Chapter 82: painful decision

With the cover of night on our side, we made our way through the city streets and towards Gongmen Jail, while being cautious by peeking around every single corner for signs of danger.

"Clear." Tigress whispered as she safely lead us around another corner. You could only imagine how fricking tense we all were at the moment. But could you really blame us especially after what had transpired back there? Jesus, how could things go south so fast? I mean, we had it in the bag! But then...things just went bad; so bad. What happened with Po and Shen? Po had him and he just let him get away! Why? Well I was about to find out. I approached Po, who at the moment seemed a little out of focus, and opened my mouth to speak.

"Wait." To halted us as she peeked around another corner where the jail happened to be.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Two guards. They seem on high alert." As I was about to suggest that we take them out, the air filled with the sound of howling.

"The heck is that about?" I asked.

"I'm am unsure, but the guards just dispatched. We should move while we have the chance." She suggested before taking off around the corner with the rest of us following close. Ti kicked opened the doors to the entrance of the jail and allowed us all to rush inside before she shut the doors behind us. But as we entered the building, Po had tripped on the first step and went tumbling down the rest before clearing I've the balcony. The rest of us quickly chased after him and propped him back onto his feet.

"What have you done?!" A voice boomed. As eyes set upon the cell that held Masters Croc and Ox. The question came from Ox who was clenching the metal bars while staring on with an angered expression. "It's sounds like war up there! What happened?!"

"Things didn't exactly go according to plan. We had Shen but...he got away." I explained.

"How could he have gotten away if you had him?" For that question, all eyes set on one guy to answer it. Po.

"That is a question I would like answered. Now." Ti spoke while crossing her arms and staring at Po scornfully. Po fidgeted with his paws nervously as he broke away from us.

"Guys, I-I had him yeah but he-I...I meant for him to get away because...because then we could find out more about his evil...plan." Wow. As far as bad lying goes, that was probably the worst.

"That's...what? Po that makes no sense." I said. Ti unfolded her arms and step towards him causing him to fall down.

"You let Shen to escape and instead of telling us why, you instead lie to us?" Ti scorned. Po lowered his head shamefully.

"I'm sorry I-"

"We could have been killed! We almost were!" She continued.

"Ti, take it easy, there's no need for this." I stepped in.

"I agree, the last thing we need is conflict between us." Viper added.

"Then he needs to tell us why he allowed Shen escape." Ti retorted. Po opened his mouth to speak but was silenced. "And your answer better be the truth." I stepped forward and knelt beside him.

"Po, it's alright. Just tell us." I spoke softly while resting my hand on his shoulder. He stared at me for a brief moment before replying.

"He...he was there. Shen was there the last time I saw my...parents. He knows what happened to them, where I came from and...who I am." My eyes widened at this sudden revelation. All this talk between us about his past and we had nothing to go on before arriving here. Not through lack of trying of course, we just decided it would be best if the issue was saved for later so we could focus on the drama in Gongmen. But who would have figured that the very man we came to stop was...connected with Po's parents and his past? I suppose it explains why Shen got away. Po must have been so...shocked to discover such a truth that he drew a blank and couldn't even react to him escaping.

"Po...I...I'm sorry, that must have been quite a shock to find out." I said. The others soon gathered around Po to console him.

"Damn, buddy, I don't even...know what to say." Mantis spoke up.

"Something tells me this has been on your mind for a while. I'm I right?" Viper asked. Po nodded. "Oh, Po, why didn't you tell us?" Viper wrapped her tail around his arm to provide comfort.

"I wanted to keep it to myself because even I didn't fully understand about the whole thing. I didn't even have anything to go on...until now. We...I-I gotta find Shen. I need answers." Po broke away from us and tried to leave only to be stopped by Tigress who blocked his way.

"You're not leaving." She spoke, very seriously mind you.

"What? Why not?" Po asked.

"Po, if it's true that Shen is somehow connected to your past, then there's chance you will get distracted again and we cannot afford to fail again." She replied.

"What?! No-no, I-I'll stay focused, I swear!"

"Ti, do you really think that's a good call?" I asked.

"Can you deny that he will be distracted or lose focus with his mind so clouded?" She replied with a question of her own. I wanted to say no but...this is the second time Po had become distracted with all this. First at the Musicians Village and then at the tower. It pained me to admit it but...Ti was right. I sighed before turning to Po.

"Po...I'm sorry but she's right."

"Ben...no. I-I won't get distracted, I promise, I-I just...please, I need to know what he knows about me. I need to know where I'm from. I need to know...who I am...please..." He pleaded. To hear the desperation in his voice was painful to hear. Truly it was. This was for his own safety but I just felt... ashamed to be doing this to him. Maybe I can make him understand. As I was about to console him, Ti stepped forward and placed her paws on his shoulders.

