After the first bomb was detonated, the alarms that still worked began to blare as Alannah periodically planted her bombs in random locations. Well, let this serve as a warning to Chase and the technicians that were still alive.

"It's getting about time for us to head down to the maintenance levels and blow it to kingdom come," I stated, rounding a corner in the hallway we had been running down, "I'm sure the Federation officials still in this building are wondering what's goi-."

I would've continued my thought, but my voice tapered off when I spotted a small group of Federation soldiers running down the hall I had just taken a turn into. Their armor was faded and mildly scuffed, but the rifles they held in their hands were still very real.

"Take defensive positions," I breathed into my commset, "We have friends."

"Well, let's greet these friends the same we greet all of them!" Alannah chirped, appearing beside me with a deadly package in her hand. When she noticed me staring at her, my wife giggled and threw the bomb in front of her, "Now's the time to run, my love!"

Upon hearing the click of the detonator, I felt my hamstrings strain as I ran as fast as I could push myself. I made sure I had Alannah's hand in mine, and I didn't let go even when the floor beneath us started to shake.

"Yep, I don't even want to know what kind of molten mayhem was just generated by your little stunt, Ali. I ask that you detonate your little bombs AFTER we're done planting them all. In addition, I'd feel much safer if we were, y'know, already on Cylus' ship before the fireworks were started," Boreas panted, struggling to keep up with me and my wife.

"Aw, but where's the fun in that?" Alannah inquired over  the sound of faint screams, "The best part is when you get to see the fireworks in action!"

"Yes, but these types of fireworks are not meant to be watched!" my old friend snapped, "We need to get down to the maintenance level and prime the entire fucking place to blow up before the UTF throws everything they have at us."

"Eh...good point...I'm still gonna enjoy blowing this place up though. You can't ruin that for me," my wife muttered.

"And I don't intend to. I simply ask you focus on the job at hand so we don't waste time."

"Oh alright," Alannah grumbled, "Way to be a killjoy..."

"Geez, there's no winning with this woman," Boreas grumbled, looking back down at his holo-computer, "I really need to just shut up and focus on leading us through this shithole..."

"Probably for the better," Alex chirped.

A muffled groan escaped my best friend, but he didn't say anything else.

After Alannah planted four more bombs on the administrative level, we began to seek out an elevator that would take us to our next destination. However, we were halted ten minutes later by an intercom crackling to life.

"To all Federation personnel, the Capital Building is under attack. I repeat: the Capital Building is under attack. All forces, stand at the ready. Our technicians are working dutifully to restore power to our surveillance systems, so be prepared to converge on the terrorists responsible for all the death and destruction in a moment's notice."

"...Huh," Ralph began once the intercom had cut off, "That's not good."

"No, no it isn't," Boreas chimed in, "Why do I have a feeling this was meant to be one big trap?"

"It probably was," I breathed, "Think about what those two Federation officials were talking about: the UTF is running on fumes right now. Their last possible move against Jackson's forces would be to lure us all into a trap. They may not survive the ensuing firefight, but they'd at least take a lot of us down with them."

"We should've seen this coming–it's painfully obvious these bastards wouldn't fight fair," Alex grumbled, cursing to himself, "Welp, I suppose we've been in worse situations."

"Who gives a shit?" Alannah demanded while running alongside me, "Trap or no trap, I'm still blowing this fucking scrapheap up. Jackson ordered us to tear the Capital Building a new one, and I plan to do just that. Now, here's the plan: Boreas will take us down to the maintenance level, I will leave my duffel by whatever keeps this platform in the air, and we will promptly run for cover."

"Wait, how many bombs do you have left?" Boreas inquired.

Taking a quick glance, Alannah shrugged. "Looks like I have six bombs left–I made twelve just for the occasion." 

"Good god...that'll be one hell of an explosion," my old friend breathed, "Alright, no matter. From what I can tell, we're getting close to an elevator."

"Good. Means we can be done with this shit sooner," Alexander muttered.

"Y-Yeah," Raina stammered, "Better to do this now than to get blown up later."

