Talon was spending his time with his mate, Maggie. But he was worried; Randall hadn't come out of his room yet. What had happened? Was he ok?
But then suddenly, the hybrid, Delilah came running, tears in her eyes. "Talon! Randall's gone! He's missing!" she sobbed, shaking. The panther mutate's eyes widened. Goliath wouldn't like this news. "We have to find him." He growled, until suddenly, the gateway into the Labyrinth was blown up. The people screamed in fear as someone he thought was locked up stepped into the light, an evil glint in his gaze.
"Knock, knock, Talon! I've come to dethrone you!" taunted Fang, who to Delilah's horror, had Randall in his talons. Randall struggled, the mutate's hold on him really rough and tight, a gun pointed at him by one of the thugs.
Talon growled, eyes flashing, stepping forward. "How did you get out, Fang? We had you locked up!"
Fang smirked, eyeing some of the thugs with him. They weren't the ones from before but Talon figured Fang had manipulated them somehow.
"I am not the ruler down here, Fang. I told you that no one's ruler. Now give it up and let Randall go free!" shouted Talon in anger, Maggie holding his arm. Fang gripped Randall closer. They had tied up his lower arms and his tail. Randall was groaning in pain, eyes filled with fear, Fang suddenly putting his talons along Randall's face again. It made Randall wiggle even more.
"No one's leader… still so lame. Which shows the reason for the mutiny of some of these humans here who found their loyalty to me. Now, Talon, I kindly demand you to call Goliath, Brooklyn, and the others here. They will bow to me, if they wish for their little lizard pal to die," he snarled. Randall tensed in pain from Fang digging in his talons more.
"Ah! T-Talon… d-don't… oh!" Fang held Randall close to his face.
"Nobody defies Fang the Ruler, pipsqueak. And I will keep usin' ya until my wishes are met, maybe longer. So?" Talon gripped his hands, growling. He had no choice.
"Maggie… go get the clan," he said in a defeated voice. Maggie nodded, looking at Randall in despair before taking off. Fang next petted Randall's fronds, causing the lizard monster to cringe even further. "Hm, I could make you my royal pet. Sounds lovely. Boys, get the place looking fit for a ruler. And get a cage for this one," he said, lifting up Randall like a doll.
Fang turned to the others. "And no funny business till the gargoyles come," he snapped. Delilah, Talon, Claw, and the other clones looked at one another in worry for the innocent lives in their home, and for Randall's life and wellbeing in this monster's grasp. Fang ordered his men to put Talon into the glass prison Talon had stored away, which they happily did so. Talon was stunned at the sight of the glass container again as they threw him in.
He growled, trying to break out but it was no good. Fang knocked on the glass while the men attended to the rest; chaining the others up. Randall was scared, seeing Delilah's eyes on his own, heart beating and realized despite not having known the hybrid long, Randall found his feelings for Delilah to be strong.
I-I think I love her… Randall thought as Fang dragged him to the cage the men sat down near a chair that was stolen from an apartment. He winced when thrown inside, Fang smirking.
"Daw, do ya love that hybrid creep? Well I'm so sorry ya won't spend yer quality time together!" he taunted in an insulting tone. Randall folded his upper arms, looking away, hoping all of this could be resolved when the clan comes.
….
Meanwhile…
Maggie flew as fast as she could to the Eyrie building, desperate to save her clan from Fang's evil grip. She spotted the clan just waking up, catching up to them, for it was now nightfall since Fang captured Randall around 4:00.
Hudson turned around to see the cat mutate arrive, he smiled. "Ah, Lass. Good to see ye. Is Randall retur- what's wrong?"
Maggie was crying, her face was full of despair. Brooklyn recalled this when Fang first had hold of the Labyrinth. He narrowed his eyes.
"Fang, he's out and trying to take over. He- has Randall and wants you all there with no human friends or he will…" Maggie couldn't finish. Brooklyn was furious that the creep of a mutate would threaten his friend's life.
He comforted Maggie. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out," Brook assured her, taking her hand. Maggie smiled tearfully back. Goliath turned to the others. "Have Bronx remain in case we need back up. He can let Xanatos know. Everyone else, come with me. It's for our new member's life. We have to help him." He ordered, jumping onto the parapets then soaring into the air, the others following. Brooklyn petted Bronx once.
"Go get Xanatos, Elisa and Fox, boy. Tell them what's happening." Brooklyn said. He knew they couldn't understand gar beast language, but it was their only chance so they could rescue Randall. He followed after the rest of them while Bronx woofed and ran indoors.
