Chapter 19

As soon as the team steps off the ramp leading from the derelict airport terminal towards the runway, they are greeted with smashing bottles and glass bulbs that spark electric current onto the ground. The syndicate gang members charge forward as one unit, trying their best to corner their enemies.

Shiva is the first person to bravely jump forward over the electric sparks. He leaps high up, kicking a guarded officer's shield before elbowing him across the face once it is broken. Sammy follows, corkscrew kicking one of the female fighters in the chest to stop her from throwing anymore glass bulbs. The scene instantly becomes a fighting brawl with electricity all over the ground. Estel is next to grab another officer before sending him into a headlock where she repeatedly punches and kicks him until he's down. Axel, Cherry and Leon work well as a team, dodging a series of breaking glass bulbs before kicking and throwing their enemies down into the sparks. With ease, Floyd slams his robotic arms into two remaining officers that approach them from behind whilst Max and Adam work as a team at the front, grappling and throwing any fighters into the freezing cold ocean next to them.

"That's the plane over there, look!" Max shouts, running forward towards a large grey cargo aircraft currently refuelling.

"Back up now! It's a trap!" Adam shouts as soon as he notices fuel scattered on the ground in front of an array of organised barrels. Each one suddenly explodes into an inferno which ends up throwing the group backwards through the air. Several more explosions immediately follow and light up the runway after two other planes catch fire. With nowhere else to go, the group have no choice but to lie on the ground, bruised and bleeding with their ears ringing.

Adam slowly opens his eyes, feeling disorientated by the blast. He is alarmed when he hears Cherry screaming in the distance towards the back of the group only 50 feet away.

"Help me!" She kicks and shouts, heavily bleeding down the side of her head whilst being carried away by two of the officers.

Axel, who is the closest member at the back of the group and able to move, immediately gets up to his feet then runs over towards her. He uses his chi to attack the two officers holding onto Cherry. It easily breaks their shields, giving the fighter the opportunity to kick and punch each of the officers using a quick combination of upper cuts that set the teenager free.

"Are you ok?" Axel catches his breath, looking down at her concerned.

"I'm ok! Thanks" She nods, hugging him with relief in her voice. Cherry can barely walk so he decides to lift her over his shoulder.

"That explosion was no joke. Wait here a minute, I'm gonna go and check on the others at the front. There's a lot of fire over there…" As he runs further back to place her on the ground somewhere safe and away from the flames, Cherry shouts out over Axel's shoulder, witnessing what is now unfolding behind them.

"Daddy! No!" She screams in horror.

Several armed officers and gunmen quickly appear on the scene having planned this attack. They start by tasering Adam at the front of the group before more officers burst forward, tasering and shocking each member of the team who is already lying on the ground disorientated and injured.

"Leon!" Axel shouts at the top of his lungs, running forward as quickly as he can. But it is too late.

"I'm sorry to break it to you son, but you and your friends are in some serious shit right now!" Steffan makes his entrance, wearing a long dark coat. He places one arm around Leon's neck whilst holding a gun with the other hand against the back of the boy's head.

"Let him go!" Axel yells, pacing forward towards them with his fists on fire.

"Uh uh..!" Steffan shakes his head. "One wrong move then your kid and your friends here die…"

Axel immediately cuts out the flames, heavily breathing whilst coming to a halt.

To their surprise, Adam unexpectedly regains consciousness then jumps up, punching the officer in the face who is standing over him. The fighter is immediately silenced however with another taser attack hitting his back.

"Let go of me!" Leon kicks and fusses. Steffan reacts by ordering another officer to use his taser. This time, Max is the next victim again to receive a shock to his back.

"Let me make it clear! Everytime you or your father tries to attack me, one of them gets hurt!...You fellas know what to do…" the old syndicate boss instructs, turning his attention towards his henchmen.

