Blake walked to the warehouse and pushed open the thick metal doors. The steel scraped loudly against the ground as it opened.
The inside was largely empty except for a large throne at the end of the warehouse. In it was seated a rather short, stocky plump man.
His large arms rested comfortably on the armrests as he stared at Blake.
Two muscular men stood at either side of him, glaring daggers at nothing in particular. He was sure that that was part of their job description.
Big shifted slightly in his throne. "Blake, my boy! What brings you here? Wanna reconsider my offer?" He smiled as he asked.
A wry smile spread on Blake's face, "Big. Sir. I made this clear last time we spoke that I won't help you distribute your... product. It goes against my moral code."
The smile on the other's face fell. "Moral code? Here on the outskirts?!" He burst out laughing and his two henchmen followed him.
Blake, too, joined in until Big's laugh died down. "Well then, if you aren't here to accept my kind offer, what do you need?"
"Can't I just visit you?"
"Please, I know you."
A wry smile spread on his face but he knew he couldn't beat around the bush for much longer. "I need more Stability Serums. Higher quality ones. The ones you sold me the last time are losing their potency."
Big tilted his head, revealing part of his neck that would have otherwise been hidden. He placed a cigarette in his mouth and clicked his fingers.
One of his thugs brought their hands close to the cigarette and the end of it ignited.
Blake inhaled sharply, 'An ability user!'
Since the show of power was over, Big held out the cigarette and released a puff of smoke. "I'm sorry but that's all I got with me." He placed it back into his mouth and continued smoking.
Blake's eyes squinted and he took a step forward, clenching his fists. "I know for a fact that you do, in fact, have far better serums but you're far too greedy to actually care about anyone but yourself!!"
Fed up with Big's hubris, he yelled out his thoughts directly and immediately regretted it. The thug who had lit the cigarette rushed forward faster than he could register and wrapped a hand around his throat, squeezing tightly.
He struggled but couldn't pry his neck from the other's grasp.
Blake stared into his burned, tattooed face and snarled... or at least tried to.
His lungs burned for oxygen and the only sound he could make was the occasional grunt and gasp.
The hand wrapped his throat slowly became warm, then scalding hot.
Blake could feel his skin starting to burn and tears stung his eyes. 'Is this how I'll die? Because of a fat tyrant and his lap dog?'
"Enough!" Big called out and the thug let him go. He fell to the ground, wheezing.
His hand reached for his throat and he winced. 'Shit, it's burned.'
Big cleared his throat and he looked up at him. His thug had returned to his side and a menacing glare twisted his face.
"The only reason you're still alive is because of who your dad was and how he helped me before his unfortunate demise. Two favors used up. Try me again and I won't be so kind."
All pretenses had clearly dropped and so Blake had no reason to keep a facade. He forced himself to his feet, "Nonetheless, I know you have more serums."
It didn't matter if Big killed him then and there. Without the serum, he was dead anyway.
Big pushed against the throne and stood. He walked to him in slow, confident steps.
He only stopped when their faces were only a couple of meters apart. "And what if I do? What are you willing to do for it?"
Blake scowled and he continued. "Because as far as I'm concerned, the serum isn't available for people with morals."
He turned around and started walking back to his throne.
"Wait." Blake stretched out his arm. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with a criminal like Big but he had to honor his father's last wish. He had to survive to be able to expose the truth of his father's death.
He caught a glimpse of a fading smile as Big turned around. "I'll do it. I'll help you sell your adulterated goods."
"No." Big suddenly said.
"What?"
The criminal Lord smiled deeply. "Times change, people change. Terms change. And now, my terms have changed. You'll no longer be helping me sell anything."
Something in the air shifted and Blake didn't like it a bit. "What is the New Deal?"
"Let me think. Since helping me sell is against your almighty moral code, help me retrieve something from an old friend." It was stated as if it were the weather.
Blake tilted his head, "You mean steal."
Big shrugged, "Potato, putato. He owes me and what matters is that I get my goods. Do we have a deal?"
"And I get my serums?"
"As many as you need for life."
Blake hesitated. He knew that the criminal Lord was far from trustworthy. 'He technically just changed the terms of the deal in a split second.'
He was smart enough to be suspicious but just as desperate. 'I can't believe I'm accepting a deal with a pig like this.'
Swallowing his ideals, he accepted. "Deal."
Big's smile fell. "Good boy. I'm sure you'll enjoy this little task. It takes place somewhere special."
Blake could imagine another internment zone as the destination of their task and he asked, "Is it another Internment zone? One through Five?"
The criminal laughed and hunger ignited beneath his eyes, "No, nothing of the sort. It's actually here in Internment Zone 6. You are going into the den of the rich and pompous. The Blue region."