The plans were set and everyone was setting off. Steve had dropped Max, Lucas, and Erica near the Creel House so that Max could bait Venca. Once they were dropped off, everyone made their way to Eddie's trailer, armed for their respective missions. As Nicole rode with Dustin and Eddie in Eddie's van, she couldn't help but muse at her outfit that Dustin made for her. It consisted of a sparkling blue hoodie with shirt with a bat on it underneath, a military style camo jacket Simone helped to get, black pants, and her steel toed boots. She had a blue bandana tied in her hair to make a ponytail and dark eyeliner over her eyes. Her hands shook a bit as she played with her necklace and Dustin could see Nicole's fear.

"You're not alone Nicki, we're with you." Dustin assured her.

Eddie glanced back in the back and added,

"We're a solid party, we got this."

Nicole saw his eyes, equal parts warm and determined and felt a little bit better.

"Let's avoid biting off any bat heads shall we?" Nicole joked.

Eddie laughed at that while Dustin looked confused. She told the story of how Ozzy bit a bat's head, a live bat's head at a concert before they finally made it into the trailer. Nicole got her knives and her ax while Eddie and Dustin got their handmade swords, and 'shields' consisting of nails inserted in garbage can lids. They met up with Steve, Robin, Nancy, and Simone inside the trailer. Steve went up to the Upside Down first, followed by Nancy and then Eddie. Nicole took a deep breath as Simone helped her to get up the sheet rope. God she really hated climbing, as she struggled to climb the rope. How she got through this in gym class was beyond her. She felt her body shift in weight as she got to the other side and she let out a slight yellings of 'shit, shit, shit!' as her back landed on the mattress. Eddie held out his hand and Nicole took it with a warm smile.

"Okay, better than gym class." Nicole stated as she got up.

Weapons were tossed through, including Simone's sword, and then Robin, Simone, and Dustin made it to the other side. As they went outside and split into the two groups, Steve looked to Nicole, Dustin, and Eddie.

"So hey guys, listen. If anything at all goes south, you abort. Okay, draw the attention of the bats, keep them busy for a minute or two. We'll take care of Venca. Don't try to be cute or be heroes or something." Steve told them.

Nicole nodded as she gave him a slight air guitar motion.

"Eddie and I are essentially bards, support and distraction are kind of what we do and we will do just that. Besides, being the hero sadly isn't in my character. Most of you needed to calm my ass down so that's not a hero." Nicole shot back with.

"So no worries Steve, you can be the hero." Dustin told him with an attitude.

"Yeah since look at us…we are no heroes." Eddie expressed with a light snicker.

Nicole frowned slightly and went to his side. He would always be her hero but she hoped he didn't do anything to get himself hurt. They knew what they had to do.

Simone went to give Nicole one last hug and she stressed,

"Please listen to Steve. If anything goes wrong, run like hell out of here."

Nicole held on tightly, sniffled a bit and responded with,

"Give them hell, make them feel your cold steel and slash Venca down okay. I want you back home with me so you can be an Aunt Simone someday….not now just to be clear."

Simone nodded and glanced at Eddie. He nodded since he knew he needed to make sure Nicole was safe. As the group of four of Steve, Robin, Simone, and Nancy were about to leave, Eddie called for Steve to,

"Make him pay."

Steve nodded as they all went to the direction of the Creel house. Dustin, Eddie, and Nicole went into the trailer and into the Upside Down version of Eddie's room and Eddie locked eyes on his guitar. He smiled softly as he went to it and grabbed it off his wall.

"It's like she was destined for an alternate dimension. Are we ready for the most metal concert in the history of the world?" Eddie asked with gleeful look on his face.

Nicole looked under the bed and like Eddie said, she got out a mic stand with a microphone and her smile soon matched his.

"I can only think of one song that would be perfect for this occasion, well two but really only one. Any thoughts babe?" Nicole asked.

Eddie didn't have to answer her, he knew the perfect song; a song he has been practicing the solo for weeks on as soon as it came out this year.

