Riley Ross

[Everyone, this just in—a massive horde of clones, believed to belong to Replica Ricky, is now marching…]

[As you can see in the footage, there are—]

[That's not a sandstorm, folks. That's thousands and thousands of—]

"Hey, y'all! This is Kitty reporting live from the sky—yeehaw!"

Suspended in a harness just outside an open helicopter door, Kitty from ABC-ZBN had one foot braced inside and the other dangling in the air as chaos raged below.

"Y'all see that down there? That's the pile-up where it all started—Replica Ricky allegedly slid right onto the highway with a hostage in tow! Dozens are feared dead or critically injured, but the madness hasn't stopped. No, sir! It's still unfolding, folks. There!"

She jabbed a finger toward the horizon, and her cameraman zoomed in on a swelling storm of dust.

"Those are all clones of Replica Ricky! Thousands upon thousands! What we thought was a street-level threat has exploded into a disaster terrorizing entire cities! And… huh?—hold up. What's that? Do you see that over there? Zoom in on the blockade! There! Someone else is there!"

"I… I see it!" the cameraman said. "But it's too far for a clear shot!"

"Damn it! Can't we get closer?!" Kitty smacked the pilot's seat.

"Are you insane?! That's illegal—and dangerous!"

"I don't care! Get us closer!"

"I'm not losing my job because of you!"

"Then put me on the ground! I'll go myself! I'll pay you a thousand bucks!"

"A thousand isn't worth my job!"

"Five thousand—and I'll tell them I threatened to jump if you didn't do it!"

"…Fine. Your funeral."

"Yes! Thank you!" Kitty clenched a fist, then turned to her cameraman with a grin. "You ready, Burt?"

Burt blinked. "What do you mean ready? I'm not going down there! Are you nuts?"

"Cameramen don't die, you idiot!"

"What the fuck are you even saying?! And where's your accent?!"

"Tch… useless. Hand me the damn camera—I'll do it myself!"

***

"Are you talking about the Dark Millennium?"

"I knew it! Riley Ross!"

Back on the ground, every Replica Ricky pointed at Riley at once. Their voices exploded together, echoing with such force that the air itself seemed to distort. It was like being in a packed concert hall with the crowd stomping and chanting in unison—a feeling Riley knew well, thanks to a concert Hannah had dragged him to just recently.

It… wasn't a nice feeling in the ears.

The only difference this time, the audience was thousands of identical men, all moving as one, all fixated on him.

Riley glanced at the thick smoke churning on the horizon. The incoming swarm was close enough now that he could start to distinguish individual Rickys. In moments, they would be on him—trapping him inside their stampede… again.

Only this time, Riley wasn't sure he could get out alive.

"I don't see how knowing the Dark Millennium told you about the Mega Academy's students makes me Riley Ross," he said, shifting his aim back to Replica Ricky and firing several shots toward where he sensed a heartbeat.

Once again, the deafening cracks were useless—another clone appeared instantly, taking the hit and shielding the original.

"I have to admit," Riley sighed, watching Replica Ricky vanish back into the swarm, "you've got an interesting power."

He could keep firing, try to draw him out—but that would just burn more energy and bullets. Based on what he'd seen, Replica Ricky could create a duplicate almost instantaneously, in any number he wanted, and without showing signs of fatigue. Even worse, those clones could create more clones.

If this guy was in the database, wouldn't that put him close to an A-rank? No—more like S-rank. The only reason he wasn't was because he had a single target: Riley.

And Riley's own training wasn't enough. He'd focused mostly on control, not endurance—so he wouldn't kill someone every time an impulse struck. If he survived this, he'd start dedicating an hour a day to pushing his stamina to the limit.

If I survive. I already know several moves that I can use to kill you, Replica Ricky… I just need to be sure that I have enough stamina to pull it… which I believe I do not.

His plan was simple but costly—shoot him, then immediately trap him in a telekinetic cocoon that would crush him the moment he tried to replicate. If that failed, flatten him entirely at the same time. He could reverse the order, but flattening him first would drain almost everything he had—and fainting here wasn't an option.

Plans. He needed several.

Riley canceled the swirling cloud of dirt and wind around his feet, landing softly to save what little energy he could.

Time. That's what I need. Quick, Riley Ross—what does Replica Ricky want from you? Who even is he?

"Why do you hate Riley Ross, anyway?" Riley asked, lowering his guns and tracking Ricky as he weaved through his duplicates. "He's a kid. Barely a teenager. What could he have possibly done to make a grown man this angry? Isn't that… pathetic? You're… pathetic."

"What did you just say to me?!"

Replica Ricky shoved two clones aside, but all of them roared in unison and pointed at him with fury.

It worked. Fortunately for me, I listen to and watch the news. You know me—but I also happen to know little bits and pieces of you, Replica Ricky. And based on Father's teachings, bits and pieces are enough to destroy a man.

"I'm just saying…" Riley lifted both hands, casually wiggling the pistols as he shrugged. "I've seen the kid—small, frail. Doesn't he have a condition? He's autistic, right? You've got a vendetta against an actual, literal autistic child?"

"Wh—"

The real Replica Ricky showed himself for a split second, and Riley immediately fired—but another clone blinked into existence, taking the bullet.

"That's sort of sad, isn't it?" Riley went on, shaking his head. "You're blaming him for your failed marriage? Why not blame your wife? Or did you? Maybe that's why you killed her… after you found out she was cheating with that restaurant owner."

"What…?"

"Isn't that why you killed him, too?" Riley tilted his head slightly.

Of course, Riley didn't know that for sure. He didn't need to. In the mind of a lunatic, any story could become the truth. The replicas glanced at one another. Even the rumbling under Riley's feet faded as the stampede across the horizon froze in place.

It's working.

"They were cheating behind your back, weren't they?" Riley sighed. "It was in the news. She was pregnant too—probably not even yours. I can see why you turned out like this. It's… sad. I feel…"

And this is the word that Father taught me that would trigger and shatter most people who are suffering with… whatever you have.

"...I feel sorry for you."

"You…" Replica Ricky's chuckle came out strained as he stepped forward, glaring at Riley. "You feel sorry for me? After what you did to me?!"

"I told you—we just met," Riley said evenly. "And I'm sure that boy… Riley Ross, didn't do anything to you either."

"You did this! You, Riley Ross!" Replica Ricky raised his amputated arm again, his voice breaking with rage. "You're the one who—"

I think I have enough now.

A sharp bang cracked through the air as Riley fired again—only for another clone to materialize in front of Ricky. But this time, Riley's plan was already in motion. An invisible cocoon wrapped around them.

"Sh—!" Ricky's teeth clenched as the crushing pressure twisted his bones. But his newly created clone disintegrated into dust before his own body turned to pulp inside the cocoon.

But before Ricky could even react, Riley followed through with the second part of his plan—slamming him to the ground so hard his body flattened instantly. Flesh, bone, and blood burst and showered everywhere.

"Interesting."

"I apologize, Replica Ricky. I realized you create your clones depending on what materials were near you—and that included flesh and blood, human corpses," Riley then pointed his gun behind him toward the side of the road. "And that meant you could also replicate heartbeats."

Riley pulled the trigger and fired another round.

"Fuck!" And someone immediately jumped out from where he aimed, "Fucking fuck!"

"Hannah…?"

No.

Riley tilted his head to the side as Kitty walked out, carrying a broken camera, which was what he had hit.

"Who are—"

"Wow. She's right. You're clever…"

Replica Ricky's voice suddenly whispered behind him. "Yes. I can make replicas from flesh and blood, Riley Ross. You… almost had me there."

"Oh…" Riley glanced over his shoulder, only to see Replica Ricky taking several steps back with a wide grin on his face. He raised his gun and pointed it at him, but then let it go as he slowly looked down…

…only to see a blade protruding out of his chest.

Right through the heart.

Kitty, who had been cursing only moments ago, gasped, hands clapping over her mouth as she realized what she had just caused.

"Oh no…" she breathed.

"Oh no… no… no. I'm so… I'm so sorry."