Xavier (Vigilance 4)

X came into view, stepping out right in front of one of the unidentified men.

Before the man even registered X’s appearance, X shot him through the shoulder. He fell back, writhing on the ground. X delivered a kick to his midsection and smiled. After checking his surroundings, X pulled zip ties from his pocket and restrained the man, leaving him there by the side of the path.

Movement on another screen caught my attention, and I realized Badger wasn’t far behind X and seemed to be following him. I wouldn’t have thought Badger had the skill to do that. Maybe he had training he’d never spoken of. He could be ex-military. I’d never been able to learn his background. He was one of the few people who’d ever hidden themselves from me. It was like he had obliterated the man he’d been before he became Badger.

When X continued down the path, Badger moved in the same direction. I clicked on my earpiece so I could warn X, but something was wrong with our communication system. I tried to contact Lancelot who was the closest to X, but he didn’t respond either.

I might be able to fix the problem, but I didn’t have time. Badger was moving closer to X. I had to find a way out so I could warn him.

I looked around the room again. There had to be something I could use to get out. Nothing was going to break through the heavy door, though. I doubted even X could break it down.

I looked around and saw the air duct. Was there any chance I would fit? I’d seen so many action movies where people snuck out of buildings through the air ducts, but it wasn’t something that happened much in reality.

I examined the air return more closely. It looked big enough, but I needed to figure out where it led. It was possible the system wasn’t connected to the rest of the house, but it had to lead outside somewhere.

Fingers flying lightning fast, I brought up everything I could about the house and found a blessedly short path I could take through the ducts, assuming I fit around a ninety-degree turn.

I checked the cameras again and tried the comms once more. They were dead, and Badger was still following X. I was going to have to risk it.

Ideally, I needed a screwdriver to remove the grate, but I’d make do with whatever I could find. I would save X, no matter what it took.

I found a bag in a cabinet that had tools in it, including a screwdriver. I raced over to the air return and got the grate off faster than I thought I would.

I squeeze through and moved forward, cursing my slow progress. I didn’t consider myself claustrophobic, but I definitely didn’t like the tightness of the space. I barely managed to slither around the tight turn by shifting to my side.

Panic threatened to overtake me, but I didn’t stop. X wouldn’t stop. He would do anything to save me, and I needed to show him I would do the same. He needed to understand that concern for each other went both ways.

Finally, I reached the outside wall. I braced myself and kicked against the plate as hard as I could. It budged, but it didn’t come off. I did it again and again. I wouldn’t let a piece of metal stop me. Finally, the grate gave, and I was free.

I hurried away from the house toward the spot where I’d last seen X. My plan, or lack of one, was crazy. I had no weapon and no way to know if X and Badger had changed course since the last time I’d seen them.

I ran, knowing I was making noise but unable to focus on anything but finding X. I rounded a corner and saw him up ahead.

I’d made the right choice. He was really there. I didn’t want to shout from so far away since it would alert anyone nearby to my location and X’s. I was already making enough noise as my feet hit the ground.

Then I heard something and looked into the trees. Badger. He’d caught up to X. He raised his gun.

“No,” I screamed, running toward them.

Badger turned toward me.

“I’m the one you want.”

He aimed at me, then he fell back with a hole through his head.

I felt my arms and face. I was alive. I looked up and saw that X was too.

An unknown man appeared behind X, but half a second later, he crashed to the ground.

Lancelot stepped onto the path. “Got the fucker.”

X looked at Lance, then back at me, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern.

“When did the comms go down?” I asked.

“It’s not been long,” X said. “Maybe ten minutes ago.”

“I think that was the last of them,” Lance said, pointing to the man he’d shot.