A/N 1: Ideas for fic and character development, questions, plotbunnies, suggestions, flames, character pictures, ficlets, corrections, additions, comments, and everything in between can be mailed to hack_heaven@usa.net.
A/N 2: Ageless: A chart? *grins* What on earth would I need a chart for? I have the entire fic mapped out in my head, plot twists and all. Much easier that way ^^
MissNovelist: Yup - whenever possible, I try to incorporate the various ficlets into the main story. And in this case it was just too tempting...;)
Rascal: Not evil, just...misunderstood ^^
Italics indicates thoughts/telepathy
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Chapter Fifty-Eight: For the Sake of Survival
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As Laetitia, Daryn, and Zahra made their way out of the control room, the first few mutants had already left the cells, hurrying past them in the hallways. Faint yelling and gunfire far away hinted that the humans had discovered what had happened, but by the time they had finally gathered enough support to actually do something, the place would already be too chaotic to get under control.
Or at least that was what Laetitia hoped.
She knew that this situation would end violent and bloodily once the humans and mutants clashed, but if things went as she hoped, they would be far away from any fighting. The humans would focus on those that were within reach, those who were stupid enough to run without thinking about where they were going. It would result in a fairly large loss of lives, she suspected, but the thought didn't bother her. War required sacrifices, and this was most definitely war.
"This way," she ordered, motioning down one of the hallways that led to the high security wing.
"Wait...aren't we going away from the exit?" Daryn asked confused. "There's nothing that way but more cells."
"Cells, and several large hangars," Laetitia replied calmly. "I know what I'm doing, Daryn."
More mutants started to fill the hallways, but the Greek mercenary merely sent them a brief, disinterested look as she quickly scanned the crowd for any potential threats. More people hurried past them, some running, some walking, all of them heading in the opposite direction that Laetitia did.
She watched them for a moment, disgust clear in her eyes. They were mutants like her, yes, but none of them showed any individualism, any sign of independent thoughts. They all just followed the flow like lemmings, thoughtless and weak.
Their deaths would be no big loss.
"Lae!"
Laetitia looked ahead and saw Pheonix hurry towards them, followed by Hal, Diana, and West. Pheonix finally made her way through the crowd and hugged Laetitia tightly, hardly believing that she was actually there.
"Nike...?"
Laetitia looked up from the girl in her arms and saw Hal send her a questioning look.
"It was a trap," Laetitia explained coldly and let go of Pheonix. "Sergey sold out on us."
"Are Blade and Jordane here, too?" Hal asked worried. The three leaders of the team had left together...but only Nike was here now. It didn't look good. It didn't look good at all.
"Yes, in the high security section with Sanderson and Twilight," Laetitia replied, quite deliberately ignoring Diana's presence. "Get Pheonix out of here, and let me worry about Blade and Melee," she ordered curtly. "And take these two with you," she added, motioning towards Zahra and Daryn. "The boy has a rather useful power."
Hal nodded, and Laetitia started to make her way down the crowded hallway, but Diana's voice stopped her.
"Wait!"
Laetitia looked at Diana and arched an eyebrow, daring her to delay her any further.
"I'm coming with you," Diana said, continuing before Laetitia could argue. "You said that Kyle and Suzuka were there, too."
"Think again, little girl," Laetitia snapped. "You would only slow me down, and quite frankly I don't have the time for that. Now get out of here!"
"Not without Kyle and Suzuka," Diana snapped back.
"No," Laetitia replied coldly. "I work alone, and you would be nothing but a liability to me. Either you leave with the others, or I knock you out. The choice is yours."
Diana glared angrily at Laetitia, but didn't argue any further.
"Wise decision," Laetitia smirked, not above rubbing in the fact that she was by far the superior of the two. With an air of supreme confidence Laetitia turned around and walked down the hallway with fast, steady strides.
"Lae...be careful," Pheonix called in a worried voice, and Laetitia paused just long enough to send the girl a reassuring look.
"I always am," she replied, and disappeared among the crowd for good, blending into the surroundings like she'd done so often before.
Hal watched for a moment, then looked at the others. Just standing there would accomplish nothing, she knew that. Someone had to take charge, and she had a responsibility to live up to, even during circumstances as unusual as these.
"Let's go," she ordered.
Nobody argued.
* * *
The hallways were quickly becoming more crowded, more chaotic, and the sound of gunfire from somewhere outside could now be heard even above the noise from the many people that surrounded Ryan and the others. So far they'd followed the crowd, by Ryan had continuously been looking for an alternative exit for them. Logic told him that the soldiers would be waiting where the majority of the mutants tried to escape, and that would be too great of a risk to run. They needed another way out, something small and relatively unseen, but so far he'd found nothing.
It bothered him...as things were going, they were heading straight into a potentially fatal situation, and they didn't have powers or weapons to help them. That left them to rely on luck alone, and Ryan had long ago learned that Lady Luck rarely cooperated when you needed her most.
