Four of a Kind

New Face(s)

“Basically, son, there’s what you call these little boulders in my path to success. Most people think that…. I shouldn’t do this but they’re right. I shouldn’t be sullying my hands when I got my son to do my dirty work for me. Now isn’t that right?”

“Mr. Nato. Sir,” Maqius started. He got up. Cleared his throat and spoke. “For our great boss, Mr. Nato, whose always treated his subordinates with respect it would be an honor to sully my hands if it was for your cause. Your son and my friend shan’t have to do such deeds. The pleasure would be fully mines if you’d assign me with whatever it is that you need me to do.”

He spoke elegantly. And my Dad was beaming. I admire how loyal you are for trying to keep my son’s conscience clean. But then again, he’s already committed murder without hesitation or remorse. And he still looks emotionally stable. I think he can fare as well as much as the rest of you.” He said without a shred of adult dignity.

I couldn’t believe my dad would do such a thing. He was telling his own son to do something against the morale of a member of society and he was fine with it.

“How could you say that? Why aren’t you doing your duty as a parent to scold me for the murders I’ve committed. If you really wanted me to do such deeds you’d at least train me, prepare me or tell me about this underworld society before you start telling me to go f**k up someone else’s life!” I shouted.

He looked down and started cutting his food as if he didn’t hear what I just said.   

“Reeves…what the hell?” Maqius started asking me without a stupid rhetorical look.

“Why do you think I kept this a secret from you? It’s because your mother didn’t want you involved in this. She always said that she wanted you to go to college and get a job. A normal life,  she hoped that this day wouldn’t come where she’d had to pull you out of school and I’d get you to work for my company. But you had to f**k it all up by being nosey and suspicious and rescued this big Red friend of yours. We both know that you’re not doing this for his sake. You just wanted excitement!” He shouted back.   

I never saw dad this angry. Even if I did it wasn’t because of me. This was a first. I didn’t know how to reply. But somehow I felt like a little b***h because all the resent I gave him tonight was from the revelation that Maqius was hired to babysit me. He was angry cause I couldn’t have a normal life anymore. I felt small and incompetent.

“Now, tell me if you want the job.” He said exhaling and returning back to his normal tone I can only brief you the details if you’re on board.”

And with that he got up with his plate and left the room. Leaving us to discuss for ourselves.

I looked around the table. Maqius was eating his share of the food happily. It seems he was satisfied with how it turned out. I guess he looked up to my dad or something. But I get the picture and my heart felt at ease knowing that he was on board with me. When it come down to it. Me and Maqius were pretty good fighters. He was the same age as me so it wasn’t that much of a surprise.

The problem was the other two. I haven’t really interacted with either of them throughout this whole adventure. I sat near Red first.

“Red.” I said awkwardly. The other two looked at me. Maqius then looked back at his meal when he realized what I was trying to do. Andy just plugged in his earphones. They both look tired. I mean they looked really refreshed now that they took two showers recently and had fresh clothes to wear but they seemed to be mentally consumed. I was wondering if maybe not letting them both go on this new job may be a better idea.

“Vwat?” He asked. I blinked. “I’m sorry, did you just say Vwat?”

“I think some of my muscle memory is coming back to me. Like how I walk and how my normal posture is.”

“Well, mate that actually explains almost everything about what’s happened to big guy.” Maqius said.

Red looked at him. “Vwat do you mean?”

“Those incubators were meant to turn you into the perfect fighting machine for entertainment. “That meant the Player didn’t need any personal variables that the Gladiator had that could mess up his plays. Like if the enemy went in for a kick and the gladiator was a fighter from his past life he’d know his own method of blocking that kick and the Player would also have his own. If they both have contradicting preferences on fighting methods the joint controllers might mess up his body and make things worse both the Player and the Gladiator. This is why muscle memory, reflexes and memories were wiped away so that the player can morph him into his image of a perfect fighter.” Maqius explained.

