The trio walked slowly through the darkened corridors. It was a slower trek than any of them wanted to make, but they had little choice.

"No ones following us still, right?" Red-X had to ask again. He glanced back to see See-More nod. The master thief shivered at how his comrade still appeared to be missing an eye, he was still trying to get used to it being stuck at the back of his head.

"I still can't see very well through my lens but, yeah, we're good."

Making sure that See-More still had a hand on his shoulder, he turned his attention back in front of him, where Fixit was leading the way.

The mechanic carried the now not so talkative Tamaranian on his back, the alien bound by some sort of weird wiring that just grew out from Fixit's body. Despite still having no arms, he showed no signs that the added weight bothered him.

Red-X flinched when a sudden pain flared up in his side. The Zinothium that seeped into his body after attacking the guard was working, as he had hoped, but it was a temporary pain killer at best, made even weaker as the adrenaline began to leave his body.

"Hey, tin man, how close are we to reaching the palace?" Red-X called.

Fixit did not respond, nor did he even turn around and acknowledge him. Red-X quickly grew annoyed. "Hey, bolt for brains, are you listening?!"

"Oh, man, I completely forgot!" See-More suddenly exclaimed, causing Red-X to look back to him again. "I kinda blew out his hearin' or somethin' like that. He's completely deaf!"

"Wha-" Red-X began before turning back to Fixit. Sure enough, there were two sizeable holes on either side of his head. "How did I miss tha--Wait, if he can't hear, than how was he talking to us in that cell room just a few minutes ago?"

"I taught myself to read lips over the course of our stay in the cell. It is not as difficult as one might imagine," Fixit suddenly announced, still not looking back at the two thieves.

"So, you got eyes in the back of your head now too?" Red-X questioned. In response, Fixit's head suddenly swiveled 180 degrees, emotionless red eyes gazing at the frightened skull faced teen.

See-More chose the wrong moment to peer through the front of his head. "Oh man! I wish I didn't see that!" he exclaimed before switching off his x-ray vision.

"No, I do not," Fixit replied before turning his head back in the proper direction, "I simply read your mind."

"Okay then..." Red-X spoke, slowly trying to recover from what he just witnessed. "Wait, so, you did hear my question then?"

"Yes."

"So...?"

"The answer is not important for you to know. Focus on the mission ahead."

"Why you little--"

"We will rest in a few minutes and I shall do my best to repair you and See-More. Until then, I suggest you conserve your energy, and your breath."

Red-X went silent with a humph, only to flinch as the pain flared in his body again. The walk continued for several more minutes before another thought dawned on the master thief. "Hey, do you even know where we're going? All these halls seem the same."

Once again, Fixit didn't answer right away and Red-X was about to ask again, much louder, when he finally responded. "I am navigating using the blueprint of the palace that Blackfire downloaded into my brain. Tamaranian architecture is very different from human's; many layers, no discernible patterns."

"Even in their dungeons?" See-more spoke up.

"Especially their dungeons," Fixit said. "I surmise it is to keep prisoners like us from escaping easily."

"Well, isn't that a mood lifter," Red-X muttered sarcastically. He then glanced at the still unconscious Tamaranian strapped to the mechanic's back.

"I do not think that would be wise," Fixit said.

"I didn't even say anything!" Red-X quickly retorted.

"You were thinking it."

"Well, you don't think it's a good idea?"

"No."

"Why not? I'm sure pretty boy here knows all the ins and outs of this palace. All it would take is some motivation."

"You misunderstand how Tamaranian loyalty works. Blackfire is a princess; all those that follow are severely loyal to her. They would fight to the death for her, receive any order without question, and withhold any information from those that would do their princess harm. Awakening this one and interrogating him would be a waste of time, I assure you."

"Well, aren't we suddenly the master historian of the Tamaranian people."

"Blackfire made sure I had intimate knowledge of her planet and people before we arrived."

"Why would Blackfire do that if she was just goin' to throw you in prison?" See-More questioned.

"I admit that I am curious as well as to why she prepared me so intimately while having the sole intention of imprisoning me."

"It's called playing the part," Red-X answered as if the answer was obvious. "Our little princess just wanted to make sure that we weren't even the least bit suspicious of her double crossing us."

"And you weren't suspicious of her?" Fixit asked.

"Of course I was. That little bitch always had a plan, you could hear it in that mocking, uppity, spiteful little voice of hers."

"Then how come you went through all that trouble of bustin' out Fixit and stealing the Titan's ship?" See-More asked him.

"Please, do explain."

"What can I say? It was the most fun I've had since my Zinothium was stolen from me. Up until the part where we crashed and got locked away, anyways. I knew it was a matter of time, just didn't think it would be this soon."

"So, you came along just to..."

Out of the corner of his eye, Red-X could see See-More try to turn the back of his head towards him, without making much progress.

"Listen, kid, obviously you don't know what it's like to be a thief.  A successful one, anyways," Red-X shot. See-More didn't respond.

"I see," Fixit noted as they continued to walk. "So, with your petty purpose gone, you sought a way to escape. What a sad, human reaction."

"How bout you shut that mechanical trap of yours, tin man." Red-X hissed dangerously.

"Oh? Did I strike a nerve? Forgive me; I sometimes forget how touchy humans can be about the truth."

