Warriors: The New Era
Chapter Fifty Two: Survival
This chapter will mainly focus on Foxleap and co, as they try to find a way to escape the house. Enjoy.
"Any aces?"
"Go fish," the other Bloodclan employee muttered.
They sat in what was left of the dining room area, basically just camping out the Foxcave's entrance staircase and elevator. They had been here for weeks. Either the kids were dead from lack of air and food, or they had some giant stockpile somewhere. But they had gone through the blueprints. Every schematic, every exit, it was all being watched by them.
Well not at the moment...
Truth be told, Bone never really sent a heavy duty detail to the house, just five of his best, and two of them were victims of the children's defenses.
"Christ, are you sure you're not cheating!" The other scoffed, as a third member joined in. He had long unwashed brown hair, and amber eyes, a scraggly beard across his chin. He was younger then the other two playing the game.
The third member sighed, running a hand through his messy brown hair, "Why you two playing a kids game! I haven't played Go Fish since third grade!"
"Well, THIS idiot lost the chips!" The first pointed at the other one.
"Dude I'm telling you, they were stolen! Prolly a racoon or something."
The Third member sighed, "I'll go search. Enjoy playing Go Fish. Oh, and Dex?"
"Yeah?" The second, Dex, asked.
He smirked, "Redspear is cheating."
"YOU FUCKER!" Redspear shouted at the third one, as the other two ended up arguing.
The third one cackled with laughter, looking in the kitchen drawers.
"I knew it! You little snake!" Dex scowled.
Red shrugged, pouring cards out of his sleeve, "Yeah alright, sorry. I had aces, eights, and those jacks you wanted."
"Well too late now!" Dex roared, "Gimme the cards were playing a new game!"
"HEY! DEX?"
"Yeah man?" Dex shouted, shuffling the cards.
"WHAT'S THIS BLACK ORB THING DOING ON THE COUNTER?!"
Redspear and Dex paled in fear. The two instantly tripped out of their chairs and rushed to the kitchen.
"DON'T TOUCH IT!"
The third Bloodclan member dropped the orb with his hands up, "I didn't touch it!"
"You were grabbing it, you moron!" Redspear snarled, "Bone would kill us if we lost them due to your negligence!"
"Why?" He asked, "What does it do?"
Redspear sighed, "It's an EMP. It's shutting down their lair's power and electricity. Why do you think your wifi had been trash?"
"OOH! I thought it was cause we took down a celltower or somethin," He muttered.
Redspear shook his head, "No you newbie. This thing is keeping the kids down there from getting out. So please, try not to deactivate it would ya? It's very sensitive equipment!"
"How sensitive?" The Newbie asked.
Dex smirked, "Just shake the damn thing and it warbles. That, and it's power mode button is a little too sensitive. Just touching it would deactivate it. Why do you think we put tape over it?"
"Oh that explains it," he shrugged.
Dex sighed, "Alright, now you know. Red, lets get back to the game."
As Red started to go off on Dex for not telling the new Bloodclan member this before hand, the brown haired newbie went back to looking around in the kitchen drawers.
After five minutes of rummaging through coins, papers, pencils and tape, he found a pair of scissors. Quietly, he went back to the kitchen table and cut the tape off, watching the green button go red.
"Hey, deal me in would ya?" He smirked, grabbing a set of poker chips from his pocket.
"I found the chips."
Foxleap was awoke to the small humming of his computer servers.
He slowly opened his eyes, and looked at the black screen of the monitor, it's words typed out they it's systems reboot was almost complete.
"What the fuck?" Foxleap thought to himself, looking at his keyboard and mousepad, instantly going to work. He moved the mouse on screen, and then turned to the light switch built into his chair.
The lights turned on in his dim Foxcave, blinding him instantly.
"K.A.R.-" Foxleap stopped himself, force of habit, "MIDNIGHT! WE HAVE POWER AGAIN!"
The lifelike android burst into the cave, looking at the monitors as they started up, "Oh shit..."
Foxleap grinned, "Wake everyone up! We're getting out of here today!"
"So what exactly is the endgame here?" Bone asked.
Rock grinned, hands glowing with magic as he powered up the machine.
"Centuries become decades...decades become years...years become months, and now? Months become days..."
"English please?" Bone asked from the ground, staring up at the contraption.
It was like the inside of a clock tower, a vault hidden DEEP in the mountain. So deep, not even Bone could tell where the exit tunnels were.
Rock smirked, his left hand sporting a new ring on his pointer finger, "Why do you think we are doing what we are doing?"
Bone shrugged, "Destroying the world. What else is there besides that?"
"No, WHY are we destroying it?"
"Not sure, but I'm guessing you're about to tell me," Bone sighed.
"Right you are."
"For centuries I have safeguarded and protected Earth's people from certain destruction. Never once have I asked for anything in return. Only that humanity would some day learn from it's mistakes. But now at the height of my power do I see. Man is a cancer. There is no saving it from itself, you cannot help those who do not want to be helped."
"Wait, so you're going to kill EVERYONE?"
"No, of course not," Rock dismissed, "I am justice. Not heartless. Humanity will evolve. They will be learn from there mistakes. They will adapt and become better then they were now."
