Author's Note: This Chapter follows on from Chapter 76: Chaos of my other story Vengeance.
Thursday, February 16th, 2017
Chicago, United States of America
02:20
The five occupants of the private jet were slightly tired after their six-hour trip across the pond.
It didn't exactly help that they had left the UK several hours after they had landed. Harper groaned at the local time – 02:20 – they had gone back in time. Harper pointed out that fact.
"No, Harpy, you cannot go back in time," Rylee the bookworm had dutifully explained. "It is because of the time zones and the fact that we flew east to west..."
"Shut up, Rylee!" Harper and Simon laughed as Rachel simply rolled her eyes.
It was the first time in a luxury jet for Rachel, and she was enjoying it. Amy had produced an amazing chilled white wine which had helped to dull the sound of three excited youngsters who were far too hyped up to sleep while Keira and Rachel chatted. As they were waved out of the jet, the chilly night air met them, and Rachel shivered slightly. Waiting on the tarmac was a Jaguar SUV and a Range Rover. Paige walked over from the Jaguar SUV and she handed Keira the key to the Range Rover. After shoving the uncooperative youngsters aboard vehicles – Harper went with Keira in the Range Rover where Keira followed a route pre-programmed into the satnav. Paige introduced herself to Rachel and she drove the Jaguar SUV on a decidedly roundabout route which took them through central Chicago.
By the time they reached their destination, they were very confused and disorientated which Rachel considered was probably the idea.
..._...
Simon was feeling more than a little concerned as they turned into a dark residential side street.
They had travelled about a mile or so before Simon realised that Paige had conducted numerous countersurveillance sweeps in the narrow streets – what was going on? Then, Paige made a snappy left turn off the road and she drove them through a wire mesh gate and onto some wasteland, before driving into a dilapidated looking warehouse, via a steel shutter that closed automatically behind them.
"I have a really bad feeling about this," Rylee commented.
Paige expertly weaved around piles of random 'stuff'; none of the children had the faintest idea what was in the piles. What concerned them more was that Paige seemed to be headed towards the far wall and she did not seem to show any sign of braking! Then, a section of wall appeared to vanish, and a ramp suddenly appeared in front of them. They headed downwards before curving around to the right and descending rapidly. Behind them, the wall had reappeared, blocking any route out. It was very dark, but the headlights illuminated enough of the ramp that the children and Rachel could see that they were descending in a tight circle. The walls were concrete, and they could make out light fittings, but they were all turned off.
After what seemed like an age, the ramp levelled off and bright lights came on that illuminated a large steel door. Paige slowed, but did not stop as she approached the steel door. They were just a few dozen feet away when they heard what they assumed could only be latches being released and then the steel door descended, quite quickly and smoothly, into the ground and they passed over it and into what appeared to be a cavern. Behind them, the enormous steel door was rising up, again quite quickly and quietly, before they heard the latches re-engaging. Amber lights which had illuminated, on either side of the door, on the inside, went out.
For the first time in years, the two friends felt fear creeping up their backbones.
..._...
Paige directed Rachel and the two children to get out and they all stood in the darkness for several minutes before dim illumination snapped on, illuminating not very much more than a tall glass shield which stood before them, blocking any access further into the cavern.
Simon's ears perked up as he heard the sound of motors and a section of the glass shield opened and two sinister shapes appeared out of the gloom. Keira appeared out of the darkness from behind a large black Range Rover.
"Rylee, please go with these two," Keira said. "Rachel, Simon; you will stay with me."
Rylee stepped forward, somewhat apprehensively. "Who are you?" she asked the shorter one, who wore a black and green combat suit.
"Polaris," came the creepy electronic response.
"You?" Rylee asked the taller one clad in grey tiger-striped armour.
"All in good time," the vigilante growled.
Rylee stepped through the glass shield and lights snapped on, high overhead, illuminating a section of the cavern floor which appeared to be a training mat. The taller vigilante indicated with her gauntleted hand for Rylee to step into the light. The feeling of intense foreboding which Rylee felt caused a knot in her stomach. Her eyes were darting around, trying to penetrate the darkness beyond the light. Her eyes had already clocked the closest weapons which just happened to be attached to the utility belts worn by the pair of vigilantes escorting her.
