"Are we ready?" Rick questioned, surveying the room.
There were several nods.
"Great," he paused.
"Now, here's the strategy," he began, using a pointer on a projector.
"We're going to split up."
Whispers were going around.
"Don't you think that's dangerous?" Abbey asked.
Rick shook his head.
"I think it'll get us to our goal quicker." He said.
He pointed to the projector.
"Keren, Abbey, Sena, and Tammy, you guys will go towards the Eastern wing."
"Mikael, Iris Azalea, and I will head toward the Northern wing."
He then looked at Norio and Chris.
"You two will go toward the Western wing," he paused.
"With Maru."
The two quickly lifted their heads.
"Rick, you can't be serious," Chris began but paused as Rick narrowed his eyes.
"No objections, right?" Mikael asked as he stood up.
"To make our lives much easier, we have these walkie-talkies we ca
"This way," Chris said. "Hold up," Norio began as he came to a stop. "Huh?" Chris turned. "I'm going to check out this room; you go check out the one next door." Chris looked at him. "Eh!?" He cried. "Relax, I'll be right next door," Norio reassured. "I don't get the point, but whatever..." Chris said, letting out a sigh. * As they stepped into the room, Chris placed Maru down. "You ok, kiddo?" Chris asked. "Mm," Maru replied. "Good." He smiled. "Why don't you take that thing off for now?" He said as he knelt to take off the blindfold. "Hey, Chris!" A voice called out from behind the door. Chris froze. "Rick...?" Chris whispered, standing up. "What happened to splitting up?" He asked. "Nothing, I changed my mind; I want to take Maru with me." Chris narrowed his eyes. "Open the door, would you?" The voice asked. "...Pr
Footsteps could be heard running through the hallway.The door slammed open, revealing Norio."Holy shit." He gasped, staring at Chris."Tch, I didn't want to use this if I didn't need to, but," he began, as he started digging in his pants pocket."Oi, you better be alive, idiot." He said, kneeling.Chris slightly twitched."Listen," Norio huffed."If you care about them, if you truly love my brother, you'll get the hell up and continue fighting!" Norio cried.He then pulled out a tiny bottle labeled 'The Cure.'"Looks like you'll need a bit more than Emersyn did..." He sighed, pouring a little into Chris’s mouth.He narrowed his eye."Swallow." He scolded.Suddenly, Chris started coughing."Damnit, that stuff tastes awful." He groaned, wiping his mouth with his sleeve."Now's not the time to bitch and moan," Norio said, helping him up."Tch, you're in no shape to fight." H
After all the enemies had been taken down, Rick panted."Listen," he began."Norio, you go find the girls," he then turned to Chris."You stay here and don't move a damn muscle."Chris, sitting up against the wall, nodded his head weakly.*"This place gives me the creeps..." Tammy whispered."It feels like something can jump out at any given moment..."As they turned a corner, everyone froze.There they were met with Kari.Kari jumped back."O-Oi, you're..." Abbey whispered."Please...don't hurt us..." Kari whispered, tearing up."How do we know you won't attack us..." Keren questioned."I-I never wanted to hurt anybody..." Kari said as she sniffled."But your pal certainly did," Abbey said."Huh?" Kari quickly looked up."Don't play dumb; I'm sure you've been communicating this entire time," Abbey glared."I promise I don't know anything!" Kari cried out.
"Do you mean this building is going to explode!?" Keren cried out.Kari sniffled as she began tearing up again."I-is there any way you can defuse the bombs...?" Sena questioned.Kari shook her head."W-we still have a few hours..."Tammy looked at Kari."Will you at least comply with us?" She asked.Kari made eye contact with Tammy, then quickly looked down."Papa won't be happy..."Tammy suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders."Do you want to continue making him happy for only a few hours longer, or do you want to live!?" She shouted."Tammy..." Abbey whispered.Kari looked at her then reluctantly nodded."Come with me...to the control room." She instructed.As they quickly hurried towards the control room, Abbey suddenly stopped."What's the matter, Abbey...?" Sena whispered, stopping as well."Tammy, Kari, you two go ahead," Abbey began."I have a bad feeling..."
As Janine walked over to where Larkin was located, she paused for a moment."Was that foolish of me..." She whispered to herself.Just as she was about to take a step forward, she bumped into Larkin.She looked up at him, startled."B-boss..."Larkin looked at her, then let out a sigh."I suppose this means you weren't successful either."Janine slowly nodded her head."The synchronization is near completion anyway." He said.As he began to walk away, he turned his head."Don't worry about it." He reassured, giving a smile.Janine's eyes widened."B-boss...!"However, Larkin had already walked away.*Everyone had gathered around in the room where Rick, Iris Azalea, Mikael, and Chris were waiting."Well..." Mikael said, slowly lifting his head."This is it."Abbey folded her arms."What do you mean...?" Keren asked."Behind this door lies Larkin
As the group entered the room, Larkin chuckled."How amusing..." He snickered, looking down at Rick."So, you've decided to abandon the mask, eh, Mr. Reaper?" He grinned."LARKIN!" Rick screamed."I'm afraid that you're already too late; the synchronization was a success." He informed, knocking on one of the tubes."Alas, despite your status as a notorious killer, I'm afraid you'll be beaten to a pulp within a mere few seconds."Rick growled."However, perhaps your friends may be able to take on my underlings while you warm up." He smirked.Rick quickly turned to the group."I have a grudge with the pink bastard." Norio sighed as he took a step forward."Did you see how Chris ended up!?" Rick cried."Forget it; he's just taunting you!"Suddenly, Mim appeared behind Norio."A grudge with little old me, hm?" He asked."How amusing..."Norio quickly spun around."That is," he
Rick's eyes widened as Larkin lunged towards him; he ducked quickly.Larkin began to throw punches, Rick dodging as if his life depended on it."Why are you doing this!?" Mikael cried.Rick quickly turned his head, just as Larkin threw a punch, hitting Rick in his abdomen.Rick let out a wheeze as he fell to the ground.Larkin smirked, grabbing Rick by his face.He tossed Rick up in the air as if he were a rag doll, then pinned him by his head against the wall."RICK!" Norio screamed.Mikael began running; suddenly, Janine grabbed his cloak."Do you see how dangerous he is!?" She cried.Mim sat up, groaning."She's right...the boss is incredibly dangerous, at this point..." He looked up at Rick and Larkin."Forget it...he's dead."All anyone could do was watch on in horror.Rick's eyes darted towards the tubes containing Maru and Emersyn.Larkin then squeezed his head.Ric
"Rick!" A voice cried out. "Rick!" The voice shouted once again. Rick's eyes flickered. He grunted, rubbing his head as he sat up. When he opened his eyes, he gasped, scooting backward. Kneeling in front of him was Cole. "W-What are you..." He whispered. Then the realization set in. "Am I...?" Cole smiled. "Please don't worry; you're only unconscious.” Rick looked at him, then let out a sigh of relief. "Is this real...are you...?" He reached out his hand, patting Cole on the head. Cole giggled. "What are you doing here..." Cole closed his eyes, smiling. "I'm here to thank you finally!" He said, beaming. "For what...?" Rick asked as he stroked Cole's head. "Thank you for keeping our promise!" He grinned. Rick looked down. "What's wrong?" Cole asked, tilting his head in confusion. "Maru is..." Cole began to laug