"See? The lass knows what's going on!" Boreas chirped.

The slightest of whimpers could be heard in response, and I couldn't help but feel bad for Raina.

Along the way, Boreas stopped out of nowhere while everyone else continued running full-steam ahead.

"Wh-Boreas!" I snapped, "We don't have time for this!"

"Wait," was all he said in response, "Just picked up something on my holo-computer. I've set my device to 'communicate' with any other computers in this building. Considering I've already busted into the Capital building's systems before in the past, I already have a foot in the door. If I can find any more information on what the Federation is planning, I'm sure Jackson would appreciate it."

"Good point..." I muttered. turning around and heading back to my best friend, "So there's a computer behind this door?"

"Seems like it."

In response, I kicked in the door while drawing my combat rifle. The room I had just barged into was empty, so I lowered my rifle and stepped aside to allow Boreas to do his thing.

"So there is a computer in here," he mused, "Awesome. Give me abut five minutes, and I'll have everything downloaded onto my holo-computer."

"Got it. Take your time, Boreas."

The rest of my crew had caught up with us around this time, and Alannah seemed understandably miffed by this quick deviation.

"Gee, you could've given us a better heads up, Boreas!" she snapped, "Everyone else was about ready to continue moving onward if it wasn't for Cylus following after you."

"You know how I am: I detect a computer, and I become a bloodhound. I can't resist the prospect of finding sweet, sweet data."

"Well, you got me there," Alannah breathed, "Alright, make this quick, Boreas. Time isn't exactly on our side."

"I know! Don't rush me."

Thankfully, Boreas stuck to his word and wrapped up his work in little under five minutes. Without warning, he shot to his feet and left the room.

"Wh-Boreas!" my wife called.

"You said we needed to move, so let's get moving!" he replied.

"Fair enough..." she breathed while everyone else scrambled to keep up with the spastic hacker.

We thankfully found a functioning elevator roughly ten minutes later, and everyone decided to get in all at once.

"This is what I wanted to avoid!" Ali snapped.

"You said it yourself: 'time isn't exactly on our side.' Forgive me for sounding like a dick, but this is more effective."

"Go fuck yourself..."

"I don't take offers, darling."

Someone had apparently managed to hit one of the floor buttons since the elevator lurched into motion. Judging by how my stomach felt like it was being pushed up into my throat, it was safe to assume we were going down. After a while, I couldn't help but wonder if we'd ever manage to get off this infernal lift. Thankfully, the doors opened with a loud beep in little time.

"Alright people, get moving," I ordered, "We have business to attend to."

"So you say," Alexander grumbled.

Ignoring my son's remark, I watched as everyone filed out of the elevator cabin. When I was finally able to exit, I couldn't help but whistle.

"Damn..." I breathed, "We...have to blow all this up?"

"Yep. What did you expect, silly?" Alannah prompted me, "A lot of power is required to keep this platform skybound, so we're going to have to hit it where it hurts."

"And where would that be?"

"Hell if I know. Since I still have about half of my bombs left, I can probably plant my bag anywhere. However, I still want to find the biggest piece of machinery in this room and blow that up just for good measure."

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Boreas chimed in, "Now, we just have to navigate this maze of piles and greasy steel."

"You make that sound like such a wondrous stroll through the park," Alexander griped, "Why don't we have a picnic while we're at it."

"Geez, is it that time of the month for you or something? Get the stick out of your ass–and tone down the sass while you're at it."

"Not gonna happen."

This is why I'm going to have gray hair before I'm forty. "Alex, please stop."

He snickered in response, but grew silent when Raina shook her head.

"N-Now is not the time for antics," she stated, "Please, save this f-for later."

Not surprisingly, this worked on my son. With a stifled cough, he fell silent after apologizing.

"Raina, you must teach me your ways," Alannah breathed, "I have been trying to do that for months, and yet you silenced the crackhead with one sentence. How did you do that?"

Raina shrugged in response. "T-Truth be told, I don't know."

"Mmm, fair enough."

