MLHM- Part 6

This is the sixth and penultimate Part of "ML:HM".
It was released on 08.02.2024.
== Plot ==
Sophia and her group successfully prevented a major disaster from plunging the world into the grip of Chaos. The mutant lab has been completely destroyed and all of the scientists that used to work there were buried in there, never to be found again.
However, the last part of the mission has yet to be taken care of. Owen- the lead scientist- successfully escaped before his beloved lab was turned into ashes. He is still out in the world, attempting to complete his goal. If Sophia's group does not stop him in time, this means that the world has yet to face true danger. And it might be just as bad as the time when the gate to the underworld appeared on the planet, just a single century ago.
It is up to the young do-gooder to devise a plan and put Owen in his place once and for all.
== Story ==
As the last member of the group successfully emerges from the burning laboratories, all of them look back at the place where they fought Owen and his group of rogue scientists. They never imagined that such a motivated person could cause so much damage, let alone sway countless fugitives to his side. It was a true nightmare, but not as bad as the arrival of the Dark Angel.
While staring at the huge building, they hear the sirens coming from within. Taking this as a hint, they manage to get away just as the entire laboratory complex explodes, leaving only the charred dream of a madman in its wake. Everything that Owen and his group ever hoped for is destroyed, taking the mad ones alongside it.
"It is still hard to believe that it's over."- Will says- "Owen was a truly crafty madman. Even though his group of scientists was close to extinction, he still devised a plan to escape from the ruins alive. And now, I fear that he is still out there."
Sophia nods.
"And the worst thing is- he is our only hope for curing Ellie and Bribri."
Ella sits on the ground, lost in her thoughts. By now, the mutation has already begun. Her hands are looking twisted, her eyes are twitching, and she has that burning sensation to destroy everything around her. Such a pure being, about to be turned into a heartless monster. This is not the fate that she has been hoping for, at all.
"How long do we have to wait?"
Bridgette, also slowly turning into a mutant, shakes her head.
"I'm not sure, honey. It's all a mystery to me."- She says- "But fear not. I'm sure that your big sis has got something in mind. Maybe you'll receive the help that you need."
Ella looks at her, surprised.
"But what about you, Bridgette?"- She asks her- "Don't you need help, too?"
Bridgette sighs.
"Yes, I do."- She says- "However, I'll never ask for it before you. You need to live more than I do, and you'll be the first to wait in line. I'm nothing more than a peon in this great game of wits and skill. My dreams are nothing compared to yours, I'm sure."
Ella looks down.
"I'm sorry. I brought you into this mess. I was too blind to see how dangerous it truly was."- She says- "I was so scared. So unsure. I escaped from those mad people because I wanted to find hope."
Bridgette smiles and hugs her.
"Well, you found it."- She says- "I'm glad that destiny united us."
Will looks at them, a sad expression on his tortured face. Then, he shakes his head.
"Excuse me, ladies. We have to go."- He says- "The mutants are coming this way. The sooner we get out of this nightmare- the better it will be for us."
Bridgette looks at him.
"We aren't going to fight them?"
Will sighs.
"As much as I hate to say it, those beasts are far too powerful for mere singularities like us. Their strength is incredible and they could blow through anything, if they wanted to."- He says- "The only way to terminate their existence is to inform the authorities. The government will surely find a way to cleanse this world of evil."
Ella raises her eyebrow.
"But what if the government fails to fight them?"- She asks- "What if this corruption lasts for longer than it should?"
Will looks at the glowing sword at his lap. Then, he stares at the girls.
"Then we shall finish what they started."- He says- "In any scenario, those mindless drones will be weakened by the destruction of their source. Once the fight is taken back to them, everyone shall see that they are not flawless. Eventually, they will succumb to the light of this world. And then, everything will be a-okay."
Ella nods.
"I hope so!"
Bridgette does the same.
"Me too."- He says- "You and Sophie are our only hope, Willy. Don't let this dream fade away."
Will nods.
"You know what kind of a person I am, Bri. I never make any promises, because I know that I may not be able to keep them."- He says- "But that does not mean that I will not fight will all of my might. Those people tried to turn us into slaves of science. Attempted to take away our freedom. Soon, they shall realize how foolish it was to challenge the guardians of the world."
As the group moves away from the lab, the mutants slowly shamble closer. They are angry that their home has been destroyed and are looking for people to take out their anger on. However, they soon come face to face with a group of human soldiers, who decided to investigate after hearing the explosion from farther away.
When the first shot is fired, the battle begins. Humans and mutants fight for their right to be in this world. But Sophia and her group are not there to witness it, because they have other matters to take care of.
A few hours later, the heroes arrive at a rendezvous point, meant for people who wish to rest and prepare for their future endeavors. As they sit back and attempt to regain their energy, a small group of human warriors approaches them. Will sees his good friend- Alwyn Grayson- and stands up, shaking his hand as he stands next to him.
"It is good to see you again, my friend."- He says- "Thank you for responding to my call."
Alwyn nods.
