Chapter 24: CR1M3
(Amber's POV)
I woke up a bit later than usual this morning. I had to comfort Cato for the night after he lost his brother, Andrew. It was hard for him and I know that. I could only imagine what's going on in the minds of Riki and the Wattersons after they lost Anna and Anais. I never had a sibling, so I never had the feeling first hand, but I know how it feels like since I lost my own parents.
Today we were going back to the Wattersons' house to talk about what's going on. I tired to beg Cato to at least tell me what was happening but he insisted that I wait till all of us gathered. When we got there, I could barely see my friends anymore. Everyone was so worried and weren't themselves at the time. I really felt like back before I met everyone, even Cato. Everyone was as miserable as I was when I was little, before I met Cato.
"So, what are we gonna do about this?" Riki asked temptingly.
"Yesterday Cato said that he had some info about that organization." Amber said.
"Uhh...yeah. It's a long story though. To make things short, they're an organization who causes crime on the streets. They get recruits by kidnapping kids around the country and brainwash them. Once the time is right, they'll be on the crimes themselves. Problem is there are three groups, crime, assassin and..." Cato explained before Lexy cut him off. "..terrorist. They're gonna start a terrorist attack, aren't they? That's why they're kidnapping a lot of kids now?"
"That's a possibility. That crowbar said they wanted those kids for something big. So that's a worst case scenario." Cato said.
"What's the best case scenario?" Gumball asked.
"We somehow get to save everyone who was kidnapped, and the guys who were with the organization would be jailed or treated. It'll take a miracle for that to happen with just us." Cato said.
"Lexy, you know those guys more than anyone else in this room. You wanna tell how all this works?" Ivan asked.
"*sigh* Fine, I knew you were gonna ask anyway." Lexy muttered. "When I was in CR1M3, I was a part of the crime faction. Didn't bother going to assassin or terrorist. Our team had a leader, Delta."
"Do you know his real name?" Jake asked.
"Being in CR1M3 is like you're a different person. You're not who you once were before you joined. So they came up with names of they're own. That's how I ended up with the name 'Pink Menace'. We never tell anyone our real names cuz we don't use them. So, no." Lexy answered.
"Thanks for the extra info, not that it's much of use now."
"Technically we could use all the info we could get. If these guys are what we think they're gonna do, then it's best to know who we're up against." Ivan said.
"As I was saying, Delta is friendly when it comes to his allies but he's very aggressive when it comes to committing crimes to other people or the people who tries to challenge him to combat." Lexy continued. "Then you got the assassin's team. It's a group of highly trained hand-to-hand combat hitman who takes out they're targets. Normally these guys are the most passive in the organization since they didn't have much targets to go for. They normally go for people who has intel on the organization."
"So, people like us. That means we've become a target?" Dante asked.
"Yes, that is correct. So we have to be alert on anyone who seems suspicious. If you think you're not safe, then try to get out of the place or situation you're in as soon as you can." Lexy said causing an awkward silence as everyone tried to comprehend what she said. "I mean if you think someone looks suspicious or carries something suspicious, run."
"Fair enough. What else is there?" Kelsey said.
"Lastly, there's the terrorist. These guys are the people in the organization who wants to watch the world burn so to speak. I don't know how they're gonna do it or how they got the resources in the first place. All I know is it's not gonna be good."
"You know who's the leader?" Cato asked.
"Assassin's team leader is called Dread, and terrorist's team leader is Madman. That's as far as I know about those guys." Lexy said wrapping up her explanation.
"So what do we do? Knowing about the organization is one thing, taking them down and saving those kids is another." Darwin said.
Coincidentally, the television turned on and showed the Elmore News.
"Breaking news, massive amounts of kidnappings have been reported all over California. Police are currently trying to investigate the patterns of the kidnappings and what motive they have on this crime." Says the news anchor before getting cut to the police department footage of some of California's best police officers, including Officer Donut seen in the background. "Police are still however in the dark about the matter, so if there are any leads by the public, please report to the nearest police station immediately." continued the news anchor.
Everyone looked to themselves about the topic.
"Should we? I mean, the authority is the best we got." Gumball said.
"Yeah, but do you really think they're gonna take it lightly that we know a lot about them and I was one of them?" Lexy pointed out, which was a valid argument. There's gonna be someone who's gonna start taking suspicion of them.