Then, out of the darkness, came both her biggest nightmare and her greatest desire.
"Hello, Rylee," an electronically scrambled voice said as an individual clad in purple armour stepped into the light.
Any fear which Rylee felt immediately went out the proverbial window and she grew extremely angry as she saw her foe. Rylee was determined to be Hit Girl's nemesis. With a lightening move, she punched the shorter vigilante, Polaris, in the back with her left hand while grabbing the vigilante's SIG Sauer P238 Combat pistol out of her holster. Rylee followed through with a fluid movement, using Polaris as a shield while she snapped off two rounds, the bullets unerringly striking Hit Girl in the chest. Hit Girl was knocked back by the twin nine-millimetre rounds at close range, but the veteran vigilante had braced at the first sign of the pistol being drawn which Rylee saw as strange – how could Hit Girl have known that she would be attacked. Rylee had heard her mother scream and she saw Keira restraining Simon. She also noticed that the taller of the two vigilantes who was escorting her stood with a Heckler & Koch P30 pistol aimed directly at Rylee's head.
"You got that out of your system, Rylee?" Hit Girl growled. "Mind you, if you really wanted to kill me, then you would have taken me with a head shot."
Rylee's shoulders slumped as she realised that she had failed. Then she simply shrugged as she dumped the magazine and ejected the chambered round, dropping the pistol to the floor. Rylee knew that she was about to die as she dropped to her knees, her hands on the back of her head. Yes, she could have taken Hit Girl with a double tap to the head, but something in the back of her mind had told her not to. Hit Girl strolled towards her and Rylee glared up at the masked vigilante. Just as she expected to die, Rylee found everything heading off at a tangent.
"Word of advice," Hit Girl said as she pulled off her mask. "You really want to kill somebody, don't give them fore warning!" Mindy chuckled.
"You!" Rylee hissed, then she turned to see the taller of the two vigilantes holster her pistol and pull off her own mask.
"Hello, best friend," the unmasked vigilante said. "I'm glad I didn't have to shoot you."
"Shannon...," Rylee breathed, tears flooding down her cheeks at the sight of her fellow Predator and friend.
They both hugged, Shannon's own tears joining Rylee's. Then Rylee groaned as she saw Polaris reveal her own identity.
"Harpy!" Rylee laughed. "I might have fucking known!"
Two more vigilantes entered the light, one on each side of Hit Girl/Mindy.
"I am Tao Tei!" the taller of the pair announced.
"I am Tao Wu!" the shorter stated.
Tao Tei was clad in a teal, green, red, and gold combat suit.
The face was completely obscured by a formfitting helmet which covered the head and came down to the neck like a glove – in fact, it was a flexible Kevlar composite which was lighter than the real thing while being just as strong. The helmet was red around the eyes while the rest of the face was a dark mottled green. The helmet was otherwise a deep teal, trimmed in gold, and with a flowing red plume erupting from the crown of the head. The eyes flashed an ominous green. The plume extended to midway down the vigilante's back. The rest of the combat suit was the same deep teal, trimmed in gold. A composite bodice provided protection to the chest, extending down to a skirt made of tight faux chainmail, split front and rear. Scalloped armour covered the front of the thighs and knees. Greaves, each bearing a deadly Tanto blade joined with armoured boots. A royal blue cloak with golden Chinese lettering - 饕餮 - completed the suit. As for weapons, the girl bore a detachable scabbard on her left hip which held a composite sword, two feet in length. The blade was, in fact, two, merged as one at the razor-sharp tip, opening up to two inches just before the hilt, and forming a three-inch oval before coming together to form an eight-inch hilt with an open-trapezium pommel. At the waist, on the right hip, an FN-Five-seveN was worn in a holster which blended into the skirt. The utility belt was built into the skirt, holding spare magazines and communications equipment.
Tao Wu was clad in a contrasting combat suit, based on green, blue, and red.
