To FireRanger: Welcome home. So glad you had a safe trip. As promised, here is Chapter 11
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Without further ado, since it has been a while since my last update, Please enjoy Chapter ! and let me know what you think!
Chapter 11
Three months after we moved into our new house, I purchased a new unit for training. 80x60 with a 34 ft ceiling. It was an adequate size to suit our needs when they arose. I placed it in the woods and away from any trespassers or prying eyes. I brought in weight sets, a punching bag, salmon ladders, an intense obstacle course and other various training equipment I mounted my weapons on the far wall and set up a trail in the woods for the boys to run on. The entire project took about a month.
Grant's ninth birthday rolled around soon thereafter, and thus, I purchased for him a cross bow, much to Adeline's displeasure. But, at his current age, it was time for him to start experimenting with different weapons. He was already accustomed to guns and knives, so the bow shouldn't be too hard. He was a pretty good shot with a rifle, and he could hit a target with a knife, though he couldn't hit the bulls eye.
After his birthday, I showed him how to hold and load the bow, as well as how to aim and shoot. He spent most of that week shooting at a target. He was pretty decent, but still had difficulty hitting the bull's eye. Surprisingly, Joey took no interest in trying his hand at archery, much to Grant's pleasure. Dick said he had done it before, and thus also had no interest in shooting.
"You've never shot a bow before, Grayson."
"Yeah, I have. Mr. K. from the circus taught me." He said confidently.
"So? You still can't do it." Grant smirked.
"Yes, I can." Dick answered nonchalantly. I was listening intently to their argument.
"Prove it. You're nowhere near as good as I am. DAD taught me. Too bad you can't say the same, hm?" He mocked.
Dick simply rolled his eyes at the offensive comment, "Grant, I'm ten times better than you, and I don't have to do anything to prove it."
"If you can't prove it, you're lying." Grant said as he shot another arrow at his target.
"You go ahead. I'm going inside to practice my guitar." Dick said as he stood to go in.
Grant scoffed at Dick's retreating form and continued to shoot. I wondered if Dick really was as good as he said...was he all talk and no walk?
"Dick! Come back here a minute!" I called from the Deck where I had been watching the entire conversation. Dick turned and jogged up to me.
"Yes, sir?" Came his smooth Romanian voice
"Can you really shoot like you say?"
"Yes, sir. I leaned a few years ago." he answered.
"Show me." I said as I stood and led him over to Grant, "Grant, lend Dick your bow a minute."
"Dad, he can't do this." Grant said with certainty.
"We're about to find out." I answered. Grant sighed and handed the boy to Dick. Dick wasted no time as he loaded, aimed, and fired.
He made a perfect bulls eye.
"No way..." Grant said in astonishment.
"Told you. Can I go now?" Dick asked as he proffered the bow back to Grant.
"It was beginners luck." Grant said.
Dick rolled his eyes and shot again, hitting just above the bulls eye.
"Now do you believe me?" he asked impishly.
"No." Grant replied grumpily.
"What else can you do?" I asked with too much awe in my voice, "What else did you learn?"
"I learned everything I know from my circus family...Knife throwing, tai-kwon-do, swordsmanship, languages, animal behavior, karate, shooting, acrobatics, music, math, boxing, jujitsu...you name it." He answered proudly.
I looked at him skeptically and pulled my knife from my pocket and handed it to him. He stood there, holding it awkwardly. I walked up to Grant's target and pulled the arrows from it before heading back to Dick.
"Hit the target." I said pointing to the Styrofoam cube. He shrugged and flipped the blade open, weiging it carefully in his hand. A moment later, he thrust it at the target, and much to my utter amazement, hit a perfect bull eye. My jaw dropped.
"Can I go now?" Dick asked.
"No." I said pointedly, "Come with me. You too, Grant." It was time.
They looked at another skeptically before following me to the new building.
"Woah!" The exclaimed simultaneously as they saw the massive building in front of them.
"This place is huge!" Grant said as he entered.
