Chapter 16: TVA

The TVA?

Elias arched an eyebrow in surprise. The name didn't sound like an underworld organization at all. If anything, it sounded more like some mysterious cosmic agency.

"What kind of group is that? What do they even do?"

"No clue," Claw admitted, shaking his head behind the Rhine Cat mask that clung snugly to his broad face.

"Are there a lot of them? Are they truly some kind of elite cosmic enforcers or time police?"

Again, Claw's mask bobbed left and right, as if in defeat.

"Nothing—I've got nothing. I barely found the name at all. Otherwise, it's like they never existed. I can't begin to guess how they stay so hidden—never leaving a trace in any record or history."

He clenched his fists. "I've dug around for years. I don't know where they're based, who they are, or what they want. My only lead is this single rumor."

Claw turned and pinned Elias with a grave stare:

"They say only the wealthiest, the most brilliant, the most influential people even get on the TVA's radar."

"So that explains it," Elias said, nodding. "That's why you keep robbing banks—trying to build up a fortune or a reputation, right? So eventually you'll catch the TVA's eye."

Claw's sigh was heavy. "I have no other way. I'm hoping if I rake in enough power or money, I'll force them to notice me. Then I can track them down and blow them away for what they did to my father and daughter."

Elias offered a sympathetic shrug. "But if the TVA's membership threshold is that high, a single bank's not gonna cut it."

"I know," Claw muttered. "I'm betting everything on one shot. Once I get some seed money, maybe I can pull off bigger scores—work my way up. At least then I've got some hope of revenge."

He glanced at the dash-clock.

00:07.

"This is taking too long. You sure we can still make it?"

Elias popped the clip from Claw's gun, counting bullets.

Click.

He slid it back in, calm as ever. "I told you, I'll make up for the lost time. Don't worry."

He looked out at the looming bank. "You can run, right? Let's go."

***

They hopped from the van. Elias strode toward the bank door, Claw trailing behind.

Clack.

Elias chambered a round, leveled his pistol at a black-clad henchman at the entrance—Bang!

"Gah!" Claw jerked back. "What the—why'd you kill my guy?!"

Elias lowered the weapon. "Sticky-fingered thieves have no place on our team," he muttered, hurrying inside.

Claw sputtered, but only managed a choked gasp before another shot rang out—Bang!—somewhere near the fuse box. Another henchman screamed and collapsed.

Elias gave a dismissive snort. "Mess with your woman? Far worse."

Claw was left reeling. "H-how do you know all that?!" he wailed, rushing to catch up as Elias vanished down a corridor.

"Hey, slow down! I can't keep up!" Claw pleaded.

Bang!

He reached another passage, where a fresh corpse lay. Claw dropped to his knees, grabbing Elias's arm. "Stop, man! You're wiping out my whole crew. I didn't ask for an internal purge!"

Elias peeled Claw off him and nodded ahead. "We're almost at the vault. Move."

Claw mopped sweat from under his mask while he scrambled after Elias.

"O-okay, listen, you're a scary good shot. You barely aim, and it's a perfect headshot every time. Where'd you learn that?"

"I've practiced for about ten years," Elias said flatly. "Used to do nightly shootouts with dream cops— sometimes even snipers, though I never beat them. Sniping's tricky."

"S-snipers? Dream… cops?" Claw sputtered. "You gotta be kidding. Sounds like a video game or something."

They finally reached the vault door. Elias snatched some C4 from Claw's belt, slapped it onto the steel surface, and barked, "Run."

"Shift—!"

BOOM!

BOOM!

Concrete dust billowed. Moments later, a large hole gaped where the door had been.

00:09.

Elias checked his watch, allowing himself a brief smile. "That's about the fastest route possible."

"F-fantastic," Claw said weakly, stepping into the vault. "Just… don't do it again."

He scanned the empty storage room with mounting frustration.

"Dammit!" he snarled. "So that phony 'password expert'—Cipher—really did lie. There's no money! Now what?"

Elias pointed back to the hallway. "First, we need that heavyset henchman's body. The one we just shot. He's roughly your build."

Under Elias's direction, they dragged the corpse in and dressed it in Claw's clothes. They fitted the Rhine Cat mask over the dead man's face.

"All set."

Elias dusted his palms together. The disguise was perfect.

Claw doffed his own mask, revealing a broad face with a red pressure-mark on his forehead. "You're a genius, man!"

Elias tossed him a spare handgun. "Now hide behind those deposit boxes. When I give the signal, jump out. Got it?"

***

Everything was in place. Elias lingered near the "dummy Claw," glancing at his watch. In previous dream loops, Cipher usually showed around 00:20.

At 00:21, Elias faced the gaping hole, calling into the darkness. "I know you're there. Come on out."

For a moment, silence. Then a lithe figure stepped forward, face hidden by a hero mask reminiscent of Elias's own. She cocked her head slightly.

"And who exactly are you supposed to be?"