It was a long shot; I'll give you that. Actually, at this point, I'm still
surprised that they didn't think we could get away that way. Maybe they'd
done something to the current prototypes so they couldn't jump or anything.
But Tinga and I worked out that the roof, which was reasonably low, would
have a vent underneath one of those white roof tiles. So, Tinga and I
worked out which one was over the vent (for the record, it was the third
from the left, on the first row of tiles). Then, we had 30 seconds to jump,
break off the tile, and both squeeze into the vent, until the rotating
security camera swung back to film our cell.
"Now or never," Tinga sighed. "This is risky, Jon."
"And that's why it's fun," I argued. "Ready? Now."
It took us two rounds of the security cam to even pull off the tile. Then we worked out that the vent was so big, three tiles covered it.
But then, both Tinga and I were built to fit into small places. So, we ripped off the second tile and Tinga jumped.
The vent went up for three inches and then along to the right. Tinga pulled herself up and was in. I jumped and pulled myself up. Tinga was back in the vent, reaching to help pull me up.
"This is too easy," she whispered, as we crawled along. "This is next generation Manticore. They should have better security than the FBI."
She jinxed us, I swear. Just as she said that, the steal of the vent crumpled under her like paper. Even now, I'm not sure what that vent was made with, but it wasn't steal.
I grabbed her and pulled her back, as tiles cracked and fell, and the vent ripped open. We both sat on the edge of the vent, gazing down very carefully, as the 'steal' was bending under us slightly.
I almost threw up.
A Nomalie. There was no other word. A freak. But it was more the way it was existing,
It was a girl, I think - maybe sixteen years old. She had multi-coloured skin - patches of blue and purple-y and red, like welts. Her hair, which was so yellow it looked fake, was scraped so tightly off her face, it looked painful. Her eyes had to red beams shone directly into them, and her eyes were swollen and glassy. Two tubes were in her nose, and several other tubes came from her wrists and chest. One tube was pumping blood. The fact she was so underweight meant her chest tube was feeding her. And an oxygen mask meant she couldn't even breathe on her own.
Even if this girl wanted to leave; no doubt she did; she couldn't. She needed these people to help her live.
I closed my eyes and pushed my hair out of my eyes.
Tinga was very pale. "Why is she still alive?" she asked quietly, half to me, half to herself.
"Because They haven't finished with her," I said. "She's still useful, even like this, otherwise they wouldn't be running the oxygen, the blood or the chest tube."
Tinga nodded. "We need to go now," she said. "Come on, Jondy, don't do a Max. There's no way we can save her."
I nodded and we both managed to slip over the hole.
"What are we going to do about Zack and Zane?" Tinga hissed at me.
"We'll worry about them once we're armed," I said confidently. We slipped through the vent until it came to a rather sudden end.
"I'll drop down and see where we are," Tinga signed to me. "I can hear people."
I nodded and crawled backwards.
As Tinga slipped to the floor, I heard at least two guns click and I held my breath, waiting for the gun shots.
"Jondy," came a voice. "It's only Zack and Zane. Come on."
I let out my breath and slid free of the vent, landing almost soundlessly on the lino floor. Zack handed me a gun.
"How did you two get out?" Tinga asked.
"The woman came to talk to us. Knocked her and her bodyguard out before they knew it," Zane said.
"This is too easy," Zack said. "This place is meant to be more developed than Manticore. But it's easier to escape than Manticore."
"Maybe we're just good at escaping these days," I shrugged.
"We're not actually out of here, yet, guys," Zane pointed out.
We all nodded and moved towards the windows.
Tinga went to rest her hand on the glass window pane.
"Tinga, don't," Zack warned. Then he motioned for me to hand him my bracelet. He then threw it gently against the window.
The window lit up with red security beams.
"Shit," Zane said under his breath.
"What will those beams do to us if we try to go through the window?" Tinga asked.
Zack shrugged. "No idea. Probably alert some sort of security alarm."
"Either we deal with the guards who'll be at the exits or we deal with the windows," Tinga pointed out.
"Windows," I said. "You don't know how long it'll take them to react once the alarms are activated."
"Windows," Zack agreed.
I went first. It would've looked beautiful; me preforming a beautiful dive and tuck, the glass shattering. I love stuff like that. When it came to undercover ops when I was a kid, I was the best. Not even Eva could've beaten me.
