KC uses his strength to pull me up to my feet, “Easy He-man, you don’t want to cause yourself a injury.”
What was wrong with me, I was acting so strange. I think the nightmare including The Guardian has made me a bit doolally.
I grab the pillowcase containing the coconuts from KC and head for the exit of the room.
Who knows they could come in handy to use on other Techno’s if required. I made the decision to take them from KC as if anyone was going to strike any Techno’s I wanted it to be me. Even though KC has matured and grown in my eyes he is still a boy, I didn’t want him to be the one responsible of wasting a life.
I am ready to start with the steps to the other fire exit we had not gone out of yet. KC was right behind me. I softly utter the words, “Let’s get out of here if you think something fishy is occurring.”
I have literally stepped out of the room and notice a moving light in the corridor.
I am panicked, but I keep it together. I whisper whilst looking back to KC “You were right. Someone is here. Take quick steps to the fire exit, I will be right behind you.”
Alice was finally back on her feets again and start leading us to the exit. Suddenly she stops and it took me everything to stop right in time and not to run into her. I couldn’t believe that i was so tense, that my concentration was leaving me for a moment…" oh shit." i whisper back and turn arround. I grap Alice hand and start walking as fast and quiet as i can. I really wished i wasn’t right this time…
It’s so unbelievably dark down here, even with the torch, but all that does is enhance my other senses. The smell is pretty disgusting, and my nose wrinkles slightly, it smelt like something had come down here and died.
It’s so tempting to turn around and head back towards the fresh air, but just as i’m about to make that decision and noise captures my attention. I don’t know if it’s a voice, just a sound in the darkness but it’s enough. My free hand moves to the stunner at my waist and I silently unhook it, it might just be an animal and i’d rather not have to explain why I discharged my weapon if i’m spooked by a rabbit but at the same time prior preparation prevented poor performance.
Moving the torch in a slow arc I’m sure I capture movement but when I swing it back in the direction i’d seen something there’s nothing there. Maybe the darkness was playing tricks on my mind, or maybe the smell was rotting my brain, either way I keep pressing forward.
Even with the added light it was still so dark. KC had obeyed and stepped in front and took his fiest steps, I was right behind.
The position of the room was just off the main corridor connecting the two fire exits. It was just 1 further step until we would be on the same corridor as the intruding source of light. We had no clue whom it could of been but we had to act as if it was our enemy.
KC was doing as he was told he continued his steps on the corridor. I turned and started to take my steps backwards rather than forward. I could not make out who was mere metres in front of me and how many but I had to act fast.
I wanted to protect KC and I knew if we were attacked I would take the hit.
I fumbled down into the pillowcase and had a coconut in my hand. I hurdled it into the darkness, I then dived straight back in and threw another.
By this point I was a complete nervous wreck as I hadn’t a clue if my throws had paid off. I turned and started taking steps in a forward motion again.
I could see KC ahead, he had just managed to exit the building. I was relieved knowing he was safe, unless there was trouble looming on the other exit too.
Before I had reached my way out of the exit, I reached into the pillowcase twice more and instead of throwing them I dropped them to the floor.
The way outside wasn’t was easy as i thought. Without any light and at the moment i am doing hard in remembering how many steps we need. Of course we have count them… but we have used that way only a few times, and with the the enemy behind us… i am doing hard in thinking clear right now.
I feel Alices hand slipping out of mine and i want to take a short look back at her as i hear something banging against the ground or the wall. Oh come on, if nobody has seen us yet, he or she would have heard us now… I reached the door and with one strong push i open it far enough for me to slip out. " Come on, now ! " i look back into the corridor
Crap.
No No No…
Out of all the places she could possible go to, this was the one place on the island I wasn’t ready for her to see.
What if she noticed? What if she realized exactly what it was?
I can’t have her know the truth, not yet, it’s to… complicated…
Maybe if her life had been different, if what happened here wouldn’t have had such a big impact on her life, things would have been easier, but for now, the best I can do is try and prevent her from entering that building.
Quickly I grab one of the buggy’s and set in the persuit
Something comes flying through the darkness and only just misses me, I don’t have time to work out what it is before something else is flying my way. Bringing up my arm in defence I let out a quiet yell as something connects with my hand. The stunner drops from my grip and I bring the hand close to my body, the pain laces through my body but I manage to hold myself together. Anger courses through me and rather than being logical and retreating I move forward.
