It was another day for Miguel and Fiona as there busy working at the clothing store. Fiona was cleaning while Miguel was putting away a pair of jeans. And as that happened, so did the unexpected. For all of a sudden, the group came barging into the store, surprising the two as they jumped into the air for second.
Leni:"Hey, Fiona! Hey, Miguel."
Fiona:"Leni? Lincoln? Why did you barge in that way?"
Leni:"Look, there's no time to explain, but can we please use the space here to change into some other clothing?"
Miguel:"I don't see why not. But what's the occassion?
Leni:"It's for something special."
Luna:"Also, don't be rude at our brother like that."
Fiona:"Sorry."
Miguel:"You can use the changing rooms we have here."
Ashe:"Alright. Everybody, suit up."
And with that, they all headed to the changing rooms, leaving Fiona and Miguel confused as they raised their eyebrows. But then, they shrugged and went back to work. Everyone wasted no time putting on their new clothing, having a variety to work with. Lincoln, having a brown jacket over a red polo shirt that replaces his orange, along with an ace of spade on it, as well black pants to replace his blue ones. Ashe straps on black Abdominal Binder over a blue tank top, tucking in her potbelly as she slips on a purple polo shit and having grey cargo pants, as well black fingerless gloves and a teal mask for good measure. Up next, Leni has on a ocean green trench coat over black tights and has a matching fedora and her sunglasses over her eyes. Next, Diane was stretching on a black and purple stripped unitard before putting on a light-purple track suit jacket. As she finished dressing up, she turns her head and looks down at her backside.
Diane:"This getup makes my butt look bigger than it already is."
She lets her straight hair out of the bun in the hopes it would cover her butt, but it only reaches down to her waist. Next up was Lori, who puts her hair in a ponytail as she finishes up dressing in purple skirt, a shirt similar to Luna, but was black with a red stripe going diagonally across the front, and with the sleeves intact. Francine had slipped into a some comfy clothing, having a grey yoga pants, a white tank top under a light-cardigan sweater, and was now putting a glossy-brown barrette in her hair. Moving onto Luna, she slips on a black hoodie with a purple star on the front, ties on a purple bandana around her forehead with darker purple polka dots and replaces her purple skirt with a white one. Lily just got a purple diaper and blue mask. Zella had put on orange/gold tights, a red button shirt with the sleeves folded up, and a yellow utility belt of all things. She also lets her hair out of its ponytail as it reaches her back and curls up at the end. Luan was up next, putting on a yellow vest over her white shirt and then having black leggings with lightning bolts under her shirt, then slipping on a yellow headband to match Luna's bandana. Last but not least, Ronnie puts on a black leather jacket over a purple tank top, and now has blue ripped jeans then puts on a black and gold biker cap.
With everyone now properly dressed, they headed out to show their new looks to Fiona and Miguel, who were impressed at their change in attire.
Fiona:"Wow. I'm impressed by how you guys changed your looks."
Lincoln:"Thanks. It was all thanks to Leni and her skills."
Miguel:"You designed them, Leni?"
Leni:"(Cracks her fingers) All in a days work."
Fiona:"As cool as they look though, they seem a bit too...deadly for Leni's taste."
Leni:"Really? I don't see it."
Ashe:"Well, it's nothing major at least."
Fiona:"What are you all dressed up for anyway?"
Ashe:"It's a special occasion. Come on, guys. Let's go."
And as they left, Fiona and Miguel were left more confused than ever as they raised their eyebrows while they looked at each other and shrugged. Heading out of the mall, the group begin discussing their next course of action.
Ronnie Anne:"So what's our next move?"
Ashe:"All this time, Reginald has been hunting us down. I'd say we give him a taste of his own medicine, and take the fight to him."
Diane:"But how? We don't even know where his hideout is."
Ronnie Anne:"I can help out with that. See, back in Great Lakes, there's an old abandoned community center, where at night, I see some people coming in and out of the building."
Zella:"That would explain a lot."
Luna:"But if Reginald is at Great Lakes City, how are we gonna head over there? There's no way we're going back on foot."
Leni:"We can take Vanzilla."
Lori:"Not this time, sis. Can't let mom and dad know about this one yet."
Ashe:"...I may have an idea."
At a hospital somewhere far from Royal Woods and Great Lakes, a doctor picks up a ringing phone.
Doctor:"How can I help you?... Mhmm... Alright, it's for you."
The doctor gives the phone to Triss, Ashe's pregnant sister, who lays in bed as doctors monitor her and have x-rays on her soon to be newborn, who seems ready to come out, kicking from time to time. As anxious as she was, and soaked in sweat, Triss mustered enough will power to answer the phone.
Triss:"H-Hello?"
Ashe:"Triss, it's Ashe. I need your help on something."
Triss:"Ashe? It sounds so good to hear your voice."
Ashe:"Likewise. How's the baby?"
Triss:"Coming...real soon."
Ashe:"Oh, wow. Uh, listen. I know now's the best time, but...can I borrow your car?"
Triss:"Any particular reason why?"
