Third Person

Two days after the invasion and Rasmus was still waiting for the final reports.

During it, he found himself worried sick about everyone, mainly those who were taken but suddenly, they all came back saying Cody helped them escape. A while after, Cody, Professor and Tanith all returned as well. Everyone was still cooling off but things had to be done. Guards were sent everywhere, cell towers repaired and the hospital was busier than ever. Rasmus was eager to know what happened and demanded detailed reports on the main people associated with it. For the most part, he got them back, only a few stragglers remaining.

The rooster had a pretty clear picture of what happened, but there was still one story he needed to complete it. Sure, there were a couple legionnaires who weren't done, but if it was like the first one that came in, it wouldn't matter much. Rasmus still needed her side of the story.

Cody and Professor Pikalus both mentioned something interesting in what they said, so she just needed to clear it up.

The counselor waited in the dining room, which also was where he found himself doing most of his work. One Eye was just outside of it, guarding him protectively. She rarely left his side.

Rasmus found himself reading through the reports again before a light voice brought his attention forward. "Hello?" His head lifted up, seeing who it was.

The hybrid had finally made herself known, slithering into the room with One Eye watching her carefully. With one hand, she carried pieces of paper all stapled together. The half snake made her way around the table before speaking again.

"My report is finally done, but before I give it to you... I have a request."

Rasmus raised an eyebrow at what she said, but nodded along anyways. Tanith took in a deep breath. "Do you remember when you hired me to come to Atlantis?"

The rooster chuckled. "Hard to forget. What about it?"

"Well you probably remember our deal then." The adviser paused. "Do you mean the promise?" She quickly shook her head. "No, not that part. The privileges I'd get from it. Specifically the part where you mentioned I could keep certain things to myself within reason. The part where you could keep files on the downlow."

"... Where is this going?" His eyebrow rose.

Tanith took in a deep breath, letting it all out. "I'd like you to keep this file away from others. You may read it, but otherwise, it's restricted."

Rasmus thought to himself for a moment. "Even to Cody?"

She nodded, almost reluctantly. "Even Cody. I hate to lie to people, but there are certain things I'd rather not admit. You've kept some things a secret, so I'd like this to be one of them."

The male found himself intrigued. What did she know about? "What secrets are you talking about? Or should I say which?" Though he didn't have many, there were a few out there.

Tanith hesitated, then made eye contact with him. "I have no idea what most of your secrets are, whether Cody knows or not, or your reason for keeping them, but I do understand that you always do what is right, especially if it means protecting Cody. I've read the history books Rasmus. I've also seen the way Cody acts. He doesn't know, does he?"

His feathers ruffled almost immediately, but then relaxed again. "If you know about it already and haven't told him, I can trust that you won't?" She nodded. "I don't have the heart to. I expect that you don't either, which is why he doesn't know. The main thing I'm afraid will come of it is when he does find out, because information like that won't stay hidden forever, especially not from him. He's a king Rasmus. He's going to find out, and it's going to break his heart."

Rasmus nodded gravely. Silence passed before Tanith finally handed over her report. "I don't fully understand you yet, but I trust you'll get why I want to keep this hidden once you read it. Don't even mention it, okay? I might have done what needed to be done, but I'm afraid others won't see it like that. I'd rather not change the way they see me."

As she left the room, Rasmus couldn't help but say what was on his mind. "I read Cody's report." She stopped. "And I can read people pretty well. It's good to know you were doing your best to fulfill your promise. But, I hope that somethings, or some people, won't get in the way of it."

She didn't say anything for a period of time. Finally, she faced him. "I always keep my promises. Remember, if you ever find yourself not trusting me, then at least trust that. Farewell Rasmus."

Echoing a goodbye to her, Rasmus watched her leave, then took a look in what she had wrote.

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Despite the orders to stay in bed, KrakenKid had to get up. Hospitals were never something he liked much. Traveling to the tunnels, many Illithids were repairing the damage, clearing out the cave ins. The one leading the operation approached, respectfully acknowledging him.

