Chapter 10: The Storm
Note: One of the chars in this chapter, Hutchinson, is the one from "Merchants of Death", not the cop from KnightSky's "A Knight at the Dentist".
"Kitt, I thought that abandoned building was an office," Marissa said as she rode in the Trans-Am.
"So did I, but last night, Diamondhead and Jack double-checked the location and then informed me that in truth, the hostage grounds is an abandoned blood bank, complete with a pair of airtight safes and a set of sub-zero chambers."
"Perfect for killing hostages," Laura said grimly, "or sport…no wonder they picked it when they couldn't overtake the Black Dragons HQ…"
"Huh?"
"Later," Kitt replied. He hated keeping the conversation last night a secret from Marissa, but he knew that it was the last thing she needed now, and the truth of why her team's objective was changed she needed even less…and that she had to focus on the "storm", as the gangs called it.
"Riss," Laura asked, "Aren't you scared…?"
She shook her head.
"Tell me the truth, Marissa."
Marissa sighed and said, "Yeah…almost scared out of my wits. But we gotta do this or lots are gonna die."
Laura said, "But Riss…you could easily die, too."
"I know."
She whispered, "You really are a brave girl…"
The younger child looked straight ahead, not saying anything else out loud, her eyes sharp and determined.
"Marissa, Laura, we've arrived at the rendezvous point."
"Who else is here?"
"The Black Dragons are just arriving now from the west side, and the Diamond Snakes from the east, both offroad. All we need to do is wait for Michael's half and then we can proceed."
"Can you use his comlink and figure out how far away he is?"
"There's no need for that, Laura. My sensors indicate that they will be here in the next five minutes."
"Good," Marissa replied and saw Diamondhead dismount his bike and approach the Trans-Am from the left, while Jack came from the right.
"The rest will be here in five minutes," she said to them.
"Good," Jack replied, "As soon as he gets here, we'll all get going…and show these terrorist scumbags what it means to get stormed on."
"Right on, brother," Diamondhead agreed, "They want to up the ante, they'll pay through the nose."
"Up the ante…?" Marissa asked, puzzled.
"Nothing you need to worry about, miss," Jack quickly replied. They had agreed in the night not to tell Marissa what had happened. She was leading the Foundation's Youth, but it was her father that was in the fire instead of the frying pan now.
She nodded, pensive, then Laura said before the younger girl could persist, "As soon as we are within 3 miles of the target, get into position."
"Yes, ma'am," Jack replied, peering at her in a way that he had not done before.
"Ya got it, lady," Diamondhead agreed, "There's the other half now."
Marissa looked back and saw Michael pulling up in the Cadillac, along with the other four vehicles.
He poked out his head and shouted, "Everyone's here. You ready?"
"We've been waiting on you, slowpokes," Diamondhead called back with a laugh, "Now we can head for the homestretch!"
"Blame a traffic accident," he retorted, "But we're here now. I said, you ready?"
"Ready to go anytime!"
He nodded as the gang leaders headed back to their bikes and gestured to their men, who revved their machines, signaling that they were ready.
"Time to storm!" the two groups roared, then took off.
"Showtime," Michael said and Kitt started his engine again, taking the lead.
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Marco grinned as he talked to a man with ruggedly-cut dark hair and an equally hard face. He had his hair tied in a black bandana, even though it wasn't needed. His very clothes looked exactly what a mercenary would wear, complete with bandoleros across the front.
"So, you managed to bag one of those things that our Mexican pals wanted," he growled, "That explains why you changed which hostage dies when the deadline passes."
"That's right, sir. Miles learned just what that group thinks about his kind…nice and painfully."
He nodded. "Chavez, no need to wait until after sunrise. Go ahead and put him in one of the chambers. That'll take care of the job for us. By the time the sun is up, he'll be nice and dead."
"Already done. Those sub-zero rooms are effective. I'd say that he'll hit hypothermia within the hour."
He nodded, "Good. Now, get a hold of our contact in Mexico and let them know of the first delivery."
"Right away, boss Hutchinson."
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The first ones to arrive at the south side of the blood bank were Kitt, followed by the rest of the Foundation's Youth. Most of them scattered into position, while Marissa's team, Kate's and half the Diamond Snakes stayed in the south end.
