Chapter 12

The Freeway

Anderson stood on the clifftop, staring through the hi-power binoculars. The cliff wasn't far from the Eraser's camp, and it made a good spot for recon. Pine trees stretched in every direction, bathed in noontime sunlight. Walker, Hall, and King stood behind him doing recon of their own. The camp seemed quite peaceful. Suddenly, Anderson tensed and put a hand to his white earpiece. The communication being fed through the coiled white wire reached his ear. He frowned and spoke one word to his colleagues.

" Wolf."

Then their bodies seemed to go through an intense seizure, their faces stretching and contorting. Then all that was left on the cliff were four very confused SWAT officers.

Four Erasers at the camp simultaneously clutched their furry heads, which were stretching and going very pale. Their eyes turned black and their faces snapped into the familiar visages of the four Agents. Anderson looked over just in time to see Wolf, Nudge, and Terri sprint into the Cadillac. The four Erasers pulled out their Desert Eagles exactly at the same moment and let a volley of shots off at the fleeing car. The noise was immense. A cacaphony of loud gunshots ripped through the clearing, the noise of which would have deafened any human not wearing ear protection. A handful of magnum rounds managed to penetrate the cars trunk. Anderson holstered the gun.

" Find them and destroy them!" he yelled to Hall and King, who in a flash had gotten into the SUV and torn off after the fleeing car down the dirt road.

King sat behind the wheel of the GMC Yukon Denali XL, roaring down the dirt path after the car. They finally rounded a corner and the car came within view. King floored it and rammed into the back of the car. He could see the surprised passengers jerk in their seats. King signaled Hall, who grabbed a G36 assault rifle and stood up through the open sunroof. He brought the gun up with a flourish and leveled it at the sedan. His fingers squeezed the trigger and a volley of shots ripped into the car, shattering the back window. Hall's aim was steady as they flew around a bumpy corner, still gunning it down the dirt road. He paused for a moment as the two cars smashed through a mesh fence and onto the main road. Police sirens greeted the group as the cars were added to the chase.

Looks like Anderson was thinking ahead. Wolf veered right, and Hall kept up the fire as they flew through a small town. Then Wolf turned down a highway exit, King still on his trail. The cars roared down into the highway access tunnel. It seemed Wolf had switched positions because he had apparently found the Uzi. He fired a burst at the SUV, shattering the front headlights. Then Wolf retreated into the car and got back to driving. Then a long, black Cadillac Deville entered their access tunnel from another, looking very menacing.

Anderson and Walker sat inside the car, the usual stoic expressions on their faces.

" We have them now," said Walker calmly.

" Wolf is the primary target," said Anderson in another monotone. Anderson, who was at the wheel, floored it, screeching out onto the freeway.

King floored it, Hall keeping up the fire as they wove on and out of freeway traffic. Wolf's car veered to the other side of an SUV, thinking it would provide cover. Wrong. Hall brought up the G36 and fired. The tires popped and the high speed vehicle flipped over, crunching into the pavement. Anderson, who was behind them, easily avoided the wreck. Wolf continued forward on the left side of a trailer truck in the far left lane. Anderson pulled up behind him and the SUV swerved in front, boxing him in. Hall emptied the last few bullets into the front windshield, cracking it. Then the Eraser tossed the gun back into his vehicle and lifted himself onto the roof. He jumped from the SUV into the passenger seat of Wolf's Caddy. Hall whipped out a switchblade and went for Wolf. A few fluid movemnts later and there was a neat slash on Wolf's wrist. Wolf attempted to grab the Uzi but Hall batted it away and it flew to the floor. Nudge and Terri were in the back seat, so Hall tried to go after them. Wolf quickly wrapped his arm in the seatbelt as Anderson's Cadillac pulled alongside a few lanes of traffic away.

Walker grabbed an antitank rocket launcher of the backseat of the Cadillac and stood up out the sunroof, taking aim at Wolf. A huge fuel tanker blocked his shot a few lanes away. Even better. Walker smiled and launched the shell. It ripped into the fuel tanker, causing a massive explosion the completely blocked all traffic. Cars flew through the air in a huge accident. Walker pulled himself up onto the car's roof in the confusion and jumped across all five lanes, landing neatly on the hood of Wolf's car, denting the metal. In one fluid movement he ripped open the car's roof, tossing aside the metal like it was paper. Wolf had grabbed the Uzi again and attempted to mow down the latest passenger. Walker dodged the bullets so fast that he was a blur of black. He finally slowed down after Wolf had wasted the clip.

