Thanks to BuffaloSoldia115, sophiashyway, M, and nightmaster000 for your reviews! Here's one that's a little longer, but hopefully worth the reading.

Nora's POV

The elevator takes me up to P1. I know from the cameras that Jenny and Biffy have already been through here, just the same I brought the hand-held crystallizer gun just in case. Luckily, everyone we needed seemed to be right in the same spot. Even Miss Lob had been moved into my old cell while I was out and they fixed it up. But there was someone here who hadn't been assigned for Jenny to get out.

Veronica Victoria.

I needed to see her about something.

"You!" another woman's voice sneered at me as I walked by. Yes, Cassandra was freed from the green crystal, but now locked in one of her own impenetrable cells with a force field. "I'll remember this, Prowler! I'll remember this!"

I ignored her. She's not a threat anymore. One cell over from hers is His Eminence, unfrozen as well, but just sitting down. I pause and look at him for a second. This is the creature who initiated all this chaos. Coral Grove, the markings, the hypnosis, the Prank. Some of those thing weren't directly his fault but they were done in his name. The fact that now he was behind bars was somewhat… amazing.

"Just another day at the zoo, Miss Prowler?" he said in that raspy, menacing voice. Yet I noted there was a sense of casualness in it. I raised an eyebrow as he continued. "Look while you can. I will not be here for as long as you might intend."

"Just longer than you might think." I shot back.

He actually smiled. This guy gives me the creeps more than Serpent does. "You've already proven yourself to me a powerful and able member of your species. But you still underestimate my own abilities, Miss Prowler. My own power doesn't need me to be near you in order to be a threat to you, just my existence is enough to ensure it."

I glared back. I shouldn't stay talking to this monster for very long, he might start to rattle me. "Don't worry. Underestimating another species is what got you trapped in your own prison. We'll be sure to learn from that." I began walking away. As I left, I heard him say, "I will be here when you next need me."

Where have I heard that before? Officially, I have the chills!

Brushing his former-eminence, I come to the cell of an old acquaintance. She's playing a chess game with a frustrated expression. Okay, let's just try this.

"Ahem." I clear my throat to get her attention. Miss Victoria looks up, and sees me.

"Ahh!" is her response to seeing me after I went Beast and went tearing apart a prison like a maniac. She knocks over her chessboard, letting the pieces fall everywhere.

"It's okay! It's okay!" I quickly try to explain. "I'm fine now! I stayed with Finnwich while I recovered. Veronica, I don't know what you saw, but I promise you I won't let it happen again if you don't tell anyone."

"You're a…." she says, looking around frantically while panting from fright. "A bit late on that I'm afraid."

"I know people saw me." I try to explain to her the best that I can. "I don't know if I can explain this to you, but that… thing I became? It was only as a last resort and defense, it won't come back again."

Becoming steadier in her breathing, Veronica stood herself up and tried to talk as normally as she could. "You… they… Were you hurt?"

Was she asking if I had been hurt by the Council, or after I escaped, I wasn't sure. In either case, the answer would be the same. I rubbed my shoulder saying, "Yes. But like I said, I don't want to have to be like that again. So, if you wouldn't tell anyone else…?"

Veronica started looking at me. She was probably thinking of whether she could trust me or not. Even if she told everyone what she saw, she didn't know about my Dream-Walking and would have no explanation for it. She could say I had a mental breakdown, but seeing as how I was put into isolation in an underwater prison… Now I'm giving myself the chills.

"There's one more person I need to see." I tell her. "If you can promise that you won't say a word to anyone, when I come back I can let you out. If not, Lee isn't going to let me take you on the submarine out of here." Her eyes went wide at my proposal. "Like I said, I'll be right back. Please, think about it."

My next stop is in the lobby of central control. Where Kimmie and her mom played the prank/hypnosis song? There's also someone else in here. He's still frozen in crystal, head-to-toe. I adjust the de-crystallization setting on my gun, but before I fire I start thinking.

Do I really want to do this? Do I want to release my arch-enemy, one of the most evil jerks, a man who has tried to kill innocent people back into the world?

…No.

But Tina's right that we aren't the bad guys. I can't leave him here while everyone else goes.

So starting at his head, I free The Serpent from the crystal. He grabs his head like it's aching and moans. "Ooogh…" He blinks a few times, and I walk up a little closer to him.

