Grouping Up

We're back at HQ. After we saw Inferno and Red escape, Gaia made the decision to return and secure the current prisoners we had, those being White and the one Thunder knocked out. At the same time, it was also an opportunity for both me and Thunder to heal up, before setting off again.

I'm in the medical room resting when Gaia shows up.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Much better, where's mom?"
"Your mom is currently assisting your dad in dispatch, but they do have a TV there, so she can watch any updates that appear on the news."
"Ok, thanks. Can't believe Inferno just took Red away like that."
"We should be glad he also didn't take the other girl away, which speaking of, I'm about to go question her."
"Where did you put her?"
"I put her in Light Show's cell, which I also can't find anywhere by the way, but that's a different issue."
'Well, even if she escaped, the priority is still Neptune.'
"Got it, let's go question White then."
"You sure you can be up already?"
"I rested enough. I wanna stop this mess as soon as I can!"
"I like your dedication, let's go then."

Just as we are about to leave the room, Tarou suddenly bursts through the door, surprising both of us.
"PUT ME IN COACH!"
"...Eh? What?"
"Sorry, I was listening. I wanna help too!"
Gaia looks at me and thinks, before turning back to him and speaking.
"I don't think so, your magic is nowhere near good enough yet, and I don't want you getting hurt."
"PLEASE! I want to do my best to help too!"
Tarou pleads with all his heart to Gaia, and soon she has an idea.
"Fine, you can tag along, but you won't do any fighting, and if it gets too dangerous run away immediately."
"No fighting? But what-"
"You can help scout from the side. Now, we have to quickly do something, so wait by the entrance or something."
We quickly take our leave before wasting more time.

...

We reach the cell, seeing White staring at the floor inside, Gaia wastes no time.
"Hey, you know where the enemy base is, don't you?"
She doesn't react at all.
"We need you to help us, can you cooperate?"
"..."
"Look, from what little Kazu here told me, you were already having doubts about that team, weren't you? Isn't that right little Kazu?"
"Uh, yeah, I heard her talk about it with Red."
The moment I say that she glances at me, something Gaia doesn't miss.
"Oh? Is that it? Are you missing your friend?"
She glances one more time.
"That's surprising, I hear you guys were always fightin-"
"That doesn't matter!"
She suddenly speaks up.
"We may fight a bunch, but she's still my best friend! She just does stuff without thinking, even if she means well..."
"Means well? Are you sure?"
"..."
"You want to see her again right? Well, where else would she be right now if not the base? Wouldn't that be where inferno would have taken her? Help us, and we can help you."
"...She just wanted to free us from the cell."
"Hm?"
"That's why we joined, she saw him as the fastest route to getting free, so she convinced me. I didn't wanna cause all this chaos..."
"...Really?"
"She can be impulsive, for better or worse, and... I guess I can be hot headed too...
...No matter how many fights we get into, I definitely want my friend back."
"See, that didn't take much, now did it?
Now, where do you think Inferno took her?"

...

Quickly we march towards the exit, White trailing behind us.
"Are you really sure on bringing her along? What if she starts fighting us again?"
"She returned the stolen artefact that was given to her, even if she tries anything, it'll be much easier to take her down.
Besides, I'd rather have her guide the way, than leave her behind and potentially risk her directions guiding us into a trap."
"...I can hear you, you know?"
"Sorry there mopey, didn't mean anything bad by it."
'Mopey? She truly has a way with nicknames.'

We're about to leave when Tarou joins us, he had been waiting by the entrance as instructed.
"Ah there's my favourite pupil, I've got an important job for you."
"What is it coach?"
"Stick close to Mopey here, make sure she doesn't run, and also make sure she's safe."
"Understood!"
"Good, all of you stay behind me, I'll protect you."
Just as we're leaving HQ, we stumble upon Light Show, all of us freezing as we face each other.
"Well, isn't this interesting..."
She seemed to have on the way to enter HQ, and was carrying two unconscious people between her arms.
"Did she..."
"IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING!"
Gaia goes up to her.
"Go on, explain."
"Some woman was waking up everyone, including me. She asked me for my name and..."
'Some woman... Mom?!'
"She just quickly told me to get out there and start helping, so... I figured I had nothing else to do. THAT'S ALL!"
'I guess she didn't know who Light Show is...'
"Why didn't you try to escape?"
"Stopping these guys looks like something that would be bad for that mega loser, so of course I'm gonna try and help. Also, there's some proper PSYCHOS out on the run! No way I'm gonna let that slide! Just because I like to start a little fun here and there doesn't mean I'm on their side, you know?"

Gaia stares at her for a moment.
"Ok, you're in."
"In what?"
"Mopey here is guiding us to where their base might be."
Light Show takes a look at White, who is standing in the back, then back at Gaia.
"Whose base?"
"The one that took your spell book."
Immediately she snaps at White.
"YOU'RE WITH HIM?! GIVE ME MY BOOK BACK!"
But before anything can happen, Gaia speaks up.
"She's not with him anymore, but if your book is anywhere, it might be in their base, we could use the help."
"Deal!"
Light Show immediately drops the two people she was carrying, and stands beside Gaia as she speaks.
"Alright Mopey, show us the way."

...

By the time we get there it's basically night, the news having travelled everywhere, and the night sky, which would previously be clear, is now abuzz with news helicopters flying about trying to get footage of the chaos happening all around the city.
'This place again.'
We had reached the area from the video Tomo had taken.
"So, this is it?"
"Y- Yeah... This was the area he showed us, there was a shed somewhere here, the base was in the basement."
"Ok, Tarou, stay with her and stay out here, I don't want anything to happen to either of you. Little Kazu, teleport somewhere where you can get a vantage point and call HQ, the moment you speak they'll patch you through to me, so you can tell me of anything I can't see."
"Ok."
"Light Show, do not betray me, you won't live long enough to regret it."
'Woah, she's serious.'
"Chill, I'm here to beat up a mega loser, not a hag."
Gaia turns her head towards her and gives her an icy stare.
'I think I felt a wave of power just now coming from her.'
"...Sorry, not the time for jokes, got it."

They then go forward as I teleport myself up on top of one of the storage containers. I call HQ as instructed, and as she said, the moment I say a word they immediately patch me through.
"Little Kazu?"
"Wow, you weren't kidding."
"Yeah, it was a personal request. You see anything?"
"Not yet, I'll tell you if anything happens."

The moment I finish speaking, I hear someone talk behind me.
"You won't have the time."
I immediately spin around as Gaia screams.
"KAZU? GET OUT OF THERE!"
There he was, Inferno.