Chapter 81

  Arc 6 - Ch 14: A Bde in Hand

  Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011.

  Location: Four Seasons Downtown, Manhattan, New York

  Tyson and Jubilee departed the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Manhattan, heading toward atown. Tyson had avoided that neighborhood sihe altercation with the Hand ninjas after leaving a training session at Chikara Dojo in February. He sidered taking his motorcycle for the trip but decided against it. It was a lovely day, and Jubilee would enjoy traveling on foot; besides, they could both run faster than traffic if yson remained unsure whether to front Colleen or feign ignorance, but he knew he o che with his sensei regardless. It had been four months, long enough for an average human to heal from the injuries he'd sustained. Plus, this outing presented an opportunity for Jubilee to ve in public among groups of people to gauge how she fared. The pair set off eastbound. Chikara Dojo was only about a mile from the Four Seasons.

  The route meandered ily due to the entrao the Brooklyn Bridge crossing their path, so they headed south along Frankfort Street, passing uhe promehey found themselves strolling down the sidewalk adjat to Murry Bergtraum High School.

  Jubilee's bright yellow jacket and bubbly personality had returned in full force. Tyson g her, noting how she looked around with curious eyes as if seeing the city for the first time. Which she nearly was, thanks to her enhanced vampirises. He couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm and how she seemed like her old self again.

  "Nice day for a walk," Jubilee remarked cheerfully, her tone light.

  "Yeah, it is," Tyson replied, trying to focus on the positives.

  As they crossed the street, Jubilee gnced his way. "Are you worried about seeing your sensei again?"

  Tysoated before shrugging. "A little. Still trying to figure out what to say…. Hey, I know about the ninja group you're a part of that targeted me to test me. It seems like a terrible cold open."

  Jubilee nodded sympathetically. "Well, whatever happens, you know you've got me. We're a team, right?" She mimed pung and kig as they walked, "I might not be a ninja, but I'm super fast and throw explosions. Together, no one beat us!"

  Tyson chuckled, feeling some of his fade away. "Right. Team Jubilee and Tyson."

  They stood at the er, waiting for the walk signal, when a familiar figure caught Tysoo the north. A tall, broad-shouldered bck man wearing a bck leather trench coat strode down the sidewalk with a visible sword in a back-mounted scabbard. Not too many people fitting that description walked the streets of lower Manhattan.

  Bde.

  Tyson had crossed paths with the vampire huwice before. First in the nightclub after the blood rain and a sed time when Bde came searg for Tyson at the House of M.

  He had sidered trying to tact the dhampir, but he cked any means. Tyson g Jubilee. Thanks to the regeive properties of his blood running through her veins, she could withstand sunlight despite being turned into a vampire. Still, Tysoated t Jubilee anywhere near Bde. But he knew his illusions would fool the dhampir if yson could cover Jubilee's escape if things went south. Plus, he doubted a random opportunity to cross paths with Bde would present itself again.

  So, instead of crossi with the light, Tysoly guided Jubilee north toward the entrance of James Madison Pza, where Bde had just ducked iyso his senses on high alert as they approached, ready to react to any frontation.

  Jubilee looked at Tyson, uainty creeping into her voice. "Why do you seem so on edge all of a sudden?"

  Tysoated before answering. "I just caught sight of Bde up there. We 't pass up what might be our only ake tact. Just stay close and follow my lead if things get hairy. Worst case, I throw up some illusions to cover your escape back to the hotel."

  Jubilee nodded, her previously cheerful demeanor repced by caution. She sed their surroundings, eyes peeled for any potential threats. As they ehe small park, Tyson spotted Bde he tral fountain, locked in a standoff with a pale, well-dressed man holding a young child somewhat threateningly in his arms.

  Tyshe pale vampire instantly. "That's Dea Frost, a vamp." he said in a low voice, "I saw this frontation in my vision. Frost will throw that girl into the path of an oning bus to distract Bde. Then he'll try to escape while Bde chooses between pursuing him or saving the girl."

  Jubilee's brown eyes widened in surprise as she studied Dea Frost. "How he be out in broad daylight?" she asked.

  "Suns," Tyson replied with a derisive sniff.

  "What a poser," Jubilee mocked. "What's the pn?"

  "I don't want you intervening in the fight." he said, "Bde uses silver bullets and a tendency to shoot first and ask questions ter. Oray projectile could kill you permaly."

  "So what's the pn?"

  "When Frost throws the girl, you zip in with your super-speed and catch her before the bus hits her," Tyson said. "I'll try to stop Frost, though he may be too fast for me. I'm going to move a little closer. Watch Frost closely for whehrows the girl. That's ynal."

  "Since I started hanging out with you, my life sure has taken a morbid twist." She ented, only partly joking.

  Tyson edged closer, cloaking himself in an illusion to ceal his presence from Bde. He feigned nonce as he moved, not wanting to draw Frost's attention. Tyson knew better than to approach too near, as the st of his blood could easily ehe vampire.

  Frost held a young girl captive, grinning wickedly at Bde. "We wouldn't want our little frieo end up pstered on the back of a milk carton, now would we?" Frost's voice dripped with malicious amusement, sav the moment. Bde relutly lowered his hand, eyes wary and watchful. Frost inhaled deeply, relishing the st of life around him. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" he taunted.

