" That's a good thing then. We better get back to base then. Lena needs to notify the council now and then we can start planning the next phase. " Cole said.

Alex saw Neil waiting for him at the hatch with a small scowl on his face. "Sorry, but someone had to make sure the guards were attracted to the bombs going off," he said before heading down to the Underground chambers. Once he got down the ladder, he saw Neil coming down next to him and locking the hatch above.

Rikku nodded, as did the others. She was glad to see that Sora and Max weren't causing that much of a scene when it came to being reunited with their trainers, but she had a feeling that would change once they returned to the safety of the underground.

Taylor was very happy to see Sora again and to hear that he had learned some new magic. It was great to be out of the prison and was ready to take Bryce down.

Max was also very happy to see Carly and was glad that things had gone well. It was good to be away from that prison area. that whole place gave her a bad feeling.

(timeskip, back to the caves?)

( Sounds good to me. )

(kk)

Alex stepped back into the cavern, glad to see Carly, Taylor and Tracy safe and sound, as well as two other people he didn't recognize. Heading towards them, he handed Tracy back the bishiball that had Saphira in it, as well as asking who the two he didn't recognize were.

"This is my friend Michael. He's the detective who was investigating this town and who's documents I delivered in the last town ."Taylor said

" And this is my sister Deanna. "Carly said as she introduced her sister. She was glad to be out of that hell hole of a prison.

Alex nodded once Tracy had taken back her Bishiball and thanked Alex. "Nice to meet both of you. My name is Alex," the young trainer said as he returned the greeting with a small grin on his face. He was glad that his friends were out of that hellhole that he put them in. They knew it was a necessary evil, but Alex hated it all the same.

" Now we need to figure out a way to take out Bryce. I have contacted the Dragon Council and they will send us the plan to take out the black dragon. We need to come up with the one to take out Bryce. " Lena said.

"We'll think of something, I'm sure," Alex said as he thought for a little while before sighing and coming up with nothing for the moment. He knew that Zero and the others would help come up with ideas if they thought about it.

" We should get some rest. We have a long few days ahead of us. " Lena said.

Alex yawned lightly and agreed with her. "You're probably right," he said before he noticed everyone pulling out some sleeping bags, putting up hammocks or the like.

Taylor got out a sleeping bag and laid down. It was good to be in a warm room with something soft to lay on. He would be glad to sleep in a real bed once this was over.

Alex pulled out a sleeping bag for himself and quickly went to sleep, a small smile on his face as he was able to finally rescue his friends. Now all they had to do was defeat Bryce...which he would think about in the days to come.

Bryce was furious at the news that his prisoners had been rescued. He knew it was that useless secretary of his that was behind it all. He needed to get Alex to help him figure out away to destroy the Rebels.

Alex woke up early. Making sure that no one was up and about, he wrote a quick note that he was taking a short walk and should be back within the hour, three hours at most. Leaving the note in a spot where anyone could see it he set out and went up to street level. Making sure that none of the guards saw him leave from the hatch, he silently opened it before closing it slowly.

He wondered if Bryce thought he was part of the attack or not, but wasn't going to go to him and find out. Although if one of the guards said that Bryce asked for him then he would rather go than raise suspicion.

A guard saw Alex and waved him over. " Bryce needs to speak to you. He wanted one of us guards to tell you. " The Guard hoped that Bryce would be in a better mood soon.

"I wonder what he wants to talk to me about," he asked with what seemed like genuine curiosity and thanked the guard for telling him. Making his way to the gym, he resisted the urge to smirk. Bryce still trusted him...for now anyways, and he wanted to keep that farce up.

Bryce paced his office and was relived that Alex had came. " I don't know if you have heard the news yet, but the prisoners are missing. "

"They are?" Alex asked in alarm. "What happened?"

"I think the rebels broke them out. There also were explosions that might have been used for distractions. I have no clue how the prisoners escaped, since the locks were in tact. They might have used a tunnel, but none of them run under the gym. "

"I'm not sure how they could have gotten out then...it doesn't make any sense," Alex stated as he adopted a thinking pose. "Was there any other reason you wanted to talk to me, besides the fact that the rebels broke my friends out of your prison?" he asked, sounding a little angry for the part.

" I want you to help me get the Rebels back. I'm starting a major offensive soon and I need all the help I can get." Bryce said .

Alex hid his worry well and asked what Bryce had in mind so that he could help. However, Alex knew that he would have to end this farce soon.

" I have a map of the underground. I want to invade the known parts so that once we find where the Rebels are, they won't have any way to get out of their base. "