The Permutation

Apex (Part 1) Jordan

"Autobots, let's roll out!" Tony shouted with a feral gleam in his eye before shooting Jordan a wink. Transformers had been one of the cartoons they used to watch.

"Can I at least grab Diana a sweater before we go? She's going to freeze," Jordan pleaded.

"Look at you Squirt, being all noble and stuff. Ulrich, go grab the young ones a sweater."

The man with tattoos, Ulrich left grumbling his way up the stairs. Jordan had a feeling he was low man on the totem pole. She catalogued that in her brain, hoping that may be useful later.

Ulrich returned with Jordan's baggy New York Yankees sweater, and a thin hoodie that Jordan liked to slip on when the house got too cold. It wasn't much use for Idaho winters, but it would have to do. She gave Diana the Yankees one. Jordan slid it over the girl's head and whispered in her ear that everything was going to be okay. This time with more feeling. Being outside offered a lot more opportunities for Jordan to turn the tables.

She didn't believe for one second that Uncle Tony was going to let any of them out of this. He kept the others alive to make Jordan cooperate, but Jordan played along.

I'd rather die than let anything bad happen to others on my account. I want to be able to live with myself when all this is over. If I live that is.

The procession marched outside, and the wind slapped Jordan in the face. She thought she'd seen the worst Idaho had to offer, but Idaho surprised her once again. The wind thrashed in the air throwing leaves into the air like a petulant child. The others had to brace themselves against the force of the elements.

There was no sign of Derek. 

It's like even the air knows that tonight is going to be an eventful night.

They crammed themselves into the car once more, but this time the wind slammed the door shut on the fingers of the red head. He shook his hands out and buried them in his coat. He looked at the occupants in the car to see if anyone noticed, and Jordan hid her smile.

The drive to the drive-in was too short. Jordan looked out the window and saw waves of dirt and gravel swirl around the drive-in like a natural barrier against their approach. Tony made Ulrich get out and remove the chain to block random cars from entering. The wall of dust swallowed the man, and he returned with cuts and bruises marring his arms.

Tony whistled, "This place really is a hellhole isn't it?" 

Ulrich grunted.

As the SUV lurched into motion, Jordan tried to piece a plan together. It involved being a sacrificial distraction while Christopher and Diana escaped into the night.

Sure, there's a few flaws in the plan, but it's the best I've got. I wonder if dying hurts if they do it fast enough?

The car pulled to a stop next to the building where a lifetime ago, Derek and Jordan had found that fedora. She remembered the layout of the structure, and maybe she could scoot Christopher and Diana out of the hole in the wall during Jordan's diversion.

The group stepped out of the vehicle, but Jordan grabbed Diana's hand and pulled her out Christopher's side of the car. She planned to hold her friend's hands until the thugs separated them. It was probably the last time she would get to spend with any of them. She wished that Derek would've got to see her now. He would be so proud that she was finally a hero, even if it was only for a moment.

Jordan saw a massive yellow blur fly over her head. A horrible screeching sound split the night as she heard metal collide with metal. Jordan turned her head to see her neighbor's yellow Geo perfectly T-bone the side of Tony's SUV. The black car's two sides had bent at a ninety degree angle from the point of impact.