"We're here." Jack told him as the plan started to dive down do it could land. With no windows to look out they didn't know where they were until the doors opened. Jack was pleased when it appeared that they were only five miles from where he thought they might land.
"Come on." The first guy told them as he grabbed his gear and headed outside. Tony and Jack were next, followed by the other three. Outside the air was dry, a jeep was parked just by the nose of the airplane and an average looking guy stood beside the drivers side door.
"You're late." He scolded them
"Turbulence. We're here now."
"We'd better get going." He told them, "We wont have long before they find us." The six men all got into the jeep and anticipated the battle ahead. One road up front while the back compartment had enough room for the other five, three facing forward and two backwards. Tony and Jack sat with one of the smaller guys between. While the preacher and his friend sat opposite them. It was one thing to go into battle with people you knew, but when your teammates wanted to eliminate you, that was quite another. Tony just stared straight ahead, reminding himself that this wasn't a suicide mission.
"It's about ten miles over that hill." The driver told them as he took off at great speed. Jack had a bad feeling about all of this but there was nothing he could do but what he came for, to watch Tony's back. The jeep tore through the dirt tracks and low foliage as it made its way deeper into the jungle. The road moved under them as the nights rain turned it from dust to mud. The men inside the jeep held on tight as they were thrown around at every turn. Tony held onto the bar above and looked out of the window. The terrain looked so unforgiving and he realised just how glad he was that Jack was there. His heart started to race, eager to turn the jeep around and go home, not helped any by the look on Jack's face as he stared at something out of the window.
"Pull over." Jack ordered as the driver went to take off again.
"What?"
"His with me." Tony just smiled, how many other surprises did he have up his sleeve?
"Room for one more?" The young man asked, still looking like he'd just walked in from a Calvin Klein add.
"Glad you could make it." Jack answered as he opened up the door.
"Jack." The roguishly handsome young man nodded as he climbed into the empty seat in the back. "Tony."
"What on earth are you doing here?"
"Jack said you might need some help. I was in the area so I thought I might lend a hand."
"Are you sure about this Chase?"
"Hey. I owe you Tony. It's about time I started paying back some of my debts."
"Glad to have you along." Tony said shaking his hand. The other men didn't look impressed, they were becoming more and more outnumbered as the ride went on.
"They're up to something. Stay alert." Aakash told his men.
"What are you thinking?"
"It's been seventy hours and we haven't heard from them. They haven't tried to negotiate for more time or anything."
"e knows you too well for that. He doesn't want to risk hurting the boy."
"Maybe."
"I'll speak to the men."
"They wont cheat us out of what's ours this time."
Barely fifteen minutes had gone by but it felt like hours to Tony as the jeep came to dead stop at the edge of a cliff covered in dense foliage. The seven men inside all got out of the jeep without saying a word and crept to the edge to survey the land. The drop was steep, and Tony wondered for a second if anyone had ever tried to climb down or if it was virgin to mans footsteps. The dense shrubbery and trees supplying a pictorial canopy the view was simply breathtaking. Looking out into the distance there was a tiny clearing, not much to look at. One small bark hut in the centre of the north side, bookended by two smaller huts, no bigger than a broom closet and some carport looking structures covered in camouflage nets. There was a large truck with an open tray with wooden rails parked under one, and an old beat up jeep with no roof under another. Two men were working on it, the engine lid up and toolbox open beside for easy access. There was a guard complete with automatic rifle to the east, west and south and a stationary guard outside the main hut. Tony counted six men altogether, not including whoever might be inside the hut or nearby out of sight. When he was sure that he had seen everything that he needed to see he looked across at Jack, his eye line was slightly above the camp at to its right.
"What is it?" Tony asked as Chase stood closer to pay attention.
"If I was them, I'd have a man hidden up there." He pointed. " It's got a clear view of the camp, perfect for a sniper."
"Do you want us to circle around? Get the drop on him?" Chase asked.
"No. He's too cleaver for that. We'll have to distract him."
"With what?" Chase asked eagerly. Jack looked around, they didn't have much to work with and he didn't like his options. If Tony and he split up then they couldn't watch their backs, but if they stayed together there was no way of knowing for sure that they wouldn't be double crossed. What if they flanked them from both sides and the other team just didn't show up? They'd be slaughtered. They couldn't go in as one big group, that was just senseless. Jack looked at Tony, who was nervously awaiting his advice.
"We need to make a move Jack. They're bound to spot our plane sooner or later."
