Author's Note: Holy crap this is way too late of an update.
I feel like for the last few chapters I've been starting off with nothing but apologizing for not keeping in schedule. I won't make any excuses anymore, only explanations. The job comes first and you don't have time at the end of the day to work your brain any further when you're already so busy. I did want to put this in over a month ago but after we got situated for our unit rotation, they bungled up again with COVID. I tested negative but I was roomed with other dudes that were positive and I got put into a tent for two weeks to verify that I was ok. Couple that and realizing that I'll be missing some of my favorite holidays again this year, I'm doing my damnedest to keep a positive head.
I'll try to keep the flow of chapters steady, cause we're almost done.
Chapter 63: Everything Changes
July 12th 2011 1305 Hours
Istanbul, Turkey
Even though she didn't mean to say that she knew who chasing them out loud, she decided to keep her thoughts to herself. The crew was too focused on getting away that they didn't notice. So she wouldn't say anything. Not yet at least.
"We need to get away from the civilians! Ugo! Lead us somewhere less crowded!" Lehm said taking the helm for the current situation.
"I'm trying damnit!"
Meanwhile in the rear, Mao decided to take action since it was a better idea than doing nothing.
"Wiley! Keep it steady so I can get a shot!"
As Koko's convoy sped along the streets of Istanbul, Koko looked to the rear to see Mao lean out from the passenger window of the car to try and hit the assassin on the red sports bike.
While the rider was totally exposed, that didn't mean he was going to be easily hit. With him doing his best not to be within Mao's line of fire, both vehicles had to avoid traffic. Including trying not to hit anyone or anything that wasn't a target. And once again, Koko's crew had to get away from an assassin in a city that had tight streets with little room for fancy maneuvers.
This didn't apply to the rider on a much more maneuverable bike as he then saw an opening and accelerated to ahead of Koko's convoy.
"Where the hell's he going?"
In the front car, Ugo and Lutz asked the same question in their heads. But as the bike got closer to an intersection the rider switched weapons. Then fired a spray of bullets at a civilian vehicle in the lane of oncoming traffic blasting out a tire and causing it to swerve into another vehicle coming toward it head on.
The instant reaction of the crash caused two more cars to add to the pile up. Both men reacted in shock of the rider's brazen disregard for the lives and safety of those around him, but Ugo quickly regained his composure of acting tactfully and saw that the rider was trying to cut them off.
"Lehm follow me left! Now!"
The sharp left turn done by Ugo jerked Lutz to the passenger door as the convoy went down an alleyway that was not designated for vehicular traffic. What followed was loud scraping noises tearing apart the sides of three vehicles and garbage cans being sent flying as Ugo lead them to another street.
The rider then took the time to reload. That was the first diversion, he needed to do it two more times. He then got on his radio as he then had to take a long way around because where they went was a one way street.
"Esmeray? I'm pushing them your way now. You almost ready?" He said speeding off to get the jump on the convoy.
"Already set up Damien. Where's the girl at?" She said as he heard guns cocking in the background.
"Center vehicle. Avoid using anything too big until you force her to run on foot."
"Don't worry I know. I won't damage something of value to me."
Damien had already had a few dry runs in the city to get a slight familiarization of the streets near Koko's hotel. Their most obvious route was for them to get to the freeway as fast as possible because it led directly to the airport. He could only redirect them for so long but eventually they would catch on. He did an excellent job of hiding the fact that he was using a passive approach on them.
"Any of you guys see him? He's not following us anymore."
Lehm had heard Wiley and turned around to see since both his side view mirrors were gone from the tight space of the alley.
"Keep your eyes open. I doubt that this is over."
"God damn it. Can we at least get one single break?"
Koko somewhat agreed with Tojo's frustration as she then faced Valmet. A stone faced expression combined with her head moving like a machine scanning for anything out of the ordinary. She was glad that she reverted back to her old self in this particular moment. It looked like she didn't realize that Damien was here again. She needed her to maintain that focus so when it came time to do what was necessary, she'd do it.
THWUMP! BOOM!
Suddenly at the front of the convoy an explosion formed at the base of a streetlight and fell in the middle of the road. The convoy halted to avoid crashing into it.
It wasn't a smart idea to stop.
"Shit! At our nine!" Valmet screamed as her face lit up at the fact that they were in the rider's sights.
The rider unloaded the spend HE round to reload another one. But it looked like he was taking his time. Valmet saw this as an opportunity since some assassins liked to toy with them in the past.
"Lehm! Right! Now!"
He did just that as the vehicle peeled out and made the next right, putting Koko's vehicle in the lead. The rider took aim and fired again, this time hitting a parked car near the turn. Seeing that they darted off with no protection, Ugo put his car in reverse.
"Wiley! Keep him off me! Koko's exposed!"
"Got it!"
The rear car then moved forward to get some covering fire for Ugo. At the same time he put the car in reverse and did a 90 degree spin to follow Koko. It may have looked like a stuntman pulling off the driving techniques but Ugo was just continuing to harden the fact that there was a reason he was the crew's driver. Such techniques were routinely practiced by police departments all over the world. Except in his case it was used for evasion instead of apprehending criminals.
Sensing no cover from Mao's rifle fire the rider peeled out and went the opposite way of the street he came up. Avoiding a bullet in the back along the way. But now he had to make the difficult task of getting them to divert to the ambush a third time. They surely would have caught on by now and asking his false flag crew for assistance would take away numbers and firepower away from their position.
