Part 3
Dick knew it was my birthday. I didn't tell him. But even if he wasn't one of those crime-fighting vigilantes, he could have found out easily. The dude's a cop, here in Bludhaven. You might think being a superhero is enough. He doesn't, and I think he's right, too. This town needs all the help it can get. That's why he's training me.
He said that I had great potential, and that I would be a big help to the world if I became a costumed vigilante like him. I was guessing that there would be better candidates. He said there could be, but it was easier this way, because I already knew so much. That answer didn't really help.
"You broke into Helena's apartment," he asked, "And escaped?"
"Yeah. So what?" I said. "That doesn't mean I am a superhero."
"Anybody that can escape from a trained professional and then hide from three more professionals that long, would make a good professional."
He must have told Helena about his decision. If she agreed, I wondered whose sidekick I would be. Probably NightWing's. Nothing against her, but Helena doesn't seem like the MOST cooperative person. Like when you find your long-lost cousin, and make him go live with your 'coworker.'
Not that I wasn't having a cool time hanging out at Dick's place. He showed me all these different moves for when I would become a vigilante. He called it training. I guess that it is, but for some reason, it doesn't seem like it. I was already really good at fighting. I had taken two years of karate, and one year of ju jitsu. Some of the stuff he showed me, I wondered whether it was physically possible or not.
He also taught me a lot of acrobatics. I laughed when he told me he had been in the circus. I could just picture Dick squeezing into a little clown car with Helena, Robin, BatMan, Azrael, and BatGirl.
He had given me huge files of different vigilantes and superheroes. He said I should know whom I could later work with. After reading them, I was quizzed. After arguing over whether or not this beginning to be too much like school, I was enlisted into the high school in Bludhaven.
As for my birthday, it was awesome. I got stuff from people I didn't even know. I guess they 'work' with Dick. He must have told them about me, and then made them give me stuff.
I was sitting in Dick's apartment, when I started opening my gifts. A guy named Roy gave me two handguns with rubber bullets, and two holsters that went at the waist. A girl named Donna gave me a couple dozen shurikens. Some other guy named Garth gave me a metal Bo-staff. I was kind of expecting a drum set, or liquorice from him, though. Somebody named Vic gave all these different computer gadgets. Tracers, communicators, DNA scanners, and an MP3 player.
One of my coolest gifts was from somebody named Babs. It was a pair of Japanese katanas. They both came with a scabbard and straps that you could hold at your back.
I got Helena's gift in the mail. It was a letter.
Dylan,
I hope you are having a good time with Dick. He said that he would be training you. I hope it goes well. He also told me that you would be set with all your weapons and other things. I think, when it is official, he could use you more than I could. It would probably be best if you stayed with him. I'd rather you be his partner, not mine.
I am sorry about your parents. I didn't know there was anybody left in the family. But I couldn't just excuse what he did because of mere relations. I don't think you would have, either. If you ever come into that situation, I pray that you can make the right decision.
I know today is your birthday. I already know some of the gift you will get. I hope you like them. My gift is a little different. Dick thought it would be appropriate if I decided on your vigilante alias. I think it would be nice to have another hunter on the whole 'Bat' team. I would like it if you used the name Hunter. If you don't like it, you can use something else. But I think it would be appropriate, considering us being related.
After you read this, tell Dick to give you his gift. I know you will like it. Try no to use it too much.
I hope I can see you sometime soon.
Sincerely,
Helena Bertinelli
I handed the letter to Dick. He got up and walked to a closet. I had seen the gift there, on the day before. But I didn't want to spoil it. He took out three different boxes. There was no card. I took the first box.
I ripped through the paper, and pulled off the bow. I took the cover of the box off, and put it on the floor. I looked into the box and saw two dark-blue boots, with dark-gray compartments that wrapped around, below the knee. I clicked open two of the compartments, but they were empty. All of them were.
I took the second box, and opened it. Inside was a pair of red, skin-tight pants. There was also a dark-gray belt, similar to the ones for the boots, which went at the waist. All the compartments for these were also empty.
I took the last box. It was slightly bigger than the first two. I again ripped off the wrapping paper and bow. I basically already knew what it was. I took off the top and looked at two blue and red gloves. They both had wrap-around compartments, below the elbow. The gloves were mostly blue, except that they ended at a point on the back if my hand, that pointed to the middle finger, and came around and met on the wrist. The palm, fingers, and thumb were red.
Underneath the gloves, was a kevlar shirt. It was also red and blue. The upper part of the shirt, which ended in points at the shoulders and center of the chest and back was blue, with the rest red.
"Go try it on."
The whole suit fit me perfectly. I came out of my bedroom and stood, with my hands at my waist. Dick stood up, and brought me my weapons. I put the gun holsters at my waist. They attached to my belt. I slipped the katana straps around my shoulder, one at a time. The straps formed an 'X' on my chest. I picked up the Bo-staff. I pushed in the two ends, and it telescoped down to about eight inches. I wondered were I could store it. Even in it's much smaller size.
"Down on your right leg belt. Tap the one on the very side." Dick told me. I opened the compartment and a leather loop came out. I slid the staff through the loop, and it tightened and was permanently held on my leg. "You can just yank the thing out, and you'll be ready to go."
"So I'm The Hunter now?" I asked.
"Yeah. If you want to use that title." Dick said.
"Sounds good to me." I was kind of surprised that choosing a name was that easy.
"Good. Your training starts next week." Dick stated.
"Training STARTS next week?!? What the hell were we doing before, then?" I yelled.
"Oh, that. Uh, I was just getting you ready." He said calmly.
"So what are you gonna be teaching me now?" I asked.
"Oh, I'm not going to be training you. Well, I still will sometimes, but I've arranged for some of my friends to help me out."
