[ ARIZONA DESERT - 12 June 2009 - 13:00 Pm]
In the middle of the Arizona desert, sitting in a lawn chair with empty bottles of water and wrappers of granola bars strewn about. A recurve bow leaning on the right side of the lawn chair and a black quiver full of arrows leaning on the left side. In front of the lawn chair are two cool boxes next to each other. The right cool box has a photo frame on top of it and the left cool box has a pair of high-tech binoculars on top of it.
And sitting in the lawn chair is a person wearing a black snapback cap backwards with bits of his blonde hair sticking out. He has on red tactical shooting glasses, a red and black short sleeve super suit with black arm guards, and black fingerless gloves.
Name: Maxwell "Max" Troy
Surname: Goodman
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Height: 5'7"
Age: 15
Job: Intern
"God it's hot out here!" Max says drinking from a water bottle and then dumping the rest of the water on his head. He sighs in relief and slumps in the chair further. He sits back up and picks up the photo frame, that has a picture of him, his crazy boss and his boss's girlfriend all in their super suits. He smiles at the photo and puts it back down.
"Deep breaths, Max, you got this." he says taking in a deep breath and exhaling. He checks his bow and quiver, making sure it's in good shape. "It's not like you haven't done this before..", he says wiping down his bow with a cloth, he then sighs "But only for like one month before the boss found and 'recruited' me."
He puts his bow on his lap and shakes his head with a determined look in his eyes "No. you got this, boss wouldn't have told you to handle it if he didn't believe in you." he says with a small smile.
[Flash Back - QUEENS - 18 July 2008 - 01:23 Am]
"Fuck, who the hell is this guy??!!", a man shouts in anger, hiding behind a SUV with a scowl on his face. Another guy comes running behind the car out of breath, "Don't know man, he just popped out a month ago and started hitting our guys.".
The first guy peaks over the top of the hood of the car, and sees a person in a red with black stripes tracksuit jacket, a black, backward snapback cap, red shooting glasses, black tactical cargo pants and black combat boots. The person has a bow in hand and a quiver full of arrows on his back fighting three people at once.
The guy ducks back behind the car, shaking his head and releasing a tired sigh "First we have that bastard Red Hood over in Hell's Kitchen messing with the Bratva, that bitch Black Cat stealing from the Maggia and everyone in Manhattan, and now we have this bow and arrow asshole hitting us."
The guy beside him just nods with a fearful look on his face. "Yeah man, it's like something straight of the comics or some shit". The guy looks at him confused. "You read comics?", The other guy just nods and shrugs. "It helps when I get bored, man."
The guy just looks at him for a few seconds and sighs, looking up at the night sky, "What the hell is this city coming to?". The guy beside him nods " I don--..", he gets cuts off by an arrow through the head and falls down dead.
The guy looks wide eyed and frightened at the dead guy and starts to run away without a second thought, but before he could even take his first few steps, everything goes dark....
A few minutes later, the man groans in pain as he gains consciousness. He slows opens his eyes, seeing the ground under him, confused he tries the moved but can't. Startled, he quickly he looks around him and sees that he's hanging upside down from a pole.
"What the Hell...." he exclaims in shock and starts struggling but is unsuccessful. "I wouldn't do that if I wear you". The man stills and looks forward to seeing the guy with the bow and arrow standing in front of him.
"Let me down, you bastard," he shouts angrily at the bow wielding man and glares at him. "The man moves his head, puts his hand on his chin as if thinking it over than smirks at the guy, "No, I don't think I will.".
The captive mans glare deepens, and he spits at his feet" I ain't telling you shit asshole." The bow wielding man just tilts his head with a shrug, "That's what they all say at first.".
"Well, I ain't pus---FUUUuuuck" he shouts in pain as an arrow gets stabbed in his left thigh. The man looks down at him with an innocent smile. "What was that?, I couldn't hear you over the screaming". The man just glares at him and says in a pained voice, "I-i-I ai-aint telling you shit, fucker," and spits on his jacket.
