Author Comment: I want to thank my Beta-reader FollowerOfAnhamirak for his time on this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

Sorry it was late, my Beta-Reader was busy for a while with exams. I will upload the next chapters when they are ready.

Act 3: Battle For The Cothica.

Before the M'arrillians had arrived on Earth, Kaz had been walking through the mall looking for the DVD release of the movie he had missed seeing when he had been helping out Sarah.

Feeling uneasy as he walked to the video store Kaz checked his scanner once again. All he saw was the same message he had received when he had been coded. He didn't know why it had happened or what had coded him; all those things raised questions in his mind. Still, he didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, he heard yelling down below.

"What is that monster?!" Someone yelled.

Kaz gazed down and paled, "M…Milla'iin?" He couldn't believe what he was seeing. This shouldn't be happening!

The creature attacked one of the nearby people, sending the others into a panic, yelling as they tried to run away.

Kaz saw more M'arrillians suddenly appear all around the mall. The creatures quickly took action and attacked the humans around them. Those who were struck by the M'arrillians' mind control rays quickly calmed down and ambled towards their new masters. Kaz stared quietly before moving away. He knew that they were looking for him.

Kaz quickly climbed up the rest of the escalator and searched for a place to hide. He had to hide quickly or else he'd be turned into a zombie like the others.

Kaz looked around. He didn't know where to hide. Feeling the pressure to find a place quickly Kaz remembered that clothes shop he'd visited earlier this week. Maybe he could find a way to escape from there. Like in that spy movie he'd seen with Tom a while back.

Kaz rushed towards it, making sure no creatures were around.

Spotting the shop Kaz slowed down and took a breath, listening to what was going. It was getting extremely loud all over the mall as everyone began realizing what was going on. However, it was also getting quieter as the M'arrillians continued taking control of people.

He entered the shop and hid inside the fitting room. Outside, everything was silent now. Kaz put his hands over his mouth, trying to be as quiet as possible. Eventually everything was quiet and no one was yelling anymore. It was all calm outside. He knew the M'arrillians had everyone under control. Kaz could only guess what would happen to his town and the rest of the world.

He didn't know what to do. He didn't know if there was a way to escape the M'arrillians and the humans under their control.

Kaz tried to think about what he could do. He put down his hands and clenched his fists, trying to think of something.

Chapter 76: Escape The Mall

Kaz continued to wait for a while. He stifled his breath, hearing somebody moving around outside. Trembling slightly, he stood still as he heard someone looking around. Kaz gazed upwards, but there was no way to escape from above.

"Search for any humans still around. There might still be some hiding," a deep voice said.

Kaz knew that whoever was there was trouble. Closing his eyes briefly he heard the footsteps coming closer and closer to where he was hiding. He had already locked it, but if they looked at it, they would see the occupied sign. He knew he couldn't fight against that many or even one for that matter. Still, he prepared himself. He had to do something. He had to find a way to escape.

As he waited Kaz felt his heart pounding so hard it was a surprise no one heard him. His muscles tensed, ready to take action.

After a few seconds, Kaz saw something coming from under the door. He tried to kick it, but his ankle was grabbed by whoever was trying to get him. He yelped as he was suddenly pulled outside and was about to yell when a hand covered his mouth.

"Keep it down Kaz, or they'll know we are here," a quiet voice said.

Kaz noticed that the hand covering his mouth was scaly and blue. He followed the arm and saw the person's hand. Recognizing who he was Kaz calmed down.

"Good." He said.

"Agitos. You're… You're here?" He couldn't believe it.

"There is no time for that. I have to get you out of here right now," the Underworlder told him. He stood up and looked around for an escape route.

Kaz agreed. It wasn't the time to ask the why and how. They had to get out of here and without the M'arrillians spotting them.

Agitos went near the door and checked outside, "It's too risky to get out of your colosseum."

"It's a mall," Kaz replied absently as he looked around.

The creature didn't know what it was. He just noticed all the clothes where they were. It was not the time to ask questions, "Any way out of here?"

"Yeah. I just took the wrong cabin and ran out of time." Kaz pointed at a metallic grate. "The air duct surely leads outside."

"Then we will escape through here," the blue Underworlder said as he walked towards it.

The both of them entered the cabin. Once inside, Agitos quickly pried it off and set it on the ground, "Get out quickly. The moment they see the humans I knocked out they will rush in."

Kaz nodded and jumped into the air duct.

The creature followed him, "Really small in here," Agitos grumbled when his spikes got stuck for a few seconds.

"It's not made for an escape like that," Kaz replied.

"You should make those tunnels bigger."

The two crawled through the "tunnel". Kaz slowed down, "Careful, there is an exit here. We could end up in the middle of them."

Agitos looked through the grate. He saw many humans walking around with the M'arrillians, obeying their silent orders. He noticed one human being dragged towards one of the invaders who was promptly struck by their mind control rays.