"Me and my group came as soon as we heard the message. We were worried that you could be in trouble, so we assembled a team of elite soldiers to pull you out."- He says and looks at the rest of the group- "I'm glad that you made it out before that whole building collapsed on top of you. It would have been truly tragic if I lost a friend like this."
Will smiles.
"Well, I am not that easy to defeat. You know how much I tend to fight against the darkness."- He says- "Still, we are not out of trouble yet. Two of my cousin's friends were injected with that mutation solution. They're close to becoming more of those things, and I am not sure if we could find the cure in time."
Alwyn takes a look at the two victims of science. He immediately notes their abnormal features, worrying that the time before mutation is not that long. He looks at his friend, incredibly apologetic, as he prepares to say the inevitable.
"If finding that freak's what it takes to rescue them, we shall do our best."- He says- "However, I fear that our options are limited. With only one solution left and the lives of two beautiful souls on the line, things are becoming much harder. If we don't manage to discover a cure in time, we might have to-- "
Suddenly, Sophia jumps to her feet. She grabs Alwyn by the neck and glares at him.
"Don't say it! Don't you dare!"- She yells- "We're going to rescue them both! That fiend's going to die for making them suffer like this! Nobody is going to perish, not on my watch!"
As Alwyn prepares to respond, his sister- Anna- approaches him and places her hand on his shoulder.
"She's right, Al. Those poor people are too innocent to die like that."- She says- "I've seen a lot of people who were victims to horrible mutations. Some of them were truly hopeless. However, none of them gave up. And, in the end, many of them managed to free themselves from the curses that were afflicting them."
Alwyn looks at her.
"So, you're saying that there is still hope?"
Anna nods.
"Yes, there is."- She responds confidently- "Until then, we must do our best to keep both of them in shape. I ain't much of a healer, but I do know a few things from Mr. Kaos. He taught me how to ease the body and soul of the unfortunate ones, so I'll do my best to prevent their situation from getting worse than it already is."
Alwyn smiles.
"I'm counting on you, Ann."- He says- "The lives of those girls depend on us. Don't let them succumb to the darkness."
Anna smiles back.
"Right back at ya, big bro!"- She exclaims- "I got this, and so do you!"
Anna asks one of the warriors for her bag. Once she receives it, she kneels close to the two girls and starts to perform first aid. She uses both her magic, and the medical supplies that she has in hand, to form a delicate barrier that protects the victim from the corruption within. However, she is completely aware that the fragile bubble will break soon, so she does her best to strengthen it, in the hopes that it will last longer than it should.
"There we go. This should make them feel better."- She says to Alwyn and Will- "However, it's not a permanent solution, Though it will cleanse a large part of the taint, there will still be enough to crush them completely. For now, our main focus is to find that cure."
Then, she turns to Will.
"Any idea who has it, honey?"
Will sighs.
"I do. And he is one of the most determined villains I have ever met."- He says- "His name is Owen Olson. He is a scientist who convinced countless other fools to stand by his side. With their help, he managed to create a solution so powerful that it warps the human body in terrifying ways. The result is a powerful mutant, completely berserk and unable to exhibit any normal amounts of intelligence. In other words, he is trying to create a bunch of mindless drones, with no remorse or sympathy left for the human race. And then, he plans to stand on top of the chaotic hierarchy, using his influence to generate high amounts of wealth and fame."
Anna shakes her head.
"How egotistical."- She says- "Endangering the lives of others for one's personal gain is a true crime. I can't believe people like him are allowed to exist in our world."
Alwyn sighs.
"In that case, we must find a way to trick him into coming out of his little hole."- He says- "A direct approach will likely result in huge damage for our group. Worse, some of our former allies may even turn against us. So, we must be discreet when dealing with him.
Will raises his eyebrow.
"What is the plan, then?"
Sophia approaches her cousin and smiles.
"Me and Anna already talked about this. I think that both of you can agree to our little plan."- She says- "You see, the two of us are going to pretend that we are a couple. We'll go on a fake honeymoon, pretending that we're very happy together. From the other side of the sea, you and Alwyn will send an airborne message to Owen, telling him that we have his final vials of mutant solution with us. Since his materials are very limited (and because he requires extra vials to keep his research alive), he's going to come running. All alone, he'll climb on top of our vessel, hoping to find the item that will magically solve his problems. And, when he least expects it, the secret shall be revealed."
Anna grins.
"Ooh! I can't wait!"- She exclaims- "Mama rarely took me on a ship, but I've always loved the sea! I really want to see it again!"
Sophia looks at her and smiles.
"And you don't have to wait."- She says- "We shall prepare and go as soon as possible. Prepare both of your luggages, because we're going on a trip!"
Anna jumps up and down, like a little girl.
"Yes! Yes!"- She exclaims- "Let's do this!"
As the two girls prepare for their journey, Ella approaches them.
"You should stay put, little one."- Sophia says- "I'm sorry to say this, but the adventure's not for little girls like you."
Ella shakes her head.
"But I really want to help."- She says- "You want to travel by sea, right? Well, I think that we can arrange it."
Suddenly, Anna becomes very amused. Hearing that this little girl knows what must be done has managed to peak her interest.
"What do you have to offer, dear?"- She asks her- "We're all ears."
Sophia looks at her.
"Anna!"
Anna raises her eyebrow.
"What?"- She says- "For all we know, the girl may be right."
Ella stares at a seemingly normal hill, not too far away from the ruined laboratories.
"Before I fled from the lab, I heard two of the scientists talking about a large ship that Owen bought for himself. He was planning to use it to travel to distant lands, to spread the corruption worldwide."- She says- "I'm not sure if that ship is still there. However, it may be our only chance to get the gears running. If Owen learns that we took his precious 100 million boat, he'll surely be very angry."
Anna looks at Ella, confused.
"Won't this mean more trouble for us?"- She asks- "Surely, there must be another vessel we could use."
Ella smiles.
"After what he did to me, and all of those innocent people?"- She says- "This is the least he deserves for his crimes."
The two girls see that Ella is feeling angry about the fact that Owen and his scientists mutated so many people. She wants to make him pay, but is unable to do so herself. Deciding that her solution is probably the best one, they decide to trust her.
"Alright, dear. Maybe it's for the best."- Sophia says- "If it hurts Owen even more, I'm all in."
Ella smiles.
"It's the least I could do, after what you did for me."- She says- "You're my hero, Miss Sophia. Without your help, Owen and his freaks would've surely turned me into a mutant."
Anna sighs.
"Can we do this already?"- She asks- "I'm getting very anxious."
Ella nods.
"I won't waste your time anymore."- She says- "Come on. Let's hurry."
The group approaches the suspicious hill. With the help of Sophia, Ella manages to stand on top of it. Then, she bends down and pushes something hidden in the grass, motioning for Sophia to slide down.
When the two of them get back on solid ground, a secret passage opens, revealing a large stairway.
"So, the wacko did have something to hide!"- Anna exclaims- "How mysterious!"
Sophia takes a step forward.
"This is our chance to make everything right again."- She says- "Onward, everyone."
As the group reaches the end of the stairway, they find themselves into a huge boatworks. From the looks of it, it is still in construction. It was meant to be completed in a month or two, until the heroes arrived to stop Owen and his scientists. Now, the only vessel that is sitting at the end of the docks is a huge ship.
Upon closer inspection, the heroes realize that it is meant for the transportation of a huge amount of people, durable enough to protect them from anyone and anything. However, Owen decided to keep it for himself, with no intention to invite anyone else to travel alongside him. Why would he be so selfish? What caused him to waste such a high amount of money for a vessel that he will barely use? And how did he manage to discover the vessel in the first place? Those are some of science's greatest mysteries, meant to confuse the regular humans for many decades to come.
Either way, Sophia and Anna finally have the vessel that they needed. They and Ella eagerly step inside, hoping to find a place that will be perfect for an unexpected meeting. And, truth be told, they are not disappointed.
The inside of the ship is, as expected, completely furnished. The ship has many seats, meant for its many passengers. It has a captain's room, quarters for the crew, as well as a small restaurant for the hungry customers. And all of it was meant for one man- Owen Olson. Simply staring at this huge vessel makes the heroes want to burn it down. However, due to the fact that they actually need it to lure Owen into his old lair, they decide to use it against him instead.
"I fear that it's too dangerous for all of us."- Sophia says- "Will, please take care of Ellie while we're absent. Make sure to give her and Bribri the medication at regular rates. If any of the scientists try to take them back for experimentation, make sure to put 'em out of their misery."
Will nods and hugs Ella.
"I will make sure to keep this poor thing safe."- He says- "Safe travels, cousin Sophia."
Sophia approaches the worried Ella and takes her hands in hers.
"Everything will be a-okay, dear."- She says to her- "You're a strong girl. As long as my cousin and his friends are here, you won't even miss me for long."
Ella looks up at her, her beautiful eyes betraying a high amount of intelligence.
"Do you promise to come back here?"- She asks- "Will you make Owen pay for what he did to us?"
Sophia smiles and nods.
"Of course I will."- She says- "So long as I know that you're alright, I can achieve anything."
She leans forward and hugs her.
"You're the sweetest thing I've ever seen in my life."- She admits- "Stay safe, dear. It won't be long before we come back."
Ella looks up at her, eyes sparkling. She smiles serenely.
"I love you, big sis!"
Sophia can't help, but smile after seeing Ella's expression.
"I love you too, kiddo."
As Sophia and Anna enter the ship and prepare to depart, Ella waves at them. Then, she wipes tears from both of her eyes. Getting to see the person who cared more than anyone else endanger her own life for her makes the young girl want to cry. She wants to help her out, but knows that she is not strong enough to survive the journey, even if Sophia keeps her safe. So, just like a loyal puppy, she decides to listen to her big sister and stay behind, trusting Will that he will protect her for the time being.
Will looks at her and smiles.
"See, Ella? Everything is under control."- He reassures her- "Sure, Owen may still be out there. He's still the awful person that he was back then. However, my cousin calculated his intelligence and devised a plan to use it against him. She knows the risks of taking someone who is close to mutating, so she decided to trust me with this task. While we wait here, she shall make sure to get rid of Owen once and for all. And we shall be the first to learn about it."