  "How you be out here?" Bde asked fused.

  "I dabble in pharmaceuticals and medical research," Frost replied smoothly. "We've developed a type of sun-blocker using octyl salicyte and a few redients." He touched a fio his cheek, rubbing the pale lotioween his fingers. "It's not very effective in direct sunlight, but it's a start. The goal, of course, is to be like you, the 'Day-walker.'"

  Bde's eyes narrowed with skepticism. "I don't buy it."

  "Why not?" Frost tered. "The future of our race flows through your veins. You have the best of both worlds, Bde. All of our strengths and none of our weaknesses."

  "Maybe I don't see it that way," Bde respoly.

  "Oh, back to pretending we're human again, are we?" Frost's tourned mog. "Spare me the Uom act. You 't keep denying what you are. You're one of us, Bde. You always have been."

  "You're wrong," Bde stated firmly.

  "Am I?" Frost challenged. "You think the humans will ever accept a half-breed like you? They 't. They fear us because we're superior. They cower because, in their hearts, they know their race has bee obsolete."

  Frarded the passing street vendors with unveiled pt. "Look at them," Frost said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Just an endless herd of cattle stampeding blindly toward the sughterhouse."

  With a sneer, Frost lifted a silver fsk to his pale lips and took a long swig of blood. He smacked his lips with relish and sighed tentedly. "Refreshing," he quipped, then offered the fsk to Bde. "Care for some? I tell by your expression it smells simply mouthwatering. Pu, with just an irrepressible hint of iron."

  Bde's stony expression did not ge. "Pass," he stated ftly.

  "You sure now?" Frost persisted. "I tapped a newborn for this batch. You won't find a vintage sweeter than that."

  It took every ounce of Bde's formidable self-trol to restrain himself from attag Frost then and there. The vampire sehe carefully leashed violence simmering withiher man and pressed one long, sharp thumbnail against the child's vulnerable jugur. The little girl whimpered in fear.

  "Tell me holy. Do you get the same visceral thrill from that pasteurized piss serum of yours?" He he tightening of Bde's jaw and ughed. "Surprised I know about your serum? You shouldn't be. I know everything about you, Daywalker. You 't keep walking this razor's edge forever, Bde. The day is ing, and soon, you'll have to choose a side. Our kind or theirs. If I were you, I'd take care not to end up on the wrong end of the fang."

  A single bead of sweat ran down Frost's neck, washing away a small patch of the sun-blog cream he wore. The exposed flesh instantly bed and blistered. "Looks like your mascara is running," Bde ented evenly.

  "Love to tihis little chat, but..." Frost began as he started to rise.

  "You're not going anywhere," Bde interrupted, his voice low and dangerous.

  "Watch me," Frost growled.

  His eyes flickering toward the street was the only warning before he hurled the young girl directly into the path of the oning city bus. Before her small body could collide with the flimsy vendor's stall or reach the busy street, Jubilee was there in a fsh, catg the child safely in her arms.

  Bde swiftly drew his Modified Mack 11 from its holster and fired three thunderous shots at the vampire. Frost dodged the bullets, then turned and dashed away from the park, moving almost too fast for the humao follow. Tyson rushed to intercept the fleeing vampire, but Frost's supernatural speed proved too great.

  Uo close the distance, he held his hand out and flexed his will. The Uru dagger appeared within. Tyson's fiightened on the mystical on's hilt as he brought it around in a sweeping ard hurled it at Frost's retreating form. The ented dagger tumbled end over end through the air, but the vampire dodged at the st possible sed, the bde sinking harmlessly into a nearby tree trunk with a solid thunk.

  Bde tinued firing round after sizzling round at the fleeing Frost, who twisted and dodged, his speed allowing him to narrowly evade the gunfire. But Tyson had already anticipated Frost's movements. With a flick of his wrist, anlimmering Uru dagger materialized in his grip. In a single fluid motion, Tyson hurled the on again. This time, the ented dagger buried itself into Frost's shoulder with a meaty thunk.

  The vampire let out an agonized hiss, crashing sideways into a brick building as he desperately tried to escape. Frost stumbled, his supernatural graentarily failing as he struggled to wrench the mystical dagger from his back. Dark blood oozed from the wound. Seizing the opportunity, Bde fired another shot, the UV round passing mere inches from Frost's head as the vampire lurched forward.

  Tyson watched, muscles coiled and ready to jure more daggers. But the gravely injured Frost, now bleeding profusely, mao lurto a nearby alley, disappearing from view into the shadows.

  Bde's gaze followed the vampire's hasty retreat for a moment before he turo Tyson, his craggy features set in a look ing respect. "hrow," Bde muttered in his gravelly baritone. "But I'm not letting that fanger get away." He gnced over at Jubilee, who was gently f the frightened girl they had just rescued.

  "We got the girl. Go get him, Bde!" Tyson called out encingly. As Bde took off after the wounded Frost, Tyson held out his hand, and the Uru dagger reappeared in his grip. Tyson wondered if the temporary mystical copy he had jured was still embedded in Frost's back. If not, Bde would have an easy trail of blood to follow.

