This chapter is in parallel with 'Feral, Chapter 15/16/17 - Sleep of The Vigilante - Day 6', which should be read first...
The next day
Saturday
The following takes place between Midnight and 1:00 A.M.
Safehouse A
Chicago
0:30 A.M.
We finally arrived back at the safehouse.
Tonight had been, interesting!
There had been a result, but it seemed not to be the result we had been hoping for. Voight and I had both agreed that D'Amico was perfectly capable of conning us. D'Amico was a complex adversary, who was skilled at planning and scheming.
I would not put it past him to sacrifice watchdogs just to wear us down.
The following takes place between 5:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M.
Safehouse A
Chicago
5:35 A.M.
I woke up with a start.
I still felt like crap, my sleep deficit was not going away. All my muscles ached.
Sophia looked over at me and whined.
"Fancy a jog, girl!" I asked and got a muted 'woof', in answer, as Sophia got up and stretched.
The following takes place between 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M.
The Park
Chicago
I finished my jog around the park, I was exhausted and so was Sophia.
However we were both happy, the jog felt good.
I collapsed onto a chair, in the kitchen, while Sophia went and wolfed down a gallon of water, from her bowl.
Marty passed me an energy drink and a coffee.
"You two looked to have enjoyed yourselves!" Marty commented.
"I needed to unwind and apparently so did Sophia. Being a dog and a doggie Super Hero, seems to be hard work!"
The following takes place between 8:00 A.M. and 9:00 A.M.
Safehouse A
Chicago
8:05 P.M.
Marty and I finished breakfast and I grabbed a shower.
Abby arrived, along with Kim. They both started training on the mat, practising the moves that I had taught them both.
I took the opportunity to go shopping, as we were getting rather low on decent food. The safehouse had stocks of frozen and dried food, for emergencies, but we weren't there yet, so we needed some good, fresh food.
Dr Bennett had provided the necessary supplies for Murphy and Fellowes, to keep them going.
The following takes place between 9:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M.
Safehouse A
Chicago
The rest of the morning was spent weapons training.
I instructed Marty, Kim and Abby, on various weapons that Mindy had previously taught me how to use. We even managed some target practice! Abby was very keen to learn, even though she never expected to use any of the weapons.
The following takes place between 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M.
Safehouse A
Chicago
After lunch, we all sat down to go through the latest emails from Voight.
There was a lot of information and we hoped some of it might lead to more D'Amico facilities.
The following takes place between 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M.
Safehouse A
Chicago
5:05 P.M.
I was looking forward to a peaceful evening.
I was exhausted and so were Marty and Abby.
Kim was with us and the four of us sat down to enjoy an early evening meal and chat together, with Marty inserting jokes periodically.
The following takes place between 6:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.
Safehouse A
Chicago
6:18 P.M.
My cell rang; it was the Fusion divert.
"Go!" I snarled.
"It's Voight! As we thought, we've been fucking had! That bastard played us!" Voight growled, angrily.
"Explain!"
"Bartolemeo and the Chicago headquarters? Well that was all a fucking screen. Now, Bartolemeo must have slipped up, as he gave us information that led us to the real HQ. I also believe that Bartolemeo was in the dark about this, obviously D'Amico didn't trust the rat! We also dug through that stuff your partner obtained in New York. We've pinpointed the HQ, but it won't be easy to assault, plus I think they might be on to us; we're gonna have to move in soon! I'll send the address, get here as soon as you can," Voight explained.
"We'll be there as soon as we can!" I replied.
"Marty, Kim, gear up!" I yelled, running to the armoury.
"What's up?" Marty, Abby and Kim asked.
I explained Voight's call and Abby got her systems ready, while Marty, Kim and I geared up.
The following takes place between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
7:43 P.M.
I slammed on the brakes and Beast skidded to a halt.
Gunfire was all around us. I could see SWAT and CPD, exchanging fire with watchdogs. I saw Voight behind a black SUV, reloading his pistol. Olinsky had an AR-15 and was taking aimed shots at the watchdogs defending the building.
Battle Guy, Hawk and I, got out and readied our weapons. We were all carrying the G36C. I had given Hawk a crash course, yesterday afternoon, in using the G36C. I went around to the back of Beast and pulled out my H&K 121 and loaded a two-hundred round belt and slung another belt in a pouch.
"Hal, Fusion is engaging!" I called.
"Hal copies, Fusion engaging!"
