Ion Rose
The time for the information took much longer then expected. Aelita fell asleep on the bed while Nathan looked over Hackers shoulder. More then two hours passed and finally they made a break through into the data bases of the traders accounts.
"Okay, were through, all those encryptions took up all the time. But I've got the skills to get past those Fed. barriers." Hacker congratulated himself.
"I want to see their buyers, the slots, and the arrival point their doing this at ASAP." Nathan ordered.
"Cool your jets Mr. Drill Sergeant, with a simple click of the enter key….there you go." On the screen an entire file opened up with all the information they needed to know.
Countless buyers came up with their account numbers, all the slots filled or not were in numerical order, and a electronic letter for the recipients was at the end of the file. Nathan didn't show any change in his mood, but one could see in his eyes the joy of revenge so close to him. Hacker typed again and his printer came alive, several sheets were spit out and Nathan immediately took them. He fell sitting on the bed and shook Aelita awake, she rubbed her eyes of sleep before seeing him next to her. She saw the papers in his hands, something told her they got what they came for. Hacker sat slouched in his chair as he used a touch screen to check on his firewalls and system scanners.
All was going well when she heard Hacker cuss and had shock all upon his face. He then frantically went to all his computer screens and typed and pressed the screens as fast as he could.
"Shit! I've been tracked, you two leave now!" Hacker got up and slung his shot gun over his shoulder.
Nathan and Aelita rose up and got half way into the hallway when they heard the dogs bark viscously. The couple stopped as hacker stopped, he pushed the wall and out came a flipable console. There a mini screen with a big red button showed where he did his work and slammed the button before heading into the living room.
"What's going on!" Aelita felt scared and fearful of the dogs.
"Somehow those dam traders bugged Hackers system and now they'll be sending in someone to investigate. He warned me of this…" Nathan told her as his breathing increased and a sheen of sweat started to form on his face.
"Grandma, Grandpa I'm sorry but those ruffians are going to pass our street again." Hacker told them calmly and gently as possible.
"Oh my, why can't they stay by themselves and out of our streets…" the old lady talked to herself.
"Nathan pull your truck into the backyard and out of sight, go go!" Hacker hurried him out the door and went outside with him.
Aelita was confused, she felt safe but yet the black haired boy told him to be at her side not matter what. So what should she do? The pink haired girl went ahead and took a seat by the old man who seemed to not be affected by the situation at all. He made her feel safer seeing him drink from his cup and look into another section of the paper. She didn't have anything to do for the moment so, Aelita looked around the living room at its decorations and old TV set.
Outside, Nathan slung the door open and jumped in with the keys in. After he got the truck to start, he floored it into the overgrown yard as his friend chained the small gates closed. The little green Izuzu ground to a halt on the wet grass, he almost came too close to the fence slamming on the brake. In the process, his head hit the steering wheel causing a slight cut. The man got out and closed the door after getting the all clear by Hacker at the end of the house. Both ran inside and locked the doors as fast as they got in.
Aelita jumped up and ran to Nathan holding his arm, he held her as they all awaited their blocks dogs to sound out. Hacker stood at the window shades attentively with gun in hand, he looked scared very scared. The old grandparents though went on as usual, nothing got their attention. Nathan guided Aelita to a recliner close to the hallway and away from the windows before joining Hacker at the blinds.
"Are the other neighbors alerted now?" Nathan whispered as his eyes scanned the road.
"Ya, they all know whether they heard the dogs or not." Hacker said afraid and happy all at the same time.
"I don't know, when they pass I'm thinking of meeting up with vipers and finish this up once and for all." Nathan said.
"What about backup, you gonna call the police? What about her?" he pointed with his eyes at the girl shaking in the seat.
"She'll be safe with you and your grandparents, we both know that this is the best block there is in this city. I will not put her in danger, this is not her battle." He said scornfully.
"Got it man, but one more thing. If you don't make it back where is she going to go?" the computer informant looked puzzled.
"Give her a phone and she'll do the rest. I'll give you the call after I've head in and you'll see this on the news. You hear of deaths and me among them you know what happens next man." Nathan looked away from the blinds to her, he looked sad thinking of the negative outcome.
"Your going to have to tell her all of this you know?" Hacker jerked his head to her, Nathan nodded and left his friends side.
"Aelita I need to talk to you, follow me." He helped her up by hand and took her to Hackers room, where he closed the door.
"Jesus what's wrong with Nathan?" the old lady asked with a cup of coffee in her hand.
"Nothing grandma, he's just a little…trapped right now." Hacker told her nicely.
Nathan sat her on the bed as he took the desk chair, at the moment Aelita didn't know what to expect. But his face gave an impression to her that this wasn't going to be good.
"Aelita, do you want to know what I've been doing after the others arrived?" he asked her simply as possible.
"Uhh….sure?" she said in an unsure tone.
"I've been deceitful to everyone, I believe though that no one really noticed me so that's good." He said and Aelita jumped in.
"What are you talking about, Guerrmo and Terra were worried about you. The others well…they did give you some thought…" Nathan cut her off.
"Stop okay just stop, as if I care about any of them anymore. All besides the point, I became reclusive and distant on purpose because I've been watching them. Those men have been drawing closer to this place for their return, more girls are going to get hurt. So I decided to join an underground group dedicated to tracking and revealing Slave Traders. For the past couple of years after classes I've been talking to them, planning with them, and helping them as well as listening. This group has kept records on the ones who took my sister and…I've learned that she's still alive." He sighed out.
"She's…alive!" Aelita gasped.
"Yes, a servant of one of the crime lords organizing the trading guild that took her. Well to sum it all up, I along with a tactical squad are going into the check in facility and kill the leaders. We will call the police upon the first engagement, secure my sister and any other girls and take them to a security point where our undercover FBI friends will take it from there as we leave in a van undetected. My sister will be saved and taken in, I'll get to see her without her knowing it was me in the fight. Why I'm telling you this…is because the chances of me and the viper squad making it out without losses is very slim. I may die there…" he finally finished what he wanted to say.
After he wiped away the tension caused sweat, he looked to Aelita. His feeling of accomplishment was thrown away upon seeing her awed face, her wide open eyes, and still pose. He tapped her on the shoulder trying to snap her out of it, he succeeded by got a slap in the face for it.
"Your going to risk your life!" she shouted in his face.
He couldn't respond to her, for fear of making things more complicated then ever.
"So what am I going to do huh! Stay here forever!" she rolled her eyes.
"If I don't call back in half an hour after I've given the entry signal then Hacker will be more then gladly to had you a phone to get the others to pick you up. Here are the directions for them." He told her taking out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.
"You might die…" she began to cry, she looked to the floor as her hands grasped the bed sheets.
"I've been protecting you since the day you came into my life. Its time you let someone else be the protectee." He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
But the woman slapped him away from her and continued to sulk. He felt bad but it had to be done, the police go by the book and the men he was after would more then likely get away. So he and the others would take matters into their own hands and go into the lions den. Nathan let out a big sigh and started to get up, he looked at her as his guilt swarmed into his heart. Before he knew it she was upon him, her arms squeezed him tightly as the force of her weight on him sat them both down to the desk chair with a thump. He was overwhelmed with shock as her grip tightened like a Boa's death hold. She weeped into his chest loudly, her coughs and cries vibrated into his body. In response he hugged her back hoping to calm her, but as he did she lifted her tearful face. Both their eyes locked and their chests sucked in from the feelings of unexplainable thoughts.
He didn't hear himself say this to her, "If I could give you a symbol of my love, I'd give you an Ion blue colored rose, so bright and everlasting energy that never flays under the elements." Smiling to her.