by: iluvaqt@hotmail.com
QT's notes: KnotyGirl, and others who patiently waited for an update, I'm sorry it was so long in coming. I don't have a lot of rec time on my hands, so it's usually the fic with the most feedback that gets an update. I'm glad you're enjoying it enough to bring it to my attention again. ;) AngelZ, have you been reading the IABW series?
Part 12: Double Take
Zack scanned the area noticing movement in the scrub to his left. He kept his back planted flat to the wall and continued following Sam's trail. For a trained solider she wasn't being very careful about covering her tracks. Her boots had collected plaster residue. Leaving a visible trail from fire escape to the back of the building. He reached an open grassy area that was cast in darkness and shadow. He looked up to see that the spotlight had been shot out and the pale moonlight cast an eerie glow over the seemingly deserted area.
He was about to crouch and make a dash for the cover of a nearby truck when all movement was struck from his body.
Max who'd been silently following closely behind, almost ran smack into the back of him. Before she could ask him what was the matter, she saw the source of his shock. All the blood drained from her face and her right hand began to tremble at her side.
There was no mistaking it. But it couldn't be. He shook his head, as if trying to clear the image from his mind. After witnessing the younger clones of his siblings after their attack on Manticore and seeing Sam, he'd guessed there'd be more of them. It was almost as if his words to Renfro were coming back to haunt him. The real possibility that he'd ever see his clone had never even lingered in his mind.
Sam held onto Will's hand tightly and adjusted the rifle on her shoulder. Looking up, she noticed the movement to their right, too late. Two figures where moving toward her at blur speed. As she turned to position herself in front of Will, she recognized them both as the two X5s she'd encountered earlier at Subject 34's residence.
Syl dove at the girl and wrestled her to the ground. "You bitch, it's not enough to try and kill Logan. You've got to go after Zack too. Not today, sister. Payback's on me."
Will, who was standing close by, launched into action. "Get off her," he growled.
Max and Zack who'd been hidden by the darkness stared at the two women rolling in the grass. Before either of them could make a move to intercept Zack's clone. Krit rushed him and knocked him to the ground.
One look into his eyes and Krit realized he wasn't Zack. "Syl! It's not him."
Zack ran for Syl and dragged her away before she could plant another fist into Sam's face. Both of them were already bleeding and purple. Sam had a fast forming black eye and a cut across her left cheek. Syl had a small crimson trail trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Yanking herself free from her brother's tight grip, Syl spat the blood from her mouth. "A good ass kicking never hurt anyone." She touched a cool hand to her bruised cheek and felt the inside of her mouth with her tongue. Nothing that a few days won't heal.
"Funny how you only say that when you're the one that comes out on top." Zack dodged the elbow that came his way. Playfully punching Syl on the arm, he said, "Settle this later. He turned to Max. "Time to move out."
No sooner had they made a move on those words and gunfire sounded from behind. Syl, Krit and Sam, gave return fire and the others made a dash for the cover of the building.
"How many?" Max asked, crouched behind Zack.
"6, maybe 8." Zack took a peek around the wall, only to pull back in a hurry. Bullets riddling the space where his head a just been.
Syl, Krit and Sam scrambled for cover and huddled near the group. "There's no way we can get out that way. And we can't stay here, there are more over there," she said quickly, indicating to the trees where they'd come from only moments before.
Zack clenched his jaw, his lips set into at thin line. He noticed Sam looking at him, and she seemed slightly unnerved. "We'll have to go back out the main gate. Unless we know the forest is clear, there's no way we can use it."
An explosion rocked the compound. Somewhere to the north side of the site, another siren started. The noise was deafening.
Alec, Dem and Lydecker couldn't hold them back any longer. The approaching TAC teams had formed a frontal attack and despite taking out some of the soldiers, two had made it to the rear of the tower and planted two packets of explosives.
All Deck had time to say was, "Hang on!"
The blast tore through the tower cornerstones and a sickening crack quickly zipped up the tower wall like a jagged, slithering snake. The observation deck tilted, and Dem who'd been trying to defend the tower's west side, slid into the center column. Hitting her head against solid rock, she slumped unconscious.
Alec braced himself in one corner of the tower. He watched Dem slide and wished with all his strength that he could reach her. But he didn't have time. The top of the tower pitched forward quickly and crashed to the ground in a matter of seconds.
Stretching his sore limbs, Lydecker got up and dusted his clothes. Through the cloud of dust and dirt, he began to search for his daughter. He found her pinned underneath a pile of rubble.
Demeter started coughing and tried to pull on her legs. "Dad?" Her vision was blurred and the cloudy mist only distorted her vision further. Although, when she blinked again there was no mistaking that her father was bending over her, and that there was someone behind him. As he touched her face, she reached up and squeezed his fingers with her left hand. With her right hand she signed, behind you, against her chest.
Lydecker stilled and whispered comfortingly, "It'll be okay, angel." Behind him, he heard the tiniest footfall. That gave away the man's exactly location and Lydecker whirled around. He grabbed the end of the man's M16 and rammed it into his gut. Twisting it from the assailant's grasp. He thrust the butt of the weapon into the man's temple. He fell to the ground, lifeless.
The sound of a helicopter overhead, caused a smile to momentarily grace his taut features. "Time to go."
As her father pulled back the debris, she crawled backwards and pushed to her feet. She scanned the area, looking for Alec. She couldn't see him. Lydecker had moved a little way off to signal in the chopper. Dem used the opportunity to search for Alec.
The helicopter didn't land. Someone from the cabin threw down a cable and harnesses. Lydecker called for Dem. When she didn't respond he went after her. "Time to go, now!"