The face was completely obscured by a formfitting helmet which covered the head and came down to the neck like a glove, using the same flexible Kevlar composite which was lighter than the real thing while being just as strong. The helmet was navy-blue around the eyes while the rest of the face was a dark mottled green. The helmet was otherwise a deep red, trimmed in navy-blue, and with a flowing navy-blue plume erupting from the crown of the head. The plume extended to midway down the vigilante's back. The eyes flashed a fear-inducing red. The rest of the combat suit was the same deep red but with a deep yellow tiger stripe pattern, all trimmed in navy-blue. Around the waist, a skirt made of tight faux chainmail, split front and rear was worn. Scalloped armour covered the front of the thighs and knees. Greaves, each bearing a deadly Tanto blade joined with the armoured boots. The skirt bore Chinese lettering in gold - 梼杌 - which completed the suit. As for weapons, the girl bore a detachable scabbard on her left hip which held a composite sword, sixteen inches in length. The blade was, in fact, two, merged as one at the razor-sharp tip, opening up to two inches just before the hilt, and forming a three-inch oval before coming together to form an eight-inch hilt with an open-trapezium pommel. At the waist, on the right hip, a SIG Sauer P238 pistol was worn in a holster which blended into the skirt. The utility belt was built into the skirt, holding spare magazines and communications equipment.
Having seen Harper appear, Rylee had a fairly good idea who two Chinese-influenced vigilantes could be, and she was not about to be disappointed.
..._...
Almost the moment their masks had been removed, Lin and Xiāngxìn ran to hug Rylee and Simon.
Rachel was stunned beyond words. Her daughter had attacked Hit Girl . . . but somehow survived. Her mind was reeling with just the sight of Hit Girl, let alone the cavernous facility which had appeared as other lighting snapped on all around.
"It takes some getting used to," Keira pointed out. "Coffee?"
"Please."
Keira led Rachel up to the galley, leaving the five Zetas who were left chatting (shouting loudly) as they tried to bring each other up to date with past events. Rylee and Simon were amazed by the cutting-edge combat suits which the three girls wore, not to mention the weapons.
After a while they calmed down some and the armour-clad girls went to change while Rylee and Simon were escorted to the galley by a normally dressed Shannon.
..._...
Hot chocolate was provided to calm the Predators down before bed.
"So, you're Hit Girl's stooges now?" Rylee enquired as she studied Harper, Lin, Xiāngxìn, and Shannon.
Simon caught the dangerous look which Shannon threw at Rylee, as did Harper who put a hand on Rylee's forearm.
"She has a point," Simon said. "You exchanged one set of masters for another – at least it appears that way. However," he added pointedly, "we are open minded."
"We do not fight because Hit Girl tells us to," Shannon said, pushing down the anger she felt. "We fight because it is the right thing to do. We each decide when to kill and when not to kill. We have needs and being a vigilante allows us to control those needs. Rylee, Simon – you are my friends, and we have been through a lot together. You also know that I would never lie to either of you, for any reason. None of us are forced to wear our armour and go out there, putting our lives on the line. Yes, I owe Hit Girl for taking down Urban Predator and I owe her for saving my life and returning me to my family, but none of that has coerced me in any way, and I am free to make my own decisions."
"Lin, Xiāngxìn, your hands, please," Harper said as she placed her left hand onto the tabletop with the 'Z' tattoo exposed.
The other two girls did the same, placing their arms next to Harper's.
"This symbol unites us," Harper went on looking at Simon and Rylee. "Both of you are one hundred per cent safe as I have already said. Nobody is about to recruit you into anything that you don't want. I wear that combat suit as Polaris because I want to put my hard-learnt skills to good use. Hit Girl is a bitch, granted, but we all owe her so much, despite what was done to us in her name."
"You know what my name means?" Xiāngxìn asked. "It means to believe, to trust. Trust us, just as we trusted you, Rylee."
Lin nodded and smiled.
"My sister talks a lot of shit, but for once, she is correct. Nobody is going to force you to do anything you don't want to, and nobody will make you kill . . . again."
"You guys heard about...?" Rylee muttered.
"Tesco?" Shannon grinned. "In full HD!"
