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J A C K S O N
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After hopelessly circling around this section of the wall one, two; maybe three times, he had yet to figure a way over. The construction of this monstrosity was impeccable to say the least, and it was well patrolled to boot. The inky-but not quite atramentous-blackness that was nightfall in the city cloaked everything, differing greatly from the color of the countryside evenings Jackson was accustomed to. The quality of it was alive and mindful in a way. There was no soft, reassuring blanket of stars, only a fluorescent luminescence; a thin veil of artificial light to keep the vast rolling darkness skirting at the edge of your vision at bay. It was black you could drift away on without even being aware, frothy wake churned and vanished on a cold obsidian ocean. Unnerved and resigned, he was about to settle into finding himself someplace cheap to hole up for the night before looking into more legal means of entrance come morning when he spotted them. Ahead, around the bend, he only captured the briefest snapshot of a boy not much younger than himself, laid out upon the ground beneath an impressive display of bold, red defiance. He was a token of lucidity, cursing the guard who had seemingly stricken him down. He locked eyes with him for a long, strange moment, like two animals meeting at twilight, during which some clear personable spark seemed to fly up through those eyes and Jackson saw the creature he really was-and he, he believed, saw Jackson. For an instant they were wired together and humming, like two engines on the same circuit. Then the baton came out.
Jackson, ever impetuous, scrambled to action, skidding harum-scarum to the nearest object of use...the squad car.
The uniformed men had failed to notice anyone in their peripheral and it offered an element of surprise. This wasn't about species unity, he had grown up too far removed from what it meant to share the same struggle of attrition. It wasn't about revolting against authority either, though that was something Jackson liked to believe he did best. It was just who Jackson was at his core to help those in need, even at his own risk. Planning, well planning out his moves in advance was not, however, his strong suit. He scarcely had time to grasp the more practical aspects of his situation before he was behind the men, snaking in the vehicle through the ajar door and slamming it shut behind him with a swift click of the car locks. Startled, they turned in unison as Jackson revved the car engine. The boy on the ground was completely forgotten as the nearest guard sprung for the door, tugging on the handle and beating on the glass furiously with his free hand. His partner was not far behind him, ordering Jackson to get exit the vehicle.
Rookie mistake, leaving the key in the ignition.
"...I'm sorry? I didn't quite catch that." Jackson replied, cocking his head to the side like a bewildered puppy.
"GET OUT OF THE CAR, RIGHT NOW!" He attempted to scream, but his voice was lost to the sound of Jackson's foot dropping on the gas petal.
"The engine, it's too loud. I can't hear you. You want me to...take the car? Well alright. I mean, if you say so."
A blisteringly ebullient grin danced across Jackson's face as the bellowing officer turned pink around the ears. He looked fairly furious.
"Thanks for the ride, gentlemen." He mouthed through the window before revving the engine one final time over their shouts.
With any luck, that kid would have taken hold of his opportunity and gotten the hell out of dodge. Jackson shifted into drive with a triumphant holler and tore ahead, leaving the men trundling gracelessly to the pavement. He spun out and climbed from zero to sixty in what was only a matter of seconds, adrenaline spiking with the horsepower, leaving the pair to eat his figurative dust. He laughed mirthfully as the tires screeched, hugging the rapidly approaching street corner, not a trace of regret to be found within him. He'd have to abandon the car in a rapid fashion, they were probably calling for a backup cavalry at that very moment. The roads wouldn't be easy to navigate, no chance at escape via a high speed chase, but there were plenty of places to hide in a city such as this he'd imagine. There wasn't time at the present to mull this over for too long, though. He slammed on the breaks when a certain floppy haired recalcitrant little whelp was illumined in his head lights. He flung open the passenger side door hastily, "Jump in! Let's get the FUCK out of here!" he breathlessly implored, practically vibrating in his seat. The kid had apparently made it this far, but those men would long catch up to him before they could catch up with Jackson. Their incensed shouts could still be heard off in the distance. With no trace of hesitation, he clambered in through the passenger side and they tore back down the street, made their daring escape off into the night, two literal strangers...
How had he gotten himself into this?
A few blocks over in an unlit alley way not quite spacious enough for the car to fit comfortably, Jackson whipped the vehicle into place. It would be difficult to catch glimpse of it from the street in the building's dual shadows. Furthermore, they'd have to climb out of the windows to exit, as the doors hadn't enough space to even open, which in his mind made it not a suspicious spot for the car to have been ditched in the first place. He rolled down their windows and shut everything off, enveloping them totally in a simulacrum of isolation.
"I gotta be honest...I'm not too sure what to do from here. I was just kind of winging it." He confessed, slumping in his seat a bit. "What's your name anyways?" his voice was somewhat shaky but sounded far less unsure than he actually was.
Jackson, ever impetuous, scrambled to action, skidding harum-scarum to the nearest object of use...the squad car.
The uniformed men had failed to notice anyone in their peripheral and it offered an element of surprise. This wasn't about species unity, he had grown up too far removed from what it meant to share the same struggle of attrition. It wasn't about revolting against authority either, though that was something Jackson liked to believe he did best. It was just who Jackson was at his core to help those in need, even at his own risk. Planning, well planning out his moves in advance was not, however, his strong suit. He scarcely had time to grasp the more practical aspects of his situation before he was behind the men, snaking in the vehicle through the ajar door and slamming it shut behind him with a swift click of the car locks. Startled, they turned in unison as Jackson revved the car engine. The boy on the ground was completely forgotten as the nearest guard sprung for the door, tugging on the handle and beating on the glass furiously with his free hand. His partner was not far behind him, ordering Jackson to get exit the vehicle.
Rookie mistake, leaving the key in the ignition.
"...I'm sorry? I didn't quite catch that." Jackson replied, cocking his head to the side like a bewildered puppy.
"GET OUT OF THE CAR, RIGHT NOW!" He attempted to scream, but his voice was lost to the sound of Jackson's foot dropping on the gas petal.
"The engine, it's too loud. I can't hear you. You want me to...take the car? Well alright. I mean, if you say so."
A blisteringly ebullient grin danced across Jackson's face as the bellowing officer turned pink around the ears. He looked fairly furious.
"Thanks for the ride, gentlemen." He mouthed through the window before revving the engine one final time over their shouts.
With any luck, that kid would have taken hold of his opportunity and gotten the hell out of dodge. Jackson shifted into drive with a triumphant holler and tore ahead, leaving the men trundling gracelessly to the pavement. He spun out and climbed from zero to sixty in what was only a matter of seconds, adrenaline spiking with the horsepower, leaving the pair to eat his figurative dust. He laughed mirthfully as the tires screeched, hugging the rapidly approaching street corner, not a trace of regret to be found within him. He'd have to abandon the car in a rapid fashion, they were probably calling for a backup cavalry at that very moment. The roads wouldn't be easy to navigate, no chance at escape via a high speed chase, but there were plenty of places to hide in a city such as this he'd imagine. There wasn't time at the present to mull this over for too long, though. He slammed on the breaks when a certain floppy haired recalcitrant little whelp was illumined in his head lights. He flung open the passenger side door hastily, "Jump in! Let's get the FUCK out of here!" he breathlessly implored, practically vibrating in his seat. The kid had apparently made it this far, but those men would long catch up to him before they could catch up with Jackson. Their incensed shouts could still be heard off in the distance. With no trace of hesitation, he clambered in through the passenger side and they tore back down the street, made their daring escape off into the night, two literal strangers...
How had he gotten himself into this?
A few blocks over in an unlit alley way not quite spacious enough for the car to fit comfortably, Jackson whipped the vehicle into place. It would be difficult to catch glimpse of it from the street in the building's dual shadows. Furthermore, they'd have to climb out of the windows to exit, as the doors hadn't enough space to even open, which in his mind made it not a suspicious spot for the car to have been ditched in the first place. He rolled down their windows and shut everything off, enveloping them totally in a simulacrum of isolation.
"I gotta be honest...I'm not too sure what to do from here. I was just kind of winging it." He confessed, slumping in his seat a bit. "What's your name anyways?" his voice was somewhat shaky but sounded far less unsure than he actually was.