Note: There's going to be heavy references to System Defrag Chap 2. Read that first if you want? And for those who did read it... I updated the last "Brave" section a bit. So read again. LOL
Songs: Cataracts "Like a G6"
LMFAO "Party Rock Anthem"
Britney Spears's vers of "Toxic"
Calvin Harris & Ne-Yo "Let's Go"
[h1] Chapter 6: First Decoy [/h1]
[Code_Start]
He's not sure what he's doing here. Or why he agreed to come.
They should be training for the next round. Mo calls him out of nowhere and they meet up in the subway station to actually ride the monorail this time, instead of performing. After weaving to and fro in between alleys, they end up in front of a cream-colored, two-story building. The sign in front is covered by growing ivy with the plaster peeling in a couple of places.
Glitch shields his eyes from the bright sunlight streaming in from the open windows. For some place that appears run-down look on the outside, the inside is surprisingly well-kept. The straight hallway is flanked by clean glass window panes. The light bounces off colorful, hand-painted walls. It's like an open storybook, written by various sized hand-prints and childish brush strokes.
Mo walks on ahead. With a black plastic garbage over his shoulder, whistling cheerfully.
A kid, wearing mis-matched socks and with a purple beanie covering the top half of his face, pops out from the doorway.
"Mo!" he squeals and runs to latches onto one of Mo's sturdy legs. "Ya got pwesents fo us?" He looks up expectantly with a toothy smile.
Glitch tilts his head. About to ask just who the kid is when all of a sudden a pack descends upon them.
"Ooh he's gots a bag wit 'im!"
"Mo!"
"We missed chu!" A girl in pigtails clamber up against him, her arms outstretched in a wordless demand to be picked up.
Mo laughs freely as he drops the bag and lifts the girl overhead. "How's mah favorite baby gurl doin'?"
"Betchu say that ta everyone," her rehearsed answer comes with a pout. Glitch covers his mouth to hide the smile. She's definitely not far from the target.
"Dis da orphanage I grew up in," Mo answers his unspoken question as he sets the girl on his broad shoulders. "Guys, dis is Glitch. Say hi."
"Hi Glitch!" The kids chorus obediently. And then proceeds to dig into the black trash bag full of goodies.
"Moses? Is that you?" A middle-aged woman, graying at the temples and wearing horn-rimmed glasses step out into the hallway. She props her hands against her hip and chides teasingly, "Should have known it was you. No one else would cause so much ruckus every time they decide to visit."
Mo returns her look with a shameless grin. "Sup Miss D. How's my favorite classy lady doin'?" Glitch and the little girl share a look. Both roll their eyes with a shrug.
He watches as if it's a movie playing out. The actors are there, along with the backdrop, and their voices as the music soundtrack. All pleasing, but he soon becomes aware of the fact he's still the outsider, looking in to something he's not completely a part of.
Glitch wordlessly excuses himself. He wanders further down the hallway, peeking into the rooms with curiosity and letting his feet take him wherever. He wonders how it was like for Mo, growing up in a place with bunkbeds, and having to share bathrooms and toys.
Eventually, he ends up sitting on a wooden park bench in the home-made garden. It's just a few patches of dirt, sectioned off with hand-painted stones and decorated with wilted flowers.
This is Mo's real family. People so important to him that he is willing to work for to hurt others in order to protect his family.
He frowns. But isn't that exactly what he would do too if he was in Mo's shoes?
"Ey, I think we needa talk." Mo eases himself onto the bench.
"What's up?" Glitch asks in a carefully neutral tone.
"Well first things first. I needa apologize. I kno wut I did in da past is wrong, and I'm partially responsible for wut's going on wit Oblio. But I wanna make sure dat you kno I'm tryna do things rit dis time 'round."
Glitch nods slowly, thinking it over. "What... happened last year?"
Mo takes a deep breath, "Oblio was actually da reason all of us orginals got togetha, and I was da one who hooked it up fo da first Dance Central. He found Taye and MacCoy in da underground scene. Convinced Aubrey an' Angel dat it's worth dere time. Talked sense into Dare, and taught Emilia how ta channel her energy into dancing. We all... owe alot ta 'im. Me 'specially." He gestures to the garden and the entire building, "This... all stayed because he gave me da winner's prize money. An' da portion he sent back? Dat was the finalist's check dat he swapped wit me. It ain't nothin' compared to da winner's pot."
