Scanners mounted in the walls tracked everyone ensuring they were of legal age and had no outstanding warrants. As for Dane and Train, their chips had been removed so they moved through the crowd like ghosts.

They found a seat near the back about twenty feet from the stage, but they still had a good view. A waitress came over and took their drink and food orders. Within minutes of arriving, they were sipping ice cold beer and being entertained.

"See, this isn't so bad!" Dane shouted over the music. "You know, if you think about it, there's a lot of job security as a stripper. They aren't worried about a robot displacing them. Can you imagine going to a place with robot strippers," Dane said laughing at the idea.

Train didn't answer. He was done fighting with Dane and just wanted to mind his beer and wait for his food to come.

Train knew strip clubs were the ultimate hustle — attract sad and lonely men with naked women and the prospect of intimacy, sell them overpriced beer and crappy food, then encourage them to pay exorbitant fees for sexually unsatisfying lap dances. The cost of this momentary escapism baffled Train's mind. His present circumstances excluded, he wondered, who would ever come to one of these places. Then he looked over at Dane who appeared to be in heaven.

A few minutes later, two woman approached their table and introduced themselves. They were sexy and seductive, but their rehearsed movements were obvious to Train. He saw through their act, which was a carefully designed manipulation tactic to extract as much money from him as possible. Train looked past the girl, unwilling to show her the least bit of interest. She soon took the hint and moved onto her next mark.

Unlike Train, Dane was thoroughly enjoying himself. The woman on Dane's lap leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Dane whispered something back and they shared a laugh. Seconds later, they both got up and went to the back room together. Train rolled his eyes and took and long sip of his beer.

After a while, Train got up to use the restroom. Making his way to back of the club, he squeezed by a few leering men and down a narrow hall. Once in the bathroom, he found a urinal and began to relieve himself. He cracked his neck and loosened his shoulders in an effort to unwind from the day's stress.

Now standing in front of the sink, Train washed his hands and stared into the mirror. In the low lighting of the dingy strip club bathroom, he took a moment for reflection. In his mind he was thinking about his next move and whether or not he was more suited to be on his own. Cupping his hands together, he collected a small pool of water and brought it to his face. He washed his face and bald head, then dried himself with some paper towel. Still unsure what to do, Train let out a deep breath and exited the bathroom.

Just outside the bathroom door, he heard some screams and shouting. The music had stopped and was replaced by a loud commotion. Tables and chairs were knocked over, glasses fell to the floor and shattered, and stampeding feet raced toward the nearest exit.

Train proceeded with caution, overseeing the melee from the narrow hall. He was unable to fully take in the scope of the situation. Moving down the hall, his field of view widened. He could see unmarked military soldiers searching the crowd. He assumed they were there looking for him and Dane.

Being a large muscular man, Train didn't exactly blend in. He ducked his head and ran from the hallway toward the section where Dane had gone. Train found his way into the back part of the club where there were several rooms with beaded doors. He peeked into them each room until he found Dane.

"Dane!" Train said in a shouted whisper.

Dane was with one of the strippers, who was naked and on top of him. Both were oblivious to what was happening in the club.

"Dane, it's time to go, man!" Train said again. This time with more urgency.

"Train what are you doing here?"

"You don't hear all the commotion?"

"I'm a little preoccupied at the moment. I'm not exactly paying attention to the commotion."

"There are men with guns outside."

"Did you say guns?" the stripper asked.

"Yes, we have to go."

The stripper quickly threw on a silk robe to cover herself then dashed out of the room, leading the men down the hall. The neon exit sign glowed in the distance, which led them to a staircase and eventually an exit.

Bursting through the door, they found themselves in an alley. Before they could plot their next move, they were spotted by a soldier.

"Hey, you three, stop right there!" the soldier shouted.

Dane decided in that moment to run. He figured the consequences of getting caught would not be good. The rest of the group followed suit and ran with him. The soldier took aim and fired a round down the alley. The blast went off, echoing off the buildings, and the stripper was hit. She screamed in agony and collapsed onto the pavement.

Dane kept running, but Train stopped. Without hesitation, he went back and picked up the wounded girl off the ground and held her in his arms.

"Take another step and die!" the soldier said, walking toward them. "Now, turn around... slowly."

Train had no choice but to comply. Still holding the girl in his arms, Train turned around as he had been instructed.

"Okay, man. Be cool. Don't shoot," Train said.

"Put the girl down."

"She needs to go to the hospital or else she'll die."

"That's not my concern right now. I won't tell you again. Put the woman down and show me your hands. No sudden movements."

"Okay, just be cool. I won't try anything. See, I'm putting her down."

"Now get on your knees!" the soldier commanded.

"I was a soldier too," Train said.

"Shut up."

The soldier spoke into a mic that was integrated into his helmet. "I have the suspect in sight. Requesting backup. I'm in the alley behind the club. The suspect is unarmed and—"

Without warning, the soldier's knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground. Dane was standing behind him with a metal pipe.

"Dane! You came back."

"Of course I came back. A soldier never leaves another soldier behind."

"You're not a soldier," Train said.

"I know, but it sounded kind of cool. How's the girl? Is she okay?"

"My name is Cassie by the way, and I'm not great. I've been shot."

"Yeah, I see that," Dane said. "We should probably take you to a hospital."

"No!" she shot back. "I have supplies at my apartment. You can take me there."

"Umm... okay, but I really think we should..."

The woman gave Dane a look.

"Okay, your apartment it is," Dane said.

Train scooped up Cassie in his arms and the three of them ran off into the night.