Chapter 25
"Mom," Jessie's hands shook, the severity of what had just happened rattling her nerves now that it was over. Pulling the gag from Estella's mouth, Jessie helped calm her mother. "Mom, are you okay?"
"Jessie," Estella cried. "my god, what is going on?"
Estella's wrists were bound with thick rope. Jessie's fingers ached, but eventually she was able to loosen the bindings enough for Estella to slip her hands free. The moment she did, both mother and daughter wrapped their arms around each other, rocking, shaking, but thankful that both were relatively unharmed.
"Mom, what are you doing here? Why were you with Kreed? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" The questions flew from her lips.
"I-," Estella started, but the tears overwhelmed her and she couldn't respond. She just cried and held her only child tightly.
Eventually, Jessie heard the commotion that was taking place all around here. The German Polizei had finally arrived, along with a number of Bundeswehr Commandos. Jessie even saw Colonel Martinek, but the Czech man was speaking with Phil and McManus. The Englishman appeared defeated, hanging his head as he stood with his hands cuffed behind his back and Phil holding onto one of his arms.
Polizei were busy cordoning off the area, preventing the startled hotel guests from descending the steps and contaminating the crime scene. Jessie did see Alena at the top of the steps. Martinek and Phil saw her too and the Czech man waved at the officers to allow her to come down.
Jessie helped her mother to her feet, keeping her hands on her, steading Estella's wobbly legs. "You need to get checked out by the paramedics."
Estella shook her head. "I'm okay."
"Mom," Jessie protested.
"What is going on here? Jessie, I don't understand any of this. Why are you here?"
Jessie sighed. She had no idea how her mother had gotten herself wrapped up in this ordeal or how she ended up as Kreed's captive. About to ask, she was interrupted when Corbin came over to them.
"Estella, are you alright?" He asked. His look was one of genuine concern for the woman.
Jessie saw the flash of anger in her mother's eyes. "Mom," She started, but Estella wasn't hearing it.
"How dare you?" Estella spat between tears. She lashed out at Phil, taking her rage out on the man. "What have you done to my daughter? You've turned her into one of your Agents. It's bad enough with Race, but now my daughter too? Asshole!"
Phil took a step back, raising his hands. Estella was on him, her hands balled into fists, pummeling him in the chest and torso. Jessie saw him flinch when Estella hit him in near his stitches.
Grabbing her mother's arm, Jessie tried to restrain her. "Mom, stop! What are you doing?"
"You bastard, Phil. What's the matter with you?" Estella screamed. She was causing a scene.
Phil stood there and took it. Jessie was surprised he appeared so calm, but she quickly realized he was letting Estella wear herself down. Her mother began to lose steam. Her hands went to her face, rubbing the tears vigorously from her cheeks. Jessie loosened her grip on the older redhead, but did not release her completely. She didn't want Estella lashing out again.
"I'm sorry, Estella." Phil stated.
"You damn well should be." Estella muttered.
She shouldn't have been, but Jessie was embarrassed by her mother's outburst. She understood that Estella must be having a difficult time processing all this information, but that still did not give her the right to castigate Corbin for it.
Alena and Martinek came over to join them. Phil nodded to his Czech friends, then addressed Estella again. "I want you to go with Alena and Colonel Martinek. They'll take you to Landstuhl to get checked out. I have people there already. You'll be safe with them."
Estella stared him down. Jessie held her breath. The tension between the two adults was fraying at her nerves. She opened her to break the silence.
She didn't get a chance. Estella stepped forward. Jessie's hold was broken by Estella's deliberate move. Raising her hand, she smacked Phil across the face. It was hard, the crack making Alena gasp and Martinek wince. Phil closed his eyes. Estella stepped back and started to cry again.
"You bastard." She huffed quietly between her tears.
"Mom!" Jessie yelled. She wedged herself between her mother and godfather, arms slightly raised, separating the two adults without actually touching either of them.
Jessie watched Phil raise his head and open his eyes. He wasn't angry, in fact to Jessie, he looked as if he felt he deserved Estella's wrath. Jessie didn't agree.
"Mom, what's the matter with you? He didn't do any of this." Jessie remarked. She found it strange that she was angry with her mother in regards to her treatment of Corbin. She continued, "And what are you even doing here? Why the hell were you with that criminal Kreed?"
Estella tried to speak, but her breath caught in her throat. Alena and Martinek reached out, gently placing their hands on Estella's arms to guide her away.
Phil shook his head at Jessie, a sign to the young redhead to let it go.
"Go with them, Estella." Phil stated. He looked at Jessie and said, "You too."
"No!" Jessie protested when Phil turned and walked away.
"Jessie," Estella yelled when Jessie followed after the Director while ignoring her.
Reaching out, she grabbed Phil's arm, causing him to stop and turn to look at her. "You're not leaving me behind. Not now."
"Your mother needs you." Phil replied.
"Are you saying that you don't? That you don't need me anymore?" She challenged him sternly.
"That's not what I'm saying, Jess." Phil answered.
"Bullshit." Jessie shot back. "Don't take your anger with my mother out on me."
"I'm not angry at Estella, Jessie. But this has gone too far."
"Don't you dare do this, Phil." Jessie remarked.
Phil ignored her and started walking again. Jessie followed and was thankful that he didn't stop her. They approached McManus, who was now being held by two German soldiers.
"Where's Temple?" Phil asked the prisoner. His voice was stern. Jessie found it surprising that the Director could switch his moods so easily.
