Just a Rogue

Corinne

It is so isolating. I shower alone, dress alone. I eat breakfast alone, even though homeless people from all over Arcata are showing up here to receive the free meal distribution. I even recognize some of them from the town square. I volunteer to help serve the food, but I am told that the Luna’s instructions were very clear, I should stay as far away from anyone else as possible. I don’t think they know why, maybe they think I’m dangerous. But they are leaving me entirely alone.

I’m shown to what looks like a little storage closet that was probably hastily cleared out for me, with a single cot in it, and I lie down on that. Take a nap? I’m too anxious to get back to sleep.

I can’t take a walk around Arcata, what would be the point of that? I might be seen by someone who reports to Xavier, and besides Janine will track my shoes and wonder what I’m doing out taking a stroll.

I flop over on the cot onto my stomach. I won’t be able to do that for much longer. Assuming the baby lives. Assuming I do. I bury my head in my arms, but in a few minutes I can’t stand this any more.

What am I doing? I don’t see any point in staying here. For all I know Xavier is on his way to Arcata right now. Why bother spending the night here, just to make it seem like I’ve really been at the shelter? I’m here now, I cleansed the pack scent off, I might as well just get on with it.

I sit back up, a sudden sense of resolve seizing me. Yes. I’m going now. Right now. The sooner I get to the cave and get everything set up, the better. If I have to wait in the cave for a few days, at least I’m where I need to be, not wasting time in Arcata with humans. I reach down under the cot for my backpack, check inside to make sure everything is still there, the spy equipment, a bunch of snacks, some water bottles. I stuff my crop top and shorts that I was wearing earlier on top. Who knows, if Xavier accepts me back, maybe he’ll demand that I put them back on - anything to keep him happy for a couple of days.

I tie my tracker shoes, sling my pack across my back, and leave the little closet. Walking up to the front desk, I see the same girl there that greeted me a couple of hours ago. “I’m going now,” I tell her, “thank you for everything.”

“What?” she looks shocked. “Aren’t you supposed to stay here tonight?” She probably thinks that I’m escaping, and the pack wouldn’t want me to.

I shrug. “Do me a favor, please, and text the Luna to let her know that I’m going. She’ll know where. It’ll be fine with her.”

She responds only with widened eyes and a worried nod.

I stride purposefully out the door and down the street, back towards the forest. The cave is miles from here, I’m glad I didn’t wait any longer to go. I want to get there before dark to set up all the equipment. It’ll be a long walk. I increase my pace.

Janine

Darlene and Amelia are checking websites, weather reports, local news broadcasts in Northern California, webcams, anything that might give a hint about where the rogues are now, and when they might be arriving in Arcata. I did get one hit on a credit card that apparently the owner of the rogue phone uses, which had the security information stored on the phone, from a motel in Southern Oregon several days ago, but nothing since then.

Suddenly I realize that the tracking devices I am following are no longer at the shelter. I lean down and squint at my laptop screen, watching as they move steadily down the street. This isn’t a GPS glitch. Corinne is on the move.

My cell phone chimes, and I look at the notifications, and see a text from the shelter. “She left, she said that you’d know where. I hope it’s okay that I didn’t try to stop her?”

I quickly text back, “That’s fine, thank you for your help.”

Amelia and Darlene are staring at me, knowing that something has happened. “She’s heading to the cave already,” I tell them.

Darlene looks worried, but Amelia nods her head. “I thought she might. Once she decided to do this, I think she just wanted to get it over with. She’s so determined.”

I think about it. “I agree. It should take her a few hours to walk out there. I wasn’t going to send the drones out until later, but I think we should move that plan up too. Amelia, can you go out and see if the guys are ready?”

As she is heading out the door, I look back at the screen. She’s already a few blocks from the shelter, moving fast, obviously wanting to get on with it.

Amelia

I already know how they’re doing, Dom has been keeping me posted, of course. But any excuse to go ogle my gorgeous mate. I’d be happy to spend time admiring his lean, dark form while he cavorts with drone tech, but I know that Janine wants to send them out to the area near the cave to try to learn anything we can.

As I go out the backdoor, something divebombs me from above, then zooms over my head and back up, and I admit that I flinch and fling my hands up over my head with a squeak.

“Not cool, Dom,” Theo chides him. “Attacking your mate? Ten points from Gryffindor.”

That makes us all laugh, but I do shake my finger in an exaggerated way at Dom, who is holding the controller and expertly making the little drone zoom around.

But enough goofing off. “Corinne has left the shelter and is walking up to the cave,” I announce.

“Already?” Evan says, sounding perturbed.

“I know you’re worried about her, Evan,” I tell him quietly. “But she’s going to be fine. She is so strong, probably more than you realize.”

He nods unhappily, his blond surfer hair falling into his eyes.

“So,” I go on, back to the topic at hand, “Janine says it’s time to bring the drones up to the area around the cave and start mapping it out, and trying to find some hiding places that are close but not enough that we’d be detected.”

Theo uses his crutches to stand up and says “Okay, I’m in.”

Evan looks at him doubtfully, and I have to agree. “Um, Theo, how about I go and you stay here with Janine?” I suggest. “You’ll need to track the drone apps, she doesn’t know what you’ve figured out yet.”

He gives me some side eye. “I know what you actually mean. Red shirt here can’t handle being on the away team.”

Evan and Dom laugh, and I’m not sure exactly what this reference must be from. These guys are all such sci fi nerds, they apparently all watch the same sorts of shows, and I don’t get half the quotes.

“She’s right,” Dom says. “You stay here and show Janine how the app works, and you can track the video. I’ll drive Evan and Amelia up towards the cave. Maybe we can stop at the trailhead that’ll be the meetup spot, and launch the drones from there.”

Theo sighs, and swings with his crutches back towards the packhouse. “Don’t crash those things,” he warns, “you don’t want to have to run into the cave area to fetch them and spoil everything with your scent.”

We look at each other. Yeah, good point.

“Well,” Dom says, “shall we get on with it?”