Another hail of bullets rattles around Trystt and Sterne. The lightning seems to be keeping the soldiers at bay for now but it won't be long before the entire base comes down on your heads.
Bobbi hauls herself into the jet and you see her briefly appear in the cockpit, hitting switches and running through pre-flight checks at a breakneck speed.
Ebon sprints back towards the fence. I hope that helps, I really hope they get to us. He thinks through everything, he is considering the fall out for this but if no one gets hurt he'll be happy. He just needs this to work.
come on Trystt we need to get on that jet, we can’t hold them all back so we either fly out of here or we may not get out his disembodied voice says from beside her and he follows her toward the jet.
The pair fall back under the cover of the flashing lightning. They reach the bay door of the jet and haul themselves inside.
The rear portion is a cargo area, currently completely empty. They run through into the plane proper and find it equipped for the transport of up to 20 soldiers - if the number of seats is anything to go by. There are weapon racks toward the rear portion beside one of the exits - again empty - an area that could loosely be described as a galley though really all it comprises is a couple of compartments and a boiler of hot water for rehydrating chow.
Bobbi is swearing loudly from the cockpit.
"You two ok? They are going to be pushing in here any second, get that door closed and get strapped in. I think this thing will but whether it'll land.... we'll deal with that when the time comes. GET THE DOOR CLOSED!"
Bullets screech and pop against the hull of the jet but it's engines roar and the wheels begin to move. It trundles toward the hangar doors where the squad is waiting. They open fire relentlessly and the noise is deafening but the jet begins to pick up speed as a pair of them are forced to dive for cover.
The jet begins to pick up speed and Bobbi forces it into a hard left toward the runway when you hear here swear again.
"Left side, left side. LAWS, LAWS! You gotta stop it now!'
Craning your head in that direction you see dozens of vehicles headed your way but a jeep around a hundred feet away leading the pack. It screeches to a halt and a passenger in the back stands up with something that looks like a long green pipe resting on her shoulder.
Sterne looks through the window and sees the rocket launcher aimed in their direction and his heart lurches.
I’ve got this he says with a confidence he doesn’t feel and he opens his mind. Severing the connection he has to Trystt he focuses his abilities and reaches out toward the rocket launcher.
Beads of sweat break out on his forehead as his concentration deepens, he can feel the soldiers intent, he can feel his calm focus as he aims carefully at the plane but Sterne does not care how good a shot he is he only cares about the rocket and he focuses his mind upon it....
If successful .....
Sterne suddenly grins as his hand closes around the cold metallic object as it materialises out of thin air and he grasps it tightly. holding it up for the others to see he says:
he’s going to be very disappointed in a second and he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do
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Sterne clicks his fingers and, like a David Copperfield piece of close up magic, something appears in his hand. But it isn't a card or a rose, it is a 12 inch long steel rocket.
The soldier clicks the dry weapon and you have just enough time to see her collapse grabbing at her face before the jet rumbles on.
A dozen vehicles converge on the hangar now and as she attempts to pull the jet around toward the runway, Bobbi sees it is impossble and you would be shot to pieces before you even got up to speed.
Instead, she just punches the throttle and the jet bounces crazily over roads and sidewalks. You are vaguely aware of people diving this way and that and a huge roar of metal as one of the wings rips the top off a wooden guard post like a tin can.
She heads out toward the fence and there is clatter as she barrels over it and then an enormous sickening crunch as the jet lurches downwards, dropping several feet off the base guardwall and onto the open field beyond. But still she doesn't throttle back, she just hammers it forward and you can see the freeway coming up quickly ahead as the whole machine bucks and lurches. For a heartwrenching moment you think you are about to plow into dozens of vehicles that flash their headlights crazily at you but with a half scream and a half laugh Bobbi yanks back on the stick and suddenly you are climbing steeply into the night sky, your stomachs doing loop-de-loops inside you.
"Ohmygod... <phew!> Crazy right? You guys ok back there?" Bobbi shouts over her shoulder. "This crate has stealth plating, once we're outside the major population areas we'll be set. Now where are we picking up the others?"
