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Date Posted: 02:40:47 07/09/11 Sat
Author: asiacheetah
Author Host/IP: ppp-71-128-195-9.dsl.sndg02.pacbell.net / 71.128.195.9
Subject: Chapter 40 - Michael
In reply to: asiacheetah 's message, "The Recruit (working title) - Michael pre-LFN story" on 03:47:50 04/25/11 Mon

Chapter 40 – Michael

Michael followed the machine gun welding guards toward the building’s exit. His mind was reeling over the events of the past few days. So much had changed, the grounds constantly shifting beneath him, that he felt like he was clutching at air every time he tried to get a firm grasp on the situation.

The mission had been wrong from the start. First, there had been Kendo’s cryptic warning, putting him on edge. Then, the Intel they received did not match the resistance that they met at the substation. Finally, there had been Adam’s betrayal of Section and of him. Just when he came to accept his fate and made peace with his impending death, another colossal turn of event ripped the rug right from under him.

The irony that such a big change came from a small package did not escape him. His hand was clutched around the razor blade Adam had sneaked to him as he hugged him. His mind reeled in shock in this turn of events. By giving him a way out, Adam had effectively signed his own death warrant. Once Section found out Adam was still alive and working with Crimson Storm, Section would not stop until Adam was captured and cancelled.

These guards weren’t as careful as the ones before as they march ahead of him. Michael surreptitiously cut the zip tie, keeping his arms as still as possible as he worked through the hard plastic. He kept his arms behind him and waited for the right opportunity to present itself.

They cleared the doorway and Michael had his first glance at their location. As he suspected, they were in a warehouse adjacent to the highway. The building was located in a rundown industrial part of town. Based on the freeway sign, they were still in the same city as the substation, meaning if Section was looking for them, they should be close by.

The guards motioned him toward a corner of the lot, directly underneath the freeway. They were counting on using the noise from the cars overhead to mask any noise from the gunshot. This worked perfectly for Michael, since it would cover any noise he made as he took out the guards.

The guards gestured for him to walk past them. As he walked past one of the guard, he pretended to stumble on the uneven ground and bumped up against the man. The guard impatiently shoved Michael away from him, taking one of his hands off the machine gun.

Michael grabbed the gun with one hand while elbowing the guard’s face hard. He turned toward the other guard and squeezed the trigger, letting out a short burst of artillery fire. He didn’t wait to see the guy fall to the ground as he pivoted on his heel and slammed the gun against the guard’s gut. As the man doubled over in pain, he grabbed the guard’s head and twisted it in a sharp motion, killing the man instantaneously.

He crouched down immediately and surveyed the warehouse to see if any alarm was raised. After a few moments, when no one else appeared at the doorway, he straightened. The guards would be missed soon, so he worked quickly, searching the guard for anything useful to use. He found a pistol, spare magazines, a walky-talky, and a cell phone.
Michael dialed the numbers to reach Section and listened at the ring tone.

Operator: “Identify.”

Michael: “Michael. 26V1.”

Operator: “Go ahead.”

Michael: “Request permission for a secured line.”

Operator: “Designator?”

Michael: “Kendo.”

Operator: “Switching.”

Michael waited for his call to go through, keeping an eye out for any movement from the warehouse. Finally a voice came over the line, which he instantly identified as Kendo’s.

Kendo: “Yes?”

Michael: “This is Michael.”

Kendo: “Michael! Where are you?”

Michael: “I’m at a warehouse next to a freeway. I believe I’m still in Szeged.”

Kendo: “What’s your status?”

Michael: “I’ve taken out two of the guards, but there are still approximately 8 more inside the warehouse. They don’t know I’m on the loose yet.”

Kendo: “I’m triangulating your position now. There’s a team on the ground. They should be able to get there in 15 minutes. Can you neutralize the hostiles?”

Michael: “I can try.”

Kendo: “Good. Is there any other team members with you?”

Michael hesitated for a moment, torn at the impact of the decision he was about to make. In the end, he knew he had no choice. Adam had betrayed Section by working with the terrorist. If set loose, he would continue to do so. It felt like he had been silent for minutes, but he knew it was only for a few seconds.

Michael: “The rest of the team has been killed. Adam is alive and working for Crimson Storm.”

There was a long silence from the other end. Finally, Kendo spoke, his voice betraying some of the strain from the revelation. “I want him alive for questioning. Your location has been triangulated. The team has been activated and will be there in 15 minutes.”

Michael: “Confirmed.”

Michael hung up the phone and ran silently toward the front of the lot. There were barbed-wire fencing all around the perimeter, with one vehicle access gate that was manned by an armed guard. Using the cars parked in front of the warehouse as cover, Michael moved stealthily toward the guard.

The man was facing the driveway and did not see him coming from the rear. The guard was easily overpowered as Michael snapped his neck swiftly. He dragged the man behind some debris and took his weapon and spare magazines from him.

The gate was manually operated so Michael took the keys from the guards and unlocked the gate, to make it easier for Section operatives when they get there. He grabbed the heavy chains from the gate and ran swiftly to the front of the warehouse. The large double doors were closed, making it easy for him to the lock it with the chains.

He went to one of the unlocked truck and put the gear into neutral as he pushed it toward the locked doors. Once the front of the truck was flush against the door, he put the truck on park and engaged the emergency brake, making it hard for those inside to leave from this exit.

He had to work quickly since the guards he had taken out should have been missed by now. He ran back toward the side exit, encountering some fuel drums near the building. He stopped to make sure there was fuel inside, before making his way back to the door.

Michael took cover behind some empty crates, and set his weapons in front of him, loading them with ammunition. He aimed the pistol at the fuel drums and discharged his weapon, igniting the fuel inside so that a ball of flame roared high into the air.

The walky-talky crackled alive as terrorists inside directed everyone toward the side exit. Michael waited until the door was pulled open and armed men poured out. The first two out didn’t even have a chance to turn his direction before the bullets slammed into them, knocking them backwards into the door. They fell right in front of the door, making those behind them climb over their bodies. Michael took out three more men as they tried to climb over their fallen comrades.

Five down, three more to go, plus Adam. The walky-talky crackled to life again as the terrorists inside tried to signal to the guard at the gate. He heard gun shots at the front of the warehouse, most likely their attempt to get out from there. He heard the men call out to the guard to remove the barrier blocking the door.

Michael left the walky-talky and moved toward the door, reloading his weapon as he walked. He ducked inside and moved swiftly to the side, into the shadow in case there was anyone waiting. From the lack of movement, he deduced that the rest of the men were in the front office. He shut the door and swiftly locked it, blocking them from a quick exit.

He walked silently along the wall, staying in the shadow as he made his way toward the front office. He flattened himself against the wall as the door opened and a guy walked past him. Michael doubled back, following the man as he made his way to the locked door.

At finding the door locked, the man whirled around with his weapon up, looking for the unseen threat. Michael ran quickly up to him and slammed his weapon against the guy’s head. The metal slammed into the skull with a sickening crunch, and the guy was thrown against the door where he slowly dropped down. Michael checked the man’s pulse quickly before moving away, back toward the front room.

Six down, two more to go, plus Adam. Michael made it to the door and listened intently to the voices inside. He heard the voice of the interrogator as he directed someone to check on the other guys. He flattened himself against the wall as the door swung open again, the light revealing the bruiser as he walked swiftly past.

As the door slammed shut, Michael launched a kick against the other man’s back forcing the guy to drop his weapon as he stumbled to remain standing. The bruiser turned toward him with a snarl as Michael slammed the machine gun against the man’s face, breaking his nose with a satisfying crunch. The man clutched his face and started screaming.

As much as Michael would love to repay the bruiser back for hours of torture, he did not have the time for this. He raised the gun and let out a short burst until the weapon clicked empty. He dropped the gun and grabbed the bruiser’s pistol lying on the ground.

Seven down, one more to go, plus Adam. Michael stepped to the office door, opened it, and swiftly stepped inside sweeping the room until he found the interrogator by the front door. The man had been trying to force open the door with a metal rebar. At Michael’s entrance, he moved to grab his gun from the floor.

Michael: “Don’t move.”

The interrogator held his hands up in surrender before pleading: “Take it easy. I’ll cooperate.”

Michael didn’t hesitate before pulling the trigger. The bullet raced through the interrogator’s skull before blasting out the back of the skull. Eight down, only Adam left.

He pivoted smoothly to his left and aimed his gun directly at Adam, who was standing in the corner of the room, just as Section taught him. They stared at each other for a long moment, each with their guns trained on each other.

Michael: “Drop it.”

Adam: “I can’t go back, Michael.”

Michael: “I said drop it.”

Reading the resolve in Michael’s eyes, Adam slowly lowered his weapon before dropping it from numbed fingers. Adam sighed before looking up and asking: “What will you tell them?”

Michael: “They already know.”

Adam’s face contorted with fear at the news. “Please, Michael. I can’t go back.”

Michael: “There’s nothing I can do.”

Adam: “Yes there is, you can kill me.”

Adam’s words shocked him to the core. For a moment he felt the mask of indifference he presented to the world slip, showing the shock he was feeling. “What?”

Adam: “You know what they will do to me. They’ll torture me and then dispose of me. Please, Michael. I don’t want to go through that.”

Michael’s never had to kill anyone he knew before, someone he was friends with, someone he cared about. The very prospect of having to kill Adam was making him feel sick. He looked into Adam’s pleading eyes and spoke the truth from the bottom of his wounded soul: “I can’t.”

Adam’s face twisted in grief, but he kept his gaze locked on Michael’s. Adam’s pleading blue eyes met Michael’s tormented gray-green eyes, the colors almost completely washed out to slate gray, revealing his unhappiness.

They both heard the sound of the front gate crashing as the Section van drove through it. Section operatives would get there in less than a minute.

At the noise, Adam said a single word: “Please.”

Michael looked silently at Adam’s tormented eyes. After a long moment, he shakily raised his gun and aimed it at his friend.

Adam looked relieved and smiled crookedly: “Thank you.”

He squeezed the trigger and watched the bullet find its target. As Adam dropped to the ground, he became aware of a single tear making its way down his cheek. He unsteadily raised his hand to brush away the tear, staring down at moisture against his fingers. He realized it was the first time he had cried since he woke up in the white room. He wondered how many more tears he would shed as he tried to survive Section and if he would have any more tears left by the time Section was done with him.

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