Inner Core (Book 2) (Completed)

Chapter 12 *Low Morale*

(Kazu woke up. It was 6:30, the usual time he woke up for work. As a hero, you get no breaks, so everyday is a work day. When Kazu was in hero school his teacher would always say how crime never sleeps. Kazu never really believed that. Of course crime sleeps, but while that crime sleeps other crime takes its place, but either way it's hard to get a break. Kazu needed to do something to help his team out. Moral has been very low around here every since Kage showed back up. As leader, Kazu needs to fix it, and he thinks he has an idea.)

Reo: "Ugh, finally."

(Reo and Dai just got home from the night shift. A bunch of attempted robberies wore Reo out, but what especially made him tired was Dai's rules. Stuff like 'don't hit him so hard, we want him alive when we bring him back.' or 'Be careful on the rooftops, we don't need one of our own dying from a neck injury.' Reo was just happy to get home so he could sleep. He opened the door and ran right into a guy's chest. He looked up to see a blond, muscular guy looking down at him. He was wearing a white T-shirt, and jeans with brown boots on.)

???: "Ugh boss, is this one of Kazu's workers."

(Another guy that looked exactly like him walked over and looked at Reo.)

???: "Yeah, he works for Reo. Let him in."

(The man standing in the way of Reo moved out of the way to let him pass, but Reo was still kind of in shock. He thought maybe he was seeing things because he was so tired, so he looked back at Dai to make sure he saw the same thing, but Dai looked even more in shock. Reo looked forward again and saw Kazu talking with another guy, that looked exactly like the one in the door.)

Reo: "Kazu?"

(Kazu looked over to see Reo walking in. Reo looked angry and confused.)

Reo: "What the hell is going on here? Is this some fun house you're working on?"

Kazu: "Oh no, sorry Reo. I guess I should've called you and told you."

Reo; "I don't have a cell phone."

Kazu: "Oh, right. I should've called Dai then and told you both."

(Kazu pointed at the man he was standing next to. The man that looked like every man that was walking around the house.)

Kazu: "This is Mr. Clone. We've worked with each other in the past. He owes me a favor so I thought I'd cash it in."

Mr. Clone: "Haha, yeah, I remember that exact day too. This guy saved me from some evil psycho guy. I remember the entire thing."

Kazu: "Oh come on Clone. I don't think Reo wants to hear this."

Reo: "He's right I don't."

(Dai walked into the conversation.)

Dai: "I wanna hear it."

Mr. Clone: "Ok well here it is."

Reo: "Ugh."

Mr. Clone: "We were in Germany. Some guy was killing people. He had a spike core, so he could make spikes come out of objects around him. The core sounds weak, but trust me it was strong. I brought tons of clones to the battle, and many of them died. I myself almost died as well, but this guy saved me out there."

(He patted Kazu on the back.)

Mr. Clone: "Spikes were headed straight for me, but I wasn't fast enough to move. Then, a portal opened under me and I fell right in it. I teleported onto a roof right above where I almost died, and Kazu stood over me. He jumped off the roof and I heard lots of fighting for a while. Then after a little bit a portal opened in front of me and an unconscious guy fell out of it. It was the guy that tried to kill me, and then right after him Kazu stepped out. He was all beat up and bleeding, but he was still standing. After that I've owed him one for a while. "