Chapter Four

Master

A dark shadow moved about the slums of Manhattan. It was invisible to the uncaring, and those who saw it would have regarded it as a trick of the light. Lebaron darted from street to street, seeking the coordinate his master gave him. After minutes and minutes of mice in a maze, Lebaron arrived at a formidable edification.

Kicking his boosters, Lebaron flew into the second floor of the building soundlessly. His presence was still unknown. He was lax, for he had killed gang leaders effortlessly before. This one would be no different.

Once the gang leader was in view, Lebaron crouched from the window, and lowered the barrel in. He positioned his crosshairs onto the dead man's path and fired.

The beam escaped from the rifle and flew forward. It embedded itself in front of the dead man's path. Unexpectedly, it took a turn, and pointlessly wounded the gang leader in the stomach. He fell back, alive, calling "Guards!"

Lebaron shuddered. He had missed. Frantically, he fired up his bayonet, and plunged it into the man's heart three times, slashing fanatically, spewing blood and heart flesh all across the floor on concentrated splatters. He dodged out of the room, and flew off into the night. Lebaron shut off his ponderings, so he wouldn't have to think about what would happen to him when his Master saw him.

"Lebaron! You missed the heart? How many times have I told you not to miss? You can't miss! Now your existence is questioned. There are people who think you may exist! Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Master."

"Lebaron, I want nothing less from you. As of this day, you are demoted!"

"Yes, Master."

Lebaron wasn't truly listening. He did not mind the pain that it caused him, but he wanted his Master to let his anger loose. He understood his mistake, and knew he should never make it again. However, that wasn't enough for him.

That night, Lebaron snuck back into the gang building. As he went in, he destroyed the door. His guard sensors told him there was no one there who posed a threat to him. He blurred behind the first door guard, initiating his bayonet and driving it through him. He flipped out his scimitar, and lacerated the throat of the second just-reacting guard. He then slit both of their vocal cords with two brisk slashes, bringing upon them a veil of silence that covered their cries for help. The ground was covered in a puddle of blood, but Lebaron had no trouble passing through it with his floaters. He gently but hurriedly zoomed upstairs, and cocked his sniper rifle to his eyes. He loaded the laser barrel, and stood against a wall. He poked the touch screen on the rifle's interface, and a small suppressor fit itself onto the barrel. He checked his sensors to make sure that everyone was asleep, and he sidestepped into the large room. He cocked his rifle again, and pointed it at a gangster's head. Lebaron fired.

The next morning, in an abandoned office building, fifty gangsters lay dead.

The causes of death were unknown. Knowledge of a mass murderer has been confirmed, but due to the fact that they were gangsters, the killer would be commended. However, Master would have gang leaders knowing his presence. However, Master and his seven snipers were still inconspicuous, and as long as one wasn't seen, the rest would be fine.