Orion and the Clockwork (The Carmsborough Vigilantes #2)

Chapter 21

The walk back as the four of them was much more tense than the initial trip, seeing as this time they were passing through all the same areas, but this time with an old man carrying a satchel. Still, the incredibly long trip passed with no real incidents, despite being stopped another time almost twenty minutes away from the hideout.

From there, they took the subway, and Orion was finally free to get out of the wheelchair. Despite not having his crutch, he stood up, keeping most of the weight on his good leg, and stretched.

Agent Ike sat down on one of the train seats and tapped at his watch a little. A grin took over his face.

"What's got you in a good mood over there?" Orion asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking about the kiddos. And of how successful our trip was."

"I expected to have to throw down at least once," his wife said. "Haven't had a chance in a long while."

"I'm sorry," the Gearmaster said, "who exactly are the two of you again?"

"I'm Agent Ike, and this is my wife, Kate. We're Americans who were on a mission of sorts when Syndra took over, and we've been stuck here ever since. Now, I head up the rebellion with my brother, Mike. But I know all about you, Gearmaster."

"Doesn't everybody? Still, beats having to make introductions every day."

"I imagine it does."

"What mission were you here in Carmsborough for?"

"Classified."

"So that type of mission. If I had to guess, it has a little something to do with exactly what you're doing right now, does it not?"

"What do you mean?"

"An American agent just happened to have been in Carmsborough and had the ability to set up a rebellion? Not only that, but obtain the Gearmaster and Orion, two of the most targeted men by Syndra's regime? Either you're acting on intelligence that your government sent you here for, or you're actually one of Syndra's men, and you're playing both sides."

The agent paused and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Yeah, alright. I knew Syndra was planning on interrupting the Clockwork event and did what I could to prevent it, but clearly that didn't work. And that's why I'm here, and why I'm still here."

"And you look familiar," the Gearmaster said, pointing to Kate. "What are you famous for?"

"Nothing," she said. "I'm just here with him for the moral support, mostly."

"I don't believe you one bit."

The subway doors opened, and the Gearmaster stepped out. The group was greeted by the Clockwork, who didn't seem to have any new repairs done.

"They really did a number on you, didn't they?" The Gearmaster gave him a good look-around. "Is there anywhere I can set up to get him back in shape?"

"I'll lead the way," the agent said. "Oh, and one thing, Orion: I will come fetch you in the morning when we're ready to enact the next steps of the plan. Get whatever goodbyes in that you want in the meantime."

Kate brought him his crutch, and he set off back towards where he knew people were being housed. It took some time, but he eventually found where his dad and Sam had stationed themselves. The two were playing a card game in the dimly lit room when he entered, which they immediately dropped.

"How are you feeling, bud?" his dad asked, approaching and carefully giving him a hug.

"I've felt better, believe it or not."