"Hey, Paltio's grandfather," Ron began as they walked in a line alongside others who had been rescued from Pinkertalia, "This place is way too hot. Even though there's no sun thanks to Tejod, the weather is still scorching and oppressive." He paused for a moment to wipe the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
Rodelos, who led the group with steady strides, turned his head slightly toward Ron. A faint smile crossed his face. "Well now, boy, I always thought you were the strongest. But I see you're acting like a Trishap."
Ron frowned, offended. "A Trishap? I'm nothing like that! I'm strong!" he exclaimed, lifting his gaze with determination. However, his words rang more like a defense of his pride than a confident declaration. He resumed walking, gritting his teeth as he kept his thoughts to himself.
"A Trishap is an animal with the head of a chicken and the body of a monkey," Alita explained to Chip with an amused smile. "They're very cowardly creatures."
"I see," Chip replied, letting out a chuckle as he imagined Ron being compared to such a creature.
"And tell me, Chip, how did you save us?" Alita asked, changing the subject to distract herself from the oppressive heat.
Chip swallowed hard before answering, glancing quickly over his shoulder to make sure Rodelos wasn't listening directly. The elder's long shadow stretched across the ground, reminding him just how intimidating he could be if addressed improperly.
"Well, you see… Mr. Rodelos—I mean, Rodelos—found me when I was injured," Chip began, correcting himself hastily. "He helped me, and I told him I had explosives strategically placed around the city. When we saw they were capturing some kids, he decided to step in and rescue the prisoners from the prison tower."
He paused, recalling the events with admiration. "Rodelos is incredibly powerful. Once, he destroyed the roof of the prison, crushing a doctor in the process. He then took on dozens of guards, defeating them effortlessly. Afterward, he used my explosives to blow up the place—but not before making sure to save you all and grab the fool at the back of the line." He discreetly gestured toward Zor.
"Wow, that's quite the story," Alita remarked, impressed.
"Yeah, it is," Chip responded with a melancholic smile. "It took me a long time to heal; I still hurt from losing my arm, but at least I'm alive."
"And tell me, how did you meet Paris?" Chip asked eagerly, curious to learn more about the young travelers' journey.
Alita recounted how they had saved her and mentioned Lukeandria's help. "Ah! So she was there too. Interesting," Chip reflected, nodding slowly.
Chip and Alita quickly bonded, sharing stories as they trudged through the sweltering heat. Despite being only 16 years old, Chip demonstrated exceptional skill with explosives, thanks to his father's teachings. It was clear that both young people had a lot in common.
Meanwhile, Ron seemed to collapse little by little, battling exhaustion. Rodelos walked close to him, observing attentively but saying nothing.
"And your friends, can they be trusted?" Alita asked, returning to the topic of the resistance.
"Of course. I'd give my life for them, and they'd do the same for me," Chip replied with conviction.
"But they abandoned you and Paris," Alita pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, but it was because I told them to," Chip explained. "Besides, our mission always comes before feelings. Our mission is to destroy the Shadows."
"Well, I think you're right," Alita said, though her tone still reflected lingering doubts.
"A few more hours and we'll arrive," Chip announced after a long day of walking in the oppressive heat. His voice sounded tired but optimistic.
"Ow!" Ron exclaimed dramatically, collapsing onto the ground upon hearing Chip's words. "I can't go on anymore."
Alita couldn't help but smile at Ron, throwing a tantrum like a small child. "Come on, Ron, don't be so dramatic," she said, helping him up. "We're almost there."
Meanwhile, at the resistance base, Paris sat slumped in a chair, her elbows resting on the table and her head cradled in her hands. Frustration was evident on her face. They couldn't leave the compound without their leader's authorization, and this started to create tension within the group.
"So, are we prisoners of your friends now?" Chiki asked sarcastically, his tone sharp and annoyed.
"No, calm down, kid. At least there's food here," Nakia responded, trying to ease the mood.
"Meaning you didn't get anywhere?" Kilibur, the fox child, interjected, his expression exasperated as he crossed his arms. His pointed ears twitched slightly backward, a sign of his irritation. "Then maybe it's better if we go look for them ourselves."
"Yeah," agreed the bird and dog accompanying Kilibur, immediately showing their support.
"What's going on?" Kilibur asked, noticing Paris's worried expression. His voice was firm but also curious. "Speak up, girl. I'm not known for patience," Chiki pressed, eager for an answer.
Paris took a deep breath before speaking. "The boss doesn't want you to leave, Kilibur. He says you might be something important to the resistance… something like a valuable resource." She pauses, searching for the right words. "He wants to study your powers to understand how they work."
"So, you're saying they want to use me as a guinea pig?" Kilibur shot back, leaping to his feet with eyes blazing in fury. "I escaped from a place where I was held prisoner and my powers were used without my consent, and now I find another place trying to do the same thing! I'm a fox child, not a lab rat."
Paris lowered her gaze, feeling the weight of the situation. She knew Kilibur was right, but she also understood the desperation of the resistance. "I know, Mr. Kilibur, and I'm so sorry," she said sincerely. "But understand that they won't let you leave here easily. We're being watched."
Her voice softened as she continued: "I don't want to see you locked up or treated like an object. Over the time we've spent together, I've grown fond of you. This doesn't make us any better than the Purple Shadows. But… these are desperate times. We need desperate measures."
Kilibur stared at her, his golden eyes reflecting a mix of anger and understanding. "I get it, Paris. And I know you've lost many lives fighting against them. Many have given everything for this cause." He paused, thoughtful. "I'm willing to help—but only if I do it on my own terms. I refuse to be treated like some disposable tool."
Chiki couldn't stay silent any longer. "No way!" he growled, stepping forward aggressively. "I won't allow one of the guardians to become a prisoner again. If force is what it takes to get him out of here, then I'll do it myself." His stance was threatening, teeth bared and muscles tense.
The atmosphere grew taut. Voices began to rise, almost shouting, as each person defended their point of view. Chiki wanted to smash through the door and take on the guards to free Kilibur and go search for Ron and Alita on their own. Chaos reigned in the room, and the volume of the arguments escalated rapidly.
"Everyone, calm down!" Nakia exclaimed, raising her wings in an attempt to restore order. Her voice, though firm, carried a soothing tone. "The tension here is unbearable. Arguing won't get us anywhere."
Suddenly, the heated argument in the room was interrupted by a shrill alarm. A female voice blared over the speakers, clear and urgent: "Alert, alert. Enemies approaching the base. All personnel to combat stations."
"Combat stations?" Paris pressed a hand to her forehead, bewildered. Her voice betrayed disbelief. "But… no one knows about this place. How could they possibly have found us?"
The surprise on her face was evident, but it didn't last long. Chiki, ever impulsive and ready for action, grinned with a mix of satisfaction and determination. "Perfect," he snarled, enthusiastically clapping his front paws together. "We can use this as our chance to escape—and kick some tails along the way."