Cara's POV
----------------------------------------
Cara vaulted over the broken windowsill, knocking bits of glass into the lavish apartment. No light or sound came from inside, but she counted that as a blessing. She just needed a moment to catch her breath, and as if to deny her, the sounds of beating wings caressed her ear.
She would be lucky if those sounds didn’t chase her into her dreams. This was so not fair. These monsters had been hounding her for hours, they just always knew where she would be. As frustrating as all of this was, it was not a surprise. Chloe had warned her this would happen and what conditions she would be under, but still, the opportunity to find her mom was too good to pass down. Cara didn’t blame Chloe for this, but she did regret leaving them all like that, at least she got to say goodbye.
Sammy had been her best friend from the beginning, but not telling them felt like a betrayal, even if it was for a good cause. Hopefully, they would all forgive her if she made it back with her family. Then they could all live in the city together and be safe.
A body crashing into the roof of the building demanded Cara’s attention. Trying to restrain her already ragged breathing was a challenge, but when a familiar feminine voice reached her ear she stilled.
“Come on out little lady. I have the entire block surrounded. Ignore what my brother said earlier, we honestly mean you know harm.”
Cara would not fall for that again. A healthy amount of paranoia for strangers was a good thing, or at least that was what Sam had always said. It was because of that advice that, when Cara met a pair of siblings on the road, she automatically assumed they were dangerous. At first, she was worried they were just bad people, but something was off about their skin. They promised it was fine but when she’d tried to leave, the boy had screamed curse words at her and dove to grab her. Since escaping, they had been chasing her, and they were fast. She’d already used both of the vials she had been given, and it never bought her more than a handful of minutes break. Wherever method they were using to follow her was super duper fast. Fast enough to keep up with her constant jumps.
Tears threatened to spill over the corners of her eyes but Cara tried her best to stop shaking. It wouldn’t get any better if she cried now. She had a goal.
Reaching into her pocket Cara withdrew the disk thingy everyone had worked so hard to get. Chloe had slipped it to her during their last hug and warned her against using it unless there was no other choice, but this situation was getting more and more desperate.
Her hands quivered as she stared at the disk of blue glass. Words were running through it, but none Cara could read.
The light leaking in through the window behind her became weaker as something moved onto the threshold.
“Now Cara. We just want to keep you safe. I get you are a big girl but my mother insists you join us for a time.”
Chills crept down Cara’s spine as she turned to look over her shoulder, she never should have given her name to these people. Twisted wings had sprouted from behind the girl, keeping her even with the second-story ledge. She was so beautiful that it almost hurt Cara to look at her, but she did anyway, or she might miss the attack. Instead, the girl paused in the window. Cara followed her gaze to the disk in her hands and noticed the excitement creeping onto her face.
Cara had only gotten a cursory glance at the apartment before the girl had arrived, and she only saw one other exit. A similarly large window on the other end of the room. This one however still had its glass in it. Maybe she could smash through it like they did in the movies. Cara had put a couple of points into Aura so she wasn’t worried, but it was still a big drop.
Deciding it was worth it Cara made a break for it, despite the shouts from the pretty girl. She could hear her chasing after her into the room. Before she had even gotten five steps in the direction of the window a young man appeared to block her exit. With widened eyes, Cara crashed to a halt and drew one of the blades Mark had given her once upon a time. Her shotgun was out of reach and she still held the disk in her other hand. The window shattered inwards as the boy slinked into the space. He was also disturbingly beautiful, but unlike the girl his eyes held only malice.
Hands shaking Cara’s head swiveled back and forth between the two siblings, trying to keep them in her field of vision.
“Cara, please just hand it over. You can even leave if you feel that uncomfortable, but you have to give me that.” the girl pleaded in a downtrodden tone.
“Cara. Come here now. You think I’ll forgive you for running from me?!” said the guy.
The two of them stalked closer whenever her eyes were on the other.
Cara swallowed and screamed ‘Yes’ in her mind, directing it at the disk.
All at once Mana burned its way into her skin from her hand. Blinding her and everyone in the room. She heard them shout but her pain blotted out the world. Mana flooded in, gripping her consciousness. Improving it, forcing her to bear the pain when all she wanted to do was pass out. The rational part of her brain woke up and pushed back the darkness. If she collapsed here, then she would never find her mom and dad. Nor would she be able to help Chloe. Doing everything she could to remain standing, Cara diverted some of the new Mana rushing in, towards a short jump. Her reserves had been close to zero but already they were enough to get her out of here.
Stolen story; please report.
