Welcome to RetroCity Chapter 3 Clash of intentions, a misc. comics fanfic

Summary of RetroCity:

[Short version]

Retrocity is a dystopian city of harsh, divided levels. The Citadel controls from above with B.A.D., enforcing strict order. Below, BlueFrigid and PinkBlaze gangs fight for freedom. Survival is grim, hope is fleeting, and escape is nearly impossible.

Chapter 3

Clash of Intentions

It took a lot of effort to get out from under Titus' giant, heavy body. Razz had tried to push himself up, hoping to move his boss as well, but even if he hadn't been tazed, there was only a small chance of that actually happening. Razz's body wasn't built for strength; he was more used to jumping around and reacting quickly in sticky situations, just like before. But now, he was pretty much stuck—in a there-is-a-giant-boulder-on-me-and-I-can't-get-up kind of situation. Instead of trying to push Titus off, Razz wriggled and squirmed his body around, trying to free himself. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, and still incredibly difficult.

As he worked to pull his arms free, Razz could feel that not everything was going to come along as 'easily,' but there was no other way. He had to get out from under Titus before any of the BlueFrigid members stumbled upon them. With a lot of huffing and puffing, the fluffy dragon finally scrambled out from under the massive weight. He had to catch his breath, kneeling on the floor beside Titus' unconscious form. His small underwear was hanging off his thighs, and his stockings were ripped beyond repair. Anyone walking in now would be greeted by the sight of a fluffy white butt crack from yours truly.

The pale-haired bat grumbled as Keryth urged him to keep moving if he was still able to complain. Something inside him wanted to make another snarky comment, but he knew it wouldn't add anything helpful to the situation, only make it worse. He sighed, accepting that he had to keep going. They were here to defend the power supplies, which were extremely valuable, but so far, he hadn't been much help. The bat had a sinking feeling in his stomach at the thought of leaving his brother behind.

The elevator shaft was a terrible place to try and use the electrified net he had prepared, and Ora's immediate reaction to seeing Kelvan was to try and get him down by swaying the cables the PinkBlaze member was climbing. What Ora hadn't expected was the heavy spray of water that came down instead. He stumbled backward, drenched. It was a definite problem—his weapon was electricity-based, and now that he was soaking wet, using it without caution could end up electrocuting himself.

Titus slowly stirred and groaned, but hadn't fully woken up yet. With Razz wiggling his way out from under him, Titus ended up with a fluffy butt practically in his face. Once Razz was out, Titus slumped back down, the sudden drop waking him up. He blinked his eyes open, finding Razz almost completely stripped while trying to escape.

"Argh... what just happened..." Titus muttered, blinking to confirm if what he was seeing was real. Was he really awake, staring at Razz's backside? Not exactly the sight he expected to wake up to.

Keryth was making his way through the vents, hearing the bat member following behind. The silence between them was uncomfortable. Despite himself, Keryth felt a little empathy—he had a younger sister, after all. He sighed softly, trying to comfort the bat without losing focus. "He'll be fine if we succeed, so let's finish this quickly," he said in a softer tone.

Kelvan finally reached the floor where Titus' scent was strongest. He was a bit tired, and as he climbed up, his vision was still blurry. "Guys... what happened?... Are you..." He approached them, but as his vision cleared, he froze in shock before quickly turning his back to them.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't... I-I hope I'm not being rude, but I don't think it's the best moment for... those things," the sea dragon stammered, clearly flustered.

Razz stretched and rubbed his shoulder, feeling like he'd pulled several muscles. He groaned as his final stretch was interrupted by Titus' voice. Then, Kelvan's awkward remark made Razz turn with a confused expression, and he was about to give Kelvan a snarl. "Those things? You mean getting crushed u-" He shifted slightly but stopped mid-sentence, feeling the underwear tightening in the wrong area. Turning back to face away from Kelvan and Titus, a dirty grin spread across his face. "What's wrong, Kelvan? Can't handle the glorious sight of my slightly dusty furry behind?" Razz snickered, patting his butt in front of Titus. When he realized his leader was awake and had seen his bare backside, his eyes widened in embarrassment. He quickly pulled the pink fabric back up with a high-pitched yelp. "OKAY, SHOW'S OVER!" he shouted, frantically trying to fix his clothes. "This wasn't part of the plan," he grumbled, finally turning around and crossing his arms.

