All That's Left [Alpha Draft] - Pt 36;

[keybearer]

Chapter 36: Project KRONOS

The once famed hero now hovered amidst an enormous, mechanical ring. Metallic orbs encased his limbs, suspended by electrical ropes. Before, he’d struggled, jerking his arms helplessly, while repeated button presses made him grunt, yelp, and spasm by way of high voltage shocks. However, the situation had changed. As soon as the monitor flickered to the inside of the Highwind, he fell into stunned silence, save for a whisper of his Wife’s name. As the missiles flew, his silence gave way to desperate pleas. He begged, repeatedly, for Syndrome to have mercy.

The transmission shifted when Riku abandoned ship, but that was to be expected; the sigil only tracked the area surrounding its host. Still, Mr. Incredible begged. Riku was just a kid. He’s innocent, he’d said. Knowing well that the boy was on his way, Lexaeus soon cut the ‘transmission’ altogether, at least for a time. Some might argue that no news was good news, but silence and ignorance often bred uncertainty. If Syndrome wished to challenge, even break his old hero, it paid to deny him the answers that he sought…

At least until the most critical moment.

With security cameras stationed all across the island, it was impossible to miss the sight of a colorful, blocky ship erupting in a burst of fire and smoke. So, naturally, and with another sick grin, Syndrome leered at Mr. Incredible.

“Play the footage.”

Mirage hesitated, face downturned, but pressed the playback button regardless, and so the footage repeated on the behemoth of a screen. But he didn’t settle for once. He ordered to play it again, then again, then one final time, each repeated showing making Mr. Incredible’s face grow paler. It made him gasp, then flinch, until at last, he grew still, head hanging and body limp.

Mirage refused to meet Syndrome’s gaze, swiveling her chair away from Mr. Incredible and her boss. Lexaeus, however, kept his eyes on the would-be hero and, more importantly, Syndrome, who dared to move closer. He dared to saunter toward the device, spitting in his former hero’s face with his spiteful words.

“Aw, you’ll get over it.” He leaned closer. “I seem to recall you prefer to work alone?”

At that last remark, he cracked another wicked grin, snickering, then laughing just to add further insult. He was tempting fate, poking a caged tiger with a stick, and where before Mr. Incredible withdrew, his body once again grew rigid. His face contorted, nostrils flaring and teeth bared. When Syndrome turned his back, Mr. Incredible threw his arms forward…

But Mirage shoved Syndrome out of the way, and instead, Mr. Incredible hoisted her off the ground, pulling her close to his chest, and he practically roared his words.

“Release me, NOW!”

Fascinating. Was he trying to use her as leverage? For the time being, Lexaeus remained a silent observer, while Syndrome scoffed and raised an eyebrow.

“Or what?”

“I’ll crush her…”

“That sounds a little dark for you.” He turned way, waving his hand. “Aw, go ahead.”

Mirage’s eyes doubled in size, yet Mr. Incredible refused to act. “It’ll be easy, like breaking a toothpick.”

Unfazed, Syndrome continued to stare his former hero in the eyes. “Show me.” His words cut through the air, hot and challenging.

Mr. Incredible tightened his hold. His already furrowed brow wrinkled further. He clenched his teeth, and then…

He dropped Mirage on the floor. She panted and gasped, trembling as she looked upon Syndrome, whose once smug demeanor had shifted. His voice grew cold, his expression stiff.

“I knew you couldn’t do it. Even when you have nothing to lose… You’re weak.” He turned around, brushing past Lexaeus. “And I’ve outgrown you.”

Lexaeus followed Syndrome through the hall, though not without taking one last look at Mirage. To treat his own associate as expendable was hardly honorable, though experience had taught him that Syndrome was far from the honorable sort. He was like a child who’d been handed a toolbox of explosives. For as intelligent as he was, did he truly expect her to trust him after this? When her very life may well have ended, had this been more than a mere bluff?

Ultimately, it mattered little, though as they ventured into the hall, Lexaeus finally raised his voice. “That was reckless of you.”

Syndrome flapped his hand, strutting along with his grin back in place. “Please, it was an obvious bluff. And what do you care?”

“I don’t.” Interpersonal matters carried little weight beyond idle fascination. “At any rate, I doubt the Keybearer’s friends have perished.”

“All part of our agreement.” He stopped, looking back for a moment. “Still, that explosion made for some great shock footage.”

He continued leading Lexaeus down the hall, around the corner and past some armed guards clad in blue suits and visors, until they reached a pair of metal shutters. A quick combination of button presses, and the doors flew open. Syndrome continued into a dark room, though the lights flickered on as they passed underneath, revealing shelves upon shelves of machinery, missiles, and other assorted weapons. Amidst it all, Syndrome dug out a white metal bracelet and passed it to Lexaeus.

“Better slip this on before those ‘heroes’ arrive, unless you’re down for fighting with a handicap.”

Nodding, Lexaeus snatched the device. “I look forward to the results.”

x.x.x

Leaves showered over Riku. The impact splintered and dented the wood. Mechanical hums followed, and when Riku looked up, those claws flew at him yet again. Gasping, he flickered away at the last possible second, warping behind his attacker. It was spherical, towering, and with five slender legs, each attached to enormous, four-clawed feet. The robot’s claws tore the tree from the earth and snapped it down the middle. As Riku hit the ground he reached for his Glider. It glowed, then dispersed into beads of light, reforming as a Keyblade.

