Christmas Time in Hunger City

[apocalypsejack]

Jack had immunized quite a number of people in the past few weeks for safety's sake. The virus in their water worked fast on those without immunity. It was one of the things the founding members of the Diamond Dogs all had in common, a natural immunity to the virus. However, as more sought asylum they had to develop a vaccine. That was neither here nor there at this point.

Jack was waiting not far from his doorway for those who wanted to come. He knew the twins at the very least would arrive soon. Minoru had insisted on gifts for the kids. He had managed to scrape up some gifts for the twins as well. He wasn't sure if Balthazar would be there when he got to his high rise space. The angel was welcome when they got there but he thought maybe he would prefer something more private now that they were living more and more like a family.

Comments

[itmeanstruth]

“Given that any one of your children have more experience than we do combined, I would not be opposed in the slightest.” Isamu immediately saw the logic of the offer. A parent, after all, would ensure their child’s safety above all else.

Minoru, though, missed the insight in Jack’s next question entirely. “Carry us? Either of us probably outweighs you two to one.”

“I believe it is in reference to the horses. They are, after all, living modes of transportation.”

“Oh.”

[apocalypsejack]

Jack laughs at the banter because how can he not? There are a couple kids with the horses brushing them and getting ready to turn them out in the park for awhile to graze.

It only takes a few words before they are saddling up two of the smaller horses for the twins. Jack though walks farther in, Diamond bounding behind him.

It doesn't take long before he comes out on a roan horse that was definitely used for pulling and not riding. It has straps with stirrups and no saddle. Tassles hanging off the bridle. It has a very Arab flair to it, though Jack had just pulled this off the carriage equipment. He also has what is very clearly a military rifle on his back and a machete sheathed on the side of the strapping.

[itmeanstruth]

The twins were in awe for a moment. They never really had the chance to see horses up close before.

Whatever Jack did with the horses, the twins would try and replicate - which, with the smaller, tamer variety, hopefully worked out relatively well on the first try.

Overall, Isamu found the experience of sitting on top of an animal fairly nerve-wracking. Before they even went anywhere, Minoru, however, thought it was neat.

[apocalypsejack]

The kids taking care of the horse will definitely help the twins get into the saddles. The two smaller horses are a gentle ride and much smaller than the one Jack is riding.

"This is Sabre." He glances back at the two the twins are on. "Mocha and TimTim are the those two. The kids take them out all the time."

Jack starts them walking slowly and the other two horses naturally follow his. The twins don't have to do much right now but stay upright in the saddles and get used to the rolling motion of a horse.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru got the hang of that far faster than Isamu did, but eventually, the older twin stopped feeling the need to hang on for dear life.

“I do believe I am starting to get the hang of this... maybe...”

What was much harder to get the hang of was the scenery. It felt so wrong. These were real recognizable places stripped bare and left to rot. The derelict buildings and crumbling overpasses, skeletons in the snow, blood splatter in places that had yet to be washed away... Jack lived here. No, Jack survived here. Living might not have been the best word to use.

The twins asked about this and that, about landmarks they knew from their own world, about people or lack thereof them. But things seemed a little more anxious when Minoru pointed and asked, “...hey, Jack. What’s that up there?”

[apocalypsejack]

By this time they are all riding beside each other and Jack nods. "It's not hard to get used to but your legs are going to hurt tomorrow."

Jack laughs lightly because he knows and remembers that himself. The people here would describe it as living, even thriving comparatively. One can get used to a lot of things in the long run. Normal can easily be someone else's horrific. Jack knows most of the landmarks though there will certainly be some that the twins know the names of that Jack doesn't. He'll tell them about the Ministry suppressing history; burning and rewriting books as they see fit. They'll also find out there are several hundred people down in the financial district and some other choice locations in Manhattan but they live up in the skyscrapers and the snow keeps a lot of people inside unless they are hunting or working.

"This way." Jack doesn't even explain before turning them into an alley and hopefully to the next street over. "Drones. The Ministry is always trying to catch us. If the drones see us they'll send video back and choppers will start coming."

He glances sympathetically at Isamu. "Can you gallop if we need to?"

Jack's words are rushed. If needed Sabre could probably carry all three of them and definitely could manage two but riding without a saddle like Jack did was significantly more difficult at a run.

[itmeanstruth]

Somehow, even amidst abject poverty and post-apocalyptic horror, Isamu still managed to shudder at the thought of burned books. At any other time, Minoru might have chuckled, but not today.

Today, they had to first avoid the welcoming committee...

Isamu nearly fell off his horse on the sharp turn into the alley, but managed to catch himself. Both of the twins’ hearts were pounding in their chests. They knew enough about the ministry to know how bad that was. Get caught, and they’d either kill you or make you wish they did.

“No, no no no... That’s not good.”
“And that, right there, an understatement.”

“Do you think they saw us?” Minoru asked. But if Jack was getting ready to book it, there was either a good chance they had or no sense waiting to find out.

“Gallup?” Isamu gulped.

“The answer’s yes, bro. Even if the answer’s no, the answer’s yes.”

[apocalypsejack]

Jack turns to look back at the twins and then scans the sky that can be seen between the buildings. "Not yet."


Though he's worried and that is obviously in his voice. His gaze settles on Isamu and then he shakes his head. "IF we have to, just hold on. She'll follow Sabre. She's used to that."

Jack starts them moving slowly off down the street and then into a nearby alley. "If there's only one we'll be fine. If they sent a whole lot in, we're going to have to run."

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru knew he could probably hold on without much issue. And if he couldn’t, he was prepared to take the inevitable fall and get away on foot. (His half of the presents might end up a little worse for the wear, but at that point, so be it.) But he glanced over at Isamu nervously, biting his lip.

“I’d say you could ride tandem with me, but I don’t think these little horses would hold us both.”

“It’s okay, Minoru. I... I can do this.” Isamu insisted. For a name that meant courage, he didn’t feel particularly brave most of the time. But Isamu knew that he went down, Minoru would turn back for him without question. If one of them got caught, all of them would get caught. The only logical conclusion was to do exactly what Jack said, and hold on for dear life.

As they ducked between streets and alleys, the twins kept their eyes to the sky.

This time, it as Isamu who spotted them.

“We are not fine.” His words came out so fast, they nearly blurred together. “Not. Fine.”

“Three!” Minoru pointed.
“Four.” Isamu corrected.

[apocalypsejack]

Truth is Jack would turn around for either of them as well. He was frowning at the sky and then looked at the two with him. They would never make it out running the drones.

"How well do you two know New York?" It was the obvious question since they had been able to identify some of the structures. Jack knew the drones would follow him above all others. The Ministry wanted him.

For the moment he led them into an alley with some cover but this wouldn't last long. "If you can get to the financial district from here I can lead them away."

That or they were all going to make a run for it and they would be running into choppers before they got to the chase building or worse, people on the ground.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru stared at Jack, eyes wide. “I know a few of the big landmarks, but everybody knows that!”

“The streets are aligned in relatively simple grid pattern, streets descending in number into lower Manhattan and avenues descending in letters into the east of the island. The financial district should be just southwest of the Brooklyn Bridge, which I would assume, like Central Park or the Empire State Building, is large enough that it still exists in a recognizable form in this world.”

“How do you even...”

“You informed me where we were going, so I familiarized myself with several area maps so that I could more properly analyze, compare and contrast the differences between Jack’s world and ours.”

Not that there was time for this conversation now. But together, it was evident they had a good chance of making it where they needed to go.

“What do we do when we arrive at the Chase building? How do we take appropriate shelter?” Isamu asked.

“And what about you?!”

[apocalypsejack]

"Brooklyn is the only bridge we left standing." Jack tells Isamu quickly. "Chase is next to the Police station at Liberty and William."

Jack's listening more now than looking. He was trying to determine which types of drones were out. "Take the horses into the front door. There's tie ups by the elevators. Nothing flying will get down into the financial district. You just have to make it past Chambers street."

Jack wheeled his horse to get a 360 view of around them.

"I can ride better than you two. I'll take them on a goose chase the other way." Jack smiles at them like this may be fun. "I can lose them in the park and circle around."

[itmeanstruth]

"Do those directions make sense?" Minoru asked, and Isamu nodded.

"I believe I can navigate sufficiently, yes. That cross street matches its location on the maps from our world. I do not recall a police station, but that is probably irrelevant."

"Isamu, you're my hero."

Indeed, the drones were out in full force. Jack was going to have his work cut out for him.

[apocalypsejack]

"Take the next street over." Jack tells them as he pulls the rifle off his back. "I'll take them the other way. Once I shoot one down you'll be in the clear."

Jack started walking the horse away from them. He was going to have to do some fancy riding to get out of this for sure.

[itmeanstruth]

"...s..shoot one... Right..." Isamu pursed his lips and let out a quick sigh. This was every bit as dangerous as he feared it was going to be, if not more so.

"What are you always telling me about focusing?" Minoru snapped him out of those thoughts. "Concentrate on that map in your head. Jack said the your horse is good at following, right? I'll lead, you just have to tell me where to go. Okay? You can do this."

"We can do this..."

That was all the pep talk they were going to get, though, before they both heard a gunshot going off.

"Come on, let's go!"

[apocalypsejack]

It wasn't just a single rifle shot but there was something semi-automatic after. If the twins could avoid any other drones they'd probably be fine provided they don't get lost somewhere because of ruins or differences between their own world and this one.

Jack on the other hand found that it was good the boys had been sent away because he rode right into the people from the Ministry around one of the corners and needed to bolt in the other direction. This was going to be worse than he thought.

[itmeanstruth]

Neither of the boys were prepared for the shots being fired, not really. The horses, thankfully, weren’t nearly as spooked, and leading them in the direction Jack had pointed wasn’t difficult.

Minoru’s heart was pounding in his chest as he glanced back. He couldn’t see Jack anymore, just Isamu, leaning forward and clinging on for dear life.

“Keep straight?!”

“Yes!” Isamu choked out. “Broadway! Looking for Broadway... slight turn there!”

Minoru looked up in the sky as two more drones whizzed past them.

“Oh no... no no no no...”
“More?!”
“Yes, more! Don’t look up, just count the streets!”

“Three blocks... two... turn there!” Isamu managed to point, before nearly sliding off the moving horse. He yipped out loud.

“Isamu!!”
“I’m fine!!”
“Just hang on!!”
“This is crazy! You do realize we have to go BACK the other way when we’re done, right?!”
“Mental map now! Say I’m crazy later!!”

[apocalypsejack]

There are more drones that turn when to follow the two on horseback. The distinct beat of helicopter rotors is coming from somewhere nearby too though the tall buildings make it hard to see where.

However, turning down Broadway brings out more gunfire but this is from up in the buildings. One of the Drones drops out of the sky not far from the boys. They're getting close enough to Jack's territory that there's some protection.

They don't get too far down Broadway before the sound of pounding hooves joins the sound of choppers and the whir of drones.

"Run!" Jack busts out of one of the alleys, horse shiny with sweat and two helicopters not far behind. The second one, that hasn't caught up yet, clearly has someone leaning out the side with a gun.

[itmeanstruth]

At the sound of more gunfire, the cures start coming in both English and Japanese. The twins almost crash into each other, but Minoru managed to get his horse to turn at the last second.

“I think... they’re on our side! Jack’s side!”

“I don’t care, I just want to get INSIDE!” Isamu shrieked back. His nerves were understandably frayed. To be honest, Minoru was just as terrified, but years of working in a hospital had trained him to keep going through emergency situations.

And speaking of Jack...

Relief mixed with terror as the twins realized just what was behind them.

“Go! Now! Isamu! Faster! Come on!!” Minoru shouted.

“Chambers... five blocks... four...” he squealed, knuckles white from gripping the reins.
“Just hang on! Almost there!!”

More gunshots went off, and both boys screamed. Neither of them were sure what direction they came from or who was the intended target. When they immediately shouted each other’s names, they knew they were both still good.

“Two.. Two more blocks!”

[apocalypsejack]

Jack is coming up hard behind them. The running of his horse causing the other two to break into a faster run. The choppers are coming up too fast.

Jack reins up and reels his horse around the backside of one of the cars in the middle of the street. He puts it between the horse and the choppers. Leveling the rifle, bullets flying around him, he starts shooting right at the lead helicopter's front glass. It's enough to slow them up for a moment.

Turning he horse he starts after the twins again. He catches up fast, as a better rider and a larger horse. "Whatever you hear, don't look back. Keep going."

Jack knew if any of the kids he raised up were on top of the buildings down by Chase and heard the gunshots, there might be rocket launchers involved.

[itmeanstruth]

The sound of the choppers, the horses and their own hearts pounding was completely overwhelming. When they picked up speed, Isamu lost count. He clamped his eyes shut and practically choked his horse, desperately clinging just to stay on.

At first, Minoru didn’t even notice. Jack was coming up behind them, and the Financial District was dead ahead.

But those orders... don’t look back...

Even Minoru screamed in utter terror when more gunshots beget even louder rocket launchers. He couldn’t help himself. He turned toward his brother, and saw Jack in the periphery - fighting to keep them alive. It was brutal. It was horrifying. This whole world was heart-wrenchingly horrifying...

“You have a job to do, Fan Man.” He spat at himself, taking a deep breath as the horses continued to sprint underneath the battle.

“Isamu! Directions! Now!”

“I can’t!” He spat between heaving breaths. Rarely did Isamu speak in contractions. He was panicking, and understandably so.

“Yes, you can!”
“Can’t!”
“Breathe! In! Out! You gotta open your eyes! I don’t know where to go!!”

“...”

“Bro!!”

The answer was a squeak compared to his usual voice, but it was an answer. “...park... stay right... Liberty... is five streets... past park... then left...”

“We’re almost there!”

[apocalypsejack]

Jack is riding at a full gallop, no hands on the reins and gun in his hands. He's waiting and watching in case they try to box them in.

The rocket launcher is a welcome sound and he uses his knees to bring his horse closer, the proximity edging the other two on to the sidewalk and up against the building. The debris falling out of the sky just behind them may be part of the building or a chopper. However, Jack is taking his own advice and keeping his eye forward and not looking back.

"Go through the Park by the City Hall." Jack barks at them because the overgrown trees there would offer some cover to break up their silhouette. "On the other side, take Beekman down to William and go right. Chase is on the right. Just past the Federal Reserve."

As they get to the park Jack peels off again going a different direction and coming around to lay more fire on the chopper. If it lands everything will be worse and Jack knows it. Firing at it should keep them off the ground.

[itmeanstruth]

“You got that, right?” Minoru shouted at his brother as he led them into the cover of the trees.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god...” the elder twin gasped for breath.

“Breathe!! Beekman! Where is that?!”
“Th..there! Just... bridge! Go toward the bridge...”

The trees did provide some cover, even muffling the sounds of battle just a little bit.

“And William? Come on, bro!”

“Few blocks... before Brooklyn Bridge...” the words kept catching in his throat. “Hospital... right at the hospital... if there is one...”

There were certainly ruins of what might have once been a hospital. That, and the only large bridge still standing, were enough that Minoru could roughly figure out where he was.

Isamu nearly fell off the horse again on the next turn. Had they not been side by side, and Minoru given him a quick shove back in the other direction, he might have actually fallen.

“We’re almost there!”

“...can’t do this...” he gasped.

“Yes, you can! Count the blocks!”
“Minoru!”
“Count the blocks!”

“Five...” he stuttered, forcing himself to open tear-filled eyes. “Four now...”

“You’re doing great! Keep counting!”

“Three...” The blocks felt like they stretched on forever. The sounds of gunfire continued. Jack was still back there somewhere, firing up at a chopper. “T..two... Fed... federal reserve... there...”

“I see it!!”

[apocalypsejack]

Donya is waiting for them out in the Chase courtyard, which is also overgrown with trees, with Diamond who had made it back long before they did. The glass door propped open for the horses to come right into the building.

"Where's Jack?" They call to the twins as the horses come running in.

It will be a few minutes before Jack comes from a different direction. His horse coming to a stop, pawing and skittish from whatever he had run into... a fire fight on the ground though he didn't say anything about it. Sabre came inside and Donya closed and locked the door behind. Jack had long ago worked on replacing all the glass with bulletproof varieties. Though once back in the recess by the elevator few would likely see them.

Jack just slumps forward patting his horse's neck. He had hoped this wouldn't happen but the alternative was bringing them through in the dark which had its own problems.

[itmeanstruth]

“Covering us!” Minoru shouted. “How do you stop these things?!”

Either with help, or through dumb luck, he stopped and then dismounted with a leap. He dropped the oversized satchel at Donya’s feet in favor of helping his brother, who was still clutching the horse for dear life. He was pale as a sheet, gasping for breath and shaking like a phone on vibrate.

“Bro! Bro, we made it. Come on!”

“That... over? ...Safe?” The normally verbose twin couldn’t even get more than a word out at a time. And he certainly couldn’t seem to will his body to actually dismount. What Jack said about him being sore tomorrow didn’t even compare to how he felt right now.

“Almost. We just need to get inside.” He took the backpack off Isamu’s back and handed that to Donya as well. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. I promise.”

“Oh god...”

“You saved my butt out there, memorizing a map of Manhattan.” Minoru insisted. “Couldn’t have made it without you counting.”

When he finally coaxed Isamu down from the horse, they sunk down to the ground, and Minoru just held him. He’d had some practice at this with Ziggy, but it probably didn’t help that his own heart was pounding just as quickly.

“Easy does it. Breathe... in, out... in and out...” he kept repeating - just as much for himself as he did for Isamu.

It wasn’t long before Jack came riding in. Isamu jerked, and Minoru held him tighter.

“It’s just Jack. He’s all right. They’re shutting the doors. We’re safe, bro... it’s okay... we’re safe.”

By the time Jack actually dismounted and the horses were all round up, the panic was beginning to subside. His voice was weak, hoarse from screaming, but he sounded a lot more like himself when he muttered, “...Minoru, while I have no intention of breaking my promise to better support you in your endeavors... can you please, please... choose at least a few less dangerous endeavors?”