But those red lights burnt my skin. It stung my face and neck for the briefest of moments, then it was over.
I hunched next to the building, as Tinga, Zane and Zack leapt down.
"You okay?" Zack asked me, concerned. "Once the window was smashed, the beams died."
I nodded. "I'll be right once we get back to Max and Logan's."
"Let's move," Zane hissed.
It was too easy. We just got away.
Then three kids, maybe eight or nine, appeared in front of us, about 100 metres from the fence; two boys and a girl.
We froze, taking up attack positions. They looked pretty innocent, wearing grey training outfits and they had long hair.
That was before they attacked us. Before we really has a chance to grasp the situation.
It was all very fast - the three kids flying at the four of us. It went against every single thing we were taught- there was no technique. Street fighting, something I'd always been good at.
But we managed to knock the girl and a boy out, and unfortunately, we ended up breaking the other little boy's neck; not that he didn't deserve it - he broke Tinga's arms and Zane's leg, dislocated my shoulder and Zack's knee. Along with random other injuries the other two inflicted on us.
But I set Zane's leg and Tinga's arm and we got over the fence.
"You three stay here," Zack said. "I'll go find a car or something."
"And some water," I said, eyeing Zane. "He's in shock; concussion as well."
Zack nodded and vanished into the forest.
I think it was the morning then. Sunshine and heat. We ended up moving into a little cave when the heat got too much for us. I was then thankful I had thrown on a tank top on under my cat suit, it was disgustingly hot.
Neither Zane nor Tinga looked very well; but then, even as kids those two never healed very fast.
It was late afternoon by the time Zack returned with a car, the number plate neatly covered in mud. I helped Zane in and Tinga climbed in the back.
I climbed in the front with Zack and he sped off.
"There are guards everywhere," Zack said. "The town was crawling with them. Jon, there's a plastic bag at your feet; water and some aspirin for Zane and Tinga."
I nodded and reached down for the bag. When I handed the aspirin back to Tinga, I noticed four of the pills where already gone. Zack. He always pretends that nothing can stop him; he thinks that medication is the ultimate display of weakness.
But those kids had dislocated the same knee Ben broke in '17. He and I had a run in, Zack came to save me, Ben broke Zack's knee and Zack has had problems with that knee ever since.
It was a long drive back to Seattle. I dozed off after only an hour of travelling; I probably had a concussion as well.
It was the early hours of the morning when Zack woke me up. We were in a roadside café and service station.
"Hey, Jondy, can you take over driving?" he asked. I stretched and nodded. He looked exhausted; dark circles under his eyes and random bruises and cuts over his arms and face.
Seattle. I have never been so pleased to see it. I had to bribe the guards at the check points but we made it back.
"Jondy!" Krit opened the door and reached out for me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Tinga and Zane could probably do with some trytrophan, food, a hot shower and some sleep, though," I said, walking in and collapsing on the couch. I fell asleep minutes after, while Tinga and Zane were being looked at.
I woke up later, around 1 am. The entire penthouse was silent and someone had covered me with a blanket. And left clean sweats and a tank top for me.
I had a quick shower and went in search of food to tide me over until breakfast; left over Japanese take out, some pizza that smelled bad or cold pasta and cheese. I chose the Japanese - it was the only thing that smelt safe. Though, I stayed away from Japanese food - all the rice made me feel full but I was hungry again soon after I ate.
"Hey." I turned around to see Zack walk into the kitchen, running his hand through his hair.
"Hey," I smiled briefly, then turned back to my sushi.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, coming towards me. "You crashed pretty quickly once we got here. Like, five minutes."
I shrugged. "Sometimes I just need to sleep. Not physically, but mentally." Emotionally. That girl in the cell that I had seen. The pathetic image of her lying there, living out her days attached to tubes and pumps, because some scientist decided to see what would happen if you made a child with this DNA pattern.
I sat down on a stool, poking my sushi. Ugh. When you're depressed, eating jelly is the best thing. It wobbles when you poke it. That always makes me feel better. All poking my sushi did was make it fall apart.
"Logan doesn't have any jelly," Zack said. "Stop torturing the sushi. What's wrong?"
God, I hate that he knows me so well.
"There was a girl there," I said slowly. "She was in a cell. Zack, she couldn't survive without blood transfusions, oxygen masks and tubes feeding her. She was so sick, Zack." I looked at my hands. "Even if we do destroy this company, what about the experiments like her? I mean, Maxie had enough problems making sure Joshua stayed safe once he got out."
I stood up and went to the sink for a glass of water.
"Maybe.do you think Joshua would mind looking after them for awhile?" I asked, sipping my water. "Because, I don't think she'd last that long anyway." I faded out, realising Zack was very quiet.
"Jon.that girl and the others like her.she wouldn't be able to be free," he said, reaching for my hand. "They have to stay there. Remember the witch hunts back a few years? Max told me so many transgenics died. Killed by people who were afraid."
"But she looks normal." I pleaded. "She's just sick."
"Jon, you've always been the rational one," Zack sighed, gently touching my cheek. "We can't and save more transgens that can't blend in. Joshua takes precautions. These new ones may not."
I nodded, and sat back down in front of my broken sushi. Broken sushi. Huh. "I get it, but I don't like it."
"That's a given, Dee."
Dee. Almost like old times before he went chasing after a phantom lover with dark curls and an attitude.
"Anyway, how's your head feeling?" Zack asked. "That little boy hit you pretty good."
"Sore," I said, separating each grain of rice. "Uncomfortable."
"Let me see." Zack pulls his seat closer to me, and runs his fingers gently over my head, watching my face carefully for any reaction of pain.
Agh, he still has such an affect on me.he looks into my eyes and leans closer
"Uncle Zack?" Evie stands at the door in her night shirt, blinking in the bright light. "Aunt Jondy? What are you doing?"
"Midnight snack," I motion to my plate, standing up quickly.
"Checking on Jondy," Zack says.
"I need water," Evie yawns. Neither Zack nor I move until Evie leaves; I inspect each grain of rice carefully.
"I'm going back to bed; need sleep, my knee is killing me." There. That comment. Zack would never reveal any weakness to anyone else except me. I'm not sure why, but when we fell for each other years ago, he seemed more human. He began commenting and doing things that were so normal for an X5. Before, I didn't know he even got seizures. Then, I came home from work and he was leaning against the bedroom wall, shaking so hard he was almost unconscious.
I never forgot that. It made him more human to me. The others always emphasise their faults because Zack makes it quite clear he doesn't have any he cares to share.
I nodded and sat, contemplating my rice for awhile longer. Escaping today was too easy. It would get worse before it got better, I knew that much.
"Now or never," Tinga sighed. "This is risky, Jon."
"And that's why it's fun," I argued. "Ready? Now."
It took us two rounds of the security cam to even pull off the tile. Then we worked out that the vent was so big, three tiles covered it.
But then, both Tinga and I were built to fit into small places. So, we ripped off the second tile and Tinga jumped.
The vent went up for three inches and then along to the right. Tinga pulled herself up and was in. I jumped and pulled myself up. Tinga was back in the vent, reaching to help pull me up.
"This is too easy," she whispered, as we crawled along. "This is next generation Manticore. They should have better security than the FBI."
She jinxed us, I swear. Just as she said that, the steal of the vent crumpled under her like paper. Even now, I'm not sure what that vent was made with, but it wasn't steal.
I grabbed her and pulled her back, as tiles cracked and fell, and the vent ripped open. We both sat on the edge of the vent, gazing down very carefully, as the 'steal' was bending under us slightly.
I almost threw up.
A Nomalie. There was no other word. A freak. But it was more the way it was existing,
It was a girl, I think - maybe sixteen years old. She had multi-coloured skin - patches of blue and purple-y and red, like welts. Her hair, which was so yellow it looked fake, was scraped so tightly off her face, it looked painful. Her eyes had to red beams shone directly into them, and her eyes were swollen and glassy. Two tubes were in her nose, and several other tubes came from her wrists and chest. One tube was pumping blood. The fact she was so underweight meant her chest tube was feeding her. And an oxygen mask meant she couldn't even breathe on her own.
Even if this girl wanted to leave; no doubt she did; she couldn't. She needed these people to help her live.
I closed my eyes and pushed my hair out of my eyes.
Tinga was very pale. "Why is she still alive?" she asked quietly, half to me, half to herself.
"Because They haven't finished with her," I said. "She's still useful, even like this, otherwise they wouldn't be running the oxygen, the blood or the chest tube."
