Reassemble (Singular Book 4)

by Larry Buenafe

  “Did… did they take off anything else?”

  It seemed like the stress of the whole situation, and being drugged on top of everything else, was taking a toll on Dad; he struggled to form words, and his eyes were drooping as if he was on the verge of unconsciousness. “No… no, they… they threatened to lots of… of times. They mainly… uh, mainly… tried psych… ah, pers… persuasion… no, mental… uh, mani… mani… waterboarding… and shocks…” then Dad closed his eyes and his head lolled backwards.

  Oh, boy… we’ve got to get out of here quick, before they send in more troops.

  “We might as well go up the stairs, sonny boy. They’ve evacuated the building, so that’ll be the quickest way up. Before you ask, we can’t take an elevator because we knocked out the power, remember?”

  I wasn’t going to ask that.

  “Yes, you were.”

  No, I… well, all right, but… oh, just tell me where the stairs are.

  “The door just around the corner, to the left. When we get to the main floor, we’ll have to exit. There’s a separate staircase that will take us to the roof. It will be dark going up, so kick on your heads-up display and access the night vision. Let’s make like horses and hoof it, sonny boy.”

  What? Oh, I’m not even going to ask.

  I put Dad on my shoulder and led Cheri and Hassim to the stairwell door, which was in the main room where the soldiers were caught up in the webs of the spider grenades; some continued to struggle, but most had given up trying to escape their gluey bonds. They were unhappy, which was understandable, and we heard quite a few frustrated shouts, but as I opened the door to the stairwell, one near us said, “Hey, you did it. That was a pretty good trick. Just tell me, how long are we gonna be stuck in this stuff?”

  “Don’t worry, it’ll start breaking down in about twenty-four hours. Sorry, gotta run!” said Cheri, as she passed through the door and we began our dash up the stairs. It was totally dark as Ava said, but my night vision made it fairly easy to make our way, and I had Cheri and Hassim hang on to the shirt of the scrubs I was still wearing to guide them. Despite a few stumbles we managed, and soon found ourselves on the ground level, where we paused on the landing to listen through the door.

  “There are… there are footsteps out there… do you guys have any flechette pellets or spider grenades left?” I asked.

  “I’m out,” Cheri whispered.

  “Me too,” said Hassim.

  Oh, boy… Ava?

  “You have two flechette pellets left in your arm, but that’s not enough for the number of people out there. I hear five sets of feet. The three of you can easily take them, but if they shoot, it could be problematic. It’ll be best if you leave Hassim and Cheri here with Dad and go it alone. They’re both injured anyway, and we don’t want to put them in any more danger if we don’t have to.”

  They won’t be happy about being left out of the fight.

  “C’est la vie, sonny boy. Let’s go while we still can. We have the element of surprise on our side, so we’re going quick and low.”

  I turned to Hassim and Cheri and whispered, “Wait here, I’ll be right back.” I slowly, quietly turned the handle, then threw it open and rolled out into the darkened hall, my left arm raised and ready to fire; “Don’t move!” I roared at the five figures holding flashlights in front of me, before realizing I was shouting into the faces of… Mr. Oakes, Dave, Margie, Guy, and Pedro, who all immediately raised their hands above their heads. They’re all dressed up like… like they’re on a hazmat team or something…

  We stood in stunned silence, staring at each other for a few seconds, then Dave said, “Hey, Lucas, I told you we’d pay you back somehow. The cavalry has arrived, so don’t shoot us, okay?”

  “Say something, sonny boy. Tell them how you feel.”

  I put my arm down, and said, “How… where… I don’t know what to say. You guys might be the greatest sight I’ve ever seen.”

  That was all it took; they were all around me, patting me on the back and head, and I was only a tiny bit uncomfortable, because these were my friends. Real, true friends. After a few moments, Mr. Oakes leaned near and said, “We’ve got to hurry, Lucas. We have them fooled, but there’s no telling when they’ll figure out we’re not who they think we are. I’m assuming, if you’re here and still standing, that you recovered your father?”

