8 Going out with a bang

The stage was set, as Bryce was heading to make his great speech about Kaos, known to the world. He steps through a door and pulls to a digital watch in his pocket. He then presses a red key, and a microphone turns on. "Hello this is Bryce, there are two trespassers on their way to the stage, I need them removed right away."

"What!?" Security yells over the microphone.

"Yes, that's right." Bryce nods, and turns his attention to the shut door behind him. "You should hurry. I'm about to make a quick announcement. I don't need them messing up my show."

"Right we're on our way!" The security yells, before cutting off from the microphone.

Nari, a brown haired girl wearing blue, walks out from a room spotting Bryce. "Mr. Geist? I got the information, you're announcing something? What is it?"

Bryce turns to Nari. "Just make sure to keep the airways clear my dear, and the lights shined on me!" Bryce says, marching ahead.

Nari shrugs to herself, "Whatever you say." she replied, walking to the editing room.

At this time Issac and Barret were making their way down a hall, nearing Bryce's show room. "There! We need to stop him before he does something stupid!" Barret stated frantically.

"Hope you got a plan!" Issac exclaimed, following Barret closely.

Security guards rush in through the doors behind them. Barret turns around quickly with Issac. "We run. Come on!" Barret says, rushing ahead of Issac.

"Oh, great idea. I would of never thought of that." Issac replied, sarcastically, keeping up as he glanced back at the security.

Barret and Issac stop suddenly, as more security teleports into the room. "Darn it..." Barret states under his breath.

The security guards step forward. "On the ground you two!" The lead security guard yelled.

Barret sighs, "You don't understand! Bryce is in danger! We have to get to him!"

"I don't think they're gonna listen." Issac grimaced. "(We need to get out of this, but can we even do anything to stop the guy?)"

All the televisions around the station turn on, on the screen sat Bryce. He was sporting a top hat now, mocking Kaos. The security team turns to the monitors, as does Issac and Barret.

"That idiot!" Barret shouts at the monitors.

Bryce clears his throat. "Dear people of the world, and all watching. I Bryce, may not be around for very long to continue this show. I want you all to know that recently, I've been targeted by, yes, Kaos, and they are -" Before he could continue, a blast occurs knocking the feed away from the screens.

The yell of Bryce could be heard from the room, and the security guards take their attention off Issac and Barret, rushing to the scream. What they find are shambles and ruins. A hole was in the wall, but Bryce was no where to be found.

"Where is he?' A guard questioned looking to another. They turn their attention back to Issac and Barret. "You two, what's going on!?" One of them yelled, taking out a gun aiming it to them.

Issac wasn't fazed by the gun, staring to them. "Dudes, no offense, but you didn't listen. We were trying to stop this kind of thing from happening."

Nari walks up behind Issac and Barret, "Sure, that's not what the feeds said though." Nari states seriously.

Barret turns to Nari, and begins to shake a little. "W-What are you talking about... Urgh... that's... just.."

Issac glances back to Nari, "You don't say. So, tell me this. How does a cute girl like you, come to be the only one seeing what happened then?"

Nari giggles to herself. "I am close to Bryce, and you two under false names were allowed inside to see him. He was also a target of Kaos, much like how Kaos targets young, cute girls... Issac." Nari says, in a creepy manner.

Issac jumped slightly, shooting a glare to Barret. "(Way to go man, way to go....)" He groaned, looking back to Nari. "If you're insinuating we're with Kaos, you got it backwards, toots." Issac blew air up at his bangs, in aggravation.

The security steps closer to Issac and Barret. Nari crosses her arms. "I dunno, the shoe fits awfully well. I mean, maybe you guys can, I dunno, make a deal with your superiors to get Bryce back? Either way it's not looking good for you spies."

Barret shakes his head. " (Mission failure! Mission Failure! We have to get out of here!)" Barret thinks to himself still frozen.

The guards grab Issac and Barret from behind.

