Team 5 No. 4: Smile For Me

### Performers

Mikey, Elliot, Mitsumi, Steven, Maya, Odinya, Boss, The Church of the Smiling God

## The Story

A man runs down the street and into an alleyway, zig zagging to try and avoid his known fate. The man wears a red bandana and sunglasses, carrying a duffle bag as he sprints into a drain tunnel and hides behind a wall, trying to slow his breathing.

Four figures, boating carved masks with a smile and high school uniforms, follow behind his trail of blood. The smallest one giggles, and whispers something, then soon the biggest one walks up to the wall, reaching through and pulling out the man.

He pleads for his life but they are unheard by the group. The leader puts his hands on his face, then his neck with sparking blue strands front his fingertips and stretches his arms out, cutting his head off in one slice.

They walk out with the body, spilling blood on the concrete of the water drain all the way to the bridge. A crowd gathered in horror as a group of college kids hung a headless body on the bridge, displaying the gore for the world to see.

The leader walked to the crowd of civilians and opened his arms out wide,

“Do not be afraid, we are the kin of the lord, and we are here to protect you from the scum and dirt of the world, such as this man! We are the Church of the Smiling God, And we are here to serve you, and you alone!”

He bows to the crowd, who all stand, frozen with shock, as they attempt to take in that their small hometown has been “blessed” by a group of murders. They all tip their caps and seemingly vanish in a small, bright flash.

They return to an abandoned chapel, the colorful glass panes in the high window, lit by the moon, and casting ethereal colors across the floor. They walk together into a back room, filled with clothes, masks, and food, like the chapel is but their home.

They unmask themselves, going into separate rooms to change back into regular clothes. They all walk out, heading into a car to drive back to class. As they make it to the campus, they all part ways, saying they'll see each other later, as if nothing happened mere hours prior.

The leader of the group, Henry, walks back to class, backpack in hand. He opens the door to the auditorium as everyone seats themselves, as they notice his arrival, and stare daggers at him, he calmly sits down, flashing a light, innocent grin, and gets his paper out, ready for a great day of learning.

After class, they all meet at the front of campus, passing cheerleaders and mathletes to get to the car. (Henry looks at a fictional camera and points) “The one with the keys, Abraham Grim, the “Chad” of the group, usually doing whatever he wants with his families’ riches.”

“Next to the car is Sofia Barlow, the “giggly” one. She studies human biology and physiology, being labeled the weirdo or freak for her tendencies to lash out randomly or act on impulses, probably from her bad family life, she really deserves better..”

“And that, that's my older sister Lillian, she's kind of a bitch but she's useful when it comes down to it. She got me into most of this anyway, y’know, the hero work. And me? I'm Henry, a bit like the leader of the ragtag, and the child of our God, but he doesn't like the name “God”, says it’s got some bad connotation, makes him sad. He’s more like an…  “employer.”. You'll get it, don't worry”

Henry gets into the car as they peel out of the campus, heading to Burger Bishop for lunch. As they head into the diner and grab a seat while Abraham order’s their food, Henry looks up at the TV, seeing that their recent activity is becoming quite popular, even if the news reporter thinks negatively about their deeds.

Henry smiles as Sofia kicks her legs and giggles, they have made it into the spotlight. Lillian grumbles and slumps her head down trying to get some rest from Sofia’s crazy ass. As they eat their food, Henry continues to listen to the news, seeing that a recent inmate at the towns prison has escaped and is at large.

Henry peers to his friends wondering if they hear the same thing he's hearing, Abraham sits his drink down and looks at Henry, asking if he really wants to do this in one facial expression. Henry nods and the group gets up and drives back to the chapel to get ready.

They dawn their masks and caps once more, ready to reenact justice and show the world who they truly are. They drive away from town, assuming that would be a good starting point to hunt down their man. Lillian scouts ahead, holding her head and closing her eyes, being able to see every gasp breathed, step taken, or a convict on the run.

At the Lazarus Project Headquarters, Mitsumi wakes up and makes her breakfast, a very clear annoyed expression slathered across her face as she makes eggs. Michael appears behind her, folding his arms around her lovingly and laying his head on her shoulder. She says good morning, looking back at him but Michael falls back in horror pointing at her head.

She gets exceedingly pissed, asking that he ruined a good moment for a joke,

“Baby look at your head!”

“Oh fuck you too”

“No Mitsumi you have fucking HORNS!”

