Several days had passed since I had awakened my clone. We had managed to get him acclimated to everyone at the base and this time he loved everyone like he was supposed to. However, things were not nearly the way I wanted them. We were not ready to fight my sister and her Master…we were still too weak.
It was time to get my friends back…before their minds were completely gone. Drago had still not woken up and I had begun to think he never would. Dakota, Sean and Rei stood around mindlessly while Tails, Tai and Nox tried to complete a new serum…but had not managed to do it. Conner seemed to stay with me and Ethan most of the time as he was forced too from his enslavement to me…but Gavin and Cole were around as well…which made me happy. I liked having more friends as the years of loneliness had taken their toll on me.
"Brother…" Ethan said. "Cole and Gavin want me to work out with them…can I go?"
I nodded. "Of course you can. You need to keep bulking up if you ever want to be like me!"
Ethan puffed out his chest and growled. "I am strong! I have the genome serum in me just like you do!"
I laughed. "I also have six years on you. I want you to take Dakota with you and make him lift. He is starting to lose some of his mass."
Ethan sighed. "Ok…I just wish I didn't have to tell him everything to do."
"He deserves to be treated just like everyone else." I said. "No wolf wants to lose their strength."
Ethan nodded. "I'll make sure he does some lifting."
Ethan left with the humans and the wolf…leaving me with Rei and Sean standing in the room looking at nothing in particular. Conner came over and hugged me after a few minutes.
"Master…are you ok?"
"No…this whole mindless slaves issue is starting to wear on me. I want them back…but I don't think it's going to happen…plus…Drago is still out of commission."
"Well…perhaps we should try and bring them out of it again…we know Rei probably won't…but Sean…his mind is there…somewhere."
I called Sean over to me and he obeyed quickly. He knelt in front of me and awaited more commands.
"Sean. I have an important command for you. I want you to remember your past. I want you to break free of your mind control. I know you are still in there somewhere."
Sean looked up at me and frowned.
"This…command…not…understand."
"I want you to break your programming…become my brother again. I want you back."
"Break? This unit doesn't understand. This unit wants to obey."
"You aren't a unit…you are a human boy."
"Boy?" Sean droned. "This unit is a boy? It doesn't understand…this unit is a slave…not a boy."
"No…you are not a slave…you are a human boy…with emotions…feelings…memories."
"This…unit…cannot…complete…." Sean droned.
"Sean…I am your brother…you are not a slave. I am not your Master. I am your brother. Remember."
"I…I…can't…obey…" Sean whimpered. "My…head…hurts…"
He said…I…he didn't say unit…it was working!
I embraced the scared human.
"Sean…I am here for you…remember your past. Remember our friendship. Remember I love you like a real brother…remember all I did for you...all you did for me!"
"N…no…I am here to…obey…I am…I am…"
Sean moaned loudly and went stiff.
"This unit has fought off the attempt to corrupt it and its mission. This unit is at acceptable performance levels again."
I grunted. This wasn't working the way I'd hoped.
I called for Cole…he had done this…but it wasn't really all his fault. However, I had come up with an idea…it would probably make things harder Sean in the short term…but long term it would be beneficial to him.
Cole came back from working out within a few minutes and gave me a small bow.
"You called for me?" Cole asked. "What can I do for you? I am currently trying to teach your brother to actually fight."
I glared for a minute….then realized how bad of a fighter I was when I first had the genome therapy done.
"You can continue with that in a few minutes. I want you use your abilities and wipe out Sean's mind…completely. Leave nothing at all…he will be nothing but an empty canvas…something that I can form into my own image."
"As you wish." Cole said as he walked over to Sean. "You know I cannot fix this once I do it. The Nanos will eat away everything…"
"Do it. He isn't Sean anymore as it is."
"Are you sure that Sean would want this?" Cole stated.
"I don't know…but I know he wouldn't want what he is right now."
Cole did as I commanded and I watched him wipe Sean's mind within minutes. I felt sick…but what else could I do? If this worked…perhaps I could do it to Rei and Dakota as well…
Cole walked the mind wiped boy over to me with great difficulty and smiled.
"Done. Good luck Master…he's your problem now."
Cole took the tendril from Sean's neck and he gasped and looked around the room in awe.
"I am going to go back and spar your brother some more. He certainly is you…fighting style and all."
