"Hey. I tried my best!""The point is, as long as you're walking about this city, we're bound to get more 'accidents' like this one from the persons that want you in jail, or worse.And that means my men are going to have to continuously deal with that. Putting them in this kind of danger!" Bradley pointed to his men; all facing forward without so much as a bit of light in their eyes."What then, do you propose?" asked Benjamin."I don't know" Bradley started. "But you're going to have to do a whole lot better than 'calling it a night.'"Or, how about this? Mr. Making Demands. I leave here. You won't stop me. You can't stop me. And you never hear back from me again." warned Benjamin.A bead of sweat rolled over Bradley's face. "Don't you want to get them before they get you? The threat is serious" he tried, looking for another angle."And you're going to help with that?" scoffed Benjamin. "How? Calling the Coast Guard? Or your merry band of officers? You saw Linda. How do you intend t

"So, where do we go from here?" Benjamin asked Amber.After Bradley had filed out, the both of them were the only ones left in the ransacked restaurant."What do you mean? The contract. I'll have the new one drafted tomorrow. It's already getting late" she remarked, checking her watch, and not really looking at him."I wasn't talking about the contract" clarified Benjamin."Then what?"Benjamin gestured to the entire table. Their little date."All this," he said."Oh. Well, I don't just think I'm in the mood for a date anymore, Boss"He flinched. "You were calling me Benjamin up until a few hours ago. Everyone's still gone and you're calling me Boss?""Which would you prefer then" asked Amber in a sparky tone. "Black? Or something else?""Forget it, It's not about the name" retracted Benjamin.Amber rolled her eyes and began to arrange her bag."Whoa whoa. You're leaving already?""I already said it was late. Is there something else you'd like to discuss?"Benjamin extended and waved

"Please, save me! SAVE ME!"Benjamin nodded his head. "Okay. Enough chit-chat. Hand over the card."Benjamin remembered what had happened when he tried using [Bow Down To Me] on Linda. Somehow, the card had deflected his command. So the whole point of this rigmarole was to disarm Mr.Whoever's card from his person as soon as possible.Mr.Whoever bit his lip and hesitated for a millisecond. They had just past the 5th floor. Benjamin clapped his hands."That's the sound of you hitting the pavement" he smiled. There was a squeal, and the card was in Benjamin's hands in the next fraction of a second, which was also when they hit the ground.Although PAYTON, had assured him firmly there were no consequences, Benjamin still blinked his eyes when he made contact with the hard surface.He opened them to find they had landed on some poor bastard's minivan. And by them, Benjamin, who had rolled forward first to absorb all the impact. He pushed Mr.Whoever aside, and clambered down to assess the d

"But I want to hear you say it. What exactly do you mean by trouble?"Dominique turned to his Captain. I don't take direct orders from him. Should I say anything? Bradley nodded for him to go ahead."Arson, Sir" replied Dominique."Arson! What the fuck? Who?!""We're working on identifying some of them, now, Sir""So we didn't catch anyone?""We're going to. I believe we have some addresses now, but the madam will give you the complete details."Benjamin shook his head. "I'll deal with this when I get back. But in the meantime, Good work! Let's go, Bradley.""You did good, Kid. Again, about this whole thing. I'm sorry it has to be like this"Of course, Bradley was referring to the whole arrangement of their precinct coming to work for a private individual."It's quite alright. I mean, it's not alright, in the face of the law, Captain. But we trust your instincts. And I have to thank you too. Those arsonists are the only action I've seen since joining the force." remarked the boy."Ju

"Then you would be considered a madman, stripped of your career, your loved ones, and ironically your sanity. That is, if you got lucky, and the Alliance doesn't get to you first." iterated Benjamin."I-uhh, huh""Mutually Assured Destruction, Bayubee. I mean, I'll be fine, but you get the point. I just trust your instinct to stay alive and thrive, that's all."Bradley looked over the machine a few more seconds before saying: "Then trust it. I have no reason and no means to do anything. What's with the pen? And the Alliance? What's the deal?""Is it really important that you know?"Bradley nodded.Benjamin sighed. "Fine. Where do I start? The Alliance. It's a secret organization, I suppose. Filled with rich people, and people like me.""By people like you, you mean--""Systems, yes." "I see. And how does one become?""I don't know actually. Huh. I was randomly given a system, I suppose. When I was still a son-in-law at my fiance's house?""Son-In-Law? Why would they give something lik