Counterstrike

by Peter Jay Black

  Charlie hit the button on the remote, there was a loud crack and the server room was plunged into darkness.

  Jack’s view changed. Now he saw the world bathed in green and he was the only one who could see in the darkness. He took Charlie’s hand and silently led her past the guard.

  They followed the path back through the server cabinets and heard the guard banging into things and swearing through clenched teeth, but they stayed well clear of him and finally reached the door to the stairs.

  The lights were still on in the stairwell, so Jack removed the night-glasses and slipped them back into his backpack.

  Together they raced up the stairs, and at the top Jack hissed, ‘Slink?’

  Slink’s head popped up from behind the filtration tank. ‘What took you guys so freakin long? Did you get it?’

  ‘No,’ Charlie said, as she and Jack supported Slink under the arms. ‘Medusa doesn’t exist.’

  ‘Say that again?’

  ‘We’ll bring you up to speed later,’ Jack said as they hurried across the bridge.

  ‘This whole thing has been a waste of time?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Charlie said. ‘Pretty much.’

  They walked through the generator room and up the stairs. When they reached the top, Jack knocked softly on the door.

  After a few seconds it opened and Wren stuck her head through. She looked at each of them in turn. ‘Everything all right?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Slink said. ‘Just blinking great. You?’

  She shrugged. ‘Been really boring actually.’

  ‘Good for you,’ Slink said. ‘Now can we go, please?’

  Wren opened the door fully.

  The four of them hurried along the corridor and made their way back through the entire level.

  It seemed to take forever for them to reach the lift that led back to the surface, but once safely inside, Jack hit the button.

  When the lift doors slid open again, Obi spun to face them, his eyes wide and fearful. ‘Thank God you’re back.’

  ‘You missed us then?’ Slink asked.

  ‘The guard escaped and triggered the alarm,’ Obi said.

  ‘Why didn’t you stop him?’ Slink said.

  Obi waved the spray canister back and forth. ‘I tried. It’s run out.’ He jabbed a finger at one of the monitors. ‘That’s not all. More guards are coming.’

  The front gate was open and two cars were pulling up to the building. Four men climbed out of the first one carrying automatic rifles.

  Jack stared. ‘Oh, great.’

  ‘Shouldn’t we be, like, running or something?’ Obi said.

  ‘Where exactly are we gonna run to?’ Slink retorted. ‘In case you forgot –’ He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at the lift. ‘That way’s underground.’

  Jack turned to Charlie. ‘Backup escape plan?’

  She nodded. ‘Backup escape plan.’ She removed a radio control from her bag, extended the aerial and held it out to Wren. ‘You want to do it?’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘You’re the best at the racing game.’

  Wren beamed, took the radio control from Charlie and stood in front of the monitors.

  She concentrated on the view that showed the Ford Escort and pressed a button on top of the radio control. The Escort’s lights came on and its engine roared to life.

  The guards spun round to face it, weapons raised.

  Wren pulled the stick back and the car reversed from the space, then she spun it around and jammed the stick forward – the Escort raced through the gates and out on to the road.

  The guards leapt back into their cars and gave chase.

  Wren moved to a monitor on the far right. It showed a view aimed down the road.

  ‘Through there,’ Charlie said, pointing at a gap in the trees. ‘There’s a pond on the other side.’

  The car hit the embankment and vanished into the darkness.

  The two guard cars followed it up and over, disappearing after it.

  ‘Let’s go,’ Jack said, throwing open the door.

  The five of them hurried from the building, through the main gate and into the cover of the trees.

  When they were a safe distance away, Slink said, ‘Put me down.’

  Jack and Charlie released him.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Wren asked.

  ‘If you lot think I’m limping all the way back to the bunker, you can do one.’ Slink sat down on the soggy grass and rested against a tree. ‘Seeing as you’ve just lost our transport, Wren, I’ll stay right here and wait for Charlie to come back with her bike.’

  Jack laughed and dropped to the ground next to him. He felt a wave of exhaustion hit him, but with it came a huge sense of relief.

  Hector was finished, Jack reminded himself as he closed his eyes.

