Flag Smashers: Karli Morgenthau x Male OC

6 | One Man Down

Bratislava, Slovakia

12:32am, Central European Standard Time, 20th September 2024

The moonlight cast an eerie light on the bitumen, flickering shadows falling on the ground as they hurried across the airplane strip. The Flag Smashers carried huge cardboard boxes, loading them onto a blue and white, rugged private jet.

Quin lugged a crate, weighed down with supplies they had stolen from Bratislava. He wondered if it really counted as theft. After all Karli was, as Rudy said, like Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to give to the poor, and her gang was the band of Merry men. Either way, it didn't affect his conscience. He knew what he was doing was for the greater good.

The crate didn't seem to weigh anything because of his super strength. He reached the open door of the plane and passed the package to Dovich, who loaded it inside. Glancing back he saw that the pile of boxes was still quite big and would take a long time to fully pack inside the craft.

Reaching the nearest box Quin was about to lift it when beside him, Nico's phone beeped. The older man reached into his coat and pulled out the device. For a second his face was illuminated in blue light.

"Damn it!" he cursed, turning the phone off angrily. "We gotta move out now. They found us."

Karli spun around to face him, looking alarmed. "How much time do we have?"

"None," was Nico's reply. "It's the Power Broker's men."

The redhead drew in a breath, her expression growing more anxious with every passing second. "Everybody, grab what you can." She gazed around the airstrip's surrounding, searching for a sign of the hostiles. They sped up their loading, Quin practically dashing towards the plane.

"I can give you time," Matias said, striding towards Karli.

"What? No! Matias..." Quin cut in, stopping mid step and turning to the man incredulously. Matias' gaze softened as he paused and approached the younger man, whom he regarded not only as a friend but a little brother.

"It's okay Quin. I have to."

"Why you though? I'll...I'll do it instead. You can't..."

He silenced him with a wave of his hand and leaned in, speaking quietly so only he could hear. "No. You can't. The movement can't continue without you. Karli...she needs you."

Inside his chest his heart did a little dance, but Quin pushed it down, a sense of hopelessness and sadness replacing it. With a slight nod he wrapped his arms around Matias in a hug, before stepping back.

"Good luck." He sniffed before turning back, unable to look at him again knowing his fate.

Matias reached Karli and straightened his jacket nervously. "I'll hold them off." She stared at him as the words sunk in, her eyes passing over his face and taking it all in. She would never see him ever again. Biting her lip the redhead too embraced Matias, hugging him tightly around the neck.

"Thank you," she whispered and he nodded, his chest tightening with apprehension.

Pulling away he walked backwards from the Flag Smashers, his expression stony but sure.

"One world. One people."

"One world. One people," Quin repeated under his breath, pushing another crate onto the plane. The pile was almost depleted now. Perhaps Matias wouldn't have to sacrifice himself...

Behind them the man pulled his mask over his face. The car lights of the Power Broker's men were visible in the distance and steadily growing larger and larger. Matias sprinted over to a telephone pole nearby, getting into a stance and pressing into it with his body weight.

The cars were visible now, the lights blinding and sharp in the dark night.

With a mighty crack the telephone pole toppled over, raining sparks and illuminating the suffocating blackness. It fell with a loud boom onto the road, blocking the cars as they came around the bend and were about to advance into the airstrip. Screeching, they came to a rapid halt, barely stopping in time to avoid crashing into the pole.

"Let's go!" Nico called to Karli as she took the last crate and rushed onto the plane. He unhooked the chain keeping the jet to the ground and leapt into the cockpit.

The boxes were loaded. Everyone had jumped onboard. Everyone except Matias.

The man stepped slowly over the fallen pole, sparks and smoke still rising off it. The cluster of cars had halted in front of him. Now people were coming out from inside, all wearing tactical vests and carrying guns.

Matias took a few deep breaths before suddenly rushing towards them. He knew what he had to do. Divert attention away from the rest of the Flag Smashers, allow them to get away. But there was a price. He had to die.

"Stop right there! Freeze!" one man said, raising his gun, but Matias kept charging.

From the plane window Quin and Karli gaped as they watched their comrade, their friend, their brother, run to his death. There was nothing they could do.

"Hit him. Open fire!"

Deafening gunshots. They didn't stop. But Matias did. The man stumbled and fell as the bullets hit his body. Again and again and again. Finally he collapsed on the ground and didn't move.

The plane went into taxi, speeding up along the airstrip until it lifted off the ground.

"They got away."

Quin cried. Karli's gaze lingered on the spot Matias had been killed, long after they were in the air. A tear dripped down her cheek.

She wrapped her arm around Quin and let him sob into her shoulder. He breathed in her scent and slowly his crying ceased. Then, tired from the day's work, they fell asleep together.