I didn't respond as I led them to the back storage unit. I opened a locker there and pulled out my two toned mask. It was black and orange, split straight down the middle with only slots for my eyes and fro me to breathe.
"Have either one of you seen this before?" I asked as I held the mask up for them to see. The studied it for a moment before Grant broke the silence.
"Yeah...That's...Deathstroke the Terminator, right?"
"How do you know?"
"I've seen him on the news...He's so cool!"
"Deathstroke the Terminator is a mercenary for hire." I explained, " That means, if he's paid enough, he will carry out various requests, from robberies to assassinations. He's very dangerous and good at wah he does."
The boys stared at me as they took in the information.
"He runs the criminal empire of Jump City as well as a few neighboring towns."
"Ok...so...why are you telling us this?" Grant asked.
"Who cares, Grant," Dick responded, "I wanna know where he got the ask and the information." Dick said as he look skeptically, expecting answers.
"Very good, Dick. Very analytical. Grant, to answer your question, I'm telling you this because I am Deathstroke the Terminator."
The boys were wide eyed and speechless as they allowed that to sink in.
"That...is so AWESOME!" Grant exclaimed as he crouched down with his hands balled into fists in front of him and a big grin stretched across his face.
"Yeah...but...you're a criminal...You've actually killed people? Innocent people? Like my parents?" Dick asked with tears in his eyes.
"No. Dick, listen. I don't kill innocent people. I don't commit petty crimes. I take out people who have hurt others. I don't kill at random."
"But.."
"Dick, I kill for purpose. I kill to get the real criminals off the street. I hunt down bad people and make them pay for what they've done." I assured him. He was not appeased.
His eyes got wide and filled with anger and grief as he looked me dead in the eye.
"Then why isn't the man who killed my parents dead?" he asked bitterly.
"I'm working on it. I haven't got a solid lead. When I do, you will be the first to know."
The tears spilled over.
"Dick, Grant, listen. If you so desire, I will train you both. I'll teach you everything you need to know to take over my empire and follow n my foot steps...I-"
"YES!" Grant cut me off, "I'm in! This is so cool!"
"It's a huge responsibility. A serious commitment. You're cooperation is a must. No disobedience whatsoever."
"That's already the way it is, Dad."
"You boys get away with a lot. If you choose this, there will be no exceptions." I said seriously.
"Deal!" Grant said, "I'll do it!"
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes. Absolutely."
"Ok...Dick? What about you?"
"I-I dunno..." He said uncertainly.
"It's a lot to take in. You don't have to decide right now." I said.
He was quite a while, clearly deep in thought.
"He won't do it, Dad," Grant interrupted, "He's no like us. He's not a Wilson."
I could tell Grant didn't want Dick to have anything to do with it. I sensed a bit of jealousy coming from my oldest son. I'd have to amend that later.
"If I say yes, will you let me help you find the man who killed Mama and Tati?" Dick asked.
"Dick, When we find him, his life will be in your hands. It is your right." I answered determinedly. And it was. When I found him, Dick would pull the trigger.
Dick looked down, his face a mix of rage, longing, confusion and anticipation.
"Yes." he said, "I'll do it."
"What? You will?" Grant asked bitterly.
"Yes." he said as he looked at me with determination, "For my parents."
I nodded.
"Excellent." I said as I held out my hand to them, "Welcome aboard."
I shook hands with the boys. I always knew Grant would choose the life, and I was hoping beyond hope that Dick would as well. It would take some getting used to for them, but in time, they would manage. Grand crossed his arms."
"So...When do I start?" he asked.
"You both will start soon enough. But first, we must lay down some rules." I sad. Grant rolled his eyes and groaned. I gave him a stern look.
"First of all, When this mask goes on, you will not call me dad or Slade." I explained as I held up my mask, "You will call me Deathstroke. This rule must not EVER be broken. Clear?" I asked seriously. They nodded with the same seriousness.
"Good. Second, as I said before, obedience is crucial. You boys are ignorant in the business, thus, any order given to you must be followed without question. It could mean the difference between your life and your death. This is a dangerous line of work. Any disobedience from ether of you will result in consequences you will not want to face."
