Persuasion

“How was your stay in Japan?”  Vagabond asked.  His voice smooth and gentle like a stream passing over stones on an idle summer afternoon.  His robotic body, scratched and marked from years of travel, shifted slightly to look at the approaching woman.  “It was worth going.”  Emily Hart answered.  Her New Zealand accent easy to establish.  

“And the climb to meet me?” 

“Good exercise.  Why Mount Cook though?”  Emily removed her snow goggles and rested them on her head.  “Wasn’t planning on coming back for a while yet.”

Vagabond stood, a lithe yet stable body, towering two heads above his companion.  “Because I have never seen the view from this angle before.”  

Emily placed her climbing axes into the two sheafs on her thighs.  “Your message said you needed to see me urgently.”

“Indeed.  Have you felt the wind change recently?”  Trinkets from his journeys clattered against his body as a gust of cold air blew by, as if summoned by his words.  “I have been approached by an old acquaintance.  He is looking for special people to bring light to the darkness.”

“What?”

The robot sound slightly annoyed that he had to explain further “He...They are searching for talented people to fight the evil that has consumed the world.  Heroes if you will.”

It took a moment for Emily to register that Vagabond was staring at her.  “Me?”

“Your quick at learning, skilled in the use of various weapons and fighting techniques, willing to push yourself to the limit and beyond.”

“I’m an extreme sports fanatic, living life to the fullest, I don’t care about the rest of the world.”

“You should.  This is the start of a new era.  You are worthy to be apart of this.”

“What’s in it for me?”

Vagabond launched himself at the small woman, his mighty fists clenched so tight that the sound of his mechanical parts screeched together to make a deafening sound.  “You selfish...!”

“Now we understand each over old friend.”  With a smile Emily ducked and spun, just avoiding his attack.  She planted a hand on Vagabonds fists, that struck the ground with such force that it shook, and kicked him in the face while doing a handstand.  

Vagabond stumbled slightly from the kick as Emily sprung from his fists and landed in the snow.  “Maybe I shouldn’t kick a robot in the face.”  Still crouched Emily, pulled out her axes and sprang back at Vagabond.  She flipped over the large being planting both blades into his back. 

Vagabond turned and laughed.  Emily smiled and stood slowly.  

“You found that fun.”  It was not a question.

Emily nodded.  “It was a rush, yeah.”  Steam accompanied each word.

“Then consider what I told you.  You could experience that every night.”

Again Emily nodded.  “Maybe.”  She walked over to Vagabond and pulled out the axes from his back.

“You will be good at it, your name will live on forever.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“As you wish.”

Vagabond walked to the edge of the ravine and sat down.  Emily joined him and placed her head on his shoulder.  “I miss you little one.”  Vagabond said.

“I know.”

Passing of the Mantle

The match was hard on him.  Derrick Mason more commonly known as the British pro wrestler named RedFox.  He came to the USA to earn money after he witnessed the death of his team mates and friends.  I came across the pond to see this legend.  My name is Daniel Dobson and I need to learn how to protect my daughter from the evil that took my wife.  After his match I met up with Derrick in his locker room.  “Did you hear that?” his voice is gritty with age, “Half the crowd was chatting retire.”  He looks up his face scared by age and violence.  “I heard, you still looked good out there though.” I try to make him feel better.

“Damn right I did.”  Slowly he stands from his chair, throwing the red and white headwear into a wash basket.  “You still want this old man to train you?”

To be honest Derrick wasn’t much older than me, ten or fifteen years difference if that, but I played along.  It made him happy to have a sidekick again.  “Of course I do, you were a great crime fighter.”  I smiley widely at him as I remember the head lines of newspapers years ago.

“Alright, lets get going.”

I spend six months with him.  My daughter back in England was being looked after by my oldest friend, so I knew she was safe.  Derrick trains me in every fighting style he knows, he also trains me in the history of his codename.  RedFox was a title held by many men over England's history.  Arthurs secret assassin, Robin Hoods mysterious spy, a Highway man who had a flare for the dramatic.  Each time the name got passed on.  Derrick was the latest in a line of legends.  He fought beside some of the greatest super heroes and gods of our time.  That was before the fatal battle over London.  

The six months past with speed.  “Here boy,”  Derrick said after a night on patrol in Chicago.  “I think it’s time you took over.”

“Excuse me.”  I was confused, I didn’t want to take over anything.

“You deserve the name RedFox,  I’ve seen my adventures, saved many people.  Like the crowds say; it’s time I retired.”

“But...”

“You want to protect that little girl of yours?  Protect the streets.  Put the riff raff back where they belong.”  He handed me the mask.  “You don’t have to wear that grubby thing, I’m just giving it to you as a symbolic gesture.”

We both laugh a little.  “I’m honored.”  

“Go make the world safe again.”  I nod and then begin to walk away.  “One more thing kid.  If you hook up with some like minded people, join in the big fights, even if the main man tells you to stay out of it.”

A New Age is About to Begin

"The world used to be a safe place.  Heroes defeated villians, that was the way of things.  Twenty years ago that all changed.  In a final battle to save the Earth the majority of your legends vanished into folklore and myth.  The media have called this era a new Dark Age.  Crime is ruling the countries, people vanish in the night, natural disasters and disease spread throughout your lands.  We have observed these events for we are known in whispers as the Mothman, a myth of warning.  We can no longer allow this world to fall as ours once did.  We can not just watch.  New heroes are coming to fight back this darkness and we will help bring them in.  For we are Hive and we are here to help save your world."