Chapter 10

Code Grey

During the explosion, Tikal shielded herself with the statue. The debris flew past her and her hair fluttered violently. Nazo and Anthony ran out of the limo to check on her. GUN and SWAT arrived at the same time. SWAT took custody of Ainsley just before GUN did, it wasn't like them of taking a living mobian who knows about Williams without discussing with Tower or anybody. Anthony asked Tikal if she's alright.

"Never better," she said. "I heard about the attack so I thought I help."

"How's Mina Mongoose?" asked Nazo.

"Alright, she and Rouge weren't doing much thanks to Rejoice."

Cian and Saoirse walked over to where McOulen was. They ran to the human, hedgehog and echidna, Cian pointed to where McOulen was. "Guys, he's gone!"

They looked at the spotted where they last saw him, he was nowhere to be seen. Saoirse spat out "Injured people can't walk out scot-free."

"You think that's weird, SWAT just took custody of Ainsley without saying a word," said Tikal.

"Yeah, SWAT has a way of capturing a wanted fugitive. By the way Tikal, are you helping us?"

"Damn right. Along with Mina and Rouge."

Commander Tower walked out of the limo and explained why he brought her along. "I thought hiring Tikal might give you a bigger helping hand."

"That's why we enlisted," grinned Anthony.

Nazo took out his PDA and activated GPS. A blip appeared on screen. "I've managed to track where SWAT are heading, thanks to Aleena."

"I don't know what we'll do without her," smiled Tikal. "Right now I have to help Rouge and Mina deciding the fate of Theobald Williams. Let us know when to strike."

Rouge and Mina entered GUN HQ, they entered the auditorium and chose one of the computers. They carried bags containing their own equipment.

"We need to figure out Rejoice's reasons for taking over GUN," angered Mina.

"They did say they're taking over GUN so they can decide Williams' fate themselves," protested Rouge.

"That's what they want us to think."

Aleena walked into the room, Mina knew she would arrive on cue. Rouge was confused. "Did you bring her along?"

"I had to, I know little of hacking so I thought Aleena might do the job," answered Mina.

She looked at Aleena. "Do you think you can bypass Rejoice's mainframe and enter their databanks?"

"That I can do," Aleena answered. "I learned how to hack thanks to some troublesome teenagers who were filling their bank accounts with other people's money by using laptops."

Aleena sat at the computer and inserted a USB flash drive containing a rewritten programme. She pounded the keys with her fingers.

Ainsley was sitting uncomfortably in the SWAT van. He was sitting near the door with five SWAT members, two next to him and three across from him. He looked around he can see SWAT cars following behind, he couldn't see the front but can hear the sounds of moving cars He became curious on the situation. "Nice job, you could of at least shed some light on the situation."

The SWAT commander who was one of the three across from him, walked in front of him. Ainsley kept a straight face after seeing out of all the members of SWAT which are human, this one is older than the rest. "You better listen well."

Ainsley leaned forward indicating the commander that he's listening on what he's going to tell him. "People who capture me don't even try to make me listen. They just talk randomly, but you seem professional."

The commander was intimidated from those words. "You used to be an air force pilot,"

"And you know my background history. Somebody's done some research. GUN almost had me but you guys – can't cut a guy some slack."

"It's people like you who shouldn't smart talk."

"And you should. You're so pathetic."

The commander took it as a complement. "What you don't know is that Rejoice hasn't taken over SWAT so we got the chance to finish the job."

"So, that's why you got me, to kill Williams be recognised as the government group who managed to decide the fate of a convicted terrorist without the controversial Rejoice taking over and/or their assistance."

"Once we make you speak every word then-"

A large speeding lorry rammed into the left side of the SWAT van, damaging the passenger side. The van overturned on its side, flew off the road and landed near the interstate.

Aleena hacked into the databanks and came across some interesting information. "Hey take a look."

Mina and Rouge looked at the computer monitor. They found that the informant is actually in the warehouse where Williams is.

"How did you know where he is?" asked Mina.

"I managed to see him from the moment I looked at him," explained Aleena.

She explained when she was done with the day she went to a cafe and had a mocha. She was sipping the hot drink until she saw a human walking in and sitting next to a suspicious hare. She said that she overheard them about how SWAT, Theobald Williams and Rejoice are connected with each other. The hare also said that the bomb which blew up the apartment was meant for the SWAT team and the drug dealers. The hare said something that SWAT might be crossing the line; Aleena thought it might lead to something. After they left the cafe Aleena followed them. She hid behind some trash cans in an ally after seeing three figures approach them. They were Phil Peters, Hershey and Sir Charles; Aleena was surprised. She doesn't know whether they're the bad guys or undercover.

Rouge realised something. "Oh yeah, I remember. Hershey told Peters and Sir Charles that she needed them to find a way outsmarting Rejoice."

"That's what I heard," continued Aleena.

She said they were making a faux deal which both the hare and human don't know. The deal was that they will have the two work for them if they would tell Sir Charles and Peters about the drugs Ridenburgh took which killed him. The hare said he was the one who gave Ridenburgh the drugs but he said he doesn't know where he got them from. He said just had to deliver the drugs to a number of people mentioned on a list. He gave them the list which included Ridenburgh's name. They were about to be taken into custody until the human pulled a switchblade and aimed the blade towards Sir Charles. Aleena leapt and fired a bullet and the blade making it fly towards the wall. The human and hare made a dash and Hershey and Sir Charles followed. Aleena managed to follow them and as they passed through the alleys Aleena grabbed the human and managed to slip a GPS tracker in his jacket.

"Did you managed to look at his face?" asked Mina.

"Afraid not, I wasn't able to hold him down long enough. As for the hare...he just disappeared."

"What did Hershey and Sir Charles say?"

"They thanked me."

Aleena felt proud in helping a person via physical rather than verbally. She displayed a global map, zoomed in and a medium blip appeared. It was the same one on Nazo's PDA. "I managed to track SWAT's vehicles, including the vehicle where Ainsley's in."