The sound of metal rattling woke Michael up.

"What the hell was that?" He asked looking to Elita who herself didn't know.

The sound slowly got louder and louder and became clearer. Caterpillar tracks.

"Armour" Michael said worrying. That last thing the two of them needed was an infantry vehicle or tanks bearing down on them.

Michael picked up his rifle and crawled along the ditch in finding sight of what was coming. A minute later he came crawling back looking relieved.

"Looks like a sodding bulldozer"

"A bulldozer? Out here?" Elita said bewildered.

"I think it's lost. God knows how and why. It's passing by, should be gone in a minute"

They kept quiet and low while waiting for it to pass, Michael worked to get his heart rate down and to shake of the spike of adrenaline.

"So what have we got, your the one with the x-ray vision" He said

Elita looked towards the buildings and started to cycle through the electromagnetic spectrum. Starting at the radio spectrum with proved useless with all the radio signals bouncing around the place, but with the use of infrared she was able to identify the number and locations of all humans on the site with the blurred images of men standing at their posts or walking around. All their stances and movement led her to believe that they were armed. Then working her way through the spectrum she was able to determine the layout of the building to a certain degree of accuracy and had a possible location of Arcee and Jack.

From what she could determine she drew out the layout of the building in the dirt using her finger to show Michael the way while he got his gear ready. The two discussed their plan and possible escape routes then after a quick radio check they were ready.

Michael led first, keeping low and quiet running through the trees. Elita keeping a good twenty or so feet behind.

As they reached the tree line Elita got herself dug in and prepared to wait it out, she had a good view of the former mine. Roughly three hundred yards from the main gates. The closest she was going to get without being seen.

Michael moved along the tree line following parallel to the fence line looking for a way in. It was a standard wire mesh fence, no barbed wire and seven feet in height, though clearly showed lack of maintenance with rust prevalent and gaps made by those who had broken into the the place after the mine was abandoned.

He had walked right around to the right edge of the perimeter where he saw a break in the fence line. Part of the wire mesh had parted from the supporting pole. He knew he would get through that, however it was a matter of not being seen or heard and that wasn't going to be a simple matter due to the regular foot patrols guarding the perimeter.

He crawled low on this hands and knees out clear of the trees and into the long grass. Small quiet movements direct to the gap in the fence. It took a couple of minutes till he was right up tight against it. He waited.

He watched as a lone MECH agent slowly went past his position. He kept his head down and stayed quiet. The agent walked right past him without noticing. Again he waited.

Another minute later Michael felt it was safe enough to pass through the fence without being heard. So he quickly got to his feet and as carefully as humanly possible he tried to slip though. Then one of the pouches on his belt kit got caught on the wire mesh and the whole thing rattled.

Michael laid flat on the ground.

The agent who was now a good hundred yards down the fence line stopped and quickly spun round. He looked, hard. At first saw nothing in the darkness. He waited. Still saw nothing. Then he heard from the woods what he believed was a fox calling. Put two and two together came up with a wrong answer, shrugged it off and carried on his patrol.

Michael breathed out as a sigh of relief. He rose back up to his feet and darted for the rear of the main building. He saw an external staircase leading up to an upper floor fire escape which allowed access in. Not needing to decide he checked his rifle again, a round was in the chamber and ready to go. He climbed the stairs, nice and slow. He tried the door. It was stiff but a sharp pull prised it open just enough for him to slip through and closed it quietly behind him.

He found himself at the end of a walkway lined by an office which offered a clear view of the main floor below with what was the capped mine shaft at the center and their they were for all to see. Arcee was tied to the floor and appeared to be unconscious while Jack was next to her tied up to a chair.

Michael slipped into the office and watched and made an assessment. Initially he didn't see anyone from MECH but he knew they were around.

"Any x-rays near me?" Michael whispered.

"Three about to appear below you, standby" Elita responded.

And low and behold three did show up approaching Arcee.

"Let's get it ready for transport, Silas wants to examine the whole body properly. I'll get the truck, you two get it preped"

"What about the boy?"

"We don't need him. Just keep it simple"

Michael eyes bulged open, he had to act now.

