Soldiers Of Fortune (For Crim)

Rache hesitated with answering the phone, only pulling it out of his pocket in order to see who it was; he answered the moment he saw it was Natal's number.
"Where are you, are you safe!?" He practically shouted into the receiver, glancing in the mirror as he did so. His foot hit the break simultaneous with his hanging up the phone, and he through the vehicle into reverse, returning easily and quickly to Natal's position.

"Get in the truck." He snapped out the window at the male, his knuckles white with how tightly he was gripping the wheel. Murdoch was sitting, rather calmly and with hardly a scratch on him, in the passenger seat, just letting Rache do as he would; he was still in charge at this point. "This is just fucking insane. Someone has to have been signalling Lynch from the inside. There is no other way he knew where we were. I just fucking hope they haven't figured out exactly where the base is."

There was no room in the cabin of the truck, which meant the teen was hopping in the back again, bolting down one of the doors shut, and the other clasping open to it wouldn't swing shut as they drove on, clambering in and bashing on the wall to let them know to get going, phone still in hand so he could speak with Rache.

"How?! How, who... who is the fucking mole this time?!" Natal shouted into the phone in his hand, gripping it to the point of nearly cracking the frame. "We have all been checked! We have all gone through the processing, had the Obedience removed from us... who the fuck has sold us out?!"

The teen was sourly pissed off, and that was difficult, even when he was captured the last time, he wasn't overly angry. This, this was pushing his limits. He had to think as to who had motive. He needed to sit down, which was difficult to do in a high speed moving truck, and figure out who would have the most motive.

"I don't.... I think it was a deal. Me for the safety of the base or we would have been seeing fireworks and a shit load more troops around. Either that or sheer pot luck that they found us.... I need, I need time to think."

"I don't fucking know." He snapped into the receiver, taking a half breath before continuing on; "But we've lost Jordan. She took off the second she got a chance." He added in a calmer tone. "Don'o what that tells you." For someone who was fuming, Rache was managing to somehow keep a grip. They couldn't go back to the base at this point, not knowing whether they were still being tracked or not. This was getting to become repetative and tedious, and it wasn't going to stop until they weeded Lynch out and splattered him.

"A deal makes sense." Murdoch finally chipped in casually. "One for the good of the many. But the real question is, who has contact with Lynch, and how. If it's a direct link, it can be tracked. The deal may have been useless in any case, whether it went down well or not."

"Though then again, what if it's not the Obedience this time; but instead natural conditioning? Hm? That is near on undetectable by our tests."

Rache huffed, taking a sharp turn, driving a little further, before pulling over and climbing out of the truck.
"This is getting us nowhere. We're losing, and all it's doing is costing lives."

Natural conditioning would make so much sense, but the only one that would have had that done would have been Jordan, and she was locked away the entire time. She was swept for bugs, radio transmitters, everything when she was brought in, and Natal was sure as heck his truth serum worked. Closing his phone, he stepped out of the truck to face his leader.

"I know where Lynch is now, and what he's trying to do. Doesn't give us much of a time frame, but if we do something drastic, bring him out into our turf," The brain trailed off, thinking for just a moment in silence.

"Rache, that kid you brought back. You mentioned natural conditioning... what if it's that boy? Wait, he couldn't do all that on his own, he'd still need someone to help him... but it's an idea."

Rache seemed to relax at the idea of at least knowing where Lynch was. It gave them some sort of levelling of the playing field, but it wasn't much. At the mention of Angel, the cogs in his mind began to clearly click.

"I don't think there's anything we can do to get him here. Not now. Not if he thinks he can get us at his own leisure." He slumped against the cabin of the truck, shaking his head. Murdoch had, by this time, made his way around the front of the truck and was now leaning against the bull bar, glancing from Rache to Natal and back.

"So that's why they were after you. Because you're literally the only one that can figure out where he is." The man stated as-a-matter-of-factly. "It would explain why the deal was made with you as the trade, and not one of the other braniacs on base. You're Rache's main brain."

It was true, Natal was by far the most intelligent on base. He was also Rache's right hand intelligence source.

