"PRISON?!" Axel yelled, panicking. "I can't go to prison! What am I going to tell my Dad?! 'Hey Dad, I might miss the rest of the school year. Yeah, I'll be out of town. Where? Atlas. Oh, no reason, just going to prison for assaulting my team leader's sadistic and psychotic father that he neglected to tell us about until he was PUTTING ME IN A FREAKING CHOKE HOLD AND PUTTING A GUN TO MY HEA-"
He was interrupted by the back of Damien's hand slapping him across his face.
"HEY. Breathe." Damien said, feigning a second slap to keep Axel in check. "No one is going to have to say shit to your dad because we're not staying." Axel closed his eyes for a moment and took a few breaths to calm himself. Then, after a moment, he opened his eyes and came to his senses. He tilted his head and looked at Damien, confused.
"We're not what now?" he asked.
Damien began scanning the room. Actually, the word "room" would be inaccurate; The walls and floors were concrete, and there were no discernible windows. The only thing in the room other than the beds and the toilet was a single air vent on the ceiling, pumping stale air for them to breathe. It was more akin to a fallout shelter than a prison cell.
"'Staying'. We're not staying."
"I don't know, man." Axel held out his arms, gesturing at the concrete walls of the cell they were locked in. "Seems like we'll be staying for the foreseeable future."
"I'm with Axel on this one," A voice said from across the hall. The boys ran over and leaned against the bars to see who it was, to find that it was Sebastian. He was locked in a small room with a thick steel door, his eyes poking through a small slit. "Just look at what happened to us. We assaulted a military officer, and then we got our asses handed to us. Besides, some of us might just deserve to be here." Sebastian's voice trailed off. "The only thing the three of us can do is sit all of this out. Trying to break out would only make our situation worse."
Damien smirked.
"Are you doubting me?" He joked, raising an eyebrow and smiling lopsidedly, only to be met with two confused faces. He rolled his eyes and groaned. "Oh come on! You can't honestly believe that the cops were just ok with me taking the law into my own hands all the time. I've been locked up before. And I've never seen a place I couldn't break out of. Granted, I've never broken out of a complex as fortified as this one, but I welcome the challenge." He grabbed the bars, his face with a hopeful, ambitious smile. "And do you fail to realize that the man who captured us instigated the aforementioned 'assault?' So, if we bust out, we can just tell Ozpin what happened. He'll believe us."
"I'm not so sure." Sebastian said. "This is bigger than the White Fang and some of Torchwick's men. That could be forgiven. But this is the law, even if it is corrupt. The odds are stacked against us, in more ways than one."
"Then we take them down. As many as we need to get back to Beacon." Damien replied. "Ozpin's always put his faith in the students. I think he'll trust us even against the odds."
"Maybe," Sebastian's voice mumbled, "Even still, how can we fight without our semblances?" They heard a bang against the wall from the inside of his cell. "They have systems in place, not only in our cells, but everywhere so we can't use them. I want to believe you Damien, I really do." Sebastian took a deep sigh. "I just can't reason with fighting back. We don't have any tricks up our sleeve that can magically incapacitate all of the guards in here, without using our semblances."
Damien shook his head. "That's funny, coming from you. You're the one who fights with his BARE HANDS. I figure you could take down half these guys without your semblance anyway. Besides, when you were off fighting Sierra, Noir had one of those exosuits that Almus used to slam us into the pavement. Me, Axel and Cyrus trashed the last one without our semblances. All that's changed is the guy inside." Damien said, looking at the wall to think. "We just need to rethink our strategy to evade Almus's attacks."
"Damien, have you ever taken a life before?" The question reverberated off the walls, taking the other boys by surprise. After a moment, Sebastion continued: "It weighs down your body and soul. It changes you. If I fight these people here, what will they think of me? What will I think of myself? Against Team CRDL there was no other choice. But this? This is different. These people don't deserve to be harmed, they're just following orders they're forced to follow. I am a criminal, Damien. I belong here. You guys? You don't belong here. Maybe this is for the best. I can't harm anyone this way. I can't lose myself anymore."
