The Sacrifice
The match is just mere minutes away from start. Regina, Ashley and Lyra are taken to the armory where they will be given their equipment for the upcoming match. The guards behind them lock the iron door. There are two more guards in the room with a gatekeeper. The crowd can be heard from the outside anticipating the upcoming match excitedly.
Ashley is given a purple glowing broadsword...
Ashley: How am I going to defend myself with...THIS? I am no skilled melee combatant...
Regina: Yeah and you want me to believe that? No skilled melee combatant, you kicked my butt fifteen years ago!
Ashley: Your strength is on par with me. We are comparable in terms of fist fighting capabilities and physical condition. You are just a normal girl, just like me. You are not some kind of buffed up murderous beast that lives for bloodshed, like the guys we are going to be put up against out there. This is a decisive moment in my life, you know? I am hurt....in pain and I have no idea if I am going to leave this island alive in this state...
Regina: I understand your concerns. I'll try to protect you while trying to stay alive myself. We are friends and that's what friends do to each other. We cover our backs. I am speaking to you as well, Ms. Science.
Lyra: I'm glad I wasn't left out.
Regina is given two orange glowing sabers...
Regina: Two promising sabers for me? That just reignites my hope of survival.
Ashley: You get the fancier weapons, nice. Just put them to good use and get us that win.
Lyra gets an ax roughly around her size...
She confronts the gatekeeper...
Lyra: What the?....I am sorry if I sound too fussy but I hate that we are getting predetermined sets of equipment like this! I wish we could get to choose from a variety of weapons but nah, I am given one small silly axe that will break with the first swing... I am a dead bun already. Give me something mean-looking, something that will inspire fear in those freaks in the arena!
The Gatekeeper: Shut up ya long-eared hare.
Regina: What about our armor?
The Gatekeeper: You ain't getting anything to increase your chances of survival.
Regina: Our opponents better have the same equipment then. You gotta be fair-minded because this is all bullshit.
The Gatekeeper: Accept what you are given or get executed in one of our execution chambers.
Regina: Okay, okay...I won't grumble about it.
The Gatekeeper: That's what I like to hear. Now line up.
The three are lined up next to each other by two guards...
Regina: If we combine our powers and use teamwork to our advantage, we will live through this horrendous day!
The bell inside the arena rings signalizing the very beginning of the fight...
The Gatekeeper: There's your queue! Move out!
The gate opens and the three are forced to step out from the armory into a quite big battleground surrounded by dozens of watchers consisting of criminals and even regular visitors who are all divided from each other. As soon as Regina, Ashley and Lyra walk onto the sand ground of the arena, the majority of the watchers start cheering for them. There's a balcony where Lazarus oversees the whole arena. He shares a few words with the audience using a microphone.
Lazarus: Dear visitors of Ember Island and my fellow lawbreakers, you are about to be treated to an electrifying match we've never hosted before! Three female captives will fight against our undefeated gladiators in a team based match. Little is known about the history of these newbies, but I know that two of them are culpable for the recent slaughter of Gryphon blood on Trinity Island. Let's see how tough these baby dolls really are! Let the game begin!
The bell rings and the crowd gets wild as the three undefeated gladiators enter the arena from the other side, armed with different weapons but no armor. They are three wolves with scars on their bodies from their previous fights. One carries two sickles, another one a mace and the third one a quite heavy weapon, a war hammer.
Lyra: This will get our hearts pumpin'!
She looks at her small ax....
Lyra: These guys clearly received preferential treatment. Oh my...
Regina: Okay...it's just three guys, nothing too overwhelming...except those weapons they are carrying. That's just perfectly balanced, right? A flipping war hammer?
Ashley: Teamwork makes the dream work girls, just like my brother always said to me. If I die and you somehow survive, please tell him that I loved him so much...
Regina: We are not going to be the only survivors of this match Ashley...
Lyra: I never thought I would be making friends in an arena where death lingers in every corner...
Lazarus: And now the carnage begins!!!
The bell rings and the match begins. The wolves start running towards the three leaving dust behind them. Ashley, Lyra and Regina brandish their weapons and get ready to get into action in front of hundreds of viewers including Lazarus himself.
As the wolf gladiators approach, Regina growls and runs towards the one with the war hammer. Due to its cumbersome size, the wolf swings the war hammer clumsily, missing Regina as she slides between his legs and slices both of them with her sabers, making the wolf fall on its knees. Regina then tries to cut his head from behind but the wolf reacts in time and hits her in the stomach with his elbow, which makes Regina lose her sabers. The wolf gets up and tries to crush Regina with the war hammer while she is vulnerable. The second wolf swings his mace at Lyra, who's agility makes her extremely hard to hit. She dodges the swings, backing away a bit before slashing the wolf's knee with the ax.