Glitch stays silent. He watches as Mo leans back, and tiredly rests his head against the wall. His hat, the one that he never takes off, shields his eyes from the harsh sunlight.
"He knew, Glitch. Fo whateva reason, he knew wut Tan was plottin' but he neva blamed me or nothin'. An' after all dat he still handed me da check and told me ta take care of mah home, right before he disappeared on all of us." A wry smirk appears underneath the cap. "Sum people in dis world is a level above othas. An' dat's when I realized I wanna be like dat too."
Glitch leans forward, his elbows against his knees. He hangs his head, not sure how to continue.
His gaze focuses on Mo's shoes. How come he never noticed how scuffed and ragged they are? Even with all those odd jobs he takes, Mo didn't even have money for the monorail that time they paid Dare a visit.
The freshman swallows hard. It's a lifestyle he can't begin to fathom. Shame and remorse wash over him.
"I-I also need to apologize," Glitch struggles with the sentences."I didn't mean to punch you, I should have waited and listened to what you had to say. Total fail on my part, and as a friend I really shouldn't be doubting-"
"Nah, it's all good," Mo replies. He sits up suddenly, tilting his cap up so he peers straight at Glitch.
"I promise ya, I got yo back. Nothin's gonna go bad at Dance Central. Ya got mah word on it."
"Thanks Mo. I know you do."
A companionable silence settles back between them. They watch a fat bumblebee buzz its way between flowers, until finally landing on one. Then Mo decides he cannot hold it in any longer.
"So didya find yo way back yesterday?" He asks with a gleeful nudge.
Glitch shoots him an exasperated look. "Yeah... thanks a lot," he answers with sarcasm in his tone, "Don't think I'll forget that anytime soon."
Mo's grin grows impossibly wider, his white teeth flashing like an obnoxious billboard.
"Did Em walk ya home?"
"Yeah."
"Didya... tell 'er?"
"Tell her what?"
"Dat chu like-oomph!" Mo grimaces as Glitch hits him in the stomach with the back of his hand. The Korean glares at him with burning ears. "Mo!"
"Wut? It's tru ain't it?" Mo chuckles lightly, "Dun need ta hide it kid, I think otha peeps noticed too. Jus let it happen."
"Nothing's going to happen." Even Glitch sounds unconvinced at his own words. "Apparently I'm not boyfriend material..." he mumbles to himself.
"Wut's dat?" Mo leans down with a hand cupping his ear.
"N-nothing." Glitch stands up. He avoids meeting his gaze. "Let's go. We're watching matches later right?"
The older b-boy smirks. He'll let it go for now.
But Glitch is sorely mistaken if he thinks this will be the last time he'll hear of it.
[br]...processing...[/br]
The flashy disco ball is spinning again. Splatters the floor and ceiling with a rainbow spectrum of lights.
Hi-Def leans over the staircase railing, their eyes all fixating on the ghostly pale pair known as the Glitterati as they proceed to wipe the floor with their opponents.
"Hey! They're jacking our swag!" Glitch utters with plain disbelief.
Indeed, the Gliterratti seems to doing the almost exact choreography Hi-Def performed for their first round. With the additions of a few alterations, it's basically the same routine.
"Dis ain't good Mo. They're stickin' da moves betta than we did," Pb mutters as he clasps their leader's shoulder. Mo remains silent, his expression unreadable.
The pale, limber pair finish their routine with a flash. It's silent for a heavy second, then the crowd erupts with a roar. Kerith and Jaryn does not even look the least bit surprised as they are announced the winners.
"We need to tell the officials. This is hacked!" Glitch turns to the crew in desperation.
Mo slips his hands in his jean pockets. A slight frown on his face as he shrugs. "Can't. Dey killed it on da floor. If we say anythin' it'll look like we're da ones bitin' off their routine."
Zipp swears. Mo then adds, "But it doesn't matta. We still gonna beat 'em." The rest of Hi-Def look at him with surprise.
"We got da skills, but we also got da drive. They're used ta bein' on top. So dey forget how it feels ta lose a match, wut it means to want somethin' so bad dat you live an' breath dancin'. Dat's why we gonna win. We want it more than dey do. Na' mean?"