"We'll.. Have to put the kid into iso. Everyone's on lockdown until we figure this out. No one gets in or out of the base." Rache paused a moment in his thoughts, turning his gaze down a moment and tapping his fingers on the side of the cabin. "We'll have to leave Jordan. She'll probably die out here anyway, which is better for us than having Scriosta get ahold of her again."

The quick mention of Jordan caused the teen to slap his forehead hard with his palm, groaning in the thought of his own dumb luck. "I know where Jordan is going, cause I told her where Lynch was, but... but I didn't tell her which place he'd be in, so maybe, that will slow her down for a bit. Damnit, I'm so stupid!"

Rubbing his head, he leaned on the bull bar of the truck, snapping his fingers. "Jordan doesn't matter to us at all anymore... but, get a hold of Mitch, no..." He paused, fingers half way through a direct number to the giant before he stopped, putting the phone back into his pocket. "No, not Mitch... not just yet. Sure, put the kid in Iso, but do not put any pressure on him, hurt him or anything like that. God knows what he's been conditioned to do under forceful circumstances."

Drumming a little tune into the bull bar, Natal added, "We need to move from here, we've dallied long enough and I'm sure those supposedly chasing me have by now figured out that a huge truck isn't following them anymore."

Rache nodded his agreement in silence at Natal's words, Murdoch pushing away from the bullbar.
"I'm driving." He stated, pushing Rache from the door gently and climbing into the driver's seat.

"Where's Lynch?" Rache questioned, gesturing to the back of the truck as he moved toward it, climbing in and seating himself down as the engine started up. "We need to know everything you know."

Murdoch sitting in the front grabbed at his phone, scrolling through his contacts and hitting Alexis' number;
"Lock the kid up. We've had a breach in security." He stated the moment the phone was picked up. He could only assume Alexis would know who he was talking about.

Clambering into the truck once more, getting rather iffy about being there now after the last few times, but now that Rache wasn't driving, he could feel a bit more at ease. Rache always did drive with a air of erratic to it.

"Lynch is been hiding in plain sight. All this time. Not even I saw it, but when Jordan was talking to me, it all just clicked. Starlight Industries is the world's largest pharmaceutical company and was founded in Ireland. Something close to Lynch, yes? Sure, he's got his little underground labs and everything like that, but this, this is funding everything."

Giving Rache time to absorb the knowledge, Natal continued on. "We're taking the fight to him. All out war, people in the street, rocket launchers, machine guns, snipers, the lot. We line the streets, rooftops and even sewers if we have to with everything we have got, and blow the building up."

---

Alexis was happily showing everyone how to fight hand to hand, light punches, kicks blocks, not throws just yet as the training classes went on, only pausing to answer his phone. "Just that?" He asked, trying to keep the class going as he talked, not to alarm or frighten anyone.

"Is there anything else you want me to do after this or am I to meet you in your office later?"

"Oh we are, are we?" Rache replied flatly, staring at Natal with an unimpressed look on his face. He had never wanted it to end up like this, he didn't want to deal with a war; war was pointless, it went nowhere fast and got a lot of people killed. "You sure that's not just a suicide mission you're planning for everyone."

He let out a sharp breath, hanging his head a moment and fiddling with his phone.
"War isn't the only option Natal. I know it seems like it, believe me it does, but it'll just get our forces wiped out."

-

Murdoch shook his head to himself, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel a moment before responding to the questions;
"Just that. Everyone is on lock down, Alexis. Everyone. No one gets in or out; circulate the order and put the building into isolation. Cut the electricity, set the jamming signals; everyone is to return to their quarters. Rache and I are on our way with Natal. You and Mitch meet us in the War Room. And don't forget to lock the kid up." With that he hung up, not worrying about any sort of response. He was a very to-the-point man, and didn't like to fuck around.

Natal glared at Rache, something he had never, ever even considered in his life thought about doing ever to the man, the extent of his anger pushing the brain just that far. "Rache, we have been fighting a war since the day you left Scriosta, so you can't say that war isn't the only option. We have barely any forces left to fight with, our last line of hiding just got breached, and you're telling me, right now, in this high speeding truck after just getting jumped, that there is another option then to bring the fight to him in a last ditch effort?!"

