Flint stood in the elevator with Gung Ho and Snake Eyes behind him. His eyes swept back and forth from the slowly ascending numbers indicating each passing floor to the small tracking device he held in his hand.
9, 10, 11…
"Come on, come on, come on," he willed impatiently. Why was it maintenance elevators were always so slow? Suddenly, the soft elevator music playing in the background was drowned out by an ear piercing alarm.
"What the…" Gung Ho jumped and let out a string of curses, "That's no fire alarm, Flint. How'd they find us?," he scanned the elevator car, looking for a camera or recorder or some other security device he had previously overlooked.
Flint paused and frowned. "I don't think that was for us," he said slowly, "Get ready. There's no way of telling what we may walk into," Flint pulled his gun smoothly from it's holster.
Gung Ho gave a terse nod and lifted "Baby" from over his shoulder. He stood facing the elevator door, his hand absently stroking the barrel.
21, 22, 23…The numbers continued to climb.
Flint glanced down again to the tracer in his hand and his countenance slowly darkened. The GPS tracker indicated that Jaye was in motion. Were the Snakes moving her or had she somehow managed to escape? His mind worked rapidly through the possible scenarios, finally coming to rest on one single conclusion. The sounding of the alarm was for her. She was on the run. His free hand balled into a tight fist. He needed to get to her, NOW! He quelled the sudden desire to put a fist through the wall or climb the elevator shaft, steeling himself instead to wait out the torturously slow ride up to the 37th floor.
Snake Eyes placed a light hand on his shoulder and then pointed first to the rising numbers and then the door. They were almost there.
Flint gave a tight smile and then motioned for the other two to take cover as he crouched to the side of the door.
35, 36, 37…
"Get ready," Flint tensed like a coiled spring.
The elevator stopped with a slight shudder and then dinged. The doors slid open slowly. Flint immediately poked his head out and glanced quickly to the right and then to the left. The Crimson Guards were not at their post.
"Clear," He called over his shoulder, rising to his feet, "After me. Now!" He was already out the door and running for the stairwell, his thoughts on finding and rescuing Lady Jaye.
Lady Jaye staggered down the hall, the alarm blaring in her ears, urging her feet to go faster. She knew the Crimson Guards would soon be after her, if they weren't already, and she was trying to put as much distance between them as possible.
Alone and without a weapon, slowed by her injuries, she knew she was at a great disadvantage. She also knew, much to her chagrin, that hiding would be her only feasible option. But where? Her eyes darted around frantically.
She tried random doors as she passed, hoping one was unlocked. When she finally did find one, she nearly cried in relief as she quickly slipped inside. The first thing she noticed was that it was quieter. The hall alarms were dulled by the heavy door. Pressing her forehead against the cold metal, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to slow her rapidly beating heart.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Lady Jaye spun around and came face to face with two computer technicians in identical white coats. She nearly kicked herself for not noticing them when she first entered. Then, suddenly, she realised where she was and carefully masked her excitement. She had just entered the main computer room. Maybe this mission wasn't over after all. The fleeting thought surfaced. She barely gave the two techs a second thought as she glanced furtively toward the computers lining the walls. She knew she had to get access to that main hard drive. But how? She was unarmed. It was one against two. She desperately scanned the room again looking for anything that could give her an edge. All that she had was herself.
Instinctually, she froze and slowly turned her attention back to the two men, her senses alerting her to the new danger. The larger, dark haired tech had just pulled out a gun and was pointing the barrel toward her.
"Don't make me use this," his hand shook slightly, "I want to know who you are and why you are here. Start talking."
What to do? She thought fast. There were only two men but one was was quite obviously armed and …all she had was herself.
A sly glint appeared in her eye and she quickly adopted a New York accent.
"Oh please. Don't shoot me! I'm so sorry…I had no idea," her voice was edged with panic.
"Who are you?," the man's voice rose, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
"I work here, honest, on the 36th floor…, I'm a secretary," She paused and pursed her lips. "This is the 36th floor, isn't it?" She looked from one to the other with wide, frightened eyes.
"No, unfortunately for you, Lady, it's not."
"Oh, dear, I must have gotten off on the wrong floor by accident," she lowered her gaze and twisted her hands nervously.
The one armed relaxed his stance and motioned with the gun, "Over there…, take a seat," he pointed to an empty chair.
She was pale, her wide eyes following every move of the gun. "Please. It's all a mistake. I didn't mean to do anything wrong."
I'll deserve an Oscar by the time I've finished this performance, she mused as she reached deep down within herself to bring up the tears. She blinked rapidly. Her sight became blurred.
"I'll do whatever you say," she choked out loud.
The two men approached her, smugly, triumphantly. The sandy haired one took hold of her arms and twisted them roughly behind her. He began half pulling, half pushing her toward the chair.
"Owww," she whimpered, tears now streaming freely down her face, "Please….you're hurting me…"
The one with the gun stood near the chair lazily, his grip on the pistol loose. She was no longer seen as a threat.
She allowed herself to be pushed and pulled. She was almost there. Just a bit farther. Now! Her eyes flashed and she twisted her wrists, hard, breaking free of his grip. She kneed upwards, catching him in the stomach and then followed down with her elbows, connecting solidly with the back of his head.
He sank to the floor in a heap, unconscious.
She turned quickly, lashing out at the second man with a perfectly placed kick that sent the gun flying out of his hands. As it slid across the tiled floor, she quickly followed it, leaping into a roll and coming up with the gun in her hand. Brushing the hair from her eyes, all traces of tears gone, she calmly pointed the barrel toward his chest.
"I suggest you surrender, unless you want to be like your friend there."
His mouth dropped open.
She allowed a smug smile before motioning for him to get down on the floor. Then back to back, she tied them up with a computer cord she had disconnected from one of the monitors.
As they lay on the ground, Lady Jaye slipped around some smaller work stations to access the main computer. After shutting and opening a few windows, she found what she needed, the information about their employee chemical experimentation. She sank heavily into the chair and frowned slightly as she stared at the new screen. Now she just had to figure out the password.
She smiled briefly, remembering the small flash drive in her pocket. Other than removing her weapons and com, the Twins had not bothered to search her.
"Lucky for me," she rolled her eyes, "Stupid Twins…" She rubbed her now aching temples and winced slightly. Her brief engagements with the Twins earlier and now with the two techs was taking it's toll.
From the hallway, she could still hear the alarm blaring.
She inserted the driver into the slot and tried to navigate around the password to open the page. It didn't work. Fingers flying across the keyboard, she tried the various techniques Breaker had shown her, but again, no luck. She began trying other tricks, more and more hurriedly. It was taking too long and she knew she was quickly running out of time. How long had she been in here anyway? Surely the Crimson Guards should have discovered her by now, she thought nervously.
Wait. Her dark eyes glanced toward the door. Were those gunshots?
Wiping a hand nervously across her damp brow, she quickly turned back to the computer and keyed in another code.