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 Michael and Maria freeze as the door opens.
"Michael?" says Max.
"Max?"
"Yeah. It's time. Are you ready?"
"Yeah," says Michael, "let's do it."
Maria's not so sure. She feels Michael's cold sweat through his shirt.
"What do you want us to do?" asks Maria.
"You need to get to the van and start it."
"What about the keys?" asks Liz.
"We can't count on the keys being with the van. You may have to hot wire it, Michael."
"Maybe I can start it," says Liz.
"I can do it," says Michael, a little too strongly.
"Your powers, Michael," asks Max, "can you use them?"
"No, not since they did what they did," says Michael.
"I don't think that's what Max means," says Maria.
"The power's out throughout the compound," says Liz. "If they're controlling your powers electrically, you might be able to use your powers now."
Michael looks from Liz to Max to Maria.
Maria nods. Max looks at Michael's wounds, then heals him, then does the same for Maria.
"You should be fine now," says Max to them both.
"Maria," asks Liz. "Where are the others?"
"I think they're still where we left them."
"That's good," says Liz. "It should be easier to have everyone together."
"Or not," says Max.
"What do you mean?" asks Liz.
"They might be easier to guard if they're all together."
"So we could be walking into a trap," says Michael.
"Not we, Liz and I."
"You're going to need help," says Michael.
"I need you to get the van to the door. It's important. If we're going to get everyone out quickly, we need to be able to get everyone in the van quickly."
"Not everyone will fit," says Maria.
"Ten," says Max.
"There's twelve of us," says Michael.
"Liz and I will act as decoys," says Max.
"No way!" says Maria.
"Maria's right, Max," agrees Michael. "We all leave together."
"We can't do that, Michael," says Max. "If we have one vehicle, then they can send everyone they have against the van. We have to have another vehicle."
"Then we're coming with you."
"No, Michael," says Liz. "We need you to get our parents, the Sheriff and Kyle out safely. You and Isabel can protect them."
"Liz and I," Max begins, "... well, they want us. ...or they will want us."
"What are you going to do?" asks Maria
"We can draw most of their attention from the van," says Liz. "That way you can have a good head start."
"This is too dangerous," says Maria.
"I know," says Liz, "but we have to do this."
"What if they catch you?" says Maria.
"They won't," says Max.
"How can you know that?"
Max and Liz exchange looks.
"We know," says Liz.
"What the hell is going on?" screams the dark-suited man, "I thought you said the backup wouldn't fail."
"It shouldn't," says the security monitor. "This system has been field-tested many times without a failure."
"Obviously, you didn't test it enough, did you?"
A security guard enters.
"Have you found them yet?"
"No, sir!"
"Then what are you doing here?"
"We have two others missing."
"Missing? Who?"
"Guerin and the young DeLuca girl."
"They're going for it," says the dark-suited him.
Michael and Maria slip down the corridor. They hear footsteps, but they are moving in the directions of the makeshift lunchroom. Maria worries that there are too many of them to fight off.
"Michael," whispers Maria.
"Shhh," he says, "they'll hear you."
He grabs her hand. His palm is sweaty. He can do this, she says to herself.
Max and Liz approach the makeshift lunchroom. It's totally dark, but Max guides them, armed with his previous knowledge of Eagle Rock's layout. He hears the special agents outside the door. He wonders if they have guns equipped with night scopes. If they do, he and Liz were easy targets. Or maybe not.
"I'm going to distract them," says Max.
"How?" whispers Liz.
"I'll get them to follow me," says Max.
"No, Max, you can't do that," says Liz.
"There's no other way," says Max.
"Yes, there is," says Liz.
Inside the makeshift lunchroom, a battery-operated lamp sits on the table. The room is dimly lit and there are a couple of agents near the door.
"What's going on?" asks Jeff Parker.
"Just the storm," says the agent. "The powerhouse took a direct strike."
"But why do you need to be here?" asks Diane Evans. "Isn't there something else you could be doing?"
"Were here to protect you," says the agent.
"From what?" asks Amy DeLuca.
The agent remains silent.
Isabel looks at Kyle. Max and Liz, it must have worked, she thinks. Kyle thinks the same. Isabel sits at the table and looks at the Tabasco bottle, then grabs it. She looks around to see if anyone is watching, then changes the Tabasco into mustard. Kyle watches her, then looks nervously at the door. Valenti notices his son's behavior, then spots Isabel's hand on the Tabasco. He draws in a deep breath.
"What's the matter, Jim?" asks Amy DeLuca.
"Nothing," he says, "It's just going to be a long night."
Michael and Maria run across the compound. There's hail mixed in with the rain and it pelts them during their mad dash. When they get to the van, Michael unlocks the doors with his powers. His confidence begins to return.
"Get in, get in!" he screams. He pushes Maria to the passenger side and follows her in. The hail dents the hood of the van. Maria worries that it's going to crack the windshield.
"Keys," says Michael. "Check for keys."
They look in the visor, under the seat, glove box. No keys.
"Argghhh," says Maria. "I can't believe we have to do this the hard way!"
"I got it," says Michael, "I got it."
He flashes to Rath. It's raining, thick, red drops that burn his skin. Acid rain. There's acrid smoke and the smell of sulphur. Sulphur, like now, he thinks. He shakes the memory off.
"Are you okay, Michael?" asks Maria. He shrugs her off with a grunt.
He concentrates his mind and the starter turns over, but it doesn't start.
"Damn," he says, hitting the steering wheel with his hands. "It's too wet."
"Okay, okay, okay," says Maria. "Try it again. Maybe it'll kick in."
Michael tries twice more, each with a little more success. His confidence begins to desert him. Sweat pours from his forehead.
"It won't start," he says.
"Try it again, Michael," she says desperately. "You almost have it!"
Michael tries again. The engine sputters to life.
"Thank you, God," he says and turns on the wipers. He puts the van in gear and drives it to the door.
Liz comes around the corner. The security detail immediately sees her. She turns and runs. They follow her down and away from the now exposed door.
"You did it!" says Max.
"We haven't got much time," says Liz.
"Enough," he says as they race to the door.
When the door bursts open, the two guards are taken by surprise as Isabel pops them with a power burst that drives them against the wall and knocks them unconscious.
Max and Liz rush in.
"Hurry," says Max, "We haven't got much time."
"What the hell ..." says Phillip Evans.
"There's no time to explain," says Valenti, "We have to go ... now!"
He helps Amy up and begins to push people towards the door.
"Mom, Dad, hurry!" says Isabel.
"Kyle," says Valenti, "take the light."
"Michael and Maria are waiting outside with the van," says Max to Kyle. "Follow the corridor to the end. There's a door to the left. Go out that door and follow the exit signs.
Kyle goes first, followed by The Evans, then Amy DeLuca, the Parkers, with the Sheriff and Isabel bringing up the rear.
Max stops Valenti on the way out.
"Make sure Isabel gets on before you," says Max. "You have to leave Liz and I behind."
Valenti looks at Liz who shows no sign of fear. He looks back at Max.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," says Max.
"Jeez," says Kyle as he opens the outside door and feels the pellets of dime-sized hail first hit him.
Michael pulls the van as close to the door as possible.
Kyle steps aside and helps the Evans, Amy DeLuca, and the Parkers get in before he enters the van. Isabel starts to get in, then hesitates.
"Come on, Isabel," says Michael, "we haven't got much time!"
"What about Max and Liz?" she asks.
"They're coming," says Valenti.
He begins to push her in.
"Let's go," he says. "It's not very nice out here."
Isabel gets in, then Valenti, who pulls the van door shut and says, "Go, Michael!"
Michael hits the accelerator.
"Max!" screams Isabel.
"OMG," says Nancy Parker as she realizes that Liz is also not in the van.
Michael builds his speed and yells to Maria, "Get down!" as he crashes through the gates of Eagle Rock.
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