"Fuck 'em, now we get a bigger cut, man," muttered one of the other mercenaries.
"Watch your mouth, rook!" snapped Segel. "You don't get shit, you've only be with us—"
"Both of you shut up," Meigs barked.
Three sharp gunshots echoed around the corner as more smoke billowed down the hallway. Chad swallowed and felt his heart pounding hard in his chest.
A few seconds later, the point man reappeared and signaled all clear. "The fire’s blocked off most of the courtyard here—I only found one survivor."
"How's the exfil point?" asked Meigs.
The mercenary shook his head. "Need to shape a charge up ahead and make our own exit."
"Stavros! You're up," said Meigs.
"Finally," muttered the fourth mercenary as he jogged by into the smoke.
"What's going on?" asked Chad.
"We're getting you the hell out of here, that's what's going on," replied Meigs. "Segel," he said to the hulking man dressed in black. "Cover our six."
Segel didn't say a word, but he at least let go of Chad's shoulder before he turned to face the opposite direction. "I don't like this…" he muttered.
Meigs stepped up next to Chad. "I don't either, but we're almost out." He cocked his head and listened to an indistinguishable transmission on his helmet radio.
"Shit."
"I definitely don't like it when you say that," growled Segel.
"What's up?" asked the point man.
"Base security is getting their act together,” reported Meigs. “The main route's been blocked off. We'll have to go to the secondary now." He leaned around Chad and shouted. "Hurry it up, Stavros! We're gonna have company!"
"You cannot hurry a master!" echoed down the hallway.
"Don't get cocky—just make a fucking hole!" shouted Meigs.
"Contact!" warned Segel a split second before he fired.
Chad covered his ears at the thunderous noise of Segel's machine gun and Meigs shoved him forward.
"Get in the smoke! Go, go, go!"
A bullet tore a chunk of white brick off the wall opposite Chad and showered his face with stinging fragments.
"Keep moving!" said Meigs with another shove.
Chad tripped and face-planted on the floor. Meigs was there and immediately hauled Chad to his feet.
"Fire in the hole!" warned Stavros' voice from around the corner. A tremendous roar temporarily drowned out the gunfire and Chad watched a jet of flame reach around the corner. His ears felt like they'd explode with the terrible ringing in his head, then a wall of black smoke enveloped them.
Meigs said something Chad couldn't hear, then shoved him forward again. Chad couldn't help coughing as he staggered blind through the hot, acrid smoke. His eyes burned and leaked tears as he stumbled ahead.
Ten steps down the hallway, a light cut through the gloom. He recoiled in surprise as a pair of hands emerged through the smoke and grabbed him.
Chad landed on charred pavement outside, desperate to suck in as much clean, cool pre-dawn air as he could into his spasming lungs. He staggered to his feet and watched wriggling black smoke roil out the jagged new hole in the wall.
Meigs, Segel, Stavros, and the fourth man rushed out firing over their shoulders. As Chad watched, Stavros took a bullet to the face and crumpled into the fourth man. They both tumbled out of the hole and landed on the singed ground outside.
The fourth man screamed and fired blindly back into the hole while Segel pulled Stavros' body clear.
"Goddammit, Stavros!" growled Segel. "Couldn't let the fucking rook take it in the face?"
"Hey!" complained the fourth man as Segel helped him to his feet.
Chad couldn't take his eyes off of the cavernous mess that used to be the Stavros' face. White bone and gristle stuck up through the bloody mess.
Meigs grabbed Chad's shoulder and spun him around. "Kid! Snap out of it! Head for that building over there—we need cover!" Meigs said as he shoved Chad across the courtyard.
Chad blinked—he couldn't remember the last time he'd been outside. His bare feet made it hard for him to stumble across the debris covered ground. More than once Segel had to pick him up and shove him forward. Chad screamed and ran, hands over his ears as Meigs and Segel continued to hold off their pursuers.
"Meet us at the secondary LZ!" shouted Meigs.
"Roger that!" replied the rookie as he fired another burst into the building. "I'll cover you!"
