(a/n): I guess it's fair enough to say that all of you are biting your nails, thinking when will you find out if Trish will die or live. Well, don't worry, you will find out soon. And don't go hoping…because there is no hope. Nah, I'm kidding. Well I'll thank you guys later, so you got on with the fic faster.

Enjoy.

Chapter30: The Getaway

            Trinity's eyes found her opponents leftovers as she felt pain, horrible pain run through her body. She shouldn't have killed him when she was injured. She should have waited until she has respawned, so when she won she wouldn't be in a fatal state.

            Trinity felt her life slip from her fingers, but at least her soul can finally rest now. She was finally complete, and she was wondering what will happen after the match. She was too worried, thinking that there would be nothing left in her life and that she would have nothing to live for.

            But this is how her story really ends. She would not worry any longer of what the next the day has in store for her. This is it. Just when she thought she would have to deal with a life where memories of blood, vengeance, and gore will fill her mind. She wouldn't be needing anything else as of now.

            She breathed a long breath out, feeling the pain through her body, feeling broken and on the brink of death. Xan nailed her with three bullets, bullets that are strong enough to stop her for good. She wasn't fast enough, she wasn't good enough.

            But she didn't care, anymore. As long as Xan was dead, everything was fine. This is how it was meant to be. She has no destiny but maybe this is for the better, she wouldn't have to suffer any longer.

            "Trish." A voice called out to her as hands supported her head. "Trish, are you alright?" It was Dessloch. Pity ran through her, pity that she still had Dessloch and she had to leave him. But he was here; he didn't leave her. He was here beside her, like he promised long ago.

            "I guess…" She started to speak when suddenly blood rushed up her mouth, making her choke on her words as Dessloch held her close and tight. "I guess it didn't turn out how you hoped it would." Trinity couldn't hold back that pity within her hurt voice, and Trinity regretted how she sounded; she would never want to hurt Dessloch.

            "No, it didn't." Unlike hers, his voice was even but cold. She could sense some of his despair, and she could feel that he is holding back his own tears. No matter how hard she tried, she would hurt Dessloch he was hurt right now. No matter how much he would deny it, he was crying.

            "That is why there is no hope." She managed to smile as she said her words because she was proven right once more. All her life she lived without it, how could anyone prove her wrong?

            "No, Trish. That's not true. There is always hope, it's just that, it's not always necessary for things to turn out as you have hoped. Hope is not fact, Trish. Hope is something you want to believe in, so, so you could live peacefully in present." Dessloch shook her, keeping her with him, sticking her to reality.

            "But hope is useless. It only hurts in the end." She whispered quietly as tears ran down her cheek. She looked at his face which was covered with blood, bruises, and dirt. He fought his own battle and survived, so have she but she wasn't strong enough.

            "Trish, listen." Dessloch started, his voice breaking as he leaned down closer to her. "We made a promise to one another, remember? I can't let you break that promise. That promise means everything to me. Please." Dessloch gulped as a tear went down his left cheek. "Please. You promised me. You promised me I won't lose you."

            He held her closer and in a firmer grip as if afraid of letting go. "And you won't." She managed to whisper while she placed her hand on his cheek which he quickly grabbed.

            "Promise me, promise me—" Trinity coughed up her blood as she tried to tell him something. "Be with me—be with me until the end." She let more tears run down her cheek as she held onto him. "Promise me, please." Her voice trembled as she whispered very quietly that only his ears would here.

            "I promise." Dessloch said and hugged her. She felt complete, hearing those words. She closed her eyes as one last tear fell from her eyes. I promise. His words echoed in her ears. I promise.

            "Trish?" Dessloch pulled back and looked at her face, and shook her in disbelief. "Trinity?" He slowly closed his eyes as he felt bitter pain in his heart. "No, Trish. You promised. You promised, dammit!" He screamed his words out, as he shook her once more. His eyes traveled to her wounds, three bullet holes in her abdomen. "Trish." He fought back his tears which proved to be an effort.

            "She'll be fine." Zack's voice rang out as he kneeled besides him. "She's just unconscious. We better get her out of here before she really does gives up on us. Come on, the troops will come any minute now."

            The troops! Dessloch's head snapped in alarm. Zack was right; there was no time for tears. Suddenly, Dessloch got up and picked up Trinity, his face becoming a mask once more. There are things to be done, quickly.

            "This changes everything." Boris quickly said. "She wasn't supposed to be injured." Boris helped Dessloch get down from the stage as Zack jumped off. "I know." Zack's voice was strained while his eyes traveled to the main exit.

