Making her way towards Ivy's lab, Dr. Eastly now wondered what he could possibly want. Ever since the examination of the Soul Drive, Ivy began working closer with Eastly. The plan was to infuse both Soul Drive technology with Eastly’s genetic engineering. However, the project was still Phase 1. They were still months away from building a prototype, maybe Ivy had made a breakthrough. Entering the lab, the Lolita scientist spotted Ivy standing next to a teenage Hawaiian girl and a security guard.
"Dont move."
Eastly paused as she felt something jab her in the back. "Katherine I..I'm sorry," Dr. Ivy whimpered. "Alex it's okay," Dr. Eastly replied, trying to see who was standing behind her. "Who are you," she asked. Feeling the pressure ease on her back, Dr. Eastly now watched as a figure slowly circled around her. The girls eyes went wide as she saw the teenage boy in front of her. "The Catalyst," she asked, her vision now settling lower as she frowned. "A finger gun? You stuck me up with a finger gun?!"
"Well I don't actually have a gun on me," Darren shrugged, lowering his finger pistol as his hand now rested on the hilt of Dragons Tongue. "But you’re coming with us. We have alot of questions for you Dr. Eastly." Eastly frowned, studying the three teenagers in front of her. She recognized both Crystal and Darren from their files within the Normal archives. The other teenage girl was a complete mystery. "And who are you," she asked, glancing at Aoloa.
"Aoloa," she said. "Agent of S.P.E.A.R."
"S.P.E.A.R hires teenagers?"
"No," Aoloa exclaimed. "I'm...in disguise and that's besides the point! You have alot to answer for Dr. Eastly." Eastly anxiously glanced at her captors, how had the Catalyst and S.P.E.A.R broke in? The amount of security within the Rings of Hell was extensive, nearly impossible to break into. Had the Boss underestimated the Catalyst? "You do realize trying to escape will be harder than breaking in," she said.
"And that's where you and Dr. Ivy come in," Aoloa replied. "You two are going to help us escape."
"And if I refuse?"
Darren now stepped forward, the teenagers eyes glowing softly as he stared at Dr. Eastly. "You help us we help you Dr. Eastly," he replied. "I get the feeling you're not actually 10 years old. What if I told you I can make you your original age?"
"What?"
"I'm a Catalyst Dr. Eastly," he said. "Given enough time I could return you to normal. All you have to do is give us information and help us escape. Do we have a deal?" Eastly paused, curing her affliction was certainly tempting, however, how could she trust these people. The Boss had said something similar, allowing Eastly to do her own research. It wasn't ideal but it made her the master of her own fate. Better still, she didn't have to worry about possible prosecution for the experiments she had conducted. If S.P.E.A.R knew what she did, she had no illusions about facing jail time.
"Dr. Eastly you in here?"
Everyone paused, their eyes going wide in alarm as a third person now entered the lab. Turning, she now saw Dr. Chapman enter the lab. Apparently, he had overheard her conversation with Dr. Ivy. Obviously Chapman felt the need to join her. "Katherine are you here," he called. "You forgot some of your notes when you left." As Chapman rounded the corner, his eyes went wide in surprise as he noticed the five teenagers. "Katherine?"
Before anyone could say anything, Dr. Chapman reached for the alarm. Chapman was smart, he recognized the Catalyst and immediately sensed something was amiss. Hitting the alarm the klaxon began to blare as red lights now swirled. As the Catalyst and his friends glanced around nervously, Eastly noticed an emergency response team flood into the room with weapons drawn. "Open fire," the leader of the team called.
"Get behind me," Darren called as he unsheathed Dragons Tongue. As he blocked bullets, Aoloa and Crystal now shrank down into fairy form, pushing both Eastly and Ivy behind cover. Unfortunately, Dr. Chapman wasn't as close, the scientist now caught in an explosion as stray bullets caused a control panel to explode.
"NEIL," Eastly exclaimed as Dr. Chapman's body was thrown back. Sprinting away from her captors, Dr. Eastly now cradled her associates head. Chapman had taken the brunt of the explosion, knocking him unconscious. Judging by the burn marks he would need medical attention immediately.
Darren frowned, deflecting several more shots before diving behind cover. Quickly assessing the situation he could see Aoloa and Crystal had Ivy, while Eastly was a good distance away tending to the other doctor. "We can't stay here," Crystal said quickly. "We gotta go." Darren nodded, holding out Dragons Tongue as he chanted a spell. Crustal and Aoloa were unable to hear what he said, yet they could see the blade of the katana now glow.
Aoloa gasped as two spectral 8 tailed kitsune appeared before her. Blinking in astonishment, the former fae Spymistress realized these two were former protectors of the kitsune. "Akane Isamu," Darren stated. "I need to clear a path. Can you help me?" Both ghosts nodded, charging forward as they now neutralized the response team. Aoloa simply gawked, turning towards Darren on astonishment. "How did you do that?"
"The Dragons Tongue let's me summon the spirits of its former wielders," he said. "Just as long as I've met them. My magic allows them to help me in any fight." Aoloa glanced towards the two kitsune ghosts. Death had not dulled their battle prowess as the two former protectors left the response team unconscious on the floor. "We need to go though," he continued. "What about Eastly," Crystal asked.
The trio now looked towards Dr. Eastly. The child scientist was at least 20 feet away and cradling her injured coworker. Running to her and wrestling her away from her friend would cost them time they no longer had. Aoloa sighed, the good doctor would have to wait. "Leave her," Aoloa stated. "Ivy will have to do."
As the trio now exited the lab with Dr. Ivy they could only hope luck was on their side as they looked to escape the Rings of Hell.