"You killed my father." Ian grumbled.
Phil nodded at the Germans. The men released McManus and walked away. Phil grabbed the young Englishman by the arm and dragged him towards the corpse of Lucius Kreed. The Polizei had yet to cover up the body.
Jessie stayed in step, observing Corbin's tactics. Standing over the dead man, Phil grabbed Ian by the back of the neck and forced him to look at his father's body.
"That's right. I killed him." Phil growled. He let Ian gaze at the body for a few moments then jerked his head back up and forced McManus to look into his eyes. "I'll kill you too if you don't tell me where Temple is hiding."
"You can't-" Ian started, but stopped.
Jessie saw Phil pull his handgun and discreetly jam it into Ian's torso, using his own body to cover up his actions.
"I'm tired off all of this. I don't give a damn about the consequences at this point." To make his point, he pushed the weapon harder into his prisoner's gut, pulling back the hammer with his thumb. Jessie's heart skipped a beat. Would Phil really kill an unarmed prisoner? Would he risk ruining his career? His life? At this point, Jessie wasn't sure he wouldn't do just that. "Tell me where Temple is. NOW."
Ian's reaction alerted Jessie that he too was afraid that Corbin might actually shoot him. "He's at an abandoned military compound in Westphalia, just east of Dusseldorf. It's an old Nazi Party stronghold. Abandoned for decades. Please, don't-"
Satisfied, Phil grunted. He decocked his pistol and holstered it. He dragged Ian away from his father's corpse. Approaching the soldiers again, Phil shoved Ian into their grasp. The men's Commander walked over.
"I need an assault team." Phil told the officer. Jerking his chin at Ian, he added, "He says the man we're looking for is holed up in an old Nazi complex near Dusseldorf."
A deep voice from behind. "I will go with you."
Jessie turned and saw that Martinek had joined them. Phil shook his head. "I appreciate that, Viktor, but I need you to stay with Alena. Keep her and Estella safe."
Martinek grumbled, but nodded. The German Commander eyed the two men, then said. "My best men and I will join you. Criminals have infiltrated my beloved country, using relics from our shameful past to commit atrocities, just like the evil that once ruled this land. I take that as a personal insult."
Moved by the German's short soliloquy, Jessie admired the man, even if she didn't even know his name.
Phil nodded. "We need a ride too. We need to move out now."
The Commander nodded. "I can have helicopters here in twenty minutes. Go to the roof. You can use some of our gear and weapons."
"Thank you, Commander." Phil replied.
The man nodded and moved off. To Martinek, he said, "The Germans will hold McManus until this is all over. Then you can have him."
"You do not want to prosecute him yourself?"
Phil unbuttoned his vest and started removing his tie. "I don't care about McManus. I have bigger fish to fry."
Martinek grinned. "Acceptable. Good luck, old friend." To Jessie the older Czech said, "Keep Phil here safe, Miss Bannon. Go find your father and your friend."
Phil huffed at Martinek's jest. Jessie nodded. The old Czech intelligence officer turned on his heel, heading back to Alena and Estella.
Phil handed his vest, tie, and watch to her. "Take these upstairs for me. Alena and Viktor will secure our things and take them to Landstuhl with them. You have twenty minutes to change. If you're not on the roof when the birds arrive, I'm leaving you here."
"Got it." Jessie turned to head back inside, but stopped. Looking back at him, she asked, "What about my mom?"
"I'll figure out what to tell her." His gaze scanned the crowd and fell on Estella and Alena; both women were off to the side; Estella being examined by the paramedics. Martinek joined them.
"I'm sorry she slapped you." Jessie offered. "You didn't deserve that."
Phil looked back at her while rolling up his sleeves. With a serious look, he said, "Now you have nineteen minutes."
Jessie took the hint. Without another word she headed back into the hotel to change.
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The ringing of his phone caused Velk to sit up straight in his chair. Dropping the local German newspaper he'd been reading, he fished the phone from his pocket and looked at the screen and saw it was Phil.
Standing, he moved to the far side of Terry's hospital bed and gently shook Karla awake. Matt had attempted to get Karla to check into the local hotel on the military installation, but the woman had refused to leave her boyfriend's side, opting to curl up on the uncomfortable looking love seat in the private room. She reminded Velk that he couldn't guard terry twenty-four/seven on his own either and the two had agreed to sleep in shifts, switching out on the couch that was quite small for Altine and downright unbearable for Velk. The nurses had provided them with blankets and pillows.
Roberts was asleep in his hospital bed.
Karla's eyes blinked and he waved the phone at her as he answered it, keeping the device on speaker.
"Sir? Is everything alright?" He asked when the call was connected.
"Fine. How are things back there? How's Roberts?" Corbin asked.
"He's recovering quickly. Asleep right now." Velk answered.
"Nah-," Roberts slurred, the voices causing him to wake up, but he still appeared loopy from the pain medication.
"Okay, well, he's no longer asleep. Altine is still here too. All is quiet." Velk reported.
"Good. Listen up, you're going to have some new arrivals landing there soon. I need you to meet and secure them. Keep them safe until I call you back. I'm heading out on another op, we think we've got Temple cornered."
"Yes, Sir." Velk nodded.
"Who is coming here?" Altine asked.
"Call Dug. Have him email you File 037, subsection beta." Corbin's directions caused the two younger Agents to exchange confused glances. Phil continued, "Also have him email you File 04R. Pete will know. Those files will identify the people that are enroute to your location."
