Super: Underground: Book 2 in the Super: Series

by Palladian

  Casey considered that for a moment, then nodded. “I guess that’s right. He came a number of times, and spent hours in here sitting by your bed.”

  She looked away then, and when Casey looked back, her eyes seemed a little brighter than normal. “Well, you’re welcome. I’m glad I could help. I hope you gave that bastard a good thrashing for me.”

  Lex laughed, and then recapped her fight with her father as Casey hung on every word.

  A few days later, Lex had progressed enough for everyone to agree a walk down the block sounded permissible. She’d gone from hardly being able to shuffle from one room to another to doing walking laps up and down the hall for 10-20 minutes at a time.

  Casey looked Riss and Lex over nervously as they prepared to go out. Casey had left the apartment building only once since they’d arrived, to explain things to Lou, since her appearance made her especially recognizable. Riss and Lex looked more average, however, especially with the addition of a stocking cap and large sunglasses for Lex.

  “OK, Mom,” Riss said with the ghost of a smile as she glanced at Casey a final time. “Lex and I will be fine. We’re only going down the block. We’ll be back in no time.”

  “OK,” Casey replied, a thread of embarrassment plain in her voice. “Make sure to come right back if anything happens, though.”

  “We will,” said Lex with a nod. “Don’t worry.”

  Once they got outside, Lex enjoyed the thin, wintry sunlight on her face even as she shivered from the wind tearing down the street. She turned to Riss and smiled.

  “It’s nice to be out. I’m sure you two must be stir crazy from having to sit around for weeks. It only seems like a few days for me, probably because I’ve been sleeping so much.”

  Riss shrugged. “It’s a big improvement for me. I never used to be able to go out unless we were on a job. Mr. Chen’s family did most of the shopping for us, but when we had to go out for something, I went because we figured that if anyone was actively looking for Casey, she’d stick out like a sore thumb.”

  Lex nodded, paying attention to making sure she placed her bony feet well on the bumpy sidewalk. The section of town they’d stayed in seemed a middling place, not too fancy or too worn down. They met a couple other people walking down their side of the street and saw a few children playing on the next block, but the neighborhood remained pleasantly quiet.

  “So,” Riss said after a small silence, “what do you think we should do to get out of town?”

  Lex tilted her head, still thinking. “I’ve been thinking about that, and maybe we should just rent a car and drive. Would the IDs and credit cards you put together pass that sort of check? Or maybe if you can swing it, if we could put together a one-use ID, not associated to any of us, and make the arrangements totally online. That should allow us to get out of here as cleanly as we could. Do you think you can do that?”

  Riss raised her eyebrows, thinking, then nodded. “I’ll look into it. It could probably be done.”

  Looking sideways at Riss, Lex paused a moment, then continued. “There’s also one thing I need to ask both of you, so it’ll have to wait until we get back.”

  Riss nodded as the two of them kept walking. The wind had eased up a bit, and Lex looked up for a moment, then back down as the sunlight dazzled her. Ever since she’d woken up from her long sleep, sunlight seemed much brighter than ever before. She shrugged off the thoughts as the two of them got to the end of the block and turned around, and noted Riss glancing over to check how she felt.

  Lex gave a happy sigh, feeling she’d become more comfortable in her body again, but she also knew she’d be ready to rest once she got back to the apartment. As they made their way back down the street, Lex’s eye caught on a display in the window of a little shop they passed, a display for hair dye in multiple, otherworldly colors. She stopped to look for a moment and then turned to Riss.

  “Come on, let’s go in. I’ve got an idea.”

  Several minutes later, the two of them came back out into the afternoon sunlight, Lex carrying a bag full of hair dye packages and giggling.

  “I know my hair is going to attract attention no matter what,” Lex explained, looking over at Riss as they walked. “So I figured that my two choices are to wear a hat, which I can still do, or to dye my hair. A lot of times, regular hair dye doesn’t look right on gray hair, so I figured going with an unusual color would be better. Besides, with color like this, no one looks at your face; they’ll just see your hair.”