The go looks down at his jacket with a grimace, "Now, that's just uncool man" and takes out another arrow and stabs it into the guy's right thigh. "MOTHEeer fucker," the man shouts in pain and then whimpers. The man takes out another arrow and says, "I can do this all day, man. ", he tilts his head at the man. "Well, not all day, but you know what I mean."
"Okay, I'll talk, just don't stab me with another arrow man," the man says quickly with a pained grimace on his face, not wanting to get stabbed again. "See?, now that wasn't so hard." he says, smiling down at the guy and putting away his arrow. He squats down so his face to face with the guy, "Jakal,". he says coldly.
"Jakal?" the guy looks at him with confusion, "What do you want with that psycho?". "I'm looking for him...we have a score to settle", he says with a faraway look on his face but shakes head as if clearing his mind and focuses back on the guy in front of him.
The man looks at him for a moment and shakes his head. "I don't know man...ever since Red Hood showed up and then the Black Cat going on a rampage in Hells Kitchen, he's been keeping a low profile."
"Then how do you keep contact then?" He says, looking at the guy curiously. "I don't know, I'm just a grunt man" the guy says, shaking his head. The man glares at the guy and pulls on his hair "Then who knows?".
The guy winces in pain and blurts, "I don't know man, probably only his right hand man will know". The man lets go of his head and says "What's his name?".
"He goes by Pyro"
[30 minutes later]
Sitting on the rooftop of building, looking down at the Police arresting and medics putting dead bodies in body bags is our bow wielding vigilante. A ringing sound is heard as he takes out his burner phone answers the call.
"You got any intel from the guys?"
"Nothing useful, but I got a name, though."
"Which is?"
"Some guy named Pyro"
"Hmmmmm.... I'll check through the police reports for someone with a name like that."
"Yeah thanks"
"...Hey man, you'll find him"
"I hope so...see yah" He says sighing and ending the call. He looks back down to the scene with a glare "Where ever you are, I'll find you". He says with his hands clenched into a fist by his side and glare on his face.
"Woooow, that's some glare you got there," a robotic voice says from behind him.
He spins around, bow and arrow drawn about to shoot the person, but freezes in place seeing who it is. Red Hood raises his hands in mock surrender and says "Woah, calm down there Legolas".
The man steps back in shock, awe and fear at the Red Hood standing in front of him, he quickly lowers his bow and asks shakily "Wh-why a-a-are you here all the way in Queens?". Red Hood puts his hands down, "I heard from a little birdie, that there was someone in Queens turning the local gangs into pincushions." He shrugs and then says, "Thought I'd come by and see for myself".
He walks over to the ledge of the roof and looks down at the crime scene across the street. "You're good..". The man standing to the side looks surprised and smiles bashfully at the compliment "Well th---..", Red Hood cuts him off "But not great, which isn't good enough".
The man looks frowns at him. "What do you mean not good enough?", Red Hood turns and looks the man up and down. "Just like I said," he says with a shrug. The man glares at him, irritated, and points down at the crime scene. "I took those nine guys down all by myself". Red Hood waves it off as if it was nothing and says "Anyone can do that".
He holds up his hand, stopping the man from speaking and says with a stern look, "How many times were you hit or caught by a surprise attack?". He sighs and gestures to the man. "I have been stalking you, these past weeks. You took a beating quite a few times."
The man looks confused and weirded out, "You have been stalking me?". Red Hood just nods his head "Yes, I know where you live, your name, where you go to schoo--..". "Hold on a second, how do you know all those stuff?" the man waves his hands around and his face pale.
Red Hood just looks at him deadpan. "Like I said, stalked you". The man, now looking scared, asks "So, what are you gonna do now?". Red Hood looks at him blankly and quickly draws his dual pistols and says in an indifferent tone, "Kill you, there can only be one". The man, not being able to react fast enough, freezes in wide-eyed fear.
Red Hood looks at the stock still man for a second and starts laughing "Hahahahahaha Oh my god the look on your face." He says holstering his guns. The man, snapping out of his stupor, looks at him confused and glares at him in embarrassment and anger "That was not funny, man!".
