Later, Fabio met back with the Combo Rangers. "Bad news, Combo. The Salacians have upped their guards and sent their vegan puppets elsewhere. Our spy won't be of much use to us now. They did manage to get a message out before they left." Fabio read his spy's message about how the Shark King was sending Isa to defend Wagan's base and how Wagan was ordered to up the security there as well. "Looks like the operation can't proceed tonight. The Salacians know why you're here. We can't even ambush them, let alone storm into their base."
"Why don't we give them a bit of a push?" suggested the Mighty Combo. "Make them think we're falling back because they're too good for us."
"But what about the mission?"
"You'll still get to complete it. We just need to buy some time." Fabio and the Mighty Combo sat down with the Combo Rangers to discuss the plan.
Isa, Nico and the Nokizaru taskforce arrived at Wagan's compound. Due to their own missions, it had been a while since Isa last saw her uncle, who had babysat her when her parents had to leave the Penguin Palace to go on business.
That evening, Isa was standing in the command room when Nico came in to report to her. "Our defences are secure. The Combo Rangers won't be able to get in." Isa remained silent. "What's on your mind?"
"There's something I never quite understood. The Combo Rangers have managed to conceal themselves well, so why did they reveal themselves when they did? Have you ever thought about that, Nico?"
"Never, but even the best secret keepers can slip up," replied Nico. "Maybe some hothead among them decided that defending one of their own kind was more important than keeping a low profile."
"Let me guess – Fox Fonseca."
"I wouldn't put it all on him. Tatiana Rosa can be just as hotheaded."
Deciding to change the subject, Isa turned around to look at the map of the Santos region. "Blue Whale Prince Jake is about 60 km to the southwest, while Rainbowfish Princess Queen is about 30 km to the northeast. If the Combo Rangers strike us here and quickly leave, they could hit Queen's army by tomorrow morning, then turn around and hit Jake's army that same evening. They wouldn't even know what hit them."
"A diversion strategy. Could they really pull it off?"
"That's exactly what I'm worried about. Our victory depends on how we judge what's possible and impossible. Or maybe they just want to know where we'll be."
"Surely they couldn't anticipate us coming here?"
"If we don't hear anything by the end of the night, then we're done for."
It was then that a Nokizaru unit leader came in. "Your Highness, they're here. We've spotted the Combo Rangers in the nearby forest."
Hearing this, Isa scoffed, "I really overestimated them."
The Nokizaru task force went to the edge of the compound, where they spotted some figures running through the forest across from them. They couldn't tell exactly whether it was the Combo Rangers or not, but they were confident that they were there. Isa said to Nico, "Let them in. I want to find out exactly what they're plotting. You head back to the command room and I'll head to Wagan's quarters. No one moves without my orders."
Sure enough, Fox and Tati caught up with Fabio and his unit in the forest. The Mighty Combo was back at their hideout – he was usually away from the action as he was no longer suited to fighting on the frontlines.
"Lord Fabio! Are your guys ready?" Fox asked.
"Yes, they are," replied Fabio.
"Good. Uncle Combo only wants you guys to cover our escape. Hope you can hold out until then."
"Good luck, guys," said Fabio before he ran forward to get back to his unit. "Right, nobody is to fire until I give the order."
Fox and Tati went on as well and caught up with the other Rangers. "Sara, spotted anything yet?"
"No, not yet," Sara answered.
"Right. Remember what Uncle Combo said. We're only hitting hard to get their attention. Don't stay for too long and make sure you have an escape route. Our target is Wagan's quarters in the southeastern courtyard. Everyone got it?" The others sounded their understanding. "I'm not going to make the same mistake I did earlier today. Sara, stay here and cover us. Everyone else, good luck." Fox went on ahead.
Kiko asked, "Why's Fox being so uptight?"
"Because he doesn't want to disappoint Uncle Combo again," replied Ken. The other Combo Rangers went their separate ways into the compound, leaving Sara to cover them.
Fox scaled the walls to the front doors of Wagan's quarters. Once he leapt off and landed on the ground, he was ambushed by Nokizaru ninjas. Fox was able to fight some of them off as Tati caught up to where Fox was. Two ninjas leapt up from below to ambush Fox but Tati threw her needles at them. As more ninjas came at Fox, he retreated into Wagan's quarters, only to find two ninjas charging from inside. He knocked them back and locked the doors behind him, at which point more ninjas came in to confront Fox.
Two ninjas came for Tati and she fended them off. A group of soldiers aimed their guns at her and she leapt off the roof to take them out with her needles. Tati stormed into Wagan's quarters to help Fox as more soldiers arrived and aimed their guns at the front door as a ninja got thrown out of a window. Meanwhile, Prince Wagan was with Isa and Nico in the command room.
The ninjas got into a circle and surrounded Fox and Tati. Tati managed to spot something in the room. "An Amazon Echo? Bad idea! Alexa, play Survive the Night by MandoPony!"
"Playing Survive the Night by MandoPony on Amazon Music."
The song began playing as more ninjas came in to surround Fox and Tati. Even Isa, Nico and Wagan were hearing the song from the command room. As the soldiers continued waiting outside, a shadow came behind some of them and when they turned around, they began to bleed from their orifices or become congested before falling to the ground; Lisa had used her aura palm to take them out.
Let's try to make it right, don't wanna start a fight
And we're so sorry if we give you all a little fright
We're not so scary if you see us in the daylight
You'll be so happy just as long as you survive the night
The chorus played for a second time as Ken came in, clawing out Salacian soldiers with his eagle claw fists. Kiko grabbed onto a soldier's gun and tricked him into shooting another before throwing that soldier over his head and into a ladder.
Hey there! How ya doin'? Nice to meet you, are you new in town?
Don't think I've seen you before, it's great to see new faces around!
And if you'd like it, I can give a tour
Of our enchanting wonderland, new and improved without the doors!
As the Salacians waited silently in the command room, hearing the chaos outside, Wagan tried to get up, but was stopped by Isa. "Don't move."
There's no escape but then, who would want to leave?
It's a fantastical paradise, and it's not make-believe!
I'm so glad to have another member of the band
You're one of us now, so let me take you by the hand!
Seeing that one of the Salacians dropped their torch, Tati grabbed it and turned off the lights in the room. Using the torch and some animatronic masks, Tati created some chaos to trick some of the ninjas into stabbing each other while scaring the others by imitating the jumpscares from the Five Nights at Freddy's game series.
But what is that I spy, with my robotic eye?
I think I see a bit of flesh inside the new guy!
Maybe he isn't everything that he seems
Time to investigate what's underneath the seams!
Fox turned the lights back on. The last four ninjas were momentarily blinded before they began to charge at Fox, who used his Tai Chi to send them flying through a screen. Four Salacian soldiers came in and aimed at Fox and Tati through the broken screen with their guns.
"Alexa, stop!" exclaimed Fox, stopping the music. Fox and Tati ran outside as the soldiers shot at them, closing the doors behind them. "Retreat!" Fox called to the others. The soldiers came out of Wagan's quarters, but Sara sniped one of them as the ninjas came out as well.
The Combo Rangers assembled where they left Sara. "You're back! Where's Lisa?"
"What?" wondered Fox. "Kiko, wasn't Lisa with you and Ken?"
Kiko replied, "We got out of there once you called, Fox. I didn't look out for her."
"Me too," said Ken.
Sara realised something. "Oh no! Lisa must be going back for Wagan!"
Fox was alarmed. "It's too early for that! What the hell is she thinking?"
Tati attempted to run back in but the others stopped her. "Lisa's still in there!" she pleaded.
"Tati! I'm not going to let you make the same mistake I did. Lisa must have a reason why she decided to remain inside."
"No! I can't leave her behind!"
Fox stopped Tati. "There's no time. We'll think of something when we get back."
It was then that Fabio approached them. "Rangers! We have to leave. The Salacians are beginning to search for us. They'll find us if we don't get out of here."
Tati burst forward. "I'm going to save Lisa!" Everyone pleaded for her to stop, but Tati was pleading with the others to let her go.
Fox ordered, "I'm giving you a direct order as the leader of the Combo Rangers. Retreat!"
Tati initially refused to retreat with the others until Kiko went up to talk her out of it. "Please, just listen to him, Tati! Let's go!" Kiko dragged Tati away before she was willing to run on her own feet with the others.