"You're making a huge mistake here guys, we're not with Kaos." Issac gawked. "(We're so screwed..)"

An alarm sounds off around the location now, however the sound it was making scared the guards. "W-Wait, that sound, there's a Dark Dama leak close to here?" One guard says to the other, nervously.

Nari looks off and sighs to herself. "Well, this is great, we can't just let them off because of dama, but.. You guys have to go check on that. I'll keep watch on them." Nari says, looking back to Issac and Barret.

The security guards rush out of the room quickly. "(A dark dama leak?)" Barret thinks to himself.

Nari giggles, "Always something new with New Tech, but I guess this means you two will be seeing even more new things. I hear jail is pretty interesting this time around."

"Too bad that's not happening." Spoke a male voice, from behind Nari and the guys.

Nari turns to the voice. "Puuurr, I'm just finding all kinds of nice guys today. Who are you?"

"Word of warning kid, don't flirt with me. I'm already pissed off enough as it is." The voice said, drawing closer to view. This allowed the guys to see the man, to their surprise, it was Cravic.

"Cravic?" Barret stated silently.

Nari puffs her cheeks a bit, and looks back to Issac and Barret. "Oh forget you, so, you're here for your partners in crime, I take it?"

Cravic stepped closer, leg sweeping her with one of his feet, as he brushed passed to reach Issac and Barret. He didn't even bother looking back to her. She had fallen to her butt, as the guys looked in shock.

"Urgh, WHY YOU!" Nari says, rubbing her tush.

Cravic kept his back turned to her, "Kid, if any of us were with Kaos, you'd be dead already."

Nari stands to her feet looking to Cravic. "Oh, you can play it off all you like. I'm just waiting for you to take me back to your head quarters now, the guards are out, cameras are running... I have enough to still put you away."

"Out cold, crashed, and not happening." Cravic scoffed.

Nari giggles, "You have no idea who you're putting up with, do you? I don't know, I guess I'll let you take them. Not as if I can do much to stop you right now, but the information will get out... I still have things in mind, and other means of getting you out to the public. Bryce was right, Kaos IS evil. They'll know who to find for ratting them out." Nari says, sarcastically turning away from Cravic walking from them.

"Brat." Cravic rolled his eyes, looking then to Barret and Issac. "I see you two screwed this mission up. We need to go, now."

Barret nods, "I would ask why you are here, but now isn't the time. We need to go. Tech Police might be already on route."

"This day just gets better and better." Issac sighed, sarcastically.

Cravic cuts their hand cuff with his power glove, walking passed them. "Let's go."

Issac and Barret quickly follow after Cravic, escaping the television station. They quickly make their way down an alleyway as they hear sirens approaching the studio. The three had gotten out of sight, heading further down the dank alleyway. Cravic was ahead of them, at a slight distance.

"Phew, we made it out of there, that girl was a demon... I'm glad you appeared when you did." Barret says catching his breath.

"No kidding, crazy shit with Bryce being a total idiot, then that chick... Though, with what happened back at base, I'm surprised to see you on the field man." Issac pocketed his hands.

"Yes, which brings me to my next question. How did you get out of the base? Xiao wanted you to stay, the last I spoke with her, at least." Barret pondered, looking to Cravic.

"Confidential information." Cravic muttered, as he stopped near the path to the main street, peeking out to see if it was safe.

"Hmm, well alright, though how will we explain this to Xiao...(I have a pretty bad feeling about this.)" Barret thought to himself.

"(I hope she doesn't take away our food for failing this mission... at least not mine... I've had enough abuse for one day...)" Issac sighed.

Cravic glanced back to Barret, "If it'll shut you're mouth, this isn't my first time 'sneaking out' of the base. You just don't mention me, and there won't be a problem."

"Hmm, fair enough. we won't say a thing." Barret says, smiling, which then turns back to a serious glare. "Though, we now have the case of Bryce. He was taken, and our mission failed. This makes two people so far, kidnapped by Kaos forces. To make matters worse, Issac and I may be compromised with by public eye."

