Shanghai

Night fell the bustling Chinese city. Most people had their own businesses to attend to, and for some, that would lead to bloodshed. Jie Shen stood atop the roof of the Shanghai Residential Center, a place still under construction but soon to be open to the public, surrounded by over a dozen armed guards in every corner. He was expecting to make a deal that would turn him into a very rich man, but if Liao can help it, he’ll be a dead one.

The roof of the center would be used as a place to relax. There were trees, benches, tables, and a grill. Additionally, both sides had a helipad to land on. Here, it was where Shen was expecting to do his business with Liao. The area was above where the general public would be, making such a place perfect for a deal like this.

The people of Shanghai would have no idea what was going to take place, and this was a building that Shen personally owned. That made this the ideal location for Shen to go about his less-than-legal business. He had been waiting there patiently for ten minutes, making sure everything was in place.

Shen had his cell phone out, speaking to Liao about their transaction.

“I expect you’ll arrive soon.” Shen said. “You don’t want to keep me waiting.”

“I don’t intend to.” Liao said. “I wouldn’t want you to miss this.”

The call ended. Fifteen minutes later, a black helicopter landed on the helipad located on the east end of the building. It the same black helicopter Liao would use, with the tinted windows that concealed the members inside. Shen smiled. Everything was going according to plan.

The doors of the helicopter swung open, and then suddenly they were blind. Smoke shot out of the side of the helicopter, obscuring their sight in a dark cloud. That was the moment when the sounds of gunfire echoed through the sky, and when the bloodshed would begin.

Shen’s men were falling. There was returning fire. They had no idea where to shoot, for their attacker was a mobile threat who hit them with pin point accuracy. One guard grabbed a hold of Shen, pushing him back in the panic.

“Sir, we’ve got to get you out of here!”

That second, he was stabbed through the chest by a katana. Shen ran with several guards surrounding him, attempting to flee to the helicopter. The smoke dissipated, revealing a man in a gray hood with a steel masked modeled after a skull, in possession of both guns and swords. The dreaded assassin known as the Stalker.

“Glimmer, after him!” Stalker said.

Jumping in the middle of the air was the young assassin Glimmer. She had black hair, a scarf mask that covered the lower half of her face, and a tight black suit. Glimmer threw two knives that hit the heads of two of Shen’s men. Blood spewed forward as they fell to the ground. Shen continued, running for his life as fast as his legs could possibly take him in the chaos that was unfolding.

Shen had only barely made it into the helicopter as his men fell back to hold off Glimmer. She swiftly took them with her blades, throwing one to one guard’s throat before quickly stabbing the other. The helicopter started going, and Shen was airborne. Just as Stalker was dealing with the remainder of the guards, he gave Glimmer an order.

“It’s on you now!”

Glimmer felt the power of the mark flowing through her as she cast a shadowy-like arm from her left hand. It was black, transparent, and gave off an aura of darkness. The hand grabbed the helicopter as it flew, and she propelled herself to it. She was in the air hurling towards the vehicle. Soon enough, she zoomed to the machine above, and boarded the inside where her targets were in shock of what happened.

“What the fuck was that?!” A guard said.

“Just shoot her!” Shen yelled.

The guard on his right took out his pistol and opened fire. Glimmer teleported to the left, and the bullets ended up hitting the pilot, killing him instantly. Glimmer threw a knife at the guard, ending him right then and there, and preventing him from being any further of a problem. The helicopter preceded to descend into the ground, heading for an abandoned building that was about to be torn down. Glimmer jumped out and slung herself to a nearby building, watching as it would crash.

It made a thundering noise when it hit the ground. The Earth beneath it practically shook from the impact. A few moments later, Shen crawled out of the wreckage, limping and barely holding himself as dirt and blood covered his clothing. Glimmer appeared before him, with a blade in his hands. She was ready to go in for the kill. He panicked, and tried to say anything he could that would potentially save his life.

“Look… I don’t know what Liao is paying you people, but whatever it is I’ll double it! Triple it! Anything you want, just please let me go!”

“The only thing I want is to complete my mission.” Glimmer said.

“No!”

Glimmer appeared before him in an instant, and drove the blade through his heart. Blood spewed from Shen’s mouth as the life left his eyes.

The deed was done.

Glimmer held her left hand. Using the power of the Parallel Mark was a strange feeling that she couldn’t describe, other than that it was hot. She knew the forces of Shanghai would be arriving soon, so it was best that she would leave. Glimmer fled the area, disappearing into the shadows.

Mission accomplished.

