(To think everything would end up like this. And near the end of a mission no less!)

I wait for Crystal at the designated apartment before we finalize our plans. Today is the day we finish this. Today is the day this mission comes to a close.

And yet everything has become quite complicated because of that foolish fighter. To think he didn't know who we were! I thought it was obvious! Perhaps his desire for revenge blinded him. Or perhaps he just doesn't know any better. In a lot of cases, he seemed to be rather oblivious to many things even children would probably recognize. Almost as if he has no memories to reference. To be driven by revenge and revenge alone...

If I never fell in love with her, I probably would have ended up the same way.

Kon. Kon.

Having knocked on the door, Crystal enters the apartment.

"Have you finished everything you said you needed to?" I ask.

She nods. Her expression is one of both fatique and guilt.

"I suppose we should get started," I say.

"We should wait."

"Wait? For what?"

"For him."

(Again, with that cloaked bastard!)

"Look," I begin, "It was a mistake to get him involved in the first place. And look what it's gotten us! Our opponent takes his figure and puts up an unnecessary fight. His hesitation has caused our targets to escape multiple times. He isn't fighting material. He doesn't belong! It would have been better for everyone if he didn't get mixed up in this shitty business."

"Just wait..."

"If he's smart, he will leave New Vegas while he has the chance. The riot will no doubt allow many to escape."

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"He'll come."

"He's long gone."

"No," I hear a familar voice, "he isn't."

I turn towards the door and see Oren. Although I cannot see his face, his voice sounds like he is torn between regret and determination.

"Well, the failure is back," he says.

I look at him, then say, "Tell me, why did you come back?"

"I know I messed up a lot. I fail to see many obvious things. I have a one track mind. Truth be told, maybe I'm not even that strong. But I cannot bring myself to just leave at a time like this. Not when both family and friends have sacrificed themselves because of my blunders."

"If you were wise," I say, "you'd honor their sacrifice and not throw your life away."

"That's...one way of looking at it. But the way I see it, it feels as though...I have a duty to finish what I have started. For their sake. They fought for those they cared about in their own way, just like everyone else in this city."

"You're trying to tackle something way over your head."

"If I have to give a selfish reason, I have nothing left to lose."

We stare at one another until Oren breaks the silence.

"I know you doubt me. I know you always have. But trust me this time. Please."

I look at Crystal. She seems rather convinced, if nothing else. Sadly, she can be just as stubborn. I guess...I have no choice.

But I hope that this doesn't fuck up the mission. I want to finish this and come out alive and triumphant. For...her sake.

Crystal walks up to the table and unfolds a detailed map of the city, sewer lines and all.

"OK. We received the reports on these unnatural crystals. These crystals, or 'channelers' as you call them, are artificially constructed to cause abnormal rhime circulation in the body, causing the rhime to radiate at a faster pace. We learned that these crystals also absorb rhime and can cause the dispersed rhime to flow to a specific location. If what you reported is true, then the likely location where the rhime seems to flow is towards, if not directly into, that large crystal you mentioned before. Whatever their motives are, that crystal seems to be the key to their plans."

I look at Oren, who looks startled after hearing this.

"I remember something like that in Terraz. When we performed the Rebirth Ceremony, our rhime would be absorbed into a large crystal we specifically engineer for that event. Smaller crystals, as well as rhime dispersed from the body, always seem to look for large catalysts rather than just disappear. Or, at least, stronger catalysts. It's a fact that rhime is recycled, not consumed, much like oxygen becoming carbon dioxide and being recycled back into oxygen. I think I read somewhere that all rhime attempts to return to the mythical Rhoken, while said Rhoken redisperses rhime back into the world. I'm assuming it's something like that."

"That's a good example, I suppose." Crystal remarks. "Anyway, we managed to locate the majority of the remaining channelers. The results...are not that good. The locations they are set up...are all within the area where the rich men's bodyguards and the protestors will collide today."

(Damn!) I think to myself. (I guess those brothers have thought this part through.)

"Once there are enough people in the area, no doubt they will try to activate these channelers to absorb everyone's rhime. What happens after, I don't know. But Yamiso said that they plan to end everything today, so let's try to stop them before we learn what that large crystal is for."

Oren and I nod in agreement. To think I'm agreeing with that imbecile! ...Okay, maybe I'm not giving him enough credit. He's still alive, considering he's not at the same level as Crystal and myself.

I step towards the map.

"Alright, here's the plan. Oren and I will confront the brothers and make them pay for their actions. I don't know about their true intentions in regards to this 'revolution', but their methods have gone too far, and I want to personally make them regret ever screwing with us. Crystal, we leave the riot to you."

"All by herself?" Oren asks, dumbfounded.

"Don't underestimate her," I reply.

"Alright, sounds like we have a plan."

I walk over to Oren, and hand him another gun.

"This is your chance at revenge. Don't fuck it up."

"Just don't get in my way."

(Things are going to get complicated again. I know it.)