The air sizzled and hissed. Lightning crashed over the top of the robot’s stubby head and visor. However, it stood perfectly still, whirring and clicking. It lifted another leg, launching it at Riku’s middle, while it flung the remains of the tree over his head. This time, however, he tumbled away, body stretching and shifting to shadows for a few seconds; just long enough to evade the crashing tree. When he slid to a stop, he spun on a heel, doubling back and pointing his weapon at the robot’s face. Black projectiles whizzed at the metal monstrosity, but ricocheted off its shell. Lasers flew at Riku’s feet in retaliation, and he broke into a sprint, then a series of dashes.

Along the way, a Graviga spell spread over the robot, but it shattered as its legs retracted into its body, and it rolled toward Riku like an enormous bowling ball. It picked up sped as it tumbled along, forcing Riku to pick up the pace. He muttered another spell, and the earth shook violently. Spikes of stone erupted in its path, forming a jagged wall.

The robot bowled over them and continued on its way.

Glowering beneath his helmet, Riku warped above the robot, but as his body emerged from the darkness, its claws grasped him again, lowering him level with its red visor, while two of its other legs lifted, claws spinning like buzz saws. Unwilling to give this pest the upper hand, Riku warped again, slamming into the top of a distant palm. The robot stomped in a circle, head swiveling about. It’d probably catch him sooner or later, so in the fleeting moments he had, Riku aimed Oblivion at the ground, took a deep breath, and sent glistening ice crystals flying at its feet.

An icy shell crawled up its legs, but shattered as it jerked itself about, retaliating with a volley of lasers. Gulping, Riku plunged from the treetop, ducking behind a nearby rock. Just what was this thing made of? Though he could try battering it melee attacks, that meant getting in range of its blades and then—

A soft whoosh caught his ear. Then another, then another, then another, until a whole circle of corridors spread up above. Heartless clad in capes and blue spandex descended from the treetops, firing lasers from their eyes. Bulkier Heartless donning suits of armor and Viking helmets smashed the earth with enormous hammers, tearing fissures into the ground. Biting his lip, Riku sprung atop the boulder, blasted Ragnarok in their faces, and tore down the jungle path.

A shadow passed over him, large and narrow. Another tree plunged towards him. Once again, Riku warped, slicing across diving Heartless as he popped out the other end of the corridor. Laser fire persisted, and the robot rolled in hot pursuit. Despite the odds, he launched a Strike Raid; predictably, it bounced off its shell without so much as a scratch.

To think he actually wanted some action, and to think that all the Heartless were hiding here of all places… Well, he got what he wanted, but at what cost? What’d happened to the Highwind? And what about his friends?

One thing was clear: he couldn’t keep running all day. Not with the robot rapidly closing in, and not with more Heartless pouring down from the treetops and cliffs. Though it’d leave him with one less means to fight back, Riku flung his weapon skyward again. He watched it stretch into Glider form, then clumsily tossed himself on board, taking off like a human bullet.

He rammed into the Heartless blocking his path, swerved between flying trees and laser assaults. All the while, glowing spots spread across the ground. Seemingly oblivious, the robot and Heartless trampled over the mines, and then…

BANG!

Smoke rose. Flames spread. Riku’s heart jumped, threatening to leap from his lips. The empty space around him shifted, and the comforting sight of a barrier wrapped around him and his Glider. Glittering hearts breached the smoky veil, but the low thunks of the robot’s footsteps persisted amidst the smog. Not wanting to give a head start, Riku blasted off again, but along the way, the bushes rustled. A red blur blew past him just as the robot emerged, running circles around it and kicking up a breeze in the process.

“Dash?!” Riku spun back around just as he zipped atop a nearby rock and smirked at the giant monstrosity.

“Looking for me?” It responded by thrusting its claws at the rock, but he zipped away again. As if expecting this, the robot swung one of its legs across the ground, but its claws smashed against a last-second barrier.

Lasers from above signaled the arrival of more Heartless. Three subsequent shockwaves rattled the entire jungle. As Dash barreled beneath another one of the robot’s legs, Riku rammed his Glider into two descending Heartless. If it weren’t for the barriers between them, he would’ve grabbed the kid on the spot. Instead, a magnetic sphere ripped the Heartless away from the group and slowly dragged the robot closer until it dug its claws into the soil. But another Magnega spell plucked up nearby trees, flinging them into the robot’s path while Dash blazed underneath it and waved at a distant clump of bushes.

For a split second, Kairi poked her head up, but pressed her fingers to her lips before Riku could respond. After sharing a glance with Dash, he nodded and blasted toward his friend. As they fled, trees and boulders flew over their heads. Gritting his teeth, Riku wove between the incoming objects, rising falling, and swaying about. He followed Dash, taking a sharp right hand turn into the bushes just as the barrier faded.

The timing was perfect, as Kairi greeted him with a quick wave. Rather than wave back, he swooped down and pulled her onto the Glider. The barrier reformed moments later, and she blew a small sigh.

“So, how fast can this thing go?”

“I’ve just been winging it.” But faster was better, especially with Dash barreling ahead, waving and whistling for them to pick up the pace. So, shifting his weight on the board, Riku narrowed his eyes and focused. If they could just double their speed—

The Glider vibrated, then lurched forward so fast that both Riku and Kairi stumbled backwards, stopping only when Kairi extended her arm and used the barrier to prop them both up. Even then, the board spiraled around, steadying only when a tree zoomed swiftly toward the duo. A sharp turn to the left, and the movements straightened out. Zigzags became smooth curves, and they finally closed in on Dash.

