Read the Story!
Did you know comics have age ratings? I didn't! If this story had to be rated, it'd receive a fat M for mature.
Chapter list:
I wrote a list of things that happen in this story that may turn away a reader and that's okay! I'd rather you find out the story instantly isn't for you than having something messed up happen and it makes you too uncomfortable or upset to continue. To those who like those jaw-dropping moments though, I won't tell you where it happens in the story. Just expect it at some point.
Which may include:
- Blood and Gore.
- Themes of Trauma and PTSD.
- strong Language.
- Intense violence.
- Crude humor. (Known as my writing.)
If you find anything else you think deserves a warning, let me know.
Chapter 1: Don't Wander
Growing up with his father who is an innovative engineer, Jace is born into an okay life. At around 15, he enjoys being useful...and being a bit of a troublemaker. His dad's most recent invention, a robotic arm that has the ability to absorb and inherit personality traits from other machines. For example, he can slap a toaster with the palm of the hand and now the hand is able to generate its own heat anytime! Jace continues to scavenge bolts and gears for his dad despite his constant worrying. There are things at night that prowl around for their next victim...
One evening, Jace sneaks out before his father returns from his daily errands. He arrives at a warehouse and sneaks in for anything he can get his hands on. There he sees two figures below him dressed in all black with...shiny skin? With a quick flick of his head, he also sees his dad laying before them with a pistol to his head. Jace leaps over the railing above to save his only living family. A shot fires out and an enemy attacks Jace, severing his left arm and leaving him to die with his dad.
Despite this fatal injury, Jace lives. He has no recollection of how he returned, but the tragic injury still greets him. In his father's office, he finds the arm and a sticky note with the sentence, "You really need to stop wandering." He dawns the arm as his own and with a sigh of guilt, he leaves to find whoever killed his dad.
Chapter 2: A Companion
Over half a decade passes, Jace walks into the Bluestone Cemetery where his father's tombstone rests. After some brief flashbacks, he's brought back from his trance by a low voice. A man, not much older than Jace, stands before him observing a grave. He asks once more if Jace knows the man he's reading about. Jace tells the man about his past, in return he immediately opens up and recounts his similar past. In the midst of night, a robotic figure stormed through the man's house and murdered his family before his eyes. He's resented those cold-blooded creatures since. Jace sympathizes and asks the man his name. Luke, he replies. He then tells Jace to meet him later tonight at the park in the middle of town if he wishes to establish trust with him. Jace agrees and they go on their separate ways.
Chapter 3: First Encounter
Dusk falls and the two reconvene at the Bluestone City Park. A quite pretty location in juxtaposition to the previous sights. Luke tells Jace that for some bizarre reason, figures similar to those that harmed both of their lives would meet and discuss...something. He never could decipher what. On time, two robotic people drop down from above the trees and streetlights. Luke immediately prepares for combat, with Jace hesitating and becoming tense. After some reflection and flashback to the event that catapulted this series of events, he raises his fists. Suddenly, his prosthetic arm begins to illuminate. Then, it erupts into flames. At first, Jace freaks out and tries to wave and blow the fire before Luke asks him to touch it. In confusion and shock, he does so. It doesn't hurt him. They nod and begin their assault.
Jace fumbles right off the bat, missing punches and getting tripped up on his own footing. Luke sprints by as the palm of his hand glows light-green in tandem with his bracelets. He manifests a lime, translucent knife and goes in for a kill. He wraps around the android and impales the knife into their shoulder. He shouts at Jace to finish off the enemy as he runs towards the second android. Jace squints his eyes and clenches his fist before firing an erupting fist that sends the enemy to the floor. He recoils and tries to process what he just did. As he stands stunned, he's approached by the second android. Luke yells out for him as he appears airborne above them both. Jace snaps to and spins on his heel to face the oncoming opponent. In a second, the android is met with a green knife through the brainstem and a blazing fist into the chest. It collapses next to the other android, they remain motionless as the two protagonists meet up with each other.
Jace is overwhelmed, but in awe at Luke's skills and abilities. Luke asks Jace if he could see Luke's weapon, he nods. That settles it, they're partners now with the goal to dismantle androids. Jace's arm catches his attention again as it illuminates again. He glances down at it as he finally notices the shoulder light has switched from green to red. The word 'Status' is identifiable within the glow. He taps the light and it fades back to green, his arm hissing as it begins to cool off and produce some steam. He's intrigued by this new power he's discovered, but it's short-lived as the two androids begin to move once more. They immediately leap up onto a close-by rooftop slightly away from the park's gates. Luke asks where the hell their leader is, with the only response being an index finger pointing straight to the sky and the word 'Above' being muttered from one of them before they disappear into the night. Luke clenches his fist before sighing and turning to Jace, asking if he has a place to stay. He responds no, so the two set off to find somewhere that'll be happy to provide them a home.
Chapter 4: a place to call home
Wandering through the depths of Bluestone, they approach streets and buildings completely run-down and covered in graffiti. It's quiet, something must've happened here. Breaking the now deafening silence, the soft buzzing of a neon sign is heard in the distance. It's pretty plain, the sign only reads "TAVERN" in a blinding red. Luke shrugs they open the double-doors. They sit down before a bartender walks over to greet them. Jace asks for a water as it's his first time in a bar setting. For Luke? Water...with mint. The bartender rolls their eyes before returning with their boring cocktails. A man walks over and asks the two gentlemen why they decided to stroll into their humble establishment. Luke asks if they know where the chromatic creatures terrorizing the town are. Immediately, the two are meant with silence. The man glances down at Jace's arm as his expression turns blank.
"Are you with them?" He asks. Several members of the surrounding tables stand up, knuckles crack and knives are drawn out. One of the folks instinctively swings their axe at Jace due to the metal attracting their eye. Jace's reflexes quickly activate to block the blade using the suspicious arm in question. Everyone gasps, the loud thunks of a few wooden handles could be heard colliding with the floor. Luke inhales sharply and tugs on Jace's sleeve for him to not make a scene since they truly wish no harm. The one attacking Jace doesn't let up however, only attempting to drive their weapon past this tin can of a hand. Jace feels the added weight being used to inch closer to his neck, his hand slowly lowering due to the pressure. Just like before, the green light in Jace's arm fades into red as it begins to heat up. The person is confused for a second before flames begin to swallow their axe's blade. They yell before dropping the axe altogether and stepping away from the erupting fire. It fizzles out as it returns into Jace's arm, changing his shoulder's light back to green.
Jace shakes his head and explains to the bartender that him and Luke are only here in search of a place to live since they no longer have one. The robotic arm he has was a creation/gift from his father, nothing like the bizarre technology the androids are made of. There's another period of silence, but it isn't for rising tensions, it's for a general sense of guilt. The man apologizes to the two and introduces himself as the owner of the tavern. He tells them about a small living complex within one of the alleyways right outside of the tavern. There's a few rooms left if him and Luke were interested. They agree.
The two are greeted to a small, white-brick room with two mattresses held up by poorly-built metal bedframes. The owner reminds the two that any and all necessities are within the tavern and are available for them at all times. They reply with a thank you, although Luke's tone seemed to come across more melancholic. Jace throws off his jacket and places the collar on an edge on the bedframe. He crashes his body into the bed, bouncing a few times due to the obnoxious amount of springs within the mattress. Luke sits down on the spring-loaded mattress and grumbles to himself. This is home, but is it a sweet home?
Chapter 5: a bounty to claim
It's been a few days. The two have been able to catch their breath and plan out possible locations for android activity. Over at the tavern, everything has gone back to normal. No more attacks and no more bizarre customers.
A young man coated head-to-toe in black approaches the alleyway of the tavern and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out his phone and checks his messages. The location is there, the man you're hunting is named Luke. He slides his phone away into his jacket and forces the double doors open. The patrons all stare in confusion, one asking if the man's okay. He only responds in a snarl and asks if they've seen a man named Luke. They get defensive and begin to gather around him, informing him that Luke and his buddy helped the tavern. The man demands Luke's location, before he's unable to arrive to help them again. The customers don't back down. From behind, one charges with a machete with the intent to backstab the intruder.
Suddenly, they're greeted with a large, almost-invisible stinger ready to intercept their sneak attack. It impales itself on the roof of their mouth and suspends them in the air. They flail and swing in a panic, but nothing will reach. The man ensures the others that the person currently above him will rot within the next minute unless they give him a location. Finally, one of them points to the other set of double doors that leads off to the alley of rooms. The man drops the person above as the translucent stinger and tail retract into the man's jacket. He thanks them for their service.
Luke and Jace are currently in their separate beds. Jace is fiddling with his arm while Luke is resting his eyes. Then, the door breaks from the wall with a sudden force towards Luke. His eyes flash open as he instinctively dodges the door, ending up in the middle of the room. The man dressed in black enters the room and matches Luke's appearance to the description he was given.
???: "Luke Holmes, I've been tasked to kill you due to your enhanced abilities,"
Luke: "And who the hell are you?"
Chapter 6: same aura
The man refuses to answer and instead, fires another stinger from his coat towards Luke. He vaults the incoming stinger and kicks the assassin straight to the skull. The impact sends the two out of the doorway and into the open alley. The man wipes the blood dripping from his nose and stands up. Now having a clear visual on the stinger, it's comparable to that of a scorpion's. Luke doesn't have too much time to process it as the man sends the stinger down towards him. Luke dodges backward and flips onto his feet. With a thrust of his elbow, he summons a plasma spear through his gauntlets. The man whistles,
???: "There's something to you. We're alike."