  I nodded and pointed to the door to the stairwell. “Excellent. I used my authority to convince the Majors in charge that the explosions outside were a cover for a much larger bomb that was planted inside the building, and that I was leading this ‘bomb squad’ in to defuse it. There’s no way they would have believed that story if there wasn’t such chaos going on outside, thanks to Bill Kane and your friend Hassim. They lit up the jets on the tarmac from a couple miles away using a laser. That is one amazing weapon, and it provided just enough cover for us to get in. We have a bag we’re going to put your father in as if he is the bomb, then we will drive out of here. If we do it quickly, we just might make it. The rest of you will have to get out the way you got in.”

  Ava, I’m not too sure about this… I don’t want to let Dad out of my sight.

  “I don’t either. Tell you what… stall them for a minute, tell them you need to go up on the roof and make sure Bill has your jet suits so you can fly out of here. We need to check on him, anyway. Hassim said he took some shots as they were coming in, and he may need help.”

  “Mr. Oakes, Bill is still up on the roof. I need to make sure he has our jet suits so we can get out of here. Don’t move, I’ll be right back. I’m sure glad to see you guys.”

  Before he had a chance to complain or argue, I was gone down the hall to the second set of stairs up to an access point on the roof. I went at maximum speed, which meant jumping up from the landing all the way through the roof access panel, blasting it aside, and landing with a tumble; It was dark, but I still had my night vision activated so after a quick scan I found Bill. The roof of the building was flat, with air conditioners spread across the space, a ledge a meter high running all the way around the perimeter, and there he was, slumped against the ledge facing the tarmac. Oh, no… look at all that blood… I’ve got to get him out of here… he got hit more than a few times…

  In a low, raspy voice barely above a whisper, Bill said, “Oh, hi, Lucas. Did you do it?”

  I hurried over and kneeled next to him. “Yeah, my dad’s just below us. Bill, we have to get you some help.”

  He chuckled a bit, then coughed, spattering blood onto his already blood-soaked heat suit. “That’s your weakness, isn’t it? You want to save everyone. Sorry, Lucas. We did the best we could, eh? I have to admit, I didn’t see it ending like this, but going down for a righteous cause… I guess there are worse ways to go. I brought the jet packs for you and Ms. Kim, they’re in this bag here. Hassim can take mine, we’re about the same size. I’ll hold the Americans off so you can escape. In the hills to the west there are four VTOLs. They work for the LFP, but they’re on our side. Two will follow Oakes and the others and as soon as they get clear they’ll transfer your father, Benji, Mr. Harutyunyan, and Ms. Houng to the VTOLs. They’ll get them to San Diego. The other two will wait for you, Hassim, and Ms. Kim in the hills. Go quick, now, while they’re still in a state of chaos down there. If they restore the power… well, then things get much more difficult.” He closed his eyes and made a couple of weak, phlegmy coughs.

  We can’t leave him here, no way. What do I do?

  “Just tell him, there’s no way we’re leaving him, and carry him downstairs. He’s in no shape to resist. Then, we will have Oakes take Bill out in the bag instead of your dad, and we’re taking Dad with us. That’s our solution. Bill has fired his laser several times, so I suspect that they have modified it like ours. Take it, and we’ll use it to cover our exit. Blow up another plane or something fun like that.”

  Wait, what’s that sound?

  “Uh-oh, not good. The Blackhawks we saw near Area 5
1 are on their way here. Someone must have gotten a message out somehow. Our time frame just accelerated, shorty.”

  Oh, boy.

  42

  DIRECTOR’S NOTES

  MEETING WITH SVC

  122152 01:13

  -Blackhawks? Tell me you’re kidding.

  -I wish I was, Director. There are four on their way from Area 51, and they’re about five minutes out.

  -Holy crap. What do we do? There’s no way they’ll get out now.

  -There may be a potential solution. It might not work, but it’s the only option I can think of that’s still available to us.

  -Well, come on, (SVC)! Now is not the time for a dramatic pause!

  -It’s essentially a variation on the same strategy that we’ve been using all along; a distraction.

  -Okay, but how? What do we have there that we could use to… wait a minute, you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?

