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Chapter 173: Scope
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2022-06-15 14:06:31Related chapters
FLUX Chapter 174: Night Car
Tom laced his fingers with Brooke's hand as they sat around with a ring of people. One man sat telling a story of the how he battled a giant cockroach in a tunnel beneath the base one day. It was hard to tell if it was completely made up or had a little basis in truth.Brooke leaned over to him. "Are you ready?" She whispered.He squeezed her hand. "Of course.""Els got us a good spot. Nice and quiet. Well, not for long," she purred.Tom was glad for the dim lighting. He could feel the heat flood to his face. He thought he would be over this by now, but the thought of both Ellie and Brooke together was making his imagination run wild.Brooke faked a yawn, then stood and headed off into the dark. She shot a glance back over at him and raised her eyebrows. He stretched and stood up. Only a few heads turned in his direction. He smiled and nodded then followed after Brooke. The house they chose was on the outskirts of the neighborhood. The railway lay stretching out back to the east.
Last Updated : 2022-06-15FLUX Chapter 175: Drive
Four days after the attack, the survivors set out just after sunset. They hauled the injured onto the newly made carts made from pieces of wooden crates and solar panels as roofs. The carts held all of their unpacked supplies to conserve space. Men took turns pushing the carts forward across the broken road. The caravan moved slowly as they rolled past the solar towers littering the desert. Ahead, a city rose before them. They angled northward where wind turbines dotted the mountain ranges.They walked onward through the night breaking at midnight for a meal then continued forward. The people remained silent, only whispering quietly on occasion. On they walked. The scenery changed. The hills rose and fell with them. At last, the sun rose and they found themselves in the midst of a valley between the mountains. Golden beams of sunlight illuminated the forming clouds overhead. The sun was still behind the mountains but the light reflecting overhead seemed to lighten the mood."Where sh
Last Updated : 2022-06-15FLUX Chapter 176: Nighttime Raid/Shots Fired
Alex dreamt of a fast-moving pod that twisted and turned through the udder blackness of the speedway tubes deep below the ocean. It zipped at blinding speeds. She braced herself as the pod grew ever stronger around her. Her stomach churned and roiled bringing her to life in the real world with real nausea. She wiggled herself free of Lexi and Jimmy, pulled herself to the edge of the bouncing cart, and somersaulted out. She ran to the edge of the road and wretched, then heaved, then wretched some more. Someone came up behind her and patted her on the back."Are you okay?" A deep voice asked. It had that familiar ring of Jack's voice in it, but not quite the same tone."I will be," she answered in a hoarse whisper.Jimmy pulled a canteen over his shoulder from the strap then opened it and handed it to her.She accepted and drank in little sips. "Pods used to make me sick when I was little.""It's not like they're going very fast, but they are pretty bumpy."Alex took a long drink t
Last Updated : 2022-06-15FLUX Chapter 177: Safe Night, Part 1
Three days had passed since the last attack. Tom sat in the cart while the sun beat down. Weylin and Ellie sat behind him chattering back and forth in some language that seemed familiar but was full of technical terms. The desert rolled by under the hot clouds. The solar tower dotted plains turned into golden rolling hills. The suburban houses gave way to bigger buildings. Large buildings lay ahead, giving way to an even larger city. The approach made him nervous. Images of the last big city where him, Brooke, and Ellie had escaped popped in his head. He hoped no one would get their hands broken this time. He stayed hyper-vigilant while he scoped the horizon. He searched the tall buildings and the dark shadows they cast as the carts crept along.They drew closer to the city as the sun sunk behind orange clouds. Tom continued to sweep the edges of the scope's vision until he saw small figures. Upon closer inspection, he saw snipers on the rooftops. He blasted a sharp whistle with his
Last Updated : 2022-06-15FLUX Chapter 178: Safe Night, Part 2
Jimmy nodded. The men before him parted. Jimmy waved at the caravan to follow. Tom pressed the forward button, but the cart didn't move. The shadows from the buildings blocked the sun enough to keep them from getting charged. The other carts had the same problem. People scurried out and started pushing. Tom steered as the cart moved forward again.The white-eyed men walked to either side of the group, watching them from the corners of their eyes, or so Tom assumed. Tom directed the cart after Jimmy, who followed the leader. Alex walked at Jimmy's shoulder, her pistol still pointed at the ground a meter ahead of her. A few blocks later, a garage door opened to allow entrance to the cavern. Candles lined the edges and torches lit the center. It looked to have been a shopping mall long ago.Once the cart was parked, Tom stepped out and joined Alex and Jimmy. Both their eyes were trained on the men at the edges surrounding their people."We're like fish," Alex whispered."I'm well awar
Last Updated : 2022-06-15FLUX Chapter 179: Loss
Alex slurped the rest of her soup and set her bowl down in front of her. Lexi already finished and was sitting quietly watching the people around them. Jimmy sat across from them looking grumpy while he ate. Seana sat at his elbow carrying on about how hot it had been that day.Jimmy's eyes lifted to Alex's as he listened to Seana. His eyes squinted like he had a headache. He cut Seana off and glared at Alex. "Hey hybrid, why don't you get a haircut? I'm sick of looking at you. You look like we pulled you out of a dumpster.""You kind of did," Alex said quietly.He furrowed his brow. "If you won't, then put your hat back on. You're making me depressed."Alex rolled her eyes and caught Lexi doing the same. She smiled as she looked over to her. Lexi's own blonde hair was growing out at the roots, giving her a two-toned look. Alex flipped out her knife and handed it to Lexi. "Would you like to do the honors?"Lexi lifted her navy blue eyes to her, reading her expression, then smiled.
Last Updated : 2022-06-15FLUX Chapter 180: Asked to Leave
Alex woke to find Jimmy's arms draped around her. Her head lay on his chest. He snored softly with his head resting on hers. A blanket had been draped across them. Lexi lay curled up next to them under another. Alex's arm still hurt. She took shallow breaths to keep from aggravating her lungs. She eased away from Jimmy slowly, careful not to wake him, then tucked the blanket back around him. She checked that Lexi was snug, too, then tiptoed through the carts heading for the restroom area.The caravan had quieted down. Whispered conversations filled the open room. A few slept, probably happy to sleep without the motion of the carts beneath them. After Alex found the restroom, she came up the stairs to find one of the scaled men waiting for her. It was the leader, Gregor."You need to leave," Gregor said pointedly.Alex pointed to herself. "Me? Just me?"He shook his head. "All of you. If what your people told me is true, then the Alpha's are coming here and they won't just pass us b
Last Updated : 2022-06-15FLUX Chapter 181: Ghost Town/Bath Time
They walked through the rest of the night. At sunrise, the carts started up with only a few issues which Ellie and Weylin were quick to fix. The carts rolled forward at a man's pace as they followed the road through the flat desert.By the time nightfall hit, another city lay on the horizon. This one looked much smaller than the last, but Jimmy kept them still when the carts ran out of power."Hybrid! Smart-girl!" Jimmy beckoned.Alex slid out of the cart. She joined him and Ellie at the front of the caravan."What do you think?" He asked. "Should we go around or through?"Ellie tapped her lips as she thought. "This is a pretty small town. There are no other major roads straight through it. On the other side is a bunch of mountains. I would recommend the straight approach.""Hybrid, risk assessment?" Jimmy asked.Alex looked through her scope and scouted the town ahead. "Looks dead." She turned around to look at the surrounding hills and the smooth desert behind them. I'd say mo
Last Updated : 2022-06-15
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FLUX Chapter 232: Brothers/Set Right
