< Meanwhile: Thomas >

Everyone was in position. Thomas turned the communication device off and nodded to Vince. Vince sat in the driver seat, waiting for the train. Thomas was restless. He had escaped WICKED with Minho, Newt, Frypan, Flo, Harriet and Taylor, with the help of Tim from Surveillance and Captain David. This time around it was Sonya, Teresa, Flossie, and Jina's turn. They had been separated into different WICKED facilities. And Thomas was anxious. He always felt on edge lately.

His mind was always racing, his hands were always busy and fidgeting. He had a hard time sitting still and paying attention. If his body wasn't moving then his mind was racing and that was worse. It brought up all the horrible thoughts, and what if situations.

He was locked in a white padded room and left alone for a solid month. Then Ratman came to talk to him, tried to explain why they did what they did, why it was important. He didn't want to hear about what Mary the traitor did and how she found the blood from rare blood types was where he could find the cure. He waved his long finger hand dismissing such a simple and frivolous idea.

He was then allowed to have a shower and "meet with the rest." He was very disappointed to see Aris amount the group and no Jina. Thomas and Minho just about knocked him into next week. The guards had to be called in and pulled Minho and Thomas  off. Later that day with the help of Captain David and Tim from Surveillance, they escaped on a Berg, Tim flew them to where the Right Arm outpost was at the time.

Now after another month and a half of planning organizing and getting information, they had scrambled to get this set up.

"Relax kid." Vince growled. 

"How can you be so calm?" Thomas asked, his fingers drumming nervously on his knee.

"I've been doing stuff like this for longer than you've been alive, kid." He turned his head and looked at Thomas. "Over thinking never does anyone any good. We never know what's going to happen, we hope for the best but make do with what we got."

"My brain doesn't stop. Ever." Thomas admitted.

Vince surveyed him calmly. And then he nodded. "It's common in a lot of the kids we've rescued over the years. You, specifically went through more shit than most. I'm actually surprised how well adjusted you are."

"Who says I am?" Thomas challenged. "My thoughts were always busy and jumbled, the only one who seemed to help was Jina... And now... It's worse. So much worse. I don't know what to do!"

"We'll get her back kid. Don't worry."

Thomas just hummed and nodded, just as a whistle of a train was heard in the distance. His stomach twisted in nervous anticipation. He had to shove the what ifs and negative thoughts into the back for now. Thomas scooped up the walkie-talkie. 

"Operation train car is a go! I repeat Operation Train car is a go!" He yelled into the speaker, as Vince turned the engine on.

"Got it Gold Leader!" Brenda's voice crackled through the walking talkie.

"I never agreed to these names!" Thomas complained.

"We can always switch names." Taylor's voice garbled through the walk talkie.

"Which one?" Yelena asked.

"If I get a vote, it is not Sex Kitten." Minho's voice cut in. 

"What the hell?" Thomas yelled back. Vince tried hard to keep a straight face.

"That name was in the mix?" Brenda asked between howls of laughter. "How did I miss that?"

"No. It wasn't!" Thomas grumbled. He ran a hand down his face.

"Well considering the things Jina told Sonya who told the rest of us..." Jill responded.

"What the hell Shuckface!" Minho yelled, "that's my fucken sister!"

"Ya, Minho, that's the point. He's fucken your sister!" Brenda's voice was hardly distinguishable though all the girls howling with laughter.

"What the bloody hell did I miss?" Newt's voice broke through.

"Shuck you guys!" Thomas complained, his face beat red with embarrassment.

"Nah, shuck your girl later tonight!" Taylor giggled.

"I'm too old for shit like this." Thomas could hear Jorge's voice through the walkie talkie.

Ever since they busted out of WICKED, The guys from Maze A had gotten to know the Maze B girls and Thomas understood why girls would rule the world some day. Most of the girls from B had survived and most of the Leaders were with the Right Arm now. They got things done and got it done fast. They were given a problem, and with Harriet as the commander, the group of them got it done. They were strategic and ruthless. Any rades they went on were done meticulously and expertly. So when it came to this big rade- to extract the remaining group of their own sisters, all of the Maze B girls were part of the planning and execution.

