Runaways Part 2: Return to the Roosevelt

[Elizabeth Stone]

It was just after dawn, and Effy and Olivia, dressed in their ill-gotten new outfits, were driving a stolen Navigator to Simi Valley. Of course, Effy had changed the DMV information to show HER name, but still…

Olivia had woken her an hour earlier, informing her that the others were in trouble (big surprise). She had tried to trace the email Olivia had received but it was a dead end, like the sender didn’t exist. The next best thing had been to trace Jack’s phone, his coordinates putting them near the Roosevelt. But according to the email, beneath the Roosevelt.

Effy’s logical and computer-like mind had processed the information and connected the dots perfectly: the plans for the MysTech facility showed an underground train system running into the heart of the city – right to the spot where Jack (or at least his phone) was. She had hacked into and scanned the Los Angeles Planning Commission’s schematics of the city, as well as the original blue prints for the Roosevelt and surrounding buildings. She could find no other point of entry other than MysTech itself.

So the plan had changed: they were to sneak inside, get to the train, and take it into the unknown. It was stupid, and suicidal, and Effy wasn’t sure why they were doing it. But there wasn’t anything else TO do. There wasn’t anyone to call, and they couldn’t leave them to die, which was surely about to happen if it hadn’t already. (Frankly, Effy expected them to be dead already.) Plus, Effy had the MysTech facility’s plans in her head, and knew the location of the control room and what she needed to do to take it out, if she had the opportunity. Olivia was the firepower.

So they pulled up to the nearly deserted facility like they owned the place.

 

[Elizabeth Stone]

Luckily for Effy and Livvie, MysTech lived up to its reputation. Nearly EVERYTHING in the facility was run via computer and networked. It was early morning, so very few workers were present, and MysTech was no longer the powerhouse it once was. Whereas five years ago the building would have been filled with workers and activity, even at this hour, now whole sections of the facility had fallen into disuse. And this the girls would capitalize on.

Effy was able to plot the fastest and most deserted route for them to the train, tapping into video surveillance to supplant the building plans she already had “on file” (as well as to point the cameras distinctly away from them). They slipped inside via a utility access hatch – opened graciously by Livvie’s unique talent - and made their way like ghosts through the labyrinth of tunnels until they reached their destination.

What looked like a high tech subway car loomed before them. This part of the building had clearly not been used in a while, with only emergency lights illuminating the train dimly in a reddish haze. The doors were unfortunately shut tight.

“We need to turn it on. I’m sending the signal through the computer system, but nothing’s happening.”

Effy hesitated. She hated using her other power. She didn’t know how to control it and it made HER feel out of control. But there was no going back and she was going to have to learn. She raised a hand towards the door to the controls, moving it slowly in a left to right motion, concentrating. The door slid back on its tracks, and they jumped inside.

Now in front of the control panel, Effy located the start button and pressed it firmly. Nothing happened. She pressed it again, nothing.

“That should work…battery must be dead. Fuck.”

She sighed. Everything had been going so well so far. Then she looked at Livvie.

“Don’t suppose you could give us a jump?”

 

[Shade]

the battle begins

So Jackson was a little harder to PULP than most humans. No matter. He was not immortal and what PHYSICAL force couldn't do, a SPELL certainly could. However, she decided to take down Rich and Brenda first. THEY could summon help. and THEY were the ones she wanted for herself. The best way to prime them for CONSUMPTION was to BEAT them into BLOODY submission!

Rich was as bold as a tiger cub. Stepping in as she slammed Jackson across the way with her giant mallet. He SLAMS into her in the form of a solid white photon stream of LIGHT! that power signature...it was ANNOYING like DELILAH'S! BIG MISTAKE on Richard's part!

She's hit! there's a sound of energy and impact upon the collision of light and her dark energy and as FAST and as HARD as she kocked off her feet and blasted across the way, She's ALREADY ready to adjust. Brenda sends another Psycho Blast! THIS time Shade is READY. Shade's body "shatters" into an impossible number of dark glowing orbs just as the attack reaches her and Richard. the blast instead SLAMS into several pipes behind them releasing a violent, HOT plume of steam and damaging some of the structure of the wall.


a bewitching hum is heard as the orbs QUICKLY swarm and encircle Richard swallowing him up. they continue to spin and tighten and coalesce into a dark FUNNEL with the wind power of a f4 tornado. the FORCE of the winds and their ARCTIC coldness lash out at Brenda and Jackson. Jackson MIGHT be invulnerable to physical force but he still had much to learn about maneuvering in such enclosed space with minimal vision and an obsctacle such as this.


Richard is TRAPPED inside, where he sees Shade's glowing eyes.

"Fool."

"Let flesh be flesh and bone be bone
this mutant shall transform none,
foolish child of humanity born
with these words face the shadow's SCORN!"

Shade casts her spell, FORCING Rich to return and STAY in his basic human form where upon she begins to SUFFOCATE him inside her vortex, tearing through his body with her unholy, soul numbing, life negating darkness!


