The Last Guardian

Chapter_05: Level Two-The Katana

Athena Police Precinct 2:30 p.m.

"These vultures... always ready to pounce on anything they can get...", said the captain as he looked below from his office window. Lisa was sitting on a chair reading some files.

There was a horde of reporters lining up in front of the precinct awaiting an official statement on the progress of the m*********r case. For the time being the sergeants were holding them off but they were demanding to speak with the captain.

"Sir I can do the press meet if you want...", remarked Lisa.

"No Lisa, I have to handle them myself...where are we with the cab driver case?", said the captain.

"I've hit a dead end...this guy is squeaky clean. I've checked everything about him including his phone records. It's weird how someone like that could be murdered so brutally...", she said.

"Well... then dig deeper, there's got to be something...", replied the captain.

"According to the GPS on his car, his last stop was at the museum...", she added.

"The museum? Hardly anyone goes there...Hmm...I think this is it...find out more about this...", he ordered.

"Yes Sir, Oh! and one more thing...I thought I saw someone else on the site that day...but now I'm not so sure...", she said hesitantly.

"Always trust your instincts Lisa... ", said the captain absent-mindedly as he browsed his computer.

"Will do Sir...", she said and walked out of the office.

She went to her desk and sat down studying the cases of the victims. This case had the police running around in circles all day. The press was all over it, drawing all sorts of conclusions and spinning conspiracy theories of aliens and cults. But she had to find an answer, a clue, something at least that would be a working theory or a plausible answer.

She opened Navin's file and skimmed through it. She always felt uneasy thinking about this case. Something eery and strange made her skin crawl. And then she remembered about the dream she had earlier- the ghostly figure underneath her blanket. She recalled having seen that same figure atleast three times now and she wondered whether she was having some sort of psychotic episodes or was it the stress. A friend of her's was a psychiatrist and she thought of visiting her after work.

Suddenly her right ankle began to itch. She started to scratch it but it only became worse. She took off her shoe and removed her sock and saw a strange black rash that looked like a fingerprint- the itch would come and go- but the rash seemed like it was spreading.

"Great! Now I've to visit the psychiatrist and the doctor as well ...", she said to herself.

It was four in the evening now and Johnathan was still in Brother Farid's shop. After witnessing the strange transformation of his leg he was now in deep thought wondering how his life had taken a complete turn and what it would mean for him. What about Maya? How will he able to forget her? What was he supposed to do next?

"You worry too much!", cried Brother Farid from behind.

Johnathan turned and said-

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?", asked Farid.

"Know what I'm thinking about...", replied Johnathan.

"It's just a little trick my friend...We have inherited the knowledge of our forefathers and you would be amazed at the stuff they could do...", replied Farid as he sat down next to him.

"So you're an Elder too?", asked Johnathan.

"Hmm...Kind of...I am a guide and a trainer but my specialty lies in supplying you whatever you need in your fight...Ah! here's dinner...Thank You my love.... eat first, we will talk later....", replied Farid laying out the food that his dear wife had brought.

"Ah! I'm starving...", said Johnathan and ate heartily.

Meanwhile Billy stood outside alert and anxious observing the streets and the people in it. He had this gut feeling that something was not quite all right and something was watching them. Johnathan was not yet ready to fight and the darkside knows this and they would find every possible way to finish him before he attains mastery over his powers.

He had called Raven but she was miles away and if something happened right now, it was up to him to protect Johnathan...

Inside the shop Johnathan has had dinner and was thanking him for the lovely food. He then enquired about the peculiar change in his leg.

Farid explained-

"The Qi is a mysterious force and once it awakens, it enlightens a person and strengthens him. But for Guardians it gives them immense powers, even if the person is physically weak or disabled, it finds a way to make him a warrior. In your case it took your weakness and turned it into your strength. There was a legend of one ancient warrior who was called 'Iron Legs' and it seems you have been bestowed with the same power"

"Woah...so now I can kick really hard?", asked Johnathan.

"Ha ha...yes...and more...you can run faster, do deadlifts even jump higher...but beware my friend...the moment you doubt yourself, you get weak... and that's the moment when you will be most vulnerable...so always believe in yourself..."

Suddenly Billy rushed into the room panting and announced-

"They're here...quick hide him..."

"Curse them... Johnathan come with me...", said Farid as he grabbed him by his hand and took him through a backdoor that led to a small storage room.

Johnathan had no idea what was going on.

"What? Who's them? ", he asked.

"Just be quiet... I'll be back soon, whatever you hear do not come out of this room...", said Farid and closed the door.

Five minutes later, Johnathan heard shots being fired and he tried to open the door and get out but it was locked. Another minute later he heard a loud explosion and the entire place shook. He recognised the sound. It was a hand grenade. Now things were getting out of hand. He had to interfere.

With one kick of his iron leg, he knocked down the wooden door. He went out towards the counter but all he saw was smoke and rubble. Someone had blown off the entire shop. There was no sign of anyone.

"Billy.... Brother Farid...", he called out but there was no reply.

Suddenly in the thick smoke he saw the figure of a man standing in the midst of the rubble. He heard his voice and turned his head. Johnathan saw two red eyes igniting in the dark. He realised these were the same eyes he had seen earlier on the bridge when they were chased by- DEMONS!!

"Oh hell...", murmured Johnathan and froze.

The shadowy figure immediately rushed towards him moving away the broken tables and shelves on the way. The smoke cleared and Johnathan saw his face. He was a giant man about 6 ft tall and broad shoulders and Johnathan wasn't even half his size.

Johnathan looked around and backed off as the man approached him grunting and kicking. His eyes were more red now and it scared Johnathan like anything. Suddenly the man cornered Johnathan and grabbed his throat. Johnathan choked and struggled to breathe. His right hand on his throat while his left hand searching for any object that could help him. Luckily he found a long wooden like object and he grabbed the object by his left hand and swung it at the giant's face. The giant let go off Johnathan's throat and fell back.

Johnathan looked at the object in his hand. It was an old dusty sword inside a wooden sheath. He pulled out the blade and it shimmered in the dark. Suddenly he felt empowered by the sword in his hand.

The giant leaped at him and Johnathan swung the sword hard at his neck-

*Splash*

*Thud*

He decapitated the giant's head with one blow!

"Johnathan!!!", a voice cried from outside.

With the bloody sword in his hand, Johnathan went outside and saw Billy trying to catch his breath and dusting off his clothes.

"So you've found the KATANA!!",he said...

Police Precinct 5:00 p.m.

Lisa was busy writing something when suddenly a sergeant came in rushing through the door.

"There's been an explosion - downtown- probably terrorist attack...Cap wants you to go...", he said and left.

"What the hell is going on in this city...", she said as she took her coat and immediately ran out of her office.