Ashe:"I'm just finishing up with things."
Triss:"Well that's...good to hear. Sure, you can borrow my car. You still have the keys, right?"
Ashe:"Yep! Thanks, Triss."
Triss:"Anytime. And hey...when your ordeal is done...can you come back home?"
Ashe:"...Yeah."
And with that, Ashe hung up.
Luna:"So what's going on?"
Ashe:"...Triss is gonna have her baby soon."
This caught everyone off guard. But Leni seemed rather excited.
Leni:"OMG! That is amazing!"
Lori:"All the more reason why we should finish this real soon!"
Diane:"Agreed."
Ashe:"Let's do this then. My sister's car is at a parking garage; we'll head there now."
Heading over to said parking garage, they walk inside an Ashe presses the car alarm, to which beams up the lights. Triss' car was actually a teal minivan that was like the one Lynn Sr replaced Vanzilla with a while back.
Lori:"Good thing we don't have dad around to act like an obsessive jerk this time."
Ashe:"Not while I'm in the driver seat."
Ronnie Anne:"It is a nice van though."
Luna:"Yeah, I could see why dad didn't want us to touch his."
Leni:"Yeah, can you believe what a jerk he was being!?"
Everyone was caught off guard by how dramatic Leni was when she said that.
Leni:"...What?"
But then, they shrug it off and head inside the van already. With Ashe behind the driver seat, the soon peel out and make their way to Great Lake City...again...for like the third time already. But they were taking it slow as they decide that now would be the best time to discuss the plan.
Lincoln:"So...what's the plan?"
Ashe:"We're gonna find Reginald, take care of his ass, and to do that, we're gonna need guns. Lots of guns."
Lincoln:"And where are we gonna find those?"
Ashe:"I never told you guys this, but I have a weapon's stash hidden somewhere in the woods, close to the city. We're gonna be making a little pit stop first before we head over to Reginald's place, and gear up."
There were on the road that had been blocked by a giant tree that came down during their last trip to Great Lakes, when Ashe decided to head off road and make their way to the shed where her weapon's stash was at. The shed was made out of wood and looked like a shed that was mostly meant to house gardening tools, covered by a few trees and some small shrubs that Leni decided to go to the bathroom behind before they went in. But, by the time she was finished, her butt was feeling majorly itchy.
Leni:"(while scratching) I don't know why, but my butt is feeling majorly itchy!"
Ashe:"(looks at the shrubs) Leni...did you go to the bathroom near those shrubs?"
Leni:"Yeah, why?"
Ashe:"...That's poison ivy."
Leni:"(0_o) AAAAHHHH!"
And then Leni started to freak out while running back and forth.
Diane:"HAHAHAHAHA! I'm sorry, but that's hilarious!"
Zella:"Leni, calm down! We have some cream that'll help with the itching!"
Leni:"Really! Woo! That would be a relieve."
Zella:"Yeah...let's go take care of that right now."
5 minutes later, NOW everyone was ready to get some guns as Ashe opens up the shack to reveal to her friends and family her grand display of high-powered weaponry. But decided not to go overboard with it all, so they picked only one guy that would suit their needs. For Ashe, it was an MAC-10, for Lori, it was a Walther P38, with a stock, scope and extendable barrel for good measure. Zella got herself a Tactical Machine Pistol, and Leni got a 9mm Carbine Pistol with stock and muzzle break, otherwise known as "Linda". Diane got herself an M79 Grenade Launcher, and got herself a M16 assault rifle with a M203 grenade launcher attached to it.
Luna:"Say hello to my little friend."
Francine took hold of a Winchester Model 88 lever action rifle, and Lincoln, not liking the idea of ever holding an actual gun in his hand, was unsure what to get.
Lincoln:"Uh...do I really have to pick something?"
Ashe:"Hey, if you're worried about hurting people, little cousin, I got just the thing for you."
She tosses Lincoln a stun gun, which had a color decal of orange with a couple red stripes around the body. Ronnie Anne picked herself a pair of Colt Single Action Army revolvers, which she was liking the feel of. Luan's weapon of choice wasn't even from the armory. It was just a water-gun with a gallon of gasoline taped on top to make it a makeshift flamethrower
Lori:"Luan, where did you get that water gun?"
Luan:"Oh, I had it on me. I just saw the gallon of gasoline and decided to improvise."
Ashe:"Alright guys. Lock and Load."
They do exactly that as they inject clips, mags and ammo into everyone of their guns. They all looked ready for battle.
Luan:"Now, we're playing with power!"
Ashe:"And don't you forget it."
Lincoln:"Now, how are we even gonna find Reginald's hideout?"
Ashe:"Knowing that guy, he'll make it all too easy for us. I might know exactly where he is."
Heading back to the van, they continue to make their way towards Great Lake City. Lily was showing signs of discomfort, being exposed to so many weapons around her. Lincoln had shielded her eyes to make her feel better. Later, the van parks right outside of the supposedly abandoned Community Center in Great Lakes, which had a metal fence around its parameter, but also active camera around the place and barricaded entrances.