"Wow, Mo... chu got it bad," PB whistles. They all nod appreciatively at their leader's impromptu speech.
The all-too-familiar smirk appears from under the hoodie. "Jus doin' wut comes natch. C'mon guys, let's bounce."
"Aww, we're not watching Flash4ward?" Glitch asks. The music starts again, and he can see Lil' T and Taye take center stage. Mo shakes his head, his grin more rueful than anything else. "Nah, dey got it down. We need ta get sum rest."
They almost make it out the door when Glitch feels a hand snatch at his arm. He whips around.
A face he doesn't recognize. Wearing dark, nondescript clothing. Panic seizes him in its iron grip.
Without warning, the stranger pulls on him violently. Glitch struggles, but soon finds another pair of hands restraining his other arm. The two lift him off the ground, as he kick futilely at empty air.
"Mo! Help!" He hollers, raising his voice above the blasting music. He swings his head around. It might be his imagination. But the crowd surrounding them seem to surge forward like a wave, creating a human barrier between Glitch and the rest of the crew.
"Outta da way!" Mo tries to shove people aside, as does Zipp. But it is only PB, the one who was lagging behind and closest to Glitch, who manages to break through. He blindly charges into one of the men, bringing him down with a rough crash to the floor.
All of a sudden, Glitch feels the hands releasing him. Before he realizes it, the other assailant melts into the crowd of nameless faces, just as the music comes to an abrupt halt.
"What's going on here?" A voice booms out in the now silent room.
People quickly step away, as if they cannot part from PB and the guy lying on the ground fast enough. The men in black suits form a half circle around the spectacle.
"Fighting and violence is strictly forbidden during the Dance Central competition. You are in direct violation of the tournament rules."
Mo and Zipp finally reach the group. "Wut da hell's goin' on?" Hi-Def's leader demands.
The officials drag the dumbstruck PB and the nameless attacker to their feet. "You two are hereby disqualified from any more participation in the competition."
"What?" Glitch can't believe what he's hearing. "He was saving me! PB didn't throw a punch!"
"These two were the cause of a disturbance and interrupted the performance. It does not matter who started the fight."
"Are you even listening? It wasn't even a fight-" Glitch stops as Zipp nudges him with an elbow. "Let Mo talk."
Mo steps forward, opening his mouth to argue. All of a sudden, he stops. Cold realization flashes across his features, and he suddenly understands why. He may be a smooth talker, but even his silver tongue cannot undo a premature decision made from higher up.
"Mo, my bads..." PB apologizes as he holds his gaze intently, already coming to the same conclusion and the reason why Mo does not, cannot, say anything. "I wasn't thinkin'..."
Mo nods. The only word he can manage at that point was, "Goddammit."
[br]...processing...[/br]
Hi-Def is in a somber mood as they pick at their food. They're at Denny's again, but this time there is no reason to celebrate.
Without warning, Glitch's fist slams down on the table. Ugly words, something not typical for him, spill from his mouth.
"Gah! This is bullshit!"
"Calm down," Mo orders. He glances at Zipp's empty seat, and then looks at PB. "We all feelin' like crap. But dere's nothin' ta do 'bout it. Dat was obviously a set-up."
Glitch glares down at his unwrapped burger. "If-if it wasn't for me..." He begins.
"Nah kid," PB stops him. "It ain't yo fault. We all expect it from da Glitterati. Dey be playin' dirty from da beginnin'."
"If it is dem," Mo finishes for his friend between sips of his soda. "They kno sum dirty tricks, but I dunno if dey would pay off officials." They all take a moment to consider the implications. That PB's recent disqualification might not be the twins' handiwork, but someone with even more influence. Needless to say, nobody feels like eating much after that.
"By da way, Zipp's been in dere fo awhile hasn't he?"
The three guys take one look at each other, and then simultaneously rush towards the men's room.
The moment they swing open the bathroom door, they can hear the sounds of their friend retching in a stall. PB raps his knuckles on the stall. "Zipp, you a'ite in dere?"
"...urg. I dunno man. I think I ate something bad..."
Mo's voice holds a sense of dread. "Didya eat sumthin' different from da usual?"
Wet splattering comes from the inside. Everyone cringes at the sound. Zipp sputters, and groans painfully. "Don't remember much. I ate out this morning with some friends. At Lakewood or something..."
