"Leonard Speaking"
'Leonard Thinking'
Burbank, Los Angeles
Leonard got off the phone. He had just informed Mike of their emergency, but he was a bit worried about facing Axelrod. Facing someone like Axelrod exposed him to a flaw he did not notice before.
Leonard sighed, "I was too focused on health when I tuned myself. But I have the potential to develop my advantages. Lack of combat knowledge is a flaw that cannot be kept. Neither by me, nor by Chaldea."
Chaldea had a security team; people handpicked by Giselle from her military contacts. So Chaldea had combat power. But, his lack of combat instincts is a glaring flaw that needs to be fixed before any proper conflict can happen. Thankfully, he had access to ex-military instructors.
The next morning, he contacted his Chief of Security Giselle.
Giselle looked around her table. Stan Edgar sat with her and her team, discussing their plans for the recent operation against the Cartel. She stood up from the chair, amid the questioning looks of her colleagues. Moving to a corner of the room, she asked incredulously, "Dr. Hofstadter, what exactly did you do for you to ask for combat training? Especially from someone in the Special Forces. If you have offended some terrorist organisation, combat training would not help much."
Leonard raised his eyebrow before answering calmly, "I did not offend a terrorist organisation, but I offended a billionaire yesterday night. While he is not some brute, anger can drive him to hire someone to attack me. I need someone who is not just good at combat, but everything combat related."
Giselle sighed, "I know many people who are great at combat, but what you want is Black Ops level, I don't know anyone from that background. Give me an hour, I will try to find someone for you. Even then, they might refuse to teach you. Such people have little time to train someone."
Leonard smiled, "I can be quite convincing."
Giselle laughed a little, "Yeah, you can be. I'll talk in an hour."
Leonard decided to go to the university. He packed a small luggage should he have to travel on an impromptu trip. As he was driving to the university, his phone rang. Leonard accepted the call as Giselle's voice rang inside the car.
Giselle spoke, "I found someone for you. His information was forwarded by my contact in the CIA. You will find him in Boston. According to my contact, he is a very nice guy, intelligent and well-read. You might like him. He was a Gunnery Sergeant, and he has worked at DIA. They say that he was practically a ghost before his retirement."
Leonard hummed, "Hmm, are you sure he will help me?"
Giselle snorted, "Of course not. He is retired after all. But you can be quite convincing, can't you?"
A smile appeared on Leonard's name. He asked, "So, what is his name?"
Giselle answered, "His name is Robert McCall. He is currently working at Home Mart in Boston. Now, you asked me for a teacher, but his teachings might be really challenging."
Leonard smiled, "Don't worry, I love a challenge."
Leonard quickly entered the university and applied for a two-day leave from Seibert. Due to the donation he brought for the Physics Department, he was given a lot of freedom in the university. As soon as his leave was approved, he drove to the airport and booked the first flight to Boston.
Home Mart, Boston
Leonard entered the Home Mart, looking around at various people moving about in the store. He saw several people buying tools, some talking and laughing, others making evening plans. The entire room looked like the perfect picture of mundane life.
Then, Leonard saw him. Robert McCall was a tall, black man with a shiny bald head. He smiled as he helped his coworkers, laughing at their jokes, asking about their day. His entire demeanour spoke of refinement, education and discipline. However, beyond this mundane facade, Leonard grasped the deeper hints; how he always kept to corners, every glance looking at exits and objects with a deeply unsettling familiarity. He moved gracefully, every step measured for balance and quick movements.
As Robert clocked out of work, Leonard followed him for a bit, approaching him as Robert. With some distance between them, Leonard called out, "Mr. Robert McCall."
Robert stilled for a second, before turning to him. His face showed a hint of confusion before he took on his smile once again, "Yes, do you need something?"
Leonard moved closer, offering him a hand, "Good evening sir, my name is Dr. Leonard Hofstadter."
Robert's smile stayed calm, "It's a good thing you didn't approach too casually. You are quite a well mannered young man. So, what do you need from me, Dr. Hofstadter."
Leonard smiled. Robert's demeanour really puts people around him at ease. He spoke in a calm tone, "I do need your help. But it's better if we talk in a more private setting."
Robert thought for a moment before asking, "Let's talk in my home. It's quite near. We can walk there."
Leonard said nothing as he followed Robert to his home. The walk was a quiet affair. Neither man said a word, but they quietly observed each other. After fifteen tense minutes, they reached Robert's home.
Robert unlocked his gate, inviting Leonard in. As he placed his things in their correct spots, Leonard looked around the house. It was neat, clinically so. Everything was arranged in proper shapes, placed in specific places. Robert asked him to sit in the living room and came with a glass of water, which Leonard accepted. Finally, Robert sat in his chair.
Robert crossed his legs and asked, "Now, tell me, what did you need me for, young man?"
Leonard explained, "I need someone who can train me in combat. I reached out to my Chief of Security, Colonel Giselle Blanco, who reached out to your friend Susan Plummer. She was the one who told me about you. You are a legend, or rather were a legend in DIA. It was not just your fighting skill, but your knowledge of tactics, psychology, weapon, stealth and other skills, that made you a perfect fit to teach me."
Robert laughed at that, "Young man, first, I don't teach my skills to anyone. I did a lot of harm with these skills, do you think I will just hand them to any guy who approaches me? Second, even if I taught you, I don't have years to wait for you to master those skills. Finally, what do you intend to do with those skills if I teach them to you?"
Leonard looked contemplative at that. He leveled Robert with an even stare before answering, "I want to learn these skills because I have a lot of people who depend on me. My safety and theirs could come under threat once my organisation starts spreading its wings. These are not just friends and family, they are people who would change the world."
