Sean tried to keep his balance on Skip as he trotted around the warehouses. Behind him, Ricky was leaning against his back to keep him still as he worked. Sean wished that he'd hurry up. Glancing at Matthew, who was jogging beside them, he gave him a look of worry. Matthew patted his thigh, telling him through a light pant. "Don't worry. We'll find him." Sean shook his head, breathing a little harder. He could feel the tube in his mouth pulsing with every blink it made. He wished they could see the light... but the metal muzzle was probably blocking it from view. Besides that, he wasn't sure they could see it past his taped lips. Skip jumped over a bit of rubble that surprised Sean. He hadn't been paying attention and didn't see it coming. The sensation jerking him on Skip in a way that almost made him swallow the stupid tube. Leaning forward over Skip's back, his heart raced as he shifted the tube back to the front of his mouth. This wasn't the time to choke... and swallowing this thing was certainly a death sentence.

Behind him, Ricky cursed but the cuffs around his wrists came free. Immediately, Sean's hands went for the muzzle to claw at it in a panic. Ricky grabbed him before he fell off Skip in his wild panic. His fingers found the lock, but it was unfamiliar to him. Ricky held his shoulders, telling him seriously. "Hey, relax! Before you hurt yourself. We'll get it off-" Sean shifted a bit in pain from Ricky grabbing his hurt shoulder, but grabbed Ricky's arm in a death grip. Ricky stopped talking upon seeing the fear and desperation in his eyes. Ricky stiffened, asking him completely unsettled. "Sean? What's wrong?" Matthew touched Skip's neck to slow him to a stop. Sean's hands shook as he raised them to try and think of something. Pointing at the muzzle, he put his fists together and pulled them away as he extended his fingers out. He hoped that they understood that. It was the best he could do. Ricky shrugged, stating out confused. "I don't get it... Your muzzle hurts?" Ricky reached out to look over the muzzle, but Sean shook his head and tried again with the same gesture.

This time Matthew froze, uttering out softly. "Ricky...? How good is your hearing?" Ricky shrugged, answering honestly. "It's pretty good. Why?" Matthew pointed to Sean, asking him curiously. "Do you hear something in his mouth?" Ricky tilted his head to bring one of his silky black ears closer. Sean leaned into his ear, hoping to help him by shifting the tube to that side of his mouth. Ricky's ears twitched, but he let out a sigh, honestly telling Matthew. "I'm sorry. There is so many people yelling and banging... I can't tell." Matthew pulled Sean off Skip, telling Skip nicely. "Skip, x-ray mode. Show me what's in his mouth." Skip turned to face Sean, his eyes turning a sharp green. Skip blinked, making a soft camera 'click' come from him. When Skip's eyes returned to normal, Matthew checked his watch. Sean leaned closer to see a ghostly photo of his skull and the tube in his mouth. Sean pointed to it excitedly. Matthew huffed softly, telling Ricky in a grim voice. "He's got a bomb in his mouth..."

Ricky's eyes widened in horror as he blurted out. "What?! How do we get it out?!" Matthew exhaled slowly, telling them both. "We don't. Unless we can remove the muzzle... I can't get it out without hurting him. And we don't have the time... but we can use this in our favor." Sean gawked at Matthew, his blood turning to ice as fear seeped into him. What the hell was Matthew thinking?! Matthew carefully removed a metal heart from his bag, admitting to them seriously. "This one was meant for me..." Ricky tensed with wide eyes, snapping out. "And you've just been carrying THAT around!" Matthew put the heart back, rushing out. "Look. I don't have time to explain. But I think there is three bombs. One for me. One for Sean. And one for the Slums." Ricky gasped, glancing around at the warehouses. Matthew swallowed, informing them coolly. "She brought him here... because there is only one building that will survive the blast. As it did before the Slums were built."

Ricky took a deep breath, saying uneasily. "I should go find the other one then." Matthew grabbed Ricky's arm, snapping out. "No! We may need your help! There is no time. We have these. They should be enough to stall her. We don't even know who would have the other or where it is." Sean thought about it and bowed his head in grim realization. There was only two people that he could think of that would have it... The Trader... Or Bradley. Ricky nodded reluctantly. Matthew coaxed Sean back up on to Skip, confidently ordering him. "Trust me. We'll find a way to save them. We just have to hurry before she blows-" Matthew was silenced by a sudden loud explosion that reverberated across the sky. Skip skidded back across the cement ground as a gust of strong wind knocked into them. Sean slid back into Ricky who clawed at Skips flesh to keep from falling off. Matthew was knocked off his feet and sent rolling across the ground. Then as quickly as it came, the wind seemed to be sucked back, causing Skip to meow with distress as he was dragged across the pavement.

Matthew was pulled back across the pavement, but Skip crawled over him to protect him as dust and light debris from the warehouses landed around them. Sean clung to Skip, looking in the direction where the wind was going. In the center of Valhalla, the top of Valhalla tower was blasted apart. Sean's body shook on Skip. Was that supposed to happen? Flaming debris rained from the tower, but he could faintly see flying things working to snatch up debris before it hit the rest of the city. Ricky hugged him, looking over his shoulder as he panted out. "Holy shit!" Matthew scrambled out from under Skip, his eyes noticing the tower for the first time. His face paled to a ghost and tears brimmed his eyes as he belted out a terrified scream. "NATE! NO! OH GOD, PLEASE! NO!" Sean's heart sank to the pit of his stomach. Nate was up there? Ricky's ears flattened out as he took in the loss. Matthew dropped to his knees, starting to become inconsolable.

Sean wanted to feel the loss of his friend, but a rage was filling him. Hoping off Skip, Sean walked to Matthew. He put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him, while his other one unbuckled the bag off his shoulder. Matthew was so distraught that he hadn't noticed it come free. Turning to face Ricky, Sean gestured him off Skip to comfort Matthew. Ricky slowly slid off and Sean swung himself back on. Ricky touched his thigh though, telling him firmly. "We'll meet you there." All Sean could do was give him a saddened nod. Gripping Skip's neck, he kicked his sides to coax him onward. Skip was reluctant to go, until he saw Matthew wave him to go on before bursting into tears. Ricky moved closer to Matthew, putting his hands on his shoulders. Sean couldn't let this slow him down. He was going to kill her for this if it was the last thing he'd do. Without Matthew running beside him, Skip raced through the maze of warehouses much faster. Bringing him to the closed door of a charred looking warehouse.

Earlier, Mark closed the warehouse door. Stepping back inside the warehouse as he asked Mother in Sean's fake body calmly. "Mother... I know you have felt alone. But you did this to yourself. You had the ability to be more than what you are... but you kept yourself a prisoner. If what you say is true and Valhalla never needed the Elites... That you needed US. Then why are you working so hard to push me away?" Fake Sean shook his head, mumbling out from his spot on the floor. "I'm not trying to push you away. I'm trying to protect you. This world is ugly. I don't want to see you throw your life away for a man that will bring only violence to your future. He's dangerous." Mark crouched but kept his distance, pointing to the device in his hand as he retorted lightly. "And that in your hand. This threat that you lay at my feet. That's not violence? Mother, I don't know what's wrong with you... but this isn't right. If you truly love me... you wouldn't hurt me like this. Please. There is still time to stop this."

Fake Sean sniffled, cradling the device in his hand as he said coolly. "Sometimes to fight violence. You have to get violent. In Valhalla, I am justice. I keep everyone safe from violence. You've seen and you refuse to admit it... because of him. What is it about him that makes you love him so? He's done NOTHING for you. He's broken laws and hurt people. He has struck you! These things you would have destroyed other Pets for in the past. Yet, you let him live... Why?" Mark swallowed, before answering casually. "Because... He's like me. A caged animal... that wants out." Fake Sean shook his head, saying sharply. "You speak as if I keep you trapped. I've put more restrictions on your brothers than on you. You'd break the social order and for what? Those people will bring murder and crime back to our streets. You'd leave me to deal with this mess! While you ride off into the sunset with that stupid boy! There is NOTHING left out in the world BECAUSE OF MEN LIKE HIM!"

Mark bowed his head, before very coolly telling her. "Mother... I am one of those men." Fake Sean jerked his head up, shaking his head frantically as he belted out. "NO! You are not! I raised you-" Mark cut him off to say firmly. "Raised me better? EXACTLY! Mother, you shut them out... but you kept ME. You kept Matthew. You kept Matthias! If the Slums dogs are so fucking bad... Then why did you save ME? What makes me different from them if 'I' have the genes too?!" Fake Sean scrambled up to his feet, adjusting his jacket and running a hand through his yellow bangs as he snapped out. "No... I worked on you to make you what you are. It's too late for them. They are too old. Too set in their ways. You are everything to me... Why can't you see that? There is no such thing as peace without someone making the hard decisions for those worthy of living in a paradise." Mark rose to his feet, telling him seriously. "I'm sorry, Mother. You may be right... but as an Elite. I decide what is best for Valhalla and its people. And this divide... It's over."

Fake Sean scowled at him, sneering out. "I outrank you. And I'm putting an end to this once and for all. You are the only Slum Dog that will survive when Matthias is done." Mark blinked, asking completely perplexed. "Matthias? What does he have to do-?" Fake Sean cut him off to say with an expressionless face and cold voice. "This was Matthias's plan. All of it. I agree with him that all the Slum Dogs must die. So, I brought you here to keep you safe. Pretend that it's me... to keep you out of his way. But time is up... All I have to do is give him the signal that you are safe with me. And the Slums will blow up." Fake Sean raised the device, his thumb over a red button at the top. Mark raised a hand of his own, saying in a rush. "Wait! Before you do that... Since you look like him... Can I pretend to say goodbye to him? Just for my own piece of mind." Fake Sean nodded with a softened expression, lowering his hand. Mark took a deep breath, exhaling very slowly as he approached him cautiously.

Mark cupped fake Sean's face, pressing his forehead to his. Fake Sean closed his eyes, tilting his head up a little to see if Mark would kiss him. Closing his eyes, Mark let him kiss him. He wasn't into the kiss, but he tried to make it convincing. During the kiss, Mark slid his hand down fake Sean's arm to his wrist. Fake Sean's hand gripped the device tighter in response, breaking the kiss to growl out. "If I had a real heart... you would have broken it just now. But being what I am... You just disappoint me." Mark gripped his wrist tighter, trying to pry the device from his hand, but his grip was like iron on it. He missed his implants. Fake Sean grabbed his throat, squeezing until Mark dropped to his knees gasping for air. Glaring at him, he told him sternly. "I forgive you for trying to save the one you love. And in time. I hope you forgive me for doing the same." Fake Sean started to drag him toward the open container, muttering out. "I think you need to rest. I'll wake you when it is over."

Fake Sean took him to the clear open tube in the container, starting to say aloud in a computerized voice. "Request medical module to function as emergency sleep pod for transport. Estimated sleep time, four years." Mark thrashed, trying to brake from fake Sean's grip, but he was only hurting himself the more he tried. Fake Sean lifted him to his feet, starting to push him back into the pod. Mark resisted, when the power in the container shut off. Fake Sean released him, suddenly uttering out in a panic. "Ugh! What's happening?!" Mark waited for the emergency green lights to turn on in the pod, before grabbing a medical knife. Hopping down from the pod, Mark shoved him into a wall and impaled his wrist with the knife. Fake Sean let out a surprised scream, dropping the device as his wrist began to run red with blood. Snatching the device before it hit the ground, he started to run for the exit. Fake Sean removed the knife from his wrist, dashing up to Mark to swat his legs out from under him as he slid out across the floor.

Mark fell back across his back, watching fake Sean scramble to his feet to leap over him. Mark tried to keep the device from him. Even if he didn't have his plants anymore, he still had the knowledge on how to fight. Dodging every swipe of fake Sean's hands and rolling to get away. Fake Sean wasn't trying to hurt him, which played into his favor. He just worried that Mother would break him and fix him later. Fake Sean tried to snatch the device and Mark knew he couldn't stop him... So, he let the device roll across the floor to free up his hands. Together, they got to their feet, but Mark positioned himself to stand off with him. Fake Sean began to throw punches at him, telling him in a calm voice. "I don't want to hurt you, Mark... But this has to be done!" Mark dodged the blows and blocked them away with his arms. Every hit bruised his arms badly, but he fought through the pain. He couldn't let him win. Suddenly, fake Sean changed tactic. Grabbing his arm, he turned and flipped Mark over his shoulder to the floor. Knocking the air from Mark's lungs. Mark was getting tired... but this hybrid she made wasn't even breaking a sweat.

Coughing, Mark weakly grabbed fake Sean's wrist, panting out. "Mother, please. Don't do this. For me. Spare him. And I'll never leave your side." Fake Sean stared down at him, before saying bluntly. "You'll love him for as long as he lives. Your heart will ache for him every minute of every day. You'll secretly hope that he'll save you from me... So, my answer is no. Better he dies quickly." Mark grunted as fake Sean pulled away to get the device. Kneeling, he reached for it, then jerked back with a pained scream. Mark rolled over, watching fake Sean drop to his knees as he clutched his heart and strained out in a pained voice. "Oh no... Matthias..." Mark bolted to his feet, reaching the device. Just as he picked it up, fake Sean backhanded him to the floor and screamed out. "WHY?! Why can't you just accept this?! This is how it has to be! You can't stop this!" Mark watched the device roll under a desk as he spit blood across the floor. Sitting up slowly, he told her honestly. "Maybe it's the Slum Dog in me."

Fake Sean shook his head, then stomped on his leg, busting it. Mark screamed and laid across the ground as his vision blurred. Fake Sean began to cry, whining out. "I had everything so well planned... The Valkyrie would drag Matthew's filthy mutt to the Slums after delivering Matthew to Matthias on a silver fucking platter. The Valkyrie would explode here. Killing them all. You'd blame Matthias and come to love me when I help you get your revenge on him. But no... This chaos is spreading. Everything is too corrupt for plans. It needs to end now." Fake Sean moved toward the desk, adding over his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you... but you left me no choice. I'll make it better... and I'll find a way to wipe this horrid memory from your mind. It's better that you don't remember this now." Mark groaned in pain, watching him flip the desk. Picking up the device, fake Sean turned to face him with a saddened look. "It's because I love you... that I must do this. Say goodbye."

Mark tried to sit up, yelling out Sean's name as fake Sean pressed the button. A tear ran down Mark's cheek. He heard the explosion. It sounded distant... but he thought it was due to his heart slowing down as his world was blown apart. The thought of losing Sean took the fight right out of him. He had failed him. To Be Continued...