Recalling from Chapter 3: Somebody Else's Problem, the setting unfolds within the dimly lit interrogation room aboard a UNSC vessel. The room is stark and cold, the metal walls casting harsh reflections under the fluorescent lights. The tension in the air is palpable as Crazy Jack, voiced by Raymond Cruz, sits at the table, his face bruised and battered from a recent violent encounter with Alex Mason and Frank Woods at the factory. His eyes gleam with a wild mixture of amusement and defiance, and a twisted grin lingers on his lips, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

Alex Mason strides into the room, his presence commanding as he sits down across from Jack, leaning in closer. His voice is low and focused, betraying none of the frustration simmering beneath the surface.

"Alright, Jack," Mason begins, his tone sharp. "Let's cut the pleasantries. We need answers."

Frank Woods, standing beside Mason with his arms crossed, glares down at Jack, his eyes filled with barely restrained fury. "Start talking," Woods demands, his voice hard. "Who are you, and what the fuck are you doing in our universe with Noriega?"

Jack leans back in his chair, his sinister grin widening as he savors the tension in the room. His laughter echoes darkly as he meets their gaze, relishing the moment.

"Oh, come on, boys," Jack taunts, his voice dripping with mockery. "Is that any way to talk to a friend? Or maybe you're just not the friendly type?"

Mason's patience begins to wear thin. His frown deepens as he leans in closer, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Cut the bullshit. We're not here to make friends, dumbass. Tell us your name and why you're here."

Jack's grin remains, his eyes glinting with twisted amusement. "Well, if you insist. The name's Jack. Crazy Jack, if you prefer. As for why I'm here... well, somebody told me all about your little universe. Made me a deal I couldn't refuse. And you know what it is? Power... and more power."

He chuckles darkly, seemingly unfazed by the threatening presence of Mason and Woods. Jack's arrogance only stokes the fire of Woods' anger.

"Who the hell was this 'somebody'?" Woods growls, his patience slipping. "Who made the deal with you?"

Jack leans forward slightly, his mocking grin never faltering. "Oh, I see. You're not just rude, you're nosy too. But I'm afraid I can't spill the beans on that. Wouldn't be any fun if I did, now would it?"

Mason's frustration grows as he leans in even closer, his voice colder than before. "You think this is a game, Jack? You're messing with lives here. Start talking, or this will get a lot worse for you."

Jack meets Mason's icy stare without flinching, his grin growing wider as he revels in the tension. "Oh, I'm just getting started," Jack says, his tone taunting. "You might want to make sure you're ready for what's coming next."

Mason leans even closer, their faces inches apart. His voice is low and dangerous. "Last chance, Jack. Who sent you? What's your motive?"

Jack's eyes gleam with twisted delight as he leans back in his chair, smirking. "You'll find out soon enough. I promise you that."

The room fills with uneasy silence, Jack's mocking laughter lingering in the air as Mason and Woods fume in frustration. Jack's grin remains as he revels in the tension, clearly enjoying the power he holds over the situation.

"Seriously," Jack says with a twisted smile. "You guys act like this is some kind of game. Well, guess what? It is, and you're all just players. So why don't you go ahead and make it interesting for me?"

Mason and Woods stand on either side of Jack, their expressions darkening with intensity as the room thickens with tension. The air practically crackles with it, as Mason leans even closer, his voice dripping with barely contained rage.

"You think this is some kind of joke, you asshole?" Mason growls, his voice low. "Why the hell were you in our universe? Why take Noriega as a hostage? Talk, or I swear, you're gonna wish you'd never been born."

Jack chuckles once more, the grating sound echoing off the walls. His wild eyes burn with unhinged glee as he responds, utterly unafraid.

"Oh, you think you can scare me, huh?" Jack sneers. "You think your little threats are gonna work on me? I don't fear anything, especially not a couple of washed-up soldiers like you."

The last straw breaks Woods' patience. With a roar of anger, he slams his fist down on the table, the sound reverberating through the small room. In one swift motion, Woods grabs Jack by the collar and yanks him halfway across the table, their faces inches apart. The sheer fury in Woods' eyes burns with intensity as he snarls at Jack.

"You're gonna start talking," Woods growls, his voice filled with barely restrained rage, "or I'm gonna tear you apart with my bare hands! I've had enough of your bullshit!"

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Crazy Jack, unfazed by the threat, laughed again, his voice filled with manic glee. "You ain't got shit on me, soldier boy. I've seen the edge of madness, and you two are nothing compared to what I've been through."

Woods, seething with rage, shoved Crazy Jack back into his chair, his eyes burning with intensity. "You think you're untouchable? We'll see about that," he growled through gritted teeth.

The tension in the room reached its peak when the door to the interrogation room swung open. Captain Keyes stepped inside, his mere presence commanding the attention of everyone. He took in the scene with a hardened expression.

"That's enough," Captain Keyes said firmly. "This isn't getting us anywhere."

Woods glared at Crazy Jack one last time before reluctantly stepping back, his fists still clenched. Mason straightened up, his gaze never leaving Crazy Jack, who continued to grin maniacally, as if the whole scene amused him.

