NOCTIS and Ignis were surprised after they walked to the front doors and watched the staff from the living quarters being helped out of the truck.  They were both relieved and shocked that so many of them had made it out of there alive and unharmed.  And they didn't move until they saw you quickly jump into the back of the truck along with Nyx.  But then they stopped in their tracks as they watched your dad quickly follow after them.

"What are they doing?"  Noctis asked as he stood frozen in place.

"I'm not quite sure myself."  Ignis replied quietly.  "Perhaps grabbed a few items in the truck.

Then they both fell silent when they watched a familiar glow coming from the back of the truck.  They had both seen that glow before.  But they didn't dare speak for fear that the other might get the wrong impression as to how they knew what it was.  And as they watched Marge being helped out of the truck, their jaws fell in amazement.

She was healing Marge.  They both thought at the same time.

Then they watched in astonishment as Marge was helped down from the truck.  They couldn't believe what they had just seen.  Not even as the crowd thanked you before they started to make their way towards them.  And only Ignis said anything as everyone walked up to the door.

"Please, follow me everyone."  He said calmly to the crowd as they started to approach the building.  "Let's find you some tents and get you some food."

"Oh Prince Noctis and Ignis!"  Marge said as she came up and gave them both a huge hug.  "Thank the heavens that your both safe."

"And you as well."  Ignis said as he returned the embrace.  

"Now let's get you a tent."  Ignis said as he took her arm and lead her and the rest of the staff into the sleeping area.  "You must be exhausted."

"Oh, thank you dear."  She replied with a smile as she let Ignis guide her into the building.

Noctis stood still and watched them all walk away before he turned back to the truck.  He stood still as he watched you and your dad approach.  Your dad had his hand on your back as he talked quietly to you before you looked up and smiled at Noctis.  Then he felt his heart soar as your eyes seem to shine brightly in the darkness of the night.

How can someone so beautiful and amazing not realize how important she is to everyone?  And to me?   He thought to himself before you approached him.

"Hey, I'll be in, in a moment."  You said as you glanced at your dad.

"Don't be too long you two.  We'll need your help to get them all set up for the night."  Your dad said to the two of you.

"Of course."  You both replied.

Your dad then nodded before he turned and followed the others.  You smiled after him before you turned back to Noctis.  He gave you a stead look as he scanned your face in wonder.  You gave him a slight smile as you watched him.

"I'm surprised that your still awake."  You finally said to break the silence.

"I can say the same about you."  Noctis replied with a slight smile.  "I thought that you were still in your tent."

"I thought the same, until I stopped yours and saw that you were up."  You said as you crossed your arms.  "Just where did you go?"

She was looking for me?  Noctis thought before he slightly looked down.  She must have been worried about me.  But should I tell her that I was looking for her?

No.  She'll be even more worried if I did.  He thought as he closed his eyes before he looked back up at you.  "I just stepped out to the use the restroom is all."

"Oh. Really?"  You asked as you slightly cocked your head to the side.  That's certainly not what I heard from the guards.  But why would he lie to me about leaving his tent?  Please tell me he wasn't actually planning on doing something crazy.

"Yeah."  He replied as he tried to brush it away as you looked at him suspiciously.

"Are you sure?"  You asked as you tried to read his eyes.

"Stop with the questions already."  Noctis said as he started to walk away.  "We should go help out the others."

"Okay."  You replied as you watched him walk past you.

Then you turned and followed him inside.  After a few moments, everyone had been placed in the remaining empty tents and you were walking around handing out food and water to those who asked it.  And only after everyone was settled did everyone return to their tents for the night.

The next morning you were busy helping Marge and the kitchen staff as they served up breakfast for the small crowd that was calling the observatory their home for the time being.  Ignis and the rest of the staff were making sure that everyone had what they needed for their tents.  Noctis on the other hand was with his dad as they all gathered in the main part of the observatory to discuss the situation and what the next steps should be.

Korn was leading the meeting as Tracy, Paul, his team and Nyx were all present.  They were all discussing what they had all learned about the people behind the current situation.  King Regis quietly listened as they each talked about what they had seen and what had happened to them before they left the citadel.  Once everyone was done King Regis finally spoke.

"It seems to me that this may very well have started as an inside job."  He said in a distant tone as he recalled all of the facts that were presented to him.  "No one would have been able to penetrate that far into our defenses without first knowing about the specifics of it."

"I came to the same solution."  Korn said in distressed tone as he gave him a slight nod.

"Which is why this is more troubling then thinking of this as isolated situation."  Paul added.  "Especially after all of the recent events."

