THIRTEEN


In procession, five lifeboats apppeared in the warehouse. Doors opened, soldiers filed out, secured the area, then waited upon their Commander.

Logan twirled his index finger in the air, issuing orders via his com-link. "As instructed, each team take a floor. You know the drill. Use force as needed and be safe. Move out."

He moved ahead, with his Lucy, Rufus and an extra soldier hot on his heels, for the double doors which opened upon their approach. Behind them, Garcia and Lucy along with two soldiers followed them, their destination the fifth floor as advised by the older Flynn.

"Take the elevator." Wyatt said. "We'll use the emergency stairs."

Garcia nodded, leading his team inside the contraption, then turned to face Wyatt's group. "See you on the other side."

"Keep your eyes open." Lucy directed at the older Lucy who smiled softly.

The doors closed.

"Lucy, with me." Garcia gestured at the space to his rear, then motioned to the two men. "Take that corner. Out of sight, out of mind."

The men adhered and moved for the right hand corner, one kneeling and the other with rifle poised above the other's head.

Some minutes later, the elevator slowed.

"Get ready fellas." Garcia tugged Lucy closer to his person, making sure she was protected from a possible firefight.

The doors opened.

Flashing red lights illumined the corridor. Garcia waved two fingers at the men. They moved forward slowly, with their leader and Lucy moving in their shadow.

"Quiet." The short soldier whispered.

"Too quiet." His stocky friend replied.

"Up ahead."

After signalling for the men to wait by the whitewashed room, Garcia and Lucy moved for the observation room. As one, they breached the rooms, finding them empty.

"Shit." Garcia tapped his earpiece. "They know." The men inside the room looked to the mirror, understanding the consequences.

"What now?" Lucy asked, eyeing the built-in bench and hardware occupying the space beneath the mirror. He stepped up alongside her, observing the green and red lights flicker lazily.

"We're too early?"

"It's happened before?" She questioned worried.

He squeezed her shoulder in comfort. "We expected a move like this. Every stronghold has a backup plan in place, for in case they're infiltrated. We'll wait for all the clear."

Lucy nodded her accord before looking at the mirror. Within the whitewashed room, the two men stood guard at the door. "What do you think they did here?"

He looked at the men, pondering too, did a turnabout, taking in the room bit for bit. Stopped, with eyes gaging the clipboard neatly left upon the chair and in clear sight, almost as if whomever wanted them to know did so with a specific thing in mind.

"I believe we're up to our necks, Lucy."

"Hm?" She faced him, marking the renowned glimmer of anger spark in his eyes. "What?"

"We're royally screwed." Garcia grabbed the radio from his pocket and switched the channel. "Wyatt get out!"

The floor shook above them. Garcia grabbed her by the arm and darted for the corridor.

"What was that?" She shouted above the sirens.

The men joined them, dashing for the elevator at the end of the hallway.

"It's a setup!" Garcia slammed the panel. "Dammit! Too perfect. Too clean. I should've known."

The elevator opened and they entered. He slammed the warehouse's button, watching with frustration as the contraption complied with the command. Lucy stood behind him, trembling and numb, wondering if there were survivors. With the scope and tremor of the aftershock, it might have been multiple targets at the same time. She pushed the thoughts aside and focussed on Garcia's voice.

"Watch yourselves, fellas. We're mice caught in a firebox. Tight formation. The mothership our destination."

"Wh-what about the others?"

"Lucy, whomever Flynn expected us to find, they're long gone. There's nothing left to salvage. And those who survived know the protocol."

"What if?"

"Listen." Garcia faced her. She recoiled at the intensity in his eyes. "We need to regroup. If we stay, there's no chance in hitting them again."

The elevator slowed. Doors opened

"Sir."

Garcia turned.

Lucy looked by him and gasped. "Oh no."

"We're not going back." The stocky soldier stated.