[SEQUEL TO GUN FOR HIRE]
Chapter 8: The Devils That Burn In Us
"Ready?" Gat asked as he walked close behind her, pretending to steal nervous looks behind him at John and Nick. He sucked in a sharp breath when Piper's hand captured his, squeezing reassuringly before she let go. There was nothing reassuring about this. He faced front and watched her brush her raven hair over her shoulder; it was growing longer, and it suited her. Plus there'd be more to grab-
Not the time.
"Ready," she stated firmly, never looking back so as not to give them all away.
"Are we sure about this?" Nick asked, the strike of a match echoing in the hallway. "Lots of things can go wrong. The Institute could send reinforcements to attack us."
"It's just a risk we'll have to take," Gat sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He smiled to himself. "Don't worry; I'm a professional when it comes to kidnapping reporters."
Piper scoffed. "Sure, make fun of me now, but we'll see who has the last laugh. Don't think I'm not counting how many times I'm going to pay you back for all of this." She glanced over her shoulder with a sultry smile, and it tempted him into pushing her back into one of the rooms for a bit of privacy before they went out on a limb on this 'plan' of theirs. He was still going by the fly of his pants; but at least it was still kind of sort of sticking to the original plan, before he left Diamond City.
Except now it was a legitimate kidnapping.
"Let's start this once we're outside the city," Piper murmured as she led the group down the stairs. "That way the Institute will see it from the crows if not from Gat's... Eyes." Her every step gradually grew shakier.
Gat came up her side and slid a firm hand along the small of her back, his gaze always set forward. Better safe than sorry. "I know I ain't give a whole lotta chances before, Angel, but know y'can trust me. I won't let 'em so much as touch a hair on yer head."
"...Just how do you plan to convince them, Garrett? Is this another one of your bad ideas that I'm going to hate?"
"Yup. A lot."
"Oh. Well. Wonderful. I suppose I should ask: what's new?"
"Just bein' honest," he chuckled, "but we need to buy time. Just follow my lead once I get you inside there."
"And my family?" John piped, a sliver of hope buried beneath the weariness and hopelessness drenching his voice. "Will you be able to investigate their whereabouts?"
Gat rubbed his nape and gave a halfhearted shrug. "I ain't got full access to all facilities, but I'll try an' think of a way to get some information. Got to be a blabber that's all over babies and shite. Eggheads are prolly havin' a fuckin' orgasm just studying it."
"Him," John corrected pointedly. "My son is not a thing. He's a human."
Gat shot an exasperated look over his shoulder. Of all things to be nitpicked apart with his penchant for not being choosy with his words, and it was that? Not the experiments part? It was a lot more devastating and terrifying for sure, but maybe that was just because he'd gotten first hand experience. His gaze swiveled to Piper at that, determined to make sure she wouldn't have the same experience - and she wore a reassuring smile, as if she could just sense his innermost thoughts and frustrations. But that smile... Everything was just for show. Or was it? He forced his eyes to stay up when she nonchalantly swung her hand back and deftly hooked her pinkie on his index finger, and followed close behind her so that what her arm was doing wouldn't be questioned by potential eggheads.
Flickering street lights and the smells of shite and urine flooded Gat's nose, and he wrinkled it in disgust. This part? He could do without the amplification. Why the hell was a sense of smell important in combat? Adam had to be told how idiotic this 'upgrade' was before he went off thinking his bizarre theories had any legitimate practicality. Gat tried to stick even closer to Piper, to focus on her scent, only to realize she-
"Jesus. Y'needa bath, luv," he muttered. Piper shot a vicious glare at him and he immediately shut his lips with a nervous smile. "That was s'pos'ta stay in my head."
"Just for that, we're never kissing ever again."
"What? Aw, c'mon! It was just a slip of the tongue."
"You 'slip' all the time!" Piper huffed, and her hand slipped away from his as she marched ever faster. "You need to install a freakin' filter between your mouth and your brain."