They continued further down the hallways, the unease Ryan felt growing increasingly stronger. He was worried, and not just about where they were going. More than anything, he worried about Diana and Kyle and the others. He didn't know how or where they were, or even if they were still alive. He hadn't seen them since the fight at that checkpoint, and he found himself desperately wishing that he had some way of getting in touch with them.
"I don't like this," Ryan said quietly to Ben. "I can't help but feel that we're walking into a trap."
"I know," Ben replied in an equally quiet voice. "But what's the alternative?"
"There isn't one," Ryan admitted with a sigh. "I guess we'll just have to follow the flow and hope that-"
"Ryan!"
Ryan turned around as a familiar voice interrupted him, recognizable even through the chaos that surrounded him. He let his eyes scan the hallway, quickly searching through the other mutants, looking for that one, particular person whose voice he'd heard.
"Ryan!"
Another shout, followed by a flash of wavy, auburn hair, and then Ryan saw Diana make her way through the crowd, letting herself fall into his arms with a relieved sigh.
"Ryan..." she whispered, holding onto him like life itself depended on it. "Thank God you're okay. I was so worried about you."
Ignoring the many people around them, Ryan held Diana tightly, almost afraid that she would disappear if he let go. "It's okay, Diana. Everything's okay now, I promise," he said gently, trying to comfort her. "It's okay."
Slowly, almost reluctantly, he let go of Diana and took a step back, his mind returning to the real world. Deirdre lit up at the sight of Diana and West, but didn't say anything, and Ben merely sent their two teammates a pale smile, lacking a bit of its usual warmth. Ryan frowned as he noticed it, but forced his worry aside - he could ask Ben about it later. Right now, they had other things to worry about.
Ryan let his eyes survey the people that surrounded him, letting his gaze rest for a moment on Pheonix and Hal who had arrived with Diana and West. The two girls were talking with their teammates, all of whom seemed worried about something. Probably the situation they were in, Ryan decided, then let his eyes continue their survey of the group. Not counting the two new kids, this was pretty much both of the teams...with the exception of Kyle and Suzuka.
"Diana...have you seen Kyle and Suzuka?" Ryan asked, turning his attention to Diana again.
Diana closed her eyes briefly, then sighed. "They're with Blade and Melee," she said quietly. "We ran into Nike - I think she had something to do with this, because she knew exactly where they were."
"They're with *who*?!" Ryan repeated, half in disbelief, half in fear. Kyle and Suzuka, trapped in a cell with Blade and Melee...
God, no.
"She's right," Hal said, walking up to Ryan. "Laetitia said that she would try to find them, then she left."
"We have to do something, Ryan - she'll kill them," Diana urged.
"No, she won't," Hal replied sharply.
"She killed Prue, didn't she?" Diana snapped.
"That was revenge. This case is different - Laetitia likes a challenge, and Suzuka is one of the few people who are able to provide that," Hal replied and shook her head. "Cretes, we don't have time for this. We don't know where they are, or if any of them are even alive. And the longer we stand here arguing, the less likely we are to get out of here."
Ryan looked at Hal, really seeing her for the first time. She wasn't just some random member of the Shadow Alliance anymore - she had taken the place as temporary leader of her team, and much as Ryan hated to admit it, she had a point.
"Ryan..." Diana tried again, but the man merely shook his head.
"No. She's right - we have a team that depends on us, Diana, whether we like it or not. We're leaving," Ryan replied, the words soft, but clearly not open for debate.
"So we're just going to leave Kyle and Suzuka here?" Diana said disgusted.
"We don't have a choice, Diana - if we want to escape, we have to leave now," Ryan replied, his voice harsher than he'd intended. He sighed, then continued in a softer voice. "I don't like this any more than you do, but we don't have a choice. Besides, if anyone can get out of this place alive, it's Kyle and Suzuka. They're too stubborn to give up, you know. I wouldn't be the least surprised if they're waiting for us outside once we get out," he finished gently.
Diana smiled thankfully at Ryan; a pale, thin smile, but a smile nonetheless, and Ryan stroked her cheek gently.
"Cretes?"
Ryan and Diana looked at Hal, who merely sent them an apologetic look, almost sorry for breaking up the intimate scene. Ryan sighed, then nodded.
"I know."
I'm sorry, Kyle, he whispered silently, then took a step forward, catching the attention of everyone. "Let's go."
Behind him, Diana looked down, feeling like she'd just betrayed one of her best friends. A hand on her arm made her look up, and she found herself staring into Hal's red eyes.
"They'll find a way out," the albino said with quiet conviction. "All of them."
Diana sighed softly and looked away again. "I hope you're right," she replied and followed the others down the hallway. Hal looked at her for a moment, then sent a brief look towards the high security section before she followed Diana's lead.
So do I, Pandora...so do I.
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