Nightarrow/Nightshadow: Chapter 2

A dark room as the drug dealer from the previous night is brought in by two goons. Two figures stand in front of him. One a man and the other a woman.

“Thanks for bailing me out.” states the drug dealer.

“Let me get this straight.” the woman says, “you were busted during your deal by who again??”

“I don't know. They were wearing hoods.” the drug dealer answers.

“And then you were arrested. Well at least you have the excuse that it was two against one, right??” the man asks sarcastically.

“Actually -”

“Don’t answer that, it was rhetorical you buffoon. So not only do the cops know what you look like, but they also have a client who buys from you and knows your schedule and your area and on top of that your data phone is missing??” the man asks as he gets more angry.

“Yes, but he won't say anything. We can trust hi-”

“He's a man that sells all he has for a quick, cheap high. He can't be trusted with anything. However, I think we can use that.” the woman interrupts. She takes a look at the drug dealer, “You're fired.”

“Excuse me??” the dealer asks shockingly.

“I said you're fired.” the woman answers calmly.

“Wha-so you're just gonna get rid of me like that?? Throwing me on the street after everything I did for you these last few months. Gathering all the information about what your pills do to people?? The side effects they have on people?? You think that’s the wisest thing to do??” the dealer asks with a hint of a threat on his words.

“No we're not throwing you on the street, you miss understood her. She said you're fired.” the man asks with a slight laugh.

The dealer looks confused for a second and, before he dies, he sees a flash of light and feels his skin boil. Then black.

Door slams as Josh enters the apartment after the first day of classes.

“Food time!!” Josh yells.

“You already done with classes?” Tyler asks as he enters from room.

“Yup. Only two classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays and I’m done by 1:00” says Josh as he starts making himself a sandwich. “Hey, is Hugo home??”

“Yeah, he's in his room. Why?” replies Tyler.

“Hugo. I have an excellent idea!” Josh asks.

Hugo enters from the back room. “And what would that be?”

“So you know how your net arrows worked perfectly, right??” Josh asks enthusiastically.

“I assume so. I wasn't there” Hugo says.

“They worked perfectly. Right, Tyler??” Josh states.

“Ehh. They were alright.” Tyler answers back.

Josh sends a glare Tylers way. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you”

“What on God’s green Earth do you have for me to be jealous of?” Tyler says slightly offended.

“You wish you could use a bow and arrow as good as me” Josh shoots back.

“Why would I need a bow and arrow when I can whoop your ass any day of the week with my staff??” Tyler says back aggressively.

“Excuse me-“

“Will you two stop measuring staffs and just tell me what your “excellent idea” is, Josh.” Hugo says in a matter of fact way, like he has dealt with these bickerings many times before.

“An electric arrow. One that, once it attaches to the person, goes off and knocks them unconscious immediately.” Josh says excitedly.

Hugo looks at Josh with a look of confusion on his face. “You want me to make arrows that are able to hold an electric charge that is able to attach itself to someone or something and, once it does that, sends off an electrical charge that is high enough to render someone unconscious while not being so high that it fries them??”

“Yes.” answers Josh. “Can you do that??”

Hugo looks at Josh like he's insulated. “Of course I can.”

“Sweet. Can you have them ready by tonight?” Josh says.

“Are y'all even going to ask me what I think??” Tyler asks.

“Well they’re my arrows, but what do you think about this new idea??”

Tyler takes a moment and then says “I still think you’d be better off focusing on your staff work than splitting time with a bow.”

“And I still think it is better to be great in multiple areas than just one.” Josh replies.

“Problem is I’m not great, I’m a master” Tyler says with a grin.

“Then I’ll be a master in multiple areas” Josh shoots back with his own grin

“Pff. Yeah, ok.” Tyler says with a little bit of a bite.

Josh stares back at him for a second with a slightly look of hurt before he shakes it off. “So, electro shock arrows??”

Night time has fallen Hunts Town, and the Night Brothers are out. Hunts Town is not a very large town, population of about 15,000, but the Night Brothers know how to get the best out of their nighttime patrols. Thanks to Hugo, Guy in the Chair or GC they call him over their comms, they’ve been able to figure out which parts of the city they are needed in. Which areas of the city have higher rates of crime with the least supervision. This leaves the rest of the city to the official authorities while the struggling areas are handled by the Night Brothers. This, typically, allows the brothers to stay under the radar and have gratitude from some of the local authorities . Some.

“So that’s why I feel like Hans' death was perfect for episode VII. It shows a passing of the torch, ups the stakes, and gives you something to feel emotional over. You get what I mean?? Josh says passionately.

