Summary: Now that they've come so far, what is next for our beloved Achievement Hunters?

Chapter 32

FIRST BREACH AT LOS SANTOS PENITENTIARY. SUSPECTS STILL AT LARGE.

Matt sighed and tossed the paper across his desk. He removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. The Crew had done the impossible. He never would have believed it. Not only that, but they had completely and utterly neutralized Burnie in the process AND had given them enough evidence to pin the whole thing on Simeon and his rival organization. Already several gang outfits and less than reputable businesses were chomping at the bit to join the Syndicate. With them came business ventures and cash flow beyond their wildest dreams. They may have enough money to finance that movie Burnie had been talking about…

But there were downsides. They had defied an execution order which would lessen his commanding presence. They had not yet succeeded at any of their large-scale heists and had basically spat in the face of the Syndicate. Yes, Matt was relieved he didn't have to kill Geoff, the man had been a friend, but now he was faced with a much larger problem.

The Crew had defied him. That could not stand, not in this business.

The door to his office opened and Matt didn't bother looking up as the visitor stopped at his desk.

"The Crew did well," Burnie said, half statement, half question.

Matt said nothing.

"It seems you were right," Burnie continued. "They will rally behind Geoff. If we give them a reason to fight they will be formidable."

Mat looked up at his second. "A reason?" Burnie frowned, not like the sudden gleam in Matt's eyes.

"They did well," Matt agreed standing up suddenly and turning to look out of the window behind him into the fading sunlight. "They did well, but they defied us. We cannot take that lightly or our power may be compromised. They have crossed the line one too many times. A lesson must be taught."

Burnie shifted uneasily though he kept his face neutral. "What do you want?"

Matt tapped the glass twice in thought. "Blood," he said finally turning to Burnie. "One of them has to bleed and I think you know who it is."

Burnie frowned for a minute thinking, recalling the past few months and trying to think of who Matt could possibly want to off. Then it hit him, a swift punch to his conscious as Burnie recalled Matt's words from just a month previously.

So we wait. We may have to put him into a compromising position instead of executing him. But he will pay. That is for sure.

"You can't," Burnie blurted out and Matt turned to look at him mildly. "I mean...you said it yourself. Killing him will give the Crew strength they never knew they had."

"That was true then," Matt said. "But they have just pulled off the impossible. For them, the hammer has fallen and they came out safe on the other side. Killing one of their own now, particularly if we make it look like an accident, will ground them without causing them to look inwardly for a cause. Then it will tear them apart." Matt's lips twitched in a slight snarl. "And the boy has to pay for his insolence and resistance."

"So you think because you are no longer threatening them with execution, they won't look at you when they lose one of their own," Burnie asked exasperatedly. "That will never work!"

Matt laughed. "What makes you think I would not have an plan?" he said coldly.

Burnie's gaped at Matt. "I won't help you with this Matt. I can't let you do this."

"Like you have a choice," Matt replied casually.

"You know what will happen if I fight you," Burnie replied. "You know what the rest of the company will do."

Matt sighed. "I know." he shook his head and looked back at the window, hands behind his back as he thought. "Oh, by the way Burnie, how's Ashley these days? Does she enjoy her work on The Know?"

Burnie's insides froze.

Matt smiled even though Burnie couldn't see him. He had him. Burnie didn't have to help him, Matt could do it without him, but he couldn't afford to have the man openly against him. He hated to drag families and significant others into this, but he had come too far with the Syndicate to allow a two-bit gang of nerds defy him and risk what he had built. He had shelved his compassion a long time ago.

"I think I may need to have a chat with Kerry," Matt said to Burnie, resuming his seat at the desk.

The morning of April 1st brought chaos to the streets of Los Santos as, for the first time ever, a fugitive made his escape from the Los Santos Penitentiary.

Geoffrey Ramsey, famed Youtube personality and alleged leader of the Fake AH Crew gang outfit, escaped early Monday morning from prison where he was awaiting sentence for grand larceny, armed robbery, and multiple counts of accessory to murder and first degree murder. Ramsey is believed to have been aided by his fellow gang members, the identities of which have never been confirmed by police, though have long been suspected to be his fellow Achievement Hunter employees: Jack Pattillo, Gavin Free, Michael Jones, Ray Narvaez Jr., and James Haywood.

