HERMAPHRODITE

▪️▪️▪️CH. 9▪️▪️▪️

Jungkook followed the others to the stairwell, determined to keep Joo-Won where he could see him at all times. The heavy door swung open and they filed inside.

"This is it," whispered Ji-un as they stopped on a small landing.

The sign above the heavy door indicated 'Level Four'. He checked his watch while Suyoung moved to the rear of the group. Joo-Won shifted to beside Ji-un, Jungkook moving to the left. All released the safety mechanisms on their guns.

Ji-un counted down, "Five... four... three... two... one... GO!"

Jungkook swung the door open; at the same time, he dropped to a crouching position and took aim for the cameras. Ji-un and Joo-Won stepped through, one turning left and the other to the right, guns cocked.

The silencers did their job well, only a small sound of discharge was heard and the tinkling of glass as Jungkook took out the cameras. The two guards dropped and Ji-un waved them out.

They slunk along the passage to the next one and made short work of the guards there. Jungkook was pleased to note that none of the group stopped to check and see if the guards were dead, instead they stepped over them and continued on their way.

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Taehyung watched the monitors with Yoongi. Five of the screens went blank within seconds of each other.

"There go the cameras." Yoongi grunted and carried on watching. "At least the other cameras are working effectively."

Taehyung didn't bother to reply, instead he watched the progress of the group from the stairwell, keeping his eye on one person in particular as they joined forces and slunk into the foyer.

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The boss waved his hand, all communication being done by signals and not voice. The men all took their positions, guns drawn, safety's off, ready for action.

Beom-soo, Dae-jun and Jungkook were flattened against the wall on the right of the doors. Ji-un, Minjoon and Joo-Won similarly flanked the other side. The boss and Suyoung were poised at the double doors that paved the way into the conference room; ready to open them, drop and start shooting as soon as they were in.

Jungkook's heart was racing, the adrenaline coursing through him. He hoped that the people on the other side of the doors were ready; if they weren't, there wasn't anything he could do about it now.

The boss looked in his direction, Jungkook nodded at the silent question. The boss looked to the other side, Ji-un nodding in readiness.

With both sides confirmed, the boss gave Suyoung a firm nod and the two of them lunged forward, pushing the doors open and dropping to the floor.

Beom-soo, Dae-jun and Jungkook slipped in low from the right as did Ji-un and Suyoung from the left. Joo-Won paused at the door, but no one noticed as gunfire echoed in the room.

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The small fetus stirred restlessly. While no blood was exchanged between itself and its mother, adrenaline began to flow and it could sense that something was not quite right. It curled itself into a ball and tried to press into the lining of the uterus that shielded it from outside harm.

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Taehyung's heart was in his mouth as he watched the group prepare to invade the conference room. He kept his eyes mainly on Jungkook, noting that his lover was plastered to the wall. His eyes flickered to the other screen; the agents inside the room were all armed and ready.