Duly noted. Gat bit his tongue before he blurted he'd let Adam know about that part too; there wasn't any point worrying Piper about the full extent of his... Enhancements.
Or was he just scared that she would refuse to love a thing that was barely human anymore?
It wasn't the time to worry and brood about, anyhow. There wasn't time for anything anymore. The closer they got to the exit, the more his stomach churned and flopped as if he was a wee little boat caught in the heart of a furious storm. He wiped his hands on his cargos and fidgeted more, lighting up a quick smoke to chug as if his life depended on it.
Piper's chuckle caught him by surprise, and there was clear amusement dancing in her eyes when she looked over her shoulder at him. "You're so noisy. I miss it." She looked front, yet another precaution they took up so as not to have anyone's lips read either. The playful sass lilting and hitching with her tone had stirred things inside of him. "I think you're more nervous than I am. You always know what to do to comfort me and put any doubt to rest."
"Friggin' batty that yer goin' through with this at all. No strings attached, just 'hey yeah let's go right now and get this shite done and over with.'" Gat lit up another smoke in the other corner of his mouth, then held it over her shoulder as a peace offering. She turned her head the slightest bit and he tucked it neatly between her lips, wishing he could steal one last kiss before they crossed the line. "What if I was just usin' yer bleedin' heart against ya and tellin' ya the truth just to kidnap you for real? Ain't'cha doubting me at all?"
"Well, I mean, if you're asking that, then I don't have to doubt. You're not stupid." That was a pleasant surprise to hear. "Well, I mean..." Ah. There it was. "You have your moments, yeah, but you'd never announce it like that. You've played one too many pranks on me for me not to figure that out." Smoke blew out in a circle, and then she shot a straight line through the center. He smirked at it - it seemed that memory and aggravation was never going to leave her alone; just the way he liked it. "Besides, at the end of the day, I don't think I have a choice in how far I can run from them - but now I have a choice in how close I can get to them; and the truth, finally."
Gat frowned at that and mulled on her words in silence. If the truth was still her end goal, then she was going to be pissed with his idea; another thing not to tell her. Not until there was no choice but for her to find out. He was prepared to face her wrath, so long as it meant her safety - a deal he wouldn't give any elbow room for negotiation.
"Nick and I are going to slow down and go to the 'shop' now," John announced, his voice already fading away. Gat stubbed his cigarette as he looked over his shoulder to watch the two head over to Daisy, then made sure to solder his gaze on his hand as he grabbed Piper's elbow and then the fast-approaching exit.
"Ow! Ease up," she hissed, exaggerating a snarl. It took all of him to restrain himself from stealing one last kiss - there were no guarantees.
"This is easily the worst job I've ever fuckin' signed up for," Gat muttered, pretending to shove Piper as he took out her cigarette and slapped a hand over her mouth to stop her from 'panicking' or calling out to the others for help. Unfortunately, plans rarely worked out in his favor, and the two froze for a fleeting moment when a woman's shout shot through the air.
...With an actual shot to add impact to her command. "Stop right there, Institute! You're not taking her next!"
"Uh... Garrett..." Piper was the one tugging his elbow this time. "Should we...?"
"Run!" Gat pushed her out the door and they took off running with Sarah chasing after them - with him pretending to chase Piper as they wove through alleyways. "F'cryin' out loud, just what we fucking need right now! How the hell did she figure me out?! She wasn't even there!"
"What happened to burying Leo?!" Piper yelled back, and they both groaned when the question turned into an answer. "Ugh!"
At least it was confirmation that they were watching from his eyes.
Sharp shots echoed with the smell of ozone, and Gat made the mistake of his life by looking behind him. A banshee shriek tore from his throat and he hastily scrambled in a different alleyway, now running away from Piper instead of after her. He barely heard her cussing about what in the hell he was doing - his heart roared in his ears as he squeaked pathetically. "Just what I fucking need right now! Fucking bloodbugs!"
