Chapter 20: Hot Pursuit
Date: September 24th, 2023
Location: Hangar 14, Ellington Airport, City of Ellington
Time: 11:17 PM (Local)
Sophomore Year, 1st Semester
After Allen collected his nanites and the retreated back under his skin, he walks a slow circle around the jet while taking in the hangar’s details. His musings are interrupted when the jet’s door opens and a girl steps out. She has straight, shoulder length black hair and a slim build. She walks up to Miss Feng after checking Allen out with obvious interest. Allen folds his arms and watches the duo.
“Mother, how much longer are we going to be here?”
Mother? Now this is interesting.
“Li Xiu, please meet Allen Stryker.”
Li Xiu turns and holds out a hand for Allen to shake. She’s wearing tight jeans with rips and black shirt with a female metal band logo printed on the front. She sees his scrutiny.
“Avarice, my favorite band. We can listen on the jet.”
Allen raises his eyebrows at her boldness. Miss Feng hides a smile behind her hand. She had hoped that Allen and her daughter got along. She wanted to tie Allen to her family through marriage.
“So, is the spy business a family business?” Allen rudely ignores Li Xiu’s offered hand. She huffs in response and glares at Allen.
“She is part of my cover. I’m a successful businesswoman after all.”
“Business must be rough if you need armed goons.” Allen gestures to the guards spread throughout the hangar.
“One can never be too careful.”
The light glints off a black surface by the door and catches Allen’s eye. Everyone watches as Allen walks slowly over to a black motorcycle. The lines are even more aggressive than the ones he admired on Kyra’s bike. He slides onto the seat and let’s out a satisfied sigh. The seat molds to his rear and he grips the handlebars. A black helmet sits on the gas tank. Eve pipes up in his ear.
“Would you look at that? These fine and trusting folk left the keys in the ignition!” Giddiness spreads through Allen’s body and he fights to hold in a smile.
Location: Fence Perimeter Located Near Hangar 14
“Colonel, we are in position. Awaiting go.”
“Stand by. See if you can ascertain asset’s location in case we have to shoot.”
“Roger. Standing by.”
Colonel Stryker puts down the radio as she and her guest wait in the van. Colonel Stryker glances at her with worry.
“Don’t worry, Colonel. He can handle himself; we are trained in multiple disciplines and tactics. The Navy kept us well rounded.”
Colonel Stryker nods her head in agreement and puffs out a sigh.
Location: Interior of Hangar 14
“So, let me get this straight. You want to whisk me away on a private jet to parts unknown and become an encyclopedia for advanced tech….” Allen leads as he picks up the helmet and pretends to examine it. The guards inch forward, and Miss Feng holds up a hand to stop them.
“I wouldn’t put it that way, my government and you would be partners.” Miss Feng answers back.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
“I don’t know, I have a lot of irons in the fire as it were.”
“Well, I’m sure we can provide better irons to put in the fire. My daughter has agreed to help you get settled in and keep you company.”
Li Xiu smiles in encouragement. “I’m to help get you settled into a new school. You’ll be popular, I’m sure.”
Allen pauses with the opening of the helmet facing him as if he’s actually pondering her words. He quirks his head to the side as he listens to Eve notify him that his shadowy puppet master has everything in place.
“Eve, let’s do what we do best!”“PISS PEOPLE OFF!” Eve cheeringly answers.
“WHAT? NO!......Nevermind, engage E and E package (escape and evasion).”
Allen turns to Miss Feng and Li Xiu and offers his best roguish smile as he feels his reflexes sharpen and his muscles twitch.
“Sorry ladies, it’s past my curfew. I’m SO GROUNDED when I get home!”Allen slams the helmet on his head, starts up the bike, and gooses the throttle. The bike takes off and breaks traction on the smooth hangar floor, causing the rear tire to fishtail and leave a trail of black rubber. Miss Feng, Li Xiu, and the guards are left standing with their mouths open as Allen shoots out of the hangar door.
Miss Feng turns and starts barking orders in Mandarin.