They loved to tease him, he didn't fully mind it, it was all in good fun, but it made his heart hurt thinking of Jina. Vince started the truck engine and the train was finally visible coming around the bend. 

"Here we go!" Vince slammed his foot down on the accelerator. The jeep speed out from behind their hiding spot, speeding after the train. 

"Who's buggen' turn is it for the pep talk?" Newt yelled over the noise of the train and car engines."

"Uhh, Harriet gave the last one." Yelena yelled back.

"Fuck shit up. Don't die!" Minho yelled.

"Good as any!" Taylor cried.

"Great. We're all bloody inspired."

Thomas could hear the eye roll with those words. "Just... Be careful." He cried and slid the walkie talkie into his jacket pocket.

There was a loud gun shot. followed by a second shot. Jorge was driving a jeep on one side of the train with Brenda and Yelena firing a rifle at the train conductor. Minho drove another truck on the other side with Taylor and Jill firing. Their job was to keep the train driver and guards busy so Vince and Thomas could get to the back without too much interference.

Thomas tucked the little device into his jacket pocket and climbed out the window and onto the hood of the jeep. He rode the front of the jeep for a second, getting his balance. He kept his eyes narrowed against the wind.

"Closer!" He called back. 

"It's as fast as this thing'll go!" Vince yelled back. 

Thomas was almost blown over. There was a loud bang and the jeep wobbled wildly throwing Thomas backwards. He let out a string of curses Jina and Minho would be proud of.

"JUMP!" Vince yelled. 

Thomas got back up, and before his brain had time to over think he leapt off the jeep and grabbed onto the ladder. His heart was slamming into his chest. His hands were slick with sweat, making it hard to hold on. But he somehow scrambled up the ladder. Vince had let go of the steering wheel and climbed out onto the hood of the car. A second tire blew, throwing the jeep to the side again. Vince scrambled to his feet and jumped, just as the front tires of the jeep blew, sending the vehicle into the air. It slammed back down, making it explode. Thomas was laying flat on the roof waiting for Vince. He pulled the walkie talkie back out.

"You guys got company!" He yelled into the comb. "We're on the train." 

"You're on your own now Sex Kitten!" Taylor yelled.

Thomas wanted to slam his head onto the train. These girls were relentless.

"See ya on the flip!" Brenda yelled, "You're on your own!" 

Thomas saw Jorge veer sharply away from the train. The berg had flown over them, the guns from the berg were activated. Jorge had to swerve back and forth to avoid the shots. Earth exploded all around the jeep. Minho slowed down and went behind the train, hopping the tracks. He floored it and speed after Jorge as a berg flew after them, trying to shoot the pesky trucks. The girls kept the berg busy, shooting at the front windshield. 

Vince finally climbed up beside Thomas and they crawled over the tops of the train cars. They got to the last one before the engines. Vince climbed down and started to set up Jorge's home made explosives. A loud crack echoed off the distant hills. A bullet whizzed past Thomas. He cursed again, flattening himself to the roof and pulling his own gun out. He aimed and started shooting. 

"Hurry up!" He screamed down to Vince. 

"Almost!" 

Another guard fell off the train as Thomas shot him. Vince climbed back up. 

"Move your ass kid! Here we go!" Vince screamed, grabbing Thomas's jacket. He yanked him backwards. The explosion went off, separating the train cars from the engines. The train cars started to slow down as the engines and driving car kept going. Thomas pulled his walkie-talkie out. The train cars slowed to a stop. 

"Newt!" Thomas yelled. "Tavia! Hannah!"

The three of them came out from around some huge rocks they were hiding behind, Newt was carrying a huge bag. Thomas and Vince climbed down. Newt dropped the bag, pulled a scarf over his face, snapped some goggles on. The girls were doing something similar, they each grabbed a blow torch and stood ready.