Velk understood. Phil was being cautious, not wanting to give names over the phone, even though they were secured devices. At this point in the game, Velk knew that taking extra precautions was necessary.
"Understood, Sir. Anything else?"
"Just stay cognizant of your surroundings. I'll call you when I can."
"Got it." Velk said and waited until the call was terminated by Phil.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket. "You know anything about these files?" He directed his question towards Karla. She shook her head.
"File 037 is Doctor Quest's dossier." Terry answered.
Looking towards him, Matt was surprised to find the linguist was coherent and talking; perhaps the drugs were starting to wear off.
"Subsection beta?" Velk pushed.
"Bannon's file. Including information on his family. I don't know the other one though." Roberts answered.
"Alright," Velk blinked a few times. "Let me call Dug and get moving on this."
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Benton's brow furrow with frustration. Setting down the paperwork he'd been studying, he looked up and saw Agent Dugger approaching.
"That look is not encouraging, Doctor." The big Cajun said when he came up next to the table.
They were in one of I-1's medical labs; Benton and Hadji having traveled to D.C. to test their formula on the prisoner, Stephen Hayes. So far the results had been less than positive. Hadji, seated at another workstation, looked up when he heard the men conversing.
"These brain scans taken from Mister Hayes are showing very little change to the damage the drugs have done to his brain." Benton shook his head.
"But there's been some change?" Dugger asked hopefully.
"Not enough to determine if it is caused by my formula or by something else. Whatever The Consortium has concocted it is causing serious damage to these kids' brains. It doesn't help that Hayes has been using other illegal narcotics too. I cannot get accurate readings and waiting for him to complete a detox program could be too late." Sneering, Benton slammed a fist onto the table. "There's just not enough information to know for sure. And the longer Jonny is exposed to this stuff, the harder it's going to be to get him off of it."
"I'm sorry, Doctor." Dugger's tone was sympathetic.
Benton nodded a little. Lowering his voice to prevent Hadji from hearing him, he sighed, "It's not your fault, Agent Dugger. I just keep seeing that other man, Sterns, lying in that bed in a coma. But when I close my eyes, it's not him, its Jonny lying there."
"We'll find him, Doctor. I swear we will and you know we'll do everything we can to help your son recover." He placed a hand on Benton's shoulder for comfort.
Dugger's phone rang. Withdrawing it from the inside pocket of his suit coat, he took a few steps back and answered.
Benton watched the man. Agent Peter Dugger was a long time veteran of Intelligence One. He'd actually been a candidate for the job that Race had gotten to protect Jonny, but not being selected for that position had not affected the man's career. Since Corbin's departure, Benton had been spending quite a bit of time with Dugger and had learned a lot about his personality and his past, both before I-1 and with it.
Born and raised in the poor swamplands of Louisiana, Pete Dugger had suffered through a painful childhood. The oldest of eight brothers and sisters, Dugger had grown up with an alcoholic and abusive father and a submissive mother. His father dominated Pete's early years, but where some might have accepted such a life, Pete did not. Dugger had taken on the role of protector of his siblings while also acting as the man of the house when his father eventually left them for one of his alcoholic, drug addicted girlfriends. When he was old enough, Dugger changed his name, opting for one that would not identify him, and in his mind discriminate against him, as a swampland Cajun.
Growing up in the swamps, Pete learned how to survive off the land and rumor had it that he had once captured and killed a six-foot alligator that had gone after one of his little sisters; snagging and killing the animal with his bare hands. Benton didn't know if the story was true, but from the look of Dugger, he wouldn't have doubted it. Eventually, Pete became a New Orleans Police Officer and one night early in his career, while working in the French Quarter, he stopped a deranged drunk, who had showed up with an assault rifle, from committing a bloody massacre. Pete had talked the man down and resolved the situation without one shot ever being fired. He was hailed as a hero and that act had caught the attention of Intelligence One. Pete had been with the organization ever since. Dugger was a man that dedicated his entire life to helping and protecting others.
Staring at Dugger's back, Benton found that if Race hadn't have been available for the job, he would definitely have been proud to have a man like Peter Dugger guarding his son.
And now, watching Dugger speaking low into his phone, running his other hand through his short cropped hair, Benton could tell that he was frustrated. A few minutes later, Dugger ended his call and stepped back towards Benton.
"No news on Jonny, but Corbin is closing in on Temple. Lucius Kreed is dead too. Did you know that Estella was with Kreed?"
"What?" Benton gasped. "No, I had no idea. She said she was taking a vacation. She'd met someone…but I never bothered to ask for a name. I didn't think it was any of my business. My god."
"Relax, Doctor. It's not your fault." Dugger said, his eyes soft and forgiving. "She's safe now. Corbin sent her and some others to Landstuhl where Agent Roberts is recovering. Velk and Altine are there too. Jessie is fine, she's still with Phil."
Hadji moved to his father's side and wrapped an arm around his father's shoulders. "What now?"
"I have to send Matt some files, but…" Dugger's voiced trailed off, his eyes glazing over as he thought. "You know, I'll take the ass chewing. I can't sit on the sidelines any longer. I'll send the files to Velk through email, but then I'm heading to Germany, Doctor. You can coordinate with Agent Blake in the GOC for-"
Benton cut him off. "No, Sir. We're coming with you."
"I can take an ass chewing for myself, but-" Dugger protested.
"Agent Dugger, are you forgetting who you're speaking with? No one, not even Director Corbin, can stop me and he sure as hell isn't going to lecture me, not after all I've done for I-1 and the Government."
