C. Adams - Version 2.0

“You’ve gotta be… kidding me,” she watched in awe. The gears in the foundation she thought were mere decoration, were actually functional. “How deep does all this underground stuff go?”

“We’ve got a support system that goes all the way to the Atlantic Ocean floor,” she replied. “But as far as the evac tunnels, a few hundred feet down, spanning a little over half our section of the island.”

“I didn’t know that,” Brian shook his head.

“It’s where First Gens started out,” she explained. “Before they realized the negative side-effects of forcing people to live underground. Proprietor scientists and architects decided there was a better way and devised the plans to build this place. But the Defectors actually get the credit for sealing the deal with the CIA. They figured the deserting issue would be resolved if they gave us a little leeway.”

“I take it that didn’t work out very well,” Birdie replied.

“I understand why people left, initially,” Kale shook her head. “But once we were treated more humanely, given more than just what we needed, the Defectors became less of a crusade for better treatment, and more of a group of runaways constantly looking to stir up trouble.”

“I’d say killing a plane filled with military personnel that can’t regenerate, is a little more than stirring up trouble,” Birdie stated.

“Why don’t I get a uniform?” Brian asked as the three of them started a patrol on the far east side of the island with one other agent. He’d never actually gotten to see his sister working, before. It was one thing he’d always wished he could do. But asking if he could do a ride-along with his big sister while she was on duty… well, it seemed like a silly thing to ask. Now, however, as he walked alongside another agent that was patrolling with them, he saw how Birdie carried herself when in uniform.

Most of their lives, before coming to the island, Birdie seemed to try and hide within herself. That showed in her stature. Being tall, she’d made a point even as a child to try and shrink. But in uniform, she stood tall and professionally, as if her height was part of the ensemble. She seemed graceful and secure and as if she’d left everything she normally carried on her shoulders, back in a precinct locker.

“Because you’re not an Observer,” Kale replied, smirking though he couldn’t see her face.

“Isn’t there an acting-agent uniform?” he asked.

“No.”

“There should be an acting-agent uniform.”

“I’ll bring it up the the boss,” Kale replied, glancing over at Birdie, who was now smiling out of his sight as well.

“You just want Agent Kale to see what a great ass you have,” Birdie said just loud enough for him to hear.

“Shut up!” he quietly shouted back, and Birdie laughed.

“Defectors at three o’clock,” the officer to the right of Brian told them. Birdie was suddenly alert, as well as Brian.

Kale looked in that direction, spotting the handful of people he was telling them about, walking through the thick area of trees. “Julian, back-track and cut them off. Brian, go with him. Stay behind and cover him. Farran, you’re with me. We’ll get behind them. Anyone who can get a shot off, take it. Watch your backs.”

Birdie shared a long glance with Brian, worried, even though she knew he’d be okay. They couldn’t be killed… right? She gave him a quick nod, then turned to follow Kale. This part of the island was like the woods back in Virginia, where Birdie and Brian had gone on their one single hiking trip together. The trees were enough to keep from seeing beyond the expanse, but sparse enough to run through without giving yourself a concussion by smacking into one.

The split-up team didn’t take long to surround the intruding Proprietors. “Hold it!” Birdie called out. Kale gave her a shocked face for a fraction of a second, before taking aim on the alerted Defectors and firing. Two went down. Two took off running toward where Brian and Julian were likely closing in. One stayed to fire back.

Birdie took aim and hit the taller man, and he fell back hitting the ground with a thud, and went still.

“What was that , Farran?” Kale shouted as they took off after the two runaways.

“What do you mean?”

“This isn’t the mainland police! You don’t have to identify yourself. Not when it’s Defectors!”

“I didn’t know…”

“Well, now you do,” she took aim in front of her, firing and hitting one of the remaining Defectors who fell forward and stumbled mid-run. The last one started firing ahead of him, and the agents heard one last shot before they watched him fall. Kale spoke into the comm on her shoulder, “Julian. Location?” There was no answer. “Agent Julian,” she said again.

A shiver ran down Birdie’s spine, and she took off in the direction they were facing. “Brian?” she shouted as she ran.

“Agent Julian’s been shot!” Brian called out as he came into view. He was crouched down beside Julian’s body.

“I’m fine,” Julian insisted. “Just my leg.”

Kane reached them and crouched down to examine the wound herself. “Still bleeding,” she observed. “You should get to sickbay or you’ll bleed out before it regenerates. I can’t afford to be another man out, right now.”

“Right,” Julian breathed bravely through the pain.

Kale spoke into her shoulder comm again, “This is Agent Kale. We need a med unit in Grid A, sector…” she glanced around for a moment, “Sector eighteen.” She looked over at Birdie, “It’s been a while since I was on patrol on this side of the island.”

“Med unit three responding,” came a voice over the comm. “How many, Agent Kale?”

“Five intruders, down. They need to be taken to detention. One Observer wounded and in need of immediate medical response.”

“Roger that. Sending a bus and a med unit. Five minutes, Agent Kale.”

Brian quickly slipped off his leather belt and started to tie it around Julian’s thigh. “It’s bleeding a lot. Five minutes could be too late if regeneration doesn’t kick in any time soon.”

“What could slow it down like that?” Birdie asked.

“I’m not sure,” Kale replied, shaking her head as she assessed her wounded agent. “I’ve never seen this before, except…” her sentence tapered off as her eyes grew momentarily distant. She blinked, shaking her head as if to clear it. “I’ve never seen this before,” she said, pushing up and moving to survey the area.

Birdie furrowed her brows in thought, then looked up at Brian. He was looking at the back of Kale’s head with some sort of suspicion, then met Birdie’s eyes and realized they were thinking along the same lines.

“Sitrep!” Kale shouted over the noise, as they approached the subterranean walkway leading to the medical center. Two officers fell into stride alongside her, Brian and Birdie following quickly, but staying out of the way. The walkway was kind of dark, and it smelled stale.

“Twenty-three Defectors in custody, Agent Kale,” one of the agents reported. “Nineteen in detention. Four in interrogation. Apprehended weapons are in O.S.”

“What about us?” she asked as they continued to walk.

“Three agents are in the sickbay regeneration unit. Four more are wounded and receiving treatment. Regeneration doesn’t seem to have started for any of them.”

“Anyone?” Kale slowed her steps and looked over at the reporting agent for the first time since they’d started talking.

“Not for anyone shot, Agent Kale.”

“Agent Kale!” an older man, salt and pepper hair, waved from sickbay’s hatch, urgently.