Getting A System In A Modern World

"Is this really happening?" Miguel asked as he glanced nervously at Tacha, his fingers fidgeting with the straps of his tactical vest.

"Yes, it's happening," Tacha replied coolly, adjusting the black hood that shielded her face from the rain. Her tone was calm, but the steel in her voice left no room for doubt.

Miguel exhaled sharply, his nerves fraying with each passing moment. "N-no… I mean, yeah… but we're helping someone escape. It's not really… legal, you know?"

Tacha turned to him, her expression softening slightly as she registered his unease. For all his jitters, Miguel had always stepped up and turned up for her. That counted for something.

Tacha looked at him for a moment and smiled. She completely understood what he was feeling. What they are about to do is something dangerous and borderline crazy.

At least for people like them but it's something that must be done. There's no way that she's going to let Donovan to rot in prison. She has to stop him from going there or break him out of there, even if it means giving up her life. That's just how much she loves him.

She sighed as she thought of the reason why Donovan is in prison. It was because of her. Maybe it's the reason why she doesn't want him to go to jail for it.

She ruffled his hair playfully, a faint smile breaking through the tension. "You're right, Miguel. What we're about to do is crazy and illegal, but I have to do it. I understand if you don't want to go through with it. But I think you know why I asked you for help."

Miguel swallowed hard and gave her a faint nod. "Yeah, I know."

"I trust you," Tacha said, her voice quieter now. "You're not just a friend to me. You're like a brother. After Donovan, you're the closest person I've got."

Miguel's chest tightened at her words. He looked away quickly, his cheeks burning despite the cold rain. A brother… he thought bitterly, clenching his fists. But he shoved the feelings down. This wasn't the time.

Tacha turned back to the road ahead, her focus sharpening as she spotted the faint glow of headlights cutting through the rain in the distance. "It's time," she said, her tone hardening as the convoy approached.

The rain poured down in relentless sheets, obscuring the moonlight and cloaking the convoy in darkness. The rhythmic hum of engines filled the air as the armored vehicles rolled steadily along the highway.

Inside the lead truck, heavily armed guards sat with rifles in hand, their eyes scanning the wet, empty road ahead. Unseen by them, a shadowy figure perched silently on a nearby hill, her sharp eyes fixed on her prey.

Tacha crouched low, her soaked black hoodie clinging to her body as she whispered into the comms. "Positions?"

"Ready," came Elijah's calm reply through the earpiece. His voice was steady, but Tacha knew him well enough to sense the tension beneath it.

"Set," Miguel chimed in. His voice carried a nervous edge, but he was doing his best to stay composed. This wasn't his world, but he was here anyway, standing beside her like he always had.

Darwin's voice crackled last. "Locked and loaded, Tacha. But if this screws up, don't say I didn't warn you."

Tacha smirked despite the gravity of the situation. "Noted," she replied, her eyes narrowing as the convoy neared their ambush point. "Remember, no mistakes. We've got one shot at this."

The lead truck passed the first marker—a small, nondescript reflector set into the roadside—and Tacha gave the signal.

"Go."

***

Miguel's heart pounded as he gripped the steering wheel of the old semi-truck they'd rigged for the job. His palms were slick with sweat, despite the chill of the night air that leaked through the cracked windows.

He could see the convoy approaching in his rearview mirror, its headlights cutting through the rain like twin beams of judgment.

"Anytime now, Miguel," Tacha's voice cut through his thoughts.

"On it," he muttered, swallowing hard as he pressed his foot down on the accelerator. The truck roared to life, pulling out of its hiding spot and lurching onto the road.

The convoy's lead vehicle blared its horn in protest, its driver forced to swerve to avoid a collision. Miguel gritted his teeth, his truck now effectively blocking the narrow two-lane highway.

"Phase one complete," Miguel called into his earpiece, his voice trembling just slightly.

"Good work," Tacha replied. "Now get ready for phase two."

***

From her vantage point, Tacha watched as the convoy came to a grinding halt. Guards spilled out of the vehicles, shouting orders as they tried to assess the situation. She counted their movements, tracking their patterns, before her eyes settled on the armored transport in the middle of the convoy. That was their target.

