05-08-2020, 12:05 AM
The pop of gunfire struck the air, and Jay’s pace quickened forward. Always one to run into a fight, so the instinct felt right. “It’s definitely you who’s the back luck!” he grinned morbidly over his shoulder even as he pulled her along by the hand. If only to ensure he didn’t lose her along the way. There was no other way than plunge straight toward the gate. The wall extended both directions all the way to the horizon with checkpoints sporadically placed in key border towns. They would all be guarded just the same, and by the time another one was reached, the situation may be in full lockdown. At least now they had one small advantage: chaos. Through the storm would run two people, one of which had zero business doing anything of the sort.
The power surged him into a sharp twang of focus and thrill even as his legs pulsed with the heat of a hard run. Dust kicked up behind their footsteps. He thought frantically, trying to come up with a plan in the next ten seconds. The dust stung his eyes as a breeze of wind whirled it into their faces. Then he thought of it.
The power flowed and the dust swept hard and fast into the air. Texas was famous for dust-storms. It swirled outward from them, crashing like a wave over the combatants. They would have goggles, but the surprise and lack of visibility bought them enough time to get close. The gunfire stopped momentarily as both sides regrouped. A small squad of national guardsman noticed their approach, their sergeant pointing at them. In the moment, Jay let the dust fall aside long enough to hurl an earth grenade at the sergeant’s feet. The guardsman yelled and all four jumped aside for cover as rocks rained down on their heads. The bits were no bigger than hail. They shouldn’t be injured, especially with their helmets.
He pulled his arm up by his eyes, shielding from the sting of a reinvigorated dust storm, forcing his way through to the wall. He hoped Natalie was hiding in the shade of his back, but unless she brought sunglasses, her eyes were probably as vulnerable as his. He tried to sweep the air clean around them, but with the focus split between that and the wall itself, chaos ensued.
At the base of the wall, looming some 30 feet overhead, he frowned upward. It was made of round bars thick as tree-trunks with concrete toppers. “Watch my back,” he called to Natalie. The orders of guardsman and agents lifted through the wind, closer than he liked, but he was going to be completely vulnerable for a few moments. If he split any more flows, he’d kill himself in the attempt.
He put his palms to the wall, lowered his head and focused harder and fiercer than on anything before. It was exhilarating. The power flowed like the sun. He thought it was going to burn the skin from the inside out, but where Placaso’s pincers ached torture, this was horrible delight.
After a few moments, the bars began to glow red hot, then burst away outward in an explosion of force. The hole smoked around the edges. “There’ll be an enforcement zone on the other side. A dead man’s zone, followed by chain link fence patrolled on the Mexico side. We have to hurry.”
He was sweating profusely. Thirst ached his throat dry, but the thought barely settled before it dissipated away in the searing heat of the power. The dust storm raged on, and he wished for the gear he once wore as special forces. For practical things, like visors, and for looking fucking badass.
He grinned with the verge of triumph and tried to climb through the hole.
The power surged him into a sharp twang of focus and thrill even as his legs pulsed with the heat of a hard run. Dust kicked up behind their footsteps. He thought frantically, trying to come up with a plan in the next ten seconds. The dust stung his eyes as a breeze of wind whirled it into their faces. Then he thought of it.
The power flowed and the dust swept hard and fast into the air. Texas was famous for dust-storms. It swirled outward from them, crashing like a wave over the combatants. They would have goggles, but the surprise and lack of visibility bought them enough time to get close. The gunfire stopped momentarily as both sides regrouped. A small squad of national guardsman noticed their approach, their sergeant pointing at them. In the moment, Jay let the dust fall aside long enough to hurl an earth grenade at the sergeant’s feet. The guardsman yelled and all four jumped aside for cover as rocks rained down on their heads. The bits were no bigger than hail. They shouldn’t be injured, especially with their helmets.
He pulled his arm up by his eyes, shielding from the sting of a reinvigorated dust storm, forcing his way through to the wall. He hoped Natalie was hiding in the shade of his back, but unless she brought sunglasses, her eyes were probably as vulnerable as his. He tried to sweep the air clean around them, but with the focus split between that and the wall itself, chaos ensued.
At the base of the wall, looming some 30 feet overhead, he frowned upward. It was made of round bars thick as tree-trunks with concrete toppers. “Watch my back,” he called to Natalie. The orders of guardsman and agents lifted through the wind, closer than he liked, but he was going to be completely vulnerable for a few moments. If he split any more flows, he’d kill himself in the attempt.
He put his palms to the wall, lowered his head and focused harder and fiercer than on anything before. It was exhilarating. The power flowed like the sun. He thought it was going to burn the skin from the inside out, but where Placaso’s pincers ached torture, this was horrible delight.
After a few moments, the bars began to glow red hot, then burst away outward in an explosion of force. The hole smoked around the edges. “There’ll be an enforcement zone on the other side. A dead man’s zone, followed by chain link fence patrolled on the Mexico side. We have to hurry.”
He was sweating profusely. Thirst ached his throat dry, but the thought barely settled before it dissipated away in the searing heat of the power. The dust storm raged on, and he wished for the gear he once wore as special forces. For practical things, like visors, and for looking fucking badass.
He grinned with the verge of triumph and tried to climb through the hole.
Only darkness shows you the light.