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.