"So, how the hell did you manage this? I half-expected to come here, and find you sulking on the pavement because they refused to listen to me."Benjamin chuckled."And there's no one either. What's going on?"Benjamin shrugged and clasped his hands together. "I have my ways. You know that""Okay, Mr. Mysterious. You didn't beat up the manager or anything like that, right?" she laughed.Benjamin joined in. "You're pretty funny," he noted."Oh, please" she dismissed him. "So" she spread out her hands "Here I am. I believe you had something to say to me"Benjamin twirled with some thoughts in his head. "Let's have a drink first""Oh, you! Naughty naughty""What? Me?" chuckled Benjamin. "Come on. The evening's nice enough""Mmm" Benjamin signalled for Gunther, and he came to take their orders."Let me use this chance to say, I'm so sorry I'm late," she said."Let me guess. It has something to do with the office.""Okay, smarty-pants."Benjamin arched one of his eyebrows"Okay, yes. We've

"So" he returned to her. "Which one am I ?""What do you mean?""Am I the Obese man, or the attractive gym rat?" he asked her.She leaned in and parted her red luscious lips seductively. "Wouldn't you like to know?"Benjamin took another sip, but it wasn't working. His hormones were raging, rising, climbing more ferociously than they had ever done before. And she was the cause. Compared to being with Claire, Amber was a bonfire, hot enough to keep the cold out, and also make his blood rush."I would, actually," he said, setting down the glass. She folded her arms."Really? That's your coup de grace? You brought me here to find out what I think of you?""Seems only fair, seeing as I've already told you mine.""Or you just want to feed your ego?" she smiled."You think I have an ego? Quite the compliment."The attendant had become closer than a few feet from the table before he stopped abruptly. Amber, startled by the sudden pause in movement, looked towards him. And yelped in shock. "Y

"The fuck?!" he winced and backed away. His hand felt heavy, and moist, almost like---It was blood. When Benjamin raised his hand, his knuckles had torn open, as if lacerated by some sort of Industrial machine. And the bleeding was rampant. He clutched his sliced hand in burning pain."But, [Enhanced Body]" muttered Benjamin."[Enhanced Body] is still active, Master Benjamin" replied PAYTON quickly. Benjamin wasn't so quick to trust the machine, so he manually pulled up the stats window himself.[Enhanced Body: Active][Martial Arts: Active]"What in the fuck?!" he cursed out loud.Adin made a high-pitched whistle. "Looking for this?" he asked, twirling the jagged piece of glass Benjamin had intended to stab him with.How?! thought Benjamin. Did he rip that out from my hand before it collided? But that's impossible!"Don't be too shocked, Mr. Benjamin Black. You're capable of some pretty crazy things yourself, aren't you?" Adin reminded. Of course. It was easy for Benjamin to believe

"I - I didn't think about that.""Of course. You were so eager to see yourself as a piece of shit." surmised Amber.Benjamin's hands went to his temple. Amber's ears perked up, and she moved to the Balcony. She thought she had heard -- "Do you hear Sirens?" she asked, panicking. Of course, the question was rhetorical. Whether there were sirens downstairs or not, was irrelevant. Sooner, or later, they WILL be there.Amber closed her eyes. One way or another, she had to take her chances. She left the balcony, left the restaurant, left a confused Benjamin Black who still stood frozen and transfixed by his thoughts. It was when she called the ground level from the elevator, that he appeared before her again."What do you think you're doing?" he asked ominously."Trying not to get arrested. But you can stay if you want to" she snapped back."You'll never make it. They already have your description. And who knows if there are some security cameras you missed on your way up? Or some even acr

Benjamin looked around for Amber. Hopefully, she wasn't too shocked by the sights. Shocked was the hell of an understatement.Her mouth was fully agape at this point, and she let out a scream. A short shrill scream, tugging at her hair. The Captain was disturbed. From the dispatch call, Benjamin and a woman wearing a beige dress had been responsible for the assault at GRIDATTA. Why was she behaving as if it was the first time she saw that ability? Was it really the first time?Benjamin sat coolly, wondering, waiting to tackle Amber's emotions, her protests, cries, remonstrations, and whatever psychological response she would blurt trying to handle her nervous breakdown. But Amber only buried her face beneath the table, her fingers shivering while holding on to the maple tabletops.I'll deal with that later, thought Benjamin. And turned to the Captain, with a courteous smile. "You'll have to excuse my companion here. She's had a little too much to drink""That seems like a reasonable e