Tinga nodded. "We need to go now," she said. "Come on, Jondy, don't do a Max. There's no way we can save her."
I nodded and we both managed to slip over the hole.
"What are we going to do about Zack and Zane?" Tinga hissed at me.
"We'll worry about them once we're armed," I said confidently. We slipped through the vent until it came to a rather sudden end.
"I'll drop down and see where we are," Tinga signed to me. "I can hear people."
I nodded and crawled backwards.
As Tinga slipped to the floor, I heard at least two guns click and I held my breath, waiting for the gun shots.
"Jondy," came a voice. "It's only Zack and Zane. Come on."
I let out my breath and slid free of the vent, landing almost soundlessly on the lino floor. Zack handed me a gun.
"How did you two get out?" Tinga asked.
"The woman came to talk to us. Knocked her and her bodyguard out before they knew it," Zane said.
"This is too easy," Zack said. "This place is meant to be more developed than Manticore. But it's easier to escape than Manticore."
"Maybe we're just good at escaping these days," I shrugged.
"We're not actually out of here, yet, guys," Zane pointed out.
We all nodded and moved towards the windows.
Tinga went to rest her hand on the glass window pane.
"Tinga, don't," Zack warned. Then he motioned for me to hand him my bracelet. He then threw it gently against the window.
The window lit up with red security beams.
"Shit," Zane said under his breath.
"What will those beams do to us if we try to go through the window?" Tinga asked.
Zack shrugged. "No idea. Probably alert some sort of security alarm."
"Either we deal with the guards who'll be at the exits or we deal with the windows," Tinga pointed out.
"Windows," I said. "You don't know how long it'll take them to react once the alarms are activated."
"Windows," Zack agreed.
I went first. It would've looked beautiful; me preforming a beautiful dive and tuck, the glass shattering. I love stuff like that. When it came to undercover ops when I was a kid, I was the best. Not even Eva could've beaten me.
But those red lights burnt my skin. It stung my face and neck for the briefest of moments, then it was over.
I hunched next to the building, as Tinga, Zane and Zack leapt down.
"You okay?" Zack asked me, concerned. "Once the window was smashed, the beams died."
I nodded. "I'll be right once we get back to Max and Logan's."
"Let's move," Zane hissed.
It was too easy. We just got away.
Then three kids, maybe eight or nine, appeared in front of us, about 100 metres from the fence; two boys and a girl.
We froze, taking up attack positions. They looked pretty innocent, wearing grey training outfits and they had long hair.
That was before they attacked us. Before we really has a chance to grasp the situation.
It was all very fast - the three kids flying at the four of us. It went against every single thing we were taught- there was no technique. Street fighting, something I'd always been good at.
But we managed to knock the girl and a boy out, and unfortunately, we ended up breaking the other little boy's neck; not that he didn't deserve it - he broke Tinga's arms and Zane's leg, dislocated my shoulder and Zack's knee. Along with random other injuries the other two inflicted on us.
But I set Zane's leg and Tinga's arm and we got over the fence.
"You three stay here," Zack said. "I'll go find a car or something."
"And some water," I said, eyeing Zane. "He's in shock; concussion as well."
Zack nodded and vanished into the forest.
I think it was the morning then. Sunshine and heat. We ended up moving into a little cave when the heat got too much for us. I was then thankful I had thrown on a tank top on under my cat suit, it was disgustingly hot.
Neither Zane nor Tinga looked very well; but then, even as kids those two never healed very fast.
It was late afternoon by the time Zack returned with a car, the number plate neatly covered in mud. I helped Zane in and Tinga climbed in the back.
I climbed in the front with Zack and he sped off.
"There are guards everywhere," Zack said. "The town was crawling with them. Jon, there's a plastic bag at your feet; water and some aspirin for Zane and Tinga."
I nodded and reached down for the bag. When I handed the aspirin back to Tinga, I noticed four of the pills where already gone. Zack. He always pretends that nothing can stop him; he thinks that medication is the ultimate display of weakness.
But those kids had dislocated the same knee Ben broke in '17. He and I had a run in, Zack came to save me, Ben broke Zack's knee and Zack has had problems with that knee ever since.
It was a long drive back to Seattle. I dozed off after only an hour of travelling; I probably had a concussion as well.
