Third Person

Cody had woken up to a bunch of different situations, many of which were unpleasant, such as a rooster, who is also your uncle, screaming at you for electrocuting him accidentally when he was trying to bring you breakfast and making him spell it on himself. Or that one time KrakenKid got a hold of his number, called him in the middle of the night then just started screeching as loud as he could.

However, none of them induced a panic as big as when Selena called, rambled in a fearful voice for a couple minutes, then screamed for him to come over and hung up. This was mainly so frightening because Selena always slept in, and it was seven in the morning, not to mention he could barely understand her, something she normally was so careful about.

So Cody booked it as fast as he could to the tunnels.

Selena was pacing when he got there, and swam over to him as quickly as he could. She began to shake his shoulders and repeated his name over and over in a panicked voice until he steadied her.

"Selena," He took in a deep breath, looking at her in the eyes. "What's going on?"

"Endy is missing!" She squeaked, then quickly covered her mouth and caught her breath.

Cody rose an eyebrow, glancing around the base. "Endy? You mean that little dragon guy?" She nodded. "He's huge though! He's longer than me! How did you-"

"I don't know and I was trying to feed him this morning but he's just gone!" Selena cut in. She frantically played with her hair. "And Sam loves him so much and if she find out he's missing under my watch-" She didn't finish and just put her face in her hands and let out a little scream. "She's not going to forgive me! Especially since taking care of Endy while she's at work is my way of showing her that I can handle a pet of my own! She'll never let me get one now!"

Cody looked around, noticing Sam's door was wide open and one of her couches was moved, making it asymmetrical from the other, but other than that, no other clues that he could see. "What if we find him before Sam gets home?" He suggested.

Selena paused, then shot her whole head up, eyes almost sparkling. "Yes!" Then her eyes narrowed on him. "And you better help me. Guilty by association, you're in this too now."

Cody bit back his comment about how he was going to help anyways and just continued. "You know Endy better than I do, so where would he go in the first place?"

Selena thought to herself before glancing to the tunnels. "Off of the top of my head, no but... It's possible someone in the lab might've seen him." She suggested, shrugging her shoulders. "Let's start there."

In the lab, all the scientists were either rushing around or whispering in rising tones. Professor Pikalus himself almost ran right by them if Selena hadn't grabbed onto his arm and pulled him back.

"What?" He hissed. "Make it quick! We've got a Code Blue on our hands and I'm not willing to let the lab I worked so hard to build be lost because you two wanted to chat!"

Cody blinked in surprise but Selena was already on it. "Have you seen Endy at all? It's possible he came through here."

"Nope. Bye!" Professor once again tried to get to the lab, but this time it was Cody holding him back.

"Whoa... What's "Code Blue" and what's going on?" Cody asked, concern leaking into his voice.

Professor gave an exasperated sigh but turned towards him anyways. "Code Blue means unstable weaponry that could potentially be turned dangerous if we don't figure out a way to soothe it and me standing here not doing anything doesn't help! And it's the Gauntlet. It's not totally unstable yet but it's literally flaring up and we had to isolate it. Only people wearing a fire proximity suit can get close to it. It hasn't started any mini explosions but if conditions get worse, it just might." He finished, running a stressed hand through his hair.

The penguin nodded along before tilting his head slightly. "What's causing it?"

Professor held his breath. "I... Don't know." He admitted, eyes narrowing as he scanned all around them. "And even worse, I can't find Jerold! The one time I truly need him, he's just gone!" His eyes turned back to them. "If you see him, sent him back here pronto." He said sharply before bolting for the lab.

Selena and Cody both shared a look but began to think. "Well..." Cody huffed. He let himself think for a moment before meeting her eyes again. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but did Endy have any enemies? Or any friends too would be useful."

"Ummm... There's Tanith's pet and-" She froze, eyes widening. "What if he went to go see Sam? At her office? He's been there before, he knows the way!"

