Finding Hope

Chapter eight

A few days later

"O-Oh goodness" Alexander said, sliding down off Cleff who laughed. "Th-that was certainly an experience"

"Riding for the first time is different, huh?" Leo asked as he stabilized Alexander.

"Yes. But it was thrilling!" Alexander stated.

"Good. We gotta get into the lab now, to our dragons" Nathan stated.

"Wait! Dad has these weird Inventions of his, robotic dragons, they'll go after us if we just go in" Alexander said.

"We'll distract the robots, whatever those are, and let you do the rest" Shimmer said to Christina.

"Sounds like a plan. The dragons here will distract the robots, and we'll go in for the others" Christina stated. Everyone nodded before the dragons launched into the air. Smith and Crystal roared, making all cameras turn to them. Robotic dragons came out of a large door, taking it the air.

"GO RIDERS!!!!" The riders ran with Alexander. Christina dropped to her knees, skidding under the door. The riders shared grins, and Alexander laughed breathlessly. They ran to a metal door and Alexander hesitated.

"Al?" Mark questioned. "Are you ok?"

"J-just nervous going against my father" Alexander said. He put in a password, allowing the door to open. "I know the way, come on!"

The riders ran with Alexander, going through halls left and right. It was a maze, Christina knew it. She glanced around before seeing some stairs as they ran passed. She then looked ahead.

"The control room, we mess up the controls and we get the cages open" Alexander said as they entered a room, covered with computers. Screens showed the eight dragons in a cage, tied down.

"I got this" Jordan said, grabbing a metal chair and slamming it down on a computer. The screens blurred, and Christina let out a sharp gasp. Nobody noticed, but she smirked.

Leo and Nathan grabbed chairs, helping Jordan. Mark and Chase shared nods, beginning to help. Until a computer exploded. They shared cheers, but alarms began to blaze. They all stared as Andrew stalked in, smaller robotic dragons behind him.

"Oh no" Jade whispered, allowing Alexander to hide behind her.

"My own son...... Well, you kids won't be getting out of this~" Andrew purred, but Christina threw a chair at him. He cursed loudly.

"Run!" Christina ordered, grabbing Alexander's hand. The riders ran from the room, and Christina brought them to the stairs. They ran to the top floor, Andrew and his robots following blindly. The riders came to a large open window.

"Nowhere to run now" Andrew chuckled evilly. "Now, why would my own son turn against me? How did the dragons make you do it?"

"U-um...." Alexander hesitated, but Christina and Hunter gave him encouraging nods. He let out a shaky breath before looking at his father. "Th-the dragons didn't make us do it. We did it because it was right, because you have no right to do this to them!"

"No right.....?" Andrew met Alexander's eyes, making Alexander shift his footing. "I HAVE ALL RIGHT. I'LL KILL EVERY LAST DRAGON. HOW DARE YOU SIDE WITH THEM!?!? ARE YOU THAT STUPID!?!?"

"Jump" Christina ordered.

"What?" Mark and Chase cried.

"Jump, now!" Christina cried. The riders shared nods. Brad and Destiny jumped out the window, followed closely by Leo and Jordan. Soon, it was only Christina, Andrew, and Alexander.

"Ch-Chris...... Wh-what do we do?" Alexander whimpered as Andrew glared daggers their way.

"When I say now, follow me and don't stop" Christina whispered, then moved in front of him. "You have no right to harm dragons for the act of one. People kill each other, does that mean humanity deserves to die for the actions of a few? Are you blinded by revenge and hatred that you'd harm your own son?"

"That sounded really cool" Alexander whispered.

"I got it from a book" Christina admitted quietly.

"Yes" Andrew laughed. "I'll kill anyone that gets in my way. No matter who or what they are. Your just things, you'll die for what you've done"

"He's lost it. He's insane" Christina stated. Then she grabbed Alexander's hand. "RUN!!!!"

Andrew lunged for the two. Christina and Alexander ran for the window, Andrew chasing closely. Alexander jumped clean out the window and Christina launched after him. Andrew stopped, Alexander screaming as they fell.

Suddenly, Andrew shot back as Stardust flew up passed him with Alexander and Christina. Christina grinned as Stardust flew to the others in the air.

"I missed you stardust, so much" Christina cried as they flew away from Andrews lab.

"I missed you too, Christina" stardust chuckled.

"You alright Alex!?" Christina asked. Alexander only responded by hugging her tighter, making her giggle. "I should've warned him, huh?"

"Probably, yes" Stardust replied.

"HOME ON GUYS!!!!!"

"LETS GO HOME!!!!!"