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Chapter 34 Returning Home

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“You certainly look a different Crisis, it is Crisis, isn’t it?” ask Chaos Croc as he stands before a small trans-dimensional gate, one about a fifth the size that Crisis used in the invasion of the faux Neo Robia.

“I wanted a new look for the new me,” replies Crisis as she walks up to Chaos Croc. Crisis looks similar to what she did before, with her green metallic claws and feet and her lovely shade of blue shins that reflects light as she walks which match the color of forearms. Her forearms still hide the dangerous electro-blades. Right before two smooth around belly sections meet up and flow over each other, her Crisis blue sickle claw symbol. The front of her belly has a series of darker green plated metal that looks a bit like belly scales. Her green chest plate complete with two round mound breasts are nicely shined, her shoulder spikes are gone replaced by a blue boarder and solid black upside down triangle with smooth edges. Crisis looks at Croc with her glowing blue gaze as her blue gem and three feathered crest is back in all its glory, including her semi flowing solid metal ‘hair’ style.

“What do you think?” asks Crisis.

“Would look better in a maid outfit,” replies Croc with a smirk.

“Of course you’d say that,” sighs Crisis as she looks at the group around here, only to see Hanna and Chaos Croc himself waiting by the gate, “That everyone?” asks Crisis.

“We don’t need a big team but a good team. Scot has already moved on ahead though.”

“Has he now? And what is he doing?”

“You’ll see,” replies Croc with a sly smile, “You ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” replies Crisis.

“Excellent,” says Croc as he uses a hand gesture to turn on the gate as it turns on with the same liquid portal as before. The three machines step through the gate and find themselves in a garage with two of Croc’s organic soldiers guarding the gate. The garage itself looks rather dusty and rusted with the exception of the gate itself and the equipment to run it.

“Welcome back Master Croc,” asks a female fox.

“All preparations have been made,” reports a male raccoon.

“Excellent, where do we meet our informant?” asks Croc.

“Directions are here,” says the fox as she hands Croc a note.

“Excellent. Now we don’t have much time, we have to move,” states Croc as the three machines exit out of old white chipped paint wooden side door.

“This is the suburbs just outside the capital,” notes Crisis as she looks around, the sound of helicopters rumbling out in the distance.

“Indeed, and there are patrols throughout the area to keep the peace for today’s ceremony,” explains Croc.

“What ceremony?” asks Crisis. The three machines quickly hide in some nearby bushes as a humvee manned by three organic raptors drive down the street, the third raptor mans a heavy caliber machine gun.

“The liberation and re-opening of your nation’s capital, thousands who plan to move back into the capital have come to join in to watch the ceremony, and the military parade.”

“Why am I not surprised there is a military parade, to show the return of our nation’s strength and grandeur to our nation,” replies Crisis.

“Exactly and sometime tomorrow is when the general will have the ability to activate my mass hypnosis machine.”

“No doubt, he won’t wait long to use it,” replies Crisis as she looks over the bush and sees the humvee turn down a corner and out of site, “All clear we can continue.”

“Excellent, we have to move quickly.”

“Where are we going?”

“To meet my informant who will help us get close enough to execute my plan,” explains Croc as the group moves closer to the city but towards the industrial district, where there is less air and ground patrols. They go into a half bombed out construction site, the sight of the steel I-beam skeleton of the buildings brings a shiver down Crisis’ spine.

“I hate I-beams,” growls Crisis.

“I wonder why,” chuckles Croc as a bullet lands right in front of them kicking up a small cloud of dust. Croc holds up his hand and says, “Don’t run, just stay still.”

“You crazy? We’re were just shot at!” exclaims Crisis.

“Yes but if you notice it was shot via a silencer as to not to draw attention, and I was told this is how we’d know we’d reach our destination,” explains Croc

“You could have warned me.”

