~Chase's POV~

LB arrives just in time. He pries the security door with his hands.

"You are needy," he said and held the door.

"I know, buddy. Thank you for saving us," Rhys said and ducked under LB's arm. I followed behind him. Once we were out of the central core, LB put his arms down.

"Let's hurry to the escape pods," I said and began running.

"There are not many left," LB informed us.

"Which means we need to run faster!" I yell and kicked into high gear.

"Whoa! Slow down, Chase!" Rhys panted as he fell behind.

"LB, could you carry Rhys?" I asked nicely.

"Good idea." LB ran faster and picked up Rhys. He sat on LB's shoulder as he ran next to me. We reached the hall with all of the escape pods.

"Oh no, that ones a death trap," Rhys said as he looked at an escape pod that was flickering and sparks were flying. I went to a walking pace and checked for one. Rhys got off of LB's shoulder and helped me search.

"So, you thought you could get rid of me?" Jack appeared on all of the monitors in the hallway.

"Why does this place have so many damn monitors?!" I ask angrily. Rhys goes by each monitor and turns them off with a goofy grin.

"Very cute," Jack said. Then Rhys suddenly yelled.

"There's one!" Rhys pointed to an escape pod.

"Not so fast, cupcake." Jack shot at us with a gun attached to the ceiling. We take cover and watch an employee take the escape pod.

"H-hey! I'll pay you for that escape pod!" Rhys yelled.

"Ha! Money doesn't do any good here, kiddo," Jack laughed.

"Sorry, bro." The man got in. Then, Kroger started shooting at the man in the pod.

"Dammit!" He cursed. Kroger turned and saw us.

"Run! Run! Run!" I yelled and we ran the way we came.

"LB, get to the pod we saw earlier," I said.

"Are we thinking the same thing?" He asked.

"Probably," I answered and smiled. Kroger was chasing us and was shooting at the same time. We reach the pod and Rhys stops.

"We'll die in it!" He shouted. I shocked the control panel and the pod was working again.

"Rhys." He turns and faces me. I put my hands on his cheeks and kissed him. He was in too much shock to kiss back. After a short and sweet kiss, I shove him in the pod and quickly shut the door.

"Chase, what are you doing? We can both fit!" He yelled as he banged on the glass. I set the coordinates and was about to hit the launch button.

"There's no way this will hold two people. If one of us has to survive, it's got to be you. I'm replaceable, you're not." I smile at him to reassure him.

"No no no no! Open the door Chase! Please, I'm not leaving without you!" He yelled frantically.

"The enemy is approaching," LB said. I hit the launch button and watch the pod start up.

"I love you, Rhys," I said and felt tears streaming down my face.

"Chase!!! Chase!!!" He kept banging on the glass and shouting my name desperately. I smile sadly and wave. LB protects me from the gunfire as I say my goodbye.

"Please, run," LB said.

"I'm not leaving you. If you go down, I go down." I looked at Rhys one more time and see his eyes are glassy.

"Don't cry, Rhys," I said and felt more tears. Kroger stopped shooting when debris blocked his path.

"I need to do something. Will you come with me?" I ask.

"Of course. What is your plan?" LB asked while we ran back to the core.

"Time to make sure Jack doesn't escape Helios and cause anymore pain and death."

~Rhys' POV~

Chase shoved me into the escape pod after she kissed me. I was about to jump out when she shut the door in my face.

"Chase, what are you doing? We can both fit!" I yell and pound on the glass of the door. She was about to hit the launch button but stopped. She looked at me with clear and glassy eyes.

"There's no way this will hold two people. If one of us has to survive, it's got to be you. I'm replaceable, you're not," she said sadly. There's no way I could replace her with anyone else. Not even building another one of her would be a replacement. From the corner of my eye, I saw Kroger running towards Chase and LB.

"No no no no! Open the door Chase! Please, I'm not leaving without you!" I yelled for her desperately. Then, she hit the launch button. I looked around the pod for any controls. There were none. I looked back up and saw Chase smiling sadly. The last words I heard her say made me want to save her even more.

"I love you, Rhys," she said.

"Chase!!! Chase!!!" I yell more. She waves as a final goodbye and disappears from my sight. I stare out of the glass at where she used to be until the pod is turned around and is facing Pandora. I put my face in my hands and try not to cry. I should've pulled her in with me when she pushed me. I lift my face and stare at Pandora.

"I just lost the one person I cared and loved for."