Zero POV:

"Do You want to be entertained? Don't change the channel. Because in two minutes, I will die before your eyes. I've leaked my location to your overlord, Eden Innovation Technologies, a corporation that rose from a crumbling empire that was once called the United States of America. Crim, poverty, anarchy. Eden made it all disappear by bringing UBI, Universal Basic Income, and an idealist stipend for obedience. Yeah, Eden saved you. They've brought you stability. You're free now. Mm-hmm. You are free to work, as long as it's for Eden. You are free to eat, as long as it's Eden's food. Free to consume Eden's revisionist bullshit. And if you don't agree... they will instantaneously turn you into something you're not. A monster. A terrorist to shoot on sight. No arrest. No trail. Just as they are about to murder me. So you bow before Eden, regurgitating their propaganda in exchange for their daily handouts. But deep down inside you, you know there's only one way out. You're done being entertained. There is another way. join us. Join the revolution".

I was in MegaCity 2, on the roof of a building drinking a glass of lemonade watching a blimp show a broadcast of Eden's number one enemy, Marcus Holloway. After that played Rayman's show describing the Niji 6 and Cody Rhodes' wrestling match. I just look at the highways and see the cars driving past. Soon Valmet came and leaned next to the railing.

Valmet: Hey Z. It's a very nice night.

Zero: Not as nice as you, Valmet.

Valmet: Oh, you flirt. I love it when you say nice things.

It's been a whole year since I escaped the labs and met Valmet. We've been guns for hire and raking in money. But we still sought to escape Eden. One day, we came across a tip about a special device called the Codec that can store unlimited and untracable credits. Luckily for us, we've been hired by an Eden Executive as additional security for their party.

Zero: So, soon enough we'll be sailing into the sunset together?

Valmet: Yep. In two days, the two of us are out of Eden spending all our time with each other on the beach.

Zero: Any chance we could snag a few credits while we're here? Have our own personal celebration before we get that Codec?

Valmet: You really need to ask me that question when you know the answer?

The Eden Executive comes onto the roof with his body guard and is clearly tipsy from the booze.

Exec: Hey you two, thanks again for coming here. I feel much safer knowing recommended mercs are watching my back. I promise you're money from this will allow you to take it easy for weeks.

Bodyguard: Sir, you should take it easy.

Exec: I am, I switched to lemonade just like this kid. It's surprisingly tasty. Did you know it was tasty?

I pat his back as I try to have him move away

Zero: If you're not feeling well, go to the bathroom. You said it yourself you have a rep.

Bodyguard: Sir, let me take you to your room.

I pat the bodyguard's back as well.

Zero: Listen to your guard, she knows what's good for you.

Bodyguard: Do not touch me, please.

Zero: Sorry.

The guard takes the exec away and Valmet moves closer to me.

Valmet: You got what we need.

Zero: Yep.

I hold out my hand and a black, shadowy substance moves on my palms before disappearing.

Zero: Do you want to know the worst things about living in this place? All the crap they put on TV. That Rayman guy probably has a different persoality when he's away from the camera.

Valmet: They all do. And those Niji 6 bastards are obnoxious as hell.

The Blimp's screen then change to a wanted poster of Dolph Laserhawk and Alex Taylor.

Zero: I wonder what the world outside of Eden looks like.

Valmet: Can't possibly be as shitty as this place.

The lights in the building goes out and we hear gun fire. Me and Valmet grab our weapons and go inside the building. We activate our night vision glasses and see multiple men from Pagan Min's gang.

Zero: Pagan Min.

Valmet: Of course.

The men start firing and everyone scrambles for cover. Me and Valmet start firing and get behind tables and pillars. I fire my blasters at the intruders and blow their heads off. Valmet runs toward them and dodge their bullets until she is close enough to plunge her knife into their necks and slices through them. More continue firing at us and we shoot back again.

I feel something growing in me. Is it bloodlust? My desire to kill these guys before they can hurt my girlfriend? I doesn't matter. Something in me needs to be unleashed.

???: Release me! Release me! No point in keeping me caged!