"And also the fact that more people are gonna get in danger. You do realize that consequence right?" Kelsey mentioned.
"How so?" Jake asked.
"Well if we tell the authority, and most probably the government knowing that it's way bigger than they think it is, wouldn't the organization make a hasty move and start whatever they're doing a lot sooner than planned?" Kelsey explained.
"But it could be worth the risk. We obviously can't do this alone. Eleven teenagers going to stop an entire organization of who knows how many people are already in. We're gonna need all the help we can get at this point, even if it means more people are at risk." Cato said. "So I don't know about you guys, but I say we should tell them."
"Same." Riki agreed.
"Agreed." Gumball said.
One by one, everyone started agreeing, whether voluntarily or by force because they just want to help out their friends. In the end, everyone agrees except for Kelsey and Lexy.
"Kelsey? Lexy?" Amber said slowly.
"Well..." Both of them had to do some thinking before making their decision, which later on they have. "I know the most about these guys and basically the layout of their base. Of course I'm going." Lexy said confidentally. "I don't really have a choice anyway. Besides, you're gonna need someone to take care of you when you're injured." Kelsey said.
"You know anything about healthcare?" Carrie asked.
"I kinda picked up some things while Jake and his bozo friends got stuck in the nurse's office."
"Yeah, we kinda go there really often."
"Alright, guess we're set. We should get going." Cato said as everyone decided to head to the police station. In the midst, however, Christine is having some trouble of her own. She still couldn't believe that Cato and Lexy "accidentally" found her younger brother. She had to see it for herself and that was the entire reason she decided to go.
"Is anyone not the slightest worried how the TV turned on on it's own at the exact time we needed an answer?" Dante questioned but only to be ignored as everyone already got outside the house. "*sigh* Dammit."
Meanwhile, at the CR1M3 base...
Eric and Strike had to be on "reserve" for the week because of losing a member of their team and attempting to rob the gas station without their boss's acknowledgement. Neither of them were too happy about it because that would mean that they wouldn't be doing anything outside the base. Something like being grounded at your own home kind of thing.
"I knew robbing the gas station was a bad idea." Strike said.
"You could've at least said something was up. I thought it would be a breeze like all our other robberies." Eric said pouting.
"I didn't. I just had a feeling it wasn't going our way." Strike said back.
"Whatever, I'm going to my room." Eric said walking faster to his room.
Strike stopped for a second looking at Eric walking away. He knows that he's not happy with what happened today, what with the failed robbery and then got mad at by their boss. He let out a sigh and walked to his room. Inside his room is a desk with a laptop and a radio, a bed and a wardrobe. He turned on the radio and heard the news.
"The mass kidnapping has brought great terror and grief to the citizens of California especially the families related to the victims. We believe that the kidnappers will not stop and will continue on, so make sure your kids are safe at all cost. If you have any information regarding the kidnappings, please report it to your nearest police department immediately." The news reporter spoke through the radio. Strike faced down on his laptop listening to the news.
At the Elmore Police Department...
"So, let me get this straight. You used to be in this 'organization' and they're kidnapping kids for them to be in a terrorist invasion across the country?" Officer Donut said.
"Yeah, well the last part is probable but we don't really know if they are going to." Lexy said.
"How can we trust you? You used to be part of these guys. You could still be loyal to them and living under the shadows of your friends and families."
"If I was one of them, I wouldn't have the guts to be telling you this in front of your face because they WILL send someone to kill me."
"Well, sorry for speculating the worst case scenario of this situation, but we're gonna keep a close eye on you. Nothing personal, just protocol."
"Fine, do whatever you want. You'll see where my loyalty lies when all this goes down." Lexy said, her words stabbing the officer straight to the chest.
"Are you guys done yet?" Gumball asked in the background.
"Yeah." Lexy took a step back to the group giving the officer some sort of a death stare.
"Okay, this information could be very helpful to us. Thank you. We'll give the other officers a briefing soon. In the meantime, you-" Officer Donut said before he got cut off by Officer Burger.
"Chief, we just got a transmission at the briefing room. You should see it."
"Huh, coincidence. Since you're here, get every officer in the briefing room stat." Officer Donut ordered.