Red seemed to understand. “So Vwen Reeves broke me out.”

“It interrupted the cleansing of your brain, right you are mate.”  Maqius finished for him.

I looked back and forth trying to understand what they were trying to say. But I got the gist of it. Red was slowly regaining his memories and it was meddling his mind.

“So what do you remember? Red” I asked.

“My name is Kim, Kim Rasiel. My mom died at the cost of me being born and my dad is always drunk. He was a soldier so I think he try to forget his memories.” He said.

Judging by the way he spoke I could kind of relate to why he was so quiet throughout the whole journey. I guess when all his normal slangs, attitudes and personal preferences came back along with his memories it kind of made sense why he was puzzled. I had to give props for him actually keeping it together even when death was a hair’s breath away.

“What else? Mate keep it up you’re actually doing good just try to remember.” Maqius cheered him as if he was talking to a child.n

Thank heavens he didn’t take it as a offence and kept going.

“My father kept spending money for veer, when we were so very poor, I join army to find money. On my first real mission I got shot and died.”

“…Is that all there is to what happened?” Maqius asked. He pushed his glasses up. I knew he was in Einstein mode now.

“Yes. I woke up and still remember how Reefs here saved me and use me as excuse to go look for adventure. I didn’t say anything after I got injected. It was around that time I got my memories again.”

“Can I deduce what happened mates? He died but they didn’t bring the body to his father. Instead his Russian army was in cahoots with the Synedrate society and sold his body to your bartender Marcus. Either way they lied to your dad claiming you were missing in action.

Red nodded slowly.  “Reefs thank you for helping me. I don’t know what I want to do now but I don’t want to go back to Russia… you are all more closer and warmer than my father can give me.” He said awkwardly.

I felt satisfied. I was worried with Red…no Kim was one of those egotistical guys who were pissed I wasn’t giving him attention once I got more friends but it wasn’t even my fault after all. In fact he should be more thankful I saved him.

Now all that’s left is for Andy.

I was the team leader so I guess this was a must. I needed to watch out for my team. I was glad Maqius and Kim was ok with this. it made things simpler because the three of us can gang up on him and pressure him to come with us.

“I pulled his earphones out and asked him in a playful and friendly way. “What’s up Andy?”

He snapped and his hands went for my neck.  

I tried to make it look as comical and less serious as possible by gasping for air. But his eyes were dead-set on stopping my passageway for air.

“Reefs!” Kim screamed and engaged Andy. He tried to pull him back. But Andy was smart. He put one knee on the table that he was pushing me into grabbing my throat. And with the other knee kicked Kim at the chin with his heels. Knocking him clean out clean. He fell down the floor with a bang.

Maqius was next he drew his knives but feared the consequences and put them back in. he tried to pull Andy away from me from the sides to avoid his leg range. But that just hurt me more. Every pull he made in attempt to pull Andy away from me was in vain since Andy just kept dragging my throat and I had to stay put in hopes he loses his grip at the expense of the pain my throat kept giving me.

Maqius screamed for help and at that exact time the housemaids came in and had to patch things up. It took a while to get things under control. It wasn’t exactly the most memorable memory I had of Andy, that being the day he actually slipped on a banana peel a few minutes after arguing with me whether or not a banana slip was actually a thing that happened in real life. It was satisfying to look smug at him while he rubbed his ass in shame knowing I was correct.

This was the most daunting memory I could possible have of him. Andy wasn’t violent. So why would he be the type to randomly try to kill me? I was hoping that Maqius would step in. Tell me somehow, one of those thugs from the Bandits might’ve injected Andy with a vial that turns him into a human with animal intent or something. The Andy I know wouldn’t do this.

I passed out from lack of air while thinking about all this. I woke up around morning next day with Kim and Maq sitting in my room eating a hot breakfast and playing video games.

“Where’s Andy?” I asked.

