Kashekim had a small smile on his face, "You two, aside from Kidagakash's mate, certainly have acted in a manner that would be almost exactly like that of our people... that you two might simply be long lost Atlanteans in a way.".

"You humble us with your words, your majesty...", Erskine gave a respectful bow. Thaddeus smiled warmly, "Thank you, your majesty. And if you're curious, one of my dear friends in the crew, Jacques, has caught the eyes of your younger daughter. It looks like they were at least attracted to each other.".

Kashekim looked thoughtful, "Hmm, I also want Thalassia to be happy as well, but since my crystal hasn't sensed anything happening for my second heir, perhaps Sia had decided to be a bit more conservative for some reason, though I am surprised as she is usually a romantic for those things.".

"Well, Jacques has a son, adoptive, that is, and he is a Frenchman, and he has a soft spot for romance, yet he never had time for it up on the surface, thanks to several circumstances including the resistance he built along other comrades in the war.", Erskine explained.

Kashekim gave a soft sigh, "I see...I'll talk with her when she returns for bed, or in the morning when I have a fresh mind to consider her words.", and Thaddeus smiles warmly, "That is fair. It's never easy to be a father, but it sure is an adventure in ways.".

"Oh, very much so that I agree with you.", Kashekim chuckles, and Erskine smiles, "Almost similar to being a king, eh?", and Kashekim gave a warm laugh, "Different yet similar...You two would have made excellent advisors in the Council.".

Thaddeus and Erskine look surprised, glancing at each other yet smiles, as that sounded like a great compliment coming from the King himself, amazed that they are friends with him, and then suddenly, a loud explosion came, blasting the throne doors, earning Thaddeus to snap the bottom part of his skin scar disguise mask back on, as Erskine moved to cover the King, while the throne guards set their carved weapons erect, to see the smoke clearing, and then a horrific sight met the men's eyes, with Kashekim listening hard with his hands clenching hard on his staff.

Erskine was the most horrified when he saw Rourke and Helga leading a large group of HYDRA Stormtroopers with the rest of the group in tow as prisoners.

The rest of the crew was taken off guard when they were found by the Hydra Stormtroopers, yet they tried to give them some trouble like Sweet, the tallest and strongest of the crew, but turns out they were overwhelmed by the new guns and all, especially when they saw that the princesses were captured, along with Vinny who is innocent in all of this, remembering how he had nightmares about the Leviathan and the worm monster...They were upset, but since they realized that they cannot put the innocent people in danger, they gave in...

Thaddeus was horrified to see his grandson as a prisoner, clearly worried more about Kida than himself as Helga threatened her with her gun, shouting, "If you want your daughters alive, tell them to drop their weapons, now!".

There was a standoff for a moment before Kashekim sighed and nodded his head. "Put them down...", he told the guards before they complied.

"Smart move. Oh, your majesty, I don't know what Erskine's been telling you, but don't think for a moment he lied. He very much was telling the truth; he just didn't know that Helga and I were spies for HYDRA. I imagine you must be impressed with just how well we fooled you, doctor.", Rourke chuckled as he walked up to Erskine gave him two light pats on the cheek as if saying 'Don't feel too bad or shocked'.

Erskine glared at him, as Rourke called out, "Troops, those who's not watching our prisoners, spread out and look everywhere! Thatch, start reading now or Helga will count down from 100 to shoot your princess friend!".

Milo held the Journal as he took a deep breath and went to read the missing page as the available stormtroopers spread everywhere, wrecking anything in sight of the throne room.

"Rourke, we're just wasting time...", Helga growled, "Why bother wrecking the place when we can easily just get the answers from the old man?". She cocked her pistol and placed it against Kida's head, "Hey, chief, unless you want your daughter's head blown off, you better start talking.".

Milo looked horrified, "No!", and Kashekim replied, "Do not threaten my daughter like that.", standing up, "You do not realize the power of what you seek. You shall destroy yourselves.".

Rourke narrowed his eyes, "Looks like we have to step it up a little.", before grabbing Sia from a Stormtrooper as she yelled in pain when Jacques shouted, "Sia! Don't you damn hurt her!", as Rourke cocked his pistol upon Sia's forehead, "Now, do you want both of your daughters to be killed on the spot, or will you talk now?".

Kashekim took a deep breath, sensing his daughters in mortal danger, and spoke clearly, "Come closer, one of you, and let go of my daughters, so you will hear what I will reveal what you seek.".

Rourke smirked, "Ah, now that's better, old man.", throwing Sia back to the Stormtrooper, cuffing her immediately as Helga chuckled, "Well, I told you, Rourke.", as she let her pistol away from Kida's head, causing Milo to near heave in relief yet still afraid.

Rourke then went up to Kashekim, smirking, "Now, where's the crystal chamber?", and Kashekim replied, glaring at him straight on despite his blindness, "I will never tell you as long as the secret's in the eyes of the Great Kings of the Past.", before in a flash, his staff slammed into Rourke's face, something he didn't see coming as he was close to the King.

