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Veganmama: Yup! Better late than never, eh? After making most of this story really sad and dramatic, I wanted to shed some comedy on it. Gertie and Phil were always the comedy duo in the series.
Back in the present...at the FTI building...
After a rather slowly entrance, the bus and the protesters finally began crept ever closer to the building. Hubert, who was outside with a good portion of his security personnel, saw them approaching and began to look at the mob with growing concern. Slowly as the crowd crept ever closer, Hubert could see their angry faces and piercing eyes, even from a far away distance.
The crowd was a mixture of Rhonda's supporters with those whom Mr. Simmons, Mr. Green, Bob Pataki, Martin Johanssen, and others called, who in turn, called their associates and asked them to rendezvous with everyone at the FTI building. And it kept on growing; more and more people joined the protest! The message that spurred every individual to head over there created rumors that were very diverse, if not outright contradictory. Rumors ranged from Rhonda and Arnold risking their lives to expose the truth about Future Tech and its CEO to them having been killed by FTI's security personnel. Whatever the case, it inflamed the masses to know that one of the city's more popular socialite, along with their most outstanding citizen were in jeopardy and needed help...or being avenged.
Realizing the severity of their situation, and seeing just how big this protest really was, Hubert decided to inform Von Scheck.
"Mr. Von Scheck sir, come in." Hubert called out to him through his walkie-talkie, but all he heard was static. "Mr. Von Scheck sir, please come in." He called out, but again, nothing.
After trying a few more times with still the same results, he then opted to contact someone else.
"Nick, come in. Come in, Nick." Hubert called out to him.
"Ya, what is it?" Nick responded.
"We've got trouble on the outside." Hubert said. "There's a large group of people coming toward the building and they look angry. I think they are here to help those intruders. I'm going to have to recall most of my security personnel that are inside the building to prevent these people from trying to get inside, but I can't hold them off forever. I'm going to need more help."
Nick couldn't believe at what Hubert had just said. He was completely in shock at how quickly things were turning against them. With things are unfolding in front of him, Nick couldn't help but feel a rope slowly tightening around his neck and wondered if he should still remain or make a break for it.
"Nick? Nick, are you still there?" Hubert asked.
"Ya I'm still here." Nick responded. "Just sit tight and I'll call for some help."
Nick then immediately took out his cell and dialed a number.
At City Hall...
A cell vibrated and Robert Dole grabbed it and answered the call.
"Yes?" He spoke.
"Robert, it's Nick." He said back. "Listen, we have a huge problem at FTI headquarters. That stupid football headed kid and his friends managed to sneak their way through our security and have been doing some snooping around."
"What?!" Robert yelled in utter shock when he heard the news. "How is that possible?! I thought you were watching those stupid kids!"
"They managed to somehow get through my surveillance." Nick admitted. "But they are still inside the building with no way out. We have the entire building surrounded, so those little imbecilic teens are not leaving here with whatever information they gathered here."
"So what do you want me to do?" Robert asked.
"I need you to call the police and get a SWAT team over here, pronto!" Nick exclaimed. "Those kids managed to call for reinforcements and by that I mean reinforcements in the thousands! A huge crowd of people are quickly making their way here and we don't have the men to hold them off. If those people get through our security, those kids will be able to sneak their way out of here and if they do that, we're done for! Whatever information they gathered about our activities, they will expose it to the mayor and the media!"
Robert said nothing and in a fury, slammed his fist onto his desk, growling at how bad the situation had become.
"I'll take care of it and give you all the support you need." Robert said while grinding his teeth. "Just make sure those kids don't leave that building alive!"
He then hanged up on Nick and using his office phone, picked the receiver up and began dialing Hillwood's Chief of Police.
"Hello, Chief?" Robert began to speak when the Chief answered the phone. "Robert Dole, calling from Mayor Dixie's office."
As Robert spoke with the Chief of police, he didn't notice Mayor Dixie suddenly opening the door and entering his office. Mayor Dixie quietly entered the room and was about to speak when she overheard who Robert was talking to and for what reason.
"Fine, thank you." Robert continued to speak. "Sir, we have a serious problem. I was just informed that there is an illegal protest rally happening inside the property of Future Tech Industries. It is illegal because although a permit was issued to hold a protest there, that request was declined, citing for the safety and security of all FTI employees. Yes, apparently the crowd is in the thousands, which is why I am requesting for a sizable portion of your police force, including a SWAT team to be sent over there and prevent the mob from trying to get in and cause any damage or injury to anyone there. And since they are trespassing on private property, you have the authority to use whatever force you deem as necessary in order to disperse the crowd-"
"Cancel that, Robert." Mayor Dixie then suddenly spoke out with an authorative tone and facial experience.
"Mayor Dixie!" Robert said, surprised to have found her inside his office. "I was just trying to resolve a potential big problem over at FTI with illegal trespassing on their property." He quickly tried to explain.
"I know what you were trying to do Robert, and you are right." Mayor Dixie said to him.
"I am?" Robert asked, looking confused.
"Yes. Those people are indeed trespassing and should not be there." The mayor said. "Which is why I am personally approving their request to hold a protest rally there."
"What?" Robert said, completely shocked. "Y-You're kidding!"
"I am not, Robert." The Mayor, now frowning at him. "I am quite serious about this. Which is why you will inform the Chief to send a portion of his police force to protect those protesters and to make sure any FTI security personnel do not intervene."
"What?!" Robert exclaimed, now utterly dismayed at what he just heard, but tried very hard to remain calm. "Mayor Dixie, those people there are entering private property. I have been told they are in the thousands! It is much to risky to allow such a big protest to happen so soon, without any form of organization. Think of the potential political consequences that can occur if the protest runs amok."
"I have thought about it." The Mayor calmly said. "Which is why I said for you to inform the Chief to send over a portion of his force to ensure the protest goes smoothly."
Robert clenched his fist in a fury, but remained facially calm and tried to dissuade the Mayor from pursuing this path.
"Mayor Dixie, think about the neighbourhood that is scheduled to be torn down and reconstructed within just a few days!" He said. "How are we suppose to take care of the problem there if FTI gets rocked by this massive protest! We cannot allow to delay in demolishing that hazardous place any longer."
"Again Robert," The Mayor said, now getting irritated by his protest, "that will be averted if you inform the Chief to send a sizable police force there to ensure the protest happens peacefully, without any disruptions."
"Mayor Dixie you cannot-" Robert tried to protest one more.
"That's an order, Robert!" The Mayor then sternly said to him with an imposing facial expression on her face. "The permit to hold a protest there has been approved. You are to tell the Chief to ensure the protesters are allowed to exercise their right to voice their concern. Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes, ma'am." Robert angrily grumbled.
"Good." She said. "Now, I came here to give you these documents. After you speak with the Chief, files these, will you?" She continued before then putting the files on Robert's desk and then leaving his office.
After Mayor Dixie left his office, Robert pulled his hair in utter fury and growled. But with no other options, he spoke with the Chief of police and informed him of the change of plans.
Back in front of the FTI building...
"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" A senior security personnel said as he directed his unit outside of the building in order to form a barrier in front of the protesters that were getting closer to the building.
There was a lot of commotion happening around in front of the building, as everyone got to their places or attempted to set up barricades or anything they could use to ensure the protesters could not barge inside the building. The public parking lot closed its doors.
Those that were already outside set up hurdles-like barricades throughout the entire front of the building, ending on its sides, with the security personnel behind them, sealing the building off from the protesters.
"Those that are coming out right now, tell them to form a second line of defense; behind the first line!" Hubert commanded his subordinates.
His men quickly complied and those that were coming outside quickly began to form up behind the first line.
"Sir, are we to bring our firearms?" A security personnel asked him.
"What? No!" Hubert firmly exclaimed. "Absolutely not! We are only meant to ensure those people do not get inside the building until help arrives. Gather everyone's firearms and put them back inside! But let everyone keep their batons." Hubert ordered.
"Yes sir!" The subordinate said before then running off to carry out the order.
Soon, with quick speed, Hubert's security personnel force was ready to meet the protesters head on. Hubert hoped a physical confrontation could be avoided. He had ordered everyone to not encourage the mob from getting rowdy. If the protesters decide to barge into the building, he knew his security force would only be able to stall them for a short while before they would eventually be overwhelmed. If he had to, he had the option of using force to force the mob to fall back, but he knew that could either lead to serious causalities, or that could anger the protesters even more, enticing them to charge right at them again. He just hoped that with his forces' presence, it would deter the mob from trying anything crazy.
However this was going to go down, all he could do now was patiently wait as the bus and the protesters got closer and closer to the building...
Meanwhile, inside the bus...
"Alright you runts, listen up!" Bob bellowed out to those 'under his command', Alfonso, Martin, Martin's oldest son, Jamie, now an adult, Harvey, Miles, Stella, Harold, Ernie, Oskar and Mr. Hyunh who were expected to charge against the guards and create a gap to allow Bob and some of them to get through inside the building.
"I know that some of you are still angry at me for siding with Von Scheck all those years ago! I can tell by the look on your faces that you're not happy with that I did. But, that was a long time ago and I am now asking all of you to put that grudge aside! We now have a bigger threat; getting our kids back safe and to protect our homes. So now is not the time to be divided over what happened-"
"Hold up there, Bob." Martin then interjected. "What grudge? I don't have a grudge against you."
"Ya, me neither." Mr. Hyunh said.
"Same here." Ernie said.
"You don't?" Bob asked, a bit surprised by this news. "None of you are still mad at me for siding with Scheck?" He asked to which everyone just shook their heads.
"Of course not, Bob." Martin said. "That was a long time ago. I mean it was a good business move on your part to do business with Scheck. But, the man tried to swindle you, so I guess that was punishment enough."
"Man, you did what you had to do, for your business." Jamie then said to him. "I would have done the same thing."
"Well Ill be." Bob remarked, still surprised at how they saw his side of the story.
"Well, it was also good lesson for you to learn to read what's in the contract before you sign it! That was a small payback for us" Ernie then said with a chuckle. "I mean seriously, what man signs something without reading it first?"
"Fair enough." Bob agreed.
"And Stella and I weren't here during that time, so we have nothing to say on the matter." Miles remarked.
"I only just arrived in Hillwood less than a year ago, so I have no idea what you're talking about." Alfonso said as well.
"I didn't like you before you sided with Scheck and I don't like you now." Phil then bluntly interjected into the conversation. "So, nothing's changed on my end."
"You see, B?" Miriam then said to her husband. "I knew everyone has forgiven you for what happened all those years ago."
"Hm, I guess your right, Miriam." Bob muttered with a small smile. "Ah crimeny! I had a whole speech prepared for this." He complained. "Let's just get our kids back and end this once and for all! Who's with me?!"
"I am!"
"We are!"
"Right behind you!"