“Whoa!” he said, slowing just enough to match the Glider’s pace. “Hey, wanna race to the cave?”

“But Riku doesn’t know where it is,” said Kairi.

“So? All he’s gotta do is try and keep up with me, and since I’m probably still faster—”

THUD.

Whatever that was, it didn’t sound good, so rather than entertain Dash’s competitive spirit, Riku willed the board to speed up again. It complied, thankfully with less explosive force than before. “Look, just show us where we need to go before that robot finds us!”

Though he pouted and moaned, Dash replied with, “Okay…”

Probably for the best, as the thuds grew louder and the sound of snapping wood followed soon after. Side by side, they blazed down the jungle path, slamming and blasting through straggling Heartless. In time, they reached the gaping mouth of a cave, set at the base of a rocky peak. Once more, the barrier faded, and the Glider drifted to a stop. From the moment they arrived, Helen barged out of the shadows, arms folded and practically steaming.

“Dashiell Robert Parr…”

“Mom, I—”

“If you’d let me finish, I can’t believe you ran off after I specifically told you to stay hidden.” Her words made Dash wince, though he didn’t talk back, and soon Helen’s frown flipped around, and she pulled him into a hug. “Do you know how worried I was?”

He bit his lip, brows briefly furrowing, but ultimately nodded in silence.

“You should know better than to chase after danger… but I’m glad you made it back safely.” She even patted his head for reassurance.

Though it wasn’t his place, Riku slid to the ground, inching closer, but not too close. “Hey, if it makes you feel any better, he was a big help with the robot.”

Hopping off the Glider, Kairi smiled down at Dash. “You should’ve seen him out there! That thing was throwing trees at us, and he dodged every single one.”

“Is that right?” Whispery laughter escaped her. “What a trooper…”

“You can say that again.” But while it was great to see that the others survived, one big question still remained. “So, what happened to the ship? I saw that explosion, but—”

“Ha!” Donald strutted out of the cave, winking and swishing his staff. “It was just a cover-up. All it took was a little magic—”

“And KABLOOEY!” said Goofy, springing out to meet the others. He chuckled and rubbed the tip of his nose. “Hope we didn’t worry ya.”

“You did.” He said it with a flat tone, but was quick to add, “But I’m no better. “

“You’re right,” said Kairi. “What if you’d gotten hit? Sure, you’ve got your armor to protect you, but…” She pulled both her hands over her chest, shutting her eyes and exhaling softly. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t complain. As soon as you left, the missiles stopped chasing us.”

Though she couldn’t see it, he grimaced and gulped. Sure, he’d seen it, but hearing his suspicions echoed back at him did little to ease the bubbling uncertainty spreading inside him.

Scratching his head, Goofy squinted and wrinkled his snout. “Ya think they were after Riku the whole time?”

He grimaced again, slowing his breathing in an attempt to cool off. “But it’s not like they’d know about me with that cloaking chip on, and even if they did, they’d only learn from the Organization.”

Hovering near the cave entrance, Violet poked her head outside. “And do they usually try to kill you?”

Donald moaned. “No, but they sure like cutting it close…”

“Too close,” said Helen, and after a moment, she slipped into the cave, waving for the others to follow. Luckily, a small fire gleamed at the heart of the cavern, casting a warm orange glow against the stony walls. Other than some crackling fire wood and a few bags off to the side, the cave appeared empty; no Gummi Ship in sight.

Helen sat down near one of the bags, and the others soon followed suit. She dug into the bag, concealing her eyes beneath a black mask. Afterwards, she gazed at Riku’s group, though it took a few moments before she spoke. “I don’t like where this is going. The missiles, the robot… Even if the Organization isn’t involved, Bob still is.”

Violet’s eyebrows flew up, and she scooted closer. “You don’t think he’s working for them…”

“Of course not, honey, but he might be in trouble.”

Dash sprung to his feet. “But this is dad we’re talking about!”

“And your father has a history of going too far.” Her hands balled up, and she strode toward the cave entrance, but stopped midway, shaking her head and turning back around. “All it’d take is one look at this place, and he’d try to stop it all of it by himself. And I don’t care how strong he is; even superheroes have limits.”

“And so do Keybearers.” Riku slumped against the wall, rubbing his brow so firmly it pinched more than it soothed. “Believe me, I tried hitting that robot with every spell I had. Nothing worked. Couldn’t even scratch it with my Keyblade…” It was too durable. Too resilient. Almost invincible, really. “Now, I don’t know about you guys, but I wouldn’t rig this place with explosives and killer robots unless I had something to hide.”

“Or something to gain.” Helen looked down, tapping her chin with her index finger, but soon deflated, shutting her eyes and sighing softly. “It’s too early to say, but I’m sure they know we’re here now, so we’ll have to be extra careful going forward.”

“Hmm…” Goofy stretched his neck out and brought a hand to his forehead, shuffling closer to the cave entrance. “Well, what if we lay low for a little while? I’d hate to leave Bob waitin’, but we’d probably be better off sneakin’ in when it’s darker, anyhow.”

Dash perked up. “So we’re gonna break into their hideout?”

Helen cut in. “No, Dash. I will. You and Violet need to stay here, where it’s safe.”