The one in charge walked towards the main doors while the other two stepped over to Arcee and Jack. Keeping his sight on Jack for the moment Michael had his left hand search the floor for anything, he felt his hand touch something and brought it into sight. A piece of metal. Probably from a broken up filing cabinet, desk or chair. Michael didn't really care all that much. He chucked it onto the metal walkway just beyond the office door. It landed with a loud clang.

"What was that?" One said,

"Best check it out, I'll carry on here" The other replied.

Michael moved over to the wall on the other side of the door into a corner, his back flat up against it. He could here one of them slowly walking up the steps to the walkway. Then slowly along the walkway to towards the door.

"Who's there?" The MECH agent asked into the darkness.

Michael kept silent. He could make out the shadow passing the door frame, then a left foot.

Then Michael reached round with his right hand and grabbed hold of the back of the head then pushed as hard as possible, swinging the guy through a semicircle, through the door and straight into the wall on Michaels left, head first.

Then he pulled back on his left shoulder and turned him to face him head on and with the butt of his rifle smashed it hard into the agents face.

It happened so fast the soldier didn't have time to react let alone fight back.

It landed on his back with a loud thump.

The other one the main floor who was busy tying ropes on to Arcee's body heard a slight scuffle of feet, then a thumped followed by another a half second later. Then silence.

"You alright up there?" He called up.

No response.

"Come on, stop messing around, we need to get this done. You found anything?"

Still no response.

He dropped the rope currently in his hand and stepped back to look up at the walkway to see a body fall from the walkway onto him. The weight of the falling body struck a glancing blow on his back but while it didn't knock him out he was still pinned beneath the dead weight of his colleague.

With his right hand trapped under him he tried to push up but the pain in his arm made it a hard task. Then it got worse when he saw Michael appear coming down the steps, armed and looking seriously pissed off. He tried for his gun, but couldn't get it out in time.

Michael fired two very deliberate and precise shots to both their heads.

Michael jumped straight over to Jack. He looked somewhat beat up. Unconscious but breathing. Michael got a knife out and cut the straps tying him to the chair and got him into a recovery position. Next he checked on Arcee and was straight away at a loss. She seemed unconscious, but he tapped the side of her head just to be sure she wasn't faking it. He got no reaction. He knew that he needed Elita to get her out, he was a strong man but he knew he wasn't that strong.

Then the door leading outside opened and another MECH agent came storming in after hearing gun shots and began firing his gun at Michael. Michael ducked behind Arcee using her metal body as cover. He heard a burst of rounds then silence, then another burst. Michael shot back up, quickly took aim and held down the trigger and didn't let go until the entire magazine was empty. Sparks flew everywhere on the far wall, the thin sheet of metal stood little chance as bullet hole littered it, plus a further dead MECH agent was flat on the floor in a pool of his own blood.

Michael reloaded his rifle with a fresh magazine, dumping his spent one into a back pouch out of the way.

"Elita, get in here. Right now!"

"Coming" She replied.

By now the element of surprise was gone. Now he knew he was in trouble. They started pouring in launching a barrage of fire. Michael kept his head down as Arcee's body and taking pot shots at where he thought they were. He was able to hold them back to the far side of the building but didn't know for how long or how much fire Arcee's body could take with the incoming fire.

He had no other option. He loaded a grenade into the launcher, aimed upwards and fired. It made a loud pop and a trail of smoke made a parabolic arc in the air then landed on the floor and exploded.

There was no fiery explosion. Just a loud bang, a puff of smoke and dust and one heck of a shock wave that blew out the windows and took out a fair few of MECH agents. It mostly maimed and injured, but it was the break Michael needed to get a number of rounds downrange and took out a few more targets.

But before they could fight back, Elita came smashing through the roller shutters, her two tonnes of mass blew it aside like it was made of thin cardboard.

Between the two of them they made short work of the remaining MECH agents who as quickly as they could made a hasty retreat through a rear exit of the warehouse.

"Let's get them out of here!" Michael said getting a firm grip on Jack.

Elita picked up Arcee with ease and held her in her arms, then looked over to Michael.

"Give him here" Elita said kneeling down.