Not yet. This situation doesn't call for it. I keep firing my blasters and moved at supernatural speeds. It was like I blended with the shadows and appeared behind my enemies backs. I shoot my blasters at them and kill a good amount of the intruders. Valmet then uses her knife to decapitate one of the crooks. The last one tries to shoot her, but I appear behind them and swing my hand, slicing through their head. All the intruders are now dead.

The Exec is now slightly less drunk and comes out holding a briefcase.

Exec: Thank you two. You've got the job done. Here's your pay.

I grab the briefcase and walk away with Valmet.

Zero: Pleasure doing business with you.

Valmet: Do yourself a favor and lay off the booze for a while.

Valmet leaves with me as the Exec tells everyone that the party is over and to return home. The two of us go to our apartment in MegaCity 2 and open the briefcase which is full of UBI Credits. We then take out all the credits and valuables that we swiped off the partygoers and the men hired by Pagan Min. Valmet and I then kiss as we embrace each other. Valmet then takes off my shirt and sweater before pushing me onto the bed. She crawls and is on top of me as she looks down at my eyes. The two of us kiss as we indulge in our desire for each other.

Hours later, the two of us are watching TV while all our clothes are just on the floor. Valmet's body feels so nice and I doubt she wants to let go of me. Rayman is on the TV and giving a News Report for what's happened in Eden.

Rayman: Carnage on the highway in the center of MegaCity 2 this afternoon. A terrorist attack has killed 252 people and injured 367 others. I would like to warn our younger viewers. Some of these scenes are... disturbing.

The feed switches to a ravaged highway that shows multiple fires and corpses. The camera zooms do a dead Hybrid as a man screams off-screen in agony.

Zero: Show it after he says it.

Valmet: Seriously.

Rayman: The terrorists, Dolph Laserhawk, and Alex Taylor, are still on the run. Our valiant police force is on the case and will bring them to justice. But who is Dolph Laserhawk? Let's find out.

The TV plays a preview about an episode detailing Dolph's past and betrayal with his supposed partnership with Marcus Holloway. It ends with the usual "This program is mandatory, and every offender will get a 500 credit fine.

Zero: That damn warning.

Rayman: Fascinating. A must-watch for everyone

I just scoff at Rayman's statement and turn my eyes back at Valmet. Soon enough, we'll be out of off Eden and free from its oppression.

Zero: Tomorrow, we'll be out of Eden.

Valmet: Just us spending the rest of our lives together.

Zero: Hey Valmet?

Valmet: What is it, Z?

Zero: I love you

Valmet: So do I.

The two of us kiss before we put on our clothes and get ready to snag that Codec. Freedom is practically in our grasp. I use my ability to have us take on the forms of the Exec and his bodyguard before we get a car and drive to the warehouse storing the Codec. We drive into the lower-class levels of MegaCity 2 and go past an Eden recruitment center where people are fighting for any open positions and leave their poor lifestyle.

We drive to the warehouse and stop at the entrance where a guard approaches us and knocks on the roof..

Guard: Open up

Valmet lowers the window and the guard see our forms of the Exec and his bodyguard. He panics a little and salutes us.

Guard: Oh, uh... Sorry sir. Shall I open the gates?

Zero: Yes please.

The gates open and we drive into a room where the platform decends and takes us to where everything is being stored.

Elevator: Please get out of the vehicle.

Valmet and I comply and we get out of the car. We wait for the elevator to reach the lower floor and see multiple containers being moved along with multiple guards and security drones. The guards ask to verify our identity and they scan us. Luckily, my powers fully mimic every detail of appearance, even fingerprints and iris.

Guard: You're clear. Welcome.

Me and Valmet walk past the guards and decide to avoid drawing attention till we get that Codec.

Zero: So, this is the heart of Eden's death machine.

Valmet: Basically.

Zero: How big is this place?

Valmet: No clue. But it's apparently where the Codec is.

Zero: Any chance someone else got the tip about this?

Valmet: Let's not stick around to find out.

The two of us walk through the facility and continue sneaking past guards and drones. I'm still surprised that this Codec was put along with the rest of the items and products Eden produces and not in a more secure facility.