  - It’s the only arrow left in our quiver, Director. I mean, aside from attempting to shoot the Blackhawks out of the sky. We have nothing else in the area that could get there fast enough to make a difference.

  -But the VTOLs have no offensive capabilities. They’d be sitting ducks!

  -Not necessarily… I have a plan, and it will work if two of the pilots are clever enough. Our VTOLs are roughly equal to the Blackhawks in airspeed and are considerably more maneuverable.

  -Why two? Why not all four?

  -We need to leave two to carry out our original plan, and just assume that the other two will succeed. If they don’t…

  -None of it will matter, anyway. You’re convinced it’ll work?

  -No, not at all. I just can’t see anything else that has a better chance.

  -That’s what I like, (SVC): an act of pure desperation. Put your plan into action; I’ll listen in on the details as you fill in the pilots. Oh, and if this doesn’t work, I’m shooting you with the laser pistol, just so you know. This time for real. Hand me that bottle.

  ****

  E ven in this condition, Bill could be tough, and I don’t want to hurt him. What should I do?

  “Just tell him you’re going to take him down, and either he goes peacefully or we shoot him with a flechette. That should work.”

  I turned to Bill, still slumped against the ledge of the building; his eyes were closed and his breathing was low and ragged. Maybe I don’t have to say anything… I put my hands on his arms, and he didn’t move; I stood and hoisted him over my shoulder, and he let out a groan, but didn’t, or maybe couldn’t, resist. I turned to peek over the ledge; the soldiers, medical staff, and whoever else was out there had cleared out, thanks to Mr. Oakes, and were standing roughly three hundred meters away on the far side of the tarmac. If it wasn’t for him, Dave, Margie, Guy and Pedro… I don’t think we’d have had any chance of making it… okay, get moving… we’re not out of this yet…

  I got down the stairs as fast as I could while trying to be careful with Bill and kicked the door at the bottom of the stairs open. I was a little too hyped up, though, and the door came off the hinges, falling into the middle of the open space and barely missing Mr. Oakes. Even in the darkened hall, and in his usual suit and tie, it was easy to see his tough, wiry frame as he twisted out of the way.

  Dave, Margie, Guy and Pedro rushed over, took Bill from me, and helped him to the floor as I turned to Mr. Oakes. “Okay, change of plans. Put Bill in the bag, take him out of here, and get him help as fast as you can. My dad is going with me. No offense, but I’m not letting him out of my sight now. We can’t let Bill die, Mr. Oakes. And even if he seems dead, he might not really be. Have the doctors shock him with everything they have. This isn’t a question. I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. Thanks for everything you’ve done, all of you. Now go as fast as you can.”

  Mr. Oakes smiled briefly and reached out, putting his hand on my shoulder. “The wisdom and conviction of fourteen-year-olds. I suppose we could all learn something from that. You’re an honorable man, Lucas. Are you sure about this?”

  “I’m sure. And I’m fifteen now. Today is my birthday.”

  Dave, Margie, Guy, and Pedro were just finishing folding Bill into the heavy, padded bag and turned when they heard me, all of them beaming. “Tell you what, you really know how to throw a party,” said Margie, and the rest covered their mouths to keep the sound of their giggling down.

  Suddenly, there was a knock on the door to the stairway leading down, and I realized… I left Cheri, Hassim, and Dad in there… they’re probably wondering what’s going on…

  I pulled the door open, and Cheri fell into the room, did a quick somersault, and landed on her feet. “Hi guys! I was leaning against the door, trying to listen in. Remember me?” said Cheri, as if she was out for a stroll and ran into some old friends. The soldiers fell on her just like they had on me, hugging her and patting her on the back.

  “This is nice, but we’ve got to go, sonny boy. Those choppers will be here soon.”

  I pulled Mr. Oakes aside. “There are Blackhawks on the way, and they’ll be here within five or six minutes. If we don’t get out of here now, we won’t make it.”

  His face turned… I don’t know, I guess I would call it grim. “Understood. Soldiers, it’s go time.”