“And ruin the surprise,” replies Croc with a sly smirk as small black something floats down towards the group with small parachute. The device lands lightly before the group and Croc quickly picks it up, revealing the device to be a small walkie-talkie, “Hello, Croc here… yes… yes… alright if you want,” says Croc as he talks on device before handing it over to Crisis, “It’s for you.”

“Alright…” replies Crisis as she takes the walkie-talkie.

“What the hell are you doing with Chaos Croc?!” exclaims a robotic voice.

“Ruby? Is that you?” asks Crisis.

“Yes it’s me and you have some explaining to do,” she replies.

“Alright but is it safe to talk on this?”

“It’s a coded short range transmission; no one is range to even pick up this transmission.”

“Okay.”

“Now tell me why you are with Croc.”

“It’s a long story.”

“Start explaining, start with what happened when you left to see General Raszer. For I’ve heard a few things. I want to hear your story Karrie.”

“It is a long story…”

“Well we’re not going to move forward till you tell.”

“Alright,” replies Crisis as she goes over the story from when she confronted general Raszer to when the I-beam fell onto her, where she suddenly found herself reborn in Croc’s lab and that her two halves had a chat.

“What do you mean your two halves had a chat?” asks Ruby.

“Karrie and the original Crisis worked through their issues, and the command 83 that the bastard General Raszer put in me,” explains Crisis as a few moments pass before Ruby speaks again.

“What does that mean exactly?”

“Karrie and Crisis became one in the same, me.”

“And who is me?”

“Crisis, Karrie decided that since her original body was no longer around, and so many people knew me as Crisis that I should keep the name. Karrie and the original Crisis were two parts of the same person, which is me. Neither one is gone, but they aren’t separate anymore. It’s merely me,” explains Crisis as a few more moments pass before Ruby replies.

“How can I be certain it’s you?”

“You can’t be. I’m not even certain of that. It is a difficult thing for me to come to terms with it, but I can’t let it eat at me, I have to move forward and do what must be done.”

“And do you really trust Chaos Croc to keep whatever word he has given you?”

“Honestly no.”

“Hey now!” exclaims Croc.

“Like you didn’t know,” replies Crisis as she gives a glare.

“Yeah, but I don’t like to be told it to my face.”

“I didn’t say it to your face; I said it right beside you,” chuckles Crisis before she returns to her other conversation, “And to continue answering your question Ruby. What choices did I have? Not do anything? Let Raszer make the world in his twisted image? Let Croc try to stop him and let him take over the planet, undoing all the work we’ve done, hell no. If I at least do something there is a chance as slim as it may be that something besides those two options happen.”

“Are you saying you’re going to betray me when we get to the facility?” asks Croc.

“I didn’t say that, but I think you need me Croc. The reason you brought me was because people on my side wouldn’t help you without me,” explains Crisis as Croc gives a foul glare.

“You know I liked the let Croc win plan the best,” giggles Hanna as she gives a playful smile her reply not heard by Ruby on the walkie-talkie as she replies.

“One more thing Crisis.”

“What is it?”

“What happened to Joshua and Sasha?”

“They’re…. both dead. All thanks to me, if I didn’t attack Raszer as I said earlier they wouldn’t have been drawn into that situation and—killed…”

“How were they killed?”

“I really don’t feel like talking about it…”

“It’s important; I like to know what happened to them… from you.”

“Sasha was shot trying to help me fight Francis. Francis had this gun that when it hits you the bullet explodes and he got Sasha with it.”

“What about Joshua?” asks Ruby as Crisis pauses for a moment.

“Joshua… he was stabbed by General Raszer. I rushed to try to save him but it was a trap and they dropped an I-beam on the both of us. My memory ends abruptly there, but I think you can imagine the details.”

“It seems you are quite possibly Karrie… Crisis or whatever you say you are right now. I’d find it hard to believe that Croc make you with memories like that on purpose to fool me,” responds Sasha with a grin as she approaches the group. Sasha is dressed in a camouflaged military uniform, her trusty sniper rifle in her brown scaled claws as her yellow slit pupil eyes look at the group.