The gang outfit has long been labeled a minor threat by Los Santos Police, however they managed to successfully free Ramsey in what most are calling "the crime of the century." A manhunt has been ongoing for the last week since Ramsey's escape with no expense being spared by the city of Los Santos. Despite their efforts, the whereabouts of Ramsey and the Fake AH Crew are currently unknown. Rooster Teeth CEO Matt Hullum declined to comment on the record, but indicated that he was not aware of Ramsey's criminal ties and that he had no idea where his Rooster Teeth co-founder could be hiding. Hullum has long been accused of using the media company Rooster Teeth as a front for his own illegal activities, though these allegations are unfounded. Meanwhile, Ramsey—

"Still reading that article?" Jack asked, walking into Geoff's office.

"Still trying to believe that it's real," Geoff said. "Have you seen the stories? They are calling it the crime of the century! Reporters and editorial writers and cops who had laughed at us are calling us the greatest gang in history. Burnie has even said that Simeon and his crew want in on the Syndicate."

"Is Matt considering the offer?"

"Fuck no. Simeon is a dick."

Jack leaned back in his chair and smiled. "Good."

Shortly after Matt brought them to a safe landing that day on the beach a week ago, they had been met by Lindsay, Kerry, and a patched up Gavin and Jack. Jack seemed little the worse for wear but Gavin had taken a hit. He still grinned up at them and joined in the boisterous cheering that had taken place…that is until he got dizzy from his wounds and passed out. They moved to the abandoned warehouse and sent the tape Gavin had shot and a hastily thrown together cell phone video of them to Burnie, proving that they had all escaped. Burnie had shown it all to Matt Hullum and Matt had allowed them to return to the Syndicate full force without the hammer of fear that had ruled them for the past year. They resumed their lives after a few days in the hospital for most of them. Matt had even paid for it.

Now Geoff was back in the Achievement Hunter office, reading and re-reading the trails of newspapers articles that had followed their prison job.

"I just can't believe it," Geoff said to Jack, rubbing his head. "You guys actually pulled together and got me out. After all the chaos and betrayal and insanity, you all united and pulled it off. You didn't even need me."

"Rubbish," said Gavin entering the room with Michael and Ray. "We did need you, Geoff!"

"Yup," Ray said. "You kept pointing out that we could be awesome if we would pull our heads out of our asses."

"It just took you getting gang raped in jail to make us do it!" Michael said cheerfully.

"I hate you guys," Geoff said with a glare as memories of Big Dong raced into his mind.

"No you don't," Ryan said, entering the room with a newspaper. "Or at least, you won't when you read this."

Geoff took the paper from Ryan and read the headline. "Local Car Salesman indicted on robbery, murder charges. Ramsey acquitted."

Geoff looked up at Ryan in confusion. "How—?"

Ryan grinned evilly. "I may have planted some evidence in various vehicles owned by Simeon during our last few jobs. Also Burnie and Matt may have paid off a few prosecutors and a judge or two to get you off while keeping you out of court. You and the rest of us are in the clear."

"Ryan the mad genius guy!" Michael said, jumping up and giving the older man a high five.

"Still a lunatic," Gavin said.

"It's my thing," Ryan admitted with a shrug.

"Ryan's a lunatic, Gavin's an idiot, Michael's a violent psychopath, Jack's…well Jack, and I'm the noble self-sacrificing hero," Ray summarized.

"You mean bait," Michael corrected Ray with a grin.

"Noble Six!" Gavin shrieked, laughing at his own Halo joke.

"God, we're a bunch of assholes," Jack said, shaking his head.

Geoff looked around at his gang, at his friends, and he couldn't help but think that maybe all the headaches were worth it. They were idiots to be sure, but they were his idiots and he wouldn't trade them. They had a long way to go but for the first time in a long time things were looking up. If the big jobs had done anything, they had brought them closer together and shown them what they were capable of. Maybe it had been worth it…mostly.

"Hey we may be a bunch of assholes," Geoff said cheerfully. "But we're each other's assholes!"

Everyone looked at him for a moment thinking about his words and their latest adventures. Then Ryan said what everyone else was thinking.

"I don't want to be anyone's asshole!"

The others laughed hysterically and Geoff buried his face in his hands. Nope. Still the same bunch of idiots

"Ugh, let's stop," he muttered.

THE END

Author's Note: I had a lot of fun writing this and though things have changed in the 8 years since this was finished, I will always fondly look back on those days and these videos. I hope this bring some good memories to the rest of you, despite everything that happened. I will not be posting the sequel here at as it was never started here and I don't want to give additional promotion to Ryan, but it can be found on my A03 page finished mostly in summary form, though Lindsay's Heist is complete in it's entirety.

Thank you for reading!