Plasmatropolis

Chapter Twenty - Our Final Cascade

"I see you're back." Lucidius acknowledged, as Conaya marched into the room within the gang base and took a seat across from the Voltaris.

"Well, you heard the news, didn't you?" The Shapeshifter asked. "Thalleous is free."

"But where is Thalleous?" The Voltaris narrowed his eyes, tapping his fingers on the table.

"Off to his own devices, probably reuniting with his gang." Conaya shrugged. "The deal was that I'd break him free, not that I'd bring him to you for a chat and a tea party. I'd like my money now, thank you very much."

Lucidius sighed. The Shapeshifter had a point; the deal had only been for Conaya to break Thalleous out of the BPO's captivity. He had to hope he could work out an alliance in the future regardless.

"You did your job. Here you go."

He snapped his fingers, and two guards stepped forth, one of them carrying a duffle bag over his back. The guard set the bag down on the table, and Conaya looked inside. Sure enough, stacks upon stacks of dollar bills. Thankfully, Lucidius seemed to have no interest in scamming the Shapeshifter.

"Thank you." Conaya said with an emotionless glance at Lucidius, slinging the bag over his shoulder and standing up.

"Sounds like you really needed the money for something, Shapeshifter." The Voltaris remarked. "What is it?"

Conaya stayed still and quiet for a while, before finally looking away. "Don't worry about it. Just looking out for a friend."

He began to walk away, but that was when he heard the door slam open. He whipped around and saw that several Voltaris were flooding the room, led by one in particular. He was instantly recognisable, with the vein of colour that crossed his left eye, a staff in hand.

"What the hell is going on?" The Voltaris with the staff demanded.

"Ah, Zinaida! How quaint of you to show yourself!" Lucidius remarked. "Have you been introduced to Conaya the Shapeshifter yet?"

"I am not comfortable staying here." Conaya rolled his eyes.

"Lucidius, what did you do...?" Zinaida questioned, staring intently at the other Voltaris, as his own gunmen looked as if they were ready to raise their weapons.

"I paid off this man to infiltrate the BPO and set Thalleous free." Lucidius chuckled. "Surely you can't be complaining, you idiot. He'll be a vital ally to the clan. This is what Tygren would have wanted, you know."

"We were all safer with that mad Sendaris behind bars." Zinaida shook his head. "You don't know what can of worms you just reopened."

"I think I do!" Lucidius objected, marching up to Zinaida with his own guards. The two sides faced each other, looking as if they were about to get into a serious fight. "You're being pathetic. I'm taking the necessary actions to preserve the Voltaris. We need Thalleous. If you refuse to see that, I may consider... removing you from command."

"That's not something you should be saying out loud." Zinaida warned him. "Especially not directly to my face. You think you can threaten me? You call me an idiot? If one of us is being stupid, it sure isn't I."

"Your petty squabbles are pissing me off." Conaya interjected. "Shame you two don't have parents to break up your little kiddy fight."

"You take that back!" Zinaida shouted, whirling on Conaya.

"For once, I agree with you!" Lucidius added, doing the same. "Don't make me take back that money from your corpse, Shapeshifter."

Conaya laughed, clearly getting a kick out of angering both of them. "I mean no ill will to anyone in this room. You just need to work this out."