CHAPTER 25: POINT BREAK, PART 5

Have you ever snuck out of your house as a child? Gone off to some party or a friend's house when you've been grounded? It can be a fun experience to go out and break the rules, defying authority to and sneaking off like a bandit into the night for a fun adventure, and it can make a great story to tell when you get older.

Otto Rocket has many of these stories to tell, but this occasion does not make for one of those future stories. This is an embarrassing moment where he attempted to sneak into his own house and back, hoping to retrieve a piece of stolen technology to return it back to its original owners.

The act is akin to an unfaithful husband sneaking out on his wife and pathetically crawling back to retrieve more money, and being caught in the act does not help to alleviate the analogy, especially when his response is to stare back in silence as judging eyes look back on him.

Attempting to break the silence with simple small talk, all he could muster out in response to their looks were...

"Oh, uh, hi, guys. What's up?" Otto asked.

"Otto, what are you doing with that board?" Reggie asked.

"I... was, uh... going to... borrow it?"

"Otto, who are you trying to fool? Where do you think you're taking it?" Sam asked.

"Uh... Dax wants it."

"You mean, the leader of the Rippers? The people you were supposedly sending us after last night?"

"I didn't, he, I, uh... "

"You lied to us, Otto. You were covering for them. Why?"

"Well... I'm trying to stay undercover and all, you know? I need to maintain my cover and all. They're about to tell me what this whole thing's about tomorrow in a big announcement."

"Stop fucking lying. Why are you trying to cover for the Rippers?" Reggie asked.

Forced to come to admit his new beliefs so soon, Otto let out a sigh, trying to mentally prepare as best as he could to say what he needed to.

"Maybe these guys aren't so bad after all, and we had them pegged wrong." Otto said.

Sam, Reggie, and Tito, none expecting Otto to say what he said, all stood in astoundment, shocked that he would side with the Rippers after what they knew now.

"What?! Are you fucking kidding me?! How long have you been on their side?!" Reggie yelled.

"Since... Well, I guess since the other night. Dax told me all about his philosophy, and why he's doing what he's doing. It makes sense to me." Otto said.

"And how stupid does it have to be to make sense to you?"

"Look, he had kind of a rough childhood, and his whole thing is that he doesn't like parents or any authority figures. He's just on Alex Gravity's team so he can cash out and live on a big paycheck. Alex Gravity's the one who wants to push everybody out, and he ain't really wrong for wanting to do that, either."

"What?! Otto, do you have any idea how many people still live here? How many people set up their entire lives here? You can't just pack up and go that easy. I haven't been able to do that, how do you think anyone else can?" Sam asked.

"C'mon, Squid. Ocean Shores barely has anyone left in it. It's just, like, rotting away with how shitty it's doing. At least Alex Gravity wants to make the whole place better. But he can't do that until it has no more people in it whatsoever. What's the point of defending something that if it's all gonna die anyway?"

"What?! Otto, are you even listening to yourself?! This place is your home! You're willing to let some rich asshole destroy our home for nothing?!" Reggie shouted.

"Well, what happened to 'home is where the heart is'? Look, how about we just sit down and talk this out in peace?"

"You are not in any position for comfort right now, Otto. You keep talking right where you are."

"Okay, okay, fine. Look, I pulled some strings to get you guys out of jail, and we made you go after some other assholes instead to get you out of the way. I beat 'em in a race once, and Dax suggested them because he thought they'd be useful. Can't you see how lucky you assholes are? I tried my best to keep you guys from getting yourselves in trouble."

"Oh, how fucking nice of you, Otto. That's so compassionate of you. Oh, wait, no it's not, you're letting the fucking bad guys win!"

"Reggie, what the fuck were we gonna do, anyway? Steal some file or shit and turn it into the cops? You told the cops your story, and they didn't believe a word of it."

"They were on Gravity's payroll. We still have the F.B.I. and Membrane Labs directly to go to." Sam said.

