Chapter 38

"What is this!!?" The Major held Campbell by its collar. "What's this evacuation system!!?"

"You actually think I'm going to tell you!" Campbell replied feeling the Major's incredible strength.

The Major let go of Campbell and stepped aside. The two soldiers pulled Campbell back into the chair and looked curiously at the Major.

Damnit!! This isn't going well, too many mistakes. The Colonel! He's obsessed. The Major whipped around and looked at the two soldiers and Campbell. What should I do!! Almost a minute went by before he decided to call the Colonel, in his opinion the entire operation was crumbling and it was all due to the Colonel's obsession with Campbell.

"Sir, it's me!"

"What is it!!?" Velkan replied abruptly.

"Sir, the VA system came on…"

"I heard it too you idiot!! It's also getting hotter; there must be a backup system on that roof. Damn him!" Velkan tone was obvious.

"Sir, what do we do now!?" The Major asked clearly aware of the failure of his men, but the entire conversation was abruptly stopped as a signal cut into both transmissions. "To anyone listening, this Hawk One!!! The pilot was shot and I can't land!!! I repeat I can't land!!! Crap I can't get it steady!!!" The noise surrounding the transmission was filled with bleeps and alarm sounds. "I've just cleared the roof, his body is preventing me from piloting…maneuverability is low!!! Damn, I'm falling fast, controls are…" The entire floor was suddenly shaken and the Major lost simultaneous contact of Velkan and the helicopter crew! Wha…this can't be happening! Our evacuation! And the Colonel?

Campbell had been quiet for the last few minutes seeing the Major talking to the radio. Something was upsetting, but Campbell couldn't make out what it was. Naomi had activated the evacuation system, but after that roaring sound, like something had just been blown up, the doubt also began to appear on Campbell's mind. What could have possibly made that sound? And what did it meant for the three women that were still hiding around the vast floor. "What was that?" Campbell promptly asked.

The Major didn't reply.

"Sir this is team two, is everything alright!!?" The radio was still on the Major's hand when it came on.

"No something is very wrong, keep guarding the second elevator and call the others, make sure they keep looking for any personnel."

"Sir, we heard the men inside the helicopter what about…"

"You have your orders!" The Major turned off the radio and sighed. "You two guard the elevator. I'm going to find the Colonel."

"Sir?" One of the soldiers replied.

"You heard me! If something comes up use the radio!" The Major said and stormed out of the area.

Meryl could not believe her ears, her uncle had done it. The emergency evacuation system was activated, and not only that but the cold seemed to lessen. Right, now the next step, one of those windows. Meryl ran into the first corridor she saw, she had to get away from the cafeteria and Velkan. Meryl now had a difficult choice to make, would she get away alone or would she look for everyone else and then escape together. As Meryl reached an intersection with another corridor she saw the windows. She got close to them and looked underneath the windows, on the wall for something. It hadn't been long ago that the Colonel had briefed several key people about the evacuation system. Numerous large hidden scaffolds would descend from the roof if the system was activated, be it in the roof or through a computer. To get on the scaffolds several call buttons had been hidden underneath special large windows that would serve as passageways. Meryl felt something with her right bloody hand. Here's one! The button was imbedded in the wall with a protective case over it, she pulled the case off and pushed the button, it lit up green. The windows immediately shattered but didn't break and Meryl almost smiled. She touched the glass and it broke off, falling to the exterior. Now I just have to… Before her thought was finished Meryl heard something, a voice from behind. "Did you actually think you'd get away!!?" Velkan's voice was instantly recognizable.

Meryl turned around and saw Velkan with both his eyes opened, his left one bleeding.

"You look like crap!" Velkan said. "I have to say I didn't think you would be so tough. However, now I don't think I'll take you to your uncle alive" Velkan said pointing his gun with his left hand. His entire weight was shifted to the right side because of the wound in his right leg, but thanks to his sturdy cane he could still stand. "I'm just going to shoot you now and end this" Velkan closed his left eye and opened his right one wider. "What is that? That green light?"

"I may die here, but my friends and my uncle will get out alive" Meryl replied feeling the blood sipping through her left hand, she been putting pressure on the wound with it, but the blood was still coming out.

"So, it's another one of Campbell's tricks! He has always been a distrustful bastard!" Velkan smiled again. "I'm looking forward for his reaction when he sees your dead body" A crackling and rustling sound came from the outside of the window. Meryl glanced outside and saw a massive block of what looked like cement fly across the window, two cables were attached to it.

