Over the past six months, the three of them had spent almost every free moment together, both in public and in private. It wasn't surprising then, that some one had linked them to one another. Pryor Kiev just wished that it had taken them longer. He had barely had any warning from Dakar that Trivan had been seen and that their position was in jeopardy. Perhaps they should have had a more organized plan for if one of them was caught.
Pryor let his shoulder bag slip off and thud down on the cement before sliding down to sit beside it. He leaned back against the brick wall behind him and pulled his knees up to his chest to wait. He was sitting outside of his school, leaning back against the front wall. The building and the street it was on were deserted since it was the weekend. All of the identical buildings on the street were schools of one kind or another. That's what made it a convenient place for them to meet if there was a problem. A student sitting outside of a school was not going to draw a lot of attention. For once, the school was actually working towards his benefit, instead of just being yet another place to feel weight of the government on his shoulders. At least he would never have to see this place again.
Dakar Asmara had sworn that he would meet Pryor there by a quarter till ten that morning to get them out of the capital city Nyes. Even though Pryor knew he could trust Dakar despite all of the bickering they did, he still couldn't deny the shadow of doubt that haunted him. He was an anarchist. Paranoia was inescapable. They had to move north now, into one of the smaller cities called Hinlar. Dakar had a brother, Stae, who lived up there. He had been the one to introduce Pryor and Dakar to the idea of fighting the government's control and the ideology of the movement. He would be able to hide the two of them until this whole thing blew over.
This had been a dismal first step, but at least it had been made. It had been Trivan's idea. The three of them had been sitting around in Dakar's apartment, discussing the latest letter from Stae when Trivan had come up with the idea of "active" opposition. Trivan had still been a fairly new member of the movement, but he had always been eager to move things forward. To him this was the quickest way to openly challenge the Nystan government and hopefully not be killed in the process.
"We could do something like this." Trivan had replied as he waved the letter in his left hand about. Stae had written to them of a riot that he had lead the other week. A few people had been arrested, but luckily not Stae. "No one's openly opposed to the government in Nyes yet. We ought to be the ones to do it."
Pryor had snorted in scorn. "Right. And we can have all of the Nystan authorities out for our blood. The government will kill you if you do anything in this stupid city. Stae can get away with that kind of stuff in Hinlar. It's not the capital. They kill rebels here."
Trivan had merely smirked at him, completely unfazed by Pryor's tone. "What's the matter?" He challenged. "Are you scared?"
Dakar had always had his work cut out for him in trying to keep the two of them from fighting.

Quickly, Trivan had come up with a plan. He said that a minor explosion during a time when no one was in the building would make the public aware of their presence without pissing the hell out of them. There was nothing worse than a mob out for revenge, he had explained. As long as no one was hurt or killed, then they'd be fine. They'd make their point, show that they were not to be ignored, but hide from all punishment.
As Trivan had gone on about how perfect the plan was, Pryor had found himself being drawn in. The idea of actually doing something was appealing, even if it was dangerous. He had quickly grown to love the idea, even if Dakar had been nervous about it. This was the kind of forceful action the movement needed. They needed to start doing things, not just talking about them.
Trivan already had a building picked out. It was the building Trivan's "little friend" went to training classes in. Trivan claimed to know the building well, and knew that it was empty from two until six in the morning. All he needed was a couple of access codes, which would be easy for Dakar to get from the Nystan Government Central Computer, and the bomb.
That part had been Pryor's.
He had managed to make a decent one. Pryor had had some limited experience with making explosives, but with the pointers Stae sent him, he had managed to put together something adequate. From what Pryor had heard, the explosion had torn through multiple floors and left a gapping hole in the side of the building. The mission hadn't been a complete failure, just a disappointment.
If only Trivan hadn't been spotted in the area.
The three of them had been hoping that he could play it off as just a coincidence, but apparently not. Nystan had caught Trivan on one of their surveillance cameras, and considered it enough evidence to plaster the images all over the news and declare Trivan guilty. Trivan had managed to get in brief contact with Dakar and told him that he would be trying to get to Hinlar, and that he would meet them there. The phone call had been rushed, with little detail given.
"But they'll be watching for you!" Dakar had exclaimed in panic.
"Don't worry about that." Trivan's voice had been calm and collected; without fear. "You just concentrate on yourselves. You need to call Pryor. Tell him to start moving. We'll have to regroup in Hinlar. We all knew we'd have to go eventually, we're just leaving a little earlier than we had originally planned, that's all." He whispered quickly. "And Dakar?"
"Yes?" Dakar had replied, ready for what ever other orders Trivan might have. "Trivan?" He had asked when the other boy did not continue.
"Could you do me a favor?" Trivan had asked slowly.
"Sure."
