Chapter 13: Out of Time
"Cleburne? Where have you been? I been trying to get in touch with you for a while. We got a sitch here at the door leading into the large room," Merrick heard Kim say back while he went down the stairs to the 4th floor.
"Kim, I was busying getting to know myself. My name isn't Cleburne, its Merrick," Merrick said and when he said his name, he sounded like he was laughing as if he was happy he could say his name, "and Kim, what's the problem. We're about out of time. Get those scientists out of here."
"Well, Merrick then, wait and see when you get here. Ron, don't," Kim said while Merrick heard the mic pick up a gunshot off in the distance and a bullet striking a wall.
"Kim!? You and the kid alright!"
"Yeah, but that one was close. Ok, Ron, don't try to see what their doing again."
"Stay safe, I'll be there any minute. You see Shego yet?"
"Yea, she just got here. She doesn't look so good," Kim replied while Shego was overheard on the mic saying something before the sound of her blasting something.
"What she say," Merrick questioned while he ran down the corridor that would lead him to the others.
"I said 'I should have waited on blowing the missile.' Now quit distracting me so I can keep these guys at bay," Shego said over the mic.
"Alright hold in there. I'm about there," Merrick said while he ran faster than he thought he could.
As he neared the others, he saw the hall lighting up green and heard gunshots. After he turned the corner, he saw Shego on one side of the door leaning in the doorway with one of her arms in the large room, and Kim and Ron was on the other side of the door and was sitting against the wall with the scientist.
After Merrick got to them, he ask, "So, why aren't all of you outside right now?"
"Dude, your mask. It's gone," Ron stated, who was first to notice the fact.
"Yea, kid, it is."
After sighing at Ron's statement, Shego said while she back away from the door,"Well look for yourself."
Merrick went to the side of the door after Shego was out of the way and peaked into the room. About the time he saw all the men in the room, a bullet activated his suit when it struck him in the head. The bullet bounced off his metal covered head and went into the ceiling behind him. He leaned back out of the door way as more bullets flew by, hitting the wall in sight of the doorway and the wall by the door.
Merrick said in his choking voice while pieces of concrete flew into the hall, "We'll never be able to go this way. The alarm tipped them off to come here. I counted 24 at least and still more are coming in."
"So what we do now? It be hard to fight through all them with twenty scientists with us?" Kim inquired while the firing stopped.
"Twenty? No matter. There is a way around. It will take some time and you have to get your tail in gear to get around and still be able to make it outside in time," Merrick explained before he peeked back into the large room and this caused more bullets to fly into the hall.
"So, how we get around this," Ron asked while he covered his ears from the deafened gunfire.
"Oh great! I gave up a nice little cell for this. Kim, you never said we get shot at," Drakken said, who was sitting by Dementor and the other scientists and Dr. Drakken flinched every time a bullet struck in the hall.
"Relax! All you have to do is go up that way find the stairs to the left, take the stairs then head right and find the stairs that head back down, then you should find a vent that will get you out of here," Merrick said while he pointed up the hall Kim and Ron came down along with the scientists and her villain friends.
The moment his arm came across the doorway, he was shot in the arm causing the bullets to bounce into the floor about him.
He shook his head at the hostility of the men in the large room and he said while he pulled his arm out of the doorway, "Annoying bastards, ain't they? Now get going all of you. I'll stay and keep them occupied. Kim and Ron still got the rifles I gave ya!?"
Both teens nodded.
"Well good, give me one and take the clip out of the other and toss it to me as well. Then give me anything else I can use."
Which the teens did as they were told.
When Merrick had one of the AK-74's in his hand, he turned and said to Shego, "When I open up on them, you get across this door way. Then help Kim and Ron get everyone out of here."
"But...Merrick, I want to stay and help you," Shego said while she held her side because she actually did have a broken rib.
"No time, Sheila! This will be your only chance to get out of here," Merrick said realizing he said her real name in front of the others.
They however didn't pay any attention to what he said because the sound of the bullets were causing other sounds to be mute.
"What you mean," Shego questioned without paying any attention to the bullets whizzing by her.
"Alright Sheila, ready!?"
"No, answer me."
"No time Sheila," Merrick said while he leaned into the doorway and fired into the room, causing men to scream in agony.
When Shego didn't run, Merrick turned and said, "Now Sheila, please I will explain everything after this is over."
"You better. So help me I will hurt you," Shego said while she ran across the doorway and bullets whizzed by her, which some came close enough to cut strains of hair that was floating behind her .
When she got to the other side, Kim motioned everyone to move up the hall.
While the group moved up the hall Shego turned and watch Merrick in the gunfight. He was half kneeling in the doorway and was firing his gun on full auto as bullets struck him, causing sparks to fly from the impacts.
Merrick turned and looked back at Shego and tapped on his watch now covered up by his suit, hinting to hurry up the group. Shego got the hint and moved to Kim and showed her the time she had.
Kim went wide eyed for a second and said, "Everyone we got to run now! We have only five minutes left until they level the place. Let's get going."
The group took off running down the hall while Merrick watched them until they were out of sight and he turned back to the doorway.
Merrick thought, So as long as I fight here you all be fine. I'll never be able to get out of here before the bombings, before he emptied the last clip into the group of men, sending some to the ground and some others started rolling on the ground.