With that, we continued to explore the cavernous engine room. Once we finally managed to reach the heart of the capital, Alannah threw her bag onto the ground and huffed to herself.

"We're done here," she stated, voice thick with exhaustion, "It's time we blow this pop stand and leave it to smolder."

"Sounds like a plan to me," I began while scooping my wife up in my arms, "Let's get moving then–you'll cover for me, mijn sintel."

Alannah had squeaked in surprise at first, but she thankfully followed my advice and drew her pistol.

"R-Right," she breathed, "Let's roll, bitches."

"Hell yeah!" Alexander chirped.

We spared no time hurrying out of the engine room. Judging by the relative silence, it was safe to assume that Chase and the remaining technicians had gotten out. Here's hoping they did.

Just when we were about to reach the lift, Ki'aras manifested in front of us.

"Wait," she breathed, her form still not entirely tangible, "Hostiles are inbound. I know not why they are down here, but I can sense their approach."

"You heard the woman," I stated, "Take defensive pos–."

"No need to," Vi'karac interjected, padding toward us. The fact that he appeared to be wholly tangible may've contributed to the feeling of trepidation. That, or the blood that covered my friend made me feel like there was a pound of lead in my gut.

"I-I take it all hostiles have been eliminated?" I prompted Vik, noting the dark aura that appeared to surround him.

"Yes. You must get a move on. I fear Alannah's bombs may be tampered with if they are found."

"Oh, those puppies can't be defused–they'll detonate one way or another," my wife replied, only to pause, "Ah. I see the problem."

"Indeed. If we dawdle for too long, we will perish. That being said, the way to the lift is now clear. I suggest you hurry."

"Say no more," replied, "You heard the man–get your asses in gear."

Since I was carrying my wife, I had to find a good balance between running like hell and jogging at a steady canter. When I was sure I wasn't jostling Alannah around, I focused on steadying my breath.

We reached the elevator in little time at all, and we were ascending back to the hanger level once everyone had managed to squeeze into the cabin. Five minutes later, we were running back the way we came.

"Hot damn, we made it!" Boreas cheered once we got through the blast door barring us from reaching my ship, "I hope no one skipped leg day–we still have a bit of running left to do!"

"Oh, shut up Octavius!" Alexander snapped, "If anyone skips leg day, it's you."

"Do you want to get hurt?"

I groaned. These two are just begging to get ejected from my ship...

Pushing that thought aside, I focused on running up my ship's gangway and getting into the cockpit before I acted on any...enticing impulses.

"I'm impressed," Alannah murmured once I had set her down in her seat, flopped into my own seat, and fired up my ship, "I could've sworn I saw a vein in your neck pulse."

"Oh, you probably did," I breathed, maneuvering the Ravager out of the hanger exit, "Do your thing, mijn sintel."

"Gladly."

The slightest of clicks graced my ears, and I braced myself for the fireworks.

"Huh...thought that would've worked...maybe the button's jammed or something?"

Several more clicks could be heard, soon followed by a dull rumbling that seemed to envelope my entire ship.

"...Huh. Um, love? Your ship's warp drive does work, right?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Engage it. Now."

"But we're still in Versalio's atmosphere–."

"Now."

Doing as she said, I engaged my ship's warp drive and watched as we shot forward. Once the drive was disengaged, I turned to address my wife. "What was that about?"

"If you didn't do that, we would've been caught in the explosion."

"Wait, seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. I could've sworn I saw a fireball shoot out of the hanger entrance."

"I'm heading back."

"I suggest you don't."

"I have to verify our mission was completed."

"Love, I assure you: that capital building is as good as fucked."

"I'd love to take your word for it, but I need to verify in order to let Jackson know we got the job done. It's not that I don't believe you, it's just I have to show without a doubt that the capital is no more."

Alannah leaned back in her seat with a huff. "Alright. Just stay away from the blast sight–I have a feeling the immediate area around the capital is going to be bathed in hellfire."

I didn't think my wife was literal when she said that.

Last time I'll ever think that.