ACT TWO
the battle of starcourt. part one.

    ARLO STOOD BESIDE IDA, his head shooting in between the group members seeing as they all began speaking at once. "I don't understand what happened to that car." Robin admitted.

"El has superpowers." Dustin pointed at one of the girls, the same one that Arlo had seen a few days prior. The one Steve questioned when she was with Max.

"Hold on, you're El?" The boy questioned, while he had heard alot about the girl; he definitely didn't expect her to be so small.

"I'm sorry?" Robin questioned, ignoring Arlo's words.

"Superpowers. She threw it with her mind. C'mon, catch up." Steve scolded, his hands waving around as he did so.

"I'm sorry, Arlo? What are you doing here? And you—who are you?" Nancy questioned from in front of Arlo, her face seeming distraught.

"I was helping Steve, that's his girlfriend." Arlo jabbed, Ida letting out a small smile at his remark.

"Not his girlfriend. Definitely not his girlfriend. I'm Robin, I work with Steve." Robin answered, her friend's girlfriend comment only making her more confused.

"She cracked the top secret code."

"Yeah, which is how we found out about the Russians in the first place."

Steve's words made Jonathan speak up, his voice louder than Arlo had ever heard it. Which wasn't very loud. "Russians?! What Russians"

"The Russians!"

"Those were Russians?" Max questioned, Arlo's eyes still shooting back and forth between the members.

"Some of them." Erica answered the girl, seeming excited to be involved in such an interesting topic.

"What are you talking about? Ida, why did you bring her here?" Lucas pressed on, Ida smiling slyly as she sent him a shrug.

"Free shit." The teen honestly answered while Dustin added on.

"Didn't you hear our code red?"

"Yeah, I couldn't understand half of what you were saying." Mike admitted, his body turned complete to Dustin who cursed to himself.

"Low battery!"

"How many times do I have to tell you with the low battery?" Steve scolded, his parental side coming out.

"Steve's right, c'mon, man. You gotta prepare better." Arlo scolded as well, his tone much more calm.

If the conversation wasn't so serious, Dustin would've cracked a joke about the boys both acting like his parents. "Well, everything worked out, didn't it?"

"Worked out? We almost died!" Ida nodded at Erica's words placing a hand on the girl's shoulder as she shook her head at Dustin.

"Yeah, but we didn't, did we?"

"It was pretty damn close." Steve admitted, scratching his jaw.

"Okay.. Russians?" Lucas brought the topic back up, his arms now crossed. "As in, they're working for the Russian Government?"

"Yeah, and they know Dustin's name." Arlo added on, making all the younger teen's mouths drop.

"They know your name?!" Mike replied in shock, shoving Dustin with his hand as he did so.

Dustin shoved back at the action, sighing as he spoke. "What are you not comprehending? Are we not speaking English?—Yes, they know my name and we have a full-blown Red Dawn situation!"

"So this has nothing to do with the gate?" Max squeaked out.

"It has everything to do with the gate!" Dustin stated matter of factly, the other Scoops Troops members nodding at his words.

"Yeah, man. The Russians are ripping that bitch open." Arlo added on, his words making Ida smirk.

Before Dustin could reword the boy's sentence, a thud sounded from behind them. Making the group turn their attention to the sound.

It was then that they realized El was on the ground, her eyes squeezed shut while blood dripping from her nose. Her face was currently grimacing in pain.

They stared for a few more seconds, Mike being the first to rush towards her. "El, El!"

At his action, the rest of the group followed suit. Some of the members kneeled beside her, Arlo opting to stand.

"What's wrong?" Mike questioned in a worried tone, placing a hand on her forearm.

"My leg.."

Jonathan acted next, seeing as he was already kneeling by her feet. He quickly move her pants upwards, revealing a gross wound.

The wound made Arlo hold back a gag, glancing away from the bulging red spot. Ida looked away as well, not wanting to have to look any longer.

El let out a few groans of pain, Mike yelling out for her while she screamed in pain.

Erica ignored the girl's screams, staring at the wound in disgust. "What is that?" She questioned as the bloody wound began to pulse.

"There's something in there."

Mike's words caused both Arlo and Ida to look back at the wound, grimacing as they stared at it. The blood poured from it, a vein like object moving under the skin.

"Keep her talking, keep her awake. Okay?" Jonathan instructed, El's screams never ceasing.

Arlo couldn't peel his eyes away from the wound, holding back a gag as the vein like object pushed more blood out of the opening.

"Hey, hey, hey. Stay awake, stay awake. Let's get her on this side." Mike instructed, Steve joining in to help move the girl onto her side.