Though he tried to protest, Helen’s word was final. All it took was a single, hard stare for him to reluctantly settle down. For the time being, they’d wait it out. Without Sora, it was all they could do. Thankfully, the time passed without interruption, save for the persistent questioning of one overly curious kid.

“And you saw a real dragon?”

Riku chuckled. “Two, if you want to get technical. Both of them were witches. Shape shifters, I guess. One of them got the bright idea to kidnap seven princesses, spread endless darkness, and take over the whole universe.” He paused long enough to let his words sink in, failing to hide his smirk as Dash’s eyes drew even wider. At that point, he shrugged and carried on. “Well, it backfired, and now she’s toast. As for Mim… eh, she’s probably around. Maybe she even got over that cold.”

He looked around the cave, while a grin spread across his face. “Man, you guys are so lucky. Everything you do sounds like something out of a comic book or a movie, but it’s real! And you don’t even have to hide.”

“Well, don’t get too excited,” said Riku. “In case you forgot, we almost got shot down earlier. That robot tried to kill us, and that’s nothing new for me or my friends.” He looked toward the ceiling, shaking his head. “Honestly, we’d probably be better off with secret identities, but it’s too late for that now. There’s no separating us from our duties, and just by being with us, you’re putting yourselves at risk.”

And yet nothing had happened since they escaped the robot menace. The sun had vanished, the sky had blackened, and though Riku had poked his head outside a few times, not a single trace of twitching, white figures, glowing eyes, or metallic claws greeted him beyond the cave. It was almost as if their skirmish earlier was a dream, though he knew better than that.

At first, Dash stayed utterly quiet. He averted his eyes from Riku in favor of the shadows dancing on the walls. “But dad always acted like being a hero was great.”

“And sometimes it was,” said Helen, “but it also required us to take the whole city—sometimes even the whole world into account. Every day was a struggle not just to save the day, but to survive, and death was a very real possibility.”

“So… what happens if they find us?” said Violet.

“Then you’ll protect each other.”

“But I can’t—”

“Don’t say that!” said Kairi. “I’m sure you can pull it off.”

“Well…” Violet slid toward the fire, face wrinkling and straining. The air surrounding the fire rippled, taking on a vague purple tint, but it faded fast, and her head drooped like a wilting flower.

Still, Kairi plopped down beside her. “Hey, you came really close that time.”

“Not close enough.” Violet practically moaned her words.

“Silly. It’s all in how you look at it.” She pulled out her Keyblade, licking her lips and aiming at the fire. “See, whenever I use my magic, I like to visualize what I’m trying to do. Sometimes it takes a little focus, but…” Within seconds, a small, glassy sphere wrapped around the fire. “Well, you’d be surprised what you can do!”

The barrier soon faded, and she set her weapon aside. “So, why don’t you try again?”

“Mm… all right.” Wincing, she brought her hands close to the flames again. Her breathing staggered, but the air rippled again. A small, purple sphere wrapped around the fire, shifting and twitching, only to fade again, but while she slumped and sulked, Kairi offered a genuine smile, and Helen dropped down beside her.

“There you go, Vi. Just keep practicing, and you’ll have it down in no time!”

“…And you’re really okay with this?”

“Of course I am.” She looked to Dash, patting the ground beside her, and pulled out the two masks matching hers. “Put these on; your identity is precious. And no matter what happens tonight, I want you two to stay together. “

Dash nodded, and the two slipped their masks on. “So if a bad guy shows up, we can fight ‘em, right?”

Helen winced. “You can use your powers, but I want you to take this seriously. Remember, this isn’t like those Saturday morning cartoons. The people here won’t show mercy just because you’re children; they’ll kill you if they get the chance.”

“But we won’t give ‘em that chance!” Goofy scooped up his shield, holding it over his chest. “As captain of King Mickey’s royal knights, I promise you I’ll keep ‘em good ‘n safe, so you just on findin’ Bob and stoppin’ whoever’s running the place.”

Donald twirled his staff, then swept it toward the entrance. “It’ll probably be easier with a Keyblade, anyway. And you’re the only one with Sleep spells, Kairi, so I think you should go, too.”

It was a solid plan. Two Keybearers meant twice as much ground covered, assuming the place had locked doors. Sleep and Slow spells for guards, dark corridors for a quick escape. Combined with Helen’s prior hero experience, there was little reason to doubt. Thus, it wasn’t long before Riku, Kairi, and Helen left the safety of the cave behind. They stalked through the ferns, shrubs, and palms, concealed in shadow with only the light of the stars to guide them. As an extra precaution, both Riku and Kairi donned their armor, keeping their Keyblades tucked away, so not to attract unwanted Heartless.

Soon the greenery of the jungle shifted. Metal poles towered between the trees, carrying a long rail that wound toward the distant slopes. Lights shone from afar. The soft hum of an engine closed in, and Helen gave Riku and Kairi a quick glance before she crouched down and threw her arms up at the cart, stretching like rubber. She swung along as if each of her arms was a jungle vine, maneuvering between incoming trees. Not to get left behind, Riku plunged through a corridor, dropping atop the cart just as Helen swung to the top. Once Kairi escaped the portal, Riku pulled it shut, and the three leaned into each other for extra support.

When shadows passed from above, Kairi ducked down, tapping the window with her Keyblade. The man seated inside the cart tipped over, and Riku sank inside via another convenient portal. He flung the door open and nudged the man outside, dropping him to a third corridor while Kairi dived in and Helen shifted to the side. Hover crafts swooped over them, coasting into a docking bay; if they noticed anything strange, they failed to act, and the cart continued blasting through a tunnel.

