Here's the next chapter

Agent BM: Glad to know your liking it so far

Mangle6: The question isn't if the plans going to work…it's are they even going to reach that point

Ch.28 Last Hope Part II: Setback

(Where we left off)

Lodhi, Torvald and Phipps would walk down to Lodhi's lab

Crumeblina would be shocked seeing Torvald. "Torvald…I thought you were dead…"

"No…Vanellope thought me rotting in a cell after witnessing everyone else die was a better punishment…"

Lodhi would go over to Heinz who'd be looking at a clipboard

"How's Candlehead doing?"

"Her burns are healing…but at a very slow pace…"

"Atleast it's vorking…" Lodhi would head over to his large computer

He'd hook it into a large table

A large hologram of the castle's layout would appear above it

"So Torvald…vere exactly is ze code room?" Lodhi would ask

Torvald would point to it. "It's behind Vanellope's throne…do you have a layout of the throne room?"

"Yes…" With a few short clicks the layout of the throne room would appear on the hologram

Torvald would point to behind the throne. "Zoom in…it's right behind the throne behind 2 large curtains

"Of course it's in the throne room…most heavily guarded room…is there even a way to get in there without being noticed?" Phipps would ask

Crumbelina would turn around and look at the 3. "Wait what kind of plan do you have?"

Torvald would look at Lodhi. "Yea what is your plan?"

Lodhi would hold up a round blue glowing bomb. "Let's say…it took some luck…and a little blood shed…"

-Flashback a few hours earlier-

Lodhi would be sneaking through the castle when he stumble upon Sour Bill's room and seeing him holding something glowing

"Vot do ve have here?" Lodhi would stand beside the doorway as Sour Bill would talk to himself

"If she goes too far…I can make things right…this should free everyone from Vanellope's corruption…and hopefully either eradicate the dark side of Vanellope…or knock her out long enough to be apprehended…"

"Zen I'll be taking it…" Lodhi would suddenly grab the object and jump into a nearby vent

Sour Bill would go to chase him when Vanellope would walk in rage in her eyes

"Where is it Bill?"

"W-w-w-where's what?"

"I know you've been working on something…something that would hand victory to the others…I want it…now…"

"I don't have anything of the sort!"

"Then I'll make sure you never will…" She'd pick up the little sour ball by both arms and carry him out towards the kitchen

Lodhi would go to the kitchen through the vents and would watch as Vanellope would carry Sour Bill to a large cauldron of boiling water

"Princess please! Don't kill me! I've been nothing but loyal to you!"

"This isn't just about you betrayal…"

"Then what is it about then?!"

"You have outlived your usefulness…I've mastered the code despite you barely teaching me…I know you tried to limit my knowledge of it…also…betrayal is always punished by death…"

Vanellope would grin evilly

"NO!" Sour Bill would scream

"Goodbye…" Vanellope would drop him into the cauldron

Sour Bill would surface screaming only for a large lid to be slammed down on top of him cutting off any escape

He'd scream as Vanellope would have 2 guards hold the lid down

"Let him out and you'll join him…" Vanellope would warn as she'd walk away

Both guards would nervously look at one another

Lodhi would crawl away in the vents

"He's dead…but atleast I still have zis…" He'd look at the object. "Might need Phipps to figure out exactly vot zis is…"

-End Flashback-

"You sure it wasn't a set up Lodhi?"

"No…her intent vas clear…she vonted Bill dead…and she's knows zis exists…-he'd hold up the bomb-…vich means she'll be eager to find it…"

"Why not use it now?" Crumbelina would ask

Phipps would look at her. "After studying this object we realized it's a special type of bomb that Sour Bill only made as a last resort…it has to be detonated in the code room…which is why Sour Bill made it specifically for himself…since only he, Vanellope…-he'd look at Torvald-… and you knew had to gain access to the code room…"

"So your plan is to find a way into the code room…plant that bomb…and pray Sour Bill knew what he was doing when making it?" Crumbelina would ask

"Kinda…" Phipps would respond

"Don't you think we're putting too much faith in luck?"

Lodhi would turn to her. "You have a better option on ze table? Cause ve are in a dire situation…Vanellope holds nearly all ze cards…she knows someone has ze bomb Sour Bill made…and now viz Torvald no longer in ze Fungeon…she knows she's made new enemies…"

"You do realize getting anywhere close to the throne room will take not only fighting her…but also every single guard there is?"

"Ve're vorking on zat part…"

"What do you mean?" Torvald would ask

"We'll explain later…" Phipps would answer

Swizzle and Rancis would suddenly walk through the front door. "Lodhi? You in here?"

"Down here…" Lodhi would state

They'd head towards the lab as Phipps would unhook the computer from the table and shut it down

Heinz and Berger would take Torvald to a small room concealed behind a large book shelf

Crumbelina would quickly lay on one of the 2 tables beside Lodhi's desk pretending to be out cold

Lodhi would stand beside the tank with Candlehead in it watching a monitor

Swizzle and Rancis would enter the lab

"What are you doing Lodhi?" Rancis would ask

"Testing my healing tank…"

"And why are you doing that on Candlehead?"

"Simple…needed a test subject…she had horrific injuries…and since she'll be fully healed ven I take her out of it…I'll have 2 test subjects vich means I'll be able to do experiments faster…"

Swizzle would look over at Heinz and Berger standing infront of the book shelf

"And what are your assistants up to?"

"Research…I've started vorking on a formula zat in zeory should bring Adorabeezle and Annie out of zier comas…but it's more zen a 1 person job…"

"Ok…"

Phipps would stand infront of the large monitor close to Crumbelina. "So what brings you 2 here…and why do you 2 look shaken up?"

"Someone or something broke into the Fungeon…killed all the gaurds in the Fungeon…took Torvald and disappeared…all security cameras were dead…so we don't know who did it…"

"Maybe it was Akio?"

"No…guards have been chasing him for the past hour…"

"I assume Vanellope vasn't pleased?"

"She wasn't…and seeing how you 2 are the only other racers in the game when it happened…we have high reason to think it was both of you…"

Lodhi would look over his shoulder. "You really zink I'd leave an ongoing experiment to do somesing suicidal?"

"Well no…" Rancis and Swizzle would begin backing up

"And you really think I'd help the leader of the group that put my sister in a coma?" Phipps would cross his arms pretending to be enraged

"N-n-no of course not! We were just following protocol…" Rancis would raise his hands abit

"Vell you should take your protocol somevere else…before I really get mad…" Lodhi would glare at them

Rancis and Swizzle would gulp

"Trust me…what he has planned for Crumbelina and Candlehead…would make you wish you died…"

Rancis and Swizzle would quickly nod and race out of the Chalet

Swizzle would wipe his forehead. "Am I the only one who though they were being deadly serious?"

"N-no…common…let's go see if any of the fans know anything…"

They'd both walk towards the village

Phipps would watch them through a security camera

"Zat didn't actually vork…" Lodhi would try and fail to suppress his laughter

"No wonder Vanellope is constantly enraged…some of her own minions are incompetent…" Phipps would laugh

Heinz and Berger would move the bookshelf and Torvald would leave the room

"Don't start laughing…if Vanellope hasn't gotten anyone soon…this game is going on lockdown…"

Both boys would look at her. "Really?"

Crumbelina would sit up. "Yea…she did it once before…"

"Ven?"

"2 months ago…after the first tournament…while Candlehead and Gloyd were on the run…I tampered with the codes of Adorabeezle, Jubileena and Snowanna…trying to free them from Vanellope's corruption…but while I left…I saw a file besides Vanellope's throne…had all her plans on it…I took it…but a camera spotted me leaving the castle…luckily it was dark enough for me only to be seen as an outline on the castle wall…but the game went on lockdown for 2 weeks…during that time...almost no one left their homes…everyone's phones were bugged…and there were guards everywhere…"

Lodhi and Phipps would look at one another. "Damn…"

(Meanwhile)

Marcy would walk back into the game followed closely by Nougetsia, Snowanna and Jubileena pushing Citrusella's wheelchair

"That was a fun night…but I'm going to head to bed now…" Marcy would state

"I'll come join you…" Nougetsia would state as her phone would vibrate along with the phones of Snowanna and Jubileena

They'd all look at Marcy.

"What?"

"While we were gone someone busted into the Fungeon and got Torvald out…she wants to see us immediately…"

"Ok…"

Snowanna and Nougetsia would run down the bridge as Jubileena would look at Marcy. "Mine taking Citrusella back to my place?"

"Sure…"

"Thanks…" Jubileena would take off after Snowanna and Nougetsia

Marcy would push Citrusella towards Jubileena's house

"Honest answer…did you know that was going to happen?" Citrusella would ask

"Of course not…"

"Really? It seems strange that you invited all the girls out…then that happens…"

"So I'm a suspect?"

"Of course…"

A syringe would suddenly pierce go in Citrusella's arm and inject a serum that would knock her out almost instantly

Marcy would tap her head then look at the empty syringe. "Luckily you always have a backup plan Lodhi…"

She'd open Jubileena's door

She'd push Citrusella into the living room

She'd turn on the T.V and switch it to Citrusella's favorite channel

She'd then leave the house in a hurry

(Meanwhile)

Vanellope would sit on her throne holding Taffyta's severed head

She'd grin evilly remembering Taffyta's screams of pain

Jubileena, Nougetsia and Snowanna would walk in and kneel infront of the stairs leading to her throne

"You summoned us Princess?"

Swizzle and Rancis would enter and kneel beside them

Vanellope would place Taffyta's head beside the others

As usual she'd be completely concealed in darkness

"With what Rancis and Swizzle found out…and the use of common sense and logic…I figured out who tried to throw a wrench into my plans…"

"Who?" They'd all ask in unison

"Lodhi, Phipps, Akio…and Marcy…" Jubileena, Snowanna and Nougetsia would look up in shock

"T-that can't be!"

