Michael, standing at an imposing 6'1" and clad in red and black robes, was a mystery to most within the SAAHO organization. Ranked as the #3 assassin, his motives were the subject of hushed speculation among his peers. When one curious soldier asked Maya about him, she offered a candid response:
"It's simple, really. Michael isn't cruel by nature. He kills because he has to—for his family."
MICHAEL'S ORIGINS
Michael's story began with tragedy. His family once owned a thriving business, but a sudden collapse left them destitute. The fallout deeply scarred him, planting a fear of financial instability that would shape his life. With only the modest income from a small family farm and his older brother's earnings as a taxi driver, survival became a daily struggle.
In his youth, Michael grappled with failing grades, substance abuse, and alcoholism, seeking escape from the weight of his circumstances. He fell into an addiction to gore and violent media, as well as painkillers, which dulled his emotional pain but pushed him deeper into a spiral of self-destruction.
A brief flicker of hope came when Michael found what he thought was love. Yet this relationship turned out to be manipulative and toxic, leaving him emotionally and financially drained. When he discovered the truth, he walked away, heartbroken but resolute. This experience marked a turning point in his life.
Determined to rebuild himself, Michael quit his addictions one by one. He found strength in discipline and an unexpected purpose in becoming an assassin. This path, though morally fraught, offered him a way to provide for his family and secure the financial stability that had always eluded them.
THE ASSASSIN'S GREED AND GENEROSITY
Michael's primary drive is money—more of it, always. The fear of another financial collapse keeps him working tirelessly, killing more criminals in a day than anyone else in SAAHO. His ruthless efficiency has earned him the respect of his peers and secured his position as one of the organization's elite.
Yet Michael is far from a one-dimensional figure consumed by greed. Despite his mercenary nature, he has a surprising streak of generosity. He often gives money to those in need, sometimes as much as $100 or $200. This duality—his relentless pursuit of wealth paired with a willingness to share it—makes him both feared and beloved.
A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT
As an assassin, Michael is unparalleled. His mastery of firearms and knives allows him to handle even the most dangerous missions with precision and ease. Whether in close combat or at a distance, he is lethal, his actions guided by the same discipline that helped him overcome his addictions.
While his skills and determination are undeniable, Michael's personality is what truly sets him apart. He is charismatic and likable, often winning over even his enemies through persuasion, bribery, or sheer charm.
A DUAL PERSONALITY
Michael's life is a balancing act between light and darkness. By day, he is a devoted provider and protector of his family. By night, he is a relentless killer, driven by the ghosts of his past and the hunger for financial security. His duality makes him both a terrifying assassin and an oddly relatable figure—a man shaped by trauma, driven by necessity, but still clinging to his humanity.
Though ranked third in SAAHO, Michael's influence and efficiency make him a cornerstone of the organization. His life is a testament to survival and reinvention, a man who refuses to let his past define him but cannot escape its shadow.
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MICHAEL AS A FATHER
Michael's transformation from a ruthless assassin to a devoted father was a testament to his unyielding drive for redemption. When he first took Ray under his wing, he had little experience with children, and the idea of fatherhood seemed as foreign to him as peace. But the circumstances surrounding Ray's arrival in his life—an orphaned boy lost in the chaotic world of crime—struck something deep within him. Michael saw himself in Ray: the scars of a brutal world, the vulnerability of a child who had been thrust into it without protection or guidance.
The early days of their relationship were tough, not just for Ray, but for Michael as well. Michael didn't know how to be a father. He was used to living in the shadows, working alone, doing what he had to do without the distraction of emotions or relationships. But Ray, with his bright eyes and unspoken pain, refused to be ignored. Slowly, Michael learned how to balance his violent life with the responsibility of caring for someone so innocent, someone so full of potential.
Michael was not just a provider for Ray—he became a protector. His life, once marked by selfishness and greed, took on a new purpose: to ensure Ray never suffered the way he had. Despite the danger that came with his job, Michael always found a way to shield Ray from it. He made sure Ray was never involved in his missions, keeping him safe and out of harm's way as best as he could. Michael's work in SAAHO could be brutal, but when it came to Ray, he was gentle, patient, and unyielding in his devotion.
He often found himself in the oddest situations: tutoring Ray in basic math and reading, teaching him how to defend himself, and even helping him with his schoolwork. Despite Michael's own fractured education, he pushed through to teach Ray the value of knowledge, the importance of making smart decisions. But it wasn't just about academics. Michael also taught Ray about life—the importance of resilience, how to fight back when life knocked you down, and how to hold onto your humanity in the face of a world that could be brutal and unforgiving.
At night, after a day of training or lessons, Michael would sit beside Ray, watching him sleep. The sight of Ray, so small and innocent, wrapped in his covers, would bring an overwhelming sense of peace to Michael. He'd sit in the silence, allowing himself to think about the boy's future. No matter how much of a monster he had become in his line of work, Michael vowed that Ray would have the chance for a better life. It was something he never had, but something he could give.
On weekends, when Michael's work allowed, he would take Ray out on trips—usually simple things like fishing, hiking, or visiting parks. It wasn't much, but to Ray, it was everything. Michael saw the joy in Ray's eyes during these outings, the way the boy would laugh freely, unburdened by the darkness that had defined so much of his young life. Michael did his best to create memories that would help Ray build something better for himself, something to hold onto when the world tried to tear him down.
Their bond deepened over time. Ray looked up to Michael not just as a father figure, but as a mentor—someone who understood the weight of the world in ways no one else could. Michael wasn't just an assassin to Ray—he was a man who, despite his past, had chosen to love and care for him.
Even when things got tough—when the dark shadows of his work threatened to consume him—Michael held onto one thing: his promise to Ray. He knew that, in the end, the most important thing he could do for his adoptive son wasn't to ensure wealth or power, but to provide the love and protection that had been lacking in his own childhood. It wasn't an easy life, but Michael was determined to make it a good one—for Ray. Because, in Michael's heart, nothing mattered more than seeing Ray grow up with the freedom and love he had never had.
In the quiet moments, after a long day of teaching and protecting, Michael would sit back and think about his life before Ray. It had been filled with addiction, despair, and isolation. But now, looking at Ray's sleeping face, Michael knew something had changed. He had found something worth living for—someone worth fighting for. And that, to Michael, was everything.
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"I am Michael, the calculating figure of my anti-hero organization. My jaw split open and held together by staples in my red and black cloak and black armor, they fear me for my level of calculation and my Machiavellianism. They always meet their end—either by my gun or my hunting knives. They never escape. They fear my tactical planning, which has earned me a reputation in the Bird Clan. I am the Calculator of Death. Or the Devoted Sentinel. Both names mean one thing—you will die, either by my gun or by my knife."
-Michael Hawks