"And they said Race was the ballsy one up there in Maine." Dugger scoffed with a grin.
"Like you, Agent Dugger, I can't sit on the sidelines any longer. Landstuhl has plenty of labs that I can work from to keep perfecting my formula based on Hayes' results. Your doctors here can continue his treatments without me, they have all my notes. My son is out there and you all are putting your lives at risk to find him and bring him home. So I'm going with you."
"As am I." Hadji threw in confidently.
"Corbin's still going to give me hell for not trying to stop you." Dugger injected, but Benton could tell from his tone that the Agent was on his side.
Standing, Benton reached up and placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "Well if he does, just tell him that I hit you."
A look of disbelief spread across the Cajun's face. Then a smile. "Yeah, he'll believe that one. Alright, let's get moving. I can have an aircraft ready to go in an hour."
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Jessie closed her eyes, counting backwards in her head, the drill helping to ease the knot that sat in her stomach like a rock. It was hot and noisy inside the helicopter. She felt constricted, wedged into a middle seat between two German Commandos. Phil sat across from her. When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her. Jessie had changed into her street clothes, but Phil was still wearing the pants from his three piece suit and purple dress shirt. The soldiers had given him black combat boots to replace his shoes. He'd decided that getting as much intel from McManus and the Germans was more important than changing his clothes; Jessie didn't blame him. Both Jessie and Phil wore tactical vests. They were slightly different than the vests they normally wore, having to settle on the equipment the German soldiers provided. They'd also both been given gloves, drop leg holsters for their sidearms and H&K G36 rifles, the standard service rifle of the German Bundeswehr, and a compliment of thirty round magazines tucked into the pouches on their vests.
The soldiers were part of an elite special operations unit and each man spoke at least basic English and for Phil's and Jessie's benefits would speak in English during the duration of the operation. A second helicopter carried another squad of the German Commandos.
He tapped the left side of his headset then keyed his mike.
They were on an internal communication net that allowed Phil to speak directly to Jessie without bothering the pilots or the soldiers. "Breathe, Jessie."
Jessie nodded and exhaled visibly. Keeping her eyes locked on Corbin, she couldn't help but notice how much he was sweating; wiping a hand across her brow she realized she was sweating just as heavily.
'It's really hot in here.' She thought.
Phil leaned forward, motioning for Jessie to do the same. She held his gaze while she listened to his words in her headset. "Jessie, this is going to be dangerous. You stay with me at all times. Do not wander off." He reached out and patted the butt of the rifle she had been given, "Only use this in self-defense. Let me and the soldiers handle the engagements. You understand?"
Jessie gave him a curt nod. "I understand."
"You've done great up to this point, but remember to be prepared for anything. We don't know what the conditions will be like and understand that we might not find Jonny or your dad right now. I hope we do, so we can end this and all go home, but be prepared that we might not."
Jessie nodded again.
"The pilots will signal when we are in position. Let the soldiers do their thing at that time. They'll be exiting from both sides of the aircraft if possible. That's why we are in the middle. Follow my lead. When we get there if for whatever reason you don't want to exit, then don't. Stay on the aircraft and let us handle it. No one will fault you if stay behind."
"I'm not staying behind, Phil. I can do this." Jessie reassured, not only for Phil's benefit, but to give her own confidence a boost.
Phil nodded in response. The German Commander, seated on Phil's right, nudged the Agent and held up a hand, all five fingers, signally they were five minutes out.
'Deep breaths, Bannon, deep breaths.' She repeated the mantra over and over in her head. 'You can do this.'
Minutes later, another signal. Two fingers. The doors of the aircraft slid open, bringing a brisk gust of wind swirling thru the compartment; Jessie went from hot to cold in a matter of seconds.
One finger. Phil removed his headset and unclasped his safety harness. Jessie did the same. The soldiers did too. Corbin popped a white earpiece into his ear, connected to the radio on his vest. Jessie followed suit.
The aircraft dropped and hovered. The Commander stuck his index finger into the air, whipping it around. Jessie kept her eyes on Phil. She tried to mimic the serious look she saw on his face. Two Metal bars swung outward on each side of the helicopter, dropping thick corded ropes towards the ground.
Inhale. Exhale. Breathe.
The Commander made a fist, pumped it in the air and motioned with both arms to his men. The soldiers moved. Grasping the ropes, they wrapped their ankles and disappeared into the darkness, fasting roping to the ground. The tactic was essential for quick insertions and was extremely dangerous; nothing but a person and a rope. No safety harness, no D-rings attaching her body to the rope. One wrong move, a slipped grip, or a hesitation when exiting would turn Jessie into what she had overheard the soldiers refer to as 'a dirt dart'.
The next group of four exited. All that was left was Jessie, Phil, the troop Commander and one more soldier. The two Germans moved to one side of the aircraft. Phil slung his rifle and went to the other, Jessie followed.
'Just reach out, grab, and slide. You've done this before, Bannon. Don't look down.' She told herself, keeping her eyes on the rope in front of her. 'Yeah, I've repelled before, just not out of a hovering helicopter in the dead of night.' Jessie shook her head, expelling the thoughts. 'Focus, Bannon!'
From the corner of her eye, she saw Phil grab the rope then wrap his ankles around the end. Sliding down, he vanished into the darkness below.
'Go, Bannon!' Jessie's internal voice screamed. 'Do it for dad! For Jonny!'