"All right. Here's the plan." Jack started as they all huddled in close. He drew a map in the dirt as he talked, "Tony, you and Chase take Stevens and flank them to the right. Tyson, Hendrix and Flynn will flank them from the left. I'll take out the sniper, that way I can cover your escape from above."
"But how are we going to distract them?"
"Wait till I'm in position. It should take me about ten minutes to make it to that small ridge over there. When you see me give the signal push this log down the mountain. The movement should distract him long enough to disarm him."
"But whose going to push the log? We all need to be in position or it will never work."
"We're going to use the jeep."
"What?" The driver panicked.
"We'll roll the log into position right on the ledge. When we say to you." He said pointing to the driver, "Will nudge the log with the front of the jeep, the force should be enough to push it over the ledge and its momentum will do the rest."
"All right." Tony said, happier now they had a game plan. "Let's do this." The men all secured their gear and went to move the log into position. It must have been over one hundred years old Tony imagined gathering from the rings on the end where it had snapped loose from its foundations, coming to land on the forest floor. It hadn't been there long, the nearby vegetation was only just starting to curl itself around the corpse. At over 10 feet long and almost a meter thick it took everything they had just to roll it into position. The day was warm and the stench from their bodies was rising quickly. As the log came to rest on the edge, they took a moment to gather their breath, took a quick sip from their canteens and gathered their belongs.
"Good luck." Jack called as he sprinted away from the group.
"Thanks." Tony called back. This was it, there was no backing out now. If he didn't get the hostages out alive then Danny was dead. The pain of his dilemma must have showed through as plainly as the concern on Chases.
"Are you all right?" He asked Tony, studying him closely.
"Fine." He lied. His entire being told him not to go, this wasn't going to end well.
"Don't worry . I've got your back."
"Sir." The men interrupted, eager to get started. Tony didn't say anything, he just grinned.
"I know." Chase acknowledge. The two groups split of, one heading west and one heading east along the ridge then straight down the side of that unforgiving mountain. Chase by his side the whole way down Tony wished he'd kept up with his training program after he'd left CTU. He was a little out of shape and every muscle in his body was starting to ache.
Hiding behind the wheel of the truck Tony checked his gun one last time, said a prayer and made his move. Crouched down low he snuck over behind the barrel, a guards standing just on the other side, his back to Tony. Tony stood up, grabbed him from behind and snapped his neck before gently lowering him back down to the ground and dragging him behind the petrol drums. One down five to go. He could hear the Stevens behind him, approaching his position and new that Chase had stayed back to keep a good line of sight. He peeked over the barrel and the other guard was just starting to look over. Tony darted around behind the small wooden shed to his right. As the guard got closer Tony watched his every move. The adrenaline pumping threw his body his heart was pounding. He wondered if Jack could see them, if Chase had is eye on the ball and where Hendrix, Flynn and Tyson had gotten to. His back hard against the timber he listened as the sound of the heavy boots pushing into the rocky terrain grew closer and closer, he counted the steps, 5, 6, 7 ok he was close. Two more steps and he'd make his move.. 1, 2.
"Hey." The gunman called out confused.
"Damn it!" Stevens had scuffed his shoe and blown his cover, he stood there watching the guard find him, helpless to prevent it. Tony had to think fast, He could see Chase still concealed as Stevens fired back. Tony stepped out and took the guy from behind, Snapping his neck killing him instantly as he dropped to the ground. This was going to get messy. The bullets whizzed past his ear as he looked back to see Chase firing frantically at something in the distance. Tony spun back around quickly to see the other two guards advancing on their position. Where the hell was Hendrix? Tony fired back as he darted behind a pile of wood for cover. He was in the middle of the courtyard, exposed. Chase moved swiftly into his position firing away as he leaned down and grabbed Tony by the shoulder to help him up and gave him cover fire as they made it back behind the shed.
"What do you want to do now?" Chase asked.
"Where the hell is Hendrix?"
"I haven't seen them." Chase confirmed. Tony was getting a bad feeling about this. As they checked how much ammunition they had left, the shed splintered around them. Suddenly a shot ran out that brought silence for a tenth of a second in the confusion.
"Well at least we know he made it." Chase said, confirming that Jack had taken out one of the guards, leaving three left.
"Right." Tony thought it out aloud as the other guards took cover and another shouted out commands from the safety of the hut on the other side of the camp.
"Get him!" Aakash yelled repeatedly but his men stayed hidden behind their cover afraid of the sniper, of Jack.
"We're pinned down." Chase said, assessing their situation.