Axel shook his head. "Okay, one: Screw that! We came here together, we're leaving together."
"Yeah? And two?" Sebastian said, slightly amused at the fact that his teammate thought there was even a remote chance of them leaving. Axel hesitated to respond back.
"How's this for two?" Damien interjected. "These so-called soldiers aren't honest men." "These guys follow an officer who uses his power and influence for his own personal gain. They don't care that they have duties to uphold to Atlas. So you can go ahead and say that these people don't deserve to be hurt. I'm not buying it. Not when they need to have some sense knocked into them. Also…" Damien hesitated. "There's something going on with this division that I can't put my finger on yet."
"And three!" Axel finally spoke out. "I told CDRL before we went to fight them that there is NO WAY I'd be continuing my time at Beacon without my teammate. Moreso, my friend."
"Same here." Damien's voice emitted from across the hall.
Sebastian smiled inside his cold quarters. Even if his own turmoil felt more important at times, he still wanted to place trust in his friends. They believed in him after all.
A few hours later, a voice rang through the cell block. It was the warden.
"Royal! You're up first! " he yelled, walking up to their cell. Axel stiffened in fear, his eyes growing wide. He swallowed hard before speaking shakily.
"M-m-me?" Axel whimpered. The warden grunted impatiently.
"Yes, y-y-you." he said mockingly. Axel composed himself and stared down the warden.
"Fine."
The warden opened the door and cuffed Axel before leading him out of the cell. The two marched to the doorway at the end of the hall.
"Asshole." whispered Damien as they walked by.
Beyond the door was the interrogation room, where Almus was waiting for them. Almus gestured toward the chair, and Axel was promptly shoved into it, and strapped down. He tried to wriggle free, but the bindings were fastened tightly.
"So what's the deal with the theatrics? The facility is blocking our semblances, so why restrain me?"
"Oh believe me," Almus replied smugly, "it's not to keep me safe. Its to keep you from moving away from these," he pressed a button on his watch, and different instruments of torture extended out of compartments in the chair: saws, tazers, and a very intimidating toothpick-looking object. Axel fidgeted nervously but maintained his composure, using his rage to cover up his fear. He responded in the way he was most comfortable: witty sarcasm.
"Gee. I sure am glad we're busting out the toothpicks, I've had this piece of popcorn stuck in my teeth for DAYS-"
He was interrupted by the back of Almus's hand slapping him across the face.
"Quiet, you insolent fool! You will answer my questions or that 'toothpick' is going through your eyelids!"
Axel stared him down, annoyed.
"First, you're not the first person to backhand me today, and it's not nearly as effective the second time. Secondly, I'd gouge my own eyes out than listen to your rich, kidnapping-and-attempted-murdering god-complex ass say another word." Axel said with a smirk. "You ain't getting anything out of me, you freakin' maniac."
Almus grunted in frustration, but paused as his narcissistic smirk started to return.
"You seem strong-willed, so that may be true. I could probably do whatever I wanted to you, and you wouldn't give me anything. However, that is why I pay him." Almus said, pointing to the corner of the room, where a man in a suit emerged from the shadows. "He's all yours, Karion."
Almus left the room, and the man called Karion got to work. He pulled out his scroll and pressed a button. An electrified claw emerged from the torture chair and grabbed Axel's shoulder, sending high voltage surging through his body. Axel flinched and seized up, straining his body until Karion stopped the machine.
"Now. After that little demonstration, I believe you will tell me what I want to know."
"And what exactly is it that you want to know?"
"Oh, not much. Just simple things, like what your semblance is, how it works, and whether you'd be interested in working for Almus for a lot of money."
Axel stared back at him, confused.
