Redeemers

Chapter 8: the Explosion

This can't be happening. He had just found her, to lose her again. His little sister, the one he had promised he would protect, lying motionless on the pavement. And it's all his fault. He told her to run, but he should have done more, anything to finally see her safe.

He stands as motionless as her body lying on the ground, hoping to see her stand up, shake it off, and continue running as she had done so many times before. But that doesn't happen. He can see flashes of red around him, bright and blinding.He can feel the slight shock of the beams hitting his suit, but he doesn't seem to register that he needs to move.

"Malcalm!" The sound of his name seems to snap him out of his trance.

"No names over coms, Forensics." Malcalm all but growls into the microphone, concealed in the helmet.

"Well I have been trying to get your attention for over 2 minutes! We don't have that kind of time! You all need to get out of there now!" The voice of his friend seems to shatter his ear drum. He was so close so close.

A flash of pink in the corner of his eye draws him away from the scene of the explosion. Beside him stands someone who has become a little bit more than a friend. She isn't looking at the destruction in the distance, she's looking at him.

"This was not your fault. You told her to run, and she made her choice when she decided to stay." Her voice fills his head like a long forgotten melody. How he wishes he could look her in the eyes, feel the same sense of steely resolve.

He shakes his head, "I found her, Fuch, but I was too late." A buzz seems to fill his ears as he remembers what his little sister's laugh sounded like, the titanium in her will as she fought with him, demanding that he take her with her that night. He should have, God knows he should have.

"Hey, guys? Have any of you bothered to check your scanner lately?" A voice breaks his thoughts, curious with a sense of...hope?

Anger surges within Malcalm at the thought, "I've been a bit preoccupied, Bee."

"With what? Staring into space? Come on, Hunter! Snap out of it!" Another voice snaps through the coms, using his Redeemer callsign. Anger rises in Malcalm's throat, but before he can craft a retort, the voice continues, softening slightly, "Look, we all know how much she meant to you, but we can't just stand here and wait for Axtin to get his shit together. Otherwise her sacrifice would be for nothing." The voice Malcalm recognizes as Blue finishes with his voice a small whisper, as though he too didn't want to believe what had just transpired.

"Guys, is anyone listening to me?" Bee asks incredulously.

"Blue is right. We need to get out of here. Forensics, got any ideas on how to get out of here?" Malcalm quizzes, snapping back to his senses.

"Well, you all got yourself in the middle of a major storm here. Units on all sides, no way out without a fight. But, if you take 75th to 90 you'll eventually..."

"Guys! Listen to me!" Bee screams into the earpiece, all but defining Malcalm. The coms fall silent and the only sound is the crackling of static, "Thank you. Now, Forensics and Blue didn't just stick scanners in our helmets for the heck of it..."

"Actually, I kind of did." Forensics cuts Bee off.

"Fine, the point is we have scanners, and if any of you actually bothered to check them..."

"I would if I was in the field, but everyone was like 'No, Forensics' 'Hold down the fort, Forensics' 'Just a routine patrol, Forensics, we won't need you.'"

"We don't need to hear you sob story right now, Forensics." Fuchsia practically growls.

"Oh, didn't you know? Everything is about Forensics, never mind the fact that girl we've been hunting for for seven years is dead." Blue retorts with unveiled venom.