After a few minutes of Red Hood laughing at him, he calms down and looks at the man. "Anyway, right now you suck, so you need training". The man, still glaring at him, now looks offended and exclaims "Hey!!,I don't suck and I am getting training". Red Hood shakes his head at him and says, "Yes, you suck and you need better training."
He just looks away from Red Hood with a pout on his face. Red Hood chuckles a bit and continues, "I don't know who you're looking for, but I can guarantee it's gonna get a lot more dangerous". He says in a serious tone.
The man glares at him and points his finger at him. "So what? I should just stop while I'm ahead or some shit," He says in anger. Red Hood just shakes his head "No, I'm not gonna stop you, I'm gonna make you my intern"
There is a long silence
"Don't you mean sidekick?"
"We don't use that word here"
The man looks at him dumbfounded "And I'm gonna accept why?". Red Hood just tilts his head at him. "Oh, I wasn't asking," He says in slight threatening tone. The man looks taken aback at the threat, and after a few moments, just sighs and nods his head. "Fine, I guess".
Red Hood nods, pleased at the man "Good.". The man looks at him with a sweat drop expression. They stand there in silence.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure"
"You didn't ask me why I'm looking for these guys?."
"Oh, don't worry about that...the author will probably make a special chapter dedicated to your origin story."
"The what?"
"Don't worry about it"
".....Okay?"
"What's your hero name by the way"
"Apollo"
".......Arrogant little shit"
"HEY!!!"
[Flash Back End]
[ ARIZONA DESERT - 12 June 2009 - 13:10 Pm]
Apollo picks up the binoculars and looks through them at the people a distance away from him, but he focuses on a woman with black hair, wearing aviators and a white two-piece suit. "Mallory Stone...The Most Powerful 'Fixer' in Washington," Apollo says with a sigh. He places the binoculars back on the cool box and takes out his very own red and black DEDSeC phone and dials a number.
Mallory is standing next to two white SUV's and four men with black suits standing behind her. She suddenly hears a ringing noise and takes out her phone. A caller shows a picture of Apollo winking at her. She answers the call and puts the phone to her ear.
"Hey, you don't know me, but I'm--"
"Apollo, I know"
"......"
"You think I've never read an Interpol File?"
"Great. Then you know I--"
"I don't have time for this. Put your Boss on"
"My 'Boss' I don't have a--"
"Red Hood"
"*sigh* He's not he--"
"Enough arrow-boy. You have ten seconds and then I hang up."
"Ten seconds??!! that's not en---"
"Eight"
"Fine. This deal you brokered between the Senator and the Cartel isn't going to end well. You need to---."
Mallory ends the call "Amateur". She pockets her phone and looks up at the three black SUVs that came to a stop a few meters away from her. Out the front passenger seat of the front SUV steps out a 6'5" tall bald head man, wearing a suit vest with black pants that has a weapon holster attach to it.
The man walks over, stopping in front of Mallory, towering over her. He scowls down at her. "I see no man nor the money". She just looks up at him calmly. "He's here, it's all here. Just as I trust you've brought the package with you".
The back seat door opens of the SUV next to Mallory. "I told Ms. Stone there was no cause for all this 'Cloak and Dagger' crap.". An elderly man with receding hair, a light blue suit and a cane in hand, steps out of the SUV and walks over to her. "That this is a gentlemanly transaction". He stops standing next to Mallory.
The elderly man looks up at the bald guy with a smile. "We both have something the other wants". He gestures to the man, "You want lots and lots of money". He gestures to himself with a smirk on his face. " And I want to seriously embarrass the leader of my country".
He holds his hand out for the man to shake. "Trust. Am I right son?". Mallory interjects. "We held up our end. Now where's agent Marques".
The bald man just glances to her and goes back to staring down the Senator "One C.I.A spy, coming right up". One of his men opens the backseat door of one of the black SUV's and drags out the agent and tosses him to the ground in front of Mallory.
The bald guy looks at her with a sneer. "Bruised, starved and tortured, but no worse for wear". She glares at him through her glasses and gestures to one of the men behind her, "Special Agent Johnson...give the man his money". "Yes, ma'am".
Before anyone can react, the bald man grabs on to the Senator's hand. "Unfortunately...".
