The palace was not somewhere Hops would have wanted to live at this exact moment. Not when your about to break out a child for that matter. Moving through with the rest of the team, Hops noted how quiet it was around the establishment. Usually there would be some tourists around, as it was such a landmark in the state, and yet there were only a few around.
"A bit strange?" Hops heard Alice say to him.
"Definitely, let's just make this quick."
Reaching the steps by the door, Leon wasted no time to open it to be greeted with the sight of dozens of guards inside. It was quite the sight, as they all looked at the group before realizing who it was. Before the group could say anything, the guards quickly saluted them.
"The Eluyim Hexan, I didn't believe we would be greeted by your presence." the captain of the guards greeted them. "Captain Hando, at your service."
"It's great to meet all of you, but we're here to see the boy. Laken?" Leon responded.
With that, the guards looked at each other in worry, some with a noticeable fear.
"Is something wrong?" Heskins asked them.
"About that. The boy has been, rather challenging lately. One of his caretakers was killed by him." the captain gulped, "I'm not sure now is the time to see him."
The group just looked at each other with some surprise. Laken killed someone, and only was three? Something was definitely not adding up, and getting to the bottom of it was their highest priority.
"Well, Youden requested that we go see him, so it's rather urgent we get down there now." Hops finally spoke up, beginning to make his way towards the back of the Palace, where the stairs were.
At that moment, a nearby caller rung, as the guard captain rushed to answer it. Muttering some words, his face began to fluster, before he quickly responded back and hung the machine up.
"We need to go now men!" the captain cried aloud, "There's been an attack at the state building, and we are needed at once. Eluyim Hexan, I'm sure you can help us out right now."
The former group stared each other down, before beginning to go behind Hops themselves. It looked like Brat and Jamal had began the assault and they wouldn't have much longer to get through.
"I'm sure it's not that bad." Alice waved them off, "After all, Youden personally sent us to this task, and we rather not disappoint him."
"Wait? Isn't Youden now coming back from that conference?" one of the guards took some thought to process, "So how would he be able to contact you guys?"
But by then, the group was already rushing down to find the boy, as they could hear some yelling behind them. Not looking back, they continued onward as they quickly reached the bottom floor, with a thick iron door blocking the way. Not hesitating, Leon pulled his right arm back, as a light aura surrounded it, before punching the door. It slid back several yards, before falling flat onto the ground, as the group continued onward.
Inside the small complex were several doors, although it appeared that it would be harder to find exactly which one.
"We got to break each door down." Alice assumed, as they quickly got to work.
Hops was already by the first one, as he kicked the lock clean off the door, before opening the room up. There was nothing inside, but just a cot. A bit strange, as they quickly were greeted with the same sight. What was Youden doing down here?
"Only one more left." Heskins was at the last door, although this one had multiple locks strung together. "This must be it."
Hops watched as he pulled them all back, before peeking inside. Heskins closed the door quickly, before nodding at them. Reopening the door, they could see a small shadow in the corner of the room, with pieces of fluff spread everywhere.
"Laken?" Alice was the first to speak. "Is it you?"
The shadow turned around, and they were actually shook at the condition the boy was in. He looked skinner, and disheveled but it was still him. Laken was finally back with them.
"Hoppy?" Laken looked at Hops from a distance.
"Yes, it's me buddy." Hops was about to run towards him, before Leon stopped him.
"Laken, did they do anything to you?" Leon asked him.
"They hurt Tedda!" the boy cried out, holding the destroyed bear, "So I hurt baddie!"
Looking at each other, the group quickly connected the dots. The boy really did kill that man without hesitation. Grabbing the boy, Heskins nodded at the group.
"We gotta get out of here quickly." Heskins replied to them, as they quickly rushed out of the room.
Moving closer to the stairs and not even out of the complex, they saw multiple guards blocking their way, holding rifles at them.
"Eluyim Hexan, it shouldn't have even come to this, but you need to return the boy back from where he came from, and come with us. You are about to commit treason against the government, and let's not do that." Captain Hando moved in front of his men, holding a rifle himself.
"We can't do that! This is wrong! What's been happening to this boy is disturbing!" Hops shouted back at them, "We're going to bring back Saputa!"
The guards looked at each other, before laughing at the claim. They really thought a few people were really going to stop Youden from asserting his dominance across the land? That was just straight-up lying.
"That won't be happening. Fire away!" the captain gave permission.
It wasn't going to end like this, as Alice already had her book opened while they were speaking, as it glowed with energy before it fired towards the guards. The guards attempted to fire at them regardless, only for the bullets to deflect off of nothing. In a bit of surprise, Hando began walking towards the group, with his hand out, before feeling a force preventing them from going forward.
"Ah, a shield of some type?" Hando began to laugh. "I suppose you won't be getting out of here then."
"Oh, we will." Alice grinned back, shocking Hops.
"Wait, how?" Hops was confused.
"Leon, don't hold back." Alice let the man move in front of her.
Watching, Leon stood in front of the guards, as he pulled his hand back. Wasn't the shield blocking any attack from both sides? Looking to his side, Hops could see Alice's book glowing again, as the woman was determined that it would work.
"Alice."
"Don't worry, Hops. It's going to work." Alice smiled back at him, as an aura began to surround Leon's right arm.
"Men, when that man launches his hand forward, fire away!" Hando assured them, as the group raised their rifles again.
Leon huffed with fury, as he threw the punch towards the force. The guards began to fire towards them, although the bullets continued to deflect off the invisible wall. Was this a bluff, they must have assumed, until Leon slammed his fist into the ground. The attack caused a large crack to travel across the floor, catching literally everyone off guard.