Kate looked from the door to the others, then shrugged her shoulders.
Marissa said, "She's asking just how you want this done."
"Barnyard and other animals will do nicely for you youngsters. We'll add in some of our own stuff, too." Crag, a bodybuilder with close-cropped black hair and dark eyes replied. Like Angel was Jack's second-in-command, Crag was the same to Diamondhead.
There was a quiet pause, then Kitt said, "The security systems are now deactivated."
Marissa nodded and said, "Phase one!"
The quiet girl nodded and motioned to the others before making cat sounds. The others in her team joined in, some sounding like dogs, some like cats in heat or fighting.
At the same time, the group from the Diamond Snakes was circling around the side, looking for any cameras. There was a window on the far left-hand side of the south end, with a couple of the terrorists visible. Upon seeing them, Crag and a couple others flipped the bird at the terrorists inside and made kissing noises.
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Inside the room, Hutchinson and Torres were conversing about the hostages and the fact that Knight not said, one way or the other, about the demands since the early phone call the previous night when they saw four people in disgusting punk-clothing (complete with opal-hue jackets and brass knuckles) appear in front of the window. One of them, assumedly the leader, knocked on the window and almost instantly they all extended middle fingers, a couple of which rotated at the wrist…and all of them were making kissy-kissy sounds.
"What the he—" Hutchinson started.
"The Diamond Snakes, sir, I recognize them."
The man nodded, replying, "Diamond Snakes, Bloody Stakes, whatever. Take some men and chop them up."
"With pleasure, sir," was the reply before Torres exited the room and started shouting names.
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Crag grinned and hurried over to the south side entrance, shouting, "Those fu—fools fell for it!" Gangster though he was, he knew to watch his language around the leader of the Foundation's Youth and the strategists.
Laura nodded, "The other teams know that once they hear a undulating cry to start. I'll give the signal. Marissa, Kitt, I suggest that you back up a little bit. We can't afford for you to be seen too soon."
The younger girl nodded and Kitt immediately moved until he was at the corner of the east and south sides…so that he would be out of sight and could still display the south end without trouble.
"Steady…steady…" the older girl said quietly. On one monitor, she could see seven people headed for the south entrance, all armed.
The south door slammed open and the people poured out, looking downright furious, and started engaging combat.
Laura popped out of Kitt, took a deep breath and gave the agreed signal as loud as she could. At the same time, an identical sound came from somewhere, coming from a male.
A moment later, Jack came from one of the corners and nodded. While the diversion teams had been busy, he had been informing the others about the signal, and then giving it on the other end.
"I saw the east-side teams kick the door in," he reported, "They've gotten started. South end?"
"Worked like a charm, as Michael would say," Kitt replied, "There are seven in combat with the Snakes and Kate's team now."
"Give it five minutes, then we go in," Marissa ordered, "Kitt, can you detect father's location?"
"I'm sorry, Rissie, I can't. There are simply too many people inside."
"Can you screen using Devon's biorhythm?" Laura asked.
"I'll try." There was a pause before he exclaimed, "Oh my goodness! I've detected that one of the people inside is injured and his body temperature is dropping. According to the information last night, it appears to be Devon!"
Marissa's eyes went wide as she said, "How do you know? How long?"
"Due to the injuries, he is already starting to slip into hypothermia. I estimate he has 20 minutes at most."
Jack peered at the girls and asked, "What do we do, guys?"
The younger girl looked rather angry and said in a tone of iron, "Simple. We're going in. Now."
"It's too early," Laura protested, "If we go in now, we risk putting the south-end teams in danger.
"We've got no choice," Marissa retorted.
"She's right, coz, " Jack agreed, "He'll die if we don't move out."
The Mexican girl sighed and nodded.
"I'll inform Michael."
All the doors opened and the three people exited immediately, then started to run for the south entrance.
"Wait, Marissa!"
Marissa paused, hearing Kitt, and looked behind her.
There was a long pause. The AI within the Trans-AM knew he had to say it. It seemed very alien to him. It was almost like it was not be like him. He had heard Michael and Devon explain this…sensation before, on the way from Montana. It seemed strange to him, but he knew that if he didn't, he might not be able to later.
"I love you, Rissie."
