Post by zero on Jul 28, 2009 4:09:30 GMT -4
The Zero can be seen walking out of a Crispers in Boston holding a large bag filled with New England clam chowder. He wore his fresh set of clothing which looked almost exactly like his old set but brand new and fresh. His bandages around his face were clean and fixed but his goggles were replaced for the moment with red tinted circular framed sun glasses. A ragged old cloth remained tied around his right arm with the number zero on it. He wouldn't replace it until he would have to.
Suddenly a group of people surrounded him with video cameras. With their microphones held out, the news crews began to bombard The Zero with questions.
News Woman: Mr. Zero, how do you feel about your victor over Street Wilson!
News Man: Zero! Who are you targeting next!
News Woman 2: Mr. Zero! Is it true that your one of Hurricane Jeff's body guards!
News Man 2: Mr. Zero, exactly who are you and do you claim to be a real super hero?
The Zero stepped back as the news crew cornered him. It would be impossible for him to answer them considering he's a mute. Shouting came from behind as Shamel tackled his way into the crowd.
Shamel: Get that damn camera out of his face! Get off me son! Don't make me kick your ass fool!
Shamel gets in front of Zero and speaks out.
Shamel: Listen up and this is for everyone one out there. The Zero is a mute. What we have going on here is not some gimic where I speak out for him while he sits out in the background looking all cool and mysterious! Have some pity for the man before you try to corner him and question him! You know he aint gonna answer you back! Now then, if your gonna interview anyone, interview me! I am the voice of The Zero.
News Man: Then Mr. Johnson, who is The Zero targeting next?
Shamel: We know who we want but whether or not Jeff lets us face off with him is a mystery all in it's own. Listen to me when I say this. I use to not know the proper words to describe what we have until I met... The One. He is a very wise man that once told me exactly what the number posses baby, and that my friends is "The Will".
News Man: Mr. Johnson, could you elaborate on what you mean by "The Will"?
Shamel: The Will my family, is mankind strongest and sharpest weapon! It can NEVER be broken even on your darkest day. It can be given the appearance of being broke but nevertheless when the light of day shines down on your most holy of relics, there it is all in once piece and sharp as ever! The Will can't act alone however. With the right force behind it, his will... your will, no... our will shall cut through any obstacle in front of us! That is exactly what The Zero plans to do! Even on the darkest of days where all hope is abandon, The Zero will stand out for the rest of us and act as our blade that will cut right through the darkness and lead us to a brighter world!
: Hehahahaha! Absurd!
The voice came from behind the camera crew. Everyone turned to see a man sitting on a light post, balancing with ease. He wore a red suit and slacks and carried a red tinted bat slung behind him. He wore a red faced devil looking mask with horns and had hair dyed crimson. The man himself was very pail where ever his skinned showed and he himself was quite slim. His height had to be around 6 ft at least but he doesn't look like he was even out of his teens yet.
News lady: And who are you?
Lulu: Boston's Handsome Devil! Lucifer The Third! You can call me Lulu for short!
Shamel: Lulu?
Lulu: You over there! You with the bandages around your head! Your on my turf! You should get out of hell while you still can!
Lulu slides down the post with one hand. A path between Lulu and The Zero opens up as the camera crew records the whole thing.
Lulu: What's it gonna be? Get your ass whopped or leave with your tail between your legs?
The Zero pushed his sunglasses and simply turns and walks away. Shamel shamelessly walks beside him. The news cast and Lulu are a bit shocked that he would simply walk away.
News man: wha- why?
Shamel turns to the dude as he walks backwards and speaks for The Zero in what was hopefully the least provoking way.
Shamel: The Zero doesn't believe in violence unless it's a must. He aint like your average wrestler who gets steamed when someone trash talks him. It's all apart of the job home boy.
Lulu grabbed the handle of his bat. The Zero stopped in his tracks, sensing this. Lulu pulls his bat out and walks up to The Zero but stops half way as he turns his head towards a cameraman who flinches when he is seen. Lulu pulls back with his bat to swing to get the hero's attention. The camera panics and is about to scream till a solid Styrofoam cup of clam chowder comes flying at full speed and hits Lulu in the face, causing Lulu to miss the man entirely but instead bash up his camera. Lulu yelps as he wipes away the piping hot mess from his mask and eyes as The Zero lunges at the boy. He grabs his entire head and his bat wielding arm and forces him face first into the ground with locking his arm behind his back.
The News crew and crowd cheered as The Zero pulled out some old cloth he always kept on him for emergency patch jobs or temporary handcuffs and tied Lulu's hands up real tight. He lifts the boy up by the back of his collar. The cheery mood was cut short with the sound of a gun shot. Everyone turns to see a man dressed exactly as Lulu but with an old Lugar in his hand with a red tint to the metal work and the gun pointing directly at the head of a hostage woman. People began to scatter and run away as the man approached.
