Hope yall are enjoying this story! Can't thank my Betas enough! I tend to write the chapters after the kids go to bed, so I'll occasionally fall asleep XD Makes for some very interesting sentences that may or may not get caught by me!
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"Hello, boys. Professor." John could hear the restraint in the Hood's snide tone as he spoke into the comm. "I don't know how you were able to gain contact with your little friend, but it ends now." The growl left no room for dispute as the threat floated around the connection. "I have your brother and I will not hesitate to inflict an unimaginable amount of pain on him if you continue to resist my program. You will play. You will die. Over and over, until I see fit to make it permanent. I assure you- refuse, and anything I do to your brother will be just that."
Rage mixed with disgust flared at the Hood's words. His brothers had been through enough already and now this monster was using him as a pawn for torture. For the hundredth time since he woke up to this nightmare, he pulled at the restraints, trying to work any bit of leverage he could to break loose. His only other hope was for Alan's friend to get in contact with the right people.
The Hood took a few steps away from the screens, watching the trio as they remained behind the couch. John smiled. Good. Stay safe. Don't listen-
A hand gripped red hair, pulling the astronaut up on bent knees. When had the Hood gotten so close?
"It seems a demonstration is in order." He bent down, ensuring the group would hear what was about to happen. "Do put on a good show."
John only had a split second to brace himself as the electricity burned through his arms, but it was enough. The pained grunt was low, the astronaut trying to gain control over his voice. He wouldn't contribute to their pain. It wasn't until the violent spasms stopped, only to start again with greater intensity did a gasped cry leave his throat.
"Stop!" Gordon's voice shook through the speakers.
No! He couldn't let this happen. He was supposed to protect them!
Gritting his teeth against the pain, John let out a growl, focusing on the rage and letting it burn through the electricity. Legs that had felt so distant before, shot up, giving him the momentum he needed to collide with the Hood. The shocks stopped almost immediately as he found himself lying atop the startled villain. He couldn't help the grin of victory. "Stay safe! Don't worry about us!" The plea was harsh against his strained muscles. He hoped it was enough to keep them from enduring any more abuse.
Hands dragged him up again, this time roughly throwing him back by his friend. John heard the snap before he felt it, his left arm bursting with bright flames of pain. There was no bracing as he let out an agonizing cry.
Behind the haze of pain and shock, he barely heard the Hood's angered words to his brothers. "Do as I say, or I can't guarantee your brother will live through this!"
John let his gaze drift up to the screens, trying to focus through the pain. His brothers and Moffat were still behind the couch, but they seemed to be grabbing what they could from the pile of supplies. His heart stopped as he watched them move out, ready to play the Hood's game.
No… The tears were back, threatening to spill over as the ache in his heart surpassed that of his arm.
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Alan held the weapon tight to his chest as the group made there way down the stairs. His breaths were coming in short bursts, the scream still echoing in his mind. He was trying hard not to imagine what the Hood had been doing to his brother, but every time his eyes closed, all he could think about was the blood on Gordon. John's wouldn't be as easily fixed.
The ground was instantly closer as they reached the base of the steps and Alan realized he was hunched over, arms shaking as they supported him. His rifle lay just in front of him, but it could have been miles away with how sluggish he felt. A hand came to rest on his shoulder, Gordon appearing in his view.
"Alan, breathe!" The aquanaut's voice was muffled under the sirens screaming in his ears. And he did, not wanting to think anymore. He didn't want to have to make decisions that would lead to pain and death. "Come on, Squirt. You gotta stay with me."
"But John-" His mind was screaming again, telling him there was nothing he could do. He felt the tear trail down his cheek, hiding his face from his brother.
There was an edge of authority in Gordon's voice, his hand squeezing his younger brother's shoulder. "The best way to help John is to keep moving. We play the Hood's game. But we have to keep our heads, otherwise the Hood will get exactly what he wants."
We could die. Alan gave meaning to Gordon's words. Taking a shuddering breath and blowing it out, he allowed his brother to pull him up, his weapon once again in his hands. The shakiness was still there, but he had latched onto that one thought. They couldn't help John if they didn't focus. And they couldn't protect each other if they let the stress of the game take hold.
Alan gave his brother a nod of reassurance. He would be okay, because he had to be. He gave the professor a quick glance, noting the paleness emphasized by her dark hair. Although still standing, she trembled slightly, mouth moving ever so slightly as though she was talking to herself. As Gordon moved back to the front, she quickly took her place between them. Whatever mantra she was using, it seemed to be working.
The astronaut watched his brother push his way towards their exit, keeping his body close to the wall. The others followed suit, weapons ready in case an enemy charged through. They stopped at the doorway, Gordon peering around the frame. He lifted a hand to tell them to wait, positioning his gun to take aim at something beyond Alan's view. There was a succession of three shots, followed by the startled, death cries of the AI soldiers going down.
"Here's the plan." Gordon's voice was hushed over his shoulder. "I think we're in a last man standing match. No respawn until the games over. It's most likely why we haven't been rushed by more soldiers."
"So we take out the rest and the game ends?" Alan felt a sliver of hope, realizing they could clear this safely as long as they were careful. The older blond gave a nod, eyes still scanning the landscape.
"Those shots should bring the others this way. Keep your eyes open." He shouldered the rifle, pulling out his side arm. "I'm going to need you two to cover me."
"What? Why?" Alan felt his heart race. The last time they did that hadn't ended well.
"We need a better vantage point." He pointed to the building across the street. "The balconies should give us a view of most of the area. We can take out anyone left from there. I'll go first and provide cover for you two to come over."
"Why do you have to go first?" He wouldn't apologize for the whine in his voice.
Gordon turned back to look at him, the corner of his mouth up in a grin. "Because I'm your big brother and it's my job." He reached out and ruffled the younger blond's hair. "Alright, you ready?"
He wanted to say no, but simply nodded, moving up next to the professor. With one more glance to his brother, Gordon ran. Moffat took one side of the street, Alan the other, firing as hidden figures began jumping out. Seconds later, they heard the call to run, Alan doing his best to shield the scientist as they ran.
Bullets rang out from all around, most of them coming from the direction they were running. Only a few feet away, he heard the panicked shout, then a single shot. The sharp explosion that followed sent a pressure across his back, pushing him and the professor forward and into the space Gordon had positioned himself.
Before he could crash to the floor, Gordon was helping to steady them. Another set of stairs came into view and he pushed them towards it.
"What was that?" Alan asked, taking the steps two at a time.
"Shot a grenade!" There was more than a hint of giddiness in his brother's voice and for a second the fear he was feeling earlier diminished. Under better circumstances, this would be somewhat fun. Since this was a fight for their lives, the concern was back an instant later.
Alan reached the top of the stairs, pivoting to head towards the next set and nearly fell back with a startled shout.
The motionless figure stood in the hallway, gun aimed towards the floor. "Whoa, sorry."
"Gah! Bunny! A little more warning!" He hadn't meant for the hiss of anger, his nerves so on edge.
There was no emotion on the soldier's face. "No time, supplies are on the balcony. Working on encrypting some back doors."
Alan found himself wanting to ask if she had contacted the authorities, but the fact that the Hood could be listening made him stop. Talking to her right now could be putting John in danger.
"Listen, Bunny." He hoped the emphasis he placed in his voice would be understood. "You can't be here. We can't see or hear fromyou anymore. Got it?"
There was a pause and he could almost hear the smirk in her voice. "Got it." With that, the figure dropped. He could only hope she knew they would need her assistance to get through this until help arrived. Or until the Hood was finished.
Gordon moved past him to the first balcony, staring briefly with a shocked smile before bending down to lift what he had found. "Professor, I've got something for you."
The woman moved forward, Alan taking up her spot to watch the stairs. The scientist's joy peaked his curiosity enough to glance over his shoulder. "Crude in design, but effective! I'll cover the stairs."
Alan grinned despite the danger. The scientist was now carrying a large tank on her back, a tube extending from it to connect to what looked like a harpoon gun. The flame at the end of it gave away its purpose. They quickly switched places, Moffat already laying down a blaze of liquid fire over the stairs as a soldier came into view. The screams were horrible, but the knowledge that the person wasn't real helped.
As he ducked down and stepped out onto the balcony to join his brother, a crate of grenades was pushed towards him. "Start tossing. I'll take out anyone who doesn't go down."
He nodded, already pulling the pin and throwing it over the railing. Another was out just as the first exploded. The rifle blasts next to him brought back the smile. He knew his brother had W.A.S.P. training, but he'd never seen it before. Rescues never called for fire fights. Seeing his usually happy-go-lucky brother so focused with the determination to keep them safe was something he would treasure from this experience.
Another blast and fewer shots to follow told him the enemy numbers were dwindling. He threw the last grenade from the crate, watching it arc through the air… and stop, suspended above the ground. What?
Their confusion was answered as the world around them collapsed. He lost sight of his brother, calling after him once the darkness filled his vision.
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Brains had never been so proud of the woman who had possession of his heart. He watched her sweep the flamethrower over the staircase once more, the trembling gone, replaced by a solid confidence that seemed to keep her going.
A growl from the bald villain sent an alert through his chest. He watched as the Hood tapped at the controls angrily, seemingly frustrated with the outcome of this game. After a moment, the three monitors went blank.
"W-what did you do?" The anxiety crept into his voice, noticing John shift next to him. Brains had wanted to focus on the astronaut's injuries, but between the restraints and the constant danger Moffy was in, he found he couldn't keep his eyes off the screens. Their views would occasionally fall on eachother, but with the presence of enemies, the screens had been focused on entry points and movement farther from their building's position. Now he was watching the Hood intently, positioned between the villain and his fallen friend.
"Changing the game." A smirk formed as he continues his work. "In my favor, of course."
The panic was rising now. What could be worse than what they'd already been through? With the screens void of any information, the engineer turned his attention the John, still laying on his stomach, face strained and pale. The goons had backed off, considering the threat neutralized.
"John?" Aquamarine eyes blinked open in response. "We n-need to do something?"
His eyes closed again, his whisper harsh with pain. "Like what?"
Now, he kept his voice a ghost of a whisper, getting as close as he could to the astronaut's ear. "Mini-Max. In my pocket." That had the eyes open again, the red head latching onto the same idea. The only problem was getting the robot out and activated. It would have been difficult enough even without John's broken arm.
Their eyes moved back to the screens as images began to appear again. Brains let his gaze focus on the one above Moffat. They may not have a plan yet, but he felt the determination beginning to rise, replacing the anxiety. He would save her if it was the last thing he did.
