Chapter 5

The First Move: A Mission

"Is everybody clear on the plan?" Benjamen asked as everyone except for Blake sat at the counter of Dareth's bar. House of Brown lived up to its name with an all brown interior with some reds mixed in. A small hangout for those who enjoy to drink and get drunk with the bar counter in the back, a few wooden tables to fill in the space between, and a jukebox for those who enjoyed music.

"Yes," they responded.

"Should we get something to drink to make ourselves blend in better?" Terry asked.

"Blend in with the holograms? Don't think we need to, but I would like a drink. A smoothie to be specific." Sally said.

"Don't think we got 'em. You ok with coke?" Dareth turned to put down the cup he was wiping out and getting four more.

"Diet Coke?" Sally asked not really wanting regular coke.

He shook his head "Nope. Just regular coke."

"Anything diet?" She asked.

"Nope," Dareth said. "We have tea."

"Hot?" Sally asked.

"No, cold."

"Sweetened?"

"Yup."

Sally rolled her eyes and sighed. "How about I get you some water?" Terry asked hopping over the counter to help her surrogate father.

"That we do have. How about it?" Dareth asked.

"Whatever," Sally said.

"How about you guys?" Dareth said turning to the other four.

"I'll take a whiskey," Robin said.

"Look, kid, I would but Lloyd would kill me if I did," Dareth said.

"What about me?" Benjamen asked. "Can I have whiskey?"

Dareth shook his head "Nope. Lloyd would kill me if I gave any of his students anything alcoholic."

"Fine." Benjamen huffed. "I'll take water."

"Water for me too," Zachery said.

"Poison to heal my heart," Robin said dramatically.

"What?" Everyone including Dareth asked.

"I heard it in a soda commercial." Robin shrugged.

Benjamen burst into a laughing fit "You're so lame."

Robin ignored him and said "That's what I want, soda. Sprite."

"What about you Terry?" Dareth asked.

"Don't worry. I'll get it myself." Terry said smiling at him warmly.

Eventually after all of them got their drinks and settled down Robin, Terry, and Zachery fell asleep. "You know, your water will get warm if you don't drink it," Sally said after a while of silence between her and Benjamen.

"You know you're brain will go numb if you don't think. Also, your water is gonna get warm too." Benjamen responded. Benjamen wasn't trying to be rude or anything, but he did like to speak his mind and thought Sally was... well... stupid.

"I don't like cold water. Rude." Sally said.

"What?" Benjamen asked surprised. "First, who doesn't like cold water? Second, why did you ask for ice then?"

"I just don't like cold water, and Terry just gave it to me I didn't ask." She said annoyed.

"That's because everyone likes cold water, and you didn't exactly say you didn't want ice," Benjamen said. "Seriously though, what weirdo doesn't like cold water?"

"Are you guys seriously arguing about cold water?" Zachery asked coming back to the land of the living.

"Do you like cold water?" Benjamen and Sally both asked at the same time.

"Yes," Zachery said.

"How about warm water? Do you like warm water?" Sally asked.

"Sure," Zachery answered wondering what the whole point of the conversation was.

"Which one do you like better?" Benjamen asked.

Zachery thought about it for a second. "Uhhhh... It doesn't really matter to me, but if I had to choose probably cold."

"See!" Benjamen exclaimed standing.

"He's one person," Sally argued standing up as well.

"Guys," Zachery whispered frozen in fear.

"What?" they both yelled not happy about the interruption.

"They're here," he said putting his head down as if was trying to hide. Three robots, one that looked too lifelike to not be real, walked in and sat a few spaces away from them.

Sally and Benjamen gave each other a look of understanding. Benjamen tried to wake the others up, while Sally went with Zachery to the jukebox to tell Dareth to leave.

"The missions a go which means it's time for you to go Dareth," Sally said.

"Alright. Are you guys sure there's nothing I can do to help." Dareth asked.

"We're good," Sally said.

Dareth wasn't so sure. "But, are you sure? I feel like I coul-"

Zachery shook his head. "You've already done enough for us. Now go to the dojo like you're supposed to."

"Oh fine," he said giving up. "Just stay safe all of you."

"Of course," Sally said and turned to go back to the table. As Zachery turned to leave Dareth grabbed him by the arm and asked him "I hope it's not too much, but can you make sure Terry's safe. I know she's a strong girl, but you know I'm her uhhh... adoptive father and this is worrying and all, an-"

"Don't worry about it." Zachery smiled. "Thanks for everything Legendary Brown Ninja." whispering the last part he walked to the bar.

When Zachery came back Terry and Robin were still asleep, and the trade was already in process. "Why aren't they up?" Zachery asked panicked. In order for the plan to work they all had to be involved.

"They won't wake up. I've been trying." Benjamen said sounding just as panicked. Sally took her and Benjamen's ice water and poured her and Benjamen's ice water on the sleeping pair.

"What the heck?" Robin yelled. That drew the attention of the other party, but not enough to blow their cover.

"Shhhhhh." Sally quited him.

Terry tapped him and pointed to the other table, and he nodded. "

"You all are too cute." One of the robots that entered the shop said. "It's just like the ninja to send a bunch of children to do their dirty work." The ninja stood up ready to fight. "How rude. Allow me to introduce myself." He stood up and bowed. "I'm Shou Shi."

They all flew back as they were hit blast of white light. Terry quickly recovered and lifted the bar counter to hit him with it. Shou Shi easily avoided this by flipping over the bar counter, he then shot them with another blast of light. They all flew back once again this time into the wall. When Terry saw another blast coming she used the bar counter as a shield for them all. This backfired sending broken pieces of the counter flying at them. Zachery shielded them from the rubble with an energy shield. "How many freaking light balls are you gonna throw at us?" Robin screamed.

"Should I make it harder for you?" He asked in a calm manner. "The more painful your deaths the more I'll take pleasure in them." Everyone but Benjamen freeze in fear. They didn't have time to recover before a ball that crackled like lightning came at them at lightning speed.

"Get it together guys," Benjamen yelled slowing time on the ball. "Zachery shield."

"Right." Zachery stood and put an energy shield up to protect them once more. Benjamen's power wore off the ball, and they felt the force of it hit the shield. It spread across the sheild making a crackling sound and then fizzled out of existence. "Guys, I'm not gonna be able to hold this for very long." Zachery said feeling the shock wave of the first blast course through his body."

"How long do you think we have?" Benjamen asked.

"If another one of those things hits us, I don't think I'll be able to hold up," Zachery said shaking.

"I have an idea," Terry said backing up as far as she could. "Give me as much room as you possibly can." Everyone moved to the side as much as they could without leaving the protection of the barrier. When there was enough clear space Terry rammed the wall to make a hole a little larger than her body. At the exact same time, Shou Shi shot another ball of crackling light at them shattering Zachery's shield and sending him flying, lucky for him, through the hole knocking Terry down with him. Robin stepped out through the hole to try to help his brother and Terry, but seeing outside made him freeze in fear. It was an ambush. Over a dozen murder bots stood outside ready for them, waiting for their prey to come out. Everything seemed hopeless to him at that moment. "You're surrounded, children. Now I have a few questions I want you to answer. Comply and I'll kill you in the least painful way possible." Shou Shi said. He then pointed to a set of robots and ordered "Tie them up. There is no point and taking them back with us. I want to settle this now." The robots did as they were told and tied them up sitting them all in a line where the bar counter used to be.