Chapter 7: Costume Party
"Shit. We've got a problem." a slim transgenic woman with short, spiky hair and alabaster skin sitting at the computer monitors on the platform that Sierra just vacated calls out loudly.
The lizard-like transgenic from before that Alec called Mole (and that I now realize is the architect of that terrible drink from last night) noisily clomps his boots up on the table and leans back in his chair. He still has a cigar hanging from the corner of his mouth.
"Define 'problem.'" he says.
"Someone get Max." the girl at the computers replies.
"Oh, good. Something fun." Mole grins around the cigar. Leaning back further he yells down the hall towards Max's office, "Princess! You and Fearless Leader done with the foreplay yet?"
I hate that a spike of jealousy twists my guts at his words. Seriously, what is wrong with me?
Alec appears back in the hallway. He sends Mole a smirk as he walks back over, "Mole, buddy, we talked about this jealousy thing of yours. The two of us would never work."
"I know." Mole agrees, "I'm outta your league."
"Guys!" the woman at the monitors snaps before Alec can continue the banter, "No time."
"What's up, Switch?" Max asks as she appears out of her office, wasting no time in climbing up the steps to join her.
The girl, Switch, taps on the keyboard and a news station fills the screen. The sound is turned off, but the reporter is standing in front of a hotel blockaded by police and the scroll at the bottom of the screen reads "Breaking News: Transgenics Hold Motel Guests Hostage in Sector 2."
"Looks like another situation like what went down at Jam Pony." Switch says, "Only thing holding the cops off is the hostages. I'm sure White's people are on their way. If we want to get our people out, we'll need to move fast."
Max nods quickly, leaning over the back of Switch's chair to look closer at the screen.
"Then let's get moving." she orders, "I'll need a team of X-series ready to roll out in 5."
"And how do you plan on getting them out without having a shootout?" Alec questions, "I'd prefer not to get shot this time."
Max looks down at him with a confident grin, "I've got a plan."
Alec groans, "I'm definitely going to get shot again."
"Shut up and get the team together." she snaps, glaring at him, "We don't have much time. Jess, Kira, I know you guys are new here, but I'd appreciate the help."
"You got it." I nod.
Her urgency reminds me of my own when Kira and I made our escape from Manticore.
"Come on, 772. We don't have much time." I urged.
"I know." she replied, hurrying after me.
I hurriedly shoved all of our supplies into a few bags. We were on a mission and were due to return soon, but we weren't going to return. Not ever, if things went my way.
But that meant we had to get as far from our current location as possible, quickly. Manticore wouldn't waste any time sending a team after us when we failed to report in.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Always." she grinned.
I knew she wasn't too sure about this, but she had never let me down before. She wouldn't abandon me now. And, I hoped, soon she would understand why we had to do this.
"Let's go."
"Okay, people, let's go." Max finishes her quick mission briefing and everyone begins to move out.
I blink, shaking off the memory, and follow suit. I've only been here a couple days and they're already trusting me with a mission. I will not screw this up.
Alec suddenly appears next to me, falling in step with me as I follow the others towards the garage.
"She's crazy. This isn't going to work." he grumbles, looking to me for agreement.
"We'll make it work." I reply firmly and increase my pace in an attempt to leave him behind and catch up with Kira.
Alec increases his own pace to match mine. I sigh in defeat. I know it's childish to try to avoid him, but it's too hard to keep my head in the game when he's right next to me. Maybe he doesn't feel the same way, but this morning was kind of a revelation for me and, if the continued irrational feelings I keep having are any indication, he's got me totally spun. I can't just pretend everything is the same as before.
"What's wrong?" he asks, as if sensing my thoughts or maybe just my frustration at being unable to avoid him.
"Nothing." I lie because now is really not the time to get into this.
"Don't lie to me." he says sharply, stopping dead in his tracks.
I stop, too, looking at him in surprise. I didn't think a simple lie would upset him so much.
"Look, let's talk about this later. We've got enough to worry about right now." I level with him as much as I can.