Before Cody could even give his thoughts, the mermaid was already swimming as fast as she could closer to the heart of the city, leave the king to catch up as best as he could.

Selena led the way, eventually getting to the tall buildings nearby the docks and slipped in the glass doors. She made a beeline for the front desk while Cody just looked around, halfheartedly following her. He had never been to where Sam worked, but he had to say, for an office building, it was really nice. The floor was made out of a smoothed marble, the walls had a calming baby blue and it even had columns holding the ceiling up, and a chandelier lighting it all up.

The lady at the front desk looked up briefly before going back to scribbling something down. "Selena," she greeted with a nod. "And to what do I have to owe the pleasure? Looking for your sister perhaps?" Selena nodded vigorously just as Cody finally joined her side. "Sam checked out a couple minutes ago, so I don't know what to tell you."

Selena's mouth dropped. "What?" She shrieked. Cody covered his ears but the lady still didn't so much as bat an eye.

"Mmmmhmm." The lady hummed, now opening a couple of drawers and sorting it all out. "Something about an emergency and needing to take her break right then and there. Who am I to stop her? She is one of the best here. You should just see her words per minute, puts me and everyone else to shame."

While Cody seemed impressed, Selena wasn't listening. "An emergency? Did she say what?" Her voice had an edge to it.

The receptionist shrugged. "I figured it had something to do with one of you two, given that's the only reason she ever takes breaks, other than that one time that snake lady came in here and screamed for relationship or feelings advice or something but that's a story for another day. Now, if you excuse me, I have five pounds of jello waiting for me in the fridge and if Rick thinks for one moment I'm gonna share it, he has another thing coming."

She left before they could ask anymore questions, making them both sigh. "Maybe I can still get Endy without her knowing... Let's try Garry."

"You mean Larry?"

"Yes, him. Hurry!"

Cody had time to prepare for Selena's running off this time and managed to somewhat keep up that time. However, when they reached Tanith's house and knocked on the door, nobody answered. They waited a moment and did it again, but still nothing. Cody's eyebrows arched. He reached over and twisted the doorknob, making the door swing open.

"Every time..." He mumbled to himself walking in. "I warn her of robbers but she never listens... Tanith!" He called, spinning around but found no one. "...Larry?" He called, but the scuttling of his little legs didn't come, nor did he see any living chest around. "Huh... Where are they?"

"On a walk?" Selena suggested, then stared at the back door open. "Or outside?" She swam over to check but neither was in sight. "Looks like Endy isn't here either."

"He was." Both jumped and whipped around to see a man standing in the doorway. He was a skinny guy with hazel eyes and brown curly hair. He dressed like a professor and had both of his hands in his pockets. "Bartholomew." He greeted with a small smile. "A- ah... Complicated friend of Tanith's."

"Haven't I seen you two screaming at each other?" Cody asked hesitantly.

"I did say complicated." Bartholomew's eyes moved from the back door, paused, then returned back to them. "A little while ago, Endy came by. He's the small ender dragon, correct?" Both of them nodded. "Him and Larry had some sort of conversation, which I couldn't understand for obvious reasons that I'm only human, then ran off," His head nodded towards the outside, and beyond the city. "That way. Any more questions?"

Selena was about to leave but Cody decided to ask more. "Yeah, where's Tanith? Seems a bit early for her to be out."

Bartholomew thought to himself before saying anything. "If memory serves right, someone came to her door asking for help. Specifically, medical help. It is in her job description to give any medical aid if asked, so she accepted and they left. Though... It was odd." His eyes drifted to the floor and studied it.

"What was?" Cody prompted, having to hold Selena back so she wouldn't leave his sight and they'd be separated.

Bartholomew cleared his throat. "Well, I pride myself in knowing people, even just recognizing them off the street and... I didn't know this person. Never even so much as seen them before."

Cody quickly thanked him before Selena and him set off in that direction.

