10 Chapter 9 - Small Fish

Thong and Jason stood atop a cliff, both holding onto a tree as they overlooked a fancy villa that sat overhanging a cliff.

Thong: Why the hell am I here?

Jason: Are you done asking yourself that? This job is pretty important, you know.

Thong: How is killing someone important?

Jason: Well, the ones wanting us to kill this person are connected to the government.

Thong: W-What?! The government?!

Jason: Quiet down, they might hear you. Simply put, yes. This job came directly from the government.

Thong: How do you know that? Did Marvin tell you?

Jason: I have my connections, and for what I know from those connections is that the guy down there is a mafia member. He was recently released from jail despite having a life sentence. Most likely through bail, this guy got out when some people wanted to see him rot in that hellhole. He is a notorious drug dealer and has done some unorthodox killings himself.

Thong: So… Is he part of the scum you said you'd be alright with killing for a job?

Jason: That scum stuff was because I didn't have a better word for it, but basically, yes. I don't plan on going in there and killing everyone I see. However, I'll only kill those I need to, since killing anyone else would just cause more grief than what's needed.

Thong's thoughts: For being in the top ten, he seems pretty firm in his beliefs. It makes me wonder, how exactly does he fight like?

Jason: From what little else I know of this guy, he's just a lackey of some larger fish, but that larger fish is hiding well.

Thong: A larger fish? I guess there are bigger groups than I know of.

Jason: There's a whole world you know nothing about. Now that you're a member of the Eclipse, you won't be able to avoid them forever. The moment you witnessed your first match, your fate was sealed.

Thong gulped as he avoided looking at Jason. He stared down at the villa, noticing the high security that surrounded the building.

Jason: I can tell just from looking at you that you recognize the situation down there. Trust me, you won't have to worry a single hair on your head. During this job, all you have to do is not get in my way. I'll take on a majority of the work, dealing with any of the actual threats. You can sit back and steal stuff from their fridges, I don't know.

Thong: Wait, you want me to just sit around and do nothing? You're joking, right?

Jason let out a sigh as he leaned back against the tree.

Jason: I know you did well against your first opponent, but this world we're about to enter is nothing like the one match you just had. You'll get some nice cash from it, but this is a world where death is a lot more common than it would be in a match. You're risking your life and your humanity for these jobs, that's the truth of these missions. Weakness in a situation like this would be too much of a pain.

Thong: Risk my humanity? These jobs are terrible, but I think I get it. I signed myself up for it after all...

Thong clenched his fists, Jason turning to look at him. Jason let out another sigh as he stood back up, walking down the direction they had climbed up.

Jason: Don't get your head wrapped up in that stuff, like I said, leave everything to me. You're too new to not botch this job up somehow, so here's the deal. Take out our target, the mafia member.

Thong: Take out…?

Jason: You must be the one to get that final kill. If you can't do that, you probably aren't suited for this line of work.

Thong shut his eyes, knowing that weakness would only hold him back.

Thong: I'll do it. I'll kill that guy, so make sure I can get to him.

Jason stopped, turning his head slightly to the side. Thong opened his eyes, looking down at the man clad in red.

Jason: Good, if you're dealing with him, I'll have more free time on my hands. Well, that's what I wish would go down, but I know I'll have a more annoying job to deal with once we're in there.

Thong: A more annoying job?

Jason: Welp, there's no point in explaining it. You'll just have to see it once we get there. Trust me, you'll be a-okay.

Jason and Thong moved stealthily once leaving the hill, wrapping around and hiding behind anything to avoid the nearby security.

Thong: There's so many guys on watch out here…

Jason: I'm not surprised, this guy did just leave prison. Whoever the bigger fish is, they're likely trying to make sure he is entirely safe. Wonder if he knows something important?

Jason peeked his head out from behind an elevated rock he and Thong were behind. The entrance to the villa's property was being guarded by two heavily suited men, each equipped with firearms.

Jason: They're all definitely intending to kill whoever tries to trespass here.

Thong: I guess some people can kill that easily, huh?

Jason: They can, but I'll deal with it quickly.

Jason jumped over their cover, and out of Thong's view. Thong popped his head up, but as he scanned the area, the two guards and Jason were nowhere to be seen.

Jason: Where are you looking?

Thong looked behind himself and nearly leapt out of his skin. Jason put a hand over Thong's mask, trying to keep him quiet.

Jason: Don't try to make a scene that'll get us caught. I was just lightening the security we'd have to deal with.

Thong: How did you take them out so quickly?

Jason: Cause we have no time to waste.

Jason stood up, jumping over the cover once more, Thong following closely behind. They saw the villa only meters away from themselves, seeing a large number of guards and several cameras around the location. The entrance was rather flashy, with large glass panes acting as the walls, allowing nearly anyone inside to look out. On top sat a black tiled, coned roof with stone pillars supporting it.

Jason: They really beefed up the security here too. They're making sure that no one gets in. Like they were expecting someone.

Thong: Are they that paranoid?

Jason: That's what I'm interested in. What do they know?

Jason turned to Thong, looking into his eyes to confirm his conviction.

Jason: Thong, we're going to need to get a little reckless here. The security there is a bit too beefy. It'll be hard to be able to make a convincing disappearance of the two at the entrance. I'm going to try to deal with all of them at the front and some inside and I want you to meet up with me once the coast is clear.

Thong: You really are going to let me do nothing.

Jason: You can follow closer if you like, but I can't be held responsible if you die in the crossfire.

Thong: I'm your partner in this job, I'm not letting you get that far ahead of me.

Jason continued to stare at Thong, almost as if he had something on his mind. His gaze then shifted back towards the entrance.

Jason: Do what you want. I'm just going to take care of these guys, so don't get in my way. Sounds good?

Thong: I can manage.

Jason opened his hands, Thong looking down at his sword. But instead of pulling it out, Jason bolted, Thong feeling a gust of wind from Jason's speed. Thong looked over at the villa entrance, the four guards at the entrance dropping at once as Jason stepped back. As Jason looked up at one of the cameras, a siren blared.

Thong's thoughts: They know we're here? Is this what Jason meant by reckless?!

Jason (yelling): Thong. If you plan on keeping up, don't get trapped outside.

Thong looked in confusion before noticing what Jason meant. As Jason busted through the door, Thong could see steel shutters coming down, entrapping the home.

Thong shook his head before running without a second thought. The shutter got lower and lower as Thong felt as if he was moments from being left behind. Thong let out a huff of air before going low, sliding across the ground and into the door before the shutter closed off the villa from the outside world.

Jason: Good job, you made it.

Thong looked up as Jason had his arms crossed, three guards sprawled across the floor, each unconscious.

…

In a deeper section of the villa, a man walked around biting his nail as another laid his back against a wall.

Man 1: Intruders broke into the home! They got in before the shutters fell!

Man 2: Worrying won't do us any good. You should've let me fend them off from the start.

Man 1: Then who will protect me?

Man 2: Maybe the large number of guards surround this place, but it's too late now. I'll face them when they get here, and take them out. Bellthorne and that new member.