The golden eyes flew open. Penelope screeched and immediately tried to escape her prison. She was filled with rage and sadness. How dare Vector go so far as to lock Amelia up like that!

"Vector! You let me out right now!" Penelope demanded. She looked around. Vector was nowhere to be found, nor was any other Barian. How strange.

It didn't matter. She was alone and once again locked up. The multi-color haired woman stood up. A cage? That was the best Vector could muster?

Pretty pathetic.

Penelope smirked and reached into her pocket. After about ten seconds she held in her hand a paper clip, bent and twirled in so many places and ways. It was perfect.

"Just what I needed." Penelope reached her hand through the bars and placed the object in the lock. She shook it a few times, and then the lock popped off, landing on the floor with a smash.

Penelope smiled and opened the door. It creaked as she did, but still was open enough so she could step out. She shut the cage and made a run for it.

There was no way she was going to let Vector kill Amelia. No freaking way.

XxXxXxXx

Quattro shot up. He was panting and was hot, but otherwise fine.

"Oh god...how long have I been out? A few days maybe?" The blond and maroon-haired Arclight groaned and stood. He was dizzy too.

Magenta eyes traveled around the room. Quattro was so confused. The house was too quiet. Something seriously wrong had occurred while he was out, that was for sure. He just couldn't figure out what.

Slowly, Quattro walked around. He looked at everything, making sure it was in place. His eyes went wide when they settled on the ground.

Blood. Soaked into the carpet there. Quattro stared and didn't dare to take his eyes off it.

"What the hell?" The middle Arclight bent and touched it. He got a little closer. It smelled like Amelia's blood, and he only knew that because he remembered the smell of it when she caught the sword blade.

Horrible thoughts began to cross Quattro's mind. Had his little sister been killed? If so, where was her body? Was it buried somewhere, deep in the Earth were no one would ever find it?

"This isn't good. I gotta find her!" The blond and maroon-haired Arclight began running down the stairs. It didn't matter to him how dizzy he was. He just wanted to find Amelia.

Quinton looked up when he heard rapid footsteps. Quattro was relieved at least one person was still here. He raced up to his older brother and, leaning against the wall and panting, asked his question.

"Yo, Quinton. Where's everybody at?"

The oldest Arclight brother didn't answer. Rather, he stood and grabbed Quattro by the wrist. He struggled against the hold. The silver-haired simply opened a portal. Quattro went wide-eyed.

It was a Barian portal!

"When did you learn to do that?"

"Not long ago."

Quinton pulled Quattro through the portal with him. He, too, felt a bit dizzy. Odd. He'd felt fine all day.

"You still didn't answer my question." Quattro said when they got to the other side. "Where's everyone at?"

"Duh, here on Barian World." Came Quinton's flat reply. Quattro glared but followed anyway.

The red around them made Quattro shudder a bit. He couldn't help it. Pretty soon, they were right in front of a cage. The middle Arclight freaked out.

"Trey! Dad! Nya, what the hell are you doing locked in a cage when Amelia needs saving?!"

Trey looked up sleepily. He yawned and shrugged. "We aren't here by choice brother. The Barians locked us here first thing."

Quattro glared, obviously not amused by the Barians' actions.

XxXxXxXx

Amelia snuggled a little closer to Durbe and sighed. She was finished crying, but still upset.

A reassuring hand traveled up and down her arm. Amelia looked up weakly and met Durbe's gaze. She smiled and kept their fingers linked.

Of course, she felt more secure now. But she'd only feel completely secure when they were out of this cage.

An idea flew into Amelia's head. She shot up, feeling dumb that she had not thought of the before. Instead of attacking the cage bars, why not attack the padlock?

"I'm so stupid sometimes!" Amelia said, reaching her hand in between the bars and grabbing the lock. She focused her energy to her hand, and, with her Crest, broke it off. It landed on the ground with a clang. Amelia smiled and opened the door. She turned back to Durbe, who was smiling back at her.

"That's the Amelia I know. Good on ya." Durbe stood and patted her on the back when he walked over. Amelia smiled and nodded before walking away. Vector couldn't have gone far.

And when she found him, she was going to freaking murder him.

XxXxXxXx

Vector smirked. He was still in his Rei form, and god was he enjoying himself. This plan was unfolding perfectly! Amelia and Durbe, as well as Penelope, may have escaped, but that was a minor set back. As long as Alit still had control of Quinton, Amelia wouldn't be able to do anything.

After all, she was the whole reason anybody was doing anything at all. Vector was surprised Trey and Vetrix hadn't tried to escape. The cages weren't even Barian proof. That was just a lie he'd spat at Amelia and Durbe.

Maybe they were literally that weak? Not like it mattered to Vector, for he liked watching his captives struggle. It amused him.

"Nothing can stop me now. Not even the fifth Crest!" Vector laughed maniacally and flashed away.

This would certainly be some hell of a battle when it started, that much was for sure.