So far...things haven't been going to well for our protagonists...maybe things will change...maybe not. Sorry about the super disturbing chapter last time. It's for the later plot, I promise.
____________________________________

        Things were not going well with Ara Haan. She was currently tied up with tape over her mouth as she sat in the middle of a transportation unit and being brought to Altera city by Proto and the memebers of the Crow Mercenaries. Proto was taking Ara to Add which wasn't an entirely bad thing but if Add didn't answer the questions that those in high ranks in Altera had for him, Ara would be killed right in front of him. She'd probably be killed anyway once Add finished answering if he decided to answer.

        "Stop you're complaints. You're only making things harder for us," Raven said, avoiding Ara's gaze. He'd been the one to catch her, catching Eun off guard by "going invisible" as Eun put it. Eun had faught bravely up until that point and Ara was dismayed to find that Eun had failed to get her out of the situation although she knew it was her fault in the first place. If she'd just left when Eun had told her to, none of this would be happening.

        "Raven, are you sure that Ara did something like that. Committing treason is serious and especially from her. Ara would never do that to Add would she?" Owen asked, still unsure about the lie Raven had told him to keep him from learning the truth. Strangely enough, it seemed that Owen was completely unaware of whatever was going on behind closed doors. He only knew of the outside plan rather than the intended plan.

        "It may be hard to believe but yes, Ara is a traitor. She was trying to turn our location in to Eve for Add's release. We can't allow that," Seris said. Owen still seemed unsure though. "But why wait until the day of our most important mission. We're delivering the code card to Altera's core. If she were to give our location away, she'd be killing everyone on this floating island, including Add because of the explosion that the unstablized core will cause if we don't use that code card," Owen reasoned.

        "Owen, for the last time, shut up and stop asking so many damn questions. The demon's obviously a traitor and is by no means innocent," Barton snapped. "Barton!" Zohan said in a warning tone. "What? If the boy can't accept plain facts then he'll never get anywhere. Why do you think he's always the one getting hurt and kidnapped. His weak mind let's him believe everything that anyone says to him," Barton said. "Barton, that's enough!" Seris snapped.

        The damage had already been done though. Owen's usually cheerful yet nervous, but had currently been concerned, eyes glossed over with sadness and he glance at Ara. He still seemed like he wanted to say more to prove her innocence but he remained quiet with his gaze locked on the floor near Ara. "Ara, touch Owen for a second. I can relay my words to him if you come in contact with him. I believe he will be our way out," Eun said. Since Ara was in the middle of everyone, all she had to do was scoot more towards Owen a bit but she didn't want to seem suspicious.

        "Stop trying to escape, Ara. You aren't going anywhere," Fred muttered, noticing that Ara was pulling at the ropes that bound her. What everyone didn't know was that she was slowly making her way towards Owen who gave her an apologetic glance. When she was close enough, she gave up her act and sat still as she fake sulked. Her arm brushed up against Owen's leg and he looked down at her again still giving her an apologetic look.

        "If you keep lookng at her, you'll only make your resolve weaker. Well, it's not like you had a strong resolve anyway," Barton muttered. Zohan, who was sitting next to him, punched his arm to which Barton huffed in annoyance. "Owen, this is Eun. Keep your gaze on the floor and listen to me," Eun said. Ara could hear her but now Owen could as well and Ara could tell because his eyes widened in surprise a bit.

        "Ara is indeed innocent. Raven and Seris were plotting with Proto to have her killed in order to reset the timeline. You are probably the only one in this transportation unit that doesn't know of this plan. It's likely due to you not remembering the past timelines," Eun was saying. Owen glanced over at Raven and Seris but thankfully they weren't looking in his direction. "Eyes on the floor!" Eun snapped and Owen immediately looked down again.

        "When we stop. We'll need your help. You need to free us so that we can go and save Add. Raven and the others will still be able to use the code card to save Altera but you shouldn't stay with them. I sense tragedy coming in the near future. It would be best if you came along with us, leaving Altera behind. You're friends are willing to kill to get to their goal but you aren't. I saw with my own eyes how you avoided killing when you fought," Eun said. Owen glanced at Ara and then back to Seris and Raven. The transportation unit suddenly stopped.

        "We have arrived. It is best that you all stay quiet until we enter the city," Proto said from the driver's seat. They were in a cargo transport unit and would be scanned in. Raven's plan was to get to Altera Core by brute force meaning this was a suicide mission. If they didn't make it there, then everyone died. Proto would still be taking Ara to Add though. Whether or not they succeeded didn't matter for Raven's goal was to have the timeline reset anyway but Owen didn't truly know this.

        "Will you help us? Please, Owen, you really are our last chance here," Ara thought. Owen looked at her as if he wanted to but looked back to Raven, who was his best friend, unsure of what to do. "We're almost to the cargo check," Proto announced. "Right. When the door opens, everyone storm out, no mercy. Kill or be killed. We can't afford to lose this," Raven said. Owen gave a slightly horrified look at Raven after his statement. Ara stared up at him pleadly but he was too distracted by what he'd just heard Raven say.