After racing ahead to where he needed them to make the final turn, he had no other choice. He had to take out the lead vehicle and prevent the rest of the crew from trying to recover them. He had to force them to make the decision that Koko's life was prioritized over all else. He knew each one would make sure that happened no matter what would happen to each other. His problem though was that he didn't have enough munitions and he was by himself. He needed another method and he needed it now. Instinctively he began scanning his immediate area for anything he could use. At first he noticed a lack of people, probably aware of what was going on and decided to stay off the streets. Second was that the street, except for more parked cars were just as empty as his options.
Shit, they're gonna be here any…Hello~.
It may have been a little crude and it wouldn't stop a vehicle in its tracks. But regardless of the fact that Koko's convoy was made of armored vehicles can't really drive through a steel cable that's designed not to snap under several tons of tension. He quickly put his bike on the sidewalk, hopped off, and got to work.
Meanwhile, Ugo managed to get back in front of the convoy and try to get back on a proper route to the freeway.
"I don't like this man. He's popping up out of nowhere. Almost like he's just screwing with us."
Lutz dove into his whining and complaining persona again, Ugo knew that it was his go to mantra for whenever he was on edge. He was no different except quieter.
"We just need to get out of these city streets. At least I don't have to worry about people for now. But it's weird I haven't seen any police yet. Given what's happened."
"Yeah no shit." He then got on his radio. "Guys? Anything?"
Wiley came up first. "Clear back here."
"Little Lady? You ok?"
"I'm just fine Lutz. Stay focused on getting out of here. He WILL be back. Next one will be his final blow. He's done playing and so am I. Ugh…I hate to do this but Tojo, place a call to Minami. Coordinate with her and get her to use one of the Grid satellites to get a read on our position. She can track that biker better than we can at the moment."
"I'm on it boss."
In the lead car, Lutz and Ugo could tell she would be using 'Jormungand' again. How she would use it though would be anyone's guess but if she could make a Marine chopper crash into a group of SEAL's to save Valmet, and to their current regret Damien, then the sky was the limit. It gave them a reassurance of confidence.
"Looks like she's planning on flipping the table on him and getting him caught in our sights by the sound of it."
"Now who ever said we were the hunted huh?"
"Fair point."
The brief moment of enthusiasm for the two friends didn't last very long though. In his focus on not just the road but his surroundings, Ugo didn't look out for some more specific details.
Specifically a wire rope being stretched out in front of the car.
"OH SHIT!" He said as he slammed on the brakes.
One intersection ahead of Koko's car, Damien had rigged up a tow truck to two cars to act as an anchor while he jammed the gas pedal to accelerate the truck and tighten the wire when the time was right.
The wire was not high enough to try and take the roof off. Instead it was low enough to act as if he went into a retaining barrier head on. The wire gave way, acting a sort of snare that forced the car to a stop after several meters. Dragging the anchors and the still moving truck some. But a bit too abruptly as the unexpected for of the stop caused the rear wheels to hop up off of the ground for a brief moment as Lehm in the car behind Ugo's braked and swerved ninety degrees. They realized they were caught in a trap.
But that was not Damien's intent to increase the pressure by revealing himself and opening fire. He merely sat out of their line of sight and waited. He wanted to make sure that they weren't concerned with him for the next moment.
Come on. Make the turn.
"Guys! You alright!?" Tojo shouted on his radio.
"We're alright." It was Ugo. "But the car's stalled out!"
"Damn. Ok screw the car. We'll give you cover so you can…"
"No." Koko said as she cut through the conversation.
Tojo looked back to her confused. Valmet's eye shifted to her for a moment and continued to scan for threats. Lehm just looked ahead, seeing the only way he could go was right.
"Koko…" Was all Tojo could say until he saw the anger in Koko's ice blue eyes.
"Think about it Tojo, that's exactly what this guy wants. He wants to lure you out and pick each of you off one at a time. It's so predictable that it's pathetic. Lehm, make some room for the rear car to pass."
"You got it boss." He said without hesitation.
She then put on her own headset. "Wiley, get in front of us and take the lead. Lutz, Ugo, I want you guys to listen to me. Stay put for a few minutes, then ditch the car and head south. We'll pick you guys up later. I know that this isn't something you want to hear but let me say this as plain as I can." She then took a deep breath as the cars began to move away at the same moderate speed they were before the crash. "We are not playing this son of a bitch's game. Do you understand?"
There was a moment of pause on the net as they got further and further away from the stalled out lead vehicle. No doubt Lutz was having thoughts about how this felt so similar to Cuba. Except this time she would be firm in making sure that the decision to not listen to her will lead to harsh consequences.
"Answer me damnit!"
"…We hear you Little Lady. We'll hold here. Radio's still on. We'll keep in touch."
She knew Lutz would listen to her this time.
"Good. I'll call you back once we've shaken him off."
The net, as well as the inside of the car, went silent. It wasn't the first time Koko and her crew had to make hard decisions. But some never got used to it. Each one wanted to make sure they got home safely but at the same time they wanted to make sure that particular moment never came.
This was what Damien was counting on.
It worked out better than he hoped. His original plan was to make sure they all got caught in the crossfire and once he had Koko he would let Taha and her crew kill each other and he'd make off with her. But now she had even less to protect her. She'd have to run no matter what.
