Into the Sewers
Despite the crowd and the noise that went with it, my eyes were immediately drawn to Max, standing on the raised platform where the computer equipment was located. My eyes narrowed slightly and I saw that she was talking to Logan on the video-phone. I glanced at Alec over my shoulder and saw that he was gazing in the same direction.
"Come on." I said, taking his hand and leading the way towards Max's position, knowing that he wanted to be closer so he could hear the conversation easier.
Apparently, Max had just made the call because as we were approaching she was just greeting Logan.
"Hey." she said.
An uncomfortable silence followed her greeting and she glanced about everywhere but at Logan. Finally, both parties spoke at the same time.
"I'm sorry."
Max smiled slightly at their simultaneous statement.
"So," Logan said, also visibly relaxing as he removed his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt before replacing them, "what's going on? How are you doing?"
"Well, that's why I called. We've...um...decided to leave Seattle." Max said, sounding more sheepish than I ever thought I'd hear her.
"What?" Logan exclaimed.
"Logan, you know it's not safe here. You said so yourself. I have to do what's best for these people and I really think it's best if we get out of here."
"And then what?" Logan demanded, "Wait until White tracks you down one at a time?"
"I was actually looking for you to be a little supportive. You know, help me out. Not bust my chops. I really don't have the time or the patience." Max said angrily.
I leaned closer to Alec and whispered to him, "Are you sure they used to be a couple?"
"Entertaining, isn't it?" he whispered back.
Logan let out a long sigh.
"Okay, Max. Okay. What do you need?"
"Well, we need to get the rest of these guys out of the city, but White's been on the police frequency, calling for a lockdown. I need your help to find the best route for getting these guys through."
"Max, that's crazy. If White's trying to lockdown the city, there isn't going to be a safe way through." Logan protested.
"I didn't ask for a safe way. I said the best way." Max replied.
"Max..."
"Logan, please." Max interrupted, "I have to do this. I have to get these people out now. There's not enough of us left here to wait around. If White came in here, we'd be dead."
"Don't be an ass, Logan." Alec muttered.
Logan sighed heavily.
"Please, be careful." he said, giving in, "Give me a few minutes and I'll find you a route."
"Thanks, Logan."
"What's your plan?"
Max hesitated, probably worried that telling Logan about her plan would set him off again.
"Alec, Krit, Syl, Mole, Kira, Jess, and I are going to provide cover fire, try and maintain a perimeter around the street, while the rest move out. Sketch and OC are going to provide a distraction up the street to give us a little more time."
"Max..."
Max interrupted him again, "I know, Logan. But can you think of a better plan?"
Logan was quiet for a minute. Finally, he replied, "I'll come with you."
"Logan, no." Max protested.
"You're not going to change my mind, Max. Not anymore than I can change yours. I'll call you back."
The screen went black, leaving a very frustrated Max. Joshua was the one to approach her.
"Little fella okay?" he asked.
Max nodded slowly before turning to face everybody.
"Mole, Syl, divy up the firepower. Alec, break up the teams. We're going to try to push everybody through in quick waves. We'll probably be taking the sewers most of the way, but there's not guarantee that White doesn't have people down there, too. Keep together people and keep your eyes open and...be careful."
"Ugh, she's starting to sound like Logan." Alec grumbled under his breath.
I poked him in the ribs. Now wasn't the time to antagonize Max. This was serious.
The video phone flashed, warning of an incoming call.
"Get to it." Max ordered before turning back to the screen.
"Okay, people." Alec said, slapping his hands together, "You, you, and you, kid, with Joshua. Yeah, move it. Over there. Any day now. Now, you guys, I want you with Tep."
I tuned out Alec and looked around, feeling kind of lost. I knew what was going to be expected of me when this went down, but until then I felt kind of helpless. I wished Max had given me something specific to do. I caught sight of Syl and Mole and wandered over to help them.
"What's up, Jess?" Syl asked as she checked the clip on a semi-automatic.
"Need any help?"
"Sure. Hand out these handguns to anybody who wants one. Team leaders need some of these babies." she tossed the weapon to me.
"Got it." I nodded, glad that I was being put to work.
I gathered as many guns as I could carry and began distributing them. I tried not to notice the looks on their faces when I handed them the weapons. I tried not to see the flash of memories in their eyes. Unfortunately, I could almost see Manticore reflected in them. I could almost see the cold hallways, the units marching through them without speaking, without turning their eyes even a fraction to the side, tac leaders screaming at them as they passed. The cold metal was so familiar. Just like it had been when CAT had first started this. And I knew that what I was feeling was what they were feeling as well. But worst of all was knowing that while I never wanted to be back there again, I would need to be, at least in my mind, if we were going to make it through this. It was frightening to think that I actually needed Manticore in any way.
I suddenly realized that I was out of guns to hand out. I turned and headed back to Syl to get some more, trying to shake the feeling that had come over me. I needed to focus on what was happening now, not on Manticore.
