2:00: AM. August 14th. Tuesday. New York City, New York A huge compound near the docks. At a passing glance, it may seem just like another compound meant for some business you’re not apart of. But, more closely you would notice two giant search lights at the top of two towers, an electric fence, 100 guards with guns and some had attack dogs on leashes and various other security measures. A truck was traveling down the single road to the compound. It stopped short in front of the electric fence and a booth. The guy in it confirmed this man was one of them, then opened up the back of the truck and removed the tarp to see the shipment of guns, disguised drugs and a few other items that the police would want them taken down for. They have tried hard and numerous times to take down these criminals but by exploiting the loop holes of the laws that the police revere, they were able to escape the clutches of justice.

There was one man who, not bound by these laws, may do their bidding. But he was not searching for justice. It was simply a job. Nothing more, nothing less. Whether the prey is good or evil does not matter. Honor, greed and blood lust are the only things that control this predator. Little did the searching guard know that beneath the truck, hanging to the mechanical parts on the bottom, was Predator. He had often broken into heavy security zones. And the one he was infiltrating right now was actually a dwarf compared to some other places he has snuck into.

The truck entered the compound and once Predator saw his chance, he let go and the truck moved on. Predator had to move fast, as there was a guard only 15 feet away and a light 5 feet away. He silently made his way to a wall but seeing two guards come around the corner forced him to hide behind the wall. One had a dog, which began to bark. The canine led the guard behind the wall only to see nothing. Predator had leapt up onto the roof. Predator waited until they were far enough away to jump back down. Predator took out his knife to pick the lock of the box attached to the wall. Once opened, he shut off everything. Panic ensued. Predator now had the advantage. For all hunters and killers, darkness, is a trusted friend.

The canines still had their noses but Predator would not be near them any longer. He jumped back onto the roof and ran to the part above the main door. A guard foolishly opened it and Predator dropped below and got in. The doors closed as back-up power came back up. Said foolish guard came back in, only for Predator to grab him, pull him in and slit his throat. Two other guards saw him. Before they could raise a serious alarm, Predator grabbed both of their throats, preventing them from calling for help. Predator crushed their windpipes with his bare hands. Probably crushed their necks as well. He then pressed the button. Predator walked in as the doors opened and pressed the button to get to the top floor.

A security camera based above the door saw Predator. One guy, who saw this on the computer, rushed to Boss Grand's (that is seriously his name) office. He was the guy in charge of everything. "Sir, there's been a security breach!" Boss Grand looked at the man, only barely paying attention to the man since he was talking with two other people before this. "Well you're about 5 minutes late" "No, sir. Someone caused that blackout and he's in the elevator!" Calmly, Grand stated, "So stop the damn elevator before he reaches the top floor" The man suddenly realized his stupidity and rushed back to the computer but was too late. A loud chime ringed, and every guard and tech guy looked at the elevator as it opened. Predator raised his head and said, "Hello there. I am Predator. Surrender or die" Every guard pointed their guns and every tech guy looked through their desks and pulled out hand guns. "So be it".

At almost superhuman speed, Predator pulled out his own handgun and a handgun he stole from one of the guards and shot and killed two tech guys. He entered the room, shot two guards then jumped and flipped through the air in order to avoid return fire. He landed feet first on a guard, knocking the guy to the ground. He killed the two guards nearest him. He got off the guard and in a tornado-like fashion, spun and unleashed a horde of the remaining bullets to kill 10 guards. The 10 guards, as they fell, accidentally shot the remaining guys with their guns. Predator turned to see the large doors of Boss Grand’s office close. On the inside, the remaining guards barricaded the door with furniture and anything else they could find. A huge shove pushed the furniture back, forcing the guards to press against the door with their own bodies. Predator, with a gigantic amount of force, opened the heavy doors, sending furniture and guards flying.

