![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
children of tomorrow -- part 3
Frank's quarters were easy to find, thanks to the Sandman clearance Gerard had.
Frank opened the door and gaped. “What are you doing here?”
Gerard ignored the tone and nearly pushed his way inside, making sure the door closed firmly behind him. Then he held up his left hand so Frank could see his lifeclock. “I need your help.”
“You're... but. I don't know what you mean,” Frank said. “Leave.”
“I'm going to Run. I need you to show me where to go,” Gerard said.
“I don't know anything,” Frank said. “You're asking the wrong person.”
“Don't act like you don't know. You have this-” Gerard said, pointing to the ankh on Frank's neck. He pulled the silver symbol from his own pocket, the ankh he got from the Runner.
“Where did you get that?” Frank demanded to know.
“A Runner,” Gerard answered, practically waving the silver ankh in Frank's face. “I know it means something. I know it means … it means Sanctuary.”
At the word, Frank's features changed immediately. He went from hostile to shocked, then nodded resolutely. “I can help. I don't know where Sanctuary is, but I know how to get Out. Well, I know someone who knows. I have to ask if they will help you.”
“I'm blinking,” Gerard said.
“I know. Give me a few hours and I'll contact you,” Frank said.
“I don't have that kind of time. An hour,” Gerard said.
“Hurry up and leave so I can contact them, then,” Frank said, obviously annoyed again.
Gerard took a deep breath and reminded himself that he owed Frank for this. “Thank you. I mean, I should have told you that already.”
“Don't thank me yet,” Frank muttered. “We don't know if they'll help. Or if they'll believe you.”
“Do you believe me?” Gerard asked.
“What, that a Sandman is going to Run?” Frank asked, rolling his eyes. Gerard noticed that he didn't answer the question. “Go on, let me get to them and tell them the situation.”
Gerard nodded and left quickly then, only to go back to his quarters and pace.
The call came forty-five minutes later. Frank asked him to meet him in the Great Hall, by the sculpture of the Hand. It was an ugly metal creation, and Gerard wished he knew who the artist was so he could tell them they had no creativity whatsoever.
“Follow me,” Frank said as soon as Gerard was within earshot.
But Gerard's comm went off almost as soon as they were to the lifts. He'd almost forgotten he was on duty. He checked the screen; there was a Runner in Cathedral. Gerard didn't want to go, but it would look odd if he didn't answer the call.
“I can't do this now,” Gerard said, getting onto the lift.
“Where are you going? To kill another Runner?” Frank said.
Gerard ran his hand over his face. He paused when the blinking lifeclock caught his eye. The Runner he was supposed to Terminate had a blinking lifeclock, too, or would very soon. Just like him.
“I can't not show up for a job,” Gerard explained. “I'll meet you back at the statue when I'm finished.”
“No. I'm going with you,” Frank said.
“I'm going into Cathedral. It's too dangerous.”
Frank snorted. “I grew up in Cathedral.” He entered the lift behind Gerard and hit the button for the sublevel that Cathedral was on.
“You?” Gerard said.
“I was a badass little fucker back when I was a Yellow. Scrappy,” Frank said. “Nobody knew what to do with me, so they shoved me down in Cathedral and didn't let me out until I turned Green.”
“But what did you do?” Gerard asked. He couldn't imagine Frank as a feral Cub.
Frank shrugged. “I got in a lot of fights. I was small. The other kids picked on me. So I learned to fight back.”
Gerard shook his head. Cathedral was for delinquent Yellows, and Frank had lived there. “How long were you there?”
“Couple of years,” Frank answered.
The lift stopped and they got off, walking down a deserted corridor. No one ever wanted to get in to Cathedral.
There was a door Gerard easily unlocked with his clearance, but beyond that was a barrier of scrap metal and debris. Gerard hated Cathedral, hated getting in and hated dealing with its denizens.
They climbed over the barrier and came into Cathedral proper. It was quiet except for their footsteps. The Cubs were hiding.
Except for one, a little girl who was sitting with her back to the wall. Her long yellow skirt looked too big for her. It was filthy, as was her face. She had beautiful brown curls that stuck up all over her head. She reminded Gerard of Ray when he'd been that age. Only Ray and Gerard had worn black since birth, and their brand of feral misbehavior was encouraged by the 'bots who raised them.
