“You realize what you're doing is career suicide right Mike?”

“Yeah after the 15th time you've told me that.”

“Well I have to keep telling you because YOU DON'T LISTEN!”

“I was listening, except for everything you just said...”

“GGGGGRRRRRR...”

“I'm kidding!  But I'm still not going back, not yet at least.”

Mike Hardwick spoke into the bluetooth headset as he eyed the really sad looking streets and buildings he slowly drove past.  He knew Rage City was kind of a shit hole but seeing it all in person really confirmed it.  He stuck out of it all like a sore thumb too, a nice rental sports car, custom made gray vested shirt and slacks with leather shoes.  Mike wasn't one to care though, he wasn't about to lower his personal standards just because of where he was.  

“Look I'll call you later Dave, I'm almost at the site...”

“For the love of God Mike I'm finished as your...”

Mike hung up on his agent before he had to listen to yet more whining and complaining.  The guy was right of course, giving up a prestigious title shot just for personal payback was a reckless move.  He didn't understand the ramifications though.  Max Thunder wasn't just his teacher, he was a role model, someone to look up too when everything around him just looked the same.  The RCPD weren't doing a damn thing about the murder, and Mike was just too frustrated to let the charades go on like this without getting involved.  

As he reached the address of the gym everyone was meeting up Mike pulled up onto the curb of a nearby parking space and killed the engine.  Sighing as he locked the car thankful that he got insurance on it because frankly he wasn't sure the thing would be there when he got back.  As Mike turned the corner though he quickly realized the gym seemed to be a bit... busy... at the moment.  A group of Chinese looking guys beating up two random other guys.  Certainly not quite how he excepted this whole thing to begin.

“Uh, you guys mind scooting out of the way?  I got some business to take care of in the gym...”  Mike called out hoping it was some weird random thing he didn't have to get involved with.  The suit was expensive, he wasn't letting it get drenched in some asshole's blood.