Chapter 20: Reclamation

"Take back what's yours."

-Dishonored 2 tagline

Hometown's police station was heavily crowded. It was currently being used as one of the two sanctuaries for the town's citizens, the other being the church. Currently, roughly one third of the town's population was taking refuge at the police station. The atmosphere was one of oppressive fear; several people could only wonder when the Shadowborn invaders would kick down the door.

Undyne took a seat at an empty desk, letting out a heavy sigh. "As you can see, the whole town's in a pretty bad place right now. The invaders still have a pretty good chunk of the town locked up. A lot of them are gathering around Mayor Holiday's estate."

"Do you think that's where they're holding everyone?" Frisk wondered.

"Probably. It's a pretty defensible position, though, so pulling off any kind of prison break won't be easy."

"We have to do something about them," Ralsei said. "We can't just let them keep prisoners. Besides, we need to draw Helsing out somehow. A prison break seems like a good start."

Undyne did a quick headcount. "If there's only six of us, our chances are pretty horrible. They've got a full platoon over there. If you've got any ideas on how to handle this, I'd love to hear them."

"Can't you just bring some backup?" Susie asked.

"Nope. Everyone else is busy with their own assignments, and I don't feel good about taking people away from the station. We need as many guards here as we can get."

Ralsei sat down. "We've beaten worse odds before. Just give me a minute to think."

Susie shrugged. "You're better at planning than I am. I'm gonna go talk to my parents. Come get me when you're ready."

"I should probably talk to my parents, too," Noelle said.

"Isn't your dad still in the hospital?"

"Not anymore." Noelle perked up. "He actually made a full recovery."

"Hey, good news. I didn't think they made that anymore."

The two walked off.

Frisk sat down beside Ralsei. "Do you think this plan will work?"

"We have to make it work," he said. "We have no idea where Helsing is right now. The only place I can think of is the dark fountain, but he probably has half his army over there. If we can do this, it'll undermine their foothold in the town, and that's something we really need right now."

"Besides, doesn't Susie want to destroy everything Helsing's worked for before we take him down?" Asriel added.

"Let's not forget the prisoners, you two…" Frisk said.

"We're not, but everyone's in danger until we get rid of Helsing, and he's got a lot more to answer for." He glanced over at his parents and sighed sadly.

Frisk nodded slowly, and the conversation ended. They sat in silence for a moment before Ralsei spoke up.

"Officer," he said to Undyne, "did you get a good look at how the invaders are congregating at the estate?"

"Not really," she said. "All I know is that there's a lot of them, and the front gate is basically a death trap."

"In that case, we'll have to head over there so we can get a lay of the land. Once we know exactly what we're dealing with, we'll know how to beat them."

"I'm guessing that means taking the stealthy approach?" Asriel said.

"Most likely. If anything the officer said is true, we won't be able to lay siege to the place. If we sneak in, we can take them down one by one and turn it into a war of attrition. I think that's the safest way to do this."

"What do we do if we get caught?" Frisk asked.

"If that happens, hopefully we'll have most of them handled, so we don't get overwhelmed. If not, then… I don't know. If worse comes to worst, I want you to run for your life and get to safety."

"What about all of you?"

"Don't worry about us. We can't afford to lose you, Frisk. Without you, it won't matter what happens to Helsing; as long as his fountains remain, he wins."

"What are you talking about, now?" Susie had returned and was now leaning against the wall.

"We're about to sneak into Mayor Holiday's estate and clear out the Shadowborn hanging out there," Asriel explained.

"We're sneaking in? Alright, I think I can handle that. Will I get to hit someone with a cinder block?"

"We're still not killing them, Susie," Ralsei chastised.

"Well, if we're doing silent takedowns, I think I could do with another weapon." She grabbed her halberd. "This thing ain't exactly subtle."

"I'll lend you a baton," Undyne said. "I've got, like, eight of them in storage because I keep breaking them."

"How do you keep breaking batons?"

"I get annoyed with people sometimes. I gotta vent somehow."

"Yeah, I get that."

"What about me?" Noelle asked. "I don't have a weapon or any useful magic. How can I help?"

Undyne thought for a moment, then handed her a police radio. "We'll find you a nice place to hide out, and you can warn us if someone's in our blind spot."

"Alright, I can do that."

Asriel glanced over at everyone. "Is everyone ready to go? We should get to it right away."

"Ready when you are," Susie said. The rest of the group agreed with her.

"Alright, let's head out."

Asriel turned to leave, but was stopped by Toriel.

"Asriel, where do you think you're going?" she said.

"We're going to release the prisoners the invaders took and bait their leader out."

"Oh, no you're not." Her voice was stern, but filled with concern.

"We're gonna be fine, Mom." He didn't fully believe that, but he wanted to reassure her.

"Asriel, no. I have already lost Kris… I cannot stand the thought of losing you, too. Please, don't risk your life like this."

Asriel sighed. "I'm sorry, Mom, but we have to do this. They'll kill us all if we don't do something."

"Surely there's less dangerous way to do this?" Asgore said. "Some way you won't have to put yourself in danger?"

"I wish there was… I really do. But nobody else can stop Helsing."

"We saved the world before, and we'll do it again," Susie proudly proclaimed.

"That's what you said last time," Toriel reminded, "and look at what happened."

"We know how to fight him now," Asriel said. "He got us once, but he won't beat us again. I wish we didn't have to do this, but we do. It has to be us."

Toriel was silent for a moment while she wiped away her tears. Eventually, she spoke, "I know. You are far more capable than anyone else, but… you are all that I have left. Please, be careful."

He pulled her into a hug. "I'll be alright. When we come back, we'll be one step closer to getting rid of these guys."

"I have faith in you." She pulled back. "Good luck, my child."

"Alright, let's get moving," Undyne said. "The sooner we get this done, the better."

One by one, the members of the Fun Gang left the building. They were steeled for war, and unwavering in their resolve.

Before she left, Undyne spoke to Toriel, "Don't worry. I'll keep them safe."

She smiled. "Thank you, officer."

The group gathered atop a small hill outside of Mayor Holiday's estate and assessed the sight before them. Shadowborn troops patrolled around the front yard, with a pair of crossbowmen watching from the second-floor balcony. There were guards posted at every entrance.

"Well, they sure settled in nicely," Susie commented.

"I hope they didn't ruin anything," Noelle said. "Or steal anything."

"If they did, I'll beat their asses."

"Weren't you already going to do that?"

"I'll do it again."

Ralsei stood up. "We should get to work. Noelle, do you have a good view from here?"

Noelle nodded. "Yeah, I think so." She turned to Undyne. "Are we connected?"

"Yep. We're all ready to go."

"Then let's get to it," Asriel said, beckoning his companions. They descended to the estate, finding their way in through a conveniently sized gap in the metal fence. They soon encountered a lone soldier who was currently meandering about aimlessly.

"I got this guy." Undyne readied an expandable baton and clubbed him over the head a few times before throwing him to the ground. Ralsei stepped up and pacified him.

"Doesn't that count as excessive force?" he asked.

"These guys stormed in out of nowhere and started attacking people. I don't think excessive force applies here."

"I guess. Please be careful, though. I'd rather get through this without having to kill anyone."

"You don't have to, but I'm not hesitating if I have to."

Noelle's voice crackled through Undyne's radio, "On your left."

"I'll take him," Susie said. She waited for the guard to approach, and delivered a right cross that floored him. Ralsei pacified him as well.

Asriel grabbed another soldier from behind and shocked him into unconsciousness. Susie banged her halberd against the fence to attract more Shadowborn troops to her location, then proceeded to beat them into submission with Undyne's assistance. Frisk made use of her barriers to throw them off balance and leave them open to attack. All the while, Ralsei pacified anyone who fell. This went on for several minutes, with the Shadowborn seemingly oblivious to it all.

Frisk glanced at the pile of unconscious Shadowborn troops that was steadily accumulating. "This is actually going pretty well. I was expecting hell on earth."

"It helps that these guys are about as competent as the enemies in a stealth game," Susie remarked. "You know, the kind of guys that forget about you just because you put a cardboard box over your head."

"Would you rather have them be good at their jobs?"

"Oh, absolutely not."

Undyne crept up behind another soldier and deftly dispatched him with her baton. Ralsei took up a position beside her and pacified him.

"Guys, there's someone right behind you," Noelle warned.

They quickly ran for cover. Ralsei, however, tripped over the unconscious body at his feet and fell down right in the open.

"Who the hell are you?" the soldier behind him approached. As soon as she got a good look at him, she flashed a malicious grin. "Oh, how nice of you to join us."

"Nice going, Ralsei," Susie sighed. He shot a glare in her direction as a response.

"Well, if you brought friends, then surely you won't mind if I bring in some of mine." The soldier conjured a small orb in her hand and crushed it to pieces, releasing a loud, resonant ringing sound. In short order, the remaining Shadowborn troops rushed to action.

She did a quick headcount. In total, there were less than two dozen of them.

"Wait, that's it? There were over a hundred of us here. Where'd they all go?"

Susie gestured to the massive pile of unconscious soldiers, stacked nearly to the height of the fence.

"How long were you here?"

"I don't know, thirty minutes?" Susie shrugged. "It was actually pretty easy."

The soldier groaned. "It won't be easy anymore, I can tell you that." She took a step back when Undyne brought a spear to her neck, pointing her pistol at her.

"Yeah, whatever you say," she drawled. "Are you gonna give up or not?"

The soldier laughed. "I'm insulted that you think I would. Attack!"

Before she could make a move, Undyne drove her spear into her throat and opened fire, leaving her where she fell. Susie employed the baton she was given, and engaged the remaining Shadowborn troops head-on. Asriel dueled them with his chaos sabers, and Ralsei cast sweeping flames over the field.

Frisk, meanwhile, was flirting.

"Come on, now, we don't need to fight." She sauntered up to one of the soldiers, brushing a stand of hair from her face. "You're above this, and you know it. Why don't we just put our differences aside and make up?"

The soldier lowered her weapon in confusion. "Can we really 'make up' if we were never friends in the first place?"

"Oh, it's all semantics. My point is, why bother fighting like this when we could all be friends?" She put her hands behind her back and flashed a smile. "Or maybe… more than that?"

"You're making me really uncomfortable, you know."

Frisk's smile disappeared. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do that. I was just trying to convince you to surrender before we have to hurt you."

The soldier chuckled. "Listen, kid, I've been in proper battles before. You guys couldn't hurt me if you tried."

"Are you sure about that?" Susie kneed her in the back whacked her over the head. Ralsei stepped up to pacify her.

The skirmish was over quickly. Undyne subdued the last of the Shadowborn with an unnecessary suplex and allowed Ralsei to pacify him.

"I thought these guys were supposed to be tough," she remarked.

"It's only going to get harder from here," Ralsei said. "As soon as Helsing catches on to what happened, he'll be right on us."

"Isn't that why we did this in the first place?" Susie said.

"Well, yes, but we need to be mindful of the danger associated with it."

"Yeah, but we'll burn that bridge when we come to it. Why don't we release these prisoners already?"

Ralsei sighed, but nodded. "Right. One thing at a time…"