"You know, it's not actually that bad.. There was a goalie on my soccer team, Beth Wildfire, this other girl slid into her leg and the bone came out of her knee.. Six inches, or something. It was insane." Robin rambled, Ida softly smiling at her nervous talking.

"Robin.." Ida mumbled, Robin's head shooting towards the girl at her name being called. Ida then softly shook her head, making Robin nod, understanding she wasn't helping.

As Ida reached up to comfortably rub Robin's arm, Jonathan rejoined the small circle that crowded around El. This time he had gloves, a wooden spoon and a large knife.

"Alright, El.. This is gonna hurt like hell, okay?" Jonathan told the girl who cried harder at the words. "Need you to stay real still. Bite down on this, okay?"

Jonathan then handed the girl the wooden spoon, El immediately taking it and putting it into her mouth once she got it.

Once Jonathan was sure she was biting down on it, he looked back at her leg. Now holding the knife closer to her leg.

"You're gonna cut he—"

Arlo was cut off by Mike, who encouraged his friend's brother. "Come on, man. Do it!"

Jonathan nodded, at the boy's words. He then placed the tip of the knife into the middle of the wound, pressing it down deeper.

El let out a scream at the impact, blood beginning to pour out of the already-bloody wound. Jonathan dragged the knife downwards, leaving a long slit in the girl's leg.

After the slit was long enough, the teen dropped the knife. Closing his eyes as his fingers grew closer to the wound.

When Jonathan then stuck two fingers into the wound, Arlo and Ida forced their eyes away. Not wanting to watch the scene any longer.

El's screams still filled their ears while Jonathan dug into her wound. "Jonathan!" Nancy screamed as well, hating the sight in front of her.

"Stop talking!"

"No! Stop it! Stop! Stop!" El screamed, the wooden spoon now discarded on the floor as Jonathan removed his fingers. The Leone siblings finally looking back over. "I can do it.. I can do it."

El's voice sounded exhausted as she sat up, the girl now pointing her palm at the wound.

The group watched intently as she screamed, the slug-like object under her skin moving around rapidly as she wailed.

Her scream only seemed to worsen as she pulled the creature out slowly, the shop glass case busting open behind them.

They all ignored the shattered glass behind them, still watching as El levitated the tiny creature in the air. Her screaming turning angry as she threw it across the mall floor.

Once the slug-like creature landed far away from them, it began to crawl away. Stopping in it's tracks as it was met with a heavy boot.

The group's eyes then traveled up the boat, shocked to be met with Hopper paired along with two other adults. All three of the adults looking prepared. Prepared for whatever came next.

   Arlo leaned into Ida, the younger sibling wrapping one arm around his shoulders as he did so. The duo intently listening to the conversation at hand. Which happened to be about a giant monster, one that had been terrorizing the kids.

"It's big, thirty feet at least." Mike described while Lucas nodded, adding on.

"Yeah, it sorta destroyed your cabin. Sorry.."

"So, just to be clear, this big fleshy spider thing that hurt El.. It's some kind of gigantic—weapon?" Steve questioned, Nancy immediately answering with a quick yes! "But instead of, like, screws and metal.. The Mind Flayer made it's weapon, with melted people?"

"Yes, exactly." Nancy replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Okay, Yeah, I—Yeah, I'm just making sure." Steve sighed after his words, placing his hands onto his hips as he glanced at Arlo. Taking a mental note of how exhausted the boy looked.

"Are we sure this thing is still out there, still alive?" Joyce questioned, her voice seeming wary.

"El beat the shit out of it, but yeah, it's still alive."

"But if we close the gate again—" Will trailed, Max continuing his sentence as he did. Her much more nerdy side coming out for just a moment.

"—We cut the brain off from the body!"

"And kill it!" Lucas added excitedly, his excitement dying down when no one shared the same look. "Theoretically."

"Yoo-hoo! Yoo-hoo!" Murray yelled from afar, making the entire group's head shoot towards him. Staring as he waved paper into the air, gesturing the group over to him.

   The group stood around the food court, the adults of the group huddling around the small table where Murray sat.

Arlo sat at one of the other tables, Ida sitting in the seat next to him as the sibling listened to Murray's ramblings.

"This is what Alexei called the hub. Now, the hub takes us to the vault room." The older man pointed at the paper as he spoke, his stare directed at the yellow sheet.

"Okay, where's the gate?" Hopper questioned, also staring at the paper.

"Right here.. Now, I don't know the scale on this but I think it's fairly close to the vault room—maybe fifty feet or so?"

"More like five hundred." Erica spoke up, walking a little closer to the grown up table. "What? You're just gonna waltz in there like it's commie Disneyland or something?"

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Erica Sinclair. Who are you?" Erica questioned, sass evident in her voice as she did so.

