"Great, more sewer swimming…" Kyle dryly remarked.
"Hold on to me to use your wrist less." Crane said, the duo diving in with the kid latched onto him swimming on his own as well. It didn't take long, the swim very short with the second not long either and a flare soon showing where to drop down. Crane dropped first and then caught Kyle so he didn't have to pull himself up much, the right hand closing around the bigger one. A consistent trail of burning flares though pipes lead the way, the route straightforward with not really any far off shoot paths to get lost in. A first aid box offered a package of bandages that Crane quickly placed in Kyle's backpack hoping they won't end up dirty with the water they swam through. Drenched could always dry but dirt had to stay out. Stubborn wood was easily pushed by Kyle as they continued on, Crane noting to himself that he didn't have a seizure in a while and it didn't feel like any would ever come again, he'd actually been feeling great since he had received Kyle's blood and the taste was finally out his mouth. But there was one question that he pondered, one that would be an issue soon. "So, how do we handle Michael when he sees your eyes?"
"Glow contacts."
"In Harran?" The man raised an eyebrow.
"Hey maybe he'll buy it. If he doesn't, we tell him to keep it a secret and claim to have no clue why."
"Gotcha" They almost actually had to wonder if Michael had heard them because he was just around the corner.
"Fuck! I thought you were a biter!" The relief didn't last, eyes falling on Kyle's eyes. "H-his eyes, y-you-"
"Contacts."
"C-contacts…?""Michael either believed it despite sounding shaky or didn't want to question it, eyes straying back to Crane. "Why you gotta sneak up on a guy like that?! Jesus, you almost gave me a heart attack." His glance zipped back to Kyle. "Those still might… can't you take those freakish contacts out?!"
"No."
"We didn't mean to scare you, Michael."
"Okay, okay… Troy said you were on your way. God. I'm glad she didn't see me jump like that. She'd NEVER take me seriously."
"Got a little crush, huh?" Crane slightly chuckled.
"How could you not? Have you met her? That's why I volunteered for this!"
"You're… risking your life with a horde of flesh-eating zombies to impress a girl?"
"Mate, before the outbreak, the most impressive thing I'd ever done was win a spelling bee. Okay? Troy would've never even looked at me. So I'll take opportunities where I can get them."
"Fair enough."
"Troy told us about the plan."
"Kyle, you need some sleep, please just let me deal with this."
"No"
"Fine, what about a compromise, two for you, two for me okay?" Crane sighed."
"Fine. It's pretty safe here so we'll take shifts. I'll take the first shift." Kyle explained and offered, Crane begrudgingly agreeing as the blonde pulled mattresses out of the room.
"I can keep watch." Michael awkwardly offered. That way both of you can sleep." The two agreed telling the man to wake them up if trouble came which did Michael to wake up Crane beating them back, the tension like a tight rope as they had a time bomb on their hands with nature not in their favor right now. Even though real sleep didn't really work out, the rest albeit an awkward small one did help, Kyle helping out Michael when need in the last hour. His eyes wandered to the metal claws slightly bored moving the blades a little but careful not to jingle the chains between the wrist ring and each little metal ring around each finger being adjustable without looking clunky and completely sleek until a much closer inspection. It wasn't like a glove, leaving much revealed of the wearer's hand. It was absolute art, the five chains each for one fingers a little tied with a colored band by Kyle back when he took it to stop the rattling slightly without losing movement. The blades themselves one for each finger cupped the finger tips snugly draped over the upper half of the finger past the little rings before swiftly pulling together the sleep slightly claw like tipped blade reaching out, the metal so perfectly molded that it looked utterly elegant as it was deadly. Michael kept eying Kyle, the apparent 'contacts' not leaving his mind leaving the guy to wonder the heck the kid had found such freakish ones. It had to be working with a light trick.
With the four hours passed and both awake again, Crane turned to Michael. "Alright Michael, what needs to happen here?" Crane asked while splinting Kyle's lower left arm a little to lessen the chance of more breaking past the damaged point or that getting worse. He already didn't like how Kyle had said it was shattered implying even though not far past the wrist, there would be bone bits loosely in his flesh able to cut into an artery with any wrong move. 'After this, I have to get him straight to Camdem with no distractions.'
"Well, okay, I tried to finish the job, but I couldn't get past the ninth floor." Michael replied.
"Leave it to us."
"What needs to happen is, you take these explosives, turn on the gas ovens, and plant charges in a few specific apartments."
"And that'll make a pattern, huh? One nobody outside Harran could mistake for random?"
"If they can explain this shit away, we're all gonna be really fucking impressed. Now, if you're ready, your first stop is on the tenth floor."
"Kyle, I know what you'll suggest but I don't want you to go alone. Not with that injury." Crane requested of the blonde picking up the charges, leaving Michael to wonder with no answer as Kyle replied with 'Okay' and the pair headed in.
"You come for your pay I suppose?" The old man raised an eyebrow sitting comfortable on an armchair in the sprawling room of luxuries like cushy pillows and such steadily moved down into a bunker under the building, a few gang members scattered around the room, a notable one with a mask with blue tears sprawled out on a bench with pillows watching with interest, the mask slid aside revealing the nineteen year old Caucasian white face on the slightly pale side under the mop of black tussled hair. The brown eyes didn't stick out though with any certain hue but that the first response evoked fear of the one looking at them that would only intensify if a smile was flashed. A black hoodie, dark pants and sneakers clad the young slim guy. They almost reminded of a viper waiting to strike without mercy.