Sean said nothing as he was enamored by his surroundings and I was left with Conner, Rei and Dakota…I hoped Conner could actually be of some use as he is the one that brought Sean to us.
"Conner, are you going to help me with Sean, or am I going to do it by myself?"
Conner looked over at me and then walked over to me. "I can…maybe…I'm not sure what I can do."
I turned to my poor human friend and sighed. "Sean? Can you hear me?"
Sean kept looking around the room and did not respond. His mind was wiped…he obviously didn't know his name anymore.
"Hey! You! Can you hear me?" I shouted at Sean.
Sean looked over at me and cocked his head to one side. He seemed to understand English.
"Can you understand me?"
Sean kept staring at me.
"You are Sean….that is your name…can you say it?"
The human looked down at himself.
"Yes…you…" I pointed at Sean. "You are Sean."
Sean pointed at himself. "Sean…me…Sean?"
"Yes. That is your name."
"N…name?" Sean mumbled in a confused tone.
"Yes…your name…we all have names…this is Conner…and I am Elias."
Sean's head shot up and his eyes flashed with recognition. My name…or Conner's…must have jarred something in his old programming…this could be very beneficial.
"Elias and Conner control this unit….but this unit has no memory….no commands. This unit needs to be reprogrammed."
"First…you are no longer a unit. You are now fully human. Allow the nanomachines to completely take that from your mind."
Sean closed his eyes and gasped. "It is done. I am fully human again but I have no memory. I will listen to your commands…please tell me what and who I am. My mind will imprint your words."
I explained everything I knew about Sean and he listened and nodded to everything I said…however I wanted to change things a little bit as I wanted him to care about me like he had before the mess happened…when it was just Tai, Drago and Sean.
"Sean…you remember that we are close correct?"
"Yes…you told me we were."
"Good. We are brothers right?"
"Yes…we are brothers…I remember what you told me."
"Right. So we are close?" I said.
"Brothers." He repeated.
"Brothers can be close and we were close…you never wanted to leave my side…you wanted to be near me all the time…not being with me will made you ill. You wanted me to be with you forever. I am the only one that matters…everyone else is your friend…but I am your family. We are blood brothers forever."
Conner frowned at stepped between me and Sean.
"Elias, don't you think you should just give him normal memories? I mean…this is what I did to you…almost exactly. You are going to force him to love you."
I sighed. "You are right Conner…but we need him on our side…he liked me a lot…I'll just make it a little less like overkill."
"Sean, you do not have to be near me all the time…you will not feel sick if we aren't near…I want you to be my brother, but I want you to have the choice. Is that understood?"
"Brothers…understand…"
"Good, that is everything…you are no longer under my control."
"It…will…take…me…time…" Sean said slowly. "My…mind...fragmented…must put…together."
"I understand Sean, but you are free to do it how you want. You have no one controlling you anymore."
"No…one…controlling…me…" Sean droned. "No…one…controlling…me?"
"That is right Sean, you are now free."
"Free? What…does…that…mean?" Sean said confused.
"It means that you have your own will and choices you make are your own."
After I said that I understood what Conner had meant. I had almost done exactly the same thing he had done to me.
"I…don't think…I…I can do that…I need…commands…to be…ordered…" Sean said.
"No. You are free. You are not anyone's slave!"
"I'm…free…" Sean mumbled. "But you…are…prince right?" Sean asked.
"Yes…I am Acornian royalty…but that really means nothing right now. People indeed follow me, but I prefer it to be willingly…not by force."
Sean nodded. "I want to follow you…willingly…can…can I…do that?"
"I will not tell you that you must. If you chose not to, I will not force you." I said.
"We…we are brothers…right?" Sean asked.
"Yes…we became close over the past few months…close enough to call each other a brother. Your actual brother has turned against us and mind controlled all of Knothole."
"That…sounds…bad…is he…bad?"
"I think he is although it's hard to hate him…he controlled me for a time…although I'm not sure if he is acting under his own power…he might be controlled."
Sean didn't say anything for a few minutes…I was almost ready to see if he had gone into a coma standing up…but he finally spoke again.
"So…I…I want…to follow you…brother…help…help my real brother…"
I smiled. "thank you Sean."
"Can…you…help…me…learn…talk…better?" Sean said.
"I can do whatever you want me to do."
Sean smiled.
"Thank you….brother…I…happy."
I had done it…sort of…Sean would eventually be functional again…even if not how he was before…Sean walked over to me and embraced me tightly. I returned the embrace and he put his head on my chest.
"Brother…I have…little…knowledge…can…can…you…help…me…re…learn?"
"I will or one of the others will…there are plenty of people here to help you."
Conner coughed to get our attention. "Master…I will be glad to help Sean in whatever he asks."
"Brother…Elias…why…he…call you…Master? What…does…that…mean?"
"I will answer if you allow me Master."
I nodded.
"Thank you. I am his slave by choice to pay for my crimes. He is my Master and I obey him. You are not a slave anymore Sean…you are free. Do not allow your developing mind to be confused into thinking not having free will is normal."
"Ok…I…get…it…" Sean said. "I…think…"
Sean turned to me suddenly. "Brother…me…so…tired…can…sleep?"
"Of course you can rest. Your mind and body has been through a ton. Get some rest. I'll come check on you later."
I called for Gavin and he appeared at the doorway within a few seconds.
"Gavin, take Sean to his room. Show him around a little before so he doesn't get lost."
"He's functioning again?" Gavin said excitedly. "That is amazing!"
However before the two boys could leave the room Tails came running in the room…his eyes were wide and he seemed a bit concerned.
"Master…there is a message going out from Knothole…"
I went and got all of the clan together and we went with Tails to the command center. Tails sat down at the old radio and then turned around to discuss this oddity.
"Why would Knothole be using the radio…Robotnik will know…unless…Carson is trying to bring him out…but why would he do that?" Cole said.
"Perhaps its encoded…only for Freedom Fighter radio signals…" I said. "We used them a ton at the beginning…before the forces were so weakened.
"This…bad?" Sean said.
"I don't know Sean…but we need to listen and find out. I'm sure Tails didn't want to do it without asking first."
"Correct Master."
"Ok…let's hear it." I commanded.
Tails nodded and flipped the switch. The big radio hummed to life and began to emit a serious of tones that I didn't recognize. Robotnik wouldn't know what it was…which was a relief…I didn't want my few friends…and sister to be taken.
"Anybody recognize it?" I asked. "Gavin? Is it a human code?"
Gavin shook his head. "None I've ever heard."
Suddenly I noticed Nox and Tails acting strange.
"Tails…what is wrong?" I asked.
I received no answer…only a moan.
"Nox? Are you ok?"
Only a growl in response.
"Someone turn that damn radio off!" I screamed. Conner quickly turned it off but the damage was done as Nox, Tails, Gavin and Ethan were affected by whatever that signal was trying to do.
Tails stood up…although he was hunched and his tails drooped. His eyes were glassy as well…it was clear the signal had done something to his mind.
"I…must…go…" Tails said in a low voice. "I…have…been…chosen…"
Nox shoved me aside with a growl. "You are…not…a chosen one…move aside…let us….go…"
"Chosen? What are you…" I said until Gavin pushed by me.
"Heard the call…chosen…" Gavin said in a droning voice. "Do…not…interfere…"
Ethan tried to pass me but I grabbed him by a tuft of fur and pulled him back around to face me.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"Called…must…go…" Ethan droned. I knocked him out quickly and ran to get Tails before he was gone, but before I ran I turned to the unaffected members of my clan. "Don't let them get away! We can't afford to lose them!"
Conner and Sean grabbed Nox but he threw them off of him and knocked them to the floor. Conner jumped back up and tackled him to the ground.
"Do…not…interfere…don't…want…to…kill…friends…"
"Nox…fight it!" Conner yelled…but to no avail as Nox flung Conner off and knocked him out. Gavin had escaped almost immediately…but Tails was slower moving and I caught up to him.
"Tails…stop…obey me…I am your Master." I said.
Tails stopped.
"No…not anymore…I was…chosen…" Tails droned and began walking again.
"No you weren't…you are my slave and I command you to stop."
Tails stopped again, although he was shaking.
"M…master…please…stop…I must…go…I've heard…the call…I…have to go."
I wasn't going to deal with this…we lost Nox and Gavin already…I punched Tails hard and knocked him out as I did my clone. I wasn't losing either of them. They were too important.
I had to get the others back…I ran into the main hall and yelled for Gavin as he was running out the door. He stopped momentarily…just long enough for me to tackle him.
"Elias…get…off…I…MUST…go…" Gavin growled as he flipped me to the ground. I tried to reverse it, but he was stronger than me in this state.
"I…am…sorry…Elias…" Gavin growled…
I closed my eyes but death didn't come. I heard his fist hit beside my head.
"Please…let me go…will kill you…urge…too…great…"
"I can't let you go…we need you." I pleaded.
"I…have…been…called…no longer…serve…you…"
Cole slipped behind us and knelt down. Gavin did not hear him but I gave Cole permission to wipe his mind, which he did.
Gavin turned and knocked Cole down.
"I cannot…be…denied…I…must…go…"
Gavin stood and kicked me in the side…I felt a rib crack…
Gavin then ran out the door…I had failed…again.
Cole stood over me and assisted me in getting off the floor.
"Master…are you ok?"
"No…I have failed again. Nox and Gavin are gone…Tails and Ethan are probably going to go before today is out…we are going to lose…we will have no one left."
Cole sighed. "Tails had heard a distress signal…you thought perhaps it was something we needed to check…that was the correct call to make…how were you to know he had created a signal that could control minds."
"Thankfully not everyone's mind was taken." I said.
"We can get them back." Cole said. I will go if you command.
"Your abilities didn't help…so…not sure what you can do. We know nothing about this right now."
"Plus…Carson will know we are back here…we have to leave." I said. "Again."
Cole shook his head. "Those boys have no idea where we are…and their minds are set to find their new Master…they aren't going to be able to tell him anything. They have one thing on their minds and it isn't a location of a base."
I had Cole pick up Tails and take him to his bed…when we arrived Tai had already brought in Ethan.
"Brother…what are we going to do with them? They are not going to be happy we've detained them from their objective." Tai said worriedly.
"Bring Ethan to my quarters. Tie down Tails. Guard him. Do not let him loose. I want all of you to stay with him…except Cole and Tai. Conner…you are in charge here."
"I won't let you down." Conner said.
Cole and Tai drug Ethan to my room and put him on the bed. I fought some rope on the way and tied his arms and legs to the bed. I hated to do it…but he'd try to escape the second he woke up.
We waited a few minutes and Ethan began to wake up. He began to fight against the restraints almost immediately.
"Release…me…" Ethan growled. "I've…been…called…I…must…go…" Ethan fought against the restraints a few more minutes and then screamed. "I…MUST…GO!"
I knelt down beside my clone and rubbed his incredibly tense body and tried to calm him.
"Ethan…calm down…you cannot go. Why do you want to leave us?"
"Been…summoned…I…must..obey…I…must…obey…" Ethan began breathing heavily and chanting the words 'I must obey' over and over.
"Cole…go to the medical center and get me a tranquilizer. We can't let him stay this way."
"It will be done."
I looked back to my brother who was still muttering over and over that he had to obey.
Then I remembered that I could control him…maybe…in this state it was possible that it wouldn't work…but I had to try.
"Ethan, you must obey MY words. Remember who you obey."
Ethan stopped mumbling and went still. I looked at him lying on the bed and could tell he was under my control…but I wondered how long it would last.
"What happened to you Ethan? Why did you try and leave? What is going on?"
"Cannot…resist…the call…" Ethan droned. "Release me…I…cannot resist…the call…I…was…summoned. Please…let me go…the pain of being away from my summoner pains me…please…let me…go…"
Ethan then began to try and break free again…he was back to mumbling that he had to obey.
I really had no clue what to do…I wasn't even sure what had caused them to go crazy. Nothing seemed to break the command given to them…Cole had even tried to wipe Gavin's mind and it didn't work.
Ethan broke his left hand free and I had to hold him down.
"I…must…go…" Ethan kept repeating. "Let me go….I must obey."
Cole came back with the tranquilizer and within a few minutes he calmed….
"Now…Ethan…who summoned you? Can you tell me?"
"The Master."
Well that didn't help.
"Who…who is the Master?"
"Human…blue eyes…must…find him…in Knothole…let me go…"
I had assumed it was Carson, but I was afraid that Robotnik had taken over and was luring other Mobians to their deaths…it was almost a relief that it was Carson.
"No, you aren't going anywhere. As a matter of fact I am going to make you sleep, and hopefully when you wake, this will all be over."
Ethan began to shake and ripped one of his legs free.
"No…I will not be. Detained."
I took the syringe of tranquilizer and injected all of it into his system, but he didn't calm down. Ethan ripped his one tied arm free then untied his other leg. I didn't want to hurt him, but it was going to happen if the drug didn't take effect.