"Assuming that shit even works. Why don't you guys just take the hint and get the hell outta Dodge? Go off and marry Squid and go to Florida and churn out a lot of little Squidlings for all I care."

"Otto, you really don't get how deep in shit you're getting yourself in, just like always, are you? Do you know that Lars shot up the Good Burger and killed tons of people?!" Reggie shouted.

Otto stopped in disbelief at the news, his lack of foundation in believing the news leading him to reject it.

"Now I know you're fucking lying." Otto said.

"Oh, am I? We just picked up Twister on the side of the road because he's so traumatized over what he saw that he can barely talk. He was there with Lars when it went down, and Lars convinced him to beat up some innocent person in the process. You proud of yourself for your little dramatic breakup from yesterday?" Reggie asked.

"So, let me get this straight: You're trying to tell me that Twister somehow got back together with Lars, even though the two hate each other's guts, and Lars somehow shot up the Good Burger and I didn't hear dick about it. Not only do you expect me to buy that story, but you're going to blame me for something Twister himself did of his own volition? Has it occurred to you that he's just making this shit up so he can get back at me, or something?"

"He came back covered in blood that wasn't his. How do you explain that?"

"Maybe he found some fake blood or pig's blood or something, I don't know. Are you sure it was even fucking blood and not just tomato sauce or something? Since when are you a doctor all of a sudden?"

"Otto, you're missing the point entirely." Sam said.

"No, I think I'm pretty spot-on for the point. Twister made up a bullshit story, and you believed him."

"Are you these guys are really incapable of killing anyone?"

Many things Otto is, but an easy liar is not one; he knows and remembers well the attempted murder that took place in Skatopia the previous night, which would have claimed several lives had he not stopped it. He cannot bring himself to answer 'yes' immediately, and he knows that was he saw was still morally wrong.

That said, he still cannot believe the story of a mass killing, and he ends his silence and answers with...

"Yes." Otto said.

"No, that's a lie. You paused for a long time when we asked you that, Otto. These guys are capable of murder, aren't they?" Sam asked.

"Look, they're rowdy and they play rough, but they're not killers. Even if they were, Alex Gravity wouldn't have it. He doesn't want to kill people. He just wants to get rid of people so he can do whatever he wants with Ocean Shores. Anybody we run out, they file for insurance or sell out, get their money, and leave to Florida or some shit. Might as well cash in while I can. Why don't you do the same while you can?"

"You don't get it, Otto, do you? This city isn't just some shirt you change when it gets dirty. We've lived here since we were all 10, all growing up together. Even though we split apart, we've all been building our lives here for years, putting everything we have here. This city's a part of us as anything else. It's our home. And it's your home, too. You always loved it here, Otto. Madtown and the beach were practically your parents. The Shore Shack and the boardwalk were where most of us hung out together, and we spent most of our lives just having fun. How can you look at me with a straight face and say none of that matters? That this city should just go up and die? That you would be willing to do something like that? Otto, are you so desperate to defend your new friends that you won't listen to reason? What have these people done for you that we haven't? We were best friends. We were all best friends."

"That's the key word, Sam. Were best friends. All of us all broke off and did our own things. We only all came back together to stop these guys, but, after seeing what they're about, why should we? Let's face it, Ocean Shores was gonna go either way. I don't know whether or not you noticed recently, but people were ditching the town way before Alex Gravity showed up. This place was gonna go belly-up eventually. It was fun while it lasted, but I gotta start thinking about my future, and Alex Gravity's given me one with what he's doing to Ocean Shores. What he wants to do with the whole city, I don't know and I don't care. I just know I get a big-ass paycheck when it's all over. Then you assholes can stop calling me a fucking loser for once in my life."

"Oh, so that's what this is all about? You just trying to fucking prove yourself?" Reggie asked.

"As opposed to you always kissing Raymundo's ass about your job and lying about your promotion and shit? He never thought I'd be shit, always trying to make something out of me, and neither did any of you. You always just called me a loser. Well, not anymore, assholes! I finally made it somewhere, and I'm around people that don't treat me like a loser!"

