A bridge too far

Posted on Mon Jul 14th, 2025 @ 10:46 by Alistair Quill & Sarah Bright & Alastair Temple & Jacqueline Myers & Phoebe Hunter & Jonathan Monroe & Rebecca McMillen & Liana Zhao & Shauna Murphy

Chapter: Besieged
Location: Avalon Courtyard
Timeline: 03:00 hours
2547 words - 5.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Then, movement.

A small unit emerged from the treeline at the edge of the old stone bridge. Black fatigues. Visors down. No insignia. They advanced in silence, boots muffled against damp moss-covered stone. Ghosts in formation.

Out on the water, the black mirror of the loch fractured. Ripples spread as low-slung rafts glided forward, barely visible in the darkness. One by one, they made landfall on the island’s edge.

Then the sound came.

A low, distant thrum of helicopter blades, almost lost in the wind, crept over the hills. Within moments it became a thunderous roar. The night trembled. Searchlights lanced down through the canopy. Branches snapped. The gymnasium windows rattled in their frames.

This was no longer a siege.

What started as a relatively pleasant distant noise became a cacophony. What started as something that a city-born woman could try to ignore was now something undeniable. Her ears rung as she sprang up out of her makeshift bed (really just a sleeping bag with the others in the gym), holding her hands over her ears as her heart raced in her chest. What... what the hell was that noise? If she didn't know any better, she'd swear it was a helicopter. But there wasn't an airfield for .... Oh.

Rebecca had never gotten out of her bedroll faster in her life. Slipping on her slippers, she looked around to check on the others and the students in the gym. She was the icon of responsibility wearing her mouse themed pajamas (haha yes thank you very funny). She resolved to look pretty for the next alien invasion or what-have-you. There was the blockade, maybe this was just a supply drop meant to scare them. Bloody well worked.

"Yes yes I know it's loud, is everyone alright?" her attention turned to children. She checked on them all in turn, her tail twitching in anxiety as she checked on them all personally. "Just stay here and keep your heads down. We'll make it through. Fourteen and I will stay here to keep you all safe." she motioned to her current favorite rat, who was previously snoozing on a sock, but now was very much awake. "Yes I know, it's loud. I'll complain to management for you." she addressed the rat, then turned back to the gathered students. A moment of levity to break a horrible situation.

Outside the institute, upon the roof, sat a dark creature. Intelligent, beady eyes observed the goings-on. It was a peaceful job, but also an important one. Until it became less peaceful. Alastair Temple leapt off the roof where he'd sat contemplating, musing about all the goings-on, and took flight, wings spanning 8ft beating, tail twitching, body leveling to catch the winds, the drafts, as he wheeled about in the air, descending towards an open window into the gymnasium.

The students were asleep. Mostly, at least. Some were awake pretending to be asleep, some were awake quietly whispering to each other, but for the most part it was quiet and peaceful. Until a large bird of black plumage dove through an open window, wings folded to fit. Magali's ears twitched as she looked up. It was Al, the music teacher, now spreading his wings again and gliding towards the center of the gymnasium, cawing a loud alert.

Uneasiness that had plagued her all night had left Liana unable to settle. What had promised to be tomorrow's regret now presented as a blessing as she was still dressed and emerged from the makeshift kitchenette just as Alastair came to land. Wide-eyed, the counsellor's composure took a moment to reassert itself, her hand grazing the heads of several of the bleary-eyed younger students as she rushed to converge with Phoebe at the music teacher's location. "What on earth are they doing?"

"Looks like they're not happy just sitting back anymore," Jonathan responded, striding closer with a somewhat grim determined expression. "After their little solo incursion didn't seem to work out so well the second time I guess they figured force was better." He glanced at Alastair and then at Phoebe. The presence of the Knights had remained a secret this far. In his mind he was almost ready to break that secrecy if it meant keeping their young charges safe. "Say the word and I'll light them up."

"Attack!" Alastair-Bird cawed. As an answer to what was going on, not to have Jonathan go on the offensive. As he swooped down he flew close over Jonathan's head and wheeled about before landing, transforming back to his human self in an explosion of feathers, always a semi violent event. He staggered a bit as he caught his footing and regained his balance. "They're attacking. Jonathan, defend the kids."

