Page 3 of Judge's Justice

"He didn't steal anything. He protected someone who asked for help."

"That's not how Demon sees it." The Viper is still smiling, still moving closer. "You got a name, Phoenix?"

"Judge."

The Viper's eyes go wide. Then he laughs: loud, mean, delighted. "No shit? You're Judge? The VP?" He looks back at me, then atJudge again. "This is perfect. You know what taking down the VP of the Iron Phoenix would do for me? The reputation I'd get?"

"You're welcome to try."

"Oh, I'm going to do more than try, old man." The Viper pulls the knife from his belt, and flips it open with a practiced flick. "Demon's going to pin a medal on me when I bring him your patch."

Judge's expression doesn't change. His hands hang loose at his sides, and he doesn't look at the knife. Just at the Viper's face. "Last chance. Walk away."

"Fuck you."

The Viper lunges.

I grab Grace and pull her behind me, turning her face into my jacket so she can't see, but I can't look away. The Viper is fast, the knife cutting through the air toward Judge's ribs, but Judge is faster. He sidesteps like he knew exactly where the blade would be, catches the Viper's wrist mid-swing, and twists hard.

I hear the crack from where I'm standing.

The Viper screams. The knife hits the pavement with a clatter. Judge doesn't let go. He just drives his knee into the Viper's stomach hard enough to double him over, then brings his elbow down on the back of the Viper's neck. The Viper drops to his knees, gasping.

"You made a mistake," Judge says. His voice is absolutely calm. Like he's commenting on the weather. "Coming to Millhaven. Putting your hands on civilians. Pulling a knife on me."

The Viper tries to swing wild with his good hand. Judge blocks it, grabs the back of the Viper's head, and slams his face into his rising knee. Blood explodes from the Viper's nose. He staggers back, trips, falls.

Judge follows him down. Crouches next to him. Says something too low for me to hear.

Whatever it is makes the Viper's eyes go wide with terror.

Then Judge stands, picks up the knife from where it fell, and tosses it into the darkness beyond the streetlight's reach. He looks at the Viper: blood streaming from his nose, one arm cradled against his chest, eyes wild with pain and fear.

"Go back to Demon," Judge says. "Tell him I was patrolling. Tell him I caught you harassing a woman and her kid. Tell him exactly what happened when you tried to make a name for yourself." He pauses. "And tell him if I catch another Viper in my town, they won't walk away."

The Viper scrambles to his feet, nearly falls again, catches himself against the vending machine. For a second I think he might try something stupid, might go for another weapon, might try to attack again. But then he looks at Judge's face and whatever he sees there makes him turn and run, stumbling into the darkness beyond the bus station.

The sound of his footsteps fades.

Judge watches until there's nothing but silence. Then he turns to me.

I'm frozen. Grace is plastered against my side, her eyes huge, her hands clutching my jacket so hard her knuckles are white. The man who just dismantled another man in under two minutes is walking toward us, and I don't know if I should run or say thank you or…

He stops a few feet away. Doesn't come closer. His hands hang loose at his sides, non-threatening despite what I just watched them do.

"You okay?" His voice is rough but gentler than I expected.

I can't speak. Can't do anything but nod.

He looks down at Grace, and his expression shifts. Softens, maybe. Or maybe I'm imagining it. "She okay?"

Grace is staring up at him with enormous eyes. She signs to me without looking away from him. “Is he nice? Did he hurt the mean man?”

“I don't know,” I sign back. “Yes. The mean man is gone.”

Judge watches my hands. Watches Grace's face. Then his eyes come back to mine.

"You're new in town."