[THE HAVEN]

A black skyscraper stood isolated in a desert of black sand.

This was the Haven. It rose fifty stories high, tickling the edge of an infinite monsoon. Dunes of black sand clawed at it like frozen teeth, salivating with dark rain.

Somewhere in the distance, a pit of black sand spiraled into a whirlpool. Dark grains swirled into a shifting mound, spraying out jets of dirt. The mound grew taller than the surrounding dunes, shaking sand free like water from a wet dog’s fur.

RATTLE RATTLE

The mound descended back to the muddy depths. Sand parted, settling into a prolonged slumber.

A whale-like moan echoed across the dunes, diminishing in the stormy sky.

***

Jay peeked out into a hallway towards his destination - Unit 40556.

A single Enforcer stood between Jay and that door; this was yet another significant detail Danny “forgot” to mention. Jay expected this place to be guarded, but not by an enforcer.

Booming music from the unit’s interior vibrated both the enforcer and his bronze rifle. The door was cracked open, casting disco dots in a kaleidoscope pattern across floor forty’s immaculate carpet. This seemed less like the evil lair of the Silver Suits, and more like the Haven’s most happening dance party.

Jay didn’t dare kill an enforcer - he wasn’t positive that he could. This would need to be resolved without violence. Or at least, direct violence.

“Ricochet Shot,” muttered Jay. The words were unnecessary, but they helped him focus.

Jay fired a red bullet down the hall:

-- Off a wall.

-- Off the ceiling.

-- Shattering a potted plant.

The enforcer turned his head. Hoisting his heavy rifle over his shoulder, the enforcer swooped over to the plant’s location. That at least got him away from the door, but he would soon grow bored or escalate. This was Jay’s only chance.

“Poison Shot,” whispered Jay.

A green bullet pierced the Enforcer’s leg. The enforcer fell, grasping his antagonized calf. Most people could survive a single Poison Shot. An enforcer could probably survive three or four.

Jay took this opportunity to slip through the door, entering an enormous nightclub. It spanned dozens of units and scaled multiple floors. The music thumped through Jay’s ribcage, competing with the rhythm of his heart. Laser lights entangled the room in a rainbow spiderweb.

Mounted mirrors, chrome floor tiles, and half-finished cocktails reflected Jay’s silly outfit. So that’s what he looked like in that Captain Lair mask. He looked less like a superhero, and more like a luchador wrestler. The gray hoodie and plain jeans weren’t helping - he really needed a cape or something. Might as well commit to the motif.

More than a hundred people were dancing, drinking, and copping feels. Jay had never seen such a high concentration of people, outside of maybe elevator lines. Higher floor denizens seemed to live in less fear of each other.

It looked like they were letting just about anyone in here - anyone with the right Floor ID that is. The Haven claimed that was to prevent “overcrowding,” but Jay had seen lower floor public spaces: there was barely standing room. No enforcers stood guard in front of those ones either.

He felt more out of place than usual. It wasn’t just because he was the most casually dressed superhero of all time - everyone here was glowing. Glowing rings, glowing earrings, glowing paint. Jay made a minimal effort to blend in, snatching some glowing wristbands off the floor and a neon cocktail from a standing table.

According to Danny’s sources, there was a SIlver Suit in here right now. That was the only detail he was willing to share. Either Danny didn’t know much about this group, or he knew too much. Jay shoved his way through a crowded dance floor, struggling to get a glimpse of anyone wearing all silver. In any other setting, that would have been easy to find.

There -- on a second story balcony: a silver figure, stepping out from a restroom, zipping up his spandex fly. That had to be one of them. It wasn’t just the silver that gave it away: it was the tall slender body. And the mask that bent into a crescent moon hook. And that painted fire on his face --

Jay pulled free from the crowd, leaping up an LED staircase several steps at a time. There were significantly less people on floor two. And less noise too - it was almost possible to have a conversation up here.

Jay kept his head low, stalking the silver suit through gaps in a neon railing. 4 SP left. Most of it had been used battling Blue, and more had been used on the enforcer guard. Resting would have been ideal, but according to Danny’s sources, the Silver Suit was here now. If Jay missed him, he might not get another chance.

The Silver Suit sat in a private booth, surrounded by a quirky entourage. One woman’s hair was weaved into scary-realistic blue vipers. Another man’s jaw was replaced with a red metal beartrap - Jay hoped that wasn’t permanent. Someone wore a conic mask that extended over three feet high. Cosplay was big in the Haven, but these people were next-level.

In the center of them was the Silver Suit: Flame. He was in Jay’s room that night when Anton was taken. Now he was kicked back in a padded booth, buying his buddies drinks from a private bar across from the table.

Jay approached them without a plan; he could barely focus on rational thoughts. All he knew is he was walking away with a lead on Anton, or he wasn’t walking away at all.

“Hey nice mask,” said Flame. “Captain Lair, right? He’s the man!”

Everyone at the table went out of their way to agree.

“Where’s Anton?” Jay asked.

“What?” asked Flame.

The music pounded.

“I said, where’s Anton?” asked Jay.

“What?”

Jay leaned over the table.

“I said, where’s Anton?”

Flame leaned over the table.

“What?”

Jay grew frustrated. It wasn’t just the music; it was his stupid mask muffling his voice.

He finally stopped caring. It was time for a dramatic entrance.

Jay ripped off his mask, flicking sweat from his black hair.

“Remember me?” asked Jay.

Flame tilted his head.

“Nope,” said Flame.

Jay grew even more irritated.

“Where’s Anton?” Jay yelled.

“Who?” said Flame.

Jay was ready to sock Flame in the mouth.

“Don’t play dumb with me!” yelled Jay.

“I’m not playing dumb,” said Flame. “I seriously don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Now it was just awkward. Jay climbed onto the table, much to the dismay of everyone sitting there.

“Whoa buddy,” said Flame. “Watch the drinks!”

“You took my brother,” Jay sobbed. “And then you shot me in the head.”

Flame looked close, then suddenly slammed his fists against the table.

“Holy shit,” said Flame. “You’re that kid --”

Jay whipped out his purple pistols, pointing them both at Flame. Flame’s company recoiled into their seats.

“Where’s my brother?” screamed Jay.

Flame laughed, loud enough for the people on the lower floor to hear him.

“Oh man, you are dumb,” said Flame. “Did you come by yourself? You must have a death wish --”

Jay shot out a hanging light. Flame’s friends abandoned him.

“Last time I’m asking!” yelled Jay.

“I can’t believe you seriously just revealed yourself like that,” said Flame. “Wait until the others hear about this --”

“PIERCING SHOT!!”

A level two purple bullet left a gap in Flame’s chest and an even larger hole in the floor below. In an instant, Jay’s only lead was gone. At the very least however, this meant one less Silver Suit in the Haven. He hopped off the table. It had been a long day and Jay could use some rest --

“Hey creep,” said a voice behind him.

Jay turned -- the Silver Suit was standing upright, his chest fully intact. He flicked away a thin empty vial, lined with traces of emerald liquid. That was green juice. In real life.

Flame unsheathed a long red katana.

“FLAME SLICE!”

Jay dove to the side as a streak of fire glided past him, converting the private bar into a billowing pyre of flame. The fire then imploded into shimmering gray dust, moments before the fire alarm caught wind.

This was another premium account user. And Jay only had one SP.

Jay was screwed.

Flame slid across the slick table, twirling his katana in a practiced kata.

“I’m going to make you wish you could die for real,” said Flame.

Jay opened fire, filling Flame’s body with blistering bumps. Flame dove behind a standing table, flipping it over for cover.

“FLAME SLICE!”

Jay flipped sideways over a streaking arch of fire. He cleared the flame, but botched the landing. The impact knocked the wind out of him - Jay’s body wasn’t always compatible with Shae’s combat instincts.

Flame closed the distance, swinging his sword with manic ferocity. It was time for Jay to exploit a weakness that Zero Space significantly nerfed --

Jay shot Flame in the groin. So many times.

Flame let out a horrific gasp, grasping what little remained of his junk. Jay had no hope of beating an opponent like this; he had to get away.

He made it about twenty feet before --

“FLAME SLICE!”

A literal heat wave ripped through the back of his shirt and pants before exploding into evaporating cinders. One more blow like that would reduce Jay to his skivvies. Though his real life clothes were less stylish than Shae’s, Jay preferred not to lose them.

The stairs were close --

“FLAME SLICE!”

Jay leaned against a wall, dodging a vertical streak of fire.

“That was my Zero Disc you stole!” yelled Flame, still clutching his junk. “You have no idea what Dragon had to do to get me another one!”

Flame’s katana glided across the second floor railing, raining sparks down on the dancing crowd below.

“This isn’t Zero Space,” said Flame. “Even if I can’t kill you, I can interrogate you --”

Jay opened fire on Flame’s arms.

“FLAME SLICE!”

Jay leaned past rushing flames, continuing his assault. This was good! More time for Jay to focus on wearing Flame down.

Flame’s arms filled with stinging welts. There wasn’t time for his ability to recharge - he ran forward, raising his katana for a deadly slice.

Flame’s sword descended --

Jay sidestepped, then sidekicked. The sword flew from Flame’s weakened grip, toppling from the balcony, and landing point-first in the middle of the dancing crowd. Fortunately, only one person was injured, and nobody noticed.

Without Flame’s weapon, he couldn’t use his ability. This was Jay’s chance!

“PIERCING SH --”

Flame’s foot found Jay’s balls. Jay let out a horrific cry as Flame wrestled his guns free, twirling them in both hands.

“These are pretty cool,” said Flame. “These your in-game weapons?”

Flame unloaded both pistols into Jay’s back. Jay’s shriek echoed across the second floor.

“These sting like a son of a bitch, don’t they?” asked Flame.

Flame fired more.

“You know, I could finish you off right here,” said Flame.

Jay couldn’t help it - he started crying. It wasn’t just the pain; it was the thought of losing Anton again.

Flame pulled Jay up by the hair.

“I’m going to make you scream,” said Flame. “Just like your brother screamed when you died --”

Jay spat a mouthful of blood into Flame’s face.

The distraction left Flame’s stomach open for Jay’s knee. And then a headbutt.

Jay’s next spinning kick disarmed and nearly decapitated Flame. Both of Jay’s pistols toppled through gaps in the railing. Jay scrambled for them, but it was too late. One pistol landed with a clang. The other pistol landed with a meaty thump - that didn’t sound good.

Jay also got a dizzying look at floor one. It was further down than he expected, and there weren’t any pteranoid wings to catch him if he fell.

Flame’s arm seized Jay’s throat, yanking him backwards against the wall. Jay released a strangled cry, hoisted off the ground by Flame’s grip.

“This is my favorite way to kill someone,” said Flame. “I’m gonna watch the fire drain from your eyes.”

Jay’s body thrashed involuntarily, struggling for air.

“That’s what I like about Zero Space,” said Flame. “People take longer to die. You get to savor it!”

There was just one option left. An absolute last resort --

Jay’s feet pushed off the wall behind them, forcing Flame to stumble forward. With a final burst of strength, Jay bent over the railing, rolling them both over the edge.

The two of them plummeted dozens of feet, smashing through a standing table. Both suffered injuries, but Jay came out on top.

The dancing crowd parted, finally becoming aware of their battle - something like that was hard to miss. All music stopped, granting them a captive audience.

Jay crawled off Flame, retrieving his pistols from the floor. His rapid pistol shots shattered club lights, raining down sparks and glass.

“Everybody out!” yelled Jay.

The crowd did as commanded, screaming as they fled towards the exit. Flame tried to join them, but a dozen bullets pinned him down.

“Where’s Anton?” Jay asked.

Flame somehow managed to laugh.

“You don’t seem to get it,” said Flame. “I’m just like you. You can’t kill me!”

“I’m not ready to kill you,” said Jay.

Jay riddled Flame’s body with bullets. Flame hollered, but then went right back to laughing.

“Tell me where he is!” yelled Jay.

“Anton’s with us now!” said Flame. “Dragon wants to keep him. Says he’s got talent or something. Next time you see him, he’s gonna look like us!”

Jay targeted Flame’s groin - Flame stopped laughing after that.

“We figured out pretty quick that your brother didn’t use the Zero Disc,” said Flame. “We knew you had to be out there somewhere.”

Jay shot Flame’s feet. No reaction. Maybe Flame had gone numb.

“Now we know you’re alive,” said Flame. “Thanks for confirming that. We’re never going to stop hunting you.”

Jay ripped off Flame’s mask. A cross-eyed man with spiky red hair laughed in Jay’s face.

“Premium users can be killed too,” said Flame. “You just gotta take out their hard drive. We’re gonna find your computer and --”

Shae filled his mouth with bullets. This only deterred Flame’s laughter briefly as he spat out bullets and teeth.

“Gord wernk derfus,” said Flame. “Now yur kent evern inturrugate me.”

The enforcer door-guard entered, along with several of his colleagues. This was bad. Jay didn’t stand a chance - not even at full SP.

“No wern carn starp us!” said Flame. “We’re the Infurnerties and our power is infurnart!”

It didn’t take a genius to decipher Flame’s words, which was why Jay was able to do it. “Infinities.” “Infinite power.” This excursion was a catastrophe, but now he at least had something to go on. Or something for Bander to go on.

The enforcers pointed and shouted. They’d be upon Jay in a moment.

Jay still had that last SP.

He aimed at the Enforcers -- no wait, that was a terrible idea. These Infinity guys were already hunting him. The last thing he wanted was to be on the Enforcer shitlist too.

Jay aimed his pistols at Flame -- no wait, that was also a bad idea. As satisfying as that would be, Flame would just respawn. Having Flame suffer through his current condition was the superior torment.

If the enforcers caught Jay, he would be interrogated, or worse. Death might not come swift - it might not come at all. He couldn’t let that happen. There was one way out of this.

Jay put a pistol to his own head.

“PIERCING SHOT!”

Jay pulled the trigger.