"So what was all that about not liking the idea of parents, thinking Raymundo was too unfair to you? Under all your rhetoric, all that bullshit this Dax guy feeds you, you're still just scraping away for attention and approval."

"No, I'm not! I'm proving myself without him, that's what I'm doing!"

"Proving yourself to prove him wrong, or proving yourself to prove him right? Which is it?"

Faced with a paradox in his own logic, Otto paused in contemplation to try to find the answer, only to stay silent in the realization that he had none.

"You know what you are, Otto? You're pathetic. You're just a pathetic little boy. You always prance around like you're god's gift to Earth, trying to prove yourself with all the tricks and shows you put on NewTube or show off for everybody, and for what? You're just a little boy pining for attention, because you can't live for a day without the spotlight on you. You always need it. Why? Because you're just so fucking insignificant without it? Because there's nothing inside to look at when you try to do some soul-searching? You are a loser, Otto. Not because of anything you've failed to do, but because of everything you do. You always want to be the exception to the rule, the number-one spot, all for nothing. Your dad still loves you no matter what, and all you had to do to get his love was just be yourself and be part of the family. But all you did was run further and further away into your own little corner. Did I got a bit too far into my career? Maybe I did. But I at least tried to be part of the family. You didn't even do the bare minimum. And where are you now? You got nothing. You lost everything." Reggie said.

Contemplation and listening is over from Otto when he listens to Reggie's spiel, looking back at his sister with disgust, projecting the emotion outward rather than the much-more deserved inwards. Having no more stomach for dissectual confrontations, Otto rejected any further words to leave.

"Fuck. All of you. You can stand there and play your mommy bullshit all you want. I'm not interested in it. I'm gonna take this hoverboard with me, and I'm gonna cash in and get my money for the job." Otto said.

"Oh, my god, I can't believe you, Otto. I don't even know what to say to you anymore." Reggie said.

"And don't be expecting a cut of my pay, either."

Refusing to let Otto leave with the hoverboard, Sam stepped forward, grabbing onto the board and holding it tightly.

"You know, Otto, I always knew you were an asshole, but I thought you'd have enough sense not to go this route. I guess I was wrong. I guess you never learn." Sam said.

"Maybe, but I'm getting paid for it." Otto said.

"I don't think so, Otto. I don't know what the hell happened to you, but you're not leaving here with this board."

"Give me the hoverboard, you fatass!"

"No."

"Let go of it!"

"No!"

"Get your hands off it, you autistic fucktard!"

In a betrayal of friendship clearer and more damaging than any words could say, Otto threw a kick to Sam's groin, landing a painful blow to his testicles. The attack brought forth loud groans from Sam as he fell to the floor, cupping his crotch to try to sooth the pain, but Reggie and the observant Tito both let out shocked gasps at what they saw.

Unable to express her rage towards her brother in any way except to scream, Reggie proceeded to do exactly that, shouting the only phrase she had to say.

"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" Reggie screamed.

Reggie then retaliated for Otto's attack on Sam, laying multiple ineffective but nonetheless angry beatings on his back.

Even with the betrayal of friendship and assault on his vulnerables, Sam's greater concern for the board overrode any and all other personal problems, recognizing the imminent threat of the hoverboard and its damaged state. Trying to fight through his pain, he called out to try to reason with Otto on a basic survival instinct.

"Otto, no! The board, it's unstable, it'll-!" Sam groaned.

Unfortunately, Sam's warning about the board was left unheard, leaving him lying on the floor in pain and powerless to stop Otto from leaving with the hoverboard. Feeling guilty and defeated over his failure to stop Otto, Sam continued to lay on the floor, covering his groin and groaning in pain.

Regardless of her efforts, Reggie was left ignored by Otto as he left his house, riding off on his skateboard while carrying the hoverboard on his back. Exhausting herself of all her physical capability to exert her rage anymore, Reggie returned back to the downed Sam, seeing him accompanied by Tito with an ice pack.

"Here, brotha. You gotta keep your coconuts cold to feel better. That's why they're on the outside of your body." Tito said.