Lucifer: Lucifer The Second, father of the young one in your hands. My demand is simple, release my son. No heroic stuff and no tailing me. Go back to your own city, this one is mine.
Shamel: If we do that will you let the woman go?
Lucifer: Can't hurt your chances.
Shamel: No monologue or nothing, directly to the point. Signs of a cold blooded killer. Zero?
The Zero let go of the boy and watched him walk back to his father with his hands behind his back. Sirens can now be heard out in the back ground as the father keeps his gun pointing towards the woman as he steps back into an alleyway.
Shamel: Damn...
The Zero watched the man escape as he walked away.
News man: you let them escape! Why?
Shamel: The important thing is that no one was hurt and everyone is alive. The Zero is about protecting people. They got the jump on us so he did what he could do to get the hostage out of the situation she was in. Boston's finest will surely get the job done.
News man: Your a super hero that relies on cops?
Shamel: The police have raked up more criminals then any street hero for years. It's not a competition, we praise them for there hard work and dedication to justice for the people. Out of all the numbers, The Zero is the most respected member of the numbers from a police officer's point of view.
News Woman: Why is that?
Shamel: Ask a police officer, I speak for The Zero, not them.
*** Inside a train moving to XXXXX ***
The Zero and Shamel sat at a table on the train. It was one of the fancier trains to head out that tourist would normally enjoy when heading to their neck of the woods but not many tourist took the train near the end of the summer. The Zero looked out the window with his hands around a small box on the table. Shamel sat back silently while checking out the Zero's body language. It was easy to tell he was at peace right now.
Shamel: It's been a long time since you've been this relaxed has it? I havent seen you like this in... well since ever. You doing okay?
The Zero gives a little nod as he relaxes more as he gazes at the sun begining to set. The clouds mixed well with the sun's rays to make a colage of bright colors from the clouds into a beautiful scenario.
Shamel: Were you ever this "at peace" with the world before the incident three years ago?
Immediately the sun disappears as the darkness of a tunnel consumes the train.
It's night at the city 3 years ago. On this night a building can be seen roaring with fire. A man leaps out of the fire as he carries a little girl no older then six. Her body is hot only from the fire but the cool night air reveals how cold she really is. The older man is crying as he cradles his baby girl. Why her? Why did she stop breathing? Why did she have to suffer? Why did she have to die? The older man is a clean cut and younger version of Shamel Johnson. He turns his head back to the flames to see that his wife did not follow. The heat of the flames disappeared as he sudden realization of how cold and alone he has just become takes in. He runs his fingers through his daughters hair as he sings her the lullaby he always sang to her.
As more people gathered to watch the burning building, out of the corner of his eyes he recognizes one of the men who did this to his daughter and his lover. He gently places his daughter's corpes on the sidewalk and whispers "Daddy will be back sweet heart" and chokes up as he angrily runs after the man. That man followed a group of people down an alleyway a block down. Without looking he pounced on the man and knocked him down. He repeatedly hit him as he shouted.
Shamel: YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU DEVIL! YOU MONSTERS! YOU KILLED THEM! YOU KILLED THEM ALL! MY DAUGHTER! MY WIFE!
Several of the guys pull Shamel off the man and hold him up. It was difficult keeping him still as he jerked and pulled uncontrollably with unimaginable rage. As the man got up he pulled out a pistol and pointed it towards Shamel but the fear didn't stop him the least bit.
Killer: Your Mr. Johnson right? Blame your wife for what happened. She got too deep into debt and we had to pull the plug from her. Hell, maybe if you had a better job she wouldn't be looking for loans from the wrong sort of people. Just walk away.
Shamel: I don't believe you! I don't I don't I don't! You bastards killed my wife and my daughter! She was only six! She was going to be a first grader soon! She was going to have her first sleep over at her best friends house! I was going to take her to a beach next summer so she can see the ocean for the first time with her own eyes! You killed her! You took that joy away from her! You took it away from us! Why!? Why would you ruin us! You ruined us forever!
Killer: Damn it Paul shut him up!
The big man on his right punched him in the gut. He buckled over in pain. The tears wouldn't go away and eventually he began to throw up.
Killer: God damn it get a hold of yourself. Look I feel you but business is business. Take it up with the boss.
The killer pulled back his gun and put it away only to turn around to see the Zero towering over him. The killer fell back in astonishment.
Killer: How the hell! Paul! Lenny! You werent gonna tell me!?
Lenny: I didnt see him Drew! I swear!
Paul threw back Shamel and shot him in the leg knowing that he would try to do something heroic and stupid. As Drew reached in for his gun, The Zero lunged forward. As he ran he stepped on Drew and the hand reaching for the gun in his jacket to temporarily stop him. As Lenny reached for his gun, The Zero threw a brick he found earily straight at the man's hand and nearly broke a finger as the gun flew into the air. Before Paul could get the gun aiming at the Zero, Zero grabed his wrist with the gun in its hand and Paul's neck to choke slam him to the ground. As he quickly got up, he grabbed Lenny and head butt him as hard as he could to knock him out cold. The Zero sighed as he took Paul's gun and tossed it aside. Grabbing Paul by his leg, he dragged him over to Drew in order to assure neither would try to escape. He grabs Drew's gun and ties the both of their hands together with a few pieces of rope The Zero normally finds and keeps in case of something like this.