"I know." Tony thought of Michelle, her face as he'd kissed her goodbye and promised he'd be back, the look in her eyes reflecting the fear in his. He couldn't die here, not like this. Tony took a deep breath. If he was going to make it through all of this he had to put her out of his mind. Chase tried to peek around the corner, the bullet meant for him hitting the side of the shed as he drew his head back.
"I couldn't get a clear view." He said frustrated.
"We need a distraction." Tony and Chase looked around but they had little to work with.
"I'll draw their fire, you get a handle on the situation." Chase offered.
"No Chase. It's too dangerous." Tony couldn't risk his life like that.
"What choice do we have?"
"Then I'll do it."
"No way. I've got less to loose than you."
"I can't let you…" Tony began to argue. "Damn it Chase." Chase stepped around him, forcing his move. Chase let out six shots giving Tony just long enough for him to see where the three guards were situated. They were spaced evenly apart, one to the right behind an oil drum, one to their left behind the truck and one just left of centre behind some old crates. Chase pulled himself in, his back hard against the shed wall as he tried to regain himself. "Are you crazy?" Tony yelled.
"A little." Chase smiled, the adrenalin still running through his veins, "That's what makes the job so addictive."
"I know what you mean." A twinge of guilt in his voice.
"What did you see?" Chase asked him.
"One at 3 and 9 and one at 11. If we can get 11 out into the middle Jack should be able to take him leaving 3 and 9 for us."
"What do you think happened to Hendrix?"
"I don't know." Tony wondered if there were six threats out there and not three. Tony flinched as the guards started firing again. "Look. We can't wait for them we need to end this now."
"Agreed."
"Are you ready?" Tony asked as Chase nodded affirmatively, "All right. On the count of three. One, two, three." Tony went left and Chase went right guns aimed straight ahead as they came out firing. The guards stood up, certain of victory. As the men all moved closer to each other Tony's shoot punctured the oil drum, causing it to explode, the man behind it covered in burning oil. Chase took him out with a head shot as Tony hit the guard at 3 o'clock in the shoulder. A bullet grazed his arm as Chase sped up to cover him. Chase and Tony fired, hitting the guard in the chest as a third bullet came from behind, ripping his chest open.
"You all right?"
"Just a bullet burn. You?"
"I'm fine." Chase lied, a trickle of blood running down his right arm, he put some pressure on it and aimed with his other hand. Not three meters from the hut they watched the seventh man reach inside the doorway and pull out a rifle. As he fired Chase pushed Tony out of the way, the two of them landed just out of sight crouched beside the main steps. Chase looked at Tony, this was not good. Chase closed his eyes and jumped up, his gun aimed as the guard had him targeted point blank.
"Damn it Chase." Tony cursed as the shot ran out, followed by two more. "Chase?"
"I'm all right." He called back as Tony lifted his head up he saw something moving in the bushes at twelve o'clock. He raised his gun, ready to defend himself, then lowered it.
"About time you showed up. Where were you?"
"You're welcome." Hendrix said sarcastically as the others came to admire their kill.
"You were suppose to cover our flank."
"We were delayed. You seemed to manage all right without us."
"We almost got our heads blown off." Tony stepped towards him agitated, but Chase held him back.
"Leave it Tony." He interfered, "It's not worth it."
"Have you checked for the hostages?"
"No. We were a little busy fighting for our lives."
"Hello…"
"It's Nathanial." Stevens mentioned, almost unaware of the hostility between them. The six men went inside, Tyson and Flynn standing guard just inside the doorway. Tony and Chase made their way to the tiny room inside the hut, where Nathanial and another man were tied together by their arms, sitting back to back on their chairs. The other man had been shot in the head, and left there still tied to Nathanial in some sadistic form of torture. Tony gave him a sip of water as Chase undid the ropes. Stevens, obviously the rookie of the group looked on in horror as Hendrix stood coldly, his hand resting on his rifle.
"Can you walk?" Tony asked.
"I think so."
"We'll be out of here in no time."
"Not soon enough." Nathanial coughed, weak from his ordeal. Tony put his arm around him and helped him out as Chase kept an eye on the others. "Hendrix, you lead the way."
"Yes sir." He said sarcastically as he put his sunglasses back on and headed back out, his men following in behind him.
