They had all just finished coming up through the hole and into the city street. To Mel, Gally, Thomas and Newt the feeling of being in the Last City was mutual after they have already been inside before. But for Brenda, Jorge, and Frypan it was new and the trio were looking around, looks of awe as they glanceed around at everything they could. Mel gave an amused smile before helping Newt close up the entrance and together they all moved away from the busy life happening at the end of the street.
Gally had found an abandoned church on one of his past scouts and they decided that would be the best place to hide out while Thomas and him went to get Theresa. Everyone was hoping the plan would work the best it could for them. Otherwise there was no other backup, and any hope of getting their friend Minho would be gone. From what she had heard from Frypan on the night they shared stories, Minho seemed like a strong person. Strong but kind. And she was hopeful they could get him back.
Once they made their way inside the church Gally and Thomas were quick to leave, not wanting to waste any time and risk losing their chance. Everyone else was gathered up and going over any small details one last time.
Thomas, Newt and Gally were going to be inside with Theresa as they went to get Minho. Brenda and Mel were going to find a quick getaway, Brenda had noted the buses would be perfect for fitting all of them and anyone else found along the way. And Frypan would be on one of the giant cranes they spotted, to be their Plan B in case the bus didn't work out the way it intended. He was also their best eye in the sky.
After much arguing back and forth Brenda and Jorge agreed that he would be most helpful by going back and heading towards their hideout with what was left of the Right Arm, and alert their group about getting ready to leave once they were all back again.
"Nervous?" Brenda asked Mel seeing her pacing back and forth. Mel looked up only half paying attention after waiting was all they could do at the moment.
"What? Oh uh, just a little. Never really done anything like this before so." She responded trying to laugh it off.
Brenda nodded sympathetically and waved her over. They met up near the aisleway and Brenda pulled out her gun, unloaded. She handed it to Mel who only looked back at her in shock.
"Oh no I cant, shouldn't. I know nothing about them." She protested trying to hand it back but Brenda pushed her hand away. She looked to Newt for help but he only encouraged her with a nod.
"Yes you can. You should at least learn how to handle it and if the need comes, shoot it." She stood behind Mel and helped her bring her hands up, showing the proper ways of holding it and keeping her hand somewhat loose so she'd be more steady when firing.
They spent the next few minutes practicing together until Frypan came running inside. "Hey they're back, I'm pretty sure they have her."
Everyone gathered around as only seconds later Thomas was walking inside, his expression firm but he still looked a bit uneasy about it all. Gally was next and had a hooded figure in front of him that he was guiding in. Theresa.
Thomas brought over a chair for her to be put in as he came back towards the table everyone else was gathered at. Gally gave everyone a nod before pulling off the girls hood, revealing everyone to her, and her to them. She took a few shaky breaths as she tried to gather herself and figure out her surroundings. Seeing everyone again after betraying them, old feelings surfacing.
Mel watched her closely as she sat next to Newt, glancing at him and everyone when she could to gauge reactions.
"Gally?" Were the girls first words, which was acceptable since she and Minho were the only ones who didn't know yet that he had survived all this time.
But instead of acknowledging her surprise he went straight into business. "Here's how this is going to go." Gally started.
"We're going to ask you some questions, and your gonna tell us exactly what we need to know." He finished letting the room go silent a moment.
"We'll start off simple, where's Minho?" He asked as he took a chair and moved to sit in front of Theresa. But she only looked behind him toward Thomas and the others.
"Don't look at him." He interrupted right as she was about to say something, "Why are you looking at him, look at me."
Mel hadn't seem him this serious since the first few days after he arrived when they first met. When he didn't trust anyone yet. She knew he needed to be tough in this moment, but it still worried her a bit.
"We know you have Minho in a building. Where?" Gally started again.
Theresa looked down a moment before finally giving answers. "He's with the others in holding. Sub-level 3."
"How many are there?" Newt asked this time. When she responded with twenty-eight everyone looked to Mel and Brenda. Brenda only stared at Theresa as she spoke, "I can make that work."
Mel was glad they had decided to choose the buses for their transport. Theresa didn't seem to like that answer though.
"No you guys don't understand, the whole level is restricted. You can't get in without a thumbprint ID." She tried to reason, to tell them that all of this was a stupid idea.
Thomas interrupted her though, leaning forward in his chair. "That's why your coming with us."
"I don't know. We don't necessarily need her right?" Gally interjected as he began to stand. "We just need her finger." He finished as he picked up a blade.
"Gal" Mel started standing up herself, but Thomas beat her to it, taking the blade from him and setting it back on the table.