Lyra: My place is in the labs and I live for science, but that doesn't mean I can't enter savage mode and prove everyone wrong in this arena! Man, this is already becoming propitious! You losers! You are no match for Mrs. Science and her friends!
The wolf gets back on his feet but limps around from his injured knee. The gladiator is ready to attempt killing Lyra again while Ashley struggles hard to maintain her balance due to her injuries, her legs feel wobbly and partially numb and she doesn't feel fit for physical exertion. The gladiator wolf with the sickles does one sharp swing with them and she barely dodges his attack. She tries to fight back by sweeping her broadsword she can barely hold, but due to her weakened strength and slow speed, the wolf bends over and Ashley misses. The wolf counters the attack and slashes her left arm creating a medium sized wound. At that moment, she drops the broadsword from the pain and holds the wound tight as blood starts dripping down her arm. That's when she starts backing away from the wolf, refusing to fight anymore.
Ashley: Please...have mercy! You won! I give up....
Gladiator: It doesn't work like this, wretch! You give up, you DIE!!!!
The bloodthirsty gladiator sees a vulnerable target that he can slaughter to satisfy the needs of the audience and Lazarus himself. He starts walking towards her with a nasty smile on his face. The crowd has gone wild, screaming with excitement and an insatiable desire for bloodshed. Ashley can no longer focus on the battle, her fate is not looking good. As she is backing away from the gladiator, she trips and falls on her back. Regina and Lyra are busy enough with their own opponents but Regina notices Ashley in grave danger in time and takes action. Upon trying to keep her opponent at a safe distance, she picks up one of her sabers and throws it towards the gladiator who is about to cut Ashley to pieces. The saber hits his back and gets stuck in there which makes the gladiator fall down on his knees. Ashley then tries her best to get back on her feet and she succeeds. She sees this opportune moment to strike her opponent with a weapon. She walks around him unevenly, pulling the saber out of his back and cutting his head off. The crowd roars loud after seeing one of their undefeated gladiators take his last breath, with his head chopped off by a wounded animal. The audience stands up from their seats in amazement. Lazarus cannot believe his eyes...
Lazarus: Unbelievable! What a great time to be alive watching this sensational match unfold in my invaluable arena!
Regina does a remarkable move by jumping in the air and kicking the gladiator in his chest, bouncing off of him and making a backflip. This unbalances the gladiator and his war hammer falls out from his hand. This makes him open for follow-up attacks. She runs towards him picking up the second saber from the ground in the process and thrusts it through his stomach. The gladiator falls on his back. She pulls it out and starts continuously stabbing him until he is no longer considered a living being.
Lazarus: Another one goes down! That female fox is truly the highlight of the match, just as I predicted! Just look at them! Pain, suffering, slaughter and death! The truest form of entertainment!
The audience is showing a rapturous applause, but the three female warriors aren't that proud of being where they are now. After finishing her opponent, Regina stands in one place looking around the place unamused, ashamed to be the center of attention, all bloody and out of breath, feeling like a girl who just lost her sanity. She drops the saber, no longer wanting to fight for survival as it is not befitting for her. Lyra on the other side, is struggling with the gladiator wielding a mace.
Lyra: I am sorry to interrupt your short-lived moments of fame, but I could really use a hand over here! This indefatigable lad really wants to dance on my dead corpse!
Regina: Fame? What kind of fame? This is downright discreditable and shameful! This is not me!
The audience is urging Regina to keep fighting on because of her outstanding performance....
Lazarus: Don't stop now! Finish what you started or you will end up like your partner who is about to bleed to death!
Regina looks over at Ashley, who doesn't look like she is going to make it as her arm bleeds pretty badly. Then there's Lyra, who is in great danger as she is unable to deliver a fatal strike to her opponent but she has managed to make cuts in the body of the gladiator with her ax.
Regina: You want bloodshed you suckers? I'll give you bloodshed!
She is enraged and picks up her weapon again from the ground. She approaches the gladiator from behind who is unaware of her presence and slashes his back, but he reacts quickly and does a sharp turn with his mace ready to land in Regina's face. She quickly avoids it by lowering her head. Lyra then climbs up on his head and cuts his throat while Regina stabs him right in his chest. The last gladiator lands on the ground dead, making Regina, Lyra and Ashley both the survivors and winners of the match.
Lazarus: Holy smokes!!! What a spectacle!!!! Well played!!! This is what we live for!!! HELL YEAH!!! Now, let's give them a short breathing space!