"In a way. I want a favor."
"Hm…" The man thought over it for a moment, a tricky smile on his lips as he mused why an assassin asked for a favor instead of money. Especially because the old man himself knew about the bombing and the assassin's 'break in'. "What is the favor?"
"I need help in nipping Rais a bit. Keep him down, sitting right where I want him. The fact that my partner and I are only two and he has far more thugs is getting… an annoyance. I have a target we want alive, you'd probably be interested in as well. But the target is on Rais's shit list."
"Trafficking?" The man mused raising an eyebrow, the Bozak on the bench growing more interested with a smile that ushered in fear playing on the lips.
"Yes, we've done it here and there but it has to be worth the trouble. I figured you'd want to be a bidder so I suppose you have a shared interest in keeping Rais on a leash and in line."
"Bold not to assume I'll just take what interests me. But I'm fair in business so I won't just take your target if they fancy me. How much do you need Rais bitten?"
"Keep him busy at his tower and push him out of Old Town a little without interfering with his revenue stream."
"Brecken, we have a problem!" Lena's voice came through the radio, Rahim glancing to Brecken both at the university with Spike.
"One of our runners just got shot, its Rais's men they're trying to starve us out by attacking anyone leaving the tower. It's getting a serious problem."
"Shit…"
"What is it Rahim?"
"I just thought I saw one of Rais's men nearby outside!"
Brecken snarled, the guard becoming alert and talking with Fidan as well. "They might try it here too, keep a watch Rahim!" But why? Why the sudden switch of tactics? It wasn't new that Rais wanted the Tower down and Brecken dead but the man had never tried starving him out like that.
Jade didn't know if she should be relieved or not feeling like Rais's men had chased her less, Rais not one to just give up.
"Alright, you shall have a favor for your pay. Ahava,Ahmad, Seif, Fahad, go with Bozak and our business partners."
"Five? That's it? Bozak there looks young too."
"Nineteen to be exact." The old man answered. "Ah, you doubt him because of the age. But tell me friend, you've looked into his eyes and you know better don't you? You see what they hold; you see the darkness inside don't you?"
"He likes blood alright." The assassin admitted.
"Yes, he does. You know, no one in Harran wants to be kidnapped by the stadium Bozak in Harran except him. That kid there ran into his arms. He wanted to be taken, to receive a Bozak title and just because to him being told to kill hordes of infected is fun. Because he likes to see the blood spread out over the ground and flesh tear apart. But aside from his hobby, he's one of my best and like my own allied Walter White except I'm sure he's even better and can whip up so much more than meth. More deadly and far more twisted too. Trust me, four men and my viper is by far enough to nip Rais in the heel, Bozak will even have to hold himself back not to start killing off his gang."
"Well, you can just order him not to after all you're his boss." The assassin pointed out with a chuckle.
"His boss, ha!" They old man suddenly laughed. "That demon child does whatever he wants; I just have the luxury that he is giving me his loyalty. And believe me it's better to have him as an ally than an enemy."
"This is Tahir, Rais wants to talk to you kid." Crane's eyes narrowed on the radio quickly pushing the button.
"Kyle is not talking to you asshole!" Crane spat.
"Oh but he'll want to hear this. Why don't you let him make the choice, Crane." Tahir snarled.
"Give me the radio Crane." Kyle demanded. "Come on, we have to hurry up, place the charge." The adult didn't like it but handed off the radio, Kyle pushing the button as Crane headed in further to plant the explosive.
"What do you want asshole?"
"I can't wait to beat that out of you." Tahir chuckled with a snarl. "Rais has a choice for you. Come to us or the university and Tower keep losing anyone that steps out of the building. Oh and the fishing village and all those places full of friends are in danger of setting on fire. Feel free to bring the research along too."
"One fire and you can forget that I'll even ever consider it." Kyle snarled.
"Time is ticking kid, better make a choice." Tahir's voice didn't come back, Kyle glaring at nothing in particular.
"You stay in Old Town with them, snipe at Rais's men but don't thin the numbers too much. Just make them bleed; force Rais to change his hand. We'll hit his tower." Bozak smiled under the mask, eyes narrowing in glee at the carnage he planned, a duffle bag slung over his shoulders while a very tall beefy man carried one as well full of ammo standing on the roof with two more snipers, one also carrying a blade at the hip.
"Rais has far more numbers than my humble crew here but I have the top in everything, the best there are. Would you like to join?"
"No, thanks." The assassin chuckled.
"Oh well, worth a shot." The old man smiled. "I'm excited to see what you have for sale."
"Is that… Is that a child crying?" Crane wondered aloud, pushing open the door and stepping inside with Kyle. A child but no longer human stumbled into sight indeed crying, hand flying to their ears real fast as they stumbled back out when it screamed, Crane's eyes shifting to infected breaking down a door down the hall and flocking closer pulled in by the scream. "Fuck! What is this…?! Kyle what are you doing?" His question was answered by a splat seeing the boot smash into the child zombie just in time, Kyle glancing to the man having stumbled to darted to the door again.
