"Rrg what am I thinking?" Eli mumbled shaking his head as he looked across the fissure at Blakk ind. from the opposite cliff-top, he considered turning back but knew he'd regret it if what he feared came to pass. Revving up Lucky he slowly made his way down the long slope to the base of the cliff, honestly he was in no rush to reach his destination and at the same time felt a sense of urgency to do just that. The gang had tried to talk him out of it, only Trixie knew he even came out here but they didn't understand his connection to Tad. They where brothers in all but blood even if they where currently on opposing sides, what kind if older brother would leave their younger in the situation Tad was in.

As he reached the base of the cliff he pulled out his earbuds, put them in and started his deezer instrumental playlist; he hoped that if Tad used Piper against him the music would at least drown it out enough to think straight, granted that was untested.

Now on flat ground he upped the speed, His mech loping through the gorge then turning sharply, leaping up the narrow path to the plateau on which the base was situated. The surrounding area was still a state, though better than the last time he'd seen it when both he and Tad had almost fallen into the deep caverns. The remnants of those openings still visible where they had been freshly repaired. Rubble, the ghost of the previous facility dotted the ground here and there too big to move at present time or too small to be worth bothering with. Red glass cracked under Lucky's forepaw as they moved slowly towards the entrance coming to a halt still several dozen meters away. The black haired boy dismounted and walked forward cautiously.

"Tad I'm pretty sure you know I'm here" he shouted

"Sure I do Shane" said a voice from above him, he looked to the balcony above the entrance or well more of a storage level with steel boxes stood there for some such reason. "Question is why" added Tad stepping out from between two of the crates and Eli was suddenly painfully aware of the distinct strategic disadvantage of his position. He gulped nervously but as Burpy chirped from his shoulder he gathered the strength to speak, "I need to talk to you"

"Why's that, come to ask for a job? I just filled my last spot, man by the name of Calic" Yeah but that might not be the only thing he's filling if he gets his way Eli thought "I have to warn you" he stated

"Tad" Eli said "Calic shows red flags for being an pedophile"

"Damn, harsh word for you to come out with"

"why dodge around what I'm trying to say?" Eli replied

"And what would you know about it?" Eli looked at Tad a few seconds longer than necessary then glanced away

"Hello boss. What would this be about?" questioned another voice, this one definitely older, gruffer and with much more terrifying implications. Fuck fuck fuck of course he's fucking here Eli thought a shiver ran down his spine and his fingers twitched uncomfortably. The man looked at him with steel grey eyes, eyes with THAT look the one he never wanted to see again. His throat felt dry and he suddenly had the urge to run. Pull yourself together Eli c'mon your doing this for Tad he looked away from the man back to Tad, he couldn't let those eyes freeze him. When a deer freezes that's when the car hits it. "B-be careful who y-you trust" Eli stuttered "I think I learned that lesson well enough when you trusted me" Tad taunted "leave before I set Piper on you... the earphones wont work by the way."

"Just stay safe, you don't just recover from that kinda thing" Eli murmured quietly leaving quickly afterwards. He didn't stop until they where in a forest three caverns away. He dismounted and fell to his knees shaking as adrenaline coursed through him. "Damn it" he yelled leaping up and punching a tree, he'd have to catch Tad at another time, he needed to warn him. But under that gaze, it was like being hit with a freightgeist but so much worse.

He made it back to the Hideout late that night still shaken and honestly an angry cave troll had nothing on his day, Trixie had evidently told the others where he'd gone as expected, they weren't up when he left.

"You left" Kord yelled "What if he killed you? And you only took Burpy with you, he's strong but he's not enough against all of Tad's gouls"

"Kord I...I'm sorry but you d-don't get it, I needed to warn him" He looked to Trixie "I still do"

"Still" she said, Eli nodded solemnly,

"He was there, I couldn't warn Tad because of it" his hands were shaking again, Trixie noticed and took them in her own "breath" she said gently.

"There where more red flags Trix" Eli told her between deep breaths and Trixie gave him a concerned look,

"I don't think you should go back there" she said reluctantly.

"But Trix I have to" he said quickly

"Eli" she said firmly "I didn't like that you went this morning and I was right... look what it does to you" she said gripping his hands tighter to emphasize her point. There was silence between them for a long time, only broken when Pronto opened the door to call them all in for dinner. Nothing more was said on the matter that night, largely due to Eli turning in as soon as he got the chance.

Before Trixie went up to bed Kord asked her "What was it that had Eli so worked up today? You seem to know" Trixie looked at her friend, "It's up to Eli to tell you, not me" she murmured.

...

"Bitch, you'll do as I say or little Eli gets it understand"

"Don't hurt him 'sob' 'sob' he's just a boy, he's only eight years old"

SLAP

"I said do you understand"

"YES! Yes! Please I understand, don't hurt him"

"Hmm shame I bet the kids feels real nice... But I'm a fair guy so I'll hold off as long as you don't tell anyone about this"

...

It was a little over a week later they where called to Rocklorn cavern to a disturbance involving Gouls, Eli had been agitated since he got back from the citadel. The gang, mostly Kord and Trixie had kept a near constant watch on him like he was on suicide watch or something. "Why don't we try and get the police involved?" Trixie had said one day when she got sick of Eli pacing.

"A) Tad's a criminal would they care B) The police don't deal with Tad so do they care C) No proof, conclusion the police are incompetent, the system fails and we're the best law enforcement the 99 has." Eli replied cynically listing reasons off on his fingers.

The disturbance it turned out was what he'd been waiting for, when they arrived they saw Tad and a bunch of his lakeys terrorizing citizens, Eli scanned their surroundings for Calic and sighed with relief at not seeing him. As the rest of the gang tried to deal with the situation he went after Tad.

"Tad" He called cornering him in an alley "Calic is dangerous please you need to get away from him or he will take advantage of you" Tad stared at him for a few seconds then laughed "I think I'd know if I had a Pedo on staff"

"No you might not, the signs they teach you to look out for might not always be there"

"Eli I can judge character, after all you where just as nieve as I expected." Tad replied. "Get him Calic"

WHAT! Eli barely had time to turn around before the man was on him, he tried to scream but barely got a sound out before there where hands around his throat squeezing so tight that nothing could get out. he kicked and bucked, scratching at the hands around his neck, eyes wide with panic. As black dots danced in his vision and his struggling slowed, he hoped he wouldn't wake up.

A/N- Now I don't want to get graffic so that's it: maybe the Shane gang save him, maybe you know what happens, or maybe he dies. The story is yours unless I reach the next level of fucked up and continue this.