Two weeks ago
Narita City, Japan

Her form was as graceful as that of a deer, her body moving; the motions sliding with the wind. Her footfalls lithe as she landed from tree branch to tree branch. Even her hand that curved around the long bow glided easily along her leaps, a ninja in the midst, one without peer. Her only name given was Shado, she was known by most of her country as the Kyudo master who was only bested by one man… the one man who still owned her heart… Oliver Queen. But that would end this day. But Shado had no knowledge of what was to come, nor did she care at that very moment.

This assassin’s target was Rieko Juno, but she was not a killer not anymore. This assignment was given to her by the government of Japan, this man was a witness, and Shado was to take him in, so that he would testify. Everyone was wondering why he ran like he did. But questions like this are better left to destiny… or in some cases fate. The night had come hard and dark amongst the trees of this park, Rieko’s glasses were fogged up by the cold and the morning rain, his footfalls were plunging deeper and deeper in the wet ground, his heels bringing forward thick lumps of dirt spraying the scarce grasses and clovers that made the peat on the floor of this particular forest.

Reiko’s lungs took in big gasps of air as he ran as quickly as he could, the long hands of death felt like they were right on his tail. They were coming for him, he thought. They knew what he was trying to do. He could not rid himself of his petrified state. Shado followed quietly yet unnaturally quick. His body lunging forward each step getting heavier, even from her vantage point Shado knew he was getting more panicky, she wondered what state of delusion this man was under.

A simple high pitch squeal snipped through the air unseen by both Reiko and his pursuer, a squeal of the silencer lodging a bullet into the man’s leg. The cold metal shattered his kneecap, the pressure of the shell causing his body to fall, his form to fumble, his balance once lost. Reiko’s body fell hard on the peat covering of the forest. The informant’s mouth dislodged a sudden gasp. Shado stopped her pursuit as he fell. Her bow was brought up to her shoulder as straight black hair slipped free of the hood. She took three breaths before the man who had fired the gun stepped from the bushes. The cold air caused the smoke on the edge of the charcoal handgun to loom across the man’s form. Shado silently slid a shaft from her quiver her eyes never leaving the man. She notched back the arrow against the bow string as she waited.

The hit man wore a black smoker’s jacket, and a crimson tie. He slid the infrared goggles up from his deep brown eyes as he came to a stop. The killer’s hand reached down, placing two fingers on the neck of the informant. The beating of the heart remained.

A single arrow darted through the sky.

The hit man had little time to react even if his ears caught the hum. His eyes faced the speeding arrow as it slid through his shoulder. The hit man shook back, his back bending uneasily as the wave of pain echoed over his body. Shado took that moment to leap from the tree. Her legs stretched out to bound of the base of a near by tree, even as she readied another arrow. The hit man could only see a blur as the Kyudo master leaped, finally landing inches before him, her bow string stretched out and arrow notched pointing at him. The ex-assassin looked at the hit man; her expression was firm.

From behind the bushes, more Yakuza members began to step out from the camouflage each with guns readied at her. The ex-Assassin’s movement was quick as she turned her body low the bow shifting directions. The arrow launched easily from the bow. Shado didn’t wait to see who it struck though. Her quick body moved to the original hit man. Her left hand slipped from the bow and grabbed the arrow still lodged in his shoulder. Shado brought him around, then she rose up placing her chest to his back holding him firmly-- the bow was pressed across the man’s neck. < Well that answers why he was running. > Shado said to the assembled men who watched her. All the guns trained on her head.

< Shado, how could you have fallen so far? > said the man in the center of hired guns. <You’ve gotten stupid as well. Thinking you could take on the combined might of my organization? Didn’t I teach you anything? >

Shado watched the black haired man step forward, hints of gray spider webbed along his scalp and moustache. His face was lean, but lines creased into tender jowls all the same. Shado always thought it was worn that way from all the shouting he did. Chao was a very loud man. Never did anything small, one would have to wonder how could he even lead the Narita Faction of the Yakuza in such a method? But Chao had enough playing cards in his hand to do what he wanted. It was this arrogance, and this reputation that made him so loud… and also so feared by those in Japan’s Underworld. Chao took a step forward. On his tie a single piece of yellow paper was pinned, even as Shado looked at it; the black kanji writing seemed to glow a somber crimson. Shado felt the sudden power reflecting in her eyes.