A window to the right revealed the pointed tip of a giant, white rocket, but before Riku could lean in for a closer look, they blazed past it, greeted once again by the tunnel’s dark walls. There was a soft thud from behind, and when Riku looked again, Helen’s figure rapidly shrank away. He looked to Kairi, who offered a nod, and, taking her hand, pulled her through another portal. They escaped just in time to catch the tail end of another cart shooting past them, while Helen pushed away from the wall.

Together, they crept toward the window. Below, armed men dressed in bluish grey uniforms and visors stood watch before the rocket. Said rocket was currently divided into two large pieces, with a distinct, spherical hole at its center. Mutters from a radio signal reached the ledge, though the words were too muddled to make out anything coherent. For the first few minutes, the trio stood watch, though at first the guards remained motionless. Eventually, however, a set of metal doors slid open. Two replacement guards emerged from within, and the first two vanished down the hall.

Kairi then drew her Keyblade, aiming it toward the replacements. Though the window softened the bleating that followed, the guards soon collapsed on the floor, and Riku moved in, pressing a hand to the glass. Shadows spewed, shifted, and spread. He stuck his head through the corridor, spotting the dozing guards just a few yards away. Slowly, he sidled inside, waving a hand at the others. They nodded and proceeded in single file. As they moved, Helen stretched an arm out, snatching a small card from one of the dozing guards and slipping into the nearby slot.

The hall stretched on and on, shaped like a giant cylinder with pale blue lights running parallel to each other on metallic rings running along the ceiling and walls. The path forked left and right at numerous doors and narrow paths. Distant doors hummed and clicked. Light thudding carried from the end of the hall, and Helen flung herself onto the ceiling, stretching along the metal bar that ran down the center. Without any large objects to duck behind, he pressed his back flat against the wall, but Kairi crept further, poking her head around the corner. She raised her Keyblade again, and…

Baaa…

The men grunted, then collapsed on the floor. Helen swung down from the ceiling, and Riku sauntered close behind. While Helen slipped the key card into the next terminal, Riku opened a portal beneath the dozing guards. Helen, however, took a quick turn around, stretching her legs and squinting; a camera hung above, and she drew her arm back, sending it flying like a rock launched from a slingshot. The lens shattered. Sparks flew. They continued through the door, applying similar techniques. Helen would slink from above. Kairi’d blast the guards with Sleepga, and they’d punch out nearby cameras before progressing further.

At first, it all went smoothly, until bullets blasted down the hallway. Gasping, Helen ducked and stretched. The bullets bounced off Riku and Kairi’s armor, and Helen flung herself behind the men kicking their backs and punching their lights out. Another corridor opened beneath the guards. Helen dashed toward the next terminal, but before she got in reach, the air buzzed. Bright blue lasers flashed to life midway to the door. If that wasn’t bad enough, the walls buzzed and clicked. Panels shifted. Turrets emerged, bombarding the trio with relentless laser fire.

Winds whipped the blasts, shoving them back at the guns. Helen dropped down and did the splits, then tumbled across the floor and punched out two more turrets. Though one door was blocked behind a laser barrier, the hall forked again, to the right and left. Dashing through open fire, Riku and Kairi bashed their way through turrets. She ran to the left, he dashed to the right, but both paths ended with two more laser barricades. And just to add to the frustration, black spheres twisted above their heads, dropping Heartless clad in sleek white armor, claws sparking and teeth snapping.

They dived at Riku, firing lightning from their claws, but he lifted his Keyblade at the last second, then spun into his attackers, shoving them against the laser wall. They twitched and shrieked, flying back on their feet, but he swiftly retaliated by blasting them with icy projectiles.

He took a look over his shoulder just in time to catch an eruption of smoke rising hearts. Dizzying white flashes assaulted his eyes as Kairi’s light culled their attackers. At the same time, Helen wove between slashes and electrical assaults, retaliating with elastic kicks and punches.

Between attacks, Riku gave a nod of approval. “Nice moves.”

“And you’re not too shabby yourselves.”

They beat their way through the attackers until the hall cleared. However, the lasers remained, and while Riku and Kairi leveled their Keyblades in hopes to unlock the path, the mechanisms refused to comply. Instead, Helen slunk toward one of the smaller doors, whistling for the others to follow. Between the two Keyblades, the door opened without a hitch, leading into a dark room with a slight reddish tint, with a control panel spreading from wall to wall. Graphs showcased bright orange bars and a map showcasing a rounded room. Another map listed areas such as the docking bay, holding cell, launch pad, and control center…

Helen inputted some keystrokes. A beep followed, then silence. Curious, Riku peered outside; the lasers vanished, leaving a clear path to the next door. Kairi squeezed in beside him, then beamed at Helen.

“Wow! I didn’t know you could hack.”

Helen breathed a gentle laugh. “It’s not hacking so much as pressing the right buttons. If you look closely, you’ll see different windows for each piece of the security system, so if we want a smooth trip to the holding cell…” She tabbed between windows and entered a few more keystrokes. “That should hold us for a little while.”

“So, next stop’s the cell?” said Riku.

“Well, I can’t imagine they’d let Bob have his run of the place. Though, let’s see…” She wandered over to another one of the maps, squinting. “Might be worth stopping by the control center, just to see what they’re up to.”

