Episode 001	Next Episode
Red Moon Rising Everett Kendall Age – 24 Current Occupation – College student (senior), Freelance grant writer Age sworn to the Oath of Chivalry – 17 Designation – Knight-Defender Martial Art – Combato, MCMAP, various modern US martial arts Weapon of Choice – Disposable ninjato Everett Kendall leaned casually against the brick wall. His right foot against the course brick, he tapped his toe as he waited. He glanced up at the roof of the small corner grocery he stood against, his black trench coat hanging down to his knees. His red shirt was hidden by the shadow of his coat while his light ebony skin melded into the shadows of the dark city night. Movement off to his left caught his attention. Without moving his head, he looked across the city street to where a car waited. A tough-looking man tapped anxiously on the car door, checking the empty street behind him. Only the stark contrast of bright lights and the dark shadows of the urban nighttime could be seen. The driver turned and faced forward; cursing quietly before glancing towards the closed pawn shop he was parked in front of. Through the metal fencing over the window, Everett could just barely see inside. The lights at the rear of the store illuminated the odds and ends that filled the shop, creating strange silhouettes. He looked down the small alley he stood at the mouth of, then glanced at his watch. “Come on already,” he whispered coarsely. CRASH!!! Everett and the driver both looked up as a single thief came running out. With a red bandana tied around his mouth, he sprinted for the car, two large bags clanging awkwardly against his legs. “What are you, holding up a train? You gotta be kidding me,” Everett said to himself, turning towards the car and the thief without stepping out of the shadows. The thief threw the two bags into the backseat and dove into the front. “Drive!” Everett could hear him yell. “Drive!” The wide, faded brown car’s motor sputtered to life and the driver pushed it into gear. But as it started to move, a sprinkle of light came out from the open door of the pawn shop. The sound of metal falling onto pavement echoed in Everett’s ears just before the rear tires of the car blew out. The car skidded out of control into the road, the driver struggling to steer. But the out-of-date machine careened against the curb, kicking up onto the sidewalk and crashing unremarkably into a streetlamp. As the sound of air pressure and fluids draining from the engine surrounded the scene of the crash, the lamp shook rapidly, threatening to fall over. Wobbling the shadows around the car, the light slowly became still. The driver of the car shook his head from the almost-subtle collision and started to open his door when the airbag in the steering wheel ruptured out, smacking him in the face. He gurgled something incoherent and slumped back into his seat, unconscious. The thief in the passenger’s side threw open his door and grabbed for the bags in the back. He pulled the first one out, then reached for the second, just before a fast kick landed against his side. The man was slammed into the open door, only to see a flash of red and black strike him in the face with the palm of a gloved hand. His eyes rolled up in the back of his head as blood began to drain out of his nose and he slumped down onto the ground. Half a block away from the crash, Everett waited by the alley entrance, watching. His arms crossed, he paid close attention as he looked just beyond the edge of the brick wall. Stepping back from the scene of the crash, a mysterious figure looked about cautiously. He was dressed in a padded body suit with a red cape flowing down to his knees. Around his waist, a black belt blended in with the suit, an assortment of pockets and cases lining the belt. Over his face, a strange mask covered his identity, an odd breathing sound coming from it. The figure kept a cautious look out for a moment, then pulled the thief away from the car and rolled him over onto his stomach. He pulled the man’s arms and legs behind his back and tied him quickly as if immobilizing a calf. He then rushed around to the driver’s side door and pulled out the driver, doing the same. Everett glanced down at his watch, yawning. The black and red phantom looked around once more, then reached inside his cape. He drew out a single red rose, placing it on the driver’s back. He checked the area once more and sprinted away, rushing down the street. Everett perked up and glanced around, seeing no one. He waited until the red and black figure had disappeared around the edge of the street and ran after him. The masked figure rushed down the street a few blocks, his form a silhouette created by the busy intersection in the distance. Moving from shadow to shadow, Everett hid his steps with the sounds of the far-off traffic, remaining invisible. The red and black figure slowed and ducked into an alley. His footfalls barely making any sound in the empty city street, Everett broke into a run, reaching the alley in a matter of breaths. He came to the edge and stopped. He glanced around the corner, watching the alley for a moment. The light from the street reflected off the wet, post-rain pavement while the urban sky above was featureless. He listened for a moment, staying perfectly still. A car drove by slowly through the empty downtown area, its headlights sending a flash of light into the alley. Everett glanced inside as the lights began to fade, seeing movement at the rear of the alley. He took off, heading into the darkness. He rushed down the narrow alley, avoiding the trash bags and piles of refuse that littered the ground around the dumpsters. The alley came to a turn and he rushed to the edge of it, slowing silently. He pressed himself against the wall, disappearing into the darkness. Gently, he inched his way to the edge, peaking around the corner. An empty dead-end was waiting. Everett waited for a moment, scrutinizing every shadow and detail. He waited until he heard distant sirens screeching on the city streets. With a sigh, he stepped out from around the corner into the dead-end. The backs of four buildings intersected, with only the way Everett had come leading out. The three buildings that boxed in were locked up tight, with ancient doors that were rusted shut and showed no sign of use in weeks or years. The open space was mostly clear, with only a few errant bags and pieces of trash nearby. A basketball hoop hung from one of the walls. Everett stood in the middle of the square area, looking around. He glanced up at the buildings, noting the building to his left rising several stories higher than the others. He watched the rooftops for a moment, then looked down. In the center of the dead-end, a single storm drain sat quietly, its metal ribs lodged with garbage. He reached down, touching it, able to feel its weight just from its texture. Frustrated, he stood, sighing. He looked around one last time, then turned away. “Dammit,” he cursed, heading out of the alley. As his footsteps echoed off the brick alley, his shadow growing larger against the far wall, there was movement in the dead end. Amongst a small pile of trash, the black and red phantom sat slowly up. Its mask giving off no sound, he pushed the cape off, exposing the inner camouflaged side reversed to blend in with the trash and ambient light of the urban environment. The figure stood carefully, watching for the smallest sign of surveillance. After several moments, it moved carefully for the exit, removing the mask.
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