Kneeling down to Sam, Reggie held his head against her chest, sympathetically kissing his head and cuddling against it in attempt to relieve his pains. The act of kindness she provided is also a coping mechanism for her as well; barely able to tolerate her brother's arrogance any longer, her anger and frustration began to bring about nausea, leading her to cry as she held onto Sam.

Looking on the circus of sadness before him, Tito let out a disappointed sigh, trying to handle the personal sickness he began to feel as well.

"You know... There used to be this one Hawaiian saying: 'The coconut can roll many places, but it can never forget the tree it left' I used to think that was true, but... Now, I can't even recognize my own cuz anymore." Tito said.

As Otto departed from his own house, he made no attempts to look back or reconsider his actions, standing by them with full confidence and a complete lack of regret. The bold antisocial feelings he has are forced on as a means of compensation, trying to avoid any and all consequence from his previous affair, not unlike how he has done for most challenges in his life.

But they still nip and bite at his mind, forcing him to think aloud about his decisions.

"Fuckin' Reggie... Fuckin' Sam and fuckin' Tito... They're all just fucking lying to me and telling me so much fucking bullshit... That's all they ever do, is lie... I could just go to a fucking lawyer and disown them... Divorce them, but, like, divorce them from being my family at all... Yeah, I'll ask Dax about that shit... Get rid of the fuckers once and for all... Fuck 'em and fuck 'em hard... They always fucking did this fucking shit to me... They always try to make me feel so guilty or fucking change me... Other people are a virus... A fucking virus... They just get in your head and try to make you think just like them... Just like fucking them... Fuck 'em all... Fuck 'em all to fucking hell... Fuck their fuckin' asses in the mail... Send 'em far away from me... Put them all in a little box, send it out as far as fucking possible from me so they're out of my fucking life once and for all Address: 'Fucker F. Fuckerton and the Fuckerton family, Fuckerville, Fucker County, the fucking state of 'Fucks-Consin'- No, the fucking state of 'Ken-Fucky', the Fucking States of 'Fuck-erica', the fucking continent of North 'Fuck-erica', located in the 'fuckstern' hemisphere, planet terra fucking firma! THAT'S HOW MANY 'FUCKS' I HATE YOU!" Otto screamed.

Losing all semblance of normality and needing an immediate outlet on his anger on the ground, using the hoverboard to smash into it.

"I... FUCKING... HATE... ALL OF YOU!" Otto shouted.

Eventually, the beating resulted in a sudden beeping noise, blaring at a pitch not too loud, but sharp enough to be detected by any nearby ears. Hearing the foreign noise invade his ears, the sound immediately led Otto to stop smashing the hoverboard, looking around to investigate what might be causing the sound.

His search quickly leads him to look at the hoverboard itself, finding a smashed shielding of glass, and underneath it a light accompanied by a nuclear symbol. While not as scientifically literate as Sam, Otto has seen his fair share of science fiction films to understand that the symbol, accompanied with the beeping, does not mean anything good for him.

In an instant, his blind anger had turned to self-preserving fear.

"Oh... shit." Otto whimpered.

Immediately removing his shirt, he tied it around the base of the broken glass, believing the shirt would provide enough coverage to protect him from any nuclear radiation. Stepping back on his skateboard, he immediately began skating off to Zero Gravity Zone yet again, moving faster in his stride.

Trying to get to Zero Gravity Zone as quickly as he could, Otto soon was stopped once again at the sight of something else that did not belong in his sense of normality, prompting him to investigate. What caught his attention this time was the local Good Burger, housing broken windows and a line of crime scene tape surrounding the area.

He does not believe this is the work of the Rippers, knowing that their methodology of attack includes the complete destruction of whatever building they strike, but he needs to look inside to investigate all the same. Setting the damaged board down, Otto carefully stepped forward and walked under the tape, approaching the restaurant to see for himself what happened.

And what he sees puts yet another strong emotion clouding all others.