Everyone shouted with enthusiasm.
"Then get ready! We're almost there." Bob said as he put his army helmet on.
Meanwhile, back in Von Scheck's office...
"Hold up! What's that I see up in the sky?" Gerald then said as he pointed up, where a shadowy figure was emerging.
Arnold grabbed the binoculars and looked through them.
"I'm not sure, but it's looks like a plane." Arnold said.
"Let me see." Helga said as she then grabbed the binoculars from Arnold and looked through them. "Wrong, football head. That's not a plane. Those are just bunch of birds heading our way."
"Those are a heck of a lot of birds." Rodrigo said. "But...there's something else there."
"What?" Gerald asked.
"I'm not sure what it is, but it looks like those birds are carrying something."
"Really? Helga, can I have the binoculars back?" Arnold asked her, to which Helga handed it back to him.
Arnold then peeked through it to see what was Rodrigo seeing.
"It can't be!" Arnold exclaimed in shock.
"What can't be?" Gerald asked again.
"I think it's, it's…" Arnold began to say...
Back in the front of the FTI building...
A guard was standing in his post, standing in attention with a determined look, ready to face the protesters face to face when suddenly,
*Plop*
The guard felt something land on his right shoulder. He turned to take a look at it.
"Ew!" The guard said in disgust when he saw bird poop had landed on his uniform.
He took out a napkin and attempted to clean it off when suddenly,
*Plop*
Another bird poop landed right on his hand. But, before the guard had any time to react, a third poop landed on the ground, right beside him. Confused as to why there was so many bird droppings coming down, he looked up and upon doing it, was shocked at what he saw.
"What the…?" the guard said as he looked up, getting the attention of two other guards who were right beside him and when they saw his shocking facial expression also looked up, only to they themselves become utterly shocked at what they were seeing.
"What the heck is that?!" One of the guards exclaimed, now mortified on seeing hundreds of pigeons flying right towards them.
Back at Von Scheck's office...
"Well who is it?!" Helga demanded.
"Pigeon Man!" Arnold excitedly exclaimed.
"Pigeon Man?!" Both Helga and Gerald asked in surprise.
"What the heck is he doing here?! I thought he was in Paris." Gerald remarked.
"Who or what is Pigeon Man?" Rodrigo asked.
"It's a long story, Rodrigo." Arnold said. "But the important thing now is that he is here to help us."
Back in the front of the FTI building...
"Fly my beautifuls! Fly, fly! Go on and get them!" Pigeon man commanded his birds to head over to where the guards were standing.
The pigeons, as commanded, began to rapidly descend down, making a nose dive, while those that were carrying him only descended down slowly.
By now, word had spread at what was in the sky and all of the guards outside were looking high with mortified looks as they say hundreds of pigeons descending down on top of them, looking as if they were about to attack!
"Look out!" One of them shouted as one of the pigeons made a rapid nose dive and attempted to peck one of the guards with its beak.
The hundreds of pigeons that were nose diving towards the guards, with their bodies soaring through the air, started to create a vibration which in turn created a noise that was eerily, if not frighteningly similar to the sirens of the dreaded WWII German Stuka dive bombers.
*sssssiiiiiiirrrrrreeeeennnnnn*
The pigeons in the first wave were quickly followed by others behind them, which was followed by others behind those pigeons and so on. Pigeon after pigeon nose dived down and either pecked the guards or at least flew down enough to drop some bird poop on them before then ascending back up for another round.
*plop**plop**plop**plop**plop**plop**plop*
The mass of pigeons attacking the guards started to create panic among their ranks, with many of them trying to evade their pecks or poop.
"Aaahh! I got some in my eye! Oh Gawd!" One of the guards hysterically cried out.
"Ouch, ouch, ow, ow!" Another cried out as one pigeon after another flew down and pecked him.
"Ahh! I don't get paid enough for this!" Another guard yelled as he simply ran off and abandoned his post.
"Let's get out of here!" Another guard frighteningly yelled.
"Where are you going? Stop running and get back into position! They're only birds!" Hubert tried to order his men, but his order fell on deaf ears as most of the guards had already ran away.
Those that stayed put tried desperately not to get pecked or pooped on, but it became inevitable as gaps started to be created in the line. Hubert reinforced those areas with those from the second line, only for them to flee when the pigeons started attacking them.
Back on the bus…
"Aaahhh! It's the Germans! They are attacking us! Run for cover!" Phill frantically yelled when he heard the Stuka sirens and immediately hide behind one of the seats, shaking, while everyone else looked on with confusion.
"What Germans?" Suzie asked.
"All I see are people and pigeons flying around." Mr. Hyunh said. "Are the guards Germans?" He confusingly asked.
"Phil, it's okay! They're not German stukas." Martin reassured Phil once he realized what Phil was scared about. "They are just pigeons that are making that sound. This isn't World War II."
"Pigeons?" Phil asked as he raised his head up and stopped shaking.
"Yes! Just pigeons. Now get up before you embarrass yourself any further." Bob retorted.
"Oh right, hehehe. I knew that." Phil embarrassingly chuckled as he got up from his hiding spot.
Bob said nothing and just rolled his eyes.
Back in front of the FTI building…
"Where are those reinforcements?" Hubert frustratingly asked himself, but he even now knew that it was too late.
The bus, with the thousands of angry protesters, chanting and yelling were almost there.
"What do we want?!" Monkey Man shouted, getting the crowd to chant with him through a loudspeaker.
"LET THEM GO!" The crowd furiously responded back.