"Master…he isn't your brother right now…remember that…don't let him escape…you are going to have to hurt him!"
"I am going to give the drugs time to take effect….He…."
I couldn't finish my sentence as my clone tackled me to the ground.
"I…will…not…be…detained…" Ethan then looked at the door and back to me. "Where…is…exit…? Tell me…tell….."
Ethan collapsed on top of me….those drugs took forever to hit his system. It must have had to do with the genome serum we had inside us.
I picked him up and took him back to the hidden lab. I opened the chamber I had found him in and put him back inside. I then hooked him back up to the system and hoped perhaps the computer could give me some type of clue to what happened to their minds.
The computer analyzed him and then gave me a readout on his condition. The boy's mind had been altered by the radio waves as I had figured…the computer said it could attempt to reprogram him, but the process could erase his personality. He would be nothing but a shell if it failed.
I found that I could block the signal until I could stop it…but he would not be normal during this time. He would be tied to voice commands like a robot, but his mind would be safe from being erased. I decided to do that for the time being. The computer hummed in acknowledgement and then the chamber was filled with an odd light…
After a few seconds it was over and the computer had also cleansed his body of the drugs, so he would be easy to wake. If this worked…I planned on trying this on Tails…and really, anyone else…perhaps this was the way to solve all my control problems.
I opened the chamber and lifted Ethan out and put him on the chair beside the computer station.
"Ethan. Wake up." I commanded.
Ethan's eyes shot open and he sat up straight in the chair.
"Can you speak while like this?"
Ethan cocked his head to one side and then nodded.
"If commanded to speak I can speak." He said dully. Very Robotic.
"How is your head? Do you still hear the voice calling to you?" I asked.
Ethan shook his head. "I can only hear you at this time. My head is functioning normally."
Suddenly an idea hit me.
Drago. I could fix him.
But…I needed to hurry and change that signal…but I'd need help…
I ran to grab Drago and I drug his heavy butt back into the lab. Ethan was still sitting at attention.
"Ethan help me get him into the chamber."
Ethan stood and stiffly came and assisted me.
"Thank you Ethan. You may sit back down."
Ethan nodded and returned to the chair.
I had the computer scan my poor friend and I crossed my fingers.
The computer scan seemed to take hours, but it finally completed with a pleasant tone. I read the data and I was quickly saddened. It told me that Drago's mind was permanently damaged from its robotification. He would never recover on his own and would probably stay enslaved forever. However the computer said I could use the genome serum on him and make him into a loyal warrior. The computer would be able to scan what memories he still had and give him a fictitious past based on it. He would never know the difference.
It was a hard choice, as Drago's past was not something I wanted to take from him….but I wanted him to have a life…at this point he wouldn't have one. I activated the program and waited for Drago's new persona to be created. The computer said it would take a few minutes so I went to check on Tails. Rei, Conner, Tai and Sean were watching him, but he was still knocked out from before.
I was glad he was still out of it. I asked Rei and Sean to come with me, and I took them back to the lab.
The computer was making completion noises when I returned. I acknowledged the completion and the chamber opened. Drago wasn't much bigger, but you could tell the serum had made him much stronger…I hoped it had made him smarter too, but I couldn't ask for everything to come out perfect.
"Brother...you've saved me…I'm...so…strong…so smart now!" Drago bear hugged me right in front of everyone and I couldn't help but smile. Drago as back and he wasn't a slave anymore. I had done it.
"Whatever you want me to do…I'll do it! No questions! I am in your debt forever!" Drago said as he puffed his powerful chest. "I will not allow anyone to hurt you!"
"I am going to see Tai…I smell him…I have missed him so much!"
I smiled again. It was nice to see him back.
I ordered Rei into the chamber…I was bound and determine to save everyone the best I could. This machine had been a god send…I wondered how Father knew this would come in useful…the cloning creation chamber basically gave new life to even those already alive.
I had Rei scanned and the computer gave me what I already knew. Rei was no longer capable of having true free will from the Robotification of his brain. However, the computer could piece together parts of his humanity…and make him partially free like he was before…however it could not make him completely free…but I could also make him into a completely mindless killing machine if I wanted. I didn't want to do it…but we needed someone that could kill with no remorse.
He would be forever like Ethan was currently…could I willingly do it to him?