            "Time to move to Plan C."

            "Like we got a Plan C." Dessloch said, sounding concerned as he held Trinity.

            "Now we do." Zack said as he walked up and took Dessloch's submachine gun, which was on the stage. "Kyla and Mariana." Zack turned to them. "You go with Dessloch. Clear the way at the west exit. There are two squads facing their back towards you. Annihilate them quickly and don't let them realize what's going on until their dead."

            Zack turned to Dessloch. "Dessloch, you will go to that black sedan with them two. I want you to drive to the Cape Row Ave. There should be a building with Electro-Trauma sign written on it. They have the same tech as in this tournament. Ask for a guy by the name Jason Cripton. Tell him I send you. They should help Tanya."

            "What about you?" Dessloch asked as he exchanged glances with Boris. "Me and Boris will cover ya." Dessloch shook his head. "No Zack. I know where you are going with this, but you are part of this tournament. They'll kill you and Boris without asking any questions. You know Cripton better than I do and if you come, there won't be any questions. Plus, you're stronger, you'll be able to run faster."

            "Dessloch I can't let you—"

            "You're her only chance, Zack." Dessloch interrupted him. "I'm a better shot than you, Zack. I'll be able to hold them back longer, you know that's true."

            Zack seemed uneasy. "She needs you, Luthor." Zack said, trying to find another reason.

            "That is not a good reason for her to die, Zack. You know we have no other choice. Me and Boris will hold them back. We'll get out, don't worry. We've done this too many times, it'll be a walk in the park. Once we're done, I'll meet you at the Cape Row Ave. She better be well by that time, you here?"

            Zack nodded. "Alright. But you better come back in one piece, Luthor. Or I'll find a way to bring you back to life just to kill you myself." Dessloch nodded. "That's a deal, brudda! Now GO!"

            Dessloch handed Trinity to Zack and took his weapon—

            —just when the main doors flew open from an explosion and three squads of troops waltzed in. Dessloch dropped to the floor in the dark stadium and opened fire with Boris as Zack ran for the west wing with Kyla and Mariana in front of him.

            They better be careful. Dessloch thought as he aimed for the knees of the troops, dropping them quickly and merciless. Shutting off the lights was smart, for the Liandri Troops were shooting aimlessly. Three squads were plenty of people to take down and the battle between them was over.

            "Phew." He heard Boris breath out as he was, too, laying down on his stomach. "Commander Luxin, are you receiving this?" A voice over the radio was heard. Dessloch got up from his belly and picked up the radio. "Luxin?" Dessloch switched to the communication and said, "Luxin is out on vacation, please try again later."

            "Who is this?" The voice seemed alarmed. Without caring, Dessloch dropped the radio to the floor and crushed it underneath his foot.

            "Well, that takes care of them." Boris said in the still air. "But what are we going to do about…them?" Dessloch followed Boris' gaze and came against nearly 4 squads that surrounded them quickly. They must have come from the east and west wing. Dessloch hoped that Zack and the others had enough time to slip away.

            The lights quickly turned on, the stadium lighting up like fire, blinding Dessloch. "Drop your weapons!" Came a command from somewhere in front of him. Slowly his eyes adjusted to the bright light, and he narrowed his eyes at a particular individual in front of him.

            "Visor, you worthless piece of shit!" He sounded cruel but Visor seemed not to care as he laughed in his robotic tone. "What's the matter now, Dessloch? Low on gas?"

            Dessloch snarled his lip in disgust. "I'll deal with you later." His voice was very cold. "Yes, I'm sure you will but for now, drop it." This time Visor pointed the weapon at Dessloch's face. "Now." Dessloch's weapon clattered to the floor at the command.

            He felt a dart bite his neck, and his hand went up to take it off, but he fell to dreams before his hand reached for it.

            "Shit, shit, shit!" Zack hissed as he ducked under gunfire while Kyla and Mariana fired back. "Is there another way out towards the west exit?" He yelled over the commotion. "Yeah, but they have that area barricaded." Kyla call out as she dropped the submachine gun and took out a 9mill berretta.

            A question rose in Zack's head of where they got the weaponry that wasn't used in the tournament but figured it wasn't important. What was important was getting Tanya out of here. I need a sniper rifle. Zack quietly thought, as he felt helpless in this situation.

            "Go!" Kyla called out to him, and Zack got to his feet and ran down the hallway, jumping over dead bodies as he still held on to Tanya. "Hang right and open the second door to your left."

