The Great Escape - part one

[renevatio]

To say that Lincoln had gone on auto-pilot the moment he could see the Door would be apt, in its way. He left Mary Anne Bell abruptly, and hurried through the Bar trying to balance speed and discretion. The last thing he needed was for Merrick to notice him going towards Jordan's room

Comments

[got_a_number]

Roused from a troubled sleep, Jordan opens her door. She smiles at Lincoln, always in a hurry.

"Hi! What's--"

[got_a_number]

The secretary doesn't look at them. One is white, one is black, life is as it ought to be, escort and inmate. She hasn't heard the bulletin, or maybe she doesn't get it.

"Lucky," Jordan breathes out softly, relieved. If the rest of the facility doesn't look too closely, they might be able to...

"Hold!"

There's a clatter as the secretary drops the stylus she's been using to schedule Dr. Merrick's appointments. Jordan can't help but look over her shoulder. A censor is pulling a weapon.

"Lincoln!" She squeaks, almost inaudibly, forgetting their ruse and grabbing his arm.

[renevatio]

Lincoln's first instinct is fight -- Mercutio hasn't taught him well after all, it seems. He steps in front of Jordan and stares down the censor. "Hey! What's your business with her?"

"What are you doing alone with her?" the censor challenges back.

"Special escort," he answers haughtily. "She's going to the Island."

"Excuse me!" the secretary hisses. Everyone turns to look at her. "Dr. Merrick is still in his office, and he has a headache." Lincoln cocks a brow at the censor, who sighs.

"Fine, move along." As they leave the hallway, Lincoln decides he will do whatever it takes to thank the Bar for making such a convincing uniform. He and Jordan make it through the rest of the way, until the corridor opens up into the main hall, swarming with white-clad bodies. Lincoln takes a deep breath and steps forward.

[renevatio]

It's all going so well. There's almost serenely calm about Jordan, mixed in with the anxiety palpable in them both. Lincoln wants to fidget with the coder key in his pocket as they make their way toward the door for Sector 6, but he keeps himself stony. Until--

"Lincoln? Hey, Lincoln, is that you? Where were you at breakfast thing morning, I've been worrying about you--"

His heart rate skyrockets. He tries not to look, he tries to walk faster. But Jones Three-Echo is not one to be deterred. "Hey! Lincoln!" The little bald man pushes his way through the crowd.

"Order! Order!" shouts one of the censors, and weaves through the bodies after him.

"Lincoln!" Jones cries one more time. The censor's attention shifts.

"Identify yourselves!" the censor says sternly. Lincoln has just enough time to register the movement of the censor's hand toward his belt. So they do carry guns after all, he thinks in a flash. The game is up. He grabs Jordan's hand and pulls.

"Run!"