Pursuit (Patreon)

Well, I needed to do some cooldown writing, and the discord suggested Sentinel. Enjoy a snippet!

...

17 March - 2002

Mountain Mesa, South of Lake Isabella

"You should take her up there." Hood shaded his eyes, trying to pick out where Julia had disappeared up the trail. Light on her feet. Faster than the two of them, the eager spirit of youth compared to two old men. Well, relatively old.

"You told me we're supposed to stay out of sight," Sentinel reminded, voice cracking momentarily before he lowered it another notch and masked it with a cough.

"I didn't mean now. Later. Once we've rounded up the asshole. He's running out of places to hide."

"Don't think she's fond of flying." A cooling breeze whipped around them, tugging at Sentinel's poncho. They both wore camouflage over their skinsuits to help blend in. "Froze when we dropped down from the cooling tower, remember?"

"I do. Which is why you should take her flying. Have some fun. She used to do what you do for a living, you know? Wingsuits. Stunts."

"Not like me, John, and I don't do girl-to-girl bonding anymore, you know that."

"I know. Wasn't what I was talking about. She crashed, the wind hit her wingsuit wrong, and she'd be paralyzed if she hadn't been modded. What you did probably dragged up some trauma, though she'd hate to admit it."

"Shit. I didn't know. I just wanted to get us down fast."

"I know. And she didn't know about you either. So don't hold her big mouth against her." Hood started walking again, picking up the pace.

"If I held a grudge about everyone that's been misgendering me, I might as well become a villain right away." Sentinel followed, as did the wind, giving them a welcome boost. "It's cool," he lied. "Everyone's still getting used to it."

"You get in any more trouble, you just let me know." Hood shifted a few rocks, adding steps where Julia had climbed, limber as a mountain goat.

"I don't need you to take care of me, John." Sentinel followed, frowning at the empty skies. He should be up there.

"I know," Hood chuckled. "But I'm the Marshal; I get paid to yell at reporters. About the only times I get to be scary these days, don't begrudge me my fun."

"I know you are trying to care of the team. I get it." The path evened out, and they spotted Julia, now quite far ahead, dipping behind another rock. "Is that why you want me to take her?"

"She loved doing what she did." Hood shrugged and lengthened his step. "Must kill her that she can't do it anymore. That it's just bad memories. Maybe you can give her some new ones."

"Flying is pretty great..." The wind picked up once more, teasingly tugging at their clothes.

"We are still not flying." Hood gestured towards the slope. "We'd be sitting ducks against the clear sky, and I don't know the range of his rifle."

"I'm getting blisters." Sentinel grimaced; his skinsuit was not made for walking long distances. "Almost preferable to take my chances up there. Would help us spot him too."

"How fast can you get up high enough to be safe?" Hood shaded his eyes, trying to pick out good ambush spots.

"Faster than our newest member can dodge a bullet. You should call her back; I thought we weren't supposed to get separated." Sentinel stripped off the poncho, holding it awkwardly in front of him. Skinsuits could be unforgiving, even if he was the only one who saw everything wrong with him.

"We weren't. I just wanted to get a word in with you first." Hood activated his radio. "Julia, wait up. You're getting too far ahead. Let Sentinel scout first. Over."

"No need," came the reply, her voice giddy with excitement. "I've spotted them. If I'm careful, I can take them before they see me. I'll have this wrapped up before you get here, Charge, over and out."

"Them? Shit." Hood looked over at Sentinel, who nodded.

"Guess whoever named her Charge knew what they were doing. I'll be right there."

And then the wind swooped down, leaving Hood alone to break into a swearing run. This bloody team would be the death of him.