Mattie had agreed at the mention of taking down the men responsible for her parents murder. Baker handed Mattie a contract, basically explaining this whole thing was to be confidential until it was completely. She signed immeadiately and was on the private jet within the next hour.
"Okay Baker, who's the next target?" Jimmy asked thumbing through the folder. Baker plucked the folder from his hand, and flipped two pages ahead before putting it back down in front of the boy. The top of the file read, Arthur Lewis. His speciality listed? Juggernaut. Jimmy re-read the speciality to make sure it was clear what he was seeing.
"Yes you read that right Neutron. Arthur is the bulky backbone we need for the team. He was the star linebacker of his highschool team, and came in second last year at the National Gaming League finals against Colin." It immeadiately hit Jimmy who this guy was. He recalled Colin running through Arthur like he was a finish line strip. Not to say Arthur didn't put up a fight, Colin was just obviously a more skilled gamer...in terms of an evil, brainwashed prodigy.
"Arthur is residing in New York city currently, so that will be our next destination. In the meantime, get some sleep, its gonna be a long flight" Baker spoke, before returning to his small cabin. It was just Jimmy and Mattie present now.
"So how exactly did you know about me being the uh...", Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "King of Retroville?" Mattie giggled a little at his question. "I played against the girls Texas All-star team last year, and that bitchy leader Betty Quinlan. They beat us last year at the all-star games and I started keeping tabs on her for this year. I happen to come upon you and noticed our um...similar predicament. I found it coincidentle, a big one at that. But I couldn't find any other connection. Makes sense now though I suppose."
"When you say bitch..." Jimmy trailed off. Mattie sneered on the open-ended question. "I mean, she talks the most shit, shes the most egotistical, and she has no sportsmanship. Yeah online gaming isn't really popular in the sportsmanship category, but more to the point that Professional gaming should be. Basically, i;m calling her a cunt for her showmanship" Mattie spat out without blinking an eye.
"Lemme guess," Mattie said after a long silence, "is this said bitch your girlfriend or something?" Jimmys face went red and he looked out the small window. "Not exactly...I mean...uhhh...Mattie you seem like a trustworthy person?" he transitioned into a question. She shook her head at him. He let out a long sigh and looked her in the eyes. He then told her everything, and by everything, he told her about his love/hate relationship with Cindy, his fantasy girl of Betty, and the whole situation that was still brewing at home.
"Jimmy...as a future teammate on the field? I think Betty has royally fucked you" Mattie pointed out bluntly. Jimmy tilted his head at her. "I mean you honestly think Cindy would undermine you, just to beat you? From what you tell me, she just wants to out-work you because of her pridefulness. You honestly think she could live with herself for the rest of her gaming career if she cheated to out-play you?"
The words that come out of Mattie's mouth were what Jimmy needed to hear. He smiled at bit at her, and she just shrugged her shoulders.
The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and the sound of gunshots. A blonde girl and an african girl pressed against cover, with a hail of bullets being fired just a few inches above their skulls.
"Cin, what do you plan on doing exactly" the African girl asked, firing a few stray shots from her pistol with no avail. Cindy pulled a small brick object from her waist satchel, and tossed it over her head towards the hail of gunfire. It momentarily caused the bullets from flying, and Cindy squeezed the handle on a metal switch.
A near-deafening explosion happened behind their small cover, with metal and blood painting the area. The words victory appeared on Cindy and Libbys visors, before they were thrust back into the gaming lobby. Libby checked a few things on her tac-pad before turning to Cindy,
"That was a good move you pulled back there Cin! I didn't know you used-" but she was cut short when she noticed Cindy looking past her. She turned her head and saw a man with trenchcoat, collar covering his mouth and nose, with tinted goggles over his eyes. He was at least 7 feet tall, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
"uhhh, that guys been staring at us since we spawned in here" Cindy said glaring at him. Libby gave him a twin glare. "Whats this creep wnat" Libby asked. Cindy stomped over to the goggle-wearing man, and jabbed her finger into his shoulder. "What's your problem buddy" she demanded.