"My, my!" He grins upon seeing me. "Look who-"

I already decided I would do this. I take advantage that he can't see properly yet and punch him square in the face, twice! "That's for using a teenage girl and then abandoning her in the woods!" While he's still recovering I punch him again. "That's for threatening my dad and my friends!" Then I bring out my long-staff and pin his hand up by his neck against the nearest wall.

He chokes out, "And this is for Lee?"

"No," I say darkly, "This is: I am going to let you leave this place. With your mother, back to your casino, back to your snake, back to whatever you do with your life."

"How thoughtful."

I pushed him up against the wall harder. "Here's the part that's not." I snarled. "You are going to be helping Lee with the full devotion of the best brother in the world! You're not going to threaten his friends, his life, or any of our families. When he needs you, you'll be right there, at any time, for any request. Cause here's the thing if you don't!" He was looking plenty afraid. It spurred me to talk slower, so he would hear every word of this. "Your mother is not going to like the idea that you're a killer, to say the least. She's a very strict woman. Mrs. Ping finds out that you're not only an assassin, but you've tried to kill your little brother, your father and me, there's no way she'll forgive you."

Now he was panicked. I don't know what The Serpent pictures as a family reunion for him and his mother. But he knows enough that her finding out what he is will ruin everything. I'm using that as my hidden ace. "You're bluffing! You're really capable of such a dark deed, Nora?" he asked me.

"I'm in a dark place right now." I told him. "So yes, and I'll be remembering everything you've done even later. I can convince the others not to say anything either, but only if you agree to full cooperation and no messing with any of our lives!"

"Hmmm," The Serpent looked to the side, acting like he was thinking hard. "A tall order- gak!" I pressed my staff down on him really tight! "Okay! Okay! I'm in! I-I swear!"

I loosened, but I didn't let him go. "You better. And remember I can tell Mrs. Ping at any time you mess up."

"Yeah, yeah." He said. "Oh, and Nora~?"

"What?"

A hard force knocked me off my feet. I realized too late that he had just sweep-kicked me and I was falling to the floor! So stupid! Before I could brace for the impact, however… I had been caught. The Serpent was holding my in a pose of him leaning way over me with just one of his arms was supporting me from the back. I accidently grabbed onto his jacket so I would not fall, yet his face was just inches from mine. That smug grin was right up in my face.

Smoothly he said, "Don't forget our little lesson. But I'll be happy to teach you again."

My face heated up, but before I could slap him across his face, he had already stood me up and gone running off with a cheeky, "I'll be right back~!"

I stood where I was frozen. "What the-! I just-! He just-! Dah!" The nerve of that guy! He's still trying to pull the Casanova-act after all that he's done?! Rrrgh! And that was just my best threat on him too! What does it take to shake that guy?

I breathe, and try to regain some of my composure. Even if he does act high and mighty, Serpent knows that I can ruin everything with just a few words to his mother. Now he won't try to do anything to Lee or Jenny again. If he wants his mother to accept him (and he apparently does based on his fight with Cassandra), he's going to have to do what I just told him. I've learned my lesson; I'm not taking any kind of chance any more.

Just breathe.

He's gone. Let's go get Victoria now. I'll have plenty of time to deal with that nut later.

Back in front of her cell with the arm of a fallen hazmat in my hands I say, "Well, Miss Victoria? Think we can work this out?"

She looked like she was giving this one last thought. "Nora, some exceptionally strange things have been happening since you came here." She said. "The special attention you got from the Council plus your little break out… you've become quite the mystery to me." I stare back at her, waiting for her to make her point. "But… I admit I enjoyed talking to you. You are a very interesting young lady. And it seems like you can make things happen."

Oh, yeah… Out of all the conversations I had with this woman, she must be referring to how the Detentionaires knew where to find me. Self-conscious that that was the closest I had told Veronica about my Dream-Walking, I rub the side of my arm. "So," she says like she's decided. "I would be more than happy to go with you."

"Thanks, Veronica." I smile, but then say seriously. "But… you have to remember you've made yourself the bad guy in this whole scheme. If you come back, you'll have to make it up to the people you've hurt."

She sighed. "Yes, I suppose that is a fair condition."

I hold the dismembered robot arm up to the door and the shield goes down. As Veronica steps out I ask her something. "Do you think you undo the hypnosis for the Outcasts? That might be a good start."

"I suppose I can. But I'll have to leave the school if Barrage is still in charge."

