Chapter 22

"Are you three ready?" Charles asked the group. Currently, they were all standing across the street from McFist Industries trying to convince themselves that their plan would work.

"I think so." Randy said.

"You think or you know?"

"I…know?"

"Is that a question or an answer?"

"Both." "That's good enough for me! Are you ready Howard?" They turned to Howard who was standing there in a (rather poor) imitation of the Ninja's suit.

"No."

"Great! Nomi?" Nomi's eye twitched at the nickname but nodded anyway.

"Go Howard!" Charles pushed him forward and Howard groaned before walking towards the front entrance of the ominous building.

"Hey look! It's the Ninja! Here in McFist Industries!" Nomicon called from behind Howard.

"Yes! It is I! The one and only Ninja and I'm here on a rescue mission!" Howard shouted dramatically from inside the building. No sooner had he said that, Howard came running out with Robo-apes behind him. A smoke bomb was set off and a few Robo-apes became disoriented, causing many more to leave the building in pursuit of the "Ninja".

"Let's go gentlemen. Just act natural and don't say anything." Charles said, walking into the building with Randy and Nomicon following closely behind.

"Hey Mr. Rivera! Who are those two?" A man asked, peering curiously at Randy and Nomicon. They were dressed like they'd just came out of the Matrix in suits and sunglasses that made them virtually unrecognizable. (Sarcasm!)

"Oh, they're from the technology division of McFist Industries. I need help fixing up the wiring and data and other nerdy computer stuff in both McFist and my offices." Charles answered convincingly.

"Aren't they a little young?"

"It's called lotion and general skin care. Does wonders for the appearance!"

"If to say so!" The man laughed before walking away.

"That was much to easy." Nomicon murmured as they entered an elevator.

"Trust me, you could tell him that pigs are flying and he will believe you one hundred percent." Charles chuckled, the elevator moving up at high speed.

"How do you guys get the elevators so fast?" Randy asked, holding onto the railing that Nomicon had attached himself to.

"…I don't really know. It's really useful if you're running late or on a rescue mission though!" The elevator finally stopped and opened with a ding, the three exiting onto the floor where Randy, Lex, and Nomi, had originally fought the "DOOM" bot.

"Okay boys, just down the hallway beyond this door. There's a bathroom immediately on your right so you can have a wardrobe change." Charles explained, opening the door Lex had the day of the field trip. Randy rushed into the bathroom and pulled on the mask before running back out. Nomicon stood waiting patiently in his classic ninja suit and cape while Charles looked up and down the hallway to make sure no one was there.

"How far is it from here?" Randy asked, hurrying to follow Charles through the hall.

"Not very far. I've been here about one to two times, but I still remember how to get there." They all came across one door near the end of the hallway that required a password.

"Now what?"

"Don't worry. I have a pretty good guess as to what the password is." The keypad showed the password as Charles typed in M-A-R-C-I. It beeped, glowed green, and Charles opened the door with no problem.

"He got this installed two weeks ago and his password is too easy to figure out." Charles shook his head and the trio entered.

"It's dark."

"We don't need lights."

"What? Why not?"

"Smoke bomb, if you please." Charles held his hand out and Nomicon put the bomb into his hand, the boys watching in confusion as he tossed it into the center of the room. Once the smoke learned, tons of red, flickering beams were revealed to be spread around the room.

"How…?" Randy and Nomi asked in unison.

"McFist really needs the security guys to install these precautions when no one's here." Charles chuckled.

"Okay, Viceroy has a remote that controls these and probably more traps, since McFist would be paranoid if the controls were attached to the light switch. However, what he doesn't know is that every device doesn't need a remote to turn off. A lot like a TV that stitches on and off by the button on the TV and button on the remote, the traps will work the same. There's a button labeled 'off' at the computer over there." He pointed to a large monitor attached to the wall not too far from where they were standing.

"Once we're done with that, we find Alexandria."

"…"

"…what?"

"Are you a spy?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Like, 007?"

"Randy, we have more pressing matters than Lex's father being James Bond." Nomi said, dragging Randy to the motion detecting beams.

"Ready?"

"I hope."

"Good enough for me." They leaped through the beams and wormed their way through with difficulty. After their risky track, the two stood in front of the computer.

"Which button is it? Maybe it's this red one…"

"OR maybe it's the giant blue one labeled off?"

"Oh. Maybe." Nomi rolled his eyes and pressed the button, a ding sound going off as everything that would have stopped them turned off. Charles flicked on the lights and gasped. Lex, or Kasumi, was lying in a cage with her eyes shut.

"Lex!" Nomi and Randy ran to the cage with Charles following suit.

