Part 10: See You, Rats

Matilda: Ugh ... Whoa!
Matilda awakes from her stupor.
Matilda: Where am I? Is this the room behind the restaurant?
The bedding is neatly pressed and folded, and the windows are covered in a patchwork of repairs.
Despite the age and disrepair of the room, it is clean, nearly spotless.
Matilda: I must move quickly! Ms. Mercuria left with that man. She's betrayed us. I have to warn J!
Matilda: The ceremony is coming. She'll give away our plan.
She picks herself up and move to open the door—Click!
Matilda: What?! It's locked?!
Matilda: Did they just leave me here all alone? Oh, wait, the contact device. It's still in my suitcase.
???: I brought you a gift, J.
A familiar voice slides beneath the gap in the door.
Matilda: Who's that out there?
Matilda: Hm? There's a hole in the door.
There is indeed a hole covered with a loose cloth.
She leans closer, peering through the hole, taking in everything outside.
The familiar voice came from a man sitting at a round table, a face she had seen before in the market.
Matilda: They're all here!
Legers: As an apology for my children's poor behavior, I'd like you to take charge of this negotiation.
J hesitates for a moment, scanning the ranks of Legers's subordinates.
J: Thanks, grandpa, but we both know we're not having a party here.
J: And why doesn't your boy Gio come over and apologize himself?
Legers: Let me give you a piece of advice, J: don't go tempting dogs away from their owners. Pay attention to your own men.
Legers: Or did I misunderstand? This gift from us, Mr. Hollick, he a friend of yours?
Glawackus Mutant: roar
The wall of people behind him part, creating a path.
The critter drags a bloodied man behind it, throwing him onto the ground.
Cateye Wisen: It's Hollick!
Hollick: coughs I-I'm sorry, J. I went to the New Age Market.
Hollick: coughs I-I just thought, maybe there was something I could do.
His limbs hang loosely like a puppet with broken strings, unable to support his body, and thick blood gurgles in his mouth.
A revolver is pressed down against his gasping chest.
Becket: Legers, you piece of s**t! I'll smash your head in and feed it to your dogs!
Pioneer: Don't do it, Becket! We already have a captive to save!
Pioneer holds back Becket as he rages.
Legers: You should focus on your friends. Forget about the New Age Market. It doesn't belong to you.
J: ...
Legers: Don't worry. Helping people make decisions is a particular skill of mine. I can be very motivating.
He stands up and pats J on the shoulder.
Legers: Let's play a game. You big boys love playing games, don't you?
He points to the revolver poking Hollick's chest.
Legers: Take a look. This revolver is fully loaded with four bullets. Here's how you play.
Legers: I give you a condition. If you accept, I remove one bullet. When all the chambers are empty, you win. If you take your chances and reject a condition ...
Legers: I shoot. Just know that I might bury a bullet in your skull.
Legers: I totally respect your freedom of choice. You're even welcome to try your luck with all four bullets loaded, if you like.
The gunman spins the cylinder of his revolver.
A glint of light flashes across the boy's cat-like eyes.
Cateye Wisen: I-I can see the bullets in the chamber when he rolls the cylinder! Alright, I gotta count for the boss. Gotta help him survive the game at the lowest price.
He dashes into the kitchen.
Cateye Wisen: Here's your glass, boss.
J: Thanks, Wisen. I could use a drink.
J pulls out the paper from under the coaster, glancing at it from the corner of his eye, and then coughs into it heavily.
As he removes it, the faint black ink has smeared beyond recognition.
Cateye Wisen: I got sharp eyes! I can do lots of stuff! Counting coins, cars, finding water drops ... I'm great at spotting cheats and shady dealers!
J: ...
He hands the paper back to Wisen, hesitating for a moment before nodding.
J: Alright, let's do this, grandpa.
J: Wisen, get that tequila from the bar. Need a drink to clear our minds.
Cateye Wisen: On it, boss.
The boy pulls a bottle up from behind the bar and fills two shot glasses.
Legers: Heh, that's a clever kid you got there.
Legers: Alright, let's get started, kiddo.
The cylinder is spun again. Four rounds, four demands—two ways that this can end.
Legers: Condition one: Return what you took from us.
J: Sure.
Without hesitation, he pulls the key from his pocket, places it on the table, and pushes it forward to the elderly man.
Legers: Hahaha. Continue like this, J, and this'll be the best game I ever played.
A snicker rises from the crowd behind him.
"Dentist" II: I thought he'd hesitate, at least a little bit. Looks like you got a coward for a boss, boys! Hahaha!
The first bullet is pulled from the chamber, and the cylinder is spun again.
The boy mutters inaudibly.
Cateye Wisen: Five, eight, ten, ten times.
Cateye Wisen: The next chamber's loaded.
He leans in and refills the shot glasses once more.
J: Thanks, Wisen.
Legers: Condition two: Get your people out of here. Now.
Legers: We need quiet. Your friends are disturbing our conversation.
J: You heard him, guys. Get outta here.
But no one moves.
This is a decision that falls out of his authority. Each of his crew has to make it on their own.
Pioneer: Wisen, take good care of your boss.
The first to decide makes his exit.
Becket: J, what're you doing?! I'd rather take this bastard to hell with me! When did you become such a coward?!
J: No, guys. You're not helping by staying here. Just go.
Becket kicks the chair fruitlessly, holding his stare.
Becket: Damn it!
Becket breaks, as he makes his exit, the rest follow, until J sits alone.
