Rock and a Hard Place: Chapter 5
Author's note: Another week, and Chapter 5 is now here. Although the girls might be trying to get out of VENOM's way, they won't be out of the battle for some time to come, so keep reading and reviewing! J
Manta, Piranha, and Jackhammer pull back up to the mine, after escorting a shipment to a nearby secure storage facility.
"Can't Mayhem find somebody else for this babysitting job? We go back'n forth all day...and for what a pile of stink'n rocks." Rax huffed irritated.
"I thought this stuff was worth actual money?" Dagger scratched his head.
"Only if somebody wants to invest in pet rocks," Rax half-heartedly laugh with is reply.
Dagger looked at Rax expressionless, "I use to have a whole bunch of them, me mother wouldn't let me have a pet."
Vanessa and Rax stared at Dagger with slight disbelief and couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Anyways," Vanessa tried to remove the image of Dagger trying to walk his pet rocks, then again his head was filled with them, "If you knew anything about chemistry, you'd understand this form of metal is very dense and hard. It can withstand a great deal of pressure and is difficult to scratch or puncture. This is just what we need to reinforce our vehicle's armor. We'd be practically invincible on the battlefield. Besides a few more days well have enough to satisfy our objective."
"That ain't good enough," Rax snorted, "Eh Dagger, let's go make our slaves work double time, else we're gonna sacrifice their pay for the week." Dagger and Rax laugh venomously as they headed back into the mines.
Vanessa was about to head towards her personal tent, until she noticed a track left from a bike etched into the dirt. She knelt down examining the track. None of the workers had any motorize vehicles, and Piranha would leave at least 3 sets of tracks. Somebody was definitely snooping around, but she didn't know who. She calmly traced the track that leaded towards an area containing transport trucks, yet oddly enough the tracks stop in the middle of nowhere. Vanessa crossed her arms and glanced about cautiously to see if anybody was watching. Her boot dug into the ground, and then lightly kicked some dirt in the direction of where the tracks had halted. She was slightly amuse to find out her suspicion was correct, when some of the dirt bounced off a hidden object.
Roxanne had been waiting impatiently for Annie; instead of surveying her surroundings she had chose to drive closer for better visual images. Once Vanessa had stepped up towards her vehicle, she froze completely. Her eyes shifted towards Vanessa curiously. What would she do? Call for back up, ignore her, or maybe she doesn't even know. Roxanne knew if she budged her bike an inch she'd notice. Something had hinted her into this direction it wasn't a coincidence.
"I heard rumors...but I didn't imagine they were true," Vanessa started speaking casually into the air. "Since when is the PNA that desperate to hire convicts into their little nest."
Roxanne just remained silent as she just listened. It was obvious her cover was blown, but Vanessa seemed to be more or less toying with her. I wonder if she'll walk away if I don't reply. Then again she's waiting for me to make a move.
"You may be doing this as some sort of redemption, but these people never forget. Annie after all is living proof of that."
Roxanne bit back her tongue, if anything Vanessa always had a way with words. She always knew just what a person needed to hear, or how to twist it around in her own favor. How true those words stung in her ears. Annie despite her family background is the ideal PNA agent loyal, dedicated, and looks down on anyone who defiles the law past, present, and future. You can never redeem yourself in the eyes of the PNA you'll always be the scum of the earth. The only person who completely trusted her is Jess. She's never afraid to take risks. Scott and Matt both respected re-known leaders of MASK still show doubt in her character, yet hope by making her apart of this team it would further reform her.
"I know why you won't comeback, but you need to make a choice where you belong. Nobody can live on both sides of the fence. You'll fall off eventually."
Roxanne was shocked. She knows.... she knows I've been working the underground. I guess I shouldn't be too surprise, she would be the first person to find out. I wonder who else knows?
"I'm warning you, before it's too late," Vanessa added as she turned her back and headed towards her personal tent.
"I know, but a deal is a deal." She says silently to herself. My life for his.
Sly Rax noticed her immediately upon entering the mineshaft to check upon the digging operations, and he glanced over at the two Contra World guards he had left as overseers to see their reaction. They too seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on the girl, and as Rax watched her from the entryway, he couldn't help an amused smile. He had to admit that her acting job would have been almost perfect if her unconscious movements hadn't given her away. Oh yes, Rax had studied those moves for many years in great detail...only one other person had a build like that, and only one other person moved with such catlike gracefulness. Yeah, he had to give the kid some credit; she'd even gone so far as to dye her hair. Kid doesn't realize how much like her mother she is I bet...it's almost too bad I'm gonna have to blow her cover.
Using his own stealth skills, he walked up behind her as she stood up and started to back away from the large vein of ore. The black man paid Rax only a cursory glance before going back to digging. Watching where the man's look was directed, she turned just in time for Rax's hands to clamp down heavily on her shoulders as he commented casually. "Nice find."
Her body stiffened, which was the only outward sign of recognition that he received. Hazel eyes stared at him from a face with the blankest expression he had ever seen, and he smiled in amusement at the drastic steps she'd taken to disguise herself. He found himself wondering how much concentration she was using to keep the act up as he steered her toward the exit to ground level, moving his firm grip to both arms. "Let's you and me take a walk to celebrate,"
Rax thought even the hidden innuendo might gauge a reaction, but her face remained blank as they re-entered the open air. He did notice that she shot a glance straight ahead and slightly to the left before he led her to the right, toward a man made pond they used for washing. He leaned over and whispered maliciously into her ear, "I know who you are."