Luke recoils in confusion before running towards the man with his arm held out to his side. He goes for a diagonal slash upwards, but his target leaps into the air before sprouting two more tails. He brings them together and spins his body back into Luke, having the blunt part of the tail hammer him into the concrete. He gasps for air before the man places his hand on Luke's mouth. He leans his body forwards and whispers into his ear,
???: "I was wrong. You're nothing compared to me."
Within an instant, the man feels an unbearable pain as he feels his tails disconnect from his body. He snaps his gaze over to the culprit, Jace and his new sword. The man snarls before turning around and lunging towards Jace, slamming him into the wall. With his hands around Jace's throat, he begins to close his fingers. Through a quick breath, Jace mutters,
Jace: "I'm not getting cornered...that easily..."
The man begins to feel the right side of his body heat up. He glances down and notices Jace's robotic arm generating heat around his mid-section. With an explosion of flames, he sends the man hurtling away towards him. To follow-up, Luke manifests another spear and stabs him from behind and through the shoulder. He screams before the spear is retracted, causing only mild-burn damage. He drops to the floor and struggles to catch his breath.
Luke: "I guess I'll ask again, who the hell are you?"
Henry: My name is Henry Grimes. I'm...a mid-ranked bounty hunter. I just got promoted...there's no way I'm already done..."
Jace: "Already done?"
Henry: "When I report this to my boss...fuck, he's gonna kill me for sure. Eye for an eye, y'know?
Jace: "Then don't report it. You wanna stay alive, don't ya?
Luke: "I don't want him alive."
Jace: "I'm not asking you. Henry, right? You said Luke and you were similar. Wanna explain that?
Henry: "We both have the power of auras and manifestation. I can voluntarily add certain venomous aspects of animals to my body. I couldn't tell you how or why though."
Luke: "I use these gauntlets as a way to focus my energy further than what a normal manifestation can do. I only summon melee weapons, I couldn't tell you how or why either. Maybe we are alike."
Henry: "Great, I finally meet someone I can relate too and my head gets to be sliced clean off my body by tomorrow..."
Jace: "Does your boss know anything about androids?"
Henry: "He hates them with a passion, but they're his most profitable customer. It's supposed to go to the city I'm from, but he blows it all on personal shit."
Jace: "You're not from Bluestone?"
Luke: "I'm not from Bluestone."
Henry: "I was raised in the mountains. Rose Rocks, it's just north of here. It's a dump, but apparently it was beautiful at some point."
Jace: "How about we patch you up and have you bring us there and more importantly, to your boss so me and Luke can ask him some questions?"
Luke: "What's wrong with you? He has a mission to complete! If he help him, what's stopping him from killing us at any point?!"
Jace: "I think someone wants to get back at their boss now that they finally have someone on their side. Whaddya say?"
Henry: "I think you're borderline insane, but you're onto something. The three of us could pose a threat. We'll be there by sundown."
Jace reaches his arm out for Henry. He grabs his wrist and pulls himself to his feet. He stumbles and staggers to handle his footing, but he's able to recover. They all walk into their new apartment and begin to discuss tonight's plan.
Chapter 7: Rock That Shit, Homie!
Jace: "So, how do we even get into the rocks?"
Henry: "Oh, it's super simple. You two look like complete nobodies, you'll fit right in! However, you gotta hide that shiny-ass arm because it'll immediately be identified as a threat."
Jace: "Easy enough. I can roll down my sleeve."
Luke: "You can roll that sleeve down? Why do you have it up to begin with?"
Jace: "So I won't burn this jacket the second I use my arm. I don't have sleeves under it and constantly having hard metal touch my skin 24/7 makes me shiver."
Luke and Henry glance at each other in confusion before glancing back at Jace.
Henry: "Yeah, whatever. Just cover that fucking arm tonight, alright?"
Jace gives a thumbs up specifically with his robotic one and henry sighs.
Luke: "Question: Where are even meeting?"
Henry: "The mountains at the northern-most point of town. You can't miss the massive hole with an entire civilization inside."
Luke: "Sounds good."
Luke mumbles to himself before Henry walks for the door. They all share a goodbye and go their separate ways. Jace and Luke gear up for the night ahead by fixing up their room and grabbing food at the tavern. They hear about Henry's entrance and beg the folks to forgive them as they're trying to work with him to bring back the androids' head. Somehow, they agree and let Henry slide for the time being.
The sun rests right above the horizon as Jace and Luke walk north through Bluestone. From the alleys and warehouses they've been accustomed to, their surroundings slowly shift into open plazas and market-streets. Looking off to the side, the ocean is as clear as day as it crashes upon the sand only meters away.
Jace: "Reminds me of my childhood. My dad would always take me to the beach."
Luke: "I've never found the appeal. Sand gets in my hair for weeks and I burn too easy. I never tan."
Jace: "Get in the water then if the sand's so bad. That should get it out. I just wish I could see him one last time, smiling with me on the beach...not fearing for his life..."
Luke: "Hey. I don't know if I've ever said it, but I'm sorry."
Jace: "Huh? It's just the beach, we can go tomorrow!"
Luke: "No, not that. I already told you I don't like it. I'm sorry you had to watch your dad die like that."
Jace: "Oh! It's okay. I've had a few years to dwell on it. I'm still moving, aren't I? I think that's all he could ask of me."
Luke: "I understand. Just know as someone who also lost their family, I'm here for you."
Jace: "Oh shit! I'm so sorry if I accidentally brought up anything you didn't want to remember..."
Luke: "You're okay. If I was upset, I wouldn't have apologized to you and offered my support."
Jace: "Fair enough. Are these the rocks?"
Before them stands a massive mountain that blocks their view for miles. An entrance greets them along with Henry standing in front of the hole.
Henry: "You lucky bastards go sight-seeing? I don't care for the beach."
Jace: "Okay, we're seriously taking a trip to the beach after this is all over. You're both too pale."
Henry waves to them and they walk over.
Luke: "Let's get moving. I want this done before midnight."
Henry: "It's fucking dusk. Do you honestly think we're gonna be in there for a few hours?"
Luke: "I'm not finding out. Jace, roll down that sleeve."
Jace follows the order and the three walk towards the gate.
Henry: "The two guards right there? They don't care. Watch."
Without effort, they pass through 'security' and reach the underground village, Rose Rocks.
Chapter 8: Wasting Away
The dark enclosure is only illuminated by the buzzing fluorescent street lamps, various neon signs, dim cracks of light from buildings, and any leftover industrial lights. Drips of water can be heard collecting into the puddles the trio step through.
Luke: "Where are you taking us?"
Henry: "The elevator straight ahead. It'll take us straight to my boss."
Jace: "What happened here? It looks worse than the western part of Blustone."
Henry shushes Jace as he presses the button to call the elevator. Jace staggers back and shifts his body into an industrial air conditioner. He feels his robotic arm get even colder as he shivers.
Henry: "Show some fucking respect. I didn't walk into your shit-stain of an alley and call it a waste-yard."
Luke: "You tried to kill someone though."
Henry: "Oh, that's a Rose Rocks custom.~"
Luke rolls his eyes and the elevator chimes. It has arrived as the three step into it. There's graffiti tags and stickers encasing it. Jace gazes off at a few of them as Henry presses the correct buttons. They begin their ascent.
Henry: "You wanted to know why this place sucks?"
Jace: "No! No, I'm so sorry for disrespecting the royal rose rocks!"
Henry: "Lighten up. I shut you up so others didn't hear you. I can explain now if you really care. It could get lengthy."
Jace: "Then sure. So long as it doesn't break our alliance."
Henry: "Fuck! I shoulda' threatened the alliance, you're a genius!"
Luke: "Jace, stop giving him ideas."
Jace: "(Can I just not win today?)"
Henry: "Anyways. Welcome to Rose Rocks. We've been established for probably over a century now and we've only gotten worse. A wealthy man named Breakdown, I'm not kidding, told a group of folks to dig out a hole in this mountain for them to establish a new town. Followers will do anything, but you gotta pay them. Breakdown Sr. was a very generous man. He was at the front helping getting that hole dug and sharing any potential gems with the crowd. Everyone was getting housing too for their labor. Things were good.
Then, Breakdown Jr. comes around after Sr. kicks the bucket, or the rocks in this case. He's a piece of shit, straight up. As kind of a man as Sr. was, he wasn't the best at regulating his lil' dude so he accidentally raised an asshole. That asshole inherited the entire town and proceeded to drain any profits it was making, right back to himself."
Luke: "He named his son Breakdown too?"
Henry: "Yeah! Insane shit, right? I'd hate myself if I had that name. Actually, he's so fucking wealthy he should just get his name changed. He's the mayor! He could do it for free!"
Jace: "I guess he likes the name. It's pretty unique."
Luke: "I'd stick with a boring name so I wouldn't be immediately identified."
The elevator slows down and chimes on the current floor.
Luke: "Is this our floor?"
Henry: "For how high up we are, it could be trouble."
Jace: "Do you know who could've called it?"
Luke: "How much trouble are we talking?"
Henry: "Oh shit."
Henry: "No. Someone called the elevator from this floor."
Henry: "A lot."
Chapter 9: hothead
The man enters the elevator with the two and glances at the colorful cast.
???: "Good to see ya, Henry. Who's the pair with you?"
Henry: "That's classified. Breakdown wanted to see these two personally."
???: "Really? They must be pretty special if 'big man B.D.' wants to see them."
Henry: "Y-Yeah! It was another assassination, but he wanted them alive."
Ren tilts his head down at Jace's arm. Despite the sleeve, his mechanical fist still sticks out like a chromatic thumb. His shoulder also has a soft, green glow radiating through the fabric.
???: "What's going on with this one?"