She reached out. She grasped the rope. She wrapped her ankles around the bottom. She felt the wind on her body, the motion of the aircraft as it hovered, the whooping of the blades.
She descended into the darkness.
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"Sir!" The guard burst into the room. "Sir, soldiers are entering the compound."
Temple snarled. He knew that dainty Brit McManus would rat him out. Turning from his captor, Temple barked at the guard. "Well, get out there and stop them, you fool! Send out all our forces. Kill them all."
The man nodded and ran back the way he'd come.
Race kept his head down, a deep laugh emanating from his throat. "You're done, Greg. They found you."
"Shut your mouth, Racer!" Greg snapped. Lashing out he cracked Race in the side of the head with his handgun.
Amazingly, the blow didn't knock Race out. Instead he lifted his head to stare down Temple. Blood poured from the fresh gash. "Go ahead and kill me. You're not making it out of here alive. I guarantee whoever is out there has orders to shoot you on sight."
"Let them try." Temple growled. "I'll deal with you later."
Exiting, Temple slammed the cell door shut, leaving Race to bleed.
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Phil's hand was on Jessie's shoulder as soon as her feet hit the ground. Steadying her, he nodded to the redhead to secure her rifle. When they were both ready, the pair traversed the compound's open yard, heading for the building.
Headed for a door inset into the side of the wall, they were only steps away when shots rang out in the darkness.
"Move!" Phil ordered.
Bullets impacted from all around. Gunmen emerged from the shadows around both sides of the building, firing mercilessly at the invading force. Phil fired blindly at a cluster of men and continued running, not stopping to confirm if he'd actually hit any of them.
The Commandos were taking up cover positions wherever they could find them; behind parked vehicles, stacks of crates; whatever would keep the bullets at bay, firing at the enemy with precision and deadly accuracy once they were situated. Muzzle flashes provided faint traces of light and Phil saw the force Commander directing his Commandos to flank the gunmen. Men screamed and fell as they were hit. Phil reached the exterior of the buildings wall unharmed, Jessie coming up next to him at the same time. Two German Commandos were with them as well.
Corbin could hear the girl's heaving breathing even over his own. He gave her a nod of encouragement and watched her tightened her grip on the rifle.
Letting his weapon hang from the quick release strap on his vest Phil stepped in front of the door and pulled a concussion grenade from his vest. Pulling the pin, he raised his foot, kicked the door inward, tossed the grenade inside then ducked back out of the way, hovering over Jessie.
The grenade exploded. Confused shouts rang out from beyond the door.
One of the Commandos entered first. Phil was moving again a heartbeat later, right on the man's six. Jessie on his. Crossing the threshold, Phil kept his weapon raised. Startled gunmen staggered about the hall. Between Phil and the soldier they quickly identified the men as enemy combatants and fired, dropping each one before they could react.
"Breach successful." He stated in the mike on his vest.
As a group, they rushed into the building's hallway, sweeping their rifles ahead of them as they moved. An L corner ahead. A man shot out from around it. Phil and the lead Commando fired simultaneously. The man collapsed under the rain of firepower, his AK-47 clattering to the floor.
"Move up." Phil ordered, his cheek still resting on the butt of the rifle. He felt Jessie hovering at his back. The last Commando was next to her, sweeping his weapon to the rear in the event any gunmen tried to circle around and come up from behind.
A quick peek around the corner. Nothing. Corbin stepped over the downed gunman as the soldier bent down to toss the dead man's rifle away. A closed door was ahead and to the left. Motioning to it, Phil signaled for what he wanted. Approaching the door, the soldier slung his rifle on his back and drew his sidearm. He then grasped the knob in his other hand, turned it, and pushed it open quickly, keeping his hand on the knob while allowing the door to act as a makeshift shield as he entered.
More shouts.
Phil was right behind his lead man. Three men waited for them beyond the door. Weapon ready to fire he yelled, "Drop your weapons."
The gunmen didn't comply. They raised their rifles. The room filled with the sounds of multiple weapons firing at the same time. Phil dropped to a crouch, his soldier doing the same, both avoiding the onslaught of rounds thrown at them from the enemy gunmen. Firing with precision, they quickly dispatched their targets. Each man dropping from being bombarded with multiple shots. Neither Phil nor anyone in his group had been hit.
Corbin stepped completely inside, sweeping the room. The Commandos went to remove any weapons from the dead men as Jessie came up behind Phil to see what had drawn his attention to the corner of the room behind the door. Hiding in the corner, crouched down with her arms over her head was Jade. Phil grimaced.
"Jade?" He breathed. Lowering his weapon, he looked perplexed.
She looked up at him. Standing, she stared into his eyes. Phil had never seen such fright in the woman before. She was shaking; Jade was scared.
"Temple went to Race." Jade stammered when Phil reached out and put a hand on her upper arm to steady her.
"Where?" Jessie asked.
"Next hall over." Jade stated. Her voice wavered, but the look on her face changed from one of fright to relief; relief for being rescued.
Jessie turned to run, but Phil reached out, snagging the back of her vest, pulling her off her feet for a moment.
"No." Phil ordered. "Stay with us."
"My dad is here and Temple's going to kill him!"
"We go together," Phil jerked his head at Jade while reloading his weapon. Signaling the Germans he said, "Let's move, guys!"
Jade scooted into their tight formation, staying behind Phil and next to Jessie.
Moving back into the hall, Phil listened to Jade's whispered directions in his ear as she guided him down the corridors. At the end of the hall was a set of steel double doors.
