Fortnite's Revenge and Rebirth: Book 2

Chapter 7

They rushed back to base, moving with desperate urgency. As soon as they arrived, they called for the best doctors and scientists they could find. Jen and William were placed on the exam tables, pale and barely clinging to life. Kevin refused to rest, working tirelessly with the medical team to find a way—any way—to extract the chips without causing more harm. As the x-rays were analyzed, their worst fears were confirmed: the chips were deeply embedded, connected to the bloodstream, just as Tyson had said.

Suddenly, a weak whimper came from the exam table, and Kevin's heart clenched. Tyson was draining their life force again, his invisible hand tightening its grip. Then, in an instant, Jen's body went still—her heart had stopped. Panic surged through Kevin. He lunged for the AED, desperate to revive her, but a scientist stopped him.

"Wait," the scientist said, his voice sharp with urgency. "If she's dead, we can remove the chip."

Without wasting a second, the medical team sprang into action. In the eerie quiet of the room, the operation began. Kevin watched helplessly, his mind a blur of fear and hope. Minutes dragged on like hours, and then, at last, the scientist pulled out a glowing blue chip from Jen's arm. The chip was out—it had worked. But at a terrible cost.

The room held its breath as Jen lay motionless. The scientist quickly stitched her up and applied the AED. A single jolt of electricity coursed through her body, and then, with a gasp, Jen jolted upright, her chest rising as life returned to her. Kevin exhaled, his heart pounding. They had done it. But he knew this was only the beginning—the fight with Tyson was far from over.

With one chip removed and one still left to go, Jen gripped William's hand tightly. Her voice trembled with worry as she whispered, "I don't like this—stopping his heart—but it'll free him, right? I can't lose him. I can't lose my love." Her fear was palpable, and her eyes glistened with the weight of the decision. The scientist, with gentle reassurance, replied, "We assure you, he will be brought back."

Jen took a shaky breath, trying to calm herself. But just as she did, a faint whimper escaped William's lips—Tyson was draining him again. Moments later, his heart flatlined. The medical team moved swiftly, seizing the brief window to remove the chip embedded in his arm. It was the same delicate procedure, fraught with tension, but as the chip was extracted and the AED administered, William jolted back to life.

For a moment, he looked disoriented, his eyes searching the room until they landed on Jen. His features softened with relief, and without hesitation, they embraced, holding each other as if reassuring themselves that this nightmare was over.

"We need to study those chips—figure out how they work," William said, his voice firm but still laced with exhaustion. The scientist nodded in agreement, and Kevin, finally able to breathe easier, knew there was still more to be done. Tyson's power wasn't gone yet, and they needed to find his weaknesses.

"Scan our entire bodies," Jen instructed. "Make sure Tyson didn't hide anything else." The doctors complied, performing full-body scans to ensure there were no other hidden dangers. After a tense wait, the results came back clear—no more chips, no hidden threats. Jen and William's vitals showed signs of improvement, and slowly, their strength and energy began to return. For the first time in days, they were free.

After the intense ordeal, Kevin, Alexandra, and their parents decided to spend some much-needed time together, bonding over video games. The four of them huddled around the console, diving into *Mario Kart* for hours. William, ever competitive, dominated the race, much to the kids' amusement. Kevin and Alexandra weren't nearly as cutthroat as their parents, and every time they laughed, it was a small victory—proof that despite everything, they still had these moments of joy.

As dinner was wrapping up, the scientists suddenly rushed in, excitement in their eyes and a glowing staff in hand. The staff pulsed with dark energy, ominous and powerful. "This staff can destroy Tyson's body," one of the scientists explained. "Someone will need to use it to zap him, finish him off."

Jen and William exchanged a glance before turning to Kevin. "You," William said, his voice filled with quiet pride. "You started this, you led the team, and you deserve to finish it. We'll help distract him, but you're the one who needs to drive the final blow."

Kevin nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility, but also the support of his family behind him. Together, they raced toward Tyson's throne, where they found him waiting, but noticeably weaker. His robotic body flickered, and his once-menacing eyes were dimmer.

"So," Tyson sneered, though his voice had lost its edge, "the two of you are still alive. Impossible. But I will enjoy ending this." With a snarl, he lunged at Jen.

Jen was ready. With a swift movement, she blocked his attacks effortlessly, her strength and rage unleashed in a way Kevin had never seen before. As she fought, William watched from the sidelines, pride swelling in his chest. He couldn't help but admire his wife's fierce power, the way she took Tyson's blows without flinching, fighting with a strength that reminded him why he had fallen for her in the first place.

As the battle wore on, it became clear—Tyson was weakening. William caught Kevin's eye and gave him the signal. It was time.