Rick and Walter set the flash-bangs and waited. When they went off like fireworks people shrieked. Neither one was really worried about the damage they were probably doing. An alarm went off as a few emergency lights here and there came on. Men ran covering their faces completely blind now. They ran into walls or each other helter-skelter.
Walter chuckled a little at their behavior. "You'd think a group of terrorists would be better prepared."
Rick didn't answer. After a few moments a group of armed men appeared on either side of them. Shots rang out passing their ears. A few bullets bounced off of Rick's hat. One nicked his ear. Walter's sleeve split as a bullet grazed his shoulder. Another whizzed by his neck. A gravelly voice over their belt radios gave a single command. "Kill them!"
Rick sighed, "Looks like we ain't got a choice," He said as he pulled out another gun. Rick took a few shots relieving the men of their guns, but they weren't as easily frightened as the members of the Purist Reich. They grabbed their guns again and went back to attacking. There was only one option to get out of this sea of enemies alive, it wasn't a very humane option, but then again they had been fired on first.
For the next few minutes their guns were the only voices in the hall. As Tomlin had said, they were the bad guys and it was time to clean house.
Blood spattered on the walls, and guns clambered to the metal floor. Walter squeezed off taking steps backwards towards Rick who was doing the same thing.
When there was no one else Rick looked at the aftermath disgustedly. "It's a shame they let their lives go to waste."
"Yes, but the FBI can't afford to arrest and let them go to trial. Most likely juries will let them off and they'll return to work for the remnants of who escaped."
Rick nodded. "I know. I just don't like the idea of killin' all these people."
"We'll capture who we can and make them pay, but if we don't take out a few men here and there we won't have a chance of success. These guys won't turn and run, they'll die for their cause."
"Then let's find Abernathy." Rick said with resolve. Stepping over the fallen terrorists they continued deeper into the compound. The maze like structure of the first floor lead to a far end where a large unmarked room was. Walter figured it was probably the place Abernathy would be hiding in.
The two men met resistance along the way that slowly thinned out as their guns exploded with resounding echoes.
Agent Carling lifted the phone to her ear again and spoke evenly. "Yes. 38 victims. I'm moving them from the compound now." She flipped it closed and looked back at the shrinking frame of the mansion. "Everybody keep moving!" She yelled. The men and women who had been unknowingly working in the facility raced as quickly as they could.
They were so frightened and confused. Carling felt bad for them. Poor folks didn't even know where they were, how long they'd been enslaved, or even that they had been enslaved.
She kept up the rear making sure everyone got away safely as they rushed into the brushy fields at the base of the mountain range. Some people raced along without any care for what was happening. Carling wanted them as far away as they could get before the FBI dropped down on the place. No matter what happened they wanted Abernathy, so they'd started with a few men to get in and cause trouble, to remove the innocent. If the mission went awry they would have to sacrifice they're own men and kill Abernathy.
The NOD's couldn't get around the world, it was too dangerous to leave the compound standing. If they captured Abernathy and cleared out the compound they would destroy it after they had seized what they could. If Abernathy was too hard to get, then they would blow him sky high. The FBI had chosen not to tell Rick and Walter. If they didn't make it out, they would be martyrs for the cause.
Carling hearded the people away from the mountains into the open plains. That way when the helicopters landed they knew who they were picking up.
Rick and Walter burst through a door into a large office/lab combo. A man with grey brown hair and bright dark eyes was waiting. He sat at a desk with several computer monitors on it. He was a big man tall and wide with a threatening air about him. "Welcome gentlemen." The man's voice was the same gravelly tone with a slight British accent they had heard from the radio.
A steel door slammed shut behind the two men. They glanced back and both almost laughed at themselves.
"Feelin' stupid?" Rick asked under his breath.
"Just as stupid as you do." Walter replied.
"You both realize your mistake. Good." He stood up. He was dressed in a pair of grey slacks and a black button down shirt. His hands were behind his back as he smiled at them. "As you know, I am Charles Abernathy. Won't you sit down? You have nothing better to do since I've got you."
"Don't flatter yourself." Walter spat.
Abernathy frowned. "Don't wear out your welcome Agent Riggs." He looked at Rick. "I had hoped you would be out of the picture by now. But it looks as if I have you to deal with as well." He pushed a button on a keyboard with his left hand. A low thrum emitted from the ceiling as an electromagnetic wall separating the would-be heroes from their enemy came on. Rick took a few quick steps backwards.
"I believe you're well aware of the danger Detective?" The man asked. Rick nodded his head slightly. The dialogue box was flashing a warning in bold red letters.
