It all started on a sunny spring afternoon when I arrived at the Carleton Elementary and Junior High School buildings. I arrived at the most unusual sight in my tiny hometown. The police, state troopers, Texas Rangers, and even the SWAT team were there.

A Texas Ranger was directing traffic while I drove my motorcycle up to the SWAT team van. He allowed me to go to the marked-off area. I assume his superiors told him to let me in. After stopping the motorcycle, I got off and turned it off. I removed my jacket hood and breathing apparatus with sunglasses attached to them. I could hear a lot of radio chatter from police cars and personal radios.

I walked to a plastic, fold-up table with some SWAT team personnel around it and a man with a jacket with "FBI" written on the back. The guy was an FBI agent and a good friend of mine, George Hartling.

Agent Hartling was a heavy-set man in his late forties. He, ironically, was from England and used to work for MI5 and Interpol, but he moved to the United States for a better line of government work.

Anyway, I walked up to him and tapped his shoulder. He turned around and smiled.

"Oh, Agent Nightwatcher. You made it just in time, old chap. I made sure the CIA notified you as soon as I heard about this," Hartling said as he motioned at the school buildings.

"Glad I could make it," I replied.

"Do you even know his real name?" one of the SWAT team members asked.

"Only the CIA director has the privilege of knowing Agent Nightwatcher's true identity. Not even the President of the United States knows it," Director Hartling responded. "Mainly because he doesn't know he exists."

"What's the situation, Director Hartling?" I asked, trying to cut to the chase.

"The elementary and middle schools have been taken hostage by a Japanese terrorist group called, the Burakkusunēku led by a man named Jon Kornata," responded Director Hartling.

"Oh crap," I mumbled.

The Burakkusunēku or the Black Snake was, as mentioned, a Japanese terrorist group. More specifically, a ninja terrorist group, as cliche as that is. They were started in the 13th century by a man named Hideki Kornata. The Black Snake began as a samurai war clan but later became a ninja terrorist group. The Black Snake began fighting the samurai they once served with and terrorizing the innocent people of Japan. Around the 19th century, they mysteriously disappeared. When I faced Headhunter the first time, he had raised the terrorist group from their ashes but with a group of other mutants, and I defeated them. Now, they were back for the second time, and I could only assume, stronger than before.

The name Jon Kornata rang a bell. Jon Kornata is Headhunter's older brother.

"Why in the world would he take the elementary and middle school hostage but not the high school," I asked, "What do they want?"

"They want fifty million dollars in cash by 4:30 pm, or they will start executing hostages," replied Director Hartling.

"Who would dare come out and say that?" I asked. If I am being honest, I was panicking because we were running out of time and fast.

"A young man named Hamato, I'm guessing he's Jon's younger brother," responded Agent Hartling.

My panic was replaced by shock. Over two years ago, I fought Hamato after he had both of my parents killed. Eventually, I defeated Hamato, and he was sent to Arkham Asylum. He was sentenced to stay there for the rest of his life and from Commissioner Gordon's account, was the youngest inmate Arkham Asylum ever had.

Hamato has the same powers as me, except he has x-ray vision, heat vision, and telekinesis. Also, he has a memory chip in his brain.

"How did he escape from Arkham Asylum?" I asked. I was pretty sure Joker had something to do with his escape.

"We don't know, and the GCPD didn't know either. They think that Jon Kornata helped him escape." Agent Hartling responded. "Anyway, we've decided to trick them by placing duffle bags that have fake money in front of the middle school, but they will be taken there by the best SWAT team members in the nation. We will rush in and save the day when the Black Snake representative comes out."

"In other words, I'm pretty useless," I grumbled, "That's not fair."

"Not exactly. You'll lead the SWAT team into the building. That sounds pretty fair to me," Agent Hartling continued.

"The plan sounds pretty stupid. I would rather have some Navy SEALs, the Army Rangers, the Green Berets, or something-"

Two gunshots cut me off. The shots didn't come from the police. They came from the junior high building.