All across the floor are human bodies of various ages and races, all mangled beyond recognition by high-caliber gunfire. Never before has Otto seen a dead body in person, nor has he ever desired to, much less the offering of many dead and decomposing before him, forcing him into a sensory experience he cannot stand.

Overcome with nausea, Otto ran back to vomit, expunging what qualified as breakfast over the sight of the bodies. Wiping the remnants of half-digested foodstuffs and stomach acid from his mouth, his mind began to race in anxiety and panic, trying to discern who could be responsible for the carnage.

There is but one name he can connect with this violence, speaking it aloud with a scowl:

"Lars." Otto said.

Running back to his skateboard, Otto grabbed the hoverboard back in his arms and began skating off once again, preparing to confront his team regarding Lars.

His destination is where his other colleagues in the Rippers can be found, conversing with Alex Gravity in a serious discussion of matters regarding the grand scheme the millionaire has in mind for Ocean Shores. Their discussion is not heated nor is it friendly, seeming to move along like normal from the events of the previous night.

Though the events of the night prior are not a subject that ignites feelings of rage and fury in the current group, all those feelings exist strongly in the entering figure of Dax Jett, approaching the group with a feeling of righteous indignation, a feeling ironic to have in light of what conspiracy he is currently a part of, but nonetheless justifiably pointed towards people deserving of the punishment due.

"Hey, there's the man. What took you so long? And where's Otto?" Mike asked.

Mike is the first to receive a punch to the face, with Jared next to go before he could fully phrase his protests. His received punch sends him falling to the floor, but Mike does not go down as quickly. Instead, staying on his feet, he jumped on Dax's back, attempting to choke out his teammate in retaliation.

Reaching up to grab Mike, Dax threw him over his shoulders, sending him falling to the ground on his back. Successfully downing his opponent, Dax continued what he started with more punches to his face, delivering physical punishment for his misdeeds as well as several verbal.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU?! AN ANIMAL?! A FUCKING PIG?! TRYING TO RAPE FUCKING WOMEN?!" Dax shouted.

Dax once again was accosted by his own teammates, this time with Jared grabbing him from behind, but also aiming to restrain rather than choke. Taking advantage of his new freedom, Mike stood up and proceeded to attack Dax, landing in a punch to his gut.

Releasing Dax, Jared stood between both him and Mike, preventing any further fighting from taking place.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, guys, cool it. Let's all just stick around and try to talk this out, okay?" Jared asked.

"Don't give me that fuckin' bullshit. Otto told me about what you fucks did last night. This little pig tried to rape a woman, you tried to fuckin' murder some people, what are you, insane?" Dax asked.

"Dax, look, man, that was-"

"No, don't fuckin' 'Dax' me! That was not part of the mission! That's not the shit I signed up for! Where the hell's Wes? I'm out of here."

Attempting to make peace between his employees, Alex Gravity personally stepped in to cease all infighting, asserting himself as the one controlling all debate.

"Everyone, everyone, calm down, settle down. We're all adults here, so let's all settle this like adults. Now, Dax, would you be so kind as to share us your concerns with the group?" Alex Gravity asked.

"Yes, I would. Otto informed me that these two little fucks tried to rape and kill people, when that's the one thing we all agreed never to do." Dax said.

"C'mon, Dax, we're almost done here, anyway. What difference does it make if we have some fun on our way out the door?" Mike asked.

"Because it's not what a moral human being does, you fucking psycho motherfuck-"

"Boys, boys, please. Mike, it's not your turn to speak. Dax, please, if I may, regardless of your personal feelings in the matter, I must make a few comments regarding the mission. It's only a matter of time at this point that Ocean Shores is mine. A few little... indiscretions aren't going to sour the deal." Alex Gravity said.

"'Indiscretions'? You call rape and murder 'indiscretions'? What the fuck kind of person are you?"

"I'm a businessman. Rape and murder are a bit of trouble with the law, but ultimately nothing that isn't manageable; nothing that harms in the long run. It's the IRS you really have to worry about. They're the ones who got Capone."

