Cole slipped out the door, leaving Dash and Zack huddled in the closet.
"Are we clear?" Dash asked quietly.
"I think so," Cole responded.
Dash stood up and pulled Zack to his feet. She turned to see Cole by the door.
"We have to keep moving," Cole said.
"Cole, we need a break," Dash said.
He turned to her, finally able to get a good look at her. Her clothes were worn and torn in several places. Her dark purple hair was flying in every direction, coated in soot and dirt. She even had bags under her eyes. Zack was nearly asleep already. His clothes were in worse shape than Dash's and his already wild hair was matted down and chucked together.
"Can't we just stay here?" Dash asked.
Cole stopped, thinking about his answer.
"Fine," he sighed.
Dash smiled at him, but he reached for the door.
"You can stay," he told her. "Watch over Zack until we meet again."
"Where are you going?" Dash asked him.
"I need to find someone to help us," Cole told her.
"Don't you get it," Dash snapped. "We are all that's left, Cole. Us! Three people against a whole army."
"I know," Cole told her. "But I can't just wait, I have to do something."
"Cole, just rest and we can go together," Dash insisted.
Cole looked away, Kai's words echoing in his head. 'If you didn't spend so much time with her, none of this would have happened!' Cole flinched at the memory.
"No time for rest," he said softly. "No pillow for my head. Nowhere to run from this, no way to forget."
Cole looked up to her, seeing the hurt in her eyes. He walked towards her, cupping her head in his head.
"Around the shadows creep," he sung softly. "Like friends, they cover me. Just want to lay me down and try to get some sleep."
Dash took his hand from her head, holding it in hers. She looked at him, heartbroken.
"We carry on through the storm, tired soldiers in this war," he sung to her. "Remember what we're fighting for."
He looked her in the eyes, staring into her deep, aqua eyes and her into his chocolate brown ones.
"Meet me on the battlefield," he told her, singing softly. "Even on the darkest night. I will be your sword and shield, your camouflage, and you will be mine. Echos and the shots ring out, we may be the first to fall. Everything could stay the same, or we could change it all. Meet me on the battlefield."
Cole kneeled before Zack, pulling him into a hug. Zack returned it, falling into Cole from exhaustion. He lifted the young boy up, holding him.
"We're standing face-to-face," Dash sang, knowing the song. "With our own teammate's race. We commit the sins again and our sons and daughters pay. Our tainted history is playing on repeat, but we could change it If we stand up strong and take the lead. When I was younger, I was named a generation unafraid, for the heirs to come, be brave and meet me on the battlefield. Even on the darkest night I will be your sword and shield, Your camouflage, and you will be mine."
"Echoes of the shots ring out," Cole echoed her. "We may be the first to fall. Everything could stay the same or we could change it all. Meet me on the battlefield."
Cole handed Zack over to Dash, who was now sound asleep in her arms.
"Be safe," she whispered to him.
"I will," he nodded.
Cole turned and slipped out into the dark streets. He sprinted down them, staying hidden from the nindroids in the process. He made it to the edge of the city and began wandering into the desert.
"We carry on through the storm, tired soldiers in this war," Cole sung to himself. "Remember what we're fighting for. Meet me on the battlefield, even on the darkest night. I will be your sword and shield, your camouflage, and you will be mine. Echoes of the shots ring out, we may be the first to fall. Everything could stay the same or we could change it all. Meet me on the battlefield."
Cole looked up at the night sky, seeing it clear for once. The stars sparkled above him, and he smiled.
"I'll see you soon, Dash," Cole whispered. "I promise I will."
Kai took deep breaths, trying not to scream. He looked up as Cryptor smashed Kai's metal arm. Every time he hit it, it sent out sparks and shocked him. Kai looked over to Ali, seeing her terrified look. He constantly reminded himself to stay strong for her, to keep her alive.
"It's clearly not working," Zane snapped at him.
"I noticed," Cryptor snapped back.
"Find something else," Zane told him. "Now we'll need to fix his arm."
Cryptor turned and stormed out of the room. Kai grabbed his robot arm, holding it and looking at it. Ali ran to his side, escaping Zane's grasp in the process. Zane growled, but turned and left.
"Are you alright?" Ali asked him.
Kai went silent, and looked at the arm. He looked up at her, seeing her waiting for his answer. Kai took a shaky breath and then spoke quietly.
"They took it from me," Kai said. "When they turned me into "one of them", they took my arm off."
Kai pulled the robot arm away from him, showing the missing arm. Ali gasped, her eyes widening. Kai blinked away tears.
"Is that why you never took it off when you too the mask off," Ali asked him.
"I didn't want anyone to worry," Kai said. "It's too late for that now, though."
"Cole and Dash are still out there," Ali said. "They'll rescue us."
Kai went silent again, looking away. Ali sighed and placed a hand where Kai should have had an arm. Kai flinched, tensing up. Ali sighed, pulling her hand away.
"Not the time," she sighed.
She looked at the robot arm, seeing a few wires flying out of it.
"I don't know much about this," she said. "I'm sorry, but this is a time where I can't help you."
"It's fine," Kai shrugged her off. "I've dealt with it for a while already."
"It's not fine, Kai," Ali told him. "We have to stop them."
Kai looked at the robot arm seeing what still worked. He noticed the laser cutter, rocket launcher and grappling hook all still worked. He looked over at the large window, and saw that there was a building not too far off. Kai smiled and jumped to his feet.
"What are you doing?" Ali asked him.
"Something stupid," Kai smiled.
He clipped his arm back onto him, testing to see if he could move it. He lifted up and cut out a section of the glass. Ali moved beside Kai and felt his arm around her waist. He launched the grappling hook to the other building and made sure she was holding on tightly.
"Let's get out of here," Kai smiled.
He jumped out the window, bringing Ali with him. Ali smiled, feeling the wind on her face again. They landed safely on the next roof, sighing in relief. They had escaped for now, but now they had to get out of there.