CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR: FOLLOW THE MONKEY

---

Lara and Five arrived at a building that was hangout to the biker gang, The Mothers of Agony.

Motorcycle engines revving was heard as the two walked closer to the building while people was giving them both some weird looks, wondering what two kids was doing here.

Five grabbed Lara's hand as they both entered the club, gaining a few more looks from the bikers inside.

"What you two doing here, baby?" a woman asked "Lost, kid?" a man asked but the two just kept walking through the club.

"You lost angel" a man said, glazing at Lara causing Five to gently squeezed her hand, pulling her closer.

The two walked past some dancer that was dancing beside the pole swinging their hips back and forth while running their hands along the metal pole for customers' entertainment.

Lara noticed that Five glanced at the dancers which 'cause her to give him a small slap at the back of his head "Ouch" he said "Eyes front mister, you are taking" she said and he chuckled as they approached a door with a golden star on.

'MEMBERS ONLY'

Five opened the door to hear a tattoo machine buzzing and they saw a man sitting on the tattoo chair as a person was tattooing him.

"Been looking for you" Five said and the person turned around causing Five's eyes to widened "Pogo" he said.

"So that's Pogo?" Lara asked and Five nodded "That's him" he said.

Pogo lit up a cigarette before he let out a puff of smoke "I don't tattoo children" he said "Swell, we're not here for the ink" Five said "I'm just here along the ride" Lara said "We're here because we have a mutual friend. Sir Reginald Hargreeves" Five said and Pogo sighed "Whatever he wants, I'm not interested" he said and turned back to the tattoo chair "I don't think you understand, I'm one of his children. From another timeline" Five said and a few bikers started taking some steps closer to Lara and Five while the sound chains rattling was heard.

Pogo turned around to look at them again "Another timeline?" he asked before he chuckled and the two took a quick glance around to see that the birkers started to surround them.

"And the girl is what ? Your sister?" Pogo asked "Gross" Lara said "My girlfriend" Five replied and Pogo let out another chuckled.

"As crazy as it sounds, we have met before. Back in 1963 when you were a diaper-wearing chimp in dire need of a manicure. I don't know if you remember, but I have a scar to prove it" Five said and pulled down his collar a little bit to reveal the three scratch marks 

"If what you are saying is true, I'd be talking to a man and a woman well into their sixties" Pogo said "We are older than you think" Lara said "Now, if you two excuse me, I've had a very long day" Pogo said and turned around to leave.

"Pogo, you need to listen to me" Five said and the two attempted to follow Pogo but the birker blocked their way as they surrounded them.

"I think is time for you to go home to Mommy, little guy" one of the guys said as Pogo left the room.

"You too, little girl" another guy said and was about to grab Lara's shoulder, but she grabbed his wrist tight "Let me go" she hissed.

"I will take her seriously if I were you, those who didn't, came to regret it" Five said and Lara squeezed the guy's waist causing the sound of bons cracking to be heard and she then swung a kick at his face causing to let out a grunt as he felled to the floor.

But then one of the men was about to get her shirt but Five grabbed his wrist, snapping it then kicking him in the shin causing him to fall. Lara snatches out of the other man's grip before kicking him in the shin causing him to grunt in pain before falling to his knees.

"You two need to leave now" a guy said "Or what?" Five asked before he grabbed Lara's hand and blink them away.

The sound of chopper engine revving was heard as Lara and Five appeared outside and they saw Pogo driving away on a motorcycle.

"Shit" Five said before looking around and he saw a man on a motorcycle before he walked over to him "Hey, I need your bike. It's an emergency" Five said to him "Think you have me confused with someone who gives a shit" the guy said "Give us the bike or else..." Five said but the guy just started the bike before he drove away.

"Okay" Five said.

"Hey Jumpy Guy" Lara said and Five turned around to see Lara standing over by two bikes.

