The rescue was going better than expected. They had found Jack and Dannii. Ebony was quietly searching for Ethan, worried about him. Once almost all of them were outside, except Ebony, Dannii jumped and hugged Bray tightly, trying to kiss his. But he pulled away.
"Dannii, there's something you should know..." He began. "...Amber's alive." He finished.
"What!!!" Dannii shouted.
"I love her and we're gonna get married. We have two children. I'm sorry Dannii."
"I was gone for less than a year Bray." She said quietly. He went to put his arm around her but she pushed it away.
"So who is it this time Bray?" Asked Jack from behind him. Bray turned. "What a surprise, another one bites the dust, hey Bray." He walked over to Dannii and put his arm around her. Bray was about to reply when Ebony appeared, helping what appeared to be an injured Chosen walk.
"We've got trouble." She shouted simply.
"What is it Ebony?" He asked, walking towards the pair. He knew this had been far to easy. "Chosen?"
"No, this is my contact." The Chosen stood and lifted his hood. Bray was surprised at what he saw.
"Byder, is that you?" He asked as he looked at the Chosen guard standing before him.
The young man nodded and smiled. "It's been a long time Bray. Didn't think you'd recognise me." He stepped forward, wincing slightly and took Bray's outstretched hand and shook it. "But you've got more important things to worry about than me." He said seriously.
"Like what Ethan?" Asked Ebony who was still stand by Byder/Ethan's side.
Bray was confused, why was she calling him Ethan? "What's wrong?" He asked.
"The Chosen know where your HQ is. They're gonna attack. Perhaps tonight." His face was concerned. "I think your friends are in danger." He was deadly serious.
"Oh no, Amber!!!" Said Bray. He turned to the others who had gathered round. He heard Jack ask Lex "Amber?" and saw Jack's jaw drop as he heard she was alive and form a large smile. It was the first time he'd seen Jack smile since he'd been rescued, Jack seemed different somehow. Bray had seen Ethan/Byder's expression drop at the mention of Amber's name, what did that mean?
"What's up man?" Asked Lex. "And who the hell is this traitor?" He asked turning to Ethan.
"This is Byder or Ethan, ex Loco, Chosen infiltrator and my informant." Said Ebony, still looking concerned about him, he was still limping slightly. He'd attacked some Chosen and got a few bad hits.
"The other's are in danger. The Chosen might attack base and Amber..." He looked towards Lex. "...Tai-San..." He looked at Jack. "...And Ellie are still there." Bray saw real fear in Lex's eyes; he hadn't seen that in a long time. Lex opened his mouth to speak but Bray continued. "We have to leave, now. Hang on a second." A thought hit him, the name, Byder's name, Ethan. He swung round towards Ethan. There was no real resemblance between them, but that didn't matter. He'd reacted to her name. "You...your" he pointed at Ethan. "This may seem a stupid question but Byd...Ethan do you have a sister?"
Ebony looked towards Ethan and then back to Bray. "Yes or I had, two sisters. Bethany and Amber. Why?" Ethan replied, confused.
Bray began to smile. "I think your sister is..." He began.
"His girlfriend." Finished Ebony. "Amber."
Ethan's eyes grew wide with shock. "She's alive." He said quietly.
"I don't mean to break up this family reunion." Interrupted Lex who'd been listening with the others. "But we have to go and get that sister of yours and her and loverboy's kids as well as my wife." He turned.
"YOU KNOCKED UP MY LITTLE SISTER!!!!!" Shouted Ethan, running at Bray. "YOU!!!"
Bray dodged him. "Listen I love Amber." Said Bray dodging another punch. "She's the most important person in my life along with our children." This stopped Ethan a moment.
"Did you say children? More than one? You knocked up my little sister TWICE!!!!!!!" He lunged at Bray and this time made contact with his face.
"STOP IT!!!!" Shouted Ebony and they reluctantly obliged. "What is the point in fighting if the person you're fighting over is in danger?" She asked and walked away. Ethan stood and looked down at Bray.
"We'll finish this later after we get MY sister." He said and then left. Lex helped Bray up and smiled at him.