“Are you really talking about Star Wars while we’re on patrol…”, Tyler says with a slight annoyance.

“Yes I am. We can still have some fun while we work. All work and no play makes Tyler a very angry boy.” Josh retorts back.

“Shut the hell up.”

“Anyways, hopefully Episodes VIII and IX build off of episode VII well and we get a great sequel trilogy.”

“CAN WE PLEASE FOCUS ON PATROL” Tyler bites back

“Alright, geez. No need to get snappy. Hugo, you have any info about that phone we gave you earlier??” Josh says over comms

“Nothing yet. Still just the street addresses I gave y’all before you left. This thing has multiple levels of verification to get into. Passwords, thumbprint, retinal scan, the works.” Hugo replies back over comms.

“Alright, well keep us posted. We’ll keep looking around here and see if we see anything.” Josh says.

“You said the only address in the phone that was in our patrol area was the one we found those two guys at yesterday, right??” Tyler asks.

“That’s right.” Hugo says, “Thinking about going back there and checking it out??”

“You read my mind.” Tyler says

“You really think someone would be dumb enough to send more dealers to the place where one of them just got caught??” Josh asks uncertaintly.

“You never know.” Tyler responds as he starts to walk away.

“Sounds like an easy set up for a trap.” Josh says as he reluctantly follows.

“Best way to deal with a trap is to spring the trap.” Tyler says confidently. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Tyler and Josh worked their way through their patrol area of Hunts Town, darting through back streets and hopping over fences to get there quicker, until they came up on the street side entrance of the alley. As they turn the corner, Josh notices two figures sitting in the alley with a duffel bag between them.

“Well, well, well…look what we have here.” Whispers Josh. “Looks like you were right, Tyler.”

“Told ya, little bro. I know what I’m doing.” Tyler says back. “Let’s go pay them a visit.”

“You don’t think we should sneak around the other side of the alley like last night instead??” Josh asks.

“Nope. Let’s go in guns blazing this time. It’ll be fun.” Tyler says with a smile.

“Alright then, have it your way.” Josh says. “Hey fellas,” yells Josh, “what’s the haul for tonight, huh??

The two figures quickly look up and jump to their feet. “It's the two hooded freaks. They're here. Run!” The two figures run down the other end of the alley and one goes left at the alley intersection and the other goes right.

“Now why did you have to go and shout something?” Tyler says.

“You said go in guns blazing.” Josh says back. “Now hurry. You go left and I'll go right!!”

Josh runs left, sees if there is a breeze (there is none), then picks his bow off his shoulder, pulls an arrow out of his quiver, and shoots it nailing the first figure right between the shoulder blades. The arrow sticks to the figure, a surge of electricity erupts, and the figure falls to the ground unconscious. “Knew it would be a great idea.” Josh says with a slight laugh.

Tyler chases after the second figure down a back alley. The figure is throwing over trash cans and anything he can to get him away from Tyler. He seems to be literally running for his life. Tyler is leaping over anything that is thrown at him. As Tyler trips over a trash can lid that spilled over into his path, the figure jumps on a chain link fence and begins to climb. Tyler, realizing he won’t be able to climb fast enough to catch him, looks around for another option. He quickly sees a dumpster to the right of the chain link fence and moves. Tyler jumps on top of the dumpster, leaps out at the figure, and tackles him off the fence into the ground.

“You made that a lot more difficult for yourself by running.” Tyler says as he breathes heavily. “Now come one, we have some questions for you.”

The figure pulls out a gun.

“Holy crap!!”

The figure shoots himself in the head before Tyler can react. Josh walks up in shock.

“What the crap just happened??”

“He just shot himself in the freaking head.” Tyler says, still in shock.

“Why didn't he just shoot you??” Josh asks, confused.

“I. Don't. Know.” Tyler says dumbfounded.

Josh looks in the duffle bag he grabbed on his way over. “More drugs and cash.” Pulls out a smartphone. Josh tries to open it, but it is locked. “And another one of these.”

“Maybe it's just his regular cell phone.” Josh says matter of factly.

Josh reaches into the figure's pocket and pulls out another cell phone and shows it to Tyler

“Maybe not. Either way, we need to get out of here and call the cops before we get in trouble.”

“Yeah, good call. Maybe they can get some answers out of my guy.” Josh says as he grabs the duffel bag.

“You're guy didn't shoot himself?? Why did my guy shoot himself, but yours didn't.” Tyler asks, upset.

“Electroshock arrows, man.” Josh says proudly.

“Screw you.” Tyler says as he walks away.

They both start to head back before Josh says “Maybe if you had a bow you would've gotten your guy too.” Tyler stares at Josh like he wants to deck him in the face.