"Sounds like sum serious food poisonin' homie," Mo sighs out loud. "Let us in dere?"
"I can't ...even get up..."
PB cusses, and angrily kicks the trash can. Glitch, without saying anything, slides underneath the stall, and unlatches the door from the inside. They find Zipp half-lying on the filthy floor and paying tribute to the white porcelain bowl.
Mo and PB carry their sick friend to the car, and the drive to Zipp's home is filled by dead silence.
PB volunteers to stay with Zipp for the night. Mo decides it's safer for Glitch to sleep over at his apartment, so that he can keep an eye on the youngest crew member.
As the car engine dies down, Glitch stays quiet and unmoving in the passenger's seat. Before he can reach for the door handle, Mo speaks up.
"Wait a minute."
He takes a deep breath. "Look, things be gettin' real serious. I had no idea dis was gonna happen. I'll understan' if ya wanna call it quits."
Glitch replies without hesitation. "No." He glance down at his hands, where the hardened calluses are developing from the past weeks of training. "Stopping now will only be admitting defeat."
"Dere purposely cuttin' our numbas down. So dat whether we win or not, it'll be easier fo Tan to... carry out his plans."
"I know. But I still want to keep going," the freshman answers firmly. "We're no longer just competing for ourselves, we're also doing it for PB and Zipp. They didn't train and practice for nothing. If we stop now, everything they put in was wasted. And if we win, it's also because of them. You get what I'm saying?"
Mo grins. "Ya, I kno whatchu mean. Jus makin' sho ya kno whatchu gettin' into."
Glitch laughs. "I never know what I'm getting into."
"Haha, fo reals. Dat's how we roll." Mo's expression turns more serious. "We'll needa change routines. Adjust da moves. Gotta break it all down again. All before our next round."
"Yep. Overdrive mode."
"Ya down?"
"Hell yeah. Let's pwn it."
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Mo$es has entered the chatroom
Bodester has entered the chatroom
gL17ch has entered the chatroom
Mo$es: Sup homes!
T2daY has entered the chatroom
The VIP has entered the chatroom
gL17ch: O_o how many did u invite Mo?
Bodester: Everyone apparently. Btw, Em's at the gym, I will fill her in later.
T2daY: O yea, good match earlier. Dien't get 2 say congrats b/c T ran off...
Bodester: Nah, it's cool. You guys were our toughest opponents so far. It was a close match.
gL17ch: ... wish i was there. is T k?
T2daY: Yea, she b fine. We all lose sooner or later, she'll learn 2 deal.
The VIP: Well chica, some of us never learn.
Mo$es: Haha, talking about Aubrey?
The VIP: Si. She's been reorganizing her entire wardrobe for the past four hours. And she's not even half-way done. Muy loco.
gL17ch: lol! I'm sorry? :P
The VIP: For beating us? Don't be. I shall be the knight in shining armor as I swoop in later to rescue the damsel in distress. ;)
gL17ch: mocha almond fudge ice cream with those edible gold flakes?
The VIP: You got that right!
Mo$es: Haha, nice! So this is what's going down tomorrow. Final rounds, at the Penthaus Skyscraper. Riptide in the morning, HD at night. All good to go?
The VIP: Excellente, we'll be watching hombre. Wouldn't miss these battles for the world. :)
T2daY: 4 realz, u betta sho those top of da tower freaks how we DO! Stay focused out dere an keep doin u!
Bodester: Thanks guys! Yeah, regardless of the morning match's result, we'll be there for HD all the way.
gL17ch: haha, cool cool. cya later. i got 2 much hw to catch up on.
gL17ch has left the chatroom
The VIP: Now the kid's gone, who's ready to partay? ;)
T2daY has left the chatroom
Mo$es has left the chatroom
The VIP: Nadie? :(
Bodester: Haha sorry Angel, I have an early match tmrw. Catch you on the flip side!
Bodester has left the chatroom
The VIP: It's alright. I'll just have a party here. By myself. FORGET YOU GUYS! D:
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The two best friends stay quiet. Each lost in their own thoughts as they peer out from the transparent glass of the elevator.
The city's lights twinkle in the distance. Flashing some secret message that is deciphered differently with every new attempt. There's a whoosh as each floor comes and goes, and the designated floor looms closer each passing second.