Rylee slumped down in her seat.
"In her defence," a voice acknowledged, "Rylee used my rope dart skills to great effect."
Rylee looked up to see Mindy grinning down at her.
"I will admit," Shannon said, "you looked really cool and I was really proud of you, Ry."
Rylee cringed at the praise.
Much later, that same morning...
Safehouse F
"I think she's dead."
Rylee could feel the fingers prodding her and despite being tired, she gave in and opened her eyes.
"Hi, Rylee!"
Rylee found herself looking into the grinning face of Marc Ryan.
"Hello, Marc."
"She got boobs?" Marc asked.
"Itty bitty ones," Shannon commented.
"You cunts finished?" Rylee growled.
"She looks so sweet when she's pissed," Simon chuckled from his bunk.
"Fuck off, Si!"
Rylee dropped down off her bunk, pushed her way past Shannon and Marc, and went in search of a toilet.
..._...
After a late breakfast of bacon and eggs with Keira, Rachel, Harper, Shannon and Marc, the two friends were led along to a large seating area on the same level as the galley.
Several minutes after Simon and Rylee had sat down with Marc and Shannon, they were joined by two others. One was Stephanie who looked a little apprehensive until Rylee waved good naturedly. Then came a face which Rylee had hoped never to see again.
"Hello, Rylee," Willow said tentatively.
Rylee looked at Willow for several moments before she grinned.
"Tampon girl!" Rylee exclaimed.
Willow looked thoughtful for a moment before she laughed.
"I'd forgotten about that!" Stephanie growled.
Shannon raised an eyebrow in expectation of an explanation. Willow sat down and turned to face Marc and Shannon.
"It was Rylee's second morning, I think, and the juvenile Willow Hartman decided to have some fun – I was thirteen and a dickhead," Willow explained. "I was on my period and I had just removed my tampon when I chose to place it on Rylee's forehead. She discovered it when she awoke, but she responded by throwing it back at me . . . I was struck in the face by a tampon loaded with my own menstrual blood. Stephanie was attacked by Kara Newton in the same way."
"I suppose I got my own back, ultimately," Stephanie commented darkly.
Then a third person arrived.
Kendra Harrison stepped into the briefing room and so many emotions went through her young mind as she laid eyes on Rylee Clarkson for the first time on over a year.
"Hello, Rylee," Kendra said.
"Hello, Kendra," Rylee said, pulling the youngster into a hug.
Kendra was very surprised to be hugged but she was very pleased with the contact. After they split apart, Kendra gave Simon a hug. Willow watched her sister and she began to put two and two together.
"Kendra," Willow said. "Was one of these two responsible for your injuries?"
Rylee stood up to face Willow.
"It was me – I made her pay for what she did to me when I was being punished . . . I never apologised to her for what I did." Rylee turned to face Kendra. "I'm really sorry for what I did to you, Kendra."
Kendra nodded. "You did what you had to – I went too far, but thanks to you, I survived, and I had the skills to stay alive. Willow, don't you dare touch Rylee! Without her, I would have died, a long time ago. She trained me, even if I was a Yellow."
Willow was silently seething but she restrained herself – at least for the moment.
"Kendra so wanted to become a Predator," Rylee said quietly. "Despite what I did to her, she pushed and pushed with her training. You should be really proud of your little sister, Willow. Yes, I hurt her, but before you rip my head off, she made me suffer, so badly. I hated hurting her, but it was part of what we were, back then. I did my best to protect her and train her, but if you want to kill me, then I won't stop you."
Willow turned to her little sister.
"Without Rylee, would you still be alive?"
Kendra shook her head emphatically and Willow turned back to Rylee.
"I've dreamt of murdering the person who hurt my little sister, but it seems that the little bitch probably deserved what she got – one day you can tell me what she did to you. For now, I'll let you live, but I will get you back for that tampon."
Rylee grinned.
..._...
Once the potential unpleasantries were past, it was time for the two newcomers to demonstrate their capabilities.