"Ok, two things: a) you just tased me, so I don't know why you'd think I'd work for you psychos after that. And b) why exactly do you need this information?"
Karion shot Axel a discomforting smile.
"Almus thinks this information could be… useful…"
Axel sat there, pondering what exactly that could mean.
"I don't think I should be giving info to a creepy business guy who works for a guy that legitimately threatened to kill me a few hours ago."
"Look, I don't like him either, but I'm kinda in a pickle right now." The man shook his head in frustration. "Point is kid, a job is a job. So let's just get down to business and get past all of this shall we? 'Cause I don't want things to get messy, and neither do you."
"Well I said what I said, and I'm not saying anything else. You can tase me all you want. That isn't going to change."
"Well we'll just have to see about that." He said as he pressed the button again, once again sending copious amounts of electrical energy surging through Axel's body. Axel seized again and writhed in pain, until suddenly going limp. Karion stopped the machine and waited. Axel remained slumped over for a moment before beginning to chuckle. The chuckle slowly grew to a full-blown laugh as Axel smiled back at Karion, knowing the futility of the situation.
"Guess you're going to have to try harder than that, bud."
This frustrated Karion further, and he grabbed Axel by the shoulders, lowered his glasses and looked deeply into Axel's eyes. Something flicked in Axel's mind, and he felt himself loosening, bending to this man's will.
"Now. What is your semblance?" Karion asked.
Axel tried to resist, but his mouth moved on its own.
"It is called Superconductor. Put simply, I am electrokinetic. I can store and release electricity as well as manipulate both outer and inner sources of electrical energy in my vicinity." He shook his head, regaining his strength and focus. "HEY. What did you just do to me?"
The man shrugged.
"I did nothing. You simply answered the question I asked."
"But I didn't want to…" Axel sat there, his head spinning.
"Obviously you did. And now that the first one is out of the way, you should probably just answer the rest of my questions.
Axel struggled against his restraints, growing more frustrated and confused.
"Just let me out of here!"
"We're not finished."
"I said we are, and I'm not giving you anything else!"
"Man," he said, shaking his head. "Do kids these days have to be this stubborn all the time? If you don't give me what the boss there is looking for, it's both of our asses in the grass." He leaned in closer, Axel being able to see a faint glint of red coming from behind the man's glasses. "So I suggest you follow along nicely. You might just get away with more than he wants you to." Axel just sat there defiantly, Karion grunting with frustration. "Fine. Have it your way,"
He pulled out his scroll once more, and began electrifying Axel again. Axel didn't move this time, taking in all the energy and smirking back at Karion.
"Apparently you weren't listening. Semblance or no, I can still handle electricity. You're just giving me a rejuvenating boost."
"Oh really?" Karion replied as he slid up on his scroll, increasing the voltage. "And without your semblance to release said energy, what exactly happens when you absorb more than you can handle?"
Sure enough Axel kept absorbing more and more energy, and he could feel himself growing closer and closer to his limit. If he took in much more, he would quite literally explode.
"Alright, alright! You win!" Karion stopped the shocking and handed Axel a dead car battery, which he used to discharge all the excess energy. Now stable, Axel relaxed a bit.
"Thank the gods for that." Karion sighed. "I didn't want to do that any more than you did." Axel squinted at the mysterious man, trying to read his face. Oddly enough, he looked genuinely relieved. Axel couldn't quite understand this man's motives or if he really wanted to be part of this situation. But he seemed relatively harmless, so maybe he could be useful. He'd just have to see. "But, with all that out of the way," Karion said, leaning forward. "I want just a bit more out of you. Two things really. Then we can call it there, yeah?" Karion gave an odd wink to Axel before quickly glancing at the camera in the corner of the room, who didn't understand what it really meant until he gave it a few seconds.
Want to give a show for the cameras, huh? I can do that.
"First, how strong is your semblance? Second, what is your max limit? By that I mean, your current abilities?"
