-5 hours earlier
“Uh……….” Ruby woke up but was in somewhere unfamiliar. She wasn’t in the crushed vehicle; she was in what seemed like a basement of a house. “Oh good you’re awake red head.” said a familiar voice. Ruby thought to herself, “Only one person calls me that……” “Just what are you pulling off this time Umberto?” she responded. “Nothing,” he answered, “I’m just ordered to watch you until he returns.” “He?” Ruby questioned, “Who’s he?” Umberto pointed to the large mech from the basement door, “He is him or should I say the one that saved you from that crushed vehicle.” “You little ones know each other then.” asked the mech. Ruby and Umberto nodded. “Good, less friction and more focus.” the mech said after putting down his sniper rifle. “Uh that maybe a problem, he’s actua……..” “Less friction, more focus.” the Fictus interrupted Ruby before she can point out that Umberto bullies her.
Umberto walked up to the mech, “Did you find any route out?” he asked. The mech looked out the small window, “I found a route but we need to wait till nightfall before we go.” “Why nightfall and where are we going?” Ruby asked. The mech walked up to Ruby, “Before I explain anything, I am a Vita Fictus named Grants Armata and what’s yours.” With a smile Ruby said, “Names Ruby Carbuncle.” Grants tossed a map on the ground in front of Ruby, “I’ve searching for a route to get out of the city for the past few hours.” “I think I know a way,” Ruby responded, “but it’s a long walk.” Without a thought about her suggestion Grant spit on the map and looked at Ruby, “The underground paths aren’t going to work.” Ruby was stunned that Grants knew what she was talking about, “What do you mean it’s not going to work?” “Its military stuffs, it’s likely that there is a password.” Grants remarked. Grants got up and walked towards the door, “Both of you get well rested and study the red markings on the map, we are moving out tonight.”
Ruby and Umberto spent the rest of the short afternoon they had left to sleep and study the map. The two didn’t get along well but whenever they would start an argument Grants would just come in from the door saying, “Less friction, more focus.” The two only slept for only an hour but their anxiety for their night kept them awake. The two kept taking turn taking naps and studying the map every half hour until the sky turned dark, but even then Grants didn’t order them to come out of the basement yet. Ruby was always worry that Grants went ahead but Umberto would slap her and tell her not to worry.
Grants returned to the basement later that night around 9:30 to find that the two were still studying the map and taking naps. The Fictus looked at the two and the two looked back at him and said, “Less friction, more focus.” With a smile Grants responded, “Pack your stuffs, we’re moving out.” Ruby and Umberto began to pack whatever they had into their small backpacks.
The trio slowly walked out of the basement door with Grants leading them and looking out for any hostiles with his sniper rifle. “You two remember the path?” he asked. Both Ruby and Umberto nodded. “Good then. You two go first, I’ll give you cover.” Grants tossed a mic to Ruby and Umberto, “If you ever get too far from me, use these but be careful they have limited power.” Ruby and Umberto nodded again and ran south to the first intersection of the street as Grants mounted his sniper rifle.
Once Ruby and Umberto came to the enter section, they waited for Grants to catch up with them. The Fictus approached to their position slowly and carefully looking out for anything on the buildings or in the shadows. Grants approached to the pair by the corner of the intersection, “So far so good.” Ruby was looking over the corner with her night-vision binocular and turned back to Grants, “I might take that back if I were you.” Ruby set her binoculars down as Grants came to the corner and looked at their designated path. Looking under his high powered night-vision scope, Grants sees several snipers on top of buildings and a flying object. Grants lowered his rifle on leaned back on the corner’s wall. “What’s the plan now? Umberto asked as Grants pulled out a device from his bag. Grants looked at Umberto and Ruby, “You two follow me, when I throw this little buddy of mines, run along the shadows and avoid the lights. Don’t stop running until you are out of the city, even if I’m not behind you.” Ruby looked at the object, “What is that?” Grants puts both of his hands on it like if he was holding a football, “It’s a decoy. Once armed, it’ll make noises of gunfire. I’ll also throw several grenades in the mix to make the fake threat sound bigger.” Grants peered over the corner of the wall twice before looking back at the two youngsters, “Let’s go.”
Ruby and Umberto followed Grants as they hid behind each possible cover to avoid being caught by the snipers. After traversing six blocks, Grants stopped and began to arm several grenades and the decoy. Grants looked back at the two and with a low tone he whispered, “Run.” The two nodded and took off, avoiding any lights as Grants threw the decoy and grenades. Several cars blew up from the grenades explosion and the decoy went off. Grants quickly took off for the two whom where way ahead of him now.
As they made their third intersection turn Ruby looked back hiring sniper fire and not seeing Grants behind them. Ruby turned around but Umberto stopped her, “We have to go back for him!” Ruby yelled. “Shsssh!” Umberto responded, “Remember he told us to get out of the city even if he’s not behind us.” With a worried look, Ruby looked at the flashes down the street. “Come on, we can’t waste another second.” Umberto said as he pulled Ruby with him.
The two ran for another 50 blocks and 10 intersections before stopping. Once they stopped, the both of them fell to their knees and where burned out from the running. Umberto quickly got up, “Come on Ruby, we can’t stop here. We have to keep going.” Ruby was panting uncontrollably, “But………” she pants, “I can’t……,” she panted again, “run……..” she panted again, “anymore.” Large figure with a sniper rifle came by the corner, “Oh good you two are okay.” It was Grants and he seemed fine. Umberto pointed to Ruby, “She……she’s out of breath Grants.” Grants approached Ruby, took an oxygen mask and a small oxygen tank and calmed Ruby down. She stopped panting but fell asleep. Grants handed Umberto his large bag and lifted Ruby on his back, “Take my bag, I’ll carry her the rest of the way. The sun will be up in four hours…………Oh and we’re running.” “What about your gun?” Umberto asked. “Leave it, we won’t need it.” Grants responded before taking off. Umberto felt like he should take the large gun but was already dealing with carrying his bag and Grant’s large bag. Grants was getting farther, “Come on! We can’t stall anymore time!” Umberto tossed his bag down and put Grant’s 6 ft sniper rifle over his shoulders and took off.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by AIDA
Kudos to you all! 
Connect With Us