The light was dying down now and she could just make out a twisted figure moving towards her. The girl had transformed into a beast of sagging flesh and leathery folds. Her teeth swimming towards Cara were the last thing she saw before managing to anchor herself and grab hold of the expanse. Pulling herself through it by pushing aside the strands of space. A silver flash deposited her on top of a nearby roof garden as a distant wail punctuated her landing. Her hands and knees hurt but the relief she felt overwhelmed all the pain. Mana was sweeping into her now at amazing rates, with this Cara knew she would be able to outrun anyone if she put her mind to it. For the first time in a while, Cara just flopped down onto her back and waited for the sounds of wings to arrive. Nothing would catch her, she would not fail. It was only for a couple of days.
----------------------------------------
Mark found himself in a rather spartan laboratory, inclining in a chair that was way too comfortable for his liking.
When Dr. Haley saw them all, a grin had chased away her tired expression, and she had ushered them into the lab as quickly as she could, shooing the guard away in the process. The room was huge, yet scientists and technicians hurried about in fugue states. Dr. Haley had led them up a flight of stairs into a C-shape office. Observation windows gave her an unobstructed view of the room below and the organized chaos that ensued.
The focal point was a large circular chamber that rose out of the ground, connecting to the low roof. Smack in the center of everything. It was made of glass with a near-seamless door which allowed for things to be deposited inside. Engineers were working on the machine, calibrating the platform with a series of delicate-looking tools and computers.
Mark's attention was pulled deeper into the room they were in, which was a much neater affair than her previous field lab.
The tender hum of computers reverberated through the room, creating a soothing white noise accompanied by the faintest sounds of an unseen generator, its vibrations working their way through the thick reinforced walls.
Dr. Haley had led them to the current set of lounge seats facing one another. There was even a large bed in one corner and a naked metal rack with clothes meant for a man and woman,hung up on wire hangers.
“Well, it's late, but my congratulations for making it here safely, though I never really doubted that much knowing you all. From what I hear, you went and immediately jumped right into the faction wars”
The woman didn’t look like she left this lab too often, so the fact she had such a good grasp on the goings-on of the city above was surprising.
Karter spoke, his face covered with a wry smile.
“We didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. It was, strike out on our own or become someone else's problem.”
Dr. Haley smiled at the jab.
“No, I don't suppose you did.”
Her eyes fell on the briefcase and a new gleam entered her eyes.
“Is that for me?”
Simply nodding Karter indicated for Jonathan to hand it over, which he did with only mild hesitation.
Snapping the clasps open she inspected the briefcase contents. When she was satisfied, she moved to unceremoniously dump it on the bed and turn back to Karter.
“Alright, What do you need to know.”
Clearing his throat Karter spoke directly.
“I know there is no love lost between you and the Loyalists so I wanted to know if you had any information on their movements”
Sam’s eyes had not stopped roaming the room since they had gotten here. Her fowl mood, unable to contend with her curiosity. But now she turned to focus on the conversation, a flick of her wrist wrapped them in a sound barrier.
Dr. Haley looked up at the magic.
“Do not worry, I have this place swept for bugs regularly, they’ve never bothered to try. That said your question is still a sensitive one. Do you know what it is we do here specifically?”
Carter and the rest of them shook their heads.
“As great as our setup looks, all we are attempting to do is create a program capable of reading system prompts.”
Mark couldn’t help himself.
“But, why bother when we can already do that?”
Dr. Haley shrugged.
“For a great many reasons, identifying and cataloging items. Reading deeper into system mechanics. The uses are limitless.”
Sam relaxed back into the seat and glanced over at the briefcase on the bed.
“Long distance user identification. Better known as risk assessment in priority targets.”
Karter froze and glanced over at the briefcase. Mark thought the guy would get up and take back the drone, but Dr. Haley shook her head.
“That is not our goal, even I can see that would be a disaster. So no. Regardless, the reason I bring it up is that we are not some huge research project where I can afford to insult my donors. If I get my funding cut because of it, then it better be for a good reason. Like another guardian corpse, we could study.”
Mark couldn’t help the deadpan expression that blanketed his face. Was she saying the bribe wasn't enough?
Karter cleared his throat.
“Well, we don’t have another corpse…”
At this point, the door they had entered the office through opened, and Dr. Johnson paused at the threshold. When he recognized them, a casual smile came over his face. Moving into the room he went to stand beside Dr. Haley.
“Ah good to see you again Major, looks like everyone is here.”
Karter shifted in his seat and looked away from Dr. Johnson.
“I am no longer a Major, Doctor. I-”
Dr. Johnson didn’t let him finish.
As far as I’m concerned, you rescued us and kept us safe in a most dangerous time. Your legal title change matters little to me, you are the Major. Now, what’s this woman been trying to squeeze out of you all.”
Karter's posture straightened itself when Dr. Johnson finished speaking. At the same time, Dr. Haley was glaring at the man as though he’d let a high-valued customer escape.
Jonathan broke the silence with a shout, pointing at his chest.
“Oh! I think we have a way we can both get something out of this.”