Chapter 13: Training Diary IV
(Entry #170)
It has been five months since my last entry in this diary. I spent a while training under Giovanni Zatara. I will not write about that here though. I will meet Zatanna again soon anyway. A miscast spell is the reason for that. But more on that later.
I have reason to believe that Minhkhoa Khan is trying to kill me. There have now been three instances where something happened that is not coincidental. The first was in Brazil when Minhkhoa and I were training under Don Miguel. My break-lines were cut.
The second time in Mexico, where a mysterious assailant slipped my Psilocybin while I fought jaguars, and the third time in Shanghai, where my rope was mysteriously cut.
I have reason to believe that someone is following me or it is Minhkhoa trying to take revenge. That is also why I am tracking Minhkhoa at the moment. I have laid a false trail that leads to Doctor Daniel Captio. An expert mentalist who was capable of complete conscious control over both his brain and body. Whoever it is, I will find them this way.
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(Entry #173)
Well, I found Minhkhoa. He was wounded and came to Dr. Captio to 'warn' me about someone who had attacked him. Something isn't right. Minhkhoa has expressed 'regret' about the death of Luka Jungo ... I don't know what is going on, but someone is clearly pulling strings here and I don't like it.
I am still waiting for the assailant to come here. I have the entire area under surveillance. I restocked in Mila before coming here.
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(Entry #178)
I found the man who followed me and Minhkhoa across the world. And I must say ... I was unhappy, to say the least. But I am happy to know that I was able to notice him and slip away from him multiple times.
Harris Zuma, AKA 'The Still' is his name, a renowned assassin in the employ of a man named Ra's al Ghul. He calls himself the Deamon's Head. And this Ra's al Ghul was offering both me and Minhkhoa an invitation to train with him in the Crystal Hills of Abu Dhabi. I shall see about that.
"The Deamon's Head is offering you and your friend tutelage in the Crystal Hills of Abu Dhabi. And I am here to make sure you arrive there.", Zuma said.
"I will go wherever I please. Do not follow me anymore."
"This is not an offer you can refuse."
"And yet I am doing that."
"Then I will have to take you by force."
"I welcome you to try."
.
Harris Zuma and I fought on the cliffside as a storm struck. I liked this challenge. I could tell that he was very experienced and used underhanded tactics. But he never tried to kill me, so his offer must be genuine.
The Still was his nickname due to him being so skilled at stealth and observation. He moved silently and I could appreciate his skill. But that was once again all there was to it. I used him to better my own stealth and then ended the fight.
Zuma delivered a series of quick punches and strikes that were meant to knock me off my feet. I blocked them all and then grabbed his wrist. In one fluid motion, I pulled him closer and then spun around breaking his arm with my shoulder. I then kicked his knee and broke it until the shin was slightly visible.
He won't be walking silently anymore after this, effectively ending the man's assassination career. Don't f*ck with me.
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(Entry #188)
I have made my way to Ra's Al Ghul's crystal fortress in the heart of the Rub' Al Khali Desert, accepting his tutelage. And shiver me timbers ... he knew who I was. This Ra's al Ghul knew who I was immediately. Not only that, but he had been following me over the last two years. I am shocked. My disguise is perfect but he still knew who I was.
I can see that learning from him will benefit me greatly. I wonder though whether he will find out about my ... condition and whether he will want to have it for himself. But it should be safe.
This base that Ra's al Ghul calls his headquarters is similar to a self-sustaining city. The meeting with Ra's was something I expected. From what I've seen, this man is a schemer. He showed intensity, cunningness, ambition, and a tendency to be both secretive and power-hungry. Why else would he create an organisation called 'League of Assassins'?
He is not one to succumb to emotions, instead preferring to take calculated risks and make strategic moves to achieve his goals. That is also why he first had Harris Zuma follow me across the world and observe my training. That is also why he introduced me to his daughter Talia al Ghul.
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This is how the meeting went.
"Greetings Bruce Wayne. Yes, I know who you are. We knew about you for a long time. Don't be surprised. ... I can see that Daniel Captio taught you how to control your emotions well. That is good.
Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Ra's al Ghul, the Deamon's Head and founder of the 'League of Assassins'. And this is my lovely daughter, Talia al Ghul. I am most pleased that you decided to grace us with your visit. Please come, let us settle in my study and talk."
We walked to his personal room and he sat down offering me tea. But I see another cup of tea that is prepared and guess that someone else is coming. My suspicion is confirmed when my old acquaintance Minhkhoa enters the room.
"Bruce I believe that you two know each other. So let us get to the important part. You both wish to stop injustice and save people. Whereas I wish to save the world. What you saw out there, is just the beginning. In the future the Lazarus' Cities will be self-sustaining environments, transforming the way humans live in the future.