The half-robot principal with no real teaching professionalism, and has the compassion of bloodthirsty wolverine. I haven't seen Barrage since even before coming to Coral Grove, but as I've seen from the Reality Border he's just as much a two-faced blowhard as ever! "I think I can get you through. I don't know what I can promise after that though."

She smiled down at me. "Then let's go back to the real world shall we?" She started walking towards the elevator. I went along with her.

"Everyone else should be there by now. But…" I groaned. "We need to pick up one last person."

"Who would that be?" Veronica asked.

"Eh…" Veronica knows about me and The Serpent. She was there actually enjoying our 'conversations'. "You'll see soon."

Sure enough, when we went up to where I parted with him in the lobby, The Serpent was already standing there. Upon seeing each other, The Serpent grinned, while Veronica gasped.

"Nora!" she started to pull me in the other direction.

"I know." I told her. "But I have a deal with him too." Then I glared at him and said. "Which I hope he remembers requires him to behave himself at all times."

He shrugged. "I'll try. I just left to get some of my toys back." He reached behind his back and twirled his bamboo long staff around. He also jumped over it, did a jump and sheathed it back behind him again. He stood there proudly, like he was a world champion in martial arts. Veronica was apprehensive and a little afraid of him; I was just annoyed that he was showing off.

"Yeah, whatever. Let's just get out of here. Veronica, can you walk behind him so he doesn't try anything while I'm not looking?"

She was visibly afraid, and I couldn't blame her for it. "It's okay. You know what I can do, he knows what I can do." I can't have them come in with me. I need to tell Lee first what's going on, I can convince him without telling him about the Beast, and hopefully after him the others will just have to put up with it until we reach land. "C'mon, after we get to A. Nigma you'll never have to come near him again." And neither will I.

I sent a look over to The Serpent. He simply nodded like it was no big deal. Whatever honor this slime-ball thinks he has, I'll just have to hope it's enough that he'll stand by our deal. If it's not I'll just tell Mrs. Ping everything. The look I sent Veronica was asking her to comply. I could tell she was still a bit unsure, but she agreed to go with us. Okay… Now that just leaves Lee.

…

Oh geez, what have I gotten myself into?

By the time we reach the loading dock, the whole gang in addition to Mrs. Ping, the three missing teachers, and Jenny aunt who was standing very close to her, were already there waiting. Oddly enough, so was Lynch and The Amazing Finnwich. "Wait right here." I whispered to Veronica and The Serpent. I went in by myself, coming up behind Lee and pulled him aside.

"Lee," I said in a quiet, but urgent voice. "We need to talk."

"What's up? We gotta go!"

"I know but…"

A few minutes later…

"WHA-" I was able to cover Lee's mouth just in time.

"I know! I know!" I said in a panic. "But we can't just leave them here. Tina was right, were supposed to be the good guys so we can't leave this half- done. VP Victoria won't be a problem anymore and… I hate to say this: But we… owe That Serpent for getting the guys out. And believe me, I'm pretty sure that I'm the least happy about all this!"

"It's not that I'm against paying him back. It's just, like… why did you go and rescue him privately?"

My face went flat. "There some things… I'd really prefer you guys not seeing."

"Ya got revenge, huh?" Biffy surprised us both, coming out from behind the corner. "Heh-heh, heard it all, just so you know." He's surprisingly quiet, for such a big guy! Lee: I thought I could negotiate with; Biffy… he's a tougher case. I know he's smart, and I know that it must sound like a totally stupid move to him for me to bring not one, but two enemies into our midst. This just got a whole lot harder. He looked between me and Lee, "Look, Nora, you were gone for a while so maybe I can throw you a free-bee. But those two need to be out as soon as we hit dry land, got it?"

And it was surprising to suddenly get a free-bee card! "Thar's fine with me, Biffy. But we just need Veronica to undo the hypnosis on Jenny, Lou and Deuce, after that she can go wherever she wants."

No One's POV

Nora walked away from the two boys to go get the two ex-criminals. With Nora gone Biffy leaned over and whispered to Lee behind his hand. "Did you catch that?"

"Yeah, I did." Lee answered. He didn't see the need to whisper as Nora was well out of earshot. "Since when are Nora and VP Victoria on a first name basis? What happened here?"

They watched from the side as Nora brought in the former Vice Principal and The Serpent. Seeing the two of them, Tina and Jenny immediately ran over to Lee to tell him.