From out of the dark alleyway another man approached them. This was another mask wearing man with a green swallowtail coat and green slacks with a brown sweater underneath. His sock like mask bore the number 9 symbol and his scarf looked like it was once white but now stained in the blood of criminals.
The Number Nine: The world on the street says your raising your title Zero.
The Zero turns to him as he gets up.
The Number Nine: You challenged the Number Eight and took his spot. I think we all know what advancement means. Your after the leadership title aren't you?
The Number Zero nodded his head as he revealed his number eight title cloth. The number nine laughed.
The Number Nine: You don't like the way things are running down here do yah? Want to make sure that guys like me don't go killing those who deserve to be killed right? Criminals are scum and you want me to simply lock them away as if it did any good?
The Number Nine knelt down and picked up the gun that flew from Lenny's hand earlier.
The Number Nine: If you went all the way, if you go the distance and defeat all challenges that await you, you would still be missing one thing. Respect.
The Number Nine flipped the gun around to hold the barrel of it and kept the handle of it pointing towards the Zero.
The Number Nine: If you expect me to respect the orders of someone who couldn't respect my own, then your out of your god damn mind. Prove to me that you'll go the distance and respect my orders and if by some crazy chance you knock me from my throne, I'll respect your orders. You should know what I'm about to ask. Zero, I command you to kill Drew, their leader.
The Zero stepped back in hesitation. Nine chuckled and stepped forward and grabbed the Zero's hand and force the gun in it.
The Number Nine: You gotta kill to save superman, you aint got no choice in the matter. Kill Drew.
Drew: W-wait! You can't be serious! I'm doing my job to protect myself! I did it for my own family!
Shamel: Lying bastard! Give me the gun and I'll do it!
The Number Nine: It help a little more if you faced him.
The Nine grabbed the Zero by the shoulders and turned him to face Drew crawling back only to have his back hit the wall. Drew is panicking but surprisingly not as much as the Zero who had every inch of his body trembling. This was a contradiction against everything about the Zero.
Shamel: Shoot him! He killed my wife and daughter! He roasted them alive!
The Number Nine: How long to do plan to continue living in that world of bliss of yours? He killed a family because he was told to. If he was told to kill again, you know he wont hesitate. Kill him.
The Nine pushes the Zero closer to Drew.
The Number Nine: I said kill him.
The Zero stood above Drew with the barrel of the gun resting on Drew's head. His body was frozen in place.
The Number Nine: I'm never going to listen to you if you don't do it. Many more criminals will die. Do it! You know I show no mercy so for once in your life show me your capable of it! Kill him! I order you to!
Paul: Oh god! Oh god no please don't kill him!
Drew: No no no! My wife won't last long without me! She just lost her father!
Shamel: Lying bastard! You cheat! You scandral! People like you have no souls!
The nine could wait no longer. He reaches around The Zero and grabs his hands on the gun. His head gets in close to Zero's ear and whispers.
The Number Nine: Let's do this together, ready? 9...
The Zero pulls back a bit but is forced back by the grip of The Nine.
The Number Nine: 8... it's going to be okay
Drew: No no no! Please! Oh god please!
The Number Nine: 7... Don't beg for God's help
The tension nearly crushed Drew and Paul as they waited for the count.
The Number Nine: 6...
Shamel: You bastards. Why? Why did you do it?
The Number Nine: 5...
Drew: I only did what I did so I can afford to pay my daughter's medical bills.
The Number Nine: 4...
Shamel: Liar! Men like you shouldn't exist!
The Number Nine: 3... Getting close to the valley of Shadows
Drew: What's the difference between me and you? I loved my family so much that I would do anything for them.
The Number Nine: 2...
Drew: I would even kill for them. Wouldn't you?
Shamel: Innocent people!?
The Number Nine: 1...
Drew: Who decides who's innocent anyways?
The Number Nine: Zero.
The sound of a gun shot echoes the dark alleyway. Drew's head slides down off the wall leaving a trail of blood. As The Nine lets go, the gun falls out of The Zero's hands. Zero falls to his knees and squeezes his own head with a hidden shocked expresion behind all his bandages. The Nine turns away and begins to walk.
The Number Nine: Do you feel that? Do you feel the blood on your hands? The dirtier those hands become, the cleaner these streets will be. That is the philosophy of The Nine. If he don't like the way I play, then the next time I see you, you had better have the title of Number One.
Shamel kept watch of the Zero as The Nine vanished.
Shamel: B-but he killed people... He killed innocent people! W-why do you care!? Why!?