"So it doesn't matter to you as long as it doesn't cut into your profits. That what you're trying to tell me?"

"I believe that's the deal you signed up for, as you said, and what you said to Otto as well, yes?"

Dax then stood silent, not able to give a compelling response to change Alex Gravity's stance.

"I can handle little expenses here and there. Paying off those Rowdy Boyz kids the first time wasn't a problem, nor was it here. Nor is a few near-misses going to be a problem. You're arguing over nothing, really, it's not even spilt milk we're talking here. They almost did something you didn't like. Keyword: Almost. 'Almost' doesn't count as something. Besides, even if anything did happen, it would've been a handful of nobodies in a D-list business. If we were talking about a mass-murder in a big business like Good Burger, that'd be a different story."

In the instant that Alex Gravity finished his sentence, Lars returned to the VIP section of the building, coming back in a shirt and pants covered in blood. Stepping inside with no concern at all for his own appearance, nor the many stares he received, he approached the group without a care in the world, as if he had been off on a casual outing.

"Ah... Sorry I'm late, guys, had to replenish my stash. I wanted to pop some 'X' and go find something naked to throw money at, I was starting to get bored with the bitches here. I needed variety. Anybody got a beer?" Lars asked.

Already having his concern for human life voiced, Dax stepped forward to Lars, staring him down with a vindictive glare.

"Lars. What. The fuck. Did you do?" Dax asked.

"I just told you, I was horny and I needed some-" Lars began to say.

"Not that, dumbass. The blood. Where did it come from?"

"I popped every single cherry in the neighborhood, and they all got their periods at the same time, full Carrie style. I went out and killed some people, where the fuck do you think I got all this blood? I took my faggot brother Twister to the Good Burger and I killed a bunch of bitches, and the little twink pussied out and passed out. Wish I thought to get some food on my way out, because I'm hungry as a mother-"

Before Lars could finish his sentence, Dax grabbed him by the throat and began choking him, to which Mike and Jared responded to by restraining him and pulling him away. After being freed from his attacker, Lars changed his arm to its chainsaw form and stepped back forward, preparing to use it on Dax.

Once again intervening to stop his employees from killing one another, Alex Gravity stepped in between to prevent any death from taking place.

"Boys, what did I tell you? Let's all sit down and talk this out." Alex Gravity said.

"Fuck that! This motherfucker's a demon! I told you we shouldn't have hired him! I should've known he'd try some shit when we left him alone! Let me end this fucker and put him down!" Dax screamed.

"Come give it a try when I got a motherfuckin' chainsaw, bitch!" Lars boasted.

"I said, enough is enough! Lars, retract the chainsaw. Dax, calm down or they'll calm you down for you." Alex Gravity said.

Complying with their boss' orders, Dax ended all further resistance and attempts to attack, and Lars reverted his arm to its normal state.

"Now, Lars, would you like to share with the class what you did?" Alex Gravity asked.

"I already said. I went to Good Burger for some fun, and killed everybody there. I was trying to tell you that getting rid of the place would've sped shit up, and we'd be paid quicker." Lars said.

Dax glared harder at Lars, withholding himself from acting as requested by Alex Gravity, to which he himself took in the information with a slight annoyance.

"I told you why we can't do it, you dumb son of a bitch. The way this was planned was to make sure we don't pull in any unwanted attention. Did you even blow the place up? Destroy all signs that you were there?" Dax asked.

"Uh..." Lars trailed.

"You left the building intact with all the bodies left around?!"

"...Yes?"

"YOU FUCKING IDIOT! Do you not realize that even the most corrupt cops can take a look at that evidence and be forced to act on it?! A fast-food joint full of dead people are gonna attract more eyeballs than just the local police! The whole tri-county area's gonna come down with cops like a proverbial fucking hammer, dipshit!"

"Alright, alright, everyone relax. To quote Alan Rickman in his immortal performance as Hans Gruber in Die Hard: This is a matter of inconvenient timing, that's all. Getting rid of Good Burger was bound to happen soon, and, as it's a bigger business by nature, we were bound to get more attention, and maybe a risk for casualties. Was committing mass murder there the best course of action? No. Can this be used to our advantage? Absolutely." Alex Gravity said.

