PENNY DOWN!
Collab with @Katesea @DarinValore and @Elle Joyner
Deckard was only gone a few minutes. He'd fetched Keegan like Penny asked and by the time the two of them had returned to Alys' room, Penny was gone. In a slight panic, he wondered around the compound to every area they had access to until Keegan called him back with questions about the phone. It was then he'd remembered that Penny was talking to Alys...Rebecca's murderer who undoubtedly saw Penny as a threat to her plans for him.
Unlocking the phone, he quickly found the address in a text, plus a small note sticky-noted to the desk beneath where the phone was. While Penny had foolishly run off, she'd left a note for him to hurry and save her and NT.
"What's NT?" he asked.
"Someone...someone that meant a lot to me," she answered.
"Hmm. I'm sorry," he told her.
So...No questions?" she asked her grey eyes looking into his.
"I figure, you'll tell me everything you want to. I told you before, it's not my job to try and figure you out."
"Thanks. It… it means a lot to me, Deck. It's not that I don't trust you with it.. It's just… it's a lot. And it's not exactly a comfort, reliving it again."
"I get it. You'll tell me when you want to...if you want to. I wouldn't want you to have to relive anything hard until you're ready."
Whoever NT was to Penny, he was important enough for Penny to leave to rescue without a word to Deckard. While that concerned him, he pushed it aside because the woman he loved...the one he promised a future to, was at the mercy of his ex-wife who had murdered a woman and clearly did not like Penny.
Turning to Keegan, Deckard asked, "Who's left that can help me?"
"Finn and Levi. Could probably borrow an Orlando Rogue,too," Keegan replied.
"Alright, Have them meet me in the garage," Deckard stated before heading straight there.
Pacing back and forth, waiting for news on those with the virus wasn't doing Finn any good. He'd been advised to wait as far away as possible, despite his various protests to stay by Rose. He was going out of his mind, jittery, and when the guard told him Deck was requesting his presence, Finn nearly sprinted.
"What's going on?" Finn breathed, meeting Deck's gaze, the worry that filled the normally calm man's eyes already setting Finn on edge.
"Wait for the others. I don't have time to repeat myself," Deck spoke plainly.
Finn frowned, crossing his arms grumpily. "Fine. Rude."
If Levi could describe the irritation coursing through his body as he pried himself away from Daisy, it would be short and simple words, one he wouldn't repeat in front of an audience of children or of his fellow peers. Grumbling, Levi made sure his carving knife was at his side and exited her room, knowing full well that if Keegan needed him, it had to have been something important. He may have not known Keegan like he thought, but he found the consideration and the distracting activity somewhat relieving. He still would have preferred the alternative.
His eyes locked onto the short woman in the hall, recognizing her as the dirt woman with a lot of paint and time on her hands. She had placed her hands onto two little creatures, and with some amazement, Levi watched as they shifted and thinned to materalize over her back. She turned her head back to notice him, offering him a half smile.
"You look less dead."
"Thanks?" He questioned, brow perked as they made their way down to the garage. "Whoever plucked me away from cuddles better have a damn good reason." He muttered, mostly under his breath. He didn't wish to volumize it, noting that Finn and Deck were already there. "What's going on, then?"
"Penny's in trouble," he looked between the three of them, then his eyes settled on Finn, "She went after Alys alone. I know where she's at, but I can't go this alone. I don't know who else might be there."
A horror filled expression took over Finn's face. First Rose… now Penny? How could she, the person Finn thought the most responsible of them all, run out into danger all alone? And Alys no less. Finn balled his fists. He'd be glad to give the woman a taste of her own medicine.
"I'm in." Finn growled. He'd be back soon enough, and then they'd let him see Rose… by then, he hoped, she'd already be better. No, he
knew she'd be better. He couldn't spare a second thinking otherwise .. "Penny's saved me a million times over… I-I need to return the favor."
Alys. Levi vaguely remembered the name from their meeting with Yul, his entire body having induldged itself in less holy feelings after it was confirmed his friends were in the infirmary. He could put the strings together, however, and know the situation at hand was a messy one. It was a good thing Deck had asked for help, because Levi wasn't sure how well two more body bags were going to impact the rest of them. "I'm in as well." He confirmed,
"As am I." The short woman confirmed from the side of him, bobbing her head solemnly. Levi could understand why she was quick to confirm. Having a fellow member killed by a psychotic woman wasn't something anyone would approve of. Well, depending on the member.
"Good. Get in," Deckard motioned to the SUV and then hopped into the driver's seat. When the others joined him, he started it up and floored it, the tires squealing on his way out.