“Sasha… but… how… I saw the blood… and…” stammers Crisis.

“Yes you did, you saw the blood of the bullet splatter on the nearby plastic sheeting, which looked far worse than it actually did. The bullet hit right below my shoulder and just grazed my shoulder bone before exiting and exploding,” explains Sasha.

“But how did it not blow your arm off? Or you part machine now?”

“Hardly!” chuckles Sasha, “Those bullets explode after hitting something hard, like bone or metal. Lucky for me that bullet hit neither while inside of my body, though it does cause an inch and a half wide exit hole. Hurt like a mother fucker,” explains Sasha as she moves her arm a bit, “Still sore. I technically should still be in the hospital but I didn’t want Raszer to have that close of a watch on me.”

“How did you survive? How did you escape the base?”

“I walked out of course.”

“Walked out?” asks Crisis with a perplexed look on her face, her metallic tail twitching at the comment.

“Like this…” says Sasha as her serious demeanor changed to ecstatic and joyful, “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! Thank you General Raszer for defeating Crisis. She had me under her mind control ever since I was hospitalized!” she says as she gave Crisis a big faux thankful hug swinging her rifle onto her back in one clean motion before she stops instantly a second into the hug and takes a step back. Sasha swings the riffle back into her claws.

“He bought it?”

“I would have,” replies Hanna.

“Probably not, but in front of his troops, and me being me, if he did something harsh after all that happened, he’d look bad, and the last thing he wants to do is look bad,” chuckles Sasha.

“Nice, it’s good to see that you are still around… if only the same could be said about Joshua.”

“Yeah…” says Sasha as her eyes trail off… “So have you been briefed on the mission?” asks Sasha.

“No, Croc tends not to let me in on a lot of things.”

“I never said I’d betray you the moment I can”

“You just did right there!”

Crisis sighs, “I was going to say, I would at the most opportune moment,” says Crisis as she gives a sly smirk.

“We’ll then explain on the way,” says Ruby as she appears seemingly from nowhere.

“Where were you?” asks Crisis.

“Hiding, waiting for Sasha to give me the signal to come out.”

“You gave a signal?” asks Crisis.

“Yup,” replies Sasha.

“I never noticed.”

“That’s the point. It wouldn’t be a good signal if you could read it,” explains Sasha as the new group of five went on the move.

“Here all of you take this,” says Ruby as she gives the three a small disc.

“What is this?” asks Crisis.

“It’s a disk!” muses Hanna.

“Funny.”

“I know, it’s probably data on the mission.”

“It’s the floor plan of the facility you’ll be breaking into,” explains Sasha.

“You’re not coming?” asks Crisis.

“Can’t. I’m being watched enough as it is, and the way you’re going in, it be impossible for me to do so,” explains Sasha as Crisis finger tips release probing wires that quickly grab and read the disk, allowing Crisis to quickly download the information.

“This facility is heavily guarded as one might expect. Protected by a constant patrol of planes and helicopters, the people think it’s for their protection but in reality it’s for this facility in the center of the city.”

“How do you expect us to get into this place? With just the four of us?”

“Simple… ram into the place with a tank.”

“Really funny, what’s the real way?”

“No, she’s being serious Crisis,” says Hanna.

“What?!” exclaims Crisis as the group moves through the neighborhoods which steadily shift into apartments. The group stops every so often to avoid patrols and scouts on top of the nearby rooftops, “With this many soldiers how do you honestly think we are going to get a tank?”

“We already have it set up thanks to Croc here providing a little extra assistance,” explains Ruby.

“Yes, I am that great I know,” replies Croc.

“Can your ego get any bigger Croc?” growls Crisis, “It gets annoying.”

“But it’s who I am, you can’t change it, just accept it.”

“Oh I think I could if I tried,” chuckled Crisis.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“Before Raszer flips the switch to take over the world, he felt of having a victory parade in our country’s honor… of course it’s all for him, and to show off our resurgence in strength,” remarks Sasha as she looks around the corner of a building before motioning us to move forward.