He nods reluctantly, visibly going into mission mode, becoming 494 again. I do the same. Kira's holding the door of a van open for me and I hop inside with her, Sierra, and the others. It's crowded inside with all the other X-series. I pull my knees into my chest and lean back against the door, trying to take up the least amount of space possible. Alec climbs into the passenger seat next to Max. A carefully staged distraction at the perimeter gives us just enough of an opening to sneak out and soon we're driving through the city. I spend the trip reviewing the plan over and over in my head, making sure I know exactly what I have to do. Suddenly, the van stops.
"Motel is three blocks east, just the other side of a checkpoint. Everyone make your own way over and be careful." Max says as she opens the side door for us to get out.
I nod. I wait for Kira to join me before we head off towards the motel, taking a slightly different approach from the others. We're stealthy and silent as we sneak around the checkpoint, stopping only when we reach the building across the street from our destination. It almost feels like we're back on another recon mission.
Police swarm around the building like angry ants, which is both good and bad news for us. At least there's no sign of the unmarked black vehicles that Max said would signal Agent White's arrival.
I single out two officers that are walking our way, coming to retrieve something from their squad car. I point them out to Kira who nods in agreement. We wait for them to come closer, then quickly make our move, simultaneously snatching both men and dragging them quickly back into the shadows between the buildings before they can even cry out in alarm. We knock them out and strip them of their uniforms before leaving them bound and gagged in as discreet a spot as possible. Moments later, Kira and I are dressed as police officers and cautiously approaching the scene.
Max's plan is almost recklessly simple. The alpha team will assume the role of a police infiltration team so they can try to inconspicuously enter the building. Once they're on the inside, they can get the transgenics out under the guise of being their prisoners. Then, it will all be a matter of timing and an awful lot of luck. We'll be damn lucky if we aren't made before we can get out. I really hope this is our lucky day.
We remain on the outskirts of the police barricade, using all our skills to remain unnoticed. I spot Max and Alec on the other side of the police perimeter, wearing police tactical gear. I watch them closely, waiting for Max to make her move.
Kira and I are part of the beta or support team, keeping track of the movements of the alpha team and the activity on the outside of the motel. We're back-up in case things go sideways as well as their eyes and ears. Somewhere on the other side of the building are two more Xs with the same job.
Max and Alec begin to move in, circling to the side of the building, and I can see her speaking into her radio although I don't hear her on the channel my own pilfered equipment is tuned to. The rest of the alpha team starts moving quickly. Sierra and another X-series take the direct opposite side of the building. Two more come in from the roof of the motel. The rest of the police force visibly tense at the activity. I can't tell if it's because they aren't sure what's going on and are suspicious or if it's because they're nervous about what will happen with the trapped transgenics inside. I pray for the latter.
Kira taps my arm for attention and nods in the direction of a nearby rooftop. I focus my eyesight in that direction and spot X6-356/Bryan waving to us from his position. He gives the all clear signal, but warns that his side of the perimeter is tightening. The police are getting anxious.
"Hurry up, Max." I mutter, turning my focus back to the motel.
I can see through a pair of glass doors into a dingy main lobby, but can't see anyone. The transgenics inside would know not to stand in such an exposed area. The rest of the windows on the 2-story building are either boarded up or have curtains pulled shut over them. We're flying pretty blind for the time being, but I try to reassure myself that the alpha team knows to send us a signal if they're in trouble. However, that does nothing to calm my nerves. I force myself not to fidget, but can't keep from biting my lip. My eyes dart everywhere, trying to keep track of everything. I listen carefully for any bad noises like a scream or the sound of a gun being cocked. All I can hear is the sound of nervous cops talking, the crackling orders coming through the radio, and the voice of the policeman talking through a megaphone to the transgenics inside, hoping to get them to engage in a dialogue. So far, so good.
The minutes pass with agonizing slowness. The police are now demanding that Max's team tell them what is going on inside. She's making no reply. The police are starting to wonder if they should send someone else in. I signal over to Bryan that another tactical team is starting to suit up on our side of the building.
Suddenly, the radio crackles to life with Alec's voice.
"It's okay. We got them. Repeat, situation all clear. Stand down. Sending out the hostages, then we'll bring out the prisoners."
I almost sigh with relief, but I know that we aren't safe yet. I watch as people start to appear in the lobby. The hostages burst through the doors and run to the safety afforded them by the sector police.