Zero: Has the Board of Directors ever had any good ideas?

Valmet: No clue, Z. But what this Codec offers is too tempting to pass up. I mean, unlimited generations of real credits. Untraceable by Eden's security? Able to adapt to any funds on the planet. This thing is our ticket out of this hell-hole. Money will never be our problem again.

Valmet and I reach a reinforced door with a scanner and is where the codec is being hidden.

Zero: This is it.

Scanner: TNS scan activated.

The security systems scans me and grants me access.

Scanner: Welcome, High-Executive.

The door opens and I return me and Valmet to our true appearances.

Valmet: That's better.

Zero: Yeah. I miss your beautiful face.

Valmet: And I missed your adorable one. Let's get this damn thing over with.

We walk into the room and see a purple light shining on a mechanical pedestal. Get closer and see that the codec is in the shape of a video game cartridge. I grab the thing and hold it up as Valmet and I are confused.

Zero: A video game?

Valmet: Seriously?

I use my abilities to scan the cartridge and see the design fits the descriptions of what we've heard about it.

Zero: Checks out. This is the real deal.

Valmet: Really? Huh. Well, underwhelming as hell, but if this the real deal, then lets take it.

Zero: So what next?

Valmet walks closer to me and puts her hand on my cheek to tilt my head toward her eyes.

Valmet: Once we plug this thing into Eden's system, the credits will flow. And it's endless luxury for the two of us.

I close my eyes and embrace Valmet.

Zero: Valmet? I know we have plans for staying at a tropical place away from Eden. But would you be interested in traveling the world together?

Valmet: For you, I'd do anything. And I prefer to not get soft by staying in one place. At least that travel won't be filled with constant muggers and tyrants.

We hear a gun cocking and something powering up. The two of us turn to our side and see Dolph Laserhawk and Alexy Taylor aiming their weapons at us.

Dolph: Hand us the cartridge, you two.

Alex: Sorry to ruin your little honeymoon plans, but that codec is coming with us.

Valmet: I'd like to see you both try.

I sense something and can see someone aiming their weapons at us. I grab Valmet and shift out of the room as someone shoots and both Dolph and Alex jump out of the way. I put Valmet on her feet and we look to see Red from the Niji 6 standing on a platform that is decending toward us.

Red: Captain-fucking-Laserhawk. And Project Shadow. I thought you were just a myth. A billion credits' worth of Eden upgrades and just as much on possibly mystic technology, and here you two are.

Red jumps off the platflorm and lands on the ground.

Red: Stealing video games. One! You're going to give me that cartridge. And Two! You're both going to give yourselves up, Captain Laserjoke and Lamo.

Dolph: I'm going to have to kill you for that terrible pun.

Valmet: And that wasn't even clever.

Alex: Hey, you're that guy from TV, right?

Zero: Oh yeah, that spandex wearing moron showing his butt all the time.

Valmet laughs a little.

Red: I'm not "that guy on TV"! And this isn't spandex, you little shit! I dedicated myself to this army, and they picked this guy for their ultimate cyber soldier?! Fucking identity politics ruin everything!

Dolph: Here we go again.

Red puts his hands together and does his catchphrase.

Red: Form the rainbow!

The rest of the Niji 6 appear and they all do their entrance pose.

Niji 6: Niji 6!

Black: Ready to blow their faces off, Red.

Red puts his hand in front of her.

Red: No rockets. Make sure Laserpigeon and Project Shadow's cyber parts stay intact, so the boss can reinstall them. And this is something we can ALL share.

Yellow: You mean Laserhawk's parts reinstalled on you. And you getting Shadow's powers first..

Red: Yes. No! N-- That's not the point.

Violet: I was just asking myself. Can I get the arm and have Project Shadow as a pet?

Valmet giver Violet a death glare.

Red turns around and complains at everyone.

Red: No, you cannot get the arm! Is it too much to ask to focus on the mission?! And what the fuck is with asking to keep Project Shadow as a pet?

Violet: Just saying it'd be nice to be around someone that's actually cute.

Green: Yeah, I second that.