Before Walker could react, Wolf braked just enough to send Walker flying off the hood of the car. Hall went back to Wolf. He used the switchblade to cut the seatbelt and was about to go after Terri when Wolf kicked him out the car door. He rolled a few feet and pulled himself up just in time to grab the hand of King, which was stretching out the door of the passing SUV. Hall landed neatly in the passenger seat.

" I'm getting aggrivated," he growled.

" As am I," agreed King.

Anderson rolled down the window on the passenger's side just as he got even with Wolf's car. he pulled out his Desert Eagle with one hand still on the wheel and thumbed back the safety. He fired at Wolf's car, bullets thudding into the side at high velocity. Anderson easily kept his aim level with the car. His last two rounds hit the rear tire, shredding it. He ejected the spent clip and inserted a new one, now with both hands on the wheel. The catch automatically snapped shut. Time for a new approach. They were coming up on an overpass exit. Anderson, still holding his magnum, jerked the wheel to the side. His Caddy checked Wolf's car into the freeway wall, paint grinding on cement. Anderson pulled away and rammed him a second time, this time with more force. Sparks flew. Anderson kept him on the wall longer this time. Wolf finally put up some resistance. He managed to shove away Anderson's car as Wolf flew up the overpass.

Back in the GMC, all the Erasers saw Wolf drive up to the top of the overpass and come to a stop. King veered onto the exit just in time to see Nudge and Terri jump from the overpass onto the trailer of a passing truck. Wolf stood alone on the overpass next to his car, which now closely resembled Swiss cheese. The black SUV flew up the ramp.

" Crush him," growled Hall. King smiled and sped toward Wolf, who was still standing his ground. Neither of them saw the grenade he clutched in his hand. Wolf jumped just as the SUV was about to flatten him. He flew over the top of the GMC, using some of his Eraser power. He pulled the pin on the grenade and chucked it into the open sunroof as he flew over. Wolf landed and King had time to slam on the brakes right before the car exploded in a massive fireball.

The driver and passenger of a Cadillac Escalade spasmed, their faces contorting into that of Hall and King. They drove beneath the overpass just in tme to see Wolf jump onto the back of a car carrier hauling a load of motorcycles. Seconds later a Ducati 999R flew of the roof of the truck, Wolf confidently astride the bike. King signaled to a passing police car and three of them sped ahead. The group kept pace with Wolf's motorcycle as it weaved in and out of the hi-speed traffic. They had no idea how he had learned to ride a motorcycle, let alone hotwire one. Eraser DNA? They still drove along. Hall rolled down the window. He leaned out, drawing his Desart Eagle. He took a few potshots at the fast moving bike and leaned back in just as Wolf swerved in front of a semi.

The truck driver spasmed, and his face stretched unnaturally to the side. It snapped back to that of Walker. He gritted his teeth and floored the massive truck, slamming into the back of Wolf's motorcycle. Wolf veered off into the breakdown lane. Walker veered off as well, attempting to smear Wolf into the wall. Wolf breaked and executed a full 360, flying past Walker's semi.

Hall leaned out the window a second time, firing past the police car's at Wolf. He drove almost suicidaly, veering all over the road. They were finally catching up with the truck Nudge and Terri had jumped on earlier. As Wolf pulled alongside, Terri and Nudge formed a human chain, leaning down and grabbing Wolf. they pulled him onto the truck with them. The bike spun out and flipped over the median. Hall took a couple more shots and then holstered his weapon. He spoke into his lapel mike.

"We have them and we're coming up on your position."

Anderson heard Hall over his earpiece. He was parked on an overpass and was looking down at the approaching semi. He jumped off the overpass with split second timing, landing on the trailer with a thud. Wolf turned around.

