The water hit them, sending them flying forward a few meters before the wave caught up with them again. Rick remembered back to the first time they had tried riding a surge of water. The key was to have the water hit your whole body at the same time. You could use your hands to make sure you didn't get flipped around and under. Tanner was the best at it and could even do some tricks.
The flood eventfully died down and the team tumbled around as the water lost the strength to hold them up. They were wet but Rick's team didn't mind. The thrill of flying down a drain at high speeds was worth the discomfort of being wet.
"So, did anyone count the manholes?" Nelo asked jokingly. The three boys looked around and started over to the nearest manhole.
"Might as well travel on the surface from here." Rick said as he started climbing up the ladder.
Rick emerged onto the deserted street. A warm breeze blew across his face as he looked up at the cloudy sky. Tanner and Nelo pulled themselves up out of the drain and stood next to Rick. They all scanned the deserted city street. Rick suddenly motioned to the nearest building and they silently run over to it. Crouching in the doorway, they listened to the sound of approaching Trackers. As the Trackers came into view Tanner moved his hand to the hilt of his sword. Rick raised a hand motioning him to wait. A few more seconds, thought Rick. The Trackers whistled as they found the boys' trail. Nelo's ears twitched and his eyes closed as he heard Myrmidons cry in response to the Trackers.
"The Myrmidons are at least five blocks away." He whispered. Rick nodded. That should give us enough time to dispose of these, he thought.
Suddenly Tanner disappeared from the doorway they were crouching in. In a blur he reappeared behind the nearest Tracker. It stumbled back a few feet and fell over as its head bounced away. Rick and Nelo were in the air before the remaining two Trackers could move. Their swords cut easily with the whole weight of their bodies behind the steel. Rick's head jerked down the street, towards the sound of Myrmidons running.
"This way!" yelled Tanner. He began running back to the doorway, Rick and Nelo close behind.
Instead of crouching down again Tanner swung open the door and darted in. Inside Rick, Tanner, and Nelo all hide in the window display. They peered out at the approaching Myrmidons from behind mannequins clothed in sun dresses.
"Hey Rick." whispered Tanner, "Use that trick of yours."
"Yea." added Nelo. He turned and looked at Rick, "Do it."
Rick looked at the group of Myrmidons walking towards them. He smiled a little and nodded. Tanner and Nelo also smiled and looked back to the Myrmidons. Rick relaxed himself and closed his eyes.
As the Myrmidons marched down the street, one suddenly stopped. At first the other Myrmidons didn't notice but then they began looking back at the one who had stopped. The other six stepped back to the frozen one. One of the Myrmidons spoke something and reached out, his hand was suddenly grabbed and he was thrown to the ground. The Myrmidon that had stopped was moving again, towards the other five Myrmidons. The rouge Myrmidon had ripped apart all but two of his comrades before they managed to kill him.
Rick eyes flashed open and he took a deep breath. He looked out the store window and down the street to where two Myrmidons stood looking confused and lost.
"That was awesome!" whispered Tanner excitingly as he put his hand on Rick's shoulder.
"I can't believe you managed to take down four of them." Nelo said shaking his head.
Rick smiled and took another deep breath. It was hard work controlling creature's minds, and he could usually only hold on to them for a few minutes.
"Come on, this place will be crawling with Trackers and Myrmidons soon." Rick jumped from the window display and walked briskly to the back of the store; Tanner and Nelo close behind him.
They found the back exit and emerged into the ally. Rick scanned the map and pointed down the ally. The three of them took off running, quickly but silently.