She stared at him, then smiled softly as she said, "I love you too, Kitty," then hurried off, Laura and Jack close behind her.
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Devon winced as he tried to move. It hurt like hell, especially since he had been beaten on for three hours straight, then kept inside a dark room by himself. He had tried, but was not able to get out. The enemy had not left anything inside that he could even vaguely use to escape.
They're bloody damn well clever, he thought.
Then, over an hour ago, he had been dragged from the black room and then taken to this…this place after an extra beating and being knocked out. It was very cold, and he hazarded a guess that it was sub-zero.
He had looked about the chamber as best he could…and saw that there were very few things that were in the room that he could use.
Why did they change their attitudes? Regardless of what Marco Chavez says, I'm not a Gypsy…I'm an Englishman, as I've always been…but…Verona…when I asked her in the nightmare, she had said, "Look in the mirror, and a Gypsy you'll see." When I did…I saw myself.
Just who am I? What the hell am I?
He tried to rub his hands together in an attempt to keep a little warmth in him. Already, he was starting to feel sleepy, felt the energy draining out of him…and knew what it meant.
Michael…Rissie…just what are you going to do? Whatever it is, hurry…!
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Chris's team had gone into three of the rooms and letting out a total of nine hostages that exited the building through the south entrance. When the group was about to enter a fourth, Angel came up to the leader.
"What's up?"
"We have company behind us," she replied in her normal cold tone.
"Okay, get into position. We'll take this batch down then continue on," he called out.
Becky looked behind them and then called out, "Chris, it's our own guys! Marissa, Jack and Laura!"
"The hell?" Angel asked, "They're not supposed to be here yet!"
Sure enough, the three youngsters arrived at the intersection at a run.
"Marissa, you're way early!" Chris called out.
"No choice," Jack replied, "Devon's gone from the frying pan into the deep fire."
"We're going on ahead," Marissa stated.
Chris nodded and ordered, "Ok, provide cover fire, then we'll continue on!"
She nodded, "Thanks," then shouted, "Kitt, which way?"
"He's in the northwest section."
She nodded, gestured to Laura and Jack, then ran off to the west.
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Michael hissed as he heard the report from Kitt on his comlink. The bastards had gone and not only beat up Devon badly, but now he was in what sounded like a sub-zero chamber. Marissa, Jack and Laura had moved in early…and he didn't blame them.
These jackals are going to pay for this, whether he lives or not, he thought.
He then kicked open one of the doors to his left, while Mark's team of Youth and Dragons went in and knocked out the three terrorists that were watching over a small group of hostages.
"Michael!" he heard a familiar voice call out…Kathy Cunningham's voice.
He hurried over to her and asked, "You okay?"
"Yes, but don't worry about us, worry about Mr. Miles! They took him to a freezer room over an hour ago!"
"There's a team headed that way already," he replied, "Marissa isn't about to let him die."
Her eyes widened as she saw the two teams in the room…most of which were children and gang members.
While the Dragons tied up the terrorists with some cord they carried on them, Michael said, "Take your group and exit through the north door, then make your way to Kitt on the south side."
"Y-Yes! I think April's in this area," she answered, "Be careful!"
The hostages got up and hurried after Kathy, who left at a dead run.
"Next," Mark simply said and lead the way out of the room, heading southwards.
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Christina growled as she used a chop to the shoulder joint of one of the terrorists, dropping him in an instant.
Her team, as well as Janice's, had been assigned to a section that seemed to have a very weak concentration of terrorists…until they were close to the split-off point.
That was when they were swarmed by an attack.
She was glad that Chuck had been assigned to her team, for he was now using a sweeping kick that connected with a few of the enemy, dropping them like flies.
Janice came out of one of the nearby rooms, then when she saw that one of the terrorists was taking aim with his gun at Christina, she charged and kicked the weapon out of his hand, then knocked him out. She tossed the weapon, an Uzi, to a member of the Dragons assigned to her own team.
The member, a shapely yet muscular woman with brown hair as closely cropped as Angel's, caught the weapon and grinned coldly, sending shivers down the girl's back before she turned towards the next terrorist and opened fire.
Behind them, the hostages, including a new girl named Karen, hurried out, going towards the eastern entrance at something close to a run.