Stronghold: New Beginnings.

Chapter 13:

Power down.

“So, we managed to bring down the snipers, but how are we getting inside without getting noticed?” said Jake as we climbed the pipeline. “Best if you don't talk, Jake. We're climbing a pipeline here, and it's quite hard to do while speaking to each other. Besides, I've got a plan.” I said at the top of the pipeline.

“Watch this.” Were my exact words as I put my hands on the concrete roof we stood on. I concentrated on the source of energy inside the building, which was immense. I then drained it all, leaving the only power left for the elevators, electricity becoming visible as it ran along my arm. Then, the electricity vanished from around my arm as I heard metal thumping coming from the stairs. The door then slammed open, and Pony-robotron stuck it's head out the door. He got ready, then charged. I shot, but the thing was fast, so I relaxed myself. Then, at the last second, I punched the robot with an electrifying punch―literally.

Pony-robotron exploded, shattering into millions of little pieces of shrapnel. “Come on.” I said to Jake. “Hold on a sec, will you?” said Jake as he got his things together, trying to put his ninja mask on while I ran down the stairs. “Okay, Shinobi. Just make sure you got those C4's ready, okay? As soon as we're done, we're blowing the place sky high.” And I ran down the steps.

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“Ooh, I see someone up ahead, by the battery core. Let's stealth-kill him.” “Are you intentionally trying to act like Deadpool?” But, I decided to do it anyway. I took out my katanas, and tip-toed to the guy ahead. I poked him in the shoulder, ducked when he turned, and stuck my swords in his head from under the chin. I then ripped his face in half with the swords as I pulled them out. “Gotta admit, Deadpool was right. It is pretty cool to stealth-kill.” I said as I sheathed my katanas. “Maybe you could let me do it next time?” Asked Jake. “Sure.”

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“I'm wondering right now why the snipers and that dude I killed were  human. Do you think...do you think maybe some people survived?” I asked. “If some people survived, then that means we're not the only ones-besides Reggie-alive, right? That's a good thing, right Jake?” “I don't know, to be honest with you. What if the blast traumatized their memory, or something? You can never be too sure.” said Jake.

I still hoped he was wrong though, because if some people did survive, then maybe Alisa was alive, or something. You never know. After all, Reggie could have possibly resuscitated Alisa. I understand I'm married now, but that doesn't mean I can give up on Alisa, right? “Let's go through this vent, here. It should take us to the monitor room, if I'm correct.” I said, opening the vent above the ladder.

I went in, then grabbed Jake's arm, pulling him in after me. The vent had a lot of space, so it was easy to move freely. Twenty minutes later, we reached a vent opening that showed...the monitor room. I saw no one in there, so I punched the vent opening open, and went to the computer. I decided to put my tech skills to use, and hacked into the computer footage. I brought up a piece of footage from the night before, and set it to loop for the remainder of the night.

“That was easy. Now, we can easily pass through that hallway when we head out.” I then climbed back into the vent, and crawled along. I stopped, and turned right. “Where are we going now?” Jake whispered. “To the room of the Changelings. I learned from your girlfriend's files that Chrysalis is Queen of the Changelings. I'm gonna take out her subjects.” I whispered back. “Oh.” After that, we reached a hole that went down into the Changeling chamber.

I took out a C4, jumped down the hole, and planted it on the ground. I pressed a few buttons, and the red light went on. “C4 securely planted. Coming back up.” I glided up using electricity, and grabbed on to the ledge ahead of Jake. I got up on the vent ledge, and continued to crawl until I reached another hole that went down. I jumped down, then got Jake to come down as well. We were in the room with the monitors. I shocked the hallway, shattering the cameras. The looped video was on, so the cameras were useless to them.

I ran across the hall, and opened the door to the courtyard. I jumped, boosted myself up off a few bricks, and grabbed a pipeline running across. I got on top of it, and ran along it. I reached the end, and looked to my right. There was a window ledge, and I grabbed it. As soon as I did, I heard footsteps headed towards the window. I crouched on the pipeline underneath the window, and waited until the footsteps reached the ledge. I looked up, and saw a gun barrel sticking out the window.

I grabbed the barrel, tugged real hard, and watched the sniper fall two five feet down. He landed with a thud, and I saw his arm and leg land in different areas. “Damn, that's gonna hurt. Good thing I ended his misery.” I said as I shot him six times with electricity (the fourth, fifth and sixth time was to check). I grabbed the ledge from behind, and somersaulted into the hallway. I made myself static, and stuck to the wall. I crawled along, and stopped in front of an elevator, and waited. I only drained light, not power in general.

A Hench-colt came out from the elevator, wide-eyed, and said “Hey...who turned out the lights?” Before I dropped down from the ceiling and twirled while holding his head, instantly snapping his neck. “Sorry, mind if I borrow your elevator?...I didn't think so.” I then went in the elevator, and lit my arms with electricity. I saw the buttons clearly, now. I pressed 4f, and had to deal with listening to the Muzak that described what I've been attempting to do; Stayin' alive.

Finally, I heard a 'ding' as the door opened to reveal a ton of Changelings. I grabbed on to the ceiling with static again, and planted another C4. “Jake, I have officially planted the second C4.” I said to Jake on the walkie talkie. “I'm going to capture Reggie and Chrysalis, first. Then, I'll plant the final C4. If I don't come back in the next twenty minutes, that means I'm dead, and you must therefore detonate the C4's. Do you understand?”

“―Copy That―” Said the tinny voice from Jake.

“Good.” I said. “The twenty minutes starts now.” I immediately got in the elevator, and pressed 5f. I heard the song 'New york, New york' and halfway through hearing the second verse, the 'ding' went off again, and it revealed the hallway. I walked along the hallway, and checked every room (which was easy, since the doors to each room was open). Finally, I reached these huge doors-painted a rich green color with golden door knockers-and peaked through the slight opening in the door;

Reggie looked tense, sitting up on the edge of the bed. Chrysalis, obviously not happy, got up and whispered in his ear that nothing was wrong. Then Reggie said that he believed her, then lied about saying he was up to get the baby to go back to sleep. Reggie got up, and walked up to the baby crib. The baby started to cry (I could understand why, with an ugly face like Reggie's). Reggie scooped up the baby, and rocked him to sleep, singing a lullaby so intoxicating I almost fell asleep.

The baby instantly fell asleep, thumb in mouth, and Reggie put him back in the crib. He smiled, a genuine smile, and went to bed. He blew out the candle, threw it out in the garbage next to him, and went to bed. I spoke into the walkie talkie, whispering to Jake that there was a baby in the targets room. He understood, and said to get the baby first, give it to him, then acquire the targets. I agreed, then became a soft yet powerful wind. I floated beneath the baby, lifting him, and flew down to Jake.

He grabbed the baby, and I went back to the great doors, turning to normal again. I flattened, slid between the doors, and popped back into regular shape. I took Reggie, and slid him out of bed. I woke up Chrysalis though, and I didn't realize this until I had a knife to my throat.