Day after day came and went as the Saints gathered and grew in Steelport. They had seized stores and armed up. Done their research on the local gangs and stirred up fights to make their presence known. But they still hadn't gone up against Loren and the boss' patience was wearing thin.
Carlos' ghost came to haunt his dreams whenever booze or exhaustion couldn't keep them away, and Playa felt like he was going mad. More than he already was. It had been ten days since Carlos' death. Eight days since they had taken the penthouse from the Morningstars. Seven days since he had let off steam at the Genki show. Seven days, also, since he had met Gat.
After his unplanned participation in the show, Playa had done some research and found out that the warehouse wasn't the only location where Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax was hosted. It seemed like there were several branches all throughout Steelport, that would welcome visitors anytime. And while every round was broadcast live into each branch's lobby, only the best made it into national TV and were aired on Fridays.
At first Playa had convinced himself he'd look into the show for mere research purposes, but the more he found out, the less he could deny that he had tasted blood and was longing for yet another murderous round.
If he simply went to another branch, he probably wouldn't run into Gat either. What harm was a little risky game here and there to keep his mind off things while his patience was tried?
The nearest Dr. Genki location wasn't too far away either and soon Playa drove his purple Vortex toward the location his GPS guided him to. It led him to another warehouse, though seemingly bigger than the last, that proudly sported the game's logo above its entrance.
Already familiar with the procedure, the Saint stepped out of his car and headed inside, his fingers already itching to meet the cold steel of his weapon. A confident smirk on his lips, he pulled the door open to step into the entrance hall, though his face froze the moment he spotted a figure at the other end of the room who was leisurely polishing his shotgun. Gat. What were even the odds of him being there, again, at the exact same time and location as the Saints' boss himself!?
Before he could turn around and leave again, the man had spotted him and lowered his weapon. Great.
"What are the odds?" Gat smirked and walked up to him. "Decided to check out the other venues?"
"I know, right." Playa answered, cursing whatever divine entity had considered this a funny joke to pull on him. "Yeah."
"I feel that." Johnny laughed. "Once you taste blood, this game is like a drug. Can't get enough of it. Yo, since you're here, let's go duo today! Whatchu say?"
The Saint remembered very well how the commentators had brought all kinds of details on his life the last time he had entered, and while he was lucky enough that Gat had watched the game without sound, Playa knew he couldn't expect that kind of fortune when the man was on the field with him.
"I was planning on entering on my own, to be honest."
"Aw, come on. Murderin's best when enjoyed in company. Even if you slow me down, I promise I won't hold it against you."
"Slow you– Oh, you're on ." The Saint blurted out, before he could stop himself. Shit .
Gat's eyes lay hidden behind dark glasses but his smirk gave away just how much he was looking forward to this.
"Fuck yeah." He turned to call towards the counter. "Hey, Tasha! Sign up my buddy here for a duo with me!"
"Alright, Johnny!" The woman with green pig-tails smiled first at Gat, then beckoned Playa to come closer. "Just place your hand on the display over here and you're good to go!"
The Saint stepped closer but before he placed his hand on the display, he turned to Tasha, speaking low only for her to hear.
"Hey, is it possible to enter anonymously?"
"You don't want people to know who you are?"
"That's what anonymously means, isn't it?"
Tasha looked at him for a moment in silence, a strange glint lying in the depths of her dark eyes. "So you'd like to enter with a pseudonym?"
"That possible?"
"Sure thing!" She smiled and pointed towards the display again. "I'll need you to register through the display anyway."
"Alright." Playa nodded and repeated the familiar process. For a brief moment the display flashed up but this time without revealing the man's personal data.
"You're all set!" Tasha announced and opened the door to the waiting room. "Enjoy!"
She seemed exceptionally giddy for some reason but Gat's impatient voice behind him urged him to hurry up.
"You done? Let's get movin' already."
The steel door shut behind them and the introduction video started playing on the same kind of mounted TV that Playa remembered from the other venue's waiting room. A familiar thrill bubbled up inside him, only that this time he wasn't alone.
"Loser buys the other a beer?" Gat looked back at him teasingly and for a brief moment Playa forgot about the wariness he should have around the other.
"Make that two." He grinned back and readied his gun, just in time for the doors to slide open and the first bullets to cut through the air.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another round of Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax! Bobby, what can we expect in this arena today?"
"Zach, this particular arena features a lot of fire, a lot of lightning, guns, and a lot of pain."
"Haha, your favourite! In other words, a perfectly normal Genki arena."
"That's right. And like any other arena, our contestant can pile up a mountain of cash in a hurry."
"Or two slightly smaller mountains, Bobby, because today's contestants signed up as a duo!"
"It's a rare sight. Especially since the pair involves none other than our legendary Genki Bowl champion Johnny Gat."
"I didn't know that Gat did duos, Bobby. What do you think prompted that change of heart?"
"Who knows, Zach. Maybe it's a question of who."
"Who, indeed! Gat's partner made the rare request to stay anonymous, so we'll have to take some freedom when it comes to their background."
"So all statements about them may or may not be true, Zach."
"That's right, Bobby. Like the fact that our contestant is a notorious arsonist from New York! From what I heard he even blew himself up once and spent years in a coma."