"Agreed."  King Regis said before he looked around the room.  "Which is why I must ask all of you to keep this only within this room.  I can't have anyone else finding out what we have learned."

"Of course, your majesty."  They all agreed.

"And I think that it goes without saying that finding out who caused all of this is now the top priority.  I won't have my kingdom brought down by a spy."  King Regis continued in a firm tone.

"You have my word that they will be found."  Korn said as he bowed deeply to his king.

"Good."  King Regis said as he slightly sat back.  "For now though, our objective is to get everyone back to their homes safely."

"Korn, what do you of the current situation back at the citadel?"  King Regis asked.

"Right now we are still trying to establishing a secure link to the citadel so that we can talk to Cor and his team to see if they have been able to clear the tower.  Once they have I'll give you a complete brief of what they found."  Korn answered.

"Good.  Let me know as soon as you can."  King Regis replied before he turned back to the others.  "In the meantime, let's take care of the guests and make sure that they are comfortable."

"Yes your highness."  They all replied as they bowed deeply to King Regis.

"And Nyx," King Regis said as he stood up.

Nyx stood back up and looked at his King.  "Yes your majesty?"

King Regis then bowed to Nyx . "Thank you for getting my staff out of there."

Nyx was stunned for a moment as he watched King Regis bow to him before he stood back up.

"It really means a lot to me that they're safe."  King Regis said with a tender voice.

Nyx's face broke into a slight smile.  "I'm just glad that I was there to help, your majesty."

"As am I."  Noctis added in a gentle tone.

Nyx looked at Noctis for a moment before he gave them both slight bow.  "Your welcome.  Both of you."

"Now dismiss.  I'll keep everyone informed as we find out more."  Korn said to everyone.

Then Korn walked over to Regis as the rest of them departed the room.  "I'll be in the communications center in the main observatory if you need me, your majesty."

Regis just nodded at him as he sat back down in his seat as Korn walked out after the others.  Regis' mind was still pouring over the information that had been presented to him.  And his heart ached for the people that he hadn't seen stepping through the doors the night before.  He had known that there were casualties.  But to him, one life lost was one life too many. 

Meanwhile back at the citadel....

"Where the hell are you?"  The gang leader said to the person on his phone.  "Why haven't you come for me yet?"

"I'm sorry, who is this again?"  The smooth voice said as the sound of a truck could be heard in the background.

"Damn it Loqi!  You know who this is!"  He growl back. "Now get me out of here!"

"Now that wasn't part of the agreement."  Loqi responded as he approached his bike and slipped his leg over the seat.

"The hell did you say?!"  The leader roared back.

"You were never intended to make it out."  Loqi replied with a smirk as he sat down on his seat.  "Didn't you know?  You were dispensable, a mere distraction and nothing more."

The gangster leader felt the his blood start to boil as he let the words sink in.  "Why you..!"

Suddenly he could hear voices outside the entry way door.  And all of the blood drained from his face.  He knew that there was a chance for this to be a one way trip.  But he never imagined that it would end like this.

"Fuck!"  He said and quickly ducked into the throne room.  "I'll get you for this!"

"Not a chance asshole."  Loqi growled back.  "Now if you'll excuse me.  I have other pressing matters to attend to."

And as Loqi was hanging up, the leader could hear the roar of a motorcycle starting up.

Damn it!  He thought before he turned and threw his phone at the wall.

The phone shattered against the force of hitting the stone wall.  But the leader didn't care as he quickly raced over to the throne in a desperate attempt to find a way out.  He knew that if he was caught that he would never see the light of day again.  They would lock him up for the rest of his life, or possible execute him.

"We're approached the throne room entry door now."  Cor said over his headset.

"Good."  Korn said as he held one ear piece to his ear.

"And it's just like you described.  The door is blocked with a mop handle."  Cor was saying as one of the other glaives started to remove it.

"Be care heading in.  One of the intruders is locked up in there."  Korn said as he started to get a bit nervous.

"Locked up and with no way out."  Cor replied as the door was freed.  "Just like a trapped rat."

"Except that this rat helped to take out eleven snipers."  Korn added coldly.  "Make sure that he pays for that."

"Yes, sir."  Cor replied in a flat tone before he nodded to the others to get ready.

Cor then did a silent count before he gestured for the door to be opened up.  And with that, Tredd kicked open the door with his foot before he rushed in with his blades in hand and ready to fight.  Two other glaives followed behind him and quickly spread across the floor and hid behind the pillars.  Then after a few quick glances around they slowly started to make their way from pillar to pillar.