Ora groaned as he sat up, rubbing the back of his head. He quickly tapped on his communicator, addressing Keryth and anyone else still active. "The third member has gone up the elevator shaft! He's using water as a weapon, so be careful when firing your weapons!" Ora got up, picked up his weapon, and cautiously looked into the elevator shaft. "I don't see him anymore. There's a possibility he's regrouped with the others, so we have to move quickly!" After ending the message, Ora took the strap of his gun in his mouth and began climbing, using both hands. He wasn't as agile as Kelvan, but he was determined to reach them eventually.

Titus, meanwhile, had no idea what Kelvan was talking about. He slowly rose to one knee, his head pounding from the jolts he'd taken earlier. He watched as Razz teased Kelvan, a grin on his face, while Kelvan looked mortified. The sea dragon was flustered by the scene, but Titus figured it was just a result of poor timing and those damned electric shots.

"Ah... didn't think you guys were here too..." Titus mumbled, adjusting his hat and trying to smooth down his hair. It was no use; the wild strands covered his eyes, so he left it alone.

Kelvan, now trying to regain his composure, huffed and averted his gaze from Razz. That guy really knew how to push his buttons. Still, Kelvan was more concerned about Titus. The attacks had clearly taken their toll on him.

"We'll talk about this later," Kelvan said firmly. "We need to get out of here quickly. The BlueFrigids' leader is coming." His expression was serious and concerned.

Keryth, now well on his way, heard Ora's message. It was clear to him that the third PinkBlaze member was more capable than they had anticipated. Regrouping was dangerous—the dinosaur alone was already a huge problem.

"Boss, I ask for your permission to attempt killing," Keryth said calmly into his communicator. Up until now, they'd only tried to stop and capture the enemy, using weapons for that purpose. But with the situation having changed drastically against them, Keryth believed more extreme measures were warranted.

It wasn't the first time a gang leader would be killed by a gang member—it had happened many times before. Ora felt a nauseating pit in his stomach as Keryth requested permission, but he couldn't let his emotions interfere. "Permission granted," he replied, his voice lacking warmth. Without the power sources and other key supplies in the building, the BlueFrigid gang would lose not just their power but also their standing, leaving their territory vulnerable. "We need to beat PinkBlaze," Ora muttered. "There aren't enough resources for both our visions of the future... Losing means staying in this hellhole until it inevitably blows."

Razz, overhearing parts of the conversation, seemed nervous. "Hey, uh, boss... I know Kelvan can be a bit of a buttwipe, but I think he might have a point..." He shrugged and glanced at Kelvan. "No offense," he added before continuing. "But you look a bit out of it, and I bet BlueAss isn't coming alone. He's probably bringing the whole party. We need to take Mr. Brain's advice and skedaddle." Razz gestured vaguely toward nonexistent exits.

Titus perked up at the mention of the other gang leader. This was what he'd been waiting for. "Get out? Not yet. The leader's here. I've been trying to get to the top to find them—and some other supplies that could be helpful for us." Titus wanted to negotiate with the BlueFrigid leader, but it was clear that the enemy leader wasn't coming alone. This complicated things. If they weren't careful, this could result in heightened security and a missed opportunity.

Thinking quickly, Titus tried to formulate a plan, ignoring the occasional electric jolt still coursing through him. "We need leverage to make sure the leader comes alone. It's probably somewhere at the top—something valuable they're keeping from us." He paused, scanning their surroundings. "They're not going to let their leader come alone. They'll probably have their best member hiding somewhere, waiting for a kill shot. We need to scout the area and find our options for escaping. If we can get the leader alone, it'll minimize the number of enemies, and then we can negotiate—then make our exit." Titus faced the others, his head turning to indicate his focus. "Let's find what they're hiding and use it to our advantage."

Kelvan couldn't help but widen his eyes in disbelief at what Razz said, then he looked at the smaller dragon, arching a brow when he added that he didn't plan to offend with his words. He was glad they were finally agreeing on something, but... was it necessary to call him a buttwipe and Mr. Brains? He was just trying to be responsible and cautious.

After listening to Razz, the sea dragon sighed deeply in annoyance and looked at their boss, waiting for an answer. Titus' response wasn't what he was expecting—he wanted to continue with their seemingly suicidal mission. Kelvan looked at him with a concerned expression and then stepped closer. He grabbed Titus by the arm, pulling him aside from Razz, not wanting to question his decision in front of their companion.

