[THE HAVEN]

Jay spun his pistols in front of the enforcer elevator’s reflective walls. Those spins were really coming along. A bit more practice, and he’d have his backflips down too. Didn’t seem safe to practice backflips in an elevator though.

These flourishes distracted him from intrusive thoughts - he had left Esara alone. Who knows what she was up to? Esara was tough, but there were far tougher things in the Haven. One of them just arrived at their doorstep. What if Jay came home to Esara’s dead body? Or if Esara never came home at all --

Jay smacked that from his head, allowing the elevator’s soft hum to drown out his brain. His thoughts drifted to Anton - this was his first time on the enforcer elevator without him. Nostalgia hit hard.

Elevator time was bonding time. Words were optional; Jay just liked being near Anton. His brother always made him feel safe and comfortable. Nothing in the Haven could harm him. Now with Anton gone, everything in the Haven felt dangerous and out to get him.

One of those dangerous things entered on floor thirty one - Anton’s mentor David. Jay recognized that cigarette stench from five floors away. This was the last person Jay expected or desired to see.

David blew cigarette smoke into a No Smoking sign installed specifically for him. With a backwards glance, David locked eyes with Captain Lair. This mask hid Jay’s face, but not his mannerisms. There was no disguising the awkward hunch and nervous twitch of that sick kid David was all too familiar with.

Jay’s pistols trembled in his pockets. He couldn’t possibly shoot David down. Killing an enforcer was bad enough. Imagine the consequences of killing the dude who trained other Enforcers.

DING

The elevator doors opened, releasing David to floor forty one.

Most enforcers lived below floor thirty and worked below floor twenty. Maybe floor forty one was David’s home? He was an important enforcer after all.

Or maybe he was up to something.

Whatever it was, this was the wrong time to find out. Janzo needed Jay, urgently enough to give out his room number. Jay stood his ground, watching as two elevator doors sealed David from view.

Three floors later, the elevator halted again - Jay’s stop.

Floor forty four was as expected: Pristine wallpaper, polished furniture, and not a single stain on the floors - servants from lower floors made sure of that. Wealthy merchants resided here, as well as experienced game developers, Haven leadership, and for some reason, Janzo.

Jay spun his pistols. No one shared their unit number unless it was serious.

KNOCK KNOCK

Unit 44630. This was the place.

A lanky man with dyed gray hair was quick to answer. His flowing scarf filled out his neck, complimenting his red and brown attire.

“Captain Lair?” asked the man.

“It’s Jay,” said Jay.

“Like Shae?” asked the man. “So that’s your real name.”

Jay winced. He’d already flubbed up.

“You’re Janzo, right?” asked Jay.

“Uh huh,” said Janzo. “Come in.”

This room was like a palace. Five desks, four beds, three sofas, two bathrooms, and one fancy glass case in the center, displaying Janzo’s gigantic scythe. Casual observers would assume it was a replica, but Jay knew better.

“Just you here?” asked Jay.

“Uh huh,” said Janzo. “Now you’re here too.”

Janzo plopped upon a bed.

“Come here,” said Janzo.

Jay did as instructed.

“Hold up,” said Jay. “Why’d you invite me over?”

“To hang out.”

Janzo threw a comic book to Jay’s side.

“For real?” asked Jay.

“Uh huh.”

Jay shook with rage. This was unbelievable. He’d abandoned Esara and let David get away, just to sit here and read comic books?

“You look like a Captain Lair fan,” said Janzo. “That’s Captain Lair, volume three. It’s rare.”

Jay glanced at the comic book. That was Captain Lair alright - same guy he was dressed as.

“I thought this was important,” said Jay.

“Spending time with friends is important,” said Janzo.

Jay throttled his pistols. This was outrageous! But Esara and David could be anywhere by now. And there was nothing he could do about it.

With a reluctant sigh, Jay flicked open the comic book, witnessing the titular superhero in all his crudely drawn glory. Despite Anton’s Captain Lair obsession, Jay knew little about him.

“Little Terik gets introduced in that issue,” said Janzo. “Most people don’t know Little Terik’s origin story.”

Fourteen pages passed before Jay even learned who Little Terik was - he was just some random kid Captain Lair rescued. A terrible villain murdered his parents and left him to die. The parent-murdering part wasn’t explicitly shown, but it was heavily implied. Dark stuff for a kid’s book.