"Race should be through those doors." Jade stated in Phil's ear. "There's four rooms, two on each side, but I don't know which one Temple has him in."
Phil nodded. The first obstacle was getting through the doors. Moving forward, leaned a shoulder against the breaker bar of the left door; the lead Commando mirrored his actions on the right side.
Through gritted teeth, he ordered. "Stay back and get down. We have no idea what's waiting for us on the other side."
Phil waited till he received nods from the two women and the last man.
Ready, Phil gave the Commando three nods, counting down to when they'd push through the door. When he reached zero, he jerked his head more violently then leaned against the bar.
Sweeping inside, weapon raised, Phil stared down a long hallway. Old filing cabinets lined both sides of the wall with decaying cardboard boxes stacked randomly on top. What must have once been the administrative wing of the complex, it had been converted it into a makeshift prison.
Standing at the far end in front of another set of double doors was a man that Phil had once called a friend, flanked by three of his own men. All four adversaries held AK-47s.
Blinding rage engulfed the Intelligence One Director. "Temple!" He shouted.
"Corbin!" Temple spat back.
Phil didn't order them to drop their weapons. He didn't wait for Temple to act. He just opened fire. With a shout, Temple ducked behind one of his men. Phil's rounds slammed into the startled gunman's lower abdomen, spinning him violently around and to the floor.
The gunman's unfortunate plight had given Temple the seconds he needed. He scurried behind the closest large filing cabinet and returned fire.
Phil found cover just in the nick of time. Looking across the hall, he saw the German soldier had also saddled up behind a smaller cabinet. Looking back, he tried to wave Jessie and Jade backwards, but the two women were already in the hall. Jessie scrambled behind him and Jade and the rear Commando behind the other man.
"Keep your head down and stay pressed against this wall." Phil shouted at Jessie.
More bursts of gunfire forced Jessie back, causing her to tuck her head down against her chest. She gave Phil a nod.
Still in a crouch, Phil leaned out from behind the cabinet and sent a volley of rounds towards Temple. The Germans were engaging the other men.
Temple ducked back, nearly avoiding Phil's rounds.
"Give it up, Temple. You're surrounded." Phil shouted during a very brief lull in the battle.
"Fuck you, Corbin." Temple spat.
Phil shook his head. This wasn't the Temple he remembered; that man was gone. But he couldn't think about that right now.
A sharp yelp drew his attention towards the Germans. The man in the rear had taken a stray round in the lower leg. He fell to his back, but to his credit, he scooted out of the line of fire on his backside then tried to re-engage.
"Fuck." Phil growled.
Leaning out, he tried to fire, but Temple was waiting for it and forced Phil back with a heavy onslaught of firepower.
Temple paused long enough to taunt his former comrade. "You'll never take me alive, you son of a bitch. Don't worry, I'll pay your wife a visit to let her know I took your sorry ass out."
Phil ignored Temple's rant, instead focusing on what the man was doing, not saying. He heard the magazine of the AK-47 bang against the floor.
'Arrogant bastard.' Phil smirked.
Leaning out again, he saw Temple slamming another magazine into his rifle. Phil squeezed the trigger. Temple ducked, but grunted and hit the wall when a round grazed his arm; his weapon flung from his hands.
"Fucker!" Temple spat.
"Now!" Phil shouted to the Germans.
He took a chance. Popping up to his feet, he leveled the rifle over the top of the filing cabinet and fired. The Germans did the same, a massive onslaught of gunfire raining down on their combatants at the end of the hall. He saw Temple scurrying towards the doors in a crouch, pushing his men into the line of fire in order to save his own ass.
Temple's gunmen fell, killed by the overwhelming fire from Phil and his Commandos.
Temple pulled his pistol, firing over his shoulder as he barreled into the door and disappeared.
Phil was moving, keying his mike, "East side of the building. Temple is on the move. He's wounded. Don't let him escape."
Moving up he checked the first door on the left, empty. He moved to the next. Looking inside, his heart dropped. Lowering his weapon, he quickly turned and blocked the door.
"Stay back." He shouted.
"What is it?" Jessie asked, her eyes filled with a look of dread.
"Stay back I said." Phil shouted. He nodded at Jade, who immediately wrapped her arms around Jessie from behind.
"Let go of me." Jessie screamed.
"Jessie, stop." Jade remarked, struggling to keep her hold on the enraged redhead. The Commandos waited for orders, but moved in between Phil and the women, blocking them from seeing whatever Phil was seeing.
Phil, content that Jessie was restrained, stepped into the doorway.
"Fuck." He mumbled. Lowering his weapon he stepped towards the unmoving body of Race Bannon.
"Race," He said cautiously, moving forward. Head hung low, chin against his chest, Race was seated in a metal chair, his arms restrained behind his back. When Phil spoke, the white haired man stirred.
"Jesus, he alive." Phil exhaled. Moving quickly, he knelt behind his friend.
"Race, can you hear me?" He saw Race was handcuffed, the metal restraints having cut deep into the man's wrists, they were covered in blood. Phil pulled a small knife from his vest. Popping the blade open with his thumb, he jammed it into the release mechanism on the handcuffs and worked to break them open. Seconds later, the cuffs came loose. Race's arms immediately fell forward as the blood covered cuffs clattered to the floor. Phil stood and stepped in front of his friend, his hands on Race's shoulders, bracing him from falling out of the chair.