"Don't be a fuckin' hero,” complained Segel.
"Shut up and move,” replied Meigs over a burst from his weapon.
Chad found his footing and sprinted closer to Meigs. Air raid sirens split the air all around him and smoke obscured his vision. Several nearby buildings were on fire—he could see the glow through the smoke as gunfire crackled everywhere he turned.
"What is going on?" he shouted over the noise.
"I told you, we're getting you the hell out of here," shouted Meigs. "Now run!"
Chad hesitated for a few heartbeats. He didn't want to go with Meigs, but since everyone seemed to be shooting at him, he didn't feel like he had much of a choice. They made it to the side of the next building and inched their way along the wall to the nearest emergency exit. Segel ran to the far corner and took a quick look.
"They're fuckin' flanking us—we gotta get outta here!" he reported.
Meigs dragged Chad behind him and worked his way to the other corner. He poked his head around the side and turned to Chad.
"This way's clear. Come on, follow me." Without waiting for a response, he took a fistful of Chad's shirt and pulled him around the corner.
Gunfire erupted somewhere up ahead, echoing off the nearby buildings.
"Backup! Go, go!" Meigs hissed as he shoved Chad back around the corner.
"Watch it!" Chad complained as he crashed into Segel.
"What is it?" snapped Segel, pressing Chad against the rough brick wall.
Safely back around the corner, Meigs changed the magazine in his rifle. "There's a Humvee parked in front of this building. I saw some troops coming across the street—they didn't see us.” He took another peek around the corner. “We need that vehicle."
"Well, we can't go the other way—there must be a whole fuckin' platoon coming after us," muttered Segel.
"Then we'll go through," said Meigs, eyeing the closest emergency exit. "Follow me." He grabbed Chad's shirt and dragged him to the heavy gray door.
Without saying another word, he fired straight through the wire-reinforced window then reached in and hit the panic bar. Segel yanked the door open and Meigs shoved Chad forward.
"Watch the glass," Segel grunted.
Chad carefully stepped around the glittering bits of window on the ground. He winced as a piece sliced his toe. "Damn!"
A scream from down the hallway made him pause. He looked up and saw three men in white lab coats. As they saw him and the mercenaries, one of them dropped his clipboard and all three ran around the corner in the opposite direction to raise the alarm.
"Well, they know we're here. Let's move!" said Meigs. He grabbed Chad's shoulder and pushed him forward again.
The three of them ran down the hallway and ignored the chaos as people screamed and tried to hide. Red lights strobed from the ceiling and a loudspeaker was blaring something about an active shooter.
"There! That door at the end of the hall—go!" Meigs screamed to be heard over the deafening alarm noise while pushing Chad even harder.
"I think our Humvee's sitting right on the other side of that door. We have to get through—"
As they approached the corridor, a spray of bullets peppered the wall in front of them. "Jesus!" Meigs grabbed Chad and hauled him back.
As Chad picked himself up off the floor, Segel and Meigs returned fire around the corner. Segel grunted as a red mist exploded on the left side of his neck. He staggered back and hit the wall in front of Chad, who stood watching, transfixed.
The big mercenary closed his eyes. "I
'm hit!" he gurgled.
Meigs stepped in front of his wounded comrade and fired a long burst of lead down the hallway. Someone screamed at the far end, but Chad's eyes were locked on Segel. The surly merc grimaced as he slid down the wall and left a red streak in his wake.
"God dammit…" Segel groaned.
Apparently satisfied the threat had been neutralized, Meigs lowered his rifle and moved to Segel’s side. "You okay?" he asked as he took a knee next to his comrade.
Segel was not okay. He didn't speak, but slowly slumped over and collapsed to the ground. Meigs pulled the glove off his left hand with his teeth and searched under Segel jaw for a pulse. His eyes looked up and met Chad's.
"Looks like it's just you and me, kid." He closed Segel's eyes and sighed. "I never liked him that much, anyway."
Chad heard a door open down the hallway to the left. Meigs heard it too and raised his weapon. The mercenary frowned, then lowered his rifle.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I don't understand…" said a familiar voice around the corner.
