Uncle Will was the kind of person who couldn't stand still for long. Even in his sixties, he seemed to have an endless supply of energy. When James met him, he was struck by how much Uncle Will resembled the legendary Stan Lee, the creative mind behind so many beloved superheroes. In a world where fantasy often blurred with reality, James felt a rush of excitement at encountering Uncle Will.
After drafting the email, James noticed a discrepancy in the address Uncle Will had provided. He quickly changed the word '(sank)' to '(stark)' before hitting send. Observing him, Mother Hana frowned, clearly puzzled by the change. "Willie Rankin and I don't have any connection to that. I'll call him; I wonder if he's even awake."
James rolled his eyes, "You don't know Uncle Will. He might be DJing at some club right now, entertaining people."
"Don't worry, Mother Hana . I double-checked online. There's no 'sank,' just 'Stark.' Uncle Will must have made a mistake."
Once he left the study, James made his way up to the roof of the orphanage, his favorite refuge when sleep eluded him. The night air was cool and crisp, and he took a moment to gaze at the sprawling starry sky. The constellations above formed shapes familiar to those who looked closely. For many, these stars represented galaxies far away, possibly home to aliens who had long since visited Earth, leaving only whispers of their existence behind.
For James, however, these constellations were more than just distant lights. Soon, he would become a Zodiac Knight, drawing strength from the stars themselves. Each Zodiac Knight was linked to a guardian constellation, and these connections determined the limits of their cosmic abilities. There were eighty-eight constellations, each corresponding to a different Knight—twelve being the most powerful, followed by twenty-four silver and forty-eight bronze Knights.
James pondered which constellation he might be linked to. Naturally, he hoped for one of the twelve zodiac signs. The thought of wearing the Zodiac armor and standing alongside the Avengers made him smile, a mix of excitement and disbelief washing over him.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke his reverie. Peering down into the alley below, he saw a figure sprinting, fear evident in her movements, pursued by two taller men.
"Quickly, don't let her get away!" one of them shouted, urgency in his voice.
James's heart raced. The night in Queens was notorious for its lack of safety, and he was no stranger to the crime that often unfolded in the shadows. Gangs ruled the streets, and violence was a part of daily life. He had always kept his distance, reporting incidents from afar; confronting armed criminals without powers felt like an invitation to disaster.
But things were different now. The creed of the Zodiac Knights resonated within him: "Guardian of honor and justice ." He felt a sense of duty to intervene, even if he wasn't fully a Knight yet. He couldn't ignore the evil unfolding right in front of him.
After confirming that no one was following him, James stood up and carefully made his way over the edge of the orphanage roof, preparing to pursue the trio below.
In the dimly lit alley, the woman had reached a dead end, cornered by her pursuers. They blocked her escape, their expressions a mix of triumph and malice.
"Where do you think you're going, huh?" one of the men taunted, a tall figure with a menacing presence. The other, shorter but equally intimidating, grinned wickedly.
"A thousand dollars in hand," the tall man said, pulling out a butterfly knife, its blade glinting ominously in the streetlight. The woman's face paled, her legs trembling.
"Please, don't hurt me!" she pleaded, sinking back against the wall, fear overtaking her.
"Don't worry, we won't hurt you," the tall man replied, leaning closer with a sickening smile. "You're worth more to us alive."
He waved the blade near her face, taunting her further. "Madam, I suggest you cooperate. It'll be less painful that way."
James's heart raced as he witnessed the scene unfold. This was his moment. Without a second thought, he leaped from the roof, landing silently behind the two men, adrenaline coursing through him.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" he shouted, his voice steady, a newfound courage igniting within him.
The two men turned, surprise flashing across their faces. James squared his shoulders, ready to confront the darkness that had plagued his neighborhood for far too long.