The room was vast, a large oak desk near the far wall, bookcases lining the wall behind it. Ornate marble tiles shined on the floor, large oversized pictures of presumably relatives covered the other two walls. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, crystals dancing in the light from the candles.

But as they all looked around one thing stood out. It was empty.

"What the hell? Where is he?" Runo demanded, striding around the room. "You two sure this is the place?" They nodded, while inside they were breathing a sigh of relief. At least they wouldn't be killed before doing their job.

"He's not really important. In fact, this makes it easier. Spread out and try and find anything that could be a controller." Dan commanded, relieved that he wouldn't have to worry about him. But that did pose the question. Where was Barodius? They'd have to find him, that much was obvious. Who knew what he might be doing? Dan walked around the desk, Shun following close behind, the two being the only ones to know where anything was.

"Julie, try the book cases. Files are usually stored there." Shun supplied, sifting through the open desk drawers. He could tell it was the same as from their world, virtually nothing had been touched or changed in two hundred years. As Shun looked around the only thing he could note was the light bulbs must have been changed. That was all there was.

"Alright, what in specific are we looking for?"

"Anything hidden. I'm looking for the key for the control room. It controls every facility there is. If we can get in there we can finish everything."

"Then we'll all look for that."

Those who'd been milling about trying to find anything seemed to be snapped into life, following every movie hint they'd been given over their lives. Tipping books from their shelves, flicking through the to find the cut out section. Moving small items that looked to be placed wrong. Pulling at the carpet for a hidden hatch.

The boys future knowledge was useless, they'd never set foot in the room alone. In their stay at the institute they'd entered the room three times. They hadn't even been close enough to see the title of the books lining the shelves. Dan lifted a control from the third drawer down, his fingers rubbing across the faded buttons.

They had no directions, all worn off from continuous use, but it looked like an ordinary control. Pressing a few buttons Dan lay it back on the desk, continuing with his search. Marucho, held in Alice's arms, was checking out a few of the books on the shelf, everyone having migrated there. Pulling out a book from the top he flicked through, finding nothing remotely interesting inside. As he went to settle it back in its home the shelf shook, sliding from the wall and knocking them all to the floor.

"W-What the hell?" Runo stuttered, staring at it with wide eyes. This wasn't a film, stuff like that didn't exist in the real world.

"Looks like we have a path. But who opened it?" Marucho questioned, scratching at the back of his head. It wasn't his book, and everything else had been useless too. Looking around he caught sight of the discarded control Dan had had. "Dan, could you pass me that?"

The brunette complied, handing over the control. Marucho held it in both hands, turning it over and trying to see if it was anything but ordinary. It appeared to be normal. But one little fact was nagging at him. There were no TVs down here, and aside from a few sparse lights not much electricity. Why was a TV control down here, especially one so worn?

Not saying a word to anyone he stood from the pile, luckily he was on top and luckily for Alice he weighed next to nothing. He tucked the control into one of the deep pockets of his clothes, striding into the hidden passage they'd just unlocked. The light so scarce they could hardly see two foot from their faces.

They stumbled forwards, Shun being the last inside. They'd never seen this room before and their navigations would serve as much as a flies. Just as Shun stepped through the threshold the bookcase slid back into its home, the ends of his hair being nipped at by the old wood as it silently groaned.

They ventured into the passage, each grabbing onto the other.

"Hey Shun."

"Yeah?"

"What if we end up in a dungeon? Or back outside?"

"Dan, first, this place has never had a dungeon second why would he install it just to be sent back to the surface?"

"Lazy?" The brunette offered, not sure why he was thinking such things. Maybe it was just wishful thinking.

"I highly doubt that." The voice was a mixture of Shun and Alice, both not believing the brunette but only one knowing why he wished so.

They quietened down afterwards, the further they travelled the darker it got, if that was even possible, and the closer they felt to danger. The hair on their arms and necks were standing on end, and their footsteps slower.

It took what felt like an eternity to see a speck of light ahead, the light like that of a firefly buzzing in the night. Their paces quickened rapidly, the light growing in size and strength. By the time it filled half of the hall was filled with the golden light the group was blinded, their arms shielding their eyes.

It wasn't too much longer after that that they emerged from the tunnel, the light dimming considerably as they stepped from its beam and under its gaze. Lowering their arms once they deemed it safe the group took in the sight around them. The room was empty of any other life, a single door the only exit they could see. Rows upon rows of lights lined the ceiling, each shooting out concentrated light beams. On the wall was a large monitor cut up into dozens of others, each showing an image of the institute.