Michael hefted Jack onto Arcee's stomach and Elita carried the two of them out the building with Michael jogging alongside.

As they made a run for it three of MECH's cars and a troop carrier came up on their flank. Elita carried on running while Michael aimed and fired. Shooting out headlights, then windows then he fired indiscriminately. Glass shattering, piences of equipment inside the vehicles exploded into pieces as they were hit, sparks flying, sporadic shouting and fallen bodies, those hit and those dropping for cover.

Then he eyeballed the truck's exposed fuel tank and sprayed bullets at it. There was the sound of bullets ricocheting but many went through then an almighty explosion as the truck went up taking out all the cars and MECH agents with it.

A few minutes later and the two of them had made it into the forest. They could hear contacts behind them, but whoever they were firing at wasn't them. The light from the flaming wreckage could still be seen.

Michael took point with Elita following behind a slight distance. She now knew she not only had to lookout for herself, but for Arcee and Jack as well.

They traced their way through the woodland for a good half hour till they were fairly sure they weren't being followed.

Elita laid Arcee down on the ground then the same for Jack.

Arcee started to come round, barely.

"Jaa-" She tried to speak.

"It's okay Arcee, it's Elita"

"Jaa-" She tried to speak again.

"Yes, Michael and I got him too. Michael how is he?"

Michael checked him over. Breathing, steady but weak heart rate. Using the light on his phone, no pupil dilation.

"Alive, but needs hospital treatment now"

"Elita to base. Ratchet, do you read me? Damn nothing"

Michael tried and got no response.

"Try Fowler" Elita said.

Michael took a look at his phone "Ha!"

"What?"

"I couldn't call him even if I had a signal"

"Why not?"

"I forgot to take out my UK sim card, it won't connect on any US mobile network"

"Oh great. Well there isn't a signal here. There's a town a couple of miles that way. I should be able to get a signal there and connect to the local network by the way. Just a couple of miles, you up for that?"

"Another yomp? Yeah I'm game"

Michael got to his feet, checked his weapon and made off running ahead at his own pace taking point then Elita carrying both Jack and Arcee followed behind matching pace.

In the complete darkness the glowing street lights called out to them. Michael came to a stop at the verge of a ridge overlooking the town. Elita met up half a minute later and laid Arcee and Jack carefully on the ground.

"Oh for goodness sake, you have to be kidding me" Elita said.

"What?"

"No signal"

"What, do we do next then?"

"You're going to have to find a land line and call him"

Without having to be told twice he dropped his belt kit and rifle and check his pistol then removing his holster and putting the gun in his trouser pocket. Leaving the rest of his gear with Elita he then charged down the hill side and was soon on the town streets.

He made his way towards the town centre and looked up and down the main street and went straight for the only payphone. He picked up the hand set and heard noting, no dial tone. He checked under the phone to find the wires pulled out and rusted. This phone hadn't been working for a long time. In frustration he bashed the box with the handset cursing it.

He looked along the street and his eyes fell upon what appeared to be the local Sheriff office, but the lights were off and looked close. In fact pretty much everything looked closed except for a diner that was lit up with flickering neon lights that was still clearly open for business.

Michael crossed the street and stepped inside and the smell of fried food and burnt coffee hit his senses.

"What can I do for y'all mister?" The guy behind the counter asked wearing a dirty apron and thick rimmed glasses. Clearly suspicious of a man whose white shirt was dirtied and damaged. A man who had been in a fight.

"You got a phone I can use? Can't get a signal on my mobile"

"Down the end there. You lost mister? You don't sound like you come from these parts"

"Yeah not exactly" Michael replied as he walked along the counter the a payphone mounted on the wall.

He picked up the handset and this time got a dial tone. He went for his pocket and pulled out some change then realised it was pounds and pence. Michael laughed to himself again quietly. So he dialled 0 and made a reverse call to the number for Fowler's number. "Michael Rickers" He said when prompted to say his name.

"Michael, what's going on? Shouldn't you be in the middle of exams right now?" Fowler said answering the call.

"On a rescue mission with Elita, lost coms with base. We've got both Arcee and Jack and needing medical treatment and MECH are close behind us. We need help"

"Where are you?"

