Kasumi
,
Birdcage
, Vine, and
Athlete
stepped into the casino. The inside had bright white tile floors, and dark chestnut walls. Straight ahead, was a massive room with several tables for gambling. Their bright green colors contrasted sharply with the rest of the casino. To the left and right were rooms filled to the brim with slot machines, but everyone on Chaos’s side was straight ahead, sitting anxiously across the several tables. Kasumi started walking ahead and was approached by a
man
in a bright white suit, red shirt, and orange tie.
“
Chaos
was captured by
Kitsune
.”
Kasumi
stated. “We’re looking for anyone who might be able to break him out.”
The
man
nodded with a sad grave expression. “I don’t know who fits your description,” he said. “
Chaos
promised me this place would be filled with life and energy when he took charge.” he shook his head. “Now I’m not so sure. I’ll do anything I can to help. Maybe you can talk to the high rollers over there.” the man gestured to the table at the center of the main room.
Kasumi
,
Birdcage
, Vine, and
Athlete
approached the main table. The
man
with a graph on his screen, a
man
with blue lines on his screen, a
man
with a black and white shirt, and a
man
with wooden logs around his head all sat across the table. The man with wooden logs and the man with a graph on his face both had large stacks of chips in front of them, while the rest had two or three chips at most.
“I’d say that was only a fifty-six percent chance that time, but I’m feeling good tonight!” the
man
with graphs on his face laughed, staring at his chips.
The
man
with blue lines leaned his head against his hand, “You can’t be allowed to count cards when we do this,
Math
. It’s just not fair.”
Math
laughed, “Don’t handicap me for learning how to win.” he smiled.
“I actually quite like the challenge.” the
man
with wooden logs said.
“I know how to build a prison.” the
man
with blue lines said, “but that I don’t know.”
“I actually might have an idea!” The man with wooden logs stood up and outstretched his hand to
Kasumi
. “Hi, I’m
Enigma
.”
“Hi
Enigma
.”
Kasumi
shook his hand. “Have you ever been to a prison?”
“No.” he smiled, “But I’ve studied them. Breaking out of prison is an interesting puzzle. And if you can’t tell, I love puzzles.”
“That’s great.”
Kasumi
said, “But we don’t know where he’s being held.”
“I think I do.” the man with blue lines said. “I’m
Design
.
Math
and I worked for
Order
back when Gang was in charge.”
“Not with?”
Birdcage
asked.
“He’s not someone you can work with.”
Design
stated. “With him it’s his way or the highway. He’s always going to make the most structured choice, no matter what.”
“So if he’s holding someone in prison…”
Birdcage
started.
“It’s going to be a literal prison.”
Kasumi
realized. “Do any of you know where the police station is?”
“I know where everything in this city is.
Order
made me memorize it.”
Design
shook his head. “It’s three blocks west of here. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you.”
Kasumi
said. She turned and began to walk towards the exit when
Gang
walked in front of her and blocked her path.
“Can I talk to you privately?”
he
insisted.
-
Kasumi
and
Gang
sat on the front steps of the casino.
Gang
hung his hands wearily against his legs while
Kasumi
sat with her fingers interwoven. The wind’s empty air provided an evanescent stillness. To the right was the edge of Nozomi. The city continued on, but electricity only existed for three square blocks of the city. Even though there was light and life, the dark edge still persisted as a stark reminder that life as they all remembered had not returned, not yet.
Gang
paused and looked towards
Kasumi
. “I thought we had an understanding.”
“What do you mean?”
she
answered.
“When you saved
me
from that fire. I told you
Chaos
was a bad person. Why did you join his side?”
“Maybe … maybe you’re wrong. Maybe he meant something else?”
“He didn’t!”
Gang
insisted.
“I just - I know he isn’t a good person.”
Kasumi
said, “But I think he’s who we need right now. We need someone strong who can make sure no one takes charge and takes away what it means to be free. We just got away from the Triangle company. I couldn’t stand it if someone like Takahashi squeezed us until he had all of the control. He’s not a warm and fuzzy guy, but he’s given us a chance to be free.” she paused, “And I don’t see you on team
Order
’s side!”
Kasumi
stood up, dusted herself off, and walked back inside the casino. A
man
with a beating heart on his screen passed her to walk outside.
Birdcage
, Vine,
Athlete
, and
Enigma
were waiting for Kasumi inside.
“What did he say?” Vine asked.
“Just that
Chaos
is a psychopath and that we shouldn’t trust him.”
Kasumi
answered.
“And you’re going to trust
Gang
?”
Birdcage
scoffed, “He’s just going to use this opportunity to grab power again.”
“Yeah … you’re right.”
Kasumi
said, “Let's just go to the police station.”
The
man
with a beating heart on his screen faced the street beside the casino. He saw
Gang
sitting alone by himself on the steps. The man glanced intently at Gang and said nothing.
-
Chaos
sat silently in the corner of his cell. He casually glanced towards the
man
on the outside of the bars wearing a policeman’s uniform. The man sat silently, but picked up his head when he saw
Order
walk in. Order stood up straight with his hands by his sides and stared down at Chaos.
“How kind of you to celebrate your premature victory with me.”
Chaos
smiled.
“Actually I’m here for fact-finding.”
Order
replied, “What exactly was your plan? You seem like the talkative type, so I’m hoping you can give me something of value.”
“Oh, but that’s so boring!”
Chaos
whined, “Wouldn’t it be better to tell everyone to relax! Wouldn’t it be easier to tell everyone that the hard work is done and all that’s left is to party, kick back, and relish in the fire of what we’ve created!”
“But that’s wrong.”
Order
insisted, “I believe people are better than that. They’ll resist their base impulses and do what needs to be done.”
“They’ve already chosen not to.”
Chaos
grinned, “It’s so much easier to do what you want to do than what you should do. And so much more fun! You’re a textbook and I’m a smartphone. In the end, which of us gets more attention?”
Superior
walked into the police station with his sword by his side. The
policeman
stood up in shock, but sat back down when he realized
Order
wasn’t startled.
“We should go.”
Superior
stated.
“
Superior
!”
Chaos
taunted, “It’s good to see you again! I haven’t seen your sister. I suppose that means you’re fighting together! That’s awfully kind of her.”
Superior
furrowed his brow and ushered
Order
out of the station.
-
Kasumi
,
Enigma
, Vine,
Birdcage
, and
Athlete
sat quietly behind a dumpster in a narrow alley facing the police station.
“Look!”
Athlete
said in a loud whisper. “That’s Order!” The group saw
Order
leave the police station with
Superior
leaving behind him. His dark red sheath shimmered in stark contrast against his dark blue suit.
“Not him again.” Vine frowned. “That guy can fight.”
Athlete
said. “Smart of him to travel with a bodyguard.”
Birdcage
noted.
“Do you see any way in?”
Kasumi
asked.
“I don’t believe that’s the solution.”
Enigma
stated, “I’m familiar with this model of police station. It’s used to store prisoners for only one night before they’re transferred to an actual jail. The cell is small, used to store one to a few people. There’s enough room for a single desk inside and a single door in the front.”
“So how do we sneak past?”
Kasumi
asked.
“We don’t.”
Enigma
said. “We rush in.”
“We what?!”
Birdcage
exclaimed.
“Believe me, I would love to recommend some complex infiltration, lockpicking and climbing through ducts.”
Enigma
said, “but this place isn’t large enough to sneak by and is designed for only one attendant. Sometimes the best path is a straight line. But I don’t know if we can take him ourselves. Do any of you know how to fight?” Everyone turned to Vine who only smiled politely.
“I do know some Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.” Vine said.
“Some?”
Kasumi
said, “Didn’t you say you were the world champion?”
“Once, yeah” Vine said.
“Yeah, that should work.”
Enigma
said with his eyebrows up.
“What got you into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the first place?”
Kasumi
asked.
“I used to have an anger problem.” Vine said.
“Really?”
Birdcage
said, “But you seem so mellow!”
“That’s because I’ve found a way to channel my aggression.” Vine smiled sweetly.
“Alright then! Nobody messes with her!”
Enigma
chuckled to himself, then turned to face the police station. “Alright, let's move in.”
The group crept up to the police station and waited patiently by the door.
Enigma
and
Athlete
crouched on the left side of the door while Vine,
Birdcage
, and
Kasumi
crouched on the right side. Enigma raised his head towards the door, but couldn’t detect any sounds on the other side.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
Enigma
whispered. Vine nodded. She placed her left hand on the doorknob and waited a moment to take a breath. Then she violently swung the door open and everyone rushed inside. By the time
Kasumi
made it in, she could see Vine standing a foot away from the single
police officer
. Vine jabbed forward with her left hand to hit him in the neck, then she grabbed onto him and swung her right foot against his legs. Both of them fell to the ground with Vine laying on top and her right arm forearm across the officer’s neck.
“So many familiar faces.”
Chaos
said as he stood against the bars of his cell. Are you here to let me go or rough me up?”
“We’re letting you go.”
Athlete
said. Vine tossed him a key from the officer’s pocket which he used on the locked cell. With a bit of force, the cell door swung to the side and
Chaos
walked through.
“I’m grateful for what you’ve done here tonight.”
Chaos
smiled a sinister grin. “Let's return to the headquarters.” Vine started to stand up and Chaos turned to the
officer
on the ground. Chaos kneeled by the officer’s side. “I think it’s best if you wait five minutes after we leave before running off.” he whispered at the officer, “Unlike her, I don’t stop after you’re knocked down.” Chaos stood back up and walked towards the entrance while everyone except the dumbfounded officer followed. “That was a good pin. But fear is far more effective.”
The
officer
remained on the ground for six more minutes.
-
“We have
Chaos
.”
Kitsune
said to
Order
, who frantically sketched notes across several sheets of paper. “We need to do something now to rally the people to our side.”
Order
rested his hand against his temple, then shook his head and jotted down more notes. He sat at a mahogany table at the base floor of an apartment building.
Kitsune
stood over a corner of the table while Order focused on his papers.
Chem
stood in the corner of the room watching them work.
“It’s just not that simple!”
Order
exclaimed. “I can’t be in charge of these people if they’re going to be this undisciplined! I can’t just be in charge. I need to have control. Without that, how can I hope that my plans will follow through? I need to be certain.”
“Why don’t you take charge?”
Chem
said to
Kitsune
.
“I wouldn’t be any good at it.”
Kitsune
answered. “While I’ve led rebel strikes, leading a people is a different animal. I’ve spent most of my life away from the modern world. It’s not something I’m prepared for.”
“I’d appreciate it if you demonstrate the discipline to stay on the same team. And read some of these plans I’ve made. I want to know your thoughts.”
-
Music played loud at the casino while people raised their glasses and drank whatever alcohol they could find. Spirited gambling could be heard across the card tables while everyone present laughed and shouted loudly.
Chaos
turned to the side and saw Witch standing next to him. “Ah,
Witch
.” he said, “It’s been some time.”
“Now that you’re back, I thought we could talk.” she said, “With
Kitsune
,
Superior
and
Hero
on the same side, I thought we could use some muscle. I know of a way to help with that.”
“I’m interested.”
Chaos
smiled, “But you’re the only part of our gang that I could never figure out. How can I trust you?”
“Because I know who you are.”
Witch
said, “Who you really are. And I know what you do to people who betray you.”
“If you knew me before this, you’d be running in a very different direction.”
Chaos
said.
“Not if we want the same thing.”
Witch
said. “I’m going to help you set the world on fire.”
Chaos
narrowed his eyes at
Witch
. She was a middle-aged woman with a dark shirt and a witch’s hat on her screen. She stared him down with a dark confidence that even gave Chaos pause, but ultimately, he was intrigued.
“I got my start as a neuroscientist at the Triangle Company.”
Witch
stated, staring directly at
Chaos
. “Tell me, what do you know about neurological mesh?”