The Unseen 3

Silent Melody.

While Lapis was getting better, the others looked into the Admin. Admiral discovered that the nearby Factory was up and running. Could one guy run it? Probably not, but it was better to check it out. So while Admiral had Lapis doing quests from Ringtown and Summerland, the other three raided the factory. A faint noise kept appearing every now and then, driving Wendy and Crepe nuts. Ice locked onto it easily. Once they got into a large room, he spotted something race past. He hushed the other two before pulling them behind a wall and mimicking one of the grunts he had overheard.

"Sir? Is everything alright?"

Silence followed as they waited, hoping that the mimic worked. A confused noise followed.

"Who goes there?" Wendy gulped. The voice was barely whispering. Ice kept his composure.

"Grunt #65, sir." The voice took a second to respond.

"Then report back to the others. I'm fine."

"Sir, we were forced to pull out. I was just barely able to slip through the Ranger Barrier. They've strengthened the base." The voice hesitated.

"I don't need assistance. And I'm not stupid!" A powerful sound shot through the air, forcing Ice to grab his ears. Wendy pulled him into a hug as tears raced down his face. Crepe cursed softly before calling out, making sure that Wendy was protecting Ice's ears.

"This is Top Ranger Crepe of the Oblivia Ranger Base! Identify yourself and surrender! No one needs to be harmed!" The voice hissed before another powerful sound filled the air. Ice whimpered as Wendy gulped.

"Definitely one of the admins. They all have instruments. I just can't identify which one..." She then called out. "Go Rock Quad Member, we are not here to hurt you! Please identify yourself and we can leave this place without fighting!" The instrument practically growled when it filled the air again. She scoffed. "Garret. He's got the bass guitar."

"Got it. We don't have a choice. I'll give him one last chance before I charge him." She nodded before he called out. "Garret, we can either leave here unharmed and on passive terms or we can leave here with blood and tears! Your choice!" Silence followed this time before Ice's faint noises covered the silence. Wendy rubbed his back, trying to calm him down. Crepe paused before slowly stepping out, searching the area. Nothing. He vanished? The Top Ranger continued to search as Wendy joined him, leaving Ice to regain his hearing.

"Nothing?"

"I'm not seeing him."

Ice was trembling before a blanket was draped over him, comforting him as Garret softly whispered to him.

"Sorry..." Ice's gaze drifted up to the Guitarist, who was gently rubbing his head and keeping a gentle grip on his shoulder. He didn't use much force, merely holding him in a comforting grip. Ice's mind drifting, memories flooding in from his mother. He curled up in a ball, drifting off before Garret purred.

Once the blue haired boy was asleep, Garret slipped his headphones back on, blocking out all noise. He then connected his Guitar to a speaker on the other side of the factory before strumming a chord, alerting the other two without waking Ice.

"Where was that?"

"Come on." Garret watched as they ran towards the sound. The second they were out the door, he pulled off the headphones to listen to Ice's resting noises. He placed a note in the blue haired Ranger's hand before pulling the headphones back on and slipped away.

~

Ice woke up a few minutes later to an eerie silence. Slowly, he pulled off the blanket and looked around. Neither of the others were by him and Garret had vanished. He blinked before he found the note, which had slipped from his hand.

"I know what you are, LilyWillow. By the time you're awake, I will have the others occupied elsewhere. I want answers. I'll be near the back of the factory.

-Garret."

Ice hummed before looking around. He would look for the others later. It didn't seem like they were in danger. He folded up the blanket and raced off.

He quickly found Garret as he transmitted sound to wherever the speaker was at. Ice gulped before Garret noticed. He moved his headphones before speaking, continuing the sound to wherever.

"Nice to see you without the others." Ice hummed as he got a little closer.

"What do you mean by you wanted answers?" Garret hummed.

"You're a LilyWillow, right?" Ice nodded softly. "I... wanted to know if you knew someone by the name of Vivian." Ice stayed quiet. He did know that name. Kind woman that could force commoners to leave them alone. He knew a lot happened after their group was attacked. Was she ok?

"Strong member." He whispered in response. "She's the reason my group stayed together before the ambush." He then paused. "Why are you asking?"

"Vivian is the name of my mother." Ice's voice got caught in his throat as Garret continued. "My dad was obsessed with the power of the LilyWillows. He was in the ambush and made sure to target the females to force them to assist in getting him an army. When I was born... my dad saw that the chances weren't impossible and practically caged her. I... she told me that if I ever came across any other members that may have survived to alert them of the situation." Ice paused before managing to speak.

"She told you to identify them by their weakness to loud sounds, didn't she?"

"She wasn't able to come up with another way that I could understand. I was too young..." Garret's hand paused before he strummed something strong, which got a wince from Ice. "She wasn't sure that would work either, but she didn't have many choices." He then looked up at the Ranger. "You... you'll save her, right? My dad... I want my mummy..." Ice gulped as Garret looked down, tears forming. Knowing what he was put through, he spoke softly.

"Yeah." Garret glanced at him as he tightened a fist. "I'll save her. And any other LilyWillow children that he might be holding in there with her." A weak smile formed on Garret's face before he paused.

"I'd... better go. If the base is strengthening, I need to regroup with the others." Ice nodded before going over and wiping the tears away.

"You lead the way. I probably have to pick up the other two from wherever they are." Garret nodded before they went.