-To Be Continued-
Dick knew it was my birthday. I didn't tell him. But even if he wasn't one of those crime-fighting vigilantes, he could have found out easily. The dude's a cop, here in Bludhaven. You might think being a superhero is enough. He doesn't, and I think he's right, too. This town needs all the help it can get. That's why he's training me.
He said that I had great potential, and that I would be a big help to the world if I became a costumed vigilante like him. I was guessing that there would be better candidates. He said there could be, but it was easier this way, because I already knew so much. That answer didn't really help.
"You broke into Helena's apartment," he asked, "And escaped?"
"Yeah. So what?" I said. "That doesn't mean I am a superhero."
"Anybody that can escape from a trained professional and then hide from three more professionals that long, would make a good professional."
He must have told Helena about his decision. If she agreed, I wondered whose sidekick I would be. Probably NightWing's. Nothing against her, but Helena doesn't seem like the MOST cooperative person. Like when you find your long-lost cousin, and make him go live with your 'coworker.'
Not that I wasn't having a cool time hanging out at Dick's place. He showed me all these different moves for when I would become a vigilante. He called it training. I guess that it is, but for some reason, it doesn't seem like it. I was already really good at fighting. I had taken two years of karate, and one year of ju jitsu. Some of the stuff he showed me, I wondered whether it was physically possible or not.
He also taught me a lot of acrobatics. I laughed when he told me he had been in the circus. I could just picture Dick squeezing into a little clown car with Helena, Robin, BatMan, Azrael, and BatGirl.
He had given me huge files of different vigilantes and superheroes. He said I should know whom I could later work with. After reading them, I was quizzed. After arguing over whether or not this beginning to be too much like school, I was enlisted into the high school in Bludhaven.
As for my birthday, it was awesome. I got stuff from people I didn't even know. I guess they 'work' with Dick. He must have told them about me, and then made them give me stuff.
I was sitting in Dick's apartment, when I started opening my gifts. A guy named Roy gave me two handguns with rubber bullets, and two holsters that went at the waist. A girl named Donna gave me a couple dozen shurikens. Some other guy named Garth gave me a metal Bo-staff. I was kind of expecting a drum set, or liquorice from him, though. Somebody named Vic gave all these different computer gadgets. Tracers, communicators, DNA scanners, and an MP3 player.
One of my coolest gifts was from somebody named Babs. It was a pair of Japanese katanas. They both came with a scabbard and straps that you could hold at your back.
I got Helena's gift in the mail. It was a letter.
Dylan,
I hope you are having a good time with Dick. He said that he would be training you. I hope it goes well. He also told me that you would be set with all your weapons and other things. I think, when it is official, he could use you more than I could. It would probably be best if you stayed with him. I'd rather you be his partner, not mine.
I am sorry about your parents. I didn't know there was anybody left in the family. But I couldn't just excuse what he did because of mere relations. I don't think you would have, either. If you ever come into that situation, I pray that you can make the right decision.
I know today is your birthday. I already know some of the gift you will get. I hope you like them. My gift is a little different. Dick thought it would be appropriate if I decided on your vigilante alias. I think it would be nice to have another hunter on the whole 'Bat' team. I would like it if you used the name Hunter. If you don't like it, you can use something else. But I think it would be appropriate, considering us being related.
After you read this, tell Dick to give you his gift. I know you will like it. Try no to use it too much.
I hope I can see you sometime soon.
Sincerely,
Helena Bertinelli
I handed the letter to Dick. He got up and walked to a closet. I had seen the gift there, on the day before. But I didn't want to spoil it. He took out three different boxes. There was no card. I took the first box.
I ripped through the paper, and pulled off the bow. I took the cover of the box off, and put it on the floor. I looked into the box and saw two dark-blue boots, with dark-gray compartments that wrapped around, below the knee. I clicked open two of the compartments, but they were empty. All of them were.
I took the second box, and opened it. Inside was a pair of red, skin-tight pants. There was also a dark-gray belt, similar to the ones for the boots, which went at the waist. All the compartments for these were also empty.
I took the last box. It was slightly bigger than the first two. I again ripped off the wrapping paper and bow. I basically already knew what it was. I took off the top and looked at two blue and red gloves. They both had wrap-around compartments, below the elbow. The gloves were mostly blue, except that they ended at a point on the back if my hand, that pointed to the middle finger, and came around and met on the wrist. The palm, fingers, and thumb were red.
Underneath the gloves, was a kevlar shirt. It was also red and blue. The upper part of the shirt, which ended in points at the shoulders and center of the chest and back was blue, with the rest red.
"Go try it on."
The whole suit fit me perfectly. I came out of my bedroom and stood, with my hands at my waist. Dick stood up, and brought me my weapons. I put the gun holsters at my waist. They attached to my belt. I slipped the katana straps around my shoulder, one at a time. The straps formed an 'X' on my chest. I picked up the Bo-staff. I pushed in the two ends, and it telescoped down to about eight inches. I wondered were I could store it. Even in it's much smaller size.
"Down on your right leg belt. Tap the one on the very side." Dick told me. I opened the compartment and a leather loop came out. I slid the staff through the loop, and it tightened and was permanently held on my leg. "You can just yank the thing out, and you'll be ready to go."
"So I'm The Hunter now?" I asked.
"Yeah. If you want to use that title." Dick said.
"Sounds good to me." I was kind of surprised that choosing a name was that easy.
"Good. Your training starts next week." Dick stated.
"Training STARTS next week?!? What the hell were we doing before, then?" I yelled.
"Oh, that. Uh, I was just getting you ready." He said calmly.
"So what are you gonna be teaching me now?" I asked.
"Oh, I'm not going to be training you. Well, I still will sometimes, but I've arranged for some of my friends to help me out."
-To Be Continued-