Kairi frowned, face slightly downturned. “It’d be easier with Sora, but I’m sure we can pull it off. We’ll just have to be—”

“Flexible?” Helen chuckled. “I think I can manage.”

x.x.x

This was not how Donald expected to spend his night. Bad enough that Dash had wandered off to explore the cave despite him repeatedly telling the kid to settle down. Sure, Goofy had gone with him, but when he’d come bolting down the cave screaming wildly, a red flag instantly went up in his mind. The sudden rush of heat, the gushing fire… well, at least they’d had time to bolt outside as the cave belched an incinerating blast. A rocket had burst from the tip of a distant mountain. Just what the heck was going on?

They didn’t get the chance to ask, let alone dwell, before hover crafts descended on them, with propellers spinning like saw blades. Men in visors aimed guns at their chests. Caped Heartless hovered in place, eyes glowing bright. Armor-clad Heartless holding hammers beat at their chest, joined by slender Heartless in white armor. Within seconds, bullets flew through the air, but Goofy flung himself into their path, deflecting them with his shield. Meanwhile, Donald surrounded the whole group in an enormous whirlwind that swept up the next round of bullets and scattered them through the jungle.

While Donald held up his defenses, Violet locked eyes with Dash. “Hey, remember what mom said!”

“I’m on it.” In fact, he burst through the Aeroga shield, tearing down the jungle path. The guards shouted to each other, then pursued on their hover crafts, but Donald had other ideas.

He raised his staff. Sparks crackled around the tip, but just as he prepared to unleash a storm of lightning, red streaks flew in from the left, and he yelped, lunging outta the way just in time to cash one of the caped Heartless swooping at his side.

“Back off!” he snapped, lighting its cape ablaze. Shrieking, the Heartless flailed about, and when Goofy’s shield smashed its head, it slammed right into another one of the propellers, sliced into shadowy shreds.

Sadly, the hover crafts pursuing Dash were long gone, and several more swept over the clearing, guns aimed and at the ready. This time, however, Donald dashed behind a rock. The lightning surged so bright, its flash drowned out the entire jungle for a second. Smoke followed, joined by screams and gasps. Cackling, Donald struck again. Then again! That’d serve ‘em right!

He might’ve gotten too carried away, though, as a shadow descended over him. Claws slashed across his back, then flung him into the air. There was a blue flash, followed by pain. So much pain. He twitched and screamed, blindly swinging his staff like a club. It smashed into something hard—a helmet? Heck if he knew, but he soon crashed into one of the bushes just as guns clicked and red dots gathered down his front.

He was about to utter another spell, but he wasn’t fast enough. The bullets blazed, but at the last second, the air flashed purple, and he heaved a heaping sigh. Eyes darting, he looked for Violet, but she was nowhere to be seen. Probably invisible. He’d save the thanks for later, and instead chose to drag the ships down with a healthy dose of gravity, smashing them into the treetops, the rocks, and the Heartless gathering below. He couldn’t keep this up forever, but if he could just slow them down…

Gulping, he took a step forward, wrapping the force field with a layer of wind. “Goofy, get the ship! We’re gonna need it.”

x.x.x

They’d come a long way. The holding cell must’ve been close, as the number of guards escalated the deeper they fought until, at last, the air cleared. The once cramped hallways opened up, blue shifting to pale white. The air was odorless; stagnant, and even the smallest of footsteps made a soft clink. Even so, the three continued to tip toe along, looking back a few times just in case Heartless dropped by. They didn’t, but up ahead, a figure appeared. Tall, slender, with silver hair that reached the small of her back, she pulled out a key card not unlike those of the guards.

As soon as Helen laid eyes on her, her face crumpled up. She crept ahead of the others, arms stretching, and pulled the woman back, cupping a hand over her mouth to muffle her sudden yelp.

“All right,” said Helen, words practically ablaze. “I want you to tell me exactly what’s going on here.”

The woman’s pupils shrank, and she pried Helen’s hand away. “You… You must be Mrs. Incredible.” She paused, shifting and turning her head as far as she could. “And the Keybearers, correct?”

Though it was impossible to read her expression from beneath her helmet, Kairi still brought a hand to her mouth, allowing Riku to fill in the blanks. “Wait, how much do you know about us? And are you the one behind this?”

“No, but I’m… close to this operation.” This only served to deepen Helen’s glare, but the woman didn’t flinch. “Listen, we don’t have much time! Syndrome and Lexaeus already know you’re here; they could be listening at this very moment.”

But listening how? Tensing, Riku was just about to ask, but Helen spoke before he got the chance.

“Syndrome…” Perhaps with a touch of reluctance, Helen withdrew her hold on the woman. “And is he your boss?”

“Yes.” The woman looked away, slowly rising to her full height, which rivaled even Riku’s. “Mr. Incredible is right behind this door. I can help free him—”

Helen crossed her arms, leaning close. “And why should we trust you?”

“Because I know what Syndrome is capable of, and how little he values human lives…” Whether the others trusted or not, she slipped her card into the slot. The doors opened, and she led them inside where, true to her word, Bob hung in the air, suspended by an ovular machine with his hands and feet encased in metallic orbs held by electrified chains.

Brushing past the woman, Helen scrambled toward the machine. “Bob!”

