Chapter 11: The Hideaway

The next morning, Dark wakes up early. He sees his mom cooking some breakfast for them. Dark grabs his notepad and pen and goes towards her. "Oh, so you are finally awake. I'm making some toasts and cereals for you guys.", Dark's mom says. Dark writes on the notepad, ' Okay mom. I'll wake up Mike.', and shows it to her. "Well then.", his mom replies and goes back to work. Dark heads over to Mike. "Come on, Mike wake up.", he says. Mike wakes up after some time and says, "Well its weird to see you waking me up." "Yeah it is. Anyways, lets enjoy our breakfast. Sparks wants to show us something. He's gonna be here soon.", Dark says as he heads in the kitchen. "What other choices we have? I want to take a break.", Mike says as he follows Dark. "You know what? You deserve your break Mike. Enjoy the rest of the day.", Dark says. "That's so kind. I want to come though, but then I also want to take a break from all this stuff.", Mike says as he climbs up a chair. "Yeah. We didn't had any breaks as we hurried to come here.", Dark says.

After the meal, a knock comes at the door. Dark heads over to the door and opens it. "Dark, its time. Get in the car.", Sparks says. "Wait, lemme get my bag first.", Dark says before going back inside. After a minute, he comes back with his bag. "So, who's driving?", Dark asks Sparks as they walk towards the car. "Nelson is.", Sparks reply. "Oh, the Espeon. Wait he didn't changed his name.", Dark says as he steps in the vehicle. "Nah. He's fine with his old name.", Sparks says as he follows Dark. "Ayy, you brought Pyro too.", Dark says. "Yeah. Sparks brought me here. Its been a while since our last hangout.", Pyro says as he looks behind at Dark. "Wait, Mike is not coming?.", Nelson asks as he turns back. "No. He deserves his break from all of this.", Dark replies. "Step on it, Nelson. Let's go.", Sparks says as Nelson starts the car and drives.

After 30 minutes, Dark asks ,"How much distance is remaining?". "Its a good hidden place. Don't worry Dark, it will be worth it.", Nelson replies as he takes the car onto a dirt path. "Is this really necessary?", Dark says as the car goes down the path. "Yes. It will be soon over.", Nelson tells Dark as he slows down the car. The car stops after some minutes near a tree. An eerie atmosphere feels the place as they step out of the vehicle. "So this is it. A tree?", Dark says as he exits the car. "It may look like one but its not.", Sparks says as he heads towards it. "Where did Pyro disappeared?", Dark asks Nelson who is locking the car. "He was here with me a while ago. Check in the tree.", Nelson replies as he locks the car. "In the tree?", Dark says in a tone of a confused person. "Come in, Dark.", Sparks says as he slides open a door revealing a huge cavity in the tree. Dark follows Sparks.

The cavity was redesigned to such an extent that it looked like as if one entered a secret bunker. "So. Welcome to our hideaway. It took us some years to build this. Sadly you weren't here.", Sparks says as he starts to climb a spiral staircase. "Damn. This looks like a military bunker. This must have cost a ton.", Dark says as he follows Sparks. "Yes about some 5 million. Its all worth it.", Sparks says as he enters the second floor. "Well I can see that. How did you found this?", Dark asks. "Well take a seat and I'll tell you. Remember the time when I got lost in the forest? It was freezing cold and on top of that it was raining. I thought I was about to die until, I saw this tree with an opening. I didn't had any choices so I entered in. It was rotting from inside, but it was warm. The floor was wet but comfortable. This place made me feel like I was back at my place next to the fireplace.", Sparks replies after he sits on a red couch. "We are also not paying for the power as we are stealing it from the power lines. It took us some time to attach the cables on trees and to bring it all out here. The transformer is underneath the tree and the walls are made of concrete and rebar. Also we have some lightning rods set up on the canopy.", he says before getting up and saying, "Now. Follow me. I'll show you the rest of the floors.". "Damn Sparks. I never expected this.", Dark says as he follows Sparks up another spiral staircase.

Dark hears a familiar voice as he comes closer to the third floor. Muffled but still audible. "This is our radio control center. We monitor every traffic coming in this region.", Sparks says as he opens a door to the floor. "Wait, that voice.", Dark says as he stares at an another Umbreon. "Oh, this is-", Sparks says before getting interrupted by the Umbreon turning the transmitter off and saying, "Call me Darkness." ."You were the person who intercepted us and threatened us!", Dark shouts. "I thought that it was one of the attack choppers from NSC. I apologize for that.", she says. "Uhh.. Well Darkness. This is my friend Dark. Dark this is Darkness, the voice which supports the rebellion.", Sparks says. "Pleasure meeting you then.", Dark says as he reaches his paw out to her. "The pleasure was mine. Also its weird that we have so similar names.", she says as she shakes his paw. "Yeah.", Dark says as he moves his attention to Sparks. "So, Darkness. What's the situation?", Sparks asks. "Not so good. You might wanna head to the nearest Walmart. Some guys be raiding that thing.", Darkness replies. "Shit. Dark come after me. We need to go there now!", Sparks says to Dark as he rushes downstairs.

He then storms out of the place and yells at Nelson, "Get the car ready! We need to go to the Walmart at Hunter, its being raided!". "Shit. Pyro get in the car!", Nelson yells as he gets in the car. "Hope you know how to shoot and all cause this raiders are no joke. Me and Pyro can't shoot so its up to you and Nelson. If there are any elementals then use your moves. Bullets can't harm them.", Sparks says as he and Dark gets in the car. "Take my spare Dark.", Nelson says as he gives him his spare revolver before starting the car. "Step on it, Nelson! People's lives are at stakes!", Sparks yells as Nelson drives the car down the path.

"Test. Can you guys hear me?", Darkness says via the car's radio. "If you can then you must reach there in 15 minutes. I am seeing from my drone feed and its messed up. They have destroyed the doors and have stormed in. It will take them some minutes to scavenge whatever they can find so please hurry. I don't think they have any hostages. Lemme check the thermal view... Yeah they don't have any hostages. 5 people in and 2 outside, no elementals. You guys are weapons free. I'm out.", she says before turning off her transmitter. "Quickly, Nelson!", Sparks yells at Nelson as he enters on the main road and increases the speed.

"Uhh.. guys? I just zoomed in and found that there is an ice elemental. But its not a hostage. Tread lightly if you are hearing this still.", Darkness says before turning off her transmitter again. "Pyro! Be ready. Dark you too.", Sparks says. They both nod. After 10 minutes, the car enters the city. Mostly abandoned but still functional with damaged buildings and vehicles. "Hope we make it in time.", Nelson says as he decreases his speed to avoid collisions.

The car reaches the Walmart just in time. Dark sees the raiders loading a van. "Take some rounds from the cabinet underneath you, Dark.", Nelson says as he stops the car. "Its show time.", Sparks says as he exits the car. The elemental sees the car and prepares its ice beam. "Get out! Now!", Nelson as he leaves the car with his revolver. Dark and Pyro nearly escapes its blast but the car is now in the ice. Nelson takes cover behind a wreckage of a building part and shoots. Dark heads over to Nelson and shoots at the raiders. Pyro uses his flamethrower attack at the elemental and takes cover behind a wrecked car. Sparks heads over to Pyro and covers him by using his thunderbolt. The elemental falls down and 3 raiders gets shot. The raiders begin to retreat. Dark comes out from the cover and uses Dark Pulse on their van, blowing it up. "Holy shit, Dark. That's just overkill.", Nelson says as he comes out from his cover. "I know that. I won't let them hurt anyone. Let this be our message.", he says. "Welcome to 'The Guardians' Dark.", Sparks says. "The what?", Dark asks as Sparks leaves his cover. "We are called by people with that designation so we assumed that title. Now Pyro, can you melt that ice?, "Sparks replies. "I'll give it a shot. It will take some time. I guess the car won't work but who knows?", Pyro says before he starts melting the ice.

Few hours pass by. "The ice has melted. Give it a shot Nelson.", Pyro says to Nelson who is wandering around a wreckage of a car. Nelson gets in the car and starts it. The car bursts back to life. "I don't know how but it works. Get in.", Nelson says to Pyro. Dark and Sparks hears the sound of the engine and comes over to the car. "Lets head back.", Sparks says as he enters the car with Dark. "Great job people. I was seeing the fight from the drone and it was epic. I'll see you guys later. Signing off.", Darkness says via the car's radio. Nelson turns the car around and starts to drive it towards his house.