  It was finally over.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Five days later, Jack, Charlie, Slink and Wren were sprawled on the sofas and beanbags in the living area of the bunker. They were each wrapped in blankets, watching television. Even Obi, sitting in his chair, had a duvet over him with just his face and hands showing.

  Slink sneezed, making everyone jump. ‘Stupid Raze and his stupid cold.’ He blew his nose on a tissue and threw it on the pile in the middle of the floor.

  Jack had to admit that he felt awful too. It had started with a rash behind the ears that had itched like crazy. That had then progressed into a full-blown cold.

  He’d also needed a pee for the last hour but ached so much that he hadn’t bothered to get up yet. The loo was only a little way away, but it might as well be on the other side of the world.

  Wren started coughing, her face turning red.

  Charlie handed her a glass of water.

  ‘Thanks.’ Wren sipped at it, then popped a cough drop into her mouth. ‘This is horrible.’

  Jack wondered if part of the reason that Raze’s cold had hit them so hard was because they were all so run-down. This was the first time they’d stopped in months and, despite feeling like rubbish, it was nice not to have to do anything.

  ‘Guys,’ Obi said through heavy sniffs, ‘turn to channel 601.’

  Charlie reached down by the sofa, pulled out the remote and changed the TV channel.

  The news showed the image of a man standing in front of the painting that the Outlaws had stolen from Hector. It was now framed and hanging on the wall of a gallery.

  ‘Looks good,’ Charlie said, smiling.

  ‘Incredibly,’ the reporter said, ‘this famous painting – The Storm on the Sea of Galilee – was stolen from this very museum back in 1990.’

  The screen split – revealing the presenter in the studio – a woman with dark cropped hair. ‘And how was it recovered, Joe?’

  ‘That’s the amazing part,’ the reporter said. He glanced at his notepad. ‘It was mailed to the museum.’

  ‘Mailed?’

  ‘That’s right, Sally. The museum opened a cardboard mailing tube a couple of days ago and the canvas was inside.’ He gestured behind him. ‘As you can see, the museum was quick to reframe it.’

  ‘Any idea who sent it?’

  ‘So far, the authorities are completely baffled. There was a letter inside . . . ’ He read from his notepad. ‘It said, “Please donate the reward money to a local charity.” ’ He looked up. ‘That’s all it said.’

  Charlie muted the television and looked at Jack. ‘What are you grinning at?’

  ‘Hector.’

  ‘What about him?’

  ‘Well,’ Jack said, ‘he’s not having a very good time, is he?’

  ‘He’s lost an expensive painting,’ Slink said.

  ‘Not just that,’ Jack said. ‘There’s no weapon. Which means no more Hector, right?’

  They nodded.

  ‘But that’s not even the best part,’ Jack continued. ‘It also means we can go back to what we do best – planning missions, RAKing, helping people.’ He looked at each of them in turn and his smile broadened. ‘We go back to bei
ng Urban Outlaws.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Slink said, blowing his nose. ‘Sounds great, but I’m not going anywhere just yet, thank you.’

  ‘Me neither,’ Wren said, pulling her blanket up to her chin.

  ‘If we gave the reward away,’ Charlie said, ‘what are we going to do for money?’

  Obi coughed. ‘I’ve sorted it. Jess sent me more and I put it in the account.’

  ‘Thanks, Obi,’ said Jack and Charlie together.

  With a huge amount of effort, Jack got to his feet and went to the loo.

  When he returned, instead of sitting down he looked at Charlie. ‘Can I talk to you a minute?’ he asked her.

  ‘Sure.’

  The two of them walked to her workshop and, once inside, Jack closed the door.

  Charlie sat down at her desk, blew her nose and frowned at him. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while.’

  Charlie stared at him. ‘OK.’

  Jack sat next to her. ‘I went to see Talya.’

  ‘You did what?’

  Jack held up a hand. ‘Hear me out.’

  ‘Why would you do that, Jack? It’s her fault Scarlett’s dead. If it wasn’t for her –’

  ‘I went for you.’

  Charlie blinked. ‘Sorry?’

