Chapter 472: The Omnipotent Martin.

In the aftermath of the harrowing shooting, efficiency became paramount. As the ambulance pulled away from the scene and the LAPD gathered details, an army of media reporters and paparazzi swarmed in, their fingers already dialing their agencies or potential buyers. The LAPD and the FBI, embroiled in jurisdictional disputes and attending to the two injured gangsters, were oblivious to the media frenzy erupting around them.

TMZ, always quick on the draw, had already uploaded raw footage captured by one of their reporters, foregoing any edits or adjustments. The headline was a model of clarity and urgency: "Martin Davis Ambushed by Armed Gangsters, Heroically Fights Back with Bodyguards!" This explosive news piece quickly found its way to the top of TMZ's homepage, courtesy of the editor-in-chief who personally rallied her top team, the Judy squad, to relentlessly pursue and report on every angle of the incident.

Meanwhile, at CNN's headquarters in Atlanta, Nina, the on-time news director, was orchestrating a live news program when her deputy rushed in, whispering urgent news. "Really?" she exclaimed in disbelief, quickly removing her headset. Her deputy confirmed, "Our contact purchased the video and sent it immediately. I've seen it; it's the real deal."

Nina reviewed the footage with swift efficiency and decisively interrupted the regular broadcast. "Switch to the footage of Martin Davis's shootout with the gangsters," she commanded. "We'll provide round-the-clock coverage and continuous updates on this story." As the director whisked away the storage disk, she added, "Notify our Los Angeles team to shift focus from Obama and his entourage to this. We need full coverage."

The news of Martin's daring encounter spread like wildfire. Major networks like Warner TV, Fox, ABC, and NBC all broke into their scheduled programming to showcase the unfolding drama of Martin's valiant fight against the armed assailants.

The video, showcasing Martin's confrontation, quickly captivated audiences nationwide. The incident's location, the Old Pier in Santa Monica, had been pre-announced by Cartier for a Martin Davis ad shoot, attracting a plethora of entertainment paparazzi who managed to capture the event on film. Hundreds of eyewitnesses added to the growing stockpile of footage and testimony, turning the Santa Monica Pier into a hotbed of investigative activity for both the LAPD and the FBI.

Outside the pier, a media carnival was in full swing. The swarm of reporters arriving on the scene eclipsed even the police presence. Anyone with photos or videos of the incident, or even a mere witness account, was instantly besieged by the press.

Among the crowd, a tourist became the center of attention as several reporters encircled him, cameras flashing. With great excitement and perhaps a touch of exaggeration, he recounted, "I was less than thirty meters from the attack. I saw everything, four attackers emerging from a Ford van, intent on kidnapping Martin. But Martin, he just... he took them down, just like that..." His hands animatedly mimicked the action, his words painting a vivid picture of Martin's heroic stand.

In the immediate wake of the intense shootout, a tourist became the center of attention among a throng of reporters. With dramatic gestures, he reenacted the scene. "I was right there, not even thirty meters away! Martin took down those thugs more efficiently than Jason Bourne!" His foot lashed out, narrowly missing a reporter's crotch, while his emphatic hand gestures came dangerously close to another's eye.

The reporters, their eyes wide with intrigue, nodded eagerly.

The tourist, buoyed by the attention, embellished further. "Then, over a dozen armed gangsters appeared. Martin snatched a gun from the kidnappers' car and engaged in a fierce gun battle, downing more than a dozen single-handedly!"

A reporter, furrowing his brow, interjected, "But the video I saw showed maybe five or six, right?"

The tourist waved the objection aside. "The camera didn't catch everything! I was there. I saw Martin take down a dozen gangsters with my own eyes!"

He punctuated his tale with a bold claim: "In the world of actors, no one can fight better than Martin!"

Despite their doubts about the exact number of gunmen, the reporters unanimously agreed on Martin's unparalleled combat skills.

Meanwhile, a group of Martin's fans, clad in red cultural shirts, were sharing their perspectives with another set of reporters.

"He's incredible!" a brown-haired young man exclaimed. "He fought his way from the outskirts of the pier right down to the seaside, eliminating every armed thug in his path. There were... what, twenty of them?"

His companion, eyes alight with admiration, corrected him, "More like thirty, I think."

"No, no, I counted carefully – there were at least forty!" another fan interjected.