        "Raven, you can't be serious. Do you know how many nasods we'd have to take down just to get into the castle?! Not to mention that some of them aren't even programed to be guards and will still defend their queen with their life. I don't doubt we'd lose but that's inhumane!" Owen said. Raven gave him an apologetic look, maybe even a look of pity. "It's the same as always. You never make it past your morals. That's why your my best friend. You can be the mercenary that I wished to be, never breaking the morals you belive in," Raven said.

        "It's not inhumane if they aren't human," Fred said quietly, obviously feeling as though his actions were just a little wrong. "You can't be serious. Seris, you understand don't you?" Owen said. "Listen. They'll only be dead temporarily. They'll come back once everything is done," Seris said. Even Ara was shocked by their way of thinking. "No...this can't be...all of you are insane," Owen whimpered as he backed away from his comrades.

        "Owen, you can't stay here with Ara. We don't trust that you won't set her free so you only have two options here. I'm sure you're smart enough to figure out which options those are," Barton said. "What are you talking about?" Owen said, truly surprised that his comrades didn't trust him. "You are faithful only to your righteous standards, a quality that even I wish I possessed," Zohan said. "We're almost there," Proto announced.

        "There's no time. He's made his choice already," Barton said as he drew his sword in the limited space they had. "Barton wait, don't-" Fred yelped but Barton had already driven his sword forward, deeply stabbing Owen in his abdomen. Owen cried out in pain and shock as Barton pulled his sword free. "One less problem to worry about," Barton said. Ara watched in horror not only because of Barton's actions but also because of everyone else's reactions. Seris and Raven looked unphased by the action, Zohan snapped his eyes shut, and Fred simply looked away.

        Owen fell in front of Ara, holding his wound and whimpering in pain and betrayal. "We're here. Now's your chance. When I say the words, you know when to go," Proto said just before the transportation unit came to a stop. A nasod outside asked Proto some sort of cargo related question. "There are prisoners back there. Be careful. They're dangerous," Proto said. With these words, Raven and his crew minus Owen sprang into action, leaving the transportation unit and closing the door behind them.

        "They've gotten loose! Quickly capture them! I'll alert the others," Proto said. Soon after, they were on the move again. Ara wasn't worried about that though. She was more concerned about Owen who was bleeding out in front of her. His pained expression made Ara want to cry for she belived that she was part of the reason why Owen had been stabbed. "Do not worry. I will save him. Seeing people die...that's not my wish," Proto said as she piloted the transportation unit. Unfortunately, Ara was still bound and couldn't speak and therefore couldn't express her concerns.

        "Getting stabbed like this...it really hurts," Owen breathed. He had stopped his whimpers and now only winced in pain. "Those ropes...they've got to be uncomfortable...plus you can't escape...with them on," Owen said as he reached for his sheathed sword and began to get up. Ara shook her head, not wanting Owen to waste his energy on her. Despite him being wounded, he easily freed Ara but collapsed soon afterwards. He let out a whimper of pain as the transportation unit seemed to hit something.

        "Eun, is there anything we can do to save him?" Ara asked aloud not caring if she was heard. "I'm afraid not. My healing ability is limited only to my host and even so, I can't grant that much healing power at once anymore. I'd been saving the energy I used to heal you for years. Owen needs much more since his wound is worse than yours was," Eun answered. "Hold on back there. If I can get him to the lab area, I'm sure he can be saved. Apple has plently of treatments she can give him," Proto said.

        "He isn't going to make it, Ara. We can at least try to stop the bleeding if you still intend to try saving him," Eun said immediately after Proto spoke. "Hey, Ara...don't worry about me. I...I wouldn't be a mercenary if a simple stab wound.....killed me," Owen said with a slight smile. Everyone stayed silent for a bit until Proto came to a stop. "Come on, we've got enough time to save him if we hurry. Plus Add is this way as well. Apple keeps him in her personal lab room," Proto said just before stepping out of the transportation unit. As Proto opened the door to let Ara and Owen out, Ara began to hear the sounds of a far off batle as well as alarms.

        "I don't think you'll try escaping so hurry up and help me get him inside," Proto said to Ara. She nodded and immediately went over to Owen who stared at her as if begging her to let him die there but Ara wouldn't allow it. "I'm going to save you," Ara said as she helped him try standing. He struggled a bit but was able to get up and with Ara's help, they made it to where Proto was opening a door to the side of the caslte. To Proto, Ara, and Owen's shock, Eve was standing at the door with her hand out as though was about to open the door herself. "What's going on here?" Eve demanded. "Not good," Ara thought as he luck continued to decline.
____________________________________

Ouch...I feel like I'm doing worse and worse on my chapters. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I'll fix it. Until next time you amazing readers!