The Heart of a Man: 16
"He is this way," Caine said, as he drew to a stop along the side of the old foundry. "A group is gathered beyond this wall in a large room."
"Good." Kermit opened the large duffel that he had been carrying over his shoulder and began to hand out gas masks. When he offered one to Caine, he was refused.
"It's not going to be pretty in there," the man in the dark glasses said. "This will help you breathe."
"I will manage."
"Suit yourself." Kermit shoved the extra mask back into the bag and took a step back, loading a cylindrical weapon before mounting it on his shoulder. "Bombs away." Several objects flew from the device and crashed through one of the broken windows located high in the walls.
The door burst open and a man fell out coughing and sputtering, followed by noxious fumes. Caine, gathering his chi to control his breathing, stepped beyond the man, and entered the building in search of his son.
He fought off several of the weakened men in his attempts to reach a door on the far side of the wall. When he passed through into the clearer air beyond, Kermit, Blaisdell, Jody and Blake were still busy disabling all with whom they came in contact.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"What is that?" Jenine asked as the sounds of muted yelling penetrated the door.
"Either that's the calvary, or Kensington just found out that I slipped him the wrong disk."
"What? What disk?"
"Really long story, remember?" Peter shook his head, recognizing the sounds of running footsteps. "No time like the present to put our plan into action." Directing her to stand on one side of the door, he handed her one of the ends of the old rusted chain from the shelf. They had extended the two fairly short lengths with Peter's belt. Grasping the flat piece of wood that remained, he stood on the opposite side of the door.
There was the rattle of a lock being removed and then the door slammed opened. As soon as the black-clad figure cleared the entrance, Peter struck. The shelf remnant slammed hard against the man's back. Jenine followed up by taking the man's legs out from under him with the chain. He landed hard on the floor, banging his head against the cement surface.
Another black-clad figure followed on the heels of his partner, but did not enter the room. Peter stepped out into the corridor to confront him, swinging his new found weapon as he went. The man, who Peter quickly recognized at the one whose nose he'd bloodied, managed to duck Peter's blows and landed one of his own against Peter's already damaged ribs.
While Peter coughed and struggled for breath, and simultaneously tried to fight off the dark spots that appeared before his eyes, Kensington appeared in the corridor and called off his minion.
"You tricked me, Detective. I'm very disappointed," Kensington said. "I've already killed that useless Greek, and that sniveling Troung, and I really don't need two prisoners." He pointed the gun at Peter, and then with an evil grin, turned and pointed it at Jenine's head.
"No!" Peter struggled forward against the brutal hold Kensington's man had on his ribs.
Kensington merely laughed.
He flinched as he heard a gun go off. The man who was holding him jerked and hit the floor with a thud. Peter looked up in time to see Kensington slump to the floor as well to be replaced by his father. Paul stood in the distance, his gun hanging at his side, and a gas mask pushed up on his head.
"You have no idea how glad I am to see you guys," Peter managed with a grin that was half grimace.
Paul approached with a grin of his own as he came to place an arm around Peter in support. Caine moved in to support him from the other side. Sharing a look around him, Paul and Caine both smiled. "Likewise."