"First meeting with the in-laws went well didn't it." He said smiling more.
had changed that, she almost felt guilty for easy." Said Ebony as Ethan ploughed ahead of everyone and she tried to keep up. "You don't even know the way." She grabbed his arm to slow him down.
"She's my sister Ebony. I have to find her and..." He paused. "Say I'm sorry."
Ebony was confused. "Sorry for what?" She asked.
"I left her. Abandoned her." He replied.
"The way I remember it was we captured you." Ebony replied. "You went looking for her didn't you? You left a good thing with the Loco's to find her."
Ethan began to laugh. "I didn't go after Amber. I went after Bethany, I was doing that we you got me. I left her and Dal, alone while I went to find our other sister, one who didn't give a shit about any of us. Especially Amber." He began to walk ahead again and left Ebony alone once again.
While Bray and the others made the long trek back to the HQ the rest of the Mall Rats were being held together in a room somewhere inside. Pride, Trudy, Tai-San, Alice, Salene, Ryan, Ellie, KC, Cloe and Patsy were trapped. Trudy was crying and Pride was holding her tightly. He'd been injured, they all had.
"They took her Pride." She said between sobs. "They took my baby." He stroked her head. "Amber...was she alive?" She asked as another shock hit her, Amber. She hadn't been put in here with the others.
"I saw her move before I got you." He replied. He was worried about her. She'd been knocked out. "She'll be okay. We'll get Brady back. Don't worry."
The others were quiet. Salene was crying as she nursed Ryan. He was still unconscious. They'd taken all the children. Looking for Brady and the twins, they'd taken Jade. She missed her little girl.
"I have an idea" Whispered Trudy to Pride as they sat away from the others. "I think I should do something, try to get out of here, get you out." She moved to face him and told him her plan.
"NO!!!" He shouted and stood up. The others reacted to his shout and turned their attention to him. "I wont let you."
Trudy stood up to and stared at him. "You think you can stop me?" She asked stepping away from him and towards the door. "I have to try Pride, I have to try and make amends." She moved closer to the door.
"But you already have, that's the past, I don't want anything to happen to you." He moved closer to her. "I care about you."
She shook her head and turned to the others. "I'm going to try something, if it works remember why I'm doing it." She looked solemnly at them and they looked back confused and mumbling began in the group.
She moved back to the door and then banged on it, she smiled back at the others.
"Don't do it Trudy, they'll know." Began a desperate Pride, moving closer again.
"What do you care?" She replied.
"I don't wanna loose you..." He paused a moment. "I think I'm in love with you..." That stopped her from banging for a second time and she stared wide eyed at him.
"What?" She asked quietly.
"I LOVE YOU!!!" The others who hadn't heard him the first time were silenced and stared at them, some with open mouths, bulging and even smiles. He moved closer to her, took her head in his hands and kissed her lightly.
She stared at him a moment and then moved away, banging the door once again. She looked sorrowfully at Pride and mouthed 'I'm sorry and then 'I love you' as if as an after thought.
Then in her best Supreme Mother voice she called out. "I demand to be released at once. I am working undercover for the Chosen you imbeciles. I demand to be released." The guards came in and she walked out regally, without looking back.
The others just stared at her and then at Pride, still in shock. Was Trudy going to join the Chosen? What was she planning? And what was really going on between Pride and Trudy? They didn't know or understand what had just happened.
"I don't believe it!!!" Shouted Salene after Trudy had left and the door closed on them. "She's done it again!!!" She stared at the others and shook her head. "We fell for it again, the sob story and now they've got MY BABY!!!" She began to cry, Tai-San tried to comfort her.
Pride just stared at the door in shock; he couldn't believe she's left after what he'd just told her. He sank to the floor in shock. "She's not going to betray us Salene." He said quietly. "She's not a spy." He looked at the floor.
"What do you mean Pride?" Asked a suspicious Alice who was also trying to comfort Salene as well as see to the unconscious Ryan.
The group stared at him. "Don't you understand? She want forgiveness, redemption and she'd do anything to get that." He stared at them. "She's going to make the ultimate sacrifice for us, she's going to be Supreme Mother again."