  “Blood red, huh?” Riss asked as the corners of her lips turned up slightly. “I know you just want to do it because you’re such a rebel.”

  Lex grinned back. “It’s good to see you smile,” she replied.

  Riss looked away quickly as if she was embarrassed, then back with a little smirk on her face. “You didn’t have to tell her you were a cancer survivor.”

  Shrugging, Lex replied, “Well, if anyone asks her about it later, I figured I’d rather her remember me as ‘that poor woman who had cancer’ than ‘that weirdo who bought six packages of hair dye for no reason.’”

  Riss shrugged in response, then nodded as the two of them went inside the apartment building. Lex bowed her head as they passed the apartment manager in the hallway as they headed downstairs. She was an older woman, a relative of the Chen’s, and although she nodded her head in return, she looked after Riss and Lex with suspicion. Lex sighed quietly as they went through the door. One of Mr. Chen’s sons owned the building and several others in the neighborhood, and the three of them had come to be here because Mr. Chen had requested it. Lex felt her stomach start to crawl again as she thought about how much danger they were putting the Chens in, but she pushed the feeling down. Just get well and get out, she thought to herself.

  They found Casey in the kitchen making miso soup. Lex heard her stomach growling now, but she ignored it as she looked up at the blonde.

  “So, how did it go?” Casey asked.

  Lex smiled. “It went really well.”

  “Yeah, we’re about to have a punk rocker in the house,” Riss added, smirking again.

  Casey looked at Lex, who couldn’t help smiling sheepishly. “Yeah, well, I’m going to need someone to help me dye my hair. But, there was something else I wanted to talk to the two of you about. Is that OK?”

  “Sure,” Casey said, reaching behind her to turn the burner under the soup down.

  Riss and Lex sat at the two chairs at the kitchen table while Casey went into Lex’s room to bring the chair that was in there, a wrought iron piece, better constructed than the others. When the three of them were sitting, Lex cleared her throat and then started.

  “While we were out walking, Riss asked a good question about how we’re going to get out of here. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve come up with some ideas, but there’s something I need to know before I think about it anymore. We didn’t talk about this at all before we left, probably because we were too busy figuring out how to escape, but in order to get a good plan for leaving town, I need to know if we’re planning to split up or stick together.”

  Lex looked at Riss and then Casey before she continued. “I know lots of people would say we’d be safer if we split up, but I’ve thought about it a lot, and there are a lot of things we can do as a team that none of us could do individually. So my thinking is that we’ll probably be safer together.

  “I know I haven’t been in the best health over the past month, and I want to thank you both for sticking with me through it. I know you took big risks to do it. I feel like I’m going to be fine, but I know there are no guarantees. I did want to add that you two have been some of the best friends I’ve ever had, and so I feel like I’d like for us to stay together regardless. Of course it’s your decision, though. Give it some thought and let me know.”

  Casey shrugged. “I don’t need to think about it. I’ll be sticking with you. We’re friends, and I think friends should stick together. I’ll ask Lou what he thinks the next time we tal
k, but I’m pretty sure he’ll think the same.”

  Lex smiled at Casey. “Thanks. I’m glad to hear it.”

  She turned to Riss and was about to say something, but Lex shut her mouth instead as she saw the other woman begin to speak.

  “I gave this some thought while you were sick, Lex, so I don’t need to wait. I think we should stick together, too. I was thinking about what I might do now that I’m free, and I didn’t have any good ideas. My mother is dead, and a lot of the people I knew before I was captured have moved on in their lives. But it’s not like I could meet back up with them without anyone finding me, anyway. I know you two and I like you, so I’d also like to stick together.”

  Lex blinked as her eyes prickled, and she smiled at Riss. “OK, then, it’s settled. I’ll think some more about the best way to leave town. If anyone has any good ideas about where we should go, just let me know. If there’s anywhere we should avoid, where someone might recognize you, let me know that, too.”

  “Kansas,” Casey said as she crossed her arms across her chest.

  “Aside from here, my mother did have some relatives in the Atlanta area that might recognize me, so we should probably avoid there.”

  After a few moments of silence, the topic passed on to something else, and Casey insisted that Lex eat some lunch before she took a nap.

  The following day, with Lex in the middle of doing her exercises, Riss came into the room with Lex and Casey, who was spotting her in case she ran out of energy. Lex looked up, surprised, since she would have almost said that Riss “hurried” into the room, but she didn’t usually associate Riss with that word. As Casey looked up, Riss started speaking.

  “I didn’t say anything yesterday because I didn’t want to worry you before I confirmed it, but I’ve lost touch with Lou.”

  “What?” Lex and Casey had spoken almost at once, and turned to each other before looking back at Riss.

  Riss glanced at Lex before speaking. “I’d set up a disappearing e-mail communication for him, like we used when we were still at the M Agency. I tried him yesterday and couldn’t get him, but we always said that a one day lag was OK. But when I tried today I couldn’t get him either. Once the e-mail disintegrated, I set up a phone call from a dummy number to his, but I only get his voice mail. So, I tracked the phone. It looks like it’s at his apartment, which isn’t right since he should be at work. I figured maybe he forgot it and tried all the security cameras near where he’s working right now, but I can’t see him. There are some blind spots, though, since he’s working on a fairly tall building. I could go out there with some binoculars, if you want me to, but I’m thinking it might be a waste of time.”

  Lex stared at Riss for a moment, thinking the speech had been the longest thing she’d ever heard the other woman say. When she turned to Casey, though, Lex’s stomach flopped at the way the blonde’s face had paled and how her hand had dropped as if forgotten.

  “Go out there,” Casey said, her voice low, the sound seemingly forced out. “Please. Check his apartment, too, in case he’s sick or something.”

  “OK, I’m on my way. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Riss said, slipping out of the room. Moments later, Lex heard the front door close softly. Lex looked up at Casey and put a hand on her arm, which seemed to shake the blonde out of her thoughts.

  “We’ll find him, don’t worry. He’d be pretty difficult to hide.”

  Casey nodded, trying to muster an expression as if this had reassured her, but Lex noticed her eyes were still focused on the distance and filled with worry.

  The next few hours passed silently, and even though Lex had wanted to stay awake, she did nap for a while when Casey insisted. Several minutes after she’d gotten up, Riss came back.

  Once she’d unwrapped her scarf and put her coat on a chair, Riss said, “I went out and looked for a couple of hours, just to be sure I didn’t miss anyone, but I didn’t see him. When I went to his apartment, I found the locks on his front door had been broken. He wasn’t home, and if he went somewhere, it didn’t look like he packed anything.”

  Casey just looked down at her hands, her face completely lost. Lex straightened up as she put a hand on Casey’s.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll find him,” she said with more confidence than she felt.

  “There’s one more thing, though,” Riss said as she looked at the other two. “While you were sick, we made a way to communicate with Lily in case of emergency, on her side or on ours. She sent a message a little while ago saying that she’s on her way here. It was only a couple words, and sounded like she was in a hurry, so I don’t know what’s up.”

  Casey still seemed trapped in her own thoughts, but Lex and Riss exchanged looks of concern. “What the hell’s going on today?” Lex muttered.

  By the time Lily arrived, Lex had convinced Casey to follow her into the kitchen and was in the process of making tea for the two of them. Riss and Lex both looked up as Lily entered, and they could see that she looked agitated.

  “What’s wrong?” Lex asked, watching the doctor for reactions.

  Lily sighed and put a hand to her temple. She looked over at Lex as if for support and then began to speak.

  “They called me in to look at a new subject today. They told me he’d just arrived and wanted me to do a thorough physical. I was suspicious when I saw him—he was someone like you, Casey, and they usually don’t take in people like you anymore, since your body type is so resistant to change. Anyway, I might as well get to the point. His name is Louis Wingfield. Do you know him?”

  Lex’s steps stumbled as she headed for the stove, and Casey’s head came up, her expression incredulous. Riss shook her head and put her forehead in her hand.

  “I guess you do,” Lily said, biting her lip and looking sorrowful.

  After Lex poured the tea and sat back down, the four of them looked at each other, now sitting around the table with Lily leaning against the door. Lex felt her brain start to kick into gear after that long moment, and began to nod after a few seconds. She came back to the present to find Riss and Lily looking at her, seemingly waiting for her to speak.

  “OK, everyone,” Lex began. “This isn’t as bad as it seems. I’ve never been one to want to leave people behind, and this is no exception. If we work together, I think there’s a way we can get Lou back safely. Riss, we’d have to lean on you for this plan to work, so it may become known that you can do a lot more than you’ve let on. On the other hand, if we can manage it according to plan, we’ll be able to deal out some payback. Not that I’m much for getting even, but in this case it might be more important for other people than for us.” She paused for a moment, looking around the table before continuing. “Unfortunately, if we’re not officially considered criminals now, if we carry out my plan, we surely will be afterward. Casey, I’m assuming you’re for going in to get Lou.”

  Casey nodded, eyes wide, and Lex continued. “OK, then, Riss, think it over. If this is going to work, we all need to pull together, so decide what you’d like to do. Lily,” Lex said, turning to the other woman, “this is probably something that the less you know about the better, but if the plan I’m considering works out as expected, it may interfere with your work.”

  Lily shrugged in return. “That’s fine by me. Working for MSI wasn’t my idea in the first place.”

  “Good,” Lex said, nodding, “I want to set a goal of two weeks for us to carry out Lou’s rescue, assuming we all agree on the plan. So if all goes well, in two weeks we’ll be out of your family’s hair, Lily.”

  Riss looked over at Lex. “I agree with you that no one should get left behind. As for the rest, I’m already considered a criminal without having done a thing to deserve it, so I might as well do something to earn the title. Let’s work together to figure out what to do and then go get him.”

  Casey looked over at Riss. Her eyes were shinier than usual, and she had to clear her throat before she was able to speak. “Thanks, Riss. You’ll never know how much th
is means to me.”

  Riss just smiled a tiny grin in response and nodded.

  Chapter 23: Flight

  “Come on, get on,” Casey said, kneeling down and gesturing to her back.

  Lex sighed as she climbed up and fastened the straps around herself, to bind her to her friend like a backpack. “I just don’t feel right doing this. Plus, I feel completely stupid.”

  Lex could hear as well as feel Casey laugh as the taller woman stepped out of the back of the van, carefully maneuvering so that she didn’t hit the passenger on her back on the door frame. “Relax. I can’t even feel you back there since you’re so skinny these days. I know you want to be running around like you usually do, but be patient. You’ll be ready again soon; just don’t push yourself.”

  Sighing as she rested her chin on Casey’s broad shoulder, Lex bit back her annoyance at feeling so helpless. “You’re right, but I just want to be doing more.”

  “You’ve done enough. We wouldn’t have been here at all if it weren’t for you. Come on, let’s go in.”

  Lex looked glumly at the unobtrusive MSI sign nearby, wondering if that was a good thing. As they neared the building, Lex said in a quiet voice, “Casey, we might see some awful things in there.”

  After a long moment of silence, she heard Casey’s reply. “I know.”

  “Worse than that,” Lex continued, knowing she needed to, “we won’t be able to help anyone, not if we want to make it through this.”

  The long sigh Casey let out was the only answer Lex thought she’d get until she heard her friend say, “I’ll try not to stop; just remind me if I forget.”

  “OK,” Lex agreed, poking her head up over the top of Casey’s shoulder so she could see where they were going.

  Almost to the door leading into the facility from the loading dock, she could see that a few haggard-looking people had gathered. Most wore hospital gowns and blinked as if it had been awhile since they’d seen sunlight.

  “Don’t wait here,” Casey told them, and pointed northwest. “There’s a break in the fence back there, and a few garbage bags full of clothes. Take what you need and keep going, but get out of here as quickly as you can.”