Where before he hung limp, he immediately looked up, eyes threatening to burst from their sockets. “H-Helen?! You’re alive…”

“And so are your children,” said the woman, “at least for the time being…”

“Hold up!” said Riku. “How do you even know about the kids?” They were hidden on the ship, and while Dash did out himself earlier, the others stayed hidden in the cave, didn’t they? Unless there were cameras buried under the rocks, there was just no way…

The woman cringed, averting her eyes again as she strolled to the nearby control panel. She pressed a green button, and the machinery unlocked, dropping Bob onto his knees. “There’s… a lot that we know, about you. We know your friends, your capabilities…”

A deep, booming voice carried across the room. “But that is not your secret to share.”

Riku spun around, gawking when his eyes fell on a behemoth of a man. He wore an all too familiar black clothes, his face built like a box, and his hair wiry and brown. He carried a thick, red weapon in his enormous hand, like a sword crossed with a battleaxe. “Leave this place, Mirage, and perhaps I will keep this insubordination between the two of us. As it is, I have no reason to harm you.”

Mirage backed into the controls, clutching her hands tightly together, but as Bob climbed to his feet, he offered a small smile.

“It’s all right. We’ll take it from here.”

Briefly, she returned his smile, but it ended as soon as it began, and she hurried through the door. Once she left, Lexaeus lumbered nearer.

“I had hoped she would free you. It will make this fight far more interesting.” He raised his axe sword, and Bob cracked his knuckles.

Helen looked to him, then spread her feet apart, hands balled up and arms bent. “Well, honey. You got what you asked for.”

“We can talk about this later,” he said, drawing a short breath. “Right now, it’s show time.”

He charged across the floor like a raging bull, but Lexaeus drove his mighty weapon down, shaking the room in a titanic tremor. Everyone, save Lexaeus, wobbled and staggered and teetered about, and Lexaeus flung his axe sword like a boomerang, sending it twirling all across the cell. Gasping, Riku dropped down to the floor, while Helen’s arms stretched out, and she flung the blade back at Lexaeus’ chest. He caught it effortlessly, swinging at Bob’s waist as he blew in for a punch. Bob sidestepped, then threw all his weight into Lexaeus’ back. The blow sent him skidding toward a wall, but he swiftly retaliated by slamming his weapon into Bob’s gut.

Like Lexaeus, Bob merely skidded back, and while the two exchanged blows, Helen flipped behind him, launching a fist at his left temple. Sharing a silent glance, Riku and Kairi leaped backwards in unison. The tips of their Keyblades began to glow. Waves of white bullets sailed through the air, joined by smoky black salvos that assaulted Lexaeus like cannon fire. The first few blasts struck his front, making him grunt and groan. Helen hit him with an uppercut but just as she pulled back for another punch, the floor trembled again. Thick, floating stones burst from the metal floor, swirling and shoving Helen, Bob, and the next wave of Shotlock blasts clear across the room.

Rushing forward, Kairi twirled her Keyblade. Bob and Helen’s descent slowed as they drifted toward a small, magnetic sphere, then gently landed on the floor. She immediately followed this up by firing a wall of glowing pillars directly at a diving Lexaeus. Her Holy spell slowed his approach, but while he staggered slightly, he continued to draw near. Another, larger Magnega spell flashed into his path, but he smashed through it, and the dome spreading over his head shattered seconds after it formed.

“Return to the earth!”

He struck the ground again, but where before the room shook, jagged stones tore through the floor in rapid succession. Cringing beneath his helmet, Riku dashed, tumbled, and sprinted away from the pursuing spikes, but they continued to trail him, rising up in front, then to his right, then to his left. He started shooting across the floor in successive Sonic Blades, but even then, the rocks persisted. However, Bob took a different approach altogether, pummeling his way through the stones. He lunged at Lexaeus, throwing his arms at Lexaeus’ middle. At the last second, Lexaeus sprung up, then drove his weapon over Bob’s head. However, the rocks briefly stopped, giving Riku a brand new opening.

He exhaled, then flew across the floor, ramming a total of three times before Lexaeus smacked him back with one swing of his blade. As Riku sailed through the air, Helen’s arms stretched out again, she grabbed Riku around the waist, then tossed him back at the menacing Nobody. Using the momentum to his advantage, Riku extended his arm. Blue flames swelled in his palm. Behind Lexaeus, a strip of mines began to glow. His axe sword whirled at Riku, but a surprise torrent of wind smacked it off course. Dark Firaga pelted his cheeks, neck, and torso, and he slid directly onto the minefield.

BANG.

When the smoke cleared, Lexaeus stood perfectly straight. What’s more, a golden aura surrounded him, and his once stoic features gave way to a faint smirk. Though Kairi’s Keyblade crashed into his forehead, he didn’t flinch. The subsequent lightning strike simply scattered sparks, and when Bob and Helen rushed at his sides, he spun in a circle, knocking them both back, then followed it up by striking the floor two more times. Circular shockwaves spread, followed by spiky stones. Kairi and Riku both kicked off the floor, flipping over the attack, only to duck when his axe sword flew at their necks.

“Your fighting spirit is commendable,” he said, scattering sharp, rocky projectiles through the air. They ricocheted off barriers. Ticking started, then immediately stopped. Sheep bleated, silenced in seconds, and Lexaeus flew into the air, then dived at Riku, who warped behind and twirled into his back, first with black smoke spewing from his blade, then a glimmer of white light. Still, the attack failed to shake him. He grabbed Riku’s leg and flung him at Kairi, though he flipped upright and warped behind her, cushioning his fall with a windy blast.

