Downside Up [W.Byers]

010

They find themselves near a grassy area with a large bus. "Holy shit! Did... did you see what they did to that van?" Dustin asks in disbelief. El takes a seat on the grass, Ruby staying away from her beside Dustin.

"No, Dustin, we missed it." Mike replies sarcastically. "I mean that was.." Dustin stammers.

"Awesome." Lucas finishes. "We really appreciate that, guys, but we have really big problems right now." Ruby says tiredly.

"It was awesome." Lucas repeats. "Ruby, your lip, the veins.." Mike says. There are streaks of veins extending from her lip, though they slowly fade.

"I guess it's instead of a nose bleed." Ruby chuckles. Lucas bends down beside Eleven, a sympathetic look on his face. "Everything I said about you being a traitor and stuff.. I was wrong. I'm sorry." He says to eleven.

"You too, Ruby. I shouldn't have been rude to you." He sighs. "It's alright." She smiles. "Friends.." Eleven mutters. "Friends don't lie. I'm sorry, too." She adds. "Ruby, I'm sorry." El looks down  at the grass.

"You basically saved all of our lives out there, El. It'll take a bit to forgive you, but I'll try my best." She chuckles nervously. El smiles. "Me too." Mike cuts in, looking to Lucas and putting out his hand.

They shake hands. "All these apologies are making me emotional." Ruby jokes, wiping away imaginary tears. Everyone chuckles along.

"This is Randolph Road, right here." Lucas marks with a stick on the dirt. "The fence starts here, and goes all the way around. And this is the lab right here." He places a coke can in the center.

"The gate's gotta be in there somewhere. It's gotta be." He concludes. "Well, who owns Hawkins Lab?" Dustin asks. "The sign says 'Department of Energy.'" Lucas responds.

"Department of Energy? What do you think that means?" The curly headed boy questions. "It means government. Military." Mike explains.

"Then why does it say 'Energy?'" Dustin crosses his arms. "It's a trick to make people think it's just an electrical company." Ruby says.

"Just trust me, all right? It's military. My dad's told me before." Mike argues. "Mike's right. There's soldiers out front." Lucas adds. "Do they make, like, lightbulbs or something?" Dustin asks.

"Dustin, it has nothing to do with electricity." Ruby sighs. "No, weapons... to fight the Russians and commies and stuff." Mike shakes his head.

"Weapons." Lucas says, wide eyed. "Oh, Jesus, this is bad." Dustin states. "Really bad. The place is like a fortress." Lucas describes.

"Well, What do we do?"

"I don't know, but we can't go home. We're fugitives now." Mike sighs. All of a sudden, they hear helicopters approaching from above.

"G-Guys?" Dustin stutters. "Do you hear that?"

Once the helicopter comes into view, they panic. "Go, go, go!" Mike shouts, shoving his bike under the bus. "Come on, come on!"

"It's stuck." Dustin says as he struggles to push his bike in. Ruby sighs, kicking it inside and pulling him up. "Let's go, let's go!"

They speedily run into the bus, hiding in between seats.

"Mental."

"Mike, are you there? Mike?" Nancy says over the radio. "Nancy.." Ruby whispers. "You guys hear that?" Dustin asks. "Mike, it's me, Nancy."

Mike runs over to his bag, quickly unzipping it and pulling out the radio. "Mike, are you there? Answer."

Everyone huddles around the raven haired boy, listening closely. "Mike, we need you to answer."

"Is that your sister?" Lucas asks. "This is an emergency, Mike. Do you copy? Mike, do you copy?" She continues.

"Okay, this is really weird." Dustin mutters. "Don't answer." Mike says as Lucas tries to grab the radio out of his hand, yet fails. "She said it was an emergency." He argues.

"What if it's a trick?" Mike cautions. "Mike, it's your sister." Ruby furrows her eyebrows. "What if the bad people kidnapped her? What if they're forcing her to say this?"

"I need you to answer." Nancy yells. "It's like Lando Calrissian. Don't answer." Dustin agrees. "Lando What What?" Ruby questions. "Later." Dustin dismissed.

"We need to know that you're there, Mike." Nancy continues. Mike shakes his head. "Listen, kid, this is the chief. If you're there, pick up." Chief Hopper speaks up, shocking everyone.

"We know you're in trouble and we know about the girls."

Eleven and Ruby share a worried look. "Why is she with the Chief?" Lucas questions. "How the hell does he know about.."

"We can protect you, we can help you, but you gotta pick up." Hopper cuts in. "Are you there? Do you copy? Over."

Mike sighs. "Answer it." Ruby encourages. "Yeah, I copy." Mike sighs. "It's mike. I'm here. We're here."

Dustin paces nervously around the bus as they patiently wait for the Chief and the others to arrive. "Will you stop pacing?" Mike asks in annoyance. "It's been way too long. Do you know what? Maybe you're right. Maybe this is all a trap and the bad men are coming to get us right now!" Dustin panics.

"It's not a trap. Why would the chief set us up? Nancy, maybe, but the Chief?" Lucas argues. "Lando Calrissian!" Dustin repeats. "I still have no idea what you're talking about." Ruby sighs, wrapping an arm around Eleven.

"Would you shut up about Lando?" Lucas glares at him. "I don't feel good about this. I don't feel good about this!" He continues. "When do you feel good about anything?" Lucas screams.

"Guys, please stop. We don't need this right now." Ruby sighs. All of sudden, they all run to the front window at the sound of vehicles approaching.

"Shit!" Dustin yells. "Go, Go, Go, Go." Mike orders, pushing everyone to the back. "Lando." Dustin pants. "Who is that guy?" Ruby asks quietly as she sits beside the boy. "I'll tell you if we live."

"You think they saw us?" Lucas asks. "All three of you, shut up." Mike says angrily. They sit quietly, their hearts pounding with worry.

Ruby squeezes her eyes shut as the bus door is pushed open. Before anything happens, a grunting noise is heard as the chief enters proudly.

"All right, lets go." He says as they all sit up. They curiously watch him in shock.

"Let's go!"