"We take those to and follow the monkey" Lara said "We don't have the keys to them" he said as he walked over to her "I have hot-wire them" Lara said "How do you--" "You wanna get a lesson from me or do you wanna take one and follow that monkey before we lose him?" she asked and Five walked over to one of them before he got up while Lara got up on the other one.

"Do you know how to drive a bike?" he asked "I do, let's do this" Lara said and the two started the bikes.

Engine was revving as the two were driving after Pogo.

---

Allison have taking Harlan away from the hotel and to a drive-in bio that was empty to wait on Viktor.

Allison was sitting on the car's trunk while Harlan was sitting down leaned against a building's wall with his eyes closed, listening to music.

"What are you listening to?" Allison asked him but Harlan didn't answer.

"Harlan!" Allison said out loud and Harlan opened his eyes "Headphones" she said before she pointed on her ear and he took his headphones.

"What's playing?" Allison asked "You. Everyone has their own vibration. Like a sonic fingerprint" Harlan said "Oh, yeah? What's mine sound like?" Allison asked "Wrong" Harlan said "You're unpleasant to be around, you know that" Allison said.

Then a car arrived at the drive-in bio before it stopped and Viktor stepped out of the car.

"Hey" he said as he stepped out of the car "You two getting alone?" he asked "Oh, yeah. Two peas in a pod" Allison said with a nod "How'd the others take you going AWOL?" she asked "Wouldn't say I'm their favorite sibling right now" Viktor said before he walked closer to Harlan.

"You okay, Harlan?" he asked but he didn't answer and he rubbed his knees as he glanced over at his briefcase next to him.

Allison jumped off the car and walked over to Viktor "Mr. Conversation" she said and she dropped her cigarette on the ground before she stomped on it with her foot.

"Doing all right?" she asked as she looked at Viktor "Yeah, I'm fine" he said with a nod "Things are getting really bad out there. There's not much time until everything falls apart" he said and Allison looked towards the city which some places was in flames.

"Okay, so what's the plan?" she asked as she looked back at Viktor "Harlan helps me figure out how to take his powers back" he said "And if that doesn't work?" she asked "Uh..." Viktor said not knowing what to answer.

"Look Viktor, I got your back, okay, but there's a limit. The others are right. We have to face this Kugelblitz" Allison said "Yeah, I know, I know..." Viktor said "You have till tonight. Otherwise, I swear, I'm gonna rumor your ass to come back with me, okay?" Allison said before she tilted her head "Yes, yeah. Sibling swear" Viktor said "I'm serious. Don't mess with me, tiny" Allison said before she walked over to the car.

Viktor then walked over to Harlan "Let's go this" he said as he helped him up.

---

Sloane was walking towards her bedroom, holding some food with her powers.

She opened the door before entering and Luther who was sitting on her bed let out a gasp "Oh, good. You remember the nut butter" he quietly as she closed the door with her powers before they put the things on the bed.

"All right" Luther said and exhales as he took a bite of the bread while Sloane sat down on the bed "Anybody see you?" he asked "No, but I don't think I can keep you hidden up here forever" she said as she eat some cereal "Well, I can't go back to the hotel" he said "Why not?" she asked "I don't know" he answered before he began to eat the nut butter with a spoon.

"Luther" she said "Mm-hmm?" he said "You're stress eating like you do" she said "No, I'm not" he said and was about to eat another huge spoon filled with nut butter "All right, what..." she said and lowered the spoon from his mouth "What's really going on?" she asked and he let out a sigh.

"I had a...fight with my sibling" he said "Which one?" she asked "A couple of 'em, actually" he said and sighed "Okay" he said as he put down the nut butter "Remember when I told you that my family is all that I have?" he asked and she nodded "Yeah" she said "I'm starting to wonder if I even have that" he said and she put her hand on his cheek "I'm so sorry" she said "It's fine" he said and she lowered her hand "I'm just so tired of fighting it. The only thing we really have in common is childhood trauma" he said and chuckled "I just...I'm not sure if that's enough to keep us together anymore, you know?" he said "Actually, I do" she said "Yeah" he said and they smiled to each other.