“What's your name, kiddo?” Frank asked, walking up to the little girl.
“Be careful,” Gerard mumbled. “She'll rob you blind and kick you in the nuts before you blink.”
Frank shot Gerard a glare and turned back to the little girl. “I'm Frankie.”
“Grace,” the girl said, looking up at him with big brown eyes. She looked guileless, utterly innocent. But she was a Cub, and not to be trusted.
Then Gerard remembered Frank had been a Cub in Cathedral as well.
“Where's the Runner, Grace?” Gerard asked as nicely as he could. He wasn't used to talking with children, and he'd never been allowed to be one himself.
Grace pursed her lips closed and shook her head, curls flying. Then she got up quickly and ran, back further into Cathedral, where it was dark and dank.
Gerard sighed and looked down at his comm. He pushed a button and started scanning, and the comm made a slow beeping noise. He walked forward, in the direction the girl had gone, and the beeping picked up.
He had no choice but to follow. Frank was just behind him.
“What are you going to do once you find the Runner?” Frank asked.
That was a good question. For Frank to believe him, Gerard would have to help the Runner. And Gerard really wanted Frank to believe him.
“I don't know,” Gerard answered truthfully. “Now be quiet.”
Frank snorted and kept following, not speaking anymore.
“Runner!” Gerard said, holding his comm out as it beeped more insistently. “Come out!”
But then, before Gerard even saw them come out, they were surrounded by feral Cubs, about fifteen of them, all brandishing makeshift weapons of metal. There were pipes and spears, sharp edges, blunt objects, all pointed in Gerard and Frank's direction. Frank moved behind Gerard.
“What do we have here? A Sandman come to pay us a visit,” one of the Cubs said. The others laughed.
“I'm here for the Runner, that's all,” Gerard said.
The oldest Cub, the one who looked like he might be the leader, smiled ferally. “Why should we help you? Why should we even let you get out of Cathedral alive?”
One of them came from behind, grabbing Frank around the waist and held a makeshift knife to his throat. “Drop your gun.”
Frank struggled, but two more Cubs grabbed on to him and made it impossible for him to get away. Gerard slowly lowered his gun to the floor. No one ever remembered that Sandmen had other weapons at their disposal.
Emboldened, the leader of the Cubs sauntered forward, smiling. Two others came to take Gerard by the arms, holding him in place. The leader pointed his own knife at Gerard's face, slowly bringing it closer and closer until it was scant inches from Gerard's cheek.
“Bet you'd look nice all bloody,” he said to Gerard. His teeth were very white and straight.
“Kill a Sandman and you'll have a whole Force down here to clean you out,” Gerard said calmly.
“That's right! Motherfucking shithead motherfuckers!” Frank spat out behind him.
Gerard wanted to roll his eyes, but he wasn't about to take them off the Cub in front of him.
“What's your name?” Gerard asked.
The leader narrowed his eyes. “I'm Finn. I'm in charge, here.”
“For how long?” Gerard asked.
Finn scowled and held the knife closer. “What do you mean?”
Gerard smirked. “You're almost Green, aren't you?”
A widening of the eyes. “What's it to you?”
“You'll have to leave here. Leave or get ripped to pieces,” Gerard said. “And when you get out of Cathedral, I'll be there waiting for you.”
“I could kill you right now,” Finn said, pressing the knife against Gerard's throat.
“But you won't,” Gerard said, taking a gamble. “Not unless you want a squad of Sandmen down here.”
He could see Finn's mind working, weighing what he'd just heard.
“He's right, Finn,” one of the Cubs who was holding Frank said. “They'll raid us. You know they will.”
“Shut up,” Finn said, but he looked worried. He took a few steps back, away from Gerard. “Let them go.”
They let go of Frank before they turned Gerard loose, pushing him forward so that he bumped into Gerard's back solidly. Gerard turned sideways and slipped an arm around Frank protectively. “You okay?” he whispered without taking his eyes off Finn.
“Yeah,” Frank said under his breath. “Fuckers.”
“It's almost over,” Gerard said, and then spoke to Finn again. “Now, where's the Runner?”
Finn laughed. “I'm not helping you. I'm just not killing you.” Then loudly and with authority in his voice, he told all the Cubs to, “Scatter!”