"What?"
"Did you have to kick it like that…?"
"What would you have done?"
"Cradled and snapped the neck maybe…"
"…My way so much faster and it's done for the moment I kick…" Kyle said, the two turning their attention to the zombies quickly dealing with them before heading back into the room where Crane placed the next charge on the stove.
"Okay, all done!"
"Great! And, uh… if you could get back down here? I wouldn't turn down a helping hand at this point…" A few steps taken the way out and Michael's voice came onto the radio again. "Listen… Hey! You sneaky fucker! Jesus Christ!"
"Michael?"
"Listen if I don't make it, you have to grab… get off me!... grab the detonator, get the hell out of there and blow this place."
"Michael! Get the fuck out of there and head back to Troy! Right now! Just leave the detonator. Michael?! Michael! Shit!" Their race downward bumped into a problem in the elevator with Crane cursing quickly checking on Kyle as they were thrown around in the contraption sending them lower than wanted with the cord snapping. Reaching Michael's point, they didn't find the man offering a little relief that he could've gotten away, Crane picking up the detonator.
"Brecken! Shooting is happening!" Rahim shouted, a thug stumbling out of hiding and falling off a roof, more and more dropping down and over with precise head shots, the thugs wildly looking around to see their assailants. The university residents watched carefully, a few picking up guns and shooting three thugs flushed out of hiding with a smoke bomb having sailed through the air. The skirmish didn't last long, every shot a deadly one perfectly aimed past any protective vests or other gear. "Who do you think is that? It's gotta be more than one shooter."
"I don't know but we're not going to try to find out. Whoever is helping might show themselves, keep a look out but don't stand in any windows for all we know they could be someone who would shoot at us too." Brecken replied quickly calling Troy asking if she knew anything about it.
Crane smacked the detonator a few times before it set off, the clearing smoke after the explosions revealing a sad smiley face burning in the tower, both Kyle's glancing to each other with a mile and Troy's voice came to life on the radio. "Crane, we can see it! Great job!"
"Thanks I hope it's enough…" The smiles got a little bigger as Jade's voice now came through the radio.
"Crane, we need to meet up." Their smiles didn't last as their landed on the jet coming in above them and sending missiles into the building ruining the smiley face.
"Those sons of BITCHES."
"Crane, you need to contact the GRE and get them to stop the Ministry with the bombing! I saw a GRE chopper from afar what happened back there? Did Rahim give you the research?"
"Well, he did but… It's better if I tell you in person, a lot happened. Where do you want to meet up?"
"Guys! Listen… Savvy's figured out a way to break through the jamming! He just needs your help to do it!" Troy butted in.
"Alright, meet me in that red building on Emerald Canal. We'll go from there… and Crane… and you too Kyle… be careful. The Infected here are even more ferocious than the ones in the slums." While they took off into the night to head straight to the meeting place, it started to show that both needed sleep even with Kyle being boosted in every aspect through the night.
"Jade? Jade!" Their eyes landed on the bloody message on the wall asking what would happen to a scorpion when you cut out its sting and telling them to come to the museum to find out.
"Troy! This is Crane! Rais has taken Jade- he has her in some museum somewhere. Do you know what he's talking about?"
"Museum? Yes… Rais is using it as his headquarters. Crane… you can't go there. That place was built as a fortress… you'd be walking into a massive trap!"
"No, no, it's not subtle enough to be a trap. But there's got to be a way to sneak in, right? Some way to surprise them?"
"Let me think…uh… Tariq maybe? He's the museum curator. He should know something about the dungeons hidden beneath the fortress."
"Great, I'll talk to him."
"All right. There's a building with a rooftop garden. You'll find Tariq there. And listen-if you get the chance, find yourself some new weapons. You'll need them." With the conversation done, Kyle spoke up.
"Don't use the radio anymore."
"What are you talking about? We need it."
"It reminds me of old telephone lines and I couldn't stop thinking about it all day especially when we talked to Jade and Troy! Don't you find it weird that Jade was evading him the whole time but suddenly, the moment we set up to meet she gets caught?"
"Well… yeah... now it does seem weird but…"
"Jaffar managed to skim off a message from Rais before, right?"
"So if he could that… then Rais can to…"
"Exactly"
"Then he probably knows we want to go to Tariq too."
"He might not actually interfere with that, he wants us to come."
"Kyle… why am I even trying…" Crane sighed.
"Because you care about me… like my parents did…" Kyle glanced away. "We still have one ace upon our sleeve. And that's me. The stuff I can do to be precise. Rais has only seen the claws, maybe noticed the strength. Whatever happens we can silently act and change plans with my telepathy and I can use the other abilities as well, my bloodshot eyes can be a jump scare if needed and the bony spikes can help in a surprise attack."
"Alright, then let's get going. Are you sure you don't need sleep? Rais wants us to come so he won't kill Jade unless we're there probably."
"You know you look just as tired maybe even more… I don't want to keep waiting… Let's go this Tariq guy and take it from there, you can't exactly sleep anywhere like me."
"Brecken, this is Lena, something is happening at the Tower. Somebody is shooting at Rais's men from a distance and forcing them away but we can't spot anybody."