"When do we want it?!" A female protester then asked the protesters.
"NOW!" They all responded.
"What do we want?!" Monkey Man again addressed the crowd.
"LET THEM GO!"
"NOW!"
"WHERE IS ARNOLD?!" Another protester then shouted at the guards.
"WHERE'S RHONDA?!" Another protester also shouted.
"WHERE'S A SIXTH SEASON OF HEY ARNOLD?!" Another protester shouted.
On the building's right flank, the guards that were there began to hear what sounded like hissing and growling. When they turned toward where the sound was originating, they became horrified by what they saw and panic began to immediately set in.
"Aaahhh! Alligators!" One of the guards shouted in a panic.
"Where did they come from?!" Another shouted.
"who cares! Run!" Another shouted and began to run away, followed by any other guard that was near them
The Alligators continued to pursue them, while intentionally avoiding the crowd. Then from the slope that was not far from a large body of water, emerged a figure that had a yellow construction worker's hat with a red cape and blue overalls and had an almost slippery voice as he laughed.
"Hahahahaha!" The figure laughed as he was guided by two more gators who pulled him into full view.
"You have abducted my two vassals who are under my protection." The person said to the fleeing guards.
"You have broken sacred protocol and have violated my sovereignty! Now you will face the wrath of the Sewer King!" The Sewer King shouted. "Behold my divine power as I unleash my horde of Alligators against you!"
The guards that were close by ran with their lives as they attempted to avoid the snapping jaws of the reptiles as they slowly somewhat slithered their way toward their prey, growling and hissing.
Back in Von Scheck's office...
"You have got to be kidding." Gerald remarked in surprise. "Is that the Sewer King?" As he pointed down.
Arnold turned toward where Gerald was pointing and with his binoculars looked to see.
"It is him!" Arnold exclaimed. "He's helping us?" He asked, looking confused.
"Sure looks like it." Gerald remarked. "The gators are only attacking the guards. Wow! Who knew?!"
"You mean he's real?" Helga asked in surprise. "I thought you guys made him up."
"Na ha." Gerald just shook his head. "He's real alright."
"See for yourself." Arnold offered as Helga took the binoculars to have a look
"I'm not even going to ask who the Sewer King is." Rodrigo remarked.
Back in front of the building...
"Everybody ready?" Bob asked, to which everyone nodded.
Alfonso lifted his bandanna and kissed Elisa on the lips, as well as their baby girl, whom they had no choice but to bring with them.
"Alright son, you know what to do." Martin said to Jamie.
"I got your back, Dad. Just get Gerald back for us." He said.
Just then, Nadine's cell began to vibrate. Quickly answering it,
"Hello?" She answered.
"Nadine, it's Phoebe." Phoebe spoke. "Listen, if everyone is trying to get into the building, you will not be able to use the elevators. They had just been disabled by someone. You'll have to use the stairs to get to the top."
"Oh no!" Nadine cried out. "I'll let everyone know."
Nadine quickly hanged up, got up from her seat and attempted to get to Bob before he disembarked.
"Mr. Pataki!" Nadine called out as she tried to make her way to the front of the bus. "Mr. Pataki!"
"What?" Bob answered.
"Mr. Pataki, when get inside the building, you will not be able to use the elevators." Nadine said to them. "They have been disabled. You'll have to take the stairs."
Bob looked at her with a stunned look and then turned around to look at the building.
"That's a lot of stairs!" He remarked. "How many floors does this building have?"
"About 47 floors." Nadine responded.
"Ugghh!" Bob groaned. "But fine. Thanks for letting me know."
Soon, the bus arrived.
"We're here." Gertie said. "Everybody out!" As she then opened the doors.
Once the bus stopped and its door began to open, Monkeyman ran to the back of the bus and addressed the crowd.
"Citizens of Hillwood!" He shouted, getting some of their attention, but not everyone's, whom many of them were shouting.
"Friends, Hillwoodians, good honorable men and women, lend me your ears!" He shouted again, this time getting everyone's attention.
"Our fair city is in danger! Von Scheck has corrupted our democracy, brided his way to destroy our beloved historical landmark district. And now, he has declared war on our fair city and kidnapped two of Hillwood's most respected citizens and their friends. Will we allow it?!"
"NO!" The crowd instantly shouted.
"Do you want justice?!" He shouted.
"YES!" The crowd eagerly shouted.
"Forward then!" Monkeyman shouted and pointed at the direction of the FTI building.
The crowd immediately complied and with roaring shouts and screams quickly made their way toward the barricades and attempted overcome them.
Bob was the first to immediately get out of the door, quickly followed by Martin, then Alfonso, Miles, Stella, Harold, Ernie, Mr. Hyunh, Harvey and then a reluctant Oskar. Everyone else then slowly started getting out of the bus, but they remained outside.
Just as they were getting out, the protesters were already trying to by pass the barricades, but the first line of guards quickly attempted to stop them. The crowds at the back angrily yelled and taunted the guards, calling them names and demanded that they stand down and move aside. It was clear that the guards were quickly becoming unnerved by the amount of people that showed up and attempted to prevent them from overrunning the barricades without escalating things.
Seeing their opportunity, Bob's group wasted no time and got into formation, creating a spread-like tip with Bob at the tip.
"Alright, let me at them, let me at them!" Ernie exclaimed as he clenched his fists, ready to brawl.
As soon as they were ready,
"Now! Charge!" Bob yelled and the group started to charged right towards the guards.
The guards, upon seeing this, got into position and hoped they would be able to prevent them from getting through. Bob fearlessly charged at them, with a deadly determined look his eyes, not flinching or wavering from his mission to save Olg- I mean Helga. Eventually,
*CRASH**BOOM**THUD*
Bob and everyone else crashed against the guards, knocking some of them off of their feet, but others stood firm and tried to restrained them. The guards soon called for back up and some more guards ran towards them in order to prevent them from getting inside.
David, Sebastian, Gabriela and Carmen, once getting out of the bus, saw the reinforcements that were heading Bob's way. Without hesitation, they charged against the reinforcements and pushed them aside, or at least kept them busy.
"Outta my way, you bum! I said out of my way!" Bob yelled at one of them before punching him right in the face, knocking him out.
Bob in a fury, punched and kicked his way towards the building. The rest of the parents also either pushed and tackled, or even punched their way. None of them were going to let a few guards stand in the way to get their kids back.
Some of the protesters, upon seeing Bob's group and Rodrigo's friends attacking the guards, soon also joined in the fray and began to push aside the barricades, heading straight for the guards. The guards in turn tried to hold them off with their batons or other means, but it was becoming clear that the first line was cracking. So far, only some of the protesters joined in, but the majority still remained physically peaceful.
As much as the guards tried to stop them, the result was inevitable. Already stretched thin and with many guards still panicking over the pigeons' and alligators' attack, Bob and everyone soon broke through.
"We're through!" Bob yelled and then began to ran towards the main entrance of the building.
Alfonso, Martin, Miles and Stella followed suit, while Ernie, Mr. Hyunh, David, Sebastien, Carmen and Gabriela held the guards off to prevent them from following them.
Stella instantly grabbed one of the guard's key card from him as she run past him, thinking that it might come in handy. As soon as they arrived at the entrance, Bob tried to open the door.
"It's locked!" He groaned. Growing frustrated, he furiously began banging and kicking the door.
"Open! Open!" He angrily yelled.
"Excuse me, please." Stella calmly approached the door and with the guard's key card, swiped it, allowing the door to automatically unlock and open.
"Oh. Well um, thanks." Bob sheepishly said to her and then calmly opened the door and went in.
"Men." Stella remarked as she rolled her eyes with a smirk before then going inside.
"Which way to the stairs?" Martin asked.
Everyone looked to see either the door or a sign.
"There!" Alfonso cried out as he pointed to his right.
Everyone then immediately began to ran towards it when suddenly,
"You there, stop!" A guard yelled at them as he and another guard began to ran after them.
"I'll hold them off." Alfonso instructed everyone. "The rest of you, go find the kids!" As he then began to ran towards the guards.
"He can't hold them off on his own." Martin said. "I'll help him out and hold them off for the rest of you to head to the stairs. Go!"
Bob, Miles and Stella, although reluctant to leave them behind, saw there was no other option and with a nod, began to ran towards the stairs, leaving Alfonso and Martin to fend for themselves.
Alfonso quickly went towards a garbage can, took off the lid and using it as a shield, immediately ran towards one of the guards and collided with him, knocking him down. The other guard grabbed his baton and tried to hit Alfonso with it, but he immediately dodge it. Every time the guard tried to hit him with his baton, Alfonso, being a flexible person, merely moved from side to side, avoiding it.
"Too slow." He taunted him with a smirk.
Getting angry, the guard then growled and was about to take another swing at him when suddenly Martin came from behind and tackled him right to the ground, knocking any air right out from his body, neutralizing him.
"Nice tackle, Martin." Alfonso said to him.
"Thanks." Martin said. "I guess I still got it." He chuckled.
"They're inside!" They then heard another guard. "Get them!" He yelled as two more guards appeared and all three started running after them.
"Ah crud." Martin groaned. "I guess we're not going to be able to help them then."
"I guess not." Alfonso said. "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be." Martin replied and the two then charged right towards the guards.
Meanwhile…
Bob, using his torso, slammed against the door that led to the staircase and burst it wide open.
"SCHECK!" He angrily roared, allowing his echo to run upward. "WHERE ARE YOU?!"
He, along with Miles and Stella then began to run upwards. Much to their annoyance and dismay, they had a long way to go and who knows how long their kids were able to hold out.
"I just hope we're not too late." Miles remarked.
"We won't be unless something stops us." Stella said.
"Just...keep...climbing up." Bob said as he began to breath heavily, already getting tired and they only just passed the third floor.
The trio tried to go up the stairs as quickly as they could, but they knew they had to reserve some of their strength in case if they needed to battle it out with some of the guards.
Despite Miles and Stella still being physically fit, climbing up the stairs without a break was becoming tiresome for them. No longer the young, energetic people they once were, they could only go so fast unless they risked spending all of their energy, but they nevertheless continued forward with great vigor. The only thing that kept them going was their concern for their son. After having been asleep for more than a decade, they failed to be there for Arnold during those crucial years of growing up. It took a long while, but both parents eventually managed to learn to deal with that strong guilt and just be thankful they were reunited with him. They were determined to not let that happen a second time.
Yet, Bob was having a hard time keeping up, even starting to fall behind.
"Bob, try to keep up!" Miles yelled back at him.
"I'm...trying…" Bob gasped for breath as he become more and more tired, his heart beating so hard it felt like it was about to burst.
Unlike Miles and Stella, Bob had not been physically active for years. Being older than them, he had also grown a bit of a belly and his so-called muscular physique was more encompassed with fat than anything else. Yet, he nevertheless still possessed a lot of strength and was still not someone anyone should underestimate. But, he was having a very hard time keeping up and it soon became apparent that if he didn't stop to rest, he could collapse from exhaustion.
"I...just need to...rest...for a bit…" Bob gasped as he then the slowed down.
"C'mon Bob, don't give up now!" Miles tried to encourage him.
"I'm not giving up!" Bob retorted back. "I just need to rest a bit. You two go on ahead. I'll...catch up." He said.
"Are you sure?" Stella asked.
"Yeah. Just go!" Bob exclaimed. "I'll be right behind you."
Miles and Stella looked at each other for a moment before then both agreeing to go on ahead and leave Bob to catch up. As much as they didn't want to leave him, Arnold needed them.
"Okay, well go. Just try and catch up." Stella said to him to which Bob merely gave her a thumbs up as he continued to pant.
With that, both Miles and Stella began to quickly ascend up the stairs, leaving Bob to climb up the stairs, albeit every slowly.
Meanwhile…
While Miles, Stella and Bob were climbing up the building's staircase, Martin and Alfonso quickly opened the door to the other staircase on the other side and frantically climbed up, trying to avoid getting caught by the guards.
"Go, go, go!" Martin frantically exclaimed as he and Alfonso went up the stairs as fast as they could.
"You think going up the stairs is going to cause us to lose them?" Alfonso rhetorically asked.
"Who cares? Just keep going up!" Martin exclaimed.
Alfonso was skeptical about using the stairs, as he knew it would tire him and Martin out. They were both older, while the guards were a little bit younger and thus had more energy and agility. They needed to think of something fast, otherwise the guards will end up catching up to them. But for now, both parents just continued to go up the stairs.
Eventually, Alfonso's skepticism proved to be correct, as both he and Martin began to tire. Then, Alfonso had an idea.
"Quickly, through here!" Alfonso directed Martin as they got out of the staircase and onto a floor. Both parents continued to run through the hallway, eventually reaching and then bypassing the staircase that they knew Bob, Miles and Stella were on and made a turn. The guards were some distance away, which gave Alfonso and Martin some crucial distance between them.
"Where are we going?" Martin asked.
"Just trust me." Alfonso said.
Both then turned a corner and went straight to the building's southern staircase.
"Quickly, hide there!" Alfonso directed Martin, which he complied and went into one of the office rooms.
Alfonso opened the door to the staircase, but instead of going inside, turned around and ran right into the same office room where Martin was hiding and closed the door. The guards soon turned the same corner and continued to run and upon seeing the door to the southern staircase closing, thought they went through there and continued to run after them, eventually reaching and then bypassing the room where they hiding in.
Martin and Alfonso stood perfectly still and remained quiet as the guards bypassed them. Once it became quiet again, they slowly emerged from their hiding spot.
"That was close!" Martin softly said as he breathed heavily.
"Yeah it was." Alfonso said while panting.
"Come on. Let's head back to the other staircase and head up." Alfonso said.
"Should we not join with the others?" Martin asked.
"I thought about that, but I think it's best if we split up. That way, one of us can get to the kids, if the other gets caught." Alfonso reasoned.
"Hm, good point." Martin agreed and then both made their way back to the first staircase.
Meanwhile…
Miles and Stella continued to quickly make their up the stairs with Bob now really behind, but still in the game.
"How many floors to go?" Stella asked.
"I think we're more than half way there." Miles said. "So far we've been making good progress. We should get there soon." He said optimistically.
But just then,
"What are you doing here?!" A guard then suddenly appeared from the hallway, right when Miles and Stella were about to pass it, but the guard now blocked their path.
"You just had to jinx it, didn't you?" Stella annoyingly said with a frown, to which Miles merely nervously smiled at his wife.
The guard then began to move towards them, but Miles quickly took out his wipe and tied the guard up with it, neutralizing him.
"Hey!" The guard yelled as he fell down to the floor. "Get this thing off of me!"
"See? That was easy." Miles again optimistically remarked, but then suddenly,
"Look, there's more of them!" Two more guards suddenly entered the staircase.
"Can you stop jinxing things?!" Stella frustratingly exclaimed as she then prepared herself for battle.
One of the guards ran up and tried to grab Stella, only for her to grab his arm instead, twisted it hard, forcing him to flip and fall down the stairs. The other guard began to fight Miles and tried to land a few punches at him, only to miss and Miles ending up punching him instead.
The guard that fell quickly got up and attempted to grab Stella again, only for her to just kick him on the stomach, forcing him to groan in pain and fall down again.
Miles meanwhile, as he was dancing around with the other guard took a step back and accidentally tripped on the guard that was tied up on the floor
"Whoa!" He exclaimed as he fell down to the floor.
The lone guard then crept closer to him and just about to grab him when suddenly he felt someone tap him on his shoulder. When he turned around, he was met with a fist right towards his face, which knocked him out.
"Hehe, thanks honey." Miles shyly said with an embarrassed smile.
"No problem, dear." Stella said and helped him up.
But then, the guard that was still reeling from a blow to the stomach soon recovered and stood up and was ready for round two. To make matters worse, the guard that was tied up finally managed to free himself and got up, evening the odds.
"Oh man." Miles groaned and the couple prepared themselves for another round.
Bob meanwhile heard the commotion that was happening just a few floors above him and realized they were in trouble.
"Oh crimeny, they need help." He said to himself and began to climb up a bit faster.
"Bob!" Stella called out to him.
"Yeah, yeah I'm coming!" Bob retorted as he continued to climb up the stairs.
"No, I mean you need to go on your own and reach those kids!" Stella said as she struggled with one of the gaurds. "We'll hold these guys off!"
"Are you crazy?!" Bob exclaimed. "I can't go all the way up on my own! I'm barely able to get to you two!"
"You have to!" Miles said as he struggled with the other guard. "You can do it!"
"I..um...I…" Bob hesitated on what to say, as he felt he really wasn't sure he would be able to climb up the remaining floors faster than he needed to.
"Bob, think of Helga!" Miles said to him.
"What?" Bob said.
"Think of Helga! She needs you right now! She needs her dad!" Miles cried out to him.
"Ya, you're right...She does..." Bob agreed, as he began to feel a huge urge of energy coming through.
"Think of what Von Scheck tried to do to you!" Stella then said. "He tried to trick you out of your own business, tried to force you to move from your home not once, but twice and now he has Helga!"
"He did!" Bob angrily cried out, as he continued to grow ever more angrier, whilst this huge surge of energy began to rapidly flow throughout his body.
"He did try to take my business, my livelihood, my home away from me and now he has the cojones to try and harm my daughter!" Bob furiously roared as he instantly changed again, his eyes becoming fiery and red and his teeth grinding.
"SCHECK!" Bob roared again and with the rush of adrenaline and anger, began to quickly climb up the stairs.
"I'll get him, I'll get him!" He angrily yelled as he raced through, eventually bypassing Miles and Stella who were still struggling with the two guards.
"Good luck, Bob!" Miles said to him. "And Please bring back our kids!"
Meanwhile…
Alfonso and Martin continued to climb up the stairs on the other side of the building as fast as they could.
"It's quiet here." Martin remarked.
"Yes...too quiet." Alfonso agreed. "Somethings' about to happen. I can feel it."
"Let's hope we don't come across anymore-"
"Stop!" A guard then suddenly shouted at them a few floors above.
"Oh man, not again!" Martin groaned. "We were almost half way there."
"Quickly, back into the hallway." Alfonso said as both of them immediately left the staircase and went inside a floor.
"We do what we did last time?" Martin asked.
"Yup." Alfonso said
As before, both parents headed to the southern staircase. Martin went to the nearest office and hid inside while Alfonso opened the staircase door wide open before then quickly making his way inside the same office room where Martin was hiding and closed the door, just in the nick of time. The guards turned the corner and continued to chase after them, bypassing the room both adults were in and into the southern staircase. Once the coast was clear,
"Phew! Second time is the charm." Martin said with a smile.
"Yeah." Alfonso said with a smile as well. "Okay, let's head out before they – AHH!" Alfonso began to say when he noticed that there were others inside the room as well, with one of them holding some kind of weapon, startling him!
"Stay back!" Rhonda exclaimed as she tightly held a broken broom with the pointed tip pointing right at Alfonso. "I have a broom here and I'm not afraid to use it!"
Stinky, Sid and Peapod Kid were also there, each of them holding anything they could use as weapons against them.
"Oh man, we've been caught!" Martin lamented, thinking they were guards.
"Wait a minute. Rhonda?" Alfonso said, recognizing her from the meeting, but Rhonda didn't recognize him.
"How did you know my name?" Rhonda asked, both surprised and suspicious. "Never mind. I shouldn't be surprised that you know who I am, but nevertheless stay back!"
"Whoa, whoa, Rhonda." Alfonso calmly said to him. "We're here to get you kids out. I'm Alfonso; Rodrigo's father."
"Hahahaha! Oh please" Rhonda laughed at him. "Like I'm supposed to believe that. Rodrigo is a handsome boy, with beautiful eyes and dark hair majestically flowing down from his head. You on the other hand looked like you just came from a dumpster, straight from the worst part of this city. And don't get me started on that mustache, ugh!"
Stinky and Sid looked at each other with confusing eyes over what Rhonda said about Rodrigo. If they didn't know any better, they could have sworn that was a flirtatious comment.
"Rhonda, Stinky, Sid and Peapod Kid! You kids are okay!" Martin happily exclaimed, finally recognizing them.
"Wait a second, Ms. Rhonda." Stinky then said to Rhonda, even grabbing her broom and lowering it down. "That's Gerald's father, Mr. Johanssen. I recognize him from anywhere."
"Mr. Johanssen?" She asked, now finally noticing his presence.
"Yes, Rhonda, it's me!" Martin said back. "We're here to get you kids out."
"Oh thank goodness!" Rhonda exclaimed in utter relief. "We're saved and can finally get out of here!"
"Wait a minute. So that means that this person is really…." Rhonda began to say before then going completely silent and her eyes becoming wide with a shocking look on her face when she realized who she just insulted.
"Yes, Rhonda, I'm Rodrigo's father." Alfonso calmly said.
"Oh..my...God! I'm so, so, so sorry Mr. Castile." Rhonda frantically apologized as she began to turn red. "I beg of you to please forgive my rude comments. That comment does not in any way reflect who I am as a person and my family name. You are not ugly at all, hehehe. Your mustache is quite intriguing, really, i-i-it brightens out your eyes. And as for my comment about your son, well that was just umm… a strictly platonic comment, I can assure you. I am perfectly aware that he is taken and I respect that. I'm not that type of a girl, hehehehe." She nervously laughed as she began to fidget with her own hands.
"Rhonda, it's okay." Alfonso assured her. "You kids have been through a lot and I understand. Let's just get you all out of here."
