Jay Posey - Morningside Fall

“Doesn’t matter if you ask us or not, ma’am,” Gamble said. “We’re coming.”

“Look, I appreciate the sentiment, but this isn’t what you signed up for.”

“Cass, what we signed up for was to do whatever it takes to keep you both safe. There’s not one of us that would let you walk out there on your own, whether you wanted us to or not.”

“We spent a lot of time out there on our own before we came here, Gamble.”

“And now you don’t have to.”

Cass didn’t know what to say. The circumstances were so far outside the boundaries of their professional duties, she couldn’t possibly expect them to stand by her side. But Gamble made it sound like she couldn’t expect anything less.

“Once you leave, you’ll have to assume we’re all traced,” North said.

“It’s alright, we’ve got Finn–” Gamble said, but cut herself off. She stood up straight, and Wick and Able both reacted in the same instant.

“What is it?” Cass asked.

“Alert just went out over wide broadcast,” Gamble explained. “They found the bodies.”

Swoop appeared from the back room a few seconds later, looking even more intense than usual.

“You want me back out front?” Wick asked.

“Stand by,” Swoop said.

“Do they know we’re gone?” Cass asked.

“Didn’t say, but we better get ahead of the curve on that,” Gamble answered. Then she added, “Finn, Gamble… need you to bounce a message…”

“Sir, you need to leave,” Swoop said to North.

“I don’t think we’re quite done–” North said.

“Right now.”

North looked at Cass, but there really wasn’t any question. Swoop didn’t stand on ceremony and he certainly wasn’t above throwing a Council member out in the street if he thought it was necessary. And even as big as North was, there wasn’t much doubt Swoop could do it. North got to his feet, and Cass stood at the same time.

Gamble was still talking to Finn. “Let the guard know that the governor and Lady Cass have been moved to a secure location… yeah, wide net but scattered, I don’t want anyone localizing it.”

“Good luck, Lady,” North said. “Give me three days, and then check in.”

“Thank you, North. Watch yourself.”

He bowed his head slightly, and then turned towards the front door.

“This way, sir,” Swoop said. “We’ll go out the back.”

North nodded and returned, and Swoop escorted him into the back room. Gamble waited until they’d left the room to start talking again. “City’s going into lockdown, no doubt about that,” Gamble said. “If we’re going to get you out of here, we need to do it soon.”

“How soon?” Cass asked.

“Wick?”

“Depends on where we’re headed.”

Gamble looked at Cass.

“I think Wren knows a place,” she said.

“Better go wake him then.”

Cass nodded and went upstairs to Painter’s room. She knocked softly on the door and then opened it and peeked in. Painter was sitting up on the floor, his eyes glowing back at her. Wren was snoring softly. Painter got to his feet and motioned her in.

“Sorry to wake you,” she whispered. “I need Wren.”

“Wasn’t asleep any, ennnn, anyway,” Painter whispered back.

Cass entered the room and sat down on the bed next to her son. He was asleep on his stomach, slightly sweaty, mouth open. She rubbed his back.

“Wren,” she said softly. His eyes floated open immediately, but otherwise he remained completely still. An old habit she had trained him in. “Baby, we need you downstairs.”

He sniffed and rubbed his eyes and then nodded sleepily. He sat up and stifled a yawn.

“Do you want me to carry you?” Cass asked.

He shook his head and got to his feet.

“Should I come tuh-too?” Painter asked.

“Yeah,” Cass answered. “I think you better.”

They all returned to the main room together. Gamble had gathered Swoop, Able, and Wick around her in conference.

“What’s going on?” Wren asked.

“We’re leaving,” Cass said.

“Back to the compound?”

“No, baby, we’re leaving the city.”

He looked up at her with his big sea-green eyes, still glassy with sleep. There was surprise on his face, but a little smile formed on his lips, one he tried to suppress.

“Where are we going?” he asked, and she could hear hope in the question.

“Somewhere safe,” Cass said. “Where no one will find us. Do you know a place like that?”

Wren let himself smile then, and nodded.

“Then we need you to tell Wick where it is.”

“I have it marked,” he said. “Should I just ping it to you?”

“No, hold on,” Wick said. And then he said, “Hey, Finn.” He waited a moment, and then said, “I need to pull a grid off the Governor. Can you hook him in secure…? Alright, check.” He looked back at Wren. “Finn’s going to patch you in to our secure comms channel. Just to be safe.”

Wren nodded and waited. A moment later his eyes lit up, and he said, “Yes, I hear you… OK… Just like normal, though…? OK.”

Wren looked at Wick, who nodded. “Got it. Thanks, Finn.” And then Wick’s eyes rolled up slightly, almost like he was looking at the ceiling, and his brow furrowed for several seconds. “Whew, looks like that’s all the way out on the edge of the Strand.”

“It is.”

“Not sure how safe that’s gonna be.”

“It’s safer than you’d think. I stayed there for a few weeks. Before I came here.”

“What do you think, Wick?” Gamble asked.

“Yeah… yeah, I reckon it’d work. Probably see trouble coming from a mile off out there.”

“Alright, how long?”

“We did it in a day,” Wren answered.

“But in a straight shot?”

Wren nodded. “I think so.”

“Yeah,” Wick said, “I could see that. Maybe eight hours or so straight. But we’re going want to take a long way, I think.”

“Agreed,” Gamble said. She must’ve seen their confused looks, because she looked at Cass and Wren and added, “In case they send trackers out.”

“Alright, I’ll work it out,” Wick said. “Gimme, I dunno, an hour?”

“You can have forty-five minutes. Less if someone comes knocking,” Gamble said. Cass had always admired Gamble, but she’d never really seen her in this role before. Watching her bring a plan together was truly impressive. “Swoop, what about gear?” Gamble asked.

“How many days?”

“Pack heavy.”

“Might be tough if the compound’s all stirred up.”

“You can take food and drink from here,” Mister Sun said from across the room. He was standing in the doorway of his side room. Kit was behind him, looking over his shoulder. “Take all you need.”

“Thank you, Mister Sun,” Gamble said. “That would make things a little easier.”

“Anything is yours, my friend.”

“Alright, Swoop, Able, get back to the compound, strip out what you can. You don’t have to empty the cage, but think long-range profile.”

“You got it,” Swoop said.

“There’s no telling how long we’ll be out there. Where’s Mouse?” Gamble asked.

“Out on watch,” Swoop said.

“Round him up and take him with you. I want to keep Finn and Sky posted up until we leave.” Swoop nodded. “And I don’t think you should come back here. We’ll have to rally up somewhere.”

We’ll take the tunnel, Able signed. Meet you outside.

“If you can do it without compromising it, yeah.” Gamble held up one finger to her teammates and then said, “Sky, you have your linerunner with you? Alright, check.” And then she was focused on the group again. “Alright, yeah, plan on that. If you’re sure it’s clear, take the tunnel out. We’ll go over the wall and rally up. Wick will find us a spot, and let you know. Questions?”