Sirens echoed through the air as Shamel got up to his feet and tried to walk without putting too much pressure on his bleeding leg. He reaches down to Zero and forces him up as hard as he can by his collar and wrapped The Zero's arm around his shoulders to help him walk. Limping and helping a man up wasn't easy but Shamel was determined.
Shamel: If they catch you, you'll be arrested for murder and I'll never have the opportunity to get my answer. I have NOTHING now. Everything of mine went up in flames. Don't think I wont follow you to the ends of the earth to get an answer!
Light bursts through the window as the Train emerges out of the tunnel. Both Shamel and The Zero are in the same position as they were before but the difference that they were now heading to New Hampshire. The would not have been able to make it to the match if the news station down in New Hampshire didn't agree to pay for their train tickets. In exchange, Shamel would do The Zero's promo exclusively on their channel. At the rate things were going now they were going to be too late to catch the public promos at the Verizon Arena anyways.
Shamel: The will of the Zero is the sharpest blade that could cut through any obstacles like butter. Zero has taught me something over these years I've known him. Having strenght means nothing if you don't know how to use it. His is not a blade that cuts just any tree in the forest. Though he is under contract, the Zero will not fight the innocent no matter what the cost.
Shamel: Fortunately, The Zero is not facing an innocent man but rather a man who is either corrupted or evil. Two entirely different things mind you. The Number Nine is corrupted but not evil. Micheal Lively, despite what your information says, you've acted along the lines of a heel as of late targeting a man's life with that car bomb along with several other attacks both mental and physical. I'm not here to criticize you, I'm here to warn you. The Zero is coming.
Shamel: Zero has come to beat some sense into you. Whether your seaking revenge or thrills, its wrong, its all wrong!... But you probably know this. Your not big enough to admit your wrong but its there. At this point who could blame for being so pissed and angry now. People calling you out, trying to kick your ass for no other reason just because your Micheal Lively, only this big fella over here could possibly blame you for he's been down that road but he stopped the chain of hatred by taking the beatings. Huh, probably think he's a push over or something of that nature right? He's a man who can't kill and would take a beating with a smile if it meant he could protect someone.
Shamel: Hell maybe I'm wrong about it or about you, I wouldn't know because neither The Zero or myself give a rats ass about the problems you have with Jeff. The Zero only cares about one thing Lively. You have done evil and he will personally show you what is going to happen if you try to do it again. He doesn't care if it's against Jeff. He doesn't care if it's against Streets. Hell, he doesn't care if it's against any big name villain out their either. As of this moment The Zero can only focus on you so that's exactly what he's going to do. No cut throat debate on whose better, no long rant on who is the strongest, and we don't give a damn about telling you how many fights he's been in nor do we care about how many fights you've been through and what you accomplished. Tonight you lose by the hands of The Zero simply because you need to be taught a lesson. Your high flier moves will mean nothing for The Zero can endure any pain you dish out to him much longer then any other man alive. The Zero stands for Peace. Zero for Peace.
Shamel throws a fist in the air to represent.
Shamel: Zero for Peace. Enough said.
Several snap shots are taken. When Zero turned his head, he got an eye full of light from the flash
A flash of light catches the Zero's eyes as he spots a kid taking a picture of him with a Kodak camera. The Zero walks down a path in the cemetery that was directed to him by a priest finishing his service there. Shamel followed by with, limping with a stick he found in an alleyway and decided to use it as a Cain.
Shamel: And here I thought you could find no worse place to be after a night of sleeping in a dumpster. You actually want to visit the grave of the man you-... The man that died that night?
The Zero looked at the rose he spent his food money he found. He heavily sighed as he walked down the path. Along the way, three figures stood in front of the grave he was searching for. One was Paul, the man he saw that night, now standing next too a thin brunet sobbing on her knees begging for Drew to come back. The other was a little girl with no hair but carried the brightest of blue eyes but now filled with tears. The Zero stopped dead in his tracks as Paul is the first to notice the Zero and freezes. The older woman notices Paul's reaction and turns to see the Zero. She's seen his picture in the papers more then once and knew full well that it was he who killed her husband. She marches up to the Zero and stares at him dead in his goggles. With her right hand she smacks him as hard as she could. The Zero takes it and turns his eyes back into her own. She smacks him again.
Wife: You want to trample on his grave too?! Haven't you done enough! Don't look at me! You don't deserve to!
She smacks him across the face again and this time he looks over at the man's grave.
Wife: I was his one and only and he was mine! We've been married for 8 years and known each other even longer! What right do you have!? Who said you have the right to decide when someone you barely know has to die!?
Shamel: But he ki-!
The Zero knew Shamel would try to speak up for him ahead of time and instantly covered his mouth without directly looking at him. The cancer patient child walks up to the Zero with a painful expression.
The Daughter: W-why did you take daddy away?
The Zero stood silent and could look at her eyes no more.
Wife: Answer her.
The woman smacked him hard again, screaming at the man.
Wife: Answer her!