At once they both said, "Lee!"

"It's okay! For now. Nora's made a deal with those two. We'll just have to tolerate them until we get back to school."

"How did Nora get a deal out of The Serpent and VP Victoria?" Tina asked.

Biffy narrowed his eyes at them. Nora was quick to walk away from the group, however VP was somewhat trying to stay close to her and stay away from The Serpent. Everyone else was trying to stay away from him. Biffy, he trusted Nora, but she had been away from them for a long time. He knew she had been cell neighbors with the ex-Vice Principal, but The Serpent…? He's just been unpredictable from the start! And the way those other two were acting around her was… suspicious. "I'd like to know too."

Nora's POV

I don't mind Veronica wanting to stay close to me. She's an ex-scientist like most of the people in here, there are either people who she didn't back up when they 'disappeared' or are victims of her brainwashing experiment. But Serpent… The instant he walked into the room it was like an invisible bubble had formed around him. Everyone shrunk away, looking ready to run at a moment's notice. Yeah, this could be a problem.

The Serpent's known to these people. Chances are he even helped a few of them to get in here. If he's going with us, we need the other escapees to know that he doesn't work for Cassandra and won't be trying to capture or hurt them. They may not even get on the submarine if they know he's coming too. I want to get everyone out in one go, or at least as many as I can.

I look around until I spot Mrs. Ping. "Perfect." I say to myself.

"What is?" It's Veronica who asks.

"Can you keep an eye on The Serpent for a minute?" It's not a tough job. He's barely moved away from the door since we came in here. Veronica nods, and joins the group of frightened onlookers.

Serpent's POV

Just as expected: no one dares approach me. Even Miss Victoria got her distance from me the first chance she got. I have foreseen this. No one will want to come near me for a time. They all know, at least some of, what I've done. But I'm used to having the odds against me. Losing is not in my nature, though.

I'll work my way into their goods graces a little at a time, then like always, they'll drop their defenses when they feel they are safe. The harder targets include Lee and his brat pack, Nora, and most crucial, my mother. No one need to tell me how- What the?!

Nora is walking right up to my mother! Is she going to betray the pact? My mother smiles upon greeting her. So she likes Nora. Why? I watch on as my mother's face shifts between confusion, and understanding. What is that conniving little fox doing? Ruining my chances before I have even begun?! Normally, it would have been a simple matt of 'she breaks my deal, I break hers'! But only now do I realize I had actually been counting on her keeping that secret. All this struggle to find my real parents… only to have my own mother reject me before I even meet her…

Nora's POV

I run up to Mrs. Ping. "Um, Mrs. Ping?" I ask. "Are you doing alright?"

"Yes, I am. Reasonably." She responds curtly, but with a smile. "Nora, when are we leaving?"

"Soon. We just need Lynch to operate the controls so we can all get here safely. Mrs. Ping, do you see that guy in the red jacket? Does he look familiar to you?" I pointed at The Serpent

Mrs. Ping looks past me, and we both see The Serpent looking at us nervously. Oh-ho-ho! He thinks he's done something and I'm telling on him! I didn't plan on doing this, but best to make sure he knows I can at any time. Cupping my hand so I'm whispering to Mrs. Ping, I tell her "He's involved in this conspiracy too. You remember seeing him being frozen by Cassandra when we were in the pod room?"

"I do!" She realizes. "Who is he?"

I look at The Serpent. He looks tense. Good. This is payback! "He's kind of the same as me. He's protected Lee before too, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind talking to him?"

Mrs. Ping looked skeptical of my request. "Why? No one is going near him. And he looks… oddly familiar… Does he have a name?"

I think fast on that one. "Codename. He's called The Serpent, for his pet snake." He looks so worried right now. It's because I'm taking so long, and Mrs. Ping is really responding to what I say. "He was in a different holding area before, so no one knows him. I think everyone might loosen up if you go over and start talking to him."

Mrs. Ping pondered my words. "You sure I can trust him?"

No. But you're his mother, so you're the last person he'd try to hurt. "Yeah, believe me Mrs. Ping, I think you can really help out! He's not the most social, but I think since you're a neutral party there shouldn't be a problem."

She stood up saying, "Alright, Nora. Since it is you." She smiled and began walking towards him.