"But that's not a sacrifice, that's selling out." Said KC.
Pride shook his head and began to laugh. "You don't get it do you?" He stared at them again. "The Chosen are finished and they know it. They want to go out in a blaze of glory, to be remembered. What do you think they want?" He stood up and laughed more, tears in his eyes. "They want a willing sacrifice to Zoot, before they end it. Trudy's going to give them that."
The others looked shocked and still confused. Then they realised and the colour drained from their faces. "She's going to die for us, isn't she?" Said Tai-San, Pride just nodded and once again slumped to the floor.
Trudy stood in front of the Guardian; she had her Supreme Mother act on, trying to ignore the body of Amber, which was still lying on the floor.
"I wish you to explain this to me Guardian." She began. "You attacked me, the..." She hesitated. "Supreme Mother, I could have been injured." She shook her head. "Zoot will not be happy with your actions when all rejoin him soon." Her act of superiority appeared to be working. "Where is the Devine Child?" She asked trying hard not to sound anxious after all the mighty Zoot was protecting both of them. That sounded so stupid now she couldn't believe she had believed it not long ago.
The Guardian was deep in thought. "She is well Supreme Mother." He replied, still distant. He breathed deeply. "Your explanations of events are informative. Interesting that you did not contact me when I was here." He stared at her and she flinched slightly. "The question remains whether you would be a worthy to be given to Zoot or whether the Devine Child would be more appropriate." Trudy almost screamed at the mention of Brady being sacrificed.
"But Brady is surely to continue the work of Zoot after we are gone, spread the word. Perhaps it is to soon for her to be reunited with the great one." Trudy replied, her voice almost faltering.
"I agree, but you must prove yourself worthy." He gestured towards a guard. "Stab him." Said the Guardian. "He has been a great asset to the cause, he is worthy to meet Zoot." He passed her a knife and stood smiling. The guard move in front of her and directed his eyes away from her preparing for the pain. She gulped heavily and stared down at Amber's body, which moved slightly. Trudy looked down at the knife and then up at the guard. Could she take someone else's life for the sake of her friends? Would that make her as bad as the Chosen? She didn't know what to do.
In their 'cell' the Mall Rats were waiting for any news of Trudy. Trying to come to terms with what she was going to do. Pride was distant and could feel the others watching him.
Suddenly they heard voices outside the door, which opened, and a body was thrown in. Pride ran to her and grabbed her. It was Trudy.
"Well I guess it didn't work then." As the others crowded around Trudy. She wasn't badly hurt, just a few more cuts and bruises.
"I tried Pride I really did. I'm so sorry, I failed again. Now Amber's hurt even more and I just caused someone's death.
"What happened Trudy?" Asked Alice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trudy stood there, knife in hand. She couldn't do it. "I can't, I'm not a killer." She handed the knife back to the Guardian.
"I knew you were lying, Zoot told me." He replied and smiled at her. He grabbed the knife and plunged it into the guard. Trudy screamed and saw Amber's body moving slightly. The Guardian saw her glance and looked towards Amber's body. "Not yet." He said and the punched her, knocking her out again. "Take her away." He said waving Trudy away and staring at Amber's body, still on the floor. "It wont be long now, Bray will be coming." He whispered into her ear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Amber's alive or at least she was..." Said Trudy. "It looked bad, I mean she had lots of cuts and there was blood on the floor." Pride hugged her and held her close.
"Bray and Lex are coming." Announced Tai-San. "They will save us, I feel it." She smiled at them, convinced that this was going to be a happy ending. But she'd been wrong before.
When they reached the HQ everything was quiet. There were no guards, no people. This was not a good sign.
"What do we do?" Asked Dannii. She was avoiding Bray and staying close to Jack.
"We go in." Replied Bray. He stood and before the others could stop him moved towards the building. Lex shrugged and then followed. The others came after them.
"AMBER!!!" Bray shouted as he cautiously entered the building closely followed by the others. There was no sound, it was completely quiet, another bad sign. He heard a noise at the end of the corridor. Slowly he went for the door and opened it.
