As flaming debris fell from above the lair, the destroyed QR Jet below pinned down Haidra (AKA Helga), Shadow was back down in the hole since he was too exhausted and fell the first time around. One of the QR Jet's wings was completely missing while the engine had a small fire in it.
Shadow then found a grappling device on Helga's wrist. "At least you're not completely useless…" He rolled his eyes. He tore off the device from her glove.
Shadow aimed up at a good spot.
PEW
The hook grabbed onto a good spot, near the ledge. "This'll speed up the process." *COUGH* Shadow then got onto the rope but one of his hands slipped. "AH!" But nonetheless, he had to start climbing out since he wasn't going to sit there forever.
"SHIT!" He nearly slipped again.
After now getting to the halfway point, he decided to use Haidra's blade. Stabbing it into the wall, he decided to hook himself on there for a minute since he felt weakened.
CLANG
CRASH
"We're through! Move it already!" Sapphire had broken through the steel door that led to the staircase area, which led down to the lair.
"We gotta rebound after that minor disturbance! We don't have long either!" Gerald added. "Then what are we waiting for?" Nadine mentioned.
BOOM
CRASH
KA-BOOM
"AH!"
As an explosion triggered behind them…
WHOOSH
CRACKLE
THRASH
About every fire company was both at the tower and mansion fire. Sirens flashed everywhere as the area was lit up by the fire.
"More pressure!"
"We're on it!" Two firefighters yelled at the tower fire. A 1970s Seagrave was in the background but near a car fire.
Back with Shadow, he took out the blade. Climbing up little by little, he stuck the blade into the wall once more since he was near, but little did he know….
"All units report to the eleventh floor now." Ariel radioed while she was with a Battalion and Deputy Chief. More workers were spotted on that floor, surprisingly.
Men from Engine 33 and Truck 46 grouped up as more men exited the building.
A news helicopter footage showed the twenty-plus story tower up in flames and a raging inferno.
Shadow felt his foot yanked. "You're not getting out alive!" Helga exclaimed in anger. Shadow freed his foot and kicked her face. "Go to hell, Pataki!" Shadow had no choice but to go for it and jump to the ledge since he was just a few feet away.
"AAUUGGH!" He just barely grabbed onto the ledge while the blade fell onto Helga. He had to use her arm to block it.
As Helga looked up in anger, Shadow had already made it over the edge. Exhausted and panting out of breath, Shadow laid there for a moment as he finally got out of the hole. The entire lair was surrounded by fire with a bunch of rocks that had fallen.
"Arnold? Come in, Arnold." Stella talked to him through the earpiece. Arnold reached for his alternate radio but found out it was crushed. He went to his earpiece. "Mom… I'm- I'm out…" He panted.
With the radio in hand, Stella gave a relieved sigh as she looked at Phoebe. Phoebe only looked down as they knew they still had a few steps to go through before Arnold was out. Stella looked back at the mansion.
THRASH
WHOOSH
CRASH
KA-BOOM
CRASH
WHOOSH
THRASH
CRACKLE
"GET DOWN!"
"AH!"
CRACK
CRACK
BOOM
GRIND
CRASH
GRIND
THRASH
CRASH
The inside was deteriorating with time running out. A boulder took out a massive piece of the staircase as metal came crashing down.
The outside was a raging inferno, the fire was reaching half the size of the entire mansion. Over with the tower, fireballs flaring up constantly, a massive fire flared from a previous explosion. With fireballs flaring up, more fire poured from more windows.
"EVERYONE ALRIGHT?"
"Command, uh, we're through the debris! But the interior is deteriorating rapidly! I- I don't know how much longer it can hold!" Nadine went on her earpiece.
"You guys just keep going, just keep going! Arnold will be straight ahead!" Stella answered and went on her other radio. "Arnold, they're on their way!"
Inside, Shadow was tackled by Helga since she also made it out of the hole.
CRASH
WHOOSH
THRASH
While fireballs flared up inside, a shine of metal was seen. "COMMAND, STANDBY, WE'RE NEARLY THERE! WE SEE THE ENTRANCE!" Trickshot exclaimed.
"Arnold, they're getting close! Just hang on there, Arnold! Just hang on!" Stella radioed Arnold, who was too occupied with Helga throwing constant attacks. Dodging left and right from her punches.
"COME ON, GUYS!"
"AYE, SHADOW! JUST HOLD ON, WE'RE RIGHT HERE!" Gerald yelled.
"OPEN IT UP!"
Haidra tackled away Shadow. "If I can't get out alive, NO ONE WILL! HOW ABOUT I ADD EXTRA FUEL TO THE FIRE!?" Helga yelled. She immediately barrel rolled, aiming her wrists at the entrance up high.
"NO, DON'T!" Shadow yelled, but it was already too late once he tackled her down.
"UGH!"
"OPEN THE DOOR!"
"COME ON, LET'S GO!" Sapphire, Nadine, and Gerald all got near the steel door, but instead, a sudden flash of flames flared...
THRASH
WHOOSH
CRASH
THUD
THUD
CRASH
WHOOSH
CRASH
THRASH
CRACKLE
Two missiles hit a weak area above the entrance. Boulders came crashing down in front and above the steel entrance. Crashing down, not only blocking off the exit but crushing the steel sliding door and adding extra fuel to the fire, causing the flames to flash through the boulders along with spreading the fire in an instant.
On the other side, Sapphire had to yank back Gerald and Nadine when the flames flashed through and the boulders crashed down.
"GET BACK! GET BACK!"
"AUGH!"
"CRAP!" More flames started to flash through as rock dust came pouring down.
After Arnold tackled Helga, she hit her head and was knocked out immediately for the moment. But that's not why Arnold froze… On his knees, Shadow stared at the exit which was up in flames and blocked off by the boulders. In his eyes, instead of his usual green, his eye color was now orange since he stared at the fire in disbelief… A wall of flames blocked the only way out...
"COMMAND! IT'S URGENT! THE LAIR HAS FLASHED OVER, AND WE CAN'T GET IN! IT'S FULLY ENGULFED! THE ENTRANCE IS BLOCKED OFF WITH BOULDERS! WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO GET TO SHADOW! BUT WE HAVE A LOAD OF DEBRIS, WE HAVE A LOAD OF DEBRIS, COMMAND!" Gerald yelled on his alternate radio.
"CHIEF, WE NEED HELP! CHARLIE SIDE!"
"TRUCK 16 TO TRUCK 55!..."
"SENDING EQUIPMENT, ELEVENTH FLOOR!"
"ROGER, UH, THEY- THEY'RE ON THE WAY…"
As radio chatter kept going and slowly fading, Shadow slowly dragged himself to where the main monitors were, which were crushed. And soon, he flopped against the desk and rested his head against it. His eyes filled with tears that reflected orange from the raging flames. And then, Arnold found an intact picture. The picture showed the entire team, including his parents with the vehicles in the background.
Putting the picture beside him, he buried his face into his hands for a moment as he let the tears flow down. The small flashlight device shining from his shoulder, Arnold sat there in disbelief, seeing as it was now the end of the road...
"Can't you go through the debris?" Nadine asked Sapphire. She had Sapphire's arm over her shoulder since she was weakened. "I can't, Nadine… My ring is almost out of power, and it'll take too long to charge with how depleted it is… I'm sorry…" Sapphire sadly replied.
"Don't be…" Gerald answered.
Outside…
With siren lights flashing everywhere, Miles and Phoebe were behind Stella as she grabbed her radio.
"Arnold? Talk to me. Arnold, talk to me!" Stella radioed. "Mom, it's too late…" Stella froze as she looked at the flames. "There's gonna be- … *sigh* It's no good…"
Choking on his tears, Arnold had to give the command… "... Pull 'em out…" His hand flopped to the ground as tears flowed down his face.
Stella was about to drop her radio but clenched onto it as she sniffled. A small tear dropped from her cheek. Miles didn't even move as he heard. Phoebe zipped up her tight black jacket as she had no words and then put her hands into her pockets.
"Arnold, no! T- I-... There HAS to be a way-" Arnold interrupted. "Mom… It's over. There's no way out no, and you and I both know I'll roast alive once water gets in… It's over, Mom…" Stella looked back at Phoebe to radio Ariel to bring the rest of the Vigilantes. She gave her the signal.
Inside, Arnold looked at the picture he found for a moment, but then, he heard a small laugh. Haidra was slowly getting up. Arnold slowly got up and grabbed a blade and clenched it like never before.
"... How does it feel to be separated from the people you have loved all your life? AT LAST, MY REVE-
SHANK
Shadow walked up to Helga, and right as she turned around, he stabbed her right in the chest. Piercing her body armor and his blade stabbing through her back. Shadow didn't bother saying a single word. Twisting the blade, Arnold pushed Helga off his blade with his foot. Helga dropped just about lifelessly. Shadow threw his blade at her head.
SHANK
His blade pierced through her forehead. Shadow slowly walked back to the destroyed main monitors. After he sat down, he looked around to see the raging flames surrounding him. No beacon of hope, no sign of escape. It looked like Shadow's journey was coming to an end...
Five Minutes Later
The Hyperjet soon arrived but had to land further away from the site since trucks surrounded the area. Rhonda, Spinelli, Olivia, and Ariel soon ran over, with Rhonda being the most distressed. She grabbed her alternate radio as she walked beside her mother-in-law, Stella.
"Arnold! Arnold, sweetie, I'm here! I'm here!" Rhonda frantically started. "Baby, just stay with us, we'll find a way to get you out! Please, stay with us! Your whole family needs you! Your daughter! I NEED YOU!" She yanked her radio off her radio strap.
"And you don't think I don't know that?..." Arnold weakly replied. "But you and I both know there's no way out… Every exit is blocked off, and I'll boil alive regardless…"
"No, Arnold, don't say that! Don't you think like that goddammit!" Rhonda clenched her radio. "It's over, Rhonda… Let's be realistic here…" Rhonda had tears starting to slip down.
"Rhonda… I want you to know…" Arnold started. "No, no, no, no, no! No, don't say it! Baby, stay with us!" Arnold felt the tears slip down his cheeks. "Rhonda, I loved you my whole life… We've had our rough times and differences, but that never changed the fact that I loved you… Rhonda, I-... When I first saw you, my heart skipped several beats, and that was when I knew I fell in love… I love you, Rhonda…"
Rhonda felt the tears slipping down her cheeks. Olivia tapped her mother's shoulder. Rhonda wiped her tears away and handed over her radio.
"...D- Daddy?" Olivia's voice was shaking. "Olivia, sweetie…. Olivia… My precious baby girl…" Olivia was on the verge of crying. "Daddy, please… Daddy, I need you! I don't know how we'll live without you! How will I live without you!?"
"Olivia… I'm sorry, but there's no light of hope tonight… I'm- I'm gonna regret not being there for your life accomplishments… Olivia, I want you to know that I'll always love you… I loved you since the minute you were born, you were such a precious baby, and you grew up to be just like us… A fighter, a smart and passionate girl, and there's just so much that describes you, sweetie…" Arnold panted since he was inhaling smoke. "Baby... sweetie… Olivia, just know that I'll always be with you… I'll always be protecting you no matter what…"
Olivia handed the radio to her mother as she hugged her Grandmother, Stella, and started crying. Spinelli then tapped Rhonda's shoulder.
"Hey, um… Is it alright if me and Ariel say something?..." She asked quietly. Rhonda nodded as she sniffled.
Spinelli grabbed her alternate radio. "... Arnold? You still there?..." She quietly started. "Spinelli… Thought I'd never hear one of closest friends…" Spinelli grimaced while clenching her radio. "Arnold, I… I just want to let you know…"
Arnold gave a small and weak smile. "Spinelli, I figured it out in Chicago… And don't worry, I know… I probably don't love you to a relationship level, but I can say that I love you, Spinelli…"
"And I love you too, Arnold… You were the only person who made me happy… And I refuse to even say goodbye 'cause I can't imagine how we'll even live without you…" Spinelli sniffled as a small tear fell down her cheek. "We all love you, Arnold… I love you… I'll never forget the night you took a chance on me and brought me onto this team… I'll love you always…" Spinelli finished. Rhonda rubbed her shoulder after wiping away several tears. "Thanks…"
"Hey, Arnold…" Ariel started after grabbing her radio. "Ariel… America's best pilot and former firefighter…" Ariel grimaced for a moment. "Arnold, I think you should know about… you know, between us…"
Arnold weakly smiled. "Yeah, I know, Ariel… But I'll admit despite my situation… I always thought there was something special about you, Ariel…"
"I love you, Arnold… We all do…" Ariel finished. Stella decided to radio back for one final time… "Sweetie?..."
"Mom… My entire life, you've been the best mother anyone could ever ask for… Mom, I love you so much, I love you and Dad… Pull them out… I'm initiating the Vigilantes Protocol… You know what'll follow… I love you, Mom…"
While Stella was too weak to reply, Miles would answer. "Arnold, son, we will never forget you… We all love you…"
Stella looked behind her and saw just about everyone with tears streaming down their faces. Rhonda would fall to her knees and bury her face into her hands.
Stella hesitated, but knew nothing would help. "... Command to all units, evacuate the building immediately…" Stella dropped her radio and looked back at the mansion one final time.
And soon, a helicopter shot displayed the burning mansion for a few seconds. Another news helicopter was near and shined its spotlight around the mansion. Just about the entire mansion was engulfed as it went back to Stella.
"Battalion 9 checking in to Command, uh, all units have reported clear, the building's clear, we're all out on our end." The Chief radioed. "Copy that…" Stella weakly replied.
"Mrs. Shortman, the Vigilantes Protocol has been activated. Your son's signal is slowly fading. My dearest condolences…" Impulse chimed in. "Thanks, Impulse…" Stella quietly replied.
Soon, Gerald, Nadine, and Sapphire soon ran over to them, extremely exhausted and overheated. Panting and sweating, they slowly walked past Stella, who only looked at them in sadness. Sapphire was the last to walk by. Stella stopped her and patted her shoulder. She then motioned her head to tell them to get cleaned and fixed up. They came out at a good time since Sapphire's ring had run out of energy so now her suit was just pretty dim.
Phoebe and Ariel guided them to the PRT where Warren and Montgomery were, mainly just sitting on the bumper in disappointment, sadness, and mainly just quiet. Everyone else had come over except Stella, who just stood where she was while Rhonda was on her knees crying. An Engine and Squad vehicles were seen in the background along with more vehicles and siren lights.
Soon, a faraway camera shot soon displayed the burning mansion with a cloud of black smoke pouring into the sky which was a lighter blue. Looks like it was slowly reaching morning… One thing anyone can take away from the view, the fire seemed to be more contained than it was hours ago.
Over with the Lloyd-Shortman tower, with news helicopters surrounding it, the flames were being contained, despite the fire pouring from the upper floors, raised Aerial Ladders kept spraying while the sky was filled with pouring black smoke from the building. And just like the mansion, the sky was a lighter blue, nearing sunrise within a couple of hours...
Throughout Sunrise
All of the Vigilantes suddenly disappeared from the mansion with the Vigilantes Protocol activated but given the circumstances… The Hyperjet was hidden away since it could be easily spotted. All of the Vigilantes were on a rooftop in the meantime. The sunny sunrise shining at them.
IDENTITY REVEALED!
After years of defending his hometown, the identity of the leader of the Vigilantes has been revealed, but unfortunately, it had to be revealed in a painful way. Football-headed, Billionaire Philanthropist Arnold Philip Shortman was found dead in the underground lair of the Vigilantes with another corpse, which was identified as Helga Geraldine Pataki, former Military leader of the dangerous Military called 'The Militia'. Not only was his home destroyed, but the billion-dollar company and his tower were also destroyed in an inferno. A massive jet plane was found among the wreckage in the underground base. We were unable to even find his family and wife for any comment. His uniform was salvaged while the billionaire's corpse was taken by Hillwood's Medical Examiners. A newspaper that Nadine fetched silently read.
Stella sighed. "Now it's just a matter of time before we get raided by the press, and so much for keeping our identity a secret forever…" Gerald shrugged. "I guess that's why Arnold planned ahead with that protocol, it'd be impossible to keep ourselves a secret forever. I mean, they know the entire Shortman family now and everything they stand for!" He added.
"He's really gone, huh?" Spinelli was leaning against a wall with her arms crossed and in disbelief. "Hey, Rhonda? What about your parents? Isn't there anything they can do for us?" Nadine asked.
"As far as I know, no..." She replied nonchalantly while stroking Olivia's hair. Olivia had her head resting on her mother's shoulder with tears in her eyes.
"So what now? Is this the end of all we do?" Kliff asked.
"Well, now that the entire world has found out our family identity, it's only a matter of time before they find out about all of you guys." Miles started. "Since Arnold was smart enough to plan ahead, he had a secret warehouse built around city limits, away from the civilization just in case. The warehouse is big enough to store our gear and stuff, but given the destroyed lair, all we have is the backup gear in the Hyperjet." He finished.
"Wait, so… If people know the family identity, what would be next after?" Montgomery asked.
"We're gonna have to refer to the Vigilantes Protocol for that, but um… I truly don't know. But like I said, we're gonna have to refer to the protocol." Stella replied as she sat next to Miles.
"So uh…" Spinelli started. "Is Arnold gonna get a private funeral or what?" She asked.
"No idea… All I care about is that damn media stays away from us… They'll probably try and ruin our image as it is…" Rhonda replied while staring off into the city with sirens wailing in the distance.
Stella and Miles got up and walked to their daughter-in-law. They tapped her shoulder and signaled it was time to head to notify their parents. Stella signaled over Ariel.
Ten Minutes Later
Despite keeping up with the news late at night, Buckley and Brooke had fallen asleep on the couch. But soon, they eventually woke up right as the loud roar of the Hyperjet neared their home along with the PRT arriving with its siren lights on.
The Hyperjet landed near the Lloyd residence and above the PRT. When Buckley and Brooke looked over, they noticed the top wing of the Hyperjet odd. The V symbol was blinking slowly, signifying something.
Brooke and Buckley immediately got up and they looked who came out. Miles, Stella, their daughter, Rhonda, their granddaughter, Olivia, Spinelli, Ariel, Gerald, Nadine, Sapphire, Phoebe, Warren, and Montgomery, who all had saddened looks. Stella rubbed Rhonda's shoulder since she had tears in her eyes. It was at that moment that the Lloyds realized, their son-in-law was gone. They knew the protocol if one of their own wasn't there. Brooke put a hand over her mouth as tears built up in her eyes. Buckley placed his hands on her shoulders, but he eventually placed his forehead against her shoulder in disbelief…
Alright, well, that does it for this chapter. A roller coaster of a story this has been, and we are yet to be finished. The ending of this story should probably be within three chapters, depending on how it all plays out. Um... Anyhow, an insane chapter this has been... I hope you have enjoyed this chapter, and I hope to see you stick around for the ending.