"Sure but……but Aurora…..Aurora! Are you there?"
"I love you too little sis."
"Aurora what's the matter, are you safe…..are you in trouble…..talk to me."
"I have to go, I love you……please tell Kimba I love her too."
"Yeah I love you too, what's going on? Aurora, are you there…..Aurora…..Aurora!"
"Come on, I think we can go now," Stryker said waving her on as she slid her phone back into her jeans. Athena's voice gave her a sensation of hope in stark contrast to the growing hopelessness worming its way into her soul. She had to fight her emotions and put herself once again back into warrior mode.
"Hey man you alright?" Stryker asked as she seemed a little offset to him.
"Yeah…..let's just get the hell out of here."
"Here, put this on," Stryker said handing Aurora a blue denim jacket.
"What's this for and where did you get it?"
"You need to cover that wound on your shoulder, it may not be bleeding much but it will attract attention we don't need. And I bought it for you from the store next to this one."
"Well thanks Stryker, that was sort of nice of you."
"Yeah well, don't say I never got you anything."
The next level was swarming with police everywhere. A disgusted Aurora gave her comrade the same look that she once gave him years earlier when the pair faced a formative foe back in her CIA days.
Stryker knew that look for it meant she was about to let it all fly and be ready to go out with all guns blazing. "No, I will not let it get to that point," he said placing his hand along her face and gently stroking her cheek.
"But Matt, it's hopeless, let's just go out like warriors," she said lowering her eyes before reaching for her gun.
"No, I don't believe in the no win scenario."
"Alright Captain Kirk, what do you propose."
"You remember."
"You're little Star Trek movie, how could I forget when we were together, you made me watch The Wrath of Khan like ten times, I think I know every line from that damn film.
"Yeah well, Kirk beat Khan."
"Stryker this is the real world…..ok."
"Come on I have an idea."
"What?"
"Oh, just something I always wanted to do as a child here in the subway."
"What?"
"Just come with me," he said taking her by the hand and leading her back down to the lower levels.
"This is your Kirk moment, bringing us back down into the hell pit?" Aurora cried out.