Legers: Hah. It's a pleasure doing business with you, J. You're a practical man.
Legers: May the Sufferer bless you. There's no denying that you got a merciful heart.
"Clink"—the second bullet is pulled from its chamber, and the cylinder spins once more.
Cateye Wisen: Ten ... Eighteen times!
Cateye Wisen: !!!
The keen cat eyes a fleeting opportunity.
Cateye Wisen: The next two shots are safe! I gotta tell the boss!
The boy grips the bottle tightly as he pours its contents into J's glass, filling it only half-way.
When just as he lifts his hand—
Legers: Fill it to the top, kiddo. Don't skimp on him. I'll tip you if J doesn't.
Legers's rough and firm hands grasp the boy's own.
Cateye Wisen: Yes, sir.
That had been only half of the code, he couldn't be sure that J would understand now. It is too great a risk to continue.
Legers: Now, condition three ...
J shakes his head, dismissing the words before he speaks them.
J: You've already lost the game, Legers.
J's gaze shifts away from the red marks on Wisen's arm.
Legers: Oh, so you wanna take your chances, huh? Figured fifty-fifty was close enough? But you know, kiddo, I never said I would only shoot once.
J bows his head, gripping the handle of his Bowie knife.
J: Try it, old man.
Legers: Do it.
"Click."
The hammer drops into an empty chamber.
"Dentist" II: You got lucky, kid. Now let's try that again.
J crouches as his boots shift loudly against the floor.
From the scabbard, a cold gleam reflects the room's dim lights, like the stars on a sheet of ice.
"Dentist" II: ?!
"Click."
The cocked hammer falls and finds another empty chamber.
J's blade slides out from its sheath.
Sparks fly, trembling in the air—
"Dentist" II: Eat lead, you lucky bastard!
"Bang—!"
The deafening gunshot echoes against the walls.
Hollick: coughs J!
J: See what happens when you mess with me?
A new hole appears in the wall.
And the revolver falls to the ground, still gripped by a severed arm.
"Dentist" II: Ugh! No ...
J: Game's over, grandpa.
Legers: Oh, but we'd prefer to continue.
Legers: Kids, rip his face off.

The Bowie knife is pointed at his throat.
J: If that's the way it's gotta be, let's do this, old man.
J: But this time, we got the upper hand.
J: Now, give back what you took, and I'll let you and your little lackeys go.
J: Or ...
The blade's tip pierces the skin of his neck, and blood trickles from the wound.
Legers surveys J with a pensive stare.
Legers: You're a smart kid, J, but apparently, you need a lesson in failure. I'll be glad to give it to you.
Legers: We were actually playing two games just now. Those "missed" shots? They had a purpose.
Legers: They may not have hit you, but they did hit our second target.
"Boom!"
An explosion shakes the room, erupting with a surge of flames.
Cateye Wisen: Boss, that's Hollick's garage. And your bike!
Legers: Put down the knife, kiddo. That was just a warning, to let you know the game isn't over yet.
Legers: Now, I got one last condition: Let us leave in peace.
Legers: So? What do you say?
Becket: Guys, help me out! Hollick needs this place to live, damn it!
People outside desperately beat at the flames, but the fire grows fiercer despite their efforts.
Legers: I can turn all of Haight Street to ashes if you want me to.
The Bowie knife is lowered.
Legers: Good boy.
Legers: By the way, get yourself a better knife. I got butter knives sharper than that thing.
"Bang—!"
Without any time to react, the gun's muzzle flares.
His Bowie knife shatters into pieces.
Legers: A warning, for trying to take my men.
J: ...
Flames lick at the charred debris, as Becket sits dazed on the ground.
The people of Haight Street gather silently, watching the fire, seeing their final ultimatum unfold.
Then, the daze lifts, and Becket rises with an outburst.
Becket: What happened to you, J? You were fearless when Hollick and I first met you.
Becket: We were like a pack of stray dogs, rummaging through the trash cans and sleeping on the street. All we had were clothes on our backs, but we still made it this far.
Becket: I'd rather break my bones and shed my last drop of blood than beg for mercy. But look at you, J. What were you thinking?
Becket: Are you a coward, Boss?
He spits on the ground as he helps the bloodied Hollick to his feet.
He holds J's gaze as he unpins his badge and tosses it into the trash.
Hollick: Don't blame him, Becket. It's my fault. coughs Please don't go.
Hollick: J! I-I'll come back to help!
Becket pulls at Hollick, unable to contain his anger any longer.
Becket: Oh, come on, Hollick! You just said that this is your fault. So do me a favor and shut up.
Becket: You know you're the one who got us into this mess, right?! If you'd learned your damn lesson, none of this would have happened!
Becket: So just shut up!
Hollick hangs his head, dejected and quiet.
Becket forcibly drags the wounded giant away.
J: ...
Then, another from the crowd.
Brian the Beggar: S-sorry, Mr. J. All I wanted was a safe place to sleep, not all this. I-I don't wanna get killed.
He leaves behind the second badge and fearfully makes his way from the street.
The third and fourth ... They tremble, reluctant, feeling their own smallness in the crowd.
The flames dwindle, and ashes hang in the air.
The crowd breaks apart slowly and wordlessly, until they've left only an empty, burned-out street.
Cateye Wisen: Boss, I'll, I'll get them to come back! We'll get everything back!
Cateye Wisen: Hey! Hey!
He runs out to catch the crowd, but soon he too grasps his vulnerability.
Like a straggling bird, left out from the flock.