The rest of the team lying on the ground are quickly tied up, each with their hands behind their backs whilst a gun and taser are held by an officer behind them. Their mouths are then gagged and they are forced to step onto a ramp, leading it's way up into the back of another cargo plane.

"Your turn. Hands behind your back!" Steffan orders Axel whilst waving his gun over Leon's head.

"I said it's your turn!" He reiterates as the fighter is hesitant to comply. Eventually, Axel has no choice but to give in, allowing the officers to tie his hands behind his back.

"Dad! No!" Leon cries out as Axel is painfully tasered in front of him on his back until he finally falls down onto his knees. He is then lifted from each side of his arms by two gunmen who escort him onto the aircraft.

Leon's hands are also tied up as he and Steffan are the last to walk up the ramp. Once everyone is inside the plane, the team are each forced to lay on the ground on their front with their heads down.

"I don't think we're gonna make it out of here…" Floyd whispers to Max who is laying on the floor next to him.

"Shut up!" One of the armed officers strikes him with the gun at the back of his head.

"Sir, who do you want us to shoot first?" An officer named Dunphy queries.

"Hold your fire, the twins should arrive any minute now. Let them decide once they're here" Steffan answers.

Axel remains calm and alert on the ground, scanning the cargo plane as much as he can to figure out an escape plan for the group, however things are not looking in their favour at the moment.

"While we wait, stand her up for me!" Steffan points over towards Estel.

"Let the boy go, please" she begs.

"I'm sorry darling, I can't do that. How long has it been huh? 20, 25 years? You still got that scar I gave you?" He smirks.

"Please, don't do this. There's still time to change things".

"You know, it's a pity that you're here. You and I could have been something great and you were one of my best agents. Goodbye sweetheart" he blows her a kiss then laughs as the officer behind Estel kicks the back of her knees, causing her to painfully fall to the ground. She and Adam blink at each other with fear in their eyes, understanding that they and the rest of the group are about to die here together.

The officers behind them start to kick and punch their hostages as they grow more and more impatient waiting for the twins.

"Are you sure you don't want me to shoot one of them in the back of the head yet?" Dunphy insists.

"Since they're late, why don't you begin with my beloved old flame Estel…"

"No!" Adam fusses on the ground as a handgun is aimed towards the back of her skull.

The couple stare back at each other, shaking with tears in their eyes whilst the sides of their faces are pressed into the concrete floor.

#GUNSHOT#

It is all so sudden and loud. But…

Estel takes a deep breath, trembling on the ground in shock whilst she is still staring at Adam. She is surprised to still be alive but is unable to tell which member of the team was shot. To their relief, the officer behind her is the one who has ended up a single bullet in his forehead. He instantly falls to the ground.

"If you don't order them to drop their guns and let my son go, you'll be the next person to die!"

The team try their best to look up, astonished with hope on their faces as they recognise that familiar voice and the last member of their team.

"Do it!" Blaze demands, stepping out into the light whilst holding her gun towards the back of Steffan's head. Unexpectedly, it catches him off guard by surprise.

"Blaze! Take Leon and get the hell out of here!" Axel shouts on the ground. He is quickly silenced with another taser strike to his back.

She presses the gun firmly at the back of Steffan's neck.

"You heard me the first time, I don't like to repeat myself!"

"You're one smart girl, I'll give you that. But there's one flaw in your plan. The twins will be here any minute now and they don't give a fuck, they want you dead especially. Kill me and there's no escape for you. When they get here they won't hesitate to blow up this entire plane if I'm dead. So I'll negotiate a deal with you before any of us here have to die."

Blaze takes a deep breath, still holding tightly onto the gun.

"By the time you kill me and try to escape, my men will shoot your friends and your little boy here. And then there's the twins. Once they find you they will kill you, I'm certain of that. Let me live and take the boy with me. You and your fighters here won't have to die…..Barney, release one of the hostages." Steffan instructs.

The officer forces Sammy up to his feet then encourages him forward with the gun still behind his back.