The youngest Hi-Def member is radiating composure. His posture is upright, his head tilted up, and one hand keeps going up to touch his left cheek. His face feels warm, and he shoves the distracting thought of a certain brunette away from his mind. He should be concentrating on the upcoming match against the Glitterati.
"Whatchu grinin' for?" Mo asks with a knowing smirk. "Sumthin' good happen?"
Glitch visibly jumps. He turns slowly and offers a sheepish smile. He shrugs and doesn't say anything, but Mo can pretty much guess.
"Ya ready partner?" Mo claps on his back to wake him out of his puppy love musings.
Glitch blinks. Then a grin splits his face, and the older b-boy admits he has never seen that brand of confidence shining from his grey eyes.
"Yeah. We're about to kick some serious butt!"
Somewhere, even if the other two aren't physically there, they can hear Zipp's and PB's voices chime in with agreement.
The elevator dings their arrival, and the pair steps out into the harsh brilliance of several spotlights.
The Penthaus turns out to be a half-completed tower in the midst of heavy construction. There's metallic cranes, construction tarp, and hanging foundation beams. Even more disconcerting are the half-finished floors. They have to tread carefully across criss-crossing canvas boards to reach center stage.
They are so high, the usual inner city smog does nothing to hide the colorful nightscape of neon signs. Glitch scans around. The audience is mostly blocked off by yellow tape and orange barricades. There's so many people present, there's a second floor dedicated just for the crowd. He sees the red of Riptide and the green of Flash4ward, and a shot of adrenaline shoots through him.
"Welcome," the ghostly one called Jaryn greets the two at the precarious edge of the stage, "Don't get too comfortable, since you will be leaving shortly."
"Careful, don't want to blame a busted controller when you come up short," Glitch retorts. Mo places a warning hand on his shoulder, signaling for him to stay quiet.
"Welcome to the final round of Dance Central! Are you ready to rumblllle?" A deep, electronic voice announces from the speakers. The same golden boombox is present, elevated on a pyramid of pipes and flanked by those silent men in black.
The twins, clad in skin-tight black leather with the metal decorations that bounce off with light, steps front and center on the stage as the thundering bass of music blast out into the open night air.
Poppin' bottles in the ice,
Like a blizzard.
When we drink we do it right, getting slizzard.
Their coordination is completely in sync. Perfect reflections of each other as they step to the beat. When their hands snatch and grab the empty air in front of them, it is with controlled power and finesse.
Sippin' sizzurp in my ride, in my ride,
Like Three six.
Now I'm feelin' so fly like a G6
Their arms fly out. Gliding feet, rotating wrists, and rocking bodies.
Hell yeaaa,
Drink it up, drink-drink it up.
When sober girls around me,
They be actin' like they drunk.
One moment their movements are smooth, flowing. Within a blink of the eye, their moves turn robotic. Popping and locking with such precision that even Glitch becomes impressed.
As the Glitterati finishes their first routine, loud hoots and cheering erupt from the audience.
Glitch glances at Mo, and catches his attention. He slowly raises his hand, with two digits pointing up the sky, and Mo returns with a smile.
"Like we always do."
Party rock is in the house tonight.
Everybody just have a good time,
The start-up is slow. Both guys have their hands up in the air, amping up the crowd with the familiar lyrics of the song.
And we gonna make you lose your mind.
We just wanna see you-Shake that!
They explode into movement. Their hands waving wildly, their legs threading with the corresponding arm. They pump out their arms with energy, grinning because they're having fun.
Get up, get down,
Put your hands up to the sound.
Get up, get down,
Put your hands up to the sound.
Liquid knees. Ragdoll. Mecha Rocker followed up by Z factor. Sweat is pouring from their bodies, but all they can feel is the blood beating to the bass of the music.
Every day I'm shuffling,
Shuffling shuffling.
They finish up with a hand flip, landing on their backs. Turn to their sides, their feets still shuffle like they're malfunctioning robots.
"It's not that I don't appreciate improvisation…It just makes one cringe, all that awkward flailing," Kerith comments snidely. The twins ascend to the stage again as Hi-Def steps down.
"Correct you are dear brother," Jaryn tosses her dramatic bangs out of her face, "The only challenge was to watch them without gagging."
