A/N; This chapter is so overdue but I had a bad case of writer's block and my midterm exams to take but enough of my ramblings and onward to the next chapter 3. Please review and let me know what you guys think of the story so far.
Chapter 3: Escape Part 2
"Stop sniffling and man up." The taller of the pair said as he sat him down in one of the chairs. Alfred wiped the tears that were falling from his eyes and calmed down a little. The guards removed their helmets revealing themselves to be…
The shorter guy turned out to be a guy with tan skin and curly brown hair with a smile plastered on his face "Well I'm gonna have wicked helmet hair for a week." He turned to the guy next to him "Ludwig aren't you glad we don't have to wear those stupid helmets anymore. Ludwig?"
"Helfen Antonio meinen Helm geklebt wird!" Ludwig yelled although his shouts were muffled by the helmet. This set off a 10 minute struggle between him and Antonio to get the helmet off. Once they'd pried the helmet off both let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks for the help Antonio." Ludwig patted down his light bond hair "Now on to more pressing matters" He turned to Alfred and handed him a grey suit similar to the ones that he and Antonio were wearing. "Take this go into the closet and put it on and when you're finished meet us outside." He handed him another helmet.
"No offense but why are you guys here and what do you want with me?" Alfred asked as he looked at the uniform.
"Well you see…" Ludwig began "My friend and I are a part of the resistance known as the Vox Populi. We are the voice the people. We are sworn to protect and liberate the people from the tyrannical Brotherhood. We ar-"
"I think what he means is why are we here right now." Antonio spoke as he sat down in the seat beside him.
Ludwig's face became slightly flustered "Fine then why don't you tell the then."
Antonio paid no attention to his remark "It all started last night when we got an unknown message…"
Flashback
Location: Unknown Station
It was around 1in the morning… I think me and Romano were heading to our bedrooms to turn in for the night when an urgent message came through on the main computer. We ran over to check it out but before we could the alert alarm began to sound. The message read:
To: The Resistance
From: Unknown Source
Subject: We have something you want.
Message: See attachment below
I clicked on the attachment to see what was going on after silencing the alarms and before I knew what was going the screen had blacked out.
"Toni what's wrong with computer?" Romano asked me as he walked over to where I was sitting. "Did you break it again?"
"No…at least I don't think I did."
"Oh merda"
"Shh I think something's coming up on the screen."
Then the screen the screen lit up in a flash of bright light. A black haired man dressed in a standard red military uniform with black trimming sat in front of us on the screen "Hello rebels my name is General Codardo." He motioned the camera over to the corner where 5 unconscious forms lay. The camera moved back over to the General. "As you can see we have some friends of yours and 2 accomplices we caught with them. If you want to save them you have until 12 noon tomorrow to come to Purgatory before we execute them. Do not worry though we can reach an agreement that if you and your allies lay down your weapons and promise everlasting allegiance to the Brotherhood then we shall let them go free." He paused "But if you try anything or take one step out of line will have them executed faster than you can shoot the first bullet. That is all." The screen went blank. Romano and I sat there in shock not knowing whether to wake up the others or try to break them out ourselves. Due to the fact that option 2 would end up getting us killed or imprisoned we decided to wake up the others.
"What is the meaning of this?"Roderich shouted as he fell out of the bed he and Elizabeta shared. "Why are you waking me up at this time of night?"
"Sir, Romano and I have urgent news! The Brotherhood has kidnapped Francis, Gilbert, and Kiku! They're holding them and two others as their hostages. They want us to swear our loyalty to them again. They said that if we didn't then they would kill them!"
Roderich was astonished that they would so far as to involve two innocents in their vendetta against us. "I knew they were cruel but I never knew they were such heartless bastards!" He pounded his fist on the wall "We have to do something now, wake the others tell them to head to the meeting room"
"Yes sir." Lovino and I replied in unison.
"Oi what the bloody hell is going on in here?" Arthur asked as he came inside the room.
Roderich looked at him with a grim expression in his deep purple eyes "I'm sorry Arthur but they captured Francis-"
Arthur looked as though his whole world had been shattered "What do you mean they have Francis?"
"Exactly what I said, those pigs are holding him, Gilbert, and Kiku at Purgatory as hostages until we comply with their demands."
"Which are?" Arthur's brows were raised quizzically.