Ella smiles and nods.
"I know that she will!"- She exclaims- "Good luck, Miss Sophia!"
Sophia smiles as she gets further into the ship. The two of them watch their group as they wonder which one of them is going to steer the wheel.
"Do you know how to drive such a vessel, Anna?"- Sophia says- "I've never been good at driving myself."
Anna shrugs.
"Beats me."- She says- "I'm a princess, not an adventuress."
Suddenly, the entire ship lights up. As the two girls wonder what is happening around them, the automatic system starts as a voice greets the two of them.
"Greetings, masters. Welcome back."- A robotic voice blares through the speakers- "How can I assist you today?"
Anna looks up and gasps.
"Wow."- She says- "This is... amazing!"
Sophia smiles.
"I know, right?"- She says- "This ride is gonna be our best one yet."
Anna grins.
"I can't wait!"
Sophia looks up.
"Greetings, honored boatmaster. We are glad that you're going to accompany us."- She says, trying to sound like a legitimate rich person- "Me and my... colleague wish to spend some time to perfect our experiments. You see, it's been a whole week, and we wish to get away from this wretched mainland. So, please take us... to the seas and beyond!"
The speakers emit a harsh buzzing noise as the AI processes the command. Then, it lets out an assuring tune.
"Your command has been received and analyzed. It seems to be completely genuine."- The voice says as calming music starts to play- "Welcome aboard, masters. Please enjoy your ride. It is going to be a long one."
Sophia and Anna stare at each other. They nod.
"Alright. It looks like the first part of the mission is done."- Sophia says- "Now, let's wait for the mouse to get caught in the trap."
Anna grins.
"I've been waiting for a real adventure!"- She exclaims- "Let's do this!"
Will and Ella watch as the ship finally sets sail, emerging from the underground river into the vast ocean. To them, this seems to be just a simple ride. But to the people within, it is another exciting adventure, worth writing home about.
"Once I get back home, I'll make sure to tell mom and dad about what we've been doing."- Sophia says and grins- "They'll never believe how dangerous it was."
Anna sighs.
"Parents are always like that."- She says- "First, they claim to be our guardians. Then, they force us to fend for ourselves."
Sophia nods.
"Maybe our parents are not so different, after all."- She says as the two of them stare at each other- "And so are we."
As Will and Ella watch the ship away, they take a look at each other. Though they have known each other for a short time, they have managed to build a circle of trust stronger than that of any sibling. Though Will is the youngest child in the Kaos family (and thus, the loneliest), he still enjoys the company of like-minded individuals. Seeing that Ella has suffered a lot like him means that their bond shall be a lasting one.
"By the way."- Will says- "Earlier, you mentioned that you had parents. What happened to them?"
Though Ella does not share information about her parents with anyone, she feels that Will is truly a person who can understand her. Against her fears, she decides to reveal what she knows about them.
"From what I know, my mama and papa used to be explorers. They took me with them, because they wanted to teach me how dangerous life truly is. I was very young back then, so I don't remember much of what they did back then."- She says- "However, I can still remember than rockfall. It happened after they exploded that TNT. The humans warned us that it's dangerous to play with nature, but they were not willing to listen. And it was their reckless nature that put an end to their adventures. I'm not sure if they actually perished or not, but the orphanage took me in soon afterwards. I was 8 years old at that time."
Will stares at her, sympathetic.
"Do you miss them?"
Ella shakes her head.
"When I was sitting in that orphanage, I truly wished for that life to return. I wanted to see them again, because this is what a true daughter would wish for."- She says- "But now, after meeting all of those wonderful human beings? After starting a life that's much safer than it was before? I still love my parents, but the people that I met along the way- they're my new family. And if I ever meet them again, I'll make sure to let them know how I feel."
Will smiles.
"It sounds like you hold fragments of your parents inside of your soul."- He says- "You try to deny it, but every person has them."
Ella grins.
"Well, that escapade did not happen without their guidance."- She says- "I guess that they wanted me to do it, so I made it happen."
Then, she looks at him.
"Have you inherited something from yours?"
Will sighs.
"Only what they used to be."- He says- "I never met any of them, because they both perished shortly after our birth. At least, that's what Quinn claimed before he disappeared. My uncle and aunt always believed that dad is still alive, but even they have their doubts now."
Ella raises her eyebrow.
"What about you?"- She asks- "Do you believe in it?"
Will nods.
"Of course I do!"- He exclaims- "No matter how Life reunites us, directly or not, I just want to see him again. Time and time again, I felt the presence inside of my heart. Maybe it was just another wishful thinking, but I believe that it was something better. And someday, I shall prove them wrong."
Ella smiles.
"I know that you will!"- She exclaims and hugs him- "With us by your side, you can achieve anything!"
Will smiles and hugs Ella back.
"I hope that you are right, Ella."
Meanwhile, Sophia and Anna ride past the ruined laboratory and into the sea ahead. From the looks of it, the voice within the ship does not seem to recognize the charred remains of human and mutant within, but it does seem a little bit distressed, at the very least. They decide to hide what happened in there, for the sake of a less bumpy ride.