"Could you check on Ghent for me?" Trivan had hesitated once again. "I'm worried about what's going to happen to him. He's not ready yet to get involved in all of this, and I'm afraid I may have already put him in danger."
There he was again, that idiot government lackey Ghent Schläger. Apparently, Trivan had been close to this boy most of his life and refused to give up on him even though he was obviously a lost cause. Schläger would never turn against his precious government and would most likely turn Trivan in without a second thought if he knew what they had been doing.
Pryor had been very vocal in his belief that there was more between Trivan and his little friend than just friendship, but Trivan's violent response had made him readjust his conclusion. Trivan was in denial and Schläger appeared to be completely oblivious. While it was great material for mocking Trivan it was also very dangerous. It was the type of thing that was going to get one of them caught, if it hadn't already. If Schläger had reported Trivan as being a rebel, then it would have made it easy for Nystan to pinpoint Trivan as the bomber. Trivan obviously didn't think so, but he still seemed overly concerned about a boy who would probably turn them all in the first chance he got. Schläger couldn't be trusted, and Pryor thought he and Trivan had gone over this, but apparently Trivan still hadn't given up on the other boy. It was disgusting.
"No." Pryor had declared firmly when Dakar had delivered Trivan's message. "Absolutely not. I'm not going to risk my hide, or your worthless hide either. The bastard can take care of that piece of crap."
"Pryor!" Dakar had exclaimed in outrage.
"Absolutely not." Pryor had snapped back with the same enthusiasm. "We're in enough trouble as it is." He had continued while trying to shove his clothes one handed into his book-bag. "We're not risking our lives to check up on some idiot who likes being a sheep. I don't care what Trivan says. He's a moron."
Dakar had growled at him over the phone. "Do not start that again."
Pryor had snorted in reply. "I know what I'm talking about. It's pathetic and disgusting and it's going to get us all caught. Trivan's a great leader, and sure as hell better at this than you or I am, but he still has a great talent for being an idiot."
"Damn it, Pryor!" Dakar had snapped at him to force Pryor to stop his tirade. "I already ran a preliminary search." He had explained. "Ghent Schläger was arrested an hour or so ago for Presenting False Information and Abetting a Criminal. So it doesn't matter. We're already too late. If you would actually let me finish talking before you go off then maybe you would have know that!" Dakar had been livid but Pryor ignored it.
Pryor didn't feel much sympathy for the Schläger kid either, and at least he was out of their way now. The government wouldn't do much to the kid. Schläger hadn't been involved other than by being an old friend of Trivan's. Hopefully Nystan had not reached the point yet where they killed people just for that.

Pryor shifted his book bag around so that it sat on his feet and leaned his head back against the building behind him. His parents hadn't really comprehended what he was doing when he had started packing his bag. He still had half a year of school left, but he had no intention of completing it. He never had. School was just another way for the government to control the people. Pryor hadn't told his parents that he wasn't coming back. He doubted that they would miss him much anyway. There hadn't been any pretenses in his house of being personally concerned with one another. Having a family was a civic duty and nothing more. His parents would only care about their reputation and would have gladly turned him in if they thought it would improve their status.
Pryor heard footsteps, and knew someone was coming from around the corner. The steps were hasty, yet there was still a shuffling noise. Pryor scrambled up to his feet, trying to calm his racing heart. That had to be Dakar. The short boy's pants were always too long for him, and dragged on the floor, heralding his approach.
The petite redhead came around the corner, carrying his own backpack and with his bright green eyes wide with fright. He had been nearly hysterical on the phone and didn't look much better at the moment. Dakar was really far too excitable for his own good. It had taken a quarter of an hour for Pryor to calm him down on the phone enough for the redhead to be able to speak coherently.
Pryor immediately grinned, falling right into his role as the confident one, even if he didn't feel that way. There was a comfort in pretending to be the strong one. If he pretended that nothing was wrong, then nothing would be. It was necessary for Dakar's benefit. The redhead needed the reassurance from him.
"Thank God!" The redhead exclaimed in relief as his eyes automatically checked Pryor over to see if he was hurt, or showed any signs of having had difficulty. "They've got it all over the news!"
"I heard." Pryor replied lightly as he snatched up his bag, and took Dakar by the arm. "Then I guess we ought to get moving, huh?"
"What about Trivan?" Dakar asked nervously as he let himself be lead along.
Pryor grinned mischievously and tried not to show any of his own nervousness. He knew he was a good actor, and if he just tried hard enough, Dakar would buy it. "Trivan's good at taking care of himself, even if he is an idiot."
"And the Schläger boy?"