Henry: "He wanted to tag along for the ride,"
The elevator chimes before the doors glide open. Ren grabs Jace's shirt and snaps his head towards Henry.
???: "You just wasted this man's life."
Ren throws Jace into the room. It's a parking garage, but it doesn't seem like it's seen the sun in years. He steps off of the elevator and approaches Jace.
???: "Identify yourself! You should know that your arm is contraband!"
Jace: "That's...none of your business."
???: "What we're not gonna do is be slick. Tell me your damn name."
Henry: "Jace! Get the hell outta there!"
Luke: "Who's this ray of sunshine?"
Henry: "That's Ren. One of the greatest elites we have down here in the Rocks. We just got unlucky, very unlucky."
Luke: "You're not gonna help him?"
Henry: "Hell no! If I step anywhere close, I'm a fucking dead-man!"
Luke: "Suit yourself, 'cold-blooded killer."
Luke yells and charges past the elevator doors, forming a spear as he closes the distance between himself and the forming crisis. Instantly, Henry sprints past Luke, shoving him back into the elevator, and charges head-first to the duo. Ren hears the sudden movement and leans his head back, focusing on the two trying to intervene. He smiles and brings his right hand to his left side and with the back of his palm, he counters with a devastating blow.
Ren: "This isn't about you anymore. I'll see you in a few minutes, when your friend's dead."
The force of the attack sends Henry hurtling back into the elevator, conveniently slamming his back against the panel of buttons. After he crashes to the ground, the elevator immediately drops back down to where it started. Jace and Ren are now alone.
Ren: "Jace. With an arm like that, I would've been able to remember you. Why did Henry bring you here?"
Jace stands up, slacking his shoulders in front of his body. He adjusts his posture and rolls up his sleeve. The green glow Ren once saw now fading to red.
Jace: "I'd rather you remember this."
Jace's arm heats up before producing fire once more. He lunges at Ren and they clash fists. Ren's hand was already respectively warm when he struck Henry, now even larger flames erupt from within Ren's fist. They both leap back and before Jace can fully recover, Ren collides another fiery fist to Jace's jaw. He hurtles into a concrete pillar and tumbles across the parking lot. He punches the ground and brings his body back to its feet.
Ren: "Are you trying to be cute? You're a pathetic impersonator."
Jace: "Nah, I'm just trying to meet you at an even level."
Ren: "Please, you'll never be able to dream about being my equal.
Ren smirks before charging at Jace once more. Jace throws a right hook as a potential counter, but Ren leaps a few feet above the punch and sends another blow to Jace's forehead. He's sent crashing into the concrete and recoils back into the air. Ren grabs his ankle and swings him clockwise a few times before hurtling him into a wall. Jace cracks the stone on the wall as he falls to the ground. After a few moments, he begins to stand up again.
Ren: "Oh my God, just fucking die already!"
The color on Jace's arm begins to fade back to green. It hovers on green for a second before now switching to a light blue. Jace looks over in confusion as he flexes his fingers. His body feels cold again, really cold. So cold that that a thin layer of ice has coated the entirety of the metal. He switches his gaze back to Ren as his arm begins to get even colder, producing a thin fog. Ren puts his hands in pockets.
Ren: "What's your deal?"
Jace: "Huh?"
Ren: "That arm, it's pissing me off. I keep getting distracted every time it changes."
Jace: "Are ya scared I can adapt to any situation? That I'm some kinda cyborg?"
Ren: "Not scared, irritated. Get this new, stupid trick outta the way so I can kill you and get on with my night."
Jace: "What are your plans? Dinner date? I'm sure murder really sets the romantic mood."
Ren: "You're fucking weird. Hurry up and attack me!"
Jace: "You're no fun."
Jace brings his arm down below his waist and with a scraping motion, he crafts a frozen arch that homes towards Ren. He smirks as he chases after it, planning for a follow-up. Ren walks forward and raises his body temperature. By the time the projectile hits, it becomes a mix of fog, ice powder, and water. Jace gasps as Ren sends his arm through the puff of ice and latches onto his neck. With a forceful motion, Ren raises Jace off the ground and forms a fireball within his other palm.
Ren: "One. Last. Time. Why are you here? Give me that smart-ass silent treatment again and I'll melt your windpipe."
Ren heats up the hand surrounding Jace's throat and begins to singe the skin within its grasp. Jace gasps and winces in pain.
Jace: "Alright! I'm Jace Knight and I was getting ready to see your boss so I could ask him some questions about my dad dying. Henry said him and a couple of androids have done business before, I need to know if it's true. You Happy?!
Ren: "Yup."
The burning around Jace's neck gets more intense as Jace is forced to scream in pain. The flames in his palm becoming so strong they circle around the bottom of his face.
Ren: "It's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. This is goodbye, you Bluestone brat."
As the burns become more severe, the elevator finally chimes as Luke and Henry return and enter the scene.
Henry: "C'mon! We might still have time to save him!
Luke: "Uh, right! Let's go!"
The two rush the elite assassin with Henry sending out a tail-stinger to pierce Ren. Luke follows up by forming a small dagger made of plasma to attempt a precise and fatal slash. Ren drops Jace and with the same hand, grabs Luke's head and dunks him into the ground. He falls unconscious as Ren snags Henry's tail and lock eyes with him.
Henry: "What the fuck is your problem?! If you have beef, cook it with me instead!
Ren: "I really wanted to see your reaction to this instead. Killing a traitor is too easy!"
Henry: "Traitor? What're you talking about?"
Ren: "You were tasked with eliminating the one I currently have planted like a dumb-ass tree. Not only do you bring him back alive, but you bring along his little freak of a friend who's unlike anything I've ever seen before. Breakdown would've authorized this when the bounty was first offered to you, I think you're planning something."
Henry scoffs and rolls his eyes. In return, Ren grips Henry's tail tighter and melts through the translucent material. Henry screams and steps back, gritting his teeth in pain.
Ren: "Listen to me, you'll want to hear this: After our boss gets word of this charade, you'll be permanently banned from the rocks. The same goes for your buddies, if they live of course."
Ren walks by Henry towards the elevator. Henry tries to attack, but he's too afraid. Everyone around him has suffered enough already, anything risky could spell instant death. He slowly turns his head around as Ren whistles a tune and calls the elevator. Once again, the now familiar chime can be heard as the doors grind open. He steps in and presses the button for the floor the trio initially chose, the penthouse. With a turn, he leans on the side of the decorated wall and waves to Henry. The doors couldn't close any slower as silence fills the room once the elevator ascends upwards. Henry turns around to face the two, they lay motionless on the ground. Luke's eyes are white and Jace's neck is still smoking, it'll take a while for them to recover from this. Usually Henry's supposed to smile and be rewarded for bringing back lifeless bodies, but now he feels just as hollow as they do. He sighs and walks over to Luke. With some effort, he's able to sling him over his shoulder and stumbles over to Jace. He offers a hand and within seconds, Jace would accept the offer and pull himself to his feet. He drops to a knee and grabs his throat, it's still an open wound. Henry helps him up once more and they head back to the room near the tavern.
Chapter 10: A team is born
Luke grumbles as his vision fades back to him. It's white, but it's just the white of the ceiling. He leans up and rests his arm on his knee, he's back on his bed in the room him and Jace live in. He glances to the corner, Henry is slumped over and snoring. Looking over to Jace, he's in his bed also asleep. He has some bandages on his neck after last night's fight. Luke steps onto the cold, tile floor and heads for the door. Before leaving, he looks at Henry again.
Luke: "Thank you."
He leaves for the tavern and a few hours pass before Jace wakes up. He does the same as Luke, thanking Henry and walking to the tavern. By the mid-afternoon, Henry finally wakes up. He grumbles and shuffles into the tavern.
Henry: "Why aren't you two resting?"
Jace: "I don't wanna."
Henry sits down next to the two. He orders a black coffee.
Luke: "It's 3pm."
Henry: "I just woke up. I want the caffeine."
Jace: "How are you feeling?"
Henry: "Me? I'm fine. I should be asking you two if you're both okay."
Jace: "Honestly? I've been worse."
Luke: "My head hurts."
Henry: "I'm sorry for last night. I actually did end up betraying your trust and almost got you two killed."
Jace: "Hey, you still tried to save me. If you were truly scheming something, you would've left us for dead."
Henry: "You know I'm being sincere?"
Luke: "You wouldn't have slept in our room unless you wanted to protect us. Anyone else would've left, possibly killed us there so your mission was still somehow a success."
Henry: "No, I would've still slept in your room even if I wanted to kill you two. I wouldn't have come out here to apologize if I didn't mean it."
Jace: "Aww, you do care."
Henry: "Right, so what's the plan now?"
Luke: "You tell us. You got us into last night's predicament, surely you can get us into another one."
Jace: "That was the closest we've gotten to Breakdown though! A few more floors and we would've seen him."
Henry: "We could always try again."
Luke scoffs and Henry shrugs. They take a second to think of more ideas. One of the bartenders turns up the TV behind them and they overhear the broadcast. It's an announcement and a reminder that tonight is the opening of a new art exhibit. Only the best and the fanciest are allowed to attend, with the camera then switching to a blonde man in a light blue suit.
???: "I am so honored to be the host of tonight's event! I have spent my entire life grinding and fighting for this moment. I do hope everyone who attends has a splendid time and to those who don't, tune into the live-stream!"
Henry's eyes light up and he grits his teeth. His nails dig into the wooden table.
Henry: "That fucking. That son of a. That goddamn...Breakdown."
Jace: "That's him?!"
Jace stands up and focuses on the TV.
Breakdown: "For those who still do not know, this new exhibit will be opening at the Bluestone Great Hall. I'm sure you'll be able to tell from the spotlights and headlights."