"Just let whoever is shooting do their thing, the same thing happened over here. Whoever they are, there are against Rais but we don't know if they are friends." Brecken replied.
Volatiles hot on their heels forced the tiring duo to head for the nearest safe zone and abandon halfway to Tariq's place, coming stumbling into the University approached by Brecken and Rahim.
"You two look beat." The man remarked, Kyle starting to blink a lot now and Crane unable to stop a yawn feeling horrible for leaving Jade waiting. As much as he loathed it, there was no point in rushing in sleep deprived and Kyle dragging behind him as Crane knew it was futile to try to make him stay anywhere without him. Especially in such a mission as that. Crane knew to pick his words carefully around the two especially Rahim who would undoubtedly react rash and stupidly.
"Yeah, need some sleep before we can keep doing stuff."
"Hey, did you meet up with Jade yet?" Rahim asked the dreaded question.
"We will tomorrow." It was only half a lie dodging the actual question and answering with what they did want to do in the morning.
"What's wrong with your arm?" Rahim's gaze wandered to the kid's splint almost bumping it when moving, Crane quickly catching it and making sure it didn't happen like a father doting over a toddler when they learned to walk and almost tripped.
"I cracked it a little… I'll be fine…" Kyle blinked.
"Let them get some sleep." Brecken almost shooed Rahim away, the guy with goggles still burning to pelt Kyle with zombie questions watching the two head to their sleeping quarters.
"Hey guys, come over here and look at this." The thug smirked standing with a few others.
"What do you have there?"
"It's some drug that will keep us longer awake and shit, got it from some guy in the street says it's better than the shit we've been getting."
"Well did you try some?" One of them asked.
"Not yet. Down it goes." The guy took some of the powdery stuff, the others watching for something to a happen, silence hanging in the room. The silence slowly thawed away as the guy smirked.
"Holy, I can feel this stuff already! That's the real deal man!" With one enthusiastic and looking like it was the magic he claimed, the others took it too, the mysterious guy having given along a little extra to share among friends saying they'll want so much more. Karim slowly noticed the ruckus and got up, quickly swarmed by a few happily explaining the discovery as the man narrowed his eyes at it but it definitely did have an effect.
"Can you get into contact with this guy again?" Karim asked.
"Yeah, he said to swing by the same spot again and he'll have more tomorrow."
"Said anything about a price?"
"No, said he'll deal with it and collect when he feels like it." The thug shrugged. It struck Karim odd that no demand had been made but perhaps the mystery guy knew who dealt with and that pay could be expected to not go his way at all.
The smile slightly lowered, scope lowered but a smirk stayed seeing Karim refuse any and go back, radio offering the entire conversation. 'Alright, I was hoping for more fun anyway.' Covered in guts smearing on some more on the arms even though he didn't need to reapply again to be hidden, the Bozak guy gave the sign to the snipers set up nearby.
"Ugh…"
"What's wrong?"
"I think there is something in the water…" The thug groaned. "I feel awful…" Karim's eyes narrowed, first a mystery drug enthusiastically shared with everyone including the guards to make their job easier though they didn't hurt anybody, now tainted water. But that wasn't all as the man would find out because just a few minutes after finding out more had caught that water, glass shattered next as smoke spread in the building and the thugs having taken the drugs while unseen to them more seeped into the vents. Karim's eyes widened noticing the men fall one by one, without even the smoke having reached them, radically falling unconscious after having been on a high falling over like sacks of flour. Karim took cover, the sound of grapple hooks latching on resonating along with a short bullet hail joined by throwing knives. A grenade rolled into his side, detonating with gas as Karim felt himself slip away, vision fuzzy as he tried to look up to the figure coming to stand beside him asking weakly who they were.
"Gramps puppet stringer and viper." The voice laughed as Karim faded away. "Hurry it up, it's not for long." 'Time to spread the poison.' The other guys having been sent with Bozak began their work sabotaging the base but not enough to cripple Rais trashing up the place while Bozak's hand moved into the duffle bag full of little bottles and vials with an array of different premixed concoctions, the first drops spreading on a desk then weapon handle without leaving a stain, the grin on his face wide and as his eyes sparkled with cruelty.
"Ready?" Crane glanced to the kid, morning sun just about to show the first bit of light. Each having an epinephrine injector tucked into a boot with two extra in Kyle's backpack.
"Always" Kyle smiled, the research containing satchel tucked into hiding where they slept, no one let in on it with only the two knowing where it now was.
While Crane talked with Tariq, both having headed out at the crack of dawn, Kyle asked what another man what was needed while listening to Crane's conversation noticing the worry on his face turning out that the people were running short on everything and a potential bunker was their hope. Their list of to do things to help people sure started stacking up.
Karim's eyes fluttered open, the other members awakening eerily almost at the exact same time and the radio started buzzing as did screams of agony and pain, the guard outside by the entry point almost falling off jumping to their feet. Despite the entire tower having been knocked out as Karim found out almost immediately, not a single infected had gotten in and a runner attempting to leave got shot in the throat with no chance of survival immediately after passing the guards.
"My skin, it burns!"
"I can't fucking see!"
