Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

Namine rounded the nearest corner, but froze as soon as she was in the room. It was a ship holding area, and here were two gummi ships. She was frozen now--she couldn't escape. Unless she turned back and found another route. She spun around and headed for the doorway again.

Black picked himself up and holstered his gun before joining the chase. The girl had gone right where they were going to take her anyway--wasn't that just terrific? Terrific for them, that was. For her...not so much.

 

Ross followed the blonde around the corner, stopping when he saw her heading back the way she came. He began to chuckle. "Ah, ah, ah," he said, shaking his head. "Not so fast." He then held up his gun, using it as a threat.

Roxas skidded to a halt, his head frantically turning each and every way for a clue as to which way the men could have gone. It was a big mall, and this was one of the reasons he hated it. The boy listened carefully, trusting his senses. Any sign of them--footsteps, voices, anything--would help.

Kairi, having been close behind, slowed to a stop a foot or two behind Roxas. She watched as he stood there, frozen. What was he doing?

 

Black ran down the hall, his footsteps reverberating throughout the whole area. Then he stood with his men at the entrance of their landing pad. Things hadn't quite gone as planned, but now that she was trapped, things were going to be fine.

Namine gasped, instinctively taking two steps back. But then she realized something. "You won't shoot me," she stated softly. "You want me for something...you won't hurt me."

Sora came to a stop when Roxas did, his eyes wandering the area. Where could they had gone...?

 

Ross smiled. "Then I suggest you do as we say," he said. "You're right that we won't kill you, but that doesn't mean we can't take disciplinary measures." He smirked, that expression reaching his eyes through his ski-mask.

Roxas's eyes widened, his head twisting sharply to his left. "This way," he called hastily, taking off in a run once more. He had heard footsteps and a faint voice. It was the right way, he knew it.

Kairi followed without question, trusting her friend to know where he was going.

 

Sora nodded and ran after Roxas without a moment's hesitation. After everything they'd been through together, Sora knew to always trust his friend when it came to instinct.

Namine bit her lip lightly, taking another few steps back. She didn't doubt this man anymore--the look in his eye said that he didn't care how valuable she was, and he would hurt her if he had the chance to get away with it.

Black entered and walked past Ross. Before Namine could even register the danger, he hit her hard on the back, knocking her unconcious. Before she could hit the ground, he caught her body with his free arm. Her body drapped over his arm as he turned to face his henchman. "You're wasting time," he snapped. "This plan runs on speed."

 

Ross rolled his eyes. "Which is apparently something you don't have," he countered. Of course he had to stall, at least until the girl no longer ran. He was simply keeping her from escaping.

Roxas continued to run, skidding around a turn or two. He was getting close; he could feel it.

 

"Oh, shut up," Black growled. "Are you coming or not? Clyde and Fred are taking the second ship after we leave, so I'm guessing you're coming with me and the girl. So stop talking and just come on, we have a universe to rule." He headed toward his gummi ship and opened the door without waiting for an answer.

 

"Hmph." Ross lifted his gun, resting it against his shoulder as he followed Black up to the boarding dock. He approached the ship, entering through the door in silence. As long as they had the girl, the argument was worthless.

Roxas heard something shut, something like a door. He picked up his speed, gritting his teeth together with the drive to reach Namine in time.

 

Black buckled the girl in a seat before climbing into his seat beside her. Two more men got into the ship, one being the pilot and the other being the co-pilot. They started the ship without hesitation, not daring to feel Black's wrath. Whenever he was upset, he always took it out on others.

Sora sprinted right behind Roxas, staying as close as he could without tripping over his friend's feet. Judging by his speed, they were close to where Namine was. Or where he thought Namine was, anyway.

 

Roxas approached another corner, a low humming sound coming from the other end. The ship?! he thought. With the speed he took around the corner, the boy skidded, but at the sight before him, he halted.

Kairi came from behind, not as fast, but she stopped when Roxas did. Upon following his line of sight, she covered her mouth. There was a gummi ship, beginning to lift into the air, but not yet taking off.

Ross happened to look out the window, his eyes spotting three figures below on the ground. He chuckled. "Look who it is," he said, turning back to look at Black. "It's the girl's hero, here to save her from the evil henchman."

 

Black looked back, forcing a chuckle. "This is why speed is so important," he mumbled. Before his comrade could start an argument again, he turned to the pilots. "Warp us," he said. "Now." The pilot nodded and then pushed a button in front of him.

Sora entered the room as well, catching onto something Roxas didn't see--two men getting into a separate Gummi Ship. Sora summoned his Keyblades without thought. First, he chucked the Kingdom Key at the man entering the pilots side, and then he threw Lion Heart at the second.

On the ship, Namine leaned her head against the window, knocked out cold.

 

"No!" Roxas cried, catching sight of Namine's face through one of the windows. He took off in a run toward the ship that was about to leave, not daring to give up now. He wasn't going to lose her, not again. He couldn't do it again...

Kairi gasped. "Roxas!" she screamed, but then what Sora was doing caught her eye. She looked from one boy to the other, and noticing that Sora had things under control, she ran after Roxas.

Ross just rolled his eyes, ignoring his comrade's remark. He watched as the pilots braced themselves for the warp, and in a split second, white light flashed, and they were gone.

 

Sora's blade impacted one of the men, but the other moved in time to avoid it. Fred was unconscious, but Clyde pulled out his gun and started firing at Sora. He gasped and fell to the ground, summoning back his Keyblade. But the Keyblade wasn't going to do him any good while he was on the ground. He cast a shield spell on himself to deflect the bullets. "Roxas!" he cried, heavily under fire. He needed help, before he ran out of magic.

Black turned forward again, a content smile on his face. Now that they were off that dreaded planet, nothing could stop them. And in a few seconds, they'd arrive at their home, where they could commence the operation.
The thought excited him greatly.

 

Roxas blinked when the ship disappeared, staring at the air in shock where the ship once had been. "Namine...?" he whispered. He turned his head sharply at the cry of his name, noticing that Kairi was next to him now and that Sora was suffering a heavy deal of gunfire. Turning to Kairi, Roxas ordered, "Stay here." He summoned his Keyblades before sprinting off in the direction where the other ship was. Picking up speed, the boy brought back one arm before throwing it forward, releasing Oblivion from his grasp.

 

Sora cast his third protection spell, desperately wishing those shields lasted longer. He was running out of magic quickly now, and he couldn't take much more fire without getting hit...But then the fire suddenly stopped. And just in time, too, because he ran out of magic. He stabbed his Keyblade into the ground in frustration, using it to rise to his feet.

 

Finally, the guy was down. Roxas came to a stop beside his rising friend, his teeth ground together in frustration, anger, fear...every emotion anyone could feel when put in this kind of situation. Namine... Namine was gone.

 

Sora made his weapon disappear as he turned to look at his best friend. The anguish he felt was so apparent that Sora couldn't help but set a hand on his shoulder. "This isn't over," he stated softly. "We'll follow them."

Black's ship landed on his home world at that moment, much to his relief. Everything was going perfectly fine. By this time tomorrow, they would have all the power in the world.

 

Roxas lowered his head, shaking it with closed eyes. "...Can't believe this," he said softly. He lost Namine...again. How could he have let this happen? He should have put himself in her place when the man wanted her to go. He should have been there for her...

Kairi approached the boys quietly, standing on the other side of Roxas. She pressed her lips together sadly, her sympathy written on her face.

Ross sighed once they were in the familiar world. After the men landed the ship, he stood up from his spot and leaned over to pick up Namine. "I've got the girl," he said. "Let's get her into the room."

 

"I know how you feel," Sora said softly. This really was an unbelievable situation. And even though he had no idea what exactly was going on, he knew one thing for sure: it wasn't over. "But we'll get her back," he promised. "We've got their ship--we'll go get her."

Black nodded and rose from his seat, pulling off his mask once he was fully upright. He revealed himself to be a man who had a buzz cut and black hair. Then he opened his door and exited without waiting for any of his men. It was time to get this thing started.

 

Roxas sucked in a breath and lifted his head. He fixed his eyes on the pair identical to his, nodding firmly. Without a doubt, he was going to get Namine back.

Ross lifted Namine from her seat, carrying her from the ship and onto their home world. Time to get this show on the road.