"These kids managed to defeat Number 6," Commander Number 3 stuttered, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"No! Impossible! How dare they," Number 7 wailed through the communication device. He pleaded, "I'm going! I need to avenge my sister!"
"No, stay there. I'll deal with them," Commander Number 3 declared with a scowl.
At the same time, Number 5 dropped the bodies of Aaron and Bridget, and he had a worried look. He clutched his heart, and his heart pounded against his chest. His mind raced as if something was wrong. "My love. What happened to you," he muttered and stared back.
In the battlefield, Hafen laid unconscious and bled out nonstop.
"Survive, my sons," Henry's voice, in his mind, weakly reminded with a stutter.
"Is this the end? Did we fail? Am I dead," Hafen sought to know. He barely opened his eyes on the sand. His hearing returned, and he heard a brawl with many grunts and screams of anguish.
A cyborg crumpled, and a laser gun fell to the ground.
In surprise, Hafen slowly opened his eyes wider and turned his head.
Stark beat down on a cyborg next to him. He grabbed one of their laser guns and fired at others. "Hey, it works like my own elemental gun," he commented. He stood up and ran around as lasers bombarded in his direction. He glanced at his brothers and called out, "Hafen! Matteo! Hang in there!"
A cyborg charged at Stark.
Stark kicked him in the stomach and punched him in the face. He threw the cyborg away.
The cyborg collided with other cyborgs.
Stark gazed at his brothers, and his face was filled with regret. "Are you dead," he questioned with a stammer, and tears welled up in his eyes. His lips tightened.
"Stark," Hafen muttered.
Stark's eyes widened, and his mouth parted open. Relieved, he fired into the distance and asked, "Hafen, can you stand?"
Hafen tried, but he fell back down. His heart pounded, and his chest heaved.
"This is all my fault. I was supposed to save everyone, not drag them to their deaths. I shouldn't have stayed to fight. I shouldn't have insisted on this mission. Sorry, I truly am an idiot," Stark apologized and lamented.
"Stark, this isn't your fault. We tried our best and... You're not an idiot," Hafen solaced and paused for a moment. "In any case, we cannot give up, yet. We can still escape," he claimed.
Stark sniffed and nodded. "I will try my best then." he responded. His arms radiated with energy and sprouted out vines. He wrapped them around Hafen and Matteo. He picked up his brothers and carried them to the boat in a sprint.
Back to a high tide, the boat settled in water.
A cyborg lunged at him and missed.
Stark quickly jumped over and continued his sprint.
Lasers flew by him.
Stark focused his energy into the sand, under his feet. As he ran, he kicked sand behind him.
Sand blew and hit any cyborgs in the way. It exploded with a tiny explosion of energy.
Deterred, cyborgs stepped back in pain.
Soon, Stark jumped over the water and landed on the boat. He laid down Hafen and Matteo. He attempted to get the boat ready.
Hafen, in a daze, asked, "Where's Matteo?"
Stark pointed to him and explained, "He's right next to you, but he's not responding. We must escape now." He pouted and asked, "How do you start this thing?"
Hafen nodded. He limped over to the equipment and helped. Almost fainting, he laid back down and panted.
Suddenly, lasers flew and crashed against the outer parts of the boat.
The boat rocked back and forth.
"Oh, no," Stark yelled in a panic and struggled to keep his balance.
Matteo's body twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"What's happening, Stark," Hafen demanded to know and winced in pain.
Stark stared at the shore, and his face darkened.
Cyborgs lined up by the shore and avoided the water. They fired their lasers into the distance.
The rest of The Evil Cyborgs and Commander Number 3 loomed closer behind them.
Stark gritted his teeth, and his face wrinkled with unbridled bravery. "It's The Evil Cyborgs. They're here. At this rate, they'll sink the boat and the only option for escape. I'll have to hold them off for you to escape," he declared and prepared to fight.
"Wait! How do you plan on defeating The Evil Cyborgs all by yourself? It's impossible," Hafen interrogated and struggled to move.
"I have my fists," Stark remarked and grinned.
"It won't be enough," Hafen retorted and coughed. He stared up at his brother's determined look.
Stark solemnly looked back at Matteo and Hafen. He divulged, "I still have my secret technique."
Hafen frowned and asserted, "You'll lose yourself."
Matteo steadily sat up and queried with a concerned look, "Are you sure about this? You'll be left here, too. You won't be able to escape."
"Matteo! You're alive," Stark, tearing up, bawled. He patted his head and reassured him, "It's alright." He reluctantly looked forward and wiped his tears. He sighed and asserted, "It's time for me to go, but I do have one request."
Just then, another wave of lasers approached.
Stark created sharp leaves from energy, out of his hands, and threw them at the incoming lasers.
Lasers, aimed directly at the boat, struck with them. A couple more lasers hit the boat on the sides.
The boat shook and swayed back and forth.
"What is it," Hafen inquired.
A breeze blew and swayed Stark's hair and red headband.
Stark glanced at his brothers and requested, "I know you can't believe in my victory but promise me... You will not forget about us."
"We never will. One day, we'll return with help, so survive," Hafen vowed and requested back.
Stark nodded and replied, "Same to you, two. Survive." He got into a jumping position and leaped to the shore.
As the boat rocked, Hafen crawled and started the boat with his blurry vision.
Stark landed on the shore.
Sand blew away from his feet.
Stark wiped his eyes, and he stood tall and defiantly. He walked towards The Evil Cyborgs.
The Evil Cyborgs cautiously backed away.
"The kid came back," a cyborg stammered.
"What is he thinking," another cyborg questioned.
Hafen, Stark, and Matteo fought The Evil Cyborgs and attempted to save their squadmates. However, after suffering severe wounds, Hafen and Matteo could not fight anymore. Separating the trio for the first time, Stark seeks to hold off The Evil Cyborgs to ensure the escape of his injured brothers. Putting his life on the line, he prepares himself for his toughest battle, yet. What was in store for the future?