You both have seen the world. You travelled over the past years and know that it's broken. If you wish to stop crime, you need to stop starvation first. You need to stop greed ... and Lazarus will do just that.
I have been watching the two of you and you both need to think bigger. You learned from the greatest in the world, so let me be your final master. My daughter and I will teach you absolute endurance, ancient techniques to heal your body and how you can use both of your talents to create true change."
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(Entry #191)
I don't have a lot of time to write every day. I have to be careful not to let anyone find this diary. I don't want to gather the attention of this Ra's. I don't sense anything good coming from him. He didn't lie when he told us his purpose. I could tell though that he wasn't telling us everything. There is more to him than meets the eye and I am sure that should he find the lab ... well ...
I am being trained from the morning, till late evening. There is almost no time for myself. Ra's and Talia teach both Minhkhoa and me various fighting and healing techniques. This man is a well of skills. This could come from either a long life or a rich history of this clan. However, he called himself the founder of this 'League'. So he must have a way to stay young.
He seems sane for the most part. So there has to be a way for him to stay young like this. I wonder what though.
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(Entry #200)
I tried to test Ra's today. I wanted to make him reveal more of himself. I don't trust him and I thought that confronting him with an attitude would get a rise out of him. But he saw right through me. He is cunning and smarter than you might think. But he won't get anything from me. He injured me during the fight today and stabbed me with his sword.
Using the training I got from various teachers like Master Matsuda and Tsunetomo, I managed to stop the bleeding by controlling my body. Then I used what I learned here to disinfect the wound and stitched it together right on the spot. I have come a long way since the beginning of my training.
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Talia came to look after me and see how I was holding up. She was impressed with my skill in healing.
"I understand why Father chose you now.", Talia commented.
"Chose me for what? To project manage his environmental cities, to help fund them or to be one of his assassins."
"Such judgement dripping from your voice, considering you travel with a murderer."
"I don't travel with him. If you wish to learn from the best the world has to offer, you will cross paths eventually. It's unavoidable. Deep down, Minhkhoa isn't a bad man. His inability to feel empathy or fear is not his fault."
"You are fascinating. You're focused outward. Your rebellion is tinged with compassion. So many have come to grovel at Father's feet that I believe he welcomes the challenges of the young man that would dare stare him in the eye."
"You're wrong. To rebel means to go against authority. But no one has authority over me."
"Father doesn't know what's coming does he?"
She then tried to kiss me, but I refused her advance. I am certain that Ra's wouldn't think twice about using his daughter to his advantage. So giving in is the most dangerous thing I could ever do now.
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(Entry #201)
I was drugged ... Talia drugged me. This is bad. I'll have to take care of that soon. But I can't right now.
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(Entry #205)
"You have learned from thieves and kilers. Men and women who hide in the mountains the woods. They gave you what you needed, but they themselves are cowards. None of them helped when the world and humanity needs them. But I do.
Recently my assassin The Still failed me and I sent him away for him to find his replacement. He found you Bruce and Khan ... So a decision must be made. Bruce defeated The Still, but only after he was weakened by Minhkhoa. You both have the training, you both have the drive but do you have what it takes ... what is needed?
You two wil fight each other. For the right to become my right hand man, for the right to become the new Demon's hand."
"I refuse. I have nothing to prove and will not play this game.", I say to them.
Khan held his sword to my throat.
"Sorry Bruce, but this is the future and I'm going to help, even if I have to put this sword into you."
Khan swung his sword at me, but I dodge it and grab the other sword, while spinning on my hands and kicking Khan. I prepare to fight back. This should be easy.
We begin our sword fight and it is clear that Khan has no chance. I deflect all of his strikes dna he notices that I am not even using my full strength to fight him. He gets enraged and throws away his sword.
"Come! We will finish this fight with our hands!"
I can tell there is something more in his tone. I wasn't sure what it was, but he wanted to tell me soething. Khan is not someone that would willingly throw away his sword when I still have mine in hands.
Our hand-to-hand combat goes even worse for Khan, because I injure him with many strikes. I managed to confirm my suspicioun about Khan when I had him in a chokehold.
"...they have missiles ...", he told me.
.
"Bruce Wayne is the winner of this bout. Take Khan away from here. I am known as the Demon's Head and this young man ... doesn't strike me as a Demon's hand. No! You're more than that Mr. Wayne. Going forward you will be known as the Demon's heart!"
If I want to leave here, I will have to do it fast. I can see that Ra's has plans and these missiles have to be stopped. Better get to work now.
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Plot twist coming next chapter.
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