Earth-North American Alliance

Nevada Penal State- Former City of Reno

Dead Dog Bar

Aaron sat on his barstool sipping his drink as he watched the news. The world was finally going to join him in hell, it made him smile as he watched the playback as Miami was turned into a nuclear wasteland. Maybe whoever was nuking cities would blow up Atlanta next. At least he would finally smile. "You want a refill?" Bernie asked.

"You know, you are lucky you are one of the few places that have clean water within ten miles. It has brought you a lot of goodwill with the locals Bernie. You think those people blowing up cities will ever nuke Nevada?" Aaron asked the man as he slid the little cup over.

Bernie filled it with crystal clear water, "Why would they? No one cares about us. You know as well as I do, anyone serving twenty or more years gets thrown into this state. From what I understand, less than one percent of those who can go free at the end of their time, actually get out. Either they are killed off by others, die of starvation or dehydration, or kill themselves. We aren't worth wasting a nuke on."

Aaron considered his words and nodded, "Yes we were the written off of society. Throw all the animals together and let them watch us tear each other apart. They don't care about us, we aren't human anymore." Aaron responded in disgust.

"Relax boy, that anger might keep you alive in here, but it can also get you killed. If you want to fight, join the Brawlers League, they welcome newcomers all the time. They will even make sure you don't get killed since you help keep the aquifers running." Bernie told him and Aaron went back to sipping his water.

Aaron was an Engineer, strait-laced once he got out of high school and went to college. His brother, on the other hand, Josh, was the trouble maker of the family. "We got a retrieval team incoming!!" one of the bouncers called out from the window. The bouncers lined the walls, they kept the peace of the Dead Dog. If anyone broke the peace, you got a one way trip off the balcony down twenty stories. Even the most hardcore crazy gangs did not cross the neutrality of the Dead Dog.

"So what...no one has broken any of the Wardens rules, and as far as I am aware, no one's time is up," Bernie replied as he cleaned a dirty glass but more than one bar patron was eyeing the doors and thinking of leaving. No one fucked with the retrieval teams. They worked for the Warden of Nevada. The inmates had attacked a retrieval team once in the twenty years that Nevada had become a Penal State. The Warden in retaliation leveled three city blocks with drone strikes and killed dozens of inmates. Ever since then, the inmates have walked lightly and are very wary of the retrieval teams and making sure they know they are not combative with them.

"Sorry to disappoint you boss, but they are heading right for this building." the bouncer replied and another bouncer started snapping out commands and collecting weapons from both the bouncers and patrons to be locked away until the retrieval team left.

"I wonder what sorry shit they are coming for." Bernie mused.

"You have more than earned it Bernie, hopefully, you are the one they are coming for," Aaron replied as he continued to sip his drink.

Ten minutes later a six-man team entered the bar and Aaron was looking around in amusement waiting to see who they would grab, "Inmate Aaron Sumner, lay down on the ground and place your hands on your head. Comply NOW!!" Aaron looked stunned at the man before slowly complying...what the hell was going on he wondered as h cuffs, a collar, and a cloth bag were placed over his head. The last thing he saw was Bernie looking worriedly at him, then darkness.

When the hood was removed, Aaron blinked a few times to get used to the light again as he looked around. He was in an office and a large man in a nice suit was looking at him and studying him. His old friend and lawyer, Bill, was standing next to him smiling at Aaron. "How's it hanging Bill? I never expected to see you again." Aaron asked the man who smiled even bigger, but he could see a little worry as well. Two years in hell on earth will change any man.

"Mr. Sumner, how is your day going?" the large man that was sitting down across from him.

"Well the turndown service sucked, but I had the most amazing little chocolate on my pillow when I woke up. It was in the shape of a severed head...so kinda creepy, but it tasted pretty damned good and I didn't die so I have no complaints. What about you Warden?" Aaron replied with a grin.

The Warden smiled, "Not too bad Mr. Sumner. A week ago today, your brother was shot multiple times. On his death bed, he confessed that he helped set you up. That you were completely innocent of the crimes you were found guilty of. He told the police where to find the murder weapon, and they recovered it. Your record has been expunged, your rights and liberties are henceforth reinstated Mr. Sumner." the Warden told him and Aaron ground his teeth in frustration.

"So my dream of escaping, hunting my brother down and slowly killing him for setting me up to go away for life is out the window...Well, I will settle for pissing on his grave at least. When can we get out of here Bill?" Aaron asked as the security guards moved forward removing his restraints.

"The paperwork is done, I have an aircraft standing by to fly us back to Atlanta," Bill replied as he continued to study Aaron who slowly stood so the Warden and his security people wouldn't freak out.

"Mr. Sumner I am surprised you are not angry with us most would blame us in part at least." the Warden commented.

"You guys here in Nevada, I don't blame at all. The prosecutor, the judge, my brother, my ex...I blame them. Don't worry Warden, I don't have any revenge fantasies against you or your people." Aaron told the big man who nodded and offered his hand to shake. Aaron considered it then took it and shook it before following Billy out of the office and towards freedom.

Earth-North American Alliance

Southern Territories- Atlanta

"So...the world is going to hell. BlackRock Entertainment has turned its most profitable game into a real second world for those who want to escape can. Well, that's good to know." Aaron told Bill as he moved through his old house. It had been left undisturbed since he had been sent away. Bill had made sure neither Peter or Helena had been able to get anything from him financially after his conviction.

"What are you going to do?" Bill asked.

"Listen, Bill, you have stood beside me these last two years after Peter and Helena fucked me over. He might be dead, but she deserves to die for what they did to me. I can let the judge and prosecutor skate, but she knowingly and willingly helped set me up to send me away for life. Do you even know why?" Aaron asked and Bill just shrugged his shoulders.

"I have no clue. I have some theories, but that's all they are. Nothing that could give you a real answer. Listen, I am telling you this as your friend, let it go and start over. Make the jump into Fate Online and start over there. Leave all this behind. I am...Getting you out and free was the last thing I am doing. Katie and Monica are already inside and waiting for me. My kid made it and I hope you do too Aaron. Helena isn't worth it. That's all I am going to say on the subject. Goodbye, brother and good luck." Bill told him before hugging him and leaving.

"Nadine, is my FIVR Capsule still hooked up to the network?" Aaron asked the V.I.

"Yes Me. Sumner, it is." Nadine responded immediately.

"Make sure any patches for Fate Online are downloaded please and sync it with my communicator so I can keep an eye on it," Aaron commanded as he looked at the gun on the table. It was an old snubnosed revolver. Powerful enough to kill at close range, so he would have to get very close to her, which was fine with him.

"It is done Mr. Sumner, updating will be complete in...six hours," Nadine informed him before he grabbed hin things and left.

Aaron studied her, she was crying and tied to a chair and gagged. The men he had hired were being paid in FIVR Capsules and would already start the process of transferring to Fate Online by now and beyond any persecution or the laws of Earth very soon if not already. "Well Helena, its good to see you again.' Aaron commented as he pulled the gag from her mouth. 'Please feel free to scream, yell, cry. We are in a very secluded part of the city and underground, no one will hear you or care." Aaron told her as he grabbed the pinky on her left hand and promptly broke it.

Her scream filled the room, but despite the remoteness of their location, it had been prepared with sound-absorbent materials. Being in Nevada for a couple of years had earned him some very interesting friends. They had the connections to get everything set up and ready in a short amount of time. "I'm sorry Aaron." she cried and he glared at her and broke two more fingers.

"You think I give a shit what you are sorry for. There is no excuse, no reason why you two did what you did. You killed a coworker of mine, a friend, then set me up for it. He had a family, kids..." Aaron emphasized the points by breaking more fingers earning more screams.

"PLEASE STOP!!" Helena cried out and Aaron slapped her.

"I remember crying and begging for you to tell the truth...I ended up with a life sentence. Everything I built, everything I cared about was taken from me by Peter and you. The two people I cared most about betrayed me...' Aaron pulled the hammer from the tray and slammed it down on the nearest toe before standing up and moving away to let her grow accustomed to the pain. He took off his shirt and pants. 'You think that hurts...having a name carved into your flesh, that hurts. Having brands put on you like a cattle...that hurts. Having some small broken bones, that's nothing." Aaron pointed to the old scars he had been given until he had proved his worth and earned the untouchable status by repairing various systems around Reno to give the people there some basic amenities.

Helena continued to cry, but he knew it was self-pity, not for what she had done. "Your sister is going to be picked up sometime over the next day unless I call the dogs off. What those people are going to do to her are going to make what I have done too you look like you stubbed your toe. Why did you two set me up? Why kill one of my friends and frame me? You two were not in love. Neither one of you could get to my money or business. Why did you do it?" Aaron grabbed her head and yanked it back forcing her to look at him.

"Promise me she won't be harmed and I will tell you," Helena replied and Aaron sneered at her.

"Your word isn't worth shit too me. Tell me and if I believe you, I promise I will end this now. Don't and I will send a team in to keep you alive for days before they let you die. Your sister will be sent to a Mexican whore house, she will never be allowed to die. She will live a long life full of suffering. She will be told why every day she is suffering, and when she dies as an old whore, she will curse your name as she dies. " Aaron told her before moving back. Helena continued to cry but she nodded and started to speak.

Aaron listened to everything before stepping back, "You got all that?" he called to the room and the door swung open and uniformed police flooded the room.

"Yeah, we got it all. I am surprised you didn't kill her Mr. Sumner?" the lead cop stated.

Aaron snorted in disgust, "No...I want her to live and suffer for what she has done. A pretty face like that, the boys in Nevada are going to love her. I hope you enjoy the rest of your life bitch, you have my word I will be thinking about you for a very long time." Aaron told her before turning and getting dressed before leaving.

"Does this make us even?" the officer called to the retreating figure.

"Not even close," Aaron called over his shoulder, but he was done with this world, it was time to face the new world. Aaron hoped it had fared better than this one, but...he would soon find out one way or another.