Shado’s body suddenly convulsed as she felt the heat willing up from her stomach up to her spine. Then she gulped finding the dark eyes of Keiyoshi Chao, the eyes stared like daggers back to her own. <So I see you noticed my note, I’m surprised such a ploy would work so easily. Like a Cat you are Shado-kun-- too curious and too gullible.>

“Meow.” Shado repeated in a tragic whisper.
 

	The Emerald Archer... OF BOW AND HORSE, Part 2: "Sutras and Suspect"
Green Arrow #2 - November, Year 1	by Jae Lizhini

The Present
Narita International Airport

Connor felt like his legs had fallen asleep without the rest of him. His head was full of buzzing sounds, and he felt he could eat a whole produce section at the first grocery store he came across. Connor wasn’t unfamiliar with flying. He’d been traveling across the world for the last few years, originally with his father, then with Eddie Flyers. But being cramped in the commercial airplane with the small seats and the stuffy air did a number on his usual resistance to global flights. On the other hand his brother Robert seemed to have gotten out of the plane in high spirits. Robert was whistling some tune as he walked through the tunnel. The duo made it to the main lobby of the airport, sinking into the vast walls of white and deep charcoal marble floors. “What is that, No Authority by Face to Face?” Connor asked questioning Robert’s tune of choice.

“Uhh, no Connor. Try Lapis by Gackt.” Robert chuckled.

“Gackt? What is that like the sound a cat makes when it coughs up a furball?”

“Gackt Camuri, man. Ya know, from the Japanese rock band, Malice Mizer? He’s like our own David Bowie.”

“Never liked David Bowie--Now Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- that was some music.”

Robert didn’t even respond to his brother’s taunts, and instead resumed whistling. The two sons of the original Green Arrow walked across the lobby towards Luggage Pick Up. Like any business day, Narita Airport was booming with bodies milling around the place. Every person from East Indian tourists to European businessmen, made their way across the labyrinth that was Japan’s largest international airport. Intercom messages rang across the vast walls of white and black, announcing arrivals and departures, causing Connor’s ears to ring.

Nearing the crowd at the luggage return and migration checks, Connor and Robert came to a stop finding themselves in a large crowd of global tourists. The men and women at the desk seemed to be stressed out in their black blazers and dress shirts. Each one flowing around the desk moving at quick speeds and typing information on the computer work stations that sat on the counters. Sliding his hands into his pockets and balancing the carryon backpack that was hanging onto his shoulders, Connor let his body relax as the two brothers waited in silence.

The silence broke suddenly as high pitched screams echoed across the airport. Three sturdy men spreading through the crowd knocking travelers down, and running hard against the floor. Two security agents followed in close pursuit after them. Connor and Robert’s heads craned towards the sprinters. “Let them get it?” Connor speculated.

“Yeah, sounds like a good plan,” Robert mentioned. A look of annoyance washed over his face. The two guards were running quickly towards the thieves, their lungs pushing their bodies hard, thick muscled hands stretching towards the thieves. Lunging forward, one of the security guards managed to grab a piece of the thief’s over coat. The thief easily brought up his free hand, his elbow crunching into the face of the security guard. Still in stride--the Guard fell hard, onto the marble floor, blood running from his busted lip. The second guard easily side stepped over the first desperately running after the thieves. The second thief brought a hand forward in a blur, as a gun shot out, echoing through the lobby. The bullet slipped with little resistance through the security guards skull a light sprits of blood misted out in the sudden light show his body falling back in a cracked thump.

“So much for Customs.” Connor mentioned as he began to run forward his carryon jingling as he ran towards the scene.

“That’s so not funny, Connor.” Robert said to him running up beside him, his sweat shirt’s hood smashing across his shoulders.

“I didn’t say it was.” Connor replied as he continued his sprint. The two brothers knew that the police should be in earshot, but neither of them could risk anyone else to be hurt. Connor leaped up on a reception desk his foot turning ever so slightly as he took to the air. His body moving inward for a moment before his hands sprung up grabbing an over-hanging sign. Hooking his feet into the air he pushed off from the wall, his body’s momentum causing him to blur like a speeding bullet. Connor let his back arch straight out as he came in low his right foot retracing as his left foot pressed into the back side of the middle runner’s knees. The man felt the pressure and fell forward his body losing balance as he crashed face first into the mouth of a trashcan.

