by D. B. Goodin
“I can’t believe she pulled it off,” Jony said.
“They made the mistake of underestimating Natasha,” Alexei said.
“Let’s see how long it takes for one of these men to board us… wait for it,” Alexei said.
It didn’t take long for one of the men to come aboard the aircraft.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” the captain said.
“Just securing the plane,” the guard said.
Alexei gave the signal as soon as the guard was only ten feet inside the plane. Viktor shot the man with a dart. As the man collapsed, other men filed into the plane; Alexei shot one of them as he started yelling. Three guards were down in the plane, and there were at least three more outside. Viktor went to the front of the craft and crouched near the staircase. A bullet ricocheted off the side of the plane.
“Hunter, see if you can get to the hatch in the pilot’s compartment without them seeing you,” Alexei said.
Hunter nodded as he made his way to the front of the plane. Viktor started shooting, obscuring Hunter’s movements as he crawled behind him. Alexei noticed that the men were focused on Viktor. Hunter opened the hatch, and then readied his blades. He jumped down and hid behind the landing gear. The guards were still focused on Viktor. From his position, Hunter could see three men hiding behind some crates. He wasted no time. He exposed himself for a few seconds, throwing knives at the guards; in seconds, two of them had knives sticking out of their necks. The last guard ran. Victor stood up and then shot the man in the back a few times.
Natasha was admiring the spectacular view as the vehicle was ascending the mountain. Then her stomach lurched as she realized that the shoulder was disappearing as they drove; the road was narrowing every foot they climbed. The ground was moist from the recent rainfall, and dark clouds were gathering at the top of the mountain.
“How far to the complex?” Natasha asked.
“Not far,” Mani said.
Natasha noticed that his eyes were looking at places other than the road.
“Is it always this humid on the island?” Natasha said.
“Yes, my dear!” Mani said.
The radio blared.
“We are under attack!” said the man on the radio.
“From what?” Mani said.
“Assassins are in the plane . . . Aargh!” the guard said before the radio cut out.
Mani hit the brakes hard enough to make Natasha hit the dash. Mani pulled his sidearm and pointed at Natasha’s head.
“What’s going on?” Natasha asked, looking alarmed.
“You are a fraud, and your people on the plane ambushed my men,” Mani said.
Natasha turned to face Mani.
“What are you talking about?” Natasha said in the most convincing tone she could muster.
Moving as fast as a viper, Dahlia pressed the cold steel of her serrated blade against Mani’s throat.
Mani raised his hands, and then pulled the gun back. Dahlia moved the knife from his throat. Seconds later, she covered Mani’s mouth, and then slammed the knife into Mani’s back. He gave Natasha a surprised look. Dahlia kept pressure on the knife as she took the gun from Mani’s hands. His body slumped over the steering wheel and the horn blared. The rearview mirror in the ATV shattered. Dahlia looked back. Another ATV was positioned sideways behind them, and two men were taking shots.
“Down!” Dahlia yelled.
“What did you do that for?” Nigel asked.
“We were made. Now get down,” Dahlia said.
She pulled out the gun she took from Mani, and then started shooting. Nigel jumped out of the ATV and ran around the vehicle, trying to avoid the gunfire. As he passed the side of the ATV, the side mirror shattered. Natasha slumped in her seat and then readied her weapon. She took out her 9mm Glock 17. She fired all seventeen rounds into the vehicle. One man was slumped over the side of the vehicle; the other took cover behind it.
“Nigel, where are you?” Natasha said as she reloaded.
“Here,” Nigel uttered from behind her seat.
Another ATV blocked their path to the front, and Natasha unloaded her gun into it. Nigel ran back toward the rear of the vehicle.
“Nigel, get in!” Natasha said.
Then Nigel lost his footing and fell. Natasha looked at the side of the vehicle, but he wasn’t there. She looked over the side; Nigel was suspended over the cliffside, hanging onto a branch that was bending and about to break.
Natasha dove toward Nigel, hand outstretched. “Grab on to my hand,” she called.
Nigel attempted to grasp her hand.
“Nigel, focus!” Natasha urged.