After that, Captain Lair took Little Terik under his wing. Literally - Captain Lair was a pteranoid. The dynamic between the two of them was familiar to Jay. These comic books were Anton’s childhood. His morality, his life choices, his conviction - did it all stem from here?

These weren’t just comics to Anton; they were his bible. Anton was Jay’s big brother, but Captain Lair was Anton’s father. Jay learned more about Anton from a single issue, than he’d accrued from years of half-hearted conversation.

Tears splashed across the inside of his mask. His crying was audible beneath his thin layer of rubber.

“You must really like Captain Lair,” said Janzo.

Jay blew his nose on his collar.

“Is this all you do all day?” asked Jay. “Read comics?”

“Uh huh,” said Janzo. “Better than being a footrest.”

Jay didn’t understand that comment, but he let it slide.

“You’ve got so much stuff,” said Jay.

“Uh huh,” said Janzo. “Rep points.”

“You a dev or something?” asked Jay. “Royal guards don’t make bank like this. Pretty sure Dalli lives on floor twenty-something.”

“Guilds think I’m special,” said Janzo. “They always bribe me with nice stuff to join them.”

“Let me guess,” said Jay. “The Deadly Skulls bribed you with a premium account.”

“No,” said Janzo. “That came from the Infinities.”

Jay dropped his comic book. The blood froze in his veins. That was an impossible coincidence.

“I didn’t like that guild,” said Janzo. “They had weird rules. And weird outfits. The Deadly Skulls are weaker, but they’re more relaxing.”

“Y-You know where the Infinities are,” Jay stuttered.

“Uh huh.”

“Tell me where.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“They wouldn’t like that,” said Janzo. “They’re dangerous.”

“My brother is in danger,” said Jay. “You have to help me.”

“No.”

“Please!”

Janzo paused.

“You said please.”

Janzo stood up, raising his fists.

“They’ll attack you on sight,” said Janzo. “I’ll tell you where they are if you beat me. No weapons.”

Jay threw his comic to the side, lashing out at Janzo. Within seconds, Jay was flat on his back, a knee digging into his ribs. It was suddenly clear why Janzo was in high demand. His martial prowess was unparalleled to anything Jay had seen in or out of Zero Space.

“Again,” said Jay.

Janzo accommodated, but it ended the same way. This time, the knee lay on Jay’s throat.

“You’re not ready,” said Janzo.

“One more time,” croaked Jay.

Another brutal defeat. Janzo’s knee pressed on Jay’s head.

“I’m bored,” said Janzo. “I want to read comics.”

Janzo returned to his bed. Jay stumbled after him, massaging his everything.

“I, I would have won with weapons,” said Jay.

“Uh huh,” said Janzo. “But weapons can be disarmed. Abilities have recharge times. And weapons like mine are too big for real-life. Without weapons, you have to rely on yourself.”

Jay shook with frustration. The answers he needed were painfully close.

“My brother needs me,” said Jay. “I can’t just sit here.”

“You won’t survive,” said Janzo.

“What do you care?” cried Jay.

“Because you’re my friend,” said Janzo. “Guilds only like me for what I can do. But you and Auron like me for who I am. I would never let a friend get hurt.”

Jay’s expression softened. They had only travelled together briefly, but that was enough time for Janzo. Maybe it was enough time for Jay too.

Jay sat next to him, lifting Captain Lair issue five. After Anton, Jay would never take another companion for granted. Spending time with someone that cared about him wasn’t wasted time at all.

***

David sat in a dark room, his yellow enforcer outfit glowing beneath a dim ceiling light.

“I’m sorry things worked out this way Anton,” said David.

David blew cigarette smoke across Anton’s face. Rubber ropes fastened Anton to a pole, his cries muffled by a cloth gag. Blood dripped from fresh wounds on his forehead.

“You can only blame yourself for this,” said David. “Or you can blame the kid. Jay was it?”

Anton thrashed at Jay’s mention.

“I knew that kid was bad news the moment we scooped him up from floor two,” said David. “I still think about his deserter parents, sprawled out on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Kid was near-starved when we found him.”

Anton submitted to his bindings.

“I saved him myself, you know,” said David. “We were there for a Static breach. I knew you needed a Fosterling. Seemed like the right move at the time.”

David blew smoke into the ceiling light.