Bone rubbed his chin, "I'm just saying...at this point I hardly care whether you spare me your wrath or not, but...I don't think killing...everyone, is the only solution."
"It is not," Rock answered, "But it is the only way that there will be true and actual change."
Bone looked at Rock in a mix of fear and wonder, "But...I don't know. I put on the face of a merc with no morals, to which I don't. But...something don't seem right killing all them folk unjustly."
"Think of it this way," Rock floated down in front of him, eyes staring into his heart, "You have to be sick in order to get a stronger immunity to the virus next time it comes. This is the pathogen. The virus. Once humanity has evolved to the point where the are truly and purely changing the world for the better, instead of destroying it and taking advantage of the weak-"
"But isn't that what we are doing now?" Bone asked, "Destroying and taking advantage of the weak, so they can be the next generation?"
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth," Rock nodded.
Bone bit his tongue, "I...whatever."
Rock floated dangerously close to where Bone was, and growled, "Where do you stand, Bone?"
Bone looked at the ground, before nodding his head and looking back at him, "With you."
"Then...on your knees..."
Bone slowly sank to his knees, and bowed his head down, eyes mad with fury.
"You are my Shepperd of the new world. You are spared because deep down, you can inspire others in ways Scourge and Tigerstar could not. And you will inspire them to do as I say. For with my vast power, I know that I cannot Shepperd them as quick as I would like. Dominance, begets Resistance, which causes...Violence."
Bone nodded, "And so I shall serve..."
Rock grinned and floated back up the moving gears and panels, "Do what must be done..."
Bone sighed, with a new found confidence and resolve.
"I will."
Foxleap slipped the knuckledusters on his fingers, while Midnight's gauntlets cracked open to reveal her built in laser canons. She was very adamant on never being a damsel in distress.
"Where's Half Moon and Berrynose?" Foxleap asked.
"Right here!" Berrynose stomped out, decked in hockey pads for protection, and a hockey stick with nails through it's blade.
Half Moon popped out, with two daggers strapped to her waist, "If we're gonna make a move, now is the time."
"Thank God the power went back on," Foxleap sighed, "Any sooner, and we'd never open the weapons vault."
"I'm still pissed you never TELL us these things!" Berrynose snarled, "Is there anything else we need to know before we leave?"
Foxleap shrugged, "I have a wine cellar."
"YOU BASTARD!"
"Guys, not now," Hazeltail groaned, with a rifle in her arms.
Foxleap nodded, stepping over to the keyboards and typing some code in, "Alright...the cave is set to blow...we have five minutes..."
"Let's go then," Berrynose pounded his chest, hyping himself up for a fight.
They all crammed into the small elevator, Midnight in front of them with her arms trained on the door, ready to fire when they opened.
There they sat as the elevator slowly moved upwards.
Foxleap cracked his knuckles.
Berrynose tapped the hokcey stick against the floor.
Half Moon twirled her daggers around, snarling.
Hazeltail loaded her rifle up.
DING.
The elevator opened.
"ARRGGGHHHHhhhh there is no one here," Midnight ran out screaming for war before she looked around the living room.
Hazletail pointed at the floor, "Except for them."
Two Bloodclan members were knocked out on the floor beneath them. One had red hair, and the other had a deck of cards across his chest.
"You're welcome by the way..."
They all raised their weapons behind them, and widened their eyes.
The Brown Haired Bloodclan enforcer grinned.
"I figured you guys would need some help from little old me."
"ALDERHEART?" Foxleap asked in wonder.
The young boy threw his hands up in dramatic effect, "YES, TIS I!"
"You're awake!" Midnight said in wonder.
Alderheart nodded, "Woke two days before the world went nuts. Was about to be cleared by the asylum, but then it got raided by Bloodclan. I've been pretending to be one of them for ages now."
Half Moon hugged the poor boy, crying tears of joy, "Sparkpelt is going to be so happy. And Jayfeather, and Poppyfrost!"
"What all have I missed?" He asked, then correcting himself, "Besides Rock's heel turn?"
"We'll fill you up on the way to Riven," Foxleap sighed, "For now we have to move before the house blows up."
"YOU'RE BLOWING IT UP?!" Alderheart shouted, "AFTER ALL MY HARD WORK TO RESCUE YOU GUYS AND KEEP IT SAFE, YOU'RE JUST BLOWING IT UP?"
Foxleap took his turn to shout, dragging the kid out the door as the group sprinted out, "I DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE GOING TO BE RESCUED ANY TIME SOON!"
"YOU'RE WELCOME BY THE WAY!"
BOOM!
The blast of the bomb threw them all forward, as heat singed the hairs off their backs. Foxleap stood up and kooed at the house, watching it crumble into dust as his precious lair caved in on itself and threw a wave of dust up into the sky.
"Well...too late now. Goodbye Foxcave."
"Oh thank god you're safe!" Ivypool hugged her sister, as she returned the favor.
Dovewing cried tears of joy, "I was worried sick about you!"
Lionblaze and Hollyleaf hugged as well, reunited after the weeks of hell.
