Location: Exterior Dr. Rhane's Laboratory – Courtyard of Burning
Flames danced along the borders of broken lab gates.
Von sat back against a crushed wall, his heart pounding, every breath ripped from fleeing, fighting, and losing. His mind snapped back to the courtyard where Bren and Sera's bodies lay, unmoving, a pool of blood steaming on cracked pavement.
He ached to bellow—but his body trembled too hard to even clench a fist.
There were booms from somewhere in the city. A surge of power coursed through the ground—the shockwave of Marco and Bullet's angry fight. Another furious blast detonated just beyond the wall, suggesting that Ace and Scarlett's fight was getting fiercer.
Ace then fell next to him, battered and burned but still raging—body and soul.
Ace: "Von. You need to get out—now."
Von blinked, attempting to refocus.
Von: "Wait… wait—what? You're not coming with me?"
Ace's eyes snapped back over his shoulder at the courtyard as Riku's massive shadow emerged from the fire, advancing with each thunderous step.
Ace: "I'll hold Scarlett and her giant pup at bay. You go rescue Justin. Get to the lab. Rescue the people."
Von stood there, immobile with uncertainty, fear constricting in his throat.
Von: "But you'll be outnumbered—Scarlett and that creature? Ace, you can't take on both of them alone!"
Ace grinned, though his arms blazed more intensely with flames, projecting heat waves off of his body.
Ace: "Since when have I ever played by the rules?"
(He winked.)
"Besides. I've fought tougher battles than an overclinging ex and her tiger pet."
Von's face twisted in anger, fists clenched, breath shaking.
Von: "This isn't funny—people just died, Ace. What if you—what if you don't make it?"
For an instant, Ace's expression became stern. He reached out and grabbed Von's shoulder with his hand, the grip unrelenting and strong.
Ace: "Hey. Look at me. I'm not going down that easily. I gave my word to Marco… to Justin… and now to you."
Ace: "We aren't soldiers, Von. We're brothers in this. And for now, my job is to light the fire…
Yours is to grab it."
Von's jaw was shaking.
Von (whispering): "I don't want to lose anyone else."
Ace pushed him one last time towards the hole in the busted-up lab wall.
Ace: "Then don't.
Go. Get Justin. Salvaging the others.
I'll catch up to you. After I toast a few psychos."
Von glanced back at Ace for the last time—his shadow blazing like a living torch against the smoke.
And then Von turned, disappearing through the gap.
Inside the Lab—Hallway Sector 3A
As Von continued into the chill, sterile corridors of the lab, the sounds of war beyond grew indistinct—taken over by a strange hush. Emergency lights flickering filled the path along empty halls.
But the deeper he advanced, the heavier the weight of fear grew to be.
Each step led him closer to Justin.
Each step—closer to the truth.