One bullet hit my invisible shield, which would have hit me in the side of the head. The other bullet hit Agent Hartling in the left side of his chest. Blood splattered as Agent Hartling grasped his chest as he fell backward. I quickly knelt beside him. There was a hole through his jacket and blood surrounding the wound. The SWAT team member to my left called for a medic. Hartling tried to talk, but instead, he coughed up blood.

"Nightwatcher," Director Hartling whispered.

"Yes, sir, I'm here," I responded.

"Make sure you send Hamato's wretched soul back...to...Hell," Director Hartling forced out.

"Yes, sir," I said

Then Agent George Hartling's eyes rolled back in his head. I heard him take his last breath. Right about then, the medic showed up. I looked up at her and shook my head.

The SWAT team member hung his head in sorrow. The medic crossed her heart.

My face reddened with anger. At that moment, I decided it was time to end Hamato Kornata's reign of terror. I pulled my breathing apparatus over my mouth and jacket hood over my head. I casually pulled out my pistols and cocked them.

"What are you doing, Agent Nightwatcher?" asked the SWAT team member.

"I'm going in," I responded.

"You can't go in there! You'll get yourself killed!" the medic warned.

"If I can kick Hamato's butt once, I can do it again."

After silencing her, I turned around and walked towards the school, crossing the barrier. Whoever killed Director Hartling tried to reshoot me. A window was open, and I could see a person holding what looked like an Mk-47. When he saw me, he opened fire, but the bullets ricocheted off my shield.

"Naze anata wa shinanaideshou?!!"

(Japanese) "Why won't you die?!!" the shooter yelled in frustration.

I raised my pistol that was in my right hand and pulled the trigger. The bullet flew and hit the terrorist between the eyes.

I walked up to the front door of the middle school and pulled the door handle. It was unlocked, which surprised me. I opened the door and walked toward the office. I opened the door and, much to my astonishment, saw a clown. Well, it wasn't your usual circus clown. The clown wore brown cargo pants, a black t-shirt, and a creepy clown mask. The clown pulled out an Uzi, pointed it at my chest, and fired but the bullets merely bounced off my invisible shield.

I raised my left hand, aimed at the clown's head, and pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced the clown's mask and killed him. Two other clowns came out of the principal's office. I did have time to squeeze off two more shots, but I put my pistols back in their holsters. I pulled out my katanas and one clown charged at me with a knife. I plunged my katanas through his chest. He grunted and fell to his knees. I pulled my katanas out, and the other clown charged at me. I swung my right katana and decapitated him. I put my katanas back in their sheaths on my back.

I walked into Principal Alexander's office as he, a male student, the secretary, were on their knees and had their hands behind their heads.

"Don't worry, I'm here to get you out," I said.

"Thank you, mister. Who are you?" asked the kid.

"That's not important at the moment. All I need you to do is to get out of this building. Once you get out of the building, run like a criminal running from the law," I ordered

The three hostages ran out the door while I walked into the hall where a large trophy case was. Then, I realized I had walked into a trap.

There were at least a dozen Burakkusunēku terrorists on my right, armed with Mk-47s, MP5, AA-12s, and katanas. They were appropriately dressed like ninjas, besides the Kevlar body armor. Leading them was a man who was at least six foot five. He was a very muscular man. The man was Jon Kornata.

On my left were a dozen and half heavily armed clowns. They had assault rifles and an assortment of melee weapons. Leading the clowns were two people. From the way the clowns dressed, one of them was Harley Quinn. Right next to her was her boyfriend, the Joker.

"Hello, Joker and Harley Quinn. It's good to see you again," I greeted sarcastically.

"Hardly, Agent Nightwatcher. Hardly," Joker responded

"Shouldn't you be terrorizing Gotham City instead of little ole Carleton? Or cackling and laughing in a cell at Arkham?" I asked.

"If you must, Nightwatchy, I've been invited to participate in a little deal by our little friend, Hamato Kornata. Hopefully, that FBI friend of yours told you before he kicked the bucket, "Joker explained.

I growled as I lunged toward the Clown Prince of Crime.

"Uh, uh, uh. I wouldn't do that if I were you," Joker warned.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Harley, where's that boy I told you to keep an eye on?" asked Joker.