"Perfect." He said smiling under his helmet.
He then dashed to his bike and after starting it got on both of his radios and used Esmeray's first.
"Esmeray? She's coming toward you right now! Be advised she's still in the same car but has less protection. Once the target moves, tell me the direction she runs. Once I have her, you can tell your men to pull back."
He seemed to be putting out his lies a lot easier now.
"Roger that. Keep your ears open as best they can. It's going to be rather loud."
He then clicked off that particular radio and got on his other one to Scarecrow and Schokolade.
"Guys. Get the van ready for pick up and head to my location. The moment I have Hekmatyar, we're leaving Istanbul on the first plane back to the states. This ends today."
As he spoke with determination, he picked up speed bringing the front wheel off the ground somewhat as Schokolade answered him.
"Ok Damien. Let us know when you're ready."
But as he was about to switch off. "Hold it Andrushko."
"God…What is now straw for brains?"
"What happens when this Hamas lady knows you've double crossed her?"
"By the time we leave the city I'll place a call to Mossad. Any other questions?" He said quickly and hopeful it shut him up.
"…Bookman can only cover for you so much. If you…"
Damien cut the radio off before he could continue. He was ecstatic he'd be through with Scarecrow too.
The former Green Beret then felt anxious as he made his way to a safe distance from Taha's ambush zone. The tight streets of Istanbul gave her men plenty of high ground and choke points. But he knew Koko Hekmatyar's team could return equally heavy firepower. They had it on standby for if a situation got a little bit out of control. Damien knew that this was going to be the first true battle he'd been in for quite some time. Only difference was that he'd be running through a firefight where he didn't belong to, or cared about, either side.
All that mattered to him was Koko.
1320 Hours
At a location far from where Damien was pushing Koko Hekmatyar into Esmeray Taha's ambush a small team of eight men, four per SUV, kept a distance from the fight. But observed the fight from a down looking satellite courtesy of the CIA. Their orders were not to interfere unless the "Jackpot's" life was in danger. If necessary, they could deal with both teams with the amount of firepower they had. They may have looked exactly like standard issue US military weapons but they were all marked with Turkish identification. Simple thing of state armies naming their weapons separate from the manufacturer. And a little extra layer of providing a cover and disinformation. They would need it considering they were on another off the books mission.
"If he wants to end this, he's not being very subtle about it. Not to mention with who the hell he talked into helping him is the most fucked up way imaginable."
"Sergeant Major, I don't like this crazy plan he has any more than you do. But if something happens all we have to do is keep him safe. He's the only one that knows how her network operates."
"That's not gonna keep him safe forever." The more rambunctious one said from the back. "Much less the fact that he's…"
"Damnit! I'm tired of repeating myself Johnny!" He said trying for what seemed like the millionth time he was trying to maintain discipline.
"Yeah!? Well I'm gonna keep saying what everyone else's been thinking ever since that shit in Cape Town! It stinks to high heaven and you know it!"
"It doesn't matter!" The driver shouted making them stop. "If him getting this girl can end this crisis then it's worth it. It's why we all signed up for this."
The Major had never once questioned orders in his life. But the orders being passed down from SOCOM high command were getting sketchier each time. He wondered what was happening behind the scenes.
1322 Hours
It had been slightly longer than when they had seen the rider on the red sports bike. But Koko had managed to hear from Lutz and Ugo that they were away from danger and were just waiting to be picked up. They had to hide out away from the public though. Two armed men walking through the city streets was attention that they'd like to avoid.
"One more block and we'll have a straight shot to the highway. We'll pick the both of them up and then break whatever remaining traffic laws are left to get to the airport."
Mao's attempt to keep morale up didn't work. "We'll have to make a rolling pick up when we get to them. They'll have to jump in the cars while they're still moving. We're not stopping."
"Uhh…Roger that boss."
Koko was waiting patiently for the satellite to get into position to overlook their current location. Her system was continuing to show signs of improvement and was readily available when she called Minami. But her satellites still needed time to get into position and she couldn't make the Earth spin faster.
As she continued to monitor the progress on Tojo's laptop, she noticed that Valmet was staring at her. Not a hostile one, more like wanting an explanation. It took her a while, but no assassin was that quick to come up with methods like that on the fly. Especially when combat was involved, they made it direct and quick as possible with a well laid out plan. This one knew how to improvise.
Neither of them spoke, but they could tell what the other was thinking.
It's him. Isn't it?
Koko just blinked.
Yes.
Valmet just returned a look of frustration and continued to scan for her former lover. Koko then looked back to the laptop to see that the satellite was in position over them.
"Got it. Ok where are you?"
Finding the bright red sports bike wasn't much of a challenge for her system. She found it immediately. But then noticed it was much further away from them than she thought. It was also strange that it was just idling in one spot. She knew he wasn't lost since he had traced every step they took.
Then she realized in horror of about they were about to drive into.
She moved her way in between the front seats to get a better view of the street. Ignoring Tojo's questions of what she was doing. She saw a masked figure on a roof with an RPG-7.
"AMBUSH!" She screamed.
But it was too late. The rocket fired at the lead car with Wiley and Mao, blasting the side flipping it on its hood and sending it flying forward through a chain link fence. What followed was the deafening noise of automatic fire from AK-74's and RPK's from the roofs and windows on both sides of the street.
Lehm immediately took hold of the situation. First by trying to get the car to cover. Which there wasn't any. So he tried to get out of their angles of fire. Second was to see if Wiley and Mao were still alive.
The car was upside down, but he saw struggling movement inside.
"Tojo! Stay with Koko! Valmet! On me!"
Lehm grabbed his ACR but Valmet upgraded to her Mk46. She would suppress and Lehm would pick them off. They had no idea of how many there were. But they didn't care. They were used to being outnumbered anyway.
"Cover me!"
They opened their car doors at the same time.
"Suppressing!"
The two Major's then went on the counter offensive. Fire rained down on them from the hostiles who held the high ground. They didn't bother counting how many, but they remained aware of the one who still held an RPG. That one could finish them in one shot if he wanted to.
Valmet opened up with her Mk46, targeting anything that was shooting at them. Lehm then sprinted across the street to get to the overturned car. Bullets ricocheting off the ground from the enemy trying to get a bead on him. After he got to cover he spotted two trying to take him out, the only shape he could make out was their heads. They were using the most cover possible but they still had to shoot. But it appeared that they didn't know that their target was a Delta Force Operator.
Switching his rifle to semi-automatic, a double tap at such a range was child's play to him.
"You bastards picked the wrong guy to shoot at. And I'm already in a bad mood."
Age didn't slow him down one bit as he finally made his way to the overturned car. Valmet saw that he reached his position. She made one of their unique hand gestures to Tojo that she was going to move to a better base of fire. Behind a delivery truck. Tojo wouldn't move anyway, as he wouldn't leave Koko's side.
As Valmet kept them busy, Lehm checked to see if they were still conscious as he slammed his fist on the car twice.
"Guys! You alright!?" He said as he looked through the smashed window.
"Yeah…but my doors wedged in, I can't open it." Wiley responded immediately but painfully.
Lehm didn't want to hear that. Which meant he had to open the doors on the exposed side.
"Mao! Can you move!?"
But as he looked to the team's only family man, he was just hanging by his seatbelt lifeless and bleeding from the head.
"He's alright, I checked his breathing and pulse. Seatbelts saved us but he hit his head pretty hard on the roof." The demo expert said to reassure his old friend.
"Ok cut him loose. We'll have to move fast." He then looked across the street. "Valmet! We're about to move but Mao is out! Can you suppress!?"
She grunted in frustration even after taking out three more. During that time she heard shouts of Arabic. That answered who their attackers were but that could also mean that they were about to move. A direct push wasn't something she could handle by herself.
"There's too many of 'em!"
Tojo and Koko could see the fight from their car. What was only a few feet seemed like miles with the bullets zipping by. This was their biggest pinch yet.
"Tojo, go help Valmet."
"What!? No Koko I…!"
"It's me they want Tojo." She said calmly. "Haven't you noticed how passive they are in their fire? I'll be fine right here. Go help her. Now!"
He took a moment to process what Koko said and he knew she was right. With what Damien had spilled, this was what was most likely to happen. He glanced at her stomach for just a moment and wished it didn't have to be right now. He also wondered how the hell they got the drop on them so badly.
Cocking his ACR, he opened the armored door and began scanning for targets. Valmet was right, there were too many of them. So he helped her thin out their numbers. His first target was a gunner on a roof trying to lean out as far as possible to get him in his sights.
But Tojo was quicker on the draw, the man then fell off of the roof and three stories down onto the sidewalk with a thud.
"Lehm! Get them one at a time! We'll cover."
Sensing enough time had been wasted Lehm moved out of cover to Mao's side. The door was damaged but not so bad that he couldn't open it. Slinging his rifle behind him, he took out his knife and cut him free from his seatbelt. Wiley gave up on trying to unlodge his rifle from the back seat and pulled out his Sig Sauer.
"We'll have to do this one at a time. Once I get him safe, you move!"
"I got it. Go!"
"Cover!"
Lehm then pulled Mao from the car and put him in a fireman's carry. Easy momentum getting him over his shoulders considering he was one of the team's lighter members. Tojo and Valmet provided what cover they could but Lehm only made it to a car halfway between them. Once again they pulled the same drill and this time he made it all the way back to Koko.
Wiley breathed a sigh of relief that they both made it but that quickly faded when he saw the one who made him crash his car. The one with the RPG was on the roof across from him about to fire.
"Oh shit!"
He was normally the most cool and collected out of all of them. But he wasn't working with his explosives now and he saw what was about to happen. So he didn't bother letting the team know he was moving so he leapt out of the car and sprinted as fast as he could. Valmet wondering what in the world he was doing.
"Wiley! For Christ sake get…!"
BOOM!
The rocket fired and made a direct hit on the car sending it up in flames. The concussion of the blast pushed Wiley far enough to do a belly flop in the middle of the street. Realizing where the shot came from, Valmet did a 180 degree spin and poured fire on the roof. But she had to put in a new belt of ammo.
"Lehm! Tojo! I could use some help here!" She said as she reloaded.
"I got ya!" Tojo said as he went to support her while Lehm put Mao in the last back seat with Koko's help.
The firefight wasn't as intense as it first started but it was starting to wear them down. The had to go now or else they more than likely would be sealed off. They only had one car left.
"How's Mao?" She asked.
"He's alright. Wiley! Talk to me! Come on man!"
He wasn't going to let the same thing what happened to Echo happen to him. Especially with Koko being so close to achieving her goal. They would all see this through together. He didn't care if they were shooting at him. Even if he got hit, it wasn't anything he hadn't experienced before. He just wanted to save Wiley.
Braving the fire he got out of cover to drag him to a safer spot.
"Not like this man. Come on!" He kept one hand on his weapon and the other on Wiley's shirt collar.
"Valmet! At your six!" Lehm shouted giving direction of hostiles.
But two more were coming from the front. Now they were surrounded. And Tojo didn't count how much he had left after he fired off one burst. His weapon went dry.
"Fuck!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Wiley had regained consciousness and double tapped the two in front with his pistol. They were getting too close that he had to use double tap.
"Can you move?"
"Yeah."
"Get to Valmet behind that truck!"
By that time she had already reloaded a new belt and continued to provide cover until they could all get out of the killzone. The ambusher's numbers had also decreased dramatically. All they had to do would be to force their way out even though it'd be a tight squeeze in one car.
But their opponents had no intention of letting them escape. At the intersection ahead of them a modified pickup truck rolled into position, with a mounted .50 caliber machine gun.
"EVERYBODY DOWN!" Valmet screamed.
The deafening noise of the heavy machine gun rumbled through the tight street. The heavy slugs passed though cars with ease, chipped away concreate, and halted any movement of Koko's team unless they took cover behind a vehicle's solid engine block.
Lehm managed to get a brief glimpse of the situation but quickly poking his head out to see that they were starting to advance on their position. With three of the team stuck in one spot, two far from them, and him with an incoherent man next to Koko, his options boiled down to necessary only.
Which meant Koko surviving.
"Stay here." He said with her not giving him the chance to see her ask why.
Hearing the part where it looked like the gunner had to reload, he headed quickly to a nearby door that led into one of the buildings and hopefully not occupied on the other side. Shooting out the doorknob and kicking it in while getting on his radio.
"Lutz, Ugo! If you guys can hear me, we need help. Get to Kana and Aslan street and if that's not good enough directions, just follow the sound of gunfire."
Keeping low he made it back to the car and opened Koko's door, pulling her out and away from Mao as he started to regain consciousness. He took out his own Sig Sauer and gave it to her. He could care less about the brief case with her files in it. He had been in this type of situation before. He his time was now, then it was. He had lived in the moment all his life. He didn't care what happened next but he wouldn't be sad about it or have regrets.
Even if he constantly put himself at risk for lung cancer.
"I know it'll be hard to do given your condition. But take the alleys, head east, and stop for nothing." The old operator said as he lit his next cigarette.
"Lehm I'm not- HEY!" He then forcefully took her by the arm and lead her away from the car as fast as he could. "Let me go!"
"Use your phone and make a call to the police. You can't stay here." He said as he forced her through the door to what looked like the first floor of an apartment complex and shut the door behind her.
"Wait! No! Lehm! Open this door! Open this door right now!" She said pounding and yelling.
She then tried to open it but it seemed that Lehm had wedged it in with his knife. He made Koko take only one direction, which was away from the fire fight.
"Their focus is on us now Koko! Go!" Was the last thing he said before it was replaced with rifle fire.
She had been in tight spots before but not like this. She was afraid. That much was certain as her hands were shaking and her breathing was rapid. She was screaming in her head about why would Lehm do something like that.
But she wouldn't let fear keep her in one spot. Not with what she had carrying inside her. Not with what she had on the verge of granting her what she desired.
And he had the gall to say he would do this himself. Damn coward.
She then made her way out of the building to the back alleys. The roar of battle still continuing on the other side of the building. Her run was somewhat awkward but not slow. Plus it looked like no one was following her and while not happy about what Lehm suggested, she didn't have any choice. She placed a call to the Istanbul police and sought their protection, rather than having them assist her bodyguards.
"Lehm if you make it through this I'm gonna sock you in your old wrinkly face!" She said as the call went through.
1338 Hours
"Damien! She's on the move heading east away from us using the alleys."
I could hear on the other end that my former family was really not letting up. All I really had to do was just keep this momentum going.
"Sounds good. Have your men pull back slowly. Don't give them the idea that you're placing her above them."
"If you weren't here I'd consider it. They killed eight of my men. You said they'd put up a fight, but nothing like this!"
I had already hit the throttle by the time Esmeray said 'moving east'. I just had to keep the act up a little while longer. I was surprised she was at the ambush but I doubt she'd put herself in the line of fire. I wouldn't have matter though because even if she got out of Istanbul unscathed, I would have already informed Mossad about her planned route back to Jerusalem. I wasn't lying about that to Scarecrow. I'd make sure that loose end was tied up.
"I'm sure you can handle it."
That was the last thing I said before I threw their radio off as I sped towards where Hekmatyar would run to. It broke instantly when it hit the road at a high speed. More than likely making a screech on the other end. Probably not the best way to cut ties with a literal black widow but she was along the same caliber of psycho as Hekmatyar, just not as hypocritical. A few pleasurable nights and some fun afternoons laughing over tea doesn't excuse the fact that she stood up to be counted with a group that wanted to kill people over faith or some lousy rocks and sand.
She had that same smile as she did too. It's fucking disgusting.
After a few blocks, the gunfire in the distance was drowned out. I then found myself near some old warehouses. Not good if she headed this way because that meant a lot of places she could hide. But she was by herself now and unless she was armed, I simply out class her in every way.
Even being human.
I then did a quick check to see that Celtic Shield was still on my wrist.
Hekmatyar, you're about to see that without your money, your thugs, and your little computer that you're nothing but an angry, scared, little brat who thinks the whole world should revolve around you.
The alleyways didn't have a lot of places to go and a majority of the entrances were garage doors that were padlocked shut. She had to have picked the way with the least resistance. But also off of the main street because it would the most likely place she would be spotted. Putting it even simpler terms she'd also be the only one on the street considering what's happened in the last half hour.
Suddenly I saw that flash of white hair in the distance.
There was no need to double check, I knew it was her.
I stopped the bike and hopped off quick so as not to spook her, throwing off my helmet, and trying to sprint to her without making too much noise. Taking out my MP7 PDW I took cover on the wall of the building she passed. It looked like she was heading for one of the warehouses. While running kind of weird after she went passed a chain link fence and entered the dilapidated building.
I then got on my radio. "Schokolade. Track my GPS. I got her."
I then sprinted towards the door without giving her a chance to respond. Everything ended now. She'll now know the consequences of betraying someone who she pulled out of the void but threw right back in.
SMASH!
"FREEZE!"
After kicking the door right off its hinges the crash and my scream echoed throughout the building. Dust filling the beams of sunlight through the holes in the roof. And she didn't get very far in the sparse open building. Just standing in a shadow with her back to me. Long white hair covering her business casual dress. My weapon drawn at a non-lethal part. I did need her alive.
"I already knew it was you. I was also wondering what I would say to you if the two of us would ever have some alone time together again."
Just hearing her was enough to send me into a rage.
"SHUT IT!" I screamed. "You can either be dragged out of here bleeding or not. The only thing I have left to say to you is that it's over."
I felt a lot more confident now. My hands were steady. My mind was focused. I was her strength no longer.
She turned her head to look at me. "Hmm. I don't even need to look you in the eye to figure it out. You're so consumed with hatred that…"
"I'm not going to ask again."
As I cut her off, my finger was on the trigger. My patience was wearing thin. But just like before she didn't even flinch at me. She just sighed, turned around, and stepped out of the shadow and into the light.
"…that you don't even realize you set yourself up so that you can't win."
…
…
…
"No." Was all I could whisper.
Why did I just feel like I accomplished nothing? Why was I shaking so much that I felt my teeth chatter? Why did my head felt like it was about to crack open? Why did I feel so weak that I couldn't even move?
"I will at least show you the courtesy of not insulting your intelligence by not asking you who the father is."
I then lowered my weapon slowly. My grip faltered as my arms hung to my side. It then fell out of my hand with a clatter on the concrete floor.
"Judging by the look on your face you're finally facing a situation where you don't know what to do. I cannot deny this fact; you are the embodiment of a true warrior, Damien. But it seems that is all you can ever be."
I couldn't stop looking at her stomach. All that kept running through my head was 'Why did this happen?'
"Still can't think of anything to say? Fine then, just listen." She said as she slowly stepped into the middle of the sunburst. "You wanted to be rid of me? Well then be glad because I don't need you anymore either. And I seriously doubt you'll want to sacrifice an unborn baby and whatever is left of your humanity and soul, to get to me. I am glad that I managed to get at least one thing from you that you won't taint or corrupt. This child, my child, will be pure and innocent and not infected by the world's warped perception of right and wrong."
She was using the child as a shield. Just when I thought she couldn't get any more sick and twisted.
"As I said to you before, you are just delaying the inevitable. This endless cycle of pointless wars is going to end. The world will know true peace. Then you and all the others that want to stick that archaic way of life will be cast aside and forgotten. War will never be a part of the human race ever again."
I had a million thoughts running through my head. She must have seen her situation as a blessing in disguise and a total Catch 22 for me. If I let her go, the world burns. I take her by force now then just like she said, I'd be killing my soul and I'd be no better than she is. I had no way out of this without damning myself. Or maybe it was too late since I had already targeted her convoy with a pregnant her in it.
"You know I really didn't want it to end this way Damien. As much as I could, I tried my best to never to make things personal in my business life or my private life. What matters is what is the end result. But you truly pushed it to its absolute limit. Sadly though there will always be people who never let go of grudges." She then took a step back. "After I take war away from the world, whenever I'm not occupied with being a mother, I will have nothing but time on my hands. Maybe I can see if I can make petty rivalries a thing of the past too."
I couldn't let her get away. I had to do something.
"You truly are NOTHING like the woman I thought I knew."
She paused before she could fully turn around. I only now noticed she didn't have her smile she did out of habit.
"I actually was happy being with all of you. I felt like the never ending agony my life had become was destroyed when you brought me in. I had fun drinking and laughing with the guys. My heart raced whenever I was held by her. And I felt safe and indestructible whenever I was around you. Because of you I managed to live a life and not put down my gun at the same time. Just like you said on the first day we met."
She looked at me like I caught her attention. "Then why are you trying so hard yet knowing that you'll fail?"
"You know the answer to that."
"That I have no idea what I'm doing? That I'm doing this to satisfy my own ego? Or that I simply hate everything just because the world is just plain ugly? Did you really not listen to what I said before you decided to use me as a shield and kill an unarmed woman?"
I will never forget that day or that moment for as long as I live.
"I heard every word. It was more than enough for me to realize that you are fucking certifiable!"
She slanted her eyes at me. "And you think the world is any saner? It's been the same stagnant cesspool it was since before even the both of us were born. Democracies befriend dictatorships in hope of substance and capital. Followers of any kind of religion will fight, kill, and die for their faith because they believe their God is superior. People are more obsessed with the latest smart phone instead of learning about new methods of medicine and surgery that can save and prolong life. Celebrity babies are paid more attention than ones in poverty simply because of their status. When cries for hope and change are granted it just shifts happiness over to one side and then back to the other when that side becomes miserable. It's all the same everywhere! And how are all of these conflicts normally decided!? By people killing each other! War! I hate it more than the world itself!"
After her rise of anger she realized what she was doing and pulled herself back.
"So if no one is going to change or stop all of that, then it'll be me. The ends will justify the means when the world sees how many people were saved."
"Did you even bother to figure out how long it'll take or how many more people will continue to die until that's accomplished?"
"As much and as many as needed." She responded immediately.
Once again she showed that she was doing this for herself. She truly believes that consequences mean nothing to her. As good of a show she puts on or how she puts her words, she can't hide the fact that no matter her reasons, they all stem from her own selfishness. She'll then pass that on to our unborn child. The stakes here now just got even more personal.
Stop being afraid of her Damien. You said this ends now. So move your ass and take her!
"Then it seems we're at an impasse." I then kneeled down to reacquire my weapon. "I'll try to be as delicate as possible. But it won't be for your sake."
I then reached into my pocket with my free hand to get some zip ties. It was finally over.
Until I heard the revving of an engine.
CRASH!
It all happened so fast.
A car blew through one of the flimsy garage doors. Its target was me. Perplexed at what just happened I was standing in place like a deer frozen in headlights. But then I quickly readapted and started firing at the driver. But the vehicle didn't stop. It wasn't my best choice. Neither was deciding to perform a diving roll on the hood of the vehicle instead of getting out of the way.
After landing on the dusty concrete floor with a thud and tasting blood in my mouth. The spots with the immediate pain were from all of the old injuries in the past year. My one side that landed on that car in Malaysia was just constantly miserable but it wasn't as bad.
"Grrah…shit!" As I struggled to get up I heard another familiar voice.
"Koko! We've gotta go!"
Ugo. I thought he was further away. That must have also meant…
1342 Hours
"Hang on guys. This is a lot harder to do without a spotter."
A majority of the buildings in this particular part of Istanbul were mostly of the same height. There wasn't another taller building that could oversee the area for another whole kilometer. A difficult shot for Lutz but not impossible.
He was observing the battle from an office building that had the bare minimum of height on the corridor where the ambush was occurring. His first target was the gunner on the .50 caliber machine gun.
Bang!
After getting his sight picture back from the recoil, he saw that the gunner wasn't there. His next target were those that had the high ground.
Bang!
"Come on guys. I know you can hear me. Push back."
Bang!
At the street where they were pinned down, Lehm noticed that the incoming fire was starting to decrease. He had just run out of rifle ammo and switched two his side arm. But when he saw a man's head whiplash back, he knew he was under a watchful eye.
"Bout damn time."
Their attackers were wondering where the shots were coming from but it didn't take long for them to realize that they were being targeted from beyond their range. They slowly started to pull back.
"Lehm!" Wiley said getting his attention. "Should we keep hitting 'em!?"
"No! Get to the car! Valmet! Go find Koko! We got this!"
Without hesitation she handed Tojo her Mk46 and sprinted out of the killzone to where Koko was heading.
But her sudden dart from cover caught the eye of the one with the RPG. He figured he'd take at least one of them down now that their ambush had been a set up from the beginning. He never trusted the American when he first showed up to Esmeray Taha's café in Jerusalem. He felt he should have shot him when he decided to mouth off to them when he had the chance. Now he would have no qualms about killing him when he saw him again. He warned his former leader's wife over and over again that he seemed like trouble but she didn't listen to him. So after this was over he'd make her listen.
With a new rocket armed and ready he took proper aim so that she'd be caught in the blast.
But before he could fire a massive impact hit him in the chest. Causing him to flail and during the pain he pulled the trigger and the rocket had fired into a building behind him.
Upon seeing the hole in the building the attackers saw that they were outmatched and began to flee.
1344 Hours
It was either now or never. Not thinking about what the two of them were doing I saw my PDW and made a scramble for it. But as I got to it and began to get on my feet Ugo had appeared from behind me. Trying to yank the weapon from my grasp I fired it spraying bullets wildly into the ceiling.
"Koko! Run!" The driver screamed.
I quickly looked to her running away and then back to the big man. Gritting his jaw so hard the veins in his head were protruding. It's not often I come across others that can tower over me. But this fight doesn't revolve around strength.
Since I accidentally fired off all my rounds I didn't need to worry about shooting myself by accident. Taking advantage of the leverage I elbowed him twice in the face. I then booted him in the chest to put some distance on him to get my .45. But he just closed the distance again and bent the weapon out of my hands. I cursed my brief moment of stupidity where I forgot all of them were experts in their chosen profession. He wasn't just a great driver. My next move was just to incapacitate him and just get to Hekmatyar.
But getting hit by a car left me at a disadvantage.
He then placed me in an arm lock and then slammed me on the hood of said car. Mustering all my might I took my free hand to drag my face across the hood to get some leverage and after getting a foot up I booted us both away from the car. I then slammed my elbow into his head and stomped on his foot. Breaking free of his grip I then proceeded to go on the offensive with a series of kicks. But he kept his guard up and did his best to keep out of my reach.
That was until he closed in again after I missed a kick he charged forward grabbing and lifting me off the ground. But he didn't stop moving. He kept the momentum going and yelling until we hit a literal wall. Which then gave way and we landed in a dirty, clutter filled room.
After he slammed me through a wall and onto the floor, I kept him there by delivering elbows and knees to wherever I could. But his body was like trying to punch a tree. With his grip still on me he shouted and threw me into an old shelf. But this time as he approached I managed to get past his defense and deliver a one two jab and strike. Followed by a big right hook which caused a small echo in the room.
But he just looked right back at me bleeding from the lip.
"Did I just feel a breeze?" He mocked.
"Get ready for a hurricane." I countered. Followed by an exchange of blows.
The problem with two men that are walking battle tanks is that one has to have an opening to keep a constant assault on their defense to try to wear them down and if the other gets an opportunity to go on the offensive then their efforts were all in vain and they had to start over. And every second I wasted with him, Hekmatyar was getting further and further away.
I was trying to get away from him but each time I managed to bat him off of me he just kept getting in the way. Blow after blow was traded between us as we went from room to room. Knuckle cracking bone along with bruising and bleeding flesh.
One to my gut.
One to his jaw.
One to my nose.
One to his eye.
For a moment he gained an advantage of several strikes. But after he missed one of this swings I kicked him in the diaphragm and sent him through a flimsy door, breaking it off its hinges. We were back out in the open bay but he just got right back up like nothing happened. A look of disgust on his face.
Goddamnit. What does it take to put this guy on the ground!?
I was getting lost in my anger again. I had to end this now or she would get away. We both just looked at each other. Then the 'happy' memories started coming back. Most notably that time we were all in Italy. He was so happy to make a pilgrimage to the homeland that he managed to sweet talk the locals into cooking for us.
Those people would be more than likely be amongst Hekmatyar's victims.
And he would let it happen.
Baring teeth I charged forward yelling. He did the same. Both of us balled our fists and reached back.
THWAP!
It was like getting hit in the face with a sledgehammer. Luckily for me Ugo felt the exact same way. Before he lingered back I grabbed him by his collar and continued on the offensive.
Again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Until he just looked at me bloodied and in a shared rage. Then immense pain erupted from my jaw as I felt myself come up off the ground. Finally landing on my back. My body finally decided to give out, I couldn't get up.
As I was lying on the ground, I heard the scrape of metal. I looked like he was about to finish me off with a rusty pipe.
"I just take both their screaming later." He said.
But before he could even get close, there was also the racking of a weapon. Ugo turned around fast and then sprinted for solid cover. Automatic rifle fire then filled the loading bay with a thundering echo. Instinctively I covered my head, not that it would do me any good.
Then the shooting stopped and was followed by footsteps getting closer to me.
Now what?
"Clever trick. Playing us over like that Damien."
It was Esmeray. But as I looked up to her, she looked rather disheveled and covered in wounds that were most likely caused by a blast. She was a far cry from her pretty self now. Ugo had disappeared from sight.
"I don't know what you decided to pull and I don't care. While I admit you gave me a wonderful feeling I never shared with my dead husband. I won't forgive anyone who tries to take me away from my son." She then aimed her AK at my head. "See you in hell."
Shit! Not like this!
But instead of a gunshot all I heard was a sharp gag.
As I looked up at her, the tip of a knife was piercing out of her throat. Then she was tossed aside like nothing and replaced by a much larger female figure.
Then true horror engulfed me.
I stared at her and she just stared right back.
"Ugo! Are you ok? Where's Koko?" She said looking and walking into the direction where he was.
"Out the back and…What are you doing!? We can't leave…Gah!" He said as she was shoving him away.
"Shut up and move you idiot he's not alone!" She said as they moved further away.
Scarecrow must have caught up by now. I then tried to get up. But after Ugo's assault with those cannon balls he had as fists and getting run over by his car, I was struggling to stand.
"I got him! He looks injured though." An American accent said.
Two more came in. Dressed in civilian garb but donned with tactical armor and M4's. Scarecrow being the untrustworthy asshole he was must have called in reinforcements when I told him not to.
"Area's clear, see to him."
As I got back to my feet, I then saw a familiar blonde run toward me. The nicer one.
"Oh God. Damien are you alright?"
"For Christ's sake get after her before she gets away!" I said furiously.
"She's long gone and your plan has gone up in smoke Andrushko."
The leader of the group, along with Scarecrow stood in the entrance way where Ugo's car crashed through. I recognized him. It was the Delta Force team leader, Temishenko that dad sent in when I had to get out of Africa.
"You're out of time and this has turned into a total farce. We need to get back to the states, now."
I was about to tell him to go fuck himself. But Dietrich put her hand on my chest to get my attention.
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you Damien. But your dad sent these guys along with us so if anything went wrong, they would get you out of here so you wouldn't get hurt."
"Ugh…Damn it."
"Quit your bitching Andrushko!" Hearing Shattzberg just made the day even worse. "You said you had her! What the hell happened!?"
I found out I'm going to be a dad.
Everything was about to change now. I have a feeling that this time, I'll be all on my own.