“The Fosterling program is supposed to teach budding enforcers empathy,” said David. “Can’t protect a Haven unless you care about the people inside of it.”

Anton stared forward with empty eyes.

“But you cared too much Anton,” said David. “You chose him over the Haven. That kid’s a loser, just like his deserter parents. Wish I’d been there to watch the Infinities blow his brains out.”

Anton cried out in anguish, tears falling from his eyes.

“Don’t much care for the Infinities either,” said David. “Strong guilds have way too much influence in the Haven. Can’t complain about the rep points they give me though.”

David tapped cigarette ash by Anton’s legs.

“I should probably get back to work,” said David. “Just wanted to see you off. The Infinities are preparing to transport you. Whatever that means.”

Anton rested his tired eyes.

“Best of luck Anton,” said David. “You’ll always be the one that got away.”

David departed the room, slamming a gray metal door shut behind him.

Loud music awaited David on the other side. He strutted through a room party, ignoring the wary stares of those around him. Most people here hated enforcers, but none dared act on those impulses. Hooded men blew cigar smoke towards him from dark cowls. Masked women hissed at him with reptilian tongues. And Infinities toasted him with glowing drinks.

David bumped against Esara on the way out. The two of them exchanged a look, then went about their business.

Esara’s senses were overloaded by pounding music, strobing lights, and illegal smells. Room parties weren’t her scene. And Danny’s instructions were vague, as usual. She didn’t know where to begin. Maybe she could start by asking one of those weird silver spandex men. They seemed harmless enough.

“Excuse me,” said Esara. “I’m looking for a man named V. Do you know where he is?”

“Uh, you new around here?” asked one of the Infinities. He was a chubby guy with a painting of fingers on his face.

“I just need to talk with V,” said Esara. “Then I’ll leave.”

“If you interrupt V, you aren’t leaving,” said the other Infinity, a painted eyeball on her mask.

“Is he your leader?” asked Esara.

“Not our leader,” the eyeball Infinity said. “He runs this sanctuary. And he doesn’t like company.”

“I won’t keep him long,” said Esara. “Please, just tell me where he is.”

The eyeball Infinity gestured to a red door in a quiet corner.

Esara took her leave, trying to ignore the stares of everyone around her. They were pointing. Whispering of her predicament. Whatever was beyond that red door was the source of their gossip, but Esara didn’t have time to eavesdrop.

She shoved the red door open, shielding her eyes from a sudden shift in light. Green computer monitors peered back from the darkness, aglow like a swarm of predatory eyes. Over a dozen players slaved away in Zero Space headsets, their odor indicated a lack of breaks or showers.

“Oh, excuse me,” said a man with his headset off. “May I help you?”

This man wore a headband with drooping dog-like ears, and a cloth tail attached to his belt. In any other context, Esara would have found him adorable.

“I’m looking for V,” Esara told him.

“Is he expecting you?” asked the dog man.

“Maybe?” said Esara. “Danny sent me.”

“Hmm, that doesn’t ring a bell,” said the dog man.

Classic Danny move - putting in the bare minimum amount of effort to help her.

“If you don’t have an appointment, you should leave,” said the dog man. “V is very busy at the moment.”

“This is important,” said Esara.

“It might be, but V’s mood can be unpredictable,” said the dog man. “Truly, you don’t want to disturb him.”

“I have no choice,” said Esara.

The dog man sighed.

“Then I suppose I don’t either,” said the dog man. “Let me notify him.”

With a quick flick of his pawed gloves, the dog man typed out a message. Moments later, heavy metal steps echoed through the room. A man descended from a darkened staircase, red earrings glowing above a pitch black suit.

Esara’s confidence drained the moment she saw him. This was the tallest person Esara had ever seen. Math wasn’t Esara’s strong point, but she was confident he was about eight or nine feet tall.

“Who is this?” asked V.

“I’m not sure,” said the dog man. “She says Danny sent her.”

“Danny?” asked V. “That’s unusual. Remove your mask girl.”

Esara hesitated, but fulfilled his request. V glanced over her.

“Never seen you before,” said V. “Why did Danny send you?”

“I-I worked with Danny,” said Esara. “I helped maintain his sanctuary.”

“I’m not asking for your oral history girl,” said V. “I’m simply asking why you’re here.”

“Someone put a hit out on my head,” said Esara. “I need it removed.”

V’s expression soured.

“Well then, I’ll need your name,” said V. “I can’t do anything for you without a name.”

