Destiny

Reunited: Part 2

Taylor's plan was falling apart piece by piece. He had lost contact with Raelyn; he had no way of knowing if she was alive or not. Amaya's com went silent after she had seen the weapon. His team was split up and most likely in danger.

If he had been the one to go inside, maybe none of this would have happened. This was his plan and if things went bad it was on him. It was his responsibility as Sensei to make sure his students were safe and right now he wasn't doing a very good job.

"We're going to have to go in sooner than we thought," he told the few Ninjnerds that were with him as backup. "Gear up, we don't know what we will encounter. We're flying blind into this one." He strapped a Katana to his back then picked up his staff that came in quite handy as a weapon.

"Taylor!" He whipped around and looked questioningly at the Ninjnerds, wondering who was calling him. He could tell by the look on their faces it wasn't them. He opened the double doors at the back of the van and looked out but saw nothing. Then there was a loud swoosh and a breathless Rae stopped in front of him.

"Sensei, I found him," she gasped.

"Rae, what happened?" He asked. " Where is he?"

"He's about two blocks from here. We came through an underground tunnel that led us there. I can't get him up alone,"

"Ok, take a minute to catch your breath, we'll get him out of there," He assured her then let out a long sigh. "Time to execute plan B."

"Plan B?" Rae questioned. "I don't remember anything about a plan B. What is it?"

"Bring down the building."

Raelyn raised an eyebrow.

"It is our only option right now. We can't let those weapons get into the wrong hands. We have limited time and not enough manpower to take in Grant and Void. Do you have a better idea?"

"No, I guess not."

Taylor nodded. "Ok then, I need you to set the charges." He brought the explosive devices from the van and gave them to her. There were about half a dozen of them in a brown satchel. She slipped it over her shoulder. "Try to place them on the buildings support beams or weak spots."

"I know where," she said.

"Good, then go, I'll take someone to help get Alex up. The other two will extract Amaya, Cassie, and Natalie." Taylor said gesturing to the Ninjnerds behind him.

Without another word Rae sped back to the manhole where Alex was waiting. He was propped up against the sewer wall on a dry piece of cement she had found. The smells of the sewer were almost unbearable, she could tell it was making his breathing even more jagged and shallow. She explained Taylors plans to him.

"He's on his way to help. I'll be right back," she said hesitantly, she didn't want to leave him, not again. "On second thought maybe I should wait until he gets here."

"No, you need to go. I'll be fine," he said. She didn't look convinced. "I'm fine, honestly. You have a mission to complete, you have to go."

"But I can't- I can't leave you," she said with a frustrated groan. She turned her back toward him, not able to make eye contact. She sighed and lowered her head. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If I hadn't left-"

"It's not your fault, Rae. It was my decision to leave. Hey, look at me." She slowly turned back around, seeing him so broken and helpless was almost too much for her. How could she not blame herself? "This isn't your fault. If we blame anyone it should be my father," he grinned slightly. "And his messed up drive to take my power."

"Is that what he did?" She asked quietly.

Alex nodded. "He blames me you know. For my mothers death. He hates that I got the element he had always wanted. His need for power drove him to his limit. And when he finally got what he wanted he had to sacrifice someone, he thought it would be me, but it was her. In some twisted way he thinks my power can bring her back." Raelyn was surprised, he had never been so blunt with her before, to talk about his past like this. "You need to go. Taylor is right about destroying the building, the machine they used to take my power, it's dangerous. You have to destroy it."

"Ok," she said, knowing he was right. "I'll be right back, I promise."

"Be careful."