That's when I'm distracted by the sound of vehicles, lots of them. I turn and see numerous black vehicles pulling up.
"Agent White and his men have arrived." I report through my radio, trying to keep my voice level, like I'm just a cop providing intel and not warning the others of an approaching threat.
I don't know much about this White guy, but from what little I've heard I know that this is bad, very bad. We have to get out of here before he recognizes one of our team and the whole operation is blown.
"Requesting prisoner transport to back up to the lobby doors." Alec suddenly announces on the radio.
"Why? What's going on in there?" demands the policeman who's been talking on the megaphone, apparently the guy in charge.
"Just don't want to risk any problems with the prisoners, sir. You know what they are." Alec responds with the appropriate amount of disdain in his voice.
But underneath that I can detect the urgency he's feeling. I feel it, too. Just give him the damn transport already!
"Alright. Hang tight in there." the police commander finally agrees.
Agonizingly slowly, a prisoner transport vehicle backs towards the doors. At the same time, the man I figure must be White is making his way towards the police commander, his men in tow.
The alpha team and what look like a group of panicked X6s from the glimpse I get pile into the vehicle with amazing speed. Max appears in the driver seat and I see White's eyes narrow in recognition. Max stamps down on the gas just as White raises the alarm. Max barrels her way through the police barricade as the police fire frantically at the vehicle. White swears loudly as the vehicle disappears down the street and quickly hurries back to his car to follow. Kira and I quickly withdraw.
Once we are out of plain sight, we run as fast as we can back to the van. Bryan and his partner, an X5 named Kiley, are already there. We quickly pile in and Del, the X5 who's been waiting with the van, punches the gas, heading at breakneck speed back towards Terminal City. What happens to Max, Alec, the X6s, and the others is out of our hands now. All we can do is hope that Max is able to lose White and the police.
The only problem is that we have to make sure we get to Terminal City first. If Max beats us there, then White will be waiting at the gates for us. That's why Del is driving so fast.
"Look! It's Max!" Kiley says, pointing out the window.
I look and see that sure enough, Max has just pulled out onto the street behind us. And right on her tail is White.
"Hurry up, Del!" Bryan urges.
"This is as fast as this stupid thing can go!" Del snaps back in frustration, "What do you want me to do? Get out and push?"
"Just shut up and drive." Bryan orders, "We've only got 2.4 miles left to T.C."
"What's up, Beta team?"
I jump in surprise. I forgot we still have radios. I grab mine in order to reply to Alec.
"Just wishing you could've lost that guy for us." I reply.
"Not that easy. White's not the kinda guy to just let us skip on home. Got to ask you, you feel like doing something kinda risky?"
"Always. What do you have in mind?"
"You guys armed?"
"Of course."
"How good is your aim?"
"Tell him not to worry about it." Kiley replies, already readying a weapon.
"What do you need us to do?" I ask.
"Drop back and take out White's tires. It probably won't stop him, but it'll take him a minute to regain control of the car at this speed. Should give us enough time to get the hell out of here. Problem is, you miss and he'll have you. He's armed, too, you know, and you do not want to get into with these guys. I don't think he knows you guys are with us just yet, but bring him down with your first shot or you're screwed." Alec warns.
"Got it." Kiley nods.
"We've got it, Alec." I relay into the radio.
"See you back home, guys. Out." Alec says and his end of the radio clicks off.
I switch off my end as well. That was a risky conversation. Police had to have heard it all. And while the police already know that we played them, White could be listening in, too. Even if he's not, the police are sure to try and warn him. We don't have a second to lose.
"Come on. We've got to do this before the police give White the head's up!" I warn.
The others instantly realize what I just did. Del slams on the brakes, then releases them, almost instantly dropping us back behind Max. A few seconds later and we're even with White.
Kiley punches out the van window and takes aim through it. I can see her eyes focus in on White's front tire, her gun training on the target, compensating for the motion of the van. Then, I see the guy next to White spot her.
"Now!" I yell.