"Well," Axel replied, taking some time to ponder his response, "I'm only 17, so it's not fully developed, which means it's not super strong yet. I mean, I can make lightning bolts and stuff, but I'm only a first year student at Beacon. And my Dad's always been more of a craftsman than a fighter, so I really haven't had the opportunity to test my limits." Axel gave a wink back to Karion, who gave him a nod, indicating that his response was believable.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Royal." He said, a little more loudly, playing it up for the cameras, "I do hope we don't have to resort to using this device in the future." He gave Axel an odd side-eye look, almost as if he wanted Axel to remember that part specifically.
Axel nodded and was unbound from the chair.
"I sure hope not. I prefer being in one piece, and not trillions of little ones splattered around the room," he joked as he was escorted out of the room and back to his cell.
Damien was next. "Alright, Pyros, you're up!" the warden said, almost relaxed. Damien got up and walked with the Warden to the chamber and strapped him down to the chair.
"Mr. Pyros. The Vigilante of Vale."
"What of it?"
"Of all of the children I've come across, you are by far one of the most intriguing. You've managed to survive the backstreets of a town known for its gang violence and rampant animals." Almus approached his captive.
"I take it that includes Sebastian as well?" Damien asked, met with no response. "That's what I thought, you insensitive prick."
Without warning, Almus punched Damien in the face. "You're strong, I will give you that. But you forget your manners." Damien gradually started laughing, almost as if everything he had just heard was nothing more than a bad joke."You find this funny, do you?"
"Hilarious, actually. I mean, the notion that I got as far as I did being nice? Come on!" Damien broke into laughter for another brief second. "You're smart enough to back us into a corner, but you suck at reading kids." At that moment. Something dawned on him. "No wonder Cyrus ran from you."
Again, without warning, Almus clenched his fist and rammed it into Damien's stomach, causing him to slump forward and gasp for breath for a moment.
"I have put up with your attitude this long. I will not let an orphan question my parenting methods."
Damien would normally take offense to that, but instead all he could do was grin, which due to the recoil from the blow, remained unseen by Almus. I think I struck a nerve there!
Continuing the ruse that he wasn't as in control as he was, Damien gasped for air, pretending to be out of breath. "You done? 'Cause the cops in Vale did the same shit to me whenever I got caught. Well, the shitty ones, anyway." Damien started, eyeing Almus at the last sentence. "You're not going to break me if all you're gonna do is knock me around for a few hours."
"Fortunately for me, I have alternative methods to get what I want."
Oh great, Damein thought as he saw a man standing in the shadows, as Almus stepped away, the man revealed himself.
He was in a black suit and tie. Giving off a sort of businessman sort of look, but the fedora was enough to make him generally suspicious.
"Hello, Mr. Pyros."
"And you are?"
"Carnelion. Karion Carnelion."
"And what exactly are you here for?"
"I am here to ask you some questions, which you will answer immediately."
"And if I refuse?"
"You won't." Karion lowered his glasses for a complete unobstructed view of his prisoner. "What is your semblance?" Karion inquired.
"I am a moderate pyrokinetic. I can manipulate fire, but I cannot create it." Damien mindlessly blabbed before coming to his senses, realizing what happened. "What the..." he started before he thought about what just happened. "I couldn't stop myself from answering your question. Is this you-"
Karion didn't hesitate to interrupt.
"You can manipulate the amount of energy once you have it. Can you manipulate your flames to burn hotter than what they are? And how else can you manipulate the flames?"
"Yes. I can control the temperature of the fire, to a degree. I can't make it incredibly hot, but it helps to create more. That said, I haven't tried manipulating my flames in any other way." Damien said before falling out of his trance. "It is! You can make anyone do as you ask!"
"Perceptive, kid. And thanks, you've done plenty for me." Karion walked away as the mechanisms on the chair released, two guards escorted Damien back to his cell.