Once outside Tony made a v line for the trees, checking to make sure that no one was waiting to ambush them. He saw the six men, still lying where they fell, the seventh had moved from his position behind the truck, he looked at Chase who had also noticed, his hand ready on the trigger. Single file they made their way up the steep hill to the rendezvous point. It took nine minutes, longer than Tony had planned. Jack came running through the forest to catch up and took the other side of Nathanial who was tiring fast. The men didn't say a word, they made it to the jeep and speed away as fast as they could for the plane. If the seventh guy had gotten away he could have raised the alarm by now they had to hurry. The hairs on the back of his neck were raised as Tony looked around at the men's stone cold faces, all but Stevens who was visibly shaken by the ordeal. Tony looked at Jack, and Chase. They weren't out of the woods yet.
As they cleared the edge of the field and across to the plane they could hear the engines firing up. The driver stopped the jeep right beside the main hatch and Hendrix pulled Nathanial out and quickly into the plane, his men following close behind. As Tony and Chase got out of the jeep the driver came around to join them, stepping in front of them to get on the plane first, eager to get out of there. Tony looked back to make sure Jack was right behind them then turned back around to see Hendrix reaching out a hand to the driver as the plane started to roll forward. Hendrix lifted him up with his left hand, concealing the gun in his right. Hendrix opened fire but Chase was ready, his first bullet hitting the driver, his body falling as Hendrix let go and fired back. The plane continued to roll and in the distance a jeep approached, filled with armed militants. Hendrix tried again but the plane started to lift off.
"Wait." He called out to the pilot.
"Leave them. We have to go."
"No." He pointed the gun at the pilot, but Stevens stood up at the last minutes taking the bullet. Hendrix threw him out of the plane then aimed his gun at the pilot again. The plane slowed down as Hendrix, Tyson and Flynn left Nathanial inside the plane and went to finish the job. As Tyson went to jump out of the plane, Tony grabbed his wrist and yanked him out, Hendrix followed him out but Flynn pulled back just long enough for Jack to climb inside. Hendrix sized Tony, his size clearly no match for him, as Chase stopped Tyson from blind siding him. Tony blocked his right hook and took a step back, almost knocking his head on the tail of the plane. He ducked again as Hendrix came at him from the left then got one of his own punches in, with q right followed by a quick left. While he was still disoriented by it, Tony spun him around and pulled his hands behind his back. Hendrix threw his head back, almost breaking Tony's nose as he was thrown to the ground. Hendrix went to punch him in the face as Tony rolled out of the way at the last minute. AS Hendrix turned around he came face to face with Tony's gun.
"Coward." Hendrix taunted him,
"Maybe." Tony quipped, "But at least I'm walking out of this one alive."
"Hardly." Hendrix laughed, lunging towards him, knocking the gun out of his hand and throwing him backwards, his unconscious body landing unconscious at the front of the plane.
Jack pulled his gun on Flynn, he was cornered and he knew it.
"Who do you work for?" Jack asked.
"I don't know."
"I wouldn't lie to me right now if was you."
"Hendrix organises the gigs. He never tells us. Client confidentiality and all that."
"You must have some idea?"
"Just someone who is superior to Delton. I heard Hendrix arguing with him once."
"Are you sure you're telling me everything?"
"Yes." Flynn said, cowering in the seats, a long way from the cocky young man playing poker. "Please. I have no need to lie. He just killed my brother."
"I'm sorry." Jack apologised helping him up and spinning him around to tie his hands behind his back. "Sit down." Jack instructed him as the plane started to take off again. Jack knocked Flynn out cold and went to make the pilot stop the plane.
"I wouldn't do that if I was you." Chase said, his gun aimed on Tyson as he came tu.
"This isn't over." Tyson said reaching out and grabbing Chase by the ankle, pulling him off balance. The bullet in his arm, and the blood loss was starting to take its toll. Chase looked up, the militia weren't far away, two minutes at most before they had more than rough militants on their hands. Chase rolled onto his stomach and tried to reach his gun, it was just out of arms length. Tyson grabbed him by the ankles and pulled him closer. Chase responded by kicking him in the ribs and launching himself closer to his weapon, his hand out ready he grabbed the gun, twisted himself back into position and aimed at Tyson. Tyson drew his own weapon, but before he could get a shot off Chase hit him point blank in the forehead. Damn it, he must have broken a rib, his chest was killing him.
"Stop this plane now." Jack ordered the pilot, placing the gun to his head.
"Are you crazy. They're almost here." He pointed towards the approaching jeep. Jack looked out of the window and froze when he saw Tony's lifeless body just past the nose of the plane.
"Shut it down. NOW!" Jack bellowed as he reached forward and eased back the throttle, turning the wheel to try and avoid running over him.