"Yeah I do. Let's get the concert space ready so we can give those fucking bats a show and us a show to remember."

Eddie and Dustin got the amps up on the roof while Nicole was going through the song in her head. She always fumbled a bit with the lyrics and she really didn't want to mess up. Sure the bats would probably hear more of the guitar than her own voice but she wanted to treat this like an actual show. No half-ass, she never wanted to half-ass anything and especially the most metal concert she and Eddie were ever going to play. This would be one of their peaks and Nicole was getting herself amped as the guys were setting up and securing the trailer for a bat onslaught. She felt her heart racing, faster than any other concert and she had a reason to feel this way. Nicole was in her own head that she was pacing as she was recollecting the lyrics, remembering the solos and when she needed to sing. She even was thinking about Eddie and how he was going to kill the solos since no matter what, he wasn't going to bail without finishing the solos.

"Nicki! Hey Nicki!"

She was snapped out of her thoughts by Eddie and he had a worried look on his face. Nicole looked confused and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought Venca had got to you. You were just…deep in your thoughts." he asked.

Nicole shook her head and bit her lip nervously yet playfully.

"Are we really going to perform Master of Puppets in the hellish of landscapes of the Upside Down while demobats come to us and encircle us before we run like hell?"

Eddie chuckled a bit and nodded, kissing the top of her head.

"In fact we are my love. Why are you still feeling this is just a fucked up nightmare fever dream?"

"Not going to lie…yea but that would mean Chrissy…"

She felt her voice choke a bit and she thought of Chrissy. Her life ended too soon and Venca was going to fucking pay for her death.

"We have to do this, for Chrissy. Nothing less than perfection, that includes your solo."

Eddie nodded and he placed comforting hands on Nicole's shoulders. He rubbed them because he knew Nicole was a bit on edge and was trying so fucking hard to be brave for him, for everyone down here. He wished he could give Nicole some of his courage but he was kind of feeling a sense of nervousness and dread despite the excitement for the show.

"Yeah I know, I'm going to nail it and you are too. I've seen the lyrics in the midst of your final review sheets and you've been studying the lyrics too. You have this, we have this, and Dustin….he's going to be amazed by the show we will give."

Nicole smiled and glanced over at Eddie's guitar. She always loved it and it was a wonderful little lady that Eddie got to play. Eddie saw the admiration for his guitar and he had an idea that made him chuckle.

"I wonder…do you think I can take this one back to our dimension? Cops aren't going to make my trailer a crime scene forever and there would be two of these sweethearts around. It would be amazing if you had one too."

Nicole's eyes widened. Would that even be possible? I mean this was just another dimension with it's own objects and clearly this guitar was existing. It would be such a steal to just have another one and Eddie would give it to her, with modifications of course. Still how would they explain where they got it since this was a very pricy guitar….

"And you're overthinking things again aren't you Nicki?" he mused with a chuckle.

Nicole nodded and just glanced at Eddie's guitar.

"I am yes but you can't help me but to since this is truly a lovely guitar and there being two of them if we take it and I have it as my own…it's just a very sweet thought that will need explaining."

Eddie shook his head.

"Nah it doesn't, k? Besides, it would be killer for you to play this one."

Nicole nodded and she could very much imagine it. Kind of cheesy with both having the same one but at the same time, she loved the romantic cheese trope of having something matching and this would be amazing.

"Hey Eddie! Nicole! We can move on to Phase 3! Let's get the show going!" Dustin yelled.

The couple looked at Dustin and cracked a light smile. He was a lovable little guy and the way he looked up to them both was endearing.

"It's showtime!" Eddie purred as he pecked her lips before heading to the trailer.

Nicole laughed a bit as she followed him. Eddie got up on top of the trailer with ease and helped Nicole up. The sky was dark and red, lightning and thunder roared. Nicole took the whole scene in as more lightning raged on and the thunder roared with intensity. Dustin plugged in the amps and microphone and a pleasant shiver went up Nicole's spine as she heard the power go on. Dustin gave them both a thumbs up and Eddie nodded.