I think I've gained some favor with Mrs. Ping after she found out Lee was innocent. She also knows a little about the conspiracy now, and she was very grateful that I was looking out for Lee all this time. The woman is super strict, but she is still a mother. I walk back over to Veronica, she still needs some friends. "What did you do this time?" she asked.

I smiled proudly and said, "Just watch."

No one's POV

Other people have divided into groups and started talking, trying not to look The Serpent's way. Even as Mrs. Ping took steady strides up to him, people looked over each other's shoulders but pretended to ignore him. The Serpent himself was visibly sweating as his mother approached. Nora was standing snuggly over by a bewildered Miss Victoria, looking on as The Serpent stood waiting for his long-lost mother to approach. While Lee looked on uncertainly from the side of the water along with his friends who were watching the situation unfold.

Mrs. Ping stopped just inches in front of the tall man. The whole room was somewhat quiet, while some tried to whisper in small-talk to try and keep their company calm. The Serpent swallowed. How much did Nora tell his mother about him? Was she going to outright reject him and say she never wanted to see him after all he's done? Did she say how he had hurt Lee, tricked Jenny, and thrown her into this very prison? Being a master of reading opponents, Serpent didn't take his eyes off Mrs. Ping. Until finally she said, "You are… Serpent, yes?"

Waiting for the worst to come, The Serpent gulped and answered her. "Yes, ma'am."

"Nora tells me you've been helping them recently." The Serpent did a double-take to what his mother just said. "You helped my son earlier, and you've been prisoner here for a while too." Serpent's whole face flushed! His jaw almost dropped, but when he looked up at Nora she was covering her wicked little smile. He knew she had done this on purpose! To send him a clear warning of what she could really do. That she had a good leverage over him. On top of that, it seemed his mother also liked the girl for whatever reasons.

Quickly trying to respond to his first conversation with his real mother, The Serpent stuttered a little. "I-I don't know what she's told you… Bu-But I'm just- I mean I've been in- …and-and…"

Mrs. Ping could feel like she understood why this young man wasn't very social. "Speak clearly!" she ordered. "Stand up straight! You are an adult! Act like one!" Serpent did as ordered on instinct. Mrs. Ping was normally very bossy, but even she knew that she shouldn't act that way to someone she has just met. She also had a tendency to regret her actions after she did them. "I am sorry, I'm afraid I often do that. I did not even introduce myself. I am Mrs. Ping, Lee's mother."

Aware that the only one who might know his actual name was her, Serpent used his tacit of diverting her attention. "How… do you know Nora?"

"She is a wonderful girl!" she replied, happily. "She's been protecting my son for a while now. She is sweet, yet strong, fairly pretty, and quite resourceful from what I've seen. She is also angry at her great-grandfather, as she should be, for hurting Lee! I would never forgive anyone who so much as tried to hurt my precious son."

"Oh." If anything, Mrs. Ping had just confirmed that if anything of his recent past with Lee became known, he was doomed. But The Serpent's mind sparked with an idea. He'll let Nora win for today, but later… "I agree that she is. But she can get a bit… bossy at times."

"Bossy is good. She has been getting what needs to be done." Mrs. Ping said. Of course she wouldn't mind bossy. "Now back to you. You are called 'Serpent'? I honestly doubt a mother would name her son that!"

Nora's POV

My plan worked. For once! Mrs. Ping and The Serpent are talking and is seems like he got the message. In addition, it seems like with his attention being occupied with Mrs. Ping has made everyone else start to relax and not worry about him targeting them. "Now things should go a bit more smoothly."

"What did you say to Mrs. Ping there?" Veronica asked.

"I just told her that The Serpent isn't very social and should try speaking to him." Veronica doesn't know that the two of them are family. I considered telling Mrs. Ping, but I think in the end, family matters should be solved by the family. And I've intervened on that enough. Suddenly, I am grabbed and pulled to the side away from all the others. "Wha?" Then I see it was none other than Tina, Lee, Holger, Jenny and Biffy who took me captive. And… they did not look happy.

"What was that?" Jenny asked crossing her arms.

"Huh? Oh!" I guess I should explain to them. "Okay, you guys are gonna love this!"

"The part where you bring in not one, but two villains without telling us?" Biffy asked sarcastically. "Or the part where you send over Mrs. Ping to her newly-found, yet highly potentially dangerous son?"

Yee-ah…. That does look bad. "Um… try this one: I let Serpent out and beat him back into promising that not only will he no longer be a threat to us. And before you stop me!" Cause Tina was about to. "Our deal is that he has to help us out from here on or I tell Mrs. Ping what he was really doing with the Council all this time."

