“It’s showtime!” I said in adrenalined eagerness for the action to begin. This was a lot more fun than hacking away at bears with a sword.
Click. Swoosh.
I watched the incendiary missile slam into the base of the tower followed by several others from the other two companies tasked with taking the tower. The explosions rocked the concrete beneath us and glass and men went flying. More incendiary missiles poured into the bottom floor of the tower leaving nothing un-scorched by their explosive flame.
“Alright that’s enough!” Flint said, as he took off for the burning wreckage of the bottom floor of the tower.
All three companies’ converged on the tower, as bullets pinged off the concrete all around us. Now came the dirty fighting. My only job was to keep Asia safe and deliver her to her objective, which meant that I had to stay objective in the fighting and not lose myself in it.
It was hard to skip by and not return fire with my comrades, as I tugged a somewhat shell-shocked looking Asia behind me. Flint was there to lead, I was to protect Asia. Simple, but hard.
I’d just made the second floor when a door burst open. I gave the man a round in the face and then mowed down the other two in the room behind him. I glanced into the room and saw several computer displays.
I pushed Asia into the room, “Will they work?”
She nodded.
“Well get busy honey, because companies coming!” I opened up on the enemy at the end of the hall, as bullets chewed into the expensive interior of the tower all around me.
I pinpointed the flight of a grenade coming right at me and I unslung my rifle and prepared to play softball for the first time in my life. I swung and connected with the grenade sending it flying back down the hall from whence it had come.
“Incoming!” I shouted out before ducking inside the room, as the grenade exploded on its hapless thrower. I then chucked one of my hand grenades down the hall for good measure. Oh this was fun!
There were no more shots after the grenade exploded. Special Force guys streamed by me to clear out the area ahead and I glanced at Asia seated at the display. “Have you found out where we need to go honey?”
“Yes, but you’re not going to like it.” She said pointing upward with a finger.
“Hey baby, I’m with you for the long haul, let’s go!”
Shalako glanced through the night vision rangefinders again, as explosions and gunfire ripped the night apart behind him. “700 yards and closing, they are in the kill zone. I repeat in the kill zone. Lay down hot and heavy Blue Angel, plenty of hostiles to go around.” Shalako said into the com receiver.
“Roger that Arc Leader. Commencing turn, will be in target zone in five seconds.” Came a voice back over the com into Shalako’s ear.
Shalako let the night glasses fall, as he watched the unbroken line of troop transports roar over the savanna headlights glaring in their approach toward him and the tower beyond. The heavy roar of engines overhead signaled the presence of the three fighter-bombers in strung out formation.
Bright white tracer fire began to pour out from the fighter-bombers into the packed convoy like a Trans-Siberian Christmas laser light display gone wild. Bombs fell and explosions rocketed up and down the column, as vehicles were blown apart, under the withering barrage from above.
The screaming birds banked and came back down the long column expending the last of their ordinance upon the chaotic scene of flaming mayhem below in an excellent display of what air superiority is all about.
“That’s the last of it Arc Leader. Cut the party down for you some hopefully.” Came the voice over the com line again.
“You did great Blue Angel we’ll take it from here, Shalom.” Shalako said.
The three Israeli pilots responded in kind, as they headed north through the night for home hoping they had enough fuel left to make it so they could participate in the greater struggle that would soon be rocketing around the world.
Already a semblance of order was being achieved out of the survivors of the convoy, as they pulled out away from the burning debris of those transports forever immobilized. Shalako turned to the tall black man beside him, “Alright Utah start your 50 caliber batteries up, when they come into range. As your positions are compromised, fall back into the city and commence guerrilla warfare. Do whatever it takes to slow them down!”
“Yes Sir!” Utah Blaine responded calmly before heading down toward his machine gun locations.
Shalako shook his head, as he watched the capable young man move off in the dark. Where did Chantry keep finding such capable individuals to man the Agency?
Shalako turned to the four waiting mortar crews behind him, “Fire at will!”
Put! Put! Put! Put!
The mortar rounds soared high and then came down with deafening explosive force onto the beleaguered remnants of the convoy, which were now once again charging for the city, as the bulk of the convoy burned brightly lighting up the savanna in the background.
The big fifty caliber’s chattered alive, as they carved out their own share of carnage on the convoy converging on the city in a staggered out line, even as mortar rounds continued to fall with mass effect up and down the line of the convoy.
“I’m too old for this!” Shalako muttered to himself. War was a young man’s game. Oh well. Shalako stooped and pulled a missile launcher up onto his shoulder to sight down it grimly at an important looking truck with lots of antennas radiating out from it. He may be old, but he could still pull a trigger.
Chapter Eighteen
Mighty Mouse
I ducked back around a corner, as bullets chewed up the drywall spraying dust into my face. I pressed Asia back. This wasn’t good!
We were going to be caught in a crossfire soon. We’d lost our Special Force escort to a series of grenades three floors down and it wasn’t looking good for us now.
