Chapter 25: No Exit
Rick couldn't help but display a wide grin as he replaced his radio once more. No one saw this, but they soon would notice his glee as he walked back to the group now embroiled in serious discussion.
Isaac, representing Miguel, stood with his back to the Heavenly Bodies club where a group of his people loitered around the entrance. They toted weapons of various kinds and sizes and all glared, mistrustful of everyone else. A similar group stood behind each of the three leaders now meeting. Sergei stood rigid with his arms folded, his crew of imposing soldiers behind him. Victor, still going by Elijah, stared at each person in turn with a penetrating gaze. A few of his soldiers and bodyguards stood at attention, and the rest were walking around the edge of the square and keeping an eye on things.
They had still yet to locate Miguel. Granted, they had only been searching for about half an hour once immediate danger passed. Rick wasn't sure exactly what the man's absence meant, but he thought, hoped, Kaylee might have succeeded.
In any case, Isaac and most of the others seemed less than fully concerned about it. Rick assumed it must have been because of Miguel's unlikable nature or his poor treatment of subordinates. It's good that they hate him, he thought. That way, if they find out we engineered an assassination attempt, they might not be so pissed.
Regardless, the three leaders were still speaking about agreements when he moved back towards them. Victor was saying, "…secure all of Old Haven and make sure that no Citizen, soldier or otherwise, can set foot down here."
The half-crazed grin on Rick's face was difficult to ignore, and even Victor stopped long enough to grant him an inquisitive expression. "I take it you have some good news."
Rick nodded and licked his lips. "I just got off the radio with my team over at Purgatory."
Isaac raised an eyebrow at him. "You have a team at Purgatory?"
"Oh, sorry," Rick said, "let me explain. Our initial attack, before we came here, was upon their exit point. We secured what they call 'Alpha base,' and we now are intercepting communications."
The corner of Victor's mouth curled just slightly at the news. The other two just stared with expressions of disbelief on their faces. Each opened their mouths as though to ask a question, but Rick started speaking again.
"The Citizen field commander, Captain, uh," he snapped his fingers a couple of times, trying to remember the name," Redgick. He radioed Alpha to relay a request for reinforcements." He rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Naturally, no one's going to send any aid; the almighty above thinks that the campaign is going fine, if maybe a little slow." Rick grinned once again. "Oh, but the good Captain was kind enough to provide a location of where the additional troops should be sent."
Isaac's weathered face smiled, "I take it you want to attack immediately."
Victor nodded and spoke. "Yes, the opportunity could not be clearer. There are still many soldiers, but they and their commander are obviously distressed. It will not take much to devastate what remains."
Sergei jumped in. "Yes! With an aggressive push they will panic! They will fall like wheat to the scythe while they flee, and-"
Isaac rubbed his chin and finished, "-and when they pull back to their exit point, a surprise will be waiting for them," he looked at Rick, "but you figured that one out already."
Rick nodded. "The trap is set. If that doesn't work, they still can't leave; the elevator's already disabled. The up-aboves won't be able to tell if its sabotage unless they check over the car itself, but they wouldn't send someone down for quite a while yet. Of course, we wouldn't let them fix it anyway." He shook his head, laughing, "After all these years they still haven't gotten rid of the fail-safes on that elevator; one chunk of busted brick wedged in the wrong place, and it goes nowhere." He finished speaking, noting the mixed admiration on the faces of his new allies.
Sergei grinned broadly and said to Victor, "This man is quite an asset for you, yes? Tell me, how much to buy him?"
Victor shook his head. "Not for sale; still too useful."
Isaac nodded thoughtfully, "Not that it matters. Assuming we succeed, this alliance is intended to be long-lived, yeah?"
Sergei and Victor both nodded at this, and Rick spoke, "Speaking of alliances, we should consider our counterattack while they've still got their tail between their legs."
Rick cleared his throat and began highlighting ideas and strategy for the upcoming skirmish.
Uprising Page 45
