The Story of Antonio Bassett

 

 

As a young man Toni grew up on the rough streets of Chicago. He never knew his father and his mother was a drug addict leaving him to fend mostly for himself. At the age of 13 he left school with only a 8^th grade education, street smarts, and a plan to make it the only way he know how, as a runner for some of the local gang bangers and drug dealers. They liked to hire young kids to hold the drugs mostly because if they got grabbed by the cops they wouldn’t be stuck with any real time. He quickly made a name for himself after having to fight off older boys who tried to take the stash he was holding for his dealer. By the age of 16 Toni was a recognized figure on the streets of Chicago. He was ruthless and cared little for the lives of those around him outside of his brothers and sisters in the gang. Two years ago that all changed.

 

January 13^th 2002

 

Toni stood on the corner of Malcolm X Blvd and Price Street waiting for the drop he had been told to get here. The snow was damn near knee deep and he was tired of getting in and out of his car trying not to stand out. As he looked up the street the night air seemed to change, a hint of warmth rushed trough his body and he was spun around and fell to the ground. As his hands touched his stomach he felt the warmth of life spilling out of him into the white snow. Suddenly the warmth went away and was replaced by the deepest cold he had ever felt. “I been shot.” He said laying there as two men stood over him. They looked down at him and one of them smiled.

“Damn right you been shot. You time is over.” He said he looked as if he was going to say more, his lips even moved but Toni heard nothing. Suddenly there was a man standing within a few feet and his knife was covered in blood. The second man fell to the ground. The first man pulled a gun and began to fire, but once more Toni heard nothing, was this death he said to himself. The bullets clearly hit the knife wielding savior, but they didn’t slow him. He moved like water very fluid and with perfect motion he cut the second man several time. As the body hit the ground Toni once again heard sound, the death cry of the men who had shoot him.

“Will you change your ways if I help you to live, or should I leave you to die with these monsters?” The man asked leaning over him. His eyes where cold and uncaring, Toni didn’t think he was a savior after all but he didn’t want to die.

“I will change.” He said not really sure what this man meant, but willing to say whatever he needed to in order to gain just one more day. With that he blacked out. The next thing he clearly remembered was waking in a room he had never seen before. Only a few feet away was the man who had saved him and he appeared to be meditating. Toni felt his wound and found it was gone, as if it had never been there. He was shocked. He reached down into his waist to find his gun was still there. The man never moved as he sat meditating. Toni saw no weapons and he was sure he could take the guy since he had the gun. As he pulled it he was overwhelmed by a feeling of regret, he pointed it at the man, yet he found he couldn’t pull the trigger. “What have you done to me!” he called out as Malik just sat there. Then a voice came to him.

“MY student has risked much to save your worthless self, you would be wise to put away that gun before he becomes aware of you and it or surely he will kill you.” Toni felt a strong respect for the person on the other end almost a love. As he tucked the gun between the mattress and box spring of the bed he sat there watching. As Malik stood his eyes open and locked with Toni’s.

“You are awake, good.” Malik said extending his hand. “I am Malik Shaheed El-Shabazz,” Toni shock his hand still unsure. “I am here to help you find a new way.” And with those words his whole world changed. Malik was a Professor of Theology and while Toni had little want to learn about god, he was more then happy to improve his more basic skills. As Toni learned more and more about Malik he found him more and more a father figure. They had come from the same background, hell Toni was from the housing projects where Malik’s family had lived when he was a boy. After a month or so Toni reconnected with his gang and attempted to explain what had happen, but he found them unreceptive. They said he had taken the drop and run off, several of them even tried to kill him. It was then that he felt the first rush of the true change he had undergone. With blinding speed and strength he was able to fight off several of his former friends. That was the first night Abdul came to him, Toni sensed he knew Abdul and that he had been the voice from before.

“You role is simple now.” Abdul explained. “Malik is a teacher and learner as is his role. You are a warrior, you must protect him even from himself sometimes and you must protect his flock.” Toni seemed to understand without even knowing what was really being said. “I will teach you what you need to know.” And so he did. Toni learned to fight first with a gun, then with a sword and lastly with his hands. He learned to spot those of Abdul and Maliks kind, how to think like them and how to hunt them.

 

Currently Toni serves mostly as Malik daytime protector and when they travel he spends much of his time watching out for other Kindred. While he is a better fighter then his new Regent (Abdul was his old) he lacks social skills and distrust most Vampires.

 

“Malik ain’t here, Why you looking for him anyway?”