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.

Comments

[prototypezeus]

Alex stays in his Blackwatch guise, figuring it's safer if the lab has any uninvited guests.

Ragland starts at the touch, his glasses trying to slip off his face as he sits up sharply. He grabs them and repositions them as he turns around. "Sorry, been working so hard that-" He breaks off as he sees April, and it takes a moment before he recalls where he's seen her before. "It's you again."

[slayers_desire]

"I am here to help again. We are going to make some significant changes... ones that might affect you."

[prototypezeus]

"We?" Ragland turns, and he starts again when he sees a Blackwatch soldier in the room, immediately afraid.

"It's time to get Dana the hell out of here," Alex says.

Although his voice is that of the soldier he's imitating, the way he speaks is not. Ragland's eyes narrow a little bit, trying to decide if it's Alex under that disguise or not, but afraid to say so. If it's not, Blackwatch will kill him.

[slayers_desire]

"This is Alex, Doctor Ragland." She uses his real name, since the Blackwatch would not know that information.

"And we are removing Dana from this hospital."

[prototypezeus]

Blackwatch know his name, but they don't use it. As far as they're concerned, Alex Mercer died and was taken over by Blacklight. And they aren't half wrong.

"Alex? This is dangerous, you being here," Ragland says, his fear giving way to a new kind of fear, more nervous than anything.

"I know. But we both know I couldn't keep going on like this," Alex replies. "I'm leaving the quarantine zone. But I need to get Dana out first."

[slayers_desire]

"We came to speak to you first. With Alex leaving the quarantine zone... and Dana gone... you might be at risk. Your research might be at risk."

[prototypezeus]

"I can't leave," Ragland protests. "Without a source of fresh samples, I won't be able to make any progress."

"Ragland, you probably won't be able to anyway," Alex says bluntly. "Blackwatch might not let you. And there's not gonna be a lot of sources left, with the way things are going."

[slayers_desire]

"You could still have access to Dana. Help her."

[prototypezeus]

"Aside from physical therapy to regain her muscle tone, Dana is actually doing very well," Ragland says. "If not for Blackwatch keeping her here, and if not for the quarantine, she might actually be allowed to go home."

"She's not going to get to go home," Alex says, a little sad that his sister won't be able to take any of her belongings with her. But returning to her apartment would be suicide.

[slayers_desire]

"They are only keeping her to trap Alex. Once he leaves... her life would be nothing to them. So we have to take her. Tonight."

[prototypezeus]

"Where?" Ragland asks. "How are you going to get her off the island? All the bridges and tunnels are still secured. For that matter, how are you going to get off the island? You're the one they're watching for."

[slayers_desire]

"Doctor Ragland. I am not from your world. And there is a way to remove Dana from this world, without them even knowing."

"You too... if you desire."

[prototypezeus]

Ragland peers at the two of them over the top of his glasses, like he think they're trying to pull one over on him. "You make it sound like an alien abduction."

"Not alien, but sort of," Alex says, a bit uncomfortably.

[slayers_desire]

"We can give Dana a chance... one that she will never get here."

[prototypezeus]

"It means leaving this version of Earth forever," Alex says. "It's that or stay here and get executed."

"I can't go," Ragland says, shaking his head. "I won't abandon the people who are left."

Alex looks at April, as if to say I told you so.

[slayers_desire]

"There are no people left to help on this island, Doctor. If you truly want to stay... I am not forcing your decision."

"But they will kill you. And your death won't help anyone."

"You could still have access to this world. The others who need your help."

[prototypezeus]

"They might not kill me. I've made myself useful to them. And if Redlight ever does get out of the quarantine, they'll need someone like me to help stop it," Ragland says quietly. "It's in everybody's best interest to let me continue my research. Even Blackwatch might see that."

"You sure?" Alex asks.

"There are still civilians left, if only a few," Ragland says with a nod. "I won't abandon them."

[slayers_desire]

"Is there anything we need to take Dana?" April really doesn't want to leave him in a bad position. But it sounds like Ragland has made his decision.

[prototypezeus]

"She's on a few medications to help her recover, but she won't go into withdrawal if she quits cold turkey," Ragland says. "She doesn't need any special equipment either, but she should see a physical therapist... wherever it is you're taking her."

"When's the next rounds for her floor?" Alex asks. He'd rather take Dana long before the doctors will realize she's missing.

"In about an hour. So if you're going to take her, you'd better move fast."

[slayers_desire]

"We can do that. Please... be careful Doctor Ragland."

April is already extending her senses, preparing for the next step of this adventure. To help Alex remove Dana from this situation.

[prototypezeus]

"Don't you worry about me. You get Dana out alive and safe, and don't get caught."

Dana may have been moved, but she's still under guard by Blackwatch, two guards outside her room. The sniper on this side of the roof is positioned directly above her window, in case Zeus tries to come in that way.

[slayers_desire]

"There are two guards outside her room. And a sniper positioned directly above her window. He would see us..."

[prototypezeus]

"We can do this two different ways," Alex says slowly. "You can sneak us in and they never have to know that we were there. Or we can do it the hard way." Which is also the more fun way, but there would be no question that Zeus was involved in getting her out.

[slayers_desire]

"I would like to try to do this without any notice, if we can... reduce the amount of links going back to you. Or the Doctor."

[prototypezeus]

"Then let's go. We have to hurry." Alex looks over at Ragland, a bit awkwardly. "Doc... thanks for all your help. Maybe we'll run into each other again someday."

"I wouldn't count on it, but I'll keep an ear to the ground," Ragland says with a nod. "You be careful."