"Sir, we are making much progress. Soon it will be accessible again."

"Good."

The kraken stood in front of the piles of stone. "Sir, I heard about what happened and I'm glad you're alive, but what happened to Annon? Did the rocks get him, or did you?" Thinking back, KrakenKid remembered it all. Every little detail flashed before him, it was like he was there once again, staring at the barrel of the gun.

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Annon let out a low chuckle, taking his sweet time to walk over. KrakenKid was on the ground, body sprawled out but his arms get him somewhat up. Standing caused too much pain on his abdomen, where the bullet was. KrakenKid glanced back at the newly made barrier that now blocked off the exit. Dying was more than likely with this maniac and the roof still coming down. Still, there was a part of him that was happy. Happy that at least CannibalCrab and Blooper were safe. At least, one way or another, Anonymous would get his just desserts.

"Ah, looks like you were a little smarter than I gave you credit for. Still an imbecile, but not too bad. Bringing the roof down to kill me was an interesting plan, but I still win. My only purpose after all was to kill you."

KrakenKid paused, taking in his words, and couldn't help but question it. "Really? All that trouble just to kill me? You aren't with Atlantis are you? I saw you, you didn't hesitated to harm Cody, the King of all people. Not like I'm complaining, but I don't get it. I must have done something personal for you to snap like this. So what was it? I've pissed off a lot of people, what makes you any different?"

He could tell he was smiling, even through the mask. "You corrupted my family, and in turn, me. My Mom died in one of those petty fights you and that King were in. Caught in the crossfire I suppose. Sometimes I wonder if that King ever thinks about the consequences of his actions, but oh well. It's not like I have any loyalty left to him. Then there was my Dad, also died in a fight with you. Remember when you attacked the lab a long time ago? My Dad was a scientist there. But, to be honest with you, I didn't care much. Never was much of a father anyways. Too prideful in himself and barely ever noticed me. And when he did, it never ended well. I wasn't mad about that. Do you know what really killed me? My baby sister."

"What about her?" The Tide Changer asked. He came closer and crouched to his level. "She joined you. You corrupted her. I didn't know it when she disappeared, but my sister died that day. Now she's just some general for the Tide Changers. I don't even know her any more."

Pulling out the gun, KrakenKid's yellow eyes found themselves staring at the barrel of his gun. "So who better to blame then you? Revenge is sweet, isn't it?"

"Step away from him."

Annon wasn't startled by the voice, just surprised and inched his head to see who exactly was interfering with his moment of triumph. KrakenKid did the same, eyes wandering over to the female. Though shocked to see her, the only thing that was more so, was the m9 in her hand and aimed straight for Annon's head and her face dead serious. For one moment, her eyes shifted to me, but quickly went back to the original target. The man wearing the mask merely chuckled, and slowly stood up. KrakenKid's eyes searched until they spotted a little hole on the other side of the room. Not very big, but someone like Tanith could fit through it. The cave in must have messed with Annon's natural barricade.

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in! Or should I say snake?" The man laughed at his own joke. Tanith's expression did not change. The blue eyes stared coldly at him, only sparing a look at the injured kraken. "Not in the mood for jokes? Too bad, it's real mood killer isn't it? Though, I think I know a better one."

Tanith cocked the gun. "You aren't in a position for joking. I'd be listening to me if I were you. One wrong move and I'll shoot. Don't think I won't." The female's voice hardened.

Annon shook his head. "Maybe, but you're distracted. I have my gun on KrakenKid, and from the way you're acting, he isn't just someone you have to save to you. Besides, you couldn't kill me."

The kraken watched as her eyes narrowed on the man in the suit. "What makes you think that?"