The Senator looks surprised and winces in pain. "Eh?!, Ow!!".
"....There has been a change of plans." He says, grabbing the Senator as a human shield. His men aim their weapons at the five agents.
Mallory and her agents take out their guns and point at the other group. "What is this bullshit? ", she growls, glaring at the bald head guy holding the Senator hostage, "We had a deal Viktor....I expect you to honor the terms".
The bald guy now known as Viktor just shrugs "We did", then he smirks at her "When you had something to bargain with." He laughs at her and then smirks even wider. "But now we're four miles from the Mexican border, and I have the money, your precious agent and this pompous----"
THUNK
He stops and looks confused behind him to the SUV and sees a black arrow imbedded into the roof. "Eh?'
TIK TIK TIK TIK TIK
His eyes widen hearing the ticking sound and immediately shouts, "Everyone, get-"
KABOOOOOOOOOOM
The SUV explodes before he could finish his sentence, killing the two men that were standing right next to it and the shockwave of the blast flinging everyone away.
Mallory groans and gets up from the ground.
THUD
She looks to her right and sees another black arrow, but this one starts emitting a black smoke that quickly blankets the area in darkness.
"Wha? I can't see?" she sees looking around at the darkness.
"And here I thought America never negotiates with terrorists. That's why you sneak all the way out here to do it, huh?", Apollo says kicking a guy in the face and shoots another in the head, that was behind him without even looking.
"I mean, I get it," he says, turning to his right side and shooting another guy in the chest. "Nobody wants to see a C.I.A agent in a third-world cell getting all water-boarded." He shoots another in the throat.
"But even I know not to trust these guys." he says, flipping over another guy and shooting him on the top of the head. "Even if I didn't hear all the undercurrent chatter." He lands in a kneel and shoots another in the chest.
The smoke starts clearing up. One of the Cartel members sees two agents still disoriented by the smoke and starts firing his machine gun at them. "Die die die"
"Not today," Apollo says, flipping in front of the agents and firing another arrow but to the ground in front of the agents. Just as the arrow hits the ground, it releases a blue force field, blocking the bullets fired by the Cartel member.
"What—How??" the agent says, looking at the force field.
"Hi, I'm Apollo also not known as 'arrow-boy'" he says, landing in a crouch in front of the stunned agents and deactivating the Thermal vision in his glasses. He draws an arrow that looks like it's sparking with electricity and fires at the guy firing his machine gun at the shield and electrocutes him.
"Oh right!!, your Red Hood sidekick," one of the agent says in recognition. Apollo just looks at him blankly and says, "We don't use that word".
"Now where is the Senato---"
Blam Blam Blam Blam
Apollo looks over, startled at the gunshot sounds, and sees the Senator there falling face first to the ground from being shot by Viktor in the back.
"Noooo" he runs up to the Senator's dead body and turns it over, looking at it in shock. He stands up, glaring furiously at Viktor. "You son of a..."
"Enough" Victor shouts, holding Mallory by the back of her neck and points the gun at her head, making Apollo stop in his tracks.
"Drop your weapon or this woman---"
"Don't! Don't or he'll kill us bo-ooowww"
Victor yanks on her hair hard glaring at her "Shut up!!".
Apollo drops his bow and takes off his quiver, and tosses it next to his bow. "I don't suppose you'd consider giving up?" he looks at Viktor. Victor just smirks and points his gun at him.
"Had to ask," he says with a sigh and holds up his hands.
Before Viktor could pull the trigger and kill Apollo. The supposedly dead Senator leans up and shoots Viktor full of bullet holes.
"Ooookay, did not see that coming," Apollo says, looking at the very alive Senator in disbelieve and utter confusion.
Viktor falls down dead with a thud, releasing Mallory.
"Really?" Apollo helps up the Senator and points to Viktor. "Was that necessary? ". The Senator just nods at him. "Yeah, apparently it was".
"I had it covered," Apollo says, looking at the Senator, annoyed. "Oh yes, the Senator dying and you being held at gunpoint is having it covered, " the Senator says sarcastically, rolling his eyes at him.
"You didn't trust me to handle this job, did you?" Apollo points an accusing finger at the Senator with a hurt look on his face. "I did trust you. It's just that you tend to get distracted, too busy running your mouth and forgetting about the mission at hand," he says with a sigh.
"Hey!!! I do not get distracted," Apollo says in an offended tone.
"You two....know each other?" Mallory asks looking confusedly at the two bickering men.
"Unfortunately, yes, he is my annoying, arrogant little shit of an intern," Red Hood says, deactivating his holographic Senator disguise and holstering his dual pistols. Showing him standing in a new and improved suit. "This ones for you @JOKER_JAY for bringing up a good point about my tattoo," He says, looking to the left all of a sudden.
"Does he always do that?" Mallory asks Apollo while looking warily at Red Hood. Apollo just nods his head at her.
"But seriously Jaybird, I had it covered," Apollo whines, getting Red Hood's attention. Mallory looks at Red Hood with a grimace. "Jaybird? Really? Your name is Jaybird?".
"No, it's not. I'm Red Hood. " He points his finger at her and then looks at Apollo and says in a stern tone, "No, you did not have it covered".
Apollo looks over at Mallory with a sneer. "I thought you read our Interpol file?" he asks her mockingly. She glares at him and says, "You and I both know those files have nothing about your real identities and most of it's just black and white".
"You don't see me being reckless and getting held hostage," Red Hood says to Apollo in a scolding tone.
"Really??,what abo--"
"We don't talk about that," He says to him in a warning tone. Apollo just sighs in defeat and sulks, "Fine, you're right, I didn't have it covered". He bows his head, upset and frustrated. Red Hood just pats his shoulder and walks off.
Apollo looks up and follows after him. Mallory looks confused for a second and just shrugs, following them.
Red Hood stops at the back of one of the white SUV's and opens the trunk. Mallory looks in the trunk, shocked to see the real Senator tied up and unconscious.
"How did you--why did you?" She looks at him, astounded. Apollo just smirks, looking at the Senator. Red Hood just shrugs. "I didn't think asking politely for his help would've worked."
He looks at her and nods. "The real Senator will be awake in a few hours, alive but sore," he says and starts walking away. Apollo follows after him but stops and picks up the briefcase full of money.
"We're keeping the money, the price of doing business," He says to Mallory that's still looking in the trunk. She looks up and walks up to him and goes in her breast pocket "If you 'Outlaws' ever want to go legit-" she says pulling out a business card with the name Stone written on the front in bold, and handing it over to Apollo who takes it.
"Give me a call...I could use two men with your special talents," she says and walks off without saying a goodbye and getting into an SUV and driving off with the other SUV following behind her.
"That was nice of them to let us keep the money," Apollo says with a smile on his face, walking beside Red Hood.
"How generous of them"
"You know..."
"What?"
"Maybe we could....."
"Yeah?"
"Like go legit?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Yeah, thought so"
Red Hood gets a call on his DEDSeC phone and answers it.
"Hello Cat, what's up"
"You boys, done over there?"
"Yeah, just got done"
"How did the kid do?"
Red Hood looks over at Apollo that's sneakily eavesdropping on the conversion and just smiles, even though he can't see it through his mask.
"He did good," He sees from the corner of his eyes Apollo looking confused then smiling proudly to himself. He just chuckles and focuses back on the call.
"Oh, that's good"
"So....did you need something?"
"Oh....right yeah, can you get back here before Sunday?"
"Yeah sure, why?"
"Someone stole something from me and now I'm planning on stealing it back"
"Someone stole from you?"
"Yeah...what about it!!??"
"Nothing, we'll be back before Sunday"
"Cool thanks, love you, bye"
"Love you too, bye"
Red Hood ends the call with a smile on his and looks at Apollo, who is looking curiously at him. He just sighs "We have to get back to New York before Sunday"
"Why?"
"Someone stole from Black Cat and she needs our help to steal it back"
Apollo gets a dumbfounded look on his face and asks in disbelieve "Someone stole from her!!??"
Red Hood just laughs and nods his head "Yeah, I had the same reaction"
"Woow. she must be pissed," Apollo says, looking up at the sky.
"Sure is" Red Hood nods