Even as Connor jumped up to resume his chase Robert’s hand came in from ahead causing the two men to try to avoid him. Unlike Connor, Robert did not worry about inflicting damage. Robert’s hands came forward with speed that Connor would be surprised if Wally could register. The Kyudo archer’s palms reached forward, cracking into the two runners ‘necks. The runners repelled over his hand landing hard on their backs.

Even as Connor and Robert stood there grinning, people had begun to close in around them. A trickle of applause and cheering wasn’t to unfamiliar to Connor as Green Arrow, but Robert seemed surprised. Connor and Robert looked around at the crowd of international travelers; even saw a few of them with cameras. Connor wondered how many people would recognize him without his bow and spandex. Though the celebration went silent as three police officers pushed apart the crowd, and stopped in front of the two brothers, < Physical violence is not tolerated by those coming in or leaving the country of Japan. You two will have come with us. >

“Welcome to Japan, my brother.” Robert smiled.

Across from the Square/Enix Hotel
Narita, Japan

Shado’s body never seemed to make too much noise. Some of the men that she was teamed up with had mentioned how spooky she was. Many years ago she had heard the same things. Though, now she was numb to the world. Only her objective took her eyes and her mind. Her footfalls made no sound across the dingy green carpet, the shag strings brushed up across her naked feet as she looked to window over looking the street. Dusk had fallen, and with it an orange hue barely igniting in soft rays across the cars and windows that strung across the street. Street vendors were quickly packing up and moving onward, or simply giving up for the night. Shado’s eyes watched the street for moments gloved hands pulling back dusty curtains to survey the area. Her mind quickly surveying the area for just a get away, if required.

The room was cluttered with cases for sniper guns, which lined across the bed. Radio wave transmitters were lining the far wall as well as video surveillance equipment tucked away pressing against bubbled and warn wallpaper. Shado didn’t bother to learn the name of the hotel she was staying at, she was neither given the room number nor a key. Instead the two men who were setting up had led her there, under the orders of Chao, and she didn’t much care. Her job was simple. Partly the assassin had questions steaming in her head, why she was doing this; there were memories of these operations before. The procedures were like fresh rain for her. Everything came back to her mind.

< We still have few hours until we have to perform the operations. Why don’t we sit back for a bit? > One of the men voiced looking up from a monitor that was airing the faces of some security guards.

< We must be prepared. > Shado said silently. < Does it truly matter when the hit takes place? I could do it right now. I can see him, like game just waiting to be given its final recourse. >

< Suppose you could, but if you did security would be quick to react. We have to wait for the shift change. So it will go without a hitch. >

Shado smiled silently as her left hand unlatched the window, her fingers spreading apart as the window came open. She turned her back towards the window looking at the two men, letting a smile slide across her lips. < There’s no challenge, if there’s no gamble. >


Shado’s left hand grazed around the man who was on the bed putting together a sniper rifle, her fingers soft and lithe, as though she was touching the flesh of a new born child. Her right hand went for the unopened case that stood at the foot of the bed. She couldn’t help but want to silence those who stopped her from her task. Especially those who were supposedly helping her—her left hand’s fingers slipped up to his neck, and without much of a warning her hand was firm her gaze went rock hard as her finger struck at a pressure point at the base of his neck. The Man dropped coldly to the floor, in a thump. The Kyudo Master did not look to the other man who had gone back to his work. Shado needed him to alert her, the other man was clean up, and in case of emergencies—a gunner. And Shado, even in this state had arrogance, knew she was good. The last thing she needed was a nanny. Her hands skillfully unfastened the case that held her bow and quiver. The bow was a splendid sight upon her eyes, a cherry wood base varnished with a deep wine color, inscribed with kanji along its curved contours. Cradled next to her prized weapon a quiver of arrows sat in a circular bag, a simple stitching of hemp, that gave off no odor, it was sturdy and flexible. Shado had made her quiver bag herself, ten years ago, and though a few repairs had to be made on occasion, it was with this bag more than her bow that truly placed her as Shado, the marksmen of death. The name had gone foreign to her for some time. That was until Chao reacquainted her with the part of herself she missed. Yet the man unconscious on the floor might have given another story.

