Special Agent 2: The Dark Soldier

Chapter 64

McGee's fingers flew across the keyboard as he wrote a new section of code for the Blackout Interface. Loki, Gibbs, and Sharon Carter stood guard, Loki continually glancing down at computer screen as the code scrolled past.

"You there yet?" he asked for the umpteenth time, his tone impatient.

McGee gritted his teeth. "Almost. Just...give me a second."

He continued to type, rewriting the code so as to sever Jacklin's connection to the Blackout satellite. He was almost there. Almost...almost....

McGee was so engrossed in the coding process, he barely noticed the three versions of Jacklin that suddenly appeared in the doorway, startling Sharon. Gibbs immediately opened fire, and Loki began to fire blasts of crimson energy at them.

And still, McGee carried on rewriting the code. It was the only way to stop all of this.

****

"Hill!" Wilson called, aiming his pistols at Flare and one of the three Jacklins, his wings spread in apprehension.

"I'm good," Hill groaned, grabbing at the railing with her other hand. She hauled herself up, falling over the railing onto the catwalk. Wilson flicked his gaze back to their opponents, running through their options in his head. Two of them against four assailants. Odds weren't great.

This is going to be fun, he thought grimly.

Firing at Flare, Wilson threw himself sideways off the catwalk, hoping to draw attention away from Hill so she could recover. Flare dropped into a half-crouch, arms up to block the bullets. The air felt charged with electricity, but Wilson noticed that the enhanced STRIKE agent wasn't doing his signature energy pull. That's right. He'd cripple the helicarrier if he drew too much of its power. Better for us.

Two of the Jacklins leapt off the struts, clambering toward the catwalk and Hill, who was now on her feet with her pistol drawn. She fired at Jacklin as she made her way toward the control panel, her expression grim and determined. The third Jacklin and Flare kept their focus on Wilson.

"We've got four on us," Wilson said into his comm. "McGee, where are you with that revised code?"

"Almost there!" McGee said desperately. "Just hold out a moment longer...."

Wilson wove through the metal struts, his wings retracting and twisting as necessary to keep from banging against the structure. He continued to fire at Flare and the Jacklin variants, Hill opening fire at the two focusing on her. Two of the Jacklins were hesitating to return fire, as if missing Hill meant striking the control array.

Wait....

Wilson snapped his wings in and grabbed onto a strut, a controlled blast from Flare shooting right past him. He needed to get to the catwalk, to the control array, as it would provide a shield nothing else could.

Hill had reached the target and was pressed against the metal, firing at the Jacklins. Wilson crawled down the strut, keeping his wings retracted. Flare was also migrating toward the catwalk, his eyes intent on the Falcon. Wilson waited a moment, gauging the distance, and then spun and jumped right at the enhanced agent.

Flare started in surprise as Wilson snapped his wings out and powered right at him. He lifted his arms but didn't have the time to draw any energy before Wilson slammed into him, knocking him off the strut. They fell toward the protective, transparent surface beneath them, grappling for the upper hand.

Wilson managed to land on top, slamming Flare's head back against the barrier. The agent's eyes unfocused for a moment, his arms falling back. He thought he was unconscious, then he saw his fingers twitch.