I glanced across to the elevator. We’d likely be cut down before we could get to it, but right now it seemed like the only option as those pursuing us were closing in fast. I didn’t want to dwell on the fact that even if we did get to the elevator and away from this floor, we would still be practically gift wrapping ourselves for those waiting on the next floor.
I heard steps down the hall behind us. I slung my rifle on and then picking Asia up I slung her across the space to the elevator gallery before a shot could be fired. I followed after her, but wasn’t so lucky.
Shots slammed into me, knocking me down at one point, but I managed to crawl out of the field of fire. Asia was in a panic, as she helped drag me clear of the bullets. I couldn’t breathe. She was screaming at me and then a little air seeped back in and I felt better for it.
My chest and back smoked from where hot lead stuck out of my vest and burned widening holes in my clothes, “I’m okay!” I said wheezing my way up to my feet.
I jammed the elevator button hard, as I held my gun ready to fire. Something wasn’t right with my gun. It was shot to pieces and I threw it down disgustedly and undid my pistol. The elevator doors opened up to thankfully reveal an empty space. We quickly stepped in and I punched in the top floor.
The doors had starred to close, when I heard automatic gunfire from both ends of the corridor. Going on instinct I held the elevator doors open, while Asia looked at me as if I was nuts for waiting.
I shrugged, some things you had to take by faith, and my instinct was one of them. Temple and Maria soon appeared coming down one corridor and a moment later Tyre and Galloway came down the other.
Galloway approached with a big smile and I gave him one of my own. He and I had always gotten along well together.
“Room for a few more?” He asked with a cheeky grin.
I grinned back, “Sure thing, hop in!”
Tyre stepped over my shattered rifle and peeled another one off his back to hand to me, as he stepped into the elevator, just as the doors whisked shut. Tyre punched the button for the floor beneath the top floor.
I glanced down a
t him then, “So I heard you got married.” I said.
He nodded.
“Congratulations!” I said and got another nod.
“Any kids?” I asked.
Tyre tapped the elevator door twice with the muzzle of his rifle, in cryptic response to my question.
We reached his floor and he stepped out with both of his guns hammering. The elevator doors closed shut as we continued to rise. A man of few words that one was.
“He does actually talk more than he used to.” Maria said into the silence.
I hit the stop button and the elevator came to a halt in between floors.
“What are we waiting for?” Asia exclaimed.
I glanced at her still slow counting in my head, “Waiting for Mighty Mouse to do his army of one routine.”
Galloway burst out laughing, while Maria and Temple both tried to stifle grins.
Galloway recovered first, “You know saying things like that is what made him not like you to the point that he won’t even talk to you.”
“I know. I really feel bad about it inside.” I said disingenuously.
I disengaged the stop button and the elevator rose to the last floor that it reached to. The doors whisked open to reveal a pile of bodies and the image of Tyre changing out his gun magazines. The little dude sure did love his guns.
“Classic as usual Tyre.” I said in genuine admiration, as I looked around at the cleaned out space.
“Likewise.” He said in response.
I wasn’t quite sure I understood what he meant by that, but I didn’t think it was in reference to a good thing. Had he heard me in the elevator or just surmised my smart comment? Probably the latter.
Tyre led point out into the dark room filled with tall windows, beyond the short hall leading from the elevator bay. Lights came on suddenly and something moved away from the wall in front of us. Before Tyre could get a shot off he was picked up and lobbed across the room to thud heavily against the wall, where he lay still not moving at all on the floor.
There were four of them. They were like tall people only they were somehow robotic as well. Their arms and legs looked, as if they’d come out of a Terminator movie, but the skin of their faces looked real. What were they?
“Go!” Maria screamed, as she broke left and Galloway broke right giving us cover fire. I saw the door that would lead to the other elevator that went to the top floor and I ran for it tugging a petrified Asia along with me, as Temple followed after me giving covering fire. It was one loud hammer of sound within the room as guns roared. I wanted to stay and fight, but I couldn’t. I slammed through the heavy door and Temple slammed it shut locking it after us.
Maria fired until her gun clicked empty. Three of the robot things had left immediately breaking through the glass and disappearing along the outside of the building. They’d left one of their number behind though to finish them off. Whatever it was it was bleeding, but it looked unfazed as it sprang for her. Oh God she was going to die!
Something shoved her hard and she fell away to roll over and see that it had been Galloway, who had shoved her. The robot’s hand had fashioned itself into a blade and it was run clear through him. The robot twisted the blade and Galloway jerked hard before being tossed to the side by the robot.
The robot came for her then and Maria drew her pistol and started emptying it into the thing from where she lay on her back on the floor. It just kept coming though. Suddenly it jerked hard as it was hit from behind by gunfire and Maria saw Tyre on his side firing up at the tall robot person from the other end of the room. He must’ve hit something vital, because it pitched over to land heavily onto the floor.
Tyre dropped the rifle and crawled across the floor to Galloway, who was coughing up blood. Galloway’s eyes traced over to Tyre and Tyre grasped his hand hard.
Galloway managed a brief smile, “End of the song little buddy.” He was dead then, but Tyre didn’t let go of his hand.
