By animeninjaNIPPON
Chunks of ice scattered everywhere, cutting through solid iron bars. "Lets go!" I called out to the others.
We scrambled to the door across the room. As Lyserg unlocked it, we could here a loud crash in the room, followed by some attacks. I worried about Faust and the others, but I had to get the group of refugees to safety. When we made it into the hall, we met up with a lone executive, whom Lyserg knocked out with his dowsing pendulum (oversouled with his spirit ally, Morphine).
"Now what?" Pirika asked.
"I'll take it from here," offered Chocolove, now fused with his spirit ally, Mic. "You and your sister gotta find Hao."
"OK," I said. "Pirika, let's go!"
Pirika and I took off running as Chocolove and Lyserg agreed to split up the refugees and hide in the restrooms. We managed to find our way back to the cafeteria, but by the time we got there it was empty. As we headed back to join the others in our room, Yoh met up with us.
"Where have you been?" he asked, looking confused.
"It's a long story," I replied.
"We should discuss this later, Lord Yoh," Amidamaru suggested. "It's time to go to the 4Kids HQ."
So we went to gather the other group members and go to4Kids. I was afraid that by this time, the suits had gotten word of what Pirika and I did, but fortunately none of them said anything to me. When we arrived at 4Kids, I caught a glimpse of a clone masquerading as the one they called Sanji. He looked the part physically, but his voice was way off base – and I could have sworn he was eating a lollipop. I didn't have time to study him, though, as I was quickly led away to the filming room.
"I don't want any trouble from you," one of the execs sneered at me as I entered the room. At first I thought he meant the fiasco back at Viz, but then I realized he was referring to that certain taboo word I ad-libbed a few episodes back. I nodded silently to him in agreement as I took my place on the set.
"All right," called the director, "lights, camera – "
"Hold it." Hao stepped into the room, followed by SoF.
"M-Master Zeke!" the cameraman stuttered.
Hao glared over at me, then glared back at the cameraman. "I've warned you not to call me that."
"Master Hao," the cameraman corrected himself. " What brings you here so early?"
"I have business with Trey Racer and his sister, Pilika." I winced upon hearing my pathetic pseudonym. Hao turned to me, motioning for me to come forward, then gestured to Pirika. I figured he knew what happened, so naturally, I became tense. Pirika and I followed Hao out of the filming room, down the hall, and into another room marked by a large, blank sign.
"I know what you did," Hao said, closing the door behind us, "and I'm not pleased."
"You lied to me," I dared to fire back. "You told me Faust VIII was dead."
"He is," Hao replied.
"I saw him though. And Marco, and Sanji, and Chocolove, and others. They aren't dead; they were incarcerated."
Hao's eyes widened. "You must have been fooled by the clones. I saw them die. I know they were killed."
Suddenly, it struck me. "How do you know it wasn't the clones who were killed?"
End of part sixteen