Shado pulled herself up from the bed her bow comfortably back in her hand. The slick wooden curve resting coolly across her palm gave the assassin a moment of relaxation. Her bare feet padded silently across the floor stopping at the window, that was still open, billows of curtains easily flapping across the wall with the guidance of the wind. A warm wind that caressed the face of Shado, she pulled the bow forward across her chest. The small scope that had been fastened onto the outer rim of the bow eased up to her brown almond shaped eyes. The assassin bent down her form, easing easily out the window. Slender fingers slipped a single arrow from the quiver as she continued to look through her scope towards the window across from her. A simple yet effective smile scared across her face.

Through the scope feet were disintegrated to mere inches, as the skilled assassin laid her bow a bit further out the window. Her free arm brought a wooden shaft forward and let is skillfully slide across the bow, notching it with her index finger and middle finger. The arrow she had selected was not just an ordinary arrow, with an ordinary arrow head, it was a flint head, and the shaft was filled with gasoline. It had to be filled all the way up, or else the balance would shift in mid air. The string that was fitted to the bow had been modified as well; it was about four millimeters thicker than the regular stock and made from a polymer resin that added further flexibility. With the heavier arrow and the space she was aiming for it was an extra precaution. Back when she was an assassin in her use it was not a problem.

But today standards were different.

She waited silently; the only sounds that sounded in her ears were those of the constant blips of the video and sound recorders being manned behind her. The sounds made no difference to Shado; she simply concentrated on her target. Her guidance was perfect, impeccable her form-- as still as a waiting lion. Her eyes never wavering even as the air continued to blow across her arms. Then to Shado’s chagrin the man entered the room. Ishiba Shigeru, was a bit younger than Shado thought he looked in the photograph she was given. From this vantage point he looked maybe a few years older than she was, the worn wrinkles that creased along the man’s flesh were gone, the weight that it seemed he had, had been slimmed to a modest size. His hair was longer combed over to each side with a simple hairline part in the middle. Shado waited and watched as the man checked his watch. Ishiba Shigeru padded across the room, to the mat that was placed in the center. The Minister of Defense was sitting there with four other military escorts who ringed around him. Shado waited another breath. Two more breaths. She lined his neck up with the scope she needed the arrow to get through him. The flint arrow would bust against the wall, all cause a fire, which of course would document their get away. No trace, target acquired.

Ishiba Shigeru did not expect his death to be so simple. Shado released the arrow, and watched as it streamed across the distance with ease. The arrow crashed through the window shattering glass in a sudden glittering rain. The shaft slid like butter through the neck of Japan’s Minister of Defense. His mouth came open spontaneously as the sudden pain fell across him. His body fell hard the flint tip if the arrow suddenly sliding across the wall, the arrow snapped causing the gasoline to ignite sending sudden streams of fire quickly igniting the walls and furniture.

Again Shado smiled as she lowered her bow and quickly shut the window. <Case closed, let’s go. > Shado said as she walked back towards the bed, leaving the flaming hotel room to take care of itself

Narita International Airport
Japan

Connor and Robert sat next to each other in the small office that belonged to the Chief Customs Inspector of Narita International Airport. The two brothers sat in silence, listening to Chief Inspector Mawasha, and police officer Tseuna go over allegations set before them. Connor wondered when they were going to silence themselves. Robert wondered if he’d ever be allowed back in his own home country. The two men that sat before the two bastard sons of the original Green Arrow finally did silence themselves as the door to the office suddenly was pushed open. Four men, in the dark green uniforms of the Japanese military walked in, shiny black boots padding easily across the burgundy carpeting, which stretched until it met with the rice paper colored walls that surrounded the small and scarcely decorated office. The men stopped all but one who stepped forward.

The leader of this small brigade came to a stop just ahead of the other men. His thin moustache was solid black with just small wisps of gray around the edges. His skin smelled of sweat and shoe polish, but his face was stern his eyes were strict looking at the two men. “Oh behalf of the Japanese military, these boys are to come with us.” The man said, simply and to the point.

“Both Mr. Hawke and Mr. Tomanga, are here in connection with the missing woman known as Shado last employed by the government of Japan.”