"So."- Sophia says, deciding to strike a conversation- "How was this ship made in the first place?"
The intercom emits a harsh buzz.
"I do not understand."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"I mean, how did you come to become... what you are now?"
The intercom buzzes again.
"My master's name is Owen Olson. He was an esteemed scientist in Silverdale's institute of technology and aerodynamics. According to him, he was one of the lead scientists who worked on developing a new superior lifeform, capable of taking over the entire planet in just mere months. However, after his team's idea was rejected, he decided to release his newly created experiments to wreck havoc on Silverdale, while he and his allies escaped from the chaos, away from the troubled city."- He says- "Such is the reason how Mr. Olson came all the way here, away from society and its so-called "benefits". He was a simple man and just wanted to make the world a better place."
Anna sighs.
"And that's the reason why magic is always better than science."- She says- "Those science freaks are afraid of it, because it makes more of a difference in our world. Unlike their humble kind, those who use magic rarely get mad. Unless they use too much of it, of course. As Mr. Kaos always used to say- "Even the most delicious ambrosia can become a disgusting poison, if you drink it for long enough". I guess he was not wrong, was he?"
Sophia shakes her head.
"I remember what happened back then. I was a young girl when the mutants blew through the gates and attacked the innocent people outside. My mom and dad hid me inside of our house as mama and uncle rushed outside to help as best as they could."- She says- "Even though my dad stayed behind to protect me, I was not truly safe. One of those mindless freaks blew through our door and grabbed me by the neck. He tried to drag me into some sort of a circle, consisting more of those so-called mutants. Were it not for uncle's quick interference, I would've been sacrificed to their gods. I was going to become demon food."
Then, she angrily points at the intercom next to her.
"So, don't tell me that science has benefits!"- She exclaims- "Everything that we fought for was done with the help of magic. To it, science is just a bunch of parlor tricks, made my some kindhearted freaks who secretly wish to make life miserable for all of us."
The intercom buzzes again.
"I am sorry for that, miss. Your story is truly... heartbreaking."- He says- "Maybe my master's ways are not the only ones out there. Perhaps I judged him far too lightly."
Sophia smiles.
"Perhaps we're not that different, strange non-corporeal entity."
The intercom emits a buzzing sound.
"I agree, young lady."
As the ship sails close to a mysterious island, the two girls stare at it. Something about it seems to be quite familiar, but they just can't quite put their fingers on it.
"This is... or rather, was, Sunrise Sanctuary."- The voice says- "It was the home a mysterious tribe that worshipped a powerful god. It is said that he possessed the power to reshape the world, just like my master did. However, he relied on the powerful magic within himself, which was truly spectacular. Maybe he would have succeeded before him, were it not for a certain group of warriors who happened to visit the island."
Sophia shakes her head.
"This is the place where poor Stella lost her life. Some bandit freak took her away from us. And I would have gladly plunged my blade into his skull, if he had the bad luck of facing me instead."- She says- "That place gives me some bad vibes. Can we hurry up, please?"
The intercom buzzes again.
"Of course, madam."- He says- "We shall be out of here soon."
Sophia smiles.
"Thank you, mister machine."
As the ship continues to sail onward, Will pulls out his spyglass to analyze the sea ahead. He and Ella have already sent the signal, and are now awaiting the arrival of the fool who would try to take his belongings back. As expected, the process did not take a long time. A lone boat soon approaches the large ship, theatening to sink it as it gets closer.
But this does not worry either of them. They know that Sophia has a plan, and is ready to execute it. Soon, the evil scientist will meet his maker. Peace shall be restored. It is only a matter of time before that criminal pays for his crimes.
"Alright, cousin. The bird has left its nest."- He says on his walkie talkie- "I hope that you are ready for action, because I surely am."
Sophia nods.
"Leave it to me."- She says- "I've got him in my sights."
As Sophia and Anna hide further in the ship, the mysterious person gets closer and throws a rope. When the hook hits the end of the ship, he gets on top of it and climbs with all of his might. This worries Sophia, but she decides to stay quiet.
Once the man gets close to the end of the rope, Sophia pulls out a laser gun she had in her pocket. Hidden out of sight and mind, she fires a single precise shot and snaps the rope in two, forcing the man to hold for dear life as he holds onto the end of the ship.
Sophia is tempted to lunge forward and send the villain to his inevitable demise, However, she allows him to get back to his feet, since she is no dirty fighter. The chase continues as soon as the man is back on the ship. 
The two girls attempt to distract him by using the ship's defensive mechanism. The person is bombarded by a barrage of arrows. Knocked into the ground by a huge wall hammer. Even the massive golem that materializes in the middle of the ship does not show him any mercy. However, the person refuses to simply stand down and beg for his life. Using his superior skills, he manages to destroy both the golem and the traps with a bunch of simple-looking vials. With a dangerous green liquid inside of them.
