The Humans Now mob grows with every street corner Amber and P-Q cross. Shock troops marching down the streets. They moved deliberately, just fast enough to keep the pair running, but not so fast that they would tire themselves out too quickly.
“What are they doing, bussing in club members?” Turning into an older part of the city, the decaying buildings loomed around them.
“Actually, that’s kind of their thing.” Spotting another contingent moving from the other end of the block Amber pulls P-Q into an alley to try and catch their breath.
“Great! They get truckloads of goons, and we get to run because if we try to fight back without a large enough crowd of onlookers, we’re the villains.”
“Exactly, they want to control the message, and there are enough outlets that are willing to run their version of the story because it’s good for ratings.”
“Alright, not much of a news guy, so I’m going to try to ignore what you just said and keep moving.” That meant further down the alley, as a bus pulled across the exit blocking them in. “Literally?”
“Literally.”
“Can you fight?” P-Q looked over at the woman quickly realizing two things. One, she was already in a bladed stance ready for whichever direction the Humans Now goons would come. Two, her eyes were not actually blue. One of the contacts had fallen out, revealing the hazel below.
“I could get out of here, but I can’t take you with me.” Waves of heat radiated from her body as her hands and feet began to quiver with dancing flames.
“If you can get out of here, do it. No need for both of us to take a kic…” Before P-Q could finish the word, the world seemed to shift around him.
The Humans Now troops turned, opening fire with no regard for the bus, or their own people that might be in them. Amber and P-Q duck to avoid the initial volley. At that moment, the wall of the adjacent building collapses. A cloud of dust and debris flooding out around them.
“Looks like you two need an exit pass, Breakthrough delivery is here to help.” The man virtually appeared before them, shimmering into place as echoes of his body disappeared. He smiles, blue clad hand extended to help either of them up. “Shall we? Your friends are going to start shooting again as soon as they realize what’s happening.”
“Let’s go!” Using the plume of dust as cover, Amber burns away her civilian clothes and wig to reveal the red suit underneath as she puts on a mask.
“This day is going in the book of weird days.”
“The important part is the going.” Amber grabs P-Qs hand pulling him to his feet as she begins to hover. The three of them quickly move through the building coming out on the blocked side. There Amber and P-Q see a car wedged to the door of the bus preventing anyone from getting out.
“That’s not going to hold them forever, but should buy us some time.” Breakthrough motioned for everyone to follow him.
“I’m not going to be able to keep up, you two go on without me. I’ll figure something out.” P-Q jogged with the others knowing that once they opened up, he would be left behind.
“Ever heard of drifting?” Breakthrough asked.
“Like in racing?”
“Exactly! Just stay behind me, and keep running.” With a deep breath, P-Q started to move faster, trying to keep up with Breakthrough. The world seemed to snap in and out of reality as he struggled to keep up. “You’re in my wake! As long as you match my pace, I think I can keep you in the hyperspace pocket!”
“What?”
“Just try to keep up!”
And just like that, the trio were gone.