"Ugh, help!" The man having tried a bite to eat upon waking up in the mayhem tried to choke it out as fast as it had gone in as pain spread through his body and one after another crumbled, Karim's eyes widened witness someone scream out and clutch his wrist just upon trying to pick up his machete touching the handle.
"Don't touch anything! Or drink or eat!" Karim yelled over the agony expressed vocally, a shiver down his spine. They had been hit flawlessly and no one could even leave without ending up shot down. 'We must be fucking surrounded as well!' "Pass the message on, NOW!" Despite Karim's efforts, things were falling to shit very fast, gang members rendered helpless and his hand hovered over the radio having to wonder if he could even touch it. Or the desk. Or even sit in his chair. 'What the fuck is going on?! I have to contact Rais!' Karim took the plunge with a flinch, relived to see touching the radio was safe shuffling closer to contact his boss. "Rais, this is Karim, the garrison has been hit and it's going to shit! We're trapped, I need back-up right fucking now!" Karim let the frustration show and if his voice wasn't enough, then the wails, screams, cursing and shouting was quite enough, Rais's eyes widening on the other hand as the man tried to think of who could pull that off. Because he was certain, the Tower nor the Embers could and if Kyle had really been such a loner not showing his face in the streets than he had some guardian angels watching his back with their reasoning as why an absolute wild card and they were seriously bad news for Rais. He quickly tempered the boiling anger having no research to force the GRE with either as it turned out Jade didn't have it on her however the man still planned to use her as a lure and snatch the kid he was certain would come with Crane. If he lost his whole gang at his tower now, it would be over possibly even if he could get Kyle, knowing better than to believe he could have the boy under his will in just a day or so. Anger boiled inside and it took Rais everything to temper it and think strategically because if he didn't keep his foot in the door of the playing field right now even with retreated, the possibility of being crushed was all too close. He had almost forgotten the possibility of ever being seriously attacked having felt ever so invincible before Crane. But this was even harsher than anything ever before. His hand moved to pencil and paper quickly.
"Tahir, call back everyone and direct them to the slums, only leave the office and radio outpost and take a quarter of the men here. The Scorpion is subdued, she won't be a problem, get the tower back." Tahir nodded having read the note and got moving immediately.
Kyle ducked out of sight, Crane quickly following the motion only the blonde hearing cars move out of sight being Tahir leaving with men. With the noise gone again the two continued along the water around the museum, Crane making sure Kyle was holding on to him as they swam down with Crane leading through the murky water.
Kyle poked his head out of the water with a little gasp, the intimidating dive far from over and Crane quickly caught his breath as well, the two holding onto a ledge around a corner before they had to go under again pushing off after a minute. An air gap in between allowed for breathing as well, the duo reaching a red door after a couple of swims.
"So much for scuba gear, it wasn't that bad." Kyle commented but the smile left greeted with more water inviting to dive after the red door. "Oh fuck me…"
"How is your arm?"
"Fine." At least he could still move his hand so it was a completely shattered mess where it was damaged, the splint helping a lot already with movement. With a big breath, the two dove in again, stride after stride bringing them closer as Crane navigated through the murky water, fish and dead bodies slowly feeling himself run out of air wondering if Kyle could even hold his breath that long and finding out his horror that the kid couldn't, spotting the bubble behind him and blonde's grip loosen as he struggled, eyes starting to close. Crane's heart sped up, arms quickly closing around the boy trying to hold with his lung burning with pain as Crane struggled to swim and drag him along swallowing a little water himself as they barely popped out of the water in a shaft in time. In time for Crane anyway because Kyle didn't move, his head limply dipping into the water again as Crane looked upwards, the shaft a horror mirage on its own with what it implied. "Kyle, wake up! Damn it!" With all his strength and biting down a yell, Crane tried to drag himself up on the first wood beam with arm, the other slung around the slipping boy. His body groaned with pain as the older Kyle desperately pushed up and within that motion pushed against Kyle's weak spot on his chest knowing how bad it was when he got hit there. Fortunately though, it spurred Kyle into motion which made Crane lose his grip on the younger male, hand closing around the wrist slipping calling for Kyle to hold on. The blonde managed to latch to latch on in a haze sputtering and coughing as Crane's grip started to slip. Hearing Crane's frantic voice and his exhausted breaths, Kyle twisted himself to the shaft, the right hand letting go of Crane as the spikes rushed out and into the wall causing Kyle to wheeze; boots barely on the lower beam, the burned spot pulsing with pain as he gasped for precious air. Crane catching his own breath told Kyle to hold on, quickly making his way up trying to spot anything that could help but Kyle already acted on his own and to Crane's dismay, risked everything by using his hurt arm to hold on feeling the bone splinters shift as his shaky right hand barely grabbed the grappling hook they got for him, pulling back the spikes and too scared to use them on his left afraid it could seriously worsen the arm more than he already did. Kyle managed to get in a shot but missed, Crane rushed forward stopping the hook with plank of wood coming down on the line and his own weight almost ending up cut and Kyle rushed up with the tool flying up to Crane. Crane pushed aside the plank, the line closing as the hook retreated almost hurting Kyle as Crane reached out leaning over catching Kyle's outstretched hand hardly in time, the dropping hook shot kicked up with groan from the exhaustion, Crane yanking in Kyle barely catching his tool with his right hand barely in time scrambling off of Crane relieved that Kyle didn't smash into the stone. The duo caught their breath sitting there in silence for moment.
