Hunter’s Hunted

The next morning Kai and Max meet up at bibble and sips. Kai grabs the usual coffee and sits down.

Kai: So, Max, do you know what camps he was talking about?

Max: No, I had no idea he was in a camp!

Kai: Your not to blame for him being there Max. I just need to know what they are.

Max: My brother had been evading one for a while. Camps imprison Mutants and Metas. They are part of the military. The government sniffs out anyone with superpowers. If they are young enough the government will just raise them, but if they are found by the woman then they get thrown into slave camps.

Kai: What woman?

Max: The woman.

Kai: That's not a lot of information about her.

Max: You only learn of her once you get thrown in a camp. I've seen very few mutants or metas escape from the slave camps, but most of them are traumatized. Once they try to come back to society they are usually found, and thrown back into the camps.

Kai: First of all, explain Mutants and Metas.

Max: A Mutant like Virus is a person born with a different gene then humans. That gene gives them their powers once they hit puberty. Their powers can be hard to control, and they can be anything. Metas are a cruel experiment to recreate mutants. The woman takes regular humans, and then gives them powers through science.

Kai: And what do they do in these camps?

Max: I don't know. The only people that know would be the people that were there, but they would never talk to you about it.

Kai: Why not.

Max: They only trust Mutants or Metas. On top of that, they have PTSD. So they find talking about the past… difficult. How did my brother escape? He doesn't even have superspeed to help him. How did he make it out?

Kai: We'll have to ask him if we ever see him again.

Kai stands up from the table.

Kai: And Max.

Max: Yeah?

Kai: Get some rest. You look tired.

Kai goes home. On the drive home, he finishes his drink. Kai goes into his room, and looks at the somewhat ripped sweater he has been using for a "costume."

Kai: That's what I'll do today. I need a new costume that actually hides my identity, and doesn't look like something any person would wear. Plus its really hard to kick in jeans, and I'm pretty sure I'm never getting my brown sweatshirt back.

Kai sits down and grabs a notebook, and some colored pencils. Kai's staff is right next to him. It just looks like a regular metal staff. The only difference is it can retract and extend. Kai starts thinking. Kai starts walking around his house. He sees his red sweatshirt again.

Kai: Hmm.

Kai finishes drawing the suit, but he needs someone to be able to sew for him.

Kai: I need a superhero logo on the shirt. Something for the people to remember me by. I guess a red dragon, but I don't know how to knit. Maybe Remi does?

Kai turns on the Tv. The news is on.

Reporter: Breaking news, a man has just broken into Oscorp. He has brought the CEO to the roof of the skyscraper, and says that he will kill the hostage unless someone is able to defeat him.

The helicopter gets closer to the man's position. The man is wearing a black armored military suit. He has a mask with yellow eyes on with a hood. His suit has yellow lights throughout it. The man points a gun at the helicopter. A yellow beam blasts into the helicopter. The copter starts losing altitude quickly. Kai puts on his sweatshirt, and teleports to the roof of his building. Kai starts running across rooftops to get to Oscorp. Once Kai finishes his run he sees the helicopter slam into the ground causing an explosion. Kai teleports to the top of the Oscorp building. The armored man is waiting there for him with a gun to the hostages head.

???: A challenger?!

Kai: You can say that. Who are you?

???: They call me Hunter. I've never lost a fight. Today will be no different.

Kai: You never know.

Hunter points his gun at Kai, and starts firing shots. Kai runs at Hunter dodging his bullets. Hunter charges his gun for a second, and a large blast shoots out. Kai slides under the blast, and sweeps Hunter's legs. Hunter starts falling to the ground. He fires a blast below him. It propels him upwards, and he kicks Kai in the head. Kai rolls back, and Hunter lands on his feet. Hunter flips a switch on his gun, and starts shooting at Kai. The bullets start firing like a machine gun instead of a pistol. Kai takes out his staff, and deflects the bullets by spinning his staff around.

Hunter: You can hold your own. That's good. Let's see for how long.

