Silver Dragon: New Chapter!!!!
Devil's Wyrm: And we have reviews!
SilverD: Okay, not much to say.
DWyrm: On with the story!
Notes: Italics: Varian thinking to himself; anyone talking over a phone.
Disclaimer: We only own what we create.
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Chapter 3: A Change of Plans
BANG! BANG! BANG! A lone police car chased after the crew of the Vigilant, a cop firing out the window, trying to take out fugitive's tires. Captain Soren was not worried about the cops; he was worried about the Agent. The car screeched down an intersection, barely missing T-boning an SUV. This slowed the cops up. They were only blocks away from the hard line when Jax called. "Yes Jax, in the hard line ready?" asked Soren.
"Yeah, but we have a problem."
"What is it?"
"Your contact, that freaky Exile guy, is in major trouble."
"Damn it! He said he'd be fine! Does he need help?"
"I think so, he hasn't moved since he got shot but…"
"But?"
"Something is wrong with his code, it looks as if it's changing."
"How is it changing?"
"I've got no idea, but SWAT is moving in, and the Agent's not far behind. If he's gonna move, he'd better move now."
"Thanks Jax, I guess we'd better go back."
"Yes sir, I'll keep the exit open."
Soren turned to look at the rest of his crew in the back seat. "The Exile is in trouble. We're going back to help him."
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Blood. The stench of it filled the air. It had created a large pool around Varian, mixing with dust and dirt on the asphalt creating a kind of gory mud. The wounded Exile was barely conscious as his life code seeped out of him. Have to stop bleeding. Heal. Heal… Footsteps approached, surrounding the fallen one. It was the SWAT team moving in on their objective: capture the terrorist. They stood at the edge of the blood puddle, each to tense to check the body. Finally, the leader stepped into the circle, his boots squishing in the runny mud. Squatting next to Varian, he reached down and flipped the body over, revealing the small entrance wound. "All right guys," said the leader, his voice slightly shaky, "let's call in the coroner, I'm pretty sure he's de—"
Varian abruptly came out of his stupor and snatched the cop's MP5-N automatic rifle, sweeping the shocked man off his feet. He then jumped to a standing position and began firing at the remaining SWAT. They scattered for cover, finding it behind pillars and rubble. The dazed leader took advantage of his position in the pool of gore and drew his side arm, emptying the clip at the Exile. Instead of damaging him more, Varian assimilated the bullets, using their code to patch his. More. Still need more. The hiding cops stared, dumbfounded at the sight, but not for long. A second later, the space was filled with lead from five different MP5s. Varian absorbed every bullet that hit him, furthering his rebuilding. Nonchalantly, the powerful Exile leaned over and grasped the leader's head. The head SWAT screamed in pain as his code was disassembled and taken in by the gray clad "terrorist." The body vanished, leaving only the clothes and various items of a SWAT member. This really stunned the others, who began firing more heavily than before. Unknown to Varian, the SWAT had called for back up, and the Agent was the one responding. Varian coolly moved form one man to the next, incorporating their code into his own. Soon, the entire SWAT team was dead, their code inside the Exile. I am not safe in this form. If I am to escape, I must change. Varian called upon the assimilated code of one of the policemen, changing his appearance to that of the cop, with slight facial changes so no one would recognize him. He walked out of the rundown garage a man in street clothes, melting into the rush-hour crowds.
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Minutes after Varian left, Soren and his crew drove back into the garage. Having lost their pursuer in a traffic jam, they had made all speed towards the meeting place. Exiting their vehicle, the crew of the Vigilant spread out, trying to find the Exile, but all that was left was the muddy pool of blood. Soren stood over this puddle, musing over their mysterious ally. Vector, the first mate, came up behind him. "Captain, there isn't anybody here. They must've taken him," said Vector.
"Hmm," was Soren's only reply.
