King of the World

The Rescue: Part Four

“What was that?!” Josh asked, grabbing ahold of a table to steady himself. He ran into the hallway and saw Jason and Ronda standing there. “Hey, what was that?”

“Explosion,” Jason said, looking around. “I don’t know where but it was close.”

“Is everyone alright?” Franklin asked, walking out of his room and running towards them. “I heard an explosion.”

Jason looked over at Kate. “Know anything about that?”

“N-No! I don’t. I didn’t even know he had explosives. I don’t think it came from the loading bay,” Kate said. 

“It better not have. That’s our way out,” Jason said, hitting the elevator button. “We’re not too far from King’s floor. We need to move before–“

The stairwell door opened, and guards flooded into the hallway. All blank masks. All armed.

“Before that happens,” Jason looked over to Ronda. “Ready?”

“Not really,” Ronda said, taking out her sword. 

“This is your only warning. By order of the King, put your weapons down and surrender,” They all said in unison.

“Creepy,” Josh said. “I don’t think I have enough knives for this.”

“That’s fine. You get the ones I don’t,” Franklin said, loading his gun without looking. 

“Show off,” Josh said under his breath.

“Franklin, cover me. Josh, take anyone who gets close to you guys. Ronda, protect Kate. I’ll carve a way through. Ready? GO!” Jason shouted and moved with inhuman speed. He took out five guards before they could blink. Some of the guards started to aim their weapons at them, but Franklin shot them down. 

“To hell with this!” Josh said, slinging knives into the skulls of any of the blanks who got close. He turned to Ronda and said, “I’m moving up.” Before she could answer, he took off towards the fight slinging knives into anything that aimed at them.

“He’s good,” Kate said.

“Yeah,” Ronda said, watching the carnage unfold. “Do you have any weapons?”

“Hmm, I could try something, but I need to get close,” Kate said, putting her mask back on. 

“How close?” 

“Next to them,” Kate said. “King gave them an order. I can tweak it.”

“Are you sure?” Ronda asked.

“I’ve…done it before,” Kate said.

Ronda considered her for a moment before agreeing. “Guys, make a path!” Ronda yelled.

Jason looked back at her. “What?”

“Just do it!” Ronda said, moving closer to the fighting with Kate.

Jason shook his head but did as she said. “Okay, what now?!” Jason asked.

Kate moved away from them a pressed a button on the side of her mask. “Listen! You’re queen is giving you an order! King has updated your orders! You are to stand down! I will escort them to King!”

A few blanks started to hesitate. 

“Did you hear what I said, or do you want King to be angry?” Kate said. “Obey!”

All the blanks stopped moving. They dropped their weapons and waited. 

“Holy ****, that worked!” Kate said. “I mean, I knew it would.” She cleared her throat. “Go wait in your quarters until I need you.”

“Yes, my queen,” They said in unison and walked back into the stairwell.

“Are you guys okay?” Ronda asked.

“I’ve never felt better!” Josh said, covered in blood. “I could use a shower, but I feel so alive right now!”

“I know, right? Seriously, I’ve never felt so good!” Franklin said, smiling.

“What’s wrong with you guys?” Ronda asked.

“****,” Jason said. “I know that feeling.” Jason looked at Josh. “When did it happen? When did it get in you?

“When did what get in them?” Rond asked.

“Exceed. The drug Lance had been working with. They must have been injected with it at some point. It can take a while to activate in someone, but it makes you feel amazing. It strengthens you. It makes you smarter. Faster. The only major side effect is slight insanity,” Kate said.

“SLIGHT INSANITY?!” Ronda yelled.

“Among other things,” Kate said. 

“I think it happened when they got attacked by the previous knights. Their weapons must have been laced with it,” Jason said. “They were normal before that. It was a small amount, so it shouldn’t last that long.”

“Why did you call them off?” Josh asked. “It was just getting good.”

“I’m worried about him,” Ronda said.

“I’m sure he doesn’t mean it,” Jason said. “Anyway, we need to keep moving.” Jason pressed the elevator button again and noticed it was already on King’s floor. “That’s weird.”

“Did someone just go up there?” Kate asked.

“We may need to take the stairs. He may be expecting us to come via elevator. I would. Well, let’s get moving. Those stairs won’t climb themselves.”

“That’s like six flights! No way, I’m climbing that many,” Kate said.

“I thought you said you want to stop him? He’s up there. I know you’re role is queen, but you were a normal person once,” Jason said, walking up the stairs. “Wait for the elevator if you want.”

Ronda, Josh, and Franklin hurried after him up the stairs. When they finally reached King’s floor, all of them were exhausted. 

“Jasper better…be lucky…we like him,” Josh panted. 

“You can…say that…again,” Ronda panted. 

They looked forward and saw a long white hallway with two doors at the end. “That’s it. You guys ready?” Jason asked. 

Everyone nodded. 

“Then let’s end this,” Jason said as they sprinted to King’s door.