I can hear movement ahead of me, a voice echos through the dark. My anger bubbles to the surface and I let out a quiet laugh, “now now, that’s not a very nice way to greet an old friend, is it?”
I had reached the exit and I heard a voice that sounded familiar. It can’t be … Even if it is, I am not prepared to stay in the dark. If she knows who we are, is she now a Techno? My mind was boggled …
I was not prepared to enter back into the darkness … my mind must be playing tricks on me.
“Come on KC, let’s get out of here!”
I began to run away from the building. I even surprised myself how quick I moved. I thought it was best to get a fair distance away from the building and then stop and see who stepped out into the light.
Was my mind playing tricks on me or was it Danni …
The pain from my wrist should be a distraction but instead the adrenaline pumping through my body is focusing my mind.
The light from the torch guides me through the building; past the abandoned beds, past the signs and symbols I should be taking in. My only thoughts are moving forwards, doing what i’d been tasked.
Reaching the second exit I pause for a second and lean against the door, part of me knew I needed to stop, there was an injury that needed addressing and i’d dropped the stunner in the dark, but i’d never needed a weapon in the past.
Taking a breath I press forwards, I don’t know which way they’ve gone but I can only imagine they’d aim for the trees. Following my instincts, I head towards the trees. I’m slower due to the pain but i’m still moving and after a few minutes I spot her, she’s stopped. Taking a breath I move towards her, knowing its stupid to approach her without back up but unable to resist the temptations.
“Oh Alice, that’s really not very friendly.” I comment, trying to keep the sarcasm from my voice, “I thought the MallRats always stuck together, you know, like a family.”
This isn’t good… this isn’t good at all.
There was only one explanation for this… Danni was in danger… she would never willingly take of her stun gun…
I quickly send an alert out to all security personal in the area. Atleast, the ones I could trust with such a sensitive task.
I switch my coms on as I continue to race towards her last known location.
“This is L-G Luke speaking, this is an emergency! Meet me at the coordinates I just send you immediately! Beware of fugitives, we have reasons to believe they are armed and dangerous.”
I was astonished to see it was in fact Danni. She hadn’t changed a bit bar the Techno uniform she now proudly wore.
Taking a deep breath I take a step closer to her as I notice her stunner is missing. This was a big risk we were taking as for all we knew her weapon could be hidden but KC and I had the numbers and our strength.
I reply to Danni with sarcasm, "Oh Danni, it seems you are still a stroppy troll. I always knew you had darkness inside of you. Daddy issues …’
I glare at the evil witch.
Saying these words did feel slighly wrong as Danni once was a Mallrat, part of our family. But something had triggered for her to now be a Techno.
"Clearly you are not part of our family any longer …’
As far as Alice was out of the door i closed again. maybe thinking this would hold back our enemy … but i can’t think clear right now. I follow Alice as i hear the door open and i hear vioce… a familar voice…no, this can’t be!? I stand here for a moment, shocked, freezed… Danni? I turn arround and see her, wearing a Techno uniform.
She and Alice starts to argue about family and the Mall Rats.
" Alice is right, seems like you have made your choice. But why? You have always fight for a free city and now you are a Techno? What has changed your mind? Which man do you want to impress this time?" i look her straight in the eyes, as i step beside Alice
The lack of surprise from Alice at my appearance confirms the suspicion I’d held for the last few years, they’d abandoned me rather than choosing to look for me.
I don’t react to Alice’s snide comment about ‘daddy issues’, I knew how to mask my emotions, even choosing to mask the pain from my wrist. I’d had enough training since joining the Techno’s, not just in technology but in mixed martial arts and hand to hand combat. I’d learnt that showing pain gave your opponent a target and that was the last thing I wanted to do right now.
Turning to look at KC I tilt my head ever so slightly, he’d grown, changed, but was still so much the same as he’d been before. His age shows through in his question, slight maturity over coming the desire to prove himself that he’d had before. “Why?” It seems such a strange question, “because the Techno’s want what is best for the people, it’s just simple mathematics. The needs of the few out rank the needs of the many.”
KC’s question about men surprises me, but then maybe that was how it had looked to someone who didn’t know me, maybe I’d previously looked like a sad little girl chasing a dream in Bray but now that wasn’t the case. “You think this is to impress someone?” The disgust at the idea obvious in my voice, “the Techno’s were there for me when those who professed to be my family weren’t.” I reply, my stance changing slightly as KC moves. “You Mall Rats, you always pretend like you’re something special but when the going gets tough you scuttle back into your sewers and hide. The only thing you ever did was think about yourselves.”
All it would take is a couple steps, a swift kick and KC would be down, men really were much easier targets than women. But then I’d have to deal with Alice, she would be more challenging. A kick to the back of her knees followed by an elbow to the face, that might do it.
I was so proud of how KC laid into Danni aswell. Me and him were becoming quite the team.
Danni’s response did not surprise me. I contemplate whether to just not reply and carry on running but this to good of a opportunity to let it go. Just a couple more exchanges and then we have to start running before more Techno’s arrive.
“Danni have you lost your marbles! How on earth can you say the Technos want what is best for people. How on earth is being a prisoner for all this time okay?”
I take 2 steps closer to the deceitful twisted witch and continue speaking.
“You really are a looney tune. How can we scuttle back into the sewers, you bloody Techno’s ripped us out of our home.”
I take a further 2 steps, and I am now very close to her. I shrove her back.
“Just seeing if you were real witch. We were told you were wasted by The Chosen!”
" Suddenly you think this way? Then why…" i want to answer Danni about all the bullshit she is talking right now, but Alice cuts me off and walk towards Danni. The bitch fight is there again and i step beside Alice, just not sure if to hold her back if needed to to help her if Danni would start to attack her.
I know she’s angry with me, and to be truthful I can’t blame her but I had to respond to the call or that would look suspicious. Leaning down I kiss her cheek gently, “i’ll stay safe.” I promise her, although I choose not to comment about those who need recapturing, they wouldn’t end up back in the cages if they were found, they’d end up somewhere worse.
“If you forgive me, meet me at the shipwreck at sun down.” I ask, “I promise i’ll make this up to you.”
Pulling my uniform back into place I look at her for a moment longer before nodding, “and if you don’t, if you can’t forgive me, I’ll understand. I won’t betray your location, I’ll keep leaving hints for you to keep safe.” I knew it wasn’t much but it was all I could offer if she chose not to forgive my actions.
Nodding once more I give her a final glance before turning away, pulling my com from my wrist I press the intercom, “message received Lieutenant, wilco.”
Walking away from Zandra was one of the hardest thing’s i’d ever done but I knew I had to comply with the orders because capturing the others meant keeping her safe, even if she couldn’t see it.
I’d love to be using the buggy for something fun but instead I find myself scouting the grounds for escaped virts. Usually the virts weren’t smart enough to pull something like this off so I had to admit it had caught my attention, that plus the face the Lieutenant and Commander were involved. Usually escapees were left to the guards.
My mind wanders for a moment until the comm at my wrist crackles to life ‘This is L-G Luke speaking, this is an emergency! Meet me at the coordinates I just send you immediately! Beware of fugitives, we have reasons to believe they are armed and dangerous.’
Glancing down at the coordinates I pause for a second to work out where they are in relation to my current position before turning and heading in the direction of the lieutenant. I wasn’t that far away so should be with him pretty quickly.
I watch Debian leave and roll my eyes out of annoyance, I suppose this was one of the biggest downsides of mingling with the ‘enemy’ aside from of course him being part of the Tribe that captured me in the first place. I must be mental but if I was being honest with myself I was hooked.
I waited for a few moments for him to get enough distance away before slipping out of the shed, I couldn’t stay here, it wasn’t safe as anyone could head this way at any time and I had no real way to protect myself, so back into the woods I head.
Before I have a chance to respond to KC Alice is talking again. She really did always enjoy the sound of her own voice. She’s moved closed and all I’m doing is working out how much energy it would take to shut her up.
“The Chosen didn’t waste me,” I tell her after a moment, “although you might wish they had.”
She moves closer and I use the momentum to swing up my good arm, a quick jab straight to the bridge of her nose followed by an uppercut with my less powerful arm. The pain is intense but its worth it to wipe that stupid smug smile off her face.
Gel’s voice is starting to be like nails on a chalkboard and it’s annoying. I walk down the beach grabbing smaller sticks to build a fire and it’s all I can do besides telling her to shut up. I sit and let her whine while I get a fire started saying nothing, there’s no telling how long we are going to be here and I’m going to do something.
The fire catches and starts to gather warmth and already I start to feel slightly better. I walk to where Gel is sitting and place my arms around her shoulders my hand hanging statically near her chest. I’m about to make a move when Zak sits down.
I quickly remove my hand. ”No plan. At least not one that concerns you.” I say looking back to Gel with a wink. She’s thick, but she’s bound to at least catch my hints.