"I don't know if Alys is acting alone, or if she's got others with her. I know what Finn can do, but I don't know you two that well. What can you do?" Deckard inquired.
Levi squirmed slightly in his seat, keeping his hands upon his lap and listening in and out. "Hmm? Oh, illusionary things. Images, sounds, feelings, the whole shabang." His fingers began to tap against his leg. "I could probably get us in undetected as well. Just can't do two senses at once."
"Earth manipulation." Shiloh responded quietly, poking the mud caked around her bare shoulders. Terra would be pissy about the shifting later, but Shiloh would be sure to tune it out. "Speaking of, how did the little brats treat you?" She inquired, gesturing to Finn. "Well and well I'd assume?'
Finn nodded furiously at Shiloh's inquiry. "They helped me a lot." He whispered, tone quiet but sincere. "Thank you, so much." With both Levi and Shiloh's powers added to the mix, he was sure they could get Penny out of whatever bind she'd gotten herself into.
"Deck," Finn said. "You.. you know what Alys can do, r-right? Yul.." He swallowed dryly. "Sent her to interrogate me. If Alys got to Penny… we… we don't have long."
He listened to Finn's words and swallowed hard, "I know," was all he could say, his hands wrung the steering wheel.
Finn sunk in his seat. "..cool, then. So we know how to kick her butt." He smiled weakly at Levi and Shiloh, nodding. "Just.. don't touch her. Got it?"
"Acknowledged." Levi mumbled. "I wouldn't want to anyway. I would have to ask her about dinner if I did." Sending a weary glance towards Shiloh, she peeked up and nodded. "Good. Then I think we can handle this just fine."
Pulling up about a block away from the address on the paper, Deckard immediately noticed a handful of guards. They weren't normal RIEF soldiers because they were in civilian clothes, and due to recent events, He wasn't even sure if they were normal.
With a sigh he turned off the SUV and tossed the keys to Finn, "Just like the first time we met," he told him, hoping that Penny would be in better shape this time.
"Shiloh, right?" Deckard asked as he looked over his shoulder to the back, "Can you and Levi handle the guards? Be careful. They could be dressed down RIEF or they could be some of us working for the enemy. Finn and I will look for a way in."
"We can handle it." Shiloh vowed, bumping her elbow into Levi's torso and concentrating the mud caked at her back to her hands, hardening it around her fists. Levi blinked, bobbing his head at the thought of having to actually handle an enemy. The mission he had done with Penny was simply in and out, but he figured he could make this a lot simpler for Shiloh and himself.
"I got your back, Toph." Levi promised as he rolled his eyes, snapping his fingers and making them invisible to the human eye. He wasn't sure how long he could hold it in a group of people, but he could try. "Ready to go, boss."
Catching the keys, albeit not without a fumble, Finn blinked at Deckard, a soft affectionate look in his eyes. "...Yeah. Just like the first time." He echoed, blinking the image of a bleeding Penny out of his mind. Finn rolled his shoulders back, puffing out his chest. "I'm ready too."
"Alright, see you boys on the other side." Shiloh offered a wink at the two men up front, slipping out with Levi in two. She cracked her fingers expectantly, hoping that the illusion would hold up long enough for Levi and her to take them out. Silently making her way towards them, she turned her head back as if to seek confirmation from Levi, but much to her disappointment, there was no one behind her. She assumed he had caught up, muttering a prayer under her breath before approaching the first guard.
Civilian clothes had caught the young woman off guard, yet she remained focused on the job at hand, bringing her hardened fist to the back of the man's neck. A sickening crack filled the air around her, the man crumbling before her. She blinked once, twice, realized just how thick the material encasing her knuckles was. Oh well. Even as other guards turned towards her, she delivered one more swift kick to that particular man's head and turned to the next, her heart beginning to pound in her chest.
Levi blinked as he watched the young woman send one man to the ground, and deciding to make this somewhat easier upon her, he figured switching from imagery to sound could provide useful. He just knew this was going to hurt him a lot more than he would have liked. Pressing his hands firmly to his ears, he dropped the illusion of invisibility and brought a horrid, familiar sound of gunfire into the ears of each conscious guard. He made sure to enhance and strengthen it as much as he was able to, biting down harshly on his lip to keep a scream from coming forward.
Much to his plan, the noise was enough to send the guards to their knees. Levi would join them, blinding pain overcoming him as he increased the volume to keep them down. He was growing dizzy, but was surprised to find that the pain came to an abrupt halt as a tap was administered to his shoulder. Peeking up, he continued the noise and noted that Shiloh was glancing down at him, gesturing to the men she had knocked out with his assistance.