An audible gulp was heard from the boys. I held back the smirk that threatened to grace my face with its presence. Now was not the time for such things, however.
"Last thing. I fully expect you boys to progress significantly during training. You must meet it with confidence and a drive to be your best. The Wilson family is a family of warriors. Adeline and I were both special forces in the Army. She trained me and gave me the basic skills I needed for this job. Her father was a strict military man as well, and his father before him and back. My uncle and grandfather were marines. My uncle also did mercenary work. No one has ever been killed in the line of duty, and no one is going to."
"Dad? what about your dad? was he in the military too?"
Grant's question caught me off guard. dark images flashed through my mind.
A tall dark man looming over me, laughing darkly as he held a belt up, ready to strike.
I shook the images away and focused on Grant and Dick.
"No." I answer, " He was not. Any other questions?"
"Are we gonna get masks too?" Grant asked excitedly.
I sighed, thankful for the light hearted question.
"Yes. Come with me." I led them to a locker unit that contained three lockers. Mine, Grant's and Dick's. I gave the boys the codes to theirs and watches as they tried to open them. After a moment of struggle, Dick opened his.
"Cool." he said as his eyes rested on the only thing in the locker.
Grant opened his locker and pulled out his mask. "AWESOME!"
"They're kinda like yours!" Dick pointed out.
"Black and Orange are Deathstroke the Terminators signature colors. With these, no one will even have to guess who you work with."
"Did you make them?" Grant asked.
"Indeed." I designed them myself. The masks were black with an orange circle in the center. They matched my own quite well. Of course, theirs couldn't look exactly like mine. Grant moved to put his on. It looked good...
"How does it feel?" I asked.
"Good. This is so cool!"
Dick likewise secures his mask.
"How does it feel, Dick?"
"It's heavy..."He said after a moment.
"It's supposed to be. It's a piece of protective armor."
"It feels...Different...I like it."
I nodded. "Good. Now, likewise, when you boys wear those mask, you are not Grant and Dick."
"You mean we get code names too?!" Grant asked excitedly.
"Yes-"
"What are they?"
"That is your decision."
"Can I be Deadman?" Grant asked.
"Deadman? Really? you can do better that. You're on the right track though. See that the name sticks to the general theme of Deathstroke."
The boys were deep in thought.
"You don't have to decide now. Think about it." I said.
I picked up a measureing tape from the bench.
"Stand up straight, Grant." I ordered. I took his measurements and recorded them. I did the same for Dick.
"Your suits will be ready in a few weeks." I said after all the measurements had been recorded.
"Cool." Grant said.
"Ok. That's it for now." I said, "Oh, and boys. This is a secret. No one is to know about this. I must have your word on that."
"I promise." Dick said.
"Yeah, me too." Grant confirmed.
"Good."
With that, they put their masks back in their lockers and left the building. I sighed. I was proud of them. They could do this. Grant, because he was my son, and Dick because he was built for it. I was overjoyed they both said yes. I could only hope they'd stick with it. I was curious to hear what names they would choose. I laughed at Grant's first suggestion. 'Deadman', really? I sat down at the computer dreading my nest task: ordering the suits. The woman was so infuriating. Talking a million miles an hour and calling me darling... But, She's the best in the business. No matter what I wanted, she'd suggest something else entirely. Our conversation could last all day, and I still might not end up with what i wanted.
I placed the call.
"Hello Darling! How can I help you?"
"Hello, Edna. I need-"
"DEATHSTROKE! It is so good to hear from you! You need a new suit? No problem! I already have one made. The Kevlar is designed to..."
Here we go...
Yes. Dick can play the guitar. And as a musician myself, I have a reason for it. Joey will be a musician later as well. So don't panic. It all will come with time. But right now, he's just a tiny tike. I'll get to it. I promise. Tiny spoiler alert: as a singer myself, both boys are gonna be able to sing later. Hehe...It might make you cry. ANYWAY!
I really loved Edna from the Incredibles...I had to put her in here. Tell me what you think! I love reviews so very much!