Chapter 44

RPOV

As Ash moved the paper between the beams of light I knew immediately that he was afraid they were high powered lasers that could do severe damage. I watched as the paper ignited and then saw Steph step back, frightened by what had happened. As she moved metal sheets began to slide across the opening, coming from every direction and I could only stand there looking at Steph. She was going to be trapped in a dark room and be terrified.

"Babe we'll find a way to get you out"
"Ash?"

"I don't even know why this door opened"

"Look for a panel similar to what Steph found, maybe she accidently opened it"

"I'll try telling the machine to open the door"

As each man went about their work, I put my head against the door. We knew where Steph was, but we had no idea what was in there and to be honest that thought scared the shit out of me. I hadn't wanted her to come with us tonight, but she was adamant that she needed to be with us. I lost that battle when everyone started to reassure me that nothing could happen to her. I should have stuck to my original feelings because once again she had inadvertently become trapped.

"Ranger the patrols are seeing activity"
Shit that was the last thing we needed. I shouldn't have had that thought because the last thing we needed started to happen. The screens began to turn black and the computers started to quieten.

"Tank block the door open"
I had an awful feeling that the door we'd come in would close and seeing as there was no mechanical keypad inside, we could be faced with being locked inside this room as well. Ram quickly pushed a desk into the space just as the door began to slide shut.

"Everyone out, now"

There weren't that many men in here, but they were soon climbing over or under the table. I could see the edges of the desk begin to buckle realizing that the desk was no match for the doors. I watched as Miguel appeared with a pair of jaws used for wrenching doors apart. There was only Ash and I remaining in the room but there was no way I could leave Steph behind trapped in the next room. What if she managed to get the doors open and found herself alone in another dark room? I couldn't do it.

"Ranger you have to get out"

"I won't leave her Tank"
"We'll find a way to get back in. We'll bring cutting torches down, but you have to leave"

As the doors continued to move closer together, I felt a powerful force ram against me, punching me forward and through the small gap. As I landed on my stomach the weight on top of me moved away. I turned to the door and saw those beams of light criss cross as they had at the other door. In an instant the metal of the jaws fell away allowing the doors to close.

"Our men are inside defending the building"
Begrudgingly I started to get up, but I could have killed Ash for making me move.

"Ranger we'll get her out"
"Ash I suggest you stay well away from me"
I could feel my temper roar to life, and it was only the sight of Tank stood in front of me that stopped me from tearing Ash to pieces.

"We need to get upstairs and stop those bastards from coming in"

I followed Tank up and into the front area of the building, though from where we were, I couldn't see anyone outside.

"Tank, cameras?"

"Hal reports they've gone down"
"So we're blind?"
"Miguel and his team are on the perimeter"

As I looked back at the men behind me, I couldn't see any sign of Ash, good he was keeping his distance from me. As time passed, I was getting increasingly concerned. There had been no movement from outside and none of the systems for lights or the cameras had come back online. I made my way downstairs in the hope that maybe the doors had opened only to find Ash stood next to the panel. He had a unit in his hands with wires attached to the internal circuits of the keypad, showing numbers changing regularly. He looked up at me as I approached.

"I'm sorry Ranger, but you would have been no use to anyone had you been stuck inside there, and I doubt we could have found a way to unlock the system"

In my head I knew he was right, but it was my heart that was struggling to come to terms with what he was saying.

"Any progress?"

"No, I don't understand why it won't pick up a code. It's almost as if it's being controlled from somewhere else"
"Maybe the controls are where Steph is"
"Maybe. It's a fucked-up system if they are"

"I'm heading back up"

"I noticed the comms units and phones don't work down here, I think Buckley had the whole area protected with some of reflective material"
I nodded my head then and went back upstairs to find Tank trying to figure what our next move would be. I'd defend this building what ever happened, no way would I abandon Steph.

"Miguel reports that whoever is out there is falling back. They've left two men to keep surveillance"

"Have Santos, Hector, Cal and Jennings drive off site, get them to check for tails. Then for them to double back and ambush those men. I want them alive and taken to Rangeman, in our cells"
"Roger"

Santos and Cal had the experience of combat while Hector and Jennings had the skill for being invisible so they should be able to handle themselves. The wait was unpleasant even though I was so used to it. My mind kept wondering to think of Steph and how she was coping.