Mindy and Shannon took to the mat with Simon and Rylee. All four wore shorts and tops only and were barefoot. With Rachel, Stephanie, Harper, Willow, Marc, and Kendra watching from above, Rylee faced off against Shannon to start. Shannon was looking forward to the sparring as it had been quite a while since she and Shannon had interacted in anything.
"You still got it, Rylee?" Shannon teased her friend.
"Have you?" Rylee shot back. "I gather you spend your days lying on your back with Marc's dick up your..."
"Rylee!" Rachel called down sternly.
Shannon took the distraction as a signal to attack the gobby eleven-year-old. Rylee almost missed the bare foot coming in her direction, but she ducked at the last second punching out at Shannon's leg. Rylee's punch missed and she swiftly rolled to avoid Shannon's next attack. Shannon made contact on her next strike, kicking Rylee in the left thigh and eliciting an annoyed, indignant yell of pain from the younger girl. Rylee was having none of it, and the girl threw herself at her friend, kicking, twisting, and punching. Shannon was taken off guard by the ferociousness of Rylee's attack. Shannon was very aware of Rylee's skill level and she struggled to block the nimble smaller girl. There was more to Shannon, and Rylee was able to strike her on her left breast which had Shannon yelling out in pain.
Then, seemingly at a signal, Shannon rolled off to one side, leaving Rylee facing off against Mindy while Shannon attacked Simon. Shannon knew that Simon could care less about fighting a girl and she swiftly kicked him hard in the side before he could strike her somewhere painful. The boy was good, and he reacted instantly, spinning and catching Shannon in the chest, sending the fourteen-year-old flying back onto the mat to cheers from Kendra and Harper. Shannon responded with a raised middle finger. Rachel was cheering on her daughter who had her work cut out fighting Mindy. Mindy seemed angry for some reason and she was making Rylee work. It was only a minute before Mindy decided to stop teasing and she kicked Rylee hard enough for her to fly across the mat and land in a heap.
"That's for the first bullet, you little shit!" Mindy growled as she advanced on the fallen girl.
Stephanie, always looking for ways to make her mother's life just that little bit harder, dropped a wooden jo-staff to Rylee who caught the training weapon and she blocked Mindy's kick. Mindy glared up at Stephanie who just grinned back cheekily. Mindy was now on the defensive as she moved to dodge the wooden device which was being wielded by someone who knew what they were doing. However, Mindy was flexible, and she could move – fast. Rylee learnt, very quickly, why Hit Girl was all but untouchable. No matter how she moved and swung the jo-staff, Mindy dodged and kicked back, hurting Rylee but not stopping the young girl. Shannon and Simon were fighting hard, with neither wanting to back down. Soon, the cheering crowd had increased as other members had drifted in from school, eager to see the fight, which was unfolding, and which had swiftly spread around the Fusion grapevine thanks to Stephanie.
Rylee was being pushed past the point where she was beginning to tire, and her temper was rising. Simon could see Rylee beginning to struggle and he was determined to put Shannon down quickly so he could assist his Rylee. It took just a minute, but Simon's keen eyes identified a gap in Shannon's defences and the girl went down screaming out in pain. Simon ignored the downed girl and he ran for Rylee. Mindy did not bat an eyelid as Simon joined the fight, she simply upped her performance and fought harder. Fighting two eleven-year-olds was child's play, quite literally, for Mindy, but she had no desire to hurt the pair – too much. Mindy was used to fighting against the odds and her Daddy had ensured that she could take on whatever came her way. However, she had to admit, the pair were well trained and as a fighting pair, they were devastatingly good. Mindy could see the pair tiring and when she looked up at Stephanie, she saw the youngster nod . . . it was time to end it before someone got hurt.
Swiftly, Mindy used her agility and she somersaulted over the pair, coming up from a roll behind the pair. Mindy struck before the pair could turn to face her and both crashed to the mat as their legs were swept out from underneath them. Mindy swept up the jo-staff which Rylee had dropped, and she put Simon back down again as the boy rapidly regained his feet after his first put down. Rylee was steaming and she scrambled up, turning on Mindy, her expression one of hatred and anger. Simon stepped back having received a signal from Harper who had descended onto the mat. Rylee ignored the signal, determined not to lose face in the sparring match.