"This isn't the time, for Christ's sake!" Piper yelled, and when he turned his head, he spotted her running in the adjacent alleyway, her pistol aimed at him. He cradled his head with his arms and screamed when one of the bloodbugs' buzzing beat louder, until it met it's rude end as Piper fired a shot.
"Damn," he growled under his breath, "she can fuckin' shoot..." Another look behind him, and he was ready to burst into tears at the sight of two bloodbugs still flying after him - with Sarah not too far behind as her faint commands fell on deaf ears. "Nobody would be stupid enough to stop and get their arse shot by her." He steeled himself and pivoted, sliding under the bloodbugs as he clambered into an alley connecting him to Piper. He still had to 'chase' her. "Comin' up behind ya, luv! Pretend yer outta bullets!"
"Take the stairs!" Piper yelled breathlessly, and the sounds of boots slamming on rusted metal rang in the adrenaline flooding his body. For no reason known to him, he had started laughing, and he could perfectly envision her rolling her eyes with her tone. "I fail to see what's so fucking funny about any of this, you maniac!"
"Everything is going tits up," he chuckled under his breath. He turned the corner and immediately climbed a trash bin to launch himself at a ladder, groaning when he looked up. Piper was scaling the apartment complex beside him. "How many more things are gonna go wrong before I get Wright?" He jumped back down and rolled before a bloodbug sank it's fucking needle inside of him, shrieking when a shot announced his impending doom; the insect's limp body crashed down on him with all it's leaky guts, and then it was Piper's turn to laugh.
"I fail to see what's so fucking funny about any of this, you maniac!" He yelled back, smirking to himself as her giggles skipped in the air. He crawled on hands and feet until he made it for her ladder, and the last bloodbug was put to rest with another well placed shot that was far too close to him. "Startin' to think y'really wanna make me sweat, Angel."
"Took you long enough to notice. Now hurry up before Sarah ruins everything!" Piper fired more shots around him until there was a notable click in the air, and he made sure to look up at her for the Institute to 'witness' her ejecting her empty magazine. He hustled up the stairs until he reached the top and saw her break down the door with her body, smirking as his blood boiled hotter the longer he chased her.
"You're the most badass girlfriend ever," he yelled out before he followed after her, sprinting down the hallway as he leaped over piles of debris and holes in the flooring. The smell of ozone flooded his nose again and he glanced back down the hall, eyes widening at the sight of the metal railing melting outside. "She's closing in on us, luv!"
"Head to the roof." Piper sounded breathless, and it drove home another point for him - he still had yet to lose his breath. He should have long ago, and it dampened what little mirth there was had to be in this now-legitimate life-threatening chase. He paced himself and pretended to hesitate leaping over more holes in the floor; it wouldn't do if her brain shut down as her body took over, not when she was the driving force to make sure their crude plan actually succeeded.
Gat pulled and knocked over tables and lamps in the hallway to slow down Sarah, then rushed up the last flight of stairs to follow Piper to the roof. The poor lass was doubled over, hands on knees, gasping for air and wheezing. "None of the buildings are close enough to jump over to, shit..." She wiped the sweat off her forehead, crashing down on her knees. He looked down at himself as he drew one of his revolvers, then aimed as he cautiously closed in on her - hopefully she remembered his habit.
"We won't need to jump." He sucked in a deep breath to steel himself, his hands quivering ever so slightly. The full weight of what he was about to do crashed down on him. "This is it. There's no turning back from this, Angel. I'm taking you to the Institute now." His heart kicked against his chest when she had turned and scrambled backwards on her hands, scooting to the edge of the roof as she fearfully looked over it.
That's how he felt, too.
"H-how are you going to take me there?" Piper glanced around in confusion, and then he kicked himself again. He never explained anything to anyone; why the hell did no one think to question him about these things until now?
"Teleportation."
Piper's face fell flat, as if trying to scream 'this isn't the time to joke.'