Erskine gave a laugh of triumph, smirking as Kashekim is more than he seems, as Rourke was on his back, holding his head, rubbing his cheek where a clear bruise is now showing, groaning, and Kashekim then replied, "A King will always protect his people, his kingdom, and his family.".

Rourke scowled before smirking, "But will a king protect them when he's dying?", and as everyone was starting to realize what he said, a gunshot echoed through the throne room.

Everyone was wide eyed and silent for a few moments before Kashekim stumbled back and fell onto the floor. "FATHER!", both princesses screamed out as several eyes looked to Helga who fired the shot, including Rourke.

"Well, that's my bad then, thinking that threatening his daughters would get him to talk. Stubborn old fool will take what he knows to the grave no matter what we do. Might as well just speed things along.", Helga reasoned as Rourke huffed.

"More than likely then.", Rourke turned to Milo, "Alright, son, you want to be the next one to be shot? Tell us what the secret's in the king's eyes?".

Milo glared at him, hearing Kida's anguished curses in Atlantean at Helga, glancing over at her as Kida had tears in her eyes, and Milo knew that Kida realized how more lethal guns are than their city's weapons, thanks to his given memories in her mind, and faintly heard Sia's sobs, having a feeling that Jacques felt damn helpless to even fight and hold Sia in his arms, like he is currently feeling.

He then looked back at Rourke, glaring at him, "The page in the book just says that the Heart of Atlantis lies in the king's eyes, and I don't see any giant Crystal or this Crystal Chamber you were asking for, do you?".

Rourke snarled, "Well, you better get into thinking mode, Thatch, or you'll regret the next thing you put in your mouth to talk back at me.", slamming him back into his backside as he landed into the pond with a crash, and Milo sat up, soaked, and his eyes widened in horror as Rourke rested his pistol on Kida's temple, as Helga cocked her pistol again, slightly warm, resting it against Kida's side.

Milo saw Kida's eyes widen in horror as Sia was barely heard in an anguished horrified scream, "Don't!", not wanting to lose her sister too, and Milo knew he cannot risk his mate, and even if Milo tells a half-lie or something, Rourke might not want overkill, but Helga, she already went to murder a king in cold blood, and if she...she went for the gut...even if Kida survives...Milo wouldn't know if her crystal or any crystal would heal her womb...stealing their future even before they had it...

Milo wracked his mind, looking at the Journal in his hand, looking back at the downed king, a king who gave his life standing up for the city, not sitting helplessly in his daybed/throne chair, overlooking the throne room...Wait...He exhaled sharply, looking around himself, and then glanced back at the Journal, at the cover itself, and then traced the stepping-stones, and then he knew...

Under 30 seconds, Milo shouted, "I know where it is! The entrance to the crystal chamber, it's behind you! I'm not lying, please don't kill her, I am not going to lose my mate to you bastards!".

There was another moment of stunned shock before Rourke burst out laughing, "Mate?! Oh, that is rich, already gone native, huh, Thatch?". He kept laughing as he walked up to the throne, "Anything to save her then, huh... including making up where the chamber is because I'm not seeing it.". He sat down on the throne, "Helga, shoot the princess, Thatch's obviously still keeping somethi-", he paused as he looked at the floor. "Wait, hold up on that, Helga... Thatch, bring over the journal.".

Milo sprinted over to Rourke, handing over the Journal with a glare, looking back at Kida as Helga's gun hovered, not on Kida's side anymore, but still in mortal danger, as Sia was herself stunned, seeing the truth in Milo's eyes when he confessed, and she knew Kida would never have mated Milo unless for something important, and if she wanted Milo to help the city, that is reasonable, but there's something else more...to convince their father longer to see that Milo is more than he looks, to be a prince consort, to be a king for the strength of the royal family...Wait, family...

Great Kings of the Past, it wasn't just for Milo, but a lifetime commitment of a child...a grandchild to the throne where their father wouldn't refuse...

Sia had tears on her cheeks and all, her eyes switching between her father and Kida, with a glance at Jacques and Vinny, and Jacques exhaled, seeing the love, fear, horror, worry in both of Milo and Kida's eyes, something very much beyond puppy love or attraction, and he noticed the stunned realization on Sia's face.

He also noticed a small knowing glint in Erskine's eyes, yet his face is worried, glancing at the downed king, as he can't move to check on him if he's still alive or dead, thanks to the Stormtroopers around him and his friend, and Sweet is also upset, clearly wanting to help too.

Rourke glanced between the downed king, the pond and the stepping-stones, and the cover of the Journal, and replied with a grin, "Ha-ha! That's it! The Heart of Atlantis lies in her king's eyes! Come on, Helga, drag the princess along!", grabbing the shirt of Milo to drag him along, "We're in!".

Helga commanded, "Troops, keep a tight leash on our other prisoners, and allow the doctors to see to the king, though I doubt that he's still breathing. We'll be right back!", as Rourke climbed up on a pedestal, the center of 'A' in Atlantean, that shaped the steppingstones, and a sound of rumbling was heard.

Rourke pulled Milo in, jabbing the Journal into his chest, as Helga jumped in, letting go of Kida who sobbed as she held into Milo as the pedestal became a stone elevator, going down.

Helga and Rourke rolled their eyes, ignoring them as they were focused on what's going to be on the bottom as the elevator went down through sub-floors and such, with Milo whispering, "I'm sorry, Kida...I'm here...I'm here...I love you...", rubbing her back.

Kida whispered, "Milo...Dr. Erskine, Dr. Sweet, they would try to help him, right?", tears falling down her cheeks, and Milo whispered, "They will be trying their best, but I can't promise if it would work...".

"I love you too...You were so brave, Milo...", Kida whispered, and Milo whispered, "Anything for you, Kida...", and Kida nodded, "The same for me...I'd do anything for you too...", before they heard faint echoes of a rumbling hum, which wasn't the elevator, but something else, and they turned slightly to look, and just as they exited the last sub-floor, they came down into a large chamber cave, with water pooling around, but that wasn't it...

Right there, in the air, in the middle of the chamber cave, is a great bright crystal-blue orb of pure energy with multiple carvings of Atlantean faces in great rocks floating around the orb. "Jackpot.", Rourke chuckled. "If that isn't some grand prize, I don't know what is.".

"Looks like a heart to me, that's for sure.", Helga said. "Now, only question is, how exactly do we get it back to the Grabacr?".

"The Kings of our Past...", Kida whispered as she dropped to the ground and started to chant in her tongue. "Thatch, tell her to wrap it up, we've got a Zeppelin to catch.", Rourke dismissed as he took a few steps closer to the 'heart'.

Milo glared at him as he knew what Kida is feeling and saying, praying to the Great Kings of the Past as it was clear that the Atlantean face carvings represented...praying that Milo is safe while Rourke and Helga get their karma, basically.

He leaned down, whispering in Atlantean, praying the same for Kida to be safe yet for Rourke and Helga to be in Hell, stroking her back before speaking in English, "Kida, I know it's not fair...Come on...", and Kida nodded, tears in her eyes as Milo helped her up.

Rourke glanced up at the Heart of Atlantis, and glanced down at the water, and then kicked a pebble into the water, suddenly earning the crystal-blue orb to turn red, giving out red flashes of beams everywhere.

Helga commented, "Well, that did something...we better hurry it up...But we still can't get it down.", and Rourke glanced over at Milo, "Any directions in that Journal, Thatch?", as Milo glanced at the Journal.

"Apparently, we got a giant crystal floating above us at 150 feet high, with a bottomless pit of water.", Milo snarked as he tried to recall the memory again, but it wasn't clear enough as if this is the Heart of Atlantis, it never acted like this before when they came down here, until he was mistaken.

Rourke scowled, "I want instructions to move it, Thatch, not the details! So, move it!", unknowing that one of the red beams found Kida, and Kida saw her necklace float up as she then remembered, whispering in Atlantean, saying mother, as her eyes became bright glowing blue as the beam on her turned blue.

"He didn't say anything about moving it! This is the living source of Atlantis! It's their deity!", Milo spat back before they saw Kida moving past them, and his heart jumped in horror as he realized that something is happening, and he shouted, "Kida, no!", not noticing the hand Rourke held in him before he yelped in surprise.

Rourke glared at him, "What's going on, Thatch?", and Milo replied, "Fuck you! You're going to take the Crystal no matter what I say! This is part of them, they are part of it!".

"Speak English, boy!", Rourke snarled, and Milo replied, "As far as I know, you put us in danger when Kida's a royal princess, linked to Atlantis, and she loves this city, and the Heart of Atlantis knows it!".

Helga replied, "So, if I shoot the princess, the Heart's dead, then? Huh, good thing you stopped me, Rourke.", and Rourke replied, "All the same, can you ask her to bring it down here?! We're wasting time!", taking his gun out to threaten Milo.

Then echoing voices came around the chamber, and they looked over to see Kida turning around, speaking in Atlantean, as Milo heard many unfamiliar voices as one, with one vaguely familiar, almost sounding like Kida's mother, Nildanu, along with Kida's voice, "All will be well, Milo Thatch. Do not be afraid for your mate.".

"What did she just say?", Rourke asked. "I... um... I didn't really catch it...", Milo lied. Normally, Rourke would've threatened him again but considering what was happening, he decided against it for the moment as apparently, some sort of progress might be happening.

Kida stepped forward, not sinking into the water but walking on top of it like it was solid earth, her eyes fixated on the Heart as the trio continued to watch.

Milo bit his lip, hoping that Kida would somehow talk with the Heart, like it wouldn't be her fault if the Heart becomes more dangerous, slaying Helga and Rourke where they're standing, but yet there's still the trouble of those Stormtroopers, and he heard that there's a zeppelin by Rourke, so that means Hydra has somehow gotten in.