After collecting two more armfuls of cold steel, just about every transgenic was armed.
"The rest of these babies are for us to play with." Syl grinned.
"Guys." Max called.
I turned to see Max still standing in front of the screen, Logan's face projected on it. Max gestured for us to join her. I followed Mole and Syl up the stairs.
"Logan, tell them the route." Max said.
"Alright. I found you a path through the sewers for most of the way..."
Alec groaned. Logan glared at him before continuing.
"Anyway, you'll have to come up on Galup. There's never been transgenic activity in the area or much other activity for that matter. Plus, it leads away from the Canadian border. I don't think they'll expect you to go this way. Plus, it's near the docks so you'll only have to worry about them coming from one side. From the sewer exit to the town borders is about a mile and a quarter stretch."
"I think we should pair up and split the distance." Max said.
"That's an odd number, Max." Alec pointed out.
"I'm aware, Alec." Max snapped, "I don't play well with others. I'm on my own."
"Max." Alec and Logan both protested.
Max crossed her arms.
"We don't have time for you two to argue with me. I know what I'm doing."
"Whatever." Alec said, obviously not pleased.
Logan continued to glare at him, this time seeming more upset and suspicious than before. I guessed it was because Alec wasn't acting much like an overprotective boyfriend. Max must have noticed as well because she quickly pressed on.
"We're going to set up before the teams get there so we need to move out right away. Mole and Syl, I figure you guys will have the most firepower, so I want you guys at the sewer exit. I'll be at the last leg. You guys split it up. Got it?"
We all nodded.
"Jess." Alec pulled me aside, "I need to tell you something. Max has stuck me with a crappy decision, as usual. I can do the smart thing and pair up with someone else so that I won't be trying to protect you the whole time. Problem is, I won't be able to stop worrying about you, which might be worse. Or I can pair up with you and maybe do something stupid that ruins this whole thing. I need you to tell me what I should do."
I stared at him.
"You realize that I'm in the same situation, don't you?"
He nodded.
"You're an asshole for making me make this decision."
Again, he nodded. I sighed.
"I wouldn't want anyone else with me." I finally admitted, I glanced past him at Kira, "I'll team with Alec if you want to pair up with Krit."
For a second I thought I say hurt flash in Kira's eyes, but it was gone so quickly I couldn't be sure that I hadn't just imagined it. I pushed it out of my mind and tried to get my head in the game.
"Let's take the far half so I can keep an eye on Max and make sure she doesn't do something too heroic." Alec said.
I nodded and followed him as he headed outside. He lead the way to a manhole, grimacing as he moved it aside and caught wind of the sewer vapors. He gestured for me to go first, but I shook my head and smiled slightly at him.
"Why don't you go first and see if there's any piles I should avoid?" I suggested in a mockingly sweet tone.
"Gee, why not?" Alec replied, making a face, but lowering himself into the sewer.
I smiled for a fleeting moment, then followed him. I wished belatedly that I had gotten a chance to become more familiar with this city. Any advantage over our enemy would be nice about now. But at least Alec appeared to be rather well acquainted with the sewer systems of Seattle. I had no doubts that Max was responsible for that. Alec would never sully his perfect appearance without the proper motivation.
It took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the dim sewer lighting. It took longer to get used to the smell. Things had definitely died down here. That thought made me pause. Hopefully, we wouldn't be joining them. Max had said White might have men down here.
I followed Alec, checking my weapons as I moved. Our feet made small splashes as we walked, which made me nervous. Anything that might announce our presence to others in the sewer made me nervous.
A noise behind us caused me to whip around, gun at the ready. I felt Alec do the same behind me.
"Just me." Kira said, holding up her hands.
I relaxed with a sigh. Alec grumbled something unintelligible.
"Kira, what are you doing?" I demanded in a whisper.
"Krit and I are following you two. We're all going the same way, remember? We were all kind of surprised at how fast you two moved out. Max wasn't done giving pep talks." Kira said.
"We're peppy enough." Alec responded.
"You sound it." Krit agreed, walking up behind Kira.
"The others on their way down?" Alec asked, ignoring Krit's comment.
Apparently, Kira sneaking up on us shook him up.
"Yeah. They'll be down soon. Max, Syl, and Mole are going to trail them since you guys took point." Kira nodded.
"She's not happy about that, by the way." Krit observed.
"Of course not." Alec agreed.
"Well, let's move." I pressed.
Standing around talking wasn't going to make anything any better. I needed to get this over with. I was never excessively patient.
No one said anything, but everyone must have agreed because we all began walking as silently as possible down the sewer tunnel. Alec went first, I followed, then Kira, and finally, Krit. My senses went on high as I sorted through the noise, trying to find any tell-tale sounds of ambush. The sewers in the immediate vicinity of TC would be the most dangerous.