Lazarus is exhilarated just like everyone else watching in the arena. He sits back on his chair and starts sipping his drink.
Meanwhile, Regina and Lyra quickly run up to Ashley who is kneeling on the ground, holding her arm as it bleeds.
Regina: Ashley! Let me have a look at that arm!
Ashley: I should have been more careful. It took me by surprise, I was not prepared for any of this...and well...this is the result. I should have never survived Trinity Island...
Regina: Hey, calm down. You are alive! That's what matters. That gladiator suffered defeat at the hands of YOU!
Ashley: Fortune does not smile on me today but still, thank you for helping me.
Regina: Look, I don't know what's next for us because Lazarus' thirst for bloody entertainment will never be quenched but your arm is bleeding badly. The wound may need to be sutured, the sooner the better. We need to apply pressure on it immediately while we can...
Lyra: I may have something...
She takes off her shirt, leaving only a tank top on her.
Lyra: Will this suffice?
Regina: Absolutely!
Ashley: Lyra, you're going to catch a cold...
Lyra: The climate here is not harmful to my bunny immune system. I'll be fine. I am doing this out of pure benevolence, for my new friend...
Regina tears the shirt apart to create smaller pieces of cloth.
Regina: The pain is going to intensify for a short while now. Just breathe steadily and calmly. You're a strong warrior!
Regina takes the clothes and starts wrapping them around Ashley's arm until the wound is under enough pressure for the bleeding to stop.
Ashley groans in pain as Regina successfully wraps the clothes around her wound.
Regina: And done! You are good to go now. This should prevent any more blood loss. I don't know how long you can last like this because if we leave that wound uncured, without proper cleaning, an infection may occur but this is far better than seeing you bleed out in front of us. This is all I can do Ashley, for now.
Ashley: I really appreciate the help girls. I don't know how to repay you...
Regina: You don't have to. I am just saving my friend's life over here. You owe me nothing Ashley.
Lyra: Same, you are under no obligation to return the favor.
Regina: Here, let's pull you up...
Ashley gives her paw to Regina, who helps her stand up. She almost collapses on the ground due to her weakened state...
Regina: Oh, I got you!
Regina holds her with her arms...
Ashley: It's okay Regina, I promised my brother that I will stay strong. You can let me go.
Lazarus: Have you enjoyed your respite? It looks like YES! You did! You care for each other. That's very endearing but this match is only the prelude, a warm-up round to introduce you to the very unforgiving side of life on my island. I am sorry ladies, but those three amateurish gladiators you faced had the most laughable fight record, hence why they were undefeated. They never had a worthy opponent! HAHAHA!!! I like to play unfairly so you'll have to prepare yourselves for round two, whether you like it or not! It's time to turn up the heat, my delicate munchkins! The show must go on! Let the dogs out!!!
The doors to the arena open and ten gladiators walk in carrying all kinds of small, medium and heavy sized melee weapons...
Regina: You can't be serious! You're a straight dishonorable dude! Just piss off already with your silly game!
Lyra: He thinks we are his playful little single-use dolls. That's what it looks like to me. We are in dire straits my friends. Only a miracle can save our lives now...
Ashley: He really wants us dead...
Lazarus: Ha! I never expected you to win the first round, but as you can see I still had this contingency plan at my disposal in case of your unexpected victory. Call me a genius!
Lyra: I detect rock-bottom intellect in you therefore you cannot be considered a genius, period.
Lazarus pretends he didn't hear Lyra say anything...
Lazarus: I can't hear you from up here, you insignificant insect!
Before the second match begins, Lyra notices a strange phenomenon in the sky. The sky starts flashing blue, indicating the presence of a supernatural being...
Lyra: The skies, he's here!
Regina: Is it really him?!
Lyra and Regina drop their weapons, knowing that a living miracle is about to save their lives....
Lazarus: Your choice, your fate. Alright ya bunch of low lives! Hit the ground running! Smash them, crush them, slice them and let this be another spine chilling match!
The bell rings and the match begins. The gladiators raise their weapons and start running towards them, roaring.
Ashley: What now? Are you just going to stand here?
Regina: Yes, we are...
Lyra: And here...he...comes!
The sky turns really bright as Zack flies towards the arena with maximum speed with his dropship completely powered up by his power, glowing and emitting a lot of electricity and lightning, coming in hot like a falling star. The gladiators stop running and look up in the sky only to see a big ball of energy coming down towards them. The match is interrupted as Zack enters the arena, killing a pretty big chunk of viewers on one side including Gryphon civilians and criminals alike with lightning strikes the moment when he crash lands right in the heart of the arena. Almost everyone watching starts panicking except for those Gryphonians with a bold character and curious eyes who remain sitting in their chairs...