“The patrols are getting heavier,” comments Crisis.

“They should be, we are approaching a military base, and that’s where the start of the parade is. Lucky for us the general decided to have tanks as a key part of the parade and the route goes right by the facility, all probably a ploy to cover up just how much security a seemingly innocent building needs.”

“So what we are going to get into a tank and drive it right into the building?”

“Not exactly…” says Ruby.

“On the tank you’ll be hijacking there has already been installed a series of clamps to hold onto underneath the tank. You’ll be riding underneath outside of the tank as it rams into the facility. Once inside you can easily get out far faster than if you were deep inside the tank, it will also provide you cover as it will all be feigned as a mechanical failure. We’ve already set it up that the tank has had some… minor technical difficulties already,” explains Sasha.

“Wait you never said we’d be hanging underneath the tank,” remarks Hanna.

“In theory it is possible, the height underneath is more than enough for us to hang onto, though I’d be concerned about someone seeing us as we wait,” worries Crisis.

“Don’t worry you are the third tank out of six there is little chance for anyone to catch you,” explains Sasha as the group arrives at a small park, there the group can see a group of four raptors in military uniform having a small cookout, “There’s your target. Your goal is to take and hypnotize the men over there. That will make them very willing to our plan. I’ll wait over here, and good luck.”

“Thanks,” says Crisis as the four machines use the decorative hedgerows as cover, Croc amusingly hides behind one of his own figure, though the hedgerow is a bit overgrown from lack of maintenance, Croc’s influence on the area still remains visible.

“That machine and his ego,” thinks Crisis as they get behind a set of bushes near the group of raptors having their meal.

“This was a lovely idea Cherrie, to have a nice hot meal here before the parade,” remarks one of the guys.

“Oh I thought we deserved it. We’ve been working so long, orders be damned that we had to stay on the base. We should hurry up at eat though we have to be back in fifteen minutes so they don’t notice our little trip,” says Cherrie a light green scaled supple female raptor.

“For once Cherrie you’re right, hurry up! I’ll be damned if I get my tail chewed out for this,” growls another raptor as they all start to eat faster.

The four machines look at each other and give a nod in agreement as now is the time to act. They sprint from the bushes as they each grab and subdue a different raptor.

“What the fuck?! Help! Call for… he… l…..” yells one of the male raptors as he struggles in Croc’s tight metallic grasp, his flaying slowing down as he is forced to look into Croc’s eyes as he slowly starts to fall under his spell.

“What are you doing?! Release me now!” exclaims Cherrie as she squirms in Crisis’ grasp. Crisis managed to grab her but with her back facing towards her.

“Don’t worry it will all become clear soon,” grins Crisis as she turns Cherrie around.

“No, you don’t understand!” exclaims Cherrie as Crisis’ eyes give a faint glow as she starts to boot up her hypnotic vision.

“No, soon you will,” says Crisis as she feels a little tingle of pleasure from what she is doing. Her recollections of how much fun she had doing this plays in the back of her mind till…

“Crisis put Cherrie down,” says Croc.

“Huh?” asks Crisis as she turns her gaze away from Cherrie towards Croc her hypnotic vision stopping.

“Cherrie is already on our side, she’s the one that lured the group here,” explains Croc.

“Oh… sorry,” aplogies Crisis as she releases Cherrie who gives Crisis a glare as she rubs her arms.

“I tried to tell you… not so hard on the grip next time okay? I think you bru—,” says Cherrie as a sudden explosion is heard nearby. Crisis whips around towards the sound and exclaims.

“I think we’re being shot at!”

“No that’s just the fireworks signaling the start of the… pa…rade… Crisis what did you do?!” exclaims Ruby.

“What?” asks Crisis as she turns around and sees Cherrie knocked unconscious on the ground her mask having partially become detached from her body revealing the female suiting Skunk Scot underneath, “It was Scot? ! He was here?!”

“Yes, and now you knocked him out with that tails of yours with that quick whip around!” yells Croc.

“Oops… sorry.”

“Sorry? Sorry isn’t going to cut it, she was our driver. How will we follow through with lord Chaos Croc’s plan? We have to be back in the base soon, and there’s not enough time to get a new driver,” growls the tank commander.

“Lord Chaos Croc?” asks Crisis as she looks over to Croc.

“What? You’d do the same.”

“Yeah but now what are we going to do?” asks Ruby.

“You people are totally helpless without me,” says Sasha as she approaches, “I saw what happened, and I’ll drive the damn tank.”

“Do you ever know how to?” asks Hanna as she drags and hides Scot’s unconscious body into a nearby set of bushes.

“Hun, I’ve hijacked things that were classified as to not be in existence yet. I think I can handle a little old tank,” she replies.

“Fair enough.”

“What about being watched?” asks Crisis.

“At this point we’re out of options, its do or die, now let’s get our tails moving, we don’t have much time.”

“Got it,” replies Crisis with a nod, the others in the group agreeing as they rush towards the base.

“So why didn’t you tell me not to attack Cherrie? Who was really Scot?” asks Crisis.

“I did say only capture the men, and how was I supposed to know you’d be so jumpy at mere fireworks?”

“Karrie was always a little jumpy like that.”

“Crisis wasn’t though.”

“It’s a balance between the two becoming one and in time I hope my better characteristics shine through.”

“I already think some of your better characteristics are shining through,” chuckles Croc as he glances down at Crisis’ green shiny metallic butt.

“I think I now understand Miasma even better now…” sighs Crisis.

“Whose Miasma?” asks Sasha.

“Another time,” says Crisis as the group reaches the base which is fenced off. The group looks around and watches for nearby patrols as they go up to the fence and with the help of Crisis’ electro-blades quickly cut through it and slide their way in.

“I just realized they are going to notice the hole in the fence and sound the alarm before the parade begins,” says Crisis as she and the others hide behind a set of petrol barrels.

“I got it covered,” says Hanna as she holds the cut out fence to the hold that is made. She then pinches the cut metal ends and with a quick spark starts to fuse several key points of metal back into place.

“Did you just spark weld the fence back?” asks Sasha.

“Yes, but it’s not perfect, people will notice it if you look at it in detail but it will buy us sometime,” explains Hanna.

“That’s my girl, I knew I brought you for a reason,” says Croc as he smacks Hanna on the rear.

“Thank you Master,” giggles Hanna.

“I don’t know who this Miasma is, but I already feel her pain,” comments Sasha as she turns away. The group resumes their trek through the base, the patrols inside were far fewer than outside, as people got ready for the parade but the group always sent the three organic raptor tankers first, since they were supposed to be there and then quickly followed by the rest once the coast was clear.

“Hey you three, shouldn’t you be at your tank ready for the parade?” exclaims a grey and blue scaled raptor as he comes up to the three raptor tankers while the rest of the group was hiding behind parked vehicle that was just a foot away.

“We’re on our way there now sir,” states the raptor commander.

“Where’s Cherrie?” asks the other raptor as he looks over the group as he glares over the group in his nice dress military uniform.

“She’s releasing some oil sir.”

“Ah… that girl always had a weak gas tank,” replied gray raptor, “Hurry up, you’ll be moving out in fifteen minutes.”

“Yes Sir!” said the group in unison as they wait till the gray raptor is gone before motioning the rest of the group to follow, sneaking by the other tank groups till they reach their designated tank.

“Hurry!” exclaims the tank leader.

“Good luck,” says Crisis to the raptor tankers and Sasha.

“You too,” replies Sasha as she jumps onto the top front of the tank, opening the driver’s hatch and slides in, while the four machines slide under the tank just as a patrol of raptors comes around the corner.

“Ready for the parade?” asks the group as they eye the raptors hopping into the tank.

“Yup, just going to turn on the engine and hear this baby purr,” says the tank commander as Sasha starts up the engine. The rumbling of the tank hiding the robots movements as they find the four sets of four grip points, two for their feet and two for their hands.

“These don’t look like a good weld job,” comments Crisis after the patrol leaves. Crisis like the other three are hold onto the handles belly up, their tails as flush to the tank’s undercarriage as possible.

“Scot isn’t known for his welding skills,” replies Croc.

“Scot did this too?”

“Yup, he played the mechanic at first before promoting himself to the tank driver.”

“Let me guess he was a female mechanic too.”

“Yup.”

“You sure do have… interesting companions Croc.”

“Only the best.”

“At what is the question,” replies Crisis as the tank’s engine rumbles even louder, the tank starting to move as the sounds of other tanks roar to life as they get into position for the parade. The screech of their oil treads are loud but not deafening as Crisis listens to nearby soldiers organize the group before moving fully underway.

Just as the tank leaves the base, in line for the parade, the tank runs over a speed bump near the gate entrance, the tank runs over it fairly smoothly but the base of Crisis tail base bumps into it, making a thunk noise along with a set of small sparks.

_“I hope no one sa—“_thinks Crisis as her body was jerked from the sudden hit, the force of it causing Crisis’ left grip to break off the base of the tank. Crisis’ body jerks down as body hangs much lower to the ground.

“Don’t rush… move back into your spot slowly,” urges Croc as Crisis can see the rushing pavement underneath her, “If you rush it could cause another grip to break and I don’t think two can hold someone as big as you.”

“Did you just call me fat?” remarks Crisis as she tries to make light of the situation as she slowly pulls herself up against the tank again, trying to keep herself flush with the tank, while trying to limit the extra strain on her four remaining grips. The broken grip still in Crisis’ hand as the tank continues to move on its way.

“Of course not, just… um… there’s nothing I can say to make this better is there?” asks Croc.

“Nope,” replies Crisis

“Figures,” softly sighs Croc as Crisis grins in accomplishment. Crisis keeps her head facing forward to get a glimpse of the outside world, as most of the view is blocked by the tank in front of her, behind her and the massive tank treads to either side. But there are small gaps where she can see the crowd of raptors cheering on their hard working soldiers that brought liberation to their nation and to their glanderous capital.

The cheers and screeches of joy are heard through the parade; the faint sounds of marching heard just ahead and behind the tanks as hundreds of military personnel were part of this show of renewed military might.

“One more turn after this one and we’ll be at the facility where our accident is to occur,” says Croc as the tank turns and shifts through a rather tight behind, the sudden jerking of Crisis’ body causes second latch to break free, Crisis’ body hanging once more close to the ground as the front of the tank was exposed to the crowd during this turn. Crisis could see far more of the crowd, while the two remaining handles one on her left foot and one on her right hand strain to keep her body weight from hitting the ground below.

“Damn, try to reach over to me and grab one of my handles,” says Croc says Croc as he stretches his tail over to Crisis as Crisis moves her tail over to Croc trying her best to grip onto Croc.

“You’re too far away, it won’t work,” replies Crisis as she looks up at the tank, the information about this particular tank design and its schematics rushing through Crisis’ HUD as she accesses the information, “But I do have an idea,” says Crisis as she drops the broken handle in her right hand activating that hand’s electro-blade.

“What are you doing Crisis?!” exclaims Croc.

“What I have to do,” she replies as she cuts into the under carriage of the tank, sparks fly as she reaches to grip the new indentation she made into the tank,” make my own handle,” she says as her metallic claws dig into the new more solid grip.

“What was that?” asked one raptor Civilian as the group could hear and filter the question through the crowd.

“What was what?” asked another raptor.

“I swear I saw sparks from underneath one of those tanks.”

“You must be seeing things don’t worry about it,” says the other as the group gives a collective mental sigh of relief.