Then I decided to try cloning Rei…perhaps if I did that…he could live….and I could have my cold killer.
I had the computer save Rei's DNA and the computer scanned and took what was needed from Rei. Then I activated the program and made Rei completely cold and controlled.
Rei walked out of the chamber with his chest puffed and all of his muscles tensed. He looked me in the eye then bowed in front of me.
"My Lord." Rei droned. "Instruct me. Teach me. I will obey. I am your personal bodyguard."
"Good, you will have a mission soon, I have several things to finish here."
"Thank you my Lord." Rei droned again. "I will await further instruction."
I looked at the computer and it was ready to clone Rei, but I wanted to put Sean in the chamber first, so I moved it aside and put Sean in next. The cloning would take days and I didn't have the time…yet.
Sean was scanned and the computer informed me that it could rebuild his mind and he would be back to normal, however the program could make him better it said. I kept checking and it informed me it could make him into a were-human…a much stronger version of himself…and he'd be more Mobian…more like my brother…
I immediately allowed the computer to do this and it confirmed he would be able to change into a werewolf and he would treat me as the Alpha Male. Sean was quickly changed and released…
The only difference seemed to be his eyes were yellow and his canines seemed sharper…he was a little bit better built too.
Sean sniffed the air. "Brrrotherrr…I…feel…so…alive…thank you. I am myself again…if it wasn't for you I'd never have returned."
I couldn't believe it had worked…while I had to manipulate them a little, I have done what I needed to do.
"Ethan, stand up."
Ethan stood quickly.
"Bring Tails to me."
Ethan nodded and went to get my friend.
Ethan returned after a few minutes and I had him placed into the chamber.
The computer scanned Tails and the result was not what I wanted.
Tails's mind was shattered. Most of what made him who he was had been destroyed by the latest attack on his mind. I would have to do the same thing to him I had done to Ethan…until we were able to reverse that signal. I allowed the computer to put the block in his mind and then released him.
"Tails, come to me."
Tails walked out of the chamber and his twin tails drug the ground. He was completely numb to the outside world.
"Tails, can you talk?"
Tails did not answer me. He only looked at me with his dull eyes.
"Tails, can you still fight in this condition?"
Tails nodded slowly.
"Good, I want you to stay attached to Conner, you may obey his commands in my absence."
Tails nodded in understanding.
"Cole…I want you and Tai to come with me. Everyone else, take up battle stations incase Robotnik sends someone while I am gone.
I looked at Ethan standing up and changed my mind.
"Ethan, come with me as well."
I looked at Conner, Sean, Dakota and Drago and begged them to stay safe.
"Don't worry brother, we will be fine!"
I sighed. I would worry.
Rei began to follow us as well. He had said he was now my bodyguard and I guess that meant he was going too.
We left the base and headed toward Knothole, I had to change that signal…we needed Tails and Ethan back.
"Master, I take I you brought me to control anyone that might get in our way."
I nodded. "You are exactly right Cole. We have a way solve the mind control now so it isn't as big of worry now."
"Your father had many ideas for controlling his army as you well know. That was probably his scientist's last creation before the invasion. Having it is a game changer for your side…but even you are controlling people's thoughts now. Isn't that against your ideals?"
"Everything we are doing goes against my ideals…fighting is against my ideals as I found out…but Father took that away…however…I can feel it deep down. What I have to do to save our people is most important."
Cole nodded. "You have to do what it takes or you won't win. These people don't mess around and you can't either."
Rei and Tai suddenly stopped.
"Prince…I hear something…up ahead…"
We slowed down and attempted to see what was going on without being seen…once we get near the noise we were horrified.
"It is probably two hundred Mobians…all types of them! They are all walking towards Knothole!"
I saw Nox and Gavin in the group walking. They were all controlled by Carson…they all walked in step and said nothing. It was fairly unsettling.
I turned to my friends…I had an idea.
"Wait here for me. If I do not return by morning I want Rei to come search for me…the rest of you will return home."
"But Elias…" Tai whimpered. "Why can't we go with you?"
"Because I am going to sneak in with these mindless drones…we can't all go."
"But wasn't Ethan called? Can't you take him?" Cole asked.
"He was…but I am not sure I can order him quick enough for him to be useful."
Rei grunted. "We wait."
Everyone nodded.
"Good luck brother." Tai said. "Don't die…please…"
I smiled.
"I don't plan on it."