He was yelling, well, his voice was raised a few notches high then his normal volume, but it was clear to anyone who knew him that he was yelling. The brain even rapped the back of his head in frustration on the wall of the truck. "If you know of a better idea, then by all means, let me know, because if we don't do something now, there will be no hope left and no one on this damned planet will be able to..."

Natal paused, a thought caught on the edge of his anger, just pushing past his rant that could have gone on for hours if he really wanted to.

---

"Yeah, don't let anyone in or out, and how would I know which is your car, asshole." Alexis huffed as he was hung up on, snapping the phone shut and muttering to himself about the jerk on the other end of the line, watching the others spar on for a little bit longer before whistling loudly for everyone to stop.

"Listen up, and listen carefully. Training for the rest of the day is cancelled, you are all to return to your dorms, keep the doors locked and you do not leave until I announce over the PA system that you can leave. Do not answer for anyone until you hear that message. Go now," He said, holding the door wide, the expression of not to question him order plain and clear, grabbing Angel's arm as the boy tried to leave and pulled him aside.

"You have to come with me."

The leader just sat there, watching, half listening to the other's words; he knew the brain was right, but he just didn't want to admit it. This was probably the reason why he was planning on handing control over to Murdoch. Murdoch knew what he was doing, and didn't allow emotions and personal opinions get in the way of what needed to happen like he himself did.

"You know what, it doesn't matter what I say. I'm giving control over to Murdoch as soon as we get back to base." He huffed, folding his arms like a child that wasn't getting his own way. "He'll most likely agree that war is the only way, so you won't have to worry about my opinion." It was clear that he was no longer in a mental state to lead a rebellion, so his choice to pass the leadership torch was possibly his last good decision as leader.

"But feel free to continue your rant, Natal."

-

The Soldiers seemed confused by the sudden change of actions, but did as told. Sage hung back a bit from the group, watching Alexis cautiously a moment before following the rest of the recruits out of the room.
Angel, startled by the sudden grip on his arm, turned his questioning gaze on Alexis, his fringe flopping into his face.
"What, why?" He asked, but he didn't fight the fact; he was just curious as to why he was in a different situation than the other's. "I.. Did I do somethign wrong? I know I still haven't been keeping up--"

"Good... yes, do that," Natal half murmured, fingers twitching, thumbs drumming against his legs as he barely paid attention to Rache's sulking, lifting his head as he smiled a little. "How would you like to become a demi-god?"

-

"No no, I've got somewhere else I need you to stay until this whole thing blows over," He said, hanging onto Angel's hand as he moved down the corridor towards the cell block and the isolation rooms, only a short enough walk from the training room he was just teaching in.

Opening up the door to the small, windowless room, Alexis gently pushed Angel into the room. "Stay here, I need you to behave for me, okay? Please say you will?"

Rache seemed to perk at the other's words, frowning slightly as he stared at the brain.
"You've gone as nuts as Lynch." He stated bitterly; there was no physically sane way to become a demi-God. That would just be ridiculous. "There's no logically acceptable reason to do something like that, Natal."

"Would there even be a way to do that?"

-

The room was small, empty-- isolated. No windows, no air circulation. It reminded him of the room he'd spent the majority of his life in, but it was somewhat.. Worse, as it was bare and empty.
"Uhm.. Alright." He muttered under his breath, taking a half step further into the room before turning around to look at Alexis. He gave a hesitant, uncertain smile and a little wave. "I'm used to small spaces anyway."

"Of course there is. If Lynch has the ability to create an army of super humans, one of which had the ability to surpass an act of god to live through normal causes of death, then why ant we become gods?" Natal retorted, shrugging a little. "Rache, I'm going to leave the compound once we return and I get a few things sorted out for you all. Do what you want, but I plan on returning to our first base and getting any surviving blood samples from Jordan to see if I can make at least some of us have a fighting chance."

--

Alexis nodded, understanding. "Just because you are used to it, doesn't mean you like it. I will be back shortly, with a game and something for you to do," he replied, closing the door before moving for the controls to the door to lock it in place. Tapping the keyboard, he picked up the phone to the war room and security rooms and told them to put everything on lock down, no one in or out.