Jenny cracked a smile at my words, and Biffy raised his eyebrows but nodded. Tina looked at Lee, and he was the one who still looked pretty upset. He said, "And what did you tell my mom to make her go over there and talk to him?"

I guess in hindsight Lee would be angry about that. With his mom just going up to the enforcer of the Council and talking to him like she would a student, he had reason to be worried. "I just told her needs someone to talk too. And look! If she didn't then there's no way we'd be able to get anyone else on the sub with him."

"You didn't tell her that's her son?" Asked Tina. "What were you thinking!?"

"That it's not for me to tell her. In the first place, I don't think I fully know what happened." I looked up at Lee. "Lee, either you or… him can tell her. She might need proof, but then again, all this might be enough to get her to open her mind a little. Either way I'll leave it up to you. This is your family." Then I remembered. "Family… Oh my gosh! I forgot!"

"What?" Lee asked, finally shifting his expression to confused.

"Lee," I said urgently. "When you tell your mom, it would good to have your dad with you. He knows more about this than any of us!"

"Ooo!" Holger cried. "Nora be talking of disaster escape from hospital. Papa Ping said many odd thingys 'bout Snake-man and evil Council."

"That's right, Holger. So can you guys just keep an eye on them until we get back, please?"

"The Serpent is one thing." Biffy also added. "But why should we bring the psycho Vice Principal who started it all?"

I told them. "Because she can break Jenny's curse. And she's had enough of the Council that she isn't any more loyal to them than any of the other scientists."

Jenny's eyes popped at the idea that her curse could be broken. Her finger went into her nose for a second, and Tina pulled it out by her elbow. I smiled at all of them. I knew that convincing them of this wouldn't be easy. But I did have good points and they couldn't argue with them now. When Sensei said that I should release Veronica to ensure she would tell them about The Beast I hadn't been sure it would work. Also according to Sensei, The Serpent would be much trouble now under these conditions. While the others walked away, Biffy to keep Kimmie company, and Jenny took Tina along to meet her aunt, I stopped Lee by placing my hand on his shoulder.

"Lee," I said in a calm voice. "I know what's coming isn't going to be easy. But I've never liked secrets. And I know I have my own family to confront after we get out of here, but…"

He sighed. Not a dejected sigh or, exhausted sigh. One that sounded like a bit of affection and understanding came out with it. "You've still got my back?" He turned to confirm.

I smiled again. "One hundred percent. And remember: Serpent has to be nice to you. Otherwise, your mom finds out about the ninja stuff."

The red-and-black-haired boy chuckled. "I think I'll enjoy that."

This isn't evil. This is being a sibling.

Right?

A few minutes later, Holger came running up. "Miss Nora of Prowlers~!"

I was just talking with Tina, when he came up. "What's up Holger?"

"Magic powers be telling Holger that Amazing Sandwich and Lynchy are coming this way." He means Finnwich and Lynch are coming down. Apparently, the only control for the submarine are down here, and it's near impossible to hack into them. Maybe one of the prisoners could go up and do it, but these people all probably want to get out of this prison as soon as possible.

"Thanks, Holger." I said to him. "Tina! You, me and Holger need to go around the room and tell everyone to get ready to go. I'm not sure how many we can safely fit in, but just make sure everyone is ready to move just in case."

"Right!" Tina said, running off.

"Roger!" Holger saluted going to the other side of the room.

I figured that left me to the front. But as I rounding everyone towards the center, the doors suddenly opened! Running in with fear on their faces were none other than Finnwich and Lynch. They quickly shut the doors behind them, with Finnwich rapidly typing in a code by the door controls.

The opening and closing had gotten everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen!" Finnwich declared. "We are moving up your departure. Since a number of holders are still renegade, and will be here in a few minutes time. I suggest we put a fire under it!"

Panic erupted. Everyone was frantically running and trying to force their way into the sub! Thanks efforts by Biffy, Lee and Jenny aunt, we got everyone to calm down enough to fit them into the storage section. As everyone was scurrying to get on broad I noticed Serpent was sticking very close to his mother, and she in turn was holding onto his sleeve to almost protectively. The last still out were Lee, Finnwich, Lynch and myself. But while Lee and I were quickly ushering people to get in the sub, Finnwich remained by the controls and Lynch was monitoring the door.