Hunter turns a knob on his gun. The bullets come out even faster and more powerful. As the bullets deflect off Kai's staff the impact of the bullets start to affect him. Kai starts running at Hunter again dodging some of the bullets but getting hit by others. Then Kai slams his staff against Hunter's hand. Knocking the gun out of his hands. The Hunter points a finger gun at Kai's stomach. A giant yellow beam blasts Kai across the rooftop. Kai lands on the ground, and starts to pick himself up. As Kai is picking himself up Hunter starts shooting small blasts at him.

Kai: Haven't you ever heard of not kicking a man while he's down.

Hunter: You're weak. You don't deserve respect.

Hunter stops shooting blasts. Kai starts to pick himself up again, and Hunter kicks him. Then Hunter picks Kai up by the back of his shirt, and throws Kai off of Oscorp. Kai starts falling through the air. As Kai is falling it clicks in his head that he just lost that battle. Kai feels the wind slapping his face like the shame of losing. Then Kai flips in the air, and lands on his feet. The earth cracking beneath him. Then as soon as he hit the ground he was gone. Later that day Kai was at his house looking at the design for his new suit. Kai calls up Remi.

Remi: What's up Kai?

Kai: Do you know how to sew?

Remi: It's been a few years, why?

Kai: I need a new suit.

Remi: Meet me at my house in an hour, but you have to get the sewing stuff.

Kai: Deal.

Kai hangs up. Kai goes to the store and grabs supplies. He also buys the other stuff he needs for the suit. After the hour is up Kai meets Remi at her house with a backpack of items. Kai knocks on Remi's door.

Remi: Finally, what took you so long?

Kai: You! You said an hour.

Remi invites Kai in. They both sit down on the couch.

Remi: So what's the design?

Kai shows her the drawing.

Remi: Your drawing is awful.

Kai: It's a ruff draft.

Remi: I'll rework this. This is why you have me.

Remi gets up and walks off with the drawing. Kai sighs. Kai takes the stuff out of the bag. He starts working on the costume. Remi comes out with a drawing of just the shirt. The drawing is in detail Kai couldn't imagine to draw.

Kai: You're just showing off.

Remi starts sewing, and Kai works on the other parts of the suit. All of a sudden Remi gets a big smile on her face.

Kai: What?

Remi: That last time I sewed it was with my mother. I wanted to be just like her. She's the whole reason I became a reporter. I wanted her to be so proud of me.

Kai: I'm sorry for your loss.

Remi: It's okay. She died a few years ago.

They sit in silence for a moment.

Remi: I saw that you got ass kicked by that guy on the news.

Kai: I didn't get beat up that bad.

Remi: I saw it on TV. Don't be in denial. How are you going to beat him?

Kai: Working on it.

Remi pricks her finger with the needle.

Remi: Ow!

Kai: What?!

Remi: Nothing, I just pricked my finger. I'll be right back.

Remi gets up and walks into a different room taking the shirt and needle with her.

Kai(in head): Pricked her finger… That's it. I need to get rid of Hunter's ability to use his hands. I need to stop his hands before I can take him down. Now the only problem is getting close without getting hit by his other hand.

Remi walks back in with the shirt finished, and a bandage on her finger.

Remi: It's all done. Try it on.

Kai goes into a different room. He changes into the new suit he has finished. Kai walks out to show Remi. He has a black shirt with a red dragon on it. Over his shirt he has his old sweatshirt, but the sleeves have been cut off. Kai has the hood of his sweatshirt on. He has a black eye mask, and a red metal mask over his nose and mouth. He has red wraps around his forearms with black fingerless gloves on. He has baggy pants with many pockets on them. They almost look like cargo shorts. Then Kai has black shoes with a red soul. Then on his belt Kai has his staff with red wrap around the handle. Remi starts clapping.

Remi: Now catwalk. Show your stuff!

Kai: I'm not a model.

Remi: Now what are you going to do?

Kai: I'm going to take down Hunter.

Kai opens the door to leave.