"Right here, Mistah J," replied Harley Quinn.

A clown slung a small boy at the foot of Harley Quinn. Then, the Joker pulled a syringe out of his suit coat, making him nervous.

"You want to know what's in this syringe?" Joker asked. "It's quite interesting."

I shrugged. Knowing Joker, he held a deadly weapon. I honestly could care less what was in it, but he started talking anyway.

"In this syringe contains the chemical used to execute criminals. Potassium Chloride, if I am not mistaken. From Harley's account, this chemical could kill a teenager in a few minutes. Long story short, if you take one step towards Jon or me, you will see this poor boy die an agonizing death," Joker said.

"You wouldn't dare," I snarled.

"I would do what Joker says. Just leave and let the Burakkusunēku do what we were destined to do," Jon Kornata suggested.

I didn't move a single muscle. I couldn't risk having a teenage boy die on my watch; I wouldn't want that on my conscience.

Joker held the needle at his side, so I raised my pistol and shot the needle. The needle burst into millions of pieces and the liquid splashed on the floor. The teenage boy made a run for it and ran past me and out the front door.

"Aww… you're no fun," Joker sighed.

"I didn't want to be," I said through gritted teeth.

Joker snapped his fingers at Harley Quinn, and she pulled a bat from behind her and charged at me. She swung at my head, but I ducked and drop-kicked her. I grabbed the bat and threw it like a spear at the Joker. The bat hit Joker in the forehead. It didn't kill him, but it knocked him out unconscious. Harley tried to get up, but I slammed her head to the ground.

Then, Jon swung his fist at my face. He must have snuck up behind me. I caught his fist in mid-flight and twisted his wrist at a 270-degree angle. Then, I heard the cracking of bone. Jon winced in pain. Next, I head-butted him, I don't recommend doing that, and he staggered back.

"Feels good, doesn't it," I taunted

“Anata, Naitou-otcha o nejikomu.”

(Japanese) "Screw you, Nightwatcher," Jon snarled.

Then, he pulled out a katana and swung at my neck, but I leaned back to avoid the deadly blade. I holstered my pistol and drew both of my katanas. Then, he brought down his katana to slice my skull from the temple, but I made an "x" with mine to block the blow.

“Anata wa kono tatakai ni katsu koto wa arimasen.”

(Japanese) "You won't win this fight," snarled Jon.

“Watashi wa sore ni kazoemasen, Jon.”

(Japanese) "I wouldn't count on it, Jon," I responded.

I kicked Jon in the thigh, and he dropped to the floor, katana still in hand. Then, I bashed his head into my knee; I don't recommend doing that either.

"You're gutsier than I thought," Jon groaned.

"It doesn't take any guts to fight a seasoned terrorist. They always underestimate me," I bragged.

Then, I realized I had made a bad mistake by bragging.

Jon slammed the hilt of his katana against my shin, and I collapsed in pain as I dropped my katanas. Jon got up, chuckling as I was holding my leg in pain. He pulled an M9 from his holster and pointed it at my head.

"Hamato warned me not to underestimate you. I didn't heed his warning, but now I have the upper hand. Now you will die, Agent Nightwatcher," Jon growled.

He pulled the trigger, but the bullet merely bounced off my shield. He raised his left eyebrow and fired twice more as I grinned.

"Why won't you die?" yelled Jon.

"Because I can't," I snarled.

I pulled out my pistol on my left leg, aimed quickly, and pulled the trigger. The bullet flew and hit Jon between the eyes. He groaned and fell sideways as I got up and picked up my katanas. Then, I slid them back into my sheaths.

As I looked around, the rest of the clowns and terrorists were silent. They were amazed that I defeated the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Jon Kornata so quickly.

"Well, what are you looking at?" I asked.

Five clowns and five terrorists stepped forward. The clowns charged, but I pulled out my other pistol and twisted around with guns blazing. I dispatched the charging Joker goons and terrorists quickly. Within two minutes, I killed the rest of the Joker goons and the terrorists in the hallway. Then, I saw a dark figure from the corner of my eye.