Christ! That was intense Sterne says as he releases a breath he was unconsciously holding as they begin to climb
after that I don’t think I’ll need to disguise myself as an old man any more. That was enough to turn anyone’s hair grey.
But we are ok... I think. I took a round in the shoulder but I’ll be fine
As the adrenaline begins to fade from his system the pain from his wounds returns and he grimaces as he carefully stows the Rocket in one of the empty ammunition boxes.
Returning to his seat he clamps his hand over his bloody shoulder and begins to speed up his healing process and as the bullet is pushed out of his shoulder he sighs with relief and drops the bullet onto the floor of the plane.
The group meets back up at an old cement factory a few miles away. Bobbi spends the best part of 5 minutes (which seems like hours) circling around the bay. Fighters are scrambled but with the jet's stealth technology it buys you enough time to keep your heads down and renezvous at the pick up point.
The jet kicks up an enormous plume of dust as it lands though as it does so Napalm notices that part of the landing gear looks severely defective. It was probably the reason it was in for repairs in the first place and only made worse now.
"Yeah I noticed it too." Bobbi confirms. "Reckon after we take off here I ain't gonna be able to land again. That might cause us a problem or not but that's something to deal with later."
The Jet boosts back into the night and for better or worse, the group finds themselves preparing to cross international borders and contravene who knows how many laws.
Ebon paces back and forth at the cement factory. Waiting for any news, or any sighting. When the jet finally shows and starts to land he lets out a long sigh. "They made it. That's what matters let's just get in there and find out what happened." He says to Napalm and Spore.
--
"What happened? We heard the alarms and gun shots." He moves over looking them over. "Did you get hurt? Did anyone get hurt?" He questions them. Pushing aside the thought of what they just did for a moment but it dwells on him. "We're doing the right thing here, we have to do this. It will all become clear when we find this lab."
Airborne once more and this time with the rest of the group on board Sterne rubs his hand across the base of his neck, trying to ease the tension there.
what happened? he repeats Ebons question and looks at the young Asian it was a mess, it was alll my fault he says bitterly we got through the gate easily enough but we couldn’t stay hidden forever and soon we were spotted, two soldiers pulled up in a jeep and demanded to see some id. I tried to fool the soldiers, I thought I’d be able to get us through but I failed. They were too wary maybe, too hyped up and alert. I don’t know what it was but I couldn’t control them and then one of them raised the alarm...after that it got worse he says sadly as he remembers the jeep smashing into the building and the bullets flying all around them.
we stole a jeep and sped straight for the hanger, but they were already heading to cut us off, they opened fire and then something happened to the jeep chasing us, it crashed into one of the buildings. I hope the soldiers inside weren’t seriously hurt he says looking at Trystt.
after that Trystt gave us some cover with a fog she created so we could reach the hanger, once inside she blocked the entrance with some kind of lightning storm, giving Bobbi enough time to get the plane ready.
Then on the way out they tried to blow us up with a damn rocket launcher!
This all seemed like such a good idea, so easy. sneak into a military base, steal a jet, go to Sokovia and find the secret Hydra base.
F+~$! What were we thinking!
If anyone finds out who we are.... he leaves the last unsaid as he rubs at his neck more vigorously.
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Trysst dismisses the sight disruption as they fly away.
She shrugs at Doc in confusion at his semi-silent accusation, unsure of what resolution he wants. What did he want me to dp? She starts fiercely glare at him as she thinks, I'm not apologizing for us not being shot full of holes. Her response contains quite a bit of unintended attitude. "More or less, yeah. We probably should have called it off when Miss Tweety Bird here decided to tell us the jets there are in for repairs. But yeah, hell in a hand-basket is a decent way to describe it."
"Ebon, is that faith, or are you convincing yourself?"
Sterne can feel his anger rising as Trystt shrugs and glares at him and he looks her in the eye
we should have called it off, before people got hurt . we were in a shit situation but those soldiers could be dead Trystt. Do you get that? We were doing what, sixty or seventy in that jeep when they smashed into that building. There’s no walking away from that. Sterne says with a sick feeling in his gut.
endangering individuals is a no go. You said that yourself.