Brenda and Jackson look in horror as Shade is KILLING Richard before their eyes. but just as it seems all hope is lost, the funnel then EXPELLS Richard HIGH up into the air, leaving him to FALL to his death and with him now BEYOND cold and weak from her attack, and the spell inhibiting his power it would be VERY difficult if not impossible for HIM to get out of this.

SHE now appears BETWEEN Jackson and Brenda, gribbing them BOTH by the neck and lifting them up.

"This will hurt YOU more than it does HIM."

She BANGS their heads together.

"It's almost pathetic. hunting these foolish striplings. By the time Dominique or any OTHER possible salvation arrives, it'll be TOO LATE!"

She unleashes the "black lightning effect" upon BOTH of them just as she had done Brenda during their very first encounter. the attack slices through their bodies, their BONES!

 

[Ana-Leigh Moreau]

After a failed attempt to find the others, Olivia and Effy's only option was to stick to their original plan. Whether this would mean Rich, Jackson, and Brenda's deaths were yet to be determined....she hoped they were savvy enough to get out of any situation they were in. But if Dominique HAD turned on them, and Shade WAS zeroing in on them, their odds were slim.

It was early morning and they finally arrived at the MysTech location. It was pretty deserted, which said a lot for how badly they suffered at the hands of the six. Luckily it made sneaking in a whole lot easier, and with Effy's sway over computers, they were undetected. Reaching a high tech subway car, Effy couldn't bypass the systems to open it and used her telekenisis. Why she was so hesitant to use that power was beyond Livvie. It was pretty damn cool. Regardless, they were able to slip inside.

"Am I the only one kinda freaked that we're inside MysTech suck in a metal tube?"

Livvie muttered as Effy tried to start up the train. Nada.

Effy: “That should work…battery must be dead. Fuck. Don’t suppose you could give us a jump?”

[with narrowed eyes] "Do I look like a jumper cable to you?"

Effy's expression was priceless causing Olivia to crack a smile.

"Kidding, kidding. Just trying to lighten the mood. [placing her hands on the control panel] Stand back."

Sending a jolt of electricity into the panel, sparks and shocks fizzled all over the surface. It looked like Olivia was frying it dead rather than starting it up, however after a few more seconds, the lights on the panel lit up, indicating it was now on.

"Should work now."

 

[Elizabeth Stone]

"Do I look like a jumper cable to you?"

Effy was not amused.

"Listen you-"

"Kidding, kidding. Just trying to lighten the mood."

"Yeah, cause we're so in need of a good laugh right now."

Olivia sent an electric surge through the control panel. Sparks started to fly all over the place.

"Whoa whoa there, sparky! I meant charge the battery not fry the damn controls!"

Livvie ignored her (surprise surprise) but after a few seconds the train controls heated up.

"Should work now."

Effy cleared her throat.

"Oh, um, well next time, why don't we just try kicking the thing."

Effy put the train in gear and took off the brake, and they were on their way down the dark shaft. A second later, the lights flipped on.

"Might as well see where we're going. No one's been down here in ages."

They passed a switchplate and another tunnel running perpendicular, then down, down further in the eerie silence.

"I don't suppose you have a plan? Yeah, me neither."

They were reaching the end of the tunnel. Effy pulled back on the accelerator and put the brake on. The train pulled to a stop, and they stepped out onto the deserted platform. A set of steel double doors was the only way on or off, other than the tracks.

Effy took a deep breath.

"Okay, Jack...or his phone at least...is on the other side of those doors."

 

[Ana-Leigh Moreau]

Effy: "Oh, um, well next time, why don't we just try kicking the thing."

"Uh huh."

Olivia grinned at Effy's lack of confidence in her ability. That and the fact that she's been promoted from "Miss Priss" to "Sparky". Effy started the train and they began to move through the underground passageways. It was incredibly eerie...and the fact that they were pretty much going in blind made it incredibly scary as well.

Effy: "I don't suppose you have a plan?"

Olivia gave Effy an "are you kidding me" look.

Effy: "Yeah, me neither."

"I've always been better at thinking on my feet....hopefully that doesn't get us six feet UNDER."

Finally they reached the end of the tunnel; Effy easing the train to a halt. Climbing out onto the platform, Olivia looked around realizing that the only way out was through two large steal doors.

Effy: "Okay, Jack...or his phone at least...is on the other side of those doors."

Suddenly anxiety rushed through Livvie. This was it. Whether it was Dominique, or Shade, or three dead teenagers on the other side of the door, this was their endgame. There was no turning back now. Walking up to the doors, probably the only positive variable in this equation was the fact that MysTech relied way too much on technology. It gave Livvie and Effy a huge advantage. The door was powered by a computer, like everything else they've encountered. Like in the train, Olivia sent a jolt of electricity through a small key pad next to the metal doors, charging it up so it would work. From that point Effy worked her magic and mentally entered the code, unlocking the door. All they had to do was push the green button to open it.

Pausing for a moment, Olivia took a deep breath in before looking over her shoulder at Effy.

"Ready?"

Dumb question, but honestly it was more of a stalling tactic on her part. Turning back to the keypad, Olivia pressed the green button. Quickly stepping back next to Effy, she watched as the doors slid open....