"Erm, hang on"

Michael leaned back from the phone "Excuse me fella, what's this town called?"

The guy in the dirty apron gave him a funny look "Your in Centerville. You okay mister?"

Michael ignored him and went back to the phone "I'm in a town called Centerville in Pennsylvania, in some diner at the moment"

"Hold the line" Fowler replied then giving Michael the on hold tone.

He looked around as we waited. The diner looked just like any other regular diner, cafe or cheap restaurant he had visited. Tables with chairs forming two lines one along the windows and another in the middle and a line of high chairs by the counter.

He gave the guy in the apron the occasional glance, when the guy looked back Michael just returned a friendly smile as people tend to do.

"Michael you still there?"

"Yeah I'm here"

"Ok. I've contacted an army base that's nearest to you. I can vouch for them as they are Army Rangers. They'll be waiting for you 15 miles north of the main road out Centerville. I've spoke to the CO there and he's been read in on the situation so your ok to tell him everything he might want to know"

"That's brilliant. Thanks a lot"

"Anytime" Fowler said before hanging up.

Michael replaced the handset and went back over to the counter "Excuse me, but which way is north?"

The guy in the apron pointed to his right and looked somewhat irritated "That way mister. Look are you going to ask more questions or are you going to order something?"

Michael looked at him with a deadpan face and flatly said "No" then left.

Ten or so minutes past and Michael reunited to Elita. He told her the plan and they wasted no time in getting back on the move.

Again they were on foot keeping well into the forest staying away from the roads where MECH may be patrolling. Though unlike earlier Elita followed closely behind Michael and for a while it seemed like they would get to the rendezvous without incident, that was until a stray round flew past Michael by a couple of feet and embedded itself into a tree.

Michael dropped to the floor and laid flat while Elita got to cover with Arcee and Jack putting them down and drawing her weapons.

The two of them returned fire and within moment they found themselves in a substantial firefight.

Elita got to a good position and started picking off targets aiming at muzzle flashes while Michael resorted to somewhat random pot shots at where he believed them to be.

"Michael, stand by" Elita called out.

"Aye" He replied and emptied an clip in one go as Elita moved forward and took up a closer position and continued to blast away into the dark using her infra red vision to spot them.

Then Michael followed suit overtaking Elita and taking a offensive position and the two of them pepper potting their way towards MECH continuing to dwindle their numbers.

Elita took another overtake and was towering over the last few MECH agents who decided to retreat. Michael and Elita didn't make chase.

After a moment Michael took a look around him and saw five or so bodies lying scattered on the forest.

"Alright, lets get going before they come back" Elita said getting Michael's attention.

As Michael took a step to follow her he heard movement spun round to see a supposed dead solider reach for his gun, Michael opened fire and made sure this time he was dead. Not taking chances Michael then lightly kicked the other bodies to be sure. No more rounds needed firing.

They got going again and they faced no more opposition and in an hour they had reached the rendezvous and from within the trees they could see US army soldiers waiting at the roadside.

"Stay here" Michael said as he walked over to the road.

"Man coming in!" He announced.

The soldiers pointed their weapons at him.

"Identify yourself!" Ordered the unit's commanding officer.

"Michael Rickers, I'm Special Agents Fowler's man" Michael said, his weapon slung down by his side and hands up above his head as he stepped over to the unit.

"ID is in my pocket"

The unit commander approached carefully with his side arm drawn. Michael stopped showing his right side indicating the pocket to reach into to which the commander put his hand in and pulled out Michael's wallet and inspected it. He saw his UK driving licence and seemed happy with it.

"Happy to assist you in any way possible, sir"

"You got a medic?"

"Yes sir and a truck as requested by Agent Fowler"

"Brilliant" Michael said as he turned to face the way he came and gave the all clear for Elita to come out.

Within moments Elita came barrelling out onto the road with Arcee and Jack in her hands, saw the camouflaged coloured army truck and slid Arcee's body into it as two Medic's jumped in to inspect Jack.

"Stay with Jack" Elita told Michael as she transformed back into vehicle mode then following the convoy of vehicles that took off down the road.