"Titus, are you really sure about this? Their boss didn't seem that approachable when we met. Also, after the ruckus we caused, it'll be more difficult to get him to listen," Kelvan said, his worry evident. The electric shocks seemed to have affected both of them greatly, and it wasn't wise to push their limits further, especially in the current situation. They were already at a disadvantage.

Meanwhile, Keryth was satisfied with Ora's answer—it showed that Ora wasn't a weak leader. He paused to speak to his companion. "Change of plans, go back to your post. I'll handle the situation alone from now. I can't guarantee your safety any longer," he said in a serious tone before continuing through the vents. Keryth never cared much for his companions during his missions, and now that he had permission to kill, anyone who couldn't keep up would just slow him down. He preferred to finish things his own way.

Rocco, the bat, followed Keryth a few paces before stopping, disbelief evident in his expression. "Are you crazy? You're facing the leader and at least two PinkBlaze members alone? With the boss?" He hesitated before continuing, trying to keep up. "You can't guarantee our safety... do you mean from the big guy, or do you just not want to worry about shooting us if we're in the way?" He scoffed, letting out a snort—a dangerous move, considering who he was talking to.

Razz gave a wide, toothy smile when Kelvan looked at him, only for it to fade as Titus and Kelvan turned away, leaving him out of the loop. Razz turned away too, giving them some privacy. He was curious, but he knew when to keep his nose out of the higher-ups' business. Alone, he walked around, scratching his head awkwardly, unsure what to do.

Titus was used to the back-and-forth between his gang members. He allowed it most of the time, only intervening when necessary. He stood still, watching Kelvan approach and pull him aside. He knew Kelvan wanted to question his plan without making it obvious to Razz.

Kelvan sighed deeply at Titus' response, closing his eyes in thought, one arm resting under his chest while his other hand stroked his chin. Titus' plan wasn't entirely absurd, but it relied heavily on negotiations—a gamble when it came to the BlueFrigid leader. The odds of finding something valuable before the enemy reached them were slim. They could make a straightforward escape using the few bombs they had brought as a distraction. It wouldn't yield any gains, but they could leave without losing anyone.

After a minute, Kelvan opened his eyes, a serious expression settling on his face. "Let's make a simple emergency escape. You can use my wings, my friend." His tone softened. "I can't fly, but I can glide far enough to get us to a safer spot. We have a few small bombs to use as distractions. We just need to destroy whatever we can and reach the top of the building as fast as we can."

Titus thought it over. The plan seemed more secure—using Kelvan's wings as a way out would ensure they could escape. They couldn't afford more reckless mistakes, and at this point, their survival mattered more than the mission.

"Alright. How many bombs do we have? Take two each and fan out to plant them," Titus ordered. "The rest of the bombs, leave them to me. I'll request their leader to come alone. We all know he won't come alone, but they'll probably hide someone nearby. The bombs should take care of that hidden backup." Titus glanced around as he spoke, scanning the area. "Once the bombs go off, it should make them prioritize the leader's safety, which gives us a window. We make our move and head to the rooftop for our escape, or the side of the building, where we jump off." He turned to face Kelvan and Razz, his head moving slightly to indicate his attention. "How does that sound to you both?"

Kelvan, feeling a hint of relief that Titus was willing to listen, nodded. "We have ten bombs, which means six remain. Leave them a nice parting gift." He grinned, handing Razz four of the bombs and leaving Titus with the rest. "Just don't forget to grab Razz. My claws will be full with you," he added.

Razz was excited, skipping slightly as he took the bombs from Kelvan. "Alright! Let's gooo!" he exclaimed, walking around hurriedly to find good spots to plant his bombs. "One here... and the other one... here... no, here... maybe there..." Razz mumbled, moving back and forth before finally deciding on the perfect location.

In the vents, Keryth could hear Rocco following him. The sound was beginning to wear on him. Annoyed, he finally spoke up. "Bingo!" he said sarcastically. "Yes, you'll only get in MY way, and I don't want to be scolded for losing someone, so fuck off," he continued in his usual emotionless tone. Part of him felt a small twinge of empathy, but he also considered the idea of an "accidental" shot if Rocco didn't leave soon.

Rocco gradually slowed, then came to a stop. He looked at Keryth's back as the rabbit continued forward, then stared at his own hands. They'd been crawling through vents—uncomfortable, stuffy vents. What was he even doing here? His brother was hurt somewhere else in the building. "Screw this," he muttered, turning and making his way back the way they had come.