Kim turned back and told me. “He’s been handcafffed. They put him downstairs. Want some poached eggs? Halie makes them really nice and supple.”

“Hailie?” I asked perplexed wondering who she was.

“He meant your head housemaid Heylian. I was told to inform you that no harm has be done to Andy. He’s been detained with a strait jacket. He’s been screaming  “I’ll kill you for ruining my life!!” again and again till he passed out. They gave him some breakfast with a bottle of water.”

“How’s he supposed to eat with a strait jacket?” I asked him getting up and helping myself to some toast.

“It’s likely to be a automated one. Knowing your dad he’d have every precaution thought out beforehand.

“What precaution? Andy isn’t a bad person.” I remarked.

Maq and Kim looked at each other as if they both already talked about this.

“Reefs” Kim started. “Andy is a good person, not bad. But I saw him repeatedly talking to himself with eyes wide everytime he was left alone. I didn’t ask him but he kept on doing it. When I asked him why… he looked at me with hell bent eyes and told me “f**k off!”

“Exactly my thoughts.” Maq said agreeing with him.

“Okay fine, I guess we could do some poking into why he’s pissed and why he turned out like this.” I said.

Maq and Kim looked at each other as if they already discussed this as well.

“We thought maybe you’d know.” Maq said finally turning off the TV and facing me.

“Why would I know anything about why he turned out like that?” I asked with a quizzical expression. I then realized he was my best friend. My childhood friend actually.

“I-I guess I could tell you both, since we’re gonna be doing whatever it is dad wants us to do. Just the four of us risking our lives like before.

Maq and Kim looked at each other like they already discussed this as well.

“Oh not this again!” I said. I was sick of them looking at me like I was behind on whatever final decisions our team made.

“First you doubt his credibility, then you think it has something to do with me, now you don’t want to let him on board this job!? He’s our gunner. No one can shoot with manic precision as he can you saw him!”

“And that’s just it” Maq said quietly.

“What is?” I asked impatiently.

“Did it ever occur to you that he might just be like Kim but with same differences?” he asked me puzzled.

“To be honest up to this day I don’t even know how to comprehend the terms “same differences” so you’re gonna have to explain yourself.” I told him firmly.

Just then Heylian burst in the room.

“Ever heard of knocking?” I asked starring daggers.

She starred back with twice the set of daggers. I guess she had more important stuff to deal with. just then I realized I havent even told her that her younger sister’s been looking for her. She was definitely another issue I had to work with once we get back from this mission.

“I did knock and your father wants you. He said it has something to do with the so-called mission he had planned out for you.” She said.

“I will go with her to your father Reef.” Kim said and followed her. I guess he still had a crush on her. I chuckled at the thought of her getting married with him then I got serious with Maq.

“So…where were we?”

“Just like Red...uh no Kim… I think Andy may have a different alter ego. We saw Kim turn into Red physically. His entire body was blood red and it was glowing a bit. He got stronger and changed physically but his mental mindset was still the same. It’s the same thing with Andy but the other way around. His body remained the same but his mindset turns into a whole new state.”

I inhaled and exhaled trying to take all this in. It certainly was plausible. But I was pissed that Maq was smart enough to notice and deduce it. I know this s**t can happen in movies and all but I never thought it’d actually happen to me. I keep dissing all those people in movies for being so dense to not recognize when a person has a split personality. But I guess it’s just hard to accept it even when the answers right in front of you when the person is a someone very close to you.

“It would explain how he would flip out on me yesterday night. It would also explain how he got those devil eyes back in that restaurant when just a minute prior he was shaking.” I told Maq reasonably.

Just then Kim burst in the room.

“Everyone!” He exclaimed between gasps of breath. I didn’t even need to hear it I could already anticipate what might be happening.

“Andy got out. He has his gun and is already outside!”

“How did he get his gun?” Maqius asked.

“Yeah… Kim… how did he get ahold of his gun which is supposed to be here.” I said patting on my desk.