Ava and Tivon rushed through the door while the badger hoisted the youth to his feet and ushered him quickly along. Marcellus mentally noted how the group was closer to a gang than the reactionary paramilitary group Tivon had sold themselves on being. They did not have much – if any – discipline. He shook his head and followed, making sure to cover their rear in case of any more surprises like from the platform. He definitely was not being paid enough for this.

He made his way over to where Declan was working on accessing the next door. “According the schematics the main body of the facility should be right down here. We have to make our way through a series of corridors before we reach the reactor for the facility. I have to head to the control room deactivate the containment protocols. Otherwise our bang will be little more than a fizzle and this place will be back up and running in a few weeks.”

Not normally the inquisitive type, Marcellus was nonetheless compelled to ask. “How do you know all of this? Aren’t you a little young to be here at all?” He swore he could see the feline blush for a moment.

“I’ve always been the brainy type. And in the under-city you learn to grow up fast. You do what you can to survive.” He paused for moment, suddenly aware of everyone’s attention on them if not their eyes. “After a while though, surviving just isn’t enough. It isn’t life if you aren’t living. And you need a purpose to live. So, that’s what I found. I saw an opportunity to change things. Perhaps even make life better for kids like me suffering in the under-city. Bring down the man, and all that noise. Maybe help save the planet in the process.” He laughed. “It’s all rather fantasy but I’m here aren’t?” He looked up at Marcellus as the door slid open with a hydraulic hiss, who just looked at him in return. “Besides, I’m not that young. I just look it.” He gave the wolf a wide grin.

The badger huffed. “Aren’t you the chatter box all the sudden, Deci.”

Declan’s expression was that of clear embarrassment. Marcellus thought these people strange – yet familiar. He once knew people similar.

Footsteps began to sound from the corridor they had just come from. Marcellus brandished his maul. “More guards.”

“Go, I got this.” The badger said with a maddening grin. He pulled out half of a cigar from somewhere in the folds of his clothing and bit down on it as he hefted the chain gun and readied himself.

“Don’t die, Erik,” Tivon told him as he stepped through the door.

The badger guffawed, “I ain’t got time to die. Besides, I can’t let you have all the fun.”

Tivon couldn’t help but smile in return.

The rest of the group made their way down the next set of corridors as the sound of rapid gun fire rung out to meet them along with Erik’s cries of “come get some!”