"Yes, sir." Said Officer Burger before leaving the group.
"Let's get going. It might be about the kidnapping."
Eric was walking down the hallway looking at the floor. He started feeling bad about letting out his anger on Strike. So, he went to Strike's room.
"Hey, Strike. It's me, Eric." Eric said through the door.
"Okay hang on a sec." Strike said sounding a little hasty as if he's trying to hide something.
"What are you doing?"
"N-Nothing. Just wait a sec."
He started to have enough, so he busted the door open and saw Strike standing behind his desk and laptop. "What are you doing?!" Eric screamed.
"Whoa, dude. I told you to wait." Strike said trying to hide his laptop.
"What's in the laptop?"
"Nothing. What is it?"
"Well, just wanted to say sorry about earlier. It wasn't really your fault we got caught at the gas station nor was it your idea. You didn't really deserve getting mad at." Eric said apologetically.
"It's fine, dude. We're a team. Technically it was my fault knowing that it was a horrible idea like all your other ideas but didn't bother telling you."
"Thanks, really- Wait, what did you mean 'horrible idea like all my other ideas'?" Eric asked.
"Alright, look at the time. Need some sleep. See ya in the morning." Strike said pushing Eric out the door. Before Eric got to say anything, Strike shut the door in front of him. He could hear him through the door.
"Guess he's as tired as I am of today. I should get some shut eyes as well."
Eric shrugged it off and walked away. Meanwhile, inside the room, Strike let out a sigh of relief and went back to his laptop.
"Whew, that was a close one. He would've killed me if he knew what I'm doing." Strike said to himself.
Everyone in the police department gathered at the briefing room, including the high schoolers who went to tell about the organization. Officer Donut was at the control panel to look at the transmission.
"What do we got?" Said Officer Donut.
"A transmission. We don't know where it came from, but we found out that every single police department in the US got it." said one of the officers.
"I guess we can start the transmission now."
"On it." said another officer as he tried to start the transmission.
The transmission was a person in a mask covering his mouth and sunglasses. The room was dark and black just like his outfit and his voice was encrypted to keep himself anonymous to anyone.
"Hello, cops. I see you need information on this mass kidnapping that has been happening for the past few days. Well, I can say for sure that this is not the worst you've seen. But before all that, I think I should introduce myself. You can call me 'Info'." The man said with a rather impressive disguised voice. "You might want to know what are these people's motives on kidnapping such innocent children. These people, who prefer to call themselves as the organization of CR1M3, are a massive group of criminals and terrorists waiting to attack. The reason why they are kidnapping are just so, to have them brainwashed and join the cause as simple as that." He continued.
By this time, the group had already begun shooting worried and concerned faces at each other, especially towards Gumball, Darwin, Dante, Lexy, Cato, Riki and also Christine. But among them, Christine was the one who was already shedding tears. She began feeling worried about her brother. It was bad enough that she lost him for the past year and then just found out that he ended up in a criminal organization, but now she has to accept the fact that he is brainwashed and probably could not remember her at all. As for the rest, they were concerned as well. Cato got worried about Andrew, Riki got worried about Anna, and Gumball and Lexy were worried of Anais. Even Darwin and Dante started getting worried eventhough they still know little about whatever happened. The others couldn't help but watch and feel the pity and sympathy in the air.
"The organization is already grown in numbers as we speak. However, there is a way to stop it. I have been researching every single thing about the organization and I have found out the process of how they will do this. They're facility for brainwashing is not in these parts, but somewhere in the Carribean area. For them to get there, they need to transport all of their 'victims' by plane and fly there. What you could do is intercept the plane and stop the flight before it leaves. I know exactly where and when they're leaving. Just follow these coordinates, it'll lead you right to it. Please, do whatever you can to stop this from happening once and for all. I will be there to help you in the shadows."
The transmission broke up right after and it showed the location of the meet-up and the time. Everyone started to get worried, but nobody was more worried than the victims' siblings in the group. Their own younger siblings are gonna forget everything they've done and everyone they've known in their lives.
Well, this was a doozy to do. Took me a longer time than expected because I had to think of the upcoming storyline. Sorry that this chapter had to be short though. And all in all, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, leave a comment down below on what you think of the chapter and story. Just like always, I'll see you all in the next chapter. Love you guys, peace out!