Uppercut

Uppercut chapter-6

It had been four months since Jack started his training with Fighter, and his progress was nothing short of remarkable. He picked up techniques at an alarming pace, far faster than anyone expected. This rapid growth led some of the kids at the orphanage to whisper behind his back, questioning whether Jack was even human.

Despite his progress, his memories of the past remained elusive, locked away like a puzzle with missing pieces.

It was late at night—11 o'clock, to be exact. While most of the orphanage slept, Jack was still awake, honing his skills through relentless training. The rhythmic sound of his strikes against the training dummy filled the quiet air until a sudden voice called him away.

"Jack, Fighter wants to see you in his office." A voice over an intercom said speaking into the room.

Jack wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaling slowly. He never knew what to expect when Fighter called for him. Sometimes, it was training-related. Other times, it was a deep dive into history—particularly cinema, where Fighter had a habit of ranting about why remakes usually sucked. And then, of course, there were the completely random, out-of-left-field conversations that made no sense until they did.

Whatever it was this time, Jack knew one thing for certain—when Fighter wanted to talk, it was never boring.

"What is it?" Jack asked as he stepped into Fighter's office.

Fighter didn't answer immediately. Instead, he picked up the remote and turned on the TV. The screen flickered to life, displaying a breaking news broadcast. A reporter stood outside a towering building, speaking urgently into the camera.

"We are here outside Clockwork Tower, where Mrs. Jennifer Clockwork and several staff members have been taken hostage. Reports indicate that they were forcibly removed from their homes and brought here, where the assailants overpowered security and took control of the building. The kidnappers are demanding over five million dollars for their safe return. So far, there has been no word from Mr. Clockwork, leaving many to assume the worst."

Fighter clicked off the TV. Silence hung in the air for a moment.

Jack stood frozen, gripping his hat tightly in his hand. Then, with slow determination, he placed it on his head. His hands clenched into fists, and his eyes burned with fury.

"Before you go, there's something in the garage for you," Fighter said, leaning back in his chair. "It's designed after the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14. Of course, you wouldn't know what that is, seeing as it's only 1998 in this world... but hey, technology is advancing fast. Not sure why I told you all that—ah well, have fun."

He tossed Jack a set of keys. Jack caught them effortlessly, tilting his head in confusion.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but thanks, Fighter." Jack nodded before dashing out toward the garage.

As he bolted past Dani, the boy blinked in confusion. "Hey, Jack! Where are you going?"

Jack didn't answer, disappearing down the hall.

"What the—why is he in such a rush?" Dani muttered, only for Loki to turn on the TV.

"Because of this."

The screen lit up, showing the breaking news about Clockwork Tower. Dani's expression hardened as Sierra walked into the room. Her eyes flicked to the television before she spun on her heel and stormed into Fighter's office.

"Where is he?" she demanded.

Fighter took a slow sip of his drink. "I've already sent him."

Sierra scowled. "We don't even know if he's ready yet!"