"You look like you are going to pass out." She commented, the dirt trickling from her fingers reassembling two golems. One Levi could remember as the stealer of his shoe. He grumbled, running his fingers down his neck to make sure he wasn't bleeding.
"Im peachy, Toph." Chuckling the woman began to pull off pieces of dirt from her creations to restrain the men.
"I appreciate the help."
Deckard waited a moment for Shiloh and Levi to get started before he exited the vehicle. As soon as the action started out front, he ducked into an alley behind the building that led to a single door. Stopping he turned to Finn, "I'm not sure what's inside, Finn, but I...Penny..needs you to be ready," though he tried his best to hide it, his eyes pled for Finn to be prepared to do what was needed, "Are you ready?"
Shiloh moved like an effortless comic book hero, and if he could've, Finn would have stayed to watch her and Levi take down those guards. Instead, he quietly followed Deck around to the single door, brows furrowed in concentration. In the short time he'd known Deck, he'd never seen him look an inch this vulnerable. Finn decided it was because he cared for Penny so much more than he'd even realized; and Finn would fight by his side for her.
"I've got your back. I've got Penny's back." Finn said firmly, something he'd been waiting to say his entire life. "Let's do this."
Nodding, he pushed through the door and immediately they were greeted by two men reaching for the weapons at the waist, "Finn!" he called as he reached out and tossed the man to the right, sending him crashing against the wall, "Don't let them shoot," the sound would let Alys know they were coming. If she knew….there'd be no reason to keep Penny alive.
His heart was pounding as they crashed through the door, and Finn had already been readying to throw a punch the way Penny had showed him before they'd even set foot inside. Wind ruffled the occupants in the room, and as Deckard headed for the one on the right, Finn delivered a hard punch to the guard on the left before he could draw his weapon, the air behind his fist sending him flying into the wall alongside the first guard. Finn beamed pridefully at Deck.
"Not bad, Kid," Deckard complimented him, and under different circumstances, he might have even smiled, "We don't have Keith so we'll have to find her the old fashioned way, room by room. Stay close,and watch my back."
Stepping through the door at the end of the hall, Deckard led Finn through the halls testing doors as they moved. Surprisingly they did not find any other guards before reaching a door where the knob gave way. Deckard froze in place and looked over his shoulder to Finn, "I'll take Alys, you save Penny. Questions?"
Finn caught his breath. Him? Save Penny! Never in his life would Finn have imagined he was going to be saving Penny. Shaking his head, reminding himself it wasn't exactly the great thing, Finn balled his fists again. "Save me a punch for Alys?" He murmured. "Otherwise… no questions. Let's do it."
"No promises," he told Finn before pushing through the door.
What he saw inside caused him to pause for just a moment. A man, who could only be N.T., hung from the ceiling by his wrists, and Alys straddled Penny choking her. To his horror, Penny wasn't moving.
"Alys!" he yelled before throwing his hand out as instinctively as he had done the day he'd saved Alys' life. He watched as Alys, screaming, soared through the air and crashed against the boxes that lined the wall, "Finn," he pointed to Penny as he hurried passed her.
Finn nearly froze up as they entered the scene of chaos, and seeing Penny limp on the floor instantly washed away any feelings of badassery or confidence. As Deck sent Alys flying, Finn bit back a cry as he fell by Penny, cradling her limp form to pull her into his arms. He'd never seen Penny like this, and he knew what Alys could do.
Did do. She'd touched him for a split second… Penny had been
strangled. If it weren't for the slow rise and fall of her chest, Finn might have thought… "We've got you," Finn whispered.
Alys struggled to her feet after landing in the mess of boxes, "Deckard, sweety," she started, but she could feel the invisible force slam into her moments before her back hit the wall knocking the air from her lungs.
"We're done, Alys," Deckard spoke coldly, "since the moment you called RIEF on me. I stopped loving you years ago."
"Y-you don't mean that," she spoke through labored breaths.
"I do. Penny's my future," he took steps toward her. He wasn't going to let Alys hurt anyone he cared about again.
Panic began to set in as Alys could feel her body pressed against the wall. Desperately she tried to move, but was unable to, so she did the only thing she could. She reached out and hit Deckard with her ability.
Deckard's knees buckled under the pain. He dropped to a knee and grunted, his eyes still focused on Alys. It hurt...God, it hurt..but Alys wouldn't hurt anyone else.
"Deckard!" she cried out unable to concentrate on hurting Deckard anymore due to the pressure against her head, "stop, please!" The pressure built up against her body, "Think about us," the pressure built up even more, "Think about who you are!" her head was pounding, "Think about our son! He's alive!" Suddenly, it vanished and Alys crashed to the floor. She groaned unable to move.
"What'd you say?" Deck grunted as he pushed himself to his feet, the remnants of Alys' ability still prodding at his nerves.
"Our son," she said as she propped herself against the wall, blood trickling from her nose and ears, "He's alive."
"If you're lying," he replied, "I'll kill you," Deckard put his hand out to his side.
"I'm not ly-" Alys started before her vision went black, a metal pipe clanking against the floor beside her.
Levi would have claimed he made it to the scene faster if it wasn't for the pounding in his head. While that did make an impact, it was mostly the little golem which Shiloh named Demeter. She had been clutching his right shoe as if it was desperation, each lumbering footstep firing irritation like lava through his veins. "Your freaking thing has a shoe fetish."
"Meh. Why do you think I don't have any?" Shiloh smirked and made her way down the alleyway to see the single door, blinking as she heard what sounded like crashes. She placed her hand on Terra and allowed for the creature to cake her back and arms. "Invisible please?"
"Demanding," Rolling his eyes, Levi snapped his fingers and made them disappear. Sneaking in, they noticed that the scene seemed to be pretty successful, Alys on the ground, Penny cradles by Finn, and a man hanging by his hands from the ceiling "...Out of context this could look like a lot of things." He muttered, letting the illusion shimmer off.
"Gross." Shiloh muttered, taking the lead and making her way up to the man. She sharpened mud caked around her fist until it nearly formed a blade.
"Can you reach him?" Levi teased from behind, pulling out his carving knife.
"...that's not gonna help. Give me a minute." With a grunt, more irritated than anything else, Shiloh reached up to saw the chain from the ceiling. "Can you catch him for me?" Without a wisecrack, Levi made his way behind the man. After a minute or so of sawing, Shiloh managed to break the chain and exhaled shakily. She thinned the dirt blade and worked carefully on breaking the shackle. "There." She mumbled, letting the mud trickle back down to form Terra. She patted the little creatures head, letting a laugh almost escape her as Demeter merrily returned to Levi's shoe.
"P…" The man's eyes were on Penny, watery and wide, as he stared in horror, "...Tell me she's still… Please… tell me she's…"
While Finn adjusted Penny's limp form in his arms, his skin tingled at the horrifying conversation Deck and Alys were having. Confusion washed over him. Deck had
been with Ms Crazy? They had a
kid?! Finn shook his head, leaving that to digest for later as the man that had been hanging limp from the ceiling was released from his shackles. He didn't look like any Rogue that Finn knew.
"She's breathing," Finn said quietly, nodding. "Who… are you?"
"Na...Nate. Nathan… Turner. I…" Looking at Penny, he frowned, softly, "I'm an old friend…"
Finn grit his teeth, narrowing his eyes. "That doesn't mean anything. Say who you are or we'll leave you here." Whew, okay, that was a little too much tough-guy for today… but he sure as hell wasn't bringing anyone back to HQ that he didn't trust.
Deckard stumbled back to the group, snatching up the chain in his hands, "It doesn't matter who he is, Finn. He's important to Penny, so he comes with us," the chain scraped against the floor as he shuffled his way back to Alys, using his ability to bind the chains around her wrists and ankles.
Looking to Deckard, Nathan's expression shifted oddly, but slowly, he nodded, "...It's not really my place to say." He answered Finn, anyhow, his eyes falling on Penny, "But you have my word, I'd never hurt her."
Finn frowned, shifting his hold on Penny, holding her protectively. "That's fishy as hell," He whined to Deck. "Penny would never go for that…. But fine." He growled. "Let's get out of here…"
Draping the chains over his shoulder, he dragged Alys through the room behind him, not willing to touch her, "Penny left without a word, Finn, not to you...not to me. She left to save this man. If she's willing to do that, don't you think he's important to her?" Adjusting the chain, he looked down for the first time at Penny in Finn's arms, and it took all his strength not to turn and end Alys. He swallowed back the pain and looked to the door, "Can you carry her?" he asked Finn.
Finn shifted at Deck's words, looking back at Nathan with a new perspective. He swallowed, lowering his gaze, accepting defeat. "..Fine. Sorry." he muttered, half to Deck, half to Nathan. "I can carry her. "Let's just go. Sooner the better… w-we gotta get her back to base."
Nodding, Deckard jerked his head toward the door, "You all go first. Don't want her waking up and sending any of you crashing to the floor in pain," he looked over his shoulder to Alys, chained. He couldn't kill her, but he wasn't about to make her life easier. When she'd wake up, she'd be in hell-a-pain from being dragged across the street.
"Let's get you home, Pen." Finn whispered to her limp form.