Cor then followed them and walked down the center of the room before he stopped at the three bodies that were laying on the floor in their own pools of blood.  He kicked one of them over so that he could see their face.  He took a quick picture of him before he did the same with the rest of them.  None of them he recognized.  But he had a feeling that Korn might have an idea of who they were as he sent the pictures to Korn before tapping his headset again.

"Found three of the four in the entry way."  Cor said as he knelt down and started to search them for any type of ID.

And that was when he found the three keycards that they had used to break into the building.  Cor narrowed his eyes at them as he recognized the names on the cards.  He had been right, they used to belong to the three back gate guards that they had found dead when they first arrived.  Knowing that now didn't make him feeling better, but it did determine how they got in.

"I found out how they got into the building."  Cor said as he tossed the ID's back down on the bodies.  "These bastards killed the back gate sentries and took their keycards from them."

Korn dropped his head and closed his eyes as he said a silent prayer that they went fast.  But it didn't help his heart as it sank at the thought of having to explain to their families what had happened to them.  It was one thing to die with honor on the battlefield.  It was something completely different to die while simply guarding a gate.

I'll make those bastards pay for their lives.  Korn thought angerly before he spoke again.  "Any idea as to who these guys are?"

"I just sent you pictures of their faces.  But other than that, I didn't see any other ID's on them."  Cor answered as he glanced around the room.  "But they had put up one hell of a fight.  I'm almost sad that I didn't get the pleasure to taking them out myself."

"Is there any sign of the last one?"  Cor heard Korn ask.  "Anthony mentioned that there were four of them."

"Not yet."  Cor answered as he gestured to the team to search the training room.

But after they entered the room the same way as before, they realized that no one was there either.  So they quickly closed it back up and and locked it after they left it.  Then they turned their sights on the throne room.

"There's only one place left that he could be at."  Cor said as he felt his blood start to boil as the team got ready at the door.  "And we're not about to let him just walk out of there."

"We need him alive."  Korn said firmly.  "He can't answer questions if he's dead."

"We won't kill him."  Cor said as he nodded to the team to get ready once again.  "But he's going to wish that he was dead after we're done with him."

Then before Korn could say another word, the team quickly enter the room.  The room was eerily quiet as they all walked in a straight line to ensure that no one could get past them.  The two glaives on the end searched over the railing to make sure that no one was hanging over the side to ambush them.  Not that that would be an easy task considering the drop would probable kill them if they lost their grip.  But they weren't about to take any chances.  

Fuck, fuck fuck.  The gangster leader thought as he was hiding behind the throne itself as he was silently kicking himself for not realizing that he had been setup the whole time.   That fucking bastard is going to pay when I get out of here.

But as he silently sat there he was starting to doubt that that was going to happen. Because he could hear them ever so slowly making their way over to him and he knew that there wasn't any place for him to go.  He closed his eyes for a moment as he started to steel himself for what he was going to have to do to get out of there.

But the closer that they got, the more doubtful that he became that it would work.  And when he took a chance to get a glimpse at them from around the edge of the throne, he felt his heart stop.

Fuck!  He thought as he quickly moved back behind the throne as they neared the bottom of the stairs.  If I don't go now they'll have me cornered.  I have to make a break for the door or it curtains for me.

He took one last deep breath and slowly cocked his guns.  Then he put his feet under himself as he started to get ready to make a break for it.  And right as he turned to make a run for it, two of them came into sight as they came up the stairs.  He slowly aimed one gun at the closet glaive.

It's now or never.  He thought before he held his breathe and pulled the trigger.

His shot was true and the glaive fell back as the bullet went straight through his head.  Quickly the other glaives fell flat on the stairs to keep from getting hit.  The gangster looked at that as his chance to run.  So he bolted out from behind the throne and started to run back down the stairs.

Two blades went flying past him as Cor and Tredd quickly launched their blades at the gangster as he started running towards the remaining glaive on his left.  Cor's grazed the gangster on the arm, while Tredd's flew harmless past him.  The gangster grabbed his arms with one hand and shot the other glaive on his side in the chest as he kept running down the stairs.  The glaive's head fell lifelessly to the stairs as the gangster ran past him.

Cor then quick warped over to his dagger that was now sticking out of the railing right behind the fleeing gangster.  Then he grabbed his dagger again and quickly made chase.  Tredd got nervous and quickly raced down the stairs as he followed them.  Cor then quickly launched his blade again and nailed the back of the leader's right leg.

The leader cried out in pain as he fell to the ground.  Cor then quickly warped over to him and slammed his face down on the cold stone floor.  Tredd gasped at how quickly everything had happened.  Then he slowly to a walk as he watched the gangster trying to fight off Cor how was restraining his arms behind his back

This isn't good.  Tredd started to panic as he tried to figure out how to get the gangster out of there before he could talk.  He'll tell him everything if I don't do something.

"Get off of me!"  He growled at Cor.

"Not a chance."  Cor said as he tightened the handcuffs around the other's wrists.  "His majesty has a questions for you."

"He can piss off.  He's no king of mine.  And I'll never talk to him!"  The other roared.

"We'll see about that." Cor said as he stood and grabbed the gangster roughly around the arm and yanked him up to stand.

"Fuck that hurts!"  The leader yelled as his right leg started to throb as blood started to pour out of the wound.

"That's nothing compared to what I could really do to you."  Cor said in a firm tone as he started to drag the gangster out of the throne room.

Shit!  I have to do something!  Tredd thought as he anxiously watched the two of them walking just ahead of him.

Then he quickly ran up and grabbed the gangster's other arm.  "Here, let me help."

"Sure."  Cor said right as he reached the door.

Then the three of them headed to the elevator to take it back down to the parking garage.  Cor called ahead on his headset to let Korn know that they had the leader in custody and were getting ready to leave the citadel.  The rest of the building was secure and the glaives were back on guard.  The rest of the security team was doing a full sweep of the city to make sure that none of the machines had gotten out of the citadel parameter.

The whole time though, Tredd wasn't really paying attention.  He kept glancing at man in his arm as he tried to figure out how to get rid of him.  If he just let him go, he would just get caught again since he can't move very fast.  And stabbing him as they walked down to the garage was out too since Cor might turn on him as well.

Finally they arrived in the garage.  The building was once again quiet as a few men stood around the last troop transport truck that was standing by.  Cor and Tredd carried the leader onto the truck and laid him down on his stomach in middle of the truck bed.  The Cor started to climb out.

"You can take him from here.  I'll drive us over."  Cor said as he stood in front of the tailgate.

"Right."  Tredd said as he tried to remain calm.

Cor then closed the tail gate and went around to the front of the truck.  Tredd looked down at the gangster as Cor started up the truck.

"So are you going to let me go now?"  The leader smirked.  "I sure that you don't want me talking to them."

"Let you go?"  Tredd said as he knealed heavily on his back.  "Oh I'll let you go.  And I won't have to worry about you talking either."

"What are you....?  Hey!  I....can't....breathe...."  The gangster said as he struggled to get any air in.

"Precisely."  Tredd smirk.  "Dead men can't talk.  But I can't really leave any marks now can I?"

The gangster eyes got wide as he realized that Tredd was going to kill him.  But there wasn't anything that he could do.  He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe.  And as he gasped for what little breathe he had left, the world around him became quiet and dark.

You were grateful to learn that the Observatory did have a small café counter.  Sure it usually only sold light snacks and drink to visitors when they came for tours.  But it did at least make it a bit easier to serve everyone lunch that day.  Plus it seemed to make everyone a little more relaxed to see some type of normalcy after the crazy night.

"Here dear, put these out for everyone."  Marge said as she handed you huge baking tray filled with fresh biscuits.

"Hmmm these smell delicious."  You said with a smile as you took the tray and a big whiff.

"Thank you dear."  Marge smiled at you.  "I  figure it's the least I can do."

"You don't have to do anything Ms. Marge."  You replied as you placed the tray under heat lamps.

"I know.  But I want to help."  Marge said in her usual tone.  "And I can't just very well sit around all day and do nothing."

You smiled back at her as people started to take the fresh biscuits.  "I know.  I greatly appreciate the help."

"Do you have anymore bottled water?"  You heard someone ask as they stood in line.

"Coming right up."  You said as you walked away to grab another case of water from the stack of supplies in the storage room.

"There's quite a few people in here."  You heard a smooth voice say from behind you right as you were bending over to grab the case.

You glanced over your shoulder and saw Noctis slightly tilting his head as he looked at your backside.  You then quickly grabbed the water and stood back up as you tried to fight off the heat that was coming to your cheeks.

"Would you like to help?"  You asked him as he eyes slowly moved up to meet yours.

"Not at the moment."  He said as he gave you a slightly smirk.  "I  just came to see you."

"Uh-huh." You replied.

"And to let you know that they caught one of the guys who broke into the citadel."

"Really?"  You asked as you started to walk back out to the counter.

"Yeah."  He replied as he followed behind you.  "And they just got back here so now we should be able to get some answers out of him."