"Let me explain…" Vanellope would silence them

They'd look at the ground as they'd continue to kneel

"Marcy took you all out to Tappers…as a means of distraction…during that time Akio drew most of the guards away from the castle by blowing up the gate…Phipps hacked into the castle's security systems and caused the malfunction…during all that…Lodhi broke into the Fungeon…killed the guards…freed Torvald…and most likely used Gloyd's tunnels as an escape route…"

"Why would they try something so foolish?" Rancis would ask

"It wasn't foolish Flugs…Torvald is the only person that knows the in and outs of the code room besides me…they knew if I were to break her…there would be no stopping me…"

"What are your orders?" Jubileena would ask

"Get Lodhi, Phipps and Marcy and put them in separate interrogation rooms…"

"What about Akio?"

"He lost the guards in the forest…but the more he leaves that mod forbidden place he will be caught…"

"What about Crumbelina and Candlehead?"

"Swizzle will watch over them…I intend to alter Lodhi's code…he's too dangerous to have free will…the others I will talk to…"

All 5 racers would nod as Swizzle would suddenly hold his head

"Something wrong Swizzle?"

"Just a headache…nothing major…citizen just hit me over the head with a bat…"

"Hmm…" Everyone minus Rancis would look at him suspiciously

"No this time I can't really vouch for him…I was there when it happened…the citizen was disposed of…"

"Ok then…now…round up those 3…I'm eager to have a chat with them…"

Rancis, Swizzle, Snowanna, Jubileena and Nougetsia would nod and leave

(A few minutes later)

Crumbelina would sleep as Lodhi and Phipps would pull Candlehead out of the tank and lay her on the table

"She's fully healed?" Phipps would ask

"Yes…ven she vakes I'll run some tests…"

Rancis, Swizzle and Snowanna would suddenly walk in guns drawn

"Zat v'ont be possible…" Rancis would imitate Lodhi's accent and mispronunciations

Lodhi and Phipps would turn around

"What do you want?" Phipps would ask

"Don't play dumb with us…you used me!" Snowanna would shout angered beyond belief

"Do you have any proof zat ve did anysing?" Lodhi would ask

"Like we'd tell you…now put your hands up…before we take you to Vanellope in body bags…" Rancis would state

Lodhi and Phipps would silently turn around and raise their hands

Rancis would put handcuffs on Lodhi as Snowanna would slam Phipps head against the table

"You asshole…" She'd state

"I didn't use you Snowanna…I didn't even do anything…"

"Save it!" Rancis and Snowanna would drag Lodhi and Phipps out

Swizzle would look at Lodhi's 4 assistants at the bookshelf

"Torvald…I know your there…"

Torvald would hesistantly come out her arms raised

Swizzle would put his gun back in it's holster. "You can put your arms down…"

"Your tricking me…" Torvald would state

"No…Sour Bill freed me from Vanellope's control late last night…said he was working something to free everyone else…haven't seen him since…"

"Because Vanellope killed him…and how can I tell your not tricking me?"

Swizzle would hand her his gun. "Like Lodhi you can tell when people are lying…have I really been lying to you?"

Torvald would hug him tight. "Thank god your back…"

"I wouldn't get happy just yet…Lodhi, Phipps and Marcy are being brought it…if Vanellope does do anything…Lodhi will be her mindless servant…and Marcy and Phipps will be lucky if they have any free will…"

"I know what to do…Lodhi had it planned perfectly…"

"What did he think of?" Swizzle would ask

"I can't tell just yet…I'll have to go through his and Phipps notes…" She'd pick up a clipboard

"Mine atleast showing me?"

Torvald would reach under Lodhi's desk and pull out the blue glowing bomb. "This is what Sour Bill was working on…let's hope it works…"

(Meanwhile)

Marcy would be drinking a glass of water in her kitchen when Jubileena would barge in followed closely by Nougetsia

"I have a doorbell for a reason you know…" She'd state as Jubileena would raise her gun

"Your coming with us…" Jubileena would state

"For what?" Marcy would ask

"You know exactly what…" Jubileena would hit her over the ehad with her gun knocking Marcy to the ground

"Cuff her Nougetsia…"

Nougetsia would silently put the cuffs on Marcy. "I trusted you Marcy…" She'd state

"I didn't do anything Nougetsia…"

Jubileena would lift Marcy to her feet and push her out of the mansion

Nougetsia would follow silently feeling betrayed

(A few minutes later)

Akio would sit in a tree next to the Royal raceway and watch his 3 siblings be dragged into the castle. "Not good…" He'd say to himself

He'd open his phone and make a call

"Ralph? It's Akio…I'm gonna ask you to do a really big favor for me…"

(A few minutes later)

Lodhi, Phipps and Marcy would find themselves in 3 separate interrogation rooms

Each would have one of their wrists chained to the table

Phipps would sigh

Marcy would look at the table silently

Lodhi would look at the table as the door would slowly open

He'd look up to see Vanellope staring back at him coldly

"It's about time we had a little chat…"

She'd walk in and close the door behind her

End Ch.28

The situation grows dire

But Torvald has something that just might save the day

Will Lodhi, Phipps and Marcy leave the castle as their normal selves or as mindless servants?

What "favor" does Akio want Ralph to do?

So many questions so little time

Stay tuned for the next chapter