Part 3 Ch.13

"Are you sure we should be doing this tonight? We should be planning everything out for tomorrow." Nathaniel whispers to me as we load our weapons. We've all gone over the plan with the Ravagers for most of tonight, we all know it by heart now. I glance at Valentina and Paxton who are getting ammo in the corner. "We've gone over the plan a hundred times already. Besides, this will help relax us." Nathaniel snorts. "You're the only person who calls destroying a building relaxing." "Tonight's our only chance, the security will be the lowest it had been in weeks. Besides, we have to control the OCIU if we're going to take over the Ravagers too." I put on a light bulletproof vest and shrug my black jacket on over it. Although there should be enough time for the people working there to escape if they want, we're not risking anything."If we take out their weapons supply center, that'll buy us a few weeks at most--more than enough time for the dust to settle down. By the time they get their shit together, we'll be twice as powerful than before." I grin. "They won't be able to touch us." "I'm sure they won't." He says, smiling a little. Even after all this time it's weird to see Nathaniel in a good mood- he usually gets like this before and after a mission. And although he has a language abilities, he is also an excellent fighter. Having him in the field calms me. I look at the others. Paxton and Valentina are ready now too. She's the only one without a gun, her plasma blasts are just as effective. "Don't forget the bombs, Paxton." She says. "Ah, yes. Because I would completely forget an essential object." He pats his bag carefully and winks at me. I know he's thinking about the time when I forgot to bring a gun to a gun fight. It was embarrassing, to say the least. "Are you guys ready?" I look around at them. In their faces I see the bravery and loyalty, for each other and our cause. I feel a surge of pride. "Let's get this over with." Nathaniel says. I open the portal and we open fire. 0~0~0 Once they're all through, I set the detonator. It starts counting down from five seconds, more than enough time for me to get away. I slip out and land in front of them on the roof of a tall warehouse, a few miles away. A second later, an enormous explosion sounds, I see the fire illuminate the night in the distance. I look at my watch. Already, the sirens have started, it's been only forty-eight seconds since we've broken in and yet the enforcement are on their way. They were clearly waiting for us, but didn't think we could do it so quickly. "Nice work, everyone. It may have been our quickest job yet." I look around at them and my smile fades ."Go home and get some rest for tomorrow." "Good luck tomorrow, Amara." Valentina says seriously. "You too. I'll see you all soon enough." I tell them, opening Valentina's portal. She steps through. Then I send Nathaniel and Paxton off. I stand staring at the fire in the distance; the firemen have already arrived and have started to put it out. The Yellow Thorns are safe for some time, if I die tomorrow at least I would have had bought them some time. I look at my watch and open a portal to my apartment. I still have time to change and take a shower before my meeting with Carson, so I do. By the time I'm ready, it's time and I open a portal to the roof of the building across from the liquor store. The parking lot isn't empty but Carson's car still isn't there.  Five minutes pass. Then ten. Carson finally arrives twenty minutes after our agreed meeting time. As soon as he steps out from his car, I portal him to the same hotel rooftop we talk on a few nights ago. "You're late." I tell him as soon as I step through my portal. The night is darker than usual because the moon's not out yet but even in the dark and through his mask that he hasn't taken off, I can see that Carson is angry. "I was busy." He growls. "Do you want to know what I was doing? I was cleaning up after your mess. A man almost died because of you. Did you know that? Do you even care?" "We don't have time to talk about this." I tell him roughly. My good mood has soured. "No. Let's talk about it Elenora. We have all night." He shouts. "Someone almost died there! He has a family!" "We all have families!" I yell. "Fine! If you really want to talk. Let's talk about how when a police officer dies, it's a tragedy. But when my people die, they deserve it. Let's talk about how the cops were just as corrupt as we are and no one lifted a finger to stop them. Where's the justice in that, Carson? Because I don't see it. The truth is there isn't a good and bad side. We all have some fucked up bits inside of us. It's human nature." "I guess some people are more fucked up that others." I take a deep breath and force myself to calm down. "Yeah, I guess so." I'm suddenly glad I learned to deal with Andrea, she taught me patience and when to pick my battles. She's still a bitch, though. "We need to talk about the plan tomorrow. We have to know it inside out." He doesn't say anything. "Look, we don't have to like each other for this to work. All I'm asking for is trust, until all this is over. Then we can go yelling at each other until our heart's content." I can tell he wants to say more but he gives me a sharp nod after a moment. "Fine." I open a portal and reach in, pulling out a folder from my dresser back in my apartment. I open it and hand him his copies, he takes them after a second. "Here's the plan..."