Before she could react, Rax picked her up by both arms and tossed her unceremoniously into the pond, grinning in satisfaction as wet red hair revealed itself through the rivers of black water streaming down her head. He reached over to yank her out of the water, getting a surprise when she grabbed his arm and pulled herself out, then used the added leverage to throw him in as she took off running. By that point, he was beyond amused and into enraged as he sprinted after her.
Annie headed away from the mining site with Rax trailing behind her. Roxy where are you? I kind of need a lift. Right now would be all the more convenient!
"I know how to slow ya down, Stiletto FIRE!" Rax's mask shot out two darts. One missed and ricocheted off a nearby rock; the other went straight into Annie's back left leg. She yelped out in pain as the dart penetrated her back leg, then stumbled over her own feet and crash into the ground. She could hear Rax's snickering under his mask. "And where do you think your going little lady? It's rather rude to disappear before staying hello to the rest of the gang, especially when you came all this way to visit your mother."
"Oh forgive me where are my manners you over grown wolf. Besides I wouldn't take time out of my busy schedule to visit that wench if she was on her death bed," She huffed as she sat up, pulled her knees inward, and yanked the dart out. She bit her lip to hold back a painful scream, but she wasn't about to show any weakness in front of him. Blood dripped from her wound, yet she still gripped the dart firmly hidden in her hand ready to strike at a moment notice.
"Yeah know, if we keep meeting like this Annie," he cautiously approached her, "I'm going start thinking I'm the only man in your life."
"Thanks for the offer, but that position kind of already been filled. I hear Roxy still looking thought," she mocked.
"Ah well Roxy always been a kid sister...you on the other hand are the closest thing to a Vanessa look like."
"If you're trying to impress me, you better try again, because I don't find that very flattering, "An odd thought crossed Annie's mind as a wolfish smile similar to Vanessa's appeared on her face. "You must be soooo jealous...and I didn't think you were the jealous type," she taunted.
"I ain't jealous!" Rax growled as his friendly tone changed into more of a threat, "Now get up off your feet."
"I can't get up, you paralyzed my leg with your stiletto dart." She attempted to stand up, but her leg shook violently with the pressure then instantly collapsed back to the ground.
Rax slightly grumbled as he stood over her, "Give me your hand."
Annie reached out her hand, but as he grabbed it she stabbed him in the leg with his own dart. His body slump to the ground as the dart hit a puncture point that rendered his entire leg useless. Annie couldn't help a sharp bark of laughter. "You're losing your touch, Rax, that's one of the oldest tricks in the book. Don't treat your enemies so kindly next time," She warned as she pulled herself up and limped away.
"COME BACK HERE YA STUPID BITCH!" Rax shouted. He couldn't feel his leg and was uncertain what would happen if he removed the dart. He then radioed in for help, "We got an agent snooping around pass the water hole. I need back up now!"
Roxanne also received the radio feed, "Annie what the heck are you doing! You were supposed to make a quick in and out not get caught!" Roxanne turned the bike around and took Chameleon out of stealth mode. Cliff Dagger and Vanessa headed in Rax's direction, but also took notice of Chameleon speeding pass them. She halted the bike right in front of the incapacitated Rax and shouted, "ANNIE! WHERE ARE YOU!"
"Hey what ya worried about her for? I'm the one injured." Rax hollered.
Roxanne smiled softly to Rax under her mask, "She's sort of my insurance policy, if you know what I mean." She then continued driving on further, "Oh Annie...oh Annie where art thou..."
"WILL YOU CUT THAT OUT!" Annie shouted as she popped up out of ditch and limped over towards her. "You'll give always our position."
"Kind of too late for that, since you gave it away first." Roxanne reminded.
Annie hopped on the back of Chameleon, ignoring Roxy's comment for the moment. "Let's get out of here!" Roxanne put Chameleon back into Stealth mode and headed back towards Phoenix's location.
Vanessa and Dagger stood over Rax both with their arms cross. "What the hell happen?" Vanessa shouted.
"What does it look like happened, the bitch stabbed me and got away."
"Shouldn't we go after them?" Dagger asked.
"It's pointless Chameleon stealth capabilities can't be met, and we don't have the proper equipment to track it. They were just on a recon mission, next time they'll be back with a full force."
"Sounds like you know all about this, fail to inform us about something?" Rax replied irritated.
"I just discovered Chameleon snooping around, if I had radioed for help it would of alarmed Roxy to do something drastic. Looks like you manage to do a good job of that yourself."
"Yeah well your lovely daughter left me with a parting gift."
Vanessa knelt down and pulled the dart out of Rax leg, "Well I wouldn't expect anything less with the amount of training she received in those mountains."
Vanessa's last comment was tinged with just a hint of pride that Rax picked up on, "Wrong time to decide to be a proud mommy ----OUCH!" Rax yelled as Vanessa punished his retort by ripping the stiletto out of his leg. "I didn't ask you to take it out, you could of..."
"Acupuncture. If you'd taken it out sooner, I'm sure you might of stop her from escaping. We need to warn Mayhem and step up production before they come back."