Chapter 15

Fractured

Nazo's quills returned to their normal state, same thing with his eyes. He wasn't planning on killing St. John. He was demonstrating on what his newly-discovered powers can do. He told them St. John met Peters in discussing Rejoice. He didn't exclude the part on cooperating with each other in taking down the organisation.

"That man hides in the background just to gain Intel," retorted Lien-Da

"Now that McOulen is taking the whole situation at hand, the chances of Rejoice in outdoing GUN is fucked up," Anthony answered.

Bernard McOulen spotted Gabe breaking down a door. He raised his voice to stop that man's doings. "Do not attempt anything stupid."

Gabe found McOulen uptight, he didn't want anybody coming in his way. He came too far and wanted to break away. He's willing to turn it into his personal suicide mission. He didn't want to be taken alive.

"Coming from the asshole, whose son went over his head," Gabe spoke in a harsh tone.

McOulen is now making it personal. He just stood there, while Gabe enters the room, after breaking down the door. He knew Gabe is a dead man. He won't come out alive. Bernard didn't bother follow Gabe, he just used the stairs to enter the heart of the stronghold. Gabe found explosives, he used to be a master bomb diffuser. He picked eight blocks attaching them to his t-shirt with duct tape. He picked a detonator that can fit in his hand. He found it baffling for a terrorist organisation to place explosives in a room, not in the same place as the weapon in the basement.

Gabe is ready to sacrifice his life.

Geoffrey St. John and Phil Peters couldn't believe how crazy Bernard could be. After arriving at the hotel, they asked one of the GUN soldiers of the story so far. After hearing about Bernard entering the building to handle the threat, it was Geoffrey's cue to go in.

"You're working with the enemy?" the soldier questioned.

"He's working for us," Peters spoke in a sombre tone.

Geoffrey spotted Gabe going down the stairs. He skipped over a couple of steps to stop in his path. Gabe wasn't in a hurry, he waited for the skunk to speak.

"You're required for this," Geoffrey informed to Gabe.

He didn't argue. He just went along with St. John's unmentioned plan. As long it involves his plan, he'll cooperate. Geoffrey pointed a gun to Gabe's head.

"When I give the word, detonate." Geoffrey spoke in Gabe ear. Gabe found the right mobian.

They came to the door. Just before entering, Geoffrey gave him a warning. "This will hurt a lot."

Gabe felt his body fly forward with chunks of wood flying everywhere. Nic and Fiona can see Geoffrey with a gun in his left hand, and a detonator in his right. Tikal and Mina aimed for him. Drago was dumbfounded.

"Geoffrey St. John, it's been a long time," said Fiona.

"Introductions are a waste," Geoffrey spoke with distaste. "You're out gunned and outnumbered. I have the last of the four humans, he's my ticket off this clusterfuck of a scheme."

Unknown to them the conversation is picked up by Nazo. Bernard spotted Nazo and the rest and waited. Before Rouge could speak, Nazo raised his hand, he wanted her to be quiet. He let them follow him to one floor below the penthouse. Bernard didn't bother follow. He just radioed his men to storm the building. Instead of doing it from the outside, going inside the best possible way. He also told them to bring in two vital personnel.

Gabe noticed that what Geoffrey had in his hand, was not the detonator he's going to use. He didn't want them to see the real one, so he played along.

"You should go back to before landing here, just so we can understand it all," Geoffrey continued.

"If you must know, better listen now," informed Fiona. "We build this faux hotel to store weapons and survey Station Square."

"Don't forget, working with third parties not involved with terrorism," reminded Storm.

Fiona felt disgusted of Storm's interruption. Storm mentioning the Destructix' assisting Rejoice, gave her a chance to tell her side of the picture. "Bernard McOulen wasn't all like Commander Abraham Tower. He eyed for profit instead of stopping terror. He was facing financial troubles. After preventing the treat with the subway train, cruise liner and private jet; Rejoice lost its stockholders and nobody wants to buy them. Even if they suggested that McOulen should sell he'll blow them off."

"You can't sell a government organisation," retorted Wave.

"Rejoice isn't owned by the government or approved by the council, it's actually a military-based corps filled with ex-soldiers and mercenaries. McOulen used forged papers to make it look like the government created it."

