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Chapters 1 – 39 Archive

Charlene did not like to think of herself as a risk-taker, but there was something she loved about setting explosives. There was something just fascinating about so much destructive power sitting so calmly in a little package.

Still, she wished she wouldn’t have to set off the explosives. Their Plan B was a bit unsettling, to say the least. Still, she tried to have faith.

“Bows are on the kitties,” she said into her transmitter. The code phrase Lulu assigned for the task was actually “pink bows are on the fluffy kitties,” but Charlene would only play along with that idiocy so far.

She checked her black uniform and decided the bit of blood wasn’t very noticeable. She then left the maintenance room and walked as calmly through the hallways as she could while waiting for all hell to break loose.

* * * *

“Just got word from Charlene,” Bryce said.

“I got it to.” Lulu was busy at a console in the empty lab. “She didn’t use the proper code phrase. She is _not_ a team player and one of these days she is going to betray us for real.”

“I’d bet on her side if that happens.”

“Well, she won’t take you on her side, so you’re stuck with us… or just me until we get Doug back.”

Colette sighed and looked around the lab with disinterest. “What are we doing here? And where’s your other girl?”

“You don’t have the proper Hellbender security clearance to know that.” Lulu finished at the console and a panel popped open near Bryce. She turned to Colette. “Right now, though, your membership into the Hellbender fan club has been accepted. That comes with a hat and sticker fun pack — which I don’t have on me right now because of poor planning — and an official Hellbender fan club membership pin which I do happen to have.” Lulu took a pin out of her pocket and put it on Colette’s combat jacket.

Colette looked down at it. “It’s a kitty.”

“Everyone loves kitties — just like everyone loves Hellbender!”

Bryce finished checking the contents of the metal case he took from the panel and closed it. “I don’t like kitties.”

Lulu spun towards him. “YOU SHUT UP! I HOPE YOU DIE!” She then looked back at Colette. “Anyway, people don’t make pins of salamanders unless you special order them, so right now we’re using kitty pins.”

Colette looked unamused. “I get this feeling, Ms. Lui, that you don’t take invading a fortified enemy building very seriously.”

Lulu looked offended. “I wore a bra for this.”

“Anyway, let’s go get Doug.” Bryce headed for the door with Lulu while carrying the case.

Colette followed. “I assume what you have there is important.”

“We may find out,” Bryce answered.

“And your plan right now is to simply walk up to the detention area and free your friend?”

“That’s about it.” Bryce checked the hallway. “You might want to make yourself a bit scarce for this part as you kinda stick out.” He turned back towards Colette and saw no one there. “Oh.” Bryce continued down the hallway and whispered to Lulu. “Is it worth mentioning I don’t trust her?”

“Well I told her all my darkest secrets and gave her my money to hold for me.” She touched her glasses as she focused on the building layout they were displaying. “This way.”

They headed down another hallway, seeing some staff up ahead. “What are you–”

“Government business,” Lulu snapped, not giving them a second look as she and Bryce walked by. They soon came to a room with a number of monitors that was at the entry to the detention area. Inside were about five staff who looked like security and one sorry looking prisoner with his hands bound behind his back. “Surprise inspection!” Lulu announced, flashing her credentials. “Surprise!”

“What? We’re supposed to have twenty-four hours notice for a surprise inspection,” said the man who appeared to be in charge.

Lulu sighed. “That’s the lamest rule I’ve ever heard… but we gave you notice, Mr. Ballinger.”

“No you didn’t,” he said. “And my name is Trask.”

“I didn’t ask for your name!” Lulu gave him her furious face. “And you got notice!”

Trask checked his computer. “Oh… well… it’s only been twenty-two hours notice.”

Lulu rolled her eyes. “Fine. I guess we can just stand here for two hours then. Get me a soda.”

“You can start,” Trask said, “but what are you looking for? Ronove doesn’t like people messing with his program.”

Lulu pushed Trask aside to get at a computer. She checked the prisoner list, and there were about a dozen IDs but no actual names to any of them.

“Are you going to have to check on any prisoners?” Trask asked.

“Yes.” Lulu pointed to the prisoner in the room with them. “We’ll talk to this one. We’ll need a room alone to question him.”

“About what?”

“We don’t care if you pour scalding water on him just for laughs,” Bryce assured Trask. “Regulations just say we have to question one of the prisoners alone; doesn’t even say we have to record what he says. We’re not here to mess up whatever Ronove has going on.”

“Fine.” Trask led them to a nearby room. “You can talk to him in here. This won’t take long, will it?”

“Not if we can help it.” Lulu led Bryce and the prisoner into the room and shut the door.

The prisoner looked more curious of Bryce and Lulu than scared. “So… you wouldn’t happen to know a dullish sort named Doug, would you?” Bryce asked.

“You’re Hellbender!” he shouted.

“Indoor voice,” Lulu warned.

He was ecstatic. “He said you would come, but I could hardly believe it. My name is Chimezie. I am part of Hellbender too. Doug has made us all here imprisoned with him part of Hellbender and says you will help us get out of here.”

Lulu turned to Bryce and whispered. “You want to tell him or should I that Doug doesn’t have that authority.”

Bryce looked to Chimezie. “I have to say this is all news to us, but… um… our official stance isn’t against everyone here getting freed. Anyway, we need to know where Doug is.”

“I don’t know. I heard people come get him from his cell just a little while ago. I don’t know where they were taking him. It didn’t sound like the usual guards.”

Bryce sighed. “Nothing is ever easy.”

“What’s-your-name,” Lulu ordered Chimezie, “look all sad and prisonery for us.”

Lulu and Bryce led Chimezie out of the room to see that everyone outside was dead except for Colette who stood using one of the computers. “I got tired of waiting,” she said without looking at them. “Who’s that?”

“He’s part of the Hellbender International,” Bryce answered.

“I would not trust this one,” Chimezie whispered to Bryce and Lulu. “She appears to be one of the demon’s evil servants.”

“That’s racist,” Lulu said. She looked to Colette. “Apparently some people have already taken Doug. He’s a popular guy.”

Colette put her finger to her ear. “My people see him. They should have him in a moment.”

“Oh… well yay us then… I guess.” Lulu noticed Chimezie was awkwardly bending back towards one of the dead bodies, trying to get the keys to his cuffs. “Bryce, you want to help him?”

Bryce helped get the keys, but then Lulu noticed Colette’s expression had changed.

“Darius is with him.” Colette started to leave the room. “They’ll need my help.”

“We’ll come with.” Lulu headed after her.

Bryce got Chimezie’s cuffs off and followed, turning to Chimezie as he left saying, “Good luck with the freeing everybody. Hope that works out.”

“Thank you!” he called back happily. “And may God be with you, Hellbender!”

“He better not be.” Lulu was now running to keep up with Colette. “We already have too many members.”

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