Jace: "Oh, there's no way!"
Luke: "There's a Great Hall? What even is a Great Hall?"
Jace: "You've never been? It's a HUGE hallway that splits off into all sorts of different hallways with each of them being about anything the mind can imagine!
Luke: "I'm not from here. Also, that sounds absurd."
Jace: "That explains the hatred for the beach, but you can't ignore the absurdity I have in my brain right now. Get ready for this scheme."
Henry glances to Luke and points at Jace.
Henry: "Does he do this often?"
Luke: "I...actually couldn't tell you."
Jace: "Okay! So, we crash the party."
Luke: "Get the fuck out."
Jace: "Hang on! There's a massive sky-light right above the main hall. We drop there and immediately gun for Breakdown. There's three of us and one of him. Henry shit-talks him every second he can, so he must be a pushover!"
Henry: "He's not a pushover. He has done some fighting to reach where he is, just not the fighting we're used to. He's greedy and impulsive, but not stupid."
Luke: "You wanna talk impulsive? Mr. Lightbulb over here thinks we should ruin the largest party of the year!"
Henry: "I honestly think it's pretty badass and way more fun then sneaking you bums around."
Jace: "It also gets rid of the chance we encounter someone before Breakdown. We run in, thrash his ass, and get our info outta him!"
Henry: "You lost me at thrashing asses. What time do we meet up?"
Luke: "We're seriously not doing this...are we?"
Jace: "Oh, hell yeah we are!"
Chapter 11: Just as planned
Luke: "So what's the plan, genius?"
Jace: "Shh! I'm casing."
Luke: "What?"
Jace: "I'm trying to figure out what's going on down there."
Luke: "Any ideas?"
Henry: "Shut it, you two! Look, down there."
Luke: "Like a sore thumb."
Jace: "What's he doing?"
Henry: "It looks like he's showing the crowd around the new exhibit."
Luke: "Do we wait until he's alone?"
Jace: "I say nah. I want an audience."
Luke: "I'm starting to get sick of these insane statements."
Henry: "Now to his credit, it would be cool to kick his ass in front of dozens."
Luke: "Whatever. I'm not going down there yet."
Jace and Henry exchange glances. They wink and smile.
Jace: "Suit yourself!"
Jace reels his left arm back and with a boost of speed thanks to his burn ability, he shatters the glass dome into hundreds of pieces. Without missing a beat, Henry leaps onto the ledge and drops into the exhibit hall. The participants scatter and alarms blare as security surrounds him. He places his hand on his opposite shoulder and cracks his neck. From above, Jace steps onto the same ledge. Before he can jump, Luke grabs his arm.
Luke: "You're going to get us killed!"
Jace: "Probably, but at least we'll look cool!"
He jumps down as Luke's grip loosens thanks to the statement he just heard. He clenches his fists before joining the two and vaulting over the ledge into the exhibit.
Breakdown: "Who the hell? Light 'em up!"
The trio separate and begin their assault on the security guards. The sound of magazines being loaded echoes throughout the quiet hall before a hailstorm of bullets hurtle towards the three.
Henry: "Dodge!"
Henry speeds and weaves by the bullets before meeting his first kill. He spreads his arms out and sprouts four venomous scorpion tails, giving the illusion of having six arms. The guard flinches before slowly peeking back up at Henry. Before he can pull the trigger, Henry sends the tails into the man's abdomen and pierces deep into his skin. With some venom thrown into the mix, he retracts his tails and the man falls limp to the floor.
Luke: "How much ammo do these assholes have?"
With a shield born from plasma, he deflects numerous waves of bullets before parrying the gun out of a guard's hand with the shield. He follows through with a bash that crashes the guard into a wall. The brick cracks and they lay slumped over.
Jace: "Sick teamwork, you guys! This one's mine though!"
Jace continues throwing super-powered punches that turn any opponent into his personal ragdoll. He switches into his recently acquired freeze ability and coats the floor around him in ice. Some of the guards slip and others find their legs encased within ice.
Jace: "Alright, guys! Head's up!"
Luke: "What are you planning this time?"
Jace swaps back into burn and strikes the same frozen ground. It immediately creates a thick enough mist for everyone to lose sight of each other.
Jace: "Pitied Party, scatter!"
Henry: "Don't you ever fucking call us that again!"
Luke: "You consider this a team?"
Flashes of gun muzzles and the sounds of bullet casings colliding with the tile rage on within the mist. Only a few more guards are standing between the three and Breakdown,
Breakdown: "These freaks just wrecked my men!
Breakdown clenches his fists and shatters the wine glass in his hand. The red of the wine dances with the red of his blood and pitter onto the pristine, white tile. He doesn't move a muscle. The mist begins to fade, but he can clearly see who's currently winning.
Jace: "Heads up!"
Jace leaps out from within the mist towards one of the final guards. He locks his fingers together and brings his arms above his head to form a double-ax handle. He swings his arms and body down into the guard, crashing him into the tile while Jace does a front-flip and lands perfectly. He looks at Breakdown and his frozen face of shock. Jace replies with a shrug and looks back to the fading mist.
Jace: "I warned him. How're you holding up, Henry?"
Breakdown: "Henry?! That's right! You three are the ones Ren told me about."
Henry: "Any good words?"
Henry emerges out of the mist. He's holding onto the collar of another limp guard. He looks down and throws them to the side and away from the upcoming battlefield.
Breakdown: "I told him I would give him the honor of bringing me your heads, but I'm just as comfortable doing it myself."
Luke: "Hear that? We're pretty special to have the big boss kill us himself."
Luke is the last one to leave the mist. A guard latches onto his leg, but he kicks them away and throws a plasma knife to keep them down a bit longer. The three stand before Breakdown, finally ready to get their answers.
Breakdown: "You aren't special. You're all a bunch of insects that ruined a perfectly good evening!"
Jace: "Wanna know who's already having a shit night? All of the unfortunate folks you're bleeding money from in your pathetic-ass cave!"
Henry: "Jace. You're playing with fire even more now. Please don't set him off, we want answers."
Breakdown: "I'll have you know my own father carved out segments of that hole with his bare hands! That man slaved over that cavern, so he could build a wonderful residential area for those who helped him within his life."
Luke: "He failed, thanks to you."
Jace: "And I'll have you know that my fucking father was KILLED thanks to a handful of androids you support and fund!"
Breakdown: "What're you- Oh, he got caught up with them. That's really a shame."
Jace: "So you do know them!"
Breakdown: "It's none of your concern and you should just accept the fact he's dead and move on."
Jace: "Yeah? Says the one who snaps like a twig when I diss his."
Breakdown: "Okay. Enough. I get why Ren had trouble with this...Trio De Dumbass."
Henry: "Ooh, I like that more than 'Pitied Party."
Jace: "Rude."
Luke: "I think it fits our dynamic."
Jace: "But what if there's more than three of us?"
Luke: "Do you honestly believe that someone else is going to join us now that we're wanted?"
Henry: "We'll just change the name accordingly."
Breakdown: "Time's up, scum! I'm not listening to another second of this!"
Breakdown grabs the shoulder of his suit jacket and with one swift movement, completely removes it from his body without damaging it. He rests it on the table behind him and cracks his knuckles. The muscles on his back stand out as he turns back to face the three. His frame is what bodybuilders could only dream of.
Henry: "We fucked up."
Jace: "Is that physically possible?"
Breakdown: "Now before I slaughter you all without an ounce of mercy, I'd like to establish some rules."
Luke: "You have rules?"
Breakdown: "First: I want you all to attack me at the same time. It'll be fair that way. Second: I'll stop beating you senseless if you damage or stain my suit. I don't need my cover being blown by getting some weakling's blood on my best outfit. Now, come at me!"
Chapter 12: Never Return
Henry: "You heard him, c'mon!"
Henry speeds towards Breakdown. He manifests two of his tails and keeps them behind his back. Luke trails behind with dual plasma lances, now understanding his abilities better. Jace hesitates for a second before getting an idea. He draws his sword and grabs the blade with his left arm. Using Burn, he begins to warm up the blade until it glows a bright orange.
Jace: "Oh, that's fucking cool."
Jace swaps the hilt to his left hand and brings the blade down to the ground. He leans his torso forwards and blitzes into the fight with the molten-hot sword to his side. Ahead, Luke and Henry match speeds.
Luke: "Thread the needle? You're the thread, I'm the needle?"
Henry: "Don't be poetic. Layman's terms please."
Luke: "You attack first, then I follow up for the kill."
Henry: "You get to kill him? He's my boss!"
Luke: "Ex-boss."
Henry: "Okay, smart-ass. Follow up this!"
Henry plants a foot into the tile and with that, his tails fly past him and towards to Breakdown. Luke follows the tails as they all move unpredictably towards their foe.
Breakdown: "Cute."
One of Henry's tails strikes from above, but Breakdown clutches it within his hand. His body emits a soft, blue glow before tearing the tail apart from Henry. In Response, Henry coughs up blood and drops to a knee, grabbing his side and seething in pain.
Luke freezes in fear for a split-second before snapping out of it and crossing his arms together and forming a lance for each wrist. He goes for a dual outwards slash, but is greeted by a fist cracking his nose and sending him tumbling back into Henry. They crash together as Breakdown grabs Henry's other tails and drags the two clockwise, before swinging them a few rotations and colliding them into a wall.
Breakdown: "You should've stayed in line. Look at the chaos you've caused!"
Jace: "Hey!"
Breakdown whips his head towards the voice.
Breakdown: "That bionic brat..."
Jace: "If you need someone to pin the blame on, then you're looking at them!"