"Alexandria? Lexy, baby, please tell me you're okay!" Charles cried out, reaching through the bars to shake her shoulder.

"Lex, please tell me you can hear us. We need you to be alright! What would we do without you?" Randy said quietly. Nomicon stayed silent, thought the look in his eyes said more, and he put his hand over Lex's own. Her eyes fluttered slightly and then opened slowly to reveal her radiant purple eyes.

"H-hey guys. What took you so long?" Lex chuckled weakly.

"Lex! I'm so happy you're alright!" Charles almost cried as he pulled his daughter into a hug. Or at least the thing closest to a hug when both people are separated by prison bars. Lex hugged back, up she released her father quickly and looked at them all with intense concern.

"It was nice to see you again, but you have to go. Now."

"What? But we came to save you!" Randy said in confusion.

"That's the problem! You REALLY shouldn't be here!"

"Lex, whether you like it or not, we are going to rescue you." Nomi stated sternly.

"No, you don't understand! It's a–!" Lex stopped mid-sentence in fear as something grabbed them from behind.

"We did it!" McFist laughed, walking up to the giant robot.

"Well well well! If it isn't our favorite ninja and his sidekicks!" Mordea appeared from behind him, a smug smirk on her face.

"Mordea? Honey, you need to get out of here!" Charles shouted, struggling in the robot's iron grip.

"Dad? What are you doing here? I must admit, I didn't expect you to even know about this."

"I'm here to help the Ninja save Kasumi!"

"Really? Why are you choosing sides when you could be at home watching Veronica or doting on little Alexandria's every need!?"

"…honey, what is this about?"

"A deal I should've made a long time ago. You wouldn't understand, considering nobody else does."

"I'll ask this one more time, and I want a clear answer young lady! What is this about?"

"Let's just say I've joined the dark side. The winning side."

"You won't be victorious once we get over there!" Nomi growled.

"I already am. Too bad, I was hoping for a bit of a challenge." Mordea cackled as the robot went to the now opened cage (courtesy of Viceroy) and threw them all inside.

"Now, you're going to sit there like good little heroes and wait for what's coming. Ciao for now~!"

*Later…*

The group of now five (the Robo-apes got Howard) sat silently in the cage for who knows how long while the robot that trapped them stood guard.

"I'm sorry I got you all into this mess by playing the damsel in distress." Lex finally said.

"It's not your fault for getting caught. It's Randy and Nomicon's fault that I was caught by robotic primates though." Howard said.

"How is it our fault?!" Randy asked.

"You didn't give me enough smoke bombs."

"We gave you plenty!"

"Did you expect me to use them one at a time?"

"Yes. I did."

"See why you should've lent me more?" Randy rolled his eyes and Lex giggled. "What's so funny?"

"The fact that even though we're trapped, you two are still arguing over something stupid! This is why I love you guys!" Lex laughed, pulling Nomi, Randy, and Howard into a hug. Howard and Lex laughed at Randy and Nomi's matching blushes that they tried covering up.

"I'd say that's enough physical contact!" Charles pulled Lex away from the blushing duo. "Dad, now's not the time."

"You're right. I'm sorry. Fatherly instincts."

"Wow, we're acting pretty easy going for a bunch of hostages."

"Maybe because we're all hiding our fear within our hearts and lightening the mood to prevent everyone else from extreme panic." Nomicon said intelligently.

"Repeat that in a way that doesn't damage the self esteem we all once had about our intelligence." Lex joked, Nomi blushing again in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry I cannot help the way I speak."

"It's fine Nomi! I actually like it, odd as that sounds." Randy frowned but said nothing. Now was most definitely NOT the time. Still, it wasn't the time for being so calm and collected while trapped by your enemy either.

"So, does anyone know how we're going to escape?"

"Originally, yes. Now, not really." Randy stated.

"Gee, that's reassuring."

"I don't want complaining since YOU were the one who got us into this in the first place."

"I did not!"

"Did to. You had to be the damsel in distress, you said so yourself."

"Well, the king and his knights didn't exactly come here with Excalibur."

"We were busy with James Bond, Ninja #2, and the encyclopedia. I'd say were just a bit busy."

"Too busy to think that this would be an obvious trap?" Randy opened his mouth to say something, but shut it just as quickly.

"…I hate it when you have a point."

"I know~!"

"So, what's going to happen if we don't get out?" Charles asked suddenly. Everyone got serious and a bit sullen at the question, for they were hoping they wouldn't have to think about it.

"Whatever happens, it probably won't be good."

Whoa! I'm feeling all curious-y and stuff! (So many references!) *evil giggle* hehehehe, no one will ever no what'll happen to our heroes!

Lex: but, we'll be fine…right?

me: you'll see! :)