She pressed a button on her wristwatch, and an explosion rocked the road just behind the convoy, throwing up a plume of fire and debris. The guards immediately turned their attention to the rear, their weapons drawn and their shouts growing frantic.

"Darwin, you're up," Tacha commanded.

A hulking shadow emerged from the treeline, carrying a massive steel bar like it weighed nothing. Darwin moved quickly and efficiently, slamming the bar into the transport's reinforced rear door. Sparks flew as the metal groaned in protest, but it held firm.

"Hurry it up," Elijah's voice cut in, the first hints of anxiety creeping into his usual calm tone. "They're going to regroup fast."

Darwin grunted, putting his full weight into another strike. This time, the lock gave way, and the door swung open with a metallic screech.

Inside, Donovan sat in chains, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. "Tacha?" he asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and relief.

"Hey, handsome," Tacha replied, hopping into the transport and quickly getting to work on his restraints. "Miss me?"

Donovan smirked, his usual confidence shining through despite the situation. "You have no idea."

"Less flirting, more escaping," Darwin growled, hauling the transport door shut as bullets began to ping off the vehicle's exterior.

***

"Go, go, go!" Miguel shouted into the comms as he watched Tacha and Donovan climb into one of the getaway vehicles.

The convoy guards had regrouped faster than expected. Gunfire erupted, the sharp cracks cutting through the night as Darwin returned fire from the back of the retreating vehicle. Elijah floored the gas, the tires skidding briefly on the wet pavement before finding traction.

Miguel followed close behind in his own vehicle, his hands trembling on the wheel as he maneuvered through the chaos.

"We've got company!" Elijah called out as a helicopter's spotlight pierced through the darkness, illuminating their escape route.

Tacha grabbed a handheld launcher from the floor of their vehicle, rolling down the window. "Not for long," she muttered, aiming carefully despite the bumpy ride. She pulled the trigger, and the missile streaked upward, its fiery trail cutting through the rain before exploding against the helicopter's tail rotor. The chopper spun out of control, veering away before crashing into the trees in a fiery explosion.

"That was too close," Miguel muttered, his eyes darting between the road and his mirrors.

"Just keep driving," Tacha ordered. "We're not out of this yet."

***

The group's vehicles barreled down the desolate highway, their engines roaring as they pushed toward the extraction point. Behind them, the remaining convoy vehicles gave chase, their headlights cutting through the rain like vengeful spirits.

"Spike strips ahead," Darwin warned, leaning out of the vehicle to toss a bundle of chains and hooks onto the road. The pursuing cars hit the strips, their tires bursting in rapid succession.

"Nice work," Elijah said, sparing a glance at Darwin through the rearview mirror.

"Let's hope that buys us enough time," Tacha added, her grip tightening on the launcher in her lap.

***

As the extraction point came into view—a secluded airstrip hidden in the dense forest—Tacha allowed herself a brief moment of relief.

"We're almost there," she said into the comms.

Miguel pulled his truck into a sharp turn, the tires kicking up mud as they skidded to a stop near the waiting plane. The group piled out of their vehicles, rushing toward the open cargo bay as armed guards from the airstrip provided covering fire.

Tacha turned back briefly, her eyes meeting Donovan's. He hesitated, then gave her a small nod, his usual bravado replaced with something softer. Gratitude.

"Go," she said, pushing him toward the plane.

Darwin was the last to board, slamming the hatch shut as the engines roared to life. The plane sped down the runway, its wheels lifting off just as the first reinforcements from the convoy arrived at the airstrip.

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Inside the plane, the group sat in tense silence, the adrenaline slowly wearing off. Tacha leaned back against the wall, her eyes closed as she let out a shaky breath.

"You're insane," Donovan said, sitting across from her.

She opened one eye and smirked. "You're welcome."

Miguel, sitting off to the side, stole a glance at her. For all the chaos and danger, he couldn't shake the warmth in his chest. She'd called him a brother, but as he watched her banter with Donovan, he knew his feelings ran far deeper than that.

For now, though, he kept them to himself.