Instantly, the Cubs did just that, running off in all directions, some disappearing almost immediately and others climbing the beams to hide in the high rafters overhead. There was not even the slightest hint of yellow garb seconds later, and Gerard marveled at them.
Frank looked less impressed, but Gerard knew he had been a Cub too, and was privy to all their secrets.
Gerard picked up his gun and pulled out his comm. “Runner!”
“You think you'll find him that way?” Frank asked.
“I know what I'm doing,” Gerard grumbled, moving further into the plaza. His comm was beeping steadily. The Runner was there somewhere, and he was going to find him.
“What are you going to do when you find him?” Frank asked. “Kill him?”
Gerard realized he couldn't do that. He'd realized it as soon as Frank had decided to tag along for the ride. “I don't know what I'm going to do.”
He looked down at his blinking lifeclock. Soon he would be in the same situation: Sandmen after him, trying to find a safe place to hide, death on his heels. He remembered the fear that had always been part of the Runner's mindset. It had always been a game. A job, true, something he had to do, but also something fun. The chase, the capture, the Termination.
Now, Gerard recognized the feeling that he used to find so exhilarating when it was in others. Fear. If he didn't find a way to get Outside, he'd be chased down like this, too. He'd be Terminated.
Killed.
“Gerard?” Frank asked. His eyes were worried.
Shaking his head, Gerard moved on, not answering Frank's inquiry.
The Runner showed himself soon after that, running out from behind a support column. Gerard pursued, flipping his gun's setting to stun. “Stop right there!” Gerard said.
He didn't want to shoot. He hoped the Runner would get away on his own.
Far behind him, he heard the unmistakable sounds of Sandmen blasting their way through the Cathedral Plaza barrier. Gerard glanced at Frank to see if he'd heard it, too. Frank had. They shared a worried look before picking up speed, chasing the Runner on and on until he was trapped at a dead end. Metal fencing was on one side of him, two walls on the others, and Gerard and Frank closed in.
“Please...” the Runner said. He looked terrible.
“I'm not here to Terminate you,” Gerard said quickly, reaching into his pocket. Both the Runner and Frank tensed, ready for anything. “I can open a panel here, let you get out this way. Take this.”
The Runner's eyes darted back and forth and he wiped sweat from his eyes. “What is it?” he asked, not reaching out to Gerard's outstretched hand.
There were running footsteps not far away now, and Gerard tried to ignore the sounds.
“It's a blind capsule. If a Sandman comes after you, throw it in their path. Then run like mad and get away.” Gerard could feel Frank's disbelieving gaze on him, but he refused to look that way. He instead went over to the panel on one of the walls and pressed his thumb to the lock. His clearance made the small door unlock. The Runner would have to crawl through; it was a tight spot. But he'd be able to get away.
The Runner scrambled into the crawlspace and Gerard shut the miniature door behind him. It was only then that he risked a look at Frank, and was rewarded with a tense smile.
“You did it. I didn't think you'd help him, but you did,” Frank said.
“Yeah, well, if we don't get out of here we'll lead the others right to him,” Gerard said. He saw something out of the corner of his eye but when he turned to look through the fencing there was nothing there. “Let's go.”
They ran back the way they came and found Sandmen fighting with Cubs. It was pandemonium. But in the fray, Gerard and Frank managed to slip out. The high level of noise and activity covered their departure, and they made their way to the lifts without being seen.
In the lift, Frank bit his bottom lip thoughtfully and put his hand on Gerard's chest to get his attention. Gerard stilled. Frank looked up into his eyes and Gerard was struck by their beauty for a long moment.
“I was told to kill you,” Frank said.
“By who?” Gerard asked. He looked over Frank's body and saw no bulges besides the usual that would account for a weapon. “How were you going to do it?”
“I have my ways,” Frank said darkly. But when he continued his voice had returned to normal. “But you let that Runner go. You helped him. You could have just ignored him and not killed him, but you actively helped. And that means something.”
“Why were you supposed to kill me?” Gerard asked.
“You knew too much,” Frank said simply. He slid his fingertips over the tattoo on his neck. “You knew the symbol and about Sanctuary.”
“But now?” Gerard asked.
“I believe you now.” Frank pressed his palm against Gerard's heart. “I'll talk to them. You'll get Out.”
cheerleading appreciated. I thought I'd never finish this scene. :\
Frank opened the door and gaped. “What are you doing here?”