Once the gun was empty, he pulled out his pistol and picked up the one Kim had given him and emptied both guns into the men in the large room. He dropped one of the guns and loaded the other with a fresh clip and started firing it with both hands until he emptied it too. He kneeled back out of the doorway, loading his gun when he heard a voice of someone talking.
He listened to it and realized it was one of the bomber pilots about to take off.
"Titan one to tower...requesting clearance."
"You have clearance Titan one. Good luck and god speed."
"Damn, hurry up kids, get out of here! The bombers are taking off as I speak." Merrick said while he pressed two fingers to his temple.
"We are now on the floor above you. Give us a couple minutes. Shego and Kim have moved ahead because they thought they saw someone," Ron said, sounding as if he was out of breathe.
While Merrick listened to Ron, he heard some of the men in the room trying to sneak up on him. He knelt back into the doorway, only to see three of them easing up to the door no more than ten feet from him. He dropped two of the men and the third tried to run back, but he was shot as well.
After the three men were dead, Merrick pressed his temple again while more bullets struck him and he said, "Listen, Kid. You don't have a couple minutes! Get going yourself with the scientists if you have to."
After his statement, Merrick emptied the rest of the clip into the soldiers, paying no attention to what Ron said back.
While Merrick loaded a new clip, he listened to the soldiers talking.
"Is he the only one?"
"Where that one shooting green stuff at us go?"
"Are they trying to flank us?"
"They maybe are, send some to find out!"
Oh no you don't, Merrick thought while he pulled a pin on a grenade and threw it into the room.
After the grenade went off, more screams came from the room. The moment the room fell silent, Merrick came through the doorway firing his pistol into the soldiers.
"Fire! Open Up! Fire at Will," could be heard all over the room as more than twenty men emptied their guns into Merrick. Merrick, however, walked right toward them emptying his gun two more times at the men as bullets sparked all over him.
When he got to them, the firing stopped and every one of the men rushed Merrick brandishing their guns. Merrick started fighting the men in hand to hand. The men would punch, kick, or strike Merrick with their gun, only to pull back what they used and cuss, only to feel Merrick striking them with his own feet or hands, sending them flying across the room or sliding across the floor. One man ran up to Merrick with a baton, only to have it took away from him by Merrick and used on him. With his new weapon in hand, Merrick used the baton as a weapon on any man that got close to him. While he was chasing the men, still standing, out of the room, another man came running into the room with an RPG on his shoulder and pointed it right at Merrick.
All Merrick could think of as he watched the missile strike him was, Damn.
The missile struck him in the chest, piercing his suit. While he fell to his knees, he raised up his pistol and shot the whole clip into the man that shot him.
After the man fell dead, Merrick fell on his back and laughed, thinking, How many times am I suppose to die today?
While he laughed, Kim on the mic saying, "Ok, Merrick, we're outside and heading to the extraction point. You can now leave those guys and head out."
"Kim, keep going. I'll meet you all there in a minute," Merrick said, hiding the pain he was in and saying what he did, he knew he never be able to get out of there in time.
"Alright, Merrick. Just hurry up will you. We already thought we heard jet sounds coming from the south."
After the mic went silent, Merrick reached and pulled the missile out of him and threw it across the room. When the missile hit the floor, it exploded sending pieces of concrete everywhere, some pieces even hit Merrick in the side.
After the explosion, Merrick sat back up and turned off his suit. He looked down at the damage the missile did to him. There was a hole the size of an apple in his chest under his right shoulder, which he covered with his good hand. After succeeding in slowing down the bleeding, he stood up and left a blood trail while he walked toward the door that would led him out of the center, only for him to collapse beside the door.
While he laid against the wall, Kim came back on the mic saying, "Merrick, I sure hope your out of there because we can see the lights of the bombers from this hill we're on."
"No can do Kim. I won't make it out."
"What? Mer...," Shego said over the mic, but was she cut off by Merrick uncovering his wound with his, blood stained, good hand and pressed him temple twice.
After a moment, he turned his channel to listen to the bomber pilots before he covered his wound again.
"Titan one to all bombers line up for runs. F-117's stay clear until we make our runs, then you get the center with the bunker busters."
"Roger, Blackhawk one and two on stand by."
"Roger, commencing run now. Titan three out."
You go get them fly boys, just don't miss, Merrick thought while he began to hum a sad tone.
The center started rumbling and the lights went out in the center. The center was silent except for the sounds of the bombing and men screaming.
On the snow-covered hill side, Shego and the teens stood and watched the bombing taking place as the flashes lit up everyone there.
The only sound being heard beside the explosions was Shego saying into the mic, "Merrick! Merrick you still there? Dammit, answer me. Please answer me..." Shego's voice trailed off as she fell to her knees and began to cry.
Kim ran up and kneeled down beside her, putting an arm around Shego while fires began to erupt out of the center.
Shego continued to cry while a voice came over the mic saying, "Hold on everyone. The Helios inbound. If any of you are still alive, pop smoke to show your location."
"Damn you, Merrick! Why did you have to try and be the hero," Shego screamed abruptly before she slammed her fist into the ground.
After Shego's outburst, they all heard the sound of a helicopter in the distance.