Lazarus: I know this is NOT a part of the show but could you please all remain on your seats? My guards are already taking care of this unforeseen and kinda startling situation!
He looks over to the damaged side of the arena with dead people...
Lazarus: Don't mind those dead bodies. My clean up team will be alerted soon! Those dead innocent lives are expendable, just like my gladiators. So sit back and continue enjoying the show after a short forced break! Please! Don't leave!
Lazarus is trying his best to maintain his audience. He turns off his mic for a moment...
Lazarus: My precious arena! I'll get you fixed, I promise! We just have to grow fat on selling more tickets for even MORE CARNAGE!
Guards enter the battlefield with lethal weapons to secure the dropship that is burning down in ashes. The gladiators are not sure what to do so they simply lay down their weapons. Regina, Ashley and Lyra remain on high alert, close to each other...
Regina: There goes our only way of escape from this island...
Ashley: Straight into flames...
Regina: C'mon Zack, where are you?
Lyra: The bird may be a decommissioned piece of junk now but I am pretty sure Zack's appearance isn't unavailing, just wait for it...
The guards surround the burning wreckage only to be greeted by an electric blast that kills many of them instantly. Zack rises from the flames and walks out of the burning inferno, taking out any remaining guards in his vicinity shooting powerful and deadly lightning strikes from his hands.
Lyra: That's my boy! If it is sanguinary action and entertainment that Lazarus wants for his valued audience, there he has it!
Regina: He is alive and in the best shape he has ever been in!
Ashley: Is he still on our side? He doesn't look the same...
Lyra: He may look different now, but his heart stays the same...
Regina: Let's stay focused. This battle isn't over yet...
Zack leaves dead electrified and burnt bodies behind him. His formidable presence leaves the gladiators in fear....
Lazarus walks over to the railing of the balcony for a clearer look at his arena...
Lazarus: Don't just stand there you spineless fools! Stop the intruder!
Zack gives the gladiators a deadly and fearsome stare which makes them drop their weapons, turn tail and run away.
Lazarus: No medal of valor for you, suckers!
Zack then ignores Lazarus and everyone else watching and walks right towards the girls...
Zack: Missed me?
Regina: You have no idea how happy I am to see you again Zack.
Lyra: My days and nights of painstaking work are finally paying off. Look at you! You are a fabulous person, someone I can be proud of.
Zack: Hearing your voice again really brightens up my day. Is it okay if I call you mom?
Lyra's heart melts...
Lyra: Awww, yes, my son.
Regina: The mother and the son reunite, very heartwarming.
Zack: Now, what do you think will happen next?
Regina: We skedaddle! But not before we rescue Blake!
Zack: We are going to grab him while making our way out of here...
Ashley: And my brother, he's held captive in the same cell as Blake.
Zack notices the horrible state Ashley is in...
Zack: Ashley, how much more can you take? You're in a really bad condition. If I could somehow cure your wounds with my abilities, I would but I am afraid Lyra didn't create me for medical aid purposes.
Lyra: I will eliminate this particular deficiency in my future creations, if there will be any.
Ashley: This is the result of years of hard training I guess. I don't know but I am just committed to freeing my brother and seeing you all escape from this infernal place...
Regina: With you included!
Ashley: Of course...me too...
Lazarus: HEY YOU! You picked the wrong place to assault! What are you? A deserter? The war is out there, not here on these holy grounds! You ruined the show you darn spoilsport! I'll get you captured no matter what and make you work in the most sickening and outrageous conditions until you become a decrepit gladiator destined for a slow and painful death!
Zack: This reptile is the implacable mogul of this bloody entertainment?
Regina: Perhaps you can do something about this awful annoyance and his biased set of rules?
Lazarus: GUARDS! WE NEED MORE GUARDS!
Zack: Shut it!
Zack fires a powerful lightning bolt towards Lazarus...
Lazarus: Oh, you motherf-
The lightning bolt hits the balcony which collapses on the ground along with Lazarus. The warden and the boss of the arena now lies in ruins which makes the rest of the audience beat a hasty retreat in fear of having the same fate.
Zack: That will shut him up, eternally...
Regina: Look at them running for their lives. It's so satisfying to see...
The arena is now being evacuated making it somehow easier for Zack and the group to plan their escape.
Zack: Pick up any intact ranged weapons those torched guards dropped and let's do an expeditious rescue mission before we pack our bags...
Everyone is able to find a weapon for themselves on the ground...
Regina: Killing those freaks will be so much easier with these. I don't want to hold a primordial weapon in my hand ever again
Lyra: They were rather unconventional to me but I get you. Fighting with swords in these modern days, who does that right?