"Hal is much nicer to talk to than Battle Guy!" I commented.
"Thanks asshole!" Battle Guy replied, with a chuckle.
I ran over towards Voight, receiving a few impacts on my armour. I raised the 121 and let loose a short burst, the heavy rounds causing a lot of heads to turn, as they impacted on the building and sent watchdogs scurrying for cover. This gave the CPD and SWAT time to regroup.
"Welcome! You brought the heavy stuff, I see!" Voight commented.
"I do like to kick-ass"! I replied and Olinsky laughed.
7:51 P.M.
We opened fire again. The resistance here was definitely stiffer than last night's effort.
The following takes place between 8:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.
8:02 P.M.
We managed to force the watchdogs back and into the main building.
The main door was glass and had already been shattered. The watchdogs were taking cover inside and on either side of the door, including behind the reception desk.
"Any innocents in there?" I asked Voight.
"None!"
"Try one of these," I suggested, throwing him a hand grenade. "On one!"
"That's what I'm talking about!" Voight said, with a big grin.
"Three, two, one! Fire in the hole!" I called, pulling the pin and throwing the grenade, Voight did the same and we both ducked behind a wall.
A few seconds later there were two explosions, plus some screams.
Voight and I leapt up, pouring rounds into the building, followed by Olinsky, Hawk and Battle Guy.
8:22 P.M.
We were pinned down on the second floor, at the top of the stairs.
I had the H&K 121 on it's bi-pod and was sending short bursts towards a barricade, set up by the watchdogs. Thankfully these watchdogs, were not expecting this kind of heavy calibre round and quite a few dropped as bullets went straight through their defences. Voight was using my G36C and getting kills. He seemed to enjoy it, too! But I knew that he had lost colleagues over this past week and wanted blood.
SWAT were at another staircase and were forcing their way through and would come up behind these watchdogs and they knew it, backing down another corridor, deeper into the building. There was no escape, as the building was completely surrounded. Voight's team was around the perimeter, with many other very angry cops.
8:48 P.M.
We had kicked down the barricade and joined up with SWAT. Hawk and Battle Guy were behind me; both of them using me and my heavier armour as cover. I noticed that Hawk kept giving Voight quick looks and I knew why. Voight seemed to be ignoring her, completely. The watchdogs moved back, covering their retreat, but losing men all the same.
We were relentless in our pursuit.
The following takes place between 9:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M.
9:02 P.M.
We were moving through narrow corridors, from a junction.
SWAT had split off into two teams and gone left and right, we kept going straight ahead.
A dozen yards down the corridor, there was a group of watchdogs and they were barricaded behind a large photocopier, which was proving quite effective. I had used up all the ammunition for the H&K 121, so I left it in a doorway and sent Battle Guy back, for more ammo, while I started shooting with my G36C, as Voight was now using an AR-15 dropped by a watchdog and using salvaged magazines.
9:09 P.M.
Voight took a pair of rounds in his vest and was thrown backwards. Hawk was distracted by another watchdog, who suddenly appeared out of a doorway, to her left. I moved back towards Voight and I as I did so, I fell backwards over a dead body. The two watchdogs came out from behind their shelter and both advanced towards me, with their pistols up. I tried to bring the G36C to bear, but I wasn't going to be fast enough.
9:12 P.M.
Suddenly, I heard four rapid shots and both watchdogs fell, with two shots each, in the head.
A gloved hand reached down and pulled me up; I turned to face this new shooter and come face to face with Medic, she was wearing black combats, a combat vest and a black mask, similar to Battle Guy's old bandanna, plus a subdued Red Cross arm band on her upper left arm and lightweight black combat boots. On her back was a small black pack, which I presumed was laden with medical equipment. On her right hip was a holster for her Beretta M9A1 pistol. I could also see that she had a throat mike, for her comms.
"You okay, Kick-Ass!" Medic asked.
"Yeah, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"I heard what was happening and I'd already been piecing my kit together, just in case, ever since this week began!" Medic replied.
"What will your daughter say?"
"We'll cross that bridge, when we get there!"
"Is the little guy with Hal?" I asked, careful not to use real names.
"Yes," Medic confirmed.
"Hal, this is Kick-Ass; Medic is with us!" I called.
"Hal copies Medic onsite!"
9:15 P.M.
Hawk had taken care of her watchdog, allowing Medic to check on Voight. He was only bruised and slightly stunned. She helped him back down the corridor, where Lindsay helped Medic to get Voight downstairs. Olinsky came back from checking out some offices and the three of us: Olinsky, Hawk and I, headed down the corridor, past the bullet-riddled photocopier.
