I opened my eyes, and I was sitting in the white room with Jim across from me, but he looked apprehensive. Something about his look made me feel like I had just swallowed a stone.
"Well, you did good," Jim said, but I knew there was more.
That face said there was a lot more, and I just wanted him to rip the bandaid off. Whatever it was, it couldn't be that bad considering that I had just done everything they asked. Even down to the betrayals, but I had caused some damage, so I expected to get docked a bit.
"What is with the long face? I got the job done, right? Something that no one else could do?" I asked, and Jim sighed.
"Yeah, you killed Ace and even got him good with those betrayals! I have to admit, very impressive," Jim said, but I just rolled my eyes.
"Just spit it out already," I said and shook my head. "I know there is something that you aren't saying, so just give it to me straight."
"You owe half a million in damages," Jim said, and my eyes went wide.
"What did you say about my mother?!" I demanded, and Jim chuckled.
"Sorry, Trigger. This is what I was talking about, or Zeus was. Someone told you about the damages, and you really fucked that place up! So, all your earnings were eaten!" Jim said, putting his hands up.
"You have got to be fucking joking, right?!"
"I can tell you a joke if you want, but you still have to pay your bills. Jizz what it is, Bud. Don't beat yourself up about it! Getting a negative run isn't uncommon," Jim explained, but I threw my hands up.
"Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me! I just risked my life for what?! Fuck you, I am not going to go out if you are just going to take my money 'cause you lazy fuck can't do what I can!" I snapped and stood up.
"Halberd, this is how it is for everyone," Jim said, but I shoved my middle finger in his face.
"Then you had better figure out how to do this job without me. You all are so excited about sending other people to do your work, then get sending them. I will go help Aquaria, and then I am not going to do anything!" I snapped and headed to the door. "Smart asses think you are just going to use me as your mule and then not pay me? See how far that gets you. If I destroy the entire world but still save it, you can flip the bill, not the other way around."
"Halberd, this is the way it is for everyone. This world is not going to let-" Jim started to say, but his words froze in his mouth.
"Listen, I know that you think you are big shit in this world, so I am only going to ever say this once," I growled after my hand slapped the back of his neck. "You are either with me, or you are another target, Jim. I don't care how big you are, who you know, or who knows you. I will start hunting you all down, and I will drain every bit of chaos from each one of you, got it?"
"Do you think it is wise to threaten someone like me?" Jim asked slowly.
"Jim, don't talk tough to me. If anyone touches me or Aquaria after I leave this office, there won't be a place you will be able to hide from me. You created a monster, so you had better keep me fed properly, or I will bite off the arm that thinks it feeds me," I said, and the air around me crackled with red energy.
Jim stared at me, his expression a mixture of shock and anger. He had not expected such open defiance from someone who was meant to be an instrument in the grand scheme orchestrated by beings like him.
"Fine," he finally said through gritted teeth, releasing his grip on my neck with a small shove. "I'll see what I can arrange regarding the damages. But you'd better remember this moment, Halberd. We're not your enemies, but if you choose to make us so, there will be consequences."
I glared back at him, making it abundantly clear that I wasn't afraid of his thinly veiled threats. "As long as you keep your end of the bargain and treat me fairly, we'll have no problems. Fuck with me, and I will take everything you have worked for, just like you hired me to do. Now, let me go help Aquaria. That's what I'm here for, after all."
With that, I stormed out of the white room, leaving Jim stewing in his own frustration. I couldn't help but feel a certain satisfaction in having stood up to him, but I knew that things were far from settled. The world I was in may have been saved, but future battles – both external and internal – loomed on the horizon.
As I made my way toward Aquaria, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something had fundamentally changed during my latest mission. My encounter with Chaos and the actions I had taken to bring down Ace had pushed me beyond anything I'd ever experienced before, forcing me to confront the darker aspects of my powers and myself. It felt as though a line had been crossed – one which could never be uncrossed.
However, rather than dwelling on these thoughts, I chose to focus on the task at hand: helping Aquaria. She had always been there for me, offering support and guidance when I needed it most, and now it was my turn to return the favor. Together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead, united by our shared purpose and determination.
And as for those who sought to control us, manipulate us, or stand in our way... well, they'd better be prepared to face the full wrath of the Chaos Trigger.