# Zeal

Author: LiveIron
Tags: Anger, Angst, Anthrostate, Blood and Injury, Car Chases, Dark past, Gun, Horror, Human, Interspecies, Interspecies Awkwardness, Large Breasts, Magic, Old Friends, Pain, Paranormal, Possession, Resurrection, Size Difference, Spies & Secret Agents, Tiger, Tigress, Transformation, butt slapping, driving, fights, firearm, healing, monsters

'Move'

\>The lights and sirens appear right when the adrenaline begins to wear off.

 

\>You curse and look to the side mirrors -- Rebecca's slumped mass blocks the main one.

 

\>The road is empty, just you and them.

 

\>You press on the accelerator and check the radio again.

 

\>This time the signal's clear -- you were still getting static in the woods.

 

\>Ditching the repeater probably didn't help.

 

\>"Hummingbird reporting! Hummingbird reporting, over!"

 

\>You step on the gas.

 

\>"Steele receiving!" comes the tigress' voice from the other end. "Reinforcement team was sent in half an hour ago, should be there in --"

 

\>"Upgrade it to full liquidation!"

 

\>"What?"

 

\>"I said, upgrade it to full li--"

 

\>The cop blasts their sirens and yells over the loudspeaker.

 

\>"Pull over, now! Slow down, and come--"

 

\>"I'm gonna have an APB on my ass, Steele," you say, "I can't give you a full report now, but trust me, the mansion's a shitshow!"

 

\>"Where are you?" she growls through the speakers.

 

\>"Southbound on 187," you say, "can't tell if it's a local department or sheriff!"

 

\>The engine's growl and whipping wind keep you company while you wait for a response. The lights of the cruiser draw ever closer -- you might've been able to outrun them if you weren't hauling a half-ton of tigress in the back.

 

\>"I can dampen transmissions, but that's it," Steele says as the cop curses over the loudspeaker. "You'll have to deal with that one on your own."

 

\>"Got it," you growl, turning down the volume, "I'll be right back."

 

\>You check the rearview again and tap the brakes; the cop doesn't appreciated being brake-checked.

 

\>You curse as the weight in the bed shifts.

 

\>"Rebecca, you alright?" you ask, looking back through the window.

 

\>She still lies motionless, shadowy curves taking up the whole back window.

 

\>You groan. Wherever you end up, dragging her around again is gonna be a pain in the --

 

\>You duck when the shots ring out.

 

\>"Those were warning shots," the cop yells. "Pull over NOW!"

 

\>"Fucking hell, can't you see there's a woman in the back?" you yell.

 

\>Not that they can hear you. Or see the body in your bed, apparently.

 

\>Glass breaks and metal thuds when the cop fires again.

 

\>You wrench the wheel with a roar, feeling the car glide beneath you.

 

\>Slamming the stick feels good as the car spins.

 

\>The cop's surprise comes through over the loudspeaker as the truck whirls around to face them, engine screaming in reverse.

 

\>The Kolibri is lined up with the driver's seat.

 

\>Then you're back on a different highway with a different truck, pointing a gun at a different cop.

 

\>Fire.

 

\>Rolling cars.

 

\>Ash.

 

\>Death.

 

\>You grunt and pull the shots low, squinting at the spiderwebbing glass.

 

\>"Oh shit!"

 

\>The cop swears more into the intercom as they try to control their skid. It's not easy with flat front tires.

 

\>You wait until you see the headlights come to a slow stop at the side of the road before whipping the truck back around.

 

\>You sigh.

 

\>As you reach for the handset, something makes your ears perk up.

 

\>The engine sounds different.

 

\>You look over the instrument panel. The cop didn't shoot when it was in front of them, and you don't think--

 

\>The truck lurches with a dull thud. You curse as the screech of metal fills the cab.

 

\>The shadow of a car fills the driver-side mirror and pushes against your side.

 

\>You wonder why the hell their lights are dead for the half-second before a claw scrapes along the doors.

 

\>"Damn it all," you hiss.

 

\>The thralls don't give up easily.

 

\>You stomp on the breaks and twist the wheel; the thrall car slides up to your bumper with a scream.

 

\>The sedan is illuminated in your headlights as it spins. You fill the front half with as much fire as you can.

 

\>It tumbles off into the ditch and you stomp on the gas again.

 

\>The mirrors are pitch black -- there's no other headlights to illuminate them, and the moon is too weak.

 

\>And driving backwards the whole way sure as hell isn't going to work.

 

\>The PsyScope whines when you flip it back down.