"No wonder there'd be a lot of pent-up energy, Zach. Imagine waking up and realizing that years have gone by without you noticing."
"I'm sure he's glad to have found such an exciting outlet as Professor Genki's arena, Bobby. I know I'd be."
"Not just you, Zach. And from the looks of it, Smokey's not waiting to make up for lost time. This is really amazing shooting."
"That brings back memories… I once had a puppy called Smokey."
"Had? What happened to him?"
"Let's just say it lived up to its name. Here's to hoping that the same fate doesn't await our contestant!"
"Smokey?" Gat asked with amusement as he shot down a bunny mascot. Playa rolled his eyes but found this was still way better than being found out as the Saints' leader.
"Shut up." Playa took cover behind a pillar, waited for the hot dog man to run out of ammo, then jumped out and took him out. "Twenty-seven. Whatchu got?"
"Thirty-two." The other answered with a smug grin.
"Fuck. Just you wait." Playa ran ahead to the next wall, spotted another few mascots and landed three headshots in a row. "Thirty!"
He looked back to Gat as if to tell him to watch his back. He would have caught up soon. Or so he thought.
"That triggers the hunters!" Zach's voice suddenly announced through the speakers. "Let's see how our contestants will deal with these wild beasts, Bobby."
No sooner had he finished than a huge man holding a minigun came running their way.
"That one's mine!" Playa grinned and began to open fire on the brute. He didn't seem to go down easily, however and the Saint had to jump to the side to dodge the tackle. Having run out of ammo, Playa quickly reloaded as he hid away behind one of the walls, then double-checked and saw that the hunter had lost sight of him. Perfect. Five shots to the head later, the huge man finally went down.
The boss looked around for the next opponent when he spotted Gat aiming his gun right at him. His eyes widened. Had he been found out? Playa's heart jumped to his throat. A shot was fired. He tried to shift to the left to avoid it, when the bullet flew past his ear and into something behind him that went down with a heavy thump. Someone had snuck up behind him and Gat had taken him out. Playa stared back at the Morningstar who gave him a thumbs up before he ran ahead.
"...Fuck." It took the Saint a brief moment to recover, then he followed his battle companion further into the arena.
There was no denying that Gat was a formidable fighter. He took out enemy mascots by the dozens, avoided bullets with a grace unexpected from his sturdy physique and even as they neared the end of the course he had suffered little more than a few scratches. Playa didn't look much worse than him, but a sharp pain reminded him that a bullet had grazed his lower arm. The blow to his ego that followed was probably worse than his aching arm, however.
"How many did you get?" Gat asked, as they walked through the exit doors, Zach's excited voice announcing their victory.
"Fifty-three." Playa lied and Johnny raised an eyebrow. "...If the big guys count for five."
"Then I guess you owe me two beer, cause I got sixty-four." Johnny's smooth voice didn't even make it sound like he was bragging and the Saint felt both insulted and impressed at the same time.
"Fine." Playa groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Do you know a place?"
"There's a pretty nice bar nearby. Let's go there."
"Alright. Lead the way."
As they walked out through the back, they could still hear Bobby's voice roaring through the speakers.
"Let's hope we'll get to see many more rounds with the new murdering dream team."
"Ah. That really hit the spot." Johnny sighed contentedly as he lowered the empty glass of beer he had just chugged. Playa sat next to Gat, a small smile on his own lips as he watched him. He knew he shouldn't be there. Shouldn't be doing this. But there was something about the man that exuded calmness and he couldn't help but feel at ease, even when his mind was trying very hard to remind him that the Morningstar was his enemy. And a dangerous one, to boot. Somehow, right then, that didn't really matter. Playa took a large sip of his own beer to wash down the thoughts.
"Say, what's your deal anyway?" Gat had turned to face him completely and tilted his head to the side. "People don't usually pick up these kinds of skills outta nowhere, and they sure as hell are put to use somewhere when they do. So what's your story?"
"I'd have to kill you if I told you." Playa answered jokingly, though he wondered if Johnny knew how much truth lay behind those words.
"You can try." Johnny snorted. "You wouldn't be the first and you can bet your ass you wouldn't be the last either."
"Right." The Saint replied with a lopsided smile but took another sip of beer to hide the tinge of discomfort the thought of actually having to go up against the other man brought him.
"Alright, fine, then don't tell me." Gat shrugged and beckoned the barkeeper to bring him another beer. "Don't really care 's long as you're free again next week."
"What's next week?" Playa asked but he could already guess what was on the other's mind.
"Next round, of course. That is, unless you've given up on beating me."
"Fuck no. Next week it is." The Saint smirked and Johnny, obviously pleased, knocked his new glass against Playa's.
"To the best fucking game in the world."
"To the best fucking game in the world." The Saints' capo echoed and felt Johnny's excitement infecting him, too.
Playa had no sense for how long they had stayed at the bar, but when they parted ways, Steelport's streets had grown dark and empty. The cool night air felt nice on the Saint's blushed cheeks. Next week. The promise left a warm feeling in the depths of his stomach and, while it was probably because of the booze, he felt giddy for the first time in a long time.
He knew he was playing with fire. He didn't care. The only thing on his mind was the next round of Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax.
And meeting his murderous battle companion, Johnny Gat.