Putting the phone down, his finger hovered over the enter key to put the iso chambers into lockdown. He didn't want to lock Angel up until he knew the full story, and he really didn't like Murdoch at all, but it was all too convenient.

About to hit the button, he gasped as a thick hand wrapped around his neck from behind, cutting off most of the air to his lungs. "Sorry," Mitch said, holding Alexis close to his body so he couldn't squirm away. "The boy isn't to be locked up."

Rache let out a long breath through his nose, staring at Natal with a tired expression plastered across his features.
"I'm not going to try and stop you." He finally agreed, slumping forward slightly as if defeated. "But it won't be me you have to answer to. It'll be Murdoch you have to get past." The man paused a second in thought, as if feeling guilty for suggesting that he wouldn't help; "Unless I can keep his mind elsewhere.."

He was a big softy at heart, and knew that Natal wasn't doing this for selfish reasons. He wanted to take Lynch down, and he wanted to keep as many people alive while doing it. It was noble; dangerous, but noble, and he would help the brain as much as he could.

--

The kid fidgeted, watching the door close; it was suffocating, being in these rooms; he hated it. He'd always hated it, but he'd never been able to say so. No one had ever cared enough to listen. Shuffling to the back of the room furthest from the door, Angel leant himself back against the wall before sliding to the floor, pulling his knees up to his chest and staring at the partition between him and the rest of the building. He couldn't hear anything outside of the room, couldn't see anything past the ends of his fingertips. There was a stagnant smell in the air, but that was a familiar friend to him, and it was cold. He couldn't do much else but sit and wait for Alexis to return, like he said he would. He believed the older Soldier when he told him something; he was his friend, and from what he knew, friends helped friends as much as they could.

--

Jordan was far from headed to where Lynch was. It was a suicide mission to even consider it, especially in her state. No, instead she'd begun making her way toward the abandoned Aufstand base, where she knew she'd be able to salvage at least a few weapons, some food and water-- some clothing and medical supplies. She'd be able to recooperate there, rest and heal, and figure out her next move. She wanted to take Lynch down, but she wouldn't be able to do it on her own.

Her next option was to just disappear. Like she'd wanted to for so long.

"Let him try and stop me. I'm only going to make enough for a few people. Maybe one or two depending on how badly the labs have been ruined if the base was attacked and Scriosta got inside. I mean, I'm not going to leave and not come back."

"So, the big question is now, what are you going to do once you hand over leadership to Murdoch? Will you stay and fight, or leave and vanish into the shadows and hope that you won't be found?" Natal asked, not looking at Rache as he did so, eyes turned to the view outside the truck, searching for something to keep his attention from the expressions on the other man's face as he answered.

-

Clawing at the hand around his throat, Alexis barely twisted and turned to see if he could wriggle out of Mitch's grasp, hitting the keyboard and watching all of the doors to the Isolation rooms swing open, looking over his shoulder up at the Giant to see if he was happy with what he did. Why was Mitch doing this, and why isn't Angel allowed to be locked up?

"I'm fighting." Rache replied, almost snapped at the other, very simply. Like there was any other choice! His expression was stern, almost annoyed that Natal had even considered that he wouldn't stand and fight for the cause that he'd created. For the people that he'd united.

"I just can't handle being the leader in this rebellion any longer. My actions are getting people killed, and it's effecting me more than it should effect a good leader." The man admitted, slumping back against the side of the truck.
"Natal you've been so loyal to me, but you have to admit that I haven't been much of a leader recently."

-

Angel's eyes snapped up at the sudden light in the room, pupils narrowing and expression falling at what was happening beyond the door. He almost instantly scrambled to his feet, instantly moving in the direction of Alexis and Mitch. He latched onto the blond giant's hand, trying to pry it free of Alexis;
"What are you doing?! Let him go!" The kid shouted, nails digging into the Soldier's wrist as he continued attempting to tear his grip away from his friend's throat. He was weak, hardly a match for Mitch in any sort of way, but he still felt the need to try and help Alexis.