Predator put his own handgun back into his bullet-proof vest and threw the other gun away. Although he wore this vest, it was always unzipped. Even if it was, it would only cover about half his chest. It saved him from a few shots, yes. But its main purpose was simply for decoration. Three guards were left standing. They were all unarmed. But that did not stop them. One rushed Predator. The guard raised his fist into the air and slammed down, only for Predator to raise his left arm to block. He grabbed the guard’s arm with his right hand and lifted the guard into the air, only to slam him on the ground behind Predator onto his skull. Death was instant. The other guards took Predator’s distraction as an opportunity. They charged him at the same time, hoping to overwhelm him. Predator just swiped his right leg through the air, kicking one guard, sending him into the other one and both to the wall. Grand began to clap. Predator looked at him, confused. “Well done, well done. To believe that one man could sneak in here, get to the top floor and kill 30-40% of my guards. Most impressive” Predator thought, “Well, at least this scum knows respect. Boss Grand grabbed the softball-size diamond on his desk and looked at it in a stereo-typical villainy fashion. “So, my enemies finally sent a strong hunter to kill me, eh?” “Not exactly” Boss Grand, confused, turned to see Predator load his dart gun and shoot it at Grand’s shoulder. “Motherfucker! What the hell was that!?” he yelled. Predator remained silent. Whiskers began to come out of the skin above his lips. His ears became tiny and round. His body mass began to shrink. The skin of his hands and feet turn pink. A worm-like tail arose from his body violently. Dark gray fur sprouted from all over his body. Finally, from under Boss Grand’s clothes, came a rat. “What the hell was that?” he asked but was surprised to hear squeaks. He turned to the glass wall behind him and saw the reflection of a rat.

Grand began to panic. He had his mind. But considering the animal Predator chose, it would not be a fun existence. Predator began to hear loud groans. He turned to see a guard, who survived Predator’s entrance, trying to get to his feet. Predator walked up. The guard saw Predator’s feet and collapsed to his back and looked up into the soulless mask of his attacker. “Please… wife… 3 kids… don’t kill… me… please…” Predator squatted next to the man, arms on his knees. “Did you just regain consciences?” “Yes” Predator grabbed the scruff of the man’s shirt. If the man had regained consciences earlier and saw any part of the transformation, Predator would have to kill him. “Listen. If you’re telling the truth, here’s what you’re going to do. Go home. Kiss your children good night and tell your wife you love her and how much she means to you. The next morning, look in the newspaper for a job and dedicate yourself to a life of honest labor. For them. If I ever see you working for vermin or scum again, you are going to wish you died when I came into this room". The guard took the warning very seriously, though he didn't know that part of the warning came from Predator's self-hatred and a failed life. The remaining guards began to come up onto the floor, having used the stairs. Predator, deciding to avoid another fight, ran to the glass wall and crashed through it, leaping down onto roof onto roof until hitting the ground. He then ran for it. The guards were confused as hell, seeing their dead comrades but no Boss Grand. One guard looked at the broken glass. A rat then began to tug on his pants. Annoyed, the guard kicked the rat to the wall, not knowing it was Boss Grand. He then saw the diamond and pocketed it for himself.

Predator returned to his latest client's skyscraper. Daniel Power was his name. His company had a hand in everything. Mostly trading with other countries. In the pharmaceutical division, their flagship product was a pain-killer called Zydrate. It worked very well and doctors recommended it, but for those who weren't in pain it was a highly addictive drug. If you weren't in pain, Zydrate would affect your lungs, brain and heart. There were numerous speakers against it, asking Power to make alterations to the drug. However, if these alterations happened, Zydrate would not work as well and sales would go down. Power was known to be merciless when it came to those who traded it outside his company in illegal manners, which fueled those against him. Boss Grand was one of the big guns pointed at Power. So Daniel Power called upon a man he did not understand to take Grand down. When they met, Predator and Power got along unusually better than Predator usually does with his clients. Predator did not have to resort to physical violence and no one had to raise their voice. Power was willing to pay Predator his desired amount but proved to be no sycophant. Power looked at Predator and asked, "Well? How did it go?" Predator then noticed a bullet lodged in his arm. He pulled it out and answered, "Smoothly. Boss Grand is no more". "Excellent" "Could I have a towel?" "Sure" Power called his secretary to send someone with a towel. A moment later a serviceman walked in and placed the towels upon Power's desk, which Predator picked up to clean the bullet and his blood-stained knife. He put the knife away and placed the bullet onto Power's desk. "A souvenir for your troubles" Predator picked up the suit case with the remaining money and walked to the window. "Oh, before I forget" Predator stopped walking as Power spoke. "I have another target if you're interested" Predator turned around as Power took out a folder from his desk drawer. "I am willing to pay 5 million for this target" Power handed Predator the folder. Predator opened it and stared at it in silence, though Power felt the man was somehow shocked. "You okay?" Predator then dropped the folder, obviously disturbed.

