Kurt's was unstoppable as he surged forward towards Adam and the stage, he had no thought as to what he was going to do, no plan to save the day. Just anger driving him forward. After all the Resistance had done, after all the sacrifices they had made, Adam had betrayed them all, and set himself up as the World Government's new leader.

Kurt didn't hear Blaine calling behind him, he wasn't even listening to Adam's speech as he took his newly appointed spot as “Supreme Leader”. Kurt just kept moving through the crowd and towards Adam.

He froze though when he saw Tina's face displayed on the huge screens in front of him.

“And there are those who would seek to destroy our way of life!” Adam shouted to the crowd with force and passion, and these people these rebels must be stopped!”

Kurt's throat went dry and his body was unable to move as Mike's face flashed across the screen next. Then Puck. Kurt found himself near the edge of the platform surrounded by citizens of Principle City as his own face appeared on the screen.

“I call for your help Citizens!” Adam cried working the crowd into a frenzy. “Help us stop the rebels while we still can!”

Kurt's heart thudded painfully in his chest as he saw picture after picture of his friend's filling up the screen. He waited... Would he see Blaine's face up there too? Then the picture's started again with Tina's face, repeating in a loop. He hadn't seen Blaine Kurt closed his eyes and sighed in relief, no matter what happened now at least Blaine stood a chance of being safe.

Kurt's eyes shot open as a woman near him let out a scream and backed away from him, drawing the attention of everyone around him.

“A rebel!” A man shouted and pointed to Kurt in horror.

Soon Authorities were rushing towards him. Kurt glanced around looking for a way to escape, but there was nowhere to go. He was surrounded and trapped by the very people he had wanted to save.

Kurt backed away, but found himself in the tight painful grip of two large Authorities.

“Azimio?” he choked out as he looked up from the green uniform of and saw that one of the Authorities was Adam's second in command.

“You have no idea how much I've been looking forward to this,” Azimio hissed out as he dragged Kurt forward.

The crowd parted letting them through as they watched in fascination. Adam was still shouting from the stage, already sounding like a dictator as Kurt was manhandled behind a set of heavy silver curtains to the backstage area.

Kurt's heart was beating fast as he dug his heels into the ground, but couldn't stop himself from being pushed deeper into the curtained area.

“No! No!” Kurt all but sobbed as he saw that Tina and Mike were already back here. Tina had tears streaming down her face and Mike was pale and as unreadable as a statue. Their hands were locked together as three Authorities stood in front of them, guns aimed right at their heads.

Kurt was all but tossed at their feet. Mike bent down to help him, never letting go of Tina's hand. He pulled him up and Kurt looked back and forth at both of his friends.

“I am so sorry,” Kurt said, his voice heartbroken.

“This isn't your fault,” Mike answered.

Kurt couldn't even speak. Somehow, it felt like his fault.

Kurt stood with his friends and waited. He could hear the muffled voice of Adam still speaking in the Square, but didn't know what other lies he was feeding the people. Kurt scoped the place for potential escape. He had to come up with a plan; he had to do something. The three Authorities kept them backed in the corner, their weapons trained on them. Azimio stood nearby, his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.

Kurt's mind was whirling. They didn't have Puck. Or Artie. Artie! Artie's face hadn't been in Adam's slideshow of Rebels! He would still be at the Resistance Headquarters, not able to be in public because of his wheelchair. Artie was smart, he could help them. Except... Adam would have thought of that.

Kurt closed his eyes and his stomach plummeted.

“Please, let Artie be okay,” He accidentally whispered out loud. Tina heard him, whipped her head in his direction and started to cry a little louder.

Mike looked a shade paler and just gripped Tina's hand harder.

Kurt was beginning to feel frantic now. But they still had Puck! Puck was out there somewhere, and he could-

Kurt's attention was stolen by movement from the curtains. Three Authorities walked in carrying a kicking and cursing Puck between them.

“You stupid brainless motherfuckers!” Puck yelled. “Put me the fuck down!” He elbowed one of his captors in the neck making him lose his grip and took the opportunity to knee the other in the groin. He then spun to punch the third guy when Azimio barreled forward and tackled him to the ground.

“Puck!” Kurt cried out in a panic as he watched Azimio pull a syringe out of a box he slipped from his pocket. He impaled Puck with the needle and soon Puck's kicking and fighting slowed and then stopped. Puck laid on the ground completely still.