She punched him straight in the face and watched as he fell over, now looking at the little girl eye to eye slightly above him. Shamel could take no more. With an open jaw and a hand over his face, he backs up. He was mortified to see the death of the "soulless man" actually cut into someone's life so deep. Who are we to choose who shall live and who shall die? That was a god's realm.
Suddenly a group of people surrounded him with video cameras. With their microphones held out, the news crews began to bombard The Zero with questions.
News Woman: Mr. Zero, how do you feel about your victor over Street Wilson!
News Man: Zero! Who are you targeting next!
News Woman 2: Mr. Zero! Is it true that your one of Hurricane Jeff's body guards!
News Man 2: Mr. Zero, exactly who are you and do you claim to be a real super hero?
The Zero stepped back as the news crew cornered him. It would be impossible for him to answer them considering he's a mute. Shouting came from behind as Shamel tackled his way into the crowd.
Shamel: Get that damn camera out of his face! Get off me son! Don't make me kick your ass fool!
Shamel gets in front of Zero and speaks out.
Shamel: Listen up and this is for everyone one out there. The Zero is a mute. What we have going on here is not some gimic where I speak out for him while he sits out in the background looking all cool and mysterious! Have some pity for the man before you try to corner him and question him! You know he aint gonna answer you back! Now then, if your gonna interview anyone, interview me! I am the voice of The Zero.
News Man: Then Mr. Johnson, who is The Zero targeting next?
Shamel: We know who we want but whether or not Jeff lets us face off with him is a mystery all in it's own. Listen to me when I say this. I use to not know the proper words to describe what we have until I met... The One. He is a very wise man that once told me exactly what the number posses baby, and that my friends is "The Will".
News Man: Mr. Johnson, could you elaborate on what you mean by "The Will"?
Shamel: The Will my family, is mankind strongest and sharpest weapon! It can NEVER be broken even on your darkest day. It can be given the appearance of being broke but nevertheless when the light of day shines down on your most holy of relics, there it is all in once piece and sharp as ever! The Will can't act alone however. With the right force behind it, his will... your will, no... our will shall cut through any obstacle in front of us! That is exactly what The Zero plans to do! Even on the darkest of days where all hope is abandon, The Zero will stand out for the rest of us and act as our blade that will cut right through the darkness and lead us to a brighter world!
: Hehahahaha! Absurd!The voice came from behind the camera crew. Everyone turned to see a man sitting on a light post, balancing with ease. He wore a red suit and slacks and carried a red tinted bat slung behind him. He wore a red faced devil looking mask with horns and had hair dyed crimson. The man himself was very pail where ever his skinned showed and he himself was quite slim. His height had to be around 6 ft at least but he doesn't look like he was even out of his teens yet.
News lady: And who are you?
Lulu: Boston's Handsome Devil! Lucifer The Third! You can call me Lulu for short!
Shamel: Lulu?
Lulu: You over there! You with the bandages around your head! Your on my turf! You should get out of hell while you still can!
Lulu slides down the post with one hand. A path between Lulu and The Zero opens up as the camera crew records the whole thing.
Lulu: What's it gonna be? Get your ass whopped or leave with your tail between your legs?
The Zero pushed his sunglasses and simply turns and walks away. Shamel shamelessly walks beside him. The news cast and Lulu are a bit shocked that he would simply walk away.
News man: wha- why?
Shamel turns to the dude as he walks backwards and speaks for The Zero in what was hopefully the least provoking way.
Shamel: The Zero doesn't believe in violence unless it's a must. He aint like your average wrestler who gets steamed when someone trash talks him. It's all apart of the job home boy.
Lulu grabbed the handle of his bat. The Zero stopped in his tracks, sensing this. Lulu pulls his bat out and walks up to The Zero but stops half way as he turns his head towards a cameraman who flinches when he is seen. Lulu pulls back with his bat to swing to get the hero's attention. The camera panics and is about to scream till a solid Styrofoam cup of clam chowder comes flying at full speed and hits Lulu in the face, causing Lulu to miss the man entirely but instead bash up his camera. Lulu yelps as he wipes away the piping hot mess from his mask and eyes as The Zero lunges at the boy. He grabs his entire head and his bat wielding arm and forces him face first into the ground with locking his arm behind his back.
The News crew and crowd cheered as The Zero pulled out some old cloth he always kept on him for emergency patch jobs or temporary handcuffs and tied Lulu's hands up real tight. He lifts the boy up by the back of his collar. The cheery mood was cut short with the sound of a gun shot. Everyone turns to see a man dressed exactly as Lulu but with an old Lugar in his hand with a red tint to the metal work and the gun pointing directly at the head of a hostage woman. People began to scatter and run away as the man approached.
Lucifer: Lucifer The Second, father of the young one in your hands. My demand is simple, release my son. No heroic stuff and no tailing me. Go back to your own city, this one is mine.
Shamel: If we do that will you let the woman go?
Lucifer: Can't hurt your chances.
Shamel: No monologue or nothing, directly to the point. Signs of a cold blooded killer. Zero?