It was the early hours of the morning when Zack woke me up. We were in a roadside café and service station.
"Hey, Jondy, can you take over driving?" he asked. I stretched and nodded. He looked exhausted; dark circles under his eyes and random bruises and cuts over his arms and face.
Seattle. I have never been so pleased to see it. I had to bribe the guards at the check points but we made it back.
"Jondy!" Krit opened the door and reached out for me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Tinga and Zane could probably do with some trytrophan, food, a hot shower and some sleep, though," I said, walking in and collapsing on the couch. I fell asleep minutes after, while Tinga and Zane were being looked at.
I woke up later, around 1 am. The entire penthouse was silent and someone had covered me with a blanket. And left clean sweats and a tank top for me.
I had a quick shower and went in search of food to tide me over until breakfast; left over Japanese take out, some pizza that smelled bad or cold pasta and cheese. I chose the Japanese - it was the only thing that smelt safe. Though, I stayed away from Japanese food - all the rice made me feel full but I was hungry again soon after I ate.
"Hey." I turned around to see Zack walk into the kitchen, running his hand through his hair.
"Hey," I smiled briefly, then turned back to my sushi.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, coming towards me. "You crashed pretty quickly once we got here. Like, five minutes."
I shrugged. "Sometimes I just need to sleep. Not physically, but mentally." Emotionally. That girl in the cell that I had seen. The pathetic image of her lying there, living out her days attached to tubes and pumps, because some scientist decided to see what would happen if you made a child with this DNA pattern.
I sat down on a stool, poking my sushi. Ugh. When you're depressed, eating jelly is the best thing. It wobbles when you poke it. That always makes me feel better. All poking my sushi did was make it fall apart.
"Logan doesn't have any jelly," Zack said. "Stop torturing the sushi. What's wrong?"
God, I hate that he knows me so well.
"There was a girl there," I said slowly. "She was in a cell. Zack, she couldn't survive without blood transfusions, oxygen masks and tubes feeding her. She was so sick, Zack." I looked at my hands. "Even if we do destroy this company, what about the experiments like her? I mean, Maxie had enough problems making sure Joshua stayed safe once he got out."
I stood up and went to the sink for a glass of water.
"Maybe.do you think Joshua would mind looking after them for awhile?" I asked, sipping my water. "Because, I don't think she'd last that long anyway." I faded out, realising Zack was very quiet.
"Jon.that girl and the others like her.she wouldn't be able to be free," he said, reaching for my hand. "They have to stay there. Remember the witch hunts back a few years? Max told me so many transgenics died. Killed by people who were afraid."
"But she looks normal." I pleaded. "She's just sick."
"Jon, you've always been the rational one," Zack sighed, gently touching my cheek. "We can't and save more transgens that can't blend in. Joshua takes precautions. These new ones may not."
I nodded, and sat back down in front of my broken sushi. Broken sushi. Huh. "I get it, but I don't like it."
"That's a given, Dee."
Dee. Almost like old times before he went chasing after a phantom lover with dark curls and an attitude.
"Anyway, how's your head feeling?" Zack asked. "That little boy hit you pretty good."
"Sore," I said, separating each grain of rice. "Uncomfortable."
"Let me see." Zack pulls his seat closer to me, and runs his fingers gently over my head, watching my face carefully for any reaction of pain.
Agh, he still has such an affect on me.he looks into my eyes and leans closer
"Uncle Zack?" Evie stands at the door in her night shirt, blinking in the bright light. "Aunt Jondy? What are you doing?"
"Midnight snack," I motion to my plate, standing up quickly.
"Checking on Jondy," Zack says.
"I need water," Evie yawns. Neither Zack nor I move until Evie leaves; I inspect each grain of rice carefully.
"I'm going back to bed; need sleep, my knee is killing me." There. That comment. Zack would never reveal any weakness to anyone else except me. I'm not sure why, but when we fell for each other years ago, he seemed more human. He began commenting and doing things that were so normal for an X5. Before, I didn't know he even got seizures. Then, I came home from work and he was leaning against the bedroom wall, shaking so hard he was almost unconscious.
I never forgot that. It made him more human to me. The others always emphasise their faults because Zack makes it quite clear he doesn't have any he cares to share.
I nodded and sat, contemplating my rice for awhile longer. Escaping today was too easy. It would get worse before it got better, I knew that much.