Remi: Good luck.

Kai leaves He starts running across the rooftops. He checks the news on his phone.

Reporter: The man has now taken down three challengers. Is there no one who can stop him?

Kai turns off his phone, and makes his way to Oscorp. Kai teleports to the top of the building.

Hunter: You think A change of clothes will change the outcome?

Kai: I have a question.

Hunter: I'll answer your last question, but this time I'm not throwing you off this building.

Kai: Were you in the slave camp?

Hunter chuckles.

Hunter: All my life.

Kai: I'm sorry.

Kai takes out his staff.

Hunter: Come at me.

Kai runs at Hunter. Kai moves left and right dodging Hunter's yellow bullets. Then as Kai gets closer Kai gets hit with a yellow bullet. The bullet hits Kai in the stomach. Kai rolls to the side after the hit, and resumes his charge. This time Kai uses his staff to repel bullets as he's running. More bullets are getting past his defenses and hitting him. Kai brushes the bullets off. Kai swings his staff Hunter dodges the first swing. Then Kai slams his staff on his right arm. Hunter jumps in the air, and does a flip. While in the air he used his left arm to shoot yellow bullets at Kai's back. Kai gets hit with a few bullets, but dodges the rest. Hunter lands on his feet. Kai charges Hunter again. Now with half as many bullets being shot, Kai gets hit with none of the bullets. Kai slams his staff on Hunter's left arm. Hunter jumps back. Both of his arms were out of use.

Hunter: Don't think I'm done yet.

The pieces of metal above the yellow lights on his legs move. Then the yellow lights become more vibrant.

Hunter: I've never had to use this before. You should be honored.

Hunter tornado kicks Kai. Kai dodges it. Hunter lands. Hunter roundhouse kicks Kai. Kai blocks it. Hunter knees Kai in the stomach. Kai rolls back. Once Kai gets to his feet Hunter jump front kicks Kai. Kai grabs Hunter's leg, spins, and throws hunter to the other side of the roof. Hunter lands on his feet. Then the lights make a trail behind Hunter as he runs over to Kai. Hunter drops to the ground for a spinning leg kick. Kai gets hit with the kick. As Kai is falling he elbow drops Hunter. Kai rolls off Hunter. Kai does a kick up to get back to his feet. Hunter is trying to breathe from getting the wind knocked out of him.

Kai: You lost.

Kai punches Hunter in the head, knocking him out. Kai releases Oscorps Ceo. Kai goes back home as the cops come to take Hunter in. When Kai gets home he sees Remi texted him.

Remi(text): Did you get your revenge?

Kai chuckles, and turns on his tv. A newswoman came up. "Breaking news" came up on the TV.

Newswoman: Popular celebrity and progressive entrepreneur Jilaya Springer has pleaded guilty to multiple crimes. Including human trafficking, unlawful imprisonment, and other offenses. Ms.Springer has been arrested and labelled as a terrorist after the attack, led by her, on San Francisco. Here we have the video conference of her pleading guilty to her numerous offenses.

The newscast started playing a video. Jilaya sat in front of a camera in an empty room.

Jilaya: I, Jilaya Springer plead guilty to unlawful imprisonment, deciving the government, destruction of U.S soil and landmarks, mass genocide against metas and mutants, unlawful experimenting on humans without their consent-

Jilaya listed crimes for what felt like forever. She knew them all. The newswoman came back on.

Newswoman: This shocked the president. Who had been working closely with her for some time. Here we have president Jayden Borden in a press conference.

President: This is a tragedy. I let this slip under my nose for too long! Ms.Springer had deceived the government into aiding her crusade. I was not allowed to interfere in her mission. To me, I believed Ms.Springer to not only be a partner, but a true friend. A mass of super powered individuals were put into these camps. This act was unjust and against their will. If I had known about this earlier I would have put an end to it. It is here that I announce that forty six million metahumans and mutants are freed into the world. We will be making sure jobs are opened for them, and shelters will be made in place of the MFI camps. Thank you.