The crew shouted for Paolo to move, but the captain didn't budge at all. The timer ticked louder than ever, five minutes coming all too quickly.
"Paolo, come one!" Luna shouted.
"I know you'll soon die, but I just don't feel like it."
"We don't care!" they shouted.
"We have to bring him to his senses, or this island is surely done for," Octavius told Cairo.
"It's too late," Alexandrite told them. "He's already caught Abrielle's mind control. Once you enter it, you can never come out." He grinned. "You and your friends are doomed."
Alexandrite threw a bomb at Octavius and Cairo, the two dodging it. The object exploded, Octavius jumping on Cairo's back.
"We'll have to think of something while we move."
Cairo bleated, the two running into town as Alexandrite and Yulia chased them.
"Paolo snap out of it," Luna shouted.
"You've got a job to do, you dolt," Shinzo snapped.
"Paolo please, help us," Anisa pleaded.
"I really, really, really don't want to."
Abrielle laid a mat on the ground, bringing out a picnic basket. She smiled at Paolo. "Paolo, join me for tea."
He nodded absentmindedly, sitting down and sipping a cup of tea. He smiled wistfully. "This is some good tea."
The four of them could feel tears of annoyance prickling at the tips of their eyes. "You idiot!"
"So, what now?" Aziz asked.
"I really think I should break off my hand," Shinzo said.
"Stop that!" Luna and Anisa snapped.
*****
Octavius ran down the street on Cairo's back, people screaming as they skid past. Alexandrite threw bombs at them, but they dodged them easily.
"Why are they so damn fast," Alexandrite snapped.
People frowned at the commotion, but Octavius paid them no mind. "We already know who is using that mind control, all we can do for now is find a way to snap Paolo out of it… we need to hurry, there's no time."
"Get back here!" Yulia shouted.
Octavius clicked his tongue while Cairo rounded the town to get back to where his crew stood. "Cairo, I have an idea… have my back."
Cairo bleated, dust clouds forming as he ran to the back of the island. The bomb had just gotten to its one and a half minutes stamp and Paolo still sat with Abrielle, drinking tea. Sweat trickled down his face as he struggled deep within to get out of the grip held on his mind.
"That idiot," Octavius said under his breath.
Behind him, Alexandrite launched a bomb and at the same time Octavius shot a canon at Abrielle. She jumped, the blast forcing her to lose concentration and the mind control on Paolo to disappear. Alexandrite bomb crashed into Octavius pushing him into Paolo's body.
Octavius coughed, eyes red with blood. "Are you up now, stupid captain?"
Paolo rose to his feet, dusting the grime of his gown. "Sorry Octavius…I'm back now." He crossed his arms, glaring at the members of team four. "You won't be able to control me anymore, so prepare to die."