"Bryce was targeted a while back, for his slanderous speeches against Kaos. It was his own doing that got him fucked over. Dwelling on the past, isn't going to fix the present. We just need to make sure it doesn't happen again. As for the video feeds you're 'so' concerned about. You needn't worry." Cravic returned his gaze to the street, keeping his eyes peeled.

"Hmm, you're right about that, though why shouldn't worry?" Barret asked to Cravic seriously.

"Connections. Situation fixed. Obviously." Cravic scoffed.

"I thought we don't have any hackers..." Issac looked to Cravic.

"AM doesn't, that doesn't account for outside sources. Stop talking." Cravic huffed.

"Jeez. (I can't catch a break, what did I do?)"

"Hmm alright, heh seems you're really on it. Also what was that about dark dama? Was that your doing? It's pretty hazardous to humans." Barret said suspiciously.

Cravic shot a glare to Barret, "Have a problem with that? I saved you're asses back there, don't complain to me." He hissed.

Barret nods silently. "So, are you half Necroden? That energy could not have been manifested in such ways so openly. Especially after the dealings which occurred in history."

Cravic grabbed Barret's collar, slamming him roughing against the wall of the alley. Issac jumped slightly in surprise. "Eh?!"

Cravic looked to Barret sharply. "Do. NOT. Go.There." he growled.

Barret grins, forming a sweat drop. "Right,right sorry for asking!" Barret responds frantically.

Cravic shoves him back, looking off to the streets once more. "..."

"I still can't believe he went off and did that." Barret says, letting out a sigh."But nothing we can do now."

"Yeah, (Nothing like role models going and doing something stupid. Maybe he really just wanted an exit too...)" Issac crossed his arms.

"Coast's clear. Move." Cravic instructed, going off ahead of them.

Issac and Barret followed after Cravic, keeping out of sight of the police, finally reaching the cruiser. They get inside, and the autopilot kicked in, as the door's closed. They were left to wait for the ship to arrive back to base. Cravic walked over, leaning to a wall, at a distance from the guys, who each took a seat.

Barret was looking out of a window. "Hmm, Cravic? You said you had deleted the footage from the studio, right?"

Cravic glanced over, "You talk too much. Yes, it's deleted. I SAID I handled it. Pfft..." he grumbled.

Barret nods, "Alright, just making sure we'll be in the clear when we return, it could become quite a catastrophic issue to deal with. Clearing our names, urgh, I don't want to think about it." Barret says, holding a hand to his head. "On another note, what did you use to get here?"

Cravic's eyes sharply looked to Barret, "If you're implying I took another cruiser, you're mistaken. They'd notice."

"There's other ways to travel out of HQ?" Issac looked over in confusion. "(Barret did state Cravic was part necroden... Not like I'm in the know to get that information... but maybe it's an Elementar related reason..)"

"So what did you use exactly?" Barret says, looking to Cravic.

"Part Necroden. Do the math, dofus." Cravic scoffed, in annoyance.

"Dark dama...You transported using it? THAT'S RECKLESS!" Barret stated to Cravic. "I'm happy you came to our aid, but all the same, Terra is made now to combat Dark Dama to it's core! You risked a lot, transferring yourself that way. If Xiao found out, urgh... I can see why she wouldn't want you on patrol this way." Barret states, in an irritated fashion.

Issac was watching between the two, quietly. "(Great... more friendly fire... I really don't want to deal with this drama...)" He shrugged.

Cravic leaned off the wall, glaring to Barret. "Would you of preferred I left the two of you to get arrested. I saved your sorry asses. Don't. Piss. Me. Off." Cravic hissed.

"You may have saved us, but it was still reckless, you're still a Necroden with that power in you! Do you know how that effects humans!? Not to mention the young. If Kaos got a hold to you, think of the disasters!" Barret yelled to Cravic.