Gerard ignored the tone and nearly pushed his way inside, making sure the door closed firmly behind him. Then he held up his left hand so Frank could see his lifeclock. “I need your help.”
“You're... but. I don't know what you mean,” Frank said. “Leave.”
“I'm going to Run. I need you to show me where to go,” Gerard said.
“I don't know anything,” Frank said. “You're asking the wrong person.”
“Don't act like you don't know. You have this-” Gerard said, pointing to the ankh on Frank's neck. He pulled the silver symbol from his own pocket, the ankh he got from the Runner.
“Where did you get that?” Frank demanded to know.
“A Runner,” Gerard answered, practically waving the silver ankh in Frank's face. “I know it means something. I know it means … it means Sanctuary.”
At the word, Frank's features changed immediately. He went from hostile to shocked, then nodded resolutely. “I can help. I don't know where Sanctuary is, but I know how to get Out. Well, I know someone who knows. I have to ask if they will help you.”
“I'm blinking,” Gerard said.
“I know. Give me a few hours and I'll contact you,” Frank said.
“I don't have that kind of time. An hour,” Gerard said.
“Hurry up and leave so I can contact them, then,” Frank said, obviously annoyed again.
Gerard took a deep breath and reminded himself that he owed Frank for this. “Thank you. I mean, I should have told you that already.”
“Don't thank me yet,” Frank muttered. “We don't know if they'll help. Or if they'll believe you.”
“Do you believe me?” Gerard asked.
“What, that a Sandman is going to Run?” Frank asked, rolling his eyes. Gerard noticed that he didn't answer the question. “Go on, let me get to them and tell them the situation.”
Gerard nodded and left quickly then, only to go back to his quarters and pace.
The call came forty-five minutes later. Frank asked him to meet him in the Great Hall, by the sculpture of the Hand. It was an ugly metal creation, and Gerard wished he knew who the artist was so he could tell them they had no creativity whatsoever.
“Follow me,” Frank said as soon as Gerard was within earshot.
But Gerard's comm went off almost as soon as they were to the lifts. He'd almost forgotten he was on duty. He checked the screen; there was a Runner in Cathedral. Gerard didn't want to go, but it would look odd if he didn't answer the call.
“I can't do this now,” Gerard said, getting onto the lift.
“Where are you going? To kill another Runner?” Frank said.
Gerard ran his hand over his face. He paused when the blinking lifeclock caught his eye. The Runner he was supposed to Terminate had a blinking lifeclock, too, or would very soon. Just like him.
“I can't not show up for a job,” Gerard explained. “I'll meet you back at the statue when I'm finished.”
“No. I'm going with you,” Frank said.
“I'm going into Cathedral. It's too dangerous.”
Frank snorted. “I grew up in Cathedral.” He entered the lift behind Gerard and hit the button for the sublevel that Cathedral was on.
“You?” Gerard said.
“I was a badass little fucker back when I was a Yellow. Scrappy,” Frank said. “Nobody knew what to do with me, so they shoved me down in Cathedral and didn't let me out until I turned Green.”
“But what did you do?” Gerard asked. He couldn't imagine Frank as a feral Cub.
Frank shrugged. “I got in a lot of fights. I was small. The other kids picked on me. So I learned to fight back.”
Gerard shook his head. Cathedral was for delinquent Yellows, and Frank had lived there. “How long were you there?”
“Couple of years,” Frank answered.
The lift stopped and they got off, walking down a deserted corridor. No one ever wanted to get in to Cathedral.
There was a door Gerard easily unlocked with his clearance, but beyond that was a barrier of scrap metal and debris. Gerard hated Cathedral, hated getting in and hated dealing with its denizens.
They climbed over the barrier and came into Cathedral proper. It was quiet except for their footsteps. The Cubs were hiding.
Except for one, a little girl who was sitting with her back to the wall. Her long yellow skirt looked too big for her. It was filthy, as was her face. She had beautiful brown curls that stuck up all over her head. She reminded Gerard of Ray when he'd been that age. Only Ray and Gerard had worn black since birth, and their brand of feral misbehavior was encouraged by the 'bots who raised them.
“What's your name, kiddo?” Frank asked, walking up to the little girl.