"Po, look at me." Ti spoke, but more softly this time. Po lifted his eyes to meet Ti's. "I understand that you want answers, believe me I do. This decision is not being made to keep those answers from you, it's to protect you. You may think you'll fight with a clear mind but it will become clouded when your need for answers overwhelms you. When that happens, you'll become vulnerable and you're life will be at risk. And...we cannot lose you. You're too important to us. So please do as I ask and stay." All eyes watched in silence as Po soaked in all of Ti's words. After a moment had passed, Po sighed in defeat.

"Ok..." He whispered. I had expected for us to leave after resolving this issue but instead, something surprising happened. Ti...hugged Po. She really did. Some of you must be wondering how that's surprising when's she's hugged me so many times. Well, this is the first time she's ever hugged another person. I was shocked to say the least. But If you think I'm shocked, you couldn't even imagine the expressions on the others faces. Especially Po!

"Thank you, Po. Stay here and be safe." Ti said before breaking away from the hug. "We've had enough time to catch our breath. Lets move." She ordered as she took lead once again.

"I'm I gonna get a hug from you anytime soon?" Mantis asked jokingly before leaping onto my shoulder.

"Not in this lifetime." Tigress replied causing me to smile. A smile that faded as I gazed over my shoulder and towards Po who remained on the spot with a dejected expression. When the happiest guy you've ever known looks like that and you feel like you caused it, the amount of guilt you feel may as well kill you. I sighed and returned my sights ahead of me just before the lot of us left the building. Once we were outside, we gathered together to discuss our next move.

"Well that was...a little upsetting to witness." Crane said.

"I'm sorry such a decision was made but...it was for the best. I hope none of you hold ill feelings towards me for making such a decision." Ti spoke with frown, showing that she clearly had some remorse for her decision.

"Of course we don't. As difficult as it was to make that choice...it was for Po's protection." Viper spoke solemnly.

"Yeah, so don't go beating yourself up over it." Monkey added. Ti smiled.

"Thank you for understanding."

"So usually after surviving a situation like that I'd like a drink to celebrate my survival. But that's not gonna just yet, is it?" Mantis asked.

"Not yet, we still got a madman to apprehend and a city to save. Speaking of which, what exactly is our next move? Do we even have a plan?" I asked.

"Shen fired at us from a building that was near the harbour. I believe I know which one too. So that's where we head to." Ti replied.

"Alright, lets get to it." I said. Exercising cautious once again, the six of us crept through the streets while keeping our eyes peeled for guards. But on the entire way towards the harbour, we, oddly enough, didn't cross a single guard. Or anyone else for that matter. The streets were completely deserted. It was eerie to say the least but it certainly worked to our advantage because it allows us to move through the streets more quickly. After scurrying through the city streets for some time, we had finally arrived to the building which Shen now resided in and it just happened to be close by the dock we arrived on. The building was surrounded by a makeshift fortification that had sentinels posted all around it. We snuck up to the nearest wall and hopped over it and past the sentinels. Once we were over it, we all took cover behind a mountain of boxes and other assortments that provided us with both cover and a clear view of the building. I mostly just saw red lights emanating from the building. Literally, the entire buildings lighting was nothing but rays of red light. What could be causing it? I noticed the air inside seemed a little condensed, probably caused by something releasing fumes. And I believe I knew exactly what was causing it.

"What the heck are they doing in there?" Mantis asked as he watched some wolves barking orders at one another. A couple of seconds later, a cannon came into view and we watched it being transported further into the building.

"How many of those things do they have?" Crane asked.

"It's impossible to tell from here. I noticed the air in there seems a little cloudy. If I were to guess, I'd say it's being caused by some sort of smelter." I replied.

"How can you be so sure?" Viper questioned.

"It just seems to make sense with lighting and everything. Not only that, but we saw one cannon in there plus the other few that fired at us, so they must have a smelter in there that they're using to create more."

"If that's the case, the entire building could be packed with them!" Crane noted.

"And we know what kind disaster will follow if these weapons leave the building." I added.

"Then we must bring the building down." Tigress said.

"I agree. We just need something to get the job done. Mmmm..." I pondered for a moment before discovering something. "Wait a second." I took note of the keg I was hiding behind and noticed there was some kind of powder scattered on the top. I grab a little sample and brought it into the light to examine it. My eyes widened at what I discovered.

Gunpowder.

Looks like I just found the source for their cannons power.

"Guys, I believe I found our solution."

"Is that gunpowder?" Monkey asked.

"It certainly seems like it. Shen must have extracted the ingredient from fireworks and used it to make his weapons function." Ti noted.

"And we're gonna destroy his weapons with the very ingredient. Poetic irony; I love it." I spoke with a grin.

"Alright, lets get to work." Ti ordered as she and the rest of us grabbed a keg each and began to work out a plan. Luckily, it didn't take long because of nearby resources that we began using to our advantage. We piled a dozen kegs onto a cart and set it up so it was facing the factory.

"Okay, everyone ready?" I asked. Each one of them gave a nod before I flattened my tongue and gave a short but loud whistle towards Viper who was hanging on a lamppost up ahead. Why you ask? You'll soon find out. She gave a short salute in response. "Alright, lets do this!" I exclaimed. Ti grabbed a hold of the cart and began wheeling it towards the factory. With her strength on our side, it began moving quickly in no time. As we neared the factory, Viper grabbed the lantern that hung on the post and lowered it enough for Monkey to grab. Right before we busted through the entrance to the factory, Monkey took his cue to smash the lantern down onto the kegs which lit them up and primed them to blow. Seconds later, we burst through the massive doors causing the kegs to spilled out and scatter across the ground inside. The noise, obviously, caught the attention of the guards inside. They're eyes darted back and forth between the kegs and us while they seemed clueless as to what to do.

"Happy birthday, bitches!" Mantis exclaimed.

"Hope you like your presents, we picked them from the bottom of our hearts!" Monkey added.

"Good job, guys. Now let's get the here." I said. Just as we were about to get the hell out of there, we were all stopped dead in our tracks by all too familiar yell emanating from within.

"PO!" We all exclaimed in unison. We rushed back into the factory and searched for the panda. All eyes were set on smelting equipment that was above us and who should happen to be dangling on it? Po.

"What is he doing here?!" Ti asked aloud.

"I have no idea but..." I paused as my eyes drifted towards the lit kegs. "Oh shit, the kegs!" I yelled.

"Quickly, extinguish them!" Ti ordered. We ran into the building while fending off guards to try and reach the kegs. I began swatting the kegs in order to try and put it out while trying to keep Shen's lackeys off my back. After all the kegs no longer posed any danger as well as the guards that surrounded us, we began to move into the building to help Po. I kept a tab on Po and where he was as we made our way through the factory while also fighting guards that were in our way. So far they came in twos or threes but up ahead, a large clump of them awaited.

"You two keep moving, we got these guys." Mantis assured. Taking our cue, Ti and I hopped over the group of guards and continued on without the others. We didn't get far however due to a certain obstruction. And by obstruction, I mean a massive gorilla that roared as he pounded his chest. Ti snarled back.

"Go. Help Po while I'll keep him busy." She said.

"Kick his ass, baby." I said before continuing on by myself. I stopped up ahead and searched for Po. The search didn't take very long because I could hear his voice from above. But Po's voice wasn't the only one I heard. To be more specific, it was Shen's voice. Damn it, Po, you're gonna get yourself killed. I began climbing and trying to reach to pair but I was taken by surprise as I was yanked to the ground by something. I quickly rolled onto my back to find out who dragged me back down. Standing over me was the goddamn wolf boss. This guy just doesn't quit, does he?

"You're not gonna get away this time!" He growled as he unsheathed his weapon and raised it above his head.

"Wrong again." I corrected before kicking straight in the balls. His eyes widened before he released a high pitched scream. He fell to his knees while clenching his crotch in pain. Oh man, I felt that one. Well, back to business. I proceeded to climb up towards Po once again, this time without any disturbances. As I drew closer to him, the words being exchanged between him and Shen became more clear.

"...I want the truth!" I heard Po shout. I noticed he had a wok in his grasp for some reason which he just now let drop to the ground. To the right I saw Shen pinned against something by the neck. He removed what appeared to be a tuning fork from his neck and freed himself.

"Po, get away from him; now!" I yelled, but my words were gone unnoticed. I growled and pushed myself twice as hard to try and reach Po.

"Do you believe knowing the truth will fill some crater in your heart? Then here's your answer You were their little mistake. They never loved you. They...despised you." Shen spoke, dripping with a malicious tone. The lying bastard!

"Don't listen to him Po!" I shouted while climbing a rope that lead right to Po.

"You seem wounded, here, let me...heal you!" Shen exclaimed before unveiling the object he was pinned against a moment ago. i gasped to discover it was a cannon!

"Po!" I yelled with my heart skipping a beat. After pushing myself hard enough, I had finally reached Po, who stood stone cold on the spot as Shen had just lit the fuse on his cannon. I reacted quickly by grabbing the wok and shielding Po and myself behind it as the cannon fired directly at us. As the cannon ball soared towards us, the final word I heard before impact came from Tigress who ran towards me frantically.

"NOOOO!" She yelled. But she was too late. I felt the air in my lungs being knocked out as the cannon ball struck the wok sending me flying into Po, who in turn, sent us flying out the window behind us. My mind felt blank after enduring that impact and I couldn't even react to soaring through the air and towards—