Phoebe looked at Alastair and then at Jonathan, shaking her head. "Don't... not yet." She said, pulling her hood up, shrugging off her jacket, revealing the knight uniform under the long coat that she had been wearing to hide it. "He takes his orders from me." The woman said firmly. "You do it now, and they will declare we made the first move."

"Yeah, you're right..." Jonathan sighed vaguely, frustrated that everything seemed to have fallen apart since Claire had gone. "We've still got to protect the kids, though, right? How do we do that?"

Phoebe sighed. "Once they shoot first, it's a free-for-all." She said quietly, looking back at the cameras that had been set up to capture what happened that day. "We do just like we did at the station, protect the children." She glanced back at the group watching, horrified. "Wake the students. Get them prepared. Barricade the doors."

"You got it. I'll do my best to provide cover," Jon agreed.

Her mind racing, Liana took a moment to shake herself free of the shock to register Phoebe's instructions. The pair of them had worked well in tandem, separating responsibilities in Claire's absence, but with the situation descending into the emergency they had the misfortune of being correct in anticipating, there was relief in stepping aside to let the history teacher assume control. "Yes, of course." Turning quickly, Liana scanned the sea of faces and forced herself into action. "Rebecca, the children." It was a request without need of embelishment, trusting the other woman to rally a contingent whilst she drew others to the task of gathering supplies. "I'll find Valjean and deal with the windows and doors." A strained, desperate glance in Alastair's direction sought his support and, more pressing as Liana moved off, his assistance.

"Need a hand?" Alastair asked, having caught Liana's gaze. He'd caught his breath and had gathered himself by now.

Already most of the way towards being fully-dressed, Shauna perched on the edge of her cot and pulled her boots on. Glancing across the room, she made eye contact with Alistair and then surreptitiously considered the girls either side of her. Cat was alread on her feet, as was Almaz, and thus it took a moment of extra caution to slowly fade from view as the commotion in the centre drew the attention of the rapidly awakening student body. Several minutes later, unseen fingers grazed Alistair's hand, and as he too disappeared from visual range, a lowered voice whispered in his ear, "Let's see what's going on."

The sensation of being pulled out of visibility was a familiar one. The young Alistair reflexively started breathing more shallowly and his steps were placed carefully as they made their way through the huddled groups of students. He knew better than to ask any questions about whether it was wise when Shauna got that look in her eyes.

As folks woke up in the Gym, chattered on, and then vanished without a visible trace, Rebecca just crossed her arms over her chest, her thin tail twitchy twitched. "Guess I'll stay here then." she said to the emptiness. Someone had to stay with the children. Looks like that decision was made for her.

Not that she was any good in a scrap. Instead of moping about it, she turned her attention back to the children. They were what was important here.

Huddled up with the older students, Hamish was doing his best to overhear what the faculty were planning. Inside, he was thinking back on Mr Hallows' lessons, questioning whether he was ready to do his part if it came to it. But there were younger kids there too; mutants that were barely old enough to understand the true nature of what was going on. They needed help too. So rather than deciding to be the 'hero' he resolved to being their strength in a different way: urging quiet, trying to be reassuring and patient. And waiting for the moment he might be needed.

Rebecca noted Hamish's efforts as she went around to the younger students to help keep them calm. She figured they might need a way out of here, fast, if things took a turn for the worst. "Fourteen, go get the others. And make sure the undercroft is clear." she addressed the rat on her shoulder before letting it down on the floor to scamper away, its mission clear. Rebecca hoped that things wouldn't resort to that, but it never hurt to have a plan B. In this singular instance, if it came to it, running was an option. As long as all of these students were also leaving for safety.

She looked over at Hamish, noting his action and his attempts. She appreciated seeing others also taking the calling. Knowing she wasn't alone in this was a relief. Knowing she wasn't left behind made it better. To Hamish, she gave a nod. She appreciated the help.

