(A/N: Hey all. Lotus here. Sorry. No amusing little anecdotes will
precede this chapter. I'm fresh out. For now. On with the chapter.)

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Over the next few days, the GG HQ seemed to transform totally. There was no
Jap-Pop or Hip-Hop blaring from their huge speakers. There was no cheerful banter. Not even the random stale joke from Yo-Yo or prank from Garam. No rap blaring from Combo's boom box. No spontaneous raving from Piranha. No late-night running the bases for Beat and Gum. No pinball for Slate. Nothing. They just planned. Rather, they pretended to plan. Beat sent GGs out on fake scouting missions while Rio was around. They seemed to be plotting the perfect rescue operation. When in reality they already had it. Turn in Rio. Betray him. Stab him in the back. Kill him. That's what they were doing. Killing a boy to save three of their own. But killing one rather than
three was justified......wasn't it?

"OK, so we've got the plan down. Combo, Slate and Rio will come in," Beat pointed to a spot on the Rokkaku Construction Site map, "here, and Garam, Piranha and Gum will come in here, while Yo-Yo and myself will serve as distractions. Take your cues from me and Yo-Yo. Now remember, we're down three GG's, so we won't win an all-out fight. We have to..." his eyes wavered for a second, "be smart. That's the only way
that we'll be able to get Mew, Cube and Tab back. Is everyone clear? Good. OK GGs,
lets move out."

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Dante checked his watch for the third time in twenty minutes, looking towards the three captive GGs. "Only 20 minutes left" he said, extending his index and middle fingers and pointing them at Mew's forehead.

Mew's eyes narrowed as she spit into her tormentor's face, but remained silent. She would have smacked him, as she was sure her friends would have too, had all their hands not been chained to the wall.

Laughing, Dante wiped the saliva from his cheek, using the other hand to deliver a cruel backhand to the side of her face. " Foolish girl! I guess it's time to let you three in on a little secret, GG. Not only am I going to kill you, but your entire gang as well. As we speak, your friends are walking right into my hands. And that boy....Rio." he leaned close, lowering his voice to a whisper, a malicious grin spreading over his face, "I've got a little surprise for him. Enjoy your last moments alive, kids." He reached over to a nearby table, turning a small radio on. Jurassic 5's "Improvise" filled the room. "See ya." Dante made his way out of the small makeshift holding cell.

"This is terrible," Cube said gloomily, "we have to do something. They're gonna kill our friends! And my widdle fuzzy kitten."

"I'm hungry."

"Shut up and think, Tab!" Mew commanded irritably.

"It's hard to think on an empty stomach."

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The seven remaining GGs plus Rio skated on most of the way in silence. Beat looked over at the young Rio, skating beside him. He was risking his life to help them. Sacrificing seemed a more suitable word. Doing this to a kid....it wasn't right, it wasn't fair. He couldn't do it. He couldn't send a kid ignorantly to his death. He suddenly stopped in his tracks, almost causing Garam to trip over him.

"Whoa! Hey, whas wrong, Beat. Why you stoppin'?" Garam looked at him through his huge bug-goggles as he and the rest of the GGs stopped and turned to face him.

"Yes, we should get going. The sooner we rescue the others, the better." Rio piped up from next to Combo.

Beat let out a sigh. "Rio, we...." he didn't know how to explain it, "we betrayed you. There is no rescue operation. We were going to hand you over to the Inferno Jets as soon as we got there so they would-"

"Beat, stop." Rio looked away, diverting his gaze from him, "I already know."

"What?!?! But...how? And why didn't you do anything....run away...or...something?"

"After I got away from the Inferno Jets, I looped around and hid out in a nearby alley. I heard everything. Your deal with Dante.....and what he'd do with your friends if you didn't cooperate. And as regards to your second question, to be honest, I don't know. I just knew I couldn't run anymore. And that I couldn't be responsible for three people dying. I at least have a chance, I guess, but your three friends....they don't. That's why I did it, and I'm not sorry I did. If you didn't say anything, I would have. This isn't your fault. It's my decision. So don't feel bad about it. Now, let's go. We don't have much time left. It's 5:50." He turned, skating on towards the Construction Site, the bewildered GGs following close behind him.

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"Dante! They're here." Dicey spoke into her small walkie-talkie as she overlooked the entire site from her spot above a pile of twisted metal. "I see all of them. They've got the kid with them." she chuckled to herself, "they don't have him tied up or anything. They probably lied to him or something. I'm impressed. I didn't think they had it in them. Over."

Dante laughed aloud, looking behind him at the other Inferno Jets. "Do ya hear that? They're all together. This should be easy. Grimm. Rock. Go get the three GGs.
Bring 'em out here." The two nodded, moving into a nearby room and, after a few minutes, emerging with the three struggling rudies.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Ah, they're here. It's about time. Blaze. Get the door." The Inferno Jet moved silently over to the door, pushing it open and quickly skating back over to his comrades.

The GGs filed through the door slowly, stopping just inside the building, all of them staring hard at the Inferno Jets.

"Give us our friends, Dante." Beat stepped forward, motioning towards Grimm and Rock, "Tell them to hand 'em over."

"Ah ah ah. Not so fast, GG. First you hand over the kid."

Rio began to make his way over to Dante when Beat stuck his arm out in front of him, blocking his way. "First....our friends."

Dante pulled a pistol out of his pocket, pointing it at Tab and firing. Tab gasped and fell limp in Grimm's arm, his blue jumpsuit quickly being stained with red. Grimm dropped the barely-breathing GG to the ground, looking over to Dante.

"I don't have time to argue about this." Dante smiled, pointing the gun next at Mew.
"Now...hand over the kid."

Beat lifted his arm, still in shock and looking at the bleeding Tab. His mouth, along with Mew and Cube's, had been taped shut. "OK. We've kept our end of the deal, now keep yours." He nodded to Combo and Slate, who skated forward. Slate gingerly picked up Tab, while Combo took Mew and Cube from the unobjecting Rock.

"Now, we'll be on our way." Beat and the others backed towards the door. They stopped suddenly when they heard the door behind them click. They were locked in.

"I don't think so, GGs." Dante grinned evilly, turning the pistol toward them. "I suppose now would be a good time to reveal our special guest. Come on out, special guest!"

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Rio looked around. What was Dante talking about. What special guest?

Suddenly, a voice rang out from above. "Hello, brother. Long time no see."

Rio's head whipped up toward the rafters, and he saw him. It couldn't be. But it was. His voice was unmistakable. After all these years, he finally saw him crouching on a wooden rafter looking down at him. "Jackal.....it's you...."

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(A/N: DUN DUN DUN! Well, there you have it. The fifth chapter done. Whew. Finally. Hope you liked it. Please review. The sixth chapter will be up soon.)

P.S.-Again, there was a glitch in FanFiction.net and about half of my story was cut off, so, again, if you can read this, it's been restored.