9
Marcus ducked behind a wall, careful to make as little noise as possible. He knew these tunnels very well -- the most redundant programming quickly became what people couldn't see. However, the Agent was locked on better than a seeking missile… and while the malicious program didn't always have dead aim, he was making some uncannily accurate guesses as to the vampire's location.
Without warning, a hand snagged the back of his jacket and drew him down a side tunnel. The vampire twisted quickly to see just who this new assailant was, hand reaching for nonexistent gun. The redheaded Irish rebel grinned at him, putting a finger to his lips and offering the vampire a pair of guns. He took them, and then shook his head, mouthing "Agent." "I know," Red mouthed back.
"Exit?" he asked.
Red nodded, then hesitated. "I can't guarantee he won't follow." He nodded. "Lead the way," he mouthed. Red nodded and made a "come on" motion, turning and heading down the tunnel. Wisely, he switched his cell phone to vibrate.
Marcus stopped a moment. "Explosive?" he mouthed.
"Th' Pope Catholic?"
He motioned for it. Red pulled out the grenade and handed it to him. He nodded, and then began to quickly head down the tunnel with Red. Red took out his cell phone and dialled Salvo. "Operator."
"Hey, what's th' stat on th' agent?" he asked softly.
"Not good... he should be entering your corridor... now."
"Shit!"
Marcus looked to him, and then instinctively looked back. A bullet ricocheted off the wall not far from his head. Red began muttering curses against his height -- he was about 6'6. "Sal, a little help here?" Marcus instead responded, "I'll handle this." He pulled the pin from the grenade and started to count as the Agent ran closer, gun blazing. Red winced as a bullet tore into his shoulder, raising both arms with their submachine guns and firing around Marcus and at the agent.
The agent began to run faster, gun getting more and more accurate. Marcus then hurled the grenade, which reached an apex at the roof of the tunnel -- and then detonated, cracking the masonry and sending rock and dust down into the narrow passage.
Ignoring his bleeding shoulder, Red grabbed Marcus' sleeve and hauled the vampire after him as he bolted down the corridor. "'Ey, Sal, direct me!"
"Go straight about fifteen more meters, and then enter the service passage. It's on the right!" Marcus was running in time with the rebel.
"I'm no good at math. Jus' say when!"
"When!"
Red swerved to the right, opening the door and dragging Marcus inside. "Now what?" "The tube ends in about twelve meters, right above a subway train track. If you wait two minutes, you can jump on the next train. Then drop off sometime before it reaches its destination, and make it to the warehouse from there."
"Agent, or moving train. Fun. Do we have two minutes?"
"Probably not, but its the only chance you have."
"Shit. Thanks doll. If I die, cremate me wi' th' White Lightning, then make Pyre learn how to make it. That recipe's too good t' die with me."
"Alright. Now shoot everything you have into the end of the tunnel."
"Got it. Here, keep the vampire up to speed; I'll need both hands." He tossed the phone to Marcus and raised both submachine guns again, emptying them, discarding them, pulling out two more, and repeating the process.
The barely visible agent dodged and weaved through the fire. Marcus took the phone and also joined in, with Red's previously given guns. Red muttered a curse as his third and last set of submachine guns ran out, now drawing semiautomatics and firing away. "'S it two minutes yet!?"
"One more minute!" called Marcus, relaying the phone's message.
"Son o' a bitch!" Red changed weapons again, firing the gun in one hand while dragging out another grenade. He pulled the pin in an interesting manner, counted, then lobbed it left-handed down the hall at the agent before getting his gun back into his hand and firing with both hands yet again.
The grenade detonated after a moment, sending cracks through the tube. "Now!" called Marcus. Red dropped his guns, grabbed the vampire, and jumped, muttering, "Hail Mary, full o' Grace, th' Lord is with thee…"
They hit the top of the train. Hard. Marcus rolled away from Red's grasp, rolling to the side of the train and only barely grabbing the edge.
"…bless'd art thou 'mong women and bless'd is th' fruit o' thy womb…" Red continued, grabbing at the vampire's coat and hauling him back on top. "Amen." "Thanks," he replied. "You might want to stay low."
"No kiddin'. I'm too tall t' be safe. Gimme th' phone." He handed the large man the phone. That very moment, something else thumped onto the train, hitting the back and rolling to the edge, but maintaining a grip.
"Sal, please tell me the agent didn't just get on the train?"
"I would, but I don't like to lie."
"Holy Mary, Mother o' God!"
"That's an agent for you..." Marcus mumbled.
"Sal, need some help here, luv."