He shrugged off Bob’s tackles, and grabbed Helen’s arm, flinging her at her husband when he rushed in for another attack. “You should know that Syndrome has already located your children and is in the process of apprehending them, if he hasn’t killed them outright.”

Bob froze up ,face reddening, forehead wrinkling, and back arching. He charged for another attack. Lexaeus sidestepped and struck from behind. As he tumbled toward the floor, Riku warped behind Lexaeus, encasing his feet with blocks of ice and launching a Strike Raid at his back.

“So, how does he know?” His words were hot, seething, but he suppressed the urge to shout. “And what about the missiles? How did you even find us?”

Gasping, Kairi sprinted beside him, though for now she stayed quiet. Seconds later, Lexaeus shattered the ice at his feet and slowly turned.

“Troubling, isn’t it? By all accounts, it should be impossible. After all, your ship is fully functional, including the cloaking device.” He swiveled around, catching Helen’s hand again before she could sneak another punch. He said something to her, but the words failed to register. Ice seeped into Riku’s veins. His hand clamped around his Keyblade’s hilt, but his body refused to budge.

So the chip worked. But how’d Lexaeus even know? Had the Organization discovered it before? And even if they had, Lexaeus was right; it should’ve been impossible… yet somehow, this Syndrome found a way to track them down. And not just the ship, but the cave and their friends…

Though he refused to look to the others, he said, rather snappily, “Forget this. Your family’s more important.”

Kairi moved closer, leaning over his shoulder. “We should all go, Riku.”

“No.” He forced himself to look up, pointing his Keyblade directly at Lexaeus. “I’m not leaving until I get a straight answer.” It was reckless, no doubt about it. Lexaeus had already proven his strength, and without Helen and Bob to boost their numbers, an already uphill battle would loom over them like a mountain. Sure, they’d fought plenty of tough foes. And yeah, they could probably succeed together, but that didn’t make him blind to the risks.

Frowning deeply, Helen lingered y the door. “Are you sure you can handle him alone?”

“It’s fine!” Again, his words came out more scathing than intended. “Besides, he couldn’t kill us if he wanted to.”

Though she and Bob hesitated a moment longer, they soon rushed out the door. The lull in the battle lingered even after they left, though Lexaeus hoisted his weapon up again and bent down as if he was about to charge. Riku didn’t give him the chance before he flew at the Nobody, glowing bright blue. He dashed and rammed and sliced and slammed. Flames trailed up his coat from behind, followed by a round of Pearl spells, yet for some reason, Lexaeus chuckled.

Both Riku and Kairi backed away. For some reason, Lexaeus chuckled. A soft hum carried through the air. A blue flash flooded the chamber. When Lexaeus trampled toward him, Riku grasped his chest and prepared to warp.

He failed, and Lexaeus’ blade smacked him toward the ceiling. Though Riku flipped forward, wind failed to gush from his Keyblade. No magnetic field pulled him back to the ground. He smashed into the ceiling, then dropped to his knees, a wave of pain tearing through his body, though he soon threw himself upright again.

“You should have taken the princess’ advice.” Lexaeus smashed the floor again. Rocks flew toward Riku’s face. He tumbled away, but his body remained solid; an ordinary dodge roll, darkness not included. Yet Lexaeus continued to rattle the room undeterred. Between shockwaves and stalagmites, he sent his axe sword flying. Though Riku and Kairi retaliated with Strike Raids, he brushed off each hit.

The golden aura around him soon turned red. Lexaeus rushed at Riku, but Kairi took his hand, pulling him aside.

“I know you want answers, Riku, but I’m not gonna let you get hurt when neither one of us can heal.”

“But how? Unless he knows Silence, this shouldn’t be happening!” Still, when Lexaeus took another plunge, Riku dived across the floor. Rolling between two erupting rocks, Kairi hurried after him.

“Does it really matter? Right now, we’re outmatched.”

“So you’ve given up? How disappointing.” He dived at the duo, and though they leaped away, the shuddering ground sent them tumbling right into the paths of exploding rocks. Each chunk clattered against their armor, knocking them off balance. Lexaeus’ axe sword slammed into them both, and they crashed into a wall. The doors clicked open, and Riku flung his feet forward, grabbing Kairi’s hand and trying to dash toward the exit.

His feet remained glued to the floor. Rocks gushed up in front of them again, and they split off in different directions, only to be greeted clad in a black suit marked with a big, white S, a blue keep that stretched down to his knees, wild red hair, and a black face mask. He snickered and raised his index finger, striking Riku with a beam of blue light. Though he tried to struggle, his body remained motionless, and the man hoisted Riku into the air, followed by Kairi.

“Not so high and mighty now, are you?” With a wave of his arm, the man slammed Riku into the wall. He would’ve grunted or screamed if he could, but his body remained suspended as the man repeated the process with Kairi, then smacked the two together. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Even with those Keyblades, you’re just like any other super. Without your powers, you’re weak.”

He slammed them against the floor, then the ceiling, then each other again. With each subsequent impact, the room began to rock, then blur. Everything wobbled. Riku’s head throbbed.

“Oh, and it’s not magic that weakened you, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He turned around. Smashed Riku against another wall. Room started blurring, blackening, then clearing, then brightening. Hard to stay focused. “So, whaddaya think?”

“It’s more impressive than I expected,” said Lexaeus.

“That’s what I thought. And as for you two…” He pulled them closer, grin widening. Maybe. Hard to tell. “Well, sleep tight.”

All it took was one more impact, and everything faded to black.

TO BE CONTINUED