There was no more time to waste when the ship had landed beside the dome structure of the factory. The moment the doors parted open, the warriors ran to the locked entrance of factory as the soldiers—red and white—approached closer.

Mallymkun rode Baeley’s shoulder as they rushed to the metallic door of the factory. Both called on desperately to the surveillance camera, flailing their arms in the air.

Not long after, one of the Tweedles spoke from the radio placed just above the fingerprint recognizer of the door.

“Oh hello there, Mally. Are those the warriors?” the personality of the voice sounded a lot like Tweedle Dum’s.

“Baeley, press that red button by the speaker,” Mallymkun requested and as the bloodhound did, he shouted from Baeley’s shoulder. “We’ve no time, Dum, open the doors immediately. We’re cornered by soldiers!”

The door parted in half, revealing a seemingly endless hall but at the very end of it was another door, lit.

Baeley positioned at the side of the door as he gestured his warriors to get inside. “Make haste!” The bloodhound commanded. When all warriors were in, he and Mallymkun followed. The door behind them closed.

They strode in darkness but it wasn’t difficult as the path was straight and their destination was no other than the lighted door.

Tweedle Dum waited for them at the end of the door, eager to know what was going on outside as they had no surveillance in their perimeters.

“What do you mean we’re cornered?” Tweedle Dum asked. His face was expectant that Mallymkun confirm they weren’t really cornered by soldiers but he frowned as he saw the dormouse’s expression—solemn as war.

“Do not fret,” Mallymkun said, “I’ve got a plan.”

“Alright, let’s hear your plan,” Tweedle Dum replied.

“First, might I ask,” Mallymkun trailed off, “Do you think that door could handle blasts?”

“Door’s made of adamantium steel so only thing that could damage it is the same material,” he paused then added, “Heated.”

Mallymkun sighed with relief. “It’s a good thing I assumed right,” he chuckled. “I’d hand it to Alice, always using the best materials. Baeley, could you get these warriors armored up and weaponized?”

Baeley nervously pointed to himself. Of course there was no other. He just wasn’t sure that he could deal with this level of technology. He wasn’t really born with it. “Uhmm…” he coughed sheepishly, “I don’t think I’d know how the thingies would work.”

Mallymkun nodded his head slowly up and down, reminded that Baeley could hardly pilot a ship. Then he shouted to the men. “Who here among you were born of galactic technology?”

The majority of the warriors lifted their hands with the minority of those possessing youth. They were probably the same as Baeley, birthed in Wonderland.

“They’ll know how to handle them,” Mallymkun told Baeley, “Just have one of them suit you up and then meet us back here. We’ll tell you the plan.”

As Mallymkun turned, Baeley caught his attention again with the subtlest gesture. Mallymkun knew. He noticed that Baeley was shy about his weaknesses so the dormouse himself asked whatever else he might have trouble with.

“I’m afraid that I won’t know how to use the weapons during fights…” Baeley said, “What if I endanger everyone? I’m supposed to be a leader yet—”

“Hush now, Baeley,” Mallymkun calmed the bloodhound. “Remember back at the ship?”

The bloodhound nodded.

“I’ll teach you,” Mallymkun smiled, “and I know you’ll do just fine. Why, you surprised me when you steered the ship. I know you have it in you. Now move along, lad.”

Baeley nodded.

When Tweedle Dum and Mallymkun were alone in the room, Mallymkun asked, “Where’s Tweedle Dee?”

“Oh, we found a spaceport with actual ships at sector zero. He’s scanning them to make sure it’s not bugged. Lucky us if it’s not, we could use ‘em.”

Mallymkun nodded. “If those ships work, we’ve no need for my plan except if at this very moment, we’re breached.”

“Aye… let’s hear it.”

***

Rocket and Bayard with the few marching warriors headed towards the factory. Not long after their travel, the army of enemy soldiers came into their scope. And they had to follow in stealth to observe the enemies.

“This is bad…” Bayard said quietly to Rocket. “They have the whole area surrounded. Alice must have known they would be there… that cunning witch.” He cursed.

“Do you think there are soldiers at the other side too?” Rocket asked.

“Probably.”