  Jubilee stayed with the frightened young girl, ing a f arm around her slender shoulders. Her voice was gentle and soothing as she helped the child find her parents, who had been frantically searg the park for any sign of their beloved daughter. Once Jubilee safely reuhe girl with her distraught but overjoyed family, she sed the area for any trace of Bde. But the formidable vampire hunter had not returned after pursuing the wounded Frost into the surrounding city.

  After waiting nearly twenty minutes without sign of Bde's return, Jubilee remarked, "Looks like he's not ing baytime soon."

  Tyson shrugged, "We should head to Chikara Dojo. No use waiting around here."

  Together, they set off, leaving the small park for the dojo. As they walked, Jubilee's eyes sparkled with excitement, "That was so intense!" she excimed, "I mean, it was terrifying but also crazy thrilling!"

  Tyson chuckled as his nerves finally settling sihe danger had passed. "Yeah, it really was," he agreed, smiling at her iious enthusiasm, "You were amazing out there, Jubes. You saved that girl's life."

  Jubilee's cheeks flushed slightly at the praise. "Yeah, I really am a hero now, aren't I?" she replied, beaming with pride. "And that magic dagger is so cool!" Her tone was filled with admiration as she g the ornate bde strapped to his belt. "Does it have a ?"

  Tyson shook his head. "Nope. You want to give it one?" he offered.

  Jubilee's eyes lit up at the prospect. "Ooh, how about Sting?" she suggested eagerly.

  "Too cliché," Tyson dismissed with a wave of his hand.

  "Hmm...Dragonfang?"

  "Name's already taken," he informed her.

  Jubilee hummed thoughtfully as they tinued onward. "Well, you got it from the trickster god Loki, and you're an illusionist. Maybe something tied to that theme..."

  Together, the two friends made their way toward the dojo, with Jubilee enthusiastically calling out potential names for the Uru dagger sheathed at Tyson's back.

  Tyson and Jubilee strolled dowreet. "I think I prefer the single-word names best," Tyson ented, gng sidelong at his enthusiastipanion. "It's a dagger, not a sword, so it should have a short name."

  "Okay. How about Gmour?" she suggested eagerly as her mind rifled through possibilities.

  Tyson pursed his lips, sidering. "Kinda like that," he ceded after a moment.

  The teenage girl ractically boung ooes now, thrilled to be helping he powerful artifact. "Oooh, since your show is called House of M and your name is Mirage, you should name your on something that begins with M, too!" She thought for a sed, her brow furrowing in tration, before suggesting, "Malice, Meddle... No wait! I've got it!" She paused dramatically, holding up a fihen delightedly excimed, "Muse!"

  Tyson rolled the name around in his mind, tasting it, feeling its shape on his tongue. A slow smile spread across his face. "I love it," he decred. Jubilee let out a whoop of excitement, pumping her fist in triumph at finding the perfeame for the Asgardian dagger. Together, the two friends made their way toward the dojo, Tyson now with the newly christened Muse sheathed fortably at his back.

  He held open the door to the dojo for Jubilee, the chimes announg their arrival into the quiet spao csses were in session, and the mats were empty. Colleen emerged from the ba at the sound, her face refleg relief at the sight of Tyson.

  "Tyson," she asked hesitantly, "are you alright? I haven't seen you in months."

  "I'm sorry about that," Tyson apologized. "The st time I was here, I fought with some locals after css. I wasn't able to e back for a while."

  Colleen's expression became visibly flicted. Of course, she knew what had happened. She had watched as Bakuto tested Tyson that night. The young man had alaid her in cash, so she had no address to follow up on his absence or injury.

  "But I was hoping to tinue my training," Tyson added.

  Colleen frowned, clearly wrestling with whether she should accept Tyson as a student again. The Hand's i in him had put the young man in danger. She had spent the st few months sick with worry, flicted about what to darding the Hand and the dojo. Tyson's disappearance had bee an issue she didn't have to face immediately. With him standing before her, the problem felt real and present again.

  "I don't know that our previous arra is appropriate anymore."

  Tyson's face fell. "If this is about the fighting, I promise I tried to de-escate things. Those guys wouldn't back down. I don't think they'd target me here, but I uand if you don't want me bringing trouble to the dojo." He gnced over at Jubilee, the Colleen's eyes again, his pleading. "I just want to get stroo protect the people I care about." He motioowards the girl he had brought. "I was also hoping you'd train some of my friends too. I'd pay the same fee for them. But if you 't train me, I uand."

  Colleen's expression softened as she took in Tyson's words and the way he looked at the young girl with him. Tyson could see the fli Colleen's eyes as she weighed her words carefully before speaking. "It's not that I'm worried about ying trouble to the dojo," she finally admitted, her voice tinged with . "I'm more ed that tinuing to e here could put you in danger."

  Her admission took Tyson by surprise. He hadn't expected her to forbid him from returning out of for his safety. Gng over at Jubilee, Tyson came to a decision.

  "I appreciate your ," he said early, "But if I prove it's unfounded by beating you in a spar, will you at least hear me out?"

  Colleen's eyebrows shot up in curiosity at his bold proposal. She studied him for a long moment as if gauging his determination before finally ining her head in agreement. "Alright, Tyson," she said, "Let's see what you've got."