“Oh my GOD Michael, are you really going to be this much of a di-”

She walks to the bathroom and screeches running up and down the hallway holding her new found horns atop her head. The screaming wakes up Elliot that opens his door and falls on the floor in shock, and laughing at the same time.

Mitsumi punches Elliot in the jaw, saying that it isn't funny, and that she's a freak, but Michael hugs her telling her that it's not going to change anything about her, and saying that she looks even cooler.

She grumbles and indulges Mickey. Elliot bugs her about the horns, asking a variety of questions, with Mitsumi giving him a quick answer of “making him shut the fuck up.”

Boss, who has a new found megaphone, walks through the hallway shocking everyone up. He explains that Dr. Ochomo brought this to him to wake the group up with, saying it would be “funny.” Odinya walks out of Elliot’s room, seeing Boss standing right outside his door with the megaphone. Boss bends down to her and jolts her awake with his new loud voice, chuckling, saying it was quite enjoyable.

He discards of it in the trash can next to the kitchen and tells them their mission: a group of kids have been murdering for fame.

“Ohhh what the fuck man.” Elliot exclaims

“Kids? How old?”

“Late, collage” Boss says tamely

Steven sighs deeply and gets up from his chair and moving to his room.

They get into the helicopter once more, kicking off their journey.

Back to Lillian, who narrows it down to a closed metal workshop that had been run down for a few years now. They burn rubber to the location, getting out of the car and Henry pulling up a metal garage door, their silhouettes black as a road light shines upon them.

Sofia skips inside the big empty warehouse giggling, taunting whoever could be inside like how someone would talk to a dog. The rest follow suit, with Lillian hesitant but goes in when Abraham reassures her she will be safe with him.

It follows Sofia as she skips joyously down a dark hallway, scratching as she drags her machete across pipes on the wall. Soon, a figure dashes across the hallway ahead of her, She gives chase, running after who she thinks is the prisoner. They get to a large room where a man in a large coat stands in front of her, having a pistol aimed at her head.

“I'd like for you to put that, is that a machete, or like just a really big knife?” Michael says trying to be light in the situation.

“Wouldn't you like to know huh~” She starts to giggle

“If seem lossst, we can help you find home.” They both start to circle the big room while staring at each other.

“I'm fine where I am, thank you though. But you, however, you look like you need to come with me.”

“Oh how I'd love to! But there are bigger things in life than a crush! Come with us, and i'll make you whole~”

He gags at the offer, but thanking her for the option. They both stare at each other before running at one another, Michael shooting off his gun, with Sofia cutting the bullets out of air, soon slicing up and barely missing him.

He dodges every close attack, getting low to the ground and kicking her legs and knocking her down. He aims his gun, but she quickly gets up and slices, cutting the gun in half. He looks at the half he's holding the ducking down from another attack.

Time seems to freeze.

In a flash, she is hit against a wall, and Mitsumi appears in front of him, touching his face.

“You hurt?” M says while turing behind her to see Sofia getting up.

“Im good, shes powerful M.."

Sofia looks on at the too, and just can't stop laughing.

“I've met the girlfriend haven't I! Cmon, lets see if you deserve him~”

“The fuck is your problem?”

Sofia just giggles away, forcing Mitsumi to head in for an attack. Mitsumi slashes in front of her, slamming down expecting the Machete to shatter, but it doesn't.

Mitsumi is deflected, and left wide open. She tries to dodge but gets a deep cut in the face, holding her nose and touching it slightly, flinching and breathing in pain.

While Mitsumi bleeds, Sofia starts to walk to Michael deflecting shots that Michael fires at her with his revolver. Michael hits the back of the wall, now with his barrel empty and at the mercy of Sofia. She wipes her machete on his face, smearing the blood of Mitsumi on him, his face tenses with anger,

“You're a freak!” But she just giggles

She presses her machete to his neck as he raises his head, trying to avoid the inevitable, but as he looks back at Mitsumi, he is more horrified at her appearance than his situation. She drags her katana on the ground, catching the attention of Sofia, who laughs, saying that she is one hell of a bitch. Sofia then slices michael lower stomach slowly, Michael trying to disarm her but she just kicks him down.

Mitsumi stares cold into Sofia, her eyes shadowed by her bangs as bright red blood drips from her face, looking like a true demon from hell. Her body contorted into a hateful vessel of harm, her lips looking abnormal and inhuman.