"Get him out of here. We'll find another way," Captain Keyes ordered sternly.

Two marines moved in to escort Crazy Jack out of the room, his eerie laughter echoing down the hallway as they led him away, sending a shiver down the spines of everyone nearby. Mason and Woods exchanged a look of frustration, knowing that Captain Keyes was right, even if they didn't want to admit it.

As Crazy Jack was led away, his voice rang out, taunting them one last time. "Don't worry, I'll be seeing you two again real soon!"

Woods muttered under his breath, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "Crazy son of a bitch..."

Mason turned to Captain Keyes, exasperation clear on his face. "He hasn't given us any valuable information. This whole thing feels like a dead end."

Captain Keyes nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You tried, that's what matters." He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "Any insights on who he might be working with?"

Mason ran a hand through his hair, frustration boiling over. "He keeps hinting at something bigger, but it's all nonsense—riddles and twisted ramblings."

In the detention area aboard the UNSC ship, the atmosphere was tense and eerie. The reinforced cell block was dimly lit, with thick metal walls and faintly humming energy barriers separating each cell. Two UNSC Marines escorted Crazy Jack down the corridor, their faces set with stern determination as they led him to his cell.

Unfazed by the situation, Crazy Jack grinned wickedly, continuing his taunts as they walked. "What's the matter, boys? Afraid I'm gonna bite? Don't worry, I'm not hungry... yet."

The Marines ignored him, shoving him into a cell and sealing it with an energy barrier before walking away. Crazy Jack watched them go, still chuckling to himself. Then, suddenly, the air in front of him began to ripple, and a rift opened in the center of the cell. The swirling energy of the portal cast an eerie glow on the walls, and from it stepped Raul Menendez, his face a mask of cold fury.

Crazy Jack, still leaning casually against the wall, smirked at the sight of Menendez. "Well, well... look who's here. What brings the big, bad Raul Menendez to this fine establishment?"

Menendez's eyes blazed with anger as he stepped closer to Jack, his voice low and filled with menace. "You had one job, Jack. One simple task—to kill Mason and Woods. I gave you everything you needed, every opportunity, and you failed."

Jack, undeterred by Menendez's fury, laughed in his face, his eyes gleaming with madness. "Oh, come on, Menendez. You really thought I'd play along? You know me better than that. Besides, those two were more fun alive. Watching them squirm... now that's entertainment."

Menendez's patience snapped. He punched Jack hard in the face, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the wall. His face was inches from Jack's, and the raw fury in his eyes was palpable.

"You think this is a game?!" Menendez seethed. "You think you can just toy with me, with them, and walk away unscathed? You were a means to an end, Jack, and now you're nothing but a liability. I don't tolerate failure."

Despite the pain, Crazy Jack smiled twistedly, meeting Menendez's gaze. "Nice speech. Got any more inspirational quotes, or is this where you get all serious?"

Menendez's expression hardened, his grip tightening on Jack's collar. He pulled out his comms and spoke into it, his voice icy and resolute. "Open the rift."

The portal crackled with renewed intensity as it reopened, swirling with energy. Crazy Jack glanced at it, still laughing, entirely unbothered by what was about to happen. "So this is how it ends, huh? Guess I'll see you around... or not."

Without another word, Menendez hauled Jack toward the rift and, with a swift motion, kicked him through it. Crazy Jack disappeared into the swirling vortex, his laughter echoing briefly before being swallowed by the portal.

Menendez stood there, his face twisted with rage and disappointment as he watched the rift close behind Jack. For a moment, the room was silent, save for the faint hum of the energy barriers. Menendez's eyes reflected cold resolve as he turned away, leaving the cell empty and thick with tension. Another rift opened behind him, ready to take him away before he could be caught again.

Minutes later, Mason and Woods approached the cell, their pace brisk. Mason's expression was set with determination.

"This time, we try another approach," Mason said, glancing at Woods. "Keyes may not like it, but we're out of options."

But as they reached Jack's cell, they froze. It was empty.

"Shit," Woods cursed, immediately pulling out his sidearm. Mason did the same, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room.

"How the hell did he escape?!" Mason barked, his voice filled with disbelief and frustration. The empty cell, once brimming with danger, now stood eerily quiet, the rift long gone.

Suddenly, two UNSC Marines entered the room, their expressions uneasy as they took in the scene. Mason, his patience already worn thin, glared at them.

"Were you two assigned here to watch the cells?" he demanded, his voice sharp.

One of the Marines, caught off guard, stammered a response, explaining they had been stationed nearby but hadn't received specific orders to guard the cells directly. Mason's frustration boiled over, and he cursed under his breath.

"Jack escaped, dammit!" Mason growled. The Marines exchanged nervous glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. Mason, not wasting any more time, pointed at them.

"Go. Tell Captain Keyes that Jack's on the loose!"

Without hesitation, the Marines turned and hurried out of the room, leaving Mason and Woods alone. They both looked at the empty cell, its stillness mocking them. Mason stared at it, his jaw clenched in frustration, while Woods ran a hand through his hair, visibly angry.

"Fuck!" Woods yelled, his voice echoing in the tense silence.