This had to be the second longest ride of Becky's life; not quite as long as the ride with her dad to Toby's' house, but it was up there.
Victoria spent the ride pretending to tend to her knives while stealing glances at Becky, sizing her up. Every so often her throwing hand would twitch and a sadistic look would flash across her face; just waiting for Becky, or anyone for that matter, to make the wrong move.
Ms. Question was quiet the entire ride; she was always a hard one to read. Eileen maintained her usual oblivious child-like innocence to everyone and everything.
Toby on the other hand made it no secret he was watching Becky, closely. Even with her back turned she could feel him scanning her. She could also hear him mumbling under his breath like he always did when studying something. When they were younger she thought it was cute, but now that she was his subject it was only unnerving.
Tensions were understandably high, especially after the unmitigated mess their last mission was; and Becky could only pray for some form of relief. However, it seemed she should have been careful what she wished for as an explosion on their port side rocked the jet and they began losing altitude.
"Best take the controls!" Becky yelled jumping up and opening the bomb bay doors.
As Victoria fought to pull up on the controls Becky flew out and under the quickly falling aircraft, stabilizing it under its destroyed wing. Just as Victoria was getting the jet level a shadow was cast over her. Looking up from her instruments she saw Hoarde staring back at her, grenade launcher at the ready. There was no hesitation on Hoardes' part to pull the trigger at point blank throwing herself back to avoid the blast.
Victoria's' cat like reflexes, as well as the thick glass, saved her life as she dove to the floor; but now there was the problem of the cabin presser they were losing.
"Everyone out!" Toby yelled tossing a parachute to Ms. Question before taking one himself.
While her team was jumping ship Becky had to go head to head with Hoarde who had reloaded and set her sights on the heroine.
"Sentry we're out of dodge." Ms. Question called over the com-link.
"Good no holding back." Becky said to herself as she hurled the flaming hunk of metal at her foe, but Hoarde showed she was no slouch as she barrel rolled out of the way and returned fire.
Becky took the hit flying forward with all her speed trying to grab Hoarde before she could reload and take aim again. Hoarde may not have been as fast as Becky but her reflexes were good enough for her to keep up. One moment Becky was trying to snatch away the launcher, next thing she knew she was reeling back from being hit with the stock.
The skies belonged to Hoarde and she showed it, kicking with speed and power to repel Becky. One well placed shot left Becky reeling; reloaded and ready for the kill, Hoarde took her aim. However, the merciless onslaught came to an end when Eileen's massive hand swatted her out of the sky.
"Oh look at that, gigantor is good for something." Victoria stated dryly while she slipped off her parachute.
"And what are you good for?" Eileen roared down at her.
Victoria cracked her knuckles and advanced on Hoarde. "Getting results," She replied snatching up the disorientated Hoarde. "With the hard way being my specialty."
"Soon as I shake this concussion I'm gonna show you how versatile a hand grenade can be." Hoarde spat a mouth full of blood on Victoria's shoes.
"You know the kind of stuff they did to us." She said to Becky when she landed.
" You can fight their programming; you don't have to serve them."
"That's enough there blade runner." Toby interjected shining his pen light in her eyes. "You are one advance clone," He noted with a whistle. "the things I could learn from your cadaver."
"Someone get this perv away from me." Hoarde rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, you're definitely a clone of my wife."
Becky pulled Hoarde away from the two cousins putting her in a submission hold. When she put pressure on a nerve cluster on her neck, Hoarde didn't so much as squirm. Undaunted by her resistance Becky preceded to ask, "What's Taffy planning to do with the nukes; where's she aiming them?"
"You call this an interrogation; you must be defective." She taunted, earning a short laugh from Victoria.
"Listen Hoarde make this easy on yourself and answer me."
"How do you know my name; we're not from the same squad and the handlers wouldn't have told you." Hoarde stated completely perplexed.
"Say," Hoarde forced her head to turn under the steadily increasing stress. "what is your serial number anyway?"
In a panic Becky dislocated Hoardes arm finally getting a reaction out of her. "Ok you win!" Hoarde yelled in pain. "I'll tell you everything." She began with a stressed huff. "Taffy's lost it, off her rocker completely." Hoarde looked Becky in the eye best she could. "She's wants to put them up Howes' ass but I told her there's no room with that stick up there." Hoarde broke out laughing.
"Enough games!" Becky roared pushing harder on the nerve cluster.
"That's fine," A sinister smile came across Hoardes' face. "I'm done stalling anyway."
There was a sudden gust of wind and Becky was sent flying. By the time the rest of them registered what was going on Hannibal had already grabbed her sister and took off. Hoarde was in front of Taffy in the time it took for her to blink.
"What's the set-rep Hoarde?"
"We go five hostiles," Hoarde started while calmly popping her arm back into place. "their leader appears to be one of us, but I have no idea who she is." She reported.
"She must be a new model." Taffy commented. "I'll handle her; Hoarde back up the outer guard and Hannibal secure the center, we'll hit them with a double pincer." Taffy ordered.
"Roger!" Hannibal and Hoarde declared; they were just as ready to fight to the death as their big sister, they'd die before they'd allow themselves to be used again. As her sisters ran to take up their positions Taffy couldn't help but think to herself that they might be able to pull this off; or at least they were about to find out.