"Chrissy, this is for you." Eddie declared.

"Yes Chrissy…to one queen to another, we will become Venca's master and mistress. We're going to kill this son of a bitch. Hit it Eddie!"

Eddie nodded as he started to play Master of Puppets on his guitar. Nicole was tapping out the chords and melody in her head to prepare to sing when the moment began. She thought she heard screeching in the far distance and if they did, that meant the bats were pissed and on their way. Nicole swayed her head as Eddie played, getting into her front-woman of a band space and rocked her body to feel the energy. This was it as she heard Eddie's playing and he gave the cue with a smirk to have her start singing,

"End of passion play, crumbling away, I'm your source of self-destruction!

Veins that pump with fear, sucking darkest clear! Leading on your death's construction!

Taste me you will see! More is all you need! Dedicated to; How I'm killing you!

Come crawling faster! Obey your master! Your life burns faster! Obey your master, master!"

As Nicole sang through the song, she moved with such grace and energy. She saw Dustin head banging and enjoying the song while Eddie was living our their rock and roll fantasy playing the sick chords. Nicole was nailing every lyric and Eddie was shredding and killing every note. As Eddie went into the middle of the song with a peaceful solo, Nicole wished she had brought her guitar to join him. If and when they put this song on an eventual cover album they will play this part together. She heard the chord starting to shift and Nicole grinned as the solo was coming. Nicole gave these lyrics all she had as she sang,

"Master! Master! Where's the dreams that I've been after!?

Master, master! You promised only lies!

Laughter, laughter! All I hear or see is laughter!

Laughter, laughter! Laughing at my cries!

Fix Me!"

Eddie performed the sickest and awesome guitar solo and it sounded flawless and it was utter perfection. Dustin looked at the sky with his binoculars and he motioned Nicole to look. Shit, they did their job well and they needed to bail soon. Eddie was a rock god and he wasn't going to stop until the very last note.

"Eddie five seconds!" Dustin yelled.

Eddie finished the solo on the very last second and he couldn't help but shout in excitement. He saw the bats and he cursed,

"Shit we got to run! Go! Go!"

"Shit! Fuck! Run!" Nicole exclaimed as they got inside the trailer.

They locked the gates and sealed the door to the trailer.

"Most metal concert ever! Oh my god!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Yes oh my god! Awesome! Woo! That was awesome, wasn't it Nicki!"

Nicole laughed a bit and expressed,

"Oh my god I am still shaking! Goosebumps everywhere! I just wished we got to my favorite lyrics but shit! Holy fucking shit we did it!"

Right this was very awesome, but they knew the bats were pissed and they needed to get ready. Everyone got their swords and ax up. They were at each other's backs and they were in wait, waiting, waiting. The bats were slamming against the trailer, trying to get in. Nicole's heart was in her throat as she clenched her weapon and shield Eddie made for her. The thrashing got loud and louder, screeching was frantic. Soon it all died down and got eerily quiet. Nicole was on edge since she knew this was too easy for them to have just stopped. Dustin however thought different and the little shit was cocky.

"Hey dipshits! Giving up that easy huh!" Dustin yelled.

Nicole and Eddie hushed him up.

"Was that really necessary?" Eddie scolded.

"Yeah Dustin I love you really but shut the fuck up." Nicole whispered.

They heard movement on the roof and Nicole's heart sank back down. Shit, shit, shit, they were on the roof. They were going to come in through the roof. Fuck she thought in a panic. She saw a slight little round thing and one popped out, causing her to shriek. Eddie and Dustin stabbed it repeatedly chanting 'die!' until Eddie sealed up the hole. Nicole heard more thrashing and…shit there was another vent. Eddie looked to Nicole and as if he could read her mind, cursed,

"Shit!"

They could hear swarming and cries coming from the other side of the trailer. The three of them ran and knew they needed to get out of here. Dustin was on his way up the sheet rope as Nicole and Eddie were on guard.