"I want to punch them so bad," Glitch mutters. Mo hears him. His jaw sets firm, and his eyes hard as he replies, "You an' me both. Dey be smack-talkin' all dey want, but-" He doesn't get to finish as the boombox whirs, drops another track, and music starts blasting again.
A hi-pitched violin note ricochets off of metal beams, and the electronic beats start off with a seductive whine.
Baby, can't you see? I'm calling...
A guy like you, should wear a warning,
It's dangerous, I'm fallin'...
Jaryn moves like a snake, winding and bending. And remarkably, Kerith follows her movements without a hitch. Never mind the fact no male should be able to move like that.
With a taste of your lips I'm on a ride,
You're toxic, I'm slipping under.
She hops from one foot to the other. Her hands making intricate designs as her hips decidedly rotate in the opposite direction.
Too high, can't come down.
It's in the air, and it's all around.
Can you feel me now?
Kerith dips his shoulder. She places a hand, using him as support, flips through the air. As she pushes him down, Kerith sinks into a split. Hi-Def, as well as the crowd, immediately cringes.
Intoxicate me now,
With your lovin' now.
I think I'm ready now.
The twins end with one hand on a hip, and Jaryn mockingly blows them a kiss.
Glitch shares a glance with Mo. It's what they've been expecting. A song without breaking beats. And a set of high-level, complicated moves that will take a good chunk of their pride to replicate.
"Let's do this," the Korean mutters. Mo nods. "Yea, mit as well get it ova wit."
Let's go!
Make no excuses now, I'm talking here and now, I'm talking here and now.
Glitch jumps in with body isos. He turns into a marionette, operating with only certain joints, as Mo becomes the puppet master.
Let's go!
Your time is running out, I'm talking here and now, I'm talking here and now.
With each jerk of Mo's hands, a part of Glitch's body moves. With that illusion, Mo makes his partner replicate the winding motions that the twins just demonstrated.
It's not about what you've done it's whatchu doing.
It's all about where you go and no matta you been.
Together, they sprint towards the unfinished skeletons of a wall. Using their momentum, they run up the side of the beam, and back flips through the air.
Let's go!
Right now is where you shine.
I'm talking here and now, I'm talking here and now.
Glitch spins into a barrel roll. Freezes with his legs in the air, balancing on his right elbow.
Let's make it happen, ooo,
Let's make it happen tonight.
His partner gets down to his knees. Mo starts to thread and helicopter. Freezes for a second, and drops to his hands with his legs suspend out in front. Glitch leaps from behind him. Twists his body midair as he barely grazes the top of Mo's cap.
He sticks the landing, right as the last note dies.
Let's go!
An out of control roar come from the audience. One loud enough to shake the Penthaus in its foundation. They start chanting the crew name. Two syllables of the unanimous winners.
"Hi-Def! Hi-Def! Hi-Def!"
"It seems... we have underestimated you," Kerith begins hesitantly. Jaryn quickly steps in.
"Congratulations," her dry tone suggest anything but, "You've proven yourself to be competent. Better than wild animals... but still worse than trained ones."
Mo picks up Glitch in a gigantic hug, laughing, yelling, and spinning around like mad. Loud cheering comes from the onlookers, and they can hear the distinct voices of Flash4Ward and Riptide above the others.
"I'd hate to interrupt your cute antics," Kerith finally speaks up, "But the award ceremony will be held at the top level." He gestures to a different, but identical-looking elevator with a half-hearted flourish. He uses a small card key to open the translucent sliding glass door and stands there, expectantly waiting with folded arms.
Glitch looks over to where Mo is trying to get Jaryn to shake his hand. He approaches Kerith, refusing to be intimidated by his huge, muscular stature.
"Good match," he says as he also offers his hand.
He can't really make out the other dancer's expression. His shimmering, platinum bangs enshroud his eyes in the shadows. But eventually, after a tense pause, the taller one takes his hand.
"It's nothing personal," Kerith murmurs in a hushed voice as he draws him in close. And then he roughly pushes the b-boy into the elevator before Glitch can react.
Glitch half falls, half stumbles inside. Instantly, the transparent doors seal behind him with a whoosh.
"Glitch!" Mo exclaims. His mentor dashes over, and pounds his fists against the thick glass. Fear and desperation replaces his usual, collected cool.
That's when the realization finally hits him. A heavy, sinking feeling drops to the pit of his stomach. This is it.