He stretched his hand, but Natasha’s was just out of reach. The gunfire was getting closer; Natasha was pelted with small amounts of dirt as bullets peppered the ground around her.
“Better get him quick. They are calling for reinforcements,” Dahlia said.
Dahlia ran toward the rear ATV. She rounded the corner as the guard was reloading. She threw something at the guard. He pulled the trigger, but it was too late; he was bleeding from the knife in his neck. She scooped up the guard’s sidearm and looked around for additional foes. When she was satisfied, she ran back toward the ATV. The guards in the front were still firing. Natasha was still trying to pull Nigel up. Dahlia checked her sidearm. Only a few bullets remained.
“Need to make these count,” Dahlia said.
Nigel’s grip was slipping. His hands were sweaty, and he was struggling to hold on. The gunshots he heard overhead didn’t make him feel any better. He could see Dahlia behind the vehicle. She started rummaging through one of the guard’s pants, then other areas.
She was looking for ammunition.
“We are all going to die,” Dahlia said, too calmly for Nigel to make sense of.
Nigel looked up again, his eye stinging as sweat starting seeping in. Dahlia threw something toward the sound of the bullets. He heard a clanking sound, and then an explosion rocked the side of the mountain. Natasha started sliding downward while Nigel held on.
Dahlia grabbed her whip, and with the flick of her wrist, the whip unraveled. Then, as if it were a living thing, it wrapped around one of Natasha’s legs. Natasha screamed. Dahlia pulled, but her feet were sliding in the moist dirt.
Alexei heard the radio chatter from a guard taking fire.
“This is not good,” Alexei said.
Viktor was heading down the plane’s stairs, taking shots as he descended.
A few moments later, Alexei and Jony emerged from the aircraft. Hunter and Viktor searched the bodies for any spare ammunition.
“We’ve got to go—now!” Alexei said.
Viktor snapped to attention. He threw a man out of the driver’s seat of one of the nearby ATVs.
“They’re on to us. They have been warned about the attack!” Alexei said as he ran toward the vehicle. Jony was trying to keep up. Less than a minute later, Viktor was driving the ATV at high speed.
“Anyone injured?” Alexei asked.
“No, boss,” Viktor said.
“I’m doing just fine,” Hunter said.
Jony just shook his head.
“Do you know where to go?” Viktor asked.
“I’m not sure, but let’s keep going straight up the hill,” Alexei said.
Alexei looked back. Jony looked freaked out. Hunter just sat there like nothing had happened.
I guess Jony never experienced battles like this on the streets of London, Alexei silently mused. Hunter seems to be enjoying himself!
Victor unbuttoned his collar while driving. Alexei followed his lead by shedding his jacket. The climate on the island was tropical and humid.
“Damn this humidity!” Viktor said.
“Holy crap! Look at that!” Jony said.
“Yes, the mountain looks massive now that we are above the tree line,” Alexei said.
“Stop the vehicle!” Alexei said.
“What’s wrong?” Viktor asked.
Vikt
or followed Alexei’s finger. He could see two ATVs and hear the familiar popping of gunfire.
“I need an inventory of all weapons and ammo,” Alexei said.
“I still have plenty of knives,” Hunter said.
“I picked up a few clips, but I’m not sure what weapons they go with,” Jony said.
“I have a full magazine and three clips for my Glock,” Viktor said.
“Oh, we have this, too!” Hunter said as he handed Alexei a large automatic weapon.
Alexei handed Jony a pistol. “Know how to use this?”
Jony nodded as he took it.
“Drive! The aim is simple. Kill all hostiles and save all friendlies,” Alexei said.
Viktor stopped just behind another ATV. At least two of Mani’s men were crouched behind the vehicle.
“D’s in trouble!” Alexei said.
“She’s not the only one. Look!” Hunter said, pointing.
Alexei watched in horror as he saw Natasha’s body slipping over the cliff.
One man bolted around the ATV and pointed his weapon at Dahlia—but Hunter was faster. His knife penetrated the man’s neck. Blood spewed everywhere. Alexei shot the remaining guard in the head. Viktor jumped out of the vehicle and ran toward Dahlia. He leaped to the edge of the cliff and grabbed Natasha by the waist and pulled. Nigel was grabbing onto anything he could to help his ascent. Seconds later, Alexei grabbed Nigel.