“I don’t take probably,” Rocket retorted. “Let’s go find an opening.

Their small platoon travelled around the soldiers, covering a radius. From what they’ve seen, the whole factory really was surrounded. The old bloodhound bet that his son wouldn’t let himself get cornered and that if he knew the situation he would back up.

“I don’t think Baeley would lead the soldiers inside there,” Bayard said.

Rocket was on top of a boulder, scanning the entire area when he spotted his rented ship parked by the side of the dome. “I think he’s there with the soldiers,” Rocket replied. “The last time I saw that crappy ship, one of your friends was steering it. Could be that they used it to transport all the soldiers inside.”

Bayard was surprised. “Unbelievable…” he remarked in a whisper.

“No time to be sulking about that right now.” Rocket climbed down from the rock. “They’re inside and probably couldn’t move for fear that they would get ambushed by these soldiers.”

“What do you suggest we do?”

Rocket chuckled. “I’m surprised you’re open to take orders from me.”

Bayard lifted his brows. “You seem cunning. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“Contact your warriors,” Rocket knelt on the ground and began illustrating his plan on the dirt with his claw. “This is the factory,” Rocket drew a large circle and then surrounded it with orbiting lines. “These rings are the soldiers and this is our platoon,” Rocket drew dots spread around outside the orbits. “I recognized these soldiers have a lock-target system. It’s both automatic and manual. That explains why the first batch of soldiers ignored me even as I assaulted them. They were automated for the factory’s coordinates. Someone from headquarters probably noticed that the soldiers were being assaulted which is why he manually had the soldiers lock-target me.”

Bayard nodded, keeping his arms folded on his chest as he analyzed the diagram Rocket presented. “So with that being given, how do you suggest we get an opening?”

“It’s gonna risk your men.”

“They come here prepared.”

“Very well then,” Rocket said. “Our position currently basing on the factory as our point of origin is south. You rally your remaining men and divide them into two squadrons that would create a diversion east and west. Once they begin assaulting the soldiers, let’s hope that someone from headquarters commands the bots to root for your men.”

“It would create an entrance for us,” Bayard realized.

“Yeah, that’s the point,” Rocket retorted sarcastically. “But that doesn’t mean we could just about waltz in the opening.”

“Then we proceed with stealth?” the bloodhound asked.

“Too slow,” Rocket said. “How fast can you run?”

Bayard chortled with pride. “I might be old but I could run from Marmoreal to Salazen Grum without stopping.”

“Good. So let’s move now. By the way, how can you relay the message to your men? You don’t have a radio.”

Bayard walked over the boulder as the raccoon followed. “There are other ways to communicate other than radios, son.” He searched for one of his men that spied on the soldiers. Once he spotted one on the west, he let out a howl.

The soldier alertly turned to Bayard and the rest was complex gestures for Rocket. The bloodhound was spelling with his hands and transporting messages with gestures and imitations of animal sounds. It was impressive but silly to watch all at the same time.

Once Bayard relayed his message to his allies in the west, he walked over the boulder again and repeated the same procedure to an ally eastward. The message travelled like a wayward whisper but unaltered.

“Now what?” the impatient raccoon asked.

“Now we wait for a signal,” Bayard said.

Rocket was curious but he hid it all as he waited for what was about to happen.

A howl came in the west and then in the east. Quickly thereafter, Bayard howled as well and faint battle-cries resonated in polar-opposite directions. From the west and east came small squadrons of men that began attacking idle soldiers.

The robots fell and not long after, they split in half, crowding at the west and east, creating an opening for the raccoon and bloodhound to enter.

“Do we move now?” Bayard asked.

“Not yet.” Rocket estimated the opening for them. “Get your men retreat slowly back to the forest side. The goal is not to wipe out the soldiers.”

Bayard howled long and clear but it had a different tone compared to his howl earlier. The soldiers fell back slowly, making sure that they were targeted by the robots.

“Alright, we run now!” Rocket dropped on all fours and began sprinting.

The bloodhound dropped on all fours as well, catching up with the speeding raccoon ahead of him. They were unspotted but only for so long. Someone from HQ probably spotted Rocket and Bayard for the soldiers closest to them all turned back and marched to corner the bloodhound and the raccoon.