Did that even cross your mind when you caused them to crash? It was reckless and irresponsible and I just hope for your sake that no one was badly hurt.
I guess we will find out soon enough. This will be all over the news in no time
He says shaking his head as he fears the worst.
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The air in the plane starts to stir and electricity crackles in the air as Trystt's temper flares and she rises several inches off the floor. "For my sake?! Don't threaten me because you're feeling guilty. And an army truck doesn't accelerate to 70 in a few seconds. You just lost your head while I took an educated risk that was only necessary because of your failure. I hope those soldiers end up with only a few bumps and bruises. If not, I'll need to live with my failure. And you with yours."
Ebon feel immensely conflicted, everything their doing seems wrong but for the right reason.
He steps forward between them. "Stop. This isn't help anyone. What's done is done, we knew what it meant sneaking into that base." He takes a deep breath. "I knew what it meant." He turns to look at Trytt now, his face not showing anger but a calm face. "I have faith, maybe not in a god. But in a higher power a flow of energy in this world that every person, everything thing holds a part of." He bring his arm up and slowly places it on the small woman's shoulder. "What's done is done, we all came together for a reason we are doing the right thing, most people wont see that but you have to go against the current sometimes." He then looks to Sterne.
I lost my head? I’m not the one who panicked and slammed them into a wall. Do you know how it feels to take someone’s life? An innocent life?. don’t think you want to know , not ever. Sterne says bluntly I can live with what I did , my failure won’t land anyone in hospital or the damn morgue!
"Hey, listen cut the sh*t!" Bobbi shouts from the cockpit. "You think we'd just waltz in somewhere and be like 'we gonna borrow our jet, that cool?'"
"This crate is gonna fly and it's the only shot we had. You guys made me think this was worth it, that there was something bigger than all of us. Whatever we did or didn't do doesn't matter now, all that matters is the mission."
The jet cuts out over the bay and within minutes is over the open ocean, ahead of a long flight ahead.
A few hours into the flight, Napalm's phone rings.
"Lucas... you're ok? I heard about something happening at one of the bases. That was you, right? Jesus, you won't believe the uproar. All I've seen is SHIELD top brass running from one conference room to another. Just be safe ok?"
"I guess one good thing about all this commotion is there's less attention on what anyone else is doing. I got the coordinates for that HYDRA lab.... Lucas it couldn't be deeper into the Sarkovia Fallout Zone, I have no idea what you'll find there."
Ebon stops as Bobbi speaks up, happy to hear her voice in all this. "She's right. Now it's a long way to go, get your rest we'll all need it for what's coming next." He gives Stern a look as to drop it and then looks to Trystt hoping she will back down.
--
Sterne knew there was little point in arguing about what had happened, that horse had bolted and they could not change it but that didn’t make it any better.
Trystt was right , if he had done his job , she wouldn’t have had to intervene and those soldiers wouldn’t have gotten hurt.
He was still upset about what had happened. He felt out of his depth and he felt like a failure.
Taking note of the silent plea Ebon sends his way he looks at Trystt and sighs
look Trystt, I’m sorry. I know you didn’t intentionally hurt anyone I’m just deflecting my own guilt and anger onto you. What happened at the base was a damn mess and you’re right it was my fault he says and moves deeper into the plane away from them and grabbing his pack he finds somewhere to stretch out as he tries to rest his body and his troubled mind.
Spore looks on with concern as the tensions rise, and is just about to speak up when Sterne apologizes to Trystt. He found himself happy that the disagreement seemed to fizzle; the decision to be part of this was a tough one for him, and while he didn't plan on changing his mind, her didn't mean to dwell on past decisions either.
"Don't blame yourself, Doc. Just remember why we're here doing this in the first place: to save people. A lot of people."
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Whatever serenity Ebon is trying to impart is instantly negated by Doc's next accusations. She flies backward from the contact. Mockingbird's yelling only exacerbates the situation's tension. When she responds, her tone is as icy as her gaze is heated. "The mission is what matters most. I'll even work with people I can't trust." She looks pointedly at Sterne and Mockingbird.
