Zero let out a sigh of relief.

‘You see, 72? This is what a calm and reasonable Shade looks like. I knew you’d see it my way 58.’ 58 nodded.

‘It’s really quite obvious. No wonder this blockhead didn’t get it.’ I wrinkled my nose him angrily.

‘Will you at least let me out of this damn jacket?’ I said thinly. ‘I won’t do anything; I just need to stretch!’ 58 laughed.

‘Do you take us for fools?’ he said. I rolled my eyes. Despite my seething rage, I really wasn’t planning on acting out. If 58 could hear all that and still side with Zero, I had to think of another play.

‘You can release him 58. He won’t do anything now,’ said Zero knowingly. 58 looked between Zero and I and reluctantly undid my restraints. I fell forwards off the trolley, stretching my stiff muscles. My clothes were wet with blood; 10’s handiwork, but the wound had closed up nicely. This old fogey talked for so long, no wonder I’m healed already! Zero continued,

‘You see, 58, believe it or not, I trust 72. At his core, he too is-’ At that moment, Anger stuck his Uzi out of the window and peppered my prefrontal cortex with bullets. I picked up the trolley and lobbed it towards the door, relishing in the sight of its frame twisting against the wall. A large crash echoed throughout the room as I sat down in a chair in a huff.

‘-a calm and reasonable Shade,’ finished Zero, once the sound had dissipated. He pointed to me in the chair. ‘You see?’ 58 looked at the trolley.

‘Sure.’

‘72, now that I can speak plainly, I want to clear things up. I want you to see that I am on your side. That we are on the same side!’ said Zero.

‘Unless this whole thing is a dream, that’s not happening!’ I spat at him, folding my arms.

‘Perhaps I should start with an apology. I’m apologise for the way our last conversation ended. I should have explained the situation to you better.’

‘In that case, you’ve nothing to apologise for! No amount of sugar could help that medicine go down.’

‘I must also apologise for my actions this last year.’ I narrowed my eyes at him.

‘What do you mean?’ Zero dragged his hand from his forehead to his chin, running his long knobbly fingers through his beard.

‘I was afraid! Afraid of you, of your wrath, that you would find your fangs around the neck of the Shades! For this reason I sent my Shades, your own brethren, to hunt you.’ I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Zero? Scared of me! Too right!’

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‘Well, don’t worry Grandpa, I’m sure they were glad to hunt me down!’

‘You misunderstand. I apologise for not sending more! You could have come home earlier, but I left you in the dark. Because the dark is where I needed you to be! You were exactly right when you said your skills were indispensable.’ Zero’s face suddenly seemed haggard and worn out. ‘I know what you think of me for debasing myself with this arrangement, but I’m not happy about it either! And when you started your crusade against them, when I saw the fear you put into them, I must admit I felt proud of my Shade!’ I stamped my foot.

‘You don’t get to be proud, old man. I made me!’ Zero nodded and continued,

‘But more than that, you were a useful tool. As a rogue Shade, you could strike out at them, in a way I could not. You bought us some breathing room. Of course, I had to keep up pretences by hunting you...’

‘Then why bring me in?’ I asked. ‘I would’ve continued slaughtering them anyway!’

‘Because it’s now time for the spear to be honed and wielded proper! I want to offer you your old job back!’

‘Ha! Jog on!’

‘Ok, maybe not your old job. Think of yourself as an independent contractor.’ 58 started up.

‘Zero! What about his crimes? The rest of the Shades-’

‘I’m well aware of what the rank-and-file think, 58!’ said Zero. ‘I’m giving him a chance to atone for his crimes. Just one mission,’ 58 shifted uncomfortably, stunned into silence.

‘You need to retrieve a weapon for us. You see, just as I used you, the others use rogue members too. The Angels have developed a weapon, such that they could break free from what little influence the Shades have. It is a weapon that would stop a Shade from being reborn. In other words, they aim to decrease our number permanently.’

Stop a shade from being reborn? Was such a thing possible? I clenched my fist. How long did Zero know about this?

‘Currently, it’s in the hands of an Archangel called Isaac.’ I widened my eyes.

‘Isaac? Are you for real!? I had him!’ My mind went to the briefcase he had picked up. The Weapon! It was right there! I turned on 58. ‘If you and your goons hadn’t picked a fight, this would be a non-issue right now!’ 58 jaw dropped in outrage.

‘Ok wait just a second! First of all, he was long gone when we showed up. Second of all, I admit our wires were a bit crossed when it came to Isaac, but it was that very encounter which confirmed he had the Weapon!’

‘Enough!’ commanded Zero. ‘What’s done is done. We need you for this, 72, because it’s a direct action against an Archangel. In their eyes, you’re still rogue.’ I pondered his offer. A chance to strike against the Angels, sanctioned by the Shades. But I hated the Shades too! A deep growling beast spawned deep inside me. So many enemies, so many battles to pick. I just want to kill them all! But I wrestled the thoughts down, because one singular thing stood out to me.

‘I’ll do it,’ I said cautiously. ‘On one condition. I want my afterlife back.’ 58 glanced at me sideways. Zero was silent briefly.

‘Not possible,’ he whispered.

‘What do you mean? Just promise me, you’ll use the Weapon on me when you get it back! It stops Shades from being reborn!’ I could feel a hint of desperation seep into my voice.

‘That it does, but not by any natural means. The Weapon doesn’t free the soul, it destroys it! Which is why it’s so dangerous. You would simply cease to exist.’ I slumped into my chair, gazing into the cracks of the floor tiles. Yeah. Figured as much. I’m stuck here forever.

‘We do have a stellar research division now, however! With the technology from The Weapon, who knows! Just bring it back here.’ I glanced up at Zero. To my eyes, he just looked...old. I gave him a mirth smile.

‘Looks like I’m back on board then!’