Regina: Aren't we in Ancient Rome by chance?
Ashley: Let's rescue my brother fast, please!
Regina: You better watch your back Ashley, you are extremely vulnerable...
Ashley: I will....
Zack: Lead me to their cell. I'll clear a way ahead of you all with my own body!
Ashley: You see that big metallic door over there? That's the way.
Zack: Alright, destination set. Moving now!
The group approaches the door while everyone else in the arena heads for the exit, panicking. Zack powers up his body and rams into the door, breaking it open as if it was made of thin material only.
Regina: That's a significant improvement in strength Zack...
Zack: I am not letting this rusty door stand in my way...
Lyra: That's my boy!
Regina: C'mon, down this hallway!
Regina runs past Zack...
Zack: Slow down Regina!
Regina: Just follow me! I know the way to their cell too!
Zack: Reckless...
They pass through the armory and reach the cells. The captured criminals start begging them to set them free...
Prison Captive 1: Yo! Girlz! Could you help this old wretched culprit break free?
Prison Captive 2: Help us and you'll be greatly rewarded!
Prison Captive 3: Wanna throw an escape party? Release me!
They walk past the cells without interacting with any of the captives until they reach the cell where Blake and Ash are held.
Regina: Hey! Blake! I am here with a rescue squad!
Blake: What?! Regina?! Babe? But How? ZACK?!
Zack: Surprise old timer! I hope you didn't get all too mellow in there...
Ash grabs the bars on the door like crazy after seeing the party all together with his sister close behind Zack...
Ash: You mad lad! You survived! You all did it!
Blake: I've trained you well, Regina. I am just so proud of you!
Ashley: She's a badass chick, unlike me...
Ash: Don't sell yourself short, sis!
Zack: Step back, I am gonna open the door for you using just a little bit of force...
He grabs the door and pulls it so hard its hinges break. The door gets pulled out from its place and thrown aside. The first thing Blake does is walk out towards Regina and hug her while Ash approaches Ashley knowing she is hurt so he treats her gently and only rubs her face affectionately...
Ash: Your arm Ashley, blood is soaking through that piece of cloth. I hope whoever did that to you is already burning in hell...
Ashley: I killed him...thanks to Regina's assistance, she saved my life. And don't worry about my arm, it's going to take more than just a silly little scratch to bury me underground.
Ash: Teamwork makes the dream work after all. You've grown really strong over these past couple of years.
Blake: I knew you'd return! I knew you'd stand your ground out there and be as savage as possible. I can't wait to tell these unbelievable real stories to our kids!
Regina: Save those for bedtime stories...
She chuckles quietly feeling relieved and optimistic. Zack is staring at the two deeply, with many thoughts circulating in his mind.
Blake: What? Lost your tongue brother?
Zack: Yes...I mean no I am not envious or anything. I am just over the moon about your reunion, the amount of love that binds you together, it's something that has been missing in my life since the day I was made...
Blake: Remember, you are the main reason we are all alive, together.
Lyra: Hey, you can always start anew. When this is over, you can restart your life somewhere you'll call home...
Lyra and Zack start hearing a lot of footsteps coming from up above...
Zack: You hear that?
Lyra: I am picking up a lot of activity with my ears!
Ash: Hear what exactly? The hurly burly of the prison cells? I hear it too just so you know!
Blake: When Zack hears things, that usually leads to trouble...
Regina: My question is, why are we STILL HERE?
Zack: Ash, me and Lyra can hear things way beyond this commotion...
Lyra: There's some unwelcome guests coming this way from upstairs, we better get moving and flee from here!
Ash: Why didn't Hayden enhance my hearing too?
Ashley: Maybe it was unnecessary. You were already perfect in my eyes before your enhancement bro...
Ash: Compliments like this always warm my heart...
The guards are getting closer to their location...
Zack: Let's try to find our way out at the opposite side of this hallway, you guys better pray it leads to the surface or else we will be forced to use violent maneuvers to successfully escape and considering our ammo is limited, there will be hell to pay.
Ash: We can always pick up new ammo from fallen goons, it's not a big deal.
The guards run down the hallway from one side and open fire at them without warning. Zack quickly stands in the line of fire to defend the group while they run to the opposite side of the hallway. He makes the shots dissolve with his power. He forms a big electric orb in his palm and fires it towards the shooting guards to end some of them before running after his friends. He manages to catch up with the party. Ash is the last one far behind with Ashley, who is struggling to run while Blake, Regina and Lyra are a bit further ahead just about to reach a door that leads out of the basement area.
Blake: Great, a door with God knows what waiting for us behind it...