Her skin a corrupt veiny purple. Sofia and M stare at each other, waiting for the other one to move, with Sofia giving off a look of worry, while M is pure, perfect, malice.

"Ill FUCKING **KILL** **YOU!**"

Steven, who clunks down another hallway on the second floor in his huge bulletproof armor, whistles, purposefully giving out his location to anyone who would hear him. He stops in the middle of the long corridor, waiting for the two people behind him to make a move.

“What, are you gonna do anything, or are you gonna act like I don't see you”

Behind him are Abraham and Lillian, shocked that he heard them following far behind. Steven slowly rears his head behind him, seeing the hulking jock protecting the frail Lillian. Steven chuckles before removing his mask and dropping it, along with most of his protective gear, stripping down to his long sleeve shirt.

He puts all of his armor in the corner of a small room, and begins to lean on the wall, waiting for Abraham to make his move, but Abraham doesn't,

“Just go." Steven says tired and depressed "Run guys, get the fuck out of here" he says pleadingly

"No! You're in our way, and if you don't leave well have to put you down"

Steven looks down at the small girl behind him, looking in absolute sorrow.

"Please. Just let go."

"If your not with us, your against us!"

Steven sighs deeply, and wipes his face.

“you gonna make a move old man?” Abraham, still shielding Lillian.

Steven pulls out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one with a zippo lighter and tossing Abraham the pack,

Before the pack even hit the ground,

Steven pounces at Abraham with superhuman speed, it’s noticeable that his encounter with Ozymandias showed him how far his powers can bring him. Abraham ducks the punch, delivering one back into Steven’s gut.

The two deal blows, with Steven holding back, seeing what his options could be in taking him down. Abraham strikes quickly, hitting Steven in the jaw. He staggers back, dropping the cigarette that he had in his mouth until now.

Then, Steven looks at Lillian. He rushes over to her, ready for Abraham to stop him. Abraham yells, throwing himself in front of Steven, who's eyes widen, now knowing hes willing to die.

Steven's golden snakes wrapping around down to his wrist, Then into Abrahams head. Steven grabs his mask and head and crushes it in one swift motion, turning his skull into gray matter and red mist, splaying it across the ceiling and the walls.

His body slumps down off the wall and hits the floor. Lillian stands there, covered in blood. She looks up at Steven, whos shaking with every inhale, his face tearing up, and then soon falls to the floor screaming, in shock at what had just happened.

"fuck-k god fucking damn it." Steven holds his head as he slides at the other end of the hallway, beaten, and trying to hold back emotions.

She tries to crawl away, but Steven picks her up and ties her to a chair, not being able to bring himself to do any harm to her, but he knows he already broke her. He wipes his face of blood, and puts his gear back on, taking one good look at Lillian before leaving again. He's sorry, but she's too far in shell shock to say anything.

It's back to Elliot, where after hearing screaming, he slinks around invisible as he makes his way to find the others, but comes across Henry, holding the body of the prisoner in his arms, his jumpsuit soaked in blood.

Elliot steps carefully across broken bottles and sheet metal to make his way closer to an oblivious Henry. When Elliot gets only a few meters away from him, he pulls out his revolver, quietly raising it and aiming at his head, and cocking back the hammer. The click of the barrel makes Henry perk his head up slightly, giving away to Elliot that he knows he's there. Henry doesn't move at all, but stays where he is, waiting for Elliot to pull the trigger.

The fictional camera pans to Henry’s face,

“Do you think he’s going to do it? Yeah, he probably will.”

After that, Elliot fires, with Henry ducking down just in time and turning around, stretching out blue glowing wires from his fingertips. The ropes wrap around his leg, pulling him into the air and slamming him into the ground. Elliot gaps for air as his back hits the concrete floor, wrything on the ground, acting like he can’t pick himself up.

Henry walks over to him, cocky,

“Oh you are FOOLISH! What would your Boss think of you, weak.”

“What? How do you know?”

“I’m in your mind, Elliot. Yes you're such a pathetic man, drinking your sorrows away fro-”

Henry starts to gasp for air, reaching for his neck to find two snakes wrapping around it. He tries to cut them but it simply doesn't work, like a dull butter knife on steel. Henry soon passes out, and dropped on the floor,

“Tying him isn’t gonna work Steven, he’s going to get out when he wakes up.”

“No. Please. They don't deserve it."

Steven says it in a tone like an order, an order that Elliot understands. But Elliot pulls out his knife from his ankle, and steps behind Henry and picks up his head and raising the knife to his neck, giving one quick slice. His body flinches once more then goes numb, bleeding on the ground with no sign of life in his body.

Steven looks down in disgust, he cant bring himself to say anything to Elliot.

Clashing metal rings across the facility, with Mitsumi slamming her katana down at a weakened Sofia, with every hit, bright pink and red sparks fly off of the katana, and Mitsumi’s skin turning a dark violet.

Michael looks from the sidelines, holding his stomach and packing the wound, looking up as M breaks down Sofia with every hit, constantly hitting her until she gives up. She isn't trying to kill her, she's trying to make her give up. Michael has an eerily similar feeling in his stomach from the sight. Sofia stops blocking, and falls on the ground, panting and pleading for her life.

“Get up.”

“Please, I-I just want to go home, Please!-”

“Get UP!”

Mitsumi roars, picking Sofia up by the neck and throwing her to the wall right next to Michael as his eyes widen with fear. Sofia gets up and staggers, shaking and whimpering for her life. Mitsumi throws her the machete,

“Do it.”

Sofia picks it up and looks at it, then back at her. She starts to weep, pleading for her to not make her do it,

“Please please please pleas-”

“Do. It.”

Sofia starts to cry, raising the machete to her neck, and slitting her throat. She drops it and falls to her knees, holding her neck, but it doesn't stop the waterfall of deep red blood from falling through her fingers.

Her body falls to the floor, lifeless and pale, fear strewn across her face in her last moments. Michael looks at Mitsumi, but he can't help but fear her, he slumps down onto the ground and holds his head in his hands, the violet color on her skin fades away, and she returns back to normal.

She looks down at the dead body, seeing her throat cut, and looking back at her katana, with not one blood splatter.

“Did-Did I do that?”

“Yeah M, You made her slit her own throat after you brutally broke her down. You, did that”

“Michael, I'm, Im sorry.”

“M…I, I dont know.

“ I don't want you to be scared of me baby, she-she was going to hurt you."

Michael looks back up at Mitsumi, smoke rising from her back and her wound completely healed. Gripping her katana.

“Too late for that.”

Michael, It couldnt have be-

“Mitsumi, you MADE her KILL herself, like, that's beyond insane, she was playing with me M!"

“You dont know that Mikey, she put that fucking machete to your neck! Look, im sorry but i love you, and God knows I'm not letting you get hurt.”

Michael sighs deeply. They both run into Steven and Elliot, bringing in Lillian still strapped to the chair. Her face is pale and her eyes bloodshot red.

Elliot sits down in front of her, asking who they are, and  why they are here. Lillian’s eyes roll up to face Elliot, her face still splayed with pain and suffering.

“Well, you got anything for us?”

“...You killed them…”

“Now im sorry, but that’s what we are here to do, protect the world from people who endanger it.”

“...What do you think got to them first, the ants, or the chief's boy on the ground trying to cover up your mess?”

Elliot’s face goes cold. Lillian begins to chuckle, then laugh,

“He killed them all! Its YOUR fault Elliot, ALLLL YOUURRR FAUUULT!” She says it in almost a song, taunting him manically.

Elliot stands up and pulls out his revolver, cocking back the hammer and putting it to her head.

Steven says not to do it, begging him not too, screaming it. Elliot pulls out his revolver but Steven tackles him. putting him in a headlock.

Michael is speechless. seeing Steven's raw power and emotions.

Elliot screams over and over, saying he'll kill her. but Steven holds strong, soon having Elliot pass out. Mitsumi clicks her radio, telling Boss they have a police pickup.

The crew exit the factory, getting in Steven’s car,

Steven is the first to get out something,

"They where kids. Dont fucking argue with me because it wasnt right. I KILLED A KID, there is no fucking excuse.

Michael looks at Mitsumi, who is looking down

"No objections?" Steven peers at Elliot, who is knocked out. "Good."

Boss greets them at their room, asking if there were any issues during their work, but Mitsumi immediately shuts him down, yelling at him that they should have known how fucked up the work would have been, and how young they actual where, preaching Stevens and Michaels ideals.

Boss looks quietly at M, then soon crouching down to meet her height,

“I let you know when it's appropriate, do you understand? You are a killer, you, kill.”

M turns around frustrated, looking at the group before opening her katana and slashing at Boss, multiple rapid swipes whip through the air for several seconds, but Boss seems to move perfectly around it every time, soon wearing her out and making her fall to the floor, smoke rolling off her back.

“Let this be a warning, know your place.” Then Boss slowly looks at Steven, “All of you.”

Boss walks off into the elevator, the closing doors being the only thing heard besides Mitsumi breathing on the ground. Michael runs over to her and picks her up, and puts her on the couch, but is interrupted by Steven, telling him he needs a favor.

Steven walks into his garage and locks the door, sitting him down and tossing him the zippo lighter. Michael flicks it open, hearing the light sound of lighter fluid being let out, he closes it and looks back at a very distraught Steven.

He pulls up a stool and sits in front of Michael,

“I wanted you to have it”

“Why?”

"Because kid, I mean I want you to have something that reminded you of me"

"Its not like we are leaving anytime soon though, right"

Stevens face turns from worried to a forced smile, Michael knows it

"Like if someone gives you a necklace, or a bracelet"

"Yeah, thank you, Steven" Michael smiles back

[some time later]

It’s Christmas morning, and usually, they don't have presents to give each other, instead having a huge cookout with enough grub to feed a kingdom. There's steak, roast beef, salmond, a variety of salads, bowls of different snacks, candies, and so so much more. All usually being recorded by Maya and her home video camera.

Usually being the bringer of this feast, Steven and Mitsumi, prepare for days before just to get everything on time, usually having all the spiked eggnog being gone by the time due to Elliot.

Life seems almost normal, but Michael knows otherwise, as does Steven. Michael sits down on the couch in front of the TV as Odinya stares blankly into it as usual. She turns around to acknowledge he's there, but instead of saying hi, she looks at him, reading is face like a book,

“What’s wrong Mikey?”

Michael’s face immediately cheers up to hide his recent feelings,

“Nothin Odinya, im A-okay”

“Why are you lying Mikey?”

“What? When did you learn about lying”

“MItsumi tells me humans do it when they want to hide their emotions.”

“Oh... Grreaaat,”

“Is that what humans call sarcasm?”

“You're getting too smart Odinya”

Odinya giggles and looks back at the TV, losing herself in the magical wonders of moving pixels. He sighs and gets up, going back in his room and staring up at the ceiling, watching the ceiling fan spin around and around.

Later that night, the group is all in the living room, watching Home Alone and eating an unnecessary amount of food. Steven and Maya stuff their faces, Elliot drinks all of the alcohol while Odinya tries to stop him, and Michael and Mitsumi lay together, silently enjoying their time.

The clock in the living room strikes midnight, and the elevator doors open. The movie almost fades into white noise as Boss’s shoes clack down the hard tile floor to the living room.

Michael looks at Steven, and Steven looks back at Mikey. Michael’s heart pounds faster and faster as Boss’s clicks turn into a soft crush on the carpet in the living room. Boss peers over the couch, looking directly at Michael, his almost ghostly size looming over him before he tells everyone to get up, and that they have another mission to do.

Elliot gets up and heavily disagrees with Boss through mumbled words and slurring, but he simply acts like not there due to how drunk he is. Mitsumi tells him if they are going, he needs to tell them what it is about.

Boss sits there in silence for a second, then says that there is a person in the subway tunnels that is too dangerous to be left alive. Mitsumi asks if they have a power, any sort of way to get the jump on them, and Boss obliges her question,

“They have moderate to powerful telekinesis, and can harm innocent people if kept alive. Be on the lookout for a bald guy with a scar on is nose (funny reference) Is that good enough for you?”

“...Sure.”

The group gears up, and before getting into the elevator, Steven kisses Maya and tells her he loves her.

He walks in the elevator, and the doors slam shut.

Its raining when they get to Georgia, this being one of the few times they are finally seeing a city while on a mission. The subway is closed off to the public, having them go invisible to not be seen, passing yellow tape and police officers.

They make their way down the stairs and onto the tracks of the subway. It's dark, dark enough to not see anything behind those shadows. If there was anything, that is. The tunnels shine on, with the lights on the ceiling illuminating the tunnels with a flicker.

The lights continue to flicker on and off, with a tall dark shape on the tracks with them. The lights finally stop flickering, and the dark creeps in once again, this time, taking everyone with it.

Steven pans around, but no one is there,

Then, he finally shows himself. Boss floats across the tracks towards him, suspended in mid air, more towering as ever.

Steven pans again, hoping he'll see Michael, but all he sees is a great expanse of grass, and a massive sky in the middle of a sunset with two moons.

“This? This is the most peaceful place you could come up with?” Says Boss

“Fuck you, you bastard. I’ll kill you-”

“Oh please Mr. Wright, you have no clue what powers you are currently possessing, let alone meddling with. Why can't any of you just do your job.”

“You’re a fucking monster, you lied to us!”

“You wouldn't understand what I’ve been doing, for all of us-”

“OH DON'T PULL THAT SHIT! I know what you're doing, using us as puppets!”

It’s back at the subway station, with Michael, Mitsumi and Elliot, Steven is on his knees looking up, twitching.

Mitsumi grabs on to him trying to move him with her warp slash but when she does he stays completely put. No matter how much force is put in, he is unable to be pushed in any way. They take off his mask, seeing that he looks to be in a trance, with his eyes rolling in the back of his head.

Michael starts pleading, hugging Steven, putting his head on Steven’s. MItsumi wires back to Boss, saying they have a huge problem, but he doesn't respond.

In Steven’s trance he hears Micheal’s pleads echo around him. He starts screaming into the sky, saying he's still there, but he can't hear him. Steven tears up, falling to his knees and hitting his fist on the soft ground.

“Steven, what you are trying to do is ultimately pointless. I know humans, I have seen everything they have to offer, and I grow tired of their semantics, but you must know, I don’t want any of you to be harmed, let alone die.”

Boss stops floating, now stepping toward Doc, on his knees.

“At least not anymore.”

“So what’s this all about then huh? You’re just gonna use us like toy soldiers? We’re not special enough for you because we’re human?! The only reason you pay any attention to us is because we have flashy colors and lights, like a CHILD!”

“That’s enough.”

“No, I’VE had enough. You don’t mean a thing you’re saying. I knew the SECOND I found your stash of classified shit I was dead and gone, because you don’t care. You never cared. Why would you?”

“Steven, if you had any idea why this was happening, you would understand.”

“STOP IT!!!”

Steven flexes his arm, trying to get the snakes to coil, but they don’t come. In the real world, they try to unfurl around his arm, but fall off, wriggling on the ground before dissipating.

“No.”

Boss utters as the sky begins to darken, the soft grass turning to a harsh black glass. Boss is taking control.

“Just a big child, jealous of what we have. That’s why you hate us. Not because I figured everything out. You know you’ll never have what they have. Companionship, brotherhood…”

Boss stops taking a lenient stance, now entirely straight, the only thing moving about him being his cloak, somberly floating in the breeze.

“Love.”

“You think I envy you?”

Boss takes a harsher tone, not of anger but of authority, like Steven has stepped out of place yet again.

“I don’t care about your pointless romantics. I don’t want what any of you have. I don’t need what any of you have.”

Steven smirks

“Struck a nerve, did I?”

Boss is unphased

“You’re not funny anymore, Steven. This is no longer a game I enjoy playing, but I cannot leave either.”

“And here I was, hoping I was just about to see the real you.”

Boss is staring without eyes, and Steven can feel it. God can he feel it.

“I don’t think you know what’s real.”

Michael tries to snap him out of it, with Mitsumi running back, saying a train is coming down the tunnel, and that they need to leave, now.

“Honey, we have to leave, now. A train is coming in about 30 seconds!”

“NO!”

Michael grabs Doc’s face

“No no… Nonono! Get up! Please!”

Elliot puts his hand on Michael's shoulder

“Michael, come on.”

He sweeps the hand off like a bug.

“FUCK OFF! WE ARE NOT LEAVING HIM HERE!”

Steven looks to the sky, as his eyes widen.

“No… Don’t go…”

He looks at Boss fury in his eyes.

“Fucker. You fucker.”

“Have you ever heard of a soul train, Steven?”

“You **fucker!**”

“When someone dies on the way to the hospital because a train is passing. I remember learning  about it, all the way back in 1919. I’ve always hated trains ever since.”

“You..”

Steven can’t seem to get the words out, as emotions and racing thoughts flood his head like a monsoon.

“Well, it’s time to wake up Steven, this is where you get on.”

Steven’s eyes blink back into reality and gaze at Michael for a split second, before they are all enveloped in the headlights.

Steven jolts up from his bed he had made on the ground the night before. He wipes his face of sweat and tears, looking around before noticing he's not back at base, he's back home. The slight rain tapping at the glass window 34 floors up.

He quickly pans the room, before seeing his desk filled with papers and files. He stumbles to the bathroom and looks at the mirror, seeing a clean shaven version of himself, no scar on his jaw or his longer hair.

He stares at himself for a while before breaking down and crying, crying was the only emotion he could muster. He runs into the living room and falls to the ground, screaming,

*He's dead.*

Michael is back on the platform with Mitsumi, as he stares down at the last place Stevan was. He starts to stutter, gasping for air and reaching at nothing.

Mitsumi reaches for her radio and calling for Elliot, asking if he made it. Elliot, who had jumped off the wall into the windshield of the subway, had crashed into the middle of an entire group of civilians who had seen him.

Elliot picks up his radio,

“...Yeah…”

Michael couldn't even register that Elliot was still alive as he stared blankly into nothing. Mitsumi calls Boss between teary eyes and voice cracks,

“Doc is dead Boss, and Elliot is on the subway in front of civilians, I need you to get him out of there.”

“Understood”

Boss’s voice seems to wake up Michael, who appears back at Mitsumi, he throws off his mask and hugs her as he cries out in agony, she drops her katana, cradling him as he whales in pain.

On the subway, Elliot stands in front of a group of people, he sighs deeply and sits down, taking his helmet off and running his hand through his hair. He groans to himself before the train lights start to flicker, in the shadows, Boss emerges.

The subway starts to shake as he raises his hand and pulling up, making everyone slump down.

“We need to go, Green.”

“What did you do to them?”

Boss tilts his head down at Elliot without a word, and Elliot takes it as a sign to leave. The train heads to a stop, and the doors open to an entire subway car asleep. Elliot takes Boss upstairs to exit the subway station.

They meet Michael and Fox outside with the police, Elliot tells them to follow him and they leave the scene and into a car parked on the street. Boss says goodbye and they are driven to a helicopter and taken home.

The elevator doors open to Maya on the couch with Odinya braiding her hair, the team files into the hallway, quiet, looking down.

“Hey guys, uhh where's Steve?”

Odinya looks up from off the couch, and she freezes,

"Oh no.."

Elliot goes up to Maya and holds her arms, giving a completely new emotion that he has never shown before, guilt.

Without a word said, Maya begins to break down, and Elliot hugs her deeply rocking her back and forth as she cries. That night, it was nothing but the sound of agony.

[A few days later]

Michael wakes up, exhausted and hungry. He limps to the kitchen and makes cereal but hears a faint sound of laughs being heard in the garage. He opens the door to see Mitsumi sobbing alone at the christmas video of her and Steven cooking splayed onto a projector.

Michael walks in, but doesnt say anything as Mitsumi tries to end the video and wipe her tears with her sweater. Mitsumi hugs him, saying that she doesn't know what to do without him.

Michael puts Mitsumi to bed, saying he’ll see her in a second. He leans on the countertop and sighs deeply before getting scared by Odinya.

“Jesus! Fuck- Odinya you need to say when you are behind us, we cant hear you because you dont walk.”

“I am sorry Michael.”

He sighs “Its fine.”

A great silence falls between them for a bit, with Odinya just looking at Michael.

“What Odinya, what do you want to say, huh?”

“...”

“What! What the fuck do you possibly need from me right now!” He says frustrated, almost starting to tear up.

She opens her arms in the gesture of a hug, but he declines, trying to walk away, but she keeps trying to tug his shirt as he tries to go to Steven’s garage.

“Odinya! Stop!” He starts to tear up.

She pulls at him one more time, and when he tries to swat her away, she grabs him with both of her arms and flies high into the air of the living room. He tries to break free, but its no use.

She cradles him, holding his head as he cries.

“She closes her eye, and just holds him. For the first time, she tries to understand human emotion, and does not question it.

“I love you Michael, we all do”

He starts to hold her also, letting her grip envelope him. Soon enough, he falls asleep in her arms, and she floats back into his room, laying him down next to Mitsumi who is fast asleep.

She looks back one last time.

“Fight well, Michael...”

She floats away from view, showing the fan spinning once more.

[ After Credits Scene ]

Michael is in Stevens room, opening doors and going though his things, he goes into his closet, moving boxes before seeing a flipped open note book.

He opens it seeing sketches and notes, Michael's eyes widen. Then turn into a scowl.

## Trivia

* Steven didnt wanted to have the group find out, putting them all at risk if they figured out the truth.
* Its not confirmed whether or not the people in the subway are killed by Boss. Readers interpretation.
* This shit is fucking sad man