  ‘I went to see Talya for you.’

  ‘Me – What?’

  ‘I wanted Talya to do something.’ Jack pulled the sheet of folded paper from his pocket and held it out to her.

  Charlie crossed her arms. ‘What’s that?’

  ‘This . . . This is a copy of a signed confession from Josh Rickson – the guy who killed your dad.’

  Charlie stared at him. Her mouth opened to say something, but no words came out.

  Jack cleared his throat. ‘Several of Talya’s . . . associates, are in the same prison as Josh. Somehow . . . ’ Though Jack didn’t want to know how they got it. ‘Well, somehow they convinced Josh to write this confession. In it, he not only says what really happened that day – that your dad didn’t get violent or confrontational with him at all – but also admits that there was nothing wrong with his car. He went back to the garage to rob the place. Your dad caught him and tried to call the police, but Josh stabbed him.’ Jack sighed. ‘It’s all in here, Charlie.’ He held up the sheet of paper. ‘At the bottom is a note saying a copy of the confession has been handed in to the right people and Josh will have to stand trial again. You were right – he lied. He murdered your dad, just like you said. He’ll go down for a very long time now.’ Jack handed her the paper.

  Charlie slowly unfolded it, and as she read a tear rolled down her cheek. Finally she looked up again. ‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ she whispered.

  ‘You don’t need to.’

  ‘Wait.’ Charlie wiped her face on her sleeve. ‘I know Talya – what did you have to do in exchange for this?’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Jack said. ‘Let’s just say that she’s not going to get what she wanted. I saw to that.’

  Only thing was, when Talya found out that he’d set it up so that every time one of her gang accessed the cashpoint the police were called, she would be out for his blood.

  But that was a problem for another day.

  Charlie was about to say something, but the tablet on her desk buzzed and she hit the answer button.

  Obi’s face appeared on the screen. ‘Guys.’ He sniffed. ‘Got a call from Cloud.’

  ‘What does she want?’ Charlie said.

  Jack leant over the tablet. ‘Patch her through.’

  Cloud appeared on the screen, but Jack’s heart sank when he saw the terrified look in her eyes. ‘What’s wrong?’

  A meaty pair of hands came in and grabbed her shoulders, yanking her from the chair and out of sight.

  ‘Leave me alone!’ Cloud screamed.

  The image rotated and Hector’s face filled the main display. ‘Show her what we do with traitors.’ He looked at the camera. ‘Ah, Jack, there you are.’

  ‘Let her go, Hector.’

  ‘She betrayed me.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Jack said through gritted teeth. ‘She did, and you lost. Know when you’re beaten.’

  Hector smiled. ‘Lost? I didn’t lose.’

  ‘You haven’t got the weapon,’ Charlie said.

  ‘You’re right, I haven’t. You have it.’

  Jack frowned. ‘Didn’t Cloud tell you? There was no weapon, Hector. Medusa was a myth. You got there too late.’

  Hector straightened his shirt collar. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jack. I infiltrated the Facility a few days before you got there.’

  Jack stared at the display. ‘What?’

  ‘You’re lying,’ Charlie said. ‘If you’d have done that, the place would’ve been locked down.’

  Hector inclined his head. ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘Cloud told us about the ex-SAS team you were putting together.’

  ‘Oh.’ Hector chuckled. ‘That’s for a different job. I only used a couple of guys for the Facility. Both of them work there. It’s much easier to pay your way past a problem than smash through it.’ He winked. ‘In fact, one of them is with me now.’ He turned the camera around and pointed it at the security guard they’d knocked out in the Facility. ‘Say hello.’

  The man waved.

  Hector turned the camera back. ‘Amazing what a bit of cash can do.’ He rubbed his hands together. ‘How do you think Cloud had the codes required for the last level of the Facility? I made sure she got them.’ He glanced away a moment. ‘I knew she was about to betray me, so I turned it to my advantage.’

  ‘You’re lying,’ Charlie said, though she didn’t sound so sure.

  Hector continued, ‘When I found out what Medusa really was, I decided it best that you bring it out for me. It’s far too dangerous to carry.’ He leant in to the screen and smirked. ‘Think of it as a parting gift.’