“Be careful,” Gerard mumbled. “She'll rob you blind and kick you in the nuts before you blink.”
Frank shot Gerard a glare and turned back to the little girl. “I'm Frankie.”
“Grace,” the girl said, looking up at him with big brown eyes. She looked guileless, utterly innocent. But she was a Cub, and not to be trusted.
Then Gerard remembered Frank had been a Cub in Cathedral as well.
“Where's the Runner, Grace?” Gerard asked as nicely as he could. He wasn't used to talking with children, and he'd never been allowed to be one himself.
Grace pursed her lips closed and shook her head, curls flying. Then she got up quickly and ran, back further into Cathedral, where it was dark and dank.
Gerard sighed and looked down at his comm. He pushed a button and started scanning, and the comm made a slow beeping noise. He walked forward, in the direction the girl had gone, and the beeping picked up.
He had no choice but to follow. Frank was just behind him.
“What are you going to do once you find the Runner?” Frank asked.
That was a good question. For Frank to believe him, Gerard would have to help the Runner. And Gerard really wanted Frank to believe him.
“I don't know,” Gerard answered truthfully. “Now be quiet.”
Frank snorted and kept following, not speaking anymore.
“Runner!” Gerard said, holding his comm out as it beeped more insistently. “Come out!”
But then, before Gerard even saw them come out, they were surrounded by feral Cubs, about fifteen of them, all brandishing makeshift weapons of metal. There were pipes and spears, sharp edges, blunt objects, all pointed in Gerard and Frank's direction. Frank moved behind Gerard.
“What do we have here? A Sandman come to pay us a visit,” one of the Cubs said. The others laughed.
“I'm here for the Runner, that's all,” Gerard said.
The oldest Cub, the one who looked like he might be the leader, smiled ferally. “Why should we help you? Why should we even let you get out of Cathedral alive?”
One of them came from behind, grabbing Frank around the waist and held a makeshift knife to his throat. “Drop your gun.”
Frank struggled, but two more Cubs grabbed on to him and made it impossible for him to get away. Gerard slowly lowered his gun to the floor. No one ever remembered that Sandmen had other weapons at their disposal.
Emboldened, the leader of the Cubs sauntered forward, smiling. Two others came to take Gerard by the arms, holding him in place. The leader pointed his own knife at Gerard's face, slowly bringing it closer and closer until it was scant inches from Gerard's cheek.
“Bet you'd look nice all bloody,” he said to Gerard. His teeth were very white and straight.
“Kill a Sandman and you'll have a whole Force down here to clean you out,” Gerard said calmly.
“That's right! Motherfucking shithead motherfuckers!” Frank spat out behind him.
Gerard wanted to roll his eyes, but he wasn't about to take them off the Cub in front of him.
“What's your name?” Gerard asked.
The leader narrowed his eyes. “I'm Finn. I'm in charge, here.”
“For how long?” Gerard asked.
Finn scowled and held the knife closer. “What do you mean?”
Gerard smirked. “You're almost Green, aren't you?”
A widening of the eyes. “What's it to you?”
“You'll have to leave here. Leave or get ripped to pieces,” Gerard said. “And when you get out of Cathedral, I'll be there waiting for you.”
“I could kill you right now,” Finn said, pressing the knife against Gerard's throat.
“But you won't,” Gerard said, taking a gamble. “Not unless you want a squad of Sandmen down here.”
He could see Finn's mind working, weighing what he'd just heard.
“He's right, Finn,” one of the Cubs who was holding Frank said. “They'll raid us. You know they will.”
“Shut up,” Finn said, but he looked worried. He took a few steps back, away from Gerard. “Let them go.”
They let go of Frank before they turned Gerard loose, pushing him forward so that he bumped into Gerard's back solidly. Gerard turned sideways and slipped an arm around Frank protectively. “You okay?” he whispered without taking his eyes off Finn.
“Yeah,” Frank said under his breath. “Fuckers.”
“It's almost over,” Gerard said, and then spoke to Finn again. “Now, where's the Runner?”
Finn laughed. “I'm not helping you. I'm just not killing you.” Then loudly and with authority in his voice, he told all the Cubs to, “Scatter!”