The man simply stood still, not flinching at Cindys intimidation tactic. She became infuriated at his demeanor. "Hey, goggles! I'm talking to you!" she screamed this time. He titled his head towards Libby, and Cindy turned. The lobby was completely empty, except for a lone man sitting on the couch. "Ahh, Ms. Cynthia Vortex, i've been waiting to meet you" he said smoothly, in an almost french accent. Cindy turned back to the trenchcoat man, but was met with the wall where he orignally stood.
"Don't mind Havoc, he has a tendency to disappear like that" the lone man said in an assuring voice. He patted the empty seat next to him, and strangely Cindy felt comfortable and joined him. His skin was pale, almost ghostly white. His hair was raven black, slicked back down to his neck. His attire was that of a black suit, matching pants and accompanied with a rose red tie. He turned to face Cindy, his eyes that of bright green color.
"I am Kane, the president and CEO of Black Star Gaming. And i'm here to extend a personal invitation for you to join my publicly sponsored clan, Twisted Sky. You've grabbed my attention, and I want you on my team Cynthia" he asked, twisting his body to prop his elbow on the top of the couch, holding his hands together with his knee propped on his other. Cindy perked up at the invitation.
"You mean it" she screeched. Kane smiled at her, and chuckled a little. "Yes my dear, I want you to be the leader of this group. I have a few more candidates to interview, but if you accept right now, you will be officially welcomed in" Kane explained to her, ever so smoothly. Cindys' eyes twinkled at the invitation.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" she screamed. Kane smiled and pulled an identification pass from inside his suit. It had Cindys picture and full name inscribed and laminated on it. "This card will gain you access to black star gamings hq, along with everything but black level clearance areas. All I ask, is that you defer from going near black level areas, thats only authorized for myself and the technical support staff." Cindy just nodded at the request eagerly, holding the laminated card in her hands like a child.
"Superb. I'll be off then Ms. Vortex. Be sure to come by the hq sometime this week and take a glimpse at our facilities" he said over his shoulder walking towards a door. Cindy looked down at the card then back up to the door, and was met with the earlier lobby she had been in. Libby was no where to be seen so she logged out of the game quickly.
She tossed the helmet off her head, and darted over to Libbys house. She literally almost beat the door down, trying to get Libby to answer. The african girl finally opened the door, her eyes droopy and her body slouching against the door.
"Cin...What are you doing here" she asked tiredly. Cindy flashed the Black Star ID into her friends face and grinned as bright as she could. Libby rubbed her eyes and glanced closer at the ID. "Why do you have an Black Star ID? I thought that was just for staff?" she asked taking a long yawn.
Cindy ran inside the house and spilled the whole story to Libby. After the whole story, Libby eyed her suspiciously and Cindy furrowed her eyebrows. "What" she asked in a harsh tone. Libby sighed and rubbed her face furiously. "Cin, not to sound rude or anything...But why you? I mean...I know you're one of the best gamers in Retroville, but you haven't made the Texas All-Stars team or even been elected for player of the year?" Libby asked trying to hint her point at Cindy. Cindy's pride and ego were hurt by her friends statement.
"So what? You're saying Ms.I'm-So-Perfect-And-Popular should've been picked over me" she stood up, raising her voice at Libby. Libby, in her tired state, didn't wanna deal with this. "Cindy if you're going to blow this whole thing out of proportion, then please go somewhere else" Libby asked, rubbing her eyes. Cindy huffed and stomped out thew door.
Before she knew it she was standing outside Black Star gamings HQ. "At least they recognize my true talents" she thought to herself before entering the front doors.
On the top floor, Kane was sitting at his desk facing out the massive windows of his office. The goggle-wearing man from the lobby, Havoc, entered the room from a side door. "Sir, Ms. Vortex has entered the facility" he said in a dark tone. A smile grew on Kane's face. He turned to face Havoc. "Good, have the boy show her around the facilities. When they are done, have them come up to my office" he said menacingly with the grin still on his face.
(AN): So, not looking too good for Cindy right now? Ahh, she's tough, she'll be able to get out of this, right? And, next chapter you'll meet her new and familiar teammate with Kane's clan, Twisted Sky. Until next time guys!