-- Aster --

It was morning, and I was alone. With my team gone I was afraid they had left without me, again. So the first thing I did was check that the car was still there. When I found it I admit I felt relieved, until I realized that my first assertion that they had all been kidnapped was right. I quickly found myself having breakfast in the inn, trying to figure out what I should do.

"Do I save them?" The better question would be where do I even start? I looked around the hotel noticing cameras all over the place. I could ask to see the footage...but they might be in on it. I let out a long sigh. Could I take the footage? Probably, not. This is a high-level hotel the fact everyone got taken means they either helped or don't care.

So no inn help. Where would they have been taken? Actually, how were they taken I didn't see any signs of struggle in the pool area. So, they must have been taken off guard. Aster how would you do it? Gas? Or a mage with a sleep spell, or paralysis. I shivered remembering the escape. Paralysis was not fun.

Ok, where and why? Assuming the hotel is helping...why didn't they take me? They don't know I'm part of the party. If it was a hotel employee they would know I was there too. So maybe they were just complicit, letting them just do their thing. So that indicates someone of power.

But why? Is it some underground mob boss? Slavers? That would be a really big operation but in a big city? I don't think they would be this brazen.

Do I even need to save them? They are all a lot stronger than before, then...fuck. I probably do need to save them if they took them so easily. At least if we want to do this mission in any reasonable amount of time. They would eventually break out and get free.

But still why? The only thing I can think of is, they...were...on...TV.

"Please don't be a crazy fan." I headed out of the inn with only the vaguest idea of where to begin.

Stepping outside I looked up to the sky, hoping that An La Notre wasn't the only place with a thieve's road. I didn't get my hopes up since Nucifera didn't have a Shadow guild. But, I was surprised to find something. It was nothing like the roads I knew, this was more of a clean web, with the streams tightly flowing in the sky, like a web, instead of the wide free roads of An La Notre.

"At least it's there." It was too light out to take advantage of the road, without drawing suspicion...or was it. Is flying common? I hadn't seen anyone doing it in An La Notre, but every so often you would see someone running on rooftops or zooming through the streets. Looking around I noticed the same thing here, people walking around and some running through the streets, but no one flying. I wonder why? There was still so much I didn't know.

I started walking through the street, heading off on a hunch.

-- James --

The first thing I remember was the feeling of metal on my wrists. It was so familiar, it almost felt comforting until I remembered why. Then I had to keep myself from panicking, though my heart didn't get the memo. I opened my eyes to find myself and the rest of the team chained in a dungeon, again.

My brain started to shut down terrified we were back when I realized this was a completely different place. This was more a concrete room with chains versus the stone walls of the other place. I was still assessing everything when Violet woke up.

"This is just great." She said looking right at me.

I felt a little indignant, "You're saying like I had control over the situation."

"Well, you could have done something." She accused, as I noticed bay and Rowan starting to stir.

"The spell was already being cast and I...didn't think."

"I felt the hostility but didn't know what it meant. I'm sorry." Rowan cut in, remorsefully.

Even Violet looked abash at that. She knew it wasn't anyone's fault, I knew she was just looking for someone to blame.

The silence was drawing on too long so I asked, "Where are we?"

"Did you not listen to anything they said?" Violet asked still annoyed.

"They bet on us?"

"Yeah, I bet they bet on us to lose." She emphasized the last part.

"Say bet again," I said just to piss her off.

"Fuck off!" She yelled.

"You sure this feels more political, also this place is kinda nice for a dungeon." Bay Commented. Taking in the concrete room, which was well lit and had cushions for us, and we had some range of movement, "So high-class dungeon...maybe a Nobel?"

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Violet finally starting to calm down added, "If we go by story logic it's the mayor of this city.

The entire room fell into a contemplative silence.

"Fuck! It's the mayor. It's one-hundred percent the mayor, a councilman, or whoever runs this city." Violet said frustrated, and I had the feeling she was right.

"So anyone have energy?" I asked casually.

"No, what about you, any internal?" Bay asked.

"Nope, these block that too. So we're just normal humans." It was good to gather the information that we needed and we had been through this exact situation enough times to know what to look for. The last one internal control wasn't blocked but external was. This time it looked like both were.

"Is anyone naturally strong enough to bend the metal? Looking at you James." Violet asked.

I blinked at the question, "Uh..." It was true we were human but high-level humans, "Let's find out."

I turned and placed my feet on the wall straining to pull out the pin from the wall. I jerked and waggled the chain, only for it to barely move. "Looks like I can get it, but might take a few minutes."

"James stop," Rowan said in a panic.

"Why?"

"Door." Rowan pointed to the exit.

I looked up and finally heard the sound of a door and people walking down the steps.

Two people walked into the room, one was an older-looking lady with a few streaks of grey, and the second was the man from the pool who tried to shake my hand. He stood there with his sword on his back smiling.

