Blood & Thunder (THIRDS 2)

Cael brought up a digital 3D rendering of the facility’s schematics. At least the Chief of Defense was finally cooperating.

“Can you get into the security feed?” Ash asked, cursing under his breath when Cael shook his head.

“This is military grade encryption and Isaac’s locked us out. It’d take far longer than we have time for in order to gain access. I brought up the facility network, and there’s a load of failed login attempts. At least Isaac hasn’t been able to connect so far. It might be the only thing keeping those files from going public.”

“Okay.” Ash studied the floor plans. “We have no idea how many guys Isaac has in there. Our best bet is to have teams go in aggressive on the ground floor, disable and distract, while our team goes in through the roof. Ground floor teams use a shitload of nonlethals to confuse and incapacitate them: flash bangs, smoke bombs, grenade launcher. Have the other teams go in after and start taking the floors one at a time. Destructive Delta enters the building though here.” Ash pointed to the building next to the facility. “The ninth floor window of this building opens right onto the roof of the facility. There’s a door and a vent, leading inside. If we’re lucky, we can catch that bastard by surprise.”

“Okay, team. Let’s move out.” Sloane tapped his earpiece. “Sarge?”

“Heard you loud and clear. Beta Ambush and Beta Pride are getting into position to go in through the front. They’ll wait for your signal.”

“Copy that.” Sloane grabbed his helmet and jumped from the truck, his team falling into formation behind him, except for Cael who remained to keep surveillance and provide technical backup. They went around the back to the BearCat, using the cars parked along the street to give them cover until they crossed to the building beside the facility. Inside, agents from a backup squad were evacuating the building.

Taking the stairwell, Sloane rushed up with Ash, Rosa, Letty, and Calvin behind him. They had nine floors to climb. By the time they got to the ninth floor and out into the offices, Sloane’s breath was heavy in his ears. He tapped his earpiece. “Cael, we’re outside the emergency exit on the ninth floor. Which way?”

“Make a right, straight down, last set of offices on the right. It’s the middle one, belongi

ng to a Mr. Trine.”

“Copy that.” They rushed past rows and rows of cubicles until they reached the end of the floor and the many rows of closed doors. They found the one they needed and Sloane stepped aside. Ash slammed his shoulder into the door and it splintered open. The window was big, enough for all of them to get through. Lucky for them it opened and they didn’t have to blast it. It took mere seconds to get onto the roof and they headed straight for the door. Unsurprisingly, he found it locked.

“Calvin. Get this open.”

Sloane tapped his earpiece. “Sarge, we’re going in. Send in the teams.”

“Copy that. All teams move in!”

Leaving his sergeant and the rest of Unit Alpha’s teams to take care of business downstairs, Sloane gave Calvin the go ahead. He stood back as Calvin swiftly unclasped his backpack and removed two pieces of det cord before securing them to the door’s hinges. They all darted away, ducking behind the concrete wall, hearing Calvin’s warning.

“Fire in the hole!”

There was a loud boom, followed by the clanking and screeching of metal sliding across the roof floor. Sloane rushed out, checking they were clear before going in through the doorway. He led his teammates into the darkness, hoping he’d find his partner at the other end of it, alive and in one piece.

Hang on for me, Dex. Please, hang on.

HIS CHEST hurt.

With a groan, Dex rolled forward. His throat was dry, his tongue felt gross and furry, and his whole body ached as if someone had gone at him with a baseball bat, though nothing hurt more than his chest. Breathing hurt. His arms hurt. Why did his arms hurt? He went to rub his face when he discovered the reason. His arms were tied behind his back. Opening his eyes, he blinked a few times to clear the fuzziness. He was nauseous, groggy, and felt like utter crap. Scanning his surroundings, he was stunned to find himself in a white room with nothing but a wide hospital bed. Where the hell was he? He wracked his brain. Last thing he remembered, he’d been with Sloane who’d been trapped under something next to him, telling him to run.