"Give it up, Rylee," Mindy suggested as the pair circled one another.
"Not a fucking chance!"
Mindy chose to end things and she used the jo-staff to persuade Rylee that the sparring session was over. Rylee lay on the mat, the end of the weapon at her throat. The girl was breathing heavily, and her eyes were spitting fire. Simon and Harper ran forwards, each grasping an arm and pulling Rylee to her feet and keeping a firm hold on the struggling girl.
"Let me go, you bloody bastards!" Rylee almost screamed as she fought to escape the iron grip of her friends. "I am going to rip you a new arsehole, Hit Girl!"
"Rylee, calm the fuck down!" Simon hissed into her ear.
"It's over, Rylee, back it up," Harper agreed.
"You fought well, Rylee, but now it's time for food," Mindy said calmly, well used to Predators who hated backing down.
"Okay! Okay!" Rylee growled as she pulled free of Simon and Harper.
Shannon went over to speak with Rylee, but the girl was in no mood for talking.
"Fuck off, Shannon!"
Shannon left the seething girl be as she went to meet up with Megan and Marc.
Training Facility Echo
Level 0 – Changing Rooms
Rylee was still seething when she found the showers.
Shannon was already there, washing her hair. Rylee joined her friend and savoured the hot water on her bruised body.
"You calmed down, Ry?"
"Yes – she touched a nerve and I lost control for a while."
"Don't feel bad, she does it to everybody; she just wants to see what you can do."
"This is all a bit new to me," Rylee admitted.
"You'll get used to it . . . hello, we have a visitor."
Simon peered into the girl's shower as he headed for his own.
"What?" Shannon and Rylee asked as Simon stared at the two naked girls.
"You two going to give us a display – you know, like you both used to in sex-ed class?" Simon asked with a grin.
The dark cold looks the boy received as the two girls stood with hands on their hips actually made him want to run for safety.
"Just kidding...!" Simon said as he fled.
"Ah, we had some fun times, didn't we?" Shannon commented.
"At least we were together," Rylee responded.
The two girls rapidly finished up as they were both very hungry.
Level 1 – Dining Room
When Rylee, Shannon, and Simon entered the dining room, Rylee suddenly felt very apprehensive by the number of people present – there had to be over twenty sitting down at tables, stuffing their faces.
"Come on, Rylee. Come on, Simon," two voices announced.
Simon and Rylee found themselves being pulled forward by Lin and Xiāngxìn to a table occupied by four others. Once they had all sat down, Lin introduced the other four.
"This is Megan, Curtis, Lauren, and Hunter."
"Hello, Hunter, I remember you," Simon said.
"It's good to see you and Rylee safe," Hunter replied.
"Are you three...?" Rylee asked, directing her question at Megan, Curtis, and Lauren.
"No, we're not Predators," Curtis replied.
"Nah – I'm normal...," Megan replied, only to be cut off as Paige roared with laughter. "That's my Mom!" Megan scowled. "Maybe I'm not so normal; I'm Wildcat."
"I thought you'd be older," Simon said.
"I'm twelve," Megan pointed out, somewhat defensively.
"Here, Rylee," Shannon said as she placed a large plate loaded with a double cheeseburger and mounds of chips in front of the younger girl.
"Simon," Marc said as he placed a similar plate down before the boy.
Rylee looked around and she saw her mother sitting at a table with some other adults – she was laughing. Rylee dug into her food with gusto as she was very hungry. Part way through her meal, four others appeared and gathered around the table.
"Hi, Rylee, all good?" Stephanie asked.
"Yes, thanks," Rylee said in between mouthfuls of cheeseburger.
"This is my sister, Anne-Marie, and my brothers, Jamie and Danny," Stephanie said.
"Hi," Simon and Rylee said.
"You fought well," Stephanie said. "Both of you. Neither of you had a chance of winning."
"Thanks for the jo-staff," Rylee grinned.
"Anything to annoy my Mum," Stephanie grinned back.
Rylee felt happier, but there was still something nagging her, so, after she had eaten, Rylee went in search of Hit Girl.