Predator remained silent and started for the open window. “Don’t go after this woman. If she’s against your drug, just deal with her. Leave her alone” Predator raised his footed to the windowsill and started to climb out. “Why should I?” Power asked, half out of anger, half out of confusion. Predator immediately pulled out his handgun and pointed it at Power. “Because I said so!” Predator rarely had to yell to get a point across. His raspy, demonic and almost villainous voice was enough, plus he had his fighting skill and weapon to back them up. He leapt out the window to another ledge and jumped into the night.

SHE was in town tonight. And Predator knew where to find her. It had been almost 18 years. As Predator jumped from roof to roof at top speed, he could not help but think. “Hmmm. Around 17, 18 years since I’ve seen her. She’ll probably want to kill me as soon as she sees me". Predator then stopped jumping. “Should I even go to her?” Predator stood in eerie silence. His masks prevented anyone from seeing his emotional responses. “Power probably won’t listen to me. He may still go after her. I have to do something. For Marni”

Jennifer Green. Age 38. She had long brown hair, emerald eyes and light brown skin of Inuit descent. She was a singing sensation. Started in her late twenties, she dazzled the world with her songs. They say she does not get weaker with age. She gets better. She was performing a concert in New York that night. After the concert she went through the usual of fans wanting autographs and paparazzi taking pictures and asking questions. When she got to her dressing room, she enjoyed a few moments of silence. Standing outside the back door in an alley were two gargantuan guards. Predator looked down at them from his high point. Suddenly, he jumped down, and planning a foot on the side of their heads, then brought his feet together, knocking the guard’s heads together, knocking them out. It was then a simple matter of kicking the door down. People were obviously freaked at the sight of the man who just walked right past them. Jennifer had a song playing (Not one of her own. she’s not narcissist). However she did hear a loud knock on her door. She turned off her boom box to answer the door. She opened it and said, “May I help y…” At the sight of the man in black at “6, 6”, fear dominated her face and she couldn’t speak or move. Predator moved into the room and Jennifer began to back up. Predator closed the door behind him. “Wait! Please don’t kill me!” Predator, in the most “human”, soft voice he could speak in, said “I don’t want to hurt you Jennifer” “Then what do you want?”

Predator merely looked at her for a moment. His head then dropped and he let out a sigh. He grabbed the black sky goggles and the part of the ninja mask at the top of his head and pulled them off. She was extremely confused until both masks were completely off. She looked in the man in disbelief, shock and anger. The man had pale white skin, medium-long black hair that was allowed to be loose thanks to the masks being removed. His eyes were intense and the irises were a bright shade of yellow. Anger then became the only emotion in Jennifer’s mind and her face. “Jennifer, I-” Jennifer then slapped him across the face. Predator expected this, but did nothing to stop it. A loud cracking noise was heard. Jennifer had cracked or broken. She held her hand and tried to hide the pain. "I'm sorry" Predator said. "Don't you talk! You have no right to say anything to me!" Jennifer snapped. She tried to find some cloth to wrap her hand in, needing something to bandage it. A large tearing noise was then heard. She turned to see Predator, holding a piece of black cloth, which he tore off his pants leg, to give her. She reluctantly took it and wrapped up her hand. "What are you doing here Zuko?" The use of his first name took him by surprise, as he often went by assumed titles like Predator. "I... needed to talk" "Bullshit" Zuko looked at her in surprise. "You wouldn't DARE come anywhere near me if that was all" Predator exhaled and closed his eyes. He then looked Jennifer directly in the eye. "You're her best friend" "Was, Zuko. WAS. You use a past tense if the person you're describing is dead" Predator then said, "... I miss her too" Jennifer let out a scream and tried to slap Zuko again. Not wanting her other hand to break or crack, he ducked. He then pulled a drawer completely out of her desk, dumped its contents, which was mostly makeup stuff, on her desk and handed it to her. She quickly took it and, with her unbroken hand, smashed it on Zuko's head, sending splinters and shards of metal to the wall and ground. Zuko didn't even flinch.

