The Price We've Paid

Just Like Riding A Bike

Trigger Warning: Violence, Death, Blood

"There's 5 different entry points," Nicky said as he zoomed out on the tablet. As he did, the five entry points highlighted themselves on the blueprint. "This seems to be the most likely place that they would be holding captives," he continued, as he pointed to a small room on the blueprint. "It only has one way in and out so it's likely a storage closet."

"Ventilation?" You asked as you pointed to the small shaft above it.

Joe nodded. "That would be my guess. But no one is small enough to crawl through that space."

You sighed. "So we're gonna to have to go for a frontal assault."

Nicky nodded. "It seems like our only option. That means stealth won't really be on our side."

"We do some of our best work that way," Andy chimed in from the driver's seat. She glanced back at you from the rearview mirror. "We don't need stealth."

You smirked. "You would say that."

She shrugged. "It's true."

You shook your head. "Stealth increases the likelihood of us finding our people alive. If they know we're there, they could kill them before we get to them."

Andy nodded. "I know love, this isn't my first rodeo."

You rolled your eyes as a smirk inched up your lips.

"We don't need stealth if we have speed and precision," she pointed out. "We have silencers on all our guns, you to hack the tech and cut coms, and that drone to help us plan the best route. We've got this."

At that moment, Ember's voice hummed to life. "You are approximately one mile from the target location."

Andy pulled off on the side of the road. In the distance, you could see the warehouse. It looked abandoned, but on the gates surrounding it were big signs that read "Under New Ownership" with Khryste Co's logo underneath.

Perhaps they were planning on making it a new manufacturing facility.

Everyone began gearing up and shuffling out of the van. Nile still had hold of the drone controller and as you exited the van, you made your way to her, to see what the drone was seeing.

"It looks like there's 7 guards in the front yard," Nile hummed as you and Andy both came around to look over her shoulders. The drone was surveying the area and marking all the heat signatures, both around the building and inside it.

"How many total?" Joe asked, as he began strapping on his tactical vest.

"Twenty four," you answered as you looked at the tally the drone had collected. It had passed over the whole area once now and was returning to double check.

"Hang on," you said as you stepped around Nile to grab the controls from her. "Look at this." You pointed to the area that Nicky had suggested was probably where they were holding the hostages.

"What?" Nile asked as she looked at the screen.

"There's three in this room," you said as you pointed to the storage closet. "But look...there's two more random bodies in this room." You pointed to a room down the hall that looked similar. "We may need to split up."

Andy nodded. "Nicky, which entrances were best?"

Nicky came around with the tablet; and you had the drone zoom out to map out the guards and find the safest routes.

"These two doors," Nicky pointed to the two rear entrances. "Only 4 guards in total it looks like."

"Why are there so many people in this one room?" Nile asked as she pointed to a room where there were 7 bodies all standing fairly close together.