Running.

[Grif]

Ok so I've finally decided to do something I've tossed around for awhile. It's a crossover, so sorry if you don't like that sort of thing. It's a Mirror's Edge crossover.



Faith rolled as she hit the ground, recovering immediately as she always did. It was her last delivery of a particularly busy day, and she was ready for a break. The sun was starting to set and she had no intention of running in the dark. The city lights might keep the ground lit, but it did not reach 40 stories up.

“You almost there kiddo?” said a familiar voice over the comm.

“Yah, I can see it Merc,” panted Faith.

“Alright, see you back at base Faith,” said Merc, turning off the comm.

This was not an area Faith went to often, but her area of work had been expanding increasingly as information became more heavily monitored. It made it easier to find work, but that meant working more too. This mattered little to her though, the rooftops were her playground and she thoroughly enjoyed running. The rest of the world was just background noise as far as she was concerned.

She reached the building and stepped inside through a service door near a couple of air conditioners. The hallway was empty apart from some maintenance equipment, another door, and an elevator with a sign that read “out of order.”

“Damn it,” hissed Faith to herself.

The other door opened easily, it was meant to keep people out of the maintenance room, not the other way around. The room numbers and style of the hall indicated that this was an apartment building. Faith could hear a few voices coming from where the hall took a 90 degree turn, but they sounded pedestrian.

“Just keep it cool,” thought Faith to herself, “No one is going to notice you as long as your remain calm.

She stepped out and looked for an elevator. A sign at the end of the hall pointed to one, and she followed it. She passed by two residents on their way to their room, but they payed little attention to her, or so she thought. Reaching the elevator she looked hopefully for a roof button and, to her delight, found one. The doors slid shut and the elevator quietly moved up.

As she waited she glanced idly at the news screen mounted in the elevator. It had one story on it, as did everything right now.

“RDA Preparing to Launch Another Shuttle to Pandora

The Research Development Authority is in the final stages of preparing another trip to Pandora...”

Faith continued to glance through the article with mild interest, then something caught her eye.

“Pirandello Kruger, the second largest security firm, was purchased by the RDA two weeks ago to the concern of many. Rumors have spread about a possible conflict on Pandora, however officials have assured that unobtainium production has been increasing steadily over the past 6 months, and that this will have no affect on the civil police force, which contracts Pirandello Kruger.”

Faith was about to start the next paragraph when the door opened, the sounds of the city and the warm bay air flooded in. She took of the bag and took out a heavy duty envelope. Walking round the exterior of the elevator, she found a good place to put it. Hidden away, but noticeable enough for someone looking for it to find.

“Merc, I’m finished, I’ll be back in an in hour.”

The comm unit came on, “Good work Faith. Don’t stay out to late, we’ve got just as much to deliver tomorrow.”

“You know we really should find some more runners...” started Faith, but was interrupted by a voice behind her.

“Faith?” asked the voice.

Faith turned around sharply to see her sister Kate. Kate had originally been part of the police force, but was forced to join Pirandello Kruger when the city decided to use contracted security instead.

“Kate? What are you doing here?” asked Faith.

“The same reason you’re here, the package is mine.”

“Why do you need me to run information?” asked Faith. She added a bitter tone to her voice, “I thought PKs didn’t have to worry like the rest of us.”

“Faith,” started Kate, “I’m leaving...”

“Leaving what? PK?” asked Faith hopefully. A few imaginations of Kate joining her flitted through her head, she hadn’t wanted to grow apart from her sister but she had.

“No, I’m leaving Earth,” burst out Kate.

“What?” asked Kate, shocked by this last burst.

“Don’t you read the news? PK’s been bought up by the RDA. I’ve been drafted to the Pandora team. Somethings going wrong out there, they’re drafting a huge amount of us to go.”

The information took a minute to sink in on Faith, she hadn’t seen her sister in years but she the idea of her leaving for however long she was shocked Faith.

Faith took a deep breath and asked the question, “How long?”

Kate was reluctant to answer, “It’s a 4 year shift, but it takes 6 years to get between here and Pandora. They’ve got me in the experimental defense division, I’m part of the av...”

“16 years!” said Faith with some exasperation.

They were both 27 now, and some quick mental addition told Faith something she didn’t want to here.

“You’ll be 31 when you’d get back, and I’ll be 43...”

“Faith I know we aren’t the closest, but I’m really sorry it’s turned out this way.”

Faith turned to the side of the elevator and grabbed the envelope, tossing it to Kate.

“Here’s your ****, I’m gone,” said Faith angrily as she started to walk towards the edge of the roof.

“Put your hands behind your head and remain where you are standing!” shouted another voice.

Faith turned around slowly to see one of the residents she had seen earlier. He had a PK badge around his neck and a pistol in is hand. All the color in Kate’s face drained.

The man turned towards Kate, “You too!” he shouted, his gun trembling.

“It’s ok,” started Kate, “I’m with you.”

She started to reach for her badge, but the rookie cop thought she might be reaching for her gun and fired. Faith took this opportunity to charge toward the cop. He turned towards her and fired, but Faith dropped down and slid, kicking him in the groin. She grabbed his gun hand and the back of his head. Bringing her knee up and his head down with force, knocking him out.

Faith turned toward Kate and saw her lying on the ground bleeding. She ran toward her and knelt down by her side.

“Kate, hang in there. I’ll get you to a doctor.”

“No,” said Kate with her few remaining breaths, “You won’t.”

“Kate, don’t act like this,” said Faith, the worry growing in her voice. She looked at the bullet wound and saw Kate was right.

“Faith,” said Kate, now on her last breath, “Take this, don’t let them find it...”

Kate reached for the package, but her life left her at the moment and her hand fell limp.

Faith grabbed the package and tore it open angrily. Inside it was a small, yellow memory card with the name “Max Patel” written on it. She pocketed it and turned back to Kate.

She hit the small button on her comm and reached down to shut Kate’s eyes for the last time.

“Merc,” she said somberly, “Kate’s dead...”

This was followed by a large cracking noise as the butt of something metal and hard hit Faith in the back of her head.

Apparently the rookie had called for backup.