Project Renegade: Genesis

Eve

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Sky City, 6:00 P.M.

Ryan lay sprawled across a rooftop overlooking the city.

His senses were still acting strangely. He could barely make out the murmurs of the crowd below, yet every car horn pierced his skull like it was coming from inches away.

He slowly sat up and stared into the afternoon sky.

Then, blending almost seamlessly with the orange glow above, a wave of heat descended into his view. Jennifer landed beside him, beams of fire shooting from her arms.

"Sapphire sent me to check on you." Jennifer handed him a box of chocolates, "Okay, she didn't. But we need to talk."

"I'm sorry..."

"Okay, I meant I need to talk, and you listen."

Jennifer paced back and forth, hands buried in her pockets. Ryan could tell she was anxious.

"The team and I were thinking. You made the right call today." She sighed. "I wouldn't have...you know me. I like to keep things as non-confrontational as possible. And with this, maybe my methods weren't the best. Sure, we fucked up a bit. But it could've been a bigger fuck-up. So...not that fucked up."

"I've never heard you cuss that much."

"Ryan."

"Sorry."

"Point is, I'm proud of you." Jennifer flicked her fingers between his eyes,"So proud that...I'm stepping away from team leader."

"Huh?! So who's next in line?" Ryan shot to his feet.

WHOOSH!

A monstrous whirlwind erupted around the rooftop. Before Ryan could react, Dante and Karla appeared beside him. Dante stood at the highest point of the roof, arms crossed, glaring down at them.

"Not how it works." Dante paused. "And I'm still not with this idea. He's still a rookie."

"A less shitty rookie than before. I'll give him that." Karla scoffed.

"Why are you even here?" Ryan asked.

"Sapphire's been doing a lot of nagging on the ship, and we needed a way out." Dante spun a miniature tornado beneath himself, using it as a seat. "So, me personally? I'm here to say fuck you."

"Wow." Ryan flipped him off before turning to Karla. "I'm guessing you're the same?"

Karla smiled and flipped Ryan off too, blowing a bubblegum bubble. Jennifer chuckled before slapping both hands onto Ryan's shoulders, using a burst of flame to add an extra sting.

Ryan turned in confusion as his senses suddenly went into overdrive. He shot into the air, narrowly dodging a swing from Karla's tendril.

Dante blasted a gust of wind toward him, but Ryan inhaled sharply and unleashed a burst of fire from his mouth, using the recoil to propel himself out of the way.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Ryan landed on the edge of the building without so much as a stumble.

"A less shitty rookie." Jennifer snickered.

Dante rolled his eyes, but Karla couldn't hide her smirk. Jennifer zoomed in front of her cousin with the biggest grin he'd seen from her in years.

"I can finally drop this onto someone else!" She shook his shoulders. "I mean... I'll give it a bit more time, but good job, leader."