Black: Well, I hardly see any other men outside of these three.

Yellow flips them off.

Yellow: Oh, fuck you guys!

Dolph: You know, I never got that whole rainbow thing.

Alex: Yeah. Me neither

I look at Valmet and decide to take a gamble of escaping with or without the Codec. Valmet tosses the Codec as Alex jumps over the Niji 6 and lands on a platform to follow it. Laserhawk chases of them and so do me and Valmet.

We jump across a series of platforms I end up on one with Laserhawk where we see Blue and Black.

Blue: Surrender or we'll turn you both black and blue.

Zero: I'm already black and blue.

Black: He really is.

Blue: I mean bruised.

Dolph: You're talking about yourselves.

Black fires her rockets at us and we dodge them. Dolph charges at her and beats her. I charge at blue and he puts his shield in front of himself. But I put hand out and slice clean through it.

Blue: What the--

I send a barrage of punches and blue before roundhouse kicking him away.

Dolph: Not bad kid.

I look up to see Valmet fighting Yellow and sending him off the platform above us. Yellow brings out several grenades and throws them all around. I see several heading for Valmet and I use my powers to traverse upwards and get her to an area that leads to an exit.

Valmet: Thank you, Z.

Zero: No worries. Stay here. I'll get that Cartridge.

I run toward the cartridge, which is now in the possession of red. As Dolph fights Violet and Green, I face Red personally. Red fires his pistol at my shoulder, but a shadowy substance protects me.

Red: Looking for this, bitch?

I run toward red and throw a few punches at him, but he's clearly no slouch. I manage to knock his pistol out of his hand, but he lands a few punches on me as well. I grab his fists as he tries to push me down.

Red: When I'm finished with you, I'm going to kill your girlfriend.

My rage boils and the thing that was trying to contain grows once again. No way I'm not lettting it out this time.

Zero: You... Stay the fuck... away from HER!!!

My entire body is enveloped in shadow and I feel blood lust. My fingers seem to develope claws and my eyes are bright blue and acting like they're on fire.

Red: What the Fuck?!

Zero: That red on your stupid spandex isn't just going to be from your tailor. It's going to be from your blood!

I charge at Red and beat him. I can literally smell the fear from him. I then punch him into the air and slice off his right leg. Suddenly, his arm is cut off by an energy beam and the Codec is grabbed by Laserhawk.

Red: Laserjoke and Lamo!

Red yells as he falls into the abyss and the entire floor begins to explode.

Valmet: Zero!

I run across the platforms and jump onto the on Valmet was standing up. We see laserhawk grabbing the Codec and landing on the one below us. I look up at Valmet in sadness as I didn't get the Codec like I promised.

Zero: I failed to get the Codec.

She just rubs my cheek in relief.

Valmet: I'm just glad you're okay. We'll find another way to get out of Eden.

We hear gunfire and see Alex shooting Laserhawk in his organic arm. The two of us stay silent and watch as the event unfolds.

Alex: My source had a price in exchange for giving me the location. The Codec... for you.

Dolph: You gave me up... for money?

Alex: *Sigh* It's not nearly that simple. This is bigger than you and me, Dolph. The revolution must happen. None of us are free until Eden falls. And this give me everything I need to make it.

Dolph: Those plans we've made, leaving Eden together, that was jsut the job, right? You were always going to turn me in.

Alex: I do love you, but... the cause is worth any sacrifice.

Dolph: Hell of an apocalypse we're having, right?

Laserhawk tries to fire is arm cannon, but Alex shoots him mutliple times. Valmet and I try to remain silent as our platform reaches the top. We hotwire a car and drive as far away from the warhouse as possible. We go to our apartment and sit down after the botched heist.

I grab a can of lemonade and a can of beer, offering the last one to Valmet.

Valmet: Thank you.

Zero: Anything for you.

We drink and think about what do do next.

Zero: Should we get out of dodge?

Valmet: Be safer if we did. At least we still got the money that Exec gave us.

Zero: Hey, it's us no matter what.

Valmet smiles before hugs me.

Valmet: You know it.

Me and Valmet kiss as we prepare for our next move.