Joshua was confident that his two friends could handle this situation. After all, it wasn't like their opponents were too dangerous. They were only humans who had the advantage of fear. And they were crippling that advantage. Azmaria would keep Rosette from losing her cool.
Chrono's with them. I wonder how he's doing. I had to leave before he came back to his senses. We have a lot to catch up on. I can at least count on Chrono keeping his cool and doing what he can to improve the situation. I wonder if Lillith and Adam are OK. I hope they are, Joshua thought as he reached the first car he had to free.
"Hey, get back to your car!" someone shouted, not moving at all. Joshua met him where he stood, snatching his gun from him. The poor terrorist stood frozen in fear, Joshua's expression a merciless, cold one.
Without a word, Joshua hit the guy with his own gun, knocking him unconscious. His two buddies charged in, only to be cut down by Joshua as he repeated his last action. Three of the larger guys in the car moved up to take them and keep them under control. "Thanks," Joshua said softly, handing over the unconscious guy he still held. "Me and some friends are freeing the other cars as we speak. Can I count on you to hold down this car?"
"Me and my buddies just got out of the army," the guy said confidently. "Yes, you can count on us to keep this car safe. Father, I wish you luck." The guy saluted him and rejoined his buddies, restraining the terrorists to nearby poles. Joshua smiled went to the next car. As he left, one of them joined him. A man who looked to be about 25 with crew cut brown hair.
"The name's Dominic," he told Joshua seriously. "My buddies back there will handle that car. I'm going to help you. You're only one man and you never know what will happen in this kind of situation. Besides, my neice was one of those taken hostage and I was powerless to stop them. I'm going to get her back. I promised her that I would save her."
"Glad for the help." Joshua shook his hand. "Now let's get going." Nodding curtly, Dominic led the way to the next car. Dominic wasted no time in knocking out the four terrorists in the car singlehandedly. Joshua whistled as watched this.
"I specialized in close combat in the army," Dominic admitted with a faint smile. "I thought that the skills I learned in the army would no longer have any place in my life. How wrong was I." He motioned Joshua on to the next car. This was one was not as crowded as the others, mostly women and children. They looked at their two rescuers with wide eyes. A few of the children started crying. An angry expression crossed Dominic's face and the next moment, their captors were unconscious.
"The two cars behind here have been cleared. They have more numbers and strong people to protect you. Go there while we tie them up. Tell them we sent you and they'll let you stay there," Joshua instructed. Mothers gathered up their children and herded them out of the car, urging the young people to leave behind their possessions. "Dominic, go with them just in case then catch up when they're safely in the other cars." Dominic joined the crowd and went back while Joshua moved forward. To his knowledge, from the point he had started, there had been seven cars in front of him to clear. Now five remained still.
Determined as ever, he strode forward confidently. As soon as he slid open the door, someone tried to swing on him. Joshua kneed the guy and he went limp. Then an arm shot out from behind him, punching the guy approaching Joshua expertly. Joshua looked behind him to see Dominic grinning widely. "Watch it, Father. We wouldn't want you to be hurt. Why are you so gun ho to retake this train anyway?"
Joshua moved aside and the two cleared the next car. "In the last town I stopped in, two little children whom I had just met and was starting to get to know were seized and taken aboard this train. I jumped on to save them. After riding on the roof of the train for hours, I saw my sister Rosette and my friends Azmaria and Chrono there. Chrono was taken hostage to keep the girls safe. Besides, it's the right thing to do. Also, Chrono had been missing for awhile and he had just been found. I left him back in my home town while he was still unconscious from heat stroke. We haven't had a chance to catch up yet."
"Your stakes are high here then too. Wait, you said you had friends clearing out the back cars?" Dominic asked, a concerned expression on his face. "Please don't tell me that you left this Rosette and Azmaria alone to clear the cars by themselves."
"Yes, it's them. But don't worry. They're more than capable of taking care of themselves," Joshua assured him. "I actually feel sorry for those terrorists. Rosette can be quite the wrong person to cross at times. Chrono is the guy she loves, though they're both too dense to really take it any further at this point." He shook his head. "Rosette also can't show her feelings honestly."
"Let's get everyone back safely then," Dominic said. "There are four cars ahead of us. The front car is where the boss must be, as well as the hostages. We're almost to our goal."
--
Chrono was nodding off himself when Adam woke up. "Ah, Adam," Chrono said in greeting. Adam felt the jacket covering him slip as he sat up, rubbing his eyes. "You can go back to sleep if you want. I'll keep watch over you two." Adam shook his head and moved, covering up Lillith more securely.
"I'll keep watch with you. It's the least I can do to protect Lillith," Adam insisted. "I can't sleep when there is this much tension anyways."
"Alright," Chrono agreed, relenting. "You know, you're a good brother, protecting Lillith so fiercely. You'll go far in this world with such a good heart." Adam blushed lightly, gazing protectively at the girl sleeping near them. "I would die to protect her if I ever should have to.
"No doubt, but you should always try to live if your feelings are so strong," Chrono advised. "It's heroics to swear to die to keep them safe, but it makes them happier to know that you'll always do your best to live on for their sake. That way they don't have to shed any tears of grief when you're gone."
"Really?" Adam asked. Chrono nodded.
"I know this from experience. Lillith will be much happier with you alive and around to watch over her. But don't protect her too much either, because then she won't have any room to grow to be herself. Oops, sorry. Got a bit too serious there," Chrono said.
"It's OK. This is a valuable lesson. If I'm going to do what's best for Lillith, I'll take any advice you can give me." Adam smiled.
"Then don't be in so much a rush to be an adult. You only get your childhood once," Chrono advised. Footsteps and angry voices sounded in the hallway outside. Lillith woke up in a panic and both of them ran to Chrono, hiding behind him fearfully.
"Adam..." Lillith cried, finding his hand and holding it tight. "I'm scared."
"We don't have to be scared," Adam told her bravely. "We have Chrono protecting us. And you have both of us protecting you. We won't let anything happen to you. Promise. We'll make back home and to our parents for sure. So don't cry." He wiped away her tears. "We're strongest together."
"R-right," Lillith stammered, sniffling. Adam smiled encouragingly. Their door opened and one of the people who had brought Chrono in stepped.
"The kids are coming with me," he ordered, waving them forward.
"I'm going with them," Chrono said quietly. "They're very calm with me and I'll make sure they behave."
"Much as I agree with you, the boss said only the kids," he stated. "Now send the brats forward."
"We won't go without Chrono!" the twins swore emphatically, holding tighter to Chrono, almost painfully tight.
"Just send them forward or I'll shoot you," the man threatened. The twins shook their head no. "I said get here up." The twins refused to move. Sighing, the man fired his gun, the bullet skimming Chrono's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Everyone froze. "That was a warning shot." He came forward and smacked Chrono with the gun. Chrono stumbled back but kept the kids with him, acting as their shield. They felt cold wind hitting their backs from the hole the bullet had made as it exited through the window.
"Don't you dare make another move," a voice thundered from somewhere in the hallway. Two people charged in to the car. Within seconds, the gun dropped to the floor, along with the one who had fired the shot. The twins peered out from behind Chrono.
"Father Joshua," they said, relief evident in their eyes. Chrono looked up and smiled. Joshua Christopher and another unfamiliar man had been the ones to save them.
"Thank goodness," Chrono said, falling back into the seat. "Are you two OK?" Chrono was addressing the twins.
"We are, but you aren't," Adam said softly. "Your face is bleeding. In two places."
"I've had worse, much worse. Now you two can go home," Chrono promised them. Lillith scooted up onto the seat and dabbed gently at the wounds with the handkerchief Chrono had yet to take back. "Thank you." He allowed Lillith to continue this. It was relaxing her.
"Watch out Chrono. I can clearly hear the storm called Rosette approaching this place," Joshua warned playfully. Chrono looked interested at this. "And thank you for protecting the twins. I promised their family that I would keep them safe and bring them home."
"It's no problem," Chrono said.
"Chrono!" Rosette half shouted as she joined them, pushing Dominic out of the way. She looked him over. "I can't leave you alone for one second without you getting hurt. Be more careful next time," she scolded. She looked at the two kids clinging to Chrono still. "You two must be Lillith and Adam. Did Chrono get those injuries while protecting you two?"
"Joshua, I'm going find my neice and free the other hostages," Dominic said. Joshua nodded.
"Chrono, when we get back to our car, I'll treat those injuries," Azmaria told him. "I'm glad you're OK." She hugged him.
"Helpless," Rosette muttered, pulling Chrono to his feet. "While Joshua and the other man take care of things here, would you like to sit with us in our cabin as Azmaria treats Chrono's injuries?"
"If we won't be a bother," Adam whispered. She shook her head no and pulled Chrono from the front car, Adam and Lillith following behind him faithfully. After finally getting to their own, Azmaria began to clean and bandages Chrono's cuts. Somewhere during this time, the twins yawned again. By the time Joshua came to see them and finally relax, Chrono and the twins were asleep. Joshua put Chrono's coat over all three of them. He had forgotten it in the front of the train.
"They're so cute that way. I wish I had a camera here," Joshua said wistfully as he watched the three of them sleep. Chrono had his head against the back of the wall. Lillith and Adam's heads had each claimed one of his shoulders, holding hands over Chrono's lap. "Chrono must have made an impression on them. Usually they're really shy around strangers."
"They're still kids. Chrono was the one who offered to be there for him. He's their security blanket," Azmaria said with a laugh. "I'm just glad that they're all OK."
"Where are you all heading anyway?" Joshua inquired.
"To Stella's place. Chrono thinks he may be able to help her," Azmaria explained. "I hope he can. This isn't complete without Stella to complete the picture."
"I see. I hope so as well. We all have a lot of catching up to do. I had been hoping to talk with Chrono now that's everything's under control. But he's obviously not available," Joshua moaned. "Oh well."
"I think that Chrono would make a good father," Azmaria said, only half joking. Rosette jumped and blushed. "And since Rosette is the one Chrono loves....." Azmaria let her the sentence incomplete in order to mess with Rosette.
"Azmaria!" Rosette exclaimed, hiding her face. Everyone laughed at her. Joshua ruffled her hair and Rosette glared at him.
"Still.." Azmaria said. "Anyway, let's relax for now. We'll be at Stella's place soon."