Pryor snorted. "He's the government's prodigy child. They'll slap him on the wrist and send him home." There was definitely anger there. Even if he couldn't prove it was Schläger's fault, Pryor still felt like blaming him. He dragged Dakar along down the streets, trying to avoid any police. It would be best if they could get out of the city unseen. They'd have to watch out for cameras both on the streets and in the rail station. Nystan hadn't managed to have cameras put every where just yet, but there were still enough to make everything difficult. "You make the arrangements?" Pryor called out over his shoulder as they hurried along.
"Yes!" Dakar replied breathlessly. "Train leaves in half an hour."
"Right." Pryor going over the route in his head. This was the nicer part of town, with its high glossy black towers and perfectly maintained sidewalks. Not exactly what Pryor was accustom to, but Pryor had had the sense to plan ahead a little. He had mapped out several routes to the rail station from his house, including checking which ones had cameras and other surveillance. They'd be able to make it to the station in time and also avoid being spotted if everything worked out fine.
"They've got our names."
Pryor glanced over his shoulder at the very alarmed looking Dakar. "Well, we knew that they would eventually." He replied evenly
"I checked their movements." Dakar explained hastily. "They're going to be watching the rail station."
Pryor bit the side of his cheek. Damn! That would complicate things. But at least they had an idea of what they were up against. "Don't worry. We'll get through." Dakar didn't answer, but he stayed close behind him. Pryor led him down another empty side-street. Sunday's were wonderful things. All of these buildings were classrooms, and no one had classes on a Sunday. They weren't far now and still making good time. They'd need that time when they got to the station. Pryor was beginning to feel like he had things under control. They were almost to the station. They had managed to out-smart Nystan. It was as they came around the corner on the next street that things changed.
"Crap!" He exclaimed as he quickly took in the scene before him. Without thinking, he yanked Dakar back around the corner, then peeked around it.
Dakar plastered himself close to Pryor and looked too. "Crap!" He whispered like an echo, and Pryor they shared the same feeling of surprise and defeat all at once.
Despite Trivan's cocky attitude, the police had caught him.
They had him restrained, and were pushing him into a police car.
"No, no, no." Dakar whispered pathetically. "Pryor, what are we going to do?"
Pryor chewed on the side of his cheek, uncertain. He had only known Trivan for a short time, but the feeling of loyalty to him was already strong. He didn't have many people he trusted, people he felt close to. Who knew what would happen to Trivan now.
The game had grown much more serious and the punishments had a very real possibility of being fatal if Nystan decided that Trivan was an actual threat, and not just a punk kid as the three were hoping Nystan would assume. Even then, this wouldn't be good. They'd have to help Trivan some how, but now was not the time. There was nothing they could do in their current position and the logical part of Pryor knew that. "We can't help him." He said quietly, suddenly and for the first time regretting all of the sarcastic, malicious things he had said to the other young man, all the stupid, vulgar things he loved to say, that didn't mean anything. "Come on." He said as he moved away from the wall and took Dakar's hand to lead him on. He tried to be gentle, trying to get Dakar to move quickly. He'd deal with the regret later. "We have to go." He said softly in encouragement. "We'll talk to your brother. He'll know how to get Trivan out of this."
Dakar nodded hesitantly, and followed along. After a couple of detours, Pryor brought them to the station. There were police there, but not nearly enough to watch the whole station. Four guards couldn't possibly watch everything, and Pryor and Dakar were experts at blending in. They'd been doing it all of their lives. They followed large active crowds until they were close enough to slip onboard unnoticed. They found seats halfway back, and kept their heads down and tried not to look as paranoid as they felt. The recorded welcoming voice came over the intercom to tell all of the passengers in its crackled voice about where the train was going and where all of the emergency exits were. Both boys tensed visibly in their seats and glanced at one another. They were close. Just a little longer and they would be moving. They'd be leaving Nyes finally, but they would be leaving without Trivan. Pryor bit his lip and tried to will the thought away. They'd come back for Trivan. It was only a couple of hours to Hinlar. It was safer in Hinlar, out of the capital city. There, Dakar's brother Stae would be waiting for them. Together they could come up with a plan. They could figure out what to do then.
Trivan would have to hold on until then. Pryor wasn't the best of leaders, but he knew once people started hearing about what Trivan had done, he could get enough people who felt the same way to rescue him. Stae would help him.
Pryor took a deep breath and glanced over at Dakar. They couldn't let Nystan beat them like this. They couldn't let this hold them back. Trivan understood that just as Pryor did, and as Dakar was going to have to.
The redhead was staring at his hands blankly as if someone had died. Pryor sat up straighter and prepared himself. It didn't matter that inside Pryor felt the same way. They had a job to do now. That was what Trivan had wanted when he had started pushing for action. He wanted to change things, and they were never going to make it if they couldn't hold it together. Pryor would have to make this convincing; he had to do Trivan's job now.