The Hard Way: Part 11

by Perri Smith

 

 


Deadpool didn't answer her this time. Theresa couldn't even look at him, just swallowed hard, moving to kneel next to Wolverine. Delphi was sitting next to him, pale and sweating.

"How is he?" Siryn asked.

Delphi didn't answer; Theresa looked up to see the other woman staring at her with confused, almost disbelieving eyes. Her gaze flickered to Deadpool and back to Siryn, then a slight smile touched her lips before she looked back down at Wolverine. The smile faded quickly. "He's not good. I've got him stabilized, but there's only so much I can do right now." Her lips tightened. "Dammit, I shouldn't've wasted energy healin' that pain in the butt Nyct after Wolverine almost took her arm off. Shoulda just let her bleed to death." She looked back up to meet Siryn's eyes. "I won't kid you, Terry. If we don't get him out of here, he's goin' to die."

Deadpool muttered something that could have been, "Let him."

Siryn ignored him. "By now, everyone in this place is after our blood. How're we goin' t' get past them?"

Delphi cocked her head, eyes focusing on nothing in particular. "There are somethin' like five back doors -- we'll use one of them," she said absently.

"If we can get to them," Deadpool put in, apparently getting over his sulk. "Which ain't exactly gonna be a Sunday in the park with George."

"Are ye sayin' the great Deadpool can't get out o' here with his hide intact?" Theresa asked archly.

"Hey, Deadpool can get out of anything, Red, but I can't speak for the deadweight." He motioned at Wolverine, who managed to open one eye.

"Who ya callin' deadweight?"

"Logan?" Siryn leaned over him. "How are ye feelin'?"

"Like I got stabbed in the gut with a knife," he groaned, his voice frighteningly weak. "Where the hell are we, anyway?"

"In deep trouble," Delphi answered.

"With you two involved, I ain't suprised."

Delphi's jaw tightened, but she didn't answer. "Shut up and relax, you can't spare the energy to talk. Besides, we've got company coming."

"Company?" Deadpool was on his feet instantly. "But the place is a mess and I haven't got a thing to wear. . . they'll just have to come back later. How many?"

"'Bout ten," Delphi answered, hauling herself up. Siryn supported her until she was standing, feeling new pain flare through her leg. "Comin' in the same way we did, standard two-by-two cover."

"How unimaginative. These guys really have to develop a sense of style, some creativity even. You two go out on point; I'll get the hairball. Fill up those lungs of yours, gorgeous."

"Already have, Deadpool," Siryn snapped. "Ye just worry about Wolverine."

"Wolverine can worry about himself," Logan said, trying to get up. "Soon as the old healin' factor kicks in. . ."

Deadpool snorted, then groaned as he hefted Wolverine's bulk again, over Logan's protests. "Pipe down, Wolvemeister, or I'll leave ya here, Delphi or not."

"Fine by me, merc." Wolverine bit back a curse as Deadpool's shoulder landed in a particularly bad area. "Don't let the door. . . . hit you on the way out."

"Oh, will the two o' ya knock off the macho posturin'?" Delphi hissed over her shoulder. Her gun was ready in her right hand, her left shoulder supported by Siryn. "On three. Un. Deux. Trois!"

They slammed the door opened and jumped into the corridor. Siryn cut loose at the same time Delphi started firing; they managed to catch the patrol completely flat-footed. The latter only managed to get off a few shots before the combination of ammunition and high-intensity sound knocked them back and out.

"And you didn't even trip over each other; that's really impressive." Deadpool stepped back under the force of their combined glares. "I know, I know, 'Shut up, Wade.' You two gotta get some new material."

"Not t' mention some new relatives," Delphi muttered, trying to take a step and almost falling on her face. Siryn caught her before she fell too far. "Thanks. Come on, the. . . um. . . safest back route is this way."

She gestured to their left, into the darkness. The lights hadn't been restored to most of this area -- it was apparently a low-priority. So there would be fewer guards. Right. The logic should have comforted Siryn; instead, it made her uneasy.

Wolverine apparently had a similar reaction. He levered himself away from Deadpool enough to look her in the eyes. "Delphi, what aren't ya tellin' us?"

Delphi raised an eyebrow at him. "All kinds o' things, Wolvie, most of which are none o' your business. If you want to get out o' here, you're just gonna have to go on faith."

Theresa studied her, trying to weigh the massive contradictions that were Deadpool and Delphi. "Two questions," she asked slowly.

"I don't guarantee answers," Delphi shrugged.

"Why didn't Tam just ask ye for the information she needed, if y'r clairvoyant as Wolverine said?"

Delphi grinned crookedly. "'Cause she would've had to tell me why she wanted it before I'd even Look for it. And unlike some people in this room --" her eyes went pointedly to Deadpool "-- I don't fight other mutants unless they start it. 'Specially for someone else's genocidal agenda."

"Then why were ye here?"

Delphi took a deep breath, shifting her weight. She started to speak, but Deadpool caught her eye, shaking his head. She sighed instead, and answered, "Because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Can we get moving now?"

Siryn caught the exchange between brother and sister and opened her own mouth to pursue it, but Delphi started walking, and the wound in her leg abruptly made itself known again. At least the bleeding didn't start again.

They made their way through the darkness, hearing footsteps thunder almost constantly, their direction obscured by echoes. The combination was enough to make them all jumpy. Fortunately, the conditions didn't last very long.

"Oh hell."

Delphi's quiet curse was all the warning the other three had before the force of yet another explosion knocked them off their feet and to the ground.

"What the hell was that one?" Deadpool hollered, struggling to get out from under Wolverine, who was just as eager to get off of him but less able to do much about it. "When did we plant a bomb out this way?"

"We didn't," Delphi answered calmly. "Come on, we go this way." She pointed in the direction the explosion had come from.

The others traded glances, their expressions ranging from a polite 'Excuse me?' to 'Are you out of your mind?' "I hate to break this to you, Jordie, but we want to go away from where things are going boom!" Deadpool grated sarcastically.

"Unless you got somethin' you haven't shared." Wolverine added, then realized he'd just agreed with Deadpool and growled.

"No, we don't and yes, I have. Trust me." She started limping down the hall towards the sounds of a large, noisy fight.

Siryn stayed long enough to make sure Wolverine was all right, then charged after Delphi, getting back under her shoulder. "I hope ye know what y'r doin'," she said.

"So do I." Delphi looked back over her shoulder, worry clear on her face. "If I'm wrong. . . "

Siryn followed her gaze. Deadpool was completely carrying Wolverine now, and Logan was barely protesting. Blood was staining the back of Wade's uniform; there was a lot of blood. Siryn bit her lip and started moving faster.

"How much further?" she asked quietly.

"Not much."


Part 12

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