"Damn, I hate that I can't kill you!" Jennifer shouted. "Lot of people have tried" Zuko responded. "I wished one of them succeeded. Especially those who tried before 18 years ago" sneered Jenifer. Zuko was now in deep emotional pain and his face showed it all. "If I could take back what I did, you know I would" he said. "Well guess what, Zuko. You can't! Not even you, or any of your buddies, can change the past" Zuko spoke up with a small amount of venom in his voice, but still calm and sad as he had no right to show anger to her, "They're not my friends. Don't compare me to them.". "Well why the hell not!? Huh!? That godforsaken species that you belong to is nothing but a bunch of sadistic, uncaring evil bastards! You are exactly like them!" "NO I'M NOT!" Zuko screamed in a voice that silenced like the crack of a bolt of lightning. Jennifer's angry expression then disappeared. "What I did is unforgivable. I know that!  It was an accident but I know that's no excuse. My "species" is evil, yes. And I used to be like them. But she changed that! I know I'm a killer! I know I'm a monster! But because I loved her, and she loved me, I was able to control the animal! You don't know what it's like! I feel like the lion that fell in love with the lamb it was supposed to kill. She gave me enough strength to stop killing! You know for me its like a drug to an addict! To live without her, trying to control this beast, is unbearable. In her last moment, she had me promise that I would stay the person she changed me into. But I can't! I have the avarice, instincts and power of Greed locked inside me but now my hatred and anger has turned me into something that people now call me Predator. Not only is my self-control when it comes to killing weak but..." Zuko then pulled out his dart gun with a spare dart. "See this! The dart is full of a liquid that, when injected into the human body, breaks down the DNA, then reconstructs it into the DNA of an animal! The hunger to live forever, which I thought was killing, was actually destroying human life which includes changing it, is too much to bear without her. I want to die. But I can't!" Tears then began to fill Zuko's eyes. "Someone wanted me to use this, on you! You were precious to her. As she was precious to me. I took two things that were precious from her that night, REMEMBER!? I can't ever do that to her again" Zuko collapsed to his hands and knees and began to sob.

Even those who had hearts constructed of cold stone would break at these words and display of emotion. Jennifer knew what he meant by two things. One was Marni's life, which was lost when Zuko lost control. The second was that of their unborn child. But Jennifer knew something that Zuko did not. She walked to her phone and texted a message to a private number. She closed it and kneeled next to Zuko. It was against her nature to be cruel. She placed her hands on Zuko's shoulders. He stopped sobbing but was still crying and looked up at her. "I'm sorry, Zuko. I knew of your problems when Marni first told me but I allowed my own anger to forget those things. You'll find a way to control yourself someday. You will know eternal peace someday. I only hope it can come soon"