"Get over here, faunus!" A loud bang on the prison door caught Sebastian by surprise. "Time for you to talk." The door swung open, two guards with batons right outside. A third guard came from behind them, the two moving out of the way. He harshly grabbed Sebastian, dragging him to his feet. Sebastian struggled to get out of the guards hold, but was instantly bashed by the batons the other guards held.
"The less you struggle, the easier this'll all be for you, you filthy animal." Sebastian gave up fighting back, willfully listening to the guards. He was in no position to act out as it was. They walked him to a large open room. It was a damp and dimly-lit room, signifying to Sebastian that the batons would be the least of his problems. The guards forced him onto one of the two metal chairs in the room, metal attachments covering his arms and legs so he couldn't get out. One of the guards put their hand to their earpiece.
"We have the faunus secured sir. You're free to take over."
A reply came from the earpiece. "Good. I'll be there shortly. Keep an eye on him for me."
Soon enough the door to the room opened and Almus appeared, sitting in the chair across from Sebastian. He put his hand up and signaled the other guards to leave.
"The hell you want from me?" Sebastian immediately got serious with Almus.
"Getting straight to the point are we now, filth? Normally I'd ask you to consider joining my cause. However, since it's you I'm currently dealing with, I'll rescind that offer. After all, nobody would want a weak, half-breed piece of shit like yourself. You would only make us look bad."
"So that's what this is all about." Sebastian already understood what Almus's agenda was. "Besides you being a complete racist, you believe in the strong devouring the weak. Am I right?"
"Spot on," Almus grew a nasty smile. "I'm trying to build up a community where the strong thrive and where the weak have no place. You can't survive a world such as this one if you're weak. The faunus are part of the weak. Since the beginning, they were always such a nuisance. Unneeded extras that didn't belong. But you, Sebastian, you are the worst offender of them all. Born to a faunus mother and human father. How disgusting. You really are the best of both worlds aren't you?" He gave a mocking laugh that aggravated Sebastian.
"You know, most of the time I wouldn't get pissed off at comments like those. For you though, I think the feelings are different!" Sebastian leaned forward as much as he could, getting close to Almus. A harsh shock of electricity coursed through Sebastian, sending him reeling back in the chair. The muscles in his neck strained from the volts passing through him.
"That's right, you stain on the carpet of humanity. Keep struggling! Just prove how weak you and your species are!"
Almus sent another shock right through Sebastian, this one stronger than the last.
"Gahhhhhh!" Sebastian screamed out in pain. He took a few exhausting breaths before another series of shocks engaged. "Ahhhhh! Haaaahhhh!"
"How does it feel to be lesser than everything else? You're pathetic! You act strong and mighty, yet you are feeble and weak! You can't come to terms with yourself and who you are. You are nothing!" Almus gave out a vicious laugh. "A failure is all you are. All you'll ever be."
He adjusted his posture. "Do you know where your parents are?"
"What?" Sebastian's voice lowered.
"I'd think not after all this time, but I'm sure it would be easy to find them. Now let's see, maybe I could pay them a visit after I'm done here."
"You motherfucker! Don't you dare lay a finger on them!" Sebastian violently shook the chair he was strapped into, desperately trying to get out.
"Aw, did I strike a nerve there?" Almus flashed a crude smile at his victim. "Good. The more you fight back, the more you're like an animal than a human. It makes doing this feel so much better!" Almus rocketed out of his chair and started slamming Sebastian with his fists left and right. Putting his hand to the earpiece he said, "turn off the cuffs."
Immediately, Sebastian felt the weight come off and he sprung into action. It didn't matter. Almus was already ready to deal with him. He struck first, battering Sebastian like a boxer trapping their opponent in the corner of the ring. He beat him down to the floor, proceeding to thrash the boy with his legs, as Sebastian put his hands around his face to shield him. Almus took out a handkerchief, wiping the blood off of his hands.
