They moved swiftly through the ruined corridor, Rex leading with a grim determination etched on his face. The echoes of alarms still pulsed through the facility, a frantic heartbeat to their desperate search. They rounded a corner, the numbered cells blurring past, the remnants of chaos a testament to the recent uprising. Rex stopped abruptly before a door hanging precariously off its hinges – the room where Arthur was supposed to be held.
He cast a reluctant glance around the dimly lit interior, the metallic tang of blood heavy in the air, but Arthur was nowhere to be seen. His jaw clenched.
Rex: He's not here, (he growled, his voice rough, raking a hand through his dishevelled hair.)
He kicked at a piece of debris, sending it skittering across the floor. His gaze swept the confined space, lingering on the mangled restraints still bolted to the wall.
Ender, his face etched with concern, peered into the adjacent cells, his rifle held ready.
Ender: Maybe... (he began hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper,) ...maybe they took him? (He trailed off, the implication hanging in the air like the dust motes dancing in the dim emergency light.)
A guttural noise ripped from Rex's throat, a sound of pure, frustrated rage. He slammed a fist against the wall, the weakened concrete groaning under the impact.
Rex: Then we keep looking.
Suddenly, the air crackled, a familiar electric hum filling the ruined hallway. A blinding streak of blue lightning tore through the gloom, followed by a sharp, deafening crack that made them all jump – except Rex, whose head snapped towards the source of the energy. Standing amidst the flickering emergency lights, radiating raw power, was Jack.
Ender: Jack...? (He breathed, his voice a mixture of disbelief and relief, his eyes wide.)
Jack's head snapped towards the sound, his gaze locking onto Ender's. Disbelief washed over his exhausted features before a strangled sob escaped his lips. He surged forward, closing the distance in a few frantic strides, and enveloped Ender in a tight, desperate hug.
Jack: Ender...! (His voice was choked with emotion, squeezing Ender with a ferocity that spoke volumes of his fear.)
Ender: Jack... You... you alive... (He stammered, a hand awkwardly patting Jack's back.) We... we thought... they said...
Jack: (He pulled back abruptly, his eyes wide and bloodshot, a frantic urgency in his voice.) I will be. Now... where was I? Right... (He turned, his gaze darting down the hallway, his body tense, ready to bolt.)
Rex: Hey. Hey! (His voice, laced with a barely suppressed fury, ripped through the reunion. He stalked towards Jack, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around with enough force to slam his back against the wall.) Not gonna tell us where the fuck you've been?!
Jack: They running out of time! (He snapped, his eyes blazing, trying to shrug off Rex's grip.)
Selena: Christ, Rex, let him go. (She interjected, stepping forward, her hand resting on Rex's arm.)
Rex's grip remained like a vise.
Rex: Where the hell... were you when we NEEDED YOU, Jack? (His voice was a low, menacing growl.)
Jack: Trying to SAVE LIVES! (He retorted, pushing against Rex's chest, his own anger flaring.)
Rex: Yeah? From what?! (He demanded, his face inches from Jack's.)
Jack: Death, Kenway! Death! (He said, his voice cracked with exhaustion and desperation.)
Confusion flickered across Rex's face, his grip slowly loosening.
Rex: What?
Jack: I don't have time for this, (he insisted, trying to sidestep Rex.)
But Rex's hand shot out again, pinning Jack against the wall with renewed force.
Rex: Oh no you don't. (His voice was low and dangerous.) While I can say that we both have places to be, people to save... YOU need to explain yourself RIGHT FUCKING now!
Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by their ragged breaths and the distant alarms.
Rex: Talk, Jack... What the fuck have you been doing this whole time?
Jack's shoulders slumped, the fight draining from him.
Jack: Like I said...
Rex: Explain, mother fucker!
Jack: The man who killed Michael... is coming here, Rex. And he is after FIVE people in this prison and if I don't get to them in time, WE ARE ALL SCREWED!
Rex slowly loosened his grip, his eyes widening in dawning understanding and a hint of fear. Jack shoved Rex back, putting some space between them, his chest heaving.
Ender: Jack... (He began softly,) How are you alive? What the hell happened in there?
Jack: I'll explain everything later, (he said in a rushed, exhausted tone.) Right now, you all need to get outta here while you still can.
Rex: Arthur's here, (he insisted, his concern unwavering.) And another one of our people.
Jack shook his head, his expression grim.
Jack: If they here, You wasting your time.
That statement ignited Rex's fury once more.