The Chief Customs Inspector turned his gaze to the man who stood in front of the soldiers looking down to see the rank of lieutenant general lined with medals and even a name, Yoshi Habachi. “Under what authority Lieutenant General, are you making this request? The two men in question displayed an invalidation of our laws.”

“Chief Inspector, this comes directly from my superior, Captain Echanni, and his orders come directly from the Prime Minister.” Habachi leaned in to the Inspector sliding a document towards him. The Chief Inspector took the note carefully, reading over the warrant in question… “There’s no contest, you are over ruled.” Habachi leaned in towards Connor and Robert, and smiled. “You both got his eyes.” He whispered lightly, and almost fondly.

The police officer stood up almost instantly as Habachi took a step back, and walked to the seats where Robert and Connor were sitting. His cold eyes stared at them, both as the two brothers stood up. The Officer quickly slid the key into the handcuffs, and slid them off both boys. Connor immediately grabbed his wrists feeling the sensation returning to them.

“The Military knows why you’ve come Mr. Hawke, and why Mr. Tomanga felt it was necessary to bring you to Japan.” Habachi began as he led them back out into the lobby of the airport. “In Japan, physical violence like you demonstrated is a large crime. We have a few officially sanctioned heroes, like Bushido, and the Scarlet Samurai. We also have given certain heroes from other countries leeway in the past, like members of the Justice League, but we as a country do not tolerate vigilantism. Nor does our policing activly support such behavior from meta human or otherwise. It is why we have spent so much money on the police, and the military.”

“With all do respect, Sir; we only acted as a last resort.” Connor explained, “A man was shot and killed. What did you expect us to do?”

“I remember having this same talk with your father, Mr. Hawke. It has been a while since we’ve had a Green Arrow in Japan.”

“You know? I mean I don’t really go about hiding it too well… but…”

“Don’t worry about it Mr. Hawke. I was very good friends with Oliver… and I was the one who worked with Shado-san on occasion, even helped her in rehabilitation.”

“So you knew both my mother and father… and I have no idea who you are?” Robert suddenly exclaimed.

“Well we don’t go out of our way to meet the family, unless something tragic has happened. Like with your mother, Mr. Tomanga.” The group stopped at the doorway that led outside to the curb where a sleek black limo sat purring into the night air.

“You do realize we didn’t get our luggage.” Connor mentioned.

“They’ve already been delivered to your hotel room.” Habachi smiled, “Like I said we know why you’ve come to Japan, Green Arrow and son of Shado, and Japan wants your full cooperation, in this delicate matter.”

Though Connor wasn’t sure how he felt about how all of the sudden, this general was being friends with them and giving them a place to stay. Nor that he knew that both he and his brother had come for Shado, or even they were the two bastard sons of Oliver Queen. Connor was interested though, perhaps if only because this man might have been friends with his father. At the moment that was enough for Connor. He’d ask more about it later. Connor ducked his head and slid into sleek black limo. Sliding across the leather seating to the edge of one of the windows, his head turned briskly back to the doorway to see Robert, and the general sliding in across from him. Connor stayed silent, his hands shifting across his lap.

Habachi and Robert sat across from Connor, as the door shut softly from the outside. The limo was rather modest in comparison to most of the limos that Milo Armitage had. Though the quality of the limo was the last thing on Connor’s mind right then. “I do not know what you’ve been told Mr. Hawke, or what you know Mr. Tomanga,” The general began his gaze shifting from one archer to the other, “but Shado had been working with the government of Japan to help to apprehend members of the Yakuza, both in Tokyo and in other areas of Japan, most specifically here in Narita, Obisaka Bay, and Kyoto. Our last mission for her, was to apprehend a witness, who could testify against a man named Chao Keiyoshi, whom we believe to be the coordinator of the Yakuza here in Narita City.”

The General’s face glinted and eased into a slack as he turned towards Robert, soft eyes growing even softer as he saw the reflection in the boy’s eyes. “The Military was playing right into their hands, as it appears that we gave them exactly what they wanted. Shado, who is Japan’s most pronounced Kyudo master. We do not know what happened that night two weeks ago, but we assume that Chao was waiting for your mother, and the witness was but bait to satisfy a means, to bring Shado to Chao. Our records indicate the crime scene showed some kind of struggle, and there were traces of blood, other than the witness’. So we can assume Shado didn’t go willingly.”