"You know, there is one thing I'm 1,000% sure about" he said as he put his hand on her knee "Your math isn't great but we can work with that" she said and they smiled to each other.

But then there was knock on the door "Shit" Luther said before they both jumped out of bed and Luther press his back against the wall before Sloane opened the door to see Fei "Hey. Hi" Sloane said almost out of breath "Ben needs a world" Fei said "Great. I'll be down in...in ten" Sloane said "Not with you" Fei said before she put her hand on the door, pushing it more opened to see Luther with his back pressed up against the wall.

"Him" she said as she pointed at him and Luther let out a chuckled "Oh! Hey, Fei. How's it going?" he said "How did you know?" Sloane asked "We share a wall. And your bed squeaks. Kept me up all night" Fei said before she looked at Luther "Phew" she said with a smile before she chuckled and walked away.

Sloane and Luther looked at each other "I told you!" she said as she closed the door.

---

"How do we start?" Viktor asked Harlan as the two was standing in front of each other "I don't know. Maybe start with what you did in the barn back in 1963" Harlan said "But that didn't work" Viktor said "I'm not a kid anymore. I can help you" Harlan said "Okay, how?" Viktor asked "Let me show you" Harlan said and the sound of energy resonating was heard as Harlan powered a little bit up.

Viktor looked around as the sound of win howling was heard and Harlan powered down again "Can you hear it?" he asked "I hear the wind" Viktor said "No. Deeper than that. Beneath the wind. Every living thing has an energy wave. A sound of its own" Harlan said and Viktor closed his eyes before the sound of energy resonating was heard again as Harlan powered up again.

"I...I...No, I...I can't" Viktor said "Concentrate. I want you to hear it" Harlan said and Viktor closed his eyes powers his skin turned icy blue and the sound of energy resonating was heard as Viktor powered up a little bit.

Allison was sitting in the car before she looked over her shoulder when she heard a familiar sound of Viktor's energy as both Harlan and Viktor powered up.

Harlan surrounded him and Viktor with an orange force field and Viktor let out a groan as he put his hands to his head while he hunched over "It's...It's hurting!" he said "You need to relax. Let it in" Harlan said and Allison looked out of the car to look at them.

Viktor had his eyes closed and he grits his teeth and Harlan hit him with small blasts of energy causing Viktor to let our a groan.

"Viktor" Allison called out as she stepped out of the car, walking over to them "Viktor?" she called out again as Viktor started gasping.

"Harlan, stop!" Allison said "I can take it" Viktor said before he let out a groan.

"Harlan, that's enough!" Allison shouted "I heard a rumour you let him go" she said as her voice echoing and a energy wave travled out of her mouth and around the force field.

"Listen harder, Viktor! You have to listen!" Harlan said as Viktor kept groaning while his body shook violently "I can...hear...it" he said, his voice straining while he kept groaning.

"Focus on it. Let it flow through your body!" Harlan shouted.

When Viktor focused on the sound the force field grew and it pulled Allison into it causing her to start screaming as she covered her eyes to block out the high pitched whistles.

Allison let out a groan as she opened her eyes and they were glowing orange as the light was absorbed into her skin.

Viktor started panting while his body was shaking more "Harlan! Harlan, stop! It's too much!" Allison shouted, her voice echoing and an energy sound wave left her mouth before it travled into Harlan's ears, making him stop causing the force field to disappear and Viktor fell forwards as Harlan stopping glowing.

Allison was panting as she stumbled on her feet while looking at her hands as she have realised that she had rumored Harlan to stop without saying 'I heard a rumor' first.

"How the hell did I just do that?" she asked.

"You had no right! We were making progress" Harlan shouted at Allison "Progress? You were killing him!" she shouted back before she walked over to Viktor and help him to his feet.