"They want us to break up the resistance effort and reaffirm our loyalty to them and their damn brotherhood or they will kill them and the others."
"Who are the others you're talking about?"
"That's the thing we don't know, all that he disclosed were his demands and what would happen if we didn't meet them." I said as we began walking down the halls "Roderich want us to wake everyone up so we can call a meeting and discuss the rescue plan so we could avoid having to meet with the general to negotiate." We knocked on the doors of all of the base's inhabitants and they got the message about the situation.
"I want to help with the rescue mission when Roderich chooses who will go. I don't care what happens I have to at least try to help save them." Once we were finished we headed to the meeting hall where everybody was listening to the briefing. The video was shown again just to show how grim our situation was
-End Flashback-
"In the end me, Ludwig, Elizabeta, Lovino, and Arthur were chosen for the mission to rescue you guys and get you back to base."
"Whoa." Was all Alfred could manage to get out as he sat in complete awe at the explanation he'd just been given.
"Ja, Ja, Ja now that you know the full story we need you to change so we can hurry up and find the others.
"Hmm fine but on one condition." Alfred looked at the uniform "I wanna join the Vox Populi."
Antonio sighed "Sure. Whatever now hurry up." With that he and Antonio left to wait outside of the doors and keep watch for any real guards. Once he was changed Alfred walked out as he donned the helmet to complete his new outfit.
"Okay guys I'm ready."
"Can you really do that without Roderich's permission?" Ludwig whispered to Antonio on the way down the stairs.
"No but I'm pretty sure that if we make it out of here alive then he'll probably say yes." He reassured him.
-Meanwhile-
"Sir we have the prisoners you requested."
"Good send them in." The warden said as he sat in his chair thinking over the way he was going to kill the rebel scum.
The guard shoved them into the room "You heard the man get in there."
"Thank you Captain. You are dismissed." The warden turned in his chair revealing a pale, grim man in his 40s wearing a much more decorated version of the standard military uniform "So glad you join us today gentlemen. I was quite shocked when I found out that our prototype version of the shadow unit captured such high class criminal such as you. Then again there is a first for everything and this the first and last time you will be arrested."
Francis's eyes widened a little "Qu'entendez-vous?" The warden began to laugh a little.
"Don't pretend to play dumb Bonnefoy in a matter of two hours you and little buddies will be dead and there's nothing you or any of those rebel scum can do about it. With the exception of the loud mouth who will make an exceptional Sensor Officer once we break that spirit of his. Once we do that he will be a law abiding citizen without an ounce of free will just like all those other mindless idiots out there."
Matthew's temper began to flare "Dammit! How can you just talk about those people, your citizens the ones you were sworn to protect like they're just a bunch of puppets that you can use for your entertainment whenever you please?"
"Temper, temper Matthew you better not let it get the best of you." The warden said calmly as if nothing had happened "You wouldn't want to end up cutting your even shorter than it already is going to be." Matthew calmed down a little know that his outburst could have very well cost him his life "Now as I was saying, I know that you and your little renegade bunch of friends have something up your sleeve but if you make one step out of line during your very short stay…" His face became grim "It'll be the last you will ever take." He turned to the Sensor Officer next to him "Take them back their cell I can't stand to look at them anymore."
"You heard the man." The officer led them back to their cell. Once back there the officer threw them back in their before slamming the door shut and locking it.
"Are we really gonna die?" Matthew asked as he sat down on one of the bunks
"I don't know kid, but seeing as to the fact that this is probably our last chance to formally introduce ourselves I guess I'd better take the opportunity while I can." He held out his hand "My name is Gilbert Beilschmidt What is yours my friend?" Matthew shook his hand wearily "Uh mine's is Matthew Williams. If you don't mind my asking, why are those guys so angry with you?"
"Well to keep a long story short we are members of the Vox Populi and we've got a very long history with them." Gilbert said "They hate us and the feeling is mutual."
"Oh so that's why they keep calling us "rebel scum" but what do my brother and I have to do with any of this?" Matthew asked.
"You don't. While we were running from you guys we ran into them and somehow you got arrested along with us." Kiku spoke while leaning against the door "In a way it kind of is your fault we got caught but you two were also at the same time innocent bystanders who were in the wrong place at the wrong time." He looked out the small window into the hallway "And I believe that the warden knows that but he just wants to use you two as an example to anyone who is even thinking of joining the resistance or is thinking of trying to rebel in any way."