"I will go on ahead; you take another minute to catch your breath. Are you sure you can go on? Don't play tough with me Kyle, please…" Crane gasped.
"I can… I just need… some air…" Kyle wheezed leaning against the wall. "Crane…"
"Hey, I know you'll catch up." Crane smiled but the man didn't get far bumping into jump slinking back to Kyle giving a questioning glance. "Jumps coming up, I don't want you alone stuck with them."
After Kyle breathed okay again, some more water spat out and wasn't shaky on his legs anymore although clearly still tired from the dive, the two moved on clearing the heart racing leaps with no difficulty. Crane's hand moved out of habit moved to the radio but moved away again remembering the very real possibility of being heard. Crane and Kyle already expected to be unable to breeze through with surprise all the way but maybe it could work a little at the start at least they hoped so.
"Lena, how are things at the tower? Rais's men still being a problem?" Brecken asked with a cup of coffee in the university.
"No, they don't seem to be sticking around anymore." The woman answered on the other end. "How are things over there?"
"All clear, but we did spot Rais' men moving around a lot all heading in the same direction."
"Something big must be happening… See you soon, Lena out."
"Hey Brecken, did you see Kyle or Crane?" Rahim yawned.
"No, I think they left even before dawn."
"Aw come on, I have stuff to ask Kyle! Is there anything to do? I want to be pulling my own weight."
"Jade told you to stay here and that's exactly what you're going to do." Brecken scoffed. "And I'm telling you as well."
"We meet again. The last time we met you took something of mine, now I took something of yours." Rais announced but his cheek wounded and jaw moving them very carefully still healing pushed through in his tone and Kyle snicker causing the man's eyes to narrow.
"I see the shot I took is still bothering you. Why don't you let me finish the job? I'd be happy too." Kyle grinned with narrowed eyes of his own.
"You'll be begging me for forgiveness." Rais chuckled with a tempered snarl. "You training will be starting soon."
"We don't negotiate with assholes, Rais. We get out of here with Jade or I take your other hand too. Your choice." Crane shouted.
Rais could feel that he had to keep it short with cheek and jaw. "You cannot simply DEMAND to have her, Crane. Our must make showing of EFFORT first." Their eyes moved to a gang member on their left shouting for attack causing gun bearing members to come forth, Kyle and Crane swiftly behind the pillars with their own guns out. Crane used his rifle while Kyle stuck to the hand gun to avoid using his left hand, the fact that Kyle wasn't allowed to be killed quickly becoming evident and the blonde's lips pulled into a smirk using it to his advantage ruthlessly.
"Is that the best you've got, Rais!? We could do this all fucking day!"
The plentiful cover, the layout offered made it easy for the two gunning down guard after guard.
"Poor Jade… she's so lonely without you… she's waiting for you… Come and get her…" With the guards inside down and Rais out of sight having moved to another spot, Crane and Kyle quickly used the exhibits hauling themselves up, the blonde going first with Crane giving a push to make it easier shooting the guard trying to shoot him in the shoulder ducking out of the bullet's path only a second too late. The last two past the doors revealed themselves with loudly announcing them, quickly shot and Crane pushed up the metal gate at the end of the short hallway with the exhibits to the right and left covered with white cloths. Kyle tugged Crane back though.
"What is it?" Crane asked in whisper.
"He's playing with us and I'm trying to figure out what exactly he's trying to do. There's gotta be a catch when we get to Jade."
"How about we figure it out when we get to Jade?"
Rais snarled on the inside feeling like he was missing something. 'He must be close to turning…' Crane looked tired and exhausted for sure.
Come on, whatever we bump into we can do it alright?" Crane smiled, Kyle following the man moving in further.
"Find her, Crane, Come on… She won't wait for you forever…" Rais mocked doing it again after a short pause, Kyle and Crane making their way through a courtyard met with guards again. "Crane… Jade is dying to meet you." Kyle's eyes widened as a drifting thought tumbled by.
'Crane, he must've hurt Jade and now she's on a timer! And it's not just the kidnapping situation, there has to be something else!'
"Anything more concrete?" Crane quietly asked shooting a guard diving behind a low wall by a tree nest to Kyle.
"No… I'm sorry…"
"Hey you're doing your best and that's a lot already, let's keep going."
"She's running out of time. Hurry up, Crane. Come on, Crane… Try harder! You get to her too late, and there won't be much left of her…"
'Dying to see him… running out of time… too late and not much left of her…' Their eyes landed on rectangular pit in a way filled with zombies and the blonde's widened dropping to his knees.
"Crane!" The man stopped, eyes on Kyle as he stepped back to him. 'He must've had her bitten or she got bitten while running from him! All that talk about running out of time and not much left of her, that's what it means! B-but I can't figure out what's at the end! I'm not a sadistic fuck like him, I can't figure out what he's hiding!' Kyle called out, starting shake in frustration with a tear, Rais despite the sting it put on his cheek letting a laugh escape even though he wanted to be howling with it as the kid crumbled though the man didn't know why simply enjoying seeing him in pain. But something did bother Rais because he was sure Crane was close to turning but didn't see him have a seizure yet which should be very frequent short before it. Was he wrong? Due to Kyle they did have some antizin. If Crane wasn't turning, his grand idea with Jade meant nothing. He didn't pay close attention to the man's eyes at first, noting to himself to do it when looking down on him again.
