Chapter Text
Neither Rupert nor Charles could predict how this night would turn out.
For a little over two weeks, the two were stationed at a stake out at a museum. Ever since the Toppat Clan launched their orbital station, their misdeeds and crimes have risen through the roof and to well… the stars. As they can go to any place on Earth and back with little to no consequences, and are out of reach of any modern military equipment, that isn’t a protype.
Times were getting desperate. To the point, if it wasn’t for Rupert literally begging on his hands and knees at Charles, the pilot would’ve grabbed one of their spaceships and go on a suicide mission just for the chance to take those suckers down. Yet, as the years go by, that plan feels more and more like their only option.
Personally, Charles is okay with going down that route, even though he would be the one chosen for it no matter what. Mostly because this war between the two factions has gotten personal to him. Not only did someone he so desperately wanted to be friends with, choose the toppats over him. Not only did they take his fellow soldier’s lives. And not ONLY when they almost killed him. No, they took away Rupert’s loved ones, and nobody messes with his friends and gets away with it. Which makes it ironic that he’s the main reason why Charles hasn’t gone on the mission yet, but that’s only because his best friend doesn’t want to say goodbye to him.
So, the government has decided to have that mission as an absolute last resort, while doing less costly missions in the background. Like the one Charles and Rupert are on right now.
The plan is simple. Once given permission from a museum, they would plant a giant fake pearl to act as bait and temporarily replace all the security guards in the museum with undercover soldiers. Then advertise and boast about the bait like crazy, hoping the clan would take notice. Finally, wait for the clan to show up and surprise attack them.
Capturing at least one member would make this mission a success and give hope to the world that the clan can be stopped. So far, the plan has successfully reached the stage where they’re just waiting for the clan. However, after over two weeks of nothing, everyone is losing hope that this mission will work.
Yet, Charles and Rupert are still walking to the museum. Hoping tonight, something different will happen.
They just didn’t expect it to happen before they got to the museum, as suddenly-
“You hear that?” Rupert asks.
“Hear what?” Charles says.
“Thought I heard something metallic being dragged,”
“Hm… I didn’t hear anything,” the pilot shrugs.
“Uh! It happened again! You heard this time, right?!”
Charles tilts his head, “No…?”
“…You know what I just realized?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re wearing headphones, of course you can’t hear it! I’m going to go check it out.”
“Be careful!”
“Ya, ya. I will.” Rupert says and walks over to where he believes the noise came from. From searching, and hearing it again, he discovers it’s coming from a manhole. Strangely, it’s lacking its lid. That’s a hazard. He should do something about it.
The soldier takes a few steps away from the manhole, thinking of anything he could do- before suddenly, he hears a voice, coming from the manhole.
“Stop! Don’t do this, please! J-Just let me go! Just let him go!” the voice begs.
“…” Rupert’s blood freezes. He hasn’t heard that voice in a long while. Because that voice… belongs to a dead man.
The soldier prides himself on being a skeptic. He doesn’t believe in ghosts or the supernatural. He doesn’t even believe in miracles. Right now, he should chalk it up with his mind playing tricks on him or its someone maintenance guy. (Though if that’s the case, he should go down the manhole, since it sounds like the guy is in trouble).
He turns around and faces the manhole, which causes a sickly feeling to rot in his gut. Telling him to get as far away from the manhole as possible.
Almost obliging to his gut, until the voice suddenly says, “Wait… no! Stop! Stop! I won’t talk! I swear! I won’t talk anymore!”
Immediately, Rupert rushes to the manhole, ignoring his gut and logic. If someone is endangered he needs to help and… despite everything… his hopes go up. Maybe he can see his friend again.
“D-Dave?” Rupert asks as he gets close to the manhole, practically having his head inside of it.
“I won’t let you use me as bait!” the voice shouts.
“RUPERT!” Charles screams.
Before Rupert could register what either of them said, metal wire soon wraps around the soldier’s arms and torso. Then, right before he could even scream in terror, he’s pulled into the manhole.
“RUPERT! UH- I’M NOT LETTING YOU DIE TODAY!” Charles screams/sings, sprinting over to the manhole and jumping down the manhole after his friend.
He falls straight to the ground, with an echoing thud. Before he even gets up, metal wires take him too.