Natal smiled at Rache's reaction. He pleased him to hear that Rache, while giving up the leadership, was still going to fight until this whole thing ended. Natal didn't tell Rache that the civilians that had gotten out, that were safe and not one soul except him knew where they were hiding, had all been given an order to help out afterwards with the Soldiers that had to have the Obedience removed, taught how to live in the new world after they have their minds freed, to take them in and treat them like their own.

He had to first see if they would survive to see that happen and it was one less thing for Rache to focus on. "You have been put under a lot of stress, and you have done well, but yes, I agree that you have a little lacking in faith in yourself. Best let Murdoch take over, maybe watch over him as you continue to help."

The dirt kicked up before they hit the road, huge dust cloud blocking the view. "Would you spend more time with Alexis, or have you given up on that idea?"

-

Alexis tried to speak, using a hand to brush over Angel's smaller ones to get him to back away so the thick hand didn't cut his airways off completely. Mitch just snorted at the kid and held Alexis closer to him.

"You should have said for Lynch's men to shoot that bitch in the head rather then just go after the Brain," The giant growled, starting to move himself and his captive for the door. "And I just saved yourself a world of pain kid, cause this lying little shit here locked you up, cause you did bad things."

The mention of the younger Soldier silenced him somewhat into hesitation. He didn't really want to answer the question; he'd been thinking about it, over and over, for a long while now. But really, he'd never tried to answer the question, not out loud and not to himself.

"I'd rather not talk about it." He replied after a long, drawn out pause; he found it hard to discuss these things, with anyone. "But.. I would try." He added quietly, leaning forward onto his knees and hanging his head and running a hand through his hair.

-

Angel paused at the giants words, staring wide eyed at him as he backed away. His head shook slightly, mouth open agape before he closed it, tight, his jaw clenched.

"No-- I. I didn't." He stammered, looking from Alexis, to Mitch, and back to Alexis. "I didn't do anything." He pleaded, obviously trying to convince himself more than either of the other two.
"A-And Alexis wouldn't do that, he wouldn't lie-- he's my friend." The kids voice cracked on the last syllable, fear bubbling in his voice and expression.

"Please just let him go." He begged, almost whined at the blond Soldier.

Natal figured that they had driven around long enough, tapping on the wall of the truck for Murdoch to head back to base with more haste then what he was. Rache needed his freedom from leading, Natal needed to get to the old base before things got beyond out of hand and he was pretty sure Murdoch would like to start setting up whatever wave of attack or plans he had in mind.

A cup of coffee wouldn't go down to badly either.

--

"Of course you didn't," Mitch huffed, rolling his eyes at the kid before hefting Alexis up by his neck and throwing him against the wall, hard enough that he broke the little wooden cabinet on the way to the floor, gasping and wheezing for air.

"You would want to hope that isn't the answer you give Murdoch or the others when they get back, because you won't survive the day otherwise," And with that, he left, leaving them alone in the room.

Angel flinched slightly at Mitch's words, taking in a sharp breath as Alexis was thrown; he wanted to go to him, and help, make sure he was okay, but really he couldn't make himself move. Either out of fear, or shame-- even guilt, he didn't know, but he didn't feel that he deserved to be near Alexis. Or have him as a friend. And he didn't understand what the blond had said; it seemed at this point that he was going to die by the end of the day no matter what he said.

Staring at Alexis, the child backed up a half step before continuing back to the furthest corner away from the wheezing Soldier. He pressed himself against the wall and slid down to a huddle position, burrying his face in his arms and holding himself. There was nothing different between this place and his home.

--

Murdoch accepted the knock and took a sharp turn, changing direction so that they were headed West toward the base instead of adjacent to it. He didn't often like just.. Driving around aimlessly, but in some cases it was necessary.

They arrived at the base within the hour, the tall man climbing out of the cabin and slamming the door behind him; the electricty was cut, which was good. All the lights were out. The base was in complete darkness, save for the headlights of the truck that pooled at the front gates.

Rache soon followed him, climbing out of the back of the truck and coming to stand beside Murdoch.
"Well, you're in charge now." He muttered quietly, glancing up at his friend. "Don't screw this up man. I'm trusting you."