"Go now!" Alice cried out, quickly getting up, as the light from the book died down.
Not hesitating, Hops quickly pushed himself up, as the rest of the group began to follow suit. The rest of the guards were recovering from the attack, as Hops managed to kick an arm of one of them that attempted to grab his leg. But they were quickly recovering, and at the rate they were going to the stairs would some of them not make it.
"We aren't all going to make it." Hops had figured out, slowing down Alice.
"Yes we will. Just keep going." she began to move forward again, until Hops grabbed her.
"Alice." Hops looked at the woman's eyes. "You know someone isn't going to make it."
"Don't say that, let's go!" she began to say, as Hops put his hand on her face.
"I think it's best that I stay. I owe you so much in my life, and I failed to step up when I had the chance."
"Hops, if this is about Suruthum, I don't care! Don't do this!" she began to panic in a bit of worry. "We need you."
"I know." he managed to say, before kissing her.
It was quick and in the moment, but once he pulled back, he could note a tear come off Alice's face.
"Thanks for everything, but I got to go do this." Hops wiped her face, as the rest of the group began to pass them.
She was shocked, as Hops let her go and faced the recovered guards. She turned around to see Heskins calling her out, still holding Laken. She couldn't just move away, even with Hops attempting to sacrifice himself for them. But yet, she could see the man moving towards the guards and holding his hands up, in a final taunt and to stop them from dying.
"Let's go Alice!" Heskins called out to her again, as she stared back at him, then Hops.
She quickly made up her mind. Regardless of the impact, it was definitely going to make a difference and she wasn't going to let anything stop her.
"No." Alice replied back, as she turned back to Hops. "I'm going to stay here."
"Well, good luck." Heskins managed to say, as the woman began to make her way towards Hops.
.....
Hops stared down at the group of guards. There were ten of them, and he could likely take down at least two of them, at most four, before succumbing to them. But it should be enough time for the rest of them and Alice to escape. Safely, hopefully.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Hops put his hands down, and got into his stance. "I'm ready."
"Then die." Hando smiled, as everyone raised their rifles towards the man. "Fire away!"
Hops began rushing towards the men, as bullets ricocheted around him. Focusing on nothing but the guards, his speed was exponentially increasing, as he literally was running across the wall, bullets sailing behind him. A nearby guard quickly switched to the butt of the weapon, as Hops grabbed it and flipped over the man. Turning around quickly, he slammed his knee into the man's gut, causing the man to bend over. Taking advantage, he held the man up, as the guards lit up their fallen member, killing him rather quickly.
Heaving the body forward, by slamming his feet into the dead man's stomach, Hops was getting ready to continue onto the next one, until another guard shuffled in front of him, and began firing onto his own members. In a bit of shock, Hops crouched down as bullets shot where he was and the other rebel guard. He managed to kill two more of them, before too many bullets forced him down.
Still surprised, Hops pushed himself up to face the rest of the agitators. There were only six of them left, but it was still too many for him to take on. At least the others would be safe, he still grinned, as a bullet sliced his shoulder, causing him to hiss in pain and return focus.
"I must say your tricks have killed many of us. But your little playbook is over." Hando grinned, with his smoking rifle.
"That playbook still has many tricks left." a female voice rang out.
Everyone turned their heads towards the voice, only to see Alice holding a glowing book.
"Alice, what are you doing here!" Hops cried out, "You're supposed to let me deal with this."
"I couldn't let that happen now, could I?" Alice grinned, as the guards were somewhat impressed that a female was actually putting in work and reducing their numbers.
Not waiting for them to refocus, Hops grabbed one of the rifles from the dead guards, and despite never using one, began holding down the trigger while aiming at the men. The men turned around, only to get sprayed with bullets. Hops struggled against the recoil as all the men quickly collapsed from the assault, except for Hando, who managed to move out of the way, and aimed his weapon at Alice.
"Even if I die, I'm taking you down with me! For Youdenia!" Hando said with maddened pride, as he began to press onto the trigger.
"No!" Hops cried out, as he steadied the weapon towards Hando.
But knowing that he wasn't accurate, and was at risk of hitting Alice, Hops knew he had no choice. Taking a deep breath while still on the floor, he hoped for the best, as he fired several shots toward the man, and heard a female-like cry in that direction. Quickly getting up, he watched as neither two collapsed onto the ground, as if frozen in time. That was until Hando fell onto the ground, and Alice managed to walk back a few steps, although a bit uneasy.
"Are you okay?" Hops managed to ask, moving through the carnage.
"Yeah," Alice smiled, before wincing and falling to her side.
He managed to slide down next to her, as she began to groan in pain. He began to feel around her until he felt something sticky against her side. Looking at his hands, it was covered in blood, as Alice struggled to stay conscious.
"Oh shit." Hops managed to mutter, as he began to press against her side, causing her to cry out in pain. "Everything will be fine, just stay awake."
"Hops." she held onto him tightly, "Why didn't you just keep going? I thought we could have made it?"
"That's not important right now. You can, like, I don't know move us out of here?" Hops kept talking to her, as he gave her the fallen book.
"I can try, but it'll be a while."
"That's fine. We're going to make it after all." he promised, before attempting to kiss her again, except she stopped him, pressing her hand against his face.
"Did you really mean it?" she asked him, "I didn't know that's how you felt."
"I did. You're just different, and just mean so much to me that I would struggle to live and breath without you."
With that, she faintly smiled, as they kissed again more passionately before Alice pulled back and began the slow but long incantation. At least they were getting out of here alive.