Heat Rises

[Kyle Crane]

Just a few minutes ago, Mick was in a jail cell. And now he's floating in a black void.

He pries through his recent memories, trying to figure out how he got here, or what 'here' even is. He comes up blank. He tries to open his mouth and question things. But he can't speak. Then, a white figure appears.

What. Mick things to himself. He's seen strange things before, but never a blank white figure with nothing but a mouth and ears on their face.

“My name is Omni. This is not the world you know. This is the Omniverse. You interest me, so I have made you part of it. The Omniverse is a place that reflects the wishes of those who are part of it. But! There are rules. I will explain them only once, so listen carefully.”

Mick stares at the eyeless figure. At first, his look matches one of confusion. Then, it turns into a slight smirk, as he realizes - if it 'reflects the wishes' of people in here, he could probably get a flamethrower fairly easy. Or even...The Heat Gun. Then, the confusion returns, as he is handed a glimmering rainbow orb.

“This is Omnilium. It’s what ties the Omniverse together. Without it, you are nothing. With it, anything you desire can be yours. But you will need more than this. If you desire it enough, you will find it. You will find that using it comes naturally. Just think of what you desire most."

This thing is hurting my eyes. Mick thinks bluntly. It takes his eyes a few seconds to get used to it. Then, he kind of...Absorbs it. The confusion returns. At least he somewhat knows how to use it, though.

“You will not be alone in the Omniverse. There are others. Of course, they, too desire Omnilium. Do not fear death. For as long as you interest me, you will be reborn."

The arsonist's smirk returns. Not only could he get his flamethrower, but he also has no reason to fear death? This place can't be so bad. Then, this confidence leaves him as he realizes, others that he burns will come back as well. Holding a grudge.

“That’s all you need to know right now. You’ll figure out the rest soon enough. I’ll be watching … and waiting.”

The black landscape and the white figure fade away, and are replaced with...A fountain, and a white landscape. Omni can't be too creative of a guy, the arsonist thinks to himself. He sees 8 objects, all in different directions, around him. He can't make them out from here.

"...Well...I guess I should just pick a direction and go that way." Mick decides. "But first...I'm getting my Heat Gun back."

Mick decides to take Omni's explanation and put it to good use. Just think of what you desire most...Omni's words echo in the arsonist's head as he focuses on the Heat Gun. Some Omnilium emerges, and begins to take form. Mick grips the familiar handle as it takes the traditional form of his signature weapon.

"Perfect."

Mick looks down at his handheld flamethrower. To an outsider, it wouldn't be so fantastic, but to Mick, it's great. A weapon that he could somewhat easily conceal, that shoots flames at a rate practically equivalent to a flamethrower? Perfect for Mick's needs.

He looks around again. He still can't quite make out what they are, or where he's going. "Well...I guess going anywhere is better than sticking around here." Mick says. He turns in a random direction and begins to head that way, unknowingly heading for Coruscant.

[Kyle Crane]

After...How long was it? Mick wasn't keeping track. All he can say is, if he had to guess, he'd say he's a half hour away from the object - a portal, as it appears. He comes across two...Are they Stormtroopers? He can only assume they're Stormtroopers. He comes across two of them, heading towards the Fountain.

"Looks like we didn't have to walk far." one of the two says.

"Why should I?" Mick asks. The Heat Gun powers on, a mechanical whirring noise being heard.

"We can offer you information about the Omniverse." the other one says. "However, if you don't, we will be forced to fire."

"Uh...Sir?" the first one asks.

"Yes?" the second one responds.

"I don't think this Prime is gonna be on our side..."

"Why is that?"

"Because his weapon just powered on."

A smile forms on the arsonist's face as he aims the Heat Gun at the first trooper. Quickly, they respond by drawing their weapon.

"WHY DO THEY CALL YOU PEOPLE THE HEAT?!" he shouts. "I'M THE HEAT!"

With that, Mick pulls the trigger. A beam of flame comes out and strikes the first trooper, the 15-second blast weakening them.

They are knocked on their back by the blast, but quickly get up. Mick - in needing to let the Heat Gun cool down - runs up to the soldier, rips the white and black helmet off of their head, and performs a punch. The Stromtrooper ducks it, but is met with Mick's knee in their face. The second trooper fires at Mick, and lands the hit on his left knee, pain erupting through that leg as the hot plasma bolt makes a burn mark on his kneecap. Mick performs another punch on the soldier that he was tangling with, meeting it's mark straight on the opponent's jaw, before following it up with a backhand smack. The Stormtrooper is knocked to his hands and knees. Mick kicks him square in the jaw, knocking him out.

He then diverts his attention to the other trooper, who has another shot aimed in his direction. The trooper fires, and hits Mick's left shoulder, creating another mark from the bolt, the pain spreading throughout Mick's upper arm.

"You know what the best part of coming to this new world is?" the arsonist asks. He then raises the Heat Gun - which has, by now, cooled down - to the Stormtrooper's chest, and fires, keeping the beam's focus on the white-clad soldier throughout the whole 15-second blast. He's knocked flat on his back, and starts struggling to get up. Mick grabs the trooper's helmet off his head, and throws it aside, before kicking the Stormtrooper's head, knocking him out.

"Watching it burn." Mick says. As the Heat Gun cools down, he walks up to the first Stormtrooper.

"It might not be a great idea to let these two live; they could probably set up an ambush or something." Mick says, stating the smartest thought he's had all day. He sits down, and waits for the Heat Gun to finish cooling down. "When the Heat Gun cools down, I'll make sure they burn."

And that's just what he does. Each time the Heat Gun finishes cooling down, Mick fires a lethal blast of fire at one's head, until both are dispatched, then tucks the Heat Gun away in his overcoat and continues down the path to Coruscant.

About a half an hour or so later - Mick's previous guess had been correct - he reaches the gate to Coruscant. The Stormtroopers who are there don't seem to have seen the carnage that ensued behind the arsonist...Or they're just idiots.

"Where does this gate lead?" Mick asks, staring at the portal.

"Coruscant...The heart of the Empire." one of the two Stormtroopers guarding this side of the gate responds.

"...Then that's exactly where I'm going."

The arsonist takes a deep breath, ready to enter a world likely unlike what he's seen before...And enters.