Jace grips his sword with both of his hands and leaps into the air again. Breakdown grits his teeth and raises both of his arms above his head. The slash connects and the flames disperse. Jace lands on his shoulder and rolls back to a standing position.
Henry: "Why is there no blood...?"
Breakdown: "That's all that strike could do?"
Breakdown lowers his arms, Both of them scratched up and steaming from the impact. His skin radiates that same blue glow from earlier. He steps toward Jace, each foot booming throughout the now eerily silent hall.
Luke: "We need to help him."
Henry: "Yeah? How? He did a fucking number on me."
Henry releases his hand from his side to show Luke the wound he's received.
Henry: "Our manifestations may just be that, but their pain is just as real. What we inflict on others? It can come back tenfold. So, what's your idea?"
Luke: "Fall back and rest. If necessary, you can catch me again if I'm sent back here faster than a bullet train, right?"
Henry: "Yeah, whatever. I'll catch the train, just save Jace already!"
Luke stands up and raises both arms above his head. He swiftly brings them back down to his chest. He's once again spawned two plasma lances around his fists. Breakdown turns around once he hears the consistent crackling behind him.
Breakdown: "You're trying that again? How do you plan on attacking me this time?"
Luke: "I plan on making you bleed this time."
Breakdown's eyes are filled with glee as a smile greets him from ear-to-ear. They both approach the center of the exhibit hall. Before he can react, Luke goes to stab a lance straight through Breakdown's chest. In retaliation, he grabs Luke's arm and twists around it to elbow Luke in the head.
He staggers a bit before shouting and trying to stab again. Breakdown simply strafes to the side as the stab misses completely. In a second, Luke's greeted by a knee to the chest. A loud crunch is heard as he gasps for air and drops to the ground. Breakdown places his oxfords on Luke's head and begins to add pressure to the foot. Luke plants his fists into the ground to resist the skull fracture.
Henry: "Don't you even think about it!"
Henry leaps out from the side and with the last of his strength, bites down on Breakdown's shoulder. He's unexpectedly repelled back as his teeth don't even get close to breaking skin. He hovers in the air for a second before Breakdown grabs his neck and dunks him into Luke. He dusts off his palms and stands proud over the brutality he's caused tonight.
Jace: "We're done!"
Breakdown: "What?!"
Jace points to Breakdown's suit.
Jace: "I almost roasted a marshmallow over that fire. Pretty impressive, right?"
Henry: "Stop playing around!"
Breakdown: "You pest! I expected your blood, not your stupidity!"
Breakdown rushes over to his suit. Jace continues to smile about his mischievous act, oblivious to the humanization of a freight train heading towards him. Breakdown passes by Jace and shoves him so hard he crashes into the other two.
Henry: "Caught the...train."
Breakdown: "Give me one reason to not kill you where you stand!"
Jace: "Rule 2."
Breakdown: "I didn't think you could actually do it!"
Jace: "Told ya it was impressive. Now, my questions."
Breakdown: "You didn't even wound me. Why should I let you ask me questions?"
Jace: "How about I ask just one, then we'll go and you can try to piece this event together?"
Breakdown: "I hate you so much right now. What's your question?"
Jace: "Are you the one responsible for the death of my dad?"
Breakdown: "That depends, did he an ability just like your friends, or was he just a random person?"
Jace: "Do you count being an engineer as an ability?"
Breakdown: "No. Whoever called for that hit must've had something personal they needed to sort out in private. There's your answer. You want my opinion? Give up your revenge plot now because you're walking into a territory you don't belong in."
Jace: "I don't plan on stopping until I'm dead. If that means arriving in your penthouse to dust your ass, then I'll do it. You'd be able to kill me then, wouldn't you?"
Breakdown: "About that, I plan on banning you three from Rose Rocks. If you step foot inside, you will be ruthlessly attacked."
Henry: "WHAT?!"
Breakdown: "What's the matter? You left my organization, clearly you don't want to belong in my lovely Rocks anymore."
Jace: "We'll find a way back to you. I'm climbing that ladder whether it's by choice or force."
Breakdown: "Neither of those options worked tonight. Now, there's the door. You can either run while you still have time, or security will arrive to unload magazines into your lifeless bodies once I leave this room. Ready? Go."
Breakdown throws his suit up shoulders and through his arms before adjusting his tie. His shoes clack against the tile as he begins to leave. The three shuffle to their feet and make a conjoined tackle through the exit door. Luke kicks it closed and they wander off into the night and eventually they find their way back to the tavern.
Chapter 13: Help From A Hero
Once again, the three find themselves at a tavern table. Henry has his chin resting in his palm. Jace yawns and rubs his eye with his left arm, before making it more agitated and quickly switches to his right arm. Luke sighs and looks up at the TV. A retro true crime show is on. It's probably episode 1273 that's on its 800th rerun.
Luke: "Good job, 'Pitied Party."
Jace: "Why now? It was cool in the moment."
Henry: "No, it wasn't."
Jace: "Then I'm no longer decision maker!"
Luke: "Oh, finally!"
Jace: "Ever since Henry joined, you have been a total asshole."
Luke: "I could've saved myself a concussion and a rib fracture if he had never joined."
Jace: "A selfish one too-"
Luke: "I'm done."
Luke stands up and walks out the tavern's front doors. Jace tries to catch up, but he seemingly disappears into the Bluestone streets.
Henry: "Leave him. Hopefully he's just pissed off and will come back later."
Jace clenches his fist.
Jace: "Yeah, hopefully."
Suddenly, the TV switches to a breaking news broadcast. It's an on-street interview with a woman. She pushes up her aviators and blows her hair out of her right eye, but it slides back anyways.
???: "Oh, this is just another day for me. I just like beating up bad people."
The interviewer asks if she'd consider herself a superhero.
???: "Me? Eh, I don't really do it for publicity or symbolism. I'm just a girl with a heavy fist."
Both parties chuckle before the main question is asked: Have you heard about the break in at the Great Hall last night?
???: "I didn't think anyone around here had both the confidence and stupidity to commit such a crime, but I was wrong. They're still currently on the run with no visual leads. I'm looking for them, but it's been less than 24 hours.
Jace whips his head around towards the TV, overhearing the discussion about his 'incredible' plan.
Jace: "No visual leads, huh?"
Henry: "Now what are you planning?"
Jace: "She's tough, there's no doubt about that. Do you think with some persuasion she can understand our side and possibly even join us?"
Henry: "That is someone that wants both you and I dead right now, just like a large portion of this town."
Jace: "She's currently on the news. If she was a killer, there would be no incentive to film this as the feeling of hope the broadcast is providing would just be for nothing."
Henry: "No, I think they'd do something like that too."
The two on TV wrap up their segment, with the woman giving one last message.
???: "Every night, I watch this town to the best of my ability. I plan on finding those three that broke into the Great Hall and whooping their asses!"
The broadcast returns back to the true crime show. It's now on episode 1274...maybe.
Henry: "Hear that? That's the first time a woman's ever wanted to chase you down."
Jace: "Look who's talking. Ready for the plan?"
Henry: "Yeah, what the hell are you planning after last night's charade?"
Jace: "We're gonna send a large enough calling card that she won't be able to miss."
Henry: "Uh huhhh, how?"
Jace: "I'm burning down a house."
Henry: "Nooooo."
Jace: "Yesss, I can just extinguish it with the ice from my arm."
Henry: "You're over-estimating your abilities. Ice alone can't cool off an entire burning building."
Jace: "Wanna find out later tonight?"
Henry: "...Yeah."
Jace: "Aww, I knew you couldn't resist. See you at sundown?"
Henry: "Yeah..."
Time passes and the darkness of space engulfs the sky. Bugs chirp and lights buzz. Jace finds himself back close to home. His neighborhood, which he knew like the back of his hand growing up, is trashed. It's empty and desolated, it looks like that's been the standard for years now. He chokes on his spit for a second before exhaling, he doesn't want to be here longer than he has to be. Henry walks up behind him, trying to find the location based off of Jace's loose directions.
Henry: "So, what part of Bluestone is this?"
Jace: "South, near the coast. There's a large forest if you travel along it away from the town. I would go there sometimes as a kid, skipping rocks and playing swordsman. As you can see though, this part of town itself isn't much anymore."
Henry: "The hell happened?"
Jace: "I'm not sure. I ran away after my dad died and I was given his arm for some reason. I would sleep anywhere until I was eventually shooed away. That's not important though, I have a calling card to make."
Henry: "I'll give it to ya, finding a vacant area like this to start a house fire isn't the worst idea. I thought it was gonna be right outside the tavern."
Jace: "I'm bold, but I'm not an idiot. Wanna find gasoline to really make this bad?"
Henry: "Debatable. I'll go look around."
Henry returns with a red canister of gasoline. He pours an outline around a small house that Jace picked out. They share a thumbs-up before he tosses the rest of the canister inside a window.
Henry: "And you're positive this won't immediately combust the house?"
Jace: "Nah."
Jace switches into burn and flicks an ember towards the house. It lands right on Henry's gasoline trail and ignites the outline before creeping up the house. He smiles at Henry before rushing and tackling through the front door.
Henry: "Are you fucking insane?!"
Jace: "Now that's debatable!"
Jace wanders inside, observing the flames swallow and disintegrate his surroundings. He finds the largest room and awaits his 'hero' so they can have a climatic battle. Outside with Henry, he can only watch in awe at the recklessness Jace is displaying. Suddenly, a loud thud is heard behind him. Loud clunks from heavy boots approach him and the building.
???: "Why is there a house on fire?"
Henry turns around. It's the woman from the news. Her eyes are hardly visible from the fire reflecting from her aviators, but they're glowing the same way his and the others who have abilities glow. She folds her arms and tilts her head.
