Jack: Black.
Black: What?! We need to gather information about this city anyway so we can understand why we're here, right? The intel will help us with preparations too, won't it?
Fahd (surprised): Preparations?! Preparations for what?
Black: Just tell me what's going on here.
Sorrow and anger appeared on Fahd's face.
Fahd: He's the worst emperor ever… Emperor Akira. He killed his own father and seized the throne. Now he's trying to kill his younger brother, Prince Harry, whom the people love and want as their ruler. But Harry managed to escape. Akira has allied with evil gangs, allowing them to do whatever they want in the empire in exchange for massive amounts of money and their help in crushing any rebellion—especially if people try to rise up or protect the prince. Many of us have died already.
Jack sat on the couch, drinking water indifferently, but he was listening to extract information about the Guardian Empire.
Fahd: It's been five years since he took power, and he has brought nothing but misery. These gangs rob and kill at will. Education is now a privilege for the rich and strong only—schools and universities are off-limits to most. Even learning to use one's abilities is forbidden unless you're recruited. Our city is just one of seventeen that want to rebel because of the oppression. A plague has spread through more than three cities, but the gangs have forbidden doctors from treating people unless they pay a huge amount. If they can't pay, they die.
Black: What? That's horrible!
Jack: Why don't you just fight back?
Fahd (with a bitter smile): Because the emperor has a powerful gang backing him. When the rebels rose, he didn't even send his soldiers. He sent the Alice gang
(its name means "Resident Evil.")
He looked at them with a sad smile and continued.
Fahd: Do you know what they did? They didn't just kill the rebels. They brought their entire families—young and old—and scattered their body parts across the seventeen cities.
Fahd wiped away a tear and continued.
Fahd: Since then, no one has dared to fight him or his soldiers. But we will. We just need to find someone strong enough to face those bastards in the Alice gang.
(With concern)
Fahd: You've already killed many of the emperor's soldiers, so be very careful.
Jack (coldly): We will. Good luck to you.
Fahd: Thank you.
Fahd left the house, then turned to look back at it with hope.
Fahd (smiling): I think I've found the ones who can fight them.
Inside the house
Black: Jack...
Jack (interrupting): I know what's happening to them is unjust. But we have our own war to fight. Don't forget—they probably already know our training is over, and they'll be coming for us soon. If we get distracted now, we won't have time to prepare. Got it, B?
Black: Got it.
Jack patted her head.
Jack: Good girl. Now, let's secure this house.
They explored the house thoroughly and found it equipped with security systems—surveillance cameras, sensors, and other defenses.
Black: This place has a pretty advanced security system.
Jack: Yeah. That's great.
They checked the surroundings too.
---
Fahd returned home.
He went to his room and picked up a photo resting on a small dresser beside the bed.
It showed four people. He gently ran his hand over their faces.
Fahd: I'll avenge you very soon...
---
At Jack and Black's house
Jack: Black, we need a way to reach each other if we get separated or lost, okay?
(With a warning tone)
Jack: And from now on, never go out without me—like you do early in the morning.
Black (smiling): What can I do? I just want to go out when I wake up early.
Jack: Well, that's absolutely forbidden here. If you do it again, I'll hang you on the door.
She couldn't hide her smile.
Jack (smiling): Laugh all you want. We'll see.
Black: What do you think about energy chips?
Jack: But they—
Black (interrupting): Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.
Jack: Alright.
They each created an energy chip from their own power.
Water gathered in Black's hand, forming a small chip.
Jack did the same, shaping one from fire.
Black placed her hand on Jack's chest to implant the chip but hesitated, worried it would hurt.
Black: Jack, this will sting a bit. Please bear with it.
She was reluctant, knowing it would feel like a bullet to the heart. But he grabbed her hand and held it firmly against his chest.
Jack: Don't worry. Do it—I won't feel a thing.
She placed the chip in his chest. He felt pain but didn't show it. But she felt his attempt.
When it was his turn to implant hers, he cast an illusion around her. Suddenly, Black found herself surrounded by a vast ocean and huge whales. She adored whales—and Jack was a master of illusion.
Something struck her chest—a fish bumping into her.
Black (smiling): Hello, little fish.
She didn't notice when he inserted the chip.
Jack looked at her with love, happy to see her enjoying the illusion and not feeling pain.
Black (surprised): Wait—I was just in the house! How did I get... Ugh! Jack, you tricked me!
The illusion faded.
Black: Jack! Why'd you do that?
Jack: So you wouldn't feel the pain.
Black (annoyed): Jaaaack! Don't treat me like a kid! I'm not a little girl!
He ruffled her hair.
Jack: Alright, alright, little one.
Black got mad and smacked him with a pillow.
Black: You're so annoying! I'm going to sleep.
Jack (laughing): Don't sleep yet—you haven't eaten anything all day. I'll make something quick.
Black (sleepily): No, I just want to sleep...
Jack: Just five minutes, okay?
He went to the kitchen to look for food but found nothing. When he returned to tell her he'd go buy something, he found her already asleep on the couch.
Jack (whispering): You fell asleep...
He gently carried her to her room, tucked her in, adjusted the air conditioner, then secured the house and surrounding area again. From their point of view, the house was fully equipped and needed no changes.
He sat in the living room, writing notes about the place and the events of the day. He drew three circles labeled: The Organization, The New Trainer, The Guardian Empire, and in the center, one big circle:
Jack: The organization, the new trainer, the Guardian Empire... and Master Gara. What connects them?
He looked one last time at Black's room.
Jack: I'll go out and try to find out.
He changed into stealth gear and left.
-----
The sky was dark, and a cold breeze blew.
Jack moved silently through the city, tracking the gangs and their actions.
From the rooftop of a building, his face covered in a black mask:
Jack: So... the gangs rule this city.
(Thinking)
Jack: Gara taught us a lot about this empire, but that was six years ago.
He looked around at everything happening.
Jack: Time to update what we know.
Just as he was about to head back, a child's scream stopped him.
He sneaked toward the sound and saw gang members trying to drag a woman away. Her children were clinging to her, trying to protect her as the criminals yanked her hair violently.
Three children. One had green hair, red eyes, worn-out clothes, and looked about 12.
His name was...
Zaher (shouting): Leave my mother alone! Let her go, you bastard! I won't let you kill her!
Zaher attacked the gang members fiercely, but his efforts were nothing against them.
One of them grabbed him by the neck and began choking him.
Nizar: You filthy brat! You dare attack members of the Kruger gang? You're going to die today.
Mother (screaming): No, please! Let go of my son!
Zaher (choking): Maybe someone will see you and kill you first...
The two remaining kids—one clung to their mother, the other to Zaher—cried and screamed louder.
Children: Let go of our brother! Leave our mom alone!
Nizar (mocking): Don't dream too big, kid.
Zaher (bravely): Why shouldn't I? Two people showed up in the city today and killed many of you and the emperor's soldiers.
Jack (to himself): I shouldn't interfere in this… what happened so far is enough.
He turned to leave the place.
Zaher continued, screaming with pain, grief, and tears:
Zaher: Maybe this will be your end, you criminalssss!
Nizar (furious): You insolent little brat!
He tightened his grip on the boy's neck to the point it felt like it would snap.
Jack clenched his fist so hard his knuckles turned white.
To be continued...