Level 3 – Equipment Storage & Main Armoury
Rylee was told to take the elevator down to Level 3.
When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, Rylee was amazed to see rack upon rack of equipment. After she had negotiated several rows of racking, she found Mindy sitting at a table with two large dogs lying beside her on the floor.
"Mrs Lizewski?" Rylee ventured, a little overawed by the facility and being in such close quarters with Hit Girl.
Mindy turned around and she smiled at her visitor. The dogs simply looked up at Rylee for a moment before going back to sleep.
"Hello, Rylee. Call me Mindy; you've earned that much. Something on your mind?"
"You knew, didn't you?"
"Knew that you wouldn't kill me? Yes. The entire thing was choreographed . . . how did you think you were able to get hold of a weapon?"
"You trusted me?"
"Yes, Rylee, I trust you. I spoke at length with Shannon and Harper about you. Both told me that you can be trusted one hundred per cent. I trust Harper and Shannon with my life, and if they say you're good, then I trust you."
"Oh," was all Rylee could say in response to that. "I wanted to say thanks for helping me and bringing me back to my friends."
"I have all the time in the world for Predators. I hate that my existing caused you all to suffer. I am doing what I can to help you all get back to some form of a normal life. I know you hate me for what I am and for what was done to you as a result – I feel the guilt like nothing else. Every morning I wake up to see my daughter and my son; I feel the guilt each and every morning. I caused them to lose their parents and then endure hell for countless months of their lives. Whatever you need, Rylee, I will do my best to sort you out. We are not enemies – at least I hope not."
"No, I've put that all behind me now," Rylee admitted, and she suddenly felt a load of weight evaporating from her mind just by saying it. "What do I do now? I know that Harper is a part of Vengeance, and I guess most of those I've just spent a few days with are too. Am I supposed to join them?"
"Do you want to?" Mindy asked.
"I don't know. I hate killing – but when I see evil, I just have to act."
Mindy chuckled, seeing herself in the girl standing before her.
Level 1 – Dining Room
"You still alive, then?" Simon chuckled as Rylee reappeared.
"I needed to talk with Mindy," Rylee replied.
"I see you've brought friends," Simon commented as he noticed the two German Shepherds which had accompanied Rylee.
"Oh, this is Razor and this one is Kiara," Rylee explained.
"Rylee always liked the company of bitches," Marc commented with a wink in Shannon's direction.
"Razor has balls, doofus!" Shannon pointed out. "He's a boy dog."
"Oh, sorry," Marc said as he grinned somewhat sheepishly. "Sorry, boy!"
Razor woofed and gave Marc a lick.
"Rylee! Simon!"
The pair turned to see Stephanie and another running in their direction.
"Hey, guys, this is Abigail – yeah, she's a fucked-up Predator, too," Stephanie said in introduction. "Or maybe she's just fucked-up..."
Abigail just glared at Stephanie.
"Anyway!" Stephanie continued. "You two need to come with us."
"Should we be worried?" Simon asked.
"In this place?" Abigail responded. "Hell yeah!"
Level 2 – Accommodation Recreational Space
A brief trip down in the elevator found the four Predators – and the two dogs - exiting the elevator into the recreational space outside the cabins.
Mindy, Keira, and Rachel were busy talking on the comfortable couches. Rylee and Simon headed over followed by Razor, Kiera, Abigail, and Stephanie.
"Hi, Mum!" Rylee said.
"Hello," Rachel replied. "You been keeping out of trouble?"
Rylee simply grinned.
"If she spends any time with those two then anything is possible," Kiera grinned.
"Sit down all of you," Mindy chuckled as she saw the hurt expressions on the two girl's faces.
The two dogs lay down next to Rylee as Mindy passed out two devices to Rylee and Simon.
"These phones are special, and they can only be activated by your thumb prints. Both of you press the pulsing symbol on the screen..."
Rylee and Simon did so.