"I'm sorry I left you alone," Lionblaze muttered.
Hollyleaf nodded, "It's okay."
Firestar grinned.
"How sweet. I love family reunions," Tigerstar said, his mask off, and teeth caked with blood as a result, "Don't you?"
"Have a heart, Tigerclaw. You have yet to see your children and granddaughter."
"Heh, not looking forward to that!"
The group had all arrived at the Underground safer then expected. They had camped in a shelter like area, where people were sleeping or being given relief items by the surviving Resistance members.
Honeyfern and Cinderheart all hugged Lionblaze, before Cinderheart smiled, "Thank God you are here."
"Where's Icecloud? And Poppyfrost?"
The two sister faltered in facial structure, looking somber and unfortunate.
"Icecloud is dead...Poppyfrost is worse."
Lionblaze gasped at the news of Icecloud, lowering his head in regret, "Damn...DAMN! She...she didn't deserve this...does Jack know?"
"Jack is MIA," Hollyleaf mumbled.
Lionblaze rubbed his eyes, letting some tears fall, "What...what about Foxleap?"
"He's on his way, but we didn't have the chance to tell him," Fallen Leaves said.
Ivypool wiped her eyes, "How?"
"She was up top when the bomb went off."
"DAMN!" Lionblaze slammed his fist into the cobblestone ground, enraged and sad.
Honeyfern and Cinderheart shared a look, and Cinderheart nodded.
"Listen, Lionblaze?" Honeyfern started.
Lionblaze sunk to his knees, and leaned back, "What?"
"How close were you to Poppyfrost?"
"As close as the rest of us, why?" Lionblaze asked, eyes still red.
Cinderheart began to quiver, "She...something has changed."
"She's always been difficult," Dovewing reasoned.
"Not like this!" Honeyfern snapped, "She's not sad or depressed, or drinking away her troubles. Christ, we've all heard her crying in the tunnels when we sleep. But...she doesn't look sad or upset. She looks furious. We all hate Rock for what he's done but Poppyfrost? I don't know what happened, but the woman in these tunnels, is NOT my sister. And I know if we ask her to help us fight Rock, she will not listen, and we will have lost the biggest army in Forrestlake currently."
"And you want ME to snap her out of it?" Lionblaze growled, "No. Let her grieve and mourn how she wants."
"We haven't seen her in days!" Cinderheart shouted, "Brightheart and Fang won't let us! You can-"
"NO! I think, you should respect her anger, hell, I'M FURIOUS TOO!" Lionblaze shouted, "I'M FURIOUS ROCK PLAYED US ALL FOR DAMN FOOLS! I'M FURIOUS THAT TWO CITIES HAVE BEEN VAPORIZED! I'M FURIOUS THAT MY FRIENDS ARE DYING ONE BY ONE! LET HER BE FURIOUS!"
Cinderheart rested a hand on Lionblaze's shoulder, and slowly hugged him.
Lionblaze wrenched his eyes shut, and cried, pouring waterfalls of tears.
"Please...help us get our sister back...please."
"I'll...I'll try."
"Oh please! Put a sock in your stupid emotional attachments!" Tigerstar shouted, and they all looked to him in rage, "The way I see it, if the so called Queen of Beggars doesn't wish to cooperate with us, then we will force her to acknowledge us and fight beside us!"
"And if she won't?!" Ivypool hissed.
Tigerstar grinned, "Then we find someone who will fight beside us. And dispose the vermin..."
The room boomed with uproar, as everyone shouted and yelled their objections.
"NOW HOLD ON! I don't want to kill her!"
"SHE'S MY SISTER!"
"WHY SHOULD WE LISTEN TO A TERRORIST LIKE YOU?!"
"A COUP?"
"SILENCE!" Firestar yelled, and they all fell quiet in his respect. He took a deep breath, "While I disagree with his sentiment, Tigerstar isn't wrong. The Court Of Miracles has an army of thousands involving ex military, mercs, and assassins. Poppyfrost leads them all, and if we can't convince her to cooperate, we need to find someone who will and at the same time, someone who the army will let lead them to battle."
Tigerstar grinned looking to the ceiling with his chin up, with a smug smirk on his face, "Someone like-"
Firestar glared at him, "You are a general. Not a leader. I don't trust you THAT much."
Tigerstar snarled as Lionblaze snapped his fingers, "Sparkpelt! Poppyfrost said that she was next in line! She could lead them!"
"But would they listen?" Dovewing asked,
Tigerstar laughed, choking some blood out in the process. Everyone turned to him as he explained with a grin, "It's not about whether they WANT to listen or not!"
Everyone folded their arms or raised a brow in what he had to say.
"It's about whether they have a choice," Tigerstar smirked.
Alderheart is back! Tigerstar is fighting for the good guys, for now! And Rock's master plan is revealed!
Okay, I swear this will be the LAST filler chapter I ever do. Everything else from here on will be STRICTLY IMPORTANT TO PLOT! REMEMBER THESE WORDS! THEY ARE IN BOLD!
Let me know what you guys think in the reviews. You're welcome to guess on what's gonna happen next.
Adios.