XTRAVAGANZA

Chapter 7: Aliases

X fell down into a shallow ocean of black liquid. Looking up, he stared at the man with the gray mask and blue glowing X in the middle of it.

X slowly got up, noticing none of the liquid he fell into clung onto his body or even made him wet.

X slowly turned his head, looking over at the man who was facing X. The man slowly lowered his hands into his pockets, raising his head ever so slightly.

X stared at him, unmoving. Something inside him wanted to make him charge the man but for some reason, his body refused to move.

The mans right hand slowly emerged from his pocket, revealing his gun. The man slowly raised the gun to the level of X's head. "A little bit of insanity can get you a long way, my friend." The man said in a deep and somewhat robotic voice. With that, he pulled the trigger.

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X slowly rose from his inflatable mattress. He rubbed his eyes before starting to grin ear to ear. Following that, a maniacal laugh escaped his mouth. "We can finally begin!" He yelled.

The subtle voice of a neighbor of his could be heard, saying "Shut the fuck up we're trying to sleep!"

X's smile faded as he lifted up his middle finger, pointing it towards the direction his neighbors voice came from.

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Damian and the twins slowly sat down a wooden table, with X leaning against a tree reading over notes. X had invited all of them to Neo Cities Red Wood Park.

"The hell is he doing?" Damian asked, looking over at the twins. "Looking like he's getting ready for some school play or something." Raelynn said with a slight giggle, with Lila following right behind her in her laughter.

X glared at the three before putting all of his notes in one hand and pushing himself off the tree. "Ok listen..." he paused for a moment, staring back down at his notes. He glared at them for a second before tossing them, the wind scattering them about in random directions. "I have recently come into a large amount of money." He started saying. "And so, we're gonna be pulling off our first operation, truly cement ourselves in Neo City!" He paused for a moment before continuing. "But before we begin, we'll need aliases. What we're doing isn't exactly...legal so we don't wanna give away each other's identities." He pointed at the twins. "You two will be collectively called...the twins. I couldn't think of anything better. However, as individuals, your names will be, Righteous." he pointed to Raelynn. "And lightless" he pointed to Lila. "As for you Damian." He said, pointing over to him. "Your alias will be fractal." He then pointed to himself. "And I'll remain as X."

Lila raised her hand slowly. "Why do you get to keep your real name?" She asked, confused. "Because X isn't my real name to begin with." He replied.

"Now that we have aliases to hide our names, we now just have to hide our faces." He walked over to a box that was left near the tree he was previously leaning against. "Using a good chunk of the money I made ya'll some outfit's!" He dumped the box onto the ground, various items spilling out of it. "Raelynn, Lila, your outfits are the exact same so take which ever. Damian, yours is the suit."

The three got up from the wooden table they were seated at and walked over to pick up the items assigned to them.

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"I look stupid." Damian said, staring at the brown suit that he now dawned. It had white cuffs and a white shirt underneath it. "Well, get used to it." X said, patting his shoulder.

As the two spoke, the twins emerged from behind a nearby tree wearing various shades of blue armor they dawned their entire bodies. They also had robotic ears at the top of their heads and a Led mask over their face.

"So they get armor and I get a suit, how nice." Damian replied, sighing.

X patted his shoulder once more "be happy with what I got you." He slowly backed away from the three. "Anyways! That's what I brought you three out here for. You can take home your assigned items, I'll call you all when we're ready for our first assignment. Good day!"

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The three began to leave, packing up their stuff and walking away on a dirt trail.

The smile X had maintained on his face for the entire morning finally fell. He sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

He began packing up his stuff as well, ready to head home. Before he could start, he suddenly got a text from Yuki, asking when they could go out tonight. He had entirely forgotten that, being so preoccupied with getting everyone's outfits.

He slowly started writing out a text, telling her he couldn't come but before he could send it he paused, thinking for a moment.

He then began deleting what he wrote, instead writing "does 7 work?" With Yuki quickly responding with a "Yes!"

A soft smile slowly stretched across X's face. He put his phone back into his pocket and started grabbing all of his stuff once more.

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He entered his apartment, putting the various empty and partially full boxes he had onto the floor outside the door. He walked over to the window that stretched across his back wall, staring out towards the city.

The previous beautiful sky was now replaced by a light gray as rain began pouring down onto the buildings below.

X slowly sighed, stretching out his arms before collapsing down onto his inflatable mattress.

He stared up at the ceiling, his eyes slowly began to close as the ambient city sound was drained from his mind. Nothing left to think, hear, or see. Just pure utter, and blissful nothingness. Who wouldn't want that, right?

The final remnants of X's consciousness slips away as he begins to dream.

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A man walked into a small, dimly it, wooden office. He wore a black button shirt with a leather vest over it, and a black cloak. He had a classic black western hat on his head. The ends of his hair was dyed a vibrant purple with his eyes glowing the same shade of it.

The man slowly raised his head, looking over at the individual who sat behind the desk that was in front of him.

"Rion..." the man behind the desk spoke. "I have a task for you. I need someone dead." The man behind the desk opened up one of his drawers, pulling out a photo. He reached one of his hands over the desk, illuminating it.

Rion grabbed the photo. It was one of a white haired man with blue eyes and X shaped scar strewn across the center of his face. "Sure can do boss." Rion said, pocketing the photo.

The man behind the desk spoke again. "When you kill him, bring his body to me. I wish to hang it on my wall." Rion, although a bit confused, nodded in agreement, not being one to ask questions.

After insuring the conversation was finished with, he sauntered out of the office, closing the door behind him. Rion took the photo out of his pocket once more, examining it. "Now then, let's see where you are hiding."