"Because everyone in Atlantis has a profile. I accessed them, that's how I got this far. Professor Pikalus, one of the only people who could build this weapon. I found a way to manipulate him to do my bidding. All I had to do was bring up KrakenKid and boy, did he work. Next was Cody. Cody's a busy man and as long as I kept my head low, I wouldn't have to deal with him. KrakenKid? He has a soft spot: His son. All I had to do was get my hands on him and good old Dad would come running. I had to test the gun beforehand, so I had a little shooting. Kraken came to investigate so I did another test. Worked both times, the gun did as expected and when his guard dog came to bite, I made him run right back to his master. CannibalCrab is a fighter, but he's loyal to KrakenKid. Too loyal to let him die even if it meant taking down a huge threat. All of it was too easy."

Tanith blinked. "I don't see how all of that was relevant. Where are you going with this?"

 His head shook. "I looked into your file. I must admit, as soon as I saw War Medic, I put it down. I've seen your kind, you can barely kill and you certainly couldn't in this situation. Too stressful for you. So no, you aren't a threat."

Something flickered in her eyes. "... What are you called?"

"Anonymous."

"Well Mr. Anonymous, you clearly haven't dealt with enough of my people to know anything about us. Have you been in a war? Well of course not, I've seen the look in people's eyes when they have. There's always this little darkness inside of them. A little part in the eyes when it's brought up. I have been in a war. Several in fact. Too many, that I've lost count. When you're in the middle of a war and come across someone who threatens something dear to you, whether it be a person, place or even a value, everything goes out the window. You're left with nothing but the purest form of yourself. At that moment, your true colors shine and your next action tells whoever is watching who you truly are. You'll have no idea what you are doing or going to do, until it's done, and even you will surprise yourself. It's pretty clear that my colors aren't part of a spectrum you can see. Now I will ask you one more time, step away from KK, or I will forcibly show you those colors."

But he only laughed. "All bark and no bite. You aren't going to shoot me-"

A gunshot rang out. Anonymous's body dropped to the ground, bleeding from the head.

"Are you sure about that?" It was more of a statement than a question when she said it.

Tanith took in a shaking breath, carefully bringing the gun down. Suddenly, her head shot up as if remembering something and the gun was put away. The snake lady rushed to KrakenKid's side, examining his wound.

"You're losing blood and fast." Her voice much softer than when she was speaking to Annon. The ground shook, telling them both they still weren't safe. Through all of that, the kraken found himself in a shocked state. Seconds passed. "KK? Are you alright?" Snapping out of it, words began to slip out of his mouth. "I-... I didn't think you'd shoot him. I mean the gun itself was surprising but I really didn't expect you to shoot him, much less in the head. You aim had gotten better."

The once concerned face lightened up. "Oh, thank you KK! I mean you kinda helped it along with our little lesson in violence. We need to get you out of here." Pulling out a pickaxe, Tanith began to mine out a tunnel. A couple blocks in, she turned back and wrapped her arms around the Tide Changers waist, pulling him along. "You're going to be okay." She promised, but even as she said it, the voice was so far away. The ground disappeared from under him, as did the rest of the world. Soon, even he would fade away.

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KrakenKid sighed. Though his eyes had drifted to the ground, they shot up again. He faced the lead Illithid. "Neither actually. Tanith shot him."

They were taken aback. "Tanith? That one snake-human fusion that keeps visiting out of nowhere? I thought she was a doctor! Didn't you say she wasn't a threat?"

Thinking back, her sudden change of voice, the look in her eyes and the overall situation, it gave him a prompting of what to say. "She might be a little more dangerous than I thought, but Tanith isn't a threat to us."

There was not a single soul that KrakenKid knew that wouldn't do anything for someone they truly cared about. There were few who would kill for them. However, this did make him wonder if there was more to some people than meets the eye.

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Crap man, that was one of the shady-est chapters I've ever written. Oh well, there is much revealed here! There are somethings that are yet to be known, but eventually everything will be revealed, and everything will fall into place. I have much do to on this story.

Also, Don't worry! I plan on making the next chapter a little more lighthearted and definitely not as tense!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I didn't expect it to be out this early but once I got the ideas rolling, it just all came together really quickly! Be sure to comment what you think, and I'll see ya'll later! Bu-bye!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter