Re: Shift

[Klikxx]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal


Emerging from the elevator his eyes opened wide as they entered into the large hall lined with steel vaults. It couldn’t really be this easy could it? Alejandro thought to himself. If it was he could definitely get into this. The invigorating moment was cut short as he too heard the distinctive sound resonated through the pristine hall. There was no mistaking it.

"You know you couldn't just waltz in here without us knowing and walk away. Are you mad Augustus?" The voice purred.

She knew who he was. Had they met before? Knowing what we were up to could only mean a Watcher was involved. If that was the case they would know our every move. That was bad. If she had gotten down here undetected there was likely a Porter somewhere close as well.

Augustus stepped forward his arrogance dripping off of him. It was in his walk. It was in his talk. His demeanor changed slightly when a multitude of clicks greeted his advance. Alejandro was puzzled. If he could figure out she was may not be alone why didn’t he? Augustus’ next response puzzled him even more.

"Tule, Felix, Alejandro. Get ready."

Alejandro was already anticipating trouble. What had puzzled him was that his name was included in the mix. Surely Tim with his phasing ability brought more to the table. Still, the young boy was learning to appreciate the attention and rose to the challenge.

After Augustus made the initial move all hell seemed to break loose. Following the initial shot several more followed in response. It was an adrenaline pumping sensation that was unlike any other as the bullets skipped off the shield Tule had constructed. The young girl’s ability served the group better than any bullet proof vest would have to offer.

Even as he raised his gun in response Alejandro wondered if there was not another way out of the situation. When he first learned of his ability and the things he could do he had begun to imagine the possibilities. He had envisioned himself as a transporter rather than a teleporter, a mover of goods and people for a price. Little did he realize that today’s price could include his life.

One question had always lingered in the back of his mind from the beginning. Did he physically have to travel with the object he was transporting or could he make the move independently? He was about to find out. What did he really have to loose at the point? It was apparent Tule could only hold up for so long. Then what?

He began focusing his attention on the woman before them. Perhaps, without their leader they would be a little more responsive. Alejandro stared intently on the subject focusing his mind directly on here and not what was transpiring around him. Right now the only thing that mattered was between them.

He could feel the searing pain build up behind his eyes. He began to imagine the woman in the trash container he had recently vacated. It was the first time that popped clearly into his mind. One final mental thrust as he visualized the outcome. Closing his eyes tightly he envisioned things would be different when they opened.

“Now!” He exclaimed confidently opening his eyes.

[Howler]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
The Federal Reserve, New York
Augustus Evans

Tule's ability kicked in, blocking the onslaught of bullets fired at the pack. Members of their group began firing back, including Augustus.

"Alejandro. Felix!" Shouted Augustus amongst all the fire that was being recieved and dealt across the room. "Get us out of here." He boomed once more.

As Tule's shield held up, Augustus ran to try and get behind her, indicating that the rest of the group should do the same. "Come on!" He cried, waving his arms in a frantic fashion while jogging and giving what covering fire he could.

Whilst attempting to get behind the mover, a cool, sliding pain entered Augustus' side abruptly, making him collapse behind Tule. He had been shot.

"Ugh." He grunted in light and unfounded agony. "Christ." He then muttered, grabbing his side and looking down at his hands and how they were caked in blood. Then, searching for Zhen, he holstered his pistol and cried out. "I need those magic hands'o'yours!"

The Division footmen were falling gradually, but this battle of attrition would only last so long, most probably with the Pack ending up dead. "Everybody here now!" He screamed.

[Guest]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York
Timothy Harris

When he heard the gun cock, Timothy involuntarily started to phase, his fight of flight reflex long ago morphed into a fight or phase. He needed to be out of sight, not just incorporeal. He ran INSIDE the wall, only barely looking out to see where he was going, and came out behind the group of gunmen. He stepped out, still incorporeal, and concentrated as hard as he could. Slowly he made his hand corporeal and reached inside to get his gun. He fumbled for a second with the safety and took careful aim at the back of one of the gunmen's knees, firing one round. He felt sick from having done it so he re phased his hand and ran back through the wall to behind Tule and the rest of the group.

Hopefully he had created some chaos, though. He frantically looked around for a way out, and seeing none, motioned for everyone to group in closer. He'd try to make them all incorporeal, even though he was only used to doing himself and his clothing/belongings, he thought that just maybe if he did they could get out of here unscathed. He was too late for that though, he saw, as August took a hit in the side, the bullet's exit hitting Tim in the lower leg, in the same place he had broken it when he was younger.

It was a clean shot, only hitting muscle and not bone, but it still hurt terribly. Tears formed in Timothy's eyes as he sunk down on one knee, blood pouring out of the wound. He grimaced in pain, one hand gripping his hurt leg, the other with a deathgrip on the gun. He was dizzy from the pain and his body gradually started phasing in and out, as it usually did when he wasn't concentrating on his power. Now motion sickness was at play also, and he felt like he was going to throw up. he was paralyzed by his own body, by his own powers. He had failed.

[Ragter the junior greeter]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York
Tule Seiris

Tule's ability to keep up the shield was obviously waning. At normal times, she could keep it up for a while, in fact, this was about the average of how long she kept it up. When she was under stress, like she was now though, the shield usually went away faster...not this time, for some reason though, which was odd. |Anyways, It was obvious her shield was going, both by the look of distress on her face, as well as the fact that the shield was starting to flicker, and would probably let a bullet in eventually if it just kept on flickering like that. c'mon Tule...you can do better then this. This is..to save all of your new friends' lives..you can't let them down She told herself, the flickering stopping.

Or...it stopped for just a moment, anyways, because afterward, it came back, and just went on flickering. This obviously caused Tule to be more distressed, until yet another bullet hit the shield. This time, instead of flickering, the bullet basically shattered the shield, but luckily, there was still enough energy in the shield to |knock the bullet back. Virtually out of energy, Tule realized that she would have to use every full inch of her remaining power to give them enough time to escape, so she went ahead and did that.

So, she concentrated on the various guns the Division members had. She was a Mover, wasn't she? It should be fairly easy to take something as simple as a gun away from someone. So..it was that easy, she warped the gravity around the guns and flung them halfway across the room. She did not, of course, get every gun, but it was enough for now. As she moved back towards the Pack, a bullet grazed her left leg, while a second bullet hit her in the right leg, and stayed in there. Biting her lip a little and fighting back the pain, she finally was back near the other Pack members. "I think now would be a fine time to get out of here" She said to them.

[Eternity]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York
Zhen Nahida


Zhen had, regardless of her almost infatuated ogling of the city, followed the group. She had made prior the simple ''it's okay'' remark to Timothy who had gingerly bumped her when stepping forward from the phase. But it wasn't unusual. She didn't blame him; she didn't blame most people. Instead, she just continued about,admiring everything in site until finally the greatest of her sight's inquiries was now in view. It was the Federal Reserve, standing tall and full and beautiful, carved into the city's center. It was now that she took away her almost childish enjoyment of the city, and slid into a professional and solemn center.

Now, regardless that she had been so confident, it was purely outwards assurance. Zhen had a lot of faith, but she was still logical. She knew that there was a chance of failure, but she believed that chance to be small. Once she was inside, she was wordless. She had a face of stone and people seemed to stare at her in awe like she had ogled the city only minutes before. When the ''president'' was done speaking, they moved again, now towards the Vaults. Dreams were nearing reality; the boundaries between fact and fiction, truth and fairy-tale, was about to be tested and hopefully crossed. But something else happened.

A woman emerged from what felt like nowhere, and when she did, the gut feeling clenching the insides of the Cambodian Stitcher was that of someone who had witnessed a jungle puma leap down from a tree, blood on his teeth from his last victim. She knew at first glance, without this woman's real words hitting her, that danger had struck. That slender chance of failure was facing them. Now it wasn't about the money. As the others arrived, she knew it was greater a matter. It was about surviving.

She withdrew her pistol like a renegade cowboy from the old Western films. She lashed it forward, leveling the barrel with her left hand to match her left eye. Aim, fire.

*Bang!*

And she drew her thumb up, cocked the gun. She preferred the manual hammer than anything else. Felt like it made firing initially easier. Maybe it was in her head, this ease. Maybe not. She was unsure of those free-flowing thoughts in the back of her mind. She was focused on the highway that her head had settled on. The only thoughts traveling on this highway were fast, solid, and with destination. Her eye twitched over to another, whose pistol was leveling with her. She quickly squeezed the trigger, felt the pistol's small jerk, and had shot another. The flow of bullets though was dangerous. She found herself falling to her knees at one point. Into a graceful crouch to avoid the onslaught.

She didn't stop shooting though. She kept her mind on one thing. Protecting her allies, protecting herself. More-so protecting her allies.

*Bang!*
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
*Bang*
...

*Click*

The pistol was empty. The clip unloaded in a furious barrage of bullets that Zhen had thrust forward into the enemy front. Dead bodies littered the floor, and already she knew their injuries. Blood swept over the floor and she felt her abilities pulsing under her skin. Her fingers tingled at the sight of torn and tattered flesh, at the sight of deepened holes of red past the cloth that covered the quickly cooling bodies of the once-living.

Then she heard her name. Picked it out of the sounds around her. Her eyes turned sharp to Augustus. In her still crouch, she was like a wild animal. Her thoughts were still rolling on her metaphorical mental freeway. Streaming one by one.

Augustus... Turn, look, scan... Timothy... Turn, look, scan... Clear.

She had mentally set these thoughts straight into a pattern of completions that had to be done a certain way. First was retrieving the aching Timothy from his position and bringing him back to Augustus. She felt the muscles in her legs coil like springs and she burst into motion, flying through the air in a short sprint to reach him. She felt the heat of a bullet sweeping through the flap of her coat, missing her side by unmeasurable amounts. Zhen could be thankful. Instead, she buckled down again, collapsing into her prowling crouch, her hands reaching out to Timothy. What happened next was miraculous and trained.

Her left hand pressed against his lower leg. It instants, an energy of sorts pulsed through every pore in her fingers, dancing like little electric currents. Into his bloodstream, warping and twisting and snapping and fixing. They caused his cells to multiply at unbelievable speeds, and the wound filled. The muscles retracted and clenched, which would be painful to him for like a half second. But they wove back, and the skin formed over the wound. No scar. Not even a scratch. She jerked his arm and pulled herself up, the momentum at which she moved yanking the two towards Augustus and Tule. It was then, that her mind continued to process things.

Tule... two bullets, left leg and right. Left leg minor, right leg a bit more damaging. Bullet remaining...

She then found herself at Tule and Augustus. There was an amazing amount of adrenaline coursing through her as another bullet came towards her. She looked up, seeing the barrel of the firing gun steam as she jerked her head back as fast as she could. The hot projectile piece of steel darted next to her neck, and took with it a few small strands of seared sunset-colored hair. Zhen turned and placed her hand on Augustus' side, and conducted that same healing current from her body into his. It would tingle, almost sting. It would leap into his body and usher his with stimulants of a foreign nature altogether. She felt it, his cells binding, reproducing, filling the spot as the skin formed right under her fingers. Again, no scar, no mark, no sign of wounding.

She then turned to Tule. It would take longer for a more serious wound. Zhen moved towards her and whispered to her in a gentle tone, almost verging with anxiety- but refraining.

"Stay still; relax." She pressed her hands over both legs, and closed her eyes. The world around her seemed to disappear. It was as if the world behind her eyelids was black. But she could see; with her hands as her eyes. Her fingers rolled over the wounds and she placed her palms flat against the wounds. The left leg was easy. The energy conducted into Tule, and healed the spot within a matter of seconds. It was a graze. Nothing serious. Now the other leg is what took a moment, and would be altogether painful. Zhen pushed hard against it, feeling her arm tremble as energy shot like a lightning bolt from her core through her arm and out into the wound. The conduction wrapped around the bullet, and began to draw it out. In the bullet's new wake, blood cells formed and muscles began to form again. Everything healed, until finally she balled up her fist, and ran her fingers over the wound until the skin healed.

Zhen opened up her eyes and smiled, opening her hand and seeing the bloody bullet residing there. It was then that she felt a sharp pain in her front and back, ushering a shrill yet short cry from her lips; ripping the smile from her soft lips. A bullet had struck her in the left shoulder. Tears instantly found their way into Zhen's eyes. Now Zhen, being a Stitcher, had one major fault.

She couldn't stitch her own wounds...

[Spectre]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York
Felix Inigo Bernal

He inhaled, and concentrated.... He smugly commented, "You guys ready?" Before giving a wry grin... The intense feeling of his body becoming weightless, and at the same time becoming intensely heavy, pulling him, came to him. A familiar feeling, though never lasting this long. His vision came to, and they were now in the City. He and his small team.

He followed Augustus through the block, and toward the city. His head turning, and looking about. Even though he was a 'false' President, it could still cause problems. He made note of a hand full of sketchy individuals, and kept moving.

They entered the reserve bank, the service there was pretty funny. Very nervous, and unsuspecting. You'd think he'd try to act a little more confident in his duties. Though things happen, and catch you off guard. They were given keys. Wow, he thought to himself. Like butter... He nearly smiled, though continued before the 'President', a few steps ahead of him. The vault, they were nearing it... Things were becoming more and more real. It was intense..

Their goal was coming closer, and closer by the pitter patter of their black shoes. He then heard a voice. His mind raced for a second- repeating swear words, before finally being able to calm himself. Gathering his mental information, he turned around, to look at the woman. He then analyzed the best way for him to be able to draw his gun with the least amount of resistance, and the quickest amount of time.

Following Augustus after the first shot, Felix ran to regroup. Gunfire broke out inside of a bank. There really wasn't too much cover. Felix ripped the small, lightweight handgun from his rear waistband. His jacket flipped back, and stayed half folded over. Like Augustus, Felix pulled the trigger really even before he got a good 'aim' on the targets. He had good hand/eye coordination, and knew that even the small caliber handgun they all had, at these ranges would put someone down in a shot or two, no matter where they were shot. He fired a first shot, missing, as they weren't too accurate. He quickly squeezed off another round, as he fluidly dropped to a knee, slinging his other hand over, to brace the handgun in his right hand. The second shot caught a man in the chest area, likely taking a bullet to the lung or heart. He fired off several more rounds, not really caring where they went, as long as they weren't directed at his friends. It would cause fear, hesitation, and it would be an attempt at making the enemy retreat. He had several shots left before he heard Augustus' voice.

He heard the command... Felix had to concentrate now... Through the gunfire it was hard... Especially in front of people... and He had to port everyone if possible. This pressure built up. Shots continued to ring out, and he noticed and heard the yelps and groans of his own team being hit, as well as the opposing team. A shield was erected, and began deflecting bullets. It would buy him just enough time, maybe. Shouts were heard, gunfire, worries, orders and concerns. He would try to avoid this for right now.

He concentrated on every one of his teammates... Hard. Alejandro, Zhen, Augustus, Tule, and Tim. He then began thinking of where to 'put' them. They had wounded, they needed a place to stay, and heal up. He was a porter, he could get them back to Nevada if he concentrated hard enough. If they needed a hospital, Alejandro could take care of that while he recovered. Felix just needed time. That, which they didn't have much of.

Everything around him began to sound as if he were under water. Muted, slow, quieter. The gunshots still hurt his ears like hell in the enclosed space, but he concentrated. El Castillo Del Diablo, Nevada... The familiar office... He was still aware of the situation around him, but he couldn't afford to let it cloud his thought process. He had time, he was given a window. Thanks Tule He would have said, if he had the moment. He took the time window he had, and began to think...

El Castillo Del Diablo....

[Howler]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
The Federal Reserve, New York
Augustus Evans

Chaos. That was the only way Augustus could put a word to a scene he was seeing. Members of the Pack were being shot to pieces, Zhen had also been hit, this was bad news for the rest of them.

Everybody had made their way behind Tule's fading telekinetic shield, but it was going fast. It was all up to the Porters now. They had to get them back to safety, to the devil town... 'No, wait.' He thought and then muttered. 'If they saw us coming here, they'll be anticipating us there aswell.' It had to be random though, their new location. Watchers were like that, only able to track decisions. Hastily, he whipped out his blood-stained map of New York. Then gingerly closing his eyes, he proceeded to point at a random point on it.

It read 'Times Square'.

"There!" He shouted at Felix and Alejandro, pointing at the map like a ranting tourist to a clueless taxi driver.

The brothers grabbed every member of the Pack, making two seperate groups as they had done before. Within seconds, the same feeling they had experienced upon landing in the alleyway was painstakingly replayed, as the brothers Ported away.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Times Square, New York
Augustus Evans

As the six of them fell onto a rare, but existing empty spot on the pavement on Times Square, onlookers were shocked and suprised to see half a dozen people appear from nowhere, to see that a few of them were wounded in some way. However, the bystander effect kicked in, making no person attempt to help or get involved with the Pack's situation.

"You 'elp her with that." Augustus said to Tule, pointing at Zhen to indicate that he wanted pressure on the wound. With Augustus being leader someone had to take command. Otherwise they would stand there gormlessly, not knowing what to do. It was always that way, he always ended up taking charge, it was his responsibility, his purpose.

Amongst the organizing and co-ordinating of this public operating theatre came a voice that he had heard before. "August!" It cried.

A light hearted, young, female voice came out from the crowd. Cassie Holmes, Nick Gant and Kira Hollis emerged from the pedestrians that crowded the Pack.

"I...I had a vision... I had no idea that you..." Cassie begun.

"No time!" Cried Augustus, "People are dying!" He continued, pointing a speechless Kira and Nick toward the people who had been injured.

Nothing could get more chaotic. Or so they had all thought. What Augustus and the rest of them didn't notice were the increasing number of suited people in the crowd walking around them. 'Division', thought Augustus, once more, hating the thought that they had manouvered again around them, trapping them like mice in a metal maze of misery.

This time it was a male voice that stepped out from the suited army that Division had procured. "You'll all come quietly, otherwise this minor disturbance of the peace will become murder of some John Does." His rasping threatening voice heard by all that were tending to wounds.

Augustus was in no mood for negotiating. All these people would do is take, take and take until there was nothing but a stick of the figure that used to be a human with dignity and emotion.

Not thinking this through whatsoever, Augustus made everybody touch one another in the Pack, Nick, Kira and Cassie included.

"Ever seen what happens when two Porters port at the same time?" Augustus enquired, in a curiously mocking way to the man, who was stumbling to find something to say.

Snickering, Augustus simply said. "No, neither have I." He said. And with that, he shouted at the top of his lungs to the porters "Go!"

[Ragter the junior greeter]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York
Tule Seiris

The pain in her legs hurt a little...more so in the right then in the left, considering the right had an actual bullet in it, while the left had only been grazed. She had actually managed to keep the shield up for a little while longer before falling to the ground. She didn't know how long it took, but just like that, Zhen was there and already stitching up the wound, which probably hurt more then the actual wound.

Tule had to force herself not to make any sounds of pain by literally biting her bottom lip, and hard. Thankfully, she also didn't manage to let any tears spill out, but it hurt so much..probably ten times more then the wound actually hurt.

Then, just like that, the bullet was out and the pain was gone. She noticed the bullet was in Zhen's hand, and said girl was smiling about it, but then the smile was gone, replaced by pain. It was obvious that, from the look, Zhen had just been shot in the back. She got shot..because she was busy stitching me Tule thought to herself, wanting to go all out, again, and knock the various objects in the room into the Division members. If she did that though..the others might get hurt.

So, regretfully, she had to protect the others again using the shield, but not nearly as long as last time, because soon enough, they had been ported once again. She wasn't sure where, she didn't see where Augustus was pointing too on the map, but the familiar feeling of being ported came back to her. The Division members were gone as they were warped and, in just a few seconds, she was in a new place, still in New York.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They were in Times Square now..and Tule couldn't help but think that Augustus could have randomly picked a better spot, considering what Times Square was. There was no time for that now though, Augustus had just ordered her to keep pressure on Zhen's wound. So, she went over to the girl and started to put pressure on her wound, thankful that they were out of a firefight, for now. "Sorry that you got shot Zhen..you were so busy stitching me up that you weren't paying attention to the fight" Tule said in a rare, apologetic moment. "Oh..yeah, and make sure you don't tell anyone I said sorry to you, I don't want them to think I'm so friendly" She said to her, still keeping pressure on the girl's wound, pondering if they had really escaped from Division. She noticed that three people approached them though..three very, very well known people to ones like them, who had abilities. Those people were Cassie Holmes, Nick Gant and Kira Hollis..causing Tule to wonder why they were here, of all places. Cassie was just explaining why they were there, something about a vision, before Division reared it's ugly face, again.

We just got away from them..it's really making me rather..mad that they're able to follow us this easily..how did they know where we went? She asked herself, then began to wonder why none of them had noticed the numerous people in suits in the first place. She knew why she didn't notice, she was too busy talking to Zhen, as well as keeping pressure on Zhen's leg. That was more important to her then paying attention to whom was in the crowd..probably a big mistake, on her part. why didn't the others notice..? She asked herself.

It looked like another firefight was to occur when Augustus made them touch each other, for some reason. Wait..are we porting again? She asked herself, glancing around at the others, before looking at Augustus, whom was still talking to the man. Then Augustus said something that surprised the man, and Tule as well. He said "Have you ever seen two Porters port at the same time?". That was why she was surprised..who knows what could happen?

The man now seemed to be stumbling to find something to say, while Augustus seemed to be almost mocking him. Before anyone could raise any objections though, the Pack or Division, Augustus gave the order to go. Go..where though? Not Del Diablo..probably not anywhere in New York, it seems too dangerous..so where? She asked herself, preparing for the familiar sensation of porting to kick in..she knew it was going to come at any time though, but she didn't know what would happen this time, with two Porters at the same time.

[Klikxx]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York.
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal


Disappointment was an understatement for what Alejandro had felt when he opened his eyes. The feeling didn’t have much of a chance to set in as he now took in the chaos that had unfolded before him during his attempted port. New to the game he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had gone wrong. All he knew now was he was in scramble mode.

Raising his gun he managed to fire off several rounds during the confusion. It was not a focused effort but more of a response to that which was going on around him. Augustus was the first to get hit. Now wonder as he was the lead target and deemed to be the brains behind the operation. Tule was the next as bullets struck both legs taking her down.

" Zhen,I need those magic hands'o'yours!" Augustus cried out through the chaos.

Alejandro slapped in a fresh clip as he continued firing covering the groups retreat. There was no way they were going to survive this barrage for long and the Reserve’s authorities would be responding as well. He glanced over to glimpse the Stitcher at work. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she calmly finished with Augustus before moving onto Tule. He wasn’t prepared for what he saw next as she was pierced in the left shoulder.

He was torn with what to do next as her piercing cry reached his ears. She had been the first to show confidence in him. He wasn’t about to let her down now. Focusing his attention back to their attackers he jerked off round after round until once more the gun cried for fresh rounds. He pulled back behind the sparse cover provided by the corner wall as he harshly shoved a fresh clip into place.

"Everybody here now!" Augustus’ fresh scream alerted the pack.

The young boy didn’t have to be called twice. Everybody had made their way behind Tule's fading telekinetic shield, but it was going fast Hastily, Augustus whipped out his blood-stained map of New York. Then gingerly closing his eyes, he proceeded to point at a random point on it.It read 'Times Square'.

"There!" He shouted at Felix and Alejandro, pointing at the map like a ranting tourist to a clueless taxi driver.

It was as it had been on their arrival as Alejandro focused on the designated target and set the port into motion.





Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Times Square, New York.
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal


The arrival had been much smoother that his initial transport but he could not help but wonder about the choice of venue. Had he taken them to where Augustus has indicated on the map? Such a crowded area would certainly gather unwanted attention, especially a group that had just seemingly plopped out of the sky. Out of the crowd of lone female made her way towards them, soon followed by two men.

"August!” She cried. “I...I had a vision... I had no idea that you..."

"No time!" Augustus responded "People are dying!

For a changer he sure was recognizable Alejandro thought as the group approached. What were the odds after two ports? Panic began to set in as Augustus’ words sank in. He wasn’t talking about himself it was the Cambodian girl that they were loosing. The thought hadn’t even totally settled when the situation turned from bad to worse. More uniforms spilling forth from the crow could only mean division had already found them.

It was over Alejandro thought kneeling beside his wounded friend. He gave the girl a reassuring smile as Tule applied pressure to the wounded shoulder. There was little else he felt he could do at the moment as he reached out and stroked her cheek short of porting her to a real hospital. That would only prolong the inevitable as they were sure to draw attention. Still she would survive.

The young boy tuned out all else that was going on around him at the moment. Lost in his own little world of thought. It seemed he did not tune into the mad ramblings of Augustus soon enough. He could not believe his ears as the man’s words reached his ears.

"Ever seen what happens when two Porters port at the same time?" Augustus enquired snickering.

He didn't like where this was going. One of the first things Felix had told him when he learned of the gift was never to port with another porter. No explanation why, just the fact never to attempt such an act. Alejandro had always suspected the sheer energy involved would tear a rift in time putting into motion a butterfly effect. He recognized the other three now. They had been at the top of Divisions wanted list for some time now. The association with them would not bode well for the pack members.



Porters "Go!" Augustus boomed.

They were as good as dead now from the way Alejandro viewed it. What did he have to loose? Not that his life had amounted to anything up to now. This could earn him a place in the history books. Without further thought he did what he was asked. He squeezed Zhen’s hand tightly as he began to feel the effects of the port kick in. Today is a new beginning he thought confidently as he focused the power surging through the group of nine.

Destination……..

[Eternity]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York
Zhen Nahida


The pain was unlike anything she'd ever felt. The bullet had struck her from the front, and ricocheted off of her clavicle, sliding up and piercing the back of her shoulder. The bullet could almost be seen, peering near the flesh on the other side of her shoulder. But the jacket and shirt hindered this. Zhen knew she was crying. But she was trying to cling to what self-control she could manage. She took long deep breaths, as she leaned up enough to pull at the jacket until it was off of her body and laying to the side. The white shirt beneath was stained red at the left upper corner; and this color was spreading somewhat rapidly. She tried to avert her eyes, long enough to rip off the sleeve with her good arm. She tore at it, her nails shredding the cloth after much effort. She heard August say something, but her mind was zipping back and forth, unable to truly focus. She got a good extra chunk of fabric torn away too, so that she could finally lay eyes on the nasty bullet hole that dug deep and destructively.

It was when she leaned her head back and gasped that that surreal feeling of porting struck her. And she clenched her eyes shut, her free hand grasping tight at a strip of white sleeve as to tie the wound with. She had her left hand gripping the right shoulder of her body, keeping her arm still. She didn't know where she was going to end up. Only August and the porters knew...



Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Times Square, New York
Zhen Nahida


She whimpered as she felt the hot pavement underneath her. Her mind was beginning to haze, and she denied the reasons why. Blood loss; she'd surely pass out soon. She turned her dark hues up as Tule began to apply pressure, using her free hand to roughly wipe the tears from her face, grinding her teeth together. The pain was one that made Zhen want to reach back over her shoulder and try to dig the bullet out from the other side. But she didn't need two facets for bleeding if she could help it. Tule spoke then, surprising words. It was an apology; but Zhen didn't want an apology. There was nothing to apologize for in her eyes.

"Don't be sorry." She said quietly, her voice cracking with every tiny muscular twitch in her arm or shoulder. "You weren't the one holding the gun." Zhen whispered, watching another step forth. It was Alejandro. He was holding up good. He hadn't been shot. He was being strong.

Alejandro looked at her and smiled, a rare sight from him. What was with these revelations in her hour of misery? She wasn't complaining though. The fact that the Pack cared about her meant more than she could imagine. It meant she had accomplished a great goal in making friends, hopefully in the final destination that she wouldn't have to be without them one day. She closed her eyes, a sigh of relief as warm masculine fingers stroked her cheek, seeming to brush away some of the drying stray tears as they went. Alejandro was very nice- he just needed someone to help him open up. It was when he took her hand, squeezing it tightly, that she looked back up at him. Her lips twisted into a small fragile grin as she took another long deep breath, trying to cling to consciousness. He was about to port when she finally spoke.

"I'm proud of you Alejandro."

[Spectre]

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Federal Reserve, New York
Felix Bernal


Just as he thought he had an escape planned, he heard Augustus' voice barking again. A stream of curse words and phrases streamed through his mind before he looked at the map. He saw 'times square' after squinting hard to see what on earth he was pointing to.

Gathering around him, he knew hat to do. . . That same sensation flooded over him. The pressure alleviated with the sound similar to jumping into deep waters, and then reemerging to air as they reappeared to the bust street of times square.

---

Chapter One
Midday, April 10th, 2009
Times Square, New York
Felix Bernal

He exhaled loudly as they appeared in a small circle of empty space on the sidewalk. People scrambled and staggered back, in amazement of the happening.

Felix heard a young voice, an unfamiliar voice shouting to "August". Augustus knows another one of these people? He thought, thinking about grabbing for his gun. No chance, they were friendly. A young girl, a man appearing to be his own age, and a female pressed through the lines of pedestrians, who apparently just seemed content in watching this as if it were daytime television.

Felix didn't take much time to notice them, as he did noticing the suits starting to swarm. Outstanding... Out-Freakin'-Standing. He thought to himself in sarcastic frustration. He assisted 'Nick' to one of their wounded, and looked up to see a new male..

"How'd they get here so fast?" He asked, under his breath mostly. His hand drew back to his rear waistband again, grabbing the handle of his compact .22pistol Augustus gave them all. Things were just about to get hairy again... Augustus shouted to them again. . .

Felix couldn't really do anything but do what their leader asked. He seemed to know what he was talking about. Even if he didn't what choice did they have? Felix loosened up his tie with his left hand and exhaled hard. This port was going to be tough. It hadn't been very long in between ports as it was, he would probably begin tiring soon.

Gripping the people to both his left and right... He made it a severe point to look at his brother.

"Alejandro!" He shouted to his little brother, hoping to get his attention. "Alejandro... Don't be afraid, hermanito. We've got this." Felix knew what he told his little brother a long time ago. Although Felix himself never really knew what would happen, he knew that his brother would have no other speculation than something bad would happen...He gripped the arms of both the people next to him, and began to alleviate the pressure. Calming himself down. "Everything'll be alright." He finished, not shouting, but he said it with an intensity and passion, closing his eyes with a mischievous smile that slowly crept to his face. He wasn't sure what exactly was going to happen, but he knew they've end up alright. They always did. Right?

Felix focused for another moment, His smirk turning into a smile... They were'nt going to get away, were they? Felix didn't know, but it was the uncertainty that he liked... It was intense. Adrenaline pumping.... They were about to port...

[Howler]

Chapter Two: A Stitch In Time

Chapter Two
Unkown Time
Unknown Location
Augustus Evans

*Schoof*

Augustus was pulled through what was different to the first ports he experienced. At this point in time, instead of being dragged through in a forceful manner, he felt like he was being taken through in a slower and more calm fashion. Ironic, since what was on the other side was something far more stressful and chaotic than imaginable.

Slamming onto cold and solid earth, the Pack landed on something more ominous than before.

Augustus, the first to hop to his feet and adjust himself as quickly as possible helped other people to stand.

"Someone get on that." He stated firmly to some of the Pack, pointing at their wounded. "We have to move. We're not safe, Division may still be able to see where we are."

Attempting to set up some sort of perimiter, he 'borrowed' a few people and tried to make them spread out to find an inkling of where they were.

It was clear that they were in some sort of forest. Somewhere cold, as the icey grip of death harrassed his breath in a swirl of air. Patches of snow were evident on the scattered clumps of grass on the woodland floor. The group had landed in a small ditch, one that Augustus and some of the others hopped out of to see further into their surroundings.

A large flame billowed out of a large metallic mass. As Augustus approached it, he slowed down in awe. It was a tank.

Spinning around on his heels, he began to spot other typical signs of conflict; bullet-ridden trees, mortar holes, charred ground. The visual traces of warfare were evident. But who was at war? And why?

A sudden rumbling of tyre tracks, artillery overhead and wooshing erupted from a nearby part of the woods.

"Oh dear..." August uttered. Staring into the darkening woods.

[Eternity]

Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Unknown Location
Zhen Nahida


She was dead. She had to be, because this feeling resembled her imagining of death. At first it was the feeling of porting, and then it slowed. It grew cold. Her body began to tremble, the ache began to ice. She fell limp, her heart slowing from its previous panic. Zhen kept her eyes closed. She knew it, she was dead. Her body felt like it were laying on a bed of pure ice. Her breath tore from her chest hotly, and returned in ice. She wasn't even sure if she was breathing anymore. Her chest was so cold. She was so cold...

Only one thing was noticeable, memorable. And that was the faint warmth in her hand. Like she were holding on to life, clinging to life. It wasn't life though, that she was holding on to. It was Alejandro. She gripped his hand, and tried to open her eyes. She didn't have the strength. Her mind spun wildly when she tried to raise her head up. So she laid back down. She wasn't dead... She was alive.

Get up.

She clenched Alejandro's hand tightly, with all her strength as she tried to move again. The wound in her left shoulder sent pangs of hot ache throbbing through her body. She parted her lips and groaned, the pain was excruciating, but she would be okay. She had to be okay. Her eyes finally opened, slowly. Tears fell in streams of liquid ice down her cheeks, making her shiver.

She could see straight up. She could see treetops, thick canopy, high overhead. She could see ... bark. She could see... Alejandro? Yes. She turned her head, taking in the look of the ground beneath her. Frost clung to every blade of withering grass, like an winter fantasy. The place was desolate of unfrozen life, and she had a feeling that wasn't going to be too long awake. Zhen wanted to pass out. To give up, to stop the good fight right now. The pain burned, the ground was icy, the air thin and chilled, the hand in her grip... warm...

Zhen opened her eyes further, taking in a long chilling breath.

"Oww..." She whispered. "Wh..s th.t..." She muttered quietly, hearing the sound of something large, something powerful. It sounded industrious or mechanical. It sounded dangerous. She turned and looked around, but she was in a ditch, and unable to really get away from the scene. She couldn't see beyond the trench and the trees.

"Where... are... we..?"

[Ragter the junior greeter]

Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Unknown Date
Tule Seiris

Just like that...everyone was Ported, to where, Tule had no idea at all. She was just glad that they were all away from the Division members, for the moment at least. Of course, she would be more glad if all of them there didn't hear the sounds of what sounded like...well, a war, making Tule wonder who was at war and why. Of course, she couldn't wonder about that for too long, she started glancing around to make sure that all of them were there, and to make sure that any of them weren't dying, or near dying, anyways.

Everyone seemed...well, fine, or as fine as they could all be right about now, so Tule breathed out a small sigh of relief. "You gonna live, Zhen?" She called down to the girl whom was in a ditch. "Need some help getting out of there?" She added just moments afterward, when she actually noticed that Zhen couldn't get out of the ditch by herself.

As she waited for a reply from Zhen, she idly wondered what could be making that noise. To Tule, it sounded like...some sort of machine, a tank, maybe? A helicopter? It..certainly sounded like some sort of vehicle, now that she thought of it some more. Of course, in retrospect, it was pretty dumb for her to be thinking of this, considering it was tire tracks, so it couldn't be a helicopter, that coupled with the artillery just made it seem more and more like a tank was coming near their location.

Then, of course, there was the whooshing, which just made it seem more and more like they were in the middle of some sort of battlefield. She was also wondering what they would say if the tank, she thought it was a tank, happened to come their way. How would they explain who they were...how they got here? What would happen if the people didn't know English? Possibly, disaster...with a shake of her head though, Tule cleared her head of those thoughts and focused on hearing Zhen's reply again.

[Klikxx]

Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Unknown Location
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal


*Schoof*

Alejandro continued to squeeze his eyes shut as tightly as he could. The sensation felt like was falling. From where or to what he could not be certain. He could still feel the hands grasping tightly to his on either side. He also held onto the encouragement offered by Zhen’s soft voice.

"I'm proud of you Alejandro."

*Schoof*

And then it happened. The falling came to an abrupt end as the Pack of fugitives slammed into the cold, solid ground. Even after it seemed to be over he was afraid to open his eyes for fear of where he had taken them. Even as he blindly lay there he could hear Augustus booming out commands.

"Someone get on that………..We have to move. We're not safe. Division may still be able to see where we are."

When he finally opened his eyes it was unlike anything he had imagined they would be.
They no longer found themselves surrounded by the concrete jungles of the New York skyscrapers but something much more organic. It was clear they were in some type of forest. Beyond that there was little evidence of just where they now found themselves.

“We’re not in Kansas anymore Dorothy.” He mumbled to himself as he continued to survey the lay of the land.


They now found themselves somewhere cold. His first thoughts were of Siberia. His lungs burned from the deep chill of the cold dry air. The icy fingers of frost ripped at his breath in a swirl of air. Patches of snow were evident on the scattered clumps of grass on the woodland floor. Why did people choose to live in conditions like this?

He felt the tug on his hand as the Cambodian girl tried to sit up. Taking off his jacket he wrapped the garment around her shoulders providing another thin layer against the cold. With all the blood she had lost heat would not make it to the extremities of her fingers and toes. In this cold it would only be a matter of time before they were frostbitten.

Alejandro scooped the injured package up off the icy forest floor and pulled her tightly toward his body. He could feel the cold touch of he hands to his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. The group had landed in a small ditch. To see further he would have to venture out of the furrow.

He could see that their leader had already made his way up the steep slope. He watched as Augusus stepped back in shock in synchronization with the loud BOOM that had reached Alejandro’s ears. A sudden rumbling of tire tracks, artillery overhead and whooshing erupted from a nearby part of the woods.


Oww..." She whispered. "Wh..s th.t..."


“I don’t know.” Alejandro replied. ”But I don’t think that it’s good news”

[Howler]

Chapter Two
Unkown Time
Unknown Location
Augustus Evans

The sound grew louder and louder. Augustus drew his handgun from its holster and indicated that everyone should do the same. He also put a finger to his lips for quiet amongst the Pack.

From the trees, the noise seemed to originate from some black mass which slowly formed the shape of a tank. "No...." Muttered Augustus, as it edged closer and closer to the group. Then, he said it, once more, because he was in utter disbelief. "No."

An symbol was visible on the tank. A swastika.

Augustus began to panic. "No... no... no... this isn't happening. How is it even pos...? What the hell did w...?" He started, whimpering a little.

In a hurry, he began frantically pointing to everyone to stay down and get into cover. At this point, he edged quietly towards the flaming ensemble that was left of the other tank, which also he realised bore the swastika, but had failed to be noticible due to the flames consuming it. A corpse lay beside the burning vehicle, charred, burned and quite dead. Braving his senses, Augustus reached out to the body, to find that it too was covered with nazi-like signs. Fumbling around, he reached into the breast pocket of the dead man to find a smouldering piece of paper that Augustus hoped to god was his identity or some sort of order.

Admittedly, he couldn't read German, but the date and time was universal. Scanning the paper, Augustus put his hand to his face.

Scuttering back to the group, Augustus brought everyone to his attention. "Ladies and gents, very... well, odd news. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. We're in the middle of the fucking Second World War." He almost shouted, throwing the piece of paper in the centre of them all. The words on the top of the sheet read 'Unternehmen Barbarossa', also known as Operation Barbarossa, Nazi Germany's invasion of Soviet Russia.

"You two..." He said, pointing at Alejandro and Felix. "It was you lot who borught us 'ere!" Augustus then cried, lashing out at Felix.

Most of the Pack members stopped this fight from erupting into something more. Nick came and said simply to Augustus. "I don't know how this happened, but we can fix this. Just calm down. Everything is going to be okay."

At that very moment, a Nazi footman, escorting the tank with a few other soldiers saw the Pack and lifted his gunpoint level with them.

"Russen!" The soldier cried, opening fire.

[Klikxx]

Chapter Two
Wrong Time
Wrong Location
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal

The ominous sounds seemed to multiply as Augustus drew his handgun. He put a finger to his lips for quiet amongst the Pack. Alejandro stood mesmerized with Zhen in his arms as he watched the tracked machine of death lumber by. There was no mistaking the large black swastika indicating its origins.

He watched as Augustus began to mutter in panic. "No... no... no... this isn't happening. How is it even pos...? What the hell did w...?"

Alejandro knew all to well what had happened. He sensed it soon after they came through the last rift. The large metal token before them only confirmed his suspicions. Something was different about the whole event and it brought with it an unsettling feeling. Felix had warned of the implications. He now realized exactly what they were.

A cold shiver passed up his spine. At first he had attributed the feeling to the cold brisk air piercing through the thin layer of dress shirt that was protecting him. It was soon apparent that much of the sensation that he felt was that they had indeed stepped back in time. He wasn’t a history buff but he knew enough this was not the place or time he wanted to be.

He could feel the body of the Cambodian girl shake intensely within his arms now. The cold weather may have slowed her circulation but it was beginning to take its toll on her. If they weren’t able to find shelter from the elements soon there were bound to be complications. Even as he looked around for possible refuge he could hear the angry voice of Augustus begin to bellow.

"Ladies and gents, very... well, odd news. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. We're in the middle of the fucking Second World War." "You two..." Augustus said, pointing at Alejandro and Felix. "It was you lot who brought us 'ere!"

Something inside Alejandro snapped. It was not like the boy to speak his mind. Especially to a domineering figure such as Augustus presented. Still, the young Mexican boy launched his assault. Armed with the fury that he had bottled up in side for so long, both barrels were now prepped and ready.

“May I remind you that THIS ….” He waved a hand dramatically in an all encompassing circle. “… was your doing. It was your arrogant decision to have us port together. You knew the dangers of a dual port, yet you were willing to take the risk. Take a step off your high horse and put the blame squarely on your own shoulders. "

"You have managed to make one bad decision after another since this all started. Your responsible for her condition as well. If we don’t find medical help soon she’s going to die. At the rate you're going we are all going to find ourselves like Zhen here. I am about ready to take my chances alone.”

Alejandro paused briefly allowing his words a chance to settle in. He was far from finished at this point For some reason he was not intimidated by the burly Brit at the moment.. All he felt was a great disdain for what he had put them through. He was through taking orders at the moment.

Most of the Pack members by this time realized the consequences of what the young boy just laid out. If Alejandro left the group the chances of them getting back to where they came from was hopeless. It had taken two porters to get them here and it was likely to take the same two to get them home. Nick came to ease the situation.

“Augustus, I don't know how this happened, but we can fix this. We just have tot calm down. Everything is going to be okay."

At that very moment, a Nazi footman, escorting the tank with a few other soldiers saw the Pack. Without hesitation he lifted his gun, leveling his aim. "Russen!" The soldier cried, opening fire. It was now apparent that they had fallen out of the frying pan and into the fire.

[Eternity]

Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Zhen Nahida

Alejandro lifted her up, up into his arms. She drew her arms around his neck and tilted her face inward to his chest, his jacket draped over her. It was chilling, but Alejandro's body heat was helping. She closed her eyes, and didn't look around them. She didn't want to know. She didn't really care. Her fears were spiraling out of control in her mind. She could only pray that they didn't leave her alone to die. She didn't want to die alone. She felt the pressure halting the bleeding. She'd lost a lot of blood, but she wasn't dead. She'd survive. But then came the cold. With the lack of blood, faced against the chilling cold of probably Siberia or who knows where, she faced a new risk. Hypothermia was a greater possibility with every minute.

She heard something rumbling closer in the distance. It reminded her of tanks, and she clutched closer to the man holding her cool body. She heard voices back and forth. August, yelling at Alejandro and Felix. But the voice changed, to Alejandro's. It was surprising, and loud. She could feel his chest vibrating with his every word. His voice echoed against her ear from inside his chest. Zhen tried to let it calm her.

They were in World War II. How wonderful... She was more worried about the cold than anything else. That was until a loud harsh word rang clear, and oncoming from it was the ring of bullets.

Zhen flinched quickly, her hand that rested on Alejandro's shoulder gripping the cloth tightly. She winced and hid, knowing that she was too weak to fight, run, or even lay. She forced her eyes open, staring into the shirt the man wore, and turning them to Felix. Then her eyes fell on Tule. She was healed, could she stop the bullets? As they came, she writhed in Alejandro's arms momentarily. She shot out a muffled howl of pain as she bit her lip, shaking as she clutched the man tighter.

"We need...to go... we need... to run..."

[Ragter the junior greeter]

Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Tule Seiris

As Tule wondered to herself what they should do now, Augustus shouted accusations at Alejandro and Felix. Surprisingly enough, Alejandro actually shouted back at Augustus, but none of them had time to do anything else, for a soldier saw them, shouted something that she didn't know what it was, and opened fire upon them. I am getting sick of this.. She thought irritably to herself, or rather, had been thinking irritably to herself before the soldier had opened fire. If these people actually fight us..and we take too long to fight them...Zhen..might just die Tule thought to herself as the soldier had cried out his phrase. I'll just have to make sure..we don't take too long then She thought to herself with a frown as the soldier opened fire upon them.

"Just leave us alone!" She shouted at the soldier, manipulating the molecules about in the air around her and getting in the way of the bullet(s) that the soldier had fired. They all hit her shield harmlessly and inflicted no damage at all. Usually, after the little sleep she had, Tule would be tired right now and her shield losing effectiveness, but it was fueled with her raw anger right now at the soldier(s) attacking them.

"Just..stop!" She shouted again at the soldier(s), and probably unknown to anyone at the moment, the wrecked tank was lifting up right now..and was flung right towards where the soldier who had first opened fire upon them was.

Just doing that task though...was a bit difficult to her. Right now...Tule was positive that there was no way she could fight off more then 3 or so soldiers...and it was quite obvious that soldiers didn't travel in just packs of 4, so what Zhen was saying was right. "Zhen is right, Augustus! We need to run, now!" She shouted towards Augustus, her shield still staying up for the moment and protecting them from the bullets. It was obvious it was weakening though, as a few bullets were falling just beyond the shield, in the ground harmlessly. Right about now, it could only stop every other bullet, and for the other bullets it could only slow them down.

God...I feel so weak. I wish I had gotten sleep Tule thought to herself, watching as her shield continued to weakened.

[Howler]

Chapter Two
Unkown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Augustus Evans

Whether it was Alejandro's retaliation or the gunfire that had been turned on them. Augustus was in shock. His brain was on standby, with a hint of utter shellshock and self loathing. Not a pleasent combination, especially for the person who was supposed to be leading this group of misfit time-travellers. Surrounding sounds faded and seemed to slow down, becoming low thuds in the atmosphere, mere waves of noise travelling to his ear drums.

Snow began to fall.

Get it together.

Augustus took action. Drawing his pistol, he lifted the pistol level with the German and shot him. The soldier fell back onto the cold and now slightly snowy forest floor. He was not dead and therefore able to call for help, which he did.

Screaming something that none of the Pack could comprehend, Augustus quickly rushed to empty another round into the soldier's chest.

"We're getting out of 'ere." He said. "No portin' though, we don't know what might 'appen."

Scanning the paper he had taken out earlier, he looked for more useful information. He did this whilst helping people to their feet. The German forces seemed to be heading in the direction they needed to go in. Towards Russia.

"Stupid as it sounds." Augustus said, leading the group into a little jog. "We go further east, into the motherland. It's our only 'ope'o'survival. Ironic, innit? We head further into the barren wastes of Russia to survive!" He cried.

The Pack was on the move again. Augustus had slightly regained that little spark he thought he'd lost. A grin broke across his face.

A solid ten mintues went by while the group were making their way slowly through the forest. This was until Augustus, who was leading them commanded them to stop. They were at the end of the woodland, but were not out of the woods so to speak. For in front of them lay a German outpost.

"Hmm. I think I might just have a bit of a plan." He announced.

[Klikxx]

Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal

"We're getting out of 'ere." He said. "No portin' though, we don't know what might 'appen." "Stupid as it sounds, we go further east, into the motherland. It's our only 'ope'o'survival. Ironic, innit? We head further into the barren wastes of Russia to survive!" Augustus cried.


Alejandro had had enough of the madness the proposed by their leader. Deeper into Russia pinned between the front lines of two warring nations. Not the place he planned to be for great length of time. Not only that, he expected the group to break into a light jog to stay ahead of the Germans. It was easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one lugging 130lbs of deadweight the wounded Cambodian girl in his arms presented.

Zhen flinched as the moved. Her hand rested on Alejandro's shoulder gripping the cloth tightly. She winced and pulled in even tighter to his chest. He could feel the young frail girl begin to shake more intensely. It wouldn’t be long before hypothermia set in if it hadn’t already. Even the shield that Tule had provided was beginning to show holes as she weakened.

"We need...to go... we need... to run..." Zhen hinted softly.

Her last forced response was all that he needed to make his mind up. Right or wrong the decision was now his. He did in fact choose to honor the girl’s request, though they would not be running. Even with the unknown consequences the port would present he still felt it was his best option to save the girl.

“Hold on tight girl. It’s through the looking glass one more time.”

They were as good as dead if he continued to follow Augustus now from the way Alejandro viewed it. What did he have to loose? Not that they had any real chance of returning to the era the left behind. Without further delay he did what he felt was best for the two of them. He squeezed Zhen’s hand tightly as he began to feel the effects of the port kick in.

Whooosh!


Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Unknown Location
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal


Whooosh!


It took several moments to realize just where they had landed. It didn’t even register how smooth or how rough the port had been. All that mattered was the arrived safely on the other side. Alejandro whirled in place, Zhen cradled in his arms trying to discern just where they had arrived. Things were looking up as her seemed to have placed themselves directly in emergency triage.

“I could use some help here she's been shot!” Alejandro exclaimed as he rushed towards the nurses’ station.

The triage area was bursting with activity before the arrival. When it was apparent the girl he held in his arms was in critical condition it only got worse. It was as if he had struck a bee hive with a stick. Several additional team members swarmed the area as the Cambodian girl was placed upon a gurney for transport.

They had already begun their life saving actions upon the girl when one of the nurses noticed something that alarmed her.

“GUN!” she exclaimed bringing even more attention towards the pair.

Alarmed by the call Alejandro patted his bloodstained shirt. He was in fact packing and the small faction of police that were within the triage now closed in on his position. He had forgotten the presence of the weapon in all the confusion. The uniformed officers already had the guns drawn as they barked their orders towards the Mexican youth.

This was not the time or the place for a standoff. He simply raised his hand and knelt to the ground with his fingers interlocked behind his head. They took him down hard regardless of his position. He smiled briefly with his face pressed against the smooth polished floor as he watched her be wheeled into emergency. Even without him Zhen would get the help she needed.

[Eternity]

Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Zhen Nahida

She felt his pull on her tighten. Alejandro said something, but so did the others. He turned his head towards her when August said something about running, and she looked up at him. He spoke- she knew because his lips moved. His voice was evident, but his words were hard to make out. They slurred into her ears, and the soft chatter of her teeth seemed to be blocking out all else. His grip on her tightened a bit more, and he pulled her closer. She clutched his chest and closed her eyes. What was he... doing?

Ah... That familiar sensation hit. Alejandro had ported...


Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Unknown Place
Zhen Nahida

Wherever they were, they were there. He must've thought of help, because help was there now. He yelled out something, and people swarmed around her. She looked up hazily, staring about as much as she could before her eyes rolled back. It seemed... modern? The people spoke English, they wore white and blue and smocks alike. They swarmed around her, and took her from Alejandro. But she didn't want to be alone... No, no this wasn't good at all... She looked towards Alejandro as they placed a mask over her mouth, letting her breath easier. They drew a blanket over her cool body, and inspected the wound as the gurney began to roll of towards a room. She looked down at Alejandro, watching people swarm around him.

She reached out, her fingers stretching and trembling as she tried to get his attention. But she was weak. No, no please... Zhen looked around at the strange faces, covered in masks and gloves, all around her. Her lips parted, she wanted to speak. No words came forth, only the rush of lethargic thought.

No... please... Alejandro... Don't leave me... Please please... Don't leave me... with these... strangers...

She stared about, and began to panic. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she tried to muster up a struggle. She pushed against the nurses around her weakly, groaning in pain as she tried to call out. They pushed her back, small straps and buckles coming over her wrists and ankles. She squirmed, but to no avail.

"Heart rate rising." She heard that.

"Calm down ma'am, deep breaths."

She stared at them, her eyes growing wet and halting her vision even more. She began to cry feebly, trying to cling to consciousness, though her hopes were ill. They pulled her into a long white room, beneath a great white light. And they leaned in, and her eyes closed....

Alejandro why?... Why did you leave them... Why did you disobey Augustus?... Why did you leave me alone, with these people?... I don't want to be alone... Alejandro be safe... Augustus, Tule, Felix... All of you... Be safe...

And the journey to remove the bullet and save her life began...




Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Felix Bernal


He had been going along, not saying much. After the port, he had been silent. What had happened was a fluke, and flukes like this didn't happen often. Felix was trained at what he did, and he knew what he was doing. So how did they end up in Russia during some kind of German onslaught? He seemed in a daze, from the very first minute he rose from the ditch. And as time passed, and the horror really began to show up, it sank in.

He snapped back into reality when Alejandro yelled back to Augustus. He looked over at him in something near awe or shock. Alejandro was holding Zhen in his arms, the girl probably dying. What would the rest of the group do without a healer? Then again, what would they do with a porter who was losing it? Augustus stood for a moment; Felix was behind that man. He had a plan, but he was sure it didn't apply here, in wherever the fuck they were.

It was shortly after August said they should run, that Alejandro ported. He watched his brother disappear, and stood in awe of what had happened.

"No..." Felix put his hands to his head, letting out a long visible sigh. This was bad. Very very bad.

Son-of-a-bitch Al, where'd you go off too?... Probably... to help that girl... God I hope you come back in one piece. The both of you.

Felix wasted no more time. He turned in the direction of Augustus and began to run with him.

"C'mon, we can't worry about them... They'll be back..." He said, taking off and assuring that the small group was going to be okay...

[Klikxx]

Chapter Two
5am Unknown date
Police Headquarters
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal

Alejandro found himself alone behind the small wooden table in the small dingy eight by ten room. He stared at his reflection in the mirrored surface of the window. He knew they were behind there studying his demeanor before they began their questioning. The young Mexican boy just continued to stare off into space focusing on the prize not upon his current situation.

He had a slight idea of how long he had been confined since the hospital. What he didn’t know was just how long they would need to patch Zhen back together. He was momentarily stalling for time before his return. The longer it took his captors to formulate a plan of attack the better off he would be. Their questions would be sharp and direct. He was not looking forward to providing any answers.

He was soon joined by two casually dressed detectives. One took a seat across from Alejandro spreading a small array of file folders in an arc across the table. The other, stood just slightly inside the closed door near enough to offer support if the young Mexican youth caused any trouble. If their plan was to intimidate the much smaller boy it was working.

Even before the veteran detective began to speak Alejandro could already feel his hands begin to shake. He was not much for confrontation and was definitely ill at ease. He also knew the two men in the room already sensed his discomfort. Judging by the prolonged the silence they were content on making their captive sweat.

Keep it together Alejando reminded himself.

The room suddenly felt extremely warm. Sweat began to form large beads across his forehead trickling down into his eyes. Bringing up a hand he hurriedly wiped his brow managing to avoid eye contact of the person who now sat across from him. He squirmed in his seat as the man opened a folder and studied its contents.

“We can only assume this matter is gang related.”

The detective’s deep voice pierced the silence as he slid a picture of what one would assume to be the wound in Zhen’s shoulder. Alejando reacted little to the photograph before him as a second photo was slid in front of him. He recognized it right away. It was a snapshot of the handgun they had taken from him.

“Now this is a little more puzzling.” The interrogator suggested pointing to the weapon. “I haven’t seen anything near this quality on the street before. Were did a lad you come by such a piece?”

He was sure the man across from him had picked up on the disappointed expression that now engulfed his face. That small piece of equipment was going to complicate things immensely. The detective hadn’t seen anything like it because if Alejandro was still in the 1940’s as he believed it wouldn’t have been invented yet. He was also well aware that Augustus would blow a gasket when he found out it was no longer in his possession.

The consequences of the situation he created mattered little at the moment. There was a method to this madness and he would weather the storm in front of him as best as possible. Right now he needed to by some time. If the detectives in the room were part of a gang unit speaking in Spanish wouldn’t buy him the sort of time he would need. Still it was the only option he could come up with at the moment.

“Dígame sobre la muchacha que contestaré a sus preguntas. ¿Ella vive?”

[Howler]

Chapter Two
Unkown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Augustus Evans

"No!" Shouted Augustus. Alejandro and Zhen ported away. Leaving the group a little short. Not only that, but endangering existance as they knew it. This was time-travelling they were dealing with. Not casual hops across the garden pond.

Cursing loudly, but not loudly to give away their postion, Augustus began thrusting his fists into the ground next to him in anger. "I told him not to fucking port that son of a...." He began, then starting to control his fit of rage. Drawing his holstered pistol, Augustus announced the plan.

"I go as uncle Joe. Stalin. We strut in." Augustus stated, pointing at Timothy. "'Take me to your leader' and so on right? Then with that distraction, I want some of you lot to grab some weapons, any you can find, maps of the local area, medical supplies, food, whatever. Just make sure you get everything we need. Oh and for God sakes bring some large coats, this is Russia we're going into, not the Bahamas. Anyways, by the time you lot have got that, we meet back here. Timothy here will escort me out ghost style and we can make our progress into the motherland. Sound good? Great. Break."

Grinning, he flexed his muscles a bit and proceeded to shift his looks to be the feared and remembered Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, a mass murderer and today, a tool of misdirection.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Two
5am Unknown date
Police Headquarters
Detective Harrison

"Listen pal." The detective of the two said, leaning over leveling his eyes with Alejandro's. "We don't speak Spanish. But you speak English. Don't try and fool us."

It was the gun that seemed to be of interest to this boy for a second, he saw it on his face. "You're not supposed to have been seen with this eh kid?" He said, smirking. Theories popped into his head about who exactly would want to keep this from the police, some gangs, illegal weapon manufacturers or maybe it was of his own design. The possibilities were endless with this kid. He had fear written all over him.

'Might as well play the nice guy.' He thought. People with fear always gave in to that.

"Look, I'm Detective Harrison, New York Police Department. Who is the woman you were with? Japanese? Cos' I hope for your sake she ain't, cos well, Japs just aren't the same as what they were before ya know... Pearl Harbour." He said, sternly.

'You better start talking hot shot.' Detective Harrison thought, thinking of all the things the courts would do to him if he was in collaboration with a Japanese felon. They would tear him apart.

"So, you best start with who you are and how you got in that gunfight or whatever it was." The man said firmly.

Four men had just entered the Police Department, filled with magazines and not the kind for reading.

[Ragter the junior greeter]

Chapter Two
Unkown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Tule Seiris

They had just been moving along...when what Tule had suspected would happen, happened...Alejandro went ahead, grabbed Zhen, and..ported away, somewhere. Where did he go though..? She wondered to herself briefly.

She also wondered what Alejandro had been thinking...Augustus' actions might be questionable right now, but..he was their leader, and would get them to safety. Even with the plan disrupted, presumably, Augustus still managed to come up with another one...or maybe it was the same one.

"Stalin hm?" Tule spoke up after Augustus had finished speaking out the plan that he had. "Will do August...one question though, not all of us could fit in as..well, Russian-looking, correct? Some of us don't have the right skin tone, for instance" She pointed out, briefly wondering if she could fit in as a Russian. She wasn't sure how Russians looked, but all of them gathered here looked different from each other, so presumably, not every one of them would look like a Russian. "Of course..if you're Stalin, they won't question that" She said out loud, therefore voiding her last question, obviously.

As she watched Augustus change his appearance, she wondered how Zhen and Alejandro were doing, again. She didn't show it right now..but she was worried about them, and..well, were she in Alejandro's position, she probably would of done the same thing. After all...it didn't look like they were anywhere near help when he had ported.

[Eternity]

Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Hospital
Zhen Nahida


Hours had passed. She didn't know it. She was dreaming about a day in the desert, listening to Al and Felix. Listening to them, and noticing their differences. She recalled Tule, who was quiet and somewhat unsocial. Hell, most of them were unsocial. But Zhen wasn't. She smiled at them, waved to the others. Tried to establish friendships between the group. It worked... She remembered them smiling back. Thinking, my friends, as she did so.

Zhen felt her mind turn black. Her ears rang silently with the lack of balance. She was laying down, and dizzy. She opened her eyes and saw the ceiling. She saw a nurse standing over her, a nasty look on her face. She had curly red hair and baby blue eyes, with a strip of freckles over her nose and bright red lipstick. She looked at the girl and turned away, moving towards the door.

"She's awake..." She said to someone outside of the room. Zhen looked towards her, pulling her hands up and wincing. The wound was cleaned, stitched, and wrapped. Her arm was in a sling and yet she was still in her clothes. Which was now black dress pants, and the shirt she wore was a blue drape. She watched a doctor come in, and she looked to the cushioned blue chair to her side. It was empty. Where was Alejandro? Was he okay? Was he still there? Had he left her?

Her heart began to race. She was alone. She remembered going into this room alone, and now she was awake and alone again. A man came in, a tall lanky doctor with salt-and-pepper hair. He had the same intense glare at her. The Cambodian girl felt a pit of fear in her stomach. Her mind rang with the same words.
Alone. Alone. Alone...

She leaned up, and the woman ushered her to sit back and relax. The doctor looked at her; asked her name. Zhen couldn't manage. She looked back and forth, and rose forward again. The doctor grabbed her wrist, and pushed her back. She saw the slightest mark of a scar on the inside of his wrist, like a cut mark. She grabbed his hand, her fingers wrapping around that scar. She closed her eyes, imagined it; envisioned it.

It was time to attempt something she hadn't done before.
Unhealing.

She focused, and her energy bolted into the man's wrist. He winced as suddenly the scar turned red, and parted open. Blood began to gush and he let out a terrorizing scream, soon followed by the octane pitched shriek of his nurse.

And Zhen was out of bed, like a bullet flying through the hall. She managed to pull the strings of her short upper body drape around her back and tie them, allowing her to run fully. She was dizzy, and lost, and alone. Her heart was pounding hard, her lungs trembling with panic. Her eyes were wet, and she knew that she was making a scene. But she didn't care. She had the sling holding her left arm still, her right arm now sore from having reached back and tying the drape. Her head ached. Her heart was sore. Where was Alejandro? Where were her friends? She needed them. She needed someone. She needed them now.

She turned down into the main large hall, and broke free from its doors. She was on a road. She could see the evening sun, leaning towards the horizon as it was soon to set. She felt tears running down her face. It was autumn. She was god-only knows where... She didn't know where she was. Zhen turned and looked back to the center of the hospital lobby and screamed. As loud as she could, and at no one in particular.

Someone find me... Find me now...




Chapter Two
Unknown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russian/Eurasia
Felix Bernal


Felix watched Tule, then Tim, and Augustus. Augustus slammed his fist into the ground, growling curses aimed to a man who wasn't even there. Felix knew why Alejandro had ported, but it still wasn't smart. Alejandro was only thinking of the girl, and not the greater consequence. But he couldn't think much further than that. If he had stayed, Zhen would've died. As much as Felix wished he could say it wouldn't have made too great a difference; he couldn't. He knew that if Zhen died, his brother would go off the deep end. He knew if she left, things would intensify a million times. There'd be no second chance in warfare...

He followed near Augustus, listening to his new plan. The man changed into Stalin, and Felix nodded. He wanted to come up with some smart question that would pick at the plan, but he couldn't. His mind was swirling on the thoughts of what had happened, where they were, and what kind of trouble his brother may've been in.

Felix finally spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck and pushing his fingers through his hair.

"So Stalin; what are we going to do after we have the load of things we need? Are we going to play soldier, or are we going to try and get back home?"

[Klikxx]

Chapter Two
5am Unknown date
Police Headquarters
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal

Alejandro gleaned what information he could as Detective Harrison fired back in response. They were back in New York! It was apparent that neither man spoke Spanish but at the moment it was still a theory. More importantly he was able to ascertain that his most recent port still held them in the past. These Americans seemed to still be on edge over the Pearl Harbor incident. Such tensions would only make the situation worse.

Todos miran iguales a usted don' ¿t ellos? Alejandro muttered under his breath.

A sly smirk followed the question. Alejandro continued conversing in Spanish despite the detective’s displeasure for the language. His hope was to infuriate the detective enough to get him off his game. It was a risky move but he needed more time. There were still so many answers to find.

”¿Periódico?”

“New York Times?”

Alejandro mimicked the motion of holding up a newspaper and turning the pages repeating the question. This would be the easiest way to pinpoint just when exactly they had transported to. That was if the detective figured out what exactly he had asked for and would accommodate his request.

[Howler]

Chapter Two
Unkown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Augustus Evans

Honestly. This was a shaky plan at best. Augustus couldn't speak Russian, let alone German. It would be purely based on his face that they would make progress further East.

Sighing, he told everyone to get ready with preparatory nods. Following this, Augustus prepared to walk into the outpost's main gates, hoping to get apprehended. At that exact moment, he was met with the exact opposite.

*Boom*

Explosions from the back of the outpost errupted in a mighty crescendo, sending infantry, officers, tents, vehicles and all manners of other things hurtling away from the series of inferno-like blasts. Russian voices could be heard, screaming, shouting and barking orders from the smouldering base that had clearly just been shelled.

Stumbling back at the sound and sight of this miraculous happening, the British changer found that getting into Russian hands would be easier than first expected. "Over here!" He cried to some of the men who were storming the area. "Help! We need help!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Two
5am Unknown date
Police Headquarters
Detective Harrison

Shaking his head at Alejandro, Detective Harrison was not impressed that this boy was trying to keep up this hapless charade. When he asked for a newspaper, Harrison just got a little confused. Why would he need a newspaper?

Signalling to his partner to grab one for this wierd suspect, he grabbed a seat opposite Alejandro. "Alright, if we get you a lousy newspaper, will you tell us your name, where you came from and why you were found with this girl?

The men proceeded with their briefcases down the corridor. They opened them to reveal a fewthompsons sub machine-guns.

When Harrison's partner returned with a newspaper, he threw it on the table. The date read "18th February, 1942."

Alejandro had enough time to look down and see what the date was. But not enough to avoid the oncoming armed men. As soon as the four shadowy figures met resistance in the form of Police Officers halting them from entering the interrogation room, they opened fire. Entering the room, they then unemotionally gunned down Detective Harrison and his partner, leaving Alejandro in a blood-stained mess.

One of the men extended their hand to Alejandro. "Come with us. Your life depends on it." The man stated firmly.

[Klikxx]

Chapter Two
February 18, 1942
Police Headquarters
Alejandro Gonzalez Bernal

When Harrison's partner returned with a newspaper, he threw it on the table. The date read "18th February, 1942." No sooner had Alejandro taken note of the date scrolled across the corner of the daily publishing the door to the interrogation room flung open. It wasn’t long after their arrival the new visitors opened fire. Tommy-guns spewed forth round after round cutting down Detective Harrison and his partner instantaneously.

It was all Alejandro could do to duck for cover. Foolish really as the lightweight table he covered behind would provide little protection from the incoming onslaught of lead. He felt the heavy splatter of blood spray across his face and body as the semi automatic weapons continued to perforate the detective that had been positioned across from him.

One of the men extended their hand to Alejandro. "Come with us. Your life depends on it." The man stated firmly.

There were two things the young Mexican boy knew at this point. If they had wanted him dead he would already be assuming that role by now. Judging by the skill and precision in which they handled their weapons they were professionals. The second was just an assumption but if they had an inkling of who he was there was a watcher involved somewhere along the lines. That or they themselves had witnessed his arrival at the hospital. Such a coincidence was highly unlikely.

His options were limited at the moment. Even if he stayed the place would soon be swarming with a large number of uniformed officers answering in response. There would undoubtedly be even more questions to answer and unfortunately he didn’t know enough at this point to skirt around the issue. It was more than apparent that they had come for him.

Rising up from his inadequate cover he accepted the hand that was offered his direction. What did he truly have to loose at this point? He would at least find out who they were and what they wanted with him. There were so many unanswered questions that now flooded his mind. The answers seemed to lie beyond that door and they held the all the cards.

” Why me?” Alejandro asked intuitively trying to ascertain his predicament.

” You don’t mind if I take some firepower just in case things get rough?”

The young Mexican youth didn’t even wait for a response he reached in removing the antiquated weapon from the deceased detective’s holster. It was at that point re recognized something equally important. Grabbing the bloodstained folder he tucked it neatly under his arm as he grabbed the extended hand and pulled himself up.

”Don’t think they will need these anymore.” Alejandro added playfully.

“Lead the way gentlemen.”

[Ragter the junior greeter]

Chapter Two
Unkown Time
Somewhere Along the Lines of Russia/Eurasia
Tule Seiris

As they walked towards the main gate of the outpost, Tule still pondered whether her two...friends, there was no other word for them now, were alright and well, that they weren't hurt.

Her pondering, of course, didn't last long, since it seemed that August's plan to get captured, though she didn't know what that would accomplish since he was Stalin right now, didn't work...instead, they were meant with a rather large booming sound.

Of course, August's plan made sense once he started to cry out to the men storming the area. Tule hadn't recognized it before, but this was a German outpost, not a Russian one, as she thought. Before she had realized that, she had been prepared to fight..well, again, but was glad that she didn't have to. She did keep her eyes peeled though, it would be stupid of her not to.

They still were in the German outpost, after all, and any number of things could happen still, if a German soldier just happened upon them. So far, that hadn't happened though, so Tule opted to stay silent and just watch the encounter between 'Stalin' and the Russians storming the outposts right now.

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