Rex: Says the guy trying to save five freaking people! (he spat, his voice laced with bitter sarcasm. He took a step closer to Jack, his fists clenching.)
Ender: Hey! (His voice cut through the tense air, firm and commanding. Both Rex and Jack fell silent, their gazes still locked on each other.)
Before Jack could speak again, his eyes suddenly rolled upwards, his body stiffening. An agonizing groan escaped his lips as violent visions flashed behind his eyelids. He clutched his head, his knees buckling slightly.
Just then, a crackle of gunfire echoed from the end of the hallway. A group of inhumans, their weapons raised, appeared from the shadows, firing indiscriminately.
Ender: Take cover! (He yelled, shoving Selena behind a fallen pillar.)
Rex, still visibly annoyed and concerned, dove behind a large chunk of concrete. He instinctively reached for his power, a familiar surge that should have allowed him to charge a piece of rubble, but nothing happened. His hands remained empty.
Rex: Oh come on! (He roared, his voice filled with disbelief and rising panic.) What the fuck is going on with my powers?!
Jack, still reeling from the vision, whispered under his breath, his eyes wide with a dawning, chilling realization.
Jack: He's here...
[Revan has arrived]
(Aurora's group)
Aurora, Jasper, Allison, and Vanessa moved stealthily, Gary a few steps behind them, Maya his unwilling shield. They were nearing what looked like the main exit, the dim light of the outside world just visible through the partially open doors.
Just as they were about to reach the exit, three figures in dark tactical gear rounded the corner, their weapons immediately trained on them. Rufus led the small team, his blue eyes sharp and focused.
Rufus: Stop right there! (He sees Gary holding Maya) You, drop your weapon and release the hostage!
Before anyone could react, Gary squeezed the trigger of his pistol, the silenced round thudding softly into Emily's chest. Ben barely had time to register his teammate's fall before Gary's next shot took him in the throat. Rufus, his eyes wide with terror, tried to scramble back, but Gary calmly aimed and fired a final shot, hitting him squarely in the head. The three agents crumpled to the ground, lifeless. Gary lowered his weapon, a cold smirk on his face as he looked at Aurora's stunned team.
Gary: What? Were they your friends?
Suddenly, a horde of prisoners appeared, running towards the exit. Their eyes fell upon Jasper's grey uniform, and a collective roar of anger went up.
Prisoner 1: Enforcers! Kill them all!
Aurora raised her hands, trying to speak over the rising tide of angry voices. "Wait! We're not Enforcers!"
But her pleas were drowned out as Gary suddenly opened fire on the prisoners, his pistol barking loudly. Panic erupted. Prisoners surged forward, and a chaotic brawl began. Gary used the distraction to backpedal, keeping Maya tightly in his grip, the pistol pressed against her temple.
Vanessa: What the hell are you doing?!
Gary: Should have listened to dear ol' Maya, (he sneered.) Because now, I'm leaving.
Jasper: (He roared in rage, taking a step towards Gary.) You son of a bitch!
Gary pressed the pistol harder against Maya's head.
Gary: Ah. Take another step, and her brains go splat.
Aurora's team reluctantly started fighting back against the enraged prisoners, trying to create distance. Gary used the chaos to shove Maya forward, firing a shot into her leg as she stumbled. She cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground. Gary turned and sprinted towards the exit, disappearing into the night. "Good luck with the rest of these losers!" he called back mockingly.
Maya, clutching her bleeding leg, tried to summon her pink energy, but nothing happened. Her leg remained unhealed. Jasper, fueled by fury, brutalized the prisoners coming at them, his enhanced strength making short work of their weak attacks. Just as the brawl seemed to reach its peak, a powerful shockwave erupted from the direction of the facility's inner levels, throwing everyone backwards and onto the ground.
Aurora looked up, dazed, to see Martin Shaw standing at the end of the corridor, accompanied by five Enforcers. Phil, the stone-skinned inhuman, carried an unconscious Arthur in his arms. The remaining prisoners slowly began to get to their feet, groaning in pain. One of the Enforcers with Martin casually swiped the air with his palm. Instantly, all the prisoners around them dropped dead, severed horizontally at the waist.
Martin's gaze swept over Aurora's team.
Martin: It would be wise to surrender.
Aurora's fists clenched, her expression shifting to shock as she tried to access her powers, finding nothing. Her team exchanged bewildered glances. Slowly, Aurora raised her hands in surrender. One by one, Jasper, Allison, and Vanessa followed suit.
Martin's lips curled into a thin smile.
Martin: Good.