DANGER!
PROXIMITY TO ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE FIELD WARNING.
"Good. Then I believe we have an understanding. Now sit." He ordered. Walter and Rick glanced around. There were a couple of chairs on either side. They sat down. "Now would you like to explain why you've snuck in, turned most of the power out, and killed a great deal of my men?"
"You know why." Walter answered.
"I do. You FBI agents are here to stop me." Abernathy shifted legs. "But did you think I would be so vulnerable that your attack would not be part of my own plans?" He pushed a button on a speaker and spoke. "Bring in the agent."
A side door opened and two men brought in a younger man. He was bloodied and bruised.
"You didn't think he'd go unnoticed?" Abernathy asked.
"Linson!" Walter yelled. The man looked at the two and shook his head.
"You guys should have left already. The FBI will blow this place up with or without you." Linson was weak but angry.
Walter and Rick shared a startled look of surprise. Davidson, Carling, and Tomlin hadn't told them about that.
"I see you weren't informed about such plans." Abernathy smiled. "Perhaps this is a moment to offer you a way out."
"Don't listen to him." Linson warned.
"Quiet." One of the men holding Linson punched him in the jaw. Linson spat blood onto the metal floor a tooth falling with it.
"Now, Riggs, Barnes, here is my one and only offer. I will let you live, if you agree to go with me. I will take you with me to my next stop. You will be prisoners, but I can use you. If the FBI thinks you are dead then you will be able to get me certain access codes and insight on the organization. And you Barnes, with you under my strict care there will be no one immune to my devices."
"Do you expect me to turn against my own people?" Walter asked indignant.
"No, I expect you'll want to keep alive so that someday you may return to your sweetheart back home." Abernathy replied.
"Who said I even have a girlfriend?" Walter asked coolly.
"Oh perhaps there is a gentleman you are close to then?"
Walter's cheeks grew red and hot. "No way."
"If you don't have any weaknesses perhaps I can work on your friend here." Abernathy smiled.
Rick gritted his teeth. He didn't think he could stay cool if Abernathy mentioned Penny. Eight years had irrevocably made a father out of him.
"You do love that little experiment that calls you daddy don't you?" Rick bit down on his tongue hard. The pain helped him keep a hold of his thoughts, he wasn't going to be baited. "Or do you just pretend to be a father to fulfill your purpose in life?"
"He doesn't pretend to do anything." Walter retorted.
"I think you forget that this cyborg was put together for the purpose of caring for that perfect little brat. I know where you live. I will destroy the child after I kill you. If you agree to come with me, I spare her sorry life."
Rick tasted his own blood in his mouth and spat. Abernathy laughed. "Biting your tongue to keep quiet?" Rick just glowered.
"What about Linson. Are you going to make the same offer to him?" Walter broke in. He was trying to distract everyone.
"I don't need Linson. He's been of great use to me already. You two don't understand what I am telling you." He raised his right hand. He wore a gauntlet with talons on the ends of the fingers. It was shiny silver and spiked on the knuckles. He motioned for the men to bring Linson over to him.
"Allow me to demonstrate exactly what position you are in."
They dragged Linson in front of the desk. Abernathy poised his right arm in front of Linson's chest.
"NO!" Walter screamed as the silver gauntlet drove into the agent's chest. Linson gasped and choked as blood stained his chest. Abernathy ripped the bloody gauntlet from the man's chest. Blood pooled in Linson's open mouth. He stared blankly at the other two as he slumped forward.
"Tell Maria I'm sorry I won't be coming…" His voice died away. Walter was on his feet his gun raised.
"You bastard!" The agent yelled as a tear slid down his cheek. "He was getting married in September." Now it was Walter's turn to keep his control. He turned away from the body lying on the floor and the murderer.
"You don't get it. I have you. You will do as I say or pay the consequences." Abernathy fired back.
"I won't do anything for a murderous bastard like you!" Walter returned not looking at the man he was yelling at.
"Do you want to kill me?" Abernathy asked.
Walter spun around. He was angry and armed. His gun fired off and one of the men who had dragged in Linson fell a hole in his forehead. Walter fired again. This time the other man fell face forward his chest exploding with blood.
Rick got up and grabbed his partner's shoulders. "Stop it." He urged. Walter looked at him a fire in his eyes. "Let it go. He would have killed him no matter what." Rick murmured. "We've got to figure this one out." He added in a whisper. "We both make it out or we both go down." Rick's grey eyes pleaded for Walter to cool it.
Walter nodded. "Right."