Kaz took a deep breath. This wasn't Chaotic. A mistake would kill him once and for all. He wouldn't be coded. He continued to crawl, "Careful with that vent. You can fall through."

"Noted," the Underworlder replied.

When he saw the vent, he made sure to not put his weight on it. He extended his arms and reached the other side. Once it was done, he did the same and made sure his legs wouldn't press on the vent. He didn't know why this was a weak part of that structure. Once he was at the other side, he followed the boy, "Why is it fragile?"

"It's not made to have humans in there. We just have no other choice."

"…This looks like a perfect place to spy on enemies," Agitos grumbled.

"On people buying stuff?"

"It's a market?" Agitos couldn't believe that. Maybe because of the M'arrillians assault, it didn't feel that way. It made sense given that the place where he had found the boy had so many clothes. Way too many for Kaz. Not only that, but the dresses made no sense.

"Yeah."

"The Cothica is so different," Agitos grumbled as he avoided putting weight on another vent. He went to the other side and headed forward. He gazed down, "You know where to go right?"

"Of course not. I just have an idea for the vent. We are going towards the end. Not sure if we can go up, because we can get cut in pieces," Kaz replied as he continued.

Eventually, they reached the end of the ventilation system. Up ahead saw another grate. He wasn't sure if it was a grate though, but it looked like it. Through it he could see outside of the mall. He gulped when he noticed that they were pretty high up. "Don't think I can survive the fall Agitos," Kaz remarked awkwardly. Still, it was their only way out. He grumbled as he managed to turn around. His back touched the snout of the creature. He made sure his feet were in front of him, ready to kick that grate down.

Kaz braced himself and kicked the metal grid. It didn't work. He tried a few more times, but it was to no effect.

Agitos watched the boy and sighed, "Let me get this grate away. Just… let me pass in front of you."

"O-okay." Kaz gazed back and saw how little space they had. Kaz knew it would get awkward quickly and just went with it. This wasn't the time to hesitate. The M'arrillians might try something if they didn't get out quick enough. With that thought, Kaz took out his scanner and put it on mute. He couldn't let the invaders hear him at the worst possible moment.

It took a minute of struggling and a few awkward moments where the creature yelped. Eventually they calmed down and managed to switch places; the two were blushing with embarrassment though.

"Next time…forget about it." Agitos began before shaking his head and instead focusing on his task.

"B-before we go out. Are you the only creature here?"

"No. There were eight of us. I don't have time to explain. The M'arrillians are everywhere throughout your city. I can assure you that." Agitos used his hand and broke the grid without too much effort, pushing the remains away, "I'll jump off and catch you."

"O-okay." Kaz nodded, trying not to look nervous.

Agitos jumped off and landed on the ground. He looked up and saw Kaz ready to jump. He raised his arms and caught the boy before he fell to the ground and swiftly put the teenager down.

"What now?" Kaz asked as he looked around.

"We get you out of the city quickly and hide you." Agitos grumbled.

Kaz was about to reply when his scanner vibrated. He looked around and saw no one. They were in an empty field that was behind the mall, which was good. Still, he ignored the car alarms resonating across the city as well as the cries of panic that echoed all over. He couldn't believe it and focused on his message.

Kaz. M'arrian here. Have to leave home. Come to my GP farm before they get us.

The first thought was that his best friend was also one of the M'arrillian's targets to try and force the other tribes to surrender, given that they were chosen to guide them to the Cothica. However, that wasn't the case given that they were on Earth without them. The second was that Tom obviously wrote everything quickly, making him wonder what had happened to him. Kaz briefly wondered if Tom had escaped the M'arrillians and had to quickly write out the message.

Kaz thought about the content of the message next. It was true that Tom's grandparent's farm was far away from the city and that they would be safe. It was a better place to hide. There wasn't anywhere else he could think of. "Tom just told me that we can go to his grandparents, away from here," Kaz told Agitos as he thought about the message.

"Let's leave now," Agitos replied.

Kaz shook his head. "I can't leave my mother. She's in danger with the M'arrillians around."

Agitos grumbled but nodded, "Yes. That is why Rothar just left like that."

Kaz gave an intimidating glare, "Rothar?"

Agitos ignored him. " Anyway, we have to find your mother. Where could she be?"

"With everything going on, I think she might come back home with the M'arrillians showing up." That was the logical thing he could think of. He also wanted to make sure Rothar wouldn't make a move.

"I'll have to follow you. I don't know where you live." Agitos said.

"Okay… We just have to avoid everyone." Kaz realized that the task would be much harder than he thought.

It was chaos all over the city right now. If they tried to move too quickly or were spotted, they would be captured.

Kaz knew he would be hunted and Agitos would be a target. He couldn't stand here either, "We'll find mom and we get out of here."

"Sure. Once we are safe, we will have to contact the Codemasters," Agitos added.

"Fine. Let's go," Kaz replied.

The two began to quietly march through the street.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: The Visitors.

Tom was worried with everything going on. When he heard a gunshot, he climbed down and realized he had a lot to explain.