"Eddie."

"Yes babe?"

"If we don't make it out of this…I love you, so very much." Nicole told him.

Shit he thought. Why was he letting Nicole get to this point. Simone told her to take care of her and he was going to take care of her and Dustin. He had to give them more time, give Steve and the others more time. Eddie looked to Nicole and he dropped his weapons for a moment. With shaking hands, he gave his guitar to Nicole and carefully put it on her back. Nicole wondered why he was doing this now.

"You're going to make it. Climb up the sheet Nicole and get Dustin the hell out of here. Promise me you'll protect him Nicki."

"Eddie why are you talking like this! Steve and Simone said to abort if things went south. This is as south of hell as it gets, now come up with me!" Nicole begged.

Eddie saw Nicole's lip quivering and he stroked her cheek. He gave her one last kiss on her lips and he could feel Nicole's tears on his cheek.

"Eddie, Nicole! Come on! Let's go!" Dustin yelled.

Eddie pulled away and he looked up to Dustin.

"I'm buying you both more time, Nicole climb up now!" Eddie yelled as he got his shield and weapon.

"Eddie please don't do this!" Nicole yelled as she started up the sheet.

Eddie looked at them with his playful smile and said,

"Dustin man, I love you. Nicole…I love you with all my heart. Please get to safety. I love you Nicole."

Eddie ran out of the trailer, hopped on a bike and raced away; with the hoard of demobats following after him. Nicole got onto the floor and she wanted to just cry…but she didn't. She looked up to Dustin and he was climbing back down.

"We need to save Eddie!"

"He's going to kill or haunt us if I don't get you out of here!" I protested.

"You want Eddie alive right? You want to have a band with him right? Jeez Nicole, don't you want a family with him Nicole!?"

Nicole sniffled and answered,

"All that yes!"

"Then we need to get the bats back here!" Dustin told her.

Nicole thought for a moment and quickly went up to the top of the trailer. She assess the amps and they still appeared to be working. Dustin climbed up top and he was tracking Eddie's movements with the binoculars. Nicole was calculating a plan and she settled on one.

"Dustin, get yourself on the ground and monitor Eddie's movements. When he's surrounded by the bats and can't run, let me know okay!"

Dustin was at a loss until Nicole plugged in Eddie's guitar. She got into a right-handed playing position and she would need to make due. Thankfully she knew a song she was able to play right handed, the first song she ever practiced when she got her guitar, the first song Eddie ever heard her even hum a tune for.

"Dustin, you hear me?" Nicole asked.

"Nicole…"

"Just do it! I am armed too! He will give the others time but I am done being passive. I'm going to do my part well, I'm going to distract them away from Eddie. He's done so much for me, he's saved me and now I'm going to save him! If you're not for my plan, we can both go right…"

"No go for it! I will give you a thumbs up Nicole! Just please….be careful!"

Nicole nodded as Dustin got on the ground and peered in the binoculars. She waited, kissed her D-20 necklace and gave a short prayer to her parents and god. Once she was done, she waited. Ten minutes passed and she saw Dustin gave the signal and yell,

"They got him surrounded."

Nicole's eyes were focused as she got her guitar pick from her pocket and spoke,

"I'm going off the rails but…Eddie, I love you and I'm going to get those fucking bats off you. You've already saved me…now I'm returning the favor darling. Let's get this crazy train started."

She took a deep breath and exclaimed at the top of her lungs,

"All aboard!"

And then Nicole started to play.

Credit of course to Metallica for Master of Puppets since Nicole wouldn't be able to sing it without them and for me to include some of the lyrics for this moment. This is going to be part of the climax, Nicole performing a song on Eddie's guitar to try and save him. Song should be kind of clear for those who recall this story's earlier chapters and clear lyric references and the title being mentioned already. Don't worry I will still mention it anyway as Nicole is going to perform as the bats come for her. Yeah Eddie's most likely not going to die but...well more to come and more to see what Nicole's fate will be.