The Crew*

Chapter One - The Chase

A bomb went off to my left.

I looked up from the “Wanted” poster I had in my hand, which featured a drawing of my face, to see a skyscraper across the street tilting slightly to the right, looking like it was about to fall over onto a couple of little stores next to it. A large dust-gas bubble mixture was spreading from its base. People were screaming and running from the buildings. Chaos was erupting.

“CROCODILE!” I yelled in frustration.

He appeared next to me almost instantly, looking slightly abashed.

“What the heck, Crocodile? I told you no more methane bombs! Don’t you remember what I said? Bishop will be here in five minutes!” I gestured angrily to the skyscraper that had now collapsed onto the other buildings. I prayed that all the people inside them had escaped.

He really did look apologetic and I sighed. Then I glanced down the street; no cops just yet. I glanced at the buildings across the street again. It pained me greatly to not be able to go and help the people and check for anyone inside, but I didn’t have time. Instead, I gestured to my group for us to get going.

“Okay, he’s not here just yet. Let’s get going before Bishop-“ My words were cut off by police sirens. We all instantly headed to the right, down the street, and toward the west part of the city, trying to get as far away from the destruction as possible.

“We heading to HQ, I assume?” I heard Lynx’s anxious voice yell behind me. I yelled back as we heard the sirens behind us get louder and louder, “Yeah, Lynx.”

“Dang! We aren’t gonna get outta here before he gets here! What are we gonna do, Boss?” I could tell, even without looking at her, that Moth was frantic. And, of course, with good reason; if Bishop caught us we were screwed.

“Calm down, Moth. Just don’t look back; I’ve got a plan! Cross the street…Now!” I yelled as I hurtled over a trashcan. I started to cross the street ahead of the rest of the Crew. A police car came streaking straight at me.

I didn’t even hesitate, as the car came flying towards me, an officer inside with a look of concentration on his face. I jumped onto the hood of the car and it screeched to a stop. I calmly jumped off, not even bothered by the sudden stopping. I didn’t look back, but I could hear, with my intensely good hearing, six other feet slamming against the hood of that car.

I smiled as I thought of the huge dent that it would have. As I turned around a sharp building corner and head onto another street, I yelled behind me, “Hey Chameleon, how far do you think we are from Headquarters?”

He appeared out of thin air, a whole head and shoulders taller than me, and replied, “About three miles, I think.”

Dang, we were too far. Way too dang far to be safe.

I turned into a dark alley, thinking to stop Bishop’s officers from following us. But I soon realized that there were cars at that end of the alley. I stopped and so did the others. I turned around and swore under my breath. Bishop’s stupid reinforcements had surrounded both ends of the alley.

“CRAP! You stupid moron, Bishop! Why are you such a freaking idiot?” I growled menacingly under my breath. “You guys got any ideas how to get out of here? Cause I got nada,” I frowned in concentration.

“Dragon.” I jumped ever so slightly as Chameleon appeared out of nowhere again and stood at my side. “Maybe Anaconda could get us out of here.” He gestured to the roof above us.

I thought on it for a second and then looked up too. It wasn’t really that far up.

“Okay, sounds good. Thanks. Guys, you okay with that?” I asked, and five heads nodded in agreement. “Alright then, Anaconda, do your stuff.” I said distractedly as I saw about twenty cops headed toward us on both sides of the alley. I turned back to her and saw her smile as she grabbed Lynx tightly by the shoulder.