Regina: Let's wait for the others first. We are going to need all the firepower we have including the supernatural war machine...
Lyra: Except this war machine is a sentient being and should not be treated like a tool anymore.
Regina: I get it. Nobody is using him anymore!
Ash, Ashley and Zack catch up with the group...
Ash: Good, we've regrouped....
Ashley: I've never had this much cardio in my life before...I can barely catch my breath...
Ash: Just hold on Ashley, I know you're tired and hurt but freedom is just behind the corner somewhere out there I hope...
Zack: I've scanned the area from the skies before I crashed the party in the arena. I've located a landing zone with some aircraft. It's just past the iron gate, the only way in and out of the prison.
Ash: There's still hope after all. Let's make a bolt for that gate then!
Zack: They are gaining on us! I am going to shield you all with Blake in front of you. Through the door, GO!
Blake: I guess the immortals are going first. It's time to rock and roll Zack!
Blake and Zack kick open the door and the party starts shooting and punching their way through. As Blake and Zack clear the way ahead, Regina, Lyra and the Rylergate siblings quickly follow them close behind, shooting any nearby or approaching guards.
Ash: Push on harder!
Regina: Can't you see they are trying their best?
Lyra: My gosh these hallways are infested with these guards. What's a small bunny doing among these titans, right?
Regina: Small, but fierce!
Lyra: That is patently obvious! From a conscientious scientist to a fierce violent bunny! I mean look at me blasting these guys! I am a living proof that size doesn't matter, it's the big bad sci-fi guns that execute your orders smoothly!
Regina: I couldn't agree more!
They all shoot through the different corridors and reach the surface.
Zack: Everyone in one piece ready to enter phase two of our escape?
Blake: Right next to you bud!
Lyra: Still with you!
Regina: Right here! Ash and Ashley are a bit behind though, again!
Ash and Ashley are a bit behind the party but they manage to catch up with Ash holding his sister and helping her walk...
Ash: Sorry for lagging behind. She's hurt and weak, so I had to help her.
Regina: What matters is that you trudged through the underground together without dying.
Zack: Incredible. Brother and sister, never giving in even despite difficulties. Not to mention the arduousness of escaping this island.
Ash: We were trained to never flounder and give up. You can see that in my sister's endurance.
Ashley: And my weakness right?
Ash: Could you please stop putting yourself down? You made it this far through pain and blood and that makes you a very strong girl!
Regina: Just listen to your brother. He is no liar.
Zack: Alright, see that gate in the distance? That's our way out of this dreadful place! There are two watchtowers right above it so running past the gate will be no walk in the park. They are going to start shooting as soon as they lay their eyes on us. The landing pads are just beyond the gate so if we are quick-witted and use our collective strength, we'll be high above the clouds flying outta here...
The courtyard gets busy with groups of guards running all around, looking for the escapees...
Regina: Uh, guys, if we don't make a run for it now then we will be at the end of our ropes and that ladies and gentlemen will be our definitive end! There's parenting waiting for me and Blake at home you know?
Ash: We all got something to fight for okay?
Lyra: Oh, no! They are coming from the basement too! We can't stay here any longer!
Blake: Goddamn! They are in large numbers! Zack, do your thing!
Zack: Alright, here's a quick rundown of the current plan. We'll run past the courtyard like an unstoppable resounding storm in an attempt to pass the gate before they lower it.
Ash: I hope you are ready sister, because this will truly test our skills...
Ashley: Of course I am. It can't get any worse than this, can it?
Zack: It's nothing but a brisk walk. Just stay behind me at all times.
Blake: Run and shoot. That's how you do this!
Lyra: We should target the watchtowers first so we can carve a safer path for ourselves. I just hope this isn't too facile.
Blake: He knows what he is doing. Me and Zack are taking the front line, you stay close behind us and shoot anything that moves, except us of course. Ha...
Zack: Ready?
Blake: Now or never! Ready!
Regina: Savage girl ready to set this party on fire!!!
Lyra: I'm ready to scuttle!
Ash: Give it your all sister! I'll be right behind you!
Ashley: Let's do this!
The party starts making a dash for the iron gate, opening fire at the guards around while Zack and Blake serve as the shields of the party killing anyone standing in their way. As soon as they get close enough to the gate, Zack takes care of the two watchtowers surrounding the gate by shooting loads of lightning strikes at them. The lightning bolts are so accurate they perfectly hit their targets and the watchtowers get cleared. The entrance of the prison complex remains unguarded.
Zack: Keep going! Beyond that gate lie your aspirations and dreams, including FREEDOM!
Zack, Blake, Regina and Lyra run through the gate successfully not paying attention to what's behind them whatsoever. Ashley gets unsteady, trips and falls on the ground in front of her brother just before the gate...
Ash: Ashley! NO!
He stops right next to her and tries to pull her up...
Ashley: No! Leave me...
Ash: What? I am NOT going to leave you behind. Are you insane or what? C'mon I'll carry you! More guards will be here at any minute now!
Ashley: Ash! NO! You'll make me appear even weaker and more incapable like that. Just go catch up with the others!
Ash: STOP! JUST STOP OKAY?! YOU ARE COMING WITH US YOU UNDERSTAND?
Ash gets in a state of extreme agitation and worry. His sister is between life and death...
Ash: I will NOT leave you in the lurch! Stop playing the hero and act like my sister if you want to stay alive! PLEASE!!!!!
Ashley: Your sister is a weakling, just like she has always been...
Ash: What's gotten into you sis? Don't give up now!
A couple of guards appear running from the distance, shooting at them. Ash has no other choice than defend his sister and shoot back.
Ash: If you don't stand up now we are going to die here both because I am not leaving without you! HEY! HELP US PLEASE! ZACK! REGINA!!!!
It's too late to scream for help now as the group has reached the landing pads leaving the Rylergate siblings behind but they quickly realize someone is missing from the group. When they walk up to the platform with a dropship, Regina turns around to check up on everyone behind her....
Regina: And that's how you burn those calories....oh wait....where's Ash and Ashley?
Lyra: Leave them, they are still Hayden's shifty puppets. They weren't fast enough, that's their problem, not ours.
Regina: How could you say something like this? They are not the same as Hayden...
Blake: I have a feeling they are not who you think they are, Lyra. Regina spent some time with them, they even helped her on her journey so why should we ignore them and leave them for the dead?
Lyra: You cannot be on good terms with someone you've just met, especially if they are our main enemy's sidekicks! It's either them or us!
Regina: Did you just pretend to be their friend the whole time?! What's the reason for being so disobliging now? Did they hurt you in some way?
Lyra: Do you think I am dissimulating right now? It's the verified facts that make me regard those two with wariness...
Regina: What?! Zack? Care to add something?
Zack: I am sorry. We cannot go back. This has nothing to do with trust issues. Just pay heed to the oncoming wave of guards. There's dozens of them heading this way. We have to leave this island promptly!
Regina: Can't you save them?!
Zack: I must protect my closest friends. Get onboard now!
Regina: No....you start the dropship and get all the necessary preparations done for a quick and smooth getaway!
She begins running back towards the gate...
Blake: Goddammit, I hate her stubbornness!
Zack: Just as I remember her...go make sure you all come back alive! I'll get this ship ready with Lyra!
Blake runs after her while Zack and Lyra enter the dropship but they quickly realize its controls are locked in to prevent anyone from hijacking it.
Zack: Not this again! It would be way too easy without experiencing another one of these setbacks...
Lyra: Nothing is lost. I can unlock it through a biometric verification. It's been barely twenty-four hours since my expulsion. Knowing Neyla's and her subordinate officials' lack of awareness of these precautionary measures in security, my data and identification should still be in the system. Watch this! She presses the identity verification button....
Lyra: Lyra Weaver, Odynhood Research Labs.
Her face is scanned by a built-in scanner on the dashboard. The verification process is done and access to the controls of the aircraft is granted.
Lyra: Bingo! That worked like a charm just as expected!
Zack: You know, you and Gyzmoo are no different. You were both born to be geniuses. Also, don't worry about not performing well on the battlefield. You may be small, but your purpose is prominent. You are doing amazingly mom!
Lyra: C'mon, it's nothing. You're the one who can acquit oneself admirably and for that I will always be proud of you. I poured a heavy dose of love into you and now you are giving it all back.
Back at the gate...
After shooting several guards who tried to kill them, Ash is trying to get his sister to safety, but she is refusing to go, that's when Regina arrives with Blake to help them...
Ash: REGINA! BLAKE! You came to our rescue! Your arrival is so timely! Please, help me get my sister back up on her legs. She's become way too weak to continue on her own.
Regina: We are here. No worries. It's understandable this journey has depleted all her strength, she has suffered a lot.
Blake: Guys, I have this fear we are not going to make it in time....LOOK!
There's large groups of guards and special security operatives running towards them...
Regina: Oh no! This is looking very inauspicious and Zack hasn't even started the ship yet!
Ashley: Maybe I can do something to help you survive....
Ash: Yeah, by letting us pick you up!
Blake: They are almost here! Hasten to act now!
As Ashley tries to stand up, Ash and Blake help her back on her feet. Though wobbly and weak, she is able to pick up her weapon from the ground as well. She has a plan she doesn't want to tell anyone...
Ashley: Go...I'm all set.
Blake: Run for it!
Regina: This will ramp up our adrenaline!
They quickly start running. Blake and Regina pass the gate but Ashley stops right beneath it and so does Ash. The prison guards wielding all kinds of melee weapons and hi-tech weaponry are getting closer and closer to them...
Ashley: I am sorry bro....
Ash: Ashley? What are you....
She pushes him a bit further out and then she aims upwards and fires a couple of shots right at the gate's mechanism, forcing it to come down, locking Ashley inside the fortress with all the guards approaching behind her. The brother and sister are separated between the grilles...
Ash: NO! YOU ARE NOT DOING THIS RIGHT NOW! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
Regina: She didn't just do that....
Blake: Crap, that's minus one member of our group...
Ashley: All my life I felt like I just wasn't good and worthy enough, that I had almost no real accomplishments, no real purpose. You may not be proud of me now for doing this totally awful and mulish move...but I can now die peacefully knowing my brother is out of harm's way, all thanks to me.
Ash: You just gave up your life and I lost the most beautiful being in the world and my best friend, WHY?! JUST WHY?!
She approaches the gate slowly, putting her paws on the grilles without paying attention to dozens of guards behind her, now walking slowly because they know they have failed to stop the others and that Ashley isn't going anywhere.
Ashley: Look at me, did you really think I would survive if I hadn't pulled off this daring move? I would just slow you down and you wouldn't even have enough time to get onboard the ship...please...understand....just look how close they are....
Ash: Ashley....you broke my heart...you shattered it to pieces right in front of your eyes...
Ashley's sacrifice reduces Ash to tears...
Blake: Ash, we have to go! Zack's got the dropship running!
Regina: I feel so helpless right now....
Ashley: Please....leave now....
Ash: I can't....
Ash grabs her paws tight....
Ash: I really can't....
Lazarus pushes through hordes of his guards and gets in the front after having survived the fall...
Lazarus: You're in tremendous trouble now princess!
Lazarus starts walking towards Ashley wielding a sharp blade in his hand. Ashley does not look behind whatsoever as she is fully focused on her brother, Ash is unable to utter a single word from all the tears and pain he is feeling right now. They are both holding each others' paws tight through the grilles...
Ashley: I know....I failed you. But I still feel like I.....did the right thing....
Lazarus: Consider this your atonement!
Ashley: I love you big brother...
Lazarus thrusts the blade and pierces through Ashley's abdomen from behind before pulling it out swiftly and stepping back from her a bit. Regina looks away, burying her head into Blake's chest to avoid seeing the death of her friend while Ash wails in front of his dying sister, who still stands strong on her feet, taking deep breaths, groaning as she bleeds rapidly from her stab wound. She takes one last look at her heartbroken brother, before her vision starts getting blurry and black until she slowly ends up on the ground on all fours moments before her very last breath and beat of her heart. Ash becomes traumatized, unable to utter a single word from all the pain and screams. His sister dies in a pool of blood right in front of his own eyes. Regina and Blake shout at Ash, telling him to start running but he simply cannot accept the fact that his sister is not going anywhere anymore. Lazarus and his men are standing behind the gate, watching Ash bawl his eyes out...
Lazarus: You may have escaped my utopia, but I know darn well that YOU at the very least will be a mournful and spiritless dog with an aching heart for the rest of your life after this day, the day you lost the most valuable thing you've ever had! Slaughtered by my hand!
Everything becomes black and white for Ash, with the death of his sister, he is no longer who he was anymore, he stands up and backs away, struggling to work his way to acceptance.
Lazarus: Raise the gate...somehow! I should have built more than just one portcullis! Now I am stuck inside my own fort! Argh! Nevermind! Just get those despicable desperados, NOW!!!!!!
The guards are unable to get through the robust grilles, giving everyone enough time to escape the island. Ash finally turns around and runs with Regina and Blake to the dropship that is ready to take off.
Lazarus: The empress will penalize my show for this...
- Aboard the dropship -
Zack: Is that everyone? Where's Ashley?
Regina: She's.....how should I say it ....out of action...
Blake: She just sacrificed herself, bringing the gate down and thus buying us enough time to make our escape....
Zack: Damn, I am so sorry Ash. She will be commemorated someday for her valiant actions.
Lyra: I....may have misjudged her after all...misjudged them both. I am terribly sorry for your loss Ash....
Ash does not say absolutely anything. He can't find a word to express what he is feeling right now...
They take off and start flying away from the nightmarish island. If it wasn't for Ashley's sacrifice, the gang would find it impossible to escape in time...