“What the hell?” He sat upright with a hiss, his throat thick as his memory filled in the blanks. Shit, he’d been shot in the vest like three times. No wonder his chest was killing him. He recalled something else. Drugs. He’d been drugged. Someone shot his arm with some kind of tranquilizer.

Isaac.

That son of a bitch. He was behind this. Looking down at himself, he cursed the guy out some more. The bastard had taken his equipment. Everything from his utility belt, to his backup weapon, thigh rig, and his uniform shirt, leaving him in his tac pants and black undershirt. They’d taken his watch too. Tony had given him that watch. Assholes.

Dex had no idea where he was. All he knew was that he couldn’t stay here, waiting for Isaac to come back for him. If he were going to move, he’d have to do it fast. There was no telling if he was being monitored. With his head slightly lowered, he discreetly took in the room, spotting his way out, considering the front door was likely not an option. He tested the restraint on his wrist and held back a smile. Zip tie. They’d used tape for his ankles. Fucking aces. Closing his eyes, he gave himself a pep talk. He could do this. It was going to hurt like hell, but it was do or die.

Pushing himself to his feet, he bent over and thrust his arms down. It took him a few tries, but on the third, the tie snapped. He swiftly went about untying his ankles. As soon as he’d pulled all the tape off, he ran to the door. Locked. Okay, Plan B.

He dashed over to the bed, wobbling for a minute when a wave of dizziness and nausea hit him. Breathing in deep, he straightened and pushed the bed against the wall. He gritted his teeth and lifted the bed, turning it so it stood on its large steel footboard. He hoped he didn’t end up breaking his neck. Sliding the bed against the wall until the legs hit, he reached up, grabbed two of the headboard’s steel bars, and pulled himself up.

His muscles strained, a headache exploded inside his skull, and his face grew hot as he pulled his weight up. Once up, he carefully balanced on the headboard on his knees and reached up, removing the medium sized silver vent. It was a good thing none of his Therian teammates had been taken with him, because there was no way in hell they’d fit through there. It was going to be a tight squeeze for Dex as it was.

Doing his best not to jar the bed too much, he rose to his feet, holding his arms out to keep his balance. The bed wobbled and Dex let out a steady breath. “Easy there.” Soon as it stilled, he reached up and stuck his head through. The ventilation shaft stretched down in two directions. It was hot, cramped, and dark, with the faintest hints of light far in the distance to his right. Dex grinned to himself. “And Sloane says I watch too many movies.” He pulled himself up into the shaft, his ass dangling below as he struggled to drag himself fully inside, his chest feeling as if it was in a vise as it pressed against the metal surface. He threw one hand out and pulled, muscles stretching and burning. Finally, after an excruciating amount of time, his whole body was inside. He was out of breath already, thanks to the remnants of whatever Isaac had given him.

“Move your ass, Daley,” Dex growled, thinking of Sloane. He had to get to his partner. Whatever Isaac had planned, Dex was certain it would somehow involve Sloane. He crawled through the tight space, moving forward despite being unable to see anything. Up ahead there was a soft glow, and he picked up his pace, trying to keep himself from making too much noise. The glow was coming from a room below, and Dex cautiously slid his body up to the vent and peered down through the slats. It was a white room, but unlike the one he’d escaped, this one was filled with lab equipment. There were tables filled with electronic meters, filtration systems, centrifuges, glassware, incubators, microscopes, mixers, and a load of other stuff Dex didn’t recognize.

Oh, shit. He was at the research facility. So much for it being secure. There was one thing he didn’t understand. If the facility was closed and no longer in use, why was all this equipment still here? It sure as hell didn’t look abandoned. Everything looked shiny and new. He listened for any signs that someone might be in the room, and when he heard none, he carefully pushed the vent down on one side, catching it before it could clatter to the floor. He gently placed it inside the shaft ahead of him and gingerly stuck his head out. The room was empty.