Theresa just shook her head. "Go ahead, it won't make a difference. You still won't get through the front door. Those sensors will pick you up-"
"I know, we're tagged. Property of WCKD" Thomas said interrupting her again. Mel looked to Newt's neck, remembering during their planning how they said they had trackers in their necks from WCKD before they were placed into the Maze. "Your gonna help us with that too."
Once everyone agreed she wouldn't just take off, the five boys stood nearby as she got to work on them making small incisions and pulling out the tiny tracker. Meanwhile Brenda and Jorge were saying their goodbyes. Mel was going through her bag one more time. Before they left into the city she had grabbed whatever supplies from Elise she thought they would need. An assortment of bandages, tape, and a small leftover vial of Lawrence's serum. When she was told about Brenda getting sick and being given her own serum, she wanted to have a back up just in case her or anyone else might need it. If they were going into a lab that was trying to cure cranks, she wanted to have some protection for them in the event of a worst case scenario.
"She enjoyed that." Gally said as he held a bandage to his neck coming back to sit next to everyone. Frypan and Newt joining shortly after. Mel could only grimace as she helped him finish cleaning up his neck from the small cut that was made. Checking Newt and Frypan next.
Brenda was finishing checking and loading all the weapons before handing them out to everyone as well as their walkies so they could all stay in touch. Fry had opened their bigger bag that held an assortment of uniforms that Lawrence's crew were able to nab during one of their excursions. Newt, Thomas and Gally all grabbed one and suited up before they were ready.
Mel walked over to Newt to make sure he was all set to go, his suit zipped and buttoned up properly. She looked him up and down before sighing with a sad smile. "We just got to say hello again, and now here we are saying goodbye already."
"Then don't think of it as goodbye." Newt offered putting his hand on her cheek. "We'll call it a 'see you soon'." Mel nodded and smiled before they hugged each other, both holding it as long as they could and whispering an 'I love you', before he walked over to meet Thomas.
She then moved on to Gally as he tried on the helmet to make sure it fit right. "Hey there soldier." She pulled off his helmet and smiled up at him. He grinned down at her in return, glad that she was here even though part of him would have felt better knowing she'd be safer on the other side of the walls. But he knew she needed this, and having the extra help would only increase their odds of success.
"You all take care of each other alright?" She said in a serious tone.
Gally was about to agree and say the same about her and Brenda before he was suddenly pulled down and his lips met hers. She felt hesitant about the decision at first, but in the end she knew it was as good a time as any to finally take the next step. It came as a shock to him and at first he was unsure of what to do, but it took only a second to wrap his arms around her and return the kiss.
They pulled away after a moment and she looked him in the eyes, "You find your friend, and you come back to me safe and sound." He nodded, a faint smile on his lips as he grabbed his helmet again.
Mel turned and her face flushed bright red as she saw everyone's eyes on her, having witnessed their moment just now. She cleared her throat and looked down to ignore them as she met up with Brenda who only gave her a comforting pat on the back as they grabbed the last of what they'd need.
Newt gave a look to Gally, his eyebrows raised in a serious look and pointed at him, "You and I are having a talk after all of this." He said in as much of a big brother tone he could. The two other boys chuckled before they all had their helmets on, gave their final goodbyes, and escorted Theresa out.
Jorge took off not long after, accompanied by Frypan as he headed towards the giant crane and began his ascent. Brenda and Mel were the last ones out as they carefully walked out of the church, looked down at their small map, and headed in the opposite direction, taking an alternate route to get to the buses.
Curfew had just started, the people on the streets were thinning out, becoming empty. Mel kept them as close to the shadowed buildings as possible, making sure they wouldn't be seen. They moved carefully in and out of various streets. She knew the boys would be inside by now, and heard the familiar voice of Thomas come through on their radio, asking how Fry was doing in his long trek upwards.
"Yea I'm getting there, tell Minho hi for me." He said through the walkie before going silent again.
"Hang in there buddy. Brenda what's your guys' status?" Thomas came through again.
They had just reached the garage as Brenda clicked the button to respond. "Status is working on it."
They moved through the different vehicles trying to decide which would be the best one to choose.
"Copy, make sure you two are ready on your end." Was Thomas' last words, Brenda responding with a "Don't worry you know we'll be there."
The two nodded at each other as they moved further in, watching the nearby guards move on and disappear.
Once a bus was chosen they stepped inside, a sigh of relief escaping Mel as they saw the keys to the bus hanging on a hook next to the door. Mel and Brenda took a seat, it was only a matter of time before they were up. Mel hoped they had Minho already and were making their way back down. They counted down the minutes until Brenda took the driver seat, turned the ignition and started the bus.
It was go time.