Operation: A Death Wish (A FangBoy FF)

Chapter 5

Siren sounded. Boboiboy and the gang jumped at the sudden sharp noise. It took Boboiboy a few moments to realize it's coming from the communication panel.

"Kaizo!" Fang widened his eyes. He's the first to reach the panel and is already accessing the distress call when the others reached.

"Is it really Kaizo?" Captain Kokochi asked just as the identity window is brought up. It displays information in text Boboiboy didn't understand, but the photo displays a mugshot of Kaizo.

Boboiboy dragged Fang away from the screen as the others swarm forward. Kokochi and Tarung's expression turned grim as they read the text.

"What does it say?" Yaya asked.

Boboiboy tried covering Fang's ears, but the purple-haired boy pushed his hands away. "I want to hear this." He whispered.

"It is." Tarung nodded, his eyes still trained on the screen. "The fact that a message came instead of a Reaper Signal means he's still alive. But the situation is not as pretty as we thought."

"Kaizo reported that Admiral Shadow is alive, which is good news." Kokochi continued. "Though at the same time, those same people are conducting some sorts of experiments. Our past rescuers had become their test subjects."

"Using people as... Test subjects?" Ying repeated in disgust. "What are these people thinking?"

"Kaizo didn't explain more," Kokochi scrolled to the end of the message. "But he did mention that he is the next test subject. He probably have a few hours at most before they start to come for him."

Fang turned around and stormed out of the room.

"This means we have a few hours to save him!" Boboiboy spread his hands; he can feel Fang's desperation. "We should arrange a rescue mission. I could go-"

"No, you shouldn't." Tarung said simply.

Boboiboy's voice faltered. "Sorry?"

"We made a pact with Kaizo when he left for this mission: if he failed this one then that's it. No one would be allowed to go anymore." Tarung reached up and exited the message. "He would not ask for help, and we would not send anyone to rescue him."

"But Fang-"

"Will have to deal with the loss." Tarung walked past Boboiboy, patting his shoulder as he does so. "Being a TAPOPS member is dangerous, and one could lose their comrades in a moment's notice. Keep that in mind."

Boboiboy turned to Kokochi, expecting him to say something else. Instead, Kokochi just shook his head and walk out of the room.

"We should go save Kaizo." Ying said, clutching her fists. "We can't lose another member, with the state TAPOPS is in right now."

"It is against the code, Ying. "Yaya reminded. "I want to go, too, but think what would be brought upon us after we returned."

"Yeah, we shouldn't go." Gopal is shaking violently. "If Kaizo can't finish the mission, how could we?"

"I'm going to go look for Fang." Boboiboy said, then marched out of the room. He felt fury and helpless at the same time; being angry at both Tarung and Kokochi for not organizing a rescue mission, and himself for not being strong enough to go alone.

"Dangit!" Boboiboy hit the wall with his fist. He had not feel so helpless ever since Bora Ra threw Ochobot down a rocky cliff. The emotions he felt back then had help fueled his Hepta-seperation until he defeated Bora Ra, but those same emotions won't be able to help him now.

"Boboiboy." Ochobot rested a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be sad. There's got to be another way."

"I know there is." Boboiboy pressed his back to the wall and slide to the floor. "But by the time we think of one, Kaizo would have... died."

Ochobot tugged at the boy's arm. "Well then, we should start thinking now! And aren't you going to find Fang? Let's go!"

Boboiboy was reluctant, but he forced himself to get up and go in search of the purple-haired boy. It was only last night that he shed tears; Boboiboy didn't want to see him cry again.