The Algorithm

Chapter six - Homecoming

Marinette waited on the sidewalk hoping Adrien trusted her enough to jump. She had meant what she said, she promised him he would survive and she would make sure he did at all costs. She knew all too well what Akuma would do to him, she would not allow them to hurt him as they did her.

Marinette peered up at the tall building that laid in front of her, the marching of soldiers in the distance was growing louder with each step. Suddenly she saw him start to fall. He was nothing more than a small speck from where she stood but as he grew closer and closer to the ground his image became clear. She held her hand up toward him and focused on the thought of him stopping. She felt the nerves in her hand start to vibrate slightly inside her muscles as she uses her abilities. The hypnotic humming sound filled the air once again. Adrien's descent started to slow until he just sat there, about three meters off the ground. Floating on a cloud of air.

Marinette lowered her hand and with it, Adrien's feet steadily made their way to the ground, until finally, he stood on the solid pavement. His breath was shaken and erratic.

"How did- what just- you-" He stammered through his painting. He bent over his knees and glanced up at her, obviously waiting for an answer.

"I have telekinesis." She explained. "I can control objects with my mind. That's why the snipers were never able to hit us. I kept moving the darts away. That's how I broke the glass, unlocked the door, and it's how I'm going to save your life." Marinette shook her head. "We can't wait here. Akuma has soldiers coming our way. We won't last long if we stay." Adrien stood up, he gave her a very disbelieving look.

"You can move things with your mind." He scoffed.

"Yes. Did you not hear me? We need to go." She barked. Adrien rolled his eyes.

"I don't believe you." He said, his breath still short.

"After everything that has happened in the last twenty minutes, is me having telekinesis that big of a stretch?" He pondered her statement for a moment.

"Are you serious?" He asked.

"Yes." Marinette was growing impatient and the steady marching was growing closer.

"Okay but how can you-" She held her hand up to stop him.

"We don't have time." She answered. Marinette wrapped her fingers around his wrist and pulled him back into the street. "Hello?" She said into the comlink.

"Siren?" The woman on the other side replied.

"Where is that squadron?! Akuma has us outnumbered."

"They are on their way, we fixed your tracker and have a lock on your location, they will be there soon. Just stay alive." Just stay alive, Marinette thought to herself, that won't be too difficult, I just need to fight off an mob of armed soldiers alone.

The odds were stacked against them. All they had was Marinette's powers and she could only use her abilities to a certain degree. Over the years she had grown stronger and had mastered the use of her powers but after a long period of time or a large amount of her strength was sapped, she would burn out. She could only hold off the swarm of soldiers for so long before the circuits and wires inside of her would overheat, forcing her into a fever-like sickness. Sweating, vomiting, dizziness, were all symptoms she would undergo if she overworked herself. With all the soldiers and weapons they possessed, Marinette would only last a short while against them all. Her mission was to protect Adrien, not defeat the army Akuma had sent after them so fighting the swarm of soldiers alone would be a last resort.

Marinette dragged Adrien to the small white vehicle parked lonesomely on the side of the road. The two of them crawled underneath on their elbows. The space between the ground and the bottom of the car bed was narrow and left them little room to move. In the distance, they could hear the synchronized marching of the approaching troops.