Elite

by Joseph C. Anthony

  He spent hours exploring his brain, learning what each area did and how to control it. He tried to visualize his match with Titan, preparing himself to control different areas of his brain with only a split-second’s notice.

  He had even tried to heal himself at an expedited pace by sending white blood cells and antibodies to the affected areas, but came to realize that the healing process was something that took time for a reason, and trying to force it to happen too quickly would risk improper healing.

  Instead he spent his time working on abilities that would help him in the fight. He knew that whatever he was going to do, it needed to happen quickly. The longer he messed around with Titan the slimmer his chances of winning would become – that is, if he had any in the first place.

  The door opened to the ready room opened sending a stream of bright light pouring in through the doorway. There was one man who still believed in him.

  The day after Daniel had issued the challenge, Mr. Blank had sat with him to eat lunch. The two ate in complete silence for fifteen minutes before walking out of the cafeteria together.

  Before parting ways Blank turned to Daniel and uttered the first words spoken between them, “You sure about this, Danny Boy?”

  Daniel did not respond, rather just stared at Blank who was looking deeply into his eyes. After ten of the longest seconds in history, Blank finally found what he was looking for. He cracked a smile and patted Daniel twice on the cheek.

  “You can do this kiddo,” he said.

  Blank approached Daniel who sat alone in the ready room and helped him put on his gloves.

  “It’s time,” he said.

  Daniel stood up as the bright light pouring in through the door suddenly went black. He saw the white flicker of strobe lights as a loud instrumental anthem fit for a god began playing over the loud speakers.

  He heard Richfield begin Titan’s introduction, but did not pay attention to the words. Instead he opened up his mind, taking control of every part of his brain that he could without losing his grasp on conscious thought. He increased his heart rate and released his hormones – preparing himself to unleash a power that even Titan had never before experienced.

  Suddenly the music stopped, and the house lights came back on. Daniel stepped out of the ready room and started his walk toward the ring.

  The arena was eerily silent but for the sound of Richfield’s voice over the loudspeakers and the murmur of individual conversations happening throughout the crowd. Daniel had told Richfield no loud music, and no flashy lights. This wasn’t about theater, it was about validation.

  “And now the challenger,” Richfield announced. “If you didn’t know him before, you probably know him now, as the fool who challenged Titan.”

  Richfield’s joke aroused a small laugh from the crowd, and even Daniel himself couldn’t help but crack a smile at the tension-easing remark.

  “Currently the thirty-ninth ranked Elite Agent – the golden boy – Daniel Hart!”

  The crowd delivered and overly polite round of applause as Daniel climbed up and into the cage.

  The crowd was much smaller than it had been for his fight against Jitters. Most at the complex felt there was no need to watch the massacre that was sure to occur.

  Titan stood tall in the middle of the ring, moving his mouth guard around in his mouth and directing a dastardly gaze in Daniel’s direction. Daniel walked toward him, testing each one of his internal body functions to make sure he had control, much like a pilot going through his pre-flight checklist.

  “Still time to back out,” Titan growled in a more violent fashion than Daniel was used to hearing from the man. Richfield went over the rules while the two agents stood face to face in the center of the ring.

  “Then how would I take the top spot?” Daniel responded, showing no signs of intimidation.

  Neither man was listening to Richfield go over the rules, but when he finished they both looked over to him and nodded. They then bumped fists before going to their respective corners.

  Titan had an entire entourage of trainers and Elite agents in his corner, while Mr. Blank stood as the lone soul in Daniel’s.

  Daniel opened his mouth to receive a squirt of water from Blank before placing his mouth guard over his teeth.

  “I have a feeling this thing is only lasting one round whichever way it goes,” Blank chuckled with surprising excitement in his voice. “Go get ‘em Danny Boy!”

  With that Daniel’s biggest fan exited the cage and closed the door behind him.

  Daniel turned and bounced his way toward his monstrous opponent in the center of the ring. The adrenaline surging through his body created a sensation similar to that of fear, but Daniel knew that he was not afraid – he was filled with a focused intensity. He knew what he needed to do and he was ready to execute.

  The bell rang signaling the start of the first five minute round, and the two fighters bumped fists one last time before getting into their combat stances and dancing around each other in the ring.

  This fight had already proved vastly different from Daniel’s first. Previously, his gaze had been at a downward angle, focusing on the shorter Jitters. Now he was craning upward to look at Titan, who stood a good five or six inches taller than him.

  Titan was wearing black shorts with silver lightning bolts on them. Sweat glistened off his black skin making his colossal physique even more impressive.

  Daniel’s body was visibly scarred and bruised from his recent barroom brawl. Even though that fight had been four-on-one, he knew that it was nothing compared to what he was about to face against Titan.

  It seemed neither Titan nor Daniel felt the need to waste any time dancing around as they both came out of the gate swinging.

  Just a few seconds into the round Titan took a quick left-handed jab at Daniel. Daniel was able to block it with his right hand, but the strength of Titan pushed Daniel’s blocking hand back into his own face, temporarily disorienting him.