"Coward. Wiping off my blood," Sebastian coughed weakly. "I'm sure you got plenty of faunus blood already caked on your hands." Sebastian spit out some blood from his mouth. "That and human blood too. Luckily, mine is a bit of both. Gives you a taste of each. I'm sure it's real good." Almus walked away, throwing the handkerchief to the ground. "Must feel good doesn't it?" Almus turned around to Sebastian's question.
"People like you always get what they deserve."
Sebastian's eyes glared at Almus. Almus simply turned back and walked through the door.
"Get Karion in here. He has a job to do." The door closed, leaving Sebastian lying on the floor, trying to recover from the beating Almus gave him.
The door opened, a man wearing black suit and black fedora walked in, sitting on the chair Almus sat on. He pushed up his dark glasses and checked his watch, Sebastian monitoring the casual nature of the person in front of him.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sebastian. I'm Karion Carnelian, and I'm here on a simple job. I'd like to ask a few questions, if you don't mind. Please just answer them honestly and quickly so we both can be done with all of this." Karion looked down at the broken and beaten boy who laid on the floor. "Does it hurt?"
Sebastian was confused as to why this man was treating him so nicely. If he was working under Almus, he thought that Karion would be exactly like him.
"I've been through worse."
"Hate to see that. It's a shame, really." The two took a second, analyzing each other's gaze. "Let's get back on topic shall we?"
Sebastian remained motionless, not even attempting to argue with the man.
"I just need to know what your semblance is and how skilled you are with it."
"Why would I just give that away? I'm sure Almus wants that information for some reason, and if you're working for him then I really shouldn't give that away."
"For one," Karion responded, "I don't work for him, he simply hired me for this job. Two, I really don't like using force to get people to answer my questions." Sebastian could feel the glare coming from behind Karion's glasses.
"That doesn't give me a reason to trust you." Sebastian was trying to play it carefully with the man in front of him. "So, I think I'll refrain from answering if you don't mind."
Karion pushed his eyebrows together, clearly stressed. "Why is it that everyone has to go against the flow? It is so much easier if people just do it." He sighed heavily and got out his chair and looked into Sebastian's eyes with his own by lowering his glasses, his red eyes peering into Sebastian's. "Now tell me. What is your semblance?"
Sebastian felt the urge to speak what he didn't want to. He couldn't fight back against whatever force was making him talk. "I'm telekinetic. Lifting objects and such."
"How adept are you with it? Anything you can't lift?"
"I'm pretty decent with it. Anything that's heavy, far away, or that is dug into the ground like this building and its structure, I can't lift."
"What's your definition of decent?"
"I could lift you with ease."
Suddenly the effect wore off and Sebastian was freed. "The hell was all of that? Was that your semblance?"
"I'd say not too shabby but it is pretty obvious, isn't it?" Karion shook his head and proceeded to walk off towards the door. "Try and take care of yourself Sebastian. People like you need to figure out what to do with themselves." He walked out the door and some of the guards walked in and took Sebastian and dragged him out and back to his cell.
"Am I all done here, Almus? Or do I have to do this to your son as well?"
"No need Karion. I know everything there is to know about my son's semblance. As for you, you're free to go." He gave a small laugh. "That or you can stick around and watch as I break them."
Karion shuddered at the thought. "As much fun as that sounds, Almus, I'd rather take my leave. I'm sure my payment was already received?" All he wanted was to ensure he got paid. That was all that mattered to him in the moment.
"Your payment is taken care of. It's a shame you won't stay, but I feel keeping you around for longer would just piss me off." Almus looked at Karion, trying to get him out as fast as possible.
Karion dipped his hat towards Almus. "A pleasure doing business." He got out of the building as fast as he could. As soon as he made sure he wasn't around anything or anyone, he pulled out a flip phone from his pocket. He flipped up the screen and dialed a number. He put the phone to his ear as it rang, eventually receiving someone on the other side.
"Hi. This is Karion Carnelian. I'd like to speak to General Ironwood, please. I have some urgent news he'd like to hear."