  Jack looked at Charlie, confused, then back at the display. ‘What are you on about?’

  ‘We modified the canister so it was nice and easy for you to open.’ Hector grinned. ‘We even removed all the warning labels, just to make sure you didn’t have any second thoughts.’

  ‘The canister was empty.’

  Hector waved a finger at Jack. ‘No, it just looked that way.’ He smirked. ‘Been feeling a little bit under the weather lately?’

  Jack’s face fell. ‘What?’

  ‘I hear it’s like a cold. Sore throat, coughing, sniffles . . . But the very first sign is a rash behind the ears. Did you have a rash, Jack?’

  Jack swallowed. He did, they all did, and his vision tunnelled.

  ‘I know I don’t have much of a track record for telling the truth,’ Hector continued, ‘but I can assure you, this time, I am.’ He straightened up. ‘Medusa is a genetically engineered virus. A real virus. Highly contagious. It’s been a few days, Jack, and I’m sure even you sewer rats have spread it to at least a hundred other people by now.’

  Jack looked at Charlie. Her face had gone pale. The day before, the two of them had been to the supermarket to stock up on supplies and medicine. Hector was probably right – they’d potentially exposed a lot of people.

  With an overwhelming feeling of dread, Jack looked at the screen again, but he couldn’t speak.

  ‘Right,’ Hector said. ‘Now for the really good news. The best news.’ He spun the camera around.

  Sitting up in a hospital bed was –

  ‘Del Sarto,’ Charlie breathed.

  Benito Del Sarto spat at the camera.

  Hector laughed and turned it back to face him. ‘Dad has finally woken up and – as you can see – he’s not in a very good mood. You want to know what the first thing he told me was? The very first words that left his lips?’

  ‘The location of the bunker,’ Jack breathed.

  ‘Bingo.’

  Del Sarto was the only one ever to have found that out, using a tracker.


  Hector continued. ‘I now have the exact location of the Urban Outlaws’ secret hideout. You and your gang of misfits are an irritant, and I think it’s high time I did something about that.’ Hector leant back in his chair. ‘So, Jack, that brings us full circle. That team of mercenaries I hired was not to raid the Facility – they’re especially for you.’ His face turned cold. ‘Consider this the ultimate counterstrike. Goodbye.’

  Jack stared at the screen as it went dark.

  This isn’t happening.

  ‘Guys?’ Obi’s face appeared. ‘We’ve got huge trouble.’

  Two windows popped up, showing the camera views of the tunnels leading to the bunker. They were filled with armed men wearing gas masks.

  Jack leapt to his feet. ‘Get everyone out,’ he shouted. ‘Now.’ He ran to the door, threw it open and sprinted into the hallway.

  As he rounded the corner, there was a massive explosion and the bunker was plunged into darkness.

  Don’t miss the final showdown:

  Their bunker has been destroyed.

  Their bodies are riddled with a deadly virus.

  The antidote is in the hands of their enemy …

  The URBAN OUTLAWS will never face a tougher challenge.

  COMING 2016

  www.urbanoutlawsbunker.com

  IN A BUNKER BENEATH LONDON LIVES A GANG OF EXTRAORDINARY KIDS …

  Criminal mastermind Del Sarto is going head-to-head with MI5 for control of Proteus, a quantum computer able to crack any code in nanoseconds. It’s down to the URBAN OUTLAWS to use their guile, guts and skill to destroy Proteus, avert world domination … and stay alive.

  POWER IS OUT. SECURITY IS DOWN. COMPUTERS HACKED.

  The world’s most destructive computer virus is out of control and the secret location of the URBAN OUTLAWS’ bunker could become public knowledge at any moment. Containing the virus seems impossible until they meet someone who can help. Trusting him could save their home – or cost them everything …

  THE URBAN OUTLAWS HAVE BEEN BETRAYED …

  The world’s ultimate hacking tool has been stolen and hidden somewhere in New York. The URBAN OUTLAWS must risk everything and head to the States to get it back. But are they walking into a trap?