“No!” Tina yelled.

A couple of Authorities grabbed Puck under his arms and dragged him to Mike, Tina and Kurt and left him in a heap right in front of them. All three of them immediately knelt down. Kurt turned him over as Tina pressed her fingers to his neck and Mike leaned forward to check his breathing.

“His alive.” Tina said in a small voice and Kurt let out a breath he been holding.

“Thank god.”

“For now,” Azimio said with a sneer. “We were told to keep you for Adam to talk to. The rest of your pathetic Resistance is being gathered up, across Principal City and every WG city. They are going to be thrown in to holding facilities, permanently, or worse. But you four, Adam wants to see you first.”

Kurt clenched his jaw and stood up slowly. “Why? Why would you do this Azimio. What promises has Adam made you?”

“Adam is going to rule the world!” Azimio laughed. “And I am going to be his second in command.”

“Funny,” Tina said from her position on the floor, Puck's head cradled in her lap. “But I didn't see you up on that stage being announced as a new leader.”

“Shut up!” Azimio yelled and lunged towards her. Mike blocked him, however, standing between him and Tina. The Authorities lifted their guns at Mike.

Azimio smiled and backed up. “Now, now, don't do anything that would make me have to get rid of you before Adam is finished.”

Mike's fist were balled at his side, Kurt stood and put a hand on his back. “Mike... we can't.” Mike looked at him and nodded. He then knelt down and sat next to Tina, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Kurt glanced at Azimio and then sat down too. They waited as Adam continued his lengthy speech, the crowd cheering sporadically at something he said.

Kurt leaned in and whispered so low Mike and Tina could hardly hear him. “We still have Sam. Adam doesn't know about him.”

Mike's eyes widened and he quickly stifled his grin. “And Blaine,” He whispered back.

Kurt's shivered as his blood ran cold at the idea. No. Kurt thought. Not Blaine, please let Blaine stay out of this.

Blaine watched Kurt bolt through the crowd and toward the stage as Adam came forward. One minute he was standing hand in hand with Kurt, the next he was alone among the crowd as Kurt vanish between strangers. Blaine shouted Kurt's name and his first reaction was to go after him, but he made himself stop. He looked around and stood on his toes for a better view. Authorities had circled the crowd; they stood with weapons at their sides.

Adam was ready, ready in case the crowd didn't like his announcement. It seemed he was worried for nothing. The people around Blaine were cheering with the Leaders as Adam stepped up on the stage.

Sheep. Blaine thought and remembered a fieldtrip from his youth when he saw the strange fluffy animals. They followed their leader with no thought or discretion. But, no, these were people, not sheep: he'd seen the fear and frustration in Trent's eyes when he worried about getting behind on the Routine, he’d remembered Mercedes and her passion for life and all that she risked for love... for Sam! Blaine remembered Sam.

Sam who loved and hurt and wanted so much more than this. No, they weren't sheep, they were people and Blaine was tired of following blindly; he was done with orders and routines. He was ready to be free.

He wanted to be free and be with Kurt. Kurt who loved him, and Blaine was pretty sure he loved Kurt back.

Blaine looked determinedly around him. Kurt wasn't going to make it to Adam. There was too much security. Blaine had to do something to help him though, to help everyone.

He glanced up at the huge screens on either side of the stage and saw Adam lift his arms to quiet the crowd.

Blaine closed his eyes and thought. He had an idea.

Blaine spun around as someone came up behind him, he smiled when he saw it was Sam.

“Blaine, we have to get out of here,” He said looking worried.

Blaine furrowed his brows. “No, we can't. They aren't after us anyway.”

“I'd like to keep it like that.”

“Sam, no, this is our chance. Does Adam even know about you?”

“No...”

“And he must think I'm useless, being re-acclimated and everything.”

“Yeah... you seem less than successfully re-acclimated right now.” Sam said with a small smile.

“Sam, we have to stop this.”

The crowd was cheering at something Adam said and Sam leaned forward to be heard. “How?”

Blaine turned and pointed to one of the cameras on a nearby riser, its operator recording Adam and feeding his speech to the screens.

“Those aren't just connected to the screens in this Square, they are connected to every World Government City,” Blaine said. “We need to get one.”

Sam's smile widened. “Part of my job was recruiting people from Principal City to help us,” Sam said. “And guess what?”

“What?”

“Lauren Zizes,” Sam said.

“Sam?” Blaine arched his brows in confusion.

“She is one of us and is currently in control of camera 2.”

Blaine broke out in a matching grin. “This might actually work. We are also going to need someone really good with computers. We have to get them to the motherboard in HQ.”

“God, Blaine,” Sam said. “That's difficult. I mean I know someone who is an amazing programmer, but she doesn't have clearance in HQ.”

The crowd cheered again and Blaine started to feel anxious, they needed to hurry. “I have clearance, but I need to stay here and find... but I know someone!” Blaine said as a thought hit him. “Go get your programmer and a camera. Meet me there.” Blaine pointed to a flag pole near them. As soon as you can. Like minutes Sam.”

“Got it!” Sam said and rushed off through the spellbound crowd.

Blaine was frozen in place for a moment as he glanced up and saw Kurt's face on the screens and Adam yelling something about rebels.

Blaine clenched his fist and breathed deeply for a second, fear and anger bubbling inside of him. If they hurt Kurt in any way... but there wasn't time to dwell on that. Blaine started to run through the hoard of people.

For once Blaine was grateful for Trent's obsession with routine, he knew exactly where Trent stood in the square every Founder's Day. He ran to him so fast he had to skid so not to collide into him.

“Trent!” Blaine yelled and a few people around them looked their way.

Blaine grabbed him by the arms and pulled him off to the side. “Trent I need your help.”

“Are you okay?”

“No. None of us are okay if he is our new leader,” Blaine said and looked towards Adam who was still shouting passionately at the crowd.

“Blaine,” Trent hissed as Blaine started pulling him through the crowd, towards the flag pole. “You can't say things like that!”

“Trent, you're my friend right? And you trust me?”

“Yes...” Trent answered, confused.

“And do you really want that guy as our Leader? Do you really want any Leaders at all? Do you want your friends dragged off to be re-acclimated, or worse? While you wait for the day they may come for you? Is this the life you want?”

“Blaine you're scaring me.”

“Is it?”

The crowd cheered again and Blaine's stomach grew tight. Adam couldn't keep up this speech much longer.

“I... I don't know,” Trent answered, nervously glancing towards the stage.

Blaine took a deep breath as they reached the flagpole. He hated doing this, but there was no time.

“Trent, when they came for me,” Blaine said and started unbuttoning his shirt, “when they took me to be re-acclimated, ” he pulled his shirt open and displayed his chest, “it was because you reported me, wasn't it?” Trent's eyes grew wide and wet with tears as he saw the bruises still dark and ugly spread across Blaine's skin.

“They did this to me, Trent. They have the power to do this to anyone, at any time.”

Tears pooled in Trent's eyes. “Blaine. I didn't... I never wanted you...”

“I know,” Blaine said with a comforting smile as he re-buttoned his shirt. “Is this the life you want?” He asked again.

“No. It isn't,” Trent said without a doubt in his voice.

Sam came up behind them a young woman following along, a ridiculously wide smile on her face.

“This is Sugar,” Sam said as she stuck her hand straight out in front of her. “She's the best.”

“Pleased to meet you!” Sugar said with a wink.

Blaine smiled back and shook her hand.

A tall broad-shouldered woman came up to them next. “And this is Zizes,” Sam said, “and her camera.”

“Cameras,” The woman said, holding one up in each hand. “They are off right now, the people in the control room are probably freaking out because they don't have as many angles to view this idiot on.” Zizes said rolling her eyes and nodding towards Adam. “I… um... borrowed an extra one from a friend.”

Blaine smiled and thanked her as he reached for a camera and then handed it off to Trent and Sugar. He took the second one for himself.

“Okay...” Blaine said speaking quickly. “We have to hurry, this is what we are going to do...”

Kurt kept his eyes on his friends as Adam finished up his speech on stage. He could hear him getting louder and louder as the people shouted and cheered in response. It made his skin crawl. He looked down at Puck's pale and drawn face, hoping he really was still okay, then a thought struck him.

“Tina,” He whispered; she was closest to him and he hoped to talk to her while their guards were somewhat distracted, half-listening to Adam's speech.

Tina looked up at his with red-rimmed eyes. “What happened to the device Puck was going to use to disable all of the Authorities weapons?”

Tina was still for a moment, taking in what Kurt had said when her mouth dropped open.

“What is it?” Mike hissed.

“Puck was going to disable all of the weapons after we exposed the leaders so no one would get hurt,” she explained in a hushed voice. “Do you think he still has the device?”

Kurt glanced up nonchalantly at the guards before he scooted closer to Puck and started digging through his pocket. Tina searched the one on his other side.

Someone cleared their throat above them. They glanced up and saw Azimio smiling down at them. He pulled something that looked like a remote from his pocket. “Looking for this?” He asked.

Kurt deflated. That had been his last hope.

“We aren't stupid,” Azimio said. “We knew your plans, we were in on it, remember? You just didn't know ours.”

You didn't know all of our plan. Kurt thought, but he couldn't decide whether to hope for Sam’s help, or for his safety, the latter sounding much more appealing.

Soon there was an extremely loud cheer from the crowd as Adam finished his speech. They could hear him announcing that as one of their last acts as Leaders, the former three Leaders would give out this year's citizenship awards. It didn't take long for Adam to exit the stage and join them behind the curtains.

He came up to Azimio and clapped him on the back. “Good job,” He said, smiling at his four prisoners on the ground. “And the other rebels?”

“Reports from around the WG and other cities are good. They are being gathered up. Our holding facilities won't hold them all.”

Adam shook his head. “No, but they won't all make it there will they?” He looked at Kurt and smiled.

“You are going to kill and imprison your own people?” Kurt spat out, his stomach tight and his fist shaking.

Adam laughed and gestured towards the curtains separating them from the people of Principal City. “Did you hear them? They love me! Those are my people.”

He nudged Puck with his foot. “What happened here?”

“He resisted,” Azimio said with a smirk.

“Well, it is hard to gloat when he is passed out, but at least I have these three.” Adam crouched down and looked Kurt in the eyes. “At least I have you.”

Kurt gulped and did everything he could to keep fear off of his face. “You're evil,” He seethed.

Adam laughed again and stood up. He threw his arms out and turned around in a circle “I rule all of this!” He said. “I own it. I own them. The stupid, mindless people of the WG will grovel at my feet. I am the single most powerful human in all the world.” He faced Kurt again and kicked out a foot catching Kurt in the ribs, causing him to fold over and wrap his arms around himself, suppressing a cry of pain. “You should be careful what you say to me.”

Tina was still crying as she glance at Kurt in fear, reaching out a hand to see if he was okay. Puck's head still in her lap as Mike held her close and glared at Adam.

“As soon as the stupid yearly awards are given out,” Adam continued, “I am going to bring the three of you up on stage and show the world what happens to those who rebel against me. A new age has started and the WG isn't going to be so lenient towards traitors. It is time the people know and fear me.”

Kurt couldn't help the hot angry tears that started to slip from his eyes. “They will rebel. We might have lost, but others will rise up. They will stop you!”

Adam just smiled. “Others? Like your joke of a boyfriend? Who I easily had re-acclimated. He doesn't even know you, but I still might have him punished. Just because I can. I wonder how much electric shock of the re-acclamation process a person can take before it kills them?”

Kurt was on his feet before he could stop himself. He knew that Adam was purposefully pushing his buttons, but he also knew how easily he could have Blaine killed and the thought filled him with fear and anger. He lunged at Adam but was stopped by strong arms holding him back; the Authorities had him in their grasp as he struggled against them.

“Don't you dare touch him!” Kurt yelled.

Adam just laughed, again. “I will do as I please. No second chances for citizens who step out of line or forget The Routine. Like I said, a new age. I will...” Adam trailed off and tilted his head to the side, listening to what was happening on stage. “Who the hell is that?” He said. “That isn't one of the Leaders.”

Kurt calmed his frantic breathing enough to try and discern what he was hearing from the stage, a young peppy female voice carried through to him.

“My name is Sugar Motta!” The voice echoed. “And I am here with Trent Montgomery at the WG Headquarters and do we have something to show you!”

“Sugar!” Trent said. “We don't have time for dramatics.”

“Hey! This is my chance to be in the limelight!” the girl snapped back.

“Sugar.”

“Fine! Just show them.”

Kurt had no idea what was happening on the stage. Adam seemed to snap out of his confusion as he started shouting orders and rushed back on stage, leaving only a one Authority and Azimio to guard Kurt and his friends.

Kurt was left abandoned where the Authorities had been holding him back.

“What the hell?” He heard Mike breath.

From the stage they heard the girl's—Sugar's—voice carry on. From their position behind stage they couldn't see what was on the screens but from Sugar's running dialogue, it wasn't hard to guess. Somehow this Sugar person and Trent were in HQ at the motherboard and they were showing the world the program that controlled the hologram leaders.

“Oh my god,” Kurt said and turned to look at Mike and Tina, “it's happening.”

“Adam is going to go crazy,” Tina said and she glanced to Azimio, who was standing there dumbstruck, “people are going to get hurt.”

To prove Tina's point Kurt heard loud gasps from the crowd and a few angry and confused shouts. The people were going to start a riot and the Authorities were still armed. Kurt took a deep breath and charged at Azimio. Mike got up from his place on the ground and tackled the other guard.

Azimio and Kurt hit the ground hard as Kurt struggled to get Puck's device from Azimio's pocket. He felt Azimio's fist hit his face before he saw it coming, but he didn't let up his position over him, keeping Azimio pinned to the ground.

Tina, must have left Puck for a moment, because she was by Kurt's side. As Kurt kept his hold on Azimio, Tina reached into his pocket, getting the device. She held it high above her head and she pressed the button just in time. The guard Mike was fighting with had just reached his fallen weapon and aimed it at Mikes chest and pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened, all the weapons in a 30 mile radius were useless.

“Oh my god! Oh my god, oh my god!” Tina cried and ran to a stunned Mike.

“I'm not shot!” He said and laughed. He quickly grabbed some restraints from the Authority and cuffed his hands behind his back.

Distracted by his friends, Kurt lost his hold on Azimio, who pushed him off and scrambled to his feet. There was a tense moment while Mike, Tina and Kurt stared at him before he spun on his heels and fled.

They were quite for a moment as everything that was happening started to sink in. They could still faintly hear Sugar's voice projected throughout the square, but mostly they heard angry and fearful shouting from the people outside.

“We have to get out there,” Kurt breathed

“I'll stay with Puck,” Tina said.

Kurt nodded as he and Mike headed towards the stage, afraid of what they might find.

Just as they ducked out from the curtains and headed towards the stage, the crowd started grow still and a hush fell over everyone. Kurt looked up at the screens to see a video of one of their hologram leaders playing. Except, she didn't look like a hologram.

“My name is Emma Pillsbury.” It was the Leader with the red hair and the round eyes. But she looked different, her bright hair pulled back in a messy pony-tail, her skin pale and without makeup. There were dark circles under her eyes and she wore a simple black t-shirt as she sat behind a table and spoke.

“And I am here to explain Comminisco.” The redhead continued.

Sugar and Trent had somehow stumbled upon a video of the original leader that wasn’t a hologram version of her. This was more than anyone in the rebellion had ever seen.

“We made these holograms and programmed them to lead the people,” The Leader said, looking earnestly into the camera, “not because we think that this is the best way to live, but because... we had no other choice.

“Both of my fellow leaders and I just wanted what is best for our people. And we think for now, that means forgetting the pain of the past and focusing on a new tomorrow.” The redhead... Emma said. She paused as her eyes filled with tears. “We hope there will be a day soon when The Routine can be abandoned and Comminisco will no longer be needed. We hope for the freedom and the prosperity of our people. But for now, we will let our holograms lead.

“My dear friend and fellow leader, Sue, passed away last week, her hologram is already up and running. Will and I... we just want to step down and enjoy the time we have left together. We were both infected by the biological warfare of the war and have so little time...

“So we give this gift to the people.

“Leaders who are perfect, who can't die or get sick. Leaders who will respect The Routine and keep our people safe. Until the day when you can all... take care of ourselves, take care of each other. I hope... I hope that day comes soon.” She smiled sadly at the screen and the video went black.

Soon the pale and stunned face of a young woman filled the screen. “I...” She said and cleared her throat. “I'm Sugar Motta, reporting with the last known words of our real leader... and I... for once in my life, don't have anything else to say.”

The screen went black again as silence shook through the crowd. Kurt looked up on stage and saw Adam standing with a microphone in his hands, he was talking but his voice didn't carry through. The microphone must be turn off.)

Adam looked frantic as he turned and saw Kurt and Mike standing at the bottom of the stairs at the stage. “You!” he screamed, his face contoured with rage. He dropped his microphone and barreled towards them, grabbing a weapon from a nearby Authority as he came.

Blaine had sent Trent and Sugar off with a camera and instructions on what to do at WG Headquarters. Part of him knew he should go with them to make sure everything went correctly, but in the end he let himself trust them. Blaine wanted to stay here, make sure things worked from this end and... and hopefully find Kurt.

He just needed Kurt to be okay.

Sam had left to find gather some more of his recruits. If this worked, then the people were going to be angry and they were surrounded by Authorities with guns. Hopefully, with enough help Sam would be able to keep things from becoming a full out riot.

That decision left Blaine with Lauren. They were going to get to the control room at the edge of the square and barricaded themselves inside. Once Sugar and Trent started transmitting, they had to make sure no one stopped the broadcast. This ended up being easier than Blaine had expected since everyone on the tech crew seemed to know Lauren.

They walked right into the control room. A young man with a dark wavy hair looked up at them “Hey! What are you doing here!” He glanced at the camera in Blaine's hands. “Is that one of ours? Is that why a couple of our cameras are out?”

“Don't worry about it Jesse,” Lauren said. “There has been a change of plans.” It took very little convincing on Lauren's part to get Jesse to hand over the control. Apparently he wasn't fully part of the floating circus or anything, but he wasn't a whole-hearted patriot either.

They got most of the crew out of the control room and locked themselves in.

“What are you going to do with that?” Lauren said looking at the camera in Blaine's hands.

“I'm going backstage,” Blaine said. “Once Adam is done with his speech he will be there. I think it could be important to see what he does and says. We don't want people to just be against the old Leaders, we need them to be against Adam too.”

Lauren looked at the screens in the control room as Adam continued to shout and rant, “Yeah... we definitely don't want him. Be careful. Get what you can on camera. We will be recording it here. If any of it is good, we'll show the people.”

Blaine nodded. “Once I leave, lock up again. Don't let anyone in.”

“Got it boss,” Lauren said and smiled.

Blaine carefully made his way backstage during Adam's speech. Now he was crouched behind some tech crates, the camera resting on his shoulder. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was in his throat. He had Mike, Tina, Puck—god Puck didn't look good—Adam and Kurt in his sights. He wanted nothing else but to rush forward to stand by Kurt's side, but he couldn't let anyone know he was here. So he just kept recording, hoping Lauren was getting all of this.

Adam was digging his own grave.

He tensed when Adam mentioned him and Kurt moved forward, practically growling. “Don't you dare touch him!”

Blaine felt warmth spread through him at the fierceness in which Kurt was defending him, but mostly he just wanted Kurt to sit down and stay safe.

Blaine smiled and sighed in relief when he heard Sugar's voice outside in the square. Trent had gotten her in.

Blaine continued to record as Adam ran back on stage. That was it, they had gotten what they needed. He put the camera down and stood; he was deciding how hard it would be to overtake the two Austerities that were left, when he heard a click behind him. Blaine slowly turned and saw an Authority behind him, she had a gun pointed straight at his head.

“One move and I fire,” she said.

Blaine just nodded. He could hear Sugar explaining Comminisco and the crowd getting riled up.

“It's happening.” He heard Kurt say somewhere behind him. Blaine turned slightly, raising his hands in the air to show the Authority he wasn't up to anything. Out of the corner of his eye he could just make out Kurt.

“Adam is going to go crazy.” He heard Tina say. “People are going to get hurt.”

“People are going to get hurt,” Blaine said to the Authority still aiming her gun at him. “Do you want that?”

Before she had the time to answer, Blaine heard a shuffle behind him, he turned completely around to see Kurt tackle a large dark-skinned Authority to the ground as Mike took down the other. He saw Kurt get punched in the face and moved to run to him before he felt the press of a gun to his back.

“Don't move!” The Authority behind him sounded frantic. Blaine watched in horror as a gun was aimed at Mike and the trigger was pulled. But nothing happened. The gun didn't work.

“Oh my god! Oh my god, oh my god!” Tina cried and ran to Mike.

“I'm not shot!” Mike was laughing and Blaine's knees felt weak.

The guard under Kurt pushed him off and Blaine's breath stilled in his throat but then the man just ran off leaving Kurt behind.

Blaine could barely hear Kurt's next words. “We have to get out there.”

“I'll stay with Puck,” Tina volunteered.

Blaine turned back to a very frightened looking woman. “Are you sure that works?” Blaine said looking at her gun. “And if it does... do you really want to kill me? Do you want to hurt anyone?”

“I... I...” The woman stood still as a voice they both recognized filled the air.

“My name is Emma Pillsbury,” The voice said, “And I am here to explain Comminisco. We made these holograms and programmed them to lead the people...”

“I'm going out there,” Blaine said and lowered his hands. “I'm hoping you aren't going to stop me.”

“Not because we think that this is the best way to live, but because... we had no other choice.” The Leader continued.

The woman slowly lowered her weapon and shook her head. She was trembling and her eyes were filling with tears as she listened to the voice of her Leader.

“I'm sorry,” Blaine said as he turned away. He wasn't sure what he was apologizing for, but he felt like he was going to see a lot of that lost look that he'd just seen in this woman's eyes.

He made his way out to the square and looked up at the screen as Emma Pillsbury finished her explanation. He would have to digest all of that later. Right now, all he wanted was to find Kurt. He made his way to the stage and saw Kurt and Mike standing at the stairs, frozen in place starring at the screen. This all seemed to be news to them as well. Blaine wondered how much they really knew about Comminisco before all of this.

Again, he filed that thought away for another time. He smiled and his heart skipped a beat as he approached Kurt. He was just behind him when Sugar signed off with “For once in my life, don't have anything else to say.”

Blaine opened his mouth to call Kurt's name when Adam shouted from the stage.

“You!” Adam started to run towards Kurt and Mike. He looked like a crazed animal. Adam grabbed a ceremonial rifle from one of the Authorities on stage and barreled towards Kurt. Blaine was pretty sure the weapons weren't working, but he wasn't going to take that chance.

He gripped Kurt by the shoulder and pulled him back, quickly moving so that he was standing in front of Kurt.

Kurt’s blood was boiling with anger as Adam grabbed a weapon and ran towards him. What was his plan here? Shoot Kurt with a disabled weapon? Kurt didn't have much time to think about it though as he was roughly pulled backwards; he was about to put up a fight when Blaine came out of nowhere and forced himself between Kurt and an enraged Adam.

“Blaine!” Kurt cried, a smile spreading across his lips. Blaine was here and he was alright.

Adam's eyes narrowed, he was down the stairs now and lifting the rifle up in the air. Kurt's heart constricted for a moment, but no, it was okay the weapons didn't work. No sooner had the thought ran through Kurt's mind and realized that Adam was lifting it up to use it on him.

Blaine pushed Kurt further back as Adam swung the butt of the rifle down, clubbing Blaine in the forehead with a sickening “whack”. Blaine collapsed onto the ground and Adam stood stunned for a moment looking at Blaine's crumpled body and then back up at his intended victim.

Mike ran forward and wrestled the gun away from Adam's hands as Kurt fell to his knees.

“No!” Kurt cried and reached for Blaine. He wasn't moving. Why wasn't Blaine moving? He pulled Blaine towards him. Kurt felt sick as he saw a dark stream of blood coming from Blaine's head. “No! Blaine! Oh god!” Kurt whimpered.

Kurt cradled Blaine's head as his vision grew cloudy with tears. “Blaine. Blaine, are you okay? Please... Blaine, please.”

Blaine's eyes fluttered open and Kurt felt he could breathe again. Blaine was alive.

“Kurt?” Blaine said in a breathy voice. “Are you okay?”

“God, Blaine.” Kurt half-laughed and half-sobbed. “You... you idiot.” He held Blaine tighter. “You're the one that's hurt.”

Blaine blinked and groaned a little. He was bleeding profusely and Kurt's relief was short lived. He pressed a hand against Blaine wound trying to stop the bleeding, but the blood was slippery and thick. Mike knelt down and unbuttoned his shirt tearing it off and pushing it into Kurt's hands.

“Use this.” Mike said.

Kurt pressed the fabric against Blaine head.

“It's okay, baby.” Kurt said his voice quivering. “You're going to be okay.”

Blaine's eyes didn't seem like they could focus as he smiled softly. “I love you Kurt,” He said. “I do remember that. I thought you should know.”

Kurt choked back a sob as he smiled and leaned forward placing a kiss on Blaine's cheek. “I love you, too.”

The smile slipped from Blaine's lips a his eyes closed and he went limp in Kurt's arms.