  And just like that, Dave, Margie, Guy and Pedro turned into a cohesive, impeccably trained unit; each took up a corner of the bag carrying Bill, and they marched swiftly out of the building and directly into the rear of the waiting utility van. I wonder how they had time to plan all this out… no, we don’t have time to think about that right now… Benji, Mr. Harutyunyan, and Ms. Houng are in that van… I wish… no, no time for that either… wait… just as he was exiting the building, I called, “Mr. Oakes! Where will we meet up after… after we get out of here?”

  “We’ll meet in San Diego. Get to the airport… we’ll find you somehow.”

  “Get his cell number, sonny boy. I have an idea.”

  The Americans will track a cell phone call, won’t they?

  “You just leave that to me.”

  If you say so.

  “I just did.”

  Oh, boy.

  I did as Ava directed, and moments later Mr. Oakes and all the rest were racing away from the building as Hassim, Cheri, Dad and I climbed to the roof. Once we were there, we pulled the jet suits out of the bag Bill left for us, and I smoothed it out so we could lie Dad on it as we prepared. As they pulled on the Kevlar jet suits and I strapped on my jet pack by the dim light of the moon, Cheri turned to Hassim. “These suits are basically bullet proof. How did Bill get shot?”

  Hassim paused, his face in shadow. “I’m not proud of this bit, not at all. I should have… see, Bill, he… well, he insisted I wear the Kevlar suit. When I refused, he said if I didn’t he would just go without me. Said he made a promise to me father to keep me safe if he could… He… he unstrapped the jet pack and put it on his back and then carried me here. As we approached, we could see that most of the power had been knocked out, but there were two trucks at the far west side of the tarmac with their lights on… Bill had one of the EMP devices, but when we approached to knock out their power, they saw us and opened fire… Bill still used the EMP, but not before… he rolled so I was on top, and he took all the shots… I was screaming, trying to force him to turn, but… I don’t know how he did it, but he landed us on the roof… he said go, that he was okay, just had a couple of minor wounds… I knew it wasn’t true, but there was nothing I could do in that moment, and I had a job, and that was to save you…”

  And then his face kind of scrunched up and he didn’t say any more. Cheri took him by both arms and shook him a little. “Hey, you did what you had to do, and so did Bill. I know you feel bad; we all do, but we can all feel guilty later. Right now, we need to get out of here.”

  And, as if they were waiting for that speech, the whup! Whup! coming from the south told us we were out of time. “Uh-oh, there they are… what do we do now?” Cheri w
hispered.

  Ava…

  “We could take them down, but not without killing everyone on board. We could out-run them, but if they home in on us, they’ll just pass it up the line and eventually we’ll run out of charge and they’ll have us.”

  We have enough charge in the EMP for one more shot, don’t we?

  “Yes, but if we knock out the electronics on the Blackhawks, they’ll just fall out of the sky. Either way, we end up with a bunch of dead people.”

  Well, what do we do? If those Blackhawks see us up here and start shooting…

  “We’ll all be dead, even you and me, if they get us in the torso or the head.”

  So, the first thing we have to do is get off of this roof, right?

  “Correctamundo. If we go off the north side of the roof and drop to near ground level, we may be able to evade them. That’s our only option that doesn’t result in loss of life, either us or them.”

  Ava, if they do start shooting at us…

  “Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but if it does, we’ll have to take them down.”

  Oh, boy. Wait, I thought they wanted us alive.

  “Yes, but their attitude will be, ‘if we can’t have them, no one can’.”

  So they’d rather kill us than let us get away.

  “You’ve got it.”

  Okay, let’s… whoa, what was that!?

  In the hills west of the base where Cheri and I had originally stashed our jet suits, came a sound that made us cover our ears in pain, then a few moments later came a blast of heated wind that nearly knocked us off our feet.

  The rush of air coming from the explosion in the hills buffeted the Blackhawks, which were now within a kilometer of the tarmac, and they stopped their approach, hovering in place; a moment later, what almost appeared to be a fireworks show erupted out of the hills to the west, with twenty or more flares shooting up into the sky; they created enough light to make two VTOLs hovering just above the tops of the hills visible.