  Colleen and Tyson faced each other in the ter of the polished wood floor, the afternoon light filtering through the tall windows. Colleeled into a fighting stance, her feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, hands curled into loose fists. Her eyes narrowed with a ser focus on her oppo as her body tensed in readiness.

  Colleen unched forward, aiming a quick jab towards Tyson's midse to test his reas. But Tyson moved with unnatural speed, effortlessly twisting his torso out of the path of her strike. Colleen pressed her attack, throwing punches and kicks in quick succession, but Tyson evaded them all. She groueeth in frustration as her strikes met only air. Tyson's evasive defense left her uo nd a single blow. Before she could regroup, he flowed around her guard and tagged her ribs with a geinging sp. She blinked in surprise at the ued terattack. It was clear he had beuch faster siheir st match.

  Collee her stance, shifting her weight to the balls of her feet. A bead of sweat trailed dowemple as she reassessed her oppo. She would o adapt if she hoped to pee his defenses.

  Tyson's smile broadened, his mismatched eyes alight with excitement. "Ready for round two?" he asked, being her forward. She let out a slow breath, then u him agaiermio wipe the grin off his face.

  He effortlessly dodged another of her attacks. No matter how quickly she struck or fiercely she lunged, he slipped away like smoke.

  In the sed round, she had fared er against his speed. Each jab met only air as Tyson sidestepped with the fluidity of flowing water. He turned her momentum against her, using subtle shifts of weight and ao redirect her energy away from him.

  Ihird round, Colleen pulled out all the stops, throwing her full strength into the offensive. Yet, despite her best efforts, she could not seem to y a finger on her elusive oppo. Tyson moved with unnatural grace, gliding just out of reaatter how she tried to er him. His smile remained infuriatingly fixed, his mismatched eyes dang with amusement.

  Colleen stood panting as the third round ended, sweat beading her brow. Frustration aant admiration warred withiyson remained calm and posed, looking for all the world as if they had just shared a pleasant stroll rather than an intense sparring match.

  "I think I've proven my point," he said gently but with a mixture of resped pyfulness c his tone.

  Collee out a long breath, schooling her features as she nodded. "I suppose you have," she admitted. "You've beuch stronger."

  From the sidelines, Jubilee burst ihusiastic appuse. "Good fight!" she cheered.

  "So, will you agree to hear me out?" he asked Colleen hopefully.

  Colleen sidered him for a moment, then nodded. A genuine smile broke through despite herself. "Alright, Tyson," she ceded warmly. Let's talk." She was impressed by his improvement and curious to hear what he had to say.

  Tysoured toward the door, wary of potential surveilnce devices hidden in the dojo. He led Colleen and Jubilee out for a walk back to the park where they had entered Bde earlier. The park was only a few blocks away, and Tyson would be able to keep watch for the vampire hunter's possible return.

  Jubilee bounced beside them as they strolled down the sidewalk and introduced herself with a bright smile. "Hi, I'm Jubilee," she said enthusiastically. "I'm a big fan of ninjas!"

  Colleen's expression lighte the girl's enthusiasm. "Well, it's o meet you, Jubilee," she replied warmly. "And I'm gd you like ninjas. It just so happens I know a thing or two about them."

  When they reached the peaceful grounds, Tyson gnced around, sing for any sign of Bde. Satisfied the vampire hunter had not returned, he turo Colleen, ready to discuss the matter that had brought them there. The tranquil surroundings seemed like a good pce for serious versation, and the three of them settled onto a bench, prepared to talk openly without fear of eavesdroppers.

  Tyson carefully weighed his options. He did not want to manipute Colleen's mind and force her to trust him, but he could not reveal the whole truth about his abilities. A half-truth seemed the best path forward.

  "I know you've wondered where I'm getting my money," Tyson began, his voice low and ear. He he furrowing her brow. "It probably seemed suspicious for a high school student with no family to have the cash I do suddenly."

  Colleen nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving Tyson's face. She remained silent, letting him speak.

  "I'm not involved in anything illegal like selling drugs. I've been w a security job that pays very well. My employer took notice of how much I've improved under your training. He wants to hire you to teach the rest of his staff martial arts."

  At this, Colleen leaned back slightly, skepticism returning to her expression. "And who exactly is this generous employer of yours?" she asked pointedly.

  Tysoated, carefully sidering his response.

  "The superhere," Tyson finally answered, watg Colleen closely for her rea.

  Her eyes widened in surprise. Whatever employer she had imagined, a superhero was not it. "Mirage?" she echoed in disbelief.

  Tyson nodded, maintaining steady eye tact. "Yes. Mirage thinks your skills would make you the perfect trainer for his team."

  Colleen Wing looked at Tyson, scrutinizing him for the first time in months. She noticed his wild hair and muscur build, recalled the tight bck suit he often wore during training, and focused on his mismatched blue and greeeroatic eyes. And she gasped in realization.

  "It's you. You're Mirage," she breathed, her eyes widening in shock.

  Jubilee ughed, pointing at Tyson. "Busted!"

  Tyson chuckled. "Yeah, I did drive things a little too close to home there." He met Colleen's gaze with a sheepish grin. "You got me, sensei."

  Colleen sat back, stunned. She'd been worried about him all these months, and here he was, not just alive and well, but a superhero. She leaned forward, her brow furrowing. "Were you hurt badly by the ambush?"

  Tyson shook his head. "No. I would've e by sooner, but I've been busy. And it just happeo line up with an appropriate amount of time for me to heal."

  Colleen thought about how often she'd seen Mirage in the news retly. The pieces were falling into pce. "I see," she said, still mulling things over.

  After a moment of silence, Colleen took a deep breath. "I 't instruct you any longer, nor I instruct your employees," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret.

  Tyson frowned. "Why not?"

  Colleeated, then decided to be fht. "The people who attacked you are a group known as the Hand." Tyson raised an eyebrow, surprised at her forwardness. He hadn't expected her to volunteer suformation. She tinued, "They were testing you. They think you're the Bck Sky."

  Tyson took the opening to hopefully gain some crification. "What is the Bck Sky?"

  Colleen gnced around the park, making sure no one was within earshot. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "The Bck Sky is a prophecy for oio lead the Hand."

  He had known about the Hand and recalled them mentioning the Bck Sky but didn't know what it meant. "And they think I'm this... Bck Sky?"

  Colleen nodded solemnly. "That's why I 't tiraining you. The Hand are dangerous, Tyson. More dangerous than you imagine."

  Jubilee spoke up. "But if they're so dangerous, doesn't that mean Tyson needs more training, not less?"

  "It's not that simple. The more I train him, the more skilled he bees and the more attention he'll draw from the Hand. They'll see it as firmation of their beliefs."

  "But I've already drawn their attention. Wouldn't it be better if I repared to face them?"

  Colleen sighed, flict evident in her eyes. "It's not just about physical preparation. The Hand has ways of getting into your head, of maniputing you. The better you bee, the more they'll want you."

  "So, tell us more about the Hand. What exactly are we up against?"

  "The Hand is an a anization, older than you imagihey've been pulling strings behind the ses for turies, maniputis to suit their needs."

  "What do they want?" Jubilee asked, her earlier excitement tempered by Colleen's serious tone.

  "Power, influence, immortality," Colleen replied. "They seek to trol everything from the shadows. And they believe the Bck Sky is key to achieving that goal."

  "But why me? What did they learn from their ambush that makes them think I'm this Bck Sky?"

  "The Bck Sky prophecy is an a belief held by the Hand. They believe that a warrior of unparalleled skill and potential will arise, one who lead them to ultimate power and domination. The prophecy speaks of a fighter with physical prowess and a unique e to the mystical forces that the Hand seeks to trol," Colleen tinued. "They believe this individual will be able to harness and el these forces in ways even the most skilled Hand members ot."

  "But how do they know who this Bck Sky is supposed to be?" Jubilee asked.

  "That's the thing," she expined. "They don't know for certain. The Hand is stantly searg aing potential didates. They look fns, for individuals with extraordinary abilities or potential." her expression grew more serious. "You faced multiple trained members of the Hand. You were unarmed, outnumbered, and caught by surprise. Yet, you held your own and mao defeat them."

  Tyson nodded slowly, recalling the fight that had unfolded that night. He had relied mostly on his bat training, but it must have seemed like an impossible feat to the outside observer.

  "To the Hand," Colleen tinued, "this dispy of skill and raw potential was a signifit red fg. It aligned with many traits they believe the Bck Sky should possess. Exceptional bat prowess, adaptability, and the ability to overe seemingly insurmountable odds."

  "But that doesn't mean Tyson is this Bck Sky, right?"

  Colleen shook her head. "No, it doesn't. The Hand has had many didates, and none have proven to be the true Bck Sky. But that doesn't make the situation any less dangerous."

  Tyson had known the Hand was ied in him, but he hadn't realized the extent of their beliefs or the potential sequences of their attention.

  "What exactly does the Hand do with these didates?"

  Colleen's expression darkened. "They test them, push them to their limits," she expined. "If a didate shows promise, the Hand will attempt t them into the fold, to mold them into the leader they believe the Bck Sky should be."

  "And if the didate refuses?"

  "Then the Hand will do whatever it takes to either trol them or elimihe threat they pose. They ot risk a potential Bck Sky falling into the hands of their enemies or being a force that opposes them."

  Jubilee's eyes widened as a realization struck her. She turo Colleen, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of . "Wait a minute. If they knew about Tyson's illusions, wouldn't that make them think he was the Bck Sky even more? I mean, it's araordinary ability, almost mystical."

  Colleen nodded emphatically, her expression grave. "Exactly. It's why I 't train you," she said, direg her words to Tyson. "I 't be anywhere near you. They'd use me to stay close to you, t you in. When we first met, I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but after the callous way they tested you, who knows what else they'd do."

  "Don't worry, teach. I handle more than a few ninjas."

  "Even still, I'm not going to put you in that kind of danger. You're a good man. And now that I know who you are, I see how much good you've done."

  "You've demonstrated you fight. Your teique isn't perfect. It never was. You aren't a natural fighter." She paused, a hint of pride creeping into her voice. "But you have enough of a base that you build from it without me. I always aimed to create that base." Colleen's eyes met Tyson's meaningfully. "And you did that with all the hours and hard work you put iraining, and you'll keep growing. You spent more time in the dojo than anyone. You train your people. You don't need me."

  Tyso a twinge of disappoi settle in his chest. Despite his desire to tiraining with Colleen, he uood why she wao distance herself. The Hand's i in him didn't pose a threat to himself, but it might to those around him. After a moment of ption, Tyson nodded, accepting her decision.

  He stood and bowed deeply to Colleen.

  "Thank you for your instru," Tyson said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. As he straightened, he met Colleen's gaze once more. "If you ever need my help, you'll know where to find me."

  Jubilee watched the exge with a hint of sadness. She could see the respect between Tyson and Colleen and remained quiet.

  Colleen stood as well, returning Tyson's bow with equal respect. Her eyes shimmered with a hint of moisture, but her voice remaieady. "You've e a long way, Tyson. I'm proud of your progress and the man you've bee."

  Jubilee decided to lighten the mood. She bounced ooes, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "So, Tyson, does this mean I get to be your new sparring partner? I promise I won't go easy on you!"

  Tyson couldn't help but chuckle at Jubilee's iious energy. "I don't doubt it for a sed," he replied, grateful for the momentary distra.

  Colleen smiled at the exge, appreciating Jubilee's attempt to lift the mood. She turo the young mutant. "Take care of him. And make sure he doesn't sck off on his training."

  Jubilee gave Colleen a mock salute. "You t on me, sensei!"

  "Stay safe, Tyson. And remember, the Hand is always watg. Be careful."

  With those final words of caution, Tyson and Jubilee began to walk away. As they made their way through the park, Tyso a chapter of his life closing behind him. The training with Colleen had been a stant in his life at Midtown, a foundation upon which he had built so muow, he would have te ahead on his own.

  — Rogue Rept —

  Bde stepped bato his workshop. Frustratioched on his face after losing track of Frost. Some familiars had run interference, leaving him chasing a decoy into the night. As he ehe dimly lit room, he immediately sensed something was off. The pce was ransacked; their tools and equipment were strewn about haphazardly, and furniture overturned.

  Moving cautiously, Bde sed his surroundings. Theiced a body slumped against some b equipment with blood pooled beh it. He pulled down the colr and saw the tattoo on the back of the neck.

  It was the mark of a vampire's familiar.

  Bde's expression hardened, and he pulled out one of his Mac 11s, moving forward with caution. As he ehe tral part of the b, he stopped dead in his tracks.

  There was a bedsheet c the chair with a blood stain. Bde approached and couldn't bear to look at the sheet as he removed it, knowing what he would find.

  Whistler, his mentor and closest ally, was sitting motionless. It was clear he had been tortured. His face was battered and swollen, his clothes were torn, and everything was soaked with blood. The sight hit Bde like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, his resolve faltered.

  "Whistler..." Bde muttered.

  In respoo Bde's voice, a faint moan escaped the dying man's cracked lips.

  Bde grabbed some gauze, aly, he dabbed at the blood that covered Whistler from his various wounds aions. But then Bde saw them.

  Twed puncture marks along Whistler's throat, still oozing blood.

  "Jesus, Whistler, what did they do to you?" Bde muttered, his voice choked with emotion.

  Whistler opened his eyes, struggling to speak through split and swollen lips. "Frost took her—" he began, his voice a hoarse whisper. He spasmed and coughed, fresh blood bubbling up as he winced in pain.

  "Don't try to talk," Bde urged, his eyes filled with worry as he went through the motions of ing the wounds, though he khey were fatal.

  "Listen to me," Whistler insisted. "The disk, we decoded it. Frost is trying ter a fug vampire apocalypse. There's some vampire god he's trying to resurrect. La Magra."

  Bde's jaw tighte the name.

  "A dozen purebloods, one from each sect. La Magra's vessel gets all their uniqueness," Whistler tinued weakly. "But, you're the key. He needs your blood. The blood of the daywalker. You're the chosen one. Listen, Bde, you 't go after him."

  "Bullshit," Bde spat out angrily.

  "If Frost gets his hands on you, it's all over. The vamp god will have no weaknesses. Humans will turn to vamps just being in its presehere'll be armies of the motherfuckers," Whistler cimed before wing again in pain as Bde tirying to stop the bleeding.

  "You have to...finish me off. Don't let me e back as one of them."

  "No, we treat the wounds..." Bde started tue, but Whistler was already shaking his head weakly in refusal.

  "It's toone. You know that," Whistler reminded him solemnly. "Give me yun."

  "No," Bde said adamantly.

  "Give me the goddamned gun."

  After a pause, Bde relutly pulled out his gun and pced it in Whistler's trembling hand.

  "Now walk away, you stupid son of a bitch," Whistler ordered weakly.

  Bde didn't move, his hand still over Whistler's, holding the gun steady. "Walk the fuck away," Whistler said again, more firmly this time.

  Bde finally turned and walked away, making it less than a dozen paces before the gunshot echoed behind him.

  As Bde walked away from the final moments of his only friend, his gaze caught on a camcorder resting nearby, beled, "PLAY ME." Suspi fred, and he reached for the device, knowing in his gut that Frost had left him a final mog gift.

  He cued the tape, and Frost's smug face appeared oiny built-in s. "Hello, Bde. By the time you watch this, Whistler will no doubt be winging his way to Heaven, thanks to your capable hands." Frost touched a deep gash that ran across his cheek. "If it makes any differeo you, he put up quite a fight."

  Frost's icy blue eyes glinted with malice. "Now, I'm sure you're w about Ms. Jansen's well-being. She's alive and kig, or 'ambutory,' as they like to say irade." His grin widened, revealing the points of his fangs. "Whether or not she remains so is entirely up to you."

  Leaning in close to the camera, Frost whispered, "I'll make this as easy as possible for you, Bde. You find us at the Edgewood Towers. We'll be waiting with bated breath."

  The tape cut to static. Bde stared at the bck s, jaw ched, barely taining the tidal wave e surging through him. With a roar of anger, he hurled the camcainst the crete wall. It shattered into a dozen pieces of broken pstic.

  Bde stood alone in the workshop, methodically preparing for the ing battle. The pu smell of molten silver filled the air as he cast bullets. Row upon row of syringes filled with EDTA, an anti-coagunt that would cause vampires to explode, y assembled before him.

  Pausing in his work, Bde closed his eyes and steadied his breathing, seeking to ter himself. Iillness, his thoughts turo his mentor, Whistler. The old man was dead at the hands of Dea Frost. Though he tried to shut it out, the hollow ache of that loss throbbed within his chest. Whistler had always watched his back, pulling his ass out of the fire more times than Bde cared to recall. Without the tankerous old hu his side, this fight felt like a suicide mission. Bde was no fool. He knew Frost likely had dozens of vampires awaiting him, and to walk into such a deathtrap alone was madness. As much as it galled him, Bde needed help. Those he trusted enough to guard his back against vampires were few and far between.

  Bde sidered his options, but none inspired fidence except, perhaps, for the young mutant he had entered at the nightclub, the one who called himself Mirage. Bde had mistakenly tried to kill him, not realizing the kid was something else. With his girlfriend, Mirage had proven himself capable against vampires, dispying powers unlike anything Bde had seen. And he had offered his aid if needed. It wasn't an ideal choice, but Mirage may be Bde's only hope for surviving this fight.

  Rising from his meditation, Bde began loading his ons with smooth, practiced motions, the clietal sliding home eg through the workshop. With Whistler's memory burning fier his heart, Bde steeled himself to recruit new allies and front the vampire who had takehing from him. Frost would pay for what he'd done. Bde would see to it personally.

  — Rogue Rept —

  Bde surveyed Frost's penthouse through a pair of binocurs from his vantage point on the roof of a building across the street. The windows were darkened by porized gss, blog out the harsh rays of the afternoon sun and making it abundantly clear that this luxurious dwelling served as a vampire's ir.

  L the binocurs, he hefted an air-uncher rifle into position and took careful aim. With a swift, precise motion, he fired. The iron spike, trailing a thin but sturdy steel cable, rocketed through the air before sinking firmly into the crete fa?ade of Frost's penthouse.

  Bde quickly secured the rope, anch it firmly to the roof's safety railing. He slipped a small pulley over the taut cable, grabbed the two attached handles, and leaped off the roof's edge. With a sudden whoosh, he slid towards Frost's penthouse, suspewenty stories above the busy street below. The wind rushed past his face as he closed in on the building.

  Releasing his grip on the handles a mere sed before reag the windows, Bde's momentum carried him crashing through the gss in a spectacur shower of shards that rained down on the polished marble floor.

  A shrill arm immediately rang out, eg within the expansive penthouse. Bright sunlight streamed through the shattered window, causing tire guards caught unprepared in the sudden swath of light to let out agonized shrieks as they buro ash before Bde's eyes. He climbed swiftly to his feet, his stance ready for a, his senses on high alert.

  A third vampire leaped at Bde with a feral snarl, but he spun with lightning reflexes, flipping the attacker over his shoulder and sending him straight through one of the other windows in a burst of shattered gss. Bde swiftly uhed his sword, the well-worher grip fitting fortably in his palm, and strode with purpose down the hallway.

  To Bde's right was the inner chamber with its ostentatious waterfall walls. As another vampire rushed towards him, fangs bared, Bde readied his sword in anticipation.

  "You think I'm afraid of that toothpick of yours?" the vampire sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance.

  "You should be," Bde responded, "I've made some improvements."

  With that, Bde thrust his obsidian sword forward in a blur, the sharpened point pierg deep into the vampire's chest. The creature let out an agonized shriek as he fleart in a fine ash mist, atomizing before Bde's eyes with a loud "FWOOSH!"

  Bde tinued his relentless advance down the hallway, ready to destroy anything in his path.

  Bde stalked forward, his boots eg on the cold crete floor. Up ahead, he spotted a set of imposing steel doors sealed by aronic time lock. Without hesitation, he swiftly drew his Mack 11 and aimed. The gun bucked in his grip as he fired, the heavy magnum rounds bsting away the lock meism in a shower of sparks and twisted metal. Not slowing his advance, Bde stepped up and smmed his shoulder into the doors, f them open with a resoundiallic screech.