It took a while, but eventually, the long purple and black body of Endy was spotted nearby the hospital. While Selena ran up to him as quickly as she could, Cody couldn't help but notice not only was Larry with him, but some sort of lion made of light. "Selena? Where did the lion-"

"Endy! Don't you ever run off again!" She engulfed him in a hug and ignored Cody's question. Endy didn't do anything at first, but eventually wrapped his wings around her as well, doing his best to mirror the hug.

Meanwhile, Cody stared at the lion, who glared at him for a while before bending down and nuzzling Larry, and stalking off. Cody watched with his jaw dropped, getting a strange vibe from off of the lion made of light. Why was the glare almost as bad as KrakenKid's?

"Thanks Cody." Selena finally said, getting up but keeping her hand on Endy's head, stroking him despite his little spikes. Cody silently wondered if that was painful. "I'm going to get him back as fast as I can. Larry too." She whistled, getting the mimic to bound over to her and affectionately rub against her tail.

Cody waved goodbye as she left and let out a long sigh, checking the time on his phone. "Noon on the dot, and I've already been on an adventure." He huffed. "I think I'm going to go nap."

Right as he turned towards the palace, his phone buzzed with a number he didn't recognize.

???: Hey, it's KrakenKid. If we're going to have this little "Peace Treaty", there a lot of things I need to discuss in private. Meet me at these coordinates, alone. I promise I'll be alone, and that I won't try to kill you, as long as you don't try and kill me.

Cody rolled his eyes. Tanith told him, of course she did. She's in love with the guy, why wouldn't she? His phone buzzed again with the coordinates, and Cody decided he'd go to them.

Cody found himself standing outside of a cave, and seeing as KrakenKid wasn't there yet, he waited patiently outside of it. It took a while, but eventually, he caught sight of the glowing, yellow eyes and long purple body heading his way.

As soon as he was within talking distance, Cody scoffed a little. "You set up the meeting then show up late? Step up your game."

KrakenKid blinked in confusion. "No you-" He shook his head dismissively. "Never mind, why'd you want to meet here of all places? Kinda creepy. Also, what's this about a peace treaty? What are the conditions?"

Somehow, Cody was more confused than when he didn't ask questions. "I... What? I thought you already knew, and you picked this place! Look!" Cody dug his phone out and brought up the text he got.

KrakenKid took one look before shaking his head. "I don't know who that is, but that's not my number, and I definitely didn't write that... Does that mean," He pulled out his own phone and showed a similar text claiming to be Cody wanting to talk about forming a peace treaty.

Cody stared at the number, and noticed two things. "That's not my number but..." He held up his phone to KrakenKid's to compare the two. "They're the same. Whoever texted us was the same person. Question is, who are they and why did they want us to come here? Alone?"

"Well why don't you ask him?" Both the penguin and kraken's heads snapped to a lone figure emerging from the darkness of the cave. Immediately, they noticed his eyes, glowing just like KrakenKid's but in an electric blue that matched the color of his hair. KrakenKid shifted uncomfortably just staring at him. The man stepped out into the light, showing off his full body, and spread his arms, presenting himself before letting them fall to his side. He wore simple yellow shirt, blue pants and gray jacket. "I'm right here."

KrakenKid gave another moment of silence before breaking it. "Have we... Met before?" His voice was hesitant and Cody detected fear in it as well.

"In this form? Briefly." The man admitted, locking gazes with KrakenKid, and then Cody. Cody couldn't deny that he felt like he'd seen those eyes before. He paused again. "Now that I think about it, I've never formally introduced myself." He held out his hand, but made no move towards either of them, giving off a vibe that he didn't want either of them to shake it. "I'm called Ace."

Immediately, Cody stepped back and KrakenKid made a grab for his gun but a wave of blue electricity passing through Ace's body made both of them freeze. "I'm not here to fight either of you." He stated quickly, holding his hands up. "I just want to talk, and make a deal if you agree to it."