            Zack followed her commands, quickly turning right and ran down the hallway towards the second door on the left side of the hall. He kicked open the door and he went inside a dormitory. "What the hell?" He asked himself as Kyla and Mariana ran inside.

            Mariana closed the door and moved an armchair to block it. "There should be a fire exit out on the kitchen." Kyla quickly said as she and Mariana reloaded their weapons.

            "Whose dorm is this?" Zack quickly asked, hoping she knows where's what. "Used to be Boris'." Good. Zack thought as he laid down Tanya on the couch. "He keeps any weapons here?" He asked her as he moved closer to her. "In fact, yes. There is a vault here, beyond that bookshelf. He should have a rifle. Check if there is a vest, for Trinity to where."

            Zack quickly ran for the bookshelf and asked, "How do you move it?"

            "Pull the book with no title." Kyla called back as she crouched besides a window.

            Zack pulled at the book and the bookshelf moved towards the left, revealing a small room with couple of clips and a rifle with a silencer. Seems like some things where taken out, but to his luck something was left. To the left, hung a vest and to the right where keys, probably to a car.  Zack left it where it was. Luthor and Boris might need it to get out.

            "Alright I'm set." Zack came up to Kyla and slowly looked out the window. There were a few post guards, nothing too complicated. Zack crouched and carefully aimed at the guards, and shot 6 times, killing each guard.

            "Here." He hanged Kyla the sniper rifle. "Cover me." Zack said as he ran for Tanya and put the vest on her. He picked her up and Mariana helped him open the window. "You watch the door." Zack told Mariana before he ran outside onto the fire escape.

            Zack quickly descended the fire escape 3 stories down and came to a stop at where a ladder was raised. He carefully swung Tanya over his shoulder and pressed the descend button and the control manual, and the ladder smoothly went down.

            Zack took the ladder down and was successful. He ran to his left, as fast as his feet could take him. He was a good runner, he was well built for it, but there was just not enough of time.

            He heard Kyla and Marina follow behind him as they rounded the building. "There it is!" Mariana pointed towards the sedan. Zack picked up speed and ran up to it, Kyla and Mariana following. Mariana typed in the code in the penal and the locks opened.

            Zack opened the passengers' door and laid Trinity down on the seats. Kyla ran into the front passenger seat and Mariana went in with Trinity. Zack quickly swung the doors opened from the driver's side.

            "Where are the keys?" He asked Kyla quickly, watching her typing the code in the glove box. She took out the keys and handed them to him. Zack started the sedan and started to hover.

            "I hope you drive good." Kyla quietly said as he pressed the gas and they escaped. 

            "We made it!" Kyla screamed as Zack made a U-turn and parked right next to the Electro-Trauma building. It seemed vacant but Zack knew better than to trust the appearance. "Come on. We don't have much time." Zack quickly said as he got out of the car and opened the passenger seat. He reached for Tanya and carried her out of there.

            They ran into the old building, hoping they still had enough time. "Jason!?" Zack screamed his name but there was no answer. "Shit! Now what?" Mariana asked as she looked around. "I—I don't know. The interior sure has changed." Zack said as he turned around and a gun met his face.

            "Password?" The man asked and Zack froze. "Password?" Mariana asked, sounding surprised herself.

            "You didn't mention anything about a password."

            "I never knew we need one." Zack said with a strained voice.

            "Does this mean we're screwed?" Kyla questioned as another individual took her weapon.

            "Zack? Is that you?" A man came out of the shadows. Scars ran down his face, one near the cheekbone and the other across his lip. "Well, I'll be damned. It's you Vicklair." The man slowly said and Zack started to feel better again.

            "Cripton. It's good to see you." Zack said, observing his face.

            "It's good to see you too, Vicklair. Thought the League made you a janitor or something, a killer, you know?" Zack wanted to laugh at the joke but he couldn't afford to smile.

            "At ease, men. They are our friends." The people started to lower their weapons, and Kyla quickly grabbed her weapon with a hump.

            "How can I help you, Vicklair?" Jason asked as he came up to him and looked at Tanya.

            "I know that face." Jason quietly said.

            "Yes, it's Tanya. She needs your help." Zack quickly said.

            "I wonder if she still remembers me." Jason said thoughtfully.

            "You won't find out if you won't help her."

            "Alright then, Vicky." Jason stared back with a serious face. "How can I help?"

            "Vicky?" Kyla asked as she tried to hold back a giggle. Zack didn't say anything, he just acted.

