Chapter 2: The Unexpected Partner

My sword clashed against my opponent's, he then swiftly and quietly jumped to the ground attempting to do a sweep kick but failing miserably. My knee met his jaw and on the ground he went, my sword at his throat ready for the next action that might come.

"How many points is that for me?" I asked the small Filipino man at my feet.

The man suddenly laughed causing me to frown.

"That's fourteen points for you Mr. Destler," stated an electronic female voice.

"So we're tied I believe?" I asked still in my position. The man nodded, then suddenly kicked the sword out of my hand and kicked my legs causing me to fall right next to him.

"That's fifteen points for Mr. McKenna Mr. Destler" said the voice.

"I win," Adam McKenna said with a smile.

"Yea well, Tea-Kwan Do was never my expertise" I said standing up and headed to the changing room. Adam stood and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Where you going you still have one more match to do," he said pulling me back into the line.

"I had enough of fighting with you Adam…"

"Not with me, with him" he said pointing to a man in a white suit and mask fencing and fighting with another man in a similar outfit. I watched for about another minute before the man's opponent went down with a strong blow to the liver.

"Damn, that's gotta hurt, be careful out there Erik," Jeremy said from behind sarcastically. I glared at him.

"Don't worry dear I shall be fine" I said never loosing the glower. Jeremy then laughed.

"Yea I bet," He chuckled.

"So who is he?" I asked Adam while stretching. Still watching the man in white sharpening his sword.

"Robin Costello" Adam said simply handing me a full mask to cover my face and half white mask. I nearly choked.

"Did you just say Robin Costello?"

"Yea"

"Didn't he retire seven years ago?" I asked with a frown.

"No, I think it was more like nine" Adam said with the same frown.

"He's gotta be close eighty,"

"Seventy four next month actually" Adam said tossing me the fencing sword. I carefully slipped my half mask off so no one else saw and quickly slipped the full mask on.

"I fight him the man's gonna have a heart attack," I said feeling annoyed.

"Yea, well… good luck with that." Adam said quickly pushing me on to the white plat form. "Remember, the first one to fall looses." He said with a small laugh.

Adam was acting strange, like he wanted me to fight him. I tried thinking about the rest but couldn't when I saw Costello running at me with his sword. He swung but missed, I grinned as I quickly made my move but was shocked to see he blocked it. He then lifted his leg and with his foot made contact with my head. I took in the pain as I nearly fell to the floor. There is NO WAY I am loosing to an old man!

I swung at him causing him to take a step back, I then myself took a step back hoping he will come forward, I smiled as he did so, I then swung, he blocked, then I swung with my left fist into his gut causing him to grunt. The grunt was light almost like a girl. I heard laughter from behind and I suddenly felt guilty to embarrass the old man.

Then suddenly without expectation he through his sword at me, I dodged like it was nothing. But the fact that I was focused on the sword more then Costello was a huge mistake. The next thing I know his foot made contact with my groin. I shut my eyes trying so hard to ignore the pain. Costello then jumped into the air planning to do a spinning back kick. Noticing this quickly I grabbed his foot and twisted it making him twirl in the air and falling on the floor.

I knew I won, and because I did I released the growl I wanted to release when the old man's foot came in contact with my groin. I fell to the floor gripping harshly to my sword.

Costello got up and rested with his hands on his knees. I got up and couldn't help but do the same action. We were both panting furiously and it was amazing how I was able to speak clearly.

"I'm surprised an old man like you still has that sort of energy" I said taking the mask off and quickly placing my half mask on.

Then suddenly Costello shot his head up toward me.

"Old man?" the voice sounded offended, but that wasn't what made my eyes widened.

Costello took the mask off, and out came shoulder length black hair with red streaks, emerald almond eyes, and an oval shaped face.

Costello was no man, but a woman.

I quickly closed my opened mouth and straightened.

"Isn't Robin Costello supposed to be a man?" I asked with a frown. The woman never changed her look of being offended.

"My father is the man, not his daughter."

"You almost lost to a girl!" Jeremy sputtered out with laughter.

"Robin Costello had a daughter?" I asked.

"Also named Robin Costello," she responded.

"Excuse me Detective Destler, Chief Gratin wishes to see in his office right away" said the electronic female voice.

I heaved a sigh and shifted my gaze from Robin and made my way toward the changing room.

I placed on the dark brown pants, the white shirt, the black suspenders, my black socks, and black shoes and the brown jacket. My last remaining attire was my brown fedora.

I then made my way to Chief Gratin's office wondering why on earth he would want to see me during work hours. Well come to think of it I wasn't really doing anything at the moment just fighting the unknown daughter of Robin Costello whose name by the way is also Robin Costello.

"Hey Jack, how you doing?" I said entering his office and taking a seat on the chair in front of his desk. He suddenly looks at me and glares.

"You sit down when I say you can sit down!" I frowned not sure why he was acting this way. I sighed annoyed and stood and waited for him to give me permission to sit down on his chair.

"How could you not tell it was a girl you were fighting?" he then asked, his gray mustache going left to right. I couldn't help but chuckle when that happens.

"I guess I was distracted with the fact I thought it was the old Robin Costello." I responded with a grin. Jack sighed. "Can I sit down now?" I asked. Jack snapped his head up at me. "I guess not." I then said.

"You need to get yourself a partner," he suddenly said. I frowned.

"We've been through this; I do not need a partner. Ask anyone on the lower levels their partners are slowing them down,"

"Enough Erik, you've been on this force for nearly twenty years, and never, never throughout all the levels you been on had a partner."

"That's right and I like to keep it that way," I stated my patience raising. Jack then sighed again.

"Twenty years and your stubborn ass still won't have a partner," he murmured. "Twenty god damn years and you won't even think about it."

I sighed not sure what the hell he was talking about, or what point he was trying to make.

"Just say what you want to say Jack," I said firm. Jack glared at me then sat straight. His eyes were straight and he hesitated to say what he needed to say. Then he sighed and sat back in his seat,

"Oh hell…You have yourself a partner."

I quickly erupted into laughter.

"That's a good one Jack," I said through the snicker. But jack held his gaze.

"Your partner is Robin Costello,"

I suddenly stopped laughing.

"The daughter, not the father… just so you won't get confused." He said with a grin.

"Your not kidding are you?" I asked slowly.

"Nope." He said simply.

"WHAT!"

I know what you're thinking,

A very different Erik, well I couldn't help it. Erik has a deep secret, well actually more then one but still. I hope you will like Robin Costello, she will be trip...hopefully. HeHe.

Please Review! It will help me mroe then you know!

Crystal A.

"Life is a mask, its our job to take it off and discover the journey behind it not in front for there is nothing there but a mask"