Last Chance

Finn

"Now, if you don't mind, I think I should get you back inside," Dark Ace walked over to me.

"I think I'll stay out here."

"That wasn't a suggestion," he growled, dragging me back through the cave. "Sit down, shut up, and stay here while I look for Kai," he shoved me to the ground, nearby a few wooden crates, a couple Striker crystals, and a two handed long blade, which was vaguely familiar to the one Dark Ace uses.

"Just keep your hands off her!" I shouted, watching him walk away. "Damn it, I think I'm bleeding," I grumbled.

Talons passed by, nonchalantly glancing at me, as if nothing were wrong.

"Shut up," I whispered. "You don't deserve to talk about me..."

I have to get up. I can't just sit here... Plus, the rocks are digging into my back, and my wrists are chaffing from this rope. The weapon and crystals to my left caught my eye, drawing the most of my attention to them. "Hmmm..."

If... If I could make my way over to them, I could slide one of my hands out and use the weapon to take down anyone who gets in my way... Gahh, it's so far-fetched... but it has to work. I can't stand being in that cell again. Not again...

I positioned myself so I could quickly inch over to the weapon and crystals, though I still have one problem. The rope only gives me enough slack to barely move my wrists. I'd be lucky if I could get my wrist out at all... Just inches away from the weapon, I decided to stop and work on getting one of my hands free. I pulled my left hand to the side, keeping the rope still as I began to wriggle my right hand out of its grasp.

Luckily, I got it out. My right hand was free, and the left didn't matter. I could cut the rope off later, or untie it when we're out of this place. I turned to my left, picking up one of the crystals and the weapon. "It's perfect...," I smiled, jarring the crystal in place. I powered up the crystal, waving the weapon around in front of me.

I heard a couple of voices a slight distance away, one was a very familiar feminine voice, and the other was definitely Snipe. I couldn't distinctly tell if the female was Raves or Kai. They were arguing, though the female seemed to be having fun with whatever was going on.

I sighed, steadying my hand against the wall as I stood up. Quickly, my eyes were drawn to a tall figure walking across the hallway in front of me. It was Dark Ace for sure, but he didn't even see me. Thank God. He looked like he was heading towards the same voices I'd heard.

Hmm... "Kai...," I whispered. Time to do some damage.

Two talons were running my way, firing up their weapons. "Hey, you!" one yelled.

I can't kill them...

I took a stance, firing up my weapon as well. They were going to fight to the death if that's what it took to stop me.

I can't kill them...

"What seems to be the problem?" I smiled.

"You are," the other laughed, then charged after me.

I was able to stave him off with the energy blade just long enough to think up a battle strategy. I don't have to kill them... But, if I can keep them out cold long enough to run... "Hold still!" I demanded, bringing my blade back down to my side. In a split second, I charged back at both of them, able to sweep the weapon across the side of one of their heads. He instantly fell to the ground; worst of it all, I saw blood.

No... not blood…

"Damn it, Storm Hawk!" the living one screeched.

Before he had the second chance to flinch, I did the same exact thing to him, bringing the weapon across the side of his head, and he fell to the ground, toppling over the other.

More blood.

They... were dead. There was no doubt I had killed them. That wasn't the plan, Finn! Damn it, you were supposed to keep them alive... I froze in my tracks, looking at the crime scene around me. I… I killed them…

"Oh shit!" Dark Ace ran out, looking in every direction before charging at me. He pinned me against the wall.

He seemed frazzled about a previous event I had just completely missed. Then again, I was still too peeved about murdering two guys that are still sitting just over there! His gaze was glazed over, his mind probably buzzing.

"Don't even think about moving, Storm Hawk! I told you not to move, damn it!" he yelled. "Look, just stay quiet," he whispered.

"But—"

"Keep quiet, damn it!"

Kai ran out of the room Dark Ace seemed to have come from, Snipe following close behind her.

"Finn!" Kai breathed, relieved, yet scared for both our lives. "Ace, put him down! He's not worth it."

"Be quiet, now...," he whispered again, then quickly looked over his shoulder. "He escaped, and so did she!"

"But—"

"Shhh," he turned his head back towards me, pushing my shoulders back against the wall even harder. "I don't know how the hell they got out, but they did." He paused, staring into my eyes. "I don't know what the hell happened, but your little friends are on their way."

But... how? How did they know to come here?

Quickly, Kai rushed back into the room behind her.

Snipe stormed over to us, looming over Aces shoulder. "You don't know how much trouble you're in, boy."

I smiled. "I was just about to say the same exact thing to you." I'm just going on a hunch here, but I'd say Ace was telling the truth.

"Everyone stand still!" Kai yelled.

I looked over the two figures, seeing Kai point some very strange... energy gun-type thing in our direction. I could see it was wielding a Firebolt crystal through the missing metal plating. Something was wrong, though. The weapon wasn't working as it should. The trigger was jammed and the gears were stopped. She was pulling a bluff!

My inner voice couldn't help but laugh and it was even tougher not to do it aloud.

"Don't move, or I'll kill you both!" her smile was back, but I knew it was all because she had control of the situation now.

"You're lying, girl," Snipe chuckled, turning from me to look at her.

"Really, now? Would I put my life in danger like this on a lie?" Which was, of course, a yes.

Hopefully they were dumb enough to fall for it.

"Don't shoot, Kai," Dark Ace warned, turning around.

"Oh, I'll shoot unless you two cooperate!" she gave me a quick nod and I ran off, trying to find the weapon I'd dropped.

This was good. The Dark Ace had just created the biggest disaster we could possibly ask for, and it's just what we needed.

"Don't shoot, Kai!" he shouted again.

"I'll shoot if that's what it'll take to clear your sorry ass off the face of Atmos!"

Okay, now I was beginning to doubt the sanity of the situation.

Dark Ace backed up, bumping into me slightly. Moments later, I heard a loud crash and a bunch of shooting.

My team... Our team. We're safe.

"Go!" Kai shouted. "Damn it, Finn, run!"

It'd be my last chance to, but what about Kai? She'd be stuck to battle it out on her own. I can't do that to her...

"One...," I whispered.

"Don't do it, kid," Snipe growled, still trying to convince Kai not to shoot.

"Two..."

"Put the gun down, Kai," Dark Ace sighed.

"Three!" I shouted.

Dark Ace ducked, giving me the perfect shot. I clicked the energy blade's trigger, but something was wrong. As the blade hit Snipe's neck, the crystal didn't charge and it only temporarily thwarted him.

"Kai, shoot!" there wasn't much time before Snipe would regain his balance, and by the looks of Kai's malfunctioning gun... Yeah, we're screwed.

"I can't, the gun doesn't—"

"Just shoot!"

She shot me a worried look, and then aimed for Snipe. I fell to the floor in an attempt to save myself, though I stumbled on Dark Ace.

A second later, along with the continuous battle going on out front, I heard a loud pop and an electrical buzz, then Snipe fell to the ground.

Oh, God. More blood.

"Finn, run!" I heard Kai say faintly. "Finn? Finn!" Kai shouted, shaking me out of my sickening daze.

"Huh? Oh... He-he's dead," I breathed.

"Yes, he's dead," she rolled her eyes. "I was playing roulette there with that broken gun. Now, run!" Kai grabbed my arm, pulling me up to my feet. With Dark Ace stunned by the death of his comrade, Kai and I were free to run… so long as he didn't come after us.

Kai

Bodies were everywhere. Dead talons, mechanics, and just about everyone else... Ravess escaped, along with Ace. I thought the point-blank shot had killed Snipe, but it turns out the gun really had malfunctioned. Feeling a bit embarrassed about the situation, Finn and I let him leave.

"Don't worry about cleaning up, Finn" I shouted back, hoping Finn hadn't fallen too far behind.

Ace had escaped, along with Ravess. Snipe turned out to have lived from the point-blank shot, but we let him leave as well.

"Kai! Oh, thank God, you're still alive!" it was Aerrow, and boy did he look ecstatic to see me alive. "Where's Finn?" he asked, embracing me.

"Back there somewhere. He shouldn't be long." I could hear quiet footsteps behind me, which threw Aerrow into a state of fury.

"How the hell could you let this happen to her?!"

Finn backed up, but I stopped Aerrow from beating the boy into a pulp. "Aerrow…"

"Kai, You--"

"Aerrow, thanks," I smiled.

"No, listen to me. You were right, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have sent you down there. It was too dangerous, and look what happened to you?"

"No...," I sighed. "I learned a lot, really. This… this was the best opportunity I had. A crash course. I learned so much in that short amount of time… Don't blame Finn, it was no one's fault this happened."

Aerrow paused for a moment before giving me a soft smile. I saw Finn make his way around us, darting toward the Condor.

"So… what about Elle?" the red head looked around me, hoping the blond would emerge from the bloody mess.

I looked down, hugging a bandaged arm.

Aerrow sighed. "At least she's free from the Academy, now."

"Just… not in the way any of us hoped," I added.

Aerrow reached out for me once more, holding me close. "I'm just glad you're alive…"