"It's not a joke," he cemented, "I'm serious. I wish it were a joke." He glanced over his shoulder when he heard Sarah's cusses beyond the door. "Shit!" He clambered over to Piper and yanked on her elbow to stand, hiding behind her as he jammed her arm behind her, and his revolver against her head. He peeked offside and just below her ear, stealing a quick kiss to her nape. "Sorry, if this hurts, luv."
"Too tired to care," Piper rasped, "I just want this to be over."
Sarah kicked the door open to the roof and her rifle snapped up, her piercing eyes narrowing as she commanded with an aggravating air of authority. "Let her go!"
"Piss off," Gat seethed back, "you're just as annoying as those fucking bloodbugs." He tugged them closer to the edge, his heart hammering in his ears when one of his heels felt nothing under it. Piper shot worried looks over her shoulder, hissing and chanting 'what are you doing?' under her breath. Luki appeared shortly behind Sarah, but Gat made sure every part of him was covered by Piper. His eyes narrowed at a familiar computer mounted on Luki's wrist - did he take it from John?
Sarah approached, and Gat pressed his barrel against Piper's jaw. "Stay back or I shoot her mouth off!" A pause. Then he smirked. "It'd be Diamond City's dream come true."
"Screw you too, ass," Piper seethed, but her voice warbled with that telltale mirth, viciously repressed.
"Let her go and we'll let you walk away," Luki offered, but the look Sarah shot him was all Gat needed to know that - teleporation or not - he wouldn't get out of this through normal means. He tugged on Piper again as he drew closer to the edge, and she turned her head ever so slightly to watch from the corner of her eyes. Terror burned bright in them.
"Trust me," Gat murmured into her nape so that only she could hear. "I promise I'll keep you safe, but brace yourself for the weirdest shite you'll ever feel. Close your eyes."
"Garrett..."
"Close your eyes," he urged, and he squeezed his shut as tightly as possible. The moment he heard Sarah and Luki's boots slam against the concrete in a bid to reach them, he leaned back as he wrapped his arms around Piper. Her scream cut through the air as they fell off the roof, and the words tumbled out of him without thought. "Butler ready to relay to the Institute with Wright - save us!"
White flashed behind his eyes and his body felt as if it was ripped apart, but it wasn't painful, as if he'd gotten a numbing dose of local anesthesia all over his body and all he could feel from the surgery was pressure warping him. It felt like years passed before he realized he was staring at a ceiling, dazed, holding the woman in his arms ever tighter.
"What... The... Hell...?" Piper drifted, her noisy breaths echoing in this spacious chamber. He lifted his head and dropped just to thud it and know there was actual solid ground beneath him, and that he could still feel pain. They weren't dead. All he had to do was say some magical fucking words, and just like that, in a few seconds, he was in an entirely different world. How the hell did that work? Could anyone just relay to the Institute like that? At least Sarah and Luki witnessed it, so they could pass on the message to John.
"Don't think I'll ever get used to that shite," he muttered, then rolled them until she was on her stomach and he was on top of her, 'wrestling' to get her arms crossed behind her back. He froze when she spoke - the quietest whisper sounded like a grenade going off.
"Garrett, I just realized... They asked you to kidnap me. Not kill me."
Within seconds, coursers flooded the room. Gat pulled her up into standing, freaking out in the back of his mind as he digested her revelation. What did that mean? Would his plan still work if the Institute already had plans of their own with her, if they went through all this trouble to capture her alive?
Claps echoed and his skin crawled when the coursers split, revealing Adam and his snake-like smile. "Congratulations and celebrations are in order, Mr. Butler; for me, of course. Many in the SRB felt you would not see this through. Now I've claimed rights to say I told you so for the entire month."
"Cut the crap, Adam. I've brought her, as you've asked; but before I hand her over, I want to see my family released."
"My oh my, still making demands when you're not in any position to." Adam clasped his wrists behind him as he approached, circling around them. Piper jerked in Gat's hands to maintain their ruse, and he pulled on her until she crashed against his body, curling an arm around her; it was more to help him stay calm. "You really have poor habits, Mr. Butler. Didn't you read the terms of your contract when you accepted the job?"