"Hey, hey, calm down, come on we're getting to Jade! You figured it out, that's good enough." Crane tried to assure him crouching down to him.
'Damn it if only I would figure it out!' Kyle got up following Crane, a few more guards shot on the way followed by a batch of zombies with Kyle's heart only pounding faster as they faced the next double doors leading into a hall, both rushing forward to Jade on the ground on all fours with Kyle immediately spotting the bite on the leg looking for it confirming his theory.
"JADE! Oh shit… oh shit, what have they done to you…"
"I'm… fine, Crane. One of them knocked me over the head before he dumped me in here. Just… give me a minute, I'll be right as rain."
"You do not have the luxury of a minute, "Scorpion." Their heads moved up to Rais and Kyle's heart thundered in his chest watching the man reading every movement down to even the twitch of an eyebrow. In fact, what little time you have, you owe to me. Thanks to your repair of my antennas, Crane, I have listened to every word-"
"Yeah, yeah, shut up we figured it out." Kyle spat cutting Rais off angering the man casting a glare on the boy. 'Fucking get on with it, what the fuck is he playing at… he's trying to figure something out, he keeps glancing at Crane, I need to think fast damn it!' The blonde glared right back moving in front of Crane to block part of the man's sight, flesh claws despite the hatred of them taken out in a display of hostility against Rais.
"You two are now useless. Release them!" Doors opened releasing zombies prompting them into action and Kyle quickly told Crane to not let Rais look into his eyes noticing how much the fiend tried to get a good look at them, claws tucked back in and machete wielded with the right hand always moving around Crane as Rais droned on. However his jaw and cheek wouldn't allow for much more in a bit. "You took offense, Crane, as I recall, at being referred to as a trained monkey. But look at you now. Dancing. For our amusement." Kyle took a deep breath, feeling the exhaustion form the dive and subsequent running around still lingering making the trick look genuine easily as he stumbled right into a cluster of three zombies impossible to get out having cut himself in the fray to make sure he'd be targeted. Crane yelled out in a panic, Jade's gaze drawn to the blonde as well with widening eyes both trying to reach him in futility and Rais eyes narrowed giving a sign with his hand. The three bullets hit the heads of the zombies, Kyle stumbling aside hiding a smirk to himself, his voice now the one mocking one.
"Who's the puppet now, Rais? Afraid to have me die?" Kyle laughed, Rais's wearing a frown feeling the anger boil reeling it back in by focusing on the excitement as well as the man imagined what he could do with Kyle under his thumb. The kid proved smart and utterly perceptive having just tripped Rais with his own damn line even having forced the guy watching them to shoot zombies for them. As they fought on, Kyle didn't take his eyes off Rais desperately trying to still figure out the catch noticing that Rais was dragging it out.
"Come on, Jade! Let's get out of here!" Crane said, Jade running to the door with them with Rais making any movement to stop them and Kyle's sinking feeling got worse whipping around to Rais making sure again that the older male couldn't see his friend's eyes properly foiling him successfully so far and with the next clue offered up with Rais about to start talking again, Kyle glancing the object moved with hesitation for a moment. Jade collapsed, Crane crouching down to her immediately spotting it. 'Damn it, Kyle was right! She's got a bite on her leg!' "Jade!"
"I'm fine! I'm fine. Just… give me a second."
"Sweet little Jade is far from 'fine', Crane. She was bitten and infected hours ago. How noble of her to try and hide it from you."
"Biter got me on the leg. You didn't need to know. Get Kyle out of here."
"Kyle already figured it out." Crane whispered wondering if Kyle already had a plan yet. Could really use one now.
"Once again you find yourself with a choice, Crane." Rais mocked, realization hitting Kyle like a brick as the man's eyes narrowed still not having been able to get a good look at Crane's eyes and Kyle's thoughts race quickly coming up with a plan on the go with his heart pounding.
'Crane, pretend to have a seizure! Do it NOW! Do it, Crane! NOW!' Kyle didn't let up biting his own lip bloody to not yell out like his lips wanted to, over and over again screaming in Crane's head groaning already just from that as Kyle's voice buzzed in his head relentlessly as if the blonde was screaming right beside his ears, Kyle's green eyes glancing to Rais as he yelled at the man doing his best to fake a seizure guided and aided by Kyle's voice in his head. Rais's hand moved as Crane cracked hunched over, lips in a gleeful smirk, pride satisfied and groomed as he wanted to make the man choose ever so badly and see the boy helplessly watching causing his hand to slip faster than he gave himself time to notice acting on gratification of a plan supposedly worked out alone.
"You're precious-" His voice faltered, Kyle wearing a wide grin, Crane standing up and catching the antizin shot with a smirk as the blonde let out a laugh telling Jade in her head to take it informing that Crane can't turn and Crane didn't let Jade be skeptical about it quickly accepting it with Kyle to help Crane. Rais stared; the shot given to Jade reluctantly taking it as his eyes met with Kyle's narrowed to him with a triumphant grin.