"So, you're not concerned with the fact that dozens of people are dead, but you only want to see how you can spin this?"

"Remember what I said not a minute ago about the real dangers to business?"

"And what about being a decent fucking human being with empathy, asshole?"

"There's no room for empathy or decency in business or capitalism. The game is to get to the top of the chain, damn the others and all consequences, as long as they don't come back to bite you. You don't think I got my fame and fortune because I was a nice guy to my customers, do you? Besides, you like all that sports equipment you use all the time? You ever think of how many child laborers or wage slaves push themselves to make you your toys? In China, they literally had to build nets around their buildings to keep their workers from killing themselves, a small investment to save their profits and productivity. You think, just because the more visible problems are in other countries, they don't exist in this one?"

Once again unable to retort the points made by Alex Gravity, Dax sighed in defeat.

"Now, tomorrow, as you all know, I plan on making a big speech regarding my plans for Ocean Shores, and I'm doing a big press conference to announce it. But what you did not know until now is that, in my speech, I plan to address this little excursion of Lars, and make it part of my sales pitch to the people. They'll need to be sold on the idea of getting some safety and security from their leaders." Alex Gravity said.

"You're starting to sound like a politician, man. What happened to just being a businessman?" Jared asked.

"Politician? Businessman? Since when is there a difference between the two? You know how much a congressman makes on average? Or how much political campaign contributions they get? Who do you think gives them all that money? And who do you think they serve in turn, getting them all the tax cuts and subsidies to repay the favor? England has the King and Queen, the Royal Family and whatnot, they're the face of politics, but who does the actual governing? Parliament and the Prime Minister. In our case, I can tell you it's not Congress or the President who do the governing. It's people like us. The pioneers of business. The real leaders of America."

"Enough with the fuckin' speeches already. If I wanted to watch dudes blow themselves for hours, I'd watch a guy actually blow himself. At least the performance of being able to reach your own cock is genuinely really impressive to watch. I've tried it, I can't reach. It's that one fuckin' vertebrae, I swear to god." Lars said.

"Oh, wow, 'vertebrae'. An actual medical term. Surprised you could name one. But what about Otto? If you think I'm pissed off at this, then you better be in for a rude awakening when he finds out what happened. We're lucky if he hasn't already. You already brought up all the investments you made to get him on the team. How is that going to fit into your profit margin if he flips and rats on us?" Dax asked.

"That one's the easy part. The way I see it, it's either him or Lars that leaves the team."

"What?! Yo, man, what the fuck?! I just sped up things a little, isn't that a good thing like you said, or something?" Lars shouted.

"You misunderstand me, Lars. Understanding is based on what words one is given, and how that manipulates someone else into doing whatever you want them to do."

"...Huh?"

"I have to spell it all out for you, huh? Lars. I am going to tell Otto that you are off the team, but that doesn't mean you will actually be off the team. It just means Otto will think you are. That means, in his mind, you are out of the picture, and I can use you somewhere else, and he won't know what I have planned."

Finally understanding Alex Gravity's plan, Lars nodded along, coming to cooperation with his suggestion.

"Okay, alright, I get it now. So what's the plan?" Lars asked.

"Easy. Since the example of politician was brought up, let's ask ourselves, how do you make any politician popular, regardless of polling status? The answer's simple: You make him a martyr." Alex Gravity said.

The team then stood silent, pondering what their employer had in mind with what was floated, formulating their own ideas in their heads to match what he might have...

...but all trains of thought came to a burning crash with Lars' next words, ruining all serious debate around the issue.

"Wait... How the fuck do you become that? Aren't martyrs, like, those weird, horny, hairy dudes with goat legs? I know you're a big movie guy, but can you think less Lord of the Rings and more on real shit?" Lars asked.

And all present groaned in annoyance at Lars' misunderstanding, as usual.