"Murray.. Bauman."

"Listen, Mr. Bowman, i'm not trying to tell you how to do things—but i've been down in that shit hole for twenty-four hours, and with all due respect.. You do what this man tells you, you're all gonna die." Erica stated, pointing around at the adults as she did so.

A smile came over Ida's lips at the child's words, still watching the scene unfold. "I'm sorry, why is this four year old speaking to me?"

"She's ten." Ida corrected, crossing her arms while Erica nodded.

"Yeah, i'm ten. You bald bastard!"

Ida then leaned over from her chair, offering Erica a high-five while Lucas scolded the girl. "Erica!"

Her brother's words only made the girl turn to him, immediately defending herself. "Just the facts!"

"She's right. You're all gonna die, but you don't have to.. Excuse me." Dustin then sat down at the table with the adults, turning the map towards him as he did so. "Okay, see this room here? This is the storage facility. There's a hatch in here that feeds into their underground ventilation system, that will lead you to base of the weaponry. It's a bit of a maze, but between me and Erica.. We can show you the way."

Ida leaned forward at this cutting into the conversation. "Hell no. I just got the kid out of that hellhole, she's not going back."

"Don't worry, Ida. They're doing all the fighting and dangerous hero shit, and we'll just be their—navigators."

"No."

"Ida." Erica sighed, annoyed at her babysitter's stubbornness.

"No." Ida repeated, sending the child a parental glare which made the girl cross her arms. Hopper nodding along with the teen girl's words.

"She's right. You're not coming with." Hopper finished, his stern face making it clear to both children that there was no way they were going to talk him out of it.

Arlo let a smile play on his lips as he walked out of the mall, his sights set on a beautiful car parked in front of the mall door.

Somehow, Dustin had convinced Hopper into letting the Scoops Troop head to some hill. A hill which held Dustin's satellite type object, one that made it possible for him to talk to people all over the city with his walkie talkie.

"Now, this is what i'm talking about!" Steve said excitedly as they neared the car. The boy jingling the keys in his hand.

"Toddfather?"

"Oh, screw Todd! Steve's her daddy now."

"Did you just talk about yourself in the third person?" Robin questioned, Erica speaking up from her place in front of her. The group finally reaching the car as they did.

"Did he just call himself daddy?"

Steve ignored the child's remark, hopping over the door as he landed in the front seat. A smile over his lips as he rushed Arlo to get shot gun.

Arlo reluctantly complied, making the other four members squeeze into the back seat. Ida did mumble some incoherent curses at the fact her brother had gotten the best seat, all of which went ignored.

"All right, where are we going?" Steve questioned, pulling the car out of it's spot once he was sure everyone was inside.

"Weather-top."

"Weather-what?"

"Just drive!" Dustin sighed, making Steve roll his eyes in response.

Arlo then turned his head around, glancing at the four members in the back seat before sighing as well. "Put your damn seatbelts on."

Erica and Dustin knew the teen was talking to him, making them groan as they struggled to slip their seatbelts on. Having to squeeze the belt over them due to the tight situation in the back.

Once Arlo was positive both of the kids had their seatbelts on he turned back around, slipping his on as well.

"They didn't have their seatbelts on?" Steve questioned the boy in the passenger's seat who sent him a head shake. "You know better."

"That's what i'm sayin'" Arlo mumbled, a brief silence coming over the car before Steve turned up the radio a bit. Making sure it was quiet enough to still able to hear Dustin's directions.

Ida leaned her head against the seat with a sigh, wishing she could just get home. Missing the comfort of her bed.

   The group listened to the radio as they drove, Arlo softly tapping his fingers on the dash board while Steve complained to Dustin. "How far is this place, man?"

"Relax! We're almost there."

"Suzie must be pretty special, huh? I mean, if you built this thing and lugged it all the way to the middle of nowhere just to talk to her?" Robin changed topics, watching as Arlo fingers danced on the dash board.

"I mean, nobody's scientifically perfect, but Suzie's about as close to being perfect as any human could possibly be."

"Sounds made up to me, she sound made-up to you guys?" Erica questioned, Ida nodding in response

Arlo shrugged. Figuring his answer would do more harm than good which is why he lied. "I dunno.."

Steve was only one to not answer, his silence making Dustin instantly upset. Leaning forward in his chair. "I'm not! I'm not! I think she sounds real. You know, totally, absolutely real."

"Left. Turn left." Dustin changed topics, making Steve's eyes widen. The teen panicking.

"There's not a road here?"

"Turn left now!"

"Jeez, hang on!" Steve warned before yanking the wheel sideways. Making all of the members yank harshly to the right, a few of them groaning as they butted heads.

Steve then drove through a fence making more complains fill the air. "Woa, Henderson.. Where are we going?!"

"Up!"

Dustin's words rendered Steve silent, the boy following directions as they drove up the hill. Arlo's eyes wide as he stared ahead.

"We're not gonna make it!" Robin realized as she subconsciously grabbed onto Ida's hand. Unaware of the girl's sly smile at the action.

"Yes, we are.. Come on, baby. Come on!" Steve yelled, the car beginning to slow down right after his words.

Steve slammed his foot harder on the pedal, the pedal now pressed against the floor of the car as he slapped his on-top of the wheel.

"Guess the Toddfather has it's limitations." Robin mumbled, Steve putting the car into park as she did so.

Once the car was completely still, the group began to hop out. Steve subtly waiting for Arlo in front of the car before beginning to walk up the hill.

Arlo stood beside Robin, the entire group's eyes currently trained on Dustin who spoke into the walkie-talkie. Directing his words at Murray. "Bald Eagle, do you copy? Bald Eagle, I repeat. This is Scoops Troop, do you copy?"

"Yes, I copy." The man's voice spoke through the speakers, sounding muffled but still making the group smile in sync.

"Call sign?"

"Bald Eagle." The man murmured out, his quiet voice making Dustin raise his eyebrows.

"Please repeat.."

"Bald Eagle. This is Bald Eagle!" The man's voice was now much louder, his angry tone making Arlo smile even more.

"Copy that. Good to hear your voice, Bald Eagle. What's your twenty?" Dustin asked, his lingo making Arlo furrow his eyebrows. A little lost.

"We reached the vent.. I'll contact you when I need you—until then, silence."

"Roger that. This is Scoops Troop, going radio silent. ten-ten, over." Dustin then pressed the button to turn off the mic, turning to his friend's with a small smile.

Steve patted the kid's arm while Arlo pointed a accusing finger at him, a smile playing on his lips. "Were you in boy scouts?"

"No.. AV Club, why?" Dustin questioned back, his response only causing Arlo to smile more.

The bleach-blonde boy then muttered something under his breath, patting the same spot on Dustin's arm that Steve had patted moments prior. Removing his hand as he turned around, his eyes now laying on the view of the city.

    Arlo and Ida were tossing a rock back and forth, boredom filling them as they listened to Dustin. Who had currently spoken to Murray through the walkie-talkie.

"All right, so if my memory serves, this is right after the My Little Pony thesis.."

"We went left, so he has to go right." Erica recalled, Dustin nodding at her words.

"Right! Fly right Bald Eagle, fly right!" Dustin yelled through the walkie talkie, a sigh coming through the speakers a few moments later.

"Roger that, flying right."

Once Murray went silent, Robin spoke up. Her question directed at the trio that had been in the vents together. "What's the My Little Pony thesis."

"Oh, Erica's a nerd." Ida butt in, now holding the small rock in her hand. Putting an end to her and Arlo's game.

"A nerd?" Robin questioned, Erica cutting in befoee her name could be slandered any more.

"Don't get them started."

"Get them started? Just tell me what makes you a nerd—" Robin's question was put on hold when Steve called out, his voice full of fear as he did so.

"Hey, guys.." The teenage boy spoke, staring over at the mall from his spot on the hill. The group quickly coming to join him. Following his gaze.

They watched in silence as the mall seemed to flicker with lights, blue and red shining through the glass top of the mall.

Dustin went into action first, rushing over to his set up as he grabbed the walkie talkie. Immediately calling into it. "Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop! Do you copy? Over. Griswold Family, I repeat, this is Scoops Troop! Do you copy—"

Dustin paused when a loud screeching sound came through the speaker, continuing once the sound died down a bit. "Griswold Family, do you copy? Do you copy?!"

The screeching sounded again, this time much louder causing all of their hearts to drop.

"Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop! Please confirm your safety! Please confirm your safety! Are you en route to Bald Eagle's nest?" Dustin yelled throught the microphone, his fear never leaving his tone. "Someone, please just answer.. Is anyone there? Just answer!"

"Shit. Shit!" Ida stood up, brushing her curls back with her hands as she thought of their options. "We gotta go back."

Steve nodded at her words, Dustin shaking his head as he spoke. "Are you crazy?"

"No, she's right. We have to get them the hell out of there." Steve stood up, digging the keys out of his pocket as he did so.

Ida, Arlo and Robin followed along without being told. "Wait, Robin.. Stay in touch!" Dustin yelled, tossing the girl a walkie talkie as he did so.

Robin nodded before running, catching up with the other teens. They left the kids alone on the hill as they all ran towards the car, determined to save the others.