"Keep walking once you get off the ramp, otherwise I'll shoot you" Barney promises. Sammy hesitates for a moment and turns back towards his brother who is still laying on the ground.

"Go!" Adam orders, making sure that his younger sibling complies.

"Now for the next one…." Steffan commands. One by one, each individual is released and forced off the plane at gunpoint.

"Mommy….?" Leon anxiously shouts, still being held at gunpoint by Steffan behind him.

"It's ok baby, I'm not gonna let him hurt you!... Drop the fucking gun, he's just a kid".

"I'm sorry, once the rest of your team are off this plane, Leon is coming with me!"

"Don't do this! I'll give you all the firepower you want to run this city. Just let him go…" Axel shouts out, pleading with him.

"You know full well that his power is more than ours put together so I can't do that. Now get the fuck off my plane before I have one of your friends here shot! Looks like your time is now running out". Steffan peeks out the window after hearing another large plane having just landed with Mr Y on board.

"Take me instead of Leon! I got all the power you need right here," Blaze insists. She holds up her palm, revealing a large green flame which burns orange on the outside whilst sparking with blue electric current.

"That's impressive. But my mind is already made up and I'm not prepared to wait another 4 months to win this city."

"Then at least let me come with you! I don't want him to be alone…" Blaze requests. Her hand holding the gun is now shaking.

"Very well…"

"No! Blaze don't! Don't do this! There has to be another way…." Axel kicks and pushes, trying his best to free his hands as he is forced forward towards the edge of the plane.

"Release the rest of them and seal the doors. You can inform the twins that I am alive with the boy and no further action to destroy this plane will be necessary. Now drop your gun before I change my mind".

There is a short silent pause as Blaze glances around the plane. Only Axel and Adam are now left, each with two gunmen behind them. She makes a bold move, disarming her gun then dropping it to the ground.

"I'm sorry. He's right, this is the only way we all make it out of here alive" Blaze says to Axel, full of regret on her face.

"Looks like your girl here took one for the team. By now, I would have had 9 dead fighters on this floor, including you!" Steffan smirks.

"Release them!" He orders. As soon as the two fighters are pushed to the edge of the ramp, the other remaining gunmen turn towards Blaze and Leon, forcing them to take a seat in the far corner.

"Take a good look at them, this may be the last time you ever see your family" Steffan says.

"This isn't over! Wherever you take them, I'll find you. And next time you won't see me coming" Axel promises. "Hurt them and I'll…."

Steffan interrupts "all I want is to store their power. Do you really think I'd put Leon in danger or harm my unborn grandchild?"

Blaze and Axel cautiously glance at one another from a distance feeling unnerved.

"Didn't I once warn you about putting others' survival before your own? It makes you weak…"

Unexpectedly, Steffan projects forward a fire ball that catches Axel in the chest, causing him to fall over the edge down the ramp.

"Daddy!" Leon shouts.

Blaze tries to get up, holding onto the boy's hand.

"Sit back down!" One of the guards orders, pointing his gun in their direction.

"Seal the doors of the aircraft immediately and take off!" Steffan instructs.

Outside on the runway, Axel doesn't give up. He runs after the plane as fast as he can move with Adam close behind him. But it's too late. The fighter comes to a halt shortly after the aircraft is airborne, catching his breath with his hands over his head feeling devastated.

"We'll find them, it's only a matter of time" Adam tries to reassure him.

"I never wanted this to happen…. Why them?!" Axel shouts exasperated, feeling like he has failed them.

"If Blaze hadn't shown up, we'd all be dead now and Leon would be alone…" Adam replies.

"Wait, look! Call the rest of the team over now!" Axel says when he notices a second cargo plane in the distance refuelling.

"That's it, that's the plane! That's our ticket straight outta here to Y Island!" Adam immediately charges forward with Axel towards the aircraft with the rest of the group following right behind them.