Sophia pulls a lever, revealing a hidden mechanism with a lava compartment. However, the man simply throws a water vial in the air. Soon, the water turns into a sold block, preventing the lava from flowing down and creating what seems to be obsidian.
"Hmm. I thought you could only do that in videogames."- Sophia says to herself- "What kind of wacky sorcery is this one?"
Anna looks at the man, then back at Sophia. Then, she takes another look at the man before looking back again. Something makes her think that this is person they are looking for, but she is not sure if they will be powerful enough to fight back.
"Umm, Sophia?"- She says- "Are we sure we're not going to, you know, get outta here? This guy's way out of our league!"
Sophia glares at the man and shakes her head.
"After all that he has done to those poor, innocent people? You must be out of your mind, dear."- She replies- "Until their cries for vengeance have been answered, I can't go anywhere. Guardians of the world never give up. It's what I learned from a certain someone."
Anna smiles.
"Then it's true. She really is just like him."- She says to herself- "She has the same energy. The same unbreakable spirit. The same desire to fix what others ruined. She definitely has the spirit of a true Kaos, just like Mr. Kaos said."
Sophia leaps back and pulls another lever. A flock of vicious bats fly from a hidden compartment above, kept hungry by years of neglect. And yet, the mad scientist is not the least bit afraid of them. Even though they are swiftly flying toward him, he simply cuts one of the wires on the ceiling and climbs on top of it. He seems to be quite heavy, but the large wire still manages to support his weight. Thus, he watches as the giant bats fly through a nearby window, searching for more tempting targets to eliminate.
Left with few options, Sophia decides to use all of them against her enemy. She and Anna work together to distract Owen, and the two girls watch as a giant axe swings from the ceiling and pierces its way into the back of his skull. However, Owen soon reveals that a small part of his skull is made of steel, shocking the two ladies. Then, Sophia uses her knowledge of the ship to knock Owen into the nearest intercom, commanding the voice to blare a loud sound. The rogue AI is more than eager to turn on its former master, using its ability to control the ship's voice system to blare into the villain's ears, nearly rendering him deaf.
And yet, that also doesn't stop him. Without any sense of self-preservation, he approaches the blaring intercom, strikes it with one of his vials and watches, amused, as the acid within corrodes the metal in mere seconds.
"Metal head. Corrosive substance."- Sophia says- "What else does he have to offer? Flying freaks?!"
Much to Sophia's surprise, this is exactly what Owen was planning to do. Suddenly, the rest of the surviving scientists surprise the two girls by flying into the ship with their handmade gliders, trapping them on all sides. Two of the men apprehend them as Owen approaches them and smiles.
"I always knew that you were a tricky one, Miss Kaos. You were willing to enter my laboratory, ruin my experiments and murder my loyal scientists. And what for? Some little girl that probably means nothing to anyone else?"- He asks- "Face it, Kaos. Nobody would've taken that girl in. If it weren't for us, she would have stayed on the streets. That orphanage didn't have much left in it, anyway."
Sophia glares at him.
"It's true."- She says- "Because you blew them all up."
All of the scientists seem to be surprised. Owen, just as clueless, raises his eyebrow.
"Excuse me, but what are you trying to say?"- He asks her- "I never blew up any orphanages. The only thing that I did was to-- "
Sophia pulls out a stack of documents and presents them to him.
"Well, wise guy, the evidence says otherwise."- She says- "Face it. You have just been exposed. You hid those documents from your dear people and pretended to be an innocent little leader. But deep inside, I know that you wanted to do it again, just because you thought that such places were not adhering to your precious law."
Owen snatches the documents from Sophia's hands and reads them. With each forthcoming sentence, his eyes become wider and his expression becomes much more deranged. He tries to burn the evidence against him in a nearby oven, but Anna uses her superior fighter skills to kick Owen in the abdomen, taking the documents back as they fall into her hands.
"How could this be? I... thought that it was burned for good."- Owen says and takes a step back- "The fight, it's not in my favor."
Sophia smiles.
"And it never was."- She says- "We told you, Owen, Even if you found a way to escape, we would have found new ways to expose you to the world. In those papers lies the golden chance, a chance to put you in your place forever. You'll be rotting in a dirty jail cell for the rest of your life, unless the judge decides to be more... merciful."
Owen shakes his head.
"I can't be taken in! I've done too much to fade away from this plane of existence!"- He exclaims- "Even if the odds are against me, I'll keep fighting! You pretty girls don't have anything on me! And once I'm done with you, the rest of the world will forget that I've ever existed!"
Sophia nods.
"Yes."- She says- "Because you'll disappear without a trace. Assuming you're foolish enough to challenge us again, of course."
Owen looks back at his allies, still expecting their full support.
"What are you doing, useless prodigies?!"- He yells- "Get rid of them!"
The scientists stare at each other. Then, simultaneously, they shake their heads.
"What is this? A rebellion?!"- Owen yells- "Stop it! Don't trust them!"
One of the scientists steps up and shakes his head.
"Mr. Olson, we never knew that you were this kind of a person."- He admits- "You told us that we were doing this to save humanity from extinction. You said that the chaos is just another way of life, that law will always be inside of us. We should've known better than to trust a man who can't even trust himself."
