"AARON!" Angel screamed.
AJ was the first to reach the young boy. He quickly checked for vital signs. He was alive... for now. He scooped the boy up. It was then Nick seemed to notice who made up the rescue group. His face paled as he saw his brother's lifeless body in AJ's arms. Nick stepped closer to the young boy and trailed his finger down Aaron's cheek. AJ interrupted his thoughts, "Okay, I know you haven't seen him in a long time and he's really sick. But we don't have time for this, we need to get out of here. Where's Brian?"
"I dunno, they took him away." Nick's voice was far off.
Angel's eyes lit up. "I know!" She took off with everyone hot on her trail. She came to a stop at the end of the hall. "He's one floor below us. I could crawl through the ventilation and get to him." She said as the others caught up with her.
"I dunno..." Nick looked at his sister.
"That'll work!" AJ quickly agreed.
"Isn't this a bit hasty?" Nick tried.
"Yeah, but we don't have time to come up with a better plan. The Royal troops will be on our asses in a matter of minutes." AJ reasoned. Kevin fit the young girl with a communicator so they could hear what was going on. "Okay, we'll lift you into the vent, Kevin...."
"Look at this," Kevin activated a holomap. "You head to the left and fall though, make as little noise as possible. Got it?" Angel nodded. "We'll meet you outside the door on the bottom level."
"Wait, why don't we just go in the main door to the room?" Nick wanted to know. He was leery about putting his youngest sister in danger.
"It's guarded and locked from the inside." Angel replied checking the power on her blaster.
"How do you know that and where did you get that gun?" Nick demanded.
"I'm not an innocent little girl anymore Nick. I'm a street rat, I know how to take care of myself!" Angel spat. She looked at Kevin. "Ready?"
"Wait, get something reflective to block the lasers guarding the entrance." AJ interrupted. "I have too mirrors in my pocket. Get them out and place them by the lasers at the same time and the alarm won't go off," he instructed.
Nick got the mirrors and he and Kevin counted off and put them in place. Then they hoisted Angel into the ventilation system. They weren't a minute too soon because the Royals began firing. AJ did his best to protect Aaron from random shots. He handed the boy to his brother and pulled out his own blasters and began shooting. He prayed they would get out of there alive.
A large gust of air came through the vents. Angel slipped down the shaft and soon found the room she was looking for. She could see two figured on the bed. One seemed to be holding something up to the other one. Another gust came though the vents. However, it was strong and she wasn't prepared for it. Her body slammed through the vent and into the room.
The noise disturbed the figures and Lewia saw her chance to get away from Brian. She twisted his wrist and grabbed the blade. She backed away from him, holding the dagger out, ready to stab him. Angel took the element of surprise and drew her blaster, aiming it at the woman. "One move and I WILL shoot." Angel warned.
The woman turned and saw a girl about ten aiming a blaster at her. "You don't have the audacity to do that." She challenged.
"Try me. I may be a street rat, but that doesn't mean I'm uneducated." Angel challenged. "Brian, go unlock that door."
Brian looked at the small girl giving him orders. "How do you know my name?"
"Don't ask questions, it gets you into more trouble then it's worth." Angel inadvertently quoted Howie.
Lewia took that chance to advance on Angel. "NOW BRAIN!" Angel yelled, as the blaster was knocked from her hand. Brian looked from the two women to the door. He ran to the door and opened it. The sight before his was one he was not prepared for. Brian was now face to face with his cousin Kevin.