Henry: "My idiot friend thought the best way to get your attention was to do that. He's in there if you'd like to chat with him."
???: "Does he have a death-wish?"
Henry: "Since you actually showed up, he does now."
???: "I'll be back."
She brings her arms back down to her side and clenches her fists. She stomps into the building and doesn't hesitate to travel further to find this culprit.
Henry: "Go get 'em, tiger."
Jace continues to look around as he paces the room. He fiddles with his left arm and stretches out his legs. Soon, he hears footsteps approach the room. It's her and she's not happy. She stomps onto a pile of burnt rubble and leans her body onto her leg.
???: "What's your problem?"
Jace turns around and smiles. The calling card worked!
Jace: "Lotta things, but I have a particular problem that you could help me with."
???: "I'm not doing shit for you. Why is this house on fire?"
Jace: "I wanted to give you a warm welcome."
???: "Smart-ass answer, next question. Who are you?"
Jace: "The same guy that broke into the Great Hall last night."
???: "Don't play with me. You're my age, you couldn't have done anything that impressive."
Jace: "Why do you think Breakdown left with a burnt pocket-hole on his suit?"
???: "So, what are you? Some kind of dumbass arsonist?
Jace: "Not quite, I can do other things. I want to avenge my father for his death and Breakdown is the closest lead I have."
???: "You thought breaking into an event he was hosting to get the answers there was your best move?"
Jace: "Yup! Me, Luke, and Henry out there all teamed up to beat some answers out of him."
???: "You three are crazy, now put out this fire!"
Jace: "Not until I know your name and if you wanna help us."
???: "Why should I give you my name, creep? I'm not joining your stupid pity party."
Jace: "(Pitied Party is back in the running!) Then I'm not putting the fire out."
Jace: "(Why does this keep happening to me?)"
???: "Then I'll stomp your head in and do it myself!
The almost instant gut-punch knocks the wind out of Jace, leaving him unable to speak. He looks down and notices a magenta crystal formation around the woman's knuckles.
???: "I'm making sure you fix this!"
The force of the punch sends Jace hurtling into the wall behind him. His impact makes the fire disperse from the area before the woman walks up to him. She blows the crystals like dust off her knuckles and grins.
???: "I really hope this doesn't knock you out."
Outside, Henry hears another set of footsteps approach.
Luke: "Why is there a house on fire?"
Henry: "Why are you here?"
Luke: "Don't sound so excited to see me."
Henry: "Jace is currently inside that burning building talking with the woman-superhero that was on the news today."
Luke: "He's not going to stop anytime soon, isn't he?"
Henry: "Nope. Is this your sad way of wanting an invitation back?"
Luke: "Yeah..."
Henry: "That's not for me to decide. Take it up with the boss when he's out.
Suddenly, a massive hole is created in the home as Jace is sent flying out and tumbling onto the dirt trail next to Henry and Luke.
Henry: "He's out."
Luke: "Hey Jace, I'm sor-"
Jace: "No time for that! She's coming..."
The woman lifts her head out of the same hole and walks back outside with the now identifiable trio.
???: "Oh, shit. He was telling the truth."
Henry: "Whaddya mean?"
???: "You three really are the idiots that tried to take on Breakdown!"
Henry: "I could've told you that one."
Luke: "Why do you wanna know?"
???: "I'm...actually kinda amazed by that stunt. Maybe even a little jealous..."
Henry: Then why'd you go inside and rightfully beat up Jace?"
Jace: "Rightfully?"
???: "The house! You still need to put out the house!"
Jace: "Maybe if you didn't punch me so hard, I could already be standing and helping."
???: "Nah, I meant it.~"
Jace struggles to his feet and switches his arm into freeze. He shoots a blast of ice and snow towards the building, but it evaporates just as it did with Ren.
Henry: "I told you! Didn't I tell him?"
Luke: "I just got here."
???: "Stop screwin' around, numb-nuts!"
Jace: "(Okay, brain-time. I need to find a way to extinguish this and fast.)"
Jace lowers his stance and begins darting his eyes around. He examines every house for a possible solution. His eyes land on a fire hydrant and he grins before making a sprint towards it.
???: "Don't you fucking run from us!"
Luke: "He does this often. He's coming back."
Jace reaches the hydrant and panics. He doesn't have a hose and melting or freezing the hydrant wouldn't help so he resorts to the ultimate technique: Percussive Maintenance. He punches the hydrant as hard as he can, leaving a large dent in it. Instead of the hydrant spraying water, it remains contained. Jace sighs in frustration before hearing a drip of water hit the ground. He looks around before down at his arm. The light has changed to a dark blue hue with condensation forming around his forearm.
Jace: "Is that how this works?"
???: "I'm going to punch you even harder if you don't get back here right now!"
Henry: "She's giving you a run for you money, Luke."
Luke: "Shut it."
Jace returns and leaps onto his side. He aims his arm and shoots a stream of pressurized water at the building. He lands on his shoulder and rolls forward, before firing another blast of water at the house and circling the rest of the area.
???: "He can do that?"
Luke: "It still surprises me."
Within a large mist and loud sizzling, Jace emerges and wipes his forehead.
Jace: "Done!"
Henry and Luke give a thumbs-up, the woman leans forward and holds her arms out.
???: "What the hell was that?!"
Jace: "My arm that has a new ability. I can shoot water now, guys!"
Henry: "I'm so proud of you! Can we go home yet?"
Jace: "I have one more matter of business."
Jace points at the woman, she preemptively flinches.
???: "Don't point that thing at me!"
Jace: "Then join us."
???: "Ugh, fine."
Luke: "What?!"
???: "You three may be some of the stupidest motherfuckers I Have ever met, but taking on Breakdown is pretty awesome."
Henry: "Welcome aboard, we still don't know your name."
Ana: "Ana, not short for Annabelle."
Henry: "I wasn't guessing. Do you have somewhere to stay?"
Ana: "No, I usually find rooftops to sleep on. You'd be surprised how often you'll go unnoticed."
Luke: "She can't come with us. All we have to our name is a white, brick room with two beds."
Jace: "I could ask the owner if Ana can get her own separate room."
Ana: "Ooooh, I haven't had a room to myself in years. The privacy sounds amazing."
Luke: "I still have my bed, right?"
Henry: "I should've claimed your bed! Goddammit! I'm on the floor again!"
Jace: "Alright, let's go home. I guess we have a large day ahead of us now that we have a fourth member."
Henry: "Does that mean we're no longer the Trio De Dumbass?"
Ana explodes into laughter.
Jace: "Yup! Back to Pitied Party!"
Ana: "You're actually gonna yourselves that? I was bashing you."
Luke: "He won't let the name go. He really likes it."
Henry: "He's not winning though, I hate it."
Ana: "How about Quartet of Chaos?"
Henry: "You're gonna fit right in."
Jace: "Where's the alliteration?"
Ana: "Up your ass, now let's go home."
Henry and Luke join Ana's laughing fit and the four begin their walk back to the tavern. once there, the owner tells the crew that they vacated a room and furnished it into an apartment for them to use. It's a thank you that Ana celebrates over. There's two bedrooms and a hallway that leads to a massive living room. Large windows cover an entire wall, letting them see for miles. Ana immediately claims a bedroom while the other three play rock-paper-scissors to determine the winner. They all play scissors and groan in frustration. They vow to play at a later time, but for now they just sleep in the living room.
Chapter 14: A Shared Secret
Luke: "It feels like we were brought together for a reason."
Henry: "What does that mean?"
Ana: "Yeah, I just got here, man."
Luke: "If I could finish my sentence, I'd say it was because of our auras."
Henry: "Hmm, I don't know anyone else with one outside of you two."
Ana: "What's an aura?"
Henry: "It's whatever manifests with you when you fight. I have my stingers, Luke has his spears, and you haaaave..."
Ana: "Crystals that form around my fists. They leave residue that then detonates like a concussive grenade after a few seconds."
Henry: "Oh, that's cool as shit."
Jace: "Is that what you hit me with?!"
Ana: "Yup! It also has the force of an even stronger punch, which explains how I sent ya through a wall."
Luke: "Anyways, Henry, when did you get your aura?"
Henry: "I dunno, when I was a teenager? How about you?"
Luke: "About the same time. I can remember a hospital before things go blank for a few years."
Ana: "The only hospital that immediately comes to mind is the one here in Bluestone, are there any others nearby?"
Henry: "My old home, It was a small town, but they had a pretty modern hospital for those who were traveling from city-to-city. I went there a handful of times."
Luke: "It's worth a look. I've never been to Bluestone's hospital as this isn't my hometown either, so you have my interest."
Jace: "Does this mean we're going on an adventure again?"
Luke: "If you count Rozay as an adventure, then yes. We may be going farther than that too, Henry knows the location."
Henry: "I hope you have your walking shoes on. We're going north-east, by the coast. It's relatively flat and empty, so there's nothing to worry about."
Jace: "What other kind of shoes would I have on? These are my only pair!"
Jace lifts up his leg and places his foot on the tavern table. Everyone groans.
Ana: "You have some serious issues that even another concussion wouldn't fix."
Luke: "We leave tomorrow. Early. I wanna be there by sundown, if not earlier."
Luke pushes his chair back and stands up. He walks off, irritated as usual. Ana stands up and walks back to her room upstairs. Jace looks over at Henry as he's beginning to stand up.
Henry: "I was going to steal shit for our apartment if you wanted to join. I want a TV."
Jace: "I'm alright. I think I've committed enough crimes for a bit. Can I give you a raincheck?"
Henry: "Ana's making a list of things she also wants for the apartment, so you can ask her for anything you want me to nab for ya. I'll let you know the next time I go thieving, cool?"
