The trip to Melbourne went by quickly since Margie Joplin was asleep most of the way. It would’ve been great if she and Grant Wharton, her sometimes boyfriend, had some time to test out their new powers before they needed to use them in the field, but she understood the importance of getting to Paul’s people as quickly as possible. As soon as Sheena had injected her and Grant, they’d been transported to the plane, and both of them had been out for most of the flight.
The SUV, driven by another of the Guardians she worked with, Zach, pulled to a stop a few blocks away from Larundel, and Margie took the opportunity to test her X-ray vision. She was able to see right through the cement wall of the abandoned department store they’d parked next to. She was ready to go.
Turning to look at Grant beside her, she couldn’t help but smile. He was a handsome man, and even though he still looked a little groggy, she wouldn’t want anyone else beside her going into this hunt, or any other for that matter. A ripple of anxiety washed through her as she remembered there was a chance he could fall through the floor and disappear, as the others had, but she was determined not to let that happen. When she loaded up this SUV to go back to the airport to catch their flight to Perth, all four of the current occupants would be in it.
“We ready then?” Toni, a tall blonde whose hair resembled a lion’s mane, shaved on the sides but thick and full down the center of her head, with one thin braid on the side, asked, reaching for her holster to check her Glock was where it should be.
“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Margie told the other Guardian. With one more glance at Grant and a nod to Zach, the four of them climbed out of the vehicle and started on their way.
The sun was descending behind the taller buildings, but she could see as if it was midday with her new vision. It would take some getting used to, but she could tell she was going to like these modifications. It would be great to sprint over to Paul’s location now, but she couldn’t go off and leave Zach and Toni, so the four of them walked along, much faster than humans, but only at about half of Margie and Grant’s capacity.
They could see the looming gate up ahead and the towering shrubberies Paul had warned them about. They knew his team was still camped out behind the building, so they swung around wide, and she used her IAC to let the Leader know they were approaching so that he could calm his team. She was certain everyone was on edge. They’d been sitting idly by for hours while their teammates clawed and scratched and did everything they could to break through concrete walls.
“Margie, Grant,” Paul said as they came toe to toe. He grasped each of their hands.
“This is Zach and Toni,” Margie said, gesturing to the other two. “I brought my A team.”
“Good to meet you,” Paul said, shaking the other two hands as well. “We need all the help we can get.”
“Any movement in or out?” Grant asked, getting right to it.
“Not that we can tell. I have a few Guardians on the other side of the building on lookout. No sign of Hines at this point. But we don’t know that he doesn’t have minions capable of carrying out whatever it is he has planned for our teammates.”
“Well, we just have to make sure that’s not an option,” Margie replied, matter-of-fact, but for once in her life, she didn’t feel as confident as she wished she did. Something told her that Hines’s orders were not to move forward with anything until he arrived—unless LIGHTS moved in first.
“How did your procedure go?” Paul asked, and Margie thought she saw a tinge of jealousy around his eyes.
“Good,” she and Grant answered at about the same time. She continued, “I can see through concrete, so that will be helpful.”
“I have a feeling we can break through it, too,” Grant added.
Paul looked relieved, as if he wasn’t sure this idea would work, but now that he’d seen the results, perhaps he’d regained some hope. “That should definitely help.”
“I was so sorry to hear about Becky.” Margie wasn’t an emotional person, but she’d met the Hunter the last time she was here and had liked her. It was a shame to see what had happened to her. Margie had watched the footage. She needed to know what Holland had up her sleeve; it had been gruesome.
Paul nodded but didn’t otherwise respond to her comment. “We found out the hard way we don’t want to go in the water,” he said, turning away, as if he couldn’t look at her at the moment for fear he might get emotional. “So we flung each other over last time, but while most of us kept watch, I sent a team out to get material to build a pontoon bridge.”
“Don’t you think whatever is in the water will just plow right through the bridge?” Grant asked as they all began to walk over toward the rest of the team. Margie could see the moat off in the distance, fifty or so yards away, down a slope in the yard. Larundel looked even more ominous now that the sun was setting than it had before, but she had entered spookier dwellings than this one. It wasn’t even as large as she’d imagined it would be.
“That’s a possibility,” Paul nodded. “We didn’t want to use our firearms the first time because we were trying to be stealthy, but this time, they know we are here. So I’m planning to position a few armed Guardians around the bridge to take out anything that moves.”
“What if they attack underneath the bridge?” Toni asked.
“We’ll just have to get across quickly,” he replied with a shrug.
“Are the silver bullets working on these bitches?” Margie asked, remembering how hard it had been to take them out the first time, even with titanium.
“To some degree. It seems easier since Holland isn’t right here. But remember, she was preoccupied the first time we attacked, so we aren’t sure what she’ll be doing this time. Something tells me, she’ll be ready. And we’ve decide to leave our IACS on.”
“Right. Aaron said he’d try to get Cassidy to set up some sort of a screen if she can, but with so much going on back there, she might not be available for the entire attack. I guess we should just get the show on the road, then.”
“Yes—we just need to get in there and get those five Guardians out. Forget about the original plan for now.”
Margie nodded, though she wasn’t quite sure she agreed with Paul’s assessment. She’d like to wreak a little havoc in there while she was at it if she could. “All right, boss. We’re ready when you are.” She flashed Paul a confident smile, and he returned it, though his was not quite as assured. That was okay—Margie had enough confidence for the lot of them.