….
Randall sat there in his cage next to Fang, who was sitting smugly in his chair, eyeing Talon who banged his fists on the glass in anger. Fang snickered.
"Bringin' back memories, King? Well this time you'll extend your time in that, and as for your little lizard, he will probably serve some use as a pet." Fang smirked, knocking the cage. Randall jumped a little, ticked off at this guy.
"I'm not a pet! Stop this!" He shouted but was forcefully demanded to shut up.
"You be silent until the gargoyles come!" snarled Fang, just as the whooshing sound of wings arrived. Randall felt relief but worried for them. Goliath and everybody else appeared, all staring in horror and anger.
Goliath growled as the humans with Fang pointed their weapons. "Fang, quit this evil and let us go!" He demanded, but Fang shoved his gun into Randall's face. Delilah whimpered in fear for him.
"Uh uh. Not while your lizard's life is on the line. You'll let me govern these humans, or he dies. Take yer pick. And Brooklyn, I've got myself a score to settle with you, too. You will be thrown into prison into my cell. See how you like it. Throw the rest in, too. But leave this one by my side."
Randall looked at Goliath in fear and guilt, and at Brooklyn too. Things had gone from bad to worse, but hoped Elisa, Bronx and the others would come. Brooklyn gave him an assuring gaze. "Don't worry, we'll think of- ugh!" A gun thrusted at his side. Since Randall was in danger they couldn't break into a fight with Fang and his cronies.
"Shut up, freak. Keep moving!" growled the human. Randall curled up, seeing Fang leering down at him. "Look at this, lizard pet. Soon, all of this will be mine. And so shall you, too."
But then suddenly, there was a banging sound, the doorways opening once again. Fang rolled his eyes. "Aww, great! Just when things were gettin' good!" He growled, unlocking Randall's cage as Bronx charged in for the rescue with Elisa, Fox in her armor, and finally, Xanatos with his Steel Clan. The bystanders screamed in surprise, and Fang's cronies rushed in to fight the intruders.
Brooklyn smiled at the sight of their friends, pushing the human holding him away from him, breaking the cuffs the humans had put on them, roaring. Fang gripped Randall in his hands more, eyes glowing. "Get back, Brooklyn! Unless you—!" Delilah tackled him from behind, having broken her bonds, too. Randall fell out of his grasp, falling to the floor, flinching. Brooklyn ran to him.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.
Randall nodded breathlessly, letting his friend help him up. Randall saw Fang and Delilah fighting one another until Fang pushed her off, the hybrid falling to the floor in a heap. That irked Randall strongly, fronds shooting up, hissing.
He charged at Fang, whipping him with his tail. "You dare hurt her!" Fang shook his head, grabbing Randall's throat. "No, you dare having Maggie into allowing that gar mutt to bring your human friends when I said not to! Now you're in trouble…" Fang moved his claws under Randall's chin. Randall cried out, glaring, until Brooklyn grabbed his hand, eyes glowing strongly.
"Get… away… from my friend!" Brook bellowed in a deep, fierce voice that Randall never heard him use before, eyes round, feeling Fang drop him. He ran to Delilah, who was stunned, wheezing.
"D-Delilah?" Randall asked in worry, taking her hand. Delilah did her best to open her eyes, seeing her rescuer with a little smile. "Randy…" she whispered, using his nickname. Randall felt a flush come along his cheeks, stroking hers. "You're ok. It's over," he replied gently.
Brooklyn and Goliath both had Fang tackled while Claw freed Talon from the glass prison. Talon glared down at Fang, whose ears fell. "Aw man…" he moaned like last time.
Eventually, things were cleaned up and Fang as well as anybody else who followed him were once more locked away again. Randall and Delilah gave each other a hug. Brook was a bit surprised at how Delilah had found love with Randall.
"Uh, Randall, what happened?" he asked.
Randall flushed. "Er, she and I aren't a full on couple yet. Just close friends. Right?"
The hybrid nodded. "Yes, close friends," she said shyly. But Randall knew he was gonna be going back with the gargoyles soon. He went to talk to Talon.
Talon saw the lizard coming to him. "Talon? It has been fun staying, but I think I'm ready to return to Goliath's clan now. Thank you for letting me stay," he said.
Talon smiled. "Anytime, Boggs. You are an honorary member here." Randall next bade farewell to the other mutates and clones in the clan, hugging Maggie, too. After a bit, he left with Brooklyn and the others to return home above in the city once again.
Randall wouldn't forget his time here in the Labyrinth. It had been a most interesting experience indeed.