  Beyond y Frost's private sleeping chamber, a stark, windowless room. The futuristic coffin resembled a cross between a high-end bed and a hyperbaric pod. Gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, Bde grabbed the lid and wre upward with a grunt of effort. The heavy lid rose with a pic hiss, billowing frigid mist into the vampire hunter's face.

  As the mist cleared, Bde tensed, ready to plunge his sword downward into the revealed oct. But it was not Dea Frost lying motionless beh him. Instead, to Bde's utter shock, it was his mother, Vanessa. Though thirty years had passed siheir st fateful enter, she appeared unged - vibrant, beautiful, and full of life. Her eyes fluttered opeing Bde's stunned gaze.

  "Eric," she whispered, using his birth name.

  Bde gasped, momentarily frozen. "Mother...?"

  He stared in disbelief as Vanessa stepped towards him. "I've missed you so much, Eric," she murmured, her voice filled with longing. "You have no idea what I've been through or how much I've wao see you again after all these years."

  He faltered at the inprehensible sight before him. His mother was dead, sin by a vampire decades ago. Yet here she was, seemingly alive, reag out to him with a look of maternal love and affe.

  In an instant, her expression ged, revealing fangs. With a vicious snarl, she struck, brutally raking her cws across Bde's fad knog the sword from his grasp.

  Before Bde could react, three bck-cd vampires ehe room, emerging from where they had been waiting in ambush outside. Each armed with a cattle prod, which they fired simultaneously at the stunned vampire hunter.

  Bde gritted his teeth as he was attacked from all sides, electricity c through his muscur frame. He colpsed in a heap, muscles spasming from the paralyzing shocks. Struggling, he lifted his head, looking up at Vanessa with disbelief and pain. "But you...died..." he whispered hoarsely.

  Vanessa's smile was hellish, her eyes glowing with malice. "Dea brought me back," she said.

  "Fight him, Mother," Bde pleaded through gritted teeth, his voice strained.

  Dea Frost appeared by Vanessa's side as if on cue, ing an arm around her waist and kissing the nape of her neck. She leaned into him, an act of intimacy that turned Bde's stomach.

  "She 't fight me," Frost said smugly. "She's one of my thralls now. Nothing more than a puppet on a string." He looked at Vanessa with a twisted smile. "You love me, don't you, Vanessa?"

  "Yes," Vanessa replied hollowly, her will bent to his.

  Dea Frost greedily kissed Vanessa, sav her submission as a thrall under his trol. Theurned his attention to the helpless Bde lying on the floor.

  Bde struggled futilely. "Please—" he whispered, desperation filling his voice.

  "Listen to your father, Eric," she said in an eerily calm tone. "It's going to be a better world."

  Bde stared at Vanessa in disbelief, his mind reeling from her words.

  "Don't look so surprised, Bde," Frost mogly said as he gazed down at his helpless foe. "You've spent your life hunting for the vampire who sired you. Well, you rest easy now. You've found him." He gripped Bde's and forced him to meet his taunting eyes. "Daddy's here."

  Bde's eyes widened in shocked realization, Frost's words hitting him like a physical blow. Frost ughed, clearly relishing the anguish on Bde's face as the truth smmed into him. Frost's mog words echoed in his mind, each a dagger to his soul. Years of questions and tormeo this moment.

  "It's true, Bde. You've got my blood running through your veins. Thirty years ago, I came across a woman walking home alone on a moonlit street." His tongue flicked out, caressing his fangs. "That was the night I tore into your mother's throat and made you what you are."

  Bde trembled with rage, straining against his bonds. To e so far, after so much struggle and sacrifice, only to find his sire was the monster he had devoted his life to destroying. Frost's ughter rang in his ears, pounding his anguish. The day of reing had arrived, but not as Bde had imagined. Now, he could only stare into the eyes of the vampire who had created him, and now, defeated him.

  Then Frost raised the cattle prod a anonizing jolt of electricity through Bde's body until he lost sciousness.

  Frost stood triumphantly over the dhampir's motionless form with a wicked smile.

  Behind the Ses

  - In the draft of this chapter, Colleen agreed to train Tyson and everyone else at House of M. I wrote a few training ses in Arc 7, but ultimately, it didn't go anywhere. I'm not pnning to write a Hand story arytime soon. It felt more fitting to close this plot point for now, at least Colleen's portion.

  Especially sihe title of this Arc is Graduation.

  There were probably more ses with Tyson at Chikara Dojo than at Midtown High during Arc 4. Being doh Midtown and Chikara Dojo at the same time is fitting. It signals that high school is over. We associate graduating high school with transitioning into adulthood; likewise, we see Tyson ge during this Ard the .

  In Arc 4, Tyson spared the Green Goblin. Why? Mostly because he could stop Osborn without killing him. But should he have? Tyson had this idea of what a hero should be or what kind of hero he was. But then, in Chapter 77: Going Rogue, he tossed that aside for Jubilee. He went full anti-hero; he knew killing was 'wrong,' but repared to do it because he thought it was the proper course while knowing it wasn't 'right.' In that same chapter, we get some insight into Tyson's head. During Arc 7, we'll see more.

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