They won the battle, but lost the war.
His limbs turn into lead. Glitch can only stand there, system crashing and helplessly watching his partner on the other side of the glass.
Mo's mouth is forming words. He can't really tell what he's saying, so Glitch shakes his head. He offers his best friend a wobbly smile, trying to silently assure him it'll be alright.
Even though they both know it isn't.
With a lurch, the elevator starts to rise to the unfinished top level. Glitch plasters himself against his fiberglass prison, and the last image imprinted in his mind is the painful look of despair on Mo's face.
"Where is he goin'?" Mo whips around to question Kerith. The taller dancer shrugs nonchalantly. Mo's hands grip his arm in a steel hold. "Give me dat key."
Kerith doesn't flinch at his bruising hold. He returns Mo's glare with a blank stare of his own and says, "Why? I am merely following his orders. Just like you should be."
"I said give me da goddamn card!" Mo yells.
"You're going to regret it," Jaryn announces as she walks over. But Kerith hands it to him anyways.
"Fo dis city's hot shots, you two sho like lickin' Tan's boots like sum kinda dog." Mo swipes the elevator card, and curses when nothing happens. His hand comes down with an angry slam.
"Something's wrong B," Emilia says with growing dread as the crews watch from behind the barricades. Bodie doesn't reply, and he starts to push his way forward. He catches Flash4Ward's attention. Taye starts to mutter into her phone, and the four of them make their way through the milling crowd, vaulting over the blockers, till they finally reach Mo.
"Wut's goin' on? Where's G?" Taye demands instantly.
"Make it work!" Mo shouts at the impassive pair of twins. "Dat's my bro up dere!"
Jaryn crosses her arms and remains stoic. Kerith leans against his twin casually, "I believe your end of the contract states-" He doesn't get to finish his sentence as Mo tackles him to the ground.
"Fuck da contract!" The b-boy grounds out viciously as he brings his hands go around to encircle Kerith's pale, swanlike neck. "Tell me how ta get up dere or I'll, I'll-"
"Whoa there." Bodie's strong arms latches on and with Emilia's help, manages to pull the angry dancer off Kerith. Mo struggles vehemently, "B, I promised da kid! I promised nuthin' gonna go bad..."
"But violence won't solve anything," Emilia finishes for him. "Believe me, I would know."
She turns to the silent, sulking pair. Jaryn is helping Kerith up, her hands going to carefully examine the purpling on bruise on his neck and her voice murmuring soothing words. "Please, tell us how we can get up there. We'll handle the rest ourselves."
Jaryn glares back. "Why... should we help you? Your barbaric friend over there almost strangled my brother."
"You pale primadramas sho dun look dat tough up close," Lil' T juts out her hip at them, "Wut's da big idea anyways? Dunchu get it? Dat's like havin' one of you down here, and da otha," she points to the utmost top level of the tower, "up dere."
Everyone turns to regard her with shock. Taye recovers first. "Mmhmm, so tru. If ya two have any idea wut dis means ta us, wouldya help us out?"
The twins slowly straighten up together. They've been through their share of troubles. Made painful separation from their pasts.
They know Mo also comes from humble beginnings, and yet the two never bothered to get to know him despite working for the same employer.
They are as different as day and night. While the twins gaze down at the city from their lofty Penthaus, Mo goes out and talks to strangers.
He likes bright colors. They like black and white.
Because when they allow shades of grey to enter, that's when things get too out of hand. Jaryn likes everything needs to be in perfect, tight-rope-balanced control. Teetering on the edge of sanity and pushing boundaries of reason. And Kerith likes what Jaryn likes. It's always been that way.
However, as they take in the sight of such raw emotion from Mo, and all of these brightly-colored dancers stepping up for one measly kid, they cannot help but notice the blurriness of the lines.
Kerith gives Jaryn a look, one that says: Isn't this what we once wished for? People who would care if we do not live to see another day?
She replies wordlessly with a narrowing of her eyes: Remember we only have each other. To trust others- is futile and worthless.
I want to help him.
A resigned sigh. You can, but we need to be careful.
Kerith crosses his arms, "We are not allowed to interfere with Tan's plans."
"And rightly so brother," Jaryn slips her arm through the crook of his elbow, "we are not allowed to show these lowly mortals the way up to the top floor, where Tan's airship is docked and waiting."