A groan escaped Race's lips. Giving his friend a quick once over, Phil's face darkened as he saw the damage that Temple had done to Race. He was covered in blood, both old dried and new blood. He was filthy and his face, neck, chest, torso and arms were covered in bruises and cuts, a large gash bled on the side of his head was bleeding profusely. He had burns on his chest and arms too, burns that to Phil looked like they were caused by cigarettes and stun guns.
"Race, man," Phil mumbled. Keeping one hand on his friend, he used the other to open his medical pouch and find a bandage. Flipping his wrist to unroll the cloth, he quickly bunched it back up into a ball within his hand and pressed it hard against Race's wound. "Fuck, what did they do to you?"
"Temple…" Race breathed. "He's alive."
"I know, Race." Phil answered. Turning his head, he yelled for one of the Commandos to come assist him.
Race shook his head, "He has Jonny." Rolling forward, Race collapsed out of the chair. Phil caught him in his arms and the two men sank to the floor.
"Fuck." Phil spat as he held on to his weak and weary friend, pressing the bandage against his head again. He felt Race tense a moment later. It appeared to take an extreme amount of effort for Race to raise his head.
"Temple said things." Race croaked. "He did things."
"It's over, Race." Phil set his jaw, controlling the building anger that boiled inside him, anger at the man that was once their friend and colleague; a man that turned into a sadist and tortured a man that trusted him, that had looked up to him. Greg Temple's unfortunate circumstances of being exposed to nerve gas no longer mattered to Phil; Temple had to pay.
"He tried to break me." Race mumbled. "He wanted me beg. I didn't. I didn't give him the satisfaction. He couldn't break me."
Phil nodded at Race's resolve. "I know, Roger. You beat him. You won. But now we need to get you to a hospital."
"Jade-" Race groaned.
"We have here too, she's fine."
"She helped me. She's in this as deeply as the rest of us, Phil. Don't punish her."
"I won't." Phil nodded. "But for now, you need to relax, Roger." He'd never seen Race so broken and it angered him beyond belief that a man that both he and Race had once trusted could do this to an old friend.
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Jessie couldn't stand to be held back any longer. With a forceful pull, she broke free from Jade's hold and rushed into the room.
She stopped dead in her tracks, her strength dissipating from her body.
She willed herself to step forward. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Dad?"
Her father was on the floor, half naked, bloody and bruised, being held by Corbin and assessed by one of the Germans. Phil looked up when he heard Jessie speak. Race did too. When her eyes locked with her father's she broke free from her paralyzed state. Moving forward, she dropped to her knees as soon as she reached her father's side. Phil scooted over, keeping a hand on Race's head as father and daughter embraced.
The tears flowed immediately from the eyes of both Bannons. "Daddy," she cried; her head buried in his chest.
"Ponchita, you're okay." Race responded.
Jessie felt her father's arms attempt tighten around her, to pull her in close, but he was weak. She responded by pulling her arms tight instead. She tried to speak, but had no words, the emotions were too strong. She was just happy that he was alive and safe.
Jessie had no idea how long they sat there, embracing each other, rocking against the dirty stone floor of Race's former prison, shedding tears together.
Eventually, Jessie heard the other Commando enter, his boots smacking against the floor. She watched the man come forward and crouch down next to Phil, whispering in the Director's ear.
Looking up at the Director and the soldier, Jessie watched them whispering to each other. She saw Phil tense, his face flushed with frustration and anger.
"What?" Race asked. Jessie felt her father trembling. "It's Temple, isn't it?"
Phil turned to look at them and the Commando left, brushing past Jade who stood in the doorway, giving father and daughter their privacy.
Phil's shoulders sagged. "He escaped."
"No." Race grunted. He tried to stand, Jessie attempted to keep him down. Phil still held onto his friend firmly. "Let me go after him."
"Race, you're in no condition right now."
"How the hell did he escape?" Race asked, his voice rose a few octaves, causing him to gulp against the dryness in his throat.
"I don't know yet, but I'm going to find out." Phil stated firmly. "Come on, like I said, we need to get you to a hospital. The helicopters have landed and are waiting to take us to Landstuhl. Estella is there, Race."
Race held his friend's stare, but eventually nodded. Jessie sat back, allowing Phil to lift Race to his feet, taking an arm and wrapping it around his own neck, his other arm grabbed the back of Race's trousers.
Jessie wanted to help her father exit, but he was weak and therefore unable to support most of his own body weight. Jessie wouldn't be able to hold him up. She took his hand that dangled at his side. She felt him squeeze. It gave her hope. Jade moved out of the way, letting the men and Jessie past. A glance at the woman showed Jessie that Jade was crying.
Reaching the end of the hall, Race paused, forcing Phil and Jessie to stop too.
"Dad?" Jessie mewed. He gave her a look, he attempted to smile, to alleviate her fears. He then looked at Phil.
Jessie caught the silent exchange that passed between the two men. She held her breath. She listened.
Looking Phil dead in the eyes, a vicious growl rumbled out of Race as he spoke through gritted teeth, "When we find Temple, he's mine." He then dropped his head and the group pushed through the door, leaving the prison cell where Race had been beaten and tortured behind.
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"Unacceptable!"
Jonny winced at Zin's outburst. In the command center of The Consortium's hidden lair, Jonny hung back, leaning against a thick wooden support beam behind the grandiose conference table. Seated around the table, the rest of the board members exchanged nervous glances before turning their attention back to Zin.
Standing at the front, Doctor Zin glared out at the unlikely group of allies. His face was flush, his chest heaving from the deep breaths he inhaled and exhaled.