"Tony." Chase called out, noticing his friend lying on the ground. Hendrix picked up his weapon and went to finish the job. He shot at him once, to far to aim it hit him below the ribs. Chase heard Tony cough as his body shuddered from the impact. "Jack." Chase yelled out as he scrambled to his feet. He took aim and shot Hendrix in the back, as Hendrix spun around he fell forward, Jack's bullet hitting him square at the base of the skull. Jack jumped out of the plane and raced over to his friend as Chase double checked that both men were dead.
"Oh my god Tony." He didn't look good. Tony had a hand over the wound as the blood trickled out.
"Don't." Jack ordered as Tony tried to sit up. "Chase he's been hit." Jack grabbed his hand. "Hold on Tony." Chase returned with a med kit from the plane and opened it up.
"They're almost here Jack." Chase announced as he watched them advance, four men in a jeep no bigger than their own. Jack applied a pressure bandage and secured it in place.
"Jack, Michelle…." Tony coughed,
"None of that. I promised I'd get you back to her and that's just what I'm going to do."
"Hang in their man." Chase said, leaning down to help him up. Tony felt his breast pocket, it was empty.
"What is it?"
"It's gone." Tony said scanning the area.
"What's gone?" Chase asked, confused.
"The picture." Jack told him knowing exactly what Tony was looking for. "There." Jack saw it stuck on a weed as it flapped in the wind. Chase went over to get it for him, pausing as he realised what it was. Jack hadn't told him that Michelle was pregnant. Chase handed it to Tony as he reached out, smearing some of his blood over the image as he held it close.
"Let's get out of here." Chase said.
"Too late for that." Jack said, looking at their options. "That plane will never get up to speed in time."
"What are we going to do?" He asked helping Tony to his feet. After a quick shot of morphine Tony was able to compose himself enough to be useful. Chase held him up while Jack searched for something in the dead drivers pockets.
"Get him out of here." Jack told the pilot as he found what he was looking for and headed for the jeep.
"We'll have to take our chances."
"Jack."
"We don't have a choice." Jack told him, starting the engine as Tony and Chase climbed inside.
"I need to get to a phone." Tony insisted.
"Here." Chase pulled out his sat phone. Tony dialled the number and held his breath.
"Hello."
"Chloe it's Tony. I was right. Delton just had his men try to eliminate us after we freed Nathanial. I need you to get Michelle out of there."
"Oh my god. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Look Chloe you might not have a lot of time. If anything happens."
"I don't feel comfortable talking like that."
"Chloe please. If anything happens I need to know you'll look after Michelle. There's a letter in my top draw."
"Tony I don't feel comfortable..
"Please Chloe. It's important."
"All right."
"Thank you. I'll try and call back within the hour. You know where to go."
"Yes."
"Chloe." The line went static…. "Chloe."
"What's wrong?"
"The line went dead."
"Chloe's a smart girl Tony." Jack tried to comfort him. "She'll know what to do."
"Yeah." He prayed he as right.
"When we get to the village we'll find another phone."
"How are we getting out of here?"
"I have an idea."
"We just need to make a stop first." Tony told them. "I need to put an end to this once and for all." Tony said, conviction in his eyes.
"Are you sure about this Tony? Once we start there's no going back."
"I know but what choice do we have? As long as he's alive Michelle's life is in danger."
"And yours." Chase added.
"Yeah."
"Hang on." Jack pulled hard left as he tried to dart down a narrow track. Chase grabbed his gun and leaned out of the right rear window, trying to take out the driver. Tony reloaded his gun and joined him. Waiting patiently until the car was in range Tony and Chase opened fire, several bullets bounced off of the front bonnet barely causing a dint until one finally found its target, hitting the driver in the neck. As he held the wound trying to hold in the blood that was pouring out from the major vein the passenger grabbed the wheel. Tony aimed carefully and hit him right between the eyes, the victims body flying back violently before slumping forward in his seat. The jeep hit a log and flipped over, the men in the back jumping for their lives. With the jeep out of action they were no longer in pursuit.
"Well done." Jack acknowledged as Chase and Tony crawled back into the jeep.
"How far to the main town?"
"About seven miles."
"We need to hurry, Delton's probably on his way out of town as we speak."
"We'll be there in fifteen minutes."
"Do you have a plan?" Jack asked. Tony thought about every that had happened, the attack on Michelle in Johannesburg, the knife to Michelle's throat, the car accident when Delton was going to pay.
"Short of ripping his fucking throat out. No."
"Just so we're clear." Jack continued.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Tony asked
"Not at all." Jack sympathised with his anger.
"Chase?"
"I'm with you. All the way."