Owen shakes his head.
"If you won't take them down, I will!"- He exclaims- "You may not be loyal to me, but the rest of the mutants that you foolishly created are still subservient to me! There is no way you could defeat all of us!"
All of a sudden, huge mutants crash through the open windows and surround the group. They start to attack the scientists, but they easily manage to hold them back using the technology inside of their hands. Small, controlled dark matter blasts send the monsters into the jaws of oblivion before they could even punch their way through this seemingly puny defense. As the last one disappears for good, the hopes are dreams of Owen Olson are shattered, like glass in an extractor.
As a last resort, Owen has one more plan left in mind. He uses his remaining mutants to shield himself, then pulls out what looks like the ultimate antimatter device. He uses it against the group of rogue scientists, blowing them away into various corners of the ship, like a bunch of unwanted dolls. Then, he uses the back button of his mighty tool of destruction to send three of them into oblivion- the place where the mutants are waiting for them.
"Hah! You forgot one last thing about your boss, dear traitors- he has the strongest weapons!"- Owen exclaims as the scientists get terrified- "Now, you shall feel my power!"
Owen prepares to execute everyone, including Sophia and Anna. The two of them attempt to find a suitable spot to avoid this disaster, but are unable to find any. The reason? The ship itself is the target of this destruction. There is nowhere left for them to run.
"Say goodbye, you fools!"- Owen yells- "It's over for you! I am the the supreme-- "
Suddenly, a tall angel unceremoniously barges into the ship and pushes Owen before he could fire the device on its unsuspecting victims. Then, he pulls out his long sword- a weapon of pure darkness- and easily slices the device in half, as if it were made of nothing more but butter.
"W-what?! But... how?!"- Owen yells- "You... blew it! How dare you?!"
The dark angel smiles.
"Judgement's raining down on you, insignificant one."- He says- "You think that you're the pinacle of all evil, but you are nothing more than a puppet in someone else's hands. Even though you never knew it, the dark master of the underworld has been using you for his nefarious deeds. You were nothing more than an expendable. A worthless rat in fancy clothing. So don't come here and tell everyone how unstoppable you are. Because, mark my words before you fall, you are not."
Sophia looks at the dark angel, very surprised.
"Wait. I recognize you."- She says- "Are you Baal Banebringer- the dark angel of Heaven?"
Baal nods.
"That is my name, young one."
Sophia continues to stare at him.
"Why did you help us out?"- She asks- "From what my cousin said about you, I thought that you were a heartless overlord. I never expected something like this to happen, let alone to a humble person such as myself."
Baal sighs.
"It is true. I hate the world and its inhabitants. However, what I hate more is the corruption and self-interest that lies all the way to its rotten core."- He says- "People like this scientist want nothing more than to watch the world burn. They want to create chaos and ruin every kind of humanity. Unlike him, I simply want to create a place of a new order, to replace the corrupt one with something new. And those who seek to act against the favor of the dark ones shall become targets for my loyal warriors. The worst thing about this is... they really hate corrupt freaks. They destroy them with as much hatred as they give to the world. Those wretched souls give the world a bad name. And I, like many of your beloved heroes, wish to put an end to them."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"Does this mean that you're a friend of ours now?"
Baal sighs again.
"Oh, you foolish child. You do not get it, do you?"- He asks her- "I only helped you because we had a common enemy. I came here because I wanted to teach that man a lesson that he will never forget. But your old human saying- the enemy of my enemy is my friend- is not right. We are still enemies, and nothing would ever change that. I just did what both of our sides would have wanted- to cleanse the world of the corrupted fools that inhabit it."
Anna leans close to Sophia.
"See?"- She mutters- "I knew there is some good inside of him!"
Baal looks back at Owen as he rises to his feet.
"But I fear that this fool is far beyond my desire for total elimination. In my eyes, he's nothing more than a liability."- He adds- "You have my permission to put an end to his petty existence. Stop him from spreading his false philosophies, and save your doomed planet once again."
Owen takes a few steps back and shakes his head.
"I hate philosophy! It was my least favorite subject in school!"- He exclaims, having completely lost his mind- "No human shall ever stand in my way! With my experiments, I have become one with the gods. Your petty struggles mean nothing to me!"
Anna sighs.
"Oh boy."- She says- "That wacko's finally lost his mind."
Owen pulls out an entire set of the green vials and laughs like a maniac.
"If I'm destined to fall, then you shall join me!"- He yells- "All of us shall face the underworld!"
Then, he throws all of the vials at Sophia and her new allies. All of them watch as the vile solutions get closer to them.
"Not this time."- Baal says as he begins to chant a spell- "Freak."
Suddenly, time starts to slow down. The movements and taunts of Owen become slower, and so do the vials that come closer and closer to their targets. Surprisingly, Sophia and the others are capable of free movement, so they take advantage to take the fight back to the mad scientist.
Using her immense determination, Anna leaps to the right. She finds a huge fan, possibly used by the previous owner, and turns it on.
"Hey, angel man!"- She exclaims- "You know what must be done!"