They took steps closer to the monitors, seeing no life whatsoever. If this was Barodius' hideout where was he? The monitors showed every room in the institute, from above ground watching over the entrance, to the monitor room itself.

Alice stared closer at the pictures, not sure if they were bare or not. At first glance the halls were deserted, but looking closer she could have sworn she saw movement.

"Guys, I don't think we should stay here for too long, maybe we should be moving on."

"Relax, no one's here. They left this place wide open. Now we just find the thingy and blow this place up." Julie assured, sounding far too happy.

"With us in it?"

"No, why'd you-"

"If someone must stay to destroy the place we'll be the ones to do it." Shun interrupted, stepping forwards as he spoke. It would be a much easier task if they thought they'd died in an explosion. If they could do that then they'd never know the truth.

Dan seemed to be thinking the same as him, nodding his head slightly.

"We're not letting anyone do it. None of us are dying." Alice protested, her voice gaining an edge that left no room for arguing. They deflated, their one chance had been blown away by one girl. It was almost infuriating. "We'll figure something out." She was insisting, clenching her fists with her back to the door that would lead them away. So involved with her belief that she hardly noticed the others paling. None of them speaking a word. "What?" She finally asked after a long silent minute.

"Alice, behind you." Marucho stuttered, raising a hand, not daring to speak as he didn't believe himself.

She turned stiffly, her eyes widening as she stared at a tall man, pale skin bordering on grey and hair so white it looked like snow stared down at her, grinning, his shark like teeth giving him an inhuman look.

"What do we have here? A couple mice have snuck into my home. We'll have to have them exterminated."

Alice backed away, stopping beside her friends and noting the same expressions on their faces.

"This is Barodius?" Julie asked, no names had been given out but she couldn't imagine it being anyone else.

"I see I have a fan, and that you're quite terrified."

"We're not scared of an old geezer like you!" Julie protested, clenching her fists.

"I see, well then, I guess I have to reason to toy with you. Guards, kill them." He commanded to no one, confusion writing itself across the teens faces.

"Who're ya talkin' to pal?"

He didn't answer, spinning on his heels and leaving them in the monitor room. As soon as the door closed behind his back guards filtered into the room, guns at the ready.

"Who points guns at kids?" Runo shouted, still, she huddled closer to her friends, thinking that maybe it would help in some strange way.

"Hands up brats, we're killing you in the name of our emperor." One of the masked guards commanded, levelling his gun on Shun. The black haired teen was impassive, they thought mere guns would take them out?

"Hey, he said hands up." Another guard instructed, pointing his gun towards his too.

"I heard, I just don't care."

"Shun," Marucho hissed, "what're you doing?" He shuffled further back, gulping as guns were shifted to him.

"Why should I listen, what weapon do I have." His voice sounded different, more precise, almost as though he were a solder on the battlefield.

"You'd do well to listen, brat."

"I highly doubt it."

All bar Dan had wide eyes, but the brunette had mirrored him. His face void of a smile, his eyes cold.

"Don't backtalk. Everyone, aim." The guns were levelled on their heads, some having more than one stuck to them. "Fire!"

Quicker than they could blink the two teens swept their feet across the floor, toppling their friends over in the process. Ducking as they did so the bullets shot the other guard, the teens all safe sprawled on the floor.

All bar one bullet struck the guards in their chests or heads, instantly killing them. One bullet though shot into a guard's kneecap, sending him to the floor with a cry of terrible pain.

The two breathed heavy sighs of relief. In his fall he'd dropped his gun, the weapon skidding away. They were safe, for now. The teens stared up at the two with confusion and relief crossing their faces. Shun straightened, standing over the injured guard and glaring down at him.

"Are you going to attempt to hurt us again?" He still sounded far too old, his voice not returning to normal yet.

"W-What the hell are you?"

"You didn't answer his question. Well?"

"No, I couldn't even if I wanted to. My gun's way over there." His voice had risen to one only tangible to dogs, his fingers curling around his busted kneecap.

"If you try, you'll end up like your friends. I promise you that." Dan's eyes narrowed as he glared at the man, distaste clear in them.

"I won't. But, who the hell are you kids? You're not human."

"We are, we've just trained more than you. But superior masters." They both took a deep breath as they stepped from the ring of dead and injured men. Their bodies losing all the tension blocked up in them. "Are you coming? We've got to stop Barodius." Without even waiting for them they took off, into the hall behind the door.

The girl's and Marucho staring after them still in shock.

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