"But here's the thing that bothers me: the clothes. Something must have happened to the SWAT; their uniforms are all over the place, in defensive positions, too. The Exile probably took out the cops, how I'm not sure, and the Agent nabbed him when his back was turned."
"Or he escaped and the Agent is out looking for him."
"I hope so. Anything to get the Agents as far away as possible."
Binary and Axel returned from their sweep of the area. "Captain, it's about time you tell us who this dude is and why weird stuff always happens around him," whined Axel.
"Not now. I will explain when we get out."
The group headed back to the car, only to find a man wearing a dark green suit and sunglasses guarding it. They were about to split when police swarmed around them from their hiding places. "Shit," said Soren surveying the predicament they were in.
"Give yourselves up and no one will be hurt," said the Agent in his characteristic monotone.
The Rebels stood their ground.
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Varian was walking casually down the street, not really headed anywhere. He was only trying to look natural so the Agents would not find him. Passing a bank of pay phones, one suddenly began to ring. Curious, the Exile picked up the receiver. "Hello?" he asked.
"Hi! This is JJ from the Big V Bar and Grill. We've called to tell you your party of four will not be able to attend. They called and said they had to stay late at work."
"Okay, thanks."
Varian hung up, understanding the code perfectly. Damn. I told Soren I would be fine. Their operator must have seen I was in trouble and told him. Oh, well. I had better go back and save their skins.
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The Exile returned just in time to see all hell break lose. The rebels broke up, using their powers in the Matrix to evade bullets and take down cops. Varian stood back, allowing them to get out on their own, until he saw the Agent. In the confusion, the powerful program had been forgotten. He now approached the least experienced of the crew: Axel. Varian rushed forwards, trying to get the Agent's attention, to no avail. The Agent struck Axel stoutly on the back of his head with the butt of his gun; the young man slumped to the pavement. Cops swarmed over him, cuffing and dragging Axel away. The Agent was moving to follow when Varian tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to face his opponent and was hit in the face by Varian's potent fist. The Agent flew backwards, crushing a concrete support column. Varian rushed him, changing as he ran. By the time he met the Agent, the Exile had taken the form of a giant, metal-skinned monstrosity. The Agent drew his pistol and emptied the clip at Varian, the second time for that day; the slugs bounced off his armored chest. Varian reached forward, seizing the enemy program around his neck. The Agent struggled, punching and kicking his reinforced foe, but he could not break Varian's vice-like grip. "Where have you taken Axel?" asked Varian through his metallic teeth.
"I would never tell you, Exile. Obsolete, programs should never remain active," was the Agent's reply.
"Fine, I will just find out for myself."
Varian grasped the Agent's head just as he did the cops, digging his claws into the program's flesh.
"What are you doing?" asked the Agent, his voice shaky from pain.
"Deleting out-dated programming."
Screams from the Agent brought all eyes, rebel and cop alike, to the scene. The Agent's body disappeared, leaving only the code, flowing about his body. Then the code stopped abruptly, breaking down into small individual strands. The strands were sucked up into Varian's palm; the Agent's screams echoed through the garage. The cops backed away, scared to death of this metal beast. The Rebels stared, mouths agape, at their ally. "How did--, what did you DO?" asked Binary, still staring at Varian.
"More importantly, what the HELL are you?" asked Vector. "I know you're an Exile, and some have powers and all, but what was that!?"
The two men stared at their captain, wanting answers. Soren glanced about, suddenly coming to a realization. "Where's Axel?"
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SilverD: Wu Hu!!!! Done!
DWyrm: Yes, finished at last.
SilverD: Thanks to our reviewers.
Protectress of Dalidon: Thanks! Glad you like it. Where did you get the name Sorlin and Valiant? We got ours from the Enter the Matrix game. It gives the ships, captains, and crew of the rebels, at least some of them. R&R some more!
thorgrimmer: Thanks for your support!
DWyrm: Read; review.
SilverD: Good or bad, we want it all! ^_^
DWyrm: Till next time! -}^;;^{-
