An Act of Chivalry (Sander Sides)

Chapter Nine

The evacuation was both a success and a failure. The explosions themselves killed four hundred and thirty-two people either crossing a bridge or lingering to close to a gas station. The sight was like the fourth of July if the holiday was a bloodbath. Here I am, crying over my bathroom sink, mourning the people I didn't save. However, I couldn't do that to myself. I had to be fair and remember the positives as well. At least four hundred thousand made it out of the hell hole before and after the threat. Some were still leaving on the safer side of the city as I wept.

Some were too scared to leave at all.

The entire world has been alerted of the situation. The sick are pleased, the allies are brave, but America itself is useless. Too many people are here so a search wasn't permitted and neither was a bomb. "God," I mumbled to myself. I was supposed to be a hero but here I was doubting myself over something I couldn't control.

I picked my head up and stared myself down in the mirror. "I won't let him get away with this." I picked up a comb and ran it through my hair a few times. I grabbed a towel, wiped my face and adjusted my attire. Under my eyes were bags (I didn't sleep last night) but in my eyes shined a bright determination. I was ready for the day.

I threw my door opened and stormed down the hall, not caring who glanced my way. I averted my gaze to any television and grabbed an apple and bottle of water on my way down. Afterward, I took a nearby set of stairs down to the floor below, the conference room.

On the floor was, in fact, a meeting and I tuned in for just a minute. The chief of the fire department was making a speech but I didn't see Thomas or Remy in the crowd. They weren't here. I bit into my apple and continued making my way down the building. Only a few robbers sat jailed on the prison floor and neither Thomas, Remy, Patton, Logan, or Virgil were on the floor. Now that I think about it Patton was behind the chief on stage. My friend must've had something to talk about himself.

Finally, I spotted Thomas on the second floor, the control, connections, and info storage and transmission floor. "Thomas-" I started, shouting slightly over the busy room. Thomas however, shushed me quickly and only then did I notice he was on the phone. I waited patiently.

"Of course," Thomas continued "Is area 4853 suiting you well?... I understand but theirs to much at stake sir...Thank you, president, and to you too." With that, he hung up. "Yes, Roman?"

I cleared my throat, "Why were you talking to the president of the united states?" I smiled, knowing Thomas would roll his eyes.

"You know very well I can't tell you Ro, now what's REALLY up?"

"Right Thomas, have you seen any of the sides? Patton's busy and I haven't seen Virgil or Logan today."

Thomas rushed past me to pick up a stack of papers nearby and I followed close behind." Virgil's no doubt in the training room, you should join him." My mentor opened the elevator door and I joined him in the chamber. "And Logan?" I pushed. Despite the angle, I still caught Thomas's face fall into one of both concern and annoyance. "...Remy and Logan are speaking on the fifth floor "living" room. I'm going their now."

"Can I join you?"

A bell dinged and the metal door slid open. Thomas shook his head and pressed the sixth floor on his way out. That would take me to Virgil in the training room. "You can't join me, Roman, sorry." I could hear Thomas sigh before the door closed once more between us. To the sixth floor, I guess. It never hurt to train some, and maybe Virgil knows what's going on because I was confused.

-----

Thomas opened the door and closed it behind him. He didn't bother to look at Logan as he quickly bolted for his personal office. There was soundproof glass in his room and the moment Thomas shut the door he could only watch the silent fury of Remy from his desk. By the giant one-sided glass window he watched it continue to unfold and to be honest, he didn't know which side to believe.

"Logan! What the fuck were you thinking! You were to contact us, not jump head first. I know you know better, so what happened!?" Remy shouted at me once more. I adjusted my glasses and kept my composure. He was asking me questions with no easy answers.

"I believe I already told you," I started once more, leaning on the arm of the couch. "The earpiece wasn't in working order. I was unable to contact you in an immediate and efficient manner."

"Immediate, my ass," Remy growled in return. "I was on the same street as you, only a shout away. Why didn't you call me over?"

"I...I don't know,"

"I don't know" won't make up for their lives Logan. Thomas assigned you as the team leader and you've let them down."

My heart metaphorically broke at those words. I understood that Remy's words were emotionally charged and held no definite meaning but that doesn't mean the words didn't tear my mind apart. "Remy," I tried to calm, "It's not anyone's fault. I-Their was nothing we could've done beforehand to predict this."

Another wave of pain shot up my arm and a gritted my teeth. Luckily, Remy seemed to stress to notice this. "Remy," I heard Thomas call as he rounded the corner. I didn't notice him standing their before. "Logan's right, nothing could've prepared us for this." "But-" "No but's, I orde4r you to go to the training room. Roman's aching for a rematch and I can tell you need to blow off some steam. Go."Remy hesitated a moment, but under Thomas's authority he nodded and left the room. The door slammed shut behind him and I took the lighter atmosphere as an excuse to sit down.

Thomas sat down beside me. "What happened last night Logan? You don't have to tell me, but we both know whatever it is would be beneficial to the mission." I nodded in agreement, knowing what I should and shouldn't tell him.

"I was conversating with a mother when I spotted a man on the other side of the street suddenly get pulled into an alley. I followed him but DID attempt to contact you in the process. As you can deduct, that didn't go as planned. I found the man dead, pinned the criminal, and then with my attention being so distorted I didn't catch the remote in his hand until it was too late, my apologies Thomas."

"It's not your fault Logan."

"Very well," I responded, knowing very well that Thomas had a few doubts in the back of his mind. They weren't his dominating thoughts but they were still there. Even if it was infinitesimal, part of Thomas still blamed me.

I continued. "I went to check a building, met him again, and he tossed me into one of the shelves. (Other injuries were inflicted beforehand but that wasn't relevant to the story)." I paused. "Before Patton found me, he told me to call him Deceit and-"

Something hissed once again in the back of my head and I momentarily squeezed my eyes shut.

"Logan?"

"I'm alright, stressed is all."

'Lies'

I got up and Thomas followed. "We both have things to do. I'll leave you to your work and join the others. You said they were in the training room?" Thomas rose a brow, "Yes but-" "Very well if you have further questions you can meet me up there. Farwell Thomas."

I didn't let Thomas respond before I abruptly left the room. Despite being a nerd, I still had an appreciation for the punching bag...and possibly some rest.