Baal nods.
"You got it, human girl."
As Baal turns time back to its usual rate, a surprised expression slowly appears on Owen's face. Before he could do anything to stop the inevitable, the huge fan starts to blow forward. The vial set it turned back toward its sender as it comes crashing down around him. Owen frantically tries to escape from the vials, but one of them manages to hit him in the face, severely burning him and preventing him from seeing his enemies.
"No! This ain't a reality!"- He says as he stumbles back- "I was meant to be the king of this world! I was meant to rule those mutant titans with an iron fist!"
Sophia shakes her head. 
"The only thing you were meant to rule was the poor people who believed you. Who died for you."- She says- "But lo, you failed each one of them. You were an utter disgrace to Man and Nature. Now, you get to see what it means to get hurt!"
As Owen continues to stumble back, Anna sneaks up behind him and rifles through his pockets. When she finally gets what she wants, she pushes him back even further, making sure that he gets closer to the end.
With gravity against him once again, Owen stumbles toward the ship's mini-dock. He screams and threatens everyone around him, begging for his beloved mutants to help him out. While he does so, Sophia climbs on top of one of the assault cannons and aims it at him. From the looks of it, she is already ready to fire.
"Hasta la vista."- She mutters- "Baby boy."
Without any hesitation inside of her heart and soul, Sophia uses the cannon to fire a single large projectile, easily knocking Owen into the ocean as he tries to get back. He realizes that he is about to drown and continues to scream for help. However, Sophia has had enough of his attempts to act like a victim. Using the last of the cannon's ammunition, she launches a single cannonball into Owen's skull, silencing his screams and ending his life almost instantly.
Everyone watches as Owen's lifeless body falls limp, slumping down into the dark depths. No matter what happens next, nobody will ever find his remains. They shall be lost to the endless sea, never to be seen again.
"What a tragic fate, for such a fanatical and ambitious man."- Anna says and shakes her head- "He dreamed of re-shaping the world. Tried to use the humans themselves as the factor that will determine their own ending. He lied, cheated, and even betrayed his own comrades to achieve what he wanted. And yet, he did everything in the name of whatever order he believed in. He was a firm believer in a well-ordered world, surrounded by chaos from all sides. And yet, when life decided to crush him, his end was quicker than that of his beloved allies. And so, magic and technology have beaten science into submission. May the almighty one forgive him for his sins, because we never will."
Sophia bows her head.
"Amen."
The surviving scientists approach Sophia and shake their heads.
"We were wrong to believe in that man. He led us astray. Made us believe that creating monsters will solve our problems. We're glad that you managed to get rid of him."- One of them says, in the name of his people- "If that is fine by you, can you take us back to the mainland. We tire of staying away from our brothers and wish to rejoin them, hopefully to endorse magic and help create new components, to combine them with science."
Sophia sighs.
"Even though I've never been a fan of science, I guess that you are quite genuine."- She says- "If you promise that you'll never create such monsters and help the world in getting rid of the existing ones, then freedom is yours."
The scientist bows.
"We will never make that kind of solution."- He says- "Never again."
Sophia nods.
"I'll hold you accountable for that one, science lover."- She says- "Alright. To the mainland we go."
The scientists cheer as Sophia orders the voice to drive the ship back to the mainland from whence it came. As she does so, however, she notices that Baal Banebringer is preparing to fly away. 
"Wait."- She says- "You're going away?"
Ball looks back and shakes his head.
"My work here is done."- He says- "That villain received what he deserved. The world is now a better place, at least for now."
He spreads his dark wings. Particles of dark stardust fly out of them and stick on Sophia's clothing.
"Mark my words, young one. Today, we were allies. But tomorrow, we shall be enemies."- He says to Sophia- "It won't be long before we meet again."
Baal uses his majestic wings to fly away from the ship, without even thinking about looking back. Sophia watches him, surprised that he even decided to help her in the first place. Then, she salutes him.
"Thank you for your service, Mr. Banebringer."- She says- "I will never forget it."
Then, she looks at Anna.
"So."- She says- "What happened to the cure?"
Anna looks down.
"Well."- She says- "I... "
Sophia looks very worried.
"Don't tell me that you allowed him to perish with it!"- She exclaims- "Anna! I'm serious! The lives of our friends are in our hands!"
Anna grins.
"Just kidding!"- She exclaims- "I got it right here!"
As Anna presents the antidote to Sophia, she calms down. Slightly.
"But there is only one."
Anna shakes her head.
"Owen was a selfish person."- She says- "He only wanted to make one, in case he ever became a victim of the mutation solution himself."
One of the scientists nods.
"It's true."- He confirms Anna's assumptions- "Mr. Olson always said that we'll be on our own. He also said that he's the chosen one... or something like that."
Sophia sighs.
"I guess that this is our best chance."- She says- "Let's hope that it will be enough."
She turns back to the intercom and raises her head.
"You know where to go, mechanical one."- She says- "To the mainland. Now."
The intercom buzzes again.
"Of course, madam."- The voice says- "Mainland travel initiated. Safe travels to all of you."