The Zero let go of the boy and watched him walk back to his father with his hands behind his back. Sirens can now be heard out in the back ground as the father keeps his gun pointing towards the woman as he steps back into an alleyway.
Shamel: Damn...
The Zero watched the man escape as he walked away.
News man: you let them escape! Why?
Shamel: The important thing is that no one was hurt and everyone is alive. The Zero is about protecting people. They got the jump on us so he did what he could do to get the hostage out of the situation she was in. Boston's finest will surely get the job done.
News man: Your a super hero that relies on cops?
Shamel: The police have raked up more criminals then any street hero for years. It's not a competition, we praise them for there hard work and dedication to justice for the people. Out of all the numbers, The Zero is the most respected member of the numbers from a police officer's point of view.
News Woman: Why is that?
Shamel: Ask a police officer, I speak for The Zero, not them.
*** Inside a train moving to XXXXX ***
The Zero and Shamel sat at a table on the train. It was one of the fancier trains to head out that tourist would normally enjoy when heading to their neck of the woods but not many tourist took the train near the end of the summer. The Zero looked out the window with his hands around a small box on the table. Shamel sat back silently while checking out the Zero's body language. It was easy to tell he was at peace right now.
Shamel: It's been a long time since you've been this relaxed has it? I havent seen you like this in... well since ever. You doing okay?
The Zero gives a little nod as he relaxes more as he gazes at the sun begining to set. The clouds mixed well with the sun's rays to make a colage of bright colors from the clouds into a beautiful scenario.
Shamel: Were you ever this "at peace" with the world before the incident three years ago?
Immediately the sun disappears as the darkness of a tunnel consumes the train.
It's night at the city 3 years ago. On this night a building can be seen roaring with fire. A man leaps out of the fire as he carries a little girl no older then six. Her body is hot only from the fire but the cool night air reveals how cold she really is. The older man is crying as he cradles his baby girl. Why her? Why did she stop breathing? Why did she have to suffer? Why did she have to die? The older man is a clean cut and younger version of Shamel Johnson. He turns his head back to the flames to see that his wife did not follow. The heat of the flames disappeared as he sudden realization of how cold and alone he has just become takes in. He runs his fingers through his daughters hair as he sings her the lullaby he always sang to her.
As more people gathered to watch the burning building, out of the corner of his eyes he recognizes one of the men who did this to his daughter and his lover. He gently places his daughter's corpes on the sidewalk and whispers "Daddy will be back sweet heart" and chokes up as he angrily runs after the man. That man followed a group of people down an alleyway a block down. Without looking he pounced on the man and knocked him down. He repeatedly hit him as he shouted.
Shamel: YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU DEVIL! YOU MONSTERS! YOU KILLED THEM! YOU KILLED THEM ALL! MY DAUGHTER! MY WIFE!
Several of the guys pull Shamel off the man and hold him up. It was difficult keeping him still as he jerked and pulled uncontrollably with unimaginable rage. As the man got up he pulled out a pistol and pointed it towards Shamel but the fear didn't stop him the least bit.
Killer: Your Mr. Johnson right? Blame your wife for what happened. She got too deep into debt and we had to pull the plug from her. Hell, maybe if you had a better job she wouldn't be looking for loans from the wrong sort of people. Just walk away.
Shamel: I don't believe you! I don't I don't I don't! You bastards killed my wife and my daughter! She was only six! She was going to be a first grader soon! She was going to have her first sleep over at her best friends house! I was going to take her to a beach next summer so she can see the ocean for the first time with her own eyes! You killed her! You took that joy away from her! You took it away from us! Why!? Why would you ruin us! You ruined us forever!
Killer: Damn it Paul shut him up!
The big man on his right punched him in the gut. He buckled over in pain. The tears wouldn't go away and eventually he began to throw up.
Killer: God damn it get a hold of yourself. Look I feel you but business is business. Take it up with the boss.
The killer pulled back his gun and put it away only to turn around to see the Zero towering over him. The killer fell back in astonishment.
Killer: How the hell! Paul! Lenny! You werent gonna tell me!?
Lenny: I didnt see him Drew! I swear!
Paul threw back Shamel and shot him in the leg knowing that he would try to do something heroic and stupid. As Drew reached in for his gun, The Zero lunged forward. As he ran he stepped on Drew and the hand reaching for the gun in his jacket to temporarily stop him. As Lenny reached for his gun, The Zero threw a brick he found earily straight at the man's hand and nearly broke a finger as the gun flew into the air. Before Paul could get the gun aiming at the Zero, Zero grabed his wrist with the gun in its hand and Paul's neck to choke slam him to the ground. As he quickly got up, he grabbed Lenny and head butt him as hard as he could to knock him out cold. The Zero sighed as he took Paul's gun and tossed it aside. Grabbing Paul by his leg, he dragged him over to Drew in order to assure neither would try to escape. He grabs Drew's gun and ties the both of their hands together with a few pieces of rope The Zero normally finds and keeps in case of something like this.