Jonny found that he was thankful he wasn't at the table with the rest of the group. Hanging in the partial shadows, he was able to observe the interaction without drawing Zin's ire upon himself.
"Doctor Zin," Rage spoke with his usual confidence, only the slightest hint of his madness bleeding into his speech, "we can still carry out our plans. Van Brandt will simply have to make due with less funds."
"That fool Kreed!" Zin huffed like an enraged bull. "Bringing Bannon's wife into all of this just to flaunt himself and attempt to grab the girl."
Jonny perked up, 'Jessie.'
"Whatever Kreed was thinking he would accomplish no longer matters." Julia stated. "His ego got him killed. I won't lose any sleep over the death of that boorish Brit."
"We needed the money." Melena growled at the American woman. "Van Brandt is expecting payment."
"Van Brandt will do as we say." Rage waved a finger at the daughter of Zin. "He wants to see this experiment succeed as much as we do. It is Van Brandt's ego that will carry us through to victory. We shouldn't waste any more time discussing Kreed or his idiot son."
"McManus is in custody." Anaya countered. "He's already given up Temple. What makes you so sure he won't give us up either?"
"McManus has never been here." Doctor Zin replied. Jonny noted the man appeared to be calming down. Straightening his back and clasping his hands behind him, Jonny knew the arrogant Mongolian was putting on a display of intelligence and power for the group.
Shaking his head, Jonny continued to listen.
"We are in no danger based on McManus' capture, however if you want to take precautions just in case his father may have spoken about this location to him, then so be it."
Anaya nodded approvingly. "I'll make the arrangements myself."
Jonny had heard that McManus has squawked to the authorities about Temple and he knew that Anaya had been just as enraged by the news as he was. If Jonny hadn't wanted to stay put and wait on Greg, he would have volunteered to go dispose of the traitor himself.
"Very well," Zin nodded. "Now, Ezekiel, where do we stand with the samples?"
Rage turned in his seat, gesturing with his mechanical hand, he opened his mouth to speak, but a loud crash at the far end of the room silenced him. Every head turned towards the doors that had been flung violently open.
Greg Temple strode forward.
Jonny pushed himself away from the beam, taking a step forward, but pausing when he saw the evil scowl on his mentor's face. In addition to the look of hate that lingered over the man like a black rain cloud, Temple's face was streaked with dirt and dried sweat. A tear on the sleeve of his shirt was caked with dried blood and Jonny could tell the man had been injured, even if it was only a minor wound.
"Mister Temple has returned." Zin boomed, his laugh deep and sinister.
Walking up to the opposite end of the table from Zin, Temple slammed an open palm down. He glared at each member of the board in turn before finally looking Rage. Getting straight to the point, he asked, "Are the samples ready?"
"What happened to you?" Julia huffed.
Temple leered at the woman, his lips turning downward in a hateful snarl. Jonny watched Julia shrink from Temple's stare. It made him grin.
Rage ignored the exchange between Greg and Julia. "They will be ready by tomorrow evening."
"Fine." Greg snarled. "We'll be ready to go."
Jonny hadn't realized that Temple knew he was present until Greg turned his head and stared straight at him. Temple's glare made Jonny's blood turn to ice. "Come here." Temple ordered.
The board members watched in silent anticipation.
Jonny stepped forward. For some reason, he was suddenly scared of his mentor.
Greg straightened and walked towards the young Quest, meeting the boy half way. His expression never changed. Taking Jonny's chin in his hand, Temple held him in a firm grip and turned his head, examining the cut that was healing on his cheek.
Temple let go of Jonny's chin. "What happened?"
Jonny hesitated. Temple was already hopped up in some sort of frenzy, the cause of which Jonny had no idea. But he had no reason to protect the woman that had attacked him either. "Julia." He answered.
Temple's head shot towards the woman. He pulled his pistol as he strode forward. Julia's head shot from side to side, looking for an escape. Temple raised his handgun, pointing it at the woman.
"Stop this madness!" Zin demanded.
Temple ignored him. Jonny was in a state of shock at what he was witnessing.
Rage jumped to his feet, intercepting the man that had one time worked with Greg in the US Government, blocking his path to Surd's woman. "Gregory, do not do this."
"Get out of my way, Grimm." Temple growled.
"If you kill her, they will kill you." Rage stated. "Right here. They will shoot you dead. Look around you."
Temple's eyes scanned the room. Nameless members of The Consortium were on their feet, weapons raised and pointed at Temple.
"We do not harm one another." Rage stated. "That was part of the agreement."
Temple's nostrils flared. He looked over Grimm's shoulder at the frightened woman. "You're lucky, Julia. Thank Argus here for saving your worthless ass. Stay out of my sight and stay the fuck away from Jonny or else next time I don't give a damn if Grimm tries to stop me. I'll fucking kill you. Do you hear me?"
Julia gulped but didn't respond.
"Do you hear me, woman?!" Greg shouted, pushing into the masked man in his enraged state.
"Yeah, I hear you, Greg." Julia finally responded sheepishly.
He kept his gaze on her for a few moments longer, making the woman even more uncomfortable. Finally, his shoulders sagged and he holstered his weapon. "I'll be in my room if anyone needs me."
Turning on his heels, his boots scrapping against the ground, he headed for the door, stopping only long enough to address Jonny, "Come on, Hotshot. We've got work to do."
Jonny knew better than to argue. He simple fell in line behind his mentor, relieved the man had returned, even if he was ready to explode.
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To Be Continued…