"So you're working with Rejoice?" Jet wanted to confirm.

"My plan was to play McOulen to prove you can't seek help on the wrong side of the law for assistance."

Nic grabbed Gabe's vest, lifting him to his feet. Gabe hit the detonator in his pants. She didn't want St. John leaving, having Gabe in her grasp, could be a sign of a deal. "You won't leave without this human? You won't have him back unless you follow us."

"Fat chance Nic. Your loved one died from stupidity. I was there." Geoffrey can reach into anybody's head.

Gabe collided with Drago. Nic's throw was because of hatred for St. John. Mina can see tension going high. "Those weasels are the new Bonnie & Clyde."

"Until we learned of Nic's bisexuality," said Tikal.

"How did you know that?" asked Fiona.

"Somebody has done more research than you bitches," Drago retorted.

Fiona fired at him. Only to have a bullet enter one of the walls. She aimed at St. John, she wanted to take control of the situation in her stride. "Hand me that detonator."

Geoffrey wanted an answer. He didn't raise his voice. "Explanation?"

"You have that man under control no more. Whoever has him, is the lead player."

"Oh don't you start with metaphors."

Fiona told him again to hand it over. As he did, Bernard McOulen walked in giving them an announcement. "Your truce is short-lived, I have something that will demonstrate I have control."

A Rejoice helicopter lowered near the windows. The blades almost touched the glass. Sally Acorn and Bunnie Rabbot are hostages. The Babylon Rogues, Tikal and Mina have no options. Even the ones they thought of could risk killing Bunnie and Sally.

"Normally I don't want to be the antagonist, unless you give up and I'll let them go. Also, GUN must sell their assets and join to become one organisation."

Everybody else gave into his word. They each starred into the hostages' eyes. Bernard can see everything fall into place. "Everything's coming together."

Drago was unaware of Gabe pulling the detonator from his pants. Gabe placed his thumb over the button. He spoke his final sentence. "More like the other way around."

A large explosion created a hole in the building. Drago is now in pieces. The blast pushed the helicopter, almost on its side. The Babylon Rogues jumped on the Extreme Gears. They swooped and rescued Bunnie and Sally. They didn't have time to think, so they jumped grabbing onto the birds. One of the soldiers picked up a rifle and fired. They flew up, making the soldiers shoot Fiona and Nic. One of the bullets almost hit McOulen.

Shadow, Nazo, Anthony Lien-Da and Julie-Su felt the shake of the explosion. The immediately ran to the penthouse. Bernard was racing down the steps, Anthony fired some rounds, causing McOulen to turn and retreat. Just then Nazo glowed and gave chase. Shadow followed him afterwards.

"Those hedgehogs will handle McOulen," said Lien-Da. "We should worry about the others."

Mina and Tikal ran into them feeling exhausted and in pain. They explained what was going on. The helicopter continued to fire even if nobody's there. Anthony knew just to fix it. He grabbed his radio and spoke. "Send in reinforcements."

GUN gunships took flight, taking down one chopper seemed easy. Rejoice came prepared for a situation like this. More of Rejoice's helicopters arrived, it seemed like there was a build-in device that sends a signal, in case of being outnumbered and outgunned. While the battle of the helicopters takes place, Anthony and the others had to escape. The Babylon Rouges landed outside handing the evidence to GUN and other authorities. Bunnie and Sally thanked them.

Nazo and Shadow cornered Bernard. He didn't feel intimidated for being outnumbered by two hedgehogs. "And to think two hedgehogs are better than one."

"Don't make us laugh. You're terrible at making jokes," said Shadow.

They can feel the wind from the rotating blades and the heat of the explosions from the battle below.

"Now's you chance to see our demonstration," reminded Nazo.

McOulen was puzzled, not for Nazo forcing him to remember his plan, also for mentioning he's not the only one with powers. Both hedgehogs reached super form. While Shadow was gold, Nazo was still retaining his blueish-gray glow. They lifted their hands and fired. Bernard felt his life drain away. Nazo and Shadow leaped off the building, landing near Anthony and the gang. The last remaining Rejoice helicopter collided with the 28th floor, Bernard's corpse landed on what's left of the blades.