Here We Go

Here We Go Part 17

591 made another trip to the grave. This time, with less emotion. He was grateful for Project 863, leading him to the grave the first time. Now he could go there in silence. He needed that formula. That damned formula. 591 bit back a curse. He needed to keep quiet, no one should know he was here.

He sighed. Why did he have to sign up for that damned testing over 20 years ago? He was shocked that Deb & Wes hadn't recognized him. But, he had changed a lot since then. He found himself at the grave. It was still uncovered, mostly. He had been smarter this time. He brought a shovel. He dug a little and found the formula.

591, thinking: I'm so sorry to do this, Wes.

He bowed his head.

591: Forgive me.

He took the formula...from Wesley's neck. The necklace lay in 591's hand. Hard to believe that this little thing, that this was so vital to the survival of every Phantom. He glanced at the grave, slid the necklace into his pocket, and refilled the grave.

As he did so, he felt a tear slide down his face. He longed to wipe it away, but the mask...the mask that held his life was in the way. He knew that he was to blame for this. If he hadn't fallen into that damn trap of Nelson's from two weeks ago...Wes would still be alive.

[Flashback, Nelson Syphus Chasing 591 & 748]

748 slid the phone into his coat pocket after they had finished talking to Wes and Deb, planning to meet at the RV.

591: Hopefully, we'll get there soon.

748 didn't reply. 591 looked over at him and saw he was staring in the mirror. 591 glanced in the rearview mirror.

591: Damnitt!

Nelson was right behind them and getting closer. As 591 pressed on the gas, he noticed an RV sitting in the middle of nowhere.

748: S***!

591: Better to go past it, then blow the location.

748: I wouldn't be so sure about that!

Suddenly, the sound of a tire blowing exploded into the air.

591 strained to keep the car steady, but it rolled onto its top anyway.

591 & 748 groaned in pain.

591: You okay?

748: Yeah. S***, here comes Snake.

591: Ugh. Gimme the phone, quick.

591 sent a quick message to Wes.

591: SOS, Snake found us

Nelson knelt by 591's window.

Nelson: You know you're surrounded, 591. You and your buddy, crawl out of the car and get into the backseat of mine. Understand?

591 wanted so badly to cuss Nelson out, to take him down right now...but 748's mask had been smashed in the accident. 591 wasn't going to let anything else happen, 591 knew 748 needed that serum.

591, gritting teeth: Yes, we understand.

591 helped 748 out of the car. Once they were in the backseat, 591 pulled off his mask and handed it to 748.

591: Take it. You need it.

748 didn't look happy about it, but he did. 591 took a breath of actual air. It felt cold to his lungs. He was surprised by how Nelson was acting. Something felt off. Nelson wasn't yelling at them, nor was he persuading them. If anything, he seemed resigned. Like he was going to have to do something that he really didn't want to do. Nelson hadn't even checked them for weapons. 591 pulled his phone out and saw Wes had gotten back to him. 591 told him that they were being taken to location 3.