"If you don't take that agent out somehow now, you're not going to get rid of him," she replied.
"Joy." Red relayed the information to Marcus.
Marcus half crouched as the Agent pulled himself up onto the car. He was more than a little dishevelled: his tie was off-centre, his glasses were smashed, and his gun was missing. "It's the end of the line."
"That is so fuckin' cliché!" Red shouted. He pulled something from around his neck. "Oi, vampire. In th' more'n likely event that I die, give these t' Poni fer me? She'll know what t' do wi' 'em." It was a pair of diamond rings on a chain. He blinked. "Alright... but you're not going to die... let's take the Agent on both at once. All we have to do is knock him from the train."
"An' not go wi' him. Easier said than done. An' I'm a wee bit too tall t' jus' jump 'im."
"Me too… fortunately, though, he has to crouch too... and it's impeded his speed a bit." Marcus' words were indeed true -- it was taking longer than normal for the agent to advance.
"Hey… I got an idea." He leaned over and whispered it to Marcus, who nodded. "Good plan."
The Agent began to pick up speed, getting closer and closer. Marcus moved into his lowest stance. Red crouched as low as he could, which really wasn't that low. The top of a moving subway wasn't meant to be stood on -- much less fought on. Low hanging lights were a heavy environmental hazard, and tunnels could mean death to either party.
Marcus grinned grimly. An even playing field.
Red was not quite as confident as his vampiric ally. He, as the tallest among them, was in the most danger. The agent closed in, and suddenly leapt forth, punching rapidly at Red. Marcus closed in from the side, sweeping at the program's legs.
At the same time, Red gave the agent a hefty shove in the direction he would fall if Marcus' sweep worked. The agent dodged, trying to move back with the push... however, it didn't work out well, and he stumbled slightly. Marcus took this opening and slammed a forearm towards the agent. The program caught the limb, and flung the vampire back, sending him crashing into the roof of the tunnel and into the train's roof.
Red lunged for the agent with a growl. The agent was ready, and tried to retaliate -- but failed as Marcus grabbed his foot, yanking hard. Red found himself staring the agent in the face. "Go t' hell, y' son o' a bitch!" His powerful forearms shoved the program over the edge.
The agent's arms flailed for something to grab -- and caught Red's arm. The Irishman's eyes widened; he wasn't exactly a lightweight, but he was awkwardly balanced, and the agent's weight was enough to send Red falling after him.
"Oh, GOD!"
Marcus's arm shot out, trying to grab the rebel's foot. Red's arm flung out at the same time, grabbing hold of a window. He hung thus, precariously balanced. The agent, however, had fallen too low. His leg got trapped in the wheels of the train, pulling him further in. However, the program showed no emotion, keeping its death grip on Red's arm.
Red gritted his teeth, reciting Hail Marys continuously and, praying that Marcus was as strong as vampires of lore were, let go of the window to pull out another gun. "See ya in Hell," he growled between prayers, shooting the agent twice in the head.
The agent reverted to a police officer, and was dragged into the wheels of the train with a sickening crunch.
"HELP!" Red howled. "I don' like it here!" Marcus grunted and pulled the rebel back on the roof of the train. Red hugged the roof with trembling limbs before being violently ill. "We have to jump off before the next stop, or else we're going to get a parade of agents coming off the train." Marcus replied.
"Y' tell me when. I'm going t' enjoy every minute left o' me life," the Irishman muttered, before throwing up a second time. "Or be sick; that works too," he said weakly. Marcus pulled out the phone and listened. "Now!" He leapt off the side. Somewhere the brawny redhead drew up the strength to jump. He hit the floor hard and rolled, then didn't get up.
"Come on... we still have to make tracks before the agents find us again."
Red groaned. "How in Hell d' you rogues put up wi' it?" he asked, rising slowly to his feet. "Lots of practice." he replied. Another groan. "Now where?" "We walk back to the previous station and go up to the street. From there, it should be easy to find the warehouse." He tossed the phone back to Red. "Thanks Red."
"No… problem." He tucked the phone inside his bomber jacket. "Shall we?" Visibly he had recovered, but inside the big man was shaken and trembling like a child. "My path branches after the station. I have to find her."
"Hold on a sec. Lemme call Salvo. She found you, she can find your girl." He walked in silence as Red contacted the operator. Red grinned and hung up. "I know where she is. 'Parently th' Oracle's taken 'er in."
He smiled. "Appreciate it."
"No prob. I'll be seein' ya, then? Or ya wan' me t' go wi' ya?"
"I can find her."
Red nodded, then headed to the warehouse.
Marcus nodded back, and then set out to find the oracle.