“Li Xiu, tell the pilot to start the jet. Guards, GO GET HIM!” The guards rush to the van and soon they follow Allen out of the hangar door. Miss Feng turns back from watching and sees her daughter staring where Allen left the hangar.
“Waaaa…..”
Miss Feng scowls and throws her daughter a handkerchief to wipe the blood from her nose.
Location: Fence Perimeter Located Near Hangar 14
“Ma’am, we have movement!”
Colonel Stryker turns back from her conversation with her guest in time to see a black motorcycle streak out of the hangar doors. She easily identifies the young man in the black helmet driving it. Her guest starts swearing.
“TAKE THE HANGAR! I’M FOLLOWING THE ASSET!”
Colonel Stryker throws the radio to her guest and climbs behind the steering wheel. Colonel Stryker checks his direction and follows Allen outside the fence on the perimeter road.
“ I hope you can leash him better than we can!”
“Oh, don’t you doubt that one bit, Colonel!”
Location: Ellington Airport Runway
“YEEEEAAAAHHHH!” Allen screams at the top of his lungs as he feeds more power to the bike. Eve joins him in his revelry as the bike jumps forward. They race down the runway and Allen can’t help but feel like he’s finally whole again. Allen leans forward and hovers over the gas tank.
“Pursuit at your six. One vehicle. 240 meters and closing. There is a gate approaching at your two.”
Allen acknowledges Eve’s update and points the bike towards the gate and buries the needle. As Allen draws closer, he sees that the gate arm is down. With no other choice, Allen gooses the throttle and pops a wheelie as he blasts through the arm with the bottom of the bike to take the brunt of the impact. His bike wobbles a little but maintains speed and direction. The unfortunate guard on shift pops her head out of the shack in shock and it doesn’t even occur to her to radio her supervisor. She hears a vehicle approaching behind her and she jumps back into the shack just in time to avoid the black van following Allen speed through the debris of the arm. She shakes her head and then grabs her radio.
Colonel Stryker watches as Allen blasts through the arm and then settle back onto two wheels. She slams on the brakes as Allen zips past right in front of her. The other van passes shortly in pursuit. Colonel looks over at her guest with wide eyes. Her guest only stares straight ahead with a look of pure murder written all over her face. Colonel Stryker clears her throat and then takes off after Allen and his pursuit.
“Holy hells, he’s SOOOOO dead….” The guest murmurs over and over.
Streetlamps race past in a blur as Allen rockets down the road. The engine growls out as Allen pushes the bike to it’s limits.
“Allen, I detect the local law enforcement ahead at 125 meters. They are using radar to measure the local traffic’s speed.”
“Alright Eve, let’s add more chaos to the mix.”
Officer Sela takes another sip of her coffee as she ponders what happened with that teenager she had helped get to the hospital. With nothing else to do on a boring night shift, she had decided to set up a speed trap that way she looked busy without actually being busy. She glances to her right and sees a single headlight approaching, the whine of the engine tells her that the driver is definitely speeding. She points the radar gun at the bike and hits the trigger. *BEEP* She glances at the read out: 113 MPH. Officer Sela sputters and coughs up the coffee that was in her mouth. The bike moves past in a blur, the rider turning their helmeted head to ensure Officer Sela is watching.
“Are…..Are they taunting me?” Officer Sela sets her coffee into the cup holder, radios in her situation, and turns on her sirens and lights. She sees the van trailing Allen out of the corner of her eyes as she’s about to pull onto the street. She slams on her breaks and barely avoids hitting them. Officer Sela sits for a moment to collect herself before attempting to pull out again, but not before repeating her actions as Colonel Stryker’s van passes shortly after. Officer Sela picks up her radio again.
“Dispatch! I’m going to need backup; we have multiple vehicles involved in what appears to be a high-speed chase!”
Colonel Stryker glances in her rearview mirror and watches the cop pull onto the street to join in on the pursuit. She just shakes her head and picks up her cellphone.
“Amy, get Allen a lawyer. He’s going to need it!”
“Get him medical on standby too, he’s definitely going to need it!” Her guest helpfully adds.
“Amy pales on the other end of the line.”