  Daniel recovered quickly, but not quick enough for the lightning fast Titan who delivered a strong right hook to the left side of Daniel’s face, connecting in the exact place the bouncer had four nights earlier.

  Daniel felt a searing pain in his face as he was knocked to the ground by the vicious blow. The crowd gasped, expecting that the fight was over before it had even begun.

  Titan followed up on his punch, ready to deliver another big blow with his right, but as he had at the bar Daniel threw a mule kick straight to Titan’s midsection. Unlike the chunky bouncer however, Titan’s stomach was rock solid. Daniel hadn’t taken the time to really focus his strength when he delivered the kick. The amount of contraction in his quadricep was not enough to do any damage to Titan, but it did buy Daniel enough time to get to his feet.

  It wouldn’t do him much good as Titan attempted to land another right hook before Daniel could fully establish balance. Daniel saw it coming though, and was able to duck out of the way just in time. As Titan’s momentum carried his body over the top of Daniel, Daniel threw a right uppercut, focusing on the muscles in his abdomen, upper-arms and chest, creating the maximum amount of torque possible as he connected with Titan’s sternum.

  Titan let out a burst of air, a bit surprised by the intensity of the blow. Daniel tried to follow up with a right hook to the head of Titan, again putting as much torque as he could into his delivery, but Titan was too fast and ducked out of the way.

  Titan tried to use his current position to his advantage by slamming his shoulder into Daniel’s chest and trying to slam him into the ground.

  Daniel recognized what was happening and was able to plant his feet into the ground, squeezing his thigh and calf muscles beyond their limits so that he couldn’t be knocked over.

  Titan, realizing that he couldn’t push Daniel over, instead decided to just pick him up into the air and then slam him onto the mat.

  The crowd roared, suddenly finding much more excitement in the matchup than they had ever dreamed possible.r />
  Titan pinned Daniel’s left arm to the ground. He reared back with his left arm, and Daniel decided that instead of blocking the hit, he would take advantage of the opening by delivering a strike of his own.

  From the ground Daniel had no way of using momentum to intensify his punch. He generated as much power as he could, contracting his bicep and tricep so hard that it caused him physical pain.

  As Daniel’s fist moved upward toward Titan’s face, Titan’s fist soared downward toward Daniel’s. Daniel turned his head, feeling the brute force of Titan’s fist squeezing his skull between his fist and the mat.

  Daniel’s fist met Titan’s face at the exact same moment, causing Titan to recoil just slightly.

  Daniel took the split second created by his jab to stop the hurting. He now simply felt pressure all over his body rather than pain.

  He could not however keep himself from seeing stars after being hit by Titan. His vision was beginning to blur after that last hit, and he knew he could not survive another.

  Titan was also aware of Daniel’s vulnerability as he reared back, ready to finish off his opponent.

  This time Daniel went on the defensive, reaching up and grabbing Titan’s arm at its highest point. He squeezed his right upper body muscles with the same intensity he had used when he threw his last jab. Daniel could see the shock on Titan’s face when he found he was unable to overpower Daniel and deliver the blow.

  Daniel cringed, his muscles in searing pain as he used up every bit of oxygenated blood and hormones available, contracting them to the amount necessary to keep Titan from breaking through.

  Titan finally gave up and twisted his upper body in order to throw Daniel’s blocking arm to the side. The amount of leverage necessary to move Daniel’s arms aside caused Titan to roll off of Daniel, allowing Daniel to roll away to his left.

  Daniel quickly got to his feet and took several quick steps away from his monstrous opponent. The crowd was now at a soft roar, wondering if Daniel could perhaps achieve the impossible.

  What they should have realized is that Daniel was capable of doing things that until four months ago were impossible for any human.

  Daniel’s heart began to strain as he gathered himself. He knew that he couldn’t maintain this pace any longer. Time was running out on the first round and if he didn’t finish the job now he might not survive another five minutes.

  So he took a risk. He cranked up his heart rate even faster, taking deep breaths to absorb as much oxygen as he possibly could.

  He suddenly felt angry – and he felt powerful. He was the king of the jungle and he wasn’t going to let Titan hold that crown any longer.

  Daniel was losing himself to the chemicals and hormones now saturating his brain, he knew, but he didn’t care – he liked it. He liked feeling powerful and he wanted to destroy.

  Daniel lunged toward Titan, taking one big stride before leaping up into the air. He brought both knees up to his chest as he floated high in the air.

  Titan instinctively threw his arms up to protect his face – Daniel had expected this.

  Daniel waited a split second longer, until his legs were even with Titan’s chest. He let out a vicious cry as he contracted his leg muscles further and further, causing himself agonizing pain that he could not prevent as he thrust both legs forward into the chest of the mighty Titan.

  Daniel felt ribs cracking beneath his bare feet as his kick sent Titan flying backwards and onto his back. Titan let out a monstrous moan of agony as he crashed to the ground.

  Daniel landed on his back and quickly rolled over to see the result of his ferocious dropkick.

  To his surprise, Titan was climbing right back up onto his feet. Daniel now understood the respect and admiration Titan had earned with the other agents.

  Daniel quickly got back to his feet, ready for whatever Titan threw at him next. He knew that even the toughest man in the world had to be hurting after a sledgehammer to the chest like the one Daniel had delivered.

  Titan went to throw a quick left jab as he approached Daniel, much slower than the ones he had thrown previously, and Daniel dodged it easily. Daniel noticed Titan involuntarily cringe after throwing the jab, and that was when Daniel knew that he had his opponent beat.

  As Titan got back into his stance, Daniel pivoted on his right foot, whipping his left leg around for a spin kick, aiming for the left side of Titan’s ribcage.

  Titan dropped his elbow to block the kick. The block was successful, but Daniel knew it caused his opponent pain every time he moved in a way that disrupted his newly broken ribs.

  Daniel continued his rotation, this time coming around with his right fist and directing it toward Titan’s head. Titan, though injured and in agonizing pain, brought his left arm up quick enough to block the punch.

  The pain was increasing with every movement however, and as Titan lifted his left arm to block, his right instinctively dropped to his side, covering his midsection.

  This was all the opening Daniel needed.

  One last time, Daniel opened his neural pathways, took control of the signals being sent from his hindbrain to his body, told his heart to beat harder and faster, expanded his blood vessels and sent blood rushing and adrenaline flowing to his left arm, abdomen, and upper body. He sent the signal from his brain to the muscles in those areas, telling them to contract further and harder than ever before.

  Daniel delivered a left-handed uppercut straight into Titan’s lower jaw, following through until his arm was fully extended, straight up in the air. Titan’s head was thrown backward, spit and blood flying in every direction.

  The bell rang for the end of the first round as Titan teetered backward, losing his balance and landing on his behind. His body slumped to the side as he tried to get up. He was still conscious, but clearly woozy.

  The referee quickly ran over to Titan to inspect the fighter’s condition. The referee grabbed Titan’s chin and turned his face to meet his, looking into the large man’s glossed over eyes. The crowd stood dead silent in nervous anticipation of the official’s ruling. After just two seconds of examination, the referee turned around and threw his hands up into the air, signaling that the fight was over.

  The crowd cried out in astonishment. The rookie had slain the king.

  Daniel flexed his muscles and let out a savage scream, releasing all of the aggression he had built up during the fight. Suddenly he felt light headed and the pain in his chest grew more intense, dropping him to all fours.

  Horchoff and another medic rushed to his side. Daniel closed his eyes and eased his heart rate, expanding his lungs and taking in large quantities of oxygen. Slowly, he was able to sit upright on his knees.

  “Are you okay?” Horchoff asked him.

  “I will be,” Daniel responded with a grin, resting his hands on his thighs. He hadn’t expected to feel joy when it was over, but the emotion he was feeling at that moment was undeniable. He was happy.

  Mr. Blank strolled casually over and came to a stop behind where Daniel was kneeling.

  “Take a look, Danny Boy,” he said.

  Daniel looked up from the ground to the wall on the far side of the arena, where the fabled rankings board hung for all to see. Next to the number one, where the name “Tyrus Jones” had been plastered for as long as anyone could remember, it now read “Daniel Hart.”

  Epilogue

  Back in the ready room Mr. Blank could not stop talking about all of the highlights of the fight, his favorite being Daniel’s high flying kick to the chest. Daniel smiled and laughed along as Doctor Horchoff monitored him closely to make sure that his heart rate was able to decrease to a normal pace without any issues, and that his extraordinary hormone levels didn’t cause any adverse effects.

  “You did suffer a concussion this time,” Horchoff stated. “Though only a mild one.”

  Daniel smiled. He knew that he should have felt lucky to get out of the cage alive, but he had somehow never doubted that he would. It were as though
he had an angel on his shoulder, guiding him the whole way.

  Figuratively, of course.

  After several minutes of Horchoff’s examination and Blank’s storytelling, Richfield walked into the room carrying a file folder, not unlike the ones he used for filing mission reports.

  “How’s Titan?” Daniel asked, hoping that he hadn’t dinged up the agencies number two agent too badly.

  “A couple broken ribs, substantial concussion – he’ll be out a couple months,” Richfield answered, seemingly displeased by the damage done to his most decorated agent.

  “I was going to give him this today,” Richfield continued, holding up the folder. “But since he’s out of commission and you’re the number one agent now, I guess this assignment belongs to you.”

  Daniel took the folder from Richfield with slight hesitation. Richfield seemed annoyed at the fact that Daniel had defeated Titan, which Daniel found confusing seeing as the whole idea behind Daniel’s joining Elite was that he would become the number one agent in a relatively short period of time. Maybe Richfield had thought that would somehow happen without any collateral damage, i.e. Titan.

  Or maybe he had just lost a bet with Blank.

  Daniel opened the folder to examine the details of his new assignment. It was bound to be far more dangerous and intense than his previous four since he had just vaulted thirty-eight spots in the rankings, but he could never have prepared for what he found inside.

  “The client is one of our most valued customers,” Richfield commented.

  Blank stood silent with a solemn look on his face, as though he already knew who the client was.

  “Gordon Demérs,” Daniel said, reading the brief.

  “And his fiancé,” Richfield added.