Razz, now standing near a window, looked outside. They were high up—higher than he realized. He pressed his palms and fingers against the glass, his breath causing the window to fog up. Absentmindedly, he started drawing little figurines in the condensation.

After Titus received Kelvan's approval, he took the remaining bombs. Earlier, he'd adjusted the detonators—Razz's were triggered by sonic signals, while Kelvan's remained unchanged. He watched Kelvan plant his bombs near the pillars before activating the building's megaphone system, plugging his phone into the electrical box he'd been working on.

His voice echoed throughout the building, his tone even and commanding. "This is the leader of PinkBlaze. If you want us to stop wrecking your building and keep us away from your vault, the leader of BlueFrigid needs to come alone for a peaceful negotiation." He paused, letting the words sink in before repeating, "I repeat—come alone for a negotiation."

Kelvan listened to his friend with a serious expression. The provocation was well done, but he couldn't help but think about the worst-case scenarios. He hoped the BlueFrigid leader would feel pressured enough to come. Then he shook his head and looked around with a determined expression—there was no time for hesitation. He had to be prepared for their escape and the effort it would take to carry his companions out of danger. Razz was as light as a feather to him, but Titus was another story entirely. It wouldn't be an easy task, even for a dragon. He'd need compresses and massages after this.

In the vents, Keryth stopped to listen to the bold intruder. It seemed they had decided to stop running away and instead issue a threat. Something was off—at least to him, it was clearly a trap. No one would be stupid enough to attempt a negotiation under these circumstances; they were at a disadvantage and in enemy territory.

"Boss, it's a trap. Don't go. We can let them think you'll go, but let me handle this alone," he said through the communicator to Ora. He was confident in his abilities, but he knew he'd likely end up injured. It was annoying, but at least he wouldn't break his promise to Myriani if he survived. Although, she would be sad.

Ora heard the message and frowned. This sounded like a hidden threat. "They know about the vault... and they're close. They must be up to something if they're not directly going for it..." He spoke to Keryth through the communicator, thinking of what to do. Anyone in a gang, whether PinkBlaze or BlueFrigid, was always facing risks. Even though he was worried about Keryth, Ora knew that this was what they had both signed up for. He thought of a change in the plan to get the best possible outcome while still making use of Keryth's skills.

"Change of plans, Keryth," he said sternly. "If they've set up any kind of trap, it won't help us if you get caught in it. Focus on getting as much of the power supplies from the vault and leave the building without a trace, if possible. I'll try to hold them off and buy you some extra time." Ora wasn't planning on going in himself; he wasn't going to risk it. The dragon connected his communicator to the building's system that Titus was using. "Of all the things you could've done to invite us for a talk, you chose to wreck a building. Whatever happened to a simple 'wanna grab a beer'?" Ora said mockingly through the speaker, trying to get Titus' attention and keep him talking.

Razz had a wide grin as he joined the others. "So, we're blowing this place up once he comes up here, and then we jump?" He seemed excited enough about it. "So, you got any parachutes in there, Kelvan?" Razz asked with a grin that slowly faded as it became clear there weren't any. He hadn't been listening to the earlier conversation when Kelvan had pulled Titus aside. Either the fluffy dragon knew when to bugger off or he got distracted—perhaps a bit of both.

Titus had his own thoughts as he waited for a response. Why did he have to do this? He could just blow up the upper levels of the building and jump off. Or just jump off without all that hassle. But that would put his team in a vulnerable position, exposed to open fire as they fell—or glided, in Kelvan's case. But if they blew up the building, the BlueFrigid members would be too busy trying to save themselves or be foolish enough to try to prevent the collapse.

He considered making it less destructive—showing some mercy. After all, the reason they had come here was something else entirely, and things hadn't gone according to plan. His teammates, or rather Kelvan, were pushing to leave, which would land them in more trouble. Kelvan was right. He hadn't planned for this level of destruction; all he wanted was the blueprint of the lower levels and to negotiate with the BlueFrigid leader. He needed to think of his team's safety.

Just as he ended his train of thought, there was a reply from the rival leader. Just in time.