“So you put my mother in unnecessary risk so she could rat out her old friends?” Robert’s voice rose… “How could the government be so foolish?”

“Well there is more to it than that I’m afraid, Mr. Tomanga. See, the government is big, and it’s the belief of military intelligence, that there are members of the government, for one reason or the other allied with the Yakuza. And it’s also our belief, that these members are planning something big. And now is the opportune time for them to strike, and spread fear.”

Connor took this all in, though he stayed silent. He did not understand why this was going on, he did understand however, there were many people’s lives at stake, not to mention the life of Shado, and all of Japan. “Why?” Connor finally asked.

“The Prime Minster’s support is wavering, and with the allegations brought forth regarding the safety of Japan, well new installations for positions will be opened. For whatever reason, we need to maintain security in the country, and though the local police departments are looking for Shado, we are not sure of success. Shado needs to be found. And we are aware, that is your purpose in Japan. And where it’s not customary for us to allow foreign help in matters such as this-- this particular time, we’ve decided to make an exception.” Habachi paused as the security glass in the front of the limo suddenly craned down.

“Lieutenant General Habachi sir, you have a call,” one of the soldiers told him his hand slinking a cell phone towards the general. Habachi brought his hand upwards, grabbing the slim phone. Bringing it to his ear, he went silent.

Connor and Robert exchanged glances a moment, and Connor felt a strange feeling in his stomach. Perhaps it was coincidence, and perhaps it was Ollie’s help to Japan in the past. But Connor couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being set up for something far more dangerous. It just appeared to be too coincidental.

Habachi lowered the phone from his ear his countenance devoid of much expression, a sorrow rang from ear to ear over his bronzing face.

“The Minister of Defense has been killed.”

Nanae Tomisato Street
Narita, Japan

Nanae Tomisato was always a busy street; there were always a lot of people coming in from one place to the other. It was only a few blocks from Japan’s largest international airport, and was also a scar that rode through a lot of the upscale venues of the upper side of Narita City. Standing in the mouth of a closed off parking garage a BMW sat parked, with four men surrounding it. Leaning against the hood was the slender form of Chao Keiyoshi who still held a phone to his ear listening to whom ever was at the other end.

Suddenly without much warning a dark blue van squealed around the corner, and slid down the ramp that led into the parking garage. “They are here now. Update me on any information about the two guests when it happens.” Chao mentioned shutting the phone closed as he walked out towards the now parked van. The side door of the van rolled open as Shado stepped out and onto the parking lot floor. Other than her outfit seeming to be tightly clinging to her form, and her hair saturated with sweat not much looked different about her. Shado pulled the hood down freely from the base of her head, as she neared Chao bowing to him, dramatically.

< Objection complete, Chao-san, > Shado announced to him, though the archer’s eyes didn’t look to him instead her eyes found solace at the wall. Shado’s face continued the same cold expression, a part of her felt worried and mournful for the death. There was no challenge in this execution, and that too worried her. She felt the need to serve Chao, but her mind vividly expressed discomfort.

< Good. > Chao smiled as he turned to his prized assassin. His hand washed over her thin and smooth cheek. < We should get you back to the warehouse, so you can get cleaned up and rested. > He mentioned, as he was already plotting the next target. The next assassination was targeted for the minister who actually lived in Narita; the Minister of Justice. The one political adversary who more than anything had been one of the few political weeds, that made his life a misery.

< As you wish. > Shado nodded.

< Oh and remember that talk we had about your son? > Chao let a smile scar across his lips… <Make it double. >

< Double? >

< He’s brought a friend, an American named Connor Hawke. >

<If my son Robert, or this American…> Shado’s face gulped… <…Connor Hawke gets in the way, kill them. >

Sky Court Hotel
Narita, Japan

The room was large, one that Connor felt trapped in. It was almost all a stark white, just like the outside of the hotel. Four military officers stood at the door, and Lieutenant-General Habachi was going over all the items normally not included in a hotel room. Connor was side tracked for a moment, where his mother lived in the large house with Milo Armitage didn’t even come close to the vastness of this room. “This room is yours for as long as the two of you stay in this city. We have taken the liberty of making sure that this room will allow direct contact between myself, and you so that we know what you are doing at all times. Keep in mind we will do our best to let the local law and enforcement agencies understand that your presence here is, of course, a military one. We ask you to not pull another stunt like you did back at the airport.”