KrakenKid stared at him but suddenly turned deadly. "Really? Like you talked with Darrel? That was you, wasn't it? WERE YOU THE ONE TO HURT HIM?" KrakenKid almost charged at him but Cody stepped forward to hold him back.

"That charge was meant for you." Ace answered. There was a slight hesitation before he added, "Not my fault he jumped in front of you and took it."

Cody pushed away the comments and focused on what was more important. "Since when do you have a body? And what deal? What grounds do you have for negotiation?"

"Very high ones in my opinion, and this is pretty new." Ace looked down at himself, wiggling his arm. "It's... Working, so it's okay."

Ace slowly pulled out two big, metal 'C' shaped things that could clamp down on something from his pockets and threw one to both of them. "Take those, you'll need it for our talk."

KrakenKid caught his but already didn't like the look of it. "What is this and why do I need it?"

"It's a collar." Ace answered simply. "And you'll seen soon enough. Come with me," He started to make his way towards cave, but then stopped. He was still for a long while, enough to make the pair of leaders uncomfortable before he turned around.

"Actually... I have a better idea. I'm going to tell you exactly what the collar does, and how you're going to act by the end of this meeting, just to show you how much I know you two."

Cody and KrakenKid shared a look. This couldn't be good.

Ace coughed slightly to get their attention before continuing. "Those collars, once you put them on, give the person wearing this device," He pulled down his gray jacket's sleeve to show off a smaller device around his wrist. "Control over them. At least, just the bodies. You two can think and speak for yourself, you just can't move without me moving you."

Both of them were already uneasy, but he wasn't done. "And when we go down there and I show you something, you are both, by the end of it, going to put those collars on with your own free will." He finished, but it wasn't cocky. More testing if anything.

"Oh yeah? Well why should we even go down there in the first place if that's true?" KrakenKid crossed his arms. "Why would we go down there if there's a slight chance that'll happen."

Ace shifted his eyes from Cody, to KrakenKid. "Better to show you." He urged them, gesturing towards the cave. "You'll regret it if you don't come."

Ace started to walk inside, and though very hesitant, the leaders would follow behind.

They shivered as they descended down the tunnels but kept going nonetheless, curiosity and an urge to prove Ace wrong, driving them.

The light at the end of the tunnel was somehow unnerving, and when they reached it, it only became worse.

There was a large, desk like machine off to the side, but Cody and KrakenKid focused on the large tubes next to them, or more specifically, who was in them.

Sam and Tanith, both of which locked eyes with them and banged against the glass. The tubes weren't the same size, given Tanith's long snake tail didn't look like it would fit in Sam's, but both of them couldn't move much other than turning around. There was a lock on both of the tubes but where the key was was a big question.

KrakenKid instantly bolted towards Tanith but before he could reach he, he smacked into an invisible wall. Giving it a couple more taps showed a barrier, blocking him off from them. Cody joined his side and did the same, trying his best but none of it was working. "Tanith!" KrakenKid punched the barrier but it didn't so much as scratch it. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine! He just got the jump on me." She replied, doing her best to keep calm but the amount of fog on the glass showed it wasn't going well.

KrakenKid gulped and nodded, then angrily turned towards Ace who was looking at anything but the tubes. "What is this?"

"A gamble." He showed off his metal bracelet device and pressed a button. Sam's tube instantly started to empty of water, and then fill with something darker, but still translucent.

"Sam? Sam, what is that stuff? Is it hurting you?" Cody asked quickly as Sam shifted in it, the liquid now up to her waist and still climbing.

"I don't know but it's not water! It's thicker and-" A breath hitched in her throat. "I don't know if I can breathe in this... Cody, I don't know if I can-!" When it reached her mouth, she coughed as she breathed it in and tried to swim up to get more regular water or even just air but it filled up too quickly for her. She started to gasp and struggle to breathe, panic flaring in her eyes as she only became weaker.