Esara gritted her teeth.

“Esara,” she said. “Esara Simmons.”

V gestured towards the dog man.

“Look her up, Daniel.”

Daniel did as instructed, sifting through a secret database of names and faces. His efficiency terrified Esara. From her name alone, V accessed information Esara didn’t even know about herself: the names and time-of-death of her parents. Her forum posts. Even her previous unit. Not her current unit though - that was fortunate.

“Well, it appears you’re marked.” said V. “And by a Cleaver, no less. How unfortunate.”

V took a closer look.

“And this mark was given to you by --” V paused. “Oh, I see.”

V cleared his throat.

“A bit about myself,” said V. “Consider me a distributor, coordinating across several Havens to provide our Haven with things like food, enforcer weapons, and medicine.”

V gestured at the computers around him.

“Some of these people grind rep points for me,” said V. “Some are in my guild. Others organize services that fund my efforts, like those provided at Heals.”

Esara tensed up.

“Marcen was a servant of mine,” said V. “Each day spent replacing him is another day of earnings lost. I don’t suppose you have a few million rep points lying around.”

“Marcen, he --” stuttered Esara. “He tried to kill me. I had no choice.”

“But you chose to come here,” said V. “We all have to live by our choices. Or die by them.”

V withdrew a small curved dagger. It looked less like a weapon, and more like a tool of torture.

“I have plenty of reasons to kill you, and none to help you,” said V. “Perhaps I’ll spare the Cleavers the hassle.”

Esara choked on her tears. For once, Danny was right. No premium account user was here to save her. And she lacked wings, orange swords or lasers. This was the end of her life. A dismal, torturous demise in a place no one would find her.

“V, one moment,” said Daniel, pointing a paw towards his computer. “There’s something here you should see.”

V gazed at Daniel’s monitor - his red earrings rattled as his jaw dropped.

“Asira?” asked V. “Your character is Asira?”

Esara froze. She couldn’t tell if this was a good or bad thing. Either way, that computer knew way too much.

“Asira of the Feather Birds,” said V. “Oh wait. Esara, Asira - I see the connection now. Poor choice of names, though mine isn’t much better.”

V approached Esara.

“Perhaps there is a way to pay me back,” said V. “You see, I run a guild called the Deadly Skulls. I believe you’ve heard of us.”

Esara’s body went numb.

“Your guild leader and I have been at war for ages,” said V. “We were two of the server’s first guilds. It’s a shame only one of us can win.”

V adjusted his pitch black suit.

“We were once quite far into the game,” said V. “Then a new designer came along, changed everything, and reset all of our progress. It was a colossal tragedy.”

V released a long somber sigh.

“Advancing in the campaign has been nearly impossible since then,” said V. “That is until, your guild started making headway again.”

V approached Esara.

“Chief and myself will inevitably clash someday,” said V. “And when that happens, I need the advantage.”

V gripped Esara’s shoulders.

“Tell me Chief’s power.”

Esara’s eyes opened wide.

“I-I’ve never seen it,” said Esara.

“No one has,” said V, releasing her shoulders. “At least not her Level Three. Zero Space battles are decided by hidden information. So you’re going to find that out for me.”

V sheathed his dagger.

“I’ll need you alive for that however,” said V. “I suppose that means dealing with the Cleavers.”

Esara glanced up.

“The Cleavers are a small guild of premium account users,” said V. “Only the person who hired them can call them off. Given your circumstances, that won’t be possible.”

V extended his hand.

“The next time they come after you though, poke them with this --”

A whirlwind of white squares materialized in his palm, forming a short pale knife.

“This is a glitch blade,” said V. “These aren’t supposed to exist in Zero Space. Or here, clearly.”

V juggled the glitch blade in one hand.

“This will sever a premium player’s connection,” said V. “They’ll fall easily after that. And permanently, I might add.”

V handed the glitch blade to Esara.

“I would advise you to discover Chief’s power quickly,” said V. “I’m not known for my patience.”

***

Bander browsed on her makeshift computer. It couldn’t run Zero Space, but it was just enough for the [email protected] chat.

BANDER: I miss my magicoid

CODE_BRO_JOE: still waiting on parts?

BANDER: yeah they’re late

Bander glanced at Cleaver Craig’s previous location. Moments earlier, the red man vanished in a ball of green light, fluttering off like a Zero Space corpse. The sight unnerved Bander - how could anything like that exist in the real world? At least in Zero Space, nonsense made sense.

BANDER: anyone have a room i can stay in?

MOONMASK_233: u can stay with me bb

BANDER: @Moonmask_233 i’d rather sleep on floor two

PLENTY_OF_PHISH: Are your roommates being annoying again? You can put in a formal transfer request with the Haven, though I hear it takes a while.

BANDER: @Plenty_Of_Phish that’s not the issue anymore

KNOCK KNOCK

Was that finally her new parts? It seemed unlikely Cleaver Craig would return so soon. The Healer Killer was also improbable - Bander hadn’t logged onto Zero Space in days, and her unit-swap was on the DL. Seemed unlikely even he would know.

Still, Bander was all alone. Opening that door was a risk. But she needed those parts --

She needed her magicoid.

The door opened to a man in a brown and blue uniform. Both of his hands struggled to wield a heavy cardboard box.

“Delivery, ma'am,” stuttered the man.

Bander’s parts had finally arrived. Something was actually going right for once!

She slammed the door in the man’s face, dragging the box across the floor. Anything she could possibly need was in here, and then some. Bander didn’t spend rep points on fancy clothes; fancy computer parts were much more important.

She grabbed everything essential, stuffing the rest under the bed. There wasn’t much room under there. Not with that dumb duffel bag in the way.

Bander chucked the duffel bag to the side.

CLANK

A low hum reverberated from it. That was an unexpected sound. What the hell did Jay keep in there?

Bander had to know.

She unveiled a red traffic cone with a slot-machine handle. This was an unusual device. A weapon? An instrument? Her hand cranked the handle.

The low hum escalated into a siren’s wail. Red plasma erupted from the weapon’s other end, cleaving through a standing lamp. Bander shrieked and dropped the weapon - that fortunately shut it off.

An enforcer weapon. But why did Jay have it?

What was Jay up to?

***

Jay observed his reflection in the enforcer elevator - Captain Lair stared back. He sure didn’t feel like Captain Lair right now. If anything, he was still Little Terik, scared and helpless, in need of a dedicated protector.

DING

Two Infinities entered from floor forty one. One had a telescope painted on their face, the other, a pair of scissors.

This was bad - Infinities somehow had Enforcer Elevator privileges.

“You ready for transport?” asked Telescope.

“I’m not going,” said Scissors.

“You don’t want to see other Havens?” asked Telescope.

“Dragon won’t let me,” said Scissors. “Says we still need people stationed here.”

Jay had no idea what they were talking about, but obtuse information was better than no information.

DING

Floor thirty seven - this was the Infinities stop. Jay made it his stop too. These Infinities were leaking information and Jay was like a sponge. He had already let David get away; he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

It was time to make a new mistake.

Floor thirty seven was a shopping floor with unparalleled production values. Holographic signs. Conveyor belt walkways. Animatronic mannequins. Technology made a massive leap between floors. Too bad higher floors kept such tech to themselves.

Neither Infinity seemed to care that Jay was following. Or maybe they didn’t notice. Those tight silver masks likely reduced their periphery. Their shop talk diminished to small talk. Not much more to learn, but Jay could still learn where they were going.

Their journey concluded at a gym called Infinite Power. Subtle.

Many guilds co-existed within, sharing in swole pursuits. A man in maroon bench pressed twice Jay’s body weight. Another on a treadmill walked faster than Jay could run. And Infinities occupied everything else, including a suspicious room near the back.

Jay strolled right into the gym. No one gave him flak. Just several strange looks. Looks weren’t enough to get him kicked out.

He settled on a bench near the suspicious room, surrounded by a counterintuitive contraption of weights, bars and pulleys. This thing was more complicated than an enforcer weapon. Jay tugged and pushed on anything that moved, attempting to look busy.

It didn’t take long for an Infinity to swing the suspicious room’s door wide open. Jay caught a good look inside - a crowd of Infinities, some conversing, some in a hurry, and others wearing Zero Space headsets, strapped to glowing green computers.

This was it.

The Infinity base.

It had to be. But in such a public place? Ballsy. Not that there was much Jay could do about it.

Gunfire in a public space would attract enforcer attention. And guilds could have up to fifty members. Fifty-ish Premium account users? Jay didn’t stand a chance.

