Chapter 19: When a fire starts to burn
24 hours have passed. The group approaches Rozay Rocks in dramatic fashion. They discuss strategies for stealthing their way through and figuring out a path to Breakdown. Before they enter, they’re stopped by the guards.
Guard: “Henry Grimes, you and your friends have been allowed clearance into Rozay Rocks.”
Henry: “Huh? Why?”
Guard: “There’s…someone who would like to meet you right ahead.”
Henry: “Fuck, alright. Tell the big man I appreciate it.”
Guard: “Good luck, assassin.”
Henry: “That’s not my role here anymore!”
Henry pushes through and enters the main plaza of the Rocks. They can see the person in question from a mile away. They’re staring up at the elevator, monitoring who enters and exits the elevator.
Henry: “Ren?! What the hell do you want?!”
Ren: “A rematch. I heard you all were coming to town, so I wanted to plan something special for the occasion.”
Luke: “What are you scheming?”
Ren turns around. Now facing the group. He examines the new additions as he continues to be cocky.
Ren: “I’ll let you see Ben Jr, if you can knock me out.”
Ana: “With what little is in that head, I can do that easily.”
Ren: “What was that!?"
Ana: “You heard me. You just sealed your fate by wanting to pick a fight with us.”
Ren: “Henry, who’s this?”
Ana: “I’ll tell you my name, thank you. I’m Ana, an ally to justice and a nightmare to you!”
Ren: “That was lame. I’ve never even dreamt of you.”
Ana: “No, that’s not- Whatever. I think better with my fists.”
Ren: “As do I. Ladies first?”
Ana: “With pleasure.”
Ana forms Pulse around her hands and Ren ignites a fire down his arms, gathering and forming within his palms. She dashes forward and the two begin to fight. The rest of the group watches, studying the fight.
Luke: “Let’s join her.”
Jace: “Wha?”
Luke: “Remember how Ben was able to handle us three? Do you think Ren can handle a five-on-one?”
Jace: “Let's find out."
Mythril charges from amongst the pack and manifests Kien’s arm. He nabs a plastic container from the ground and hurtles it at Ren. He immediately turns around to face Mythril.
Ren: “What is your problem?”
Behind a now-distracted Ren, Ana hops above him and rotates her body to produce a spinning side-kick. She crashes her foot into his jaw which sends his body dragging across the gravel.
Ana: “Thanks, but I don’t need the support.”
Jace: “Yeah, that’s too bad. Let’s blitz, Pitied Party!”
Henry: “Knock that off!”
The remaining three catch up to Mythril before scattering to different sides of the battlefield.
Ren: “This isn’t fair!”
Luke: “We know.”
Kien: “HERE COMES THE BARREL!”
Kien’s arms grab ahold of an incendiary barrel and chuck it towards Ren. He raises his hand in the air and causes the barrel to combust before even reaching him by warming it. Ren then glares at Mythril.
Ren: “Who…what are you?”
Mythril: “Rude. I’m a person.”
Kien: “He was referring to me, buddy.”
Ren: “Why does everyone here have the wit of a twig? I hate this.”
Henry: “Then give up. Let us through and we’ll leave you alone.”
Ren: “Can’t. Boss’ orders.”
Henry: “Forget about Ben Jr! All he’s done has submerge this once beautiful cavern-town into nothing but his labor-force! You’re just another cog in his wheel!”
Ren: “And without this cog, this place would fall and become even worse!”
Henry: “It’s been getting worse! You’ve been trying to slow the change of our old Rozay, but it’s time to jump ship!”
Ren: “Shut the hell up, traitor!”
Henry: “How about this? How much do you like ol’ Junior in the hot seat?”
Ren: “I hate him, why?”
Henry: “If you hate your boss, then why stay and follow his orders?”
Ren: “I can’t let Rozay fall…”
Henry: “It’s going to whether we want it to or not. Now, either you crawl out of the hole you’re in, or you suffocate under the rubble. Make your choice.”
Ren hesitates for a second. He clenches his fist as a blaze forms around it, but it never moves. He glares at Henry, then glides his eyes towards a house behind the arena.
​Ren: “I’m not putting up with a therapy session, I’m going home. Take my elevator pass and please, just knock some sense into him, okay?”
His flames disperse as he hands Henry the pass. He softly walks away, a first for him.
Henry: “What floor does this get us to?”
Ren: “Right below the penthouse. You’ll have to walk up a few flights, but I’m sure that’s no issue for you all. Bye.”
Jace: “That’s not bad! It beats a parking garage anyday!”
Luke: “Let’s move. Who knows how much time we have left before Breakdown gets the hint that we’re still coming after him.”
The five grab hold of the elevator and swipe Ren’s card. It lifts up and ascends as the numbers rise, and rise…and rise.
Mythril: “What do you think we’ll see up there?”
Ana: “It’s gotta be something lavish. He walks around in expensive suits all day, surely his home base is just as exquisite.”
Henry: “Do you guys hear…music?”
Jace: “He’s throwing a party while we’re on the assault? Is he that dismissive of us?”
Luke: “What’s the plan? Blend in, or smash through?”
Henry: “The second someone recognizes us, it’s over. We don’t have disguises either.”
Ana: “Let’s see what we’re looking at first. We may have a fighting chance here.”
Mythril: “I agree.”
The elevator begins a gradual deceleration before stopping on the 97th floor of Rozay Rocks. The doors slide open, revealing a massive classical-dance hall. Beautiful displays of marble architecture surround them with several murals accompanying the ceiling. That must’ve been how the previous Breakdown enjoyed his manor because now it’s been decorated to be a raver’s paradise. Steel beams replace some of the marble pillars with a steel stage accompanying the grotesque fusion of class and party. Dozens of LED lights blind the group before the rumbling bass of the sound speakers shakes them to their very core. Everyone already inside of the hall is too busy enjoying the moment to notice the new arrivals.
Jace: “I say we sneak for once.”
Luke: “Finally, a plan I can get behind.”
Mythril: “I-I can’t do this.”
Jace: “Why not?”
Jace turns around to Mythril and notices a familiar sight. He’s in a state of shock similar to Jace’s episode back in the hospital. His eyes are filled with fear as his body trembles.
Ana: “Don’t worry, Myth. As long as we’re not spotted, we can do this. I can be by your side if you’d like.”
Mythril: “I’d appreciate that, thank you. It’s just so loud…”
Jace: “Yeah, it is. Thankfully this asshole doesn’t have any neighbors, or else he’d be getting noise complaints on the daily.”
Luke: “Is he always like this?”
​Henry: “Yes. Ben Jr. doesn’t give a fuck about the Rocks. He’s only interested in the wealth he inherited and how to spend it in the flashiest of ways. It sickens me and Ren.”
Ana: “Save that anger for our eventual encounter. Let’s start walking for now.”
The gang nod their heads and begin their silent attack on Breakdown. Mythril hesitates to move for a second, but Ana grabs his wrist and drags him out of the elevator.