Rocket looked at his left and right where lines of soldiers were closing in with long lances. He growled in annoyance as he slowly stood up on two legs and continued running bipedal. He unstrapped the bazooka from his back and began shooting projectiles.

“Have them open the door!” Rocket yelled as he shot the soldiers that came too close to Bayard while at the same time he protected himself. He wasn’t a fast runner on two legs but at least he could fend for himself.

They were just about halfway to the factory when suddenly, both of them were stopped by a gigantic beast that came from the sky. Rocket’s back was turned on Bayard as he kept the card soldiers and white soldiers at bay but even he was enveloped by the shadow of what he hoped wasn’t there.

Slowly, he turned and saw the bloodhound petrified on his tracks as he was blocked by no other than the Jabberwocky.

Its wings punctured the ground as it seemed to stand its ground. The soldiers kept on approaching and Rocket had no time to be paralyzed in awe. He charged his weapon for a strong ion blast and then he aimed it to the dragon whose attention was on the helpless bloodhound.

The blast seared on its face but hardly did any lethal damage. It was only enough to get its attention solely on Rocket and that’s what the raccoon intended to do.

The Jabberwocky screeched, detaching its punctured wings on the ground as it took to the sky. Rocket’s attention was on the dragon that he forgot about the marching soldiers. One red soldier came too close and was about to stab with its lance but was shot in the head by the bloodhound in the distance.

“Move now!” Bayard yelled as he shot the soldiers that closed in on Rocket, giving the raccoon an opening.

Rocket placed his bazooka on his back and ran on all fours again until he was with Bayard. He stood up and readied his bazooka. Back to back, side by side, they protected each other.

“The thing you did earlier,” Bayard said as he shot a soldier that approached. “It damaged the Jabberwocky…”

“The ion blast?” Rocket asked rhetorically. “It barely got through its skin.”

“But it did damage,” Bayard grunted as he evaded a lance that thrusted forward, grabbing it by the wooden body, disarming a soldier. He finished it up with a headshot.

“The dragon shoots lightning out of its mouth so I assumed electric shots would have no effect,” Rocket said.

“Perhaps it could only tolerate so much… do you think you could overwhelm it?”

“Too much work,” Rocket twisted some knobs on his bazooka. The four mouthpieces of the weapon shut close and were replaced by a singular barrel. “I don’t use shells much since these soldiers are made of metal but since the dragon is made of flesh, let’s see how tough its skin is. I’ll leave the soldiers to you since my ammo is practically futile against them. I’ll handle the dragon.”

Bayard nodded. From the holsters his belt carried, he took out electrical batteries and slipped it in a compartment of his handgun. The small weapon sparked with energy as the bloodhound released masses of electrical shots that exploded on contact.

Rocket aimed to the violet sky. Lightning flashed twice, revealing the location of the dragon angling to sweep them down. As the beast aimed its claws against them, Rocket bombarded it with a rain of shells.

The beast groaned and changed its course back to the sky. It rained crimson—the proof of Rocket’s damage. The raccoon smiled wildly as drops of red soaked into his suit and fur. Bayard protected themselves from the soldiers as Rocket protected them from the Jabberwocky.

The dragon didn’t stay in the sky for too long. It landed on the dome of the factory. It roared before collecting its breath to spit out lightning at Rocket and Bayard. Both anticipated the attack and both got out of harm’s way.

The Jabberwocky flew into the sky and spiraled in the air, targeting the factory with lightning. The dome’s glasses shattered upon the lightning’s contact and not long after, the building was set ablaze.

Bayard was belly-flopped on the ground, getting himself up by his forearms when the Jabberwocky burned the building.

“Baeley!” he shouted desperately, oblivious of the soldier that approached him.

“Behind you!” Rocket yelled.

A red soldier was close to Bayard, too close with its lance pulled back for a full thrust forward.

Rocket bombarded the soldier with shells but little had it done than simply shake the robot. Bayard crawled back but he was too slow. The soldier stabbed with his lance, piercing the bloodhound so deep the spear went through his back.

Rocket’s eyes widened as the bloodhound spat blood.