What kind of ploy is that! A cement block? Velkan thought as he saw the odd sight. "I think Campbell has lost it"

A thundering sound came from the outside as the large cement block reached the ground. The cables were now perfectly straight and a few seconds later Meryl and Velkan could hear a high pitched mechanical sound. Something was coming through the cables at a very elevated speed. Very clever uncle! Meryl glanced at Velkan and saw his curious looks. She would have to time it perfectly if she wanted to get out alive.

What the hell! Velkan speculated what the noise could be, but the response came right away. A large metal scaffold rushed past the window and stopped just before it passed it completely, the next thing Velkan saw was something jumping over the window ceil, he fired but missed. Meryl had jumped without much care of what could happen to the scaffold. She landed on her back and gave a quick look around. She saw a large button with an arrow pointing down on it. Carefully she raised one of her legs and kicked it. The scaffold began to move down.

"NO!!" Velkan approached the windows as fast as he could, but with the cane he would be too slow, he then fired a few rounds to the only target available, the green lit up button beneath the window.

Meryl only descended a few feet before the scaffold stopped. What now!! She looked at the broken window above and saw Velkan's head appear. "Quite resourceful of Campbell I have to say, but flawed!!" Velkan shouted and Meryl saw what came next. His SOCOM came out of the window, Meryl got to her feet as fast as she could and without much thought she jumped over the protective rail of the scaffold.

Mei Ling thought could feel warm breeze go across the entire vent. She opened her eyes and saw that the flashlight was still on. The walls were now dripping. The fine thin layer of ice was disappearing. "Rose!" She stretched out her hand and pushed her shoulder.

Rose, who had, her head between her legs, lifted up her head and looked at Mei Ling. "Are you okay?" Mei Ling asked.

"What happened?" Rose noticed and felt liquid on her hands.

"The temperature is going up! The Colonel did it, he got to the roof! That sound we heard had to be the evacuation system being activated. C'mon we need to get out of here" Mei Ling sounded excited. With a refreshed vigor she resumed her walk towards the exit, towards Meryl's private room. Rose was following her, but in the back of her mind an idea brewed. I need to help Meryl! I have to. The walk was only uneventful for a few minutes since suddenly Mei and Rose heard an enormous thundering sound to the left. They had no idea what it was, but it shook the vent left and right for a second. "What was that!!?" Mei Ling asked knowing full well there was no way of knowing.

Naomi turned slowly and saw the beast in front of her. The large Black Hawk was hovering, very close to the ground. It turned and Naomi soon saw the person manning the large gun on the side. Its helmet and protective gear prevented Naomi from seeing the face of her killer.She closed her eyes and began to cry. The tears rushed past her eyes, over her mouth and fell to her clothes. I hope to see you…Frankie. The eminence of death brought several past memories to Naomi, what she had done, felt and regretted. Now it was all at an end, or so she thought. She recoiled as she heard the gunfire, but it was too distant to be the helicopter, she opened her eyes and looked at the helicopter and then to the side, following the sound of the gunfire. Johnny had his gun placed on top of one chimney and was now shooting at the helicopter's pilot. The blood spatters on the helicopter window alerted Naomi the pilot was severely wounded and the next thing she saw was the helicopter tuning abruptly towards her and hitting the ground with its small wheels and then lifting. The man that was manning the gun was now inside the cockpit, Naomi lowered her head and body and waited until the helicopter got past her, it cleared the building and from the noise it seemed to be descending. It didn't take long for Naomi to know exactly what had happened to the helicopter. The sound it had made and the vibrations it caused could only mean one thing. It crashed!!

Naomi got to her feet and saw Johnny far-away sprawled on the ground. She ran to him as quickly as possible, he was motionless with his head up and blood beneath him. She was going to check for his pulse, but Johnny quickly raised his hand and stooped Naomi's. "I'm fine …" He said. "They almost got me, but I guess they found you more interesting!!"

"You're bleeding!" Naomi pointed out.

"It's nothing, really!" Johnny replied.

"I'm a doctor please let me see." Naomi pleaded, she was about to touch Johnny when he spoke out.

"They shot me in the ass ok!! There's nothing to see!" Johnny replied and made an effort to get on his feet. "What now?" He asked.

"I…I don't know"