The woman stepped forward calmly saying, "Hello. Sorry for the inconvenience." Like she was late for tea.

But what happened next stunned all of us to silence, Violet in the most sickeningly sweet voice answered, "Oh no trouble at all, but could you please release us."

I just stared at her dumbfounded, how was she not cursing this woman out?

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry I can't do that yet, though we are bringing a TV down so we can make your stay more comfortable. We'll also provide a few more accommodations, that won't interfere with your chains."

"Why isn't that positively civil of you. But, I digress and must inquire, as to why we are here."

The woman seemed surprised but delighted, "I must say, I was expecting to be cursed and shouted at, but I find this response a delightful surprise."

"I can't say we aren't sore at this, but the treatment has not been a bother. So I can see us being civil."

"Quite right, and because you have been so polite I suppose I should tell you."

"Yes, please it is a query we have been struggling with," I swear I think I saw Violet's eye twitch.

"The reason I had my associates accost you, was simply, so you can't complete your mission."

"Fucking, knew it!" I blurted out.

"Language, James we don't need to be so uncouth." I glared at her, as she smiled and turned back to the woman, "Sorry about that, but just so we're clear can you please tell us why you don't want us to complete our mission. It seems its completion would benefit all parties."

"It is quite alright with the stress of the situation, but the answer is very simple. It's so our city's team can win."

"I see. I see." Violet was nodding and looking thoughtful at her answer, "Then can you do me a favor?

"Of course, we aren't monsters, and this has been a very civil conversation, so as long as it isn't to get free I will do what I can."

"Oh no don't worry about that." Violet's voice began to grow angry and growling as she almost spits out, "Can you please go fuck yourself you piece of rotten shit. Thanks!" There was Violet we all knew and love.

"You did say anything." The man with the sword said, drawing a glare from the woman.

I laughed. I couldn't help it I laughed with the rest of my team.

"I can't say I don't understand but that is just rude." Her anger, faded as she noticed, "Shouldn't there be five of you."

"Mam, there were only four in the hotel." The man said.

The woman looked thoughtful, "So you did give up on your fifth." She put on a knowing smile, "Not so heroic are you."

"Hey.." I was about to defend us and even say we hadn't left Aster behind, but Violet saw this and yelled over me, "What of it?" stopping me from revealing him.

She let out a mocking laugh, "Your role is supposed to be heroes, and when the people learn of you just abandoning the man who saved you. Tsk tsk."

"Get fucked." Violet snarled.

"I see discussions have broken down, we will provide some entertainment down here for you and some food. Then we'll release you in another week or two. That should be enough for you to fail."

"And what of the people we're trying to help?" I asked.

She looked at me like I was stupid, "They'll come back...eventually." The two walked out of the room as we glared at their backs. The door shut behind them.

It was almost five minutes later when I knew we were truly alone. I looked around to see if I could see any cameras. When I couldn't I asked, "Cameras?

"I don't see any," Bay said as everyone looked around.

"Doesn't mean there aren't any," Rowan added.

"Ok, how long do you think we have once I rip out the pin," I asked staring at the wall anchor.

"Let's assume there's a hidden camera, so maybe a minute or two from you trying to pull the pin." Bay answered, then asked, "Do any of you see an outlet or anything?"

Not sure why she would want one, or why there would be one in a dungeon we all looked around for some type of electrical outlet. None of us could find one.

"James, can you take them while shackled?" Violet asked

I thought thinking of the man next to the lady, he seemed to be strong, but I didn't feel like he would have been a challenge if we had actually fought at the pool, "Maybe, but I won't be able to ambush them. Honor, won't allow that. So I'd have to do a straight fight."

"Shit I forgot about that."

We sat there coming up with a plan. I could easily free us, but we would run into the problem of getting out. Since this was a dungeon the door would most likely be reinforced, though, they might think no one would be able to escape the chains so it might just be a simple door. Bay recommended we waited till we had the TV and electrical cord, saying it would give us more options. This, being the best plan, we all waited.

It wasn't too long till a couple of people in suits came in to set up and drop off the TV. They had a long extension cord it was connected to that was just laying across the floor just out of our reach.

Just as they were finishing up, and the suits began to leave he turned on the screen, "Here, we get most channels so enjoy. Food will be brought soon." He slid the remote over to Rowan.

We all just stayed silent as the people left the cell, with the TV on some news channel, showing footage of a museum heist. I thought the thief looked familiar. "Was that the guy who challenged the city?" I asked.

Violet turned her head to look, "Looks like him."

"Guys, times a'wasten," Rowan said shortly.

He was right, we were wasting time, "You guys ready to cause some havoc."

Violet cracked her knuckles and smiled, "I'm going to break this place."