*A Desperate Gamble*

I returned to my apartment and paced back and forth, my thoughts a whirlwind of anticipation and anxiety. Derick had said he knew someone who could help. I hoped that this lead would bring me closer to the supercomputer I needed. I glanced at the clock every few minutes, willing the time to pass faster.

Finally, the hour was up. I headed back to our meeting spot, a small, secluded courtyard in the grim tower. Derick was already there, leaning casually against a wall, his hands in his pockets.

"Ready?" he asked, pushing off the wall and leading us to parking lot. We got into my car and drove until Derick told me where to stop.

"Right here" falling into step beside me as we made our way towards an inconspicuous building nearby. It looked like any other building on the outside, It was an old building, a twenty four hour thrift store. It was lit from the outside by some lights, as the time was about ten fifteen pm it was very dark.

"Let's go" he said and we got out of the car and went into the store. "Hey man" Derick said to the man at the counter. "Hey dude" he replied. Derick and I were both still wearing our villain masks but the man didn't seem to be bothered.

Derick went close to him and said something then he took me to the back of the store and then led me through a series of corridors and down a flight of stairs into a dimly lit basement.

"This way," he said, pushing open a heavy metal door. We entered a room that seemed to have been repurposed from an old storage area. In the center of the room stood a man in his early forties, with graying hair and a pair of glasses perched on his nose. He was hunched over a workstation cluttered with gadgets and computer parts.

"Xander, this is Max," Derick introduced. "Max, meet Xander, also known as Steel."

Max looked up, sizing me up with a critical eye before nodding curtly. "I've heard a lot about you," he said, his voice gruff but not unfriendly. "Derick tells me you're looking for a supercomputer."

"Yeah," I replied. "I need it to access encrypted data about a scientist named Dr. Vexler."

Max's eyes narrowed at the mention of Vexler. "Vexler, huh? Nasty piece of work. You're in luck, though. I do have access to a supercomputer, but it's not going to be cheap."

"How much are we talking about?" I asked, bracing myself for the answer.

"Sixty million dollars," Max said without missing a beat.

I swallowed hard. Sixty million was an astronomical amount. I had no idea how I could possibly come up with that kind of money. Even the money I had in my account plus the money I would be getting from the heist wouldn't be up to that.

"That's a lot," I said, stating the obvious.

Max shrugged. "It's the going rate for this kind of high-tech equipment. And trust me, it's worth every penny. This machine can break through any encryption, no matter how sophisticated."

Derick stepped forward. "Is there any way we can negotiate, Max? Maybe some kind of trade or alternative payment plan?"

Max considered this for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The sixty million is non-negotiable. I have my own expenses and risks to consider."

I felt a wave of frustration wash over me. "I need this to take down Vexler," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "There has to be another way."

Max sighed. "Look, I get it. Vexler's a monster, and you want to bring him down. But I'm running a business here. If you can't pay, there's nothing I can do."

Derick looked at me, his expression sympathetic but determined. "We'll find a way, Xander. We'll figure something out."

Max watched us for a moment, then his expression softened slightly. "Look, I don't usually do this, but you seem like good kids. There's a high-stakes underground fight club that's been making waves recently. The prize money is substantial, and with your enhancements, Xander, you'd have a good chance of winning."

I raised an eyebrow. "The fight club?"

Max nodded. "It's dangerous, no doubt about it. But if you can make it through the ranks, you could earn enough to pay for the supercomputer."

I glanced at Derick, who gave me a reassuring nod. "It's risky, but it could work," he said.

I took a deep breath, weighing my options. It was a gamble, but it might be the only chance I had. "Alright," I said finally. "I'm in. Where do I sign up?"

Max handed me a small card with an address and a time. "Show up here tomorrow night. Be ready for anything."

"Thanks, Max," I said, taking the card.

He nodded. "Good luck, Xander. You'll need it."

Derick and I left the basement and headed back to our apartments. As we walked, Derick turned to me. "You sure about this, Xander? It's going to be tough."

I nodded. "I don't have a choice, Derick. I need that supercomputer. And besides, I'm not afraid of a fight."

Derick grinned. "That's the spirit. We'll train hard and make sure you're ready."

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