Meigs grabbed Chad's shirt and pulled him forward. "Here, keep an eye on him—I've got to secure our ride."
Meigs shoved Chad straight into the arms of a doctor in army camo. The young officer's eyes went round in surprise.
"What the hell—"
"Chad, Lieutenant Daniels. Lieutenant, Chad. There—now you're up to speed." Meigs glared at Daniels. "Just keep him safe—I got a lot of money riding on this."
Daniels pulled Chad into a side room. “Stay in here,” he said.
Chad found himself in a laboratory, filled with utilitarian desks, computers and a herd of terrified scientists. Red lights flashed from the ceiling which did nothing to ease Chad's anxiety. The loudspeakers were blaring full tilt about taking safety precautions.
"Chad?" called out Dr. Boatner.
"Dr. Boatner!" Confused, Chad rushed across the room into the virologist's arms.
"Stay with him!" shouted Daniels. He stepped outside and shut the door.
Chad looked around. At least a dozen scientists cowered under workstations and tables. More than one person cried, hidden under a desk.
"Chad, what are you doing here?" asked Boatner as he led him to the nearest desk. "Here, get under there—the base is under attack."
"I know," explained Chad as he knelt. "Meigs and his men, they came to my room and tried to kidnap me—"
"Who's Meigs? My God, Chad your feet are bleeding!"
"The guy in the hallway—he's a mercenary," Chad said, feeling his arms start to shake.
"Beth, get a first aid kit! His feet are cut and all torn up!" yelled Boatner.
"They were shooting at the soldiers," Chad said, staring at the wall. He ignored the people gathering around him. His whole body felt like it wanted to shake itself apart now. He didn't know whether to laugh or throw up. So he talked.
"I didn't know what else to do—there was so much blood! Sergeant Reeves is dead—Segel got shot, right in front of me…"
More shots rang out in the hallway. Someone behind them screamed. Boatner grabbed Chad and pulled him further away from the door as two people tried to bandage his feet.
"Don't worry about that now, Chad. Just stay under this desk. We'll get you patched up."
"Did you walk through glass?" asked the woman.
"Yes," Chad mumbled. "Dr. Boatner, I'm c-cold…"
"He's going into shock," muttered the man next to Boatner.
"Well for God's sake let's get him some blankets! Move, people!" snapped Boatner.
CHAPTER 31
Rescue
DANIELS SHOVED HUNTLEY THROUGH the door and slammed it shut behind him. He faced the door and closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts before he confronted Meigs. Surprise and anger bubbled inside, making him want to tear the doorknob off.
"Damn, I’m glad to see you," Meigs said from his left.
Daniels spun to face the mercenary. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?" he hissed. "Of all the places on this base, you brought him here?"
"Hey," Meigs said as he stepped back, "I didn't know you were gonna be here.”
"Where the hell are the rest of your men?" Daniels snapped. He glanced at the body of another merc on the floor and pointed. “Who’s that?”
"Segel—the rest are all dead," replied Meigs. "It's just me now. Look, I need to secure my ride and I'll get the kid out of here."
“What about the rest of the strike force?"
Meigs shook his head. "Don't know. Those Europeans you told me to watch out for are toast. From what I can tell, the survivors are pinned down over on the east side." Meigs glanced down the hallway over Daniels' shoulder.
"I've got to move fast—keep an eye on the kid for me," he added as he turned away.
Daniels knelt by the body at his feet and put his hand to the man's throat. Just as Meigs said, the mercenary was dead. He looked up at his last remaining Oakrock operative. For once, Lord Murata had been wrong—the Council attack had failed. All the lives he'd taken in his nerve gas attack had been for nothing. The boy was going to be recaptured now for certain. He clenched his fists.
"I took out Security Command,” he said slowly.
Meigs turned around. “Yeah, so? I'm gonna grab that Humvee. Stay here.”
Daniels stared at him. "I killed all those soldiers and this…” he looked down at the body. “This is the best you can do?"
