Michael sloshed through the soaked streets of Seattle. The dismal weather matched his attitude perfectly. A "dead-end" job was an understatement for his new post in Washington. There were no jobs, no contracts, no friendly faces, and worst of all no non-humans to get to know. Michael felt like he was a dove in a pack of vultures and not just metaphorically either, turn your back in this town and you paid that price. Michael's thoughts suddenly thought back to Arya. Since he had left Brazil barely a month ago, it had become a major war zone much like Africa in the early 21st century. Michael had thought that Arya could hold her own but judging from what he heard about the conditions down there, he didn't know what to think anymore.
Michael was on his way to a local trainer. The RNA office here was inactive to say the least, the only way Michael could make any money here through the RNA was to be a security guard, that just wasn't his style. Since leaving Brazil, Michael had to start all over. He had to meet the right people, get the right equipment, and stay hidden from police or public view. Magic wasn't exactly banned in Seattle but it was frowned upon, and anyone whom practiced it had always ran into some trouble with the law. If that wasn't bad enough, Michael was an Elf. There wasn't an Elf of planet Earth who didn't some form of magic. Trying to avoid the police or suspicion was like cat trying to avoid mice, it just didn't work.
Michael rounded a corner and heard some rustling down a dark alleyway, he listened closely and heard muffled screaming. He knew what it was, it happened almost daily in Seattle. Some poor woman was being mugged. Michael had one of two options: He could be a hero and save the day or he could go about his business and not be late for his appointment with the contractor. Michael had been itching for some action and decided to go along with option one. He pulled off his hoody jacket, pulled out a concealed pistol from his pants, attached a silencer and made his way down the alley quietly. Elves weren't know for their strength or their bulk, they were known for their speed, agility, and cunning. The two criminals didn't know what was about to hit them.
Michael peered out from behind a dumpster and saw two men dressed in black mugging a young woman. One was going through her purse while the other was wrestling with her. Michael quietly walked up behind the man going through her purse. He grabbed the base of his chin with one hand, and his cranium with the other and pulled them in opposite directions. The jerk was quick, strong, and quiet. Michael didn't stop twisting until he heard a satisfying snap and felt the man go limp. He threw the body to the ground and drew his pistol in one motion. He aimed down the iron-sights and lined them up with the base of the man's skull. With quiet precision Michael pulled the trigger and felt the pistol jerk back into his hand. There wasn't an echo or even a sound that could be distinguished from the pounding of the rain all around them.
The man's body jerked up and stood there for a moment, balancing on dead legs. The man wobbled a little until the woman pushed him over and he fell the ground in a heap. Michael looked at her blood spattered face, her long brown hair fell in front of her teary eyes. She couldn't have been a day over 20. Michael holstered his pistol and asked, "Are you okay?" She brushed away her hair and said, "I am now, thanks to you." Michael looked down at the two motionless bodies and said, "I'm sorry you had to see this." She looked down as well and walked towards him, stopping to kick the body of her attacker along the way. "No, I'm glad I saw it. These bastards deserved it." Michael nodded curtly and turned to walk away, but the woman yelled out after him, "Wait! What's your name?"
Michael turned and said, "I'm one of the few Elves in this town, I stand out enough as it is. I think it's best that you don't know my name." She stood akimbo and looked at him with unsatisfaction, "Well what can I call you then?" Michael thought back to his childhood. In the Elvin culture, it was customary to give a male Elf reaching adulthood a secondary name. Michael hadn't seen anyone from his home in years. So he decided to use it. "Call me Sitja." She seemed puzzled by the name but nonetheless walked forward and held out her hand, "Well Sitja, it's nice to meet you. I'm Megan." Michael shook her hand gingerly and looked her square in her bright, piercing blue eyes. "I think we'd better go, the sooner we can put some distance between us and these guys the better." She nodded and they both walked back into the storm.
The two ran to get to cover from the heavy rain that was quickly turning to hail as they left the alley. They found shelter under an awning that was quickly filling with people. Michael began to feel uncomfortable, he felt like everyone's eyes were on him. His discomfort must have shown because Megan offered to go somewhere to eat. Michael looked at his watch, he was already late for his appointment. "Thanks but I already have plans, maybe some other time." He began to leave but she pulled him back by an arm. She pushed a crumpled piece of paper into his hand and closed his palm, "Here take this, I'm free Friday night." Michael forced a grin and left her. As he walked down the street he realized that it was practically deserted. The falling hail had forced everyone inside, and for the briefest of moments, Michael felt a sense of peace wash over him.
As he rounded a corner that took him to a small street with shops on either side he unfolded the paper Megan had given him. Just as he expected, it was a hastily scribbled phone number. He shoved it in his inner jacket pocket and continued along his way. Once he reached what looked like a bakery he walked inside and waited at the counter. He waited until the customers left and rang the bell on the counter two rapid times followed by two slower ones. A husky man walked out, the shopkeeper of both stores, Freddy from Jamaica. He threw his hands up in the air, "Michael! Awhile it been! How be you?" Michael shrugged and Freddy caught the meaning, "Oh, into trouble you run on ad way?" As they walked to the back of the store to an elevator that would take them down to the training room Michael said, "Nothing I couldn't handle. There was this girl being mugged." Freddy tisked, "Bad bid' ness dis city be. You know you can't play hero all da time Michael." Freddy pushed the down button and they both walked in the elevator as it began descending. "I know, but I do what I can, when I can."
Freddy leaned back against the elevator, "Dat good. Dose who have da power to do good, have the responsibility to do good. So what about dis girl Michael? Was she a good catch?" Michael remembered the number Megan had given him and her offer to go out the next night. "Well, she gave me her number but I don't think anything will come of it." Freddy opened the elevator door and they both walked out to the training deck. "Dat not true Michael. She gave you her number, dat mean she's interested. You should go for it, nobody should stay alone forever. What could it hurt? Just go out with her!" Michael sighed once again, "We'll see what happens." The two walked out onto a wide leather mat that was dark with blood, sweat, and other stains. Michael let the smell of the air creep up his nose, it was refreshing and it definitely woke him up. Freddy unbuttoned his shirt, "Alright, let's see this new trick you been cookin' up..."