"Ready Tommy, which one?" 

Thomas started banging on the sides of the train cars, yelling. "Jina? Sonya? Tess? Floss?" 

There was wild screaming from inside the cars. It was almost impossible to tell who was who. Thomas ran back and forth banging on the sides of the train cars, yelling their names, trying desperately to find them. A horrible thought crossed his mind- what if they weren't all in the same car? What if Jina wasn't even on this train? What if-

Stop! He scolded himself. He couldn't afford thoughts like that. Shacking his head he went one more time. his anxiety was at an all time high. But he had to pick one. There were three train cars of kids yelling. Thomas had to swallow his panic.

"This one!" He yelled. "This one!" 

Newt and the girls hurried over without question and turned the blow torches on. They started working on the different sides Thomas could feel the anxiety getting worse, his chest was becoming heavy and tight. Newt and the girls worked as fast as they could. Thomas watched as the WICKED train engines finally came to a stop. And the guards from the front started to pour out and head towards them. 

"Here they come!" Thomas yelled. 

Guards dressed in black with their shiny black helmets made them look like some kind of robot or some kind of Artificial Intelligence. 

The guards started to drop, blood spraying out behind them. There were screams of pain and the cracks of the guns, kids in the train cars were screaming, the sound of the blow torches all mixed together with the sound of Thomas's thumping heart. A bullet whizzed past his head, it made a ting sound as it hit the metal train car. He yelped and pulled his gun. 

Minho had told about the club rescue, and how Jina pulled the gun out like an expert, and shot two huge massive cranks like it was no big deal. Thomas remembered each person he killed. Starting all the way back in the Glade with Ben. Stomach bile tried to make its way up his throat. He gulped it back down along with the panic and anxiety and pulled the trigger again.

"Oh, shuck! It's gonna be close." Thomas called. "Newt? Hannah? Tavia? How ya doing?" He chanced a glance at Newt, who was right beside him.

"Don't rush me." He snapped.

"Well, we don't have a lot of time!" 

"Slim it Sex Kitten. I'm going as fast as I can." 

Thomas turned bright red with a blush despite their dier situation. Vince wasn't even hiding behind the train car. He stood front and center and pulled again and again.  Thomas shook his head and pulled the trigger of his own gun. Jorge and Tim had given them all basic training on guns and shooting- he wasn't a bad shot. For every guard they dropped, more kept coming. Where they were coming from Thomas had no idea, but they kept coming.  Sparks continued to fly everywhere from Newt and the girls' work. 

The guards were slowly creeping closer. 

"Newt!" Thomas cried again, glancing over his shoulder again.

"Done!" Hannah yelled, she threw the blow torch into the bag and climbed up the ladder. A moment later Tavia yelled she was done and scrambled up the ladder.

"Thomas. Go." Vince ordered. 

He had stepped over and stood in front of Newt. He gave Thomas a shove towards the ladder. Thomas didn't argue. Not this time. He scrambled up the ladder. He pulled out the walkie-talkie. 

"Brenda? Minho? Taylor? Jorge? Someone?!" 

There was nothing but static. He tried again. 

"ANYONE THERE?" 

Just static.

Panic rose. What if something happened? What if the Berg took them out? What if...

Vince gave him a look and Thomas shook his head. The WICKED guards were even closer. Newt's head appeared climbing up the ladder. A moment later Vince was there.

Vince pulled out another magazine and reloaded his guns. Thomas doing the same. Newt and the girls each pulled a gun from their hip and they were shoulder to shoulder, defending their train car. 

A soft hum started. 

"Is that them?" Tavia hollered over the sound of the guns cracking and people screaming.

"If not we're shucked for sure!" Newt cried. 

The soft hum became louder, more intense and louder, Thomas's legs were vibrating. A berg appeared in the sky and grew bigger. It flew right over the train car and the hatch opened. Frypan, Harriet, Minho, Brenda, Yelena, Taylor and Jill all poked their heads over the side. 