Titus chuckled at the leader's mocking tone. Yeah, Ora was salty about the building. "Well, let's grab a beer. I'll be waiting in the hallway for you. I'll give you two minutes. When time's up, we'll go ahead and break the vault open." He didn't give Ora many options—Titus knew from experience that the other would try to distract him with a chat. Letting Ora know if he didn't show up, this is what they would do. Of course, it was a lie.

Titus was certain the leader would come, with a sneaky hidden member lurking nearby, ready to snipe them or something. This was part of the plan—gaining leverage for an easier exit by jumping off safely and putting both teams in danger.

"Starting now." Titus turned off the communication network he had tapped into and began their plan. The large reptile glanced at something that caught his interest and decided to pick it up.

Titus folded the item and tucked it into his pants to keep it safe. It could come in handy later. Turning to Kelvan and Razz, Titus said, "I'll wait in the hallway to see if the leader shows up. If not, when time's up, we move to phase two. You two, be in position by the windows on the side of the building, on the lookout, and ready to jump when I arrive, okay?" He checked with them about the phase two plan.

"When the time's up, press the button to detonate the bomb." The T-Rex was hoping the leader wouldn't be caught in the blast—at least, not yet. He needed him for future plans.

Kelvan was staring out one of the windows when he heard Razz. Razz seemed very excited about blowing everything up and making an aerial escape, but Kelvan noticed a hint of hesitation. Understandable—after all, the plan was something he had discussed privately with Titus.

"It'll be okay. I can glide far enough for us to be safe. I wouldn't suggest something I couldn't achieve," he said with a soft smile, trying to reassure Razz. He didn't want him to panic; this wasn't the right moment for that. Maybe he should've told the others about his wings earlier, but he hadn't found it necessary until now. He was usually reserved about himself—Titus was the only one he trusted enough to share more personal things with.

After talking with Razz, Kelvan fell silent again to listen to the negotiation with the BlueFrigid gang. It seemed to be going as expected—the enemy wasn't happy, and they were being cautious. When Titus gave his final instructions, Kelvan couldn't help but feel uneasy. He knew his friend; Titus was brave, but sometimes a bit too nice, which could lead him to put himself at risk. Still, that was what Kelvan admired about him, and he would always be there to help Titus when needed.

"Be careful," he said seriously to Titus, then gestured for Razz to follow him as he headed toward one of the windows.

Keryth was surprised by Ora's response. He didn't know if Ora was brave or stupid—maybe both. It was clearly a trap, and he knew it. The odds of them finding the vault were slim, and they seemed desperate.

"If those are your orders, I'll do it, Boss," he responded in his usual way. There wasn't time for further discussion; they only had two minutes. If Ora was planning to stay, Keryth supposed he had something planned.

The rabbit navigated back through the vents, taking another path to reach the secret room with the vault. His new task was simpler—escape with the valuables as fast as possible.

Razz's ears perked up as he directed his attention to Kelvan for a moment. He trusted his superiors to know what they were doing, so Kelvan's words were met with a smile and a nod. He then looked around without a word, focusing on possible directions from which the BlueFrigid leader might arrive. For a second, Razz thought he heard something, but after a while, the noise faded... probably a faulty air vent. He didn't think much of it and followed Kelvan to the window as instructed. The smaller dragon looked out over a part of the city.

"At least we're going out with a bang and the best view in the city," he said with a grin as he turned to Kelvan. Whether "going out" meant just leaving the place or dropping to their doom was uncertain. Knowing Razz, it was probably the first.

"Those power supplies are what matters," Ora thought to himself. After a moment of silence, he let out a chuckle. "Really? Two minutes is all you're giving me? Might I remind you of the kind of damage you've done to this building? Wrecking the staircases, demolishing the elevator, breaking several important structural walls..." Ora tapped his communicator, switching to a wireless channel. This way, he could move freely without standing like a deer in headlights, waiting to be hit. He wasn't sure if Titus would answer, but with the system running throughout the building, he expected Titus would hear him.

Ora made his way to the lower levels, back to where he had been hiding before, when he and Keryth were watching the PinkBlaze members on the monitors. He began typing on one of the keyboards, the blue light of the monitor flickering across his face.

"You come in here, wreck our stuff, and start demanding things..." Ora's nose wrinkled in frustration, his finger hovering over the buttons on the keyboard as if holding himself back from launching whatever protocol he was about to start. "You need to get off your high horse." Ora tapped his communicator to switch channels. "Keryth, status?"

Original Characters:

NPC's Roleplayed by Me and Marlie.