Murata made it sound like the assault team’s success was a foregone conclusion. All I had to do was shut down the command center and they’d walk out with the Source. Even with the addition of the extra Oakrock team, it all failed.
"Yeah, well…I didn't think it would be this bad either," Meigs said. He pointed down the hallway. "Hey, we're not finished yet—"
"You don't get it, do you?" Daniels blurted. "It's over! Lord Murata failed."
"The fuck are you talking about?" Meigs point at the lab. "The kid’s right on the other side of that door. Now look," he said, visibly trying to restrain his anger. "All you have to do is watch him for a minute, then bring him to that door,” he said, pointing at the exit door. “I'll get him off this base and meet up with our transport. Just calm down."
Daniels stood and brought the dead man's rifle with him from the floor. He leveled it at Meigs. "No, you won't. I told you—it's over."
Shock registered briefly on Meigs’ face. "What the fuck, man?" he asked slowly. "Put that thing down before you hurt yourself—I know what I’m doing."
"So do I," Daniels said through clenched teeth. The rifle barked three times when he squeezed the trigger.
Meigs grunted and dropped his own weapon before stumbling to his knees in the middle of the corridor. He looked up from his blood-soaked tactical vest and his mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.
"For what it's worth…I'm sorry, Meigs.” Daniels lowered the rifle. “But I can't risk you blowing my cover. This is the only way I see to salvage the project."
Meigs fell face down on the floor at Daniels’ feet and didn't move. Daniels stood over him as a dark red stain seeped out from under his body and slowly spread across the industrial floor tiles. Shouts through the emergency exit at the other end of the building snapped him back into action. He turned and raced for the lab.
Once inside, Daniels stepped back and leveled his rifle at the door. "I need someone to help block this door!" he called over his shoulder.
When no one moved, he looked around. The scientists cowered under their desks and behind lab equipment.
"Dammit! Someone get over here and help me—there's more of them coming!"
"Jesus, Albert! What happened?" asked Boatner.
A woman screamed in the background but made no move to help. One of the assistants finally scrambled for cover and struggled to drag a heavy workstation in front of the main door.
"Good, now get back," Daniels said as he moved toward Boatner.
"What happened?" Boatner repea
ted.
"I saw a chance and took it."
"Where's Meigs?" asked Chad from under the desk.
Daniels frowned. Meigs had always been fond of talking too much. Now he'd have to worry about what the boy knew.
"Who?” he barked. There's always something.
“The mercenary—the guy out there with the gun. He brought me here.”
“They won’t be bothering you anymore, Chad."
"You shot him?" the teenager said with wide eyes.
“Good Lord!” gasped Boatner.
Daniels adjusted his grip on the rifle and pulled it against his shoulder. "I may be a lab rat, Chad, but I'm also a soldier. My duty is to protect you at all costs."
At this, Boatner seemed to collect himself and struggled to his feet. "That's right, we all need to," he said as he adjusted his lab coat and cleared his throat.
"Everyone! Get out here and help!" he shouted over the noise of the active shooter alarm still sounding. "We can't let them take the boy!"
As Boatner moved from desk to desk rallying the troops, Daniels mentally rolled his eyes. Huntley was in no more danger from the Council than he was from the army. No one wanted to kill him—everybody wanted his blood. The only difference between the Council and the army was how they would use that blood.
Ironically, their goals were the same in the long run. Too bad for the army he swore an oath to King and Council long before he swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.
The main door to the lab rattled as someone pounded on it from the other side. "Open up!"
The scientists scrambled for cover again amid fresh screams. Boatner rushed back and pushed Chad under the desk.
“Stay under there!”
Daniels turned back to the door. "Identify yourself!" he shouted. "I'm armed and I will shoot!"
"My name is Staff Sgt. Banyard—base security. Who am I talking to?" was the muffled response.
"Lieutenant Albert Daniels."
"The base is secure, sir. You can open the door now."
Daniels knew the Council’s strike team had failed. There was no way such a small team could have escaped with the boy. Murata should've known better—they should have given him more time and attacked with at least a battalion-sized force.
The Source: A Wildfire Prequel Page 19