Thirty minutes later, Glimmer returned to Stalker, who had long finished with the guards. He examined his blade, not a scratch on it, and he’ll be sure to clean the blood off soon. Then he walked up to his daughter, giving her a pat on the right shoulder. That’s when she knew she did a good job.

A call from Liao.

“Your former associate will no longer be a problem.” Stalker said.

“Good. Glad to see the rats have been cleared.”

“We’ll meet with you in the next hour.”

After an hour passed, Stalker and Glimmer arrived at the top of the Parallel Industries Tower, now dressed in normal attire. Michael Byrne and his daughter Julia were about ready to go home now. This would be the last stop before the plane takes them to back to the Western world.

Liao sat back in his chair as Byrne and Julia faced him in front of his desk. He was very satisfied with how everything turned out. Byrne was satisfied too, a job well done and a favor in the future for doing it.

“A weight has been lifted knowing that my dear old friend is in Hell.”

“We’ve filled our end of the bargain.” Byrne said. “Now it’s your turn.”

“Yes, of course.”

“I want your full support for what I have planned later.” Byrne said. “I’ll contact you when I’m ready.”

“Very well, then. I’ll give you whatever help I can give, for whatever it is you need.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes. I have a flight to get home and it’s going to be a long one, so there’s no time to waste. I’ll talk to you later, when everything is set in motion.”

Byrne turned around and left the building, just as Julia did the same. They were awaited by a black sedan. It was the same driver who had been taking them around China this entire time. Outside it was raining, and Byrne would like nothing more than to get where it’s dry. They took their seats in the back and it drove off through the city. In twenty minutes, they arrived to a dropship landed on a helipad, located in the south end of the city. This was a spot where people would park their ships, allowing them to bypass the airports who check for security. The pad was on top of a building that stood tall like much of Shanghai.

It wasn’t long until they entered the ship, and soon enough they flew into the distance. Their next stop was home, where soon the real mission would begin. Byrne sat back, as Julia lied back in her seat, taking the opportunity to relax. He had a glass of scotch where he sat, her father always would have an alcoholic drink when a mission was completed. That was when Byrne decided to speak to her again.

“That wasn’t exactly subtle, but it got the job done.” Byrne said. “When we get home, that’s when the real task starts.”

“I understand.”

“Remember that you are to make them trust you. I know my dear old son most certainly will, and just when they think they can let their guard down, that’s when you strike.”

Julia nodded. She didn’t think about what she was going to do, instead hoping that her brother will be brought back alive out of the arrangement. The days she could recall, the intensive training by her father, by the other members of the Last Light. When her brother fled, the Parallel Mark that was meant to bare him was given to her. Sometimes, she fears her own power.

Then she remembered her mother. The Chinese assassin Chenhua Li, or Severance. Those days when she had to train with her. It ended with Julia unable to move, left to the ground in sheer agony. Before she was even ten. They told her it was all to make her a stronger person, and it was true that’s what she ended up being in the end. But the cost may have been great.

The words she would speak to her, when she had been thoroughly beaten.

If this is how weak my bloodline is, then we might as well kill you now.

They rung in her mind to this day. Severance was a deadly assassin for the Last Light, and until her death, she never held back when it came to hurting both physically and emotionally.

It had been so long since she last saw her brother. Though they had different mothers, he was the only family she knew that cared for something other than training her to be a weapon. If she can get Christopher back, then maybe everything will be alright after all.

Julia looked outside, staring at the sky from the top of the clouds. She had to mentally prepare herself for when she would ‘escape’ the Last Light, and join as a Protector. Christopher had escaped six years ago, and since then he’s defied her father’s wishes to come back to him. Now it’s up to her to bring Christopher back herself.

She got up from her seat, and went to the ship’s storage on the side. That’s where their costumes and weapons were at. Her identity as Glimmer wasn’t known to the public. None of the websites reported it, nor is there any known archive of the alias she could find. That was the identity she would use, when she becomes a Protector.

Eleven hours later, the ship would land in their mansion located in the countryside of Upstate New York. Byrne exited with Julia in tow. It was night, just like how it was when they left China. The mansion was beautiful, being an old gray home that had been maintained over the years. They made it inside through their yard, and Byrne took the opportunity to speak again.

“Get your rest.” Byrne said. “Your assignment will begin soon enough.”

Julia nodded. She retreated to her room, which was cleaned spotless and had her favorite teddy bear still beside her pillow. In a moment’s notice, she crashed down on the surface, holding the bear close to her face. The bed was complete comfort, relaxed. Not much longer, and she was sound asleep. Her big day would be coming soon, and she had to be prepared for it.