Etho worked almost endlessly, trying to find Joel as the months passed. Etho had gone to authorities six times, and Keralis and Xisuma eighteen times. Almost no new clues were found, and it had almost been a year since he was kidnapped. The deen understood of Joel's dissapearance, and put him down as a, miss sign up for the college, like he was never there in record. The school year was basically done, summer starting a week later. The group of T.I.E.S. had grown more renownd in the college, even in the city. People thought they were terrifying. Tango's absurd knowledge, Impulse's ability to creep people out and see through lies, Etho's booming and commanding voice, and Skizz was able to understand people to a creepy amount. The four were getting a reputation, their group actively becoming more and more popular. People actually began to ask if they could sign up to be in the group. Tango managed the applications while Etho kept searching for Joel.
Etho was tired, having gone through four Iced caps in one day to stay awake and keep searching. The empty Iced caps cups stared piling on the counter. Etho was sat on the couch, looking absolutely exhausted, yet still working. He had another Iced cap on the table, completely untouched yet. Skizz and Impulse walked in, chuckling. Impulse instantly noticed to Iced cap, and grabbed it.
"Noo! My Iced cap!" Etho said, child like tone.
Impulse moved to the window, and threw the Iced cap out the window, the Iced cap accidentally hitting Tubbo who was sitting on the grass.
"SORRY!" Impulse yelled.
Impulse turned back to Etho.
"Go to bed," Impulse ordered, "Now."
Etho crossed his arms and pouted. Etho wanted to protest, but Impulse tapped his foot in disapproval. Etho went to his room, and got onto Joel's bed, the scent having faded, but not entirely. Etho fell asleep almost instantly after laying down, face planting Joel's pillow.
××××××
Joel was panting, stomach grown a lot from the child growing. He was put in a different room, one more comfortable, yet he still had that collar on. The collar that kept him there, the one that wouldn't let him do what he loved. Joel just sat in his new room, Ranboo beside him.
"Well, apparently they come in the next few days..." Joel said, voice slightly trailing.
"At least it is only us two," Ranboo stated, "they weren't able to get Techno, you know. But, he's been all alone, in the room. Must be torture..."
××××××
Techno was raving in the room, breaking, then reassembling Ranboo's Lego sets. He was having a blast in the solitude, saying things he couldn't say with the other two there.
××××××
"Yeah..." Joel replied.
"If your friends arrive before they come, they're going to be quite confused," Ranboo stated, chuckling.
Joel let out a light giggle, "they're, perseverant, they set their mind to something, and they see it through. Though, I'm probably kicked out for missing the entire year..."
"Maybe," Ranboo said, smiling, "or they spoke on our behalf. Either way, we won't know..."
××××××
Impulse worked where Etho was, wide awake and eager to try and find new clues. Impulse looked over crime sightings a lot slower then Etho had, analyzing every incident with care. He just, stared at one. A kidnapping of Ranboo. Ranboo was last seen at the restaurant with Martyn, having a "loving date" together. Witnesses said they went down one street, then just, dissapeared. Impulse tapped his chin. Skizz sat beside Imoulse, looking over the files with a speed in-between Etho and Impulse, yet almost as effective as Impulse. Etho hoarded the files all the time, all the evidence, not allowing anyone else to help. Skizz picked up a file, and just, stared at it, analyzing every inch of the pictures via street cameras. Skizz stared at the file, then, noticed something. Skizz stole the file in Impulse's hand, and compared them. Two different settings, completely different people, yet, same car in the background. Skizz compared the car to another kidnapping similar to Joel's, and it matched again.
"How did it take me this long to notice this...?" Skizz asked.
"What did you find?" Impulse asked.
Skizz pointed to the car in the photo, Impulse tilted his head in confusion as a reply.
"What about it?" Impulse asked, confusion laced through his voice.
Skizz sighed, and started putting pictures of the last sighting of people on the table. In each background, whether it be barely seen, or right there, the car was always visible.
"Oh my gosh," Impulse said, grabbing a picture, "search all of them for a sight of the license plate, even a slight glimpse can help us."
The two looked through the photos, till Impulse held one up.
"This one!" Impulse exclaimed, "we can see the license plate almost clearly!"
Skizz rapidly tapped Impulse's arm with excitement using both hands, smiling away.
"We need to bring this to the authorities," Impulse stated.
"Leave it to be a surprise?" Skizz asked, chuckling.
Impulse nodded. The two dashed out of the house, and went straight to the police station.
"You two again?" An officer asked, "what is it thus time, find a new clue?"
Impulse nodded, and shoved the pictures into the officer's arms. The officer looked at the pictures, then back at the two.
"What is this?" The officer asked, slightly annoyed.
"Look closer," Skizz said, stepping beside the officer.
Skizz started pointing at the car in the pictures, and the gears started turning in the officer's head.
"Oh my," the officer said, "You're right. You two go home, we will deal with this."
The officer walked off, pictures in hand. The two looked at each other, and shrugged, then went back to the college. When they arrived, they found Tango, looking at a few of the files.
"Tango!" Skizz exclaimed, smiling.
"Hey Skizz," Tango replied, "I take it you two found something?"
Skizz nodded frantically, "yeah! It took us absurdly long to notice it too! It was, slightly obvious."
Tango laughed a little, "Well, at least the authorities know now..."
~~~~~~
The three sat on the couch, snuggling as they watched a movie. The movie ended, and changed to the news. Etho came out of his room, and sat beside the three as the news intro played.
"Now's news, from our studio, straight to your couch.
People say-"
The news caster dragged on and on, till something caught Skizz's ear as Tango and Impulse were chatting.
"Shh," Skizz shushed.
The three went quiet, and paid attention.
"Local investigators crack open a cold case."
It showed a blurred photo of Tango, Impulse, Etho, and Skizz, then returned to the camera with the news caster.
"Police say they found a significant clue to an old kidnapping case, one that linked that one to many others."
The TV swapped to a interview with the chief of the police for that section of town.
"Yeah, they cracked this cold case wide open. Everything we tried to find came up dry until those three came along, not even investigating the kidnapping from years ago."
Then, it switched back to the news caster, with the clear picture of a car.
"If you have seen this car nearby or at all recently, contact authorities, even if you saw a glimpse of it."
The news caster switched to a different story. The four just looked at each other, jaws dropped. Etho then perked up.
"How? When? Did you-" "Etho, slow down," Impulse said, chuckling, "we found it after I told you to go to sleep."
Etho stood up, and walked to the open window, staring out of it into the night sky.
"Soon, Joel..." Etho said quietly, looking at the stars.
××××××
Joel and Ranboo sat there, jaws dropped after watching the news.
"Oh," Joel said.
"My," Ranboo continued.
"Gosh," the two said simultaneously.
Joel squealed in excitement, and Ranboo just sat there, tears of joy in his eyes.
"I take it those were your friends?" Ranboo asked, wiping the tear from his eye.
Joel nodded, and hugged Ranboo.
"Man, they're awesome..." Joel said, chuckling.
Joel just laid back, before, pain, complete pain taking over his body. Joel curled into a tiny ball. A look of recognition spread across Ranboo's face.
"It's started," Ranboo stated.
~~~~~~
Joel was panting in the hospital like bed, having just given birth to his son. Martyn placed the little boy in Joel's arms, before crouching down to whisper in his ear.
"Expect many more," Martyn stated quietly, tone as malicious as Malificent.
Joel looked at his son, and smiled.
"Welcome to the world, Sam..." Joel said, smiling.
Joel was left there in the room, just holding his child. Sam had brunette hair, with blonde hair near his head, like it was dyed and his natural hair was growing back. Joel just laid back, and chuckled. Joel was tired, and yawned. Martyn entered again, looking slightly panicked. Martyn took Sam out of Joel's arms.
"Get some rest," Martyn ordered, voice, somehow caring.
Joel just sighed, and laid back. Joel fell asleep, and Martyn snuck a note onto Joel, to where only he could find it. The note had an address. Martyn took off the collar on Joel, and threw it to the ground.
"I... I knew I was in too deep years ago..." Martyn said, voice low.
Martyn ran out of the room, still holding Sam. Gunshots were heard, and then officers rushed into the room where Joel was. The officers picked up Joel, him still being asleep as they did so. Joel was brought to an actual hospital, along with Ranboo, and Techno. Techno and Ranboo were sat on beds near where Joel was. Techno was still in disbelief, staring down at his slightly shaking hands.
"We're... we are finally out..." Techno said, voice shaky.
Ranboo smiled. Techno looked at Ranboo, tears in his eyes. Ranboo smiled again, to which Techno started crying silently. It wasn't a sad cry, more of a happy and glad cry, one of thanks and adoration to the ones that found them.
~~~~~~
Etho and the other three were sat on the couch, eagerly expecting the news. It finally came on, and the intro played.
"Welcome back to Now's news, straight from our studio, straight to your couch. Local sports team-"
The caster dragged on and on about random stories, and the four just sat there, silently waiting for an update.
"Hold on..."
The caster put their hand to their ear.
"Uh huh, uh huh. Oh! We have an update from the local investigators story. Apparently, they helped close the case. The kidnapped people were found, and brought to the hospital to be inspected. We were aloud to interview one of them."
It switched to Techno talking into a mic as he sat on the bed. Etho instantly spotted Joel in the background, and jumped up from the couch, almost falling face first in the process.
"Joel!" Etho exclaimed.
Etho ran out of the suite, and to the hospital, not even bothering to ask for a ride. He was impatient, too excited, too thrilled. Etho arrived at the hospital, and got directions to where Joel was. Etho burst through the door, and only saw Ranboo, Techno, and Joel were in the room.
—————
I would have continued, but slight cliff hanger before another chapter. Yes, I know, I'm evil :]
I have an announcement to make, but please go to my discord server to see it. If you're enjoying this story, you will want to go see my announcement. Link for my server is in my bio. The server is getting a slight revamp, but there is still a channel to talk.
Expect some shorter chapters coming up.