"Oi! Mr. Plunder, 'caught a little surprise for ya!"

Looten Plunder's saunter paused in the middle of the hallway at the irritatingly jolly voice of his henchman. A blunt groan rose from his throat, and he could feel a migraine coming on. Bleak was supposed to be meeting him at the helicopter, and he'd better make it snappy if he wanted a piece of the biggest score of his career. And, with four of those powerless Planet-punks captured in Plunder's very lair, it would be child's play.

Knowing Bleak, he's probably caught some curious Palla's cat that wandered in at the wrong place with the wrong host. Still, if that were the case, Looten supposed he was overdue for a new fur. With a heavy sigh, he turned to face his bodyguard and his catch, but before he could ask anything, his hard gaze widened. The catch was no exotic or rare animal, but a body. A person.

Bleak dragged it by the back of its jacket collar almost like a ragdoll. Its arms were dangling beneath it, wrists tied tightly together with duct tape, and knuckles dragging the floor. If the brown jacket wasn't a dead giveaway to Looten who the figure is, the fiery orange hair certainly did the trick.

"The last a' those Planet-pests." Bleak finished with a cruel chuckle.

A malicious smile crept on Plunder's face.

"Well, it certainly is a surprise," he sniggered. "So, how's my little vagabond enjoying his visit?"

There was no voice. No sound, but a faint splash of red on the ivory tile. Looten's smug smile fell as he narrowed his eyes. For once, there was no snarky retort from the boy, which was a godsend nonetheless. Still, Looten couldn't help but feel he was being ignored. That would certainly be just like the punk.

With an impatient huff, Looten harshly whipped the ivory handle of his cane under Wheeler's chin, holding his head up as the businessman leaned in to examine him. The Fire Planeteer's face was caked in blood. Streams of red stained his nose, lips, and chin. His left cheek was dark and swollen, with a matching purple shiner where his left eye was buried. The boy's head swayed limply side to side under the limited support of the cane.

"Is he dead?" Looten asked with disturbing nonchalance, eyes still studying the Planeteer.

Bleak raised a brow. "You think I'd bother tyin' his hands if he were? He went down easy, but I ain't takin' any chances with this rotten lil bugger."

Looten paused and glanced up at Bleak. Wheeler's head hung back low as the support of the cane was removed.

"'Went down easy'?" Looten repeated with subtle skepticism.

Bleak held his head high with a smirk. "He was tryin' to sneak to your office through the vents. Crashed through the ceilin' right at my feet, he did. The scrawny bloke thought he could tackle me. 'Few good whacks to the napper told him otherwise." The mercenary gave a cold chuckle at his own remark. Looten gave an impatient huff. Bleak gulped and cleared his throat.

"Of course, I could finish him now." he offered, gesturing to the hunting knife sheathed at his hip.

"Don't bother," Looten waved a dismissive hand as he reached into his jacket for his pocket watch. "We've lost enough time already collecting these brats. We have two hours at best before the elephant herd reaches the electric fence. And we'd better get there early if we want good seats." A twisted smile crept on his face.

"Won't that be a pretty sight?" Bleak donned his own sharp grin with a malicious gleam in his eye. "Shame our guests won't be able to make it to the light show. I should record it for 'em." He gave Wheeler's limp form a rough shake.

Looten gave a finishing chuckle before recomposing himself, still donning his best smug grin. "Then you'd better show our guest to his chambers and quickly get to the helicopter," A crimson drop fell from the tip of the Fire Planeteer's nose. Looten's lip curled in revulsion. "And carry him."

Bleak frowned and his eyes narrowed down at his boss in defiance. Looten's eyes narrowed back.

"Unless you'd rather spend unpaid overtime waxing the ivory hall." The businessman thumped the burly mercenary on the chest with the head of his cane before taking his leave. "And don't waste any more time than you already have."

Bleak shot one good glare at his boss before rolling his eyes and sighing in reluctant defeat. Grabbing the Planeteer by the front of the shirt, he effortlessly hoisted the boy over his shoulder, his blood now dripping down the back of the mercenary's leather vest instead of Plunder's precious ivory floors. Bleak grumbled. Rather than dragging the brat around like the worthless bag of rubbish that he is, now given the dignity of being carried like any other prisoner. It almost reminded Bleak of how he'd carry his latest kill to the taxidermist.

His eyes lit up.

Shifting the boy comfortably over his shoulder, Bleak made his way down to the lower floors with a sinister gleam of pride on his face.