"C'mon!" Lee called out to them. "They're going to break through, we all have to go!"

Finnwich looked up at the two of us. "No, Manifestum, just you and your friends. My assistant and I must remain here for the time being."

"Finnwich, seriously!" I gestured to the opening, forgetting my promise not to speak to him. Whatever he was doing, now really isn't the time. Everyone, including myself, was feeling scared of being captured again and if there really were more enemies to deal with Finnwich and Lynch are not exactly a threatening force.

"I am completely serious." He told me calmly. "Besides that fact that there is little spring in my step these days, there is still a great wealth of information here at Coral Grove. I will remain here, see what I do to ensure Ms. McAdams and 'His Eminence' are contained but cared for, and then perhaps I shall go back out into the world."

"And I've had enough of you crazy kids for a while!" Lynch shouted over his shoulder. "I'll take a 'vacation' here over dealing with you two any time! They even have Green Apple Splat here." I rolled my eyes at Lynch. Lee sent me a look asking about what we should do.

I stood by my promise not to speak to my great-grandfather until I had a good reason to, but I still didn't like the idea of leaving him in danger. Then what? I was going to bring him back to the real world and ignore him there? Those two do have an understanding of the technology here. Beyond that I didn't have much time to think as there came a heavy banging at the doors. Lee jumped in first, then went and closed the hatch after him.

We joined the others down in the (I guess it's called) holding area. The moment we did everyone felt the submarine start to move and out the windows showed the open sea. I looked out one of them and could see the submerged half of Coral Grove getting smaller and smaller. And while a great number of our party cheered, there was still a small number of us still feeling a bit melancholy. One of which was Biffy who joined me beside the window.

"Hey." He said.

"Hey, Biffy. What's got you down?"

He looked to the side and then said to me. "I saw my parents down in Coral Grove, but I lost sight of them. I thought they'd come down and I'd find them here… But it's too late and they never showed up."

I realized that had happened! I'd completely forgotten about Biffy's parents in all this. They'd been in Coral Grove and Biffy had separated from us to go after them. After that they hadn't been seen again. "Biffy, I'm so sorry! If we'd had more time we would have waited or gone looking for them."

He sighed. "Guess I'll just have to hope they show up soon. Even while they were gone, Mom usually checks in with me some time or later. What about you? What happened to make you leave your Grampa behind? Well, besides the obvious."

I sighed. "Some robots and people are still under the hypnosis. Finnwich and Lynch told us to go ahead while they finish up things there." Then I realized I hadn't really bothered to ask how long that might take. "…But even if I wanted to find him, it might take a while now. And if it makes you feel any better Biffy: you're not the only one who needs to talk to their parent after this. It turns out my dad helped make Coral Grove's security."

Biffy gasped. "No way!" Then he looked at all the people staring at us and lowered his volume. "Eh, fix some problems, and find some more. But usually this where the movie ends."

"What?" What's Biffy talking about?

"You know, with Lee! His mom knows he wasn't involved in The Pranks. At least not on a diabolical-and-scheming level. And he got his questionably-evil-long-lost brother back! Shouldn't we be done?"

My hands went to my hips and I scolded. "What have I told you guys about mixing reality and fiction?"

"It's 'not realistic'." He grumbled.

"And you just said yourself that you still haven't found your parents. Plus, Mrs. Ping doesn't know about-" I looked around us and whispered. "You-know-what." Biffy nodded at that. "We definitely need some downtime after all we've been through, at least enough for us to get our old problems straightened out."

"Hey! What are you two talking about?" Kimmie had apparently noticed us talking and came over. "Well?" She asked crossing her arms and looking angrily at Biffy.

I answered for him. "We were just talking about what we should do when we get home. Biffy and I both have parents to confront. What about you, Kimmie?"

She looked down and said. "Maybe I'll talk to Daddy and see what he knows. And Biffy, you're coming to dinner this week."

Biffy looked surprised. "Like a date?"

"No~!" Kimmie rolled her eyes and laughed. "For charity. With Mommy and Daddy gone it must take a lot to keep you fed!" She poked him.

As Biffy and Kimmie fell into a banter. I looked out at the water. I'm finally going home. I should feel so happy. So why don't I? It was because another obstacle had been overcome. I was going home. But what am I coming home to?

A/N: What is Nora coming home to? Will The Serpent keep his promise? Will I post the next chapter some time next week?