"How was your time off Wilde?" A fellow detective asked as I walked on to the crime scene. He was a more seasoned detective, maybe 30 years of age. He was of average height and weight. He was bald. His name was Brock Stevens. I looked at him and said "Very informational Stevens, now what do we have here?" He then said "Double homicide. Two different store owners. Bodies were dumped here as there is no evidence of any shooting in the surrounding area." I nodded "Black Hound handy work?" I asked. He shrugged "It would be my educated guess, but as you know our job is to find the facts, not guess." I nodded again and began to take in the crime scene. It was an alley, actually not too far off from where I had dealt with the drug dealers a week before. There were two bodies, both male, dumped in the middle of the ally.. in clear view, which showed whoever murdered them was not scared of being caught, a trait of the Black Hounds. Both had multiple bullet wounds, which suggested either automatic weaponry, or maybe even an anger filled murder. Both were shop owners, small time shops. One was a deli, the other a coffee shop.
I now inspected the body up close. Normally that would be a CSI's job, but I wanted to get the full scoop by myself so I could follow up any leads on my night time job. Luck would find it that I did find something that would help me. A small piece of paper stuck to one of the victim's shoes. I quickly glanced to make sure no one was looking, before I pulled out a pair of tweezers and picked it off the show, placing it in a bag and stuffing it in my pocket. Another quick glance confirmed no one saw me. I then cornered the CSI on the case and said "If you find anything interesting, leave a report on my desk. Also leave one for Stevens, wouldn't want him to be out of the loop. Thank you." I then went to proceed on with my day as normal.
By the end of the day I had deduced that the Black Hounds were charging the store owners some sort of tax so that they were able to stay in business. These two vic's must have refused to pay, and they were made an example of. Well I was going to make an example out of these murders.
As soon as I got off work, I went straight to my bunker. Once there I pulled out the piece of paper I had pulled off of one of the vic's boots. I then examined it. It looked ordinary, had no writing on it, nothing to distinguish it. Which was probably why the Black Hounds did not take it from the body before dumping it. I then noticed it was different than normal paper. Had a different texture it was more of a meshy type of feel. The kind of paper used in Chinese style paper lanterns. This narrowed down my search grid quite a lot. In fact, it gave me a prime target… China town. Now all I had to do was wait for nightfall.. then bring justice upon these murderers.
Once it was time I suited up. Starting with the actual suit, then followed with the hidden blade gauntlets and then my mask. I finished by flipping my hood up and stood there for a second, taking it all in. I was about to go out in the field for the first time since my accident… and this time for something bigger than a drug bust. I could be stumbling upon a small base of operations. Not that I expected it.. but If I did find one I would have to take it out by myself.. I could not call in any backup since I had none. I worked alone.. and it was best that way. I then grabbed my bow and then made my way out to China town.
It took a while considering I still did not have any mode of transportation except for jumping rooftop to rooftop. Once I finally arrived in Chinatown I took up a 'camping' spot with a nice vantage point of a few stores.. and that was where I waited.. watching…
An hour went by, but I was patient. I tried not to get bored, and instead put all my being into watching.. scanning.. looking for anything out of the ordinary. Another hour went by, and I wondered if I had been wrong. Maybe the paper had been from something else?
I had almost even given up.. but then I hear a roar of a sports bike.. or more like 3 of them, rumble onto the scene.. stopping in front of a little 24 hour cafe. I watched as the three muscular men got off their bikes.. grabbed some bats, and walked in. I un-clipped my bow from my belt, and pressed the button the uncurled it so it could assume its full form. I then pulled a zipline arrow from my quiver, aimed and fired, it hitting just above the door. I then grabbed the rope and slid down, I then let go of the rope, tucking in and barrel rolling in through the open door.
I went right to work, I came up kneeling, at the same time pulling an arrow from my quiver and firing an arrow and the first guy, it impacting into his back. The rest then turned to face me "What the fu-?!" I rolled forward coming to a standing posting and smashed this guy in the face with my bow. He stumbled backwards. The other guys hefted their baseball bats and attacked me. The one with the arrow in his back was slower, so he was my first target. I blocked one bat with my bow, and dodged the other one, I then kicked him back into a wall, the arrow then getting pushed further into his back, and the tip of the arrow exited the mans chest. He fell down and didn't get back up, panting on the ground staring helplessly at the arrow.
I then felt a bat hit my wrist of the hand that was holding my bow. Thanks to the gauntlet it didn't break my wrist, but it did make me let go of my bow. I then took a step back trying to dodge the next swing, and successfully did so. I next flicked my wrists, the two hidden blades springing forth. The two men froze for a second, before attacking me again.
I dropped to one knee, ducking under one bat. I then swung my left hidden blade at his midsection. The blade tore into skin and muscle. The man stumbled back and grabbed his stomach. I then rolled forward, before twisting around and slicing behind his left knee. He then fell to one knee. I stood and twisted in a roundhouse kick to his head. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Before I could even address the last guy he tackled me onto a table, it breaking under the force. I then used the guys momentum to kick him over my head, through a window. I stood up a little slowly as I was sore from the attack. Next I turned and ejected the mini bow of the shadow blade. I aimed at the last guy who was standing up himself, and using my left hand I pressed the button to fire the crossbolt at him. It hitting him. The heavy tranquilizer fluid took effect immediately and he fell down, now fast asleep.
I finally turned to the store owner. I nice chinese lady, who had one waitress on attendance there too. They both were frozen with fear and shock. I turned on my voice changer and said in a very deep voice "I won't hurt you. You are safe now. You are under my protection." I then picked up my bow and left the store, pulling out an arrow. I notched it then turned to the store owner again and said "Sorry for the damage. Take the money from their wallets to pay for the damage. It's the least they could do." I then fired it, and the grappling hook attached to a near by building. I then rappelled up the building and was gone.
My second official outing as the vigilante was most definitely a success.