In the darkness of the night, New Elis stood. The echoing sound of raindrops reverberates like bullets. The city seemed to weep alongside its inhabitants. At the entrance of a alleyway, the rhythmic sound of footsteps persisted, a stark contrast to the relentless downpour. The only illumination guiding the figure's path emanated from the Neo Industrious lights, casting an eerie glow from advertisements in the background. As the figure approached the alley's end, a trio of men lurked in the shadows, patiently anticipating the figure's arrival.
One of the men knelt on the wet ground, his features marked by a Caucasian complexion, blonde hair, and a somewhat handsome face. A rivulet of blood trickled from his head, painting a crimson path on his bruised countenance and soaking his once fine attire, now dampened by the relentless rain. Each drop formed a macabre blossom on his white shirt. His right eye was swollen shut and blackened, while a gruesome sight awaited anyone observing his hands—nails forcibly removed from his fingers. The left middle finger bore the brunt, appearing as if a sledgehammer had mercilessly shattered it. Despite his battered state, his gaze held the grim acceptance of a man who sensed the impending conclusion of his life.
The two remaining men maintained a stoic vigil, poised above their battered prisoner, anticipating the shadowy figures' arrival. Stepping into the space between them, the imposing figure silently observed the beaten man before him. Leaning down to address the tortured individual, the figure spoke, "Now, Damon, I ask out of respect – where is my shipment of weapons? You know I'll track it down eventually," inquired the figure.
Damon Cuffer met the figure's gaze, studying the male before him. Clad in a black luxury suit with a grey trench coat, his jet-black hair slicked back, _the_ man exuded an aura of authority. Golden eyes gleamed in the dim alley, imbued with a predatory intensity. A neatly trimmed black beard accentuated his young yet mature visage, while his light brown skin and deep, melodious voice added a captivating charm. This formidable presence was none other than Basil Aurum, the Imperial Corp's CEO.
With his solitary good eye, Damon locked his gaze onto those gleaming golden eyes and retorted in a harsh tone, "Your kind is what's wrong with society." He spat out each word with pure disdain, his face contorted in disgust as if tasting something foul. "With your genetically altered bodies, you live in luxury while the rest of us toil every day. Your reckoning is near."
"I ask again. Where are my weapons, Damon? I know your cell has them," Basil calmly replied, his emotionless face unwavering as he met the crazed man's eyes. Confronted by those impassive eyes, Damon collected himself and, with a determined look etched into his face, spoke.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a humble Data Miner for Mega Corp," Damon insisted. Basil scrutinized Damon's eyes, attempting to unveil the truth beneath the facade. Realizing Damon's unwillingness to cooperate, Basil rose, drew a rail pistol, and aimed between Damon's eyes. "I'm only going to ask twice; there's no third."
Bang!
Without hesitation, Basil squeezed the trigger, causing Damon Cuffer's brain matter to splatter out. Thus, the demise of one of the most infamous Phoenix insurgent leaders. Turning to face the remaining two men, Basil pointed to the one of African descent, with dark brown skin and hazel brown eyes. Standing at 7 feet tall, his genetically enhanced muscular build was complemented by a tailored black suit, a black trench coat, and a menacing 15-inch machete attached to his pants.
"Morgon, I want you to cut off his head and place it at the City's Central Administration building. Kelly, find out where my weapons are," ordered Basil. Kelly, the second man, bore the resemblance of human ancestors from the former Earth Nation of Mexico. Clad in a grey tailored suit over his athletic frame, with curly black hair and eyes, he stood just under 7 ft, holding a rail pistol in his right hand.
Observing both men acknowledge his commands, Basil walked toward the entrance. In the heavy downpour, an older man with a hint of gray in his hair stood, dressed in an elegant butler uniform, holding an open umbrella. His demeanor reflected familiarity with upper-class society. "Is everything alright, sir?" the butler inquired. "Everything's fine, Henry. Let's go," replied Basil, walking past his butler.
Glancing at his master, Henry didn't have to struggle to discern any signs of anger as a frown was edged onto his master's face, "unusual to see "thoughts, Henry. Dismissing irrelevant thoughts, Henry prioritized his duty to his Master. With a single, swift step, he moved towards the hover car, a blur too quick for normal human eyes to track.
Gracefully opening the car door, Henry patiently waited until Basil was comfortably seated. "Home, Master Basil?" he inquired. A nod sufficed as Basil's response prompted Henry to close the door and assume his place in the driver's seat.
The sleek hover car lifted off the wet ground, leaving the dark and rain-soaked alley behind. As they soared through the neon-lit cityscape of New Elis, Basil Aurum stared out of the window, his mind absorbed in thoughts deeper than the city's shadows. The raindrops raced down the windowpane as if in a hurry to escape the looming night.
Inside the hover car, the atmosphere was silent, interrupted only by the soft hum of the engine and the distant echoes of the city's chaos. Basil's eyes, still reflecting the golden glow, hinted at the complexities hidden beneath his composed exterior. Henry, focused on navigating through the city's aerial lanes, occasionally stole glances at his employer, wondering about the events that had unfolded in the alley.
The loyalty ingrained in his programming didn't allow him to question, only to serve. The journey continued, carrying the CEO and his loyal butler through the labyrinth of New Elis. The rain persisted, a relentless companion to the enigma that was Basil Aurum. Home awaited them, a sanctuary untouched by the storms of the city, where secrets were locked away behind pristine walls.
As the hovercar approached the towering structure that housed Basil's residence, a sense of anticipation lingered in the air. The night had witnessed the fall of a Phoenix insurgent leader, yet the repercussions of this clandestine encounter reverberated within the depths of New Elis, a city built on shadows and secrets.