From out of the dark alleyway another man approached them. This was another mask wearing man with a green swallowtail coat and green slacks with a brown sweater underneath. His sock like mask bore the number 9 symbol and his scarf looked like it was once white but now stained in the blood of criminals.
The Number Nine: The world on the street says your raising your title Zero.
The Zero turns to him as he gets up.
The Number Nine: You challenged the Number Eight and took his spot. I think we all know what advancement means. Your after the leadership title aren't you?
The Number Zero nodded his head as he revealed his number eight title cloth. The number nine laughed.
The Number Nine: You don't like the way things are running down here do yah? Want to make sure that guys like me don't go killing those who deserve to be killed right? Criminals are scum and you want me to simply lock them away as if it did any good?
The Number Nine knelt down and picked up the gun that flew from Lenny's hand earlier.
The Number Nine: If you went all the way, if you go the distance and defeat all challenges that await you, you would still be missing one thing. Respect.
The Number Nine flipped the gun around to hold the barrel of it and kept the handle of it pointing towards the Zero.
The Number Nine: If you expect me to respect the orders of someone who couldn't respect my own, then your out of your god damn mind. Prove to me that you'll go the distance and respect my orders and if by some crazy chance you knock me from my throne, I'll respect your orders. You should know what I'm about to ask. Zero, I command you to kill Drew, their leader.
The Zero stepped back in hesitation. Nine chuckled and stepped forward and grabbed the Zero's hand and force the gun in it.
The Number Nine: You gotta kill to save superman, you aint got no choice in the matter. Kill Drew.
Drew: W-wait! You can't be serious! I'm doing my job to protect myself! I did it for my own family!
Shamel: Lying bastard! Give me the gun and I'll do it!
The Number Nine: It help a little more if you faced him.
The Nine grabbed the Zero by the shoulders and turned him to face Drew crawling back only to have his back hit the wall. Drew is panicking but surprisingly not as much as the Zero who had every inch of his body trembling. This was a contradiction against everything about the Zero.
Shamel: Shoot him! He killed my wife and daughter! He roasted them alive!
The Number Nine: How long to do plan to continue living in that world of bliss of yours? He killed a family because he was told to. If he was told to kill again, you know he wont hesitate. Kill him.
The Nine pushes the Zero closer to Drew.
The Number Nine: I said kill him.
The Zero stood above Drew with the barrel of the gun resting on Drew's head. His body was frozen in place.
The Number Nine: I'm never going to listen to you if you don't do it. Many more criminals will die. Do it! You know I show no mercy so for once in your life show me your capable of it! Kill him! I order you to!
Paul: Oh god! Oh god no please don't kill him!
Drew: No no no! My wife won't last long without me! She just lost her father!
Shamel: Lying bastard! You cheat! You scandral! People like you have no souls!
The nine could wait no longer. He reaches around The Zero and grabs his hands on the gun. His head gets in close to Zero's ear and whispers.
The Number Nine: Let's do this together, ready? 9...
The Zero pulls back a bit but is forced back by the grip of The Nine.
The Number Nine: 8... it's going to be okay
Drew: No no no! Please! Oh god please!
The Number Nine: 7... Don't beg for God's help
The tension nearly crushed Drew and Paul as they waited for the count.
The Number Nine: 6...
Shamel: You bastards. Why? Why did you do it?
The Number Nine: 5...
Drew: I only did what I did so I can afford to pay my daughter's medical bills.
The Number Nine: 4...
Shamel: Liar! Men like you shouldn't exist!
The Number Nine: 3... Getting close to the valley of Shadows
Drew: What's the difference between me and you? I loved my family so much that I would do anything for them.
The Number Nine: 2...
Drew: I would even kill for them. Wouldn't you?
Shamel: Innocent people!?
The Number Nine: 1...
Drew: Who decides who's innocent anyways?
The Number Nine: Zero.
The sound of a gun shot echoes the dark alleyway. Drew's head slides down off the wall leaving a trail of blood. As The Nine lets go, the gun falls out of The Zero's hands. Zero falls to his knees and squeezes his own head with a hidden shocked expresion behind all his bandages. The Nine turns away and begins to walk.
The Number Nine: Do you feel that? Do you feel the blood on your hands? The dirtier those hands become, the cleaner these streets will be. That is the philosophy of The Nine. If he don't like the way I play, then the next time I see you, you had better have the title of Number One.
Shamel kept watch of the Zero as The Nine vanished.
Shamel: B-but he killed people... He killed innocent people! W-why do you care!? Why!?
Sirens echoed through the air as Shamel got up to his feet and tried to walk without putting too much pressure on his bleeding leg. He reaches down to Zero and forces him up as hard as he can by his collar and wrapped The Zero's arm around his shoulders to help him walk. Limping and helping a man up wasn't easy but Shamel was determined.
