Chapter 04

"Crap!" the remaining Jacket calls out. "Matt!"

Seriously? Why do you care now that he's dead? Just a good twenty minutes ago you watched as I broke your buddy's hand without showing any intention to help him out. You've lost your right to mourn him now.

As he stands there, pondering what to do next a new thought enters my mind: This has been too easy. There's no way that a total noob like him could defeat any true enemy Gantz sends. Then I remember falling for this trick a couple of times before: The first few enemies are just bait. They're easy to defeat or, if Gantz is in a bad mood, quite tough. And just when you think you've made it, the real fiend is revealed and all you can hope is that you haven't wasted too much energy already.

Especially this one time I saw one of my companions' devices break after a one on one fight against a gross alien. He had exhausted his suit and his time was up as soon the alien's older brother showed up. Because the suit is not unbreakable - It can withstand normal gunfire and softens the impact of any punch, but if you want to destroy it you basically just have to press your thumb into the devices hard enough to make them break and let the blue liquid leak. Admittedly, one would have to be extraordinarily strong to be capable of doing that, know about the suit's weak spot and be quick enough to manage to poke your finger into the right places, but it's entirely possible.

Bait. I should have thought of this earlier. Two years and I haven't learned a thing.

Before I get the chance to beat myself up too much, something rolls to my feet and I recognize it immediately as the elderly woman's head. Her eyes are missing and I shudder inside, but definitely not as much as Rachel shudders on the outside. She sits there, staring in shock as tears run down her cheeks. Sometimes when I see these newcomers I wonder if I was ever that young.

I refrain from kicking the head away. Instead I listen carefully and grab my gun and get ready to run. It's about time I become a little more active. Being a bystander hasn't gotten me to where I am today.

Slow firm steps echo through the darkness and the remaining Jacket's head jerks up. His face freezes in sheer terror and he takes off. The clicking of heavy boots on asphalt becomes quicker and quicker and it only takes a few seconds until – whatever that is - has overtaken the guy and punches its fist into his back. Well, through his back, to be precise. I hear a gross smacking sound as it withdraws its arm from the dead body and leather hits the street. He never stood a chance.

It's my turn now and I take aim. I know I've got to switch to visibility before I can shoot, but I can lock on to the target beforehand. I point my gun and pull the upper trigger as a hint of satisfaction runs through my body. The creature is tall and walks on two feet like a human. Its strength and speed are magnificent. I bet I'll be rewarded with more than a lousy few points. Maybe I'll even get the last nine I need. The X-ray on my screen displays a perfect resemblance of the onion boy, just larger. A fleeting thought crosses my mind that we're facing a family of aliens here, but I don't have time for pity. That's not part of my orders. It's not part of the game.

I raise my gun and just as I'm about to click the device on my neck, I catch some movement out of the corner of my eye. Rachel has stood up and is clenching her fists as her eyes are scanning her surroundings. Just what is she searching for? Only when I see the gun next to the onion boy do I understand.

This will cost me my precious points if she succeeds, which is unlikely, but I decide to stand back just a little longer. I'm too curious; I want to see this all unfold.

Rachel finally spots the weapon and hesitates a few more seconds. Her arms are stretched out down towards the ground and she's whispering something I'm unable to understand. Then she finally nods tersely and runs. She's got a pretty good start and I watch her and the creature alternately, waiting for something to happen. Rachel has almost made it to her goal when the fiend turns around and roars loudly enough to shake the wall behind me. To my surprise she doesn't stop, though and then it happens: The devices on her suit start to glow blue and her movements become faster. I watch her muscles grow as she slides right through the remnants of human and alien flesh and grabs the gun on her way back up.

I feel my jaw drop as I watch. Was all her whining and crying before just an act? Without further hesitation she raises the gun, aims at the fiend, and pulls the trigger.

Trigger. Singular.

She's pulled the lower trigger and does it again a couple of times. Of course nothing happens, nothing except for the fiend approaching her angrily now and Rachel examining her weapon in a panic.

For a second I contemplate if I should let her die, but she's been too entertaining. That stunt she pulled was hysterical and I want to keep her around a little longer. So I click the device on my neck and squeeze both triggers.

One

The fiend draws closer to the brunette.

Two

She's given up on the gun and is now crawling backwards.

Three

They both have spotted me and I smirk.

Four

It's coming towards me now, but I don't have a reason to be afraid anymore. It's too late.

Five

Boom.

Rachel shrieks as she's covered in guts. "Eeeewww!" is the last thing I hear before the transport begins.

And "Eeeeewwwww!" is the first thing I hear as soon as we're back in the apartment. I chuckle and give her an almost friendly clap on the back. "Get used to it." I say and immediately regret my words because they imply she'll be fighting with me again, which was never the plan. Quickly I straighten my face and turn to Gantz as Rachel checks her body. She's clean now, of course. Leftovers from the battlefield are never transported back with us.

"Where's my shirt?" she asks and I can't help but chuckle again.

"Well, if you ever happen to visit Lima again you'll find it tucked under that car where you left it." I deadpan.

"You're from Lima, too?"

I stiffen. Today is really not my day and I'm beginning to think that I've completely lost my mind. How else could I explain that I just revealed where I live?

I ignore her question, but it's too late. "I wanted to thank you for earlier. You saved my life twice today and I owe you for that." She shrugs slightly and I pretend not to have heard. She apparently knows better, though. "I know you didn't do it on purpose and I don't blame you. No one's ever really liked me." I shoot her a quick glance, because this last sentence actually gets to me. "And no one's ever helped me, either. But listen; if we stick together we could…"

Thankfully Gantz interrupts her.

"Time for the points."

The display lights up and the familiar green letters appear again.

"What is this all about?" Rachel asks and I ignore her.

"Rachel Berry. Zero points. Quit crying and bring your clothes next time." The brunette besides me huffs. Apparently that's her trademark. "I'd like to object to this kind of…" I punch her side to make her shut up. She's distracting me.

"Santana Lopez. Four points. Quit staring at the dork's boobs."

"WHAT THE FUCK?" My face turns crimson and I see Rachel's eyes go wide. I turn to face her and shake my head, but she's too busy crossing her arms in front of her chest to even notice me.

Eventually I give up. It's Gantz's humor and I've already heard all kinds of lame jokes about all kinds of stupid people, including myself.

It's the first time I've been referred to as a pervert, though. Thanks a lot, Gantz.

What really matters at the end of the day is that I'm still stuck here. Gantz doesn't let me go. I'll have to fight in yet another mission. Hopefully my last one.

"…So…what are we supposed to do now?" Rachel asks and when I look at her I can see that her embarrassment, too, has vanished. "What are these points good for?"

"Maybe I'll tell you next time." I say and the look she gives me indicates that she doesn't want to come back. That's too bad, because she won't have a choice.

In a last fit of politeness I add: "When you hear the ringing tone in your head, grab your suit and your weapon." She nods shyly and whispers another "Thank you".

A door becomes visible and Gantz quiets down. Clicking the device on my neck again I say: "For now, go home."

I've been a good person today. It sucks.