Black Mask

[MIDTOWN TECHNICAL HIGHSCHOOL - 18 June 2009 - 11:07 Pm]

Jason was lying down on Felicia's lap with his eyes closed, presumably taking a nap. Felicia was busy looking through her phone while playing with Jason's hair with her free hand. Max was sitting by the roof railing playing games on his PSP.

"I'm gonna be going away for a few days tomorrow," Jason suddenly speaks with closed eyes. Felicia looks at him with a quirked brow. "Where are you going?". Then, still, with his eyes closed, Jason replies calmly, "Jersey City."

"Jersey City? What are you going to do over there?" Max asks curiously. Jason opens his eyes and looks at Felicia's questioning gaze. "I got intel that some low-level black marketer turned Crime Boss has been asking around for Red Hood."

"And you want to find out what he wants," Felicia says with a tilt of her head. "Yep," Jason says, closing his eyes again. Max looks at him, concerned. "Aren't you worried it could be like a trap or something."

Jason smirks, turning his head and looking at Max. "If it is a trap then I can just shoot my way out." Max looks at him for a few moments and sighs, returning to playing games. Felicia looks at him, a bit worried. "Just by careful, okay?" Jason softly smiles at her and leans up, capturing her lips in a slow kiss. He pulls after a few seconds and gives her one more chaste kiss on the forehead "Will do Cat."

"Ew gross get a room," Max says in disgust, looking at them with a grimace. Felicia just looks at him blankly for a few seconds and flips him the bird. Jason seeing this laughs loudly, looking at Max's shocked face.

[ JERSEY CITY - 19 June 2009 - 23: 22 pm]

Red Hood is seen on a building looking at the cars driving by on the street.

"Well, here goes nothing," He says and leaps off the building in a front flip. He falls through the air and crashes through the sky roof, passing by Black SUV.

A woman's scream is heard as he lands on the lap of the person in the back seat. He draws his dual pistols and points one under a man's chin in a black mask. He aims the other at the back of the driver's head. He stomps the bodyguard next to the driver into the window and keeps his head pressed with his foot.

"I'm here for my job interview, Boss," Red Hood says, looking at the person he landed on.

CLAP CLAP CLAP

"Splendid. You're everything I had hoped you'd be." The man in the black mask says, clapping his hands unfazed by the gun at his chin.

[Later]

A 6'1" man in a black mask, black two-piece suit, and black gloves was standing by a Penthouse balcony overlooking the City. "Beautiful, isn't she? I was never interested in dating, not as a teenager. Or later as an adult. Because People will let you down." The man says, looking at Red Hood, standing with his arm crossed next to him and looking at the city view.

"Relationships are ephemeral at best. But a woman like Jersey? She's forever." He gestures over to the view of the City. He sighs sadly. "Yet she's been so mistreated over the years. Her suitors have lacked sincerity. Equity. Gravitas."

"They've used her like a doormat. I ask you...Is that any way to treat a lady?" he looks to the Red Hood and asks. "Are you asking me on a date? Sorry, I'm taken," Red Hood says, not bothering to look at him.

"HA! What a mouth on you, Red." He chuckles, placing his hand on Red Hood's shoulder. "Since I have no children of my own..." He takes his hand off his shoulder and holds it out in a hand-shaking gesture.

"...I'm looking for a second-in-command. An Heir apparent. Things are about to change--Forever--and I could use a man of your skill" Red Hood looks down at his hand for a few moments and then shakes it.

"So What do I call you Boss?"

"...Black Mask"

[ Later]

Black mask is standing, his arms crossed, looking at four men in various black masks on their knees, begging and pleading for their lives.

"I've recently learned that these men here have failed to live up to my exacting standards." he looks over to Red Hood, standing next to him. "You need to make an example of them," Black Masks says to him.

"If you're asking me to kill them--I'll pass, and so should you. Dead men make lousy henchmen." Red Hood says, slightly shaking his head.

"Boss please I have no idea how we lost that shipment!."

"I told them to double-check and ensure nothing happens to the stuff."

"Me too! It was his job too keep watch of the stuff--!"

"P-Please"

"I respect your reasoning, Red Hood--" Black Mask pulls out a small detonator and presses it.

PLIP, PLOP, PLIP PLAP

"--But I have a business to run," Black Mask says and pockets the detonator turning his back on Red Hood. "I like a man who follows his own moral code. It shows character." Black Mask says as he starts walking out of the back alley.

"I know they chose to work for him but killing his own men in cold blood? That's harsh even for me," Red Hood says, looking at the four headless bodies on the ground. He sighs and follows after Black Mask.

[ Just Outside Jersey City]

Red Hood looks through binoculars and observes a moving train in the distance. Then, he pulls out a small detonator pressing the button.

SCREECH

He watches as the train stops dead on the railroad, "Piece of cake," He says, stashing his binoculars, and runs down the hill to train, with three Black Masks men following him.

"Come on, shitheads. We have a minute to get this cargo and be gone before anyone knows we're here," Red Hood says to the men as they near the derailed train.

"That will not happen." A voice says from within one of the train carts.

"Look out--!" Red Hood warns the men and dive rolls out of the way of two fast-approaching metal doors. Unfortunately, even with his warning, the three men couldn't react fast enough and were hit head-on by the metal doors, sending them flying through the air.

"Put your guns away, little one." The voice says at Red Hood, who is in a crouch, pointing his guns at the person.

"'Little one,'? It is above average I'll have you know. Who the hell are you?" Red Hood asks, still pointing his guns and looking up at the person.

"My name is Enyo. And if you don't stop pointing those things at me...I'll be the last woman you ever see." A tanned 6'4" woman with green eyes, long flowing red hair tied in a high ponytail, holding a large halberd on her shoulder effortlessly. She threatens, looking down at Red Hood coldly.

"Great another Meta-human," Red Hood says with a sigh.