Getting out of Dodge

[prototypezeus]

Alex is nervous. He's been avoiding this day for a while, but he can't put it off any longer. His food supply is running short, and there's only one thing to do before it goes dry completely... he has to leave Manhattan.

He stands on the edge of the rooftop in the Red Zone, looking over the city that's grown far more quiet than the last time April was here, nearly a year ago. The sounds of gunfire and animal-like screams continue in the distance, but there are few normal city sounds left.

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[slayers_desire]

April uses her shadow-magic to take her and Alex into the shadows. Then heads upstairs to where Dana is kept.

((bed time))

[prototypezeus]

There's a soldier on either side of her room's door, each one holding an assault rifle. They're not expecting Zeus to show up, but they're still alert, watching everyone who walks by with suspicion. They give little notice to the shadow that slips under the door.

Dana is sitting on her bed, reading a book with a look of extreme boredom on her face. Televisions haven't worked for ages, and she's exhausted the hospital library, but she has to do something to keep herself occupied.

[slayers_desire]

April first uses her psychic abilities to access the sniper's mind, who is able to see into the hospital room. She projects the image of Dana sitting on her bed, reading the book.

Once it is safe to do so, she comes out of the shadows. "Dana... don't scream..."

[prototypezeus]

Dana doesn't, but he looks over the edge of her book at April suspiciously. Her eyes narrow a bit when she sees what appears to be a Blackwatch soldier behind her. "What, you guys finally decide I'm more trouble than I'm worth? He's not going to be caught in your little trap, I've told you that. He's smarter than all of you."

[slayers_desire]

"Dana... this is your brother. In disguise."

[prototypezeus]

Dana's still suspicious, unsure if they're trying to trick her.

Alex doesn't know that April is projecting an image of the room for the sniper, so he doesn't want to change back where they might see. "Dana, it's me. We're here to get you out of here."

"Alex, why? This is the safest place in the quarantine zone. And Blackwatch aren't the best hosts or anything, but they've got the most guns around."

"Because I'm going to the mainland," Alex tells her. "And once I do that, Blackwatch won't have a reason to keep you alive."

[slayers_desire]

"He has to leave the Island. But didn't want to leave you behind."

[prototypezeus]

"You know you can't get off the island. They'll kill you, Alex." Dana's worried for him. He's all she has left, and she doesn't want to see him get hurt.

"If I stay here, I won't last much longer," he tells her honestly. "It's now or never. But you need to be safe first."

[slayers_desire]

"I am going to help him leave." April hopes that reassures her worry. "But first, we wanted you to be in a place where they could never find you."

"I am not from your world. I can take you from here."

[prototypezeus]

"What, you're some kind of alien?" Dana asks, not sure if April is crazy or what.

"It's a long story," Alex says uncomfortably. "But you'll be safe. Guaranteed. Blackwatch will never find you."

[slayers_desire]

"You would still have access to medical care. More than likely, much better care. And you could have your own place. Your own fresh start."

[prototypezeus]

"We can get you settled later, but right now we're short on time. You need to get out now."

[slayers_desire]

"Will you trust us?" She figures that Dana will trust Alex, but trusting April might be a different situation.

[prototypezeus]

"Doesn't sound like there are many other options." Dana shuts the book and tosses it onto the bedside table. "There's just one little snag."

"What?" Alex asks, dreading the answer.

Dana pulls aside the bedsheet to reveal that her ankles are cuffed to the bedframe. "Wanna spring me free?"

Oh. He was expecting something more difficult. Alex's hands form into razor-sharp claws, and he slices the cuffs free.

[slayers_desire]

That seemed easier than she had originally thought. "I can take you both into the Nexus right now. Once we leave, my psychic image of the room will disappear from the sniper's mind, and they will be alerted you are gone."

[prototypezeus]

"We can't be gone long," Alex says, meaning himself and April. "Once they know Dana's gone, they'll come out in force. I won't have long to try to get past their defenses."

[slayers_desire]

"I know. We will leave Dana in a safe place. And come back here to help you escape." April uses her PINpoint to open a portal.

She glances at Dana. "It is not an alien ship. Trust me."

[prototypezeus]

He's still not sure how exactly they're going to get off the island. But if he has April helping him, he might be able to charge across one of the bridges. Maybe.

"All right. Let's go. Fast."

[slayers_desire]

She guides them through the portal. They don't arrive in the Nexus, since she didn't want to leave Dana there unprotected and unaware of her surroundings.

Instead she had brought them to Lorne's bar in Los Angeles. The one place she knows she can trust someone to watch over Dana until they return.

Lorne himself turns when the portal activates. He frowns at the three people exiting, only recognizing one of them. "What mess is this now?"

[prototypezeus]

Dana wraps the sheet around herself before she follows them through, since she's in a hospital gown and barefoot. Alex sticks close to her side, and he bristles a little at their surroundings, wary of unfamiliar territory.

He only looks a tiny bit surprised at Lorne's appearance, since the man obviously isn't human.

[slayers_desire]

"Lorne. This is Alex and his sister Dana. We need to leave Dana here. Please place her under the same protection as anyone else who would come to you during a time of need..."

"Sure thing Darling... First thing will be to find her some nice clothes."

[prototypezeus]

"Darn, and here I was looking forward to everyone getting to see my backside," Dana jokes nervously.

Alex isn't sure how to react to any of this. "Dana..."

She looks over at him. "Okay, get your real face back on, I am not having this conversation with one of those guys."

Alex's body ripples with red and black tendrils, changing his features back to the young man he usually is.

[slayers_desire]

"Lorne is a protector. This place is a safe haven. I would trust my own son or daughter with him. And he has fought some pretty tough nasties in his own right..."

"Oh stop luv, you are making me blush..."

[prototypezeus]

Alex looks him up and down, trying to assess how badass Lorne really is. He knows better than most that people's appearances don't necessarily correspond with how dangerous they are. "You know that face I was just wearing? You see anyone dressed like that, you blow 'em away. Because they'll be coming to kill her."

[slayers_desire]

Lorne just looks relaxed and at ease when Alex assesses him. "We will make sure that she is protected."

"We have several apartments here too, where we can get you situated. Each comes with all the features to keep you as safe as you need to feel." Lorne explains to Dana.