"You said we could try till tonight. There's still time. You promised" Viktor said and Allison looked at Harlan "No. No, there's something else going on here" she said before she looked back at Viktor "You wouldn't be risking your life like this" she said before she took a step closer to Viktor "Look, whatever it is, you can tell me" she said as Viktor was panting.

"You don't have to be here" Viktor told her "Well, I don't have anywhere else to go. But I'm not gonna stand here and watch you try to kill yourself" she said before she walked away.

---

Luther and Sloane was sitting on the couch in the living room "How much longer do we have to wait?" he asked "Are you in a rush to be somewhere else?" she asked "No, it's just...I'm not supposed to be here. For all I know, Ben and Fei can jump up from behind that couch and stab me to death" Luther said, worried "I'd never let them lay a finger on you" Sloane said before she kissed him.

"Okay"

Then Ben enter the room "Give us a minute" he said and Sloane got up "You. Be nice" she said as she looked at Ben before leaving.

"Listen, I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean to creep into your house. Don't blame Sloane--" Luther said "What's your game?" Ben asked "Big fan of Yahtzee" Luther said and Ben rolled his eyes "You know, old Ben would have laughed at that joke" Luther said "Okay, Gigantor, out with it" Ben said as he sat down on the coffee table in front of Luther.

"What's with your family's weird brother Ben fetish?" he asked "He...you...were the best of us, and you died too soon" Luther said and let out a sigh "The Jennifer incident--" "The what?" Ben asked, cutting him off "It doesn't matter. Just know that we were never the same without you. So, I'll take every second of whatever version of you we've got" Luther said "I'm not him, you moron" Ben said "Yes, I know" Luther said with a nod "He cared about people. He was selfless and...and kind--" "Don't forget funny" Ben said, cutting Luther off and they both chuckled.

"You know, maybe...maybe there's a little bit of him inside of you" Luther said "Nope. Not at all" Ben said "Well, genetically you are the same person just raised in a different environment" Luther said "Oh, here we go" Ben said as he got up "The old nature versus nurture argument" he said and Luther got up before he walked closer to him "Deny it, but he's in there...somewhere" Luther said with his finger on Ben's chest.

"Okay" Ben said as he removed the finger "I've already had one big dumb brother telling me what to do. I don't need another. But the team might" Ben said and Luther looked confused at him "Grace!" Ben said out loud and Grace entered the room, holding a black box "Mom?" Luther asked, looking at her confused as he saw that she was missing an eye.

"Are you all right?" he asked "Of course. Why do you ask?" Grace said as she gave him a box.

"Open it" Ben said and Luther opened it to see a Sparrow suit causing his eyes to widen while Fei entered the room.

"I can't take this" Luther said "Oh my God" Sloane said as she entered the room with Chris "Are you serious?" she asked as she looked at Ben.

"I'd rather have him with us than against us" Ben said as he looked at Sloane before he looked back at Luther "Aren't you gonna try it on? You're about Marcus's size" Ben said "Hey. What's wrong?" Sloane asked "I'm honored. Really, I am. I just...I'm still an Umbrella" Luther said "Are you?" Sloane asked as she looked at him.

"And also" Ben said and Luther looked at him "Those twins, do you think you can convince them in joining us?" Ben asked "Well, I don't know. They are Five's sons who they didn't knew was his father until a few days ago, so I think they want to stay near him, beside I don't know them that well" Luther said "What kind of powers do they have?" Ben asked "Uhh...They can like Five teleport both short and long distances, they can mimic other people's superpowers and use themself, they can also make a huge energy wave...Uh" Luther said as he thought a bit "That's what I know off. But I think they can do way more. They are also really smart even so they are only 14. And more marture than kids their age" Luther said "Well. You can stay as long as you like" Ben said before he left.

---

Lara and Five was driving down the road that was in the middle of a forest.

"Nine o'clock!" Five said when he saw an RV in the forest and the two turned left before driving farther into the forest.

They both stopped the bike as they saw Pogo's bike and they stopped the engine before they both got off.

