For Bonsaiiiiiiii who asked for a spin of the prompt generator for Kayo. We got Broken Ribs + Hiding.
She winced, clasping her side as she attempted to run whilst doubled over. Not the best idea with broken ribs, but she really had no choice.
She needed to get out of there.
The whole operation had gone south almost from the moment she had arrived. What it should have been was reconnoitring a meeting between two criminal gangs, one wanting to buy black market Alsterene. What it turned into was a high profile hit of one crime family on another. She'd barely escaped being shot, only to have a stack of warehouse crates fall on her. Jumping to the side meant that at least she wasn't pinned, but the crate that had caught her side had done enough damage for her to cry out.
They now knew a third party was present, and they were systematically searching for her. The warehouse was huge, with multiple offices and several store rooms, and at the moment Kayo was relieved that at least she hadn't been shot or there would be a blood trail. She knew that she just needed to keep hidden long enough for the check-in time to pass, then the GDF would be there.
Pressing herself as flat as possible against the wall as she heard voices yelling on the other side. She watched torchlight flashing across the opposite wall and held her breath. The thundering feet passed by the room she was in and Kayo slid to the floor, carefully, and sighed in relief.
Scott was frustratedly pacing the floor. Something was not right; he could feel it, like a dog gnawing on a bone the feeling was eating away at him. Because his Scooter Sense was off the scale, yet all his brothers were present and accounted for. The only person missing was Kayo, off helping the GDF follow up the Hood's attempted theft of the Alsterene. He hadn't wanted her to go, had argued (again), but he had known it was a losing battle from the moment Colonel Casey had asked for her particularly. Kayo was never one to back down.
So Scott paced. And paced. Gordon had come in, stood watching him for a full five minutes before laughing and leaving. Alan had popped his head around the door and left immediately. Only John and Virgil stayed, John floating somewhere to Scott's left..his right…his left, Virgil on a couch, both just watching in barely concealed amusement.
He didn't know what was wrong with him. Kayo did crazy things all the time, it wasn't even the first time she'd worked for the GDF. But ever since Scott had seen her about to be pancaked on the ground…no, something about all this tonight was wrong.
'For the fourth time, John, will you please call her!'
'And say what, Scott? That you don't trust her?'
'Of course I trust her, that's not the problem. Something's wrong, John, damn it, and if you don't call her I'm just going to go get her!'
'I don't thing Aunt Val would like that, Scott, not to say Kayo would either.'
'I know, Virg, I know. But I gotta do something!'
'Ok, Scott, I'll call her. But you owe me.'
'Thanks, John.'
The call came whilst a second group were passing the room she'd chosen to hide in. It didn't look like a room from the outside, she'd almost missed it in her hurry to hide, and Kayo held her breath again as light played across the wall. Only for her comms to activate. Cursing John's sense of timing as usual, she flicked the call away. Thank god her comms didn't light up, or that could have been an issue. Although swiping John away was going to cause its' own problem but at least that one wouldn't get her killed.
They passed again, and another sigh of relief passed her lips. She should probably find a new hiding place now and Kayo was just reaching for the door when her comms went again. And deep down she knew that if she didn't answer it this time it would turn out to be Scott. That man was heading for a breakdown and she didn't want to add to it.
Sure enough it was Scott who appeared, looking stressed as usual. She couldn't resist an eye roll, and immediately she saw Scott's shoulders relax ever so slightly. 'Shhh! Your timing is atrocious!' His shoulders immediately tensed up again, but he didn't say anything. Kayo returned to the wall that had served her well, failing to hide the wince as her ribs moved. Please say he didn't see that.
Scott saw the wince cross her face. From what little he could see of her it appeared she had some damage to her ribs, and he was immediately angry again. It was supposed to be a simple reconnaissance operation, no one was supposed to get hurt. Even John and Virgil had noticed by the frowns on their faces.
'Do you need me to come?' The question hung in the air as she considered. Having Scott here was not a good idea, but the GDF wouldn't be around to help her for possibly a good hour. Kayo was under no illusions – she was good, but not that good.
'We're on our way.' Oh, apparently her silence had been taken for an answer and Scott had already disappeared. Damn. Under different circumstances that would be infuriating, but her breathing was becoming increasingly painful and just a small part of her was relieved. She wasn't on her own. One would take less than 15 minutes, and Scott said 'we' so he'd be bringing back-up. Hopefully Gordon. Possibly Virgil.
She sank back to the floor. And waited.