Tanith desperately tried to crack her tube as she watched Sam, but she had her own problems when another push of the button caused her to have a large hitch her her throat. She tried to breath in but nothing seemed to enter her lungs, causing them to burn. She used the sides of the tube for support, barely getting a gasp of air in before once again, the burn filled her lungs.

"Tanith! Tanith!" KrakenKid cried but Tanith couldn't respond as she was already having trouble breathing, barely getting in another gasp. "Ace, stop this! Stop it now!"

"Collar." Ace reminded them. "Collar or it doesn't stop."

Without a second thought, KrakenKid snapped his on, but Sam's weak head shaking made Cody hesitate. KrakenKid waited, but there was no change as Tanith kept gasping. "You said you would stop it!"

"I need both of you to comply before I do. Tanith is leverage towards him too." Ace tried to look at Cody and ignore everything else but his wander eyes made small sparks fly off of him. His eyes squeezed shut but he forced them open to lock with the penguin, glaring. "Well? How long do you think they can hold their breath? Time is ticking, make up your mind!"

"I-" Cody glanced towards Sam, who still mouthed no, but was starting to lose consciousness. So badly he wanted to agree with her, but seeing her dead was too much for him to stand his ground.

"DO IT OR I FORCE IT ON YOU! DON'T TEST ME, PENGUIN!" KrakenKid roared.

"He has to do it himself." Ace prevented KrakenKid from taking any steps towards him. "His own free will."

"Blackmailing is not free will." Cody spat.

"Actually, it's only your choice to accept the blackmail, you could just ignore it and deal with the consequences. Question is, can you?"

Cody looked back once more, looking at Tanith, then Sam again before snapping his collar on. "You're a sick man, Ace."

Ace's eyes only glared with a hatred for him that could rival KrakenKid's. "I could say the same to you. But, enough chat, you did what I wanted and it's only fair to comply with your wishes too." He pressed both buttons again, causing the liquid in Sam's empty out and replace with regular Atlantis water, and Tanith to relax. While Sam was barely still awake, Tanith was not, but the fog showing up where she was leaning on the glass showed she still lived.

Ace snapped his fingers and began to walk, and having no choice in the matter, the kraken and penguin followed.

"Let's see what you two can do."

**************************************************************

Did you think this would be a simple, fun, down time chapter?

YOU THOUGHT WRONG BUD

HA! GOT 'EM

*Clears throat* I mean, I'm a 100% very serious writer

Let's start with Part 1 of this chapter where everything is fiiiiine!

The Gauntlet is already acting up, but it's not unstable. Thank goodness, right? I mean, it's not like something's going to happen that might cause someone connected to said Gauntlet to START making it unstable!.... Riiiiight?

I'm not sure why but unnamed receptionist lady was really fun to play because she's just so causal to everything and for some reason isn't going to share five pounds of jello

Bartholomew is actually not too bad, it's just that Tanith and him clash and that causes their "Complicated friendship" as he puts it.

Also, Larry's comment in chapter 71 about how he thinks that pets often take after their owners is true, Sunny showing this when he immediately just glares at Cody upon seeing him. Like owner, like pet.

Then Part 2

Parallels to when Ace first was revealed and Kraken and Cody followed a fake text that took them to a cave with their friends were in 

Ace acts a lot different to people he doesn't trust to people he does. True colors!

Now how could Ace have built all of that complicated technology? I mean, that'd have to take someone as smart as Professor who might've been mentioned missing... Also, someone who would've had a phone because Ace sure doesn't have one... Huh. Mystery.

Ace reacts to not only the tubes, but seeing people trapped in them. I wonder why that would bother him...

Also, Ace now has control over KrakenKid and Cody's actions.

Does 2 v 2 seem very clear to y'all now?

Anyways, a lot is going to be explained next chapter, since it picks up right where this chapter left off, and some people defiantly won't have a heated conversation with somebody else SO I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! Be sure to comment what you think, and farewell y'all!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter