JJ opened his eyes to darkness, his head pounding. Rough canvas smothered his face and a burning sensation flared on his back. The area around him was cool, the only sound a slow, constant dripping. Then, muffled voices grew nearer. 

“... to blindfold him, not tase him,” a slightly nasally voice said. “It’s your own fault you’re tired.” 

Lungs shrinking, a gust of wind exploded outward. No thuds or grunts sounded and his winds buffeted back into him. So he was likely in a small room and the voice was right outside it. His hands weren’t tied together, so JJ ripped the canvas covering his head. He didn't escape the darkness, though, until a door opened. 

“Good,” a man said, his voice calm and friendly. “I’m glad you’re awake.” 

The man had skin so dark it was almost hard to see him, yet when JJ finally made him out, he found the voice’s owner was short and stocked with thick muscles. Odd. With that voice, he’d imagined someone tall and scrawny. The man wore a jovial smile as if JJ were a guest of honor and not recently dragged in here after being tased. 

“Can we get a light on in here?” the man said. “This is depressing.” 

A switch flipped and a dim light shone overhead. Greasy Hair was in the doorway, pulling away from the switch. The slightly nasally-voiced man was in front of JJ, hand extended. 

“You don’t have a hidden device to shock me again, do you?” JJ asked. 

The man’s smile faltered. “Thank you, Aidan. I have it from here.” 

“And if he fails?” Greasy Hair said. 

“Then I’ll call for you,” the man said. 

Greasy Hair snorted, gave JJ a final glare, then left. Nasally Voice closed the door. 

“I apologize for Aidan,” he said. “He wasn’t supposed to attack you.” 

“So I heard,” JJ said. 

“I heard you sent one of his guys to prison.” 

“I sent a drug dealer to jail, yes.” 

Nasally Voice nodded. “Commendable, though you should understand why he’s angry. It was quite a risk, going to him without a plan.” 

“I had a plan. They jumped me before I could react.” 

The man smiled again. “So the planner wasn’t well-prepared.” 

JJ folded his arms, both because he was annoyed and to start recording this conversation – this had to be a part of the interview. His wristband, however, was gone. How stupid was he? Of course they’d frisk him before the interview! 

“But we can discuss this later,” Nasally Voice said, extending his hand again. “First things first, I’m Braiden: leader of Serene.” 

JJ froze. The terrorists’ boss was conducting the interview? JJ could bring him to the police right now! 

Easy, JJ. Their next in command would likely take over if something happened to the leader. If he wanted to take down the organization, he had to be smart. Smarter than walking into Greasy Hair’s trap, at least. 

JJ took his hand. “Name’s JJ. Nice to meet you.” 

“Same. Now, I hope you don’t mind if we chat here. If I think you’d fit in with my friends, I’ll take you to our headquarters. If not, then we’ll put the sack back over your head and lead you back to that alley, not over his shoulder this time.” 

“Aren’t you afraid I’d go to the cops or Peace Keepers?” 

Braiden smirked. “Would I let you go if we weren’t confident no one could find us?” 

“It’s better than you killing me.” 

Braiden grinned. “We try not to do that here. Not to our own.” 

“So you don’t mind others dying?” 

“What do you think?” 

“If it’s for the cause, I think it’s alright.” 

“This coming from an Autonomous priest.” 

“In training. And ex. Autonomous teaches of the sanctity of all life, which includes those of the natural habitats and wildlife. It does not mention letting a couple greedy assholes atop the corporate hierarchy abuse our land and resources for their own profit.” 

“And the people at the bottom, the ones not sitting on fat stacks of credits?” 

“All life is sacred, but life doesn’t move on without a little death. Even produce feels pain when plucked from the ground. Besides, those workers aren’t only complicit by buying from Wilkins’, their employment is actually helping the ones in charge.” 

It was a load of shit, but it seemed Braiden ate it up like chocolate. It was a good thing some of their debates had forced JJ to argue topics he disagreed with. Lying to someone about his feelings and opinions was so much easier with practice. 

“I’ll admit,” Braiden said. “I really want you to join. It’d be great to have another Wielder in the family.” 

Another? Great. He’d never fought another Wielder outside of sparring matches with priests at the temple. Looked like he’d have to be even more careful. Though, thanks to his previous combat training, JJ was confident he could take this rogue Wielder.

“What’s the issue, then?” JJ asked. 

“You fell into Aidan’s trap easily,” Braiden said. “Too easily. How can I trust that you’ll be a positive addition to Serene?” 

Shit. What was the best play here? JJ had been taken out embarrassingly quickly. There was no getting around that. 

“You were honest with your feelings, so I’ll be the same,” JJ said. “I was desperate. I ran away from the temple. It was suffocating. And I’ve been frustrated with evildoers for most of my life. That’s why I brought one of Gr– Aidan’s guys to jail. I know he’s your friend, but he’s friends with drug dealers who are ruining the city.” 

Braiden waved it away. “When you’re in my kind of organization, sometimes his kind are the only people who’ll help us. I’d rather not, as I too don’t abide drug abuse.” 

JJ almost laughed. This could work! “I find Wilkins’ deplorable. If anyone’s evil, it’s the bastards who run the businesses that own everything. If I can be a part of something that brings a corrupt organization down, especially one that shits on our Talam, then I would do anything to get in. Including associate myself with Aidan and his gang. And...” 

JJ looked at the floor, shifting his feet. “I underestimated them. I thought they were so weak they couldn’t get the jump on me. But I promise I’ll never underestimate someone weaker than me again.” 

Braiden clapped JJ’s shoulder. “Even weak men can topple Titans, so long as they’re smart and conniving. It’s kind of our whole premise here.” Braiden beamed. “But I like a guy who can learn from his mistakes. I think you’ll make an excellent addition to the team.” 

JJ didn’t bother to hide his grin. “When can I start?” 

“Right away.”