"What terms?" He hissed, growing ever more agitated - could his stomach stop churning? He swore he was going to puke right here.
"Why, the last page I had included in your folder of upgrades, of course."
Piper's head turned and her gaze snapped to him, but he ignored it.
Adam chuckled when Gat glowered, and the scrawny scientist shrugged. "Your family will remain in our custody until we complete copying Ms. Wright and dispose her."
"Why copy her when you have the real one right here?" Gat blurted, the pieces colliding too fast for him to keep up. He was desperate, and he hated the way the woman in his arms grew rigid as the words tumbled out without thought. "Whatever you need her copy for, you can make the real one do. She'll work for you - I'll make her. All those articles she wrote about you guys? Turn it around. Make the Institute an organization to be respected by the Commonwealth, not feared. Y'wouldn't need to kidnap anymore, wouldn't have no resistance; you'd get willing volunteers."
"Garrett," Piper growled, "I'm not-"
"You've thought this through," Adam hummed cheerfully, clapping with sick glee. This perkiness seriously needed to be shot. "But you see, Mr. Butler, the Institute prides on efficiency, and there is one terrible flaw in your logic: why go through all that trouble with the real one when the fake one will be loyal to the Institute and do exactly as we ask?" He gestured to one of the coursers, and Gat hugged Piper tighter when the thing approached them. She was ripped away from him and the other coursers surrounded him, aiming their weapons at him when he tried to follow after Piper.
His heart stopped when Adam's laugh echoed in the chamber.
"Ah, I knew it! I get to tell them all I told you so for everything! I knew you'd try to find a loophole. You're quite the resourceful man, Mr. Butler; a refreshing pace to work with." Adam took out some sort of remote, and at a push of a button, Gat's legs buckled beneath him as electricity shot through his body.
Screams tore from his raw throat until he coughed up blood, and the shocks stopped. The scrawny man had a pathetically easy time to push Gat on his side with a gentle toe against the ribs, and Adam squatted, his face flooding Gat's vision. He reached for his hand to curl around the devil's throat, but the coursers snapped down on him and pinned his limbs down. It didn't stop him from spitting in Adam's face, who wiped it off and grinned devilishly.
"Thank you, Mr. Butler. Truly, no one could have done a finer job than you; quick and clean and painless. We wouldn't have done this - at least, not as smoothly - without your help. And thanks to you, we also have all other associates that have evaded us. Five people, and a prototype returned! You have no idea how many divisions you've made happy by reacquiring such valuable technology for us. Of course, It has outlived It's usefulness, but at least we can recycle It's parts." He whistled with a mocking smirk. "You're quite the overachiever - and a professional when it comes to kidnapping."
"Fuck you, mother fucker! I'm going to make you beg for death when I get the chance."
"Garrett!" Piper called out, every part of her voice drenched with fear. Gat forced himself to look up at her, expecting to see betrayal - and still he saw a warm smile. Her eyes shone bright with unshed tears, her words warbling and quivering. "We tried everything we could, and I don't regret anything. It's not your fault. Don't let him make you believe it is."
"How touching." Adam rose, and jerked his head towards the hallway. "Take her to the robotics division and let them know they can begin the process."
"Piper!" Gat thrashed against the coursers, but it was futile. Emotion choked him at his throat as guilt slammed him at full force. "I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry, I didn't-"
"It's not your fault," was all she repeated, but her voice broke and disappeared in between chants. He screamed cusses at the top of his lungs and refused to give in, fighting until his last breath. Adam ordered the coursers off of him and he shot up to tackle the scrawny man, but his entire body caved in a pathetic slump when searing electricity surged through him again. He broke down in tears over the pain killing him on the inside - in his heart. He squeezed his eyes shut as tightly as possible just like the roof, before they jumped off.
If only he never said the 'magical' fucking words. Death was better, because now the entire Commonwealth was going to be the Institute's willing victim.
And there was nobody left to stop them.