            Dessloch woke the next morning and found himself in jail with Boris. This situation sucked and Dessloch promised himself that he would be the one to kill Visor. Visor, that goddamned-good-for-nothing-scrap-yard, has finally cleaned up his act. That—that bastard. Dessloch felt like he would explode any minute.

            Two Troops came to their cell, both holding automatic weapons. One of them scanned their hand on the scanner and the cell's energy bars disappeared. "You." They pointed at Boris. "You are free to go."

            Boris looked at Dessloch with a surprised look, but Dessloch nodded. "Go, Trinity won the tournament, remember? The team is free now." Boris shook his head. "I'm not leaving you here." Boris said firmly. "You don't have a choice." Dessloch called back when the troops grabbed Boris and wheeled him out of the chamber and closed the cell. "I'll see you again, Dessloch." Boris was hurled away. Silently, Dessloch whispered. "Yes, you will."

            Time past and Dessloch was getting frustrated with sitting here alone. He needs to plan a way to escape. He can't rely on nobody here; it's not his style and never was.

             "So, how does it feel to be 'here' and not 'there', huh? How does it feel when you are a nothing? You see what happens when you become free while your whole team is still enslaved? Now it's a total opposite. Hahahaha." Dessloch looked up at Visor's voice, and narrowed his eyes in anger.

            He spat in his face, and received a shock from the rod quickly, making him stagger back into a wall behind him. "You don't know how happy I am now that you are here and under my wing. Hahaha." Visor continued.

            Dessloch pulled back from the wall and lunged at him with his hands through the energy bars, carefully, and he wrapped his hands around Visor's neck. "You can't choke me, Luthor." Visor's voice showed a hint of amusement.

            He gritted his teeth as he still held on to Visor. "Take this." Dessloch whispered and he pulled Visor towards the bars, and electrocuting him. Visor screamed, but Dessloch couldn't let go of him as the electricity followed towards him, and Dessloch yelled in pain.

            Visor's circuit fried, Dessloch figured, when something sounded like it was blown up. Suddenly the bars disappeared and the electricity broke off, leaving Dessloch as a free man.

            Dessloch ran out of the cell and rammed into the guard as the prisoners started to get loud. Dessloch took the automatic rifle from the guard and plugged a hole into his head.

            Dessloch looked back at Visor and smiled. "I told you I'll take care of you later." Dessloch quickly ran out of the hallway, quietly coming up against a wall that turned left. Dessloch flattened himself against it and peeked out.

            There was one guard sitting behind a desk and a laptop, facing his back to him. Dessloch aimed at his head carefully, his finger curling over the trigger. Just when he was about shoot he stopped that instance, for he spotted a retinal scanner. He needed the guard alive if he wanted to get out of the cellblock.

            Dessloch quietly walked towards the man, making no sound as he swung the automatic rifle over his shoulder. Dessloch quickly grasped him, one hand over his mouth and the other over his head, ready to snap his neck in seconds.

            "Hello there." Dessloch said quietly as kicked the chair away and forced him to come towards the retinal scanner. The man muffled under his hand as Dessloch kept it where it was.

            "If you make a sound. I'll kill you, you understand?" Dessloch quietly asked. The guard seemed to nod and Dessloch let go of his mouth as he pressed his face across the retinal scanner.

            "Access Verified, you may exit." Dessloch quickly took his rifle with his free hand and pointed at the man's head. He forced him straight up, guiding him with his hand on the guard's shoulder.

            The two of them exited, but Dessloch wasn't about to let him go. This guy was his ticket out of here, and he won't miss this chance. Dessloch turned the corner and faced a couple of squads, aiming the weapons at him. "Don't move!" 


(a/n): And let's leave it there. A cliffhanger once more but at least he still got chances. Well, I'm glad this chapter will be updated faster than the rest, but I'm having a problem with the Internet line. Well next chapter will be the last, I hope. Unless it will be somehow too long, but I doubt it. The next chapter will up soon.

Here are the thanks to my fellow readers and reviewers.

Alex: Speechless, huh? Well you'll find out what will happen. I hope you are enjoying this fic.

Slash The Ironman: Phew, I'm glad you are not quitting. The way you described it in the fic, I thought you wouldn't continue. Sorry that I overreacted. Well, I'm happy to hear that you will continue it.

Well about my story, now. I guess you'll just have to wait and see if she dies or lives. But keep your fingers crossed.

COUGH: Thanks for the compliments. I tried so hard on that chapter. I'm glad you thought the wait was worth it, I know it really did take a month to update but hopefully it won't take that long anymore.