“That was too close,” says Ruby.

“Indeed,” replies Hanna as the rest of the parade was uneventful that is until they reach the turn in the road in front of the facility. The tank continued to go straight towards the facility as people nearby started to ask questions of what’s wrong with that tank before people started to scream and yell. Crisis saw there was no one in front of the tank. The area was completely devoid of civilians due to the high security nature of the facility. The tank easily runs through the fence, knocking it down as Crisis sees the debris move right under her and the group, the tank moving forward as alarms begin to sound as the tank rams right into the side of one of the buildings, debris from the wall slamming into the group as the sound of crumbling break is heard as the tank makes a complete stop.

“Okay let’s move!” yells Croc as he releases his handles, one of the foot handles having broke off with him as he hands onto the ground with a thud and a crunch. The four machines slide form under the tank as they get their first look inside the facility.

The area here was a total mess due to the tank running into it, lights hanged and flickered, with sparks flying as the tank was partially through one other wall before it stopped, its massive front gun probably though even another wall. The white tiled floor covered in white chalky debris and bricks from the walls that were smashed into, part of the roof collapsed onto the turret of the tank blocking the hatch. The tank’s engine turning off as the group gets their bearings.

“We crashed into the West wing, the core of the facility is this way,” states Croc as the other three nod and run as they could hear the sound of soldiers rushing to the scene of the accident.

“Intruder Alert, intruder Alert,” warns AI over the intercom.

“AI is that you?” asks Crisis.

“Yes Mistress Crisis. There is an intruder in this facility. It’s Chaos Croc who is right in front of you.”

“AI, initiate programming protocol, K-R-H-3-I-P, version 23, type G.”

“Understood, Intruder alarm shutting down…. I will inform those that it was a malfunction when the tank ran into this facility. Playing looped security film in the areas you enter.”

“Thank you AI, status report on the big hypnosis project running in this facility. How long till its active?”

“Thirty-minutes, till general Raszer activates the project.”

“Thirty minutes? We should have a few more hours!” exclaims Croc.

“AI, can you prevent general Raszer from activating the project?” asks Crisis.

“Negative. Only direct interaction with the control panel can do that. I was only brought here to assist in breaking Croc’s code.”

“Alright, thank you AI.”

“Anytime Mistress,” says AI as the group moves forward.

“Tell me… how many of those commands do you have?” asks Croc.

“As many as I need and then some,” replies Crisis.

“Which one was that?” he asks.

“One of the few that relates to you still being alive in a facility that I control.”

“How did you plan that far ahead?”

“Karrie did. When she got bored she made contingency programs into AI… she got bored often,” explains Crisis.

“This way,” says Croc.

“Why this way? It’s a longer route to the center and we don’t have much time.”

“Trust me,” says Croc as Crisis nods as the group turns down a different hallway, their metallic feet clanking against the tiled floor as they move. The group bursts into a medium size double story tall size room, where Crisis instantly recognizes two people working on nearby computer screens on either side of the room, Shasi and Arissa.

“What are you two doing here???” asks Crisis in total shock as she watches her two minions walk up to either side of her.

“Told you it was a good idea,” says Croc with a smirk, “How do you think I got the floor plans and knew where exactly the initialization room was going to be?”

“Because you started the plan,” replies Crisis as her two friends walk up to them.

“It’s so good to see you two,” says Crisis.

“Yes it’s good to see you too. It’s good to see you all here…” says the two in perfect unison as they draw weapons similar to Francis’ on them.

“Croc… what’s going on?” asks Crisis.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen…” replies Croc as they hear a chuckle from above. In front of them standing on a ledge walk way that surrounds the other walls of the room stands Francis. He looks down at the group a grin as they hear the movement of four other robotic raptors, two on either side and fifth from behind all of them aiming sub machine gun weapons designed to pierce and shred machines to pieces.

“Look what we have here, a few stray machines that fell into our trap,” says Francis with a sly devious grin.