Jace: "Cool."
Henry leaves through the front double-doors, leaving Jace alone amongst the fellow customers. He places his foot back on the floor and sighs. He stands up and walks upstairs to the apartment. He knocks on Ana's door. The door cracks open.
Ana: "You have five seconds before I tell you to fuck off."
Jace: "Henry said you're making a steal-sheet. Can I ask for a gaming console?"
Ana: "Will you let me use it?"
Jace: "Y-Yeah? I was going to let everyone play. I was alone growing up, so I was hoping to play some co-op games with you all."
Ana: "...Can I be player one?"
Jace: "If that's what gets you to play it, sure."
Ana: "Are there any games where I can beat the shit out of you and not help you?"
Jace: "Too many. I'm gonna go ahead and go to bed, goodnight."
Jace grabs the doorknob and shuts the door. He slumps his shoulders forward and hangs his head lower. He finds a corner in the living area of the apartment and rests his body on the floor. He closes his eyes to fall asleep, the brick ceiling being the last thing he sees. Soon, dawn rises and everyone meets up in front of the tavern.
Luke: "Henry, point us in the right direction."
Henry points northeast.
Henry: "That way, lieutenant."
The walk out of Bluestone is easy enough. The four took turns sharing stories and laughs. Soon, the sun reaches its peak in the sky and fun is starting to wear off.
Ana: "You really meant it when you said there was nothing, huh?"
Henry: "Why do you think my town was the little place that is was? To help idiots like us that decide to walk the distance."
Ana: "Okay, smart-ass. How much longer?"
Henry: "Few more hours, I'd say we'll get there by 5PM at the latest."
Luke: "Jace, are you okay back there?"
Jace nods and continues walking with the group, staying towards the back of the huddle.
Jace: "It's a little hot."
Henry: "You aren't your cheery-self today, did you sleep funny?"
Jace: "Wood floors aren't the most comfortable things to sleep on."
Everyone chuckles and focuses back on walking.
Jace: "(Do I even fit in with these people? I call them my friends, but they all seem to have perfect chemistry with each other. The only one who really engages with me is Henry. Luke gets annoyed by me and Ana has some sorta vendetta all because I burned a house down. Maybe this is an adventure that's too much for me...)"
After enough time, they reach their destination. They look up and notice a sign-post. Before anyone can speak, a horrifying discovery hits reality.
Henry: "What the fuck happened here?"
Henry's breath becomes shaky and his eyes widen. This isn't the town he grew up with. Buildings are ripped in half, trees have been uprooted and placed several yards away, and most importantly...it's empty. Jace places his hand on Henry's shoulder.
Jace: "I'm sorry..."
Henry: "I'll be okay. This is just shocking is all. Let's keep moving, the hospital is just ahead."
As they make their way deeper through the abandoned town, an odor begins to fill the air. It's not pleasant, it smells of decay. After what feels like an eternity, they've made it.
Henry: "Morning Glory Hospital. At least you're in one fucking piece."
Chapter 15: Splitting Headache
They head inside to begin looking for any evidence that may link them to this hospital. Even though everything around them has withered or rotted to some degree, the location is perpetually the same.
Ana: "Ew, I can remember this waiting room. I liked it with less cobwebs and rubble though.
Luke: "Does anyone see a map? We should look for a records room."
Jace: "This place is already starting to freak me out."
Ana taps a wall that has a fire escape map still drilled into it.
Henry: "And it's labeled? Sick shit, Ana."
The two smirk and high-five.
Luke: "Where's the 'you are here' label?"
Henry: "We're still in the waiting room, dipshit."
Luke: "Right. Let's keep going. Ana and Henry have map duty."
Before long, they find a pair of doors that lead further into the hospital. That smell from outside of the building has gotten stronger. Ana proceeds to walk up and try to open the door, but there seems to be something heavy behind it. She's unable to process the door's weight as she feels her boots step into something squishy and wet. She braces herself and slowly glances down to see what she stepped on, praying for it to be a cockroach or other insect that just happened to be unfortunate. She struggles to breathe or blink as she continues to observe the area around her foot.
Henry: "Everything okay, Madame Map?"
Ana: "B-B-B...Bl...B-Blo..."
Ana points down to the floor around her foot. The three look down and finally notice the crimson pool that was underneath the doorway and creeping into the room. Jace gasps and staggers back in fear, Luke grits his teeth.
Henry: "Why is there so much bl-"
Ana: "Blooooo-d..."
Ana whines and jumps back into the others, removing herself from the arising situation. Her boot-print remains firm within the blood.
Jace: "Guys, we shoudn't be here."
Luke: "We're this close and you're letting some blood get in your way? Let's go."
Luke emerges from the group and reattempts to open the door. With some force, he's able to push it open just enough for everyone to comfortably squeeze through. What he sees is a grizzly sight, but he keeps it to himself for the time being and motions for everyone to follow him.
Henry: "Watch your step, I guess."
The three follow behind and meet up with Luke. They are greeted with a hallway of corpses. Every step from here on out will be bloody.
Luke: "I wouldn't look down if I were you, these poor souls had something awful happen to them..."
Ana follows the order, having her fix of gore for the day. Henry casually glances at the bodies, interested in the culprit's handiwork. As for Jace, he huddles his shoulders together and brings his hands close to his chest. He slowly follows behind the three, being terrifying of each squelch the floor makes whenever he makes a step. He does his best to do what Luke asked, but morbid curiosity gets the best of him and he looks down. The first body he lays eyes on has both of its arms removed. He flinches and briefly flashes back to the incident inside the warehouse. He does his best to shake the feeling off and continue with the group. Ahead, the three keep on talking with each other when they hear a loud thud behind them. They turn around and see Jace slumped against the wall. He's hyperventilating and trembling as he begins to slide down to the floor.
Ana: "Oh shit, Jace!"
Ana rushes over to Jace's aid.
Jace: "Help...I need...to know I'm not...there..."
Ana: "Yeah, absolutely. What can I do?"
Jace: "Ana...is that you? I can't stand..."
Henry runs over and with Ana's help, they put Jace around their shoulders. They exit the room and sit down with him near the waiting room. His condition hasn't improved.
Jace: "If there's someone with me, please help me escape this memory..."
Jace finds himself back in the warehouse that started it all. It's dark, except for the skylight that reveals a beautiful, full moon. He sits up and clutches his chest, it's still hurting from his irregular breathing. Once again, at the end of the warehouse stands two figures. One is in a trench coat and the other is nothing more as a spectator as the moon's light reveals Jace's father in front of the two, already lifeless and draining blood from the bullet-wound. Jace tries to run and save his father like he did before, but he isn't stopped this time. In fact, the only thing that has seemingly stopped is time. No matter how long he stands there, nothing changes. The figures don't attack and Jace's father never cries out for his son. Was he even there to begin with?
???: "...Morning Glory..."
Those words echoed from above, seemingly beyond the moon. Jace is startled and quickly darts his eyes throughout the sky to find the voice.
Jace: "T-The hospital we just found...right?"
???: "...met in a fire..."
Jace: "That's right...I met Ana in a burning building..."
???: "...You're going..."
???: "...to be..."
???: "...Okay..."
The voices and the words they speak resonate with Jace's psyche. the brightness of the moon seems to fade the entire environment to white, engulfing Jace's vision. When it returns, his eyes focus on the dilapidated houses of Morning Glory. He shakes his head and holds onto his temple.
Jace: "Can someone tell me where I am...?"
Henry: "Morning Glory Hospital. You're with Henry, Ana, and Luke. We carried you outside after you seemingly passed out on us, only being able to mumble words now and again. We've just kinda been sitting with you and talking with you as you were settling whatever you had to settle."
Jace: "I saw....my dad...in one of the bodies..."
Ana: "Shh, you're okay. Don't think about that anymore, you have us."
Luke: "I'm sorry, Jace. I should've warned you better. I didn't think traumatic memories would take over in that time."
Jace: "Please don't apologize...I'm okay..."
Henry: "Stay out here and get some fresh air."
Ana: "I'm staying here with him. If you two want to keep exploring, you can."
Luke: "I've seen enough movies to advise against splitting up."
Jace: "Go with them, Ana. I'll be okay."
Luke: "Jace, do you still have the communicator we tried using a while back?"
Jace: "Mhm, I've kept it in my pocket since I made it."
Luke: "Good. Take it out and get ready in case we need one another."
Jace: "Can do. Once we get home, I'll have Henry nab the electronics necessary amd build one for the rest of the crew. Is that cool with you, Henry?"
Henry: "Very cool. We'll catch you in an hour."
The three head back inside, leaving Jace alone to catch his breath and to ease his shaking. He takes out the communicator from his pocket and begins to fiddle with it. From within the hospital, the three make their way back to the disgusting hallway and continue their trek.
Ana: "Why are there so many of them?"
Henry: "I don't know...it looks like a killing spree to me."
Luke: "They've covered in lacerations and bite marks, it's like someone or something was trying to eat them."
Ana: "Do you...think they're still here?"
Luke: "It's fresh blood from decaying bodies, be prepared for anything."
They approach the records room and enter slowly. The amount of corpses significantly decreases as they continue on for the filing cabinets. They rummage through them until Luke pulls out a suspicious folder. He begins to read it.
Luke: "This has our names in it. We were once patients here."
Ana: "Mine too?! Why was I here?"
Luke: "Project Atlas Army...that's the name of the folder. We were going to be soldiers?"
Henry: "For who's army?"
Luke: "It doesn't say, but this hospital apparently housed the experiments for it.
Ana: "Are you trying to say we're test subjects?"
