Sorry, it took so long to update. I got pretty busy with work and was unable to sit down and actually write something.
"Come on Crane! We have to get out of here" Jade started to run through the same doors that Rias's men had just ran through. "He has Dr. Zere's research, we have to find him!"
Crane followed behind her, but they both failed to see Tahir lurking in the shadows. Tahir leaped out of the shadows and grabbed Jade and held her with his chest against her back and a knife to her neck. "Crane, you are one stubborn man."
"Tahir! Let her go! She doesn't know anything! I am the man you want. I am the one that has all the information." Crane stood with his hands in plain view not wanting Tahir to slit Jade's throat.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill your Scorpion? We are all going to die either way, it is only a matter of time." Tahir sneered
"Because Jade is innocent! She doesn't know what I know and she is no threat to you or Rias" Crane's voice pleaded with Tahir
Tahir laughed into Jade's ear. "Sweet little Scorpion, it sounds like he has developed feelings for you. Too bad you do not know the truth behind his lies. Such a shame you wasted Antizin on her."
Jade felt Tahir's body move and with one fast swift movement she was able to throw him over her shoulder. Tahir's knife pierced Jade's collarbone in the process. Jade managed to kick Tahir's arm hard enough to make him lose the grip he had on his knife. She sent another blow to his side. She wanted to deliver just enough pain to stop him from standing up. Crane jumped to assist Jade and leaped onto Tahir and wrapped his hands around his neck.
"Tell me where Rias is Tahir!" Crane shouted in Tahir's face
"That is not for you to know Crane!" Rias muttered, fighting for breath that was being withheld from Crane's grip.
"Damn it Tahir!" Crane made his grip tighter around Tahir's neck. Don't make me kill you. I will if I have to."
"You are not man enough to kill me." Tahir said breathlessly
Out of rage, Crane picked up Tahir and threw him up against the wall. "I don't want to kill a living man but if I have to I will." Crane whispered into Tahir's ear.
Whispering into Tahir's ear was a mistake Crane had made. Tahir managed to hit his head against Crane's and used his legs to attempt to knock Crane down to the ground. Tahir pulled out a switch blade and tried to attack Crane with it. Crane dodged Tahir's moves waiting for his best time to attack Tahir.
Jade stood in the distance knowing that if Tahir was successful she would have to fight for her life as well. While watching the two men fight a small grey bag caught her eye. "Is that Dr. Zere's research" she had thought to herself. A low groan took her out of her thoughts. Her eyes moved back to the two men. Tahir fell to his knees holding is side.
"Well well well Tahir, look at that nasty wound. You might not live through it." Crane circled Tahir like a wild animal closing in on its prey.
"Then let me suffer coward." Tahir spat
"That would be too easy Tahir. You are a loose end that should not be left undone." With a quick movement, he sliced Tahir's throat
"Crane! The bag is over to your right!" Jade ran to the bag ripping it open
"Rias must have dropped it while he ran out" Crane walked over to Jade, but his voice faded when he had only seen the samples inside the bag.
"Damn it!" Jade shouted "Dr. Zere's data is missing. Dr. Camden needs all of this to finish the research." A voice of defeat washed over her.
"It is okay Jade." Crane wrapping his arm over her shoulder, trying to comfort the small framed woman next to him" We will get these skin samples to Dr. Camden and I promise I will go after Rias myself for the other information."
Jade shook her head in agreement. "Come on Crane, we need to get back to Troy before nightfall."
The sun was slowly reaching the horizon. The two made their way out of the museum. "Jade, we are going to have to go to a safe house tonight. There is no time to reach Troy. Come on there is one across the lake.
The two made their way to the safe house just in time before Aro's voice came through warning about nightfall within one hour. Crane dropped his bag and pulled out a first aid kit and handed it to Jade. "Here so you can clean up that bite and the knife wound on your chest." Jade smiled at Crane and took a seat at the table to address her wounds.
"Troy, do you copy its Crane." Crane talked into his walkie-talkie.
Troy's voice came through with urgency, "Crane!? Are you okay? Where are you, it is almost nightfall."
"Jade and I are okay Troy. We made it to a safe house for the night. Listen, the lines are not safe. Rias found a way to listen to everything we say."
"Oh, Crane. That is not good. I will be sure to inform the others."
"Thanks, Troy. We will see you tomorrow." Crane placed his walkie-talkie down on the table and took a seat next to Jade.
"You know Crane, I wanted to kill you after what happened to Rahim. When I was bitten I came to terms that I was going to die and that you had to be the one to save Harran."
Crane put his arm around Jade, "I am sorry about Rahim. I feel responsible, only if they did not know about the explosives. He would still be alive."
Jade shook her head, "Maybe, but he wanted to destroy that building for the longest time. I almost did not take the second Antizin from you. I know my brother would want me to live and fight for a cure. If there is a chance for one I will live and fight for it. I'll fight for my brother and for Harran."
Crane smiled at Jade, "We'll get out of this alive."