Unexpected 1: Trojan Horse

Chapter 5 : Friendly Hand

As Tan and the others ran down the stairs, another explosion was heard from the top floor. The accompanying officers guided everyone to the stairs, and they moved rather quickly. The only problem was that the explosions caused the door to be jammed. The first five came to a stop and stared at the door.

"What happened? Why'd you stop? Go!" Tan instructed

"Hey Tan, I think the door is stuck!" called Luca just a couple of steps ahead.

"It is! It is! It just wont open!" cried one of the men in the white suit.

Between all the hysteria, they could feel the warmth coming from the top floor, and shots being fired in the bottom one. They kinda feared landing in the battle zone, but the only other option was to be stuck there and eventually burn to death.

"I got this!" Tan got out two small disks out of his pockets, and signaled everyone to make room. Luca had one in his pocket, and decided to follow Tan's lead.

Both stuck the small devices upon the door and yelled for everyone to step back. All devices imploded, causing the door to land on the first floor.

"Let's go! MOVE!" ordered Luca

All the men in white suits had been detained with arms behind their backs, secured. Their faces were of pure terror when they saw the mass destruction that was happening in front of their eyes.

After everyone made it out into the arena, Tan and Luca directed the group through the side to the front of the building. They retaliated against 15 shooters, five of which were guarding the staircase from a suspended ledge. Most of the others had either been detained or killed.

"Tan, Luca, go! I'll cover you!" yelled Deacon as he reappeared from behind a column just 10 ft from the staircase.

There was so much rubbish, dead bodies, garbage and debris, that it took them a while to make it out. To Tan's surprise the animals were secured in their cages, and officers surrounded that area of the warehouse.

Hondo was out of ammo, so he was tackling and fighting a dark figure in the far left of the building. Fourteen officers were barricading against two of the only shooters left in that side of the building. Deacon and twelve others were trying to stop the five that were attacking from the ledge, as Rocker and his squad tried trapping those trying to escape. One of them came after Luca, Tan and the people coming from the second floor, but Deacon shot three bullets, hit cold in the clavicle and two in the chest. Luca was on his way with the men in white, when he turned around and made a precise calculation.

"Tan, take them outside. I'll help Hondo." he yelled as Tan was firing towards three of shooters, who hid between a massive dividing wall.

Luca found a wooden box, just 20 ft to the left of Deacon, flipped it over and placed his weapon. He moved it right behind a stack of boxes, to take cover from the shooter. He set up his sniper-like station in a flash, and waited for the right moment. Hondo had slammed the huge figure against the wall, but the man retaliated by grabbing him by his neck, and raising his body above the railing that overlooked the arena.

However, as soon as the man lifted Hondo, Luca let go a shot that landed in the man's chest. Unfortunately, it didn't stop Hondo's fall.

Hondo felt a sharp pain go up his spine as he fell hard on a box filled with thatch, straw and dried leaves. It was a good thing the filling material mitigated part of the impact, but still his spine kinda calibrated after being struck by the strong wooden bottom.

"Boss, are you okay?" called Luca, coming over to the giant wood box.

Hondo just wiped himself off and tried straightening up as best as he could. "Yeah, felt just like a ride in Disney World! Damn"

Luca showed a smile, and extended a helping hand, so Hondo could have a more steady base to climb out of the box. He still had some hay and other materials in his uniform, but at least he was able to get outta there in one piece. That monster was kicking his ass and he was running low on patience. Thanks to Luca's fast reaction, he was done with that mammoth.

"Thanks, Luca.", he said as he fist pumped his teammate,"Where's Tan?"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the floor, Deacon had given orders to the officers near him. Unfortunately, only eight of the twelve remained alive. One of the perps was extremely sharp, almost like a sniper. In two turns had taken down 3 officers! Not to mention he was being well guarded by another shooter who had barricaded himself behind a huge stack of wooden planks.

"We gotta keep the guy busy. Go after him with all you're got, I'll take care of the sniper! Go!" He instructed as the officers waited in fear. They moved closer to the second shooter, in eagle formation, hoping to corral him.

Deacon turned to see Hondo and Luca running towards him, firing rounds after rounds. Tan was not far behind. They huddle next to Deacon, who briefed them on what was going on.

"These guys are fierce, man. Well trained, well prepared. Every time we try to advance they throw something new at us. I counted five or six, up in the ledge that overlooks the floor, spread out at about 8 or 9 ft apart. Each is armed with automatic weapons, hand grenades and at least one drone. They also have some sort of gas bombs, that pretty much gagged the officers in the front. We had to cover them when we noticed how much they were throwing up. One had an allergic reaction and left cover before we could protect him. Was shot twelve times in the back. We tried formation to advance, but they came back at us with flying drones that shot some sort of acid, sulfuric maybe. That caught about six of the officers in the front, two dead, two that are barely moving. Were shot down almost immediately. We're down to eight, but two are badly injured, barely keeping port. If we could get closer, we can take them down...but we need solid cover. We need to empty out their bag of tricks! Hondo I could really use your help here."

Hondo's face lighted up. "Naw, D. I'ma need your help. I gotta plan."