Jackie had already been awake when it started, upright against the wall with her knees drawn up and her cardigan sleeves pulled tight around her hands. The sound reached her bones before it reached her ears — low at first, then louder, like it was peeling back the ceiling. For a moment she just sat there, frozen in place, listening. Remembering.

She stood when the others did, slower than she meant to be, but moving all the same. Rebecca was already taking charge, Alastair turning orders into motion, and Jackie found herself drawn toward the nearest knot of students without needing to be asked. “I’ll take whoever’s ready,” she said, voice quiet, steady enough. One hand went out instinctively, guiding a smaller shape closer. “Just point me where you want them.”

"I'll help you, if I can," spoke a firm voice. Almaz, younger than most, but with a maturity to her, an ability to remain calm even in these circumstances. She didn't quite know what to do, but that was an actionable problem, she figured. "Just - ... tell me what to do, miss Myers," she added.

Sarah yawned deeply as she tried to rub the fatigue from her eyes. Attempting to sit up on her cot, she struggled to process what was happening, even though it shouldn't have taken a genius to figure out why. Under normal circumstances there would've been a good chance of finding Sarah awake at this early hour, but today had clearly not been the case. She'd been deep asleep and tucked in under blankets on her cot when the commotion began, and it was entirely possible that she may have continued to sleep through it, had a student not made an effort to rouse her.

The librarian's lethargy had probably not been unanticipated, as she'd been struggling to get through the days since the GOU had arrived in force and surrounded the institute. She'd actually been in New Cresthill the morning of their arrival, attempting to buy a bus ticket out of town. Learning that her medical records had been pulled had been the last straw for the cagey librarian. Getting past the registration checkpoint had been easy enough, as she'd only had to remind them that she knew full well that they had her x-gene test reports in hand. She hadn't had to wait long to find out why there was no bus scheduled for that day, when the helicopter and truck convoys had started to arrive. A day late and a dollar short. The dramatic in her would say, even though she was rarely late and almost never short on cash.

Getting back into Avalon had been a far more difficult, if successful endeavor, one that she was not yet prepared to reminisce upon at length. It had been dangerous and exhausting, and if the others had known about the reasons for her day-long disappearance, no one had said a thing. Other events, such as the betrayal of one of their own, and possible demise of two others had shifted the attention from her. Which seemed for the best, as since learning of Cam and Ji-an, she'd spent the vast majority of her time either sleeping, or crying herself to sleep.

"Ummmmph. I don't feel good, I don't wanna go to school today--" Sarah stammered, revealing the extent of her confusion as she attempted to sit up. Her feet were tangled in her blanket, and she almost fell out of the cot trying to push herself upright. That seemed to have the desired effect of finally waking her up. "Oh... they're coming." The master of the obvious added as she looked around.

Worst case scenario, Rebecca was ready to move the children in her care to the Undercroft. Sure it was bad, but she knew that place like the back of her hand. Her favored rat companion, Fourteen, squeaked and returned to Rebecca's side, one of the children even pointing out that the rat was back. "Yeah, Fourteen always comes through. She says right now, the way is clear and the others know to be on the lookout." Rebecca leaned a little closer to the children, "It's my squeakret network." she couldn't resist a good pun, hoping to at least get the children's minds off of the situation. "Okay everyone, two by two, get a buddy. If we have to move, everyone keep track of your buddy."

She looked around to the other faculty in the gymnasium, and gave a nod to them.

"If there's anything I can do to help, you let me know, Miss McMillen," It was Magali Isebeart, the owl-esque night custodian. Armed with basic tools; a mop, now used as walking staff, keys to every door and extensive knowledge of the grounds.

Rebecca turned her attention to Magali. She had seen her around, but never had the chance to sit and chat. Next time, she considered internally. Next time. "Well, most of the under croft I know like the back of my hand, but a lot of the really good passageways aren't fit for anyone bigger than Fourteen here. We need a way out, but a sneaky way. A way that isn't the first, or second place someone would look. If they know the grounds, then they know the obvious ways around, and the first few sneaky ways."

"I'm assuming they know the grounds. Better to be surprised by how little they know then amazed at what they do."

That's when the first breaching charge went off, blasting the heavy oaken front doors right open...

To be continued