Suddenly, men arrived at the door. Jennifer and Zuko turned their heads at them. Two pulled out tazers and quickly electrocuted Zuko. He let out a cry of pain as all the fiends filled the room. Most had to restrain Zuko. Others knocked Jennifer to the ground and merely looked down at her. It was easy to know what they were here for. Daniel Power then enterred the room. Zuko looked up at him, his vision slightly murky because of his tears but still recognized him. Power smirked and made a "Heh" sound. He swiftly kicked Zuko in the ribs, causing him to grit his teeth in pain. Blood began to pour out of Zuko's shirt. Zuko had let his guard down and his habit of not bruising easily didn't work this time to protect him from a blade usually hidden in Power's shoe. "No!" Jennifer shouted. She got up to help Zuko only for Power to pimp slap her, sending her back to the ground. Power then pulled out a gun. Zuko began to thrash and struggle with great intensity, but could not free himself when all 15 of Power's thugs began to restrain him with great difficulty. Power aimed the gun and said, "I abhor violence but you have to do what you have to do" The trigger was pulled, the bang of the bullet leaving the gun, the sound of it striking flesh and the clearing of smoke filled the air. Jennifer slumped to the ground. "NO!" Zuko screamed. Now, nothing could hold him back. He knocked the thugs off and striked power in the chest, sending him into the wall, partly breaking it as Power was stuck in the wall. Zuko turned to the thugs with tazers and guns. He let out a cry of fury and charged them. He was shot and tazed. His gloves and part of his shirt was torn off but he didn't care. He savagely slaughtered all the guards. Not a single one got away from a gory, painful death.

He heard Power groan. He quickly stormed up to the man an grabbed him by the throat and lifted him out of the wall and off the ground by a foot since Power was taller than Zuko. "How could you!? I-I'll kill you!" Power became even more horrified at seeing Predator's body expel the bullets on his own. Holes left by the bullets and the burn wounds of the tazers began to heal, quickly and immediately, leaving no trace of injury. Predator's hands then started to turn from pale white to the darkest shade of black. His fingernails turned into dreadful claws. The black was spreading towards his shoulders and up on his neck and began to creep over his face. His already muscular body was increasing in size, both in height and muscle. His pupils had changed from circles to beastly slits. His irises turned from blue to purple. "STOP!" Jennifer shouted. The black stopped spreading. He turned his head to gaze at the dying Jennifer. She was starting to become very weak. "You... swore to... Marni you'd... never use that power again. Don't... please..." The black substance receded. His fingernails returned to normal as did his eyes and muscle size. Zuko looked Power in the eye. "I won't kill you. Because if I do, Greed will show his ugly head. But I won't leave you as a human either" Zuko dropped Power to the floor grabbed the dart and stabbed Power near the neck, not bothering with the gun.

Power's skin turned pink. His pupils expanded, overwhelming his eyes so that it was only them. His skin began to become ringed. His arms receeded into his body. His legs conjoined. Power began to scream only for his mouth to bet almost sewn shut. His body started to become pudgy and fat. He then shrinked to the point where his clothes hid him. He was a worm now and forever. But, to add insult to injury, his human mind remained. This was no justice. This was revenge.

Zuko turned to Jennifer and knelt as tears began to from again in his eyes. "Jen... I'm so sorry" Jen looked up into Zuko's eyes. "Don't cry... you look... pretty... ugly when you do" Zuko laughed a small, sad laugh but nothing could stop his tears. Jennifer, knowing her next words would be her last, chose them very carefully. "Want me to give Marni a message?" Predator looked at her with a look of sorrow. Jennifer Green smiled... and breathed her last breath. Zuko let out a loud, long cry of pain, suffering and sorrow. Half human, half animal. He then collapsed onto his hands and ducked his head, loudly crying.

"Dear Marni... I am so sorry. Can you forgive me for this?" Zuko asked, almost stated. Nothing was going to stop these tears. His wife’s best friend was dead because of him. Nothing would end his sorrow.

A ghastly fog began to from behind him. It did not spread throughout the entire room. It looked like it was almost controlled. Something began to cause it to shimmer. Zuko sensed something but did nothing to acknowledge it.

