Chapter 9– The chase is on

Miranda relaxed and allowed the blue healing light radiate from her and into the young girl that lay on the floor of the cell. Charlie watched her as she did her thing unaware of what was going on, she was just drawn to this new girl who was tossed in with them. Chelsie moved and fluttered her eyes. Her breath was less laboured. Miranda stroked her hair and continued to provide the healing she needed. Her progress was cut short when she heard loud voices coming her way.

"We got the truck we need to move them now. Come on!" Lincoln yelled as he banged on the girls cages. "Get up! NOW!" Some of the girls cried out in fear and pushed back to the deeper recesses of the cages they were confined in.

Sorren grabbed one girl from the cage next to the one Miranda was in and shoved his face into hers and licked up her chin. She cringed in disgust and shivered at the contact. "Any of you give us trouble I will personally see to entertaining myself at your expense." He shoved the girl he had away from him to make her walk. She stumbled but gathered her bearings and remained upright. She was dishevelled and in quite the state. She walked along and Miranda recognized the girl when she looked into her cage right at Miranda. Zari was right this was indeed one of the many missing young women Tony had been questioned about in the past.

Mason, a large pale man with more tattoos than Miranda could count loomed at the door. He opened the cage she and the other girls were in. He pointed to the one who called herself Charlie and told her to stand. She did so and looked over at Miranda. The other girls followed suit and moved as if hypnotized. Chelsie still wasn't in any shape to walk.

Mason glared at the girl he was told was called Lee. "Get up." He said to her. "But my friend needs help. She's sick." Miranda wasn't going to make it easy for him.

"I don't care." He reached down and grabbed Miranda and hauled her to her feet and then grabbed a wobbly Chelsie who cried out in agony and dragged her to her feet too. "Let me go!" Miranda struggled against the hammed arm that confined her.

"Girl, Shut up! Sorren will have a field day with your tiny ass, and trust me he likes little girls like you so I suggest you walk!" He gave her a shake and she walked but the anger in her rolled. She wasn't too thrilled at having to play the helpless part.

"Miputer, don't even think about it." Her father interjected knowing full well she was damn determined to get everyone out of the situation they were facing. "The officer who has been helping them is outside."

Miranda gasped. She wasn't aware the mole was there. She wondered if she'd recognize her at all, even if she looked younger. 'Oh God Daddy I have to do something. I don't need her possibly recognizing me! I need a distraction!'

'Wait till you're outside sweetie. Zari and her mom are close by they will help if they can.' Her father encouraged her to be strong. 'Remember, if there's a will there's a way, and if we get our way they will be reading their wills. Come on bubbalu you can do this.'

They got closer to the exit and it surprised Miranda that it was through a church crypt. No one would have even been aware of this place let alone that it was connected. It was off of any normal beaten path within the city and without much traffic in the area no one was likely to stumble across them anytime soon. She saw the officer in question who helped direct the girls to the large transfer truck. The only thing she could do was to make a scene in regards to that cop. She tried to lunge at her, she didn't get far before she was stopped by Mason.

"HOW DARE YOU!" She screamed at the officer who was surprised that any of the girls would even talk to her considering they all knew she'd beat them. "Let them go!" Cleo started to walk to her with her hand raised to back hand Miranda but stopped mid stride and looked hard at the girl. She raised her hand and yelled to Tony pointing in Miranda's general direction.

"Who's the girl?"

"Some stupid chick trying to rescue that Chelsie girl. She's a bonus for my boys once we get them to Tokyo."

"You mean to tell me she got onto your property without being seen? Bring her here." Cleo wasn't too sure but this one rang a bell with her. She knew her from somewhere. She was going to get some answers.

Sorren stepped from the line and grabbed the other arm of the one who lunged at Cleo and helped Mason drag her over. "Bitch you just met your match." Miranda just smirked at him and growled.

"Ha! That's what you think." She muttered under her breath as she tried to shake him loose but he didn't lose his grip. Sorren was set back a bit when he realized this girl was back talking him. She was a brazen little thing. He gave her a good hard shake as he tried to drag her along with Mason's help.

"You're going to have to do better than that." She said through clenched teeth. Even Mason's grip didn't bother her. The anger in her roiled and that was all she needed to trigger some of the abilities she possessed. She stopped dead in her tracks and Sorren and Mason both couldn't move her.

"What the hell!" Sorren yanked harder. She was like steel and didn't budge.

Cleo walked forward "What the hell is going on?"

"I don't know! We can get her to move." Mason yanked again and Miranda still didn't move.

The distraction was enough to get Zari and her mother into position. Jillian used her abilities to manipulate metal and all the sudden the large truck started to leave without them. The girls were scared. They had no idea what was going on and started to cry and pushed back to the edge of the cemetery. Lincoln, Mason and Sorren stopped dead in their tracks and looked about totally baffled at what is going on.

"Hey stop that truck!" Cleo wasn't allowing it to leave without her shipment. Tony was pissed at everything and walked over to her and smacked Miranda instead hoping to get her to comply. She cried out from the pain and went down in a heap.

"Not so strong now are ya!" He sneered. The guys ran off to catch the truck and Tony hovered over Miranda for a moment then crouched to her level. He reached out and cupped her face.

"I have a good mind to end your little friend you were so concerned about; in fact I think I'll let Sorren play with her. Maybe then you'll listen." He looked in her eyes and saw a flicker there. He wasn't sure what but he backed up.

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Chris had made it to the back of the crypts entrance. He was within throwing distance of Miranda and he didn't like what he was seeing. He connected with her energy and buzzed. He knew he was putting himself at risk being this close right now because he could easily be discovered. Zari and Jillian were trying to keep them confined within the area till the swat team that was in on this sting made it to the area. He just needed to distract these thugs for a little longer.

He watched as many of the girls were loaded onto the now stopped truck. The driver was still looking a bit confused on why it had started moving on its own.

Cleo had walked over to him and Chris heard her say. "Get control of your cargo Tony. I don't need this trouble. I can only keep my squad off my back for so long. I already had to dispatch with two of them and they will be noticed as missing soon enough. Come on let's get this show on the road." Chris thought who the hell did she dispatch? He connected to Turiz and told him to get Gary to check the crew he had a funny feeling something was off.

'What do I tell him?' was the thought he got back. 'Tell him that it's been made apparent that two force members may be MIA and that I suggested he check in on everyone.' He hoped this helped. He continued to watch Cleo and Tony who nodded and stood and Sorren grabbed Chelsie and hauled her back to her feet.

"NO!" Miranda yelled. She didn't want to see Sophia's sister harmed anymore than what she'd already endured. Cleo had enough of the bullshit and took aim at Miranda and fired.

"NO!" Chris yelled as he lunged for Miranda.