"Hello Bray, what a glorious reunion this is turning into." Inside the room sat the Guardian and unconscious in his grip was Amber. Bruised and battered and with a knife to her throat.
"Dannii, there's something you should know..." He began. "...Amber's alive." He finished.
"What!!!" Dannii shouted.
"I love her and we're gonna get married. We have two children. I'm sorry Dannii."
"I was gone for less than a year Bray." She said quietly. He went to put his arm around her but she pushed it away.
"So who is it this time Bray?" Asked Jack from behind him. Bray turned. "What a surprise, another one bites the dust, hey Bray." He walked over to Dannii and put his arm around her. Bray was about to reply when Ebony appeared, helping what appeared to be an injured Chosen walk.
"We've got trouble." She shouted simply.
"What is it Ebony?" He asked, walking towards the pair. He knew this had been far to easy. "Chosen?"
"No, this is my contact." The Chosen stood and lifted his hood. Bray was surprised at what he saw.
"Byder, is that you?" He asked as he looked at the Chosen guard standing before him.
The young man nodded and smiled. "It's been a long time Bray. Didn't think you'd recognise me." He stepped forward, wincing slightly and took Bray's outstretched hand and shook it. "But you've got more important things to worry about than me." He said seriously.
"Like what Ethan?" Asked Ebony who was still stand by Byder/Ethan's side.
Bray was confused, why was she calling him Ethan? "What's wrong?" He asked.
"The Chosen know where your HQ is. They're gonna attack. Perhaps tonight." His face was concerned. "I think your friends are in danger." He was deadly serious.
"Oh no, Amber!!!" Said Bray. He turned to the others who had gathered round. He heard Jack ask Lex "Amber?" and saw Jack's jaw drop as he heard she was alive and form a large smile. It was the first time he'd seen Jack smile since he'd been rescued, Jack seemed different somehow. Bray had seen Ethan/Byder's expression drop at the mention of Amber's name, what did that mean?
"What's up man?" Asked Lex. "And who the hell is this traitor?" He asked turning to Ethan.
"This is Byder or Ethan, ex Loco, Chosen infiltrator and my informant." Said Ebony, still looking concerned about him, he was still limping slightly. He'd attacked some Chosen and got a few bad hits.
"The other's are in danger. The Chosen might attack base and Amber..." He looked towards Lex. "...Tai-San..." He looked at Jack. "...And Ellie are still there." Bray saw real fear in Lex's eyes; he hadn't seen that in a long time. Lex opened his mouth to speak but Bray continued. "We have to leave, now. Hang on a second." A thought hit him, the name, Byder's name, Ethan. He swung round towards Ethan. There was no real resemblance between them, but that didn't matter. He'd reacted to her name. "You...your" he pointed at Ethan. "This may seem a stupid question but Byd...Ethan do you have a sister?"
Ebony looked towards Ethan and then back to Bray. "Yes or I had, two sisters. Bethany and Amber. Why?" Ethan replied, confused.
Bray began to smile. "I think your sister is..." He began.
"His girlfriend." Finished Ebony. "Amber."
Ethan's eyes grew wide with shock. "She's alive." He said quietly.
"I don't mean to break up this family reunion." Interrupted Lex who'd been listening with the others. "But we have to go and get that sister of yours and her and loverboy's kids as well as my wife." He turned.
"YOU KNOCKED UP MY LITTLE SISTER!!!!!" Shouted Ethan, running at Bray. "YOU!!!"
Bray dodged him. "Listen I love Amber." Said Bray dodging another punch. "She's the most important person in my life along with our children." This stopped Ethan a moment.
"Did you say children? More than one? You knocked up my little sister TWICE!!!!!!!" He lunged at Bray and this time made contact with his face.
"STOP IT!!!!" Shouted Ebony and they reluctantly obliged. "What is the point in fighting if the person you're fighting over is in danger?" She asked and walked away. Ethan stood and looked down at Bray.
"We'll finish this later after we get MY sister." He said and then left. Lex helped Bray up and smiled at him.
"First meeting with the in-laws went well didn't it." He said smiling more.
had changed that, she almost felt guilty for easy." Said Ebony as Ethan ploughed ahead of everyone and she tried to keep up. "You don't even know the way." She grabbed his arm to slow him down.
"She's my sister Ebony. I have to find her and..." He paused. "Say I'm sorry."
Ebony was confused. "Sorry for what?" She asked.
"I left her. Abandoned her." He replied.
"The way I remember it was we captured you." Ebony replied. "You went looking for her didn't you? You left a good thing with the Loco's to find her."
Ethan began to laugh. "I didn't go after Amber. I went after Bethany, I was doing that we you got me. I left her and Dal, alone while I went to find our other sister, one who didn't give a shit about any of us. Especially Amber." He began to walk ahead again and left Ebony alone once again.
While Bray and the others made the long trek back to the HQ the rest of the Mall Rats were being held together in a room somewhere inside. Pride, Trudy, Tai-San, Alice, Salene, Ryan, Ellie, KC, Cloe and Patsy were trapped. Trudy was crying and Pride was holding her tightly. He'd been injured, they all had.
"They took her Pride." She said between sobs. "They took my baby." He stroked her head. "Amber...was she alive?" She asked as another shock hit her, Amber. She hadn't been put in here with the others.
"I saw her move before I got you." He replied. He was worried about her. She'd been knocked out. "She'll be okay. We'll get Brady back. Don't worry."
The others were quiet. Salene was crying as she nursed Ryan. He was still unconscious. They'd taken all the children. Looking for Brady and the twins, they'd taken Jade. She missed her little girl.
"I have an idea" Whispered Trudy to Pride as they sat away from the others. "I think I should do something, try to get out of here, get you out." She moved to face him and told him her plan.
"NO!!!" He shouted and stood up. The others reacted to his shout and turned their attention to him. "I wont let you."
Trudy stood up to and stared at him. "You think you can stop me?" She asked stepping away from him and towards the door. "I have to try Pride, I have to try and make amends." She moved closer to the door.
"But you already have, that's the past, I don't want anything to happen to you." He moved closer to her. "I care about you."
She shook her head and turned to the others. "I'm going to try something, if it works remember why I'm doing it." She looked solemnly at them and they looked back confused and mumbling began in the group.
She moved back to the door and then banged on it, she smiled back at the others.
"Don't do it Trudy, they'll know." Began a desperate Pride, moving closer again.
"What do you care?" She replied.
"I don't wanna loose you..." He paused a moment. "I think I'm in love with you..." That stopped her from banging for a second time and she stared wide eyed at him.
"What?" She asked quietly.
"I LOVE YOU!!!" The others who hadn't heard him the first time were silenced and stared at them, some with open mouths, bulging and even smiles. He moved closer to her, took her head in his hands and kissed her lightly.
She stared at him a moment and then moved away, banging the door once again. She looked sorrowfully at Pride and mouthed 'I'm sorry and then 'I love you' as if as an after thought.
Then in her best Supreme Mother voice she called out. "I demand to be released at once. I am working undercover for the Chosen you imbeciles. I demand to be released." The guards came in and she walked out regally, without looking back.
The others just stared at her and then at Pride, still in shock. Was Trudy going to join the Chosen? What was she planning? And what was really going on between Pride and Trudy? They didn't know or understand what had just happened.
"I don't believe it!!!" Shouted Salene after Trudy had left and the door closed on them. "She's done it again!!!" She stared at the others and shook her head. "We fell for it again, the sob story and now they've got MY BABY!!!" She began to cry, Tai-San tried to comfort her.
Pride just stared at the door in shock; he couldn't believe she's left after what he'd just told her. He sank to the floor in shock. "She's not going to betray us Salene." He said quietly. "She's not a spy." He looked at the floor.
"What do you mean Pride?" Asked a suspicious Alice who was also trying to comfort Salene as well as see to the unconscious Ryan.
The group stared at him. "Don't you understand? She want forgiveness, redemption and she'd do anything to get that." He stared at them. "She's going to make the ultimate sacrifice for us, she's going to be Supreme Mother again."
"But that's not a sacrifice, that's selling out." Said KC.