“Hey, you got a membership here?” asked a wary Infinity.

“Um, yeah,” lied Jay.

“Show me,” said the Infinity.

“Yeah,” said Jay. “One sec.”

Jay stood up and walked out of the building - the Infinity was too confused to pursue.

Another Infinity caught wind of Jay however. One with painted fire on his face - this was Flame. The same Infinity Jay thrashed in the club. And he was still mad about it.

Flame recognized that Captain Lair mask, and he knew who was under it. Jay now knew where Flame lived. It was only fair that Flame learned where Jay lived.

Flame left the gym, camouflaging into a crowd. Soft footsteps and fluid movements rendered him virtually undetectable. He played a stealth user in Zero Space and preferred to remain in character outside of it.

Music and murmurs diminished as Jay approached the enforcer elevator. A single wave of Jay’s yellow card granted him access. This system seemed easily exploitable; anyone could get in here with the right connections. Maybe that was the point.

Flame peeked out from a corner, studying the elevator’s reflective wall - one button was lit up: floor eighteen. That was all he needed to know.

As the doors closed, Flame drew a yellow card of his own, entering the enforcer staircase. Elevators were faster than staircases, but Flame was a self-proclaimed ninja. And ninjas moved faster than elevators.

***

Esara sat by her computer, trembling all over. Bander poked her with a finger.

“What’s your problem, weirdo?” asked Bander. “Did you get the hit called off or what?”

Esara didn’t know what to say. Or do. She could either betray her guild, or betray herself.

“So, I guess it didn’t go well?” asked Bander.

Esara remained silent. Bander sat next to her.

“Do you need me to comfort you or something?” asked Bander. “I’m not very good at these things.”

Not a peep from Esara. Bander poked her again.

“We’ll figure it out,” said Bander. “You’ve got me and Jay. You just have to tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Bander,” said Esara. “I can’t talk about it.”

“No one ever tells me anything!” shouted Bander. “Jay sneaks out all the time. You apparently murdered someone. And I’m left in the dark. I’m your friend too! I can help you! Just talk to me!”

Esara caught wind of a scorched standing lamp, no longer standing.

“What happened to that lamp?” asked Esara.

Bander hushed.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” said Bander.

The door opened; in walked Jay.

“There you are, idiot,” said Bander. “Where’d you sneak off to this time?”

Jay didn’t get a chance to answer.

“RUSH FORCE!”

Flame barreled out from a bend in the Haven hall. In the time it took Jay to close his unit door, Flame was already upon him. Time wasn’t moving slower - Flame was moving faster.

“Jay!” shrieked Esara, pointing behind him.

Jay glanced back --

“PAUSE SHOT!”

10 Seconds

Flame’s sword lay inches from Jay’s neck. That was bad. His gun nudged the sword up slightly, out of decapitation range.

9 Seconds

Wait, this was Flame - the Infinity from the club! How did he get here? The Infinities now knew where Jay lived. Yet another reason to find a new place.

8 Seconds

Esara and Bander stood by Jay’s glowing computer. If Jay failed to defeat Flame, all three of them would die.

7 Seconds

Jay shoved his pistol against Flame’s groin. No wait - Jay had to take this seriously. He raised it to Flame’s head.

6 Seconds

A combination attack would be safer. Piercing Shot was a literal no-brainer.

5 Seconds

Pause plus Piercing Shot - what did he call this combination again? Steady Shot? Focus Shot? Pause-iercing Shot? Clever names were hard.

4 Seconds

Jay pulled the trigger.

BANG

“RUSH FORCE!”

Flame moved fast - faster than Jay’s bullet. The bullet scraped across Flame’s forehead, ripping a bloody dash through his painted fire. And then suddenly, Flame was behind Jay, Katana held high.

Jay screeched as he fell to the ground, both small and large intestines severed.

“No,” croaked Jay. “No no no --”

Flame smirked, flicking blood off his sword.

“Whoa, my ability recharged during your Pause Shot,” said Flame. “That’s handy!”

A second swipe from Flame’s swords batted Jay’s pistols away.

“You like my new ability?” asked Flame. “That was just the level one. You’re not worth the level two.”

Flame turned towards Esara and Bander.

“These your friends?” asked Flame. “Small unit for three people.”

Esara and Bander stared back, both ready to make a move, though they weren’t sure what move.

“FLAME SLICE!”

