PROJECT NOVOCAINE

★│PROLOUGE

Late night.

"Have you ever wondered about what the universe would look like if it was actually corrupted?" The mercenary prompted, gently placing his glass down on the coaster. The phighter continued to wait for an answer by taking off his gloves to pick at the dirt in his nails, which were not cut straight. Some were slanted, some were chipped a little. Hyperlaser put his gloves back on and took another sip of his whiskey.

The other phighter with Hyperlaser turned, his mask falling back over his mouth. "I would describe it as not a very pleasant objective. Not at all. The whole universe would be upside down, chained around an atmosphere of—"

"Katana, speak English, please." Hyperlaser interrupted. He couldn't handle Katana's such expanded vocabulary. He didn't mean it in a rude way ever, but he turned away to stir his whiskey and try to discard the offense. "I didn't mean that in an upsetting way."

"What?" Katana asked, obviously not offended. "I do not understand why you think everything you say is offensive towards me, Hyperlaser."

"That's not what I mean't. Anyway, I was getting off-topic." Hyperlaser refocused on the prompt. "I've always been afraid that the world would go upside down any time. You know, the deities are currently weak. People have been dying every day for unknown reasons. I'm not a superstitious person, but I'm confident that something is going on."

Katana paused. "...You are telling me that the deities are not keeping us upright. And somebody is trying to take advantage of their power."

"No?" Hyperlaser finished the last of his whiskey. "Even if they are weak, their forces together can stop anybody. I've done research on them in my free time. Met Darkheart once during his Phrenzy."

"Last call for shots?" Someone asked behind the counter, a bartender. "It'll be on the house, since it's getting late and the place is closing in an hour or so."

Both phighters declined politely and took out money to pay for their drinks. When Hyperlaser spotted Katana with a wad of cash, he raised an eyebrow at him. "Let me pay."

Katana looked back at his friend. "No, let me pay. I am the one who ordered."

"No, let me--"

The mercenary sighed and tucked away his cash. "If you say so. I don't feel like starting an argument with you after discussing such a topic."

The samurai paid for both of their drinks and walked out of the bar, leaving Hyperlaser unattended. He sheathed his weapon on his waist and started walking back towards the Thieves' Den tunnel. He turned around to see Hyperlaser rushing to get himself out of there. He managed to catch up with Katana.

The mercenary elbowed his friend. "Don't just leave me like that, you dolt!" He scolded, a hint of laughter in his cold voice. His helmet flashed a pair of teal closed eyes, shaped like > <, to indicate that he was sort of making a humorous point.

"Sorry, I just want to get home." Katana muttered, gazing out into the streets of Crossroads.

"...Is the whole corruption thing bothering you, Katana?"

"Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"Of course. You have my number. Just don't let Shuriken steal your phone mid-call." Both phighters shared a few chuckles. "Good night, Katana." And Hyperlaser traveled away from the Thieves' Den tunnel to another one, the tunnel leading to Blackrock.