"Wait a minute! What about Arnold, Gerald, Rodrigo and Helga? Have any of you seen them?" Martin asked the teens.
"No." Sid responded. "We know that they are on the top floor, inside Von Scheck's office. Rhonda spoke to Rodrigo some time ago and they seemed to be okay."
"Should we head up and get them as well?" Martin asked Alfonso.
After thinking about it,
"As much as I want to, I'm afraid we'll have to rely on Miles, Stella and Bob to get them." Alfonso replied. "We need to get these kids out of here first. Once they are out of harms way, we can go back and get them."
Martin reluctantly nodded in agreement.
"Okay, let's go." Martin said as he then slowly opened the door and made sure the coast was clear. "Coast is clear."
Martin left the room first, followed by Alfonso, then Rhonda, Sid, Stinky and Peapod Kid and began to head to the staircase from where the adults came from.
"By the way, why are you kids dressed up all in black?" Martin asked them.
"And what happened to your kidnappers?" Alfonso asked.
"Kidnappers?" Rhonda asked, confused.
Back at Von Scheck's office…
"So, isn't anyone coming to get us?" Gerald asked.
"I saw some people getting inside a while ago." Arnold said as he continued to look through the binoculars. "But, I'm not sure who they were."
"Well they better hurry up." Helga annoyingly remarked. "It's getting cold in here."
"The crowd is getting bigger with every minute." Rodrigo remarked. "More and more people are coming to join in the protest."
"I'm surprised most of them are still outside and didn't try to tear their way into the building." Gerald said.
"Let's hope they can control themselves." Arnold said. "We don't want anymore people getting hurt."
"Then what was the point of making all of this commotion?" Rodrigo asked. "They do us no good if they are just standing outside."
"They are distracting the guards and with this many people intruding on private property, the police should be on their way." Arnold replied.
"Do you really expect the police to actually help us and not FTI?" Rodrigo said, not trusting Arnold's usual sense of optimism.
"I trust Mayor Dixie." Arnold said.
"Hold up." Gerald then said as he tried to listen in on something. "I hear sirens."
Rodrigo and Arnold then looked through their binoculars to see if they could see anything. It took them a while, but they eventually saw vehicles with red and blue lights flashing and rapidly approaching.
"It's the police!" Arnold exclaimed. "They're coming!"
"You'd better be right about this, football head." Helga said.
A squad of police vehicles were indeed making their way towards FTI building. Arnold and his group watched as the polices cars made their way through the crowd or around them, eventually reaching the front of the building.
"Looks like things are going to be alright after all." Gerald said with a big relief. "And here I thought things were going to get worse."
*Locking sound*
Suddenly the teens heard what appeared to be a clicking sound...from a gun. Becoming instantly tensed and frightened, the four teens then slowly turned around to see, to their horror, Von Scheck, fully awake now, pointing his gun right at them, all while furiously snarling at them with even some saliva coming down from his mouth, with red, piercing glaring eyes and breathing heavily. Whatever humanity and culture he once possessed seemed to have gone away, replacing with a savage, fanatical hatred for these teens that had now completely consumed him.
"You just had to open your big mouth, didn't you tall-hair boy?" Helga irritatingly exclaimed.
"Oops." Was all Gerald could say.
"I told you," Von Scheck began to snarl to them, "you are NOT leaving this building alive!"
"Crimeny, was no one watching him?!" Helga angrily shouted at both Arnold and Rodrigo.
Both Arnold and Rodrigo merely looked at each other before then turning again to face Helga,
"No." They both said.
"Ugh, men!" Helga frustrated exclaimed as she slapped her forehead.
"I should have killed you the second I got out from prison." Von Scheck continued to snarl, only this time allowing an evil, if not completely inhuman smile to emerge on his face. "But, I guess beggars can't be choosers, so this is the next best thing; killing you with my own two hands. Even if that means I got back to prison, I'll have the satisfaction of finally ridding you from this planet!"
"You really need help, buddy." Helga remarked. "This level of obsession is not good for you; I should know."
"That maybe true, my dear," Von Scheck replied with an grin, regaining some of his courteous mannerisms, "but, since how I just now lost everything...again, killing your boyfriend is the only source of pleasure I have left."
"Von Scheck, don't do this." Arnold then tried to reason with him. "It's over. The police are here and are on their way up. What do you think will happen to you if they catch you shooting a bunch of unarmed teenagers?"
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that." Von Scheck softly said to him with an evil grin. "You and your friends will all be dead by the time they get here. Whatever happens to me, you Arnold, will go down with me!"
"No!" Rodrigo then suddenly exclaimed as he took a step forward, getting Von Scheck's attention.
"Rodrigo!" Arnold tried to get his attention, but Rodrigo simply put his hand up, indicating to him to be quiet.
"It's me you want." Rodrigo said to Von Scheck. "Arnold's got nothing to do with saving the neighbourhood this time. This was all my idea. I planned all of this, so I am solely responsible for exposing you this time! You can take me out, but leave Arnold and everyone else out of this! I mean come on, give credit where it's due, will ya?"
"Oh my apologies," Von Scheck said with a sarcastic tone, "I do consider myself an equal-opportunity employer, so right after I put a bullet right through Arnold's heart, you're next!"
"Good plan, chum." Helga sarcastically remarked.
"Goodbye, Arnold!" Von Scheck yelled as he began to squeeze the trigger to finally end the football head's life once and for all!
"No-!"
*BANG!*