Esara ducked under a desk as Bander dove beneath the bed. A wave of flame incinerated their mattress, before evaporating in a smokey implosion.

Flame peeked under the desk towards three green glowing computers.

“Which is which?” asked Flame. “Guess I’ll have to destroy all three --”

Esara emerged from below, attempting to disarm Flame. In one swift motion, Flame flipped her to the floor.

“Stay down girl,” said Flame. “Wait your turn.”

Esara was no match for a premium account user. But she had something that was --

“Say goodbye kiddos,” said Flame, raising his sword above their computers.

STAB

Esara’s glitch blade impaled Flame’s ankle, dissipating into white squares. Flame let out a shrill screech of pain.

“What the hell did you just stab me with?” asked Flame.

Esara attempted to back away.

SLICE

Flame’s sword slid across her gut. A fatal blow. Esara collapsed, clutching her bleeding belly.

“Esara!” Jay cried. “Nooooo!”

Jay leapt upon Flame. His weight alone was enough to pull the Infinity to the ground.

Flame reversed the straddle, mounting Jay’s ribs. Silver fists destroyed Jay’s face, then wrapped around his throat.

“I’m gonna watch your fire die,” said Flame.

Jay grabbed for his pistols - they were just beyond reach.

“Are you gonna suffocate or bleed out first?”

Wait, around Flame’s waist -- green juice! The Infinity restocked, much to Jay’s benefit.

Jay snagged the green vial from Flame’s hip.

“Oh, you little shit,” shouted Flame.

There wasn’t time to finish Jay off the fun way. Flame released Jay’s throat, raising his sword high.

A low hum escalated into a loud siren. Flame glanced towards Bander. She had emerged from below the bed, gripping a conic weapon in both hands.

“Die, idiot!” shouted Bander.

Flame sensed trouble.

“RUSH FORCE!”

Absolutely nothing happened.

A red energy tongue tore across Flame’s body, licking the flesh from his bones. Flame crashed against a metal wall, wriggling, bleeding, and screaming.

Jay crawled towards Esara, paving a bloody path. He didn’t give a shit about himself. But Esara? He couldn’t let her die.

Not like this.

Not ever.

Jay uncorked the green juice, pouring it into Esara’s pale mouth. She choked it down, gripping his shoulders. Esara stared into Jay’s eyes as she took one final breath.

And then another final breath.

Followed by several more final breaths.

Coloration returned to her face. Jay was just in time! He collapsed against her, letting her warmth wash over him. This was a good spot for him to die.

“FLAME SLICE!”

Nothing happened.

“FLAME SLICE!”

Same result.

“FLAME SLICE!”

Ditto.

“No,” cried Flame. “What did you all do to me?”

Bander approached Flame, enforcer weapon in hand.

“You stupid bastards,” yelled Flame. “You killed me. How did you kill me?”

Esara cradled Jay in her arms. This was the second time she watched him die, and it wasn’t any easier.

“I was so close,” said Flame. “So close to the Blue Path. It was almost my time!”

“Hold up,” Jay managed to squeak out. “What?”

“Most of our guild already went through the path,” said Flame. “I just needed more experience. Dragon was about to let me advance!”

Flame wailed as flesh dripped from melting silver latex.

“They were going to transport me too,” said Flame. “You fucking bastards! I’ll never get to see the next Haven now!”

“What the hell are you talking about?” asked Bander.

“The Infinities are the most powerful guild on the server,” said Flame. “Maybe in all of Zero Space! We were going to be the first to walk the Blue Path. We were all going to be Gods!”

Bander unleashed another red blast, exploding Flame into atoms. Silver bits dribbled down walls and dripped from the ceiling. Marbles of bone rolled beneath the bed. Organ dust scattered into unseen crevices. A charred outline of ash painted a grisly mural in the shape of Flame.

“Holy shit Bander!” shouted Esara.

Bander shook. Her hair, clothing, and skin were dyed red. She shambled towards Esara, wiping her glasses with the inside of her shirt.

“Enforcer weapons are powerful,” said Bander.

“Yes, they really are,” said Esara. “Please tell me why you have that.”

“Ask him,” said Bander, motioning towards Jay.

Jay was too dead to answer.

“Don’t worry,” said Esara. “He’ll come back.”

“I know,” said Bander.

Bander grimaced at Flame’s remains.

“I don’t think that guy’s coming back.”