gave him an eyeful of daggers before he took a breath in, stood upright on the side of the bed then let out his breath as he looked at the ground. "Setting the music aside— however, how'd you know I'm healed?!" Keto asked as he was tossed into shock and awe. "An old man and that loving hug you got from the ghost earlier looked like it could have healed someone that was sawed in half." Artus answered with air quotes when he used the word ghost as he was recollecting his memory of the old man's explanation to him. "A ghost hugged me while I was asleep, which?!" Keto asked with a concerned and confused tone. "Mind letting me know all that you know so far, the stories from your interviews?" Artus asked as he took a seat on the couch at the end of his bed and took off his helmet.
"It started when I was around eighteen. I walked into my sister's office at my family's building. My older sister was held at gunpoint by some— some dude that didn't look very— trustworthy to put his appearance in simple terms. A ghost thing had brushed past me like an Olympic sprint gold medalist for the dude with the handgun was thrown from his hand by it. My sister saw and together she and I continued to run our parents' criminal empire. I was the weapon, or the thing that protects me diligently, while she was the brains of all of our projects." Keto confessed as he stared downwards. Artus recapped and informed the Rapper of his supernatural abilities when he remembered all of the information he refused to let escape him, from a small notepad he carries, Keto read it thoroughly and it forced his eyes open. "I guess that's why my sister confronted me questioning why she's seen shadows of our parents around our penthouse and people she's dealt with and why I've always woken up healed from injuries." The rapper stated as his mind was blown. "It's heavy to get it dropped on you." Artus replied.
"I can't stop you from using our testing grounds if you wish to train him using this whatever it is but I want to— observe it." Said Researcher Blaine, Keto's childhood friend. "I'm through— then you're going to want him to be recruited into our Gen-Oath squad defending you." Artus confidently replied as he smiled towards Keto. The three walked to the research facility's testing grounds for the research and development team to experiment on new tech for the quality of life of the citizens, weaponry for the three cities and fascinating items found by the authorities, which included open space and made from some of the most durable in the world funded by Josue. "I'll say what that old man told me again, I've always wanted to do a motivating speech like this. What you think is haunting you is a primordial and primeval energy harnessable through sheer will, aspiration and determination. You have to force it to do your will or it could run rampant!" Artus shouted as he circled Keto enjoying using his motivational tone. Keto had zero clue what Artus was meaning and held his arms out to give Artus the impression that he was trying. "Can I see your powers in use or something?" Keto asked as he stopped pretending genuinely frustrated after smacking his lips. Artus smiled as he held out his hand then snapped his fingers before Keto spotted a handgun slowly forming on the Gen-Oath member's palm. Keto thought he figured it out, he turned towards his side and began snapping his finger but nothing resembling a spirit appeared, nothing happened besides Artus humming a song. "That gives me an idea, kids I knew back before we split had to use tools or assists to use their abilities before they could successfully manage without them. You're a genius of the tune, maybe not of the lyrical sort but that voice is majestic and I've heard your scat performances. That works nicely." Artus recommended and assured the musical star. "Yea, yea, ma'am, I'm still riding on your brother's tail. He'll be dead in an hour. I never fail, throw your worry in the garbage with your husband." Kayson demanded from Keto's sister. "Rid my life of that disaster." Kayson heard his client command him before he hung up. Kayson leapt from a building across the road from LeClaire research and development and climbed his way downward with a device that resembled an everyday industrial pen. "Why is this so tough?!" Keto asked the Gen-Oath sharpshooter and his childhood friend who were behind him as he had been singing for thirty minutes with no result. "What's your favorite animal?" Artus asked to be sure but he already figured his answer. "Raccoons?" Keto asked, confused by the relevance. "Throw a raccoon on your mind, start that scat performance and give it another go!" Artus encouraged as he tossed his hand on his shoulder before he stepped back with researcher Blaine. Artus and Researcher Blaine began gesturing their enjoyment over Keto's singing voice, however, he was only able to conjure the paws of the Raccoon. "Cute teeny start, I guess?" Researcher Blaine commented as his hype began to lower, realizing that was all he was going to see. The Flow Trio heard explosions and irksome shouting from numerous voices from afar. Artus stood his ground yet Researcher Blaine and Keto took cover hiding behind a dead mech that Researcher Blaine's team were working on during their work hours and planned on continuing in the next morning. Kayson remembered to hand the industrial pen gadget to his clone as he backed away from it. Kayson filled the building with his clones as his plan included using them as distractions against the research facility's formidable guards, peak physique and skills but the number he could conjure from his artifact overwhelmed the many researchers and security force. The clone gripped the device as Kayson stood on the right side of the door of the testing center, the cowboy's clone blew the door away, launching Artus who was caught up ignorant of the radius and range. "ART!" Keto urgently shouted as Researcher Blaine held him back. "My bad, handsome, gotta rid my client of this unwanted heir then get back to my lady." Said Kayson infinite Lawlessness as he searched for Keto and had a suspicion he was behind the humongous mech that blew his mind.