It too the better part of that hour for Alexis to get the ability to breath without wheezing too badly or without coughing, leaving Angel alone for just a moment to struggle to first aid kit in the adjacent room for injured prisoners or guards, picking wood from his hair and putting a thin cotton bandage around the heavy bruising that had now formed.

Mitch, had gone crazy. That was about all he could think. He was sure that the kid hadn't done anything. He'd defend the kid all the way. Gut instinct was taking over this one. "Angel," He whispered so his neck didn't hurt so much. "You didn't do anything wrong. Mitch hasn't been himself for a long time and I think... he's really upset. I won't let them hurt you, okay?"

-

Natal stayed in the back of the truck for a few more seconds after Rache jumped out, gathering himself and grabbing his phone from his pocket. Rounding the truck to the compound, he alerted the base that they were about to enter the building and not to shoot them, cutting the engine and plunging them into total darkness save for now the faint glow of his phone.

"They are waiting for us to get inside. We better hurry." Natal urged, slipping through the wire fence and moving for the safety of the building.

Angel flinched at Alexis' words, closing in on himself tighter. He didn't want to hear it; what if Mitch was right, and Alexis was lying? But what if Alexis wasn't a liar, and was actually his friend? The kid was so confused, his blind faith in Alexis halted by the blond giant's words. He didn't know what to believe at this point; everyone was turning out to be just like Lynch, and it frightened him. He couldn't trust anyone. But he responded anyway, a slight sound, cracked and uncertain, like he felt he just needed to say something, to make Alexis go away;

"Okay."

-

Murdoch gave a slight nod, and Rache glanced toward Natal, being the first to follow the brain, the taller Soldier on his heels with no time. The gates were sealed completely the moment that they were inside, the multiple locks echoing slightly in the empty night as they were sealed inside the base area.

Once inside the building, they were greeted with a flash light that had been left, on, by the door so that they would be able to see their way around the place. Murdoch grabbed at it instantly, taking the lead without a word. The War Room was empty, as to be expected; the whole place seemed abandoned, but they knew otherwise. This was what lock down was, everyone was confined to their quarters, and the suspected threat was sent into isolation.

Rache fished his phone from his pocket, checking that the signal scrambler was set up and working; there was no signal on his phone, which meant nothing could be tracked. He only hoped that Alexis would meet them there soon with an update on the situation.

Alexis sighed, backing away from the boy, all the progress of helping the kid out after what he did back at Lynch's own base was undone in one simple move, and it hurt. He couldn't do anything, say anything that would change Angel's mind about anything right now, except leave him with a gesture of friendship still.

Removing the small bracelet from around his wrist, a cheap trinket he found in on of the service stations after their first escape, he slid it to Angel along the floor and left him there, sitting on the floor and curled up, shutting but not locking the door behind him. At least Angel had a snack or two and could move about and even go to the bathroom in the small wash unit to the side in that area.

But right now, he was now bolting down the corridor to the war room, nearly sliding past the door as he skidded to a halt, poking his head in and seeing the outlines of Rache, Natal and Murdoch in the dim light of the flashlight beam.

A small smile and he waved.

Only when the door had been closed did Angel look up, curious as to what had been slid in his direction. He reached down and felt around the floor, his eyes having not had time to adjust to the darkness yet. His fingers brushed the bracelet, his gaze trying to focus on the trinket as he picked it up. Closing his fist around the piece of jewellery, the kid returned to his curled up position, holding the bracelet in his hand tightly against his chest.

-

Rache's gaze lifted at the sound of rushed footsteps, his gaze falling on Alexis as he skidded past the door, only to return a second later with a small smile and a short wave. He seemed to relax slightly at this point, leaning on the wall across from the door.

Murdoch was hardly interested in Alexis' arrival, going over papers in his hands and glancing over whatever had been left on the central table. He would pass something to Natal every so often as he went through the files, obviously decided to tidy the table up before they did anything else. He was somewhat obsessive when it came to paperwork; he didn't like the idea of things being piled together to be sorted later, when they could just be sorted that moment.

"What's the news?" Rache questioned, looking at Alexis from where he stood.