"Hope it isn't rented!" Olinsky quipped.
9:21 P.M.
Another group of Watchdogs appeared, just as Battle Guy returned with two more belts and my H&K 121. He had taken the time to load a belt and passed it over, I slung my G36C, taking the 121 and opened fire, cutting down eight watchdogs within a few seconds. They weren't so much cut down, as cut apart!
"Hamburger!" Olinsky joked, smiling broadly.
9:27 P.M.
We met up again with SWAT; they had two men down, due to injuries.
There was one more floor left and we approached the stairway, carefully.
SWAT went up first, with it's six remaining team members and immediately came under fire. One member was shot and fell back down the stairs. The wounded man was dragged away by Battle Guy. Medic reappeared and started treating the wounded man. That was one gutsy woman, Chloe should be really proud of her!
I headed up the stairs and brought my 121 to bear and opened fire. This allowed the, now smaller, SWAT team to advance on the last group of watchdogs, who were guarding something important; at least their determination made it seem important.
9:38 P.M.
We finally whittled down the watchdogs, they were tough.
Damn! I forgot how heavy this bastard gun is, or maybe I'm just shattered. Let's get this over with! I jumped up and received several bullets, to my chest armour. This was not a good idea, but what the hell. I charged the final watchdogs finishing off my last belt.
Silence descended on the building.
"Not clever dude!" Battle Guy commented.
"It worked, didn't it!" I replied.
"This time!" Battle Guy admitted, grudgingly.
9:43 P.M.
We moved past the dead watchdogs and reached a large steel door.
Battle Guy inspected it for booby traps, before hauling it open.
We all passed through the steel door, with weapons raised.
"Fuck!" Hawk said.
"Bloody Hell!" Olinsky commented.
Arrayed in front of us was what could only be called one thing...
A bomb factory!
Masses of explosives and the associated detonation equipment were in racks. It was a one stop shop for bomb makers! The SWAT guys were wide-eyed at what had been found. D'Amico could have destroyed the entire City of Chicago with what was here and still have enough to destroy most of Manhattan!
This had been a major victory!
This was D'Amico's main source of bombs!
The following takes place between 10:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M.
10:01 P.M.
We spent quite a will checking the building for any more watchdogs, before handing the entire site over to the bomb disposal guys to clear. We were all happy. Nobody from SWAT or the Police, had been killed, but there were a lot of injuries.
10:34 P.M.
Battle Guy, Hawk and I finally clambered into Beast, after stowing our weapons in the back.
Then my cell rang.
It was Mindy.
"Mindy?" I asked, no response. "Mindy?"
"The bastard escaped!"
"I'm so sorry! Are you all okay?"
"I'm bruised and battered, but okay. Shadow has wounds, to her right shoulder, as well as a lot of cuts and bruises. But..." Mindy seemed to falter.
"What?" I asked, cautiously.
"Josh... He took four bullets, fired by that fucking asshole D'Amico... They were meant for Shadow, but..."
"Oh God, I'm so sorry, Mindy," I replied, feeling appalled at the news. "I assume Shadow is not taking this well!"
"How the fuck can someone cope, losing the same fucking person twice, for fuck's sake!" Mindy said, before the call was lost.
I told everyone what had happened, they were appalled too.
The following takes place between 11:00 P.M. and Midnight
Safehouse A
Chicago
11:14 P.M.
We were all completely exhausted, by the time, we got back to the safehouse.
Dr Bennett, stripped off her gear and changed, then she and Curtis went home. I understood that she had got changed at the safehouse, earlier this evening, surprising Abby! I let Dr Bennett know that the girl's were safe, but that Josh had been killed.
I suggested that Kim and Abby go straight to bed, while Marty and I secured everything and got out of our gear. God I'm glad it's all over! I grabbed a shower and just sat in bed for a while, with Sophia.
I then sent Mindy a text: 'ALL SAFE. JOB COMPLETE. CHICAGO SAFE.'
The reply came back: 'BASTARD ESCAPED. NY SAFE.'
11:54 P.M.
I received another text from Mindy: 'LOVE U. SLEEP TIGHT.'
I replied: 'LOVE U TOO. SLEEP TIGHT.'
You are advised to read 'Forsaken, Chapter 64 - Sleep of The Vigilante - Day 7' next..