Bayard held on the wooden body of the spear, keeping the soldier from pushing it any further. He looked at Rocket with his droopy eyes, closing to slits as the life fades away from him.

Rocket didn’t stop. He kept on bombarding the soldier with shots that he failed to notice one sneak up behind him.

With little strength Bayard had left, he took his gun from the ground and aimed it at the soldier behind Rocket. He pulled the trigger, fooling the raccoon that he was what Bayard targeted. Rocket was grateful as watched the soldier behind him fall.

Rocket transformed his weapon as it was and charged for a concentrated laser. He shot the soldier that stabbed Bayard, sending it flying in mangled pieces.

He ran to Bayard and cleaned out soldiers that were approaching but eventually, he’ll be overwhelmed.

“Leave…” Bayard gasped. He trembled for each breath he took and trembled each time he released it. “Take my gun… and save my son.”

“You’re still breathing,” Rocket looked at Bayard for a moment before focusing his attention on the approaching enemies. “I’m not leaving you.”

“Aye, I’m breathing for now,” Bayard coughed blood. “But later I won’t be. At least save my son… please, I’m begging you.” With a shaking hand, Bayard offered his weapon to Rocket.

Rocket swiped the small gun from Bayard’s hand and strapped it on his belt. It was difficult but not impossible to do. He looked back on the bloodhound, sitting on the ground with a spear through him. He didn’t even know his name…

***

“Mallymkun, we’re all ready,” Baeley walked in with Tweedle Dee.

The fat twin was geared up and had a smug look painting his face. “The ships aren’t bugged,” he said.

“They’re not?” Mallymkun’s ears rose up, “Then I see we’ve no need for my plan.”

“Your plan could be a backup in case something unfavorable happens,” Tweedle Dum said. “For now, let’s group the warriors so we could have them board the ships.”

Mallymkun opened his mouth, about to agree when suddenly, the whole factory was rattled. It dimmed right after the shudder and was followed by a ghastly shriek.

“The Jabberwocky…” Mallymkun said under his breath.

Not long after, the whole factory was shaken again and was struck by a terrifying explosion. Glass exploded from top to bottom until the flammable parts of the building were set ablaze.

“The warriors!” Baeley yelled, “They’re at the space port!”

The group hurried to the spaceport where they arrived at a scenario where shards of glass were scattered on the floor with the walls burning. The warriors were unscathed because of their armors but the ships were as good as useless. They can’t even fly the ships out of the factory anymore.

“We’re doomed…” Tweedle Dee swallowed.

“Not yet we’re not,” Mallymkun said. “Baeley, rally the warriors. We proceed with my plan.”

Baeley gathered the warriors and then they meet by the entrance of the factory.

“Soldiers are waiting for us outside. I didn’t count the Jabberwocky in my plan so I made a few revisions. We push outward and once in open space, we spread out.”

“Don’t you think we’ll be overwhelmed if we spread out?” asked one of the warriors.

“You’ve got weapons and armor, use them,” Mallymkun answered. “Originally, we’re supposed to march out in a group, forming a small circle of defense but since the Jabberwocky is out there, we’ll be wiped out with one breath of lightning. Others will not be able to evade with no room to move to so once we go out we—”

“Mally,” Tweedle Dum interjected. “Ain’t that Rocket out there?” he pointed to the screen which surveilled the entrance.

Mallymkun turned to the screen, watching the raccoon fending off warriors while at the same time knocking on the metal door.

“He’s still alive…” Mallymkun said to himself and then snapped out. “Let him in quick!”

Tweedle Dum punched the button that opened the door’s entrance and the raccoon scurried inside. He breathed, back against the door and walked the dark hall towards the lit room where Mallymkun and the others were.

The dormouse greeted him first. “You’re alive…” Mallymkun was surprised.

“What else do you call me?” Rocket retorted harshly but something was definitely down about him. He was rude as he had always been but there was sadness with him—so strong it was contagious.

Baeley reacted negatively, having heard someone spoke harshly to the one he looked up to. “He just saved your life,” Baeley growled.

Rocket looked Baeley straight in the eye and the bloodhound stared back but he could only challenge the fierce raccoon for so long before looking away.