"How come I never knew any of this?"
"Well you see fear and subliminal messages are how they keep the population controlled. If nobody suspects anything then nobody will try to oppose their power. The only ones who really know what is going are us and the Brotherhood themselves." Francis explained "As long they can control the media, they can control the people. Plain and simple."
"Wow I never thought that any of this could really be happening but considering the circumstances it all does make sense. The pledge and TV messages always were a little weird but I can't believe they really used them for subliminal messa-" Before Matthew could finish there was a loud noise and a couple grunts outside. "What's going on out there?"
"Don't worry it's probably just another fight." Gilbert reassured him. The noises stopped after about five minutes. Suddenly the door was unlocked and three guards stepped inside.
"Are you here to taunt us some more or are you gonna end "or misérable existence." Francis snapped at them while he glared at them.
"Now is that really anyway to really any way to talk to your best friend, Francis?" One of the guards said.
Francis scoffed "Don't flatter yourself I would never think of being friends with any Brotherhood filth like you."
"Oh really not even if I were your childhood friend Antonio" The guard removed his helmet revealing cheerful face of Antonio. The other guards removed their helmets revealing Ludwig and Alfred. The others stood there in shock while they did so.
"Alfred you're okay!" Matthew ran to hug his baby brother with tears beginning to form in his eyes "I was so worried that something might have happened to you."
"I know please don't cry Mattie."
Matthew wiped his eyes "I'm sorry I couldn't help it, I was so scared."
Gilbert went over to his younger brother "Very nice Ludwig. I can't believe Roderich chose you for this mission though." He said "Maybe you are becoming a little more like you're awesome big bro."
Ludwig rolled his eyes "Nicht schmeicheln sich Gilbert."
"Antonio-san how did you know we were even here?" Kiku asked.
"I'll explain it to you when we get back to base but right, our main priority is to get you guys out of here and meet up with Arthur and Elizabeta before anybody realizes what's going on." Antonio put his helmet back on and headed towards the door "Vamos guys we only have about an hour to get out of here before they come to get you guys for the execution and the just reaching the exit in this place means either going out the front or going through the sewer on the first floor. You can guess which way we are going. Once we're in the sewer we'll meet up with Lovino. Now let's hurry up and get out of here."
The small group began to run out into the hallway passing. It was smooth sailing until they reached a group of passing Sensor Officers.
"Halt. Now is not a scheduled prisoner transport time. What do you three think you are doing?" The tall senior officer asked.
"Uh we have special orders from the warden, he said to transport them to a much more secure location." Ludwig said as sweat began forming on their faces.
The officers looked suspiciously at them "Hm that isn't like the warden to do something like that." He held his hand out "Let me see your papers, soldiers."
Alfred and Ludwig exchanged glances "That was an order." The officer demanded, still waiting for the non-existent papers.
"Um we weren't assigned any papers." Alfred said as he checked the uniforms pockets.
"Hmph! Nonsense, every soldier and guard in this place has official papers."
"Yeah, um, about that…" He punched the guy square in the face and knocked him out.
"Hey these guys aren't guards!" One of the other officers said as he threw a punch at Alfred who dodged it and kicked him.
"What the hell was that?" Antonio asked once they got finished fighting.
"I dunno I guess I panicked a little." Alfred said as they began running again
"I think heard it coming from that way!" A voice called in the distance
"Uh oh, ok you guys can be mad at me later but right now we may be in more trouble than we already are in if we don't hurry up and get out of here." The voices were getting closer.
"Up ahead I think I can see them!"
"C'mon let's go now!" Antonio called as he ran down the stairs with the others close behind him. They kept going until they ran into two similar looking guards.
"Oi watch where you're going!" The guard shouted as he grabbed his helmet. "Wait a minute Antonio, Ludwig is it really you?"
"Is it them Arthur?" The other guard asked.
"Yeah it's us." Antonio said while he helped them up.
Arthur ran for Francis and tackled him in a hug. Once he was used to it Francis hugged him back "Don't ever do that to me again!"
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Mon amour." Everyone had collective looks of disgust on their faces then the sound of footsteps on the floor echoed through the hall.