As conversation lulls, Spore makes sure to heal the injured members of the team, before settling down into a meditative trance to rest before they arrive...
The jet cuts through the sky, streaking across the Atlantic at a leisurely 25,000 feet. Some of the group sleep through most of it and even Bobbi, her adrenaline still coursing after the events of the base, switches on autopilot to grab a couple of hours of shut eye.
The flight is smooth for the most part. There is a period of fairly significant turbulence over Belgium but Bobbi deals with it expertly and navigates the swells without issue.
"I'm worried about landing." Bobbi says. "Not just because of the gear but in case we get spotted. I'm pretty sure I can avoid radar detection in this but the longer we're there the more chance there is of something going wrong. I've got the coordinates from Lucas but no one knows what that area is like now after the Ultron Incident. We could be flying into radiation or an emp field or anything. You all prepared for that?"
I'll get as close as I can and then drop you off before circling out over the Black Sea and waiting for your call."
Ebon sighs as he stands looking around the jet. "Like I said." He closes his eyes on Stern. "Let's all get our rest, this helps no one. We're on the mission and we'll get this done." He holds his hands up to Tyrstt. "We can all trust each other here. You trust me Tyrstt? Well I trust everyone here with my life. If anyone wants to talk I'm more than happy to talk, I don't need much sleep and I there isn't much room to train on this jet." He smiles to himself attempting to break some of the tension.
---
Ebon listens to Bobbi, attempting to take in everything shes saying only picking up some of it. "Ok, a little walking. I don't think we'll have a problem with that." He looks back at the group. "It will give us a better lay of the land."
Lucas answers his phone. "Hey, babe. Yeah, I heard about the thing at the base. Just keep out of the commotion."
"Ok, send me the coordinates along with any other information you found about it. I really appreciate, this Maggie. I hope you didn't have to promise anything too much to those guys in networks. I promise I'll call when I can." A few more moments of private conversation follow until Lucas hangs up.
He links his phone with the quinjet's computer network. "Ok, Maggie got us coordinates. Let's see where we're going."
Hours later Bobbi wakes those who have decided to rest and gets the attention of those who did not.
The autopilot has been running for the best part of four hours but as the jet streaks over Hungary, Bobbi gets back behind the stick.
The jet flies low over tracks of green countryside, gliding at several hundred miles per hour. From this height the network of roads and highways look like a massive series of veins stretching out across the skin of this country. In the distance the Carpathian mountains climb magnificently into the sky, just turning pink as the first rays of the sun creep atop them.
And then suddenly, the majesty turns bleak. The road networks give way to enormous blockades and miles and miles of fencing and guardposts that segregate an area the size of Maryland, and stretches into the distance. The green fields are black and fetid and then the devastation really begins.
For mile upon mile there is annihilated buildings turned to rubble, chasms and crevices where there were once towns and cities and everything is covered in a mist-like miasma that crawls and cloys for mile upon mile.
"Jesus..." Bobbi sighs. .."I had no idea. I don't think anyone does. The Ultron did this.... and the Avengers couldn't stop it. My god, no wonder Stark pushed so hard for the Accords."
Ebon looks out taking it all in. He had heard of what happened but just like Bobbi, he couldn't have imagined it was anything like it was.
A shiver runs down his spin, as he considers them down there. They were a long way from New York.
"Ok." He starts clicking his knuckles on each hand. "It's bad, but we have to get down there. Can you give us a lay of the land Bobbi? Just to have an idea of what way we can move down there."
bad? I don’t think that does it justice Akio. I don’t think it could be much worse Sterne says as he joins them up front, aching and groggy from the poor sleep he rubs at his shoulder where he was shot as he looks out at the devastated landscape. Although healed the tissue was still bruised and sore.
It is going to be rough going, Bobbi how close can you get us to the site of the Hydra base? he asks not relishing the thought of hiking too far down there.
"I really don't like the look of that mist." she admits, chewing her lip. "May be half a mile? I've no idea what that crap will do to this bird... or you guys for that matter."