Robert looked intrigued, "How would they change the world?"
Leonard answered, "Think of a world where no one remains hungry, there is no pollution, and diseases are either eliminated or simply become a minor inconvenience. Technology will save this world, instead of being a product intending to fuel a monster hungry for money and power. They are the people who depend on me. Scientists, thinkers, teachers, people who could bring change to this world."
Leonard folded his hands, "I know that you don't have years to teach me. But I am not asking for years, I am asking for a month. In one month, I will learn as much as I can, and after the month is over, I will not bother you again."
Robert grinned, "Quite confident, are we? Well, let's test your hypothesis then. I will test your current level, if you impress me, I will give you a month of my time."
Leonard smiled, "Bring it on."
Robert nodded, before emotion drained from his eyes. He started asking questions.
"How many cars did we see on our way here?"
"Seven, three white, one black, two silver and one blue."
"How many people were on the street when you entered this house?"
"Four, a pudgy woman in 208, the couple that lives opposite your house, and the kid riding the red bike."
"What is the area of this room?"
"If we look at it right now, it is about 50 sq ft, but with your hidden compartment behind the bookshelf and closet, the area would become larger."
"How many people live in this house?"
"There used to be two, you and a woman. Now, there's just you?"
"How did you know a woman lived here."
"The room is decorated, but the way it is decorated is not like a man decorated this room. There are ornaments, knick knacks, small souvenirs from places you visited. But the decorations, despite being well maintained, are at least three years old. There is no dust, so the owner maintains the house, or perhaps he is preserving memories. Your bookshelf has books arranged for a left handed person, even though you are right handed. While you read books, you did not start reading them at a younger age, it is possible that you started reading in the past two years. Possibly after your wife died."
Robert nodded solemnly. He remarks, "You are quite perceptive." He looked at Leonard and asked, "Do you know how to dance?"
Leonard was taken aback at the question. Robert grinned, "I take it, you don't. Now, for the final question. How many weapons did you see me interacting with?"
Leonard answered, "You did not come in contact with any weapons?"
Robert smiled and answered, "You answered correctly on every question except the last one. Now let me tell you something. There are many stages of violence. A normal human being would encounter few of them over the years. They would encounter manipulators, people who harm you by schemes, then there are assertive people, who harm by ignoring words and logic, then there are aggressive people, who yell, scream and abuse. For most people, that is the most violence they face. This is why they are completely unprepared when they face assaulters. Everyone has a plan, till they get punched in the mouth. But even assaultive people piss themselves when they face murderous people. They can't be reasoned with, bought, or stopped. The only way to stop someone who is murderous is by heavy, brutal violence."
Robert got up from his chair, asking Leonard to follow him. The two climbed down to the basement, where Robert had a small gym and practice room built. The two approached a mat before Robert turned and said, "Now, for most people, the easiest way to win a fight is to not fight at all. Fights are not like duels, they are dangerous and messy. But violence is not uncommon. Do you know why?"
Leonard thought for a second. He answered, "Because it works."
Robert grinned, "Exactly. Violence is found in society because it works on most of the society. Let's say, you face thugs. They beat you, they break your bones and they steal your money. But what happens if the thugs are beaten up?"
Leonard answered, "They come back, with numbers and weapons."
Robert nodded, "The first lesson to combat is never fight if your goal is survival. The best way to survive is to escape from the fight. You will lose respect, but you will keep your life. When escape is impossible, fight not with grit and anger, but by logic and weapons. As they say, never bring a knife to a gun fight."
Robert removed his jacket, revealing his black t-shirt. He quickly asked Leonard to do the same. He said, "The next lesson is crucial. You can even apply it to your daily life. When you are in a conflict, everything is a weapon."
Robert stepped onto the mat and said, "Now, the next lesson, when you fight, use skill for matching opponents, not easy opponents. I always believe that this lesson is better learned in a fight. Come at me. Let's see what you are made of."
Leonard was happy to oblige.
U.S. District Attorney's Office, New York
Charles 'Chuck' Rhoades meditated in his office. His mind calmed, letting the stress and anxiety bleed away from him. As he came out of his trance, he heard a knock. He muttered a soft 'come in' before getting up from his couch. Bryan Connerty came into the room with a file in his hand.
Bryan insisted, "You should see this. It just came from the SEC. An independent trader, with trades from five months ago till about a week ago. Multiple suspicious trades, each stock held for a couple of days, before being sold at the best possible price. A clear cut case of insider trading."
Chuck was dismissive at that. In most cases, a single fine was enough to punish the trader. He said, "Why should I see this? He might have earned a lot in the past five months, but that is hardly our concern. A simple fine should suffice. Didn't this trader ping their networks."
Bryan shook his head. He said, "The things are not so simple. Take a look at this."
Bryan placed a photograph on the table. It showed Bobby Axelrod, the founder and owner of Axe Capital, drinking with a young man holding a pale green highball. Bryan added, "That is the trader in question. His work has Axelrod's prints all over. Similar trading habits and strategies. Should we approach him, maybe shake him up a bit?"
Chuck looked at the photograph for a minute, studying it keenly. He turned to Bryan, "Gather everything on this man. Make sure to leave no stone unturned. If he is innocent, we will find that in the evidence. If he is guilty, he will become the piece that can bring down Axelrod."
AN: My first proper action scene will come in the next chapter. Stay tuned.
AN2: A big thank you to all my Patrons. I wanted to release this chapter yesterday, but I had to travel. Please enjoy the chapter
AN3: I was supposed to upload yesterday, but I was out of town and didn't have access to my computer. Sorry for the delay
Support me on Patreon at patreon.com/SparksNFlames