Connor turned to Robert, shrugging his shoulders as Habachi continued. “Other than the cell phone which contains a direct line to my own cell phone, we have also managed to include bows, which we do hope are up to your standards. A temporary military permit has been granted to the two of you, for the tenure of your stay here in Narita City.”

“You’ve been most to kind.” Connor admitted.

“It will be kindness well spent if you can find Shado, and not allow any more lives to be taken, Mr. Hawke,” Habachi said sternly. Ever since he heard about the Minster of Defense’s death he had acted more coldly to both of them, distant some how. Connor wondered if they were friends. “Please rest up, I’m sure you will have a big day tomorrow, boys.”

Connor and Robert watched as the military personnel left them alone in the rather large room. It was not until the door finally closed that Robert stepped forward, and flopped down on one of the beds. The mattress weaned and squeaked some under his weight. “This is too cool. You realize a room like this costs about 9,500 yen a night?”

“No, but I’m more worried that they might be laying this on too thick,” Connor mentioned as he slowly walked across the floor and sat down on the opposing bed. “I’ve been to Japan before, with our dad. And I don’t remember things this way.”

“What do you mean?” Robert asked his head sliding upwards.

“I mean Green Arrow a friend of the government, your mom working for them. And all this help to us, from the government… from virtual newbies?”

“Well Japan is going through a tough time right now, and with the politics, they have their hand full.”

“Hands full? One of the most powerful countries in the world and they can’t find one mass murderer?”

“Don’t talk about my mother like that.”

“I’m just saying Robert… it seems a bit too good to be true.”

“Or Japan could be really in big trouble, and we’re just outside politics… that we could be their only saving grace.”

“Why don’t they call the Justice League, or hell its not like you all don’t have a member of the Titans as your national super-hero.”

“Well Bushido can’t operate outside of political barriers, nor is he a Teen Titan. Neither can the Justice League, per their involvement with the United Nations. But look, the bottom line is my mom’s out there, and she’s killing people. And if she’s killed the Minster of Defense… who’s going to be next? It doesn’t matter how people are acting, or if it’s some cleaver ploy. We’re here, and we’ve got a job to do.”

“I’m not backing out of this, Robert. I’m just saying we should watch ourselves.”

“Point taken Connor, but right now we should probably get some sleep.”

“Yeah.” Connor said letting his back plunge across the mattress his arms folding over the back of his head.

 

NEXT ISSUE: Connor and Robert hit the streets, Shado strikes again, and we check in on Master Jensen and the Ashram.  Be here for Arrows for Allegory

A-Mail

I have been up for the last 28 hours straight… working on too much comic work, for any sane guy, who doesn’t get paid for it. But between finishing this fiction getting some coloring done a comic (yeah I'm an artist scary huh?), I’ve been up way too long. At any rate, so I finally finish this issue and realize hey my pleading for Feedback actually got answered, and by none other than one of the guys who have made Connor Hawke a recurring character in this universe. Mike McGee!

Okay -- even though I have no time at all to read fanfic as of late (or do much of anything else other than *FINALLY* finish school), I did go and read this. Both 'cause Jae's been hanging out a lot on the Frontier boards, and seems to have read everything there, so I kinda felt like I oughtta, and more importantly because I very briefly wrote JLU's Green Lantern with Russ Anderson.

Well I've read a bit there[frontier], McGee but actually I haven't finished Luna Court yet I got a but two issues left of that one to do. So it seems like I owe you a review next. Fear my criticism. Just kidding; time for me to dig right on into this letter!

JLU was in a bad place then --but it's not anymore, thanks to Curt Fernlund, who rules all -- so I didn't stick around long. But I did regret not getting the chance to do some of the stuff I had planned, and much of it centered on the Connor Hawke version of Green Arrow. Russ had furnished the character for me when I started writing the book (to clarify, GL #6 is 90% Russ, GL #7 is me scripting over...um...half of a Russ plot, and GL #8 is me trying to somehow resolve a story Russ had started in GL #1 but couldn't be bothered with because he was too busy kicking my writerly ass, and yours too, with probably Fallen Angels at M2K, if I remember right), and I gotta admit Connor was a character I knew pretty much nothing about, but I quickly found him a lot more interesting than GL. Which....probably shows, when you read it.