"Over there I see them!"
"Um as touching as this is I think we need to get going, like, now!" Alfred called as they resumed running. After narrowly dodging a couple of gun shots the group reached the sewer entrance.
"Everybody get in the sewer!" Antonio shouted as he kept lookout for the guards before heading down himself.
"Yuck it smells like crap down here." Kiku said in the darkness "Antonio hand me the flashlight." After feeling around for a few minutes he found the sidewalk. He turned the flashlight on "
Careful it's very slippery down here."
"I wonder where Romano is he should be here by now."
"Maybe he's further ahead, Toni-san."
"I hope so, I really hope so." Antonio replied.
Once the group stopped to check the map of the sewer networks Alfred began to think to himself "I wonder if those guys noticed we're gone?" He gave it more thought "Probably after all that chaos we caused."
"Hey kid, are you okay?" Gilbert asked snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah I'm fine, I just zoned out a little." He replied.
"Okay whatever you say, kid."
"You know my name isn't just kid."
"I know."
"Then why the hell do you keep calling me that?"
"Oi, you two, hurry up before you get left behind." Antonio called as the group continued on. It was smooth sailing until they reached the manhole cover that would lead them to the armory.
Gilbert lifted the cover up and headed up the ladder leading into the large room with the others following close behind.
"Welcome back Mr. Beilschmidt." A familiar voice said as the lights flipped on revealing a struggling Romano with the Warden holding a gun to his head "Guards surround them!" He called as the door opened with about twenty heavily armored soldiers appearing. The Warden's arrogant smirk reappeared as he looked on in satisfaction at the scene before him "Did you actually think it would be that easy to escape? Did you think we wouldn't notice that one of the cells was missing its occupants?" Antonio began to take a step forward but one of the guards punched him square in his stomach. Kiku and Arthur caught him before he landed on the floor. "How foolish of you, as if a direct attack would work." The Warden placed the gun closer to Romano's temple. "One more step out of line and the little one over here is gonna get it."
"Hey! Who are you calling little, asshole?" Romano yelled as he began to struggle again "I bet I could beat you and your punk ass toy soldiers on in one hit." His face began turning red with anger.
The Warden let out a laugh "Well looks like we've got a feisty one." His other hand that was around Romano's neck and grabbed his infamous curl. That sent him the over the edge and before anybody knew what happened the supposedly invincible warden was on the floor holding his wounded chest in pain.
"That'll teach you to call me little, bastardo! Now who's next in line for a good ol' fashioned kicking?" He gave the Warden one last kick before walking over to the group. The guards cleared a pathway before one by one running out of the room, afraid of being the next target of Romano's rage.
"Where are you going you spineless imbeciles? Get back in here now!" The Warden called as he coughed up a bit of blood before finally passing out
Antonio ran towards him engulfing Romano in a hug. "Oh, Dios mío de mi poco de tomate, acaba de iniciar culo de alguien! Creo que estoy en el amor"
"Get off of me you tomato bastardo!" He yelled as he tried to get out of the hug.
"That's not what you said the other night." Antonio said back slyly. Once he finally let go he got the most painful head butt ever.
"Finally now that this is over, can we get out of here?" Ludwig asked the others.
"I guess so baby bro." Gilbert told him. "Okay everyone let's get outta here because this is so not awesome. Everybody back in the sewer before we start pushing our luck."
Once they reached the end of the sewage passage a small wooden door barred the entrance to the outside and freedom.
"Since we are finally out of there, how the bloody hell are we gonna get back to base?" Arthur asked after they snuck past the watchtower guards.
After a few moments of silence Gilbert finally spoke up "As risky as it is we'll have to travel through town and hope that no one recognizes us from the wanted posters. When nightfall comes we'll have to stop and make camp." He turned to Alfred and Matthew. "You do realize that now there's no turning back since you two are now wanted fugitives. You can't go back to your old lives after this." They both nodded.
"I'm willing to take on any challenge, especially something as big as this." Alfred said. "I'm gonna become an awesome hero and they'll remember me forever!"
Romano rolled his eyes "Oh great another Gilbert just when I thought life couldn't get any worse."
Gilbert patted him on the shoulder. "Oh lighten up Romano I like the kid. He reminds me of me when I was a teenager with all of my greatness included."
"Whatever."