 

\>Warnings and damage reports fill your vision and one of the lenses is scratched. You knock at the controls to clear them -- all you care about is the night-vision.

 

\>The mirrors look hazy and strange, but it works. Wavy cars veer across the road behind you.

 

\>If it weren't for the big mass in the bed, you'd just shoot through the back of the cab.

 

\>Instead you have to lean out the window like a maniac.

 

\>Your stomach falls when you get a clear picture of what's behind you; the two-lane highway, its shoulders, and ditches are all filled with the driving dead.

 

\>You take a breath and start shooting.

 

\>Having no recoil and no one firing back makes things a little easier, but not by much.

 

\>You're screaming along asphalt at 70 -- there's only so much stress you can negate.

 

\>You go for tires. The thralls can barely drive as is.

 

\>Talia's power sends the 2mm slugs through the rubber with ease. Spinning and squealing cars fill the road behind you.

 

\>Your eyes dart back to the front every few seconds, squinting against the whipping wind.

 

\>"Shit!"

 

\>You cut the wheel and lurch back into the cab, trying to meet the fast-approaching curve. Talia disappears as you grip the wheel and promptly overcorrect.

 

\>Rebecca's weight in the back is the only thing keeping you from skidding down into the ditch.

 

\>You pull the truck back to the center. The adrenaline keeps the bone-rattling bumps from hurting.

 

\>You mirrors are still filled with hazy cars.

 

\>"Christ," you hiss, then grab the radio.

 

\>"Steele! Make sure the liquidation team has EMP! Got some rogue vehicles that might still be around!"

 

\>"Rogue vehi -- Hummingbird, what the hell is going on?"

 

\>"Busy!" you yell, trying to dodge the wild thrusts of the thralls' cars.

 

\>"Disruption charges, do you have disruption charges!?"

 

\>"Not an option!" you yell. The tires squeal as you brake, letting a sedan bounce off your front quarter panel.

 

\>Steel says something as you put more rounds through the windshield into a thrall on your hood.

 

\>It thumps under your wheels.

 

\>"Gonna be a lot of damage control..." you mutter.

 

\>You drive as defensively as you can, but the normal serpentine doesn't work with a half-ton tigress in your trunk.

 

\>The extra weight means other cars bounce off, but one wrong hit to your wheels and you're screwed.

 

\>The leather creaks as you grip the wheel.

 

\>You have to keep moving.

 

\>Keep bobbing and weaving.

 

\>They can all go faster than you, they'll all eventually catch up.

 

\>You sigh; one buzzes past you into a road sign.

 

\>It's what you deserve.

 

\>Ahead, something glints in the distance.

 

\>But it’s not what she does.

 

\>"Talia," you say, staring at the upcoming bridge, "I need you to take the wheel!"

 

\>You let go and fumble on your kit.

 

\>You know this bridge. Somehow you do.

 

\>It'll have to be perfect.

 

\>You unbuckle and watch the steering wheel, explosive charges in hand.

 

\>It twitches side to side, but you don't see it glow.

 

\>"Talia?"

 

\>"Dumb -- ass --"

 

\>You move.

 

\>Whether she's got it or not, you have to.

 

\>Sitting outside the window on the highway is a dumb idea.

 

\>Only now instead of cops, any fuck-ups will be dealt with by the driving dead.

 

\>You grip the hood and look ahead at the bridge.

 

\>Breathe.

 

\>Focus.

 

\>Clear the wind and engines and screaming from your mind.

 

\>You pop the pins on the charges and cast them out behind you.

 

\>The flashes of IR illuminate the scene.

 

\>The end of your truck, scarred by bullets and claws.

 

\>The rushing roadway, guard rails on either side.

 

\>And the flood of possessed cars filling the highway behind you.

 

\>Then it's all lit by fire when the bombs go off.

 

\>Your ears ring; the bridge is no more.

 

\>You see a van smash into the jagged edge of rubble.

 

\>More follow suit.

 

\>You climb back into the cab -- you didn't realize you were holding your breath.

 

\>"Thank you," you whisper, taking the wheel once again.

 

\>Talia huffs in your mind.

 

\>You finger the radio, then think twice about it.

 

\>You're not out of danger yet. You should put more distance between you and the thralls.

 

\>You need to be safe when you take care of Rebecca and call things in. And fortunately, you know just the place.

 

\>...

 

\>...Steele is going to be pissed when she hears you blew up a bridge.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/AnK8EPv1
Part of the series Negligent Discharge: Repent
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