“Are you all right?” Alexei asked no one in particular.
Natasha nodded.
“Yeah—but that was too close,” Nigel said.
“Now the real fun begins,” Hunter said as he pointed up to a large structure built into the mountain.
After checking for additional hostiles, the group took the vehicles that were in the best condition and continued up the mountain. Alexei changed the channel on the radio that he’d pilfered from one of the dead guards. He was taking an inventory of remaining weapons; they had enough for a small army.
Hope they are not using this channel, otherwise we’re screwed, Alexei thought.
“Natasha, you there?” Alexei said into the radio.
“Darling, I never thought you would call so soon,” Natasha said.
She sounds different. Is she shaken?
“Have you taken an inventory of the weapons and ammunition acquired on-site?” Alexei asked.
“We have enough weapons, but clips are in short supply. How about you?”
“Same. I just hope we can gather more as we move along. The primary objective is to get Nigel and Jony to a terminal so they can proceed with the hack. We must protect them at all costs,” Alexei said.
“Understood. I’ve got Nigel,” Natasha said.
“Roger that,” Alexei replied.
“Their buddies won’t be thrilled,” Hunter said.
“We have weapons, but we are running short on ammunition. Choose your shots,” Alexei said.
“Got it!” Viktor said.
“I don’t need to reload these!” Hunter said as he waved a large knife around for effect.
Alexei prepared himself for the battle to come. We are going in blind, he thought.
Then Alexei noticed a large, round door; it was big enough to fit two buses side by side. The door was open. Alexei could see several jeeps, delivery vehicles, and a lot of guards and civilian personnel dressed in lab suits.
“Here we are,” Viktor said.
Alexei picked up the radio and said, “Avoid civilian casualties.”
“Of course—” Natasha began, but was cut off. The radio went dead.
Alexei saw about a dozen guards get into position. Viktor jumped out of the ATV, opened fire, and shot two guards in the head. Hunter headed for cover. The vehicle in front was taking a lot of damage. No one was getting out. Alexei jumped out and used the vehicle for cover. He had body armor, so he just needed to worry about the extremities. He made a run for it, shooting in the general direction of the guards as he moved. He took a barrage of gunfire as he ran toward the Natasha’s ATV. Searing, white-hot pain shot up from his left leg.
Aargh! They hit me!
The guards stopped shooting to reload. Hunter jumped up just in front of the guards, knife in hand. He slit their throats in one graceful motion. Natasha got out of the ATV and ran toward Alexei.
“Are you all right?” she called.
Alexei nodded.
“That was a foolish and unnecessary risk. You’re losing your touch, old man,” Dahlia said.
Dahlia liberated her whip and ran toward the growing chaos. Natasha helped Alexei to get behind the vehicle.
“We will clear a path,” Dahlia yelled back.
Viktor, Jony, Hunter, and Dahlia moved into action like an unyielding force. Alexei positioned himself to take in the carnage. Dahlia unfurled her whip, and with a flick of her wrist, she unleashed its fury. Its first casualty was caught off guard as the whip tightened around the guard’s neck. The man’s eyes bulged. Dahlia loosened her grip, and then shot him in the face with the pistol in her other hand. Viktor leapt into action with a 9mm Beretta in each hand; every shot seemed to hit its mark. Hunter was positioned atop a car, throwing his knives into necks, backs, and anywhere else he could to stop them as they fled. Jony took a few shots from behind an ATV.
These poor bastards don’t stand a chance, Alexei thought.
Dahlia jumped over a makeshift barricade that a few guards were using as cover.
Ahh, they’re reloading, she figured, but not for long!
Dahlia cracked her whip at a gun that one guard was holding; the gun went flying out of his hands. She noticed Hunter flanking the guards from the other side. He plunged his knife into the back of a guard. The guard started shooting at random. Dahlia easily deflected the shots. She knocked the weapon out of his hand with another flick of her wrist. Hunter nodded at his mother as he turned to look for more victims.
Viktor found an elevated position on top of the cab of a truck. He eliminated several more guards just as Dahlia and Hunter were approaching. The rest of the guards disappeared into the complex. Then a loud booming sound emitted from the complex, which sounded like metal rubbing together.
“The door is closing! Get Nigel here—now!” Viktor yelled into the radio.
Jet sat in Delta’s the control room. She was hyperventilating; she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Several thoughts entered her mind at once.
Was April controlling that elevator? Why did she show that to me? The image of Jeremiah’s corpse was stuck in her head.
Jet readied herself. She would deal with Delta.
April was dead.
“Starting full facility lockdown,” Leviathan said.
Jet could hear the echoes of doors closing in the facility.
Natasha and Nigel kept low behind the ATV. She didn’t need to explain the urgency of the moment. He heard Viktor’s radio chatter; it sounded like they were under heavy fire.
“I’m ready,” Nigel said.
Natasha gave him a pained look as she picked up her two handguns and ran alongside her level-five intern. It was difficult to hear anything over the shutting door. Another twenty feet and they would be in. Nigel looked back. Jony’s stamina was lagging, as he was about thirty feet behind.
He will not make it, Nigel thought.
Natasha held Nigel’s hand as they continued their stupefying sprint through this unexpected war zone.
The door to the facility was less than ten feet away. Time seemed to slow down for Nigel.
“Almost there,” Nigel said.
Natasha’s hand squeezed Nigel’s. Her nails dug into his hand. Nigel looked back. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and regret. Behind Natasha, several men were fighting Dahlia, Hunter, and Viktor. Jony was maybe ten feet behind. Nigel face contorted into an expression of horror as he came to the realization . . . they’d hit Natasha.
Natasha’s hand went limp. She fell to her knees for a brief second before collapsing. Nigel turned to see a spreading pool of bloo
d around her middle.
“Nooo!” Nigel screamed.
I’m not ready to lose my mentor, teacher, and friend.
Natasha motioned to Nigel. He came close. Her lips were moving, but he couldn’t hear what she was saying. He couldn’t hear much of anything. All sound was muffled . . . and then everything returned in a torrent.
“Get inside! There is nothing you can do,” Dahlia screamed.
Nigel looked back. About five or six new arrivals were flanking them from the rear. They started aiming their guns in Nigel’s direction. Jony grabbed Nigel by his collar, pulling him toward the door.
Nigel and Jony made it through. Nigel watched as Dahlia and Hunter continued to engage the guards. More were coming.
With a loud BOOM, the door closed.
Chapter 27
“Full facility lockdown completed,” Leviathan said as her voice echoed through the complex.
Nigel collapsed onto the floor, and he placed his hand over his face.
This is all too much. Nigel felt the like a giant weight was pressing against his head. First his mother’s coma, his father taking Ralphie, Jet’s disappearance, and now Natasha had been shot.
Several thoughts darted through Nigel’s mind all at once. What the hell am I doing? I’m just a kid! I’m going to die!
“Get up, mate. We’ve got a mission to complete. Do you want them to die for nothing?” Jony said.
Nigel got up, wiping at his eyes.
“Now, let’s find a terminal,” Jony said. “We’ve got some Delta arse to kick!”
Nigel heard some voices in the distance. They sounded gruff and mean. He took cover just behind a parked ATV. They appeared to be in a large hangar-looking area with a ramp leading up to a platform. Everything looked very industrial.
“We need to find a computer that is plugged into the network, or least an open port on a network switch,” Nigel said.
Jony nodded and followed Nigel up the ramp. He stayed low and close to the wall. When they reached the top of the platform, they had their choice between two hallways. Nigel chose the one on the left because of its lack of activity. They tried each door as they came to it; all were locked. A few hundred feet later, the hallway narrowed. Nigel proceeded down the narrow hallway, which gave way to a metal catwalk. Nigel started feeling uneasy as he looked down. The area was lit so he couldn’t be certain, but he thought the drop below him was at least a hundred feet, maybe more. He tested the steadiness of the catwalk; it felt solid enough. Nigel couldn’t see the other side, but he picked up the pace. He stopped when he heard movement.
