[hr] [b][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/i1VZ5Nn.png[/img][/center][/b] [hr][center][h3][b]March 20th, 2005[/b][/h3][/center] [center][b]Chinatown, New York City (9:32 PM)[/b][/center] [i]“Ava! Get back!”[/i] I can still hear my brother’s voice call out to me. As if recalling such a detestable memory serves any reasonable purpose beyond strengthening my resolve to finding out who attacked us that night. I’m not an expert on ninja assassins which is exactly why a few minutes ago I stopped in to the office of Alexander Knox in search for answers or even an estimated guess. Knox had covered crime for over twenty years and was a former writing partner of Ben Urich himself. If he of all people didn’t have a slight clue… I would’ve been out of luck and had a better chance finding out the identity of Superman. Happens that I’m pretty lucky that Knox had an inkling, one that sent me right to Chinatown; well, after he decided to be sarcastic with me and insult my motivations as well as my age. [i][color=A6A6A6]“Did you steal your brother’s underwear right out of the casket?” “Do you know what you’re getting into?” “Isn’t it past your bedtime?”[/color][/i] I repeat the response under my breath in a huff of irritation. I don’t like smartass remarks and I don’t like his insinuations. It made me want to break something— like his arm or his [i]face[/i]. It’s something to note, if I meet another smart aleck tonight I’m going to do just that to relieve this stress. Fighting has been the only way I’ve ever known that has worked to relieve tension in my whole life… probably not a good thing, but it’s never failed me before. Knox gave me a lead even though he didn’t know anything about the amulet of one of the guys that attacked the night in question. That lead is here in Chinatown: Professor Lee Wing. From what I was told Professor Wing is an expert in various subjects regarding east Asian mythology, history, and antiquity. Which makes sense given the men that I remember were most definitely Asian so I can at least feel like I’m on the right track here. As my feet land abrasively on another rooftop I can feel a weight slowly being lifted off my shoulders as I get closer and closer to the home of the academic. Once I find out who is to blame I can unleash swift justice upon them and make sure nobody else suffers what I have by their malicious hands. Maybe then what is left of my family can have some peace. I can’t but feel like my wrath will get the better of me when I see that person eye to eye, though. I take a light breath as I look down to the picture and note I was given by Alexander Knox about this professor— that’s when I notice a person matching the description of the photo step outside with a cigarette in hand. My eyes narrow. Good, I don’t have to waste any time and can return to The Bronx in record time before I get back to protecting my neighborhood and my responsibility. At least I don’t have to intrude in his home. I’d hate to do that to a potential ally. I jump down almost silently as I land straight in front of him on the railing. [color=A6A6A6]“Professor Lee Wing?”[/color] He screams in surprise as he scrambles backward dropping his cigarette and lighter. Understandable, I did just leap out of the darkness with little warning. I wonder how my brother would’ve handled introducing himself in the same situation? All I know is what I’ve learned from experiencing vigilantism. It’s not like there’s a How-To guide on how to be a vigilante and all of what it entails. Maybe I should work on my manners, though? [color=A6A6A6]“I have a few questions, do you have some time?”[/color] I lighten my tone so I’m at least a little easier to approach as I obviously don’t want to scare him to death. I’m abrasive, but I’m not his enemy. He’s rattled, but he regains his composure. “....you caught me… a bit… uh… what can I help you with?” I shuffle to my waist as I open one of the pouches to my utility belt that contains the proof of who attacked me and my brother all those weeks ago. As I open my palm to show the professor I can see his eyes widen as a sense of fear comes over him and he steps back after a few minutes of contemplation. I don’t know what’s going on in his head but I know fear and I know when someone knows something. He’s more afraid of what’s in my hand than me leaping out of the darkness out of nowhere… and… He should be scared of [i]me[/i] more than whatever he is afraid of because now I know he knows something. [color=A6A6A6]“You [i]recognize[/i] it. I can see it in your [i]eyes[/i].”[/color] “I can’t help you, Tiger.” He begins, albeit nervously. “But what I can tell you is that it would be best if you got rid of that immediately and forget about i-” [color=A6A6A6][b]“No.”[/b][/color] A growl escapes my voice as I clench my fists. I would never [i]forget[/i], I am [b]not[/b] [i]afraid[/i], and I most certainly do not believe he cannot help me. In fact, I know he [i]can.[/i] [color=A6A6A6][b]“I will [i]not[/i] do that but I am going to tell you something that [i]you[/i] are going to do.”[/b][/color] [color=A6A6A6][b]“You are [i]going[/i] to tell me everything you know before or after I start [i]breaking[/i] limbs, it's up to you which one.”[/b][/color] [color=seagreen]”Is that a fact?”[/color] My eyes narrow and I turn to the direction of the new voice. I am so not in the mood.