A woman was sitting on her bench reading while smoking when Lara and Five walked closer to the RV "Can I help you two?" she asked "Need a word with Pogo" Five said "Ain't no Pogo here, pumpkin" the woman said.

"Okay" Five huffed before the two stepped closer and the woman stood up "So I suggest you two get your ass of my property before I call a truant officer" she said "We're so scared" Lara said sarcastically.

"It's okay, Tammy. Let the kids in" Pogo said from inside the RV.

Five gave the woman a small smirk and raised his eyebrows before Lara and him walked towards the RV.

Lara and Five entered the RV to see Pogo sitting by a table and the two walked over to the small table  while Tammy closed the door before she sat on the other side of the RV, continuing to read her book.

As soon as Lara and Five sat down they heard a pistol cocking but they both remain calm.

"You're either dumb or desperate" Pogo said and Five moved his hand into his inner pocket "Which is it?" Pogo asked "I'm just with him on the ride, I don't know that much" Lara said.

"You tell me" Five said and he took out the piece of skin with the tattoo before he put it on the table.

Pogo put down his glass before he picked up the tattoo "That looks like my work, but I never did that tattoo" he said "Not yet, you haven't. It belong to the future version of me" Five said "Ah, so desperate it is" Pogo said "You would be too if you knew the entire universe were at stake" Five said and and Pogo inhale sharply "So it's happened" he said before the sound of a pistol de-cocks was heard.

Pogo opened a small box next to him before he took out a journal "Ah, here it is" he said as he opened it on a page, before he lay it on the table so Lara and Five could see "Look familiar?" he asked as Five grabbed the journal before he lay the skin down next to the journal to compare the tattoo with the sigil and symbols on in journal while Lara learn closer.

"Okay, that's weird. It match" Lara said as both they saw that the tattoo matched with the symbols on the page "It does" Five said "So that is not a coincidence?" Lara asked and Five shook his head.

"Reggie was obsessed with these symbols. It's a sigil. A symbol thought to have magical powers" Pogo said "Reginald believed in science, facts" Five said as he looked at Pogo "I didn't respect much about the old man, but I respected that. Hoo-ha was not his thing. It's gotta have a rational meaning" Five said as he look back at the symbols "I don't know, but he referred to it as Project Oblivion" Pogo said and Five looked at him as he remember that his sons' old self said the same.

"This project. We need to know more" Five said and Pogo poured Five a drink before he started telling Lara and Five more about it.

---

"It was a kamikaze mission. He was preparing the Sparrow children with the expectation they might never return" he said as Five took a sip of a glass "That's why I gave the children those pills, to keep them safe from him" Pogo said "Well, my druggie brother just got him sober. Go figure" Five said "Then Project Oblivion is starting again, and you are all in danger" Pogo said as he pointed at Five.

Five let out a sigh as he took a sip of his glass before he put it down "Then I should probably get that ink. Complete the loop" he said before he got up and began removing his blazer.

"Are you sure?" Pogo asked "Oh, I don't think destiny cares whether I am or not" Five said "Bitch is cruel, ain't she?" Tammy said as she got up before she grabbed Pogo's things while Five sat down on the couch.

"Where are you gonna get it?" Lara asked "The chest" Five answered.

"Well then, let's get started" Pogo said as Five took off his tie.

---

Viktor had succeeded taking back his powers from Harlan.

Allison was standing outside the building when Harlan walked outside "How's Viktor?" she asked "Sleeping. He is exhausted. Thank you for before, letting us finish what we needed to do" Harlan said "He's my brother. I'd do anything for him" Allison said "What happens to me now?" Harlan asked "You go home. We clean up your mess" Allison said "With the Sparrows" Harlan said and Allison nodded "Yeah" she said.

"It's okay. I know why you don't like me" Harlan said and Allison turned around to look at him "I don't like the hold you have on him" she said "It's because of what I did. To all of you" Harlan said "And what is that exactly?" Allison asked "I...I...thought Viktor told you. About the mothers" Harlan said "It was you. You're the reason they're all dead" she said "It was an accident. I didn't meant to hurt them" he said "You're the reason Claire's dead" Allison said angry "My powers spilled over. Got in my head" he said "And the reason the whole world is ending!" she said more aggressive "I...I couldn't stop myself" he said "Viktor knew" she said "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't want..." he said, shaking with the sound of sadness and pain in his voice "Sorry is what you say when you spill a glass of milk, not obliterate somebody's child!" she said before she took a deep breath and looked down on the ground "What are you gonna do?" he asked and she looked at him.

---

Diego and Lila had not just lost Stan but also Mitch and Andy who they were watching over.

While trying to look for them, they found out that there was a door in the White buffalo Suite and they decided to go in.

On the other side of the door was there a passage and that let to a place that was like the hotel but empty.

There Lila told Diego that Stan was not theirs but a kid she have borrowed from her friend. And then they a rang a bell on the counter where after that they were attacked by something that cut off two of Diego's fingers. 

Lucky both Lila and Diego managed to get back on the other side.

Diego let out a winces as he was holding his hand on his other hand where he was missing two fingers as him and Lila was standing by the door that lead to the other side of the hotel.

"What are we gonna say to Five and Lara?" Lila asked "Five is gonna kill us. So how are we gonna tell them that we lost his sons?" Diego asked "I have no idea, but you tell them" Lila said "Why me?" Diego asked "'Cause Five is your brother and it's your nephews, so is better that it comes for you" she replied "It's just as much your fault as is mine" he said.

"Yeah, it was so much fun" a voice said "Yeah, you should have seeing his face it was just so--" another voice said and Diego and Lila turned around to see Mitch, Andy and Stand entering the Suite while they were holding a Slushes and a Slim Jim each.

The three stop laughing when they saw Diego and Lila "Stanley?" Lila asked "Mitch, Andy" Diego said "Hey guys" Mitch said as he waved at them

"You gotta be kidding me" Diego said "Where the hell were you three?" Lila asked "What? Can't three kids have time to get a Slushes and a Slim Jim?" Stan asked "We were bored and decided to have some for the sweet tooth" Andy said "And you three didn't tell us" Diego said a little loud "You two were busy with something disgusting, so..." Andy said.

"Why is your hand bleeding?" Mitch asked.

But then the sound of a shockwave pulsing was heard which cause the lights to flicker on and off for a few seconds while the place shook a bit.

Stan let out a scream as he got Kugelblitzed causing his Slushes and the Slim Jim to fall to the floor while Mitch and Andy jolted a little to the side as they felt the Kugelblitz.

"Okay, that was a big one" Andy said before the two spotted that Stan was gone "And it seem like it took Stan" Mitch said "Really, I actually starting liking that kid" Andy said "So did I" Mitch said before the twins looked back at Lila and Diego "Oh shit" Diego said before he let out a sigh.

---

Allison stopped her car in front of the Academy where Fei and Ben was standing.

Allison walked over to the trunk of the car before opened it and Ben and Fei walked over to see what was in the trunk "You got what you wanted. This is done" Allison said as they looked into the trunk to see Harlan's dead body.

"The twins?" Ben asked "Couldn't get them" Allison said as she looked at them "But now you have one of the things you want. So this is done" Allison said.

Ben looked at Reginald with a nod and Reginald smiled.

Allison walked over to the front door to see Luther wearing the Sparrow suit. She scoffed before she walked into the Academy.

As the rest walked into the Academy Reginald walked over to Ben "How do you we get the twins?" Ben asked "We don't need to get them, they will come to us" Reginald said "How?" Ben asked "When their parents finds out that working together is the only way to stop this, they will have no other choice than come to us" Reginald said "But how do we get them away from their parents, I don't think their parents are going to give them up" Ben said "I'm working on a plan for that" Reginald said before he turned around and walked back into the Academy.

A/N: Vote or comment