Pride shook his head and began to laugh. "You don't get it do you?" He stared at them again. "The Chosen are finished and they know it. They want to go out in a blaze of glory, to be remembered. What do you think they want?" He stood up and laughed more, tears in his eyes. "They want a willing sacrifice to Zoot, before they end it. Trudy's going to give them that."
The others looked shocked and still confused. Then they realised and the colour drained from their faces. "She's going to die for us, isn't she?" Said Tai-San, Pride just nodded and once again slumped to the floor.
Trudy stood in front of the Guardian; she had her Supreme Mother act on, trying to ignore the body of Amber, which was still lying on the floor.
"I wish you to explain this to me Guardian." She began. "You attacked me, the..." She hesitated. "Supreme Mother, I could have been injured." She shook her head. "Zoot will not be happy with your actions when all rejoin him soon." Her act of superiority appeared to be working. "Where is the Devine Child?" She asked trying hard not to sound anxious after all the mighty Zoot was protecting both of them. That sounded so stupid now she couldn't believe she had believed it not long ago.
The Guardian was deep in thought. "She is well Supreme Mother." He replied, still distant. He breathed deeply. "Your explanations of events are informative. Interesting that you did not contact me when I was here." He stared at her and she flinched slightly. "The question remains whether you would be a worthy to be given to Zoot or whether the Devine Child would be more appropriate." Trudy almost screamed at the mention of Brady being sacrificed.
"But Brady is surely to continue the work of Zoot after we are gone, spread the word. Perhaps it is to soon for her to be reunited with the great one." Trudy replied, her voice almost faltering.
"I agree, but you must prove yourself worthy." He gestured towards a guard. "Stab him." Said the Guardian. "He has been a great asset to the cause, he is worthy to meet Zoot." He passed her a knife and stood smiling. The guard move in front of her and directed his eyes away from her preparing for the pain. She gulped heavily and stared down at Amber's body, which moved slightly. Trudy looked down at the knife and then up at the guard. Could she take someone else's life for the sake of her friends? Would that make her as bad as the Chosen? She didn't know what to do.
In their 'cell' the Mall Rats were waiting for any news of Trudy. Trying to come to terms with what she was going to do. Pride was distant and could feel the others watching him.
Suddenly they heard voices outside the door, which opened, and a body was thrown in. Pride ran to her and grabbed her. It was Trudy.
"Well I guess it didn't work then." As the others crowded around Trudy. She wasn't badly hurt, just a few more cuts and bruises.
"I tried Pride I really did. I'm so sorry, I failed again. Now Amber's hurt even more and I just caused someone's death.
"What happened Trudy?" Asked Alice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trudy stood there, knife in hand. She couldn't do it. "I can't, I'm not a killer." She handed the knife back to the Guardian.
"I knew you were lying, Zoot told me." He replied and smiled at her. He grabbed the knife and plunged it into the guard. Trudy screamed and saw Amber's body moving slightly. The Guardian saw her glance and looked towards Amber's body. "Not yet." He said and the punched her, knocking her out again. "Take her away." He said waving Trudy away and staring at Amber's body, still on the floor. "It wont be long now, Bray will be coming." He whispered into her ear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Amber's alive or at least she was..." Said Trudy. "It looked bad, I mean she had lots of cuts and there was blood on the floor." Pride hugged her and held her close.
"Bray and Lex are coming." Announced Tai-San. "They will save us, I feel it." She smiled at them, convinced that this was going to be a happy ending. But she'd been wrong before.
When they reached the HQ everything was quiet. There were no guards, no people. This was not a good sign.
"What do we do?" Asked Dannii. She was avoiding Bray and staying close to Jack.
"We go in." Replied Bray. He stood and before the others could stop him moved towards the building. Lex shrugged and then followed. The others came after them.
"AMBER!!!" Bray shouted as he cautiously entered the building closely followed by the others. There was no sound, it was completely quiet, another bad sign. He heard a noise at the end of the corridor. Slowly he went for the door and opened it.
"Hello Bray, what a glorious reunion this is turning into." Inside the room sat the Guardian and unconscious in his grip was Amber. Bruised and battered and with a knife to her throat.