Chapter 7: Back at the Tipton
"Moseby, are we there yet?" Zack looked at the ceiling
"Just about"
Cody looked at his phone "according to this we're on land"
"That's impossible" Moseby looked at the periscope "I can see land but we can't" the submarine beached in the Boston harbor "well we were gonna get there eventually, come on boys" Moseby grabbed a backpack and put a few guns in it, Cody grabbed his laptop. The three got out of the sub and walked up the pier, Boston was different now, little to no people. Buildings were burning all around.
Zack looked up at the sky and saw a helicopter, "this is the Bahavian military, it's obvious you can't control your own country with the death of our ambassador, we will be taking over, remain calm"
"Hurry up, kids, the Tipton's right there" Moseby knocked on the front
"Password?" An eye poked out the door but was immediately surprised and opened "Mr Moseby?" Maddie appeared and let them in
"Sweet thing, how ya doing?" Zack and Cody gave her hugs
"What's happened here, Madeline" asked Moseby
Maddie sighed, she looked dressed for battle "oddly enough, nothing, this is from all the panic caused by the west coast armies attacking"
"Well we got this east coast army to worry about now" said Zack
"This is getting out of hand" Moseby said grimly "where's Esteban?"
"I haven't seen him since the day of that terrorism video on tv, and everyone else left except for Arwin"
"If we want to find Esteban, Arwin is our best help" said Cody
The group went down to the basement, the area was modified with ramps and everything was closer to the ground "Arwin, where are you?" Called Zack
"Here, it's good to see you guys" Arwin was in a wheelchair, while cheerful as ever, it looked like he hadn't changed his clothes in days.
"Arwin, it's great to see you too, what happened to you, man" asked Zack
"Unfortunately, on the day that bomb went off, it caused a malfunction in the electric system. The bomb, while deadly, did nothing to the room it was contained in so the room hasn't been found, I was repairing the elevator, luckily it was only two stories up when I fell" Arwin was accepting of this fate.
"You have my condolences, but we need something to find Esteban, he's missing and we need the keys to get something I hid in one of the rooms" said Moseby
"I should have a heat-scanning goggles around here somewhere." Arwin check the drawers "aha! There you are sir, normally this wouldn't work but everyone's gone"
Cody put on the goggles "nice work, I see them already," Cody turned his head "looks like the troops have landed, we'd better hurry and get Esteban before they start doing house sweeps. The groups rushed until they got to the stairs "it's alright guys," Arwin turned around defeated.
"Arwin," called Moseby, "go to my old office and wait outside, what we needs in there"
Arwin's eyes lit up " you got it sir" he moved his wheels as fast as possible
"What are we getting Moseby?" Asked Zack "I'll explain later" they rushed up the stairs
Cody looked for the knob, but there was none, the lock was still in place, Moseby reached in his bag and pulled out a tiny device, "stand back"
"Wait" Cody took off the goggles, "there's four life signs in this apartment"
"Why didn't you say anything?" Asked Maddie
"I didn't wanna scare off Zack"
"Hey!"
"Alright we're gonna rush in after I pop open the door" Moseby pulled out his gun and placed the device on the door, everyone got clear and then rushed in. Moseby checked the area, it was covered with the blood on the First Lady, Vice President and ambassador. Esteban was on the floor, half his face scarred likely from the bomb, Zack slapped him awake. "Little blonde people, and Mister Moseby, I've been stuck in here for days" Cody noticed the inside door knob was also gone
"You have the keys?" Asked Moseby before he stepped into the bathroom
"Yes, why?"
"We're gonna need them hurry up on your feet," he looked inside the bathroom, "one second, come help me with this" they went to the bathroom and found the other 3 people, tied up, gagged and barely conscious, the dark haired one looked familiar.
They removed his gag "thank you, so much, we've been stuck here for days, I'm Justin Russo, this is Harper and Zeke" the two acknowledged their names.
"You're that guy from the news " said Maddie
"They actually saw me, that can't be good, Zeke? You ok?"
"I think so, despite 3 days of sitting here I feel refreshed"
"We've been feeding on my aura"
Cody looked at him funny, "how'd you do that?"
"Might as well tell everyone, I'm a wizard, maybe the last one still on earth, a family was here but clearly they're gone from Boston, my wand was broken and one of the many spells I can do is keep people's bodies in normal capacity when we can't do anything" Justin sighed
"I must have caught some of it," said Esteban "thank you sir you saved my life"
"The more life the better, I'm juiced out from three days of casting" Justin looked at Moseby.
"Well I'm Moseby, this is Maddie, Esteban, Zack, and Cody. Arwin's downstairs waiting for us." They rushed downstairs, Arwin was at the door "it's that guy on tv!" Called the technician
"I really didn't think I was that obvious" Justin muttered as he ran
The doors in the lobby opened just as Moseby unlocked the door "in! Now!" He shouted Maddie closed the door behind her. Moseby felt the walls of his old office, reminiscing but then searching, he punched a hole in the wall and pulled out of piece of paper "I've got it!"
"What?" Cody was concerned with the military feet away outside the room
"Blueprints that could get us back our country" Moseby said with pride
A loud knock came from the door "this is your final warning, you're charged with resisting arrest on suspect of aiding the terrorists. Let us in."
"Vents" said Zack and Cody under their breath.
Moseby unattached the vent lid and helped Harper, Zeke and Justin in before getting in himself, followed by Esteban, the pounding sounded the whole time "we're not leaving you Arwin" the twins lifted him up and he grabbed Esteban's feet. The door began to crack, "Maddie, c'mon" Zack pulled her as Cody got in.
"I'm not letting them hurt you" Maddie kissed Zack before shoving him into the vent and sealing it.
Zack watched in horror as the men stormed in "where'd the others go!?" One yelled
"One of the books opens a secret passage, please let me live" Maddie cried, Zack knew she was acting.
"We appreciate your service, unfortunately you know the deal already" he shot Maddie in the stomach "check the books" he told the other man.
Zack felt Cody's foot and knew it was time to go. Maddie had lied to buy them more time.