“You look a lot like your father…” Rocket sighed.

“My father?” Baeley asked. “You’ve met him?”

Rocket took the small gun from his belt and then handed it to Baeley, pushing it against the bloodhound’s chest. “He’s the reason why I’m here right now. I couldn’t save him.”

The warriors behind Baeley began whispering. The echoes of, “The chief is dead?” was most apparent.

Baeley clutched the small gun, trying to feel the warmth of his father that was no longer there. He looked down and then he was shaking as the he recalled the last time he was with Bayard. If he had known that it would end like this, he would have at least left with a proper goodbye.

“I understand your grief,” Rocket said, “But now is not the time to mourn the dead. This building’s ablaze and we have to move quick.”

Baeley swallowed all the sorrow for now. He placed the gun on his belt and rallied the warriors with him.

Rocket caught the site of the spaceport with actual ships. It was surrounded by fire but could be salvaged. “You,” he pointed to the dormouse and the Tweedles. “Come with me, let’s ride those ships.”

“But there’s no way out,” Tweedle Dum protested.

Mallymkun agreed, “The area’s surrounded by fire.”

“Those ships are probably made of fine material. If there’s one thing I know about this place it’s that its creator is a meticulous person. I’ve seen her works. Now are you going to come with me or not?”

“It’s too risky,” Tweedle Dee said.

Rocket looked at them pathetically. “You all suddenly forget how to steer a ship? Or you’re just too lousy to maneuver? There are gaps in the dome and the ships are made of steel, what do you have to fear?”

Their faces seemed reluctant and Rocket didn’t have the words to convince them so instead, he obliged them.

“Listen up, everyone!” Rocket yelled. “His father and I,” he pointed to Baeley, “Created a diversion outside. The soldiers are scattered. All you have to do is look out for the dragon. These men and I will look out at you from the air should any threat approach.”

At the end of Rocket’s instruction, Mallymkun and the Tweedles were left with no choice but to ride out in the air.

“If you die without getting out of the dome, you’re all pathetic drivers,” Rocket walked past them, “and you could blame your deaths to me. If you could still blame when you’re carcasses.”

“Unbelievable, brother,” Tweedle Dee folded his arms.

“But we’ll have more power if we have ships so it’s worth the risk,” Tweedle Dum followed.

Mallymkun scurried ahead, climbing the raccoon that casually walked to the burning spaceport. Once on Rocket’s shoulder, Mallymkun asked about Cheshire. “Is he still alive?”

“Who?” Rocket was caught off guard and then he remembered. “Smug-face?” he didn’t sound so enthusiastic. “He might be lousy without his powers but he’s not a full weakling. I’m sure he survived those slicing walls.”

“Slicing walls?” Mallymkun asked.

“Turns out your hatted weirdo friend could be a compatriot of Alice,” Rocket said. “My only fear is that Cheshire is stuck with him…”

“Tarrant cannot be on Alice’s side,” Mallymkun couldn’t believe it.

“I’m not sure, okay?” Rocket said, “I never confirmed it but he knew the lab more than Cheshire or any of you. Don’t you think that would raise some suspicion?” Before the dormouse could add anything else, Rocket stopped by the entrance of the spaceport. “That bloodhound’s father…”

“Bayard?” Mallymkun asked.

“So that’s his name…” Rocket whispered only for him to hear and then he shook his head. “He wanted to save his son. He’s the reason why I’m here and why the soldiers are scattered out there. He came here solely for his son—wanting to save him… and look where it got him.”

Mallymkun swallowed. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’m fighting this war to save Cheshire,” Rocket said, “But I don’t go making lousy decisions. If I really want to save him, I have to end this battle—cut out the roots. I wish that bloodhound saw it that way… if he did, maybe he’d still be alive.”

The Tweedles caught up behind them and then Rocket walked forward again, stepping on shattered glass as he entered the room.

“It’s when we become selfless at times like this when we lose our lives. If you want to survive this war, be selfish,” Rocket said, “Don’t let this battle take something from you. Take whoever you love and keep him for yourself. That’s how you’ll survive.”

Mallymkun nodded subtly. There really was more to this raccoon that just an ill-mannered animal.