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Posted by Slade
on 5/15/2009, 10:00 pm
98.108.25.215
Outside Star City, Slade’s Farm
“When you have finished that test, it is time for your lesson,” Slade says. Gavin sits at the computer desk, logged in and doing one of his home schooling math tests. The answers come easy for him and he quickly hits submit. The test is graded almost instantly and the grade comes up as a perfect score. “Very well done Gavin.”
Gavin follows his guardian outside, the weather being almost perfect if just a tad on the chilly side. Gavin stares at Slade’s back, watching for the hint of an attack. Slade had taught him that you must always be prepared, a lesson that had cost him more than a few bruises. Gavin did not consider this cruel because he knew that what Slade was teaching him was true. Life is not fair and the strong will always prey upon the weak. Slade had taken him in and promised to hone him until he was no longer one of the weak and helpless.
Life on the streets had shown Gavin the realities of life. Of his father he knew nothing, he could be any desperate stranger on the street. His mother was a prostitute who had been beaten to death by her pimp while he cowered in a closet. Gavin might have met a similar fate if his feet had not been quick or the pimp to lazy to give chase. After that he had lived from day to day on the streets, stealing what he could and living in abandoned buildings.
Until he had tried to pick the pocket of what he had thought was any other mark. He’d practiced the route over and over and had used it atleast a hundred times to get away after grabbing a wallet or a purse. There were enough obstacles to discourage pursuers and Gavin could navigate them with a practiced ease. He thought he had lost the man with the eye patch when he had arrived at the old subway station he was staying at. He had almost jumped out of his skin when the man was already there waiting on him.
First Gavin had figured the man for one of the do gooders who were always trying to get him into a shelter. There was also the possibility that the man was a predator and that was an even more terrifying prospect. By the way the man spoke he erased the first concern from Gavin’s mind in a matter of moments. He had given Gavin an option, continue to live the way he had been without any hope or come with him and trust him. He’d given Gavin a small two shot derringer pistol and bullets to ease Gavin’s fear about the latter.
The training had been brutal at time and at others it had been abstract. Slade always pushed Gavin further than Gavin had though he could achieve. Gavin was a quick learner and he accepted pain without complaint. Slade did little to motivate him because Gavin’s own will to win drove him harder than anything else would. Slade was relentless in his training methods, always turning virtually every situation into a lesson of some sort. He one told Gavin that he pushed him harder than any apprentice he had ever had because Gavin was above them.
“We are going to chop wood today,” Slade began. Gavin follows Slade behind the barn were a large stack of logs wait with a pair of axes. Slade sets one of the logs on an old worn stump and picks up one of the axes. Gavin waits patiently, knowing there was more to this exercise than just chopping wood. In one smooth motion Slade brings the axe down and splits the logs in two. He gathers the two pieces and begins a new pile before returning to chopping. As he repeats the demonstration he begins to talk.
“Think of each of these logs as a person, each one of them has it’s own weak spot. You must learn to find those weak spots and strike with precision.” To emphasize his point, Slade brings the axe down with one hand in a smooth motion, splitting another log neatly in two. Every weakness, every fear, every habit, all of these can be of use to a creative mind. Do you understand?”
“Study your enemy, not just his actions but the reasons he acts,” Gavin answers without hesitation.
“Very good,” Slade replies. “You remember well. First let’s learn how to find the weakness in the logs and then we will discuss finding the weakness in your enemies…”
Star City, Rooftops
Oliver looks down upon the city, the sun having gone done hours ago. He makes his way up here almost every night like a guardian angel watching over his city. Tonight though his mind is a million miles away as he ponders the package from Slade. The fact that Slade was coming for him was no surprise but the fact that Slade told him he was coming was confusing. On one hand it could just be Slade’s twisted sense of honor that prompted him to send the warning. On the other hand it could be the assassin’s way of drawing the Justice league into a grand trap.
I’m not going to play his game by his rules, Ollie decides. I have to beat him at his own game and that means I have to bring him to me. Easier said than done considering I have no clue were he is and he knows right were I am. Slade studies his opponents and that means he will have some sort of surveillance to monitor my habits. I can use that he decides.
Ollie catches something out of the corner of his eye and he has an arrow drawn to his cheek before he is turned. He zeroes in on a scrap of cloth left dangling in the door way of the door to this roof. It wasn’t there when I made my way up here. He quickly replaces the arrow he has knocked with one that contains sleeping gas in the head. He moves closer to the door, his eyes searching every shadow for a sign of movement. He reaches the door to find a large scrap of orange cloth with a note written on it.
Just wanted to stop by but it looked like you are busy. I look forward to seeing you soon.
There is no name on the note, one is not needed. Green Arrow catches a whiff of some sort of chemical on the rag as he removes it from the door. It’s not familiar but there is a definite hint of something there. Slade is a pro he didn’t miss this, he left it there for me. He is baiting me, knowing I’ll analyze it and find out what the chemical is. He is setting our meeting as sure as if it was a hand written invitation. Ollie is startled out of his musing by the silent vibration of his cell phone.
“Dinah,” Oliver begins, having read the incoming number.
“Out on the town tonight?”
“Yeah kind of a boring night so far thankfully.”
“I just wanted to call to tell you it looks like I’m going to be stuck here a little longer than I thought. I know I won’t make it back by Friday for sure.”
“Guess I’m out a date for the fundraiser then,” Ollie quips. “No worries, I know you’re on important business. Have you heard from anyone how things are looking in Washington? Conner said he’s worried the new administration is more than a little anti masks.”
“Bruce was more grim than usual last time I talked to him. Even if this president wants to, I think he’ll find it hard to get very much done after the registration fiasco.”
“Conner is on the other line, can I call you tomorrow.”
“As long as you don’t forget Mr. Quinn.”
“I won’t Mrs. Quinn. I love you.”
“Love you to,” she answers, hanging up. Ollie flips his phone closed, his lie to her already making his choice to go it alone…
Outside Star City, Slade’s Farm
Slade watches as Gavin works through his sword forms, the wooden blade slicing through the air. The boy moves with grace, his footwork absolutely flawless. The boy’s face is a mask of concentration as he works through the attack routine. Slade reaches for a small sheath on his belt and draws a throwing knife. With a flick of his wrist he sends the blade hurtling towards the boy. Gavin brings the wooden blade up and blocks the knife inches from hitting him.
“Excellent,” Slade says.
“Do you think I am ready for a second blade?”
“Something small, a knife perhaps. I don’t want to complicate things when you are really making progress.” The pulls the small blade out of the wooden sword were it stuck. He then begins to work through the exact same form but using the knife as an extra offensive attack. Even Slade cannot help but smile as the boy’s hand work with surprising ambidexterity. He finishes with an unscripted flourish that utilizes both weapons in an all out attack. “I will make you a more suitable off hand practice weapon.”
“Almost equal length, a few inches shorter maybe.”
“An expert now are we,” Slade says grinning. His cell phone begins to ring and he checks the number as he motions the boy to continue. “Yes.”
“I hope you are well since I haven’t heard from you in some time,” the familiar voice on the other end of the phone says.
“What exactly do you want?”
“I am distressed by your lack of progress with the contract I gave you Mr. Wilson”
“I told you that I had personal matters to clear up before I could move against your target. I am not going to jeopardize either target by rushing things, I told you this.”
“Things are coming together on my end, I need to know were you stand.”
“I have already put plans in action and now isn’t the time for this.”
“You have one week,” the voice says before he hangs up.
Slade reaches for a spare practice blade and takes a few swings to test the weight. “I think a sparring session is not in order…”
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