Maria saw that Tyre’s other arm was broken badly. Maria went to him and helped pull him up to his feet, “We need to get you out of here!” She said wiping tears away. She’d never cared for Galloway’s lusty devil-may-care-attitude, but in the end he’d given his life for her. What more could one ask of a person than that?
Tyre stared at the closed door, where the others had gone through, but Maria pulled him along with her stubbornly, “We can’t help them now! We need to group up with any others that might still be alive, come!” Resolutely she tugged him away and back toward the elevator that they’d used to reach this floor.
Chapter Nineteen
Past Revisited
I saw the second elevator that would take us up the last few floors to the broadcast room. We’d met with no resistance, and I was hopeful that our journey would soon be at an end.
“Well what a surprise this is! Do come in.” The voice was feminine and it had Temple walking out into the dark space toward it.
The lights came on to reveal an attractive brunette with three of the robot figures backing her up.
“Lori?” Temple asked disbelievingly, his face as white as if he’d seen a ghost.
The woman smiled coldly, “Well hello dear brother. Long time no see, bye-bye now.” She said, as she fired the pistol in her hands twice and Temple with a gasp fell to his knees clutching at his chest.
“No!” I roared rushing to his side.
Temple’s eyes left his sister’s to move to mine, “You knew! All these years you’ve been protecting me! Why?”
I eased Temple to the floor, “You were my friend and to noble at heart for your own good. It would have killed you inside to know that she joined the other side.”
Temple shook his head, “You’re a good friend John, but you should’ve told me.” And with that he was gone.
I continued to stare at my dead friend, even as I spoke up loudly, “This wasn’t the deal we made Lori!”
“No Logan it wasn’t, but then neither were you to ever come find me so I guess the deals off officially.”
I looked up to see Lori standing beside Asia with her gun to Asia’s head. I stood up, “You hurt her and I’ll kill you in the hardest way I can imagine!”
Lori smiled, feigning a fake eroticism that no longer worked for me, “But Logan you already did kill me don’t you remember honey? You’re not still having headaches are you?”
I started for her then, but she pressed the gun muzzle against Asia’s head suggestively.
“Ah Ah Ah big loverboy. Now, I think it’s time that I discovered what your little Code Breaker girlfriend here has been up to, while you have a few nightmarish moments to think over all the things I’m going to do with your precious little lover, when I have what I want from her.”
The three robot-like figures had closed in on me from three opposing sides.
Lori spoke up once more, “Don’t you love the latest evolution of the perfect soldier darling? You were always far too volatile and lacking in control to be a good soldier. Fun aspects to have in bed I grant you, but not on the battlefield. The element of feeling anything has been completely removed along with a few other upgrades that make you obsolete. Have fun playing with your replacements, while I dissect your girl here. Won’t that be fun!” She laughed coldly, at her own words, as she shoved Asia from the room at gunpoint.
How had I ever been attracted to her?
I studied my opponents, as they began to close in slowly. They no doubt had orders to make it last or they’d already be on me ripping my limbs off with their powerful artificial arms. The tips of their fingers lengthened out into serrated talons. With continuous firing I might be able to sufficiently penetrate the body armor they wore, but I’d only succeed with one of them, which left the other two free to slash me apart at will.
No emotion crossed what little I could see of their faces. It would seem that they were the perfect soldiers, strength combined with the loss of the ability to care about anything. Their wetsuit like armor clearly revealed that two of them were m
ale and one was female, not that it mattered.
I reached back and pulled my latest sword creation free from its harness on my back. I had experience with talon wielding opponents before, but never three at one time. It would be a new experience.
I attacked, my sword clanged off one’s arm, only serving to push the individual back somewhat. I ducked under the swipe at my head by another and swung hard the edge of my sword slicing through the tough body armor causing blood to spurt.
My strike, while it had scored blood, seemed to have had no effect at all and it was all I could do to avoid mortal injury. Their taloned hands sliced away at my flak vest and bear arms unmercifully. I was making them bleed, but I wasn’t winning the fight.
I dove past one and came up behind it and swung a quick reflexive swing at it off my back foot. My sword was becoming blunt from connecting with the indestructible alloy that their arms and legs seemed to be made of, but blunt as it now was the sheer momentum of my strike drove it through something on the back of the neck of the figure I had dodged around. The soldier abruptly collapsed to all fours in disorientation.
Yes! I had no time to crow over my victory though. A taloned grasp closed down over my shoulder with all fingers penetrating in a grip of agony and I was abruptly thrown, somersaulting through the air. I slammed into something and it was all I could do to stave off unconsciousness.
I blinked my eyes open to find myself laying against a wall at the other side of the room. I wasn’t good. My eyes met the figure still on all fours that was looking at me, then I glanced up to the two approaching soldiers. I really couldn’t even will myself to move in order to get away.
Grimly, I watched one stoop and pick up my sword. Holding it in his taloned grasp he abruptly broke it in half. I got the point. My play time was up. No sword, no gun within reach and no strength left. I had failed and Asia was going to die and with her the rest of the world’s best chance for freedom.
Agent in the Dark (The Agents for Good) Page 14