Instantly, the Cubs did just that, running off in all directions, some disappearing almost immediately and others climbing the beams to hide in the high rafters overhead. There was not even the slightest hint of yellow garb seconds later, and Gerard marveled at them.
Frank looked less impressed, but Gerard knew he had been a Cub too, and was privy to all their secrets.
Gerard picked up his gun and pulled out his comm. “Runner!”
“You think you'll find him that way?” Frank asked.
“I know what I'm doing,” Gerard grumbled, moving further into the plaza. His comm was beeping steadily. The Runner was there somewhere, and he was going to find him.
“What are you going to do when you find him?” Frank asked. “Kill him?”
Gerard realized he couldn't do that. He'd realized it as soon as Frank had decided to tag along for the ride. “I don't know what I'm going to do.”
He looked down at his blinking lifeclock. Soon he would be in the same situation: Sandmen after him, trying to find a safe place to hide, death on his heels. He remembered the fear that had always been part of the Runner's mindset. It had always been a game. A job, true, something he had to do, but also something fun. The chase, the capture, the Termination.
Now, Gerard recognized the feeling that he used to find so exhilarating when it was in others. Fear. If he didn't find a way to get Outside, he'd be chased down like this, too. He'd be Terminated.
Killed.
“Gerard?” Frank asked. His eyes were worried.
Shaking his head, Gerard moved on, not answering Frank's inquiry.
The Runner showed himself soon after that, running out from behind a support column. Gerard pursued, flipping his gun's setting to stun. “Stop right there!” Gerard said.
He didn't want to shoot. He hoped the Runner would get away on his own.
Far behind him, he heard the unmistakable sounds of Sandmen blasting their way through the Cathedral Plaza barrier. Gerard glanced at Frank to see if he'd heard it, too. Frank had. They shared a worried look before picking up speed, chasing the Runner on and on until he was trapped at a dead end. Metal fencing was on one side of him, two walls on the others, and Gerard and Frank closed in.
“Please...” the Runner said. He looked terrible.
“I'm not here to Terminate you,” Gerard said quickly, reaching into his pocket. Both the Runner and Frank tensed, ready for anything. “I can open a panel here, let you get out this way. Take this.”
The Runner's eyes darted back and forth and he wiped sweat from his eyes. “What is it?” he asked, not reaching out to Gerard's outstretched hand.
There were running footsteps not far away now, and Gerard tried to ignore the sounds.
“It's a blind capsule. If a Sandman comes after you, throw it in their path. Then run like mad and get away.” Gerard could feel Frank's disbelieving gaze on him, but he refused to look that way. He instead went over to the panel on one of the walls and pressed his thumb to the lock. His clearance made the small door unlock. The Runner would have to crawl through; it was a tight spot. But he'd be able to get away.
The Runner scrambled into the crawlspace and Gerard shut the miniature door behind him. It was only then that he risked a look at Frank, and was rewarded with a tense smile.
“You did it. I didn't think you'd help him, but you did,” Frank said.
“Yeah, well, if we don't get out of here we'll lead the others right to him,” Gerard said. He saw something out of the corner of his eye but when he turned to look through the fencing there was nothing there. “Let's go.”
They ran back the way they came and found Sandmen fighting with Cubs. It was pandemonium. But in the fray, Gerard and Frank managed to slip out. The high level of noise and activity covered their departure, and they made their way to the lifts without being seen.
In the lift, Frank bit his bottom lip thoughtfully and put his hand on Gerard's chest to get his attention. Gerard stilled. Frank looked up into his eyes and Gerard was struck by their beauty for a long moment.
“I was told to kill you,” Frank said.
“By who?” Gerard asked. He looked over Frank's body and saw no bulges besides the usual that would account for a weapon. “How were you going to do it?”
“I have my ways,” Frank said darkly. But when he continued his voice had returned to normal. “But you let that Runner go. You helped him. You could have just ignored him and not killed him, but you actively helped. And that means something.”
“Why were you supposed to kill me?” Gerard asked.
“You knew too much,” Frank said simply. He slid his fingertips over the tattoo on his neck. “You knew the symbol and about Sanctuary.”
“But now?” Gerard asked.
“I believe you now.” Frank pressed his palm against Gerard's heart. “I'll talk to them. You'll get Out.”
cheerleading appreciated. I thought I'd never finish this scene. :\
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject