A Star is Born (part 1)

Filed under Fiction on January 31, 2007
Keywords: City of Heroes, Hellions, Jumpstar

Han Shin-Cho rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, and concentrated on bringing his breathing under control. One more poomsae and his last test for the fourth dan would be finished. The sabumnim barked out a stance and Han assumed the position.

Moving to the cadence of the sabumnim’s commands, Han flowed from a simple snap kick to a spinning hook kick, his right foot rotating clockwise with the heel leading. An axe kick followed, Han’s knee raising to his chest then his leg extending. As he pulled his foot down heel first, the sabumnin called out the final technique of the pattern–a jumping roundhouse. Han smiled as he leapt into the air, lifted his knee, turned to his left and extended his right leg at a forty-five degree angle before landing on the ball of left foot. He held the position for a few seconds then relaxed, pivoted to the sabumnin and bowed.

---

Han hopped on his bike, pulled his helmet on and revved the throttle. He waved goodbye to some of his fellow students still lingering outside the school and received congratulatory smiles and thumbs-up in return. Han found the recognition of his peers satisfying, but he wouldn’t be rid of his giddiness until he could share this success with his father.The skyscrapers of Atlas Park flew by as Han sped down the Promenade toward the offices of Shincho Medtech. He gunned the throttle as the light at the intersection ahead turned yellow then thought better of it and slowed to a stop. You never knew when on of Paragon City’s superheroes might decide to race across the street on one of their missions, oblivious to oncoming traffice.

As Han waited for the light to change, a scream pierced the insulation of his helmet. He glanced around and spotted a member of the Hellion gang–the demonic face tattooed on his shoulder just visible from where Han sat, even if the fiery-colored clothing weren’t a dead giveaway–mugging a young woman. Not an uncommon sight in Atlas Park. Any moment now, someone in flashy spandex would appear to save the day. Han watched and waited, but no one came to the rescue.

The Hellion shoved the woman to the ground and started to walk away, her purse in his hands. Han swore to himself, revved the throttle on his bike, swung it around and took off in a cloud of tire smoke. He bore down on the Hellion and came screeching to a halt in front of him, cutting off the thug’s escape.

“Drop the purse,” Han said as he dismounted from his bike.

“Huh?” The Hellion’s face screwed up in obvious puzzlement.

“I said, drop the purse.” Han shouted this time to be heard through his helmet.

“So you wanna play hero?” The Hellion grinned and a switchblade appeared in his hand. Han leaped at him, twisting midair to bring his heel down on the Hellion’s shoulder. He danced backward, but hesitated when the thug shrugged off the blow.

“What did I get myself into?” Han muttered.

The Hellion swiped at Han with his knife. Han hopped backward out of reach, then lunged forward and delivered a roundhouse to the Hellion’s chest. The blow staggered the thug back a step. Han followed with a side kick to the chin, hoping to finish the fight.

Blood trickled from the Hellion’s lip. He wiped it away, a sneer on his face. “If that’s the best you got, I think someone shafted you when they handed out powers.” The Hellion charged, stabbing with his knife. Han dodged to his right, the blade missing his ribs and slicing through his jacket. A backhanded slash forced Han to twist and lose his balance. He fell to the sidewalk on his back. The Hellion towered over him.

“You dead, hero.”

“Stand away from that citizen, evil-doer.”

Han and the Hellion turned to see a man in purple tights approach. Spikes ran from his shoulder to his wrist and a stylized horsehead was emblazoned on his chest.

“Knightspyke is here to see justice served.” The hero slammed his fist into the side of the Hellion’s face, sending the thug flying. Knightspyke offered Han a hand up. “No thanks are necessary, citizen. You can go about your business.” The purple-clad hero released his grip and chased after the Hellion.

“Yeah, thanks,” Han grumbled. He brushed himself off, got back on his bike and set off once again for his father’s office.

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