"You guys need a lift?" Frypan yelled with a big grin.

Thomas whooped. The Berg lowered a thick cable and hook. Thomas jumped and grabbed on, pulling it down and with Newt's help they secured the hook to the train car. Vince and the girls continued to shoot the guards, most of them were smart enough now to stay back, knowing there wasn't much they could do at this point. 

"Were good!" Thomas called up to Frypan, who yelled to Jorge and Tim who were sitting in the pilots seat. 

The berg started to lift up, taking the train car with them. Thomas, Newt and the girls whooped loudly. They actually pulled it off. Weeks of planning and they pulled it off, they just stole a whole train car! The berg flew them back to their camp by the ocean. It didn't take too long. The berg they had taken over was huge. One of the big cargo transporting bergs. It was full of supplies, clearly WICKED was in the middle of moving from one way station to the next.  

The Berg eventually touched down at the outskirts of their seaside camp. An old fishing village that the Right Arm had settled in. They had been there for the last few weeks, the people still left in the village didn't seem to mind, they hated that WICKED was ignoring the general population, leaving them to starve and look after themselves. It didn't take much and the villagers were absorbed into the Right Arm, joining their rebellion.  The train car settled, the guys unhooked the cord. Jorge took the berg to a different place to land. Thomas and Newt, along with Hannah and Tavia all swung down onto the ground. They pulled the blow torch out again and got to work, breaking the locks on the door.

It was an agonizing long wait, as the locks were melted off. While they waited for the doors to be melted off, everyone came running. Minho leading the charge. He was just as anxious to see Jina. He slid to a stop beside Thomas and they waited, impatiently.

The wild yelling inside the train car had stopped and it was silent inside. The door was finally free. Thomas shoved the door open. It was dark inside the train car. It was also incredibly hot and smelt like sweat. As his eyes adjusted he peered around the car. Dozens of scared haunted eyes looked back at him. They all looked pale and underfed. White as a ghost with dark bags and haunted eyes, their wrists chained to the ceiling. Their ankles were chained to the floor.

Thomas felt sick with anxiousness. He needed Jina. His heart and soul needed her. His hands itched to hold her.

He slowly and carefully flicked his eyes from one face to the next. Nothing in the first row or second...or third. He kept going. Minho had already reached the back and turned to face him. His face white as a ghost and pain in his eyes.

"She's not here!"

Thomas couldn't comment on that. He was still searching. Clearly Minho didn't see her. Thomas saw Sonya. And the next row was Teresa.

Newt came running over. Frypan came with bolt cutters. Vince and Jorge were working on the first few rows. Thomas knelt down in front of Teresa. She had a split lip and a nasty black eye.

"Hey. Tess. You're okay now. You're safe now." He smiled gently at his longest friend, he was trying hard to keep the panic inside, he patted her knee, she just stared at him, kind of blankly but nodded. Newt was holding his sister tight. Jill was right behind, and gently helped Teresa to her feet and helped her out of the train car. Along with the other freed kids.

Thomas stood up, staring at a lost looking Minho. They didn't say anything. They didn't need to. They understood.

They failed. Flossie and Jina were still with Janson and WICKED. But as guilty as it made him, he was torn up about Jina. The girl he loved was still missing. And all he wanted to do was melt into the floor and cry.

He took a shaking breath. Standing now in an empty train car, he stood staring at the chains for a long time. He didn't hear the footsteps until someone clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry son. I know how much she meant to you." Vince said gently.

"She still does. Don't talk like it's past tense. Please!" Thomas's voice was more strangled and tight than he wanted to sound.

"I have some... Information you might want to see. It's fresh and I haven't seen it yet. David just sent it. Jina wasn't on the train today. She's been in the Denver facility this whole time."

Thomas picked his head up.

"What?"

Vince nodded solemnly. "Come on son. Jorge is getting Minho. Harriet is rounding up the girls. Come on."

< • >