"But he's out here. We can't leave him," she protested, pulling against the grip he had on her arm.
Lydecker yanked her close so she was an inch from his face. He stared down into her eyes, his voice harsh, "Do you think he'd wait for you, if this chopper had come for him?"
She didn't say anything, but she no longer resisted as he dragged her to the harness and helped her strap in. He clipped on his own and pulled on the cable. It lifted almost immediately and the chopper began moving away from the area. As they hung suspended, Dem got a good look at the site below. The buildings were still burning and in the distance she could see the light of gunfire. Biting her lip, she didn't say anything. But inside she felt herself choking up. How could you just leave them?
Logan crept up behind a sniper, and pushed the nose of his gun into the soldier's head. In his sights, he had the small group crouched behind a wall. "Don't even think about it. Hands behind you back and face to the ground."
As the soldier complied, Logan lifted the rifle from its mount. The momentary distraction was all the solider needed.
Logan was swept off his feet and landed flat on his back, winded. The soldier stood above him. Rifle aimed at his chest, his opponent lifted his night-vision goggles. At least he'd thought she was a he, till she spoke.
"Bet you didn't plan on that happening," she sneered. "Goodnight, boy." She lifted the rifle into her shoulder.
Whoosh!
The woman staggered and swayed, then fell onto him. Logan gagged, as the air was knocked out of his chest again. Damn, she's heavy.
Syl smiled proudly and blew the non-existent smoke from the barrel of her Python.
"Give me that," Zack hissed. He swiped the revolver from her grip before she had a chance to argue. Turning it in his hands, he weighed it in his grip. "Gee baby sis, a bit over the top don't you think?"
Syl stuck out her tongue at him. "I don't think Logan's gonna think so. Range on this baby's over three hundred metres, knew she'd come in handy."
Max had shot off with the very mention of his name; headless of the dangerous territory she was heading straight into. Her pulse racing in her veins as she half ran- half slipped across the stony riverbed. In the commotion, she hadn't noticed the movement in the trees on the other side of the brook. Obviously Syl had.
Falling to her knees, her pants soaked to her thighs, she hauled the body off him. He looked surprised to see her and she couldn't help what happened next.
"Max, I…"
"You idiot," she cried. She punched him in the shoulder, sending him backward. "You complete idiot. Do you have any idea at all?"
Logan stood there, completely bewildered. The shock at her outburst helped him momentarily forget the throbbing and burning sensations in his right shoulder. "I'm sorry?" he said confused.
Syl, Krit and Zack, followed closely by Sam and Will came crashing through the scrub.
"Love to stay and chat but incoming," Krit said brushing past them both and running further into the bush.
More gunfire sounded from the right. The short embankment and brush provided some cover but wouldn't be safe for long. Seconds later, bullets perforated the ground near where they were standing. Max cut short her emotional outburst and grabbed Logan's arm. "I'm not done."
Zack spoke up, "We split up. Max, Krit and Logan. Syl and you two with me." There wasn't any argument from his siblings. However, Logan gave him a wary look. Zack ignored it.
The two groups separated and ran deeper into the forest, and they soon lost sight of each other. The only sound that could be heard was the wind whistling through the trees and the light crunch and snap of dry leaves and twigs beneath their boots.
Syl and Zack ran ahead and soon the distance between them and the rest of their team stretched to over fifty feet.
It was a fairly steep embankment, with jagged rocks protruding from soft earth. Sam slowed to Will's pace, causing them to fall further behind. And nobody seemed to notice when Will sagged into a tree trunk for support. That was, no one but Sam.
The moment the grip on her hand had weakened, she'd turned around. "Will?" When he didn't respond. She dropped his hand and gripped his shoulder. "Will, look at me." She reached under his chin and tilted his face to meet hers.
Will looked into her eyes. She was worried, it was written there plainly. He tried to comfort her, tell her it was okay. But she only looked more scared and upset when he tried to lift his hand.
"Will?" her voice come out high-pitched, and the urgency in her tone made Zack and Syl stop in their tracks.
Zack was about to head back, when Syl grabbed his arm. "There's no point you stopping too. Get to the parameter. We'll be right behind you." He gave her a warning look and she brushed it off. "I know. They're not the bad guys. Get moving." When he turned and continued down the slope, Syl smiled to herself. I could so get used to this.
Sam had pulled his arm over her shoulder. "They're coming. You've got to keep…" He faltered a step and she caught him around the waist. Her hand brushed something warm and sticky. And all the color drained from her face.
"What's wrong?" Syl asked reaching them. Getting no immediate answer she searched Will's face. His eyes were unfocused and his skin was pale and clammy. It was then that she noticed the spreading dark patch on his clothes. "We have to get out of here. They're close and you know they'll kill us."
Her eyes narrowed and she hissed, "I'm not leaving him."
Syl slung her rifle strap over her head and lifted Will's free arm over her shoulders. "I didn't ask you too. Let's move."
A few hundred feet more and they reached the parameter fence. Zack and Krit were waiting for them.
"How is he?" Krit asked, taking Will from Syl's shoulder.
"Not good. He's lost a lot of blood," she replied.
The truck's still a good half a klick away…"
"Don't you even try saying it," Sam warned, her eyes flashing dangerously.
Zack wordlessly pushed Krit aside and stooped to lift Will to his shoulders. "Run ahead, try and get the truck as close as possible." Turning to the girls he ordered, "You two go. Now. And don't look back." No one argued.
Krit reached the truck at the same time as Syl. He jumped in the driver's seat, and gunned the engine. "Start praying. We're gonna need it."