Kerith pats her hand comfortingly. "Even if the unworthy beings manage to clamber their clumsy way up there, his ship is well secure and guarded."
"Honestly now, the only possible way they can come close is through pure, dumb luck. As if we were to," her hand pulls out another card from the metallic instrument on her vest, "conveniently... misplace the security key," she softly murmurs as she lets it float to the ground. "And the floor bugs found it."
Kerith laughs. A brilliant, musical sound, and the two swerves away. "Yes, and what are the chances of that happening?"
"When pigs fly," Jaryn agrees adamantly.
The others watch, speechless, as the twins preen each other with praises, and then proceeds to stalk away into the dark recesses of the half-constructed tower with audible, synchronized clicks of their boots.
"Wow, only the Glitterati can help and insult us in the same breath," Emilia shakes her head. Mo picks up the key, examining the neon pink "DC" design on the poker-sized card.
"Dat's all good an' stuff, but how we gonna get up dere?" He wonders out loud.
Bodie scratches his head. "Do we look for a stairway? Would that take too long?"
Taye's phone starts to ring. She grins at them. "Our ride's here!"
The five of them look up at the sounds of beating chopper blades. Even from the distance, they can make out brilliant ginger curls and the jaunty tilt of a grey visor.
A step ladder unfurls itself to hang a few feet in front of them, and Miss Aubrey's familiar voice comes on over the feedback of a speakerphone.
"Ahem, may I have your attention please. May the agreed upon party line up and in an orderly fashion, help themselves to-"
"Oh whatever! Just grab on!" Emilia hollers above the noise. She clambers up the ladder with agile speed, greeting her long-time rival with a middle finger and a cheeky grin while Bodie holds the ends of the step ladder steady for the others. When the last of them has climbed on, the blonde lifeguard signals to Angel. Like an agile hummingbird, the Lu$h helicopter carefully makes its ascent to the top of the tower, with five dancers in tow.
"Dun look down!" Taye shouts into the roaring wind. Lil'T who happens to love roller coasters, is laughing like she's riding a sugar high.
In a few minutes, the helicopter reaches the top floor. The dancers leap off the ladder as the helicopter slowly descend upon the roof.
"Dat was... So. Much. Fun!" Lil' T turns to her sister, "Can we do it again?" Taye helplessly shrugs. "Ask Angel."
"B, you okay?" Emilia jokingly asks as she rubs her partner's back. Bodie looks a bit green in the face.
Mo doesn't hear any of it. He glances around the rooftop anxiously. Looking for a familiar, bright T-shirt, but doesn't see him.
The top of the Penthaus is surprisingly barren. There's a few TV antenna setups. A trap door installed on the ground. The elevator that held Glitch is now parked on the side. Empty.
At the very end, there's a long ramp that leads to a docked zeppelin. The logo of Tan Industries, a huge capital "T" framed with olive leaves emblazoned on the side of the massive airship, leers down on Mo in a mocking manner.
The blades of the helicopter gradually stop whirling. Angel helps his partner out of the cock pit, and the two members of Lu$h rejoin with the group. Taye and Emilia fills them in as they all jog towards the looming, aerial structure.
Underneath his breath, saying it out loud more for himself than for others, Mo mutters, "Hold on Glitch, we comin' ta getcha."
[/code]
[note:]
- Huge chap this time. Thanks for those people that reviewed. I went back and added a few sents/ altered some stuff for the last chap. Nothing dramatic of a change anyways. And not necessary to understand this chap. I hope.
-Obscure reference to hexterah's fic "Flick the Switch". Lakewood Diner is where the twins first started working in the city... so that pretty much answers the q of how Zipp got food poisoning. xD Go read her fic, she's pro on all things Glitterati. ;D
- Dance moves are a mixture of the game's moves. And just my odd imagination. The Kerith doing the split idea came from Glitterati's official intro cutscene. My initial thought as I watched it: "Can a guy even do that? Ow..."
- In case ppl are confused, the tournament is like an elimination draw. Hi-Def beat Lu$h in semi's, Riptide beat Flash4ward in quarters, later losing to Glitterati in semi's. And then HD faces off Glitter in the finals. Or is it the final round? ;D
- Can I please get to Dr. Tan next chap? Haha he keeps getting pushed back b/c there's so much stuff to cover!