Let the Bodies Hit the Floor

"So, where are we going?" Vanessa asked.

"I gotta find Wendy." Eric replied, holding her hand through the hallways of what the so called 'love district.' Open doors showing luxurious looking and especially wide beds, some rooms not even having doors on them.

"But what about the codes?" She asked.

"Look, if I can't find Birdman, then I'll make sure to get you a code. But I need to find Wendy before that happens."

He pressed on his watch a couple of times, and none of the functions were working, the black cartoon rabbit feeling more mocking with every attempt.

"Hey, you guys find any codes?"

Lloyd was relaxing by the elevator door, next to a wall with both eyes closed, hands in his pockets.

"Can't say I have, man." Eric replied.

"I see. Which rooms you guys check, by the way?"

"None. We got something else to do."

"What, looking for that electric girl you hang out with?" Lloyd asked, opening one eye.

"Yeah." Eric squinted slightly and took a step forward.

"Woah, man. I didn't see her. I've only been on this floor so far."

"You see anyone else?" Vanessa yelled out.

"You, Eric, me, and Aurora. Nobody else so far, I'm afraid. But if I see her, I'll let you know."

Eric and Vanessa made their way to the elevator, with the doors opening before the button was pressed, with Amber making her way out of the metal cube.

"Is Aurora here?" was the only thing she asked coming out of the elevator.

"Yeah, she's here." Lloyd answered, not opening his eyes. "Yo, Aurora!"

Aurora poked her head out from one of the rooms and noticed Amber holding a code in each hand.

"Oh my gosh, babe!"

She immediately ran over to her, having her in a warm embrace, casually taking one of the codes and making her way to the elevator on the other side of the room, and Amber followed while chuckling to herself.

Lloyd waited in the hallway. He was pretty sure that the elevator behind him could only go to floor three, so he just had to wait for somebody to come in with a code of their own.

And just as Amber and Aurora left, the ever so refreshing ding of the elevator made it's sound.

"Hey." He said, opening his eyes and standing in front of the guy.

Ulrich.

"Hey, man." Lloyd repeated. "How you finding it so far?"

"Uhh, pretty good?" Ulrich replied, walking past him.

"Good to know, good to know." Lloyd nodded, stroking the side of his own face. He should probably buy a razor after this. "Well, don't let me stop you."

Ulrich walked past, slightly confused, and Lloyd went back to leaning on a wall. The plan couldn't work on Ulrich. Him and Gemma were off limits. But it didn't matter, as someone else was making their way there. He checked his watch, and it was Seeta Tamboli. Related to Kapil, maybe? Worth a shot.

"Hey, Seeta. How's it going?"

Seeta turned around, taking a step back.

"Hello." She waved at him, and continued walking.

"Hey, why are you in such a rush? I've only seen like, three people past those doors. We got time to talk."

Seeta summoned the clear blue outline of a battle axe from her left hand, turning to face him with a stern look on her face.

"Make it quick."

"I will, I will." Lloyd replied, throwing his hands in the air. "Sheesh. Look, you're related to Kapil, right?"

"I'm his sister, why?"

"Well, I'm his roommate. And I was just wondering if you two would be open to teaming up with me?"

"Did you ask Kapil?"

"Option never presented itself." Lloyd shrugged. "I think it would be pretty good. You'd definitely go up in the popularity rankings, anyway."

"Your end of the deal is coins?" Seeta replied, relaxing her stance and letting her axe evaporate. She put her code in her pocket and made her way through the hallway.

"Well, not just that. I'd consider my ability pretty powerful."

"And that would be?" Seeta could feel her eyes rolling by instinct as she approached the elevator. She was about to press the button, but her arm wasn't moving. She was telling her left arm to move, but it wasn't. Right hand it is, then? Wasn't moving either. And her legs were getting weaker, too. She felt her entire body seize up, before hitting her face against the metal wall.

"So that's a no on the alliance, then?" Lloyd asked. Seeta tried saying something, but her mouth couldn't move. She could barely feel anything, except Lloyd's hand rummaging in her pockets. The next thing she felt was more visceral, and time came to a crawl when it happened. Lloyd slowly took the code out of her pocket and waited calmly for the elevator. When it came, he casually strode inside the elevator, giving a pleasant smile to Seeta as the doors closed.

As he made his way to the metal door behind the desk to enter his code, he looked around him to see who was around. It was just Valentina, nothing major. He entered his code and went inside the room, where Aurora, Amber, Ulrich and Kapil were waiting. Kapil was eating a bag of potato chips, and Ulrich had a can of Cork Tree energy.

"So, fifth place?" Lloyd asked.

"You can count, congratulations." Kapil mumbled back through a mouthful of chips.

"Yes, Lloyd, fifth place!" Leonie gave a thumbs up to his efforts, and took out a small basket and cooler, both of which having post game snacks.

"Maybe later." He replied, trying to avoid Kapil's gaze.

"Congrats, babe!" Aurora yelled out, hugging him. Amber just gave a thumbs up from a safe distance, and Ulrich didn't react at all.

"Yes, yes. Take a load off, relax!" Leonie yelled. "If you'll excuse me, I need to check what's happening in the back! Kalea, watch them for me, please."

She gave Kalea a quick peck on the cheek, before entering the room behind the metal wall.

"Just need to freshen up a little."

She looked around the bathroom, hopping in one of three stalls and took an electronic watch out of her pocket, enthusiastically slapping it around her wrist, opening up the camera footage of the events. Camera three had Lloyd's methods of getting the code. She laughed to herself while it happened, and she watched it back a few more times, before putting it back in her pockets.

"Lloyd, you madman. I am so glad you got caught. But when will I reveal your crimes, exactly? Oh, it'll certainly make things more interesting."