"Hey, I said shut it, alright?!" Red-X shouted, taking a sudden step towards the mechanic and causing See-More to lose his grip on Red-X's shoulder.

"Hey guys--"

"I heard you the first time," Fixit responded as he stopped moving and turned slowly to face the thief.

"Really? Could have fooled me, what with those two massive holes sticking out of that arrogant head of yours," Red-X returned. "Speaking of which, how did you get those? Someone finally had enough of your shit and tried to blow your brains out?"

"Guys--"

"Clever. I take it you received that mouth from whatever asinine, perfunctory, and genetically defected mother that gave birth to you?"

"Guys, really--"

"Now, I don't know half the crap you just said to me, but do not mention my mother you robotic- bastard-child."

"Ah. Another touchy subject on the truth, I take?"

"Why you--"

"Red-X, Fixit, c'mon--"

"You tell us you came here with the intention of failing. Of knowing that we were to be deceived. It is clear that you are nothing but a hindrance to our plans of escaping now, so I will make one simple suggestion. Leave on your own, or I will be forced to make you leave."

Fixit's threat echoed through the hallway and the small group fell silent for a long time. See-More turned himself so that he could see the two, but of course all he could see was two blurs. Unmoving and silent as death.

"So, that's how it's going to be, huh?" Red-X finally muttered darkly and, with that, he turned on the spot and began walking back down the way they were coming from, pushing past See-More as he did.

"Red-X, c'mon, man, don't do this!"

"Just keep away from me. I don't need some backwards, hack of a thief slowing me down," Red-X shot back before his blur disappeared entirely into the darkness.

See-More stared into the dark for a few seconds more before turning on the blur of Fixit in a flash. "Fixit, man, why'd you have to jump on him like that? That was way out of line!"

"It could not be helped," Fixit simply said as he walked over to See-More and lifted a part of his robe towards him. "Now, grab the hem of my robe and we will proceed. We need to make more progress before I can attempt to repair you."

See-More stared at the silver blur of Fixit's extended hand and back to the endless blackness that Red-X disappeared into. With a defeated sigh, he gripped the robe.

...

"It's time to get up now, Number 36," a soft voice called.

My eyes slowly opened. Everything was a blur, at first. I tried to move my hands, but soon realized I couldn't. 

Binds, of course it was in binds. I tried to move my feet, but they seemed to be in binds too.

"Mmm, I like what you did with your hand. Very demonic."

I quickly clenched my clawed hand, trying to ignore how easily the pointed tips could dig into my palm. Blackfire--Number 26 chuckled in return.

"So, is that special little cape of yours from our dearest master? Was that your final prize for being the best of us, Number 36?"

I wanted to shout at her. I wanted to tell her to shut her mouth. But all I could do was fight against my restraints. 

Blackfire's now clear face smirked. Oh, how quickly I was growing to hate the face behind the voice.

"In fact, it seems a lot about you has changed lately. Of course, I could never not see the scared little boy that I met all those years ago. But, your eyes, your skin. Oh, my, even your teeth! You must have been quite the naughty boy."

I silently growled at her. Blackfire chuckled again as she walked around her bedroom. I turned my attention to the strange, purple-colored vine looking things that seemed to just grow from the walls to wrap around my wrists and ankles. I tried to shake my arms--they didn't even budge.

"Things have taken such a strange turn indeed," Blackfire mused as she paced, always keeping an eye on me. "It seems your other comrades have managed to escape my clutches. But, at the same time, you drop right into them. And I really must have them back before our dear King returns."

Blackfire then turned to me, a brow raised in interest. I knew this could lead to no good.

"Of course, I could always just round them up myself. But these bothersome guards in the castle simply hate it when their princess tries to act on her own. And yet, they themselves have proven so incompetent. Tell me, Number 36, why have you not taken off that collar around your neck? You must have thought that you were free from my control after that horrible accident with the ship?"

I only stared into her devilish purple eyes, hoping that she could at least feel the hate that I had for her in my glare. We both knew why I never removed the caller. 

Her eyes widened. "Oh, how you continue to surprise me, my little tricky demon. Even after all we had been through, you couldn't completely trust me." Blackfire then pressed a finger to one of her gauntlets around her wrist; a bright red button appeared in response. "You were right, of course. I could still track you, still monitor you, still kill you if I wanted. But I knew, once you were in my palace, you would eventually run into one of my guards, or myself. How fortunate for both of us that it was the latter."

Blackfire then stepped up to me, so close that we were only inches apart. Her purple eyes bored into my clear red ones.

Number 72--My friend, is dead.

"I know how you must feel about me, Number 36."

He's dead because of you!

"I know you hate me, that you wish me dead."

I don't wish it, I know it. You will die. I will kill you. Not quickly, not painlessly. You will die how my friend died.

"But allow me to offer you one last proposition. You remember what those are, correct? You bring me your former comrades: Fixit and Red-X, and I will release you and See-More, and even keep up my end of our previous agreement and free your other teammates. How does that sound?"

Blackfire. Number 26. My life is not yours. My choices are not yours. Not any longer. You are the prey and I am the predator. I am your darkness. I am your fear. I am your murderer. You know nothing of what I learned from our master. You broke Number 72's heart and left him to die. And he died. And I killed our master. And now, I will kill you. I swear it.

With a smile, I nodded.

...