"Kyle!" Crane shouted but the boy rushed forward with a snarl jumping onto the closest precious stone slab to the elevation, spikes sinking in as flesh claws rushed out for a bit more reach as he pushed off the slab to rip Rais's throat out.
"Shoot!" Rais yelled, cheek stinging as he stumbled back and the shot rang out, thugs motioned to get down to Crane and Jade, the dart hitting Kyle as another thug almost fell over the railing himself holding onto the right wrist of the kid screaming out in pain and agony, Rais holding onto the man's vest with his one hand so the catch wouldn't be dropped with the thug barely catching his footing. The dart shooter quickly rushed over with an epipen ready, Jade ruthlessly taking down the four below in a bloody display and Crane took aim with his hand gun shooting the thug in the arms, Rais letting go and stepping back instead of taking his chances, the thug dropping the hold on Kyle from the shots stumbling backwards with pained yells. Kyle landed on the floor with a thud and a cry, hurt arm landed on bumping the part just above the wrist on his left with the splint possibly the only saving grace with the painful swelling that he had hidden from Crane. Rais snarled utterly pissed, everything gone south for him with his tower under attack demanding his attention if he wanted to still have a foot in the door in Harran and even have another shot at the research and Kyle glancing to Crane quickly administering an epipen to the kid gone into shock slowly dying as a shivering twitching mess, the retreating man flanked by his men.
"Hey Kyle, come on look at me. You'll be okay, you have to be. Rahim does not shut up about learning some moves…" Jade softly spoke stroking the blonde's cheek as they cradled him, sighs of relief escaping as his breathing steadied with the drug kicking in.
"Take it easy, we beat Rais for now." Crane said helping Kyle up. "Now, let me see your arm. Shit… it's swollen, why didn't you tell me?!"
"Jade needed us…" Kyle winced. "Stings a little, I'll be okay."
"No, you're not and if a bone shard cuts an artery you're done for!"
"Bone shard?! Artery?! What the fuck did you let happen to him Crane?!" Jade exclaimed almost protectively pulling him into a hug.
"It's not his fault Jade, I had to make sure if the GRE is dirty and took a fall. I caught myself with my hands but I didn't time the switch between claws and hands right, my left arm has some damage." Kyle explained.
"From where did you fall, what do you mean by that?! You need to get surgery!"
"Out of a chopper." Kyle shrugged, Jade even more rattled and confused.
"Where are we going to get surgery for him?" Crane asked genuinely at a loss and worrying more and more.
"Camdem, he has to be able to. Where is the research?" Jade noticed no satchel on them at least not in sight and Kyle stating the GRE was dirty only confused more.
"We hid it at the University for now, nobody besides us knows. It's a long story, I'll tell you when we stopped the bombing and have his arm fixed." Crane sighed tiredly.
"Come on, I got you." Jade smiled supporting the weakened kid, the three heading out.
"Guys, I just had an idea." Kyle smiled as they left the room out into the open now abandoned museum. "This a fortress; we gotta set up a base here. It'd be so cool." The blonde beamed, causing Jade and Crane to roll their eyes at the boy looking up at them enthusiastically with smiles of their own.
"Later, first we have a bombing to stop and you have surgery coming up." Crane chuckled. With the sluggishness of daytime and a spike barricade keeping them safe from the zombies, Crane quickly made a call first. "Dr. Camdem? It's Crane. Do you copy?"
"Crane, good to hear you're still alive. Did you find Jade?"
"Yeah, she's alright. We…" Crane glanced to Kyle, the radio issue popping into mind again.
"I'll do it." Kyle smiled.
"Alright, Dr. Camdem. Don't be scared. And maybe keep your reaction off the radio."
"Alright…"
'We'll bring Zere's research over right away.' Kyle glanced to Crane unsure if he had pulled it off as he never had done it without knowing a face having used that knowledge to visualize the person as it helped except with Crane due to their close bond. The trio waited for minute.
"Camdem?" Crane cautiously talked into it again.
"W-what, who was tha- wha-"
"We'll explain but I need you to be calm now."
The man on the other end, took a deep breath but trusted Crane's reputation calming himself. "Of course."
"There's something I need to do."
"Okay, Crane, but remember we don't have a lot of time."
"I know, Doc. I'm about to BUY us time. I'll be in touch." Crane turned to Jade talking after the call.
"Listen Crane, I'll pick up the research in the University and go to the clinic with Kyle. If he's even in the slightest bit of danger of a major artery getting cutting cut, he needs surgery NOW. You go buy Harran that time. I don't really know what's going on but I'm sure you noticed Tahir wasn't there just now and that means something happened, I don't think I have to worry too much about Rais chasing us now and anything he throws at us I can handle." Jade suggested, Crane having a tiny sigh but no rebuttal. "I know you don't like being away from your kid papa wolf but I'll protect him." The woman smiled giving a pat on the man's arm.
"I know Jade. Alright then let's get going. I'll see you both soon."
"Don't get yourself killed." Kyle growled, giving Crane a one armed hug being returned.
"Of course not, who else is going to be an annoying old man to you?" Crane replied, Kyle stepping back to Jade and the man cleared out a few zombies in front of them. The woman and kid took off for the University while Crane got in touch with Troy informing her of Jade's safety heading in the direction of her.