Cyrus sat in his father's chair, staring at the ceiling.
How could I let this happen? He thought to himself, glancing at the door, where two guards were placed outside. Not only did I let myself get caught, I let my team get caught as well. He leaned forward, putting his head in his hands. Nice job Cyrus. Some leader you are. He sat there like that for a few minutes until the door opened and his father walked in. Cyrus stood up, hoping Almus didn't see him sitting in his chair. Then he paused, and took a moment to unpack that reaction in his mind. It was an impulse, something his father had instilled in him since he was young. He was always caving to his father's demands, even since he was a child… He felt a combination of shame and disgust wash over him. He was his own person now, and he wasn't going to let his father push him around anymore. He stood a little straighter, and raised his chin defiantly.
"At ease, son," Almus said as he closed the door behind him and turned to face Cyrus, glaring at him through a fake smile. "You and I have much to... discuss."
"Whatever you say, father." Cyrus replied, with a hint of defiant sarcasm.
Cyrus walked to the other side of the desk and took a seat. His father walked over and sat down in his own chair, folding his hands in front of his face.
"You and I are going to discuss your future here, and your choices may or may not determine the fates of your 'friends'."
Cyrus's eyes narrowed. "What are you going to do to them?"
Almus shrugged nonchalantly "Nothing more than what I've already done. If you do something irrational however, it may lead to… further consequences… for your accomplices."
Cyrus gripped the arms of his chair tightly.
"Really? We're resorting to threats now?" Cyrus took a breath, making sure not to let his anger get the better of him. He looked back at his father, a smirk growing on his face as a realization dawned on him. "Are we that much of a threat to you?" He gave a chuckle. "You're afraid of a few first-year beacon students?"
"ENOUGH." Almus yelled, slamming his fist on his desk. "I've just about had it with you and your friends' defiance, Cyrus. I've tried reasoning with you, but you don't seem to be interested in doing things the easy way."
"'Easy way?'" Cyrus scoffed. "'REASONING'?!" Cyrus rose from his chair and stared down at his father. "You must be joking."
"I said, ENOUGH." Almus rose from his seat, leaning over his desk and glaring right back at Cyrus "I am your father and your superior officer. You will address me with the respect I deserve!"
He was clearly growing upset, but Cyrus didn't care. He was done taking orders.
"I'm giving you EXACTLY the amount of respect you deserve: NONE." Cyrus sneered. "Threatening to harm my friends if I don't cave to your will is not 'reasoning with me.' It's a pathetic attempt to manipulate me. It's cowardly, which makes sense considering that it's you."
"How dare you, you little-"
"Unfortunately, it won't work." Cyrus cut him off. "I'm not some little kid you can push around anymore." Cyrus turned his back to his father, and walked toward the door. "You can chase me around the world if it makes you feel better, and you can sic your men on me and my friends all you want," Cyrus opened the door, turning around to make one final remark. "But I will fight you at every turn. Because this is MY life, and I won't let you hold me back anymore."
He turned to leave, but walked headfirst into the chest of a guard. He turned back to see his father laughing maniacally. Cyrus was grabbed and escorted back into the room, then shoved down into his chair.
"Actually, my dear boy," Almus snarled, "You won't be leaving this room until you learn your place. And, seeing as you've made your choice, I intend to allow your friends to experience the full extent of the penalties of your defiance."
Almus rose from his chair and left the room, leaving Cyrus to stew in the wake of his own choices. He felt bad for bringing this on his team, but he wasn't going to just roll over and let his father get his way. He looked around, taking note of the guards posted at the door and the amount of security that surrounded the office. He had to find a way out of this room, and eventually, the prison itself. But, in order to do that, he and his friends would need their semblances back. He looked around his father's office, and noticed the plans to a complex-yet-oddly-familiar device pinned to a wall. Slowly, the beginnings of a plan formed in his mind.