Two beings began to come out of the fog, almost as if it was a portal. The one that came out of the right side was tall. About Zuko’s height. Maybe taller. His skin was a black-ish purple. He had a stocky, muscular build. His body was adorned with ridges and spikes. Ridges were along the arms, shoulders, legs and neck. Two large spikes came out from his back and three spikes came out of his head, pointed backwards. The fingers attached to his hands were long and ended in grim claws. He stood on three long, clawed ones coming out from the front and one small one from the back. This stance and his motion were similar to that of a theropod dinosaur. He had a large mouth and, even closed, his large upper fangs were clearly visible. His eyes glowed with a dark, blood-red hue.

His companion was far different. For one thing, he was shorter than the purple one. The figure appeared human mostly. The head was different, with the hair in large spikes. It smiled, with a fanged gleam. His eyes were an emerald green. His fingers did not round out. They ended as spikes, claws. And from the knees down, his legs disappeared and darkness spewed out, keeping him ten inches off the ground. He wore a strange cloak, it was like thick robes and a hood was in back. The cloak reached the ground and trailed behind him two feet. When he raised his arms, the silk connected the arms to the rest of the cloak, and two large, angry eyes like those on a moth’s wings were etched on it. Two large hands floated behind him. They had a span of nearly two feet across each, were deep purple, and ended in points, like the ones that were attached to his arms. They levitated in front of his real ones. As he moved his own hands, the floating larger ones copied them.

There reason for being here was unknown. Perhaps they were demons from the darkest pit of hell, here to do some dark deed upon a man in one of his weakest moments. Or beings from other plains of reality or other worlds that were called here for unknown purposes. What ever the reason, they were here. Zuko did not raise his head, but knew something was not right. They could have well been people behind him, or just in his head.

The taller one spoke first. “Now, I’m no doctor, but I here’s my prognosis:” He turned his head to his companion. “Will this one live?”

With an innocently, but mockingly tone, “Doubtful” He shifted his gaze to Zuko and his voice turned bitter, similar to how Zuko’s voice changed earlier. “You’re the most feared artist in this world, carving flesh sculptures”

“Better start praying when you see him coming”

“’Cause tonight its curtains”

In unison, they proclaimed, “You are Predator! Remember who you are”

Zuko, still with the broken, sorrowfully voice, said “I… remember…”

“Remember what you did to Marni”

“I… remember…”

“Remember what you did to her friend”

The one in the cloak spoke alone now. One of his floating hands reached into Predator’s coat and pulled out his knife. “See your knife. See it glide. See it SLICE!” He cut through the air with that last statement.

The spiked one spoke. He telekinetically raised Zuko’s guns in front of his face. “Look at your guns. Like your knife, both old friends. One kills, one changes. It doesn’t matter. Both I’ve heard both are fun. But I speak of the former more on other’s speech rather than experience”

Together. “The past is the past. Simply forget. You are Greed! Even before you were Predator. Remember who you are!”

“I… remember…”

“Remember what you did to Marni”

“I… remember…”

“Remember what you did to her” They motioned towards Jennifer’s now pale body. “Remember who you are”

“I… remember…”

“Remember who you are”

“I remember, every dying whisper. Every desperate murmur. I remember” Zuko raised his head to look at Jennifer’s body. “When I gaze upon her, she looks like you on that cursed night. I remember. I remember!”

Zuko’s voice then turned the usual villainous, demonic raspy tone. He stopped sobbing and crying, but tears still stained his eyes. “I remember, stalking every victim with deadly precision”

The two beings shared smirks of wicked glee.

Predator picked up his knife and handgun. “I remember. Every time I hold you, someone fell. A life was destroyed. I REMEMBER! For the beast whose heart was cut out from his chest, there is no anesthetic! I’m the masked terror on your street corner. Make your loved ones mourn you!” With his irises returning to yellow, Predator put his masks back on and ran out the room, into the alley to leap onto the next door building and yelled into the sky. “I am Predator!”

The demons looked at one another. They bowed to one another as signs of respect, as one would to a fellow user of their trade of art. They then disappeared in fog as they came, back to their worlds.