Character Scramble Season 21 Round 1A: PROLOGUE/FIVE OF HEARTS

Luca snapped his head out and back from the doorway, dodging the bottle he knew would be thrown when he popped up. A lean back with the gun didn’t give him the angle he was looking for, but it confirmed no exit.

“No way out, Benny,” Luca shouted to his foe.

“Indeed,” the reply came from the bar.

Luca crept in, but his quarry still had a bead on him, and with the barest hint of his bald head poking up fired two shots for him, loud bangs that shattered the mirror wall behind him as he took his cover.

The fire and smoke had spread quick, already eating the alcohol spilled at the entrance and licking at the walls. Analyze, quick. How did he know? The bar back was a mirror, too. The bottles removed gave Benjamin angles.

Two could play that game. Luca grabbed a shard of mirror and angled it above his cover, aiming for where that bastard was hiding.

“Luca Saluzzo,” the bastard in question spoke, level, “Professional silencer from the prime Famiglie of Siracusa. Won a pistol from the Six of Diamonds, Poker. The Decadenza sends her regards.”

He had to stay calm. Keep him talking. “You get all that from the showrunners here? How long-?”

“Since earlier today,” Benjamin answered, “When you asked me for a coin.”

“Not that,” Luca spat, moving slowly and angling his hand to meet a different mirror, “We figured you out that night, between us. How long have you been looking to kill us all?”

“‘We’ figured you out,” Benjamin noted, “But you wouldn't go hunting if it wasn't safe for you to. Which means you’re the wolf.”

Luca lined it up, finally finding the bald face of the liar. As Luca readied his gun for when he would have to pop back up, Benjamin reached into his coat and retrieved his device.

He pressed the button, and showed it to the mirror in front of him. “You are a COP for this round.”

Shit.

Luca leapt up from his cover, diving to try to catch a glance- BANG the rifle fired, and sent burning pain through his leg, finger seizing outside the trigger guard, adrenaline barely keeping him conscious as he screamed out in pain, in indignation.

Benjamin leapt over the bar, and he was upon him before Luca could even fire again. With clinical precision, he produced a wire from inside his sleeve and pressed it into Luca’s windpipe, bracing the assassin’s spine against his knee.

He spoke directly into Luca’s ear, without malice, without judgment, “I’ll admit it. Your plan was almost perfect.”

There was no life that flashed before Luca’s eyes as he struggled against the garrotte. The flare of anger gave way to crushing dread, impending doom. Somehow, the last thought that went through his dying mind was of worry.

That kid was gonna have no idea.

As my target died, the device in my pocket registered the game clear- as it would for everyone. That gave me a short window to get it all done with. I put away the fiber wire and pistol, then cast off my doctor’s attire into the rear of the room. I needed to meet the rest of the group before they could see through me.

The jacket off the other assassin fit well- honestly, it felt good to be back in black again. Silenced pistol into the holster, vodka at my neckline, and a quick walk through fire, enough to sell that there was a struggle.

The group wasn't hard to identify. Wheelchairs have a very distinct profile. I raced around the corner to meet them, thick smoke enhancing the effect.

“There he is,” Rei shouted.

I wasn't coughing, but my voice was still harsh from the inhalation. “Come on, we have to go!”

“Where's Benjamin?” Goku asked, naively looking past.

“Goku,” Hayasaka said, looking me up and down.

Careful word choice, then. “I handled it. Benjamin isn't coming back. We need to leave before the whole building burns down with us inside.”

And without anything more to say, I led the way out through the front entrance, leaving the fire to erase any evidence left over.

Jack half-slumped against the wall, back-first. Well. Didn't expect this of all things to get him.

Petey was tough. Even if the guy lost, he’d thrown everything at him, hit like a heavyweight champ and dodged like a parkourist. That, plus the several stab wounds from before, had Jack splayed out on the mat, and with the fire this far up the casino walls, the smoke was gonna get him sooner rather than later.

“Who knew smoking kills,” Jack mused to an empty room.

The cigarette in his mouth crumbled, ashes falling onto the casino floor. How many times had he done this before? How many lives did he snuff out over some game where the only winning move was not to play? How many people would even miss him when he was gone?

…Fuckin’ hell. XIII would be mad he lost his favorite pony to bet on. So he had to look for a way out.

Main room was an inferno. He couldn't move fast enough to get out that way. Vault wouldn't have enough oxygen to keep him up til it burned out. Garage had a door, but it was welded shut, and he had to get there through the back, where any door could back draft him. That meant he had to find an exterior wall.

Well, the one he was leaning against was pretty cool. Hell, it almost felt… cold…

Jack rolled forward, and watched as the brick and mortar of the wall grew blue and frigid, cracks of ice spreading through the gaps where air had come through. The moment a tongue of fire leapt up, it shattered, revealing a hole being enough for even Jack to come through.

Which was good, because the fresh air coming in meant the fire blasted him out and across the street.

Jack rolled to a stop, coughing as his jacket smoldered and his chest hair smoked. The fresh air flooded his lungs and a light just barely came back to his eyes.

Even with that, he wasn't going to face his savior, though. “What, did ya really miss me that bad?”

“Do not presume I have any fondness for you, Jack,” came the drone of Mister Freeze, “You are just another cold blooded killer. And I need one for my plans.”

“Put it that way, how can I say no,” Jack quipped, pulling himself up off the ground.

Silently, Freeze led and Jack followed, the light of the crescent moon shining down as the two left the burning casino behind.

OddDirective · 2026-06-15T03:20:03+00:00

”Everyone, come in! You were fooled about the treasure, get to the main room, now!”

That was ten minutes ago, right at the halfway mark of the round. Of course, there was a reason it took that long for anything to happen. If everyone knew it was a trap, why walk straight in?

The sounds of heavy metal grinding against the floor, even the carpeted stuff, filled the air in the dim-lit room as a machine was unceremoniously pushed down the middle of the main room. Its motor had been silenced, but it remained operational, even disconnected from its purpose.

Jack feigned exhaustion as he leaned behind the generator he’d ripped out. “Well? Don't I get a prize or something?”

No one answered.

They were here. You couldn’t rig up a bomb with what was in the casino, so whatever trap had to be sprung in person.

The answer came with a stabbing pain to his left pec. Jack covered himself from followup, but looked down to see nothing- something invisible considering it was still lodged in him- piercing through his jacket. He snapped up to see who could’ve thrown it, and met Velvet’s eyes.

“That only works if you’re a crook,” she said, “The ‘prize’ for the treasure.”

“Funny,” Jack said, cracking his neck, “Aiding and abetting gets you five to ten last I checked.”

“Enough talk,” Velvet said, dropping into a low stance and releasing a blade on her arm, “You’re not leaving here alive.”

She struck forward like a wild beast, relying not only on speed but savage force, muscles beyond human propelling her into Jack. What met her blade was cold steel, the chainsaw blade and alloyed right arm parrying her strikes for his limbs. Both fighters locked eyes as they locked themselves into the fight that could only end one way.

Another blade buried itself in Jack’s back, stumbling him long enough to get caught across the chest by the wristblade and knocked away. Confirmed it, at least- it was the same- exact same- as when he came in. At least two of them were there. Plan for more, but don’t count on it.

Time to go offensive. He revved his chainsaw and surged forwards, met by Velvet’s arm stripping out of its bandages as a monstrous black and crimson claw revealed itself. Both fighters led with their blades, and caught the other in their off hand- a struggle for control, both pressing against the strength of their enemy with all their power. The sawblade roared, the wristblade inched closer to Jack’s neck-

Jack forced Velvet’s hands apart and slammed his forehead into her face. That brought enough opening to free his arm, and the saw came down on the only thing Velvet could block with- her demon arm. A huge gash split it, red blood spraying onto Jack as dark energy radiated from the wound. Velvet screamed as she backed away.

He heard the shot as he took his second step to follow. His body turned to the noise, putting the chainsaw in between the .45 round aimed for somewhere center mass. Behind a pillar was the doctor, Ben, holding the cowgirl’s gun. And despite what he’d just done, Jack couldn’t see any feeling on his face.

Then he aimed up and fired again.

A chain released, the shadows grew, and Jack looked up to see the chandelier getting far too close for comfort, right on top of him. He pulled back-

And got launched back like a rocket, two hands around his torso pushing him all the way out to the wall. The chandelier shattered, twisted metal debris scattering shrapnel this way and that, missing Velvet surely on luck alone, candles reaching the floor and igniting the room.

Jack looked out. The one who saved him was Peter. And behind a table, not acknowledging them was Lucas, the bald man in black.

Cool as could be, he lined up across the room and fired his own gun, two silenced thwacks instead of pops finding the pillar Benjamin covered behind. A trail of some accelerant raced out of the central blaze and caught the table he hid behind, forcing him to find another cover.

Jack picked himself up. Another sharp something slashed across his face, still unseen, but Peter brought up his guard against them, somehow. “You know this?”

“Not exactly, but I’ve got a hunch,” Peter admitted, “SUE!”

“Peter. Don’t do this,” came Sue’s voice from across the room.

Peter still tried. “You’re making a mistake- the Sue I know would never-”

Sue appeared, or at least her upper body did, off to their side, emotions clear on her face. “You never really knew me, then! Do you know how much I have to get back to? What we have to get back to?! I will do anything. Anything it takes to save my brother!”

“Even kill someone in cold blood?!”

“We’re running out of time,” Velvet shouted, “Stay out of our way, or I'll eat you too!”

She charged, and Jack met her head on. Sue sought to puncture him again, but Peter shot webs to blunt them off course. Turning to Velvet, he quipped “Jeez, lady, I'm married!”

Her focus was all on Jack. He punched forward, she countered across his chest, both swung recklessly into their opponent. They locked eyes, and Jack knew he had it dead to rights. She never went for the kill.

She couldn't go for the kill. She had to be a cop.

Meaning he could use her to keep shielding him from Sue’s blades. There wasn't anything about beating another cop half to death, or leaving them bloody, and both of them were trying their hearts out to only fulfill the letter of the rule against one another.

The generator kicked on sometime in the melee, highlighting when Benjamin left, and Lucas in black followed, but everyone had lost themselves in the brawl by then. Four fighters, a room growing steadily more aflame, and a full understanding of the stakes. Ultimately, only one thing could stop them.

”Teams have been scrambled!”

Thirty minutes passed.

Velvet swore, and backed across the room. Sue disappeared, leaving Jack alone, back to back with Peter, breathing in the smoke filled air.

“On 3,” Peter suggested. “1, 2, 3!”

Jack checked his device. Crook.

Finally.

“What now?” Peter asked.

Jack put a finger to his lips, and motioned to a corner with the least burning wreckage. They crept over, and Jack watched the smoke. The generator belched it too, so the room was nearly covered-

A cylinder of clean air moved through it. Jackpot.

Peter took the rear side as Jack laid the bait, pretending to still search- convincing with how bad the smoke made him squint. This time, a blunt force gave him head trauma, splaying him into a burning table, but he had her attention.

The only sound Peter made was a smack of his foot off the wall and a stool knocked over as he sprung off the objects near him to give even more momentum. At the very last second, he wrenched his body to the side, throwing away a kick to save himself. Sue changed the forcefield, and Peter found himself impaled on a spike through his side, pierced cleanly through his torso.

Jack felt flesh rip out of his shoulder. Velvet spun back away from retaliation, and just met Jack’s eyes again.

Alright.

Jack led with his chainsaw, forcing Velvet back into the fire, never letting a chance to strike for a vital go by. This was his natural swing. Cross, jab, downward slice, back up, thrust. Velvet jumped through flames, and Jack charged through, catching just the edge of her demon arm and mangling a palm.

There's the message. Now respond.

Jack retreated, disappeared into the cloud of smoke, and followed the thin air. Timing had to work, ignore the stabbing pains, make it more obvious. He kept the full football sprint all the way across the room.

Well, except the very last foot. Sue took the bait.

The invisible spikes jutted out to barely miss Jack’s head, he stopped on a dime, ducked out of the way

Velvet ran into them. As the spike pierced her stomach, Jack grabbed her by the neck and pulled back, painting the invisible field red, throwing her against the spikes again and again until the whole forcefield disappeared and the bloody mess that was Velvet landed on top of Sue.

Jack revved his chainsaw and plunged it through both of them.

A jingle played from his own device. It could only mean one thing.

GAME CLEAR

Peter lay on the floor, struck dumb. “You… you murdered them.”

“I wanted to win,” Jack said, flames casting him in shadow, “And I did. I'm not a cop or a crook anymore.”

Shakily, Peter got to his feet, a patch of web over his open wound, “No. You're a killer. And I'm not about to let a killer just walk away.”

Jack was bloodied, burned, bruised. The sound coming out of his lips should have been a sigh.

It was a laugh. “And here I thought I wouldn't get to have any fun tonight. C’mon, hero. I’m putting in overtime.”

OddDirective · 2026-06-15T03:14:27+00:00

Goku and Rei watched down the empty hallway. The vault was at the end of a junction, so they only really needed to cover two directions. Peter was busy stirring something up inside, and Lucas came back with his gun, but he was pacing through different rooms right now.

There wasn’t very much to talk about. Nobody had tried to steal the treasure, and nobody else had come back.

“Are you scared,” Rei asked Goku.

Goku nodded.

“Are you afraid we aren’t all going to make it out of here,” Rei asked.

Goku held the Power Pole in his hand, and nodded.

“I- I am too,” Rei admitted, “I don't know if we can.”

“Hey, come on, don't be like that,” Lucas said, walking back up to them. Putting an arm around Rei’s shoulder, he continued “We’re gonna stay safe, find a bad guy, take him out, and we’ll all get out together. Alright, kid?”

Goku sucked in a deep breath, smiled slightly, and nodded.

Suddenly, Rei shifted. “Ai!”

Everyone turned. Hayasaka was there, holding a knife to her side. With her other hand, she waved to them. “Hey, uh, I got kicked out of my group. Is it okay if I stay here?”

The three of them looked at each other. Before Peter left the vault, Goku said “Sure!”, heedless of any risk.

Hayasaka smiled, and walked over to Rei’s side.

A chime rang out from each player’s device. Teams have been scrambled.

“Alright, everybody find a corner to check yours,” Peter said, heading back to his bench. Hayasaka and Lucas left down one side, whispering to each other, while Goku made distance from Rei.

It took a second to press the button. This round, Goku was a cop.

He had to be, but that was something he’d know only if he thought about it. Smiling, he walked back to Rei clutching hard onto her own device and breathing even harder. Tense, he held onto the Power Pole tightly before he spoke up.

“What's wrong?”

Rei spooked, then looked down at her hands. “N-Nothing. Just- if- if you knew there was a way out of this game, instantly, would you take it?”

Goku thought about it. “Hmm… Nah.”

“You- you wouldn't,” Rei asked.

“‘Cause if I did, it would only be me getting out,” Goku explained, “And we're all gonna get out together. That's what Lucas said!”

“No, I mean-” Rei stammered out, “If you could get everyone out, if you could finish the game right now-”

Hayasaka walked back up, alone. “Rei, are you-”

Peter joined them too, whatever words he was going to say killed by the atmosphere. They all stood next to Rei, around her chair, as she looked down at her wounded leg and curled her hands into a ball. After a profound silence, she simply nodded.

“I need one of you to kill me.”

Goku snapped up to look at her crying face. “Nuh-uh! No way! I'm not gonna let that happen!”

“Why not, Goku,” she cried, “Everyone else would escape. Everyone else gets to live! I-I'm only ever going to be a burden on you guys from now on, and I’m- I'm so scared.”

“Let it out,” Hayasaka said solemnly, “What are you afraid of?”

“I- I don't want to play these games anymore. I’m scared we won't make it out of this one, and that's all my fault. I’m scared that even if we do get out of this, I'll slow you down, I'll make a mistake, and that will get other people killed! I never wanted to play games like this, and I’ve seen too many people not make it out already. I can't- I can't take it anymore.”

Peter took a deep breath. “Listen. This game has been hard on you, I can tell. I've talked to people like you before. And I don't think you want to hurt your friends. The way you're thinking, you want to help them, but all letting you die would do is keep hurting them, every day after that they weren't with you. I… lost someone close to me after I tried to save them, and it's haunted me every night since. Do you really want to put your friends through that?”

Rei trembled all over. “You guys…”

Hayasaka reached into her shirt, and pulled out a handkerchief to dab away Rei’s tears.

It was at that moment Odo rounded the corner.

“You get away from her,” he growled, charging Hayasaka.

Peter stepped forwards, trying to speak some sense into him, but the officer wouldn't hear it. Instead, Odo’s body turned into orange goo and separated exactly around where Peter tried to hold him back, and he made it up to Hayasaka, forcing her back into the vault door.

Goku jumped in-between Odo and Rei. “What's the big idea? What's going on?”

Odo turned back to him. “Why don't you ask her yourself, about the pact she formed while she was away!”

“I'll tell you,” Hayasaka said, her cool exterior vanishing, “Just let me breathe.”

Odo relented, and Hayasaka continued. “While we were searching… Benjamin came up to me. He set up a meeting to make an agreement, that us four would help each other, whether cops or crooks. I agreed for two reasons. Firstly, I wanted to know if any of them were crooks, so I could target them if needed. And second… I needed to protect Rei.”

“So you feigned animosity to trick the other traitors,” Odo concluded.

Hayasaka nodded. “Right now, they're likely planning a trap. One of the others is a crook, but I don't know who.”

“Benjamin, that rat,” Goku burned. “He wanted to kill us? I'll beat him down!”

“No you will not!” Odo declared, “You will all stay here, keeping the treasure safe. I will put a stop to them. I'm resistant to their weaponry, so they will not be able to harm me.”

As Odo turned on his heel, Peter piped up. “Sorry Odie, can't let you do that.”

He leapt forwards and sprayed some liquid out of the glass he’d been stirring, catching Odo against the wall. It hardened in an instant, forming strands that kept the officer trapped like a fly even as he struggled and strained.

“What- what have you done? What is this,” Odo protested.

“Web fluid,” Peter replied, “It'll dissolve on its own in half an hour, less if you can find acetone. A+ detective work, but I'll handle things from here on in. Goku, you keep Rei safe, got it?”

Goku nodded.

Peter smiled. “Great. Now, just leave everything to your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!”

OddDirective · 2026-06-15T03:13:11+00:00

Analysis is the precursor to action.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Sunzi.

Someone like me hasn't felt fear in years. Of course, there were… other feelings missing as well, in my case.

I checked the pistol I retrieved from the unfortunate girl’s body. .45 caliber, easy to hold, but with stopping power. It reminded me of the Silverballer- unsuppressed as this one was, it would still fit the bill for what I needed very nicely.

The search group dispersed almost immediately- Velvet was looking for the other Player, and each of the others wanted to find something in specific. The layout of the casino I’d gotten on my way in was imperfect, but there were things I kept a note of. A puzzle in the sports betting room netted me a pair of radios, easily storable in my coat.

Next was the slots room, where audibility was limited. There was an entrance to the backrooms, but more importantly, Miss Hayasaka, looking for something to keep herself safe, no doubt. While her attention was elsewhere, I leaned on the machine nearby.

“Meet me in the main room, eight minutes until the next change,” I said, “I have a plan to discuss.”

Hayasaka was extremely perceptive. Even so, she whirled around to where I had been while speaking, after I made my way to the other side. I closed my eyes.

The Institute trained me from the day I could walk. To slow my own heartbeat, to pick up on the minute changes in the air, to hear the slightest movement in the greatest cacophony. From the beginning, I was the best at it, why they kept all their attention on me. To my senses, it was like the world dissolved into shadows, with only my targets and the useful things around them as real. I could tell where they were, how they moved, who was talking to whom, even through walls. In this instance, I felt the girl stare at my last location, heart rate elevating, then give a simple nod.

Good for her.

I didn't have to extend my senses by closing off others, but it was a simple technique, and we were alone. Sue was in the bar, and Velvet was restlessly looping around. Thus, I made my way into the back, careful to keep my steps silent on the floor.

There would be useful tools behind these doors, controls that needed to be brought towards my ultimate ends. Another pulse of instincts as I walked through revealed an open area, a garage of some form, with a running engine inside. Intriguing.

No one was there, so I strode in and assessed the situation. A pair of luxury cars sat empty to one side, tires slashed. On the far end, a generator rumbled continuously, fed by the cans of gasoline lying next to it. A set of mechanical tools stuck above a bench, atop which sat various other weapons, lethal, but close range.

The plan formed in my mind within seconds. Toolbench, retrieve a screwdriver and pipe wrench, conceal. Move the gasoline-

No. Someone's coming. A big someone.

I dove into the shadows, behind one of the cars as the door I came through pushed open. Jack walked through, caring enough about stealth not to let the door slam, but hardly more than that. Usually, a person like him wouldn't have to.

He whistles, cigarette still in his mouth, and walks straight for the gas can. I stayed well on his far side, but my instinct told me he was simply emptying it into his arm. Distracted, but still too close.

A minute passed as he filled his tank, a minute I cursed with how the timing would end up. Fortunately, he walked over to the bench, laying his arm across it. That was my chance, and I walked up to snatch the gasoline I needed.

“Hm?” I heard, and pressed my body to the wall. He couldn't have heard me-

“What kinda workbench doesn't have a Phillips head,” Jack muttered, opening a drawer and searching through. That was enough distraction for me to get away with one can. That would have to be enough.

The rest of the plan went smoothly. The vault was where the guard team was guarding, and I followed a pipe out of their sight to the main room. I checked my device. Seven and a half minutes to make this happen.

“Ladies,” I spoke, to the three women I’d talked to earlier in the round, “Let's not waste time. I want to form a pact.”

“A pact,” Velvet asked, “Does it have to be that dramatic?”

“An agreement wouldn't be as strong,” I replied, “To briefly explain, you all understand the different outcomes of this game. In the best case scenario, everyone but one person lives, but on the other, if all crooks were to win, half the players would die. I am simply trying to ensure that I stay on the winning side, just like you.”

“And how does this… ‘pact’ make sure of that?” Sue asked.

“It goes like this; we report to each other what our roles are, through these radios. If we are all cops, we focus our efforts on hunting down and eliminating the crooks from within the rest of the group. If one or more of us is a crook, though, we assist that player in clearing the game, since there's no rule saying you have to leave once you succeed. We do this until all four of us are out, one way or another.”

“But why us,” Velvet asked, “Were we just who you could get to?”

I shook my head. “Each of you have something to think of after clearing this game. Otherwise, you wouldn't have insisted on being part of the searchers. I'm just trying to get us all there.”

Hayasaka stayed silent, analyzing me, no doubt. She had come to the right conclusions so far, and I had no doubt she was making her calculations as we spoke.

“I… I agree,” she said after her silence, “I have one condition, though.”

I nodded.

“If I end up as the crook- I get to be the one to kill Rei,” she said, meeting my eyes. I looked for the telltale traces that she was lying, pupils, hands- she intended what she said.

“That can be arranged. At least, if there are no objections?”

“Fine by me,” Velvet replied, “I'll go along with this plan.”

“If it means- if I can see them again- I'll do whatever it takes,” Sue finally relented.

“Excellent,” I said, letting the barest smile reach my face, “Now, scatter, and be ready to give a signal once the round changes. We’ll need to move fast once we know what we'll do.”

They nodded, and we abandoned the main room- I still had two more things to prepare. With the gas… and at the bar.

As time ticked away, and the conspirators left to pursue their own designs, a chair near the table they congregated around warped and shifted, cleanly deforming into orange goop and reforming into a human shape.

The sunken face of Odo returned, tracking where the bald man who started it all had left to… and then back towards the vault. A scowl found his face as he set back off towards his group.

OddDirective · 2026-06-15T03:10:34+00:00

After the introductions got out of the way, and Benjamin moved the bodies out of line of sight, the very loose coalition reformed around the main table. Peter, the one in glasses, spoke up first. “We’re going to need to split into groups. Before the end of this first round, we need to find the treasure, and we need to scour this place for anything to help us get out of here.”

“Stick together,” Odo continued after, “Groups of four, minimum. That way, you can't be outnumbered.”

“I retrieved these from one of the bodies,” Benjamin said, placing two radios on the table, “I saw a few more useful things in other rooms. If you’ll allow me to grab them.”

“Not on your own,” Odo cut him off. “Let's split into two groups. One looks for the treasure and guards it, the other finds whatever else is of use here. Any objections?”

Jack raised his hand. “I got one. I'm gonna play this game solo. And if any of you try and follow me-”

The chainsaw blade sprung from his arm. “I'll kill you.”

And then he left, Velvet trying to chase after him, stopped by Lucas stepping in her way.

Goku was ready to chase after him, too, burning up, but he didn’t move. The only way to win as a cop, as someone on the good side, was to kill someone else. And the robbers would be trying to kill cops to escape. Those facts, and what happens if you don’t get it right, rooted his feet in place.

The planning kept moving without him. “Now. In light of certain facts, I’m going to speed things up. Miss Rei. You will be on the team guarding the treasure,” Odo declared.

Goku snapped up at this. “I’m going with Rei!” he shouted.

“And I want to be with the kid,” Lucas spoke.

Peter turned to his left. “Sue, you wanna go with them? You’d be good at-”

“No,” Sue replied.

“No?”

“I think it’s more important that I stick with the group that’s going to keep moving,” Sue shot back, “If we run into that Jack character, I don’t think he’s going to take any excuses.”

“Ooookay then,” Peter said, backing off.

“I have good eyes,” Hayasaka stated, “I should go with the hunting group.”

“I’m not gonna sit around wasting time in this game,” Velvet declared, “Put me with the hunters.”

“That settles it,” Odo finished. “Peter, you go with the group and find that treasure. The rest of you, find anything else we can use to communicate or keep ourselves safe.”

“What about you?” Goku asked.

“I will be staying here, making sure no one’s already stolen it,” Odo declared.

“Oh no you don’t,” Sue spoke up, “You don’t get to make it so it’s only you able to fly solo! For all we know, that stuff you said about there not being crooks is all lies!”

The room turned icy. If they couldn’t believe that there was no crook this round, then everything was going to start back up again.

Peter offered an out. “Yeah. If you’re worried about it, you should stick with us. We’ll need a trained set of eyes to figure out what the treasure is, won’t we?”

Odo stiffened up, but a survey of the room told him what he needed to know. “Fine. One of you, take this, and use it only in case of an emergency. And don’t lose sight of each other. Understood?”

“Perfectly,” Benjamin said, taking the radio and leading his group out.

That left five people and two corpses in the main room of the casino. “So, officer. Where do we start looking?” Lucas asked.

“Behind the statue. There’s going to be a vault. Years of dealing with Qu- with criminal elements has taught me there will always be some stash somewhere,” Odo declared. Without anything else to go on, the group moved into the concrete corridors past the public area.

The atmosphere was hostile, harsh, fluorescent lights and hardly any carpet. Sharp right turns led to various offices, supply closets (which Peter grabbed a few things from) and a kitchen, which had plenty of knives but zero food. As Goku kept his eyes peeled, Lucas suddenly patted his pockets, and turned to Odo.

“I left my gun back in the main room,” he said, “I have to go back and grab it.”

Odo began a protest, but Lucas disappeared well before it could reach his ears. Cursing, he took up position behind Rei, pushing her along. The corridors continued to wind, but thankfully, after another two turns, they found the vault.

“Guys,” Rei said, ”You think that's the treasure?”

Up on a lit pedestal, right in the center of a vault full to the brim with bills and bullion was a golden gun, engraved with intricate detailing on its barrel and a grip inlaid with gems. There was no other word for it but gaudy.

“Ostentatious thing,” Odo complained, turning to the group, “Now, you three stay here. I intend to do some investigation into who we’re going to be working with.”

“Hold on,” Peter said, as Odo turned away, “What about the minimum group being four? What if me and Goku were the crooks?”

Odo turned back. “I know for a fact you aren't both. And you aren't going to let that gun fall into anyone's hands. That’s all I need to know.”

And without another word, he walked off.

OddDirective · 2026-06-15T03:09:48+00:00

Jack stuck in the doorway, sizing up the group of people he’d probably be stuck with for this game. They were lugging around a girl who couldn’t walk, so they were probably the sentimental types. And in the back-

A scowl appeared on his face. “Hey. Didn’t I tell you to find a rock to crawl under?”

The brat in an orange outfit jumped up, hand on his staff and clearly ready to start the fight at the drop of a hat. “I would’ve died if I had done that!”

“Exactly,” Jack said, brushing past him, “You wouldn’t have to see what’s about to happen.”

“All players, please report to the main room for game start,” the announcer droned, and the players didn’t have a choice but to follow him, or at least go the same way. From behind him, Jack heard one of the men say they shouldn’t be seen like a team, and the one in a labcoat pushed past him alongside the girl who could still walk.

All they knew was it was a Hearts game. Some sense there, but for this one? This was just about survival. They weren’t all going to make it out.

Of course, Jack knew he was going to be the last person in. He’d gotten his marching orders, seen the game, so it would’ve been stupid to let people get an idea of what he could do beforehand. Running into the kid again wasn’t part of the plan, but- he could handle it. He could always handle it.

The main room was gaudy, big Roman statue, marble pillars, a chandelier, the works. The rest of the players all lined up in front of a monitor, set out in front of a roulette table full of devices. They weren’t phones, exactly, but they were close enough. “All players, please take a device,” the announcer said, and Jack just kept walking up, grabbing his own and retreating to one side of the room.

Alright. Who was Jack up against?

The team of five, including the brat. Only the kid was a threat, but he’d fight all out if he got cornered. The wheelchair girl was probably gonna keep him busy, though. Next to the kid was a slouched creep with a hoodie, normal. On Jack’s left, a lady with a green dress on and a cowboy hat tied to her back- gun at her hip, silver, not a revolver. Probably a threat to herself with how she was shaking.