These fans, followers of the so-called 'Coke Cult', were utterly mesmerized by Martin's heroics.

Contrastingly, another group of fans, teary-eyed and emotional, faced NBC's cameras. "Martin risked his life to save us," one said. "He kept yelling for us to get to safety, insisting the gangsters were after him, not us."

Another added, "His shouts might have given away his position, leading him to be surrounded."

A girl in the group nodded fervently. "He saved us!"

The sentiment was echoed by others. "Martin was injured trying to protect us. We're all praying for him at the hospital."

As more fans gathered, expressing their hope for Martin's recovery, the reporters realized the potential for a bigger story unfolding at the hospital.

"If Martin dies, it'll be a monumental story for journalism," one reporter murmured, before rushing off to find out which hospital Martin had been taken to.

"The UCLA Medical Center!" another called out as they hurried to their vehicles.

Meanwhile, Leonardo, questioned by the LAPD and FBI, sat dejectedly beside a car, voicing his concerns to Nicholson. "Martin owes me big time. He can't die on me!"

Nicholson, donning his sunglasses with a cool demeanor, pointed towards Bruce, who was calmly liaising with the authorities. "Look at Bruce over there, all composed. Does Martin look like he's in trouble?"

Leonardo sighed in relief. "Martin's moved me more than anyone else, including Toby."

Nicholson's response was tinged with sarcasm. "What, you got a thing for Martin? That's not a good sign. He's a major scumbag... But then again, so are you. What could possibly come of that?"

Ignoring the jibe, Leonardo insisted, "Martin's a man of loyalty."

Nicholson countered, "Of course he is. If he and you weren't loyal, why would I hang around with you guys? When Martin was in danger, he told us to run while he covered us."

Leonardo nodded. "And I saved you, remember? You couldn't have run that fast without me."

Acknowledging the truth in this, Nicholson quipped, "To repay your life-saving grace, I've decided to marry Lorraine to you, no prenup needed."

Leonardo, his face flushed with a mix of anger and incredulity, struggled to contain his emotions. Nicholson, ever the opportunist, noticed the gathering reporters and nudged Leonardo. "Time to shine, Leo," he whispered.

"How do we do that?" Leonardo asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.

"Just follow my lead," Nicholson replied, stepping beyond the police cordon.

They were immediately swarmed by over a dozen reporters, bombarding them with questions. "Jack, were you with Martin during the incident?" "What exactly happened?" "Did Martin really tell you to get away from him?"

Nicholson raised his hands, signaling for calm. Once the crowd quieted down, he began, "When the attack started, Martin was in the front, Leo and I were behind. Martin quickly subdued the assailant and told us to escape while he covered us."

A reporter, skeptical, interjected, "So you just ran away?"

Nicholson shook his head. "No, Leo and I called the police and then took a strategic position on the dock's rooftop." He pointed towards the management office roof. "From there, we assisted Martin. I located the gangsters and directed Martin's attack. We took down over a dozen armed thugs!"

Leonardo, listening to Nicholson's embellished tale, was taken aback. He knew Nicholson was bold, but this was a whole new level.

Nicholson's storytelling was bolstered when a reporter mentioned, "Your shouts are audible in several videos."

Nicholson touched his throat. "My voice is hoarse from directing Martin. I had to shout to be heard," he explained.

"You're as heroic as ever, Jack!" a reporter complimented.

Nicholson chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment.

Another reporter turned to Leonardo. "And what did you do, Leo?"

Leonardo, caught off guard, quickly thought on his feet. "Jack may not have the best eyesight, but his voice is strong. You've heard him at Lakers games. I helped spot the gangsters, and Jack used his voice to command Martin."

Nicholson, his surprise hidden behind sunglasses, was impressed by Leonardo's quick thinking.

Leonardo, with a casual arm around Nicholson, added, "Martin led the charge, and Jack and I provided support. Together, we took down the gang."

Nicholson smiled and affirmed, "Leo's right. But let's not forget, Martin was crucial. His action skills are unmatched in Hollywood."

Leonardo nodded in agreement. "Martin's strength is beyond anything you can imagine."

With that, Nicholson concluded the impromptu press conference. "We're off to the hospital to check on Martin." He signaled for his extended Lincoln to pick them up, heading towards the medical center with a trail of reporters following.