"Those phones are now configured and encrypted for yourselves and only yourselves. There is a panic feature which will bring down hell on anybody should you be in trouble – you saw the results of someone using their phone back in the UK, Rylee. Never let these phones out of your sight – your Mum has one, too, as does everyone in Vengeance and Fusion. The communications is encrypted so good if you are calling anyone else on the same system – a directory is included, so should you want to speak with anybody, you can. Forget about costs; I'm paying for the phones and calls. They are there so you can keep in touch with your friends and each other."
"Cool!" Simon exclaimed as he studied the rugged but slim mobile in his hand.
"Mindy!" came a voice and Rylee froze as did Simon – it was a voice from their past.
"Over here!" Mindy called back just as Shannon sprinted into the space.
"Get Rylee and Simon out of here!" Shannon said urgently, but it was far too late.
"What the fuck!?" Rylee growled as she laid eyes on two girls whom she had hoped were long dead.
Chrissy and Sky Abbott stepped into the recreational space, unaware who was waiting there. However, before anyone could do or say anything, Rylee and Simon attacked the two girls, driving their fists into the twins' faces. Shannon bolted forward to try and break up the fight before someone was killed.
"You know, it's kinda refreshing seeing it happen to somebody else for a change," Stephanie quipped as she joined Shannon.
Mindy jumped up, along with Keira, neither sure what was happening.
..._...
Rylee and Simon were like demons possessed as they set about the twins.
Once Chrissy and Sky realised who was attacking them, they responded in kind, kicking and punching. There was no love lost between either pair and that simply meant the punches and kicks connected harder and harder. It took two minutes to bring things under control and for the fighters to be pinned to the floor. There was a lot of blood and all four were hurt. Mindy grabbed a phone and put out a tannoy call.
"Medical emergency, Level 1! Medical emergency, Level 1!"
Jennifer was there within two minutes and she set to work with the assistance of Chloe and Joshua. Luckily, there was nothing more than bloody noses and a lot of bruises, although Sky might have had a bruised rib.
"What the fuck was that about?" Mindy demanded.
"I'd hoped that they were dead," Rylee seethed as she was treated for a bloody nose and a bruised left shoulder.
"They have no business being alive," Simon added.
"Oh, shit!" Harper exclaimed as she arrived and took in the carnage. "I forgot about the twins!"
"So, did I," Shannon admitted. "I raced down here the moment I knew they'd arrived."
Mindy sighed as the injured were taken away.
Level 1 – Medical Centre
The four Predators sat in pairs facing each other.
Each pair glared at the other, wishing their glares could kill. Watching each pair, were Hunter, Abigail, Stephanie, and Jamie, and each held a Taser. Jennifer and Chloe were finishing off treating each one and cleaning them up.
"Sorry," Rylee said as she looked over at Sky. "It doesn't look too bad."
"It fucking hurts," Sky responded sourly.
"At least she didn't shoot you in the arse," Simon grinned.
"Oooh!" Sky laughed as she looked at her sister seated beside her who scowled.
"Oh, wow," Shannon commented from the door, "I'd forgotten all about Chrissy's butt."
"So, had I," Chrissy commented sourly.
"What are you talking about?" Jamie asked.
"Well, a couple years ago, there were the bitch twins," Shannon grinned. "Let's call them Sky and Chrissy. Well, during an archery session, Rylee sent one off on a parabolic arc and, well, two girls were out of bounds and the arrow plunged straight down into Chrissy's ample ass."
"You would not believe how much that hurt," Chrissy growled.
"It was painful for me too," Sky admitted.
"How so?" Chrissy demanded. "I had a damn arrow embedded in my left buttock."
"I was struggling not to laugh," Sky said, her face full of apology.
Simon laughed first, followed by Sky and then Chrissy. Rylee could not resist, and she laughed too. It was infectious and soon Stephanie, Jamie, Abigail, Hunter, Shannon, and Jennifer were laughing too.
"What the fuck!?" Mindy demanded as she arrived to bang heads together.
"We were just discussing Chrissy's butt," Stephanie informed Mindy.
"Huh?"
Chrissy groaned as she explained about the arrow for Mindy's benefit. By the end of the story, Mindy was grinning enormously.
"That is priceless!" Mindy laughed.