Anyway -- with new writers coming in to JLU, I was afraid that someone would resurrect Oliver Queen and that'd be that, and the interesting possibilities afforded by GA II would go unfulfilled.

Oliver Queen will remain dead as long as I’m on this series. Ollie went out like a hero. And I think he should stay that way. Plus I mean come on. If he survived the explosion he’d have only one arm. And none of that bullshit Kevin Smith crap about the resurrection. Don’t get me started on the Kevin Smith series.

It's clear, though, that Jae not only wants to stick with Connor, but was as intrigued as I by the possibilities of...well...more or less writing Kung Fu as a superhero story. Only, unlike myself, it's clear that Jae also actually knows a fair amount about the martial arts and the various underlying philosophies, knowledge he displays here without making it seem obtrusive or like he's just showing off cool stuff he's read. Jae seems intent on being very faithful to the notion of Connor as neophyte monk, and of what that means -- ummmmm, actually, at present the thrust of the series is Connor attempting to regain his spiritual center, which he evidently lost when Russ and I were writing GL. I'm not sure how to take that.... :)

Truthfully I felt the way Connor acted with so much anger and unrestraint was out of character for him. Which is one of the things that got my wheels turning in this story. And in issue the last two parts of this story arc, you'll see that his anger problem is rearing its ugly head in a very big way. But Connor's way is not easy and there needs to be strife. Especially for a super hero! My biggest problem with a 'pacifist character' is how to explain the "kicking ass" in Buddhism specially the Chen style of Buddhism (the kind that came to America and Japan.. hence its name) they are really strict on pacifism and what it means. But, I've got a lot of plans for the mystical side of Connor. Because he is very spiritual, and like a lot of people can relate to daily life's issues are hard in any religion.

As to the martial arts, I study Tai-Chi and for those who are sticklers for martial arts I wanted to keep Connor's fighting centered in Soft martial arts as much as I can.


The issue starts off both promisingly and troublingly with Connor visiting his grandfather, Nathan (another character I liked a whole lot), only to encounter a brother he (Connor) didn't know he had -- and, of course, to get in a fight with him, because they're both martial artists and, y'know, it's kinda hard to pass that one up. Connor and his brother (close lipped on the name; it'll be familiar to those who've read up on the character) quickly explain themselves to one another and the stage is set for the two of them to head to Japan...it's hard to go into much more detail without including spoilers. Suffice it to say, the story looks to get pretty good.

The trouble I mentioned comes mostly from Jae's scary indecision over verb tense in the issue's first section -- thankfully, he chooses the past and sticks with it for the duration, but I was a little frightened at first. Tense shifts are rarely a good sign. At the very same time, however, we get a lot of character insight, none of which feels at all forced; introspection is a major facet of the character. Jae establishes his GA as less a superhero than a young man of serious spiritual conviction and budding wisdom, qualities balanced out by an ability to beat the shit out of most anyone on the planet coupled with a deeply-submerged desire to solve problems with violence. Jae's GA isn't just a sea of tranquility -- he actually has to work at staying grounded, at using his skills responsibility, and is deeply troubled by what he sees as his lack of success in self-control. It's an interesting take on an action character, and one that implies the series will be about more than just international intrigue and chopsocky.

Yeah, my tenses bite, I'm not the best guy at grammar, and after rereading it on the site I realized some drop in tenses in the work. So sorry about that if I jarred anyone. I'll do better I promise.

Connor isn't the easiest guy for the common guy to relate to. for me its easy, me and Connor have a lot stuff in common. But for most people they have nothing but the fact they are humans to relate to. So I want to give Connor easily identifiable problems. but not enough for everyone to get tired of his whining.



Anyhow -- good stuff, Jae!

And a lot more to come. Thanks again for the letter you made my day!

And that’s it for this month’s A-mail. Keep the reviews coming. Cause I’ll keep providing the stories.
 

-Jae

Story © 2004 Jae Lizhini and may not be reproduced without permission.