Shamel: If they catch you, you'll be arrested for murder and I'll never have the opportunity to get my answer. I have NOTHING now. Everything of mine went up in flames. Don't think I wont follow you to the ends of the earth to get an answer!
Light bursts through the window as the Train emerges out of the tunnel. Both Shamel and The Zero are in the same position as they were before but the difference that they were now heading to New Hampshire. The would not have been able to make it to the match if the news station down in New Hampshire didn't agree to pay for their train tickets. In exchange, Shamel would do The Zero's promo exclusively on their channel. At the rate things were going now they were going to be too late to catch the public promos at the Verizon Arena anyways.
Shamel: The will of the Zero is the sharpest blade that could cut through any obstacles like butter. Zero has taught me something over these years I've known him. Having strenght means nothing if you don't know how to use it. His is not a blade that cuts just any tree in the forest. Though he is under contract, the Zero will not fight the innocent no matter what the cost.
Shamel: Fortunately, The Zero is not facing an innocent man but rather a man who is either corrupted or evil. Two entirely different things mind you. The Number Nine is corrupted but not evil. Micheal Lively, despite what your information says, you've acted along the lines of a heel as of late targeting a man's life with that car bomb along with several other attacks both mental and physical. I'm not here to criticize you, I'm here to warn you. The Zero is coming.
Shamel: Zero has come to beat some sense into you. Whether your seaking revenge or thrills, its wrong, its all wrong!... But you probably know this. Your not big enough to admit your wrong but its there. At this point who could blame for being so pissed and angry now. People calling you out, trying to kick your ass for no other reason just because your Micheal Lively, only this big fella over here could possibly blame you for he's been down that road but he stopped the chain of hatred by taking the beatings. Huh, probably think he's a push over or something of that nature right? He's a man who can't kill and would take a beating with a smile if it meant he could protect someone.
Shamel: Hell maybe I'm wrong about it or about you, I wouldn't know because neither The Zero or myself give a rats ass about the problems you have with Jeff. The Zero only cares about one thing Lively. You have done evil and he will personally show you what is going to happen if you try to do it again. He doesn't care if it's against Jeff. He doesn't care if it's against Streets. Hell, he doesn't care if it's against any big name villain out their either. As of this moment The Zero can only focus on you so that's exactly what he's going to do. No cut throat debate on whose better, no long rant on who is the strongest, and we don't give a damn about telling you how many fights he's been in nor do we care about how many fights you've been through and what you accomplished. Tonight you lose by the hands of The Zero simply because you need to be taught a lesson. Your high flier moves will mean nothing for The Zero can endure any pain you dish out to him much longer then any other man alive. The Zero stands for Peace. Zero for Peace.
Shamel throws a fist in the air to represent.
Shamel: Zero for Peace. Enough said.
Several snap shots are taken. When Zero turned his head, he got an eye full of light from the flash
A flash of light catches the Zero's eyes as he spots a kid taking a picture of him with a Kodak camera. The Zero walks down a path in the cemetery that was directed to him by a priest finishing his service there. Shamel followed by with, limping with a stick he found in an alleyway and decided to use it as a Cain.
Shamel: And here I thought you could find no worse place to be after a night of sleeping in a dumpster. You actually want to visit the grave of the man you-... The man that died that night?
The Zero looked at the rose he spent his food money he found. He heavily sighed as he walked down the path. Along the way, three figures stood in front of the grave he was searching for. One was Paul, the man he saw that night, now standing next too a thin brunet sobbing on her knees begging for Drew to come back. The other was a little girl with no hair but carried the brightest of blue eyes but now filled with tears. The Zero stopped dead in his tracks as Paul is the first to notice the Zero and freezes. The older woman notices Paul's reaction and turns to see the Zero. She's seen his picture in the papers more then once and knew full well that it was he who killed her husband. She marches up to the Zero and stares at him dead in his goggles. With her right hand she smacks him as hard as she could. The Zero takes it and turns his eyes back into her own. She smacks him again.
Wife: You want to trample on his grave too?! Haven't you done enough! Don't look at me! You don't deserve to!
She smacks him across the face again and this time he looks over at the man's grave.
Wife: I was his one and only and he was mine! We've been married for 8 years and known each other even longer! What right do you have!? Who said you have the right to decide when someone you barely know has to die!?
Shamel: But he ki-!
The Zero knew Shamel would try to speak up for him ahead of time and instantly covered his mouth without directly looking at him. The cancer patient child walks up to the Zero with a painful expression.
The Daughter: W-why did you take daddy away?
The Zero stood silent and could look at her eyes no more.
Wife: Answer her.
The woman smacked him hard again, screaming at the man.
Wife: Answer her!
She punched him straight in the face and watched as he fell over, now looking at the little girl eye to eye slightly above him. Shamel could take no more. With an open jaw and a hand over his face, he backs up. He was mortified to see the death of the "soulless man" actually cut into someone's life so deep. Who are we to choose who shall live and who shall die? That was a god's realm.