Luke: "We are. It says here that every person was injected with a serum that was designed to physically enhance them, but the results were random and often unstable for containment. Once word got out about the illegal injections, they quickly vacated the place, leaving Morning Glory to become a wasteland."
Henry: "Hang on. If you're saying that they left, then who do the bodies in this place belong to? Fellow doctors and scientists? Other guinea pigs like ourselves? Random people that actually discovered something wicked hidden within this place?"
Ana: "Okay, we're dropping the monster idea! It's creeping me out."
Luke: "I'm taking this and any other folder revolving around this project. I'll update Jace about this while we head out. I've had enough of this place too."
Ana: "I think that's one of your smartest plans today, let's leave."
Luke grabs a few more folders and the crew walks out of the room and back into the hallway. As they pass by the rooms, the sounds of feral eating can be heard in one of the adjacent rooms. Everyone stops. Henry slowly inches towards the window of the door and peeps inside. A young man in blue is huddled in the corner, his back facing everyone.
Henry: "Ana...that monster theory may be more plausible than we'd like. Everyone proceed slowly."
The three tip-toe by the door and through the hallway. They successfully exit the feasting-ground of a hallway and sigh in relief. Before they have anymore time to relax, the door slams shut. It echoes throughout the entire building. Everyone freezes again.
Henry: "Fuck...did it hear us?"
Ana leans a bit and glances through the window. The man is standing there with his head hanging low, his chin ready to touch his collar-bone.
Ana: "Guys. We gotta move."
Suddenly, the doors are forced open with unfathomable strength. They crash into the walls and have the glass from the windows dissolve within an instant. Two massive, blue arms emerge from the man's back.
???: "Fresh meeeeat..."
Chapter 16: Unsympathetic Intellect
Luke: "They're just like us."
Ana: "No the fuck they aren't."
Henry: "I thought I was crazy..."
Ana: "Run?"
Luke: "No! We're standing our ground and taking this thing down!"
Henry: "Uh-huh, good luck with that. I have a better idea!"
Henry and Ana spin their heels and sprint away from the immediate danger, leaving Luke to suffer. Henry boots open the front door of the hospital, leaps down the front staircase to the last step where Jace is sitting with his chin in his hands and his elbows on his legs. He flinches in fear.
Jace: "Don't do that! I just had an episode and you're already back to scaring me?"
Henry: "THERE'S A FUCKING MONSTER IN THAT HOSPITAL!"
Jace: "I KNOW THERE'S A MONSTER! WHO ELSE MANGLES PEOPLE LIKE THAT?!"
Henry: "Can you help us kill it? Because the three of us sure as shit can't take it on."
Jace: "Yeah, fine. Whatever. You owe me after this."
Henry: "If we live..."
From the top of the stairs, Ana kicks the other door off the hinges due to the adrenaline taking over. She notices the two talking at the bottom.
Ana: "What the fuck are you two doing?! Hurry up!"
Jace: "You owe me too after this!"
Ana: "Bitch! There is a monster in this hospital! Now c'mon!"
Jace and Henry sprint up the steps, with Jace activating his arm and swapping into burn as a method of precaution. The three arrive back to see Luke and this mysterious engaged in combat.
???: "Hit me harder you fucking waste of life!"
Henry: "That's not what it sounded like before I left..."
The being uses one of it's blue arms to begin a windmill-punch. However, it whips its forearm forward and the momentum allows it to spin around the shoulder joint. It revolves around a few times before slamming the fist right into Luke's ribs, sending him into the wall behind.
Ana: "How can it move like that?"
Jace: "Fuck this..."
Jace unsheathes his sword and holds it in his left hand. He activates burn which once again surrounds the blade in flames. He begins to walk forward towards the now-enemy. The being turns towards the sound of fire crackling.
???: "And what's your problem, pretty boy?"
Jace: "You."
Jace rushes forward and uses some of the debris to catapult himself in the air, going for another strike like the one he landed on Breakdown. The enemy raises one of its arms to block the attack, but Jace's sword slices right through the blue, translucent flesh, splitting it into two and knocking it off its body. Immediately, the figure drops limp.
Luke: "Thanks..."
Jace: "You know what? You owe me too. All of you bastards owe me for today."
Henry: "Fair."
Ana: "Valid."
Suddenly, the body rustles around and the being grabs the wound Jace created. It whimpers in agony as it tries to soothe itself by softly rocking back and forth.
???: "Please...no more..."
Ana: "Alright, what the hell is your problem? You actively live in this shithole, you attacked us, and now you're begging for mercy?"
Henry: "I say we kill this freak right here and now. It's suffered long enough."
Jace: "No! I think it's scared of us..."
Luke: "I would be too after having my arm cut up like that. Wait...that wasn't your real arm..."
Henry: "You're telling me it's-"
Ana: "-One of us?"
???: "Please go away...I didn't mean to hurt you all. I wish I could explain..."
Jace: "I have time. I'm curious to know about who you are."
Mythril: "Well, for starters...my name is Mythril. I have never been outside of this hos-"
Before Mythril could finish his sentence, his other shoulder-blade forms another arm that crushes into Jace's jaw, hurtling him across the room.
???: "Hoo-yeah! Payback's a bitch, motherfucker!"
Mythril: "And that's the only friend I have ever made...Kien."
Kien swings the arm around to the trio and opens up his fingers for a handshake.
Kien: "It's pronounced Key-en. I'm a parasite, not a cobra."
Luke places his hand inside of Kien's significantly larger hand. Kien clearly doesn't understand how a handshake works, so Luke gives him a soft shake and brings his hand back down.
Luke: "It's a...pleasure to meet you two. I wasn't expecting a tag-team."
Henry: "I wasn't expecting anyone to be alive in this hospital, did you cause all of this carnage?"
Kien: "Some of it, yeah. I like picking up bodies while Mythril's walking around and cracking them open like eggs. You should try it sometime, there's some good stuff hidden in there."
Mythril shivers. Jace returns after dusting some of the dirt and rubble off of his jacket.
Jace: "Anyways, you mentioned you've never left here? Why's that?"
Mythril: "I was too young to remember the specifics, except for running and hiding from a shadowy-man."
Jace: "A shadowy-man? Like covered in shadow?"
Mythril: "Yes! Exactly! I've never been able to describe it to myself, thank you. Whenever I saw him, I couldn't actually seem him. Does that make sense?"
Ana: "Sounds spooky. Why didn't you leave after that man left?"
Mythril: "He was looking for me. He wants to kill me and separate me from Kien."
Henry: "How can you be so sure? Maybe he died."
Mythril: "That's impossible. He cannot die. He took bullets, knives, syringes, and never moved an inch. I read a book about spirituality since being stuck here, I think he was the Grim Reaper."
Luke: "I don't believe in superstitions. You're likely referring to the man who started the Atlas Army Project here. Perhaps word got out about the inhumane experiments and he had to personally shut things down."
Henry: "Makes sense to me. Then Mythril hides for about two decades due to fear of being executed. How you lived here that long is beyond me."
Jace: "That's right, you die of starvation after about a month. How did you do it?"
Kien: "Oh, that's easy! I can use this arm to digest food for us, so I just pick up the corp-"
Mythril: "KIEN! STOP! You know how much I hate it when you talk about that..."
Kien: "It's a delicacy to me."
The arm shrugs, having the wrist hyper-extend back into itself. Jace squats next to Mythril and offers his hand out.
Jace: "How would you like to explore this world? It's a beautiful one that you should admire with every chance you get."
Mythril: "You want me to join you?"
Everyone else stands with bewilderment. They are talking to the most bizarre person they have ever met and Jace wants them to tag along for the foreseeable future. Jace fist-bumps Kien's hand.
Jace: "How about you, big guy? I'm sure we'll be coming across enemies that you can kill. I wouldn't eat their organs though, we'll find you two real food."
Kien: "That's a good bargain, but why can't I eat their organs?"
Jace: "They're androids. You'd be eating metal and motor oil. I don't think you'd want to eat that."
Kien: "Okay, deal. I'm ready to leave whenever."
Kien's blue arm retracts and Mythril stands up along with Jace.
Ana: "You're serious?"
Jace: "Yeah, I am. I said you all owe me, so I'm bringing Mythril along with us and we're stopping somewhere for dinner. There's nothing in the fridge back home."
Luke: "We don't...have a fridge?"
Ana: "It's on Henry's list. Me and him were gonna go out dumpster-diving later in the week."
Henry: "Aren't you supposed to be a hero?"
Ana: "Is dumpster-diving a crime?"
Henry: "It is in Rozay."
Mythril: "Where are we going?"
Jace: "Bluestone. My home-town. We have a lil' base of operations over there. We'll show you around."
Ana: "He's not allowed in my room!"
Jace: "No one is! C'mon, let's leave."
The five leave the hospital. The sun has set and the stars illuminate the old city of Morning Glory. Mythril hesitates for a second, not seeing any source of light in so long. Jace pats him on the back to lift his spirits.
Mythril: "Are you sure this is a good idea? Me and Kien won't be a burden?"
Jace: "I know what it's like to be alone for a long time. You'll fit in perfectly with us. You share the same abilities that they have."
Ana: "So, quick question: What are we getting and who's paying?"
Henry: "I have a good diner I used to frequently visit. I like the variety they provide. They know me, I'm sure they can foot the bill."
Jace: "Then lead the way! I see a burger in my future!"
With that, the final member has joined the team and the plan to rematch Breakdown seemed stronger than ever. From here, the dangers only get scarier and the emotions get deeper. This isn't the end of the story, just the end of this page because it's finally too long and I need to start a new one. You just read about 600 lines of dialogue, can you believe it? Anyways, things pick right up on the next page.