" You again?" he growled as Anderson straightened his tie. He growled for his feminine team members to get down just as Anderson went on the attack, walking across the tractor trailer as it sped down the freeway. Wolf grabbed Anderson's arm in mid-punch and punched Anderson himself. He then executed a flying kick and a punch as soon as he hit the ground. Anderson easily blocked all of the attacks. Wolf attempted another punch, but Anderson grabbed his arm in mid punch. he then punched Wolf with his free hand. He let off a few more punches, all blocked by Wolf. Wolf elbowed Anderson in the chest and drew the Uzi, which was still on his person. Anderson kicked it out of his hand before any shots were fired.

Anderson hauled out and kicked Wolf clear across the truck. He walked forward for another round of attacks. Wolf picked himself up just as Anderson reached him. Anderson threw two punches in quick succesion, both of which were blocked by Wolf. Anderson went for another punch but his arm was grabbed by Wolf. Still holding his arm Wolf executed two quick chops to Anderson's chest. Wolf punched him in the face. Anderson used the momentum to break out of Wolf's grasp. Spinning around, he backhanded Wolf in the face. Wolf was sent rolling across the truck. Anderson ran forward in an attempt to stomp Wolf while he was down. Wolf kicked him and sandwiched Anderson's head with his legs. As he struggled to free the vice-like grip, Anderson couldn't help but wonder where Wolf had gotten his fighting skills. Wolf then moved his legs and spun Anderson across the truck, knocking off his sunglasses, revealing his Hugo Weaving-like visage and striking blue eyes. Wolf jumped forward in an attempt to stomp Anderson, but Anderson easily rolled out of the way, standing up in the process. Wolf tried to kick him, but Anderson blocked it and executed a huge punch, putting all his force into his fist. Wolf flew back again and Anderson ran forward to try and attack while Wolf was down. Wolf kicked him twice in the chest while in the ground. One of the kicks was like an uppercut, causing Anderson to flip through the air.

He looked up with a disgusted and aggrivated snarl on his face. Anderson jumped up just as Wolf executed a spinning kick. Anderson grabbed the outstretched leg and spun Wolf off the side of the truck. Terri screamed but Wolf managed to hang on. Anderson was about to slam his fist into Wolf's head, but he jumped up and came back with two swift kicks to the face. Anderson punched him again. Just as Wolf was about to fall again, he grabbed hold of Anderson's tie. Anderson struggled to pull him back up. When Wolf finally regained his footing, Anderson tried to punch him, but was blocked. Wolf kicked him in the face. Anderson fell back, but used a sweeping kick. Wolf was forced to jump over his leg and went off the side of the truck again, but still managed to hold on. Anderson was about to stomp on his hand and finish him off, but Wolf was quicker. He jumped up and kicked Anderson in the face again. he tried another kick, but Anderson blocked it. Wolf did, however, manage to land a punch.

It was time to end this. Anderson dished out his strongest roundhouse punch, sending Wolf sliding backwards. Anderson fixed his tie and strode forward. He was already halfway there when Wolf morphed and slashed out with his claws, jumping up at the same time. Anderson's tie was cut neatly in two. Anderson frowned and tossed away the bottom half. Wolf went forward with a flurry of claws. Anderson managed to dodge each swipe with ease. Anderson decide to get in a punch. It did connect but Wolf slashed his claws across his face. Anderson recieved a bloody gash beneath his right eye. He grimaced but Wolf was already back on the attack, swiping with his claws. Anderson dodged them all, kicked Wolf to throw him off balance, and put both his fists into one two hand slam. Wolf flipped backwards off the back of the truck. Anderson smiled and turned towards Terri and Nudge.

" You are no longer neccesary," he growled at the two experiments. He drew his gun, but the two were staring past him. He turned only to see Wolf's boot.

" Oh, Shi-" was all he managed to get out before the boot connected with his face, sending him flying off the truck and through the rear windshield of the car in front of them.

Anderson possesed the truck driver second later. He spoke into his lapel mike.

" Know how to play chicken?" he growled to Walker. Walker laughed and turned his semi around, jacknifing the trailer across the freeway. Traffic screeched to a halt. Walker sped forward, ramming through the oncoming traffic straight toward Anderson's semi. Anderson knew Wolf couldn't fly, and his friends wouldn't leave without him. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as the trucks flew toward each other. The two cabs finally connected. The trucks were engulfed in a huge fireball as the gasoline ignited. But then Anderson looked out the window and saw none other than Maximum Ride and Iggy flying the others to safety.

" Damn you, Ride!" he screamed as the trucks exploded.