Kiley fires. The tire explodes just as the guy next to White is pulling out a gun of his own. White's car swerves out of control and Del has to swerve to avoid being hit by it. We are quickly past White and out of range before he gets control of the car. I grin, feeling the adrenaline pumping through me.
"Nice shot." I congratulate Kiley.
"Yeah, nice work, partner." Bryan agrees with a bright smile, looking at the older X-series with open admiration.
"Celebrate later. We're not home yet." Del silences us as he whips around a turn and we all have to brace ourselves to keep from being thrown to the side.
Moments later we arrive back at Terminal City. The scene at the perimeter is chaotic, likely from Max's arrival, and we don't hesitate to barrel right through it. There's no time for subtlety at the moment. Luckily, they don't seem prepared for a second speeding vehicle and we don't meet any resistance. The main gates open to let us through and slam shut as soon as we are past. Max is just opening the back doors of the prisoner transport for the alpha team to get out as we pull up behind her. She smiles brightly at us and gives us a thumbs up.
I jump out of the van and take stock of all the gunshot marks on the police vehicle we stole. Good thing it's an armored vehicle.
"Knew I could count on you guys." Alec says as he jumps out of the back of the vehicle.
"We had your back." I nod, still smiling from our successful completion of the mission.
"Care for a celebratory drink? My treat." he offers.
I shoot him a pointed look. He holds up his hands and grins.
"No Mother's Milk, I swear." he adds.
"Well, okay...but only if you're buying for everyone. We are a team after all."
Alec groans.
"You sure are a pain in the wallet." he says.
"I have expensive tastes." I offer.
"Whatever. We'll just say that you owe me some assistance when it comes time for me to supplement my income." he declares.
I roll my eyes and ignore him.
"Hey, guys! Successful mission drinks are on Alec!" I call out to everybody.
That comment manages to get most of our team headed towards the bar. Max lingers behind, talking to the newest inhabitants of Terminal City, the four X6s we rescued. Kira stands with her back resting against the van as she waits for me. I motion for her to come with us as Alec and I head off.
"Coming Maxie?" Alec calls.
"Raincheck. Let's just say you owe me one." she replies.
Alec rolls his eyes and jerks a thumb back towards Max.
"That's Max for you. I swear, she's getting as bad as Logan. Never has any fun." he turns to me and grins, "So, how do you feel about guys in uniform?"
I look him up and down, taking in the sight of Alec in a police uniform.
"Doesn't suit you." I say finally, "Maybe you should try something more...janitorial?"
I smirk as he shoots me an outraged look. I even hear Kira snort at my remark. I grin at her.
"We look like we're going to a police bar, don't we?" I ask, noting that the whole team is still in stolen uniforms as I walk into the bar.
"Nah. More like a costume party. None of us would really work for the long arm of the law." Kira replies.
I'm pleased to see she's lightening up in Alec's company.
"Could be a smart idea. Pretend you're tracking down burglars when you're really making the robberies yourself." Alec muses.
"I wouldn't be surprised if half the cops are pulling that already." Kira sniffs in reply.
Kira has never liked the police. She said once they remind her of Manticore, but are much too sloppy to deserve any of the respect she has for the military operation.
"What'll you girls have?" Alec asks.
"Water's alright." Kira shrugs.
"Got any soda?" I ask.
"Not much, but I'll see what I can do." Alec nods.
He leaves to go get our drinks from the bar.
"Not letting him get you drunk again?" Kira asks coldly.
I frown. I guess it was too much to hope that she hadn't overheard Max yelling at Alec about that earlier. And apparently her previous attitude was only temporary and we really aren't over the argument we had before.
"I got myself drunk, thank you. And no, I don't care for another hangover. Especially not this early."
"I'm still not too sure about him, Jess." Kira says, glancing in his direction, eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"I know. But if you could just give him a chance..." I plead.
It's so hard not to have her approval. She's supported me in everything, even leaving Manticore. I can deal with everyone else thinking I'm wrong or making a mistake, I'm used to that, but to have my best friend disapprove is really a blow. Kira must see the unhappiness in my eyes because she sighs heavily.
"I'll try." she relents.
I smile. I know that if she'll just give Alec a chance, he'll show her that he isn't the heartless, arrogant bastard she thinks he is. I just know it.