The Recruit

Zero shifted uncomfortably and tweaked his black, tight-knit stocking cap and cleared his throat. He didn't want to be rude and scoff him, Zero was usually quite reserved. Nevertheless, he reached inside his coat and gripped the cold cryogenic-platinum, ruby encrusted hilt of his shinbu blade. "Er- Who, exactly?"

This man must be insane. But... Zero halted his hand for a fraction of a second, as if an invisible barrier blocked him off from his blade. Not quite. He unsheathed his pride and joy, as well as the only thing he had left from the fire. In a masterful sweep, Zero took this Brandon person straight to the way and pressed the cold and unforgiving metal against his throat in a fraction of a second. A simple maneuver. Although... Zero sheathed the luminescent dagger in his coat once more. Revenge. "You have thirty seconds to explain. And counting. One, two..."

"A common mistake, there's a small difference between knives and shinbus. But nonetheless.." Zero stopped, looked over his shoulder, and sighed. "Damnit."
"You got the money?" Zero took note of the three hooded thugs blocking the exit.
"We agreed the twenty-fourth," Zero resumed his bored, business like tone.
"Well something came up. Boss wants it now."
"Do you ever stop to wonder what happened to the collectors before you?"
"Don't matter, three of us, one of you. Kill him." It was Zero's time to show off. The first gunshot rang, and Zero glanced the bullet off the wicked-sharp cryogenic-platinum blade, pulling it upward out of its sheath. Without a second's hesitation, he leaped towards who seemed the leader of the trio, intercepted the forth-coming punch by twisting his arm around the offender and pulled him downward, cramming the shinbu into his collarbone. There was no time to pull the blade out. Bang. The next shot fired, then a second in quick succession. Zero jumped up then kicked off the nearby wall toward his next victim. He grabbed the barrel of the .22 pistol, and crushed it with sheer force. Bang. No time to finish him. He dead-man-dropped to the floor, bringing the street soldier down with him. Bang. This time Zero pulled the enemy's body into the path of the bullet, letting him feel the unrelenting power, and in the next second, pushed the limp body into the last standing, causing him to stumble. In this instant of opportunity, Zero kicked with an expert sweep, knocking the fool to the floor. He pulled the now crimson blade from the long dead body with a sickening crunching and squishing noise, and finished the last.
"You can get me out of here, then?"

Zero's wild look in his eyes dissipated quickly after he realized he wasn't under attack. Nobody understood is paranoia. He was under constant surveillance. By whom, he wan't sure. But it's always there. After a quick glance over his shoulder, then another to Brandon, he outstretched his hand to the woman to shake hands. "It's a common human courtesy, I'm not if you follow it but..."

Zero stepped through the new doorway, having learned not to question. Brandon wasn't wrong, it was a lot like his old home. Home. The name was a stretch, granted he lived on the street after the burning of his house. But.. He knew how to fight, how to talk, and how to keep his head low, so it was safe enough and he knew his way around, so it was as much a home as any other. There was a difference however. If it was the people or just the was the city was built, something about it was powerful, almost sheltering. "It just may do," Zero muttered, almost to himself.

Brandon grabbed onto Zero's shoulder. "This way," he said, walking off in a different direction. "We have a certain training facility for newbies like you."

"Fair enough," Zero conceded, although he'd rather explore the city. "Tell me, if I'm from here what was I doing on Earth in the first place?"

"Who fuckin' knows man? You're my homie now got it?" Brandon said, breaking his previous act. "I gotta show you how to use your cool new powers," he smirked, leading his friend into a building. As soon as he entered the door shut and lights came on, revealing an empty room. "Practice match!" brandon screamed loudly, and suddenly a wooden dummy came up.

"Now.. just.. attack it. You can't break it. But try to use your powers. Use.. your mind? It's confusing," he said.

(rushed it.)

"My mind.. Right." Vague instructions, but Zero knew there wouldn't be any further explaining. He took a slow breath and closed his eyes. Nothing. "Focus, dammit!" he thought. Through what seemed like hours he just stood and though, until the world just seemed to break off. It was almost as if he had found a section of his mind never used, and he was completely weightless and unconcerned for the rest of the world. It was just him, and his target. Slowly, and almost guided, he rose his arm, and the air seemed to shimmer and distort as the dummy flinched. Zero crumbled, exhausted.

"That has to be the only time I've said 'use your mind' and someone ended up being psychic," Brandon laughed. Nice, nice. He needed training. A lot of it. "You must be tired. Now do it again." Brandon grew bored and started shooting powerful lightning at the dummy. It was a lightning rod though, unbreakable for him. Or anyone for that matter.

"Just doing what you said," Zero sighed, "Guess it gets easier, huh?" This time he knew what he was doing, the focus was sharper, and the attack quicker, stronger. But Zero knew it was no match for even the weakest. He'd have to train. Starting from the bottom. Again.