The figure was a teenager with long black hair, red pupils, and dark gray skin. He was wearing a black shirt and black jeans. The strange figure was Hamato Kornata.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here. Agent Nightwatcher, or should I say, Matthew Wilson. What should I call you today?" sneered Hamato.

"Let's go on a fake name basis," I snarled. "I didn't expect you to be smart enough to side with the Joker and Harley Quinn, escape your cell at the Arkham Asylum, and take two-thirds of the campus hostage."

"Well, I'm Arkham's best motherfucking juvenile delinquent," Headhunter sneered.

Hamato was also known for his profanity which didn't make him too popular with school administrators.

"Watch your language. There are children around," I said tauntingly. "I doubt you want little kids beating you up."

I regretted saying that because I felt myself being lifted off the ground and thrown into the trophy case. Trophies, basketballs, and photos fell onto my body.

He did that because I brought up a bad memory of his. He called a little kid's parents "gay penetrating assholes" when they chewed him out for cussing out a cop. Then a bunch of five- and seven-year-olds attacked him. They beat him up with socks filled with mud, shoes, and even a bicycle helmet. It was funny at the time. Headhunter was always sore when that memory came up.

"Don't ever bring that up again, you…you," Hamato stuttered.

"Can't think of a good insulting name, can you?" I snarled.

Hamato's eyebrows furrowed, and he charged at me. I had hit his soft spot. When he got close enough, I swung my fist for a throat shot move. I felt my fist connect to his neck and the impact knocked him off his balance. He jumped back up and swung a wakizashi short sword at my throat. He missed by a few millimeters and turned his free hand at my face, which I dodged and punched him in the ribs. He doubled back and attacked again. Hamato swung for an uppercut and slammed into my diaphragm. I staggered back and tried to catch my breath, but as you know, in martial arts fights, there are no pauses. I felt a cold, painful blade slash my right cheek and cry out in pain. I touched my cheek, and blood covered my hand in my blood.

"What's the matter, Agent Nighwatcher," taunted Hamato.

He does another uppercut and hits me in the chin. I fell backward and hit the floor. My vision was blurry and fuzzy, but Hamato made the mistake of standing over me and laughing. I quickly drew my knife from its sheath and stabbed it into Hamato's left leg. Blood gushed out, and he cried out in pain.

"Damn you, you motherfucking asshole," he cursed out loud. By then, my vision had gotten better.

I got up and performed a side-thrust kick to his face. I heard the cracking of the cartilage of his nose. Once again, Hamato catches me off guard. He uses his telekinesis to throw me against the wall

"You will pay for this, Matthew," Hamato sneered.

He pulled my knife out of his leg and threw it down the hall. He limped towards the door leading to the bus lane behind the elementary and junior high. I rolled onto my stomach and pulled out my right pistol. My aim was off due to the pain I endured. I squeezed the trigger, and the bullet pierced his right shoulder. Hamato, once again, cried out in pain. Despite the bullet in his shoulder, he pulled open the door and made a run for it. I got up, but I heard a whoosh of air. I ducked, and a bat slammed into the wall. I turned around and stood straight up. The bat was partially submerged into the wall. The Joker was trying to pull the bat out.

"Need help, Joker?" I asked

Due to my enhanced strength, I could yank the bat out of the wall. I slammed the tip of the handle into the Joker's chest. He let go and staggered back.

"You are becoming a pain in my ass," Joker choked.

"I guess you know how Batman and Robin feel."

Joker ran at me with a small pocket knife in his hand. I did a flip kick when he was close enough and with perfect timing. I felt my boot connect to his jaw. I landed on my feet, and Joker went flying to the ground. He landed head-first into a wall, and the impact knocked him out for the second time

I ran after Hamato as I opened the door and turned to the bus lane. I saw Hamato driving a golf cart, of all things, down the bus lane. I took off after him, hoping to catch him. When I rounded the corner of the junior high, I saw the golf cart enter an invisible portal. When he entered the portal, the portal flashed pink. I felt a surge of anger course through my body.

I knew I would have to chase him wherever he went. But my body was killing me. I needed to rest and recuperate. This was the start of my long and difficult odyssey.

Author's Note

Editing and revising were performed on 10/18/21