Lincoln:"So...how are we gonna get in?"
Leni:"I think the front gate's open."
Points the gate being wide open for anyone to enter without too much of a problem.
Lincoln:"We can't just use the front entrance, Leni. We gotta think of a complicated way to get inside."
Leni:"Like...going through a window?"
Ashe:"Exactly, and look. The window on the left is wide open as well."
Lori:"We're seriously gonna go through a window?"
Diane:"What haven't we gone through already? Let's do this!"
And with that, they exited the van and headed for the window. They went in Ashe, Lincoln, Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lily, Ronnie Anne, Diane, Zella, and Francine. Inside, they were in a desolate hallway, looking unkept and had a few busted and crooked picture frames on the walls.
Ashe:"Okay guy, until absolutely necessary, we need to keep it on the download. So take it easy with your guns."
Luna:"She's looking at you two."
Diane and Luan hastily put away their weapons.
Ashe:"Now, it's best if we split up and regroup later. We'll meet at the main lobby soon enough."
And so, they split up into two teams, 1 of six, having Lincoln, Ashe, Lily, Lori, Leni and Luna, and 1 of five, having Luan, Ronnie Anne, Diane, Zella and Francine. The second group head to the right, where they reach a room that head a couple of broken arcade machines that were from a long time back. One of the machines were blocking their way forward, so they were forced to move it.
Diane:"Luan, help me with this."
The two start to move the arcade machine out of the way...when rats started to scurry across the ground, making the two freak out as Diane even pulls her gun out at them.
Ronnie Anne:"What is wrong with you two?!"
Diane:"Rats just ran over out feet! They're all over the place!"
Ronnie Anne:"So what?! I live in an apartment building, I see rats all the time."
That was just a joke to scare them as Ronnie Anne now led the way. Back to Ashe's group, they were continue down the right hall.
Lori:"Man, why is this place so dirty?"
Lincoln:"Ronnie Anne did mention this place being abandoned for years. It's practically falling apart."
Luna:"So why would Reginald keep this place as his own?"
Ashe:"He needed someplace to be his base of operations."
Upon reaching the end of the hall, they find themselves in a huge computer room. There, Ashe wasted no time accessing an active computer which was seemingly left open. The first thing to come up was a map from Great Lake City to Royal Woods, and it would seem that Reginald had spread out his convoy of mercenaries all throughout both towns.
Ashe:"No wonder this place is empty. Reginald spread out his convoy, leaving this place vulnerable."
Luna:"That doesn't mean this place still shouldn't have some protection."
Ashe:"Right. What else is on here? ...Oh my god."
Lincoln:"What is it?"
Appearing a screen was a list. A list of names, photos and I.D.s, and Ashe saw her name at the bottom. It was a list of all the bounties that Reginald has collected over the years, number to 82, all marked 'deceased'. The others were confused, but they had a pretty good idea what it all meant.
Ashe:"My name's on the 'must kill' list."
Leni:"How is anybody capable of doing this? It's so inhumane."
Lori:"Some people are just like that, Leni. Born an evil mastermind."
Ashe:"Doesn't matter. We gotta tell the others."
And with that, they high-tail it outta there and head back to the main hall, where the others can already been seen standing there.
Diane:"Tell me you guys have got some good news."
Ashe:"More or less."
Luna:"But it is something really important."
Ashe:"Reginald has left his place wide open and vulnerable. This could be our chance to take him down.
Luna:"That's assuming if this really is our last chance."
Ashe:"(takes out her Mac-10) I'm tired of being the hunted. Now, I'm the hunter."
And with that, they soon find themselves in a three-way forked hallway and decided to just down the middle hall. Soon after, they were in the lobby, having rech the front door of the building. At first, it seemed like they had nothing to worry about...but then Leni looked by the counter and went wide-eyed. She nudged Lori, trying to get attention, but the older sister kept nudging her off.
Lori:"Not now, Leni."
Not having it, Leni grabs Lori by her hair and turns her around, revealing what made her wide-eyed, a whole army of Reginald's minions right by the front desk.
Mercenary:"Surprise, surprise!"
This made the entire group scream in horror, as they realized this was a trap. Caroline had stepped up and began interrogating them.
Caroline:"What are you doing here? How did you find this place?"
Ashe:"Doesn't matter. We're here to take Reginald down once and for all!"
Caroline:"Well, you're out of luck, because he's not even here."
That was a shock to them. But what became a bigger shock was that Reginald himself suddenly came through the front door.
Caroline:"...Way to make me look good, luv."
Reginald:"Ashelin? This is certainly a surprise...by why did you bring all these people with you."
He looks down at Lily.
Reginald:"...And this little Amoeba too?"
That insult was enough for Lori to point her gun at Reginald's face.
Lori:"Don't you dare call Lily that!"
Reginald:"...Do you even know how to use that thing?"
Lori:"Of course, I do!"
But as she tried to pull the trigger, she realized then and there that the safety was on. Reginald held back a laugh at the sight of it
Reginald:"Points for trying. But I could see that this gonna be easier than I thought..."