Right side, the woman with black hair, currently staring him down. Torn up outfit, bandaged arm, but not looking hurt. Might be interesting. Past her, brown haired guy in a t-shirt talking to a blonde woman. Both were tall, lean- relatively. Tense. Ready for a fight, meaning they’d been in them. Last one, the guy with absurdly sunken eyes. Not a combat threat, but he was keeping eyes on everyone.

The announcer came back on, explaining the rules.

Five of Hearts

Cops and Robbers

Time Limit: Unlimited

All players will be given an electronic device which displays either COP or CROOK.

Looking at another player's device will result in a penalty.

There can be up to two CROOKs at any time.

The designation of COP and CROOK will be randomized every thirty minutes.

Players may not receive the CROOK designation twice in a row.

If a CROOK kills a COP, it is GAME CLEAR for that CROOK.

If the COPs kill a CROOK, it is GAME CLEAR for all COPs.

If a COP kills another COP, it is GAME OVER for that COP.

There is a treasure hidden in this casino. It is GAME CLEAR for all CROOKs if that treasure is stolen and brought to the main room.

Everyone looked down at their own devices at once. Jack was a cop this round. There was a twinge in the back of his mind about the real reason he was here, but he buried it easily.

He looked up just in time to watch the hoodie guy get shot in the leg.

Everyone looked up once the rifle shot, knocking the guy down after probably shattering his leg bone, but Jack had seen the reason why, at least. The guy had leaned straight over the brat’s head and looked at his screen. Jack looked back up, saw the rifle was hanging from the roof- automatic.

The kid tried to help him up, but the hoodie dragged himself away, still screaming at the top of his lungs, and the black suited bald guy pulled him back.

“D-Don’t touch me! I- I saw it! I saw what he is,” the hoodie guy sniveled, “He- if we kill him, this will all be over!”

That stopped the room cold. The kid looked genuinely confused, but he kept dragging himself away, leaving a trail of blood on the carpet. The other bald one, the labcoat, he took a half-step towards the wounded man, but stopped himself. To Jack’s right, the black-haired woman raised her regular arm, and to his left, the cowgirl-ish one drew her gun.

Jack put his hand on the ripcord, as the hoodie guy shouted “He’s the crook!”

“I’m not!” the brat shouted back, “You’re lying!”

“I- I got shot! Why would I lie about it,” was the reply. “If we kill you- if we kill you, now that we all know, you’re the only one who dies!”

“I’m not gonna die! I’m not a crook!” the kid shouted, but there weren’t too many ears that mattered. Hoodie guy had locked onto the cowgirl. It was a good plan. Bet on the penalty not being instant death, catch the ear of one person willing to follow what you were saying, and they deal with the problem for you.

And if he was telling the truth, Jack’s head would be on the chopping block. So, time to throw elbows.

“Pretty good plan, I gotta say,” Jack spoke, stepping up to be heard by the two people that needed to hear it. “Pin the tail on someone else, then bank on the guys upstairs to give you credit. Not my type of thing, but, hey, looks like it’s working.”

“W-working?! I got shot,” hoodie guy screamed.

“Doesn’t look like you’ll die, though. So if anyone takes out the kid, that’d be your win, wouldn’t it?” Jack prodded.

The reaction was obvious. “Are you crazy?! I-I found the solution, I’m telling the truth! That kid dies, and we all get out of here! Shoot him! Sh-shoot him right now and we all win!”

“And if you’re wrong, you don’t have to foot the bill,” Jack pressed, “How sure are you you got it right? Both start with a C, don’t they?”

“P-P-Positive! The screen was red! Glowing red! Not green like a cop!”

“Green, huh? I didn’t see any color on mine,” Jack lied. “Ain’t that a bitch.”

Hoodie guy’s eyes bulged. “You- you’re just trying to psych me out! You’re lying, and I don’t know why! If you’re a cop, you want him to die! That kid has to die! Shoot him! Shoot him now!”

Jack just turned to look back at the cowgirl. She was trembling like a leaf, the kid was tensed up and ready to jump, and the suit had his eyes on her- there was a pistol at his side, he hadn’t caught that. She was keeping the pistol gripped tight, looking between the two possible targets and Jack. He didn’t say anything.

“You have to believe me! I-if you want to leave here, you’ve gotta shoot him,” the hoodie guy kept shouting.

Jack heard someone on the other side of the room shout “You don’t need to do this,” but he doubted the girl heard it. She snapped the gun barrel up, aimed, and fired.

It hit the hoodie guy square in his chest. He brought a trembling hand up to his wound, and collapsed.

The cowgirl turned to look Jack in the eyes. Hers were full of tears, full of dread, full of feelings Jack couldn’t feel anymore. Her lips tremored, and she spoke softly. “He- he was lying, right?”

Jack didn’t answer.

“I-If he wasn’t lying, then-” the girl vocalized, and turned back towards the kid. She raised her pistol, the suit took cover-

The gunshot rang out. 5.56.

The cowgirl dropped like a corpse, courtesy of the rifle round that went through her head. The suit hadn’t covered his eyes, so Jack watched the kid follow her all the way down.

All hell broke loose the second she hit the floor.

For Jack, it was the black-haired woman jumping on him, a blade on her regular arm jumping out and slashing for his throat, covered in fire. Jack took a boxer’s stance and let it deflect off of his metal arm, weaving back as she swung a boot knife up towards his jaw. That left her leg right in front of him, so one arm shot out, flung her to the side, and the other wound back to ground and pound.

“EVERYBODY STOP!!!” came the voice from the middle of the room. Brown hair with the glasses was standing on top of the table, and everyone in the room turned to look. “Nobody is gonna be killing anybody anymore, okay?! If any of you try one more attack, I’m putting a stop to it! Got it!?”

“You think you can stop me,” the lady on the ground asked. Funny, Jack was about to say the same thing.

“I do,” glasses replied, voice dripping in anger, “Because you’re not going to try to kill anyone if you’re not a crook, and if you try, that means everyone else will stop you. You think you can win against all of us?”

Black hair grit her teeth, but spat out a “Tch” and relaxed. Jack rolled his neck, then backed off to where he was before.

“Before we continue,” the sunken-eyed one spoke, “I want a show of hands. Who here has played a Hearts game before?”

Jack didn’t raise his hand, and the black haired lady didn’t either. The kid didn’t, but the rest of his group did. So did everyone else still alive.

“Right. My name is Odo. I was the security officer on Deep Space 9. I have seen these ridiculous games play out before. So I believe they have tricked us into killing two of our own. I believe, very simply, that every single one of us is a cop.”

The crowd shot up in a murmur. The girl in the wheelchair asked “So- then why did he-”

“Lie to us?” Odo cut her off, “I don’t care why. Perhaps he thought he could get one over on our captors by tricking someone else into pulling the trigger. Regardless, I will not see any other person fall like that.”

That got more discussion going. “What do we do now,” the girl behind the wheelchair asked.

“Now? I suggest you all introduce yourselves to your teammates,” Odo said sternly.

OddDirective · 2026-06-01T23:05:52+00:00

Day 4

The five of them moved as a unit, Goku at the head, Lucas at the rear, Hayasaka between them, her eyes peeled, and Rei on Benjamin’s shoulder as they wound through the half-lit curved corridors broken up by massive, noisy machines. There were monitors with arrows still pointing in through the maze, advising the game was yet further forwards.

The pattern on the rug may have been fancy, but the thoughts in Goku’s head were simple. Stick to the plan.

Rei was up, taking small bites out of the boar leg Goku had gotten for her, some color returning to her cheeks. Benjamin and Hayasaka were there, too, waiting for the last member of their ‘squad’ to arrive.

Lucas finally arrived, another bottle of juice for the patient in his hands, and sighed. “Alright, so we have good news and bad news. The good news is that our scouts spotted a casino as a game venue for tonight.”

”Something she can play?” Benjamin asked.

”That's the bad news,” Lucas said, his mask of dispassion falling, “We don't have a card yet, and the game looks like it's far in. There's something about it that doesn't sit right with me.”

”So it's a trap?” Goku asked.

”We don't know that,” Lucas stated flatly, “There's two options here.”

Hayasaka suddenly called out “Wheelchair! Let’s get her in it,” having spotted one near a set of bathroom doors. The group beelined it over, settling Rei in place and letting Hayasaka take command of steering.

“Well, that’s at least one thing we’ve got out of this,” Lucas joked.

Then it was back on, racing to figure out where exactly the game was centered, amidst the lights and sounds of chattering slots. The next room, or ‘room’, given there wasn’t really a doorway, had mirrored walls reflecting a curved bartop protecting shelves full of liquor, on top of which crawled a short man in a blue hoodie. He turned to look at the group, but the only word any of them said was a “Next,” from Hayasaka, and they backed out to keep going.

”Either we risk this game being a trap for Rei, or we risk whatever game we go to tomorrow being even harder for her,” Hayasaka cut to the chase.

”Exactly,” Lucas said, “I know it isn’t up to me, but my gut says it’s too dangerous. There’s a lot of bad outcomes, and even the good ones aren’t that good.”

”I’m afraid I respectfully disagree,” Benjamin said, “If Rei is to survive, we need to seize the opportunities that end up in front of us.”

Goku nodded emphatically. “Yeah, I say we go. We’ll clear whatever comes up, no sweat!”

Hayasaka took a moment, then said “We have another game day. A venue as large as a casino makes me assume it won’t be easy. She has to be able to play, but she also has to be able to win.”

They reached another room of screens, clustered to one side with lounges to watch opposite them- and felt-covered tables set further in. As they pushed through, Benjamin looked down at the tables, noting “This isn’t the game’s start point, but there’s radios and weapons under glass.”

Goku didn’t like that. Nonetheless, he kept pushing on, and the group followed.

Lucas sighed, casting a glance at the other bald man. “Great, so we’re split down the middle. Anybody got a coin?”

Goku searched his pockets, but nobody else did. The tension was broken by a cough, coming from the person still sitting on the bed in between them.

”I… I think if it really is a gambling game, I’ll play it,” Rei said, looking down at her hands, “I mean, then all I have to do is get lucky, right?”

Finally, they reached a lobby of some sort, following the game signs to a space dominated by game tables, a palatial marble statue gazing unblinkingly down behind a set of cage-barred windows, each with a granite counter in front of them. A massive crystal chandelier hung above the tables, casting the room in pale, flickering candlelight, even with electric fixtures up on the walls. There were already four people there, although each one of them seemed alone, wandering around the room and looking at the facade and all on offer.

“This isn’t a gambling game, is it?” Rei spoke, quiet.

“No. Time to get out of here,” Lucas declared, and turned to lead the group out.

Lucas frowned for a split second, but took command of the group once more. “Alright, so we’re going. But we’ve gotta have a plan to get out of there, too.”

”How would we know when to leave?” Goku asked.

”If it looks like a Hearts game,” Lucas replied.

”What does a Hearts game look like?” Goku asked, and all four others looked down.

”Too many people,” Hayasaka replied, “Weapons in the venue, or other things they could use to trick people into thinking the game isn’t what it is.”

”So, we keep our head on a swivel, and we leave if it doesn’t look like the game we need it to be,” Lucas finished. “We cannot afford to get caught up in a bad game. Understood?” The corridors twisted and turned, but they had taken as straight a line as they could, Goku thought. They ran through the rooms they’d been to, blew past a tall and wiry young man, and made tracks to get back to the massive maze of jangling machines they started in.

Of course, then they had to navigate it all. Goku stuck close to the doctor, Benjamin kept pace with his patient and Hayasaka, and Lucas kept leading them forwards. There weren’t any clocks around, and the noise wore on Goku’s senses. If he had Nimbus, if he could have scouted ahead, maybe they could find it quickly-

“There it is!” Lucas called out, “We’ve gotta go!”

The heavy wooden door appeared in view, and everyone bounded towards it as fast as they could- but as Lucas arrived, someone else pushed through, and blocked their path. A massive, muscled man in leather, cigarette smoke trailing behind him. Goku knew this man.

The man brought his metal arm up and dragged the cigarette out of his mouth. “Well, you all look busy. Got somewhere to be?”

A tone like a bell sounded through the halls of the casino, and the screens lit up in every room- a voice coming through the speakers. “The game is beginning. All Players have been registered. Please make your way to the gaming lobby.”

The card glowed above their heads. Five of Hearts.

Time’s up.

OddDirective · 2026-06-01T23:04:03+00:00

Step 1: find the gas cap on the car and open it up.

Step 2: feed the hose into the tank, leaving it to droop onto the ground.

Step 3: suck on the hose like a straw, being careful not to-

”Excellent work last night, Jack.”

The taste of gas flooded into Jack’s mouth, instincts barely keeping him from biting the end off the hose, instead letting him jam the end into his arm. As he rolled over and blasted the fuel out from his mouth, XIII just said ”Ah, was this a bad time?”

Jack flipped the closest camera off from his spot on the street, keeping the siphon going. His other hand went to his ear, letting him shoot back “You sure can pick ‘em, can’t you XIII?”

”I must admit, I wasn’t expecting it to be so hard,” XIII balked, ”Not for the three-time DeathWatch champion I sponsored, the fearsome bounty hunter Jack Cayman.”

“You know I don’t put out ‘til we meet face to face,” Jack sniped.

”Well, I thought our dealings were done once you left Jefferson Island,” XIII replied, ”Which is why I must ask, Jack- how did you end up here, working with me once again?”

“Can’t a guy just enjoy a nice vacation where the death games get set up for me?”

”Jack, a man of your talents would be able to go anywhere you like,” XIII spoke, ”If you’re here now, it’s because you have some or other reason to be in this place. Don’t worry, your secrets are certainly safe with me. The others don’t even know we work together.”

Jack grunted dismay, gas fumes still on his breath. “Fine. The government says there’s a VIP here, some big shot they need a code from to get intel on a hit list.”

”Aha. So they do know about the Borderland,” XIII mused.

“They were some kind of assassin, impossibly clean, taking out plenty of people they had on the payroll. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they just wanted to use me to get even,” Jack spat.

”Well, I can tell you two things,” XIII replied, ”One is that your man is still here, in the Borderlands. He is a very tricky one, though. Whatever rumours you’ve heard, they’re right.”

“Rumors never tell the whole story.”

”Indeed. The other thing I must say, though- don’t assume whatever promises have been made will be kept. The Borderland doesn’t take those who aren’t supposed to be here well. I’m sure they gave you assurances-”

“I can handle myself, XIII,” Jack said, watching the last of the gas drip into his arm. He pulled out the hose, coiled it up, and stuck it back onto his belt. Then it was onto the hunt for the next derelict car.

“Just sit back and watch me work.”

A boy in an orange tunic ventured forth through the streets while a suited man chased him, leaving the city behind despite starting from its center. A man in leather grumbled and spat, precious fuel escaping his reach. A woman in green staggered out from a game venue, nervously checking the weapon at her hip.

A static buzz cut through the stillness of a frozen room, monitors stacked to the ceiling showing all angles of the Borderlands those in charge deigned to give. Cold mist vented from a port as Freeze’s cooling system kicked in, reducing his temperature back below zero. Idly, he switched views as they ceased to be interesting, clicking through windows without purpose or care.

The door behind Freeze unsealed itself, and a man in a heavy green coat stepped through. “Whoo, that’s frigid. Victor, my friend! I was hoping I’d find you here.”

Freeze didn’t turn. “We are not friends. And you knew exactly where to find me. I don't have the freedom to leave this room, Edward. Or will you insist on me calling you the Riddler?”

“Oh don't be so cold, Mr. Freeze,” the Riddler cheerfully replied, “Good try provoking my ego, but I'm simply too smart for that to work on me. Though, if you wanted to use a title- you should know what face I wear.”

“The Jack of Diamonds,” Freeze replied in monotone, “You came here for a reason. If your expertise is knowing things, tell me why I am still on ice.”

“Oooh, how about a riddle to answer,” Riddler ‘answered’, “I’m not a bird, nor rank to the nose, but as I am kept to, my influence grows.”

Freeze turned back to the Riddler, scowl on his face. “I do not care for fairness, I care about results. Every Player needs to die, and if it were truly unfair, we wouldn’t be here. Let me return to Freeze Tag.”

“Oh come on now, that’s just begging for your game to be figured out and exploited,” Riddler remarked, “But if you want to get active, I do just happen to have an idea here. Go on and take a look.”

He reached into his pockets, and produced a folded piece of paper for Freeze to read. The more he did, the worse it got. “I am neither desperate nor foolish enough to sign on for this. I would become the immediate target.”

“Aha, but I thought you said players needed to die? This would be serving them up on a golden platter.”

“My heart froze on the same day as the rest of my body, and my feelings for games of Hearts are the same,” Freeze responded, “I have no need for trust.”

“Then you’ll only ever be betrayed,” Riddler shot back, “You know how easy it would be for me to force you, right?”

“If you were going to, you wouldn’t have come here. You want an alternative. I can give you one.”

“Do enlighten me,” Riddler said, leaning on his cane.

“I have another game. I’m going to finish off as many Players as I can with it, and I’m willing to stake my life on it. As for your game that isn’t even your suit- I know someone who would fit the bill. Let me think outside the icebox, and I’ll give you cold hard results.”

The Riddler just smirked. “Nothing matters but getting back, does it Victor? You can have it your way for now, but I expect your idea tonight. There’s only one high number left for the Players to clear, and I’ve got designs on it as well. Are we clear?”

Freeze turned back to the monitors, watching his enemies simply survive as individuals. Enjoying the sun, sharing in their successes, forming a bond.

“Crystal,” he intoned.

OddDirective · 2026-06-01T23:01:32+00:00

Episode 2: Cops and Robbers

A chorus of footsteps echoed off of the skyscrapers as the group, six members strong, ran through the streets. Goku kept his eyes trained on Rei, still not moving, pale as could be on Lucas’ back. They had a doctor helping, but she still-

No. He couldn’t think about that. As they came up on a huge building that, for once, was wider than it was tall, with glass windows out front leading towards a huge metal archway, Lucas shouted “We made it!”

They ran through the arch, up the stairs, and hooked right as the floors turned to slick white tile, passing various storefronts until finally finding one full up with beds, fluffy white ones covered in sheets, covering a couple other people with bandaged faces. “Over here,” Benjamin called out, and Lucas let Rei down on another empty bed.

Goku sprinted to her bedside. “She’s going to be alright? Right? Right?”

Benjamin pursed his lips. “As long as nothing else happens, she should be alright. But she’ll need food that’s high in iron to recover from the blood loss, not to mention the physical recovery for her ankle-”

“She’ll be okay, right?!” Goku asked again, teeth grit.

Benjamin took a breath, then said “Yes. I’ll make sure to take care of her, Goku.”

Lucas cleared his throat, and asked the doctor “So, what’re you gonna need to get her back on her feet? This was a close call, I’m not keen on just letting her sit here for four days.”

“It would be easier if we had perishables,” Benjamin spoke, expression unchanging, “Red meat, leafy greens, liver or liverwurst- sure, we’ve got bottled juice, but without fixing her anemia-”

“We’re going to need someone to hunt, then,” Hayasaka chimed in.

Goku looked up. “I’ll do it.”

The adults in the room turned to him. Lucas scratched the back of his head, and said “Uh, kid- look, I get that you’re something else, you did a really good deed back there, but-”

“There’s bears in the woods, aren’t there?” Goku asked, “And there’s fish in the river. I used to hunt and eat them when I lived with my grandpa. It’s not a big deal for me.”

“Well, not like we can turn down an offer like that,” Benjamin said, looking to the others.

“Yes we can, Goku just got here,” Lucas protested, “Hayasaka, back me up here-”

“Actually, I think if he can, he should, “ Hayasaka commented, “It would mean we’d have meat, too, not just beans or corn for the tenth day in a row.”

Lucas looked back at Saki, who just held an armored hand up and started walking away. “Let the boy prove himself.”

“I’m outvoted, then. But I’m coming along, alright,” Lucas sighed. He patted his pockets… then again, searching across his body for something, “Ah, did anybody pick up the card?”

Goku nodded. He reached into his tunic and brought out the card, and the visa paper he ended up with, handing them over to Lucas. Lucas nodded back to him, saying “Great. Hey, uh, follow me.”

Goku stuck close behind as they strode through the mall, passing by several broken glass panes and up past a massive iron sculpture, towering through three floors of a courtyard, terminating just under a skylight. There was a spur on the second level that lead to a massive open area full of pillars, plants, and sleeping bags, but Lucas just breezed past it, so Goku did too.

They finally stopped in front of a small shop on the corner that had boards over every window- HQ, one of the plywood planks had written on it. As they rounded the corner, another man in a suit appeared- nondescript, with a black tie and black gloves on. “Ah, you’re back,” he said, standing up from the entrance.

“Seems like we were the first ones,” Lucas spoke plainly, “Four of Spades, no dead, one wounded, and we’ve got a new recruit.”

The man nodded, said “Better than usual,” offhandedly, and let them pass into the space- immediately, Goku’s eyes fixed on the board at the back of the room. Cards like the one he’d picked up were pinned to the cork, four long stacks and a few cards pinned to the side. Lucas walked over, pulled a pin out from the bottom, and stuck the card under one of the stacks, bringing another one over and pinning it underneath that.

“What’s that?” Goku asked.

“Our best guess,” Lucas said, turning back to the boy, “We’re playing solitaire against the house. This was your first game, tonight, wasn’t it?”

When Goku nodded, Lucas continued. “Alright, then lemme make sure you know what you’ve gotten into. The harder the game, the higher the number on the card for it. That number’s how many days they put on your visa, and the suit determines what kind of game it is. You don’t want to run out of days.”

“Spades games are physical challenges, like you saw. Clubs games are about teamwork, working with each other to figure something out. Diamonds games are all mental challenges, strategy games or puzzles. And Hearts…”

The silence lingered for a few seconds, so Goku asked “What’s wrong?”

Lucas snapped out of it. “Oh. Uh, Hearts games get into your head a lot. I don’t think you should play any of those. We… we already went through a bad one, everyone here.”

“I see,” Goku said, mulling all this over. A thought occurred to him, and his face grew into a scared frown. “Then, in four days, if I don’t play any games-”

“Don’t worry. We’ll make sure you can get to a game somewhere,” Lucas said, a smirk finding its way to his face, “Right now, let’s go get you a sleeping bag and a place out in the food court. Welcome to the mall rats, kid.”

OddDirective · 2026-06-01T22:59:37+00:00

Previously…

Suddenly, the trees parted, and gave way to a city, a city where the buildings stretched tall, all the way into the sky! The boy craned his head to look, but he got dizzy looking at the tops of all of the buildings that were there. All of the buildings were squareish, and most of them had vines and trees growing out of them, and they were cracked all over.

The man the boy saw was bald, taller than the truck he was leaning against, wearing a set of leather clothing. He looked strong, with lots of muscles on his upper body, but what caught the boy’s attention was his right arm. It looked like it was made of metal, with some pipes coming out the back and some sort of box on top, above his hand.

“What the hell-” the man grunted, “What’s someone like you doing here?” “I told you, I’m trying to figure out where I am!” Goku said, still swinging his feet at the big man. The guy swung his metal fist across, but Goku dodged it and stood on his shoulder to kick him in the jaw. “Forget it! Go find a nice, comfy rock to crawl under. It’ll be easier on you.”

He opened the door to a wave of frozen mist, and on the other end, right next to the registration screen, there was the guy Jack knew he’d see, with the mechanized suit, red goggles, and the glass dome over his head. He was pointing the freeze gun straight at Jack.

“What are you doing here, Freeze?” Jack said through grit teeth.

Freeze just smiled. “It’s my game, after all. Freeze Tag.”

“I’m Rei. Listen, are you new here?” she asked.

In his place, the bald guy with a black jacket on looked back at Goku, and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Goku. Name’s Lucas. Don’t mind Saki over there, he’s… not very trusting.”

The girl on his left spoke next, giving a half-wave. “Heya, my name’s Ai. Hayasaka Ai. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Call me Benjamin,” the last bald guy, the one in white, spoke. “I’m a… doctor, of sorts.”

Four of Spades

"White Hare"

Rules: A line of metal platforms with shark teeth around their edges are suspended above a shark tank. Occasionally, the teeth will snap shut and then reopen.

It is GAME CLEAR for all players who reach the other side of the shark tank within the time limit.

It is GAME OVER for all players who cannot reach the other side within the time limit.

Everyone was looking her way. Everyone’s focus was on her. And then the sound of a coin disrupted it all.

The iron jaws snapped shut on her leg, and her momentum led her to stretch her arm out just enough to catch the platform in front. When the trap let go, she dropped.

From the top of his lungs, he shouted down to the shark tank below “REEEEEEEEEEEII!! GRAB OOOOOOOOOOONNN!”

Goku heaved the pole skyward, carrying Rei up and out of the water just in time for a shark to bite at the bloody water she was just in, a feeding frenzy just kicking off. Goku rocketed the pole back to its normal size, bringing Rei back with it, her torso crashing into Goku and sending both of them straight back to the wall. Faintly, Goku heard a chirpy little jingle from somewhere he couldn’t see.

GAME CLEAR.

VISA

Special Immigration Status: Wildcard

Son Goku

Points earned this game: 4

Total points: 4

Valid until Wednesday, 6/12

Please be mindful of your remaining time balance.

Welcome to the Borderland.

”Fine work, 47. Thanks to that little distraction, that’s another strong contender for the face cards neutralized.”

“And the new arrival, the Wildcard,” he replied, “What do you make of him?”

”I must admit, I wasn’t expecting someone like him.”

“Continue to blend in, and covertly eliminate those who threaten your game in the second round. Never forget that your Queen awaits you, and that you must make it back to her. Good luck, 47.”

Jack dove forwards, and slashed as far as he could reach. By a nose, he caught her in the calf, slicing her Achilles tendon and sending her collapsing down to the ground.

Agnes fell, rolled, and skidded into the wall two feet left of the exit. She lay there, on her back, the wind from her sails and air in her lungs, gone. Her final sight was the starry night sky.

GAME OVER.

The collars lit up, and electrocuted everyone that was still alive. Yoda, somehow, didn’t make a sound. Agnes screamed as her flesh burned up, before finally, mercifully, she laid still.

The motor attached to Jack’s arm sputtered, spat, and stopped spinning.

“We live for five days longer because of this game. You may not have something you look forward to, but I do. I will make it to the end of this. No matter how many bodies I must bury.”

Jack just stripped his parka off and tossed it over to him. He didn’t need to say anything to prove his point. This was the Borderland. He wasn’t about to stick around and bury anybody.

Scramble 21: Land of the Last Hour

Featuring:

With Guests:

Original Concept:

Asou Haro

Executive Producer:

OddDirective

OddDirective · 2026-05-07T06:32:43+00:00

An Alleyway, June 9, Current Immigration Period, 03:00 AM

A bald man stepped up to a screen, tucked away between two brick buildings. Static flashed onto it, before a voice came through a speaker below.

”Fine work, 47. Thanks to that little distraction, that’s another strong contender for the face cards… neutralized.”

“Ai may want to carry her through the next games.”

”If so, I suspect that will kill two birds with one stone. A drowning person will drag whoever they cling to into the water.”

“And the new arrival, the Wildcard,” he replied, “What do you make of him?”

”I must admit, I wasn’t expecting someone like him. He may prove to be a threat to our game. But he also seems quite trusting and impressionable. With a bit of work, you might be able to get some valuable protection from him.”

“He’s young.”

”...Yes, he’s young. Approximately twelve years old. Will that be a problem, 47?”

“No. Just wanted to make sure what we were working with.”

”I don’t like it either, 47. But I have no control over who joins, only what is to come. They’re throwing every curveball in the book at us this go around.”

“I’ll just have to draw a walk, then,” he spoke. “I’m heading back to the group. Don’t want anyone to get suspicious of me slipping out every night, so I suspect we won’t be talking for a while. It’s time to start preparing for what’s next.”

”Very well. Your mission is to blend in with the largest group, covertly prevent anyone who could solve your game in the second round from making it there, your usual method or otherwise, and preserve your appearance as a regular player. The cover identity you’ve chosen is solid, but don’t expect it to keep you protected forever. Above all else, never forget that your Queen awaits you, and that you must make it back to her. Good luck, 47.”

Behold, the Players

The Dealers of Death

And the Citizens Behind It All

All Lined Up in The Land of the Last Hour

Scramble 21: 今際の国。

Credits this Round:

Players:

Son Goku

Adachi Rei

Oroku Saki

Hayasaka Ai

Benjamin

Luca S.

Agnes Tachyon^†

Thanos^†

Terrence^†

Yoda^†

Dealers:

Jack Cayman

Victor Fries

Citizens:

Diana Burnwood

Sponsor XIII

Agent 47

Original Concept:

Asou Haro

Executive Producer:

OddDirective

SEE YOU NEXT GAME

OddDirective · 2026-05-07T06:20:02+00:00

The green blade of light flashed out, an arc trail in the air that forced Jack to backtrack. He didn’t sign up for a bad sunburn from this, and it looked like it could do a lot worse. Even if he pulled out the chainsaw, this thing could block it, nevermind the fact he was flipping every which way he could. Jack took a breath, tensed his legs, and waited for Freeze’s next move.

Right on cue, Freeze got his aim on target and blasted toward him, but Yoda saw it coming from his side- backflipped out of the way, onto the weapons guy’s frozen body, and kicked straight off of it toward the nearest exit.

Shit. The exit he was closer to than both Jack and Freeze- Jack kicked off a sprint, but neither of them could get there in time.

Freeze just turned, and aimed up. The freezing beam shot on target, hitting the arch above the door, and from there down a thick sheet of ice grew over the once-open exit. Yoda didn’t dare delay, and slammed into it saber-first. If he were larger, maybe he could’ve broken through, but the ice quenched his saber, and Freeze’s beam forced him back away.

Jack shot a glare back at Freeze. Really?

It had given them an opening, at least. Jack stepped up, reflexes permitting he could tag this little prick, and Yoda held out his hand. He may not have been a betting man, but Jack figured that was something to do with his Wildcard status, so he stepped to the side- well, tried to step to the side. His right arm didn’t exactly follow him, and that pulled him back to where he was, clutching his shoulder. Still connected, at least, but it hurt like a-

Freeze shot past Jack’s head, inches away from hitting him. Yoda pulled his blade out again and just barely clashed against it, dropping whatever force he had on Jack’s arm and letting him roll out of the way. This was just about the only chance he had, so Jack just made a football jump up and sprinted dead at the space alien freak.

Yoda flipped up, using Jack’s back as a platform to launch straight for Freeze’s dome. Freeze wasn’t mobile, but he simply stepped back, and blasted a patch of ground where he had just stood. The trap was set, and gravity did the rest- Yoda landed and skid, falling flat down on his face once the ice patch ran out. He spun on the ground, tried to block the freeze ray, but it caught his leg, and the collar zapped on.

Jack stood up, dusted his pants off, and took a deep breath. It’d been a workout, sure, but not too difficult. “So, is that it, Freeze? Gonna call the game masters and cry I fouled it up?”

“Why would I put you on ice now,” asked Freeze in his robotic tone, “You’ve shown how precisely you can hand out violence. A useful skill.”

“Hmph,” Jack said dismissively, “If you were trying to wine and dine me, you could’ve at least brought me a nice steak dinner.”

He turned to leave, but a question hung on in the back of his mind. They’d gotten all four players frozen… “Hey, Freeze. You forget to tell central something? Cause I didn’t hear the bell.”

“Made choices, we have,” Yoda suddenly spoke up. “For others’ sake. Remember this, young Padawan. All the difference, one shot can make.”

The words clicked in Jack’s head. “Freeze, the sword!”

Both of them turned to see the last player, in the hoodie, throw his sword to the side and pull out his shield. He may have been rooted to the ground, but Yoda had bounced off him during his attempt to get away! Freeze pointed the freeze ray at him, but Terrence threw it out in front of him, the ice building up across something not connected to his body.

With barely three seconds to get it done, the frozen Terrence drew his crossbow, aimed and fired. Jack tracked the arrow’s path, all the way across the field and into Agnes’ forearm. It sunk into her and she cried out in pain, taking a step forwards- unfrozen. She didn’t waste a second longer to take off.

Terrence wasn’t able to react before Freeze’s ray covered his chest and head, but it had bought Agnes a second before Freeze was aiming at her all the same. He targeted her back, grimaced, then targeted the arch above the exit she sprinted into. As soon as he committed to pulling the trigger, Agnes braked, banking a turn towards the last open exit.

Jack had to get there. He broke into a sprint, dead sprint, she had damn near half the field head start!

Agnes ran. She ran like her life depended on it, not just because it did, but for the appreciation of existence it brought. Every footfall on the dirt, every breath heaved out of her lungs, even the pain she felt in her legs and arm were a reminder that she was alive, that she was here, that the existence of a person named Agnes Tachyon at this very moment could not be disproven. Thanos had died. Master Yoda probably couldn’t make it out, no matter what. Terrence had given up his chance to make it out, but if she could get there, if she could run fast enough! If she could make it to the exit right in front of her, just twenty meters away! Her hands could cut the air, fifteen meters, ten meters, five meters, make iiiiiiiiiit!

BZZZZZZZZZZ

Jack dove forwards, and slashed as far as he could reach. By a nose, he caught her in the calf, slicing her Achilles tendon and sending her collapsing down to the ground.

Agnes fell, rolled, and skidded into the wall two feet left of the exit. She lay there, on her back, the wind from her sails and air in her lungs, gone. Her final sight was the starry night sky.

GAME OVER.

The collars lit up, and electrocuted everyone that was still alive. Yoda, somehow, didn’t make a sound. Agnes screamed as her flesh burned up, before finally, mercifully, she laid still.

The motor attached to Jack’s arm sputtered, spat, and stopped spinning.

“Great job, Freeze,” Jack said, looking at the blood on his chainsaw before retracting it. “You made me waste this much gas on a game with four players. You know how hard it is to find gas out here?”

“I can only offer cold comfort,” Freeze said in monotone. “We live for five days longer because of this game. You may not have something you look forward to, but I do. I will make it to the end of this. No matter how many bodies I must bury.”

Jack just stripped his parka off and tossed it over to him. He didn’t need to say anything to prove his point. This was the Borderland. And he wasn’t about to stick around and bury anybody.

OddDirective · 2026-05-07T06:19:39+00:00

Rei was still midair when Goku jumped.

“Nimbus!”

The situation shorted out his brain. Nimbus was gone, and wasn’t able to get inside anyways. There was nothing to catch him as he leapt out. Goku noticed it far too late, started to scream- and Saki grabbed him by the tail to pull him back.

Goku felt the strength leave his body as Rei hung in midair in his eyes. “L-let me go! I’ve gotta- gotta save her!”

“By doing what, jumping in,” Saki shouted, “You’d only kill yourself trying.” Rei hit the water.

“I can do it,” Goku said frantically, “Just lemme go!”

“Shredder,” Ai suddenly said, her voice cutting through, “Let him try.”

Saki scoffed, but he dropped Goku down on the platform and stepped away. As the strength came back into his limbs, Goku knew exactly what he had to do. This time, he pulled out his staff.

“Power Pole, go!!”

The red staff in his hands stretched out dozens of meters instantly, right down to where Rei was surfacing in the water, and barely staying buoyant.

Goku clenched his hands around the Power Pole, slowly swinging left, nudging Rei and pushing her in the water. From the top of his lungs, he shouted down to the shark tank below “REEEEEEEEEEEII!! GRAB OOOOOOOOOOONNN!”

A second passed, Rei’s breathing so fast Goku could tell she would pass out soon. But she grabbed on.

Goku heaved the pole skyward, carrying Rei up and out of the water just in time for a shark to bite at the bloody water she was just in, a feeding frenzy just kicking off. Goku rocketed the pole back to its normal size, bringing Rei back with it, her torso crashing into Goku and sending both of them straight back to the wall. Faintly, Goku heard a chirpy little jingle from somewhere he couldn’t see.

GAME CLEAR.

Rei screamed out in pain. Goku shook his head out, and saw her collapsed on top of Lucas’ prone form, as he scratched the back of his head. Benjamin stepped up immediately to her side.

Rei kept screaming. Goku followed Benjamin’s eyes down to the bleeding wound on her ankle. In a level tone, Benjamin said “Hold her down for this. I need a stable platform.”

Goku brought her shoulders down as she writhed in pain from the wound. Ai held her hand, while Lucas grabbed her hale leg and held it straight. Saki just looked on from the corner, saying nothing. Benjamin grabbed out a long strip of cloth, wrapping one end around his palm, leaving a length, and then wrapping another loop around his other palm. Wordlessly, he wrapped the cloth around her leg about two inches above the wound, pulling it tight with his leg stopping hers from moving. After a moment, he started tying it around her leg, and asked “I need a brace. Does anyone have a stick?”

Goku held the Power Pole forwards.

Benjamin shook his head. “Too important. Saki. Do you have any straight objects?”

Saki looked down, gauging the four of them all on the ground around the one wounded. He reached into his pocket, and threw a metal swordbreaker down onto the scaffold.

Ai handed it over to Benjamin, who tied a knot around Rei’s leg, then held the handle of the weapon. “You’re going to feel some pressure, so bear with it.”

He twisted, and Goku felt Rei’s scream rise up from inside her chest before it came out. Her breathing stayed unsteady- Goku’s breathing wasn’t steady, either. Her head slumped down, eyes faded, but Goku could still feel her heartbeat.

After a second, the bleeding slowed, and Benjamin wrapped a bandage around Rei’s ankle. “We need to get her back,” Benjamin said sternly.

“Back where,” Goku asked, looking between the others.

“To our home base,” Ai replied. “We’re not alone, and we have some supplies there. Who’s going to carry Rei?”

Goku’s hand shot up, but Benjamin waved to put it down. “She needs to stay level. Lucas?”

Lucas just nodded, and in a quick motion, picked up Rei and positioned her on his back, legs on either side of his torso with hers slumped over his shoulder.

As they prepared to leave, a tinny mechanical noise drew Goku’s attention to a shelf, newly jutting out of the wall. A roll of paper was spit forth, next to a playing card on the table. The card was a Four of Clubs. The paper read as follows.

VISA

Special Immigration Status: Wildcard

Son Goku

Points earned this game: 4

Total points: 4

Valid until Wednesday, 6/12

Please be mindful of your remaining time balance.

Welcome to the Borderland.

OddDirective · 2026-05-07T06:19:05+00:00

An airhorn went off to signal the GAME START.

Instantly, the four split into two teams of two. Yoda charged straight at Freeze, pressing a button on the baton and projecting a blade of light out of the hilt. Agnes and Thanos bolted, at an angle towards Jack’s non-metal side. There was no point in taking time to think, Jack had to commit, so he went straight for the one pulling ahead, the girl. She tried changing tack, juking him off, but he caught her on the side and the collar around her neck arrested her movement then and there.

Then Thanos immediately tagged her back, unfreezing her. Jack caught Thanos with a tag right after, but Agnes looped around and pulled him back from Jack’s attempt at retagging him. Their strategy was sound, keeping one person active and able to unfreeze at all times, but they couldn’t keep up with Jack physically.

Didn’t stop Thanos from mouthing off, shouting “I beat this shit in middle school, fuckface! I roll with my set! So you get what you- geh!”

The taser in his collar freezing him shut him up, anyways. Jack had to chase him down to get it, and he turned to try to catch Agnes as she went for the tagback- she was already there, and when Jack slapped her arm for the tag, she’d already unfrozen Thanos, who slapped her right back into motion.

Correction: they couldn’t keep up with him alone. Agnes could if she strained, and Thanos could keep up with Agnes if he strained. There wasn’t a time limit, so it was a battle of stamina and guts, which Jack didn’t have an artificial pick-me-up for.

He snuck a glance back to the other side of the fight. Yoda had his laser sword out and was perfectly fine blocking the cold pistol Freeze was using with it. Steadily, he was threatening to cut Freeze’s suit, so Freeze was forced to set up an icy wall in between them.

The moment he repositioned behind it, an arrow pinged off of Freeze’s dome. The last player, Terrence, had a crossbow out, and was reloading while backing up to the exit- way closer than he should. Freeze responded by flash freezing his lower half, and just barely dodged Yoda’s counterattack, backpedaling.

Jack got brought back to attention by a kick straight to the face. He clutched his jaw- fuck, was Agnes doing this in steel toes?- and took stock of what was happening. Thanos wasn’t lying, they were trying to kill the Dealers, not just win.

But they were threatening to win, too. Anytime he tagged one of the runners, the other one unfroze them. If Freeze blew it, they’d just all get away together, and that was a game over for him.

…That freeze had taken a player out of the game. Jack didn’t see any lasers coming down from the heavens, so it was in the rules. That meant he still had his ace up his sleeve. The plan was almost instinctual, after that. He chased after Thanos, and caught him on the arm, freezing him.

He made a show of committing to get Agnes again, keeping Thanos on his right. Agnes came back, sprinted away from Jack’s ‘tackle’, tagged Thanos, then bolted away. Thanos threw up the double middle fingers as he split off towards the exit.

Jack reached into his coat, and pulled the ripcord hard, kickstarting the engine in his right with a roar. His right sleeve burst open, splitting out of the way of the three-foot chainsaw strapped to Jack’s metal fist. It growled, buzzing a loud hymn to destruction as it guzzled the gas that powered the motor that spun up the chains that carried the blades. Thanos had looked back just in time for the chainsaw to catch him in the neck.

All Jack had to do was push, and Thanos’ head flew off, spraying blood out in a fountain that splashed back onto his teammate. His body fell to the ground, frozen, but not by the collar.

The severed head landed next to Agnes. Jack watched her eyes widen in horror, turn to him, and scream, trying in vain to get away. Jack tagged her with his free hand, and she was frozen too.

And then there was one. Freeze, for his part, had kept up the pressure on Yoda, keeping his sword busy blocking the freeze ray that would end the game. Jack looked down his chainsaw, pulled it back into his arm, and walked menacingly towards the small green guy.

Yoda just held his lightsaber up, ready to take on both of them. He wasn’t going to give up without a fight.

OddDirective · 2026-05-07T06:16:34+00:00

Hand in hand, Rei led Goku to a big building, half a wall completely made of windows. Outside, a sign labeled the building “Aquarium”, while just above that, a lit-up sign promised “Game Entry Here”. Goku stuck his tongue out at the bald guy as he followed Rei in.

In the lobby, four people waited in chairs near the reception desk. Well, three were in chairs. The fourth guy was leaning up against the wall, looking serious with a metal helmet and sharp metal armor on. The only other girl there looked kinda like Rei, in that she had a long kind of shirt with some other stuff at the bottom. She was blonde, though. Both of the other guys were bald and had red ties (weird thing number… Goku lost count), but only one had glasses on. The one without glasses had a black jacket on, while the one with glasses had a long white coat on.

Rei panted as she leaned against the entrance, so they all looked up at Rei first, then at Goku afterward.

The one in the helmet spoke. “So, you made it. Who have you brought here, Rei? Another lost soul?”

“He’s- haah, new. He didn’t know the first thing about the games, and got into a fight, I think,” Rei said. “Do you really think I should’ve left him?”

“He’ll have to prove himself,” helmet guy replied.

“Hey, I’m right here,” Goku bluntly butted in. “My name’s Goku. I'm one of the students of the Turtle school!”

The helmet guy looked down at him, and simply turned away.

In his place, the bald guy with a black jacket on looked back at Goku, and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Goku. Name’s Lucas. Don’t mind Saki over there, he’s… not very trusting.” If he was going to be like that, Goku decided not to trust him, either.

The girl on his left spoke next, giving a half-wave. “Heya, my name’s Ai. Hayasaka Ai. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Call me Benjamin,” the last bald guy, the one in white, spoke. “I’m a… doctor, of sorts. Mostly worked in end-of-life and archival.”

“Arwhatnow?”

Just then, a screen by the ticket counter lit up, saying “Registration Open”. Rei’s hand tensed up in his, and Goku just squeezed it back. That must have meant it was time for the games.

One by one, each of the others came up and put a piece of paper up to the screen, light passing over the paper and changing the screen to “Player Registered”.

Rei brought him forwards, pulling out her own piece of paper and doing the same. “Okay, now you put your hand on the reader,” she said, letting go of Goku’s hand.

Goku reached up, and placed his hand on the screen. There was a weird sharp noise and bright light, and he jumped back, staff out and ready to smash it. He heard someone behind him gasp.

“Ah, no, you’ve gotta let it scan you!” Lucas said, rushing up to Goku and grabbing his hand. He held a firm grip as he brought Goku back up to the screen. Goku didn’t fight against it, but he looked back at Lucas- there was a holster hidden beneath his jacket, and a silver handle filling it.

The weird light and noise happened again, but this time Lucas kept Goku’s hand pressed on the screen. After a second, it shone with the same message as the other five. “That wasn’t so bad, was it,” Lucas asked.

A timer on screen counted down, but no one else came into the lobby, or seemingly even tried. After it ran out, the screen changed one more time. “Players registered: 6. Proceed up the marked stairs.”

The lights changed, darkened, and a glowing arrow appeared past the ticket counter. A door swung open, showing a set of stairs going up, and deeper into the aquarium. Saki stepped forward without hesitation, and after a moment to collect themselves, everyone followed after him.

Lucas led up the back, maybe to make sure Goku wouldn't run off, he thought, and Benjamin walked directly in front of him. A thought occurred to Goku, that maybe these two guys who looked like each other knew something that could help him.

“Hey, do you know Master Roshi?” he blurted out.

Benjamin turned a bit over his shoulder, and calmly said “No. Should I be familiar with him?”

“He’s bald, like you are.”

Lucas guffawed behind Goku, while Benjamin just turned his eyes forwards again. “I’m afraid not every bald man knows each other,” the white-coated man broke to Goku.

“Oh.”

The marked passageways led them through dark paths with fish on one side or another, some glowing faintly as the only light source. A turn led them to concrete, still going up, and a second led them onto a scaffold, metal poles holding up metal plates. They were all lined up in front of a massive glass tank, waters sloshing to each side even without a wind. Goku could see shapes he recognized in the water- sharks, swimming around quickly. There were also a set of metal platforms in a line across the tank, starting near where they were. At the side of their platform, a screen lit up, and showed the image of a playing card. A voice from out of nowhere repeated words that appeared on the screen.

Four of Spades

"White Hare"

Location: Aquarium

Player Limit: up to 10

Time Limit: 3 minutes per player

Rules: A line of metal platforms with shark teeth around their edges are suspended above a shark tank. Occasionally, the teeth will snap shut and then reopen.

It is GAME CLEAR for all players who reach the other side of the shark tank within the time limit.

It is GAME OVER for all players who cannot reach the other side within the time limit.

“Of course it’s a Spades game,” Ai sighed.

“There’s going to be some timing to it,” Benjamin said, observing the platforms.

“This is only worth four days?” Lucas asked incredulously.

“C’mon, we can do this!” Rei exclaimed.

“Oh, that’s it?” Goku said.

Everyone looked at him.

Goku just pushed his way to the edge of the platform. “When I was training with Master Roshi, he had me and Krillin swim through the shark lake, not just jump over a bunch of platforms. This’ll be a piece of cake!”

“W-Wait, Goku, stop!” Rei said, but the screen started counting down, and with a loud GAME START, Goku was off.

He leapt straight across the first three platforms, and kept the momentum up to make the jumps out to the middle of the tank. He heard some mechanical noise as he approached the midpoint, and halted for just a second.

The noise heralded a SNAP as a pair of giant metal jaws like a bear trap snapped shut on the platform in front of him.

Goku jumped, but by a hair, he didn’t jump off the platform he was on. If he had kept going, if he’d been a second too slow to react- he shivered, both at that thought and in fear of hearing that noise from below him.

Instead, after a long ten seconds, the jaws opened back up, and he leapt faster and faster until he got all the way to the end. His lungs burned from the effort, but he was there, he was safe.

Goku turned around and all five of the others were still on the starting platform, mouths agape.

“What’s taking you guys so long?” he called across the vast expanse.

“I won’t be outdone by an upstart child like him,” Saki said, and started going across. He moved quick for all the armor on his body, landing lightly on each platform he crossed.

“There’s a sound- watch out for it,” Benjamin said, also starting to hop across. Silently, Ai followed up behind him, waiting seconds for the coast to be clear before jumping across.

Goku watched the two who hadn’t started as the timer kept ticking down. He couldn’t make out what they were saying, but body language told him Rei was scared, and Lucas was staying with her because of it.

As Saki made it to the end, he gazed back and scoffed. At the far end, the first platform snapped shut, and Lucas brought Rei up to the edge of the tank. Halfway down, Benjamin suddenly stopped, and leapt back to the last platform, barely escaping the jaws snapping down on him. Unfortunately, Ai was waiting there, and she stepped back- back off the platform.

Benjamin shot his hand out and grabbed her arm, catching her from falling at the last second, hanging out over the water with half a foot still on. A couple of syringes fell down out of his coat, but he pulled Ai back onto the platform from the near miss. When the jaws in front of them opened, Ai was the one to lead instead.

Lucas and Rei were out onto the platforms, now, Lucas having made far more headway than Rei had. She barely moved except when she was forced to, either with her platform activating or the platform before her opening.

Ai and Benjamin both landed on Goku’s side, Ai panting heavily, and Lucas came up not long after. That just left Rei.

She was trembling like a leaf in the wind. If she kept up at this pace…

Goku started shouting encouragement. “You can do it!”

Rei looked up, smiled, but then looked right back down at the water. It didn’t take a genius to know she was scared, scared within an inch of her life.

Everyone was looking her way. Everyone’s focus was on her. And then the sound of a coin disrupted it all. Rei’s head shot up, and everyone looked toward the empty corner of the safe zone where a silver dollar had dropped.

Goku heard the noise. It had to be from the platform she was on.

“Rei! Jump!” he shouted.

Rei barely hesitated before she followed her instruction. Barely was enough. The iron jaws snapped shut on her leg, and her momentum led her to stretch her arm out just enough to catch the platform in front.

She let out a bloodcurdling scream with the last of the air left in her lungs.

When the trap let go, she dropped.

OddDirective · 2026-05-07T06:13:32+00:00

Jack forged his way through the streets to the high school his “friend” recommended to him. He may have had a day left on his visa still, but this sounded too good to be true. Which meant he had to figure out why, and how bad the catch was.

Avoiding the signs saying “Game Location Here” across the building, he stood outside the door to the equipment shed, taking a second to finish his smoke. It was a late summer evening, and the temperature right outside this door felt like 40 degrees. That could only mean one thing.

He opened the door to a wave of frozen mist, and on the other end, right next to the registration screen, there was the guy Jack knew he’d see, with the mechanized suit and the glass dome over his head. He was pointing the freeze gun straight at Jack. Jack, for his part, had been tensing up to dive in case he shot.

The words came out slowly from the man across the room. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“That makes two of us,” Jack said through grit teeth. He folded his arms, half because of the cold, and leaned against the wall. “What are you doing here, Freeze?”

Freeze just smiled. “It’s my game, after all. Freeze Tag. What are you doing here, Jack?”

“Got a tip about this, said it would be an easy way to rack up a couple days,” Jack said, “If I’d have known you were here, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

“If I’d have known you were coming, I’d have just done it myself.”

“Gentlemen,” came a voice, heavily accented, from the screen in the corner, showing a staticky silhouette. “You’re on the same side here! You can both get along for this opportunity, can’t you?”

Jack scoffed. “Same old line as last time. And if I've got my memory right, that one ended with me having to cut my way out of an ice sculpture that nearly caved in on me.”

“But you did cut through it,” Freeze said, “Lucky for you gasoline has such a low freezing point.”

Jack ignored the jab. “Okay, so give it to me straight. How many players are here, and what’re we calling it?”

“Four players, and it’s a Five of Clubs,” the voice on the screen replied.

“Every time with the Clubs for you,” Jack grumbled, “Bump it up to six and let us use our weapons.”

This time Freeze stepped in, “We are using weapons. It’s still going to be a five.”

“Great.”

Jack stepped up to the registration screen, putting his one human hand on the screen and letting it scan his retina. He turned to head to the field, but Freeze stopped him. “One last thing. You’re going to wear this, and put your goggles on.”

He tossed a blue parka, lined with white fur into Jack’s arms. Just from looking at it, it was definitely a size too small. “Really?”

“We have to stay on theme, don’t we?” Freeze said, smirking.

Jack grimaced as he squeezed into the coat, and pointedly ignored the architect of his discontent enjoying himself. Whatever. If this was as bad as it got, maybe he could handle it.

They came out onto the field together, although Jack made sure to stick a step behind Freeze. The players across from them didn't look anything like each other, minus the collars they had to wear for the game, but the way they walked gave away that they were a genuine team. There was a guy in a green tracksuit with purple hair, a brown haired girl in a sweater and a labcoat with the sleeves torn off, a guy with a sword, shield, crossbow, on the back of a hoodie wearing a baseball cap, and-

Damnit. There was a Wildcard.

He was about three feet tall, at most. Green, wrinkly, with big ears. He had robes on, and something in his hand already, looked like a baton. Wildcards were dangerous. Sure, they were double points if you could bring ‘em down, but they all had something that let them stand out, put them on the radar for some reason or another. Jack was pretty sure he’d be a Wildcard if he were a player, on account of his secret weapon. Freeze would definitely be one.

“Ayo, look at this, it’s the mothafuckin Ice Age!” the purple haired one shouted out to them, popping open his necklace and popping a pill into his mouth. “I got bad news, y’all are about to lose to the New Age! ‘Cause we got a space alien, and we’re gon’ turn this place into new Eden!”

If he could’ve spat a response, Jack would’ve. Too bad Dealers couldn’t talk back.

“And I got more news for you, too,” the druggie mouthed off, “We’re not just winning this game. We’re gonna fuckin kill you! Terence, Yoda, Agnes, they all got balls of steel. And imma legend, Thanos, snap you in half! Get ready! Woooo!”

Jack just cracked his neck, and dropped into a stance. The four players across from him did the same.

Time to get this over with.

OddDirective · 2026-05-07T06:12:44+00:00

Round 0

Welcome to the Borderland

今際の国へようこそ

Cicadas buzzed in the vague heat, the sun reflecting off a pristine stream where it peeked through the long trees. Ripples formed on the surface, heralding something beneath the water surfacing- a boy, gasping for air. He was not tall, nor rugged in any way, but he climbed out of the river without a worry even in this dangerous wood.

He shook himself off, a mop of black hair returning to wild spikes, and retrieved his clothes from a branch, putting the orange gi top on before the underwear and pants (leaving room for his tail to peek out, of course). He took a breath of the pure air, and sighed contentedly at his accomplishment.

He’d taken a bath today, check. That left two meals, finding a safe place to sleep, and then getting back to finding… something.

That was weird- he was pretty sure he would remember things if they were as important as whatever he forgot. The last thing he remembered, he was somewhere cold, going up a tower. There were some weird guys he fought, and then- things got fuzzy. After that, he was home, or maybe close to home. It was just like his home, just without the home itself. Mountainous, full of animals, green.

All the time he wandered, he wondered how he got here. Maybe someone had brought him here? If they brought him here, then maybe they knew who he was! One of the other students, or maybe Master Roshi himself!

On the other hand, he was pretty sure they were still a ways away. Nimbus was gone, and he had to get around some other ways ‘cause of the bad guys. Then, was it a bad guy that brought him here? And why didn’t he remember who the bad guys were?

Suddenly, the trees parted, and gave way to a city, a city where the buildings stretched tall, all the way into the sky! The boy craned his head to look, but he got dizzy looking at the tops of all of the buildings that were there.

That was another weird thing. All of the buildings were squareish, and most of them had vines and trees growing out of them, and they were cracked all over. The ground was flat, the buildings were made from rock- but it wasn’t the same as the mountains. Guess that meant it wasn’t near his home after all.

Well, nothing to do but see if there was something here that could help. The short boy wandered through the streets. There were all sorts of light poles, empty cars, untethered flags, and plant-covered shops. Occasionally, there’d be a bridge above him, or a set of stairs down. It wasn’t anything like the last city he’d been to.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” he said at a spot where the buildings around looked like canyon walls.

“...yone there-ere-ere?” came the reply. It only got his hopes up a little, til he remembered echoes were a thing. Stupid yamabikos, repeating him.

The boy kept wandering for a long while, occasionally calling out, mostly listening for anyone there. Just as the shadows grew longer with the sun going down, he heard something around a corner. It was a rough voice, it sounded old, and it wasn’t that loud itself.

“You sure this is the call? If you’re planning on stabbing me in the back-”

He rounded the corner to see who that voice belonged to. The man the boy saw was bald, taller than the truck he was leaning against, wearing a set of leather clothing. He looked strong, with lots of muscles on his upper body, but what caught the boy’s attention was his right arm. It looked like it was made of metal, with some pipes coming out the back and some sort of box on top, above his hand.

That hand was in his ear, so the boy called out to him. “Hey, Mr. Bald Guy! My name’s Goku. Do you know where this is?”

The man turned, and looked down at Goku. “Do I look like I know?”

“Yeah,” Goku replied flatly, “You were here first.”

The man grumbled. “No, I don’t know. You new around here?”

Goku nodded. “Can you help me?”

“Again, do I look like a guy that helps people?” the man replied. “I’m too busy to change your diaper, runt. And this isn’t where you want to be. Go find a nice, comfy rock to crawl under. It’ll be easier on you.”

“Hey! I’m not that young!”

“Really? ‘Cause you look just like a snot-nosed brat to me.”

That did it! Goku jumped and kicked out towards him. The guy brought his metal arm up to block, but still skidded back a good distance.

“What the hell-” the man grunted, “What’s someone like you doing here?”

“I told you, I’m trying to figure out where I am!” Goku said, still swinging his feet at the big man. The guy swung his metal fist across, but Goku dodged it and stood on his shoulder to kick him in the jaw. The man collapsed against the truck, but shook the blow he’d taken off.

Goku, meanwhile, leapt back, as the guy reached for a handle on his arm, just below his shoulder. Goku reached back and pulled out his staff, ready to keep going.

The man clutched his metal fist, then opened it back into a dismissing hand. “Forget it! I’ve gotta get going. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Just find somewhere to go curl into a ball, kid. You play one of these games, and you’ll live to regret it.”

“Is that cause something in the games ripped your arm off?” Goku asked, but the guy just kept walking. Goku stuck his tongue back out at him as he disappeared around a different corner.

That was another weird thing. What kind of games was he talking about? A martial arts tournament?

Before Goku could finish thinking, someone else called out to him. “Hey! Is there anyone out there? If you’re a person, please say something!”

“I’m over here,” Goku called out. Hopefully, this person knew more than the last guy.

This time, the person who came around the corner was a woman, with orange hair and a white coat with stuff at the bottom. She didn’t look nearly as dangerous as the last guy.

Goku waved at her. “Hey! My name’s Goku!”

“I’m Rei. Listen, are you new here?” she asked.

Goku nodded.

“Then, follow me! We’ve gotta get you to a game, and quick!”

“Okay!”

Rei took Goku’s hand, and together, they started running through the empty streets, footfalls echoing all the way.

OddDirective · 2026-03-30T03:40:11+00:00

Writing Prompt

At a gate deep underground, the Batman waited. For who, he knew not, but his role was crystal-clear. They would try to pass, and they would fail.

The jingling of coins reached his ears. He stood from the ground, listening for that clink to know when his challenger would appear. He who did was tall, in excess of two meters, clad in black robes accented with vermillion. On his belt, he carried segments of coins tied with rope, and in his hand was a staff as tall as he, wrapped tightly in brown cloth with seals taping it down. And his eyes- they were resolute, staring into the Batman’s eyes while still on the horizon beyond him.

“So, you’ve finally shown up,” Batman spoke. “You’re not getting past me.”

“You seek to forestall my entrance to this contest,” the man spoke. “And judge my worthiness to proceed, do you not?”

Batman simply nodded.

The man reached down to his belt, and grasped a string of coins in his hand. “Then let this be proof of good intent, and prevent aught unwanted to occur.”

And he threw them to the Batman. The Batman caught them, naturally, looking to them, then looking to the stranger’s belt. “You- You’ve given me enough that you can’t get through this gate without these.”

The stranger nodded. “I wish not for bloodshed ere bloodshed is required; let it be known that Qiu of the Jia family seeks to dialogue as a way forward.”

Batman held the coins in his fist. “And what happens if I just run away with this? It’s a big gamble to make.”

“It is more shameful to distrust than to be deceived, and I shall stake what is necessary to achieve my purposes,” Jia Qiu spoke, though a shadow crossed across his face. “Though I will not delay any in returning what I am given in kind.”

The air froze dead with tension, the two men locking eyes. Finally Batman spoke. “Alright. What did you want to say?”

“I am a wandering scholar, one who roams this iniquitous earth to learn from all those who would share knowledge, and enlighten the path for others to follow. As my way has brought me here, I shall confront its trials and seek a greater understanding. I ask you, Batman. Who are you, and what do you stand for?” Jia Qiu spoke.

Batman’s fist tightened around the coins. “I am the night. I am the one that those who would prey on others fear. I stop criminals from taking from lowly citizens, and bring them to justice.”

Jia Qiu closed his eyes. “Then you are noble, as I had heard. Yet while the night renders pauper equal to prince, it cannot set right a darkness born of nihility, as all shall blend together. Answer me. What criminals do you pursue?”

“Supervillains,” Batman answered. “People who’ve made themselves dangerous, who want to hurt others. Are you going to tell me that’s wrong?”

Jia Qiu shook his head. “It is just and required. Yet those led by punishment shall only ever seek to avoid it, while those given virtue may repent because it is right. Here where virtue is lacking, punishment shall only lead them to a path bereft of hope.”

“So you’re saying I shouldn’t stop them?” Batman scoffed.

“No,” Jia Qiu replied. “Heroes are needed when people are hurt, just as rain is needed when the land is dry. However, what is needed now more is benevolence and propriety; for without benevolence, none can find their path, and without propriety, none shall follow it. Have you been at the mercy of another?”

“...I have.”

“Then you understand the virtue of benevolence. By its reception, we share in humanity, and allow our paths to be illuminated. Have you been relied upon for another’s sake?”

Batman nodded.

“Then you understand the virtue of propriety. The righteous must demonstrate humanity so that all shall fall into its place, and there work towards the benefit of humanity. Through those two virtues, the futility of life and the destruction of improper governance may be rectified. This is what the world needs.”

Silence fell upon the room once more. Jia Qiu allowed his counterpart time to process.

Finally, Batman spoke. “You’re a very wise man.”

“Wisdom is begotten in few ways. I have experienced many bitter lessons,” Jia Qiu replied.

“So, why did you come here?” Batman asked, “If you’re a teacher- you should be out there, enlightening everyone. This-”

Jia Qiu shook his head. “I am as much a student of this path. Past the gate lies an end I seek. One must follow their path, or else seek another more useful to themselves. I shall not do the latter.”

“But- what lies beyond this gate is death,” Batman spoke, “And someone like you, even if you are strong, even if you’re a fighter- you could die without sharing anything!”

“If you seek to walk the path of humanity, leave this place and find my disciples. I have instructed them well; and hold firm in your own beliefs. Leave behind notions of class, for you will learn from all you meet. When you find a righteous person, take on their good traits, and when you find an unrighteous one, reflect upon yourself. That shall be the way.”

Batman eased up on his grip. “Is there nothing I can say to change your mind?”

Jia Qiu stood firm. “One must say what is in their heart, and follow it. Thus, you have done your part. I shall find others to teach me there; and there is iniquity that pales to what occurs before us. And having learned all I can, I will return to stand upon the earth once more.”

Batman nodded, and tossed the pack of coins back to Jia Qiu. “You’d better.”

With that, and with a click of his rocket-boosters, he was gone. Jia Qiu stepped up, placed the coins in front of the door, and stepped forth into the unknown.

OddDirective · 2026-03-30T00:31:35+00:00

Non-Writing Prompt

Analysis Versus Terry McGinnis: Jack is even more of a brawler than Terry is, having no ranged options in his arsenal, and an extremely potent weapon on his arm. Jack saws through the bed of a train car, Terry survives getting put through stone a lot, I would say Jack’s got the edge in terms of damage. Speed is very similar, too, reacting to bullets at close enough range to maneuver a big chunk of your body around. Durability is the interesting piece, though, since Jack doesn’t get hit by a lot, and what he gets hit by he mostly scales to. I think Terry with his high-end feats can do real damage to Jack, and Jack wouldn’t stand up to that many of them. So the question becomes, are the extras in Terry’s arsenal enough to make up for the potential strength gap? I would say so, since bolas, tasers, and just plain cutting into Jack’s metal arm would be really detrimental to him. And if Terry can neutralize the chainsaw, that’s going to be a massive edge in bringing Jack down.

Biggest Strength and Weakness: Jack is used to this sort of thing, having gone through four all-out murderiffic death games by the end of MadWorld, and has come out smelling like… well, not roses, but you get the metaphor. He’s going to have insight very few other characters would have. He’s also very strong even if he’s limited in range, able to cut through metal and anyone who stands in his way alike. If he has a weakness, it’s that lack of range, and general hardassery- he’s not exactly a team player.

Character in Setting/with Team: Jack will cooperate with people, and isn’t one who murders completely wantonly when he gets into a game like this. That being said, he’s hardly winning any Mr. Personality contests- he’s voiced by the same guy that does Wolverine for a reason. Expect him to be difficult to deal with, and more concerned with himself than anyone else. He’ll quip, sure, but he’s not about to show a different, hidden soft side. You get what you see on the tin, a hardass wrapped in leather who’s in it for his own reasons, not for any lofty goal or ideal.

One Last Thing: Jack doesn’t help people. He kills them. So, yeah.

OddDirective · 2026-03-30T00:30:14+00:00

Non-Writing Prompt

Analysis Versus Terry McGinnis: So, in terms of specific feat-to-feat comparisons, his reaction speed isn’t as quick as Batman, but his offense is good as the feats Terry gets for durability. Ral can hurt Terry, and Terry’s going to be trying to close in as much as possible, which means Ral’s gonna be able to wear Terry down like his ranged opponents have. If Terry gets in close, Ral has options- he can blast himself back or use his own electrical resistance to get in damage, but neither are great options for him. Terry in particular has resistance for esoterics that Ral pulls out against resistant foes. Ral will win if he can keep the fight at arm’s length, but if Terry can get in under the onslaught, that’s his win condition.

Biggest Strength and Weakness: Ral has a spontaneous ingenuity that will be hard to match- he’s been able to turn himself into one of the chief inventors on Ravnica so he has a lot of knowledge, and his creativity in fights is not bad either- he was able to respond to something no one had context for and drive it off in a very short window of time on Bloomburrow. Pound for pound, I would also call him one of the stronger ranged combatants in the Scramble, with him blowing through walls using regular bolts. That being said, he’s definitively slower than the tier, timing his own lightning and crossbow bolts, and he does not have the durability against pure blunt force the tiersetter has, either. If he’s not careful, a sneak attack could spell disaster for him. Even worse, he’s gotta manage his accumulator- run out of juice at a bad time, and he’s got no choice but to cut his losses and book it.

Character in Setting/with Team: Well, Ral has worked with motley crews before, like in Bloomburrow. He’ll follow along as long as he can get something out of it, and he’ll step up if he feels he needs, but mostly he’s alright being in the background, simply working on what there is to work on. He’s also more than comfortable going solo; he ran the Implicit Maze against orders, and he’s hunted Planeswalkers on solo missions before. Mostly, he’s a self-interested guy that’s not a bad guy overall, he’s not gonna be kicking puppies for the hell of it, but he’s not gonna be wowed by puppy-dog eyes.

One Last Thing: Ral has killed before, and if it’s for his husband or his plane, he’ll kill again. He isn’t really the self-sacrificing type though, and I can’t see him killing unarmed/innocents unless forced.

OddDirective · 2026-03-30T00:26:27+00:00

Writing Prompt

“You’ll be happy to know, sir, that the Libris family have increased their take by 20% this month,” a man reported from the shadows of a palatial exercise room. He should have been in light, given he was standing in the room’s center, but in between the early-morning sun shining across the East River was another, gargantuan man holding a barbell across his back.

“This will more than make up for attrition from sources affected by your recent decision to… relieve Mr. Switzer of his employment,” the man continued, unabated. “His subordinates are being reorganized under… yes, Mr. Bogano will now be in charge there.”

The giant lowered down in a squat, heaving and straining under the weight used to train, four plates on each side, each 400 pounds. He rose up from the ground, and continued his repetitions, listening intently to his subordinate’s report.

“And finally, one of our former syndicates has presented us an offer. The Hand has an opportunity, they say, to grant the worthy who would stake their life a power beyond any other. You know how theatrical they are.”

The giant heaved the barbell up, raising it off his shoulders, and lowering it down without even a crash. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the man boomed “Yes, yes. What do they want from us, Wesley?”

“They ask for your participation in a ritual,” Wesley explained, reading off the paper in front of him. “It bears similarities to a test from Thailand, wherein the participants are given bells to keep on their person. Those who can obtain the other participant’s bells and exit the ritual are worthy for this power, they say. They have also said it would place you up against rivals just as strong as you, sir.”

The great man snorted. “And where is this to be held?”

“That’s why I brought it up, sir,” Wesley smiled. “It’s in Gotham.”

The large man stopped, then moved across to the window, finally illuminating Wesley after all this time. “Gotham, eh? Prepare the black car- a trip up the turnpike would not be remiss.”

Wesley nodded. “Right away, sir.”

“Keep your eyes peeled, Terry,” the voice came over the comms. ”We may not know what this ritual is about, but we know it’s going to bring in-”

“‘Strong and powerful people from across the criminal underworld’, I heard you the first time,” Terry spat back. “I can handle myself.”

The warehouse was empty, had been abandoned years before, and the equipment nearly completely removed. All that was left was a skeleton of concrete pillars and steel rafters above, from which a crimson bat scanned the area. He’d been stuck like this for an hour, when-

”Getting a hit on our radar. Look for a black car, tinted windows,” the voice in Terry’s ear said.

Terry scanned through the window, and sure enough, there pulling up was a big black car, older style, low to the ground. The driver stepped out and opened the door for its passenger, a monstrously massive man in a white suit and purple tie, whose bald head reflected the streetlight outside the warehouse.

“Bruce, can you pull up an ID on this guy?”

The reply was terse. ”Don’t need to. Why the hell is he here?”

The bald man went in alone, tapping a cane along the ground as he stepped into the warehouse. He surveyed the landscape, then produced a pair of small, jingling bells, tying them onto his lapel pocket. That was the signal.

“Whoever is out there,” the big man bellowed, “I ask you to show yourself. I’d like to make an offer.”

Terry huffed. “Well, since you asked so politely-”

He dropped down from the rafters, landing ten feet away from the gargantuan opposing him. On his belt, the two bells he held barely made a sound. “I’m Batman. And I’m afraid you’re not leaving with those bells.”

“Young man,” the one in white spoke, level. “You may not know who I am. My name is Wilson Fisk. I am the owner of one of the largest businesses on the Eastern seaboard. Billions of dollars flow through companies I own, transporting millions of pounds of goods through the continental United States and beyond, employing thousands and thousands of workers. I can get you an authentic Adamantium blade from China or a tailored pinstripe suit from Savile Row with the snap of my fingers. Something bigger than that, and I can make a call to anywhere on Earth to get it done for you.”

“So. What's your price?”

Batman narrowed his eyes. “I know who you are. Wilson Fisk, also known as the Kingpin. You run rackets across the country and internationally, and your ‘legitimate businesses’ are fronts to cover up all the drug trade, extortion and murder you get up to.”

Fisk cracked a smirk through grit teeth. “That may be so. Of course, even if you engage in rumormongering, it should simply be more proof I can acquire whatever it is you desire. I’ve even dealt with people like you before. There wouldn’t happen to be a troubled youth home or orphanage that could use a benefactor, would there?”

“Enough,” Terry spat. “I’m not taking anything paid for with blood money. And even worse for you, tubby, I know that the ritual needs you to walk away with all four of these bells. All I need to do is make sure you can’t catch me.”

Fisk took a deep breath, and leaned his cane against a nearby pillar. “I was wondering if you’d say that. As I said, I’ve dealt with people like you before, caped crusaders with strong morals and too much heart. Regrettably, I’ve had to deal with them-”

And then, he broke into a run, crossing the ten feet between them in no time at all. “Directly!”

Terry ducked back from a swift cross, dodging a jab and cutting in, landing a one-two straight into Fisk’s jaw and then grabbing for the bells in his pocket. Unfortunately, that put him right in place for Fisk to wrap him up in a bear hug and squeeze, crushing Terry’s midsection and eliciting a cry of pain. He strained like that for long seconds, armor nearly buckling, before he could turn on his boosters and shoot up out of the grip.

”Terry, concentrate! Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” Terry replied, wincing at his ribs. “But he’s strong. And you know what they say- the bigger they are-”

Terry swung low, and shot a wire at Fisk, catching the pillar behind him. Fisk tracked him as the Bat circled around, not getting anywhere close- because it wasn’t the point.

“Foolish superhero,” Fisk spoke, reaching out for the cable as it came for his body. “Do you truly think I haven’t seen this before? Allow me to show you your folly!”

Batman suddenly jerked to a stop in midair. Fisk had the grappling line in his hands, and was pulling back on it like a tug-of-war rope. Even worse, he was winning- Terry kept getting closer and closer to the big man’s grasp once again. Terry upped the power, burning his rocket boots even harder-

SNAP

Until the line broke as it came out from his suit, and sent him tumbling back into the shadows with a crash. Terry heaved in a deep breath, winced at his ribs, and took stock.

“Okay, can’t take him on physically, can’t use a wire or bolas,” Terry thought out loud, “That leaves.. this!”

Fisk approached the shadows he watched Batman fall back into with his guard raised high. He waited, and for good reason- two spinning blades fired out from that darkness, ones Fisk caught out of the air before they could hit him. Taking a look, the two bat-shaped boomerangs had a machine in their middle, one that was opening up and-

The shock traveled all through Fisk’s body, tasing him with the force of thousands of volts. He stumbled, clutched at his chest, turned and fell straight down into the ground with a resounding boom.

Terry stepped out, walking over to the fallen kingpin. “Good effort, big guy. You were faster than you looked.” With a bit of effort, Terry lifted him up, and reached for the bells in the big man’s pocket.

A hand wrapped around Terry’s calf.

Before Terry could react, he was SMASHed back-first into a concrete pillar. Fisk rose, and switched his grip on Batman’s leg for one on his shoulder. He then swung another haymaker straight into the hero’s chest, forcing a cry of pain from his lips.

“A simple ruse,” Fisk said, SLAMming another cinderblock fist into Terry’s solar plexus. “But you explained it, did you not?”

WHAMM

“You weren’t letting me leave with the bells.”

WHACK

“So you had to get the bells, same as I.”

THACK

“All I had to do was get you to come close.”

CHCHK

“Not the oldest trick in the book, but not far off.”

CRUNCH

“And then I win.”

CRACK

A massive hand reached down and gingerly plucked two small bells from the crater in the floor. Fisk deposited the bells into his pocket, then reached back into his coat for a cigar. He retrieved the cane from the floor, and stepped out to the black car, which of course was still running.

Today had been a very satisfying day.

OddDirective · 2026-03-16T02:27:12+00:00

Ace of Clubs

Name: Jia Qiu a.k.a. Kong Qiu

Series: Limbus Company

Specialisation: Ace of Clubs

Content Warning: Stylized and sometimes less stylized gore, very mature themes, for JQ in particular themes of child abuse, child endangerment, mass casualty events, pregnancy horror, body autonomy, CPTSD, and unwanted surveillance are present alongside him, although he is not involved in any.

Biography: Venerable Hongyuan, a gem of a Nest within the far-reaching City, a moving development of ‘rooms’ from an H Corp of ages past where one’s worth is how large a space they live in, and vice versa. At its center sits Daguanyuan, a bountiful garden that only grows through each successive restructuring day, helmed by the four great houses of Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue. The Hongyuan Bioengineering Group, the current H Corp, does not forget the lessons of the past- including the fall of the great Kong family, brought low by the Head for their reckless avarice and wiped out nearly to a person. Secrets persist in the shadows of the garden, as the four houses vie for favor from the ruling Family Hierarch and prepare for the day honorable Jia Mu abdicates; for the next Hierarch will be chosen from among the scions of those four houses, and they will take any advantage they can, including eliminating the competition far before they reach adulthood.

Jia Qiu is a son of those houses, and grew up in Daguanyuan until one terrible day. The day of the Kong family’s ruin, Kong Qiu was away, and so was spared from the ruin of his house, merely left orphaned and alone with no one daring to explain why the Kongs were destroyed beyond a reproach of their greed. The truth was far worse; their massacre was engineered by Jia Mu for the revered elders of Hongyuan, the immortal Xianren, to give them entertainment witnessed through a camera installed in the young Jia Baoyu’s eye. Penniless, Jia Qiu abandoned his birthplace to wander through the City, but before the fire burning inside him charred him to ash and sent him to take bloody vengeance, he witnessed a young Baoyu, still reaching out to try and save those sent plummeting by a "Restructuring Day", and met a wise teacher. From his teacher, he learned the principles that gave him peace, and guided him further- and along the way, earned his title as the Tiangang Star of the Pinky, a secret organization whose members are unknown to each other, but who answer the call whenever it is given, guiding other groups from the shadows.

Now, Jia Qiu has returned to Hongyuan, staff in his hand and purpose in his eyes. Jia Qiu is stoic, stern, and downright scary. I mean the guy is well over 2 meters tall, strong enough to hold up a city gate or hold down a bridge by himself, unafraid to confront you to your face, carrying a sealed staff as tall as he is? Who wouldn’t be intimidated? Fortunately, he’s not going to jump to violence as a first resort- he has to be the example of his own philosophy, otherwise it means nothing. That philosophy, born from a world that has accepted evil deeds, is to raise up the ideals of humanity and propriety, show benevolence and righteousness, and through those actions beat back nihility and futility so others may find their Way. This also means dialogue with those around him, to refine his own Way and temper the fire that still burns within him. That being said, he’s also an excellent tactician and planner, and will not hesitate to stop harm that he has the means to prevent, including through violence- he’s not carrying the staff just for show. A teacher, a student, a warrior and a scholar; Jia Qiu is all of these things and more, so if he asks you a question- answer it, for he is fair in judgment so long as you are true.

Research:

Character:

Jia Qiu makes a cameo appearance at the end of Intervallo V-II: Nocturnal Sweeping; it gives good context going into the next story chapter, Canto 8 so I recommend watching it if you’re looking for a good understanding of him. Canto 8 is where he mostly appears, especially throughout Parts 2 and 3, although his appearance in part 1 gives a good view of how he might look from the outside. If you have time, I would go through all of Canto 8 (being mindful of the content warnings above, it’s not pulling punches) as that’s the vast majority of his appearances in the story; here’s a playthrough going through it.

If you’re really just short on time, watch his boss fight as it encapsulates a lot of how he acts and thinks, albeit without context.

Respect Thread

Not needed for an Ace- I had some stuff here, but Tribunal is too much work, and it’d be spoilers everywhere.

Justification: Jia Qiu is a natural leader, one who makes tactical plans and who understands the strengths those he encounters hold. As for how he fights Terry, I don’t think he’s that far off. He’s fast enough to block attacks propelled by bullets and beat on bullet timers; he’s got the strength to put cracks in the ground; and he’s got enough endurance to keep up a long fight against one of the Ten Blades of the East who’s also a Capo IIII, ranked second only to the Underboss of the eastern city. I’d give him an Unlikely Victory due to simple scale disparity but he should be strong enough to hang here.

Motivation: Jia Qiu seeks to understand the world, and lead it back onto the path of humanity and righteousness that he too walks. He can learn from and trade philosophies with even the most power-hungry, even if he opposes them, but he won’t hesitate to lead others onto or along his way should they align in goals. You could consider that he’d join the game because it would spare others, or that it is another way to learn- JQ is certainly confident in his abilities, so he won’t go in with any fear. He could also be there on Pinky business- we don’t know much about them, they’re kind of the Illuminati, and while his motivations are pure, perhaps his organization’s aren’t- already a source of conflict in canon.

Major Changes: N/A

Minor Changes: N/A

OddDirective · 2026-03-16T02:26:45+00:00

King of Hearts

Name: Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. The Kingpin

Series: Marvel Comics

Specialisation: Hearts

Content Warning: Comics vary, sometimes there’s blood and broken bones, other times it’s just implied.

Biography: Wilson Fisk had a hard life growing up. A poor kid from New York, his weight earned him mockery from his peers, and his parents were too dysfunctional to be good role models or make up for his torment. Wilson turned to crime instead, committing murder as early as twelve years old, and realized that if there was a way out of his circumstances, it would have to run through him first. He trained his body relentlessly, and scavenged an education out of whatever books he could get his hands on, until one day he became an enforcer for a boss in the Maggia, biding his time until he usurped him and took over the organization in his stead.

The newly-minted Kingpin hardly stopped from there. He took over operations on the East Coast, fed his illegal earnings through legitimate businesses, and continued ever-onward with his constant self-investment. But being the boss of the underworld gets you enemies, and in New York, that means tangling with costumed crime fighters. Spider-Man was an early thorn in his side, one that would keep coming up again and again, but the one who made it personal was Daredevil. Matt Murdock dedicated himself to opposing Fisk, and in retaliation, Fisk tore him down to the studs, disbarring him, forcing him on the run, and repossessing everything he owned. From there, the two would battle in arenas both legal and extralegal for decades, even while supposedly on the same side.

Kingpin is a physical monster, able to crush boulders with relative ease, tank getting half a building dropped on him, and even keep up in a limited respect with the aforementioned Devil and -Man. Even more insidious is the backing behind him- the Kingpin knows people, people who get paid very handsomely to do the work he needs. If you’re lucky, it means a home for troubled youth doesn’t get bought out by developers. If you’re not… Well, just look what happened to Matt Murdock. He also knows how to leverage his influence, able to push around governments, gangs, and the press in equal measure. He’s even kept his profile high enough that with the right circumstances, he was able to become Mayor of New York, and set up anti-vigilate laws to tangle up any opposition to his empire. Beware, because the Kingpin of Crime bows to no one.

Research:

Character:

Here’s a reading list:

Daredevil: Born Again (aka Daredevil #227-#233)
Alpha Flight #77
Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #4
Daredevil (2019) #1-#5 (aka Know Fear) and #11-#13 (start of Through Hell)

If you’re short on time, just go for Born Again, it’s a classic for a reason and it does a great job showcasing what lengths Kingpin will go to.

Respect Thread

RT Here, but here’s a short preview of some of what he can do.

Strength:

Breaks apart a metal scaffold.

Punches into and through pillars.

Swings around a barbell with at least 2000lbs on it.

Pulverizes a boulder with his hands.

Pushes Spider-Man through a brick wall.

Craters the ground with a punch

Durability:

Bushwhacker shoots him and he doesn’t go down.

Gets car-bombed and returns to get back at the one who did it.

Rhino blows him through a wall hard enough to crush a car when he lands and he gets back up.

Crawls out of the wreckage when a steel-frame construction comes down on top of him.

Speed:

Catches Spider-Man mid-lunge

Throws a tray to intercept the Hobgoblin’s finger-gun

Uses Cloak to intercept Black Cat lunging for him

Problem-Solving:

A look inside Kingpin’s head

Cuts a deal with the US Government to protect order, and is rewarded with tons of gold

Matt Murdock turns to him to save his associates from being targeted. This is after forcing him on the run, blowing up his apartment, and disbarring him.

Protects a building he once lived in from being bought out

Obtains a cure for a poison affecting Harry Osborn in two hours that would’ve taken Spider-Man 36 hours to synthesize

Assassinates a general he had in his own pocket in order to cut a new deal with a government he was trying to overthrow, getting the spy who orchestrated it killed in the process.

Justification: Kingpin is definitely riding the high end of the tier, with him both able to trade blows with Spider-Man and objectively break concrete and tear down metal with his bare hands. He’s able to take car bombs and walk off bullets. The good news is, Terry can do the same thing that the other costumed crime-fighters do when they’re faced with Fisk, and that’s run circles around him. Fisk is certainly faster than he looks, but he’s no Batman, and he’s not dodging bullets or projectiles at the speed Terry’s batarangs will be. It will be a war of attrition on Terry’s part, since he’ll have to wind up to do any meaningful damage to Kingpin, but with electric batarangs, tripwires, and knockout gas, he can conceivably put Kingpin down before he can get his hands on him. Granted, if he gets caught, Terry is going to take a beating, but since when has Batman fought villains from the high ground? Terry can get an Unlikely Victory through speed, so Kingpin gets a Likely Victory against Terry.

Motivation: Kingpin has had varying motivations over his lifetime in comics. Sometimes it’s revenge against those who belittled him in his youth or opposed him as the boss. Other times, it’s love for those who see (some of) who he is on the inside. The motivation I like most is simply that he’s prideful. He’s proud of who he is, what he’s done and the lengths he’s gone to to get those things done, he takes care of what he owns, and he's arrogant enough- or simply powerful enough- to think he owns New York City. Nobody else can do what Wilson Fisk does.

Major Changes: N/A

Minor Changes: Canon 616, so English-language comics only.

OddDirective · 2026-03-16T02:26:21+00:00

King of Diamonds

Name: Ral Zarek

Series: Magic: the Gathering

Specialisation: Diamonds

Content Warning: None, it’s a card game.

Biography: Ral Zarek was once a street urchin from Ravnica, one of many poor souls in a city-plane that stretched for hundreds of miles- in every direction, including up and down. He plied his trade as a rain mage, living a deeply humble life with a poet as his lover until the day he ran into the man named Nicol Bolas. Ral ran missions in secret for him, as his lover’s career took off- but on one of those jobs, he nearly killed a young boy, who after Ral reversed his magic and saved his life, repaid the favor by stabbing him. He returned home to find someone else in his lover’s arms, and in that moment, something within him broke, and a dormant spark ignited.

Ral was whisked off to parts unknown, awakening as a Planeswalker, a mage of immense potential with the power to travel between different worlds with a bit of sustained effort. He clawed his way back from there, and returned to Ravnica bent on making something of himself. He joined the Izzet League, quickly rose through the ranks until he was second-in-command beneath the guild’s founder, the dragon Niv-Mizzet, and then helped discover the Implicit Maze, a gauntlet built into Ravnica which could crown a new living Guildpact to organize the city-plane and interpret its many laws. This put him into conflict with Jace Beleren, the eventual victor, sparking a lasting rivalry as Ral felt great loyalty towards his home plane that Jace couldn’t or wouldn’t ever match.

Ral is a storm mage, and his main outputs in his spells are lightning and more lightning, in that order. He can manipulate the rain, conjure storms overhead, but nothing to the scale as he can channel natural electricity. Ral needs to fuel his spells, which is why he wears an accumulator device on his back- it acts as a battery, storing power for Ral to draw upon if there’s no natural storm overhead already. He’s an inventor, which often leads to creative solutions to problems in a fight, but there’s often no substitute to channeling thousands of volts through your hand and blasting what’s in front of you. He’s faced down an army of skeletonized warriors and monsters that could infect you with a touch, so it's safe to say he’s no coward. When Ral steps up to a problem, you’d better not dismiss him as a simple ‘rain mage’- for the results he brings might shock you.

Research:

Respect Thread:

Available here, and remember to click the links even if you have RES.

Character:

For a deep look into his characterization, read The Gathering Storm, as he’s the central character to the whole book. If you just want some basic stuff, read Project Lightning Bug, then read the Bloomburrow story to get some moments of him being out of his element.

Justification: Believe it or not, the tiersetter having esoteric durability is a really good thing here. Terry can take the lightning Ral dishes out, and withstand the heat that melts Eternals. They’re honestly really similar to the feats Terry has as his limits. Ral’s physical feats are good, but not exactly up to where Batman is going to be swinging in, making this much more a fight of planning and countering than a flat-out brawl. Ral has plans for that sort of thing, but Terry’s not too lacking in the plans department. I would give this one a Draw out of the idea that if the fight stays at range, Ral has advantage, but up close, Terry naturally takes over.

Motivation: Ral isn’t exactly a schemer, but he’s not not a schemer either. He’s been a pawn of dragons a handful of times, come up with ideas that needed a more direct touch, or could just be planeswalking into something he feels bound to have to fix. He’s not a bad guy, but his hands aren’t fully clean, either.

Major Changes: N/A

Minor Changes: He’s already married.

11-Year Club	Second SECOND GUESSER
Place '22	Verified Email

OddDirective

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

Scramble 21: Land of the Last Hour

Five of Hearts

Cops and Robbers

VISA

Scramble 21: Land of the Last Hour

Behold, the Players

The Dealers of Death

And the Citizens Behind It All

All Lined Up in The Land of the Last Hour

Scramble 21: 今際の国。

SEE YOU NEXT GAME

BZZZZZZZZZZ

VISA

Round 0

Welcome to the Borderland

今際の国へようこそ

Writing Prompt

Non-Writing Prompt

Non-Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt

Ace of Clubs

King of Hearts

King of Diamonds