Chapter Four

After a few days, Nate wasn't doing much better. The bleeding had ceased, but the wound had become infected and Nate had sunk into a delirious state of unconsciousness. He shivered constantly even though he was covered with as many blankets as the rebels could spare. A glistening coat of sweat covered his face and slicked his hair and he muttered incoherently, occasionally spouting a few recognizable words.

"Don't…don't tell them…can't…he can't…get the Stone."

Elena knelt next to Nate's bedside and stroked his hair gently, squeezing his hand under the blankets. She spoke softly in response, worry apparent on her face.

"It's alright, Nate. We're safe."

He mumbled something back, but seemed to settle at her words, though his eyes still moved incessantly behind his lids.

"We're going to figure something out. I made you a promise and I intend to keep it. You just have to hold on. Just hold on, Nate."

Sully appeared at the door to the room.

"Rabten says he needs to speak to us." Sully pointed out the door with his thumb. "Says it's urgent."

Elena nodded and rose, following Sully to Rabten's quarters. Rabten stood behind a large desk. On it was displayed a map of the city with various markings that no doubt had some significance to him and his men. When Sully rapped his knuckles on the door frame, Rabten beckoned them in.

"Come in, come in. My doctors have kept me informed of your friend's condition. I am sorry that there is nothing more we can do for him. But I think there is a way we can help each other."

Elena edged closer. "What do you mean?"

"Lazarevic has a convoy heading into the city tomorrow. My men have been tracking it. It is heavily armored and will likely be heavily guarded as well. The first two trucks are full of day to day items; food, clothing. The next two are weapons and ammo. But the last…contains medical supplies. Enough that, if captured, would last us several months. And would give your friend the medicine he needs."

Sully stepped forward. "Well, I'm in."

Elena nodded her head. "Me too."

"I thought you would agree, but I must warn you that taking the convoy will not be easy."

"It doesn't matter. This is our best chance to help Nate," Elena answered.

"Then let me fill you in on the plan."

The plan, it turned out, was less of a plan and more of a location. A location along the convoy's route that would give the resistance the best chance at success. They had limited ordnance so they had to use it strategically. When the convoy came into position, the resistance would trap the trucks by collapsing the buildings in front of them and closing off their retreat with the few mounted machine guns they had in their arsenal. Then all they would have to do is kill the remaining men and take the trucks back to the compound. Taking the convoy would serve a double purpose. It would both bolster the resistance and cripple Lazarevic. Not to mention save Nate.

Elena held her rifle at the ready and glanced over at Sully on the opposite side of the street. They were hiding in the alleys, waiting for the convoy to appear. The plan was simple on paper, but Elena knew it was going to be a lot harder in practice.

When the convoy arrived, Elena pressed herself into the wall, willing herself to blend in with the bricks. The last truck passed by and Elena heard the explosion from ahead. Gunfire erupted and she hurried to the edge of the alleyway, leaning out to deliver a few shots before taking cover once more. Sully mirrored her actions on the other side of the street. The trucks carrying the machine guns rolled into place in the street and took out the men who were stationed with the last car in the convoy. There were still at least twenty more men, now scattered as they sought their own cover.

Something didn't sit right with Elena. Even with twenty more men, the fight was going too well. With half the resistance on their side, twenty men weren't much of a threat. Then a low rumbling rippled across the sky. As it drew nearer, Elena looked above the convoy to see a military helicopter glide into position, hovering between the buildings. It quickly targeted the machine guns.

"Get down!" Elena ducked back further into the alley just as a rocket slammed into one of the machine guns, causing it to explode. The truck lay charred and broken, twisted beyond recognition. The driver of the other truck was smart enough to take the opportunity to pull back into an alley. Now they were the ones pinned down.

Rabten appeared from behind Elena. "We need to take out that helicopter or we won't survive, let alone take the convoy."

"I know, but—" Elena stopped mid-sentence when she looked over at Sully. He was climbing the fire escape in his alley, heading for the roof of the building. She realized what he was trying to do. It was crazy, impossible. But there was no way to stop him now. The only thing she could do was help him. She turned back to Rabten and pointed out Sully. "Cover him!"

Some of Lazarevic's men had seen Sully and were concentrating their fire on him. The helicopter, with its limited field of view, thankfully hadn't. Elena leaned out and shot two men. Then she took out several with her next volley. Rabten followed suit and felled one. Sully was close. He just needed a few more seconds. Throwing caution to the wind, Elena stepped fully out of cover. She needed the extra space and maneuverability if she was going to take care of the five men still firing on Sully. Three went down quickly, but the remaining two turned to her. Before they could fire, Rabten killed one, but he was too slow to fell the last. The man fired.

Elena realized the danger and darted to the left instinctively. The bullet grazed her right arm. It was painful, but only a flesh wound. She fired off one last round and hit the man square between the eyes before she finally had to pull back into cover. Thinking nothing of her own wound, she searched the opposite rooftop for Sully. He was in position. They had given him enough time.

Seemingly in slow motion, Sully leapt from the rooftop into the open fuselage of the helicopter. Seconds later, a man fell from the other side onto an armored truck below. The helicopter swerved violently, narrowly missing the building to its left as its pilot finally realized there was an intruder on board. As it spun, Elena glimpsed Sully hanging by his hands alone from one of the straps in the fuselage. Then the helicopter rose, rotating still, until it was lost from her sight.

Elena's world froze with her concern for Sully. After several minutes that felt like several hours, the helicopter returned. Elena couldn't tell what had happened and she feared the worst when it took up its original position over the convoy. Instead of firing on them, however, it spun 180 degrees and took out the last of Lazarevic's men with its machine gun.

A huge smile forced itself onto Elena's face. It was over. Sully had done it.

All around, there were cheers of excitement and triumph. Rabten himself was charging forward, gun held high, leading the way to their hard-won prize.

Elena stepped out of the alley and squinted up at the cockpit of the helicopter to see Sully giving her a wink and a pert salute. She waved back before Sully flew away, presumably to give Rabten a rather large and expensive present when he returned to the compound.

"Crafty old bastard," she found herself saying under her breath. Thoughts turning serious, she added, "Hold on, Nate. We're coming."