A quick glance out the window is enough for Spore. He retreats to a seat where he can't see outside, sits still, and cries silently for a time, mourning for the great loss of life.
Ebon watches as Spore moves away to sit along. He feels pain given off by his friend, taking a moment to really look at the devastation and now just their goal.
"We can't risk our ride. Whatever you think is best Bobbi, but get us down there. It's going to be slow going down there." He stares off out the window.
Bobbi pulls the jet up, slowing gradually until it's engines rotate and it hovers in place, some 15 feet fro the ground. She inches it down, down, down until it is no more than 5 feet.
"I can't set her down." she shouts. "I'm afraid I won't get her back up. This thing can run partially on solar power, it's like one of those hybrids. I figure I can circle the Black Sea on autopilot for about half a day and then we're not going to have enough fuel to get back."
"Use your comms, let me know what's going on."
Outside the jet, the blasted earth goes on for miles and miles. It rises in ridges and mountains of broken roads and ruined fields. The crawling mist lies over everything like some horrid miasma though a rent in the earth leads down into darkness and appears to be free of the mist.
Spore really isn't sure what the mist is but he feels like it is probably poison, if not to everyone, then certainly to him.
Ebon rubs his jaw as Bobbi finishes talking, still feeling a little sore. "We'll see you soon Bobbi, if it gets to dangerous get just out I don't want anything happening to you." Stepping to the back of the plane he takes up a comm unit seeing how Naplahm used it he attempts to copy him placing it in his ear.
Jumping from the plane he looks around, hearing Spores words about the mist he nods. "We need to be very careful here." Ebon flicks his wrists and his fists start to glow with light. "I'll take the lead. We stick together, we're going in blind here."
Spore rummaged through the locker with little intent; he wasn’t generally one for equipment or tech, preferring to generate his own tools as needed. This time though, he did, for some reason, feel a desire to look through the bin. Perhaps he needed a distraction from the environment, or perhaps something was calling him on a deeper level. Regardless, he picked up an armband, slipped it on, felt a pinch, and immediately passed out...
He came to a moment later, shocked back to consciousness by the floor’s impact, and stood back up, his head swimming. Looking around at his concerned friends, Napalm’s reaction in particular stood out, his jaw having dropped completely. ”That was an bio-defib…” he says, shocked and stammering as he checked a now-empty light-gage on the side of the armband, ”it mixes, dilutes, and distributes an epinephrine-replacement concentrate...and you just took ALL OF IT, basically 6 hits of adrenaline. A human would be dead from that, hell, a cow would be dead from that. Are you...okay? HOW are you standing?”
Spore smiled in response, feeling nothing at first except a little dizzy. A few moments later though, he felt a strange feeling, like he was getting excited, and a pressure building deep within. Something needed to give, he knew, and so he concentrated on channelling it out of his body gently, rather than in a burst, so as not to disturb the others or damage the plane.
”I’m good, I think...” he said, as a barely perceptible aura surrounded him, and the air swirled around him with an subtle blue hue for a moment before disappearing. ”How is there not a label on these things?” he said, shaking his head. With a gentle tug, he tried to remove the band, but it’d somehow grown into his arm-vines, and wasn’t budging...though the lights on the gage started to tick back up.
Napalm shakes his head and points to a tag. "'Biomachinery,' See? Usually it would only be used by a professional." He tries to help remove the band, but the chemicals had stimulated growth response in Spore's vines. "Uh, ok. I guess if it isn't hurting you, it seems to be ok for now."
He yawns, waking up from the snooze he'd had on the flight over. He inserts the comm link into his ear winces from the volume. He turns the control unit down. "Ok, keep your eyes open out there. Who knows what we'll find. If we can find shelter, it'll help from whatever the mist is."
He checks his tac-vest again, securing his grenades. He pulls out his genetic enhancer and injects himself with it, his pupils dilating and then constricting. He takes a ragged breath to steady himself. Then he punches a button on his armor and you see it bulge with the impact foam. Lastly, he draws his baton and with a flick of the wrist, he extends it out. "We ready?"