Jack woke with a splitting headache. The white tile ceiling above him looked like that of a hospital room. He gave an inward sigh. The last time had been three months. He wondered how long it had been this time.His fingers felt tight and his hand cramped. He looked over to see they were taped together with someone else's hand. He blinked the sleep from his eyes. As his vision cleared, he saw Alex lying on the cot next to him. Their tactical suits had been removed but the tech suit remained. Both of them were layered in blankets strapped to wires. He racked his brain and remembered the nova they had set off. The third one in a row must have taken its toll.He sent heat into Alex's hand. Her eyes blinked opened. She pulled at her taped hand and then used her free hand to rub her eyes. She looked around. "What's going on?""Wish I knew," Jack answered.She quirked a smile, then pushed the covers back. "It's kind of hot in here, isn't it?""Is it? I can't really tell." Jack sat up, l
FLUX Chapter 231: It Only Seems Right
The rumbling throughout the Sanctuary stilled as the battle above drew silent. Tom turned to Jimmy. Jimmy nodded and the team climbed to the Surface.After the light, the tunnel, and the door, they emptied out onto the street. Their men looked tired but had smiles on their faces. The team leaders directed them on searches to find any survivors, whether they were friend or foe."Has anyone seen Alex?" Jimmy shouted.Several people shook their heads.Jimmy turned to his team. "Let's spread out. Knowing them, they'll be up somewhere high."The team diverged. Tom searched on his own, always keeping at least his pistol at the ready. The sun slipped over the horizon casting the buildings in a deep twilight glow. Tom climbed the stairs on several buildings to the top but didn't find anything except dead bodies and empty bullet casings. After five buildings, the night settled in. The tanks disappeared back down into the tunnel. Jimmy recruited more people to help search. Armor-clad bodies
FLUX Chapter 230: Heat/Last One
Someone was calling his name. At least he thought. There it was again. Tom blinked. The room was black and hazy."Tom?" Jimmy's face loomed above him."What happened?""A fireman got to you. Are you alright?"Tom wiggled his fingers. He could feel the skin pulling across his arm as he moved. "I'll be okay, just a few blisters." He pushed back to his feet, climbing up over the top of the dead Alphas.Their power suit clad soldiers surrounded the room with guns drawn. Bullets covered the floor along with bodies of the Alphas and a few of his team members. His stomach twisted at the loss of good men.Jimmy put a hand on the shoulder of his power armor. "They died saving us. We need to get moving. We've gotten ten so far. We'll finish a sweep and then start clearing the level below."Tom nodded. "Let's go."Jimmy led the way. His team fell in behind him as they jogged down the streets checking building to building. The battle had tightened in around the Sanctuary. The noise of it s
FLUX Chapter 229: Fire and Ice
The three of them sat dressed in black tactical gear layered over Alpha tech suits. Alex's dirty face watched Jack as he tightened down the straps on her suit."We stick together, okay. No running off and playing hero on your own," Jack warned. He looked at Lexi while he said it."I thought you were going to make me stay in the pod," Lexi said."I would but it won't be safe there.""I don't think it will be any safer with us," Alex said in a low tone.Jack turned to Alex. "At least we will be able to keep an eye on her. She tends to always find trouble when I tell her to stay put."Alex's eyes flashed to Lexi. "Don't I know it."Lexi rolled her eyes. "If it weren't for me, you guys wouldn't be together, or maybe you'd even be dead.""Watch your tone young lady," Alex warned.Lexi grinned. "I know you're trying to be all tough, but it's really good to hear you say that." She stepped forward and gave Alex a hug.Alex melted. She laid her head against Lexi's cheek. "You're so ta
FLUX Chapter 228: Swift
Jack reached over and touched Alex's shoulder. "Wake up, love."Alex squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed at them with the back of her hands smearing the soot across her face. "How long has it been?" She looked over at Lexi sleeping in a reclined chair.He reached his hand out and wiped at a smudge with his thumb. It only made it worse but she smiled at the touch. "About six hours," he said."You shouldn't have let me sleep so long. You need rest, too.""I got a few hours. Don't worry so much."Alex looked out the pod screen. "I can't help it. I'm finally free of Henry's terror, but now I feel like we're on the verge of losing it all."Jack's mouth drew down in a frown. "It's not going to be pretty. Ellie messaged me before we left her range. Looks like the Alphas are ahead of us by a few hours. When we get there, we will have to fight through them to get to the base."Alex nodded. "Did you see much of it when you visited? It's huge.""No, I only really had one thing on my mind at