"That's good."  You replied as you sat the case down at the back of the cooling case and started to load it up with water again.

"Yeah."  Noctis quietly replied as he watched you.

"So I take it that they cleared the citadel then."  You said as worked.

"Yeah.  We should be able to go back once we get some answers."  Noctis said as tucked his hands into his pockets and leaned up against the counter.

"I bet my dad is chomping at the bit to talk to that jerk."  You replied angerly as you finished putting out the last of the waters.

"Yours and mine both."  He added as you turned back around to face him.

"Are you hungry?  You haven't eaten since we got here."  You asked as you stood back up.

But Noctis simply shook his head.  "Not right now.  I'll wait until everyone else is fed."  

"That's very noble of you."  You replied with a slight smile.  "I didn't think that I would see the day that you would let others go ahead of you."

Noctis drop his head slightly as he smiled.  "I guess your good nature is starting to rub off on me."

"I guess so."  You smiled back as you slightly dropped your head as well.

"Prince Noctis!  There you are."  You both heard from across the counter which made both of you look at one of the house staff who looked very flustered.

"King Regis needs to see you right away.  He says it urgent."  He said quickly.

"Okay."  Noctis replied as he stood back up and started to walk back around to the other side of the counter.

"Come back and eat when you done."  You called after him as he started to walk away with the staff member.

But when he didn't reply, you sighed.  Hope that they get some answers.

"Dead?  What do you mean he's dead?"  Korn asked in a frustrated tone as the everyone sat around the conference table.  "I told you to take him alive!"

Cor simply looked over at Tredd who was sitting across from him.  "Would you mind explaining to them what you told me happened?"

"I really don't know."  Tredd replied as he shrugged his shoulders.  "One minute he was fine.  Then the next he was unconscious.  He must have bled out or something."

"Did you even try to revive him?"  Paul asked him in firm tone.  "Or did you just watch?"

"Of course I tried to help him."  Tredd said as if he was bored with the conversation.  "But it's not like I really knew what I was doing.  I'm not a medic or anything."

Paul dropped his head into his hands and started to rub his head.  Korn could feel the frustration in his friend because he felt the same.  But he also knew that there was nothing that they could do at that point.  After all, no one was able to raise the dead.  Not even with all the magic that they had, dead was dead.

"What's done is done."  King Regis said in a calm tone.  "We'll just have to concentrate on finding out the information from another source."

Tredd nervously clasped his hands.  Another source?

"Tell me about the state of the citadel."  King Regis continued.

"Of course your majesty."  Cor replied as he punch in a few code into the small keypad on the table.

Suddenly the ceiling above the table lite up and a hologram of the citadel showed before them.

"All of the floors have been cleared.  But there are several areas that have sustain heavy  damage from the fight."  Cor started to explain as several of the areas turned red.  "This includes the roof above the crystal, the throne room entry way, the main entry way, the ballroom and of course the back gate."

As he mentioned each area, images appeared to show the crashed helicopter, the bodies scattered around the throne room entry and main entry way, the rubble from the ceiling in the ballroom, and the back gate left in shambles.  "Each area is currently being heavily guarded to prevent anyone from disturbing the wreckage."

"Any chance that there might be survivors among the rubble?"  King Regis asked as he stared at the ballroom.

"No your grace."  Cor replied in as low tone.  

"Anyone who would have been able to escape are either here or here."  Cor replied as he show one last image of a line of people who looked to have been executed along the backwall of the citadel facing the back garden.

"How many have we lost?"  King Regis asked as he stared in shock at the pile of bodies by the wall.

"We'll still waiting for a final count your majesty."  Cor replied in a sobering tone.  "But we're estimating about a hundred."

King Regis let out a deep sign as he dropped his head and closed his eyes.  "This is a dark day indeed for our great country.  I pray that they all found peace with the gods in the heavens above."

The whole room fell silent for a moment.  None of them knew what to say as they let the weight of the situation settle upon them.  And with no answers as to why this happened to begin with.  It left most of them frustrated.

"Contact the media and inform them that I'll make a formal address."  King Regis said after a while.  "I won't have my citizens fearing for their lives within my walls."

"Of course your majesty."  Korn replied in sober tone.

**********Author's Note**********

Now that Insomnia is secure again, the time for repairing the citadel and mourning for those lost can begin.  But this will be at the cost of something far more precious than materials.  Because the time has come for Ignis to return to school again as well.  And no amount of words can prevent it from happening.

I do hope that you have enjoyed this chapter and will return again as the city starts to recover once again.  So keep an eye out for what will happen next.

Thanks for reading.  :)

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