《Rising of the Red Tide》Chapter 14 (Part 2)
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"OK so someone explain to me what the hell is going on!" Doctor Dhruv Rathee demanded.
"Please doctor, give us time." Qi Lian begged.
"He needs to know Qi Lian, we don't have much time." Clayton said.
"I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I am a genetically enhanced human. I was part of a secret program developed by the Chinese government. There are many more like me and they are trying to take over the wor..." Qi Lian began.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Dhruv interrupted.
"Doctor think back for a moment, remember what we saw with her wound? You yourself said you had never seen healing like that." Nurse Noah Thomas responded.
The doctor sat quietly for a moment thinking. Qi Lian noticed his light brown skin and short stature. He must have been around 5 foot 6 inches tall. He had dark hair and brown eyes. He looked like he was middle aged, perhaps in his early 40's. She knew that processing this crazy information that he had just been given must have been exceedingly difficult. Why would anyone believe such a crazy story?
In any case Qi Lian was very appreciative for what this man had done for her. He had ensured she was in stable condition, giving her body the chance to heal. And her body was incredibly good at healing. She was already feeling better from when she was getting dressed at the health center.
"I... I... I can't explain that no. I have never seen anything like it." Dhruv finally said, breaking the temporary silence.
Dhruv was taking the driving directions given by Clayton. Clayton had incredible recall when it came to finding his way on roads, he had no need for any navigation system. This drive had required Dhruv to take the controls, autopilot wasn't going to work for them, they needed to move fast.
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Qi Lian knew what Clayton needed. He was heading to pick up his family. Though she wished he would leave them in the safety of the bomb shelter. Clayton was going to feel better knowing his family was with him. And for the moment this was fine, because Qi Lian didn't know what to do next. Surely Han Xin would be searching for them, but how were they going to fight back now?
Qi Wei was gone. Oh poor Qi Wei, Qi Lian already missed him.
Qi Lian herself was injured and so was Martin. So now they only had a truly ragtag group. A doctor, a nurse, two injured people, an NSA agent with his father and 10 year old daughter. Somehow this group was going to have fight an unknown number of Red Tide soldiers. Qi Lian was at a loss. What could she possibly do? The only thing she could think to do was run. Maybe if they ran it would give her time to heal and formulate a plan.
The downside to running of course was that it might change Han Xin's strategy. Maybe he would decide that now was the time to launch the nuclear weapon strike, figuring that her little group would be destroyed in the process. So at this point neither option seemed great. They could run and risk the world being destroyed or fight and almost surely die. What a great decision to have to make.
The doctor pulled in to the parking lot that was opposite the building containing the fallout shelter beneath. The building itself looked as though it might fall down. It was clear it had been abandoned for some time. Chipping white paint on the outside, boards missing, and if you looked at it right it seemed as though it had a slight lean. How much clearer you could see things in the daylight.
The group all proceeded to get out of the car, with the exception of Martin, in silence. No one seemed to know what to say, so everyone just followed Clayton.
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Qi Lian was so happy to have found Clayton. She truly owed her life to him. She would not have been able to escape without him. Nor would she have been able to get herself the medical attention that she needed.
The group headed into the building and down into the fallout shelter below. Clayton opened the door, and almost immediately the silence was broken.
"Daddy! I was worried about you!" Nia said as she ran to give Clayton a big hug.
Qi Lian saw Clayton light up when Nia came to him. It was clear to her that he had a special relationship with his daughter. It was not the kind of relationship she had ever been able to experience, but it seemed great.
Now Qi Lian looked around and found Darnell, who had reached over to turn off his radio. He stood up, clearly relieved to see Clayton.
"So is it all over son?" Darnell asked.
"I am sorry pops, but it is not. We got some of them, but they were too good. Qi Lian is hurt." Clayton responded.
Qi Lian could see Darnell looking around.
"Where is Qi Wei?" Darnell asked.
"He... He is dead." Qi Lian answered, lowering her head.
"Oh my God, I am so sorry Qi Lian. Who are these people?" Darnell replied, truly giving the sense that he was saddened and wanting to change the subject as quickly as possible.
"Pops this is doctor Dhruv Rathee and this is nurse Noah Thomas. They helped save Qi Lian's life. We are deeply indebted to them." Clayton replied.
"Hi." Noah said.
"Oh well we appreciate all you have done then!" Darnell boomed to the two men.
Qi Lian helped Clayton gather some things. Clayton had stashed a handgun in the fallout shelter for Darnell. He picked it up and handed it to Qi Lian.
"I don't know how much this will help, but it is something." Clayton whispered.
"Pops, Nia, please grab as much as you can. We have got to go now, we are running short on time." Clayton bellowed aloud.
Nia and Darnell did as ordered. They quickly gathered their things that they wished to take with them into backpacks. Darnell was sure to grab his radio, and Nia her books.
Qi Lian made sure to grab some food for them. She had no clue how long they would be on the run for and didn't want her companions to go hungry. The two medical professionals stood at the back of the room. It was clear to Qi Lian that they were still trying to process the whole situation. The doctor still appeared to not believe what he had been told. Qi Lian understood completely why this would be the case. But now was not the time to try and convince him.
After packing everything the group headed up to the building. Qi Lian could hear it creaking under its own weight. She was glad they were leaving it, she was sure it would collapse soon.
Qi Lian was the last of the group to get outside. As they were walking toward the van she saw an SUV come rapidly around the corner. It looked like one of the SUV's they had seen earlier pulling into the health center.
"RUN!" Qi Lian shouted.
She saw Darnell, Nia, Dhruv and Noah all start running toward the van.
Clayton however stood in the middle of the road. It was then Qi Lian realized that he was pointing a gun.
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