FLUX Chapter 227: Oncoming
Tom sat at the table drumming his fingers. "Does anyone actually know how to work these computers other than Ellie?"The five people working the screen didn't look up.Jimmy crossed his arms over his chest. "Just give them time.""General, the ships are in place.""Good," Janice said, leaning over the tech's workstation. "Anyone have a status on the Alphas?""They're closing in. The ships are taking them out now.""It looks like they are floating topside. Orders?""There's nothing the ships can do up there. Tell them to concentrate on as many darts as they can. Send runners topside and tell them to prepare." Janice turned to Jimmy and Tom. "That's your cue. Do your best."Tom saluted and Jimmy nodded. They turned out into the hall. Their teams waited for them, strapped with weapons and power armor. Tom donned the power armor helmet, gave a nod to Jimmy, and led his team away.As they walked down the halls, they passed locked doors to apartments. Their people, the ones that wer
FLUX Chapter 226: Supernova, Part 2
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly to him as the gunfire continued to rain down on them. She lifted her chin up. Her eyes connected with his and she smiled.He smiled back. They were going to make it. Somehow, they were going to make it. He tilted his face down and pressed his lips to hers. The liquid electricity filled him. He could feel the energy building in them. He held on to it as he kissed her. She parted her soft lips and he slid his tongue inside. Her tongue moved along his, soft, slow, and passionate. He pressed her against him, gathering the energy they created. He could feel the energy sparkling on his fingertips, asking to be released. He held it back until they vibrated. Finally, he let it go.The white-hot fire burst from them. In his mind, he could feel it like an extra sense. He coated the stadium with it. He could tell it what to touch and what not to. Screams of Alphas pierced the gunshots as the white fire flashed into a nova. He could feel the en
FLUX Chapter 225: Supernova, Part 1
Jack turned to Lexi. "You have to stay here. Got it?""But, Dad-""No. Stay. Promise me that you will stay?""Please let me help."Jack shook his head. "There is nothing you can do, muffin. Please. I don't want to worry about you. I have to get your mother and I need you to be safe. So take the pod and go. I will catch up as soon as I can." Jack flicked at the controls, locking them in place.He held his arms out for a hug. She stepped into it, burying her face in his shoulder. He held her tightly."I love you," he whispered. "You've grown into a fine young lady. I couldn't be more proud of you.""Please don't leave me again," she whispered.His heart sank and he hugged her even tighter. "It will be the last time. When this is all over, I will always be at your side. I promise.""You better."He stroked the back of her head. "Please be safe." He stepped back to look at her."Wait." She pulled the sapphire ring off her finger and stuffed it in his shoulder pocket."What's th
FLUX Chapter 224: Set-up
Alex stood locked in a small empty room the size of a utility closet. The walls lay bare except for the light switch. She flicked at the walls, but the screens were disabled and didn't respond.She paced back and forth, rubbing the Vice at her neck. Her bare feet didn't make a sound as they worked the white tile of the floor. She had to figure a way out of here. She needed to find Brooke and Tom. They had to be free. They were only here because of her. This was her problem, her world, not theirs. She flicked her palm open and drew a fireball. Her insides were still hot, but the pull of energy from just one fireball was tremendous. The amount of focus it took to wield it was much harder than it had been when she was pregnant.Alex pressed her ear to the door. Two heartbeats from the other side. She had no weapons other than the fire. She may be able to take out one Alpha, but not two. She sighed, then moved to another wall. There was no sound coming from that side. She tapped on it. S
