Chapter 20: Dealing with the Roster
Now deep into the crowd, the group continues to walk for the staircase. They occasionally bump into people, but they pay them little mind and continue partying. After a few close encounters, they reach the center of the hall. They stand atop a colossal dance-floor decorated with hundreds of different, colorful visuals.
Henry: “This place is a headache.”
Mythril: “Tell me about it…”
Ana: “You okay?”
Mythril: “Yeah. I can do this, you’re right.”
Ana: “Love the confidence, keep it up!”
Jace: “Why are you nice to him and not to me?”
Ana: “Mythril’s not a loser.”
Jace: “Ah.”
The other two stifle their laughs. Suddenly, the dance floor and LEDS coat everyone in red. The feedback of a microphone vibrates the entire hall before a voice clears their throat.
Henry: “Shit…”
Ben Jr: “Ladies, gentlemen, and anyone in-between or outside: I have a very important announcement to make. As expected, our finest guests have arrived.”
Jace: “What the?”
Ben Jr: “Please give them your round of applause. Even though they committed such atrocities against me and my community, I welcome them one last time into my humble abode.”
Luke: “You scum…”
The lights turn from red to white as they all can now be seen clearly by the partiers. A thunderous uproar of cheers and claps surround them. Mythril tenses up and leans in closer towards Ana.
Ana: “This is sickening.”
Ben Jr: “Alright, STOP! With that out of the way, please make a path so they can access the stairwell up to my penthouse. They’ll love the view.”
Within an instant, the crowd shuffles around so a linear path is formed to the stairwell.
Jace: “Are they possessed or something?”
Luke: “I’m not finding out, let’s go.”
Mythril: “Please..."
They walk forward and eventually up the stairwell. They reach two massive, golden doors.
Henry: “You’ve gotta be kidding me. These are brand-new.”
Luke: “We’re almost there. Breathe.”
They push the doors open and step into Ben Jr’s penthouse. Velvet rugs and curtains decorate the floors and walls. A gorgeous chandelier hangs high above them on the ceiling. Behind the curtains reveal two views: One of the dance floor they were just at and one of…a one-story building? Is there a city on top of Rozay? At his desk, Ben has his legs propped up and his hands behind his head.
Ben Jr: “It’s about time. I have to make my way down to that floor in about thirty minutes, so talk to me.”
Jace: “You fund the androids that killed my father. By extension, you killed him too.”
Ben Jr: “Again, I didn’t assign that hit. I don’t know who did.”
Jace: “Do you know who created them?”
Ben Jr: “I only know them as the ‘One Above All’ or whatever the androids call them.”
Jace: “So, you interact with these androids frequently?”
Ben Jr: “Well…not frequently.”
Jace: “You’re lying to me, Jr. I ain’t falling for it. You have some knowledge about my dad’s death!”
Ben Jr: “Get outta my way. I need to attend the party.”
Ana: “Hold on, it’s only been two minutes. We still have twenty-eight left to ask you questions.”
Ben Jr: “Time’s up, then. Get out.”
Ben Jr. gets out of his chair and walks towards the door. He opens it with ease and motions for the group to leave. In retaliation, Jace switches to Freeze and solidifies Ben's hand to the door in a block of ice.
Jace: “No one’s going anywhere. I’m not done with you!”
Luke throws a plasma-knife at Ben, whizzing by his ear and stabbing into the door.
Ben Jr: “Fine, you punks.”
He instantly breaks the ice and grabs Luke’s knife.
Luke: “How can he…?”
Ben shatters Luke’s knife into hundreds of pieces and smirks.
Ben Jr: “No rules this time around. It’ll only take me five minutes to kill you all!”