Cravic stomped over to Barret, grabbing his neck as he looked to him sharply. Issac jumped in surprise, his eyebrow twitching nervously. "(OH BOY.....)"

"You don't think I know that? My mom is human. Get it through your damned skull, I risked coming out of AM to save you and him. I didn't fucking have to. Yet, I did. So. Shut. Up." Cravic growled, not releasing Barret's neck, as he kept his gaze sharp.

"Take your hands off of me... I'm not yelling at you to hurt your feelings, but you need to think about things before doing them... You're already a huge threat to me, that's well known. You still need to think more before you act. That's all I'm suggesting from you." Barret says, trying to keep composure.

Cravic let go, growling. "...I don't know why the hell I let him talk me into helping you back there! Don't expect me to save you next time!" Cravic shouted angrily at Barret, before his body vanished into darkness.

Issac jumped frantically, "EHHH!?.... okay, that HAPPENED!.... (Oh man.. Just who was he talking about there? Him?...)"

Barret sighs to himself. "I lost myself a bit there." Barret looks to Issac. "You have a right to be scared of Dark Dama.." Barret says, shutting his eyes as he crosses his arms.

"I-I'm not scared... Hehe..." Issac laughed nervously. "(You know too much about me already... You're just going to use it to bully me...)"

Barret grits his teeth. "(Just keep your cool...It's been a long mission, when we get back... jeez...)" Barret turns to his attention to Issac, "Issac, since Cravic isn't here, don't mention him showing up. We don't want him getting heat from Xiao, but I do hope he comes back... I wonder who this 'him' was though?" Barret sighs to himself, leaning against the wall of the transporter.

Issac exhaled, relaxing a bit. "Yeah... I get it... (Man, that guy is pretty scary... I'm not cut out for this...)"

"This mysterious 'him'... Hmmm... He must be the person who told Cravic about us. My guess, we have an extra eye out there." Barret says, sighing to himself.

Issac put his arms behind his head, "Didn't Xiao say something about Cravic getting insight on both the missions? I kinda remember her not knowing where he got the info from though. You could be right, but who is the guy helping him? I wonder... (He did state he had outside sources... maybe a friend or something?... Though...)" Issac shivered slightly, "If he's got those dark powers.... ehhh... maybe he's working with Kaos?"

"One would like to think, but he's Xiao's Son. I'm pretty sure she'd know if he were in league with Kaos that way. " Barret pondered.

"Dude, the guy said 'this wasn't the first time' leaving the base. If she doesn't know that, well, anything is possible." Issac explained. "(The guy's a freak'n wild card, there's no telling what he's gonna do...)"

Barret nods, "I guess we should stay vigilant on the matter, though we know Cravic as Xiao's son. He could be a double agent... Hmm." Barret says, shaking his head. "Today has been quite a tornado."

"Yeah... You're telling me... (and I get the blunt force of most of it....)" Issac sighed, leaning back in his seat.

"There's also that contact he has for information. That too, is striking some thoughts. I'm almost not sure what I said earlier will stand. We may need to talk with Xiao about it." Barret states, seriously.

"I don't know, what if he comes after us? He's a pretty hostile guy." Issac grimaced. "(Bullies are one thing, but.... people... like THAT.... I really don't want to think about it.... I've already had to clear my head enough from events of that nature...)"

Barret looks to his power glove. "Then we fight as hard as we have to... Times like these Issac, sometimes you can't afford to be too careful. I do hope we're wrong, because the last thing I'd want happening, is us fighting a Necroden. Kaos is bad, but an elementar infused with dark elements that way. Is horrible."

"..." Issac looked off, uneasily. "(He's right about that, and here we are stuck in the middle of it... In a false quarrel there is no true valor.)"

"Urgh, I guess you're wondering why I'm so up tight, right? Maybe I'll tell you sometime, just not right now." Barret says, leaning back in his seat.

Issac glanced to Barret, "(Guess I'm not the only one holding back deep dark thoughts and feelings... Maybe, you're like me?...)"

The cruiser soon arrives back at Alien Ministry, and they depart from the garage, to the main wing.

"I'm soo hungry..." Issac got teary eyes.

Barret was silent as he looks around, "After we get the news to Xiao, business before pleasure Issac."

"Food is a necessity though." Issac sighed. "(It's been since breakfast since I ate anything...)"

Barret merely paid mind to his remarks walking ahead of Issac. He then turns around to Issac briefly. "You do recall our identities could be on the line. I'm sure you'd like eating jail food? Come on Issac, we have to go now." Barret says walking ahead from Issac.

"(I have alternatives to that... but why must I put up with this jerk?...)" Issac sighed, rushing after Barret. "Hey wait up."

The two head down the halls, arriving to Xiao's office. She looked to them sharply. "Where have you two been? Nearly everyone saw Bryce's feed air."

"Yes, about that... Issac and myself... We tried to stop that. He was too head strong on the issue and went for it. Just as Issac predicted." Barret sighs to himself, "He left his brother like that, and not to mention gave himself away to Kaos. We were stopped by security he called on us, and..." Barret stops, holding his next statements.

"And what?" Xiao asked sternly, as she crossed her arms. "I'm waiting."

"..." Barret makes another sigh. "We think our identities were compromised..."

"(We've been removed from public records, and he's still worrying... Even if they get a name, it won't matter...)" Issac rubbed the back of his head.

"What?! You let the target get taken, and now this? How on Terra did you let THIS happen? Let alone not bringing his brother back to safety. Honestly! You had one task, and yet again you failed. Perhaps Creed was right, you two aren't ready for field work." Xiao was clearly displeased.

"Bryce told his brother to leave, we couldn't go after him, as for the information on us. A girl working with Bryce, says she had evidence of us working with Kaos. We had security all around us... But we managed to escape..." Barret stated regretfully.

"So, what are you going to tell me next? oh, let me take a guess. You're going to tell me something in hopes it'll get your feet out of the grave you're digging?" Xiao stated sarcastically. "People are at stake here, failing a mission is not an option." She says, seriously.

"Xiao..." Barret says, shaking of anger. "I understand, we failed...No matter what I say, it won't erase the fact Kaos got Bryce... That's the second one, and we messed up."

"(Not like we could do anything that time... The guy was asking for it... You can't force somebody to stop what they want... even if it hurts those around them...)" Issac closed his eyes.

Xiao sighed, holding her temples. "I'm sorry, I'm a bit on edge right now... I'm going to give you two, one more chance. If this happens again, you're getting transferred to desert duty. Dismissed." Xiao turned her back to them.

"Alright, thank you miss Xiao..." Barret places a hand on Issac's shoulder, patting it a little, before turning off to the door heading out.

"Sorry boss." Issac turned, following Barret. "(I have nothing I can say to them to fix anything, nothing I can do. I can't help anyone...)"

The two got to the hallways, making their way from the office.

"...Man, that was a close call there." Issac finally spoke up.

"Yeah..." Barret says, still walking silently beside Issac.

"She seemed pretty on edge, to be just the crap with Bryce.... Makes me wonder what's up." Issac put his arms behind his head."Maybe it's Cravic..."

"Speaking of... Have you seen him around? I don't think he's returned yet, that would explain her mood. However, I wonder where he is?" Barret says, still walking beside Issac.

"If she noticed him missing, yeah that would make sense. I doubt he just went out for pizza though. You really did strike a nerve with him, so I'd have to guess that he's avoiding you." Issac mentioned, smiling nervously. "(Wish it was that easy...)"

"Not just me, but the base. He isn't really a people person. That and well... not getting into anymore thoughts on the matter. He'll show up when he does, I suppose." Barret says, still looking off ahead.

"True that." Issac nodded. "(Even though you're a jerk dude, you're paying mind to other's thoughts and stuff... Guess I missed the joke... I still don't get how 'friends' are supposed to be...)"